With Fran Chapter 1
The explosion sent a spray of needles at the Wild Saurians's flank, piercing an eye and peppering its abdomen. It tossed its head backwards in fury. Jeris seized the opportunity and, rushing around to its front, leapt up and rammed her sword up through its lower jaw. In rage it whipped its head back down, flinging her roughly onto her back, knocking th air out of her. Its short arms clawed the air futilely as it tried to wrench its pinned jaws apart, cutting the soft flesh deeply on the masterless sword. Erté leapt off the raised outcropping and planted himself on its shoulders. As Jeris recovered, he scrambled forward and thrust his clawed hands into its vulnerable neck. It struggled and thrashed about, nearly stomping Jeris as she dodged away and watched for an opening. The Wild Saurian was weakened to the point of exhaustion but it tossed about even more violently, sending Erté crashing into the rock wall behind them. Again Jeris reacted to the timing and sent twin blasts of Blizzard glistening towards its flanks. The devastated tyrant toppled to the ground with a thundering crash. Jeris lunged forward and retrieved her sword, then reembedded it in the creature's eye. Using a foot for leverage she slid it back out with a sickening squelch. Erté dusted himself off and joined her.
The two soared across the Westersand atop two sated Twintania, their loot heavy in their saddlebags. The desert's vast expanse spread in all directions, unblemished for miles around. Suddenly a colossal black form loomed below them. They traded glances then angled for descent.
The Strahl lay crippled after its emergency landing upon the Westersand's uneven, rocky landscape. Panicked moogles scurried back and forth across its exterior, assessing the damage and doing minor diagnostics. Balthier stood leaning against the hull, Fran kneeling 200 yards from him. As the duo approached, Fran glanced at her partner then looked away. Balthier didn't budge as Fran stood up and came to meet them. Jeris twitched an eyebrow at this, but didn't comment. "What seems to be the problem? Not the best of places to use as a rest stop." "We had a malfunction. There was a Myst surge." Fran replied in her heavy accent. "Mysst? Way out here? But what could amass enough for a surge?" "That's what we'd like to know. I'd barely sensed it before we were blasted out of the sky." "Perhaps Cid may know more. I'll contact him." With that, Jeris pulled a small device from her pouch that glowed with an eerie blue aura.
An outsider to Ivalice, Jeris had been shocked and irritated at the lack of electronic devices. Being a redmage had helped and by twisting a few spells was able to create small blue orbs that acted like cellphones with video conferencing. Nothing keeps a teenager away from a cell for long. ;P
Its screen flickered for a moment before the Judgemaster's face appeared in it. "Yes? What is it? Not to be rude, but I'm a bit busy at the moment!" "Know you anything of a Myst surge in the Dalmascan Westersand?" "So it's reached you, too? It's been radiating from the city but we don't know from where. Most citizens are only feeling ill, but our few viera are on a rampage! They each reacted differently to the huge concentration, but we've at least five that've berserked! crashing sounds Speaking of such, I'm needed!" At those parting words, Jeris put the device away.
"That wass informative." "Indeed," said Fran, "Now I know where to begin my search." "What, alone?" Jeris said with a puzzled look. "Balthier'll not leave his precious ship. I go alone." "Actually, I'll be going with you. I can create and maintain a shield that'll protect you from most of the radiation. Erté, I'd like you to aid Cid in restoring order. From the sound of things, he could use a set of well muscled hands." When she finished, she wore a smug smirk and the two humeanoids exchanged concerned glances. Jeris gave a nod to Balthier and he shrugged then turned and went inside the Strahl. "Well, we needn't walk. Fran, I'd like you to meet Vahe and Kaikura, my Twintania steeds."