Dark Stratos: *paces back and forth dressed like Brother* Okay troops! This is our first FFX-2 Fic! Let's make it count!

Star Shadow: *is dressed like Gippal* Can't we just have fun with it? I mean why does it need to count? *crouches down with her knees to her chest and plays with the eye patch*

Dark Stratos: *glares* It's for credibility…

Lonely Reaper: *is dressed as Shuyin* Can I be Bob?

Star Shadow: Bob?

Lonely Reaper: Yes, Bob.

Dark Stratos: Who's Bob?

Lonely Reaper: You know! Bob!

Star Shadow: I don't see why not, I mean, You're already dressed like him.

Lonely Reaper: Yay! I'm Bob!

Dark Stratos: But who's Bob!?

Disclaimer: We own a broken hair brush and Lonely Reaper's retainer. Thanks to her for agreeing to proof read out stuff!

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Hidden Memories

Star Shadow and Dark Stratos

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Prolog

I told them that I wanted to fight, that we all wanted to fight and protect Spira when they asked why they should even consider letting me in, and they did. When they let me in, they were disgusted with me, even my 'peers', but they didn't know. They didn't know that they were going to get me into places where they rejected me before. They didn't know I was using them, not even him…

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Chapter One

The Squad

I was sixteen when I entered selection for the Crimson Squad. I lied about my age, saying I was eighteen, but they never found me out. After all, Al Bhed birth and death certificates were not registered in their records. It wasn't proper. I looked eighteen and maybe older. I looked much older than some of the others who were joining, much to my relief.

I can remember that day still with extreme clarity, even the look of utter disgust I got from the man I was required to give my approved entrance form to. After taking it from me, he glared and spat. All I could do was ignore it as I followed my directions and went towards the temple where the squad candidates were to gather. I was only stopped once by the guards at the outer doors when I had arrived, but they still reluctantly let me in.

Once inside the temple, I was shocked at the lack of security Bevelle seemed to posses. After making sure I wasn't being watched, I managed to accomplish my true purpose at the there. I was sure I was going to be caught when I came up the lift, but the priests and guards only mumbled about needing to find repair technicians that weren't Al Bhed. I turned a deaf ear to them, pretending that I didn't understand their words, though most all of them stung horribly.

As the briefing for the cadets started, I pretended to 'fix' one of the lifts. I didn't need to be found out right off the back. As it turned out, we were going to make a march to Luca to ride by boat to Killika and Besaid on our way to Bikanel Island. It was almost as if they were trying to make things easy for me. Group assignments were to be given out upon arrival of the desert.

After tinkering with the lift for about five minutes after they had gone, I acted satisfied and left. When I opened the doors to the temple though, I was stopped by one of the priests. An odd mixture of calm and panic went through me as I looked at him. He knew, I could see it in his eyes.

"Young sir," he said, a spark in his eye, "Thank you for fixing our lift. Your actions are much appreciated." He smiled and handed me a brown cloth bag which I tied to my belt. This had to be the nicest Yevonite I'd ever met. When he bowed, he began to whisper, just loud enough for me to hear in my bewildered state. "Be safe on you pilgrimage."

I bowed back out of sheer politeness and wondered how he knew, but, of course, I had spoken aloud. What I got in response was far from expected. The faint whisper of a name and quietly mumbled words of memories from a time that had long since past. My mother's name. The name of the woman who died to protect me.

With that, he turned and left, and I moved from the temple. I was confused, and I wanted to know how he knew her. There was so much that I didn't know, and so much I felt that I didn't want to know. I think that I was afraid: Afraid of the answers.

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Star Shadow: That was confusing, huh?

Dark Stratos: Oh dear lord! *smacks his own face*

Star Shadow: If you can't tell who the narrator is… I don't know what to say to you.

Dark Stratos: Please Read and Review if you want another chapter, or you get none.

Lonely Reaper: *giggles* Bob…

Dark Stratos: *pounds head on desk* Why me? Why me!?