The Black Faction, a not-for-profit peace group, were amongst the most popular of factions. There were many factions that were created, but none so professional or active as the Black Faction, which is what Rouchea and Lakrat joined as a compensation to Rza's loss. At the time, they were amongst some of the higher ranking parties due to their tough work toward the Black Faction's missions. It was the most recent mission that the threads of their fate and Rza's began to retwine.
Rouchea and Lakrat's leader called his group, Black Down, over for a meeting. No other groups knew of it, as though it was a cult gathering, and most of Black Down's members were nervous to know whether it meant the end of their purpose and work in the Black Faction. Hidden in the depths of the Black Faction's headquarters, the Black Down awaited at the head table, worried. The walls were drenched in black paint and drapes, but there were long paintings of the past leaders of the Black Faction. As long as the Black Faction has been around, there weren't very many portraits on the walls. They knew the reason for this, however: with such a good repertoire of leadership skills and intelligence, it was obvious why.
When their leader entered the room, however, he smiled at them all and reassured them that they weren't in trouble or being discharged. They all sighed in relief, but were still confused about this special meeting. When their leader sat, he was quiet for a moment, pondering how best to word the situation.
"We've got a sort of special mission ahead," he told them, "and I'm choosing Black Down for it, as I trust you so."
Rouchea and Lakrat looked to each other, wondering if the mission had to do with the main area of Ivalice, which is where the Black Faction tried to avoid, due to such a large span of land and the severe problems involved with it.
"Another peace faction was trying to free a city under Tredjodorian control, and are having some trouble. The strange thing about this S.O.S. is that they said the city is small. Why they're controlling it is very strange. Also, they have a prisoner of war."
One of the Black Down members piped up, asking, "Why did they take a prisoner? They hardly ever do that."
"That is the strangest part. They only recruit Tredjordors and only kill resisters. It's very odd..."
It was Lakrat who spoke what Rouchea was thinking.
"Would this actually have anything to do with the Amalgamated Ivalice Boundaries?" Even though Lakrat was trying not to sound rude, it still came out the same. Many people had told Lakrat about wearing his feelings on his sleeves, but even after trying to hide it all, Lakrat still didn't believe the human spirit ought to be cramped up like that. "After all, I was certain that the Black Faction was only interested in the small border regions."
Their leader gave Lakrat a knowing look, but it didn't cut Lakrat down in pride. He was firm, even if his question was out of place.
"This is the catch, Black Down," he told them earnestly, "Part of the war that the Tredjodors have been causing is in the mainland of Ivalice. We believe this single prisoner of war is an important official in Ivalice, otherwise the Tredjodors wouldn't be interested. They are probably keeping this person as a means of victory in case everything else in their arsenal has failed."
Lakrat and Rouchea looked to each other in interest, wondering if the Tredjodors were even going to lose at all. They seemed to continue to grow and become fiercer as the days progressed. Their leader passed out files on their next target, the terrain, and where the prisoner was probably kept. Reading it, the Black Down couldn't help but feel something was very out of place about the Tredjodors latest actions. With a few more words, the leader dismissed the Black Down and they dispersed, getting ready for the trek and battle the next day.
Later that night, Rouchea and Lakrat, along with their roommates, sat around their tiny meal table and tried not to talk about the mission. The Tredjodors were bad enough as it was; if they had some sinister plan underneath their erratic behaviour, chances were the Boundaries were about to get much worse. Despite its oddness, Rouchea still secretly wished it wasn't and that the Tredjodors were finally petering out and not having enough force to take on the much larger cities. Ivalice's involvement only made it worse; all of Ivalice's current problems would be filing down to the Boundaries through the Tredjodors.
After their dinner, they went to their respective bunks and as the lights went out, Rouchea signaled to Lakrat to join him in the washroom. When they sneaked in after the other two had fallen asleep, Rouchea lit a small candle so they could do themselves the favour of not talking to darkness. Rouchea tried to resist speaking about the mission, but he knew Lakrat was thinking about it, too.
"I keep having doubts about the Tredjodors," Rouchea whispered to Lakrat, whose eyebrow rose.
"You mean, like, their involvement with Ivalice?" he asked.
"No, their strength. It's true they've been a pretty strong force, but the attacking of those small cities just seems so... out of place."
"So you think they don't have any secret plan going on? I think they're sneaky enough to do it..."
"They seem like they would," Rouchea told him, thinking with his hand on his chin, "But don't you think those anti-war muckrakers would've been able to get something by now?"
It took Lakrat a moment to think, too, but he finally agreed Rouchea was right. The tabloids that were released in the Boundaries and the edges of Ivalice all had some dirt on the Tredjodors, but it seemed sudden that they avoided talking about the Tredjodors' strange acts. "Yeah, you're right. Maybe they're just losing perspective."
Lakrat shrugged when Rouchea gave him a look that asked for more. Lakrat blew out the candle and they left the washroom, wary of the roommates. They, however, were still sleeping, and Rouchea and Lakrat climbed into their bunks and sleeplessly awaited the morrow.
