Hey everybody it's the angelic mercenary here with chapter 2. I just want to say thanks to everyone who reviews my story. But I really want to thank everyone who simply reads and enjoys it. This is for all those fans of this great RPG. But I really appreciate any feedback all you readers might have for me. Well, on to chapter 2.
Disclaimer: I do not own Skies of Arcadia or any of it's characters. They belong to Sega and the amazingly talented people at Overworks (now Woworks I believe).
Chapter 2: "Emergence"
The blare of the emergency alarm was beginning to hurt my ears. And the accompanying flashing red lights weren't excatly easy on my eyes as I ran through the corridors of the Delphinus. "There it is," I thought as I rushed toward the door that lead to the deck. I opened it as quickly as my hands could move. Once I had it open, I rushed out onto the deck to confront whatever it was that was attacking my ship. What was waiting for me made me stop in mid-step and caused my breath to catch in my throat. Aika, Gilder, Drachma and Enrique where strewn about the deck, blood flowing freely from numerous wounds and all four of them were laying disturbingly still. I tore my eyes away from my comrades and to the far end of the deck were a lone figure in white stood.
"F...Fina," I managed to choke out. Fina turned to face me and opened her mouth to speak but all that came out was a scream of pain as a long, slender black blade protruded from her abdomen, staining the beautiful white robe a bright crimson. With a disgusting sound of metal against wet flesh, the blade slid out of Fina and she fell to the deck while her killer hovered above her fallen body. Whoever it was, their face was hidden behind a hooded cloak, but that soon changed as they flipped it over their head and stared at me with hate-filled eye's.
"...Vyse...," was all that he said.
"No... it can't be," I stutered as I beheld the person before me. "Ramirez!!!"
I shot up, cold sweat on my face, and found myself staring at a map of Mid-Ocean hanging on my bedroom wall. "Just a dream," I muttered. "Just a dream." I threw off my sheets and stood up, "I doubt I'll get much sleep after this," I stated plainly as I tugged my shirt on, not bothering to hook on the sleeves, my pants already on since I slept in them, and finally my boots. "Maybe a walk will do me good," I said as I walked out the door into the warm Nasrean night. As I walked around the crew quarters I saw Fina sitting on the small beach, her boots sitting neatly off to her side, and swaying her dainty feet in the water. With a sly smile I crept up behind her. "Hi."
"V...Vyse!" Fina said, her right hand over her heart. "You scared me."
'Heh, sorry," I said, still smiling, taking a seat beside her. "Can't sleep?"
"No, not really. And since it's such a beautiful night, I thought I'd watch the stars." A long silence passed between us before I finally decided to end it.
"Isn't the water cold?" I asked, as she still had her feet in the pond.
"No, the red moon stone's in the water keep it warm," she said, then with a devilish smile that resembled Aika's, she quickly reached into the pond and splashed some of the water at me. "See."
"H...Hey," I said, raising my hands to keep the water out of my face. After I felt the water wet the front of my shirt, I brought my hands down to to look at Fina. Her face had a rather surprised look, not sure of what she had done or how I would react.
"Vyse, I'm sorry I...ahh!" Fina yelled as I repaid her in kind for her little prank.
"You're right Fina, the water is warm," I said, the sly smile from before returning. Fina just stared at me for a moment, then did something I hadn't heard her do for a long time. She laughed. It was a good natured laugh and I soon found myself joining in. After, we both lie on the beach, watching the first hues of the morning began to paint the sky over Cresent Isle.
"So Vyse, what were we going to do today?" Fina asked.
I turned my head in the soft sand to look at her, "The same thing we always do."
Fina giggled at my response. "You mean get into trouble."
"Ha ha ha ha, we are Blue Rogues after all."
It was Fina's turn to face me this time. With a bright smile on her face, she said, "Yes, yes we are," before turning back to face the newly illuminated sky.
"So this is the "bottom" of the world," I said while staring out of the thick, reinforced porthole of my cabin, and seeing nothing but the inky blackness of the world beneath the clouds. "The less time we spend in this accursed place the better."
"Sir...sir, are you there?"
"What is it," I asked, talking through the communication tube that liked the bridge to the rest of the ship.
"The scouts have come back with the crystal. We await further order's."
"Well, if they have what we came for, then hurry up and get us out of this hell-hole."
"Yes, sir."
"Good." As I finished turning from the tube and sitting back at my desk, a loud rumbling coming from the engines as they dealt with the changing pressure that came with either ascending or descending into the sea of clouds. I took one last look out my window and caught a glimpse of the mighty lost continent, Soltis, illuminated by a large bolt of lightning. I was brought out of my trance by a knock at my door. "Come in."
"Sir."
"What is it?"
"I thought you might want to hold onto this," the soldier said, extending his right arm, while holding a small silver crystal in his hand.
"Thank you, dismissed," I said, taking the small gem from the soldier and waiting until he had left until I spoke again. "Soon, lord Ramirez, soon your's and lord Galcian's great dream will be realized. The agents are in place to begin the gathering of the moon crystals, and with them, we will be victorious."
End of Chapter 2
