Just a quick note: no, I haven't given up writing. I will continue to write as much as possible. So for now please enjoy this new chapter and the chapter i posted to my other story: The Assassin's Handbook. Thanks!
"Keywielder found: Thirteenth member, codenamed Xavirst, has obtained the Twilight Key once owned by the former Organization member: Roxas."
For a moment the two men stared blankly at the screen, both not willing to believe the computer. It had been 4 years since they had started the new Organization and 5 years since they discovered the documents left behind by the previous Organization. The documents warned of the danger of having a keywielder in the ranks, but also warned of fractioning the Organization into two different places. But this, this presented an entirely different scenario.
"So now what, Xelax?" Jnox asked worriedly. His scarred face, incapable of frowning, told everything through his glistening blue eyes.
Xelax ran a hand through his hair and sighed, "I do not know. We cannot tell the rest of our group for that will cause panic. Perhaps we shall wait out this threat for the time being, and maybe Xavirst will leave on his own accord. Then if all else fails, we will kill him."
"But Xelax, that could take years and that risks everything we've done so far. Isn't there a different possibility?"
"I am afraid not, old friend. This is for the best."
Jnox shook his head in disbelief, "I hope you know what you're doing, Superior. Not just for the good of the Organization, but your own soul as well."
Xelax shrugged his comrade's accusation off, "If I was worried about my soul, I would be searching for Kingdom Hearts right now. The day for recovering our lost hearts is over." Xelax now stood and looked his second-in-command in the eye. "My friend, you have stood beside me for many years now, please trust me on this decision."
Jnox shrugged, "Alright Xelax. I'll try my best to keep this plan of yours in action." No. 2 warped off without another word, leaving the Superior to brood by himself.
Alone. It seemed that was what the Superior was anymore. Now more than ever he felt the crushing feeling of loneliness. Even his second-in-command doubted his judgment.
Xelax walked to the glass behind his desk, staring bleakly into the cityscape. The lights emanating from the buildings flickered, as if they were threatened by the surrounding darkness. He drew closed the curtains in disgust. How tired he was of the constant darkness eclipsing everything around it. How he wished to be free from this pathetic existence! But he knew deep down that never again could he feel like he had before. No amount of hearts could ever fix things.
Silently he left his office and made his way down to the training grounds. Somehow, he needed to clear his head and think about the best course of action for the Organization.
Terxep emptied his pockets of all its contents, an exercise unnecessary, but one that allowed the beast to pour over his thoughts. Usually he engaged in this activity alone, this time however, he had company. Namely company that he enjoyed more than any other member. Ketax.
"Do you always do this?" She asked softly, watching as he took his twin cestas from inside his jacket.
"Yeah. I find a lot of things on my mission. I guess I have a knack for gaining mementos." Terxep reached into another of his many pockets and produced a locket, tarnished but of obvious value. He threw it to Ketax, who examined it with curiosity. "I found that in Port Royal. I figured you might like it."
"I appreciate it, Terxep. Thank you." She held it out admiring its craftsmanship. Then she noticed a latch on the top of the locket. Upon opening it, a melody was heard playing a soft, almost mournful tune. Ketax smiled, "It's lovely."
Terxep returned her smile, "Well, I've finished, mind joining me to talk with Xinck? I guess he and Xederk came up with something new I could attach to my cestas."
Ketax nodded and lifted her hand to summon a portal of darkness. Terxep shot his hand out, gently lowering her own. "Let's just walk. I'm not a big fan of teleporting."
She looked at him thoughtfully, who would have known that the Beast of the Nobodies detested the darkness so. It seemed like he had a change of heart since coming back from the mission with No. 13.
Their footsteps echoed behind them as they made their way down the stark white hallways. Both had fallen silent and in an attempt to preoccupy himself, Terxep had taken to fixing his cestas, now back on his hands.
"How does it feel?" Ketax asked suddenly, all of her attention focused solely on Terxep's knuckles.
Terxep smiled in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"What does it feel like to kill with your bare hands?"
Terxep thought for a moment, "Well, it is only Heartless that I kill."
Ketax shrugged, "They were still human at one time. You kill them close up."
He grasped her arm, stopping them in the middle of a hallway. His brown eyes stared back into her green hazel eyes begging for understanding. "If you must know, I close my eyes so I can't see the carnage I'm unleashing."
Her eyes widened for a moment, then softened. "I think you may have a heart after all." She said before continuing to walk without him.
Terxep called after her, "Wait, what do you mean I have a heart?"
"I don't know you tell me. I'm sure you can find the answer somehow. I'll talk to you later, thanks for the walk Terxep." She winked at him, then warped off leaving Terxep dumbfounded.
What did she mean? He thought as he rounded a corner and opened the door to Xinck's quarters. He shook it off as he greeted his two comrades. That was a thought for another time. Besides he very well knew that Xederk was something of a telepath.
"So what do you have for me?" He asked, causing both to jump. Terxep laughed as he helped his two friends up.
"Hey Terxep, we just finished actually." Xederk said after brushing himself off.
"And thanks for the little notice." Xinck added with disdain.
Terxep smiled sheepishly, "Sorry I meant to tell you sooner, but I was---."
"Distracted by Ketax." They both chimed in unison, causing Terxep to growl in annoyance.
"OK, OK," Xinck said through his laughter as he turned to a desk opposite them. He pulled out a drawer and produced a new pair of cestas, these with thicker black bands and a strange metal attached to each knuckle.
"Alright, so what's the deal with these?" Terxep asked, taking off his own cestas and fitting the new ones over his hands.
"Well, for one I handcrafted the metal from a twilight shard alloy, adding in some mystery goo I found on my last mission. This gives the metal the added property of staying on your hands when you call upon your bow." Xederk said with a smile, clearly pleased with his creation.
"But why did you make something for me using mystery goo? You're supposed to deposit that in the archives."
"We knew that you had a disadvantage using two different weapons, so this was our way of helping one of the Organization's best fighters become a little better." Xinck leaned a little closer to Terxep and added with a whisper, "Besides you're going to need these in the coming days."
Terxep rubbed his head in frustration, "What are you two planning now?" Xederk and Xinck were the only two Terxep had bothered telling about the incident at Port Royal. Since then, the two had spent the day supposedly formulating a plan of action independent of whatever Xelax was deciding.
"Oh nothing," They both said in unison once again.
"Just keep Ketax out of it, alright?" Terxep turned to leave and had his hand on the door, before turning his head. "Thanks for the new weapon though, guys. I'm sure it'll come in handy."
Terxep left, leaving the two schemers in the room alone once more.
"Well what do you think?" Xederk asked once he was sure Terxep was gone.
"He'll be in. Once Xelax tells me what he's planning, I can use that to get him on our side." Xinck replied nonchalantly.
"Just don't do something to make him go rogue. We need him."
"It seems our entire Organization is going to hang on Terxep." Xinck said.
"I don't think so. He might be important, but I can tell Terxep just wants to be left alone."
The two brooded over this fact for a while. Eventually coming to the decision that the Beast of the Nobodies was going to be instrumental in furthering their plans, but was still a small player in Xelax's schemes.
Hopefully I haven't crushed all possibility of having some fanbase. Well, as of now I do believe I've introduced 7 of the 13 Organization member. Here's a rundown plus some pronunciations.
No. 1 – Xelax
No. 2 – Jnox
No. ? - Xinck (Zinc)
No.? - Xederk (Zedirk)
No.5 – Terxep
No. ? - Ketax
No. 13 – Xavirst
Also I'd like to run maybe a contest or something to see who can guess the real names of these characters. I also forgot to mention last chapter that the origin of the cesta is Roman, they used them basically like brass knuckles except they were hard leather bands with sharp metal points on them. They were also used without the points as boxing gloves. Or maybe I did mention that, I don't know I can't remember :).
