Disclaimer: I do not own the Xenosaga series.

'Thoughts'

"Words"

A/N: Around halfway through I decided to change my style of writing. Why should we both have to suffer through talk that hardly changes? From now on I'll be more selective about any conversation scenes I include from the games. Hope you like it.

Xenosaga: Es Lasst Sich Nicht Lesen

Chapter 3: Aboard the Elsa

by: Nim Maj

Finally their turn, Commander Cherenkov walked up to the Captain flanked by Katsu. "Captain. Any chance of stopping at Senir?" he inquired.

Mmph? "That's enroute on the column... Three or so days from Atalya. If that's your destination, sure, I can do that."

"I see. And the fee...?"

"Today just ain't my day... And getting greedy now won't do me any good. I'll just put it on the tab"

"I appreciate it."

"Ah don't mention it. You're a Marine. Let's just chalk it up to my bit of charity for the Corps."

Katsu took this time to bow slightly to the Captain. "We thank you for your kindness." THUMP. That was when a Gnosis arrived.

"G, G, Gn, Gno, Gno...!" the previously unintroduced nerd-type started.

"Gnosis!" Shion gasped.

"I knew it! A couple of them are still lurking around!" Allen said, vindicated.

With a weird moaning/roaring sound, the Gnosis phased through the glass and entered the ship.

"It's coming in!" was Tony's panicked cry, as he got ready to move.

"Son of a Bitch!" was Cherenkov's war cry as he opened fire on the Gnosis with his sidearm to no effect. Shion, Allen and Katsu ducked while Katsu quickly retreated. The Gnosis at this time had breached the ship and immediately grabbed the Commander and held him aloft. White began to seep through his feet moving upwards.

"chaos!!" the Captain called out, looking at the white haired youth.

"I know." he replied, determination in his voice.

"chaos!!" Shion cried out as he walked toward the Gnosis.

"It's okay." he reassured her as he then turned around and touched the Gnosis on one of its limbs. Everyone of the newcomers stared in awe as the Gnosis slowly dissolved into green specks of light. As it finally disappeared, Commander Cherenkov was deposited to the floor and both Katsu and the nerd-type went to check on him.

"The Gnosis..."said a stunned Shion.

"What did he just... do?" mirrored Allen.

"Well, that's what I meant when I said he looks out for us." the Captain clarified.

"Looks out for you?! How did he just do that? I've never heard of a human that can defeat Gnosis..."

"There are those who draw well, and those who run fast. Hammer's navigation skills are top-notch, and his knowledge of the Net is vast." chaos said referring to the nerdy guy. "Tony's helmsmanship skills are unrivaled. No one even comes close... Or so he claims." this time talking about the pilot. "The Captain... well, no one holds a greater amount of debt than the Captain." he finished humorously.

"Ahh, yes... Hey, wait a second!"

"I believe everyone has at least one skill they excel in above all others. It's something that defines who they are. Shion... What is it that defines you?" chaos asked.

'Human Resource management' thought Katsu who was now listening in.

"Huh? Me? Well, I..."

"It's the same for me. Its just something I can do."

"Yep, that's all there is to it." Tony agreed.

"Ah... I see. Right... I think I get it!"

"It sort of makes sense when you put it that way."

"Yep, that's how it is." Hammer put in.

"That's all th... What the...?! How can you be convinced by that? That was a Gnosis, Chief, a Gnosis!!" said a clearly unconvinced Allen.

'Actually, I'd agree with him, but I don't want to get on the bad side of the person who can kill Gnosis with his bare... gloved hands.' was Katsu's thoughts.

"Master Wilhelm, I have a report from KOSMOS. Shion Uzuki, and Allen Ridgeley have both joined up with KOSMOS." said a red caped figure.

"I see." Wilhelm said as he gazed at the Compass of Order..

"This is fortunate, especially since there's an unidentified ship closing in on the battlefield."

"And if the ship were to threaten the girl, KOSMOS would protect her. Is that not right?" he said as his gaze never left the spinning object.

"Yes. That would be the prime directive."

"Hmmm... Either way, it was a wise decision to pull back KOSMOS. There's no need for us to serve them or the Federation, any longer. Besides, the data for the Rhine Maiden is now complete. All phenomena are moving forward as specified by this Compass of Order." he said as he got up and walked forward to inspect the moderately spinning object more closely." As for the rest, gather the necessary factors, and wait for the other one to awaken..." With that as a dismissal, the red caped figure faded away from sight. It was a few more moments before Wilhelm spoke again, "So, this is where you were sent. U-DO's interference... or an accident? Things are about to get very interesting... my old friend." The Compass glowed and showed the face of Katsu, a look of concentration evident as he continued studying his Connection Gear.

"C'mon everybody, let's eat!" was Shion's call as everyone started digging in, the older crew of the Elsa doing so with gusto. In a corner, Katsu at a little, content with studying his Connection Gear, still familiarizing himself with the way the galaxy works. After a while, a voice broke into his thoughts.

"How is it?" Shion asked.

"Hmmm? Oh it's good. Not quite what I'm used to back home, but not bad." answered Katsu.

"You know," she asked as she took a seat across from him, "I don't think you have ever said where you were from. I don't even know how you got on board the Woglinde. You're dressed as a Vector employee but Allen mentioned that you aren't."

"Heheh, well... I'd like to answer that, but Commander Cherenkov insists that it should remain a military secret. Personally, I'm not sure what the whole fuss is about, but as I consider myself under his jurisdiction, I will respect his wishes. Sorry" Katsu explained with an apologetic look.

"Oh I see. I understand. Say no more." As she got up to leave with a smile, Katsu remembered something and asked, "By the way Shion-san, where are you from? I'm right now catching up on my history and I need a place to start."

"Oh, I live on Second Miltia" she said.

"Thank you."

'Catching up on history? What has he been doing?' Shion thought as she left.

'Second Miltia... hmmm... he-h? Now that's interesting...'

A/N Ok I'll stop there. Next time MOMO and Ziggy join the crew and maybe they get to meet the Durandal and Co. after the Cathedral Gnosis. Although I'm on vacation, I'm doing a lot of stuff to get myself ready for the next semester. It's hard to concentrate when you have a dentist's appointment in a few hours.

As you can see, I have big things planned, but this is the boring part, unfortunately. Things will start to change in one or two more chapters.

Till next time!