FFX-2: Ties That Bind Fanfic

Chapter 10: Shadow of Sin

"Very astute but no," the mystery man said, "This is not the S-I-N Engine but..." Slapping his forehead he quickly grabbed the Garment Grid from the stunned Paine and sphere-changed to Yuna-Gunner just as the Sinspawn launched several of the smaller fin like minions, diving to the side as she unleashed a full clip into the enemy fiends, "Keep those things busy and maybe I can get the Machina up and running again before we die."

"But Yunnie's Garment Gri..." Rikku protested as the Blitzball Ace pulled her out of the way of a attack.

"Fight now, answers later," Paine said curtly cutting a savage glare at 'Yuna,' "And there will be answers." Before charging some of the sinspawn for a quick double slash from her daggers, using her Sword Lord accessory to execute a Armor Break as part of her attack.

The Dream of Zanarkand gave a quick sigh as he Hasted 'Yuna' "If that thing means answers then a little Haste should get it up and running sooner."

Rikku got her bearings a moment, growling as she glared over at 'Yuna' then used their advantage of Hastega and her White Lore accessory to cast protect on the group, halving the imminent physical damage. Just in time as the lesser Sinspawn and the larger boss made their moves. The punishing physical blows caused the group to stagger, with the Slayer of Sin first to recover as he quickly charged the monsters intent to slow them with a Delay Attack to give them a even greater advantage.

"Sorry, maybe next time!" he quipped as the delays hits the Sinspawns one by one.

Sphere-changing back to Berserker Paine growled before charging, "If you're gonna bring it, bring it!" claws dispatching several at once, "Bye." she said coldly.

"You done yet?" Rikku said impatiently looking back at 'Yuna' as she sphere-changed into Dark Knight and unleaded a wave of enemy fuled for her own life force at the sinspawn.

"Down you go!"

Dispatching several.

The Blitzball Ace smirked as he prepared a spell, "Chill, there's no rush!" Further crippling the sinspawn with Slowaga.

"I'm working as fast as I can!" 'Yuna' protested, then gave a triumphant cheer, "There! Undid your handy work!"

"That does not fill me with warm fuzzies," Paine groaned as the Machina came to life.

Rikku froze a moment, as she saw it loom over her, "N-No hard feelings right?"

"Helm-P22 disregard humanoid targets, Priority-One S-I-N Shadowspawn." 'Yuna' said quickly.

"Order received," it said in a mechanical male voice just in time to be hit by a Haste from The Blitzball Ace, as it opened fire with it's missile complement on the Sinspawn.

"This better be quick!" he quipped, "You still have questions to answer 'Yuna.'"

"Let's survive this first," She countered as she sphere-changed to Berserker and slashed deep at the main Sinspawn. The other girls tag teamed it for a combo attack as The Dream of Zanarkand and Helm-P22 followed in on their heels. The Sinspawn flashed and dissolved into Pyre flies, 'Yuna' quickly moving out of the reach of the others and behind Helm-P22.

"Helm-P22 standby, but do not attack!"

"Order received," it droned as it target locked the trio. "Standing by."

"Give us back Yunnie's Garment Grid!" Rikku demanded.

"Where did you get it anyway?" the Ace questioned conspiratorially.

"And how is Sin still alive," Paine inquired.

"We better keep moving," 'Yuna' said as she turned away from them, "Helm-P22 guard our flanks...and shot them if they try to attack me." Glancing back at the others she said bored, "Comming?"

Reverting to Thief for 'Yuna' and Rikku while Paine took Warrior, and the Ace his own sphere they followed the stranger cautiously.

"In no particular order of importance: I presume you know about Oversouled monster, well with all our Summoners gone and the Fayth not answering my own calls we were quickly over run, those 'Sinspawn' Are the Oversouled and overcharged results of no one to Send the beasts. My Machina have been holding out as best they could but well."

"Their loosing." Paine said bluntly.

'Yuna' nodded solemnly.

"Where is Yunnie!" Rikku demanded, stomping her foot.

The figure stopped a moment, looking down at her blouse and tugging the fabric slightly, his voice hollow, "Was that the name of this girl?"

A chill ran down the Blitzball Ace and Rikku's spines, the former spoke first, "What are you getting ate."

There was a long pause, "I'm afraid...she didn't make it."

Paine gave a short gasp then glowered, "Not possible, Yuna doesn't die easy."

"I found her body all alone, savaged by the fiends, I can not say what happened only the end result. By chance as I was...hiding the body, to prevent attracting fiends to her corpse mind you...I found her," he winced in disgust, "'Garment Grid' and was quite surprised to discover what it could do. It is the one thing that has given me the power I needed to get to the Machina to repair them."

"Impossible! I want to see the body!" The Ace demanded. "I want proof."

"Of course, I will take you to where she I buried, I'm sure I could be mistaken, after all if her Grid can turn me into a copy it is possible the one I found was not the genuine article and is is merely lost out here without her own. But we have more pressing concerns first."

"The Machina?" Rikku said questioningly.

'Yuna' nodded, "They are the only defense I have. And if this 'Yuna' is out here she stands a better chance of survival with the Machina active."

The Ace was about to object but Paine rose her hand to silence him, "She has a point. And Rikku, your good with Machina, you can speed up the process."

Rikku sighed, "Gullwings repair service," giving a halfheartedly, "at your service."