I wanted to get this chapter up before I started school but sadly though that did not come to pass. Then I wanted to get this up on the 25th of September since it was the one-year anniversary of this story, but that didn't happen either :sigh:. I hate breaking promises, even if it's too myself…Ah well…

Chapter 10: That Uneasy Feeling

Why do I still feel so…strange…when I think about that place? Lloyd thought to himself as he walked to no where in particular. Nearly a week had passed since they returned from the mines and they were still waiting for their next task.

The principal and other officials and scientists were shocked to hear about the Ruins. Other hunters exploring the mines told them of the strange robots but only their team had found the warp leading to the Ruins. While it wasn't likely that the crew of Pioneer 1 was hiding somewhere in the Ruins, they were clearly excavating them. It could still hold clues as to their whereabouts.

But the very thought of returning to that place unnerved him to say the least. It wasn't just him; they all froze up when they approached the entrance. Even the Professor, who should've been ecstatic about being up close to the Ruins, froze up.

It doesn't make any sense that all of us would stop in front of that door…what could be in there?

The Hunter shook his head.

We haven't even gone inside yet, it's stupid to be afraid of it. The Professor and Regal said the military helped in constructing the mines and they might have investigated the Ruins. Maybe there's something in there that'll tell us what happened to all of them.

Still…why does it feel like something is telling me to forget about that place and stay out of it?

Walking past a small park he noticed a possibly familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. Taking a better look, he did indeed recognize who it was. A girl of small stature with long blond hair, wearing normal clothing rather her silver colored armor, was sitting on a swing. With her normally bright eyes staring at the ground in a somber way, she clearly was being troubled by something.

"Colette?" the boy asked after walking over to her.

"Ah--Lloyd!" She jolted up with a start.

"What are you doing here?" he continued.

"Oh I was…getting some fresh air." She replied hesitantly.

"We're in a spaceship, and that doesn't explain why you looked so sad."

"I-I wasn't sad, heh. I was just thinking."

"Okay," he said, not exactly convinced, "Then what were you thinking about?"

"Oh, heh heh, nothing important really…"

"Colette" Lloyd said a bit sternly, "I know you're hiding something. You always make that fake giggle when you do."

The blonde lowered her head. In a softer tone Lloyd said,

"I can tell something is bothering you. If there's anything I can do to help, please tell me."

Colette lifted her head up. Letting out a sigh she said,

"It's about…that place we found deep underground, the ruins. I don't know why but something is telling me…to stay away from there. It's like…there's something in there, something dangerous and scary…Oh, look at me. I'm acting like a little kid."

"Don't feel bad about that," her friend said, "I felt the same way when we went close to the door. We all did."

"But I still feel scared just thinking about it. That place could have something that will tell us what happened to your father and everyone else, but a part of me wants to forget we ever found it. I feel terrible."

"You dork; you shouldn't be the one feeling terrible. If anything, I should be."

"What do you mean? You're still feeling scared, too?" Colette blinked in slight awe.

"Of course, is it that surprising?" he asked.

"Uh…not really but…you don't show it at all, Lloyd."

"I was just thinking about it before I found you here. I felt like running away too, even though the truth behind what happened to my dad could be down there somewhere."

Colette said nothing for a while, taking in what the boy told her. Finally she asked,

"But if we do have to go back there, you won't run, will you?"

"Are you?"

The HUmarl shook her head, "I'm still scared, but not so much now. Besides, you and everyone else will be there too, if we're sent there."

Standing up she continued, "Thank you Lloyd. I feel much better now."

"Don't mention it. Talking to you made me feel better, too."

What lurked in the ruins? What was it that filled them with a sense of dread and made them not want to go near it? There was only one way to find out, and staying away wasn't it. There was nothing to be worried about, not with her fighting by his side.

"Miss Sage?"

"Yes, Presea?" the Forces asked, not looking up from her heavy-looking book.

It has taken much convincing and assurance on all their parts, but the government finally allowed the young Presea to join the hunter team, though technically only to accompany them. She was after all not a licensed Hunter. They mostly told the truth about the girl, save for leaving out the part about her having been altered by Black Paper. Raine had even managed to adopt the girl in a way. With no relatives aboard the Pioneer 2 she would've ended up on foster care had the professor not insisted that Presea stay with her and an embarrassed, though happy Genis for the time being. The pink haired Newman had been living with the Sages for the past three days.

"Do not take this the wrong way," Presea continued, "I am still very grateful for what you and everyone else did for me…however…"

The FOmarl put down her book, "What's the matter?"

"I am not certain why, but I can't seem to get this thought out of my mind. When you said my father's name in the Mines after I was released from Black Paper's control, I asked if you knew him and replied no. I am not accusing you of hiding anything but I must ask again: are you sure you know nothing about my parents? Perhaps you saw their names in a database?"

Raine remained silent for a short while, looking seriously at the young girl. The Force closed her eyes and gave a slight nod, as if deciding something in thought.

"In truth, I was holding back information from you."

"Raine?" Genis asked. Though initially passing by, the boy had walked into the room upon hearing what his sister said.

"You must understand though, I felt there was already too much stress for you at the time. I'm not one who enjoys lying, so now is as good a time as any," Raine continued.

The pink haired Newman nodded, "Go on."

"I had seen your father, Seige Combatir's name in the computer database in the Mines. It seems that he was one of the overseers of the project that created the monster in the Caves we told you about, De Rol Le."

Presea stayed silent for a few moments before replying, "That…was not expected, however I do not see why that would have to be kept a secret from me. He did not create the creature by himself."

"If that were the only reason…I'm very sorry, Presea, but your father is dead as well."

The young girl's jaw opened slightly at what the Force has just said.

"Daddy…" her voice cracked, "How…do you know?"

"It was by the monster they created, when it escaped. According to the files I found he was inspecting the progress of the scientists that day. When it broke free from its restraint, he was among the ones killed."

An expression resembling disbelief crossed Presea's face. Lowering her head she said, "Daddy…Alicia…and I know nothing about Mommy…Am I truly alone?"

"Oh, Presea…" Raine trailed off.

"But you're not alone!"

The two females turned their attention to Genis.

"Not while you're with us," the Newman continued.

They continued to look on.

"I know we only met a little while ago, but we're all working together to find the people of Pioneer 1. Somewhere out there we'll find them, or what happened to them."

The boy wanted to say more, but he wasn't sure what else without repeating himself. It seemed to be enough however as a small smile appeared on her face.

"You are right, Genis. I should've realized that sooner. Thank you for saying that."

The young FOnewm felt himself blush as he replied, "Y-you don't have to thanks me."

Raine chuckled softly at the sight of her flustered younger brother. Strange as the circumstances were, this was still his first crush. Even a boy of his intelligence would be a bit clueless as to what to do and say.

Despite what Presea has said, Raine wondered if something else might have brought it on. After all, not too long ago they were told to investigate the underground ruins as soon as possible.

The Ruins….even approaching the entrance filled everyone with a sense of dread, even herself. It didn't make any sense. While none of them knew what would be waiting inside, that was still no reason to cower in front of it like children afraid of the dark.

Raine mentally shook her head. That was no way for her to think. She was a Force, a hunter. They all were—well Presea wasn't legally one, but she was a teammate nonetheless. With a new and unexplored area right in front of them, they should be the last ones to cower in fear. They had to find out what was in there and why the people of Pioneer 1 were interested in it.

And possibly, why was it that they all felt a sense of dread in front of it.

That must be why they call it the "Chaotic Bar", Sheena thought to herself as she left the shops where they sold hunter tools and weapons. Since returning from the Mines, more hunters were traveling down to the planet surface, meaning more needed to buy weapons, armor and other essentials. That wasn't due to the Ruins though; at the time no one except the eight of them were allowed in.

I was hoping to at least get a pair of Bloody Art daggers before we went down there…Sheena trailed off in her thoughts. Whatever it was that she felt in the Ruins, maybe some stronger weapons would make her feel less uneasy.

Now that sounds childish… "Stronger weapons will make it easier". I'm a HUnewearl! I all of people should know that! She mentally scolded herself.

It wasn't as if hunters should never be afraid. Only someone completely stupid or insane would not feel fear. The problem was that she was allowing the fear to cloud her judgment. Worst of all, it was an unfounded fear.

At the same time though, she knew there had to be something unusual about that door, those Ruins. Why else would everyone freeze up like they did?

As she continued to think, walking through the streets of the city, Sheena heard two voices arguing with each other.

"…do I have to tell you? You haven't even graduated yet! You can't come along."

"But you won't even tell me what this place is!"

The first voice she recognized immediately, nearly jolting up in surprise. Though she was a bit of a distance from them, she could still hear them clearly. Indeed one of them was Zelos Wilder. In front of him was a young girl with coral pink hair, perhaps around fifteen years of age. She was wearing a blue and grey two piece outfit, familiar to any Hunter as the uniform of students of the Hunter Academy.

"It doesn't matter. If that old man Dorr won't even let us tell others what this next place is, there's no way you'd be allowed to come," Zelos said.

"But when you came back, it looked like something was bothering you…" the girl said quietly, sounding concerned.

"Seles?" he asked.

"I mean, if the government thinks this place is serious enough to keep a secret, they can't depend on you. You'll probably do something to embarrass the family name too," the girl he called Seles retracted.

"Seeing as I'll be with seven other people, I doubt they'll buy that," the redhead sighed.

"Just let me come with you tomorrow! I'm sure the guards at the transporter won't say anything if there are eight of you and me!"

"Stop it!" he snapped. His voiced hadn't risen by much, was still taken aback by it.

"Brother…" she said meekly. With a more serious tone she said, "Then tell me the truth. Why won't you le me go. I know it's not just because I'm not a Hunter yet or that the government won't let me."

Zelos turned his head away from the girl and began, "That place…is dangerous. We haven't been inside it yet but…" He looked back at Seles and said more sternly, "Either way, I'm not letting you come, so stop asking!"

Seles stood silent at Zelos' uncharacteristic behavior, a look that read of uncertainty on her face. Eventually she turned away from the redhead and said, "Fine, you'll probably embarrass us even if I did come."

She then ran away from her brother. He held out his arm to stop her, but decided against following her.

Zelos turned himself around to face Sheena, who was still standing a few yards away. The HUnewearl gave a slight start, suddenly realizing she had been standing there and watching the two the whole time.

"Hey Sheena Hunny! What are you doing all the way over there?" He called out, sounding more like his usual self. He then proceeded to walking close to her.

"You can admire my sexiness a lot better up close," he continued once he was close enough to girl.

"I wasn't admiring anything, idiot!" she scoffed, "I was just passing through and saw that you and your sister were discussing something. I didn't want to interrupt."

"And just standing there watching us was the best way to do that?" he asked.

"Uh, well, it looked like it was serious," Sheena offered, knowing it wasn't much of an excuse.

"She asks all the time if she can tag along, it's nothing new," Zelos said nonchalantly.

"She seemed really concerned though," she said

"You really think so, huh?" he replied quietly.

"What?"

Ah, nothing. Forget it."

Sheen said nothing for several moments, not sure of how to respond. Where were his usual wise crack and flirting? He wasn't acting like his usual self at all, even with what he said to her before.

"It's that place, isn't it?" she asked without realizing it.

"Huh?"

"Uh, n-nothing. I have to get ready for tomorrow, bye!"

The Newman walked away in a hurry. She was not about to tell someone that she was still uneasy about the Ruins.

It didn't matter if he was feeling the same way as well.

Cold. That was the first thing that struck each of the eight. Temperature-wise it was colder than any of the previous areas. Not quite enough to see their breathes, but noticeable all the same.

There was something else as well. The very air seemed to be saturated with this. It was a feeling, an emotion that filled the air. It was as if the feeling of dread changed, becoming an inhuman coldness. Everyone shrugged off the feelings as best they could.

The first room of the underground Ruins was cube in shape and relatively small. There were no windows to speak of, but strange colored glass shapes provided light. There were three automatic sliding doors, one which led back to the transporter and the other two to parts deeper within the Ruins.

"So which do we take left or right?" Zelos spoke for everyone.

"Perhaps we should ask our mutual friend, Rico," Regal said, standing next to a small message pack.

"Red Ring Rico, always one step ahead of us." Genis said. Regal proceeded to activating the orange device.

"Why am I here, with monster lurking everywhere? Did the army even stand a chance against them?"

Yeah, I really think this chapter isn't up to my standards. I was having such bad writer's block on this part and I suddenly starting getting ideas for a new fanfic (Haibane Renmei, an anime series I have a feeling most of you are unfamiliar with). I wanted to get to the Ruins. But I didn't want them to just jump in right away. I tried to avoid making this too uninteresting or repetitive, but I don't think I succeeded very well. Regal had virtually no role in this, but I was afraid that it would be too much of the same thing, so I didn't write any part concerning him. Well, maybe I'm being my own worst critic, but I still think this could've been much better.

In any case, we're coming down to the last four chapters (I meant five chapters last time, not four). I've been looking forward to these chapters for quite some time, so hopefully these won't take as long to be updated as my last two. I have to admit I was a little disheartened when I received only two reviews for last chapter, but I won't let that stop me (and it's nice to know I have two reader-reviewers I can depend on). Though I hope those of you who didn't review last time (or haven't reviewed at all) will do so this time. At the very least you could review the last one…

Erm anyway, thanks for reading.