In spite of the fact that they were headed back, alive, safe, well, and having secured something from Sybenia in the process that would put a temporary halt to everything, even after the passage of a few days Dael had never felt a "victory" that tasted so much like a defeat.

The depression did not lift as time passed. The entire boat was in a sour mood. They knew they would not be returning to Esthar as heroes, even if the government or media made them appear as such. Relief and ease they had expected from leaving the hostile waters of Sybenia behind never surfaced. They all felt too ill about the entire deal. Everyone was quiet and kept to themselves. Taraketh's normal toxic presence vanished all together. He seemed to be brooding, as they all were, the entire voyage home. As for Mianyl, she was nowhere to be seen. She confined herself almost entirely to her chambers. After all, she seemed to be blaming herself personally for everything that had gone wrong on the trip. It was a silent voyage, almost as if they were going off to be punished rather than returning to their homes and friends. And there was no momentary stop in the Lamb Archipelago to cheer them either. Of course, Dael wouldn't have felt very cheery. What could she tell them if she went there? How could she look at the children knowing that many children like them were being dragged off to who knew what fate? Even if her primary concern was Esthar, she realized she'd still feel rather rotten to confront them with the truth.

After a few more days at sea, and by the time the news was circulating not only around Esthar but around the world at large, the Indominable pulled up to the same port it left. This time, the ship made a bit better time at the last day of the trip, and Mianyl didn't call ahead, save for those picking her up. Therefore, there was no big ensemble awaiting them as they pulled into port. Clearly, Lady Mianyl didn't feel like one, and Dael couldn't blame her. Even so, the port was still cleared of traffic, and a reporter or two managed to find their way there. A car was already waiting for the Sorceress and her retinue on arrival. It was flanked by Esthar military vehicles to pick up Dael and her company. It was there that the group parted ways, the Order of Hyne going one way and Esthar's Hawks going another. However, before they left, they had met in the lobby one last time with each other. At that point, as they finished docking and moved to leave, and the Order of Hyne members were allowed to go first, the Sorceress, who had been somber and dark up until now, managed a smile again as she personally went up to each one of the Esthar's Hawks and thanked them for being her escort. Dael, of course, was included among them, and she could remember as Mianyl went an extra step and actually embraced her momentarily. The young officer was caught off guard, and could do little other than stand there stupidly or return it, and so she ended up electing for the latter.

"At least one good thing did come out of this mission, lt. commander." She told her with a soft smile. "I was able to meet you face-to-face. Again, I don't expect to change your mind anytime soon…but please…remember what I offered you."

The last Dael had seen of her, she saw her go into a closed version of the car from last time. This one was once again an old beater, but was configured to have extra back space to include her and everyone in her retinue. They actually rode with her for a few blocks, flanking her car in their own vehicles, before they went to the rail station. After that, her car drove off and the others were left to disembark for Fort Morningstar.

Dael was currently on the train, thinking over what she had seen before they had landed with a half-frown and tired look on her face. Coming in close to Esthar and once again going along the rocky coast, they had finally been in reach of news transmissions. For lack of anything better to do, they tuned in. Dael couldn't help but grow disgusted with the reaction rather quickly. The news media represented the people's opinions, and the majority opinion in Esthar, however naïve, was that everything that was going on in Sybenia was "over there" and safely out of sight and out of mind. Oh, there were defectors, alright, including those who pointed out moves from Sybenia that were clearly the forerunners to hostile action against Esthar. But since the majority opinion was to stay out of war at all costs, that was what was pushed, both by the government as well as the news. The few representatives that had called for stronger action in wake of the agreement were already being publicly crucified by the media and their political opponents eager to get their seats in the next election. The concensus opinion being put forth was that this prevented a war, and therefore was the best outcome…even if the fact that no one was willing to extend their hand in gratitude to the Sorceress for this "major victory" indicated that people knew the truth that this was subpar.

Still, the way the politicians and pundits were spinning it, one would think this had been the biggest peace treaty since the one between Alexandria and Lindbulm. The only thing that kept it from being cast in that light was the two-faced nature of the politicians. Barbarossa had overstepped his bounds. Desperate to make this whole thing look like not only a major victory but also to make himself the one responsible, he had come out publicly and made a grand speech about how wonderful of a victory this was. Predictably, Representative Kenzell came out soon after and pointed how many issues were still unresolved by the agreements. Also predictably, Representative Meaks came to Barbarossa's aid while simultaneously bringing to light doubt upon the treatment of the Order of Hyne members who had been taken by Sybenia…what amounted too "stabbing our allies in the back", by which they meant the Order of Hyne and the very individual they had relied upon to gain them a peaceful settlement, namely Sorceress Mianyl. In this regard, Dael couldn't help but agree with them. Sorceress Mianyl had stuck her neck out for them, and in the end they had told her to accept an agreement that essentially left her order to rot. Peaceful and pacifistic as the woman seemed, Dael had a feeling she would flex a bit more of her power when she met with Barbarossa face-to-face later.

Dael wasn't sure how she felt at the moment. After a few days at sea with little to her duties other than to make sure the Sorceress was safe, which was easy on leaving Sybenian waters, she had time to rest and relax both physically and mentally. And yet, she still felt oddly drained. It was probably due to the meagerness of their victory. She wasn't sure what she wanted exactly at the moment as she rode on the train, watching, through the window, as Fort Morningstart loomed closer. She couldn't help but feel a bit comfortable as she saw it, however. Although she had only been there a few months, it already felt very much like home.

"Gil for your thoughts."

Dael turned her head slightly over to her side, seeing her adjacent seat. Carbuncle, who had spent most of the ride napping, was now sitting up and looking at her. She couldn't help but hesitate a moment. It was odd… For a long time, she had found the Guardian Force rather annoying and troublesome, and she still did in many ways. However…much had changed on this mission. Between him coming to her defense against Taraketh and being her only friend and confidant in Sybenia, Dael had warmed up to the creature considerably. Strange as it seemed, she now had to admit that Carbuncle was one of her only real friends. As such, she almost managed a smile to the green creature as she looked back out the window.

"Nothing really…and I mean it." She finally said. "I'm not really sure what to feel right now. Definitely not good…"

"Might as well." Carbuncle answered with a shrug. "Like it or not, your part in this is finished. It's over and done. Now we've all got to live with what comes next."

"I know that…" Dael answered. "The only thing is…I'm not really sure what to expect from here…looking at the base as it comes in. I mean, I guess I should be glad to get back. Even if this is a place of duty, I'm still going to have a chance to check in on Quaren."

"Oh, that's right." The Guardian Force responded. "Wonder how his planned transfer is going… And don't forget your 'ward'."

Dael let out a half-chuckle. "I think I'll almost feel good to see him too, even if the first thing he says is asking me how he plans to let me have access to protected files. Heck, I'd even like to find out how Cryder did on his mission." She slumped a bit soon after. "But still…I don't know what to feel. I mean…I'm not sure what would make a better difference, hanging around for a few days just getting back into the old military life and talking to the few people I know well enough to have conversations with…or just getting onto another mission. I mean…I felt like a fifth wheel for most of the last mission, and it didn't help that it didn't end the well."

Carbuncle let out a chuckle of his own. "You got to learn to run with it, Dael. What were you supposed to do? Intimidate Rozan into signing peace treaties with your aggressive use of reflection magic?" He paused, then suddenly raised his eyebrows. "Or perhaps lightning magic? I almost forgot…you've got new powers. You better learn how to use them. Now that you have truly offensive magic underneath your belt, it'll come in useful."

Dael leaned up a bit at that. That was right…she now had command of another Guardian Force. In all the hubbub, she had practically forgotten that herself. She soon turned to Carbuncle. "That's right… Does that mean I'm junctioned to two of you now? That I'm twice as strong?"

"Oh no." Carbuncle responded, immediately lapsing into a "tutor" mode. "That's not how it works. Your body normally only handles one spirit coursing through it. Two is already pushing it, which is, in some ways, how a junction works. Already, there's negative effects-"

Abruptly, the green creature froze, slapping a paw over his mouth. However, Dael immediately snapped fully to him, eyes going wide.

"…Negative effects?" She echoed. "What do you mean, 'negative effects'? You never said anything about that!"

Carbuncle swallowed a bit. After a moment, his simple face somehow managed a sheepish look. "Heh…it never really occurred to me… I mean, it's not too bad… You know…adjustments in strength…making sure you don't exert yourself too much…extra hair and nail growth…maybe slight voice changes…" He coughed and muttered. "…Memory loss…"

"Memory loss?!" Dael cried.

"Would you stop shouting like that!" Carbuncle complained. "You're going to get all your superiors staring at us!"

"What do you mean by memory loss?" Dael continued, only a little quieter. "What kind of memory loss?"

Carbuncle held his paws up in a shrug. "You know…events…past experiences…old friends…parental figures…parents…siblings… Memory loss."

Dael gaped at Carbuncle wide-eyed.

"Well, it's not like you'd notice it…" Carbuncle insisted. "That's the thing about memory loss. If you don't recall it ever happening, then you obviously don't forget you forgot something…"

Dael's eyes rolled. "That makes me feel so much better…" She glared at him. "You mean to tell me I might have already forgotten most of my early life and I don't even know it?"

Carbuncle let out a sigh. "…Why do you think I'm always urging you to open up? The more time you spend consciously remembering things about yourself, the less likely you are to forget anything. If it makes you feel any better, I haven't seen you lose any memory yet. You're doing quite well. Better than anyone else I've ever been junctioned too."

Dael gave a sardonic grimace. "Thanks." She answered sarcastically.

"Hey…" Carbuncle responded. "You don't like it, just disjunction yourself. You won't get rid of me, but you'll get rid of me being fused to you. You'll lose all your enhanced abilities but you won't have to worry about memory loss."

The young officer frowned. "I can't do that now…" She groaned. "I'm the youngest lieutenant commander in the history of Esthar's Hawks. I get rid of the junction, and I'll be back to a private level. This power is about the only thing that sets me apart from the other rookies."

The green creature gave her a look after that, and something of a frown. Dael didn't see it, but if she had it would have indicated that the creature thought there was a bit more to her than just the benefits she had received from Carbuncle. However, he sighed and merely shrugged. "Then don't complain. It's the tradeoff. You didn't think all these new powers would come free, did you?"

Dael merely sighed again.

"Anyway…" Carbuncle continued. "How many natural abilities you get depends on the strength of the Guardian Force. Most of us are all around the same level. Just because I'm little doesn't mean Quetzacoatl is any better or worse than me. So technically, you could swap out for her if you wanted. But even if you don't, just the mere fact that she made a bond with you means that you have access to her magic affinity now, which in this case is lightning."

The young officer had to get over her anger at the sudden mention of the side effect for a moment longer. However, as she realized she still had all of her memories (at least, she hoped she did), and that even if she didn't she couldn't afford to not use a Guardian Force, she was able to raise her eyebrows a bit at this realization.

"Lightning's good." She admitted. "Pretty potent…able to do a lot of damage to machinery as well as living targets… And if I'm able to throw bolts as good as she was doing back in that chamber…"

Carbuncle sighed at this. "…Unfortunately, you're not." He stated. "You're getting good at using my spells, slowly but surely, but I can tell they lack real power to them. If you had tried reflecting Quetzacoatl's magic without my help, you would have been in trouble. You need a lot more focus and practice."

Dael rolled her eyes and sighed. "Exactly how much practice?"

"A few years, normally." Carbuncle retorted, frowning right back. "Magic isn't some kiddy art. It's not something you can just pick up and do one day. There are people in the world predisposed to be good at magic and people who aren't, and even they have to work hard to get the full benefit out of it. And I'm sorry to say you aren't predisposed so you need a teacher."

The Esthar's Hawk frowned at the mention of that again. "Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not taking your suggestion." She stated flatly. "I'm not leaving Esthar's Hawks to spend a few years in the Order of Hyne, especially not now when we're nearly at war."

"Well, without a tutor, there's very little you can do on your own to improve your magic." Carbuncle answered. "At the bare minimum, you're going to have to drill yourself from now on. You need to find yourself a nice outdoor area secluded and away from your fellow Hawks so that you can practice throwing your lightning around. You're not careful, you'll shock yourself with it. Lightning is potent but it's also really hard to focus."

Dael frowned, but then simply looked back out the window and propped her head up on her hand and shoulder again. "Maybe I'll have a few days to try it out…" She thought aloud with an exhale. Of course, she thought that was far from likely. This "peace treaty" didn't mean a break for her. Far from it…it meant things would be worse than ever. She wasn't sure if she'd get any free time for a long while to come. And "easy" as most of her assignments had been so far, the disaster that occurred in Follett aside, she might be seeing some real combat fairly soon, especially if war broke out. Clearly, there was a lot on the young woman's mind.

In fact, with Carbuncle's latest comments filling her head, Dael was so awash in her own thoughts over everything that happened that she hardly noticed when the train finally pulled into the station. It wasn't until her superior officers got up from their own seats and began to get out that she snapped her head to the side, and realized that they were now stopped. Quickly, she rose to her feet herself, and Carbuncle leapt out of his chair and onto the ground to follow her. Soon after, she began to move out of the train. Already, she began to plan what she would do when she got back. She had rested long enough. Now she wanted to get physically active…to actually move around and work a bit on her technique. Perhaps the rush of endorphins would help her feel better about everything…

Moving in behind the captains, and keeping a distance out of respect, she watched as, one by one, they dismounted the train steps and went onto the platform. Soon, she moved up behind them. Much as in a regular passenger train, she had to step down a series of stairs before touching down on the concrete of the platform. In spite of everything, she was glad to get her feet back on the ground this close to Fort Morningstar. One last car ride still awaited her before she got back, and she was eager for it, but each end of a "journey" brought her closer. The sun was out, and despite the cool breeze, it was still rather warm and pleasant. She looked up after the captains and down the platform, intending to follow them out front to the car.

However, something soon caught her vision, followed soon after by her full attention. An Esthar Hawk, a commander by the rankings on him, was standing at the platform waiting for her. He was flanked by two MPs. She had scarcely managed to touch down when all three of them began to walk up to her. It didn't take long for both Dael and Carbuncle to slow to a halt and stare at them as they neared, soon confirming beyond any doubt they were here for her.

The young officer didn't know what to do, but soon felt nervousness. Whatever it was, it couldn't possibly be good news. They didn't send out superior officers flanked by MPs for that. But, to the best of her knowledge, she hadn't done anything. Everything that she had that was potentially out of line, namely her Guardian Force and her "ward", were both cleared by Colonel Morrick Regalis himself. And she had been at sea for days. She thought of Cryder… He hadn't done anything and they were holding her accountable for it, did he? The thought filled her with anxiety. It was all she could do to look "official" and calm when they finally reached her.

Immediately, the trio came to a stop. Dael, so tense, nearly forgot to salute. However, she managed one just as the commander arrived. He saluted back, giving her an "at ease" sign. On seeing that, Dael eased slightly. That was something, at least…

"Lt. Commander Levinson?" The commander called out, confirming her identity.

Dael managed a nod back. "Yes sir?"

"There's been an issue that concerns you while you were away on your latest assignment." The commander responded. "You personally are not under any penalty or accusation, but the matter at hand is rather serious. A federal crime has been committed and I have been ordered to bring you to the holding facilities in Esthar city proper."

The young officer was both confused and puzzled by this sort of response. It wasn't her…but had something to do with her? Was it Cryder after all? She blinked a moment.

"Begging your pardon, sir…but what kind of crime?"

I am going to kill him. I'm going to hit him so hard I'm going to knock the crazy out of him. I'm going to deport him back to Leuco. I'm going to have him thrown in the brig proper. Ugh! How could he do this to me?!

Dael had to exert every bit of self-control she possessed to keep from flying into a total rage. However, it was obvious she was incensed as she walked down the somber, tiled, concrete halls of Esthar Juvenile Correctional Institute. Each footstep sounded out with such violence and force that her soft boots nevertheless set out sharp echoes down the hallway. Her escorts, two MPs, the commander from earlier, Carbuncle (who was keeping his distance from her wrath) and now two juvenile detention guards actually turned slightly to her more than once, obviously picking up on her behavior and barely-restrained emotions. But today, she didn't really care. All she knew was that she couldn't stop from thinking of the harshest, most torturous disciplines she could imagine and try and inflict them on him for this. Again and again, she ran over things she wanted to say to him…mostly in yells and tongue lashings.

She couldn't believe he had gone through with it. This was practically stabbing her in the back. The only good side to this was that it was keeping her mind off the "bad news", which, in spite of herself, Dael would have felt nervous and afraid about if she had the chance. The team that had been dispatched to Leuco, including Cryder, had vanished. Dael had no idea what they had been doing, and Esthar's Hawks weren't talking publicly about it, as was standard procedure to avoid the press or listening ears from realizing they had been behind it. Leuco was talking about a break-in on one of their facilities, but they were being quiet too and hadn't fingered anyone. So much the better…but it didn't change the fact that Cryder was gone along with the espionage team, and no one was saying anything about where they could be. For all she knew, they were captured…or worse. However, her mind wasn't focusing too much on this.

She just kept seeing Bahamut's face in her mind's eye.

Apparently, for one reason or another, the kid couldn't just wait for her to get back. A mere two days before they made port, while they were leaving Sybenia behind, he had finally done it. He attempted to break into the Gordian Vault. Dael didn't know how he had managed to sneak past security in the fort and get transportation to Esthar's city proper, and even then even less clue of how he had managed to find his way to the Vault. If that was all, she would have been plenty furious enough, even though Bahamut had plenty of time over the past few days to search for ways around security in the fort. He was already only allowed access to the lowest security measures, but still…how could he have gotten out the front doors without letting someone know? However, this wasn't the worst part.

Somehow, impossibly, and to the confusion and surprise of everyone involved…he wasn't spotted until he actually entered the Vaults himself. Beyond all expectations, he had somehow passed all of the security countermeasures and checkpoints. It was beyond belief. No one knew how it would have been possible. The espionage teams in Esthar's Hawks couldn't get through that level of security. How had a child done it? Dael didn't know…and frankly didn't care. She was too enraged by the fact that he had somehow done it, and had to break a whole slew of federal laws to do it. Thinking about how he managed it only made her madder. Perhaps he managed to steal hacking equipment and access computer files on how to use it? That was another few felonies…

The Juvenile Correctional Institute was far from a maximum security facility. After all, it dealt with children. Though they crimes they had committed were quite real, the oldest person in there was sixteen. Bahamut was estimated to be twelve years of age. As a result, there was a good chance he would have been in a normal cell. However, the magnitude of the crime had caused him to be relocated deeper in the facility. He was actually being kept in a high security, guard watch cell at the moment that was extra thick, enclosed, and had only one exit through a guard checkpoint. Had Dael been in a "nicer" mood, she might have thought it was overkill. Yet at the moment, she felt like throwing him in solitary.

"Now, he's certainly a minor." The commander spoke to her as they walked along. "And seeing as he didn't successfully steal anything or cause any major problems that we can find, or even property damage of any kind, we would normally only be charging him with trespassing and battery of the three Esthar's Hawks that intercepted him…" The officer paused. "Although, I will admit…he managed to break the jaw of one and dislocate the arm of another. However, that's not the main concern. This facility was extremely high security and the penalties are much higher than simply slapping on the wrist. That said…we've never had to deal with a child breaching security. Frankly, this is unprecedented. So you'll understand that we're reluctant to release him."

"Believe me…" Dael said with an edge in her voice. "At this moment, I'd prefer to throw him into a superprison…"

Dael hadn't felt such loathing for another person as she felt for Bahamut right now. After all the work to get him there, he couldn't even wait for her to try and get him some access to a few files. His stupid crazy streak had gotten him in deep trouble. He was so obsessed with that stupid finding of Leviathan that he had actually gone so far to break into the Vaults. The Vaults! How in the name of anything had he managed to do that? He couldn't just do a minor security violation, he had to somehow get all the way into the Vaults! And how come they didn't stop him before he had a chance to commit so great a federal offense? Was security that lax? Was it that easy to find ways around the checkpoints? Did they have idiots working there? No wonder she had heard nothing about this in the news…it would be an embarrassment to national security that some 12 year old waltzed into their most secure installation…

"As to what I asked you earlier," The commander continued. "On the way here… We need to be absolutely sure…"

Dael's anger abated long enough to stifle a sigh. "Commander, I solemnly swear to you, that boy was not in contact with anyone after meeting us. He never was out of our sight for a moment, and he was always in the same chamber as one of us during the trip to Esthar. What more, there was absolutely no luggage taken by any of us on that boat. He was never in contact with anyone during the trip."

The commander let out a sigh of his own. "…We understand that, lt. commander. However, if you feel you may have accidentally slipped at any time, whether during his time in Fort Morningstar or now…"

"There was no slip. I'm sure of it." Dael responded.

"…We find it very hard to believe that the boy was able to infiltrate the Gordian Vault without help and equipment. Although we have recovered nothing and no evidence to this effect other than supposition, it makes more than logical sense that he would have been in contact with someone while you were gone."

Dael didn't bother responding to this. Honestly…she didn't know how. She knew what they were insinuating…that Dael, and possibly the colonel himself, had been suckered by this boy. That somehow he was part of a larger operating agency that was conducting espionage on Esthar…or perhaps the same who were hired to rob the Gordian Vault earlier. Dael knew nothing could be farther from the truth. As to how she knew nothing could be farther from the truth, she didn't know. As the commander said, even without evidence, the case was against him. The fact remained he had somehow gotten into the Vaults. No one could do that without help or assistance. Hence, someone had to be helping him…and why would anyone want to help him if his sole mission was just to find the location of Leviathan? It was more likely there was a nefarious purpose… So why did she think he was innocent?

Again, she just had that strange feeling inside her regarding the boy…like somehow she knew she could trust him. She almost thought that was sheer stupidity at this point. After all, she had trusted him to behave himself while she was gone and look what had come of that. Then again…she had never exactly secured a promise from him… At any rate, in spite of all that, she still felt as if he was somehow trustworthy. Something was honest about him. She knew, somehow, when she met him in that library that he wasn't one to lie, even if the truth was something that would only get him into more trouble. Of course, he had lied to the colonel…but that was a lie Dael had embraced. In regards to her, he was always truthful and honest. Almost blatantly so. The young officer was confused. Was he really innocent? Was it wishful thinking on her part?

At any rate, she was almost completely certain that there was no way he could have contacted anyone without someone knowing about it while in the fort. All lines were monitored for destination and source, even the officer lines. No radio transmissions could be made inside the facility that were unauthorized due to signal dampening. The only time he could have called anyone would have been when outside of the fort. However…that made no sense. How would alleged "helpers" know when to expect his call? Or even where he was? Or even that he had ever left Leuco at all? It would have required an elaborate scheme that Dael found herself unable to swallow, even if it was, however difficult, still plausible.

"The colonel has already been alerted." The commander went on, shaking her from his thoughts. "He's taken a personal interest in the case. He should be here shortly."

Dael looked forward to the commander, a bit wide-eyed, for a moment, then stifled another sigh as she looked back. Terrific. The colonel was going to be there too. Now he was going to be there personally to shame her for ever bringing that boy to Esthar in the first place. She couldn't believe this…

In all honesty, in spite of her anger, Dael couldn't help but feel the need to defend this boy…if for no other reason than to protect her own reputation in bringing him to Fort Morningstar. But how? The only way she could was by confessing his initial story, saying he broke into the Vaults because he wanted to find Leviathan. Not only was that story nearly impossible to swallow and the details sounded like sheer lunacy, it would confirm she had been lying all along and brought a mentally ill individual into a secure military installation. Twelve years old or no, that would be a gigantic black mark on her record and she would be looking at severe discipline issues herself. This was a real fix, no doubts there…

Finally, the end of the hall loomed up ahead. They had passed by several doors, but there was a thick armored one with an electronic lock just ahead, with a somewhat lighter security door nearby. They soon reached the first. One of the detention guards went over to the lock, produced a magnetic card, and swiped it through the reader. He entered a code soon after, and a red light that was on the lock turned to green. A large clicking was heard. The other guard came over and soon pulled the door open. Both of them looked to face Dael. After doing so, the commander and the MPs looked to her.

"We'll be in the adjoining room." He stated. "I hope you understand we have to record this, just in case he slips something up."

Dael felt her stomach turn. While she doubted any terrorist information would be revealed, she had a feeling something would come out about Bahamut's mental state. However, there was nothing for it. She simply nodded in response. "Understood, sir."

The commander turned without another word, and the MPs with him. They made their way to the adjoining door. However, Dael didn't watch them go in. Inhaling one more time to steady herself, she began to advance to the now-open doorway, and soon passed inside, Carbuncle still on her heels. The detention guards let the door shut behind her.

There wasn't much to the room. Apparently, it was normally used for interrogation. There were no cameras, but that was irrelevant. A large section of one wall was dominated by a mirror that could have all sorts of monitoring devices and watchers on the other side of it. Other than that, there was simply a table, chairs, and a second door on the opposite side. For a few brief seconds, Dael stood in there alone with Carbuncle. The Guardian Force was still rather tense around her given her demeanor, and so he hopped into the outstretched chair. Dael, on the other hand, remained standing. It was quiet, and a bit unsettling. She looked around slightly, including to the two-way mirror. She knew they were loading up in there while she stood here, and probably already watching her…

However, all thoughts of that were able to be pushed aside as the door clicked in front of Dael. She looked forward, and soon saw two more juvenile guards opening the door. They proceeded to escort someone in…Bahamut. He looked a bit roughed up and dirty, and they had handcuffed him, leg-shackled him, and put him in a set of orange overalls. He already looked like a convicted inmate. After all, his offense was nothing to sneeze at. At any rate, soon after moving him in, they led him over to the chair and half-offered/half-forced him to sit in it. In the end, after a moment of hesitation, he took it and sat down. After that, the guards exited the room once again. The door swung shut behind them, and after letting out a metallic clang through the room…the two were now alone.

Bahamut looked up to Dael and stared. Dael, on her part, stood with her arms crossed and glared back at him. Her stare was hard and angry, although she showed only a frown at the moment. Bahamut, on his part, was his normal stoic and controlled self. However, a bit to Dael's surprise, there was just the slightest hint of regret in his eyes. Not nearly as much as she wanted, however. She'd have preferred to see him bawling, cringing, and begging for forgiveness. Carbuncle, on his part, looked between the two of them, waiting for something to break the silence, but not willing to do it himself this time.

After half a minute of silence, he inhaled.

"…I'm sorry about this." He said, mostly calmly.

"You're damn right, you better be sorry." Dael snapped back, letting her volume and anger finally come out. "Do you have the slightest idea what you've done? Let's forget the topic of how you did it for a few moments and just focus on what you did. You violated every maximum security and classified law in the record for the government of Esthar! If any of the information stored in the Gordian Vault got out, it would mean more than weapons and codes! It would be crop data, budget numbers, statistics, everything someone would need to frustrate the economy and ruin hundreds of businesses! Do you realize that if you were 17 years old those guards in there would have been authorized to shoot you on sight? Now I don't know what's going to happen to you! I don't know if they're going to send you to prison until you're 21 or if they'll deport you or what! And all of this is not even starting to mention what this means for me! I'm pretty much responsible for you! Even if you're ruled a minor, that means they nail my ass to the wall! After all I've done for you!"

This, however, caused Bahamut to narrow his gaze at her. "…We had an even tradeoff. I got you back to Esthar, and you helped me out by giving me a place to stay. I'd say we were even."

Carbuncle let out a grimace at that and recoiled…and just in time too, as Dael advanced on the table and slammed her hands on it, glaring at Bahamut.

"You've got a lot of nerve talking to me like that! I've been trying to save your scrawny butt all morning! Do you know right now they think you're in a terrorist cell? That some organization got you here so that they could send you into the Vault to steal things for them?"

Bahamut frowned at that. "They have absolutely no proof to make such a claim other than their own arrogance." He flatly responded. "They just can't fathom that their precious defenses could be bypassed by a twelve-year old. If I was an Esthar's Hawk, they'd think nothing of it."

Dael kept her frown. "Keep talking like that. I'm sure that will really make them appeal to you."

"I said I was sorry." Bahamut responded to her. "I can't do anything else."

The young officer let out a snort. "'I'm sorry' doesn't really cut it when you commit a federal offense."

Bahamut frowned again. "I meant I can't do anything else for you." He flatly stated. "Look…I'm sorry I got myself caught going in there because I know that it made trouble for you. But I'm not sorry about what I did or why I got caught. I'm sorry to say this, but the people in the Vaults are inept. None of them even noticed it until I pointed it out, and I had to get myself caught to say it. They wouldn't have believed or listened to me otherwise."

Dael paused on hearing this bit. For the first time, her anger abated. Instead, she looked to him in puzzlement, although she still had considerable irritation on her face. "What are you talking about?"

"I hate to 'insult' the guards of the Gordian Vault again…" Bahamut continued. "But I'm saying that the only reason I got caught, the only reason I'm in this cell, the only reason anyone got injured, was because I turned myself in and they thought they'd attack me first and ask questions later." He gave a snort. "It's not surprising that they didn't admit that a twelve year old wasn't apprehended at all but turned himself in…"

The young officer's irritation began to be fully replaced by confusion. "Wait a minute…what are you saying? You went to all the trouble to break in and then let yourself be caught? None of this is making any sense…"

Dael, however, soon trailed off as she heard a noise behind her. The door was opening again. Immediately, she turned her head around to see who it was. A second later, and she immediately stood at full attention. As soon as the door opened, she was just in time to see a few additional MPs but mostly the large, formidable body of Colonel Regalis himself. He caught her completely off guard. More of her anger and surprise abated as she fully smoothed herself out, trying to look like the model officer. She quickly went rigid, legs together, stood up straight, and gave a salute.

She soon noticed, however, that Regalis looked considerably preoccupied. He paused only long enough to quickly give her an at-ease salute, but even that one was done so quickly it was practically an afterthought. The door was closed behind him by the MPs, and he quickly began to approach the table as well. Seeing this, Dael, growing a bit nervous, quickly moved to one side. Regalis moved forward a bit more, and seized the opportunity the young officer had given him. He planted his own hands on the desk and faced the boy sitting across from him. As Carbuncle got further back from his presence, Bahamut stared at him without expression. Yet when Dael focused on the colonel, she saw that his own look was insistent and fierce.

Instantly, she took this for anger. Swallowing a bit, she began to speak. "Sir, about this break in…I swear there was no malicious intent-"

The colonel turned to Dael momentarily, his look dark. It immediately quieted her again, as she was struck dumb by the look.

"Thank you, lt. commander." He said to her in a tone that revealed its true wording: Be quiet. After that, he turned back to Bahamut. Over the next few moments, Dael was soon surprised yet again.

"Young man…I just got back from checking in with Gordian Vault security command and inventory. What you saw was confirmed. Now tell me…did you see the perpetrators? Anything at all that indicated to them? Even the smallest hint?"

Bahamut sighed and shook his head in response. "I'm afraid not, colonel. Like I said when I was interrogated, the theft had to have occurred long before I arrived."

The colonel frowned. He let out a long exhale, and was silent for a moment. He bowed his head slightly, then looked up again. He spoke again. "The only trace that they had ever been tampered with at all was the access codes. Those were hardlined into the computer. Someone input them sometime within a three day window two weeks ago, definitely in between the last break in within the Gordian Vault and your break in. Other than that…there's no physical evidence of any kind. No fingerprints, obviously, but no signs of any access ever being granted. No traces of hacks. No lost duplicate code redundancy built in for this purpose. No security footage of people ever arriving. Absolutely nothing. Bad as the earlier security breach was, this is easily ten times worse. The previous individuals who struck the Vault left behind a great mess in their wake. For all their caution, they tripped five separate alarms and three countermeasures. Whoever did this did a perfect job. We can't even find a stray hair inside the Vaults."

"Even I wasn't that thorough." Bahamut said with a frown. "I'm sure, at least, they can find my hair lying around the place."

Dael, at this point, was practically flabbergasted. Carbuncle looked rather confused as well as he looked between everyone. Far from being condemnatory or severe, the colonel seemed to practically be confiding in Bahamut. He didn't seem to care about him breaking in at all. However…what were they talking about? From the context, she could only come to one conclusion. There was a third break in, one that occurred between the first one and Bahamut's? If so, she was stunned all over again. That was supposed to be one of the most secure installations on the planet! Now people were treating it like some convenient store's cash register in the bad part of town.

Apparently, however, she wasn't the only one confused. And where she would hold her tongue as part of decorum, Carbuncle soon perked up his head and raised a paw.

"Excuse me…I don't mean to interrupt…" He stated aloud. "But, um…what exactly is going on here? I was under the impression that 'Bahamut' over here did something bad, but you don't seem to be that upset about it."

The colonel went silent. He looked to Carbuncle for a moment. Dael, for a few seconds, felt her anxiety increase. Although the colonel was usually more than genial with the Guardian Force, the look on his face, the urgency, made her think he might have gone too far this time. However, he paused for only a moment, before exhaling.

"…It seems the whole story wasn't told to you or…" Here, he turned and looked to Dael, before turning back to Carbuncle. "Lt. Commander Levinson. Normally I would leave others this distinction, but in the interest of saving time and, since I would like your input on this, Mr. Carbuncle, I'll just tell you."

Dael was surprised yet again. Did he just ask for Carbuncle's advice on something? The young officer was finding it rather hard to hide her growing puzzlement and confusion at this point.

"You seem to know the first part. Young master Bahamut here…" He continued, gesturing ahead of him. "For the reason he has testified so far as simply 'research', attempted to break into the Gordian Vault and managed to actually bypass several security checkpoints and reach the inner areas. As to how he managed such a feat is still coming out, but we now know a large part of his plan was using his smaller size to get into a crate of materials that was to be transferred into the inner areas of the Vault, thereby bypassing almost all initial security scans. How he bypassed the others is still being discovered, but none of that it what has my interest at the moment. Suffice to say that the crate departed from Fort Morningstar itself, and all transmissions out of Fort Morningstar are monitored, including radio ones. The crate itself remained sealed and watched for the entire journey. For these reasons…it was quite impossible for Bahamut to make contact with any hostile parties during the trip. So long as what Lt. Commander Levinson said is perfectly accurate in how she tracked him after meeting with him, which I have no reason to doubt, there is little reason to believe that Bahamut had any assistance or was operating under any hostile pretenses for another organization other than an extremely good set of circumstances. Much as conspiracy theories abound and people may doubt it…it appears as if there is indeed no reason to prosecute him for anything other than trespassing and defending himself against Vault guards. The latter charge I can probably get dropped, and there's little other than we can do about the first, since he's a minor, other than give a fine to his ward, which in this case would legally be the state already. On that note…I'll see if I can't get him out of here by the end of today."

Dael took all of this in, and, in spite of her earlier anger, and still wanting to chew Bahamut out…felt some relief. She was a bit surprised, but apparently the colonel believed him too. If all these things were true, then it seemed as if she had been worried for nothing as far as hostile intents were concerned. Still, she was a bit surprised that the colonel was getting him out so easily and quickly… He seemed to be trying to get rid of that issue as soon as possible, preoccupied with other things. Of course, given the situation in Sybenia, that was perfectly possible. However, Dael would soon hear greater reasons than that.

"However, it wasn't because he managed to tip off enough security checkpoints that he was apprehended within the Vaults." The colonel continued. "It was because he noticed that there was already a theft that had occurred in the Gordian Vault, and he realized from news reports that there hadn't been a break-in since that one incident a few weeks ago, and that nothing had successfully been stolen. Therefore, he concluded there was a true theft and that since the alarms hadn't been triggered yet it could have happened today, with the perpetrators still in the Vault. He tried to report it to the guards. Naturally, on seeing him inside, the guards tried to apprehend him…rather roughly too, causing him to fight back. However, in the end, it didn't really matter. Whoever had made the theft was long gone. The area was such high security that individuals never even went in to do inventory except for once every month or so."

On hearing this, Dael seemed to forget for a moment her own place, and found herself suddenly speaking up. "What was stolen, sir?"

The colonel again looked back to her. He gave a frown, but it wasn't at her inquiry, but rather at what had been taken.

"The same thing the last set of thieves were after, lt. commander. The essences."

Now Carbuncle looked up rather strongly, seeming to gain full interest in hearing this. "That's what was stolen?" He nearly exclaimed. He even had a bit of fear on his voice. A moment later, however, he turned a bit grouchy-sounding instead as his eyes focused on the lead officer.. "I don't meet to cast aspirations, colonel…but after the first break-in, don't you think security should have been heightened around them to make sure that no one could try this again?"

The colonel looked back to him, his own look dark.

"Security was heightened." He responded. "It simply didn't seem to do much good. Whoever broke in somehow got far smarter as well."

There was a pause of silence around the room. Everyone looked to each other for a moment, taking in this latest information now that they were all on the same page. Eventually, Regalis sighed.

"…As you can probably guess, we're naturally assuming the people who did it were the same ones behind the initial break-in, even if they were far better prepared. There's no evidence of any kind this time around. We're checking the radio transmissions out of Esthar…but that's a stab in the dark. It could take months to find anything, or never. However…we have managed to collect considerable more information on the initial attempt to steal the essences. Most of it was shelved following Sybenia's recent change in stance in the world. However, it's being reopened now. We can't commit too many resources to it, but we're going to see if we can't find a better culprit."

"Far be it for me to tell you all how to do your jobs…" Carbuncle spoke up again, once more sounding insistent and actually standing up on his chair. "But I hope you guys all realize that this is incredibly serious. I don't know if you guys thought that incident back in Edge and Junon 200 years ago was a bunch of malarkey, but I assure you it wasn't. I was there. And I can personally tell you that you don't want any more Guardian Forces running around. It's too great a risk. Especially since those essences weren't used on purpose. Leviathan told all of us that they were the strongest ones… You need to find whoever did that quickly before they figure out how to use them."

The colonel exhaled a bit on hearing that. "As I said, we're working on it. But the fact of the matter is, none of us know how to use them. They're a mystery even to the Order of Hyne, as far as we know."

The Guardian Force sighed. "It's really not that difficult or scientific…" He grumbled. "You just basically have whatever you want to turn into a Guardian Force drink it, then absorb enough of their element to become one."

"That's already more than we know and more than we have on record." The colonel responded. "Ever since the essences entered the Gordian Vault, we've mostly guarded them simply on the assumption that they were important…not necessarily knowing how or why. At any rate, it is your professional opinion that these essences could represent to national security?"

Dael again was almost amazed at the amount of deference given to Carbuncle, but the green creature merely frowned. "No…it's my professional certainty that this is going to represent a threat to everyone. These things aren't to be played with. There's no telling who you could end up bringing back. Some of the old Guardian Forces make all of your precious weapons and missiles and bullets and bombs and swords and pointy sticks look like toys. And if they're anything like Diablos or Siren was? Then you have much bigger problems on your hands."

There was another pause of silence. Regalis bowed his head and let out an exhale. Dael paused momentarily. Once again, Carbuncle was showing his stuff…not only in terms of wisdom of dealing with people, but in terms of his overall knowledge. He was practically being used as a consultant by Regalis at the moment, which itself was a great spectacle for Dael even after having known him for so long.

If Dael hadn't been so focused on that, she might have been looking to Bahamut. He had been watching this entire exchange with stoicism…but now, that Carbuncle had just delivered his latest bit, he looked as if he was tensing up, especially at the mention of the latter two. His face had grown grim and focused.

The colonel paused a few moments longer, but then finally looked up.

"Alright, then." He soon turned back to the green creature. "Mr. Carbuncle…as far as I know, you're the only person available to Esthar at the moment who has as true grasp of knowledge of how to use these essences, what they are exactly, what their limitations are, and how much of a threat they represent. For that reason…even though you are not a military member, I have to ask you to come with me. I've already sent a message ahead to Grand Chancellor Barbarossa giving my personal opinions regarding these thefts in light of what was stolen. I'm trying to schedule a personal meeting with him as to what response Esthar's Hawks can offer. As for what we do next or how to proceed, we likely need all the help we can obtain. I could use you as an advisor."

Again, the very notion made Dael blink. She had just started getting used to taking Carbuncle into every briefing and official business. But imagining him sitting in some stuffy meeting room filled with officials, talking to them…blinking his black button eyes in frustration and waving his paws in irritable motions…

Carbuncle, however, gave a shrug. "Sure…why not? You humans can be so unreasonable and irrational at times, it might do good to have some sanity in a meeting for a change…"

If the colonel was the least bit offended by this, he didn't show it. He simply gave a nod in response to the Guardian Force. After doing so, he straightened again and looked to Dael, who was still showing a large amount of puzzlement and surprise, not only at all she had just heard, but also what had just happened, and how the colonel seemed to defer to Carbuncle. However, on seeing herself being looked at, she immediately straightened, expecting to be ordered to move as well. Instead…she soon got another surprise.

"I'm afraid I must 'borrow' Carbuncle for a few hours, lt. commander. I wish I had time to properly debrief you from your latest mission, but I'm afraid what will have to do for now is a simple 'mission accomplished'. I'll be interested in seeing your report later." He straightened up as he said this latest part, and began to turn to the door. "I'll send the clearance along to have Bahamut released into your custody. By the end of today, I should have the charges dropped under the condition he never attempts anything like this again."

Dael was rather puzzled at this sort of response…especially when she got the connotation. He wasn't really saying what she thought, was he? She barely managed to keep from stammering. "…Thank you sir…but-"

The last word was said so meekly that the colonel didn't seem to get it. Instead, he turned to Carbuncle and gave a nod. "If you'll please step this way, Mr. Carbuncle."

The Guardian Force immediately leapt out of the chair and to Regalis' side, soon following him. Dael soon was left only able to stare as she saw the colonel move to the door and give a knock. The MPs soon opened it, and both he and the green creature filed out. Dael almost said something…but it was too late. The doors shut again, and she was left behind in the silence of the chamber. She looked back to Bahamut. Again, she failed to register the expression on his face. He was looking out as well after the colonel. His mouth hung slightly ajar, as if he wanted to say something, and he had begun to rise from his chair. But in the end, he slumped back down into it and grew calmer again, although his eyes indicated he was thinking about something now…

The young officer couldn't believe it. Carbuncle wasn't even an Esthar's Hawk, and yet he had just been summoned by the colonel as an expert…without her. She knew he wasn't truly a "pet"…but she couldn't help feel like she had just been snubbed.

The various residents working out in Fort Morningstar were known for always staring at Dael's incredible physical displays, but today they had better reason too than usual. Loud pounding was soon resounding throughout the entire room as Dael, face tight with passion, pounded away at a heavy bag. Each blow put a tear in it, as well as sent a cloud of packing material into the sky. She cared for neither, or for the people staring at her. She only continued to pound.

She was mad.

She supposed she shouldn't be. After all, she didn't think of Carbuncle as a pet… Carbuncle definitely didn't think of himself as a pet… So what was the problem? He had been called off on one job and she was left behind. He knew more about these essence things than she did. And she had wanted a chance to get some time to herself to gather her thoughts and work out some. So what was the issue?

Unfortunately, she didn't feel so nonchalant about the whole thing. She was an Esthar's Hawk. She was the one who was supposed to have connections to the colonel. Carbuncle was, even not a pet, a civilian. What more, he lived in her room, ate on her commissary card, slept in a bed she had provided, and, until now, had just been an accessory to every meeting. She couldn't help but feel she had been snubbed. Even if he wasn't a pet, she thought the colonel still would have brought her. Carbuncle always seemed to know better than her to begin with. And now, she had practically be shoved aside so he could know even more. The colonel and the Grand Chancellor and the Sorceresses all knowing more than her…that was understandable. But Carbuncle? Even with her recent change in disposition to him, she was annoyed. Even more so when she was pretty much just abandoned there…almost as if the colonel was brushing her off to just tend to Bahamut…

Bahamut…

That made her feel even worse. Even he seemed to be more in the loop than her. The colonel hadn't even criticized him for breaking into the Gordian Vault in the first place! On that note, she pounded the bag even harder…

Sure enough, she felt like she was being relegated to practically a private or envoy with the way she had been left behind. She was stuck in that room with Bahamut, unsure of how angry to be at him now, her mind going in several different directions. Eventually, she managed to gather as much of herself together to state to him that he wasn't to try anything like this ever again. But even that came off as weak, because she couldn't "lay down the law" on the main reason he had likely gone there in the first place…to find Leviathan or clues leading to him. For all she knew, they were still being monitored. As for what she did say, Bahamut looked at her so plainly and answered her so calmly…it only made her more furious. He wasn't talking to her like she was his ward, parent, guardian, superior officer, or even had any authority at all…more like he was simply doing her a favor. She had pretty much had her fill of being weak and forced to just "go along" with everything during the last mission. She was an officer, after all. She would like to finally be able to do something.

Even as she thought these things, she progressively pounded the bag harder and harder, trying to clear her mind. She thought the physical activity would help her be at ease. Even if she wasn't any stronger, she was well-rested, and so it was taking a long time. She only felt herself grow more furious the more she brooded. Although there were other things to think about, from both a national as well as a personal perspective, she kept thinking back to this latest chain of events. Bahamut didn't even change his routine. The second she finally got him back to the room an hour ago, he just calmly went into the shower as if nothing happened… Who did he think he was?

"Err!"

Dael finished her last punch with an extreme amount of effort…and proceeded to smash her hand right through the canvas of the bag and into the white packing powder on the other side. She paused shortly after doing that, and frowned. Her hand was now covered with powder, as was most of her training uniform. Or, rather, it had more on it than before. That was the end result of her pounding away for so long…plus her past punches. On the ground nearby sat two other bags that already had her fist pound through them. Sighing, she reached up and disconnected the current bag, then tossed it on the ground nearby. It was a good thing she didn't have to pay for these herself…

Instead, Dael moved over to the wall where the heavy swords were after hanging up a fresh bag. She figured she could do that much, after all, and she wasn't yet so annoyed that she forgot to be courteous. After that, she moved over to the wall. The other people working out immediately cleared away, fearful of a woman who was able to put her hand through three heavy bags without even bruising a knuckle. She ran along them for a moment, and finally picked out the heaviest one. Tightening her grip on it, she spun around and prepared to give it its first swing…

And immediately froze in mid-chop, barely stopping in time.

Quaren, also in work-out clothing, snapped back and threw his hands up defensively. With the power Dael was showing, she easily could have busted his skull. She was stunned at how easily she had nearly struck him. Part of the reason she hadn't was because she was strong and skilled enough to halt herself…but the mere fact that she had nearly done so surprised her. What soon shocked her even more was exactly who she was looking out, someone she hadn't seen in over a week…and shouldn't have been there in the first place. For a brief moment, the sheer surprise made her forget her anger and irritation.

"Q…Quaren?" She said, letting the sword fall to his side. "What are you doing here?"

The private, in response, let out a nervous exhale of relief, and swallowed as he straightened up. He wiped his brow. "For the second…glad I didn't just get cleaved in two by a blunt sword…" He muttered aloud. He soon straightened, however, and managed a weak smile to Dael. "I thought I saw you exercising in here when I walked in. I didn't know you were back yet from your big mission."

Dael hesitated a moment, then grimaced. "Yeah…I've had a lot on my mind since I've gotten back…and I'm sorry I forgot to write first thing." She answered a bit lamely. However, she soon shook her head. "But forget about that for a moment. Why are you here? I thought this room was reserved for Class IV members."

Quaren paused momentarily on hearing that. Then, smiling a bit more strongly, he reached into his pocket and produced his military ID. It looked particularly new, even for a rookie. He held it in front of Dael, and she looked to it. After glancing over a few normal items, she soon saw his current status: Class IV International Affairs.

"Just got cleared yesterday. They transferred me here this morning."

Dael couldn't help but be surprised again. She looked up to Quaren once more. "Quaren…are you trying to say you passed the tests to get transferred to Class IV already?"

Quaren eagerly nodded with a grin…before letting out a massive sigh. "It was a nightmare… I think I worked harder in that week than I did in my entire time in the last four years of the Academy. My bones are still hurting… But I wanted to get in before anything really major happened with Sybenia. I had to nag my CO continuously, and I still think the only reason I made all the cutoffs is because Colonel Regalis was endorsing me… But I made it. Aside from being totally exhausted mentally, physically, and in every other department I can think of…I feel great."

Dael blinked again. This was another stunning surprise. She would have thought it would have taken a month for Quaren to clear all the hoops before he could get transferred. However, she assumed between the colonel's endorsement and their need for people in Class IV, it was possible. Apparently things could work fast under the right circumstances. Even so…she was overwhelmed…and even a little put off.

"Well…congratulations, Quaren." She managed after a moment. "I'm…I'm really happy for you."

Quaren stared at her a bit curiously at that, then formed a half-smile. "You almost sound disappointed, Dael."

"It's not that." Dael immediately responded. "It's just…well…I thought I'd be here to walk you through it. You know…to help you study and help you push through the tough parts."

Quaren rubbed the back of his head a bit at that. "Well…I thought it would have been nice too…" He remarked aloud…before quickly going wide-eyed and waving his hands. "Oh…don't take that the wrong way, Dael! I know it wasn't your fault. You're really busy, and you were on an important mission. I was just saying…yeah, it would have been nice if you were there helping out. But I kind of wanted it to be a surprise for you. You know…you come back and see that I'm in your division. And…well…"

The private trailed off here. He looked a bit nervous as he bowed his head slightly. Dael looked at him a bit more intently.

"…What?"

"It's nothing."

"No, go on."

Quaren swallowed a moment, then sighed, before looking back up to Dael.

"…I kind of wanted to make sure I could do it even if no one was backing me up."

Dael was silent in response to that. Quaren was quiet too, and he paused for a moment to moisten his lips. After doing so, he looked back up to Dael with a hesitant smile.

"You know…you got me thinking a bit, Dael…back in that desert. You said, if I really wanted to do this, then I should do it without anyone pushing me. You know, without just wanting to do it because I had a friend. And so…I had to do this to prove that to myself. No one encouraging me. No one telling me to do one think or another or that I have to succeed or it'll be alright if I win. I wanted to do it all by myself, because I figured, if I can't do it on my own, then I don't want it hard enough, and that means there wasn't that good of a reason for doing it in the first place." He paused, and then shrugged. "Besides…again, like you said…there was a chance I only wanted to be here because I liked having support and a friend nearby. If I could do this on my own…then I could prove to myself that I'm not so weak that that's the only way I can ever succeed. That I can set my own goals and meet them."

The young officer was silent for a moment. All the stress from earlier was almost forgotten now. Sighing, she turned and put the heavy sword back on the rack, before looking back to the private.

"Quaren…you should know by now you don't have to prove anything to anyone, least of all me. You know that no one gets into Esthar's Hawks by just 'riding on someone's coattails'. You more than anyone. You've had to fight for every inch you've gotten in this organization, and I know you've refused to back down for years. I knew you could do it all along even if the only one 'cracking the whip' was you."

Quaren managed a smile in response to that, grateful for the compliment. However, he spoke more quietly afterward. "…But I still needed to remind myself about that." He finally said. "You know…it doesn't do much good for other people to believe in me if I don't believe in myself."

Dael paused, but then half-smiled at that. "That's true."

In truth, the young officer was still beaming with pride for her friend. Young and uncertain as Quaren seemed, he had made a great achievement, and he had done it all by himself. Normally, between the physical tests, the codes to memorize, the aptitude tests, and the strategy shifts involved, it wasn't unrealistic for two months to pass before someone could secure a transfer, most of which was spent preparing. To do it in a little over a week was inconceivable, commendation from the colonel and circumstances as they were or no. She'd like to see some of his old bullies pull that off. After a moment, she spoke up again.

"So…any missions yet?"

Quaren shook his head. "I just got here. They know I'm a good sniper, but I don't think they're that eager to throw me into the fryer yet, even after the Follett mission. I'm still unpacking in the barracks." He frowned a bit here. "That's one thing I'll miss about Class II. Mostly, we got tents almost to ourselves, or only shared with a couple guys. Now I'm shoved in a room full of them."

Dael merely shrugged. "Goes with the territory."

Quaren sighed. "I guess you're right." He smiled. "Maybe I should shoot for officer as soon as possible? Get my own room?"

Dael smiled back, but then gave him a look. "On that note…since we're both in the same division and stationed in the same fort…just make sure if you see me in the halls, it's 'Lieutenant Commander' or 'Sir'."

Quaren blushed and rubbed the back of his head a bit nervously. "Heh…right, right…um, sir." He paused momentarily, then opened his eyes a bit more. "Um…sir?"

Dael suppressed a snicker. "I think it's a bit late for it right now, Quaren, and this place is 'unofficial' enough… What is it?"

Quaren paused a bit again, then grew a bit more serious. He leaned in a bit closer to Dael and looked at her. "…Are the news reports telling the truth…about how negotiations went?"

Dael's smile fell. She slowly exhaled. She looked around a bit, seeing that a lot of people were still staring at her. Although she wouldn't leak anything classified, she still didn't want to have to deal with all of their stares. Turning back to Quaren, she motioned ahead.

"Let's get something to drink in the commissary, and I'll tell you all about it…"

Dael wanted a shower herself about two hours later. That's how long the conversation went with Quaren. Not eager to relive that mission so soon, she started things off by having him talk about his tests and exams and other things he had been doing since the Follett mission. Yet eventually, she finally had to talk to him about what had happened in Sybenia. He was very interested in hearing about how well armed the country was as well as whatever she had seen in terms of defenses, but ultimately things came back to the negotiation results. She was forced to tell him that things had not gone nearly as well as they had hoped for, and that the media was fairly accurate in every regard to what the outcome had been.

Quaren was clearly upset about it. Everyone with any real military background would be. This was indicative of what might occur later…what was practically bound to occur. It also cause Dael to ask some questions that she had neglected to check up on in arrival in Esthar.

"About the only thing we can do that will help at this point is use the opportunity to beef up our own military." She mused aloud. "I'd say if ever we needed a full sized army, navy, and air force, now's the time. Esthar's Hawks can't handle all of this. Have they proposed any bills in the Legistlature on that?"

Quaren had blanched in response to that. Dael frowned.

"…I don't like that look on your face."

The private had swallowed. "…Now that we've got this treaty with Sybenia…most of the citizens are telling their representatives to forget about Sybenia and work more on problems like the economy at home and providing more benefits to retirees and the unemployed. There hasn't been a single bill proposed for the military budget or for dealing with Sybenia since. Every time someone talks about it, they'll shot down by their opponents as 'warmongers' and wanting to send Esthar people to die when we've already 'achieved peace'."

Dael had to restrain herself to keep from going into a full-blown tirade on that. People could be so ignorant not to see the writing on the wall, so devoted to their own security and safety that they didn't realize what was happening. They didn't see that they were people living in a rising flood, not wanting to go to the trouble of relocating themselves and their goods to higher ground and content to wait until they were drowned. The few people who were seeing what was coming were being shot down by the nay-sayers and those in favor of the status quo. It would hurt them all in the end. There was no longer any doubt in Dael's mind about that, not after setting foot on Sybenia's shores, seeing Rozan face-to-face, and hearing those damned broadcasts. They weren't going to stop here. Anyone who thought differently was burying their head in the sand.

At any rate, Quaren had little other news to give himself, save the fact that Cryder hadn't reported back. To the best of his knowledge, the team he went with was still on the field. Being an espionage team, it wasn't as easy to check in on their status, thereby creating a paper trail…but Quaren thought they should have been back by now. The fact that they weren't was only another unsettling titem…

One good thing the conversation did, Dael realized as she walked back to her room, was that it got her focused away from her complaints and fixations and more focused on things of consequence, such as what they were going to do about Sybenia now. Although she was certain Esthar's Hawks would continue to operate in some capacity regarding them, what exactly would they do? And what would her next mission be? She had a feeling some insurgent work was in order. That was about all they could do at this moment…provide aid and training to anyone who was giving the Guiding Hand headaches. Even that couldn't be done publicly. Still, it was better than nothing. The question was…ruthless as the Guiding Hand had been, was there anyone still out there who could be a sufficient thorn in their sides? If there was, they'd have to train someone to neutralize the Hounds of Sybenia, and currently they didn't have enough intel on them to do so. It was a real mess… She hoped Mianyl was able to talk some sense into that Grand Chancellor. As the days wore on, Dael was growing more and more frustrated with him…

Finally, Dael reached her door. Getting out her ID card, she swiped the magnetic strip on the door lock and opened it up. She could have just called for Bahamut to open it, but she didn't really want to ask him anything right now. It was going to be a while before she would feel easy again letting that kid do much of anything. She had actually considered for a time a way to renege a bit on her earlier deal and have him placed in some form of institution. Even if this was potentially only a one-time thing, so was a murder, and most people frowned upon those. She was still amazed he was getting off so easy. How had he managed to do it anyway?

As she walked into the room, she tried to think more logically. Well…as they said, he probably hid out in a crate, and that would explain a lot of it. Originally, items in the vault were scanned for being biological, but that had loosened up when they started storing a few things of that nature in there. Plus, there was the fact that if a person was going to check one of those, a lax guard would probably only check the crates large enough to fit a full-sized man. They wouldn't check one for a boy. Alright…so he somehow managed to mail himself to the Vault and forged an order to get admitted, or at least checked out to see if it was a missend. That would get him as far as the main security station. They probably left him alone after that, and he was able to somehow get out. The kid had lived in a major city and probably made a living being able to "lift" things off of people in the right occasion, so he might have been able to fall in as a guard's shadow and cleared another door or two. But then what? The inner chamber was guarded by retinal scanners, hand-print identification, and was constantly swept by thermal scanners for fluctuations in temperature…

She had just thought she had hit the nail on the head with that, figuring if Bahamut was small and skinny enough, it was possible for him to squeeze through the ventilation shaft that maintained the temperature in the room, when she froze at what she saw.

Sitting on his own cot, with Dael's laptop in his lap and typing away, was Bahamut. However, on seeing her come in, he froze and looked up to her. There was no way to hide what he was doing, however. The view from the door was a clear shot of the room. He was right there, framed in the act.

Dael's face curled into a frown even as the door shut behind her. That was as long as she was able to keep quiet before it shut. For once, she couldn't keep herself from swearing.

"You little son-of-a-bitch." She stated coldly. "After everything you've put me through, after everything that happened, all the trouble you've caused…" Immediately, she stormed into the room. "Give me that laptop now!"

Bahamut didn't look afraid of her in the least, but he did look a bit uncomfortable about her surge in anger. Closing the laptop, he handed it up to her. "This really isn't what it looks-"

"Shut up!" She cut off, snatching the laptop from him. "You just can't stop committing offenses, can you?! Using an officer's computer equipment to access classified information?" She glared at him. "You little jerk! I could get three years for this! I ought to march right into the colonel's office and tell him right this second that you snapped, that you started going off about this Bahamut crap and that you're a raving lunatic! I ought to have your scrawny butt thrown into the mental ward of the downtown children's hospital! What do you think of that?!"

"I wasn't accessing classified information." Bahamut responded, raising his voice slightly to become a bit more defensive. "Open it up. See for yourself."

Dael blustered a moment. However, giving a scowl, she spun the laptop around and opened up the cover. The current screen came to life…and she paused at what she saw. All Esthar's Hawks officers had access to a certain degree of general "study" information, especially Class IV ones. There was a link available to them that allowed them access to a great deal of information about the world at large, and the cultures and peoples inside it. This page was currently open to one that was about more technical research, in particular a reading on the nature of magical transfer properties. There wasn't much, due to lack of research, but he had apparently been looking at it.

The young officer's anger subsided, but only slightly. Almost slapping her laptop closed again, she tossed it on her own bed. "Why were you using my laptop without my permission or supervision?"

"Because I wasn't sure I had the luxury of waiting for you to let me use it." Bahamut flatly answered. "And after today, I didn't figure you would let me have so much as a glass of water if I asked for it."

"You've got that right." Dael snapped back, but calmed again soon after. "Why are you looking up that stuff?"

"Because I'm nervous."

"Nervous about what."

"Nervous about the fact that Carbuncle, a Guardian Force who lived through the War of the Magi and saw this world ripped into so many pieces you people would never see how it could possibly be put back together again, was looking nervous when he heard about those essences being stolen. And nervous because everything feels the way it felt before."

Dael sighed. "Before what?"

"Before the world as we all know it comes to an end." Bahamut answered, now turning so sharp that it made Dael's anger abruptly fade for a moment. "Like I said before, I know you think I'm crazy, but I know I'm not. I've lived through these things before…several times. I think I recognize it when it's coming."

Dael paused momentarily. The sudden seriousness in Bahamut's tone was enough to give her pause…actually forget about the lunacy of half of the things he normally said and, for a brief moment, feel like he was telling the truth. And if so…that meant he also knew what he was talking about when he said this. Even so, she was forced to hesitate. In the end, she finally exhaled. She moved over to the bed herself and sat down on it. Crossing her arms, she faced Bahamut.

"Alright. I'm listening."

Bahamut exhaled, but then began. "…I only know slightly more about these essences than you do. I have no idea where they came from or how they work. However, I know enough from them to realize what they represent…who they represent. I know that you're at least somewhat aware of the incident that introduced Guardian Forces to Gaia, yes?"

The young officer paused, but then nodded. "Yeah. There was a hostile one of you…actually several of them. They came together and attempted to wage war on the world. But that conflict lasted all of a week. It only effected two cities. Casualties weren't as much as a decent-sized war."

"That was only because the damage was curbed." Bahamut responded. "I've researched enough to know that." He exhaled. "Look…you may think you have nothing to worry about right now, but let me assure you that things aren't nearly so simple. If this was only espers that were coming back, that would be one thing. But these essences, whatever they are, have the potential to do a lot worse than that. They can actually bring back things that aren't spiritual energies or 'souls'. They can bring back things that were never supposed to be alive in the first place. The records of Diablos prove it. That wasn't an esper. It was an amalgamation of pure evil, chaos and discord. It was like some hellish spirit of anguish and hate that was given a body…that was taken away from the world of ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties and made something real. A nightmare literally come to life. And from what I learned, it was purely unintentional. Some humans researching it just did it by accident.

"And when it came to life, it wasn't like the basic spirits that the other Guardian Forces were. This thing had knowledge…knowledge of thousands of years of dark arts, miscreations, evil devices, everything. It had the potential to become the greatest threat in the world. Everything wicked and cruel rolled into one."

"Is that what you're afraid of?" Dael responded. "That they'll use the last of these essences to bring more creatures like Diablos into being? If they did, so what? We're more advanced now, and that one didn't even get to run around for a week. We could take out three more."

Bahamut sighed and rolled his eyes.

"You may think that's an idle boast, but think for a moment about where we are compared to then." Dael threw in. "Back during that incident there was almost no knowledge of magic…just that materia crap. No devices to track down extensive magical energy coming forth. No Order of Hyne with no Sorceresses. We're far more along in their 'department' now."

"And none of that helped when Siren came back to life." Bahamut flatly responded. "She didn't even have any of this power and knowledge. She used your own mass communication devices against you, from what I read. One radio broadcast turned half a continent into her slaves. What if another Guardian Force came out that could do that?"

Dael didn't respond to that. After all, she didn't have a very good answer. However, Bahamut wasn't finished.

"But I'm not worried about them doing this with three individuals or however many of those essences are left." He continued. "I'm worried that you're right…that humanity is more advanced."

The young woman frowned. "I don't follow you."

Bahamut rubbed his brow. He paused for a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking.

"…Are you aware of the idea of the First and Second Ages?"

Dael's brow furrowed, and then she frowned. "That was a bunch of folklore. Humans measure time based on the Collapse…years following and preceeding that."

The boy suppressed another sigh. "…In that case, are you at least aware of what your so-called 'folklore' says about it?"

"Not really."

"It was theorized that humans once had far greater civilizations than the ones they have now, prior to when Gaia became old enough to gain sentience. They were at the pinnacle of technology, creating energy sources and machines the likes of which have never been seen before. We estimate they engineered their own organisms to use for weapons as well as these devices. But they destroyed themselves with it, turning Earth into a waste but good…not even leaving a shred of their civilization behind aside from the periodic sealed-away bio-weapon that lived somewhere in the regions beyond the Underworld, and some of which didn't have a chance to get out prior to the Collapse.

"Flash forward who knows how many centuries later to the end of the Second Age, and Gaia gives birth to us. One of her offspring, Crusader, is made superior to all of us…at least initially. She gives it access to knowledge that none of us possess but, presumably, contained knowledge of the First and Second Ages. She never told the rest of us this, most likely because she feared we'll use it the same way it did. Even when we were able to talk with the Planet she let out precious few details of the First and Second Ages. It is likely even she can't remember everything due to being so young.

"However, regardless of all of that, what we do know is that Griever was able to corrupt the Crystal and give rise to the Four Fiends of the Elements. We have assumed for years that the reason behind those was purely magical or spiritual in origin, and that the Fiends obeyed it because it sated their desires for chaos. However, prior to my first departure from Gaia, Leviathan had become aware of another Crystal…one from a distant planet with sentient life that the Lunarians had brought with them to this world…ones that sired a second set of Fiends. Again, it was eventually assumed, from what I learned, that they were spawned from the evil of another abomination from that world, this time a Lunarian named Zemes. However, with all of their technology and know-how, with their ability to construct machines mighty enough to lay entire planets waste, it seems more likely that the Lunarians were on par with technology from the First Age."

Dael sighed. "Bahamut, what are you trying to say?"

"I'm trying to say that there is a possibility that the Fiends didn't arise from purely magical means…at least not the ones that Griever brought forth. It might have rediscovered some sort of device or technology that allowed him to tap into the dark nature of the corrupted Crystal and therefore bring them out in a way that was subservient to him. In other words…a technology that would allow him to evoke beings that were never supposed to be alive but were amalgamations of chaos and evil…just like Diablos."

Dael paused on hearing that. Something began to click. Bahamut, on his part, kept looking darkly at her.

"…And what if humanity was finally able to rediscover their technology? What if they were able to find some sort of new technique from these essences? What if they were able to reproduce them artificially? Then they'd be able to unleash one Diablos after another onto the world. How long do you think your militaries and technology would last against that sort of thing?"

The young officer didn't have a response for that. She stared back at Bahamut, who looked on at her despite the question seeming purely rhetorical. Finally, she leaned back a bit and crossed her arms.

"…Assuming all of this is both accurate and possible, where do you fit in?"

The boy paused momentarily. After a few seconds, he shifted in his position a little, focusing harder on Dael.

"…It wasn't due to our little deal alone that I agreed to accompany you from Leuco that day." He finally stated. "It was because I thought that the meeting wasn't chance…that I was being driven in a certain direction. 300 years ago, I had the power to actually see the future. I swore it off because there were too many ramifications involved, and now, without my ZERO form, I doubt I have the mental capacity for it. But I still receive premonitions from time to time. I saw that something was going to be 'blown my way' as a result of the hurricane, and so I responded to it. In all honesty, I could have bartered or bribed a lot of people with the wealth in that chamber. But I felt I should stick with you."

Dael frowned again. More rambling on Bahamut's part. She didn't believe any of it, even in a world of magic. Even if there was any inclination in her to agree, Carbuncle had confirmed this wasn't Bahamut. So where was he getting this from? Was he really just a good student of the library? Or was it true in the old adage that by being a bit insane he could come up with all of this? She wasn't sure. All she knew is that she shouldn't underestimate him again. Even considering the simplest possibly scenario he shouldn't have been able to break into the Gordian Vault. It required someone of immense intelligence, and someone who had been studying. Something told her that he had to have been using her laptop for research prior to all of this getting started. But even if he had…he had to have more skills than he let on. She never let him see her enter a password, but he would have needed one to get on in the first place. That was only one additional item that unsettled her.

Finally, Dael exhaled and rose from her bed.

"…I ever see you touching this laptop without my permission again, I'm having you deported back to Leuco. No ifs, ands, or buts. I'm going to take a shower now. You better not be up to anything when I get out."

Bahamut said nothing, and Dael said no more. She simply walked nearby to get a towel and a change of clothes from the closet.

To be continued...