Chapter 25

"Go. Go put things back together," Marta had said as she lay on the bed with her back towards him, curled in a miserable ball. "I'll be all right. I'm just going to take a nap."

Emil didn't really believe her, but neither he or Ratatosk could quite figure out what exactly she really wanted or needed. He didn't know what had killed Brute or Raine and nearly killed Richter, but the whole of Altamira was a mess now that the soldiers had made it in and Regal was working on keeping things organized. Emil wiped his face with his hands. He had taken a shower, but still could smell the battlefield in his sinuses.

Pushing off the wall next to Marta's door, he headed down to the elevator and stepped in. Regal had given them rooms at the hotel, free of charge, which was nice and all, but Emil felt like he was taking advantage of the situation. Unlike Jude, he couldn't help by healing people or providing medical assistance. Alvin was helping by sorting provisions. Ivar had even found a way to be useful by helping clean clothing and armor as soldiers came in.

He flexed his hands as the elevator doors opened on the first floor. "I... should go cook," Emil said, deciding that would be a good use of his time. Making his way to the hotel kitchens, he found that a couple of the hotel staff were there, looking mildly lost.

"The kitchen is closed," a woman told him.

"I'm here to help. People are going to want food soon," Emil said.

He got a once over by the woman. "You can cook?"

"Yes."

The woman shifted nervously and glanced at the other three people in the room. "Tell us what to do?"

Emil nodded. "Let's see what you've got," he said and went to find the pantry. There was quite a lot of food available, but given that Altamira had been closed for several days, a lot of it needed to be used before it went bad. Deciding what to make based on that, Emil set the three hotel staff to browning meat and peeling potatoes, then sent the woman who had confronted him to go find Regal and report that Emil had taken over the hotel kitchen and would be able to supply food for at least three-hundred given what was available. That would only be for a day or two, however.

He had the beginnings of stew started when the woman returned, followed by Regal. The woman looked a bit pale, apparently having not expected the President to come with her.

"Good thinking, Emil," Regal said as he entered. "Everything else is in chaos still, but its slowly settling down." He went to the stew pot and lifted the lid to stir it.

"How many have come back?" Emil asked, looking up from the fish he was gutting.

"About five hundred." Regal looked at Emil's hands, then back up to him. "I'll send some people to raid the markets for more supplies and bring them here. Do you need more help?"

"Probably."

"How's Marta?"

"...She said she wanted to be alone." He looked down at his fish and put the cut pieces into a pan and washed his hands. "Season that," he said to one of his helpers. "The lemon pepper." Turning back to Regal, he asked, "Genis showed up yet?"

"Not that I'm aware. We haven't been able to find..." He swallowed. "I don't think we should tell him just yet. Not until we find out what happened. Richter might know, but he's come down with a fever now. Thanks for bringing that doctor... Wherever he came from. He's been invaluable."

Emil nodded as he got working on something else. He bit his lips together, not wanting to mention how he felt like all this was his fault. Not in front of people he didn't know. It wouldn't end well, he was sure. Regal clapped his shoulder and squeezed briefly before leaving the kitchen. "Miss Holly," he said, to the woman Emil had originally sent to find the President. "You're now officially the liaison between the kitchens and everyone else. Come, we'll find some more help..." Whatever else he said trailed off as the door closed behind the two.

When the door opened again, it was Alvin, followed by Holly. "Hey, heard you needed supplies," the man said.

"Yeah. Vegetables and meat mostly. Things that haven't been kept cold preferably, since those will need used first," Emil said.

"Kind of surprising that Lord Ratatosk knows how to cook," Alvin said with a hint of a smirk. "Not a skill I expected a Summon Spirit to have, given how Milla was..."

Emil shook his head. "Ratatosk doesn't care to," he said. "I picked up the skill out of necessity."

"When can we expect anything to be done?" Alvin asked.

"Ten more minutes," Emil said after checking the oven with the fish. "If you could make sure Jude eats first? I've got enough nearly ready for at least fifteen people."

"Right," Alvin agreed with a nod. "I'll start sending people in. You'll have more supplies soon too." The door swung closed behind him.

"Sir," Holly said, "There are a bunch of people waiting to help outside."

"Are their hands clean?" Emil asked.

"I'll get them to."

"Once they've cleaned up, start having them serve people Alvin sends in," Emil said. He checked the fish again and began pulling out the ones that were done and throwing them on plates. Someone took the spatula from him and handed it to someone else. Emil turned to look at Ivar and blinked. "But-..."

Taking one of the plates, Ivar threw some steamed vegetables on it, grabbed a fork and shoved it at Emil with a stern look. "Don't think I haven't noticed how hard you've been pulling on my mana. You may not have done much fighting today but you've done enough to deserve getting to rest, Lord Ratatosk, Lord Emil."

Before he could protest further, Ivar got behind him and shoved him out the door and turned briefly to shout at the other people in the kitchen to keep working and grab something to eat while they worked. In the dining area, Jude was already seated at a table. Ivar shoved him from behind, propelling him towards the table and squinted at him, "I don't get why you Summon Spirits are so intent on not taking care of yourselves."

Sighing in resignation, Emil sat, aware that Jude was quietly smiling in amusement.

One of Holly's servers arrived and put plates for Jude and Ivar on the table before hurrying off again. Ivar firmly sat and glared at Jude.

"How's everyone holding up out there?" Emil asked in general.

"Jerkface!"

Vaguely recognizing the voice, Emil turned to look at the door as Tiger charged across the room. Ivar stood in preparation to defend Emil when the boy threw his arms around Emil's neck.

"You're alive, Jerkface!" Tiger stepped back and folded his arms. "Did you have to make such a big mess?"

Emil dropped his gaze. "Sorry..."

Tiger punched his shoulder. "Oh, shut up."

"Emil!" Genis called as he jogged over from the door. "Thank Martel you're alive!"

Ivar slowly sank back down into his seat as he realized that the two boys were not a threat to Emil.

"What happened to you, though? Tenebrae said he couldn't sense you anymore?" Genis asked, pulling a chair out at the table, his eyes went to Jude and Ivar with a slightly raised brow, silently inquiring who the other two men were.

"Lord Ratatosk," Ivar reminded. "Your food is going cold."

"Yes mom," Emil muttered and shoved a piece of brocoli into his mouth with a side-glare at Ivar.

Tiger leaned casually against Genis's chair and snorted.

"Marta, Aster and I ended up in another world. The place the mana thief came from," Emil said after swallowing. "This is Ivar, new Knight of Ratatosk and Doctor Jude Mathis. They came with us to help." He turned to the two Rieze Maxians and continued, "This is Genis Sage and..."

"Tiger Festival."

Ivar choked on his water and quickly set his cup down.

"That's an... interesting name," Jude said.

"He stole mine," Tiger pointed at Emil. "Not that I liked it much in the first place. But that's beside the point."

Genis nodded. "Good to know Marta and Aster are all right too. Does Richter know? Tenebrae said the demons were sealed again."

Emil was chewing and silently nodded, covering his mouth with a hand to swallow before answering. "Richter is recovering, and Ratatosk created a new gate. It's not the best, but it worked with what mana was available to use at the time. The remaining demons will be taken care of by the monsters that were summoned by the Centurions." He couldn't look at Genis and dropped his gaze to his plate, no longer tasting what he was eating.

"Knight of Ratatosk?" Tiger eyes Ivar and smirked. "I feel sorry for him."

"Tiger..." Genis sighed, shaking his head.

Clearing his throat, Emil said, "Thank you for waking the other Centurions."

"We couldn't find Solum," Tiger groused.

"Ratatosk had enough power to awaken him from afar when we got back," Emil said.

"Well, glad that's out of enemy hands," Genis said. "We didn't need anyone else pretending to be Lloyd or someone else important." He pulled his feet under him and sat on his knees in the chair. "So where's Raine?" He looked at Jude. "She helping you with the wounded? Make sure she rests, all right? She can get caught up in working and forget to take care of herself sometimes..." His eyes narrowed slightly and he looked at Emil sharply.

Emil suddenly stood. "I've got to get back into the kitchen and help them because they don't know how to cook!" he grabbed his plate and ran for it.

...

Tiger blinked and squinted as Emil made an abrupt retreat to the kitchen and leaving his new friends sitting at the table, jaws dropped. Genis gripped the edge of the table with white knuckles. "Sir Ivar, Doctor Mathis," he said between his teeth. "Would either of you mind telling me where I can find Richter? If he happens to be around still, that is."

Jude cleared his throat. "Richter might not be in a position to speak."

Slamming his hands on the table, Genis stood in his chair. "Where?" he demanded.

Ivar shrank back, sliding partially under the table. "Y'know I think I'd better go help Lord Emil," he grabbed his plate and dashed away.

"I will find out," Genis snarled.

Beginning to get worried, Tiger touched Genis's elbow. "Hey, come on now... Don't threaten people you don't even know?" He glanced around. There were other people in the dining room. They were staring.

Jude remained absolutely calm. "Genis, please sit down." His eyes flicked past Genis.

Tiger turned and caught Emil waving both hands and shaking his head as he was making his way for the door to the street. The hair on his arms stood on end and Tiger looked back at Genis, finding sparks of magic beginning to glow around him.

"You know what happened to my sister, don't you?" Genis demanded. "Tell me!"

The magic gathering in the air had begun to spark like lightning. Tiger looked back towards Emil just as he thumped into Sheena and Zelos.

"I'm sorry!" Tiger shouted and turned, slamming his fist into Genis's gut.

Eyes widening, the half-elf collapsed into Tiger's shoulder as he caught him. Sheena and Zelos hurried over.

"I'm so sorry, Jude," Emil said.

"I would have told him," Jude said softly. "I've delivered such news before..."

"Not to a half-elf," Sheena said, shaking her head as she gathered Genis to her breast.

Tiger sank down on his heels. "He's gonna kill mee..." Someone touched his shoulder and he looked up to find Emil crouching next to him.

"You did the right thing, Tiger. I was trying to find some help before it got bad... We were... hoping to not tell him until we knew for certain what happened. Stick close to him, please?"

Nodding, he slowly stood and looked at everyone else.

"I'll carry him to a room," Emil said and carefully took Genis from Sheena. "Maybe Marta would like some company now..." He sighed and started off. Tiger looked from one person to the next, then down at his fist, flexing his fingers as he followed Emil to the elevator. He hadn't meant to punch Genis quite that hard.

Genis groaned softly in the elevator. His eyes opened. "She's dead, isn't she?" he whispered.

Emil tightened his hold gently.

"Tell me what happened?"

"I honestly... don't know for certain," Emil said. "I wasn't there... We think Richter was, but he's pretty sick. Aqua said Alice and Decus nearly killed him. He was wearing a Cruxis crystal at the time, which is the only reason why he survived."

"Where's her body then?" Genis asked as they walked down the hall. A door down the hall opened, Aster stepped out and paled, dropping his gaze to the floor.

"Uhm." Aster shuffled his shoe on the floor. "Richter's awake, but he's a little delerious..."

Genis lifted his head to look at Aster. "Can I try talking to him?"

"He's not making much sense right now, but... As long as he stays in bed, I guess..." Aster said.

Emil set Genis's feet on the floor and steadied him.

Reaching over, the half-elf grabbed Tiger's sleeve and pulled, forcing him to come along as he shuffled past Aster into the room. Aster closed the door behind them, shutting himself and Emil in the hall. "Don't let me hit him, Tiger," Genis said softly and released his sleeve, heading over to the bed where the redhead half-elf lay. "Richter," Genis said, "Where's Raine?"

The redhead's eyes opened, face and hair sweaty. He gripped the bedding. "Shit."

"Hey, don't call him that," Tiger lifted his fist.

"Shut up," Richter mumbled and blinked several times, shaking his head. His face twisted as he immediately regretted the movement. "Raine..."

Genis leaned in. "Where is Raine?" he asked slowly, lowering his voice.

"Took her..." Richter mumbled, eyes closing. "S'so... so..."

"So? Who took her?" Genis leaned in.

"Hot," Richter pried weakly at the covers.

Tiger looked around, spotting a bowl of water on the night stand next to the bed. After a moment, he finally found the cloth Aster had been using soaking the bed on the other side of Richter's pillow. Reaching past, he picked it up, got it damp and wiped Richter's face with it. "Genis, I don't think he even knows what he's talking about right now."

"I need to know!" Genis punched the bed. "Who took Raine?"

"Mana," Richter's eyes opened again, he lifted his hand to weakly grasp Genis's wrist. "For mana... And Brute. I was slow... Should have killed her first time. Sorry... I'm sorry."

Genis hardly looked pleased with this garbled apology and pulled his hand free. "If it's your fault she died, I'll never forgive you, Richter." He turned away and stalked out the door.

Tiger set the cloth across Richter's forehead and hurried to catch up with his friend. "Sorry I hit you..." he mumbled towards the floor.

"I was about to blow up that doctor." Genis shook his head. He wiped his face with the back of his hand.

"Genis," Emil touched the half-elf's shoulder. "Brute died too... I don't really know what to do for Marta... Maybe...?"

Shaking his head, Genis pushed Emil's hand off. "I'm going to go find something useful to do. Raine would want that." He headed off down the hall back towards the elevator. Tiger looked from Emil to Aster, bit his lower lip and jogged after his friend, catching up just in time to slip into the elevator just before the doors closed.

...

"Hello, I'm Jude, from Rieze Maxia," he said to the redhead and the buxom woman. He scratched the back of his head as he looked after Emil.

"So what happened to Raine?" the redhead man asked, folding his arms.

"I didn't personally see it, but she's dead," Jude said.

The woman leaned forward, frowning. "You're sure about that?"

"Aster identified her on the battlefield," Jude said. "Didn't recognize at first, but he's absolutely sure that's what he saw."

Gripping the chair Genis had been standing in, the woman lowered herself into it.

"I won't accept that," the redhead said firmly. "Not unless I see it. Raine's too tough for something like this to get her." He looked towards the elevator with a stubborn expression.

Reaching out, the woman caught his shirt tail, stopping him from getting more than a step away. "Emil seems pretty convinced, Zelos," she said.

"Like I'd believe him?" Zelos demanded but stopped. "That barely even looked like him anyway."

"Hey Jude, you done eating yet?" Alvin asked as he approached.

Looking down at the remains of his dinner, Jude nodded. "More work to be done, I'm sure." He stood.

"Who're you anyway?" Zelos demanded, turning to face Jude. "Why would you know anything about what happened to Raine and what the hell is Rieze Maxia?"

"Ohh," Alvin grinned. "That's a long answer there." He offered his hand out to the woman. "Introductions first, though. Hello, miss." He lifted her hand to his lips. "The name's Alvin. What may I call you?"

Snatching her hand away, the woman sprang to her feet, hand striking across Alvin's cheek. She flushed. "I - I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that! I just...!" She bowed several times.

Straightening, Alvin laughed, rubbing his cheek. "No harm done."

"He completely deserved that," Jude agreed blandly. "He is a sleazebag."

Zelos looked Alvin over and raised a brow. "Alvin, hm? Well, as a fellow sleazebag, it's nice to make your acquaintance. I'm Zelos, Tethe'alla's Chosen."

"Interesting title," Alvin said and took the redhead's hand.

"I'm Sheena," the woman said finally. "Jude, was it?" she looked at him.

Jude nodded once. "Alvin and I came from another world called Rieze Maxia. I'm afraid something of our problems might have made their way into your world."

"We're here looking for the culprit," Alvin added. "Tagged along with 'Lord-high-and-mighty' Ratatosk and his girlfriend." He rolled his eyes.

"That sounds about right," Zelos said. "So they didn't die when the Gate collapsed, as Tenebrae said."

"No, they ended up in our world," Jude agreed. "Unfortunately our worlds are now linked, probably on a very permanent basis. Alvin and I are hoping to stop whatever plot resulted in a spyrix arriving here. Neither your world nor ours needs these things running loose."

"So the mana thief is a spyrix?" Zelos asked.

"Ha, no." Alvin shook his head. "Spyrix are tools that trick spirits into using mana to create an arte or spell and kill them in the process."

"Thus depleting the world of mana and spirits that are required for life to thrive," Jude finished. "Its needlessly destructive and given the descriptions Emil, Marta, and Aster have given of the weapon their attacker was using, it's safe to assume it was probably a spyrix."

Zelos frowned, folding his arms again. "So it's your fault all this happened."

Alvin shrugged. "Not specifically, but we're at least willing to stick our necks out and try to fix it."

Slapping Zelos's shoulder, Sheena scowled at him. "Be nice."

"So, are you two...?" Alvin twitched a finger between Zelos and Sheena.

"No!" Sheena shouted, stepping away from Zelos quickly.

"No," Zelos sighed, "But I don't suggest trying either. She's already on to you. Maybe the short one is more your type?"

"Ugh!" She punched his arm. "Raine's supposedly dead and you're..."

"I said I refuse to believe until I see for myself," Zelos said. "They may have convinced Emil and Genis, but not me. Especially if that Richter is involved."

Jude shook his head, unable to explain further than he already had. There wasn't much he could do one way or another. He spotted Ivar striding towards him.

"Hey, Phony. Where did Lord Emil go?" Ivar demanded.

"He took the boy upstairs," Jude said and sighed.

"Phony?" Zelos asked.

Ivar glared at Jude and turned to look at the two. "Yes. Phony." He looked at Jude again. "Well when Lord Emil comes by again, tell him the kitchen is running smoothly and he doesn't need to be in there for a while. I whipped them into shape." He put his hands on his hips and grinned.

"Right..." Jude sighed.

"Ah, ha ha. Okay Ivar. We'll let him know. Why don't you run along and find something else to do?" Alvin turned Ivar by his shoulders and pushed.

"Perhaps rest," Jude suggested. "You look a little pale."

"I don't need your concern!" Ivar shouted, spinning around to stomp a foot. He flung a hand out, pointing at Jude.

"It was more concern for Ratatosk," Jude said. "He's relying on you, after all."

Ivar straightened. "Of course he is." He turned away and stalked off towards the elevators.

"He was looking pale," Alvin mused.

"Overuse of his mana lobe," Jude said.

"Why did he call you that?" Sheena asked.

Alvin flipped his hand. "Oh, don't worry about it. Ivar and Jude have a history. Ivar just wants to kill Jude and hasn't managed to do it yet. That's all."

"Um..." Sheena exchanged a look with Zelos.