Chapter 34 B.A.S.E Line Territory
When night fell, Terra saw Edgar, Sabin, and Locke making their way to the ship's
bridge. She waved to them and yelled from the top of the deck. "Hi guys! What took
you so long!?" Locke laughed. "You know us Terra! We're old!"
She giggled, running out of sight. Edgar smiled as the last piece of mint- blond hair
danced out of view. Sabin saw his brother and sighed as he was the first to go on board.
Locke walked in a felt a sudden thump against his body. He looked down and saw Terra
hugging him. "Hey, luv." He patted her head and pulled away. "Shouldn't you be in
bed?" He asked slowly, watching her eyes go to the floor. She kicked the wood flooring
and said. "I wanted to say goodnight to you guys before I went to sleep. Setzer said I
could." She said, running over to Sabin to hug him too. He laughed, and pulled her into
a bear hug. She coughed when he let her go. She shook her head blissfully.
"You are so strong Sabin. You could squeeze the life out of me." She said, walking over
to Edgar. She looked into his eyes and whispered. "Is it...Okay if I hug you, Edgar?"
"Of course, Terra." She smiled and hugged him quickly, because Locke pulled her away
and said. "Bed." She rolled her eyes and skipped down the hall to her room.
Locke turned to Edgar. "Nothing, huh?"
Edgar blushed. "I just hugged her, Cole." Edgar left the room quickly and silently.
Sabin clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "What did my brother do?"
"I don't know. He won't tell me..."
Edgar closed the door and laid down on his bed and sighed, running a hand through his
hair. He closed his eyes and waited for his wryness to drift him into sleep.
Terra smiled when she came out of the bathroom and saw Mog curled up in her
blankets and pillows. She walked over and sat down near the Moogle. She sighed as she
moved some of the sheets and crawled into the bed, laying down a couple of inches
away from Mog. She pulled them up to her chin and rolled over so she could watch the
window. "Good night, Mog." She whispered as she fell asleep.
"Wake up, Terra. We're almost there! Kupo-po!"
Terra's eye fluttered open as she saw Mog on top of her chest, glaring into hers.
"M-Mog? What are you doing? I'm trying to sleep." She yawned as she sat up,
knocking him over so he rolled down the bed and fell to the floor. Terra giggled as she
rubbed her eyes. Mog growled. "That isn't funny. Kupo!"
Terra shoved all the sheets off and got up slowly and stretched her arms and legs. Mog
crawled to his feet and glared at Terra's height. "Let's go get something to eat!"
Terra smiled. "I need to use the bathroom first...Why don't you go ahead. I'll catch up
to you..." Mog shrugged and ran off. Terra made her way to the bathroom. She ran a
bath and quickly got in.
Edgar sighed. "Where's Terra? After breakfast we leave."
Locke smiled as he peeled an apple. "Probably doing women things..."
Sabin nodded, crossing his arms he chuckled. "Women do like to have clean bodies,
Locke. And Terra looks like one of those women."
Locke scoffed, eating the peeled apple. "Yeah...I guess..So.."
"What, you think she isn't one of 'those' types, Cole?"
Locke smiled, leaning down on the chair. "Nah..She doesn't come off like that. She
didn't seem to care about 'Hygiene' when we were coming to Figaro."
Edgar rolled his head around to pop it and relax. "So, you're telling me she didn't try to
keep clean on your trip?" Edgar asked weirdly. Sabin laughed as he got up. "Of course
she did! If she tries to hug us all the time, then she cares for hygiene." Sabin added.
Suddenly they heard a growl. They peered down and saw Mog.
"Of course Terra cares about that stuff, kupo-po! She went to the bathroom right after
she woke up!"
Setzer, for the first time, even Sabina and Locke, including Edgar laughed at the
remark. Locke fell off his chair and cried in laughter, while Setzer banged on the table.
Edgar chuckled and Sabin laughed. Mog grew angry. "Whacha laughing about!?" Mog
asked, gripping his paws together. Locke pointed to him. "What you said, Mog!"
Replied Locke with another spasm of laughter. Mog asked how it was funny.
Setzer paused long enough to tell him. "You made it sound like Terra..had to use the
bathroom...Never mind..."
"What?"
They all turned to see Terra in the doorway. Her face was flushed, probably from what
they were talking about.
Edgar looked down, and Setzer started to hum. Mog was the only one that walked over
and apologized for it. "What do I..Have?" She asked quietly.
Setzer frowned. "Umm...Nothing"
"What do I have?" She asked more angrily.
"Ask Mog." He added, pointing to the fur ball. Terra looked down at him and asked.
Mog jumped up and down madly. "I said nothing! Kupo-po!"
Terra looked back at them. "I don't have any Problems..."
Edgar stood. "We know Terra. It's just...We're sorry." He walked over
with a bowl of oatmeal. "Why don't you eat before we leave." He handed
her the bowl and waved to everyone to follow. Once they left, Terra sat down and
sighed. What were they laughing about? She asked herself as she eat her hot
oatmeal. "Every one ready?" Edgar asked, looking at their faces as the ship began to
descend. Locke nodded, Sabin shook his fist, Setzer smiled as he waved to them from
the wheel of the ship. He looked over at Terra, who was struggling to put her sheath on.
He walked over and heard a low hiss. He ignored the Moogle and went further.
"Need help, Terra?"
She looked up and nodded, handing him the sheath and sword. "Yes..."
He chortled as he tied it on her waist. He could fell the shape of her waist with his
wrist, which was touching her. When he finished, he smiled as he pulled away. "There
you go." Edgar muttered as he looked at his handy work. Terra tugged on the Sheath to
make sure it was okay. "Thanks Edgar..Its perfect." She said, running over to Locke
and Sabin. Edgar sighed, following her over to them. Terra laughed as she was talking
to Locke. Sabin kept looking over at Edgar, his navy eyes knowing something he wasn't
saying. Edgar smiled he clapped his hands. "Okay, ladies! Its time we leave!"
Locke helped Terra off the ramp and onto the ground, while Sabin jumped over the
ship's side. Setzer merely walked over the slopped ramp, and Edgar walked behind
Mog. Once they were off, Cyan and Gau stayed behind to help with the Blackjack,
encase someone tried to steal it. They weren't that far from B.A.S.E. Just a couple of
hours.
So they didn't need Chocobos or a faster ride. They needed to be discrete about
themselves. Locke on the way, made a map, encase they would need it later. Sabin
collected different types of flowers to put in the Kingdom when he would return.
Setzer marched further ahead so he didn't feel so weird. Mog told his friends he would
go ahead and search the area and that he'll be back later.
Edgar showed Terra different sword stances and attacks on the way, telling her that she
might need them. To Edgar's surprise, she learned them quickly and perfectly, without
complaints or wryness. He taught her a really nice one, were it involves swirling the
blade upward, then down and then left to cut through the person's ribs or outer thighs.
She thought it was a little gory, but learned it any way. When they stopped for a rest,
Edgar trained her further, by sword battling with her. She kept up as if she had fought
with sword before. Then Edgar realized that she probably did in the Empire was
remembering it now. After three rests, and no wins for Terra, they stopped again
because they were hungry and tired. All but Terra. She wanted to train, thought it was
fun even. Edgar agreed and trained with her a bit. After a couple of minutes of swords
flying and slashing into each other, Terra used the very technique he showed her earlier
to win, but she didn't strike him, but merely tapped his leg and giggled. Edgar was
stunned. She managed to go from not knowing anything, to being able to fight in the
same rank as he. Locke and everyone else seemed amazed too, for they were watching
with wide open mouths. Edgar chuckled, patting her back. "You did really good Terra.
No ones ever beaten me before..Although I was holding back a little...You still won a
real, good, worthy battle." He smiled as she jumped up and down. "I don't even
remember using a sword." She said. Locke smiled. "well...Your darn good at it now.."
Terra laughed and kicked the dirt. "Really?"
Edgar replied saying that she was a talented fighter, and that she could beat any one
she put her heart and soul into fighting. Once they were done eating and taking rest,
they departed into the fresh fields of Vector grounds. As they passed the the new
blossoming flower buds of daisies and pansies, their sat B.A.S.E in the distance.
Gleaming and shining in the sun's rays. Terra smiled languishingly. The the Imperial
base in seeing distance meant they were close to their end point- The Sealed Gate.
She rather not think about the Gate or about what might happen when they arrive, so
she walked up to her friendly thief of a friend and asked, holding a hand over her eyes
to block the powerful sun. "How close are we?"
Locke grinned as he wiped sweat from his brow and pointed to the east side of the
valley they were on. "See that eastern tip there? That's where we're go'in."
Terra exclaimed softly and gazed at the hard, and future long trek. An annoyed grunt
left her mouth as she realized 'they' were to cross all that and more. Locke chuckled,
laying his arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry, luv. Ain't that far..."
"If your a Chocobo maybe..." She blurted weakly as she hung her head low.
Sabin and Setzer smiled as they told her if she didn't think about it being a long way,
it would be shorter. She shook her head as she disagreed with them. "Have you been
pass her before? Was it long..Or short?" She asked sadly as she walked ahead.
Edgar silently laughed as he made his way up besides Locke and Setzer.
"Maybe we are expecting a lot from her...What if she hasn't fully recovered from her...
Ordeal?" The navy eyed king asked as he sighed, watching her slim figure plod down
hill. Edgar rubbed his eyes. "We rest in a few hours, okay? I don't want to, nor need to
see her fall from exhaustion." He managed to say as he ran after Terra. Locke and Sabin
groaned as they walked after him, while Setzer slowly kept his space, thinking about
how Edgar said his words just now. A slight smile found its way to his lips as he
watched Edgar tapped Terra on the shoulder.
"Um..Terra?"
She looked at him as she kept walking. "Hm?"
Edgar wondered if it would upset and offend her if he asked his question. But if meant
her safety then he would ask a thousand times. "If you ever want to rest, you can
just..Tell us...Okay?"
"I'm tired now, though."
His mouth curled into a distasteful frown as he licked his dry lips. His hand cupped
hers as he whispered. "If your tired..We may stop and take rest. Do you want this?"
She smiled at his comforting hand. "No...Its fine..Forget I said anything, kay?" She
muttered quickly before she cocked her head to seal the deal. Edgar laughed.
"Fine, milady. I shall say no words about our talk." He winked at her as he took his
hand away and slowed his pace and meet Sabin's and the rest's. Setzer chortled at Edgar
and walked up besides him. "Well, next time, why don't you whisk her away." He
poked, walking further up to stand besides the mintish- blond haired woman In front of
them, who was swiftly gaining speed. Edgar blushed. What the hell was he talking
about? Setzer smiled as he nudged her shoulder.
"So...You like flowers?"
Terra chuckled as she glanced at the scarred gambler. "Why do you ask? It seems like
a weird question..." She looked back in front of her, her oddly colored eyes searching
the new horizon. Setzer shrugged as if he didn't care. "Just asking..."
"...Yes, I like flowers...Now please tell me why you came over here?"
Setzer cleared his throat at her direct accuracy. Damn, she read me like a book!
"Eh, you know me: I love to keep people guessing-"
"Setzer.." Her voice was strained and angry. Setzer sighed.
"I really came over here to talk..A bit lonely over on my side. The wondering Gambler
meanders freely, but suffers from heartache and pain of no love and bed-"
Setzer was pulled back by Locke and Edgar and thrown to the back of the line.
"Leave her alone, mate." Locke hissed silently as he showed him his golden dagger.
Edgar watched him with hawk eyes as he shrugged and left the front line.
Locke shook his head as he came by Terra's side. She was watching closely, but knew
not one thing. Locke grabbed Terra's hand and said. "Don't talk to him any more, at
least not alone. Kay?"
She had half the mind to ask, but deemed it was probably something he said and
nodded understandingly. "Okay..." She looked back at Edgar talking to Setzer as Locke
pulled her further ahead. The aspiration of rest took Terra by surprise, causing her to
fall behind and slug off track, in turn causing her team to worry and be angered at her
silentness. She apologized and picked up pace, saying she was fine, just thinking.
When she showed signs of wryness, Edgar pointed it out to Locke and said they needed
to stop for her good. Locke paused till Terra caught up. "You tired Terra?"
"...No..." She peeled her eye lids open and smiled faintly at him, her languidness
hidden by the fake smile. Locke nodded slowly as he went up to Edgar. "Says she's not
tired." He informed. Edgar rolled his eyes. "And you believe her?"
Locke shrugged senselessly. "Why wouldn't I?"
Edgar shook his head as he realized that he was fooled by the overly too sweet Terra.
Night was close, so they quickly made camp under trees. Locke and Edgar made the
tents, while Sabin and Terra went out for wood. Setzer watched from his sitting place
as the men in front of him finished the last tent- Which would undoubtedly be Terra's.
Locke and Edgar turned to Setzer and told him they needed to talk. Setzer smiled
"What's the prob?"
Edgar narrowed his eyes. Locke frowned.
"Listen..We have a hard enough time making Terra feel good, and with you..Bluntly
flirting with her is not helping the situation." Locke insisted as he used hand gestures
too. Setzer cocked an eye brow. "Flirting, eh? Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not
flirting."
"Then what are you doing?" Edgar demanded as he crossed his arms angrily. Locke
asked the same thing too as Setzer smiled blissfully. "I'm not flirting..But I am...Trying
to flirt in a way."
It took a couple of second for them both, but Edgar's face lit angrily as he gripped his
hands together. Locke sighed as he smacked his forehead.
"You even think about touching Terra in that way, Setzer, and I swear to the gods I
will kill you myself!" Edgar yelled as he pushed him back. Locke groaned, trying to
hold Edgar back.
"What do you mean, Edgar?" Asked the sweet, soft balanced tonality voice of Terra's.
Sabin was watching inattentively, wood in his arms, while Terra carried two pieces of
wood. His eyes showed concern, but nothing else registered. Terra's unique eyes gazed
over at Locke's finished tents. "Your done already?" She asked astonished at their
speed. Edgar calmed, glaring at Setzer, daring him to say or do something stupid.
"Whoa, you found a lot of wood Terra." Edgar managed to say as he looked at the only
pieces she found. Of course it wasn't a lot, but it made her feel better when he said
cheery things. She smiled as she laid her wood down. "I only got two pieces..."
"Yeah, but look at the quality: Yours beats Sabin's," He looked at his twin and nodded
at him. Sabin snapped his fingers after he dropped his wood. "Dang, that is true..If
only I looked in the back, like Terra did..." He faked a snivel and stretched. Terra
blushed and kicked the dirt. "Its not that good..." She demurred, her coyness obvious.
Edgar chuckled, never taking his eyes off Setzer. "Why don't you, Locke and Sabin
start dinner?" Terra smiled, and jumped up. "That would be nice. "Guys?" She looked
at them and waited for their reply. They agreed and headed toward the fire place.
Edgar stared at Setzer. "I'm serious Setzer; Don't touch her..."
Setzer laughed. "Okay, fine. Jeez! I won't.. ' Touch' her. Good enough?"
"Almost." Was Edgar's short reply as he strode away to help with the fire.