Further Up We Go

"You're a real sicko," Gallows stated, "You're trying to play with the dead. Once a person is dead, they return to Filgaia in order to live happily in the afterlife. Do you even think that your mother might just be content living there, with all of the other people she loved who are dead?"


"I must bring mother back. I promised myself long ago that I would accomplish this. But for some reason, she is unable to remember me, or stimulate life functions," Malik informed him.

Jet said, "The dead are meant to stay dead. Otherwise, everyone would try to bring them back, and we would cause havoc all over Filgaia. Imagine, all the people you thought were gone forever just coming back into your life. Many people would be a little bit freaked out over the whole thing."

Malik was getting mad. "You're one to talk. Look at you. You are a machine that we created as a test of our theories. But you're practically a reborn version of Elliot's son WHO WAS DEAD!"

"Maybe I have his DNA," Jet told Malik, "And maybe Werner bestowed me with his name. But we are still two totally different people. I am not the same Jet Enduro you knew years ago. I don't even know exactly what kind of person he was, nor do I have any of his memories."

"Well then, if you want to refuse me so adamantly, we will have to fight. I'll protect my mother with my life if needed be, until I find away to restore her to her former self," Malik vowed.

The fight was on. Virginia cast Refrigerate, Jet used Fragile, Gallows slowed him down with a Decelerate, and Clive attacked. With Malik's speed reduced, Jet switched over to attacking on the next turn, while Gallows cast Petrify. Virginia and Clive stuck with what they were doing.

With all of them working together, it wasn't too long before Malik lay on the floor, wounded. He began to laugh. Virginia asked him, "What is so funny? You lost to us, so why are you laughing?"

Malik stopped just long enough to explain it to her. "You see, you fools may have defeated me, but you'll never be able to win against Leehalt. Go on ahead, he's just up ahead. I'll be watching, waiting to see your screams of terror as he rips your bodies to shreds with his powers." Then he started laughing again. He continued his insane laughing even as he was teleporting away to safety.

* * *

The group continued onwards. Soon after, they came upon Leehalt arguing with Werner. Virginia hushed the others, she wanted to hear what her father and Leehalt were fighting about.

"You fool!" exclaimed Werner, "Summoning a demon to evolve Filgaia! All you are doing is spelling an end for all life on this planet. Maybe you'll survive, but you'll be the ruler of nothing if everyone around here is killed by your demonic purge. We made a mistake in trying to use Yggdrasil to save Filgaia, and I won't let you to make an even worse one." He aimed his duel pistols at his enemy.

"Daddy, we're here to help you out. You must shut down the generator, only you'll know the way to do it. Let us handle Leehalt for you," Virginia yelled. She too brought up her pistols. Behind her, she saw Jet bring Airget-lahm into the ready position as well. Clive's rifle and Gallows's shotgun were then aimed at Leehalt. The four Drifters got ready for the battle with their ultimate enemy.

Werner called, "Thank you for your help. I know you can do it. Show him the true might of your powers Virginia." With that, he ran out to try and shut off the Yggdrasil generator.

Leehalt seethed at her resolve. "How can a tomboy like you be Ekatrina's daughter? Your wretched father did a really bad job of raising you. He might have been a brilliant scientist, but his skills for taking care of mundane tasks like this were way under par."


"You knew my mother?!" exclaimed Virginia, "Were you and my father good friends in the past."


"Quite the opposite, we were rivals. I hated and despised your father for years. As well as your mother. In fact, I hate your whole family, little brat. Now you die," he screamed.

But before he could try and hit her, Jet unleashed another of his Gattling attacks. Leehalt was hurt pretty badly. The boy told the Prophet, "You are going to leave her alone, or answer to me."

"So, little Adam is in love," muttered Leehalt, "You can have your little girlfriend, you're going to need someone's arms to lie in when you're both dead on the floor of this tower. Janus, come here."

The wicked knight entered the room. With his reprieve here, Leehalt teleported off. No way was he going to put his own neck on the line, not when he could use his minions to do it for him.

"Coward, fight your own battles," Virginia yelled. But she knew he would not hear her, many rooms had come between the two of them by now. She had to concentrate on defeating Janus, so they could go and find out where her father went, and help him out if needed be.


Janus said, "I've already heard the news from my quote unquote betters. So, the boy is a top-secret android that those blokes were working on years ago. No more than a tin can like Asgard."

Virginia was angered by his words. "Jet is not just an android. He's my friend, and I will not allow anyone to say such mean things about him." With that, she imitated Jet's usual angry outburst attack, and fired off her Gattling attack. Ten shots later, Janus was badly injured, but laughing insanely.

"I am the ruler of this world," he began, "All of you puny beings will bow before me. I will not die until that is fulfilled." With that, an explosion began to occur, as he self-destructed in front of their eyes.

"That'll teach him to try to insult Jet like that," Virginia stated. But she immediately wondered why she'd said that. Certainly that didn't mean that she was in love with Jet?

It was in that instant that Virginia finally realized it. She WAS in love with Jet. At this point she couldn't say exactly why, but she just knew that she wanted to be with him for the rest of her life. But now wasn't the time to dwell on that. Her father, and all of Filgaia, was in danger.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

Yup, they sure are. That's what I like about Virginia, she sees beyond what Jet really is, and cares about him for who he is. And Sky's convinced that the return to the planet ref was from FF VII, but I didn't intend it.