**BY: KUROHIME**
(It's all Jess can do to regain some composure. As much as one can regain after being unceremoniously knocked to the ground, anyway..... heehee.)
JESS: Oh, wow..... you're..... you're.......... *blink* *babble* *blink*
(Not only is he Alexander, he's just really gorgeous. And his solemn, regal stature just emphasize the fact.)
ALEXANDER: Lady Jessica...?
JESS: *looking, er, heavenward* THANK you!
(On the bridge of the ship, Kurohime is excitedly poking her face into every control and panel. It's that whole Kid-With-a-New-Toy feeling!)
KURO: Wow, will you look at this! It has cruise control, too! How sweet is that?
ZIDANE: *tapping at one of the control panels - which seems to blink obediently under his finger for a moment before blinking and thn going dead onc more* I would've found that a lot sweeter if the ship wasn't fried like this. Geez, when Bob fries a ship, he really fries a ship.
KURO: Somehow, I don't think a little bottle rocket spell would have been enough to stop this thing.
ZIDANE: Hehe. No. *he moves over to another panel, which is already darkened* Do you have any idea what we're trying to find in here?
KURO: *from under one of the consoles* Anything that might tell us what power is controlling Bahamut.
ZIDANE: *blink* But that's... What are you doing under there?
KURO: *hits her head on the bottom of the console* OW! *rubs her head, then crawls back underneath* Trying to find out how this thing works.
ZIDANE: Why...?
KURO: Oh, mostly to satisfy my personal curiosity. That, and I was thinking, "self, this ship might come in handy if we get it working again!"
ZIDANE: Kuro, this ship got more than a few dents and scratches...
(There's a little commotion from behind the console. The screen above it gingerly sputters to life. Zidane blinks and trots over.)
KURO: *siding out from behind the console* Amazing what a few years of computer work will do to you. *she stands up beside him and puts an arm around his shoulder, grinning." Zid, my man, never underestimate he power of the Hime.
ZIDANE: *with a mocking smile* ...how does Roy put up with you?
KURO: *grins, then teasingly pushes him away* How does Dagger put up with you?
(A beat. Their smiles fade.)
KURO: *bitterly* If that dragon even touches either one of them, I'll kill him, pixel by pixel!
ZIDANE: I hope you don't mean that...
KURO: *a beat* Yes. I do. I'll destroy him. And don't go lecturing me about what will happen to me if I do, because I know d*mn well. And I.... *she suddenly breaks off*
(She turns to the console and silently starts to look at the readout before doing anything. Zidane comes up beside her and puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder.)
ZIDANE: ...you thought that was the answer all along, didn't you? To destroy Bahamut?
KURO: I was releived when Sakaguchi told us that there was another way to do this. I know he didn't want Roy to know about how strongly summoners and summons have to be connected.
ZIDANE: Why haven't you told him?
KURO: ...I just... thought there would be a time to... later. Or that there wouldn't be a need to... becasue 'these things never happen to me.' *bitterly* No, they never are supposed to happen to you.
(For once, Zidane can't say anything in response right away. We're not sure if it's because he's too polite to say that he agrees her reasoning was terribly selfish or is just confused at her logic... my money's on his politeness.)
ZIDANE: *after a moment* Well, then that's even more reason to hurry up and get ourselves those last four summons.
KURO: *pause* *then after a brief thought... she gives him hug* Heh, now I know why Dagger puts up with you.
(And now we rejoin ...Bob and Vivi, in the ship's, er.... galley? Vivi is able to stand, but still looks a bit dazed. Bob is idly searching a some of the scattered remians.)
BOB: How are you feeling, Vivi?
VIVI: I... think I'm okay.
BOB: You're lucky that hat of yours takes being torched so well.
VIVI: It's kind of hard to know what you're casting your spells on when it's that dark.
BOB: Yeah. I know. The first time I tried to use Firaga in the dark, I ended up lighting my living room carpet on fire.
VIVI: Oh, wow. What happened after that?
(Bob absently picks up a broken post nearby and starts weilding it like a mock mage staff)
BOB: Let me just say that I learned how fast I could cast Blizzaga and Waterga.
(A loud, metallic groan makes them both look up in alarm.)
BOB: Vivi, please tell me that was a spell you just cast.
(Another groan, followed by a slow rumble.)
VIVI: That wasn't me. Do you think it might be Jessica? Or Zidane and Kurohime?
BOB: ...we're probably not that lucky.
(Anther slow rumble, punctuated by a reverberating BOOM! You know that this can't be good news.)
(And back to Zidane and Kuro, on the bridge. At the first sound, they both look up from the console, startled.)
ZIDANE: What the...?
(And back in the aft section of the ship, Jess and Alexander have also heard the sound. It sounds much closer from their vantage point.)
JESS: *looking around nervously* That doesn't sound good....
(From this area, it not only sounds like a loud crash, it seems like something is actually crashing into the ship.)
JESS: Oh, now this just keeps getting better and better.
(Alexander also seems to sense something from outside the ship. He moves closer to one of the damaged bulkheads. He places his hand on the smooth metal. It glows white, and for a brief moment, a circular glyph appears on the wall.)
ALEXANDER: It's the Final Summon. This ship is callling him to return.
JESS: So..... in other words, you sense a great disturbance in the Force.
ALEXANDER: Pardon?
JESS: Ack. Never mind. Bob's been making me watch a lot of Star Wars.
(Her words are interrupted by a deafeningly loud CRASH. This one is enough to rock the ship. Alarmed, Jess starts breaks into a run and heads back towards the exit. Alexander follows close behind.)
(On another section aft of the ship, a red light begins pulsating with an eerie, rhymic glow. Slowly, it begins growing in intensity.)
(On the bridge of the ship... Zidane and Kuro now have a wide-screen view of the cause of the chaos.)
KURO: Oh CRAP!!!
ZIDANE: Of course this has to happen now, doesn't it?
(Bahamut is in the water surrounding the ship. A strange, red glow is reflected off his wings.)
KURO: What the h*ll is happening? What's he doing here?
(A voice from behind.)
???????: The power trapped in this ship is enslaving him... it's calling him here.
(Both Kurohime and Zidane turn to find that Jess, Bob, Vivi, and ...someone with wings.... has joined them.)
KURO: ....Alexander?
ALEXANDER: Lady Kurohime...
KURO: ............ *blink*
BOB: She says 'hello.'
(Bahamut makes another one of those big Bahamut-y sounds outside. He rams a wing into the ship, rocking it violently.)
ZIDANE: What's going on? Why is he attacking the ship now?
ALXANDER: The power here that controlls him is sensing a threat. It's telling him to destroy us.
ZIDANE: It's sensing US?
ALEXANDER: It, too, has a sentient power. It knows that you want to regain control of Bahamut. It senses his summoner's return.
KURO: *blink* ME...?!
BOB: How the heck do you know all this?
KURO: Guys, I'd love to give you a history lesson, but I think Bahamut wants to kill us.
(Outside, Bahamut rams full-force into the ship. This time, the impact is enough to knock everyone - everyone but Alexander, that is - off-balance)
VIVI: Shouldn't we be trying to get out of here?
JESS: I'm with Vivi!
ZIDANE: So am I!
JESS: Kuro, you've got to summon Leviathan again....
KURO: Right...
(She takes the pendant from around her neck and calls the serpent. It almost seems as if Bahamut is expecting this. He turns to face Leviathan. All those in the ship can do is look on in horror as a blast of Megaflare energy blasts through the water and engulfs Lviathan in a horrible demonic light. In an agonizingly slow action, Lviathan's body twists into a grossly contorted shape... and his energy, coupled with the power destroying him, fills everyone's vision. The scream... the shock wave... an suddenly, it's gone.)
KURO: NO! *collapsing to the ground* NO!!!
(It's all Jess can do to regain some composure. As much as one can regain after being unceremoniously knocked to the ground, anyway..... heehee.)
JESS: Oh, wow..... you're..... you're.......... *blink* *babble* *blink*
(Not only is he Alexander, he's just really gorgeous. And his solemn, regal stature just emphasize the fact.)
ALEXANDER: Lady Jessica...?
JESS: *looking, er, heavenward* THANK you!
(On the bridge of the ship, Kurohime is excitedly poking her face into every control and panel. It's that whole Kid-With-a-New-Toy feeling!)
KURO: Wow, will you look at this! It has cruise control, too! How sweet is that?
ZIDANE: *tapping at one of the control panels - which seems to blink obediently under his finger for a moment before blinking and thn going dead onc more* I would've found that a lot sweeter if the ship wasn't fried like this. Geez, when Bob fries a ship, he really fries a ship.
KURO: Somehow, I don't think a little bottle rocket spell would have been enough to stop this thing.
ZIDANE: Hehe. No. *he moves over to another panel, which is already darkened* Do you have any idea what we're trying to find in here?
KURO: *from under one of the consoles* Anything that might tell us what power is controlling Bahamut.
ZIDANE: *blink* But that's... What are you doing under there?
KURO: *hits her head on the bottom of the console* OW! *rubs her head, then crawls back underneath* Trying to find out how this thing works.
ZIDANE: Why...?
KURO: Oh, mostly to satisfy my personal curiosity. That, and I was thinking, "self, this ship might come in handy if we get it working again!"
ZIDANE: Kuro, this ship got more than a few dents and scratches...
(There's a little commotion from behind the console. The screen above it gingerly sputters to life. Zidane blinks and trots over.)
KURO: *siding out from behind the console* Amazing what a few years of computer work will do to you. *she stands up beside him and puts an arm around his shoulder, grinning." Zid, my man, never underestimate he power of the Hime.
ZIDANE: *with a mocking smile* ...how does Roy put up with you?
KURO: *grins, then teasingly pushes him away* How does Dagger put up with you?
(A beat. Their smiles fade.)
KURO: *bitterly* If that dragon even touches either one of them, I'll kill him, pixel by pixel!
ZIDANE: I hope you don't mean that...
KURO: *a beat* Yes. I do. I'll destroy him. And don't go lecturing me about what will happen to me if I do, because I know d*mn well. And I.... *she suddenly breaks off*
(She turns to the console and silently starts to look at the readout before doing anything. Zidane comes up beside her and puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder.)
ZIDANE: ...you thought that was the answer all along, didn't you? To destroy Bahamut?
KURO: I was releived when Sakaguchi told us that there was another way to do this. I know he didn't want Roy to know about how strongly summoners and summons have to be connected.
ZIDANE: Why haven't you told him?
KURO: ...I just... thought there would be a time to... later. Or that there wouldn't be a need to... becasue 'these things never happen to me.' *bitterly* No, they never are supposed to happen to you.
(For once, Zidane can't say anything in response right away. We're not sure if it's because he's too polite to say that he agrees her reasoning was terribly selfish or is just confused at her logic... my money's on his politeness.)
ZIDANE: *after a moment* Well, then that's even more reason to hurry up and get ourselves those last four summons.
KURO: *pause* *then after a brief thought... she gives him hug* Heh, now I know why Dagger puts up with you.
(And now we rejoin ...Bob and Vivi, in the ship's, er.... galley? Vivi is able to stand, but still looks a bit dazed. Bob is idly searching a some of the scattered remians.)
BOB: How are you feeling, Vivi?
VIVI: I... think I'm okay.
BOB: You're lucky that hat of yours takes being torched so well.
VIVI: It's kind of hard to know what you're casting your spells on when it's that dark.
BOB: Yeah. I know. The first time I tried to use Firaga in the dark, I ended up lighting my living room carpet on fire.
VIVI: Oh, wow. What happened after that?
(Bob absently picks up a broken post nearby and starts weilding it like a mock mage staff)
BOB: Let me just say that I learned how fast I could cast Blizzaga and Waterga.
(A loud, metallic groan makes them both look up in alarm.)
BOB: Vivi, please tell me that was a spell you just cast.
(Another groan, followed by a slow rumble.)
VIVI: That wasn't me. Do you think it might be Jessica? Or Zidane and Kurohime?
BOB: ...we're probably not that lucky.
(Anther slow rumble, punctuated by a reverberating BOOM! You know that this can't be good news.)
(And back to Zidane and Kuro, on the bridge. At the first sound, they both look up from the console, startled.)
ZIDANE: What the...?
(And back in the aft section of the ship, Jess and Alexander have also heard the sound. It sounds much closer from their vantage point.)
JESS: *looking around nervously* That doesn't sound good....
(From this area, it not only sounds like a loud crash, it seems like something is actually crashing into the ship.)
JESS: Oh, now this just keeps getting better and better.
(Alexander also seems to sense something from outside the ship. He moves closer to one of the damaged bulkheads. He places his hand on the smooth metal. It glows white, and for a brief moment, a circular glyph appears on the wall.)
ALEXANDER: It's the Final Summon. This ship is callling him to return.
JESS: So..... in other words, you sense a great disturbance in the Force.
ALEXANDER: Pardon?
JESS: Ack. Never mind. Bob's been making me watch a lot of Star Wars.
(Her words are interrupted by a deafeningly loud CRASH. This one is enough to rock the ship. Alarmed, Jess starts breaks into a run and heads back towards the exit. Alexander follows close behind.)
(On another section aft of the ship, a red light begins pulsating with an eerie, rhymic glow. Slowly, it begins growing in intensity.)
(On the bridge of the ship... Zidane and Kuro now have a wide-screen view of the cause of the chaos.)
KURO: Oh CRAP!!!
ZIDANE: Of course this has to happen now, doesn't it?
(Bahamut is in the water surrounding the ship. A strange, red glow is reflected off his wings.)
KURO: What the h*ll is happening? What's he doing here?
(A voice from behind.)
???????: The power trapped in this ship is enslaving him... it's calling him here.
(Both Kurohime and Zidane turn to find that Jess, Bob, Vivi, and ...someone with wings.... has joined them.)
KURO: ....Alexander?
ALEXANDER: Lady Kurohime...
KURO: ............ *blink*
BOB: She says 'hello.'
(Bahamut makes another one of those big Bahamut-y sounds outside. He rams a wing into the ship, rocking it violently.)
ZIDANE: What's going on? Why is he attacking the ship now?
ALXANDER: The power here that controlls him is sensing a threat. It's telling him to destroy us.
ZIDANE: It's sensing US?
ALEXANDER: It, too, has a sentient power. It knows that you want to regain control of Bahamut. It senses his summoner's return.
KURO: *blink* ME...?!
BOB: How the heck do you know all this?
KURO: Guys, I'd love to give you a history lesson, but I think Bahamut wants to kill us.
(Outside, Bahamut rams full-force into the ship. This time, the impact is enough to knock everyone - everyone but Alexander, that is - off-balance)
VIVI: Shouldn't we be trying to get out of here?
JESS: I'm with Vivi!
ZIDANE: So am I!
JESS: Kuro, you've got to summon Leviathan again....
KURO: Right...
(She takes the pendant from around her neck and calls the serpent. It almost seems as if Bahamut is expecting this. He turns to face Leviathan. All those in the ship can do is look on in horror as a blast of Megaflare energy blasts through the water and engulfs Lviathan in a horrible demonic light. In an agonizingly slow action, Lviathan's body twists into a grossly contorted shape... and his energy, coupled with the power destroying him, fills everyone's vision. The scream... the shock wave... an suddenly, it's gone.)
KURO: NO! *collapsing to the ground* NO!!!