Disclaimer: As my mother used to say, "They're not mine!"

Hopefully the chapters will come out much faster now, so get prepared for a wild ride! Revised!

Chapter 6

The city lights came on as the sky darkened, bathing the adventurers in an unnatural light. The

streets were still alive, especially in the Theater District where audience and actor alike traversed

to the playhouses, ready to see their favorite shows. The stifling air had not quit however, and

blew against their sweaty bodies, not even cooling them down.

Mikoto ran a hand over her brow, wiping away the moisture. Groaning in disgust, she dragged

herself behind the group, the events of the day catching up to her. What she wouldn't give for a

bath and a bed right about now.

She hoped Terra and Leo were doing alright, they had never really stayed away from home

before, and would most likely give Hilda and Eiko trouble. She laughed, better them than her.

But I will miss them, all the more reason to get this mission over with as quickly as possible.

After what seemed like an extremely long walk, Baku led them to the airship docks.

Machinery was shutting down as the workers left for home, and the place was quiet compared to

it's normal earsplitting cacophony. But, one ship was still primed to go at a moments notice: the

Prima Vista II.

Zenero was at the bottom of the ramp, waiting eagerly for the rest of Tantalus, "Ship's ready to

go, Boss!"

"Tell Genero and Benero to prepare for departure!" Baku shouted to Zenero, as he headed

back inside the ship, "Now get this show on the road! Gwahahaha!"

Bunce spoke up from the back, "Aren't we flying?"

"We are flying," Baku stated firmly, and then looked pointedly at the young man, "and you are

staying here."

"What!?!" Bunce shouted, " But Lucella-"

"-is staying too." the Tantalus leader interrupted, " Besides someone needs to stay and hold

down the fort."

"But I don't understand why we can't go-"

Baku was getting impatient, and Mikoto could feel the anger rising up from him, "Because I

said so, and what I say goes. This isn't a pleasure cruise…you two stay here."

"Alright Boss," Lucelle conceded, and then turned to the young man next to her, "Bunce, we'll

get our turn another day." The girl took Bunce's hand and led, nearly dragged, him back to the

playhouse.

Zidane turned to Mikoto, scratching the back of his head, "Hey sis, you be careful okay? What

would I do without your constant voice of cynicism?"

Mikoto glared daggers at him, "Let us hope you never find out."

Zidane just smiled, then un-expectantly hugged her. She was surprised, but readily hugged

him back, "Just be careful."

He is really worried for me, after the incident with Terra and Leo he seemed much more

nervous for family members. She didn't want him to worry over nothing, "I promise, I'll be all

right." Mikoto soothed.

Zidane nodded, satisfied, "Well then, good luck, all of you. Contact me once you find out

something, hopefully I can muster together a force to take out whatever caused the attack on my

kids."

Blank nodded, "We won't let you down."

"Yeah, what are friends for?" Marcus added.

"Enough, we're wasting time, let's head out." Baku commanded. Marcus, Blank, and Cinna

hurried inside, and Baku pushed Mikoto in behind them. "We won't let anything happen to her."

Zidane hoped he could keep that promise.

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Tantalus took her on a tour of the airship, but Mikoto wasn't really into it, she felt like she

was going to just fall over from exhaustion any second. She kept on yawning, and the Tantalus

guys took the hint.

Blank ended up with the job of leading Mikoto to her cabin, the thief talking about various

structures in the airship as if the tour never stopped. The red head is rather odd, she thought,

and it wasn't just his appearance. Blank did have strange multi-toned skin and that belt around

his eyes, but Mikoto kept trying to read him with her power and just came back with confusion.

For some reason the man was really confused about something, and it was clouding any other

thoughts or emotion in him. Then, nearly stumbling over a piece of rope brought her back to the

real world. The thief grabbed her arm before she fell flat on her face, "Thank you. I didn't

realize it's been such a long day." Mikoto yawned, struggling back to her feet.

Blank laughed, "Don't worry, I know how threatening a piece of rope can be when you're half

awake."

She snorted, "Speak for yourself. I was in no danger."

"Nope, you just need to sleep."

She frowned but allowed him to continue leading her to her cabin. She got one of the extra

cabins all to herself, it was rather nice really, since there weren't that many spaces on board the

theater ship for passengers. And she should know, Blank had started up the involuntary tour

again.

"-and this is your very own cabin, complete with state of the art luxuries such as: a bed, a

window, and a bath. Please enjoy your stay at the Prima Vista II, and think of us for your travel

needs."

Finally, rest. She did enjoy the man's banter, but right now all she wanted to do was curl up

and go to sleep, "Thank you, Blank."

He opened the door for her, "No prob, tell us if you need anything…good night."

She smiled sleepily at him, "Goodnight."

Blank stood there for a few moments longer than necessary. Then as if realizing his mistake,

gave her a lopsided smile and left.

Mikoto headed in the cabin and lay down, too tired to take a bath. She found Blank's

behavior odd, but lost her train of thought as she succumbed to sleep.

(The young genome awoke in the dark. A black void surrounded her.

She looked around, expecting something. But nothing came.

Then, multicolored lights flashed by overhead, illuminating the dreamscape. The flares

spiraled and crashed into the ground. Sparkling like a firework fountain.

Mikoto looked around, not recognizing the burned and blistered locale. The ground smoked,

plumes rising into the barely illuminated sky.

It was a battleground.

She floated across the scenery, heat radiated up from the ground. Looking forward, she saw a

light. Eyes widening she was drawn in.

--It's her--

Mikoto was looking into a light, then a shape obscured her view.

--Not again--

She felt a cool hand against her fevered cheek. A feeling of warmth and comfort entered her

heart, she had never felt so loved. Tears streamed down her cheek. Taking a deep breath,

relishing the moment, she gazed upward.

--Why?--

The shape was coming into view. She could distinguish a head and shoulders. Light was

highlighting blonde hair, creating a halo-like effect. The person was leaning forward, creamy skin

came closer. She got excited, the pink lips and delicate features.

The person came closer. Then the light reflected off of the person's eyes, turning them a

bright green.

It's me, she thought with a shock.

Mikoto looked at herself, saw how the shadows danced across her face. How soft her skin

was. How her delicate face glowed. I am beautiful...

--Beautiful--

She saw herself look away for a moment, a worried expression came to her face. Mikoto tried

to get up, but she saw herself push herself back down. She saw her mouth open…but no words

came. And then she smiled.

She saw herself lean in, eyes half-lidded. Mikoto saw a reflection in her eyes. The reflection

turned into a face, but before any features could be discerned, she blinked.

The scenery changed. Mikoto saw herself facing away, looking over the battlefield. She

walked up to herself.

--Don't cry--

She saw herself turn around, tears in her eyes. The wind blew the moisture away, the droplets

hanging in the air.

Time froze.

The firework like lights, stopped in streaks, arcing over Mikoto. She saw herself look about,

then step forward. When her foot touched the ground, ripples flowed like waves across the soil.

Leaving in their wake new spring grasses and wildflowers. The burned desert had turned into a

blossoming meadow. The ground beneath her feet rumbled and shook. Then fully grown trees

shot out of the ground, branches opening like the petals of a sunflower.

The plumes of smoke twisted and curled upwards, the black melting away to reveal puffy

white clouds. Behind them the frozen streaks of light started spinning together, almost as if in a

whirlpool. They condensed into a brilliant yellow orb. The newly formed sun rose high into the

sky. Mikoto saw herself gaze outward, a content look upon her face.

--If only…--

She felt she had been waiting for this moment her entire life, that she was still waiting for this

moment, but feared it may never come.

--If only…only…)

Mikoto opened her eyes, the moonlight passed through the window creating complex shadows

in her cabin. What had just happened? She had never had a dream like that, what did it mean?

Who was in the dream?

She leaned forward, her head in her hands. Brows furrowed. It was like the dream the night of

the attack, a dream not really hers...

Mikoto's eyes opened wide, her every nerve on fire. Her eyes darted back and forth, her

muscles tensed. Something was happening to her, something she didn't understand.

She didn't get anymore sleep that night.