Return of Anemos
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Chapter 11 - Lies, Truth, and Defection
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Ivan found himself staring into a dark place. He pondered how he would describe such a place, but words simply failed him. It was a void, no light, no ground, no stars, no water, nothing. In fact, the only thing he could sense was himself; not even the flow of thoughts could be heard in this place.
It then dawned on him that he was dreaming. Was this a dream of some kind? A vision?
"Neither one is the answer."
Ivan tried to see who had spoken, only to have darkness block his sights.
"I'm sorry, I forgot that you still depend on your eyes for sight. Forgive me, I forgot how low you are."
Ivan's surge of anger and confusion were drowned as a collum of light suddenly shone forth, bathing his form in white light. A short distance away, another tower of brilliance appeared, this one revealing the form of a... No, he was seeing things...
What stood before him was a child, no more than ten years of age.
"You think that I appear young, do you not? It figures that you would think that. Though my body is of a yound age, I am older than your father."
Ivan blinked. "How do you kno..."
A wave of the strangers hand silenced him. "I will be asking the questions here, boy. Now then, what is the current military status of Prox?"
Ivan raised his eyebrows. Some stranger asking him questions about the strength of Prox in a dream? No, he wouldn't dream something like this. He suddenly paled as he realized that someone was contacting him in his dream. Or rather, while he was sleeping. But he had to protect his friends, despite the oddity of this contact...
"The military is relaxed. Why?"
A stare faced him, and he wondered if the little cretin was reading his mind somehow.
"Ivan, I may not be able to completely read your mind with such distance between us, but I know when you are lying. And I detest those that try to hide things from me. You have one more chance before I have to resort to drastic measures.
*Which would be what? Inflicting pain? Hell, as long as Feihzi and Prox are safe, what do I care about me?*
"What is Prox's current military status?"
"Relaxed."
The child frowned. "Remember, you asked for this. Though I might not be able to harm someone of your level with the distance, I can harm a normal human."
Ivan frowned. *What was that little brat talk-*
*No...*
A third pillar of light shown down onto a flat structure, upon which rested....
"Since you are unwilling to cooperate, I will have to... force you to tell me what I want to know."
"Leave her out of this!! She can't help you!"
"Oh, but she can." And with that, the child gripped Feihzi's arm. At first, Ivan thought he was trying a bluff. But a sudden stench told him otherwise.
The stench was unique. In fact, it rarely was smelled by most due to the rarity of its appearance in nature due to electricity being only available from storm clouds. Or from Jupitarians.
Ivan gripped his head as a sudden screach pierced his thoughts. He quickly realized what the source was: Feihzi had awoken to find that she had been burned. And worse, she would not know how...
"STOP!! I'LL TALK!!!"
"Really?" the cretin asked. "Amusing how you would do anything to protect such a frail creature. You disgust me. You could control and make her do whatever you wish, yet you see her as an equal." He shook his head. "But I digress. It is of no consiquence to me how you live, but rather what you have to say. Now then, you were going to tell me the exact state of Prox's military..?"
Almost snarling, Ivan told his foe of how the Proxians were preparing for battle, how they saw him as a sign of a future war, of C'tala. Ivan expected more questions, but was soon greated by a sly grin. *What?*
"Thank you for this information Ivan. But before I go, I have a question: Is this... weakling pregnant?"
Ivan blinked. Was this some kind of test? Feihzi wasn't pregnant; he would've detected it if she was, and even if he didn't, she would tell him, wouldn't she?
The villan stared at him. "Sad how such a potential-filled thing like you could be duped by a weakling... Farewell, for now."
Ivan soon found the darkness returning, only to be replaced with light - and the face of Piers waking him...
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Feihzi cradled her arm, gently holding a cloth filled with ice over the burn. She had no idea how she had been burned, and she had no idea why it took Ivan so long to wake up. Virtually all of Prox heard her, and yet Ivan slep through it? She couldn't think of a time that he had done THAT before...
Then again, this was not normal circumstances, were they?
Seeing Ivan walk into her room, she stood, staring at him. Trying to describe him, she noted that he looked like hell, yet seemed... Something had changed about him...
He walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her. She wasn't sure, but she thought she heard sniffling and sobs. No, it must be her imagination...
"Feihzi, are you ok?"
*No what happnened? No who did this?* Those would've been her first questions. Unless... He knew..? No, that was not possible. Not only could Ivan not do that himself, but noone was found when she screamed. Her cries of pain had brought nearly every Proxian out of his or her home, and noone had reported seeing anyone...
"Yes, Ivan. I am fine..."
"And is the..."
She pulled away from him to look at his face. She noted the tear streaked down her face, but her mind was busy on something else. He knew that she was expecting? How? Hamma had taught her how to mask it, as a test exercise. But how had he come to know of it? If he had known all along... No, he would've said something sooner... But how..?
"Yes, she is fine..."
His eyebrows rose. "A girl?"
She nodded, but still found herself lost in thought. He knew she was with child, but not its gender? Even an unskilled wind adept could sense the gender of a child coming into the world. How did he know she was pregnant but not know of the sex?
Unless... He was told about it? No, she hadn't told anyone, even Hamma. It made no sense....
"Feihzi, can we talk for a bit?"
Nodding, she sat next to him, only to have him hold her close and suddenly burst into tears. Unsure of why he did this, she simply held him...
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Staring around the table, Isaac took in the sights. Felix and Alex had agreed to meet within the new Sanctum to hear his tale, largely because they wanted somewhere where the beast (what was it they called it? Nani?) could sit in. Isaac had yet to find out the significance of the creature, and doubt that he would before the day was out. While Nani sat in a corner of the cave, Isaac and his friends sat at a massive table, one created for just such an occasion. To his right sat Jenna and Alex, while Felix and Sheba sat to his left. Garet and Mia had decided to not attend, opting to comfort Megan.
Taking a deep sigh, Isaac tried to decide where to begin. Did they want to know all of what he had seen and heard, or would they simply want to know how he had gotten "free?"
[How about how you got free?]
Glancing at the creature, Isaac frowned. He had been unable to read the creature's mind since he arrived and was unable to tell what alignment the creature was. That was, of course, assuming that it had an alignment; while it had the power to read minds, it had shrugged off his efforts to trap him in their attack, something that was typical of Venusians...
Taking a deep breath, Isaac made his choice:
"I was sent here to act as a locating signal so that the Anemians could track your movements."
The sharp intakes of breath around him seemed to indicate that they were shocked. That was, of course, an understatement...
"Why would you do such a thing?" asked Sheba, clearly sensing that he was not telling the whole story. He silently smiled to himself as he thanked the elements for Sheba's instincts.
"Because if I do not do it, they will kill Hamma."
He noted the looks on their faces, looks that seemed worried, but at the same time, not at all shocked. Apparently, they were expecting something like that to get him to do this task...
"Isaac, I'm sorry," wispered Jenna as she gave him a hug, trying to comfort him. Which made sense to him, since the only person besides Ivan and Feihzi that knew that he and Hamma were an item was Jenna.
"Thanks Jenna." He glanced at her, and oddly enough, she seemed...puzzled. Why should she be?
"Must be the hug. That's why he thanked me.."
Isaac fought to keep a strait face. He hadn't wanted to read her mind, and yet he had somehow done so. How? Had his abilities somehow increased suddenly? No, it was his imagination.
Then why was that creature eyeing him oddly?
"Isaac," said Felix, speaking the first words that Isaac had heard from him in years. *Elements, he sounds horrible... Wonder if the virus hit here... but everyone seems fine...*
"Do you know of the virus?"
Nodding, Isaac stared at his old friend. "Yes. That's how they planted the signal on me. They spiked my healing salve with some kind of psynergetic crystal that sends off pulses. I don't know how to stop it..."
Silently they stared at each other, apparently wondering what to do.
"Do we continue with our plan to relocate?" Alex thought aloud, clearly voicing the thoughts of everyone else at the table.
[If we do not, they will suspect that something is amiss. We must continue so that we do not draw attention. While you prepare, I will try to sense these crystals and see if there is a way to shield them.]
Nobody commented, but they all knew that their lives were once again thrust into danger...
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Sitting around the Anemian Council table, Zeus groaned inwardly. He was still disgusted with their plan to have Isaac act as a locator beacon, and had even contemplated freeing Hamma. Of course, that would put a death mark on his head, and cause his army to be all but disbanded, punished, and blackballed. Nice.
Staring around the table, he saw his comrades discussing thier plans with each other, preparing for the meeting. From his right sat General Ares, having returned from his conquest of Imilia; Kolar, the "child," having transferred his mind into a childs body at an early age; Veyl, the governess of Contigo, and the only Venusian at the table. To his left sat Aqi, the lead healer of Anemia, and Scort, General Ares's apprentice.
All of them had reports to give, and, if the rumors were true, the lord of Anemia would be listening in somehow. How that was, they did not know. It was presumed that he was a Jupitarian, but Venusians were typically natural leaders, and was far more probable. But now was not the time to ponder that, since Ares was preparing his report.
"I arrived at our storehouse in Imilia, and found that someone had already opened the gate. I released a leigion of our troops and marched to the Lighthouse, and encountered resistance from a simple healer. My troops have secured the land, and have accounted for over three-fourths of the population that we estimated lived in the village."
Kolar nodded, and Zeus muttered a silent curse to himself. Colar, thought appearing as a child, was the senior of the present Council, and was the one who made the final choices for the Return. And the idiot that decided to let Isaac go with the knowledge that Hamma might be killed. Fool.
"Very well Ares. When you return to your troops, I want you to prepare for a march to the Mars Lighthouse. Secure it at any cost. Any. Be warned - they will be expecting an attack."
Though Ares simply nodded, Zeus thoght of what Kolar had said. It had been Kolar's plan to send Ivan and his girlfriend to Prox, though at the time, it eluded Zeus. Apparently, the midgit had extracted some information from Ivan. He decided that he didn't want to know HOW that was done.
"Veyl, how are the current defenses in Contigo?"
"Nearing completion. We have made efforts to begin shipping the humans north to Imilia for processing, but it will take time. We are currently using them on the walls and trenches."
"Very well. Aqi, has the healing salve been destroyed?"
"Yes, Lord Kolar."
"Well done. General Zeus, did Isaac arrive in Vale without trouble?"
As he prepared to speak, Zeus noted that an aid had walked up to Kolar wispering something in his ear. Despite this, Zeus delivered his report. "Isaac arrived, presumably without incident. I remind the council of my original complaint in this plan - because we have threatened his love, he might fall into trouble."
Staring at Kolar, Zeus saw the child wave the aid away. "He might be in more trouble than you think, Zeus. We have just recieved word that Isaac's signal is no longer being detected."
Zeus felt the blood drain from his face. "And idea...?"
Kolar simply smiled. "It doesn't matter. All we have to do is have Hamma transmit a message to Vale to see if he is there. That will get him."
Zeus swallowed in his dry throat. "What KIND of message?"
"Any that gets Hamma to contact Isaac. If he lives, then we allow him to continue; if Hamma cannot reach him, she is of no use to us."
It was with that comment that Zeus finally realized that the Anemian Council had finally gone too far. Killing someone just because they cannot contact their spy? What was this?
He stood, staring towards Kolar. "If you will excuse me, I would like to handle this duty. It should fall upon me to do it; I am the one that guaranteed Hamma's safty, I should do it for making a promise I could not keep."
Kolar seemed to smile. "A valiant warrior to the end, eh Zeus? Very well. We expect you to return in about two hours to hear your report."
Walking out of the chamber, he pondered what he was going to do. Kill Hamma? Sure, that's what they said to do if Isaac couldn't be found. But what if something was unintentionally blocking him? This was not careful planning; this was idiocy. This wasn't how to live. Maybe that's why Hamma seemed reluctant to have Anemia back; the way the world was going was sufficient. Maybe.
Heading towards the safe house, he noted Robin standing guard near a house. Zeus and Robin had agreed for the Venusian to wait here to see how the Council made choices after sending Isaac away like that. Though Robin had been beaten by his doppleganger, he agreed with Zeus that it was a dumb idea to hold Hamma prisoner like that.
As he passed his comrade, Zeus pressed two fingers to his temples, massaging them. He noted that Robin shifted his sword, seemingly to shift the weight. In reality, they were exercizing their plan.
Their plan to defect.
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^_^
Sheba - Damn, think that was long enough?
Well, I was going to throw in the bit where Hamma and Zeus talk, but I need to think ahead a bit further before I go there...
A small note that Kyarorain brought up: Megan and Justin. Believe it or not, but I typically did the same as she and picture them as siblings. However, since the game never stated that they were related, I went ahead and made them a couple for dramatic purposes. And Ky, it could be worse - I could make it Jasmine/Nygel. I almost did that before I recalled that they were Cousins... ... Hmm...
And before I go to the reviews, two things:
1) I do not own Golden Sun. Stop asking.
2) Next time, Hamma and Zeus talk, Isaac and Nani discuss his power increase, and Ivan recieves a visit from a certain Anemian... =D
Karst - Not going to tell them who it is?
Why? Let them worry bout it... Makes them eager to read more!
Agatio - True...
Sheba - BTW, how did he suddenly become so smart?
No comment.
Sheba - *coughcoughKarstinfluencecough*
Karst - 0_0 *chases Sheba with Death Sythe*
Well, now to end this unusually long chapter with a review commentary! (BTW, when FF.net's admins banned the posting of notes, is this included? If so, kiss me goodbye...)
Dragon Empress - Review when you can! Thanks!
Gay Witch - Any potential gay pairing will be delayed due to the current focus on Zeus and his tough decision. But I might do it...eventually. And Justin is dead. No plans to bring him back. No joke. Sorry. Thanks for the review, though!
SirGecko - Thanks! Don't think that Megan will play a major role (aside from keeping Mia and Garet preoccupied...lol), but she might act as a healer in the upcoming chapters (as in, four or five chapters from now...I hope...) Thanks for the review!
darkness127 - Thanks!
Forgotten Souls - 0_0 That's a big review... I know the Megan bit went too fast. I was very dissapointed when I went back a couple days ago to read it. At least I got what I wanted out of the Zeus scene above... And believe it or not, but I was thinking the same as you just prior to your review. Ironic that we were both thinking that... Anywho, thanks for the review!
Rain Child - Yeah, that would help a wee bit. What did you update? 0_0 Unrequited? Is that it??? Anywho, good luck catching up! Thanks!
Kyarorain - *laughs* The M/J thing is above, thanks for the reviews! Nice to know that you are back!! Will review once I get that new print cart. Geez, I need to get one with everyone updating right and left and school out and no library printer to use! Thanks!
I want to thank all of my Beta reviewers for their support. If you want to be a Beta reader for RoA12, send me an e-mail. My bio page should have it.
And that's a wrap! For now...
Agatio - REVIEW!
Sheba/Karst - THAT'S MY LINE! 0_0 *Karst chases Sheba with Sythe*
@_@
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Chapter 11 - Lies, Truth, and Defection
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Ivan found himself staring into a dark place. He pondered how he would describe such a place, but words simply failed him. It was a void, no light, no ground, no stars, no water, nothing. In fact, the only thing he could sense was himself; not even the flow of thoughts could be heard in this place.
It then dawned on him that he was dreaming. Was this a dream of some kind? A vision?
"Neither one is the answer."
Ivan tried to see who had spoken, only to have darkness block his sights.
"I'm sorry, I forgot that you still depend on your eyes for sight. Forgive me, I forgot how low you are."
Ivan's surge of anger and confusion were drowned as a collum of light suddenly shone forth, bathing his form in white light. A short distance away, another tower of brilliance appeared, this one revealing the form of a... No, he was seeing things...
What stood before him was a child, no more than ten years of age.
"You think that I appear young, do you not? It figures that you would think that. Though my body is of a yound age, I am older than your father."
Ivan blinked. "How do you kno..."
A wave of the strangers hand silenced him. "I will be asking the questions here, boy. Now then, what is the current military status of Prox?"
Ivan raised his eyebrows. Some stranger asking him questions about the strength of Prox in a dream? No, he wouldn't dream something like this. He suddenly paled as he realized that someone was contacting him in his dream. Or rather, while he was sleeping. But he had to protect his friends, despite the oddity of this contact...
"The military is relaxed. Why?"
A stare faced him, and he wondered if the little cretin was reading his mind somehow.
"Ivan, I may not be able to completely read your mind with such distance between us, but I know when you are lying. And I detest those that try to hide things from me. You have one more chance before I have to resort to drastic measures.
*Which would be what? Inflicting pain? Hell, as long as Feihzi and Prox are safe, what do I care about me?*
"What is Prox's current military status?"
"Relaxed."
The child frowned. "Remember, you asked for this. Though I might not be able to harm someone of your level with the distance, I can harm a normal human."
Ivan frowned. *What was that little brat talk-*
*No...*
A third pillar of light shown down onto a flat structure, upon which rested....
"Since you are unwilling to cooperate, I will have to... force you to tell me what I want to know."
"Leave her out of this!! She can't help you!"
"Oh, but she can." And with that, the child gripped Feihzi's arm. At first, Ivan thought he was trying a bluff. But a sudden stench told him otherwise.
The stench was unique. In fact, it rarely was smelled by most due to the rarity of its appearance in nature due to electricity being only available from storm clouds. Or from Jupitarians.
Ivan gripped his head as a sudden screach pierced his thoughts. He quickly realized what the source was: Feihzi had awoken to find that she had been burned. And worse, she would not know how...
"STOP!! I'LL TALK!!!"
"Really?" the cretin asked. "Amusing how you would do anything to protect such a frail creature. You disgust me. You could control and make her do whatever you wish, yet you see her as an equal." He shook his head. "But I digress. It is of no consiquence to me how you live, but rather what you have to say. Now then, you were going to tell me the exact state of Prox's military..?"
Almost snarling, Ivan told his foe of how the Proxians were preparing for battle, how they saw him as a sign of a future war, of C'tala. Ivan expected more questions, but was soon greated by a sly grin. *What?*
"Thank you for this information Ivan. But before I go, I have a question: Is this... weakling pregnant?"
Ivan blinked. Was this some kind of test? Feihzi wasn't pregnant; he would've detected it if she was, and even if he didn't, she would tell him, wouldn't she?
The villan stared at him. "Sad how such a potential-filled thing like you could be duped by a weakling... Farewell, for now."
Ivan soon found the darkness returning, only to be replaced with light - and the face of Piers waking him...
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Feihzi cradled her arm, gently holding a cloth filled with ice over the burn. She had no idea how she had been burned, and she had no idea why it took Ivan so long to wake up. Virtually all of Prox heard her, and yet Ivan slep through it? She couldn't think of a time that he had done THAT before...
Then again, this was not normal circumstances, were they?
Seeing Ivan walk into her room, she stood, staring at him. Trying to describe him, she noted that he looked like hell, yet seemed... Something had changed about him...
He walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her. She wasn't sure, but she thought she heard sniffling and sobs. No, it must be her imagination...
"Feihzi, are you ok?"
*No what happnened? No who did this?* Those would've been her first questions. Unless... He knew..? No, that was not possible. Not only could Ivan not do that himself, but noone was found when she screamed. Her cries of pain had brought nearly every Proxian out of his or her home, and noone had reported seeing anyone...
"Yes, Ivan. I am fine..."
"And is the..."
She pulled away from him to look at his face. She noted the tear streaked down her face, but her mind was busy on something else. He knew that she was expecting? How? Hamma had taught her how to mask it, as a test exercise. But how had he come to know of it? If he had known all along... No, he would've said something sooner... But how..?
"Yes, she is fine..."
His eyebrows rose. "A girl?"
She nodded, but still found herself lost in thought. He knew she was with child, but not its gender? Even an unskilled wind adept could sense the gender of a child coming into the world. How did he know she was pregnant but not know of the sex?
Unless... He was told about it? No, she hadn't told anyone, even Hamma. It made no sense....
"Feihzi, can we talk for a bit?"
Nodding, she sat next to him, only to have him hold her close and suddenly burst into tears. Unsure of why he did this, she simply held him...
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Staring around the table, Isaac took in the sights. Felix and Alex had agreed to meet within the new Sanctum to hear his tale, largely because they wanted somewhere where the beast (what was it they called it? Nani?) could sit in. Isaac had yet to find out the significance of the creature, and doubt that he would before the day was out. While Nani sat in a corner of the cave, Isaac and his friends sat at a massive table, one created for just such an occasion. To his right sat Jenna and Alex, while Felix and Sheba sat to his left. Garet and Mia had decided to not attend, opting to comfort Megan.
Taking a deep sigh, Isaac tried to decide where to begin. Did they want to know all of what he had seen and heard, or would they simply want to know how he had gotten "free?"
[How about how you got free?]
Glancing at the creature, Isaac frowned. He had been unable to read the creature's mind since he arrived and was unable to tell what alignment the creature was. That was, of course, assuming that it had an alignment; while it had the power to read minds, it had shrugged off his efforts to trap him in their attack, something that was typical of Venusians...
Taking a deep breath, Isaac made his choice:
"I was sent here to act as a locating signal so that the Anemians could track your movements."
The sharp intakes of breath around him seemed to indicate that they were shocked. That was, of course, an understatement...
"Why would you do such a thing?" asked Sheba, clearly sensing that he was not telling the whole story. He silently smiled to himself as he thanked the elements for Sheba's instincts.
"Because if I do not do it, they will kill Hamma."
He noted the looks on their faces, looks that seemed worried, but at the same time, not at all shocked. Apparently, they were expecting something like that to get him to do this task...
"Isaac, I'm sorry," wispered Jenna as she gave him a hug, trying to comfort him. Which made sense to him, since the only person besides Ivan and Feihzi that knew that he and Hamma were an item was Jenna.
"Thanks Jenna." He glanced at her, and oddly enough, she seemed...puzzled. Why should she be?
"Must be the hug. That's why he thanked me.."
Isaac fought to keep a strait face. He hadn't wanted to read her mind, and yet he had somehow done so. How? Had his abilities somehow increased suddenly? No, it was his imagination.
Then why was that creature eyeing him oddly?
"Isaac," said Felix, speaking the first words that Isaac had heard from him in years. *Elements, he sounds horrible... Wonder if the virus hit here... but everyone seems fine...*
"Do you know of the virus?"
Nodding, Isaac stared at his old friend. "Yes. That's how they planted the signal on me. They spiked my healing salve with some kind of psynergetic crystal that sends off pulses. I don't know how to stop it..."
Silently they stared at each other, apparently wondering what to do.
"Do we continue with our plan to relocate?" Alex thought aloud, clearly voicing the thoughts of everyone else at the table.
[If we do not, they will suspect that something is amiss. We must continue so that we do not draw attention. While you prepare, I will try to sense these crystals and see if there is a way to shield them.]
Nobody commented, but they all knew that their lives were once again thrust into danger...
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Sitting around the Anemian Council table, Zeus groaned inwardly. He was still disgusted with their plan to have Isaac act as a locator beacon, and had even contemplated freeing Hamma. Of course, that would put a death mark on his head, and cause his army to be all but disbanded, punished, and blackballed. Nice.
Staring around the table, he saw his comrades discussing thier plans with each other, preparing for the meeting. From his right sat General Ares, having returned from his conquest of Imilia; Kolar, the "child," having transferred his mind into a childs body at an early age; Veyl, the governess of Contigo, and the only Venusian at the table. To his left sat Aqi, the lead healer of Anemia, and Scort, General Ares's apprentice.
All of them had reports to give, and, if the rumors were true, the lord of Anemia would be listening in somehow. How that was, they did not know. It was presumed that he was a Jupitarian, but Venusians were typically natural leaders, and was far more probable. But now was not the time to ponder that, since Ares was preparing his report.
"I arrived at our storehouse in Imilia, and found that someone had already opened the gate. I released a leigion of our troops and marched to the Lighthouse, and encountered resistance from a simple healer. My troops have secured the land, and have accounted for over three-fourths of the population that we estimated lived in the village."
Kolar nodded, and Zeus muttered a silent curse to himself. Colar, thought appearing as a child, was the senior of the present Council, and was the one who made the final choices for the Return. And the idiot that decided to let Isaac go with the knowledge that Hamma might be killed. Fool.
"Very well Ares. When you return to your troops, I want you to prepare for a march to the Mars Lighthouse. Secure it at any cost. Any. Be warned - they will be expecting an attack."
Though Ares simply nodded, Zeus thoght of what Kolar had said. It had been Kolar's plan to send Ivan and his girlfriend to Prox, though at the time, it eluded Zeus. Apparently, the midgit had extracted some information from Ivan. He decided that he didn't want to know HOW that was done.
"Veyl, how are the current defenses in Contigo?"
"Nearing completion. We have made efforts to begin shipping the humans north to Imilia for processing, but it will take time. We are currently using them on the walls and trenches."
"Very well. Aqi, has the healing salve been destroyed?"
"Yes, Lord Kolar."
"Well done. General Zeus, did Isaac arrive in Vale without trouble?"
As he prepared to speak, Zeus noted that an aid had walked up to Kolar wispering something in his ear. Despite this, Zeus delivered his report. "Isaac arrived, presumably without incident. I remind the council of my original complaint in this plan - because we have threatened his love, he might fall into trouble."
Staring at Kolar, Zeus saw the child wave the aid away. "He might be in more trouble than you think, Zeus. We have just recieved word that Isaac's signal is no longer being detected."
Zeus felt the blood drain from his face. "And idea...?"
Kolar simply smiled. "It doesn't matter. All we have to do is have Hamma transmit a message to Vale to see if he is there. That will get him."
Zeus swallowed in his dry throat. "What KIND of message?"
"Any that gets Hamma to contact Isaac. If he lives, then we allow him to continue; if Hamma cannot reach him, she is of no use to us."
It was with that comment that Zeus finally realized that the Anemian Council had finally gone too far. Killing someone just because they cannot contact their spy? What was this?
He stood, staring towards Kolar. "If you will excuse me, I would like to handle this duty. It should fall upon me to do it; I am the one that guaranteed Hamma's safty, I should do it for making a promise I could not keep."
Kolar seemed to smile. "A valiant warrior to the end, eh Zeus? Very well. We expect you to return in about two hours to hear your report."
Walking out of the chamber, he pondered what he was going to do. Kill Hamma? Sure, that's what they said to do if Isaac couldn't be found. But what if something was unintentionally blocking him? This was not careful planning; this was idiocy. This wasn't how to live. Maybe that's why Hamma seemed reluctant to have Anemia back; the way the world was going was sufficient. Maybe.
Heading towards the safe house, he noted Robin standing guard near a house. Zeus and Robin had agreed for the Venusian to wait here to see how the Council made choices after sending Isaac away like that. Though Robin had been beaten by his doppleganger, he agreed with Zeus that it was a dumb idea to hold Hamma prisoner like that.
As he passed his comrade, Zeus pressed two fingers to his temples, massaging them. He noted that Robin shifted his sword, seemingly to shift the weight. In reality, they were exercizing their plan.
Their plan to defect.
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^_^
Sheba - Damn, think that was long enough?
Well, I was going to throw in the bit where Hamma and Zeus talk, but I need to think ahead a bit further before I go there...
A small note that Kyarorain brought up: Megan and Justin. Believe it or not, but I typically did the same as she and picture them as siblings. However, since the game never stated that they were related, I went ahead and made them a couple for dramatic purposes. And Ky, it could be worse - I could make it Jasmine/Nygel. I almost did that before I recalled that they were Cousins... ... Hmm...
And before I go to the reviews, two things:
1) I do not own Golden Sun. Stop asking.
2) Next time, Hamma and Zeus talk, Isaac and Nani discuss his power increase, and Ivan recieves a visit from a certain Anemian... =D
Karst - Not going to tell them who it is?
Why? Let them worry bout it... Makes them eager to read more!
Agatio - True...
Sheba - BTW, how did he suddenly become so smart?
No comment.
Sheba - *coughcoughKarstinfluencecough*
Karst - 0_0 *chases Sheba with Death Sythe*
Well, now to end this unusually long chapter with a review commentary! (BTW, when FF.net's admins banned the posting of notes, is this included? If so, kiss me goodbye...)
Dragon Empress - Review when you can! Thanks!
Gay Witch - Any potential gay pairing will be delayed due to the current focus on Zeus and his tough decision. But I might do it...eventually. And Justin is dead. No plans to bring him back. No joke. Sorry. Thanks for the review, though!
SirGecko - Thanks! Don't think that Megan will play a major role (aside from keeping Mia and Garet preoccupied...lol), but she might act as a healer in the upcoming chapters (as in, four or five chapters from now...I hope...) Thanks for the review!
darkness127 - Thanks!
Forgotten Souls - 0_0 That's a big review... I know the Megan bit went too fast. I was very dissapointed when I went back a couple days ago to read it. At least I got what I wanted out of the Zeus scene above... And believe it or not, but I was thinking the same as you just prior to your review. Ironic that we were both thinking that... Anywho, thanks for the review!
Rain Child - Yeah, that would help a wee bit. What did you update? 0_0 Unrequited? Is that it??? Anywho, good luck catching up! Thanks!
Kyarorain - *laughs* The M/J thing is above, thanks for the reviews! Nice to know that you are back!! Will review once I get that new print cart. Geez, I need to get one with everyone updating right and left and school out and no library printer to use! Thanks!
I want to thank all of my Beta reviewers for their support. If you want to be a Beta reader for RoA12, send me an e-mail. My bio page should have it.
And that's a wrap! For now...
Agatio - REVIEW!
Sheba/Karst - THAT'S MY LINE! 0_0 *Karst chases Sheba with Sythe*
@_@