Author's note/Disclaimer:  I don't own anything from Wild ARMs 3.  It all belongs to Media Vision/Sony.  Andie Platt however, is mine.  Please ask if you wish to use her.

Here's the first chapter.  This fic is planned out for the most part, and is gonna be three chapters long, plus the prologue and epilogue.  The second chapter is half written as of now, but the fic is on a hiatus until I finish the first Wild ARMs game, due to the fact that I'm already utilizing some of the information gained from WA 2, and I feel I should know what's come before. ^_^ And since I'm probably not going to get back to it until after I finish .hack//outbreak, it may be a while.  Sorry.

And for those of you who read the preview at my webpage, you may want to reread it anyway.  There have been some changes to a couple of scenes.

Chapter 1: Attack At The Ruins

                Catherine ran to Clive, wrapping her arms around his middle in a tight hug.  "I was so worried…" she whispered into his chest, "so worried."

                Clive said nothing as he returned Catherine's embrace, and allowed her to sob in relief on his shoulder.  He ran a hand through her hair.  "I'm okay, dear.  Everything is all right."

                After a few moments, Clive noticed someone tugging at his jacket.  Looking down, he found himself gazing into the golden brown eyes of his daughter.  "Daddy," asked Kaitlyn, "you didn't really do all those things the posters say you did, did you?"

                Catherine broke off her embrace to allow Clive to kneel down to talk to Kaitlyn.  He swept his daughter up into his arms, lifting her.  "No, honey.  We did not."

                After a few moments, Jet cleared his throat.  "Not everyone believes that, unfortunately.  We can't stay here too long.  Dangerous people will come looking for us, and if they think we'll keep returning, they'll keep checking our hometowns."

                "That's true," added Virginia, "we've just come by to let you know we're alive and well.  We should be leaving now."

                Catherine and Clive exchanged looks.  It was clear to all that Catherine didn't want them to leave, and Clive didn't want to go.  "Please…please, stay.  Just for an hour or so?" asked Catherine.

                Virginia didn't meet her eyes.  "We…we can't put you at risk like that…"

                "Oh, don't be such a worry wart, Virginia," spoke up Gallows, "it'll be fine!"

                Virginia looked around at all the pleading faces – except Jet's, of course – and relented.  "Okay.  But only for an hour.  Then we should really be on our way."

                Clive favored Virginia with a smile.  "Thank you."

*        *        *

                It wasn't too long before Virginia started to help Catherine in the kitchen.  Suddenly, she paused, as if listening to something only she could hear.  Before Mrs. Winslett could say anything, Jet, Gallows and Clive came running into the room.

                "You hear that, too, Virginia?" asked Gallows.  She nodded.

                "I'm sorry, Catherine, but we'll have to cut the visit short.  Lombardia says there's a group of bounty hunters headed this way."

                "How…?" started Catherine.

                "Telepathic link.  I'm sorry, dear, but we must be leaving."  Clive gave her a quick kiss and turned to leave with the others, stopping only to address Kaitlyn.  "Be a good girl for your mother, okay?"  With that, he followed the others out the door.

                Catherine and Kaitlyn stood outside the door and waved as the four fugitives fled the town.

*        *        *

                The young lady looked up as the four outlaws approached.  Lombardia was still a way off, but visible from where she stood.  "Took you sweet time getting here, didn't ya?"

                There was a clink of metal as Virginia drew her dual pistols and aimed them at the young woman.  "Who are you and what do you want?"

                "Andie?  Andie Platt?"

                The others regarded Clive with surprise.  "You know her?" asked Gallows.

                "I think so," came the reply.

                The young woman smiled.  "That's me.  You can put the ARMs away now, miss."

                "It's okay, Virginia."  Clive turned his attention back to Andie as Ginny holstered her weapons.  "You were an ARMsmith at Laxisland, were you not?"

                "Yeah.  I thought you looked familiar.  Your ARM, Gungnir HAG35, wasn't it?"  When Clive nodded, she continued.  "I knew it.  I never forget an ARM."

                Virginia broke into the conversation.  "I hope you don't mind my asking, but what do you want?"

                "I know you're on the run, and I happen to know of a ruin nearby where you can hide out for a while."

                "Why are you helping us?" asked Jet.  "Wouldn't it be more to your advantage to turn us in and collect the reward?"

                Andie shrugged.  "I just have this feeling that you guys are innocent, and I can't turn over innocent people to the harsh hand of the law."

                "So, where's this ruin, then?" asked Gallows.

                Andie pointed a slender arm southeast.  "By foot from here, it should take about two hours.  By dragon, however…" She tossed her head to indicate Lombardia.

                The team exchanged glances.  "Uh," said Virginia, "thank you.  We must be going."

                "Yeah, yeah, whatever."  Andie turned and started to walk in the direction of Humphrey's Peak.

                "So, do we trust her, leader?" asked Clive.

                "What?  I thought you said she was trustworthy!"

                Clive sighed.  "When I first met her at Laxisland, she was.  But now… did anyone else feel a strange sense of foreboding from the Guardians?"  The others nodded.    

                Virginia hung her head.  "I'd like to think I'd learned my lesson about going with my gut instincts from Janus… but I just can't help giving people the benefit of the doubt."  She looked up.  "We'll head to this ruin, but we will be extra careful for traps."

                They hurried off to meet Lombardia.

*        *        *

                "Hey!  Hey, you!  Girl!"

                Andie stopped to allow five dangerous looking men approach her.  "Yes?"

                "You didn't happen to see four Drifters pass by here, did you?"

                "Maybe.  Why?"

                The man who was obviously the leader of the group sneered.  "Don't you keep up with the news?  They're wanted murders!"

                "Ya don't say?  Well, I saw a group of four headed southeast.  Dunno if they're the ones you're looking for.  But you might want to be careful.  They've got a dragon with them."

                "Sounds like our guys.  Thanks, kid."  With that, the bounty hunters turned and walked off into the wasteland.  Andie watched them go until they were out of sight.  Then, as the reddish glow faded from her eyes, she sunk to the ground, weeping.

                "You … evil whore," she snarled through her tears, "get … the fuck … outta my head!  I won't … be a part … of your evil … anymore!"

                But you hardly have a choice.

                "You … won't … control me!"

                Please.  You couldn't fight me off at the Ark, what makes you think you can do it now?

                "…Bitch."

*        *        *

                The dragon landed outside an old, decrepit looking structure and the team disembarked.  Drawing their ARMs, they approached the ruin cautiously. All appeared quiet; not even monsters stirred within.

                "Seems pretty safe," commented Jet.

                "Yeah, but I still don't like it.  Let's look around," replied Virginia.

                I have some things to take care of, came the voice of the dragon.  She flashed her teeth in a grin.  I shall be back shortly.

                "Okay, see you, Lombardia," replied Virginia, and the dragon soared away as the team entered the ruins.

                It didn't take long to explore.  The ruin was rather small, containing five separate rooms connected by narrow hallways.  They ran into a few monsters, but were quick to dispatch them.  But the lack of traps put everyone on edge.  It was almost too easy.

                Building a fire in one of the larger back rooms, the group took a break to eat and discuss what they were going to do next.

                "I still have this bad feeling," said Virginia, "especially with Lombardia out of the area."

                "You can't expect her to stick around forever," replied Jet as he and Clive unpacked the supplies.  Gallows set a pot of water over the fire, getting it ready for use when it came time to prepare dinner.

                "I wonder why she's even still following us around," he said.

                Clive scratched at the back of his head as Jet started to cut vegetables into the pot.  "I believe she has grown fond of us."

                "Why do you think that is?" laughed Virginia.  Clive shrugged.

                "I cannot think of any other reason why she would still be here."

                They all laughed at the ridiculous notion, and the conversation drifted to other, more serious topics as they waited for the soup to be ready.

                "How long are we going to stay here?  And afterwards, where are we headed?" asked Gallows.

                "I was thinking we'd stay here for the night, then head to the Baskar Colony in the morning.  If Lombardia is back by then, we'll ride with her.  If not, we'll take the horses until she is," stated Virginia.

                It took a while for the soup to be ready, but once it was, the group fell silent as they focused on eating.  Each was occupied with their own thoughts, but they were all interrupted by the message.

                Shall I stand watch?

                "Back already, Lombardia?" asked Virginia.

                "If it would not be too much trouble," added Clive, "it would be much appreciated."

                Most assuredly.  I shall be outside if you desirest to speak with me in person.

                "Thanks."

                The others regarded Jet silently for a few seconds, and then decided it wasn't so strange after all that he would thank the dragon.  The team went back to eating.

*        *        *

                Lombardia stood to her full height and surveyed the desert wasteland.  An hour had passed since she had returned.  The sun had already set and the landscape was dark save for the light from the full moon.  Sniffing, she tested the air.

                "Hmmm…" What is that off in the distance?  Smells like trouble.

                The dragon started to move forward to investigate.  There were five men approaching.  What were their intentions?  Were they just Drifters, or were they there for another reason?

                As Lombardia continued forward, she began to move slower and slower, until she dropped to the ground, snoring gently.

                The five bounty hunters approached Lombardia cautiously.  "This is the big, bad dragon?  Not very good at keeping watch, is she?" whispered the leader.  He led his team carefully past the slumbering dragon and into the ruins.

*        *        *

                Jet's head snapped up. 

                "What was that?!"

                Clive and Gallows also stirred at the sound.

                "Sounded like…" started Gallows, before being interrupted by another scream.

                "Virginia!"

                The three men grabbed their ARMs and were off running towards the room where Virginia had been sleeping, Jet taking the lead.

                "What's going on?  Lombardia should've warned us about anything getting in!" exclaimed Gallows as he and Clive hastened to keep up with Jet.

                In the next room, Virginia found herself held hostage by the five bounty hunters.  Two held her as their leader held her chin between his thumb and finger.  The other two guarded the only two entrances to the room.

                "Such a beautiful face to waste on criminal scum like you."

                Virginia struggled against her captors, but they held her firmly against the wall.  "Get away from me!  My friends won't go easy on you if you hurt me!"

                The leader laughed.  "Hurt you?  Heaven's, no!"  His hand traced a path from Virginia's chin down to the nape of her neck.  "But I'm sure the Ark wouldn't mind if we … had a bit of fun with you, before bringing you in?"

                Virginia's eyes widened in horror and she struggled harder against her captors, but they still held her fast.  She perked up when she heard her name called, and the bounty hunters turned to watch as Jet ran into the room.

                Jet clobbered the man guarding the entrance as Clive and Gallows followed.  They didn't want to kill the bounty hunters, so they focused on using melee attacks instead of shooting everything in sight.

                The two men holding Virginia turned to fight, one drawing a set of knives, and the other an ARM.  The leader wrapped his arm around Virginia, pinning her arms to her sides and held her back as she tried to help her friends.

                Jet also clobbered the other guard as he came at him, and Gallows and Clive went after the two new arrivals.  Even while being held against her will, Virginia could still cast arcana.  She cast Shield on Gallows as the bounty hunter with the ARM shot at him.  The spell protected him long enough to allow him to get close enough to deck the man, knocking him unconscious and out of the fight.

                Meanwhile, Clive squared off with the bounty hunter armed with the knives.  He was having trouble getting in close enough to knock the man out without getting sliced to ribbons by his weapons, and he had no access to any arcana that would be of use in this situation.  No one expected it, and Clive had no time to react when the bounty hunter revealed the fact that his knives weren't just for hand-to-hand combat.

                Virginia screamed as five inches of cold steel buried itself in Clive's chest, having been thrown from several feet away.  Clive gasped in shock, going rigid for a split second before slumping to the floor lifelessly, blood already beginning to pool around him.

                Jet gunned down the man with the knives.  He wasn't about to show mercy to someone who tried to kill his teammates.

Shocked and horrified by this turn of events, Virginia bit the arm of the man holding her.  He yelped and released her, and she turned and kneed him in the groin before clubbing him with a pistol, knocking him out cold.  Once free, she wasted no time joining Gallows and Jet at Clive's side.

                Jet touched her arm.  "Are you okay, Ginny?" he asked quietly.  She nodded and turned to Gallows.  Her voice trembled when she spoke.

                "How is he?"

                Gallows didn't reply as he finished casting Heal.  "Well…" Gallows avoided Virginia's eyes.  "He's… still alive…" He placed the bloodied knife on the floor next to him.

                Jet ran off to retrieve the first aid kit as Virginia brushed a few stray strands of hair out of Clive's face.  He was pale from loss of blood, but at least, Virginia figured, he didn't look like he was in any pain.  But then again, he wasn't really registering much of anything in the way of expressions.  The only way Virginia could tell he was even still alive was by the wheezing sound he was making as he breathed, and the rising and falling of his chest as he did so.

                Jet returned shortly with the kit and Gallows quickly dressed the wound.  "I can't lie, Virginia," Gallows said.  "This doesn't look good.  We need to get him to Cheville."

                "But what about…?" started Virginia.

                "Catherine and Kaitlyn?" finished Jet.  Virginia nodded.  "They'll find out one way or the other, and this way, he has a fighting chance."  He wrapped an arm around Virginia's shoulder, surprising her.  It surprised him, as well.  "Are you sure you're all right?"

                She closed her eyes, and the two men could see the tears running down her face.  When she opened them again, she fixed her stare on Gallows.  "Tell me the truth, Gallows.  Does he even have a chance?"

                The young Baskar avoided her gaze again.  "…There's always a chance…but…"

                "You don't think he'll make it."

                There was a long silence, broken only by Clive's ragged breathing, before Gallows punched the wall in frustration.

                "We should get moving."

*        *        *

                "I've done all I can for him.  It's his fight now."

                The room fell silent save for Kaitlyn's muffled sobs as the young girl cried on her mother's shoulder.

                "…Thank you for everything, Cheville.  Now," Catherine surveyed the sober faces, "…we should … probably let Clive rest."

                The others nodded in subdued agreement and followed Mrs. Winslett out of the room where Clive was laying.  Cheville gave Catherine a comforting hug before taking her leave.  She had been treating Clive since the others had gotten him back to Humphrey's Peak early in the morning.  It was dusk outside now, and Cheville had done all she could.  There was no reason for her to stay.

                But her assessment was the same as Gallows' had been.  Things looked bad for the green haired sniper.

                As Catherine put Kaitlyn to bed – the poor girl had cried herself to sleep on her mother's shoulder – Jet, Gallows and Virginia took up seats in the living room.  Catherine joined them shortly afterward, but Virginia couldn't meet her eyes.

                "… I … I'm so sorry…"

                Catherine shook her head.  "It's not your fault, dear.  It's … just one of those things.  Clive knew the risks of becoming a Drifter…" She fell silent for a moment before continuing.  "You're welcome to stay…" She received halfhearted acceptance.  "I'll just be in the kitchen.  Make yourselves at home."

                The room fell silent as Catherine shuffled off to the kitchen.  It stayed that way for almost ten minutes, no one knowing what to say, before Virginia stood.  "I'm…gonna take a walk…" With that, she turned and practically fled the home.  No one moved for another several minutes.

                It was Jet who finally stood and followed after her.

*        *        *

                Jet found Virginia hiding under the bridge at the entrance of the town, her legs pulled up into her chest and her head buried between her knees.  She was crying.

                He sat down beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder, startling the distressed young woman.

                "Wh…what are you doing, Jet?" she choked out between sobs.  Jet didn't reply right away, but when he did, it wasn't what she expected to hear.

                "Dunno."  He looked into her blue eyes.  "I guess I figured … you could use some company."

                Virginia laughed quietly, disbelievingly.  "Since when did you care, Jet Enduro?"

                Jet cast his eyes downward angrily.  "Dammit, I don't know!"

                "…"

                He scratched at the back of his head and sighed.  "Look, I don't know what it is, but … lately … I've had this urge.  To keep you safe."

                The two fell silent, and a few moments passed before Virginia wrapped her arms around Jet's shoulders and started to cry again.  He awkwardly put his arms around her and rubbed her back.

                "This is all my fault!  Clive's dying, and it's all because of me!"

                Jet grasped her chin and made her look him in the eyes.  "No it's not, Virginia, and you know it.  It was no one's fault except the bastard who stabbed him in the first place.

                "I'll be honest; you weren't always the greatest leader, but your leadership skills had nothing to do with it.  Clive himself could have been leader and it still would have happened.  There was nothing any one of us could have done to stop it."

                "…" Virginia cuddled into Jet's chest.  "…But…"

                "It is not your fault."

                Virginia started to sob again.  "…Clive's … dying, Jet."

                "…I know…"

                Jet rocked the grieving girl gently as she cried herself out on his chest.  He couldn't explain it, but, for some reason he felt better, despite everything that had happened, just having her in his arms.

                What the hell is wrong with me? He wondered.  This isn't like me at all.

                Pushing those thoughts to the side, he set his chin on the top of Virginia's head and ran his hand through her hair as he continued to rock her.  After a moment, she lifted her head from his chest and wiped at her eyes.  She paused, staring into Jet's violet eyes. 

                Then she kissed him.

                "Whoa!"  Jet pushed Virginia away quickly, surprising her.  "What the hell was that, Ginny?"

                She looked up at him, confused.  "I-I don't… I just…"

                Virginia trailed off, and the silence of night pressed in around them.  Jet's mind was reeling with confusing thoughts.  He didn't know – despite what the others may think – much about love.  Werner had never told him about it, and it wasn't really something someone would pick up in his line of work.  When it came to sex, Jet had about the same amount of knowledge as any given six-year-old.

                Lately, when he was around Virginia, he was overcome with strange emotions that he didn't understand. 

                Could this be that 'love' thing everyone keeps talking about? he wondered.  There was also another feeling, something that he could only remember feeling once before and not nearly as much as he did now.

                "Jet?"

                Virginia's voice sounded worried, and snapped Jet out of his reverie.  "Hmm?"

                "Are you okay?"

                Jet nodded.  "I-I'm fine…  Virginia?

                "Yes?"

                "…Do that again?"

*        *        *

                Growing restless with being left alone, Gallows rose and walked over to the kitchen.  "Catherine?"

                Mrs. Winslett sniffed and wiped at her eyes before turning around.  "Yes Gallows?"

                The young Baskar scratched at the back of his neck.  "I…uh…was wondering if you could use some help?"

                "I'll be okay, thank you.  Where have the others gone?"

                "Virginia went out for some air, and Jet followed her."

                Catherine nodded and turned back to the cookbook she had open on the cupboard.  She wasn't making anything out of it; she had it out as something to look at, something to try to distract herself with.  Gallows took another step further into the room.  "Are you sure you're okay?"

                "Yes, but thank you again for your concern, Gallows."

                It was a moment before either of them spoke again.  "I have something I need to discuss with Lombardia," Gallows said suddenly.

                Catherine nodded again, but didn't say anything.  Gallows turned and made his way outside.  It was a short walk out the town's back entrance to where the dragon lay, seemingly half asleep.  She lifted her head as Gallows approached.

                "What is the matter?"

                "I hafta know, Lombardia.  Why didn't you warn us about those guys?"

                The dragon lowered her head back to the ground and closed her eyes.  She looked tired, pained almost.  But Gallows knew that wasn't true.  It was laughable to think a dragon – wise but arrogant and self-centered creatures – would care about humans.  That was why Clive's suggestion back at the ruin had been such a joke.  Although, he thought, Lombardia has stuck with us, and helped us longer than she had too…

                I wanted to.

                "So what happened?"

                I do not know.  One moment, I was moving in for a closer look, the next, you were bringing your wounded friend to me for transport home.  There is something evil afoot, I can sense it.  And I fear we are right in the middle of it.

                "Yeah, I hear ya.  The Guardians have been restless.  Durn it!  I wish there was a way we could actually talk to them.  I have the feeling they know exactly what's going on."

*        *        *

                Catherine exited the kitchen shortly after Gallows left, and was now standing in the doorway to Kaitlyn's room.  In her mother's eyes, the child looked like an angel while she slept.  Catherine smiled sadly, pleased to see that at least Kaitlyn's dreams didn't seem to be troubled by her father's grave condition.

                Shutting the door again, she moved on to the room where Clive was laying.  Again, she paused in the doorway, watching the rising and falling of her husband's chest with each shallow breath he drew.  She resolved not to cry again as she entered and began to check his bandages.  She sighed and sat down in a chair next to the bed.  The bleeding had stopped, finally, but his condition hadn't improved.  Trying to think positively, she noted that it hadn't gotten worse.

                She took his hand in hers, noting how cold it felt in her grasp.  She ran a hand through his hair and laid her head down beside his before finally breaking down and crying herself to sleep.

                She was asleep when Clive died.

Yes, Clive is my favorite character.  Why do you ask?  ^_^ And yeah, some of the battle scenes were a bit cheesy.  I'm not very good at writing fights, which is why you don't see many from me.  But the best way to learn is to try.  ^_^