Hello again, sorry for the long delay and thank you to those of you considerate enough to review the first chapter, anyway sorry again for the delay. Oh, and by the way, I won't be following the strict maps of the game levels. So don't hassle me cos it's not exact to the game!
(Oh yeh, I forgot the disclaimer in Chapter one, so here's one now: I do not anything involving the Phantasy Star games. And for those of you who wish to sue me anyway – Good luck, I've got nothing worth suing for! Except for my Gamecube – and you ain't getting it.)
One more thing – if you have trouble reading or understanding strong Scottish accents – let me know and I'll fix it in future chapters. Yes, that is how the majority of we Scots talk – not all of us – but a large majority.
Anyways – Enjoy.
Ragol's sweet surfaced planet was certainly going under some changes since the reports of the Pioneer 1 and its charismatic crew had issued to the Pioneer 2. And the reality of it's sweet – natured and friendly inhabitants was reality no more, as Loki had now experienced for himself, as well as the young girl that he had encountered a short time ago, Jiann.
An attractive and highly spirited young woman, who despite was put through a rather clumsy rescue attempt by Loki, now seemed ready to take on the world, her eyes narrowed to slits in dead – set determination, as her legs flew towards the two Booma's that she had intended to take out, neatly dodging with a swerve of her hips as the first to meet her swung with it's foot long claw, as her arm swung backwards, the Daggers Photon Blade slicing neatly into it's back as it gave a grunt of pain, before it's partner proceed to swing it's hefty arm upon the girl, striking her side, forcing her to stagger back with a light gasp of pain, her side receiving a long gash that almost instantly began to weep blood that slid down her shorts and down her long legs.
Loki could not concentrate on his own two Booma's, always keeping a blue eye on the young lady, that he could barley aim his own weapon towards the steadily approaching enemies, the blue orb constantly changing it's view form one, to the other, and to the other, gently backing away as his finger compulsively yanked on the trigger, the small Photon Bullets continuously flying out of his gun.
'For God's sake, how am I ever gonna become a decent Ranger if I'm too busy staring at girls to fight!?' his mind reeled as he tore his eyes from Jiann, and took aim, his arm becoming steady as the gun pointed between the nearest Booma's approach, the bullets destined for the space between it's glassy eyes. Sucking in his breath and feeling his muscles tighten, as the triple – heavy attack came into action, and the Booma's cry sounded, and the creature stumbled with each strike before it fell dead before him as the second made his way towards him, stepping over the body of it's predecessor.
Loki turned quickly and ran, he needed to make space between them as to be cornered, even by one of them could be the death of him as such a low experienced rookie, and low on health – even when at full health, according the small meter within his armor was he in a dangerous situation when cornered by even the weakest of enemies at this current stage, yet Loki knew that it had to be done if he where to gain any further levels and better rank. Reaching the metallic frame of a locked mechanical door, he turned, and once again took aim, as the off – sight shriek of a dying Booma hit his ears.
Jiann had killed one of her two.
Loki's eyes narrowed to slits, and his knuckles bleached beneath his armored hand, and the bullets flew once more, at the Booma, the brown furred creature remained unaffected, or so it would appear.
Was he missing it?
His mind came to a slight panic as it turned away from the Blonde Ranger, and began to cross the grassy floor to Jiann, her feet set firmly, slicing at her remaining Booma, as it finally gave a pained moan, slumping to her feet as she gave a sigh, her tired arms going to her once again bloodied side. Sensing the approach of the monster behind, she spun around, stubbornly reaching for her daggers ready to fight once more.
Loki's glare tightened, his eyes focusing on the slow movement of the Booma, and his gunfire began once more, the spurts of Photon sinking into the animals flesh as Jiann ran up to it once more, and began with her slicing movements, catching it under its furry chin, and it cried out as Loki fired one more bullet of Photon Energy into it and it fell motionless.
Loki sighed, falling backwards against the door, his cheeks flushing not with fatigue, but with embarrassed shame at the effort used to destroy such creatures. And the thought of letting down the Principal and his Colony with such weak attempts was crushing… Ragol was going insane, and he was needed to put a stop to the threats – and yet it damaged his ego to think that he could barley stand up to a few Booma's and a Savage Wolf or two.
His MAG chirped at his ear, sensing the Negative Feelings from within, brushing against its Masters cheek, as though to reassure him that he was not a destined failure.
A smile of gratitude creased his face, as he turned to the tiny robot, as it levitated before his eyes, bouncing in the air.
"Thanks," Loki grinned wearily, totally unsure whether it understood him or not, but to have the feeling that there would always be someone – or something he could rely on in such times made his heart swell with gladness, even if it was only a MAG.
"Are you ok there?" the feminine voice of Jiann called after him as he turned from his MAG to watch her approach, clutching her side, blood seeping through her fingers, her teeth gritted in pain.
"Yeah, I'm fine – hold on a minute…" he paused, rummaging within his armor before retrieving a Monomate, and freely offering it to her.
"Oh, thanks Lawrence,"
"Ahem… Loki." He corrected light – heartedly, as her cheeks shone a slight rouge at the embarrassment of managing to confuse Loki with Lawrence, as she once again used the Monomate over her own body, and releasing a relieved sigh as the wound melted away into nothing.
"Well, that was a great start to my promising career…" Loki spoke in a low voice, his sarcasm meaning to sound friendly, but coming out in a tone almost groveling to improve his skills.
"Aw c'mon, we didn't do that bad," Jiann said, looking at him with her green eyes. "Cheer up, we beat 'em didn't we?"
"Barely," his low – spirited grumble looking quite crestfallen, and releasing a sigh, and folding his arms over his chest. Jiann paused, looking at him thoughtfully, as though she where able to contemplate his thoughts within him. He had obviously been expecting an easier beginning to his career as a Ranger.
"C'mon, I'm only a Level Three, and guessing that you're roughly around that Level too, I don't think we did too badly! We're standing – they're not! What more do you want?" she grinned at him flashing two rows of shining white teeth in perfect formation.
Loki gave a weary smile, raising a hand to brush his hair from his eyes, putting more weight upon the door of which he was leaning. "I guess, but we – GAH!!!" his cry was high pitched, and almost feminine sounding as the laser lock upon the door shifted and slid open, the unfortunate Loki falling backwards, his arms flying outwards as though expecting Jiann to have the reflexes to catch him and landing hard on his back with a thud.
His face burned red as Jiann erupted into peals of laughter, echoing through the forest, and taunting him playfully as he sat up, rubbing the back of his head.
"Y – you scream like a little girl!!!!" tuning her laughter into an intermediate giggle as she held out a hand for the fallen Loki.
"I do not!!" he rebuffed, his eyes sliding away from her gaze, smirking at the funny side of the incident as he pulled himself to his feet, pulling up his mask to hide his blush.
"Yes you do – oh god that was hilarious!!!" Jiann finished off her laughing, by, rubbing her eyes, and giving off a final sigh, at the fact the Loki was now no – longer meeting her gaze.
"It wasn't THAT funny…" he muttered under his breath, smiling to himself, dusting his armor off and collecting his handgun.
Looking over his shoulder into the section of the forest that he had just fallen into. A wide and sunny area of grassland, rimmed with rocky borders and metallic frames, a small stream running by, babbling softly in the dewy morning. There was a lack of the insane animals of the Forest around. Nothing.
He turned back to Jiann, a smile still on her lips as she looked at him, fighting the urge to laugh once more.
"Now you're just being silly," Loki informed with a smile. Folding his arms over his chest.
"I'm sorry – I'm sorry. There, I'm fine now ok? All serious now." She nodded, finally managing to maintain a straight face. "Should we continue?" se asked bouncing slightly on her feet.
"What – together?"
"Yes..," Jiann said slowly with friendly patronization, blinking at him with her green twin orbs. "I think we make a pretty good Team! Don't you?"
Loki blinked – he didn't expect that she would want to stick around with him on the quest of hunting for Rico Tyrell. But she did, standing before him looking at with a smile on her pretty face blinking her green eyes innocently, asking permission to travel with him.
"Yeah, y'know what – we do!" Loki grinned brightly, cheering up in himself. "Alright!" he finished offering a hand of friendship before her. She flashed a grin in return, taking his hand firmly in her own and vigorously shaking.
"And don't worry," she added with a smirk. "I'll get you out of trouble before you start screaming like a little girl again!" she giggled.
"Ha ha..." Loki sighed, rolling his eyes at her as they made their way through the mechanical doors and into the continuing clearing. There where two doors in the distance that they could see. Both in the far off corners, one barely noticeable tucked away with walls of rock, and another in the direct path of the Clearwater stream. The sun was warm in its glow as it shone upon the duo.
Cautiously stepping into the open, their weapons gripped tightly in their hands they moved, Jiann holding her Photon Daggers in her tight fists, and Loki brandishing his Handgun.
All too expected, more enemies burst from the ground. Three Booma's. Loki was first to react, his Gun hand flying into the air, and his gun began to fire, as Jiann dove into her own form of battle, regardless of her recent struggles only minutes before. But there where only three this time.
One for the sweet guy in the Ranger Suit, one for herself to pick off, and the last one to share if it didn't know what was good for itself.
She was confident as she swiped at her Booma, swerving and dodging what attacks it made with her elegant dodging techniques, and as she sliced at it's flesh before it succumbed to the wrath of her daggers. Her mind was not set on battle though.
The guy over there, Loki – she barely knew the guy. In fact she couldn't even remember his surname or eye color, but he indeed seemed to be a very nice person, good – looking too! Jiann was seventeen, old enough to make her own decisions, and perhaps if she where not already with a young man of whom she was devoted...
Anyways, teaming up with him might prove more fruitful than just achieving their goals as a Hunter and a Ranger.
She watched as he finished his Booma before it could approach him, as he turned to her, cocking his head in the direction of the third of which was steadily approaching him.
She smiled at him giving a nod, as the two began to approach the beast, Loki raising his gun, and Jiann setting her weapons in formation, as enough space closed in for them to attack. Loki firing, and Jiann, stabbing at the foolish creature. It swung at Loki as he managed to activate a quick Photon Shield, avoiding the strong attack from the beast, and retaliating with a final heavy attack, and it collapsed at their feet, sinking back into the ground, leaving a bloody pool on the ground.
They paused for a brief moment.
"…That was easy, considering…" Loki blinked, faltering before the mention of the previous struggles they had endured.
"Yeah – actually it was," Jiann grinned, scratching her head. And looking around to Loki as he crouched low to pick up a small green case, left in the wake of the dead Booma.
"What's this?" he blinked, a quizzical tone to his question as he opened it gingerly, finding a tiny disc – like item, scribed on the surface, the word "Foie".
A Technique Disc – items used to program into the body, abilities once considered virtually Superhuman to the Human Race. In "Foie's" case, the ability to produce and use Fireballs as weapons.
And yet he couldn't use it – he was too low in experience.
"Can't use it yet?" Jiann inquired, looking over his shoulder at the disc, as Loki shook his head, placing it into his Item pack.
"No, not yet, I – " his sentence cut off abruptly. The suddenness of the goings on, and Jiann's shriek locked his voice in mid sentence. Jiann was tackled from behind, a Barbarous Wolf growling at its prey, as it pinned her.
Yet it was not Loki who fired the Wolf off of the teenage girl. Three Heavy – Attack Photon bullets where enough to knock it motionless to the ground, as Jiann where able to pull herself away, Loki helping her to her feet, looking at it's disappearing body before looking in the direction of the bullets.
It was the Female Ranger from the Pioneer Two.
A slender framed body accented nicely with her clothes, in Blues, blacks and Grays. Naturally red lips on a pale skin tone, and red eyes looking back at them from behind a pair of thick spectacles. An Albino or so it seemed.
Two bangs of pale lilac framing her face, topped with a black beret on her head. A multi – sectioned ponytail hanging behind her head. In her hand she grasped a Panic Gun. Two MAGS floated behind her, lilac in color, each with a silver canopy.
She strode over to the two, grabbing Jiann roughly in her hands, and twisting her, as though checking for something.
"Hey!" Jiann's protest ignored as the Ranger continued her search, locking Jiann in her grasp, before releasing her, and returning her gun to her pouch.
"Yer fine, nae injuries – But ye shouldnae turn yer back on a Wolf!" She spoke harshly in her odd accent that Loki still could not determine. Her eyes where still glared, despite having just checked someone for injuries, Loki would have expected for her to loosen up – but she hadn't.
"Uh – thanks?" Jiann piped up, rubbing her arms where the newcomer had gripped her, as the wind blew a warm breeze, making their hair sway gently in the awkward silence.
The Ranger Girl sniffed.
"If yer gonna be in this kinna job, ye've got tae know whit yer up against! Keeping yer back turned on a Wolf's just askin' it tae attack." She informed like an impatient schoolteacher to a particularly slow child.
Jiann blinked. She new she had made a mistake, but now she was just rubbing salt in the wound.
"Look – I know I'm…" she began, speaking in a "matter – of – fact" voice, to be interrupted.
"If ye know, then why do ye dae it!?" she continued, folding her arms and looking her in the eye.
"Hey, excuse me Miss, but everyone makes mistakes – back off a little alright?" Loki motioned, stepping between the two, The Female Ranger delivered to him a tighter glare.
"Mistakes get folk killed ya idiot!" she snapped at his face, before turning back to Jiann. "You're a Yang, aren't ye?" she asked, straight to the point, much to Jiann's surprise. "Ye've got a big sister haven't ye? Yer boyfriend was on the Pioneer One as well,"
"Hold on – how in the hell do you – " Jiann demanded, disturbed not only by the Ranger Girls foul attitude, but her knowledge of her family and boyfriend, things that figured few people on the Pioneer Two should know. And then it came to her – stupid really how she could have forgotten. Her older sister had often spoken about a friend of hers – born of Scottish parents, an Albino who had went on to become a Ranger.
"You're Holly aren't you? Holly Slatron?" Jiann asked with narrowed eyes, placing her hands on her hips, staring at the young Scotswoman defiantly, as she in turn, pushed her glasses further up the bridge of her nose, and pulled a bang of hair from her right eye.
"Yeah – I am, and as much as I do like your big sister, I don't want to get held back by looking out for her overconfident wee sister if ye don't mind,"
"And what's that supposed to mean??" Jiann demanded, her muscles tightening, as Holly rose a slender eyebrow at her watching her coolly as Jiann forced herself to hold back the impulse to attack the Scot.
Loki decided enough was enough.
"Alright – both of you shut up for a moment alright – just…"
"Pretty tough words for someone who has trouble standing up tae a coupl'a Booma's – yer no much more than a rookie!" Holly interjected, her piercing red eyes stared back at him from her white face and veiled by her pale hair. Despite this she was quite attractive, almost Vampiric or gothic in complexion. Her eyes where hard and unforgiving, and despite her slender figure, it was not hard to see that this was a strong woman who stood for no nonsense.
Loki wouldn't have minded this if her attitude wasn't so bitchy and unfriendly.
"Obviously you are too – otherwise you wouldn't be in Forest: One!" Jiann shot back.
Her words had obviously taken some effect. Holly turned to her, eyes wide and eyebrows slanted in an expression of anger.
"I've trained for my status as a Ranger. Martial Arts, long ranged Weaponry and close ranged Weaponry. I'm not one of the stupid idiots who wake up one morning and go 'I think I'll join the Hunter's Guild today!'. I have my reasons, and I worked for them. I don't need effort tae kill a Booma for Christ's sake. I might be new as a Ranger – but I'm not a Rookie."
"No – but you're sure as hell a bitchy show – off!" Jiann rebuked, leaning over Loki's arm that served as a barrier to save her from attacking the female Ranger.
"I'm a show off just 'cos I can look after myself? Well – "
"For God's sake will you both just shut the hell up??" Loki cried out in exasperation, pulling his mask down from his face before spreading out his arm span to widen the gap between the two women. "Okay – thanks for your help Holly," he continued, speaking the name "Holly" in a rather hostile tone of voice. "But if you don't mind – we'd like to get going and maybe get through to Forest Two, so..."
"I've wiped out all monsters here." Holly informed them, standing up her full height, folding her arms over her chest, her tone empty of conceit, as though it where merely a fact of life.
"Obviously not or we wouldn't have been attacked!" Jiann spat, her hatred for the albino Scot coming across loud and clear. Loki sighed and Holly cast her a patronizing eye, but otherwise ignored her.
"All doors are open, and the Teleportation Pad to Forest: Two is open." She continued. "So count yourselves lucky that you've had an easy ride so far."
"Aw Go to HELL!!" Jiann screamed.
Loki felt like screaming too. He had since admitted to himself that he may have needed a little help at certain points in his quest, but this Holly woman had just done everything for them, and ultimately blew his chances of raising any further levels before facing future challenges in the Forest: Two.
"Thanks a lot," he spat sarcastically, pulling his mask back around his cheekbones, before motioning for Jiann to follow as they walked through a door that they noticed was open. A strange thought came to mind...
She had said she had unlocked all doors – why had the ones on their arrival been locked?
It did not matter any more, as the future doors had indeed been opened as Holly had said, and they could feel her red eyes on the as they left her in the clearing.
"I don't like her." Jiann grumbled to herself as she and Loki walked through the walled glades of the forest. "And frankly – her accent was too hard and fast to understand – was she even using real words?"
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Loki sighed, downhearted as Jiann sidled up by his side. "But on the bright side, it'll save us on Monomates?" he piped a little, trying to at least raise a smile. It worked – sort of. Jiann smiled, but not happily.
"I'm sorry – just that bitch back their kinda put me in a bad mood." She explained sullenly before becoming suddenly animated and pointing past Loki. "She unlocked all doors she says!" she laughed as Loki turned to see a door which was locked, going against Holly's statement that she had unlocked all doors in the Forest: One. They could see from behind the walls, a tall and vibrating copper colored tower – like post.
"What's that?" Loki wondered aloud looking up to its height. Unlike anything that had been described to him of Ragol. Her turned to Jiann who seemed to be more interested in the fact that she had proved the Scot wrong in her thoughts of unlocking all doors.
"Who cares – Lets just open the damn thing and see what else is there – maybe some monsters that we can raise levels on."
Jiann sprinted over to the metallic frame pressing her hands upon it as though it would open by doing so. Pulling back, she looked around herself, and saw another clearing further down.
"C'mon – maybe there's a switch down there or something." She spoke aloud, before running into the widely spaced area before them.
"Jiann – hold on, it's..." Loki paused, knowing that there was little point in trying to complete his sentence as the young and energetic girl was probably out of earshot. Sighing to himself, he followed. A light jog in pursuit as he came to see her standing still staring out at the local wildlife.
Four Rag Rappies. Snuggled into themselves, surrounded by their fluffy quilts of feathery down. They appeared to be asleep.
"They are so adorable aren't they? Really cute!, don't you think?" Jiann inquired, turning to her friend. Loki released a breath from his lungs.
"Yeah – y'know they're even cuter when they try to peck you to death!"
Jiann shrugged, and went back to her silent bird watching. This went on for several long moments before Loki noisily cleared his throat.
"What?" Jiann asked, turning to look up at him.
"We just gonna stare at 'em all day??"
"We can't kill them!" Jiann protested, looking shocked and appalled at the idea.
"... Wha???... Í thought you wanted to see what was behind the door?"
"Can't you just gimme a boost over the wall??" Jiann begged. "I'll see if I can unlock it from the other side? We can't just kill defenseless animals!"
Loki stared at her for a few moments of bewildered silence, scanning her face for any sign that she was joking. A few moments were all it took for the realization to dawn on him.
"Oh my God – you're serious aren't you???" Loki questioned, eyes wide with an increasing air of disbelief.
By now, the Rappies had awakened, and now wandered aimlessly around the field.
"See?" Jiann smiled brightly, waving her arm in their direction. "Could you kill those things and have no regrets? They aren't doing us any harm."
"Oh?" Loki said, withdrawing his handgun, and pointing it in the direction of an approaching Rappy. Jiann's smile flickered. Rappies did not approach humans unless to attack, which became apparent that this was the intention of this particular Rappy.
Loki aimed at it and fired.
It squealed and shook itself of the initial shock of the Photon Bullet. Then it continued to approach.
Loki sighed at the creature's idiocy and fired again. With a cry it fell upon it's back.
"You killed it you heartless bast – " Jiann snapped suddenly before watching the chick – like creature stand up and flee from the scene entirely.
"Jiann – you practically need an atomic explosion to kill the little assholes. They just run away when you hurt them enough." Loki sighed, as he began to fire at the remaining three.
"You're cruel!" Jiann sighed, folding her arms. "How can you..."
"How can you hope to become a good Hunter if you won't kill everything that gets in your way?" Loki pointed out, as squeals echoed in the background.
"But look at them – it's just so mean!"
"Doesn't matter," Loki said, pulling his weapon back as squeals fell silent and Rappies began to sprint away out of danger. "Wanna go see if your precious door's open now?"
"Oh yeah – the door," Jiann seemed to snap back into reality turning and jogging over to the door, and Loki watched as she cried out in dismay and hammered her fists into it's metallic surface.
Loki grinned and sighed, shaking his head softly, as he approached her, maneuvering her to the side, so she could watch as he tapped likely on the switch next to her that she had failed to notice.
She glared at him before walking through the doors, and met with the tall coppery colored spire, staring up in awe as Loki followed behind her.
"What hell is that??" Loki inquired to his young friend before him, looking up at it's tall structure.
"Dunno – it doesn't look like anything the Pioneer might have set up," Jiann replied quietly as Loki walked up to the mighty monument.
Set out before him, a board of a series of buttons and switches, inscribed upon it an odd lettering that was strange to him.
"Hey – Jiann, check this out…" he motioned with his hand for her to come over, and she walked along, keeping an eye firmly upon the monument, as she approached almost nervously. "What do you make of this?" Loki asked her, motioning towards the board.
Jiann looked down at the lettering. Her eyes squinted and her head cocked to the side.
"Never seen anything like it – what do you think it means?"
"I don't know but maybe..." he paused as he gingerly reached out and tapped one of the buttons.
The structure erupted to life, vibrating violently and overcome with an odd colorful aura sweeping through its entire form.
"HOLYCRAP!" Loki cried out in shock, the two separate words seeping into one with the agility of his speech as he leapt back and fell backwards to the ground.
"What did you just do??" Jiann gasped pacing backwards away from the quaking monument, as Loki scrambled backwards.
"I dunno! Lets just get outta here!" he muttered, as Jiann helped him to his feet and the two fled from the instrument and out into the open and out of the room that Jiann had been so desperate to try and enter for herself, only to be met once again, by a certain someone. A certain someone they had met only five minutes previous.
Holly Slatron.
To be continued
Yeh, I would write more here, but I need to do something else, and Chapter one has been on it's own long enough. I preferred Chapter one to this but trust me – it will get better.
Until next time!