A guard came and led him to a dining room, a long table covered with a
plain white table cloth but then decorated with ornate silver candlesticks
and set out with cutlery and plates.
'Oh god don't say I have to try and remember those etiquette lessons!.' Jayson thought as he was led to his seat and unfortunately found himself sat next to Rinoa.
Laguna sat at the head of the Table with Kiros and Ward sat either side of him. On Ward's side of the table sat Quistis and Meia, whilst Jayson was sat on the other side with Kiros, Squall and Rinoa with no-one opposite him.
Laguna gave him a friendly nod. 'Well now we are all here I guess I should get on with it.' He told them producing a file from by his side.
'As you may or may not know Esthar has been attacked by monsters for the last two months. Fortunately our perimeter shield is holding them out and out army is keeping them at bay. The strange thing is the way they attack. They never attack the same place twice and attack in groups, which is totally weird. Something or someone seems to be controlling them so we've called you to find out what and why.' He told them passing round reports and photographs.
'Has anyone found where the monsters are coming from?' Jayson asked.
'They just congregate from the plains and attack. There doesn't seem to be a single source.' Kiros replied.
At that moment servants entered with trays of food.
'Anyways enough business. I'm sure you can work out the details tomorrow, but tonight you are our guests and should enjoy yourselves.' Laguna told them smiling and waving his arms expansively as the food was laid on the table.
It was now a few hours later and the SeeDs headed back to their rooms, Jayson gritted his teeth angrily as a tipsy Rinoa clung to Squall and giggled continually ahead of him. Meia and Quistis had already gone on ahead and were nowhere to be seen. Jayson's head ached from Rinoa's voice and his stomach complained from the fancy food he'd eaten. He was glad to slip into his room and escape from Squall and Rinoa, flopping onto his four- poster bed and lay in the dark trying to think.
Meanwhile in the next room Squall helped Rinoa onto the bed and sat down on the corner.
'I'm a little worried about Jayson. He seems so withdrawn, more than I used to be.' He told Rinoa whose insistent giggling had stopped.
'Give him time, he might start to come out of his shell if you don't push him.' Rinoa replied kicking her shoes off.
'I know but I have to push him or he won't take the leadership role I know he'd do so well at.' Squall mumbled.
'Anyway enough work talk, you heard Laguna, tonight we enjoy ourselves!' Rinoa told him wrapping her arms around his neck pulling him down onto the bed as her hands slid inside his jacket.
Jayson tossed and turned fitfully in his bed trying to sleep. It didn't help that Rinoa's and Squall's giggles and moans of pleasure could be heard through the wall. In the end he gave up and decided to go for a walk taking Fixxer with him.
Esthar's streets were deserted and silent as he walked through them breathing in the cold air to revitalise himself. The occasional guard gave him the odd look but let him be as he found himself heading into the shopping district, the bright screens dazzling him. He idly glanced at the screens and checked the bookstore to see if the latest Weapons Monthly was in or any other interesting books.
The trilling of a siren followed by a roar caused him to reflexively unsheathe Fixxer from his thigh and scan the surroundings for anything threatening. He leapt back as a wall of screens burst in a shower of glass and sparks of electricity as the Behemoth crashed into the walkway, its claws scoring the surface.
Jayson's body went straight into battle mode without calling on his brain, adrenalin flooding his veins and his heart pounding as he rushed the Behemoth, Fixxer at the ready.
He parried a swipe by the Behemoth, its claws clattering against Fixxer's blade and he rolled to one side to avoid being gored by its horns. The siren still rang in his ears as he continued rolling as the Behemoth's huge paw came rushing down at him. He quickly got up, dashing to one side as a paw came crashing into the wall just by his side. He fired two rounds into the Behemoth's face, blinding it as he ducked under its wildly swinging paws and slashed at its throat spraying the ground with blood and Behemoth collapsed to the ground.
Once he was sure it was dead, Jayson sliced off its horns for later use and the adrenalin backwash hit him, his muscles screaming at him in agony. He leant against the wall gasping for breath as the siren continued to wail into the night, wondering where the guards were.
Fixxer dropped from his hands as he grabbed his head, the pain forcing him to his knees. 'What the hell?' he thought to himself as he felt a malevolent force hit his mind trying to control him. He fought back but the pain was unbearable. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the figures of Esthar guards as well as Laguna, come rushing into the district as the siren faded away and he collapsed, unconscious.
He awoke, his body aching allover and white walls swimming into focus.
'About time. I was getting worried.' Orion said inside his head.
'Thanks for caring.' Jayson replied laughing dryly and trying to sit up. Hands grabbed him and pushed him back down gently.
'No stay there.' Meia told him.
'But I wanna go play!.' Jayson replied sarcastically trying to grin.
Meia tutted under her breath and said 'Why were you wandering out alone last night?'
'Couldn't sleep and lucky I was there don't you think? Anyways I'm not arguing with you, yes I was there, yes I was stupid to take on a Behemoth on my own but what's done is done.' Jayson told her.
'You're lucky to be alive.' A stern voice said behind Meia.
Jayson found Quistis' sapphire gaze on him again. 'The Behemoth was dead before I collapsed. Whatever was controlling the Behemoth was trying to control me, that's why I collapsed.' Jayson told her.
Quistis raised an eyebrow. 'Hmm. Well Laguna did say they found you clutching your head before you collapsed.' She said as if only half believing him.
'These belong to you I guess.' Came Squall's voice as Fixxer and the Behemoth's horns were placed on the chair beside his bed. 'Though I don't see why you'd want Behemoth horns. Some kind of trophy?' Squall asked, slightly dismayed.
'No sir, I figured I could use them for weapon remodelling.' Jayson replied slightly annoyed that Squall would think he was the sort of person who needed to keep trophies like that.
'I see.' Squall replied more happily.
'What's happened since I passed out?' Jayson asked sitting up, ignoring the looks Meia was giving him.
'The Esthar guards patched up the shield breach and closed the area off so it could be cleaned. They have no idea how the Behemoth got through.' Squall told him.
'Anyway, you must rest.' Quistis told him, an instructor through and through.
Jayson fought the urge to give a mock salute and just nodded. Quistis and Squall then left leaving Meia sat by his side.
Jayson lifted the sheet and looked down. 'Okay who undressed me? Male or female, either way I'm not happy about it.' Jayson said to her grinning but failing to get a smile.
'Are you okay?' Jayson asked, concerned.
He repressed the urge to reach out and play with her hair whilst Orion egged him on from inside.
'You could've been seriously hurt, why didn't you call for backup?' Meia asked softly.
'There wasn't time. It just came crashing out and I just fought it on instinct.' Jayson told her not looking into her eyes in case he could see the pain he had seemed to have caused her.
'Typical male.' Meia joked, smiling slightly.
'Unfortunately yes.' Jayson sighed. 'Which is why you're going to have to pass me my clothes and close your eyes while I get dressed.' He added grinning.
'What!?' Meia asked. 'Haven't you been listening to what I said?' she said angrily.
'You don't want to come for a walk with me then?' Jayson asked her.
'Fine but only because I'm going with you.' She told him subsiding and getting his clothes.
Jayson slipped on his boxers under the covers and then coughed. 'So you're going to watch me dress then?' he asked blushing slightly.
'Sorry!' Meia said turning round and closing her eyes, resisting the temptation to take a peek as she heard him get out the bed and the sound of him slipping into his clothes. Jayson tapped her on the shoulder making her jump in surprise.
'Okay I'm done.' He told her as she spun round.
'So anywhere special you want to go?' Meia asked as they walked out of the room.
'Nope. You lead the way.' Jayson replied smiling and gesturing with his hand.
They walked out onto the byways of Esthar which compared to the night were full of bustle and people going about their business.
'So how are you and Siren getting on?' Jayson asked, hoping to sound casual.
'Quite good, she's actually talking to me though if I tell you what about she'd probably get mad.' Meia replied grinning.
'I can probably guess, Orion's been quiet for a while.' Jayson said laughing, clutching his stomach as it gurgled.
'Hmm where do you think we could get some food? I mean decent food, not that fancy stuff Laguna serves. I'm talking Behemoth steaks here!' Jayson said grinning.
Meia rolled her eyes and gave him a playful shove. 'You're terrible!' she replied giggling.
'Now that giggle I don't mind.' Jayson thought to himself.
'No I'm just hungry! Even you look tasty!' Jayson told her with a wolfish grin and pretended to go to grab her before he realised what he was doing and stopped, blushing.
'Well you're not eating me... yet!' she replied with a wink that made him blush even more.
'Hey you okay? You've gone all red...' she asked.
'Yeah I'm fine... anyway we're looking for food right?' Jayson replied, quickly changing the subject.
In the end they made do with a fast food restaurant.
'I don't know how you can eat that!' Meia said stunned as Jayson bit into a big steak burger.
Jayson chewed and swallowed before replying. 'Easy. Lots of ketchup.' He replied finishing off the burger.
'So why did you become a SeeD?' Meia asked between sipping a milkshake.
'Usual reason, I was an orphan in the Sorceress War. I can't even remember who my parents were or where I was from. All I can remember is training to be a SeeD. You?' Jayson replied aware that he was fascinated by her soft lips as they sucked on the straw.
'My mother was a SeeD, I never knew my dad so when my mum died on a mission it seemed the right thing to join Garden.' Meia replied softly.
'I see...' Jayson said not knowing what else to say. Then a thought struck him. 'Do you know what's north of here?' he asked suddenly.
'Mmm. Mordred Plains I think, why?' Meia asked puzzled.
'Just that when I collapsed the pain felt as though it was coming from there.' Jayson replied. 'I think we should go have a look there.' Jayson told her.
'It's surrounded by mountains on both sides of the land, you'll need Ragnarok. Besides hadn't we better tell the others first?' Meia interjected.
'Hmm, I guess. Well we'd better get back to the Presidential Palace and prepare for war.' Jayson told her.
'Why prepare for war?' she asked perplexed.
'Because that's what's going to break out if Squall doesn't listen to me.' Jayson replied grinning.
Meia shook her head. 'You just have a touch of the dramatics in you don't you?'
'What makes you say that?' Jayson replied laughing.
The two of them then ran back to the Presidential Residence and made their way back to their rooms.
'Oh god don't say I have to try and remember those etiquette lessons!.' Jayson thought as he was led to his seat and unfortunately found himself sat next to Rinoa.
Laguna sat at the head of the Table with Kiros and Ward sat either side of him. On Ward's side of the table sat Quistis and Meia, whilst Jayson was sat on the other side with Kiros, Squall and Rinoa with no-one opposite him.
Laguna gave him a friendly nod. 'Well now we are all here I guess I should get on with it.' He told them producing a file from by his side.
'As you may or may not know Esthar has been attacked by monsters for the last two months. Fortunately our perimeter shield is holding them out and out army is keeping them at bay. The strange thing is the way they attack. They never attack the same place twice and attack in groups, which is totally weird. Something or someone seems to be controlling them so we've called you to find out what and why.' He told them passing round reports and photographs.
'Has anyone found where the monsters are coming from?' Jayson asked.
'They just congregate from the plains and attack. There doesn't seem to be a single source.' Kiros replied.
At that moment servants entered with trays of food.
'Anyways enough business. I'm sure you can work out the details tomorrow, but tonight you are our guests and should enjoy yourselves.' Laguna told them smiling and waving his arms expansively as the food was laid on the table.
It was now a few hours later and the SeeDs headed back to their rooms, Jayson gritted his teeth angrily as a tipsy Rinoa clung to Squall and giggled continually ahead of him. Meia and Quistis had already gone on ahead and were nowhere to be seen. Jayson's head ached from Rinoa's voice and his stomach complained from the fancy food he'd eaten. He was glad to slip into his room and escape from Squall and Rinoa, flopping onto his four- poster bed and lay in the dark trying to think.
Meanwhile in the next room Squall helped Rinoa onto the bed and sat down on the corner.
'I'm a little worried about Jayson. He seems so withdrawn, more than I used to be.' He told Rinoa whose insistent giggling had stopped.
'Give him time, he might start to come out of his shell if you don't push him.' Rinoa replied kicking her shoes off.
'I know but I have to push him or he won't take the leadership role I know he'd do so well at.' Squall mumbled.
'Anyway enough work talk, you heard Laguna, tonight we enjoy ourselves!' Rinoa told him wrapping her arms around his neck pulling him down onto the bed as her hands slid inside his jacket.
Jayson tossed and turned fitfully in his bed trying to sleep. It didn't help that Rinoa's and Squall's giggles and moans of pleasure could be heard through the wall. In the end he gave up and decided to go for a walk taking Fixxer with him.
Esthar's streets were deserted and silent as he walked through them breathing in the cold air to revitalise himself. The occasional guard gave him the odd look but let him be as he found himself heading into the shopping district, the bright screens dazzling him. He idly glanced at the screens and checked the bookstore to see if the latest Weapons Monthly was in or any other interesting books.
The trilling of a siren followed by a roar caused him to reflexively unsheathe Fixxer from his thigh and scan the surroundings for anything threatening. He leapt back as a wall of screens burst in a shower of glass and sparks of electricity as the Behemoth crashed into the walkway, its claws scoring the surface.
Jayson's body went straight into battle mode without calling on his brain, adrenalin flooding his veins and his heart pounding as he rushed the Behemoth, Fixxer at the ready.
He parried a swipe by the Behemoth, its claws clattering against Fixxer's blade and he rolled to one side to avoid being gored by its horns. The siren still rang in his ears as he continued rolling as the Behemoth's huge paw came rushing down at him. He quickly got up, dashing to one side as a paw came crashing into the wall just by his side. He fired two rounds into the Behemoth's face, blinding it as he ducked under its wildly swinging paws and slashed at its throat spraying the ground with blood and Behemoth collapsed to the ground.
Once he was sure it was dead, Jayson sliced off its horns for later use and the adrenalin backwash hit him, his muscles screaming at him in agony. He leant against the wall gasping for breath as the siren continued to wail into the night, wondering where the guards were.
Fixxer dropped from his hands as he grabbed his head, the pain forcing him to his knees. 'What the hell?' he thought to himself as he felt a malevolent force hit his mind trying to control him. He fought back but the pain was unbearable. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the figures of Esthar guards as well as Laguna, come rushing into the district as the siren faded away and he collapsed, unconscious.
He awoke, his body aching allover and white walls swimming into focus.
'About time. I was getting worried.' Orion said inside his head.
'Thanks for caring.' Jayson replied laughing dryly and trying to sit up. Hands grabbed him and pushed him back down gently.
'No stay there.' Meia told him.
'But I wanna go play!.' Jayson replied sarcastically trying to grin.
Meia tutted under her breath and said 'Why were you wandering out alone last night?'
'Couldn't sleep and lucky I was there don't you think? Anyways I'm not arguing with you, yes I was there, yes I was stupid to take on a Behemoth on my own but what's done is done.' Jayson told her.
'You're lucky to be alive.' A stern voice said behind Meia.
Jayson found Quistis' sapphire gaze on him again. 'The Behemoth was dead before I collapsed. Whatever was controlling the Behemoth was trying to control me, that's why I collapsed.' Jayson told her.
Quistis raised an eyebrow. 'Hmm. Well Laguna did say they found you clutching your head before you collapsed.' She said as if only half believing him.
'These belong to you I guess.' Came Squall's voice as Fixxer and the Behemoth's horns were placed on the chair beside his bed. 'Though I don't see why you'd want Behemoth horns. Some kind of trophy?' Squall asked, slightly dismayed.
'No sir, I figured I could use them for weapon remodelling.' Jayson replied slightly annoyed that Squall would think he was the sort of person who needed to keep trophies like that.
'I see.' Squall replied more happily.
'What's happened since I passed out?' Jayson asked sitting up, ignoring the looks Meia was giving him.
'The Esthar guards patched up the shield breach and closed the area off so it could be cleaned. They have no idea how the Behemoth got through.' Squall told him.
'Anyway, you must rest.' Quistis told him, an instructor through and through.
Jayson fought the urge to give a mock salute and just nodded. Quistis and Squall then left leaving Meia sat by his side.
Jayson lifted the sheet and looked down. 'Okay who undressed me? Male or female, either way I'm not happy about it.' Jayson said to her grinning but failing to get a smile.
'Are you okay?' Jayson asked, concerned.
He repressed the urge to reach out and play with her hair whilst Orion egged him on from inside.
'You could've been seriously hurt, why didn't you call for backup?' Meia asked softly.
'There wasn't time. It just came crashing out and I just fought it on instinct.' Jayson told her not looking into her eyes in case he could see the pain he had seemed to have caused her.
'Typical male.' Meia joked, smiling slightly.
'Unfortunately yes.' Jayson sighed. 'Which is why you're going to have to pass me my clothes and close your eyes while I get dressed.' He added grinning.
'What!?' Meia asked. 'Haven't you been listening to what I said?' she said angrily.
'You don't want to come for a walk with me then?' Jayson asked her.
'Fine but only because I'm going with you.' She told him subsiding and getting his clothes.
Jayson slipped on his boxers under the covers and then coughed. 'So you're going to watch me dress then?' he asked blushing slightly.
'Sorry!' Meia said turning round and closing her eyes, resisting the temptation to take a peek as she heard him get out the bed and the sound of him slipping into his clothes. Jayson tapped her on the shoulder making her jump in surprise.
'Okay I'm done.' He told her as she spun round.
'So anywhere special you want to go?' Meia asked as they walked out of the room.
'Nope. You lead the way.' Jayson replied smiling and gesturing with his hand.
They walked out onto the byways of Esthar which compared to the night were full of bustle and people going about their business.
'So how are you and Siren getting on?' Jayson asked, hoping to sound casual.
'Quite good, she's actually talking to me though if I tell you what about she'd probably get mad.' Meia replied grinning.
'I can probably guess, Orion's been quiet for a while.' Jayson said laughing, clutching his stomach as it gurgled.
'Hmm where do you think we could get some food? I mean decent food, not that fancy stuff Laguna serves. I'm talking Behemoth steaks here!' Jayson said grinning.
Meia rolled her eyes and gave him a playful shove. 'You're terrible!' she replied giggling.
'Now that giggle I don't mind.' Jayson thought to himself.
'No I'm just hungry! Even you look tasty!' Jayson told her with a wolfish grin and pretended to go to grab her before he realised what he was doing and stopped, blushing.
'Well you're not eating me... yet!' she replied with a wink that made him blush even more.
'Hey you okay? You've gone all red...' she asked.
'Yeah I'm fine... anyway we're looking for food right?' Jayson replied, quickly changing the subject.
In the end they made do with a fast food restaurant.
'I don't know how you can eat that!' Meia said stunned as Jayson bit into a big steak burger.
Jayson chewed and swallowed before replying. 'Easy. Lots of ketchup.' He replied finishing off the burger.
'So why did you become a SeeD?' Meia asked between sipping a milkshake.
'Usual reason, I was an orphan in the Sorceress War. I can't even remember who my parents were or where I was from. All I can remember is training to be a SeeD. You?' Jayson replied aware that he was fascinated by her soft lips as they sucked on the straw.
'My mother was a SeeD, I never knew my dad so when my mum died on a mission it seemed the right thing to join Garden.' Meia replied softly.
'I see...' Jayson said not knowing what else to say. Then a thought struck him. 'Do you know what's north of here?' he asked suddenly.
'Mmm. Mordred Plains I think, why?' Meia asked puzzled.
'Just that when I collapsed the pain felt as though it was coming from there.' Jayson replied. 'I think we should go have a look there.' Jayson told her.
'It's surrounded by mountains on both sides of the land, you'll need Ragnarok. Besides hadn't we better tell the others first?' Meia interjected.
'Hmm, I guess. Well we'd better get back to the Presidential Palace and prepare for war.' Jayson told her.
'Why prepare for war?' she asked perplexed.
'Because that's what's going to break out if Squall doesn't listen to me.' Jayson replied grinning.
Meia shook her head. 'You just have a touch of the dramatics in you don't you?'
'What makes you say that?' Jayson replied laughing.
The two of them then ran back to the Presidential Residence and made their way back to their rooms.