Jayson entered his room to find Meia sprawled out on the bed having kicked
the covers off herself.
He smiled at how cute she looked and couldn't stop the blush as he realised
that the sweater had ridden up her thighs. He crept up to her and leant
down and gently shook her awake.
'Wha?' she muttered sleepily.
'Come on we got somewhere to go.' He told her softly.
She looked up at him through bleary eyes and said 'Aww do we have to?'
'I'm afraid so. Duty calls.' He told her taking her hand and gently pulling her off the bed.
'Hey!' Meia complained and tried to dive back under the covers.
'Fine, if you want to play I'll leave you behind.' He warned her.
Meia poked her head from the covers and glared at him. 'You wouldn't!' she said in disbelief.
'Well if you don't want to come I can't force you.' He replied.
'But you'll try and manipulate me instead?' she said sarcastically.
'Yep.' He said grinning. 'Besides I figured it'd be romantic taking you to some old ruins.' He added.
Jayson ducked quickly as Meia threw a pillow at him. 'I'll take it you're coming then?' he said raising an eyebrow.
'Yes I'm coming but I'll make you pay later.' She warned him as she got out of the bed.
'Oh? How so?' Jayson asked innocently.
'I'll think of something.' She retorted getting off the bed and pulling the sweater off to get changed, causing Jayson's eyes to almost pop out of his head.
Meia turned and threw the sweater over his head. 'Don't peek.' She warned and started getting dressed.
'So will we need weapons where we're going?' she asked, finally pulling the sweater off him.
'I hope not but it'd be best if we take them.' He replied.
'Ok so what time does Squall want us at the Ragnarok?' Meia asked pulling on her boots.
Jayson coughed. 'He doesn't know we're going. This is my mission.' He told her.
'What?' Meia exploded in surprise.
'He has enough on his plate with Rinoa right now and I don't think he'll be happy going out on a mission with me. Besides Quistis and Kiros are coming too.' He told her calmly.
'But he'll be pissed.' Meia said grimly.
'I'll deal with that when it comes. Right now I want to go to the Centra ruins and find something on Spore.' He said and started his usual ritual of strapping on Fixxer and his other weapons.
The two of them arrived at the Ragnarok to find Quistis waiting for them with a mildly disapproving and guilty expression.
'I can't believe you talked me into this.' She told Jayson.
'Don't worry we'll be back before he knows it.' Jayson replied.
At that moment Kiros entered the Airstation wearing a pair of tight burgundy jeans and a short vest top, holstered on either thigh were his weapons.
'I see the old outfit still fits.' Quistis smirked leaving Meia and Jayson bemused.
'So we going?' Kiros said and headed up into the Ragnarok, the others following.
The flight was uneventful, Ragnarok landing on the barren Centran continent beside a decrepit tower with its strange cuboid frame around its upper reaches. The group cautiously made their way up mouldering stone staircases pausing every now and then to look at inscriptions on the wall.
A sudden movement caused Jayson to pull a dagger form his belt and leap onto a creature behind a pile of rubble. He lifted it up as it struggled in his hands.
'What's this?' Jayson asked the others, staring at the small green creature in a drab brown robe kicking out at him and flailing at him with a knife and lantern.
'It's a Tonberry.' Quistis said walking over, at which the Tonberry stopped struggling becoming docile and servile.
'Huh?' Jayson muttered confused at this change in behaviour.
'You can let him go, we obtained their king as a GF months ago so they won't bother us.' Quistis explained.
Jayson let it go and it scurried off.
'Aww it was cute.' Meia said receiving weird stares from the others.
'That's what Selphie said before one nearly killed her.' Quistis said laughing.
They continued up the tower, scaling the wall until they came to an open doorway overlooked by a gargoyle.
'Odin's chamber.' Quistis breathed softly.
'The dead GF?' Jayson replied looking round at her.
'Yeah' Quistis murmured.
'Okay, Meia and I will go check in there while you and Kiros watch out here. We'll call you when it's clear.' Jayson told them and unsheathed Fixxer.
He and Meia entered the gloom looking around the shadows for any sign of movement or anything out of place. Jayson had stepped into the centre of the floor when there was a swirl of red and a figure bore down on him from above. He parried slashes from four separate blades, jumping back as a thin blade whirled past his face.
He knocked the next blade clean out his attacker's hand whilst ducking a second as it came across at neck height. He hooked a third with Fixxer and pushed the figure back, kicking out at the flat of the fourth sword as it swept up at him.
The figure swathed in red fell back stunned. 'Bartz?' it said in a deep dry voice.
'You can't be Bartz this isn't the N-zone.' The figure continued confused.
'You're losing your touch Gilgamesh.' Orion's voice rang out as he materialised beside an exhilarated and confused Jayson.
White eyes gazed up from between folds of red cloth. 'Orion?' the figure named Gilgamesh said softly, getting to his feet.
'It's been a long time.' Orion replied amiably.
'So you've been tamed eh?' Gilgamesh laughed heartily.
'Better than going rusty.' Orion answered sarcastically.
'So who is this warrior.' Gilgamesh asked, nodding at Jayson.
'Jayson. A SeeD.' Orion replied.
'A SeeD hmm? Such powerful warriors. I recall I aided a group once before but this is the first time I've been bested one-on-one.' Gilgamesh said softly.
Meia entered the lit area if floor from the part she was investigating, drawn by the voices.
Gilgamesh raised a sword at this apparent intruder only for Jayson to catch the blade in his fingers. 'She's with me.' He said looking into those blank white eyes.
'Another SeeD? Why are you here?' Gilgamesh asked lowering his sword.
'We're looking for information on Spore.' Meia said moving close to Jayson.
Gilgamesh glanced at Orion. 'Spore?' he spluttered in shock.
'Yes and you're the key.' Jayson replied getting a strange look from Orion.
'What do you mean?' Gilgamesh inquired as he sat back onto a stone throne.
'A Centran text linked a pictogram of four linked swords with a key concerning Spore. We come here to find out more and find you and your four swords waiting.' Jayson explained not breaking eye contact.
Gilgamesh smiled slowly and laughed dryly. 'Intelligent and skilful. Yes I hold a "key" to Spore but first tell me what you suspect.' He answered.
Jayson's brow creased momentarily. 'He's searching for something in Esthar to set him free. Physical damage can't break the orb or he would've got the monsters to let him out already.' He told him.
'Which leaves?' Gilgamesh prompted.
'A man-made item?' Meia suggested.
'Magic.' Jayson said firmly.
Gilgamesh grinned. 'Yes magic but if so why isn't he already free?' he told them.
'But the orb is made of magic, surely Hyne wouldn't have made it so magic would set him free!' Meia said aloud.
'Hyne could not foresee a lot of things. She had left Eden to guard her brother for a good reason but over tie Eden was subverted and Ultima made his way to the surface.' Gilgamesh told them.
'So will any magic free Spore?' Jayson cut in.
'Yes.' Gilgamesh answered simply.
'Thank you.' Jayson replied bowing and turned.
'We're going?' Meia asked softly.
'Yes. I've worked it out.' Jayson said and took her hand and walked out the room.
Orion stayed behind talking to Gilgamesh.
'So your role is complete.' Orion said.
'So it seems. Jayson seems capable of defeating Spore but does he know the cost?' Gilgamesh replied, one of his eight hands pensively scratching his nose.
'Spore already tried to take him over.' Orion said ruffling his wings.
'He broke free!? How?' Gilgamesh replied in disbelief.
'The girl was his anchor.' Orion answered.
'I see but he has power of his own, power I haven't felt in a long time. Where could he have attained it?' Gilgamesh said almost to himself.
'Well my friend I must go. What will you do now?' Orion asked.
'I'll be around.' Gilgamesh replied and faded away.
'Wha?' she muttered sleepily.
'Come on we got somewhere to go.' He told her softly.
She looked up at him through bleary eyes and said 'Aww do we have to?'
'I'm afraid so. Duty calls.' He told her taking her hand and gently pulling her off the bed.
'Hey!' Meia complained and tried to dive back under the covers.
'Fine, if you want to play I'll leave you behind.' He warned her.
Meia poked her head from the covers and glared at him. 'You wouldn't!' she said in disbelief.
'Well if you don't want to come I can't force you.' He replied.
'But you'll try and manipulate me instead?' she said sarcastically.
'Yep.' He said grinning. 'Besides I figured it'd be romantic taking you to some old ruins.' He added.
Jayson ducked quickly as Meia threw a pillow at him. 'I'll take it you're coming then?' he said raising an eyebrow.
'Yes I'm coming but I'll make you pay later.' She warned him as she got out of the bed.
'Oh? How so?' Jayson asked innocently.
'I'll think of something.' She retorted getting off the bed and pulling the sweater off to get changed, causing Jayson's eyes to almost pop out of his head.
Meia turned and threw the sweater over his head. 'Don't peek.' She warned and started getting dressed.
'So will we need weapons where we're going?' she asked, finally pulling the sweater off him.
'I hope not but it'd be best if we take them.' He replied.
'Ok so what time does Squall want us at the Ragnarok?' Meia asked pulling on her boots.
Jayson coughed. 'He doesn't know we're going. This is my mission.' He told her.
'What?' Meia exploded in surprise.
'He has enough on his plate with Rinoa right now and I don't think he'll be happy going out on a mission with me. Besides Quistis and Kiros are coming too.' He told her calmly.
'But he'll be pissed.' Meia said grimly.
'I'll deal with that when it comes. Right now I want to go to the Centra ruins and find something on Spore.' He said and started his usual ritual of strapping on Fixxer and his other weapons.
The two of them arrived at the Ragnarok to find Quistis waiting for them with a mildly disapproving and guilty expression.
'I can't believe you talked me into this.' She told Jayson.
'Don't worry we'll be back before he knows it.' Jayson replied.
At that moment Kiros entered the Airstation wearing a pair of tight burgundy jeans and a short vest top, holstered on either thigh were his weapons.
'I see the old outfit still fits.' Quistis smirked leaving Meia and Jayson bemused.
'So we going?' Kiros said and headed up into the Ragnarok, the others following.
The flight was uneventful, Ragnarok landing on the barren Centran continent beside a decrepit tower with its strange cuboid frame around its upper reaches. The group cautiously made their way up mouldering stone staircases pausing every now and then to look at inscriptions on the wall.
A sudden movement caused Jayson to pull a dagger form his belt and leap onto a creature behind a pile of rubble. He lifted it up as it struggled in his hands.
'What's this?' Jayson asked the others, staring at the small green creature in a drab brown robe kicking out at him and flailing at him with a knife and lantern.
'It's a Tonberry.' Quistis said walking over, at which the Tonberry stopped struggling becoming docile and servile.
'Huh?' Jayson muttered confused at this change in behaviour.
'You can let him go, we obtained their king as a GF months ago so they won't bother us.' Quistis explained.
Jayson let it go and it scurried off.
'Aww it was cute.' Meia said receiving weird stares from the others.
'That's what Selphie said before one nearly killed her.' Quistis said laughing.
They continued up the tower, scaling the wall until they came to an open doorway overlooked by a gargoyle.
'Odin's chamber.' Quistis breathed softly.
'The dead GF?' Jayson replied looking round at her.
'Yeah' Quistis murmured.
'Okay, Meia and I will go check in there while you and Kiros watch out here. We'll call you when it's clear.' Jayson told them and unsheathed Fixxer.
He and Meia entered the gloom looking around the shadows for any sign of movement or anything out of place. Jayson had stepped into the centre of the floor when there was a swirl of red and a figure bore down on him from above. He parried slashes from four separate blades, jumping back as a thin blade whirled past his face.
He knocked the next blade clean out his attacker's hand whilst ducking a second as it came across at neck height. He hooked a third with Fixxer and pushed the figure back, kicking out at the flat of the fourth sword as it swept up at him.
The figure swathed in red fell back stunned. 'Bartz?' it said in a deep dry voice.
'You can't be Bartz this isn't the N-zone.' The figure continued confused.
'You're losing your touch Gilgamesh.' Orion's voice rang out as he materialised beside an exhilarated and confused Jayson.
White eyes gazed up from between folds of red cloth. 'Orion?' the figure named Gilgamesh said softly, getting to his feet.
'It's been a long time.' Orion replied amiably.
'So you've been tamed eh?' Gilgamesh laughed heartily.
'Better than going rusty.' Orion answered sarcastically.
'So who is this warrior.' Gilgamesh asked, nodding at Jayson.
'Jayson. A SeeD.' Orion replied.
'A SeeD hmm? Such powerful warriors. I recall I aided a group once before but this is the first time I've been bested one-on-one.' Gilgamesh said softly.
Meia entered the lit area if floor from the part she was investigating, drawn by the voices.
Gilgamesh raised a sword at this apparent intruder only for Jayson to catch the blade in his fingers. 'She's with me.' He said looking into those blank white eyes.
'Another SeeD? Why are you here?' Gilgamesh asked lowering his sword.
'We're looking for information on Spore.' Meia said moving close to Jayson.
Gilgamesh glanced at Orion. 'Spore?' he spluttered in shock.
'Yes and you're the key.' Jayson replied getting a strange look from Orion.
'What do you mean?' Gilgamesh inquired as he sat back onto a stone throne.
'A Centran text linked a pictogram of four linked swords with a key concerning Spore. We come here to find out more and find you and your four swords waiting.' Jayson explained not breaking eye contact.
Gilgamesh smiled slowly and laughed dryly. 'Intelligent and skilful. Yes I hold a "key" to Spore but first tell me what you suspect.' He answered.
Jayson's brow creased momentarily. 'He's searching for something in Esthar to set him free. Physical damage can't break the orb or he would've got the monsters to let him out already.' He told him.
'Which leaves?' Gilgamesh prompted.
'A man-made item?' Meia suggested.
'Magic.' Jayson said firmly.
Gilgamesh grinned. 'Yes magic but if so why isn't he already free?' he told them.
'But the orb is made of magic, surely Hyne wouldn't have made it so magic would set him free!' Meia said aloud.
'Hyne could not foresee a lot of things. She had left Eden to guard her brother for a good reason but over tie Eden was subverted and Ultima made his way to the surface.' Gilgamesh told them.
'So will any magic free Spore?' Jayson cut in.
'Yes.' Gilgamesh answered simply.
'Thank you.' Jayson replied bowing and turned.
'We're going?' Meia asked softly.
'Yes. I've worked it out.' Jayson said and took her hand and walked out the room.
Orion stayed behind talking to Gilgamesh.
'So your role is complete.' Orion said.
'So it seems. Jayson seems capable of defeating Spore but does he know the cost?' Gilgamesh replied, one of his eight hands pensively scratching his nose.
'Spore already tried to take him over.' Orion said ruffling his wings.
'He broke free!? How?' Gilgamesh replied in disbelief.
'The girl was his anchor.' Orion answered.
'I see but he has power of his own, power I haven't felt in a long time. Where could he have attained it?' Gilgamesh said almost to himself.
'Well my friend I must go. What will you do now?' Orion asked.
'I'll be around.' Gilgamesh replied and faded away.