Parallels

Chapter 20

Alex sat on her bunk, her mind lost in thought. Directly ahead of her gaze were Felix and Isaac, both of whom were playing a game that Isaac had tried to teach them (something called checkers?). Felix let out a groan as Isaac "jumped" some of his own playing pieces, while Isaac merely said "King me." If she recalled right, that was the saying one said when a piece reached the opponents side of the board, and allowed the piece to pretty much go where it pleased.

Chuckling to herself for allowing her mind to ponder the game at a time like this, she reflected on more serious issues. According to Isaac (who claimed that Ivan of Anemos was planning to get them out), they would be out within a week of his last chat with Ivan.

That was almost a week ago.

It was not that she was impatient, or disliking Isaac's presence. No, she had been down here too long for mere days to send her into a panic. Isaac's presence was, likewise, of no conscern. He had already proven himself to be a good ally, as he had slain many of the "vermin" that raided their food stores earlier in the month. Alex still chuckled at the notion of the massive, plant/animal hybrid of a horror holding Isaac high above the ground while he used his abilities to divert the plant-like tentacles. This act had allowed both her and Felix to slay the thing, though it took ages for Isaac to heal.

Sighing, she frowned. Thus far, as far as she knew, Isaac had not told Felix what she had said that one night. For better or for worse, nothing was said, yet she wished she could go right out and say it. She wanted to, oh did she! But now was not the time for such thoughts, as once they were free, they would have to fight. Alex would be damned if she burdened Felix with her feelings.

Her thougts were interrupted by a loud shout. Glancing up, she saw Isaac fuming while Felix cheered - Isaac's only moves would cost him the game, as Felix had pinned Isaac's last "king" into a trap.

Though her mind wished to ponder the reality of the world and her deepest thoughts, she had to laugh at Felix's spoils.

Surveying the small basement below the Proxian inn, Mia found it hard to believe that the Proxian Council had been meeting here for the last few years. According to Saturos, the change had been done so that the "Master," should he attack, would never slay the council during a meeting. Though she had not said it, Mia had the idea in her head that Isaac knew full well of what they were doing.

Of course, trying to tell that to a man who has a vendetta to complete is like being the prey he seeks. And Mia had no wish to accellerate her death.

Sitting down at the table as Felix pushed her chair in, she glanced around the table, or, rather, what several tables had come to form. To her right sat one of her guards from the Resistance, Ferran. To her right was Felix, who was now sitting himself. On his right sat a young woman, clothed in a kind of heavy traveling cloak. Her hair was ash blond, and her eyes a nice shade of purple, or was it blue? It was almost a mix. Mia stared at the girl, if only briefly so as to not draw attention, as she reminded her of someone she once knew. Odd.

Surveying the rest of the table, she saw various other people at the table, namely Agatio, Saturos, Karst, and other Proxian council members. Oddly enough, two seats were vacant, as though they were waiting for someone to arrive. Or were they so in mourning for lost Proxians? Mia couldn't tell.

Watching as Agatio rose, she turned her full attention to him, small beads of sweat already forming under her bangs.

"Due to recent events, I believe that we can dispense with the formalities. We know that someone set that beast loose on our lands, but we know not who." Mia noted that he held his gaze at her for a moment - and his gaze was one with distrust. "It could have been the Regime, or it could have just as easily been the Resistance." He seemed to pause, possibly seeing if Mia, Felix, or her guard would say anything. To her suprise, someone did speak up, but it was not Ferran or Felix.

It was the young woman.

"It was definately the Regime, that I can assure you."

Staring at Agatio to see if the words phased him, she found that someone did stur at the woman's claim, but it was not Agatio. Saturos's eyes had a gleam in them, a kind of idea or hopeful kind.

"Miss Sheba," Agatio spoke, probably asking her to elaborate on her reasoning. Mia didn't pay him any heed: she was too focused on the name. Staring at "Sheba," she noticed that, though her eyes were more violet, she DID share a resemblence to Isaac of the Regime. But that was not possible! Sheba had perished during Babi's raid of Vale years ago!

Her thougts were shattered when she heard Sheba talking: "During the battle, I noticed a massive ammount of Jupitarian signals, the kind that would not be noticed by anyone but one trained in the ablilities to read minds. Someone was controlling the beast, and I know of only three people that were ever capable of this: Ivan, Hamma, and Feihzi. I sincerely doubt it was Feihzi, as no one has seen or heard from her in some time. However, I am willing to guess that it was either Hamma or Ivan."

"It was not Ivan."

Slowly focusing her gaze on the man to her right, it took several minutes for Mia to realize her jaw was hanging open. Felix, of all people at the table(s), had made an accusation that rivaled that of Sheba's mere minutes ago. Quickly turning to Agatio, she was shocked to find that he was not angry. If anything, he seemed amused that Felix had spoken up.

"And why is this?"

Felix stood up, looking Agatio direclty in the eyes, or so Mia guessed. "Ivan was trying to reinforce Picard's will so that I could trap him in the sphere I made."

If Felix thought he was answering questions, he needed to think again. The entire table was agast with murmors and shocked faces. Mia wass among the latter - since when did Felix have the abilities to know THIS? She knew that Ivan had spoken what Ivan told him, and she knew of his link to the "second" Isaac, but how did he know what Ivan was doing?!

Agatio spoke, drawing attention to himself. "Perhapse you better explain yourself, Felix. I am quite curious how you know this."

So am I, Mia mused. Staring at Felix, she listened closely to him, hoping that he had more than the old "just a guess" explination.

"I know many of you are aware that I am a Venusian." He paused, apparently checking for the noddings around the room. "While I am a born-Venusian, I am also...gifted with some Jupitarian abilities, though I know I pale against the likes of Sheba and the Amenians." He paused, possibly trying to see if they believed him. "However, I was able to sense Ivan's mind near, as I was able to...well, hear him." Mia shot him a look like he was crazy; so did everyone else. "I know it sounds unlikely or insane, but I literally heard him. I also heard another voice, this one sounding like a man I once knew..years ago. Ivan told me that this was Picard."

Out of the corner of her eyes, Mia watched Agatio and Saturos trade worried glances. She couldn't help but wonder if Felix was scaring them; he was certainly spooking her.

"Felix, did this...voice...ever mention the word, 'C'Kal?'"

Felis closed his eyes half way, probably trying to recall. "Now that you meantion it, it is one thing he said. Though he did not tell me what it was."

Normally, Mia would groan when someone added another statement when it was not needed, but she could care less. It had taken a moment, but she slowly remembered WHAT this "C'Kal" was. During their trip, when she had stayed in Madra to heal victims of Babi's raid, the others had gone on to try to hunt the bandits down. About two days later, they returned, talking about some ancient power they found: "C'Kal." As it turned out, this "power" allowed an Adept to assume the form of a massive creature of their native element, or so Felix and Isaac had claimed at the time. They had no proof of what it was, and never tried it, though they all claimed they could do it.

But, why would Picard choose now to do it, especially with Hamma keeping a leash on him? forcing Picard to attack so?

Somehow, the latter sounded accurate.

Knowing this did little to calm her nerves. Another question, more puzzling than the last, knawed at her skull - how did Agatio and Saturos know of it?

"I see. If Hamma was involved, she was probably being "paid" by someone with power in the Regime, probably trying to damage us and blame it on you."

While Agatio talked, Saturos muttered something under his breath, though it did not take much to know what he said: Garet.

Sheba spoke up, and Mia wondered what information she was going to offer. Come to think of it, where has she been hiding the last several years?


"I have to agree with the theory of Picard being controlled. Just as we arrived in Proxian waters, we intercepted a pirate ship with a letter of warning to you. Apparently, Picard had attacked without notice, and defected to the Resistance." She turned to stare at Mia. "For some reason, I doubt that the information is valid."

Mia ignored the stare, more curious as to why Sheba called Isaac's merchant fleet "pirates." No one called them that anymore.

Agatio nodded, sitting down in his chair. "Perhapse we should dig Picard out of the sphere and see if he has any thoughts on this theory."

Not wanting to argue, Mia simply nodded. After a round of nods and "yeas" passed, the meeting seemed to be adjourned, as many began to walk out. Ferran moved towards the door, probably to stand watch outside. Felix rose to push his seat in, moving to Mia's side without a pause. Only Sheba seemed to linger, though for whatever purpose she had, Mia could not guess.

"Mia, Felix, may I talk with you a second?"

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I imagine a few of you are wondering where Ivan and T. Hamma are, yes? XD Expect them to make an appearance next time...

This is almost a rush job, as I would greatly like to linger to get some more reviews. Sadly, with little time on my hands, I must do what I can. Expect The Angel and the Outcast to be updated within the month, and hopefully Part IV (if there is one) will coincide with Parallels 21. Note that I am also working on another "story" on the side, a sort of documentory/drama hybrid with a bit of fiction. This is based on the outline I posted for Chaos Theory's time line, and will go into depth - in a fictional sort of way... Note that, while I have started this, it won't be ready for a few weeks...

And with my news out of the way, to the reviews!

TemplarofNi - Thanks!

dragon asesino - What does "asesino" mean? Thanks for the review!

Forgotten Souls - No forshadowing here, sorry. And believe me, ironly (and luck) was on my side with the ratings, what with FF.net suddenly stating that they would crack down on low ratings. And thanks for the comments!

Mare Serenitatis - Don't suppose I could ask you to take a look at The Angel and the Outcast, could I? Anyway, thanks for the input, and I hope you enjoy this release!

Smurf Cat - Uh, I KNOW what Rorouni Kenshin is, given that my sis loves it. And how does THIS remind you of THAT??? Thanks, though!

Chibi Fizz - Thanks!

wildcats1310 - Thanks! Many questions will have answers next chapter...

And with that, that's a wrap!

Sheba - And you're a twit!

I know that.

Sheba - Ugh. MIKAA DOES NOT OWN GOLDEN SUN OR NINTENDO!!! THOUGH HIS MIND IS AMUSED THAT MICROSOFT IS PLANNING TO SUPPORT NINTENDO'S HANDHELD MARKET...

Weeeel, I best run now, lest some rabid Gates fan tries to get me... REVIEW!