Chapter 23 - Subliminality
Author's Note: I'm getting oddly fond of these things... erhem... anyway. We're at the tower. End of disc 1... multi-chapter section - first part here is rather long. VERY fair warning for major character spoilers for main heroes coming. Though I'd include this warning... Just in case. XP Oh... and on an offhand note, this should break 50,000 words for Fates and 100,000 words on fanfiction.net total for me. :D So, this is celebrations!
"So we're almost there," Vesper said, leaning on the small table. His aged eyes looked across to Indalecio, who was lounging sideways in a plush chair. "And someone here on this planet has a quadratic key you say?"
"Indeed," Indalecio said, looking up at the ceiling. "I don't know who yet, and probably won't ... but I'd like to thank them all the same. We're years ahead of our schedule... the Nedians won't have a chance."
"Did they ever?" Vesper asked, hiding a slight grin.
Indalecio chuckled, picking up a glass and looking at the water within. "No, not particularly, not then and not now."
Silence passed after that comment, both men taking a drink and mulling over things. Vesper spoke at last, leaning on the table and tilting the glass in his hand slightly. "If they didn't have a chance then, why did we pull back? Why did Dr. Lantis send us away in the Globe? Couldn't we have easily managed to overpower the Nedian's attacking the ompound?"
Indalecio shook his head. "I cannot fathom his reasons exactly, Vesper, but I assume that he knew Ned was not going to last much longer as it was... revenge has no use, domination pointless... if they eradicate the planet, and us with it."
Vesper nodded. "But we could have stopped them, no?"
"Possibly, but we had already taken a good hard licking and they were developing methods against us... Lantis did not expect the Nedians to figure something out which would actually harm us that quickly." Indalecio downed the water in one quick motion, and licked his lips slowly. "No.... revenge is a dish best served after they've had time to lick their wounds. When they think they've gotten rid of us and all is well."
Vesper laughed. "True that, Indalecio.... I remember the day you joined us... seems so far away. I remember having to listen to Cyril."
"He's still bitter," Indalecio said offhandedly. "It's just a part of him..."
"Wish Dr. Lantis had been able to get right of that, honestly," Vesper said, shrugging.
"Wishful thinking... but if that was the case, we wouldn't be as we were," Indalecio said. "Much as we can all be unpredictable and bother each other sometimes, it's for the better. It makes our own tasks easier - our natures dictated out places, Vesper. All things happened for a reason."
Quiet fell once more and Vesper tapped on the rim of his glass for a while. "We should have been able to save Dr. Lantis."
"He did what he did with reason, Vesper. Don't worry about it."
"DECUS!" The voice was unmistakably Cyril's, and neither man could help but start laughing after having talked about bothering each other.
"You really should tell Decus to stop antagonizing him," Indalecio said, rising to his feet gracefully.
"I have," Vesper said. "I think this one was unintentional."
"Indalecio! Make him stop chasing me!" Decus said, dodging into the room and avoiding a slinging ice spell. "I didn't mean for it to happen!"
"CYRIL!" Indalecio bellowed as the wise man reached the door, good eye searching for Decus, and spotting him behind the red-haired man. "Kindly refrain from wasting excess energy. We're going to Nede soon and we need to be rested. As well, we're expecting company. Get everyone up to the jump point. Now. I'll take Vesper and Decus and head up. Don't dawdle."
"But-!"
"That was an order, Cyril, and I expect all subordinates to follow them," he growled, causing even Decus and Vesper to step back away from him.
"Understood," Cyril hissed in response and stalked away, down the hall.
"Nede, already?" Decus asked.
"Yes."
Decus grinned. 'All that fresh grass to burn, and people to torment...'
~*~
They trudged along through the darkened wilderness; the only smell that of charred earth and plants. The tower approached ever closer, but no one spoke a word. Ashton was trailing furthest back, looking down mostly as Gyoro and Urunrun both watched ahead and around. Both dragons knew something weighed heavily on him, but neither was willing to interrupt the swordsman's thoughts either. Dias was aware of it, as well as Ruprecht, and they both trailed towards the end as well. Ashton had been the next to rise after Ruprecht as the sun broke over the horizon, and hadn't said one word at all.
'I can't believe this happened... everyone I knew is dead,' Ashton thought, biting his lower lip. 'I.... walking in there's like a living nightmare. I have to... for everyone I knew. I'm so angry, but so... scared. Scared that I'm going to do something I shouldn't. Scared that I'll fail everyone...'
Ruprecht carried his fork low, his eyes trained down at the ground as he walked alongside Dias. 'This... at one time I was a part of this, reveling in it,' he thought. 'I brought some of this upon this world... I killed people for the sheer joy. Why did I not think about how they felt? Was simple rage at the so-called injustice upon me and the others so strong that I lost sight and didn't care?' He raised his head, looking around; the bleak walls of the city rising up like a blinding visor. 'Why... was it something put into me, or control... or loss of self... Filia... I need the truth. I want it. Even if it hurts.'
Dias walked along, looking ahead to Rena who was talking to Celine. He still wasn't sure what was going on in her mind. Their time in the cabin on the ship had been spent talking, but she had admitted she hadn't resolved things with Claude and still wasn't sure. She did tell him she didn't want him leaving her again though. But they both knew Claude still didn't know anything about what they felt. He had tried to urge her to resolve it while on the ship, but Shin's untimely attack interrupted that, and last night was no time for such things. Neither was now, but there was a strong chance that not everyone would walk out of this. It was bleak thinking, but after what Shin had done once, he wasn't sure if that would repeat. He glanced at Ruprecht, then towards the gate, hoping his faith wasn't misplaced... that they weren't being led into a deathtrap.
Claude led the way, sword drawn and eyes sharp. He doubted they would be attacked, but there was the off chance of it. He threw a glance backwards at the group, spotting Leon and Opera directly behind him, then Celine and Rena with Precis between then now, Ernest, and Bowman discussing things quietly, Ruprecht and Dias, with Ashton closing the end up. The sky above looked bleak and threatening, and he was sure that as they got closer, it would get worse. The air was thick, and he was certain had he been with his father, things would have been different.
'But I'm not,' he thought. 'And if I was, things would be different... I wouldn't be here with everyone. I wouldn't have met these people probably...' He frowned, not sure how much of that was a bad thing. He wouldn't have the relationship problems he did now between Opera and Rena in his head, but would miss all the friendships nonetheless.
He stopped at the bridge, turning to look at everyone. The gate was shut tight, and now was as good a chance as asking on last time if everyone was sure. He opened his mouth to speak and frowned as he saw several odd expressions, ranging from shock to fear. He spun on his heels even as he heard the steps of Ruprecht from the back. The figure he looked at was quite familiar - it was the woman from Clik.
"You'd best be sure of what you do," she said, her head bowed, hiding her eyes. "This is probably going to be a one-way trip for all of you, whether you choose it or not."
Dias frowned. 'Is that the implication of our deaths or something more...' He noticed Ruprecht walking forward, and arched an eyebrow then.
Ruprecht stepped in front of Claude, Filia a mere ten feet away. "I'll handle this one Claude," he breathed, his grip tightening on his lance. He stepped forward one pace as Claude stepped back. He could tell, despite the shroud it was she - Filia, the woman in his dream. There was no mistake. 'But she had died.' The thought echoed in his head as he swallowed to wet his drying throat.
"Filia..."
She looked up, her eyes meeting his, her solemn expression turning to shock. "Ruprecht..." She almost seemed on the verge of tears, but remained composed. "You're walking to your own death... even from here if you survive, only death could possibly await you."
"Does it matter?" he asked. "I thought you were dead."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "How could you remember that... that was so long... so far away."
He frowned slightly, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean by that... am I unable by choice or by force to remember things? What is it... why am I unable to know things I should... unable to think clearly? Why am I suddenly haunted by things you say I shouldn't remember?"
Filia bowed her head, shaking it slightly. "It is not my place to say, Ruprecht. I can only say that the answers will come in due time. And that only you can really decide what will happen. It's there, Ruprecht... you only need to reach. Just as you always did."
Ruprecht felt a deep pain in his chest, as he knew hat she meant. He had always reached for her comfort, her embrace. He swallowed, stepping forward another step, a full foot closer. "Filia... you're alive now... why don't you come with me, with us. Help us... I don't know how or why you're here, but..."
"If I only could," she said, sobbing. "I'm sorry Ruprecht... my time was up long ago... all I can do now is only try to delay the inevitable. It is up to you... seek me. Find me. And know the truth. Please..." She reached into the folds of her robe and pulled something out, throwing it at him. He caught it deftly, and looked at it a moment. It was his access pass. - his card to enter the gate. As he looked up he saw her hood fall away from her head as the rain began falling in time with her tears. "I'm sorry I can't do more..." she whispered as she faded from sight. Ruprecht ran forward, only to find air. His hands clenched, the card digging into the palm of his left as the right tightened about the handle of his weapon.
'I will find out... I have to know.' He looked up, then turned to look back at everyone. He could see the mixed expressions - confusion, disappointment, anger... many things. "This card will get us in. Let me lead.. I know the way around the tower... the quickest routes..." He turned, and breathed to himself, "and should a trap spring... it's better it takes me."
Claude motioned, leading the others forward towards the gate. Weapons were drawn, spells were at a moment's notice. Ruprecht slid the card into the small slot, and waited, hoping. The great iron door creaked and shook the ground violently a moment before sliding slowly, parting to reveal a desolate interior. Buildings were crumbled, scattered about the base of the tower and it's roots like a children's toys discarded for something better. A haze filled the air, obscuring vision only slightly, and had an acidic smell, causing most everyone to wrinkle their noses at least a little.
"The air in the tower is much better," Ruprecht reassured, stepping in. His ears and senses were perked to the max, scanning for any sign of monster or wise men, but he could sense none. It was a stillness that made him almost desperate to find something. Anything - a sign that they were ready and waiting... that it was not going to be jumping at shadows expecting the attack from nowhere. He walked forward, finding nothing as they approached the base of the tower itself.
"It's too quiet," Opera said, shifting her grip on Kaleidoscope.
"Indeed," Dias agreed, stepping forward. "Shouldn't we expect some kind of greeting?"
Ruprecht turned, looking at the others. "I can't sense anything. It's as though they've called everything away ... as if they're waiting." His ears pricked suddenly, hearing something very faint, and looked up. Far above he thought he saw movement on a balcony but shook his head. "They must be towards the top."
~*~
Indalecio sighed, turning away from the rainy balcony and walking in, drenched by the rain. "They're here... and we're waiting. I should send them a surprise, but it would be more fun to simply wait it out and make them worry the whole time," he mused out loud. He wrung his hair out carefully into a deep basin, looking into the mirror. He was completely drenched, and some water drops still clung to his face. He wiped them away absently, and shifted his aim of gaze to the figure in the doorway.
"What is it, Shin?" he asked, pulling his gloves off one by one and wringing them out.
"I thought you were with the others?" he said.
"I changed my mind a moment to come back and watch," he said, shrugging. "Plus I enjoy the rain."
The demon shrugged. "I was wondering..."
"...if you could go attack them," the wise man finished, keeping his eyes down on the basin as he wrung out the other glove. "No. You can wait in the hallway between the elevator and our position. Make them wait... there's a few surprises in the place, but I prefer to keep them waiting..."
"Aye, Indalecio," Shin said turning to leave. "Good luck on the jump?"
A grin crossed his lips as he watched the demon leave. 'Sounds as though he knows he won't make it against their combined might,' he thought, unbuttoning his robe. He pulled it off, looking with disdain at the small puddle on the ground around him. He wrung the robe out carefully, his bare hands enjoying the feel and texture of his robe. It was far different then the others robes - a white with red trim. Through time it had remained the same, pristine purity, almost a symbol. He chuckled to himself as he recalled that Cyril wore a dark blue robe with red trim - opposition.
"Fitting of course... perhaps that is why I favored the white. To be different, and to make myself an exception... not so much above, although that is another case." He hung the robe to dry up in the warmth of the room.
He removed his shirt next, exposing his chest, noting the still-faint scars of operations long passed. He had not fully recovered from the marks, unlike the others. Despite his range of power his place and his abilities, eh was unable to completely absolve the marks that made him who he was now. His hands bore marks as well, were tubes had been shunted in. Everything he wore, he wore with reason to hide the marks, should someone try to say it was a form of weakness. To him, it was more a mark of pride, but it still bothered him how they lingered. He was untested, unlike the others. He had never truly used his full extent, and did not know his own capabilities fully. There had simply been no time. But once away from Nede, he took his place, and tested a little of what eh could do.
He wrung his shirt out, clearing his mind of those thoughts. His pants were damp as well, and needed to be dealt with. He wrung them out, keeping them on should someone decide to ill-time bothering him.
'They have a certain habit of that,' he thought. 'They are not all bad or bothersome, however... I must question why sometimes some of them were allowed onto the project.' He shrugged, feeling his pants dry against him as the water was drained from them. His eyes rose back to the mirror, staring at his own face.
'You've been looking forward to this forever, Indalecio... this is it. Nede is yours - no, the universe. No one can stop you. Neither Cyril, nor those fools with Ruprecht. No one. Dr. Lantis entrusted this task to me, and to me alone. You have everything in your grasp. You don't need the others, as much as they think they don't need you. You can read it. Cyril's is stirring the rank and file to doubt you. Always has, even before here - before lading on this pitiful world known as Expel. It shall taste the oblivion and become nothing.'
He grinned then, satisfied, and ran a hand through his hair to smooth it out. 'Things will play out as they will... if this does not resolve here for some reason - with Ruprecht on their side, it's possible - then it will resolve there. And I am sure the others will be more then eager to take a stab. They can sort themselves out. I know what I have to do, and what I want.'
He put on his shirt, satisfied with how dry it was, and then reached for the robe, grasping and swinging it around him, putting it on. At last he slipped the gloves on and looked once more in the mirror. 'The time is now, and you have all the time in the universe." He turned, walking out fo the room for the last time, and heading to where the others were.
~*~
"Where the hell did he go?" Cyril muttered, leaning against a wall. The others were idling about the large room for now after Indalecio had left. The eight remaining all seemed to feel the same thing - restless boredom. Decus was talking with the three under him, possibly going over tactics after their arrival to Nede, or possibly plotting another joke. He was never sure. His eyes drifted to Vesper, mediating alone. Vesper had a level head, and took everything in before making decisions. He couldn't be sure what Vesper was thinking now, after having seen him talking with Indalecio.
To his left Jibril and Nicolaus were resting after having spent the night preparing for Nede. They alone would need to gather as much as they could, as fast as they could for them. Without Ruprecht, it would be much more difficult, but not impossible. 'Perhaps even better," Cyril mused. 'No dead weight.'
He was also aware that his was his last chance for vengeance upon that swordsman, and his hand moved up to touch the scar that remained, a lingering reminder of his failure to eradicate his brother. 'Ashton will pay dearly.... whether Indalecio likes it or not. I will have my revenge.'
His eyes went to the ceiling, thinking about the only person who was giving him honest trouble. He had to get rid of Indalecio if he was to have anything. It was the only thing between him and absolute power. Anything he wanted, Indalecio's existence threatened. 'I was humiliated in front of them... how am I to be respected being treated as such?' he thought bitterly to himself. 'Humiliated in front of the two under me... thank you kindly Indalecio. May you get what you deserve.'
He folded his arms over his chest, looking up at the ceiling, listening to the soft chatter. 'Mostly soft, until Shigeo speaks... why Lantis allowed that habit to remain is beyond me.'
"All right everyone," Indalecio said, striding in. "They're here. And they're down on level one. We wait here until its time. Shin is standing guard back in the hallways so we'll have warning."
"You expect Shin to hold them off?" Cyril spat, standing up fully and looking Indalecio in the eyes. "Don't tell me you're that foolish."
"Of course, not, but it's what eh wants. I won't argue it." Indalecio shrugged.
"So you're willing to sacrifice someone?" Cyril queried then, grinning slightly as he saw the others listening.
Indalecio stopped, turning to face Cyril completely. "In Shin's case, it's for the better. We only need ourselves, people. No more, no less. Our power is more then enough."
"Then why have them?" Decus asked.
"It keeps those who seek to try to attack us busy, and wears them down, making it far easier to deal with them," the lead wise men said calmly.
Decus thought about it for a moment and then grinned. "I like that idea!" he exclaimed, pumping a fist into the air a moment. Cyril ignored that and let the subject go.
They all watched as Indalecio went still, and silence reigned a full minute. He turned then, facing the doorway, and suddenly laughed, the sound echoing though the top level of the tower. His whole body shook from it, and he calmed himself down, as the others looked on.
"What, pray tell, was that about?" Cyril asked.
"The Quadratic Key... is coming to us!" he said, eyes filled with amusement. "I'm suddenly interested to see who this person is... to find out who's put us so far ahead and thank them before their death."
~*~
Rena shivered from the cold of the inside mixed with being out in the rain as long as they had been. She was not soaked, but damp enough that the chill interior made it seem worse. Leon's ears drooped slightly and he stuck close to Claude as Ruprecht looked around the first level. His sensors suddenly picked something up, and he looked up the stairs.
'That laughter... it's Indalecio. He's laughing... the only reason could be us. This does not bode well.'
"Something wrong?" Ashton asked, pushing his way to the font to stand beside Ruprecht.
"Yeah... I heard the sound of laughter. Indalecio's laughter." Ruprecht blinked then, surprised that Ashton had finally spoken.
"Indalecio..."
"Leader of the wise men," Ruprecht said. "There's nine total we'll have to deal with. I'm not entirely worried about Nicolaus or Jibril - my accomplices. I know them too well to worry right now." He spun, facing the others.
"The major concerns are Decus, Vesper, Cyril, and Indalecio. Indalecio leads... Cyril - you've met his pleasantness, Ashton - is second in command should something happen to Indalecio. Decus leads the offensive/defensive branch. Vesper led my wing, the intelligence."
"Are the watching us?" Bowman asked.
"No... I don't sense Nicolaus around... he would have to scout - Jibril assimilates," Ruprecht said, explaining things while trying to remember. "Shigeo, Berle, and Marsilio will be problems on their own, being built and trained for combat."
Dias nodded. "All the strong fighters would be best to keep them busy then?"
Ruprecht nodded. "Berle is a nightmare... his defenses are insane. If you can down the other two through brute force and spell, all of us should have a chance. If I can pierce his defenses..."
Claude nodded. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there,"
Ashton frowned. "You don't think Cyril would try to attack us all out... was that all he could do?"
"I'm not sure of everything but probably no... he could have leveled a good portion of that town had he tried. But he didn't."
Ashton nodded, the dragons looking around warily. "You think they're going to mass attack?"
"That's possible..." Ruprecht trailed off, not enjoying the thought of dealing with all of them at once.
"Let's get going... we're wasting time standing here." Claude pointed towards the stairs. Ruprecht led, with Ashton, Dias and Claude behind him immediately, then Bowman followed by Opera, Precis, and the spell casters bringing up the rear with Ernest covering the back.
'Wasting time is an understatement,' Ruprecht thought, recalling seeing Nede. He was designed to be able to detect such things in the sky. He knew that the jump was son, which would explain why they were not already attacked. He couldn't risk mentioning this now though, as it would only cause more confusion.
The tower's chill pressed in around them, each person dealing with it as they moved on, consumed by their own thoughts but also aware for any attack.
Author's Note: I'm getting oddly fond of these things... erhem... anyway. We're at the tower. End of disc 1... multi-chapter section - first part here is rather long. VERY fair warning for major character spoilers for main heroes coming. Though I'd include this warning... Just in case. XP Oh... and on an offhand note, this should break 50,000 words for Fates and 100,000 words on fanfiction.net total for me. :D So, this is celebrations!
"So we're almost there," Vesper said, leaning on the small table. His aged eyes looked across to Indalecio, who was lounging sideways in a plush chair. "And someone here on this planet has a quadratic key you say?"
"Indeed," Indalecio said, looking up at the ceiling. "I don't know who yet, and probably won't ... but I'd like to thank them all the same. We're years ahead of our schedule... the Nedians won't have a chance."
"Did they ever?" Vesper asked, hiding a slight grin.
Indalecio chuckled, picking up a glass and looking at the water within. "No, not particularly, not then and not now."
Silence passed after that comment, both men taking a drink and mulling over things. Vesper spoke at last, leaning on the table and tilting the glass in his hand slightly. "If they didn't have a chance then, why did we pull back? Why did Dr. Lantis send us away in the Globe? Couldn't we have easily managed to overpower the Nedian's attacking the ompound?"
Indalecio shook his head. "I cannot fathom his reasons exactly, Vesper, but I assume that he knew Ned was not going to last much longer as it was... revenge has no use, domination pointless... if they eradicate the planet, and us with it."
Vesper nodded. "But we could have stopped them, no?"
"Possibly, but we had already taken a good hard licking and they were developing methods against us... Lantis did not expect the Nedians to figure something out which would actually harm us that quickly." Indalecio downed the water in one quick motion, and licked his lips slowly. "No.... revenge is a dish best served after they've had time to lick their wounds. When they think they've gotten rid of us and all is well."
Vesper laughed. "True that, Indalecio.... I remember the day you joined us... seems so far away. I remember having to listen to Cyril."
"He's still bitter," Indalecio said offhandedly. "It's just a part of him..."
"Wish Dr. Lantis had been able to get right of that, honestly," Vesper said, shrugging.
"Wishful thinking... but if that was the case, we wouldn't be as we were," Indalecio said. "Much as we can all be unpredictable and bother each other sometimes, it's for the better. It makes our own tasks easier - our natures dictated out places, Vesper. All things happened for a reason."
Quiet fell once more and Vesper tapped on the rim of his glass for a while. "We should have been able to save Dr. Lantis."
"He did what he did with reason, Vesper. Don't worry about it."
"DECUS!" The voice was unmistakably Cyril's, and neither man could help but start laughing after having talked about bothering each other.
"You really should tell Decus to stop antagonizing him," Indalecio said, rising to his feet gracefully.
"I have," Vesper said. "I think this one was unintentional."
"Indalecio! Make him stop chasing me!" Decus said, dodging into the room and avoiding a slinging ice spell. "I didn't mean for it to happen!"
"CYRIL!" Indalecio bellowed as the wise man reached the door, good eye searching for Decus, and spotting him behind the red-haired man. "Kindly refrain from wasting excess energy. We're going to Nede soon and we need to be rested. As well, we're expecting company. Get everyone up to the jump point. Now. I'll take Vesper and Decus and head up. Don't dawdle."
"But-!"
"That was an order, Cyril, and I expect all subordinates to follow them," he growled, causing even Decus and Vesper to step back away from him.
"Understood," Cyril hissed in response and stalked away, down the hall.
"Nede, already?" Decus asked.
"Yes."
Decus grinned. 'All that fresh grass to burn, and people to torment...'
~*~
They trudged along through the darkened wilderness; the only smell that of charred earth and plants. The tower approached ever closer, but no one spoke a word. Ashton was trailing furthest back, looking down mostly as Gyoro and Urunrun both watched ahead and around. Both dragons knew something weighed heavily on him, but neither was willing to interrupt the swordsman's thoughts either. Dias was aware of it, as well as Ruprecht, and they both trailed towards the end as well. Ashton had been the next to rise after Ruprecht as the sun broke over the horizon, and hadn't said one word at all.
'I can't believe this happened... everyone I knew is dead,' Ashton thought, biting his lower lip. 'I.... walking in there's like a living nightmare. I have to... for everyone I knew. I'm so angry, but so... scared. Scared that I'm going to do something I shouldn't. Scared that I'll fail everyone...'
Ruprecht carried his fork low, his eyes trained down at the ground as he walked alongside Dias. 'This... at one time I was a part of this, reveling in it,' he thought. 'I brought some of this upon this world... I killed people for the sheer joy. Why did I not think about how they felt? Was simple rage at the so-called injustice upon me and the others so strong that I lost sight and didn't care?' He raised his head, looking around; the bleak walls of the city rising up like a blinding visor. 'Why... was it something put into me, or control... or loss of self... Filia... I need the truth. I want it. Even if it hurts.'
Dias walked along, looking ahead to Rena who was talking to Celine. He still wasn't sure what was going on in her mind. Their time in the cabin on the ship had been spent talking, but she had admitted she hadn't resolved things with Claude and still wasn't sure. She did tell him she didn't want him leaving her again though. But they both knew Claude still didn't know anything about what they felt. He had tried to urge her to resolve it while on the ship, but Shin's untimely attack interrupted that, and last night was no time for such things. Neither was now, but there was a strong chance that not everyone would walk out of this. It was bleak thinking, but after what Shin had done once, he wasn't sure if that would repeat. He glanced at Ruprecht, then towards the gate, hoping his faith wasn't misplaced... that they weren't being led into a deathtrap.
Claude led the way, sword drawn and eyes sharp. He doubted they would be attacked, but there was the off chance of it. He threw a glance backwards at the group, spotting Leon and Opera directly behind him, then Celine and Rena with Precis between then now, Ernest, and Bowman discussing things quietly, Ruprecht and Dias, with Ashton closing the end up. The sky above looked bleak and threatening, and he was sure that as they got closer, it would get worse. The air was thick, and he was certain had he been with his father, things would have been different.
'But I'm not,' he thought. 'And if I was, things would be different... I wouldn't be here with everyone. I wouldn't have met these people probably...' He frowned, not sure how much of that was a bad thing. He wouldn't have the relationship problems he did now between Opera and Rena in his head, but would miss all the friendships nonetheless.
He stopped at the bridge, turning to look at everyone. The gate was shut tight, and now was as good a chance as asking on last time if everyone was sure. He opened his mouth to speak and frowned as he saw several odd expressions, ranging from shock to fear. He spun on his heels even as he heard the steps of Ruprecht from the back. The figure he looked at was quite familiar - it was the woman from Clik.
"You'd best be sure of what you do," she said, her head bowed, hiding her eyes. "This is probably going to be a one-way trip for all of you, whether you choose it or not."
Dias frowned. 'Is that the implication of our deaths or something more...' He noticed Ruprecht walking forward, and arched an eyebrow then.
Ruprecht stepped in front of Claude, Filia a mere ten feet away. "I'll handle this one Claude," he breathed, his grip tightening on his lance. He stepped forward one pace as Claude stepped back. He could tell, despite the shroud it was she - Filia, the woman in his dream. There was no mistake. 'But she had died.' The thought echoed in his head as he swallowed to wet his drying throat.
"Filia..."
She looked up, her eyes meeting his, her solemn expression turning to shock. "Ruprecht..." She almost seemed on the verge of tears, but remained composed. "You're walking to your own death... even from here if you survive, only death could possibly await you."
"Does it matter?" he asked. "I thought you were dead."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "How could you remember that... that was so long... so far away."
He frowned slightly, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean by that... am I unable by choice or by force to remember things? What is it... why am I unable to know things I should... unable to think clearly? Why am I suddenly haunted by things you say I shouldn't remember?"
Filia bowed her head, shaking it slightly. "It is not my place to say, Ruprecht. I can only say that the answers will come in due time. And that only you can really decide what will happen. It's there, Ruprecht... you only need to reach. Just as you always did."
Ruprecht felt a deep pain in his chest, as he knew hat she meant. He had always reached for her comfort, her embrace. He swallowed, stepping forward another step, a full foot closer. "Filia... you're alive now... why don't you come with me, with us. Help us... I don't know how or why you're here, but..."
"If I only could," she said, sobbing. "I'm sorry Ruprecht... my time was up long ago... all I can do now is only try to delay the inevitable. It is up to you... seek me. Find me. And know the truth. Please..." She reached into the folds of her robe and pulled something out, throwing it at him. He caught it deftly, and looked at it a moment. It was his access pass. - his card to enter the gate. As he looked up he saw her hood fall away from her head as the rain began falling in time with her tears. "I'm sorry I can't do more..." she whispered as she faded from sight. Ruprecht ran forward, only to find air. His hands clenched, the card digging into the palm of his left as the right tightened about the handle of his weapon.
'I will find out... I have to know.' He looked up, then turned to look back at everyone. He could see the mixed expressions - confusion, disappointment, anger... many things. "This card will get us in. Let me lead.. I know the way around the tower... the quickest routes..." He turned, and breathed to himself, "and should a trap spring... it's better it takes me."
Claude motioned, leading the others forward towards the gate. Weapons were drawn, spells were at a moment's notice. Ruprecht slid the card into the small slot, and waited, hoping. The great iron door creaked and shook the ground violently a moment before sliding slowly, parting to reveal a desolate interior. Buildings were crumbled, scattered about the base of the tower and it's roots like a children's toys discarded for something better. A haze filled the air, obscuring vision only slightly, and had an acidic smell, causing most everyone to wrinkle their noses at least a little.
"The air in the tower is much better," Ruprecht reassured, stepping in. His ears and senses were perked to the max, scanning for any sign of monster or wise men, but he could sense none. It was a stillness that made him almost desperate to find something. Anything - a sign that they were ready and waiting... that it was not going to be jumping at shadows expecting the attack from nowhere. He walked forward, finding nothing as they approached the base of the tower itself.
"It's too quiet," Opera said, shifting her grip on Kaleidoscope.
"Indeed," Dias agreed, stepping forward. "Shouldn't we expect some kind of greeting?"
Ruprecht turned, looking at the others. "I can't sense anything. It's as though they've called everything away ... as if they're waiting." His ears pricked suddenly, hearing something very faint, and looked up. Far above he thought he saw movement on a balcony but shook his head. "They must be towards the top."
~*~
Indalecio sighed, turning away from the rainy balcony and walking in, drenched by the rain. "They're here... and we're waiting. I should send them a surprise, but it would be more fun to simply wait it out and make them worry the whole time," he mused out loud. He wrung his hair out carefully into a deep basin, looking into the mirror. He was completely drenched, and some water drops still clung to his face. He wiped them away absently, and shifted his aim of gaze to the figure in the doorway.
"What is it, Shin?" he asked, pulling his gloves off one by one and wringing them out.
"I thought you were with the others?" he said.
"I changed my mind a moment to come back and watch," he said, shrugging. "Plus I enjoy the rain."
The demon shrugged. "I was wondering..."
"...if you could go attack them," the wise man finished, keeping his eyes down on the basin as he wrung out the other glove. "No. You can wait in the hallway between the elevator and our position. Make them wait... there's a few surprises in the place, but I prefer to keep them waiting..."
"Aye, Indalecio," Shin said turning to leave. "Good luck on the jump?"
A grin crossed his lips as he watched the demon leave. 'Sounds as though he knows he won't make it against their combined might,' he thought, unbuttoning his robe. He pulled it off, looking with disdain at the small puddle on the ground around him. He wrung the robe out carefully, his bare hands enjoying the feel and texture of his robe. It was far different then the others robes - a white with red trim. Through time it had remained the same, pristine purity, almost a symbol. He chuckled to himself as he recalled that Cyril wore a dark blue robe with red trim - opposition.
"Fitting of course... perhaps that is why I favored the white. To be different, and to make myself an exception... not so much above, although that is another case." He hung the robe to dry up in the warmth of the room.
He removed his shirt next, exposing his chest, noting the still-faint scars of operations long passed. He had not fully recovered from the marks, unlike the others. Despite his range of power his place and his abilities, eh was unable to completely absolve the marks that made him who he was now. His hands bore marks as well, were tubes had been shunted in. Everything he wore, he wore with reason to hide the marks, should someone try to say it was a form of weakness. To him, it was more a mark of pride, but it still bothered him how they lingered. He was untested, unlike the others. He had never truly used his full extent, and did not know his own capabilities fully. There had simply been no time. But once away from Nede, he took his place, and tested a little of what eh could do.
He wrung his shirt out, clearing his mind of those thoughts. His pants were damp as well, and needed to be dealt with. He wrung them out, keeping them on should someone decide to ill-time bothering him.
'They have a certain habit of that,' he thought. 'They are not all bad or bothersome, however... I must question why sometimes some of them were allowed onto the project.' He shrugged, feeling his pants dry against him as the water was drained from them. His eyes rose back to the mirror, staring at his own face.
'You've been looking forward to this forever, Indalecio... this is it. Nede is yours - no, the universe. No one can stop you. Neither Cyril, nor those fools with Ruprecht. No one. Dr. Lantis entrusted this task to me, and to me alone. You have everything in your grasp. You don't need the others, as much as they think they don't need you. You can read it. Cyril's is stirring the rank and file to doubt you. Always has, even before here - before lading on this pitiful world known as Expel. It shall taste the oblivion and become nothing.'
He grinned then, satisfied, and ran a hand through his hair to smooth it out. 'Things will play out as they will... if this does not resolve here for some reason - with Ruprecht on their side, it's possible - then it will resolve there. And I am sure the others will be more then eager to take a stab. They can sort themselves out. I know what I have to do, and what I want.'
He put on his shirt, satisfied with how dry it was, and then reached for the robe, grasping and swinging it around him, putting it on. At last he slipped the gloves on and looked once more in the mirror. 'The time is now, and you have all the time in the universe." He turned, walking out fo the room for the last time, and heading to where the others were.
~*~
"Where the hell did he go?" Cyril muttered, leaning against a wall. The others were idling about the large room for now after Indalecio had left. The eight remaining all seemed to feel the same thing - restless boredom. Decus was talking with the three under him, possibly going over tactics after their arrival to Nede, or possibly plotting another joke. He was never sure. His eyes drifted to Vesper, mediating alone. Vesper had a level head, and took everything in before making decisions. He couldn't be sure what Vesper was thinking now, after having seen him talking with Indalecio.
To his left Jibril and Nicolaus were resting after having spent the night preparing for Nede. They alone would need to gather as much as they could, as fast as they could for them. Without Ruprecht, it would be much more difficult, but not impossible. 'Perhaps even better," Cyril mused. 'No dead weight.'
He was also aware that his was his last chance for vengeance upon that swordsman, and his hand moved up to touch the scar that remained, a lingering reminder of his failure to eradicate his brother. 'Ashton will pay dearly.... whether Indalecio likes it or not. I will have my revenge.'
His eyes went to the ceiling, thinking about the only person who was giving him honest trouble. He had to get rid of Indalecio if he was to have anything. It was the only thing between him and absolute power. Anything he wanted, Indalecio's existence threatened. 'I was humiliated in front of them... how am I to be respected being treated as such?' he thought bitterly to himself. 'Humiliated in front of the two under me... thank you kindly Indalecio. May you get what you deserve.'
He folded his arms over his chest, looking up at the ceiling, listening to the soft chatter. 'Mostly soft, until Shigeo speaks... why Lantis allowed that habit to remain is beyond me.'
"All right everyone," Indalecio said, striding in. "They're here. And they're down on level one. We wait here until its time. Shin is standing guard back in the hallways so we'll have warning."
"You expect Shin to hold them off?" Cyril spat, standing up fully and looking Indalecio in the eyes. "Don't tell me you're that foolish."
"Of course, not, but it's what eh wants. I won't argue it." Indalecio shrugged.
"So you're willing to sacrifice someone?" Cyril queried then, grinning slightly as he saw the others listening.
Indalecio stopped, turning to face Cyril completely. "In Shin's case, it's for the better. We only need ourselves, people. No more, no less. Our power is more then enough."
"Then why have them?" Decus asked.
"It keeps those who seek to try to attack us busy, and wears them down, making it far easier to deal with them," the lead wise men said calmly.
Decus thought about it for a moment and then grinned. "I like that idea!" he exclaimed, pumping a fist into the air a moment. Cyril ignored that and let the subject go.
They all watched as Indalecio went still, and silence reigned a full minute. He turned then, facing the doorway, and suddenly laughed, the sound echoing though the top level of the tower. His whole body shook from it, and he calmed himself down, as the others looked on.
"What, pray tell, was that about?" Cyril asked.
"The Quadratic Key... is coming to us!" he said, eyes filled with amusement. "I'm suddenly interested to see who this person is... to find out who's put us so far ahead and thank them before their death."
~*~
Rena shivered from the cold of the inside mixed with being out in the rain as long as they had been. She was not soaked, but damp enough that the chill interior made it seem worse. Leon's ears drooped slightly and he stuck close to Claude as Ruprecht looked around the first level. His sensors suddenly picked something up, and he looked up the stairs.
'That laughter... it's Indalecio. He's laughing... the only reason could be us. This does not bode well.'
"Something wrong?" Ashton asked, pushing his way to the font to stand beside Ruprecht.
"Yeah... I heard the sound of laughter. Indalecio's laughter." Ruprecht blinked then, surprised that Ashton had finally spoken.
"Indalecio..."
"Leader of the wise men," Ruprecht said. "There's nine total we'll have to deal with. I'm not entirely worried about Nicolaus or Jibril - my accomplices. I know them too well to worry right now." He spun, facing the others.
"The major concerns are Decus, Vesper, Cyril, and Indalecio. Indalecio leads... Cyril - you've met his pleasantness, Ashton - is second in command should something happen to Indalecio. Decus leads the offensive/defensive branch. Vesper led my wing, the intelligence."
"Are the watching us?" Bowman asked.
"No... I don't sense Nicolaus around... he would have to scout - Jibril assimilates," Ruprecht said, explaining things while trying to remember. "Shigeo, Berle, and Marsilio will be problems on their own, being built and trained for combat."
Dias nodded. "All the strong fighters would be best to keep them busy then?"
Ruprecht nodded. "Berle is a nightmare... his defenses are insane. If you can down the other two through brute force and spell, all of us should have a chance. If I can pierce his defenses..."
Claude nodded. "We'll cross that bridge when we get there,"
Ashton frowned. "You don't think Cyril would try to attack us all out... was that all he could do?"
"I'm not sure of everything but probably no... he could have leveled a good portion of that town had he tried. But he didn't."
Ashton nodded, the dragons looking around warily. "You think they're going to mass attack?"
"That's possible..." Ruprecht trailed off, not enjoying the thought of dealing with all of them at once.
"Let's get going... we're wasting time standing here." Claude pointed towards the stairs. Ruprecht led, with Ashton, Dias and Claude behind him immediately, then Bowman followed by Opera, Precis, and the spell casters bringing up the rear with Ernest covering the back.
'Wasting time is an understatement,' Ruprecht thought, recalling seeing Nede. He was designed to be able to detect such things in the sky. He knew that the jump was son, which would explain why they were not already attacked. He couldn't risk mentioning this now though, as it would only cause more confusion.
The tower's chill pressed in around them, each person dealing with it as they moved on, consumed by their own thoughts but also aware for any attack.
