Star Shadow: I can't believe anyone liked this! Wow!

Dark Stratos: ::Ignores her while trying to figure out who the heck 'Bob' is:: I just don't get it.

Star Shadow: Are you okay Stratos?

Dark Stratos: ::continues to think:: I don't understand…

::insert squiggly line here::

Disclaimer: Us? Owning something? laughs hysterically YEAH RIGHT!!!

::insert squiggly line here::

Hidden Memories

Star Shadow and Dark Stratos

Chapter Two

The Plains

::insert squiggly line here::

The journey to Luca, I discovered, was part of the training and elimination for the Crimson Squad. You were being monitored constantly. Some people paired off to help one another. Not to my surprise, I was not one of those people wanted to pair up with.

I also wasn't surprised at the glared I received. At one point I was even shot at. Although I was told it was an accident, it was hard to believe. I still don't believe that excuse. The smug look of the man who shot at me and the snide apology didn't make me believe him anymore.

I smiled, pretending to accept this apology while making a mental note to stay as far away as humanly possible from that particular man. He was easy to spot. He was short and slightly overweight with red hair and beady eyes. He smelled too.

The trek through the Macalania Woods was uneventful and short. We, or rather I, didn't spend more than as hour walking through the surreal forest. Even to this day, it has to be one of the more beautiful places I've ever seen. The Thunder Plains however, were an abrupt and unwelcome change..

The trip through the plains was far from easy. The towers that were there to protect people passing thought the chaotic land were mere ruins. Many a man fell victim to the bolts raining from the heavens. I even ended up carrying one of the fallen to the travel agency in the middle of the plain. Because of this, I was nearly found out as too young to be a member, and it was not the last time.

When I staggered through the door of the shelter with that man over my shoulder I had no idea what I had just done. I yelled at the clerk behind the counter to help me. Although I knew this was an Al Bhed establishment I was still a bit shocked at the man who turned to me.

A lump formed in my throat when I realized who was looking at me. It was Rin. He was one of the people who had looked after and helped raise me. He served as one of the two father figures in my life.

I was surprised when he greeted me with his usual "Ah, hello Gippal," but shock was clearly etched into his features. He had a too calm reaction to my presence after that. He did do me the favor of taking the overweight man off my shoulder.

The mad was laid near the others who had been knocked out. Neither of us noticed when one of the observing men came in. Even as I try to remember when it happened now, I still draw a blank.

"So," I said, rolling my shoulder, "how are things going, Rin?" I felt like I had pins and knots in my shoulder and I reached up to message the tense muscles.

"I have been doing well," he said. "But what about you? Why are you not at home?"

"Well," I said, turning with my arms behind my head, eyes closed, " I'm trying out for the Crimson Squad." I smirked and looked over my shoulder at him. It was then I noticed the observer. It took most of my self-control not to let panic seep into my actions or my voice. After all, I already knew what Rin's next question would be.

"But aren't you too young?"

Originally I was going to tell him the truth, but with the observer there, that was impossible. I hate to lie, but this was one of the few cases I felt like I had a reason to. I can't stand lies. Maybe that's why I hate Yevon so much.

I turned and put a face on so that he could clearly understand that I was saying yes, but I couldn't let that other man know. "You know I just turned eighteen ," I said. I could tell he understood, especially when his eyes mirrored mine to look at the man behind me.

"Ah yes. I remember now. We had a party for you legalization last month," he said, playing along. "Hm?" he asked with fake surprise, looking at the other man as though he hadn't noticed him before. "Welcome to Rin's Travel Agency. How may I help you?"

"I'm just here to look for the casualties," he said in a gruff voice.

"I left them out so that they might be easily identified," Rin said, politely bowing as normal. I never understood why he did that, but I guess it was okay. I turned to leave, only to be stopped by the man I didn't know.

"You should stay in," he said as he checked out one of the unconscious men on a make-shift bed on the floor. "I'm to stop all candidates who check in here for the night as a precaution."

"Yes sir," I said as militaristically as possible. Although I was a bit nervous about the entire situation. This could give me a final talk with Rin. I just didn't know what I could say to him, or how to explain my reasons for doing this. He probably wouldn't have liked them anyway.

"I'll give you a room in the back," Rin said to me. "Some this way please."

When he said that, I knew he was going to want to talk about my decision. I sighed in defeat as I went with hem. This wasn't going to be pretty. Not at all.

::insert squigly line here::

Star Shadow: Well, I updated!

Dark Stratos: Bob… Bob… Bob… X-x;;

Star Shadow: We'll update after I get Stratos out of the mental hospital… And when I get some more reviews!! Peace!!