In the darkness, Cian awoke slowly. His head throbbed as if an angry Hedgehog Pie was living inside it. He was inside the dark cell again. Cian shivered. Ifrit only knew what else was down here. Cian put one hand to his head, but withdrew it in shock once he touched the T burned into him. Gradually, he began to remember what had happened. He groaned. How could he have been so stupid? He knew it was dangerous to even think such thoughts within the Redwing, much less tell them to someone else. Phiran seemed to have some kind of ability to know what was going on in everyone's minds. Whether it was just that he had a knack for guessing correctly, or that he had some power that enabled him to see into others' minds, Cian didn't know. But what he did know that was Phiran was not an enemy to be underestimated. He pitied this Kuja and his friends. If only there was a way to reach them, to help them, Cian would take it. Death by whatever foul means Phiran could think of to punish him for such a travesty would be a blessed release from this pain, this darkness.

Cian sighed. At least he hadn't mentioned to Flacsin the fears he had for Phiran's scheme. He had seen the man Flacsin had taken the soul from, and he knew that Phiran planned to take more than just that soul. He also knew that Phiran had the power to take the souls of every single Soroyan on this ship. Cian feared Phiran, but he also had a kind of reluctant respect for his intellect. Phiran had crafted the perfect plan, sure to succeed.

Cian stood, resolved. He would escape and get help to Kuja and his friends. Groping in the blackness, he tried to get a better idea of his surroundings. He ran his hands along the walls. He had been right when he had guessed that the room was very small. Suddenly, he touched something un-wall- like. He withdrew his hand reflexively, but once he had regained his composure, he put it out again, trying to determine what the irregularity was. He felt fur, and metal, and cloth. He frowned. What on Gaia was it? After a few moments thought, Cian moved on.

Next to the furry thing, he found a canvas bag. Rummaging around in the bag, he found a box of matches. He sighed with relief. He struck the match, giving him light to see by. He gasped. The furry thing was actually a Burmecian, the one he and Flacsin had taken the soul of. With the light, he could now see another figure in the cell with him. This one, however, was breathing. It looked very much like one of Kuja's friends he had seen in Alexandria, even with the same strange furry tail- but no, this one was more female­­­­­­.

"Hello?" Cian said, waving his hand in front of the girl's face. The girl stirred and mumbled, as if awakening from a deep sleep.

"What the- who are you?"

"I am Cian. A friend."

The girl propped herself up against the wall. Cian saw she had bad bruising and cuts all over her, though none of them seemed to be serious, as if whoever had attacked her had been unenthusiastic.

"What's happened to me?"

"You're in the cells of the Redwing, a ship built and run by Phiran Molotov."

"Phiran... I do not know the name."

"You shall soon, I promise you. Who are you?"

"My name is Mikoto."

"Do you know anything of a man named Kuja?"

Mikoto sat bolt upright. "Why?"

"You look just like one of his companions."

"Kuja and his 'companion', Zidane, are my brothers."

"Your brothers?! But Kuja looks nothing like you or Zidane!"

"Yes... we are all the results of an experiment on another world, Terra, to try and create life. Kuja was the prototype. Zidane and I followed soon after."

"Phiran wants to kill Kuja, and, I suspect, anyone affiliated with him. That means you and Zidane."

"Aren't you one of Phiran's army?"

"Phiran's army? Yes, I suppose we could be described as that. I am a Soroyan, from a country called Soroya, far in the north of this world. For as long as anyone can remember, we have been under the control of another nation, Mageroya, until Phiran came to our town. He burned the town of Mageroya down to the ground single- handedly. He promised us our freedom if we would serve him whilst he travelled the world on a quest. The details of the quest were always vague, he never revealed his plans to any of us, but we went along with him, mainly out of fear. We had just seen him raze a whole city to the ground, and we had never lived free from the shadow of the Mageroyans. We knew nothing of how to govern ourselves. He quickly set us in ranks and gave us tasks we were best at.

I was born blind. Until Phiran came, all I had ever experienced was nothingness. I did not even see black. I cannot describe what it was like other than complete nothingness. I had been more or less shunned all my life because of my handicap. But Phiran, realizing my potential, gave me sight. It was incredible. My whole world, filled with colour as never before. I rose through the ranks and soon became one of Phiran's top officers. I was never much of a fighter, but with no false modesty, I know I was much more intelligent than any of the other officers. My best friend was called Flacsin. Thick as mud, but the finest marksman I have ever seen.

Anyway, one day, Phiran caught me expressing to Flacsin my doubts about Phiran's trustworthiness. He threw me in this cell and burned this traitor mark into my forehead." He indicated the burn. "Now I have vowed to work against Phiran in any way possible. I must get out in order to help Kuja and his friends. Or if that is not possible, then I will help you get out. Do you trust me?"

Mikoto was silent for a long while, then finally, she lifted her head. "Yes."

Cian grabbed her hand. "Excellent! Then we must work out a way to escape. Phiran will rue the day he scarred me."

A/N: Sorry it's taken so long to get this out. I've been on holiday in Devon. SURFING RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw Jeepers Creepers 1 and it was hilarious, and I also saw The Ring, which made me jump when you saw the dead people 'cos they were horrible.