Disclaimer:
Star Ocean 3: Till the End of Time is the creation and property of Tri-Ace, who created this wonderful anime/video game series, and the publishers at SquareEnix. Anything not attributed to them belongs to their respective owners, such as references to Cowboy Bebop (the Swordfish II) that is a creation of Sunrise and Shinichiro Watanabe. This story is written purely just for fun, guys; please for God's sake, don't sue me! I'm just a high school student with too much free time on his hands! On the other hand, any specific author created characters I created for this fic (despite how unoriginal they may be at times) are mine. So without further adieu, let's get on with the show!
The Surgeon General's Warning:
Read at your own risk. This might take you on a trip to some happy lovey-dovey place.
Oh, and yes, there's a very high Fayt x Maria coupling possible here, or I could completely screw everybody over and do the unexpected, ja?
Fates Intertwined
Chapter 08:
Through the Fields
A Star Ocean 3 fanfic by James "Ray" Edwards
"Gaou, we have company! Multiple gravitic space anomalies detected off the port side, counting five ships, approximate range: one thousand kilometers. ...They're deploying fighters!"
Maria simply nodded, leaving the fear and astonishment to her less battle hardened companion. She had expected no less from the Vendeeni to send a swift taskforce to deal with their "problem." It was highly uncommon for battleships or combat military ships to travel alone, unless they were on a mission of special circumstances. Now, a considerable piece of its battle group was arriving, like an angry mob to crush whatever manner of beast that had stolen one of its flocks in the dead of night. The deployment of a fighter screen, on the other hand, was slightly expected since border worlds and such did not commonly follow the Pangalactic Federation Spacy's battle tactics to the letter.
Today was unceasingly becoming more complicated by the second.
"Helm, turn about forty-five degrees to starboard side; I've already plotted our course, maximum speed," Maria ordered briskly, recalibrating the actuators on the cannons for rapid response. They had no idea what the Vendeeni fighters were capable of, and it was simply better to retreat than risk a turkey shoot with five battleships. She had no intention of sticking around to fight them all, only remaining long enough to hopefully warn the Diplo to run should it arrive, and she wagered she had roughly less than a ten minute window too. "Systems, shift power from the forward space-time displacement shields to the aft facing shields. Power up the gravitic war core to stand-by and be prepared for an emergency jump the moment a window of opportunity opens up."
An emergency jump, now this was news; the last they had done an improvised gravitic warp jump was over two years ago on a mission the Abnak Conference on Klaus V. "Ma'am, should I be calculating the telemetry data for our warp destination with the UMN column in the sector? If we jump without the data, the column could throw us out anywhere, maybe into a star, a comet, another ship, a planet's core...gaou, there's so much interference."
"That's why I didn't bother. Fleet level tactics are different."
"Wait, if they're jamming our connection with the UMN..." Fayt joined the conversation as the ship hurriedly turned tail and proceed to "run away" at full steam. "How are we supposed to warn the Federation military authorities or anyone else out there?"
The solemn reply was silence. Grim-faced, the young man realized that no such thing was going to happen, and there would be more bloodshed yet before the battle was over. It was now that he understood what it was like to be in a real fight. He could only imagine what anguish and sorrow awaited in a war, as a general alarm went off with a whirling roar.
"Vendeeni fighter squadron is giving pursuit, estimated time to intercept: one minute and fifty seconds. Warning! The battleships are powering up their main guns. Analyzing...disrupter cannons! They're fanning out into a delta formation. First volley's away!"
Maria wasted no time and gave the order to evade. At a thousand kilometers, they would only have seconds to respond. The Swordfish II pulled up into a sharp ascent, the hi-maneuver sub-light engines on its wing tips pivoting swiftly, as a swarm of massive undulating blue comets, the size of a two story house, tore into the space they previously occupied. They appeared to be transgressing between and space-time itself, disappearing and reappearing intermittently at regular intervals. The energy magnitude on the giant disrupter bolts would've been enough to fry the space-time displacement shields with a few direct hits. With the combined firepower of five battleships, there wouldn't be much left over to salvage at all in the wake of the merciless destruction.
"Evasion successful. Second volley, incoming!"
Again, the agile corvette evaded, diving downwards. The Vendeeni appeared not to have properly calibrated their guns to match the inherent capabilities of the Swordfish II yet. Already the faster ship had managed to gain a lead of two hundred kilometers, fleeing on a direct course out of the battle zone with the asteroid field off their port side. Gliding about on the edge of the field, Maria ordered Fayt to "hug" to the asteroids as best as he could, much to the young man's dismay. He wasn't particularly confident of his flying skills just yet, but complied nonetheless.
The Swordfish II slipped closer to the gargantuan rocks, skimming above the ancient surfaces with just meters to spare, which made life that much more difficult for the Vendeeni gunners. Confounded perhaps even frustrated, the battleships indiscriminately began to fire at will. A vibrant string of white-hot explosions lit up the once peaceable asteroid field, turning the starlit night of space into day. Debris and bright columns of super heated plasma erupted in the wake of the corvette-class ship, a small black silhouette in the whitening flood that followed it in the ensuing maelstrom of destruction.
"Are they crazy? They're just shooting all over the place without any...GAH!" Fayt yelped when a particularly violent shudder rocked the ship. The space-time displacement shields were taking a beating from the hellish firestorm outside the hull. Luckily, they had yet to take any form of direct hits from the Vendeeni disrupter cannons or the indirect fire they were taking from the exploding asteroids.
Maria said not a word, cool as ice, as she continuously monitored the flood of information disseminating through the plethora of holographic monitors in the majestic glow of the battle sphere with practiced ease. There was distinctive ill feeling in her gut telling her that something was wrong. The Vendeeni vanguard fleet that had engaged the Federation fleet at Hyda IV annihilated their ill-prepared opponents with ease. Tales of their fearsome firepower and gunnery had quickly filtered through the U.M.N. with searing terror, and yet here they were exerting considerable efforts just to eliminate one lone corvette-class ship that was vastly outgunned. Her first kill had been a favorable turn of fortune, pure and simple. Something was dreadfully wrong.
"Vendeeni battleships have halted their bombardment. Pursuit fighters are closing in, count: twenty-four, estimated time to intercept: T-minus ten seconds!"
"Helm, reduce main engine output by thirty percent, and take us into the field," the light blue-haired young woman commanded decisively. "They'll try to cut us off and keep us busy while the battleships try to catch up. Let's not make things any easier for them. Your course has already been plotted. Systems, re-distribute power evenly to the space-time displacement and prepare for anti-fighter combat operations, but don't forget to keep an eye out for the battleships."
Fayt was quickly getting used to taking orders. The selfish instinctive desire for survival was overriding any reservations he had about violence and killing, his preoccupied with the navigation waypoints laid out before him. Under his guidance, the Swordfish II soared deeper into the disturbed asteroid field with a swarm of small orange-red alien craft hot on its heel. They were dart-like diamonds, organic curves lining the seams where surfaces met, no aerodynamic surfaces, and the only distinguishably mechanical aspect of the war machines were the blue flames blooming from the engine exhaust nozzle.
With the elements to her advantage, the captain opened up the Swordfish II's gun batteries to fire at will. She laid down a proverbial minefield of exploding shrapnel from the disintegrating asteroids, crackling red antimatter, and blue particle beams into the face of the pursuing Vendeeni fighters. A series of explosions denoted the deaths of seven of the alien craft as they were shredded to ribbons, unable to return fire or maneuver effectively in the tight corridor, while the rest of the squadron spread out swiftly. They were trying to circumvent the suppressive fire and obstacles in order to cut off corvette exactly like Maria had predicted.
"Helm, keep up the pace. The advantage is on our side since the Vendeeni don't appear to have the navigation charts for the Caribbean Fields," she shouted encouragingly. "Systems, how are we doing on ammunition?"
Eight obliged not so encouragingly. "Kanchou, at the volume of fire we're shooting, we'll exhaust our energy reserves for the phase cannon banks to twenty-five percent in four minutes. We're starting to hit the fifty percent mark on our anti-matter reserves too."
"Understood, we'll to attempt to warp out in---"
"Incoming dead ahead of us, unknown mecha unmasking from the shadow of the asteroid at three o'clock!" the ship's AI cut in suddenly.
Sure enough, a team of four silvery humanoid machines appeared in the flight path of the Swordfish II, much to the collective astonishment of the crew. They were at least twenty meters in height of an unidentifiable make, arguably larger than the average arm slave that was presumably of Vendeeni origin. Thin, almost skeletal bodies with the most minimal of armor, gazed mockingly upon them with slit yellow eyes that was inset on the faces of their elongated heads, sporting shark-like fins. Each unit was armed with a simple round buckler of the same silvery material and a long black rifle in the arm, which they trained fearlessly on the approaching vessel. Clearly, they had no intention of allowing the ship to pass.
Maria scowled. "I should've known it was an ambush all along."
Eight and Fayt would've certainly voiced their own alarmed concerns right there, but the young woman swiftly cut off their protests. She ordered the ship ahead at full. The sub-light engines roared loudly as the Swordfish II shoot ahead in a surprising burst of speed, plowing straight through the equally surprised Vendeeni mecha. Two of the units were destroyed instantly when they slammed into the space-time displacement shields that shattered them into pieces, detonating momentarily into bright fireballs. Exploiting their surprise, Maria dumped several rounds from the anti-matter cannons into the remaining survivors, sealing their demise, before ordering her helmsman to change course and escape from the cover of the asteroids.
"There's more of them up ahead!" Fayt cried out having a more hands-on of his immediate surroundings.
More of the skeletal mecha appeared at the threshold of their exit, materializing seemingly out of nowhere. They open fired before the corvette could mount a counter attack with a punishing rain of electrified yellow energy bolts. The space-time displacement shields weathered the bruising assault as the Swordfish II muscled its way through the blockade with its superior firepower. More explosions marked the fiery doom of the Vendeeni mecha that failed to evade in time, while the survivors continued to pursue doggedly in the wake of the fleeing ship.
"Gaou, kanchou, there's no end to them."
Again, another squadron of the skeletal humanoid war machines appeared, forcing another a turn of maneuvers as the Swordfish II's deadly array of cannons silenced many of them. The situation was quickly beginning to spiral out of control. How could the Vendeeni have moved so many forces into the area? Had their forces been lying in wait, cloaked from even the best sensors that money could buy within Federation space? What were they doing here anyway? Why the secrecy?
Shielded in the relative privacy of her battle sphere, Maria frowned openly. Whatever the case may be, she had unwittingly set off an ingenious trap, and now she had to figure a way out. The violent rumbling shocks were rocking the ship more frequently. Her shields were holding steady for now against the meager firepower of the Vendeeni mecha, but wherever one fell, two more would appear to takes its place. It was a losing battle against overwhelming numbers.
"Kanchou, the Vendeeni battleships --- that's impossible! Gravitic space anomalies detected, two of the ships are jumping in off the starboard side from the main formation. Range: two thousand meters and closing!"
The Vendeeni be damned. Didn't they know that a cornered fox was more dangerous than a kith-kaath on the prowl?
The young woman's frown blossomed now into a scowl of disapproval.
"M-Maria, what are we going to do?" Fayt cried, speaking her name openly for the first time since the - incident. His growing fears were beginning to overrule all good sense he had in mind. He didn't want to die here, not like this, not when there was still so much to be done. His mother, father, and Sophia were still out there, somewhere, waiting for him! "It-it can't end like this, Maria! I-I --- I don't want do die. My mother and father! Sophia! Please, there has to be a way!"
The little voices cried shrilly with glee, building in tempo and mass until they were a deafening roar in her ears. They can smell the bittersweet tang of blood in the air. Its coppery scent was calling to them. The anticipation, the heart rending tension was driving them wild. They knew what was coming. The sounds and terrors of battle receded unto silence, leaving the leader of Quark alone. Her only company was her demons and the enthralling chalice of power they held in their claws.
Do it.
Give them what they want.
Kill them.
Kill them all!
Show them all your great power.
Back then, it was just one battleship, but the best the Federation had to offer --- The Invisible, the light blue-haired young woman thought solemnly to herself. How many men and women were on that ship, I wonder? How many funerals? How many widows were crying for their husbands? Grown men crying for their wives? Their sons and daughters? How many more orphaned children, just like me, did I help foster that bloody day with my own two hands? I didn't want to die, that's all. But now...
I didn't wake for months after that incident, but it was where everything began. My command over my powers have grown, but can I truly control it consciously against this many ships? It was reckless of me then and it is even more reckless now. The Vendeeni ships will open fire on us soon. If they intended to only capture us before, any chance for compromise has long since been burned to ashes. They've lost too many of their own: a battleship and considerable number pilots in their mecha and fighters. We'll be killed for certain. The question is: can I do this?
The glow of the battle sphere dissipated, the intricate display of data dissolving into drifting particles of light with nothing more but a wave of her hand. She could feel all eyes on her as her station lowered down into basin, retracting back towards the main floor, before allowing her safe passage to be on her away. A hiss of hydraulics punctuated the captain's console unlatching itself. Gracefully, Maria rose and glided forward onto the center stage of attention, a distinctive staccato marking her dignified stride. A leader was strong and noble in the face of great adversity, her eyes unclouded by uncertainty. She bent down on one knee with a rustle of her great coat, clasping her hands together as if in solemn repose, closed her eyes, and began to pray, much to awe of those few who were present to bare witness.
Maria needed a miracle, and she needed one now. If there was someone out there, she hoped beyond all hopes that they would listen to her now. Never mind that they had ignored her, scorned her, and mocked her pleas so many times, but just this once, listen to her heart truly and grant her one small wish. She didn't want to slaughter these people, and she knew - she could do it.
Please.
Her wish was granted.
A needle thin beam of light pierced through the night, bathing the star-lit sea of night in harmony. The silvery skeletal bodies caught in its glow paused, unsure of what to do; never before had they encountered such a thing. All was quiet, and then the light grew, parting the heavens with its strength. The Vendeeni caught in its brilliance disappeared.
"Whoa, kids! Did somebody call for the cavalry?" a familiar boisterous voice laughed jovially over the comm-link.
This voice? Could it be?
Maria all but leapt to her feet, the mask that she wore upon her face daily disintegrating into unabashed relief and joy all at once. Hot tears were flowing from her beautiful azure eyes before she even knew it, but she wasn't sad at all. If that blonde-haired lug of a godfather was here right now, she would hug him to death.
She smiled. "Cliff, you're late!"
Cliff Fittir, the universally renowned "artiste" and interim leader of Quark, was fashionably late as always.
Author's Notes:
Bleargh, that took a little bit longer than expected, but no biggie, at least its finally here right? Anyways, I'd like to thank all the readers and reviews once more for having stuck with me thus far. Trust me, we're only a short ways away now from the real good stuff! And remember homies, I take it with the good and the bad, so if you got something to say (constructive or otherwise) go ahead and drop a review; I'm always looking for ways to improve. So holla!
But before I go back to riffin' away on this baby, a few personal shout outs here...
To Her Majesty Ruine: Ack...hack-cough!...that's a new one to me. Praise first and then mild strangulation on the back end, I'll have to learn to get used to this. On the subject of psycho Fayt, ma'am, I assure you I got a few cards up my sleeves yet, and don't fret over Albel, I got something real nice planned for him too.
To the First Prince of the Sword Tristan Amaryllis: Man, that's some high praise; aren't you supposed to be helping to keep my ego in check here, dude? Sweatdrop. As for the subject of strange magical spells, ahem! sore wa himitsu desu, Amaryllis-san. The CIA might abduct you for possesing weapons of mass destruction if I told you.
To His Lordship Inuart: Whoa, I had no idea some folks actually liked Drakengard (A.K.A. Drag-on Dragoon). Great (if a touch depressing) story, great voice acting, but let's face the facts, the developers tragically didn't really deliver on the shear Berserk-like epic scope of the source material as the actual gameplay quickly became a regular chore. I just hope they do better for Drakengard III on the next-gen consoles. On the other hand, dude, I'm totally flattered, and to be frank, I'm amazed any of you guys and gals are still reading this, considering how much I've already leapt off the deep end. Hehehe, the best has yet to come, but yeah, my bad on the heavy Fayt angst. I really got to figure out a better way to dole out the angst.
Peace out, and look forward to the next chapter, guys! (Ooooo, pretty explosions!)
P.S. If you find any grammer/spelling/style errors, my bad. I'm really trying to catch them (mostly), honest!
"Walk down the right back alley in Sin City, and you can find anything..."
Marv, Frank Miller's Sin City