A/N: Fourth chapter. I was going to do Albel's POV but why waste my chance XP So instead I decided on... -gestures- go below and check. As for Maria fans. I know...she'll be OOC...or so terribly cold she'll sound OOC I honestly don't like her. If possible more than Sophia. ; And I hate Mirage and Adray....Adray NEEDS a shirt. Desperately XX... -shudder-

I think the best theme I've ever heard for a boss battle has to be Bitter Dance. That is so awesome! Bitter Dance –hearts- gives me inspiration. If only the whole song played –heaves at song-....it clichés man! –thwacks it- ee;

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Ocean 3 and if you'd been reading for a long time you should know that I don't own anything of it XP

Sphere Prison

Chapter Four

Cliff

I found myself in my room, the type of luxury was something I could have gotten used to if the circumstances were different. Well no use crying over spilt milk, or freedom. No real difference. Instead of cursing those people or the so-called "creator" I found that I was watching TV, one man can never get enough. In fact, their news was so interesting. I mean, terrorists? You don't see that in our galaxy. We have pirates and hitch hikers and the usual uneasy alliance and wars. But they...are so much more civilized.

Made me feel pretty good about myself.

I mean. If we were the same as them I think I woulda thrown myself out the window by now. Speaking of a window. This room has no windows! How am I suppose to see the sky? Is it so black that I can't even do that? Polluting bums... Flicking through the channels I heaved a sigh. Aside from news the rest were ads and things I wouldn't give much of a damn of. I actually kind of missing Mirage about now. Working with her for so long I'm not usually away or apart for so long...

And Maria is in another section but at least were in the same building...

I think. Heh, it's a hunch...

Tossing the remote onto the bed beside me I flopped down on my own and yawned. All this hectic ness of real and created worlds make my head hurt. What's so different about being in the real world or our world? They feel the same. Smell the same, I dunno if I could go back and live a normal life now. Just knowing everyone is data. It's like one of those fantasy books. Some guy finds out something about everyone else and cant tell anybody, because no one would believe him. So he continues living in a semi normal fashion but the fact that there different, or not what they seem...

Makes living more complex.

I thought if I brought the kid to where we were to go, all was going to be smooth sailing and I'd be on my way doing another mission. But instead I got stuck with him and on an insane adventure that I couldn't even comprehend. Call me slow, call me more brawn than brain. Its so...bizarre. And yet I can't complain, having seen so many places, experienced so many battles and meeting so less than happier people. Man, complaining would be the last thing I'd want to do!

Well...woulda been nice if I got a girl here or there and after that scaree Nel...I don't think I'd be asking any Elicoorian anytime soon. Mirage is out of the question. I see as just a friend. As for the guys. Well, I'd go for male or female a simple gender issue is nothing to me. Some guys are cute some are fat and ugly. Like Adray. The fat (nah, he's not...) and ugly compared to cute Albel or Fayt.

Raising my head as the large door was unlocked I blinked and sat upright. Expecting something to come in and haul me off like they do in movies. Man I need a grip on reality. Ah...which is reality though? "Oh, uh, hey can I get a CD play----er..." I blinked as two of the researchers stepped in holding a drugged Albel. The guy didn't look very healthy and being on an underdeveloped planet his immune system probably didn't' have any exposure to drugs.

Oh boy...

"Can I get a CD player? Please?" I couldn't survive without music. No matter what I had to have music and now that we've actually been put down and grounded from flight; it seemed like a situation where you wait for Fate to play out it's hand. Sliding off the bed I walked over to the two people, pausing as weapons were directed at me. Honestly they act as if were barbarians without a brain... So hostile. Man I'd like to have a shot at this Lucifer guy...

I glared at the retreating beings as they just dumped Albel to the floor. Hurrying forward I punched the door, denting it with a small scratch. "Yeah you better run and hold weapons!" They might not survive if I did get out of here! Adverting my gaze I kneeled down by my comrades side lowering a hand to his shoulder, but paused. Last time I tried to touch the not so touchy Airglyph general he shoved me in a puddle of mud for getting to close.

Well. Help always did come at a price. Ah, what am I saying?

"Easy there buddy. Don't open your eyes..." I prayed silently as I turned him over biting back a remark about his slim form. Man if he didn't wear armor and have such a masculine body I might have mistaken him for some female pole dancer. Excluding the fact he's on an underdeveloped planet. Heh; I might not see the light of day if I said that to his face. That is, if he got the meaning across.

Without much of a firm hold I moved my other arm under his legs and lifted him up. For me being a Klausian I wasn't really amazed that I could lift him, but he felt like a feather and didn't even weigh enough to really notice. Bracing myself as his body twitched faintly I sucked in a breath. A bead of sweat rolled down my forehead as I stood waiting for the punch, the claw, the words, all of the bottled up hate this guy carried around...

Crimson eyes snapped open, unfocused at first, as the light seemed to make him squint. Waiting I counted down the seconds as he lifted his head gazing at me with little more than a one-time glance. Making a grim face as he shifted in my arms; his face pressed against my chest, a soft smile coming to the generals face.

Wait.......smile?

Smile...?

Smile?

Oh dear. I must have been shot sometime ago and am now in a place where everything is not real. Seeing Albel smile was a bit much for me, and worse he didn't mind being held and snuggled against me and...

Gaaah....

This is not my job! Fayt's the snuggling guy of ultimate kindness!

"Erm..." wait his sudden affectionate attitude can be blamed on the drugs used on him. Sedatives, so he's just being bit slow and not comprehending his actions. Feeling a bit more satisfied that the world did not flip over and die I moved to the bed next to mine and gently lowered Albel's form onto it. Tearing the covers from the other side of the bed I flapped them out a few times before covering the Elicoorian.

One comrade has to look after another. And being on of the oldest of the group (aside from Adray) I had responsibility to look after everyone. Especially Fayt, that kid is more trouble than he's worth. Always making ridiculous decisions, and yet, at the same time everything always turns out right.

So will this too?

Adverting my gaze I sighed, stuffing my hands in my pockets. I wouldn't admit it but I missed that stupid squirrel. Hell, I miss everyone. "Come on Albel wake up you stupid klutz," I grinned impishly. One night I had caught him wandering around the ship at night while everyone else was dozing off. That guy couldn't get his bearings straight nor his balance and headed up looking like he was on a boat with the way he was walking. Either that or drunk. Ah; good ole' memories.

I coughed as breath suddenly didn't seem so easy to accumulate. Coughing my eyes widened as I stared down at the metal claw that was wrapped around my throat, the claw tips digging and twitching as they dug into my skin. I could tell Albel wanted to make an incision the size of my head but he knew that wasn't going to happen either. Feeling the liquid drip down my neck I could only stare, frozen as if stuck in that time period. My hands left my pockets as they frantically waved back and forth as I gulped for air, looking more fish like as time passed.

Albel gritted his teeth as the pupils grew smaller the glare worsened to a full blast hating look. One of the very few looks that Albel showed and was usually reserved for anything that made him mad/ticked/ pissed/ related to the "creator". "..." His mouth moved but he didn't speak. Maybe I wasn't getting the point across fast enough. My vision went hazy as my feet moved to their own accord until the multi colored man released his grip, gripping the covers with such force that it was ripping in an instant. "Hmph. You're lucky to be alive. Had you been just another maggot I might have made a bigger mess. Or better yet. Killed you"

I winced at his bitterness, geez can't he just accept the fact he needed help? It was like this every time. And this guy seemed to hate me with a passion. Especially if it was personal. Makes me wonder about him sometimes. "The way you say it..." I started, grabbing the nearest material to press against the wounds, "you make it sound like I'm going to die soon." I was aware that the bordering of the bed started to crack. I don't think he was joking. I think it was a threat.

Well. Two can play at that game!

"I will. Your just another one of those useless fools. Only with a bit of fire that attracted the moth."

"Don't bring your stupid speech ways up. Just stick to your five word vocabulary"

I was shot a glare that could have made Satan running.

"What? Don't gimmie that look. You have five words and that's all that comes out of your ego inflated mouth," Playing with fire was never my strong point, nor was negotiating anything. "Useless, fool, maggot, weaklings, and Hmph. Which really can't be classified as a word." I gave off the smuggest look I could at the moment. My hand caked with dried blood as the Elicoorian sat there gapping at me. What? He thought he was gonna win all the arguments that he started?

News flash rings a bell sometimes don't it?

"Hmph. Your words are---"

"See right there. One of the five!"

"---useless you..."

"Two out of five!"

"Son of a bitch!"

I recoiled as much as any guy would as I felt my body changing it's route and taking a direction for the floor as Albel leaped at me like some sort of cat. A rabid cat that had a very short temper. Wincing as I felt the floor dig into both shoulder blades I grinned goofily. Where the hell had this guy picked up swear words? I don't recall Elicoor having any words like that in the dictionary. Feeling a bit put on the spot I couldn't help but continue to poke fun at him. I may be stupid but I'm not defenseless either.

"Aww come on. You know you like it. You can be my bitch..." I suggested seeing his face go from a scowl to a...dare I say it? Dare I LOOK? "Awww the cute ittle wickle Albel is blushing" I pointed out as he snarled and whacked me upside the head. Feeling the weight on top of me disappear I watched with a sense of superiority as my ego boosted beyond the generals. It's not like I started it! So I'm no the one to blame!

Than why do I feel guilty?

"Hey come on, I didn't mean it. It was a joke..." reasoning and trusting wasn't apparently, Albel's specialty as he stood by the wall, leaning against it as he panted. "Oi, your not fully recovered from the sedatives yet so take it easy will ya?" he turned his head, reminding me of snobbish nobles. Well I can deal with a lot of things but being ignored when one worries about another's health is something I cannot ignore. Especially if it's me!

"Want me to carry you back to bed?" I teased.

"Come within five feet and I'm going to stab you."

"You have no sword."

"I don't need one to end your miserable life."

"Oi, oi come on lay off a little."

"I'm FINE!"

Looking thoughtfully at the other I decided to put my life on the line and invade his personal 5 feet space. If I survived I can give stories on how I walked along the floor. The only thing stopping me was dust and the occasional cracks in the floor. And how I stepped over them like a proud hero. Why, it'd go down in history! Note, the sarcasm!

"I'm not dead yet." I stated as I looked down at the mass of black and yellow hair. The crimson eyes were closed tightly as he appeared to be fighting against sleep. Exhaustion and sedatives didn't bold well. Damn. I should just buy some tranquilizers and whenever Albel gets riled up just stick it to him, haaa haaa....

"You...aren't worth my time...fool."

"As I've heard plenty times before. Come on. Get back to bed. You never know what will happen next. Catch up on the Z's" I winced as I scratched my neck. Agh now it was itching like CRAZY! And flaking and ...ugh...

Wrapping an arm around the slimmer being I guided him to the bed. Peering closely at his face I frowned "what's with the bruise? I don't recall you getting that before we came." He shoved me away, unsuccessfully but he still tried. Crazy bastard. Man, how'd his parents raise this mischievous brat? He made the squirrel look like genuine GOLD sometimes!

"It nothing."

"Like hell it ain't, just tell me. I get sick of some of your lies. Especially the 'it's nothing ones'" I stated.

He opened his eyes, looking at me with a bold expression. "it was just another weak fool that tempted death."

Without another word he laid down on the bed. Out cold seconds later.

It was strange though. It felt like I knew who it was even though the weak fool could have been anyone. Oddly I knew; the only bravest soul that would do that and not have drawbacks (let alone still live in one piece) would be...

The Creator.

Our enemy. And an enemy of himself.

A/N: This chapter. Well, I was going to do more. I really was. But thinking about it I don't really know Cliff that well. Yes, yes, I know he's with you the whole game. But he's so immature sometimes I wanted to do a test drive. So tell me if you think that would be just like Cliff. And hopefully Albel is IC. And thanks for reading.

Review, thank you reviewers! Just i did this weeks ago and wanted it up. But yeah XP never had time. Ill put in the reviews i missed in the enxt chapter. Arigatou!