Sorry I haven't updated this story in a while. I got side tracked with another story. Anyway, here you go!

WARNING! Spoilers in this chapter! Read at your own risk!

Chapter 4

Yuan had had no idea that there was a price on the boy's head. He'd had no idea that his men had captured him. He didn't know how he had escaped either. The only thing he knew was that a strange boy had barged into his room and hadn't even noticed Yuan was there!

The boy was just as Botta had described him: short brown hair, red jacket, and double swords. He was slightly shorter than Yuan, but since he was a kid, that was to be expected.

After about a minute, in which the boy still didn't notice Yuan, he sighed. "Whew, that was close." Yuan, still perplexed and annoyed at the ignorance of the kid, decided to make his presence known. Crossing his arms, he asked, coldly, "And just who the hell are you?"

The boy started, then finally turned to face him. Yuan raised his hand towards him, and a ball of electricity formed around it. The kid's eyes grew wide, then they narrowed. Shrugging, he replied' "give me your name, and I shall give you mine."

Yuan shook his head. The fact that the boy wasn't cowering in fear was enough to make him think that he was used to threats. "Ha ha, you certainly have guts," he said, with a smirk, "but I don't see the need to introduce myself to an inferior little creature like you." he wanted to make him mad, to make him make a mistake. Even though Yuan could easily take out this boy, he liked to have every card in his advantage.

Far from angered, however, the boy shrugged. "what a coincidence," he said, "'cause I don't see the reason to introduce myself to a moron who doesn't realize how pathetic he is."

That made Yuan mad. "Why you little-" As he was about to release the ball of electricity, the boy threw up his arms to guard himself. There, on his hand was an exsphere. That alone wouldn't have surprised him, but the color… was the same as the one that Kratos' wife, Anna, had had! Yuan knew that hers had been one of a kind, but she had changed into a monster when it was removed, and fallen off a cliff, with her son clutched in her- her son!

"An exsphere! You're…Lloyd!' he asked, incredulous at the exsphere's appearance. The boy, slightly surprised that Yuan guessed his name in one go, glanced at the exsphere, then looked up at Yuan. "and if I am?" Yuan looked into his face. It was there, clearer than he could have imagined: this was Lloyd, Kratos' son! His eyes were as intense as Kratos', but showed much more emotion. The shape of the nose was the same, and, if his hair were longer, it would be almost exactly like that of Kratos.

Yuan stepped closer to Lloyd, seeing more and more of Kratos in the boy. "Hmm, I see the resemblance" he said, more to himself than Lloyd. Lloyd was definitely confused at that.

Suddenly, the alarm started blaring all over the base. As Yuan glanced up, Lloyd drew one of his swords, ready for a fight. Yuan simply turned away from him. He didn't plan on fighting him here. And besides, he had plans for him, now that he was sure of Lloyd's heritage. The surprised look on his face almost made Yuan laugh.

Just then, Botta came running in, along with two of his soldiers. "Sir, we've received reports that the Chosen's group has infiltrated the facility!" he said. Yuan's eyes went wide. How the hell did they get in! The base's guard system should have stopped them at the door! As he was about to enquire, however, Lloyd said, looking at Botta, exclaimed, "You… you're the Desian that attacked Iselia!"

Botta glanced at Lloyd, registering him being in the room for the first time. He looked over towards Yuan, who nodded. Botta understood, and addressed the youth. "So you're Lloyd…. Now this is amusing." Yuan was about to speak, when he remembered Botta's report earlier. Oh crap, He realized, Kratos is with them! "Botta, I'm leaving for now. Are plans are ruined if he sees me!" Botta nodded, and Yuan left the room.

Yuan needed to get out of there. Not just because he didn't want to be noticed by Kratos, but also because he needed to think. Hurrying to the rheiard hangar, he boarded his personal one, a deep blue one with green streaks. he started it up and exited the base with all speed.

Flying had always calmed him down after particularly stressful days. Today, however, he needed a place where he could sit for a while and think without being disturbed. Looking down towards the ground, he spotted the Linkite tree that grew near the base. Perfect, he thought, angling towards it.

When he landed, he walked over to the tree to examine it. It was withered and gray, long dead to the years gone by. Yuan still found the spot peaceful, though, and sat down next to the tree.

"How long have you been here?" he asked the tree. Even though the tree didn't respond, he continued. "Were you here during the Kharlan war? The war between humans and elves that nearly ripped the planet asunder? Were you just a little seedling when we saved the world, but at the cost of Martel's life?"

sighing, he looked down at the ring that Martel had given to him. "I miss her so much. Even after four-thousand years, my heart still aches for her sweet laughter. She laughed a lot you know; she was always smiling, even when things were hard." Sighing again, his thoughts turned to Kratos.

Yuan punched the tree with the back of his fist. "why does he always get in my way? He knows what Yggdrassil's doing is wrong, but he continues to serve him! Why!" lost for an answer, he slumped against the Linkite tree.

He didn't know how long he sat there. After a while, the communication device in the Rheiard started beeping. Hurrying over to it, he turned it on and spoke into the receiver. "Botta, is that you? come in, over."

He listened to the static for a while, then heard Botta's voice coming through the other end. "ah. There you are, sir! We had searched both bases and hadn't found you in either."

Yuan allowed a small smile to spread across his face. "well, I tend do disappear like that every now and then. Did you defeat the chosen's party?"

He heard a little mumbling in the background, then Botta spoke again. "Uh, I'm afraid that they… well… they were stronger than we had first anticipated, and…"

"you didn't defeat them, did you?" Yuan asked, to forestall more rambling.

Silence, then "…No, we did not. They overpowered us and escaped. My most sincere apologies."

Yuan sighed, more exasperated than angry. "were there any casualties on our side?"

"No, but the soldiers who accompanied me were badly wounded. I myself was injured more than once…."

Yuan wondered how a bunch of children could overpower and wound fully-trained soldiers, but decided not to say anything. If there was one thing that Botta cherished above all things, it was his pride. "very well, get some rest. I'll be back shortly."

"Will do, sir. Over and out."

Yuan turned the device off, then swung into the seat. Even though he didn't have the answers he needed, he needed to get back to the base. Revving the engine, he took off towards the base, thinking about the boy who had barged into his room. He decided to keep tabs on him, and wait for the right moment. After all, he said, with a cold smile on his face, why shouldn't I make sure that the son of an old colleague is kept safe?

Well, there you have it! Again, sorry this took so long, I've been busy with another story ("So much for peace", should anyone care) please read and review, they bring me happy times!