Disclaimer: I don't own Star Ocean.
Chapter 7: Reunion
Sounds of explosion and smoke filled the area around them. Both Airyglyph and Aquarian forces were panicking as they tried to run. The Dragon Brigade flew up and attemped to engage the Vendeeni, but soon fell from the skies like burning moths. The runological weapons the Aquarians had so painstakingly made were proving to be ineffective as well. In matter of minutes the whole battlefield had been turned into a graveyard.
"No... Stop, please stop..." Fayt pleaded in shock as he witnessed death all around him.
"Come on kid, snap out of it, I know what they're after..." Cliff trailed off, as if he said too much.
"Huh? What they're after?"
"Never mind that, let's move!" Cliff grabbed the kid and began to run back towards Arias. Nel and others, including the rather eccentric siblings, followed.
"Holy Apris! Just what is that thing?" Drake exclaimed as he ran alongside Rena and Shuyin.
"I didn't know you were religious." Rena remarked, a bit surprised.
"They're called the Vendeeni, and there's no way to stop them as it is now, so just keep running!" Cliff shouted, ignoring Rena's comment completely. Everyone was eager to comply.
They arrived at Aquaria's headquarters just in time to see Dion being caught by a blast from the Vendeeni's cannon. He tumbled onto the ground and rolled, struggled to get up, then slumped back on the ground.
"No! Dion!" Fayt was going crazy.
"Damn! They really do go to any lengths don't they?" Cliff cried in rage. Suddenly, one of the shots from the ship began heading towards them.
"Drake! Rena!" Shuyin called. The siblings nodded and rushed to his side. Bring the jewels embedded in their gloves together, the two began to chant something, causing the gems to glow. In the meanwhile, shuyin raised the hand with his golden bracelet on, put the other hand over it, and chanted in a different way as well. Nel could've sworn that the black and red symbols on his bracelet began snaking around.
"Guardian Ward!" Drake and Rena simultaneously yelled and turned their hands, so their palms faced the incoming energy of destruction. Two large purplish light emerged from their hands, joined, and became even bigger, creating a barrier of sorts in front of the group, the rest of them were all standing behind the three warriors. "Angelic Shield!" a white barrier of light joined the purple ones, melding with it. The blast struck dead on, the force of the impact causing the three defenders to buckle. After a few seconds as the rest of the group stared in awe/fear, the pack of energy finally dissipated, though whatever that was outside the protection of the shield was burned and destroyed. While successful, the effort had cost the three, the siblings dropping onto the floor gasping for breathe, the red-haired warrior leaning on his lance for support, his face covered in sweat. However, this was only a small reprieve, for more blasts came, incinerating any unfortunate Elicoorian that got engulfed in their light.
"Shoot, there's no end to this!" Cliff was on the edge now, even a Klausian's super phyiscal capabilities meant nothing in the face of a spaceship cannon.
"You said they were after something? Are... are they after me?" Fayt asked quietly.
"Now kid..."
"This, this means that, Hyda IV, the Helre, they're all my fault!"
"Hey, calm down!" Cliff said as he reached for Fayt.
"Let go of me!" Fayt smacked Cliff's hand away, "Why? Why are they doing this? Who... WHO THE HELL AM I?" He finally cracked.
Suddenly, the young Earthling was covered in a bright light. Then something seemed to emerge from his forehead... an angel? Strange symbols surrounded him, then a beam of light shot up towards the Vendeeni ship. The ship was covered in more of those strange symbols, then suddenly, it disappeared. Not a trace of it remained. The place was filled with white feathers dropping from the sky, just like Fayt who collapsed onto the ground, unconcious. Everyone stared at his still form, too astonished to speak. Only two people held different expressions.
Cliff had a knowing, yet surprised, look.
'So, his powers manifested eh? And its even more destructive than hers..." The Klausian thought.
On the other hand, Shuyin's face held a hint of loathing and contempt, which no one registered.
'So... They proceeded with another... After what's happened, after their MISTAKE, they risked yet another, experimented with another... They never change... These scums treat life as expendable TOOLS to serve their sick fascinations!' His mind raged, then was abruptly at peace as he collapsed as well.
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"Marietta, are we almost there?" Maria asked anxiously.
"Just a few more days and we will arrive, but Captain, it seems that the Vendeeni got there first."
"I see... Well, we'll just have to make sure they don't get their hands on him then, won't we?"
"Yes ma'am!" Marietta replied cheerfully as Maria put a hand to her forhead.
'What... what is this strange feeling I'm having? Why do I feel like something will happen? Why...?' The young Leader thought as the Diplo continued its journey to Elicoor II, soaring through the Gravitic Warp Space.
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When Shuyin woke up, it was to find himself in Castle Aquaria. In the bed next to his, Fayt was still sound asleep. He got up and gathered his effects (lance, sword, cape etc.) and left the room. The other party members were waiting outside, looking relieved when they saw him. It appeared that Shuyin's two 'acquaintances' were still knocked out as well. Adray had left the group in order to take care of the devastated army.
A few days later, Fayt had finally regained conciousness, though the two siblings were (Whether for good or ill) still roaming the dreamland. After inquiring about the Vendeeni, he suddenly remembered a young man in a runologist's clothing rolling on the ground, victim of a cannon fire. Dion was still alive, but there was nothing they could do. Fayt rushed to get Ameena after seeing Dion. Unfortunately, Dion had suffered too much damage, and died after exchanging a few words with her. Ameena, having already strained herself by coming to Aquios in the first place, died shortly afterwards.
Fayt, still thouroughly shaken by the tragic death of two youths, was walking towards the audience chambers with the rest of his companions (an approach of the Vendeeni warships had been reported). Once inside the audience chamber, Queen Romeria, Lasselle, and Nel immediately began questioning them about the Vendeeni. Then suddenly, Cliff led them outside. A Vendeeni warship was indeed looming down upon the castle.
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Shuyin had recovered mostly, but still had a slightly awkward step. He had to admit, that must've been one of the stupidest things he had done in his life. Sure, he had used that protection spell against dragons, beasts, demons, and whatnot, but to have used it against a top-of-the-line Vendeeni firepower? It had to be pure luck that he and the other two managed to pull it off. Currently, instead of joining the others in what would probably turn out to be a useless chatter and complaints, he decided to go outside and think of what he can do. He really hated having to resort to this, wasn't even sure if it was going to work, but decided that whatever happens, it can't be worse than the crap situation he was in now. He tried to hold back his emotions. Ameena's death did a number on him. He would deal with it later on, he said to himself, but first he will end the turmoil in this world and bring forth the peace she had wished for so much. His last tribute to her.
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"Damn! What now?" Cliff said
"I'll give myself up. Then they'll leave." Fayt told him.
"Fayt, no!" Mirage said firmly.
"That's enough of that. You say that again and I swear I'll smack
you one." Cliff cracked his knuckles angrily.
"Cliff, calm down. Anger won't solve anything! But he's right, Fayt."
"Then what should we do? This country's military doesn't stand a chance
against the Vendeeni ships! Hey... But you chased away the Vendeeni ship
before! Why not do it again?"
"Huh? But-" Nel was confused, how could he not remember literally evaporating that, that, whatever it was. Mirage sighed.
"It's as I thought."
"... You don't remember a thing, do you?" Cliff asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"Wait-another one's coming!" Nel pointed. There was a brief pause, then Cliff smiled.
"Cliff!" Mirage turned to him.
"Yep, it's them. Finally."
The Diplo had arrived at the scene and had engaged the Vendeeni in battle. They exchanged fires until the Vendeeni was finally driven back. But the Quark's flagship had also suffered damage, and was limping away. Then a voice spoke from Mirage's communicator.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." A female voice said.
"Hey, took you long enough." Cliff replied, then Maria materialized in front of them.
"Sorry."
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Once introductions, and a few not-so-satisfactory explanation to the Queen and Nel ("We have a lot of catching up to do, but I promise to explain the best I can later."), were out of the way and done with, Fayt, Maria, and others headed down to the conference room. Shuyin had gone up to the audience chamber after seeing the smoldering Vendeeni ship. Still slightly confused as to what had just happened, he was heading towards the conference room, where he was told the others had gone to.
Inside the room, Fayt was being barraged with more unpleasant news. Cliff and Maria were saying stuff about 'his powers manifesting', 'his destructive capabilities were far greater than Maria's', and other things that made no sense what-so-ever to him. He was extremely distressed upon hearing that Sophia had been captured by the Vendeeni along with his father. What was even more shocking, was the fact that he and Maria were a trpe of living weapons, created by his own father. They had been 'guinea pigs' as Maria called it, of Professor Leingod's experiment, which she sould never forgive him for. Although still having a hard time believing this (even though Maria demonstrated her powers by doing something to a vase, which didn't break even when shot by her gun.), he was all in when it came to rescuing his father and Sophia, which was what Maria was planning on, although to question Professor Leingod, in her case.
Cliff then opened the door, from which Nel, who had obviosly been listening in, blackflipped away from. Maria didn't mind, so Nel joined in on the discussion. Maria's biggest concern was leaving the planet. The whole evacuation procedure will take at least five minnutes, during which the Vendeeni was more than capable of blasting her shuttle to smithereens. They needed some kind of distraction from the ground, long enough for them to make their escape. Cliff suggested the weapon Dion was working on, the Thunder Arrow, the most powerful of Aquaria's runological weapons. Nel thought for a moment, then decided that it would be okay to lend them the weapon, and led the group towards the audience chamber yet again.
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Shuyin was getting a little pissed off now. He had just arrived in the conference room, found it empty, then asked a nearby soldier if he had seen where the people who were here recently had gone to. To the audience chamber, which he had left in order to get here, and now had to go back to. He thought about staying here, perhaps they would come back this way again. Then again, that seemed rather unlikely, so he sighed and began retracing his steps back to the audience chamber.
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In the audience chamber, while asking for permission to borrow the Thunder Arrow, the Queen received an urgent report that the Shrine of Kaddan, which housed the Sacred Orb, was under attack by the Vendeeni. Fayt and Co. quickly set out and managed to relinquish the Vendeeni grasp on the Orb. It turned out to be an OPA, an out of place object, for it possessed power far beyond what should've been possible in this world. Although this did explain how the Aquarians managed to pull of things such as the Thunfer Arrow in the first place. They then headed back to the audience chamber to report that the orb was safe.
The Queen decided that the Thunfer Arrow should be lent to Fayt. She also decided that in order to solve the range problem, for there was no way to attack something so high up in the air while from the ground, they would have to cooperate with Airyglyph, them and their air dragons. Nel and Cliff were to deliver her letter to King Arzei of Airyglyph, while Mirage helped Elena finish the Thunder Arrow. Maria and Fayt were to standby until the messengers returned. Once everyone set off for their tasks, Maria led Fayt outside the castle, to a balcony overlooking the castle grounds. Fayt asked her when she discovered her power, and she told him about her past, beginning from the Aldian attack on her home of Federation Station #17, to when she had triggered her powers to turn a simple quantum torpedo into a missle of destruction that wiped out the Federation's prize ship, the Invisible. When she was finished, she explained that she wanted to know why Fayt's father had performed an illegal experiment on them. In order to ask him directly, she wanted to rescue him, with Fayt's help. Fayt agreed to this, though now that he thought back, that red-haired person who led her away from the Aldians and somehow got her to the Quarks sounded rather familiar. Speaking of red hair, where in the world was Shuyin?
Suddenly, they heard the door open behind them and turned to look around, and saw a figure clad in dark-blue cape staring back at them.
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Shuyin was now really going nuts. When he had returned to the chamber, they told him that Fayt and the others were at the Shrine of Kaddan, attempting to save the Sacred Orb from the Vendeeni. After getting there, however, it turned out that the group had already left for the castle again. He had just journeyed back from the accursed Shrine, when he found out that nearly everyone had left to take care of their duties (Drake and Rena were STILL knocked out). Still, he learned that two of them had remained behind, and were last seen heading to the balcony. He sighed, finally his search for them, which he had to admit that he should've stayed at the darn conference room, was over. He opened the door and found two people sitting there, one was Fayt Leingod, and the other one was a newcomer. They turned back and looked at him. As he looked at her, he had the feeling that somehow that face was reeeaaalllyyy familiar.
"Oh, Shuyin there you are. Where were you? Anyway, this is Maria, the leader of the Quarks, she'll be joining us from now on."
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Maria couldn't believe it. The man standing before them, had Fayt really called him what she think he called him? It couldn't be... him. Then again, peering at his profile again, there could be no mistake. That hair, those eyes, that cape, the lance, everything was just the way they were 7 years ago (Well, the cape was more ragged and battered). She got up slowly, then began slowly walking towards the man before her, looking completely stunned.
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'Maria, he said' Shuyin thought. 'Is it really her?'
He remained still as the girl began moving towards him, looking stunned as he was.
"...Maria?" He said quietly.
She suddenly leapt into his arms, burying her face in his chest, tears welling up. Surprised at this sudden action, he slowly put his arms around her, patting her lightly.
"Why? Why did you leave me? I thought I'd never see you again..." She choked.
"...Sorry, but I had no choice..." He whispered.
Fayt stood there completely at lost, until he realized that Maria's description of that Red-haired man fit Shuyin exactly. Deciding that he should let them be alone for awhile, he went inside, then suddenly had a question popping into his head 'Wait... She said a young man had helped her 7 years ago... Shuyin doesn't look any older than I am, but she said he was probably around 16 or so back then. He definitely doesn't look like he's in his 20s to me!' He shrugged and waited inside.
The two stood there for a while, then sat down, Maria still clinging to Shuyin. It took a little more time until she calmed down a bit.
"I didn't expect to see you here..." Maria said quietly, looking up at him.
"Well... I was expecting you, after what Cliff told me." He smiled down at her, "You grew."
"...But you haven't changed at all."
"Hehe, not the first time I heard that since coming to this planet." Shuyin chuckled. Maria pulled something out of her shirt, a locket, the one he had given her so long ago.
"Remember this?"
"...How can I not? Although I didn't expect you to be still carrying it."
Maria smiled and leaned on him again. She had wished for this the last 7 years. Finally, she had found him again. He wrapped his arms around her, and she fell into a light sleep...