Last Train to Claiborne

Once the team had finished talking to Halle, they headed towards Midland Station. As they approached the platform, Jessica suddenly stopped short. "Wait a minute! We need a name if we're to be a gang. My two friends and I used to call ourselves Doria's Pride when we were children. And that was just for wandering around town and pretending to be Drifters. Now we've all found the real deal."

"Let's examine our powers," Vincent suggested, "I have a pistol. It's the only thing that my adoptive uncle left me before he died. He had gone out to the store to buy it for me as a fifteenth birthday present. But on the way home he was shot by a drunkard coming out of the saloon. The ARM had been already wrapped so the police didn't jump to conclusions about why he was shot. What do you all have?"

"Well, my rifle is a high powered attack weapon I used for defending the family from monsters. Being a large woman I had to fight alongside my father and brother. However, I eventually got bored of waiting around for monsters to come and being treated like just another ARMs user. So I ran away from home to find my freedom. My life sure has become much better since leaving that shack," Laura stated.

Lyla said, "When not using magic I have a staff. Nothing much to it. I can cast the spells of the Water, Earth, and Light Guardians. So, Jessica, as our leader you should pick the name from our info."

Jessica blushed. "Leader, me? Well, if no one objects…" The silence of her friends told her all she needed to know. "Then I accept. My powers are of the Dorian art of Crest Sorcery, the manipulation of the elements, and the many swords in my collection. Dragonflare is the one I use the most though. As I was born under Moor Gault's banner, my powers of fire and metal manipulation are the highest. Since we are a combo of magic and weapons, I suggest the Blazing Guns. Blaze for my fire, Guns for the two fighters. Now what can I add in to fit Lyla? Since she used the opposite spectrum from the Blaze…"

"Don't worry too much about me," Lyla informed her friend, "It isn't important. Blaze can also be used to emphasize the energy and determination of our little gang. Now let's board the train before it leaves the station. I certainly would like to see the stone that Halle spoke of. It must be quite a sight."

S...S

The team was sitting in their compartment as they awaited their arrival at East Highland. Lyla was talking to Jessica about magic and the Guardians; they were trying to figure out just how similar the Baskar and Dorian cultures were in regards to their religious values. Laura had gone to find the man who sold food and drink on the train earlier, and came back with some beer. She was currently drinking it all down and timing herself to see if she could break her own record for chugging. It made the others sigh.

Vincent, however, was off to the side of the car. He had his pistol out and was practicing his stance. Something was making him jittery. All of a sudden, he fell to the floor and began to scream out in pain. Lyla was the first to notice and ran over to help him. She brought him in her arms and cradled the youth. His body was shaking and felt terribly cold. The young Baskar could tell that there was a problem.

"Get out of my head you monster! Please, don't hurt me again. Give me back my mother! I want to see my mother!" the boy was screaming. Jessica looked at him; hard lines forming around her angry brows. It appeared as if someone was attacking him through the mind. Someone who could do that must have extraordinary powers. Or else they had implanted something into him to cause such a reaction at the right time. She began sensing around for some sort of link that could connect Vincent to his attacker.

At once, her eyes fell upon a small bracelet that was wrapped around his wrist. The girl yelled, "There it is! Hold still Vincy boy, I'm cutting you loose." Jessica unsheathed Dragonflare and slashed down on the offending piece of jewelry. At once, she could see Vincent begin to overcome the feeling.

He looked up at the two girls. "Thanks Jessica; you're a real lifesaver. And thank you for trying to comfort me Lyla. But where was Laura in all of this?" He turned to find her lying on the bench of the train car; quite drunk if I might add. The entire team began to sweatdrop. "Well, now I know where Laura was. By the Guardians, she is sure flaky. However, she's still quite powerful and will help us out a lot."

"What happened?" Lyla asked him, "You were screaming about your mother. Did the man who kidnapped you do something to her as well?" She looked quite concerned. It was definitely more than a normal spell that had hurt the youth. In fact, if her sensations had been correct, it was that of a Demon.

"The bracelet is something I've had since I was a child. I was always told it was something my father brought for me after I was adopted. You see, his original reason for why he took me in was that he found me abandoned on the road. But since he was busy with some project, I lived with my uncle. Ten years ago my foster father vanished off the map entirely; never visiting us. When Uncle died three years ago, I went to find him. My skills with pistols had been honed for a long time since my uncle had learned from his best friend's older brother. Recently though I located the man I called father," Vincent said.

F...F

Vincent was walking near the village of Baskar while on his journey. His idea had been to get a priest to delve into the location of his beloved foster father. Suddenly, he heard a voice tell someone else, "You do realize that time is of the essence. I have chosen this place for our strategy meeting so we don't disturb Melody or Malik while they are working to delve into the location of the other Guardian Shrines. The only clue we have is that ruin near Little Twister. Melody has found though that it is difficult to get through. She has planted a trap for unsuspecting Drifters inside in order to kill off many who might find the needed items for our plan before us. Once someone manages to make it to the inner rooms, you will be waiting to eliminate them. Then, all who oppose us will be gone and we can complete our great plan."

"You've got a deal," another voice replied, "Don't worry, you can trust me. I'll get the job done."

Vincent looked around the corner. There, to his delight, stood his father. He looked the same as always with his long black hair and brown eyes. The only difference was that his face was a blue shade; the boy thought he could have been splashed with chemicals at work. He had on ornate robes. To the youth's surprise, the man he was speaking with was the famous and notorious Drifter, Janus Cascade.

"Father! I've finally found you," called out Vincent; blissfully unaware that this was not a good time to approach him. The deal he was making both looked and sounded really shady. But the young man didn't care. His quest was finally over. At long last, he would be reunited with the father he loved.

Teefa's Last Words...

Does seem half done, does it? But I thought showing you what happened at the encounter in the next chapter would give it an air of suspense. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh…blissful naivety. If only attitudes were hereditary. Yes, I know the title of this chapter is cheesy. But I really wanted to name one "Last Train to Some Town". Parody of the song title "Last Train to Clarksville". However, they were already by Baskar and Claiborne is the only other one word town with a train station near by.