Listen to your soul - Never forget your personality - Battle for Freedom - Nightmares and Failures lay ahead - Rejoice! Myths is still in the air - The fighting is not over - Gain your confidence - Challenge your rival - A better day lays ahead - Survive for your time is yet to come - A war would erupt - All for a rear item - Destruction... Corruption... Chaos... Betrayal... Death all lay in your path - Excel in your abilities - No one stops you - Stars of Twinkle
The Age of Meric
Episode 7: "Submerged Ship"
ONE WEEK LATER...
Śohoob was sitting in his chair, in his private balcony. He had his tracker uniform on. He had his left arm on the wall and supporting his chin. It was night time with the moonlight touching his face, like so far back. Once getting back to Twinkle Garden, a major celebration happened where Rebel Night and Trackers were formally and officially welcomed back. Śohoob and Karen welcomed each other in an appropriate way. From then on, Śohoob had no doubt in his love for Karen.
After the celebration, Trackers and Twinkler Elite units retired to their private rooms, exhausted. Rebel Night headed back to Starville. Śohoob had no idea of what happened with Laguna and his party there but he was sure that Rebel Night and the town celebrated their return, all night perhaps. Before he left, he made an alliance with Trackers: Śohoob himself; Nasran; Roy and the newest member, Mora. They were best, close friends from now on.
Śohoob did have that talk with Squall after the others retired to their rooms. Śohoob stubbornly won against Squall in Śohoob's own private room. Squall was by himself and he eventually gave in to him and his decisions.
"You passed being an apprentice and now you're a master. The decisions you make would be your own. A leader, worthy you is being of."
Śohoob remembered Squall's comment back then.
"Supporters and followers you have started to gain and sooner or later, you'll get an apprentice."
Śohoob didn't doubt that. With Squall admitting it, that meant that he highly respected Śohoob and his skills and leadership of his own team and party. Śohoob and Karen got closer to each other, with Squall's and Rinoa's delight. Nasran and Mora had become close has had he and Karen. It was a peaceful, eventful week indeed. Śohoob sighed, staring down at his emerald necklace. Mora was allowed to become Twinkle Elite material, Mora accepted it.
There were units that wanted her but Mora decided to stay with Trackers. Trackers, all of them, were promoted to Twinkler Elite Eclipse, the highest rank in Twinkler Elite. Mora wasn't amongst them. What proved the promotion were the symbols carved onto Trackers' weapons. They were all given Twinkler Elite rings, emerald with Twinkle garden symbol engraved in it. To add to the promotion were symbols of Twinkle Garden's finest on their dark green leather coats.
Śohoob; Nasran and Roy were all honored to have such things with such a high position. Trackers they were to stay. Those expected to become Twinkler Elite did become Twinkler Elite, amongst them was Karen and her party. Galbadia didn't attack again. Trackers battled each other in the Training Center in training. Nasran against Śohoob and Mora against Roy. Śohoob added no other members, yet.
The next morning Śohoob stretched out on his bed. He had his leather coat; necklaces; bracelets; belt and shoes either on hooks in his room or under his bed. Śohoob put his hands behind head, letting the sunshine touch his face as he stared at the ceiling. Roy and Nasran rushed into his room fully dressed in their party's clothes. Śohoob turned his head towards them. Both Roy and Nasran were smiling, as they walked over to his bed.
"What's up?"
"We're to head towards Esthar in a few hours."
"Who's coming?"
"Us; Squall; Rinoa and Rebel Night, minus Laguna."
"What about Karen?"
"No. Squall wants her to stay back for protection."
"That's outrageous! Karen is Twinkler Elite material and she can handle herself! She and her party are coming with us! I'll have to talk with Squall... Um? Where is he?"
"In the training center alone."
Śohoob got out of his bed and put his leather coat; necklaces; bracelets; belt and shoes on. Roy and Nasran waited for Śohoob, as Śohoob closed his room's door behind him, leaving it unlocked.
Śohoob reached the training center and went into it. It was identical to Balamb's. Śohoob slowly unsheathed his sword, walking through the center. Fatefully, no being challenged him. Śohoob was relived for a moment, but suddenly went into battle. When one is in battle, others don't see him or her, the same goes for Śohoob not seeing Squall.
Śohoob realized that he had unintentionally entered a battle, beside Squall to his right. Squall's opponent was a Grat. Easy.
"What are you doing here?"
"You just started?"
"Apparently."
"We'll talk once we're done with this opponent."
"Very well."
The first turn was Grat's. He attacked Śohoob, but missed. Next was Śohoob's turn.
"Take it out quickly."
"You got it."
Śohoob summoned Soul-Warrior 5. Squall and Śohoob vanished and the battleground changed.
Lightning Cape
310 left Grat and the battleground turned to normal, with Squall and Śohoob reappearing. Grat vanished, defeated. Both Squall and Śohoob did their victory dances.
Squall sheathed his gunblade with Śohoob. He turned and faced Śohoob.
"What is it that you wanted to talk about?"
"About Kar."
Squall blinked.
"What about her?"
"Roy and Nasran told me about Esthar. Why isn't she coming along! She's a capable warrior and Twinkle Elite member."
Squall sighed and lowered his head. Before he could reply though, a T-Rexaur challenged the duo. Mentor and apprentice unsheathed their blades and entered the battle prepared. Squall was distracted by thinking of his daughter and of what Śohoob just reminded him.
'Maybe I made a mistake.'
The first turn was Squall's. At first he didn't attack, but regained reality rather quickly.
Blizzard
75 left the T-Rexaur and it was its turn now.
Meteor
Śohoob moaned and Squall sweat-dropped. T-Rexaur disappeared from sight and the battleground changed. Śohoob stubbornly defied the rules of the battle and evaded every meteor, with Squall doing the same, but not as successful as Śohoob. The attack was done and the battleground turned to normal, with T-Rexaur appearing. 250 left Squall, but Śohoob was unharmed. T-Rexaur roared. It was Śohoob's turn and he won't be easy.
'Like the summon that spelled BGH251F2's doom.'
Śohoob summoned Soul-Warrior 5. Squall and Śohoob vanished and the battleground changed.
Lightning Cape
T-Rexaur was unharmed, but shrunken. The battleground turned to normal and Squall and Śohoob reappeared. Squall raised his eyebrow.
"Quiet interesting."
"Your turn. Finish it off... master."
Squall grinned.
Lionheart
And that did it. The T-Rexaur fell backwards and vanished. Squall and Śohoob did their victory dances.
Squall and Śohoob sheathed their blades and turned to each other. Squall used a cure on himself, bringing himself back to his full HP.
"Besides, you and your wife are going, why can't she go? Her boyfriend and parents are going and she'd be left behind."
Squall put his hand in Śohoob's face, motioning him to stop speaking. He turned his head away, his choice made.
"I've made my decision and I'm not going to change. Care to come along with me to her room?"
Śohoob blinked and nodded.
'What was that all about?'
Squall and Śohoob stopped at Karen's private room. Squall knocked but there was no answer.
"She's not in there."
Squall turned to Śohoob. He was about to reply but thought better of it, knowing that with sweethearts, there was some kind of unknown sense or communication, other than love. Squall only nodded.
"Then where is she?"
Śohoob closed his eyes and focused for a few moments, trying to locate Karen, within the range of the entire garden. This new ability just came to him and yet it seemed so familiar. He was surprised to have mastered it so soon. After a few short moments Śohoob opened up his eyes.
"In the cafeteria."
Squall nodded and took the lead. Śohoob followed him.
Śohoob held back at the entrance of the cafeteria, leaving Squall to talk with Karen. Karen was there having a drink at the counter and Squall went over to her, taking a seat next to her. Śohoob didn't know how he could do it, but he increased his hearing capability so that it would only be on Squall and Karen and high enough to hear them whisper. Karen sensed Squall, but didn't look up.
"What is it now dad? Come to insult me with my relationship with Śohoob?"
Squall chuckled and turned his head around.
"Not at all."
"What is it then? The last time you talked with me was when you mentioned Esthar and that I couldn't come."
"Matters have changed."
"How so?"
"I've talked with Śohoob."
"Really?"
"I've changed my mind. Śohoob reminded me of some stuff about you and I figured out that he's correct. I'll leave him to watch over your back. Prepare yourself; we're leaving soon."
Śohoob mentally danced. Karen smiled.
"Thanks daddy!"
Squall chocked and stared quizzically at Karen, but Karen got up and left. While passing by Śohoob, she smiled and winked at him. Śohoob chuckled to himself, not caring to stare back. He just held his position, staring at Squall and waiting for him. He remembered something he had to do. Esthar would have to wait and he was taking Trackers and Karen's party with him. Once Squall was passing by Śohoob, Śohoob stopped him.
"Listen, there's some stuff I need to attend to with my party before my party heads out to Esthar. Karen's party is coming with me."
Squall shrugged.
"Fine with me. We'll be waiting for you."
Śohoob nodded and let Squall leave. Once out of the cafeteria, Śohoob and Squall took different directions.
Śohoob headed back to his private room. Nasran and Roy were there waiting for him. Śohoob closed the door behind him.
"Listen guys, there is submerged alien spaceship in the ocean and we're going down to get it."
"What about Esthar?"
"We'll meet up with Squall and the others there. He didn't mind."
"How distant is this submerged alien spaceship?"
"A few yards off the coast of Twinkle."
"How are we going down?"
"I rented a van and its outside with diving gears in it."
"Let's get going then."
"Karen's party is coming with us, along with Mora."
"I'll go tell Karen and her party."
"I'll go inform Mora."
"I'll be waiting outside the garden. It's to the west of the garden."
Nasran closed the door behind him. Śohoob sighed and left his room, locking the door behind him.
Śohoob didn't have to wait long, being in the van's driver's seat. The back of the van was open and Śohoob's party went into it: Nasran; Roy and Mora, all three in their full combat gear. Blenda and Heather followed them, both also in their full combat gear. Karen closed the van's rear door and joined Śohoob in the front. She buckled herself up in the passenger seat and with his ID necklace; Śohoob drove off to the coast.
He stopped a few yards outside of Twinkle Town and he took his ID necklace out and left the van with Karen. Both went back and opened the door. All five bailing out.
"How are we going to wear the diving gear?"
"I made sure that I got three suits for men and four for women. Besides, I made sure that we could wear them above our combat gear."
"We have a bright captain."
"That way we won't have to strip nude out in the open. Everyone get their gear on."
Śohoob pointed out the diving gear for every Twinkler Elite and which gear was for whom. Śohoob took his own gear and was the first to finish putting it on.
"Once you're done putting on your gear, dive to a cave. Jump into the water from where I jump."
The six persons nodded and Śohoob went to the bank and dived into the ocean. The others soon followed once their gear was tight and secured.
Śohoob blinked, diving into the cave. Through the cave and he stopped, staring at the alien ship below him. It was a Polaron ship, Striker type. Śohoob continued downwards and found a hatch, with his companions not far behind. Śohoob opened it up with his thumb and dived through, followed by the others. Śohoob waited for them all to enter. He closed the hatch behind him and the water automatically drained out of the ship.
Śohoob walked into the next room, followed by the others and the gate shut behind them. They all took off their diving gear and took their time in looking around at the ship's interior. Śohoob didn't waste a moment though and headed towards the pilot's den. Karen followed him. Śohoob had been in the ship once before and was in awe then, he explored all the ship and so knew where to go.
Śohoob quickly started the striker and had it cloak.
"Buckle up everyone; this is going to be a momentarily rough ride."
Śohoob buckled up and behind him, Karen buckled up. Back in the cargo bay, Roy; Nasran; Mora; Heather and Blenda strayed into the passenger section and took their seats, buckling up.
"You know Śohoob; you should add me and my party into your Trackers. That way we'll go where you'll go. At least we'd have an independent identity. I talked with Blenda and Heather and they agreed with me. We're all fine with you being the captain."
"I'll give you my answer once we're in Esthar. I promise you."
With that, the Striker blasted out of the ocean. Being cloaked helped as it didn't crush through anything. Śohoob landed the striker beside the van and had Roy fetch the van into the cargo bay. Once done, Śohoob took off again, heading towards Esthar, flying low and uncloaked.