Written by Mikaa
Chapter 2 - The General's Sister?
A/N - In what has to be my trillionth time ever since I began writing and posting works online, let me state that I DO NOT OWN THE SOURCES OF THE PRODUCT THAT I AM BASING THIS FIC ON. IN OTHER WORDS, I DO NOT OWN NINTENDO, GOLDEN SUN, CAMELOT, OR A CART OF THE FIRST GOLDEN SUN.
That's right, I no longer have GS1. Why? It's called having to clean my room for a pending move, and crunching the cart under your heel. Why could I not have crushed Mario Bros. 3 or DKC GBC? (goes to cry)
(sob) On a happier note, The Hunted seems to be generating some positive feedback, which is always nice. Though, most of the reviews of my other works were positive. I guess it is a good thing that I'm back to normal, as some of the later reviews for Insanity were quite... amusing. No, that's not the word. I lack the right choice for my feelings, but I have to say, even I found myself suprised at that ending.
And since several people were wondering what I was on/thinking when I wrote Insanity, let me be blunt: I was off my meds, and I was kicking around the idea of an insane character plot (read Insanity to see the Behind the Scenes for more depth) where at least one person died and torture took place. That, and maybe I read one too many Japanese fan comics that were a wee bit more sadistic than their English counterparts.
In short, I was nuts.
SO! The Hunted! And I still wonder why I choose THAT for the title, given that the mere word "Hunted" implies giving chase with intent to do harm to another. At least, that is the common thought on it. Also, Igori (the new OC that I came up with on a spurr of the moment and developed with even a crude sketch by yours truly), contrary to what might be implied and stated over and over, is NOT an old man; he is, in actuality, closer to Isaac or Felix's age than someone like Kraden. His appearance (not to mention his breathing issues), as stated in the last chapter, are the result of an attack by Sheba (read the chapter). My theory on why that is comes from the fact that I was watching too much Revenge of the Sith, loved the wheezing that Greivous kept making, and the Emperor's visage being disfigured and warped by an electrical attack (or his use of the Dark Side, take your pick, Warsies...).
So, in short, Igori has more depth than most ususal OCs that I have come up with, and will not be swept under the rug too soon.
Wow. It just dawned on me how much I was rambling here and how much I wrote; maybe it is time that I get to the fic, no? After all, I now have people expecting updates rather frequently, after the rapid completion of Insanity (when was the last time I updated three chapters in two days?).
Now, to the Hunted 2 - The General's Sister?
Whiping a bit of drool from his last coughing fit, Igori winced at the haggard skin practically hanging from his cheek. Damn that Sheba, damn that resistance group, and damn the General for doing whatever it was that Sheba claimed that caused her to start her attacks in the first place. Being twentyish, Igori should have been a proud warrior, with a sucessful record and a few wenches in his bed. But no, Sheba had warped his appearance, and he was selected to bring in the (in)famous Isaac and his mate Jenna, and to help Zial bring in two others, Felix and Mia, if memory served.
Memory served. He looked ancient, he felt ancient, he coughed like an old man on his death bed, and what did he have to show he was young? His mind. That was all he really had anymore, his young, intelligent mind. Thankfully, his mind was still intact, and he was mroe than capable of summoning vast ammounts of psynergy, should the situation warrant it.
Fortunately, walking with Jenna and Isaac had been one where he did not need to reveal his abilities, and they merely assumed he was some common errand boy. Elements, they even referred to him as a private servant to the General or Emperor, and speculated as to whether they saw him before or not.
Igori pulled his Elixer out again, ignoring the fact that it was nearing the end of its supply, laughing privately to himself. In truth, he had witnessed Isaac's first few battles, and though he had admired the Venusian then, like virtually all members of the Tolbibib armies (both Elite and Masters), cursed his name, his children, his bride, his parents, and his blood. Too many people, on both sides of the army, had lost friends and loved ones all because of Isaac's entry in the fights. True, it was really the previous ruler who was responsible for that choice, but even those few who defended Isaac's name knew the bad blood would last for years.
Which, of course, was why he and his friends were being brought to the Emperor in the first place.
"What is that you are drinking, Igori?"
Turning his head slightly, Igori met Isaac's blue eyes, puzzled at the genuine curiosity in them. They really had no clue, did they? Why did they not listen to their towering oaf of a friend when he said that this was a trap? Shrugging, he answered: "It helps with my breathing; it heals my throat's scarring and lets me breath more easily."
"Your throat?" asked Jenna, "What happened?"
Igori was tempted to tell them the truth, but thought the better of it; why tell them of the resistance movement and make them rethink their choice to visit the Empire? But a little bending would not hurt, assuming he told it well; his sudden coughing fit did not hurt the effect. "I was in an accident and attacked by a Jupitarian. She fried me a little, and scarred my lungs and throat rather well."
Igori saw Isaac exchange a glance with Jenna, who moved to adjust her pack as she spoke. "Just what did you DO?"
They thought he started the whole thing? Well, it did make sense; to them, he was an old man, and old men were typically assumed to be "dirty." Figures; who ever gave them the idea that all old men were like that? "I did nothing. No, I take," a wheeze, "I take that back. I was in the wrong pace at the right time." Another wheeze. "She was fighting with another soldier," he said, phrasing it so that he was not exactly lying, just hiding a few facts, "and I just happened to be a target of her attack when the guards tried to restrain her."
"Uh huh." Igori turned to face Jenna, noting signs of doubt in her eyes.
"So tell me, Ms. Jenna, just what makes you thinkACK," a brief coughing fit, "sorry, what makes you think I am the guilty party, hmm? Is it because I am an old man, that I had to be attacking her? No, that can't be what you think; I must have been forcing her, no? Young people!" He coughed, actually him laughing. Her face at his outburst was priceless, her cheeks almost as red as her hair, and probably more embarrassed than her features revealed.
Isaac's face was not so revealing, though he obviously had some knowlege as to why Jenna spoke so, "Sorry. We once knew an old man that was... quite odd."
Igori raised an eyebrow at that, or at least where an eyebrow would have been; the attack had singed them off. "So that justifies attacking me so? I am no fool, Isaac, and I would trust that your wife would keep her thoughts more guarded than she has; if she spoke like that to the Emperor..." His voice trailed off in a painful moan, forcing him to drink from the flask again. Cursing at its emptiness, he shoved it into a side pouch and reached for another from beneath his cloak. After sipping the soothing fluid, he put it back, waving off Isaac's attempts to reply. "Don't worry about, seriously. I'm not really offended, just shocked that someone so pretty would assume that so fast."
It was almost too much, their faces at THAT response. He could almost read their thoughts: he really IS a dirty old man? What are we doing, following him? Jenna's face was one of pure horror, and she made her way (slowly, trying to be subtle and failing royally at it) to Isaac's side. Igori would have lauged himself to death, if he was not busy trying to identify a small object ahead.
As they continued walking, Isaac and Jenna's arms around each others waist, Igori squinted at the objects ahead, appearing to be three travelers, or something similar. Monsters they were not, and a good thing! It would be too tempting to show off his abilities against some of the local vermin around here, espeically if they were as annoying as those jackels in southern Gondowan.
Slowly nearing the three figures, Igori began to make out some details: one was wearing a brown shirt and pants, with a green cloak flowing behind him. And if Igori's eyes were right, he (assuming it was a guy, given what Igori saw) had a ponytail. Another had purple hair, cut short at the base of her neck, wearing a dirt green shade of traveling robes. Zial, that had to be her; purple hair was such a rare trait in the Empire. The third had flowing blue hair, cloaked in blue robes, with a face so pale...
Igori blinked. Surely he saw wrong; gently shaking his head, he wheezed as he strained to see the girl as best as he could. The same blue hair, the same robes, and the same pale face... Could the General have a sister? Was that possible?
Closing in, he noted Zial's conversation with her guests, wondering what kind of chat she was having with them. At least she was an attractive young woman (and a skilled Master, one who did not (and really could not) hide her talents well) in comparison to his old man appearance. Quite the odd duo for this mission, and sure to not help Igori after that nice chat a minute ago.
Wheezing hard enough to force a cough, Igori waved. "Zial! Zi Pach De Vinotoa!" He ignored the bizzare stares that Isaac and Jenna gave him, not caring that they were puzzled by the wierd words. Assuming that they were real words; the General had comissioned a random scholar to come up with a set of code phrases to allow communications that would (and barely could) be understood by soldiers.
"Igari!" Zial spoke, mispronouncing his name as she tended to do when in good humor; a good sign. "Zo Puzn Vi Danutul!"
All is well and good to go. Thank Elements, Igori mused, staring at the closing figures. Yes, that was definately Felix walking in the brown outfit with green cloak, there was no mistaking his face from the old wanted posters in the archives (though for WHAT, Igori never cared to know). And that meant that the other had to be Mia...right? Igori looked her over, amazed at what he saw. If Jenna was an angel, Mia was a goddess, and her beauty only reinforced the thought that she might be related to the General. Why did they not mention this?
In any case, now they needed to head to their chartered caravan, which would be a few miles south. The end of this mission was nearing, and Igori privately wondered why he felt a ping of sadness at finishing it. Not that it really mattered; his reward would be worth the effort, so the Emperor claimed. Maybe he would be allowed to lead a team to catch Sheba and repay her for his scarring. Or maybe he would be given command of the task to find Lemuria. Either way, he would win.
Yes, Igori mused, staring at the apparent reunion before him as Felix and Mia embraced and chatted with Isaac and Jenna, a touching moment. It would be worth it.
Hopefully.
End of Chapter 2
A bit more of the same of last chapter (building on details, adding background, and a wee bit of humor (c'mon, admit it - the old man parts were funny, no?), bringing in Felix and Mia (don't complain: was almost Mia and IVAN), and introducing a new OC, Zial), but I think it worked. Better than most chapters that I have written. At least now I am free to begin working on meeting the Emperor and General, and once that is done, have some free time to play Animal Crossing DS. Because, well, I have to get some bells to pay off Nook and have enough left over for the Flea Market this Saturday.
Don't scoff: play it and then tell me it is not fun.
Er, anyway. Feel free to voice your thoughts in the review section; I welcome feedback!
Mikaa, Lord of the Onion