Chapter 19

By: Zosocrowe

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Ocean: Till the End of Time

I have merely borrowed a couple characters to create

a silly fan story. I have no money either.

1/06

It had begun to rain when Albel and Nel exited the inn's tavern and made their way down the short walkway that led to their rooms. The main part of the inn was not connected to the bar, as the city of Mota was fairly large and things could get rather noisy on a busy night. In order to spare their customers some grief, the Ready Red had separated the tavern from the sleeping quarters by a circular courtyard.

Albel glanced at Nel, who was uncharacteristically quiet--especially after listening to his suspicions. The woman was frowning at the small pendant in her hand, given to her by the peasant, Rusia, at some point in their journey. Its twin was still in the possession of the Rusia, or her son Leylan, though Albel wasn't certain which. The stone was odd, as if it really didn't have a color of its own, and if looked at hard enough, it seemed to glow with a pale, pale light. He'd never seen anything like it, but he sensed some sort of power coming from it.

Good or evil, he wasn't sure.

"They haven't tried to hurt us," Nel said. "Not personally, anyway." She looked sad, even through the shadows of the night.

Albel mustered a shrug, and looked away. Zelpher's mood was making him uncomfortable--and that bothered him almost as much as the pendant. "You trust people too easily," he grumbled. "I told you those two were suspicious, didn't I?"

"Hmm," Nel said, turning the stone over in her hand.

Albel stopped walking, staring at the woman as she continued forward. What? No argument? No nasty exchange? Not even a dirty look? "Are you even listening to me?" he said suddenly, his brows forming a sharp V.

Nel kept walking, turning the pendant over and over again in her hand.

Was she ignoring him? Or was she just enamored with that stupid piece of rock? For a moment he grew furious, but it was a thread of worry that moved him forward swiftly. Before either of them realized what was going on, he'd slapped the pendant from her hand and had her arm in a crushing grip. His clawed hand held her face, not gently, but carefully enough so she wasn't cut by the talons, and he forced her to look up at him. "What is the matter with you?" he growled, studying her eyes carefully for any sign of enchantment or spells.

Her face was full of surprise, for an instant, as she stood in his cold grasp. As her eyes stared at him, he could almost feel her really looking at him and his anger quickly vanished, leaving him with an overwhelming feeling of vulnerability. Frightened, he let her go and stepped away, but not before that open gaze turned furious.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Nel snarled, also jumping back. "You scared me to death!"

Her hot words struck a familiar chord and for that he was relieved. "What the hell are you doing? Walking around with your head in the clouds! Didn't you hear me talking to you?"

Nel blinked, then frowned. A look of embarrassment passed over her face. "I was thinking," she said. "You should try it sometime."

Albel snorted. "When you start thinking, it usually means trouble for me," he grumbled, running a hand through his tangled bangs. "I do hope you'll fill me in on whatever scheme you've come up with this time. That way I can decide if I wish to be involved or not."

Nel gave him a look and moved to where the pendant had fallen. She leaned over and picked it up, holding the stone between two fingers. She walked back to where he was standing and took his hand, turning it palm upward. The pendant fell into his and she gently closed his fingers shut. "Feel that?" Albel gave her a quizzical look, then looked down at his fist. It felt warm. Barely, but he could feel it. A localized heat against his skin, like the fading hotness after hot wax gets dribbled onto flesh.

He promptly dropped the thing into the dirt.

"What did you do that for?" Nel snapped, reaching to pick it up again.

Albel stopped her, unsheathing his sword and deftly using it to hoist the necklace into the air. "You don't know what it is," he said. "Who knows what evil it holds."

Nel shook her head. "Don't be stupid. There is something strange about it, but I don't think it's evil." Albel gave her a look and she sighed. "See, I was thinking back to Tup'ni--when I had that run in with those Bogles. Do you remember that?"

Albel raised a brow. "How could I forget," he replied. Nel's eyes widened and she looked away. "You nearly buried me under an entire mountain," he continued. The flush look on her face eased somewhat.

Albel hid a smirk. "And you saw me naked."

Red faced once more, Nel turned away, waving a hand. "A minute--and I mean minute--point. But anyway, I ended up in a cave. Ruins more like it. The walls were covered in these stones and water came from nowhere out of a basin. There were runes carved into the fall, and the faint hint of magic. It was all very bizarre, but someone or thing had hollowed out that mountain." She reached up over her head, almost on her tip toes, and touched the stone. "I think this is a piece of one of those crystals."

"That doesn't explain why the peasant maggot has two of these. Nor does it explain what they do. You said that woman told you they were talisman against evil. But they've done nothing to stop the demons from hunting us down. In fact, I've seen more demons in the past few weeks than I have in three years," he said. " I don't like that woman, or her son. They're up to something."

Albel and Nel stood staring at each other. The open courtyard was dark, the full moon overhead the only source of light. "I still don't believe they're dangerous," Nel finally said. Albel opened his mouth to argue, but Nel held up a finger. "But I do think we need to be cautious."

Albel shook his head in aggravation. "That's what I've been telling you all along, stupid woman."

"Shut up, Nox. You might choose to distrust everyone and everything, but that's not how I live my life. If I'd thought for a minute they could be harmful to us, I wouldn't have ever brought them along. I'm not an idiot, contrary to your beliefs. Perhaps Rusia and Leylan are up to something, but maybe it has nothing to do with us?"

He hadn't thought of that. No matter. "It does now, since you got us tangled up with them," he snapped back. He was getting sick of arguing. His headache was returning--pounding right between his ears like a bright read firebomb. "Fine, I'll take care of the problem right now," he barked, his voice loud enough to make Nel jump a bit in surprise.

He stalked around her, dropping his sword onto his shoulder. He'd end this once and for all. It didn't matter if tonight was the last night Rusia and Leylan would accompany them, if they were up to no good, in league with Romero or the Greetonite army, he'd find out. There was a reason he was called the Wicked.

"Nox? Hey, Albel! Stop," Nel was shouting, but he ignored her. If they did things her way, they'd all end up dead or in some dungeon somewhere. He'd seen enough dungeons and he really didn't feel like dying yet. His way would be concise and swift.

He heard a strange noise on the night air, but turned seconds too late. The bola was around his longs legs, cinching them together and spilling him onto the hard dirt path face first. He managed to hang onto his sword, but there was little left of his dignity. Fury balled itself into his stomach like a heavy stone. No more Mr. Nice Guy. He was going to kick her ass.

"Zelpher!" he shouted, struggling to right himself, but a weight on his the middle of his back knocked the wind out of him. Stunned he gasped for breath. Too heavy. Too heavy to be the Aquarian. The sounds of a muffled struggle reached his ears. The voices of women and the clang of steel on steel. Albel growled, baring his teeth against the attacker that held his head firmly in the dirt. Who was it? What the hell was going on?

A bright flash blinded him, even with his face against the ground. He heard Nel's shout of surprise and felt the surge of panic rush over his body. His mind didn't even register the strangeness of its origins. He couldn't move. Immobilized. Helpless. Useless. Tremors shook his body and a growl escaped his lips. The mantra in his mind took over, chanting, "Not again. Not again. Not again." His hand tightened around his sword.

"Easy big guy," a male voice said.

Albel felt a sharp prick in his neck and the shaking eased. His limbs went numb, but he could still feel the coldness of the pathway against his skin. He could still hear, but his ears were only registering the faint sounds of the evening. People were shouting, but they sounded so far away. Someone was picking him up, which struck him as odd. Zelpher was to small to carry him. He knew he was thin, but he was still tall. She'd never be able to drag him to safety. She should just leave him and get away. That would be okay. He wouldn't hate her…couldn't hate her…

Albel's head felt as if it had been stuffed with feathers and cotton. He couldn't lift it, though he tried. Stubbornly, there seemed to be a string tied from his chin to his bellybutton. Where ever he was, it was warm, though the air smelled musty--like a dungeon. Dammit. He stayed still, feigning the first signs of awakening just to get his bearings. His good arm was bound over his head with a heavy shackle, but the chain wasn't taught. That was curious. Courteous captors? Not likely, as his metal claw was gone and all that remained was the port at the base of his upper arm.

As the drug wore off, he became aware of the heavy warmth next to him. He opened his eyes, squinting as he tried to focus. After a few moments, he could make out Nel's slack face as she rested against his armpit. His head swung back to the center of his chest. Sweet Goddess--this was the dungeon of hell.

"I think big guy is coming to," said the male voice Albel recognized from before.

"He's not that big, Kefi," came a female reply. "Besides, use his name. It's not like you don't know it."

The one called Kefi laughed. "Well, I'm not sure what he'd want me to call him. Using his first name seems too familiar, and just his last name seems to abrupt."

"I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate being called 'big guy' by a man either," the female said, annoyance in her voice.

Kefi laughed again. "But he does look kinda girlie."

Albel bit his tongue and told himself to stay put. This Kefi character was on his 'list' though. Next to him, Nel stirred, making a sound between a mumble and a moan. His breath hitched, catching in his chest. He hated the noises she made when she woke up. They initiated responses from his body that he had no control over, even now, in a state of crisis. He hated not being in control. He detested these responses that suddenly seemed to be taking over is usually rational psyche.

This was all starting to seriously piss him off.

Nel moved again, and Albel watched from beneath the layers of hair as her face frowned. She'd wake up soon. Or maybe she was already awake? Zelpher was sneaky. It wouldn't surprise him if she was playing the same game he was. He gave her a hard look, then decided she really was out of it. Her breathing was irregular for normal sleep, which was probably an effect of the drugs.

What to do? What to do? They were both bound and shackled. However, Albel had enough chain to stand if he wanted to, which was a critical mistake. Not only that, his legs were not tied. Either their captors were stupid, or just didn't care. It really didn't matter at this point. He couldn't do anything until Zelpher awakened and he knew who they were dealing with.

"So did you get it back?" the woman asked.

"Yeah, I did. The…I mean, Nox, had it," Kefi replied.

"Nox did?"

"Yeah. It was on his sword when I took it back."

Albel frowned. On his sword? Took what back? They couldn't mean the Crimson Scourge. Those fools couldn't wield that weapon. Not if they wanted to live, anyway.

"Thank the Gods," the woman said. "I was concerned they'd thrown it away."

"You really shouldn't have given it to them in the first place. It is sacred, you know. The elders would be, and probably will be, angry if they find out about this."

"At the time, I really had no other choice, Kefi. We were in trouble," she snapped. "I'm sure the elders will understand."

"They never understand where the Graphidite is concerned, Rika," the man said, his voice weary. "We really botched this mission."

The woman shushed him viciously. "It wasn't a total loss. We gained valuable information. Once we return to Citobor we'll explain what's happened. The elders will have to listen to us."

"I hope you're right."

There was a long pause. "I hope so too."

Albel listened with interest. The words were clearer and his mind less cloudy, but it still didn't make any sense. Citobor? Wasn't that where they were going? And what was this Graphidite? He searched his memory for any recollection of a Kefi or Rika, but there was nothing. Their voices were oddly familiar, but not.

"What are we going to do with them?" Kefi asked.

"Leave them here."

Kefi sputtered. "Rika, you can't let them leave here to die of thirst and starvation. At least be merciful." There was the sound of a sword leaving its sheath and Albel stiffened.

"Who said we're going to kill them at all. Honestly Kefi, you've been around that Nox character far too long. Those two will get free if we leave them here. It might take them a few days, but they won't die."

Albel's brows arched. Merciful amateurs. They'd wish they'd killed him once he managed to get his hands on them. First lesson as a mercenary or solider was an enemy was an enemy was an enemy. And enemies were made to be disposed of.

"I suppose you're right. Those two seemed to have seen some hard times. Nox especially. He's as ruthless as they come. Gives me the chills. How does someone become that cold?" Kefi said.

There were the sounds of feet scuffing along the concrete floor. "They're from Gait. That continent has been at war for decades. I'm sure both Lady Nel and Lord Nox have seen many hardships. Not only that, Lord Nox seems to have messed himself up with the demon clan. I'm sure he's seen horrors we can't even begin to dream about."

"I dunno. Plum was pretty gruesome," Kefi said.

"It was necessary."

Albel's eyes snapped open. Plum? He looked up without thinking. Leylan and Rusia stood across from each other at a large wooden table. They both looked at him, their eyes widening in surprise.

"Lord Nox, you're awake," Rusia, or rather, Rika, said. She looked younger, perhaps Nel's age. Both had shed their peasants clothing for tight black suits and strange hip and thigh packs. Around their necks were the pendants, the stones glowing softly against the fire light.

Albel looked away, his eyes sweeping his prison. They were in a cave or tunnel of some sort. The walls were a pale brown and there were large chunks of crystal jutting out here and there. It looked as if most of it had been sawed off by some sort of crude mining technique. On the far wall there was a large circle cut from the stone. Inside were runes and symbols that he couldn't read.

"I knew you were trouble," he growled, his voice dry and raw from the tranquilizers.

Rika cocked a brow at him and walked closer. "Indeed, you're astute. Too astute. If it wasn't for the Lady Nel, you would have tossed us aside back in Plum."

Albel managed a chuckle. "You give me too much credit, wench. I would have killed you back in Plum." For a moment, Rika's face seemed to pale and Albel smirked. "You seem new at this."

The woman glared at him and stooped down. "Killing isn't how we get things done, Lord Nox. Not unless it's necessary."

"But it does make things a lot more interesting," Albel replied, enjoying the disgust that blossomed on Rika's face. "Do you know what we do with traitors in my country?"

Rika stood and took a step back. Leylan, aka Kefi, stepped up behind her and grasped her shoulders. "We aren't in your country," he said. "We're sparing your life. You should be grateful."

Albel leveled him with a look and Kefi pulled Rika back a step. "Don't make me laugh. We save you from that sadistic twit Avarice, get you through that hellish desert, and get you to where you need to, and this is how you repay us? By tying us up, stealing our weapons, and leaving us vulnerable? And you do realize we are on a tight schedule. This little game of yours is going to cost us valuable time. So forgive me if I say your gratitude reeks of manure." He decidedly left out the part about battling the Creator and saving the Universe. They weren't likely to buy that one.

Rika's face softened somewhat and she shook Kefi's hands away. "Lord Nox, you and Lady Nel know of war, do you not? If so, then you know that sacrifices must be made, even to ones own honor and dignity."

"I've seen nothing of war here, you impudent maggot," Albel snapped. "The people here are fat and feasting everyday. The cemeteries we passed were empty. With the exception of Plum, I have yet to see a field where crows and vultures feast on the bodies. You talk of war, but you know nothing of it."

Kefi stepped around Rika, his eyes glittering with anger. "It's you who doesn't understand! Our people are dying, pushed to the brink of extinction by the Greeton dictator and his merciless, wasteful ideals. We live in fear everyday. Hiding in the caves our ancestors carved, sneaking out by night to forage and steal food."

Albel stared at him, unsympathetic. "So you do know how to starve. That's a start."

"You…" Kefi raised his fist and Albel prepared himself for the blow. He was counting on it. This child was a pup with no teeth. A whiner and blind idiot. Just looking at him made Albel's blood begin to boil. All that talk of suffering. Of war. Of hiding.

"Kefi, don't," Rika said, grabbing her companion's wrist.

Albel laughed. "You," he said, trying to stifle himself. "How do you plan to fight a war by hiding? Do you have a military? Do you have power? Do you have money? You said your people are almost extinct. What can they do now? Why have they waited this long?"

"What could we do?" Kefi cried. "Our people have been persecuted for centuries!" The young man's body was trembling with rage.

"Fight," Albel said. "If living meant so much to your ancestors, they would have fought. But instead they hid. Here's a tip, boy: Only the strong survive in this world."

"Enough, Albel." Nel sat up, a bit unsteadily, but her eyes were clear.

"Why? It's the truth. Even your people in your pathetic country know this."

"I said shut up, Albel," Nel said again. She didn't look at him, her voice steady and even, eyes trained of Kefi.

"You aren't my king, wench. And even on my best days, I rarely listen to him." His chains rattled as he stood on shaky legs. They'd taken his boots, so the concrete was cold against his feet. But he didn't really feel it. He was hot with anger. Furious about everything. He could feel himself slipping into that cold, dead place where his soul had lingered for so long. He wanted a fight. Needed one. This sniveling whelp would give it to him.

Albel steadied himself and walked to the end of his chain, leaning into it as he bared his teeth at Kefi. "What kind of people sit around and watch their future die, huh? I'm curious, so tell me." When Kefi only stared at him, eyes wide, Albel's wicked grin faded. "Or maybe you'd like to show me, as brave as you are. I'll take you on, chained to a wall, one armed, no weapon or shoes, and half drugged. You still won't beat me. I'll tear you apart with my teeth and carve your heart out when my nails, boy. Do you have that sort of determination? Is your will strong enough?" His body trembled, run taught like a bow ready to spring. He knew his eagerness for bloodshed was obvious, but he didn't care. He wanted that child to see. To look into the face of a killer--of someone who had the determination to fight for his future and his pride, even if it meant dying.

"Walk away," Nel said from her seat on the floor. Everyone looked at her, but she glanced away. "He'll kill you Kefi. He means it. You…you can't possibly match Albel's strength or his will to win--even as he is now. Trust me, I've seen what he's capable of. Just leave." She then turned to look, first at Kefi, then at Rika. Her eyes were hollow, a look Albel had seen many times during the war. The face of a warrior who had seen too much and killed too many.

Nel Zelpher understood. Perhaps not his bloodlust, but his anger. They'd lost so much during those trying years when their countries had clashed. That time could never be regained. The people lost could never come back. The suffering would always be a stain on both their people. But that they'd been willing to risk those niceties for their ideals was proof of their strength to survive and their will to live. Aquios and Airyglyph wouldn't hide. Never.

Rika pulled Kefi back to the wall, her eyes shifting worriedly from Albel and Nel. She reached down and handed Kefi a pack and Albel's sword, then picked up one of her own. Seeing the Crimson Scourge, Albel felt a renewed rush of rage. "Leave that here, you idiot. That sword has one master--me."

"Weapons this good are hard to come by," Kefi said with a smirk.

"Fool. I'll say this once, if the Crimson Scourge doesn't recognize your strength, it will kill you," Albel snarled. "And it won't recognize the likes of you, or any of your people."

The two of them exchanged a worried look.

Nel sighed. "It's true. Take my weapons, but leave that cursed sword here if you value your lives. It will kill you, and anyone else who tries to wield it."

Rika and Kefi stared at each other for a moment, then Rika nodded and Kefi put the sword on the table. "I know Lady Nel speaks the truth," she said quietly. "Forgive us." Rika turned back to the large circular runes and drew her finger along them. The remaining crystals in the room lit up and the circle opened into a portal. She and Kefi stepped through and vanished, leaving behind nothing but a stone wall and ancient ruins.

"And I'm a liar?" Albel snapped, looking at Nel.

"No, you're just scary," Nel said, standing up.

"You seem awfully calm about this."

"Well, getting all riled up won't do anyone any good, will it?"

Albel wanted to choke the Aquarian. "Stupid. If he would have come closer, I could have held him hostage. That wench would have let us go in place of her friend's life."

Nel rolled her shoulders. "I don't know about that," she said. "You backed them into a corner, Albel. I think she would have left him here, even if it killed her to do it."

"You were awake the whole time."

"No. I woke up when you started getting antsy."

"I wasn't antsy! I was pissed off!"

"You still are."

"Damn right I am! We're chained up in only who knows where, I have no shoes, my arm is missing, and those little wretches took all our supplies. Not to mention I have a splitting headache still and I need to take a piss. I think I have a right to be a bit angry, don't you?" He raised his arm and furiously scratched at his mop of tangled hair, letting out an infuriated snarl.

Nel gazed at him, her expression unreadable. "Are you finished?" she asked calmly.

All he could do was nod. Yelling and raving wasn't going to get them anywhere. Though it did make him feel a bit better--for now. He was certain once they were free the rage would return again. "I'll track those little snots down…" he muttered. Actually, he'd have to now. They knew too much about himself and Nel. If word got back to the Greeton military, things would get very ugly very quickly. Neither Aquios or Airyglyph could afford a war with Greeton right now. Especially with Fayt on hiatus. Getting him back suddenly seemed more important.

Nel sidled up next to him and he jumped. "What are you doing.?"

"There's a pocket in the hem of my jacket. You'll find a pick in there. Get it out and free my hands," she said.

"Oh? Which hem?" he asked, looking at the dirty white coat she was wearing.

"Bottom left, just before it turns upward near the last button."

Nel was studying the strange glyph on the wall, tracing her finger over the runes. They glowed slightly, but then faded again. She did this over and over again as Albel watched from his seat on the floor. She seemed to think the magic was related to her own runes, and that she might be able to activate them if given some time. However, that was hours ago, or at least it felt like hours. There was really no way to tell time down here in the maze of caves.

"Give it up, Zelpher," he said, rolling his head from side to side. "We need to start walking."

Nel gave the glyph one last try, then sighed. "They don't seem that different, now that I really look at them," she mumbled as she turned around and walked back to where he sat. "You're right, we've got to get out of here."

Albel unfolded his rangy frame and stood, wincing at the stiffness in his backside. "And then what?"

Nel crossed her arms and looked him up and down. "I don't know," she said. "But I think we need to re-supply and get you some new boots."

Albel looked at his bare feet. Those little shits had taken only his shoes. Damn, and he'd liked those boots too. They'd been custom made. At least his sword was still here, scabbard and all. That made him feel a bit more relaxed, especially since his arm was gone too. Why they'd taken it, neither he nor Nel could figure out. Scrap metal maybe? They had said they were low on weapons. Perhaps they had a one armed companion. But that arm would do them not good, not if there wasn't someone to perform the initial surgery. It really didn't matter. The arm was gone. He'd have to make due until he could get a new one. Which might not be until he returned home.

He looked up and saw Nel frowning at him. She was obviously concerned about the same things. "You gonna be okay?" she asked quietly.

Glaring at her, he turned away and started a pathway. "Yes. I'm used to it," he replied. Being without his arm felt strange at first, but he was accustomed to taking it off and on. Regular maintenance required him to relieve the stress on his back and shoulders at least three times a month, and on those days, he spent his time locked away in Woltar's Library reading. If Woltar happened to be away, then he'd sneak down to the training area in the courtyard and practice his one arm sword tactics. He was prepared for situations like this…or so he hoped.

His answer seemed to satisfy Nel and she trudged along behind him as they steadily climbed out of the caves. All along the way, those strange crystals seemed to light up, guiding them to where they needed to go. Albel stopped to study one. He flicked it, watching the sprinkles of sparkles that flashed inside. "Say, Nel," he said over his shoulder, "were those two wearing a piece of one of these when they went through that rune portal?"

"Yes. Why?" she replied as she walked up beside him.

They looked at each other, then back at the stone. "You thinking what I'm thinking," Nel said.

"Sadly, I must admit I am."

Albel took the hilt of the Crimson Scourge and knocked out a hunk of crystal. It glowed brightly in Nel's palm, only quieting when she closed her fingers around it. They laid it on the cavern floor and broke it into two pieces. Nel handed him one and looked back down the passage way from where they'd come. "You ready to go get your arm back?" she asked.

Albel nodded once. "They said they were going to Citobor. Hopefully that portal takes us there."

"Wouldn't be the first time we jumped into some weird warp device, now would it?" she replied.

"Point taken," Albel muttered. "Hopefully this works." They could use a turn of good luck.

Nel smiled slightly and started back down to the holding chamber with the glyph. "I think it just might," she said.

Oooh, so fast for an update! I'm proud of myself. I sat down to work on this and it wouldn't stop. So here it is! I wouldn't expect fast updates like this though--sorry! I'll do my best! thanks for pointing out the mistakes