Gippal wandered around the courtyard, intending to go to the gym before they left, when he was noticed Paine staring at something off in the distance.

"What is it?"

"It looks like an airship," replied Paine. "But its coming in way too fast."

As if too prove beyond a doubt that what Paine said was true, wind started whipping around them, as gigantic engines, powered up to full, suddenly pounded against Gippal's eardrums, prompting him to duck down.

"I think I've seen that airship before," shouted Paine over the noise, ducking down next to him.

"You know where?"

"Luca, registered under—,"

"Me!" shouted Stree from behind them. They turned around in surprise. "It must have the mage and her husband on it!" The three turned back to watch it come bursting towards the landing zone. When it was directly over the top, the black ship started to drop like a stone, but stopped roughly twenty metres from the ground, settling gently to the ground. "Have to love automatic braking," muttered Stree, running over to check his ship.

By the time he reached thwe landing platform, everyone else had gathered, even Kam and Baralai, who were looking as though they had been in the middle of a very hard workout. They were sweating and panting as though they'd sprinted a forty-kilometer marathon. Stree ignored everyone else and ran forward, slapping the release button for his ship. The door opened and the first thing he heard was a screaming baby. Realizing something was wrong when no one tried to stop it, he ran into the ship, closely followed by Kam, then Yuna. He made his way to the cockpit, while Yuna and Kam bolted for the sound of the baby, which seemed to be coming from the cabins. Ignoring it, he entered the cockpit, wondering what sort of scene he'd find in there. He looked around, and found nothing out of the ordinary, which surprised him. Then he noticed something flapping around one one of the pilot's seats. He moved ver to it and swung the chair around, finding a note stuck to the chair by way of a knife sticking through it. He read it through once.

Kry'tal,

Evrae was Test number one, this is number two. You'll find us at Baaj.

Have fun.

He reread the note again, trying to remember what Evrae was. Then it hit him. The gigantic monster that had attacked Gippal's airship as they made their escape. He turned and headed back out of the ship, the note in hand.

"Did anyone find Lulu?" asked Yuna. "Or Wakka?"

Everyone shook their heads. "I didn't find anything," replied Kam.

"What's that, Stree?" asked Tidus. Stree lifted up the note and read it out.

"Well, that's a little strange," said Kam. "I… wait a minute, what's that on the back?"

Stree turned it around and saw a picture on the back. It showed two masked men, standing next to Wakka and Lulu, who were blindfolded, and tied up next to each other.

"Oh, no," whispered Yuna. Tidus, rushed to catch her and her legs dropped from under her, and she fell to the ground.

"Lose the picture!" whispered Paine.

Stree dropped the picture into his pocket, and asked why.

"Lulu is the closest thing Yuna has to a sister. She means the world to her. And Wakka is the brother."

"Stree," choked Yuna. "Please, I need your airship. I have to help them."

"Yunie, no! You won't be able to get there alone. I'm coming," replied Rikku.

"No, everyone's staying here," ordered Stree. "This message was for me. I'll get them."

His plan shocked everyone, including himself. Until now, the only people he would have done anything to protect were Kam and himself, and now he would be going to an unknown place to get two people he barely knew?

"Not by yourself," said Auron. "You're still unstable. You could lose control like you did in the woods, and then everyone would be lost."

"Then what do you suggest?" asked Stree with a glare.

"Tidus will go with you."

"You're kidding," said Stree and Tidus at the same time.

"Tidus is as fast and quiet as you are, well, until he talks. But he is as good as you, and he can keep you sane until you get them."

"Or he'll send me nuts quicker."

"He goes anyway. It's the safest option."

"Fine, he can come." He turned towards his ship and walked up the ramp. At the top, he stopped, then turned around to face Tidus. "You coming?"

Tidus hurried to catch up.

"Uhh, Stree, what exactly are you doing?" asked Tidus from his vantage point at the door of the dark storage hold.

"Looking for something," replied Stree.

"And that would be…"

"These," he said, turning around to hold up three black cases, one twice as long as the others.

"How are the cases going to help us get Wakka and Lulu back?"

"It won't," said Stree, quickly losing patience. "It's what's inside that will." He moved some boxes to make space, then set the cases down on the deck. He opened them up, and Tidus whistled. "Remember those hunting trips?"

Inside the smaller cases, were two sleek black and silver handguns, which silencers, flashlights, and laser sight attachments all neatly placed in. and in the other one, a long hunting rifle, with silencer, scope, and laser sight all in there.

"I can definitely see how these will help." Stree took one of the handgun cases and passed it to Tidus.

"Let's see if you can remember how to use them." Stree said with a grin, as he threw a thigh holster. "Come on, you need to get changed."

"Well, these I remember," stated Tidus, as he put on the black turtleneck. He strapped the thigh holster on, then grabbed his Caladbolg, and strapped it to his back. "You ready?"

"Almost," replied Stree. He had painted his entire armor set black, instead of going for the turtle-neck sweater. He strapped the Hasamune to his own back, then picked up the rifle case. "You should go and say goodbye."

"You aren't going to say bye to Kam?"

"No, I'm no good at goodbyes." Tidus nodded, and ducked out of the room. Stree stood there a moment longer, then walked up to the cockpit to start the engines.

Tidus shrugged, and walked outside, to where his friends were still waiting.

"Are you two all set?" asked Kam. Tidus nodded. "Alright, see you two when you get back."

Tidus walked over to Yuna, who still had tears down her face. "Don't worry," said Tidus quietly. "We'll get them back. I promise. And hey, if I need ya, I'll whistle, okay?" Yuna laughed and nodded, then hugged him tightly. "See you guys," he said, walking back up the ramp, as the huge engines came to life with a roar.

"You finished now?" asked Stree as Tidus sat down in the copilot's seat.

Tidus nodded. "How long 'til we get there?"

"Roughly three hours," replied Stree. "If you want some quick training, there's a practice room in back. I'd advise it."

Tidus laughed. "You really don't want me here, do you?"

"Not really."

Tidus laughed again.