Late that night, while everyone argued around the campfire about the best person to dress up as a Desian, Kratos slipped off to gaze at the stars. It was a habit that he'd picked up in the happy days when he had a family. Something to share with his son, at least until the day that his world had been destroyed and his heart with it.
Pondering the events of the day led him once again to the question that refused to be banished by merely not thinking about it. Why had he saved her? In fact, why had he allowed her to continue her mission when it ran so contrary to his own?
Perhaps it was the hopelessness in the face of strong opposition, yet the defiance to never concede the battle. The tiny spark of life in her face that stayed kindled even as she lay bleeding her life's blood away, allowing her the strength to stand just one more time. Maybe it was because she reminded him so much of Anna.
The one person who had been his life. The one that he would gladly have died for, and instead had become damned for.
Even as he acknowledged this thought, he was interrupted by the quiet shuffling of feet beside him. Looking down, he saw Lloyd standing there gazing up at the sky with a look of awe on his face.
The mercenary stood silently, knowing that the boy would speak when he had a mind to. It was not long before Lloyd broke the silence.
"You know, I don't really remember very much about my parents."
The statement hung in the air between them, fuel for whatever thought that the boy was following. Kratos shifted easily on the soles of his feet as he waited for Lloyd to go on.
"The one thing that I do remember though, is my dad taking me out and looking at the stars. Maybe he was trying to teach me their names or something." Lloyd paused, diligently gathering the tattered remnants of the memory to bolster him. "That's why I've always made sure to look at the stars before I go to sleep. It's my only connection to my parents."
A little stunned at the revelation, the mercenary glanced over at his yet unknowing son. For not last time he wondered how things would have been had Kvar not found them on that fateful day.
"I wonder what they were like. Was my mom kind and gentle? Did my dad like to play with me, or was he like all serious and stuff? Who did the cooking for us...?" Lloyd half grinned at his last statement. "I just want to know if they cared for me."
The older man took his time to answer, careful to keep any incriminating emotions at bay. "I'm sure that your parents loved you very much."
Ever full of energy, Lloyd grinned. "Thanks Kratos."
Then he was off, leaving the brown haired man behind him to study the stars alone, looking for answers that eluded him.
The next morning saw the group standing before the gates of the human ranch. Kratos' cool, emotionless façade had been put to the test when he saw the two girls in their borrowed uniforms. Luckily, no one had noticed the slight flush that colored his features in the early morning light. Form fitting wasn't the word to describe them. Form hugging maybe.
'How do the Desians figure to move in that? It doesn't have freedom of movement, what with the way it constricts the body. Do they expect to dazzle their victims until they stab them with their spears?'
While Kratos pondered the mysteries of clothing design, the two false "Desians" were negotiating the party's way into the interior of the ranch.
"We have captured the subject, Lloyd Irving."
The gatekeepers were suitably impressed. "Even the Five Grand Cardinals tried and failed to do that."
"Yes. We want to deliver him to the Cardinals ourselves, and quickly." Raine's voice came out hard and cold during the exchange, lacking its usual warmth. She'd started her playacting long before they came in sight of the ranch, and her icy tones had even Lloyd acting quiet and subservient. The guards waved them through into the courtyard.
"Go ahead and take the prisoners inside."
Both girls stepped stiffly forward, their "prisoners" trailing along behind them meekly. Kratos kept his head bowed as he had a hard time pulling off a meek expression.
Ahead they encountered several guards ranging around the yard. Each time they stopped briefly to exchange information; Raine was the spokesperson for the group. Sheena stood stiffly beside her, her eyes fixed on the prisoners behind them. Standing in front of the final pair of guards, she noted that the entire party seemed overly subdued. Marveling at the transformation of the entire gung-ho attitude that had seemed to stick to most of the members in the group, she turned to enter the opening doors.
'Well, he wasn't cocky. Quietly arrogant perhaps, but never cocky. Her either.'
As the final doors closed behind them, shutting them out of sight from the Desian soldiers and leaving them in an empty room, Raine pulled off her helmet and shook out her silver tresses. Damp with sweat, her hair hung limply around her face. Calm and collected as always, only her hand betrayed her nervousness, shaking slightly as she lifted it to wipe away a miniscule bead of sweat.
The ninja followed suit, removing the cumbersome piece of equipment that mostly served to hide one's facial features. "Well. We made it."
The blatant relief in her voice seemed to galvanize the party into action. A huge grin crossed Lloyd's face and Genis pumped a fist in the air. Collette smiled, while Raine merely let out a sigh. "Don't forget that that was only the first part."
No one had time to debate the statement. The Chosen spoke up from where she was standing. "Someone's coming."
Kratos stiffened perceptibly as soon as he heard the words. Everyone else turned and followed the direction of Collette's finger as she pointed towards a particular door. For a few moments nothing happened; then as Lloyd relaxed and seemed ready to ask a question, the shuffle of footsteps sounded. The mechanical sound of the door whizzing open punctuated the meeting. Three figures rushing into the room stopped abruptly.
Botta and his Renegades.
The half-elf held up his hand, forestalling any comments by his followers. "This is not the time to fight; He is here." Then turning to Kratos, he addressed the warrior almost respectfully. "We do not wish to fight you now."
Backing away half a step, the mercenary tilted his head in understanding. "Do as you wish."
Almost hesitantly the party split to the sides, and the Renegades rushed through the middle. As everyone else stood gazing in the direction that their erstwhile enemies had taken, a keen ear caught the sound of chanting from a nearby doorway. Galvanized into action, Kratos dove for the door, shouting as he did so.
"Look out!"
There was just enough time for Lloyd to turn and gaze in horror at the barrage of fire that hurled towards Collette.
Even as he opened his mouth to scream, he noted the bluish tint of a magical shield flare against the onslaught. His heart leapt into his throat; Could it hold? Would it hold?
As the fire disappeared into smoke, the form of Kratos appeared in between Collette and the sorcerers. For a few seconds Lloyd held his breath, then burst out in characteristic mother hen mode. "Kratos, Collette! Are you okay?"
Slowly the mercenary straightened up as Collette's voice reassured the group of her wellbeing. "Humph."
The second door opened again, and yet another Desian stepped out. Regally decked out in formal attire, his whole posture screamed 'I am important, thou shalt do as I say' to anyone who took a moment to observe.
"Well what have we here?" The amusement in his tone was only superficial. Cold eyes dissected the group as he continued. "I come in expecting to encounter Botta and his Renegades and instead I find vermin rooting around. Who do you think you are to enter my facility without my permission?"
"Geez Lloyd, isn't this usually the other way around? What happened to brash and bold, 'I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours?'" Genis' voice popped up out of the background.
"Cause I'm tired and I really don't care who he is."
The half elf looked suitably amused at the reply. "What a boorish lot."
"He is Kvar, one of the Five Desian Grand Cardinals." Kratos' voice pierced through the mental fog that seemed to have kept the group inactive. Sheena glanced sharply at the mercenary as Kvar laughed aloud.
"Ho! Someone here at least knows of me. Not that it matters of course."
Seeing the conversation deteriorating, Genis showed his extreme brilliance – or at least his masterful grasp of minor spells!
"Fireball!"
The sorcerers scattered for cover as the magic sailed into their midst. As an attack, it failed miserably, but it worked as the elf had intended. "Hurry!"
They tore through the facility, pursued by the Cardinal and his soldiers, more of whom joined in as the chase progressed. It was halted when the party came in sight of the processing of humans into Exspheres. Stunned, they only realized their predicament as Kvar walked around the corner.
Sheena stood back and listened as the Cardinal confronted Lloyd about his mother and his Exsphere. Lloyd's emotional response was to be expected, and had she not been looking, she would have missed the look of intense pain that passed over Kratos' face.
"Do not speak ill of the dead!"
The quiet vehemence of his voice touched her soul. He had lost someone dear to him, perhaps a mother or lover?
Kvar grew impatient and waved forward his men. They in advanced slowly, wary of probable resistance. In that moment the wavering ninja made up her mind and cast her lot irretrievably with her companions.
"I'll take care of this!"
Boldly she stepped forward and called forth her guardian card. "Sorry grandpa, this is the last one…" Her silent cry before vanishing in a cloud of smoke was picked up on by only two.
Kvar stood back and gazed impassively at the place where the Chosen's group had stood mere moments before. Beside him, one of his lieutenants spoke up. "Sir, they are now far away. Shall we go after them?"
Frowning, the Cardinal looked over at the soldier. "No, we'll leave them alone for now. We can always find them again by looking for the Chosen's mana. What is more important now is to find the Renegades and retrieve the stolen Exspheres."
Author's Notes:
I know that the 'romance' portion is not moving very fast. Bear with me here - this is my first serious attempt at the subject. It will happen, though who it will end up with not even I know. I think I know, but it moved on me...
As for the really fast update? Fluke. I had chapter 2 a quarter of the way written when I posted chapter 1. Probably won't happen again as I have other stories to update too...
duck-tube-avenger - thanks for reading, even if you don't like the pairing.
KK - Yes, it was supposed to, but I'm afraid a little bit of a triangle will develop, I can't just seem to leave Raine stranded.
FireEdge - LOL! Sorry, first time at this. Was originally intended as K x Sheena, but took wings on its own. Not a great romance writer, so it'll probably come in slowly. Next chapter maybe.