Author's Note: Alright, this is another snippet following after Sora leaves. It looks like this form of updating is actually helping me map out the scenes in chronological order rather than world order. I was trying to envision how the story would play out if these were actually cutscenes, but some continuity was screwy. It's all lookin' good now, though. :-D Enjoy this scene with an interesting interaction between the OC and a few familiar faces in Radiant Garden. Also, the devices that the OC uses were made in her world by another OC. He's a new age, tech guy.
Watching the emblem Heartless crumble at her feet, Fait began to grow suspicious of its presence near the keyhole of her world. That creature was devastatingly powerful. Not many enemies force her to use her keyblade or activate her silvery armor, but this one was no weak opponent and could have destroyed the civilians in town. It was a good thing she returned home before Sora and the others tried to lock the door. This particular Heartless didn't come from her world's door, however. Rather it came from the gate Sora and company had entered, or it could have very well come from the gate that opened when the people of Disney Town arrived here. Their presence on Philharmonie Ville was still a mystery. A ring from her phone interrupted Fait's thoughts. She pulled the phone out of her back pocket and subconsciously hit the button to answer it.
The voice asked with some annoyance and static, Hello? Is someone on the other end of this thing?
Now, Ienzo, that's no way to greet a future client. The 'hello' was more appropriate, another familiar voice advised, moving around to clear the static in the phone.
When she heard a deep chuckle in the back, Fait smirked at the voices, activated her voice-changing device, and said in a male voice, "I take it this is the group of lab rats from Radiant Garden?"
Indeed. An interesting nickname for your acquaintances. How are your children, Fait? the deep voice asked.
"They were sleeping last I saw 'em," Fait said, scoffing. "They'll probably be up complaining about midnight snacks soon. They're as greedy as me! Pleasure to hear from you, Lord Ansem. Is Dr. Even still trying to show Ienzo how to bargain with me?"
Right now, Ienzo is learning how to greet his customers, Even said with that distinguished tone in his voice. And we are not lab rats.
"Are you in an area devoted to science and/or research?" Fait questioned.
Well, of course. We're scientists. Even said. Fait could almost see the man turning his nose up with pride.
"That's where lab rats usually are," Fait said, earning a chuckle from Ansem the Wise. "Are you phoning in to say you miss me?"
Actually, I have something you may be interested in, Ienzo said, piquing Fait's interest. Meet me at my shop in the town square. I'm sharing a space with the Moogles. You'll more than likely see Dr. Even or Lord Ansem waiting outside for you.
Fait smirked shrewdly and then said, "Be there in a moment."
She had almost forgotten what happened the last time she just walked around town. Fait made sure to disguise herself before entering the domain of Radiant Garden, but it looked like the sun was setting on the land. Good. There was a chance that strange, blonde man named Cloud was heading home with his friends. She wasn't particularly afraid of Cloud, but she was more concerned with their relationship. He seemed to know her extensively. He knew her fighting patterns, defensive strategies, and even little tidbits of information that a stranger wouldn't know like the fact that she liked freefalling. If he wanted to duel her again, Fait wasn't sure who he'd partner with this time or if she'd even want to fight him. He seemed really upset that she couldn't remember him.
Shaking her head, Fait adjusted her goggles and took out a piece of bubblegum from her pocket. She popped it into her mouth and then cautiously walked to town square. Like Ienzo said on phone, Ansem the Wise was standing outside awaiting her arrival. Well, they don't know she's a girl yet, so it would be that Ansem the Wise was waiting on Fait the guy to return. Fait didn't particularly care which gender anyone referred to her as these days. As long as it didn't interfere with her missions, she was fine either way. She came up to Ansem with a soft smile and waved at the older gentleman.
He nodded and spoke, "Nice to see you again, Fait."
"How are the other lab rats doing?" Fait asked in a friendly, teasing way.
"Ienzo is quite excited with his new invention. You've gained some of our citizens' interest with this new business ordeal as well," Ansem said, returning her smile. "I saw two people asking the Moogles questions about the new shop opening up in town. As you know, these creatures will invest in almost anything that is of monetary value and they generally work together. It is rare to see them collaborating with someone else."
"So I've heard," Fait commented, quickly blowing a bubble and then popping it to silently chew on her gum. She stopped to say, "But the Moogles I've met so far seem eager to join businesses. Maybe the kid's shop'll be a chain. There's a good investment for him."
Ansem chuckled at this and nodded at her. He then said, "Well, we best go in before Even becomes impatient."
Fait blew another bubble then popped it with a mischievous quirk of her eyebrows. She then entered the upcoming shop titled Ienzo's Inventions and was pleasantly surprised by its appearance. It wasn't a five-star mechanical laboratory, but the two Moogles who seemed to be working on an oven of some sort made the place look like a crafting shop. There was a long table riddled with screws, springs, and tools that Ienzo was busy working on as he finished screwing one piece to another device he was completing. Some kind of port was housing an interesting machine toward the corner of the room. Even was also tinkering with some chemicals on another table. When Fait cleared her throat, both men stopped and hustled about to greet her.
"I guess you weren't kidding when you said you were a father," Ienzo started after bowing. "How's your son?"
"Busy as always: climbing trees, playing with sticks, catching on fire. The usual," Fait answered.
"Egad! Is he alright?" Even questioned with shock at Fait's calm demeanor. His child was on fire!?
"Nothing a puddle of water won't douse," Fait responded, digging in her ear. "So, whatcha got for me?"
"Ah," Ienzo said, directing Fait's attention to the machine resting on the port. He took a clipboard off the table and read aloud, "This is called the Street Strider. The Moogles named it, of course."
"Really?" Fait asked, walking around the port to inspect the machine. It was a strange design. It had eyes built like a scanner, a small but lean torso like a bug, and metals bars that looked like it was meant to be on water. It also had sharp-tipped ends on the bars and some parts of the machine's face or head. Fait grinned and said, "Looks like an attack type. What's it do?"
"Right," Ienzo said, blushing at Fait's intuition. Smart guy... Ienzo then looked at his clipboard and continued, "Well, you actually are correct on its type. This particular machine will shoot water on the ground to travel swiftly on any non-aquatic surface and attack with its bladed tips. These tips are retractable and can change in geometry or size. The Street Strider also serves as a vehicle. It can provide oxygen to you through the mask in its compartment if you find you must go underwater, activate a motor to travel above or below a body of water's surface, and it can act as a weapon should you need to punch a shark or two."
"Just dude stuff, huh?" Fait asked, chuckling. "Very nice, Ienzo. I'll buy it."
"Now, just a moment, sir," Even interjected, holding Ienzo's thrill back. "Just because you are the first customer doesn't mean you get off easily on Ienzo's hard work."
"And what do you propose, Dr. Even?" Fait asked, taking out her now flavorless gum and rolling it into a ball with two fingers. She plucked into a trashcan across the room effortlessly and said, "If he sets his bargain price too high, he'll never be able to make a profit."
"Unacceptable!" the Moogles shouted, stopping their tinkering completely.
The oven they were trying to stabilize began to overheat immediately and Ansem had to shout, "Your thermal heater!"
When everyone calmed down as the oven returned to a normalized state, Even then continued, "As I was saying, at some point Ienzo will have to stop you from cheating him. This is a perfect time to test his negotiation skills."
"I see," Fait said, observing the machine again. "The quality of this is impressive. It's worth a decent price."
Even hummed in approval and watched as Fait walked over to Ienzo's chalkboard to scribble some numbers, variables, and then an equation down. He then asked, "What are you doing?"
"Estimating," Fait simply replied, looking at the machine and then back to the board. She continued to scribble until she reached an answer and then she walked back to the Street Strider to observe it again. She then asked, "It looks like your machine does have some durability issues due to material limitations. That will have a direct effect on its reliability in terms of operation and maintenance. Basically, this thing'll break quick if I use it all the time. Now, with the Moogles' help, you should be able to access rarer materials to make an almost perfect fighting machine. When you get to that point, I'll pay full price of what I think it's worth. Since Even is teaching you how to negotiate, why don't you set a price, Ienzo?"
"Oh..." Ienzo started, putting a finger on his lip to think. "I suppose 9000 munny is a start. You did say you'd spend 10000 munny for the other invention, and it wouldn't be right to take all of your munny when you have a family."
Fait smiled gently at this and then said, "9000 is pricey, my man. How 'bout I give you... 1500 for now?"
Even scoffed at that and said, "Ha! I wouldn't go so low even it was 10% reliable. 7500."
"25," Fait said, reducing her smile to a smirk.
"6000," Even challenged, making Ienzo gasp a bit at the exchange. What was this an auction but in reverse?
"29," Fait said, keeping the smirk.
"45," Even challenged.
"35," Fait challenged.
"4000," Even challenged.
"I'll go 4070," Fait then said, nodding in acceptance of the price drop.
"Deal," Even confirmed, nodding in approval.
"Out of curiosity, how much is Ienzo's machine worth?" Ansem asked, noticing that Fait was a bit too nonchalant at handing Ienzo the munny.
"At peak reliability and with newer, rarer materials," Fait said, pushing a button to get the Street Strider to shrink and change into a metal backpack of sorts, "I'd say it's worth 11000 munny." When she heard the squawks coming from everyone in the room, she turned to Ienzo and said, "Later, lab rats."