I waited for the others to drive past in the Regalia and followed them from a distance. My anxiety was at its peak. I couldn't tell if they were talking about me or not. How could they not talk about this, I thought.
The events played over and over in my head. Ardyn talked about me like I was just some defective tool. I can't believe it. He played along like he was none the wiser, but then did that. I grit my teeth, trying to think of something, anything else. The sun was rising now, and since we were entering town, I put my jacket and my sunglasses back on. The least I could do is cover up so that regular citizens don't freak out. Exiting the tunnel that leads to Lestallum, my heart dropped.
Niflheim flags. They were here. I quickly got off my chocobo and ran to the Regalia.
"What do you want?" Gladio spat as he got out.
"Look!" I pointed frantically at one of the flags. "Don't you see it?"
Noctis frowned a bit. "Come on, we have to get to the Leville." The five of us rushed to the hotel, finding Iris waiting in the lobby. She ran over to Gladio.
"What's wrong?" Gladio asked.
Iris's voice quivered as she spoke. "I let you down. I never made it to Caem. The empire came while you were gone."
Gladio turned to glare at me and I took a few steps back. Noctis motioned for us to go up to the hotel room.
Once we were in the room Iris continued, "None of us said a word about Noct. They just showed up and then... poor Jared."
"What do you mean? What happened to Jared?" Gladio asked. The question sounded like a demand.
"There was nothing we could do!" Iris sobbed, shaking her head.
I moved out of the way of the door when it creaked open. Noctis turned to face who opened it. It was that kid from before. Talcott. Noctis walked over to him and crouched down. "It's not right. We should've been here," he said softly.
"I couldn't stop them," Talcott mumbled. He was crying, and judging by how he sounded, he had been for a while. I sat down against the wall, hiding my face in my hands. I couldn't help but feel guilty, even if I had nothing to do with this.
"But I won't let the empire get away with it. They'll pay for what they've done," Noctis reassured. "I promise."
"I believe in you, Prince Noctis," Talcott said between sobs. He then turned and walked away.
"I'm taking Talcott, and we're going to Caem," Iris stated. "We can't just stay here and do nothing."
The whole room stayed silent for a moment before Noctis spoke. "I understand."
Once Iris left the room, Gladio grabbed me by the collar and pulled me up. "You did this, didn't you?"
"Let go of me!" I tried pushing him away. "I had nothing to do with this!"
"Oh, so you joining us here and then suddenly while we're away from Lestallum, Niflheim comes in and kills Jared? You had nothing to do with this?"
"Shut up!" I screamed. "I don't even have a phone! How would I even fucking contact them? All I have are my weapons, my journal, and the clothes on my back!" I freed myself from his grip and quickly tore off my jacket. I shook it aggressively, letting my journal, pens, and the small bit of gil I had fall to the ground.
"Guys stop!" Prompto yelled.
"This fighting isn't going to help anything," Ignis glared at both of us.
I sighed and sat back down against the wall, looking over at the others. "So what's the plan?"
"We're going to take Iris to Caem," Noctis responded.
"You okay with riding solo again, Gaia?" Prompto asked quietly. "The Regalia would be pretty cramped."
I nodded slightly. "Just so long as my chocobo can keep up, yeah. I can handle being alone for a bit. I've survived this long." I leaned over to grab my jacket off the ground, grabbing the fallen items with it. "I suppose I owe you guys some answers though. About my past."
"You said you were attacked by a hunter, right?" Noctis asked.
"Yeah. Like I said back at the base, I was sent out with a few other magiteks to just, well, do what MTs do I guess. Patrol an area and fight anyone who dares step into it. I was planning on running away before this, so seeing a hunter about to get attacked by some of the other magitek axemen just kind of pushed me into leaving. So I fought those magiteks off, but I think I only scared that hunter even more. I turned to look at her and help her up and she grabbed her sword and tried to attack me. After that, I just kinda took what I needed from her. I felt horrible about it. I still do. But if I waltzed into a city wearing that armor you see other magiteks wearing, I'd be killed on the spot." I sighed and looked down at my lap. "And that's when I made my way here. I heard whispers about people seeing a group that looked like the crownsguard and here I am."
"Well, now you're part of our group, and that's all that matters," Prompto smiled slightly.
"We should get some rest. That way tomorrow morning we can make our way to Caem," Ignis suggested.
"I'll sleep on the floor, you guys can take the beds," I offered. "Hell, I might not even get sleep. What if they come back?"
"Gaia," Ignis began.
"No, seriously. They could come back for you guys. And for me."
"Now you're just being paranoid," Prompto responded. "That's my job to be easily stressed out. You're supposed to make sarcastic remarks about everything that we do because it all goes wrong!"
"I'll still stay up and keep watch," I crossed my arms. "I owe you guys so much. It's the least I can do."
"Just don't kill any of us in our sleep," Gladio huffed.
"Enough," Noctis ordered. "I'm getting some sleep."
"We all should," Ignis added.
I adjusted myself against the wall, taking off my sunglasses as the others called it a day.
Once everyone was awake, we made our way to the Regalia. Iris stood next to it and smiled at us.
"Hey, how are we going to fit all of us in the Regalia?" She asked with a laugh.
"I'll be following behind on chocobo," I responded. "It was a group decision. We're escorting you after all."
"Let's get this show on the road," she responded with a nod. The others got into the Regalia and I called for my chocobo.
It was a strong silence as I rode, keeping up the best I could with the others. I tried to think of something positive. Anything at all, but all I could do was worry about if the others were saying something about me behind my back. I knew Prompto wouldn't, but what about the others? Was Gladio warning Iris about me? An engine roared above me and I looked up.
Another imperial base. The others noticed it too, judging by the Regalia slowing down for a moment. We rode into Old Lestallum. The Niflheim flags were here too. I got off my chocobo and approached the others.
"Iris, I'll need you to wait here," Gladio said once Iris got out.
"Alright," She sighed. She didn't seem too keen on the idea of us going to that base.
"Careful Noct, only fools rush in. I suggest we review our intelligence and devise a plan," Ignis stated. Noctis simply nodded and we started toward the base.
"Gaia, do you know anything about the layouts of these bases?" Ignis asked.
"No, not more than you guys do," I responded. "I've never had the experience of being stationed at one. I can only guess how many different types there could be."
"Surprised to see them this far out," Noctis mentioned.
"Leave no plot of land unconquered," Prompto added.
"Those aren't conquering numbers," Gladio interjected, looking over at the base. The beam from the magitek generator was visible from the bridge we were crossing, and it was only a matter of time before we entered the radius.
"Likely building a supply line it would behoove us to cut," Ignis indicated.
"Looks the same as before," Prompto said once we started to get closer.
Ignis shook his head slightly. "Looks can be deceiving."
"We beat them once, they won't make it easy this time," Gladio stated.
Noctis nodded. "And neither will we."
We ran alongside the road, getting the familiar feeling of an adrenaline rush as we got closer to the base.
"Are you affected by that magitek generator at all?" Prompto asked.
"Yeah, feeling it right now," I answered. "I'm surprised they didn't find a way to remove me from its registry or something. If it works like that."
"Who knows?" Noctis asked. "I think it works in our favor."
There was a watchtower built outside the walls of the base. We made our way to it, Noctis and the others quickly taking out the few battery soldiers that stood in our way. We climbed up to the top before gathering around Ignis to hear our next strategy.
"So, what's our plan?" Noctis asked.
Ignis crossed his arms. "Find the base commander and take him into custody. Targeting metal men will yield little in the way of reconnaissance, but bones bend easily."
I nodded slightly. "Not like you'd get anything out of those magiteks anyways, I doubt they can speak."
"We'll split into two groups," Ignis continued.
"I don't want Gaia in mine," Gladio crossed his arms.
"Alright. Prompto and Gladio will generate a diversion."
"Aw yeah, making a scene is what I do best," Prompto chuckled.
"Noct, Gaia, and I will track the commander. Are you ready?"
Noctis nodded slightly. "Yeah, let's do this."
"Operation: To Catch a Commander is go!" Prompto laughed.
We waited until nightfall and then began the infiltration…
