SUPER DUPER SORRY FOR THE LACK OF AN UPDATE TWO WEEKENDS IN A ROW. MY LAPTOP CHARGER BROKE AND I HAD NO WAY OF UPDATING OTHER THAN MY PHONE, WHICH IS TRASH. HERE ARE TWO CHAPTERS TO MAKE UP FOR IT :D
UNTIL THEN, I'LL SEE YOU SATURDAY, MY DUDES
"Do you think they're onto us?" Vaan asks, retreating behind our shadowy wall as a trio of Imperial soldiers jogs past.
"It would seem not," Basch replies, crossing his arms. "Though, this will make our task more difficult still, what with the new detachments of soldiers being sent about." The man in charge of the three guards that just ran past melts back into the entrance of his post. Sighing, I straighten and shake my head.
"Well, should we head back to Ashe and the others?"
"Yeah, let's go," Vaan nods, taking off in the direction of the inn where the others await our return. The new information on the Imperials is valuable enough, I suppose, but it was hardly worth the time we spent, even with that time being very little.
"Certainly took your time getting here, didn't you?" Balthier comments as we weave through the streets. "Off seeing the sights, perhaps?"
"Not likely," Vaan huffs. "Do you know how long it took to get the chops we needed?"
"Hardly long at all," I mutter under my breath. "You wanted to shop for knives."
"What's that? But I gave Jules some chops…" Balthier frowns, obvious frustration washing over his face. I shake my head.
"You most certainly did, and I nearly had to strangle them off him. Vaan's lying."
"How'd you even know he had them?" Vaan asks, cocking his head to the side. I shrug.
"I've a natural sense for any source of currency."
"Jules…" Balthier grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose. Behind me, I hear that rat's voice pipe up as he draws closer.
"Tsk, tsk. A squad of Judges has been sent to Draklor. You'll find the service entrance a rather difficult proposition, I'm afraid," he croons. Balthier steps up to the shorter man, chin lifted and tension burning in the air around him.
"Your doing, no doubt," he replies stiffly, strolling past. "You knew how the Ministry of Law would move, so you had Shae distracted until the Judges could reinforce Draklor. Of course…" Balthier's voice trails off and he turns back to stare hard at the lowlife. "Tell me, how much did the Ministry pay for word of the prodigal son?"
"The Ministry? Oh, Judges make poor customers, my friend," Jules chuckles. "Too many rules, too many laws. Perhaps you didn't know, Master Balthier, that Draklor is a toy box these days, filled with your lord father's conceits." Jules shrugs, approaching the sky pirate. Goosebumps prickle across my skin. I know his type; he's saving the best for last. "All developed without the Senate's knowledge, of course. Why, not even the Emperor knew the full extent of Doctor Cid's operations."
"Now, here's the catch: since Vayne had himself declared dictator, nary a peep has come out of that laboratory. I know people who would sell their own mum for the merest scrap of information about the goings-on inside Draklor."
Balthier hums, glancing back at me. Basch and Vaan have backed off, though wary. I'm the only one left beside them.
"People like… Rozzarian sympathizers worried about the Empire's weapons programs and anyone else who might be opposed to House Solidor hegemony. So, we create a disturbance, and you get your windfall of dirt on Draklor," Balthier sighs.
"And in exchange for your service, I've spoken to a cabbie. When he asks where you want to go, tell him: 'You know where to go.' Simple, no?"
"Ah, a deal brokered in true Archades fashion," I muse, crossing my arms. Balthier's lips quirk into a dissatisfied smile.
"Why, it's just like old times, Jules. Brings a tear to my eye."
"Good to be back, eh? My regards to your lord father, Master Ffamran—er, rather, Master Balthier," Jules rushes, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly upon seeing mine and Balthier's glares. Ffamran and Adamar… Two names I've become all too sensitive to. "Anon, anon." He laughs nervously. "You know, and I have to admit this as an honest man, I helped both of us out in the long run by gathering a good portion of my reward already.
"You did what now?" I demand, raising an eyebrow. Here it is. The sod probably swiped all our gil behind our backs.
"Well," Jules starts, shrugging with a sly smile on his face. "There are always the corrupt in the Imperial forces. I may have sold some information to a collection of guards for a pretty price."
"Information?" Balthier crosses his arms, eyebrow arched. "What information?"
"Nothing much," Jules replies nonchalantly, brushing past me as he begins to disappear into the crowd. He flashes an unsightly grin over his shoulder. "Just a tip about their dearest lost princess and her valiant return to capture the throne."
"Jules!" I move to charge after the running man, but Balthier catches hold of my arm and jerks me back.
"There's no use in beating him to a pulp now," he shakes his head. "What's done is done; we'll just have to be extra cautious."
"Just what we needed," I scoff, turning on my heels and starting toward the inn. "What's the bastard mean by saying he helped us?"
"Knowing of your arrival will certainly help us create that disruption," Balthier answers, though his voice is doubtful. "Might be more trouble than it's worth, though."
"You think?" I mutter.
The inn is packed as we expected, but we wind our way through people smelling of wood chops and strong perfumes to the second floor where more private parties tend to gather. Fran catches sight of us first, pushing her shoulders off the wall and uncrossing her arms. Her ear twitches as Penelo says something.
"Any news?" Ashe asks, standing abruptly. Vaan shrugs.
"They're moving lots of soldiers arou—"
"Jules told the guards I'm here and now a detachment of Judges is waiting in Draklor," I interrupt, my voice tight with irritation.
"Oh no," Penelo breathes, shaking her head and tugging at her pigtails. "Are they coming after us?"
"They don't know where we are, but we should certainly be careful," Balthier replies, resting his hands on his hips. "I thought for sure he'd sold me out on my return, but I underestimated how far he would go."
"I see you're having an interesting time, Shera," someone croons. I sigh, turning to face the sandy blonde hair and sky-blue eyes behind me. A white grin flashes bright and a tanned hand finds its place at the base of my back. "How are we, Darling?"
"Just fine, thank you," I reply curtly, looking back at Ashe. "We should get moving before they get security closed up too tight. Jules secured a free ride to the laboratory."
"At least he did that much," the princess sighs, eyeing Jonan. "Are we ready to leave, then?"
"Can I come? I'm bored," Jonan yawns. I roll my eyes, stepping away from him. He only follows, grinning like a fool. "That's a real convincing disguise you've got there, Shae."
"It won't matter once we're on that bus." I scowl up at him, my nose crinkling at his old-alcohol, hasn't-washed-in-days scent. "And tell your friend I'm dragging him to the pits of Hell once we return."
"I'll join you," he chuckles, ruffling my hair. Ashe nudges Basch and they start to leave in hopes that the rest will follow. Jonan huffs, face flooded with a boyish amusement. "You're shirt's all gross. Here, take mine." He reaches down to pull his shirt up over his head.
"Jonan!" I snap, tugging his shirt back down. Penelo gasps, grabbing Vaan's elbow.
"He's got a six-pack!" she hisses.
"So do I," her friend huffs.
"Just…" I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Why are you here?"
"I dunno," Jonan shrugs. "If you're worried about it looking weird, we can just take yours off first." He lifts my shirt and I smack his hands away, fuming. But it's like being angry at a troublesome child; he only smiles brighter. "Fine, but it's nothing I haven't seen before."
"She has a six-pack!"
"So do I!"
"We'd best be on our way," Balthier cuts in tightly, his patience running clean out and his Jonan-tolerance spreading thin. Jonan sighs.
"Yeah, yeah. Go kick some ass wherever it is that you're headed, Shera." I'm too tired to fight back as he leans down and presses his usual kiss to my lips. Though, this time it lingers long enough that I can feel both the heat rushing to my face and the irritation radiating off of Balthier. "For good luck," the boy says simply after pulling away, his smile gentler and more reassuring than taunting. I take a deep breath and nod with a frown, briskly brushing past my companions and hurrying toward the vehicle that's to carry us far away from here. How does he always find me? Why does he always find me?
"Where would you like to go?" the cabbie at the bus asks as we all gather together. Balthier strides past me, stepping up to the vehicle issuer with stiff steps.
"You know where to go."
"Ah!" The man hesitates, brushing a hand across the brim of his cap. "There? You're certain, sir?"
"Certain," Balthier nods, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt. He steps aside as we all enter the bus, piling onto benches and holding onto poles for support. Balthier enters last, sparing me a cold, empty glance before heading the opposite direction to stand beside Ashe. Frowning, I turn to face the view outside the window. The bus takes off with a lurch and we head upward.
"So, this Jules," Vaan starts. "I know he knows Shae through Jonan, but is some old friend of yours, Balthier? You two seemed… close."
"Close enough for fisticuffs…" Balthier's voice is heavily laden with bitter annoyance as he speaks up. "Driver! Faster, if you please. I would be loath to expend any of the violence of my present mood on my companions."
"S-sir?" the cabbie stutters, looking up into a mirror at the sky pirate. Balthier raises an eyebrow impatiently. "Yes, sir!"
The cab lands on a balcony outside Archades' gargantuan research facility. As the door slides open, Vaan hops out with Balthier close behind. The blonde looks about with awe in his eyes, his breath stolen away for a moment. I jump down, my chest tight as I set foot on familiar territory I tread upon six years ago.
"Where to?" Vaan asks, glancing over his shoulder at Balthier. The sky pirate picks up the pace, jogging and clapping a hand down on the boy's back.
"Come, this way."
We hurry inside past a set of towering glass doors. A round door, glowing a dull red, slides open and allows us access to the laboratory's main floors rather than the outskirts that we would have been trapped in if it had locked. Balthier slows his pace as the doors hiss shut, signaling that we've all entered.
"It's too quiet," Basch comments, eyes narrowed on all the empty blue and red passages around us.
"Passing strange," Balthier agrees, frowning. "There are supposed to be guards here, are there not?"
"That's what I recall, at least," I sigh, placing my hands on my hips. "But where've they all gone?"
"Maybe we're just lucky," Vaan suggests, though it sounds as if he's trying to convince himself of that point as well.
"Maybe you're just optimistic," Balthier retorts.
"Something may be afoot," Basch warns, turning to face the man leading us. "We proceed with caution."
"No time for caution," Balthier responds, shaking his head. Something odd's in his eyes and his demeanor, but he starts walking again before I can read it. "Step to it! Cid's chambers are on the top level."
"Shouldn't the way up be blocked, though?" I recall, shaking my hair out of my face and tossing my shades to the side on the floor. They clatter across the smooth tile before sliding to a stop beside the wall. "From what I remember, the security process of climbing this tower required a lot of passcodes and switches."
"From what I remember, I was in this unit far more often than you," the sky pirate replies coldly, continuing on. I frown, catching an unreadable glance from Fran before following the party. Was it something I said…?
The corridors are still the same as they were when I left. Rounded, paneled with yellows and browns, trimmed with gleaming bronze. Giant red and blue doors mark the end of each passage, indicating the direction and the status of the lock. We come to a stop upon crossing a hallway piled with the limp bodies of Imperial soldiers. Ashe sheathes her sword, scanning the room with her eyebrows drawn together.
"Look at this…" she breathes.
"Who could have done such a thing?" Penelo asks nervously.
"We'll just have to continue to find out," Balthier replies, shaking his head and charging down the hallway. One of the soldiers stirs; I find myself rushing to his side before I realize, falling on my knees to hear the words that shudder past his trembling lips.
"Y-You… are with him…?"
"With who?" I ask, frowning. He coughs, shaking his head and gasping a shallow breath.
"He…" He coughs once more, shuddering, and finally falling still. I sigh, standing and brushing my pants off.
"I suppose we follow the trail of bodies, then," I conclude grimly.
"And I suppose you're right," Balthier murmurs. "This way." We rush further into the building only to come across a blocked path and an elevator. The pirate comes to a stop outside the lift, looking over his options. "From here, we can travel through the sixty-seventh and sixty-eighth floors."
"Why would we go to sixty-seven when we could go further?" Vaan asks, frowning. "Aren't we going after Cid?"
"That we are," Balthier nods, turning the dial to sixty-eight and pressing the button below. I wait for the doors of the lift to slide open, but no such thing occurs. Instead, a small notch slides open in the wall and a slim scanner slides out. Balthier sighs, shaking his head. "Vaan, hand me your dagger."
"Huh? Why?" Vaan asks, unsheathing the knife at his hip.
"The key to the elevator is blood," the pirate replies dryly, snatching the weapon away and pressing the pointed tip to his finger without hesitation. Wordlessly, he presses his finger to the slide and it pulls back into the wall. An automated voice echoes through the empty halls.
"Access denied. Personnel admittance deleted from Draklor Laboratory systems."
"Damn," Balthier mutters, scowling at the strip that reappears from the notch. "That's new. I suppose they needed to save room in their systems for new Judges."
"That, or they didn't want you storming back into this place with murderous intent and full access," I suggest, shrugging. I'm only treated with a glare. Basch frowns, turning toward me.
"Do you think they would have deleted you from the security system?"
"Of course," I scoff. "Vayne would have deleted my access the day I left."
"Let's at least try," Vaan urges, taking his dagger from Balthier and pushing me toward the strip awaiting a drop of blood. I take the knife from the boy uneasily, swallowing hard. Why am I so nervous? So what if we can't get in this way? There are other paths one can take. Taking a deep breath, I slide the edge of the knife across the pad of my fingertip with a wince and watch a crimson pearl pool on my skin before rolling off onto the scanner. The strip slides back into the wall, silent tension overtaking the air. Nothing happens. Basch sighs.
"It was worth a—"
"Access granted. Welcome back Shera Castean Solidor."
My heart stops in my chest and I suddenly feel sick. Why didn't Vayne take me out of the system? Larsa doesn't even have full access to Draklor. Dazed, I hand the dagger back to Vaan as the lift doors slide open. Slowly, we pile into the elevator and begin our ascent.
"Looks like someone didn't want to prevent his beloved sister's return," Balthier comments, raising an eyebrow at me. "Any idea why?"
"Not in the slightest," I mutter, turning to look at the dimmed city view through the heavily tinted glass wall of the lift. I don't understand you, Vayne. I shake my head, aimlessly twisting my hair around my fingers. Years ago, he tucked Larsa and me into bed every night and read us stories and fenced with me. Now, he seeks to end me in his endless quest for power. I huff. Oh, how the times have changed.
We hurry off the elevator and immediately Balthier's face falls. Silently, he turns and leads us toward a towering triangular door in the wall. I follow closely as he turns the knob and pushes the door open, revealing an office in disarray. Iron tables with test tubes and spilled stacks of paper litter the room. Books and shelves alike are strewn across the floor. Fran crosses her arms and Balthier steps toward the desk at the corner of the room.
"He's had visitors. Ones lacking manners, by the look of it," the viera comments.
"Someone after the nethicite?" Vaan asks, frowning. Balthier scans over the papers on the desk in silence, an unreadable look hanging behind the green of his eyes.
"The Jagd Difhor was it?" he mutters, moving one paper over to read the next. I stand on the other side of the desk, gauging the pirate's reaction to his father's handiwork. "Six years, and ever since you got back, this… What madness found you there?" He goes silent again, setting the papers down with a shake of his head.
"Balthier, look," I cut in, nodding toward a glowing keycard beneath the edge of a book to his right.
"Hm?" He glances up at me, broken out of thought.
"There's a—"
"Up! Above us! Drop bulkheads five and eight! Be to it!"
"They found us!" Vaan cries, inching away from the door.
"His earlier visitors, more like," Fran replies, ear twitching. "We should lie low for now."
"No, we'll use their confusion," Balthier announces, snatching up the keycard and heading toward the door. "We need to find Cid. Now." I exchange a glance with Fran and follow. Balthier's in a bit of a rush... What's happening now?
We rush out of the room, sprinting down the halls and drawing our weapons just in case. Alternatively, Balthier and I head in and out of bulkhead control rooms, opening and closing the doors we need to continue. The whole laboratory is a winding maze, filled with confused soldiers and researchers. The occasional fight stops us in our rush, but we're well on our way to confronting Doctor Cid. I shudder. Dern's father… I'm certain he heard of us at least once…
Huffing, I swipe the sweat off my face and charge toward the next cluster of soldiers as Balthier rushes toward the next bulkhead controls. I suppose it's time to meet the man who cursed my life with his idiotic offspring.