Disclaimer: I do not own Star Ocean or its Characters.
Note: There's a flashback…it's all in italics. I know this update is long overdue, but here it is. A lot of it's story line, though…
Star Ocean: The Untold Story
Chapter 18: Revealing Answers…Truth's Repercussions
As the battle waged on, Sophia found herself wishing more than ever that Mirage had accompanied them. The older woman was like a security blanket of sorts for Sophia and she knew it. After all Mirage had done for her, it was hard not to miss her.
This enemy was a lot tougher than any they had encountered before and Sophia was feeling the full strain of it. She had depleted a lot of energy healing the others. So much in fact, that she didn't contribute in any way to the actual fight. She didn't have the chance. Every time she healed one person, another was in need of assistance.
"I proclaim…the will…of the Enforcers." Sophia had been busy casting a healing spell on Cliff and only realized the fight was over when the creature started talking. It was eerie. Of all the battles not many talked. It never failed to send her hair on end when an enemy became vocal. "Death and annihilation...to the irregularities..."
A high pitched scream wailed above the 'angel's' own voice. Before anyone in the group could react, Peppita bounced out of the shadows and depleted the last of the creature's energy. It wasn't hard for the small girl to put it down; it was all but out of breath by that point.
"Ha! What a wimp. Should have known better than to mess with me!" Peppita hopped toward the group sporting a satisfying and successful grin. The girl was clearly proud of herself.
"Huh!? Peppita?!" Sophia stammered out.
Fayt joined her. "What are you doing here!?"
Albel shook his head slowly. He had been right; things that annoyed him wouldn't stay gone for long.
Peppita met their disbelief with a bright smile. "You told me to wait, but I just couldn't take it. I didn't listen to anyone, not even the Circus Master. I had to come. He-he."
She chuckled. Sophia couldn't help but to imagine her as a child well under her years. This wasn't a game. She was almost mad at the younger female. Peppita was choosing to be there and if Sophia had a choice she herself wouldn't have any part in it.
But she didn't have a choice. She was altered. She was there more for answers – the truth. She wanted to know why this burden had been thrust on her by her own parents.
"Oh, dear," Maria exhaled.
Nel straightened and went ridged. Stepping to the head of the group, she made her presence known to all. "It's no laughing matter. Attacking so suddenly like that... You're reckless beyond all reason."
Sophia felt her head nod in agreement. The vibes emanating off of Nel were sufficient, but her own were starting to manifest. Peppita's stunt made her mad simply because the girl could have been hurt.
That's when it hit Sophia – exactly how she felt about the girl. Peppita, though she had only known her a short time, had become like a sister to her. Sophia had always wanted a sister. Fayt had filled the role of brother, but she had always dreamed that her parents would one day bring home a baby sister.
And just like a sister, this one was making her very frustrated.
"So, what do we do?" Cliff asked making his voice carry through the whole corridor.
"How am I supposed to know?" Fayt answered uncharacteristically. Sophia couldn't help but to find that slightly odd since he was the unspoken leader.
She heard Albel grunt behind her. She hadn't realized how close he was to her. He was practically breathing down her neck. Maybe he was still uneasy with all the technology. A chill ran down her spine, but she suppressed letting it show visibly.
As self conscious as she felt having him right behind her – making her feel as if he were assessing her every move – it was also comforting. He reminded her of a place she could easily call home. He reminded her of Woltar's mansion in Airyglyph.
"Come on, come on. Take me with you. I'll make myself useful."
Maria frowned at the pig-tailed girl "I don't know about that."
Sophia's heart lunged. Her protective instincts took over and that sisterly bond she was feeling earlier returned with a vengeance. "But we can't let her go back on her own."
"She got here alone, so she should be able to get back, too," Maria replied almost too quickly and in a tone void of any emotions.
"That may be so," Sophia protested, "but…"
"Well, what should we do? Turn her away?" Nel's cool and flat tone shocked Sophia. She knew Nel was an experienced fighter and had a hard shell very similar to Albel's but to sound so heartless was surprising. Sophia had seen the warrior prove she was kindhearted and not cruel.
Fayt leaned thoughtfully on one foot, pressing his hand to his chin. He hummed – an act Sophia knew from when he was pondering over a course of action he wasn't sure of. Within no time he had found an answer. "All right. Just behave yourself!" he sighed.
The girl jumped and clasped her hands together. "Really, Fayt? You don't mind?"
"It's a little late for that, don't you think? I mean, you've already come this far. And I'd feel bad if I made you go back by yourself. So, I figure at least while we're here, it'd be safer if we took you along with us."
"Well, that makes sense. I guess." Maria was clearly disapproving but even she was reluctant to overstep the invisible boundaries of Fayt's authority.
Sophia had to wonder again how Fayt had come into that leadership. Those thoughts were short lived (again) when Peppita busted out her excitement.
"All right! Whoo! Cheers, everybody!"
"Just remember, it's only until we leave Moonbase."
"Just try and to stay out of trouble, okay?" Sophia added to Fayt's comment.
"No problem! You can count on me!"
"Really?" Sophia asked too low for anyone to hear. Part of her wanted Peppita to stay. That was the selfish part that wanted to explore the possibilities of a sibling-ship. The logical part of her wanted the girl to leave. This was a battle and no place for children.
"All right! Let's go!" Peppita huffed with her usually abundance of energy.
After the encounter with the angel thing, battles were sparse. Actually, they were easy to avoid. Even Albel didn't dispute the blatant attempt at avoiding another fight – he was still recovering, like the rest of them, from their fight with the Proclaimer.
Each footstep clicked on the metal floor. It wasn't loud, but the huddled group made quite a rhythm with their steps. Sophia kept her hearing in check as she followed behind Cliff. Fayt and Maria had taken the lead and Nel had stuck close with them. Sophia imagined it was to put distance between herself and the Glyphian in the group. The two didn't argue or fight, but the tension was easy to pick up on.
As for Albel, he kept up the rear which was right behind Sophia. Sophia imagined that if she had advanced in front of Cliff than Albel would also advance and leave the rear to Cliff. Now Cliff and Albel – that was a topic of interest in itself. It seemed that both men held a quiet respect for each other, but they were not fond of the other's company. Cliff may show his emotions more readily, but he was like Albel in his own feelings of self grandeur. It was the common conflict of personalities that separated the two from a deeper friendship.
And where did that leave her? She was the quiet, modest and easily frightened one. She had picked up from the others that they saw her as Albel's complete opposite. If the subject would come up (and thankfully it hadn't) she would remain unresponsive to it. She wasn't his opposite, but not his same either. They had a lot in common but it wasn't anything she or he would admit openly to anyone. They both fought their own inner conflicts.
She didn't know what Albel was fighting, but she was fighting off her soft nature. She was fighting off her unsubstantial need to run from every conflict. Her time in Airyglyph had helped tremendously to break her from her I'm-not-worthy shell. She could feel an inner strength growing in her and for once she was ready to embrace it instead of deny it.
She stopped when Cliff did at the entrance of Robert's research lab. Once inside, each member of the group dispersed. Sophia wasn't in the mood to stare at blinking controllers and screens. She wasn't ignorant of them. On the contrary there was something she had kept so secret that even Fayt didn't know about it. She had been doing a great deal of personal research on her own before that fateful day on Hylda. She was more than capable of tinkering with the computer controls but if she showed it than it would only lead to inquiries as to how she had become so familiar with it. Some secrets were not to be opened and as much as she trusted Fayt, it was her secret and nothing she wanted to share.
It wasn't, by a long shot, a bad secret. Not even something she would receive ridicule for. She had known for a while she could summon symbology. Symbology was something the Federation kept a close eye on, so when she first encountered her own she was shocked.
Fayt had basketball practice; leaving Sophia with a night to herself. Normally her blue haired friend would spend dinner with her. He would enter the house using his own key almost every night of the week. His parents were as busy as hers and family dinners were few and far between. Fayt also preferred her cooking to anything he could heat up, which was a limited menu.
The Esteed home was furnished with all the latest technology, leaving no need for traditional cooking. Per Sophia's request, a gas stove had been installed so that she could do what wasn't really needed and cook the old fashioned way. The act of creating something on her own and having others appreciate it was a thing she feed on. Even if Fayt wasn't coming over, she would still cook. On this night, she was going to try a new recipe she had come up with herself.
But luck as not on her side that night. She had all four eyes of the stove covered with various pots full of ingredients that needed to be cooked separately. One eye, the front left one, would not light. The lighting mechanism would click, but no flames would accompany it. She was growing frustrated. In her flustered state, she turned and opened the curtains to the window over the sink.
"Fire! All I need is a little fire!"
That's when it all changed. The curtains under her hand leapt up in flames.
After dousing the fire she tried to hone her emotions again. She succeeded in lighting the stove's eye and finishing dinner without another problem. By that time, she was too exited and apprehensive to eat. She worked almost all night on the family computer, researching symbology.
It would be much later when she practiced symbology again. Only that time would be on purpose and to save a life. She would eventually use her symbology to save Albel's life – a memory that would always be present in her mind. That was what had led her to Woltar's mansion in the first place.
That was her first time of tapping willingly into her powers, but now she was close to learning why those powers came so easily to her. Her encounter in the kitchen so long ago led her to research symbology and she had always wondered why she could use it without any symbols tattooed on her. She had a clearer understanding, but in the research lab was where all the missing pieces would fall into place. She felt herself hold her breath as she watched Fayt and Maria inspecting the master control consol.
"...No good. There's nothing here out of the ordinary." Fayt shifted his weight from one leg to the other.
Cliff stepped up to his side and stared at the consol. "Computer, we'd like to browse the database for information on weapons using symbological genetics."
Lights fluttered on, creating an eerie light on the faces of those who stood close.
"No matching data found."
"Damn!" Fayt cursed. "Does the data even exist!?"
Sophia flinched at her childhood friend. He wasn't one to curse so easily. She would tell his own frustrations were getting the better of him. "Uncle Robert wouldn't lie. The data must be in here somewhere." She spoke just loud enough to project her voice to the three in front of her.
"She's right... Don't give up yet," Maria responded in her usual captain's voice.
"I know... I know," Fayt said in a soother voice. He was trying so hard and Sophia nearly jumped forward to give him a reassuring hug. But she didn't. Instead, she simply closed the distance between them and joined the three at the consol.
Maria shifted her weight as she placed her hand on her chin. She hummed methodically under her breath for a few seconds before straightening her stance. Abruptly she spoke.
"Computer, scan my genetic profile and search the database for any matching data."
"Scanning..." Lights jumped from an electronic eye on the consol under a huge screen. A green light proceeded to scan Maria from head to toe. Once the light ended the computer responded with an emotionless "Searching…"
In the short few seconds it took the computer to finish the search, everyone was nearly holding their breath.
"One result found."
"Bingo!" Cliff nearly shouted enthusiastically.
Maria crossed her arms, ignoring Cliff. "Display."
Five words lit the screen. Fayt read them aloud, giving them a more haunting aura than the simple text could have. "'The Coming Crisis for Humanity'?"
"Let's check it out," Maria suggested; asking more than ordering.
Sophia began to believe that for once the Quark captain was more apprehensive than she was herself. It was a satisfaction that she wasn't the only one with weaknesses. It gave her just enough courage to move pass the rest of them and to the consol. "Yeah, I think we should…" she hummed as she accessed the controls.
Under her command, the computer's screen lit up. The picture showed a group of scientist all donned in lab coats. Among them were both of Fayt's parents and Sophia's father.
Despite knowing exactly who are depicted in front of her, Sophia still had to ask. "My dad and...Uncle Robert?"
"They're pretty young," Fayt admitted, "but I think you're right."
"Mom…" Maria joined Sophia at the front.
Sophia followed her gaze. "That woman on the end?"
"Yes... That's her."
Sophia nodded. This was as much a burden on Fayt and Maria as it was on herself. All of them were looking at their own parents many years ago – probably from a time around Fayt's birth. Sophia instantly felt for both of her companions. Fayt was faced with his recently deceased father and Maria with her long lost mother.
The screen faded out and reassembled with a display of the planet Styx.
Robert's voice commenced to provide a narrative aspect. "This project was initiated as a result of the exploration of the planet Styx in Galactic Year 752." The view of the expanded planet narrowed to the planet's surface. Dunes and a dusty atmosphere took form. The planet's surface was like a huge desert. "Styx is an unusual planet on which explorers found the Time Gate-a portal that seems to be a sort of time machine." As the angle cleared through the dust, a metal contraption came into view. It was like a huge arch on a metal platform. "A full-scale study of Styx and the Time Gate was undertaken in 752. The Time Gate is sentient. That was about all we knew about it based on our research up to that point. No one yet knew who had created the Time Gate, or for what purpose. However, all became clear after the study conducted in Galactic Year 752."
When the screen faded black again, Cliff took that moment to interject his own view point. "Never heard about this before. Something this big should have been major news."
Robert and his crew once again occupied the screens surface. "After an investigation extending over several weeks, we have discovered that the Time Gate responds to symbological data. And it was recently discovered that when certain special symbological data are sent into the Time Gate, it is possible to obtain recorded data from the Time Gate itself. However, included in these data was information more horrifying than we could have imagined. We learned of the existence of 4D beings."
Sophia felt her breath hitch as Peppita echoed the young Doctor Robert. "A 4D...being?"
In a flash Sophia recalled the carnage created by the Vendeeni. Could there possibly be a threat greater than them? This didn't sound good and Sophia had to fight to keep herself from turning away from the computer screen.
"Four-dimensional entities..." Robert continued. "Possessing technology far more advanced than our own-including the ability to travel through time. Furthermore, as we continued our research, we found out that these beings may actually have created our universe."
"C-created?" Sophia stuttered. She had studied many religions and though she never practiced any herself many of them were comforting. The though of dieing only to be reunited with everyone you had ever loved was appealing and it was a belief carried by many occupants on thousands of planets.
It these four-dimensional entities did create their universe where did that leave room for any other beliefs? To add substance to a religion only proved to adulterate that faith. Religions thrived on believing the intangible. It felt right to her for another to believe in something unseen. She might not have a religion of her own, but she did believe that things happened for a reason and that her life was only determined by herself.
"Sounds like a fairy tale to me."
"Shh, quiet," Fayt said softly as the projected Robert continued his lesson.
"The symbological technology that we use today originated with these beings. The Time Gate on the planet Styx was also created by using their advanced symbological technology. We had thought that the Time Gate was a portal for traveling through time, but it appears we were wrong. The Time Gate is in fact a door to 4D space. Time travel was a phenomenon that occurred as a result of the protective measures taken to prevent us from detecting the existence of 4D space. The 4D universe allows free movement through time... And the Time Gate tapped into that potential. This was a most exciting discovery. Not only were we able to unravel the mystery of the Time Gate, we were also able to confirm the existence of a new species. But then something completely unexpected happened. The Time Gate spoke a warning..."
The screen once again pulled a disappearing act only to resurface with the images of Robert's crew near the Time Gate. What they saw next was actual recorded data from that particular period of time.
"Resign thyselves," a clearly masculine voice emanated from the metal contraption.
"Doctor, the Time Gate..."
Robert cut his subordinate off. "What in the world...!?"
The disembodied voice reinstated itself. "Science in the Eternal Sphere has advanced too far. This cannot be left unchecked."
"The Eternal Sphere?" Sophia had mouthed the very question the young Robert announced aloud.
"The Eternal Sphere is the universe as known to your kind," the Time Gate responded.
"Time Gate, tell us what you mean…" Robert asked without hesitation. "Our science has advanced too far?"
"Symbological genetics is the science of the Creator, as is the symbology on which it is based. It is a forbidden art. Your kind has foolishly trespassed info a forbidden domain. There is a danger that this forbidden technology will be turned against the Creator. Thus, the time is near when he shall unleash the wrath of his Enforcers upon you all."
Sophia felt a shiver travel the course of her spine. This wasn't anything other than genocide. The Time Gate was threatening the end of all of them. This 'Creator' was a cruel god indeed.
The screen paused as Robert's voice sounded over the stilled picture. "We were terrified by the Time Gate's warning. The Creator was going to destroy his creations. It appeared that the Armageddon prophesied by numerous religions was going to come true. We asked whether we could escape annihilation by abandoning symbological genetics. But the Time Gate's reply completely crushed all our hopes."
"It is too late. Even should you abandon your work, another will come to take it up again. Such is the way of your kind. You are contaminated beyond salvation. Your annihilation is inevitable. This is not a warning. This is a sentence. Resign thyselves. Resign thyselves. Resign thyselves."
Sophia involuntarily took a step back. It was déjà vu when she collided with Albel. It was becoming habit for him to stick close to her and she had been too absorbed by everything to notice him there. She tilted her head back and up to smile apologetically at him. He only grunted, but didn't move from his spot.
She was trapped at the front line. It was as if Albel knew how important it was for her to listen that he had blocked her only escape. On her right was Fayt and on her left Maria. Neither of them had noticed her; both had locked their stares on the screen.
Sophia resumed her place at the front and watched as the black screen provided an unappealing counterpart to Robert's narrative. "We returned to Moonbase, stunned. This entity, beyond our understanding, had proclaimed our doom."
Once again Robert and the rest of the lab's crew came into focus.
"At first, we considered reporting this to the top levels of the Federation government, but it was too outrageous—we knew that no one would believe us. Our choice was either to reconcile ourselves to the Creator's wish for our destruction, or to fight to the bitter end. We chose the path of resistance. We would not accept our death sentence. If we are to die, we'll die fighting. Be that as it may, our enemy was the Creator of our universe. How could we face an enemy who possessed absolute power? To fight, we needed a tremendous power of our own. We decided to use symbological genetics in an attempt to create a weapon—a human with powers that could defeat the Creator." He paused and lowered his head. "This was our project."
After another pause, he continued. "Two children were selected to be the subjects of our experiments… I am sure there is no way we could ever apologize enough to these children, no way we could ever earn their forgiveness. People may label us as monsters.
Nevertheless, we feel that this research—and this research alone—has a chance of saving us all. These children are our hope."
"I guess that would be you two?" Fayt looked briefly at the two girls on his left.
"I'm not so sure about that, Fayt," Maria chimed in. "I think he's referring to you and me. See the pods on the screen?" Maria pointed to the screen that had changed again to show two metal pods of equal height. They looked more like coffins for children. "Those are both the same size and we are the same age. It's logical to deduce that we were altered first and Sophia followed after her birth two years after that."
Sophia nodded at Fayt, confirming she believed Maria. There was no arguing logic.
"The computations we ran on the data obtained from the Time Gate indicate that the Creator's power is phenomenal," Robert continued. "We gave one child the power to destroy—the Destruction gene. To the other child, we gave the power of change—the Alteration gene."
"Yup, Maria was right. No mention of me to start with. That data was corrupted if there was no mention of Fayt in what Maria found. Corrupted…That reminds me of what the Time Gate said referring to us. It said 'You are contaminated beyond salvation'. Contaminated…corrupted…something fits there…"
Sophia's thought cut off abruptly. Her mind was on the edge of making a connection so far fetched that it was lunacy in itself. She didn't have to trudge too far into it. Robert had continued his speech and any further thought on the subject would have to wait until later.
"However, we do not expect that the powers of these two children alone are enough to stand up to the 4D Being known as the Creator. We believe our survival rests on one thing: we must enter 4D space and defeat the Creator. That is why we have decided to give the next child, Professor Esteed's child, the power to connect space—the Connection gene. She will be able to use this symbological genetic power to create a path through the Time Gate and into 4D space."
In the famous words of one Cliff Fitter: Bingo! Her questions were answered in one sentence. She was the one to open a path to 4D space.
Fayt moved as if he was going to comfort her, but Sophia stopped him with a simple head nod. She didn't need his comfort – for once. She felt herself go practically numb inside. She knew she was altered and now she knew why. Her determination to deal with this on her own drove her to repel his attempts to give her someone to lean on. She was in this whether she liked it or not; but one thing was for sure – she wasn't going to back down. Not this time. Something in her called to her; telling her that her role here was crucial. People were depending on her. The whole universe, it would seem. As heavy as burden as it was it was hers and she would carry it. Besides, Fayt and Maria had to carry that same burden. They needed to deal with theirs, she would deal with hers.
The voice of her lost uncle caught her attention once more. "The children's powers will not flower immediately. However, when these three children come together, their different symbological genes will resonate, and it should be possible for them to utilize their powers. Beyond this, they must learn control by applying their powers in combat. I planning to talk to the children directly when the time comes, but if something should happen to me, please, whoever is watching this video, let them know. I apologize for asking this of you, but there is a great deal at stake."
"He was wrong," Sophia stated flatly. "We didn't have to come together. We have all used our powers before we had met each other. Maria used hers to fight the Invincible. Fayt fended off the Vendeeni and according to Mirage I had tapped into my own when I was able to read Glyphian text without the help of a translator. In each case the only thing needed was the proper amount of stress."
"Well spoken," Maria beamed. "I am impressed."
Sophia smiled sheepishly. She knew how hard it was to be given praise from the Quark captain and it helped to boost her esteem.
Robert's image bowed to the screen. "'What we did was inhumane and forbidden by Federation law. We could never apologize enough to our children, the subjects of these experiments. Did we do the right thing? This is a question I find myself unable to answer. I'm sure we'll find out when the final day of judgment arrives. If the children choose annihilation—not to use their powers—then so be it. These powers belong to the children, and it is up to them to decide how to use them…" Robert paused again, finding it difficult to continue. He swallowed hard and forced himself on. "Finally, I have something I want to say to our children… I feel horrible for making you bear this heavy burden. I will not ask for your forgiveness. I only ask that you choose your own path. Think, decide, act for yourselves. Even if you choose to fight, even if you choose to accept annihilation. That is all we, your self-indulgent parents, desire from you. We love you."
The monitor went blank; ending the transmission.
"I forgive you," Sophia whispered too low for even herself to hear. She grabbed a hold of herself, forcing her voice out. "Why us?"
"I think it had to be us. They believed we could do it…"
Sophia nodded at Fayt; forcing a small smile to cross her lips. "I gotta be honest; I still don't really understand what's going on. But it's obvious our parents left the future in our hands."
"Our genes have determined our destinies." Maria's voice was sharp and heavy with apprehension.
"I wouldn't necessarily agree…" Sophia replied softly.
"That might have been true until now," Fayt said gesturing toward the screen, "but like my dad said, the choice is in our hands now."
Maria paused and shifted her gaze between the two Earthlings. Her face brightened a bit even if a smile did not show on her lips. "You're right."
"Time to go meet the boss!" Peppita interpreted.
Fayt nodded at her. "To the planet Styx."
Everyone turned to exit the lab with the exception of Sophia who was rummaging through a stack of data discs. She had just found what she wanted when Maria noticed her efforts.
"What are you doing?"
Sophia simply answered her with a smile as she inserted the disc into the consol. "I figure this would help Commodore Wittcomb better than a verbal report."
Moving her hands swiftly over the consol, Sophia transferred the data they had just found onto the disc.
"Why, Sophia, I never would have figured you for a computer guru."
Sophia grinned at the girl. "A girl's got to have her secrets…"
Maria nodded and silently promised to keep her secret. The only other person who had witness the events between them was Albel. He had stopped at the door behind the others when the two girls had stayed behind.
After pocketing the disc Sophia followed behind Maria and chanced a smile at him as she passed. He rolled his eyes softly and she giggled before passing him. He didn't really know what it was about, but in his own way he had agreed not to share what he had seen.
Sophia's confidence was rising by the second. She felt a true friendship was dawning between her and Maria as well as a deep understanding shared by her and Albel. She was creating homes for her new friends in special places in her heart and they were filling those places nicely.
If not for the pending doom, life would be more than she had ever hoped for.
The Recreational Zone was easily reached. Most of the threats that had appeared earlier were either eliminated earlier (with their first walk through) or easily avoided. The groups stopped at the port to the Aquaelie as Fayt turned to address the youngest of them.
"Peppita. We have to say good-bye here."
"Whaaaat!? NO! I don't wanna!!!"
"Don't throw a tantrum… Okay?" Sophia approached the girl and automatically stooped, hands on her knees, to talk to the girl eye to eye.
"But everyone else is going! I wanna go, too!"
"Yes," Fayt answered, "but from there we're going on into 4D space."
"To fight the Creator, right?"
Maria stepped up to insert her own piece of mind. "Yeah, because if we don't, everything will end."
"Then I wanna fight, too! I don't want everything to end! Everyone's fighting but me! Don't leave me all alone here!"
Sophia bit her lip a bit at Peppitta's objections. She did sound so much like a child. "But it's dangerous. We don't even know what kinda place it is!"
"Yeah, well, but everyone's still going anyway," Peppita continued to whine.
"That's right," Fayt countered flatly.
"Go back to your parents." Maria crossed her arms, taking an authority pose. "This is serious. Where we're going is no place for children."
"That's a little harsh…"
"But it's true," Maria shot back at Sophia. "A child that doesn't know what she's getting into will only slow us down."
Everyone paused for a moment; each turning Maria's words over in their heads.
"You know, the Circus Master…isn't really my dad," Peppita confessed in as serious a tone as she could muster. "My real dad's a soldier in the Pangalactic Federation. That's what my mom told me, before she died. He's a brave, brave soldier, and he's worked his whole life to protect people. My mom always said I take after him."
Empathy laced his voice as Fayt squeezed the only response he could to Peppita's confession. "Peppita…"
"Miss Maria," Peppita turned to address the Quark leader, "if we don't defeat the Creator, everything's gonna end, right?"
"Yes."
"I don't really understand the hard stuff, but… I think I understand what we gotta do. I wanna go. I have to save the Circus Master, and Ursus, and all the rest… I know what I'm getting into, I don't care if I die trying! Please…take me with you!!!"
"Peppita," the word slurred out of Fayt's mouth like syrup. He was clearly choosing his words with efforts that marked a true leader. "I care if you die."
Sophia sighed. Knowing Fayt as she did, she knew exactly what he was going to say. Though part of her still objected to it, it felt right somehow. "Listen to Fayt, Peppita."
Fayt gave her a quick smile before facing Peppita with a serious face. "If you're going to come with us, you have to want to live. Do you understand? Never say anything like that again."
"What?" Peppita took a step back before holding her ground.
"You can't mean…" Maria's voice wandered off as her disbelief became evident.
"We're not going there to die. We're going there to live… Understand?"
Sophia felt herself mentally applauded his words. Truer words had never been spoken in her presence and there was power in them.
"Mm-hmm, yes!" The girl's face beamed with understanding and a hint of excitement.
Sophia instinctively turned to inspect Albel just in time to see his eyes roll, but this time in discontent. It was clear that he disagreed with the whole thing completely.
At Fayt's command, Peppita ran off to get the Circus Master's permission. Since she was running at top speed, it didn't take long for her to get back to the waiting group. Her request had been granted and she was the newest member of the party setting out to save the universe.
Sophia let the information swarm in her head, testing the waters of her beliefs. They were setting out to save, not the world, but the universe. That was a tall order and none of them were trained in this. Albel and Nel were trained soldiers. Cliff was trained in a Klausian martial arts of types and Maria was more than apt with her guns. Fayt had adapted to his sword with excellent progress and Sophia had become quite a mage with her symbology. Had the Federation chosen a crew for this, they would not be it but each was more than willing to fill their role in this regardless.
As they entered the Aquaelie, Cliff bid his final farewell to Moonbase with a statement only he would say.
"Time to smack the Creator good! No problem!"
But that was a problem and Sophia was worried. She kept her head high, taking up her position as second to last in line. Behind her, Albel was ever present. She couldn't help but to relax. What ever the future held, she was sure that Albel would face it unflinching. He was never far from her, physically, and she could use his confidence and determination to amplify her own.
She was happy Albel had come along, more now than ever. But she still couldn't help but to wonder why he never treaded far from her side. She wasn't the strongest fighter in the group. Her symbology might surpass everyone else's but her strength was still rocky. Albel strived for perfection and she was far from perfect. Still, the warrior was never out of arms reach unless he was in the middle of battle or they were spending a night in separate quarters.
Leaving Moonbase behind only increased the mental burden she carried. She didn't slump, as she wanted to, as she boarded the Aquaelie. She wasn't defeated yet.
oOo-oOo-oOo-oOo-oOo--oOo-oOo-oOo-oOo-oOo--oOo-oOo-oOo-oOo-oOo
(A/N) YEAH! Finally an update! Yay… um, yeah. I was completely in the mood and just sat down for about an hour and this is what I produced. A lot of story line, but I did try to project a good share of Alphia in it.