Disclaimer: I do not own this, sad as the fact may be for me. If I did I'd be rich, not wondering when I'll get my next allowance.
A/N Brownie points go to whoever finds the Mummy quote. It is slightly altered but only by a word or two.
Review Response:
Blade liger knight – I didn't dislike writing the last chapter… it's just that I kept erasing bits and rewriting the scenes surrounding their arrival at the Horus Guard safe house. I did the campfire part and Sheelos kiss right off the bat with only a few grammatical errors. It was just that darn middle part.
A fan of fire emblem – (blushes) Thankies. I hope that I continue to write up to those standards. Also, I love the 'Woohoo.' I use the same word sometimes.
SweetMisery430 – Yay for April 30th birthdays! Thanks for the reviews; it's always nice to hear from new readers. I'm glad that everyone likes the Egyptian names; on Yahoo the Pyramids game has all the chat/game forums named after the Egyptian Gods. (Grins) I've been playing on 'Isis.'
The Zelda Master – Of course Zelos is going to get himself into trouble. It's what he's best at. I also liked what you said about Lethian. It's good to know that I haven't made one of those super annoying OCs… I'm reserving that right for Isis. She likes to annoy; specifically, Yuan.
Bballstar42 – I know what you mean about being busy. School starts this Monday and I'm about to be swamped with homework. That's what I get for taking Physics and Pre-Cal (both Pre-AP) during my junior year at High School. I swear I was possessed when I picked my schedule.
Chapter 9
Seles settled down on a kitchen stool while Presea perched on the counter next to her and Genis stood on the other side. Colette took the second stool and Lloyd stood behind her, his arms encircling her protectively. Raine was on the third and final stool and Kratos was sitting on the floor just across the walkway into the main kitchen area. Yuan was standing next to Isis and Ra and would occasionally start miming along with them as they spoke.
"So, what does 'telekinetic' mean?" Lloyd asked as soon as everyone settled down.
"Whoa, he remembered the pronunciation!" Genis was immediately glared at.
"Telekinetic is a term used for a person with the power to move objects with only the power of their mind." Isis looked around and then pounced and, dragging her prey over to where she'd been standing, sat in her captured chair. "It's also referred to as telekinesis, just in case people aren't confused enough as it is." There was a pause as Isis turned in her seat to glare at the blue-haired half-elf. "I know you're mocking me, El Pollo, so, unless you want me to go ahead and relate that story, I suggest you stop."
Yuan clamped his mouth shut and nodded quickly.
"Okay, any question, comments, or concerns… and no, the El Pollo nickname will not be discussed at this time." Isis blinked and surveyed the listeners.
"How common are telekinetics?" Seles began the Q and A round.
"A little less common than empaths, but not by much," Ra supplied.
"What other psychic talents are out there?" Raine inquired.
"There are those, such as Yuan and Kratos, who have naturally strong psychic shielding and no other known abilities," Isis answered. "Then there are 'seekers' and they are incredibly rare. They can identify latent and emerging talents and track sufficiently powerful psionic signatures without even knowing the identity of the one they're following."
"Clairvoyants are another form," Ra continued. "They can see the past in a few cases, but see possible futures. Precognizant talent isn't always accurate because, simply by reporting their visions of the future, a change in the future is made."
Genis had, by then, moved over to stand across from Lloyd and was muttering definitions to his friend.
"What kind of a… psychic is Zelos?" Seles pressed, returning the topic to her brother.
"Empath for sure, but I don't think he's ever been tested…" Isis found herself being interrupted by Ra.
"Oh he's been tested, hasn't he Yuan?" the blonde smirked as the other man flinched and drifted away slightly. "It's a shot in the dark here, but I'm willing to bet that when Zelos was brought to Cruxis he encountered Mithos Yggdrasill right off, just as every other empath that man had conned into joining his empire. Except the man's eroding mental shields showed Zelos immediately what it took us years to see.
"Yggdrasill was insane and it takes highly skilled shielding techniques to keep that kind of sickness from hurting or even scarring an empath. Surely Yuan, it must have become painfully obvious that a twenty-year-old who was getting sick around that man was in need of help to survive in that Mithos' presence." Ra tilted his head as he observed the older angel. "You had to have tested him and hidden most of the results."
"Yuan?" Seles turned to him.
"Most latent talent never shows up," Yuan grumbled. "He was showing clear signs of empathy, so I taught him to control it. There was no reason to believe that any telekinetic or telepathic abilities were even active in him, because they weren't. You've said it yourself, Isis, that telling someone what latent abilities they have may in fact black those abilities from surfacing."
"Yes, I do recall mentioning that a few times…" Isis replied.
"More like ranting," Kratos interrupted, "for about a month straight after one of your various students lost every ability they might have had because Ra had the bright idea of telling that person. Except you didn't just rant to him. You ranted to everyone that crossed your path."
"I think my ex-boss is still mad that I blew a fuse," was the woman's impish reply.
"I pretended to be deaf that month," Yuan added.
"You lied to me?"
"Uh, Isis, I lie to everyone. What makes you so special?"
"I was your coworker."
"Yes, well that just makes you more gullible."
There was a noise from the front room and all eyes fixed onto the hallway. Suddenly, Sheena walked in, a distinctly fed up look upon her face. "That stupid, idiotic Chosen woke up and walked out."
"What do you mean walked out?" Seles demanded.
"He… uh… distracted me, walked out the door, and practically vanished out there."
Silence reined for a moment and then Yuan spoke up. "You do realize that stupid and idiotic mean the same thing, right? Besides those words aren't strong enough to describe that egocentric imbecile."
"Why don't we locate him first and insult him second," Isis said, standing up and then putting out a hand to grab Yuan's shoulder. "Ugh, the terror of low blood-pressure." (A/N You know those stars before your eyes when you stand up after sitting for a while?)
"I don't sense him," Ra said loudly.
"He must've taken a Rheaird. The darn things can move out of range in under a minute when people gun it." Isis paused and added, "but they have to be tinkered with first. Yuan, you didn't teach him mechanics, did you?"
"No, that would have been the Renegade Chief Engineer."
"They get Chief Engineers?" Isis turned to Ra, a pout forming on her face. The blonde simply shrugged, grabbed the ebony haired woman's arm and proceeded to drag her from the room. "Why don't we have Chief Engineers?"
"She's insane," Raine muttered.
"It's a cover… mostly," Kratos replied in an equally soft tone as he grabbed Raine's proffered hand and hauled himself to his feet.
"What do you mean mostly?"
"Just never come between Isis and chocolate donuts with sprinkles and you won't have to find out."
/o/
Zelos was immensely proud of his Rheaird. It was one of the fastest out there and he made it that way himself. Sure, he tinkered with it a little to make it hit speeds that were dangerous on an uncovered vehicle, but he wanted to reach Sybak in under an hour and a half (which was the normal flying time when not pushing the engines).
That's why, a little less than forty minutes later, the extremely proud mechanical minded ex-Chosen put his Rheaird back into his wing-pack and headed into the city of bookworms.
The populace started at him, like they had before, but this time Zelos didn't care. He knew exactly where he was going and couldn't be bothered to deal withthe prying minds of those around him.
At least he didn't until a familiar face popped out of the Inn.
"Lethian!" Zelos raced over, grinning at his old school buddy. "It's been way too long. How are you?"
"I'm good." The man grinned; tilting his head to the side in a carefree manner… but there was something amiss about him.
"Is something wrong?" Zelos inquired.
"No, of course not. Unfortunately, I can't stay and chat just yet, Zel. I've got a… job now and I have to make a business call in person for the CEO."
"Maybe we can catch up later. I'll see you around, 'Thian."
"You got it." Lethian turned and walked off into the crowded streets of Sybak.
Zelos fought the irrational urge to follow the brunette and walked into the crowd. He needed to find Ibis and confirm what he'd seen. If what Ma'at had shown him was right, Ibis was far older than the twenty-something he pretended.
If Ma'at had shown Zelos the truth it would mean that Ibis was nearly 3,000 years old.
/o/
It was days like this that Ibis truly dreaded. Days when he'd seen unavoidable occurrences in the future.
People claimed that destiny and fate ruled the world, but anyone touched with even a small amount of precog abilities knew different. The future was constantly in motion. Small things affected the paths someone might take their life on just as much as the big things.
Unfortunately, personalities and coincidence made some paths more likely or even unavoidable to the point where there were no other alternatives.
This was one of those moments. Ibis hated those moments; something sad always happened during them. Though, he had to admit that they didn't come often and this one was no where as bad as the incident where Morphia had died.
Now that had been a catastrophe. What made it worse for him was the fact that no one had listened to his predictions despite the fact that he'd never been wrong before.
Sometimes seeing and telling about the future simply wasn't enough to change it. Usually it was; it was the unusual circumstances one had to worry about.
The door opened at thirty minutes till 3:00 and in walked Zelos Wilder.
"Chosen… er… sorry, Zelos. What are you doing here?" Ibis genuinely awaited the answer. While he knew what the basics of the events to occur would be, he didn't what was said or who the second person to arrive would be. "I thought you would be traveling with your friends for several weeks."
"Something has… come up," Zelos replied, sinking tiredly into a chair. "I encountered someone today that claimed to have known you in the past." There was a long pause and he added, "her name is Ma'at."
"Oh…" Ibis pulled out a second chair and sat down. "In that case… what is it you wish to know?"
"I guess I wanted to know if you really are a 3,000-year-old angel with book-worm tendencies."
"Somehow, I doubt that's how she described me."
"She attacked me psychically and I burned out her power. She used an image of you in a brief attempt to distract me."
"Lovely lady, isn't she?"
"I dunno, I figured insane fit her better."
Ibis nodded. "True." There was a long silence and then Ibis added, "there's somebody at the door, would you open it before they knock? I do love surprising customers, after all."
A dark haired half-elf walked in and halted; surprise evident on his and Zelos' face. Ibis checked the time. Twenty till three. Ibis really, truly hated having precog talent.
/o/
Zelos sat down again, giving Lethian a curious look. "Finished your meeting already?" Somehow, he already knew the answer.
"My meeting is with the doctor who runs this establishment."
"The name is Ibis, what's yours? You're apparently already acquainted with my friend," the old angel tilted his head to the side curiously.
"I'm Lethian. I represent a group of people you once knew who would like you to rejoin their ranks."
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline. If you would give Set a message for me, though?"
"Set?" Zelos' confusion vanished. "Lethian, you're working for the Anubian Warriors, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"They're murderers!"
"I don't have to justify myself to you, Zelos. Now," Lethian turned to Ibis, "what message do you wish to have brought to Set?"
"Never mind," Ibis shook his head, "I really don't think I should say it after all."
Silence filled the room and Lethian turned towards the door. "Are you sure you won't rejoin Set and Apophis? They are incredibly powerful. The next messenger they send will probably be under orders to kill you."
"I am certain in my choice, young-ling. It is you who should reconsider your allegiances."
Lethian put his hand on the doorknob.
"I'm not asking you to justify yourself, Lethian," Zelos moved to stand beside his friend. "I'm asking you as a friend why your working for people known for killing first and forgetting the questions later."
"They saved me." Lethian's voice was almost inaudible as he continued. "I was in an accident on the Fooji Mountains about a year-and-a-half ago. I'd have died if one of the operatives hadn't found me due to my suddenly active empathic abilities. As a… as a half-elf, I wouldn't have received help otherwise."
"Surely you've repaid that debt by now…" Zelos began, but Lethian cut him off.
"Didn't you hear me? I'm a half-elf! Why should you care anymore?"
Uncertainly, Zelos put a hand on the other man's shoulder and projected a feeling of calm… he hoped. "I knew, okay. At school, I knew you'd hacked into the computers and altered your file to state 'elf' instead of 'half-elf.'"
"How…"
"When Seles met you, she told me. I think she wanted to ruin any friendships I had." Zelos smiled at the look on Lethian's face. "She's a fourth elven, remember?
"I saw you not as a member of your race, but as a unique individual and a good friend that I trusted with many of my secrets," Zelos dropped his hand to his side and backed away. "I'm sorry you didn't seem to do the same for me."
"Zelos…"
"You've done you're job here. Shouldn't you report back to headquarters or something?" The smile was gone; a closed look had appeared on the redhead's face.
"Yeah, I should." Lethian pulled the door open.
"If you ever want help backing out of that organization… you'll know how to find me, I'm sure." Zelos closed the door before Lethian could ask what he meant.
/o/
"So, where are we going?" Isis asked Yuan as the gang entered Meltokio.
"Because Ra burned down Zelos' mansion…"
"I didn't burn it down; Apophis did that," Ra snarled.
"Whatever," Yuan continued, "the point is that wherever Zelos has gone, he'll probably hear about what happened and want to make a quick stop here. That is why we're going to the brat's mansion."
"I think he's right," Seles added, smiling at the 4,000-year-old half-elf.
"At least someone here isn't humoring him," Kratos muttered. Raine gave him a surprised look and added, "I think he's gone senile in his old age."
"You have no room to talk…"
"Yes I do, I know how you use to act."
"You two sound a lot like Lloyd and Genis," Presea mused, exchanging amused looks with Raine and Colette when the two best friends raised a protest.
Sheena, who had run ahead, reappeared at that moment. "The house looks really bad. There's been a ton of structural damage… but Gnome said that what's left should support a few people."
"Maybe we ought to let Zelos decide who goes in when he gets here," Yuan persisted. The group turned the corner and stared at the damaged home.
"I volunteer myself to keep watch outside," Seles muttered, moving to stand beside Yuan.
"Me too, kiddo," the half-elf muttered in reply.
/o/
"I'm sorry about your friend," Ibis finally said, breaking the stillness.
"Lethian and I are a lot alike… he'll do what's right in the end, and that's what counts." Zelos sighed and turned around. "What are you going to do? I guess the whole doctor thing'll have to be put on hold."
"Unfortunately. I have always loved healing people. Unlike my colleagues from my time as part of the Firelight Mirror project, I was a human and was unable to heal with magic. When I received an infusion of Aionis, I grew to love healing and, though the magic is less now than it once was, I've devoted myself to being a true doctor."
"You could come with me for a while…"
"Would you're friends mind?"
"We've been pulled into a… quest for the Mirror on the behalf of the Horus Guard. We're going to destroy it."
"And you'll be the one to find it?"
"I think that'll end up being the gist of it. Apparently I'm a closet telepath."
Ibis chuckled and gathered a few supplies from a nearby cabinet. "What will happen to this place? It really is the ideal location."
"I'll keep it on hold. I've certainly got more than enough gald to hold it for years."
"I couldn't…"
"You can't, but luckily enough I can."
"Are you planning to rejoin your companions where you left them?"
"Yeah… in Altamira."
"Have you seen your mansion yet…" Ibis paused and smiled wanly at Zelos startled appearance. "News from Meltokio says that it was burned severely. I suggest that we go there, first. You should reclaim whatever is left before scavengers take your best possessions."
Zelos nodded slowly, but didn't reply. All he could do was try to imagine the state of his family home.
A/N Well, now Zelos knows about his house. Next chappie, Zelos searches his house and Ibis is reunited with Isis.
Well, two days till Monday… the next update will occur during school. (Sobs theatrically) I don't want to go back to school! It takes away from fanfiction time… My mom doesn't understand that fanfiction is more important than school. She seems to think I've got my priorities messed up.
Anywho, please review. (Say that aloud, it rhymes.)