A.N:Again thank you for reviews. Greatly appreciated yada yada yada.

Nothing to say really.

Enjoy.

Plans

Kratos paced around the small living room of the safe-house, arms held behind his back, hands wringing unconsciously. It had been 4 days since he'd seen Lloyd and he and Colette were now waiting for him to arrive. Hopefully, he would arrive in the next half-hour.

Striding to the small, paned window he stared out into the overgrown garden, watching the half-elves that he and Colette had recruited and/ or rescued, as they wandered around outside. Many of them were simply here for refuge from the threat of the Saloth'sarians, but there were some that were willing to rage against the organisation and that was at least better than nothing.

The seraph sighed heavily, knowing they were going to need more if they wanted to make a decent charge on the Saloth'sarians. They didn't have to be able to win…just buy some time whilst the captives escaped.

Walking to the door, he stepped outside into the weak sunlight that was filtering through the trees, nodding to the few half-elves that had enough nerve to smile at him or offer some form of acknowledgement. Most lowered their eyes and pretended they hadn't noticed him, still afraid of the angel. It was only because of Sequoia that most of them were here in the first place.

Speaking of whom, the girl was sat in the corner of the garden, plucking blades of grass from the floor whilst speaking to the ex-chosen. From what he had overheard from their conversations before, Sequoia's sister had been captured when Exire had fallen and she was now discussing the likelihood of seeing her again.

Kratos shook his head, hearing the blonde girl assuring her that her sibling was still alive. She might well be. But she might not…and Kratos found it to be a bad idea to assure someone that a loved one was alive when they could well be dead. Sequoia was strong, but from the sounds of it, if she lost her sister, it would break her.

Noishe yipped suddenly, startling the people present and several of the particularly nervous half-elves scattered towards the house. Kratos eyed them as they huddled together near the door.

"Noishe…"

The protozoan yipped again, running to Kratos and then back to the gate. The seraph followed, pulling a sword belonging to one of the recruits had been using for training from the ground, holding it loosely. He could probably fight off whatever was coming relatively easily and Colette was on standby too.

One of the recruits, Coe, the young man from Meltokio stepped up to his side. He had proven to be a good fighter and he was surprisingly eager to prove himself further to the seraph.

Kratos nodded to him and Coe drew out his short sword.

The bushes at the edge of the clearing rustled, footsteps pounding through the forest and then the figure was bursting out from the greenery, skidding into the clearing, kicking up dust as he did.

"Lloyd," Kratos relaxed, throwing the sword aside, gesturing to Coe and the others to ease up, "You couldn't have sent any warning before hand?"

"Well sorry, but I'm kinda busy, you know?"

"But still…"

Lloyd shrugged "I'm just keeping you…what's the word…vigilant?"

"Hmm…"

"Hey Colette!" he lifted a hand, waving to his girlfriend who ran over to him, throwing herself into his arms.

"Lloyd! You're back. I'm so happy you're safe."

"Colette, I'll be fine. I'm in control there, remember? and I know I'm dumb, but I'm not dumb enough to let the plan slip."

"I know but I still worry for you."

He hugged her "You dork, there's no reason for you to."

Kratos rolled his eyes, heading back further into the boundaries of the cottage's garden.

"So, anyway, I'm going to make dinner now…do you want some?"

Lloyd nodded "Sure. I'll some and give you a hand in a minute, but I need to speak to Dad first."

Colette beamed, calling to the 'guests' that she was about to make a meal. A few stepped forwards, offering their assistance and Kratos nodded appreciatively at the sight. They were starting to trust Colette at the very least.

Kratos settled himself onto a log bench, Noishe curling up at his feet as Sequoia and Lloyd joined him.

"How many are here now?" Lloyd asked, clearly anxious to get on with the exchange of information. Kratos scanned the crowd in the garden.

"Maybe twenty."
"That's not going to be enough!"

"I'm aware. But not all of these half-elves are willing to fight."

Lloyd ran a hand through his hair. "How many are?"

"Six, maybe seven. There are ten of us in total if you include myself, Colette and Sequoia." He gestured to the girl sitting beside Noishe.

"You're fighting too huh?" Lloyd turned to Sequoia and she nodded.

"Yeah, Professor Aurion is teaching me how to use a sword."

The young man grinned "Ouch, that's tough luck getting stuck with Kratos to teach you swordsmanship…"

Kratos scowled.

"…but at least you know you're getting the best teacher possible for it."

Lloyd grinned at his father, and the older man inclined his head slightly in silent thanks. The brunet took the gesture for what it was.

"Anyway…I suppose you want an update on the situation in Saloth'sar's base huh?"

"It would be useful Lloyd."

The boy shrugged. "S'going pretty well. The workers are on our side almost completely now and we're sure that the message has been spread through most of the camp. Regal was speaking with one of the higher ups…seems something's happened that's put all the half-elves we can't reach on edge. Half of them are panicking and half are starting to get a bit rebellious."

"As long as they don't put themselves or their in-mates in danger that's a positive sign…"

Lloyd nodded. "Yeah. Regal's trying to find out what's happened to stir them up. It was something about a scientist worker being taken to the leader or something but he couldn't get any more than that."

Kratos tapped his chin thoughtfully. "It sounds as though they've already established a leader of their escape on their own. If that person was taken away, it would cause an uproar."

"Bet it's the Professor."

"…It wouldn't be a surprise to learn that it was but…if that is the case, I fear for her safety."

"Dad, you know Professor Sage…she can handle herself."

"She's not impervious, Lloyd. Raine is an incredible strong and resourceful woman, that goes without saying but…even she can be broken if they find the right means."

"…You're not much for optimism, are you Professor?" Sequoia questioned, looking at her teacher. He smiled grimly.

"I merely prefer to have a realistic outlook….and optimism cannot always be a factor of that."

"Pessimist."

Kratos rolled his eyes, pulling himself up from the log.

"With the captives in their current state, they're only going to grow more agitated at the guards and be more willing to strike back as time passes," he stated, swapping back to the original conversation. "Which means that the opportune time to strike will be in a week or a fortnight."

"That's…not long."

"No, it isn't. Tomorrow we must continue our task of trying to gather more half-elves, but this time on a larger scale."

"How?"

"Each of us, myself, Colette and Lloyd, will take a group of half-elves to each continent. We visit every city and send our recruits out to try and gain more. Once we've completed that task we meet back at a designated area…"

"And then?"

"We repeat the process before you return to Saloth'sar, Lloyd."

"And we go with these guys," Lloyd gestured to the half-elves in the garden "to protect them from the humans and Saloth'sarians."

"Correct."

"Will that work?"

"We don't have a choice in this situation…"

Lloyd nodded. "Yeah."

"Sequoia. Can you inform the others of tomorrow's plan?"

The girl nodded "yeah but…"

"Next training session will be shortly after dinner…" the seraph gave a half smile at the girl, aware of just how eager she was to learn the ways of the sword.

Grinning she turned, walking into the crowd of half-elves in the garden.

--

Zelos sighed, running a hand through his hair as he scanned the crowd in the mess hall, grumbling when his fingers became tangled in a knot. He yanked his fingers through it roughly, no longer caring about the state of it.

Sheena rolled her eyes as she sat beside him, irritated by his incessant grumblings. She played idly with the bowl of soup in front of her, pushing her spoon around in the brown liquid and throwing a chunk of bread in. It swelled and sank.

17 days and counting since capture and the lack of activity was starting to grate on her nerves. She lifted her head, looking around the hall at the assembled tunnel diggers. They were talking quietly, animatedly and glancing back at her and Zelos before throwing their glances to Regal and Presea.

The project managers had taken to overseeing them during 'recreational' time. Basically it was an excuse to speak with them.

Regal jostled slightly in his seat, looking to Sheena and nodding. The ninja took the hint, tapping Zelos on the shoulder and quickly swallowing the soup before dumping the bowl on a tray and leaving, the red-head close behind.

He was already outside.

"Man, you move fast," Zelos commented, gesturing back to the mess hall.

"No time. I've discovered what has caused unrest among the half-elves that we're unable to contact."

"Well…"

"There is a project, a science project being conducted by the half-elves who are of a high enough intelligence to aid the project. I don't know the exact details, but the basic principle is to destroy the entire race of half-elves…"

"No wonder they're pissed but…"

Regal shook his head. "Most of the captives don't know about the nature of the project and we'd be better off keeping it that way until we really need to use that information."

"So if that's not got them rattled what has?"

"The head researcher of the project has recently met with the leader and is being forced to work on an extra area of the project or so I hear…"

"So what?"

"She is either refusing or unable to complete the task and the half-elves are looking to her to lead the escape. If she cannot complete the task, eventually she'll be killed."

"And they obviously don't want that to happen, so they're starting to freak out."

"Correct."

Zelos looked from Sheena to Regal and bit his lip. "Not to sound harsh but…why should we care? I know we shouldn't do the whole sacrificing thing and Lloyd would kill me to hear me suggest this but…if this half-elf chick dies, the captives go into over-limit on the anger scale and it makes it easier to get them to believe in us and get them out of here."

"Zelos you can't…!"

"Sheena, think about it! If we.."

"We cannot." Regal stated flatly, crossing his arms over his chest

"Why not?"

"Because the head-researcher, the leader of the escape plan that coincides with ours is none other than our Raine Sage."

--

Kratos beat his wings heavily as he perched on the spire of the Flanoir cathedral's spire, trying to hold himself in place as his feet slipped on the frosty roof. The spine offered an excellent vantage point for most of the town as well as the snow fields that lay beyond.

He scanned the white town quickly before turning back to look at the blue spire that stood between two snowy mountains far in the distance, a flag whipping in the artic wind emblazoned with a pair of broken swan's wings.

The angel scowled. It seems Saloth'sar had branches all over the world, just to make sure it captured all the half-elves it could. Or was there an ulterior motive?

He shook his head, bringing his view back to the town. It was an idea he could question later, when there weren't half-elves in potential danger. He had to admit though; it was brazen of the Saloth'sarians to commander the Renegade's former base and fly their flag from it. Admittedly people wouldn't actually be able to see it but…the fact that the Renegades had abandoned the Flanoir headquarters was greatly unsettling to Kratos. It made him question what had happened to Yuan…the man normally wouldn't stand for such an act.

A voice below caught his attention and Kratos looked down to see a group of 13 people gathering on the balcony that overlooked the city. Among them, he could just make out the violet hair of Sequoia and the raven black mop of Coe.

Coe was looking around clearly wondering where Kratos was and the seraph kicked off from the roof, sending snow scattering to the floor. He glided over the town, staying high to avoid notice before circling around to the gates, making his entrance by foot so as not to arouse suspicion. He walked quickly, springing up the steps, his eyes and ears on high alert for any sign of danger for the half-elves. With such a large group of them, it would be hard not to attract attention and as far as he knew, Sequoia and Coe were the only ones who could fight…not nearly enough to protect a group that size.

Pivoting he rounded a hairpin corner, knocking snow from a banister as he climbed a new set of steps.

"What are we waiting for?"

"Is there someone we're supposed to meet?"

"How do we know this ain't a trick?!"

The voices were rising, confused and scared by the situation and Kratos hurried, picking Sequoia's voice out among the crowd.

"Quiet all of you! Do you want to attract the attention of all the humans in this town?"

"But…"

"Hush! We have a contact, our…leader and he's going to get us out of here safely. He'll be here any sec…"

Kratos pulled himself up the final step, snow crunching loudly beneath his black boots as he strode towards the group.

Sequoia turned at the noise, smirking when she saw her teacher. "Speak of the devil. You have excellent timing, you know that?"

The ex-mercenary inclined his head, stopping between Coe and Sequoia who were heading the group. "Is this everyone who'll come?"

She nodded "Yes. That we could find, anyway. We've got eight new guys…right?"

Eight hands raised slowly and Kratos nodded. "That's something at least."

The half-elves that had joined previously moved away from the newcomers, clustering behind him so that he could get a look at them.

The red-head shrugged uncomfortably, not at ease with the idea of them standing behind him. Swallowing, he ignored it.

"How many of you are fully aware of the threat to your race?"

They murmured in response, all raising their hands. "Good. How many of you understand and believe in what Sequoia had, I hope, told you?"

Same response.

Kratos raked his eyes over the crowd. "How many of you are willing to fight?"

Five.

"Good. Everyone listen to this now," and the party behind him moved to face him as he spoke. "We can't afford to arouse suspicion so I want you to leave in groups of two or three for safety. Sequoia, Coe you go ahead now and wait outside the city to guide everyone to the appropriate place."

The two scurried off. "Now the rest of you, arrange yourself into groups…I want you three to go around the long way to the entrance." He pointed to a group and sent them hurrying off in the direction he had gestured to. "You two, do you know the back entrance to the city?"

Nods.

"Alright, go through that way then circle around to the entrance. Stay close to the city walls!...the rest of you, leave via alternating routes in your groups. You three, go after Sequoia and Coe now."

He instructed.

"What are you going to do Mr…?"

"Kratos. Just Kratos. I'll accompany the last group."
"How are we getting off the continent?" Kratos waved a hand, silencing them.

"All in good time. Next group…"

--

"Wow!"

Lloyd dropped off his Rheiard before it had even descended fully, landing heavily beside his father who stood, gazing out at the large party before him.

Fifty or more Rheiards, carriages and even dragons stood around the enclosed area of the plain, a host of half-elves grouped in the middle.

"…How many?"

Kratos shrugged. "How many have you just brought?"

"Uh…fifty or so?"

They watched as the half-elves that had followed Lloyd descended, merging with the rest of the recruits.

"Then we have approximately one hundred newcomers."

"Will that be enough?"

"About two thirds of them are willing to fight. So that's roughly sixty-six." He sighed, rubbing his forehead "It could be."

"We've got tomorrow too. With me here at least."

"Yes…Lloyd, when you return to Saloth'sar find out the state among the captives and then send word to me asap. Scout out the amount of guards around the entrances, the amount in total…everything you can about the structure of the security."

"And then report back when I leave again?"

"Of course."

Lloyd grinned. "We're close aren't we?"

"Perhaps…if we can get enough half-elves and get create the arrangements and strategies for breaking in…then we might just be able to do it within two weeks."

The brunet turned back to the mass of half-elves in tandem with his father, raising his head and standing beside him as the older man called them to order.

--

In his cell, Genis huddled into a corner, curling himself up. Alone and wishing he had listened to Raine.

Ok so that ending didn't run as smoothly as I'd hoped. And not much happened in this chapter. And I added Genis in because I felt guilty for locking him in a cell and leaving him on his own.

On the plus side, I don't have any exams for about 2 weeks now so I might be able to get some decent, interesting stuff written as opposed to this almost filler-ish chapter.

Please push my button now.