Sorry this took so long, college is finally winding down. As always enjoy~

Was it a Dream?

[Blue]

I woke up in my room like any other day, the sun hadn't begun to peak through the windows yet but the house was full of bustle. I slinked out of bed lazily shuffling towards the shower, clothes clutched in my hand. To my immense disappointment the shower was already in use. I growled leaving my clothes in a pile near the door. Shuffling down stairs, I went to the kitchen and sat down on a stool at the bar counter. I let out a huff and rested my head on my arms.

Having caught my audible huff, "haha good morning to you too dear." That was followed by the clinking and clanking of pots and pans. "Here you are love, one tall order of flap jacks, bone-appetite." She chuckled as she laid the plate in front of me. I sat up facing her, she cocked her head in question, "Aw what's with the long face dear? Did the wind bring you bad dreams?" I shrugged, "I don't know something feels wrong, when I look at you I feel like I'm drowning in sorrow. I just feel like bawling." She reached forward and ruffled my hair with a laugh, "Nothing is wrong dear, I'm sure it's just the lingering tendrils of your nightmare." I sighed, turning my attention to the food before me.

The front door flew open behind me with a loud bang. Rain rode with the wind dampening my clothes. "Oh HURRY AND CLOSE THE DOOR BEFORE I KEELHAUL YA! Your letting' the water in!" "Sorry Mom! No need for drastic measures." Mateo marched in hanging up his rain poncho. He locked eyes with me and smirked, "Kelionė? To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence at this ungodly hour?" I gave him a dismissive wave and returned to my flap jacks.

A few hours after I finally was able to shower, "Well aren't you looking spick and span Lieutenant Vandens. Nice to see when it comes to some things you run a tight ship." "ADAMOS." My mother's head popped from around the kitchen corner with a look that could frighten a behemoth. My father gulped, ducking a little further down into his chair shielding himself from my mother's ferocious gaze with his newspaper. I pinched the bridge of my nose, and continued walking into the kitchen. "It's nice to know that even at this early hour our family is still deliciously dysfunctional." I grabbed the tea from the fridge filling my canteen.

"I heard that." My mother growled as she pinched me. "ACK!" I subconsciously jerked at the sudden manhandling of my side. "Mother I say this with love but your pinch could put crabs to shame." The mirthful former pirate laughed, "It comes with experience dear, years of getting you, your sister and your brother up for school. Nice to know I still got it in me after these past years of disuse." She winked at me and ruffled my hair as she walked out of the kitchen. I grabbed my holsters from the coat rack, securing them along my waist, next was my hip satchel. Lastly, my leg satchel. "It's still storming outside love; make sure to grab a poncho." Shaking my head, "Yes mother." I rolled my eyes as I grabbed the florescent poncho. I felt a savage pinch seize the tender flesh behind my knee, I howled jerking forward. "That's for rolling your eyes." She laughed triumphantly. "MOTHER that hurt." I frowned as I slipped the poncho on, pulling the hood up to cover my head.

She laughed again, "Be careful my dear, after all it's a wild wild world out there." I chuckled, "I love you guys, I'll be back later after my shift."

After several uneventful hours I received a call in my office. "This is Lieutenant Vandens, Sanctum Security Bodhum Regiment, how may I be of service?" There was a cacophony of sounds and voices on the other side of the link "Hold on sorry, move it!" The sound of a door closing cuts off the other sounds. "Yes Lieutenant sorry about that, this is Captain Cabert of the Nautilus Regiment." "Yes Captain what can I help you with?" "Are you alone?" I glanced around in my cramped office located in the back of Etro's Grace, "As chance will have it I am." She let out a sigh, "CCUP, what do you make of it?"

I cocked an eyebrow, "Is that what this is about? Cocoon's Cultural Unity Program?" She let out a hiss, "Yes what do you make of it?" I paused considering the possibility of a Sanctum trap. "I think it's a program designed to unify Cocoon." There was an audible face palm, "Don't beat around the bush, I'm not here to report you for disciplinary action. This is important." "I think it'll cause trouble. Civil unrest and social instability that whole gambit." "Thank Lindzei; I'm not the only one. Have any Sanctum troops arrived in Bodhum yet?"

My voice dropped to a whisper, "No…it's all quiet here. There's no reason for sanctum troops to be here." "That's what I thought until their troops rolled in on Main Street this morning. They have yet to tell me why they're here, but they're already bullying SSR around. For some reason I have the sinking feeling this won't end well." She laughed ruefully. "Why call me Captain? Palumpolum is closer to Nautilus if anything was to happen, they'd be your best shot at reinforcements." She sighed, "Palumpolum has never been a friend of Nautilus, damn do gooders. They've always been in the Sanctums pocket ya know. Anyway keep an eye—"

In the background there is a large crash, "Where is Captain Cabert?" Her breath caught in her throat, "I've got to go, keep you posted." The line went dead, leaving me with a tumultuous feeling in my stomach. "This…this…sweet maker this will not end well…If they're willing to go to Nautilus there is nothing stopping them from barging down our gates." I glanced over at the clock and sank into my chair with a sigh..."Five more hours…I need to hire on more staff...these 15 hour shifts are for the birds."

[Juokas]

A loud thunder clap startled me awake. Rolling over I reached out attempting to check on Blue`. My hand landed on the mattress, I scowled reaching over even further. Nothing, not even a lingering patch of warmth. I was alone with cool covers as my bed mate. A thought dawned on me, "I'm alone…that…that MINX!" I launched out of bed with a growl. I dressed in a hurry, slipping on a pair of shorts and a shirt. I crept out of our door, pausing to listen for any sounds... slight clanking down stairs. "Maybe she got hungry?" somehow I doubted that was the case.

Once I neared the kitchen I peeked around the entrance to see Fang leafing around through the cupboards. She glanced over catching sight of me, "Well good mornin', sorry did I wake you?" I shook my head, "Blue is gone." Fang stood up, "What do you mean gone? I've been down here for the past two hours, she hasn't come down stairs." "Well she wasn't in bed upstairs. I rolled over when I woke up and she wasn't there." Fang sighed glancing out the kitchen window, "It's rainin' cats and dogs out there, search the house right quick while I go and wake up Light." I cased the house quickly, searching for Blue but finding no trace of her. Heavy footfalls on the stairwell revealed an exhausted Lightning rubbing her eyes, followed by Fang who had her lance in hand.

"Any sign of her?" I shook my head and Fang's head drooped. "Get ready then." She said with a sigh as she waited for me and Light to gear up. Light reached over, then stopped looking dumbfounded, "Where's my satchel and rain poncho?"

[Blue]

I watched as the rain battered the window of my office. "Phew this storm is really something, the heavens are unrelenting in their watery assault of Bodhum. I have go patrol the city before my shift is over so let's get to it me." After a few more minutes of pep talk I walked out of my office through Etro's grace and out in the siege of weather. The streets were clear, the rain water forming small streams towards the drainage pipes. Thunderclaps sent shocks through my chest and the surrounding buildings. Stronger fiends come out when it rains; they hitch up and ride the crashing waves onto the beaches near town. Good thing I dispatched Gordy and E.B to patrol the beaches. It seems to have helped in keeping the streets clear and safe from fiends.

It took me more than an hour to negotiate the water slick streets of Bodhum. Scrapes covered my hands and knees where I lost my footing and slipped on the sidewalks and streets. There was a special kind of hell to hurricane season in Bodhum. The winds were unpredictable. One minute they were docile, next they were strong enough to knock you clear off your feet. The waves were choppy, tall and engulfed anything stupid enough to approach them. The skies… they were grey and foreboding sometimes delving into darker shades of black as lightning flicked across the wrathful plumes. This is what surrounded me; it did nothing to assuage the doubt and anxiety from nibbling at my already frazzled nerves.

I rounded a corner on the way back home taking a short cut through the town square. The square is poorly lit at this in the evening. A menacing growl rides along the wind. I stopped dead in my tracks, scanning the darkness. I lifted my hands up to shield my eyes from the pelting rain. Lightning flashed causing the lingering beast's eyes to glow. It was hunkered down the grassy center of the square. My hands slipped to their respective places. My right to Smuggler's End and my left to my radio. Finding no radio to grab, my left hand slipped over to Nova surge. I took a deep breath bracing myself, "This is going to be as fun as a date to a dumpster."

[Juokas]

We had gone around town, and rounded up Snow, Sarah, Vanille and Hope to aid in the search. Lightning gave everyone a quick brief and we broke off into two teams. It wasn't long before we heard several gun shots and an explosion light up the sky. The shots continued sporadically, followed by roars and thunderous crashing. We sprinted into the square, breathless from the exertion. A store front was up in flames, a car upside down protruding from its front window. Lightning lit up the square revealing a wounded Megistotherian. I searched for Blue a new found urgency surging through my system. Crunching glass caught my attention as a veiled figure stumbled out of the destroyed store front.

"I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU!" Blue bellowed as she charged the beast. She narrowly dodged a swipe at her head. Ducking down she slid right between the megistotherian's front legs and sliced them deeply with her gun blades. She reached out taking hold of a leg whipping around with enough momentum to fling herself into the air; taking aim she fired two quick rounds at its head. Its howl faded as it fell dead in the square. Blue limped back towards its head from where she landed, shooting it twice for good measure. We slowly approached her slumped form, she was muttering to herself.

"Damn monsters always coming out in the rain…never fails…just couldn't be a peaceful patrol for once...of course not. Ha oh fantastic that shop is completely destroyed…they're going to be pissed when they wake to find that in the morning. I'd cover it but, what am I going to cover it with? My good looks? Think not…" Blue was bent over, hands on her knees as she caught her breath. My foot landed on some glass, she turned around in a flash, gun blades raised. She sighed lowering her guns, "It's alright now no worry folks, best to go home now it's not safe." I glanced around in confusion, before my eyes landed back on Blue. "We're out here looking for you Blue." She holstered her weapons, a new sense of alertness rolling off of her. "Why are there more monsters elsewhere?"

Fang spoke up, "Not that we've come across, we're out here lookin' for you. Why are you out at this time of night…mornin'…dark hour of the day." Blue cocked her head, "It's no secret that I usually take the graveyard shift. Is there something you need?" Lightning stepped forward irritated, "We were looking for you." Light flicked her gun blade towards Blue in irritation. Blue's voice dropped, her face covered by shadow, "If you have business with the SSR now is a hell of a time to conduct it. I'm sure whatever it is can wait until the after dawn." The hood slipped slightly on her head, she reached up to tug it back into place.

She wasn't wearing her gloves, on her right hand the brand was glowing brightly in the dark. "Uh take a gander at your hand there Blue, any particular reason why it's glowin'." Fang drawled leaning on her staff. Blue scoffed loudly as she shook her head, "If I humor you will you return to your homes." Fang's gaze flicked around to the others, "Sure, we'll go home and you won't hear anotha' peep out of us."

[Blue]

I lifted my hand in front of my face, looking down "See my hand isn't-that can't be what is that! WHY IS THAT ON MY HAND!"

[Juokas]

Blue started to rub her hand frantically trying in vain to get the brand off. I can't figure out what is going on...is she in a dream? Did she hit her head? She looked up eyes wild, "Who are you? Tell me what this is!" Vanille wiggled between our little assembly until she was near Blue. "Don't you remember? It's one of your brands, you're a L'cie." It was like she short circuited, her face frozen in a confused scowl. Her hands gripped her head she tore through her memories searching for answers. Fang shuffled forward slowly, "Hey there it's alright, no need to worry Bluey. It's all over now, time to go home now." Slowly reaching out Fang clasped a hand around her arm tugging gently. Blue didn't respond; she stood there motionless as if she was petrified. Fang leaned over looking at her face, "Well what do ya know she's sleepin'." Fang turned her slowly for the others to see her face. "Is she going to wake up?" I asked concerned yet curious. Lightning sighed pinching the bridge of her nose, "We have to wait. I don't know what is going on with her."

[Blue]

I woke up vision bobbing and my feet being dragged. I was being carried somewhere, "Hey…what happened?" My voice was hoarse and tired, hell I felt like I had fought with a landslide and lost. I was pulled up so I could stand; I wobbled on my feet when someone stepped forward to keep me standing. It was Juokas, "Do you remember anything?" I thought for a second recalling my dream. "Now that you mention it I had the weirdest dream, I was back in Bodhum...before everything happened." "What else happened in this dream of yours?" Fang questioned from somewhere behind me. "I woke up in my old home in Bodhum, ate breakfast, talked with my parents and my brother. Then I set off to work a 15 hour shift with Bodhum security. Honestly it all felt so real, it's funny it was raining in my dream to. Near the end of my shift I finished with a patrol and came across a huge fiend in the square. Once it was terminated a crowd of odd people accosted me…actually now that I think about it…it was the usual suspects." "The usual suspects?" Lightning chimed in. "You and Fang, Vanille, Snow and Serah too even Juokas."

Juokas sighed, "You said you went through your memories while you slept before right?" My eyes narrowed, "Yes…" "Is that what happened tonight? Where you sleepwalkin'/ relivin' your memories?" "Could be, is that why I'm being dragged through the streets and feel like I've been flogged?" "You did fight a Megistotherian by yourself, and you were technically asleep!" Vanille cheered as she skipped ahead of us. I sagged, "I hope this doesn't become a regular occurrence." Everyone laughed when Fang blurted out, "You're not the only one." Snow and Serah broke off from the group first returning home hand in hand. Strangely though Vanille and Hope hung around with us until we reached the boardwalk near the playground then they left us without a second thought.

[Juokas]

"So…Light what do you think the solution to this is? Should we tie her up at night?" Before Lightning could answer a voice that sounded like Serah whispered loudly, "Not on my watch Fang!" Fang stopped dead and whipped around, "Serah shouldn't you be…huh? There's no one behind us." Blue started chuckling as we continued to hobble forward. "What are you laughin' at?" I whispered in her ear. When she turned her eyes were full of mirth, "I was always good at impressions." Fang groaned, "Oh come on Fang it was a good prank. Blue what other voices can you do?" "Well Snow was an easy one he just stands there all quiet and doe eyed at Serah. Serah was easy enough with all that reprimanding. I think I have Fang down but I'm still working on it. I haven't tried to learn yours yet Light. And the others are my family and old colleagues."

[Blue]

I was thankful they didn't ask for another impression, I think the last thing I need to do is reach for my past again; At least for today. Juokas released me so I could shuffle through the door on my lonesome. I slipped off the rain poncho I had on, a red satchel? Lightning was staring at me, arms crossed sternly. "That solves that mystery." I quickly took off the satchel saying my apologies. Light nodded and returned to her room. I'm half tempted to go upstairs and get some sleep, but sleep is what got me in this mess in the first place. I tottered into the kitchen flicking on the light as I did so. "Time to survey the damage…" I had a few minor scratches on my arms, and scrapes on the bottom of my hands. My legs and knees fared the worst, there were a few gashes, scrapes and burns. Bruises were speckled across my skin, on my back, right elbow, head…" I grabbed a rag, and waited for the hot water to heat up. Fang moseyed over, "None of that looks like something a cure wouldn't fix." "I know Fang but a cure just knits together the tissue and seals the wound, it doesn't clean the wound. I'd rather not have a festering infection under my flesh." Fang raised her hands in defeat, as she slid over to the fridge. "Sounds like you've experienced that." I sighed, "No, I never did but during the war I had to listen to the soldiers in the med tent that had. It's not something I'll easily forget…much like that date to a dumpster…what a cheap bastard."