Someone once said that the more powerful and original minds were inclined to solitude.
That someone obviously has not met the great Dr. Saphir Ortion Gneiss, one of the brightest minds in Auldrant as of ND 2019—or so he thought of himself. However, that is not to say that circumstances have not been kind to him, for life as of late for him was more or less a series of prison cells—just waiting to be transferred from one hellhole to another. Sure, there were some reprieves in between, but those moments of freedom seemed to be no more than a countdown until the next time he was slated to be locked up again. This time, in a tightly guarded laboratory in the innermost sanctum of Belkend, the city of fon machines.
The white-washed walls of the laboratory gave off the impression of a sanatorium, and if it were not for the various books and scrap material scattered around the room, he would have thought that he was in one. Slouching back on his seat, Saphir trained his eyes on the far end of the wall of the laboratory, losing himself in his thoughts about the past.
Solitary confinement, at first, did not pose a problem to him at all. Listening to other prisoners' inane ramblings was a torturous ordeal for his beautiful mind, after all, and silence was more than welcome over that nuisance. He has always operated at his best when there was no one to disturb him, and he took joy in reveling in his own thoughts—of fon machines to be built, of experiments to be conducted. Alas, too much of everything was never a good thing, and extraordinary as Saphir was, he was only but human.
Without a fon machine for company, solitude only served as a poison for his mind, which was slowly slipping into darker territory as his confinement dragged on. Even when the requested pen and paper came, such things only served to be outlets for the thoughts that chipped away at his mind. At first, his thoughts consisted of methods in which he could escape his dreary prison. During his first few stints in prison, those more or less managed to spur him on as the days went by, and more often than not, it was not long before he was able to put them into action. However, such was not the situation when Jade had him arrested after his failed attempt to bring back his—no, their—beloved Professor Nebilim.
Jade. Oh, how his thoughts back then suddenly gave way to that despicable, ungrateful, four-eyed snake who he once considered a friend. Escape plots gave way to revenge plots that consumed him as he cursed the man he sacrificed everything for. But as days turned into weeks, plots turned into questions, into facts that he wanted from that man—and eventually, a desire to see him again. It was this desire that kept him tight-lipped as intelligence division officer after officer tried to interrogate him. His answer was always the same—he would only speak if it were Colonel Jade Curtiss who came down to interrogate him.
He had faith it would work. After all, did it not work before? Sure, that fool on an emperor came along as well, but what mattered was that Jade came anyway.
Though, for what seemed like an eternity, he felt that his wait was all for naught, and that the only time he would get to see him would be during his turn on the death row. Fortunately, his faith did not seem to be misplaced, for Jade did come, along with what he thought was his ticket out of solitude.
Yet, it simply served as another countdown to a prison cell change. Months of silently working with his parole officer-slash-best friend, the Kingdom of Kimlasca found it fit to stage an invasion and as fate would have had it, took him under their wing. Which was simply a fancy term for taking him as a prisoner of war.
Kimlasca's prisons were not really any different from those of Malkuth's or Daath's. Conspiracy or not, design was certainly not one of the priorities when it came to the cells he found himself in. Same boring grey walls, same cold iron bars, same barren ceiling, same sorry excuse for bedding...
So more or less, when the Kimlascans proposed that he could get out of jail in exchange for offering his intellect to them, he more or less jumped at the opportunity to do so, despite the fact that they were responsible for Jade's death. It was not without silent rebellion, for he did bear some resentment towards those who pulled him back into this wrenched lifestyle just as he was able to get back a sense of normalcy in his life. If bearing his companion's silence was any sign of the said normalcy, that is.
He stifled a yawn as he slumped back on his chair. The incident back at Sheridan was actually an accident, though admittedly, he was a bit more careless than usual. How was he supposed to know that the flightstone would not take kindly to his amazing enhancement? Still, the higher-ups thought it prudent to move him to a better guarded facility where he "would not be allowed to stoop to such petty tricks" again. Still, what they did not know would not hurt them, and it was that incident that made him acquire the key necessary for his escape, which was comfortably nestled inside his coat. It was just a matter of finding the right window to make a run for it, and if there was one thing he was good at—on top of his many other talents, of course—it was bidding his time.
Such were the thoughts that occupied the mind of this self-proclaimed genius when the door to his laboratory slid open to reveal the entrance of a man in a lab coat. No doubt another one of those Kimlascan dogs sent down to check on him.
"Look, if you keep on checking on me every ten minutes, I'll never—"
His eyes widened upon meeting the all-too familiar gaze of the man he once chased after so fervently.
"J—" But before he could finish the word, the other man grabbed his arm and he found himself being pulled roughly towards the exit.
"Wh—" One glare from the other was enough for him to clam up and to make his heart skip a beat.
Those piercing red eyes. Those flaxen brown locks.There was no mistaking it. The person with him now was none other than Jade. But wasn't he supposed to be—no, he knew better. A silly siege would not be enough to kill someone like Jade. He was not wrong to hold on to the hope that the other would return for him. He always did. They were the Golden Duo, inseparable, always part of a half, capable of great things when put together.
A delighted smile formed on his lips as the other continued to grip his wrist tightly as they flew through the dark, deathly silent corridors. Were the two of them going to take on this Score-forsaken world on their own? Sure, that was a daunting task, but if Jade were by his side, they would be able to overcome anything, surely.
However, all such thoughts were dispelled when he heard a scuffle beyond the doorway leading to the hangar where the hovercrafts were kept. He tensed as Jade paused behind the door, still gripping his wrist. Will they have to fight? Sure, he had machines that could do the fighting, but none of them were currently at his disposal, having been destroyed back in the siege on Grand Chokmah.
"Hell's Hurricane!" A familiar voice rang in his ears as Jade pushed past the doors, though Saphir had to time to dwell on it as another voice rose above the battlegrounds.
"Razing Phoenix!" Saphir had to blink back the flash of light that blinded him. It sounded suspiciously like the blond from the Jade gang back in the day—what was his name again? His train of thought was interrupted as he nearly tripped over a fallen soldier. Fighting to keep up with Jade, Saphir decided to concentrate his thoughts and efforts into weaving through the sea of bodies strewn all over the hangar.
"Ikasu Hip!"
Saphir froze on his tracks once recognition dawned upon him, oblivious to Jade narrowing his eyes at him as he let go of him and went ahead. Shocked, Saphir could only watch with undisguised horror as Peony jumped into the air and used his behind to strike a nearby soldier, who, by some miracle of Yulia, actually fell to the attack.
"And now, for the finale!" Saphir had to suppress a groan as Peony geared up for another attack as several soldiers closed in on him. "Très Bien Hip!"
Saphir watched as Peony showcased another creative use of his assets—a display worthy of the shame of the Malkuth Empire.
"Heya, Saphir!" Peony beamed at him, a little too chipper for someone who just struck down five soldiers in their midst. With his buttocks, notwithstanding. "Good to see that you're well!" The other, much to his chagrin, wrapped an arm around his shoulders, as if they were long lost friends.
"P—P—" The disbelief on Saphir's face faltered when Jade glowered at him once more. There were so many things he wanted to shout—and ask—yet, he knew better than to cross Jade when he wore that expression. Unless of course he wanted to be reacquainted with a world of agony.
"We need you to pilot this thing here," Peony—that bastard—pointed at the aircraft next to him. "We'd have Gailardia here do it," he pointed at the blond standing nearby, "but he'd probably spend more time drooling over it than actual work, so yeah." He chuckled. "Plus, you're the expert when it comes to this kind of thing, so it's all yours, mate!" Peony pushed Saphir towards the craft, which earned him a dirty look from Saphir.
"What if I refuse?"
Peony's smile did not fade at his remark. "Then we'll make you!"
Whatever protest Saphir had died in his mouth when the unmistakeable clinking of armor reached his ears. Reinforcements.
"So soon, eh?" Peony's tone was still lively, though his expression took a serious turn as Gailardia motioned towards the entrance of the aircraft. Saphir felt himself being hoisted by his arm and practically being dragged towards the craft and shoved towards it.
"As you have undoubtedly heard, time is not on our side. You'd better hurry, Saphir!"
"I haven't agreed—"
"Jade is fending off the soldiers as we speak." A pinched look crossed Peony's face, as if he did not approve of it.
Saphir's effort to hide his surprise was all for naught. Peony? Overly concerned about Jade's well-being? That was rich, coming from the person who sent Jade around Auldrant as a glorified errand boy-slash-babysitter. Did that idiot emperor hit his head sometime after Grand Chokmah fell? Because that was the only logical explanation as to why Peony was acting like that, considering that the last time Saphir checked, Peony and Jade were at each other's throats more often than not, and the former had a nasty tendency of taking the latter for-granted, what with the former's tendency to stick the latter in all sorts of dangerous situations.
"Why don't you help him, then?" Saphir replied acidly.
Peony let out an exasperated breath. "Do you think I didn't offer when he came up with this insane plan?"
With a dramatic sigh, Saphir climbed into the aircraft and hurried towards the engine room. Much as he was confused about his feelings towards Jade, he certainly was not going to get any answers if the other party was dead. Making his way to the flightstone, he pulled out a similar object out of his robes. Though a normal person might be wary about testing a device during such a critical moment, Saphir was by no means an ordinary person in that respect. After all, he was a genius, and it was with total confidence that he replaced the craft's flightstone with the modified one he designed.
Seeing no outward complications only served to fuel his ego and the smile on his face. However, his delight was short-lived, for the vehicle shook violently. The impact cost him his balance and he found himself flat on his behind as a result. Making a face as he unsteadily got to his feet, he headed out of the room. At least his unwelcome companions did not witness his fall, but whoever did that to the craft would have to pay one way or another.
Saphir noted Gailardia's somewhat envious expression as he settled himself in the pilot's seat, and as such, he had difficulty hiding the smirk that crossed his lips as he switched on the dashboard.
His expression turned somewhat grim as he caught sight of the battle going on below them. Jade was holding his own against what seemed to be a platoon of soldiers, with a few mages throwing nukes from behind. Each soldier that neared him seemed to have a death wish, for they fell one by one to his experienced spear.
Seeing Jade in combat was by no means a first for Saphir, having been on the receiving end of his strikes and artes many a time. Yet, the sight of him wielding his weapon with grace and finesse was one that never failed to fill him with awe, mixed with horror as it was that moment. Sure, Jade's artes were in a class of their own, being some of the most powerful in Auldrant, but his spearmanship was one sight to behold. Saphir found himself holding his breath as Jade threw a foot backward to evade a rain of sword thrusts, hair flying as he deftly blocked an incoming ice arte from one of the mages at the back. Jumping backwards, Jade took advantage of the distance to sweep his spear at his assailants. The movement caused the frontliners to double back to avoid it, though some unlucky soldiers caught the attack full swing and crumpled to the ground.
"Saphir, we'd better go." Of course, Peony had to snap him out of his reverie, being the uncouth individual that he was.
"Tsk." Saphir made no effort to hide his annoyance with Peony, but quickly obliged. Deep down, he knew that Peony was right, but he was not going to glorify the bastard by admitting it.
The aircraft jolted forward as requested, its movement causing the soldiers to break formation to avoid being run over. Jade took advantage of the commotion by falling back. Moments later, Saphir could hear telltale movement from behind the cockpit and a hatch being closed. Jade must have made it back, if the incoming footsteps growing in volume were any indication.
One lever pull later, the aircraft continued its taxi and ascent, unmindful of the soldiers that scrambled to get out of its way. A triumphant smile formed on Saphir's face as the airship slowly flew out of the hangar, however, it was short-lived as he saw a fire arte coming from the front.
Making a sharp swerve to the right, the fireball grazed the side of the hull, causing the craft to shake violently. Saphir swore under his breath as the noted some spells coming from behind, as well as the landship that loomed ahead. Were they really that adamant to keep them from leaving? With the power packed by that landship, it would likely take away half the town in its attempts to shoot them down.
Still, he smirked to himself once more as the airship continued to gain speed, dodging, in narrowly evading, the shots fired at it. It was his first time operating the craft, but as was his usual with fon machines, it yielded easily to him, and no one would have been the wiser with regard to his flight inexperience.
"Saphir, what are you—"
"Will you shut up for now and hold on to something, you idiot?" he said sharply, brow furrowed in concentration as the craft zoomed towards the landship. The shots started becoming more haphazard, until they eventually stopped. Flying past the landship, the cannons did not seem to take notice of them as they soared over Belkend and eventually, past the Aberrian Plains.
"Saphir, what you did was just nuts, but brilliant, since it got the army to stop firing at us. Just what on Mother Auldrant did you do?"
"Invisibility barrier, developed by yours truly," Saphir said, gaze still fixed on the horizon. "I still have to work on reducing the shimmer, but it's otherwise functional and undetectable from the outside."
"As expected of the great Dr. Gneiss..." Gailardia murmured behind him.
"That is well and all, but must you risk our lives on an experimental device?" A strange, albeit familiar feminine voice snapped at him, and he felt his face flush red at the quip. After he singlehandedly saved their lives! How dare she? Whoever their fifth companion was, she was going to get an earful from him.
"Excuse me?" he said indignantly. "After my magnificent flying, that's all you have to say?"
"I've seen rappigs fly better."
"Why, you—" Whirling around to glare at the offending individual, he found himself greeted by Jade's cool gaze. Confused, he looked around the cabin for their mysterious fifth companion, only to come up with nothing. Gaze falling on Peony, Gailardia, then Jade again. He froze. So the reason why Jade refused to speak earlier was...
"I suppose it was too much for me to expect a certain degree of passable coherence from cockroaches," Jade said in that irritating tone from earlier, arms folded. A cut along the side of his cheek only added to the fierceness behind his glare, which was more than enough for Saphir to train his eyes back on the road.
Why in Yulia's name did Jade sound like a condescending version of Nephry? He stole a glance behind him, past Jade's bloodstained lab coat. His eyes widened in disbelief after spotting the clothing Jade had clutched in one hand. Women's clothing?
As if reading his thoughts with his stolen glance, Jade threw an unimpressed look at him, turned heel, and left the cockpit.