Well, as I figured, life reared its ugly head and bit me. But that's okay! I'm back on track! Chapter 2 is a longer one and hopefully not too dreadfully boring. Have fun!

Disclaimer: I own nothing save for myself.

Chapter 2: Enter the Ninny

We arrived on the Leviathan early the next morning. I played back everything that had been happening over and over again in my mind. Everything just seemed so real that I could even taste the air, which was tainted with oil, metal, and something sweet, but tangy, from the ships docking bay. Derek pinched me, and I could feel that and frowned that it had actually hurt.

"You act as if you've never been on an airship before." I supposed that we were friends of some sort since he was the only one who would ever talk to me. "What illness claims you, Katherine?"

"I think I'm still a bit.. out of sorts from yesterday," I laughed slightly, and my new accent helped to keep things light. Derek seemed to think that response was fine as he never pushed into the matter more.

I kept my head low as the Imperials directed us into the ship's command center, with Judge Ghis standing by the computer giving his own orders to a lesser judge.

"Your Honour. The researchers from the Draklor Laboratory, as you requested." We entered the large room, Imperials on all sides of us. Judge Ghis turned around to look at us. "Also, sir, a letter from Doctor Cid." Ghis eyed him curiously and the soldier shook his head.

"I see." Ghis took the paper and read its contents carefully glancing a few times up to us. I wondered what was in that paper, but I had a good idea.

Yesterday

"Katherine! Sit with me for a while, hmm? In my office. I shall be there momentarily." Doctor Cid looked at me, that same sardonic smile upon his face. "As for the rest of you, I want the stone returned here for testing."

"Yes, Doctor." In the few hours I'd been here, I had adjusted to what I could. I wore the same horrible clothes the other scientists wore and figured that to be some sort of advantage.

I exited the lab where I had been tackled and made my way down one of the many corridors. I saw Imperials everywhere, most likely stuck on guard duty, and stopped one for directions.

"Excuse me, sir," I asked him, quietly. I'm a shy person and that was never going away, regardless of my current predicament. "Is there a map? I do believe I'm quite lost."

The guard stood there and all I could hear was the tiny noise of air going in and out of his helmet. "That way. Are you new or somethin'?"

I shook my head. "No. There was an accident in the lab today, and I bumped my head. A bit jumpy still, I'm afraid to admit."

"I 'eard 'bout that. You should go to the infirmary, Miss."

"I'll be fine, really." The guard shrugged and continued on his way. This was too easy.

I walked over to the map and looked around for the "You are here." symbol. I was on the 67th floor. Only a few turns here and there and I was at Cid's office.

Upon entering the room, I noticed how tidy it was. I giggled a bit thinking back on how meticulously clean Balthier was. Like father, like son. Cid entered only moments later.

"My dear Katherine, you are my best researcher and I ask of you a simple favor," he started. That man always smiled. "When you reach the Leviathan and retrieve the Dawn Shard, be sure to get it straight to me. No testing is to be done." I nodded, since I knew that part. "For you see, I do believe that he's planning something." He glanced over his shoulder. "Hmm? Oh, yes! Splendid! Right on time." Turning back to me he added, "Be careful, now, my dear. Wouldn't want anything going boom, now would we?"

It clicked. Oh, how he knew everything.


Back on the Leviathan

"Miss Katherine, would you be so kind as to step foward?" Ghis asked as he ripped the parchment in to pieces.

I moved away from the gathering of researchers. "Yes, Your Honour?"

"Hmm. It would appear that you possess knowledge of the nethicite that Doctor Cid has been kind enough to inform me upon." Of course I knew about the nethicite. I played the whole game, but surely they didn't know that, especially the game part.. I nodded trying to keep what balance I could. "The rest of you are to report to the lower level of the ship and await there until you have been given further orders. We shall be arriving at Raithwall's tomb shortly. Katherine, you shall stay here with me."

"Yes, sir." I was surprised how well I was handling everything. Eventually, it would all hit me full force and I'd either break down or just get really pissed off. I wasn't really looking foward to either one of them.

Derek looked at me strangely, but I only waved. Didn't want to worry the one person I could count on in the short time I'd been here. The Imperials guided the researchers away and I was left alone with the Judge.

"Please," he began, his muffled voice from beneath his helm causing me to jump. "Have a seat."

"Yes, Your Honour." I kept my head lowered as I sat down at one of the ship's consoles.

"Do you care for something to read?"

"No, I'm okay. Thank you, sir."

"Doctor Cid says that you participated in the experiments into manufacted nethicite."

"Yes, sir." That was a lie. I couldn't recall a thing about them at the time. Now, as for the real nethicite... "It is.. not all that interesting. And it would take many hours for me to tell you."

I could feel the Judge Magister's gaze trying to pierce my skull, but to no avail. "I see. Well then if you require anything at all, Miss Katherine, let me know."

"I shall, Your Honour." I looked up now and stared out the windows watching the clouds go by. It was such a breath-taking sight, that much was certain. I had always asked for the window seat on airplanes, but this was much better. If the beauty was this amazing, I wondered what it must be like on the Strahl.

"Quite a magnificent sight, is it not?" The Judge asked forcing me out of my trance.

"Yes, Your Honour."

We arrived at Raithwall's tomb in a few hours. I felt everything go numb as I realized that I was about to meet the characters of Final Fantasy XII. Ghis began ordering Imperials left and right sending them out to go and retrieve the Dawn Shard and its captors. He removed his helmet and placed it carefully beside me on the console and tapped it thoughtfully.

The party arrived looking a little rugged, some of them even with light pink flesh. I tried to remember what they were doing, or who they had fought, and then Belias and fire came to mind. Bits of Balthier's normally immaculate white shirt was singed in some places and had turned to a brown and gray color. I could hear him fussing over it on the way into the command center. A few of them glanced at me for a moment then their focus was fully on the Judge as he began to speak.

Ghis tapped his helmet a few times more then faced his audience. "Such a tremendous honor to again be graced with your presence, Majesty." I groaned inward. "You left us with such great dispatch upon our last encounter that I must confess I had begun to worry that we may have given Your Majesty some cause for offense."

I had always thought Ashe to be a spoiled little princess, but you never get to see her or what everyone else looks like after the many battles that involve all the elements and more. They still seem perfect, neat, and never a scratch on their pixalted bodies. Now, however, I could see the toll it was taking on them, and on Ashe, and it was only the beginning of the long journey.

Ashe glared at the Judge. "Such a heartfelt display of remorse. Now what is it you want?"

"I want you to give me the nethicite," he told her as he stepped forward a bit.

I watched as everything unfolded exactly like the game, yet there was something else there. The air seemed so much heavier, and I could practically taste the tension. It was just a game, and I needed to remember that.

Penelo looked off to the side nervously, holding her hands behind her back. "The nethicite?"

"That is a base imitation!" I cringed as his annoyance with the manufacted nethicite elevated his voice. He continued on, going back to his normal tone. "We seek Raithwall's legacy. The ancient relics of the Dynast-King: deifacted nethicite. Did you not tell them Captain Azelas?" Ashe's eyes widened at her trusted knight's name.

I couldn't listen to it anymore. Azelas was a fool, and if I were to listen to the rubbish he and Ghis were about to spout, I was going to lose the precious IQ points I had that were scarcely there. I barely noticed that another researcher, or rather Derek, had come and stood beside me now.

Ghis went over to him. "I want you to assess its power."

"Did our orders not specify that we return the stone for testing?" Derek asked him. I wondered what else had been in the parchment that Ghis had been reading earlier since he was disobeying commands.

The Judge shook his head. "I will not chance returning with a stone that is yet unproven."

I realized then how little time I had left. My heartbeat quickened, my palms started to sweat, and I could feel my face getting hot. I blurted the first thing I could think of. "Lady Ashe!" The Judge whipped around to look at me, and I knew I needed to figure out something, and fast.