Hey everyone! I was still able to post this on time this week though I am struggling with the chapter that I'm writing right now. Do you know when you know exactly what you want to do but simply can't think of a good way to write it? Well I'm in that phase. Continuing I STILL DON'T OWN ANYTHING IN THIS STORY. And if you actually think I do that means that you have been skipping past disclaimers.
On to my reviewers' answers...
Angel Of Apocolypse – A Llama came into your thoughts? Llama as in a sentence that everyone wants to know but few understand or Llama the animal? Well either one only points to sugar high. I'm quite sure you're going to love a character that I'm going to introduce later on. As always I loved your review and can't thank you enough for your words. Here's a bit more of the story to drive away your boredom (Boredom looks at chapter and bolts). Well don't let my babbling hold you. Have fun.
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Welcome to nineteenth chapter on Second life…'Till later…
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3rd POV
- "He's not happy, is he?" – Selphie winced when she heard Ariadne's whispered comment.
– "Understatement Aria" – Both of them had been walking in the back of the group where Ariadne had hid herself to avoid the looks from the others. Most of them seemed worried as she wasn't prone to blow up without a good reason and Quistis had been giving the leader exasperated glances every now and then.
Selphie had joined her because, as she said as soon as they were out of hearing range, Squall was too volatile even to his normal self and she wanted to live to be eighteen. Ariadne answered that she should probably get away from her then.
That had lead to a very strange and thoroughly interesting discussion about things that they should avoid until their birthdays.
– "What are you going to do?" – She asked softly.
Ariadne shrugged as no answer came to her mind. She sighed inaudibly and turned to watch the city. They had arrived about twenty minutes before and were being guided to the scientist that Edea hoped to be able to help her. And the little fainting spell of Ellone had already happened.
Ariadne had glared then as hard as she could as if the older girl were in front of her. She sighed again as she noticed that she had been glaring again and that Zell was edging away very slightly. She smiled apologetically and he relaxed…slightly, as he was still as far from her as he could be.
Aria narrowed her eyes though as they entered what she supposed to be the presidential palace. In instinct she walked even more delayed, hiding a bit in the shadows as the spy she had chosen to be. It was a very good thing to do in her opinion.
Most of the things weren't seen in daylight.
Emerald eyes narrowed even further as she noticed she wasn't the only one. One of her katanas left its sheath silently and just as noiselessly she glided to the man in the shadows.
He was small and non-descript, something that she would have to admit to be perfect for the kind of job that she had been used to, but the long white robes ruined the effect completely. He flinched as the cold metal blade touched his throat.
– "I wouldn't do that if I were you" – She whispered sweetly as she saw his hand travel to a pocket – "I might get nervous and when I do my hands begin to shake" – She pressed the blade closer.
– "A lot. Now, how about we join my companions mmm?" – The group jumped in unison as Ariadne, which they hadn't yet noticed as having left, appeared out of nowhere with her weapon in an unknown guy's neck.
– "What has happened Aria?" – The girl almost dropped her jaw in shock. Squall had actually used her nickname.
– "Wasn't he mad, as in completely and utterly mad, at me?" – She thought absently.
– "Aria!" – She stopped her daydreaming with a mental scowl to Sacred
– "Nothing" – The Galbadian answered keeping her voice professionally calm – "Just don't like being followed" – The silver blade shifted a bit.
– "Now are you going to spill or do I have to drag it out of you?" – She asked to their visitant in an eerily cheerful tone. The guy breathed forcibly, eyes straining to the see the shining blade. He didn't say a thing
– "Your choice." – Ariadne raised an eyebrow to her leader and he nodded.
– "Zell, go with her" – Squall ordered – "Join us as soon as you are done" – The boxer actually cracked his knuckles threateningly.
– "You're going to be very quiet, aren't you?" – Ariadne felt the man gulping against her blade. He nodded hastily.
– "Do you actually think that's a good idea?" – Inquired Quistis as the man was dragged by a smirking Zell and an amused Ariadne.
– "They can handle themselves" – Was the only thing he said before continuing down the hall. The instructor just shook her head doing the same.
– "We were just concerned in what will be left of the guy that's all" – Commented Irvine.
– "We?" – Selphie giggled as she followed the others leaving a confused cowboy behind. He groaned loudly.
– "For Hyne's sake, Aria infected them."
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- "That was fun" – Ariadne smirked with Zell's comment. She had been thinking the exact same thing.
The two entered the room where they had been directed and nodded to the assistant that was guarding Rinoa. An old man with the same robes as all the others was observing the passed out girl. Ariadne raised an eyebrow with the satellite look alike that he wore in his neck.
– "I wonder if someone's afraid he's going to bit himself" – She thought absently. A sigh crossed her head.
– "I wonder how long it will take for someone place you in an asylum Aria" – She ignored Sacred's smartass voice.
– "Found anything Doc?" – Ariadne asked as she came closer. The old man gave her a strange look and she almost shrugged.
– "Vurther analizies vill be neezed" – Zell snorted. Ariadne considered in stepping on his foot to make him stop but knowing him he would probably yell something like "Why are you stepping on my foot?" or even better "Why are you making me signals?". Unfortunately he didn't know the least about discretion.
– "That's acceptable" – She stated before Zell reminded himself to take the foot from his mouth just to say something to offend the susceptible, and not to mention off his rocker, scientist.
– "Have you heard from our companions?" – Ariadne continued giving her friend an open-that-trap-you-call-a-mouth-and-die glare.
– "They have gone to the city ten minutes ago ma'am" – Answered the assistance as the doctor seemed once more distracted checking something or another. Zell snorted again when he saw the respect bordering on fear that the assistance was showing.
– "News do travel fast" – The boxer stopped dead in his tracks when he felt Aria's small hand grasping his collar from behind.
– "One more snort and I will chop you into tiny little pieces, got it?" – She whispered as calmly as possible.
– "Now" – She raised her voice as if nothing had happened – "I need to go buy some things. I'll come back as soon as possible alright?" – For once he seemed serious.
– "Do you want me to go with you? Squall would kill me if something happened" – Ariadne rolled her eyes skyward.
– "If he says anything tell him that I said that I'm seventeen not seven and that anything else he should take with me and not with you. See ya later then" – She was scowling again as she left the room not seeing Zell wincing.
– "I pity him sometimes" – He said softly.
Strangely enough the assistant nodded.
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Ariadne crossed the streets running as fast as she could, ignoring the looks that most of the people in the streets were throwing her. Useless to say that wearing her regular mission clothes in the middle of a city where people seemed to have a passion for monk's clothing she stuck out like a sore thumb. But that was the last thing on her mind as she entered the shopping hall.
– "Well this is something new" – Her eyes were roaming through the electronic panels where the choices of items and weapons could be seen
– "No time to marvel at the technology Aria" – Grumbled Minotaur. She rolled her eyes while she pressed the "assistance" option.
– "You guys are getting way too scolding in the last months."
– "You are doing more foolish things than usual" – Stated Sacred.
– "I really love when you say those things" – She shot back as she entered the store. A young woman was waiting, a small frown in her face.
She was wearing also the long robes everyone in the city seemed so fond of and her dark brown eyes were curious as she watched the newcomer.
– "Good day" – She greeted pointing Ariadne to a chair – "What can I do for you Miss..?"
– "Ariadne Beckerman" – The Seed sat, back straight and calm expression, before she took her katanas from her back.
– "I need some new ones" – She informed bluntly as she placed them on the table in front of her and grabbed her pouch taking a box from the inside.
– "Adamantium?" – Asked the girl as she opened the box. Ariadne winced when she remembered exactly how she had got it
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Flashback
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- "I think it's already dead" – Ariadne raised an eyebrow with Selphie's comment.
– "Ya don't say" – She approached the still twitching tortoise and knelt next to it. The shell glistered in the sunlight with a beautiful silver hue.
– "It's adamantium" – Informed Squall walking to it – "Good for weapons. You got this one so you take it" – She looked from the beast to Squall and back again.
– "How?" – He gave what she could only classify as are-you-stupid-or-what? look.
– "You have to cut the flesh" – First wince.
– "Take the inside skin" – Second wince accompanied by a look to the turtle that was still twitching.
– "And then cut the outer layer" – And he had said all of that with his order-like tone.
– "Move quickly. We cannot linger" - Ariadne glared at him but as always he seemed to ignore it.
– "You want me to dilacerate the creature?" – She could have sworn he was praying for something.
– "You killed it." – She gave a long suffering sigh, ignoring the chuckles in her mind as she did so, and sheathed a katana while advancing on the creature.
– "I'm going to kill you slowly for this Leonhart" – She muttered as she started to cut the flesh. A hand took her katana away from her. She blinked at her leader that had taken her place.
– "Grab the other and help on the other side" – He ordered sternly – "We have little time. Move" – Selphie's faintly green face turned away.
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End flashback
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- "Yeah" – Ariadne answered as the girl took one of her katanas from the sheath. A small silver line could be seen at a corner.
– "A good work" – She commented – "And an interesting design. But it seems damaged" – Ariadne fought not to roll her eyes again. She seemed to be doing that too many times.
– "Obviously" – She said biting the real comment that was struggling to leave her lips – "Can you do it?" – The girl looked at the materials that had been brought and nodded.
– "I will need some time" – Ariadne took her credit card from her pocket.
– "I'll need it in two hours. I'll pay double" – Another look between the materials, the Seed and the card. Ariadne almost smirked.
– "I'll do it. Come back later" – With a small nod the brown haired girl stood up and grabbed the sheath and the still functional katana before leaving. A smirk had crossed her face as soon as she got on the street and advanced on what she supposed to be some kind of policeman.
– "Excuse me?" – She smiled sweetly, something that anyone that knew her knew to be a bad thing – "Can you tell me where I can find Odine's laboratory?"
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My POV
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Damn. I manage to get inside the bloody lab undetected and hack into a computer just to find zilch.
Nothing.
Nada.
Zero.
Why the hell do I need a scientist that can even think about a dimensional theory or a delusional reason for the fact that I left my home at the age of thirteen just to be dropped here?
There goes that idea. And there's no way I will tell my story to the mad Doc.
The guy would probably proceed to drug me to the seventh hell and use me as a lab rat…that or sending me to the nearest asylum. Not fun.
But forgetting that, I found something a lot more interesting. Like a certain planes to a certain machine from Odine. That blasted idiot actually managed to begin to plan it. And here comes my conscience.
Should I destroy it and not let the future go as it is supposed to?
Nope. Can't do that. Even with all the bad things that have happened. If I don't let this go on no one in the future will be able to fight her…and then everything will end. But we have a chance to do something to end it. Something they don't.
And continuing the elevated business just from when is Ultimecia?
Two years from now? Centuries? Millennia?
Just exactly will happen to them in that time? What will happen to me…?
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3rd Person POV
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- "Just where were you?" – Ariadne looked at the door where she had entered barely moments before longingly.
– "Maybe I can run for it" – Quistis narrowed her eyes, arms crossed as she waited for her answer.
– "Maybe not" – A great deal of effort kept Ariadne from gulping.
– "You're dead" – Came a delighted voice in her head.
– "Thank you for that kind input 'Taur" – She growled back.
– "This" – Her hand found the katanas she had brought from Deling and showed her the broken one – "I couldn't fight with this."
– "And why didn't you warn us?" – Continued the blond girl – "Taken Zell with you?"
– "Yeah, I can just see the guy that trips over his own feet sometimes following me into a restricted lab"
– "I can walk alone you know?" – Ariadne said dryly
– "That's not the point and you know it Aria" – She knew. A small sigh left her lips.
– "I couldn't lose time" – She finally said – "Someone had to stay here to give you guys the news about the spy and I had to get some new blades. I'm sorry for not warning you."
– "Please don't send me to the corner mommy" – Another mental glare to the idiots on her head – "Hey" – She ignored them. Quistis placed a hand on her shoulder softly.
– "Just don't do that again alright?" – Ariadne nodded with a grin.
– "That doesn't mean you are off the hook though" – "Damn." – "Come on before the others destroy the floor with their pacing."
– "Yeah" – Her sarcasm flowed easily – "I wouldn't want that to happen." – The two walked to the other room talking in low whispers but even those stopped as soon as they noticed the looks that were being given to them…or better to Ariadne…that began whishing she had stayed in the shopping hall.
– "Hi guys" – She greeted with a small, and thoroughly false, grin – "Sorry I'm late." – Edea gave her a small scolding look as if she knew exactly what she had been and was doing.
– "Must be the mother sense" – She thought as she avoided showing exactly how much she wanted to be out of there.
– "What's the plan then?" – Squall's look told her clearly that they would share another argument in a near future.
– "We will have to go to the moon research facility. Matron will stay behind and with her at least three of us so she can be protected. The teams will be decided then." – She chose not to salute him as much as her sarcastic mind was begging her to.
"Did Zell relate the spy's mission?" – The wrestler coughed and she groaned – "You didn't?" – He was actually palling when the girl's glare met his eyes and chose to move next to Irvine. The cowboy raised an eyebrow and took a step to the side.
– "You'll explain on the way Aria. We have little time" – She didn't say a thing against it.
– "Are you going up there Aria?" – Asked Sacred softly as she crossed the streets with the others. If anyone noticed her shiver they didn't comment.
– "That's up to Squall I guess. But to be blunt heights combined with scoldings and glares do not make me a very happy girl." – A snort from 'Taur
– "Join the part where the station will be destroyed and you'll have the reasons for which we would be very pleased for you to keep your feet on the ground" – She held the laughter that was begging to be released.
"You sound like my folks" – Soft chuckles escaped as she heard their mock indignant cries.
– "Did you find anything Aria?" – She almost jumped when Edea's calm voice reached her ears.
– "How…?" – The former sorceress gave her a kind smile.
– "I have raised enough children to know when one has been up to something" – Ariadne scowled slightly as the word children was spoken.
– "That means I will have to be extra careful around you. Thanks for the warning" – She sighed – "No. I didn't find a thing. I guess Josh and I are the only travelers. I haven't lost all hope though" – Edea smiled sadly.
– "You do that. Don't give up for anything Ariadne. There is always hope."
– "Aria!" – Both women turned their heads to where Irvine was shouting from, a small red car next to him.
– "You two come with me. And no, you can't drive." – He added when he saw her begin to open her mouth – "I saw your little stunt with the bike."
– "As did half of the two Gardens" – Piped in Selphie. Another scowl.
– "Thanks a lot for those comments. I was needing someone to bash my self-esteem. I have been wondering if it could go lower than the ground. Let's get going" – But she did slip into the driver's seat anyway and proceeded to scare them all into silence.
After fifteen minutes of that both Seeds swore they would rather walk than do that again. She laughed until tears made their appearance.
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- "You want me to do what?" – Ariadne thought for a moment that Squall would give her the exact same reaction if she had asked him if he was breathing.
– "You will be the third party member" – She closed her mouth and glared.
– "Do you know any other way for you to make your report in time?" – He asked coolly. Aria rolled her eyes.
– "How about waiting ten minutes?" – The entire group had been watching them waiting for the time when the girl would pass the boiling point. According to Zell that was a very amusing picture to see.
Aria had thrown a notebook at his head as a payment after that while muttering something about neutering idiots to stop them for breeding more stupidity into the world. The wrestler had blanched in less than two seconds.
– "The launch will be in three minutes so we better discuss this upon arrival" – Her teeth grinded loudly as she forced herself not to raise her voice. A deep breath gave her time to calm down.
– "When we get up there I will tell you exactly, and in very direct tones, what you want and don't want to hear Leonhart…and when we get back I'll have to speak with Estharian engineers about appropriate means of transportation." – She added as an afterthought.
– "Quis!" – She ran to the instructor and placed something on her hand – "Call it a hunch" – She whispered to the older girl – "I something happens…well…you know what to do." – Quistis expression changed to a deep concern but Ariadne didn't give her time to comment as she turned sharply to the capsule.
All the eyes were turning between the two as no one had heard the conversation.
– "What was that all about?" – Asked Selphie. Quistis didn't answer. Her attention was on a small envelope that had been given to her. She frowned for some unknown reason before looking at the place where her sister had disappeared to.
Sea green eyes closed silently then.
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End of this chapter my readers. You'll get more next week. So what do you think that you need to do now…? Not close the window everyone. REVIEW! Yep, that's right. As always comments and general appreciation of what I am doing will be very welcome. So leave me a message ok?
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Next chapter: Delayed conversations before meeting a past voyeur and generally everything turning wrong …
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See ya all next week
Reyavie