A/N: Woo-hoo! This one is long. Why are Keiss chapters always long? I'm starting to think my brain has an affinity for him... Anyway! To Silver Ecstasy And NekoChronicles! Thanks again gals! Your feed back on pre-posting is always great! And to 'Usernametoolong' and 'the rose icon' thank you for the reviews! I don't get many, so I try to mention you guys by name!
Chapter-Sixty Three
Keiss didn't have much time to catch up to Layle. He knew that the Clavat had a good head start on him, not to mention his airship, so he'd be arriving at Kilanda far behind the other two Bearers. Which put him in a difficult spot. How was he supposed to help so far removed from the mission?
"He is not good for planning…" The red head raced around his room as fast as he could grabbing up papers and documents scattered on the ground. Occasionally wincing and cursing as he did so.
"Note to self- never, never on my carpet again, unless I'm on top."
Keiss gathered up all of the information he'd had Chime gather on the construction around Kilanda. He had been looking over it last night before the ball. His original plan had been to question Regal about the work done out there on the main island. The documents and blue prints had shown that there had been an additional base worked on towards the core of the volcano. As crazy as that seemed.
But then again there were old stories of Caravaners traveling to the volcano's center to find myrrh. So maybe it was possible to build a second base in the crater of the mountain? But with all the Abaddons lurking about he could only imagine how complicated the process was.
"Chime did say the stuff was moved in at night," Keiss tucked the papers under his arm, "Which makes sense, the damn things are only there during the day…" He finished gathering what he needed and scooped up the two vials to take to Cid. He tucked Dr. Oides' final work into his pocket and flew out of his apartment in a hurry.
Well in as much of a hurry as he could manage.
"It must have taken years- maybe right after the Military's focus was supposed to shift!" The red head bolted past a few guards in the stairs who shouted at him. They were more than likely left behind by Regal to watch for Layle's return. "But surely, it couldn't have always been for use on Bearers?"
He exited the apartment building out onto the street and kept running. The sidewalks were steadily crowding with nobles and their servants, shop keepers and workers all making their way through the city to carry on with their routine lives. To them the Selkie frantically running through the streets, ducking in and out of crowds and darting along the sidewalk was menace.
But Keiss was on an urgent mission, or at least he would be, he didn't have time to slow his pace and blend in with the affluent populace. He kept his eyes focused forward as he made his way through the streets' nothing was going to distract him.
He stood out, bolting through the city, knocking over the occasional Lilty. They'd turn and shout at him, demanding he slowed down and showed some proper respect.
Arrogant little onions thought they owned the city.
He stopped at street corner, if only because the wagon traffic going by forced him to, though the muscles in his body were grateful that he did. The Selkie switched which arm he had the paper's tucked under and ran his hand along the other side of his forearm. It kind of hurt.
"New carpet for sure… Something that grinds into the skin less…"
He stood on the edge of the sidewalk, his toes curled over the side of the concrete and his sandal heels raised up off the ground. He was looking down the road trying to see where a break would be so he could dart across and get down to the road that lead to Chime's Tavern.
"You there! Selkie!"
"…Oh no…" Keiss turned his head to see where the shouting was coming from. He was certain it was for him. He was the only Selkie standing out in the crowd, not hidden in the shadows like his fellow tribe members.
Next to him on the corner there stood a Clavat Pilgrim with a coin purse. He pointed at him, and began giving a speech, "Let the Great Crystal guide you to a better life! The Crystals preside over all! Your destiny lies in the guidance of the Crysta-"
"Hey," Keiss cut the Clavat off. "If I give you a few gil, will you not give me the Crystal speech today. Okay? I already know it."
The pilgrim frowned, Keiss could see them glaring out from under their blue hood at him. "You cannot buy off your destiny! Someday the Crystals will call upon you, and coin will not be the answer!"
"Geeze…" Keiss dug into his pocket and handed the man a few gil, "Just take it, okay. Just do it." The pilgrim held up their hands refusing the money. "Come on you! I already know all about the Crystals making your destiny for you- trust me! I've got a Crystal Destiny out stealing my airship right now."
The traffic in the street let up and Keiss looked across the road. He leaned over and shoved the money into the man's chest. Though he didn't take it at first it fell to the ground and the pilgrim scrambled to pick it up before it was trampled on. The pilgrim looked up at the Selkie taking off across the road and shook his head as Keiss waved back to him over his shoulder.
The red head finally arrived at the start of the Selkie community on the lower streets of Alfitaria. He felt like he'd been running forever. He slowed his pace down to a hastened walk, if only because he had to catch his breath as he made his way to Chime's.
The streets there weren't as full as the higher roads, but there were still a healthy amount of Selkie citizens out and about getting ready to get their days started. Or alternatively, stumbling home to finally end their nights. The only thing that caught his interest here was he was moving slow enough to get a look at this morning's newspaper as it was being circulated around.
The front page head line was bolded with the words 'Murderer on the Loose' and a subtitle stating he creator of the Crystal Bearer cure was found dead last evening.
He gripped the papers under his arm a little tighter as he approached the tavern. Keiss hoped the Crystal Bearer was well out of the city before the papers had gotten to the hands of the masses.
The former Guild Member banged on the tavern door a few times before opening it, not waiting for the tavern's proprietress to give him a greeting.
"Chime! Chime, are you in?" Keiss hurried down the stairs, slightly faltering at the last step.
"Boy, why is it every time you come in here lately you're in such a rush!" Chime was standing with her back to Keiss. The woman was looking over her shoulder at him as he came inside. The female Selkie was up on a little step ladder, rearranging the bottles she kept behind the bartop. As Keiss' steps wavered when he cleared the last step she tilted her head in curiosity. The woman held onto one of her shelves and turned to get a good look at the red head. "Keiss, are you okay? Did you hurt your leg or something?"
Keiss looked up at her, his eyes wide for a moment and frowned. "No," He leaned on the bar and put his papers down. "No, I'm fine."
Chime slowly came down form the stool, "Are you sure? I mean I know you're not the most surefooted Selkie, but I swear, you look like there's something wrong with your walk-"
"I said no, Chime! Will you quit asking! I've got something important I need you to do!"
"Hmn?" The woman walked over and stood across from Keiss. She eyed the papers he'd put down, "Isn't that the Kilanda stuff you have me look up?"
"It is. I'm going back there… I've got find my way into this- whatever it was they were constructing- and help Layle."
"Help Layle?" The woman raised an eyebrow. "You let handsome get himself into trouble again?"
The Guild Master's son snorted, "He took off without me. But that's part of the plan…. Honest. I'm his back up, but I need help. I need you to contact Milka and Nadeen and tell them to meet me at Bridge Town."
"Milka and Nadeen? Why don't you contact them?"
"Milka may not come if I ask. And I need her gun slinging skills… I also need Nadeen to steal me an airship."
"Wait- what happened to your airship?"
Keiss took a deep breath and rolled his eyes, "Don't ask. Look, can you just tell Milka to meet me at Cid's Workshop in Bridge Town? We don't have much time. Half the military is going to be out looking for Layle, and I need to catch up to him. Fast." He pushed the paper work back at Chime with a smile. "And tell her to study this layout on her way here, got it?"
The Guild informant took the blueprints he pushed at her and nodded. "I'll send it via a couple Moogles I know personally. A set of brothers, they're fast, and will make sure the girls meet you there before the afternoon is over."
"Great!" Keiss pulled back from the counter. "Now I have to get on the fastest train to Bridge Town-"
"The fastest?" Chime cut him off, "Then you should take the prisoner train."
Keiss grimaced at her suggestion. The Selkie shook his head in distaste. "Are you kidding me?"
"No, I'm not." Chime folded up the blue prints and continued to talk, "It makes no stops. It goes right from whatever city it's departing to just outside Bridge Town. It's the fastest train. You know this."
"And just how am I suppose to get on the prisoner train?"
The Selkie raised her eyebrow and smirked at him, "Keiss, you're a Selkie. That train was made, for you."
Take the prisoner train… That was Chime's suggestion. Keiss thought the idea was crazy, but it could work.
"It's not hard to escape from the Prison Sands guards…" He muttered to himself as he made his way down to the train station. "So it can't possibly be difficult to break onto the train right?"
The Selkie exited Alfitaria out through the northern entrance to the city. It was here that the train to Prison Sands loaded up and left. The red head glanced around spotting guards in black armor doing a head count of the Selkie's they'd rounded up in the city. The men were all standing in line with shackles on their wrist. They talked and cursed at the soldiers; making jokes at their expenses. Occasionally a soldier would shove one and tell him to keep quiet.
The train was waiting at the loading platform. Its windows were all boarded up, and its doors had an extra set of bars on them.
The red head took a deep breath and started walking across the station grounds. There was not much in the way of cargo for him to hide amongst to get on board. So he'd have to fall in line with the captured lot. It was risky, but it was his most assured way on. As he circled around the station observing the scene he spotted a prisoner in line that had long red hair like his own. Granted it was only down to his shoulders, but it was still a pretty good match.
"That's my ride…" Keiss kept walking past the line and around to the front of the train. The soldiers paid him no mind so long as he hung back from where they were working. Occasionally one looked his way and he expected them to stop him. But they did no such thing. Truly the security here was the bare minimum. The guards watching the prisoners were more than likely new trained soldiers fresh from the academy.
They hardly cared at all about one lone Selkie walking around a semi-restricted area.
He stopped at the far end of the platform in front of the train.
"Okay, I haven't much to work with… Or much time…" He glanced at the smoke stack rising out of the top of train; there was a steady stream of smoke growing thicker by the second. They'd be ready to depart soon, and he needed to go with them "What I need is an adequate distraction…" He glanced around area trying to think of what would require all the guard's attention. There were a few crates about with food supplies to take the prison. Some barrels of water as well. There was also a stack of crates set aside for mining equipment. The prisoners were used for free labor, and the red head could see a few crates marked with explosives.
However setting them off meant the train ride would probably be postponed. He needed something distracting, not something that would stop the ride all together.
He turned around scrutinizing the area when his eyes fell on a few Chocobos tied up to a post.
"Hello? The guard's mounts… That's a good distraction." He walked away from the edge of the platform, still eyeing the soldiers as they ordered the Selkies to start loading up into the train. He didn't have much time now. Keiss rushed over to the birds, lamenting slightly at the hurried pace reminding him his legs were still feeling the burn from his bedroom carpet. He ducked between the birds and began untying their reigns. The creatures cooed and chirped at him as he moved between then. The red head put his hand on their beaks trying to keep them quiet for the time being.
"Come on, guys… Just let me finish here…" He pulled the last bird free and ducked out from under them. Keiss darted away from the birds who were already starting to move about now that they had more freedom to walk without being tethered down. The Selkie stopped next to some of the water barrels and stood on the other side of them. He took out his pistol and pointed towards the pole muttering an apology to the Chocobos before firing.
The bullet struck the pole the birds hand been tied to and the sound startled them out of their feathers. At once the Chocobos all raised their wings and started flapping and crying and running about. Keiss ducked down as he heard guards shouting to keep them under control.
The riding birds ran about the platform, jumping and calling out at the top of their lungs. Some knocked over crates, others trampled over guards. One or two even jumped down onto the track, preventing the train from going forward until they could be cleared off.
"Ah, I'll never understand why Layle's got a grudge against Chocobos. They're so useful!" While the guards were running about Keiss ducked out of his hiding spot and ran up to the chain gang of Selkies.
"How do you do?" He dug through his pockets and pulled out a lock pick.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" One of them asked.
"Are you here to bust us out?" Another chimed in.
"Oh! Oh! Unlock me first!" One held up his wrist to him and Keiss shook his head.
"Look, I'm here to join in on your fun," He reached over to the Selkie with the long red hair, "You and I are gonna switch places, okay?"
The other redhead scoffed, "What'er ya want, partner." He held out his wrist for Keiss to unlock him. The others complained and the former Guild Member shushed them.
"Look, I'll unlock all of you, once we get to Bridge Town." He held onto the shackles as they came loose from the other Selkie's wrist. The freed red head rubbed his hands and bowed to Keiss.
"Much obliged, sucker!" He turned from the group and took off running. Keiss rolled his eyes as he pocketed his lock pick and fell in line. He locked the shackles around his wrist and the other Selkies complained.
"You're not even wearing the uniform-"
"-They're going to notice you-"
"Look," Keiss rolled his eyes, "You and I both know the Lilty guards only care that the same number of Selkies that get on are the same number that get off. Now so long as you don't draw a fuss about me… I'll share all my little lock opening tools once we're on board, deal?"
The other prisoners muttered among themselves, they begrudging agreed to act like Keiss was one of them.
Soon as the Chocobos were in their place, the soldiers returned to loading the prisoners. One of them stopped and did a double take at Keiss as he got onto the train. He started to question if he was a new face, and the other prisoners assured him that it was the same Selkie as before. Reminding him a Chocobo did kick him in the head, maybe he was just confused.
The guard lifted his helmet plate and scratched his head. He wanted to say Keiss was different, the outfit wasn't even the same… But he was in the same place in line. And no one else seemed to care. He closed his helmet shut and let him on board. Surly if one of them had escaped the other prisoners would have been in a riot about wanting to get away as well…
Once he was seated on the train, Keiss started to feel uneasy. Not because he was worried about being caught, but because of the atmosphere. There was no natural light since the windows were boarded up. It was almost completely dark in the train car, save for a few red lights overhead. The guards ordered them to take their seats. Once the last Selkie was seated, the guard walked up and down the aisle checking them over.
When he was satisfied he turned and went back to the front of the car, letting them know in two hours they'd be at their new home. With that he left and shut the door behind him, closing off the last source of natural light.
"Two hours, huh?" Keiss looked down letting his eyes adjust to the near darkness. "Guess Chime was right, it is the fastest train…" The red head reached into his pocket and pulled out his lock pick. He freed his wrist just as he felt the train lurch forward and started moving. The Selkie next to him watched with anticipation. As promised, Keiss turned to him and started to undo his chains as well.
Afterward he gave him a second metal wire and told him to work on the other row of seats. It took them half an hour, due to the dim lighting in the train, but soon everyone was free. Keiss stood at the front of the train and spoke up.
"Listen up guys, I need you to do me a favor-" He started talking but no one paid him any mind. The prisoners were too busy conversing among themselves. Talking about what they were going to do once they got out. Where they planned to go and who they had to see. "Guys- Guys!" The red head crossed his arms. He walked toward the front of the aisle and climbed up onto a seat. He tried getting their attention again, talking louder and waving his arms. But still he was ignored.
The Selkie grumbled, looking about the dark train car until his eyes fell on one of the red lights.
Keiss pulled up one of his throwing knives from his pocket and tossed it at the bulb shattering it. This got the other prisoners attention. He smiled at them, his hands on his hips.
"Hi there. So nice of you to take notice… I'm glad you all are excited about being free, but we're not out of the prison yet. And I need a favor from you all-"
"-A favor! We already let you get on the train!" One of the Selkie's pointed at him scowling.
"Yes, yes, and I thank you for that but-"
"No buts! What more do you want?"
"Look, if I hadn't gotten on you'd lot still be shackles!"
"So, we could still get out later," another chimed in. The others agreed. "It's not like it's hard."
"And yet you were dying for me to get you out not an hour ago… Look, I still want you to escape, I just want us to escape together- It will be easier if we have a plan."
"And why should we listen to you?" The others roared in agreement and Keiss twisted his lips.
"Selkies and Crystal Bearers are a lot alike…" He watched the group cheer and jab at him verbally before shouting again, "All right you good for nothing, no account, rotten thieves!" The red head shouted at them, "How many of you idiots have a Guild Mark!"
The Selkies looked among each other in confusion and Keiss asked the question again. He smiled as all of them raised their hand. The red head reached behind his head and pulled up his hair to tie it in a knot above his neck. The group watched as he pulled off his armor and long black shirt and motioned to the tattoo on his arm.
"Good, then those of you with a Guild Mark are going to help me stage a prison break, Captain's orders."
The Selkies started muttering to themselves, some of them agreed without questions, others still protested. "You could be a fake! We had one of them on the train before!"
"Yeah! The lighting in here is dim- Even if you was Vaigali's kid, he ain't told anyone to take orders from you!"
"Yes, but how many of you want the news to spread that you didn't take orders from Vaigali's son, and left him to rot in Prison Sands, even if it easy to escape?" He crossed his arms and leaned forward eyeing the nay-sayers. The rest of the Selkie's turned and looked at them, waiting for a response. "Besides, what do you have to lose other than a better chance at freedom?"
The few remaining Selkies agreed, citing that it was better to go along and risk getting out, then get out only to find they had been disrespectful the Guild Master's son. Good terms or not, no one wanted Vaigali mad at them.
No one.
Keiss pulled back on his armor, but left his shirt off. He held it one hand and slung it over his shoulder as he started barking orders to his prison crew. They only had an hour to get ready. It wasn't much time for a good plan, but he could make a solid improvised one.
He had the situation under control, he was sure of it.
By the time the train came to a halt at the station all of the prisoners were seated again. Keiss had his shirt back on, and was wearing his shackles loose on his wrist. All of the prisoners were. He looked to the man sitting next to him and smirked.
The door opened and another guard clad in black armor entered. The Selkie could swear that in the dim lighting it looked like his eyes glowed red. However he couldn't stand to get a good look at the Lilty, as when he opened the door a wave of heat poured into the train car forcing him to turn his head. Even for growing up on the tropical southern coast, the desert's arid and steaming atmosphere was a bit much. The guard walked up and down the aisle checking the prisoners over before standing at the back and telling them all to stand up. Each Selkie got up and poured into the middle of the train to form a single file line.
A second Lilty, smaller and wearing the usual guard uniform came into view in the front. He ordered the prisoners to follow him out. They marched forward glancing at each other and smirking in the darkness. As they exited the train into the bright desert sunlight those smirks turned to grimace and frowns. The heat was even worse once you were out into it. Keiss recalled the mission he and Layle undertook of fishing for Sand Sahagins out in the quick sands. It was just as hot and unbearable then, but this time there was no water to stave off the heat.
The station platform to Prison Sands was a curious thing; the first thing that greeted anyone that arrived was a large statue of the Selkie Guild Master. Originally the station was only used by civilians coming and going from the grease smelling city. Across from Vaigali there was a statue erected of the current conductor, it would change as need be. The Guild Master's statue was here, as the Lilties would not allow Vaigali to put up one of himself at any of the Alfitaria stations. Despite the fact that it was by the Guild's hand that the trains ran and worked, the Lilties simply could not abide by the Selkies showcasing their pride and ownership over the tracks within their Capitol. So as it stood, every train station in the Capitol City had a large painting of the King, while the Guild was allowed to display their leader elsewhere.
Keiss supposed it was no small irony that the Lilties picked Bridge Town for Vaigali's statue, and soon after picked the same station to unload their prisoners from.
As his eyes adjusted to the light, Keiss could see a second train had pulled up on the other side of the station platform, this one a prisoner train from Red Leaf. As he looked across the way he spotted a familiar set of faces. Three to be exact. A set of Selkie twins, one male and one female. Along with a bare-chested Selkie man wearing a now worn and dirty feather boa wrapped around his neck. They looked much more tired and worn than the last time he saw them, but he'd recognize the band of train thieves anywhere.
"Alright you lot!" One of the guards spoke up as the Selkies finished exiting the train. "Welcome to your new home!" He walked back and forth across the lines of Selkie. "You all will be serving out your sentences here at Prison Sands digging up ore to be used for the Kingdom's efforts-"
"-Psst!" Keiss looked to his side, the Selkie next to him was fidgeting. "Now?"
"…Not yet," Keiss muttered to him. "Wait until were moving again…"
He turned his attention back to the guard and hear someone else hissing at him. He turned ready to tell the other Selkie to wait once again, when he saw the man wasn't looking at him. He heard the hiss again and turned his head toward the other line. The three familiar faces were glaring at him.
"See' wot did I say, ya?" Velle started to sneer. "That's him, from the train. I' d ne'er forget those two fools."
"Well what do you know, if'n Velle ain't right," her twin brother smirked at Keiss, "What happened ta, ya? Them onions finally turn on ye?"
Keiss rolled his eyes, "I thought they were sending you to the Arial Prison… You all should keep quiet-"
Their leader scoffed, "They wouldn't dare try! They knew the great Roe Dat would bring it down!"
Telle chuckled, "That'n we got leniency for handing back over all the stolen papers."
Keiss smirked but Roe Dat scowled. He puffed up his chest and continued to boast, "We've been here before, ain't none of them care if you talk." The boa wearing Selkie raised his eyebrows and smirked at Keiss, "My so how the mighty have fallen. It's good to see you hear kid… Maybe if you play your cards right, I'll let you escape with me and my gang. You're pretty good in a fight, we could use you. You could join us."
Keiss frowned, "You're still going by Roe Dat, I see?"
The other Selkie frowned, "It carries weight. And fear!"
"You're not Striped Brigand. I'll pass…" He looked forward again as the guard started ordering the Selkies to start walking.
Roe Dat tightened his jaw enraged, "Why you- You're a good for nothing, no account, stuck up fool." He spat at Keiss, "You won't last two minutes in a prison! You need rouges like us, or you'll end up sorrier than an onion cut across my blade."
As the lines started moving, Keiss smiled at Roe Dat, "You're right, prison is no place for me…" The red head held up his wrist, and everyone in his line did the same, "That's why I'm not going!" Keiss twisted his wrist and the shackles on him broke. The rest of the Selkies in line with him did the same and scattered at their chains came loose. A guard started shouting for them to stop, but they didn't listen.
The Selkie that had been next to Keiss doubled back to where they were unloading the water and knocked over the barrels as he had been directed too. He pushed one out form the lower stack causing the rest to roll and crack. Water spilled over the station platform and barrels rolled knocking over the iron clad soldiers. The sure footed Selkies jumped over the rolling sloshing barrels and continued to scatter and spread chaos.
Another prisoner made his way over to the boxes and crates that had been stored on the train. The ones filled with mining supplies for the prisoners. He took out one of Keiss' knives he'd been given and used it to pry a crate open. The Selkie then dug a match out of his pocket and struck it before tossing it into the wooden box. He ran away screaming 'duck your heads!'.
Within seconds the explosives stored in the crates erupted. Burning wood and fire scattered everywhere. The guards were torn between rounding up their prisoners and trying to maintain the blaze. In all the chaos Keiss ran over to Roe Dat and his band of thieves. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his lock pick.
"What's your real name, Roe, and be honest."
The trio of train thieves winced as another box exploded. Some of the prisoners in their line were already frantically trying to get out of their shackles.
"…Dat Khol," He motioned to the two behind him, "And they're Velle and Telle Yis."
"Leudans…." He shrugged his shoulders and put the lock pick in his hands, "Go home, you idiots. Before you really end up in the Arial Prison."
"Aye, but why you helpin' us get out?" Velle watched Dat pick at his lock, eagerly awaiting her turn.
"Look, I know its hard being a Selkie in a Lilty empire. Why do you think I work for them?" He pat the train robbers on the shoulders as he started to run away, "Hopefully one day you won't have to rob trains to survive. And quit using my family name, okay!?"
Dat Khol passed on the lock pick and folded his arms, "You know Vaigali's offering ten thousand gil for up to date info on his brat? Think we should go collect it? Could help out on expenses for our next heist!"
Keiss ran from the mayhem at the train station as fast as he could. No guards followed him, they didn't have time. Between the fire, and the escaping prisoners it was a mess. A few of them followed him, others risked heading back down the train track's tunnels to make their escapes, either way it was every man for themselves. Which was fine by him, he only needed to get away, what happened to everyone else was beyond his concern. Even the train robbers were out of his thoughts as soon as he was out of sight.
The red head arrived at the entrance to Bridge Town's workshop quarter just a few other prisoners did. They were doing their best to figure out the entrances pass code to unlock the lever that controlled the mechanical door. He elbowed past them and plugged in Cid's numbers on the pad. The red light signaling the lever was locked turned green and he reached over and pulled it down.
The large brass, gear shaped door that acted as a barrier between the paths to Prison Sands and the rest of the town rolled to the side, unveiling the wayward domain of the Lilty tribes top inventors. The prisoners with Keiss ran forward, quickly mixing into the crowded streets and disappearing. Keiss himself walked in slowly, hands in his pockets to avoid attention. It wasn't a long way from here to Cid's workshop, and he just wanted to get there and hand over the vials. He glanced up at the sky, it was still early in the morning, but it was hot.
"The girls should be here by afternoon… Hopefully Cid can give me results by then, and we'll be on our way."
When Keiss entered the workshop, the old tinkerer was nowhere to be found. But that wasn't too much of a surprise. Cid was always working. To find him just sitting around would be strange.
"Cid!" Keiss walked in as the shutter door closed behind him. "Cid! Where are you!?" The red head walked around the bottom floor of the workshop calling the man's name. He peeked into the side rooms, and tool sheds concerned that he couldn't find him, or even hear the man working around his workshop on some new project.
He finally stopped at the shutter leading into the room where Cid had been working on his large scale prototype of a steam powered engine. There was no horrible sulfur smell today, but the door was still half open like before.
"…Cid?" Keiss ducked under the metal door and walked in looking around. It was just as messy as the rest of the workshop with papers and tools scattered around the floor. And bottles. The red head's foot kicked one as he walked and it slid across the floor. It spun about and stopped when it struck another with a loud clank.
The Selkie rubbed his chin and looked down at the label: Rainbow grape Wine.
"…Cid are you drinking again?" Keiss circled the room, "I mean more than usual?"
Keiss stopped walking when he spotted the old Lilty. Cid was sitting, sleeping with his back propped up against his machines. A bottle in one hand and a newspaper clipping in the other. The red head rubbed his forehead and walked over to him. "Of all the days for you to start down memory lane-" He put a hand on Cid's shoulder and began shaking him. "Cid… Cid wake up- CID!" Keiss shook harder with each time he had to say the old researches name.
Finally the man awoke with a start, reaching out into the air, "A-Alexis!"
Keiss moved back as he grabbed out at no one. The red head crossed his arms and waited for his frantic episode to be over, "Cid? Are you awake?"
The old Lilty looked around, taking deep breaths. Keiss watched as it slowly dawned on him he was in his workshop. And the man turned his gaze up to the Selkie. "K-keiss…. When did you get here?"
"About five minutes ago," the former Guild Member held his hand out to him, urging Cid to put the bottle down at take it so he could help him up. Keiss had to take a step back to pull Cid up to his feet. He continued to grasp the man's palm to hold him steady until he could balance himself. "Are you alright?"
"Y-yes… I've just, been thinking a lot about the past… since your last visit…" He folded the paper and stuck it in his pocket. "W-what, ah, what brings you by today, Keiss?"
The red head frowned and turned his gaze down to the floor, "Professor Oides is dead."
"What?" Cid took a step forward, "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Keiss looked up. "I was there." He watched as Cid shook his head and slowly walked away. He wore a flabbergasted expression; mouth slightly agape and at a loss for words. "A Crystal Bearer did it, Cid… The papers are printing they suspect it was someone 'out for revenge' about the cure." Keiss followed after the old man, "Spinosa has his men looking for Layle for questioning- But we were there. I know it wasn't Layle."
Cid stopped walking and turned to look at him, "-His poor granddaughter- Where is Layle now?"
"He's with Villosie."
"What?" For the second time during their conversation Cid looked baffled.
"She's the Crystal Bearer we've been fighting this whole time- Look, Cid, I don't have much time. I can explain while you work."
"While I work? Work on what!? If anything you need to explain more to me!"
Keiss dug into his pocket and pulled out the two vials he collected from Oides. "I need you to tell me what this is," He extended his hand for Cid to take them. "The doctor said it was for Villosie. It's not like anything else I'd seen in his lab. I need to know what it is- and fast. I have to catch up to them at Kilanda before- well before whatever it is she's going to do, she does. Can you help?"
The old tinkerer held the vials up to the light peering at them, "You're not giving me much notice."
"I didn't get much myself…"
Cid lowered the vials and looked Keiss over. The red head turned up the right side of his lips into a smile. The old man scoffed and pulled down the goggle extensions over his glasses.
"Come on, then, let's get to it."
"This is the place." Milka stood out in front of Cid's workshop, arms crossed and glaring up at the image of a giant smiling onion over the front door. She held up her hand and looked down at the letter that had been sent to her from Chime. By express method of 'Mogcid'.
"Um, are we even allowed in there?" Milka turned her attention to the Selkie girl standing next to her. Nadeen tapped the side of her face with her finger as she looked up at the sign. "Doesn't Vaigali hate this guy?" She spoke in a whispered voice.
"He does, with a passion…." Milka tucked the letter back into her pocket. "And with good reason too, he's the one that looks out for Keiss here in Lilty territory. He can't stand it. No one looks out for Keiss except Vaigali."
The two Selkies stood out in the Bridge Town crowd; Milka was dressed in her pirate attire and had her trunk full of guns at her side, while Nadeen wore her swimsuit with a pair of shorts hat looked like they were made from scraps of leather and old belts.
"So why does Keiss want us to meet him here?"
"Chime just said it was urgent… And despite how much trouble he's in, the Guild Master would not begrudge a request for help form his only son."
The Leudan Selkie chuckled, "I'm surprised Vaigali didn't come himself!"
Milka started forward shaking her head. She grabbed one of the handles on her trunk and lifted it up; the back end was on wheels allowing her to drag it, "Keiss didn't ask. And to save appearances, he wouldn't have come himself anyway."
Nadeen followed her still talking away, "Yeah but didn't Chime's letter say she thought Keiss was hurt?"
"I'll be the judge of that." Milka pulled the lever opening the workshop and the two Selkie women entered looking around.
Keiss was sitting and waiting for them at the front desk. He had given Cid all the info he could on the situation and was now looking over the blueprints of Kilanda's hidden base while he waited for the former head of Crystal Research and Development to finish analyzing the silver fluid. When the shutters opened Keiss jumped up out of his seat. He put his hands on the counter and sprang over it, to rush over and meet the girls.
"You're late!"
"There was no specific time given…" Milka dropped her trunk and frowned as she watched Keiss land and run over to them. "You know I think Chime was right… Did you hurt your-"
"-Shut up," Keiss cut her off shaking his head. "Just focus will you… I said to be here as soon as possible. This is not soon."
"Don't tell me to 'shut up' young man. And you are hurt, you're landing is off. What did you do to the lower half of your body?"
"Can you not, Milka, please, just ignore it." He held his hands up to her while tilting his head and making a disdained face. The woman put her hands on her hips and twisted her lips mouthing to him that they would talk about it later.
"Hey, we got here within two hours of getting the letter," Nadeen pointed her finger at him, "Plus we had to get an airship-"
"Did you get a good one?!" He turned to her wide eyed.
"We got an Air Lancer model," Nadeen took her hand and zipped it across the air in a flying motion. She smiled, but Keiss frowned. "What?"
"…It's not as fast as an original Acote, but it will do."
"It was short notice!" She scoffed, "And it was the only model I know how to fly…"
"You forget, Keiss, Nadeen actually sticks to Guild rules. She spent her time learning to take over Leuda someday, she doesn't have time like you to train on frivolities."
"Learning to pilot one of the best airships in the Lilty aerial fleet is not a 'frivolity'. It's a valuable skill." He crossed his arms at her. "Anyway, it will do, Nadeen. I'm glad I caught you before you went back to Leuda." He reached out to the girls and put his hands on head of their shoulders. "Girls, we're going to go provide back up to Layle at Kilanda."
"Kilanda!" The two exclaimed and pulled back.
"Abaddons again?" Milka sighed. Nadeen shook her head saying the word 'no' over and over.
"Yes, Kilanda! We have to! Layle's in danger- maybe- but he will be if we don't go." He walked back to the counter and grabbed the blueprints. "There's more to that island than what we saw around the base of the volcano. In the crater, the Lilties had built a weapons testing base- It's where all the Crystal Bearers were taken too. All the 'cured' ones." Keiss walked back over to them and handed them the paperwork. "Layle went there. Clockwork too. I'm sure she's going to try and shut it down… We have to help them."
"You let Layle go off with that sociopath?" Milka ran her fingers over the paper frowning.
"Why take the cured Bearers to a weapon testing facility?" Nadeed peered over the woman's shoulder.
"…I- I think they are the weapons, Nadeen."
The two Selkie women looked up from the paper at Keiss. The red head pressed his lips together, his brow creased in worry.
Neither of the three said anything.
"Keiss! Keiss!" The silence was finally broken by Cid emerging from the back rooms holding the vials up over his head. The three Selkies turned to look at Cid as he came running forward, swaying a bit from drinking so much as he approached. The red head moved to meet him, putting out his arms to stop the old Lilty.
"Cid! What is it?"
"-It's amazing!" He flipped up his goggles, "Breath taking!" The old Lilty ran his fingertips over the silver filled vials, "Even terrifying…"
"What is?" Nadeen spoke up form the background looking around confused.
"This is, my dear!" Cid put the tubes into Keiss' hand. "He did it! He really did it!" The researcher curled the red head's fingers around the containers smiling. "It breaks down the bonds of organic material fused with Crystal Magic. By separating the bonds and dissolving the cells that are 'contaminated' with the presence of Crystal Shard fiber that grow the Crystals in organic material it leaves way then for proper Crystal free cells to grow in their place, over any area where the Crystal imbued skin had once existed."
"…" Milka looked a Nadeen, "What did he say?"
Keiss held the vials close to his chest, "It removes Crystals from people's bodies? Instead of just the magic, it takes out the entire Crystal?"
"At no cost to the Bearer in question. It's a true cure. Completely and totally harmless to any of those that use it."
"…But why, after his granddaughter rejected it why?" Keiss opened up his hand and looked down at the solution. "And only two doses? Who are they for?" He shook his head, wondering what the doctor had meant with this last invention. He said it was for Villosie. Was it for her to take alone? Or share with someone?
"Keiss?" Milka called to him and he turned to look at her, "What are you going to do with it?"
"…It comes with us to Kilanda." He tightened his grip on the solution.
"I'm still surprised you let Layle go without you-" Nadeen started to speak and Milka interjected.
"-And with Clockwork no less. This doesn't seem like one of your well thought out plans at all."
The red head shrugged, "It's not. It's Layle's…. Sort of." He looked around the room as the other three looked at him curiously. "Look, I- I can't control what Layle does or doesn't do. The best I can do is trust him. And back him up when he decides to do something. There's no stopping him, he and that gravity magic of his are beyond my control."
"Wow, Keiss… I've never heard you- give up before." Nadeen spoke softly.
"I didn't give up… It's just how things are."
Milka whistled at the end of Keiss statement and smiled, "You know what? I haven't heard a Selkie as stubborn as you admit that there were things out of their control since your old man and your mother got married."
A/N: Next up a Layle chapter! Really though, I think this will be done by chapter 70. I have thought about doing another story... But I guess I'll ask you all at the end if you think I should do more?