"The Soul Eater?" Crystal said, eyes wide. In her fear, she forgot to be mad at Kenjii, for whatever reason. "But this is where Seth lives! And where all the SWORDs are made!"
"Yep."
"This is... I don't know if this is great, or horrible. We finally found the Soul Eater! We are the FIRST people to actually-"
Kenjii gave her a sidelong look that wondered if she'd gone mad. "We're not the first people to find it, Crystal. Just the first people to survive finding it. So far, at least."
Crystal shook her head. "No... we have to get back to the base! And tell them what we've seen!"
Kenjii nodded. "Perhaps we can even lead a final blow against Seth... but for the meantime, we just have to worry about surviving. And not just from a SWORD; we have little water, and don't know where to go."
Crystal nodded, then opened up her mouth to say something, before Kenjii interupted her again. "Hey, get down! Behind that rock over there!" Crystal didn't have any time to question or even do as he said; Kenjii grabbed her arm and hauled her over behind the large rock. It's shade, unfortunately, was on the other side.
"What are we doing?" she asked. Kenjii hushed her. "What are we doing?" she repeated in a whisper.
"There's something coming... it looks like a SWORD, but I can't be sure." Kenjii said, trying to peer by the side of the rock.
Crystal shrugged. "So? Together, we can beat just about any SWORD, even a Fenrir. Unless it's a new model, it may prove to be somewhat of a challenge. We-" she broke off at Kenjii shaking his head. "What?"
"Do SWORDs lay ambushes?" Kenjii asked. Crystal blinked. What does that have to do with anything.
"No..." she said slowly. "SWORDs seek and destroy. They've never actually been targetted to one person. To a base, sure, but never a person. And they NEVER lie in wait, they just use brute force."
Kenjii shook his head. "Wrong. Remember the memorial? What were those SWORDs doing underground? And what coincidence is it that we ran into a huge unit if Fenrir, that just HAPPENED to be in a perfect circle around us? No, Crystal. These SWORDs lay ambushes, and against us. Well, either me, you, or Alex. Maybe even one of his grunts. I don't know why, though."
Crystal opened her mouth to tell him he was being an idiot, the closed it with a small memory. Before she had even met him... those Fenrir HAD been in a circle around her. Was that an ambush, or just a well planend attack? "They're after me..." she said softly. "I've been ambushed by a Fenrir unit before..." Kenjii blinked. "Uh, it was before I met you," she said hurredly.
Kenjii chuckled, and Crystal realized she was blushing. Blushing! To ide her slight embarassment, she stuck her head out the side of the rock to look for the SWORD. And gasped when she saw it.
"Kenjii!" she whispered fiercely, "that's an Ultima! There's no doubt about it!" If rumors were even a quarter of how bad she'd heard, this thing could rip them both to shreds without even thinking. And in a day where life was a constant war, few people inflated vital details on SWORs. "This is powerful, Kenjii! Really strong! We can't fight it!"
Kenjii smirked. "Ultima, huh? Yeah, I've heard of those. I bet I can take it."
"No, Kenjii, this thing's too strong! I-"
:Crystal! Are you there!?:
Crystal froze. Krinn! They must be near her familiar! :Yes, Krinn, I hear you, where are you?:
:I'm at the base. Can you feel me? You're about west of me. Just head due east, and I'll take a small escort to you. Or at least try:
:I'll be there!: Crystal said happily, then realized Kenjii was shaking her by the shoulder.
"Crystal! Are you OK?" He actually sounded worried!
"Better than OK!" she said, excited. "I found the way to the base! It's east of here!" He nodded, apparently just figuring she used her 'magic stuff' to find the way.
"One problem..." he said. "That Ultima SWORD is in the way. And it looks like it's there to stay for quite a while."
Crystal groaned. They couldn't wait it out, they had no water left! But they couldn't fight it, it would destroy them in an instant. And if it was laying an ambush, like Kenjii thought, perhaps of more Ultima... it would be impossible. Literally impossible. "What do we do?"
Kenjii blinked. "What, you're giving me lead again?" He shrugged, and reached into his coat pocket. His coat was back on his shoulders, mostly because he had been getting sunburn. He withdrew his small gythka, and gave it a deft shake. It grew to it's usual length, and he grinned. "Let's kill 'em."
"But Kenjii-"
"Wait, no," Kenjii said. "I'LL fight it. You go back to the base. Bring me reinforcements or something."
Crystal's eyes felt like they were going to pop out. "What!? Kenjii, it's at least a mile to the base! You'll be dead long before I even get there, let alone come back with help!"
Kenjii grinned. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve," he said. "Trust me. I can do more than speak in people's mind." :Trust me: he repeated telepathically.
Crystal sighed. "OK... but if you die, I swear to god I'll skin you alive!" She laughed softly at the look on his face. "Well, you know what I mean."
Kenjii laughed, too. "Well, OK, then. When I knock down this rock, run in whatever direction you said the base was fast as your feet can go, and I'll hold off the Ultima." Before she could say 'good luck' or even 'goodbye' he lifted a hand to the rock, and it tumbled over, crashing into the SWORD. Kenjii leapt forward, over the rock, with a wordless roar, as Crystal ran; ashamed that she actually DID run, instead of helping him.
Good. Crystal was gone. By the time she came back, Kenjii knew that Skan would be able to cloak the Soul Eater. By then, both Skan and Kenjii would be long gone. And of course, this SWORD.
"Alright, alright," Kenjii grumped, tucking the shortened gythka into his trenchcoat. "That's enough fighting, she can't see us anymore." The Ultima SWORD obediantly stopped. "Now lead the way," Kenjiii growled, pointing at the Soul Eater. "I may be an employee, but I work by myself. I don't wanna get stabbed in the back by no damn SWORD. Lead the way."
The Ultima walked towards the Soul Eater at an annoyingly slow pace, but Kenjii didn't complain. Skan was gonna be pissed. Oh, well. Kenjii was a mercenary, not a mindless drone. He'd still get paid the one hundred thirty thousand for infiltrating that base, and he was supposed to get five hundred thousand alltogether if he helped the Ultima capture Crystal. Oh, well. Kenjii was actually beginning to like the girl, he didn't want her killed. Besides, he could always do jobs later on for Skan. Seth was an generous payer.
When they reached the huge ship, Kenjii had to grab on to the SWORDs arm to be lifted up. He wished he could fly by himself, but his psionics just didn't work that way. Ultima's thrusters came on, and Kenjii had to lift his feet to keep them from getting burned. Damn SWORD.
"Honey, I'm home!" Kenjii yelled loudly upon entrance to the gigantic ship. He looked around after a few silent minutes. "I guess Skan ain't here." Kenjii leaned back against the wall. "Well, I can wait. He owes me money, yes he does, and quite a bit, at that."
Kenjii looked over to say something to the SWORD - they understood nothing but commands, so it was easy to make fun of them - when something hard hit his head, knocking him out.
Skan frowned down at the unconsious Kenjii. That boy could ruin anything. Skan had managed to raise the cloak around the Soul Eater; it was now invisible to both radar and any person's naked eye. Only high energy trackers could find it, and Skan only knew of such technology existing in this one airship.
Slowly, Kenjii woke. He mumbled something under his breath, something about a crystal being safe, then woke up groggily. He gave a start at realizing that his coat and shirt were removed, and his three weapons, the two chatchka and the gythka, were lying on a table in front of him. Kenjii was tied up, his back to the wall, his arms secured by a thick cord above him.
"What... what the hell's going on!?" he growled angrily. Or tried to, Skan knew that a blow to the head like that one he'd given would take quite a while to recover from. "What are you doing, Skan?"
Skan frowned and leaned forward a bit. "Merely making sure that I do know which side you are on, mercenary. You were promised the money to deliver to us the girl, Crystal Rivan, and the location of the base. Why, Kenjii, have you not done so?"
Kenjii growled, struggling a bit against his bonds. "That's it? Geez, Skan, why do you have me all tied up just for that?" He gestured east with his head. "A couple miles to the west. It's hidden well in the valley, and seems to be underground. There are three entrances that I've seen, two from a bar, and one from a machines shop. They have camoflouge against radar, but nothing optic. If you just send some SWORDs there, it'll be pretty clear." Kenjii scowled. "There! Damnit, now let me go!"
Skan smirked. "Your help truly is appreciated. I would much rather have it come willingly than waste valuable tiem forcing it out of you." The villanous grin faded. "However, two things keep you tied up, Kenjii. One, your failure to deliver Crystal Rivan, when you most easily had the opportunity. Two... well, that is unimportant."
"Hey!" Kenjii yelled. "I did my job, so fuck off! She's just a girl, damnit, her magic and physical strength are almost third class! Nothing to threaten anybody!" It sounded odd, calling her a girl, when she was only a year younger than him.
Skan stared at Kenjii for a long time. Sweat began to roll down the mercenary's face as Kenjii's mind worked at what Skan was planning to do. But Skan merely - merely! - kicked Kenjii, hard, in the ribs, then walked away. Kenjii made a choking sound, then doubled over.
Skan walked over to Seth's chamber, the room with purple mist, in the middle of the massive airship.
DOES KENJII IKAKU TELL OF THE BASE?
"Yes, Lord Seth," Skan said with some satisfaction. "He tells of it's location and it's entrances. Shall I extract military tactical information from him, as well?"
NO. TIME GROWS SHORT. ALREADY THE FOUR COME TOGETHER. IF THEY DO, SKANDRANON, IT WOULD BE THE DEATH OF YOU.
Skan fell to his hands and knees and kissed the ground, the purple mist covering him for a moment. "I am your loyal servent, Lord Seth. My lifeblood will be spilt before harm ever comes to you."
YOU ARE LOYAL, SKAN. YOU WILL ATTACK THE BASE.
Skan stood. "Lord Seth, you are all knowing and wise. But who will hold the cloak of I am gone? And if I do not come back, the cloak will be down forever. It takes only my presence, dead or alive, to keep it up. This is why I leave as little as possible, Lord Seth."
YOU WILL TAKE FIVE ULTIMA. AND THE SENTINELX.
Skan blinked. FIVE Ultima? And the SentinelX was meant to be a trump card, used only in times of greatest need... but perhaps this was that time. "Yes, Lord Seth. I serve and obey."
YOU ARE LOYAL. YOU WILL SUCCEED.
"As you command, Lord Seth."