The Red Wings: Take Flight

[Knight Kat]

Kiht was deeply concerned. The first letter from Siha was a bit odd. She assumed Siha was homesick, but then later remembered that she could have sworn Siha stated that she was from La Noscea. Well, that still made the letter perfectly fine if not a bit "off". However, the second letter really bothered Kiht.

 

 

 

Kiht,

 

Meet me where our dear sister and friend once hid if you can make the journey without much trouble. Tonight. I hear it has the ability to lift ones spirits.

 

-Siha

 

 

 

Why did Siha want to meet in La Noscea? Why be so subtle about the exact location? Siha is lucky Kiht had a good memory.

 

Kiht was not going to rally her Clan despite the meeting looking more and more like some kind of trap from a person posing as Siha. However, Kiht would be prepared. Kiht's Wolfram armor was strapped on tightly and secure. Her vintage Guisarme was on a sling held by her shoulder. Four throwing daggers, and two of her hunting knives were sheathed on her belt. She threw on a basic tan cloak to hide the fact that she looked ready for war then set out for Limsa Lominsa.

 

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Kiht arrived as quickly as she could. On the outside, she looked like a Miqo'te in a tan cloak. Nothing out of the ordinary in Limsa. Her armor was made of leather and metal plates. Most of which built in a way to where very little noise was made while walking. Most would assume she just had a thick leather jerkin under her cloak. She walked at a brisk pace; heading straight for Middle La Noscea. No one seemed to pay her any mind.

 

While out on the field of Middle La Noscea, Kiht's mind raced. Her scouting instincts were screaming at her that the meeting was some kind of trap, but her Lancer instincts were telling her to be courageous, and charge ahead. If the letter was indeed from Siha, then it must have been related to something urgent that concerned them both. Roen might have been in danger. The only way Kiht would find out was to go through with the meeting.

 

If it was actually a trap, whoever set it had better be ready for the raging ball of fury and sharp objects that Kiht would become.

 

"Let it be Siha." Kiht prayed as she spotted Summerford Farms. She was close to her destination. She feverishly scanned her environment and sniffed the air. She would be able to relax a lot more if she could pick up Siha's scent.

 

The letter told her to meet at the location where Roen hid. Kiht was hoping she did not mean Summerford Farms itself. However, she started with a quick entrance and survey of the Farms then she moved off to the bridge, ramps and cave that would lead to the small area near the waterfall.

 

Unless stopped sooner, Kiht would make it to the location near the waterfall.

[Gegenji]

 

"Are you ready for our performance?"

 

Speaking of performances...

 

 

"Cap'n, isn't it usually bad luck ta rename a ship?"

 

The question echoed lightly off the sheer rock walls of the small cove before being muffled into obscurity by the thick fog that so tightly embraced it. The one who had asked the question - a lanky Keeper female whose long, violet tresses spilled almost freely from the dew-rag that sought to confine them - seemed more interested in just initiating smalltalk over getting an actual answer. She idly juggled three knives with one hand, with both her attentions and the other hand focused on smoothing out the frazzled fur of her tail. It always acted up like this when the fog set in and never ceased to annoy her sensibilities.

 

"Now now, Jugs, don't be so negative!" Cap'n Distractin' responded, flashing his trademark smile back towards Juggling Rina - or "Jugs," as the rather flat-chested Miqo'te was ironically nicknamed - from his supervisory position. "The little vessel played its role fabulously durin' its opening performance. The least I could do is give it a proper reward for a job well done, eh?"

 

Floating lazily in the water was the boat in question: a small sailing ship that the flamboyant Lalafell pirate had won in a card game with a dishwasher and small-time smuggler from the Bismarck. The Cap'n hadn't expected the Miqo'te lad to respond so vehemently to his good-natured ribbing, let alone put up his own ship as a bet in response to it, but he wasn't one to let opportunity slip. He might've even bordered on possibly feeling a little bit bad about doing it if the dishwasher hadn't been trying to cheat in the first place. Of course, Distractin' had been cheating as well - such a thing was a given in the seedy Limsan dive he had decided to entertain himself in, after all - but at least he made a show of it. The Miqo'te's performance had been drunkenly sloppy and, overall, abysmally sub-par; as such, he was just asking to have the piss taken out of him for so shoddily trying to trick a trickster.

 

The surprise windfall had been put to just as surprisingly good use, though, Distractin' had to admit. The little ship was just the right size to be squirreled (or perhaps nutkin'd?) away and used as the method of egress from the Great Bridge Blowout - as the Cap'n had taken to calling that delightful performance with the caravan - and had spent the past couple suns resting here after they had exeunt from that glorious stage.

 

"Well, what if'n he ponies up th' gil?" Jugs continued, her brilliant golden orbs still fixated on the ministrations being done to her tail. Cap'n Distractin' had been magnanimous enough to offer to return the ship to its original owner for a sizable fee. He wasn't completely without compassion. It just cost a few thousand gil was all. "He's bound to be redder'n a boiled Megalocrab 'n twice as angry once he finds out."

 

"Well, it's under my possession until the money changes hands, so I don't see the problem." The Cap'n tugged thoughtfully at the Fu Manchu-style mustache his was sporting this day. "Besides, he can always change it back if he doesn't like it. Which would be quite the pity indeed. I feel it's a more fittin' name, don't you?"

 

The artisan - another one of Distractin's crew - shifted away upon completing his task in order to give his superior a better look at the finished product. What was once the "Garuda's Embrace" was now elegantly titled the "Eighth Ace" in a delightfully flourished script. The name had just come to the Lalafell upon seeing the extra ace the dishwasher had clumsily tried to slip into his hand during the match that had won him the ship in the first place. That, and the three others the Cap'n had easily identified as being literally up the Miqo'te's sleeve. Not only was it thematically apropos, it had the added bonus of rhyming with the original name!

 

The showman in Hohoyoho couldn't be happier.

[Kels]

Raimy frowns slightly when Erik tells him to check his rivalries. He'd already let that go after they saved Doc and he decided to stay with this crew for good. He'd tried to make it up to the kid, but so far has been unsuccessful. He closes the distance to the other two when given his task and reaches out to accept the letter offers him. He commits the location and person to deliver to to memory, repeating it softly to himself and out of habit to show the customer he is indeed remembering the details. He looks down at Mikh'a when the kid tries to encourage him and just smiles softly and puts a hand on the kid's shoulder in response, not saying anything in return. He's a courier. He can deliver a message.

 

That confidence wavered a little bit standing on the ground in the snow when he bid the others farewell. He had left his Flame gear on the ship and picked something a little more courier looking out of the options of spare clothing in the hold. He reassured the others that he had this, though it's not the first time he's said that phrase and no one believed him. He's a courier though and this task is part of his daily life... or what was his daily life before he joined the Flames. It almost feels good to slip back into that roll even as a guise. Like the only care he has is delivering the package on time and in one piece. Or in this case, still sealed.

[Askier]

The crew of the Zulu sailed through the night sky silently as they carried Kahn'a out into the rolling sands of Southern Thanalan. The ocean of sand stretched beneath them for hours. It wasn't until.after sunrise that they came to a towering cleft and began.to increase altitude. Midway up the cliff side was cut out a small hangar and the airship slipped into it and settled down gently. The crew of the Zulu wasted no time as they carried the limp form of Kahn'a Od'hilkas between them. They took him down a hallway to a row of cell doors pressed into the stone. There they stripped the Miqo'te of all possessions and clothing save his under garments and then one of the prison staff opened the door. They took the Kahn'a to a chair in the middle of the room and seated him in it, re-shackling him to the chair. 

 

The members of the Zulu and the prison guard then left, leaving Kahn'a trapped in darkness, alone with his thoughts. It would be many bells until the door to his cell open again. The light of a lantern spilled into the room as a tall female in white entered. Two hyurs carried in buckets of water and a third came.in with thick towels. The woman studied the form of Kahn'a in the chair and then bowed politely.

 

"Mr. Od'hilkas, are you awake? We have much to discuss."

[Gray]

Sieg chuckled as he went along with Clio.  That adolescent display had reminded him of his time with the Gray Lions.

 

Interesting relationship you keep with your contacts.

 

He didn't mean the comment in any negative or judgemental way.  He was just making an observation, and it was somewhat amusing.  He had, by now, stashed his axe someplace.  It was just a standard weapon, and there was no particular reason why it would draw suspicion, but one can never be too careful.  If not suspicion, even attention could cause problems.  His clothes were of typical hyur fashion.  He opted out of the robe look.  Somehow, walking around with a piece of clothing that shouted "Look at me!  I'm hiding something!" didn't seem like the best idea.

 

Not that I'm trying to tell you your business.  Let's just hope emotion doesn't cloud judgement, yeah?  On either part.

 

If only there were some help Sieg could offer other than being muscle, but the contacts he -did- know of were back in Ala Mhigo, and he was in deep cover here in Eorzea.  He didn't have direct contact with any other Ala Mhigan revolutionaries, and there was no time for him to follow the only paper trail that could connect him with his unknown contact here in Eorzea.  The one man he -did- know of that was in the region was out of reach.

 

What I'm getting at is...We can trust that one, right?

 

He didn't seem overly suspicious.  It came off more as just making sure.

[Kahnopy]

Kahn'a awoke in the dark. Had he... forgotten how to open his eyes? Confused, he blinked. Once, twice. Still nothing. It was odd. He did not remember experiencing nothingness made of black and silence. Was he dead?

 

Ouch!

 

No, no this pain was very sharp and very real. The Miqo'te tried to get his bearings, almost losing balance when he turned his head left and right. His head was still heavy, and he felt even more surprised to be somehow kept relatively still. It was in this instant that he became conscious of his binds. Different than the chains but just as restraining. Vainly, he struggled in his chair, embracing the insane hope of breaking free.

 

Were was he? Why was it dark? Kahn'a flared his nostrils to get a taste of the air. Warm dusty air. No doubt, he was still in Thalanan. But where?

 

Calm down, they need you to talk. You're safe.

 

But even reason only managed to dim the growing concern of the Keeper. His hunter was unknown to him, but for the great brotherhood he belonged to. Kahn'a belonged to it too. Still?

 

He had little time to let his mind whirl. A flash of light blinded him and instinctively, he tried to shield his eyes from it with hands. Again, it barely shook the chair. Kahn'a glared at the people dragging themselves to him.

 

The room. The chair. It was a setting he knew, and a little too well. It was meant to be an interrogation. A drop of sweat pearled on his forehead. This was uncomfortable. And it probably was going to get worse. Silently, he watched the "lady".

 

Put some sodding emotion when you bow before someone. Your kind knows not humility, I can see it.

 

Extending a weak smirk, the Keeper looked back at her. He took some time to settle his mood, aggressivity would not yield him much.

 

"You're sorely mistaken."

[Aduu Avagnar]

Nako'li straightened his overcoat as he stood at parade rest Inside Commander Swift's office. The door opened behind him and he snapped a salute as the commander entered.

 

'You'd better know what your doing Chalahko, you've never worked with this lot before, and I don't know how well they'll take being assigned a consultant.'

 

Nako nodded as the commander signed a document and then affixed both his personal seal and that of the Flames.

 

'I know their targets Sir, I've had encounters with both the Captain, and the Lieutenant they brought in last night. Also, if they continue as they did last night, then not only will half of Ul'dah know what they are doing, it will drive their targets deeper underground, and if I may remind you sir, that's what they do best.'

 

Commander swift simply nodded and grunted his assent, handing Nako the letter, which was hastily rolled up and placed in a scroll tube. When the commander didn't look back at him, he took that as his cue to leave.

 

Moving back to the open lobby of the Flame Hall, he asked a runner to find Lieutenant A'trus, and let him know Second Lieutenant Chalahko requested a meeting with him to discuss his new assignment.

[Askier]

The Cell

 

Kresha raised her eyebrow at Kahn'A's reply. It was sarcastic yet honest. 

 

Kresha studied the miqo'te tied to the chair. She had orders from A'trus. Very specific ones. She was to try to appeal to Kahn'a's civil side. First. If he refused to cooperate as a former Flame, she had full.authorization to break him as an enemy of the state. Kresha was a professional. She took pride in her effectiveness but preferred to be reading than making political prisoners gasp for life.

 

The woman waved her hand and the door to the cell closed and was locked, leaving her and her assistants and their buckets standing as he stepped forward.

 

"Mr. Od'hilkas. You are a Flame. And officer. You and your unit stand accused of treason. As such, your status is suspended and I am free to deal with you as needed. My commanding officer hopes you will regain your senses and inform us where your fellow Red Wings are. The fact you have all run for cover shames your unit, you, and this city. If you are innocent, it is now easy to question if you truly are. You cooperating with us will not only speed up their inevitable.capture, it will make your sentence far lighter. You need but serve the city you swore an oath to protect from all enemeies. And right now your Captain is considered an enemy of the state. Will you let this be the end of your career Kahn'a? Do you truly not serve ul'dah?"

 

Kresha's tone wasn't harsh, it was almost pleading. A tone she had chosen on purpose. She was trying to instill in Kahn'a his patriotic duty to help them. 

 

"Because if you don't, we shall treat you as an enemy."

 

Ul'dah-Flame Hall

 

A'trus was hunched over his desk, a map spread before him. His eyes were hard and it was obvious he had not slept. He was setting up.three more hunts. He had leads on three targets. His scouts and informants were moving quickly. Promise of Ul'dah gold and good standing with the flames moved many to sell information. The hunt was easy. The research of targets was hard.

 

The Miqo'te ran a hand through his hair and licked his dry lips. He needed a bath.

 

The door to his office opened and a runner came in. A'trus stood straight and returned the salute as the runner gave his message. A'trus blinked in surprise but nodded.

 

"Very well. Inform Second Lieutenant Chalahko I will see him here at his earliest availability until sunset, at which time I will need to be departing."

 

The runner saluted again and spun on his heel. A'trus watched the door shut and studied it intently. 

 

What in the world did Chalahko want?

[Aduu Avagnar]

Following shortly after the runner, Nako knocked on the door and entered. His head was uncovered, his iconic Shadow Visor absent, leaving his mismatched gold and amethyst eyes free to wander over the office, taking it all in. After a glance he had it memorised, an old habit that refused to die.

 

Mpving to the desk he drew out the letter signed by swift. 'Lieutenant A'trus, I am Second Lieutenant  Lientenant Chalako of the Yatagahns. I've been assined to your unit to assist in the apprehension of the Red Wings. You'll find the orders in that letter.'

 

He fixed A'trus with a steady look and awaited the response.

[Kahnopy]

Kahn'a slowly shook his head.

 

"I am afraid you heard but you heeded not. With all due respect, Madam, you are mistaken."

 

The Miqo'te rolled his head, trying to appreciate what little movement he could have. He cast a sly side glance at her. Hyurs were... stupid.

 

"Aye, you are," he carried on. "In those times of suspicion, you've surely heard the noise about the integrity of our Command, it seems grossly misplaced to summarize matters in such a simplistic fashion."

 

The Miqo'te shook with a self-depreciation snicker. The game was on. "Look at me, Madam. I stand, nay, sit, like a discarded pawn on your board. You surely think I have much to tell you. But you are mistaken."

 

Kahn'a averted his eyes, it was true that his current status filled him with shame. This word was... disgusting. Pouring onto his hair, his skin with the viscosity of a broken egg. Ears pinned down, he also lowered his voice.

 

"I refused to follow," he reluctantly confessed. "I know naught."Kahn'a slowly shook his head.

 

"I am afraid you heard but you heeded not. With all due respect, Madam, you are mistaken."

 

The Miqo'te rolled his head, trying to appreciate what little movement he could have. He cast a sly side glance at her. Hyurs were... stupid.

 

"Aye, you are," he carried on. "In those times of suspicion, you've surely heard the noise about the integrity of our Command, it seems grossly misplaced to summarize matters in such a simplistic fashion."

 

The Miqo'te shook with a self-depreciation snicker. The game was on. "Look at me, Madam. I stand, nay, sit, like a discarded pawn on your board. You surely think I have much to tell you. But you are mistaken."

 

Kahn'a averted his eyes, it was true that his current status filled him with shame. This word was... disgusting. Pouring onto his hair, his skin with the viscosity of a broken egg. Ears pinned down, he also lowered his voice.

 

"I refused to follow," he reluctantly confessed. "I know naught."

[Askier]

A'trus had resumed studying the map and had been focused intently when the door to his office flew open yet again.  The male miqo'te lifted his head slowly as he straightened and gave a sharp salute to the other male as his eyes assessed Chalahko's rank and composure. A'trus noted they both had mis-matched eyes and felt a flicker touch his lips as he relaxed his saluting arms and took the letter. 

 

A'trus took the document and slowly read it over, his face blank as he thought carefully about this situation. It had been some time since he had been given a transfer to his unit that was an officer. It was somewhat of a surprise and left an uncertain taste in his mouth as he carefully placed the letter onto the table and sniffed the air deeply, locking the scent of the Second lieutenant into his nostrils and memory bank. A'trus felt his tail twitch and placed both of his hands behind his back.

 

"So you are to be my.consultant in these matters it seems." A'trus's voice was civil as he opened a drawer and pulled out a decanter and two glasses.  "I will admit, I am wondering why you are being assigned to my unit. The Black Chains' have never failed to obtain a target in the five years I have been commanding officer of this unit. I was unaware my performance dictated an advisor."

 

A'trus paused and began filling the glasses with water.

 

"Or is this part of the very sensative nature of this situation we find ourselves in?" A'trus picked up both the glasses and offered one to Chalahko.

 

"Water?"

[Askier]

Kresha nodded her head as he spoke but was pursing her lips. As Kahn'a finished speaking, she sighed and snapped her fingers. The men with buckets stood to the side as the soldier with the towel walked forward and then, in a rapid motion wrapped Kahn's head in a thick towel and tilted the head back, forcing the miqo'tr's face upward. The thickness of the towel would already have made breathing difficult.

 

"Mr. Od'hilkas, these answers do not suffice. We must now resort to more drastic means." Kresha took a deep breath. This wasn't the first time.she had done this to someone whom had once been a Flame, but Kresha didn't enjoy it. At some point Kahn'a had sworn to defend Ul'dah. That took a special type of courage, even if he had gone back.on his oath. They were fellow soldiers. 

 

"Douse him" Kresha ordered.  One of the men with the buckets stepped.forward and began to pour water over Kahn'a's head, soaking.hair and towel. The water would make.oxygen impossible to obtain and it would run down Kahn A's nostril cavities and throat. For close to twenty seconds Kahn'a would feel as if drowning, cut off from air.

 

Once the bucket was empty, the soldier with the towel removed it and Kresha looked at kahn'a.

 

"Mr. Od'hilkas, have you remembered anything you had perhaps forgotten?"

 

Kresha was giving him a way to answer that might still help him out in the end if he was forthcoming with the information they needed.

[Titor]

Titor was heading to the Silver Bazaar to pick up a shipment of some rare alchemic ingredients which he theorized could be combined to make something on the scale of mass cloaking, which could be useful for the situation at hand. Of course, it was extremely theoretical, and even if it had worked might have been a bit too unstable to actually use on a living creature. Nonetheless, at this point, it seemed like something that might be able to help.

 

He was in disguise, wearing a dark grey cloak with red trimmings around the fringes. The hood was up, leaving only his face visible to close observers. He approached the merchant whom he was supposed to meet, extending out a rather hefty bag of gil over to the merchant after inspecting some of the goods.

[Askier]

The two scouts watched the hooded figure carefully as the sun burned bright overhead. The figures moved at a good distance to avoid detection by their target. The Silver Bazaar was nearing and at the edge of the  bizzare a third figure was seated, pretending to before. The begged managed to get a glimpse of the the face as Titor passed by him. 

 

Without breaking character the begger went to scratch his face using his thumb. One of the two tails recognized the signal of confirmation and immediately sound on his heel, lifting his hand to his ear and pressing the pearl within.

 

"Sergeant Rungee, we have confirmation of another Red Wing. Silver Bazaar right now."

 

Sergeant Rungee jolt upright from his bunk, smashing his head against the bunk above his in the bunk house. He swore and clutched his throbbing forehead as hewhinced in pain as he used his left hand to press the linkpearl and replied:

 

"You are certain?" 

 

"Aye Sergeant."

 

Rungee got to his feet and drapped his flame coat over his shoulders. The sergeant hadn't expected another bit so suddenly. The lieutenant wasn't ready and the Zulu might not be airborne.

 

"Keep an eye on him. Only move on him if he attempts to leave the bazaar. Otherwise the leuitenant and myself should be there. I just need to alert him."

 

"Aye sergeant!" Came the reply. Rungee slipped his boots on and began sprinting towards A'trus' office as quick as he could, shouting orders to his unit as he went through his link pearl.

 

(Hey Titor, will post start of hunt once I get reply from Chalahko so I can post my reply to his post and start your hunt in same post. )

[Kahnopy]

The heartbeats quickened. No one in their right minds could think him an actual traitor, right?

 

"You can't be serious, I told you I know naug-" The once distilled fear in his voice started shaking him more. But the rest of his plead could not be heard, it was a muffled grunt under a piece of cloth. Kahn'a shook in his chair, he wanted it off, he wanted out. The wave of panic struck much earlier than he had anticipated. Being robbed of his sight was bad, but he could cope with that. No, it was only prior knowledge that inspired him the terrible fear he was prey to.

 

Waterboarding. If there was one thing to be learnt about Kahn'a Od'hilkas, it was that he was scared to death of large bodies of water. They stretched as far as the horizon went, ready to swallow any and all into their depths.

 

Kahn'a already felt deprived of air. Very false observation, since he found himself soon screaming when the bucket of water was poured on his head. Hands clawed at the chair, muscles tensed in ungodly speed and force, he shook and screamed on the chair like a demon, a possessed soul hollering in the name of its voidsent.

 

Twenty seconds were short. But you thought the life was being squeezed out of you, it felt like an eternity. The Keeper gargled on water multiple times, coughed, spat, screamed again. A floating sensation was creeping inside him, by before he could give in, the towel was removed.

And twenty second is all it took.

 

All it took to break the young man's calm demeanour. His manners, his self-control. All of that, gone in twenty seconds.

 

He was no extraordinary man. Just a soldier that had been in the right place at the right time. And with a cruel symmetry, he had been caught on the worst timing possible. There, his face revealed, he was crying for his life. You could know that the grim exercise only meant to simulate death, it did not make it any less frightening, mind-shattering. Perhaps something in the Keeper had actually died there.

 

"P-please," he begged, "I-I am useless to you. I only wanted to change this place for the better. I did nothing. I know naught."

 

Pitiful supplication followed with gross sobs, motivated by a primal fear. No resistance was possible.

[Aduu Avagnar]

Nako holds up a hand and shakes his head. "I'm not thirsty at this moment, but I thank you for the offer. And it is not your performance that dictated this assignment, more my history with the Red Wings. After all, it is public knowledge that both they and the Yatagahns are on very friendly terms with each other, or rather, were. On top of that, it is felt that my past work, being very close to the duties that they performed could provide an insight."

 

he chuckles slightly, and made cursory glances around the room. "That is of course the official reason. The unofficial one is the shambles of a grab that was made when you took in Lieutenant Od'hilkas. Yes you got the man you were after, but at a loss of two men, and the destruction of some property. It may only be Pearl Lane, but after the recent troubles with the refugee's, anything which disrupts the peace is a detriment to the restoration of said peace that the Flame General and Sultana are trying to accomplish."

 

once again Nako fixes A'trus with a steady gaze. "I hope you understand that such a shambles happening again and they will look into the competency of the officer responsible, and look at possible censure." he turns away to gaze at the map. "But of course, I am simply here to advise and potentially offer my expertise to the hunt."

 

(Sorry for the delay, i was locked outside for 2.5 hours and my phone died. I am a frozen Nako )

[Cliodhna Eoghan]

What I'm getting at is...We can trust that one, right?

 

"Hmm?" Cliodhna glanced over at Seigheart when he spoke as they started on the road that would eventually lead to Rogue River. "Youkio's a good kid....bit misguided but regardless of his feelings; he won't betray me. He literally owes me his life." She smiled softly, a smile that failed to meet her eyes. 

 

"Because of that, he fell a bit hard and has taken some time getting over me....sounds silly I know, but young hearts tend to make stupid decisions." Teeth worrying her bottom lip; Cliodhna's mind drifted to some stupid decisions of her own when she had been younger. Thankfully things had worked out but that was apparently a rare case. "In any case, he'll act as if it didn't bother him but it'll keep him from trying another attempt to get too friendly before we're done here." By this point they had arrived near the river and close to the cliff was a fairly nice sized shack...as far as shacks go anyway. 

 

Dismounting, Cliodhna cautiously neared the shack; the windows were blacked out and there was a rustling that could be heard inside. Motioning for Sieg to stay; she cautiously and silently swung the door open, her eyes already adjusted to the night didn't take long to adjust to the thicker darkness inside the shack. It was empty save for Youkio's possessions flung around carelessly. 

 

Just as she was about to call that it was safe, a pink streak flew past Cliodhna and took to higher skies; letting out a exuberant call. "Thanks lady, was frikin dark in there!!!"

 

Frowning, Cliodhna looked up; eyes following the pink parrot as it darted off the direction they had come from. 

 

Youkio was following the trail of this Siha person. Granted it had been hard; the rain, her companion nearby, blood and the smell of two others over Tempest had made picking out scents slightly difficult....but one smell was most definitely female....and a keeper from what he could tell. The other had been a weird mixture of Eelzen and Highlander and smelling a bit more intimate than the others. Snarling, Youkio pushed that thought to the back of his mind. Tempest would come to her senses eventually, till then; he just had to be there when she needed him like he was now. 

 

This thought restored Youkio's hope, flashing another grin he lifted his head and breathed deeply; catching the scent again and followed it towards the Zypher gate.

He didn't get too far outside before something settled on his shoulder. " 'ey boss, ya got company at ta' house." Squawked the bird.

 

"Girl an a tall guy both in cloaks?" Youkio asked softly.

 

"Aye, an a bird." 

 

Youkio nodded. "Don't worry about 'em Skittles; they're friends. Go back 'n keep an eye on 'em for me." He then shooed off the bird and continued following this Siha's scent at an easy pace, tail swaying with his movements.

[Askier]

A'trus shrugged as he took a long.draft from the glass. The cool fluid queltching his thirst. He listened to the miqo'te lecturing him and A'trus only removed the glass from his lips once it was empty and Chalahko had finished talking. 

 

"So you are baby sitting me." A'trus mused with a chuckle and placed the glass on the table. "Very well. I welcome.your assistance recovering these targets. But I have three rules. One, we only take targets alive. I am not in the business of killing anyone until they are proven guilty. Second, any order I give, you will.obey without question. This is to keep my unit functioning efficiently. Three. Don't ever casually remark on the death of anyone in my unit ever again or question my orders in front of my unit. Do you have a problem.with these terms?" 

 

A'trus was still as he fixed Chalahko with a steely.glare. he was about to continue when the door flew open again and A'trus had a chance to marvel at how popular his office was that day when Rungee burst in, sweet on the hyur's brow.  Rungee gave a rapid salute to the two officers and then, between ragged breaths said:

 

"Silver Bazaar, target number two, confirmed sir."

 

A'trus' flashed. Like a viper sticking he leapt over to his weapon locker and pulled it open and began.to retrieve his rifle and his ammunition sling as Rungee continued to speak.

 

"The Zulu is perched in the airship tower already sir and she is ready. Half the unit is already moving into position outside the town.

 

A'trus nodded as he slung his rifle over his shoulder and.began marching for the door. 

 

"Second Leuitenant Chalahko, if you are coming along, let us move immediately." Without waiting for a reply, A'trus began marching at a rapid pace down the hall and onto the street. He looked up at the tower and made for it. In minutes he would be aboard his airship and few more after he would be heading.towards the Silver Bazaar, the earth flying below as he readied his rifle. If Chalahko had hurried he would be flying along.as well, ready to observe A'trus work.

 

Cell

 

Kresha looked at the broken form of Kahn'a. She sighed and nodded slowly. She heard the dispair in the voice. She had broken enough people to know when they had nothing left to give.  But she also knew many could act that way. She scowled.

 

"Then why protect them? Why not help us bring them.in? Why didn't you report this on your own? You must have known. Answer me or I will have them.drown you again. Why did you not stop them earlier? You claim to know nothing? I don't believe you. You have an idea. Give it, or I will.give the gift of water once again.

 

(Sorry for  lfast post but had to finish before.flight took.off. ignore spelling errors. lol)

[Aduu Avagnar]

Nako hurried in the hustle that is universal to all soldiers when given the order to move. matching pace with A'trus he reaches under the rain cape of his overcoat and double checked his arm harness, mentally preparing himself for what would come ahead. This was just like being asigned to the Yatagahns as a consultant again, and look at what had happened there.

 

In no short time they were aboard the airship and on their way to their destination. taking in the layout of the airship, he took a seat, cross legged near an out of the way section of deck and closed his eyes. he cast his thoughts out across the Desert, morphing his Aetheric Signature as he did, he couldn't let anything trace back to him.

 

'Don't give in, help is coming, stay strong.' was all he sent. the crystal coated in Kahn'a's blood warmed slightly in his pocket, as it acted as a focus for his thoughts, directing them to the captive Flame Lieutenant.

 

'The only question is if it will come too late.' he thought to himself, not sending that thought to the aether. Opening his eyes, he took a deep breath and started a rythmic breathing exercise. He would be ready for what came ahead. His friends depended on it.

[Titor]

Titor was keeping a look out and trying the best to conceal his identity, however, he was a master at science, not espionage, so his cover was not the best.

Nevertheless he hurridly checked over the goods, confirming that everything that he had paid for, and making sure that everything was in good condition. With a nod, he picked up the bag of goods and held them under his cloak, heading towards the exit of the Bazaar.

[Siha]

As soon as she'd stopped her conversation with Clio, Siha had pulled her pearl from her ear and tucked it away in a pouch at her belt. Her eyes prickled with moisture and her heart raced in her chest, they had caught a Keeper. Was it Kahn'a? Was it Mikh'a? Were they hurt? What was going to happen to them now that they were caught? All of those question flew through her mind as she walked and eventually started to run. They would be jailed...and that was if they were lucky. There was no telling what would happen to them if they were in the hands of people who wanted them to disappear, and she shuddered even thinking about the possibility of their death. They should have never gone back to that awful house. Fangs stung her lip as she bit into it and waded through the brush, ignoring the sting of the branches as they whipped at any exposed skin.

 

They had to finish this, even more quickly than before. With one of their own in the hands of the...enemy...it was odd thinking of the Flames as the enemy. Of Ul'dah as no longer a safe haven. She swallowed as her worries turned her stomach, they would not die, she wouldn't even think of it. She couldn't think of it. She couldn't let despair overwhelm her, she had to use it instead, use it to make her work faster and harder to save them. No brother of hers would die on her watch. Not Kahn'a. Not Mikh'a. If they did...darkness flashed across violet eyes and she swallowed at the sick feeling that rose. It would not happen.

 

The Keeper woman didn't slow until she reached the Skylift, only then did she let herself stop and breath, her chest and legs aching but the run had been thoughtless after she'd focused merely on navigating. Pausing she left herself look out towards the ocean that spread away from the cliff that lift was set into, the sea...she could see why her father sailed as he did, why pirates existed. It was only you out there, you and your own laws if the pirates were to be believed. Dangerous and wonderful all at once, Yuzu'ya had once lamented the fact that he ever even had to stop on land and deal with any politics or people. She had only smirked at him at the time but looking back now she could see what he meant.

 

A tight frown pursed her lips and she started to make her way past the myriad workers that milled about the docks and lift, thankfully she blended but dodged the work until she was able to lay boots on the dirt path that led into Woad Whisper Canyon and the waterfall.

 

Siha hadn't bothered with armor and she was starting to regret it as she stood near the waterfall, the spray from it had already coated her lightly and she could feel her blonde hair starting to stick to her cheeks. The rock she'd tucked herself behind was just tall enough to conceal her short figure, and she folded her arms, leaning back and watching the entrance to the canyon over her shoulder. When she spotted the cloaked figure heading her way her heart raced and her teeth clenched, from a distance she couldn't tell if it was Kiht or not...it could be a trap. Her hands tightened on her arms and she willed her aether to build, dropping her arms so that they rested behind her back where she could course aether along them. Wind. And Earth. Her best allies.

 

As the figure grew nearer she tucked herself farther back, only when they stopped did she get a good look at them, a flash of dark hair and definitely keeper. The lance fixed to her back was wicked in appearance but she didn't blame the woman for being on edge if she was, looking back she might have been suspicious herself. The Keeper filtered in a deep breath to catch the scent, there was some familiarity in it and on good faith she hesitantly grabbed her turban before pulling it from her face and stepping from behind the rock into view. The only thing she didn't relinquish was the hand that vibrated with earth aspected aether, should she need it the rocks would be ready to shield her...

 

"Miss Kiht?" she started and leveled her violet eyes on the Keeper that stood only fulms away from her hiding place.

[Mikh'a]

Mikh'a took to the saddle even as Fury turned his head as if the bird were going to nip at him. There were no ears, he'd have to go for the tail. Instead though he took up a steady pace when Mikh'a climbed atop him and followed his own master's lead, leaving their passenger to himself for the time being. Normally the boy would have been stubborn and walked but now was not the time to have petty arguments with a Chocobo. He was quiet the whole of the ride... Erik was right. There was naught but fear and determination in his eyes as they trudged through the snow toward their intended destination. There was so much to think about, so much to do, and so many variables not to focus on.

 

Don't focus on worry that Raimy's need to focus on unimportant detail could ruin the entire mission. That he, Mikh'a, would fail Erik and have them caught again in Ishgard. Don't focus on what might be happening to Siha, Sieghart, and Cliodnha, on what he'd left behind at the house that might have been incriminating, or on the fact that he still had the satchel of Jin's clothes from his dive off the bridge. Don't wonder what Osric and A'laric will find in Limsa... Don't wonder where Alexei and Setras and Zachary were going to go when they found their squad in danger of being eradicated and the doors of their headquarters in the goblet locked. Don't wonder where Titor had gone. Don't worry after Montblanc...

 

Don't focus on the two most terrifying words Kahn'a could say to him before parting ways to Ul'dah to do what he needed to do. for Erik. Don't worry. Every time someone said that they ended up hurt nearly beyond repair, and he just knew this time was going to be no different than the last. At least he hadn't said 'I'll be fine.' Last time someone had said that they'd died.

 

He looked over his shoulder and scented the air again. Now he knew it for sure, this time he was positive. They were being followed though the force was by no means hostile. In fact it was more likely their pursuing body would fall asleep sooner than it would. It made his lips twitch though he bit back the smile and looked down as Erik pulled Fury around to a stop. He knew his queue, they were close enough to their destination that he could smell them as well. The cold made their scents stand out more, it was like some frozen invitation to find them on the wind, and he eased his tiny frame off of the saddle so that Erik could take his place.

 

Are you ready for our performance?

 

He took in a deep breath of cold air, but then nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be." Mikh'a agreed. He gave Fury a hesitant look, then reached up to take hold of the reins while half expecting a beak to nip at his gloved fingers. Nothing, even the Chocobo was taking a stalwart view to their mission and when he was certain Erik was secure he nodded and trudged forward through the snow the rest of the way to the Observatory. He cast only sideways glances at the guards they passed when they stepped in to the outpost, ignoring their scrutinizing gazes as they turned their heads to follow the strangers passing through their midst. Adventurers were common enough in this part that they were given the grudging pass they needed to continue on to the stables. Mikh'a stopped long enough to let Erik off of Fury at the door to their destination before trudging onward and tying the bird to a stable post. He knew what to do, he knew how to knot the knots in such a way that when called for Fury would be able to free himself to join them. He was a captain's ride, capable of sitting still long enough for them to do the task at hand, and Mikh'a left him where he was with little worry that he'd try to run away.

 

Rejoining “Ulrich”, Mikh'a spared him a cursory glance before pushing the door open to allow him inside first. Following after he took in a deep breath of warm air, disguising his need to take stock of all the scents therein. It smelled like spices and leather for the most part and he was grateful for the heat. They were met again with a scrutinizing gaze from each person directly in range though as soon as a dark haired Elezen stepped forward they seemed to go back to their business. Mikh'a lifted his head to size the man up and was given the same courtesy in return. “And to what do we owe the pleasure of adventurers on our doorstep?” There was a curl of the man's lip and clear disdain in the inflection in his voice. Ishgard may have been considering the opening of its doors to Eorzea but not everyone shared the sentiment of outsiders in their ranks.

 

“We are not adventurers.” Mikh'a said simply, keeping his head high though he would not make eye contact. It was a quirk of his he'd yet to break, though it played well in to the role he'd been given to play. “My master has need of your equipment, we request only a small portion of your time.”

 

“Absolutely not.”

 

He was prepared for this answer, he wasn't so naive to think that they'd just outright let him and Erik do what they needed to do. Ishgard was full of mistrust of outsiders, even here on the outskirts. He wished A'ahdra were there, however. He knew the old man she curried favor with was of some importance to the people, else-wise she wouldn't have had the pull she'd had to leave and warn him of his impending death by lance. Mikh'a's tail twitched and he stood up as straight as he could then as if to try to make his height more intimidating. ( Of course when you aren't even five feet tall it fails miserably. How do Lalafel do it? He would need to study Anzio. ) “No is not an answer we can take, ser. I implore you,” he offered his hands out both in proof that he came in peace as well as if to convey a humble gesture. “Our needs are not only for the good of ourselves, but of Ishgard as well. You see my master here, Ser Ulrich.” he gestured. “The cloak he wears hides scars--” he held his hand up to stop the Elezen from interrupting him. His heart was pounding, he'd rehearsed his story only in his head and it was so hard to keep a straight face. “I'm sure you know there had at one point been an attempt to colonize in Dravania by certain peoples from Sharlayan but dispersed southward to these lands upon invasion rumors through Garlemald.”

 

He had general knowledge of historical events, his time with the Red Wings had prompted him to do more research in to Eorzea and her history. He had to be cautious of what details he delved in to, he knew, lest he say something that he could not give answer to. Still, he took  a breath and continued. “Ser Ulrich stayed behind initially, though as Ishgard knows the Dravanians are not always the friendliest creatures.” This was not necessarily true, he didn't know much about them personally but he did know Ragnar enjoyed spending time in Dravania. ( He didn't know WHAT Ragnar did while he was there, just that he'd liked the time he'd spent wandering the area. ) “However, my master has unearthed information regarding the Wyrmking of the Horde.” He may have been privy to some information that even Erik was not, though it was highly doubtful give his captain having his hands in just about everything, and rightfully so given their job to Ul'dah and Eorzea herself. Mikh'a's source of information came from his sister and her fondly coined “old man”.

 

He waited then and watched the Elezen's face. There was a long pause between the two of them and then the Elezen stepped forward with narrowed eyes on the boy who held fast to his position. “And what information is this?”

 

Mikh'a shook his head. “My master does not speak, barely even to me. I have told you what I can. I know little more than this, though the matter is pressing enough that if the information is not researched in full as swiftly as possible and the unthinkable comes to pass it may well be on our heads – yours, mine, and Ser Ulrich's – that we did not divulge the facts swiftly.” He held his breath then and watched the proprietor of the tower. When it looked as if his attempts were still not solid he moved on to further say, “Of course should the information we have prove valuable it would need to be someone hailing from Ishgard to take it to the Holy See... I'm sure that person would curry good favor in their honor... unless of course that information is lost forever.”

 

There it was, the proper ego stroking. The Elezen's face twitched before he stepped aside then with an arm held out to present the way to Mikh'a and Erik. “Of course.” he agreed quietly. “It would be a shame if valuable information regarding our personal war were to be lost. I will gladly oversee your findings for Ser Ulrich.”

 

“I will report them to you promptly.” Mikh'a said, then looked up to Erik again with a nod to lead forward. For now they had access, though he knew they'd need to work swiftly before suspicions arose again when it was later discovered they weren't actually working on such a high task.

[Setras Kyvari]

Leaning back against the wall, A'laric examined the edge of a skinning knife critically. Though he hoped to find the information he wanted without bloodshed, he was far too cynical to believe it would be so easy. And that meant that he'd need his tools. And a few incentives to... encourage honesty in the event that it wasn't forthcoming. He smirked briefly before looking up. "Are you finished yet?" The question was directed toward the silver haired miqo'te hunched over the wooden workbench across the room.

 

"You said you wanted something that inflicted pain but wasn't lethal. That's not an easy order, Shade." Lifting a vial half full of a cloudy blue liquid, he frowned thoughtfully. "If you'd given me a few suns, I could have come up with something without an issue. But you're not even giving me ample time to test this."

 

Shrugging, A'laric pushed away from the wall and slid the skinning knife back into a special holster hidden beneath his sleeve. "Yeah, well, shit went down. I don't have the luxury of time, Hunter. If I did, I'd wait for Vixen to get back." Crossing the room, he leaned over his companion's shoulder to watch him work. A'lecae ignored him, mixing several more ingredients into the vial and stirring them together. The color shifted from blue to grey, drawing nearly identical frowns from the pair of them. "Is it supposed to do that..?"

 

"Hells.. This won't work." Setting the vial aside, A'lecae gestured briefly toward a leather case filled with vials. "I need the neurotoxin from the second row, fourth one over." A'laric made a faint sound of acknowledgment and moved to retrieve the desired vial. Offering it over, he watched with interest as A'lecae carefully pried the stopper from the vial and poured a generous amount into a beaker.

 

"You're not going to be done anytime soon, are you?" A'laric sighed softly, already anticipating the answer and waving it off before A'lecae could respond to him. "I'll go snoop around and see what I can find. If Vixen shows, send her my way. Two sets of ears are better than one."

 

Nodding, A'lecae glanced up at A'laric and smirked briefly. "Good hunting, Shade. I'll have this ready by the time you get back." He fell silent for a moment before asking, "You're sure that you don't want me in on this?"

 

"No, I don't need you involved any more than you are already." Smiling reassuringly, he clapped his cousin on the shoulder. "Not for this part, anyway. Wait until we have a target. Then it'll be your turn." Turning, he waved negligently as he walked toward the door of their little safe house. "I'll be back in two bells. Have my new toy ready by then." Ducking out into the night, A'laric took a deep breath of the salty air and let it out. Thal's balls, but this was a mess. Shaking his head, he slipped through the brush and began to make his way toward Limsa. With luck, maybe he would encounter Osric or Jin there. It would be nice to have some backup for this.

[Kahnopy]

Physically weak, mentally diminished, Kahn'a found the strength to send the most pious of prayer to Menphina. He was by no means a firm believer, but if there were immaterial guardians, surely the Lover could take him in pity. What good was the harsh training men received if their resolve, their determination could be swayed so easily? What good was loyalty if the hand that fed you eventually balled into a vengeful fist?

 

What good...

What good...

What good was a life of pain when ceasing to exist sounded much easier?

 

...

 

No.

 

His distress was poisoning his mind much like water would end up poisoning his lungs, if breathed in. How to stop it? The harsh Hyur figure standing there, slightly bent towards him, awaiting his answer. She was both saviour and executioner. No, she could be either. She could make it stop. Through messy eyes, he took the whole scene in. This unnatural room. The absence of natural. The very natural and distressing noise of water slowly dripping from him. The feeling of having a hundred snakes slithering down his skin. He shivered uncontrollably.

 

Kahn'a wanted it to stop.

 

She spoke. Gibberish Kahn'a could not make out, his tormented mind too busy drowning in endless depths. Quaking with a fear without a name, he brought his eyes to her perfectly apathetic face. There was nothing that spoke of compassion, of grace. What had he imagine? That his suffering would break a heart or two?

 

Inconceivable. The were hired thugs with official garb, that was the true nature of the Flames.

 

"I-" His voice was strangled, he had the hardest time forming words. "Why had I lingered in town, if not to turn myself i-in?!" he yelled with wrong intonations. This was a lie, concealed under questionable bluff. "I wanted to save my skin, s-s-so I drew attention to myself! Pl-please, I'll say anything you want, but no more water-"

 

And as if the single word had become a powerful trigger, Kahn'a screamed in despair. He looked every bit the challenged individual, rocking in his chair, ready for anything to make his pain stop.

 

...

 

'Don't give in, help is coming, stay strong.'

 

...

 

The world blinked as a clear voice started speaking those words to him. Grunting out of surprise, he spun in his chair as much as he could, trying to get a look at that new cruel being. A cruel one who dared give him hope. And whose voice was known to him, but the tones remained buried deep down in his mind, locked tight under what little protection he could offer his mind. It was right though. Kahn'a had to live. He had to resist. He cast an appalled look at Kresha, shaking with sobs.

 

"D-don't do it again! I'll say anything, anything you want to hear, but I beg of you, no more. Make it stop!"

 

Perhaps a tiny part of him started clutching those words as the those of the saviour. Don't give in. Don't give in. Don't give in...

 

Carry on.

[Askier]

The Zulu spead along as a barriage of orders flew back and forth through the link pearl A'trus wore. The male had taken his rifle off his back and knelt. He shouldered the but if the rifle tightly into the cradle his collarbone and shoulder made. His blue eye pressed against the scope and he looked through the magnification tube at the nearing set of buildings called the Silver Bazaar.

 

A'trus was annoyed at Chalahko's presence. He didn't enjoy being supervised or advised. He found it offensive, and insult to his and the skills of his unit. But the lieutenant swallowed his pride with a swallow and slowed his breathing. He was a soldier. He had a job to do. He didn't have to like it. 

 

"Ground team, this is Loft. We are coming it with weapons hot. Identify target and prepare to apprehend."

 

There was a pause before the crackle if a voice came back through the link pearl. One of the soldiers on the ground described Titor's attire and location. A'trus found the Red Wing quickly. The man was in the open. Suddenly Titor turned and began walking towards the edge of the Bazaar. Directly towards the Zulu.

 

"Target is departing! Permission to intercept!" came an excited voice. A'trus placed his finger on the trigger and slowed his breathing until he was still, letting his body shift slightly with the swaying of the airship. A'trus centered his cross hair over the man's knee and, without ceremony, pulled the trigger. 

 

The muzzle's flash was brilliant and the bullet rocketed out at hundreds of feet per second. It would cross the distance in a brief moment but A'trus was already loading another round into his weapon as he spoke.

 

"One down range, one down range, prepare to apprehend." A'trus ordered sternly.as he shouldered the weapon and looked through his scope again to see the result of his shot at Titor.

 

Sergeant Rungee, whom had stood silently by Chalahko leaned in to the other miqo'te to whisper

 

"Who would have thought we would ever be hunting down an entire fellow unit of Flames."

 

The Cell

 

Kresha looked at Kahn'a and his frantic display and her lip curled in disgust as she crossed her arms.

 

"You would say anything I want? I don't want that. I want to know where the members of your unit went or would likely go or who might have helped them. I'm not interested in making you say anything else!"

 

Kresha hated when her victims reached this point. So desperate to avoid pain they began rambling violently. Desperate to appease her. Like scorned lovers crawling back to her. She took in a deep breath and then snapped her fingers. The man with the towel nodded and wrapped it back across Kahn'a's face tightly. The fabric of the towel stretched tight and air became a foreign and difficult thing to obtain. The man with the second bucket came over and without pause began pouring the water over Kahn'a's face. Twenty five seconds this time and the water had ice it it to harm the nerves. Kresha  watched and scowled. 

 

As the water ceased to pour she stepped forward and as the man with the towel pulled it away, she seized Kahn'a's hair violently and jerked it to one side.

 

"Ever torture someone before Mr. Od'hilkas? If you have you know I can do this all day. And night. I won't feed you but you'll get plenty of water. Now answer me. Give me.a guess if that is all you have but if its a bad guess and leads to nothing, my.tortures will.get more intimate. Speak!"