Return of the Emblem Chapter Fourteen: Nine

[Snike]

That was interesting. Here Zerachiel was, claiming that nothing they had done so far had suggested to him that the mercenaries could defeat the organization, even though they had some ex-Organization members on hand and had captured him, an apparent lieutenant. Lane wondered why he could say that with such confidence, even though he was at a disadvantage. That would have to be a question to ask Lysandra or the other artificial, later. But for now, it was time to wait for the map...

[Snowy_One]

"Do not worry. I have considered the possibility and, honestly, even something uninteresting is likely more interesting than me sitting around here doing little to nothing. So, yes, I would like to come. As for your friend, if they do not desire for me to come along, well, I do not see any reason to ruin the whole point of you heading out just because I could not come with you."

[Phoenix]

Meeting Room

"Sardius map, right?" Raphael asked as he returned, "will this do?" Once Anna saw that Neviskotia and Bahamut's Rift were on the map, she nodded her approval and Raphael laid the map out on the table in front of Zerachiel. "Here you go."

"Alright," Anna scowled at the artificial captive, "which island?"

"This one," Zerachiel tapped a spot near the edges of the map a few times with his finger. It was the smallest of three large islands off the southeastern coast. "Mark it down so you won't forget. We call it Alexandria, now." A name more fitting than even Zerachiel realized. "Do what you want, but if you really want to 'beat' us, you're going to need a better plan than just attacking whenever you see an opening."

"Thanks for the help ... and the advice," Anna resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She could handle posturing, but Zerachiel had been at this for a good while, now. "Can either of you confirm this?" Anna asked Lysandra and Gabriel, pointing out the location, herself. She kept the borrowed gun trained on Zerachiel's head, in case he tried to make a move while she was close enough to grab.

Gabriel nodded at the location. "That's the place. You're calling it Alexandria, though?"

Zerachiel shrugged with a smile. "It beats whatever the 'skotians were calling it before."

Infirmary

"... thanks," said a surprised Tonya. She wasn't expecting that to actually work, though when Amalia explained that she didn't really have any say in the matter, Tonya realized she was pleading with someone much lower in the hierarchy than she would have preferred. She couldn't help but wonder if the ebon clad healer, Lane, would be able to help. Would he even want to help them?

"We appreciate this, whatever the outcome," Leo chimed in a second later.

"I'd still prefer a good outcome," Tonya glanced sideways at him.

[Snike]

Alexandria was an odd name, but apparently coincidental, or at least that was what Zerachiel stated. Lane decided to think little of it, especially since the other artificial didn't have a strong reaction to the name. Now, the problem was, how were they exactly supposed to get to the island? Those were rebel-controlled waters, after all. It was too soon to voice those complaints, however, so instead, he decided to leave that issue alone. "Interesting name choice, in any case."

[Nanami Touko]

"Then let us go, Miss Robin. I need to find that Anna woman... Would she still be interrogating that fellow from the fight? I don't wish to interrupt her, even if I have to speak with her... Have you seen her?" Uriel was off to find his dragon, so Amalia would let him do just that, hoping that Robin would provide pleasant company.

[Phoenix]

Meeting Room

"Alright, good," Anna gave a satisfactory nod, "I think that's enough for now. I've had about all of your company I can take for now."

"Well, I hope the cell's comfortable," Zerachiel murmured.

Anna shrugged. "Maybe, but you're not staying here. There are too many people in the capital and we don't have enough breathing room. I'm going to send you back to Weyland's estate. It'll be easier to keep you there than it will be to lock you up here."

Zerachiel chuckled, "you mean that manse that keeps getting broken into?"

Anna smirked at him. "I think you'll find our security's improved quite a bit." She quickly took on a more serious air. "Alright that's it. We're done here. Raphael, I want you to go get a transport ready. I'll keep an eye on Zerachiel until we're ready to move him."

"What are you going to do with Lucille and the others?" Zerachiel fixed Anna with a more serious look this time. There was something in that look that warned her his cooperation hinged on her answer. "Are you keeping them here or turning them over to the garrison?"

"Undecided, but we're not going to kill them if that's what you're worried about. Whatever we do with them, they don't need to be on the same transport as you."

"Excuse me," Valeria carefully chimed in, "what about us? Will you help us find Samael?"

Anna scowled at the artificial avian. "We said we would. Just be patient." That seemed to be enough to calm the three of them for now.

[Snike]

So these avians were looking for a guy named Samael, it seemed. Lane wasn't entirely sure why the group was agreeing to help find him, but since there was little protest, he guessed that the reward would be worth the effort. What was interesting now was that Zerachiel specifically referred to Lucille, the other girl, when he asked what the group was going to do with the prisoners. That more or less confirmed the axe wielder's story about the former being a member of the organization. Yet, how much would that help, really?

[Phoenix]

Meeting Room

"Are we going to Weyland's, too?" Raquel asked.

"Yeah," Anna replied, "if you don't have anything more important to be doing, that is."

"Well I did want to see how my mother and sister are doing," Raquel trailed off, "it won't take long."

"You're not going to try flying over there, are you?" Anna's eyes narrowed. Ursentius was a man made jungle, getting anywhere quickly without flying was a pipe dream. The issue here was that Raquel flying around would draw a lot of unwanted attention, and likely make this trip a lot longer than the golden girl seemed to realize. "If it were nighttime, I wouldn't mind, but right now you're just going to get grabbed by the army and questioned if you do something like that."

"With great power comes great secrecy," Raquel said irritably, "what's the point of being able to fly if I can't use it? What if I put on some fake wings or something?"

Zerachiel smiled, "I can't wait for you to meet the old man. You'll get along just fine with that attitude."

[Snike]

"Why don't you wait for your father to arrive, first," Lane suggested to Raquel. The fake wings idea had merit, but the problem then would be who would be able to go with her, Uriel?

[-Cynthia-]

Meeting Room

Lysandra nodded in response to Gabriel's assessment of where the Organization was based. She did have more information to share, but wasn't particularly keen in talking about in front of Zerachiel. She didn't suspect that Weyland's security was up to holding Zerachiel if he really felt like escaping either, but she stayed silent because she didn't have a better idea at the moment. Then Raquel talked about making fake wings with the power of the emblem.

"I know how worried you must be- I am too, but are you confident that you can make it all that way without any mishaps? We wouldn't want to see you get hurt dear," Lysandra asked of Raquel.

[Script]

Xenia

"Well, I want to see her get hurt," said Xenia.

[Phoenix]

Meeting Room

Jethro was already in Europa ... was he coming back here before they left? It almost seemed like a waste of a trip if they were heading that way regardless. Even so, Raquel would prefer to bring her father home with her and not just head back there, herself. How long would her father be, though? While that question tumbled about, Lysandra confronted her on the issue of safety. To be honest, Raquel wasn't sure how long she could stay airborne, but she hadn't even come close to getting tired during her practice in the meeting room. The only real issue might come with getting distracted along the way and running into something. Uncertain, she simply shrugged. That was when Xenia chimed in and confused the hell out of her. "Why?" Raquel winced, wondering what the value in her getting hurt was. Maybe comedic. Xenia always did seem bored, and even Raquel had to admit the misfortunes of others could definitely be amusing at times. It hadn't occurred to her that Xenia's agreement with Gar might be involved.

[Script]

Xenia

"I was paid to heal you.  I haven't.  'Til that happens I'm stuck here under threat of Raj," Xenia answered.

 

[-Cynthia-]

Meeting Room

Lysandra was a bit taken aback by Xenia's comment. "Well, it seems that a lot of people here are dedicated to making sure that Raquel does not come to harm, myself included. Perhaps this 'Raj' and I should have a talk if you feel coerced into being here," she stated. Sounds like an odd arrangement. I probably shouldn't butt in, but there's too much at stake here.

[Phoenix]

Meeting Room

She'd been injured earlier, already, though Xenia hadn't been around to address that. The wound itself didn't last very long either. Raquel wondered if Xenia could even get out of that kind of arrangement when her wounds were healing on their own. Gar couldn't have known just how unfair the deal was going to become, but if he did, would that have changed his mind? Where was he, anyway? "If I get a small cut or something, would that count?" Raquel asked.

"A cut? Come on ... how about we just pay you for now?" Anna chimed in, "we can't have too many good healers and it's better than waiting for Raquel to get injured."

[Script]

Xenia

"If I didn't want the money I wouldn't have taken this job and if I hadn't already spent the upfront payment I'd be out of here already," said Xenia.  "Look, I know you're good for gold, and healing criminals is basically my job anyway, so I don't have much scruples with whatever you're doing legal or not.  But I don't wanna get caught up in whatever crazy circumstances involve things of legend."  She looked over at Raquel.  "It's sadly sweet of you to offer bodily harm to let me out of this, but it wouldn't fly.  Even lying wouldn't do.  I'm stuck here 'til you're near death or his death and the former seems more likely, grim as it is to say."

[Snike]

The problem with waiting for Raquel to be injured, Lane mused, was that she'd  most likely have healed from the wound by the time anyone could react. But, speaking of payment...

"Well, if you're paying the healers for this group, should I be talking to you or to Veronika to discuss a contract?" Lane asked Anna. This raid was merely a trial run to demonstrate his worth, it could be said.

[Phoenix]

Meeting Room

Raquel frowned. "Yeah, but ..." Again, that thought of her wound healing itself came to mind. 'Stuck' was definitely the appropriate word for Xenia's situation.

"Either's fine, really," Anna said to Lane, "some of the people in this group were hired by Weyland himself, and others by her or Raquel. Just depends. Whose payroll do you want to be on?" In other words, who would you prefer to answer to in the unlikely event of an internal dispute?

Raphael peeked back into the meeting room in the middle of Anna's reply, but waited until she finished to address the room. "Alright, Zerachiel's ride's ready and waiting for him. The others will be a little longer."

"Alright," Anna nodded, "well if there's anything else you need to take care of before we get going, do it now. We'll head out in about an hour or so. That should give you all time to wrap up any unfinished business."

"W-wait a minute," Raquel chimed in, a bit louder than she'd intended, "there's no way I can check in at home in just an hour if I can't fly there!"

Anna shrugged. "Honestly, there's no point in even factoring you into the schedule, Raquel. You were in Europa earlier today, about a hundred miles away. I'm sure you'll find a way to visit home in a 'timely manner'." Raquel looked like she was about to respond to that, but came up silent, and uncertain.

[Nanami Touko]

"Uhm, excuse me," Amalia asked the man standing at the door to the meeting room, "Is Anna inside there? I'd like to speak with her, if she's not busy... And it's not a bother." She'd left without Robin as the woman had decided it best to rest up her wounds, but now there was the problem of getting inside of here to speak with Anna... And what she was going to have to say. Oh, excuse me, but those two people we brought from the fight, is it alright to let them go free without any punishment despite the organization they were working with? Yes, that'll go over ever so well... But you have to try! Even if trying is all you can do.

[Snike]

"It might be easier if I'm on Weyland's payroll, then," Lane said, just before Anna announced that they would be leaving in an hour. That was abrupt, but given the situation, it couldn't really be helped.

"It's up to you, Raquel," the man in black said, in response to her uncertainty. "You have the means of getting to your home, but you might want to wait on your father, first."

[Phoenix]

Meeting Room

"Alright, we'll settle the details a bit later," Anna said, looking back at Zerachiel. Still cooperating and waiting to be led to the wagon, it seemed. The three artificial avians were still being quiet and cooperative, too. Despite their abilities, they were extremely docile and surprisingly easy to string along. That, she noted irritably, was probably the whole idea behind their creation.

"This one's for you, Anna," Raphael said, stepping aside and pointing out Amalia.

"Okay, what is it?" she asked, glancing in that direction.

Raquel meanwhile, was trying to figure out how to get her way in all of this. "Maybe I can figure out how to use warp spells, go get dad, then take us both home."

"We could take you there," Regula, the youngest of the three avians, offered, "we know where it is."

"You three stay put," Anna said, sternly. Regula grimaced and retreated beneath her wings.

[Nanami Touko]

"Oh, thank you... Uhm, Anna, yes?" Now or never... "I... Was wondering what was going to happen to the soldiers we captured... That, Leo and his friend." And... "...If there would be any way to not have them killed... Would, that be possible?" Her mind was telling her no, but the words came anyway. Now she was left awkwardly standing in the doorway, clutching her hand to her chest, hoping to not come across as a complete fool. She was likely failing.

[Script]

Xenia

"Should we be worried if they know where your house is?" Xenia asked.

[Phoenix]

Meeting Room

When Xenia put it that way, just maybe, thought Raquel. "We won't do anything to harm your family," Beatrix, the middle sister, promised.

"Merz, thanks," Raquel said wryly, "and while you're at it, can you not go anywhere near my house without an invitation? I'd appreciate it."

Anna crossed her arms at the question Amalia posed. "It wouldn't really sit well with me if we killed them. They're nowhere near as dangerous to have around as Sardis was." She glanced over at Zerachiel, letting him know that just because the gun was no longer pointed directly at him didn't mean she was unprepared to act and act quickly if he tried anything at this stage. The artificial still seemed cooperative enough, though, ready and willing to be escorted out to whichever vehicle awaited him. Hopefully that wasn't an escape plan in the works. "If they don't make a fuss we'll take them with us to Europa and see if Weyland wants to hire them."

"If no one minds," Gabriel chimed in as politely as he could manage, "I'll keep an eye on him during the trip." He reached out, silently asking for his pistol back. Having already gotten comfortable with the slightly weighty weapon, Anna was reluctant to hand it over. Despite its weight, it was at least a couple decades more advanced than its counterparts in the Ursian army, and she knew she could have ended Zerachiel effortlessly with it if the need arose. When the pistol left her hand, it was like saying goodbye to an old friend.

"We need to talk in Europa," Anna said, not leaving Gabriel much room to argue.

[Nanami Touko]

"Wait, really?" The two had been so convinced they were dead meat, hearing Anna say so casually that it wouldn't feel right to kill them was so jarring. Not by any means a bad thing! Amalia nearly lit up with a smile as Anna went on about bringing them to Europa, to work for some Weyland. "Wonderful! That's-- Th-Thank you! I'll tell them, right away!" She only waited one more moment before speeding off towards the infirmary, not sparing a moment to rush inside, heavy breaths following her dash.

"Excuse, me, I-- Just a, moment... Hahh..." How out of shape for running she was, really... Well, the pain wasn't helping, nor still being rather tired from the fighting. "L-Leo, right?" she finally spoke up, sighing with a calm hand placed against her chest. "Uhm. Anna said that... If the two of you aren't going to make a fuss, we'll bring you to Europa. A-And offer work. Uhm... Is that alright?" She knew they didn't want to die, but she didn't know if this was what they'd had in mind...