08-25-2016, 07:52 PM
As the submarine surfaced, Zack was quick to turn open the hatch and pop his head out. The breath of salt-filled fresh air was nice in itself, but he was also more than happy to get a break from the increasingly emotional exchange down below. Caira had truly noble goals, but he wasn’t entirely convinced that there was any way – or point – to make this realm better or worse. They were all at Omni’s whim.
It had been unexpected to see a different side of Gary, though. He went from fighting the urge to punch the guy in the face to wanting to give him a big hug. And then, admittedly, still punch him in the face, but maybe once things calmed down, after an hour or two. He was equally impressed with Caira’s ability to read and understand the situation. She’d seen between the lines of Gary’s cryptic words, while Zack had taken them at face value. Surely, that was what Gary meant by his little training and potential spiel he’d gone through.
He could have thought about it all day, had a bird not flown low overhead and caught his interest, instead. Zack hoisted himself the rest of the way up, and soon was standing atop the metallic submersible they had traveled in. Before him was Cinnabar Island, an apparently peaceful community on a beautiful island. Again, he couldn’t help but be amused by the stark contrast to the previous verse he’d spent so much time in.
“Come on up!” Zack shouted down to the other two as he brushed a little more ash off of his clothing. He didn’t know where that stuff kept coming from.
He could have sworn he’d heard Gary say something about saying down below, but he wasn’t allowed much time to listen. Nearly a second after he’d spoke, massive sea serpent erupted from the water next to the submarine. Large eyes and powerful jaws on the blue and tan monstrosity were aimed right at the super soldier, and the Buster Sword was in Zack’s hands in an instant.
“What the…” Zack began to express his surprise out loud, when there was another splash.
Zack half-turned to see a large, blue skinned and duck billed monster land on the submarine’s roof with him. He was just as quick to draw his Bolt Materia from his belt, and held the glowing orb in his hand not occupied with his sword. He wasn’t thrilled about splitting his focus, however.
“Uh, guys!” Zack yelled once more. “We have some company!”
Caira’s head popped from the hatch, with curiosity plastered all over her face. As she climbed the rest of the way up, the blue intruder marched directly towards them.
“Identify yourself,” the being spoke with a surprising level of elegance, given its odd mouth.
“We don’t want any trouble, buddy. We’re here to meet a friend,” Zack responded, keeping both weapons ready to react.
“There’s been a lot of trouble on Cinnabar, lately,” the duck monster said. “Outsiders have been running amok, and we’ve had enough of it.”
“Wait, I'm from Camelot!” Caira interjected, causing the duck to tilt its head. "We're here to see Clowney."
“The astronomer?” the monster answered curiously. “Why?”
“That’s quite a deep question, there,” Gary said. Zack jumped a bit. When the hell did he climb up? "After all, I'm sure you've heard the rumors of his research."
Zack lowered his weaponry once the serpent lowered itself into the water, and closed its fangs a bit. If it was going to stand down, so would he. He didn’t quite put away the Buster Sword, yet, but he did lower it somewhat.
"I don't have to remind you that Cinnabar is a neutral island, do I?" the duck cautiously said. "We don't want any trouble, or much to do with anyone. A lot of us don't even want him here."
“Is there goin’ to be an issue?” Gary questioned, ignoring the monster's sentiments.
The duck monster scoffed, but it also shook its head. Clearly it didn't have much authority to talk about policies and laws. “We’re a bit on edge, be mindful of that.”
"We will be respectful," Caira was quick to pacify the situation, and the two monsters still looked displeased, but offered no more resistance.
The duck leaped from the submarine and disappeared back into the water, and the serpent descended after it. Zack was merely left in a state of bewilderment at that exchange, and left to contemplate the deeper meaning behind it. Who could be stirring up trouble, here? He looked over his shoulder to see a small blockade of ships in the distance, circling the island. That sure looked political, and they likely weren’t too happy that their little barrier had just been ignored by the submarine. Great.
“So,” Zack looked to Gary as Caira looked over the edge after the duck being. “Is that part of your little training regime? Leaving me to deal with them and see how I handle it?”
“Only she is privy to the my teachin’,” Gary responded with a wave of his hand. “I may not like ya, but I can at least use you for amusement.”
Zack heaved the Buster Sword over his shoulder and returned it to its rightful resting place, all while giving Gary a stern glare. He thought to respond, but instead just shook his head. Caira was already walking towards the front of the submarine, and he followed right after her. Hopefully not everyone on this island was as grumpy.
It had been unexpected to see a different side of Gary, though. He went from fighting the urge to punch the guy in the face to wanting to give him a big hug. And then, admittedly, still punch him in the face, but maybe once things calmed down, after an hour or two. He was equally impressed with Caira’s ability to read and understand the situation. She’d seen between the lines of Gary’s cryptic words, while Zack had taken them at face value. Surely, that was what Gary meant by his little training and potential spiel he’d gone through.
He could have thought about it all day, had a bird not flown low overhead and caught his interest, instead. Zack hoisted himself the rest of the way up, and soon was standing atop the metallic submersible they had traveled in. Before him was Cinnabar Island, an apparently peaceful community on a beautiful island. Again, he couldn’t help but be amused by the stark contrast to the previous verse he’d spent so much time in.
“Come on up!” Zack shouted down to the other two as he brushed a little more ash off of his clothing. He didn’t know where that stuff kept coming from.
He could have sworn he’d heard Gary say something about saying down below, but he wasn’t allowed much time to listen. Nearly a second after he’d spoke, massive sea serpent erupted from the water next to the submarine. Large eyes and powerful jaws on the blue and tan monstrosity were aimed right at the super soldier, and the Buster Sword was in Zack’s hands in an instant.
“What the…” Zack began to express his surprise out loud, when there was another splash.
Zack half-turned to see a large, blue skinned and duck billed monster land on the submarine’s roof with him. He was just as quick to draw his Bolt Materia from his belt, and held the glowing orb in his hand not occupied with his sword. He wasn’t thrilled about splitting his focus, however.
“Uh, guys!” Zack yelled once more. “We have some company!”
Caira’s head popped from the hatch, with curiosity plastered all over her face. As she climbed the rest of the way up, the blue intruder marched directly towards them.
“Identify yourself,” the being spoke with a surprising level of elegance, given its odd mouth.
“We don’t want any trouble, buddy. We’re here to meet a friend,” Zack responded, keeping both weapons ready to react.
“There’s been a lot of trouble on Cinnabar, lately,” the duck monster said. “Outsiders have been running amok, and we’ve had enough of it.”
“Wait, I'm from Camelot!” Caira interjected, causing the duck to tilt its head. "We're here to see Clowney."
“The astronomer?” the monster answered curiously. “Why?”
“That’s quite a deep question, there,” Gary said. Zack jumped a bit. When the hell did he climb up? "After all, I'm sure you've heard the rumors of his research."
Zack lowered his weaponry once the serpent lowered itself into the water, and closed its fangs a bit. If it was going to stand down, so would he. He didn’t quite put away the Buster Sword, yet, but he did lower it somewhat.
"I don't have to remind you that Cinnabar is a neutral island, do I?" the duck cautiously said. "We don't want any trouble, or much to do with anyone. A lot of us don't even want him here."
“Is there goin’ to be an issue?” Gary questioned, ignoring the monster's sentiments.
The duck monster scoffed, but it also shook its head. Clearly it didn't have much authority to talk about policies and laws. “We’re a bit on edge, be mindful of that.”
"We will be respectful," Caira was quick to pacify the situation, and the two monsters still looked displeased, but offered no more resistance.
The duck leaped from the submarine and disappeared back into the water, and the serpent descended after it. Zack was merely left in a state of bewilderment at that exchange, and left to contemplate the deeper meaning behind it. Who could be stirring up trouble, here? He looked over his shoulder to see a small blockade of ships in the distance, circling the island. That sure looked political, and they likely weren’t too happy that their little barrier had just been ignored by the submarine. Great.
“So,” Zack looked to Gary as Caira looked over the edge after the duck being. “Is that part of your little training regime? Leaving me to deal with them and see how I handle it?”
“Only she is privy to the my teachin’,” Gary responded with a wave of his hand. “I may not like ya, but I can at least use you for amusement.”
Zack heaved the Buster Sword over his shoulder and returned it to its rightful resting place, all while giving Gary a stern glare. He thought to respond, but instead just shook his head. Caira was already walking towards the front of the submarine, and he followed right after her. Hopefully not everyone on this island was as grumpy.