10-28-2016, 07:24 PM
Zack slowly emerged from the water. He rose just enough that his eyes were above the surface, allowing him to rapidly scan the area. They were in some sort of indoor docking station for the various Imperial ships. Fortunately, between two massive vessels like they were, they wouldn’t have been easy to detect, even if anyone was around. As it was, there didn’t seem to be anyone. He was more than happy to emerge from the water and take a genuine breath of fresh air, and Caira was just as thrill to rise enough to drop the regulator and do the same.
“Are you alright?” Zack asked his companion, now that their voices were available to them again.
“Yes,” Caira said, though her voice sounded just a bit strained. “Yes, I think so.”
“You think?” Zack was quick to ask for clarification. “Or you’re sure?”
“I’m fine, Zack,” Caira was insistent, even though Zack could recognize the pain in her voice.
Zack nodded, clearly unconvinced. It wasn’t like he had much of a choice in the matter, though. They swam the rest of the way to the nearest steel dock, taking care to look for any Imperials or security devices that might spot them. Zack hoisted the Buster Sword onto the ledge, followed by his air tank. He climbed out himself, and turned while staying at a kneel. He offered a hand to Caira, to help pull her from the water, but was surprised to see her stifling a laugh.
“What?” Zack asked, not seeing what was so funny at the current moment.
“You’re so goofy until you get worried about someone,” Caira couldn’t stop a giggle from escaping her mouth as she spoke. “You weren’t even this serious with Gary.”
Zack rolled his eyes, and the amused Caira took his hand, allowing him to pull her from the water. He then quickly got to work converting the scuba tank and its related apparatus into Omnilium. It would take some time to summon new ones, but it was safer than storing it somewhere or carrying it with them. Upon finishing with that, he slung the Buster Sword over his shoulder once again. He was as ready as he’d ever be.
A quick glance to Caira confirmed that she was ready, too. She had lightly patched up her leg, mostly so that she wasn’t leaving a blood trail. They could work on it a little better from a more secure area. Zack silently gestured with his head, and they made their way down the iron path.
Signs and various directions hung overhead. Things were conveniently marked, likely because there was little permanent crew stationed at an outpost like this. The need to direct their troops around would serve the two of them just as well. Zack spotted a door clearly marked “Impound” and easily deduced its value to them. He pointed to it as he slowly advanced through the apparently unoccupied facility.
It slid open with a level of technology that caused Caira to silently marvel, while Zack simply took in the new room. It was similar to where they had just been. Several boats of various sizes were docked on piers much like those in the previous room. Zack wasn’t entirely sure where the water was coming from, but he could see some cranes overhead, so it was entirely possible there was a way to lift them into this room. The important thing was that he didn’t see any way to remove the vessels. More importantly, though, was that they were certainly alone in this room, too.
“Let’s hurry and find Jad’s papers,” Caira whispered.
“Right,” Zack agreed, then glanced to her leg again. “You’re sure that doesn’t need any more attention?”
“It should be fine for now,” Caira said as she shook her head, then noticeably limped off.
Zack had to admire her spirit. Instead of dwelling too much on it, he got to work looking. There was a row of lockers along a wall, and he decided this would be the easiest starting point. He walked over and opened the first one he came to. It was filled to the bursting point with alcoholic beverages, obviously contraband seized from within. Zack rolled his eyes and shut the locker, moving to the next. He continued to sort through plenty of unimpressive objects that the Empire had seized. Finally, upon opening one locker, he found something that caught his attention.
He pulled a small gold and black pistol from it, with four flaps on the side that expanded to an “X” shape when he raised it. He looked down the odd sights, while he judged the weight of the gun. He wasn’t much of one for firearms, but this was a comfortable weapon. Closer inspection showed him that there were four barrels on the gun that could rotate on a cylinder, allowing him to choose which was the active one. They glowed red, blue, green, and purple. He seen similar technology in ShinRa’s elemental firearms, though they always felt much clunkier than this device.
“Zack!” Caira called to him in a quiet hiss.
Zack was jarred from his admiring of this weapon, and looked to his companion. He felt bad for spending so much time on something nonessential while she looked, but she didn’t appear to mind. She actually seemed quite happy. She was pointing at a small boat with a big grin. Zack could just barely make out the small emblem on the side of it.
“The mark of Camelot,” she gleefully clarified.
Zack joined her in smiling. She had found what they needed. Zack snatched the holster for his freshly acquired pistol from the locker before shutting it, then made his way over to Caira. What they were looking for had to be aboard this vessel.
“Are you alright?” Zack asked his companion, now that their voices were available to them again.
“Yes,” Caira said, though her voice sounded just a bit strained. “Yes, I think so.”
“You think?” Zack was quick to ask for clarification. “Or you’re sure?”
“I’m fine, Zack,” Caira was insistent, even though Zack could recognize the pain in her voice.
Zack nodded, clearly unconvinced. It wasn’t like he had much of a choice in the matter, though. They swam the rest of the way to the nearest steel dock, taking care to look for any Imperials or security devices that might spot them. Zack hoisted the Buster Sword onto the ledge, followed by his air tank. He climbed out himself, and turned while staying at a kneel. He offered a hand to Caira, to help pull her from the water, but was surprised to see her stifling a laugh.
“What?” Zack asked, not seeing what was so funny at the current moment.
“You’re so goofy until you get worried about someone,” Caira couldn’t stop a giggle from escaping her mouth as she spoke. “You weren’t even this serious with Gary.”
Zack rolled his eyes, and the amused Caira took his hand, allowing him to pull her from the water. He then quickly got to work converting the scuba tank and its related apparatus into Omnilium. It would take some time to summon new ones, but it was safer than storing it somewhere or carrying it with them. Upon finishing with that, he slung the Buster Sword over his shoulder once again. He was as ready as he’d ever be.
A quick glance to Caira confirmed that she was ready, too. She had lightly patched up her leg, mostly so that she wasn’t leaving a blood trail. They could work on it a little better from a more secure area. Zack silently gestured with his head, and they made their way down the iron path.
Signs and various directions hung overhead. Things were conveniently marked, likely because there was little permanent crew stationed at an outpost like this. The need to direct their troops around would serve the two of them just as well. Zack spotted a door clearly marked “Impound” and easily deduced its value to them. He pointed to it as he slowly advanced through the apparently unoccupied facility.
It slid open with a level of technology that caused Caira to silently marvel, while Zack simply took in the new room. It was similar to where they had just been. Several boats of various sizes were docked on piers much like those in the previous room. Zack wasn’t entirely sure where the water was coming from, but he could see some cranes overhead, so it was entirely possible there was a way to lift them into this room. The important thing was that he didn’t see any way to remove the vessels. More importantly, though, was that they were certainly alone in this room, too.
“Let’s hurry and find Jad’s papers,” Caira whispered.
“Right,” Zack agreed, then glanced to her leg again. “You’re sure that doesn’t need any more attention?”
“It should be fine for now,” Caira said as she shook her head, then noticeably limped off.
Zack had to admire her spirit. Instead of dwelling too much on it, he got to work looking. There was a row of lockers along a wall, and he decided this would be the easiest starting point. He walked over and opened the first one he came to. It was filled to the bursting point with alcoholic beverages, obviously contraband seized from within. Zack rolled his eyes and shut the locker, moving to the next. He continued to sort through plenty of unimpressive objects that the Empire had seized. Finally, upon opening one locker, he found something that caught his attention.
He pulled a small gold and black pistol from it, with four flaps on the side that expanded to an “X” shape when he raised it. He looked down the odd sights, while he judged the weight of the gun. He wasn’t much of one for firearms, but this was a comfortable weapon. Closer inspection showed him that there were four barrels on the gun that could rotate on a cylinder, allowing him to choose which was the active one. They glowed red, blue, green, and purple. He seen similar technology in ShinRa’s elemental firearms, though they always felt much clunkier than this device.
“Zack!” Caira called to him in a quiet hiss.
Zack was jarred from his admiring of this weapon, and looked to his companion. He felt bad for spending so much time on something nonessential while she looked, but she didn’t appear to mind. She actually seemed quite happy. She was pointing at a small boat with a big grin. Zack could just barely make out the small emblem on the side of it.
“The mark of Camelot,” she gleefully clarified.
Zack joined her in smiling. She had found what they needed. Zack snatched the holster for his freshly acquired pistol from the locker before shutting it, then made his way over to Caira. What they were looking for had to be aboard this vessel.