"Captain, we are nearing the city state of Bevelle. According to Kyet it is the largest city in Spira."
Musaki gave me this information as I exited my quarters. I started towards the bridge. "What information do we have on this city." Musaki appeared beside me, falling in to step with me. Her navy blue uniform was under black leather armor, an array of small throwing knives lined the belt at her waist, I could see the glint of them as she walked with me towards the bridge. She had her tablet in her hands as she went through the notes she painstakingly gathered from various sources. She seemed very engrossed in her notes, those colbalt eyes of hers flashing as she read. "The current religion is called New Yevon, the citizens worship Yevon, An ancestor from the Machina war. Which was the first appearance of this Sin everyone is talking about. The citizens pray to this ancestor nearly every minute. Kind of like Buddhism from Ancient Earth records."
Sounds like a headache to me. "Can we blend in?" She grimaced. "Not possible, there is only one other known airship on this continent and the Gullwings have that one. We are an unknown."
"That figures. Any hostility yet?"
"Not as of yet. We are awaiting your orders before sending the landing party."
Musaki may be a tiny psychopath, but her skills in espionage were second to none. Her ability to feret out information coupled with her unmatched skills as an assassin made her my right hand woman.
We made it to the bridge and I glanced out at the city in question. The majority of it was red, like really red. A tower was in it's city center. Each section was as large as small cities themselves and raised up above the sea with high red walls to combat the waves crashing into them. Massive cannons were situated at each point facing out to sea or towards land.
This did not look like a religious city state. The 'God fearing' people of Bevelle looked ready for war at a moments notice. "I thought you said they were religious." I turned back to face Musaki. Her small smile said she expected this outcome. "Considering the history of this continent, I think they are under prepared."
I wanted to discuss that comment, but knowing how well my Leftenant gathers intelligence, I had to take her at her word. I walked to the raised platform that housed my Captain's chair and consoles. Settling in the large chair, I turned to face my officers. The four of them, minus Esqueezeme, stood in line by rank, Musaki the closest to me, Kyet is my newest officer so she was farthest from me. "I will lead the ground team. Musaki, Kyet, on me. Hellfire, keep on a swivel, Newind maintain distance from the city, I want no reason to have to defend myself."
They saluted me and left to make preparations for our departure. I headed back to my quarters to put my armor on. I had a feeling that I would need it.
We took a small landing shuttle from the hanger bay. It was a simple three-manned craft that could be used for just this reason. Musaki hopped into the pilot's seat and I pointed Kyet to the third seat beside mine. "Albhed's fall more than fly." Kyet spoke as she sat down. Musaki chuckled to herself. "Well, it's a good thing I am not Albhed then." She fired up the engines and began a preflight check of the crafts systems. "Systems are nominal, ready for takeoff." She said this to me. "Open the hanger doors."
"Opening hanger doors." Newind spoke through the communicator. The hiss of the pressurized doors releasing filled the hanger. The buzzer signaling the opening of said doors blared. The massive white wall we were facing suddenly split in two and pulled apart at the now present seams. Musaki activated the hover function and the small air craft lifted off the hanger floor. "Folding in landing gears. Opening wings." She spoke to Newind.
"You are cleared for takeoff, good luck guys."
Musaki punched it, we flew out the now open bay doors.
We landed gently towards the side of the main road leading into the city. The road itself was metal, that was strange, considering where we crashed. I expected stone or something similar. Musaki enabled the hover function and opened the door so we could exit. As I expected, we were met by a battalion of troops holding rifles. Their Captain was dressed in a red and yellow dominant tunic, his helmet was as red as the city. "State your purpose for visiting." His tone brokered that this wouldn't be pleasant if I didn't respond. "We are travelers from Ivalice, stopping for supplies. I am Captain Jason Darksky, this is Leftenant Shani Musaki, my second in command, and Kyet, of the Ronso tribe. We mean no harm." I gestured to the two women respectfully, keeping my tone light and friendly. No point angering them. The two nodded in turn as I introduced them. "Very well, get your supplies and move on quickly, we will be watching you, Travelers." I nodded and lead the women along the very well guarded path to the inn at the city gates. "Musaki, Kyet, I feel like we are not welcome."
"Same here, Captain. Shall I gather Intel?"
"Negative, I'll visit the library with Kyet as you handle our cover." She nodded to me in response. "Kyet, you guard my back. Something is off."
"Monks of Bevelle do not like new things. We are new." Her voice was just as soft as ours, but I could hear the menace in her tone. I don't have to ask her to know that she has no love for this place.
I left Musaki to deal with the supplies at the inn and headed into the city, searching for the library. I was pointed to it by a friendly elderly lady. As I neared the building I began to notice that the guards kept staring at me. Well, the Captain did say that they would be watching us. I better stay under the radar for now.
I picked a table away from the doors and yet still in view of them. I told Kyet to guard the table and left her to pick out the books I would need. Most of what I wanted was the history of the continent so I wasn't in the dark on mannerisms or certain points in time.
I settled in and began to read.
Most of the knowledge Musaki already gathered for me, what she didn't gather was how Sin was finally destroyed and it was the product of Yevon's teachings to the summoners who had to face such a beast. Lady Yuna was the one to end this practice of sacrificing summoners and their guardians just for the creature to come back again. "Seems like she did them a favor." I muttered under my breath as I continued to read.
The library's main door crashed open and a young boy who was maybe sixteen, skidded to a halt in the middle of the room. I glanced up from the book I was currently reading. Kyet had moved to stand between us, taking her new role as my bodyguard seriously. Her navy blue uniform that Musaki designed specifically for her, made her look more menacing than the armor she previously wore. The dark brown leather breast plate was lined with golden coeurl fur. Her stance told me she was ready for a fight. I sighed to myself. The Ronso was far too serious.
The kid raised his left hand and a fire ball formed. The guard that followed the kid inside ran at his back while he was casting the spell. The boy didn't even cut off his chant as he side stepped the overhead slice and drew his blade deflecting the next blow from the guard. He spun in place forcing the guard back.
"Great now I need to step in."
I moved before he could release the spell and it slammed into my chest. I raised a brow at him. It didn't even sting, I felt the heat but my new affinities to all things fire made me nearly invincible to the element. I shrugged off his blast and stared pointedly at him.
"Was that really necessary, kid?"
The boy stood to his full height of only 6' and glared at me. "I am Percy Davies, as a member of the Youth League I will be heard."
"Ah, a rebel then." I summoned my sword with a thought.
"Watch and learn kid, real bad guys don't throw magic around, we smash things. Like this." I Whipped around and with a diagonal slice I smashed the desk behind me and the force of it caused the next two desks to be shoved away from me. I turn to glance at Percy, his eyes were wide and shock kept him in place. "See, no magic, no skills, just pure violence." I swung my sword again and took out a bookshelf. "So come on kid show me what you got."
Percy drew his longsword and attacked me. I simply blocked his feeble attempt at a thrust. "You're not even trying. Hold your sword at and angle like this." I held my massive sword at an angle that put his heart and chest constantly in my striking range. "Now block me."
I didn't even try to put power behind the strike. Yet he struggled to keep up. "Very good, you have decent form. Now all you need is practice." I swept him aside and blocked the incoming attack from a guard. "Hi there!"
I swept his blade to the side and punched him.
The same captain I met at the entrance ran inside. "Who did this?!"
I reset my stance and smirked at the man. "I am Captain Jason Darksky, leader of the Phoenix Pirates, we come for your treasure!" I shouted it to the skies as I shoved my way out of the library and away from the boy Percy, he had potential and I wasn't going to let him waste away in some prison.
The guards began to encircle me, cutting off escape. Little did they know, I wanted them to do this. I was inside the circle, Kyet wasn't.
(Kyet's POV)
I watched my Captain as he gave basic instructions to the boy on sword play then turn and punch a guard declaring for all to hear that he was a Pirate. He then shoved his way outside. A few guards came up to me.
"Miss we are here to save you from the Pirate."
I chuckled to myself. " that will be hard to do, he is my Captain." I then swung out and swept them aside with my spear and ran out to join Darksky in his battle.
(Jason's POV)
"Open a hole Kyet." She was quick to sweep aside a few guards and I ran through the opening. This was my chance to get recognized as a threat and pave the way for my new profession. Piracy seemed the best idea.
We ran back the way we came, headed for the aircraft. I occasionally tossed a flash grenade down the side streets to create panic. People screamed and ran in all directions. As I neared the main entrance to the city, the sleek black aircraft was waiting for me. The doors were open and Musaki was already in the pilot's seat. We leapt inside and she punched the throttle. "Did you enjoy the library sir?" Musaki spoke as we flew away from Bevelle.
"I did, I discovered that being polite is boring."