(Jason's P.O.V)
When I left Musaki to deal with the aftermath of Hellfire's Obstacle course, I wandered towards the stables. Corporal Lance, wanted to know if we could add breeding to his duties as a Chocobo Stable Master. I decided to drop in and see how my feathered friends are liking their surroundings. My Chocobo, Windchaser, stood to one side of the flock and watched me approach. I couldn't tell if he was guarding his herd or wary of me. "Captain, I had hoped to meet you in your office."
"I decided to check out the stables and see what you did with the place." As I spoke my eyes wandered over the pristine saddle smith station, a blacksmith was set up to make iron claws that went over the animal's already dangerous feet and claws, making them even more dangerous. "Oh, I designed a set of gauntlets specifically for their feet. I thought that since your crew wears armor, then so should the Chocobos, if there is a need for another ground assault. I wanted to find out if would be possible to use the materials that are brought back from Hunts to make them better armor in general."
"Put in a request with the Hunters and have them deliver what you need for it. I am personally going to have Musaki outfit Windchaser." There was no point telling him why. As we spoke, Windchaser moved closer to me. Like he knew I was discussing him. I lifted my hand and he dropped his head on my shoulder. I gave him a pat and kept listening to Lance talk about his ideas and what he wanted to change. He wants to set up a breeding program to breed for combat traits. I liked the idea of having a Calvary of Chocobo riders. "I'll have Musaki set up a training facility for the birds you pick out for training. Don't put Windchaser with them though. He will do more exploration than actual combat." I had to decide if I was going to keep flying everywhere eventually.
The big guy purred with agreement.
I had to force Windchaser to stay put as I was leaving the stables. The next thing on my agenda was to check in with Newind. He wants to know my next move so he can start planning the route. Right now, I have know idea where I'm going next. We already visited three temples and I know from kyet's knowledge that there are more. I needed to talk to Kyet and see where the next one is. I went straight to the bridge and plopped down in my chair. "Newind, have Kyet join our meeting." The pilot didn't bother questioning me. He opened the P.A. "Kyet, report to the Bridge, I repeat, Kyet, report to the Bridge."
I leaned back in my chair to wait for her to make her way up from the training facility to the bridge. "Has anyone seen my pain in the ass?"
"Sir, Azrael left us shortly after the explosion on Kilika. He mentioned finding answers and took his angry chicken with him."
"He probably wants to know if what I said to him in the brig was true or not. Let's not worry about him right now." Kyet walked in with Davies and Hellfire, minus his jacket. "I need the location of the next temple. P.O.G is getting bolder. I was tasked with checking on the monks and I'm going to complete that task."
"We are already near the next one. Besaide." I cocked a brow up. "Where is it on the Island?" Newind translated my stare. "It is in the center of the village. Protected by Lady Yuna and Sir Tudus. They live here."
"This would be the same Yuna that stomped on the beast called Sin." I looked at Newind to confirm Musaki's notes.
"That is correct sir." I sat forward. I had give my Leftenant downtime to heal, even though she won't like it. "Okay I will meet Kyet and Esqueezeme on the flight deck. Newind will fly us down. Musaki is on bed rest until Nobunaga clears her." I stood up and locked eyes with Nobunaga who nobody noticed was standing near the back wall, behind a glaring Leftenant Musaki. I don't care what she says at this point. My best friend almost died because of P.O.G. "Musaki, find an appropriate gift for our friends. I don't think they understand how badly they fucked up this time. When I get back I will send it with a video to their base." She nodded sharply and stalked off.
In my office I moved to the armory where I keep my toys. I pulled on my gauntlets and then my plate mail over the Officer's shirt. I picked up the Navy blue duster with gold trim, a massive white symbol took up the back of the duster. It looked like it was made with White stitching, the symbol was a flame in the shape of the Phoenix in flight. "Nice job, Musaki." Now I look the part of a Pirate Captain. I'll probably have her put the symbol on all the uniforms so my men will be recognized as Phoenix Pirates. I set that thought aside for a new day and grabbed my secondary great sword. No point setting fire to a village, in the middle of a forest, on an island, in the middle of an ocean. I buckled on the final strap and went to the door. Musaki was standing there, her eerily silent guardian behind her. "You two need a damn bell. Seriously, Fucking announce yourselves or something!"
Going to give me a heart attack at this rate.
"Why am I on bed rest?" Her voice was far too sweet for my liking. "Your arm is broken Musaki. You can't just keep going with a broken arm and badly twisted knee and four fractured ribs. Yeah, I read the report. You are on downtime until your fucking shadow clears you through me. End of discussion." Her eyes narrowed. "You set off any explosives on my ship, and I'll tie you to your bed. He will help me." I jabbed a finger at Nobunaga who raised a brow, asking why he was involved. "As my new Chief of Medical, all injuries reported by my crew must be given to me. All crew members will be held accountable for those injuries. If they require downtime to heal, then they must be cleared by Chief of Medical and me, their Captain." Nobunaga nodded and picked up Musaki by her waist and carried her out of my office. She was screaming at him as he took back to her quarters. "Is he going to tie her down? Oh I have to see this." I ran after them and made just in time to see Nobunaga strapping Musaki to her bed. Keeping her arm and leg elevated for comfort, but she was in fact tied down. "If Mr. Darksky wishes you to heal, then I can do no other than follow his orders. Do not fret Miss Shani, I will make sure you are properly taken care of."
"Jason Darksky, I'm going to fucking kill you!" She was yelling at me now. I'll take her death threats. "Okay, but make sure your healthy before you start trying." I shot over my shoulder as I turned and left them to argue.
Now I had someone who can help me keep the psychopath in line. Hopefully.
I finally make it to the shuttle that would take me, Esqueezeme and Kyet to the village. "Sir, the Gullwings know we are coming. I just received a message. They want us to set down on the beach near the village as there is no room to land."
"Very well, obey their request. I don't want to have to piss off the one woman that saved the fucking country, twice, over a landing shuttle."
Newind saluted me and began the take off procedures.
I looked at Esqueezeme, she looked pissed off about something. "What's up Lieutenant."
"Is this a permanent team, Captain?"
"No, just until Musaki heals." I grinned evily. "Nobunaga tied her to her bed." Esqueezeme choked and stared at me in shock. "He is still breathing?"
"She is currently calling for my blood, but she's done that before. I think he might live."
Her lips lifted in a slight smile. "What is an appropriate gift for our friends?"
My answering smile made Newind shiver with fear.
"Bodies, Lieutenant, more bodies."
As Newind skillfully landed the shuttle on the beach, a group of people began walking towards us, a man and a woman led them. The man was a blonde with his hair spiked in all directions, the woman had simple brunette hair that was cut short to her jawline. They stopped just short of the platform as it descended. I led my team off the shuttle and stood not too far from them. "You must Lady Yuna, I appreciate you allowing us to land. My men could use a break."
"I'm at a loss, Sir. You know who I am, yet I don't know you." Her voice was gentle and commanding at the same time. "I apologize, My Lady. I am Captain Jason Darksky of the Phoenix Pirates." She took a cautious step back and her obvious husband stepped forward. "Do not be alarmed, my men and I are only here for short rest. We won't take up your time, just maybe the beach." I turned to Newind. "Let the Drill Sargents know to send the cadets down in groups of six, no more than twenty in a two hour period. They get a short break before we push on." I said it loud enough for the group to hear me. This would put the number of pirates on the beach lower than the number of fighting men in the village. I turned back to face Lady Yuna. "I was unable to give my men a proper break on Kilika because of an incident. A Mr. Nobunaga found my Leftenant here afterwards and now I have decided to allow them the chance to relax."
"Is your friend alright? We have a white mage that can help." Lady Yuna asked politely. I began to see why everyone adores this woman. Even knowing that we are pirates, she is willing to help us. "That is alright My Lady, My Leftenant is healing just fine under the supervision of Mr. Nobunaga."
"At least you're friend is alright. We welcome your men to make use of the beach. Where is your airship?"
Newind coughed. I smiled politely at the kind woman. "I hid it for now with a cloaking device. It's for the best that you don't see it." Her husband nodded and started guiding her away. "Oh I forgot to tell you. The Monks of Macalania and Djose, as well as Kilika are worried about the temple here. They asked me to look in on the monks to make sure that what happened to them hasn't happened to your temple."
Yuna whipped around to face me in surprise and shock.
I was half expecting Lady Yuna to kick me off her island. I expected to have to defend myself without harming Tudus. I expected a lot of questions. What I didn't expect, was to be sitting in the temple talking to the head monk.
The man was an elder and very much interested in what happened to the other temples. So, I told him what happened. I explained how I decided to search for treasure in Macalania, based solely on a rumor of a rumor. I detailed the fight between my team and P.O.G. Then I told him how the Head monk of Macalania asked me to visit the remaining temples to ensure the safety of the monks who live in them. "This is quite troubling, Mr. Darksky. You are a Pirate, yet you took on this mission with the barest hope of a reward. Why?" I had to admit, even to myself, that was a good question. "Before I became a Pirate, I was a soldier. I followed the commands of a general or three. I went onto battlefields without the full knowledge of why I was even there to begin with. The leaders would just point me and my men in a direction and we would complete the mission, whatever it took to get it done. Pure machine at that point. No true reasons for why, we just did. When I ran into the mess in Macalania, I was transported back to a battlefield, only it wasn't an equal fight. It was a massacre. I couldn't think of anything worse than the slaughter of innocent people in the name of some cause. So, I took on this mission, knowing that whatever rewards I received would not always be Gil." He seemed shocked by my tale. This is the closest I've ever come to telling another person about my past without spelling it out for them. The Golden Rule. Never reveal that we came from another planet.
The monk stood. "Someone wishes to speak with you. He said we would receive a visit of an unlikely ally."
Now I'm curious. Who would know that I would be here?
The man led me down a dark passage lined with ruins and glowing spheres. I could hear a song slowly becoming louder as we drew near a massive door. It was both sad and soothing at the same time. The song gave me both hope and despair, it lifted my spirits and lowered them at the same time. It was the same song I heard in Macalania, Djose, and Kilika. "The Hymn of the Faith. It is a mysterious song that is played in all the temples. Some tell that it is the last song sung before Sin was born." I shivered under the weight the notes carried. He stopped outside the Door. "I am not permitted to enter. He has given you permission only so he can speak with you."
"Who is he?"
"We call him Valefor, he was and is the Fayt."