Setzer snorted. The last thing he really needed was TWO wise-guy time-travelers.

"That's an interesting way to put it," Garland commented. "When did you become such a poet, kid?"

"Hey hey hey," Tucker began, "Didn't I tell you not to call me that?" The one thing that really bothered Tucker was being called "kid". "But speaking of interesting, who was that woman on the other airship? Obviously an acquaintance of yours, right, Setzer?"

"Probably his girlfriend," Garland joked. "Couples always fight."

"She's NOT my girlfriend..." Setzer mumbled. 'She's too macho for her looks anyway...' he thought. 'It all evens out, I guess.'

"Well, if you don't want her, I'll take her!" Garland smirked. He looked through his book for an "Important People" section. "She's got one helluva picture in here..."

"Hey, lemme see..." Tucker requested, snatching the book. "Ah, I don't know..." he said, scrutinizing the photograph. "I like the women you got now."

"Yeah, well..." Garland started. "I like a little variety..." As he Garland said this, Setzer let out an audible grunt, switched off the accelerator, and stormed below decks.

"What's wrong with him...?" Tucker trailed off.

* - * - *

Setzer stormed below deck. He passed by Kraken and Tiamat, who were doing something which he really didn't care that much about. He didn't investigate. He ran right into the towering form of Lich, who merely looked down from his towering height of eight feet, and stepped aside. 'Damn intimidation...' Setzer thought, as he shut the door of his quarters. He was about to get himself a drink when he heard a sigh behind him. Turning around, he saw that Kary had been sleeping in his bed.

"Hi, Setzer..." she said groggily. "What time is it?"

Setzer sighed, then laughed a tired, exhausted laugh. "I don't know... I can't even tell time anymore..." he put his drinking materials back in the cabinet, thinking that it could become a bad habit.

Kary got out of Setzer's bed and stretched. She was wearing a large button-down shirt which reached her knees. She stood, as if trying to remember where she was. "Sorry I slept in your bed... It's just a lot more comfortable than the other ones, and I was sooo tired..."

"That's all right..." Setzer sighed, looking out his window at the darkened sky slowly rolling by as the ship drifted on the wind.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Kary asked, standing next to Setzer and gazing out the window. Setzer didn't answer. Kary waited silently, eyes half open. "Setzer..." she started. "Do you think I'm beautiful?" She thought of how much attention Tiamat had been getting lately.

Setzer let out a loud sigh. "I don't think anything's beautiful anymore..." Then he thought, 'God, what's become of me?'

Kary looked at Setzer as he stared blankly at the moon. 'Such a sad person...' she thought. 'What's made him like this?'

Setzer closed his eyes and thought, 'Would the world suffer without me?' Depression cut through his soul like a knife. He was cold, and lonely. Then he felt something he hadn't felt in years. He felt a pair of arms around him, and the warmth of a woman. Without opening his eyes, he wrapped his arms around the one who held him. 'I need this...'

"Doesn't that help?" Kary asked, as she released Setzer from the prison of kindness. She looked upon him with pity, and thought, 'He needed that...' She smiled. "C'mon, kiddo. What's wrong?"

The two sat down on the bed, and Setzer had a good cry on Kary's shoulder.

* - * - *

Above deck, Garland's head snapped up. "That's it!" he exclaimed.

"Wh..." Tucker started. "That's what...?"

"We're going to a town!" Garland followed, looking at his map.

"Why?" Tucker asked, beginning to get tired.

"Listen, would you rather sleep in a nice hotel bed, or on a card table?" Garland snapped. He spun the map around, and stopped it with his finger. "Um... Jidoor! That's where we'll go!"

"Um, shouldn't we ask Setzer first?" Tucker asked warily.

Garland snatched the steering wheel in the cocky way that he did everything. "Why should we? I've flown an airship before... Lessee, how do you start this thing?" Garland searched for a key or starter cord.

"Well, I was kind of thinking about permission, but it's your butt, not mine..." Tucker said apathetically. Garland found the throttle and shoved it wide open. The airship lurched forward, much to both Garland and Tucker's surprise. "By the Goddamnesses!" Tucker said as he fell backward.

"Whose God damn asses?" Garland misinterpreted, as he wrestled with the wheel. "Don't worry, everything's under control..."

* - * - *

Below deck, things were anything but under control. The sudden takeoff and rough handling of Garland the Ingrate had so jostled the other passengers that the only term to describe it was chaos. Kraken had just gotten to his feet when the movement began, and he was thrown across the room right into Lich's arms.

"Why, Lich, I... uh..." Kraken stuttered. "I'm, um... already taken..."

"Uh... Kraken, this is so... unexpected!" the Undead Lord replied, somewhat embarrassed.

The door to Setzer's chamber flew open, and Setzer rolled out, dazed. "You pervert!" Kary yelled, about to pound his face into the wood. She lunged, but the ship shook, and she sailed over him, landing heavily on her rear.

"Kary, I didn't MEAN to fall on your... uh..." Setzer faltered. "Um, well, the ship shook, and... I... Oh, shoot." Setzer could see that there would be no chance of negotiating with this wild female. He looked around for refuge, and saw jealousy on Tiamat's face. "Uh..."

"Setzer, you... you..." Tiamat began, obviously in a jealous rage. "You lead me on!" She advanced towards him, visible aura and all.

"I lead YOU on?" Setzer said, sitting bolt upright. "ME?"

Tiamat jumped on Setzer, attempting to do something unpleasant. The timing in this situation could not have been worse, for at that very moment, Kraken glanced over. His countenance darkened, and he quietly began to speak. "What kind of mischief are you up to with Tiamat, gambling man?" The sea lord untangled himself from Lich, drew his rapier, and leaped! "Prepare to DIE!" Unfortunately for Kraken, but fortunately for Setzer, the airship jerked again, and the floor took a nasty cut instead.

* - * - *

At the wheel, Garland was having the time of his life. He had no idea that the rest of the crew thought they were at the end of their lives. Setzer had repeatedly shouted that Lich save him, but Lich said he "couldn't hear him". Garland was enjoying the breeze, when he heard something that reminded him of a buffalo stampede. He turned around and saw Setzer about six inches in front of his face.

"HelpMeSaveMeHelpMeSaveMe!" Setzer shouted. He was a good eight feet in front of Kraken, but only because the three fiends had gotten stuck in the door when they all tried to squeeze through.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Kraken shouted, wildly swinging his sword. Setzer hid behind Garland, or rather Garland's armor. "Stand aside, master! He was molesting my dear sweet Tiamat!" Kraken stood, waiting for Garland to move.

"It's bad enough you tried to touch me, but you're also a TWO-TIMER!" Kary cried, hurt.

"I thought you were a nice guy, but I guess you're really just a scumball like the rest of 'em!" the jealous Tiamat yelled.

"No no no!" Setzer retorted. "It's not like that, I -" Setzer was cut off by a scream from Tucker.

"A monster!" Tucker screamed. "With teeth and paws!" He pointed over the railing at DoomGaze, which he had just noticed. The others rushed over to see what was wrong, and collapsed from exhaustion when they saw what it was. Garland explained DoomGaze to Tucker.

Setzer sighed. "Now that we've all calmed down a bit, let's talk this all out, shall we?" he asked his bloodthirsty pursuers. He showed Garland that the ship could run at half throttle, and went below deck with Tucker and the fiends to play a few hands of poker, which Tiamat seemed to win most of, with Kary coming in second. The men knew Setzer was just kissing up, so they let it fly.

Soon enough, the seven adventurers stopped outside of Jidoor, much to Setzer's surprise. However, there were no objections, so they decided to rent a room. The hotel manager gave them a good discount on a suite, probably because of Kary and Tiamat's beguiling charms. Then again, it could've been the fear of the Reaper-like Lich. It was decided that Lich would keep watch (actually, he insisted, though no watch was needed), the men would nonchivalrously take the beds, and the women would take the fold-out couch.

* - * - *

Garland awoke at the crack of noon, having been upset by a fitful dream. Funnily enough, he couldn't remember what it was. He groggily rubbed his eyes and got up. 'Huh...' he thought. 'Slept in my helmet again...' Brushing it off, he roused his six companions. 'God, that's a lot of people...'

The group doggedly trudged about town, without any particular idea why. Perhaps it was fate which led them outside a tavern, where a lovely young woman had just finished a lovely song.

Kraken was taking considerable interest in the crowds. While taking observations, he bumped into a young lady, surprising her so much that she fell right over. Kraken nearly lost his balance and fell on top of her, but Tucker grabbed his cloak and saved him further embarrassment. "Oh!" Kraken exclaimed, a bit confused. "I... I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to..."

"That's... all right..." the girl replied, looking deep into Kraken's sea-blue eyes. Kraken began acting like a gentleman again, and helped her to her feet, with strength that surprised her quite a lot. "Thanks... I'm Merine..." she said, staring at Kraken.

"I'm -" Kraken started, but was cut off by an elbow in his gut.

"This is KRAKEN..." Tiamat said, removing her elbow, and eyeing Merine suspiciously. "I'm Tiamat, his... friend." She smiled dangerously.

"Oh..." Merine answered, realizing what the previous situation must have looked like. "I..."

"Don't sweat it, deary!" Garland said, stepping forward with a sweeping motion of his cape. "Allow me to introduce myself."

'Here we go again...' Kary thought, as Garland went through his extensive and over-flattering title. "I'm Kary," she interrupted. "This is Setzer, and this is Tucker..." She made gestures indicating her companions. Merine nodded politely, and confusedly, at each. "... and this is Lich," Kary finished. Merine gasped as she saw the great skeletal fiend.

Garland stooped down and kissed Merine's hand. 'Where'd they find this weirdo?' she thought. Then she noticed Garland's equipment. 'Strong armor, finely crafted sword, helmet, trail worn cloth shoes... travelers' stuff!' Merine thought. 'They all have traveling equipment, and most have weapons...' Merine ventured to ask a daring question. "Are you guys adventurers?"

The seven companions exchanged odd glances. "Yes," Tucker said. "I suppose you could call us that..." Setzer laughed bitterly at the response.

"Why, are you?" Tiamat asked, noticing the sheath on her belt.

"Well, no..." Merine replied. "Not really..." Then she thought of the Returners. 'So few well trained warriors, and so few members to begin with. We could use a few more skilled members...' Merine thought it wasn't right, using people she had just met, but then again... "Would you be interested in... um..."

"What?" asked Garland, intrigued. Merine led them into the tavern.

* - * - *

"Garkon!" Garland mispronounced, gesturing to a waitress. "Coffee!"

"It's Garcon..." the waitress corrected, walking over. "... and it means boy." She poured the coffee, and haughtily walked away.

"Anyway, what's the deal?" Tucker asked Merine.

"Yeah," Setzer added. "What's going on?"

"Well..." Merine started. "I'm part of this group called the Returners, and..."

"The Returners?" Setzer inquired. "You mean Banon's underground resistance?"

"You know it?" Merine asked, surprised.

"Yeah, of course!" Setzer said joyously. "I new Old Man Banon a while ago. I used to be a Returner! Uh, well... kind of."

"Great!" Merine said, smiling broadly. This was the first good news she'd received in a long while. "Anyway, we're organizing a resistance against Sascha and Akfek, and we could really use a few more skilled warriors, like you, and Tucker, and Garland..."

'Garland? Skilled?' Setzer thought. "Well, I'm up for a challenge! Anyone else?"

"You're not backing out on our deal that easily!" Garland said to Setzer. "We'll come to, just to make sure. Tucker?"

Tucker rested his head on his hand. "What else am I gonna do? You guys are my ride..."

Lich walked over to Garland, and whispered something in his ear. Garland's eyes widened, and he gave Lich a solemn nod. The Earth Fiend said nothing, but produced his glowing orb, closed his hand around it, and disappeared in a pillar of dust. All eyes turned to Garland. "Uh... he had some... business elsewhere. He'll be back before you know it... really," he said, sighing a bit.

"Oh... " Merine said, confused, but not upset. "Um... follow me, would you please? I'll take you to Banon..." The group followed her to a nearby manhole.

"How did you get to know Gaia?" she had asked him.

Banon smiled. "Before the coming of the Empire and Kefka, when I was as young as you look."

Xyo frowned at that remark; she didn't think she looked very young at all.

Banon didn't seem to notice and kept on. "I was a Druid, one of the highest orders. Each of us had a blessed gift to channel a power of the world. My own power was healing, granted to me by Gaia's servant, Undine. We were the first victims of Emperor Gestahl's lust for magical power, before the baby Terra and the espers ever surfaced. Gaia, grief-stricken, called all of the surviving Druids into her depths to hide for a time. I, alone, made the choice to return to fight for the people. Gaia was touched, and has kept direct contact with me for some time."

Xyo nodded. "I was asleep when all this happened, I wasn't awakened until Kefka's defeat." She sighed. "I used to have those powers too... but I seem to have lost them now."

Banon scratched his beard thoughtfully,"You can possibly gain some of it back. I used to have an elemental talisman that called the power of the Dryad."

Xyo arched an eyebrow. "You lost it?"

He shook his head. "We hid them. The Emperor wanted our power, so we scattered them and hid them."

She looked at him doubtfully. "And they are?"

"The talismans are small iron artifacts carved into the likeness of the elemental each represents. They were created long ago so the Servants of Gaia could better aid their followers by letting them channel the element's energies through the talisman. It was so the elements did not have to be present for their magic to be invoked." Banon walked over to his chest and pulled out a piece of parchment; on it was a rough sketch of the elemental Dryad etched on a bracelet.

"This is what it looked like. There is one for each limb, each representing a Guardian," he explained.

Xyo's brow furrowed. "What about the others? I only know of four limbs."

"Oh, Sylphid, Efreet, Gnome and Undine? They are on a circlet. The head is the other limb. But in order to obtain the magic, the elemental must bestow its blessing on the talisman, so one must find one of the circlets, find the elemental, and get its permission."

Xyo harumphed. "Well, all this is useless since the talismans are gone."

"Not so. Some remain, and the elementals themselves can sense where each of the surviving talismans are... and I know where mine is."

Xyo's eyes widened slightly. "And?"

"Here... let me tell you..."

Xyo smiled in satisfaction as she found the natural caverns that Banon had told her about. She glanced around and began to feel hungrily about the cavern face. Scrapping away the dirt and slime, she didn't care how dirty she was getting... it was the power she was lusting for.

With her fingers still from the rafting trip, the pain seared through her. She pressed on till she found the dirt-filled niche she was looking for. She began to dig the dirt out of the hole till she found the pull hook. After giving it a testing tug, she put all of what strength she she had into pulling it. She barely budged it before collapsing, exhausted, to the ground.

Groaning, she hoisted herself back to her feet, shoved both of her hands in, and began to pull with all her strength; she refused to let up until it budged. It seemed like an eternity; her muscles began to sear with burning pain. After what seemed like hours, the latch lurched, and Xyo, yelping with surprise, landed sprawling in the mud. The earth began to rumble slightly as Xyo tried to sit up and orient herself. That was when the earth beneath her collapsed, and she plummeted a few feet and began to tumble down some stairs into complete darkness.

After a few moments, the earth settled and Xyo opened her eyes. The area was completely dark. She tried to move, and she felt a gashing pain in her leg. Gasping, she pulled herself up and began to feel along her calf. Frowning, she realized she had broken her leg. Sighing at the painful nuisance, she closed her eyes and calmed herself. Looking around, she noticed that the room did, in fact, have light.

As her eyes got adjusted, it seemed that the cavern walls were glowing faintly. Curious, she dragged herself over to the wall and felt along it. Grimacing, she realized it was the slimy moss covering everything that was causing the glow. Wiping her hand on her robe, she waited till her eyes had completely adjusted to the light. She then inspected her leg and decided it would heal. Grabbing her staff, she painfully pulled herself up and began to hobble across the room into an adjoining chamber.

She frowned; the room was empty. There was no bracelet, no talisman. She studied the room more closely and found a charred piece of wood on the ground. She figured the last person here had used it for a torch. She pulled out some flint from her pouch, eased herself to the ground, and began to work on lighting the torch. After a few moments the piece of wood took and the room exploded in dancing firelight.

Then she saw a flash out of the corner of her eye. She quickly jerked her head over towards the spark, but it was gone. She brought the torch closer and she saw the gleam again. She quickly hobbled over to the wall and began to spread the moss away. There, buried in the compressed dirt was the talisman. Crying out in pain and excitement she dropped the torch and began to use her dagger to dig out the treasure. She wrested at it furiously and in no time pulled it free.

Feverishly, she pulled herself toward the fallen torch and brushed off the remaining dirt. She ran her thin fingers lovingly over the thin etching of a tree-like being. She sighed as she quickly fitted the bracelet over her left wrist. Hissing in triumph she tested the trinket.

"Renewal!" she croaked out, pointing at her broken limb. She felt the bracelet grow warm and she felt her magical energies drain out of her system. Her leg flared with a raging heat, but her pain began to subside. She looked at the bracelet and she notice that the etching had become more lifelike. Then, as the spell completed, it faded back into etched form again.

The room was quiet, Xyo gently tested her leg; there seemed to be no pain. She slowly stood herself up and began to walk around a bit. It did the trick - she seemed to have healed! She studied her leg and frowned. It was still bleeding; the fracture had healed, but her wounds remained. It was better than nothing, though.

She picked up her staff and pulled her gloves back on, hiding the talisman. She had no intention of telling anyone what she had. Why should she? She began her long trek back to the returner's hideout.

* * * * *

The journey back did come with a few more trials; she was attacked by an undead zombie. Fortunately, her newfound strength caused the corpse to erupt. She grinned evilly. She liked this 'burst' energy.

As she entered the back tunnels of the Returner's home, she heard voices echoing through the tunnels. One was Banon; another seemed to be Merine's voice; the others were undeterminable. She slowly moved toward the sounds, straining to make some of them out.

"Banon, I haven't seen you in some time how are you?"

**Who was that? Didn't seem familiar.**

"Fine, fine. Setzer, who are these people?"

**That was Banon's voice. There are newcomers? I wonder, did Merine find them on the surface?** Xyo pressed herself into the shadows and inched closer. She wanted to have a good look at the strangers before she presented herself.

"I am called Garland... and this is Kary, Kraken, and Tiamat."

Xyo froze. **Kraken? Tiamat? Kary? Those names... too familiar... could they be? No, couldn't be, there are only three... there was a fourth one... if it was true, where was he?** She resumed her creep; she really wanted to get a closer look now.

She pressed herself into the wall and pulled herself around the corridor and into a shadowed corner. Her ears and eyes were astounded. There, standing casually with the three men and Merine, were the Fiends, the ones she had first summoned into the world to wreak havoc. They were summoned even before she summoned the Dark Master, the one she had to send back. But, she wondered, where was the fourth? The Master of Earth's Death? She studied the men with them. One was crowned in white hair, and a leather coat. Another one had a dark eyes and hair, and the third was dressed in a rather odd-looking outfit. She had never seen that style before.

Merine began to talk again. "Garland and his friends want to join the Returners, Banon. They want to help defeat Akfek's evil."

Xyo began to laugh. **The Fiends of Evil becoming Returners?** Her laugh came out as a rasping cackle that startled the party. Setzer reached into his coat and grasped his cards. Xyo, seeing this, took a step forward. "No need, gambler. I am not dangerous."

Merine sighed and approached her she stopped as she saw the various bloodstains and fresh wounds. "Oh, Xyo, you look like hell."

Xyo smiled bitterly. "You say the loveliest things, my dear."

Merine sniffed; she was already getting somewhat used to Xyo's acidic tone. Xyo nodded a greeting to Banon, and then turned a cool and calculating eye to the rest of the group.

Garland pulled himself up and studied the robed woman critically. He glanced for a moment at Kary, who was gripping his hand very tightly; she was staring at Xyo. For that matter, so were Tiamat and Kraken. He would have to ask them about that later.

The room echoed an awkward silence. Banon cleared his throat and finally broke the ice. "This," he began, "is Xyo. She came here when Merine did. They have been here for a few days now."

"You have a strange way of making and entrance," Garland muttered.

"I try my best to make a *quick* impression." Xyo said almost sweetly, but her sarcasm was easily noticeable.

Setzer slowly put his cards back. "I am Setzer. I pilot an airship."

Xyo turned towards the white-haired man. "Airship? Perhaps the one I saw heading to Burial Tomb near Kohlingen a few days back?"

Garland's eyes widened slightly. "Was that your campsite we came upon? Damn, the embers hadn't even died fully when we found that."

"Yes, we were there," Merine said excitedly. "Xyo, you never said you saw an airship!"

"I didn't want to alarm you. Besides, what if they had not been friendly?" Xyo shrugged. "They were too far away anyhow, and besides," her eyes narrowed dangerously, "how do you know if they are not agents of Sascha and Akfek? They could have been following us from Kohlingen, Sascha might not have really let you escape. They could be spies!"

Setzer grew angry. "How dare you! I am a Returner! I am not an agent of evil!"

Merine began to look sick; the mention of Sascha made her stomach turn again. Tucker didn't know what to make of it. Garland glowered, "I don't believe this. We don't have to stay here. I say we leave!"

"No!" Merine cried weakly. "We need as much help as we can get, Xyo. Please trust them."

"Trust them? First they go to our campsite and then, in no time at all end up in Jidoor? That sounds a bit odd. And you know Akfek is dabbling in mind control. Who's to know?" Xyo hissed.

Merine looked at the whole group pleadingly. She felt like she had lost total control of the situation.

Xyo looked at her emotionlessly. "It's your choice, Merine. I will abide by your decision. But I will *not* trust on word alone!" She stared darkly at all the newcomers. "I think most of you can attest that my philosophy is sound. I will be in my quarters, let me know what you decide, Merine."

She turned away, making sure her robes fluttered about her like a dark butterfly. She had a lot to think about. The whole spy thing was made up, but it would make Merine more alert about who she brought down with her. If she was to be this 'leader' Banon wanted her to be, she would have to make a lot tougher decisions than this.

Merine was lost in thought. Garland, wondering why the Fiends didn't join in the outrage, whispered to Kary, "What's the deal? What's got all of you spooked?"

Kary shook her head slightly. "I,.. I don't know. I know her from somewhere. I can't remember." She looked for an answer from Tiamat or Kraken, but they just shrugged. They were just as bewildered.

Garland turned his attention back to Merine. "Well? Do we stay? Or are we 'spies'?"

Merine sat down and held her head in her hands and tried to think.

"Do you think she knows?" Kraken then whispered to Garland, but not softly enough.

"Know what?" Merine asked, alarmed.

"That, we, um, use a dragon for transport sometimes." Glaring at Kraken, Garland continued. "She could've been worried by it, I'm sure. It's not very pretty."

"But I thought you had an airship!"

"That's my airship," Setzer said. "The dragon is theirs."

"Whatever." Merine had enough to worry about already without keeping track of what vehicles were being used and whom they were owned by.

"Are we still spies?" Tiamat apparently was a very moody lady.

"Hell, no. Why on earth would owning a dragon, of all things, make you a spy? There's nothing with, what would you call it, originality. Xyo's only one person of this organization, and since she is new and all, I don't think her opinion would make much difference. But then again, so am I, but that's besides the point. C'mon guys, relax." But they didn't, and who could blame them?

"Rebel scum, there is now way you can defeat me. Now you will feel the power of the dark side."

Tucker shook his head clear. How did THAT get in there? Anyway, Tucker had understood the plight of the Returners. The group of people devoted to withstand the evil which was spreading into the land. But was it a good idea?

The beast was still after him. Whether he liked it or not, it would not stop following him until he killed it or he himself was killed. Perhaps his comrades would help him, if he ever told them. He sighed.

Merine was trying her best to cope with the group as it was. Called a spy, he didn't think he could handle telling her about his beast. Maybe when she was more collected. He got up.

"I've got to go for a walk to clear my mind. You can join me if you want."

Tucker opened the door and walked into the crisp air. He watched as life tried to rebuild, as birds fluttered from tree to tree, singing playfully, nipping at their tails. He wandered the streets, trying to clear his mind. He blended into the crowd, listening in on conversations, trying to see if the strangers of this place could help him out.

"Two loaves of bread please..."

"Hey! Stop that!"

"Then she said..."

"Look dad, pretty!"

"Pervert!"

"I told you we should of taken a left at Timbucktoo!"

"Furinkun Kouko, wa doka da?"

No good, thought Tucker. He laughed to himself. There didn't seem to be much that could help him. Except maybe time. Time did, however, heal all. After about ten minutes of walking, he decided to go back, and make a difference.

She hadn't out there for ten minutes when a kid with a yellow and black bandanna appeared. He was carrying a backpack and some kind of weird umbrella weird umbrella. He looked exhausted, and extremely frustrated. "Where is the Tendo dojo?" Merine just couldn't believe it.

"I have no idea."

"Is this Japan?" he asked hopefully. She shook her head no. "Sorry to disturb you." He started to walk off.

"Careful, it's awfully muddy out here!" Merine warned. Too late - the kid tripped. She wondered where he went and why there was a pig squealing angrily, but it was none of her business, she supposed. The pig left, and she was alone again.

"Are you Merine?"

She jumped a mile high. "Don't sneak up on me!" She exclaimed, thinking it was somebody from the airship. Looking at the figure, she realized she didn't recognize him. "Who are you, and how do you know my name?"

He bowed and held out a letter. "I am Lieutenant Oliver, and Lady Sascha requested that I deliver this to you."

"Sascha? Lemme see." Impatiently, she grabbed the letter from his hands, and read quickly.

"Dear Merine-

My old friend. Since your escape from Kohlingen, I have heard nothing of you. How fortunate. But now intelligence reports on the Returners have led me to believe that you are among their numbers. Why, Merine, why? Their defeat is inevitable. They cannot stand against our forces. I urge you to reconsider my offer, and join me and share in the glory of the Empire! We could go on adventures, and everything! It would be just like old times. Please, Merine, I don't want anything to happen to you.

If, however, you continue this folly, there isn't much I can do. I will use my position to protect you to the best of my ability, but there are some things I can't do.

Merine, you were the one person who supported me when I wanted to be something more than a waitress. Perhaps you can understand that now, I have fulfilled my dreams. No one laughs at me now. I have power; I have respect! You should see the way people look at me when I walk by! They don't snicker behind their hands like Rachel and my other 'friends' from Kohlingen. They look up to me with fear and reverence! And it's all thanks to Akfek. He rescued me when I had given up all hope. He has amazing power, you know. Maybe even as much as his brother. If there's one thing I can ask of you, it's not to cross him. He could destroy you without a second thought, and that's not something I like to think about.

Please consider what I've said. We could share the power Akfek has given me. I miss you, old friend.

You can send any replies with the man who brought you this. His name is Thomas Oliver. Please do not harm him for his service to me.

Yours always,

Sascha

P.S. Whatever path you chose to walk, remember that I'll always be your friend. Take the ribbon with this message as a token of this bond. I hope to see you again soon."

Oh great, she thought. I KNOW she's wrong, but I just can't leave her. She honestly wanted to cry - 'but don't I always want to?'

"Do you have any pen and paper?" Amazingly, he did. Scribbling an answer as quickly as she could, she sent him off. Watching him go away, she knew that if the Returners heard of this, she could be very well be considered a traitor. But it wasn't as if she was giving away the location of their hideout, and in a way, she was helping the Returners. But she'd better not tell anyone of this. Merine trudged back to the airship, depressed.

The Nightsider's Club had been a bust, and his friendships had slowly wasted away until none had been heard from again. 'Maybe it's my fault,' thought Setzer ruefully, leaning heavily on the rail with his elbows. 'Maybe they're all cards this old gambler has to take up, win or bluff his way through, then toss aside for the next deal.'

Awfully pessimistic attitude, mused Setzer. It didn't bode at all well for his current companions, either. Oh, Xyo would come to trust him, as would Merine. He'd seen too many friendships grow from a common cause... from the movement to defeat a dictator, a madman. And they'd be together, put their lives on the line for each other. But once it was all done with, when the cards were off the table, and the chips cashed in? They'd go their seperate ways, looking for adventure and excitement on their own course.

Look at Celes. Their meeting hadn't exactly been what he'd consider to be ideal. Setzer smoothed the grain of the rail, admiring the polished wood idly even as his mind mused on. Just another indication that what they had here wasn't forever by any long shot. Just another hand in the game of life.

Setzer giggled mutely at the triteness of his thoughts. 'Maybe I'll become a poet,' he snickered.

Setzer shook his head, turning away from the silent, sleeping city which served to fuel his morose mind. Daryl was gone as well. Daryl... he just couldn't seem to leave her behind... couldn't forgive himself for her death. He should have double-checked her ship, or gone with her, or... done something! No matter how much he tried, he couldn't lose the thought that if he had been there, she would have lived. No one on any of the continents Setzer had travelled could boast the same level of piloting skill that Setzer could.

No, Daryl was gone. And there was nothing to be done for it. Setzer sighed, looking up to the stars Daryl had claimed brashly she would once fly to. The Falcon was his Daryl now. It was all that he had left of her, the ship that she and he had worked for months rebuilding, fixing, repairing, modifying, and tinkering with. As much effort as he had put into the Falcon, Daryl had invested twice as much. And the greatest tribute Setzer could make to her memory was to fly it as she had wanted it to be flown.

Setzer turned back around to face the city, murmuring softly. "Goodbye, Daryl. I loved you... but it's time for me to cash in and try a different table."

The barest ruffling of movement caught Setzer's attention, distracting him from his resolution. "Yes?" asked Setzer, keeping his gaze locked onto the soft candlelights of the city.

"I'm sorry." came a soft voice, its tone making the owner indiscernable. "I didn't mean to intrude on you."

Setzer's lips smiled thinly as he responded, his voice containing a hint of bitterness. "I'm used to not being provided any privacy. Never had it. Except at the table."

"Is that all that matters to you?" asked Tiamat, her voice becoming clear as her tone rose in irritation. "That damned card game you love so much?"

Setzer still didn't turn around, reluctant to meet Tiamat's gaze.. "It's enough for me. Whatever I might have had before, I lost a long time ago. Now all that's left for me is the game and the flight. Anything else is superficial."

Tiamat's voice turned hard, the passion of her voice turning her words into a cold, delicate knife. "So you think this is what your Daryl would have wanted you to do? I thought she loved you for more than your cards."

Setzer wheeled around, glaring at Tiamat with eyes burning hot with fury. "You know nothing of her! She loved me for who I was, and... oh, why bother explaining it to you?"

Setzer stormed of to the side, feeling his gut wrench as the truth of Tiamat's words hit home. Maybe that /was/ all Daryl had loved him for. His knowledge of cards and his own love of airships. Maybe...

Tiamat's voice came to him softly. "I'm sorry, Setzer."

Setzer shook his head, keeping his gaze toward the city... away from those piercing, inquisitive eyes waiting for him. "Don't be. Just leave me alone."

There was a pause, then the faintest sound of movement as Tiamat left as silently as she had entered. And Setzer looked over the city. And wept in rememberence of his Daryl.

*********

I was born in the town of Kohlingen, twenty-nine years ago, the daughter of a merchant. No, the cafe. The proprietor of the cafe. Surrounded by people who would come and go, I was fascinated by their tales of the world. Stories abounded about great castles where noble warriors were bred, bustling ports that traded goods, a theatre at which one might see the most exquisite plays, a city full of thieves and liars... I had no life outside of the town, and never traveled. The stories, for a time, were good enough.

On my sixteenth birthday, my father bought me a very special present: a ride, by airship, to various cities around the world, as a vacation. I could hardly wait; renting an airship must have cost a fortune! He explained that the cafe had been doing well these past months, so he was able to afford the magnanimous gift.

The first stop was Jidoor, where I met Owzer and admired his collection of paintings, and got to dream about owning such a fine house. Or, perhaps one day I would be rich enough to afford that rarity of rarities, an airship of my own.

Next, I took in a performance at the Opera House: "Crystals of Light and Darkness," a dramatized version of the historical War of the Magi, set to music. It was hard to believe that the world had changed so much, but I cried when the sage Tellah died trying to avenge his daughter, I laughed at Cid's antics with the dwarvish mechanics, and I applauded at the end.

The next stop on the itinerary was Doma Castle, where I actually got to see warriors had at practice with their long, slender swords. I think one of them might have been Cyan, but I wouldn't have known.

We stopped at Mobliz, and got a look at the Veldt (a brief look; no one wanted to get mauled by monsters), then headed north, over Triangle Island, where I asked the captain to stop. He hovered over it, and I was able to get a good look at the mysterious place, with its question-mark shaped mountain range.

After that, I visited the great castle of Figaro, and got to talk to the Crown Prince, Edgar, who was about my age. His brother, Sabin, was there, too, although I never got to see him - I had to leave too soon.

The town of Narshe was next on the tour, and the elaborate machinery I saw amazed me even more than the deep, dark mines. I even got a glimpse of the moogles! After that, though, I had to head back home. After such a long trip, I was glad to be back.

One thing struck me as odd, though, upon returning. I saw that on the large world map in the captain's cabin, there was a continent to the south that we never even glimpsed. It was only marked "The Empire", with a large "Off Limits" stamp across it. Understandably, I was curious about it, but I knew that the world had still more to offer. Life was good.

Life got even better when I was nineteen; I met my first and only true love that summer. He had long white hair, and wore a leather trenchcoat. Setzer Gabbiani. The gambler had obviously had a crush on me from the time we met, back at the cafe, and we met by night, every night, for a month. That's when he got his big break, and, in one of the highest-stakes poker matches I'd ever seen (although it was by no means the greatest I would ever see), he won a small fortune of 500,000 GP, enough to buy an airship. That following day, he did just that, comissioning with his money a crew of engineers to construct the largest airship ever, including a casino, a gift shop, and the whole works. I was thrilled. Finally, the freedom to go wherever I wanted. He asked me to marry him. Overjoyed, I accepted.

Setzer's lucky streak continued, and, from that day on, he kept me by his side, as a lucky charm. He maintained that he played better when I was standing next to him. Maybe, but he was pretty good already. The fortunes amassed, and he bought another airship, this time from the same man who rented his out for my sixteenth birthday. It was, of course, the same one I had taken. In no time at all, I learned to fly. It was fun, having the freedom to do and go wherever.

Almost wherever, that is. I learned, from day one, to stay out of the Empire. As curious as I was, the kinds of horror stories I had heard, about magical creatures being eviscerated, their essences drained, and stored in human bodies. One tale in particular frightened me -- that of "Kefka", the very first experiment, whose mind had been warped, and was second in command in the Empire only to Emperor Gestahl himself. I promised never to go there.

The years passed. I don't know why Setzer and I never got married, but I believed it had something to do with mutual freedom. We would be freer separate than together, and freedom was what we lived for. I didn't mind. In fact, it was good that we didn't marry - the day I disappeared, he never would have forgiven himself.

The race was like all of the others, but I wanted to push the limits, make it more challenging. We already had broken each other's records repeatedly, but I had never considered an altitude-breaker. I yelled at him, over the winds that whistled back at us.

"I'll catch up with you later - I'll be known as the woman who flew closest to the stars!"

Setzer flew back to the hill, the one that we always met back on. It was just south of Kohlingen, on a small outcropping overlooking the sea. Unfortunately, I wasn't there to meet him. Gaining altitude quicker and quicker, I flew higher and higher, until I surpassed the tops of the clouds into a perfect blue sky. Beautiful. There was one thing I didn't count on, however: the loss of air pressure at such a high altitude was causing the Falcon's baloon to deflate, to leak out through the sides, and I began to fall. There was nothing stopping my fall, and the airship and I plummeted into the ocean.

I lost consciousness soon after, and evidently my memory. Now that I can glimpse back at the past, I can see what happened: I washed up on the shore of Triangle Island, where I was found, and promptly devoured by one of the large worms that inhabit the area.

Making my way around its cavernous insides, I discovered a great deal of debris: a large amount of scattered clothes, including a bright yellow feathered mask. There were a few other survivors; a small group of Imperial soldiers, who had been wandering around, engaging themselves in shoving matches. All their weapons and armor had been lost, and they were now wearing greenish uniforms that I later learned they had found inside, much like my current outfit. Finding a secluded place to collect my jumbled thoughts, I realized then that I was amnesiac; the only words I could remember were the last words I shouted to the airship, imploring it onward: "Go! Go!" Those words reverberated through my mind, muddling my thoughts. Having no memories of my own, I created them myself. My name, just to make those words meaningful, was Gogo. I found myself unable to cope at all, having forgotten literally everything, and had to rely on copying my companions, as boring as they were. Somehow, instead of relearning all of the skills it took me my life to know -- eating, drinking, speech, those sort of things -- I learned a single ability: mimicry. Anything they did, I copied, and it was in this way I survived, even making up a new persona, calling myself "master of the simulacrum." I found it fitting, somehow, that nobody knew who I was. I didn't either.

Two years later, I was rescued by a band of three adventurers, who I could tell were out to save the world. Fine. Anything to escape from that pit. I followed that group; I was one of its fourteen members, and I had some pretty wild adventures. I found that I could mimic their skills just as well as I could copy what I had to re-learn. I guess, after two years of practice mimicking, one would get rather good at it.

************

"I can see, now, that that takes us up to the present day," Death grinned. "Daryl Estragon."

"Yes. My name is Daryl Estragon, isn't it? All right. Gogo, then, as a nickname. Somehow that seems fitting." (OOC: All right, if you want to know, this is an obscure literary reference; in Samuel Beckett's classic play, "Waiting for Godot", one of the characters is named Estragon, but nicknamed Gogo. I found the coincidence amusing. And please, no jokes about estrogen.)

"The train has already left, carrying the other three back to their home, on the Veldt. Don't worry about your body; it's sitting in a storage closet in the loading dock. When the next train leaves, you are free to go. And don't forget... Here. You may take this. I have no further need of it." Death gestured at the crystal ball, which was no more than a few inches in diameter. "It projects a minute magical aura of its own, enough to power some low-class spells, but its primary function is to bring back the memories of those who have forgotten."

"How can you give this to me? Why do I deserve it?"

"You were one of the fourteen against Kefka, correct? And what did you get for your troubles? I saw you fall down that large hole, and get abandoned repeatedly. Something needs to change. The crystal functions as your ticket back, just show it to the conductor. Also, there's someone who wanted to see you. We were able to give him the semblance of his living form temporarily, so that you might recognize him. Here he comes now."

"Kupo!" The unmistakable voice of Mog the moogle echoed from behind Daryl.

"Mog! It's you!"

The moogle sighed. He never looked more relieved. "Gogo, kupo! I heard the news - I'm just sorry I can't go bakupo with you!" Under the right light, Mog might have almost looked poignant.

"I understand, Mog. But aren't all of your old friends here?"

"Better! The Moogle Sages of ancient times, the long-dead heroes of eras long past - I've had a lot of time to thinkupo, and you were always the second-best dancer I knew. Here - learn this." Mog shuffled his feet a few times, whirled, jumped, and began to dance - slowly. He marched around the room with a melancholy air that spoke of the same general atmosphere as the city: death, and eventually rebirth, as the souls continued their journeys. Putting her mime skills into action, Daryl copied the moves. "Another dance?"

"Kupo! That was the Time Dirge - I don't know what effects it would have outside of the city, but I just had to share it with you. I need to go now - my friends, old and new, are waiting. Kupo kupoppo." Bowing, he left the room.

"The train is just pulling in. Your destination is Jidoor - I cannot tell you why, nor what will happen afterwards, but good luck."

"Just one question, before I go."

"Yes?"

"Why are you on my side?"

"I am not evil in nature; I seek no greater power than I already control. I maintain the cycles of life, and prevent the disasters of overpopulation. I am part of nature, Daryl, and by definition am not evil. Put aside your fears and prejudices. Death, while at the wrong time can be malign, is simply a way of Fate telling one that it's time to move on. I am against needless death and destruction, much as you are. That is the reason."

"I see. Thank you, and good bye! I'll see you sometime later, I guess."

Death only smiled. "Sometime later."

Daryl's body was in good condition, having been left in a closet for an hour or two, and soon it was placed on the train going out to collect more souls. Daryl reentered the sleeping figure, through the layers of cloth, and in a short time, the locomotive left the station.

She didn't know what the glowing meant, nor felt any other effects, but it was at least something to occupy the time of the long voyage across the dimensions. Trains were _so_ boring, she mused. No freedom at all to move where they wanted.

Might as well practice that low-level magic Death said I'd be able to do, thought Daryl. Now, how did that go again? She held the orb at arm's length, and focused her thoughts on a spot across the empty aisleway, yelling the incantation for a Fire spell. Nothing happened.

She tried Ice. Nothing. Lit. Cure. Still nothing. Rasp. Slow. Muddle. No effect, not even the barest twinkle. The orb began to glow again, but the energy this time was stronger, and Daryl recoiled from the excess of force. Words to a single spell had planted themselves in her mind, obviously from the orb. She chanted with the same effort of concentration and frame of mind she had tried to cast the other spells.

The orb began to leak. Gallons of water were flowing from it onto the floor at a high rate, spreading themselves across the floor to the point across the aisle, where the water gathered into a single mass, wavered, and burst into a multitude of droplets, which soon vanished.

The conductor stepped through the door. "I could've sworn I heard running water... Oh, it's you! I take it you've discovered one of the spells in the orb, eh? Before you say anything, I want to make something clear: these are new spells that have either been lost for ages or never been introduced into the world. I can't give you a complete list, but that sphere of yours holds a lot of information."

"I know - somehow, it brought my memory back, too. But, I thought Death said it was only enough magic to cast some low-level spells."

"It is. Wave is about as powerful as an Ice spell, or similar." So that's what it was called, reflected Daryl.

"What other spells do you know it holds?"

"Well, I can tell you only a few: Wave, which you've found already, and the ancient A-Fire, A-Ice, and A-Lit, Harm, and Lamp. There are a lot of higher-level spells in it, too, but unless you can find a greater source of energy, you'll be unable to cast them when you learn them."

"Okay. Thank you. By the way, what's you name? I just always knew you as 'The Conductor'."

He grinned and winked. "Call me Charon."

*******

Daryl remembered a few moments after the conductor left that she had never been able to learn magic from objects that primarily carried spells - this orb was pretty much like a piece of Magicite, except definitely not Esper in origin. Even though the power was there to cast the new spells, someone else was going to have to learn them.

*******

It was midnight in Jidoor, on the night of a full moon. Everyone was asleep, including Setzer, who had been trying to forget about his lost love. Suddenly, he sat bolt upright, his eyes wide. Slipping on his usual clothes, he woke Merine up.

"Merine!"

"Umph. Hm - huh? Setzer? What are you doing?"

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what? Setzer, go back to bed." She yawned, and fell back asleep.

"It sounded like -- a train whistle," Setzer mused to himself. He ran outside the inn, just in time to see a slight circular wavering in the scenery. Quite odd. It began to open from the middle, revealing a greenish-black stone tunnel, down which a bright light was quickly approaching. Frozen in fear, he simply gaped stupidly as the train whistled again, and passed directly through him. It stopped momentarily - he could see the inside of one of the cars, with plush red upholstery and no passengers - and moved on. Setzer was still in the same posture, staring straight forward, his mouth open, ready to faint. He nearly did when he heard a voice behind him.

"Setzer!" It sounded like - no, it couldn't have been. She was dead, and had been for years. He turned, not knowing quite what to expect.

"Huh?" Now he was more confused than ever. "Gogo? How did you - what was the - I just can't believe - I mean --"

"Calm down."

"That's not funny, Gogo, imitating Daryl's voice like that. You know as well as I do that she's dead."

"Not quite." She removed the bright yellow mask that had covered her identity for the past two years, revealing blond hair and pallid, nearly chalk-white skin. Spending two years underground hadn't been the best thing for her complexion.

"Dah," said Setzer in the most intelligent way possible. "Da-da-da-da-da-da..." This earned him a good shaking.

"Snap out of it, Setzer! I'm back!"

"Daryl!" _Now_ Setzer fainted.

That's when the pain started. A sharp, sudden feeling that started at her shoulder and ran all the way up and down her arm, like a pulse of energy that moved back and forth. Daryl's teeth clenched on her lower lip as she wheeled around to face her new foes, protecting her loved one's body with her own.

The enormous figure before her stood with a bright glowing sword held aloft, as if it were brand he presented to whatever gods he worshipped. The light glimmered in the darkness, illuminating the shining, sky blue eyes Daryl stared up with, bringing light to the dedicated expression she wore...one that told the one she would fight that she would guard this body with her life.

Garland stepped back, staring in momentary astonishment at the lovely young lady who guarded Setzer's motionless body with such determination. Perhaps even lifeless, thought Garland, the thought bringing a sudden, unbidden sadness to his heart. The thought of Setzer laying dead...at this bitch's hands...

Garland raised the sword suddenly with a cry of anger, swinging the sword swiftly through the air, a high pitched whine echoing as the razor sharp blade cut through the air, swinging directly toward Daryl's neck.

A blur of motion was all Garland saw before he was picked up and slammed against the ground head first just a few feet from where he had stood just a moment ago. Ears ringing and eyes blurry, he staggered to his feet, leaning on his sword for support and staring in amazement at the unruffled young lady who stared at him, eyes glowering with anger.

"Right! For that, you're dead." yelled Garland in a sudden fit of rage. "C'mon guys!" he cried toward the three Fiends who had been watching in more than a little amusement. "She took down Setzer, and now it's time to pay her back for that!"

Raising his blade and crying out in battle song, Garland and the three Fiends bore down on the suddenly very small woman who waved her arms frantically in a gesture meant to stop the four from crushing her underfoot. "Wait! Wait! I'm a friend of Setzer's! Wait!" she yelled, voice full of desperation. Words fell on empty ears.

Backflipping away from the Setzer, not to mention the four bloodthirsty figures who charged her, she sprang up onto the second story of one of the nearby buildings, landing in a balcony high above Garland and the others. The part of Daryl that still held on to a bit of Gogo thanked Sabin's blitzes for their usefulness, as well as their stopping power. She didn't think the particularly rabid one could have been stopped by anything except a Suplex.

"Wait, please listen to me!" She cried out as the four figures milled around uncertainly, wondering where the elusive Daryl had disappeared to. "I'm a friend of Setz-..." she cut herself off suddenly as a loud rumble began from deep within the earth. The explosion didn't serve as a calming influence, either.

"I'M BACK." came a loud rumbling from the enormous, skull-crowned figure that had appeared from the ground. Daryl had a sudden sinking feeling. The eight foot tall, burning red-eyed skeletal figure looked like he could be just a little bit more than she could handle.

Garland looked up at Lich, grinning evilly. "Lich! Go up and get that bitch. She took out Setzer." he yelled up at the Fiend of Earth, pointing an accusatory finger at Daryl.

"Aw. Do I haveta?" asked Lich, the whining voice sounding strange from the enormous, figure who looked for all the world like he could bring whole mountains down with but his evil eye.

"Yes! Now fetch." insisted Garland irritably.

Lich's arm stretched out slowly, smoothly until a single finger pointed at the building Daryl took refuge on. With a soft, ominous voice, he spoke. "Quake."

Suddenly, the ground began to shudder. Slowly at first, then rapidly, an enormous hole opening beneath the house Lich had pointed at. Daryl's house. In the blink of an eye, the house had fallen into the hole a full story, leaving a prone Daryl on the balcony which looked for all the world like a small, fashionable porch.

As the ground gradually came to rest, Garland strode forward, reaching out with a mailed hand to lift the dazed Daryl off the ground, tossing her to Tiamat, Kraken, and Kary. Lich had sulked off shortly after causing the Quake, and now stood forlornly over suddenly blinking, bleary Setzer. "He's still alive.." whined Lich, who had obviously hoped for some other kind of status.

Garland looked over at Setzer victoriously. "We caught the one who took you down." he cried out. "And now I'm gonna gut her." he said, raising the knife from his belt.

Setzer's eyes widened and he sprang to his feet, yelling out as he rushed toward Garland.. "DON'T!" desperate to stop the death of the one he had lost once already.

Garland's eyes widened in terror as he flung the recovering Daryl to the side violently. "Fire in the hole!" screamed Garland as he threw himself to the ground, covering the back of his head with his hands.

Silence.

Garland's head lifted up ever so slowly as he looked up at 10 eyes and two little flames that sufficed for eyes. All filled with utter confusion.

"Ahem. Ah. Sorry." mumbled Garland as he crawled slowly to his feet, face burning with shame. "Gut reaction."

Setzer opened his mouth as if to say something, then dismissed it suddenly. Turning to Daryl, he gaped, once again losing his voice as the full impact of who stood before him.

She solved it by kissing him.

***************************************

Garland leaned back with Tucker, Merine, and Xyo as he regaled the tale of his and Daryl's encounter.

"So I was in my bed, when suddenly I heard this high pitched whine. I figure that it was the air raid sirens signaling another attack, so I sprang out of bed and charged out, ready to take on those damned Nazis." Tucker nodded in thoughtfulness, while Merine and Xyo just shook their heads in confusion.

Banon stepped in. "Well, I left them alone." he said softly, a sly grin bringing a momentary twinkle tohis normally sad and tired eyes. "Now we have to decide what's going to happen."

He turned to Merine. "We have a spy in Sascha and Afkek's forces who has sent a carrier pigeon back to us requesting extraction. It's vital that he be returned, because he possesses information on their forces which we absolutly must have."

Merine nodded solemnly, turning to the other three. "Will you join us?" she asked softly, expression held carefully neutral.

One by one, they nodded. "And count Setzer in too." volunteered Garland with a grin. "He wouldn't want to be left out of this one."

Merine smiled and nodded. Looking up to Banon, she said only two words. "We're ready."

"Fine. You'll leave tomorrow at the break of dawn. You have a long way to go, even with the airship." said Banon.

*******************************************

The sun rose, sillouhetting the airship as Setzer and Daryl made the final last minute preparations for lift off. Right on schedule, the fans began whipping about rapidly, the engines working overtime.

And this time, Setzer did not fly for the present, but he flew toward the future.