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[ Kyle ; Riku : Atlantis : Outside Throne Room ]

The pause and hesitation were all Kyle needed. This particular Earthling was sticking with the Turks. Still, that alone helped; they knew they had someone in there, someone who would inevitably come to their aid in the final moments, even if he didn't see it yet.

After all, when the choice is between existing and not, was there really a choice at all?

'Undecided,' he said. Kyle didn't change expressions, didn't change tone or posture, but he knew where the man's immediate loyalties lay. With that in mind, he thought about which question to ask first--what was most important to them right now.

Assuming was always a gamble, but in this case, a necessity.

"You know our intent. You even know what we've done for the past week," he began, stressing the amount of information Daniel already had by comparison--it was only fair that they be compensated. "So, what are ShinRa's goals?"

In the background, the barrier had struck the bottom of the horizon, and while there was a small flash, it seemed the Heart wasn't yet done. The massive statues surrounding the city began to glow--a few of the airships were flying this way, Milo leading them. It'd be just a few moments before he landed. More immediately, however, was the barrier preventing communication.

"Charms aren't working," Riku responded to Axel, while still aiding Noelle. "No one's responding--the Darkness and the barrier are probably interfering."

{Tseng : Atlantis : Outside Throne Room}

Tseng remained silent during all that was said and exchanged between the dying replica and the Earthlings. It seemed there were much deeper things at work behind the scenes that none of them had realized, seven fiends of heart, something about a lost heart, some kind of betrayal being nothing more than brainwashing. This group had been led like puppets and Ajora the puppet master and their greatest benefactor and they hadn't even realized it. That was when Seymour and Kuja, two beings that the Turk had never seen before appeared to take away and silence the replica, leaving the group in even more upheaval as they were faced with the difficult truths they now had to accept. Some of them, seemed to have taken it harder than others.

Then the call for leadership was made and volunteered for, if the fact that this group had been functioning as long as they had without an actual leader surprised the Turk, he didn't show it. Still remaining silent as he continued to gather as much information as he could from the conversations. They had been through a lot that much was certain, a lot of the situations they had gotten involved in probably could have been avoided if they had proper leadership. Tseng wasn't sure if the Bo-wielder was the right candidate for it, but they had to start somewhere.

His focus then shifted to the swallow-wielder who was speaking to Daniel about whether or not he was going to join them or stay with the Turks. The leader had wondered that himself. However, Daniel's answer reassured the Turk that for the time being, he would be staying with them. This allowed him to focus on answering Kyle's questions regarding ShinRa's plans. While it was only fair to reveal some information in exchange for all that they had received. The leader of the Turks didn't want to reveal too much. Thankfully, Daniel was smart, and carefully relayed more than less what the Turk himself would have.

"My name is Tseng, Leader of the Turks, As Daniel said we came here for the Heart of Atlantis. Almost assuredly if your group had not come here today we would have been killed, You have our gratitude," The Turk stated simply.

[Joe: Atlantis: Outside Throne Room]

Right, well...Dani liked the idea. One person down...he just hoped everyone else would be as open to it. Preferably more open than Axel's 'I don't really care'. Now he had to refocus. What needed his attention? Something...well, anything other than Ajora's last words.

Kyle was dealing with Daniel. Good idea, considering. From the snippets of their convo Joe kept catching, Daniel there was already a corporate drone for ShinRa. Not exactly the best sign, and something Joe would be better off avoiding when he was like...well...this.

Noelle seemed off, though...which made him worry a little. He might not have liked Axel calling him a 'mother hen' but frankly he kind of was one, worrying about her...and he walked up to her, giving her a tight hug, resting his chin on her head. Not just to comfort her, though...frankly he needed a good hug, himself.

[ Kyle ; Riku : Atlantis : Outside Throne Room ]

Kyle lifted a single brow as Daniel spoke, taking every word, savoring it, gnawing it, absorbing everything. Tseng then spoke up, finally identifying Daniel for him, and confirming what the Earthling had said. Kyle simply nodded in his direction, lips pursed in thought.

Milo landed a short distance behind Riku, Noelle, and Joe, and without really looking at anyone else, he jogged past the group, getting as close to Kida as he could, watching as she powered the stone guardians; they all simultaneously clapped, and a resounding wave pulsed from them, slowly moving through and over Atlantis--the purge.

"Well enough," he responded to Daniel, bringing his right hand away from his left, keeping them poised at his sides. Now, time for the second gamble. "Is it true, Milo? That ShinRa funded yours and Rourke's crew?"

"Well... yes," Milo said, cautiously turning to face the group. "Hand-picked each of us."

"Mhm," he responded simply, never once taking his gaze off of Daniel. That was that, then. "So ShinRa specifically chose an entourage of ruthless mercenaries willing to threaten the king, princess, and the entire Atlantean culture for the sake of the Heart's power, even sending a couple of Turks to ensure the acquisition went smoothly."

Kyle remained monotone and impersonal as he continued, and though he had made no hostile moves or summoned a weapon, his gaze told the tale of judgment.

"As we are here to ensure the safety of the king, the princess, the Heart, and the Atlantean people, I'm going to have to ask that you and Tseng get behind me and away from them. Now," he said, taking a step forward. Immediately afterward, his lips just barely twitched into a small smile, though it was devoid of any hospitality. "I'm sure you can understand my position, yes? And as it's not a viable energy source, then you surely wouldn't mind, correct?"

Maybe they had no intention of taking the Heart. Maybe their help was truly just from benevolence or guilt, and they would not endanger the people.

But they were Turks. They were completely obedient to ShinRa, whichever one happened to be in control. And Kyle was not going to take a possible risk when they'd come this close to success.

[[ This is running on the assumption that you two are between him and the Heart, since most of us approached Ajora and you stayed behind. If this is incorrect, please let me know so I can edit accordingly. ]]

{James : The Black Pearl : Galley -> Deck}

James couldn't but let out a sigh, his conversation with Anthony, which had originally been a welcome distraction had now made him begin worrying about the fate of the other group. He felt guilty that he wasn't down there to help them, despite the fact that what had happened to him hadn't been under his control. He knew that all too well but he couldn't shake the feeling that they had been or still were facing something terrible.

'Why is it when it comes to situations like this I always think of the worst case scenario?'

'Because you care about them and worry too much when you can't see for yourself what is happening,' The Lunar Wolf replied with a what could only be a bestial chuckle, clearly knowing how the corsair's mind worked all too well. 'If you are that concerned try to contact them via the charms.'

Again that idea had been suggested, there was no going around it if James wanted any sort of peace of mind it seemed. He focused on the charm that dangled from his right wrist and reached out to Noelle, no response...then Kyle... still no response. He stopped there, realizing that it was all too likely going to be the same with everyone.

'It's not working... some kind of barrier perhaps?'

His focus then turned back to Anthony, who at this point was just tapping his finger against the table, no doubt waiting for some kind of answer to his last question. That was what to do until they returned.

"I don't know," James stated standing up. "I appreciate your company Anthony, I really do. I have a lot of things on my mind right now though and I kind of want to be left alone, sorry."

The corsair grabbed a few more pieces of jerky before leaving the galley. He hadn't been lying he had so much on his mind right now, his mind's eye had basically been playing repeat of his fight with Kuro Oni and "Alex" ever since he regained consciousness. His so-called "Brother" had transformed before his very eyes, from a man into a monster, and not just that, but a monster with a crest on his chest. That crest was significant, just as the Heartless and Nobody insignia's were, of that the corsair was sure. He entered an empty room and began rummaging for a piece of paper and something to write on. Parchment of course, only thing during this time period. As for something to write with he rummaged through a drawer and found a quill pen and a bottle of ink.

'Wish I had a regular pen and paper right now... I've never used one of these and ink flow has never really been a specialty of mine.'

The corsair dipped the tip of the pen into the bottle of ink and began to do his best to recall what the crest looked like. He wasn't the best at drawing, and using what was basically a calligraphy pen was entirely new to him. It took him awhile but eventually he drew what would hopefully be recognized as the insignia he had seen.

'That look about right to you?' he asked the Lunar Wolf inside his head.

'I wasn't really there during the fight, but yes. I think if anyone else has seen that symbol before they will recognize it,' Fenrir replied.

"Good enough for me," The corsair stated with a smile, holding the picture in his hand. After the ink dried he would fold it up and stick it in his pocket.

The corsair decided that he wanted some fresh air, or as fresh as one could get out at sea and made his way up to the deck. He walked up the stairs and walked out onto the deck, the smell of salt-water strong to the corsair's enhanced sense of smell. The sun was a bit higher in the sky than it had been before he passed out, but it wasn't high enough to be noon or later yet. The gunner made his way over to the railing on the side of the ship and leaned against it, looking out at the sea.

'Fen... the way I was fighting against Kuro Oni, it was similar to what happened the last time I tapped into the darkness, but it was also very different, It felt like my energy had been changed to suit that purpose, instead of me just being stupid and not using my gun. What do you think?'

'I do not know... As I've said I wasn't myself at the time. Kuro Oni has clearly tapped into the same kind of skill set based on the moves we saw from him. It is possible that you might be able to change how you fight, we will need to experiment when we get the chance.

The corsair nodded, looking down at his hands, he clearly remembered what looked like claws of energy extending from his fingertips. However, that energy was clearly gone now. Out of curiosity the gunner reached out his hand and focused on calling forth his gun. Just as it should, nearly instantaneously the six-barreled gun appeared in his hand. The weight for a second unfamiliar to the corsair since it had been awhile since he held it. He held the ornate gun in his hand for a few seconds before dispelling it seemingly satisfied.

{Tseng : Atlantis : Outside Throne Room}

Tseng fell silent again after saying what he had to say as Kyle confirmed with Milo that their words were the truth. It seemed that these people did not fully trust ShinRa, which in some regards was understandable. The mercenary force that the President had hired had seemed a bit excessive to the Turk as well. It was at that point that the young man ordered them to move away from the princess and the king and move behind him. Though the dragoon had not threatened them in any way as he had given the order, his eyes revealed all the severity that was necessary.

"We understand your position completely," Tseng replied simply, sliding his pistols(which had remained instinctively in his grip since the fight had ended) back into their holsters.

Without another word, or even another glance at Kyle the Leader of the Turks did as asked and walked over to stand behind the swallow wielder. He was certain that Daniel would do the same as well. There was no reason at this point not to not do so, their mission was over. They needed a way back to the surface to return to ShinRa and report on the events that had transpired. For the time being, it was in their best interests to cooperate and he was sure his protege would see that as well.

{Bobbi .:. Atlantis .:. Outside Throne Room}

Bobbi frowned as Kyla barely responded. The girl seemed dead, like there was no life left in her even though her body continued to function. Bobbi thought she saw something yellow flickering in Kyla's eyes, and frowned. She reached up to place her hand on one side of Kyla's face, trying to catch her eye.



Bobbi knew immediately what Kyla meant; did she agree with Ajora's assessment of the pictomancer. The fact was that, no, Bobbi didn't agree; she knew Kyla had only done what she thought was right, what she had thought was the best course of action at that point in time. Sure, she may have made mistakes, but everyone on this journey had so far.

"If you mean about Joe being the leader," she said, pretending for a second to misunderstand, which gave her a chance to organize her thoughts, "sure, why not? We do need a leader, or at least a rallying point, and if he's willing to take the job, at least he's capable of it. I wouldn't want it, really. If you mean something else…" She shrugged. She still wasn't sure how to say what she felt, but now was the time to say it, so she just plowed right on and muddled through.

"Kyla, don't take everything Ajora said to heart. He had some salient points, yes; we do need to stick together as a team, there's no possible way to deny that. But anything he said regarding you? Just ignore it. He made his judgment, and it doesn't match mine, and you really shouldn't let someone like him influence your own self-worth. Easier said than done, I know. But whatever he had a beef about, I know you were only doing what you thought was best at the time. Sure, looking back, they may have been stupid decisions, but you know what? We've all made mistakes. You, me, Joe, Kyle, Noelle, Riku, Sora. The list goes on. That's part of being human. What's important is learning from your mistakes, correcting them when you can, and not repeating them."

As she was speaking, Bobbi heard Kyle ordering the Turks away from Kida, and risked a glance back that way. She was relieved to see Tseng comply with Kyle's demands, and feeling that situation was under control, turned her attention back to Kyla. After that little speech of hers, Bobbi had the urge to stand on tip-toe and kiss her friend on the forehead, but she had a feeling that wouldn't help matters any. Instead, she settled for locking eyes as best she could, and a simple phrase.

"I trust you, Kyla."

"Is it true, Milo? That ShinRa funded yours and Rourke's crew?"

"Well... yes. Hand-picked each of us."

"Mhm, So ShinRa specifically chose an entourage of ruthless mercenaries willing to threaten the king, princess, and the entire Atlantean culture for the sake of the Heart's power, even sending a couple of Turks to ensure the acquisition went smoothly."

Daniel brow raised in disbelief. The Dragoon seemed to be drawing the conclusion that ShinRa's goals were explicitly malicious, with no regard for the Atlanteans or their culture. Sure, they were out for the Heart, but it did not have to end badly for anyone. The Turk was increasingly disappointed.

Had Kyle forgotten that the Atlantean's had done the same thing? That they took advantage of their powers and choose to conquer? It was the reason they were locked away beneath the sea in the first place.

Daniel turned around to look at the princess again as Kyle rambled on about their 'safety'. The blue glow was bright and made him squint. How long could she stay like this before it was permanent?

The princess herself was not a Princess of Heart, and ultimately the Heart of Atlantis was a barbaric thing that fed on the souls of dead royalty. The Atlantean's had pretty much wasted away beneath the earth's crust waiting for something to happen. Working with the Turks and ShinRa could have been that crucial revival of their legacy. In fact it still could, but harnessing the Heart of Atlantis meant guiding and reasoning with a conscious entity that had its people's best interest in mind. Ultimately, harnessing the Heart meant working together with them. That would prove to be a neat trick, and not really viable in the short term.

Daniel turned back to Kyle when he ordered them away from the princess.

Is he really here to ensure their safety? I can imagine when Ajora was here the goal was to keep him from achieving HIS goals. But what invested interest do they have in the Atlanteans? Even now with 'Darkness' bearing down on our throats and wanting us unequivocally removed from existence- the thought of protecting everyone everywhere is absurd.

The Spellblade stared into Kyle's eyes for a moment as he advanced, smiling back out of genuine humor.

Could it be that he truly thinks hes fighting for "good"? To preserve a dying people? Noone deserves what Darkness wanted, but noone said that this mission required suffering of any kind, certainly not ShinRa.

"I'm sure you can understand my position, yes? And as it's not a viable energy source, then you surely wouldn't mind, correct?"














Daniel looked him in the eye a moment longer before nodding quietly. He took the first step, walking towards the Dragoon and approaching his side.






"Of course we wouldn't mind. But I don't care much for your position."












Daniel continued on until he was at his leader's side before turning back, facing Kyle and Joe.

"You have our word that all remaining crew members of this expedition will cease and desist operations on Atlantean soil."