A Change of Pace: Team Dragoon the City of the Ancients Part Two

[lsr_boo]

Who: Veld, Elfe, Aerith, Vincent, Cloud, Haurke
When: While Team Science is working on Sephiroth and Team Reno is in Wutai
Location: Forgotten City of the Ancients
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The Holy Machine is missing. There is no reason to believe that it's been destroyed. Instead there is writing on the wall and around the base of where the machine

Comments

[seraphic_maiden]

It had been a better night than ones previous, and Aerith was sure it had to do with the surroundings. No matter how uneasy the silence was, or the discomfort in being so close to the place she'd been killed, she felt...home. It did help to have so many friendly and familiar faces around her as well.

The night had been rather uneventful after her conversation with Veld. Things were still...uneasy. Perhaps it was a sense of guilt on her end for being so eager to take him in her life without being angry that he did nothing to help her, to help her mother.... Theirs was a relationship that would build itself and grow in time and in its own terms. Almost like the trees around them.

She had also made a new personal goal after hearing the story of her ancestors and their strength and valor. From this day forward, she was no longer the weak, frightened girl from the past in the pretty pink dress. Today, she was the strong woman fighting to protect her home. And everybody knows that all good rebirths require an initial change to start the process. During her trip to Costa with Zack she'd done some shopping, toying with the idea of making the transition to her new life, and thus she was well prepared. Of course, she was waiting for the first person to call part of skirt a doily - she had a punch waiting for them.

Stretching in the morning sun, Aerith watched the interaction between Veld and Haruke. Veld look...well...horrible. Like a man who didn't sleep all night. Where was hot coffee when you needed it?

[chief_mendacity]

Veld smiled to try to stop Aerith from giving him a worried look. This was a new morning; he supposed that everyone could feel it. "Alright, Haurke, make sure that you're completely sure you don't miss anything. Remember the dig we did in Wutai. Don't rush." Veld leveled a look at Cloud to make sure that the younger man didn't think to be pressing for answers.

“Valentine, if I need backup, you’re receiving.” It wasn’t that Veld didn’t trust Cloud, quite the contrary, but Veld knew that Vincent was by far the fastest out of all of them and if someone needed backup, it would be Vincent who was the go-between. And he did trust Vincent more. That was only natural when someone took a bullet for someone else. Veld tested his PHS in regards to the correct numbers and then turned.

“Elfe, Aerith?” Let’s head out. He led his daughters into the city itself. The streets were glistening with an almost crystal feel and the buildings still looked livable. In truth, it was like the place had been frozen in time.

[seraphic_maiden]

Aerith paused for a moment, considering inquiring to whether or not the man had slept. However, she remained silent for the time being and followed Veld into the city. It felt odd, like she was returning to a place of peace and comfort, like returning home.

Just out of the corner of her eye, Aerith slowly became aware of Elfe's closing distance. She was at first flattered and humbled, the thought that her newly-aquired sister had such a concern for her was endearing. But then she became aware of Elfe's heightened awareness and serious focus. Granted, Aerith was a healer and not a fighter. But she became aware that she was indept in her own protection. I'll have to take Veld up on his offer to teach me how to defend myself.

Nodding in agreement with Elfe's question, Aerith craned her neck to look around Veld to the center of the city. Her stomach knotted and became a heavy mass as the building seemed to nearly loom over them. "The machine is in the center of the city, isn't it?"

[chief_mendacity]

Veld was concerned because the machine certainly should have been in the center of the city. In his memory, it would have loomed ahead of them as a figurehead. Veld was aware that his age was a factor in many things but his memory was keen and sharp still.

It wasn't at all.

Veld stopped short and extended his arm slightly while he moved in front of Aerith. His other hand raised to a flat palm. He then held up one finger and then pointed behind him. It was a signal for Elfe to watch the rear.

"Let's be careful."

[seraphic_maiden]

Aerith didn't know if she was on base or not, and Veld didn't help ease the growing unease that she might have been right. It would have made sense to put a weapon in the center of a city. Having it there would make it harder for invading forces to come in and take it and it would provide constant protection by its civilians. Of course, it put the city in danger to have it so close to the city and its inhabitants. Just what did the weapon do, anyway?

So caught up in her thoughts, Aerith just had seconds to stop before she ran into Veld's back. Taking a step back to balance herself, she quickly picked up that something was wrong. Of course, when your father and sister take up protective stances around you it was a fact hard to miss. Oh, for Gaia's sake... It was one thing being to be under protection, and quite another to feel like she was being given extra-special protection. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate their concern, but this time she felt more...singled out.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

[chief_mendacity]

"The machine's gone..." Veld commented. He looked around as he moved slowly forward. There was no outside signs of tampering. It was, for all the world, as though the machine had been picked up and moved.

"I'm going up to the stand, you two look around for anything that would be of interest." Veld motioned to some of the houses. "One building at a time, yell if you see anything."

He then turned to Aerith. "You fine with the staff or would you like one of my side arms?" She'd traveled with Vincent, this girl couldn't be a slouch. That and she was Veld's kid. He liked to think that gave her a little edge.

[seraphic_maiden]

"Oh...." It wasn't as bad as she had first thought. It was worse. They had come all this way, to this lost city, to retrieve the machine and it was gone. Poof. Disappeared. Vanished.

Her eyes moved from Veld to the houses that he mentioned, curiosity nibbling at the back of her neck. She wanted to go inside the home more than anything and take a glimpse of the past. Turning back to Veld at the mention of her staff, she gave said item a twirl and hit the ground with it, a triumphant and confident grin spread across hier lips.

"I've handled my share with my staff, thank you," she returned. Sure, she'd had help training with Cloud and his friends, and there was no better teacher than the experience she got crossing the continent. "I'm afraid I wouldn't be too good with the firearm, yet. I'm hoping you'll help fix that in the future."

Moving towards Elfe, she gave Veld an understanding nod. "You be careful up there. C'mon Elfe," she spoke to her sister, "Let's see if we can find anything..."

[seraphic_maiden]

Aerith missed the stern look Elfe had given Veld, and it was probably for the better. Already on edge, she was doing her best to keep her mind away from the stray thoughts that wanted to reminder of what had happened here in the past, what dangers could easily lurk around them, and of a silver-haired soldier bent on destruction.

"Let's try," Aerith scanned the nearest series of houses. Logically you'd want to start at one end or the other. Yet something drew her to the second house from the left. "That one."