A minute passed after Cerden and Flora pleaded their case and nothing came. The silence was awkward and uncomfortable. Both Cerden and Flora looked at each other within in those thirty seconds. While they didn’t say anything, the looks that they exchanged were of uncertainty. They neither had any feeling that what they said was bad or good. All they knew that the silence was a killer.
And then one of them spoke.
He stood there listening not saying anything. Cerden wanted to hear every word from those who had anything to say. He knew these kids wouldn’t just let he and Flora join them, especially given who they used to be aligned with. In fact, Cerden would have found it odd if they blindly accepted them just because they needed help or something of the like.
The blonde spoke about how Cerden’s case was flawed and the presentation weak. She stated that most of what he said they already knew and provided them with literally no new knowledge. She would then go on to remind Cerden of the obvious and that was that he hadn’t dealt with Nomis yet. She continued on and on about what Cerden said, mainly breaking and ripping apart every little thing he said. And then she would further speak negatively towards Cerden, stating that he gravely underestimated them, which wasn’t true.
On the inside, Cerden had a feeling of genuine intrigue. Did he really come off that way? Really, he didn’t know that. Cerden had always been like that for as long as he could remember. Maybe it was these kids felt like they deserved more than they were getting and perhaps they do. They were giving a universal Empire trouble for it just being a few of them. Perhaps Cerden should lower his own self-worth and actually try to see it from their point of view and by extension, view them as his equals, which he does.
“I’ll admit--” Just as he was going to speak, one of the more silent and more emotional ones of their team interrupted Cerden.
Right off the bat, she called Cerden conceited.
Well, that’s a bit harsh, Cerden thought as he listened intently. She would continue to state that the way that Cerden smiled after that they lost two of their friends — The Princesses of Heart — was, in her own words, disgusting and shameful. Okay, Cerden wouldn’t have used those words, but it was her call. At least that was Cerden’s guess.
As she would continue to speak, Cerden allowed each and every word to enter his mind, plant themselves in his memory and he would then analyze.
Where the first -- the blonde -- was all about bluntness and maintaining as much of an emotionless stance as possible, the other one -- the Chinese-looking gal -- was filled with emotions and seemed to wear them on her sleeve. She definitely cares for her friends, so much so she would not hold anything back, even her hands shaking. Yes, the Chinese gal seems to be the more emotional one and perhaps that’s a good thing. The blonde was too distant and cold with her emotions, but seemed to enjoy ripping apart my so-called “case”. Just as Ace had said that the vote was unanimous, one of them spoke up. She was a tall thing, towering over most of the kids. She had remained silent throughout the entire thing, no doubt taking in everything before forming her own opinion and her own decision. Cerden looked at Flora with a surprised look on his face. He had expected all of them to turn them down, but this one that had the grace of royalty stood up to Ace(or so what Cerden viewed at it), and denied agreeing with the rest of her comrades.
When Ace protested, Shizuka cited that they couldn’t fight in fear. Cerden couldn’t help but form a smile and for good reason. Not only did something he said work for at least one of them, but the way she spoke to the supposed leader of the group and the way her ideals came through, Cerden felt a feeling of hope. It sounded crazy, but perhaps for people like he and Flora, acceptance from the rebels and even anyone else they might run into could be possible yet.
And just like that, Ace admitted defeat and he, along with everyone else, were beamed up by Scotty.
With just the three of them, Cerden approached Shizuka.
“Gotta admit, I’m surprised. I didn’t think any of you would trust us.” Cerden said absolutely shocked, but in a good way.
Cerden was going to say something, but he saw Flora, who had been silent throughout the entire ordeal, speak out of nowhere,
“Shizuka was it? I know that couldn’t have been easy, letting them go off like that,” Flora said calmly, emitting a comforting tone to Shizuka.
“You have my thanks…and his too,” Flora punched Cerden’s arm.
“Oh yeah, thanks.” Cerden said, rubbing his arm.
“Now, I think we should get going. Together, I’m sure we’ll find them.” Flora smiled and there was something motherly about it. Cerden took notice to it and smiled softly.
“You are correct.” Shinto said, thinking.
They kept on running down a hallway. The idea was for Shinto to figure out how they could escape the ship with as little confrontation with Nomis’ machines as possible. It was definitely a godsend for the ship to be in as bad as condition as it was. The fact of the matter was that, due to how hard the ship crashed, most of his machines were probably damaged. At least, the more powerful ones. There was still a matter of those less-powerful ones aboard and probably still in full-working condition. Shinto would have to keep an eye out for those.
Turning a left, the group continued forth. About a dozen paces, Shinto heard sounds coming from a few hallways ahead of him. In an instant, he stopped, making Dominic stop behind him and Asahina behind him.
“What’s the deal? Why did we stop?” Dominic asked.
Shinto waved his hands, gesturing his friend to shut up.
“I hear something.” Shinto said quietly, almost in a loud whisper.
Dominic listened too and he recognized that sound.
“It’s the creepy-crawlies..” Dominic said as he backed to the wall behind him.
“The crawlies?” “Yeah man, the crawlies. Those spider-like machines that Nomis made all those years ago. You remember right?” “Oh yeah, those.” Shinto said..
They were those machines that Nomis made back during their Dactyl days. They did always creep out Dominic for some reason. The blonde could never understand why. They were only mechanical spiders and they weren’t even that bad. Some of them were actually pretty cute. Though, back then, they mostly reflected what Nomis was like and he wasn’t nearly as bad as he has been in recent years.
“I have a bad feeling…” Dominic said.
And he was right to have said feeling. It was with several sounds of blown up metal that the spider-like machines came to their view. There was a pack of them. Several dozen were surrounding the group. The leader of the pack shot forth a red laser at Shinto, which he waved away with the force of his telekinetic powers.
“Dominic, take the girls and start running.” “What!? Fuck that man..” “Look at you, you’re shaking. “Am not.” “Just shut up and do as I say. “Fine.” “Now, take the hallway to the left of me. I know this area of the ship and taking this hallway all the way through, you should arrive at an elevator that should take you all the way to the highest level. When you’re there, get on the roof and notify me if you spot a way out.” Shinto said, looking towards Dominic,
“You still know how to access the telekinetic link between us, right?” “As if I’d forget.” “Good. Now go. I will handle these freaks.” “You better not die or else what will the kids say if their daddy died?” “I don’t plan on dying here.” As Dominic left with the girls, one over his shoulder and the other by hand, Shinto turned his attention to the Spider Birugs who were poising for their next attack. He grinned confidently,
"So what are you lot waiting for? I dare you to come at me!"
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