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The Crystal Rule	By : QueenDraggyofSwords Category: Final Fantasy Games > Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Views: 956 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy: chrystal Chronicles, any of its characters nor am I making any profit off of them.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Chapter Seven

Selkies were naturally fast. There wasn't a man, Lilty or Clavat that could ever hope to out run one, or catch one on foot. Right now that natural speed was carrying Keiss down the stairs at an unsafe pace to say the least. Every time he felt he was going to trip or fall he just pushed himself off the staircase, jumping a few steps, sometimes a whole flight, of the winding staircase. He finally reached the ground floor and burst through the door, slightly panting and looking around.
Just through the door of the building, he could see the lieutenant and Regal heading down the street. With only a moments rest, Keiss took off after the two Lilties; the secretary at the desk shouted at him not to run.
"-And that is why it is imperative that this shipment make it to its destination at the Veo Lu Research Facility." Lieutenant Spinosa walked with his hands behind his back as Regal followed next to him. The rose haired mercenary nodded placed his hand over his chest.
"Don't worry, Lt. Spinosa, those thieving bastards won't damage the train this time. You have my word."
"It's not your word I want, Regal, its results. High Commander Jegran has given me full control overseeing this project and he is quickly growing tired of fai-"
"Lieutenant Spinosa!"
The two Lilties stopped walking and turned to see Keiss coming up behind them. The lieutenant greeted Keiss with his usual business smile, but Regal did nothing to hide his displeasure, "What do you want, Selkie."
Keiss greeted the mercenary's disgust with his own smile and pointed at him, "I just had to make sure I heard you correctly upstairs. You mentioned 'thieving Selkies', perhaps your little offhand comment was in reference to a certain band of Brigands that have been giving the military some trouble? Am I right?"
Regal scoffed, "That's not public knowledge!"
"So I am right!" Keiss turned to the lieutenant, "Sir, if I might have a word-"
He was cut off as the lieutenant raised his hand, "Keiss, I too am curious. Just how did you know about what Regal was referencing?" The two Lilties stared at him waiting for an answer.
The redhead sighed, "Please, I hope you aren't implying I'm in on this scheme. Quite the opposite! As I am now a permanent contractor to Dr. Oides, it interests me to make sure his shipments are received without hassle."
"The doctor…" Spinosa lowered his hand and looked up at the building he had just left, "He talks too much."
"Sir," Keiss called his attention back to earth, "I know you think Regal can handle this job without help, and under any other circumstance I would agree, however….When dealing with Selkies, its best to let a Selkie handle it."
"You want this job now as well, thief!" Regal snarled at Keiss.
"I don't appreciate being called a thief! I'm offering you help. You won't catch those Selkies."
"And why do seem so certain of that!"
Keiss crossed his arms and smiled at Regal, "Because you haven't caught them yet. You probably have no information on them, and you don't even know where to start. Selkies take one look at a Lilty- especial one like you- and clam up. Their whole attitude changes. Along with their way of thinking. They will always be one step ahead of you, Regal."
The mercenary sneered, "And so we should trust you to do it? I'm sure other Selkies treat you differently due to your background, Keiss. Working for Lilties, earning an honest living, if you can even call it that." Keiss frowned and opened his mouth, but Regal stepped forward into his face, "Don't think I don't know how to dig up dirt on someone. I know about you. And I bet all the Selkies are just thrilled about you working for us onions what with you being the Gui-"
"Alright, Regal." The mercenary turned his head to face the lieutenant and Keiss gave him a less than light shove onto the curb. The Lilty shouted obscenely at him from his place on the ground.
"Woops! Sorry, I just can't stand the smell of roses…allergic." Keiss rubbed his nose and smiled.
"Why you little son of a-"
"Will you two cease!" The mercenaries turned their attention back to the lieutenant. His face was less than pleased. "Keiss, I appreciate the offer, but my decision still stands. This is Regal's assignment only. He will catch the Selkies. Your assistance is not needed," he turned to the Lilty, "Now come. You need to be ready by tonight." With that Spinosa turned and proceeded down the side walk. Regal followed him, looking back to sneer at Keiss.
This time the Selkie did nothing to hide how upset he was…

Layle sat waiting for Keiss in Oides' lab. He had decided this was probably the worst idea ever, as the doctor kept talking to him about his research. A subject Layle couldn't care less about.
"-and that is why I use such developed monster specimens. Simple creatures like Goblins or Flan or Mu won't do. Ah, if only I had a bomb…perhaps I should ask you two to explore the old volcano next…"
"Yeah, sure…whatever…" Layle put his head down and sighed. "Oh my god, Keiss, if you don't come back I will kill you…"
"Did you say something young man," The doctor came up to the table with s small flatbed that he pulled the Tonberries onto.
"Not a thing, Doc."
"Ah well…" Oides secured the monsters to the bed and turned to Layle, "I suppose, if you are going to continue to wait here, would you like to help me transport these lovely creatures."
Layle didn't respond at first, but as he realized he had nothing better to do, he slowly picked himself up off the table and followed the doctor further into the lab. At first he remained entirely uninterested in the place. Every room looked the same, filled with test tubes, and white boards with notes scribbled on them. Chemicals cooking over flames, jars of liquids and parts. Maps and diagrams over the white boards- even they were scribbled on.
No, the place was without a doubt boring, until they reached a room the doctor had to stop and unlock.
As they ventured inside, Oides had to flip a switch and turn on a faint red light overhead. There were no windows in the room. And the path was narrow. But as the lights flickered on, Layle saw this room had to take up at least half the floor of the building. And in the room, tubes, all lined up in neat rows. Hundreds of large tubes filled with monsters, all suspended in some eerie blue fluid, which despite the dim red light managed to glow like the light of a crystal.
The Clavat stopped at the first row of tubes, all filled with different types of plant monsters. Along the bottom the signs read: Hell Plant, Stone Plant, Magic Plant, Common Plant. The row went on and on, as they rounded the corner a row of Sahagins. Layle stopped and stared at them, each monster was perfectly preserved in the blue fluid. He leaned forward and put his finger tips on the glass, and at once a chill ran down his spine. Layle pulled his hand back and grimaced. The skin around the crystal on his cheek also seemed irritated.
"Is something the matter, young man?" Oides had stopped pushing the Tonberries and was not turned to face Layle.
"What…What is this place…?"
"Ah, this is where I store the monsters. In here their bodies do not break down or decompose into miasma. Now, come along. We have to put these tow in storage before they start to break up." Oides turned and continued pushing the flatbed. Layle followed, scratching the skin around his crystal.
Yep, this was a bad idea. The more and more he followed the doctor, the larger and stranger the monsters became. Finally they reached a row of Tonberries. Layle looked down at the name plates reading them as they passed by. At the end of the row were two empty tubes labeled 'King' and 'Queen'.
"Here we are!" Oides ushered Layle over, "If you would kindly help me get these two into their new homes."
The crystal bearer stared at the tubes for a moment, noting that the backs had a strange grate with a filter mesh over it. His eyes looked upward and he saw that the grate connected to a series of tubes turning up the ceiling. The doctor called to him again to hurry, and Layle lifted his left hand and pulled the Tonberries off the cart. He dropped them each in their tubes and took a step back.
"Excellent!" Odies leaned down and pressed a switch on the bottom of the tubes stand. The top lid closed and the sound of a pressure lock could be heard going off. As soon as it was secure, another noise filled the room. From the bottom of the tube the blue fluid started to pump into the container. It pumped slowly; apparently the substance was thick and viscous, not light and watery.
"What is that stuff…" Layle watched it slowly fill the tank.
"A stasis fluid I designed…" Dr. Oides grabbed the flat bed and motioned for Layle to follow him. "Its chemical makeup is complex, not something you want to learn about…But I can tell you, its core ingredient is crystal dust."
"Crystal dust?" Layle looked back as they left the Tonberry row.
"Yes, dust made by grinding up Crystal Shards. I have found that the chemical compound not only keeps the monsters from decomposing, but with filtration and regular circulation out of the tubes, it extracts certain properties from their bodies."
Layle stopped walking, "Certain…properties?"
"Why yes!" Oides smiled to himself, "Crystal shards have a certain charge to them, the magic in them gives them that charge. The compound has the same charge. But when a monster is soaked in it for some time, if one removes the fluid and examines it, you will find that magical charge has…increased! Whereas the monster's own charge has decreased."
"…It…removes…magic…" The Clavat stuck his hands in pockets and felt his arms press against his sides. This was suddenly the worst place to be in the world.
Oides chuckled, "Yes! That is a simple way of putting it…If I can discover the correlation between what extraction process from the monster and the reaching process of the crystals, then I can develop a medicine that can harmlessly extract magic from humans!" The doctor opened the door out of the storage room and let Layle out. "Then I would be able to cure Crystal Bearers of their plight."
Layle took a deep breath once out of that room. When had he stopped breathing? He shook his head and kept walking, not wanting to respond to Oides. 'There is no way Keiss and I are doing another mission for this nut-job!'

When Layle re-entered the front room of the lab, Keiss was already there waiting for him. He could clearly see a look of annoyance on the Selkie's face. "I take it your little adventure sucked as well?"
"As well?" Keiss stoop up from his seat, "Why, what did you do?"
"AH, Keiss!" Oides interrupted the two and took Keiss' hand to shake it. "I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me! We will certainly have to work together in the future! …Say in three days?"
"Three days!" the redhead's eyes went wide. "That soon!"
"Yes, yes!" The old Lilty let go of Keiss' hand and pulled out a check book. "I'll even get you started on the next mission's payment…Let's see…we'll just add and additional thirty to what you were getting today…There!"
Keiss took the old man tore it off his book and handed it over. The two leaned over and read it. Fifty five-thousand gil. Suddenly the anger and tension melted away, and Keiss smiled. "You can count on us, Dr. Oides!"
"Now…wait a minute-" Layle opened his mouth and Kiess promptly punched him in the arm.
"Excellent! You will hear from me in three days!" The old man opened the door the lab smiling, "Now I hate to rush you, but I have work to attended to!"
"Of course, Doctor. We won't hold you up any more. Come on, Layle." The Clavat followed, but he was still upset with Kiess for taking the doctor's next mission.

Keiss eyed the check as he and Layle walked the streets to the station terminal. "You have to admit it, Layle. This is going to be a good gig."
"Hmph."
"What? What are you so angry about?" The Selkie waved the check in front of his face.
"You said it wasn't about the money."
"It's not!"
"Then let's quit."
"What? No! Layle, we need him now more than ever!"
"Keiss! That guy has got some…bizarre liquid up there that takes magic out of living things! I'm a living thing! I like my magic! We have to quit!"
Keiss sighed and waited on the platform for the shuttle to arrive. "Did he try to put any of this liquid on you or in you?"
"...No."
"Then quit freaking out." The Selkie shrugged at him as they boarded the shuttle. "We need Oides. I need to get in on this train business. And he is going to be our ticket."
"That train!" Layle flopped down in a seat and Keiss sat next to him. "Why does that concern us…Are you a guild member?"
"No." Keiss folded the check and tucked it into his wallet. "I just have in interest in it is all."
"Yeah, well I have an interest in not working for Oides."
"Fine then, quit. I'll just keep your half of the pay."
Layle leaned back and didn't say anything else the rest of the shuttle ride. He didn't even bother to question where they were going. He just sat the entire time seething with anger over the fact that in three days he was going to have to help Oides move one step closer to this absurd cure. All over some stupid Selkies robbing a stupid train!

When the shuttle finally stopped and the boys got off the Clavat looked around at their new surroundings. They were back on the lower end of Alfitaria; though not quite as low as the guild halls frequented by Crystal Bearers.
"Where are we?" Layle followed Keiss as he set off down the street; it was clearly a residential area. There were certainly enough Clavats and common Lilties about to tip him off about that. But he had never been down this street before.
"We're going to get some info." Keiss turned down another street.
"Info?" Layle picked up his pace to keep up with Keiss, "On the train I take it."
"Yep."
"And who around here is going to know about people robbing military trains?" The Clavat kept his hands in his jacket pockets as they walked.
"Oh, Layle, how I told you cute you are when you're clueless?"
"Yes…And I'm pretty sure I told you to stop."
"Hmn, I don't recall that at all…" Keiss smiled at him and turned down another street. For the rest of the trip, Layle was silent as Keiss lead him around winding streets, pass shops and homes and merchants and vendors, until finally arriving on a street populated by Selkies.
The stands, the homes and the shops all had the exotic flare to them. And so did the people. The Clavat just could not wrap his head around the reasoning behind walking around in a bikini in the middle of a city. And that was what the tamer women were wearing.
"Keiss…" Layle turned to him, "Where are you taking me?"
"What, its safe…For the most part….You know what, give me your wallet."
At first, Layle was going to question him, but within a second of Keiss finishing his sentence, a Selkie man bumped into him. Layle turned to him and grabbed him bay scruff of his shirt as he continued to walk away from him.
"H-hey!"
"Give me that! For crying out loud I felt your hand!" Layle used his powers to yank his wallet out of the man's pocket before letting him go. The Selkie ran off annoyed. Keiss laughed as his partner handed him his wallet.
"You could tell he took it…Hmn, you're really sensitive to contact…interesting…"
"What's with that look…?"
"Just, food for thought. Come on."
"You know, you really have to stop doing that." The two started off down the Selkie street. Keiss held onto Layle's wallet, and it was a good thing to. No less than eight Selkies attempted to rob him; he pushed all of them off or grabbed their hands and told them to back off. By the time they made it to their destination, Layle hated this place. "Can we please be done down here now!"
"Come on, Layle, it's not that bad. It'd be much worse if I want's with you." The redheaded Selkie stopped out in front of an unmarked building. The windows were tented green the sign on the door read 'Closed'. "This is where we need to be." Keiss approached the door and started to tamper with the lock.
"Uh…really? You brought me all the way down here to break into a building?"
"No, I brought you all the way down her to break into a bar," he stood back and opened the door. "Let's go." Keiss ushered Layle inside and shut the door. Inside the Clavat looked around the little bar. There were about six tables, the walls were lined with fine spirits and liquors from around the world, and two chandeliers hung low to light the place. Keiss approached the bar and banged on the counter top.
"How about some service around here!"
"CAN IT!" Layle turned his head as a woman's voice came out of the back room, "Can't you read! I'm closed!" A Selkie woman came out of the door leading to the back. Her dress was certainly unusual, even for a Selkie. A short yellow skirt with a split in the side, a light purple looking long sleeved shirt accented with white ruffles and red bow in front. Her brown hair was pinned up behind her head, creating a sort of fanned affect. She stood with her hands on her hips glaring at Layle before turning to see Keiss at the bar.
"Well if that's how you're gonna be, then I'll just lea-"
"Keiss!" The woman's face turned from anger to exasperation. "Haven't you got nerve! Showing up, unannounced, and ungrateful. As usual." She moved out of the doorway and over to the bar. "But at least you are actually doing me a favor showing up this time."
"I am?"
"You are," The woman sat on the edge of the bar before swinging her legs over and landing on the other side. "A favor at eight thousand gil. Guild Master has a request out for any info regarding your current status."
"Figures." Keiss rolled his eyes at her before motioning for Layle to come over and sit down. "He can never mind his own business."
The crystal bearer took a seat and turned to his partner with a questioning look, "The Guild want's info on you? Why?"
"Sorry. That's classified," Keiss winked at him. "Layle, this is Chime. Chime, this is Layle."
"Nice to meet you, welcome to my tavern," She smiled at Layle with a bit of a nod.
"Chime? That's a bit of an unusual Selkie name…"
"It's a surname," She waved her hand about, "Unchanged since Caravan days. But its better than my first name."
"Which is?"
"Don't ask," Keiss shook his head, "She charges twenty-thousand gil to know."
Chime laughed, "It's true…"
"Okay, well…Why does the Guild want info on Keiss?"
The Selkie woman laughed again, "Boy you're stubborn…But it's classified. A need to know basis for Guild Members only. Sorry, cutie," Layle sighed and leaned on his elbows and watched Chime and Keiss talk. "So what do you want, Keiss? It had better not take long."
"Relax, I won't get in the way of you looking after that kid…I'm just here for some information."
"Information, huh?" Chime turned to the wall and started to take down a few bottles and a glass. "Information on what?"
"On a certain group of train robbers…"
Layle watched as she scooped ice into the glass and reached for a set of silver cups. "Oh, you want priority information."
"So the Guild wants to know too? Glad to know that old bastard still does some good work."
"Hey now, that's no way to talk about yo-" Keiss sliced his hand in front of his neck the woman looked at Layle as she poured the contents of the bottles into the silver cups. "Hey, you, how long have you known Keiss?"
"About a day."
Chime laughed once more. "I see, I see…Well then I'll let you find out on your own…" She turned her attention back to Keiss, now closing the cups together and shaking them, "Now then, how are we gonna do this? Buy gil or by fair trade."
"Trade?"
"Yeah. I give you info for info on you."
"And why should I agree to that!"
Chime poured the contents of the silver cups into the glass and smiled at Keiss, "Because you need what I've got. I would only like the info you have. But I don't need to have it." She pushed the glass at Keiss, "Your usual."
He took it frowning, "Alright. Trade it is."
"Excellent. You start," The woman turned to Layle, "What do you want, handsome." Layle stared at her surprised he was included again and looked over the wall thinking before pointing to a bottle on the shelf.
"The Cactuar Juice."
Both Chime and Keiss turned their heads to the bottle, then to Layle, "Can Clavat's handle that? Maybe you want something simple like a Gourdpotato Beer?"
"No, I want the Cactuar Juice."
Keiss sipped his drink, "Give him what he wants." Chime shrugged and pulled the bottle down, popped the top and passed it to Layle. "Alright, let's get started…"
"Excellent, what's the deal with the Clavat?" Chime leaned on the bar top and started asking questions.
"Business partner." Keiss tilted his glass and asked his own question, "How many make up this band of thieves?"
"Looking at five. Rumors about a sixth. What's your current job?"
"Just finished one. Tonberry hunting. How many successful hits have they made?"
"Ten. Every hit they've made. What's your next job?"
"Don't know. Working for a Dr. Oides. Where do they usually attack?" Layle leaned on the bar himself watching the Selkies. Each giving short rapid fire answers. Neither of them wrote anything down, and Keiss was answering and questioning in between drinking- whatever it was he was drinking. And it was just about finished too. Without breaking her conversation, Chime had already started to mix him another round.
'Selkies…Are perhaps the strangest lot in the world.' It was all he could think as he took another drag of Cactuar Juice.
"Just outside Windmill Plains and Red Leaf Station. Before the caves near Harvest Prairie. What's your current location?"
"Same." Keiss put his glass down for her to fill, "What kind of things are they stealing?"
"Usual Selkie obsessions, in addition paperwork and sever damage to any goods. Why are you partnered with that Clavat? Part of working with Oides?"
'That Clavat? I'm right here….'
"Needed a Crystal Bearer to get the job. Paperwork and goods? What kinds?"
"Reports. Logistics. And damaging research equipment. What's his power?" Chime refilled the glass and Keiss took it back from her taking a long drink before answering.
"Classified. What are the trains' routes?"
"Oh no!" Chime leaned back, "Answer my question."
"No." Keiss put his glass down. "I've gotta keep some things to myself."
"Then you don't get to know the train routes." She smiled and turned to Layle, "Unless he wants to answer."
"Sorry. That Clavat does not," Layle took the final drink from his bottle and set it down, with a smile. Keiss laughed.
"Well Chime. It's been grand. Thanks for the info. It was more than enough."
The woman scoffed. "Same to you, Keiss. Take care. You too, cutie." She winked at Layle as the boys stood and Layle smiled back.
"Hey, Chime, haven't you gotta kid you're supposed to be picking up from school."
"Cool it, Keiss. I don't see your name on him."
"We're contracted together. That's counts for something."
This time it was Layle that wacked Keiss in the arm. "Knock it off. You're not my keeper." The Clavat started for the door and Chime laughed.
"Maybe you 'ought to get on fixing that situation first, eh, Keiss?"
The red head grumbled and pointed at her, "We'll be back, and next time there will be no confusion on this matter."
"Sure thing, Keiss. I'll be sure to include that in my letter to the Guild Master."
- 6
- 7
- 8
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The Crystal Rule