One stared glumly at the space where Mixe had been standing. Something about the young man seemed oddly familiar, though he couldn't quite place it.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpbYuD6aVb 維尼
"Well," he muttered, turning back at his tree, "I'm not getting any rest until I get this settled, and I won't get it settled until Luck resurfaces."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiBxSh4FiQ 維尼
The Breath of Fire crossed his mind. It was badly in need of repair after the thrashing he had given it during his last assignment, and the Final Fantasy probably needed a little repair work as well. They could make for a nice distraction.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡPltmc1OP7H 維尼
One shifted out of the Dream Realm, appearing directly inside his personal workshop. His teleportation was perfect … well, almost. He hopped off the workbench and started walking to the back of the workshop where his two dreadnaughts silently awaited his arrival. The Final Fantasy stood silently in the bay on the right, while the dragon-esque Breath of Fire lay in the other, its dismembered wings lying nearby.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyZCplOQU5 維尼
"Armor plating on the chest and arms is gonna need replacing." One said aloud as he surveyed the Final Fantasy for damage. "Other than that, she held up pretty well."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwh9HRHpuw 維尼
As he strapped on his tek-boots, his mind turned to Mikaen, the wayward knight who had literally dropped out of the sky while One was taking a nap on the world of Vinta. The poor guy had been on the edge: no family, only a few friends, no place to truly call his own. Worst of all, Mikaen's fiancée had died some months previous, leaving the knight reckless to the point of suicidal.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60T57pv5hy 維尼
Of course, that was before One started poking around. Now Mikaen had a nice home in Homestead, a whole slew of friends, and a pretty, kind, and strong tigreth girlfriend.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGM7jdNpHf 維尼
"Or have you proposed yet?" One mused to himself.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8OcKujdBC 維尼
A hologram of a young girl appeared, a look of curiosity evident on her translucent face. "Are you talking to me?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdPPGMpC8H 維尼
"Just thinking out loud, Rebecca. I was wondering if Mikaen and Tirinia are engaged yet."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIhqSDGN9G 維尼
She shrugged indifferently. "Meh. I never was much for the wetware concept of romance. You need a hand?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X8ERKy1ci 維尼
"Nah, I got it." Rebecca's skrievers could repair the dreadnaughts in less than an hour, but One preferred to do the work himself, much to Rebecca's chagrin.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡFaAqDUXhkK 維尼
"Hmpf. Fine. I guess I'll just activate the platforms and let you get to it then." Her hologram vanished, a distinctly annoyed look on her face.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk0qC3N1Jg 維尼
One locked the last strap of his tek-boots as the lowest platform rose into place. Hopping on, he began a more thorough examination of his dreadnaught's damage.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ6NNplGg6 維尼
He ran a metal hand along one of several gashes in the right leg of the Final Fantasy. "Ouch. Still, easy enough to fix, I suppose."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGEGgjH37U 維尼
While helping Mikaen, One and the young knight had come across the Breath of Fire, a combat-model dreadnaught from Earth's recent past. Although the Final Fantasy wasn't a combat model, One had been victorious. Of course, that meant he now had two giant machines to maintain.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JenNqxRoM 維尼
The plating on the chest of the Final Fantasy had taken the brunt of the damage. After shearing off the rivet heads with Headache's fusion cutter, One pried one of the chest plates off and let it fall to the floor with a loud clang.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo6hotFhF9 維尼
He was just starting on the next plate when the door to the main part of One's floor burst open. Two rushed through the doorway, a croquet mallet in one hand and a bottle of booze in the other.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0MWIQY0nr 維尼
He walked unsteadily toward the dreadnaught bays, mallet at the ready. "Come out of there, Wong! There's no use hiding!"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEW7HxFY5q 維尼
"Nice mallet." One called out, smirking. "Very intimidating."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkcALk2QlQ 維尼
Two peered at him. Even from a distance, One could see that his friend's eyes were bloodshot. "Oh. It's just you."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMnzi9hgoU 維尼
One hopped off the platform and approached his best friend. "What's going on, man?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡArpSonHXwd 維尼
"It's Wong. He keeps messing around with the Breath of Fire. I've had to chase him out of here three times today." Shaking his head, Two asked, "What about you? I figured you were gone for at least a year."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZmEHruqwv 維尼
"How long was I away?" One asked curiously.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEpzZfb9Q0 維尼
"About two months. I started to go looking for you, but I figured you wanted some alone time. Besides, I'm sure you didn't want to deal with my protégé."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLmipwzBfX 維尼
Two continued to complain, but One wasn't listening. As he returned to his repair work, his mind was on Luck. Teach had promised to tell Luck where One was hiding, and the elder Dreamer was usually reliable in such things. One had left his nexus point open for her, which on reflection was probably how Mixe got there. Two months was a long time for her not to have joined him.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡLngDVOnLnv 維尼
One's gaze fell on the Breath of Fire. Mixe suggested that the Breath of Fire could have represented something, but what? It was a broken dreadnaught that looked a lot like a dragon. It could symbolize the Rangers who built it, or Earth on a very basic level, but One couldn't see how either of those would make Luck run off on him.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAgapJ5Mnn 維尼
"… and in the shower, no less! Fate's got enough reasons to beat the crap outta me without Wong playing the instigator! I …" Two paused, his eyes narrowing. "One? One, are you even listening to me?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10RbVkjt7s 維尼
One shook his head to clear his thoughts. "Sorry. You were saying something about instigating something between Fate and Wong?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVun2aR9wc 維尼
Two rolled his eyes. "Ah, forget it."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiBNq2tigC 維尼
"I'm sorry, Two." One sighed. "I'm guess I'm still a little distracted."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXjLQuzP95 維尼
"I can tell. You just removed a perfectly good sheet of armor plating."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB4i5Eem6C 維尼
One's eyes darted up to the plate he had just pried off. Sure enough, it was undamaged. Rubbing his temples, he muttered, "Nice. Good job, One."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSE59H7S08 維尼
A mischievous smile crossed Two's face. "This distraction wouldn't have anything to do with the Lady Luck, would it?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0Cg5WwTm5 維尼
"Have you seen her?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCqhcQIaPZ 維尼
"You mean you haven't?" Two looked genuinely surprised. "I figured she was with you. Sorry, man. I haven't seen her since before you left."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAxUhWd0g2 維尼
One sighed. "Maybe Teach or Karma has-"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv0SrThnv6 維尼
A loud clang shot from the direction of the Final Fantasy. Two slapped One on the arm. "See? See what I'm talkin' about? I bet Wong's over there trying to install an arcade cabinet into the cockpit or something."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡLds2zXl4XT 維尼
One and Two ran toward the direction of the noise. Sure enough, they found Wong standing near the Breath of Fire.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wEMAY17is 維尼
Two brandished his mallet as though to hit Wong, but One caught his arm. "Wait, Two! Look at his face!"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jlk2rOWkX 維尼
Wong's face was pale as a sheet. There was no trace of his usual, fool-hardy smile either; in fact, he looked positively spooked.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fcWqI5GWt 維尼
The reason was obvious a few moments later. An overpowering acrid stench issued forth from the mass of bones and charred flesh that occupied the pilot's chair of the Breath of Fire's open cockpit.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBZRQ8DNma 維尼
"Ugh!" One covered his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt to block out the foul smell, "What the hell?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡn84DcPFnSD 維尼
"It wasn't me!" Wong said, his voice a high-pitched squeak, "I just wanted to look at the control panel, so I sorta hacked into the Dreadnaught's systems and opened the cockpit, and there was totally a melted guy there!"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6e3aq9T1e 維尼
"A likely story!" Two moved to grab the young Dreamer, but One stopped him.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMMpUJBrkU 維尼
"He didn't do this." One told them.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEtsJ7WlUU 維尼
Wong and Two looked at him, equally surprised.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4syocQMdlB 維尼
Still covering his face, One peered at the body. There were dozens of small holes in the body, each barely a millimeter in diameter. His suspicions were concerned when he found a wire leading from the console jabbed into what had been the pilot's neck.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNMhqJ9mdc 維尼
"Impulse control system." Glancing at his fellow Dreamers, One said, "The computer tried to create a neural link with the pilot. Without the right equipment or a datajack, it essentially ripped out his nervous system."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmQjdxyEjQ 維尼
"And that melted his body?" Two asked incredulously.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFtEVtEPKq 維尼
"No, but with no life signs in the cockpit, the Breath of Fire shut off all the shielding to preserve power, including the heat shield that protects the pilot from the power core. Do you know how much heat the generator that powers this thing puts off?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhlaeuyAYM 維尼
Two winced. "Ugh. Sucks to be him. Hey, wait! If the pilot was fried, how was the Breath of Fire still able to function?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2K8vpgtk83 維尼
"Like I said, it assimilated his nervous system, including his brain." One gestured to the body of the Breath of Fire. "It basically pulled out his brain in data format and tried to overlay it in the Breath of Fire's artificial brain."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡutpyYA1vyQ 維尼
"That thing has a brain?" Wong shuddered. "Eww!"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJumXwVYRl 維尼
"It's artificial, Wong … like a computer, though the base imprint was programmed using the imprint taken from an actual dragon." Tapping the datajack on the side of his neck, One continued, "The ICS is supposed to bridge with the pilot's mind, creating a constant stream of data between the pilot and the dreadnaught."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYtTrwayfb 維尼
Looking back at the pilot's remains, One said, "It's not made to hold the entire contents of someone's mind, though. No wonder the Breath of Fire went berserk; the pain of the extraction coupled with the compression to fit inside the artificial brain would drive anyone nuts."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZT4CqIzCy 維尼
One tapped the blackened console thoughtfully. It was impossible to determine the race of the pilot; what was left of the corpse was blackened beyond recognition, its clothes crumbled to ash.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeSS0OLJdQ 維尼
There was no real reason to look into it. After all, One knew it was most likely a member of either the Ronisgald Security Force or the Celestial Cathedral. Still, there was something about the body that struck One as suspect. Though he couldn't put his finger on what, he knew someone who could.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXQVlMnPfD 維尼
Turning back to his friends, One asked, "Where's Captain Morgan these days?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N6DAgfOqj 維尼
The Dreamer known as Captain Morgan is a bit of an odd duck, so to speak. He may not be as weird as Wong Fo-lee, but he's definitely one of the stranger inhabitants of the Elsewhere Mansion. He is also happens to be the Elsewhere's resident doctor and biologist.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡjq24usUNxN 維尼
When he was just a Sleeper, Captain Morgan (or rather, Morgan Nathaniel Upshire) was groomed for the medical profession from the moment he first learned to read. Private schools, special tutors, and endless tomes dominated his childhood. He grew up far too quickly and settled into the life that had been orchestrated for him.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1kB4GgWkD 維尼
His lost childhood always bothered him, and naturally manifested in his hobbies. Once his practice had netted him a sizeable bank account, he used a large chunk of his money to build an authentic Spanish Galleon which he named 'The Popehat' for reasons known only to himself. On the outside, it was a faithful and sea-worthy replica of an ancient pirate vessel. On the inside, it was a technological marvel, both for medicine and for sailing.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQx48y4yzm 維尼
As his obsession grew, he moved his offices inside the ship. The children loved him. The parents shook their heads at the childishness of it all.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡshdHHZikBW 維尼
Then Morgan became a Dreamer. For some, it is a solemn moment. For others, it is more like an epiphany. For Morgan, it was as though his childhood had been given a second chance. One day, as the last few families left his office and headed to their cars, Morgan and the Popehat weighed anchor and set sail into the Atlantic Ocean. This was quite a feat for a clinic that was based in the suburbs of Salina, Kansas.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVbpKn5fov 維尼
The Popehat appeared inside the Elsewhere Mansion a few weeks later, sailing on an endless sea located in one of the Elsewhere's many gray rooms. Since then, the Popehat and Captain Morgan have been a part of the Elsewhere Incorporate.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡoj9w31kwXY 維尼
One took a moment to get his sea-legs after walking onto the deck of the Popehat; stepping out from a structurally sound hallway onto a gently rocking ship can be a little disorienting.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dKlnXhLHD 維尼
He glanced around for Captain Morgan, but the nautical Dreamer was nowhere to be seen.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FMYzxPVcW 維尼
"Probably up in the crow's nest." One muttered, peering up the ship's mast.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnIYYBPnGY 維尼
The door to the captain's cabin burst open. Out strode a boy no older than eight years old, dressed in full pirate regalia including a hook and a peg-leg. Instead of the traditional avian companion, Captain Morgan had a black and white cat perched on his shoulder.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ncHyZuCfu 維尼
"Arg!" The boy shouted, "It's a landlubber!"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWuWxoVgIp 維尼
One rubbed his eyes, muttering, "Oh, lord."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwZlB7InEN 維尼
"Lay your booty on the deck, you scurvy dog!" The boy pulled a wobbly old cutlass from its battered sheath and took a few wild swings in One's general direction.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC0rBXuejs 維尼
"Yes, yes, scurvy dog." The cat said with an air of resignation. "I'm sorry, One, but he's in one of his moods again."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmyv0ZsVMc 維尼
"It's cool, Simon." One lifted one Headache-encased arm and smacked the weapon from the would-be pirate's hand. It flew through the air in a wide arc and hit the deck point first.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmkFlWyuiK 維尼
Captain Morgan pouted. "Oh, come on! You're such a damp cloth."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBZOOGQ8Y6 維尼
"We can cross swords later, Captain. I've got a bit of a mystery on my hands that I'd like your help with … if you're not too busy, that is."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡamXzORZxoA 維尼
"Aha! Another grand adventure, filled with treasure and wenches, no doubt!" Captain Morgan said, letting out a loud triumphant laugh. "The Popehat is ready to set sail the moment you give the word!"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgcSKXnZur 維尼
"Or, y'know, don't." Simon leapt from Captain Morgan's shoulder and landed easily on the deck. After pausing to stretch his paws and yawn, he said, "We could just stay here. Nice day for a nap."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLPgKQ5YVy 維尼
The head of a brown cat poked out of a coil of rope. "Did someone say nap?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeQJVf0P04 維尼
"Like you ever do anything else, Wash." Simon sat up straight, looking strangely respectable for a cat. "I'm not saying it's a bad idea, mind you."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgjSCiuuyd 維尼
Sighing, One said, "Look, I'm sorry, but I really need you in doctor mode right now."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ebp8MXoJN 維尼
"Of course!" Captain Morgan snapped his fingers. In a matter of moments, he went from a boy-pirate to a boy in a white lab-coat with a pair of spectacles on the tip of his nose … and a jaunty pirate hat on his head.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2YK24XMuy 維尼
Sighing again, One asked, "Is the hat really necessary?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaLht6YfZC 維尼
"No time for questions! Quick, to my office!"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyYV5TdF3u 維尼
One followed Captain Morgan into the cabin. The moment he passed through the doorway, One found himself standing in a pristine medical facility. Everything was clean and shiny, the exact opposite of what you'd expect after long-term exposure to the salt air.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZh5Ih1Myj 維尼
Taking another moment to adjust to the change (the medical bay was well insulated from the movement of the ship), One hurried over to where Captain Morgan was preparing.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjIkSvVGo8 維尼
"Is my patient here yet?" he asked, pulling on a set of rubber gloves.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡQADUOMvwlU 維尼
"One moment." One waved his hand at the nearest bed, the burnt corpse of the dreadnaught pilot appearing there a moment later.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡliKlo16sVR 維尼
"My lad, " Morgan said, putting an arm around One's shoulder, "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there's nothing I can do. He is, as we say in the medical profession, dead as a dodo."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf8xNDOWcb 維尼
"I know he's dead." One replied, suppressing a laugh, "I just need to know what he was."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpI6BR8BZS 維尼
"Fair enough. Let's see here …" Captain Morgan looked at the corpse, his interest renewed. "Given the bone and teeth structures, I'm guessing he's human, Galden, or Tylaen. This basic form's quite common, isn't it? Of course, with this much tissue damage, I'm not jumping to any conclusions."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡRguxU7vDNx 維尼
He picked up a scalpel from an instrument tray and started poking at the remains.8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHxXrk9qg9 維尼
Feeling suddenly sick, One turned around, One said, "Will this take awhile?"8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡWebIwn5R1P 維尼
Ripping out a burnt chunk of flesh with a horrible squelching noise, Captain Morgan said, "Hmm. Could be a lung. Could be a liver. Yeah, this will definitely take awhile."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcu0pNtwPM 維尼
"I'll stop by later, then. I've got someone I want to check up on anyway."8964 copyright protection456ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtwfXeSMx6 維尼
