Abyssal Blade Rebellion

<Thank Yevon for arm guards, eh? Oh, yeah, I guess I can't thank Yevon anymore.>

*He drags Hitomi along the lowroad to a group of tents with goblin-like machina running around, tending to Crusader armaments. Many of the Crusaders have a pendant with the Eye of Yevon unceremoniously stabbed through by a dagger.*
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"I've made up my mind. I'm going forward to stop this civil war. You're all welcome to come with me, but I won't make you."

*Luna walks forward along the Highroad, stopping to look around.*

"Hey...where is Hitomi?"

OOC: Not that I won't, of course.

*Hitomi resumes squirming kicking at his legs and steping on his feet.*

"Dunno but I'm coming with."

*Zeno adjusts his glasses and shrugs.*

Zeno: <I think you guys need to find whoever it is you're looking for.>

Ark: <...No kidding. Leeet's go!>

*He runs down the road*

*Max remains silent.*

OOC: Hey, idiots. The Lowroad isn't just around the corner, you know. There's a reason they set up camp there: It's pretty well hidden a ways underneath the highroad.

"Great just another thing to add to the list... Find Hitomi, end the civil war, and then kill Sin. Our days just get harder and harder."

*Syrona shrugs and starts looking around for Hitomi.*

*Luna climbs the tower Maechan was talking about earlier, peering out over the highroad.*

"I can't see her...but she couldn't have gotten that far so fast without the aid of machina. Ark, do you see anything out of the ordinary?"
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<Ach! Little...get in there!>

*He throws Hitomi into one of the tents. He enters, blocking the way. She sees that she's in a small tent with 3 Crusaders & 2 Al Bhed in those creepy bodysuits that Shinra wears. The tent also has a table with a map on it, a few crates of items & guns, & a chair with conspicuous protrusions along the back. A Crusader approaches her & takes off her helmet, revealing her to be a woman with wavy blond hair & a large scar over her right eye.*

Woman<Okay, kid, you should know that we only brought you here because we're in desperate need of a White Mage. Most are loyal to those Yevonite pigs. That said, if you cooperate, this will go smoothly & we can keep you out of danger. Or you can be a pain in the ass & we'll have to be more...forceful. Up to you.>

"No."

*Hitomi turns her head away from the Crusaders.*

Ark: <Well.... let's see.>

*He climbs and does the same, looking for any signs of active machina*

Zephyr waits.

*Zeno reaches the top of the tower as well and kneels down in the center of the group.*

Zeno: <Here to help you guys, so don't say anything like "Why're you here?" or "You came?">

"We appreciate the help, but I think this is just a really old building. Any functioning machina would have to be buried. But one of the other towers might contain something. Or maybe a vehicle passed through here recently."

*She climbs off of the tower.*
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<Right then. Have it your way.>

*The Crusader who had brought her into the tent pushes her towards the chair.*

*Hitomi plants her feet into the ground and pushes the Crusader back.*

Zeno: <So, any idea where to look? I wanna get moving.>

*He shuffles uneasily.*

*He jumps off of the tower*

Ark: <You guys should go and look for Hitomi. I'll have a look around and see if there's any machina.>

*Considering the Crusader is older, stronger, & a professional warrior instead of a White Mage, he easily overpowers Hitomi. Once she lands in the chair, the protrusions at the back snap forward, clamping over her chest, waist, & ankles. The woman Crusader steps forward.*

Woman<You really shouldn't be like that. It'll probably keep anyone from coming to rescue you. So then. The plan is to destroy the cliffside. Once the Highroad collapses, Djose will be almost completely cut off from outside aid. Then we go to meet up with Gilgamesh.>
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"That's what we're doing."

*She jumps down, following him along. They pass a number of buried spires.*

"We have no hope of finding her unless we find the route she took."

*A spire about halfway down the road appears to be much shinier & well-kept than the others.*

Zephyr jumps down as well landing with a audible thud thanks to the weight of his sword. He grumbles something and follows.

When they come within sight of the spires, specifically the shiny one he points, "Looks like a good lead. Send the monkey to scout ahead and make sure it's safe" he says this as he aims a swift kick to the hind end of Ark to push him forward.

*Zeno sighs and adjusts his glasses.*

Zeno: <Let's just all follow this nice, convenient path so it doesn't take so damn long to rescue this girl. She could be dead by now, even.>

*He walks ahead of everyone else while they're doing their thing.*

"I doubt she's dead. She may only be a White Mage, but she's got spunk."

*Syrona pushes past them to head over to the shiny spire.*

*Hitomi squirms prying and pulling at the restraints across her chest*

*Luna looks at Syrona.*

"Well, that's one way to put it."

*She then walks around the tower, running a hand over it.*

"There's definitely something here, but I have no idea what it is or how to work it."
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Woman<How's the road above?>

Crusader<Mostly empty. There's a summoner & some of her guardians on her pilgrimage & a scholar. But the latter was headed back towards Luca.>

Woman<Then now is the time to set the charges. The summoner is a potential enemy.>

Crusader<But what if she has no intention of getting involved?>

Woman<What if we wait for her, then the road fills up with civilians? I'd rather take that risk now than make this decision then.>

*Sure enough, the restraints refuse to give way.*

*Ark steps aside, easily dodging Zephyr's kick and proceeds to help examine the tower*

Ark: <This looks familiar... I think if I do this...>

*Ark causes a part of the tower to slide aside, uncovering an entrance*

Ark: <Beala uv lyga! This, my friends, is an elevator.>

"Your usefulness is increasing by leaps and bounds Ark" Zephyr cracks a smile that betrays the nature of his comment to be one of a sarcastic nature.