14 Heat Stroke

The following morning came along, with the campfire smoking from it going out. The group were all asleep in the shade of the large rock formation, as the sound of sandy foot steps surrounded them.

"What do we have here?" Sing-songed a female voice, that had drawn closest to the group.

Barret's eyes slowly open to the sound of the voice. He turns to the voice, spotting two cat-like people staring to him and the others. The one who was closest was a pink haired girl, with black ears. She had on a battle suit, with lots of fluff decorating it, along with battle scars. The other was much like a snow leopard, but their tail forked into two tips. The Snow leopard was very gender neutral in appearance, with tri-colored white hair. They seemed far more serious compared to the pink haired one, who was more intimidating.

"Uhhh...Issac, Cravic, Bit? Guys wake up, we need...To go." Barret says to them, nervously.

"Just five more minutes..." Issac mumbled.

Bit looked over, getting up cautiously. Cravic fazed before the cat people, his laser sword already formed. He looked to the cats provokingly. "Get lost." He snapped.

The pink haired one looked to the snow leopard. "Myde, I don't think I like how he's talking to us? Do you?" She grinned, showing some fang. She had held up her armored arm, with her other hand to the inside of her elbow. This also showed there was a gem on top, much like a power glove.

"Cynder, please refrain from getting too excited." Said Myde, looking to them, "You'll have your fun, once we get the intel we need."

"Right." Cynder grinned, looking back to them.

Cravic keep his position, "I said. Get lost."

"Nu-uh-uh. That's not how this is going to work red." Cynder smirked, forming a three laser claws from her seemingly 'power glove'.

"A power glove?" Cravic gritted his teeth, engaging one of his, to form his sword function.

"A what? Myde, he's got a laser gauntlet too." Cynder spat out.

"Stealing our technology, typical." Myde drew closer, their eyes piercing.

"(Stealing tech? Did Asuna really do that?)" Barret looks to Myde. "Sir? We're sorry, whatever you need, we can try and get it for you. We've had a really rough time, and we were just resting."

"Sir? HAHAHHAHHAHAA!! Did you here that Myde, he called you 'sir'! That's priceless!" Cynder cracked up laughing, as she slashed at Cravic, who countered with his blade to hold back the claws.

"Refrain from attacking, just yet." Myde narrowed their eyes, looking to Cynder with fang exposed.

"R-right. Haha..." Cynder snickered, devilishly. "I'll handle Red when you say so." She withdrew her gauntlet, stepping back slightly. Cravic didn't let his eyes shift from her, just yet.

Myde looked to Barret, stepping closer, as they grabbed his scarf aggressively. "I beg your pardon, but I seem to have misheard you. I could have sworn you just called me a 'sir'. Are you insinuating that I am flat chested?" Myde inquired, in an intimidating manner.

Barret shakes his hands frantically. "Oh! I'm sorry! You didn't look - I MEAN I didn't, urgh forget it, I'm really sorry." Barret says bowing for forgiveness. "(He's a she?!)"

"Smooth Jackass." Cravic looked over boredly, from his position. Turning his attention back to the girls, with Bit right behind him. "Back off. Before I make you."

"Myde-Myde. He wants to play! Can I do it now?" Cynder grew excited.

Myde kept her glare at Barret. "Do what you like, I'll handle this insolent prude. Just leave one of them alive."

Barret gasps. "Wait! I said I was sorry! The last I'd want to do, is hurt you ladies."

Myde grabbed his scarf once more, pulling his face inches before her's. Her eyes sneered into his. "Sexist even. Hmph, you Kaos workers are all the same." She snarled.

"Kaos workers?" Barret says, confused about her statement. " You have us mistaken, we're not-"

"Listen here, you spineless monkey. You and your comrades are going to release ours, or we are going to beat if out of you." Myde snapped, her ears going back.

Cynder shoved Cravic back, with her weapon, making him fall back beside Barret and the others. Cynder was looking down with a grin. "These guys are kitten's play."

"Quiet." Myde retorted.

"Aye." Cynder crossed her arms.

"Urgh..We don't know who you're talking about! I'm sorry again! Issac!? Wake up!" Barret pleaded.

Issac lifted his head sleepily, noticing the commotion, groggily."(Hm?... What?... Oh hold up...)"

"You Kaos workers are pathetic." Myde scoffed.

"We're not with Kaos... Issac!" Barret continued to plead.

"(Okay, hostile women... I think I got this.)" Issac finally got up, approaching them. "Well now. Two pretty girls, not sure what kind of Elementar you both are, but we're not with Kaos as my pal said." Issac smiled, taking Cynder's hand to kiss it, who stared in surprise. He then turned, taking Myde's to as well. "What seems to be the problem?" He inquired, polity.

Myde grabbed his pony tail aggressively, looking to him with flared teeth. "Stupid and pervertive. I should make an ice sculpture out of you, despicable thing." She growled, seeming to be sweating from her face.

"Is the heat getting to you?" Issac furrowed his brows.

"Silence!" Myde shoved him back hard, looking to all four of them.

"Anyone else wanna step up to the plate? Gonna get burned." Cynder sing-songed.

Bit kept with the guys, "Ambushed by elementally driven Ferlines. Not sure how we made the pull here."

"Ferlines?" Barret inquired.

"(Those some kind of Elementar?... Maybe other Aliens?... Either way, this could get ugly..)" Issac thought, holding himself off the ground.

"..." Cravic kept his guard up.

"No more questions." Myde held her temples, "You're going to take us to..." Myde stumbled to the ground, from possible heat stroke.

"Myde? Mydeline?" Cynder crouched to Myde. "What's wrong?"

Barret rubs some sweat from his head. "It might be the desert heat..." Barret rushes over to Myde. "We should get you out of the heat. I'm sorry again, alright? We were on our way to our base, away from Kaos. We just escaped from there ourselves."

Myde's eyes were barely open, "I... Don't trust.. you..." She muttered, loosing consciousness.

"Hey, you can't just take her. You're the enemy!" Cynder growled.

"(Okay, maybe we can work this out...) Whoa now, your friend needs to get out of the heat. Let us help you, enemy of my enemy is my friend. Get it?" Issac looked to Cynder.

She looked to him briefly, "Seeing your leaving us no option, and with Myde down... Fine, but one wrong move, and you're gonna regret it. Trust me." She disengaged her gauntlet.

"Pfft." Cravic rolled his eyes. "Won't this be fun to explain when we get back..." He grunted sarcastically, placing away his saber.

"Yeah, we just have to make sure everyone is alright..." Barret picks Myde up, into his arms. "You can trust us alright? We should hurry out of this heat." Barret says, shifting Myde in his arms more comfortably.

"Fine-fine. Sooner she's back on her feet. Sooner we can kick your butts." Cynder put her arms behind her head.

Issac looked off, "(That problem's been avoided at least...) I wonder where the base is from here."

"Just follow me, and keep an eye on that cat." Cravic grunted, walking ahead of them.

"QQ, Cravic's moody." Bit teased, following after Cravic.

"Zip it." He huffed, which made Bit stick out his tongue.

The others began following after, making their way to where the headquarters was hidden. It seemed like it went on forever though.

"Where is this place anyway?" Cynder spoke up.

"Hidden somewhere. It all looks the same to me, honestly." Issac admitted.

"Peachy. How's Myde doing, Blondie?" Cynder groaned, as she looked over to Barret.

"She's still out, but we should be getting close... (I hope. I forgot how terrible this desert is to navigate.)" Barret thought to himself. "How come your not feeling heat stroke?" He asked to Cynder.

"That's a good question. (Is it not species specific? She does have less fur though, but heavier clothes... Kinda strange...)" Issac looked to Cynder.

"Hm? Oh, I like hot weather. Fire dama." Cynder grinned. "Myde has ice dama, plus she hates the heat. I guess that's why? I don't know. I just fight stuff, I'm no scholar."

"Oh wait? You carry elements like the Elementar do? Fascinating!" Barret says, becoming intrigued.

"Only female Ferline have offensive dama though. They rely on us more then the men of our species. That's not to disqualify them though, I mean they do have their uses." Cynder explained.

"Their uses? (Hmm, what a backwards society it must be there. Granted after seeing what Kaos has going, it might just become that very way here... I don't want to think about it. We must work hard to stop it from happening!)" Barret states to himself.

"Well sure, they have their skill sets too, and things, and stuff. That's why the commander needs us to save them, and the allied races, too. See, the Ferline and the Usa are allies, so we're helping them too." Cynder explained.

"The Usa?" Barret questions to Cynder.

"Yeah, what are they?" Issac added. "(Sounds like these cats have connections to the kidnappings... Is Kaos going off world to take people?)"

"Whatever you guys are, sure don't know much, eh? Usa are like Ferline, but rabbits." Cynder laughed. "The Ferline planet Crydon, and the Usa planet Raviana, are neighbors, so our societies are pretty tight."

"Hmm, I see, interesting." Barret stated interested to hear more. "So are these Usa also elementally driven?" Barret inquired.

"Naw. They're better with techno-babble, they are pretty weak otherwise. That's why they need us, like we need their tech." Cynder replied, motioning to her gauntlet.

"I see,I see. "Barret states, pondering. "So are there dogs and other kinds of people like that?"

"The Barkine? You means the ones from Foreston, right? Sure. You monkeys sure ask a lot of questions." Cynder seemed amused.

"Monkeys?" Issac gawked. "(The other one said that about us too...)"

"Isn't that what Elementar are?" Cynder seemed confused.

"Uh, we're human." Issac sweat dropped. "(Are Elementar that similar to humans to have us confused? I mean, I've only met a handful now...)"

"Human?" Cynder tilted her head.

Barret nods, "Yes, we are what you would call humans. Quite naked in terms of abilities. We've been dealing with Elementar on our planet for the past couple years. Our power lies in our will to survive." Barret explains.

"Naked... Heheh.. So humans looks like Elementar? That's weird, I mean, you do carry a different scent, but it can be assumed because of different elements, like the Necroden verses the Lighton. Heh." Cynder was trying to understand.

"Yes, it's quite a predicament when it comes to knowing them apart from each other. One huge reason we have the mess we do now. Too many have breached places and faked being human. Resulting in a lot of corrupted changes around planet Terraldyn, but that's where we come in. My friends and I are part of an organization known as Alien Ministry. A group created to stop Kaos, and bring peace back to Terra. " Barret explained further.

"Yep." Issac nodded in agreement. "(Way to explain everything dude, you never give me room to speak up. Whatever.)"

"Blue over here did mention Kaos being your foe as well. Maybe if this works out, an alliance would help us both out. Well, Myde would have to decide that, being second in command to our Commander, who is elsewhere." Cynder replied.

"An alliance sounds nice." Barret says smiling. "It would certainly make things a lot easier for us."

"(He's trusting them too easily. They did try to kill us not too long ago. I guess I just don't understand people.)" Issac looked off.

"You're pretty chatty blondie. Why does so much flow from your mouth, but none from theirs?" Cynder glanced to Issac, then to Cravic and Bit.

"Well, the topics interests me, though if they have anything to say, I'm sure they'd speak to you. Wouldn't you guys?" Barret questioned to Issac and the others.

"(Yeah, if you left room for us to say anything. He really loves the sound of his own voice sometimes..)" Issac shrugged.

"Hmph." Cravic grunted, keeping a distance.

Bit glanced back, "I'm keeping an eye out for MOBs right now." Bit grinned.

Issac looked over, "I'd have no problem with it. Just, hard to talk over you sometimes dude." Issac teased to Barret.

"Well, I suppose I can tone down my intellect." Barret says, proudly.

"Someone's cocky. If you're trying to flirt, you aren't my type. I'm not into geeks." Cynder stuck out her tongue, menacingly

Barret rubs his head. "Flirt? Huh?" Barret was obviously confused.

Issac slowed down, to Barret's pace. He murmured, "When you talk too much to a girl, they assume you like them. Especially when you're gloating, chief. I am surprised how open you are with her. You turn to mush around pretty girls."

Cynder's ear flicked, listening in to their conversation.

"Hm? Well, she's not that pretty, but she had a good topic, and I'd thought I'd talk about it with her." Barret states to Issac.

"Dude." Issac shook his head with disapproval. "That's shallow. (Never go for looks... He doesn't get that. It's what's inside that matters...Most dangerous is that temptation that doth goad us on to sin in loving virtue.)"

Cynder looked over, her ears facing their way. "Okay, not to burst your bubble, but I have pretty big ears. I'm not deaf."

"Deaf? And shallow? What do you guys mean? No one was calling you deaf." Barret says, missing the bullet.

Issac smiles awkwardly, "Ixnay. (Way to go man, you're treading on thin ice here... or fire...)"

Cynder slowed down, looking to Barret, "I can hear you whispering, is what I'm saying. I heard you say I wasn't pretty. Just like how you called Myde a man back there. What's your deal, are you gay or something?"

Cravic glanced back boredly, as Bit kept up with him. They weren't getting involved.

"Gay? You're a Ferline. It's awkward, I'm sorry if I accidentally called her something before. I was only stating my thoughts on types, and well, topics... I didn't mean to call you ugly. In fact, we're all not perfect, but I guess I got a little ahead of myself... In not the best way..." Barret says, still digging the hole.

"Ya'know, for a guy who gets cocky about his so-called 'intellect', you're pretty dense. Eh. So Blue." Cynder said, walking over to Issac. "You think I'm pretty?"

"Huh? You heard that?" Issac was caught by surprise. "(I didn't intend to come off flirting...)"

"Big ears. Der." Cynder snickered.

"Hmm, I'd think you both work together wonderfully, really." Barret gestured.

Cynder glanced back boredly, blowing a gum bubble. "Did anyone ask you?"

Issac chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "(Jeez dude, do you completely lack subtlety?... She's a cat... Besides, we know nothing about her...)"

"Hmph." Cravic grunted, "We're nearly there. Mind. Shutting it."

Ahead of them was Scape walking their direction.

"Great." Cravic huffed.

"Hm?" Issac looked ahead, "Hey! You bailed on us back there!" Issac shouted at Scape, not pleased.

"Scape...." Barret says, soft but sternly.

"Hey guys, wow you don't look too happy either. Well, I guess you ain't gotta worry about me though. I'm officially an EX-member... Just had to drop back and pick up my goods." Scape says, taking a drag. "Nice Ferlines you got there."

Cynder crossed her arms, "This one speaks like we're pets?"

"Wait,wait,wait. YOU ARE pets. That's how it rolls. You get it? Anything that's not human here is pretty much that. Why else you think the elementar are fighting so hard? Though we got people wanting equal stuff. Why work to hard if you ain't gotta. Though, I'm a pretty good owner, or can be one again. What do you say, cat?"

"Say that one more time, and I'll make smoked bacon out of you." Cynder hissed.

"Wow, you're a hot one, that's why I like redheads, but. I can see tensions are high...I'll find you again though, or you can find me. Whatever, Issac? Barret, Cravic? Nice seeing you guys again, you should really look into getting some pets though, it's not bad really. I know you can score tons of them, Issac." Scape says, walking off by them.

"Pig." Cynder growled.

Issac glanced back to Scape. "Dude, no offense doc, but you're jacked up. (Having aliens as pets? Yeah, that's like slavery... let alone suggesting scoring?...)"

Scape looks back to Issac. "No Issac, this world is jacked up. Not sure if you guys may be paying mind, but in the future. I'm gonna work at, well... Getting people off this rock. Maybe we won't need pets, who knows. Anyways, I can't stick around, maybe someday things will be better between us, but who knows. Later." Scape stated, heading off.

"I.M.O. He's a P.O.S." Bit looked slyly to where Scape went.

"He is." Cravic agreed.

Cynder crossed her arms, "We still need to get Myde out of the heat."

"Nearly forgot with Scape showing up there." Barret sighed, "We should get inside."

"Yeah, the faster we get inside, the better." Issac agreed. "(I still can't believe that jerk.)"

Cravic opened the garage door for them to all walk into. He made his way ahead of them with Bit. They all got inside, with the garage shutting, and the group going into the main hall where it was cooler. Inside was a toppled messed, with a blood covering the hall and walls. Issac stared, gawking in surprise.

"(Okay... this looks like a horror movie....)" Issac shivered a bit.

"Whoa, is this how humans decorate? Blood of their enemies?" Cynder seemed curious.

"This is no laughing matter. We need to see if anyone is left alive here...Though they must have fled. Dammit, we should have asked Scape." Barret says, still taking in the surroundings.

"Oh... Wait did Kaos do this?" Cynder's ears went back.

"Unfortunately, yeah..." Issac looked to her.

"I didn't know." Cynder replied.

Cravic walked off ahead them, in the direction of Xiao's office.

Barret looks to Cynder. "It's alright, it's good to know we both have the same foe. Let's follow Cravic for now, alright? Issac? Keep an eye out." Barret says, walking after Cravic.

"You... got it Chief." Issac nodded, sheepishly. "(Everything a mess... I didn't think... So much blood..)"

They all followed after Cravic,. Getting to the door way, they see Xiao looking angrily to him.

"Cravic!... Why on Terra did you run off like that? How many times have I told you not to leave base? Look at this mess, all because everyone was out looking for you. For your safety and others, that's why you can't leave.. people were taken, and plenty dead now... We're... I was..." Xiao grabbed to Cravic, sulking as she placed her head to his shoulder hugging him. "I thought I lost you... I don't know what to do now..." Xiao had angry tears.

"Mom... I'm sorry..." Cravic grimaced.

Xiao let off, wiping her face as she straighten her glasses. She looked to the others watching, "Oh my. Did I just embarrass you?" She looked to Cravic, with furrowed brows.

"Pretty much...but I deserved it." Cravic sighed.

"Well, you're all back, and with friends? I do hope they are. We're down to nearly no one left. With Scape not helping, I removed him from his position... after-" She shook her head. "Creed is Joan who knows where. Luckily Asuna had that robot of hers here, to keep her and myself from being taken as well. Then there's Drone. Where could he be?" Xiao seemed frantic.

"For now we're on alright terms, we came to find refuge for Myde. We had gotten reports about the base being attacked, and were on our way from Kaos when we ran into them. They were out in the heat and she had fainted. As for Creed-" Barret began, but was interrupted.

"He stood by idly. As second in command, I removed him, as you did to Scape." Cravic interrupted Barret.

"I see." Xiao tapped her chin. "What about this unit?"

"I'm Cravic's friend, Haru. Kaos worked their 'magic' on me. You may call me, Bit Binary." Bit explained.

"You poor thing." Xiao said, as she looked to her disaster of a desk. "We're going to need help to take down Kaos. I talked this over with Asuna, but, I'm going to reach out to the Lighton federation for assistance."

"Wait, Elementar?" Issac was surprised. "(Okay, has everyone lost their minds?... It's bad enough I was hearing voice back in Kaos'... I still don't know what that was about...)"

"Hmm, are you sure? I was just talking about this ironically, but you know how bad the tensions are. We could be taking a big gamble here..." Barret thought to himself.

"My old man had connections with them. If mom's gonna take a gamble with elementar, it's the Lightons." Cravic crossed his arms.

"Yes, my late husband may have been a Necroden, however, he had ties with the Lightons. So, I know a few people who can sway some assistance. My friend Kareen for one. She's pretty high up on the chain, so I know she can get me through to them."

Barret crouches down, to flip over a chair, and then sets Myde onto it. He looks back to Xiao. "Normally I would argue, but if you have these contacts, then... I guess we should do what we have to... Maybe making these alliances can help win us the war." Barret says, looking to Myde.

"Ya'know... Maybe, alliances would benefit everyone who's against Kaos.... There is power in numbers, and with everyone having the same goal, that makes things fall in place easier...Maybe It's not the elementar that's the problem." Issac glanced over. "Besides, the people taken, deserve to be saved."

"You're right, it's the organization that Kaos has been formed into. We take them out, I think everyone could put aside their differences." Xiao nodded.

"Yes, I agree completely!" Barret says, in agreement.

Some time had passed, Barret had taken Myde to another room, using a wet cloth to help cool her down. Cynder kept an eye on him, but at a good distance. Back in Xiao's office, she opened a communication channel.

"May I speak with Kareen Dio? This is Xiao Guardiana." She spoke up.

"Xiao Guardiana? Alright, let me check the records here." The receptionist spoke over the phone. After pulling up the information she gives the confirmation to Xiao saying, "Alright I'll transfer you, one moment."

"Thank you." Xiao replied, waiting for the transfer.

A click is heard over the line, and a mature female voice speaks over the communication line. "Hello this is Kareen Dio, how may I help you?"

"Kareen, this is Xiao Guardiana." Xiao stated.

"Xiao! Its' been a little while. How are things on Terraldyn? Urgh, just a minute, GABE PUT THAT DOWN! I'm sorry about that." Kareen replied, briefly yelling to someone.

"It's quite alright... Things are... well, to say the least, not so good. The company, my late husband and I founded, was recently broken into by the people we've been trying to handle here. To make matters worse, they killed nearly all my forces, and kidnapped the majority of the survivors. That organization, Kaos, they're the ones who've been behind it all this time. We're going to need help I'm afraid." Xiao explained.

"Kaos?...Shit! Alright, I'll see what I can do. Stay safe Xiao, I'll be in touch." Kareen says, as she cuts connection.