21 Lighton Complications

Back in the infirmary, Issac was laying in his bed. Across the way, Barret was sleeping in the other bed. Issac glanced over, for once he seemed unable to sleep. "(Darn insomnia... some time to kick in... heck it's even dark in here.... I don't like this...)"

Barret starts to snore, which sends a loud rumble across the room. He then turns over to get himself more comfortable. "...Zzz Many wonderful...Hmm..Myde? You.. look... well today...Zzzz." Barret muttered in his sleep.

Issac quirked a brow, snickering slightly. "What kind of a dream is taking place in that head of his, I wonder?"

The door opens to the room, and in walks Eugene, he flips on the light. Barret squints a little to the light . "Urgh Issac? Turn off the light..." Barret states, tossing back in his bed.

Issac glanced over to Eugene, "I would, but some guy in a top hat walked in."

Barret jumps in his sleep, snapping to. "TOP HAT! KAOS IS HERE!?" Barret yelled, looking to who Issac had mentioned it. He instantly was taken off guard by the sight of Eugene. "Oh..."

"Hello there! I'm sorry barging in this late, I am Dr. Eugene Serenitas! I came to check on some vital signs. Have to make sure you're good to go! I also fiddle with machines, and other cool doodads." Eugene says, tipping his hat to the two of them.

"..." Issac looked to Barret, cupping his mouth to a whisper. "Someone's taking some tips from Bryce's show, with an eccentric attitude like that."

"Bryce? I'm not familiar with this Bryce fellow, but he sounds like my kind of guy!" Eugene states, placing on a great grin.

"...It's nice to meet you, however it is quite late. Might we be able to catch up in the morning?" Barret asked, covering his mouth from yawning. "Besides that, we got your name, but where did you come from?"

Eugene laughs, "Well, I thought you wanted to head back to bed. It would take a while for me to explain everything, but I AM FROM THE LIGHTON FEDERATION!" Eugene says, extending his hand into the air dramatically. "Doctor as said before."

"(This guy's a kook...)" Issac sweat dropped.

Barret clears his throat, looking back to Eugene. " Hmm I see, so the Lightons have made it here already...Wonderful.." Barret states, sarcastically, laying back down on his bed.

Eugene looks to Barret awkwardly, "What's the matter? You seem a little tense."

"That one doesn't care much for elementar." Spoke Witchhazel's voice, from behind Eugene as she walked in behind him, holding some potions. "Seems the sleeping potions aren't working again."

Eugene holds a hand to his chin, looking to Witchhazel. "That so? Well, I say we can't help them all, but you however are an interesting take...Human? Witch? I feel some interesting energy from you! Let's just say, it has my attention."

"I'm just your run of the mill, magical merchant. I am a witch, yes. Without my shop up and running for now, I am left to tend to medicinal needs and potions here." Witchhazel said, walking over to the counter, setting down some more of the bottles. She glanced to Issac slightly.

"OH!? Goodie! We'll have some time to talk about things. As you should know. I'm also a doctor! So that would mean, we might be bouncing some ideas!" Eugene stated, excitedly.

"If that were the case, it would cost you. I am a shop keeper, not a nurse. I am just assisting here for the moment, with my potion expertise. I could be here one moment, gone the next. Time is money after all." Witchhazel smirked, holding her index finger to her chin.

"Oh? Bah what a shame...Oh well, at least I may be able to create some stuff for you to sell. I am looking at getting a patent for Lighton Technology. What better way than through a great shop keeper!" Eugene states, crossing his arms.

"Oh, now you're just flattering me." Witchhazel giggled.

Barret places a pillow over his head.

"As long as it doesn't put me out of business, then I'll consider it maybe. For now, the markets closed for unexpected vacationing." Witchhazel resumed.

"Alright, I'll just wait until you open again. It was nice meeting you all. If you need me. I'll be staying in the lab of dear Asuna. She has quite a lot of interesting things." Eugene says, turning his attention to Issac. "Though as for you...You feel human, yet I feel amounts of Dark Dama in you."

Barret shifts up from his bed a little, "You can feel he has dark dama in him?"

"But of course. If you paid mind to more things you hate. You'd understand how superior we really are when it comes to things like this...Though from the intake he carries. I'm surprised he hasn't become some kind of dark dama beast. REMARKABLE!" Eugene exclaimed.

"(That or dead.)" Issac thought, with a sigh. "(More crazies who won't give me space.... Just my luck... Let no such man be trusted.)"

Witchhazel placed her hands to her hips, looking to Eugene. "I assume you have some means to fix that problem then? My shop only carries suppressors, for DD, nothing cure-worthy."

"..." Issac glances to Witchhazel curiously. "(Who could refrain that had a heart to love, and in that heart courage, to make love known?)"

"But of course, normally I'd reserve my works for lesser dark infected beings. HOWEVER, Science can not wait! I can cure him of his ailment, but to a point...There could be some left over side effects. Humans you poor creatures, are very tricky when it comes to dark dama. The results of the outcomes make me tingle!" Eugene says, hugging himself.

"...So you can cure him, is that right?' Barret asks, to Eugene seriously.

Issac looked off, in slight annoyance. "(I don't like this attention... maybe I can sneak off again....for a bit...)"

"Yes I can cure him. I just need to ask some quick questions." Eugene says, looking to Issac. "So, tell me, have you been hearing voices? Are you at times experiencing odd occurrences with yourself? Healing quickly? Sudden bursts of energy, blood changing color?" Eugene states, as he pulls out a note pad from his pocket.

"(Great, I'm a lab rat now...)" Issac sighed, "...All of the above... can you stop talking?"

"I know he's annoying Issac, but he can help you... I mean, I'm giving him a chance." Barret says, still keeping his gaze at Eugene.

"That's right, and answering all of the above... This might have been happening for a while. How long has it been Issac? Since your first encounter with dark dama?" Eugene states, tapping a pen on his note pad.

"...Like two months, I guess...." Issac crossed his arms.

"EGAD! You would be dead, or at least creature of Necroden decent... Not saying all Necrodens come from monsters but...Meh, (I'm starting to wonder if curing him is right? He could be quite an interesting project...Granted they have that reaper nonsense going on..He could be the mother load! A HUMAN THAT CAN WITHSTAND DARK DAMA INTAKE THIS MUCH!?)" Eugene thought to himself, loosing track of the conversation.

"Umm, well he's alive.." Barret states calmly.

"Because she doesn't want me to die." Issac muttered.

Witchhazel listened in, opening a bottle.

"SHE!? The voice, heh, perhaps that powerful Necroden had more to this tale then I once thought..But that's for another time. So 'She' speaks to you, and I think has kept you alive this long, correct?" Eugene states, smirking.

"Pretty much." Issac looked boredly to Eugene. "(Something about this guy really rubs me the wrong way...)"

Eugene nods, and walks over to Issac. He holds out his hand, feeling his head. "Well, I think we'll take care of this right away. If you two wouldn't mind. I'd need to take him to the lab."

Barret shakes his head, "Whatever you can do, you should be able to do it here." Barret states, unsure of Eugene's word.

"I'm a doctor! I'm not going to eradicate the kid. Removing dark dama is a very fragile thing. One wrong move...Could end his life. Do you really want that on your conscious?" Eugene states, pulling his hand away from Issac's head.

"We are in the infirmary! What more do you need to remove it?" Barret states, getting angry.

"Seconded. (Besides, if I die, then whatever... not that it matters...)" Issac agreed.

"Tools, do you see anything in this room that can help generate light dama? That and the fact, I'M A LIGHTON, WHO DEALS WITH THESE KINDS OF THINGS! You already stated you don't like Elementar, so honestly, your opinion on how I cure him, doesn't count." Eugene states proudly.

"Excuse me!? ELEMENTAR ARE THE CAUSE OF THIS WAR! If it weren't for your freaking forces in the first place we'd not even be in this situation! It's not wrong for me to be careful!" Barret spat back at Eugene.

"I need to get some mood balancers for them... Hm? Where did Issac go?" Witchhazel looked around.

Barret and and Eugene were still fighting. "Your forces called us here to aid you. It's high time you get off your high horse, and notice how worthless of a race you are, when it comes to these kinds of affairs." Eugene states coldly, to Barret.

"If Xiao heard you say that, she'd reconsider your aid. How could you come to help us, with an attitude like that!? YOU'RE SCUM! THAT 'S WHAT YOU ARE!" Barret snarled.

"Ouch, I want to try and save your friend, but then, maybe I should take him, and do what Kaos is doing to all the other little people around here. THAT is the best quality of us Elementar, right? Stupid human." Eugene says, turning from Barret, crossing his arms.

Witchhazel poofs between the two, holding a hand to each, in hopes to keep them back. "Alright boys. I think we've had enough of this hostility. I am not a fan of violence. During this meaningless yelling, did either of you notice something missing?" She said sternly.

"Hm? Oh no, urgh he's gone again." Barret muttered, in annoyance.

Eugene folds his arms. "Well, let's hope bears don't get him. That would pretty bad on the environment. Dark Dama not only seeps into people, but with animals. It can become quite nasty... I hope you find him. I on the other hand, have science to look into. Ta-ta." Eugene says, walking out of the room.

"...I really hate that guy." Barret says, letting out a sigh.

Witchhazel floated there, crossing her arms. "Assuming this is Issac's second time running off. I take it the first time was to my shop?" She glanced to Barret.

"Yep, you hit the nail on the head. He ran off into the desert, and I guess found your shop by some miracle. Honestly, you're the only one, other than Cravic and Myde, I can trust. Can you go find Issac for me?" Barret states, looking to Witchhazel.

"I'd say it'll cost you, but I'll make an exception this time. Leave it to me!" Witchhazel giggled.

Barret smiles, "Thanks...I honestly don't want to start any fires, but..I'm going to have to report that doctor soon... When you find Issac, make sure to avoid that guy, when you get back."

"You got it. If something happens, I can do more than cut prices. I'll be back in a jiffy." Witchhazel poofed off.

Barret sighs, leaning back on his bed. He then looks over to his device that he had been working off and on with. "(Well after all that excitement. I suppose sleeping won't do me any good. I should finish this up.)"

Elsewhere in the woods, Shockz was zapping electricity at some squirrels that were running up trees. They were near a little stream.

"Ahh, I wanted to pop it." Shockz said pouting.

Footsteps came up behind him, "Getting sadistic now. Such a child... You could have at least invited me to pop squirrels too." Katinka's voice stated, boredly.

Shockz turns around to Katinka. "Shit! You found me! I thought I lost you!"

Katinka quirked her brow, "Kinda hard, with how loud of a mouth you got."

"At least I'm not a girl, who sounds like a boy. Sides, you also dress like one." Shockz scoffed.

"I lower my voice, and dress this way to make people think I am one, idiot. You're not one to talk though, your balls haven't even dropped yet." Katinka retorted.

"You wish you had balls, freaking, freckled faced, cross dresser." Shockz shot back at her.

"You think you're hurting my feelings? You're really a moron. I don't really care if I look like a girl, or a guy. Gender doesn't matter to me." She scoffed.

"So you like being an 'it' then. Whatever, I'm done trying to comprehend how your think." Shockz says, kicking a rock into the stream.

"Gender-neutral, you idiot." Katinka looked to him, boredly.

Some footsteps approach the two from behind. A sword is swung out from behind Creed, who was now looking at the two. "Thought I heard some annoying voices from this area."

Katinka looked over her shoulder coldly. "Company..."

"You guys lost out here?" Creed states to them.

"HA! I KNEW IT! SEE EVEN HE THINKS YOUR A GUY!" Shockz shouted to Katinka.

"Shut up, you moron." Katinka hissed, she was sparking with electricity from her wires.

"Hmm, an elementar... Not really on the client's list, but I guess she can use more of them." Creed readies his weapon, "Besides that, you're a girl, out in the woods this way? You were asking to be bait."

Katinka shivered uneasily. "C-Creep!" She sparked around, a bit more uncontrollably.

Creed swings his sword, casting a lot of wind at Katinka and Shockz.

"D-Dang it! LEAVE US ALONE!" Shockz yelled at Creed.

"(My limiter is going nuts.... Why did this idiot have to drag me out here with him....)" Katinka was trembling slightly, as she sparked around.

Creed sighs, "So? Are you ready to go? Seems you don't know how to correctly use your weaponry. Sad for an Elementar, but no skin off my bones." Creed says, rushing at them quickly.

Shockz jumps in front of Katinka. Creed stops quickly, his sword's tip at Shockz's face. Shockz was grinding his teeth. "S-STAY BACK!!!"

Creed catches Shockz by his collar. "You're easy prey. I'll take her, then come back for you. Or take you both. Depends on what I'm feeling. In the end. I get paid."He then tosses Shockz into a tree

"Shockz?!" Katinka gawked, uneasily.

"He'll be fine, until my client gets hold of him. Can't say it's looking good either way." Creed swings his sword quickly at Katinka.

The chainsaw sword is deflected by a green laser sword, suddenly. "Creed. Resorting to attacking innocent girls now?"

Katinka was staring in surprise, as Issac had slid in front of her, holding back the blow.

"Business...Can't disclose too many details. My client though did mention you... Just out of all places, wasn't expecting to see you here." Creed states, swinging his blade, getting in his attacking stance.

"I was in the neighborhood." Issac smirked, shifting his blade to a whip. "I never expected you to stoop 'this' low. (Well, it is in him to be a complete jerk this way. I shouldn't be surprised.)"

"I'm a mercenary for hire. I take jobs. It's the only way to exist in this world now. Besides, I can get three for the price of one. I wonder how far you've come since our last encounter?" Creed states, revving up his sword.

Issac stances himself, keeping his attention on Creed. As Katinka got back, uneasily.

"Worried I'm gotten better than you?" Issac questioned, lashing his whip at Creed.

Creed avoids the attack quickly, keeping a straight face, looking at Issac. "I'm already too good to be worried about something like that." Creed says, rushing back at Issac, quickly swinging his sword.

Issac defends, forming the blade on his power glove. "Expectation is the root of all heartache." Issac shoved his sword, to push back Creed's.

"I don't expect anything, I just know where my power lies..." Creed says, as he ramps up his sword. The spikes on his blade begin to dematerialize bits of Issac's sword. Issac was shocked, and quickly pulls away allowing Creed to smash into the ground, with his chain saw-sword. Creed then turns, looking Issac's direction, as dust was clearing. "You were pretty quick there. One wrong step, and you might have lost your fighting hand"

"Someone's chatty today." Issac looked to Creed, keeping his glove at bay.

"(Let us take care of this human.)" Spoke the whispers in Issac's head.

"(No. This is my battle. I don't need your help.)" Issac retorted back, thinking.

Creed cracks his neck a bit, and looks to Issac keeping a straight face. "You okay over there? Not that it matters, if your hurt, just say so. We can end this, and I can collect my Zio."

"I'm just peachy." Issac stated, using the wings of the glove to get above Creed, but shifted to his whip.

The whip flies down, latching around Creed's sword taking him off guard. Issac then swings the sword away from Creed, as he comes down smashing into his face. Creed falls back to the ground catching himself.

"...Crafty..." Creed says, holding his hand out. His sword materializes back into his hand, and he gets up wiping his face. "My clients installed some interesting things onto my weapon, it's good I'll have a chance to test them out. With someone worth it. Just never thought it'd be your sorry ass."

"I've been wanting to get even with you. You've done a lot of things to make me angry." Issac stated, keeping focus. "First Nala, then treating Barret and me like dirt, but let's not forget you're abandonment of the Ministry. You could have saved Jin, Sandra, the others who died, because of KAOS!"

Creed channels electricity into his sword, and rushes at Issac quickly. He was about to swing, when the charge dies. Creed noticed this, looking to Katinka which the trail was leading to. She was working like a lightning rod. Issac took this time to rush at Creed, slashing him backward with his sword. He then forms his whip, wrapping around Creed's leg, and swings him through a tree, into the lake.

"Man, that was some team work. So,You're an Elementar?" Issac looked to Katinka, from over his shoulder.

"Shut up, and take care of this guy." Katinka insisted.

"As you wish." Issac chuckled, looking back to the lake.

Creed's sword flies from the lake, in direction of Issac, who dodges it quickly. Creed jumps out of the water onto the ground. He moves hair out of his face, forming his sword back into his hand.

"..." Creed walks forward to Issac stopping slightly. He looks to Katinka then back to Issac. "Interesting. Guess I'll try this later...Need to go rethink some stuff... Sides that, my client sent me a memo...You're going on a list, Issac...Good for me, because it means money, but bad for you. I guess we'll be seeing each other more in the future..." Creed turns from Issac, walking away from him.

Issac crossed his arms, looking unamused to Creed, as he vanished off into the woods. Issac then turned his attention to Katinka, taking her hand. "Are you alright?" He kisses it.

Shockz wakes up, spotting the two of them. "(W-WHAT!? )"

Katinka pulls her hand away, "Don't get comfortable with me. You may have chased off that creep, but I don't know you." She sneered.

"Uh, sorry." Issac smiled uneasily. "(Nobody gets the classy introduction.)"

The sound of electricity building was heard behind Issac. Shockz was growling. "Who are you? Stay away from her!"

Issac glanced to Shockz. "Hm? Oh, I didn't know there was two of you."

"Who are you, and what do you want? That guy is gone..." Shockz states, looking around.

Katinka crossed her arms, "I have to wonder that as well."

Issac pocketed his hands, looking to Shockz. "Chill out pal, suspicion always haunts the guilty mind." He chuckled.

"You're not making us trust you more. I mean, yeah, it's because of her we're out here, but now dealing with youz? It's starting to piss me off." Shockz states, folding his arms.

"Me? I do believe it was a moronic fox who led us here." Katinka scoffed.

Issac looked to them in amusement.

"Urgh, come on let's get back to the camp." Shockz says, walking off from the two of them.

"Finally you get some sense." Katinka muttered, following after.

"Hold up. Camp, and elementar? Hm. You two wouldn't happen to be more of those Lightons, would you?" Issac inquired, following after them.

"Oh, a guy with a brain. That's a first." Katinka scoffed.

"Still stupid though, he hasn't even given us his name, yet he's following us like we're close. What's your deal man?" Shockz says, looking back to Issac.

"Hey, nothing wrong with a bit of caution. Seeing we're on the same side, I'm Issac Lundell." Issac explained.

"Same side? Since when? You can't just pull up, out of no where, and state that. You could be with those Kaos kooks, trying to cause some problems." Shockz says, sparking up a little.

"I'm with the Ministry, kid." Issac stated.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING KID!?" Shockz spat back.

"Besides that. I sense Dark Dama." Katinka spoke up.

"You're right, what's up with that?" Shockz stated surprised.

"Long story..." Issac chuckled hesitantly. "(Great, more questioning...)"

A poof of magic formed by Issac, as Witchhazel emerged looking to him. "There you are. I thought I was going to end up having to fine you for running off like that." She giggled.

Issac smiled uneasily. "Witchhazel? How did you... find me?"

"You may be human, but that DD infection left traces for me to follow. Lucky for your friend, I won't have to charge him for locating you. Hm?"

Witchhazel floated, glancing over to the two teenage elementar. "More Lightons?"

"Urgh...Freaks. I knew this planet had crazy things going on, but wow.." Shockz says, placing on his headphones.

"Tell me about it, whatever. If they're REALLY on our side, we don't need to worry about it." Katinka rolled her eyes.

Shockz and Katinka had walked off ahead of them.

Witchhazel turned back to Issac. "Issac, you know, you shouldn't run off like that."

Issac sighed, "I know-I know... That scientist made me want to get the heck out of there though. It's bad enough I hate forests, but... lesser of two evils, and all that."

"It's dangerous to go off on your own, then I came to find you with those elementar? You know, they could have been bad news. I know hooligans when I see them, shopkeepers promise. Besides everyone worrying, you put yourself at risk. With that infection, you shouldn't be over exerting yourself." Witchhazel replied.

"The lady douth protest too much, methinks." Issac smiled to her.

"For I can raise no money by vile means." Witchhazel giggled a bit.

"Hold up, you know Shakespeare?" Issac was flabbergasted.

"Well, not personally. Though when I need something to do to pass the time, waiting on customers, I do tend to read his works. Quite the marvel, I think how we both enjoy his literature." She smiled.

"That's the coolest thing I've heard in a long time, Hazel. So uh... Let's get back then, shall we?" Issac smiled, blushing slightly.

"Oh? I wasn't thinking you'd come back quietly, with how things have been going there." Witchhazel floated ahead of him.

"I got to make sure my friend's don't get hurt, if they come looking for me. So, who am I to argue." Issac followed after her.