28 A Plan of Action

Upon returning the Alien Ministry headquarters, Issac and Barret headed for the natural hot springs, within their underground lair. Both had already taken a spot on opposite ends of the average sized, single water mass. Issac was reclined slightly, exhaling briefly in relief.

"Now this is what I'm talking about." He said, relaxing a bit in the hot water.

"Mhm." Barret states, nodding in agreement, "So...About your performance out there. Issac, do you still want to be here?" Barret asked, with his eyes closed in relaxation.

Issac placed his arms behind his head, "Again with the concerns. Chief, if I didn't want to be here, I'd be long gone. Trust me."

"Oh, well, considering how many times you've disappeared thus far. I'd agree. Though again, I'm sorry I have to keep hammering you with this, out there, you have to put away how you feel about things. I know your back story, and how things are, but come on Issac. I just don't want you dying, because you weren't able to pull yourself together over something." Barret states to Issac, seriously.

Issac sat up slightly, looking seriously to Barret. "(I doubt he'll ever understand things. He's just too upbeat...) I don't think you fully understand the constant war going on with myself. Seeing that you still don't grasp why I do, what I do. Sometimes a guy needs to take a breather, get away from people to settle the nerves. You think you know everything, but come on dude. I know what I'm doing, but even so, the outcome will be the same in the end. With how often you nag me, I kinda wish I didn't tell you so much about me." Issac sighed, sinking slightly in the water.

Barret nods to Issac's words. "Well, I'm kind of happy you did. If you just need some time out, then okay... I'm not going to bring it up anymore... I'm at glad we made it back in one piece." Barret states, as he lets out a sigh. "(Thinking about it, I wonder how Sandra is? I don't bring it up much, but I hope I can still get her back.)"

"I would appreciate that." Issac replied, as he looked up to the ceiling. "Oh, so about the DD." Issac spoke up, playing with his necklace. "Witchhazel did some sort of incantation, or something, and the voices are gone." Issac mentioned, letting his eyes glance to his wrist where obvious scars, from cutting, were. His veins still seemed dark in color from the looks of it. "The blood though, it's still black."

"Huh? Wait, that witch helped you? The voices are gone? Amazing. I'm happy it worked out Issac, this is really surprising to hear." Barret states, still carrying a sense of shock from Issac's statements.

"Hey, don't call her a 'witch', like it's a bad thing." Issac gawked, but his expression shifted. He grinned slightly with a raised brow, "I'm surprised you're not writing this down in that notebook, or investigating me further. Closest thing to a cure, and you aren't acting weird like you usually do with 'out of this world' type things ."

"Oh believe me, I'm going to write this down alright. I just don't bring my notes to bathing areas. Thinking, I should ask her about her ways of tackling that Dama. It could come in handy down the line." Barret states, placing on a smile.

Issac looked to Barret with an annoyed grin, "Don't be getting any ideas about Hazel. You're already all over that cat girl."

Barret jolts backward in the tub, "Issac! I'm not some person to pry, I'm only asking about information. As you said, I do have my eyes on...Myde...Though this is weird, I've never seen you so defensive like this."

Issac looked off in a huff, "Weird how?"

"(Hmm, maybe my suspicion about him not kissing her hand, was right on the money. He does act differently around her, over other girls, it's quite intriguing.) Well, you haven't kissed any girl's hand since you met her." Barret states to Issac, slyly.

Issac jumped slightly, his face a bit red. "That has nothing to do with anything! Besides the only girls we met since her, while you were around, were during major conflicts. So whose to say I haven't?" Issac leaned forward, biting his lip. "Besides, two out of the four, kissed me before any introductions." He was clearly nervous.

"Hmm,very true, however the matter of Witchhazel remains in the open. You still have not approached her, as you do the others. Which sparks my interest even more. I wonder if I should start a new section in my journal, titling it, the methods, and workings of Issac." Barret joked.

"Just because you haven't seen me act a certain way, doesn't mean diddly squat!" Issac retorted anxiously, still kinda red in the face.

Barret rises from the hot spring, wrapping a nearby towel around his waist. "Ha ha ha, you're not helping your side of the trial, Issac. You are innocent until proven guilty, so don't fret. I can't wait to see what this experiment has in store for me." Barret states, turning from Issac, keeping a smile on his face.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Issac gawked, flustered by the situation.

"That the project 'Issac' starts now. I'll be keeping notes." Barret says, stepping out of the tub.

Issac narrowed his eyes, with a slight annoyed grin. "I'm not some new specimen like those aliens, Barret!"

"Hush now Issac, it's early, and people are still sleeping. I promise not to take in too much personal information. We still need to report in, but that has to wait til when the others are awake. Don't take too long of a bath now." Barret laughed, walking out of the room.

Issac huffed, blowing up his bangs. "(Honestly...)" He reclined a bit more into the bath, sighing. He was looking to the ceiling, relaxing a bit.

"(He's starting to catch on... but I can't do the gentleman act around her... no matter how hard I try... I get butterflies around Witchhazel. Even though I did fine around Sion, something about Hazel is different.)" He closed his eyes, sinking more into the water. "(I never thought I'd have this problem when it came down to it, but guess even with training, I can't woo her like the others. None of Shakespeare's novels I think can help with with this. How can I to be the Romeo, to Witchhazel's Juliet? As Shakespeare said though, The course of true love never did run smooth...)" Issac sighed. "(Witchhazel...)" He thought to himself. "(Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind... Who could refrain that had a heart to love, and in that heart, courage to make love known?)"

Issac blushed slightly, as he kept his eyes closed, still soaking in the spring. Footsteps approach quietly, but he was too deep in thought.

"Well now, I see someone's excited." Teased a female voice.

Issac's eyes shot open, to see Cynder entering the spring next to him. Her breasts were concealed by the hot bubbly water, but partially exposed cleavage was visible. She looked to him playfully, as he shot back in panic.

"C-Cynder!?" He gawked, fearfully.

"Awe, you must be happy to see me. My toy's even cuter when he's blushing." Cynder mewed playfully, as she repositioned herself. She was hovering over him, with her arms around Issac's neck, and her chest nearly touching his face. "We're finally having our bath together too."

Issac was frozen in fear, unable to do anything. His mind was flooded with panic. "(Crap! What the heck am I supposed to do, she'd got me pinned here. Dammit Issac!! You left you're self vulnerable, you need to get out of dodge, before she does ANYTHING!!)" He was sweating all over, with pure terror rolling in. He grabbed her shoulders, trying to get her off. "Cynder, this isn't funny." He said, with urgency to his voice, trying to push her off.

Cynder smirked, pushing him back, as she licked his face. She gave no further room for interjection, as she sat herself down on top of him. "You're so big. Purrrr..."

Issac's eyes widen, as he felt his heart stop briefly. His iris's trembled, as Cynder leaned into a kiss.The scene panned, viewing from Cynder's back view, with her on top of Issac. She had him roughly pinned there, unable to do anything, but remain inside of her.

Barret was now walking down the hall to his room. He wipes some water from his head, left over from the bath. "(Jeez, I hope Issac minds how long he stays in the hot spring. He could get heat stroke, but then it's in his nature to like hot places.)"

As he was walking, Asuna stepped out of her lab, with some paperwork in her hands. Neither had seen each other, resulting in Barret crashing into her. The two fell to the ground, with papers flying around them.

"Oh, ouch..." Barret stated, grasping his head. He looks ahead of him squinting one eye to the papers around him. "What did I hit?" Barret asked to himself, out loud.

"Oh for Pete sake... Owww..." Asuna held her head. "That hurt..." She said, as the papers had mostly hit the ground.

"A-ASUNA!?" Barret states, quickly forcing himself off the ground. He holds out a hand to Asuna, "I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there!"

Asuna blinked a bit, looking up to him, from her position on the ground. She then looked to her papers flying around, causing her hair to stand up. "Oh, you've got to be joshing me!!" She gasped, trying to pick up the paper work in a hurry.

"Let me help you, I'm truly sorry again." Barret says, as he bends down to help her pick up the paper work. Asuna had also reached for the same page, with their hands accidentally touching. Barret's face turns red, his expression growing nervous. "Uh..." He couldn't push any words from his mouth.

The paper lifted to Asuna's hand, as she continued to gather the rest. "No way Jose, don't be so preposterous! I-I got things under control. Don't yoooou worry, silly Willy." She was laughing a bit anxiously.

Barret laughs a little nervously, as well, "R-Right, well, I guess we should be on our way. If you need any help at all, you know where to find me. Sorry again Asuna. Quite a lot of papers here, heh..."

Asuna finished picking them up and sighed, holding them together. "I said it's fine. Don't be such a nosy Nancy now, tee-hee. You'll have to wait like everybody else to see when these blue prints are put to action... Like... Zihark!" Asuna giggled, holding the papers close, and she had hearts floating around.

"Ohh....(Honestly Zihark again? Urgh come off of it girl! I'm starting to give here...I thought I was passed this?) Got it." Barret states, placing on a fake smile.

Asuna got to her feet, Barret hadn't even noticed until now, that she was wearing a new outfit with her hair down. He saw sparkles as she rose, her hair slightly blowing majestically.

"(Must...contain....Urgh..) You look really good in that!" Barret stated out loud mistakenly. Barret then covers his mouth, turning from Asuna quickly, blushing profusely.

Asuna glanced to her clothes, and giggles. "You don't think I look like a plain Jane, or a Prima Donna? Awe, you're such a nice friend, curious George! You think Zihark will like it?" She was all in her own world.

Barret's mood was instantly crushed, he looks back to Asuna, cracking yet another fake smile. "Yeah, I think he'll really...like it...Heh, well, I'll see you around!" Barret states, scooting off to his room. "(WHY ASUNA!? WHY!?)"

Asuna glances at him, and holds her mouth giggling uncontrollably. "Oh haha, you really are a tiny Tim... Tee-hee hahahah!"

The sound of Asuna giggling was echoing in his mind, as he continued around the corner, this time nearly running into Myde, as he turned the hallway.

Barret nearly bumps into Myde, before pulling himself back quickly, "Oh! Myde, my, I didn't see you there. I swear that water must have gotten to me... (Wait, it feels a bit breezy....)" There was an cartoony arrow pointing to the towel dropped on the ground, around the corner near where he crashed into Asuna. There was a close zoom on Barret's shiny butt cheeks. "(WAIT THAT'S- OH NO!)" Barret states, turning red all over, and shields his male region quickly, with his palms.

Myde gawks, blushing, as she looks away. "W-What are you doing, strolling around like that... Are all humans this... um..." She was clearly uneasy.

"No! This is a huge misunderstanding. I bumped into Asuna around the corner, and I hadn't noticed I dropped my towel. (Then, tiny Tim...THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT!?)" Barret states to Myde, making his way backwards slightly.

Myde kept her eyes averted, her face rather red in embarrassment. "You-You should... probably get to you're room before anyone else sees you... like... that..." Myde blinked nervously, as she swallowed a bit.

"Y-Yeah, I'll see you after I report in later." Barret says, tiptoeing to his room.

A bit of time had passed, as Barret was dressed in his room. His door opened slowly, as Issac dragged his feet in, falling face first to his bed.

"....." Issac did not say anything, his expression looked as if he had seen a ghost.

"Oh? Issac welcome back. Hm? Are you okay? You didn't over do it in the spring, did you?" Barret asked quirking a brow.

"Ehhh....." Issac groaned, keeping pretty still on the bed.

"Are you sure okay?" Barret says, still looking Issac's direction.

"Some things are best... left unsaid.." Issac mumbled, with teary eyes.

"Unsaid huh?" Barret inquired to Issac, shifting himself a little, sitting on his bed.

"I don't wanna... talk about it...." Issac buried his face.

"Hmm, well alright..Just get some rest then. Maybe that will help you out. My guess the springs just got to you a little too." Barret says cracking a smile.

"Can we stop talking about... this?" Issac muttered, uneasily from under his pillow.

"Sure... (I'm happy I'm the one asking the questions, honestly. I don't want to talk about what I went through, coming from that spring.)" Barret states, laying back on his bed. He looks to the time noticing it was around nine o'clock. "Oh look, we should head to give the report to Xiao. That might help your mind a bit."

"Nnnnnnn...." Issac grumbled.

"No? Come on Issac, get dressed it won't take long, then you can come back, and lay down after." Barret states, standing to his feet. "Besides, I'm tired as well, we were out all night."

Issac lifted his head slowly, some snot forming from his nose as he sniffled. "....."

"I'll be waiting in the hall for you, alright?" Barret says, walking over to the exit. "Hurry now Issac." He says, walking out of the room.

Issac got up, slowly walking to the makeshift closet, where his clothes hung. He leaned his palm to the frame of it, hanging his head. "...(Why is this happening to me...?... Witchhazel.....)" A tear trailed down his face, dripping to the floor. His eyes caught glance of his knife in his dresser. He hesitated a bit, staring to it. He was about to reach for it, when he changed his mind and reached for his change of clothes, sluggishly changing into them.

A short time passed, as he opened the door, spotting Barret in the hall. Issac had this look in his eyes, like his soul was stolen from his body. "...."

"Ready to go? Chin up, okay? (What happened in that spring? He's like a walking dead right now.)" Barret states to himself, and Issac traveling ahead.

"... Yeah-yeah... (I'm garbage... worthless trash... I don't think I can take this anymore...)" Issac's eyes looked around frantically, "(I need this to stop... right Noooow....)" He clutched to his wrist, squeezing tightly. His eyes shot to it, envisioning it dripping with blood. "(I need to make this... pain go awaay...)" His breathing was borderline erratic.

Barret was nearly to the exit of the hall, turning back to Issac slightly, "Issac?" Barret called to him, curiously.

Issac's head shot up, his pupils constricted, shaking slightly. "H-Huh?"

Barret's expression turns serious, as he walks over to Issac. "Come on man, are you sure you're okay? I can take care of the explanations if you need more sleep."

Issac shot a glare, flaring his teeth a bit. He shoved Barret aside, walking ahead of the taller boy. "I said I'm FINE!" He snapped, proceeding down the hallway.

Barret, surprised at Issac's response, and crosses his arms. He then sighs, shaking his head. "(I'll just leave him alone for now...At least he's heading to the office. I still do wonder though...)" Barret thought to himself, walking after Issac.

Inside the office, Xiao, Medatros, and Luklen were all seated, around the table where a map was placed. Various points of interest seemed to be marked on the paper.

"After talks with Vectrom, concerning Eugene's actions, Queen Ailene has decided to keep him under observation until further notice. In light of this, she is also sending more reinforcements, due to the amount of traffic we're seeing with Kaos forces." Medatros states, folding his arms keeping his gaze at Xiao.

Xiao pressed up her glasses, looking to Medatros. "I do think this course of action will benefit greatly. It should also keep your colleague from disrupting my remaining forces as well."

Medatros nods to her statement, "Indeed, I too hope this stops any further complications. We have a lot to work at, and the last we need is unruly workers."

"Oh yes, of course, I'm happy my fleet is far more cooperative. Not to say, you're doing a bad job Medatros, but that Eugene. Quite a sad character to look after there." Luke states, shaking his head, with furrowed brows.

"Commander Feathertail, if you would mind refraining from treating this as a contest. We're all allies here. So please." Xiao looked to the Ferline.

"Oh? I know, heh my apologies Medatros, I meant no disrespect." Luke states, panning his eyes away from the other two, slyly.

There was a sudden knock at the office's door. Xiao's eyes looked to it, "We're in talks at the moment, would you mind coming back later?"

On the other side of the door, Issac and Barret were standing there. "My apologies Lady Director, but we have some urgent news, regarding the Zodiac forces." Barret's voice called.

Xiao looked seriously to the door. "Urgent? Very well, please come in." She urged.

They opened the door, walking into the room. Barret stops beside Issac, looking to Xiao, "As I was saying. Last night, the two of us encountered a Zodiac member, Aries. We came across her, as she captured another human for Kaos. It was on a farm, where the woman was abducted. However, we were forced to chase the suspect to the mountains, where there, we fought her. Unfortunately, the girl who was taken, was no where to be found."

Xiao held her chin, "So these Zodiac forces are truly allied with Kaos then? Seems if we're to continue our rescue mission, out best lead is to hunt down these Zodiac members. I wonder how many there are..." Xiao pondered.

"Pardon the intrusion." Spoke up Witchhazel's voice, as she had appeared sitting on Xiao's desk behind her. The others seemed taken by surprise of this.

"(Hazel...)" Issac gulped.

Witchhazel crossed her legs, peering to the leaders. "I couldn't help but hear the discussion, so I hope you don't mind if I give my two cents. I've heard a few discussions these past few weeks of the 'zodiac', and being a witch, I know an awful lot about horoscopes, and astrology due to my fields of study."

"Hm? Really now?" Luke asked, in a mocking manner.

A sparkle shimmered in Witchhazel's iris, as she smirked. "I can tell you aren't fond of my kind, but do note I'm giving free information out to aid the cause. I could easily be charging you for it. Time is money after all."

Medatros looks to Luke with a stern expression. "I thought we went over this Luklen? However, beside that, what information do you have to present to us? A witch on our side is quite a feat, it's nearly like having an Esper."

Barret's mouth drops, "WAIT! So uhh..." He was a little freaked out.

Issac glanced to Witchhazel. "(...I had a feeling about this...)"

Witchhazel glanced to Barret, holding her index finger to her lips. "Oh? Didn't anyone ever tell you that Witches can read minds, just like the Espers can? No need to worry yourself, it's only when we want to." She giggled, turning her attention back to the leaders.

"(Good to know it's not all the time... Then she'd know everything... I already figured she had some idea of things.)" Issac sighed.

Witchhazel focused to Medatros. "With a name like 'The Zodiac', it's safe to assume that they were based of the celestial constellations of the night Sky. Zodiac of the Moons, the comets, the sun. Which would imply that there are twelve of them, like the ones that humans use for horoscopes. Leo the Lion, Aries the Ram, Taurus the Bull, Aquarius the Water-Bearer, Cancer the Crab, Scorpio the Scorpion, Virgo the Maiden, Pisces the Fish, Libra the Scales, Sagittarius the Archer, The Gemini Twins, and Capricorn the Sea Goat. However, a common misconception is that there are only twelve signs, but there is a thirteenth star sign ,that crosses the ecliptic. The serpent-Bearer, Ophiuchus." Witchhazel explained.

Medatros rubs his chin, pondering over the information presented to them. "Wait, are you implying that there's only thirteen of them? It's absurd, that such a small faction of people could cause so much anguish."

"I do have to concur. There are plenty of other stars out there in the galaxy. They could easily have more forces with other star names." Xiao crossed her arms, in disbelief.

Barret sighs, and places a hand to his head, "True, that could make things even more complicated. I wonder now just how many others they have hiding around?"

Luke shrugs in response to Barret, "They are The Zodiac inclined with their titles. Who's to say, but that doesn't mean we should get all tied up in knots. We have a bit of information, so we should place this to use. Good work, for a witch."

Medatros grunts looking to Luke, "For someone who was making mocking statements of said 'witch', you contently have changed views."

Luke laughs to himself, "I must remain vigilant about information, we are speaking on important terms here. She surprised me, with how in depth she is with this. Makes me wonder just how deep she is with things?" Luke inquired looking to Witchhazel.

"Now hold on, let's not jump to conclusions."Barret states, getting nervous.

Luke folds his arms, grinning. "She reads minds. Though she's given us a lot to look at here." Luke turns his head to Witchhazel's direction, his eyes becoming sharp. "It's almost as if she knows too much."

Xiao slammed her hands to the table, as she arched out of her seat. "This is getting us nowhere! Would all of you stop pointing fingers for a moment? If by an off chance Witchhazel's hypothesis is accurate, that would imply that there are only eleven more to go. I still don't fully follow her theory, however fighting about it is pointless. A lead, is a lead none the less, and we need to divide and seek out the remaining forces. If we handle The Zodiac, then that means we can rescue the missing people... I understand we're all a bit skeptical, but jumping to conclusions about things such as her being a spy, is irrational. If she was a foe, then why did she bring the bulk of our forces back to safety, when she could have put us out of business in one shot? It's preposterous to think such ways, after all of the trials that have since passed."

Luke sighs to himself taking a seat. "Very well, you're right. I am sorry for getting us off track. We do have a lead, and we should use it. I'll say nothing else on the subject."

"Well then, looking at the locations, you had mentioned 'dividing' us into groups. this could help us cover more ground." Medatros spoke, taking a stand looking down to the map. "I suggest we host a meeting with our forces, and discuss who is paired with who."

"I do have to agree. Barret, Issac. If you wouldn't mind, could you fetch the rest of our team?" Xiao looked over.

"(Wait-wait... Teams? Oh... man... This is all too much right now... but I can;t be paired with.... that cat...)" Issac gulped, uneasily.

"Of course, come now Issac. We'll be back." Barret states, walking passed Issac.

Issac sighed, following after Barret, hesitantly. "(Somebody kill me..)"