Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

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--|Nuemia Crosswinds|--

--|Chapter 3: The Extra Commander|--

Page 14

After a long silence, Luna asked, �Are you going to see Tetra now?� Her tone of voice implied that she wanted Alex to leave. Alex did so without another word. He didn�t feel the need to speak to her again.

Alex ran into Court Jester just outside the control room door. �Now what were you up to in there?� he asked suspiciously, not realizing it was Alex.

�I thought everyone would be there to send me off ... or at least Zero,� Alex replied, somewhat puzzled.

Court Jester stared at Alex for a while. �Do I know you?�

�Alex ...�

�Oh!� Court Jester exclaimed, �You look so very different with all that black. It makes you look so ... dangerous.�

�Er ... yeah,� Alex said with half a smile. �Can you take me to Zero and Tetra?�

�Ah, of course,� Court Jester replied, a grim look crossing his face. �Zero is watching the stasis chamber Tetra is in now. It�s weird that he didn�t tell us what happened before. Follow me.�

As CJ led Alex through the streets, he searched fervently about the ground. Alex wasn�t sure what to make of it, but figured it would be better to mind his own business. He could easily distract himself trying to figure out what he was doing trotting about Neoasis cluelessly when he should be trekking through strange lands on his quest for the temple of Nuemia.

�oh, hoho! Here we are!� CJ said, turning on a narrow alley. �They say our crew contains the brightest minds around,� he began to say as he continued down the narrow alley to what looked like a sewer cover. �Apparently, that doesn�t include the common citizenry. You�d think one of them would wonder why there would be sewer covers on a flying ship. Wouldn�t someone find that a bit conspicuous?�

CJ pulled the sewer cover away to reveal a passage that led underneath the city. He motioned for Alex to go first. Inside, Alex was awed by a multitude of wires connecting steel and plastic boxes. Many of the wires were exuding a dim, aural glow. �What is all of this?� Alex asked.

�Zero says this is the technology bay. These wires are likely the means of distributing power and data. Actually, I just assumed that, since Zero won�t give details about the technology used here. �Strictly confidential,� he says.�

�Any ideas about the boxes?�

�My best guess is that they�re generators. There�s got to be some sort of power that keeps this ship running. But then again, there are so many different kinds of boxes, I�m sure there has to be something special about each of them. Whatever it is, it�s special enough for Zero to keep it a secret.�

CJ began to stride ahead of Alex to lead him through the tunnel of wires. After numerous turns, he stopped in from of a plain white door without any handles. CJ placed his hand on the door, and it made a low hum, like the sound of a cello. After a few seconds, the door slid open.

Inside, Zero was focused on a semi-transparent capsule, which held Tetra. He stared sadly, evidently deep in thought, as Ruby looked over his shoulder watching silently. Mari was looking with sorrow at another capsule. Jab and Ralda were nowhere to be seen.