Setting
Spira Unplugged - Final Fantasy 10
A bustling seaside city. Cargo ships come and go here. It's also an ideal place for the wealthy to call home.
A bustling seaside city. Cargo ships come and go here. It's also an ideal place for the wealthy to call home.
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
Solum City is a part of 
Fantasma.
2 Places in Solum City:
4 Characters Here
Lt. Marta Louise Velasquez [9] The world's most unpleasant traffic cop.
Clive Cypher/Shocker [1] The Eldritch Boyz' smartest hacker.
Kongo/Kongouseki [1] This kitsune is a fighter and gang leader hungry for money, power, and notoriety.
Aggaro Krahg/A-Krag [1] The Eldritch Boyz' strongest fighter.
Start Character Here »
A dragon suddenly lands at Solum City's port, transforming into Terrus, shortly before Duma arrives next to him, tired after having run across open ocean.
Ripsaw soon arrives as well, trailing a bit of smoke from his exhaust port as he floats down next to Terrus and Duma, scanning his surroundings in curiosity in the meantime.
Various passersby scan Ripsaw, Terrus, and Duma in curiosity. This is not something they see every day.
"I don't see him around here," said Terrus.
"I don't see him around here," said Terrus.
"Perhapsss he is farrrther within the city?" Ripsaw queried, staring back at the citizens with his single eye. "Orrr, ssseeing as he lives here, we might be able to find sssome sssorrrt of clue to wherrre he went, at his rrresssidence."
"We might," said Terrus.
He keeps looking for a bit before Duma nudges him.
"Oh, you mean we should GO there to look for a clue!" said Terrus.
Terrus heads off towards Alex's home, followed by Duma. He was a good boy and made sure to shut and lock the gate outside before heading out, so luckily there haven't been any burglaries that would remove vital clues.
He keeps looking for a bit before Duma nudges him.
"Oh, you mean we should GO there to look for a clue!" said Terrus.
Terrus heads off towards Alex's home, followed by Duma. He was a good boy and made sure to shut and lock the gate outside before heading out, so luckily there haven't been any burglaries that would remove vital clues.
"Fancy place," Ripsaw said to no one in particular, staring at Alex's home for a little bit, before he turns to the locked gate. "Locked, though.. Let me sssee if I can't.."
As he mumbles, several tiny robot arms extend out of Ripsaw and begins fiddling with the lock, testing its durability and seeing if it can be picked. In retrospect, they could probably just leap or fly over the gate, but then again Ripsaw isn't usually hindered by moral consequences, whether for better or worse.
As he mumbles, several tiny robot arms extend out of Ripsaw and begins fiddling with the lock, testing its durability and seeing if it can be picked. In retrospect, they could probably just leap or fly over the gate, but then again Ripsaw isn't usually hindered by moral consequences, whether for better or worse.
The lock is incredibly durable but comparitively easy to pick. It was probably chosen because it looked and felt incredibly sturdy, rather than for its actual capability as a lock.
Ripsaw proceeds to pick the lock and, once done with that, pushes open the gate, withdrawing his tiny robot arms as it swings open.
"Afterrr you," Ripsaw said to Terrus and Duma, politely floating out of their way.
"Afterrr you," Ripsaw said to Terrus and Duma, politely floating out of their way.
Terrus and Duma head into Alex's house, the former unlocking the front door with his spare key. Why didn't he use that key on the lock at the gate? Reasons. Anyway, inside the house, it's pretty much like Alex left it, except the computer has turned itself off to save electricity, leaving only the blinking light that indicates it's in sleep mode. Terrus opens up the computer and, as it turns back on, reads the blog about the Black Platoon.
"Whoever wrote this has several problems with us," said Terrus.
"Whoever wrote this has several problems with us," said Terrus.
"And sssome with themssselves, apparrrently," Ripsaw commented, having followed along and read the blog as well. "Regarrrdless, it would appear we have found the ssstarrrt of this brrreadcrumb trail."
Terrus stands there, confused by the use of breadcrumb, before deciding it must be a robot thing.
"And it looks like they set up a meeting in Big Cha-Ching," said Terrus. "Perhaps our next 'breadcrumb' is there."
"And it looks like they set up a meeting in Big Cha-Ching," said Terrus. "Perhaps our next 'breadcrumb' is there."
That night, Zenmei and Ekiyu arrived from Tracgam City, making it soon enough to the new restaurant.
"Well...here we are," Zenmei said. "Shall we?"
"{giggles} Of course, good sir," Ekiyu replied.
-----
As the two were going to the restaurant, they were under observation by some kind of soldier clad in titanium-plated drab, wielding a traditional sniper rifle loaded with a modified type of bullet. This soldier just watched them enter.
"There's the target...but he has company with him," the soldier said to himself, keeping a log of events. "I don't even get what she sees in that...that...Anyway, I'll have to wait until he is back outside - preferably by himself..."
"Well...here we are," Zenmei said. "Shall we?"
"{giggles} Of course, good sir," Ekiyu replied.
-----
As the two were going to the restaurant, they were under observation by some kind of soldier clad in titanium-plated drab, wielding a traditional sniper rifle loaded with a modified type of bullet. This soldier just watched them enter.
"There's the target...but he has company with him," the soldier said to himself, keeping a log of events. "I don't even get what she sees in that...that...Anyway, I'll have to wait until he is back outside - preferably by himself..."
"It is mossst likely. Let us lock up this rrresssidence and away at once to Big Cha-Ching, before sssomething goes wrrrong and we arrre ssstuck floating up a foul rrriver without a paddle," said Ripsaw, turning around and floating outside the room, spouting more metaphoricals as he soon exits the house.
Meanwhile, Zenmei and Ekiyu had just began their dinner with drinks - one chamomile tea for Ekiyu, one strawberry lemonade seltzer for Zen.
"So...just two days before the semester starts," Zenmei opened up. "Can't believe summer's gone by this fast."
"I'll say," Ekiyu said. "Sometimes, I feel like there isn't enough time in the world to get everything done soon enough."
"{laughs} Yeah, besides saving the world. Time enough for that, but not enough for homework. Am I right?"
"{laughs} Ohhh yes."
The two shared a light laugh over this before stopping for a bit. A Pianta waiter came by to take order.
"Ah, yes, um...I'd like to try the Wanbey grilled bonito," Ekiyu said.
"Hmmm, lemme try that Pitresco fruit burger," Zenmei said.
With that done, the waiter went to the back to give the orders.
"So anyway, we'll apparently be seeing some new faces this year," Ekiyu continued.
"Mm...hmm. New faces," Zenmei said, his gaze veering away.
"...Uh, Zen...? You're not gonna get nervous on me, are you?"
"Uh, n-no! Not at all, nope! I-I'm fine. Really!"
"If you say so..."
Zenmei caught his breath. He's not used to a bunch of new faces so often, but such is life - he'll have to deal with it, like it or not.
"So...just two days before the semester starts," Zenmei opened up. "Can't believe summer's gone by this fast."
"I'll say," Ekiyu said. "Sometimes, I feel like there isn't enough time in the world to get everything done soon enough."
"{laughs} Yeah, besides saving the world. Time enough for that, but not enough for homework. Am I right?"
"{laughs} Ohhh yes."
The two shared a light laugh over this before stopping for a bit. A Pianta waiter came by to take order.
"Ah, yes, um...I'd like to try the Wanbey grilled bonito," Ekiyu said.
"Hmmm, lemme try that Pitresco fruit burger," Zenmei said.
With that done, the waiter went to the back to give the orders.
"So anyway, we'll apparently be seeing some new faces this year," Ekiyu continued.
"Mm...hmm. New faces," Zenmei said, his gaze veering away.
"...Uh, Zen...? You're not gonna get nervous on me, are you?"
"Uh, n-no! Not at all, nope! I-I'm fine. Really!"
"If you say so..."
Zenmei caught his breath. He's not used to a bunch of new faces so often, but such is life - he'll have to deal with it, like it or not.
"If we were to get stuck in such a river we could always try swimming," said Terrus, shutting the computer down and heading out, locking the door and gate behind him (after Ripsaw and Duma get out, of course), and heading for Big Cha-Ching.
Other snipers stand by near the soldier with the modified bullet. They don't have such a bullet themselves, of course - it's a prototype, and they're there for backup.
"Remember, men - we're doing this as a field test. And don't utter a word about it to anyone outside of the unit..." The soldier preps the round - it's made of solid iron.
Zenmei and Ekiyu were nearing the end of their dinner by now - they were currently enjoying some four-layer cake.
"So, you know how long we've been together, right?" Zenmei asked.
"Six years, if you're counting how long we've known each other," Ekiyu mused. "Actually together? Probably one year."
"Ehe, right...Anyway, I know I haven't been very committed even then - you know, to you and me."
Ekiyu's heart skipped a beat - is this what she thinks it is? "G...Go on."
"If I'm gonna be the man you deserve, I gotta be more open. I know that more nowadays than before, at least..."
Ekiyu's breath almost stopped from anticipation. "Y-Yeah, that's true..."
"So...I'd like to make a promise here and now."
((!) I knew it...I so called it~!) Ekiyu thought to herself. It's really happening!
Zenmei got down on a knee next to Ekiyu, bowing with a hand to his heart and his other hand resting atop Ekiyu's hands. "Just as men had long coexisted with fay, so too shall I coexist from this day. May our strifes and terrors be long gone, fading like the dark during the dawn. So long as we hold faith in a future bright, I will forever be your guardian knight."
Ekiyu was speechless for a moment. Zenmei worried that he might have gone over-the-top with this promise...but was soon met by a sudden hug by Ekiyu. "Oh Zen, I thought you'd never speak up about it~! Though, um..." She loosened her grip on Zenmei for this next bit. "Is it okay if...I promise the same for you?"
"The...same?"
"Well yeah! We're both in this together, right? So even while you're my guardian knight...I still want to be your knight, too."
Unexpected turn...but it still works out for the best. Zenmei hasn't felt so reassured in a bright future before - for this, he's happy.
"So, you know how long we've been together, right?" Zenmei asked.
"Six years, if you're counting how long we've known each other," Ekiyu mused. "Actually together? Probably one year."
"Ehe, right...Anyway, I know I haven't been very committed even then - you know, to you and me."
Ekiyu's heart skipped a beat - is this what she thinks it is? "G...Go on."
"If I'm gonna be the man you deserve, I gotta be more open. I know that more nowadays than before, at least..."
Ekiyu's breath almost stopped from anticipation. "Y-Yeah, that's true..."
"So...I'd like to make a promise here and now."
((!) I knew it...I so called it~!) Ekiyu thought to herself. It's really happening!
Zenmei got down on a knee next to Ekiyu, bowing with a hand to his heart and his other hand resting atop Ekiyu's hands. "Just as men had long coexisted with fay, so too shall I coexist from this day. May our strifes and terrors be long gone, fading like the dark during the dawn. So long as we hold faith in a future bright, I will forever be your guardian knight."
Ekiyu was speechless for a moment. Zenmei worried that he might have gone over-the-top with this promise...but was soon met by a sudden hug by Ekiyu. "Oh Zen, I thought you'd never speak up about it~! Though, um..." She loosened her grip on Zenmei for this next bit. "Is it okay if...I promise the same for you?"
"The...same?"
"Well yeah! We're both in this together, right? So even while you're my guardian knight...I still want to be your knight, too."
Unexpected turn...but it still works out for the best. Zenmei hasn't felt so reassured in a bright future before - for this, he's happy.
The armored soldier anticipated that Zenmei and Ekiyu would be exiting soon. "{sigh} Told us to get results TONIGHT...If only they anticipated that he'd have company." He then looked to the classic rifle he was using. "...Oh well. A witness to this model might not be a hindrance." He then turned to his squad. "Do not fire! And don't make any noise. This shot has to count."
-----
Sure enough, Zenmei and Ekiyu exited the restaurant...
-----
Sure enough, Zenmei and Ekiyu exited the restaurant...
The squad doesn't even move - signals and stuff would make noise, no matter how soft, and who knows how well the wolf can hear?
"Seriously, you have no idea how happy you've made me tonight~" Ekiyu told Zenmei. "You know, that...you're taking this relationship seriously and all."
"{laughs} Well, I had to sooner or later," Zenmei replied. "I was afraid it would go worse, but...well, I'm glad things turned out for the best after all."
"{nods} Likewise."
"Now I know this school year's gonna be just fi - "
SHHHK!!
Zenmei was interrupted by a shot flying right through the sides of his head, crystal flesh fragmenting out the exit wound as his and Ekiyu's eyes went wide with shock. Then, with little warning, Zenmei collapsed to his knees, clutching his head in pain.
"Z...Zen...??" Ekiyu stuttered in shock.
"Ek...kiy...c-call...call a...!" Zenmei coughed magenta blood on the ground - his injury wasn't fatal, but it showed no signs of attempted healing. Ekiyu looked to the bullet that landed on the ground past Zenmei.
-----
"Headshot is non-fatal..." said the soldier to himself, recording the results from a scouter. "But, healing factor is severely hindered." After getting the data he needed, the soldier turned to his comrades. "Alright, let's bail!"
-----
Ekiyu looked in the direction that the shot came from...and she saw silhouettes of people fleeing from a rooftop, one of them dropping a rifle in his (supposed) haste.
"{laughs} Well, I had to sooner or later," Zenmei replied. "I was afraid it would go worse, but...well, I'm glad things turned out for the best after all."
"{nods} Likewise."
"Now I know this school year's gonna be just fi - "
SHHHK!!
Zenmei was interrupted by a shot flying right through the sides of his head, crystal flesh fragmenting out the exit wound as his and Ekiyu's eyes went wide with shock. Then, with little warning, Zenmei collapsed to his knees, clutching his head in pain.
"Z...Zen...??" Ekiyu stuttered in shock.
"Ek...kiy...c-call...call a...!" Zenmei coughed magenta blood on the ground - his injury wasn't fatal, but it showed no signs of attempted healing. Ekiyu looked to the bullet that landed on the ground past Zenmei.
-----
"Headshot is non-fatal..." said the soldier to himself, recording the results from a scouter. "But, healing factor is severely hindered." After getting the data he needed, the soldier turned to his comrades. "Alright, let's bail!"
-----
Ekiyu looked in the direction that the shot came from...and she saw silhouettes of people fleeing from a rooftop, one of them dropping a rifle in his (supposed) haste.
The soldiers scatter, quickly running and leaping across different Solum rooftops, scattering so as to make themselves harder to track.
"H-HEY!!" Ekiyu shouted at the fleeing soldiers. "You get back here! Have the guts to show your faces, you bastards!!"
This event drew the attention - and shock - of many of the restaurant's patrons. Ekiyu turned back to Zenmei, whom had collapsed on the ground, barely breathing.
"No..." Ekiyu sobbed as she ran over to his side. "Zen...Zenmei, please, hang on! You...You can't die now! You just can't...!" She stayed by his side, crying in anguish...
This event drew the attention - and shock - of many of the restaurant's patrons. Ekiyu turned back to Zenmei, whom had collapsed on the ground, barely breathing.
"No..." Ekiyu sobbed as she ran over to his side. "Zen...Zenmei, please, hang on! You...You can't die now! You just can't...!" She stayed by his side, crying in anguish...