UnShaekable (FFXII)

XXXVII) Draklor Laboratory

SUPER DUPER SORRY FOR THE LACK OF AN UPDATE TWO WEEKENDS IN A ROW. MY LAPTOP CHARGER BROKE AND I HAD NO WAY OF UPDATING OTHER THAN MY PHONE, WHICH IS TRASH. HERE ARE TWO CHAPTERS TO MAKE UP FOR IT :D

UNTIL THEN, SEE YOU SATURDAY, MY DUDES

"Do you think they're onto us?" Vaan asks, retreating behind our shadowy wall as a trio of Imperial soldiers jogs past.

"It would seem not," Basch replies, crossing his arms. "Though, this will make our task more difficult still, what with the new detachments of soldiers being sent about." The man in charge of the three guards that just ran past melts back into the entrance of his post. Sighing, I straighten and shake my head.

"Well, should we head back to Ashe and the others?"

"Yeah, let's go," Vaan nods, taking off in the direction of the inn where the others await our return. The new information on the Imperials is valuable enough, I suppose, but it was hardly worth the time we spent, even with that time being very little.

"Certainly took your time getting here, didn't you?" Balthier comments as we weave through the streets. "Off seeing the sights, perhaps?"

"Not likely," Vaan huffs. "Do you know how long it took to get the chops we needed?"

"Hardly long at all," I mutter under my breath. "You wanted to shop for knives."

"What's that? But I gave Jules some chops..." Balthier frowns, obvious frustration washing over his face. I shake my head.

"You most certainly did, and I nearly had to strangle them off him. Vaan's lying."

"How'd you even know he had them?" Vaan asks, cocking his head to the side. I shrug.

"I've a natural sense for any source of currency."

"Jules..." Balthier grumbles, pinching the bridge of his nose. Behind me, I hear that rat's voice pipe up as he draws closer.

"Tsk, tsk. A squad of Judges has been sent to Draklor. You'll find the service entrance a rather difficult proposition, I'm afraid," he croons. Balthier steps up to the shorter man, chin lifted and tension burning in the air around him.

"Your doing, no doubt," he replies stiffly, strolling past. "You knew how the Ministry of Law would move, so you had Shae distracted until the Judges could reinforce Draklor. Of course..." Balthier's voice trails off and he turns back to stare hard at the lowlife. "Tell me, how much did the Ministry pay for word of the prodigal son?"

"The Ministry? Oh, Judges make poor customers, my friend," Jules chuckles. "Too many rules, too many laws. Perhaps you didn't know, Master Balthier, that Draklor is a toy box these days, filled with your lord father's conceits." Jules shrugs, approaching the sky pirate. Goosebumps prickle across my skin. I know his type; he's saving the best for last. "All developed without the Senate's knowledge, of course. Why, not even the Emperor knew the full extent of Doctor Cid's operations."

"Now, here's the catch: since Vayne had himself declared dictator, nary a peep has come out of that laboratory. I know people who would sell their own mum for the merest scrap of information about the goings-on inside Draklor."

Balthier hums, glancing back at me. Basch and Vaan have backed off, though wary. I'm the only one left beside them.

"People like... Rozzarian sympathizers worried about the Empire's weapons programs and anyone else who might be opposed to House Solidor hegemony. So, we create a disturbance, and you get your windfall of dirt on Draklor," Balthier sighs.