UnShaekable (FFXII)

XLIX) Bahamut

"We're flying into that?" I scoff, leaning over the edge of Vaan's seat and staring in horror at the whirling gray ash of the tornado engulfing Vayne's enormous mothership.

"I expect the turbulence to slow by the time we reach it," Fran explains, glancing up at Balthier, who looms over her shoulder at my side.

She crinkles her nose the slightest bit, turning back to the control panel. Just as she does so, the fleet of airships headed for Vayne slows. A bullet of fire flits from Vayne's ship to one of the crafts flying toward him. There's a long pause... The ship begins to collapse in on itself, as though it's being sucked into a vacuum, and all that's left is a fiery burst of debris.

"He's not taking any surrenders," Ashe breathes, scowling.

"The winds did go down, though," I sigh, shaking my head.

"What's that?!" Penelo cries, pointing to a new fleet of ships that rushes toward Vayne's like a swarm of locusts. Thousands of missiles spray through the air as a battle among all the miniature ships commences. Another red laser fires through the air and a burst of flames begins to suck more ships into the vacuum created by manufacted nethicite.

"The Resistance," Ashe huffs, standing sharply. "Get me a connection!"

"Aye, aye, Captain," I grumble, turning to help her with the intercom system.

"It's our chance is what it is," Balthier mutters, leaning forward and pushing a lever all the way up. "Hang on!" The Strahl takes off in a burst of speed, rushing toward Vayne.

"Uncle, it is I," Ashe says loudly into the speaker clasped in her hand. I fall into a seat next to Basch, careful not to topple over as the ship twists in all directions to avoid the rushing artillery. "I'm crossing to the Bahamut to stop Vayne!"

"What are you saying?" a familiar voice demands. "You are too rash! Your duties come after the battle is over!"

"If we allow them to destroy us here, there will be no after. You must assist our charge."

Well, she's got a good point there.

"Stop. You must pull back!" Ondore cries. "Stop the Strahl!"

"Give it to me!" Vaan hisses, leaping up from his seat in the co-pilot's chair and snatching the speaker away. Balthier mutters curses under his breath as he dives into the empty seat to assist Fran.

"Hold it!" he cries, but his voice is odd... My jaw drops and I struggle to hold back a laugh. His impression of Larsa's voice is nearly perfect, accent and all. "I mean, w-wait! This is Larsa Solidor! I'm going in with her! So... we're fine!" My stomach begins to ache from holding back so much; Penelo claps a hand over my mouth. "I got the Princess covered!" Vaan winks at me. There's silence on the other line for a moment.

"... Larsa Solidor? So you hold him as a hostage?"

"No, Uncle," Ashe pries the speaker away. "He will fight with us against Vayne!"

"Leave it to us!" Vaan cries in his Larsa-voice, snickering into his palm.

"... Alright."

Ashe hangs up and I nearly explode, falling back onto Basch's shoulder and howling until my stomach hurts.

"I got the Princess covered?" Penelo retorts, raising an eyebrow at Vaan.

"Larsa'd say that," he snaps back, sounding more like he's reassuring himself than anything else.

"No, he wouldn't!" I practically cackle, clutching my sides. Basch smiles, shaking his head with a sigh when Ashe shoots him a sympathetic look.

"We're relying on you for fire support," Balthier says firmly, redirecting our attention. "Give them something to think about. We'll pick our moment and make our move." With that, he pulls another lever and sends us speeding off again. We soar through the air, twisting around bullets and missiles and dipping under flying debris. "Quite the welcome!" he calls over the sounds of battle.