Chapter 3: Running Scared

Lying in her bed, Bleu listened to the hushed sound of the soft rain falling outside her window. Though it was usually soothing, tonight it held no comfort for her.

Turning to lay on her side, Bleu sighed. It was just after midnight. She knew she should go to sleep, but she couldn't. Not knowing what was going to happen the next day.

Bleu opened her hand. Inside was a small frog carved out of some glassy green material. Her father had given it to her just before she lost him, and it was her most prized possession. He'd told her it was a lucky frog, and that she should kiss it whenever she needed luck.

A cool tear trickled down her pale cheek as she remembered the moment, one of the last she'd shared with him. He'd carried it around for as long as she could remember. To give her something he treasured so much so suddenly must've meant that he knew something bad was going to happen soon. And it did. Ozzie had murdered him a few days later, just for marrying her mother, who had been dead already for five years. It was why she hated Ozzie so much.

So why then, she thought, have I tried so hard to be loyal to both humans and Mystics? The answer was complicated. Part of her just wanted to play peacemaker, to eliminate the conflict and, possibly, talk some sense into Ozzie. But it was always overpowered by the part that just wanted revenge. She figured if she played along, up to a point, she could find a way to destroy Ozzie forever. Then she would take control, and keep the peace between the two races. A good plan. Tomorrow she would begin putting it in action. Brushing her lips against the frog, Bleu closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Lucca groaned softly. She'd been tossing and turning all night, trying not to think about the disturbing news Marle had told her. Something had been nagging at her ever since she'd heard. As a result, the three had decided to stay the night in Guardia Castle.

She was also thinking about Schala, and Magus, and the dilemma they had there. Marle had told her the whole story, and her bewilderment as to how to spill to Schala. How would they tell? It was a difficult subject.

"Rise and shine, little brat! It's time to head out!"

Bleu made a muffled growling sound beneath the covers as she heard Shade's words. She may have been a weak runt a few years ago, but now she stood at five foot eight, only slightly shorter than the stupid grapehead. Of course, she thought wryly, the "brat" part of the insult wasn't too far from the truth. Bleu had no illusions about herself.

"Well?" he demanded. "Are you up? Jade won't be happy if you're late."

"Jade will be too engrossed in her morning chat with her mirror to notice my absence. Now, get your sorry blue butt out of my room so I can get dressed!"

Sniffing disdainfully, he left the room. Sighing, Bleu tossed back the covers and pulled herself out of bed. Throwing her nightshirt aside, she yanked on her chosen outfit: black leather pants, black boots, a silky black t-shirt with a picture of a blue planet on it, and her black windbreaker. She glanced at the door to open it and stalked out, not even bothering to close it. She wouldn't be back.

Plunking herself down at the mess hall table, she ate her breakfast quickly and mechanically. It was tasteless, but she knew better than to go hungry.

At the table behind her, she could hear Ozzie and Jade discussing the battle to come.

"Oh, great Ozzie, what should I do if that silly little rebel Bleu won't do what I say?" Jade whispered.

"Cast a Chaos spell on her before you head out, numbskull!" Ozzie hissed. "Then she'll HAVE to do whatever you say, even if she doesn't want to, and we both know she doesn't!"

"Oh, but Ozzie, you are so brilliant! No wonder you're the Mystic leader!"

"Yes, yes, I know," he replied.

Bleu hid a smile. Perfect, she thought smugly, just perfect. A few years ago she'd perfected the ability to resist Chaos spells without the caster having the slightest idea what was going on. They wouldn't see her betrayal coming until it was over.

Last night's soft, sprinkling rain had deepened to a steady drizzle that hid the sun completely. Robo wouldn't have believed it was even out if he hadn't heard the unmistakable sound of roosters a few hours prior. It seemed to him to be fitting weather for today, this day of doom.

He had been assigned to the Choras unit, while Atropos was going to Porre. She and the other robots were being controlled by a central computer in Geno Dome, where the Mother Brain was transmitting from. Robo had been away the day the others were implanted with the special chip, but no one cared because they assumed he was totally loyal to the cause. A false assumption that was key to Robo's plan. He would escape during the battle, and find a way to get to Guardia so the kingdom could be prepared.

Deep in thought, he didn't notice Bleu walk by him. Unlike him, she was enjoying the weather. She'd always liked rain, and thought it perfect for the day ahead. A day in which she would execute what was to Mystics the ultimate betrayal.

"Think fast!" Jade jeered as she suddenly appeared before Bleu. Grabbing her hands, she whirled her around in her Waltz of the Wind. Bleu faked horror so as not to arouse suspicion. Dropping to the ground, she endured Jade's humiliating commands that were the test of her spell's hold over her. Apparently satisfied, Jade glided off.

What a fool, Bleu thought in disgust. Only Jade would put on a pathetic display like that. Pretty soon, though, I won't have to put up with that kind of crap anymore. They'll be loading us into the skimmers soon to go to Choras, and once the battle starts I'm gone.

People nowadays traveled in skimmers, ships that hovered a few feet over the ground or right on the surface of the water. Actual air travel was only for the very rich who could afford such luxuries. Ozzie could afford it, but he was too cheap to spend money on anything but food and expensive toys. Of course, everyone knew he could certainly stand to do a little less spending on the former. A lot less, actually.

"Attention! Everyone report to your units pronto! We will be departing shortly!"

Obediently, Bleu joined up with the rest of the army. Within minutes they were all on their way.

It was sprinkling lightly in Choras, with some fog swirling around the shiny platinum-colored buildings. Some of the clouds had scattered here, and everything was bathed in the grayish-blue glow of early morning. Bleu would have admired the lovely, tranquil scene if she hadn't been so absorbed in thoughts of her plans for the day.

The tranquility didn't last long, though. Choras sentries had spotted the Mystic fleet a little ways off, and they were engaged in battle much sooner than they had expected to be. Not that they really cared.

"All right, Bleu, NOW! Attack! Kill the foul beasts!" Jade ordered her. With a sly smirk on her face, Bleu did as she was told. Though not in the way Jade intended.

Drawing her sword, she hacked off the heads of half a dozen Mystic soldiers. With a grim smile, she began to cut a brutal swath through the Mystic ranks.

"Bleu, what are you doing?! I told you to kill the HUMANS!" Jade shrieked. Stopping the carnage, she turned and looked straight at her.

Her pale blue eyes were colder than the rain that ran down her jacket. She laughed, a cold, throaty sound that made Jade's blood run cold.

"You pathetic fool! Did you really you think you could control me? Me? No one is capable of such a feat! No one! It just isn't done! So long, suckers!" Snapping her fingers, Bleu vanished from sight.

Bleu reappeared a safe distance away from the battle. Not even bothering to look back, she started running toward the forest she could see in the distance.

Meanwhile, back in Guardia, the group had just finished breakfast and were watching TV in Daria's room. Marle noted with some jealousy that it was a little bigger than hers in 1001. She'd have to bring back one of 2300's big TVs, too. It would make the time she spent at home more interesting. Maybe Rydia could install a special transmitter so she could watch shows from the future. Lucca would probably break the thing if she tried something like that, Marle thought wryly.

Schala fidgeted restlessly. TV bored her. She'd rather be outside, enjoying the nice weather. It was a lovely day in Guardia, warm and sunny with occasional cool breezes. Living in Zeal, she had never really been able to go outside and relax and play. Living here, she'd gotten an appreciation for the outdoors and nature. Although it was advanced here, there was still a lot of wilderness and people lived in houses, rather than domes like in the other future. People had high regard for their planet here, unlike in Zeal where her mother had wanted to drain every possible source of power, the hell with the planet. It was why Schala liked it here.

That, and also because she had good friends here. Daria had been kind enough to take her in, and Rydia was always trying to find info on Zeal on her computer. But it was Bleu she had the strongest connection with.

They were both so different from everyone else, set apart. Unlike most people, they could use magic, and were exceptionally good at it. Also, neither was quite human. Bleu was half-Mystic, of course, and Schala was an Enlightened, who were quite different from the Earthbound. Well, not really. The only difference was that the Earthbound couldn't use magic. But that in itself was a big difference, even she had to admit. Schala even suspected that Crono, Marle, and Lucca had some Enlightened blood, however diluted, because of their skill with magic.

The other thing they had in common was their lack of family; both were orphans, having lost their parents through circumstances that were different yet equally tragic. There, however, they parted ways. Bleu had never had any siblings.

Schala sighed as she thought about him. Her brother, Janus. How she missed him. She'd never really recovered from that loss. She still couldn't get out of her head the sight of him being sucked into that black hole. She couldn't forget Crono's disintegration, either. Or that creepy Prophet guy. He'd spooked her enough when he'd been hidden in his cloak, but when he'd taken it off... Schala shuddered. Long blue hair, pointed ears; he'd looked like a cross between a Mystic and an Enlightened. But it hadn't been his face that had scared her, it had been the expression on it, in the eyes eerily like her own. So cold and angry, so full of hatred, though it was directed not at her, but at Lavos. And yet, just before she'd warped him and the others away to safety, he'd looked at her with an odd look in his eyes. Almost as if he knew her, and cared about her deeply. No, she would never forget him, or that moment. Or anything that happened that night. Like losing Janus.

Schala shook her head. No, she told herself firmly. Stop that. He's gone. Lost to you forever throughout space and time. No sense in pining for someone you'll never see again. Only brings pain. Pain that you most certainly don't need.

Just then a special news bulletin interrupted the show they were watching. Crono, Daria, Marle, Rydia and Lucca groaned in unison. However, they lost interest in the show when the topic of the bulletin was revealed.

The reporter announced that Porre and Choras had just been attacked by Mystic forces. Porre had been surprised, and thus the invaders quickly took control of the city. In Choras, however, the battle was still raging on.

For several minutes, no one said anything. They were all too stunned. The show came back on, but nobody cared. Or even noticed.

Bleu stood deep inside the forest. All was silent except for the occasional plop of water from a leaf to the forest floor. She couldn't even hear the battle off in the distance. Leaning against a tree, she took in the beauty of her surroundings.

The forest was lush and green, the ground covered with thick moss the color of fine malachite. Rain dripped from the emerald leaves, and a thick grayish-white mist swirled around the trees. A cool wind blew her raven hair into her face, and she brushed the glossy locks back. Reaching into her pocket for her frog, she felt the pager hooked on her pants. Her eyes narrowing angrily, she ripped it off.

"Stupid thing! Now I can finally get rid of it!" She glared at it. She hated it. Why she'd ever let Ozzie talk her into taking a "Mystic-regulated" pager was beyond her. Oh, right, revenge.

"So, Ozzie, you thought you could use this thing to keep me at your beck and call? Think again! I obey no one, least of all you! And here's what I think of this stupid thing!"

Throwing it into the air, she shot a fireball at it, completely destroying it. With grim satisfaction she watched the ashes dissipate in the chill air, scattering in the gentle breeze. She then began to walk off further into the woods, her boots squishing softly in the wet, velvety moss.

"Porre... Choras... attacked by Mystics... I can't believe it!" Rydia exclaimed. The others numbly nodded their agreement. Daria turned to Schala.

"Schala, didn't you say that Bleu went back to Medina because Ozzie summoned her? Maybe we should call her."

Schala's head whipped around. "Bleu would never fight against humans! Never!" she snapped angrily.

"I know that," Daria said carefully. "And you know that. But what we don't know is where she is or what she's doing. If we can get a hold of her, we can find out."

Schala took a deep breath and let it out. "You're right, Daria," she replied. "Here, give me the phone. I'll page her."

Daria handed her the phone. With shaking hands she accepted it. Forcing herself to calm down, she steadied her fingers and dialed the numbers. But all she got was a recorded message telling her that the number she dialed was out of order. With an odd look on her face, she set the phone down.

"Schala, what is it? What's wrong?" Marle asked, concerned.

"Th-the number is out of order," she said shakily.

"Maybe you just dialed it wrong. Here, let me," she said gently as she took the phone. "You tell me the number and I'll do it."

Marle dialed the number carefully, making sure she had it correct. But all she got was the same recorded message. She set the phone down. "I-I guess it really is out of order," she said weakly.

The tears that had been gathering in Schala's eyes spilled out as she started crying softly. If she lost Bleu, she didn't know what she'd do. She had to be all right. She just had to be.

Walking through the forest, Bleu was so busy admiring the beauty around her that she failed to notice the golden robot running toward her.

Robo didn't notice Bleu, either. He was running scared, from the robots who had spotted him escaping from the battle. If they caught him, there was no telling what would happen to him.

"Ooof!"

Bleu grunted as Robo plowed right into her, his fist hitting her stomach. Rolling to the side, she just barely managed to avoid being crushed. "What do you think you're doing?!" she gasped. "Identify yourself at once!" she demanded.

"There he is! That must be him! Get him!"

The robot looked terrified. Glancing around quickly, he ran over to a particularly lush tree and jumped up into it. Not wanting to be caught herself, Bleu joined him. Together, they watched silently as three blue robots appeared, looked around, and continued on the way Bleu had come. When they were gone, Bleu turned to her robotic companion. "All right, now identify yourself."

"I am Robo of the R-Series, serial number R-66Y. And you?"

"I'm Bleu."

"Ah, yes. I have heard much about you."

Bleu's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Like what?" she asked icily.

"I can't repeat it. It would be rude."

"Tell me."

"In a nutshell, that you're an unruly, arrogant brat."

Bleu sighed. "That's me in a nutshell, all right," she said, her anger vanishing.

"You seem nice enough to me, Miss Bleu."

"Thanks, but I'm really not. So what are you doing out here?"

"Escaping the battle. Fighting humans goes against my beliefs."

"Ah, finally! Someone with sense! So, where are you headed?"

"Guardia Castle. I must prepare the kingdom."

"What a coincidence, so am I. I have some friends there. One of them just happens to be the Princess. Why don't we go together?"

Robo didn't answer. He was thinking. Geno Dome was southwest of here. If they could break in and shut down the Mother Brain's central computer, as well as the one controlling the other robots, it would severely cripple the Mystic forces. But how to get there? Anywhere, actually.

Bleu poked him with her sword. "Hello? Robo, did you hear me? I said, why don't we go to Guardia Castle together?"

"Ouch! Yes! Good idea! But we have to make a little side trip first."

"To where?"

"Geno Dome."

"Why?"

"We're going to break in and shut down the computer controlling the other robots. There's just one problem, though. We can't go to Geno Dome, or Guardia for that matter, if we can't get off this island. And we can't get off this island if we don't have a skimmer."

"That's easy. We'll just sneak back into Choras and hijack ourselves one."

"But how will we do that without being spotted?"