Between 8: Gateway to Abyss

Chapter 15: Basic Understanding

Several hours later...

Everyone has been treated properly for minor injuries and have had their clothes and bodies all washed up. Most of them are currently getting something to eat, but Jared is currently with James and the others at their confrence room.

Jared: "Why call me over, but not everyone else?"

Jake: "Because believe it or not, you're like us."

Jack: "(smiling) And it's not just your name."

Jared: "Huh?"

James: "It's a long story, but to summarize, we're all pieces of a true god's personality."

Awkward moment of silence...

Jared: "(awkwardly) Wha in da huh?"

Jamie: "I honestly don't believe it myself, but they're adamant about it."

Jason: "But that's not all."

James looks at a holographic render of Quola on the table.

James: "Quola seems to be Gabriel's current target."

Jared: "Gabriel?"

Jamie clenches her scarf as Rocky nudges her leg.

Jade: "Lucifer's successor..."

Jared: "Wait, that guy was still alive?!"

Eryth: "He was."

Jamie sheds a single tear.

Jamie: "... and my brother."

They look at Jamie.

Jared: "What in the hell?!"

Jason: "But if he really is here then we have to go back."

Jared: "You're actually willing to go into that hellhole?!"

Jade: "We can't let this spread."

Jay: "(sighing) No one wants to do this."

Jake: "But we will do this."

Jared looks down at his hands.

James: "Can you fight alongside us?"

Jared: "((shocked) H-Huh?! M-Me?! I-I'm just a nobody compared to you!"

Jamie: "Did you already suppress information?"

Jake holds out his hand.

Jake: "It doesn't matter if you don't believe us. We view you as our equal, what you did at the top of that tower was something very few can do."

Jared thinks about the Gateway to Abyss.

Jared: "(in head) I might be able find the Gateway to Abyss if I go back..."

Jared takes his hand.

Jared: "I won't disappoint."

Jake lets out a soft smile.

Jake: "We'll keep that in mind."

A new bond has been cemented.

The next day...

Everyone is getting back in the carrier for a return trip to Quola.

Jade: "That should be it."

Jay: "(smirking) Got your trash can and everything."

Jade points a broadsword straight at Jay.

Jade: "Don't test me."

Jamie: "I sure as hell wouldn't."

The other survivors supposedly don't know about this return trip.

Eryth: "Aren't you going to say goodbye?"

Jared: "If I do that, then they'll just think I'm going to die."

James: "You won't die."

???: "That's the problem."

Odd, Lexi, and Dimitri arrive at the landing.

Jack: "(confused) Why are you here?"

Lexi: "Had a feeling Jared was hiding something."

Dimitri: "Y-You were right on it."

Jared looks at them.

Jared: "You know that I'm going back. We're going to take care of these Psychos."

Odd: "Yeah, 'we're,' taking care of these Psychos."

Jamie: "You guys can't be serious."

Dimitri: "W-We are."

Lexi: "You guys won't come out in one piece."

Jared looks down at his hands.

Jared: "You guys could die."

Odd places his hand on Jared's shoulder.

Odd: "You could die too."

The hearts of the others have been touched.

Jake: "If you're coming, then get on board."

Dimitri: "O-Okay!"

They hop aboard with almost everyone, except Jared.

Jared: "(in head) We won't die in vain."

Jared hops aboard just before they start gaining altitude...