HOME | DD

Description
Chapter 01: Departure

Maria looked at the first entry, her first entry, in the logbook. A sense of surrealism creeped into her mind. It's only been week since I wrote it but it feels like a lifetime she thought. For her the past seven days consisted of packing and checking more or less anything be it the approximate location or her luggage. Even with the patients of a librarian. She was anxious to begin.

She looked into the reflection in the window, her own brown haired reflection stared back at her with blue eyes. It was then she noticed Professor Ridley walking towards her home.

She placed her logbook in her bag before she buttoned her coat. It was time to begin her journey.

**********

Sosuke looked out from the port side walk-way of the Grey Squall towards the spires of Sphira Ark. The black haired male had seen Arks like Sphira before but without any tasks, all he could do was wait for the Grey Squall to depart.

"Graves"

Sosuke snapped out of his trance he turned towards the source of the voice: a blond short haired young woman dressed in the same grey camo jacket and plain trousers as Sosuke.

"Hathaway, I take it you have no other tasks."
"Nope, nothing I'm as bored as you are" she huffed as she joined him leaning on the guardrail.

Sosuke had known Sarah Hathaway for a little longer than he had been part of Squall company. While she wasn't inpatient, she never liked doing nothing.

"Sosuke, do you know why we're here?"

"We are here because we received a contract worth 1000000 UC" Sosuke answered not looking away from the view

"So why here instead of some where else? It took us the better part of three days."

"The contract was offered to us exclusively by a professor Alistor Ridley who is an old friend of the captain."

Sarah paused before she turned to the mercenary "you mean... that a Librarian... was a friend of Captain Kirico?" She asked incredulously to her companion.

He nodded.

Sarah turned back to the view. "Damn, I never thought Marcus was a friend of an Librarian."
"I must admit I was surprised my self." Sosuke answered without looking away.
"Do you know how the captain met him?"
He shook his head in response to her question
"I never asked him."

Sarah looked out towards the ark again.
"It's nearly 9:00 am where is he?" She asked impatiently.
"Ridley?"
"The captain said that the client would meet us in port ."
"I do not know where he is."

Sarah stood up straight again.
"Well I hope he gets here soon. The sooner we go the better."

**********
Maria walked along side professor John Ridley, who was aged 60 and had a grey beard which stood out even more thanks to his dark skin.
"I trust you've packed everything you need?" He questioned the young woman.
"Yes I have" she answered.
"Unlike my other students you sound so calm, tell me aren't you a little anxious. Not many librarian's let alone students go on these expeditions."
She looked at the elderly professor and shook her head with a smile. But inside she felt uncertain even though she had been assured that these mercenaries would keep her safe. That fact only bothered her even more, why did Ridley hire them instead of the various Private Security Fleets or even request the deepwater guard to accompany her. Well whatever the reason Maria couldn't extract it from the professor.

"Ah there she is."

Ahead of them was the Grey Squall. The ship was about the same size of the DeepWater guard's patrol cruisers. The only armaments she could only see two double barrelled turrets mounted at the front and the back. The rest of the ship consisted of superstructure. A ten meter tall shutter was located in the superstructure. Probably their deep frame hangar.

She could she a man standing at the front of the ship he seemed to be in his early 40s and had a black beard. Judging by his uniform he was the captain of the ship.
"Marcus good to see you."
The man turned when he heard the professor. He smiled.
"Al!" The captain called back.
"Good to see you again."
"Yeah wish I could stay for longer but the Guard want us out of docks."
The professor turned back to Maria.
"I've told the captain that his company will escort you and will help you with recovering the Machina. I have not told him the location so you will need to brief them."
"I will" She answered as she began to board the Grey Squall.
"Good luck miss Cruz!" Ridley called to his student. I fear you may need it he thought to him self. But he could not bring himself to give voice to that thought.