To Fight Dragons [Hito]

[III]

None in the Organization had truly ever understood how exactly the production of 'humanform' Nobodies occurred. Given that six of the fourteen such Nobodies had all resided upon one world under the tutelage of one master suggested that either the process was extremely particular or that there were far more such Nobodies than previously expected.

Xaldin paced. He should be out there, looking for them. Sadly, there was a standing moratorium on bringing new members into the Organization. Without Xenmas' vision and direction the current hierarchy was difficult to decipher and none wanted it more confused than it already was.

Plus, there was the whole back-stabbing thing. That too.

Xaldin paced, examining the frozen Heartless. It wasn't real... merely the conjured fabric of a memory from the Land of Dragons, given power by Castle Oblivion's various machinations. Not unexpectedly, it was a dragon - capable of sustained flight, marvelous strength and secrets... so many secrets. Its Heart, reportedly, had been huge.

Its Nobody was out there, somewhere. Xaldin knew it. And the dragoon in him was eager to hunt. All he needed now was a partner - not to help with the fight but rather to deal with the bureaucracy that would no doubt ensue. If his proposal was seen upon favorably, perhaps his partner's fabled divining skills would prove useful as well...

[nothito]

Boredom.

If the Luna Diviner could truly feel, he knew he would be feeling boredom right about now. After recapturing the World That Never Was and Castle Oblivion after their long absence, nothing much had happened. For the moment, there were no schemes for furthering the power of the Organization underway. They were no closer to gaining their hearts then they were before a certain meddling keyblader and his friends got in their way. Heck, there wasn't even a rebellion going on against...whoever was their current leader. As far as he knew, nothing was really going on within the confines of the Organization.

At least, until he received word from the Whirlwind Lancer.

From the message the Dusks delivered it seemed as though Xaldin had some sort of expedition planned and his services were requested. Normally VII may have rejected the offer, considering that from the limited information that Xaldin had given, he wasn't very interested in a pointless hunt in the wilderness. Thinking it over however...he really had nothing better to do at the moment. Might as well indulge III enough to know what his plans were. The prize had better be worth the effort...

While Xaldin paced a black portal opened nearby and out stepped VII. Seeing no need for secrecy when in the presence of his 'comrade', the blue haired nobody's hood was down and his golden eyes were stared down the dread-locked nobody before him. Sparing a quick glance around the room and noting exactly what memories had been crafted on this floor, the nobody soon got right to the point of their meeting.

"You summoned me?" Saïx questioned simply, arms folded as he waited for a reply from the dragoon.

[III]

"I did," Xaldin confirmed, inclining his head ever so slightly in a brief, curt nod, hands disappearing behind his back. He rolled ideas over in his head as he tried to figure out the right approach... though Seven had been of some prominence in the old hierarchy, Xaldin knew him mostly by reputation and the odd meeting.

Which was to say not at all. A Berserker, a true Berserker, could not exist as a Nobody. The man represented an enigma - dangerous, but potentially useful if solved.

(Not that he was particularly cared for the answer unless it threatened the stability of the Organization or his own existence. This was a business proposal, mostly)

"The Organization is weak," Xaldin said bluntly. He hardly had to elaborate - everyone knew it. Without Xemnas they were headless - a snake or chicken ready to die without direction and without power. Though Nobodies did not age, a rather common postulate had been put forth that the reason there were so many more Heartless than Nobodies was because the existence of the soul and body matrix was more fragile, liable to fall apart at the seams.

It was part of the reason they had invested so much effort into Kingdom Hearts.

"I understand there are... issues, with recruitment," the lancer continued, "but we have rested long enough. Too long sleeping and we may simply wither away and disappear."

He shivered. Though his memories were hazy, death had been... odd.

He nodded vaguely to the giant Heartless that had been so creatively named 'Storm Rider'. "I propose we begin looking for the Heartless of Nobodies that are not human."

"Dragons, for instance."

Or Wyverns. Or Phantoms. Or Dark Thorns, even. Anything but this infernal twiddling of thumbs.

[nothito]

Interesting.

The Luna Diviner listened to Xaldin's words without so much as a single change in emotion. The man's face could have been etched in stone for heaven's sake for all the emotion or interest he may have shown for the idea's that the Whirlwind Lance was spouting. Inside however, the Diviner's mind was hard at work. It was an interesting proposal, hunting down the nobody of a dragon heartless for use by the Organization. More then likely it would be quite a valuable military resource to have more monstrous nobodies allied to their cause.

However...

Saïx was not yet ready to commit to this plan until he knew III's intentions. VII had never had much interaction with Xaldin when the Organization was under Xemnas's command besides handing out missions, so now that the Superior was disgraced and missing, it was hard to place exactly where III's alliances were. Did he side with the rebellious members that he had sent to Castle Oblivion to die? Or did he side with those not exactly aligned to the Superior but not aligned with the rebels? Saïx would do anything to help the Organization stay afloat, but not if it would help the rebels gain control of the Organization in its leaderless state.

Golden eyes sending a piercing glare in Xaldin's direction, VII spoke up, choosing his words carefully. "If I were to commit to this plan, I would need to know who exactly I am working with. Am I the only one informed of this dragon hunting plan, or should I be expecting the involvement of some of our other comrades? Also, if we do succeed in capturing the nobody of this...'Storm Rider'...who is to take command over it?" the berserker questioned simply. For now, the answers to those questions should prove revealing enough.

[III]

Politics.

Xaldin nodded to himself. Seven's questions had a certain... penetrating quality to them. No doubt he understood the implications of the suggested endeavor upon Organization hierarchy with a clarity that surpassed the lancer's own. The berserker's long hours at playing bureaucrat had probably helped him in this regard. Xaldin himself had always been a bit blunt when it came to social interaction amongst peers. He could act as the Mephistoles, yes, but to understand motivations beyond a few tropes and types... no, his lack of heart had not entirely been helpful.

"I have yet to inform anyone else," Xaldin replied. Musing upon gambles, he decided to lay his cards down. Well, some of them, anyways. "In fact, I fear that not everyone would be particularly... open to the idea."

Marluxia's 'trial' was fast becoming a charade. Xaldin, who had witnessed some legal proceedings during his tutelage under Ansem understood, without quite grasping the entire flux of facts and actions, that control had been wrestled away from the elders. Logically, it was not an unwelcome development. He himself acknowledged that the pupils of Ansem that remained were not handling things well without Xemnas' presence. Even so, it was not a development he was comfortable with. Their ultimate goal, Kingdom Hearts had to remain the priority.

He had no idea if the neophytes understood the importance of this fact. They had not seen what The World that Never Was had looked like when the elders had first arrived. It had been weak, tottering on the brink of collapse as it edged towards Nothing. Closer to being stillborn than born. Destruction of other worlds by the Heartless had strengthened it. But as ever, the clock was ticking. No, new management was not unwelcome. But they had to have their priorities in order.

"We have arrived at a turning point, Seven." Xaldin continued. "Because the Organization is weak we shall squabble. Those without power will be destroyed - or worse - ignored."

"We must rise above the coming storm." He indicated the Storm Rider. "You will have first pick, of course."

ooc: >> Apologies. It kinda doesn't flow with the first post, but I'm trying to include the new developments. Feel free to question Xaldin's motives about picking you as a partner, it *is* kinda random.

[nothito]

To trust or not to trust? That was the question.

He had never known Xaldin to have any connection with the rebels, but who knows? Perhaps he was the one meant to stay behind and, once Sora was in their clutches, begin the strike against the remaining members. It was unlikely, but who knows? Perhaps the presence of Xemnas and the collapse of the plot had caused him to pretend as though he had no part in the failed rebellion. Or maybe the lancer had been turned to the rebel side recently and was merely luring VII into a trap that would lead to his demise? There were a number of possibilities as to what Xaldin's motives were, and before he decided to go anywhere, the Luna Diviner would have to know where the Whirlwind Lancer's loyalties were.

Xaldin's answers were rather expected. If they had other comrades in this plot, unless they were Xigbar, they would already be here by now. And, whether this was a trap or whether III wanted him on his side, of course he would tempt the Luna Diviner with the first choice of monstrous nobodies. Saïx nodded simply before looking over at the Storm Rider. What a monstrous looking heartless. He wondered just how Xigbar of all people had managed to change a dragon, likely a very powerful creature, into this monster. If the heartless was this much of a monster, how would the nobody be? Surely such a devastating creature should be under the control of the Organization.

"How do you propose we overcome this squabbling? Do you really think that the nobody of a dragon will allow us to rise over the brewing storms within the Organization? Or is there something else that you seek on this expedition that you seek?" Saïx questioned, shooting a suspicious glance at III as he moved over to the frozen visage of the Storm Rider, his back to the elder member before continuing. "Such a powerful creature, wasn't it? Before Sora destroyed it, it had the potential to wipe out the seat of government in the Land of Dragons. The nobody must be at least as strong, shouldn't it? Yet, instead of claiming it for yourself, you choose to include me in your plan and offer the beast to me. Why do you choose to trust me?"

Taking a calculated risk, the berserker decided the best way to test Xaldin's loyalty was to try to force him to show his loyalty. Pausing long enough for Xaldin to have an opportunity to answer his previous questions, the berserker took the opportunity to speak up once more, slowly turning as he spoke to face the lancer. "What if I were to tell you that I have willingly joined forces with our new leader? That I have accepted his rule and am supporting it? What if I were to tell you that you are suspected of being against XI's leadership and I'm here to find a permanent solution to any possible thoughts of rebellion?" the berserker speculated, summoning forth his claymore to further make his false point.

Now, just how would III react...?

[III]

"Then we would fight, of course." Xaldin returned smoothly. If this prospect alarmed him, the lancer hid it well. The slight tightening of his jaw, or the tic over his right T-shaped eyebrow might have been fear just as well as it might have been eagerness. Only his hands betrayed him, dropping as they did into a relaxed stance that could so fluidly switch into a combat one with a will. It was a poker face shielded by ambiguity; a body betrayed by habit.

"Most likely to the death."

For a moment he paused thoughtfully, walking slowly around the bend of the gigantic Heartless, his feet gliding towards the Berserker. By some whimsy of the Castle, the Heartless began to move ever so slightly, as if a video being played in slow motion. Undulating, its great body shimmered ethereal darkness. Somehow, it managed to remain majestic despite its sooty exterior, proud despite its corrupted nature.

"But ask yourself this : why did we follow Xemnas?" The once-dragoon, once somebody asked. His voice was nearly kind which made it sound incredibly contrived. "It was not out of fear - we Nobodies do not know fear, just as we do not know hate or anger or any of the emotions that would make us truly powerful, truly whole. We are free. Free but weak." He paused in time for the Heartless to begin an extremely low roar. Irritably, he muted the memory.

"Kingdom Hearts must remain the priority. For all his failings, Xemnas' was never one to forget that fact. We must make sure - " the Storm Rider Heartless, which had apparently been in the middle of hitting the ground and digging great furrows into the stone surface with its talons, "that none do."

He snapped his fingers. The Heartless disappeared. Xaldin hesitated for a mere moment before diving right in. Almost all his cards were on the table. A gambler would have sulked, but Xaldin was a warrior. Who cared?

"I do have another motive." The third stated. "It is merely a rumor, but some have said that a great silver beast accompanied by an ill wind. I am... interested. Professionally."

[nothito]

Fear, or as close as a nobody could get to such a feeling.

It seemed to radiate off of Xaldin, despite his outward calm demeanor toward the Lunar Diviner. No longer was his position as relaxed as it was before. If VII chose to strike, the lancer was already making preparations for combat. If III was indeed wary of his might, perhaps that was something he could use to his advantage. Always good to have the other members 'fear' his 'wrath'.

The lancer's words were as expected. Was it not the same amongst all the Organization? If one member is against your way of thinking, you are eternally ready to eliminate them should the need or opportunity arise. Lunatic disappeared as III continued and VII folded his arms across his chest and listened to the senior member speak. He certainly liked to lay all of his cards on the table, didn't he? This was a man who kept no secret to himself, a man unfit to lead. This was perhaps the reason he had sought the Luna Diviner out. III needed someone responsible and powerful to follow, otherwise he may as well have asked Demyx or Zexion for assistance. An interesting notion, one VII would keep to himself.

One good thing about the third member of the Organization was that his head was in the right place. Kingdom Hearts and the retrieval of their hearts should ALWAYS be the goal of the Organization. What other option was there for the assembled members? VII hoped against hope that their new 'leader' knew that not a single elder member would be willing to change their plans for the foolish ideals of the newer members. But perhaps he need not worry about the consequences of Marluxia not obeying the previous goal...

"Do you not think that our quarry is a bit...inadequate? A dragon and a wind? Is there not more we can acquire? With our combined might, perhaps we should hunt a more powerful being. I'm sure there would be records in the computer system of your old master that would lead us to a greater prize for ourselves and for the Organization," Saïx offered finally. If there was an alliance made in order to capture mighty beasts, should they not shoot for the top of the list? The dragon and the wind may be powerful, but maybe there was a far greater creature or creatures that they could bring down.

The berserker locked gazes with the dragoon. "What do you think?"