Chapter 82: A Bounty Hunter

After their previous encounter with the giant whale that is Sin. Yuna and the others were currently going to the temple of the Fayth so she could get more Aeons.

Tidus was about to come with, but he was pushed by Kimari. "Hey, what gives?"

"You are not a guardian, Tidus." Lulu explained to him and Tidus deflated. "Right... What am I gonna do now then?"

Ramiel took out a phone and gave it to him. "Play with that for now kid, it contains a lot of games."

Tidus begrudgingly accepted and they went deeper to the temple. "Please wait for me here, everyone." Yuna smiled at her guardians and went inside with Ramiel.

He then saw the stone wall where many people were embedded inside, making him frown. "I see. So these are the Fayth who are the source of the Aeons."

"Yes, and I will pray for one to answer my calls." Yuna kneeled and started praying. Ramiel called out to the Fayth with his energy and saw many more Aeons.

"Oh wow, so there are this many?" He looked around and saw summons galore. But they were weaker than he expected.

He could feel that they have one desire though. And that is to die peacefully and end their dream once and for all.

"Damn, because of a crazy son of a bitch you guys are trapped here for centuries." Ramiel felt bad for them and thought of releasing them.

"I can't let Yuna get out of here without at least one. Who wants to fight against Sin?" He announced and one of them raised their hands.

"Ifrit? Well, go and accept Yuna's call then. But are you sure? I will put all of the others' dreams to rest." Ramiel looked at the summon and it nodded.

"A fine man indeed, wanting to oversee your purpose until it is done." Ramiel patted him on the back.

Concentrating for a bit, he communed with the planet and sent their souls back to the lifestream. And the remaining Mako in the area was sucked up by Ramiel to further strengthen himself.

He needed a lot more energy to transcend space and time so he could send at least a message after all. And maybe they could get find a way to get to him.

Ramiel went back to the physical world and saw that Yuna has succeeded in getting Ifrit as an Aeon. The wall of Fayth then started crumbling, the people who sacrificed themselves finally laid to rest.

"Oops, better make a fake before they try and blame us." Ramiel erected another one that has some pretty convincing Fayth. Though no summoner was ever going to get more Aeons there.

"Yuna, how are you feeling?" He patted her head as she was sweating heavily. "I'm fine Ramiel, thank you for asking. I have gained another ally against Sin, let us go."

She smiled at him and thought that it was much easier than last time.

They went back to the surface and even the others were quite surprised she got an Aeon's support quickly. Thinking she must be really talented as a summoner.

"Let's find Tidus and go to Luca now then." Ramiel located the phone Tidus had and he led the way.

They saw him sitting on a bench and was playing with concentration. "Come on Tidus, let's go to Luca now."

Ramiel took the phone away and saw that he was playing Diablo. "Hey, I was having a good time." Tidus complained.

"Then play again later when we're on the boat. And this is mine remember?" Ramiel laughed at his sad expression.

They went to the port and began travelling once again.

After sailing for some time, Tidus was thinking about what to do in Spira. And why he was sent here by a friend of his father's in the first place.

He started playing with a blitzball and spun in the air, Tidus then kicked the ball with amazing speed.

"Hey, what's got you thinking so hard?" Yuna went up to him and smiled at him. "Uhhh, just thinking about my home..."

"Zanarkand, right?" Yuna asked and Tidus was surprised. "You believe that I live on Zanarkand?" He raised a brow, all of the people were thinking he was crazy or something after all.

"Yes, sir Jecht. My father's guardian told us about stories of Zanarkand 10 years ago." Yuna remembered the two guardians of her father fondly.

"Jecht, huh? The name of my father is Jecht too. But he disappeared ten years ago." Tidus squinted his eyes, remembering unpleasant things about his father.

"Really? He also said he came from Zanarkand. Don't you think that he is your father? He disappeared ten years ago and arrived here in Spira just like you." Yuna was quite excited as she admired her father's group.

"Tch, as if. The old man won't ever do something like being a guardian to save the world Yuna." Tidus thought that would be impossible.

"Oh... But that move you just did, wasn't that one of sir Jecht's moves?" Yuna remembered and Tidus went wide eyed.

"T-that's right." He started believing that his father went to the future as well into Spira. And he became a guardian for Yuna's father.

"He... He called it the marvelous Jecht shot mk. 3." Yuna started laughing and Tidus cracked a smile as well.

"Yeah, he called it mark 3 because people will always watch on if there was a mark 1 and 2. But he just skipped to three and people will come to watch him, anticipating other moves. But he scams them and just says next time." Tidus chuckled.

They went awkward for a moment and Ramiel who was watching them from the side sighed. "Just ask him to be your friend girl, don't be awkward. Chin up, remember?"

He commented and Yuna got embarrassed. "Hey, Tidus. Can I ask you to be my guardian?" Yuna wanted to know more about Zanarkand and because it was basically confirmed that he was from a far off time. He would be lost in the world.

"A what? Really? Why though, I'm not a fighter..." Tidus was confused. "I know how it feels to be scared and be alone. When my father defeated Sin 10 years ago, he left me behind."

Tidus nodded and thought that her family was more complicated than expected. "I don't know what to say... If it's okay with you guys, then sure! I'll become a guardian." He smiled, thinking that he'll show his old man that he's better than him.

"Really? Then it's decided." Yuna smiled at him and Ramiel gave her a thumbs up. "Good work, you'll have a hundred friends in no time Yuna."

She blushed and pouted at him. "I'm not aiming for a hundred friends Ramiel!" She retorted.

"Ohhh, I thought you were gunning for 100, because you barely have any friends." Ramiel snickered and they started quarrelling.

"And before you say I have none, observe." Ramiel took out a meowfficer. Tidus and Yuna then stared right at the cute and fluffy meowfficer.

It saluted right at them and jumped at Ramiel while he played with it using a feather toy.

"W-what the hell is that? It's so cute." Lulu who checked their commotion saw it and was starstruck.

"Ahhh, so you love cute things huh? Lulu?" Ramiel smirked at her and took out more meowfficers, playing with them by using a laser pointer.

Lulu almost died of jealousy right then and there. "Come on Yuna, play with one." Ramiel handed her the previous toy and they played with them.

The black mage bit her lip. 'I don't need it...' She looked at their cute and fluffy fur that Yuna was rubbing contently with a smile.

'I don't need it...' She looked at their attire that was a sailor hat and some military uniforms thinking they were cute as hell.

One then went up to her and rubbed up to her leg. "I need it!" Lulu tried snatching it up, but Ramiel beckoned it back to him.

"Ahhh, if you want something. You gotta ask for it nicely~" He gave a smirk at her and Wakka thought that he was truly a mystical Aeon. Never has he ever seen Lulu that is defeated in his life.

"W-what do you want?" Her voice hitched and she really wanted to hug one. "Hmmm, what do you think Yuna?" Ramiel looked at her and she was surprised.

"Uhhh, ask nicely?" Yuna tilted her head and was struggling in thinking of making it easier for Lulu.

"I see, then if you say nyan~ please give me one of them. Then I'll maybe consider." Ramiel had a smile on his face and Lulu gritted her teeth.

"Uhh, maybe that's a bad idea." Wakka commented. Everybody ignored him and Lulu couldn't resist.

"Nyan~ please give me one of them." Lulu acted atrociously. Making Ramiel shook his head with a disappointed sigh.

"You've got to put more oomph into it. And this will help you." He took out some cat ears and put it on her head. Lulu blushed like a tomato and thought she would die of embarrassment.

She tried once again and Ramiel caught it all in 8k. "Very nice, come on then. You can pick one." Ramiel smiled at her.

Lulu picked one immediately and ran away, almost dying of embarrassment. "You're crazy man, that Lulu... I would've never imagined seeing her blush like that." Wakka was both impressed and scared that he'll mess with them next.

"Kukuku, look at this Yuna. Don't you think that Lulu looks cute here?" He showed the footage to Yuna. "Ahh, s-she does. Doesn't she?" Yuna got nervous, wishing that he won't make her do something like that.

They then had some fun with the meowfficers, even Kimari who was stoic as it gets played with one.

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After travelling, they arrived at Luca's port. It was the 2nd largest city in Spira and they were being welcomed by announcers even.

"Whoa, this place looks pretty huge. Unlike Besaid and Kilika." Tidus stared at the city, being reminded a bit of Zanarkand's metropolis. Though it pales in comparison.

"It is pretty impressive for Spira because they regularly suppress technology." Ramiel commented and Wakka remembered the Al-bhed. People who use the lost technology a lot called the Machina.

"We welcome the statistical impossibilities. The Besaid Aurochs that have lost for 23 years straight! Not even going through the preliminary rounds!" The announcer announced when they arrived at the port.

"Oh wow, you guys suck ass." Ramiel commented and Wakka deflated. "Hey, we've got Tidus here now. We'll definitely win this, ain't that right?"

Tidus nodded, he felt quite bad that they've lost for 23 years and have never even got past the preliminary.

Another ship arrived and the security cleared the area. "Ohh? A VIP is coming or something?" Ramiel looked on with interest.

A man with goofy ass hair disembarked the boat, wearing a shirt that was almost open all the way like a douche.

"W-who is that? And why are people bowing?" Tidus asked, confused about the people's actions.

"That's Maester Seymour Guado, a high ranking official of the Yevon faith. Bow your head too." Wakka pushed his head down.

"Chin up Tidus, you aren't a part of the Yevon faith. A religion that forces you to show that much respect even if you don't believe in them. I will burn it to the ground if they take offense to you not prostrating yourself." Ramiel's eyes squinted.

He didn't have a good feeling about him. 'I need to look out for that guy, he gives me the villain vibes. That guy's a bigwig of a cult after all.'

Yuna and the others went wide eyed at his words and thought he was supposed to be a part of the Yevon faith. But with his words, the Fayth doesn't seem to be a part of them which made them doubt it. Aeons are basically like apostles that help them defeat the devil after all.

Seymour then kneeled and bowed to the ship, an old man appeared and started spewing propaganda. Ramiel then raised a brow, seeing that the guy wasn't what he seemed to be.

"Yuna, who the hell is that old man?" He squinted his eyes immediately and Yuna answered. "He's grand Maester Mika. He's been the leader of the faith for 50 years."

"I see... Then he's been overstaying in his post for a few decades." Ramiel glared at him and prepared to send him to the farplane.

"Old son of a bitch is clinging to power, disgusting garbage that uses faith and religion to influence others." He proceeded with the sending and the old man turned into particles of Mako.

The whole plaza was in a panic and Yuna stared right at him upon hearing her words. "That's right, that old asshole is an unsent. Never trust people that manipulate people through their faith and emotions. Those guys are politicians through and through."

The group were shocked, especially the guardians. Because just like the others, they thought that the Yevon faith helps them against Sin.

Their whole belief was crashing right through their eyes and the majority of Luca was too. Seeing that the grand Maester was an unsent. It was basically heresy and blasphemy.

"Now, just wait for that guy to do something. There's a power vacuum in the religion. They'll all fight for the top, coveting that power. So predictable." Ramiel thought of killing him now, but he refrained. Giving the guy the benefit of the doubt. He was a law abiding citizen after all that believes in due process.

They waited at the stadium for the tournament. The matches weren't cancelled, and as expected. There was an immediate cover up.

"Hello everyone, I am Maester Seymour Guado. Today, there is a terrible incident. Grand Maester Mika has passed away. But stay strong everyone, we will proceed with this tournament to honor his service for the people of Spira." Seymour announced to the people and they mourned.

"R-Ramiel is right... That was obviously a sending. And they are covering it up." Lulu frowned heavily.

"Well, you now know to never trust the Yevon faith. Their lies and shams go deeper than you think." Ramiel snorted.

But then, he felt a large pulse of energy enter the atmosphere. It was similar to the lifestream, but also to Jenova.

"What the hell? I need to investigate that quick! I will be leaving you guys for now. Something important came up." Ramiel immediately left and they tried following him.

He flew to the skies, emitting shockwaves and cracking the ground as he jumped. "What amazing power. Where will he go with such urgency?" Lulu wasn't surprised anymore.

"We don't know, but it looked important. Don't worry about him ya, he can make Sin retreat with one attack." Wakka commented and they prepared for the match.

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At a certain island, a spaceship landed and a tall person wearing an obviously futuristic suit disembarked.

"ADAM, scan the planet and search for the x-parasite. We need to eliminate it immediately." The person in the suit ordered the AI of the ship.

"I will need a bit of time due to low energy reserves because of our travel to the Sol system. Any objections, lady?"

"Ahh, it seems there's no need to." ADAM mused. Ramiel then crashed right in front of them and he stared right at the ship. Not noticing the person who cloaked themselves.

"Hmmm, a spaceship? What in the world... I swear I know this design..." Ramiel thought about it and tried jogging his memory.

He then felt a burst of energy that was aimed right at his head. He dodged in a hair's breadth and looked at where it came from.

"Wha... Samus?" Ramiel went wide eyed and was shocked to see the galactic bounty hunter.

Samus was surprised that the x-parasite knew her name. But she prepared for battle nonetheless. She ran at him and used shinespark. Accelerating immediately at supersonic speeds.

Ramiel met her with his own blow and their fists clashed. The island shook and trees were blown away by their attacks.

He maneuvered himself to her back and bear hugged her. "Wait, wait. Stop attacking me! I'm friendly, I swear!" He tried explaining.

Samus wasn't having it though, knowing that the x-parasites gain all the memories and knowledge of the person infected.

She morph balled and started leaving bombs around him. "Ahh, shit." Ramiel made a spherical barrier and the bombs exploded grandly.

A crater was left on the ground and Samus started firing micro missiles at his location. Ramiel dodged and was having a bad time due to the large amount of missiles. Coupled with his reduced speed.

"I said wait dammit! Calm down lady!" Ramiel shouted, but Samus replied with a plasma beam.

He teleported right behind her and grappled with her. He put her in a chokehold, sticking to her with Mako and gravity magic.

Samus clicked her tongue, not able to morph into a ball because of his grip. Her suit then started turning more organic looking. Its color turning green.

Ramiel immediately feel her drain his energy like a sponge. "What the hell!? Using your Metroid powers? That's just not fair now." He thought of ways to counter, but she was quickly gaining strength in multitudes due to his abundant energy.

He backed off and tried pinning her down with gravity magic. It was ineffective though, her suit able to deal with gravity.

"Let's calm down, I'm not a threat." He tried talking to her again. But she pointed her arm cannon and a thick laser beam fired.

It started tearing through the island and it started sinking. She grapple beamed on him and tried pulling him towards her.

"I guess you won't listen, women." He started filling his muscles with obscene amounts of Mako. He flapped his wings and combined with the pull of her grapple beam, she was blindsided by his speed.

With his leg in the air. He delivered an axe kick right at the top of her head. She tore through the rocks of the island and went spiralling down to the sea.

He then clapped and the sinking pieces of the island smashed right on her.

A beam escaped from the water and he dodged, sweating a bit because of its power. "You shouldn't wave that around, girl. That's dangerous."

He teleported right below her and took a thick beam of Adamantite. He used it like a bat and whacked her with it to make her fly into the sky.

Samus' suit cracked from the extremely brutal swing and she got a concussion from the sudden change of inertia.

He formed the Adamantite and used it as cuffs for her whole body. Turning her into a sushi roll so she can't turn into a ball.

"Hah. Listen here, I'm Ramiel Samus. Why are you attacking me anyway?" She was still quiet, but with her compromised state, he wasn't attacking her at all. So she calmed down and thought that he is like the Chozo that helped her in planet ZDR even though he was infected with the x-parasite.

"You're infected with the x-parasite. I must take care of it immediately or it will destroy the universe." She answered succinctly.

He sighed and shook his head. "Listen here, I am not infected you know? What makes you think that?"

She squinted her eyes. "You are integrated with the x-parasite."

Ramiel was going to explain again that he wasn't. But he went thinking for a moment. "Ahhhh, fuck. It's because of Jenova..." He had a eureka moment and thought that Jenova was basically the same as the x-parasite.

"Damn, the Cetras must be badass. Taking care of Jenova with their numbers going down so quickly." Ramiel mumbled and Samus was going to charge up a beam again to escape.

"Wait, calm down. If I free you, you won't attack right?" He raised a brow at her and she nodded after thinking for a bit.

"Okay, if you attack me. I'm warning you, I won't hold back and break your limbs and rip you out of that suit, are we clear?" Ramiel stared at her coldly, feeling that she wasn't going to be courteous.

"Fine." She knew he wasn't joking and she didn't know his abilities. Ramiel was stronger than Raven Beak as well. And he could've killed him instantly after apprehending her.

Ramiel sat down beside her and put the pieces of Adamantite back to his inventory. They then stared right at each other.

"Okay, let me explain to you my life then." He sighed and told her about the Jenova project and other things that led him to Spira.

Samus was internalizing his words and was impressed. "Can you give me a sample of the Minerva cells you are talking about?"

'He engineered the x-parasite to be beneficial for even normal humans. This man is a threat to the galaxies. His strength is unmatched and his intellect dangerous.' Samus thought of what to do with him.

"Here, take a look." He gave her some samples and her suit absorbed it. She then felt that her Metroid DNA got even more stable.

"Hey, can you give me a bit of blood? I'd really like to have some Metroid DNA." Ramiel thought it would help a lot for absorbing energy to have enough for communicating with the others in Gaia.

"Fat chance." Samus immediately denied and he thought that was fair.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Ramiel asked her as they have made pretty good progress about the misunderstanding.

"I'll monitor you." Samus stared right at him and wasn't completely sure that he was safe to be left alone on the planet.

"You sure? You'll have to lose the suit to blend in. This planet is like in medieval times. There's a threat that's keeping the technology from progressing, it's pretty weird actually. You'll see some advanced tech here and others will be living like tribes." Ramiel explained.

Samus raised a brow and thought he must be trying to get her guard down.

"You don't believe me do you? Well, how about I show you?" He put his hand on her waist and they flew to the skies.

Samus was about to struggle, but she thought that she could just absorb his energy with their contact. Concluding that he wasn't really gonna do anything.

They went to Kilika and Ramiel showed her that the people were living quite primitive lives.

"They're pretty out of the times right? Then look at the next one." Ramiel smiled and went to Besaid where a lot of abandoned Machina were.

They went inside of one and she scanned the ruin. And it was pretty advanced. Basically Chozo tech, the power source being magic and technology.

"See? I told you, I'm not lying. There are sail boats here that fly as well and have cannons that can level cities. Imagine a damned sailboat bombarding a city." Ramiel laughed, remembering the weapons of the Al-bhed.

"Okay. I'll lose the suit then." She was still suspicious of him, but he went out of his way to explain and thought that was pretty trustworthy. He also went easy on her when she realized he could fly.

She took off her suit, but she was still wearing a blue skintight suit underneath. Though even without the suit, she was still a superhuman that could brawl with Aeons with her bare hands. (pic)

"Hmmm, you still have weapons on you and cloaked them. Pretty smart, I like it." He gave her a thumbs up and she snorted.

"You might attack me, come and try." She smirked at him and was starting to warm up to him. Because he had the feel of a soldier.

"Hah, I won't. Only if you want me to." He raised his hands and chuckled.

She raised a brow. "Are you flirting with me right now?" Samus thought that was quite surprising. "Hmmm, maybe I am? So I could attack you when you're defenseless and get your blood." He laughed and Samus gave him a little jab at his ribs.

"Oof, that hurts you know?" Ramiel rubbed his ribs, her little jab would definitely kill a normal person after all.

"Shut up, I'm going to be following you. You better not do anything suspicious." She squinted her eyes, ready to don her suit immediately.

"Don't worry, I'm a law abiding citizen." He put his hand on her waist again and went back to Luca.

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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.