The start of the mission

[Blade]

The people in the park scaredly looked at the Team Phantom members as they walked past. They wondered what the mysterious group was planning...

[kratos]

"E ryda bmylac fedr y mud uv baubma"

ooc: That was "I hate places with a lot of people" in his native language, Al Bhed.

[Blade]

"I know how you feel. I don't like large crowds either." He walked over to a quiet spot in the park, away from the masses. "Now, isn't it kind of sad how we have to go raid the university to get members? I've heard of other teams in the world who have members actually volenteer to join. I have thought of a way for us to get that. First, we begin to 'help' the people of the city, beginning to earn their trust as we continue in secret to reach our goal. Then, we continue the good deeds until Team Phantom is respected instead of feared. That'll make it easy to control the city without too much bloodshed. Once we're respected, it'll be an honor to join with us, and no more problem with lack of members."

[kratos]

"You're different than you used to be. Maybe you could convince someone else at the base, but not me. I live to kill."

[Blade]

"As i used to. Until i found that the thing i hated was false. how long are you going to go before being forced to realize that even the most important thing at the moment will eventually fade, even killing? What will you do once Team Phantom has reached their goal? Will you kill their people? They wouldn't like that." Slate knew he was talking sense, and was ready to duel this creature he concidered a friend if he had to.

[kratos]

"What do you know? My destruction will end with the human race. Nearly all of my people, the Al Bhed, were killed by those humans."

[Blade]

"I can understand your anger. But leaping into battle is not the best strategy. Think about it - if you were facing a creature of your skill in both melee and magic, whose mind was not clouded by hatred and anger, can you honestly tell me you would win?"

[kratos]

"I don't see how I could lose," he said. "How can they strike something outside their own dimension? I'm one of the only 2 who's able to step into an alternate dimension that only I can access."

[Blade]

"The other being Kratos. He helped me realize my mistakes. He let me duel my old rival in his Abyss. That duel, it was full of vicious attacks. Finally, my rival proved his strength, and defeated me before i could even make a move to defend myself. I was concidered the best swordsman in the world by my allys and my enemys. Are you sure there is not another who can defeat you?"

[kratos]

"Actually, the other is that traitor, Kaushal. He can step into a dimension that's all his own. He was only beaten because Kratos destroyed that machina he was using. That fool. Trying to use Vegnagun. Even I'm not that desperate."

[Blade]

"Ah, but you can tell what i'm saying, right? I'm saying the even though I had never lost, had nothing to do with that battle against a stronger foe." Slate had other reasons for talking to his friend about these matters - he was hoping to change Lakkam's mind before he ever had to face something like it.

[kratos]

"What does it matter anymore?" Lakkam said. "I know killing the humans won't bring back all the Al Bhed who were murdered....but"

[Blade]

"Remember that duel we had, where we were of even power, Lakkam? Why don't we have another. I will show you the difference now between us." Slate stood, waiting for Lakkam's reply.

[kratos]

"One moment," he said, disappearing. He reappeared a moment later holding a high-tech sword. "The same weapon I used last time. I've tinkered with it and made it stronger."

[Blade]

"Very well. You will see the true strength of the Hyrameki this time, my friend, as i saw it in Blade." He drew his sword, and moved into his battle stance.

[kratos]

"Bring it," Lakkam said, his laser appearing from the base of his sword.

[Blade]

Slate took a step, disappeared, then reappeared in front of Lakkam, his sword coming down over the top of Lakkam's head.

[kratos]

Lakkam disappeared, slipping into his own dimension to attack unseen.

[Blade]

Slate just smiled and started meditating, waiting for the attack to come. wherever he comes from, i can counter his attack.

[kratos]

"Dimension sword attack," Lakkam said to himself. He only made the sword pass back into the real world, keeping himself hidden and trying to strike him.

[Blade]

"That move, huh?" Slate just lept, evading the attack as he awaited Lakkam's return. "You should know by now i'm not fooled by tricks, Lakkam."

[kratos]

Lakkam grabbed a large laser cannon near him and fired the beam through the dimensional barrier at Slate.

[Blade]

Slate rolled to the side, and watched the lazer pass by. "You'll have to do better than that, Lakkam!"

[kratos]

"Guided blasts," Lakkam's voice said through the portal.

[Blade]

Slate watched uninterestedly as the lazer blast drew nearer, then finally evaded it again, while moving over to a tree, and as the blast neared again, he cut the branch of a tree off, making it hit the lazer and neutralize it.

[kratos]

"That was the best I had."

[Blade]

"Too bad. Now, let's see your best melee moves!" Slate called out, waiting for Lakkam to show himself.

[kratos]

Lakkam appeared before him piloting a 20 foot tall machine. "Let's see how you do against my mini version of Vegnagun, then!"

[Blade]

"All right, now we've got half a challange." Slate was beginning to show a little of his old self, although he never really returned. He used the Hyrameki to dash up to the machine, and then lept, coming up fast on Lakkam's cockpit.

[kratos]

The machina moved to protect Lakkam. "Vegnagun had a self-protection response mechanism. I built the same thing into this mini-Vegnagun."