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Encounters	By : plusfour Category: +M through R > Phantasy Star Views: 1055 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own Phantasy Star, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Months passed and the investigation into the explosion on Ragol continued. Beneath the forest lay an intricate series of underground caves, and below that, several mines that the explorers from the Pioneer 1 had created. In her various quests related to the exploration of Ragol and the search for survivors, Janna had met a number of intriguing people – some hunters, some not – and she remained optimistic that the work she was doing would help uncover the truth about what had happened on the world that was supposed to be their new home.
Her latest series of missions involved the research of a man named Dr. Osto, who had been aboard the Pioneer 1. Though the scientist himself was nowhere to be found, his data was still in the mines and she had been sent to retrieve it by a different group of researchers, led by a Dr. Mome. On her way to find the reports, she had been joined by a tanned, pink-haired newman named Sue who had seemed friendly enough. Not long after she had brought the data back to her clients, Dr. Mome had requested to see the results for himself.
As she escorted the doctor back to Osto's computer, she had run into Sue again. “It's you again, Janna,” the woman greeted her, narrowing her eyes slightly. Upon hearing her reason for returning to the mines, she slightly raised a pink eyebrow in surprise. “The second research? Hey, let me give you some advice. It's not a good idea to be involved with Dr. Osto's research.” Her eyes darted around the room before settling back on her former partner. “Be careful of Black Paper...especially of the Black Hound.” After delivering her cryptic advice, Sue disappeared into the shadows.
Janna had heard quiet rumors about Black Paper aboard the Pioneer 2. Allegedly, it was a group of traders who sold things on the black market, but her work with the Guild and her travels on Ragol hadn't involved any of their illicit dealings...yet. As they traveled through the mines, she cast a sideways look at Mome and wondered if he could possibly be part of the group. She only trusted people as far as she needed to for her missions and usually chose not to question her clients, but something in Sue's foreboding warning had sparked her curiosity.
If things in the mines weren't strange enough already, she caught a glimpse of a somewhat-familiar figure standing at the end of a long path. “I think...have I met you before?” the man mumbled as she approached. “I'm not very good at remembering people, but I think I know you.”
Janna eventually recognized the man as Bernie, the ranger she had worked with all that time ago in the forest. Reflecting back upon that quest, it almost did make sense that he would be involved with this curious series of events. She nodded a greeting and offered an inquiry as to his general well-being.
Bernie had never been one for small-talk, though. “Is she your friend? I mean, the girl who was talking to you.”
“I wouldn't really call her a 'friend',” Janna told him. “More like an 'acquaintance'.”
“Could you tell me what she was talking to you about? I'm just curious...”
“Sure. She very politely suggested I not continue pursuing Dr. Osto's research.” The green-haired newman couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes just slightly.
“Hmm, Sue...No, I mean, she gave you a warning...” The look on Bernie's face suggested he already knew the answer.
Janna had no idea how he had heard their conversation from several rooms away, but she remembered their work together in the Gran Squall case and how he had confided in her; somehow, she felt safe doing the same. “You're right. She mentioned something about Black Paper and the Black Hound.”
“Do you know what Black Paper is?”
“Only the basic details,” she admitted.
“Underground traders who sell weapons, and parts of androids and slaves. No individual runs it. It's a syndicate that runs a black market. Black Hound is an android that was created solely for battle.” A cold look came into his eyes as he stared at the small newman. “I heard that the Pioneer 2 had one. I don't know what you want, but be careful if you want to stay alive.”
Janna had had enough cryptic warnings for one day and she folded her arms across her chest and pursed her lips in disapproval. He understood her irritated look right away and nodded a silent, conciliatory apology. Eying the scientist who stood several yards away fiddling with his handgun, the tall ranger moved closer to Janna. “Just one more thing to tell you...” Before she could respond, he casually wrapped an arm around her shoulder in what would have looked like a friendly farewell hug to anyone else, and ducked his head down so his mouth was right next to her ear. “That girl is a member of Black Paper,” he whispered. “Be careful.”
Startled, she looked up at him and he gently put a finger to her lips. Like Sue had before him, he stepped backwards and vanished into the dark recesses of the mine. Her mind reeled from the revelation that she had previously worked with and trusted a member of the black market traders, and the lingering remnants of Bernie's touch on her skin and breath in her ear didn't make it any easier for her to concentrate. Not wanting to spend more time than necessary down in the now eerie atmosphere of the lower level of the mines, she hurried over to grab Mome and lead him back the way they came.
After escorting Mome through the mines and defeating a mutated arthropod in the channel between the mines and the caves above them, Janna was confident that the bumbling doctor had nothing to do with Black Paper. Still, as they teleported back to the ship, her uneasiness returned as she couldn't shake the feeling that something shady was going on and that her actions were being watched. Though it could be argued that not every single one of the clients she had worked for since joining the Guild were entirely pure in their motives, she had always tried to keep her distance from more obvious displays of moral defiance.
Her suspicions were raised yet again when, on her way to buy supplies for her mission to track down a missing hunter, she nearly collided with Sue outside the shops. The two women eyed each other suspiciously before forcing themselves to maintain the pleasant facade that society dictated was necessary. “Oh, hi...” Sue broke the silence first with an artificial cheeriness. “I didn't expect to find you here...”
“Well, you know, I just go wherever work takes me...” Janna tried to match her light tone.
It seemed to catch the pink-haired newman off guard. “What? Do you have anything to tell me?”
Janna figured she might as well just come right out and approach the topic they'd been avoiding, albeit carefully. “I don't know. I've been hearing a lot about this group called Black Paper recently,” she suggested, trying to remain casual.
“Black Paper? I know it.” Sue's facial expression was unchanged. “They're traders who sell weapons, and parts of androids and slaves. No one actually runs it, it's a syndicate that runs a black market.” Her steely eyes fixated on those of the woman standing across from her. “That's all I know about it. Is there a reason you asked?”
The shorter newman shrugged. “Not particularly, I was just curious,” she said airily.
“Can I leave now?” Sue snapped. Before Janna could answer, she stalked off towards one of the transporters without looking back.
Though she had been wary of her former colleague since their last meeting in the mines, Janna knew then and there that Sue was not and never would be on her (very short) list of people to trust. Why their paths kept crossing, she didn't know, and she wasn't sure how badly she wanted to find out. Remembering that she was actually being paid to complete a quest at the moment, she tried to shake off her negative thoughts as she proceeded to the tool shop.
She embarked on her search for Anna Waynes, the twin sister of her client, Kroe, and teleported down to the caves, where she had last been spotted. The small blonde hunter had been within her grasp soon after she entered the first large cave, but she had managed to escape and left a trail of exploding traps in her wake. Janna refused to give up, though, and continued to track her deeper and deeper into the dank labyrinth.
There were numerous dead ends in the cave and she was beginning to get frustrated with her pursuit of the young hunter, when she stepped through a door and found none other than Bernie standing on the other side. “Hey, it's you!” he exclaimed. Surprise turned to relief as he smiled at the pretty newman. “You're safe,” he breathed. “Guess you haven't met the Black Hound face-to-face yet.”
“The Black Hound...” she repeated.
“It's an assassin of Black Paper.”
“Right, I remember.”
He stepped closer to her, almost close enough to touch, and stared down at her with a look of concern in his dusky blue eyes. “What did you do?” he said softly. “Why are you being followed by one?”
Janna instantly recalled her feelings of being watched the last time she was down in the mines. “I'm being followed?” she asked incredulously.
He cocked his head to the side. “Perhaps you knew or saw something regarding Pioneer 1, right?” Wide-eyed, she silently shook her head. “You don't even look like you're aware of it.” He forced a small laugh in an attempt to lighten the mood. “You look so confused. Do you want to know more?”
“Yes, of course!” Whatever Janna had gotten herself involved in, she was in deep and there was no turning back.
Bernie's face was still exhilaratingly close to hers and she tried to fight the heat rising to her face, to no avail. “It's strange, but I trust you,” he told her, the low tones of his voice simultaneously setting her at ease about her current situation and increasing the redness she was sure was prominently displayed on her cheeks. “Let me tell you about this...As you may know, Black Paper isn't just a normal group of traders. It is another facet of a ten-nation alliance. Black Paper also has assassins that are used by various organizations.” He noticed her staring blankly at him. “Are you still confused? In short: Black Paper is under the same people that worked on the Pioneer Project.”
At this point, Janna didn't even bother being surprised that the people who had worked to bring them to Ragol were in control of this organization. The actions of so many on board the ship were becoming too suspicious to go unacknowledged for much longer, but as hard as she tried, it seemed like she was no longer able to maintain her safe distance. “Anything else I need to know? You know, since I'd prefer to stay alive?”
“That's everything.” He finally broke eye contact with her and shifted his gaze around uneasily. “But I suspect that these accidents on Ragol are not coincidences,” he said quietly. “And I know Black Paper is looking for something underneath the ground...that girl, too...” he trailed off. There was a brief moment of silence before he looked back up at Janna. “There must be something there. Perhaps you're getting too close to it.”
“It?”
Bernie looked unsure. “Whatever it is, it must be holding the secret...” In an unexpected move, he reached over and gave her hand a quick squeeze. “Be careful, anyway,” he urged before he dropped it just as quickly. “I'm working with a guy to crack open this case. It would be great if you could help us out.” He stepped towards the door, but turned back to flash her a small, yet concerned smile. “See you later.”
Though in a way it seemed that everything she knew was being turned upside down, twisted, and shattered, something drew her to Bernie and she felt she could trust him. In times like these, one had to choose allies carefully, but it seemed as if he genuinely cared about her safety, a sentiment that was both unfamiliar and rather touching, if she dared to admit it to herself. She had always prided herself on being aware of her surroundings and being able to keep herself out of potentially lethal situations as much as possible, but as she left the small cavern and resumed her pursuit of the missing hunter, she was extra-vigilant about keeping an eye out for anyone who could be watching her from the shadows.
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Encounters