Nice update John, and a very intresting story thus far.  I'm glad you
introduced an Anime universe that I was not as of yet familiar with.  
FF rocks and I've become even more interested in it due to this story.

The warp card is a good plot device, as is the Phoenix.  Are we ever going
to find out how it was trapped in the first place?  I also wonder
if John is going to have face whoever it was that trapped it there.  

At any rate, I'm eagerly awaiting UM1.  Good work!


-Anand