Chapter 8 is here, and on a tuesday of all days! :O I know, I know (I hate Tuesdays for some reason) but let's just say I was gifted with the wonder of free time. Don't take it for granted guys, thats my advice.
Thanks a bunch to: Alixems, Constanza Rose, SugarhogRose, LeyLa (what the-? is that seriously your name? cos i kno someone with that name... do u kno me?) and OddSakura. Thanks for your supportive reviews, guys! So anyway, here is your unusually out of routine chapter, enjoy the randomly updated chapter! :)
Chapter 9 – Solace, Not Soulmate
Jecht forced his eyes onto the ring of keys that was hooked around his finger, making sure not to glance at Rikku again. He couldn't help but steal a glimpse of her occasionally; she looked so peaceful, curled up with her head resting on her hands. She'd fallen asleep a while ago, probably from exhaustion, he mused. He shifted slightly on the wooden stool, his feet propped up on a control panel beside her cell. He'd managed to keep his focus onto the keys on his finger by twirling them rhythmically. He spun the loop with ease and every now and then his eyes would drift to her sleeping form, still captivated by her beauty.
.
He shook his head, steeling himself. It was quiet in the room and he usually would have liked that, but he couldn't help feeling a little awkward.
Man, if I stay here much longer I'm gonna go crazy.
He eyed Rikku again and stood up, keeping the metal hoop of keys clutched in his hand. He took one last glance at her before stepping out of the room and into the corridor, shuddering at the cold air that induced.
.
He walked slowly, listening out for any signs of life within the base, distantly pondering the whereabouts of his boss. He walked past the main control room when a pair of voices made him pause beside the doorway. He pressed himself against the wall and strained his ears to hear the conversation.
"Good work, Metal. I'm pleased to see that Jecht is back on track," Dr. Eggman said in his scratchy voice.
Then came the robotic voice of Metal Sonic. "But, Doctor, what about the prisoner?"
Jecht stiffened.
"What about her?" Eggman demanded.
"With respect, Doctor, it doesn't seem that she is of much use," Metal Sonic stated.
"Well, no I suppose she isn't."
"Then I think it's best to exterminate her."
.
Jecht felt his blood run cold. His hand gripped the keys tighter, until the rusty metal bit through his glove. His heart sped up into such a fast pace that it seemed to be humming, but with each beat it hammered his chest painfully. He swallowed a gasp and tried to regain his concentration.
"Extermination seems rather severe," said Dr. Eggman.
Metal said, "You did say that you were not going to lose anymore, Doctor. You said that nothing would stand in your way. No matter what it takes. She could give away our position or she might have found information while she's been here. It's the wisest option."
.
There was an agonising silence as Dr. Eggman was obviously pondering the decision. Jecht tensed his muscles as if to hold back his panic.
"You're right, Metal Sonic," Dr. Eggman finally replied. "Of course I'll do whatever is necessary. You can carry out the act as soon as you're ready."
"Yes, Doctor."
Jecht suddenly held his fist onto his chest as his heart lurched in alarm. He thought he was going to be sick. Rikku had been right all along. Eggman had changed, and that robot probably wasn't helping. And now she really was going to die, and it would be his fault. Memories of his father screaming at him raced through his mind, taunting him, reminding him that he was the one to blame. He stood frozen in place, weighed down by his uncovered fears.
.
Biting his lip in effort to toughen his confidence, Jecht straightened as he realised that there was still time to change things. He was the only person that had a chance, he knew. Before his breath had caught up with him, he'd jumped away from the wall and tore off towards Rikku's room once again. He tried in vain to keep his footsteps quiet as he shot down the hall and back inside the room. She barely stirred. He moved silently to her cell, keeping his movements light and agile. He quickly found the correct key after fumbling around for a moment and placed it inside the lock, turning it hurriedly.
.
The cold, metal door swung open, leaving a harsh creaking sound to echo in the air. Jecht ignored it and dropped beside the sleeping cat without hesitating. He shook her shoulder. Her eyelids flickered and she moaned.
"Rikku!" he whispered. "Rikku! Come on, get up!"
She lifted her head to regard him, and a small hint of dread flickered through her drowsy, lime orbs. "Is it time already?" she breathed.
"Yes, now come on!" He held out his hand to her, and pulled her into a sitting position.
"Alright," she whispered fearfully. "Just please make it quick." She clenched her eyes shut and held his arm.
.
He stared at her briefly. "What?" he hissed.
Rikku opened her eyes again, tilting her head as she watched him with a new light of curiosity. "Aren't you here to kill me?"
"No!" Jecht cried. He lowered his voice again. "No, I'm here to save you."
She glanced questioningly at him and he explained with a greater sense of urgency.
"I heard Dr. Eggman talking to Metal Sonic and you were right. They want to kill you. So come on!" he said again.
Rikku barely had time to react before he'd pulled her up. He kept one hand clasping hers protectively, and with the other he held his finger to his lips to signal for her to stay quiet. She nodded and they crept towards the doorway. Jecht paused in the corridor, darting his eyes about the surroundings and tilting his ears. A ghostly stillness remained inside the base and not a sound could be heard but the far-off whistling of the air whipping against the metal shell of the flying station.
.
Jecht was sure that the coast was clear and he stepped further into the corridor, gently beckoning Rikku with him. After one last check of their environment, Jecht suddenly broke into a run. Rikku held his hand tighter with effort to keep up. They zipped in and out of a maze of hallways, racing down the corridors and swerving round corners. Jecht kept himself attentive and they would occasionally pause to listen before running again. They were almost out of breath as they finally reached the outside air on the deck. Then they stopped, their hearts pounding. The night wind was whipping around them and it was made colder by the height of the ship. The stars gently lit the sky like tiny lanterns.
.
Jecht glanced around again, still unconvinced of their momentary safety. He was so caught in the moment that he didn't take much notice of her delicate hands in his. "Are you alright?" he said quickly.
Rikku nodded, her chest heaving slightly from the running.
"Good," Jecht said firmly. He held a firm but concerned gaze, his good looks outlined in the moonlight. "I'm going to have to set off the alarm in about five minutes to make it seem like you escaped by accident. Will that be enough time for you to get off the ship?"
"I... well how am I supposed to get off?" she asked.
.
Just as the sentence left her lips, a familiar whirring of propellers could be heard as the X-Tornado came into view. The blue aircraft swooped beside the huge station so that it was directly beside it, about to land. Jecht nodded towards the plane.
"Looks like your friends have figured that one out," he said.
Rikku smiled in recognition at the scene before turning back to her belated saviour. He didn't seem to be meeting her gaze entirely, as if the awkwardness had returned to him and he'd forgotten how to communicate. It had been a delayed rescue but to Rikku he was practically a knight in shining armour. She squeezed his hands.
"Jecht," she said softly.
He looked at her.
"Thank you." She placed a short, sweet kiss on his lips and pulled back again.
He looked like a startled rabbit and she smiled sweetly again before reluctantly letting go of his hands and stepping back from him.
.
After one last glance at her hero, she ran over to Sonic and the rest of her friends, shouting to them and hugging them all. And Jecht just watched her from the shadows, and his fingers came to rest on his lips where hers had just been. He felt his cheeks heat up slightly and a small smile crept up his muzzle. It was like a small flame was burning in the dark and keeping his hopes alive. His smile grew as he continued to survey her actions, making sure that she left the ship. Thankfully she did and the blue airplane quickly flew away again, disappearing into the cover of the clouds. He pried himself away from the outside at last and strode back into the base, switching back into his assumed business role.
.
He swiftly made his way back into the room where Rikku had been his prisoner only moments ago and glanced at the emergency alarm behind the thin sheet of security glass. A moment of hesitation prepared himself and he clenched his hand into a fist. Then he smashed the glass. The alarm sounded. The sudden, thick wailing of the siren bounced off the walls and battered his ears. It was a harsh reminder of his situation. He knew that he'd be in a heap of trouble for the 'captive escaping'. He braced himself for the difficulties that could follow but he didn't feel nearly as anxious as he normally would. He was securely aware of the fact that Rikku was safe and it gave him a strange, warm comfort.
.
In between the mix of feelings that obscured his mind, Jecht was somewhat intrigued by the one that lingered in amongst his thoughts; the one that was weaved through his every consideration but he'd never really taken any notice of. But his curiosity was highly limited – even at that point – and he was hesitant to delve into the meaning of that particular emotion. It didn't disturb him quite as much as it used to, and despite his underlying nervousness he was growing slightly accustomed to it.
.
Throughout the next several hours, Jecht finally understood that he had a new motive for continuing his work as he contemplated his feelings. Everything that he'd endured seemed belittled by the masked emotion that now intruded his thoughts. It was a foreigner and a potential threat to his sanity, he thought, but at least now he'd accepted its place in his mind and had lessened his furious state of denial. But of course he still refused to believe in the soulmates legend or any 'mushy stuff' like that, and his shields would shoot up at the mention of them.
.
Nonetheless, it was nice to have some reassurance that the person he'd come to care about was safe. 'Care' was perhaps an understatement, Jecht knew, but that didn't stop him from rejecting the idea. Rikku was somebody that soothed the inner turmoil that he felt, but that did not relate to the 'Legend of the Soulmates'in any way; of course it didn't.
.
Even with the foggy mystery of his mind, Jecht was satisfied. Rikku was safe for the time being. She was out of harm's way, and not only that but it seemed that things were almost looking up. Jecht smiled to himself as he returned to his room. Yes, things were going well, considering his situation. Surely, it could only go uphill from then onwards.
Hmm, surely indeed... MWA HA HA suspenseyness! Doesn't it torture you so?
So.. Eggman's being a very bad egg but apart from that things are 'looking up'. Are they really? We'll see... ;)
Hope you enjoyed the unexpected chapter! Reviews are great and they make me smile, if you could spare a little while! ^_^
