Found by Cruxis
"So, Anna...why is it that you are so concerned about Lloyd? Why does he mean so much to you?" The half-elven professor voiced her query to the startled woman. The group were just over halfway to the isolated Renegade base. As they ventured further, more and more sand was picked up from the desert floor and thrown into the air around them. A sandstorm was brewing.
The brunette woman glanced nervously at her stoic husband before looking back towards Raine, alarm flashing in her eyes.
"I...uh...I just care about him a lot 'cause he's, uhh a really nice kid...?" She stuttered as a rosy blush crept onto her face.
Raine's eyes narrowed sceptically. "I don't believe that that's all there is to it. Let's try this again, why are you so concerned about him?"
"I..." Anna looked to the ground, suddenly finding her feet extremely interesting. "...He just reminds me of a son we just had. We lost our son many years ago..." She trailed off, sadness washing over her whole being.
"Ah...I see. Thank you." The silver haired woman walked off in silence, seeking companionship with her younger brother and the fledgling chosen.
As soon as she was gone, Anna squeezed Kratos' hand apologetically. "I'm sorry, I nearly gave us away..." She looked down as her brown hair fell gently over her shoulders, hiding the sad look on her face.
Kratos squeezed her hand back reassuringly. "...Do not worry, just be more careful next time. Try not to let your emotions take over."
"We will tell him eventually though, right?" She peeked out nervously from the curtain of hair.
"...Eventually, yes." Kratos answered as the others came to a halt.
The couple stopped, giving confused looks to their companions as they turned to face them.
"Why are we stopping?" Anna asked.
"There is a sandstorm coming, it's not too bad now, but it's getting worse as we speak. If we stay out in this and get lost in the desert, we will be of no use to Lloyd. I suggest we stop for a while, there's a large outcropping of rocks over there. We can take shelter there." The half- elven woman glanced at the others, daring them to go against her.
"But what about Lloyd?" Anna, Genis and Colette apparently had similar thought patterns as they all spoke in unison.
Kratos thought momentarily. "As Raine said, we will be of no use to Lloyd lost in the desert. I agree that our best bet would be to rest here until the storm blows over."
The others agreed sombrely and made their way towards the outcrop of rocks, praying that Lloyd could last a bit longer without them.
"Please, be safe Lloyd..." His mother's whisper was lost in the winds.
"Ugh...where am I?" Lloyd held both of his hands to his head. He had a major headache.
"Where am I...?" Lloyd wondered aloud. Glancing around the room, he could see that he was infact in what looked like a cell. He was laying on a cold, wooden bench- the only thing in the room bar him. Through the bars that covered the front of the cell, the disoriented teen could see a renegade pacing back and forth, in his hand was the key to the cell.
'I gotta get out of here. Maybe I can get that key?' He thought, placing his feet silently on the floor and standing up slowly.
He crept to the bars. Crouching down, he waited until the guard walked past, aimed the sorcerer's ring, his only weapon, and shot. The renegade doubled over and fell to the ground with a grunt.
"Nearly got it...!" Lloyd pushed his arm through the cell bars and stretched his arm out as far as he could, grabbing for the key that was in the unconscious guards possession.
"Yes!" He wrapped his hand around the key and scrambled hurriedly to his feet, twisting his arm to get the key in the lock.
As he heard the click of the lock, the door swung open and the teen ran out, jumping over the guard's body.
He made his was as swiftly as he could through the maze-like base, stopping only once to pick up his weapons that were hidden away in a chest.
The brunette raced through a door and skidded to a halt, panting as he doubled over to rest his hands on his knees.
"Who are you?" Lloyd stood up straight as he realised that he was not alone. His hands went straight to his sides, resting his hands on the hilts of his swords, ready for a fight.
A blue haired man stood before him, arms folded across his chest, black cape billowing out behind him.
"Give me your name and I'll give you mine!" Lloyd delivered his famous line.
"...Ah I see, you're Lloyd, aren't you? I see the resemblance..."
"Huh? Resemblance? To who?" Lloyd backed out of his battle stance, a confused look appearing on his face.
"Your father of course, who d'you think you resemble, Santa?"
"...I'm gonna pretend I know who that is..." the moment of randomness ended as Lloyd continued. "But how d'you know my father?"
The bluenette turned his back on the teen, cape swishing around him as he made his way to his desk. He sat down before answering the brunette's question.
"I used to be friends with you father...briefly your mother too." His eyes closed, lost in memories of a distant past.
"My mom? Are my parents alive- are they okay?" Excitement showed in Lloyd's body language and speech, elated that he might finally get to find out more about his mysterious parents.
"They are okay, and they're close than you think." Cape man stood up, eyes snapping open and glaring at the teen. "But unless you give me that exsphere you'll never get to meet them!"
He charged at the boy unexpectedly, knocking him clean off his feet so he landed on the marble floor with a loud thump. The next instant, the bluenette's sword was at his throat.
"What? Why d'you want my exsphere? You're not getting it- this belonged to my mom or dad!" Lloyd shouted defensively at the cape wearer.
"It belonged to your mother. It's an extremely special exsphere and I will have it, no matter what the cost!" He raised his sword up and prepared to strike as Lloyd began to speak again.
"And I'll protect it, no matter what the cost!" The teen swiftly rolled sideways, standing up and unsheathing his swords.
The bluenette charged. The two were locked in battle, neither one giving in, until the older man got through Lloyd's defences.
"Ugh-!" He crumpled to the floor, clutching the slash in his side desperately. Masses of blood flowed out from the wound, leading to Lloyd feeling extremely dizzy, head spinning.
He stood up slowly and staggered backwards until he felt the cold wall of the room up against his back. He held his swords up futilely in a last attempt to defend himself from the approaching renegade leader. His swords connected with his enemy's before clattering noisily to the ground as they were knocked out from his hands.
The man swung his weapon around impressively, almost effortlessly. "Ready to hand it over yet boy?" He advanced slowly towards Lloyd, letting the boy answer before he struck.
"No...and I never will be!" The hand that wasn't clutching his wound immediately made its way to his exsphere, gripping it tightly.
"...So be it. Then prepare to die!"
The last thing Lloyd saw was a man he recognised from somewhere rushing into the room, followed by his friends. Too weak to comprehend this, he gave into the darkness that overcame him as he saw a weapon being pulled from his stomach, dripping with his blood.
His limp body hit the floor.
"Come on, we have to hurry! Lloyd could be in serious trouble by now!" Anna yelled at the group to go faster and keep up with the protozoan that led the way.
After waiting a few hours, the sandstorm had died down, letting the group get on with the task of rescuing Lloyd from the base. They had been following Noishe for half an hour or so before being yelled at by Genis and then Anna to get a move on or Lloyd would be in big trouble.
"Look! Is that it?" The blonde chosen exclaimed as she pointed towards an out of place, high tech building. Noishe started whining, running faster towards the mentioned location.
"Yeah! That's it, c'mon!" Genis shouted and motioned to the group to follow him to the base.
Arriving shortly, they knocked out a few guards on the way before running into Botta, the 'desian' from the Martel temple.
"You again! Do not interfere in our plans!"
"We don't have time for this, where is Lloyd?" The small half elf raised his fist in fury at the man.
There was no reply as he ran off, leaving the group to deal with a couple of underlings. They quickly defeated the two and continued on after Botta.
"C'mon! We need to follow him. He went through that door. " Anna shouted at the group who immediately picked up the pace.
Following through the door after Botta, they emerged into a new room.
Blood decorated the floor as they heard a grunt and a body fell to the ground.
"Oh my-!" Colette started, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Lloyd!" The startled parents shouted as they watched the scene unfold before them.
"Yuan!" Kratos shouted at the bluenette.
He swivelled quickly to see the intruders. "You two! Botta, take care of them!" He walked quickly to the door then tuned, glancing at Lloyd. "We'll get him later. If he lives, that is." He then paced swiftly out of the room as the fight between Botta and the worried group began.
Well, that's chapter 10 which I never thought I'd get around to! Hardly did either, no reviews for the last chapter? :'( made me sad :(
Anyways, hope that was okay! Review and I'll be motivated to write more ^_^