A Foolish Arrangement
The first thing that Lloyd felt when he awoke was a shooting pain from the middle of his back and the first thing he noticed was that the bed that he laid on was really, really hard. He cracked his eyes open and saw a gray ceiling above him. Wait, what? Gray? Where am I? Suddenly the events of what had happened came flooding to his head all at once and the images and emotions of what had happened commingled as one. A Desian Ranch, that's where he must be. Anger, panic and fear flew through his system and he jerked himself upwards to a sitting position but the aches of his muscles were suddenly known to him and his head was sent swimming.
"Ungh…" he moaned as he brought his hand to his forehead.
"Lloyd, are you okay? I was so worried about you," came mom's voice and he then met her eyes shaped in concern. Her warm hands came to his shoulders and she gently pushed him back down onto the hard metallic surface. "You shouldn't be getting up yet, sweetie. You've been through so much, you need to get some rest."
"But mom, I can't do that. We're--"
"We're going to be fine."
"Yeah, we will when we escape. But we got captured and--"
"Shh, Lloyd, listen to me," mom said and Lloyd felt a warm hand come to his hair which silenced his words. "It is going to be alright, especially now that you're awake. You gave me a scare, you know that?"
"I--I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"Mom, how can you sound so calm when we got captured? We gotta try to get out of this place."
"I guess I should explain myself," mom said with a small smile. "But first, what
do you last remember?"
"Well, I, uh…" Mom was bent over him with concern etching her features, and he felt her warm hand stroking his hair. He sighed, there was no way he could stay mad with her around. "All I remember is us fighting these Desians and then we talked and…and after that I don't really remember."
"You got attacked from behind with some magic attack by friends of those Desians we downed," mom spoke softly. "You really had me worried, you know. I'm so sorry, I should've been paying more attention."
"What are you talking about?" Lloyd asked with confusion lacing his voice. "This isn't your fault, I thought there were no more Desians too."
"But I'm the one responsible for you."
"No you're not, we're supposed to look out for each other. That's what family does, right? It was just a mistake so don't blame yourself."
"I guess you're right," mom gave him a small smile.
"So what happened after I got knocked out?"
"Well," mom said, and her eyes shifted to a more steely expression. "Me and Genis tried to fend them off but then one of them took you and threatened to hurt you if we didn't stop. Then they took us to this Desian base."
"They what me?" Lloyd said feeling anger course through his system again.
"It's okay, Lloyd, really it is. Don't worry, everything is going to be okay," mom stroked his cheek and he felt the anger drain from his system. Mom's tone hushed. "It's all going to be fine. I got them to let Genis go and I know that Noishe will take him to where Kratos and the others are. They'll come for us, I know it. All we have to do is wait."
Wait? Lloyd did not like the idea of waiting very much, especially when it would put people that he cared about in danger if he did so. He did not want them to get hurt on his account but how was he supposed to tell mom? He slowly rose to a sitting position again and this time he did not feel her warm hands against his head or chest.
"Here," mom said softly and before Lloyd could respond he saw a water flask in her hands as an offering. "You're probably really thirsty, aren't you?"
At the sound of water, Lloyd then realized just how thirsty he was. His tongue went to the top of his dry mouth and he took the flask and brought it to his lips. The water was warm as it passed through his mouth and down his throat but he didn't care, it was water and he needed it. He brought the flask away from his lips as he took a deep breath. He gave the empty flask back to mom and wiped his mouth with his other hand. His head no longer swam and he felt his mind sharpen.
"Thanks, mom."
"You're welcome," mom said as she smiled at him. "It's a good thing I hid this one on me, instead of putting it in that bag."
"What do you mean? Where'd it go?"
"It's still in Triet. I bet someone took it by now."
"What?" Lloyd felt shock course through his system. "You mean that's all the water we've got?"
Mom nodded. "I'm afraid so. They've been withholding food and water for us, probably to keep us weak."
"You should've told me, we could've shared it," Lloyd said, moving his feet to the side of the metallic bed. "That means that you haven't had any--"
"It's okay, Lloyd, really it is," mom said while she lifted herself from her kneeling position on the floor to sit beside him. "I'd be lying if I said I was fine, but I'll manage."
"You're sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure," mom said as she smiled and took his hand into hers. "I'd rather you have it, anyway."
"Why's that?" Lloyd said feeling confusion course through his being.
"Because you're my baby boy and I love you," she said with a smile and Lloyd felt a kind of happiness that he had barely felt course through him. His mother was worried about him, and was taking care of him and even told him that he loved him. It felt good to know that. Her smile broke suddenly, and her features changed to a sort of panic. "Oh, I'm sorry. I must be embarrassing you--"
"There's nothing to be sorry about, mom. Actually…I kinda like it. Uh, could you say stuff like that more often?"
Her chapped lips broke into a big smile and Lloyd felt a happiness course through his system. "Alright, I think that's something I can do. You'll regret it later when you're sick of your old mother smothering you."
"No way! I couldn't get sick of that, not ever. Truth is," Lloyd said as he lowered her voice and he looked away from her eyes feeling embarrassed. "I always wanted a mom to say stuff like that to me and worry about me and tell me how much they care about me. I might've had a dad back in Iselia, but I didn't have you. I was always so jealous of all the other kids and their moms…it just didn't seem fair."
"Lloyd," mom's voice was laced in emotion and he felt her squeeze his hand gently. "It's the same with me. I always wanted to be near you even though I couldn't. Believe it or not, not a day went by that I didn't think about you. I love being with you now."
"Me too," Lloyd said feeling a thrill course through him. "I guess we both wanted each other, huh."
"Guess so. We have so much time to make up for and if you really want me to, I'll tell you how much I love you everyday."
"Seriously? That'd be awesome," Lloyd said turning his gaze from the metallic floor and energy shield in front of him to her eyes, feeling excitement course through him. "Love you mom."
"Love you too," mom said with that same smile across her face and she squeezed his hand again. Lloyd smiled back at her, feeling a joy course through him at what mom had said. He felt her hand slip out of his and her arms come about him in an embrace, and he lent forward and put his arms about her.
"Say, mom?" Lloyd said. "How long have we been here for?"
"Not sure, it's hard to tell time in here. I did see the guards change once. If they have eight hour shifts then…well, you can do the math."
"I can?"
Lloyd felt her chest reverberate and heard her chuckle. "Don't worry about it, I won't bug you about school in here."
Lloyd felt relief course through him. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it, sweetie."
"Don't you think we should try getting out of here on our own?" Lloyd said with his voice low. "It'll help them out."
"I'm open to suggestions," mom said with her voice low as she unwrapped her arms that were about him. "I've looked this cell up and down but I don't think that there's any flaws in it. We're stuck waiting for them."
"Hmm," Lloyd said, and began to think as he studied the small room. Mom was right, he couldn't see anything wrong with the cell at all. At least, nothing obvious. Then a realization struck him. The sorcerer's ring. He looked to his right hand and saw the red and black ring there and he then turned his gaze towards the energy barrier closing the cell.
"Mom, I got an idea," Lloyd said and brought his hand with the sorcerer's ring up. "Hope it works."
"Alright, just be careful, Lloyd," mom said. Lloyd nodded as Lloyd got up towards the energy barrier and looked outside for any Desian that would see, but he saw no Desian patrolling the area then. This was his chance. He let the fire of the sorcerer's ring out just like he remembered it and unleashed it towards the energy barrier. The barrier disappeared and Lloyd grinned.
"C'mon, mom," Lloyd said, turning towards mom. "Let's get out of here."
"You don't have to tell me twice," mom said as she rose from her seat and came to Lloyd's side.
"Hey! Just what do you think you're doing?" Came a masculine voice and Lloyd turned his head to find a Desian unsheathing his weapon. "Don't move."
"Lloyd," came mom's whisper. "Our weapons should be nearby, find them. I'll take care of this goon
Lloyd nodded, and he moved away from the cell's entrance to the right.
"What did I just say?" the Desian's voice was laced in aggression and he came towards Lloyd with his sword raised. Lloyd began to run. "Stop right no--aaagh."
Lloyd turned around, feeling surprise course through him at the unexpected sound of the Desian's scream. He saw mom who had her hands around the Desian's arm, twisting it, and she had his sword in her hand with the blade resting against his neck. Just how did she do that?
"Listen to what I have to say to you if you want to live," mom said with her voice dangerous and low. "I want you to go into the cell next to the one I was in. When I start moving, you move with me."
"Y--yeah," the Desian said and mom got him to start to move.
"Hey," mom said and they stopped. "Where are our weapons hidden?"
"Th--there," the Desian said, pointing past Lloyd. "I--it's behind the desk."
"Good. Now keep moving," mom said and they moved again. She pushed him inside of the cell with the Desian's sword raised towards the man. "Lloyd, could you push that button at the side?"
"Yeah, sure," Lloyd said and he went up to the panel and pushed the only button that he saw. An energy barrier flickered to life and the Desian glared at them but did not say a word. Mom let his sword clatter to the ground.
"We should get going," mom said turning to him. "Let's get our weapons back, shall we?"
Lloyd nodded and he went to the desk, and saw the swords leaning against the gray wall behind it. He walked towards them and soon took the belt of his swords and hooked them around his waist. It felt somewhat comforting to have the familiar weight of his swords on him again. He saw mom's sword and turned around to offer it to her.
"Hey, thanks," mom said as she took it and hooked the belt to her waist. "Let's get out of here. Don't be too reckless, now."
"I won't," Lloyd said, and they then walked towards the door and Lloyd steeled himself for the dangers that the Desian Base would hold for him.
Lloyd walked across the empty metallic hallways of the Desian Base in silence. Mom was walking by his side but refused to have a conversation with him, telling him that it was far too dangerous to let their guard down in the base and that their banter could draw unwanted attention. Lloyd knew that she was right, but still it did nothing to ease the unease that he felt coiled inside of himself. They turned a corner and climbed stairs upwards and continued to walk.
"Hey, you!" came the shout of a Desian voice and Lloyd felt adrenaline flood through him and he looked about him, to find a door to his side. "What are you doing here?"
"Mom, in here," Lloyd said while grabbing her arm with one hand and opening the door with another.
"Right," mom said and she followed him into the room and they slammed it shut behind them. Lloyd took no notice of what the room looked like and instead turned to mom, taking his hand off of her arm.
"That was close, wasn't it?"
"You," mom said flatly, ignoring what Lloyd said while looking somewhere else. Lloyd felt confusion course through him and he looked to where her gaze was fixated on. It was a man in a cape with striking blue hair.
"So this must be Lloyd," the man said, ignoring her words. He turned his inquisitive gaze to Lloyd and mom's stance stiffened as she slowly moved in front of him.
"And what if I am?"
"Hmm, I see the resemblance."
"So you're with them. So this is what you're doing to help," mom said with surprise lacing her voice, and Lloyd felt confusion course through him. Just what did she mean? "You know, I think I'm glad that I didn't take you up on that offer before."
"I'm not. It would've made my plans speed up."
"I think I can wager a guess at these plans."
"Oh?"
"Mom, do you know this guy?" Lloyd asked, wanting answers to the myriad of questions that were filling his head.
"We've met," mom said, her eyes never leaving the man.
The man's hand came up, and Lloyd saw a magic attack quickly charge, and then unleash into the air, towards mom. Lloyd's instincts took over and he wrapped his arms about mom and put his weight on her, letting them collapse to the ground. He felt anger course through his being and quickly got to his feet and unsheathed his swords, looking at the man in contempt.
"What the hell do you think you were trying to do to my mom?" Lloyd unsheathed his swords and advanced on him.
"Lloyd, stop this," mom said behind him, and Lloyd did not turn to see her.
"No way, didn't you see what he--"
"I know, but you don't understand," mom said, and Lloyd felt her hand on his arm. "This guy is really strong. If you fight him, he could kill you. Wouldn't put it past him, either."
"You should listen to your mother, Lloyd," the man said and Lloyd glared at him, feeling only vehemence towards the man that he did not know. "I only need one of you alive."
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Lloyd felt anger overtake his mind and it was only mom's hand that stopped him from striking.
"Stop, Lloyd."
"Your mother should--"
"Sir," Lloyd saw three Desians enter the room from the corner of his eye. A familiar stance and brown hair made Lloyd turn to him and narrow his eyes. It was him. "We've received reports that the Chosen's group has infiltrated the facility."
"You," Lloyd said while feeling anger course through him. "You're the Desian that attacked Iselia!
"So you're Lloyd. Now this is amusing."
"Humph, it doesn't matter where I go now. Our plans are ruined, he'll soon know everything. We should evacuate--"
"No. You don't have to do that. I won't tell anyone about this. Lloyd," mom's eyes turned to Lloyd's and her eyes looked desperate, like she needed him to listen. She squeezed his arm. "Please, Lloyd, this is very important. We can talk about this later but don't tell anyone about anything that happened in this room."
Lloyd felt further confusion course through him. He did not know what was going on but he knew that the one person he could trust was mom, so he would do what she wanted him to. He could always ask later, anyway.
"Y--yeah, sure thing mom."
"Thank you," her eyes now held relief and he wondered what would have possibly made her so anxious. It's that damned Desian's fault.
"Botta, come. Bring your men as well, we need to leave before he gets here."
"What of the Chosen?" The man asked, moving with the other Desians towards the man with the blue hair. The man that attacked Iselia now had a name. Botta, I'll remember that.
"Leave her for now. It'll be one token of gratitude. We wouldn't want certain women changing their minds, now would we?"
"Understood," the man said, and the group of Desians left through the door.
"Mom," they were both left in the room alone what was that?"
"I'll explain later, just for now…please just do what I say."
"O--okay," Lloyd said, not used to this side of mom.
Swords were still in his hands, he realized, and he sheathed them both. He shifted his gaze from his sheathes to mom and he felt startled. For the first time since they had been captured did Lloyd really see how much mom was affected by it. Her features were etched in exhaustion and she looked as if she wanted to be somewhere else.
"Hey, are you--"
"Lloyd, Anna," Genis' voice interrupted his train of thought and he turned to find all those that he did not expect to see. "Are you two okay?"
"Are you all right?" Colette asked, turning her blue gaze in between his and mom's. It was just like Colette to ask those things. Lloyd felt a thrill course through him at the idea of all of them going through a Desian Base just for him. "Are you hurt?"
"He looks fine," came dad's voice that sounded strangely calm. Lloyd turned his gaze towards him and his brown eyes that softened slightly moments after they met each other's gaze. "It's good to see you both again."
"Yeah, you too, dad. I thought it was going to be months before I saw you next."
"As did I," dad said before walking towards them but his gaze was fixed on mom. "Anna, are you alright?"
"Hmm?" Mom said softly, then turned her head upwards to gaze at dad. Good, dad's talking to her, Lloyd thought, remembering how exhausted she looked before. I almost forgot. "Oh, Kratos, I'm fine."
"Somehow I don't believe that," dad said, looking at mom with concern etching his features. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, really."
"Right!" Lloyd said as a realization struck him. How did he forget it up to now? How stupid was he? "Mom didn't drink any water since she got here."
"Oh," Genis said. "I saw her carry Lloyd from Triet, she must've kept that up all the way here."
"Really?" dad's voice was laced in interest. "Tell me, Anna, how much sleep have you gotten since you came here?"
"None."
Dad sighed and he brought his hand somewhere that Lloyd could not see. His hand then bore a water flask which he offered to mom. "Here, take it. You don't have to push yourself any longer."
"Thank you," mom said as she reached for the flask and brought it into her hands. She untied the opening and brought it to her lips. Wouldn't mom normally say something different? She barely said anything, Lloyd thought to himself while he shifted from foot to foot. I guess she really is out of it. Ugh, why didn't I notice until now?
"Thanks," mom's voice brought him back to reality and she offered the flask back to dad.
"So you've told me," dad said as he took the flask.
"Huh…guess I did already say it."
"Don't worry, these are the last of my water rations but there will be plenty of water in Triet. We could carve cacti along the way but I think it would be foolish to stop for that long, in case we are attacked from Desians from this base."
"I can wait."
"You sure mom? You don't look so good."
"You can take my water Mrs--uh, I mean, Anna," came Colette's voice and Lloyd saw as she moved across the metallic floor towards mom. Lloyd smiled, Colette was the same.
"I can't, this is yours."
"But--"
"Raine, you're back," Genis said, and Lloyd turned to him and saw Professor Sage standing by him. "You finally opened the escape route."
"Professor," Lloyd said, walking to her.
"Ah, Lloyd. Genis told me what happened," Professor Sage said, and gave a fleeting glance to Genis. "I apologize for the trouble he's caused you."
"No," Lloyd said. He did not want Genis to get any blame for something that was his fault. "I'm the one that dragged Genis into it. I'm sorry."
"Save the chitchat for later," dad's voice was again laced in a sense of urgency. "We shouldn't stay here long."
"You're right. I opened the escape route just now. Let's go."
"Lloyd," came dad's voice that stilled Lloyd's movements from following Professor Sage's lead of leaving the room. Dad then continued to exit and Lloyd mimicked his movements without thinking. "You should keep an eye on your mother.
"I tried! I just didn't notice that she was like this here--"
"No," dad said, silencing Lloyd's words and his panic. "That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
"I think that if we're not careful that she could collapse in heatstroke."
"What?" Lloyd said feeling shock course through him.
"Don't worry, she should be fine as long as the pace is slow. She already has had plenty of water to last her for the journey to Triet."
"But she only had your flask," dad motioned behind them and Lloyd turned his head to look over his shoulder. Lloyd saw mom and Colette, keeping pace behind them and mom was drinking from a water flask. That must be Colette's… Lloyd thought feeling relief and gratitude course through his system. I'll have to thank her later.
"Doesn't it feel better to not be thirsty?" Colette asked mom with a small smile as mom drew the flask away from her lips.
"Yes, it does," mom said while she chuckled and offered the flask back to Colette. "Thanks, Colette. You're a very nice girl."
"Well, uh, thanks. I just try to do my best," Colette said after she giggled in delight. Her eyes turned from mom and caught Lloyd's. "Oh, Lloyd."
Colette ran up to his side and Lloyd had to turn his head back to see what was in front of him.
"Ow…"
"Is something wrong?" Colette asked with concern lacing her voice. Lloyd met her eyes.
"It's nothing. I just, kind of have a kink in my neck."
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing? It's not like this is your fault."
"You're right, I'm sorry."
"Stop--ah, never mind," Lloyd gave up again. For some reason, it felt good to hear that habit of hers again. Lloyd looked to his other side and found dad was not there anymore. "Hey, where's dad?"
"You mean Kratos? Um, I dunno," Colette looked around and pointed behind her. "I see! He's there with your mom."
"Heh, well good," Lloyd said, running a hand through his hair. For some reason he did not think that he was going to hate being on the Journey of Regeneration even if he couldn't be on it for the whole way. At least he got to see Colette again.