Chapte 12

The man wriggled in Hayden's grasp, his face turning blue.

'Let...me...go!' he screeched weakly. Hayden just tightened his grip.

'Hayden! Let go! Youre choking him!' Terra called from behind him, her voice shaking. Hayden immediately released his grip. The man fell to a heap on the floor, holding his throat. Terra walked over and stood in front of him. Zack and Kai were holding the other men back so she felt safe to interrogate him. As she stooped down, the man looked up at her, his breath still sharp. 'Who are you?' Terra asked calmly yet she kept her hands at the ready in case she needed to withdraw her katana. The man hesitated for a second and then began to speak.

'My name is Marvolo.' He began. 'I am a member of the mistresses guard, the highest enforcement.' Terra looked puzzled. Hayden stooped down next to her.

'Who is this mistress?' he asked. The man shook his head.

'I don't even know' the man replied. 'None but her second have ever seen her in person but they say she is most beautiful. She is one with the planet.'

'What do you mean?' Terra asked. The man began to stand.

'I cannot explain.' He said calmly. 'Now, if I may, could I take my fellow guards and return to the mistress, although i feel returning without you would be just as bad for my health as staying here' He stroked his throat. Terra nodded sympathetically and allowed him to pass. The guards wriggled free from Zack and Kai's grip and followed at close quarters. Terra just watched as they left.

'What did you do that for?' Zack queried, an irate tone to his voice.

'He's as good as dead when he turns up without me.' Terra replied. 'There's no need to prolong his pain any longer than is necessary.' Zack nodded and rubbed his arm. By the looks of it, one of the guards had bitten him when trying to escape. 'Anyway, we have a friend to find remember?'

The four of them set off again as soon as dawn broke. The sun was bright today and there were only a few small encounters during their journey to Timber. When they finally reached the small town, they were stopped at the gate by two guards, both of which wearing Galbadian uniform.

'Sorry. We can't allow anyone to enter Timber without valid identification.' One said to them as they approached. The four grouped together and thought. They had to get into Timber but they first had to find there way around these goons. Zack came up with a plan.

'Hey gentlemen,' he said walking up to them casually. 'My friend here is sick and we need to see a doctor. Look at her.' Terra jumped in shock and instantly began feigning sickness. One of the guards came over to inspect her.

'She does look a bit groggy doesn't she. Alri...' SMACK! Zack hit him over the back of the head causing him to drop to the floor unconscious. The other guard was also soon subdued.

'Why the hell did you do that?' Hayden asked angrily. Kai looked at Zack sternly, his arms folded. 'He was going to let us through!' Zack just smiled and led the way through the gates into the main high street of Timber. There were many shops including a weapons shop, which Zack stood outside for 10 minutes admiring a red pair of gloves. He was only pried away from the shop window when Hayden gave him a slight shock with his claw causing him to jump back into reality. Zack continued to rub his arm and scowl at Hayden as they continued towards the train station at the opposite side of Timber. There were a number of trains that left Timber. Some travelled back to Balamb whilst others took you to Deling city or close to the garden. This was the train that they would be taking.

'Ok. We need to wait here.' Hayden suddenly said, stopping right outside the station next to a park bench and some stairs leading down to the pub. 'Our contact will arrive soon and give us our tickets, after that, its straight to north station.' The four waited for around 15minutes, Terra was sitting on the bench having a conversation with Kai by interpreting what he thought by his eyes and Zack was punching and kicking thin air in frustration. Hayden just leant against a post. Suddenly, a woman with white hair appeared, clearly out of breath. 'Liney! About time!'