The old man with a limp ran as fast as he could towards the soldiers, his sallow face wrinkled with determination. I stopped dead in my tracks as he limped closer to where I stood. But his gaze was fixed on the Galbadian soldiers and he passed me by to meet them.
Is he crazy?!
My previous attempt at escape forgotten, I watched the man as he first shouted at the bigger of the two soldiers. The blue-armoured soldier turned to the old man with something akin to boredom as the latter approached.
"I'm the mayor of this town. We don't want any trouble!" He had a surprisingly strong baritone for his frail frame.
The soldier was suddenly interested in the old man. "Mayor, eh?"
"Yes! Now what's going on?"
The soldier took a step forward. "We're looking for Ellone, Sorceress' orders. Where is she hiding out?"
"Ellone? There is no one here by that name. You all need to leave now."
I gulped. Wasn't he afraid of the armed soldiers?
Mirthless laughter filled the air as the soldiers exchanged amused looks. The red-armoured one took an intimidating step towards the mayor.
A hand landed on my shoulder. I turned to face Squall's scowling face. Before I could so much as utter a word, however, he put a finger on his lips and turned to face the mayor and Galbadian soldiers.
After exchanging a few words, one of the soldiers let out an ear-splitting guffaw before he grabbed the mayor by the collar and lifted him off the ground.
"Let's go!" Squall commanded as he jumped into the scene. Zell and Rinoa followed without hesitation, and after only a few seconds of heart-thumping doubt, I followed the three.
Tense silence overtook us as the Galbadian soldiers looked us up and down. They exchanged confused glances before Squall declared himself as a SeeD.
Within seconds, the inevitable fight broke out between the soldiers and mercenaries. I took the moment to pull the mayor safely out of the line of trouble and jumped in. Before I could even face the adversary, however, the SeeDs and Rinoa had all but taken them out.
Thunderous grinding sounds were heard suddenly and we all looked around, confused. Dust flew around the area as the noise became closer. I covered my nose as Rinoa coughed into her sleeve.
What the actual-?
"Up there!" Zell pointed to the train tracks above us, on which clanked a giant machine. It looked like an army tank with a gazillion guns affixed all over its body. The tank whirred closer to where we stood, until it was dead silent. It stopped, then, seemingly watching us, before it leapt into the air and landed with a deafening crash in front of us.
"Um guys?" I sounded squeakier than I had intended, and apparently no one had heard my plea as the next second, the machine seemed to light up with life.
Red and blue lights flashed across the front of it before several guns aimed at the four of us.
"Their latest invention!" shouted Zell as he prepared for battle.
"Let's destroy this thing! Zell, Natasha, you two attack that end!" He pointed at the right side, where the machine did not have guns. "Rinoa, attack at a distance and hit it with lightning spells!" With that, he jumped into action, slashing at the lower guns with his gunblade.
I swallowed thickly as the machine whirred. Time seemed to stop as several guns lined up on one target: me. I was rooted, frozen by fear.
A strong pair of hands led me away from the line of fire, and as I was pulled away, many bullets rained down on the spot where I had been standing seconds ago.
"Natasha! Focus!"
Right. I chose to become a SeeD cadet, didn't I?
As if automatically, I followed Zell to the right side of the monstrous Galbadian robot. He began pummelling the metal with his fists, so quick that all I could do was stand and gawk. Ahead, at the front of the machine, was Squall, slashing furiously with his gunblade. And Rinoa stood a little distance away, throwing spell after spell at the beast, and occasionally at Squall when he failed to block a bullet.
Soon, the burnt-paper scent of gunpowder filled the air around us. I could hear my blood rush in my ears, and I vaguely wondered if my heart would jump out of my chest any second. What was I doing here? I clearly didn't belong. An emptiness throbbed in my head, along with dread I couldn't shake.
A sudden pain shot through my stomach, and blood sputtered out as I was knocked from my feet. The coppery taste of blood entered my mouth and I spit. The pavement was spattered with red and all I could do was stare at it blankly.
The blue haze of a cure spell surrounded me, and the pain ebbed away. By now, the three had succeeded in destroying the monster. It smoked and shook with blurry movements as the wheels on it gave out. It shook all the way down the platform and with an enormous splash, fell into the water below.
A gloved hand came out of nowhere and helped me to my feet. I looked from Zell's wide eyes to Squall's scowl, to Rinoa's furrowed face.
"What?"
Squall stepped closer. "You're not junctioned."
No wonder I feel like shit! I could picture Siren's stone sitting on the bedside table where I had left it before breakfast. Slowly, I shook my head. But before I could explain that I had forgotten, a movement from the ledge took my attention.
A hand reached out of the depths, and soon a woman emerged.
"Uh, guys?" I pointed to where Quistis now stood.
Zell immediately ran over to help Selphie and Irvine as they climbed up over the ledge. Each person was covered in soot and had the same weary look to them.
This is a chapter I had written out before I decided to end the story. A complete summary to follow!