Some people sacrifice their lives for their love, ideology, or country. What am I willing to sacrifice for? I wonder…

It was early dawn when they heard a loud banging on the door. "Squall. Luna. Wake up!"

Alarmed by the noise, Squall rushed to the door, as the person on the other side of the door continued banging on the door. He opened the door to find a frantic-looking Dr. K. "The Empire is here. You need to get out of here fast," she said, clearly out of breath.

"They are here already?" said Luna from the background, rubbing her eyes.

Squall rushed back in the room to grab one remaining duffel bag. On his way out, he grabbed Luna's hand and tugged her along. "Come on, we've gotta go."

"Dr. K, thank you for everything you have done for us," Luna said sincerely, as she exited the door.

They could hear the footsteps of the soldiers marching in their direction.

"Dr. K, will you be all right?" Squall asked being concerned for her safety.

"Don't worry about me. I've survived much worse," she said reassuringly. "You need to go now. Use the back entrance. I'll buy you some time."

As Leon and Luna ran towards the exit, they could hear a faint conversation.

"Hey, you are disturbing the patients," Dr. K yelled.

"We know you have been harboring the Oracle here, tell us where she is," asked someone in a raspy voice.

"I don't know what you are talking about," she said defiantly.

"Don't play dumb, we have proof that she is here. There was a TV report recently on how Lestallum is housing all the refugees, and one of our analysts spotted the Oracle walking into your clinic. So, tell me where she is, and I'll let you go unharmed," the voice said threateningly.

"I don't know anything. This is a mistake," she said, refusing to budge.

"Mistake is you not telling me where she is. I'll give you one last chance to cooperate, doctor," the voice offered.

"Please, you have to believe me, there is no Oracle in our clinic," Dr. K pleaded.

After a brief silence, a loud bang from a gunshot echoed through the clinic. An ear-piercing scream followed.

"I really hate bloodshed in the morning. Pity, it had to end this way, doctor."

"No!" Luna realized what might have happened. She turned around and took a couple of steps in the direction where they came from.

Another scream was followed by another gunshot.

Leon grabbed her hand. "Don't let her sacrifice be in vain. We must go now."

Unfortunately, running away while others died for her was a situation Luna was all too familiar with. With a heavy heart, they both continued their way out.

As they ran Leon's phone started ringing. He picked up and the person on the other line said in a distraught feminine voice, "Squall, you guys need to run. Empire is here."

"I know I am already on my way to the car," he said while running, still holding Luna's hand.

"That's why I called. I had to move the car out of here because of the Empire's unannounced visit," the lady on the line said.

"Good work, soldier. Where is it now?" he asked as they ran through a secluded alley.

"From the main street, make a left. I'll meet you by the intersection past the tunnel through the mountain," she replied.

"Got it. Thanks, Lina."

"Be safe," she said before hanging up.

"Who is it?" Luna asked curiously.

"A friend, whom I'll owe a big one," he said, as they turned the corner. "Damn, the Empire," he said quickly ducking behind a bunch of old wooden crates.

They silently waited for the soldiers to go away before continuing. "Just a little further and we'll be at Tozus Counter, from there we can go through the tunnel," he outlined his plan.

They slowly sneaked their way out of the alley towards Tozus Counter when Luna accidentally bumped into the stacked wooden crate, causing it to fall with a loud thud.

"Sorry!" she said instantly.

"Hey, did you hear that noise?" asked a soldier to his comrade.

"Sure, I did. Let's check it out," he suggested as they made their way back.

"Crap," Leon realized the trouble at hand and he needed to think of something fast.

In an unprecedented move, Leon pushed Luna against the wall. With her back flush against the wall, he moved closer and grabbed her head by gently placing his hands on either side of her head. He tilted his head and leaned close with their lips barely millimeters apart.

It felt like the time had stopped as she could hear each of her heartbeats distinctly. Her thoughts were all scattered and chaotic.

'Oh my God! Is he going to kiss me? Wait, I haven't even brushed yet,' she thought. 'Really Luna? That's what you are worried about?'

Leon held still without moving an inch. The back of his head had effectively covered Luna's face from the approaching soldiers.

'Leon, this is not the most appropriate time. Well, not like there is an appropriate time to do this since we are not even together or anything.' Luna's mind kept rambling at a frantic pace.

There was barely enough space for even air to pass between their two lips. Their breath mingling and their heartbeat synchronized. She wasn't sure if she was going to die or was about to come alive.

"Ah, just some lovebirds messing around," said one of the soldiers who came to investigate the noise.

"Hey, get a room you two," yelled his partner. Both the soldiers turned around continuing on their original route.

His plan worked. He released Luna from this compromising position and immediately said, "Sorry."

"I am not," much to her horror that was totally a Freudian slip on her part. "I mean, mention not," she tried to recover, but Leon had already heard what she said and chuckled in response. Needless to say, her face turned red with embarrassment in record time.

Once the soldiers were out of sight they made their dash towards the tunnel through the mountain. They ran hand in hand in what felt like a never-ending tunnel. Thankfully, there were no cars at this hour. Leon ran slower than what he could so Luna could keep up with him. Every now and then he would glance at her to make sure she was all right.

After a while, Luna let go of his hand and came to a stumbling stop. She hunched down, completely out of breath, as she placed her hands on her knees. "I can't run. I need a breather," she said, breathing heavily.

"You did well. We are almost there," he encouraged her.

"Okay, give me a minute, please," she said, as she slouched down on the road. Leon also leaned against the wall to take a breather.

After regaining their strength, they continued their journey hand in hand.

After what felt like more than half an hour of running, they finally came to their rendezvous point. Leon expected to see a car waiting for them, but he was disappointed to see none in sight.

He pulled out his phone to call Lina, but right on cue, she called him. "Look to your left," said the voice.

Suddenly the engine roared, and the car came out from the bushed. "Sorry, had to hide this baby from the Empire airships," Lina said, after stopping just in front of Squall.

"Audi R8 Star of Lucis, at your service," Lina said with a thumbs up.

It was a shiny black convertible car made from the best Lucian technology. The license plate was RHS 736. Luna immediately recognized the car. "This is the same car we used to escape from Insomnia."

"I did not expect to see this old friend again," she said, moving her hand over the car's hull.

"This car belongs to an ex-kingsglave from Galahad. Squall, drop off this car to Wiz Chocobo Post, Cindy will pick it up from there. Apparently, she desperately needs some parts from this for another Lucian car."

"All right."

"As we discussed yesterday, I have listed down deliveries you need to make," she said, handing him the piece of paper. "All the goods are in the trunk already," she instructed while getting out of the car.

"Got it," he said as he received the keys from Lina.

"I have some accessories, first aid kit, cooking utensils, and some camping gear in the trunk in case you need it," said Lina to Squall.

"Thanks, Lin, you are the best," Squall said, as he took the driver seat.

Lina was clad in a purple t-shirt and jeans and wore a white overcoat. She made her way to the passenger side to meet the esteemed Oracle. "Hello, lady Lunafreya. It's an honor to meet you. I am Lina, a senior Hunter," she said, introducing herself and offered a handshake.

"Honor is all mine," Lunafreya courteously replied as she shook her hand. Lunafreya noticed that Lina seemed at least ten years older than Squall.

"I wish you the best of luck in your journey ahead," said Lina politely.

"Thank you. Please be safe," said Luna.

"Oh, and one more thing. Take care of Squall, please. He is like a magnet for danger. When he joined the Hunters, I was assigned as his partners. As a senior officer, it was my job to protect him, and he was a handful. He is all yours now. He's like a little brother to me, keep him safe," she said, opening the passenger door for Lunafreya.

"I will try my best," Luna said with a smile. Their bonding over their common interested in Squall was cut short when Lina heard a drone-like hum from above. Within moments magitek engine lowered close to them and the hanger opened to reveal a platoon of magitek infantry.

"Squall, you need to go now!" Lina instructed.

Instead of doing what was told, he stepped out of the car. "Let's defeat them first, then I'll go."

"See lady Lunafreya, I told you about his propensity to get into trouble," she complained. "Squall, get back in the car and go. Do you want Lady Lunafreya to be a casualty of this war?"

"I don't want you to be a casualty of war either," he said defiantly, pulling out his gunblade.

Just as they were arguing another magitek engine came into view.

"Squall, listen to me. Once they track you in their radar, they will chase you to the end of the world. I can create a diversion and draw their attention while you escape. Trust me, I got this," she practically begged him to go.

"No, this is suicide," Squall was still reluctant to go. Another engine lowered its hanger releasing magitek armors.

"And if you don't go, then all three of us would die. Even if we defeat them now, once they know that you guys are here, they will keep coming at us wave after wave until we all fall. A handful of us cannot take on the entire Empire. You don't really have a choice here. There is only one outcome of this and you know it too, for once listen to your mind and not your heart," she said, knowing her words would appeal to his logical mind.

"I am sorry," he knew how this would end.

"No, thank you for listening to me once. I'll buy you as much as time as I can, now go," she said with determination in her eyes.

He gave her a salute, and she returned it.

Squall ran into the car and floored the gas.

"I love reading stories. Let's see how the last chapter of my story ends," she said to herself, getting ready for the fight of her life.

Once again, Luna watched another person sacrifice their life so she could live.

One of the magitek armors had locked in on their car and sent out a volley of missiles. Squall swirled around barely avoiding a direct hit.

Squall looked in the rear mirror as it readied itself to launch another volley of missiles at them when suddenly it fell to the ground as a lean girl plunged her sword into its core. Lina jumped off it and it exploded, injuring a few magitek infantry around it. Squall always admired her sword work. But it was only a matter of time before she would get overwhelmed by the number of enemies she was fighting at once.

While driving at full speed, Squall pulled out his cell and called someone putting his phone on speaker. "Hey, Iris. Lina is in trouble, she can use all the help she can get," he said in one breath, desperation clear in his voice.

"We know, she activated her beacon. We are on our way there now," the girl on the other line replied.

"That idiot took on a whole platoon on her own so I can escape. I feel like crap for abandoning her and running away," he confessed.

"It's not your fault, Squall. She made her choice of her own free will; You did not force it on her. She is a warrior, she will find a way to survive," Iris said, trying to comfort him.

"I hope so," he said, trailing off.

Iris knew that he would blame himself for what had just transpired and she wanted to deviate his mind from the recent even if it provides only temporary relief to him.

"Squall?"

"Yes?"

"I want to punch your stupid face," Iris said with a sudden shift in her tone. Her voice seemed to increase by a few decibels with each word.

"Woh! Where did that come from?"

"I am super-duper mad at you. You jerk!" Iris yelled on the phone.

"What did I do?" he asked, still driving at full speed.

"You left without even saying goodbye to me," she said, still maintaining the angry tone.

"I am sorry Iris, I was going to come see you before I left, but then this whole Empire thing happened," he said in his defense.

"As my ex-friend used to say, whatever," she replied with Squall's catchphrase.

"Oh, come on now, don't be like that," he pleaded.

"Squall, I'll miss you," she said in her normal Iris tone.

"I'll miss you too, little one. Be safe, okay?"

"You too," she said with sadness evident in her voice. "Bye."

"Bye," he said, barely above a whisper. He didn't know if he would ever got to speak her again. It was their protocol to purge all cellphones if surrounded by the Empire. It was a means to protect the identity of their resistance members.

Their car ride continued in utter silence as they contemplated on recent events.

Even though their day was gloomy, the weather outside was bright and sunny. Using features of their convertible car, Leon retracted the roof. They had barely traveled for a few minutes when something caught Lunafreya's eye in the rear view mirror. "Leon, we got a company."

"Damn it. It's an ambush," he uttered as he saw what was behind them. There were two MA-X Maniple which jumped from either side of the cliff as soon as their car had passed through that area. MA-X Maniple boasts missiles for long-range attacks and claw-like arm for close-quarters combat. It was also equipped with automatic rifles and an electroshock spear, making it an all-around threat to all who dare challenge it.

One of the MA-X Maniples charged up before unleashing the missiles while other attacked by electroshock spear. Leon floored the gas paddle and swirled away from the incoming attack, barely avoiding it.

Leon swirled around in his driver's seat and fired two rounds from his gunblade hitting one of them. The robots fired more explosives in retaliation.

"Can you drive?" he asked.

"It did not end well last time I drove," she confessed.

"As long as you can keep us alive that would be enough," he offered.

"That I can do. Maybe," she agreed hesitantly.

"You take the wheel," he said, before jumping in the back seat of the car. He aimed and unloaded a few rounds into one of the MA-X Maniples. Much to his surprise, it did practically no damage. All it managed to accomplish was to stop it momentarily.

"Damn it, my doubt was right. This is no ordinary MA-X Maniple. This one has a red tint to it; it must be a special model. It is certainly a lot tougher and a hell of a lot faster than the ordinary model," he said to himself, as he fired a few more rounds.

He took careful aim and just as he fired; the car swirled causing him to miss his target. "Sorry," Luna immediately apologizes.

He steadied himself took another aim, but this Luna made such a sharp turn that he fell down on the seat. "Oops!" she exclaimed. This time it wasn't her fault though, as she had to swirl to avoid incoming missiles.

"This is turning out a lot harder than I initially thought," he said as he tried aiming once again. He fired a few more rounds, and it caused minimal damage. After thinking for a bit, he concluded that he did not have to defeat them, just make them stop chasing them.

With this new strategy in mind, he loaded special bullets he had bought from his arms dealer. He took a deep breath, cleared his mind of any unwanted thoughts, and focused to the point where he could only see the knee of MA-X Maniple. He took his aim and fired, hitting the target exactly where he had intended. Upon contact, the bullet caused a huge explosion instantly breaking off the knee of MA-X Maniple and sending it flying in the air.

"Nice, this explosive bullet packs a lot of punch, he wasn't kidding," he said, appreciating the arms dealer and the quality of the bullet. He steadied himself to take out the remaining MA-X Maniple when the car suddenly came to a screeching halt.

He turned around to ask Luna, but he saw her staring at something in front of them. He followed her gaze and there was another monstrous magitek armor blocking their way. MA-X Maniple chasing them had quickly gained on them and was only a few feet away now.

"Floor it into its legs," he instructed her, before engaging with MA-X Maniple behind him. Luna did as she was told and sped towards the waiting magitek armor. It looked like a bigger version of MA Hoplomachus. It charged up its railgun and aim squarely at them. One hit from it would be game over.

Leon was too busy dealing with MA-X Maniple behind them, so Luna was on her own for this one. She had to think of something fast. It unleashed a massive amount of energy towards them, and just as it was about to hit them, Luna cast a shield protecting them. The projectile from the railgun bounced off the shield.

Leon used this opportunity to take out MA-X Maniple with a precision aim at its knee. He turned around just in time to see Luna slam the car into the massive feet of magitek armor. The impact broke off the leg appendage and brought the car to a screeching halt.

The airbag immediately deployed and protected Luna from slamming her head into the steering wheel. However, Leon wasn't so lucky as the sudden halt launched him from the car. He landed harshly on the asphalt road.

Thanks to years of training, his reflexes kicked in and he rolled upon landing, to minimize the impact. He got back up on one knee and turned around to look at the impact. The magitek armor somehow stabilized itself on one leg and prepared for another attack with Luna in sight.

"Luna. Shield," he yelled, before unloading all the bullets he had into the head unit of the magitek armor. Luna had erected a shield around her and the car just in time to avoid taking any damage. The magitek gear collapsed on the ground, causing a huge explosion. Leon got a cut right along his jaw from the flying debris from the explosion because of his proximity to it.

Once the dust settled, he ran to the car to check on Luna. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked with apprehension.

"Yes, I am fine. How about you?" she asked, equally concerned.

"Still in one piece," he assured.

"You are bleeding," she said, touching his face gently.

"It's a scratch, don't worry about it," he said, whipping the blood with his sleeve.

She was about to cast a healing spell when he held her hand. "Don't expend your magic so freely, we don't know what we'll run into."

"At least let me clean it up. We don't want it to get infected," she said, inspecting his face closely.

She moved over to the passenger seat and started looking for anything that would help her. She remembered Lina saying that she had kept the first aid kit in the car. She looked for it while Leon walked around the car to inspect it.

"It is quite banged up. The hood is slightly dented from the crash. The back of the car has holes all over the place from the bullets. Cindy is not going to be pleased," he said, rubbing his temple.

"At least the car is still working," she said, pointing out the positive in this situation. She found the first aid kit from the trunk and brought it where Leon was standing. She placed it on the hood of the car and opened it.

She dipped a cotton ball into hydrogen peroxide and cleaned his wound with it. Leon for his part did not even flinch on contact.

"By the way, you did well in driving," he appreciated her taking the wheel.

"Thank you. No one has ever said that before about my driving," she said laughing. Her laughter never fails to bring a smile on his face regardless of the situation.

Once she was done cleaning his wound, they resumed their journey. They did not know what dangers awaited them.

Author's Notes:

One new FFVIII characters were revealed in this chapter.

This chapter's question: Who is Lina in FFVIII?

Please leave a comment if you've enjoyed the story so far. I would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks :)