Disclaimer: All Final Fantasy 8 characters, places, and things all belong to Squaresoft and other involved corporations. I own none of it. This fanfic is purely for the fun and enjoyment of others and myself. I make no profit from it.
The tides of battle keep leaning more and more in the favor of Emperor Zeilak. With Squall gone, can the seeds hope to stand up against the Galbadian army who are about to begin their attack on the now defenseless fortress that was once Balamb Garden? And what of Balamb City? What fate will befall the citizens who have all but given up on life? The sting of battle has only just begun!
EMPEROR OF DARKNESS
CHAPTER 10
Alive
"Uhhh."
Irvine Kinneas had suffered injuries in his time but this one took the cake. He felt pain tear at his whole body as his mind washed over into waking consciousness. He opened his eyes slightly and almost immediately closed them again. A searing light was shining down on him burning his eyes.
"Am I in heaven?" He mumbled lightly.
"Not quite." Came a distinctly familiar voice in the distance.
At the sound of the voice, Irvine shot his eyes back open. He tried to sit up but fell back down as his head began to pound violently. Looking around, Irvine noticed that he was in a totally unfamiliar place. He tried to think back to what happened. The last thing he could remember was trying to save Squall's life then falling. Falling to someplace. He didn't know where. Everything was dark. And now everything was totally unfamiliar. He scanned the area once more and saw only rotting pipes, burnt motors, and all sorts of other types of machinery, all compiled into one working body situated all around him.
Irvine sighed and put his hand over his aching forehead. "Well, since I hurt so bad, I guess I must be in hell then."
He could hear a soft chuckle in the distance. Training his eyes, he saw the owner to that voice. "SQUALL?!!"
He shot up immediately, remembering only too late, what happened last time. Irvine groaned as his head began to pound again from his quick movement.
Sitting across from him, Squall was digging through a small medical pack. "It's probably not such a good idea to be moving so suddenly in your condition." He said flatly, the barest hint of a smile touching his lips.
Irvine leaned against the side of what seemed to be a pipe jutting out of the ground. "What happened?" He asked as he closed his eyes once more.
"You mean before or after you saved my tail?" Squall asked, not taking his eyes off of his task.
Irvine flushed slightly. He felt slightly embarrassed at being complimented by Squall. "W- well, ya know, it was nothing Squall."
Squall nodded his head slightly and continued. "That was a very foolish thing you did. It was reckless and dangerous! But I'm in your debt. You saved my life."
Irvine's face shot beat red. He'd never thought he would ever hear these words coming out of the mouth of Squall Lionheart.
"After we all fell, you shifted your weight so that you took the brunt of the fall. You nearly killed yourself." Squall trained his eyes on Irvine. "Look, I'm not really good at this sort of thing and all but… well, … thank you."
Irvine was embarrassed beyond belief but despite himself, a smile formed on his lips. "Hey Squall how many times do I have to tell ya man! We all grew up together! We're the closest thing we could ever have to family. And, well, you're like a brother to me you know? It would suck if anything happened to you."
It was the best Irvine could do at having a heart to heart with another guy and to Squall, that was more then enough. The Garden General simply nodded and (surprisingly) smiled. "Yeah you're right Irvin. You all are like family to me too."
Irvine looked up into the rafters of the dark tunnel they were in. "I wonder if anyone else survived…" Just then a thought occurred to him. "Hey wait! There was someone else who fell in with us! What happened to him? Did… did he die?"
Squall shook his head. "No, far from it. He was the first one to come around. This medical pack belongs to him. He used it to help me when I came to and he told me about everything that happened while I was out. Don't worry, He volunteered to scout around. He should be back any minute now."
Irvine nodded his head, relieved at the news. The man risked his life just like he did. He willingly unstrapped himself from his protective seat to save their lives. In his book, the man was a hero. "So, where are we?" He asked, scanning the area once again.
Squall sighed heavily. "I don't know." He said in a resigned tone of voice. "Renix and I have been trying to figure that out for a while now. We've scanned high and low but we didn't find anything to be the least big familiar. I guess this is yet another corridor to the Garden that we never knew about."
"Renix?" Irvine asked in curiosity.
"That's the guys name; the seed officer who helped us." Squall said as he slouched back against the wall. "I guess all we can do now is wait for him to come back and give us a report on what he's been able to find so far."
Squall held up his hand towards Irvine. "In the meantime, here. Catch!" He tossed him a soft, blue object, which Irvine caught deftly in his right hand.
"What is it?" Irvine asked as he examined the small package resting in the palm of his hand.
"It's Renix's. It will help bring your headache down. Just place it on your forehead."
Irvine nodded and did just that. Almost immediately, his headache was gone. "Wow this stuff really ~ whoa!"
He fell back after removing the packet and trying to stand.
Squall chuckled lightly. "I never said anything about it taking your headache away. I only mentioned that it would take it down. Don't push yourself. Just keep the pack on your forehead and you'll be ok."
Irvine nodded reluctantly and placed the pack back on his head. He hated being weak like this. He was never one to lie around feeling sick all of the time. He needed to be doing something constantly. Feeling restless, he decided to try and start up another conversation with Squall. "So, like, how bad was I injured before you treated me?"
Squall looked away, not wanting to meet his gaze. "You were in pretty bad shape. Three broken ribs, a concussion, that old knee injury was re-opened. To be quite honest with you, there were times when Renix and I feared you wouldn't wake up. You were in such bad shape we had to use all of our Couraga's on you."
Irvine lowered his head, feeling slightly self-conscious. "Oh." He replied, simply.
"In any case, we patched you up pretty good from the looks of it. Just give yourself a few hours to rest up and you'll be just like new."
"Ok boss man. Guess I have no other choice in the matter anyway." Irvine said as he closed his eyes. His mind started drifting back to Selphie and he couldn't help but wonder if he would ever see her again. The two had planned to get married but now he wasn't even sure if she survived the attack. He hopped with all of his heart that she did. She meant the world to him and his heart ached at the thought of never being able to see her warm smile or beautiful sparkling eyes again.
Just then footsteps rang out in the distance. Irvine's head snapped up, although not too quickly this time. "Who is it?" he asked in alarm.
Squall didn't seem perturbed at all.
"So, General, I see our patient has finally woken up!" The voice called out from the distance. As the man walked into view, Irvine recognized him immediately. His dark brown skin glistened with sweat apparently from searching the lower levels of their caged prison. His seed over shirt was loose and open. He sported the traditional bald cut however there was a coil of hair trailing down from the nape of his skull in a long- winded cord, signifying the native side of his heritage. He also wore a thin narrow beard and mustache, which ran along his jaw in a thin line.
As the man walked closer to the duo, Irvine extended his hand in friendship. "It's a pleasure to finally actually meet you. I don't think we've ever really met. The name's Irvine Kinneas. Thanks for the help back there."
Renix smiled and shook his hand enthusiastically. "It was my pleasure sir! Ever since the Sorceress war with Ultimecia, many of us seed Officers look up to you and your companions. In our eyes, you all are heros! If anything, it was the very least I can do."
Squall nodded firmly. "So did you find anything down there?"
Renix leveled his eyes with Squall's. "Well General, yes and no. I've found us an access tunnel, which we could use to get out of this area. The only problem is that this tunnel leads further into the structure. We may only be digging ourselves an even deeper pit then the one we're already in."
Squall rubbed his chin in thought.
"But we really don't have a choice in the matter do we Squall?" Irvine stated. "If we stay here we may starve to death. Like you said earlier, this is an unknown area to everyone at Garden and no one knows of its existence so that pretty much drops the whole idea of anyone ever finding us. I think taking that tunnel out may be the best opportunity for us to get out of here."
Renix nodded briskly. "He's got a point there, General."
Squall closed his eyes in thought for a few minutes. He pondered all the possible alternatives they could take. Squall was used to figuring these kinds of strategies out. With the decreased amount of people depending on him, It was easier to handle the strain of making decisions. The consequences weren't as great. After what seemed like hours to Irvine and Renix, he then slowly re-opened his eyes. "Well then," He said with firm resolve in his voice. "So long as we all agree, then I guess there's nothing left to debate. We'll go into the tunnels and take the risk. We depart in three hours. For now lets just let Irvine rest and regain his strength. Meanwhile we should do the same thing. There's no telling what we may find in those tunnels or even how long they will trail before the journey is over. So just relax for now because in a few hours we may never get the chance again."
****
Rinoa ran down the hallway as fast as he legs would carry her. Selphie was trailing fast on her heels as they sprinted towards the main room on the second floor where all the Garden inhabitants were. The explosions reverberating around the Garden were becoming louder and more excessive. From the corner of her eye, Rinoa saw huge chunks of the flying fortress tear away as the Galbadian Ragnorak continued its relentless attack.
Finally, the two women approached their destination. Without a second thought, Rinoa slammed her fist on the button that would open the door. Once the entrance was open, they rushed inside. All eyes were on them as the stood there panting and breathing hard with the thunderstorm of destruction trailing behind in the distance.
"What's going on out there?" One of the seed's asked in a frightened voice.
Rinoa immediately took charge, standing before all the occupants of Garden. It was amazing that so many people could fit in one area yet they all couldn't have been together at a better time. "Please listen up everyone! Garden is under attack by the Galbadian army."
Immediately after saying that, the room became engulfed in loud gasps and other types of surprised expressions. Everyone began speaking at once. Before either Selphie or Rinoa knew, the whole area became flooded with panic.
"Please calm down guys!" Selphie pleaded however her words were lost in the thunderstorm of voices.
Rinoa gently closed her eyes then whispered a few words Selphie couldn't make out. Suddenly the whole room was silent again. Rinoa stood there in an authoritative manner. Her eyes were dead set on every single seed in the room.
"I apologize for having to resort to such means as to cast SILENCE on all of you but these are dire circumstances and I need your attention if we're going to get out of this alive." The fortress jolted again as another missile struck its already damaged hull. However, this only enforced the point Rinoa was trying to make. Everyone sat down and arranged themselves quietly, awaiting what Rinoa was going to say next.
Selphie watched Rinoa with pride and admiration. Never before, had the young woman ever seen her companion this focused on anything. She smiled lightly as she watched Rinoa take command amongst all the havoc that surrounded them.
As for Rinoa, she suddenly became unsure of herself as she tried to prepare for what she was going to say next. She never wanted to ever have to take this role in her life but times have changed.
'Why does life have to be so cruel?' She thought to herself in anguish.
'What are you doing?' Came the familiar voice that the young sorceress could never forget.
'Why do you stall? You have their attention now take advantage of it! You have asserted yourself as their leader! Don't give up now!'
'I can't do this…'
'You must Rinoa! You are a Sorceress! The most powerful one of all! It is your duty! There is no one else! If you back down now, only misery and destruction will come to pass! Act now or all is lost. Inevitably, it's your choice…Save all, or give in to the suffering and allow others to share in that misery…'
Rinoa's mind was whirling with anguish yet the Sorceress words had the sting of truth to them. Thus, Rinoa swallowed her grief and faced the surrounding seeds once more. With a firm, assertive voice she spoke.
"My fellow companions, I come here bringing grave news. Your commander, my husband, General Squall is missing. His whereabouts are unknown but according to our only source, he is said to be dead. Along with everyone else who was currently on the bridge."
Rinoa silently sighed in relief that her SILENCE spell was still up because by the expressions on their faces, she was sure havoc would have taken over the room once more.
"I know what you're all thinking and I share in those thoughts but I also know that we must be strong my friends. We must be strong because if we work together we can beat this threat! Together we can beat anything Zeilak has to throw at us, so please,… I know this is a time of strife and anguish for you all but please, just this once, help me. Help me and my friends to fight this threat! For the sake of Garden, for the sake of my father, For the sake of President Cid, and most importantly, for the sake of every man, woman and child whose lives are in the balance if we don't win this war! Please help me…"
Unable to hold them any longer, tears burst forth from Rinoa's eyes. Tears of sorrow, tears of frustration, and tears of what might come to pass if these very seeds were not willing to give their support in this dire time of war.
Ironically, it was at that very moment that the SILENCE spell wore off. Much to Rinoa's surprise, instead of hearing doubtful mutters or fear filled cries of terror, she was surrounded in a boisterous round of applause from everyone in the room. The sound thundered through the walls of the beaten up Garden, giving it revitalized strength and hope. Selphie stood right next to everyone else, joining in the supportive clapping. Rinoa wiped her tears away in shock and smiled a bit.
"We'll stand with you no matter what Rinoa!" One of the seed's yelled.
"We're with you all the way!" yelled another. "Just tell us what to do and we'll give it our best shot!"
Rinoa's smile broadened and she raised her head once more. "Thank you everyone." She said with a raw voice, still overcome with emotion. "Your words mean a lot to me. To my knowledge, the last orders Squall gave were to give Nida command over Xu. That means Nida would be the ranking officer in charge here. Would anyone know where he is?"
Everyone was silent for a few minutes. "We haven't seen him." One of the seeds offered. Slowly everyone else agreed. Rinoa sighed heavily. She didn't know what to do now. No one else was qualified for command. She turned towards Selphie. "Then, as the next highest in line, Selphie, you've got command."
Selphie smiled kindly but gently placed her hands up ushering Rinoa's decree away. "As flattered as I am at such an honor Rinoa, ill have to decline."
"What?"
"I'm sure I speak for everyone else here, when I say there's someone here more qualified for the task then I."
Rinoa was shocked. Selphie nodded reassuringly towards her and as she turned around, she saw the same accepting glances from everyone else in the room. "We're with you all the way, Captain." Selphie said softly.
Rinoa was completely baffled. "I-… I don't know what to say…"
Selphie rested a reassuring hand on Rinoa's shoulder. "How about starting off by giving us your orders. Whatever plan you have in mind, we're with you through thick and thin."
Rinoa smiled and nodded slowly. "Ok. Everyone listen up. Here's what I have in mind."
Author's Note: Well, yet another chapter down the hatch! Rinoa's in charge! Irvine, Squall and Renix are trapped in the uncharted territories of Balamb Garden and Galbadia is still on the move with their relentless attacks! Things will heat up more in the next chapter titled 'Disturbing Behavior'. As always thanks for reading and please review! J
-Cordis