"Are you Crazy?" he exploded, fists clenching as he struggle to hold his temper in check, he didn't do a very good job of it, Kiara was thankful he hadn't lashed out yet, "You could have ceased to exist!" His face was starting to flush with anger, Kiara swallowed hard, her stormy grey however didn't falter as they stared into his.
"No I'm not, " she replied calmly, hooking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, "And you know I'm not. You know why I went through with it, stop shouting at me and tell me if it worked!"
He shook his head, "It caused a delay nothing more, and you had better hope he never discovers it was you." Kiara glared as the silent third of their conversation giggled, she didn't see that there was anything funny to be found in this conversation…
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Irvine continued to move his wrists slowly, deliberately, the number of guards watching them hampered it, but he was confidant he could eventually slip a hand free, then what? Well I could get shot.., he shrugged, a nonchalant gesture made with ease, the guards didn't notice.
Irvine had watched silently observing his companions, Zell sat almost motionless, hands bound, waiting, waiting, Irvine could only guess at the thoughts running through his head, he had been captured before of course, a miscalculation in timing or something… it didn't seem to effect him, maybe it was, Zell after all, was the only one not trying to escape.
Rinoa, had her eyes closed, her brow set in deep concentration, Irvine had no more idea what she contemplated then Zell, though it doubtless included sorcery, maybe she had some sure fire spell to get them out of this mess, yeah, and maybe Kinneas wasn't the best damn shot in SeeD.
Quistis had surprised him, the confidant, calm Instructor had flashed a charming smile at any Galiban soldier who came close, Irvine knew what she was trying to do, or thought he did. His knowledge of Selphie had him praying the blonde's scheme wouldn't work, even as he felt confidant it would, he shook his head.
Then he heard the engine, a gunshot, a second, panicked screams Galiban soldiers rushing away leaving them with only the two guards, "The hell is going on?" He demanded.
"Quiet you!" then Irvine heard the unmistakable sound of metal colliding with a human head, the groan as the soldier unfortunate enough to be Selphie's target, and Irvine had jumped to his feet. Zell beat him to the punch, or kick as it were; a round house did for the other guard, Selphie beamed at them.
"What's going on?" Qustis demanded, as her bindings were untired, then she turned towards the shorter girl, the sound of the battle continued, Irvine took and opportunity to borrow one of the automatic weapons just in case it would prove useful, Quistis followed his lead.
Selphie shook her head and grinned, Her old self, Irvine thought delightedly, "Squall turned up."
"Squall?" Rinoa repeated suddenly, "Where is he?" The urgency in her voice surprised Irvine, he had thought she had long moved on from her feelings for Squall, it had been so long since she had laid eyes on him.
The commander and a few personal soldiers ran out of one of the tents, "What is going on?" he shouted at one of his lieutenants, Irvine blinked, turned, "Commander," he called, then pulled the trigger, bullets flew swiftly through the air, Galiban blood spilled out from the three fresh corpses, each dead from the first bullet to strike. "Mission accomplished?"
Zell nodded, "Right, now let's get to the jeep, and rendezvous." Without waiting for any consent, he turned and ran back towards where Galiban had left his prized vehicle. The others all turned to follow; this mission had been hashed from the start and none of them felt like tempting fate.
"What about Squall?" Rinoa asked quietly.
"He knows the plan," Selphie assured her, "I explained it to him, he knows where to meet us."
***
Squall had emptied the pistol, not every bullet had found it's mark, but enough had and those that didn't tended to cause enough confusion to allow him safe passage through the heart of the enemy encampment, all he needed to do was drive through, created havoc, take down everything that moved and get out after Selphie had done her part.
This had been simple, extensive training, and a lack of concern for his well being meant such a task hadn't fazed him, he hadn't been hurt. The same could not be said for his bike, by hanging low to one side, only his arm and leg were at any risk of injury, the paint work was scratched, the fine finished would take some work to repair. That some of the bullets were a fraction of a measurement from his limbs, and therefore his control of the vehicle was unimportant. He hadn't blinked, having drawn his gunblade that the weapons also contained a bullet, a well-placed rifle shot that should have taken his head, but lucky timing had saved his life.
He had debated whether to return to the others or simply leave, but to leave, would force them to wonder if he had survived his suicidal assault in an attempt to rescue them, that was the only reason he would rendezvous, then he was gone.
His eyes focused on a copse of trees, the meeting point, roughly halfway back to the squalid base Quistis and her team were working for, not that it mattered, as he approached he could see them, his "friends" Irvine was leaning against a car door, polishing his shotgun, the Exeter, "Mr. Hotshot". It most have been Quistis and Selphie sitting leaning against the rear door, Zell had to be the one under the hood checking the engine. Squall bit his lip, the one pacing, worrying, it had to be Rinoa… he shook his head, it didn't matter, he wasn't staying.
He was only a short distance from them, when caught a movement from the corner of his eye, he half turned, then the gunblade was free of it's sheath, a clawed fist that was meant for his eyes instead snagged on the blade. His aggressor's momentum took them both from the bike, Squall felt a knee press into his side, his left hand gripped the arm still vying with his blade to cause his destruction, he mentally braced himself.
He struck the ground hard, it knocked the wind from him, and despite this, he swung his legs up, pushing the attacking form off himself. Then he jumped swiftly to his feet, stormy grey eyes fell onto the man, his adversary, who had some how landed on his feet.
He was tall, easily 6"6, probably taller, his weapon of choice, a long combat claw, right handed, a silver mask obscured his features, "Squall!" Someone shouted, but Squall's attention was on the masked man, he who was fast, unhurt, the claw was already lashing forwards, testing Squall stepped back, not fooled by the feint.
It was the move after, the sudden jump and lash that had him surprised, had his gunblade swinging forwards just catching the claw, and himself hastening backwards as the claw danced swiftly in avoidance. The man was good, but Squall had years of practice, he was a SeeD, the challenge was welcome.
Squall didn't wait to observe his opponents reactions, he acted on impulse, swinging his blade forwards, left hand out for balance he left his heart wide open, the claw flashed out, fast, parrying his blade, swinging it across his body so as to Disarm him, Squall had more skill than to loose a gunblade so easily. Again, the masked man demonstrated his speed, claw flashing towards his forehead.
Squall bent back, hips and legs both moving in an attempt to distance himself from the claw, he would have fallen had his left hand not lashed out, the black gloves that covered his hands, grinning the wrist of his Galiban aggressor. Simultaneously, the gunblade swung up, it struck the silver mask, less then a quarter inch from the eyes socket, hazel eyes blinked.
For the two of them, this position froze, hazel eyes regarding grey with some sort of respect, the moment, when both Squall and his opponent judged each other's abilities, it seemed to last for an hour or more. Though to the five SeeDs within the Jeep now speeding towards there direction it was less than a heartbeat, before Squall's blade grated down along the mask, and a left hand gripped his wrist, swiftly followed by the mysterious attacker forcing Squall's arms apart, and jumping forwards.
His knee ground into Squall's jaw sharply, the sudden searing pain shocked Squall the fluidity of the motion had caught him off guard, his head had rolled to the side on his neck to try and avail some form of slight protection. There was a shotgun shot, Squall still dazed was spun around, pushed towards the jeep and the attack had run into the trees.
"Damn it!" Irvine muttered, his shot wasted, he was lucky it hadn't barrelled into both Squall and his assailant, as the jeep slowed the sound of a second motor engine was heard, no doubt the mans means of escaping.
Squall sheaved the gunblade, and leant forwards slightly, blood dripped from his broken lip, a lot of blood, a good half the lower and part of the upper had been crushed against his teeth, by the impact, his lower jaw had gone numb almost instantly, and feeling was only now starting to return. His head felt light, woozy, it had seen a lot in a few short days, he sported a swollen bruise above the right temple, another on the small of his back, just over the spine. All this accumulated into a painful existence, which he refused to let stop him.
He pulled back in surprise, as Rinoa's arms wrapped about his neck, uncaring of the blood that dripped onto her pale blue t-shirt, her lips sought his, but thankfully settled for a kiss against the side of his cheek instead.
"Good to see you again buddy." Zell said raising his left hand, replacing the usual combat glove was a white, blood stained handkerchief tied tightly, and apparently, Squall wasn't the only one to be injured by recent events.
"We'll get those wounds seen to properly back at garden," Quistis murmured as Rinoa relaxed her embrace slightly, she bit her lip as Squall shook his head, then he gently pushed her away from him.
"I'm not going back Quistis," With that he turned and walked towards his bike, he didn't look back, as he stooped to prop the vehicle up, mounted, the engine roared, the roar of a lion, and Squall drove off, leaving his friends for the Second time.
***
Selphie watched him walk away, she sighed quietly, she couldn't feel all bad, not now, seeing all her friends captured, and Squall again, even with all his problems had made her realise something, perhaps, she needed to think on it, but for the thirst time in other four years she could honestly say she felt better, confused, but better, slightly.
"He's just leaving. Again?" Rinoa asked, her voice was tense, it was threatening to break, and when Selphie turned back to her friend she could see tears, threatening to spill from those almond orbs, she grinned again, it felt good to smile again, really smile.
"He won't get far, I put a tracer on the bike just to be safe."
Rinoa smiled, her eyes ceased to water, no tears fell, "Well let's get after him then."
"No," Zell said quietly, they all looked to him, "We can't all go, it won't work." Rinoa opened her mouth to protest Quistis also seemed ready to contradict the blond man, but Irvine cut them off.
"Zell's right, you three are going back to Garden, and we will follow after him."
= = = = =
Author's note: I hope the fight between Squall and the masked man made sense to you.
Author's note: I wrote this quite late at night, so it may contain errors (like eye colours), again I apologise. I would also like to thank those who took the time to review they are appreciated.