Chapter Twenty-Two
Ellone Pays a Visit
Deling City Redux
Irvine, Selphie and Zell were sitting around a cafeteria table after finishing their breakfast. Zell's girlfriend has already left for her shift in the library.
Irvine asked "What in the heck happened to Rinoa last night after she fell into the mosh pit?"
"She probably had a good time" Selphie retorted.
Zell responded, "I can't believe how mean spirited you are."
"I just can't help it," Selphie explained, "She's just such a klutz. I'm beginning to think she's doing this stuff on purpose."
"Well, speak of the devil" Irvine said espying Rinoa ambling into the cafeteria.
Rinoa strode directly to their table and looming over Selphie exclaimed "How dare you purposely leave me in that mosh pit stark naked with all those grabby male upper-classmen!"
"Aw, you loved it, Rinoa," retorted Selphie.
Suddenly Rinoa appeared so furious Zell became frightened she was going to strike Selphie, as he noticed she was clenching her fists.
Irvine, attempting to intervene, exclaimed "Girls! Please calm down."
Rinoa spun around and informed Irvine, "If you see any girls here, they'll get down on their knees and clean your pipes."
"Yeah, you tell him, Rinoa" reinforced Selphie.
Rinoa turned and grinned at her.
Irvine sprang to his feet and exclaimed, "It's Sis!" and pointed with his right hand toward the front of the cafeteria where, sure enough, Ellone was stepping in her strange pigeon toed manner, partially because of the long narrow dress she was usually wearing.
Hurrying to their table, Ellone appeared anxious and distracted. While everyone called out greetings to her, she responded, "Where's Squall?"
Irvine explained, "He's in morning staff meeting. Here" Irvine held out his right arm. "Allow me to escort you."
"Irvine!" Selphie said harshly, "Stop it! Can't you see she's upset about something? Now sit down, I'll take her."
As Selphie and Ellone exited the cafeteria, Zell said, "I see someone's still in the dog house."
"Bow Wow" giggled Rinoa as Irvine scowled at Zell.
In morning staff meeting, Doctor Kadowaki asked, "Cid, what was our purpose in leaving Trabia during the night and traveling to Winhill?"
Cid answered "I thought things there were getting a little stale with people starting to become slightly remiss in their duties due to the comfort-ability of having a sister Garden so close. Plus I have a gut feeling that something involving Winhill may be next on Deling City's agenda, since so far they have fairly well escaped their grasp."
"Besides," Cid continued with an impish grin, "I was becoming more than a little sick of Dyne Barrett's glad handing."
Squall glanced up irritably. "Are we about done here?" Across the table from him, Seifer offered him thumbs up.
Fujin suddenly announced "ELEVATOR!"
Everybody automatically turned their heads toward the elevator to discover who stepped off.
As Ellone stepped off the elevator, Selphie remained to return it to the first floor. The people around the table began to stir in surprise at Ellone's sudden appearance when Cid stood up and welcomed her, inviting her to sit at the table.
Squall immediately realizing something was amiss, asked "What's wrong, Sis?"
"Uncle Laguna's been kidnapped!" was her surprising answer.
Immediately everyone began demanding an explanation by asking an assortment of questions, which turned the situation quickly into complete chaos.
"I'll answer everyone's questions, but one at a time, please," Ellone pleaded.
As the room fell silent, Ellone continued, "In fact, allow me to tell you in my own fashion and then you can question me further. As you may be aware of, Rainey is buried outside of Winhill and Uncle Laguna desired to visit her grave and, as Kiros and Ward were busy in a city planning meeting of some sort, he managed to slip out of the palace undetected by them. He did, at least, bring two soldiers with him, but they turned out to be no help at all, because Galbadia had been remaining on watch over Rainey's grave just in case this eventuality ever occurred."
Ellone drew a breath and then continued. "The Esthar soldiers were overpowered easily by a squad of Galbadian soldiers and Uncle Laguna was whisked away and this note was left."
Ellone handed the note to Cid across the table, who took it. After reading it, he passed it on to the next person to go around the table and then he explained, "They are holding Laguna for ransom."
"What do they want?" Squall quickly asked.
"Akane" Cid answered.
"Akane?" the doctor echoed amazed.
"That's not too surprising, considering she's the President's daughter" Squall commented.
"What are the details, Cid?" asked Squall, not wishing to wait for the note to make its way around the table to him.
"Might I suggest, Cid, that we excuse Ellone if no one has any further questions of her, before we get into discussion and the planning stage?" asked Doctor Kadowaki.
"That's a good idea, doctor" Cid agreed. After asking the table at large if they had further questions of an immediate import for Ellone, he said "Ellone, I hope you're going to remain with us for a while."
Ellone answered, "Yes, there is nothing for me presently in Esthar. I would like to stay and be with old friends at such a time."
After Ellone had vacated Cid's office and was returning to the first floor, Cid, who had returned to his desk in the meantime, called Xu and General Caraway to his office over the intercom.
After Xu, who was still hobbling on crutches and General Caraway had arrived in Cid's office and were seated at the table, Cid began by informing them of the situation.
Squall suggested, "The note indicated the exchange would be in two days time. I think we should go in tomorrow and get settled in so we can investigate the situation closely."
"I concur with that," General Caraway agreed, having just finished reading the ransom note. "And I suggest you rendezvous in my mansion. I imagine it is still sitting empty, except for the household staff."
Xu asked, "What about Akane? Are you going to take her with you in chains or what?"
Squall replied flatly in an attempt to forestall any agrument, "We definitely need to take her with us, if we have any hope of getting Laguna back alive. And as far as your question concerning the chains - No, Rinoa can help with that. Akane has completely bonded with Rinoa."
As Cid knew nothing of Rinoa's interactions with Akane, he began to protest but was interrupted by the doctor, who concurred, "Yes, Rinoa has worked wonders with her. Akane appears to be a completely different person."
General Caraway beamed with paternal pride.
"Okay, all that is decided" stated Cid. "Now we need to decide who's going."
Zell, Rinoa, Irvine and Selphie were eating lunch together in the cafeteria. Naturally enough, they were discussing the sudden appearance of Ellone and considering the possible ramifications of her visit when Irvine, once again, espied Ellone entering the cafeteria.
"Hey, there she is now" Irvine responded.
As they turned toward her, they noticed she was moving in their direction. As she approached the table, Irvine sprang up and pulled a chair out for her. As she was sitting, she thanked Irvine and sighed, "It's been quite a twenty-four hours."
Never one to stand on ceremony, Zell demanded "What the hell's going on, Ellone?"
Selphie admonished "Zell! Knock it off! She'll tell us if she wants to."
Ellone spoke gently "It's alright, Zell. There's no reason to keep it a secret from you all, now that I've spoken with Cid. Uncle Laguna's been kidnapped by Galbadia."
Her statement caused general consternation around the table.
"What is this really about?" Selphie asked. "Is Galbadia trying to force Esthar to surrender?"
Ellone shook her head. "No, they are holding him in exchange for somebody named Akane."
"Oh, no" Rinoa murmured.
"I get it" Irvine stated. As everybody turned to him, Irvine continued, "They know Squall will show and they want another shot at him. It must really irk the President that he got away."
Rinoa stood and exclaimed, "This time he's not going without me!"
Selphie retorted "Rinoa, sit down! You're making youself a spectacle again." And reaching out with her hand, she pulled Rinoa back into her chair. "And, besides, I bet we're all going this time."
Ellone spoke delighted, "There's Quisty and a extremely handsome young man."
"Oh, I know him" Rinoa explained, "His name is Kazuya."
Selphie elaborated, "That's Quistis's new main squeeze."
"How wonderful to see you again, Ellone" Quistis greeted, when she approached the table followed by Kazuya.
"Hi, Quisty" Ellone replied, "Something must be agreeing with you. You look positively radiant."
Blushing slightly and seemingly presenting the reason for her recent happiness, she introduced Kazuya to everyone sitting at the table.
After Quistis had seated herself and Kazuya remained standing behind her chair, Quistis was apprised of the current situation.
"Hmmm" she said thoughtfully, "I think everyone should keep their bags packed. I bet we'll be moving out quickly."
Doctor Kadowaki asked, "Have we decided everything?"
Cid ordered "Fujin, please read back the last few minutes."
Squall sighed loudly impatient. He was hungry and it was long past lunch.
Fujin read from her notes of the meeting. "Three separate parties will enter Deling City early a.m. tomorrow; each to enter one hour after the other, beginning at 5 o'clock a.m. The three parties will consist of Squall, Zell and Rinoa; Irvine, Mishima and Kasumi and the last party will be Quistis, Selphie and Kazuya."
"Thank you" Cid acknowledged. "We will drop them off from the Garden, because the last thing we need is the Ragnarok to be spotted outside of the city."
Cid stood up and adjourned the meeting. "Squall, I need to speak with you for a moment."
As the others were crowding around the elevator, Cid led Squall to the back of the office, so they would not be overheard. "There's only one piece of advice I can offer you, if it turns out you have to fight Mamoru" Cid counseled. "When he's moving in for his kill stroke, he will feint three times, right, left and the right; his next move will start from his left. But I hope and pray it doesn't come down to that."
Having eaten dinner together, Irvine was silently walking Selphie back to the women's dormitory.
"Irvy?" Selphie said in a surprisingly soft tone.
"Yeah."
Selphie placed her hand on his arm and prevented him from walking. Gazing up in his face, as Irvine was considerably taller, her words came out in a rush, "I'm sorry I've been such a bitch lately. But you hurt me so badly with Trepie #2."
"Aw, Sefie," Irvine protested, "It's you I love. That was just lust."
"Oh, just shut up" Selphie whispered and, standing on her tiptoes, she began to passionately kiss him.
Squall and Rinoa, thoroughly sexually satiated for the moment, were lying nakedly on the narrow bed in Squall's room. Rinoa asked "I'm spending the night with you, aren't I?"
When Squall shook his head, Rinoa began to protest but was interrupted when Squall replied, "We're leaving at four o'clock in the morning. This time you need to get your sleep" Squall grinned.
It was just past three a.m. the next morning, Zell was already awake in his solitary room packing his small backpack for the upcoming mission. He was feeling too hyper to sleep further, when suddenly he heard a soft knock on his door.
"Now what the hell?!" he thought. Throwing his door open, he was amazed to observe his girlfriend, clad only in a sheer nightie through which her nude body could be readily seen, standing in the hall. Brushing by him she quickly stepped into his room. As he spun to face her, she directed, "I talk, you listen."
"I've come to wish you good luck and to inform you there will be a surprise waiting for you, when you return from Deling City."
"Uh, what are you talking about?" stammered the blushing Zell.
The pigtail girl answered, "As Irvine would say, you have to read between the lines." She kissed him passionately, slipping her tongue into his startled mouth and then disappeared out the door and down the corridor like a wisp on the wind.
The Garden settled down on the beach, outside of Deling City, on the Great Plains of Galbadia and the nine SeeDs involved in the mission, along with Akane, quickly exited. Watching the Garden lift off immediately and head out to sea to wait outside of immediate eye sight. Squall turned to the group and instructed, "Irvine, Rinoa and I will head in first and take Akane with us. The second group of Zell, Mishima and Kasumi should follow in an hour."
Even though it had been originally decided that Zell would travel with them, Squall made a command decision that Zell needed to be the one to guide Mishima and Kasumi, because Irvine lacked any real knowledge of efficiently traversing the sewers. Squall concluded with his orders, "Quistis, Selphie and Kazuya should follow Zell's party one hour after that."
"Ja ne" Squall grinned, as he, Rinoa and Irvine began jogging toward Deling City, as they had decided a forehand that speed would be of the essence. Akane left in a dead sprint and raced two hundred yards ahead of them before stopping, needing to catch her breath.
"Akane's feeling good" Rinoa commented.
"Kids!" Irvine replied shaking his head.
Turning her head away from Irvine, Rinoa suppressed her laughter.
An hour later, they were walking into the outskirts of Deling City. Stepping past the Rent-A-Car business and into the city, they were able to avoid the cluster of Galbadian soldiers that were always stationed at the foot of the staircase, leading down from the train station.
Fifteen minutes later, they were moving rapidly through the halls in the Deling City sewer system. Several fights with bats occurred without incidence, but following one battle with Creeps, Rinoa leaned down and wailed, "They tore my blue vest and this is my last one! Darn! I'm gonna have to try and mend this."
Squall replied with a smile, "Come on now, I'll buy you a new one" and he began, once again, to run down a hallway. Rinoa trailed behind whining, "You can't! They stopped making these."
As they stepped quietly into the General's den, they stood for a moment silently with bated breath. When at last, Squall decided they could communicate, he warned, "We still need to remain extremely careful, until we know for certain there is nobody here."
Rinoa explained, "I'm sure the household staff is still here, but they won't say anything."
Irvine announced, "I'm going to investigate the first floor."
"I wanna go too!" Akane whined, looking at Rinoa for permission.
Rinoa answered, "If it's alright with Uncle Irvine, it's alright with me."
Irvine glared hard at Rinoa, but spoke resignedly, "It's okay. You can come along."
"Oh boy!" Akane jumped happily beside him and then quickly followed him from the den.
After they exited the room, Rinoa broke into deep laughter.
As Squall appeared confounded, Rinoa giggled and explained, "Irvine and I spent the night here, before we traveled to the D-District Prison. He's unaware I returned here, after he had left to meet at the hotel and I spoke with Usagi."
"Who's that?" Squall naturally questioned.
Rinoa related that Usagi was a downstairs maid, who was an extremely attractive, blonde hair, young woman with an abundant bust line and extremely long, beautifully scuplted, legs whose hair was styled resembling two meatballs on top of her head, and who Irvine had made love to.
"So I know that's who he wants to locate and now he's stuck with Akane."
"Wow!" Squall exclaimed, "If Selphie ever hears about this Usagi, she will kill him."
Rinoa thought to herself, "If I ever have to tell her, I will already have killed him."
Squall and Rinoa were sitting quietly talking in the General's den, as they rarely had an opportunity at the Garden to experience quiet time alone, when Zell, Mishima and Kasumi entered the room through the hidden passageway.
"Greetings gates" Zell exclaimed.
"Hey everybody!" greeted Mishima.
"How did it go?" questioned Squall.
"Fine" Kasumi answered.
Zell elaborated, "Quistis, Kazuya and Selphie should be leaving the beach area right about now."
"Let's go look around," Mishima suggested. "I've never been anywhere this fancy."
"Just be quiet doing it," Squall cautioned and added, "Rinoa tells me the staff will be supportive of us so, if you happen to meet any, find out any information that could possibly help us."
"Okey dokey" Zell replied and led the young women out of the room.
Rinoa commented, "They seem happy enough."
An hour later, when Quistis, Kazuya and Selphie entered the General's den through the secret passageway, Rinoa was sitting in her bra and panties on Squall's lap involved in a long passionate kiss, with the rest of her clothing scattered on the floor, polite conversation having broken down a short while ago.
"Rinoa!" Quistis exclaimed shocked, "Have some decency! There's a man present."
Leaping up quickly from Squall's lap and slipping on her black blouse and shorts, Rinoa, totally embarrassed and blushing furiously, muttered an apology.
Squall questioned laconically, "Any difficulty?"
Selphie shook her head negatively and, after glancing around the den, asked, "Where's Irvine?"
"He and Akane went exploring," Rinoa answered, while donning the rest of her outfit.
"I'd like to speak with him" Selphie replied pointedly.
"Here" Rinoa offered, "I'll help you look for him."
Rinoa guided Selphie down to the first floor thinking possibly Irvine had gone searching for Usagi anyway, despite having Akane with him, but she discovered Usagi in the large kitchen and upon questioning her, Usagi denied having seen either Irvine or Akane.
"Let's try the second floor," Rinoa suggested.
"I'm game" was Selphie's terse reply.
While stepping down a wide hallway of second floor bedrooms, Rinoa heard some noise coming from inside one of them. Pausing at the door and when knocking upon it drew no immediate response, Rinoa opened the door and stepped into the room quickly followed by Selphie. Both young women were more than shocked when they observed a totally naked Mishima, down on her knees, in front of Zell, who was standing sans apparel.
Rinoa exclaimed, "Mishima!" while Selphie stood frozen with, for once, her mouth agape and not moving.
Hearing her name and realizing that she and Zell had unwanted visitors, Mishima pulled her mouth away from her immediate endeavor and glanced back over her shoulder and offered Rinoa a wink. Both Rinoa and Selphie were astonished at the size of Zell's now visible erection.
Arising to her feet quickly and striding over to Rinoa and Selphie, apparently completely unconcerned with her total nakedness or the entire situation for that matter, Mishima began pushing Rinoa and Selphie out of the bedroom while saying, "I'm sorry, this room is taken. Try the bedroom next door, if you please."
Suddenly Rinoa and Selphie found themselves out in the hallway with the door being slammed in their faces. They looked at each other flabbergasted, but both declined to comment and, in fact, neither one ever spoke of it to anybody.
After checking all of the second and third floors to no avail, they moved to the topmost floor and were moving past a bedroom, when Rinoa thought she heard Irvine and Akane's voices inside the room. Instantly suspicious, Rinoa pointed her finger at the door, not uttering a sound and Selphie nodded and then threw open the door.
The sight that greeted them was predictable to Selphie and horrifying to Rinoa. Akane lay in bed under a sheet, with a totally nude Irvine hovering over the young girl.
"Akane!" Rinoa exclaimed, shocked to the very marrow of her bones.
"Irvine!" Selphie shouted, angry to the very essence of her soul.
When Akane quickly scrambled from the bed and stood on the floor beginning to cry, Rinoa was gratified to notice that, at least, Akane was appareled in her panties. She realized it wouldn't do at all to return Akane to the President as damaged goods.
Akane broke into sobs and, bending over in an attempt to hide her pert little breasts, she buried her head in her hands. Rinoa rushed to her side and embraced her in a hug, while Selphie stood over Irvine, as if daring him to say one word of defense and then she would administer to him the beating of his young life.
Akane sobbed, "Irvine told me no one knew what might happen and I could well be dead by this evening, so I should experience the ecstasy of love at least one time."
"It's alright. Nothing happened," cooed Rinoa in an attempt to sooth the sobbing teenager. "Here," Rinoa suggested, while gathering up Akane's upper-classman uniform which lay scattered on the bedroom floor, "We'll go to my room and pick out something better for you to wear. I still have a closet full of clothes from when I was younger."
Rinoa led the weeping teenager from the room, while Selphie remained standing over Irvine, who futilely attempted to hide his substantial erection from her piercing gaze.