Disclaimer: Yadda yadda yadda… does anyone even read these anymore more? **everyone shakes head** Figured as much. Well, this is ShadowKat giving you a shout out on this reason: I do not own the Esca cast or storyline… much to my heartbreak; though I have tried on various occasions to steal the deed… alas they've all failed. So, don't sue. **raises first finger in air in triumph** But I do own anything that isn't in the original series! So HAH! Take that you stupid lawyer! **Lawyer glares** Uh oh….
AN: I'd like to take a really short break here to thank everyone who's been reviewing! A special thanks to Kae Noel who's been encouraging my writing and this story and a big special thanks to CrimsonFire who found time to review my story and give me great feedback and point out my typos! Kae Noel, CrimsonFire, you two rock!
Three Girls
This story is dedicated to the only person I know who has a heart of gold and a talent for the art of story telling. CrimsonFire my friend, you've been there for me when I've needed you and you're always willing to help me out no matter what situation I'm in. So this one is redone for you!
Chapter 9: Spies in My Army?
Kat stood ready in the center of Fanellia; the little town had been alerted silently and everyone knew what to do. All around houses and shops stood, their sturdy brick structures looking so strong and she knew they were designed to resist a small attack. This was no small attack, this was a mission designed to take down Fanellia once and for all.
She knew that people would die. Whether they were innocents or warriors they would die and she couldn't prevent all of the deaths that were about to occur. But that wouldn't stop her from doing what she had to do. She wouldn't let Zaibach hurt her friends and most importantly she wouldn't let innocents die.
Glancing at the sky she saw that it was fully dawn now. A warning sensation grew in her stomach and she knew it was only seconds before the attack came. I guess it was only a matter of time, she thought, wishing that the attack was still hours away.
As if on cue, she heard the sound of the warning horn. They're here, she thought to herself as she drew her sword. She was dressed in her black uniform, neither Zaibach nor Fanellian in this fight for she would not kill those who didn't deserve to die. Still she was ready to fight. Her heart began to race as she anticipated the first move someone would make on her.
She smiled to herself as she heard the gates of Fanellia crumble as the Zaibach soldiers rushed it. There was no way that it could've held up against such force. Her heart pumped harder and something deep inside of her woke up-she had a lust for blood.
"KAT! FIRE!" Someone screamed at her. The scream startled Kat and she whirled around and saw Nicole who was pointing a huge guymelef floating in the sky above them, getting ready to fire its flame-thrower.
"DAMN!" Kat yelled and sheathed her ready sword. She raised her hands above her head. "BLOCK!"
Suddenly everything became dark. Nicole looked up at the sun and saw that instead of the fiery red orb hanging in the sky the two moons were blocking it. The world was submerged in darkness so thick it was hard to make out anything. At least we won't have to worry about the flames for long, she thought then turned to Kat. "How'd...?" Nicole started, but was then reminded of the acting that she was supposed to be doing when Kat charged her.
To make everything look more real, and for the plan to continue, every Fanellian officer was supposed to attack Kat if the chance showed itself. Kat was to do the same but no one was supposed to do any real damage to the other unless necessary. The same went for the Protectors.
Nicole easily blocked Kat's charging sword with a simple whip made out of Earth energy; the whip wrapping around the sword and yanking it out of her hands then returning for another hit. Kat dodged an attack from Nicole and for a while they concentrated on play fighting, dodging one another's attacks and taking out whoever was a threat. But an hour later things got serious.
Dilandau came barging into the city in his guymelef, quickly finishing the job that his soldiers were supposed to do. The whole city was on fire in seconds via his flamethrower. The flames lighted up the city, giving an eerie glow to things, lighting up the darkness in a way that could not be normal. "Nicole, where's Alex?" Kat asked Nicole.
They had stopped their fake play and were quickly trying to regroup. There was no point to this battle anymore; Dilandau had all ready started the inevitable. "I don't know! She ran off and said that if things got hard, to just run and she'll met up with us," Nicole yelled over the sound of a house catching on fire across from where they were.
Kat grabbed Nicole's wrist and began to run through the burning city. I have to get her out of here, she thought as she ran. They made their way to the front of the city, with little trouble because most of the battle had died down, but the fire proved to be a tough opponent. By the time they were by the gate they were both coughing hard from the smoke intake.
They had just made it outside of the city and were running towards the figure of Alex when Kat suddenly stopped. Her body convulsed and she doubled over clutching her sides. Pain washed over her like a tidal wave and she fell to the ground. Nicole stopped and ran back to her. "What's that matter?" She asked fearfully.
"Go... don't worry about me; I've got a job, remember? Now GO!" Kat hissed with all the might she could muster.
The pain was too much to bear, her world was beginning to spin and darkness was biting at the sides of her vision. Nicole nodded and ran towards Alex. Kat grunted in pain as she cowered lower to the ground still clutching her sides. I still have that problem of controlling my new powers. I wish Folken would stop with his damned experiments! He's all ready got some results, so why won't he quit? She wondered.
Very slowly the moons blocking the sun slipped away and the brightness of midmorning shone through. Well, at least we had more of a chance, she thought before she blacked out.
Nicole had just reached Alex when Kat had fainted and with much protest from the both of their conscious they had jumped onto a horse and ridden off after Van and Hitomi, who were leading the retreat. Besides a few soldiers they were the only survivors of the attack-at least, that they knew of. All of the other citizens had been previously evacuated or killed in the city.
After riding into the late hours of the night they finally made camp in a forest. The camp had been set up before the attack so if they had to retreat they would have a temporary "safe" place to rest and then continue on whatever route they decided was best. Alex knew from experience that they were in the heart of the forest and that it would be hard for a guymelef to get through all the branches, which was what made it the perfect hiding spot.
Heck, even Kat would have troubles here, she thought. I don't think she'd be able to get through so many branches by phasing. She instantly felt guilty at the thought. They had promised they would get her back and they had failed; they had left her with Zaibach again.
Even though both Alex and Nicole knew that Kat could handle herself they still felt guilty. "We'll have to go into hiding. Not a word can be heard from us, we cannot be seen and no one can know that we're still alive. We can hide with Merle until it's time," Van suddenly announced.
Both Alex and Nicole looked at him, surprised. "I don't think so!" They both said.
"I'm not gonna be like Anne Frank. We can take whatever Zaibach throws at us!" Alex exclaimed.
"It's not what we can take, it's what we can do. If we want to get Kat back-" Van started.
"Kat's on our side. She said so. She's only staying with Zaibach to gather info and stuff for us. So stop making it sound like she's on the wrong side," Nicole cut in.
This time it was Van's turn to look stunned. He had thought it was all a façade-a face to put on for Zaibach so she could get inside their intelligence.
"I'm afraid that Zaibach will find out. But we can't exactly go busting in there and grab her; they'll just come and get her back. So I was thinking if we could get Kat to start to slowly drift apart from Zaibach, then she could escape easily. That way it wouldn't look like she just high tailed it outta there, and things wouldn't be so suspicious," Alex suggested.
"It's a good plan, but it won't work, Alex," Nicole said. "For one thing, it's not Kat's style. For another, who can be sure she'd follow the plan? You know, being undercover and all she might not be able to execute it. I think we should let Kat do the decision-making. I'm sure she'll come up with some way to get out of Zaibach. 'Sides, Zaibach would know she was drifting."
"We'll give her two months. If she's not with us by the end of the second month, we attack Zaibach full force whether she's with or us not. Understood?" Van asked.
Even though most were shocked, everyone nodded. Nicole wanted to protest but she knew Van was being more then generous.
"Then let's get into hiding," he said. What everyone didn't notice was that there was a dark figure standing in the shadows watching the conversation.
"Ah," Kat moaned as she slowly entered the realm of reality, opening her eyes and looking around. She was back in her room, back in Zaibach, back with Dilandau. She sighed to herself and sat up; she was sort of hoping that she would find herself in another house... somewhere far away from Zaibach; a place where Zaibach didn't even exist. But no such luck for her.
"I see you're up," someone said, shocking her. Was someone else in the room?
Kat turned and saw Dilandau leaning against the doorway. "Uh huh Pyro-Boy," she replied with a smile.
"Well, then, I guess luck is with me today because I just heard the craziest rumor. It said that you were a spy for Van and company. Isn't that funny?" He asked as he walked over to her and sat on her bed, next to her.
Kat laughed out loud. "Yeah, that is funny," she agreed. Damn, how'd he find out? She wondered. Why does he say that luck is on his side?
"It would be funny except that I heard it straight from the source. Van and your two buddies both said you were a spy for them," Dilandau said, suddenly becoming very serious.
Oh shit. He followed them and heard! Better come up with an excuse, quick! Kat thought.
"We don't like spies here. Especially ones that tell the town we're attacking and get everyone ready. Ones that have the town kill two of our own spies," he spit.
Suddenly the image of the cloaked figure with the two bodies flashed in Kat's head. This time the cloaked figure could be seen, and Kat saw that it was Van. So he found them out, she thought. Dilandau leaned in close to her and whispered in Kat's ear, "sorry love, but rules are rules."
Then everything went black.
AN: So I've moved to the bottom of the chapter. I figure it's easier for everyone. So what's this with Kat? Why'd Van not trust her? Dilandau is knocking out his girlfriend? Hello, can we get more confusing?! I don't know! I'm just the channel person; my ideas come from wherever so you can't blame me. Plus the story kinda comes to life and the characters write themselves. Creepy. -_- Well, a cryptic message in this one. R+R please! I want to hear how people like this story! **winks and gives a half salute** Until next time…. With lots of suspense over your heads! What's gonna happen to Kat…
~ShadowKat
