Chapter 3
"She's like ice!"
"God, how long has she been out here?"
~~~
'Whose . . . . . . carrying me?' Khain wondered dimly. 'No matter. Just sleep . . .' She closed her eyes and became limp. Someone smacked her on the cheek.
"Don't you DARE fall asleep! We are not going to lose you Khain!" Zell said, his voice was harsh but his eyes were in silent worry. Squall carried her in his arms, as the entered the building, they heat washed over her in a wave. It was like fire to her icy skin, she flinched.
"Zell! I don't think you should-" Selphie began. Squall shook his head.
"We need her to keep her awake, if she falls asleep, she'll die." Selphie shut her mouth and only rushed to keep up.
~~~
In the hospital wing Squall set Khain down gently on a bed and touched her forehead. She winced at the fire touch. He removed his hand.
"We have to warm her up quick, problem is, if we don't she dies of pneumonia, and if we warm her up to quickly, the drastic temperature change could kill her as well." Zell sighed.
"So now what?"
"She needs body heat. Plain and simple." Zell gulped.
"You mean we have to get into her-"
"Bed? Yes. I know you don't like the idea. But we have to, and the person has to be changed every hour, because if we don't that person could get sick as well. It's really annoying I have to leave soon . . . . . ." Zell shook his head.
"If they need you, we won't stop you. Don't worry, Khain will be fine." Selphie nodded.
"I'll get her undressed and take the first shift. We won't let her die Squall." Squall nodded, Selphie smiled and pushed the guys out of the room. Later, Zell found Selphie sleeping, Khain wrapped in her arms. It may have looked a little sick, but to anyone who knew of Khain's present state, would see it as something to have hope for, to hope that she would live. Oddly enough Selphie was asleep. He looked at his watch, over an hour. He woke Selphie up.
"Selphie? Get something hot to drink or take a warm bath. I'll take over." Selphie woke, and nodded at him. Getting up Zell discovered she was only wearing a skirt and a shirt. She smiled wearily at him.
"God I'm freezing, take good care of her Zell." She smiled and slipped out of the room. Zell turned to Khain who was shivering still and gulped. He knew what Squall had said to do, easy for that jerk. He wasn't here. Squall's voice ran through his head.
'The less clothes you have, the better it is to exchange heat. I'm not saying that you should get naked. I'm saying you should wear shorts and a shirt at the most.' Zell sighed,
'Squall.' He thought. 'Why are you haunting me?' He pulled off his SeeD uniform jacket and then pulled of the pants to expose a black pair of shorts and a white shirt. He sighed and slipped beneath the covers, how had Selphie done it? Oh yeah. He wrapped his arms around Khain's icy form and held her close. He found it difficult to fall asleep like Selphie had done. Khain kept throwing her arm over his chest and would insist on snuggling up to him. Awake, her face was impassive, like she was a robot. Asleep, there was still that robot like look, but she her face was eased. Her features were softened. She looked innocent. He sighed. She was smiling about something, and she had stopped shivering. Zell allowed himself a small smile.
"Enjoying yourself?" A sly voice asked. Zell gleeped and turned to find Irvine leaning on the door frame grinning. Zell blushed.
"What?! NO!" Irvine laughed.
"Just joking Zell." He said and walked out the room chuckling. Zell sighed.
~~~
Khain woke up lightly and kept her eyes closed. She discovered that her pillow had a heartbeat. Sitting up she gaped. Zell was holding her and he was asleep. She looked herself over under the sheets, a simple white shirt and black shorts. She sighed in relief, thank god she wasn't naked. A small cold gust bit into her skin and she bit back a yelp, she really didn't want to get up, so she slowly sank down under the covers, lying her head uneasily on Zell's chest she was lulled into a relaxed sleep and for once in her life, let her defenses down.
~~~
Zell woke up and looked down at Khain, her face had changed somehow. It was relaxed, she seemed to lose 5 years off her face. He was looking at what her face should look like every moment of her life, not just once when she was asleep. He sighed. Then looked up, what was that sound?
~~~
Khain woke slightly, looking around, she saw Zell was gone. The door was open, what was going on? She got up, ignoring the fact that she only wore shorts and shirt, she pulled on her white sneakers and walked out into the empty hallway. No one was there, no sound of activity, except . . . . . . . . . something was going on outside. Her eyes flickered in the edge of silver. She growled.
'Not yet.' She thought for no reason. Some part of her growled in anger, but quieted. Her haired flickered silver. She walked out into the main hall and saw no one. Then someone ran past her. She grabbed the boy's arm.
"What's going on?!"
"The Verneries!! They're attacking!"
"The SeeDs?!"
"Out, the enemy got them down with sleeping gas!!"
~ Flashback ~
Zell yawned slightly when he walked into the room.
"What's up?" He asked Selphie and Irvine. They looked at him.
"Some sort of censor malfunction with the computer." Selphie replied. Zell squatted down next to her.
"So what's up?" He asked while looking at the tangle of wires. Irvine shrugged.
"So how's Khain?"
"Better, though I don't know how to explain . . . . . . . ."
"The graveyard?" Selphie commented looking at him. Zell nodded.
"How did she do that? And why do those spirits . . . . . . . . want her?" Irvine sighed.
"Who knows? I think she knows more then she's letting on though- What's that smell?" He asked suddenly sniffing the air, suddenly he swore and covered his mouth and nose.
"Gas!!" Zell lurched to his feet, too late! Already he felt drowsy. Selphie stumbled out of the room.
"Selphie!" A student yelled and ran up to catch her. Selphie fainted into his arms. Irvine stumbled out and toppled to the ground unconscious. Zell came out, still slightly sleepy. A student ran up to him.
"SIR!! What happened?!" The boy asked worriedly.
'Mat, his name was Mat. . . . .' Zell thought silently.
"Ambush . . . . . . . . . battle." Was all Zell got out before collapsing, Mat gaped, his green locks flying as he whipped his head around.
"YOU HEARD HIM!! Get these three to a safe location! Get ready for an attack!" Too late.
"ENEMY!!!" A sentry yelled while pointing to the horizon. Akemi paled.
"God save us all."
~~~
Khain stumbled out onto the battlefield, and nearly died on a flame tipped arrow. She dodged it and came to life. Looking at the front gate she nearly clouted them all on the head. Were they just PRETENDING to be stupid?! Students were firing spells randomly with no real strategy. Good god, they were all going to die. She ran up.
"STOP! Long range sentries!!" She yelled to the people on the wall above. "Hold them off!!" She commanded. They nodded and let loose their attack. She turned to the spell casters.
"I want you to form two equal lines. I will count to three, before I say three, I want the back line to cast Aero. ON three I want the front line to cast fire. Got it?!" She ordered, everyone nodded. Getting into two lines as told, the first line got to their knees and got ready to fire.
"1! 2!" Wind tore through the air as soldiers burst through the front gate. "3!!" She yelled, fire roared through the air, it was enhanced by the Aero spell, who said science was useless? The soldiers, who were burnt to a crisp, fell to the floor and the men outside backed away. She glared around. Spotting her group she ran up.
"Okay, anyone leading?" She asked quickly, true, she wanted to die, but they didn't deserve to, she should at least give them a fighting chance. When no one spoke up she nodded.
"Okay, Sutta. I want you to spread a message throughout the whole Garden, anyone with healing spells pass them onto one person from that squad. Then those people are to assist you in taking the wounded to the front wing. Any complaints and you can tell them to shove it. Got it?" Sutta nodded and ran off. She turned to Mat.
"Mat, I need you to watch this door, you're slow, but smart. Help them barricade the front door." Mat gulped, then ran off to do as bid. Akemi smiled.
"I have to stay and help guide the 1st squad." Khain nodded.
"Okay, where's the others?" Akemi pointed, saluted, then ran off.
"John!! Lyski!" She yelled out, the two turned to face her.
"I want you two to be runners. All you have to do is go around healing those and helping where it's needed okay? The minute things look good, move on. Most likely they'll be attacking from all around. No heroics." The two nodded and ran off.
"Sakura, you're a healer. Go to the front wing to help the others." She commanded. Sakura fled. Turning to Coroura she nodded.
"You're coming with me." He nodded. Turning around she saw a student from Trabia take down a soldier with his sword, then he kicked another.
"YOU!!" She said pointing at him. "You're in charge!" She yelled and ran off. He gaped, then turned.
"I want you three to form a line-"
~~~
Khain ran around the corner. Yumae was fending off soldiers, they were steadily pushing her back. Inaba was laying on the ground with a wounded shoulder.
"Coroura!" She yelled, they both dove in and fired left, right and center.
'Let me help . . . . . .' Khain growled.
'FINE!' Silver claimed her eyes and streaked her hair.
"Flame of the gods!!" She yelled, a funnel rose from the ground and spiraled around the soldiers. In seconds, what remained of that squad of Verneries, was burned to a crisp. The silver retreated. A man from the rooftop took aim with his bow. He fired, Khain, to weary at the moment heard it all too late.
CRACK!!
The arrow broke. The boy grinned, took a dagger from his boot and threw it at the soldier, he dropped to the ground. He lowered his staff and turned while bowing. Coroura stared.
"You're the boy from that day, the one who saw Khain walk into the cemetery." The boy nodded while holding his staff.
"Best get going, I can handle myself." Khain nodded turning to Inaba she ran over.
"You can walk, I don't care if you have to fly yourself there, go to the front wing. Others should be there to help you. Hey kid, can you go with her?" The child nodded and grabbed Inaba's arms while dragging her off. Turning to Yumae, she panted slightly.
"I need you to come with me." Yumae nodded and ran off after the duo.
"Where's Neko and Koji?!" Khain yelled back to Yumae.
"They ran off frightened." She yelled back, Khain sighed. Wonderful. Just peachy.
"What are we looking for?!" Coroura demanded. Khain glared.
"They have to have a leader, we kill the leader, most likely they'll stop trying." She declared. The others shut up and followed.
~~~
Khain snuck past the charging guards, all of them were too eager with the lust for bloodshed to pay too much notice to a few odd shadows. The three crept past another set of guards and right into the enemy camp. Walking right up to the main tent she and the other two grinned lightly.
"How is the attack going?"
"We were doing well sir. But suddenly, about an hour ago they suddenly started coordinating their attacks. As if they suddenly got a leader." The man growled.
"How is that possible? We sent a fake message to the Garden to lure that Leonheart away, then gassed the remaining SeeDs. They can't possibly have a leader!" Khain nodded. She took a dagger from her belt sheath and plunged it into the cloth, tearing it open she spin kicked the other guard and grabbed the leader by his neck. Placing the dagger tip to his throat he froze.
"Well, well. A commander huh? I guess that means you can call of that attack on the garden. Simple what I want you to do. Call of the attack or . . . . . ." She pressed the blade deeper. He smirked.
"Kill me then." Khain thought, then grinned.
"Or I can make you suffer first. That's SOO much more fun." She said evilly while Yumae grinned, knowing what Khain was thinking. She leveled her spear and his mid section. He gulped. Coroura grinned while pulling a gun from his pocket and aiming.
"Did you know that you can skin someone and they'd still live for an hour before bleeding to death?" Khain whispered into his ear. He shook with fear now.
"How about hearing how painful it is to have someone rip out your finger nails, one, by, one." Coroura offered smiling.
"Then slowly, cut off bit by bit off a human's hand?" The man gaped.
"Y-you wouldn't! You're to scared to do that!" Khain laughed. She let go of him while Coroura held a gun to his head. Quick as lightening she made a gash in his arm. The blood dripped softly to the carpet. Her eyes had gone silver now.
"Think so?" She asked digging her nails into his cut. He yelled in anguish.
"Tell them to stop the attack or . . . . ." Yumae said while pressing her spear up against his leg. He gulped.
"OKAY!!" Khain grinned, the silver vanished. She let go of his arm and pushed him outside, her knife leveled at his throat.
"Call off the attack!!" He yelled. Khain was about to let him go when something in the back of her mind flickered.
'DUCK!' She obeyed, an arrow flew over her head. The man swore and growled at her, he punched her in the face with all his strength. Silence. Khain turned to him, and smiled. He backed away, she wiped the tiny trickle of blood off her mouth and then licked the blood of her hand while grinning maniacally. He backed away.
"Interesting. I never knew that humans could be so stupid." She commented carefully while looking at her hand.
"W-what?!" He demanded. Khain shifted her glance towards him.
"Surprised huh? Well, I guess. Most humans don't notice a god in their realms. Of course that's why I'm not afraid of death. I can't be killed." A guard aimed at her head, she turned to him and one hand on her hip she smiled.
"Want to kill me do you? Go ahead and try." He fired . . . . . . . . the bullet went through her head. She stood there grinning. They gulped and all fled. Yumae came shaking.
"H-how did?" Khain laughed.
"Psychology Yumae. Really simple. The illusion spell is so convenient isn't it?" A voice said from behind her. Yumae spun around to find a silver eyed smirking Khain. The one in front vanished.
"Let's get back. The enemy won't be getting any reinforcements." Yumae stared after Khain who ran off, then shrugged.
"She's quite a girl isn't she?" Coroura asked. Yumae chuckled.
~~~
"You there!!" Khain yelled the minute they ran into the base. The Trabia instructor turned, a small crescent cut on her face.
"What?!" Khain ran up gasping. Bending down and placing her hands on her knees she looked up, her pale face sweaty.
"Do you still have that old oil pipe system?" She demanded. The woman nodded.
"Tell me everything you can about it. And make it quick."
~~~
"The oil system fans out on the grounds outside the garden. It works like a spider web and is about 5km in width from the garden. It has no connection to the new oil system. There's a small pipe that is connected to the old oil system. It's filled with mountain water. We have a lever that blocks the two from mixing, but we've never used it before. It might be rusty and unable to lift." Khain thought for a moment. Yumae and Coroura had gone to help their teams. Leaving her to have her own ideas.
"If I were to light to oil in the old pipe, would it affect anything BUT the outside area?" She asked. The woman looked at her, if she had any ideas, she kept it to herself.
"If we let the old pipe burn, then yes. It would eventually kill the entire area. If doused quickly enough. It would be practically harmless, except to the old pipe." Khain nodded.
"Give me that." She said pointing to the intercom mic.
~~~
"Mat, Akemi, Coroura, Yumae, and Lyski from Balamb garden, report to the area in front of the main gate immediately. If you're doing something, drop it!"
Akemi and Mat looked up. Mat looked around wildly, spotting an instructor he pointed to him.
"Can you do me a favor and look after the main gate?" He asked. "Thanks!" He yelled without waiting for his reply. He stared after the kid and shook his head.
"These kids are getting way to egotistical." Turning to the front line he began to shout orders. Akemi ran off. Elsewhere, Yumae was already running down the hallway. On the West wing Coroura was running beside Lyski.
~~~
"Okay, I want you all to split up. Coroura, you'll go to this spot right here." Khain ordered while pointing to a spot on the map. She proceeded to give them their directions.
"Now when you hear the signal you're going to shoot a fire-tipped arrow into the pipe that'll be marked at that spot. Make SURE you're a good 3 meters away. Don't want anyone getting fried. You'll know the signal. It has to be at the same time, or it won't work." Turning to Lyski she nodded.
"You're job, is after I give you the signal, is to pull that lever over there. That'll release the water into the system. Got it?" Lyski nodded and ran off. The others ran off.
"Hey, forget something?!" She yelled holding up four sets of bows and arrows. They all gulped, blushed and turned around. Yanking them from her hold they returned to running. Khain picked up her own set and ran on.
"I'm ready!!" A voice yelled, she turned to find the boy who had helped her earlier standing there.
"What's your name?"
"Hiroshima." Khain nodded.
"Okay, I want you to go to the intercom room. Wait two minutes, then count to 5 in an even pace got it? That's all you have to do." Hiro nodded.
"Got it!" He ran down the walkway. She stared after him, then ran on. Reaching her spot she took a lighter from her pocket and got it ready. Suddenly an ear piercing screech came from somewhere. She dropped to a knee while the bow and arrows clattered to the ground.
'They're coming for you again.' Her tiny voice said amused. She gritted her teeth.
'Glad to find someone thinks it's amusing. Who the hell are you anyway?!' She thought angrily.
'I'm you. Or more or less you're past you.'
'Yeah? Well screw off, I'm busy at the moment.'
'Why are you helping them? Why are you helping someone who you could care less about?'
' . . . . . . . . I don't know. It's just a feeling I have. Now get lost!'
The whine in her head rose to an unbearable point. She actually yelled out loud. A sniper, spotted her and aimed. His gun leveled at her head.
BANG!!
~~~
Squall pushed the Ragnarok as fast as he could.
'A false call. WHY DIDN'T I KNOW?! I should've seen this coming.' Quistis looked at him worriedly.
"Don't worry, they have Zell, Selphie and Irvine there. They'll be fine." She chose not to mention that when she had tried to contact Trabia garden, no one had answered. Squall closed his eyes in anguish.
"It's my fault." He hissed. Quistis shook her head.
"It isn't. Stop blaming your self and just pilot this damn thing."
~~~
Khain yelled out, the bullet hit her arm. Lyski moved forward to help her. She growled.
"Stay there!!" He stopped in his tracks.
'God, I'm having a bad week with guns.' She thought a she clutched her throbbing skin. She looked up and gaped. The man was on the ground, over the wall. Zell was clinging to the wall for support. He gave her a shaky grin through labored breaths.
"I'll be fine, the gas had a small bit of affect on me, but I'm good. Do whatever you have to." She nodded.
"5!!" A voice called out. She swore, he had already begun. She grabbed the bow and yelled out. Her arm shot a jolt of pain through her.
"4!" She gritted her teeth, picking up her bow and arrow she took the lighter.
"3!" She lit the arrow. Her arm jolted once more.
"2!" She set the arrow into the bow and pulled the string back. Not far enough . . . . . she pulled more. Her arm screamed in protest.
"1!!" She let the arrow fly with a yell. It flew down the pipe and into the oil system. Coroura, Akemi, Mat and Yumae let their fire tipped arrows fly at once.
~~~
Squall was flying over Trabia.
"Set it down there." Quistis said pointing to a small clear spot. Squall gritted his teeth. This didn't look good. Suddenly red lines rose up from the ground. He paled.
"What now?"
~~~
Khain walked up to the pipe. Not enough, it wasn't enough. She thought.
'You'd better not screw up.' She thought angrily as she let her other side take over. Silver eyes gleamed.
'When have I ever failed?' Khain raised a hand and muttered one word.
"Alhora." Flame erupted into her palm, she threw it down the pipe.
~~~
Suddenly the ground burst into flame, fire claimed the land and burned everything. Squall paled.
"I hope that's good for our side." He whispered. Quistis couldn't' answer, she had gone into shock at the sight of the flame.
~~~
Khain nodded to Lyski. He grunted and pulled the rusted thing down. It creaked in protest, but slowly began to lower. As soon as the fires had appeared, they vanished. She smiled. Looking out at the wall, all was calm. No one was left alive, everyone in the garden was gaping, most were terrified. Mat came up, eyes wide in fright.
"Khain . . . . . . . . what did you do?" Khain began to chuckle, then laugh out loud. Her laughter rang out through the silent yard. She turned to Mat who backed away.
"It's just death."
~~~
Squall ran into the courtyard. Trabia students were helping wounded into the school. Balamb students were half and half. Some were in beds moaning over injuries, others were helping to set the school to rights. Squall found Khain helping Zell stand. Mat was holding up Irvine while Akemi was hoisting Selphie on her shoulder.
"What happened?" Squall demanded running up to Khain. She looked at him straight in the eye.
"I don't know sir. I was in the hospital ward at the time." Mat nodded.
"If I may sir. It was gas, the Verneries gassed the room the SeeDs were in."
"And here's our stray." A calm voice said. Everyone turned.
"Hiroshima?" Khain asked, looking slightly surprised. He was holding a gun to a student's head.
"He sabotaged the communications system so that we wouldn't be able to call for help. He also let the Verneries so close to the garden, not to mention he created a computer error in the wire by cutting a few so that Selphie would fix it. He knew she loved working in electronics, the others would most likely follow her, and if not, then they would gas each on separately if necessary." He explained. Khain scowled.
"Useless wretch." She said to the older student. He gulped. She would've torn his throat, however with Zell leaning on her, that would be nearly impossible. Squall however was a different story.
"Why you son of a-!!" He began, then took a deep breath. "Take him to the basement and lock him up. I'll deal with him later." Hiroshima nodded. Selphie stood up wearily. She looked around.
"But how did you survive? There were no leaders and they outnumbered you!" She exclaimed. Zell stood up and yawned. He nodded.
"Who took charge?" Everyone looked at Khain, Mat was about to speak when Khain cut him off.
"It was Mat. He did everything." Selphie looked at him smiling.
"Great way to handle yourself in the battlefield." Mat shook his head, Khain tried to sneak off, however Zell was still partially leaning on her, therefore, she couldn't.
"Khain's too humble, she did everything. I just helped." Selphie turned to Khain, who had busied her glance by looking at a particularly interesting rock. Selphie laughed.
"Well, we'll figure this all out later. We have some people to take care of. Speaking of which, Khain? Are you aware that you're bleeding?" Selphie asked, Khain nodded blushing. Zell sighed.
"I almost think you LIKE getting shot." He commented. "Just like when Squall was nearly killed with an icicle." Everyone snapped their heads around to stare at him.
"WHAT?!" The trainees demanded.
"ZELL!!" The SeeDs screamed.
"Sorry!! Sorry!!" He yelled and ducked as Quistis aimed a blow at his head. As he ran off Quistis chased after him
"Zell you knucklehead!!"
Disclaimer: Not mine, I own plot, Khain and yada yada.
"She's like ice!"
"God, how long has she been out here?"
~~~
'Whose . . . . . . carrying me?' Khain wondered dimly. 'No matter. Just sleep . . .' She closed her eyes and became limp. Someone smacked her on the cheek.
"Don't you DARE fall asleep! We are not going to lose you Khain!" Zell said, his voice was harsh but his eyes were in silent worry. Squall carried her in his arms, as the entered the building, they heat washed over her in a wave. It was like fire to her icy skin, she flinched.
"Zell! I don't think you should-" Selphie began. Squall shook his head.
"We need her to keep her awake, if she falls asleep, she'll die." Selphie shut her mouth and only rushed to keep up.
~~~
In the hospital wing Squall set Khain down gently on a bed and touched her forehead. She winced at the fire touch. He removed his hand.
"We have to warm her up quick, problem is, if we don't she dies of pneumonia, and if we warm her up to quickly, the drastic temperature change could kill her as well." Zell sighed.
"So now what?"
"She needs body heat. Plain and simple." Zell gulped.
"You mean we have to get into her-"
"Bed? Yes. I know you don't like the idea. But we have to, and the person has to be changed every hour, because if we don't that person could get sick as well. It's really annoying I have to leave soon . . . . . ." Zell shook his head.
"If they need you, we won't stop you. Don't worry, Khain will be fine." Selphie nodded.
"I'll get her undressed and take the first shift. We won't let her die Squall." Squall nodded, Selphie smiled and pushed the guys out of the room. Later, Zell found Selphie sleeping, Khain wrapped in her arms. It may have looked a little sick, but to anyone who knew of Khain's present state, would see it as something to have hope for, to hope that she would live. Oddly enough Selphie was asleep. He looked at his watch, over an hour. He woke Selphie up.
"Selphie? Get something hot to drink or take a warm bath. I'll take over." Selphie woke, and nodded at him. Getting up Zell discovered she was only wearing a skirt and a shirt. She smiled wearily at him.
"God I'm freezing, take good care of her Zell." She smiled and slipped out of the room. Zell turned to Khain who was shivering still and gulped. He knew what Squall had said to do, easy for that jerk. He wasn't here. Squall's voice ran through his head.
'The less clothes you have, the better it is to exchange heat. I'm not saying that you should get naked. I'm saying you should wear shorts and a shirt at the most.' Zell sighed,
'Squall.' He thought. 'Why are you haunting me?' He pulled off his SeeD uniform jacket and then pulled of the pants to expose a black pair of shorts and a white shirt. He sighed and slipped beneath the covers, how had Selphie done it? Oh yeah. He wrapped his arms around Khain's icy form and held her close. He found it difficult to fall asleep like Selphie had done. Khain kept throwing her arm over his chest and would insist on snuggling up to him. Awake, her face was impassive, like she was a robot. Asleep, there was still that robot like look, but she her face was eased. Her features were softened. She looked innocent. He sighed. She was smiling about something, and she had stopped shivering. Zell allowed himself a small smile.
"Enjoying yourself?" A sly voice asked. Zell gleeped and turned to find Irvine leaning on the door frame grinning. Zell blushed.
"What?! NO!" Irvine laughed.
"Just joking Zell." He said and walked out the room chuckling. Zell sighed.
~~~
Khain woke up lightly and kept her eyes closed. She discovered that her pillow had a heartbeat. Sitting up she gaped. Zell was holding her and he was asleep. She looked herself over under the sheets, a simple white shirt and black shorts. She sighed in relief, thank god she wasn't naked. A small cold gust bit into her skin and she bit back a yelp, she really didn't want to get up, so she slowly sank down under the covers, lying her head uneasily on Zell's chest she was lulled into a relaxed sleep and for once in her life, let her defenses down.
~~~
Zell woke up and looked down at Khain, her face had changed somehow. It was relaxed, she seemed to lose 5 years off her face. He was looking at what her face should look like every moment of her life, not just once when she was asleep. He sighed. Then looked up, what was that sound?
~~~
Khain woke slightly, looking around, she saw Zell was gone. The door was open, what was going on? She got up, ignoring the fact that she only wore shorts and shirt, she pulled on her white sneakers and walked out into the empty hallway. No one was there, no sound of activity, except . . . . . . . . . something was going on outside. Her eyes flickered in the edge of silver. She growled.
'Not yet.' She thought for no reason. Some part of her growled in anger, but quieted. Her haired flickered silver. She walked out into the main hall and saw no one. Then someone ran past her. She grabbed the boy's arm.
"What's going on?!"
"The Verneries!! They're attacking!"
"The SeeDs?!"
"Out, the enemy got them down with sleeping gas!!"
~ Flashback ~
Zell yawned slightly when he walked into the room.
"What's up?" He asked Selphie and Irvine. They looked at him.
"Some sort of censor malfunction with the computer." Selphie replied. Zell squatted down next to her.
"So what's up?" He asked while looking at the tangle of wires. Irvine shrugged.
"So how's Khain?"
"Better, though I don't know how to explain . . . . . . . ."
"The graveyard?" Selphie commented looking at him. Zell nodded.
"How did she do that? And why do those spirits . . . . . . . . want her?" Irvine sighed.
"Who knows? I think she knows more then she's letting on though- What's that smell?" He asked suddenly sniffing the air, suddenly he swore and covered his mouth and nose.
"Gas!!" Zell lurched to his feet, too late! Already he felt drowsy. Selphie stumbled out of the room.
"Selphie!" A student yelled and ran up to catch her. Selphie fainted into his arms. Irvine stumbled out and toppled to the ground unconscious. Zell came out, still slightly sleepy. A student ran up to him.
"SIR!! What happened?!" The boy asked worriedly.
'Mat, his name was Mat. . . . .' Zell thought silently.
"Ambush . . . . . . . . . battle." Was all Zell got out before collapsing, Mat gaped, his green locks flying as he whipped his head around.
"YOU HEARD HIM!! Get these three to a safe location! Get ready for an attack!" Too late.
"ENEMY!!!" A sentry yelled while pointing to the horizon. Akemi paled.
"God save us all."
~~~
Khain stumbled out onto the battlefield, and nearly died on a flame tipped arrow. She dodged it and came to life. Looking at the front gate she nearly clouted them all on the head. Were they just PRETENDING to be stupid?! Students were firing spells randomly with no real strategy. Good god, they were all going to die. She ran up.
"STOP! Long range sentries!!" She yelled to the people on the wall above. "Hold them off!!" She commanded. They nodded and let loose their attack. She turned to the spell casters.
"I want you to form two equal lines. I will count to three, before I say three, I want the back line to cast Aero. ON three I want the front line to cast fire. Got it?!" She ordered, everyone nodded. Getting into two lines as told, the first line got to their knees and got ready to fire.
"1! 2!" Wind tore through the air as soldiers burst through the front gate. "3!!" She yelled, fire roared through the air, it was enhanced by the Aero spell, who said science was useless? The soldiers, who were burnt to a crisp, fell to the floor and the men outside backed away. She glared around. Spotting her group she ran up.
"Okay, anyone leading?" She asked quickly, true, she wanted to die, but they didn't deserve to, she should at least give them a fighting chance. When no one spoke up she nodded.
"Okay, Sutta. I want you to spread a message throughout the whole Garden, anyone with healing spells pass them onto one person from that squad. Then those people are to assist you in taking the wounded to the front wing. Any complaints and you can tell them to shove it. Got it?" Sutta nodded and ran off. She turned to Mat.
"Mat, I need you to watch this door, you're slow, but smart. Help them barricade the front door." Mat gulped, then ran off to do as bid. Akemi smiled.
"I have to stay and help guide the 1st squad." Khain nodded.
"Okay, where's the others?" Akemi pointed, saluted, then ran off.
"John!! Lyski!" She yelled out, the two turned to face her.
"I want you two to be runners. All you have to do is go around healing those and helping where it's needed okay? The minute things look good, move on. Most likely they'll be attacking from all around. No heroics." The two nodded and ran off.
"Sakura, you're a healer. Go to the front wing to help the others." She commanded. Sakura fled. Turning to Coroura she nodded.
"You're coming with me." He nodded. Turning around she saw a student from Trabia take down a soldier with his sword, then he kicked another.
"YOU!!" She said pointing at him. "You're in charge!" She yelled and ran off. He gaped, then turned.
"I want you three to form a line-"
~~~
Khain ran around the corner. Yumae was fending off soldiers, they were steadily pushing her back. Inaba was laying on the ground with a wounded shoulder.
"Coroura!" She yelled, they both dove in and fired left, right and center.
'Let me help . . . . . .' Khain growled.
'FINE!' Silver claimed her eyes and streaked her hair.
"Flame of the gods!!" She yelled, a funnel rose from the ground and spiraled around the soldiers. In seconds, what remained of that squad of Verneries, was burned to a crisp. The silver retreated. A man from the rooftop took aim with his bow. He fired, Khain, to weary at the moment heard it all too late.
CRACK!!
The arrow broke. The boy grinned, took a dagger from his boot and threw it at the soldier, he dropped to the ground. He lowered his staff and turned while bowing. Coroura stared.
"You're the boy from that day, the one who saw Khain walk into the cemetery." The boy nodded while holding his staff.
"Best get going, I can handle myself." Khain nodded turning to Inaba she ran over.
"You can walk, I don't care if you have to fly yourself there, go to the front wing. Others should be there to help you. Hey kid, can you go with her?" The child nodded and grabbed Inaba's arms while dragging her off. Turning to Yumae, she panted slightly.
"I need you to come with me." Yumae nodded and ran off after the duo.
"Where's Neko and Koji?!" Khain yelled back to Yumae.
"They ran off frightened." She yelled back, Khain sighed. Wonderful. Just peachy.
"What are we looking for?!" Coroura demanded. Khain glared.
"They have to have a leader, we kill the leader, most likely they'll stop trying." She declared. The others shut up and followed.
~~~
Khain snuck past the charging guards, all of them were too eager with the lust for bloodshed to pay too much notice to a few odd shadows. The three crept past another set of guards and right into the enemy camp. Walking right up to the main tent she and the other two grinned lightly.
"How is the attack going?"
"We were doing well sir. But suddenly, about an hour ago they suddenly started coordinating their attacks. As if they suddenly got a leader." The man growled.
"How is that possible? We sent a fake message to the Garden to lure that Leonheart away, then gassed the remaining SeeDs. They can't possibly have a leader!" Khain nodded. She took a dagger from her belt sheath and plunged it into the cloth, tearing it open she spin kicked the other guard and grabbed the leader by his neck. Placing the dagger tip to his throat he froze.
"Well, well. A commander huh? I guess that means you can call of that attack on the garden. Simple what I want you to do. Call of the attack or . . . . . ." She pressed the blade deeper. He smirked.
"Kill me then." Khain thought, then grinned.
"Or I can make you suffer first. That's SOO much more fun." She said evilly while Yumae grinned, knowing what Khain was thinking. She leveled her spear and his mid section. He gulped. Coroura grinned while pulling a gun from his pocket and aiming.
"Did you know that you can skin someone and they'd still live for an hour before bleeding to death?" Khain whispered into his ear. He shook with fear now.
"How about hearing how painful it is to have someone rip out your finger nails, one, by, one." Coroura offered smiling.
"Then slowly, cut off bit by bit off a human's hand?" The man gaped.
"Y-you wouldn't! You're to scared to do that!" Khain laughed. She let go of him while Coroura held a gun to his head. Quick as lightening she made a gash in his arm. The blood dripped softly to the carpet. Her eyes had gone silver now.
"Think so?" She asked digging her nails into his cut. He yelled in anguish.
"Tell them to stop the attack or . . . . ." Yumae said while pressing her spear up against his leg. He gulped.
"OKAY!!" Khain grinned, the silver vanished. She let go of his arm and pushed him outside, her knife leveled at his throat.
"Call off the attack!!" He yelled. Khain was about to let him go when something in the back of her mind flickered.
'DUCK!' She obeyed, an arrow flew over her head. The man swore and growled at her, he punched her in the face with all his strength. Silence. Khain turned to him, and smiled. He backed away, she wiped the tiny trickle of blood off her mouth and then licked the blood of her hand while grinning maniacally. He backed away.
"Interesting. I never knew that humans could be so stupid." She commented carefully while looking at her hand.
"W-what?!" He demanded. Khain shifted her glance towards him.
"Surprised huh? Well, I guess. Most humans don't notice a god in their realms. Of course that's why I'm not afraid of death. I can't be killed." A guard aimed at her head, she turned to him and one hand on her hip she smiled.
"Want to kill me do you? Go ahead and try." He fired . . . . . . . . the bullet went through her head. She stood there grinning. They gulped and all fled. Yumae came shaking.
"H-how did?" Khain laughed.
"Psychology Yumae. Really simple. The illusion spell is so convenient isn't it?" A voice said from behind her. Yumae spun around to find a silver eyed smirking Khain. The one in front vanished.
"Let's get back. The enemy won't be getting any reinforcements." Yumae stared after Khain who ran off, then shrugged.
"She's quite a girl isn't she?" Coroura asked. Yumae chuckled.
~~~
"You there!!" Khain yelled the minute they ran into the base. The Trabia instructor turned, a small crescent cut on her face.
"What?!" Khain ran up gasping. Bending down and placing her hands on her knees she looked up, her pale face sweaty.
"Do you still have that old oil pipe system?" She demanded. The woman nodded.
"Tell me everything you can about it. And make it quick."
~~~
"The oil system fans out on the grounds outside the garden. It works like a spider web and is about 5km in width from the garden. It has no connection to the new oil system. There's a small pipe that is connected to the old oil system. It's filled with mountain water. We have a lever that blocks the two from mixing, but we've never used it before. It might be rusty and unable to lift." Khain thought for a moment. Yumae and Coroura had gone to help their teams. Leaving her to have her own ideas.
"If I were to light to oil in the old pipe, would it affect anything BUT the outside area?" She asked. The woman looked at her, if she had any ideas, she kept it to herself.
"If we let the old pipe burn, then yes. It would eventually kill the entire area. If doused quickly enough. It would be practically harmless, except to the old pipe." Khain nodded.
"Give me that." She said pointing to the intercom mic.
~~~
"Mat, Akemi, Coroura, Yumae, and Lyski from Balamb garden, report to the area in front of the main gate immediately. If you're doing something, drop it!"
Akemi and Mat looked up. Mat looked around wildly, spotting an instructor he pointed to him.
"Can you do me a favor and look after the main gate?" He asked. "Thanks!" He yelled without waiting for his reply. He stared after the kid and shook his head.
"These kids are getting way to egotistical." Turning to the front line he began to shout orders. Akemi ran off. Elsewhere, Yumae was already running down the hallway. On the West wing Coroura was running beside Lyski.
~~~
"Okay, I want you all to split up. Coroura, you'll go to this spot right here." Khain ordered while pointing to a spot on the map. She proceeded to give them their directions.
"Now when you hear the signal you're going to shoot a fire-tipped arrow into the pipe that'll be marked at that spot. Make SURE you're a good 3 meters away. Don't want anyone getting fried. You'll know the signal. It has to be at the same time, or it won't work." Turning to Lyski she nodded.
"You're job, is after I give you the signal, is to pull that lever over there. That'll release the water into the system. Got it?" Lyski nodded and ran off. The others ran off.
"Hey, forget something?!" She yelled holding up four sets of bows and arrows. They all gulped, blushed and turned around. Yanking them from her hold they returned to running. Khain picked up her own set and ran on.
"I'm ready!!" A voice yelled, she turned to find the boy who had helped her earlier standing there.
"What's your name?"
"Hiroshima." Khain nodded.
"Okay, I want you to go to the intercom room. Wait two minutes, then count to 5 in an even pace got it? That's all you have to do." Hiro nodded.
"Got it!" He ran down the walkway. She stared after him, then ran on. Reaching her spot she took a lighter from her pocket and got it ready. Suddenly an ear piercing screech came from somewhere. She dropped to a knee while the bow and arrows clattered to the ground.
'They're coming for you again.' Her tiny voice said amused. She gritted her teeth.
'Glad to find someone thinks it's amusing. Who the hell are you anyway?!' She thought angrily.
'I'm you. Or more or less you're past you.'
'Yeah? Well screw off, I'm busy at the moment.'
'Why are you helping them? Why are you helping someone who you could care less about?'
' . . . . . . . . I don't know. It's just a feeling I have. Now get lost!'
The whine in her head rose to an unbearable point. She actually yelled out loud. A sniper, spotted her and aimed. His gun leveled at her head.
BANG!!
~~~
Squall pushed the Ragnarok as fast as he could.
'A false call. WHY DIDN'T I KNOW?! I should've seen this coming.' Quistis looked at him worriedly.
"Don't worry, they have Zell, Selphie and Irvine there. They'll be fine." She chose not to mention that when she had tried to contact Trabia garden, no one had answered. Squall closed his eyes in anguish.
"It's my fault." He hissed. Quistis shook her head.
"It isn't. Stop blaming your self and just pilot this damn thing."
~~~
Khain yelled out, the bullet hit her arm. Lyski moved forward to help her. She growled.
"Stay there!!" He stopped in his tracks.
'God, I'm having a bad week with guns.' She thought a she clutched her throbbing skin. She looked up and gaped. The man was on the ground, over the wall. Zell was clinging to the wall for support. He gave her a shaky grin through labored breaths.
"I'll be fine, the gas had a small bit of affect on me, but I'm good. Do whatever you have to." She nodded.
"5!!" A voice called out. She swore, he had already begun. She grabbed the bow and yelled out. Her arm shot a jolt of pain through her.
"4!" She gritted her teeth, picking up her bow and arrow she took the lighter.
"3!" She lit the arrow. Her arm jolted once more.
"2!" She set the arrow into the bow and pulled the string back. Not far enough . . . . . she pulled more. Her arm screamed in protest.
"1!!" She let the arrow fly with a yell. It flew down the pipe and into the oil system. Coroura, Akemi, Mat and Yumae let their fire tipped arrows fly at once.
~~~
Squall was flying over Trabia.
"Set it down there." Quistis said pointing to a small clear spot. Squall gritted his teeth. This didn't look good. Suddenly red lines rose up from the ground. He paled.
"What now?"
~~~
Khain walked up to the pipe. Not enough, it wasn't enough. She thought.
'You'd better not screw up.' She thought angrily as she let her other side take over. Silver eyes gleamed.
'When have I ever failed?' Khain raised a hand and muttered one word.
"Alhora." Flame erupted into her palm, she threw it down the pipe.
~~~
Suddenly the ground burst into flame, fire claimed the land and burned everything. Squall paled.
"I hope that's good for our side." He whispered. Quistis couldn't' answer, she had gone into shock at the sight of the flame.
~~~
Khain nodded to Lyski. He grunted and pulled the rusted thing down. It creaked in protest, but slowly began to lower. As soon as the fires had appeared, they vanished. She smiled. Looking out at the wall, all was calm. No one was left alive, everyone in the garden was gaping, most were terrified. Mat came up, eyes wide in fright.
"Khain . . . . . . . . what did you do?" Khain began to chuckle, then laugh out loud. Her laughter rang out through the silent yard. She turned to Mat who backed away.
"It's just death."
~~~
Squall ran into the courtyard. Trabia students were helping wounded into the school. Balamb students were half and half. Some were in beds moaning over injuries, others were helping to set the school to rights. Squall found Khain helping Zell stand. Mat was holding up Irvine while Akemi was hoisting Selphie on her shoulder.
"What happened?" Squall demanded running up to Khain. She looked at him straight in the eye.
"I don't know sir. I was in the hospital ward at the time." Mat nodded.
"If I may sir. It was gas, the Verneries gassed the room the SeeDs were in."
"And here's our stray." A calm voice said. Everyone turned.
"Hiroshima?" Khain asked, looking slightly surprised. He was holding a gun to a student's head.
"He sabotaged the communications system so that we wouldn't be able to call for help. He also let the Verneries so close to the garden, not to mention he created a computer error in the wire by cutting a few so that Selphie would fix it. He knew she loved working in electronics, the others would most likely follow her, and if not, then they would gas each on separately if necessary." He explained. Khain scowled.
"Useless wretch." She said to the older student. He gulped. She would've torn his throat, however with Zell leaning on her, that would be nearly impossible. Squall however was a different story.
"Why you son of a-!!" He began, then took a deep breath. "Take him to the basement and lock him up. I'll deal with him later." Hiroshima nodded. Selphie stood up wearily. She looked around.
"But how did you survive? There were no leaders and they outnumbered you!" She exclaimed. Zell stood up and yawned. He nodded.
"Who took charge?" Everyone looked at Khain, Mat was about to speak when Khain cut him off.
"It was Mat. He did everything." Selphie looked at him smiling.
"Great way to handle yourself in the battlefield." Mat shook his head, Khain tried to sneak off, however Zell was still partially leaning on her, therefore, she couldn't.
"Khain's too humble, she did everything. I just helped." Selphie turned to Khain, who had busied her glance by looking at a particularly interesting rock. Selphie laughed.
"Well, we'll figure this all out later. We have some people to take care of. Speaking of which, Khain? Are you aware that you're bleeding?" Selphie asked, Khain nodded blushing. Zell sighed.
"I almost think you LIKE getting shot." He commented. "Just like when Squall was nearly killed with an icicle." Everyone snapped their heads around to stare at him.
"WHAT?!" The trainees demanded.
"ZELL!!" The SeeDs screamed.
"Sorry!! Sorry!!" He yelled and ducked as Quistis aimed a blow at his head. As he ran off Quistis chased after him
"Zell you knucklehead!!"
Disclaimer: Not mine, I own plot, Khain and yada yada.