Jace wandered through the dark corridors of Sentaro's fortress, trying to
remember where to find the underground car park. As he walked, he found
himself wondering how he was going to contact Squall. A pay phone was the
obvious choice, but they were too easily taped, and he wanted to stay
completely out of sight. When he couldn't come up with an answer, he
decided to worry about it when he and Sonya reached Winhill, and focused on
trying to find the car park. Using vague memories as a guide, he turned
left and continued through the labyrinthine corridors. Suddenly, Jace came
out into a cavernous room that contained row after row of cars.
"Jackpot," he said, smiling. He walked through between rows and looked for a powerful car that could remain inconspicuous. He came upon the perfect car, and was about to get in when he heard a rattle coming from the other side of the room. He immediately turned to look, and saw several people hopping into a car. He quickly ducked down as the people turned on the car and drove out. When they were gone, he stood back up and ran to the car. He turned it on and drove around to the front of Sentaro's fortress. He got out, still leaving the car running, and ran inside.
"What's the matter?" asked Sonya as Jace ran into the room
"We have to get out of here."
"What?"
"Now!" commanded Jace, grabbing her wrist. Sonya grabbed the knives lying on the table as she was pulled out of the room, and together they ran out to the front entrance.
"Why are we leaving?" asked Sonya as they ran.
"It's not safe here anymore."
"What? Why?" she asked, nearly tripping as she tried to keep up with Jace.
"I saw some people here. I remembered them from when I was here. They hated me then. Now that I've gotten rid of their boss, they're probably pissed."
"Well, who are they?" asked Sonya as the two of them ran out of the entrance.
"Them," replied Jace, pointing at the five people standing around Jace's car.
"Hello, Dominic," said the man at the front of the group, grinning evilly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zell and Squall walked into Dollet and immediately scanned their surrounding as their SeeD training kicked in.
"Go and see if you can have a look at that piston. I'll deal with the town mayor," said Squall. Zell complied at once, running off down the street, while Squall turned toward the center of town. He reached the town square and walked into the building where only a few years ago had stood a hotel. When Dollet had finished fighting against Galbadia, they had elected a mayor, and had decided to make a proper town hall. De to not having been in Dollet for a while, Squall did not know who the current mayor was, which made him uncomfortable. When e was trying to negotiate with someone, as he was sure the mayor would want to do, he liked to know what they were like. He walked into the lobby, and went up to the front desk.
"I'd like to see the mayor, please," he said as pleasantly as his personality could handle.
"Of course," replied the receptionist. "Do you have an appointment?"
"Of course I do. Um, do you mind if I have a look at your appointment book? I have to travel under a certain amount of aliases due to my sort of business," said Squall, suddenly speaking conspiratorially. "I'm not quite sure what my secretary booked me in as."
"Of course," said the obviously very naïve receptionist. She handed over the appointment book, and Squall had a look through it. He spotted an appointment for half an hour later, and nodded.
"This is the one. Damien McDonald. Thank you. I'll be back in half an hour."
"Alright then, Mr. McDonald. See you then." Squall smiled, then walked out of the building. He walked to the beach, where the statue of the robot XATM092 stood, gleaming as though it were still in battle condition.
"Find anything?" he asked Zell when he reached him. Zell almost bounced with delight.
"It's perfect. Did you talk to the Mayor?"
"I go in half an hour," replied Squall. "What do we do until then?" he asked Squall.
"I was thinking of going to that bar that has the mini-casino above it," said Zell thoughtfully. "I've never tried blackjack before."
"Let's go," said Squall, hoping that the gambling would get his mind off his wife.
Half an hour later, Squall and Zell exited the building, Squall counting a large group of hundred dollar bills, Zell grumbling something about hoping for an advance pay.
"Come on," said Squall, handing Zell a couple of hundreds. "I have an appointment to get to." The two men walked to the town center, discussing how to handle the mayor. As neither of them knew who the mayor was, however, they didn't have much idea how to handle him. When they walked in, Squall instructed Zell to stay in the lobby. He walked up to the naïve receptionist, who absent-mindedly allowed him to go through, her eyes pasted on Zell. Sighing, Squall walked through the door and into the Mayor's office.
"Ah, Mr. McDonald," said an aging man, getting up to shake Squall's hand.
"First off, I'm not Damien McDonald," said Squall.
"Then who-?" The mayor was cut off by Squall.
"I'm Squall Leonhart."
"Ah yes, I remember you," said the mayor, a frown creasing his face. "And to what do I owe the pleasure of this mighty SeeD?"
"I'm not here for SeeD, Mr. Mayor. I'm here on my own behalf. Sorry but, may I know your name?" asked Squall.
"I am Alexander Dericoff, Mr. Leonhart. How may I help you?"
"Mr. Dericoff, someone close to me was abducted not long ago, and I'm trying to get them back. My ship is landed nearby, but I can't go anywhere, due to a mid-air dogfight having ripped up a part of my engine."
"So how can I help you?" asked Dericoff, his face full of concern. "As you have no doubt notice, we don't go much for technology in this place." Squall smiled.
"I noticed, but there is one piece of technology in this town that is perfect."
"And that is?"
"The statue at the beach. XATM092. I had a friend of mine check it out, and it's perfect for the Ragnorak."
"Of course," said Dericoff immediately. "By all means, take it! And when you find Mrs. Leonhart, give her my regards."
"Thank you," said Squall, getting up to walk out the door. Just before he opened it however, a thought crossed through his mind. "I'm sorry, but what did you just say?" The mayor looked up.
"I said take the piston," he replied.
"No after that," said Squall.
"Um, sends my regards to Mrs. Leonhart when you find her."
"I never told you I was looking for her," said Squall.
"What? Of course you did," replied the mayor with the airiness of a lying politician. Squall moved quickly, grabbing the mayor by the shirt and throwing him against a wall.
"Who told you about that? Where is she?" commanded Squall.
"I-I don't know!" said Dericoff, his face full of terror.
"Where is she?" yelled Squall.
"I don't know!" screamed Dericoff. Sighing, Squall dropped to mayor to the floor and walked out. He reached the lobby, and found Zell getting the receptionist's phone number.
"Zell!" he called. "Let's go." Zell kissed the receptionist goodbye, and followed Squall out.
"Are we allowed to get it?" asked Zell.
"Yeah, but we'll have to be quick," replied Squall. "I had a go at the mayor."
"Why?" asked Zell, knowing that Squall always had a reason when he attacked someone.
"I didn't tell him who was kidnapped, but he knew it was Rinoa," said Squall bluntly.
"Gotcha. I'd better get moving then," said Zell.
"Okay. You get it. I'll draw them off. I'll meet you back at the Ragnorak."
"Gotcha." Zell ran off, shooting past a group of nasty looking men dressed in cheap black suits the huge men walked up to Squall, who stood in front of them.
"Hi boys," said Squall. "How are you?"
"You attacked Mayor Dericoff," sad one man in a deep voice.
"That I did."
"Aw, lets just kill the old man and be done with it," said a second man.
"Old!" exclaimed Squall defensively. "I'm not old." He lashed out, catching the man in the throat. "Just better." He pushed another man back and grabbed out his gunblade, ready to face any attack. Seeing what Squall was doing, then five remaining men stepped backward and pulled out weapons of their own. Five, extremely powerful looking guns.
"I think I may have just made a mistake," said Squall to himself as the sixth man got back up and pulled out his own gun.
"Jackpot," he said, smiling. He walked through between rows and looked for a powerful car that could remain inconspicuous. He came upon the perfect car, and was about to get in when he heard a rattle coming from the other side of the room. He immediately turned to look, and saw several people hopping into a car. He quickly ducked down as the people turned on the car and drove out. When they were gone, he stood back up and ran to the car. He turned it on and drove around to the front of Sentaro's fortress. He got out, still leaving the car running, and ran inside.
"What's the matter?" asked Sonya as Jace ran into the room
"We have to get out of here."
"What?"
"Now!" commanded Jace, grabbing her wrist. Sonya grabbed the knives lying on the table as she was pulled out of the room, and together they ran out to the front entrance.
"Why are we leaving?" asked Sonya as they ran.
"It's not safe here anymore."
"What? Why?" she asked, nearly tripping as she tried to keep up with Jace.
"I saw some people here. I remembered them from when I was here. They hated me then. Now that I've gotten rid of their boss, they're probably pissed."
"Well, who are they?" asked Sonya as the two of them ran out of the entrance.
"Them," replied Jace, pointing at the five people standing around Jace's car.
"Hello, Dominic," said the man at the front of the group, grinning evilly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Zell and Squall walked into Dollet and immediately scanned their surrounding as their SeeD training kicked in.
"Go and see if you can have a look at that piston. I'll deal with the town mayor," said Squall. Zell complied at once, running off down the street, while Squall turned toward the center of town. He reached the town square and walked into the building where only a few years ago had stood a hotel. When Dollet had finished fighting against Galbadia, they had elected a mayor, and had decided to make a proper town hall. De to not having been in Dollet for a while, Squall did not know who the current mayor was, which made him uncomfortable. When e was trying to negotiate with someone, as he was sure the mayor would want to do, he liked to know what they were like. He walked into the lobby, and went up to the front desk.
"I'd like to see the mayor, please," he said as pleasantly as his personality could handle.
"Of course," replied the receptionist. "Do you have an appointment?"
"Of course I do. Um, do you mind if I have a look at your appointment book? I have to travel under a certain amount of aliases due to my sort of business," said Squall, suddenly speaking conspiratorially. "I'm not quite sure what my secretary booked me in as."
"Of course," said the obviously very naïve receptionist. She handed over the appointment book, and Squall had a look through it. He spotted an appointment for half an hour later, and nodded.
"This is the one. Damien McDonald. Thank you. I'll be back in half an hour."
"Alright then, Mr. McDonald. See you then." Squall smiled, then walked out of the building. He walked to the beach, where the statue of the robot XATM092 stood, gleaming as though it were still in battle condition.
"Find anything?" he asked Zell when he reached him. Zell almost bounced with delight.
"It's perfect. Did you talk to the Mayor?"
"I go in half an hour," replied Squall. "What do we do until then?" he asked Squall.
"I was thinking of going to that bar that has the mini-casino above it," said Zell thoughtfully. "I've never tried blackjack before."
"Let's go," said Squall, hoping that the gambling would get his mind off his wife.
Half an hour later, Squall and Zell exited the building, Squall counting a large group of hundred dollar bills, Zell grumbling something about hoping for an advance pay.
"Come on," said Squall, handing Zell a couple of hundreds. "I have an appointment to get to." The two men walked to the town center, discussing how to handle the mayor. As neither of them knew who the mayor was, however, they didn't have much idea how to handle him. When they walked in, Squall instructed Zell to stay in the lobby. He walked up to the naïve receptionist, who absent-mindedly allowed him to go through, her eyes pasted on Zell. Sighing, Squall walked through the door and into the Mayor's office.
"Ah, Mr. McDonald," said an aging man, getting up to shake Squall's hand.
"First off, I'm not Damien McDonald," said Squall.
"Then who-?" The mayor was cut off by Squall.
"I'm Squall Leonhart."
"Ah yes, I remember you," said the mayor, a frown creasing his face. "And to what do I owe the pleasure of this mighty SeeD?"
"I'm not here for SeeD, Mr. Mayor. I'm here on my own behalf. Sorry but, may I know your name?" asked Squall.
"I am Alexander Dericoff, Mr. Leonhart. How may I help you?"
"Mr. Dericoff, someone close to me was abducted not long ago, and I'm trying to get them back. My ship is landed nearby, but I can't go anywhere, due to a mid-air dogfight having ripped up a part of my engine."
"So how can I help you?" asked Dericoff, his face full of concern. "As you have no doubt notice, we don't go much for technology in this place." Squall smiled.
"I noticed, but there is one piece of technology in this town that is perfect."
"And that is?"
"The statue at the beach. XATM092. I had a friend of mine check it out, and it's perfect for the Ragnorak."
"Of course," said Dericoff immediately. "By all means, take it! And when you find Mrs. Leonhart, give her my regards."
"Thank you," said Squall, getting up to walk out the door. Just before he opened it however, a thought crossed through his mind. "I'm sorry, but what did you just say?" The mayor looked up.
"I said take the piston," he replied.
"No after that," said Squall.
"Um, sends my regards to Mrs. Leonhart when you find her."
"I never told you I was looking for her," said Squall.
"What? Of course you did," replied the mayor with the airiness of a lying politician. Squall moved quickly, grabbing the mayor by the shirt and throwing him against a wall.
"Who told you about that? Where is she?" commanded Squall.
"I-I don't know!" said Dericoff, his face full of terror.
"Where is she?" yelled Squall.
"I don't know!" screamed Dericoff. Sighing, Squall dropped to mayor to the floor and walked out. He reached the lobby, and found Zell getting the receptionist's phone number.
"Zell!" he called. "Let's go." Zell kissed the receptionist goodbye, and followed Squall out.
"Are we allowed to get it?" asked Zell.
"Yeah, but we'll have to be quick," replied Squall. "I had a go at the mayor."
"Why?" asked Zell, knowing that Squall always had a reason when he attacked someone.
"I didn't tell him who was kidnapped, but he knew it was Rinoa," said Squall bluntly.
"Gotcha. I'd better get moving then," said Zell.
"Okay. You get it. I'll draw them off. I'll meet you back at the Ragnorak."
"Gotcha." Zell ran off, shooting past a group of nasty looking men dressed in cheap black suits the huge men walked up to Squall, who stood in front of them.
"Hi boys," said Squall. "How are you?"
"You attacked Mayor Dericoff," sad one man in a deep voice.
"That I did."
"Aw, lets just kill the old man and be done with it," said a second man.
"Old!" exclaimed Squall defensively. "I'm not old." He lashed out, catching the man in the throat. "Just better." He pushed another man back and grabbed out his gunblade, ready to face any attack. Seeing what Squall was doing, then five remaining men stepped backward and pulled out weapons of their own. Five, extremely powerful looking guns.
"I think I may have just made a mistake," said Squall to himself as the sixth man got back up and pulled out his own gun.