Chapter 17 - The Confrontation
"Well, you would think that she'd have picked a better hiding place," Squall muttered, leaning over the control panels in the Ragnarok's cockpit as they landed outside of the Centra Ruins.
"Why would she need to hide if she has all that power and doesn't know about Rinoa? And not to mention a whole army of soldiers at her disposal..." Selphie replied, dryly.
Squall shrugged and turned around, heading for the back of the room, where Rinoa was sitting, preparing herself for the impending confrontation. As he approached, she hopped out of her seat and began jogging in place.
"Spar with me," she commanded.
"Now?" he asked, stopping in his tracks. "Here?"
"Yeah," she replied, simply. She stepped up closer to him and took her fighting stance, just how Squall had taught her.
Shrugging once more, he took his stance and blocked as she threw the first punch.
"Just curious," Squall began, barely missing another punch, "why are we doing this? And right before we're going in to find Eve? You don't plan on fighting her like this, do you?"
"Well, I'm hoping she'll accept a fair challenge, but if she won't, I'll be prepared," Rinoa explained, easily dodging a low kick. "I just don't want anyone else to get hurt, and with all this strong magic that will be flying around, it's very likely that someone else will get... shrapnel, so to speak. That's why I want you and everyone else to leave if it comes to that."
"What!?" Squall exclaimed, dropping his stance and staring at her. "You're actually suggesting that I leave you alone in there?"
Rinoa sighed and nodded, dropping her fighting stance as well. "There's nothing anyone else can do, anyway. I'm the only one that stands a chance. There's just no sense in anyone else potentially getting hurt, needlessly."
"Rinoa, I realize that we can't fight her, but she could have a whole army of those soldiers with her, and what if you get hurt? You may need someone around to heal you quickly. I'm sorry, Rin, but I just won't let you do it alone."
Squall held his breath, waiting for her response, knowing that she could win this argument if she really wanted to. All he could do was hope that she would give in this time.
Rinoa stood silently for a long moment, gazing at him.
"Ok... but if I tell you to back off, you listen to me, understand?" she firmly commanded.
Squall released his breath in relief and nodded. "Thank you."
"I guess we should go in before she sends her boys in here," Rinoa said, scraping her hair into a messy ponytail.
Squall swallowed hard as he watched her head for the door. He only had a slight idea of what they could expect when they went in, but he had no doubt that Eve could surprise every one of them.
As was anticipated, the black-clad soldiers emerged from their posts the second they saw Rinoa and the group of SeeDs approaching and attacked without hesitation.
It was a regular cinematic battle scene.
"Spread!" Squall demanded to his companions as the fight broke out.
Squall and Seifer easily dispatched a third of them with their gunblades in a matter of minutes.
Laguna and Irvine took their positions at either side, quickly sniping off soldiers, one by one, with their guns.
Selphie and Zell jumped right into the heart of the battle, disarming the soldiers of any weapons, and quickly taking them out in the process.
Rinoa calmly walked further and further toward the entrance of the ruins, casting strong spells on anyone who tried to block her path, usually taking out small groups of them each time.
Quistis had remained at Garden at the insistance of Seifer and her friends, but was communicating with the Seifer, via mic transmitters. She didn't really know what good she could do, but she'd demanded it, certain that it would just kill her if she didn't know what was going on. She didn't want the stress of worrying if her loved ones were alive or not, and they'd agreed to it.
Rinoa finally reached the entrance, and turned around to face the battle behind her. The last of the soldiers crumpled to the ground, and her companions jogged to catch up with her.
Sighing, Rinoa went in, not waiting for them. Determinedly, she began climbing the stairs, not stopping until she finally reached what used to be Odin's lair, her friends trailing behind.
As she approached the door, it flew open, and Rinoa boldly stepped in to face Eve, who stood in the middle of the room. Her face was expressionless, not at all cocky or condescending as Rinoa had expected.
There was nothing but an emotionless and unwavering stare.
Rinoa knew that reading her mind would be futile, as she knew that Eve would have thought to be on guard for such a thing. Instead, she stood still, waiting for a first move or even a word from Eve.
Finally Eve spoke.
"You might not believe me, but I'm actually quite torn about doing this."
Rinoa was stunned for a moment. She had been expecting something a tad more threatening. But the sincerity in Eve's grosgrain voice was unmistakable.
Rinoa held her ground, though, and responded. "Torn about what, exactly?"
Squall and the others finally reached the doorway, but none dared to step in yet. They opted instead to listen.
"I was not always like this," Eve stated plainly. "Don't get me wrong, this is not a sympathy ploy, because I am quite aware that a long and horrendous battle is inevitable. I just want you to know."
Rinoa couldn't deny that she was intrigued. "Why?"
"Why do I want you to know, you mean? Or why wasn't I always like this?"
"Both, if you will."
A red velvet chair materialized behind Rinoa, and it was then that she noticed the gauntlet firmly clamped around Eve's left forearm, as she had raised it to magically produce the chair.
"It's a long story, so you may as well have a seat," Eve sighed, taking her own seat.
Squall was bewildered to say the least. This is not what he was expecting at all, much like Rinoa. But he couldn't deny that he was intigued as well, and wasn't about to interfere with the imminent explanation. He took a cue from his friends, who had already taken it upon themselves to find a seat on the ground before the open door to the lair.
It was vaguely reminiscent of the children's story time in the public library. They all sat on the ground, listening intently to the unfolding story at hand, like a group of eager five-year olds.
Rinoa slowly sat on the chair, her eyes never leaving Eve. "I'm all ears."
Chapter 17.2 - Eve's Story
I had a childhood much like most of you... no real parents, no siblings, no family of any kind. The difference is that I never lived in an orphanage. For as long as I can remember, I was trained fervently to be a killer, though I didn't know it until I got older.
As far as I understand, my teenage mother took me to Galbadia Garden when I was a mere infant, asked the doctor in the infirmary if they could keep an eye on me for a moment, and then was never heard from again.
I still don't know whose sick and twisted idea it was, but someone thought it was an excellent opportunity to create an elite killing machine, by raising me that way practically from birth. It was someone's experiment, I suppose. I was the guinea pig, and there are since none trained like I was, as far as I am aware.
I was trained like any normal SeeD would be, only I had private sessions with samurai and weapons masters from all over the world in my 'off hours'.
At first it was all mental training. I was educated and conditioned for the first few years of my life by these people, then when I reached an appropriate age, I was trained physically, as well.
I mastered almost every different kind of skill they threw at me, whether it was medicine or kendo. It didn't matter.
The file on me that you read, Squall, was a fabrication. I wasn't at Galbadia Garden for eight years. I was there for seventeen.
I was qualified to be a SeeD long before I came here, but I had become too good too fast, and hell, even at the age of twelve, many of the instructors and administrators wanted me away from the other students because of it. I was essentially known as a sociopath. Everyone was terrified of me.
So I moved on. I spent the last couple of years in Trabia Garden, concentrating on medicine. I became scared of my own training and where my life was taking me, so I strived to be a good person. I wanted to heal instead of kill. But, I found myself caring less and less about the feelings and lives of others. I didn't want to be known as a sociopath, because I knew that that's where I was headed if I didn't stop it.
But... it seemed that no matter what, my life was destined to go in just that direction.
In a world of magic and sub-gods, I'd say it's pretty easy to believe just about everything you see or hear about. But what happened to me about a year ago was something I'd never seen or heard of in my life.
I was out running one morning, several miles outside of Trabia. It was a morning ritual of mine, to run far out where no one was, freezing my ass off, and loving every minute of it. I was the only one that ever went that far out alone, because it never occured to me to be cautious of snow lions, and what have you. I felt that nothing was much of a challenge for me anymore, anyway.
So this one morning, nothing was particularly different. No change in the air, no peculiar noises coming from the bushes... nothing suspicious at all.
But in the blink of an eye, my whole life changed.
A man appeared in front of me, before my very eyes. At first, I couldn't tell that he was even human. It was a mere black and silver lump on the ground, in the middle of a snow field.
I stopped and carefully walked up to the figure. It didn't move at all, so I thought it was dead. It hadn't occured to me that I might have needed a med kit or magic during my run, so I was about to run for help back at the Garden, but a hand suddenly shot up and grabbed my arm.
I looked back down to see a man with glowing green eyes and long silver hair. He was badly beaten, on the verge of death, but his eyes were unwavering and fixed on mine.
"There's.... materia.... here," he croaked out. "Find it.... it... may... save me."
I wanted to tell him that I didn't know what the hell materia was, but I didn't have the heart.
After a second, though, his expression became one of defeat. I suppose he realized that he was about to die, and couldn't be saved in time no matter how hard he, or anyone else, tried.
With a last look into my eyes, something happened. I don't know how to this day, but a part of him possessed a part of me. It was like I acquired his very soul somehow.
I suddenly knew what materia was. It was like I could sense it, but I didn't know where to look. All I could sense was the raw power of it. And I had an unimaginable thirst for it.
I looked down to see the man slumped once more on the ground, and not breathing. I knew then that he was dead.
When I went back to Garden that day, I didn't tell anyone what happened. When I went to the training center, I was stronger. Physical strength was never attribute of mine, but what I lacked there I made up for in speed and efficiency. But I was strong now. And I was quicker, if only by a little.
The identity of the man that I found remains unknown to me, for his body was gone the next day I went out there, but I know he was at least a powerful warrior at some point. And I had gained his fighting abilities, this drive to seek materia, and a rediculously long katana that had been left behind.
And his eyes.
My eyes were a common blue color before, but since that day, they glowed like his had.
Worst of all, though, I feel all this negativity and aggression. It causes great suffering for the part of me that is still me. This man was evil, and the other part of me is possessed with it.
Anyway, I produced an army mostly made up of all of the Gardens' exiles I could find, and of anyone else I could recruit in the last year. But they were no help in finding this materia.
That's when I decided that you guys would be the only ones able enough to find it. So, I came to Balamb, to let you unfold the mystery for me. I just had to bide my time. I knew my soldiers would stir up enough trouble that your attention would immediately be drawn to it.
And you were, of course, immediately drawn to it.
Truly, part of me doesn't want to hurt anyone else, but the other part of me needs to. I've realized that if I wasn't already a sociopath before, that I am becoming one more and more all the time. Hell, I never hesitated to kill my own soldiers when necessary.
Not that I had any kind of emotional attachment to any of them.
But I still have lingering pangs of feeling every once in a while. So, I'm not truly there, yet.
The remorse I feel for putting you through this is genuine, but that will not stop me.
The feelings I have for Squall are genuine and strong, but that will not stop me, either.
I came to take this power and reign, and that's exactly what I am still going to do.
A/N: I am expecting to get a lot of flack for this one, because I can imagine that it may be difficult to understand. And I say this - some things in this story were written with the purpose of not being explained. All I can tell you is that Eve's soul is sort of infused with that of another... another that mysteriously appeared in this time, perhaps by means of a portal. Hey, it could happen. This story is certainly not over, so please bear with me. I hope you guys still like this one!
To DBH - Have I told you yet that you're my freakin' hero? Yes, you were right about "Pity the Child". I knew you'd be the one to come to the rescue. And I believe the boost is permanent, but the upcoming battle should still be interesting... meaning that yes, she's stronger, but now we know who she's really up against. ;-) Thanks again for being so awesome and loyal!
To starquestor - I do think this is one of, if not THE longest one in the story so far. Yeah, I hated having short chapters, but I've been pressed for time lately, so I was really just trying to get one out. Glad you like the story! Thanks!
To Rinoa Leonheartilly - Sorry, this one took even longer. Glad you're still into it, though! And yes, that must have been an interesting... session, if you will, in the bedroom. Hee hee. Thanks again!
To Frederikke Neergaard - I would agree with you on the Squall-being-upset thing in most other stories, but in this one I put effort into making Squall a little more mature, and a little less hung up on small petty things like that. Besides, he's too worried about screwing it up with her that he wouldn't dare give her a hard time about something like that. He's a little more understanding in this one. Thanks for commenting on it, though! It makes me happy to know that someone is paying that much attention to the character detail. I hope that clears it up for ya. And yes, we are in for a hell of a chick fight now. Things are just starting to get interesting... thanks for the review! Glad you still like the story!
To DoubleMoon - Wow, I'm a honored to have you reading my story, as I am a fan of yours! It makes me very happy to know you like it! Thanks so much for the review!! Keep up the good work on your story!