Disclaimer: I don't own any aspect of Final Fantasy VIII. I don't even
own the game. I stole that from my boyfriend.
Author's notes- Unfortunately for my stories life is about to happen again in the form of a two week job I was just hired for. I expect to be working ten to twelve hours a day so I doubt I'll have much time to be typing these chapters. Never fear though. I have been holding out on you guys a little. I currently have three chapters already typed up that I haven't submitted yet. One other thing, some names will be mentioned in this chapter that you may not remember. All I can say is that they'll be explained later in other stories...or in some of the past if you reread the folder scene in Leatherbound Secret's chapter 8 and one of the various train heist scenes in Unveiled Consternation.
Element6- Seifer rocks I know :) Red Strokes Quistis/Nida fic was put on hold so I could reorganize the plot. But its ready to go now and I'm working on its chapters.
Aratcorien- Caraway up to something....no way...Glad you liked the dreams though. They were part of anothe fic I'd written but decided not to post.
First Glimpse
She narrowed her eyes as she waited for him to answer her truthfully. He sat down in the chair as he watched Tempest run over to the window and look out.
"I was hoping to find that security chief of Loire's," He looked up at his daughter.
"And why would he be here?" Squall asked as he stepped into the room. Rinoa looked to her husband hoping that this time they wouldn't get into a fight.
Caraway shrugged. "I couldn't contact him in Esthar and took a wild stab at a place I'd remembered Rinoa mentioning over the phone. There was something I wanted to tell him about the guy that got away. Because in all honesty, I don't have that much confidence in my security department right now." Squall nodded.
"What would you have told him?" He asked as he sat down in the chair across from his father-in-law. Caraway looked resistant and placed his hands on the arms of his chair as if to stand but Rinoa shook her head. Leaning forward in his chair he started,
"I guess you'll have to do," He looked at Squall seriously. "You will relay this to him?" Squall nodded. "There were two men there as everyone knows. The dark headed one was apprehended while the blonde got away. The blonde was a true marksman. I could tell by the way he used his weapon. Thing is he fits the profile of someone who managed to get past your SeeDs in a mission the Transcontinental Railways hired you to for." He paused as he realized at the mention of SeeD had earned him Squall's undivided attention. "I believe him to be a man by the name of Lucas Piper. He matched the general description; five ten, roughly one-hundred- sixty pounds, blonde hair and only a right arm."
Squall leaned back at his last statement. "You follow up on my missions? That's classified information."
Caraway rubbed his forehead. "I didn't read anything from your files. Everyone knows SeeD took care of the railway heists. Considering Zell Dincht was one of the SeeDs its obvious which Garden was contacted. As far as names go, I watch television Squall. There's this program that comes on and it advertises some of the most wanted felons. I'm surprised you haven't heard of it."
"I was just checking," Squall said as he leaned back in his seat. "I can't have any holes in my security."
"I understand completely. A hole in mine got your father in the mess he's in," Caraway looked to the floor. "I am sorry for what happened."
Squall nodded as he looked to the floor as well. "He was missing his left hand?"
"Yeah. I didn't realize it at first. I was preoccupied with the other guy who by the way we believe is his brother, Ross Piper. I didn't get a look at the second guy until after I'd shot Ross, but it was blatantly obvious that he was missing his left arm from about a quarter of the way past his elbow." Squall nodded as he listened.
"If those two are still working jobs together that means..."
"Audley is still running his ring," Caraway finished and frowned as he noticed Squall grow paler. "What's wrong?"
Squall shook it off. "I need to contact Garden. Is there anything else you need to tell Kiros?" Caraway shook his head. "Thank you." Caraway nodded as he stood up.
"I should get back to the mansion before they realize I'm gone," He said as he started for the door. "I'll call you a little later," He said to Rinoa.
"Be careful Dad," She answered him. He smiled in response as he patted Tempest on the head and hurried outside to his vehicle.
"Lock the door. I need to make a phone call," Squall said as he picked Tempest up and carried him away from the window.
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Kiros frowned at the interior of the basement. He was half tempted to turn around at the first sight of bars but now he was seriously considering it. Staring at the remnants of what looked to be an old prison or dungeon of some sort he slowly walked towards the desk. He carefully sat the lamp on the floor and knelt down. On all fours he reached under the desk and felt around for a loose stone. Finding it he flipped it up and pulled the iron key from its hiding place. He fingered the key as he picked up the lantern and walked to the door. Placing the key in the lock he turned it and jumped when the door fell open. Sticking the lamp inside the tunnel he looked hesitantly inside. The walls and floor were made of carved stone. He paused as he listened intently. Hearing nothing other than dripping water he stepped into the tunnel and began his trek uphill.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
The room was silent as Ward watched Caraway pull away. He sat down in the window seat and closed his eyes. Across the room from him his friend slowly opened his eyes to an unfamiliar room. Just as quietly as he had awoken he slipped back into unconsciousness.
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Seifer ginned to himself as he stared up at the ceiling above his bed. Kiros had nearly had a heart attack once he'd reached the crypt just to hear the door behind him slam shut. Sure he'd been yelled at but he didn't mind. Scaring that guy was an opportunity Seifer couldn't pass up. Rolling over and drifting off to sleep his dreams began to reoccur once again.
"No! Stop it! Not her! Leave her out of this! Don't make me do this," his mind and heart screamed in unison as he pushed her towards Adel. He was moving against his will as he'd done many times before in this dream. His brain tried desperately to make his body stop to no avail. He had yelled something to Squall. Something he couldn't quite hear. Something he didn't understand. Something he wasn't sure about because it wasn't he who really said it.
He felt himself backing away and fought desperately to get back to her side. He had to get back to her side. He couldn't just leave her there. She was one of his few friends outside of his posse. It was his job to protect her and he was failing miserably.
It was no use, Ultimecia was too strong. Horrified at what he'd just done, all he could do was watch as his former classmates tried to save their new friend. "Let me go! I don't want to be your lap dog anymore!" His mind screamed. "End this now!" He forced his eyes shut but could still see the image projected in his mind. He had abandoned Rinoa. It was starting to seem like anyone who attempted to get close to him were destined for trouble. "End this now!" He screamed aloud as he sat up in bed.
Beside him Ellone sat clearly startled and frightened. He took a deep breath as held his head in his hands.
"I'm okay," He assured her as he got her to lay back down with him. She watched him with worried eyes as he drifted back off into a fitful sleep.
Author's notes- Unfortunately for my stories life is about to happen again in the form of a two week job I was just hired for. I expect to be working ten to twelve hours a day so I doubt I'll have much time to be typing these chapters. Never fear though. I have been holding out on you guys a little. I currently have three chapters already typed up that I haven't submitted yet. One other thing, some names will be mentioned in this chapter that you may not remember. All I can say is that they'll be explained later in other stories...or in some of the past if you reread the folder scene in Leatherbound Secret's chapter 8 and one of the various train heist scenes in Unveiled Consternation.
Element6- Seifer rocks I know :) Red Strokes Quistis/Nida fic was put on hold so I could reorganize the plot. But its ready to go now and I'm working on its chapters.
Aratcorien- Caraway up to something....no way...Glad you liked the dreams though. They were part of anothe fic I'd written but decided not to post.
First Glimpse
She narrowed her eyes as she waited for him to answer her truthfully. He sat down in the chair as he watched Tempest run over to the window and look out.
"I was hoping to find that security chief of Loire's," He looked up at his daughter.
"And why would he be here?" Squall asked as he stepped into the room. Rinoa looked to her husband hoping that this time they wouldn't get into a fight.
Caraway shrugged. "I couldn't contact him in Esthar and took a wild stab at a place I'd remembered Rinoa mentioning over the phone. There was something I wanted to tell him about the guy that got away. Because in all honesty, I don't have that much confidence in my security department right now." Squall nodded.
"What would you have told him?" He asked as he sat down in the chair across from his father-in-law. Caraway looked resistant and placed his hands on the arms of his chair as if to stand but Rinoa shook her head. Leaning forward in his chair he started,
"I guess you'll have to do," He looked at Squall seriously. "You will relay this to him?" Squall nodded. "There were two men there as everyone knows. The dark headed one was apprehended while the blonde got away. The blonde was a true marksman. I could tell by the way he used his weapon. Thing is he fits the profile of someone who managed to get past your SeeDs in a mission the Transcontinental Railways hired you to for." He paused as he realized at the mention of SeeD had earned him Squall's undivided attention. "I believe him to be a man by the name of Lucas Piper. He matched the general description; five ten, roughly one-hundred- sixty pounds, blonde hair and only a right arm."
Squall leaned back at his last statement. "You follow up on my missions? That's classified information."
Caraway rubbed his forehead. "I didn't read anything from your files. Everyone knows SeeD took care of the railway heists. Considering Zell Dincht was one of the SeeDs its obvious which Garden was contacted. As far as names go, I watch television Squall. There's this program that comes on and it advertises some of the most wanted felons. I'm surprised you haven't heard of it."
"I was just checking," Squall said as he leaned back in his seat. "I can't have any holes in my security."
"I understand completely. A hole in mine got your father in the mess he's in," Caraway looked to the floor. "I am sorry for what happened."
Squall nodded as he looked to the floor as well. "He was missing his left hand?"
"Yeah. I didn't realize it at first. I was preoccupied with the other guy who by the way we believe is his brother, Ross Piper. I didn't get a look at the second guy until after I'd shot Ross, but it was blatantly obvious that he was missing his left arm from about a quarter of the way past his elbow." Squall nodded as he listened.
"If those two are still working jobs together that means..."
"Audley is still running his ring," Caraway finished and frowned as he noticed Squall grow paler. "What's wrong?"
Squall shook it off. "I need to contact Garden. Is there anything else you need to tell Kiros?" Caraway shook his head. "Thank you." Caraway nodded as he stood up.
"I should get back to the mansion before they realize I'm gone," He said as he started for the door. "I'll call you a little later," He said to Rinoa.
"Be careful Dad," She answered him. He smiled in response as he patted Tempest on the head and hurried outside to his vehicle.
"Lock the door. I need to make a phone call," Squall said as he picked Tempest up and carried him away from the window.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Kiros frowned at the interior of the basement. He was half tempted to turn around at the first sight of bars but now he was seriously considering it. Staring at the remnants of what looked to be an old prison or dungeon of some sort he slowly walked towards the desk. He carefully sat the lamp on the floor and knelt down. On all fours he reached under the desk and felt around for a loose stone. Finding it he flipped it up and pulled the iron key from its hiding place. He fingered the key as he picked up the lantern and walked to the door. Placing the key in the lock he turned it and jumped when the door fell open. Sticking the lamp inside the tunnel he looked hesitantly inside. The walls and floor were made of carved stone. He paused as he listened intently. Hearing nothing other than dripping water he stepped into the tunnel and began his trek uphill.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
The room was silent as Ward watched Caraway pull away. He sat down in the window seat and closed his eyes. Across the room from him his friend slowly opened his eyes to an unfamiliar room. Just as quietly as he had awoken he slipped back into unconsciousness.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Seifer ginned to himself as he stared up at the ceiling above his bed. Kiros had nearly had a heart attack once he'd reached the crypt just to hear the door behind him slam shut. Sure he'd been yelled at but he didn't mind. Scaring that guy was an opportunity Seifer couldn't pass up. Rolling over and drifting off to sleep his dreams began to reoccur once again.
"No! Stop it! Not her! Leave her out of this! Don't make me do this," his mind and heart screamed in unison as he pushed her towards Adel. He was moving against his will as he'd done many times before in this dream. His brain tried desperately to make his body stop to no avail. He had yelled something to Squall. Something he couldn't quite hear. Something he didn't understand. Something he wasn't sure about because it wasn't he who really said it.
He felt himself backing away and fought desperately to get back to her side. He had to get back to her side. He couldn't just leave her there. She was one of his few friends outside of his posse. It was his job to protect her and he was failing miserably.
It was no use, Ultimecia was too strong. Horrified at what he'd just done, all he could do was watch as his former classmates tried to save their new friend. "Let me go! I don't want to be your lap dog anymore!" His mind screamed. "End this now!" He forced his eyes shut but could still see the image projected in his mind. He had abandoned Rinoa. It was starting to seem like anyone who attempted to get close to him were destined for trouble. "End this now!" He screamed aloud as he sat up in bed.
Beside him Ellone sat clearly startled and frightened. He took a deep breath as held his head in his hands.
"I'm okay," He assured her as he got her to lay back down with him. She watched him with worried eyes as he drifted back off into a fitful sleep.