Author's Note: Aye... T'is the next chapter of me fiction... :) Read & Review please!!!
Chapter 4
"Rikku!!" Yuna shouted back and decided to take risky measures of action. Stepping back a pace, she prepares herself to jump in after the Al Bhed but was stopped by Paine immediately.
"You can't!" Paine exclaimed, blocking off the path of the desperate brunette.
"But-"
"You'll get yourself killed at this height! Let's tell the others to land somewhere safe and drag Tidus along before we attempt any rescue." Paine suggested. Both of them didn't waste any time and immediately dashed towards the bridge.
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"Yuna! Paine!" Tidus immediately ran towards them and hugged his fiancé. "Where's Rikku?" Tidus asked worryingly.
"No time to explain. Turn this airship around and land somewhere safe." Paine immediately said without delaying any word while Brother kept on blabbering about where Rikku is and everything. "Look!! If you want to save your sister from those crappy soldiers then shut up and do as I tell you!" Paine exploded grasping the hilt of her sword immediately.
Hearing Paine's words about what happened to Rikku, Brother immediately jumped on to his seat, "We move back to the island and rescue Rikku!"
"Hold it there, Brother. You know well that we've been hit by those stealthy anti-air missiles a couple of times. Going back there only means a thing: suicide." Buddy said holding their pants off to stop them from jumping into hot water.
"I agree... I detected a lot of backups in the forests and I don't think we can handle them at all in our damaged condition." Tidus said comforting Yuna as he was explaining their situation. "If we go back now, Rikku's effort to keep all of us out of harm's way would go to the dumpster."
Everybody fell silent. Brother jumped out of his seat and goes bonkers about basically... everything. "Argh!!! What will we do then?! How can we save Rikku?" Brother looked around the bridge for any answers but all that he heard was the deafening silence engulfing the whole bridge of the Celsius. "Cred!! E's y fundrmacc pnudran." (Shit!! I'm a worthless brother.)
"Gee... Fryd duug oui cu muhk du naymeqa dryd?" (What took you so long to realize that?) Paine said in her usual lukewarm manner.
"Crid ib!!!" (Shut up!!!) Brother exploded, rubbing both of his palms on his face in frustration before jumping back into his station.
After a minute of silence, Paine suddenly suggested something that can help them in full force. "Why don't we ask Baralai for help?"
Everyone in the bridge turned their gazes to Paine, "We're not just encountering normal bandits here. We're talking about an army." Paine added.
"Yeah... I mean, other than possessing an army, they also have advanced machina like those stealthy anti-air missiles that had just hit the Celsius." Tidus stopped and looked at each of their faces, "We're going to need all help that we can gather on this one."
"I recognized those uniforms and it seems like they're not only causing problems to us... I heard those guys are notorious in both the Youth League AND New Yevon... I also heard that they're causing problems with the Machine Faction so they must be some kind of big time trouble-makers." Buddy said, pushing buttons in his panel before turning his head around to look at the others. "We're set for Bevelle... are we going?" He turned his gaze to Brother.
"Works for me. Let's go!" Grabbing the controls in his station, Brother immediately flew the Celsius towards Bevelle in top speed.
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Bevelle
Baralai, Nooj and Gippal were discussing things about the consecutive kidnapping of Youth League and New Yevon key personnel and officials. "Even the Machine Faction didn't get away from those Black Knights bastards. They even attempted to kidnap Nhadala in the camp just a week ago but something stopped them..." Gippal said, looking down on the ground in wonder while they were walking around the gardens of Bevelle. "I wonder why...?"
"They've been awfully quiet this week... I wonder what they're up to..." Baralai looked up at the clear blue sky of Bevelle thoughtfully. The notoriety of the now infamous group called the Black Knights has reached sky level inflicting fear in all of Spira. Both the New Yevon and Youth League have been advised to take them down immediately to calm the people down.
"I forgot to tell you..." Nooj said, looking back at Baralai. "Two of my female officials have been kidnapped but they've managed to escape and carry out intelligence operation successfully bearing vital information about the Black Knights. We know of their position and one of my kidnapped officials reported that the group is now moving to target a certain 'very special' person that would cause terror to the whole world if that person is killed."
"Who?" Gippal asked curiously, turning his remaining eye to Nooj for an answer.
"We don't know. The information that they've gathered is insufficient for ice breakers." Nooj answered.
The three fell silent. They have no idea about the enemy's target and this simple talking has already turned into a brainstorming session. Special thanks to that secretly established organization that was indeed bummingly sneaky in running intelligence ops and even reconnaissance. "We should've taken them seriously when they appeared for the first time four years ago..." Baralai sighed and looked down on the ground feeling exhausted.
After some time of silence, Baralai saw something in his peripheral vision. He turned to his side and saw a group of people running towards them. "The Gullwings...? I thought you guys are on a mission?" Baralai asked in surprise as he turned to look at their desperate faces- with Paine's exception of course.
"We still ARE on a mission but something forced us alter it from sphere hunting to rescuing..." Buddy said staring at the three head honcho. "Rikku has been kidnapped by a certain military organization on an uncharted island." He continued, keeping his cool but the desperation was still written all over his face.
"Kidnapped?" Gippal explained looking at Yuna and Paine for confirmation. The two just nodded at him. "What happened? Why?"
"Your concern is worthless now!! It's your fault that Rikku has been sad and has been unable to concentrate on her missions!!" Brother charged up to Gippal, grabbing his shirt and preparing to throw in a punch. Gippal stepped back a pace to retain his balance. He turned a look at Paine and Yuna who was just staring at him without any emotions. Brother was about to land his fist on Gippal's face but fortunately, Tidus steps in and stops Brother from causing a riot.
"Cool down! If you want to rescue Rikku then we're going to need his help, you know." Tidus said pulling Brother away from Gippal before the two explodes into a complete riot.
"What happened to Rikku?" Gippal immediately turned to the others for explanation.
"We don't exactly know but they were originally after Yuna." After Paine delivered her explanation, Nooj, Baralai and Gippal switch glances. It took a certain time before Baralai could speak properly again and when he had finally regained his full composure, the first thing that came out in his mouth was a name:
"Yuna..." Baralai said, looking at everyone's faces, "Of course! Their target is the High Summoner! The whole of Spira would surely be shaken if something happens to the Summoner who defeated Sin! Why didn't we thought of that before?!" Baralai suddenly looked seriously concerned. Turning a gaze at the confused ex-summoner.
"Why are they after me?" Yuna asked confusedly, looking at the faces of the top brass trio. "And how about Rikku? We need your help to save her! She got into this mess because she tried to keep them away from me." She added in desperation.
"It's just like Rikku to throw in a recklessly heroic AND stupid stunt like that..." Gippal murmured under his breath while scratching his nape. Unfortunately for him though, Yuna and Paine was close enough to hear his words. He looked up at the two and saw their dangerous glares. Gippal steps back a pace, chuckling nervously. "We'll give you word when we've gathered enough information." Gippal immediately said, trying to avoid their death glare at him. His voice was obviously concerned though the reason why he immediately countered was the memory of Paine's rage two years ago. It was still scaring him until now.
"We have no time! We must act immediately before they do something to her!" Paine said furiously, throwing in an accusing look at the Gippal.
"Calm down, Paine. They won't hurt her until they get their real target. For now, protect Yuna at all costs." Baralai tried to calm the furious Paine. "I want you guys to meet someone..." He signaled the guard on the door to call in somebody.
When the guard finally returned to his post, a woman dressed in a white trench coat, black belt and black boots came out of the door and walked towards them with a Youth League salute. "Everyone, I want you to meet Major Aeris of the Youth League. She's one of the vital officials of both the Youth League and New Yevon who was also kidnapped by the Black Knights... the same group who kidnapped Rikku."
"Pleased to meet you..." She answered formally. Her blue-green eyes glittered magnificently as she stared at the Gullwings with a smile.
"She'll give you any information that she has about the Black Knights and I'm assigning her to place Yuna under her protection. She's the best fighter that we've ever seen and I'm sure that she'll contribute well in Yuna's protection." Baralai said, nodding at Yuna who was staring at Baralai confusedly.
"I can take care of myself but the information... I'm sure that we're going to need it to plan a rescue attempt." Yuna said, smiling at Aeris and extending a hand to her. "Pleased to meet you."
"It's an honor, Lady Yuna." Aeris cheerfully smiled at her and shook her hand.
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"Dryd kuut vun hudrehk-!?" (That good for nothing-!?) Brother shouted as he marched off towards his station, "Ev ed fanah'd vun Rikku, E fuimt'ja buihtat res vun kuut!" (If it weren't for Rikku, I would've pounded him for good!) He added in a frown and sped away from Bevelle in top speed.
"If it weren't for Tidus you would've gotten your ass kicked." Paine said sarcastically, ignoring Brother's rants and curses in Al Bhed. Aeris chuckled at the sight and looked back at Yuna and Paine.
"Aw... He's such a sweet guy for caring for her sister so much." Aeris smiled when Brother's head almost made a 360-degrees turn towards her. The Mohawk-moron blushed, following Aeris with his eyes as she turned and walked towards Shinra's working area. The other Gullwings grunted at Aeris' 'unlikely' comment. "Did I say anything wrong?" Aeris asked wonderingly, placing her forefinger on her lower lip in question.
"Let me know if you change your opinion after we rescued Rikku." Tidus said, holding back his laughter as she turned away from Brother's glare.
"I'm giving her a week..." Paine added, meeting Brother's glare without even wincing. "Pu-lease..." Paine rolled her eyeballs irritably at Brother's naturally annoying face.
"I'm sure he isn't that bad..." Aeris sat down on the chair and started typing something. Her face crumpled, as a thought occurred, "Isn't he?"
Brother was smiling from ear to ear at the consecutive defense that Aeris was giving her. "Finally! Someone who has the sense to see what a great leader I am!"
Aeris winced and turned a troubled look at Buddy. "Rikku and Brother have the tendency to go on bickering for hours." Buddy answered.
Brother's smile widened- and Paine bet that it could stretch out of his stupid face if it was possible- while waiting for another defense from Aeris. "That bad, huh?" Aeris said, turning a chuckling look at the panel and began pressing buttons. Brother's smile faded and then suddenly fell into a frown as he turned to Buddy.
"I was wrong... It only took seconds..." Paine said, amusingly annoying Brother with her comments.
"Crid ib!!!" (Shut up!!!) Brother screamed as he turned back to driving the Celsius, muttering curses under his breath again. The rest of the Gullwings tried to stop laughing out loud at Brother's 'misfortune'- although everyone knows that the word misfortune is undoubtedly Brother's twin.
"Whoever pulled out all these programs in this panel sure is a genius... Anybody you guys know?" Aeris said as she continued on fiddling with the panel, obviously amazed by the things that she sees in there.
"A whiz kid named Shinra. He was a member of the Gullwings five years ago but he left." Aeris' eyes glittered in amazement as she heard Yuna say that a kid was the inventor of all the high tech stuff that she found in the panel. "We really don't have any idea how to operate that thing and Tidus was the one who has been patient enough to learn it..." Yuna smiled and walked towards the panel where Aeris was working. "But I... don't think that you're going to have problems in operating that one." Yuna said looking at the screen where a map-like thing was being shown.
"Oh... I do this all the time after running intelligence ops for the Youth League and New Yevon. I've been fascinated by machina ever since I could remember. Personally, I really don't care about what the teaching of Yevon says so I joined up with the Al Bhed and they let me work there even if I was in the Crusader." Everyone looked shockingly at her as she continued on pressing buttons down on the panel; unaware that everyone was already- almost- gawking at her.
"No wonder Baralai branded you as the official super girl of both sides." Buddy exclaimed and gazed down at the screen. "What exactly are you doing?" He asked curiously.
"This is the official map of the main base of the infamous Black Knights. I downloaded the image from the Youth League's database and some intelligence and recon from New Yevon." Aeris said, drawing more attention from the Gullwings. All of them went around the panel to see the picture of the island.
"It's shaped vaguely like a bird diving to attack its prey..." Yuna said amusedly as she stared at the whole view of the map. Aeris smiles at her and zooms out the view for everyone to see.
"That's where they got the name. Besides the unusual shape, a certain breed of birds called Falcon inhabits the Falcon Islands." The fascination in Aeris' voice was very obvious for everyone to hear as she turned towards the others with a smile.
"And... you also got that from your intelligence operations?" Paine asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
Aeris looked back at the panel and began downloading files from the Youth League- the fascinated smile was still plastered on her face. "Whenever I run any intelligence op, I make sure that I also learn its history to understand everything clearly. Sometimes, historical backgrounds have a vital role in everything especially if I'm suppose to hack into somebody's database. And the result..." Aeris pressed another button, revealing the whole map of the island with complete legend and other vital information. "Ta-dah!"
"Smart..." Paine said, firmly eyeing the data impressively. "No wonder the Black Knights wanted you..."
"Which was obviously a fatal flaw in their intel reports." Aeris chuckled amusedly. "They sent out a whole battalion to look for Elma and me but I guess we out-witted them." She grinned menacingly at the thought while pressed the isolated blue button on the upper right hand of the panel and viewed into a zoom a place in the island that looked like a palace.
"Elma was kidnapped with you?" Yuna asked in disblief. Aeris gave her a nod.
"She's very good in sneaking around... And her exemplary memory helped a lot too." Aeris said, praising his co-Youth League official in delight.
"What is that castle?" Brother curiously asked almost gawking at the monitor.
"Black Falcon Castle. It's the home of the leaders... of the Black Knights." Aeris voice faltered noticeably. Uneasiness and distress was written all over her face as she zoomed in closely. Navigating the view of the screen towards the east side of the map.
"Are you alright?" Yuna asked worryingly as she stared at Aeris' currently pale face. The blue-green eyed lady sitting in front of the panel smiled at her and nodded immediately, continuing her explanations.
"This is where they keep their prisoners." Swallowing a lump on her throat, Aeris forced out a cheerful smile on her lips, "You don't have to worry about rats and cockroaches since they're keeping the prison cells clean at all costs."
"How nice of them..." Another dose of Dr. P's lukewarm comment.
"Well... I suggest that we steer clear from the island for a while and plan our rescue attempt somewhere unreachable... a place where a spy couldn't hear out conversation at close range." Aeris suggested, letting out a heavy sigh before retuning her attention to the panel. "After all, we know that Yuna is their target. It'll be wise to keep her out of sight for a while." Aeris suggested easily.
"Yeah... I agree." Tidus answered smilingly.
"Well I don't..." Yuna snapped; "I don't like the idea of hiding like a coward while Rikku is in hostile territory. If that's the case then I'm better off switching places with Rikku."
Aeris turned her gaze at the members of the Gullwings. What she saw confirmed that Yuna is dead serious about what she just said. She stared at the ex-summoner in amazement; her blue-green eyes were glittering, reflecting an unknown feeling of partly sad or something else for a split second. Raising a corner of her lips in a half smile, Aeris stood up from where she was sitting and leaned on the chair, "Where would we go to formulate our plans then?"
Yuna nodded at her, "Mt. Gagazet. Unless... the Black Knights are also recruiting Ronsos."
Aeris let out a chuckle; "I don't think they have any uniforms fitted for any Ronso."
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"Yuna visit Mt. Gagazet... Kimhari glad." The Elder's whiskers slowly slanted upwards indicating a small but definitely delighted smile.
"Hello Kimhari..." Yuna greeted, returning the smile to her guardian. Kimhari looks around the faces of his visitors.
"Kimhari does not see Rikku... Kimhari miss noisy Rikku." Everyone tried to hold back their laughter after hearing the Ronso Elder's comment about the cheerful Al Bhed girl.
"That's why we came here... A group called Black Knights is holding her captive. Do you know anything about them, Kimhari?" Yuna asked, gone was the amusement in her desperate streaked face, drawing conclusions that the high summoner really cares for her guardian, friend and cousin.
"Yuna is troubled... Kimhari worries." He sits down on the ground and tells a Ronso to light up fire for them. "Yuna MUST tell Elder Kimhari everything... Ronso help Yuna rescue Rikku."
That was enough to ease Yuna's worry even just for a while. Growing in desperation, Yuna forces herself to tell the Ronso everything as calmly as possible, taking her mind away from worrying, knowing that it'll only make things worse for everyone... especially for Rikku.
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Meanwhile: Falcon Island
Hours ago...
Almost immediately after the soldier landed from his jump from the Celsius, Rikku throws in desperate blows on the soldier with her bare hands. Unfortunately for her, the soldier seems to evade it without exerting any effort no matter how fast her fists were throwing in on him. Finally, the soldier grew tired of evading and immediately caught both of her fists, halting her attacks. Rikku stared in his sapphire blue eyes for a while; seeing a certain fierceness in his whole personality but strangely feeling gentleness and warmth beneath it all.
Ooh... Just what the heck do you think you're thinking!?
She screamed mentally to her self in disgust and dismissed the thought immediately. After regaining composure for a good two seconds, she immediately flew her legs towards the soldier's groin to inflict pain but he evades the attack.
"Quite expected from a female captive." He said, raising an eyebrow at her, "Don't you think?" He glanced at the side.
A rustling sound around the bushes was suddenly heard and after a few seconds, the rest of the bunch that attacked the airship appeared and surrounded them giving Rikku an absolute zero percent to escape. She pulled her hands away from the soldier and stared at him angrily, desperately thinking of a way to escape from them.
"I'll make you a deal..." The soldier began and throws in a look at one of the soldier. "I'm letting you go if you defeat me in a dual. I'll even escort you back in your airship with assurance that we won't attack anyone of you. But-" He stops and hands Rikku her weapons. The 22-year-old Al Bhed gazed at her weapons dazedly and then looked up at the soldier seriously, waiting for his next terms. "If I defeat you... you stay here in the island as prisoner. Fair enough?"
Rikku eyes him suspiciously and frowns at him, "How can you expect ME to trust the word of a kidnapper who's after Yunie?!"
The soldier stares at her and blinks twice in wonder, "Because you don't have any choice?" He added and smirked at Rikku, irritating her even more at his show of arrogance. "First one to fall loses." The soldier turns around and steps a few pace making room for a charging attack. Unbeknownst him though, Rikku sees the opportunity and immediately rushes to pin him down on the ground.
The soldier turns and sees Rikku running towards him a second to late. The impact of her speed on his body was strong enough to make him fall out of balance. He was falling down on the ground, still shocked about Rikku's sneakiness. Rely on a thief to do sneaky things... He thought.
But I'm also sneaky in my own way... He flashed a small grin on his face and pulled Rikku down with him... the two fell on the ground on the same time.
After recovering from the shock of being out-witted, Rikku and the soldier immediately scrambled on their feet, readying their selves for the attack. However, something alarming caught Rikku's green eyes as the cloth mask that was covering half of the soldier's face fell down on his cloaked broad chest. Hot... She exclaimed to herself, eyeing the soldier's completely masculine facial features. His hair was flowing as a soft wind blew between them; sending two to three strands of black-brown hanging freely on his forehead in a curve. His sapphire blue eyes were glittering marvelously as he stared back at her in a very strange way, sending butterflies in her stomach.
Completely... Her brain was running in light speed as she thought of an adjective to describe the hunk in front of her eyes until something hit her. Stupid! She scolded herself in a frown. This wasn't exactly the time to think of something like that at all. The guy was after her cousin and yet she's thinking of thoughts that were equal to somebody who just reached the age of puberty. Snapping back to reality after a few seconds, she noticed that the soldier was also staring at her in a strange way, thinking about something.
She frowned at him and steadied herself in her signature attack stance. "Stop looking at me like that and get this over with!" She shouted irritably since his stare was making her feel rather queasy. The soldier blinked and shook his head clearing everything that has been clouding his mind. Dextrally easing his gun blade, he eyed the Al Bhed calmly waiting for any attack. Rikku obliged him by a running attack and attempted to unbalance him with the swishing of her knives. The soldier continuously intercepted her attacks with his blade, moving with utmost finesse and whirling a defensive attack at the Al Bhed who's freely attacking him with her pair of knives.
Meanwhile, the soldiers on the side watched the whole dual amusingly, wanting to know what would happen next in their tiresome steel clashing battle. Rikku was half expecting them to help their comrade but to her surprise- and relief- they were just standing, holding their position. The look on their half masked faces was enough to confirm that they're having a good time watching the dual of their comrade with a girl.
Clang!
The clashing of two steels intercepting each other rang up through the air. Both of them jumped a couple of paces back, observing one another for any signs of movement. When Rikku saw a corner of his lips raise up in a half smile, she immediately crossed her arms and charged up to him again. The soldier grasped his weapon firmly and waited for Rikku to go nearer. Rikku made a direct assault, expecting him to intercept her weapon but then, he does the unthinkable: He moved aside- letting Rikku's surprise punch hit the empty air- and tripped her with his foot...
She flumped.
The soldiers surrounding them held back their laughter. They didn't expect Rikku to fall clumsily on the ground after displaying an impressively graceful attack at their comrade. "Ou-ie..." She muttered, rubbing the aching part of her body. The soldier stared down at her and confiscated her weapons, handing it over to the soldier on the side who immediately moved to get it.
"Rule number one: Take me seriously but not THAT seriously." He chuckled amusedly at Rikku with the other soldiers.
"You meanie!" Rikku frowned at him and shouted accusingly. Other than his comely face, everything about this particular soldier annoys the wits out off her... big time.
The sapphire-eyed soldier smiled lazily at her. "Maybe so..." He said, extending his hand to help her stand up, "But it doesn't completely mean that I don't respect women. Stand up before you get dirty, Blondie."
Rikku pouted at him, "I can stand by myself..." She refused to accept the soldier's hand and stubbornly supported her weight with her arms and got on her feet properly. "And I have a name!!" She snapped. The soldier flinched and then smiled amusedly at the Al Bhed.
"Mind giving me your name then?"
"Why do you care!?" She snapped at him again.
"Well if you want me to stop calling you Blondie then you'd better start off by giving me YOUR name..." A menacing smile streaked his lips. "...Blondie." he added.
"Ooh... I HAVE A NAME!!!!!!" She shouted angrily at him.
"The name's Rex... And you are...?" The sapphire-eyed bloke smirked at her, purposely annoying Rikku out of her wits.
"I won't tell you!" She said, crossing her arms on her chest stubbornly.
"What a strange name..." He said ironically, raising an eyebrow at Rikku waiting for another scream. When he didn't hear anything and received a glare instead, the sapphire-eyed soldier sighed in defeat. "Hmph. Fine. Suit yourself." He answered, getting a little irritated at Rikku's uneventful stubbornness and lack of cooperation. "Take her away..." He said and walked ahead of them.
"Girls... I just can't understand them." He murmured the thought, giving Rikku something to wonder about when she heard him say those words.
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Author's Note: Done! It's quarter to five in the morning and guess what? I'm suffering from insomnia! Isn't that wonderful? Okay. I'm desperate. I want to sleep but I can't so I figured out that maybe the thing that was keeping me from sleeping was the death threats that I've received from your reviews... haha... just jesting. Anyway, review this chapter if you want me to continue! ;)