The Chronicles Of Paine Chapter 2

So, Chapter 2, Huh? In this chapter, you will find that Paine has thrown the lukewarm attitude out the window and dropped straight to icy. This is the way Paine was meant to be, though she never could before because of the other girls. So in this chapter, Paine is just "being herself". I hope you enjoy!

-gigaknight

"Just take this with you," Explained Cid. He held out a paper with a list of three locations on it. Paine took it from him, eyeing it carefully.

"What is all this stuff?" asked Paine, still reading the list.

"It's a list of possible locations where this person may be hiding out. He has sent several messages regarding Sin to our computer, but we saved the files and traced them to each of these locations. I want you to check them out," said Cid, sipping his coffee.

"What can you pay me for this? I don't want any bullshit pay like last time," stated Paine, glaring at him. Cid was somewhat afraid of Paine, and became uneasy around her at times.

"It shall be double that as of your last paycheck, two hundred thousand gil."

"That's more like it...." she grinned, popping a clip into her pistol.

"Before you get started, I want you to also take this with you. It may come in handy," he handed her a twelve inch platinum coated blade.

"Oh, I like this!" she grinned, balancing the tip of the knife on her index finger.

"Consider that part of your pay," said Cid, scribbling something on a notepad.

"What's that?" asked Paine, pointing at his paper.

"It's the agent who will take your place if you fuck up," he answered.

"I won't fuck up, just have that big bag of money ready for me when I get back."

Paine put her blade in it's sheathe and walked out of the warehouse. Snatching the list out of her back pocket, she decided to go to the first locale on the paper, Kilika port.

Jumping on her bike, she revved the engine loudly and took off into the now brighter streets. She glanced at her watch, which read six thirty am. The sun was glowing a bright crimson, Paine's favourite colour. Just as she was approaching the edge of Luca, she was stopped by a small red figure, flanked my two tall blue creatures. Hypellos, Paine instantly recognised them by their bright yellow eyes, and the short red clothed, bird-like figure was none other than Tobli.

"Tobli, I don't have time for your crap right now, just-", Tobli interrupted her.

"If it isn't the dark and mysterious Paine, yup yup! I have a slight favor to ask you, oh no no it's not much, but it's important, I assure you!" squeeked Tobli in his shrill voice.

"I said I don't have time. Why don't you go bother someone who cares? Like Yuna!" she snapped.

"Oh, you see, that's the problem. Lady Yuna has disappeared, along with the Al Bhed girl, Rikku!" He explained.

"And I suppose you need me to find them for you? I'm in the middle of a very important errand, which could possibly be the fate of Spira! Do you really think that I have time to look for a couple of girls? They're probably just out shopping..." she said, feeling the anger and frustration rising in her voice.

"But Miss Paine!" cried Tobli, pushing her impatience to the limit. "I fear they may be in certain danger!"

"If I do this for you, what will you do for me?" she demanded.

"I can get you a season pass for the blitzball tournament."

"I don't give a crap about that!" she barked.

"Sin," said Tobli.

"What do you know about Sin?" she asked, grabbing Tobli by the scruff of the neck.

"I know you are looking for it, or rather the person who knows where it is," the midget said, choking slightly.

"How do you know I'm a spy?" she asked, tightening her grip on his neck.

"Cid hired me, to make sure you don't mess this up. He also wants you to look for Rikku and Yuna. Now put me down!" he pleaded. Paine dropped him on his head.

"You can tell Cid that I'm on the case, and I won't screw up. You also tell him that if he sends another bird brain like you, I'll carve you like a turkey!" she said, waving her knife around menacingly.

"Yes ma'am!" said Tobli, and he and the two hypellos ran back into town, fading over the horizon.

Should I really worry abou Rikku and Yuna? She thought to herself. Yuna did defeat Sin before, I think she can handle herself and Rikku, but Cid would never let me hear the end of it if something happens to them....plus I doubt he'd pay me. Oh, I'm gonna be kicking myself in the ass for this later.

So now, my mission is to save to runaways, and stop some crazy madman who is hiding a secret about Sin.....Well, the mission isn't gonna complete itself! Looks like I've got some travelling to do!

Paine pulled into Kilika port a couple days later. The town was attacked by Sin seven years ago, but since then it had been rebuilt into a bustling town, full of both young and old people. Paine left her motorcyle by one of the docks and hopped off. She consulted her list of the three locales once more. It seemed that a signal was sent from within Kilika temple. She wandered up and down the busy piers, gazing out over the sea. She noticed there were some old men in fishing boats, catching what appeared to be koi. One of the old men in one of the boats called out to Paine.

"Hey there, beautiful! Wanna party?" The old guy's friend snickered.

"You don't have a girlfriend do you? I bet you've never actually got some action. Maybe your hands smell like fish for some other reason?" Paine replied cooly. The man just scowled at her. A smile spread across Paine's face.

Just after she told the old man off, a big clumsy man walked right into her and fell in the water, the splash so big that it soaked all the people nearby. Paine was annoyed that this guy was so clumsy, though she reached for his hand in the water and helped pull him up. Wiping his wet hair back, Paine immediately recognised him. It was Barthello, an old friend who used to be with New Yevon.

"I'm sorry, about bumping into you like that, ma'am. Oh, it's you, Paine! How have you been? It must've been five years since I saw you last!" He said, hugging her, which seemed much more like a painful headlock from Paine's point of view.

"I was alot better before you started squeezing me," she gasped.

"Oh, I'm sorry." He said, blushing slightly. "So where's Lady Yuna and Rikku?"

"I was actually going to ask you the same thing," she replied. "I'm supposed to be looking for them."

"Oh," said Barthello, wiping water off his face. "I haven't seen them in five years either."

"I see. So how are you and Dona doing?" Paine asked.

"Didn't you hear? We got married last year! Dona invited you three to be bride's maids," he said. Paine shuddered at the thought of dressing up all fancy for a wedding.

"Well, I wish I could stay and chat, Barthello, but I got a job to do," she said, starting to walk away. Barthello grabbed Paine.

"No, you can't go yet! You need to come over for tea!" Barthello beckoned her to his home.

"Oh, maybe just for a few minutes..." said Paine dismissively. She actually wanted to see Dona, so she went along with him.

When they got to the house, Barthello pulled the door open and walked inside, and Paine followed. Inside, the walls seemed to be lined with bamboo, and there was a set of stairs that evidently went up to the roof.

"She's not here....." Barthello murmured, picking up a note off the table.

"Dear Barthello, I had to go to the store to buy groceries, be back later. Love Dona," he read aloud.

"Well, I guess I'll be going then," said Paine, moving to the door. Barthello stopped her.

"Please stay for a while, Paine. I want to hear what's been going on with you! I haven't seen you in five long years!" he begged for her to stay.

"Oh, alright," said Paine, giving up. "Five years ago after Veganagun was defeated and Shuyin was sent back to the Farplane, we went our different ways. Yuna, knowing that her lover had truly left this world, she stopped searching for him and continued being a sphere hunter with The Gullwings onboard their airship. Rikku, on the other hand, left the Gullwings, like myself. Apparently, she is off researching in the Bikanel desert, something about reviving the Al Bhed Civilization. And Me? I'm a hired mercenary working for an elite group of spies. Right now, I'm supposed to be tracking down Yuna and Rikku. I am also supposed to find a potential terrorist. What about you?" Paine asked. Barthello's jaw dropped.

"And this is in the last five years?!" he exclaimed. "Um, ok.....Well, as you knew, me and Dona fell in love. We lived together for quite a while, and we just got married last year. She has been talking to me lately about having a baby. I don't think I'm ready for that! I, the great Barthello, changing diapers?! I think Dona is out of her mind." he said.

"Well, if you truly love this woman, and are prepared for it, I think it would be a great idea. Just don't ever ask me to babysit for you," she laughed.

"Have you ever been in the same situation, Paine? Do you really know what it's like?" he asked.

"Actually I do. I used to love someone, just like you love your wife. We even became engaged, and talked about having a baby. But then, it all went wrong...and..I don't really want to talk about it," Paine said. Barthello could've sworn he saw tears in her eyes, and she wiped them away.

"I need to go now," Paine said, standing up and running for the door.

"Goodbye, Paine," said Barthello softly.

Paine ran out to the docks, feeling tears rolling down her face. She wiped them away, feeling full of sadness and anger. She sat down at the end of one of the docks and dipped her feet in the warm water, staring at her reflection. She looked tired, run down, and miserable. She brushed her hand threw the water to get rid of the image, and she splashed the water on her face, calming her down. She sat there on that dock for what seemed like hours. When she finally looked up, she realized that it had gotten quite late, and the sun was starting to set. Screw this mission, she thought. What's the point? She can't save the world by herself. She pulled her toes out of the water and climbed to her feet. Staring up at the evening sky, she felt a strange feeling. She felt somewhat relieved. She always ran from her feelings, kept herself bottled up. She felt better to have let her emotions out. Now, clearing her mind, she felt that familiar, resilient strength.

"I can save Spira," she said softly. "But I need your help. I will find you, Yuna, and you too, Rikku."

To Be Continued!