Chapter 9 Eye To Eye
A/N: Thank you for waiting so faithfully! I hope this chapter is satisfying enough...Enjoy!
The chrysanthemums in the gardens glistened with morning dew, as with everything that was exposed to the wind that morning. Martine smiled in nostalgic remembrance as he cleanly snipped off a few to grace the breakfast table that morning. It was nearly seven, he glanced at his watch. He snipped off a few dandelions for luck and walked back into the house, his polished shoes making no noise on the carpeting. As expected, Madame was already at the table. Only this time she wasn't poring over reports or requests, nor was she reading the morning papers. She was, surprisingly; staring off into space.
"Madame," Martine gently greeted her as he placed the flowers into the awaiting glass jar in the center of the table. "You seem occupied. Shall I bring you breakfast?"
She looked at him wryly. Only Martine had the gall to disturb her when she was thinking. "It's alright. Tell Quina to start serving breakfast; I think Yuna and Rikku are up."
"Very well, Madame," he bowed and glided to the kitchen to give orders to the cook.
Quistis sighed a little and got up to the window, which offered an amazing view of the front gardens – and a helipad smack dab in the center of the pussy-willows. That was Rikku's idea, she remembered. She was only eleven and loved the idea of a helicopter landing in the flowers – though it cost her a lot when it was first made; they flowers then were roses. Right now the black helipad was empty; her jet was in a nearby hangar, enduring its annual service. It should be ready today, she noted. I must pay a visit to General Caraway...
"Good morning!" Rikku's cheery voice pulled her back to earth and she looked over her shoulder, nodding her acknowledgement. Rikku came up to her and gave her a good-morning hug; never mind that Quistis never hugged her back. "What's for breakfast?' She asked Martine, who puffed out his chest. "French toast for you, Miss."
"Great!' Rikku cheered and sat down at the table and poured herself some orange juice. "Sis, you're not eating?"
Quistis sat back on her chair and watched as Rikku wolfed down several toast with marmalade; her favorite breakfast. She herself didn't feel like eating, her mind was too occupied with other things. "When you and Yuna are done, come with me," She said quietly. "I have something I need to check up on."
"Seeing Seifer?"
"...No." Quistis got up. "Inform me when the Ragnarok returns, we're paying General Caraway a visit."
General Caraway? Rikku frowned. Blackmailing the Seifer through the General was a good idea, but not foolproof. If Storm was really alive, then all he has to do is kill him in order to make the threat void. So why...
"Hello!" Rikku looked up and beamed when she saw Yuna enter the dining hall. "Yunie! You're back!"
"Yeah," Yuna laughed and hugged her sister. 'Sorry, but I couldn't wake you up. You slept like a log."
"I was tired, still am," Rikku admitted. "So where did you go?"
"Speak for yourself," Yuna smiled. "You disappeared for a whole week, I was so worried!"
"The job was difficult," Rikku admitted and she suddenly felt uneasy. "Yunie, I think… you know… that book you were reading?"
"What? Memories of a Mercenary? Do you want to read it?" Yuna asked as she poured herself orange juice. Rikku shifted in her seat. "No... you kept thinking 'what if', right? Well... what if he's... really not dead?"
Yuna looked at her in amazement. "Rikku, what's gotten into you? Really, not dead indeed."
"Well... just what if." Rikku argued. "If he was alive... what are you going to do?"
Yuna looked thoughtful. "I don't know," She finally admitted. "I'm not angry... maybe he doesn't mean anything anymore."
Not to you, Rikku thought sadly. You didn't watch your parents die in front of your eyes... you didn't bathe in their blood...
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Quistis let the coolmorning breeze wash over her, trying to put the pieces together. She can't afford to make any mistakes... she can't fail. She needed to know... and possibly...
"What good would it do to you anyway?" She asked herself. "Even if he was alive, he can't possibly be worth anything."
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The Perfect Centran sky was almost perfect – except for the mass of metal monstrosity looming up ahead. It was enough to put anyone in a gloomy mood, especially if the person was destined to stay there for the rest of their lives. It was a possibility that all criminals must consider when facing their tasks.
Yuna pressed her hands against the window, staring at the blue sea and the equally blue sky, scattered with puffy clouds. The calm waters did nothing to soothe her troubled heart. Behind her, Rikku was nervously shredding a tissue paper into pieces. It didn't take a genius to see that she was scared. Who wouldn't? She thought derisively. If anybody knows that Storm still lives, they'll storm the prison down to its dungeons. But we're not here to do that, an inner voice reasoned. There must be a reason why Quistis brought them here. She could have just gone on alone, but –
"We're almost there," Kiros announced pleasantly. He seemed to be the only smiling member in the cabin. Rikku looked up at him, the remains of the tissue paper scattered in her lap. "We are?"
"Hm," Kiros nodded. "Maybe you should come to the cockpit. It's amazing."
Rikku got up and brushed the mess of her lap. Yuna followed her and for the first time, noticed that Rikku carried her gun. She carried a gun on a non-mission trip. A chill shot up her spine. Was Rikku preparing for a fight?
Quistis noticed them enter the cockpit. She was standing behind the pilot, one hand on the seat, face in her usual frozen mask. "We're approaching the island, ma'am – but we can't get any nearer than 500 meters from the island perimeters." The co-pilot informed her. Quistis nodded. It wasn't right to call that monstrosity an 'island'. The whole spot of land was one large man-made structure, built with steel-reinforced concrete and covered with earth. It was sadistic, maybe to disillusion prisoners that there is a way out. To add to that, the whole island was protected by a force-field, about the same strength as a five-foot thick adamantium wall. If the Ragnarok attempted to force their way in, they would be smashed to bits. As it is, they have no intention of dying that day.
"Open a communication channel with them," Quistis ordered, but Battleship Island was faster. "Ma'am, there's a transmission coming through on channel six."
"Put it through."
A visual came through, showing (surprisingly) a pretty brunette in a white lab-coat. "This is Battleship Island." She greeted in a melodic voice. "Please state your identification and purpose of visit. If you do no not have business with us, please exit our airspace."
"This is the Ragnarok," Quistis intoned calmly. "I am Quistis Trepe, requesting to see General Caraway."
"The General is not expecting you, Miss Trepe. Is it urgent?"
"Tell him, I want to see him. I will not take no for an answer." Her tone was low, and she made no effort to disguise her ruthlessness. The line was closed for a second, and the same official came back. "The shield will lower for five seconds, five seconds from the closing of line. Please enter, Ragnarok."
It really is a remarkable shield, Rikku reflected as they passed through the barrier. As the shield was lowered, the air shimmered blue, and then settled again when the shield was replaced. Battleship Island is the perfect place to hide...
"Are you coming, Rikku?"
She snapped out of her thoughts to see Quistis standing at the hatch with Yuna. Her sister didn't look half as uneasy as her. Maybe, she doesn't understand, Rikku thought. She didn't go through what I did. With legs that felt like lead, she followed her sister, Quistis and Kiros down.
The same prison officer was waiting for them. She was indeed, wearing a lab coat. She bowed a formal welcome. "The General will see you. Please come this way."
They walked down endless sterile corridors, passing rows of cells that gave only a glimpse of their inhabitants through a small window. Some were mumbling incoherently to themselves, some are staring mutely at their padded walls. But most, Yuna noted; most looked vacant. Their eyes were hollow, as if nobody's home. Perhaps, it's so bad that their spirit totally shattered. By the Gods, what kind of place is this?!
"Yunie," She was startled when she felt Rikku tug her sleeve. "Yunie, I don't like this place. It's so... silent."
True, yuna looked around. The only sound came from their sneakers, and Quistis' heels. Not even the guards made any noise. It was so surreal that it made her skin crawl. The sooner they leave, the better.
They came to a private elevator at the end of the corridor and Quistis halted. "I'll go alone. Kiros, you stay here with Yuna and Rikku."
"Sis!" Rikku hissed. "Are you crazy?! You can't go – "
"Stay – here." Her two stressed words made Rikku clench her fists; but she obeyed.
General Caraway had seen many people come and go. He had witnessed political turnovers and bloodbaths. He had seen the worst and the best, and nothing surprised him anymore.
Nothing, except this visit from Quistis Trepe. When his secretary had informed him of her arrival, he had choked on his sandwich. When she further stated that Trepe looked ready to kill, his first instinct was to duck for cover. Now that she's standing right in front of his desk, he prayed to God that He'd strike him dead then and there. "Miss Trepe," he managed a pleasant greeting, but he only got a frosty nod in reply. She didn't change, he reflected. When he hired her to rescue his daughter, she had accepted without showing a flicker of emotion. When his daughter returned safe, albeit alone, he had declined to pay her for her failure. And surprisingly, she did not say anything about it. Later however, he discovered Rinoa had paid her out of her own account, but he found the money returned to him the next day. She's a strange woman, this Trepe. Strange, but as lethal as an Anacondour.
Quistis sat down without being invited and linked her fingers together. "General, let's come straight to the point. I want to see him."
He didn't get it. "Him?"
"Storm."
The name struck like a whiplash. Even after five years, it still hurt. Maybe it hurt because it came from her mouth. "W-What?!"
She sighed, a small, exasperated sigh. "I'm not in the mood for bantering. I know you're keeping him here," She leaned back and regarded him through those icy blue eyes of hers. "I know he's alive, General. Now, maybe you've killed him, but I can still bring you down. Either way, your only option is to co-operate with me." She smiled, so slightly only the edges of her lip curled. "So what will it be?"
His mind was whirling. That – that traitor! Seifer told her?! No, he struggled to calm down. He couldn't have told Trepe. The only explanation is that incident – when he called Seifer and there was a disturbance. Somehow or other, Quistis got to know of that conversation and dug up dirt. He swallowed hard, wondering if the turmoil was showing. "Miss Trepe, I assure you – "
"You have a very expressive face, general," Quistis interrupted easily. "Now tell me."
Damn, she knew! He swore heavily, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. "What... what guarantee do I have... that you won't turn me in?"
Her eyes gleamed for a second, and it quickly hardened into slits of ice. "I'm not unkind. Tell me, and I will compensate you."
"What kind of compensation?" he was beginning to calm a little. Haggling. This is familiar turf.
She looked impatient now. "You must be after his money. I know Storm hid millions in cold cash and assets. If he told you where he hid it, you must certainly split the money with your partner," She emphasized the last word. "I can give you... 40% of Storm's treasure. If he's alive." She added, watching his reaction. It was as she expected. Something like alarm flitted through his features, and them relief. "He is." He said at last. "What to do want?"
She took out a slim chequebook from her coat and flipped it open. "Forty million."
He gawked at her. Forty million?! "What do you want for that much?"
She smiled again, but this time he could see it was bitter. She got up, tore out the cheque and waved it in front of his eyes. "I'm want... him."
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He awoke to find a guard standing at the entrance to his cell, fiddling with the lock. Is it torture time already? He glanced at the sky. It was light. Somewhere in late morning, he figured. This is out of routine.
"Get up." He felt a painful jab in his side as he was forced to his feet. His back stung so bad where they whipped him. Whipped, he cursed. The most degrading of all tortures. If he could see his back, he was sure it was all flayed and torn. As it is, he couldn't and no use wishing for things you can't get.
"You got a visitor." A melodic voice greeted him and he looked up. It's that annoying woman, the General's secretary. She watched as the guard pushed him out of his cell. Even though he could take them out, he knew, somewhere in that labcoat was a trigger; one push and he would be treated to a few high voltage bursts. And he didn't try.
For once in his five-year imprisonment, he wasn't taken through the familiar route to the torture chamber. Instead, he was taken into an elevator. The cool air-conditioning touched his skin, and he shivered slightly. Where are they taking him? A new cell? Impossible. If it was the case, they should take him deeper into the ground.
"You're such a lucky guy," The brunette was laughing. "You've got a pretty girl to visit you."
He looked at her oddly. How can anyone visit him? He doesn't exist anymore!
"Sis, what if he's like the others?" Rikku desperately paced the floor. "What if he's crazy?! This is crazy!" She threw her hands up in the air but Quistis ignored her. Yuna said nothing. She couldn't figure anything out... it was all so weird. Kiros was feigning indifference by examining his knives. Nobody wanted to ask him how he felt – Kiros would always give a false answer anyway.
"Enough!" Quistis said sharply, causing Rikku to freeze. "I will not have you acting like children! I didn't train you for years just to have you panicking in a time like this!" She halted, gathered her bearings and began again in a more composed voice. "I understand how you feel, Rikku; Yuna also feels the same," She nodded to her other protégée, who looked blank.
Quistis sighed. "I will propose a deal... to him. If he accepts, you must all co-operate."
In spite of herself, Rikku couldn't help asking; "What are you offering him?!"
She smiled; a thin, colorless smile – but she did not answer.
Rikku looked at the closed door where Quistis just entered. Sometimes she couldn't figure her out. There were times when Sis did something totally out of whack; and turned out she was on the right track. But every time she did that, Rikku always questioned her sanity; like now.
"Come, Rikku," Yuna gently touched her elbow. "Let's watch in the observation room."
Kiros was already there, staring fixedly at the room next to them. A thick, plumbum-enforced, two-way mirror covered the whole wall, and in the next room...
Quistis gently closed the door behind her and turned around, steeling herself. She was expecting so much, that she was thrown off with what she did not expect.
He stared at her from behind a shaggy mane that was composed of dirt, sweat and blood mixed with tangled wire of hair. Whatever rags that haven't decomposed hung from pitifully from his shoulders. His once muscular frame was reduced to a skeleton, nothing to show who he once was. But something did not change.
Quistis closed her eyes momentarily, blocking those piercing fjord-blue eyes out of her vision. If it wasn't for those eyes, she never would have believed she was looking at Storm.
He couldn't believe his eyes. Impossible...
She had closed her eyes and seemed to be composing herself. It took only one glance to recognize her – she had no changed much. But there was a slight difference in her poise. As if she was the same woman, but not quite. Words fail me now, he thought wryly.
She finally opened her eyes again, and those glorious cerulean orbs again graced him with their stare. A million questions plagued his mind. How did she know?! What is she here for? Why? Why him?
She came towards him, slow, calculating steps. Was she afraid he would bite? He stared warily back, unsure of what she was doing. Was she working with Seifer now? Did he send her to torment him?
Unexpectedly, she turned her back on him and walked back to the door. As she laid a hand on the heavy handle, she paused. "...Welcome back."
"Is that him?!" Rikku breathed as she pressed her face against the wall. "It can't be... he looks horrible!"
"Being dead for five years doesn't help, Rikku," Kiros said dryly as they watched Quistis leave. "Why didn't he say anything?"
'I don't know," Yuna replied thoughtfully. "Maybe he had forgotten how to talk."
"Whatever it is – "
The door swung open violently and Quistis came in, looking pale. "Yuna, Kiros, you take him back to the Ragnarok. Now."
"But Quistis – "
"Excuse me," A familiar voice interrupted them and they saw the General's assistant standing at the door, a pleasant smile on her face. "The prisoner is not going anywhere. If he steps one foot out of this room, his chains will – "
BAM!
Rikku blinked in shock. Quistis had pinned the girl to the wall by the neck, lifting her a good seven inches off the floor, her legs dangling uselessly. She had moved so fast nobody could fully realize what happened until the girl whimpered in pain.
"Take those shackles off him." Quistis growled in a low voice. Rikku gulped. There was a strange glint in her eyes – like frozen flames. She was emanating enough wrath to scorch air.
"Take those damn things off him, and put them on your own wrists and neck, so that you won't go butting into people's business." She pressed harder until she nodded, whimpering pathetically. "I'm taking him with me, and nothing will stop me, even if I have to trash this place!" She let go and she crumpled to the floor, gasping for breath. Without even stopping to glare, she spared a glance at the man in the other room and left, slamming the door.
Yuna came into the room, clutching a small pin-like key. The man eyed her warily, and she knew if he could find the strength to fight, he would. "Please," She said hesitantly. "I...I'm not going to do anything." She spread her arms to show she wasn't armed. She only wore a close-fitting sweater and jeans, so there was no place to hide her weapon – unless she was a woman of incredible strength. To his credit, he did not even shuffle when she approached. He just stood, as still as a rock pillar. She momentarily closed her eyes. She couldn't understand it – while Rikku found nothing but loathing and fear for this man, all she could find was... pity.
She carefully turned one of his wrists and found the small hole where she should insert the key. In a few seconds the manacles dropped to the floor, and she walked behind him. Nothing prepared her for what she was about to see.
Countless lashes crisscrossed his back, some faded, many still fresh and covered with blood. His wrists bore burn marks, and she dreaded to see what she was about to find under that collar. She parted the thick mane and found the small hole, and she opened the collar with a click.
Squall breathed deeply when the heavy contraption slipped from his neck. He was free, for now. If Trepe is indeed working for Seifer, then he'll wait for a confrontation, and then strangle the life out of him. As he's deemed dead, might as well make it worth. He eyed the girl suspiciously. She was young, not yet 20, he guessed. She wasn't old enough to hate him, but he would know everything about him – if she cared. Her fingers were trembling, he noted. She does know what she's doing, but she's still afraid. Her face was uncannily pretty, in a sweet way. The relation between this girl and Trepe was beyond him. A helper, perhaps?
"Yunie, the Ragnarok's fired up," The door had opened and another blonde was standing at the door, looking impatient. This one's even younger, he noticed. And she was looking at him with unbridled disgust. "Hurry, Sis is already heading there. And she said you're to keep a watch on him," She added. The girl called Yunie looked shocked. "Me?! I'm not armed!"
"Beats me," The blonde shrugged and walked off. He looked questioningly at 'Yunie' and the girl smiled, a little uneasy. 'Well, come on then. Sis doesn't like tardiness."
She kept him in front, one hand on his wrist, like a child holding on to an adult. Though he knew what it meant; if he tried one move, she could easily do a back throw. He wasn't absent that long.
For the first time in five years, the sight of sunlight warmed his heart. He could have knelt down on the dusty ground and kissed the soil, if not for the girl gently urging him along. Up ahead, the gleaming hull of an aircraft loomed like some monstrous giant. He didn't look back. There was point in reminiscing. You've just marked your death day, Seifer.
"Do you think Seifer will be alerted of this?" Kiros looked expectantly at the frosty blonde, but she was silent. She had been silent after her outburst at the prison, and her eyes were shuttered, the look when she was deep in concentration. He sighed. She had just pulled off one of her outrageous stunts. Taking out a condemned man! How crazy can you be?! He couldn't see any reason why, unless she had a long-time grudge against him and wished to see him die by her hands. If so, she could have just shot him in the prison. Or collaborated with Seifer Almasy and the general. There was no reason to go all the way to Battleship Island and pull him out.
"Where is Rikku?" She finally looked at him, and he blinked. "She's in one of the lounges, I think. Yuna is guarding our 'guest' in the main lounge, and I'm positive Rikku is going nowhere near it."
She was silent for a few minutes. When she spoke again, her orders caused him to gape in shock.
"Have him installed in the suite across mine; next to Yuna's. Double the guards and train the dogs to react to his scent. Have him cleaned, and the Doctor checks him. He should not be allowed out at all costs until I return."
Her orders had robbed him of speech. When he found his voice again, all he could do was stammer. "Have him cleaned?! What – What are you thinking?! And where are you going?!"
She looked calmly at him. "Maybe I should make my orders simpler. Make sure he's alive, healthy and clean when I return from Balamb. If not, you'll have hell to pay."
"But who's gonna watch him?" He hissed. "Once the guards know who he is, nobody will want to come near him! Everybody will flee in terror!"
"You're exaggerating." Quistis rebuked easily. "When I ordered him to be put next to Yuna, I already chose a guardian for him."
Kiros finally recovered some sense. "You're going to nurse him back to health?! For what?! So he'll work for you?! Quistis, the man is a maniac!"
"You're working yourself into a fit, Kiros." Quistis walked into the cockpit. "Just do as I say and you'll be fine."
Kiros wiped the sweat the formed on his brow. This time she's gone nuts.
Rikku angrily slammed a fist into the wall. She couldn't figure it out!!! She had expected Sis to confront the General and blackmail him; instead she went and took Storm with her!! What was she trying to do?! Anger was boiling her blood, and felt inclined to destroy the entire cabin if not for the fact that she wasn't armed. True, the man no longer looked the same, but she had seen his eyes; inside, Storm never changed one bit. If Sis was planning something, she hoped it involved killing the man – she would joyfully participate. Killing him is only fair after what he did to her life...
He might have caused it, but you must admit you are happy now.
Hah! She scorned her own logic. If he didn't murder her parents, she would be happier! She would be a normal teenager, living a normal life; not this twisted reality!
She clenched her fists and forced herself to calm down. All hopes that Sis was dumping him into the ocean had faded; they were passing over the craggy mountain region now. It was apparent that she was going to bring him back home; but for what? Sis sometimes have strange ideas, but this one takes the cake.
"Whatever it is, he'd better not get in the way," She said with a growl. "I cannot forgive him..."
A/N: Sorry for the long wait! Reviews, please? Flames will hurt, but if u think I deserve it...