The Search for the Ones Responsible
As Silver started walking away, Lucine followed right behind like a little duckling. She took a quick glance back, though, to make sure the man in the crowd was helping Dam. And sure enough, he was. Silver had given him a lot of Gil. "C'mon guys." She waved to the others, who still looked like they were in shock from the whole thing.
Tallulah was too scared to move. Silver was like that again, all mad and berserk. She just saw it once and she really wished Silver would never turn into the creature they were looking at ever again. But it was inevitable. Silver was a Demon after all, and his mind was far beyond anyone's knowledge.
"Silver, wait up!" she ordered, shaking, and whispered the spell once again. Suddenly, Silver's gunblade fell from the sky and stabbed the ground. His bag and the freezer pack, along with everyone else's belongings, followed it. Tallulah collapsed on her knees, for she was now exhausted. The summoning was not only to summon Aeons, but stuff related to the persons that were inside the heart of a summoner.
"Take your gunblade... and return to be the Silver we all love..."
Lucine jumped as Silver's gunblade and other belongings fell from the sky. She looked back and saw that Tallulah was on the ground, shaking from exhaustion and fear. Lucine ran over to her and tried to help her up. "Are you alright, Tallulah?" Even if she was on Serenity's side in the love war, Tallulah was still part of their group, and she wouldn't ignore any of them if they needed help. Then, whispering in her ear, "Are you crazy? He's in some kind of demon berserker mode! You could make him even angrier.."
Lhinx gave a grateful look to Tallulah as she took her shirt containing all of her belongings and followed Silver. She could hear even the slightest whisper from the crowd. "They're no better then common thugs." She heard a man say.
"Yes. Justice is one thing, but brutality is just disgusting." A young woman replied.
"Serves that idiot right. But they should let the security handle this, not that kid." An elderly man replied.
"Any security guard would be out of his right mind to try and stop them. Just let 'em go." The first man replied.
(Why is he acting like this?) Lhinx wondered as she watched Silver from behind. (I suppose his inner demon has finally come out. Will he ever snap out of it and return to normal? Or for that matter will he do this again?) Lhinx wondered. She walked behind the two, giving the man a reassuring look.
"I know it's not right what I did...I don't know what made me concede to the deal..." The man said quietly, a look of fear still abounding on his face.
The Ronso youth almost, no, did pity the man. (Just another overly faithful member of New Yevon caught between his faith in the Temple and the love of his family.) Lhinx thought bitterly. (And why is the temple taking such extremes to get funding?)
Part of the crowd followed the group, much to Lhinx's unliking.
(Better not let Silver handle this.) Lhinx thought. She stopped and turned around to face the group that had watched the little scene. The group stopped.
"Go back to normal business. We handle this." Lhinx simply said and turned around.
Zephyr had heard the goings-on from a distance, in the far locker rooms, but the gas was getting to her already. She went as fast as she could towards the exit, but her muscles were weakening, her diaphragm slackening. It wasn't long before Raphaela Guado stumbled and fell on the hard tile floor, only a few yards away from the door and freedom. Her surroundings swirled and melted into a grotesque image in her field of vision before she passed out, gun clattering from her hand into view of those outside, in the doorway. So much for playing hero.
As Lucine was helping Tallulah up, she heard a clattering noise a few feet behind. She turned around to see Zephyr sprawled on the ground, her gun a lying beside her. "Aw man...you guys! Zephyr's collapsed from the chlorine. We have to get her to the hospital too!" Lucine looked at Zephyr on the ground. Don't worry...we'll have you in the hospital in no time...just hold on...
Serenity sat frozen in her spot for some time. Her heart literally felt like it had stopped beating for one moment as Silver undergone some sort of transformation. The others seemed just as terrified, too, but they eventually regained their composure and began walking their way off towards the Inn. Serenity slowly picked herself up, finding she was the last one to get a move on.
As she made her way towards her bag that a now collapsed Tallulah had summoned up, Serenity felt herself being pulled back and she looked as the people from the stadium had joined the other mob that had already assembled themselves around as the scene had unfolded. Guess it's what I'm good for…damage control and speeches. Serenity thought, and rubbed the side of her head for something to say. She had heard their whispers already.
"Lady Serenity! You can't possibly be traveling with that—that—demon!"
Serenity shook her head and looked around at all the faces. "No, he isn't usually like that, you have to understand…"
"I bet he'd kill the lot of you without a second thought!"
Serenity opened her mouth to retort, but closed it abruptly, watching Silver's retreating back. They couldn't be right about that…could they? Even…even if they were, I would gladly die at the hands of him, if that would break him of his trance. Serenity looked back at the group.
"I thank you all for your worries, but we all will be fine. No one is in danger. The perpetrator of the horrendous crime of the chlorine gas leakage into the ventilation system has been caught and will be…dealt with accordingly," Serenity said slowly, hoping Silver wouldn't actually go berserk on the man, then looked past the crowd's heads over at Lucine, who said Zephyr was injured. She had to wrap this up quickly and help. "Um, with the incident being thoroughly investigated, I would please ask for everyone to return to their prior engagements. There is a blitzball game that has been delayed should be starting momentarily."
Serenity looked at the crowd as they begun to whisper amongst themselves again, and she spoke again quickly. Spira needed to be informed head on of its situation—and there was one thing she knew that would get their minds off everything's that happened. It worked during the time of Sin...and it should work again. "There…will be a speech given later in the day. And subsequent that…the blitzball season will officially commence with the High Summoner's daughter's blessings."
The crowd loudly cheered at that, and most began filling into the stadium once again, the others dispersing to wherever they were heading previously. Serenity let out a relieved sigh, then quickly made her way to Lucine and Zephyr. "We better carry her over to the hospital quickly."
Lhinx heard the sound of metal clattering and turned to the locker rooms where Lucine and Serenity had gone. (Zephyr.) Lhinx thought and ran after them. The gas was beginning to clear a bit, but the Ronso youth still covered her nose and went to her fallen companion.
(How could I forget about her...She can take care of herself, everyone's gotten used to that. But it still doesn't excuse leaving her behind.) Lhinx thought.
The Ronso stopped and looked down at the semi scratched weapon. The very weapon that had nearly caused her own death. She knelt down and picked it up. She placed it with her own belongings and found Lucine and Serenity. The Ronso youth looked down at the fallen Guado-halfling. (She's still breathing, but she needs help.)
The Ronso youth lifted Zephyr up. "Which way to hospital?" Lhinx asked.
Wolfe looked angrily at the crowd as they began following them. Then he heard some calling him a beast, a murderer that would kill his friends without a second thought. He turned around with the hysterical man still on his shoulder and faced whole pack of watchers. "I wouldn't ever dare to hurt Serenity! But you, all of you who think the way you do about us... I would feast on your flesh without even hesitating. Onto the very last child you teach to hate Demons!"
Another roar, not like the one he did to scare Nedus, but a more powerful one, one that would drain the blood out of anyone. The crowd stared, terrified and Wolfe walked up to his belongings. First he dropped the man, but prevented him from escaping by placing his foot on his back. Wolfe took the freezer pack, his and Serenity's travel bags and finally his gunblade.
The moment he touched the hilt of his blade, Wolfe disappeared, and Silver Fang returned. He looked around, confused and very aware of what he had done. His eyes went back to normal, the same shiny black. The audience was just too afraid of him and he decided not to say a thing. He put his gunblade on his belt and grabbed the man once again, lifting him and walking again. "I'll spare your life, human, if you keep calm and quiet until we get to the inn."
Serenity looked up at Lhinx and stood up as she lifted Zephyr up. Looking around for the hospital, she saw a back to normal Silver starting to walk off with the man responsible for the leakage, and Tallulah still collapsed on the ground. "We better not leave Silver alone, especially with that man, hm?" Serenity said thoughtfully, then looked back at Lucine and Lhinx. "You guys better take Tallulah with you. I think she needs the rest. I'll go with Silver. I guess we'll have to meet up later."
Serenity waved at them then ran to catch up with Silver. "Hey, Silver, wait up!" Serenity called, and slowed to a walk as she caught up. She walked with her hands on her hips as she caught her breath. She wasn't sure if she should bring up what just happened to him, or mention the man he was holding in case it set him off again, so Serenity walked silently, trying to figure out what to say.
"Yes ma'm!" Lucine said as she waved goodbye. "Well Lhinxie, it looks like it's up to you and me to get Zephyr to the hospital. Do you need any help carrying her?" Zephyr was so skinny, though, that she doubted if Lhinx needed any help, but she thought she should offer anyway.
"Lessee...I think the hospital is near the theater where Tallulah used to perform." She started walking off in the direction, pretty sure the hospital was located there.
"Not need help, but thank you." Lhinx said. The truth was, Zephyr was incredibly lighter then Lhinx had expected. Her weight was very little if any bit of a problem for the Ronso youth as she followed Lucine to the hospital.
"Lhinx hope Silver not get too angry with man. Made promise to spare life." Lhinx said. "If man die, Lhinx never be forgiven."
Silver looked back at Serenity, blushing with shame of what he had done. Not even saying a word, Silver placed his hand in between the man's neck and shoulder and pressed a little, putting him to sleep.
"It's just a little trick," he told Serenity. "He is just asleep and will be awaken by the time we get to the inn. Just... that I need to talk to you." Silver turned around and faced her, throwing the man on the floor for a few moments. "Serenity... I'm sorry, I really am. I... think those people are right... I am a monster. I'm dangerous for you all because I cannot control my own emotions. I love you, Serenity... and if there is something I can do for you to forgive me I will. I don't care what it is... I don't wanna lose you..."
Serenity watched bewilderedly as Silver put the man to sleep, and she abruptly stopped walking as Silver turned to face her, throwing the man down. She bit her bottom lip and hoped the man wasn't injured, then looked up at Silver. Serenity searched his face worriedly, wondering what he was talking about. Was this all about him having a psycho moment back there…or was he talking about something more. Her blue and green colored eyes rested upon his eyes, still confused.
"Silver…I love you, too. I truly, deeply do, and I always will. Never doubt that." Serenity blinked thoughtfully, hanging her head slightly. "If this is about what happened back there, with the whole transformation and stuff…I mean, of course I forgive you, that's…not your fault, right? I think you freaked us all out, but were all just really worried about you." She lifted her head and looked at him. "But if this is about Tallulah…I don't think we should be discussing this right now."
Serenity kneeled down, sitting the unconscious man upright. She wasn't sure when she wanted to discuss it, ever. It hurt to even think about it.
Like if he was a rag doll, Silver grabbed the unconscious man and put him on his shoulder again. "Serenity, it's not Tallulah, and it won't ever be Tallulah. I told you earlier today, my heart belongs to you." Silver sighed a little and started walking. "But indeed it is about my transformation. I'm not a normal Demon, Serenity. There is something deeper... you see, my name ain't just Silver Fang... my complete name is Silver Wolfe Fang. To make the story short, my mom had not only me but another child, we where twins. Dad already knew how to name us: the older one would be Wolfe, the younger would be Silver. But my brother... he died just minutes after he was borne, and so my parents named me Silver Wolfe in his memory."
"But it isn't just my name. There is a legend that says when the older twin dies right away after his birth, the younger one will inherit his soul, and keep him deep inside his heart for newborns can't be Sent that easily. Wolfe... Wolfe represents my wild side, the side that could kill whoever stands on his way. The side I'm afraid might take over me again. That's the reason I use a gunblade to fight. If I fight with my fangs and claws, then I will lose control over my wild side and become a monster."
Silver looked at Serenity at the same time a tear rolled down his cheek. Teary-eyed, the Demon gave another sigh and went on. "I... I love you, and I want to be with you forever. I know the two of us are still young... and that I'm not what you could call a peaceful boy. But I promise... I'll do my best to try and keep Wolfe hidden inside of me... forever."
Serenity looked up as Silver grabbed the man again, and she stood up and walked alongside him as he began walking. She walked silently, listening to his story. As Serenity looked at him, she noticed a tear roll down his cheek, and she wiped it away gently, her eyes filled with as much sadness as Silver was feeling. "Silver…why didn't you tell us…why didn't you tell me…" She cast her eyes down before looking straight ahead.
"If…if you should lose control…I just want you to know…I'd die gladly for you, Silver. So don't feel guilty if it ever happens, okay? No one would blame you." Serenity said, her voice somber. She held onto his hand and intertwined their fingers tightly. "Is there no cure to this? Some legend that counteracts this one?"
"NO!" Silver turned again and hugged Serenity, the man once again falling from his shoulder, still unconscious "I... I would slice my throat before even thinking about hurting you. Silver, Wolfe, whichever I am, both love you, Serenity!"
He hugged her tighter, protectively, not wanting to let go of her. "I... I told you back at Besaid, I would give my life for you. And at Kilika I promised I would protect you forever. I will fulfill that promise... no one, especially myself, will ever hurt you as long as I am alive." Silver kissed her cheek and then looked deep into her eyes, leaning down and placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"I... I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid. I was afraid I might lose you, not only you but everyone. I... I got nobody else, and besides Dam, you are the only family I have. That is why I got like mad back there. If Dam had died... and you... I don't even wanna think about what would've happened to this man here."
Silver knelt and grabbed the poor man again, who began snoring much to his surprise. "I love you, Serenity. If there may be a cure, I'll search for it when we find your parents... but if there isn't... would you still look at me the way you do now?"
Serenity closed her eyes softly and hugged Silver back as he hugged her, feeling a warm tear run down her cheek. She blinked away the tears to gaze at Silver more clearly as he looked deep into her eyes, and she kissed him back when softly kissed her. Laughing ever so slightly as the man began snoring, Serenity looked back at Silver as he posed to her a question.
"Of course I would, Silver. Nothing will change if you do or don't find a cure to this. You're still you, and I love every part of you, even Wolfe. You're never going to lose me, Silver. Never. And I'm positive everyone else agrees with me." She looked at him, more tears falling down her face, and she kissed him gently on the lips, unable to say much of anything else of what she felt in words.
Silver smiled kindly and returned the kiss, then brushed her hair softly. "That's all I needed to know," he said as he dried her tears with his gloved hands, then turned and took off, walking hand in hand with her.
"Hey... now that I remember... I broke the cloth you gave me... but I got a better idea." Silver stopped again now just a few minutes away from the inn and took off his gloves. Carefully he took one of the three earrings Serenity wore. Then, in one quick movement he pierced his own left tiger ear with his claw. Very little blood came out and in matter of seconds the hole was reduced to nothing but a small piercing. There, Silver placed the earring, which even when it looked weird on him he loved it just because he knew it belonged to the one girl he loved the most.
"Guess there is a first time for everything. And this is my first piercing." Silver laughed and keep on walking.
Serenity giggled, leaning backwards and tilting her head playfully, taking a good long glance at him and his newfound piercing. "Why, it looks marvelous on you," Serenity teased, wrapping her free hand around his arm and resting her head on his arm as they walked. "And now you officially have the Zanarkand Abes symbol on you. Very fitting." Serenity smiled at the comment as they neared the inn. "I wonder what new earring I should get?" She asked, but didn't expect an answer. Serenity held open the door for him, as he was carrying the man and their bags, it was the least she could do. "What are we going to do with him?"
"Coco-wash with mineral water maybe?" Silver joke as he shook the man violently. The man awoke and looked down in fear as he was expecting it all to be a nightmare. "Hey, we are here, no show me that sphere," he said in a very cold voice, putting the man down.
"Yes--yes sir," the man said, and ran upstairs to his room. Silver followed, not wanting him to get out of his sight. The man led them into his room, a small and cheap one, and as he said the sphere was laying on his bed. Silver took it in his hands and rewind it. A man whose face was half-hidden in shade appeared and began talking. He said something about 'doing what Yevon wanted him to do' and Silver's rage for New Yevon boiled to the top.
"That voice... the idiot isn't using a voice modifier... I can trace him just with that," Silver said as his ears twitched a little, making a metallic sound with his new earring. "I can tell he is in Luca, or was when he recorded this. Maybe near the docks, the ocean can be heard."
"You... letting me go now?" the man asked, with both hope and terror in his eyes.
"If you swear on your dirty blood you will get the first boat to Bevelle... no, better use the highroad, your boss may still be at the docks and we don't want him to find you, do we?" Silver took the man's arm and made a quick slash on it with his claws. The man moaned in pain and held on to it tight, then Silver handed him a bandage. "That scar will remind you what Yevon did to you, and to never EVER accept to hurt others just for you personal problems because next time you'll become my chew toy."
The man nodded, terrified and grabbed his bag. "And I'm keeping this sphere, now go to your family with the money the Yevonites paid you, and consider yourself lucky. You are the first human that hurts my loved ones and gets away in one piece. The others became a human puzzle... their parts everywhere." Again, the man took a step back and nodded, then took off running.
Silver turned to Serenity. "Well, to the docks then," he said and put down the freezer pack and their bags. "This room is now empty, I guess we can take it to keep our things. They might put on a fight and I rather have my back free." He picked his blitzball up from the floor and then came into notice he was missing something. "No... to the hospital first. Lhinx has my scarf."
Serenity had turned her head away when Silver slashed at the man's arm, and didn't looked back until Silver had turned to her. Well that was what she needed to hear…Silver slashing people into a human puzzle. She really hoped that was a bad joke. Serenity nodded at him, and made her way down the stairs and out the inn.
"This doesn't make much sense…Why would Yevon want to kill somebody…and who exactly were they trying to kill?" Serenity crossed her arms loosely as they walked to the hospital. "Seems a little too ruthless, even for New Yevon." Or am I just being naive? "Maybe Lhinx and Lucine can make something out of the sphere. This isn't looking very good…what am I to say to Spira?"
"For now we have to keep it hush-hush. Last time New Yevon and the Youth League had a fight... well your mother knows about it better than all of us together. I don't know who they were trying to kill, I don't think it was just me. Even when my head has a price for Yevon that was just a bit too much. But still I'm not sure. Maybe... someone found out we are trying to find Lady Yuna and wants to stop us. Or maybe just some crazy fan Tallulah turned down. There are a thousand possible explanations..."
Silver sighed again softly and held Serenity's hand a little tighter. "Whatever it is, either Silver or Wolfe Fang will protect Lady Serenity to their very last breath. Which makes me come to think about those creatures inside the temples... could all of this be someway connected or it's just random crap that appears on our way?" He laughed a little and smiled at Serenity. "I'm sorry, I told earlier I ain't the one with the brains in this group. I'm better at asking questions than at finding the answers."
Serenity giggled and squeezed Silver's hand. "It's okay. Questions are good. I just don't like where these answers are leading. Everything's piling up and I have no clue where to begin." Nearing the hospital, Serenity took a look around. "So are you going to go after this man after retrieving your scarf?"
"Sure am. No one hurts my friends and get away with it so easily. That's why I need my scarf... and my mask as well. You could say... I wear my mask every time I fight just in case Wolfe shows up. It won't let anyone to see my eyes turn crimson red, and the scarf will cover the rest of my face. Of course, I'll try not to overdo it." Silver smiled at Serenity and put an arm around her shoulder.
I would like to butch the one behind all this like if he was cattle, then have a good meal, feasting on his flesh and drinking his blood from inside his skull... but I can't. I'm not alone anymore... I got Serenity to live for and I won't turn into the monster I once was ever again...
You cannot help it, your animal side... you are a Tiger Demon after all...
I know... but you have to understand, Wolfe. We are one, but we will never be the same. Serenity is everything to me and I won't risk losing her because of you!
Then you want me to disappear? I can't! I live inside you, and I'm sorry for it. I would be calm... but that person did hurt not only Dam but everyone close to your heart... he even risked Serenity's life. Find the man, I'll take care of the rest... Serenity will never know. We have a deal?
Like I had any more options...
"So, how are we planning to start the Blitz Season with all this going on?" Silver asked "We can't risk anybody else's life. We gotta find your mother and father like real quick, same for the man behind this and find out whatever the Yevonites are planning. Everything is just a maze, and I'm afraid it's a long way till we can see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Lucine led the way to the hospital, which wasn't very far away. Just across the bridge, around the bend, and through the door. "Well...I don't think silver's going to kill the guy. And anyway, it looked like he returned to normal after he touched his sword." She put her hands behind her head, and walked along, thinking. On one hand, whenever Silver turned into that...demon...he became a killing machine! Good, if you're in a tight spot during battle, but not so good in a situation like this. Even so, it looked like his sword, the gunblade, had the power to transform him back into normal Silver.
Soon they arrived at the hospital doors, interrupting Lucine's thoughts. She held open the door for Lhinx, who had her hands full with Zephyr.
"So much for Blitzball. Lhinx looking forward to playing too." Lhinx said. "Then this happen. Season already sabotaged by disappearance of Lady Yuna. What person hope to gain from this?"
(I still can't get out of my head the fact that both the glories and the fangs were in the locker rooms at the same time this happened. If they were after us, I suppose it would be good to have other teams around so it wouldn't look as obvious, but why didn't they do it when the Goers were in their locker rooms? Maybe these people are just human purists...) Lhinx thought. (I can't just narrow it down to blaming the temple. It could be anyone...)
Serenity rested her head against the arm Silver had put around her shoulder. How were they going to start the Blitz Season? "Well, we can't not do it. People are upset enough that the season hasn't officially started because Lady Yuna is nowhere to be found. Imagine it now, with the chlorine attack? News will spread about that and the collapse of the Kilika Temple. We're probably going to have to have tight security for the stadium. That's all we can do." Serenity closed her eyes and sighed as they continued to walk.
"Playing blitzball is what got people's minds off Sin during that time. There were dangers in doing it then, as there are now. I was planning that would work this time around. It will give us something to work behind as we try to figure out everything…The disappearances, the half-fiends, this chlorine attack and whatever association Yevon has with any of it."
Serenity laughed slightly now, shaking her head and lifting it from its resting-place. How did her mother ever do it? "If I must, I'll have to take over whatever my mother does around Spira. We can't have Spira start crumbling now."
"Well, whatever it is... we'll face it together," Silver said. "I'll be by your side, no matter what. Though I don't think Spira would see that with good eyes. The daughter of High Summoner Yuna with a un worthy Demon from the Dark Times as they call us. Tight security means a big no-no for me... just like they used to hate the Al Bhed for using machina in the time of Sin, they hate us for being different. Just liked they used to hate the Ronso before Sin came to exist."
He laughed slightly, shaking his head. "Now many even love to visit the Ronso at Gagazet... as they used to visit the Guado at Guadosalam when Lord Jyscal was a Maester. But we Demons come from fiends... the creatures Spira hate the most. And so they hate us because of our differences. But as long as I have you, I don't give a chocobo feather what they think about me and my people. What I can tell... and no offence with this... is that as long as Yevon exists we won't be liked. After all, they called us Demons."
Silver took a deep breath, remembering that Yevonite Priest he had to beat when he called his mother on the same day of her funeral a naive slut for being married with a Demon. That guy was the first person Silver... no, Wolfe killed. The one because of whom Yevon wanted him vanished and the first one Wolfe feasted on. "Although, they thought the same about the Ronso once till Maester... what was his name? Oh yes, until Maester Luten was saved by one of them eight hundred years ago. Traveling with that old geezer Maechen is useful at times. I hope... maybe someday people will see us Demons as they see the Ronso now... and stop killing our kind in underground hunts and pursuits."
Lucine continued to hold the door for Lhinx, now that they were at the hospital. She could feel the cold air from the building rushing out. It felt good next to the heat of the afternoon sun. "C'mon Lhinxie! We have to get Zephyr in to see a doctor. I think the chlorine poisoning may be getting worse!"
Lhinx entered and looked around to see many people with coughing or sleeping friends in a waiting room of sorts. Lhinx went up to what she assumed to be the front desk. The receptionist eyed the half-Guado in the Ronso youth's arms with curiosity. "She breathe too much chlorine. Need help." Lhinx said with a touch of concern noted on her face.
"Another one. Do you mind waiting a few minutes?" The receptionist asked.
"No doctor available?" Lhinx asked.
"I'll find one, I promise." The receptionist said politely as she turned a sphere on. "Please take a seat. This will only take a minute."
Lhinx nodded and walked to an empty section of seats. "We have to wait." Lhinx said to Lucine. "Doctors busy with others."
Serenity smiled softly. "I hope that someday that happens, too, Silver." Serenity blinked, thinking. "Do you really think Spira would judge us being together?" What if they try to pull us apart? "That's the thing with some people…they only used to go to Gagazet because of the summoners traveled there, and they only want to Guadosalam because of the Maesters. Once they lose their purpose people throw them away like its some worthless sphere. It's…sad."
Serenity closed her eyes. "Is Yevon to blame for Spira's discrimination against all things and people different? Who refuse to follow their rules…? An organization should not hold such power over the world. No one should. We'll just have to show Spira that they're wrong about you and your kind and about the Guado…f it continues I fear Spira will be swallowed up by hatred."
Serenity slowly opened her eyes and saw the hospital up ahead. Smiling, forgetting her worries for that split second, Serenity held onto Silver's hand. "Come on! Maybe they're inside already!" With that, she began to jog towards it.
Silver followed her, laughing very softly. He was positive Spira wouldn't like Lady Serenity being with some dirt blood Demon, a creature many in Spira not only feared... but hated. Discrimination was something he got used ever since he was a child, people just kicking him when they visit Zanarkand for what he was and not for whom he was.
Once on the porch to the hospital, Silver began walking slowly and holding onto Serenity. "Don't worry, not even Spira itself will ever tear us apart. They have never succeeding in destroying true love. Just like your mother, she was forced to marry Seymour Guado much to your father's dislike if Maechen got that right. But at the end... well, you and Kai are living proof of that."
He looked deep into her eyes and placed a kiss on her soft lips, embracing her. "Everything will be just fine as long as we have one another" he declared and kissed her cheek, then turned and walked inside the hospital.
Serenity smiled and hugged Silver as they walked into the hospital. "Yeah, you're right Silver," she said, looking around the crowded hospital for Lucine and Lhinx. "Wow, a lot of people are injured, hm?" Serenity said, slightly worried. Her eyes catching upon the familiar blonde hair of Lucine and the height of Lhinx, Serenity made her way over to her. "Hey, glad we caught you. How's Zephyr doing?"
Hearing voices behind her, Lucine turned around to find Serenity and Silver walking towards them. "Hey! I'm so happy to see you guys!" She gave both of them a quick hug, then backed away and put her hands on her hips. "Well, it seems that a lot of people got injured in the chlorine attack. See?" She held out her arms, pointing around the room to all the people coughing. Some of them had even passed out, like Zephyr. "We talked to the receptionist and she told us it would take a few minutes. So a doctor should be here soon."
"Where are Tallulah and Kai?" Silver asked, as he didn't see them there. "Could they've gone to the other hospital? I can't smell Dam around here... maybe they are at the clinic. I bet you know about it, it's a provincial hospital that only opens when there is a mayor number of wounded people. I think... Maechen told me the last time it opened was back when Seymour summoned the Sinspawns during the Tournament around twenty years ago or so."
"Clinic..." Lhinx said. (I guess that makes sense. Having a back up like that for such disasters in such a large city is a wise decision.) Lhinx's ears both twitched.
(Is that...) Lhinx looked down at Zephyr. (She's alive. Her heart is beating, but barely. She's gonna be like this for a while, but at least she's a live. Now if only we could get a doctor to look at her.)
"Excuse me, Ms. Ronso?" The receptionist said and looked toward Lhinx. "A doctor has just finished with a patient and is willing to look at your friend there."
Lhinx nodded. "Luck is on our side." Lhinx said as she took Zephyr to where they had wheeled a bed out for her.
"We'll run some tests and see if we can make her breathing easier." A nurse said as they wheeled Zephyr away.
Lhinx returned to the others. "Should we follow?" Lhinx asked.
Lucine watched as Zephyr was wheeled away. Finally... She thought. It had taken the doctor a while to get there. But it was understandable...a lot of people had been injured in the attack. " I don't think we should follow. We'd probably just get in the way of the doctor!" She laughed inwardly thinking about all of them wandering around the room tripping over wires and bumping into the doctor. The she turned to face Silver. "So, how did the interrogation go? Did he tell you anything?"
"Here." Silver handed her the sphere the man had gave them. "It's the Yevonites, I'm positive. But what they're after I have no idea." He nodded and played the sphere. It showed the same man, saying again something about Yevon's will. "I have a really bad feeling about this."
"Let me see." Lhinx said and pushed a button on the sphere. It rewound itself to one point where instructions were being given.
"When you arrive in Luca, go directly to Dock 4. Your supplies will be in a small crate marked "Fragile". Pretend it is very valuable...oh what am I saying, of course you will. Yevon has faith in you. If asked what is in the box, say it's antidotes. You are a merchant after all. If questioned further, do not elaborate and go. And try not to draw attention to yourself. When you secure the box, go toward the Inn and get a room. You will receive further instructions later." The man stopped and the message ended.
"If he with Temple, wouldn't he not want anyone know? If anyone find sphere, Temple would be in trouble. Yevon not wise, but not stupid either." Lhinx said. "Be wise not let anyone have sphere. Especially news."
Serenity watched as Zephyr was wheeled away then held onto the chain of her necklace as she looked back at the others, trying not to stare too long at the other injured people around them. She didn't want to draw attention to them, as they had a hard enough time keeping a low profile, and she was interested in learning more about the sphere Silver found.
Listening to Lhinx's input on it, Serenity bit her bottom lip softly. "Maybe it's a setup. Someone trying to frame Yevon? Lead whoever found the sphere on a wild chocobo chase?" Silver was right. There were just too many possibilities. "Perhaps there's more clues back at the Inn. And Silver thinks whoever it is might still be in Luca. Whatever the case is we should be on the lookout. Lhinx is right. This person could be back to retrieve the sphere."
"If he wants to come then let him... I'll rip both his arms off," Silver declared. "I think the best is to start looking at the docks. You'll agree with me Lhinx that the ocean can be heard at the back of the transmit ion. Although we are not sure if he may still be here... let's keep on guard. Oh yes..." Silver smiled at Lhinx and took his scarf from her neck. "Please, thank you." He laughed and patted his Ronso friend's shoulder, smiling and wrapping the scarf around his neck.
"True. Possibly made sphere after placing items in said location. If he want sphere, I would like to see him try and take it." Lhinx said with a grin. "Dock may have his scent still, but other probably have come and gone, so scent gone too, or hidden. But where would he go after making sphere messages?"
"I think, the best course of action is to search the docks like Silver said. I mean, even if we don't find anything, it's worth a look, right?" Lucine took the sphere from Lhinx and watched the transmission over again. "At the very end it says 'You will receive further instructions later' That means that someone had to be here to give him those instructions. Maybe some people in the Inn saw them together, and could give us a description." She tossed the sphere back and forth thinking. "And as where he would've gone after the making the sphere message, the only way he could've gone is via the Mi'ihen Highroad, because there weren't any ships coming in or going out at the time..."
"Wait. There is more." Lhinx said and touched the sphere in Reidun's hands while pushing the same button she had earlier.
"Position yourself in the confines of the custodian closet. Lock the door. You will receive a message, but do not answer it, but rather wait. If it beeps once, ignore it, beeps twice, abort, and if it beeps three times, get pouring. I will send you the signal, wait until then."
"So that means nobody was here after all..." Lucine said pouting. "But, you would think they'd at least send a lookout to make sure he did the job, right?" She handed the sphere back to Lhinx. 'I guess that means we should check out the custodian closet. I'm sure the chlorine has cleared out by now, don't you think?"
"The smell may be hidden, but my nose is one of the best things I've got so I think I could trace it if we got anything that belonged to him. Maybe inside the closet as Lucine says... but we cannot leave Zephyr alone here... it would be a good idea if we find Kai and Tallulah first. They both got too much chlorine, but they should be ok. Let's just ask them to watch over Zephyr for the moment, we don't know after whom exactly was that guy after."
Serenity crossed her arms. They had too many things to do and not enough people, and perhaps even time, to do it all. "So we're splitting up, then? I'm sure the doctors will look over Zephyr, and the lower levels of the stadium should be cleared out by now. But that stills leaves us with places to check out and people to find."
"Well, I volunteer to go to and check out the Inn!" Lucine jumped up and down, excited that they were finally going to do some snooping around. "I'm good at interrogating poeple. And this sounds like the perfect job for me!"
"Yeah, you are so intimidating they'll sing like birds as soon as they see you," Silver joked and pat Lucine's shoulder. "Then you better take our Ronso lady with you. Serenity and I will go check the docks, and we'll meet say... here? I don't think it would be a good idea for me to appear on the central square again. People are already too scared of me."
Lhinx nodded. "Hope security let us near closet. If not volunteer, I force." Lhinx said.
"Well...I was gonna go check out the Luca Inn. You wanna come with me, Lhinx? I might need some help..." Lucine said, thinking of what Silver said. Maybe she wasn't as scary as she thought he was. "I'm sure some of the people there might know something. That is, unless they all got chlorine poisoning."
"So you guys check out the inn and we check out the docks? I guess that way we can go the stadium together, then." Serenity looked over at Silver. "Shall we start?"