BETRAYAL
"Kaylie's dead..." Jeremey said quietly as he sat trembling, "She's dead.." Tears were still falling from his eyes, even as Cid ran up to the group.
"We gotta go guys.." Cid said frantically, "The police are on their way.. What's wrong?" Cid asked as he looked at the solemn faces of the group. His eyes fell on Jeremey and then on Kaylie, at which point he gasped. "No, no way.." Jeremey looked up at Cid and blinked a few times.
"She's dead Cid.." He said slowly, "It should have been me.. WHY COULDN'T IT HAVE BEEN ME!" Jeremey stood and summoned his gunblade, flipping it around so the point was aimed at his chest. Just as he raised the gunblade to stab himself, Erik and Chas leapt over and pulled the gunblade from his grip. Jeremey simply fell back, partly from exhaustion, partly from shock, and began crying again.
"It's alright Jeremey..." Chas bent down beside his friend, "It's ok.." He looked up and saw Millie crying silently.
"Is it?" Jeremey looked at Chas like he had never seen a human being in his life, "Chas, I loved her.. Someone shouldn't have to watch the person they love die.." Chas looked at the ground quietly.
"We have to go, now.." Cid said somberly. Chas nodded and helped Jeremey up. Jeremey didn't resist, he didn't have the strength. He looked back once as the group walked toward William Brice Stadium.
"We're gonna leave her?" Jeremey looked at Chas, then Erik. Chas sighed and looked at Millie, who was holding onto his free arm, crying into his shoulder.
"We have to Jeremey.." Chas looked at Justin, who hadn't said a word since the incident. Wesley looked at Chas and shook his head.
"You're right, I guess.." Jeremey said quietly as the group entered the stadium. They slowly made their way to the airship and boarded it. As the ship ascended Jeremey looked out the window one last time to see police cars pulling into the fair grounds.
"Why does this have to happen to me?" Jeremey asked himself, "Why?" With that he turned and walked to his room.
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"Look at him." Ultimecia said to Kuja, "The boy's his lost his mind from grief.." Kefka smiled as he watched Jeremey cry in his room. The trio suddenly heard slow footsteps walking toward them. They turned to see Sephiroth limping toward the light holding his side.
"S-sephiroth, you're alive.." Kuja said in amazement. Kefka crossed his arms and sneered.
"Of course he is you imbecile." Kefka said while watching Sephiroth walk to the light and placed his hand inside it. The light dimmed slightly and all his wounds were healed.
"What happened?" Sephiroth asked, shaking his head slightly.
"Well, the boy with the gunblade, Jeremey, blew you all to hell.." Kefka smiled at Sephiroth, "It's really quite ingenious how he did it..." Sephiroth held up his hand.
"No, no.." He paused as he looked at what was being shown in the light, "What happened after that? You said he was insane from grief?" Ultimecia nodded.
"Yes, the explosion the boy kaused killed his lover.." She nodded at the image of Jeremey in the light, "He's slowly losing his mind.." Sephiroth looked at the light again and smiled.
"Ultimecia, I believe it's time that the fuse was lit.." Ultimecia cocked her head to the side.
"I believe he means that you should tell the traitor to strike now.." Kefka said looking at the light. It suddenly switched over to a scene of Petey sitting on his bed looking at his gunblade.
"Yes, now would be the perfect time to strike.." Sephiroth looked at Ultimecia.
"Konsider it done.." Ultimecia nodded and turned to walk into darkness.
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"Kaylie's dead..." Petey stared at his gunblade in the privacy of his room.
"And it's all Jeremey's fault.." He heard a familiar voice say. He looked to the end of the bed to find Ultimecia laying down seductively. Petey raised an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?" Petey dismissed the gunblade. Ultimecia sat up and cracked her neck.
"I'm talking about your leader kausing the death of his lover.." She looked at Petey with a thoughtful face, "Now is that someone you should be following?" She cocked her head to the side as she finished the sentence. Petey thought a moment.
"Wait, Jeremey killed Kaylie?" He frowned, "No, he would never do that." Ultimecia sighed and ruffled Petey's hair.
"Not purposely, but his karelessness killed her.." She stood and walked over to Petey's desk, which had gash marks in it, presumably from the gunblade, "Karelessness cannot be good for any group, especially from the leader.." Ultimecia turned to Petey.
"So what do you want me to do about it?" Petey shrugged and shook his head.
"I want you to show those fools who they should be following." Ultimecia walked over to Petey quickly, "Show them that they should be following a strong, steady leader instead of a weak, kareless imbecile." With this Ultimecia placed her hands on the sides of Petey's face and slowly lifted his to a standing position, "And if they do not follow you... Kill them.." Petey frowned a moment.
"What do I do?" He raised an eyebrow, "I can't just go into the cockpit and announce over the intercom 'Hey, I'm your new leader, follow me or die.' I can't do that." Ultimecia smiled.
"Do not worry my boy, I already have a plan to get their attention.."
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Millie lay on her bed still weeping. Her best friend had died not even twenty minutes earlier. She had watched Kaylie die. Best friends were not supposed to see that happen. Chas was gone, he had left to check on Jeremey, his best friend, who had seemingly went into shock. Chas had wanted to stay with Millie, but she had insisted that he go check on Jeremey.
Millie had noticed that she and Chas had gotten closer in the past few days. Ever since they talked about their relationship, her life had started to go uphill. Now everything was horribly wrong. Millie sat up and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Why?" She asked nobody, "What did Kaylie do to deserve this?" She paused, remembering that Jeremey had almost killed himself. It was best that Chas be with him instead. He'd need the entire groups' support for the next few days. If anybody would need it, it would be Jeremey.
Millie laid down and closed her eyes. She hoped that she would wake up and find out that it was all a dream. But she knew she wouldn't. Life wasn't that fair. She heard the door to her room open and she frowned.
"Chas, I thought I told you to check on Jeremey.." Millie said slowly. When she didn't hear a reply she opened her eyes to see Petey standing in the doorway with the Hyperion, the other type of gunblade. "Where'd you get that?" The words poured from her mouth. "And what are you doing here?" She asked quickly, noticing the sinister smile on Petey's face.
"Gaining attention.." Petey said before raising the point of the blade and bringing it down. Millie watched as the point seemed to fall in slow motion. She closed her eyes and tensed her body. She felt a sharp pain in her chest and then nothing, blackness.
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Jeremey lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling absently. Chas had just left to go check back in on Millie. Jeremey's body was numb still. He had watched the woman he loved die in his arms and it was partially his fault. His carelessness had killed her. He should have stabbed Sephiroth instead of trying to blow him up.
"I'm sorry Kaylie.." Jeremey closed his eyes and began crying again. He hated himself for causing Kaylie's death. He also hated himself for showing weakness in front of the team. "Why dammit? WHY!" Jeremey slammed the side of his fist into the wall. His life had been spiraling downward ever since the gunblade appeared in his hand.
"Why did this damn thing have to come to me?" Jeremey summoned his gunblade and sat up, "All you've caused me is guilt and pain.. What kind of good is going to come out of you?" He dismissed the gunblade and laid back down. He closed his eyes and tried to calm down, tried to get the past hour out of his mind. The gash in his forehead and pain in his body prevented this however.
"JEREMEY!" Chas's voice blared over his intercom, "Get out here now!" Jeremey sat up and looked at the door a moment. He then remembered that he had put the locking mechanism on it. He stood and walked over to the door, pausing when he realized the panic and pain in Chas's voice. He quickly opened the door and stepped out into the hall to see Chas with the Buster Sword in his hands, looking around with tears in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Jeremey asked, more than a little worried. Chas looked at him and broke down.
"Millie.." He said as he fell to his knees as he dismissed the weapon, "She's dead.." Jeremey's body went numb again. He shook his head.
"What?" Chas looked up at him and nodded, "No, it can't be dude.. Please tell me you're joking.." Chas leapt up quicker than Jeremey had ever seen him move and slammed Jeremey into the wall beside the door.
"JOKING?" Chas screamed into Jeremey's face, "Why the HELL would I be joking about something like this!" Jeremey grabbed Chas's wrists and twisted them slightly, causing him to let go.
"Calm down.." Jeremey said, his voice barely audible, "Sit down on my bed and calm down.." Chas looked at Jeremey and fell back on the bed. Jeremey sat in the chair beside his desk. Millie was dead now, who could have killed her? Who would WANT to kill her?
"I don't know what I'm gonna do Jeremey.." Chas buried his face in his hands, "I just don't know what the hell I'm gonna do.." Jeremey stood slowly and took a deep breath before stepping out the room.
"I'll be right back.." Jeremey said as he closed the door, "Stay here, be on guard.." Chas nodded slowly. Jeremey started down the hall to the recreation room, he had an idea that he prayed was wrong. He reached the doors of the recreation room and saw Wesley and Erik playing a game of pool. Both seemed pretty glum and didn't even notice that he was there at first.
"Guys, have you seen Petey lately?" Wesley started at the sound of Jeremey's voice. Erik looked up and shook his head.
"Not since we boarded the ship.." Erik looked at Wesley, who shook his head and shrugged, "Why?"
"Because Millie's been murdered, and I think he did it.." Wesley dropped his pool stick and Erik shook his head quickly, as if trying to disperse a headache.
"What?" Erik placed the pool stick on the table and walked to the door, "You're joking right? Tell me you're joking.." Jeremey gave Erik a stern look that destroyed any thought that he was joking.
"No, we have to find Petey.." Jeremey turned and walked to Millie and Chas's room. He opened the door to find a blood covered bed, with Millie's corpse lying on it. He quickly shut the door and fell back against it. His breathing became labored, he became light headed. Erik and Wesley finally approached and looked at Jeremey quizzically, to which he responded by shaking his head.
"Where's Justin?" Wesley looked around. Erik thought a moment before snapping his fingers.
"In his room, be right back." Erik ran off toward Justin's room. Wesley looked at Jeremey quietly for a moment.
"Sorry about Kaylie.." He said staring at the floor. Jeremey frowned and patted Wesley on the shoulder.
"Thanks.." Jeremey sighed, "But we have something big to worry about right now, can't get bogged down in the past, no matter how sad. There's a murderer on this ship and we have to find him.." Jeremey paused as Erik came back with Justin following closely behind him.
"Justin's been in his room the entire time.." Erik said. Jeremey nodded as he noticed that Justin's eyes were red, presumably from crying. Jeremey had known about Justin's crush on Kaylie for a long time.
"So, Millie's dead too?" Justin asked as he looked past Jeremey to the door.
"Yes.." Jeremey paused to let the information sink in, "There's a murderer here and we have to find him, or it, whichever the case may be." Justin nodded slowly.
"I can't do it Jeremey.." He looked at the floor, "I just lost someone very dear to me, I don't think I have the strength to.. How can you do it?" He looked at Jeremey with tears in his eyes.
"Justin, I know how you felt about Kaylie, but---"
"How do you know how I felt about her!" Justin screamed, "I loved her Jeremey! I've been crying for the past thirty minutes, what the hell have you been doing! It's like you didn't even give a shit about her!" Jeremey suddenly slammed Justin against the wall and summoned his gunblade, pressing the blade against Justin's neck. Erik and Wesley, who had remained quiet throughout the exchange, suddenly leapt forward to grab Jeremey by the shoulders and pull him back.
"Listen you little bastard, I don't give a damn if you're my friend or not, I will kill you if you EVER say anything like that again!" Jeremey screamed as he pointed the point of the weapon at Justin, who was rubbing his neck, "I swear I'll kill you. I'm losing my fuggin mind Justin, what the hell are you doing! Crying like the little bitch that you are? You don't want to help, fine, go back to your room and stay there. But don't come back to us hoping that we'll help you when you need it." Jeremey shrugged off Wesley and Erik and wiped his eyes. He had started crying while he was yelling at Justin.
"Jeremey..." Justin said as he checked his hand for blood, "I'm sorry, but I can't help you guys... You may be able to bounce back from any tragedy, but I can't.. I'm not used to tragedies.." Jeremey wiped his eyes again as Justin turned and walked back to his room, hanging his head.
"What do we do Jeremey?" Wesley asked as Jeremey dismissed his gunblade.
"We find Petey.." Jeremey turned to Petey's room, "I doubt it's him, but we have to check to make sure.."
"What about Chas?" Erik asked.
"No, wasn't Chas, the wound in her chest was too narrow..." Jeremey said as they reached Petey's room. Jeremey was reaching for the doorknob when he heard something strike the door from the other side. He grabbed the doorknob and was turning it when the door exploded as if a cherry bomb had been planted on it. Jeremey shielded his face to prevent debris as the door swung open violently as if kicked. The force of the door knocked Jeremey back before he fell.
He looked up to see Wesley dodge the blade of the Hyperion, the gunblade owned by Seifer in Final Fantasy 8. Wesley fell back against the wall. Erik summoned the Shimmering Blade and swung at Petey, who was holding the Hyperion, smiling smugly as he blocked Erik's attack.
"Erik, why do you follow Jeremey?" Petey asked before kicking Erik in the stomach and swinging at Wesley, who ducked, "Why not follow me? I'm stronger than Jeremey, faster than Jeremey, all around better than Jeremey." Wesley swung at Petey with a right hook, to which Petey responded by bringing his weapon up and letting Wesley's fist collided with the flat of the blade.
"What the hell's wrong with you Petey?" Erik said as he swung his weapon at Petey again. Petey leapt back and rushed in to elbow Erik in the face when the blade hit the ground. Erik stumbled back and fell against the wall.
"You killed Millie didn't you!" Wesley leapt up and kicked Petey in the right shoulder before Petey smacked him in the side with the flat of the blade.
"Yes I did.." Petey walked up to Wesley, who was laying on the floor, clutching his side, "I'll do the same to you two if you don't join me.." Petey pointed the weapon at Wesley's throat.
"Why?" Erik said slowly, trying to find the strength to stand, "Why did you kill her?" Petey looked at Erik slowly and raised an eyebrow.
"To get everyone's attention.." Petey turned back to Wesley, "It was the best way to prove that I'm better than all of you. But, I killed her for a reason. I don't kill people for no reason at all, especially the ones I love.. I'm not careless like Jeremey, none of you will die because of my carelessness.. " Petey pressed the point of the blade against Wesley's throat, "So, are you with me or not?" Wesley shook his head slowly.
"Look Petey, I know you're like a bad guy and all now, but you just said the wrong thing.." Petey frowned in thought for a moment before he heard the sound of running footsteps behind him. He turned to see Jeremey running at him with his gunblade.
"Shit!" Petey said while leaping back and blocking Jeremey's attack. They held that position for a moment, neither gaining an advantage. Jeremey could feel how weak he was from the fight with Sephiroth.
"Where'd you get that?" Jeremey growled, "And why are you doing this! You should be helping us!" Jeremey snarled as he used his weapon to push off Petey's and took a few steps back.
"I got it from someone who appreciates me more than you guys." Petey sneered, "And I'm doing this because they should be following me, not you. You're weak Jeremey, I always knew you were." Petey leapt at Jeremey and swung the weapon, intending to catch Jeremey off guard. Jeremey blocked and leapt back before leaping forward with all his might for a lunge. Petey leapt back and knocked the blade of Jeremey's weapon to the ground before using his own momentum to spin around and elbow Jeremey in the back of the head.
"Another question.." Jeremey said angrily while turning around and blocking Petey's attack, "How'd you know we were outside the door?" Petey smiled as he pushed Jeremey away. Jeremey snarled and lunged at Petey's chest. Petey turned sideways, letting the blade pass by harmlessly before swinging his own weapon down, intending to severe Jeremey's arms at the elbows. Jeremey quickly pulled his arms back, letting go of his weapon in the process.
As soon as Petey's weapon hit the ground, Jeremey caught Petey in the face with a right hook. He followed that with a left uppercut and a haymaker to the back of Petey's head. Petey stumbled forward and turned to swing at Jeremey, but before he could, Jeremey kicked him in the stomach. Petey gasped for air as he collapsed onto the ground clutching his stomach.
"Get up.." Jeremey ordered coldly, "I know there's more in you than that, Petey... Get up.." Petey looked up at Jeremey and slowly stood.
"I knew you guys were out here because I taped the button down on the panel.." Petey pointed to the panel that ran the intercom to his room. The button for people outside his room to talk to him was taped down, allowing Petey to listen to the activities of people outside the room without them knowing.
"Nice.." Jeremey picked up his gunblade and swung at Petey's legs. Petey blocked easily, but Jeremey had planned this. What he hadn't planned on was Petey pulling the trigger on his gunblade as the two blades collided. The explosion threw Jeremey and Petey back. Petey amazingly recovered faster and had his weapon pointed at Jeremey's throat. He stepped on Jeremey's chest to make sure he couldn't sit up and smiled smugly.
"Now to prove that I'm better than you in every way.." Petey said before raising the blade of his weapon. As he was about to bring it down he was tackled to the ground. Jeremey sat up to see Chas beating Petey in the face.
"You son of a bitch!" Chas screamed as tears streamed down his face, "You killed her! You killed Millie!" He punched Petey in the face again and Petey growled before grabbing Chas by the throat with his free hand. He began to choke Chas, who grabbed at Petey's forearm trying to pull his hand from his throat. Petey sat up and brought the point of his gunblade up to stab Chas in the chest. Jeremey leapt up and kneed Petey in the side of the head. Petey's body pitched sideways and his head slammed into the wall.
"Ow, dammit." Petey hit Chas in the face with a right hook, using the handle on his gunblade to make the attack more powerful. Chas fell back and Petey leapt up blocking an attack from Jeremey. He kicked Jeremey in the stomach and began running down the hall when he heard Chas get up.
"You're not leaving this ship alive.." Chas said as he summoned the Buster Sword. Petey raised an eyebrow.
"Bring it on.." Chas ran at Petey full speed. He lunged and Petey smacked the blade down, spun around the blade and swung his own weapon at Chas's head. Chas ducked and swung the huge sword like a baseball bat to smack Petey in the back with the flat of the sword. Petey stumbled forward a few feet and turned to block another attack.
Petey struggled against the weight of the sword before shifting his position, causing the huge sword and Chas to fall forward. He brought his weapon up triumphantly and swung it down. Jeremey blocked Petey's attack and shook his head.
"Not in the back Petey.." He said calmly. Petey stared at Jeremey, how could he be so calm in the face of danger? It infuriated him to think that Jeremey remained calm and never lost his cool. Petey screamed and swung his weapon up at Jeremey's head. Jeremey leaned his head back barely in time, the blade of the Hyperion barely missing his face. The blade slammed into the wall, only inches from Jeremey's head. Petey snarled and was going to bring the blade down when he felt a sharp pain in his side.
Petey looked down to see four inches of the Buster Sword's point in his side. The only thing that stopped it from going further was the fact that Jeremey was holding the back of the sword, preventing it from moving forward anymore. Petey's jaw dropped, Jeremey had dismissed his gunblade and grabbed Chas's weapon to prevent it from going through him. Petey stumbled back and dismissed his weapon.
"Ultimecia, get me out of here.." Petey said quietly. Suddenly a dark-purple cloud appeared in the air behind him and he fell inside. Jeremey stared at it as it grew smaller and disappeared completely. He suddenly felt the Buster Sword pulled from his grip violently. Jeremey turned to see Chas bringing the weapon up to attack him. Jeremey summoned his gunblade and blocked Chas's attack.
"What the hell's the matter with you!" Jeremey screamed.
"You stopped me from killing him!" Chas pressed on Jeremey's weapon, using the weight of the sword to his advantage.
"I was NOT going to let you kill him Chas." Jeremey struggled against the weight of the weapon, "Not here, not now.."
"He killed Millie.." Chas said the pressure of the attack lessening, "He killed her Jeremey..." With that Chas fell to his knees and began crying.
"I know he did.." Jeremey dismissed the gunblade and leaned down to comfort his friend, "But we beat him.. Don't worry, we'll get him one day, I promise.." Jeremey said as the weight of the losses that day hit him full force. Jeremey lost his strength and fell to one knee. He began crying, realizing that he'll never be able hold Kaylie again, never be able to see Millie smile. Chas looked at Jeremey for a long time before nodding slowly and leaning to comfort Jeremey. Erik and Wesley looked at each other solemnly and walked over to pat the two on the back, doing the best they could to help their friends.
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"You said I could win." Petey told Ultimecia angrily. The woman shrugged as she inspected the wound in Petey's side. They were in a large, medieval-looking room. The walls seemed to be made of large gray blocks and there was a huge fireplace on one wall. Petey was currently sitting in a chair in front of a desk.
"You didn't try hard enough.." She said scornfully, "Plus you are not as experienced as them.. I will train you.." Petey smiled.
"That'll be good.." He said distantly, remembering that the only reason he was alive was because Jeremey had saved his life, "That'll be real good.."
