Here it is! Chapter 23! Sorry about the long delay. I have had an enormous amount of schoolwork to do lately and haven't been able to devote anytime to anything else 'cept for reading my school books. I'll try to update as soon as I can. Please enjoy and let me know what you think. There are about 2 or 3 chapters left. So stay tuned!
Chapter 23
Kona stood at the starboard of a Minotaur-456 assault boat that rocked back and forth peacefully inside a tiny harbor. A large crimson orb slowly swam up the horizon, coloring the waters a deep shade of red. It's almost time thought Kona, his heart beating anxiously against his chest. Taking one last look at the gleaming guns that peered out menacingly from their compartments, he walked to the bow of the ship where he was immediately greeted by Jed.
"Everything's ready to go. Ground support is on active standby." he said listlessly. "You know," he added looking deep into Kona's eyes, "you don't have to do this. There's still time to turn back and no one will think any less of you for doing it."
"You don't have to come with me, Jed." His voice sounded tortured and removed, but he wasn't angry.
"C'mon, man… We are the Stroke of Justice after all. People look up to you, Kona. How can you possibly justify doing this?"
"I don't have to justify myself to you or anyone else! Where was justice when that bastard massacred our friends… and Sirun… Tell me, Jed! Where?!" He breathed in deeply and now continued in an even tone.
"I don't want to do this, Jed. I have no choice. You know as well as I do, that the only time we can get Joshua and Laine out of that fucking hellhole, is when Caraway and that bastard Seifer aren't there. We have to distract them as long as possible."
"But what about all those people, Kona? It goes against everything you have ever worked for! You are a resistance leader, Kona, don't let revenge guide you."
"The only people I am now concerned with are my own. Snap back to reality, Jed. Stroke of Justice is no more… We've lost too many people. When I started this resistance movement, I swore to myself that I would do everything in my power to protect the people who put me in charge. I failed miserably. I don't care about the resistance anymore. Let someone else fight that battle. My sole objective now is to free Josh and Laine and to avenge the death of all of those who have fallen at the hands of that…" His voice broke off.
"The cost is too high. You don't even know if we'll be able to free Laine and Joshua today. Don't sacrifice your soul for this, Kona. Please! Let's find another way! I beg you!"
"It's too late to turn back now. The wheels have been put into motion… I know that there's a chance we won't succeed in getting Josh and Laine out today. That's why it is imperative that we double proof our plan. I don't care if I burn in hell for the rest of my life for this. I have to do this. Blood will be spilt." Turning sharply on his heels, he resolutely walked toward the navigation controls. This is it… No turning back now…
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Rinoa woke up way before sunrise, her sleep interrupted by horrible nightmares of screaming men..and blood… so much blood in the water….She jumped. Someone was knocking on her door.
"Come in." It was General Caraway.
"Rinoa, as you know, I am going on a dangerous mission today… I don't want you leaving the house. Not until I am back. Is that clear?"
"Yes, father." Her voice shook.
"Good, I will see you when I return then." He exited the room, leaving her to her thoughts.
She suddenly felt very overwhelmed with the realization that if anything were to go wrong, someone she cared about would not make it through the day. Could she accept that? So many lives were at stake... Colin's, her father's, Seifer's. And here she was, sitting safely out of harm's way while others risked their lives for the plan that she herself devised. Did Seifer know what he was getting into when Zone and Watts approached him in Balamb? Would he have agreed had he known what he had to do? Was he just doing this for the money, or did he somehow start caring for what she believed in? So many questions… She knew that debating whether or not Seifer had romantic feelings for her was inappropriate at the moment yet she couldn't help but wonder how he felt about their relationship. Somehow she felt that she didn't know Seifer any better than when she first met him that day at the Galbadia mall. She admired him for his bravery, decisiveness, and quick wit. She also knew that he could be arrogant and bossy, but somehow she always convinced herself that beneath his teasing, overconfident exterior was a compassionate person capable of caring deeply for someone. Was she right? Was it the real Seifer who told her that he would never let anyone hurt her? Was it the real Seifer who saved her when she was on the brink on death? Seifer that made love to her so passionately in their little cavern on the beach? Not knowing how he felt about her made her heart squeeze painfully, especially realizing how much was at stake… I love you, Seifer… she whispered to herself, burying her head in the pillow.
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Seifer had just finished loading the last of the equipment aboard the Galbadian warship, when he saw General Caraway walking toward the pier. Showtime… he thought, tightly gripping his Hyperion.
"Good morning, Mr. Almasy. How are the preparations coming along?"
"Your men have been deployed to the Tomb of the Unknown King, just as you requested. The warship is now ready to go, but we must depart immediately so that Crimson Rose does not see us entering the cove."
"Very well. Departure time is set in five minutes. "
Why am I doing this? Seifer thought as he walked up the ramp to board the Galbadian ship. It all started out with a simple summer job, but this was so much more now… He was involved, too deeply involved in something he had no personal stake in. Or did he? Was he doing this for Rinoa? Was he prepared to risk his life for her? Did he love her? He didn't know. Seifer tried to remember the last time he did something for another person without wanting something in return. He was nine years old…It was the day he met Fujin. Overall, he mused, life is nothing more than a game of give and take. Only give as much as you can take. Otherwise you are just setting yourself up to be used. Then why was he helping Rinoa? Was it because she somehow tricked him into caring for her? He shuddered at the thought of being manipulated. But if not that, then how could he explain the inexplicable torrent of emotions that ran through his head as he held her after they made love that day at the beach? Unable to face the implications of that line of thinking, Seifer forced himself to stop. Rinoa can't do this by herself and I gave her my word I would do whatever necessary to help. That's reason enough for now…
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It was almost six o'clock in the morning, and Colin's Brezner's munitions ship was bustling with activity. The atmosphere was tense but not without a certain feeling of positive excitement. After all it was highly unlikely that anything would go wrong since Caraway's forces were to be miles away and the munitions transfer could be completed without interruption. Colin knew that it would take the Galbadian ship about thirty five minutes to traverse the distance between the cove behind the Tomb of the Unknown King and their new landing site. Therefore, the situation was far from being safe, and they had to take every precaution not to alert Caraway's forces to their location. They couldn't afford to fail, and he knew it.
"Ian, start the motor. We're leaving in 10 minutes," Colin commanded moving to the bow of the ship.
"Come on, people! To your stations! We're moving out," he yelled. "Remember, we do this fast and we do this right. No mistakes. We have a window of exactly 15 minutes to unload the munitions to our operatives onshore. As you know our vessel is not heavily armed because this is a covert operation. That means keeping your guns on you at all times in case we run into trouble. We must deliver these munitions at all costs. Remember that! The strength of the resistance depends on each and every one of you!"
"We won't let you down, Colin! Death to Deling and his cronies! Long live Crimson Rose!" Smiling at his faithful followers, Colin took his position at the navigation controls. Checking the map, he announced that they should be reaching their destination within the hour. The boat glided smoothly across the surface of the water as the last shades of crimson slowly dissipated as the sun rose higher in the morning sky.
"Colin! We have spotted our ground vehicles on the starboard side."
"Good work, Tray. Attention, people! We will be docking in three minutes. Get the transfer ready to go immediately! Rena, any hostiles in sight?"
"Negative, Colin. Radar screen clear. Ground vehicles appear secure."
"Are you absolutely sure?"
"Affirmative, no hostiles in sight." Thank Hyne… Maybe I was overreacting earlier after all…Still, something about this just doesn't feel right. Maybe I should've contacted Rinoa after all to verify the information. No, there was no need for that. Her verification codes appeared secure.
"Colin, transfer is ready to go! "
"Understood. Set up the ramp and proceed with the transfer immediately." The boat rocked back and forth as the sound of numerous feet clanged against its polished floors. Within mere seconds it had been transformed into a giant anthill, as the people organized themselves into an orderly conveyor belt, quickly and efficiently moving supplies from the boat's storage and into the carefully positioned vehicles onshore. The operation was nearing completion when suddenly Colin heard a faint sound of a motor that was steadily getting closer. His stomach gave an unpleasant twinge. Wiping off the droplets of sweat that had collected around his eyebrows, he quickly abandoned his station and ran to tactical control.
"Rena, is there anything visible on the radar screen?"
"Negative, Colin. Radar screens are clear," she responded slightly surprised at his question. Unceremoniously pushing Rena aside, Colin began punching some buttons on the control panel that was linked to the radar screen. His eyes widened at the realization that his worst fears had been confirmed.
"Dear Hyne!" he whispered. "They have been using stealth technology to block their position from us!" Leaving Rena dumbfounded and confused, he quickly ran outside.
"Red alert! Red alert! Caraway's forces have spotted us! Abort the mission! Everyone back on the boat, now!!! Go!!! Nathan, Lena! You are in charge of the supply trucks! Get them to our stronghold as fast as possible." It was too late. An awful whistling sound pierced the air as one of the supply trucks exploded in a shower of burning metal and flesh.
"Colin!!!!! Large Assault Boat on the port side moving toward us at a rapid pace! I think they're gonna board us!"
"Get your weapons ready! Shoot at everyone who attempts to come onboard. Ian, evasive maneuvers! Lena, get your people away from that truck! Run!!!" Another large blast followed by a series of smaller explosions shook the ground as the second supply truck showered the people clinging to the sand with shrapnel and large debris. Moans of wounded and dying filtered through the air as the crimson slowly bled into the waters. He averted his eyes from the grisly spectacle. Is this how it's going to end?
"Colin! Colin! They are boarding the boat. Get over here now!" The screams were distant and foggy, almost surreal. A clear, resonant male voice speaking through the amplifier broke him out of his trance.
"Crimson Rose. You will be boarded. Stand down your weapons or we will be forced to destroy you." Is this the end? He looked at his people. There was not a trace of fear in the eyes. He hesitated. Was he to give up now while there was still hope that some lives would be spared or go down in battle, regardless of how uneven the forces? At last he made his decision.
"Stand down your weapons. Our time will come again. There's nothing more we can do now." Unable to look into the eyes of the people who trusted him with all their heart, he stepped down, defeated. Within minutes, intruders had full control of the boat as a young man with short copper hair and piercing green eyes approached the captive leader of the resistance. This was not something Colin had been prepared for.
"What is this? Who are you?" he said looking incredulously at a mere boy who just doomed the entire resistance.
"My name is Kona. I don't believe we've met." Colin looked up at his eyes; they were empty and cold.
"Do you work for that bastard Caraway?" he questioned, confusion clearly registered in his tired eyes.
"I work for myself. I am sorry it had to come to this. I tried to keep the casualties to a minimum. My main objective was to destroy your supply trucks. My people are collecting your wounded as we speak." His voice sounded distant and emotionless.
"What will become of my people?" What kind of mockery is this?
"Some will be handed over to that son of the bitch Caraway. The rest, I will let you take care of. " Colin was dumbfounded.
"I don't understand."
"I don't expect you to. Caraway's forces will be here in about five minutes. I don't plan to be here when that happens. You will be provided a large vehicle that can hold a few of your people along with the equivalent of the munitions we destroyed."
"What kind of a sick bastard are you?" The proposition was simply preposterous.
"The kind that is giving you a chance to get the hell out of here while there's still time."
"You disgust me. Whatever foul thing you are planning here today, you will pay for the death of my people. I swear that I will not stop until you are dead." His hands were clenched into tight fists, anger slowly boiling inside of him.
"Then, I'll be looking forward to our next meeting, Now, come on, there's no more time to talk."
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"Any news from our men in the Tomb of the Unknown King?" asked Caraway pacing back and forth at his command post.
"No, General. It's still early though. Maybe they got delayed." Caraway looked at Seifer with disgust.
"And what if someone alerted them not to come?" His voice hinted distrust.
"Then I guess they won't come, will they, General? It's not my job to solve your tactical problems. I am simply here to protect you should the rebels decide to attack." I guess Colin isn't as stubborn as Rinoa thought after all. This might turn out to be an easy mission yet. He was almost disappointed. Seifer was simply not the type of person who could sit aimlessly and wait around for something to happen. He craved action; he lived to fight, to feel adrenaline coursing through his veins as he discharged his Hyperion into his opponent. His musings were interrupted by a high pitched sound as he saw two men running toward the General.
"General, sir! There are reports of massive fires burning around a cove 35 miles south of Deling City."
"What?! We must depart immediately!" He was about bark out a command when Seifer coolly interrupted him
"It could be a trap, General. They might just be using the fires as a decoy so we abandon this area and go in search of phantoms while they safely make the transfer here." His voice was clear and determined, yet his mind worked feverishly to try to find some sort of logical explanation for what was going on in what he knew was Colin's alternate landing.
"The ground forces should be able to handle that. I smell a burning rat. Whatever is going on there, we must go there immediately." His eyes shone with excitement as he feverishly gave the final orders before departure. Two small boats with reinforcements were sent to join the forces inside the Tomb of the Unknown King. The rest of the ship's crew were ordered to battle stations, as the warship flew across the water at top speed. Seifer gripped his Hyperion. Somehow he doubted that whatever was going on inside that cove would have a positive outcome.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Thanks for your support everyone!