Trials and Tribulations

Chapter 4

The Rescue

Rinoa awoke hours later to a dim lit room. What happened? Where am I? She lifted her head up and saw that she was chained to a familiar stand. Am I…at the…Memorial? But why? She shook her head. What's going on?

A man in Estharian clothes turned around. " Please, Miss Rinoa. Just stay still."

Who is he? She looked closer at the man. Laguna? What's he doing here? She tried her best to get his attention. LAGUNA!!!!

Laguna noticed her struggle. " Your cell doesn't permit a sorceress to speak. So please, don't struggle." He turned back to the control panel. Now…He looked over all the buttons and all the controls. How do I operate this thing?

Suddenly, the alarm went off, surprising both Laguna and Rinoa. Two men, also dressed in Estharian clothing, ran in. One of the two ran forward.

" Laguna," Kiros Seagill stopped to catch his breath. " Sir, the Galbadian soldiers are heading back." He looked over at the cell. " So if you're going to free her, I'd do it now."

Laguna started to laugh. " Thing is, I don't know how." He then looked over at Ward. " What's up?"

" I think he knows how," Kiros looked up at Ward, who nodded. " Yeah, he could release her."

WHATEVER!!! Just…get me out!! Rinoa, taking what Laguna said to mind, screamed inside her head. GET. ME. OUT!!!! She then lost all consciousness.

Ward walked over to the controls, and after a second or so, he hit a blue button, opening the cell door. He then looked at Laguna and nodded.

Laguna ran to the cell and unchained Rinoa, who fell forward into his out stretched arms. " Let's go!!" He took off running; Kiros and Ward close behind him.

Rinoa opened her eyes. " Squall…" then lost consciousness again.

" Let's head for the Presidential Residence," Laguna put Rinoa in the back seat of the car that the three of them had rented. " We can contact Squall and the others on the Ragnarok from there." He started to shut the door.

" Wait," Kiros caught the car door. " We can't all fit in the front seats. Maybe someone should stay in the back with Miss Rinoa." At saying this, Kiros and Ward both stared at Laguna pointedly.

" Huh?" Laguna looked back at the two of them. " You know, you're right. I'll stay back here with her. But let's hurry before they see us." He shut the door and got in on the other side of the car. Kiros and Ward got in, and they headed for the Presidential Residence.

" Dammit!! Why was I so stupid?" Quistis got out of her seat and started to pace. " Why did I assign Rinoa that job when I knew that the soldiers would get her at first glance?"

Everyone looked around at the others in the cockpit. " Don't worry, Quisty," Selphie turned to her, taking her hands off the controls.

" Yeah," Zell nodded. " Don't worry. Everything will be al-WAIT!! If Selphie's taken her hands off the controls, who's piloting this thing?!?!"

She smiled. " It's on the Auto-Pilot."

Squall shook his head, hiding a small smile. " Let's just—"

" Ragnarok!!" Static came over the radio. " This is…..Rinoa….Esthar…." Then it clicked off.

" What…the…hell…was…that?" Zell, pausing between each word, looked over at Squall. " Who was that?"

" That was…" Squall looked at everyone's faces. " Laguna. He must've saved Rin."

" Or maybe," Zell shook his head. " Maybe Ward or Kiros did. Your father does't seem to be that much of a…what is it? A, uh, a…"

" What ever. Sef?" Squall looked over at her, and nodded. " Head for Esthar." Rin, we're coming.

A/N: So? How was this? I know that this was kinda short, but there are going to be some longer chapters!!! OH!! Elle Leonhart: Emily is the 'Library Girl' that likes Zell. Well, Merry Christmas to all of you and Chapter 5 will be up soon!!