Authors note: Yes. I know Geddoe's not a bishounen. Just bear
with me here. He is a means to the end, and I need him to further
progress the "plot". Thanks for the reviews everyone! I appreciate them
a lot. You all get virtual cookies or brownies or apples or whatever
else you might like to eat. Oh yeah! And I promise to cycle around to
all the bishounen (even the evil ones). Sorry for the long wait between
updates. I had a lot of tests and projects and stuff due.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Suikoden.
Sidequest: Catching the Mercenary Captain
It occurred to Her that in order to catch the clever red haired strategist called Albert, she was going to need a first class strategist of Her own. Caesar was just a little too biased for this job and (although She would never even suggest the notion to him) not quite up to the task. However, this posed a great difficulty as, while She was fairly intelligent, She was obviously not up to the task of making and setting up a sufficient trap for a first class strategist either. But an idea came to Her one night at two in the morning, as most good ideas do. She quickly jotted it down before falling back into an uneasily slumber.
In the training arena the next morning
"You really think you can catch him?" smirked Percival. "I think you overestimate Yourself."
"I am not," She pouted sullenly as She glanced at the training arena. She'd been so focused that She hadn't even noticed a very determined Borus dueling a very grim looking Nash. Futch and Fred were on the other end of the arena, watching the fight unfold with interest.
Her eyes clouded with worry as She noticed how exhausted the combatants appeared. "How long have they been at it for? They're drenched with sweat."
Percival glanced at the wall clock at the end of the arena. "Oh. About an hour now."
"An hour?" Her eyes widened in shock. "What did Nash do to provoke Borus this time?"
"Your lack of faith in me is very reassuring," Nash commented before Borus lunged at him again.
"Something about impuning a lady's honor or some such," Percival's eyes twinkled with amusement.
She rolled Her eyes. "Of course it would have to be about Lady Chris wouldn't it?"
"Jealous?" Percival smirked.
She studied the duel with sudden interest, pointedly ignoring Percival's comment. "I didn't realize Nash could even fight with a sword. Why does he normally uses a wrist launcher?" Her lip curled with distaste.
Nash smirked, wryly, overhearing her comment. "Let's just say that I haven't had very good experiences with swords in the past." Borus and he were circling each other warily, both worn out from the fight.
She raised Her eyebrows with interest.
"Don't ask," he warned, shaking his head.
She shrugged and looked at Borus. "Do you think he should be wearing his sunglasses while fighting…" She whispered to Percival. "I mean, he's just asking for something to happen to them."
Percival snorted. "I TRIED asking him if I could hold on to them."
She looked at him reproachfully.
"Just to look at them of course," the knight added quickly.
"I'm sure your cause was purely noble," She retorted. "And that you didn't want to hold them just out of his reach and use them as a taunting device."
Percival looked at Her in wide-eyed innocence. "I assure you I would never do something like that."
"Riiiight." She rolled Her eyes right before Borus lunged at the spy, pressing his attack.
Her eyes widened in sudden alarm. "They look pretty serious about this…"
Percival chuckled at Her discomfiture. "I don't think Borus can really hurt Nash."
"And Nash knows better than to hurt Borus," Caesar grinned as he entered the scene. "Actually we have a standing bet at this castle on how long it's going to take for Borus to break his sunglasses."
"That's not very nice!" She attempted to defend the blond knight. "What did people guess?" She asked eagerly.
Caesar smirked and took out a sheet of paper. "I bet 10 hours. Nash has 11 hours, and Percival bet 4 hours."
The knight shrugged. "So I underestimated him."
Caesar snorted. "We didn't ask Fred because there's really no sport in it and Futch didn't want to take part."
"So what's it been now?" She asked.
Caesar grimaced. "10 and a half."
She returned Her attention to Nash and Borus. Nash was barely fending off Borus' latest attack. Realizing his disadvantage, the spy threw down his sword and rolled out of attack range, as Borus raised his sword to strike again. Borus, being the honorable knight, was thrown off balance by this rather sneaky move. Nash gave him a little nudge and he hit the ground with a sickening crunch.
She winced. "There goes the sunglasses."
"Noooo," Borus let loose a heartwrenching moan as he pushed himself to his knees and noticed the shattered remains of his precious Armani sunglasses on the floor.
"I told you you shouldn't have worn those in here!" shouted Percival from the sidelines.
Futch and Fred began slowly edging their way towards the door.
Nash blinked. "Oops, I didn't mean it." He turned his head thoughtfully to the side. "Well, actually I did." He grinned at Caesar on the sidelines. "I win! Pay up." And with that he fished his new Rayban sunglasses out of his pocket, put them on with a flourish and began sauntering towards Caesar and Percival.
"Uh-oh," She sounded worried as Borus' menacingly turned towards Nash's backside, his eyes filled with rage.
"I got it," Percival flippantly responded to Her unspoken request, and walked quickly passed the spy, towards the Knight of Rage.
With a growl the knight heaved himself off the floor and prepared to launch himself at the retreating spy. Instead, he tripped over Percival's well placed foot and he found himself face down on the floor once again.
Nash turned around and grinned mockingly. "Hey, Borus. Maybe you should make that your permanent residence."
"Nash," She warned as Caesar handed him his winnings.
"A pleasure doing business with you." He nodded superiorily to Caesar and sauntered towards the door.
"It was for your own good," Percival insisted as he helped his friend to his feet.
Borus brushed himself off angrily and stalked over to where She was sitting.
"Well, those didn't last very long," She commented uneasily, as Borus slumped down in a chair next to Her.
Later on at the castle…
"Okay, the trap is all set to go."
Percival looked at Her. "You really think this is going to work?"
"Well, it's Caesar's idea."
Percival raised his eyebrows. "My question still stands."
"He claims it's infallible…Nash helped," She continued.
Percival gave Her a pointed look causing Nash's eyes to smirk. "Just because your lady captain likes me better than you…"
Percival sputtered. "T..that's…"
She pursed Her lips. "Boys," Her voice had a warning tone to it. They both reluctantly subsided as She walked over to a very anxious Ace. "Now Ace. You know what you have to do right?"
"Yes." He scratched his head uneasily. "I have to stand here in front of the café and call for the Boss while waving my arms frantically in the air, right?"
"Exactly." She smiled at him.
"And you won't tell anyone about the…" Ace leaned close to her and whispered, "novel I'm writing for the paper."
She put a hand to her heart. "On my bishounens' honor."
Ace looked at Her uncertainly but decided to take Her at Her word. "Okaaay. Ummm."
"Yes?" She blinked innocently
"Nobody's going to get…hurt in this venture are they?"
"Of course n…Hmmm." She tapped Her chin thoughtfully. "About your novel…"
"Shhhh." Ace urgently put a finger to his lips. "I'll do it. I'll do it."
"Good." She clapped him encouragingly on the shoulder before joining the rest of the group at a table at Mamie's. She turned to Caesar. "This plan better work."
"Don't worry," he waved a hand at her in dismissal. "The plan is infallible…Unless you've decided to take matters into your own hands again…" he looked at Her accusingly.
Her eyes widened in feigned astonishment as She shook Her head in denial. "Not me!"
Caesar met her gaze with his most winning smile. "Good! Now sit down and watch the action unfold."
She obliged and took out a walkie-talkie, clicking the switch to on. "Okay… Fred?"
"I'm here Alpha Female."
She paused, her brow furrowed, and slowly looked at Percival. "What did you call me?" She asked into the microphone.
"Uhhh. It's code. You know. So people don't know who I'm talking to," Fred explained.
Caesar looked bemused as Nash swallowed a smirk and Percival buried his head in his hands.
She sighed. "Well then, Maxy, you know what to do?"
Pause.
Percival smiled in amusement.
"Why do you even try?" Nash shook his head.
"Hey! Did I ask for comments from the peanut gallery? He started this whole nickname thing."
"The what?" Caesar asked.
"Never mind." She sighed and talked into the microphone once again. "Fred, that was code name for you."
"Ohhh…Yeah! Of course I'm ready for action." The salute behind the words caused Her to crack a smile.
"Good." She switched the walkie talkie to the second channel. "Borus?" She waited. "Borus?"
"OUCH!" Yeah, I'm ready…I can't believe I've been reduced to this again!"
She turned to Percival. "I guess putting the shock collar back on him was a good idea."
Percival gave her a smug smile.
Caesar scowled, angry he hadn't thought of it.
"I suppose I could've just promised him another pair of sunglasses…"
Nash rolled his eyes. "What. So he could break them again?"
She switched the walkie talkie to the third channel.
"Sharon?"
"Ready and waitin' sista'"
She turned to Percival, perplexed. "What did she call me?"
Percival shrugged.
"Let's keep this show moving, huh?" Caesar urged.
She sighed. "Okaaaay. Go to it then."
Thirty seconds later a confounded Geddoe rounded the corner between the main entrance to the castle and Juan's dojo, an enraged-looking Fred hot on his heels. The knight was doing his best to appear intimidating, swinging his sword in circles over his head and shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Evil-Doer! You can run but you will never escape the Maxy! I will vanquish you!
Geddoe turned to run towards the blacksmith shop, but all of a sudden Borus and Sharon came running from that very direction, Borus swinging his sword and Sharon wielding her spear. Both were yelling at the top of their lungs. As soon as Geddoe turned towards Mamie's café Borus stopped chasing him and crossed his arms, stubbornly. In his confusion, Geddoe didn't notice the knight's absence.
Percival's eyes glinted in amusement as he stifled a chuckle at the scene.
"Boss! Over here!" Geddoe shifted direction again and began running towards his "ally."
"ACE! What's going oooon?" Geddoe voice lilted as he tripped over a strategically placed loop and fell to the ground, catching himself with his hands. She pressed a button on her remote control and loops quickly came up over both his hands. He responded by chanting the spell for Thunder Runner.
ZZAAAPPP!
"Ahhhh!" Geddoe screamed and passed out as he was zapped by his own lightning magic.
"BOSS!" Ace ran to Geddoe and collapsed to his knees, eyes wide with shock.
"That was kind of dirty," commented Percival, glancing warily between Caesar and Nash. "Effective…but dirty."
Nash flashed a smug smile at Percival while Caesar looked at the Knight disdainfully. "I didn't hear any brilliant ideas being spouted from your mouth."
Percival raised an eyebrow.
Caesar became defensive. "It worked didn't it?"
"I guess," Percival replied sullenly.
"Hey Percival?" She called from beside the lightning rune bearer. "Could you and Borus carry him into the castle for me?"
"Are you actually asking?" Borus questioned in astonishment as he walked up beside the group.
She gave him a wry smile. "Well, it was phrased as a question."
Borus gave Percival a dirty look. "I blame this on you."
"I know." Percival smirked.
Borus scowled. Nash hazarded a smile at the dischord.
She raised an eyebrow and started tapping the remote impatiently. Borus' face turned white as a ghost at the unspoken threat and he hurriedly began to untie Geddoe. Percival joined him.
"Nash?"
He looked at Her, still smiling confidently.
She smiled mockingly. "Don't get too cocky. That could be hazardous for your health." Nash's face paled as She pointedly gazed at the remote in Her hands. She smiled. "That's a good lad now," She patted him reassuringly on the shoulder before turning back to the knights.
Both Knights hoisted Geddoe up and began moving towards the castle.
Ace looked stricken. "Oh no! What have I done? Boss?"
"You aren't just going to leave him behind are you?" Percival asked as they walked towards the front of the castle.
She sighed. "I suppose not…"
Nash turned to Her. "Hey! Maybe instead of plotting on how to trap people, you should be figuring out how to get Viki to stop teleporting us into the moat."
"Hey now," interjected Percival. "That's not entirely fair. Last time she teleported us to the top of the thirty foot wall surrounding the estate. That's a little closer than the moat."
Nash scowled at his comrade-in-arms, earning yet another smirk from the latter.
"You are just a pillar of support, Percy," She commented sarcastically and snorted. "Viki, I have some new coordinates for you."
Viki looked at her blankly.
"Could you teleport us here instead of our usual destination?"
Viki nodded. "Sure!"
"Wait!" She shouted.
Blink.
"Hey! I finally got it right."
At the Ranch
"Ugh," Nash's mouth twisted in disgust.
"SOOOO…Caesar" Percival began, drawling out his name. "I assume this was your idea."
Caesar winced at the impending criticism.
"Good one," Sharon commented sarcastically.
"I see why you need a new strategist," commented a very wet Borus.
"Hey!" Caesar yelled.
She picked a plant out of Her hair. "Boris…Shut up."
None of them noticed the blonde haired archer watching them quietly from Her perimeter wall.
So that's it for now. Please review!
