A/N: AND I'M BACK! –Rooms goes silent everyone stares- er, right… anyway! Sorry it took so long for me to update! School is a bitchhh! I hate it! –glares at school and AP bio text book- well in the last chapter, Brooke found herself in quite a predicament with Tyseuh, this is where the chapter picks up, and losta 'fun' here. Well enjoy! Toodles!

Disclaimer: You should by now, I own nothing! Not even this pen! I stole it for Anna lol. –grins-

888

Plead Insanity

I didn't respond, well more like I couldn't. I was petrified silent. My breathing was fast and shallow. I could hear my own heart beat. He laughed as he continued to ascend and my grip on him became tighter and tighter. "Now, being the Demon of death is great and all, but I too can get lonely."

I closed my eyes not looking down, nor enjoying where this one sided conversation was going.

"Brooke, finding a partner is difficult for someone like me. Because I want the tenderness of a woman's touch, but I also want that rough side, or dark side if you will." He paused letting me contemplate his words. I, however, was doing anything but that. The only thing I could think of was dropping to my death. I could feel his hot breath on my the back of my neck as he continued, "But I found it. And it was in you. Now, you're problems? I can make them all go away. Measter Seymour, Zanarkand, everything, and all you have to do is agree to be mine. I'll give you perpetual life, beauty and power."

Even if I had wanted to give an answer to that offer, I couldn't. I couldn't say anything. I was still fixed on the extreme amount of distance between the ground and myself. "Brooke?" I heard him sigh when I didn't answer. "Ok, think about it."

With that said, he dropped me. I let out an ear-piercing scream as I fell. My life flashed before my eyes as I neared the tops of the trees. I covered my head and closed my eyes, as I was about to make contact with a tree. I waited for the impact, but it never came. Instead when I opened my eyes, I was cradled in Tyseuh arms. "You didn't think I'd just let you drop to your death, did you?"

I was so overwhelmed with everything that was happening that I just looked at him with a blank expression before my eyes rolled back into my head and I passed out… again.

888

Yevon only knows how long I was out, but when I awoke later I had a throbbing pain in the back of my head and a crick in my neck. I opened my eyes slowly and blinked a few times to get used to the poor lighting. I was laying on a hard cold floor. I slowly pushed my self up into a sitting position.

I looked around, taking in my surrounding. I was in some sort of celled compartment. It was dark and smelt of rotting decay. I crawled over to the side of the cell I was in and peered out. My hearts immediately jumped into my throat. This wasn't a cell; it was a cage. A cage suspended over a dark eerie pit of impending doom.

"Oh my Yevon," I muttered softly as I backed away from the bars. "Where the hell am I?"

"Are you awake up there?" I heard someone call out. I jumped slightly, frightened by the breech of silence.

When I finally managed to find my voice the only thing I could stutter out was, "Uh… yea…"

I heard some movement before the same voice said, "Maester Seymour wishes to converse with you. He'll be in, in a few minutes, so just hang around till then," he snorted and laughed at his own pathetic joke before leaving.

My head started to pound again and this feeling of danger laid heavily on my stomach. The place I was in was almost dead quiet, had there not been a few pained moans every so often, I would have thought I was alone. After a good fifteen minutes of silence, I heard a door open and the familiar voice of the Maester filled the room. My throated tightened and I held my breath as his footsteps echoed louder. I assume he's not all that happy with me, not after that scene in Bevelle.

My thoughts were interrupted when the caged jerked. I gasped loudly as it slowly made its descent towards the floor. It finally came to rest right in front of the Maester. He had a twisted smile on his face as he looked down at me. "Lady Brooke, how kind of you to join us. I never did get to thank you for that lovely evening. You left in such a hurry…"

I lifted my head and glared at him. 'What the hell does he want with me?' The feeling of danger was running through my body. I watched him closely as he unlocked the cage's door. Once open he took a step inside, instinctively I reached for my weapons. 'Gone… of course, no one in their right mind would have left me armed.'

He laughed sinisterly and took a knee in front of me. "Dear Brooke," he made a grab for my chin.

I quickly swatted his hand away and growled, "Don't touch me."

"Your life is in my hands, you would dare speak to me in such a manner?"

I gritted my teeth, but remained silent. He smiled again, which made my insides wrought with contempt. I wanted to bash his head into the ground. That's when I realized I was missing someone, "Where's Auron?"

He frowned and stood. He took a few steps around me. "My dear, I think you should be worrying about yourself. You see, Lady Brooke, your in Bevelle's waiting chambers. You will be put on trial in front of the grand council and… to be quite frank, you're looking at a nice permanent vacation in the Via Purifico."

I could feel the color draining from my face as he said those last two words. My blood ran cold as I muttered, "The… Via… Pur… Purifico…?"

"Yes." The feeling of danger turned into immediate dread. The Via Purifico was specifically made for the worst criminals in Spira and never once has someone come out… alive that is. I suddenly felt nauseous and dizzy. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths.

"Well, I believe your out-look may have changed a bit." I could hear the condescension in his voice as he said that.

I swallowed hard and asked him again, "Where is Auron?"

He rolled his eyes and flicked his hair over his shoulders. "In a cell awaiting trial. He's being charged as an accessory to your crime and could very well meet the same fate as you." He continued to pace around me, "Brooke, this can all go away. Just do your duty as the chosen one. Take me to Zanarkand." He took a knee in front of me again. "Let me make you my wife."

I sneered at him. I don't now what happened but this feeling of intense hatred coursed through my veins. I quickly spat in his face and said, "I'd rather die."

Next thing I knew I was on the floor grasping my left cheek. He moved so fast I didn't even realize that he hit me until he was standing over me with his fist clenched. "Then you shall die by those words." He quickly turned and walked out of the cage. He turned to the guard and said, "The whore is all yours 'til the trial tomorrow."

The guard looked in at me with a twisted smile as he looked over every inch of my body. I cringed and gagged involuntarily. Before I knew it, I was being pulled off the ground and pushed down the hall. The guard had one hand on my left arm and another on the back of my neck. "Heh, me and you are gonna have some fun."

I shuddered violently as his hot breath fell on my neck. He continued to push me forward until we came to a long hall of cells. I could feel the eyes of the inmates gazing at me. I even received a few catcalls. I kept my eyes on the ground as he pushed me past the cells and into and office type room. He shoved me into the desk before he turned to lock the door. I made a slight groan of pain as my hip made hard contact with the sharp corner of the desk.

"So…" he started to get my attention. I turned and glared at him. He smirked. "What 's your name sweet cheeks?" he said as he caressed my arm.

I took a few quick steps back and said, "Don't touch me…"

He smirked again. "I'm gonna do more than touch you," he remarked as he made a grab for me. I jumped back quickly, evading his reach. He frowned and advanced towards me. I in turn, continued to move back away from him. "The more you resist, the more it'll hurt… you."

I picked up a book sitting on the table beside me and flung it at his head, "Don't come near me!" Luckily, he wasn't all the swift and the book smacked him upside the head, allowing me a moment's reprieve. I ran past hi m to the door. I tugged at the handle, but it was locked. 'Shit!'

He grabbed my shoulders and roughly pulled me back. He shoved me down on the desk behind me. I knew all along what he was going to do, but the severity of it, just struck me now. I wasn't going down without a fight. I started to scream and swing wildly. My fist connected with the left side of his head and he took a sep back away from me. I flipped back over the desk to keep some kind of distance between us.

He rubbed his head and laughed, "So you like it rough, eh?" He ran around the desk, I tried to get away, but he grabbed the back of my shirt, jerking me back. He ripped it and turned me to face him. He grabbed both my wrists roughly and shoved me into the wall. I couldn't even groan because he had already smashed his head into mine, planting lustful kisses on my lips. He forcefully shove his tongue into my mouth. I wanted to throw up; it was repulsive. This was it; I bit down on his drawing, drawing out a scream and some blood. This distraction allowed me to quickly bring my knee up to meet his groin. He yelled out in pain and stumbled backwards. I went to run, but tripped over a box on the floor. I scrambled to get back to my feet, but as I was going to run, he recovered. He pushed me back to the floor and grabbed my throat. "Alright, bitch, you aren't even worth it."

I grabbed his wrist and desperately tried to get his hand away from my throat. I couldn't breath and I could feel my arms loosing strength. In desperation, I raked my nails across his face. He screamed out and stood up, grabbing at his face.

I took in a deep breath of need air that was quickly released again when a foot made contact with my ribcage. "Oh vilg," I cried out as I pulled my legs up and rolled over.

"You speak that dirty language?" He kicked me again, which caused me to yell out. I rolled away and got to my hands and knees, but since I wasn't moving nearly fast enough, he came running up next to me and kicked me in the ribcage sending me sprawling to the floor once more. This time though, I didn't move… I couldn't. Breathing had become painful for me.

I took a few shallow breaths of air before he came over to me. Pain was coursing through my body as he leaned over me. He grabbed a handful of my hair and violently pulled me to my feet. I had all I could do to stay on my feet. 'Oh my Yevon, what did I ever do to deserve this…' He pulled my head back, before smashing it into the wall.

I couldn't even react to it, I was in so much pain my body didn't know how to respond. "Let's go," he growled as he dragged me out by the hair. I stumbled along as he dragged me down the hall. He stopped before an empty cell. He pushed me to the floor, as he took out his keys to unlock the door. Had I been in better shape, I would have made a run for it, but… I couldn't even breathe correctly. Once the door was open, he pretty much threw me up against the wall in the cell. "Rot in hell, you traitorous bitch," were his last words before he slammed the door shut and locked it, leaving me alone in this dark cell.

I slowly slid down the cell wall, until I hit the floor. I leaned my head against the wall and took a few breaths of air. I could feel a warm trickle of blood coming down my forehead. I lifted my hand to that area. I brought my hand down to eye level and looked at the crimson liquid. As I was studying, I broke out into a fit of violent coughs. When the coughing stopped I wiped my mouth, only to find more blood. 'Oh Yevon, I'll be lucky if I'm not dead by tomorrow…'

I didn't even get to have time to myself, because after the door at the end of the hallway shut, I heard the calls from the other inmates. Things like, 'Heh, have fun, sweetie? Looks like things were a little rough' were said to me. I tried to ignore it, but found I couldn't. Could things possibly get any worse then they were? I painfully pulled my legs up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them and buried my face in my knees as I cried myself to sleep.

888

I woke up the next morning to the pleasant sounds of a very angry Tyseuh. "What do you mean by 'You put her in her place?'" his yells echoing down the corridor.

"She needed to know her place. She refused to fall into submission, so I beat her into it." I cringed at the sound of my attacker's voice.

After he said that, I heard no response, only the sounds of footsteps growing closer. I shimmied back into a dark corner of my cell in hopes that they wouldn't be able to see me. A few minutes passed before their shadows rested on the floor of my cell. "Open it," the 'angel' growled.

"Calm yourself," the guard snappily remarked as he sorted through the keys. Finally finding the correct one, he put slid open the door.

"Brooke?" Tyseuh called into the chamber. I held my breath hoping he'd just go away, I didn't want to see him now or ever again. This whole thing was all his fault. He turned and smacked the guard. "Turn on a freakin' light," he ordered.

The guard mumbled something under his breath before flicking a switch, ultimately flooding my cell with light. I closed my eyes tightly, not used to the light, and hid my face in my hands. I heard some movement, and felt a gentle hand touch my arms, lightly pulling them away from my face. I opened one eye and then the other, so I could glare at him effectively. He didn't seem phased by this at all, instead he stood quickly and punched the guard. "What did you do to her!"

The guard stumbled back. "Damn it! What the hell is your problem?"

"Under what jurisdiction do you have to do this to one of your prisoners?" he growled his fist clenched.

"Hey, I had full permission from Maester Seymour to do what I wanted," the nameless guard said in his own defense.

His whole body seemed to shake with anger as he turned and looked at me. I continued to glare at him, letting him know that I hated him.

'You don't blame me for this, do you?'

'I hate you.'

'Lady Brooke, I assure you, I would never allow such travesties to occur…"

I looked away from him; I didn't want to talk to him. "I have nothing more to say to you," I voiced.

"Fine," he said through clenched teeth. "Have you even thought about my preposition."

"Yea, right in between the attempted rape and the assault," I remarked bitterly.

He didn't say anything else to me, instead he turned and left the cell and briskly walked off down the hall. The guard followed quickly behind him. I sat there, pain being my only companion. Maybe they'll just feel badly for me and let me go. Yeah, and maybe I'll sprout wings and fly myself out of here. I sighed and leaned my head back on the wall closing my eyes… eventually dosing off.

I don't think I was sleeping for long, before I was awoken again by the slamming of the cell door. I lifted my head lazily and glanced at the Maester standing before me. He looked down at me with disdain before saying "Disgusting, she needs to be cleaned before we put her on trial." He glared at me. "Get up."

I didn't move, not like I really could. A low growl emitted from his mouth. He hit the guard standing next to him. "Pick her up and bring her to Harmony. Tell her to clean her and only clean her. I do not want her healed, am I understood?"

The guard nodded slowly before gently lifting my off the ground. He cradled me in his arms and walked softly down the long hall. As we passed by some of the cells, I would have sworn I saw Auron, but as quickly as I saw it, it was gone again. I sighed heavily and dropped my head against the stranger's chest.

"Are you ok?" he asked lowly.

I opened my eyes and sent him a questioning look. "Does it look like I'm ok?" I snapped back.

"Sorry, what happened?" he asked again softly.

"Didn't wanna marry Seymour, or give myself up to some guard, and this was my reward," I replied.

He looked at me with wide eyes, "You're the one being put on trial for assaulting the Maester?"

"That's what they're charging me with?" I closed my eyes again.

"I'm sorry, but in this condition, you don't look like you could hurt a fly," he said as he shifted my weight in his arms so he could open the door.

I sighed heavily, "Yeah, well… it happens."

He walked me over to a bed and laid me down. "I'll be right back." He walked over to the door adjacent to the bed and knocked softly, "Harmony? I have someone you have to clean."

A loud groan was heard from behind the door. "If its another disgusting pervert inmate you can forget it. That wasn't part of the job description when I took it."

He smiled and laughed softly, "No, Harmony, it's a girl that's really badly beaten. Please come out."

A few minutes past before the door opened. A petite girl with blonde hair walked out into the room where I was. She turned towards me and gasped. "Oh my Yevon!" She came towards me and her amethyst eyes ran over me. "What in all that is holy happened to her? I mean what, was she found on the outskirts of Bevelle?"

The young man shook his head, "She's the one to be put on trial today…" he trailed off. He shook his head, "Anyway, orders are to wash her and only wash her. Maester Seymour does not want her healed."

The blond looked over at the guard with disbelief. "You're kidding right? She looks like she fighting between life and death right now."

The guards face fell solemn, "She's going to be put to death…"

The blond woman looked up, worry clearly expressed in her eyes. "She's the one that's…"

He just nodded slowly before walking towards the door. "Just get her cleaned, she's to be on trial in an hour. And please Harmony, for both of us, don't heal her… you'll only get us both in trouble…"

Harmony frowned and didn't respond. She waited 'til he closed the door before she moved closer to the bed I was on. "Not to heal you. I'm the flippin' white mage of Bevelle and they think I'm not to going to heal someone that need healing. This is absurd!"

She looked over my body taking in all the damage. She frowned deeply, "Well, you definitely need to be cleaned… can you sit up?"

"I can try…" I muttered as I slowly rose into a sitting position. Pained coursed through me with each movement. I couldn't believe what shape that bastard left me in. After sitting up, she helped me over to tub area where I was going to be cleaned.

888

After a good half hour of scrubbing my hair and body, I was fully clean. She was even so kind to do my hair, although she was muttering curses under her breath about not being able to heal me. "Listen, I would heal you, but I'm in enough hot water as it is, and they would know if I did. However," she held up a small tablet. "I've been working in the Alchemistry field, and well I came up with this. I'm not sure if it'll work, but what have you got to loose, right?" she smiled warily. "I'm really sorry…"

I took the tablet and stuck it in my pocket before shaking my head slowly, "You've done more than enough for me. Thank you."

She didn't even get to appreciate the thanks because the second those words left my mouth, two guards burst through the door. "Brooke Rassi, you will come with us." I sighed heavily. This wasn't going to be a pleasant ordeal…

888

I was now standing in front of the council of Maesters: Seymour, Kinoc, Mika, and Kelk Ronso. I was placed on this hovering podium, which made me question why something like this was in a 'no machina zone.' I was having difficulties standing, which by the expression on Seymour's face I could tell he was enjoying.

A few minutes passed before the doors were swung open below me. "Sorry, your grace. We had some difficulties with this one."

I moved to the edge of the 'hovering platform' and looked down. I saw that familiar firm, crimson clad figure below. "Auron!" I called out with a smile on my face.

He looked up in my direction, and I would swear I saw a smile come to his lips. "Brooke! Are you ok?" he called up.

"Not really…" I muttered under my breath before I said in a louder voice, "As good as I can be…"

However, our little reunion was dampened by Maester Seymour. "Well, isn't this sweet? You!" he pointed to the guard, "do what was done with her."

Within minutes, Auron was up on the hovering podium with me. He smiled slightly before frowning. He looked intently at my face and brushed the hair away from my eyes before asking, "What happened to your face?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but I was interrupted by the decrepit voice of Maester Mika. "Brooke Rassi, you are charged with assaulting a Maester of Yevon on two accounts along with conspiring with the Al Bhed and attempting to give information to Zanarkand."

My mouth dropped in shock before I shouted out, "What!" Give Information to Zanarkand? Conspiring with the Al Bhed? What the hell? "I never did such thi-"

"Silence," the deep voice of Maester Kelk Ronso boomed through out the courtroom. "You will speak when we are finished."

I bit my tongue to keep me from talking. By the looks of this, I wasn't going to get out of this, especially by yelling out like that. My grip around the railing tightened, so much so, that my knuckles were white. Auron placed his hand on my shoulder and whispered, "Calm down…"

Maester Mika cleared his throat before continuing, "And you, Auron Mareski, are being charged with assaulting a Maester and being an accessory to the escape of one, Brooke Rassi." He leaned forward and sent a glance towards us. I couldn't believe this, this whole thing is outrageously ridiculous. "What do you have to say for yourselves?"

Auron went to speak, but I beat him to it. "I didn't know that protecting yourself, and helping others was a crime," I said bitterly.

"It's not, however, Brooke, that isn't what you did," Seymour said, sending a glare in my direction.

I stood firmly and said, "Oh so when you were about to snap my wrist, I was supposed to just let you. Or when the Iron Giant attacked that DEFENSELESS Al Bhed Mother and child, I was suppose to allow them to die? Oh well I'm sorry that was never specified."

"Lady Brooke, I will tell you only once, do not raise your voice in this room," the plump Maester barked out.

"I'm sorry, however, I don't see how I am standing trial on such faulty accusations," I was going to continue but Auron's grip on my shoulder tightened and I took that as an indication to stop talking.

When I was silent, the council of Maesters looked to Auron waiting for him to speak. Auron was quiet for a while before he finally said, "I am guilty of standing up for my morals, but that is all."

"Brooke, have you nothing to say on your defense about assisting Zanarkand?" Maester Kinoc asked. He had a small smile toying on his lips, and I wanted to kick him in the head.

I closed my eyes tightly as anger coursed through my veins, I gritted my teeth and said in a calm fashion, "Do you not know where I am native to? I hail from the Isle of Besaid. An island recently decimated by Zanarkand. Now, why in the name of Yevon would I be passing on information to them?" I looked up at the four Maesters, they seemed to be contemplating me words. I smiled mentally, thinking this would get me off the hook for at least that accusation. I mean it's only the logical thing. Why would I be assisting a city that destroyed everything I knew.

This of course wasn't the case, Seymour immediately pounced on that idea. "You were the only survivor. Isn't that just… convenient?"

My eyes shot open and my rage took over, I shook Auron off my shoulder and glared at him. "How dare you! Zanarkand killed my family! They killed everyone I loved! I was forced to watch the killing of my little sister! How dare you say that I am helping them! I want nothing more than to see that city fall! I hate them for taking everything away from me, you know that!" I pointed an accusing finger at Seymour. "You know of my journey and of the prophecy."

"Do you not see the anger writhing within her? She's a danger to the society." The Guado Maester sent a look of mock pity towards me. "It's for her own good that she is taken away from society."

The other Maester were hesitant at first, but eventually nodded their head in agreement. "Brooke Rassi," the elderly Maester started. "You are hereby sentenced to spend the rest of your life in the watery depth of the Via Purifico. Auron Mareski, you face a similar fate. You will spend the rest of your life in the Maze of Sorrows, the labyrinth of the Via Purifico. Now, take them out of my sight."

Within minutes, the hovering podium was on the level floor. I felt hands on my arms and they began to pull me away. I quickly broke from them and shouted one last thing, "You, Maester Seymour, are putting your people in danger because I refuse to take your hand in marriage! The blood of the followers will be on your hands!" After those words left my mouth, a hand was clamped over it and I was dragged away.

888

I was pulled down a different hallway from Auron. He was so refined about all this, but then again, he's lived a bit longer than I. As he disappeared from my sight I could feel the tears well up in my eyes and I stopped struggling. 'This is it…I can't believe it… A few weeks ago and I never would have guessed any of this would ever happen…' At this point the tears were cascading down my face as I pulled in to this dark room. The other guard that was escorting me to my death, lifted up a piece of metal out of the floor.

"This is your new home for the next… hour or two…" he laughed to himself before he turned his back to me. He bent over and picked something up. When he turned back around, he was holding my daggers and sword. "Yours?" I looked at him confused. What the hell was going on? I watched him as he tossed my stuff into the hole. "Well we can't leave you defenseless, hope you can find your stuff down there."

The guard that had his hand clamped over my mouth, removed it and looked at me curiously. "For someone who is facing death, you are awfully quiet."

I looked at him, my eyes still watery from the crying, but I didn't say anything. He looked at me sadly, "How old are you?"

"Eighteen," I muttered.

"Wow … I'm really sorry bout this," and with those words spoken he pushed me forward. I let out a yelp as I fell forward into the dark watery pit with a splash.

888

A/N: And there you have it people, another wonderful rendition of Operation PayBack, I apologize for taking so long delay, I wanted to get out New Life first, which will be ended on Oct. 25 for anyone interested. Well I do hope you liked this chapter, I worked hard these past couple days to write it, well finish it. Hey you know the deal, review and I'll update… eventually. –grins-

Thank You:

Akiraine of Gia- Yea, I liked writing that recorder part. It's basically just for the sequel, I'm thinking about writing -smirks- it's not definite, but yeah. Yeah, I'm interested in that kind of stuff too, which is why I made Tyseuh Demon of Death -grins- And well his deal was in the beginning of this chapter. So yeah, you were slightly off with Tidus, but not completely, he has something…. I'm saying to much. You'll see in later chapters. And Vincent and Lenne and them will be back soon enough, I know where I'll have them introduced. I can't believe your friends did that to you! That's horrible! Lol I'm so pissed AC Hasn't come out. -growls-

SLy - I have wings! -spreads out black feathery wings- heh pretty -pets them- soffft -grins- And No he's not sin. I'm not going to incorporate sin into this. -smiles- I'm glad you like my stories and don't worry, I most definitely continue writing, after I finish New Life, I'll be writing up a story called Elemental War, FFX section soo look for it after Oct. 25 -smiles- oh and in case you didn't get that, I'll be posting up New Life's epilogue Oct 25 (One year Anniversary!)

Chaka the Chopstick Ninja - lol not a problem, you reviewed this time! -dances- Yea I know what you mean bout roleplaying. It's fun! -dances- though I haven't done it… in a really long time… hmm -ponders- yeah well Auron isn't the brightest crayon in the box, now is he? Lol Yup, that's good ol' Tyseuh for you. Now everyone knows what he is and somewhat of his purpose -whistles innocently-

crystal-sakura-marlene - yeah well I like typos lol, and nope he didn't have to track her down! They were together the whole time, kinda, sorta… not really. Shhhh, that's ok ,we'll pretend they were! And thanks for Betaing (that totally not a word) it! Really appreciate it! And hey, I'm getting better! –dances-

LoserKid05 hey! Glad you think so! Hope you liked this chappie -smiles-

Krystall Trensk - Yeah, well do I ever really let my characters get any rest? Not in the least! Lol Everytime they rest something bad happens whahaha. -shrugs- My happiness muse ran away.. lol oh well…

Anasazi Darkmoon - Well I'm glad you liked it! I had fun writing it, and this one was, not so much fun, more of a hassle, but oh well -shrugs- I hope you like this chapter, and Sephy says hi (Sephy) -waves-