Disclaimer- I need everyone's attention please. I don't care if you're just scanning through this chapter with no intentions of reviewing. You have to read this. I, Twin-lance, hereby denounce all rumors that have been circulating around that claim that I own the rights to Final Fantasy VIII.

Author's Notes- First off I need to apologize to everyone that has been waiting for this chapter. This chapter was complete almost a month ago, but due to some unforeseen problem with my mother's computer, I lost one of the most important scenes in this chapter. I was able to retype most of what was lost, but that one scene wasn't originally included in my notes and rough drafts and it took me weeks to replace it. I hope it reads alright. This chapter has pushed me to the brink of my sanity and it's as good as I can get it. lol

JadeAlmasy- I appreciate your continuing loyalty/interest in my stories. I'm glad you can tell a difference in the old and new version. This chapter seriously pushed me to the brink of my sanity and I at one point wanted to scrap it and throw in the towel.

Rune- I'm frustrated with this chapter and relieved at the same time because it's finally done. I appreciate your reviews. Your encouragement has kept me going on more than one occasion.

Affirmation

Dak awoke with a start. From where he lay propped against the wall he couldn't see anything-- his makeshift cell was pitch black. Still nervous, he strained his eyes as he gave one last look around. He tried to close his eyes and go back to sleep but he couldn't help but feel like he wasn't alone. His feelings were confirmed when a calloused hand covered his mouth.

"Shh," A familiar voice calmed him down when he struggled. "It's going to be alright...so long as he didn't break your legs."

Immediately Dak turned and buried his face in his father's chest. The movement hurt his face and chest but at that moment nothing could overshadow the feeling of his father's reassurances. "Dad," his voice sounded strangled and scratchy.

"Shh," Ben whispered as he wrapped his arms around Dak's shoulders. "I'm so sorry son."

At his words the tears began cascading down Dak's cheeks, burning his cuts and bruises along the way. "What's going on?"

"Shh," Ben continued to try and keep him quiet. "Can you run?"

Dak nodded against his chest.

"Good, that's very good son," Ben continued to whisper.

"Where am I running?" Dak asked. "The nearest town isn't for fifty or so miles."

"I don't care where you run," Ben answered as he tried to stroke Dak's hair but instead found a matted mess where the blood had congealed. He picked at and loosened some strands of the hair as Dak continued to lean against him. For an instant, Ben was reminded of a time years ago, when Dak was just a young child. The thought brought back bittersweet memories and he realized in that instant that he'd taken his children for granted. Pushing the thought away, he found his hand gently rubbing his son's back. "So long as you end up at Balamb Garden I don't care which way you run."

"Balamb Garden?"

"I tried to talk Fujin into leaving, so that she couldn't be used as leverage whenever Audley realizes who she is. But I couldn't convince her to leave without telling her why I needed her too...not that she would've left anyways," Pausing Ben frowned as he looked Dak over. "I can't believe he did this to you."

"I was scared. Training with a partner is one thing. I've never actually fought someone else. Especially a SeeD-"

"Shh. I know. I didn't realize he would react this way...which is why I need you to get out of here."

"What about you?"

"Don't you worry about me, I've got a plan. I just have to get you as far away from this place as possible."

"Okay...You'll meet me at Balamb Garden then?"

Ben was silent for a moment. "Yes son."

A silence once again engulfed the room as the two men sat there in the darkness. After taking a deep breath, Ben slowly stood up and pulled Dak up with him.

"When I open the door I want you to go around the side of the car and into the woods," Ben said as he placed a hand absently on Dak's cheek.

"What's the point?" Dak asked.

"What? To get you out of here."

"No, what's the point in everything Audley's doing?"

"We're wasting time talking," Ben grabbed his arm to lead him across the dark car. Dak resisted. Ben sighed.

"I know you know."

"He's got some personal score to settle with Westman's Stiller. I don't understand it all I just know it involves some old weapons plant he used to have. Look, in case something goes wrong-"

"Don't talk like that Dad," Dak warned.

"In case something goes wrong," Ben repeated, this time more firmly. "I need you to tell Commander Loire that Audley's planning on planting bombs at a few strategic locations to further rattle the relations between Galbadia and Esthar. I think he's counting on a military build-up and maybe even a war. I'm not sure. I figure the embassies in Deling and Esthar Cities would be targets, probably the major train depots...like the one that was set up in Fisherman's Horizon. Enough talk. I need you to get as far away from here as you can while I go find your brothers."

"Alright. Be careful Dad."

"You be careful," Ben said as he pulled Dak into a hug and kissed his forehead. "I love you son."

"I love you too," Dak spoke as Ben pulled away and pushed the door open as silently as its hinges would allow.

"Come on. We need to get out of here." Dak watched as Ben jumped to the ground below and then helped him down. "Go around that side," Ben instructed, pointing the direction before shoving a small pistol into Dak's hand. Dak paused and tried to use the moonlight to see exactly what kind of weapon Ben had given him.

"Go!" Ben shoved Dak around the side of the car. He followed after him to help him over the tall chain link fence standing between them and the wilderness. "Here step on my hands," Ben ordered him. Dak nodded as he took hold of his father's shoulders and painfully pushed himself up. With a groan, Ben pushed his youngest son up to the top of the fence and held his weight until he'd made it over.

Dak slid and fell down the opposite side of the fence. He landed on his feet and fell back because of the force of the impact. Ben knelt down and watched as Dak rolled over and slowly pushed himself up onto his feet.

"Everything hurts," he whispered as he leaned against the fence.

"I know," Ben's eyes held within them a sea of regret. "Now go!"

With a nod, Dak turned and ran the opposite direction. Ben watched as he crossed the field and disappeared into the tree line. Once Dak was out of sight, he spun on his heel and quickly ducked underneath the train car. Working quickly, he searched the guard for any hidden weapons. Finding none, he left the guard where he lay and then thought better of it. He returned to the guard's body and then dragged it out from under the car and then over behind a scrap pile. It wasn't much, but he couldn't risk leaving it in the open and he couldn't throw it on the burn pile. Burning human flesh made a very noticeable odor and notice was something he was trying to avoid...at least for the time being.

He knew he'd told Dak he'd go back for Luke and Ross, but they were too far gone. Audley showed extreme favor to them and seemed to be going out of his way to accommodate and train them. The thought disturbed him, but there wasn't anything he could really do. It was likely that even as he stood there, Audley was showing them how to make a blade or rifle or any other kind of weapon. Audley was an artist of sorts. A dark, cruel artist but an artist nonetheless. Ben knew that if he went into the main section of their camp he wouldn't be able to convince either of his sons to leave and he might not make it back out alive. With that thought in mind, Ben regretfully hurried over to the fence and began climbing up himself.

The high sun was threatened by the deep purple clouds of an approaching storm front. On the beach below, Zell fell to his knees and rolled in the white sand. Quickly finding his feet and dusting the sand off of his chest and arms, he leapt backwards and prepared himself for Nida's next attack. Just as he raised his arms up before his body, a foot nearly struck his chest. Zell leapt to the side and then kicked out for his opponent's knees. Much as he expected, his adversary back flipped over his leg and landed a few feet away. Grinning, Zell took a moment to regain his breath and then charged. Leaping up in the air, he kicked. Nida rolled out of the way and quickly retaliated with a kick aimed at Zell's head.

From her seat closer to the tree line, Fujin watched as the two shirtless SeeDs trained. It almost looked as if they were just playing or putting on a show. Neither of them had hit the other in a while and both seemed content with it. The more she watched the more it began to look like an acrobatics show; one would kick and the other would do some kind of fancy flip or roll to avoid it. They were both show-offs in their own way. Her gaze fell from Zell and Nida to the waves beyond them. Each one seemed to crash on the shore a little harder than the one before it. Silently, she stood and walked a little closer to the water.

Zell noticed her movement and fell out of his defensive position. Nida paused and then turned to where Zell was looking. His gaze shifted up to the darkening clouds as he scratched his scalp. He grimaced at all the sand that he felt embedded in his hair.

"Hey Fuu," Zell called out to her. "What's wrong?"

Fujin looked back at him, the wind whipping her platinum hair around her face. She shook her head and then returned her gaze back to the darkening water. A wave crashed into the shore and rolled up the sand to the toes of her boots. She stared at the swirling sand it contained.

"Fuu?" Zell asked as he picked up his shirt and tried to wipe the sand and sweat off of his face and arms.

"STORM," She said as she walked closer to him. Nida shifted his gaze to the darkening sky and waves.

"I should probably get back to Garden," Nida stated.

"You sure? We still have time to train some more," Zell said. Just as the words rolled off his tongue, a wave crashed onto the shore, knocking Nida and Fujin down. Zell quickly caught a hold of Fujin's arm and steadied her. Nida, on the other hand, fell down into the water and was washed back a few feet before he was able to regain his footing. He quickly staggered out of the water and up past where Zell and Fujin stood.

Now soaking wet, Nida looked at the sky. "Yeah I think I'm going to head back. I have duty this evening anyway."

Zell shrugged. "Seeya."

"You want a ride into Balamb?" Nida asked as he pulled a set of keys out of his pocket.

Zell looked to Fujin, who shook her head. "Nah we're actually heading over to my Ma's."

"Alright. Don't say I didn't offer," Nida responded. "I'll see ya later."

They watched as Nida hurried up the beach and stopped only to retrieve his shirt from the ground. He pulled the black t-shirt over his head and quickly climbed in the small black truck sitting under the trees. Fujin wordlessly started walking back along the beach. Zell watched her for a moment, quickly pulled his shirt over his head and caught up to her.

The two continued their walk along the water's edge. Fujin took in the cool clean air the wind was pushing ashore. The breeze was nice. It was too bad it reminded her of the breeze a few nights ago outside of Dollet. Sneaking a glance under her now chin length hair she observed Zell as he watched the birds fly overhead. He was beautiful. Pure even. Doing what she had torn him apart and in turn had done the same to her. His eyes still haunted her from that night. She'd felt like she had betrayed him. At least today his eyes had their familiar gleam again. Well maybe not the gleam they once had, but that was to be expected. Now that they were alone, things were still awkward between them.

Still walking in the wet sand, Zell glanced up at yet another flock of birds that flew over their heads. They were lovely, but still no comparison to the young woman beside him. A small smile crossed his lips at the sight of them. He watched entranced as they floated on the wind and then swooped down toward the water. There really was a nice wind blowing.

He watched her out of the corner of his eye. Her platinum hair blowing just slightly towards him. It took all he had not to touch it or run his fingers through it. He was afraid to touch her after their last walk on the beach. She was so determined she was so wrong for him, so unworthy or undeserving. For the life of him he couldn't understand why. He knew she had personal issues with her appearance and height but he couldn't see what she thought was so wrong. If either of them should be self-conscious he figured it should be him. Thanks to the constant steroids and medications a birth defect and an illness during his infancy put him on, he considered himself more than lucky to be the 5' 7" he was now. And as far as looks went, he had more than his share of scars down his left leg from a mission gone wrong not even a year ago.

"I'm sorry," Fujin spoke softly as they walked. Zell turned, not entirely sure she'd said something.

"What?" He asked as he studied her.

Fujin didn't respond at first. The longer she remained silent the hotter his face grew. "I said I'm sorry."

Zell stared at her, a confused expression on his face. "What are you sorry for?" His voice was cautious and guarded.

"For the other night," she answered. "I'm sorry. You just don't understand." He caught her arm to keep her from walking ahead of him.

"I'd understand if you talked to me."

Fujin shook her head as she pulled free of his grasp.

"Fujin!" Zell pleaded as he took hold of her shoulders and closed the distance between them. "What is wrong? We have a relationship together. We're supposed to talk to each other." Under his hands her body sagged as her eyes fell to the sand below. "Fuu?"

"...I...um...no," She shook her head and pulled back away from him.

"Please-" She whirled around to face him and regretted it instantly. The tears in his eyes cut through her like a knife.

"Zell," her words were strained.

"Fuu I'm not mad at you," he said as he took her face in his hands. "If you aren't ready for marriage then you just aren't ready. That's not something you should be pushed into ya know?"

She smiled faintly. "It's not that," she whispered as she placed her hands on top of his and pulled them away from her face. "It's just that...that you deserve better."

Zell staggered back at her words. "What?" He stared at her in pure shock. Fujin looked down at the ground and kicked at the sand with the toe of her boot. "You're serious..." He said more to himself than her. "Fuu….Why would you think that? I mean have I said or done something to make you think that?"

"No," she answered with a sigh.

"Then explain to me what you're talking about."

"You're the talk of your town. You're attractive, athletic, charismatic, rich, fun to be with, and as much as it seems too good to be true, you're also so caring," She grinned as she studied him. "You're Balamb's hero, you realize that right? Every kid in that town looks up to you because of the person you are and everything you represent." Her face darkened as she looked out towards the water. Zell followed her gaze and watched the waves build and crash. "You're too good."

"Say what?" He spun to face her. "Too good for what?"

Fujin opened her mouth to speak and then stopped. "Look at me!" She held out her arms. "I'm too tall, too broad, have skin and vision problems, I look like a complete freak-"

"Wait, Fuu-"

"SILENCE!" She shouted. "You wanted me to talk so let me," she wrapped her arms around herself. "It's bad enough that I have bad vision. But if you haven't noticed, I have very limited use of my arm as well."

"Why does that matter?"

"Because I know you."

Zell narrowed his eyes. "You obviously don't if you think that all these problems you have with yourself would bother me-"

"You want kids Zell?"

Zell fell silent for a moment. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything. There's no way I could be a good parent...Not with all my problems."

"There are two of us. You wouldn't be doing it alone," He stepped forward to once again place a hand on her cheek. "And you're not too tall. I'm just a little short," He shrugged. "You're only an inch taller. So what? You have long legs, I'm not complaining." Fujin crossed her arms and made an attempt not to look away in embarrassment. "And you're so pale. Even your hair," Zell absently ran his fingers through the longer strands brushed her shoulders. "Look around Balamb when we get there. All you're gonna see is sun tans, everybody's so dark there. I'm a bit of an exception because I live at Balamb Garden now and don't get out much. Compared to what I grew up with, you're so different, exotic even. You're so beautiful and if anyone ever says any different I'll kick their asses for lying to you."

Fujin stared at the serious expression on his face and then burst out laughing. Feeling relieved, Zell pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. She closed her eyes as she held onto him. "Zell?" She asked.

"Yeah?"

"You didn't say otherwise, so does this mean you think I'm broad?"

Zell pulled back an arm's distance and narrowed his eyes. "Is this some kind of female snare you've managed to entrap me with?"

She raised an eyebrow. "So you do," She said as she started to pull away.

"No! No," Zell held onto her. "I just...didn't..."

"Didn't what?"

"I uh...didn't want to um...make myself look like-" He let his sentence die as he tried to figure out how to avoid her question.

"Don't lie to me."

His shoulders slumped as his face grew redder. "You are not broad," Zell answered as he licked his lips nervously. "You have nice curves when you're not hiding them under that blue jacket you're always wearing." He let his hands fall to her waist as he pulled her closer to him. "I like your shape. You have nice hips," He added, his face managing to grow redder. "You know, I'd always hoped that I'd one day be able to use them for leverage."

Fujin looked up at him in surprise and then grinned knowingly.

"And I think you'll appreciate your hips whenever you do decide to have children. You'll be a good mother," he brought his right hand up to trace her jaw line. "I just hope that I can be a good father."

It was Fujin's turn to blush. Pulling out of his embrace, she took his hand and started walking toward Balamb. Zell followed her willingly. They walked on in an oddly comfortable silence. Fujin stole a glance at him and then quickly looked out to the water on her left. Zell had seen it out of the corner of his eye and smiled. Walking a little to the side, he nudged her with his shoulder and sent her stumbling a few feet into the water. She regained her balance and whirled around to get an explanation from him.

Zell stared at where the water splashed up against her legs and left the dark navy of her trousers even darker. His eyes panned upward until they came to rest on her face. Although most of it was covered by her windblown hair and a patch, her expression told him everything he needed to know. The one eye he could see narrowed at him and then widened when a wave hit her from behind and sent her toppling forward. Taking that as his lucky break he took off running down the shore.

"Zell!" She shouted after him as she regained her footing and pursued him. "GONNA GET IT!"

"Only if you catch me first!" He shouted as he looked back over his shoulder at her. She smirked, distracting him and thus causing him to trip over the remnants of a sand castle. She watched as he landed on his stomach and skidded to a stop. A rather abrupt stop. For a long few seconds he didn't move. Fujin figured the impact probably knocked the breath out of him.

'Serves him right,' She thought snidely to herself. At a leisurely pace she closed the distance between them and then came to a stand still as she stared at his unmoving form. After a moment he slowly rose up onto his elbows and looked up at her with a lopsided grin on his face.

"You know I did that on purpose right?"

She rolled her eyes and started walking off.

"Hey! Where are you going! You don't just watch someone fall down and then leave them there!" He protested.

"Get up," she smiled.

"Okay," He complied as he quickly found his feet and walked over to her side. "Ma will be expecting us pretty soon anyways."

"Right," she said quietly.

"What's wrong?"

She looked out towards the approaching storm before she responded. "My adoptive father showed up a few days ago. He and I got into a fight. He said some things." Her thoughts fell to what he'd said about Zell.

"What'd he say?"

She dismissed his question with a wave. "He says lots of things. But most importantly, I think some of what he said suggests he's in on the heists."

Zell looked at her curiously. "What makes you think that?"

"Remember Dak and Lucas?"

"The two names you shouted on the train?"

"Affirmative."

"What about them?"

"They are two of his sons. He tried to get me to leave Balamb Garden. He's trying to keep me out of something and I think that something is those raids," she said as she brushed her hair behind her ears.

"You're still his daughter in a way," Zell offered.

"No. I must be affecting the way my brothers are acting during heists. I'm getting in the way." Zell watched her intently as they continued their walk.

"So is your dad the brains of the whole operation? Is he the one we're after?"

"Negative," She replied, her voice falling to a whisper.

"Then who do you think is?" He asked.

"Yours," Fujin spoke bluntly and stared ahead at Balamb.

"What?" Zell looked confused. "Pa died years ago."

"Not Pa Dincht...your real father." At her words, Zell looked up excitedly.

"You know who my father is? How did you find out?" Fujin remained silent and walked ahead of him. "Fuu! Come on! I wouldn't withhold this kind of information from you!" She continued walking until Zell bounced in front of her and took hold of her shoulders, forcing her to stop.

"Don't get excited," she mumbled. "He's not a good man."

"What do you mean?" Zell's expression darkened as his hands fell to his sides. "What do you know that I don't? Come on Fuu. Talk to me."

Giving in, Fujin reached in her jacket pocket and slowly pulled a folded piece of newspaper out. Zell eyed her suspiciously and with a bit of reluctance, reached out and took the article out of her hand. "I'm sorry," she apologized as she watched him unfold the article and narrow his eyes.

"What the..."

Ma Dincht was rearranging the books on the study's shelves when she heard the very distinct sound of Zell tripping through the front doorway. Setting her books aside she casually stepped into the doorway and looked at her son laying sprawled out on the floor.

"It's like an unwritten law. Every day I mop this floor you decide to come home in a rush," She grinned as she walked over to where he still lay. "Come on, get up," Zell did as he was told silently, earning him a frown from Ma Dincht. "What's wrong with my rowdy boy?"

"This," he said under his breath as he slowly pulled out the article and handed it to her. The smile fell off her face at the sight of it.

"I don't need to read it. I know what it says," she said gloomily.

Zell took a step back in surprise. "What? This is true?" Ma nodded. "Why did you lie about it?"

A tense silence filled the room. "You were eleven years old. What was I supposed to say?" Zell looked at her expectantly. "I lost Lex and then I lost my dear sweet Kyp. It wasn't easy for me. The last thing I needed was you having night terrors about it."

"But Ma-"

"No buts," she said. "I was alone in a foreign city with just my eleven year old son because I'd lost the love of my life to some psycho murderer. It was easier to tell my baby that his father's work had caught fire and he didn't make it out than it was to tell you that he was crushed alive and then ground into the machinery." She began to cry at this point, and Zell's eyes began to tear up as he let the paper slide out of his hand and onto the floor at their feet. "I'm sorry I couldn't. I didn't need you worrying about that man, being afraid of every shadow," she pulled him into a hug.

"I kinda wish I didn't know," Zell confessed.

"Me too sometimes," she tried to muster a supportive smile as she pushed him away to an arm's length.

"Sometimes?" he asked as he wiped at a few tears.

"Yeah," she nodded. "The bastard that did it was never apprehended. He got clean away," Zell's hands tightened into fists. "The police could never trace him after the incident. The last log we have of him was on a security camera. It showed him walking away from the complex," she hugged him again. Zell clenched his jaw shut and said nothing. He couldn't tell her the truth. If she didn't already know it, she didn't need to. "I miss him." At her words he began to cry.

Standing just inside the front door Fujin kept her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She listened to the conversation with guilt. Maybe he didn't need to know, and Ma sure didn't need the reminder. 'No he has to know. Audley's bound to and will use it against him,' Fujin thought bitterly. Nevertheless, she bit her lip and closed her eyes. She was getting too good at hurting him.

Ben was quickly rediscovering the physical hindrances his age was having on his body. His days of being a lethal and effective warrior and athlete had been lost to him, thanks to too many years serving from the safety of an office and well away from enemy lines. Nevertheless, he pushed himself on, knowing that he needed to follow Dak's trail to at least the forest before he veered off in the other direction. If Dak was lucky, the dogs would follow the fresher trail, Ben's trail, and Dak would be granted a few more minutes to put some distance between them.

His foot fell in a hole, twisting his ankle and rolling him a few feet across the field. With a clenched jaw, he pushed himself to his feet and continued running as best as he could. He reached the forest's edge. As if on cue, he began hear shouts and the yelps of dogs from the train yard. Audley knew what he had done. With any luck, Audley would figure out which way he was going and follow him. Ben winced as his thoughts were brutally interrupted by the sting of a thin branch slapping him across the face. Raising his arms to his face, he used them like a shield as he changed direction and began pushing his way through the brush. He only paused once to pull out a small pocket knife. With the barks growing louder, he cut his hand open and made certain to smear a little blood on the tree trunk beside him. It wasn't much of a decoy but maybe it would do its trick.

Shoving the knife back in his pocket, Ben continued running blindly through the forest. His run ended prematurely when the ground below his feet caved and he tumbled down the side of a creek bed. Landing loudly in the water, he splashed around in an attempt to orientate himself. He didn't have the shouts or barking to tell him which way was which. Confused as to which way he'd come from, he pulled himself back up on the shore and then stopped. Standing above him were the silhouettes of two shepherd dogs; both silent and unmoving.

"Piper," Audley spoke evenly as he raised his gun and fired. The forest was plunged into an eerie silence as Audley replaced his weapon and looked around.

"He was acting as a decoy," Jalen grumbled under his breath.

"So it would seem," Audley fumed as he looked around at the men that surrounded him. "Why in the hell are you all standing here? Take the dogs back to the edge of the woods and pick up Dak's trail! I want that kid's corpse before sunrise!" he screamed at his men. The first few took off at his demand while a few others lingered. Pulling out his gun again he fired two shots at two of his men and dropped them both before they'd even realized what he was doing. "That means move!" he shouted to the remainders. Everyone around him scattered. Turning his attention back to Ben, he watched him slowly try to push himself up out of the water. "I had big plans for you Mr. Piper. Same goes for your boys. Too bad your baby won't live to see sunrise," Audley raised his weapon once more and fired once more.

"He really loved you," Ma said as she led him back to the study. "He was always telling his employees and friends about you." she smiled as she pulled back a picture frame and opened the door that sat behind it.

'He told everyone about me?' Zell wondered to himself. 'That's not good if Audley was his apprentice.' A chill ran up his spine at the thought. He watched as she lifted a black safe from the hole in the wall and sat it on the desk. Zell watched with great interest as she opened the small, folder sized compartment. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the elaborate gold lettering going across the book she handed him.

"Open it," she urged him. He did as he was told and just stared at the papers inside. Carefully shutting the book he sat down and traced the silver WS with his fingers.

"Ma...This is..."

"Our best kept secret. Until now," she finished for him. He looked up at her. "My Grandfather founded the company when I was seven. When he passed on, he gave the company to my father. When he passed on, he gave it to Rachel and I. The few people that realized the company was in our possession immediately started pressuring us to make it a publicly traded stock company. But our father and grandfather would never allow it so neither did we. It seems there was always someone trying to take over it as it was. My father believed that by selling the stock you were selling the company off to the richest capitalist. Just the thought alone was enough to anger him. Grandfather built this company from scratch. It started out in an old blacksmith's shed. The weapons were more than a product to him."

"They were an art," Zell added. Ma smiled.

"Yes they were," she agreed. "Your father was a sculptor when I first met him," she paused. "He was in his second year at the arts academy in Dollet. He had a fascination with blades. Most of his own sculptures, the small clay and glass ones that he practiced with at home, were of duelists and swordsmen. I remember the night I first asked if he'd be interested in actually making swords. He thought I was crazy until I took him to my grandfather's shop." Mirenne stopped talking as she gazed out the window.

"Is that why Pa was away on business a lot? He was going back to work at the factory?"

"Mostly he led dig teams and met with businessmen about purchasing different ores to use, but yes, he did spend some time actually working at the plant. My father used to complain that it took him too long to produce anything. He tried to tease Kyp about how painstakingly elaborate things had to be. He stopped complaining the day Kyp finished his Lionheart."

"Lionheart?" Zell looked up at her.

"It was the crown jewel of everything your father ever made. Up until he'd made Lionheart, he'd never actually used a gunblade. He spent hours studying their design and examining the effectiveness of their firing chambers, but it wasn't until he made Lionheart that he really took up the art. He actually made a few smaller caliber gunblades and a lot of swords and daggers to go with it. It had its own little series."

"Pa made Lionheart?" Zell asked, trying to make sure his Ma wasn't leading him on.

Mirenne nodded.

"How much did it sell for?"

Ma's face darkened. "He didn't. The night your father was killed, it was stolen out of the vault along with a few of the other weapons."

"Oh," Zell looked crestfallen.

"It was a one of a kind piece. He'd planned on making duplicates but never got the chance. I believe there were three rifles, two shotguns, and another gunblade stolen with it that night." Zell sat silently as remembered the gun he'd seen on the raid.

"Hey Ma, gold is still put on the first weapons or prototypes right? And those weapons never make it to the consumers?" He asked.

"Its up to the creator if the firsts are sold. According to company policy the firsts aren't sold so long as the maker is still under contract. When they leave they have the option to keep their firsts or leave them in the vault…as a small legacy….if you will. So far no one has ever taken their firsts with them. Most everyone seems proud to have their weapons on display in the vault. Once a year we used to opened the vault and let the public go in. We turned the vault into a museum of sorts. It was a huge publicity boost for us. The public looked forward to it every April," Ma got a distant look in her eyes as she absently picked up the book from the desk and placed it back in its safe. "We stopped letting the public in after the incident with Dustil. We also released photos of the stolen weapons. None of them ever resurfaced again. That is until the second Sorceress War started up."

Zell grinned. "You recognized Lionheart huh?"

"Lionheart?" Mirenne's eyes lit up. "I recognized Exeter and Hyperion. You've found Lionheart?"

"Wait wait," Zell jumped out of his seat. "Exeter and Hyperion were Westman's Stiller weapons?"

"Of course they were. Grandfather made Hyperion and Father made Exeter. The gold and more obvious distinguishing features have been filed down, but I'd know those weapons anywhere. They were two of the oldest in the vault."

Zell stared at her dumbfounded and then cast a glance over to where Fujin stood silently. "You knew and didn't say anything?" He asked. "I mean…those weapons belong to the company Ma. What about the legacy? Fuu, where did Seifer get Hyperion?"

Fujin shrugged her shoulders.

"Zell, where did you see Lionheart?"

"Umm….Squall has it."

Mirenne smiled bitterly. "Yes that seems about fitting. Oh well. I suppose after everything he did…after everything you all did I don't really have any place trying to take it back."

"Is that why you haven't tried to take the other two back?" Zell asked.

She nodded. "A weapon is your greatest ally in combat. So long as you take care of it, it will never falter or let you down. The history those weapons have with their wielders are as much a part of them as their own hearts are. They're physical representations of the struggles they went through. They don't belong to me to take." Zell was silent. She scowled bitterly. "Just like Westman's isn't Dustil's to take."

"Dustil?" Zell asked.

"That's the name of the apprentice that worked under your father. He's the man otherwise known as Gunther Audley. I know it's him. He was locked up years ago for some petty crime. He never stood trial on your father's death. You were too young and I was too scared to risk making myself an enemy with him." The tears started to fall but Mirenne's face still didn't soften in expression. "You're not a baby anymore Zell. And I'm not a scared widow. I know it's him. He's going to stir up some kind of trouble and then go after the company again. SeeD has to stop him because I've learned the hard way that the police officers will not."

Zell nodded and quickly stood up. "Leave that to me."

Mirenne smiled. "You be careful. He's dangerous."

"Oh Ma, don't worry I will be," Zell assured her as he scratched the back of his head. Ma smiled faintly at his reassurances, Fujin however, frowned.

The echoing sound of gunshots had startled and sickened him. He was no genius but in that instant it had dawned on him that his father had never expected to survive the night. Fighting the nauseating and guilty feeling swirling in his stomach, Dak stumbled through the darkness and continued to run. Now he couldn't let himself fail. For the sake of his father's sacrifice he just couldn't.

Branches whipped across his bare arms and face. They tore at his already tattered clothing as he forced his way through the dense forest as quickly as possible. His legs had begun throbbing in protest to his physical endeavor miles ago. Now he could barely feel them. They had long since become numb weights that were awkwardly hindering his escape. Each step took more concentration as he willed his feet to carry him further.

To make matters worse, his path grew harder to see in the thickening fog. He leapt up onto a small log and tried unsuccessfully to jump up over the log lying across it. His pursuers' voices and shouts floated on the night's heavy breeze. His lungs stung as he frantically clawed at the enormous obstacle in his path. Finally climbing on top, he allowed himself to just roll off onto the ground on the other side. His body landed with a muffled thud. He coughed as he fought to get a deep breath of air. The taste of iron filled his mouth, further hindering his desperate efforts. He held himself up on one hand while he held his chest with the other. Everything hurt so much. He couldn't breathe from the pain and now every heart beat felt as if it were slowly tearing his chest apart.

He spit the blood out of his mouth and fought the urge to gag on it. A comforting sound filled his ears. Waves. He was near the ocean. In the darkness he looked at his surroundings. His eyes rested on his destination some ten feet away. Crying as he shakily pushed himself off the ground, he staggered forward and stared at the cliff before him. As his pursuer's voices grew nearer, he jumped into the water below.