Thanks for all your contest entries, however only two people got it right. Thankfully, it was one boy and one girl, so I awarded them both.
So well done Trev James and Crepusculo4ever, keep it up.
Just a small update, chapter 21 is also complete, but its LONG! So I'm going to cut it down to two chapters and hopefully I will be done by chapter 23 :'(
Chapter 20 - Fumbling in the Dark
"Busted." He whispered to her as he walked towards her with his dagger held out in front of him.
She stepped back away from him until her back was pressed onto the wall and she could not go any further. She stared in horror as the man came closer until his face was only inches away from hers.
He put his left had against the wall blocking her from moving to her right, while bending his knee against her left thigh, trapping her from escaping the other way.
"Wh-what do you want from me?" Rinoa asked breathlessly. She eyed the dagger held tightly in his hand as he traced the tip of it across her neck.
"I don't require anything from you. It's nothing personal, just business." He teased smiling at her. "Don't struggle and it'll end quickly." He advised her.
"Please, don't do this." She pleaded, begging him with her eyes.
He laughed at her, the fear in her eyes, the quick movements of her chest heaving, the trembling of her arms vibrating against his hand. She was like a scared little fluffy white rabbit cowering in a corner. And he the stealth like smooth snake coming in for a quick kill.
Of course he had told her the truth, it was nothing personal. But she was worth ten million gil, an easy kill of an easy life. He was ecstatic when she turned up at the Centre. He had gotten a call a week earlier from Ultimecia explaining his mission. He had spent the entire week planning on what he was to tell Tiamat and Bahamut his reason for leaving. Then a week later she had turned up, like a prayer falling into his hands, making his mission all the more easier. He was done with working in the cold desolate Centre. With the money he'd make from her he'd buy a nice place somewhere and live the rest of his days in ease. He could purchase accommodation anywhere with the money he'd receive, a cottage in Winhill, a Villa in Balamb, maybe even an apartment in Esthar once they opened their doors.
All he had to do was get rid of her, it was a simple mission. End her life and get rid of the body. Of course, the brunette boy had made the situation harder tagging along with them, but he was a quick thinker. End her life and make it look like the young boy did it. With the brunette passed out cold, the cards were in his favour.
Norg pressed down harder on his dagger, applying more pressure against her delicate skin. Rinoa closed her eyes, waiting the inevitable, as her tears descended down her soft cheeks and her gut prepared for worst. She never imagined her life would end like this. She never imagined she'd be in a cold desolate room with a maniac holding a knife to her throat.
With her eyes firmly shut, she gritted her teeth as she let a sob escape from her mouth.
"Squall." She whispered. I love you.
"This was nothing personal-" Norg tried to convince her before he was cut off.
"Hold it!" Alexander boomed, bursting into the room with his gun held out in front of him.
The entire group had followed in pursuit of Alexander. Neither any of them knowing the reason for why the man had bolted in such a rush. But now in the cold dark room in the lower floor of the Deep Sea Research Centre, they couldn't see the man anywhere.
Seifer, Quistis, Sarah, Zell and Dexter followed Bahamut over to a door with a sign marked PERSONNEL ONLY. The room they walked into was a lot colder than the other floors. It was a lot darker as well.
Following Bahamut, Seifer looked up towards another set of double doors marked EXTINCT SPECIES. They should be in there. He thought and prayed he was correct.
"Seifer, do you think they're OK?" Quistis asked, worried about her cousin. She hadn't a clue as to what was going on and why Alexander had run off the way he did. She hoped Rinoa was safe, though she knew her hoping wasn't coming to any use.
"I don't know, Quisty." Seifer honestly replied, getting a scared look from his girlfriend. He held her hand and kissed her forehead as they walked to the door in front of them.
Bahamut punched in a code on the small grey device next to the door. A small yellow LCD light flashed twice before going red and a rejected beep sounded.
"Huh?" Bahamut thought out loud and tried punching in the code again and again resulting in the same dejection.
"What's wrong?" Dexter asked looking at the man in confusion.
"Someone has changed the code, it won't let us in." The older man replied.
"Can't you change it back?" Quistis asked.
"No, they've overrode the system, they've used a master reset, only their code will give us access." He answered with concern on his face.
"And you don't know the master code?" Seifer asked, though he knew the answer.
"No, only one person has the master code." He replied, though this time he seemed to be talking to himself.
"Who?" Seifer asked, looking at the man worriedly.
"Alex."
Seeing the man, Norg grabbed Rinoa's arm, pulling her in front of him and holding the dagger to her throat. He wrapped his left arm around her abdomen and held her left arm in place.
"Norg, put the knife down!" Alexander ordered, not lowering his own gun.
"Get away from here Alex, this has nothing to do with you." Norg replied, keeping his cool.
"Let her go Norg, you don't need to do this. Your life is more important than however much Mecia's paying you." Alex tried to persuade the older man. He was carefully choosing his words in case the man acted on impulse.
"Whatever, with ten million gil in my pocket, I'll have a better life than this." Norg mocked, taking steps towards the door.
"What life?" Alexander asked rhetorically. "When people find out what you've done, they'll come after you. You'll be on the run forever."
"Put your gun down." Norg order. He moved toward the door dragging Rinoa's body with him with each step. "Move out of the way!" He shouted at Alexander who stood still, only pivoting his body in line with Norg's.
Now at the doorway, Norg moved backwards still dragging Rinoa with him while holding her firmly. He knew he couldn't carry out his mission now, with her throat sliced it would only be a matter or minutes before Alexander pulled the trigger. He only needed her to protect him, just until he reached the doors, then he'd escape. Yes, he was greedy for money, but he wasn't dumb. The five million was enough for him, it was already sitting in his bank account and it wasn't like Ultimecia could come after him for not completing his mission.
He pulled Rinoa down the small hallway before reaching the large dark room with the humming cylinder tubes.
"Norg, don't do this." Alexander pleaded.
Norg kept his eyes on Alexander while he continued to move back. The double doors were at the far end of the room on his right, all he'd have to do was continue holding the girl until he'd reach the door and make his escape.
Alexander's eyes flickered for a second. But it was long enough for Norg to notice. He turned his head around only to see a fist connect straight into his face, crushing the bridge of his nose and resulting in a trickle of blood. Stumbling from the pain, he loosed his grip on Rinoa, causing her to flee from him, scratching away at his clawing hands.
"Freeze!" Alexander barked at Norg.
The man ignored him and made a swing at Squall with his dagger. Squall moved his body out of the way quickly, before thrusting himself forward and tackling the man onto one of the glass cylinders. A small crack was heard before the glass shattered and the two men fell to the floor.
Rinoa backed away in shock, only realising who Norg was being tackled by. Squall.
"Squall, move out of the way!" Alexander barked. He couldn't get a shot in with the young boy in the way. He hadn't known the boy was in the room until he emerged from behind the two dark cylinders. Norg had followed his sight and Squall had made his move, soccer punching him right in the nose. But with them now brawling on the floor, if Alexander missed his aim, he'd end up injuring the young boy.
Tackling Norg onto the floor, Squall got on top of him and gripped Norg's wrist, shaking it to release the knife. Norg used his other hand to punch Squall's jaw, connecting it right under his chin. It didn't dissuade the brunette from acting, he continued to block the punches using his right arm and continued shaking Norg's right hand until the knife flew out of his hand and skidded to a dark corner.
Seeing the knife fly out, Squall attempted to crawl away from Norg and go in search of the weapon. Norg grabbed at Squall's leg, shielding himself from Alexander's threat.
It was a series of shouts that he'd heard, Rinoa shouting out Squall's name before trying running over to him. Alexander losing focus on him and holding out his free hand to stop Rinoa.
He acted quick, within the few seconds he had opened out in his favour. Grabbing a broken piece of glass from the floor, he gripped it in his left hand and held Squall with his right.
The boy tried kicking free managing to kick at Norg's knees. Norg held onto him tightly, pushing his body further on to Squall and rolling over on top of him.
Now with Squall beneath him, he plunged his left hand deep into the brunette's abdomen.
"Argh!" Squall screamed as the glass pierced through his stomach and dipped further till it hit something soft and tore into it.
"Squall!" Rinoa screamed, running to him and gripping his shoulders.
"Rinoa move!" Alexander shouted, but again was met with ignorance.
He turned back to Norg only to find him tackling him down in the same manner and trying to pry the gun away from his hand. Norg punched him in the face, connecting with his cheek and then another hitting his cheek bone. He didn't let it deter him, he held onto his gun and used his free hand to throw a couple of punches at Norg.
They wrestled on the floor, both trying to get the advantage and keep the other down.
"Squall?" Rinoa placed her trembling hands near his wounds and looked over his body.
"Rin." He replied back, his voice shaking from the pain.
"Squall, you're going to be OK." She said supportively, although the tears streaming from her eyes said otherwise.
"I heard you call- argh." A spasm ran though his body as his lower torso heaved upwards.
"Squall, you're hurt." Rinoa couldn't help but state the obvious. She sniffed in and held him in her arms, crying at how deep the cut looked. The glass was still protruding out of his stomach and made his cut look even more horrific as crimson red blood seeped out of it.
Alexander and Norg were still at it, both wrestling each other on the floor. Alexander gripped his gun tighter, not letting the man anywhere near it and holding it away from their bodies.
With the punches and scratches getting no where, Norg lifted his knee and thrust it straight into Alexander's groin. The man let out a groan of pain and on instinct dropped his gun. Norg let go of him and made for the gun, now lying on the cold steel floor.
The kick didn't stop Alexander however, he grabbed onto the man's leg and pulled him back suffering from a couple of kicks in the face, one busting his lip open.
Norg thrust his body forward and slammed his hand onto the steel floor, hoping to bounce the gun towards him. With Alexander holding onto his left leg, he wasn't going anywhere. He kicked again, this time harder, and aimed at the man's fingers. Just when he felt the grip let loose, he thrust himself forward and grabbed the gun, turning around to face Alexander.
"Sorry Alex, but it's over." Norg said smoothly.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Rinoa looked up just before the first gun shot. Norg had kicked Alexander in the face causing the other man's lip to bust open, spewing blood onto his clean blue shirt.
Another kick landed onto Alexander's fingers causing him to loosen his grip, and then completely let go.
The two men moved within the same second.
Alexander pushed himself up, falling back onto his bottom in a sitting position with his legs out in front of him. He grabbed at his right ankle, yanking the hem of his pants upwards and gripping the pistol strapped around his leg.
Norg thrust forward and slammed his palm onto Alexander's gun picking it up and turning it on Alexander.
"Sorry Alex, but it's over."
He didn't even wait for the man to finish, he didn't even wait to take his pistol out. Moving his right foot inwards, he pulled the trigger to the pistol still strapped to his leg and let a series of gunshots hit Norg. One on his chest. The other on his stomach. The last hitting just above his groin.
Norg dropped the gun and fell backwards, his head thumped onto the steel floor bouncing back up once, before his body lay completely still.
Alexander got up and walked carefully towards Norg's still body. He bent over him and picked up his gun, placing it back onto his belt strap and leaving the safety on.
Putting a finger to Norg's neck he felt for a pulse, feeling a low steady rhythm. He grabbed the man by the arms and turned him onto his back. Taking out a plastic strap he strapped Norg by his wrists and left him lying on the floor.
Rinoa brushed Squall's hair aside. His forehead was matted with sweat and his breathing was getting quicker.
"How is he?" Alexander asked kneeling down beside them.
"He's got glass in his stomach." She sobbed, still holding onto Squall.
"Squall?" Alexander called out to the young man while inspecting his wound. The glass had cut deep, hitting an internal organ. "Squall, the glass in your stomach is keeping you from losing too much blood." Alexander started explaining.
"It… hurts." Squall managed to make out in between breaths and moans.
"I know, son. Squall, it might have hit an internal organ, which means you could be internally bleeding." Alexander continued. "We're going to have to move the glass, Squall."
"But he'll start bleeding." Rinoa cried out in fear.
"The glass inside him is from the cylinder tubes, those tubes carry masses of chemical liquid to preserve those species. It could infect his wound." He clarified.
Rinoa looked back to Squall's face. His eyelids were only slightly open, his face had beads of sweat running down from his forehead. His arms that lay beside him trembled as he lay on top of her thighs.
"Squall, I'm going to remove the glass." Alexander informed him loudly.
"Its… goin… gonna… hurt." Squall replied, closing his eyes from the pain he was already feeling.
"I know son, but if I don't remove it, it will infect your wound." He explained again. "I'll do it on three, OK?"
Squall nodded slightly, closing his eyes tight, preparing for the pain that was about to come.
"Please don't hurt him." Rinoa sobbed again, looking up to Alexander in fear.
He looked at them both, they were so young, so innocent. He couldn't believe Norg had stooped so low to hurt them both. He merely nodded at her, not wanting to make broken promises.
"One…". He said and Squall gripped Rinoa's hand tighter. "Two…". Rinoa sobbed again.
"ARRRGGHHH!". Squall screamed out in excruciating pain as Alexander plucked the glass out quickly, yet carefully and threw it aside.
"You didn't say three!" Rinoa cried out in disbelief.
"It's easier if he isn't prepared for it." Alexander explained and quickly started unbuckling his belt and unbuttoning his shirt.
"Squall?" Rinoa shook the brunette's head, but he was passed out cold. "He's not answering." She cried again, looking at Alexander with frowned eyes.
Alexander moved his hand to Squall's neck and felt around. "He's got a pulse, he's just unconscious. Here, keep this against his wound to stop the bleeding." He instructed her, giving her his wrapped up shirt.
Taking Squall off her lap and placing him on the floor, she pulled up Squall's white blood soaked shirt exposing the wound that was quickly spewing blood. Holding the wrapped up shirt on top of his wound, she held it down hard, hoping she wasn't hurting him too much. Alexander took his belt, picking up Squall briefly off the floor, pushing his belt underneath the boy and wrapping it around him. He tightened the belt over the shirt Rinoa had placed on him and secured the buckle.
"Come on, we need to get an ambulance." He said to her, getting up off the floor and scooping Squall's heavy body into his arms. The boy weighed a lot and with his head slumped back, Alexander found it awkward just to carry him to the double doors.
He carefully and slowly followed Rinoa towards the doors leading out of the room.
Rinoa got to the door and tried opening them by pulling on the handles. They wouldn't budge so she tried again, only for it to remain in place. "Hey, they won't open." She said turning around to Alexander.
"It's got a master code on it, I set it so Norg couldn't get out." He explained. "Punch in 41269".
Rinoa punched in the code and waited for the small beep of the grey device to sound before she pulled the doors open.
There, standing outside the doors were Seifer and the others looking at her in bewilderment. They all shot up off the couches, coming towards her as Alexander soon came into view with Squall in his arms.
"Squall." Seifer shouted, walking up to Alexander and stopping abruptly.
"Help me take him up." Alexander ordered. Seifer held Squall's legs while Zell grabbed his feet. They slowly carried him towards the spiral stairs leading up.
Quistis and Sarah rushed over to Rinoa, taking her in their arms and asking her if she was alright. The raven haired girl nodded accepting the hug before turning back to Squall's unconscious body.
"What happened?" Bahamut asked in Alexander in shock.
"I'll explain later, call an air ambulance, quick!"
Once they had reached the ground floor, Alexander and the boys placed Squall on one of the soft blue couches. Walking over to the phone box, Alexander dialled in a number and waited for it to connect. He watched the students around him all eyeing him suspiciously, some even asking Rinoa who he was and what had happened.
They watched in silence as they listened to his side of the phone conversation.
"Hello?" Alexander spoke into the receiver. "Kiros, where's Laguna?"
The students all looked at each other in surprise, still questioning who he was and how he knew of the Estharians.
Only Rinoa ignored the scene, kneeling beside Squall, she held onto his hand and rested her head against his.
"Laguna, Squall is injured, you might want to bring the Ragnarok… Okay… don't mention it." He replied and hung up.
Ignoring the stares and questions he went in search of Bahamut and Tiamat.
He found the two men outside the ground floor main room, explaining to other members of staff to gather the remaining students in the dorms.
The school Professors came rushing over and started asking a series of questions.
"Professors." Alexander got their attention coolly. "Everything will be explained in due time, for now Squall is in need of some medical attention."
"Ve need to call his father." Odine said looking at Alexander, hoping the man got the hint.
"I've called him, he's on his way." He assured the man.
"Alex, we need to talk." Bahamut informed the man, looking at him in confusion. He had no clue what was going on, no clue to why Alexander was back, nor how he knew Norg had intended something bad for Rinoa and Squall.
"Once everything is sorted, he'll talk." Tiamat interjected, giving Alexander the necessary time to think his story out. Whether Alexander wanted to tell them the truth was up to him. Tiamat didn't need any answers, his concern wasn't Alexander, his concern was how he'd let a snake like Norg into his Centre. If Alexander knew anything about Norg, that was all Tiamat asked of him.
The Ragnarok landed beside the Centre and as soon as the doors opened Laguna ran out towards the Research Centre. Kiros and Ward followed dragging a clinical bench with them.
Running into the main foyer, Laguna spotted Alexander standing against the wall talking to Tiamat and Bahamut.
"Alex!" Laguna shouted, getting the man's attention. "Where is he?"
"In here." Alexander answered, ushering Laguna into the front room.
Laguna walked in and spotted the group standing around. Zell was hovering over a couch with a brunette pigtailed girl. Another boy with dark spikey hair stood next to them watching in surprise and confusion as Laguna came into view. Quistis and Seifer stood over Rinoa who was kneeling on the floor beside Squall's still body.
There he lay on the soft blue couch, his son, looking lifeless and still. The only hint of life in his body being the soft un-even breathing of his chest heaving up and down.
Laguna knelt beside his son and smooth down his hair. "Squall." He whispered in pain.
"Guys, give them some space." Seifer ordered, moving back himself as Kiros and Ward brought the clinical bench beside them.
Once they lifted Squall onto the bench they wheeled it to the exit. Rinoa still held onto his hand, not letting him go. He had always tried his might to be there for her during her problems, now it was her turn to be there for him.
It seemed that Laguna had brought along with him a doctor from Esthar, who saw to Squall once they assembled the Ragnarok. Rinoa wanted to remain with him, but the doctor had order it wasn't appropriate and he'd work better without her being there.
Seifer, Quistis and Zell had taken permission from Professor Odine to follow Rinoa and Laguna on the Ragnarok, to which the man allowed them. Alexander also boarded the ship, promising Bahamut that he'd return and explain everything.
The group had gathered in the cockpit as Kiros and Ward set flight for Esthar. Laguna paced the room awaiting the inflight doctor's diagnosis.
Rinoa sat mute with her head in her hands, her hair falling across her shoulders as she thought about Squall and the mess she had gotten him into. Of course it wasn't her doing, but regardless, being involved with Squall had gotten him involved in her tangled mess. She grimaced every time she replayed his scream as the glass shard was taken out of his body. He had screamed so loudly, so painfully, then slumped from the pain. She looked over at Alexander sitting on one of the chairs with his right leg resting on his left. She stared at him closely, still wondering who he was and what he was there for, as well how he knew Laguna.
Laguna watched as Rinoa stared at Alexander, it seemed all this had taken place with a simple misunderstanding. Alexander had blamed it on having his gun out and ready. The situation could have been dealt better if she hadn't seen it. But, fate was fate, and that was how the situation played out. It took some effort, blood, and a soccer punch to the face, but he had carried out his mission and kept Rinoa Heartilly safe. That was all he cared about. Though Squall getting hurt in the process still bugged him, he hoped Laguna didn't blame him for it.
Looking at Laguna, he saw the man looking over at Rinoa who was looking over at him.
"You want to tell them?" Alexander asked Laguna, breaking the man from his stare.
Laguna walked over to the man and held him by the shoulders. "You tell them." He smiled at him and patted his back before taking a seat next to him.
"Who are you?" Seifer asked quickly, getting to the chase.
Alexander smoothed back his blond hair, cleared his throat and looked at all of them before settling his eyes on Rinoa.
"My name is Alexander Piet. I am an undercover agent for CSI: Esthar."
Who are ya, do do, do do. Sorry, couldn't help it. ^^
So, now you know that my Alexander isn't really a GF, well he is but er... Ok lemme explain properly.
If you remember, in disk 3 when Rinoa is taken into space, Squall meets with a guy called Piet, the same guy that calls Squall an idiot because he goes into space after Rinoa. Anyways, if any of you challenged Piet to a game of cards, if you beat him you get the Alexander card.
Thats why i called him Alexander, so in my story, he is actually two FF8 characters playing one :) - This is where you tell me I'm really smart. Hehe! =P
Ok, time for a little competition. I want you all to answer two questions, and it doesnt matter if you are reading this a year after I've posted, please do take part.
1) The title of the chapter is taken from a level of which popular video game?
2) The code Rinoa punches into the grey device is a reference to what in Final Fantasy VIII?
Anwer by sending me a review please. Thank you so much!