Well after all the hardships, we'll finally see some ease.

I know you guys want long chapters, and believe i wrote as much as i could to make it long, but the thing is at the end of this story it's hard to write long chapters without losing the emphasis on certain aspects of the story. This chapter was actually 8000 words, but I had two major aspects in the chapter, so I had no other choice but to split it and write a bit more on both chapters and boost it to 5000 words.

Anyways, well done to everyone who entered the competition, buuuut, since so many of you googled the answers, there really was only one winner. So well done to Trev James, the only person to get BOTH questions right. And a well done thumbs up to you all for trying.

Answers:
1) Crash Bandicoot 1
2) Squall's ID at Garden

Chapter 21 - Revelations and Operations

Alexander sat leaning against the leather padded chair facing Rinoa and her friends. All eyes were watching intently as he explained his acquaintance with the Loires and his relation to Esthar.

"Ten years ago, after I graduated from ECU, I was looking into post-graduate schemes to further my education and work experience. Professor Odine, who happened to be one of my lecturers at the time, told me about a space shuttle scheme he had set up." Alexander began explaining. "I had to go through training for six months before I was sent into space, at the age of 22, I was the youngest scientist aboard that shuttle. My experience there had landed me many high demand jobs and I soon went onto working for great companies. All thanks to this man." He continued, looking over at Laguna and receiving a small smile.

"Laguna?" Rinoa asked, curious.

"Yeah, after I graduated, it was with Laguna and Professor Odine's help I was able to land that job with the space shuttle team. Not only that, but our time in space allowed us to carry out different investigations and we happened to be the ones who came up with Omega Wave Communications." He said modestly.

"Really?" Quistis cried excited.

"You actually know what he's talking about?" Seifer asked the blonde.

"Of course, this guy is a genius. OWC is like the best technology out there, there's nothing like it. Its faster, better and more advanced than anything Dobe's brought out." She replied, grinning madly. "We tested some of your minor software for a project once."

Alexander smiled back at her, happy with the compliments.

"Well, I was only able to come up with such technologies because of the chance Laguna gave me. Without him I wouldn't be where I am now." He told the group honestly.

"It was really nothing, besides, you really think the EASA were going to say no to me?" Laguna sarcastically commented.

Smiling, Alexander continued. "About two years ago, after making gillions, I decided to test out my laboratory skills and applied for a position at Crime Scene Investigation: Esthar. There I was working in a lab, carrying out different tests for different crimes. My work was again, very useful and solved a lot of crime."

Stretching his legs out, he yawned before returning to his story. "Soon the Chief of the CSI wanted me to work as an on-scene CSI, this involved me actually visiting the crime scenes and carrying out my own investigations. Again, the experience I picked up allowed me to further in that career. So pretty soon I ended becoming an undercover agent, my first mission involved being sent to Dollet."

"Wow, within ten years, you sure have done a lot." Quistis couldn't help but comment.

"Heh. I guess so." He replied. "But again, none of it would have happened without your help." He said while looking over to Laguna.

"Don't be silly, I didn't do anything but write a letter of recommendation." Laguna replied modestly.

"That's not how I remember it." Alexander replied back.

It was just gone past 21:30 and Laguna sat in his study excessively filling out paper work. Summer had approached and it seemed so had the masses of work needed to be done for Esthar.

It had been three years since his Presidenthood and a lot more work needed to be done to get the country's economy stable. So far Laguna could only see Esthar's finances were similar to that of his a couple of years ago. It seemed that there were more going out than coming in. To make matters slightly worse, with the new program EASA were launching, Esthar was looking to take a huge dip into their savings. However, a big of a dip it was, Laguna strongly believed the program was a means to Esthar's success.

A buzzer sounded and Delila's youthful voice spoke through his intercom device.

"Mr President, Alexander Piet here to see you."

"Send him in." He replied back and dropped his fountain pen on his table. Putting his hands behind his back he stretched and cracked a couple of bones, sighing from relief.

The door to his Study opened and Alexander strode in casually, closing the door quietly, yet firmly behind him.

"Mr President." He nodded to the older man.

"Alexander, call me Laguna, I've known you far too long for you to be carrying out formalities." Laguna replied back, shaking the younger man's hand.

"Sorry, Laguna." He replied back with a chuckle.

"Sorry for calling you in so late, I had meetings after meetings; thought they'd never end!" Laguna replied, his sunken eyes proof of his exhaustion.

"It's no problem." The other man replied with a shake of his head.

"Well, I called you over because-"

"Because Odine called you didn't he?" Alexander interrupted, rolling his eyes.

"Ah. Yeah. Alex, I thought you would have wanted to take on this experience?" Laguna asked concerned.

"I did at first, but things change." He replied vaguely.

"Like what?"

"Laguna, this country is still weak, I don't know if I'll ever have a progressive career here. I want to see if there are any opportunities in Dollet." He honestly replied.

Laguna nodded his head, understanding the younger man's reasons.

"Alex, do you feel you won't have a proper future here in Esthar?" He asked the man.

"I don't think I will. I just don't see how this shuttle program will work, what if our investigations aren't successful? Esthar's economy isn't the best since Adel, what if this investigation just causes more dents onto our already massive debt?" He replied back negatively.

It was true; Esthar still wasn't stable and this investigation had many drawbacks. The country had only been free from Adel's reign for four years now and it still wasn't that long ago for things to settle back smoothly.

"Do you think you'll find success outside of Esthar?" Laguna asked, interested to hear the man's opinion.

"It's worth a try."

Laguna nodded again. "Alex, let me tell you something. A place doesn't make a person successful; it's the person's zeal, their motivation, their actions being put to the utmost and most importantly, their reliance. Esthar won't make you successful, the effort you put into your studies will." He spoke determinedly.

Laguna got up off his chair and walked to his window, looking out at the starry Etharian sky. "I was born and raised in Deling City, I worked as a Galbadian Soldier for five years of my life before working as a journalist. By the time Raine and I married, that's when I finally got my one big shot and had a proper story to investigate; the story of Adel. Before that, I was earning peanuts and mostly relying on Raine's earnings."

Alexander looked at Laguna's desk taking in what the other man was saying.

"My one big story was the same chance that got me where I am today, had I not found out Adel's true intentions for this country, I wouldn't be sitting where I am." He said, walking over to Alexander. "The point I am making? Had I not worked where I was, I wouldn't have found this place, nor would I have gotten this position. I strove, I worked my ass off and I had perseverance. That made me successful, not Deling City, not Esthar."

"I know what you're saying." Alexander replied. "But, I'm just not sure if the others feel the same way." He replied, referring to his disheartened colleagues.

"Alex, a country is like a body, in order for one part to get better, the entire body needs to fight the illness. Sometimes, one small cell needs to start fighting before the others join in."

"Laguna, do you think I'm being selfish?" He asked looking the man in the eye. He hoped Laguna would be honest with him.

"No, I think you're trying to secure your future, but you don't realise that something like that isn't in your hands. You can't control success, you'll either have it, or you don't. You jus' gotta do whatcha can and leave the rest up to the Al-Mighty." He replied with a smirk at his poorly attempted southern accent.

Alexander nodded to himself quietly. It was true what the man had said, in order for him to have success in Esthar, he needed to find ways to make it, to give it his best. He couldn't expect that he'd find success in other parts of the world and leave his home behind. He'd have to be one of the people who helped Esthar back on its feet.

A buzz sound was made again and Delila spoke through the intercom.

"A Mr Squall Leonhart here to see you, Mr President."

"Send him in." Laguna replied, winking at Alexander.

Alexander turned his body half way towards the door just as Squall walked in. Clad in his blue and yellow chocobo pyjamas, he slowly walked up to Laguna's desk, staring at Alexander curiously.

"You're up late, Squall." Laguna said, bending down and encircling his arms around his son's waist.

"I couldn't sleep, Ma said I could sit in here with you if you weren't busy." The young boy replied.

"Is that so?" Laguna asked smiling down at his son.

He nodded affirmative before continuing his sentence. "She said you could talk me to sleep."

Alexander gave a heartfelt chuckle, he found the small boy amusing.

"How old are you, Squall?" He asked the small brunette.

Moving his hair out of his eyes, he looked up at Alexander again. "Seven." He replied.

"So you must be in school by now. Have you made any friends?" He asked.

Squall nodded eagerly. "Seifer is my friend, he's taller than me."

"That's nice. Do you enjoy school?" Alexander asked, getting quite used to the small boy's company.

"Yes, my school is in Balamb. It's nice there; it's green everywhere."

"I'm sure it must be." He replied before looking back up to Laguna.

Picking Squall up, Laguna sat on his chair again and placed Squall on top of his desk. The two men continued talking, Laguna mainly doing the persuading with Alexander listening intently while nodding.

"…Esthar is poor right now, but it's won't always will be. If everyone were to put their efforts into making this country a success, we'd have this place up and running in no time. But it will take our smartest and most achieving people to do it. Even if it means putting one gil into a jar for a rainy day." He finished. "That's what families do."

Squall who had been listening intently rose up and jumped off the desk. Hurriedly, he ran to the Study door, opening it and running into the corridor.

"I don't want you to make any decisions now. Just go home and think about what I said, sleep on it. And if tomorrow you wake up and decide you still feel the same way, I'd still be happy to write you a letter of recommendation wherever you decide to go." Laguna finished and sat back.

"Thank you, Laguna." Alexander replied. He felt guilty that he still had some reserve, he didn't want to sacrifice his country, but at the same time he didn't want to jeopardise his own future.

Squall came running in again at that moment and raced to Laguna's desk, dropping a one gil note.

"What's this?" Laguna asked amused.

"I got it for Ma." Squall replied. "I want to help out for our Rainey day." He replied back.

"Rainey day?" Laguna asked, stifling a giggle.

"Yeah, I want Esthar to always have a Rainey day." Squall smiled, giggling at his joke. He straightened himself and looked at Laguna seriously. "I want to help Esthar."

Laguna smiled at his son and picked him up into a hug. "You will, son, you will." He replied kissing him lightly on the cheek.

Alexander cast his eyes down and smiled. He got up and brushed down his pants.

"Laguna, have my letter ready by tomorrow, EASA will need it." He said, winking at Squall.

Laguna smiled hard and shook Alexander's hand. With a little effort and group work, they'd soon have Esthar up and running.

After all, they had Squall's one gil to rely on for a Rainey day.

Squall's fluttering eyes opened up to a brightly lit room. At first it seemed the room was completely white, but as his sight focused, he realised he was in a hospital bed, staring at the panelled ceiling with the bright sunlight coming in through the window.

He blinked once, before hoarsely breathing in a shuddering breath.

"Squall?" Rinoa voice spoke next to him, putting her book down she looked at the brunette. She had been reading for the past twenty minutes when she noticed him breath in deep. She was surprised to see Squall's eyes open with him gazed upwards.

"Rinoa?" He whispered next to her.

She pushed her chair further toward the bed and clasped his hand. Smiling at him she squeezed his hand and looked into his face.

"It's me Squall." She smiled at him and stroked the strands of hair away from his face.

"Where am I?" He asked curiously, wondering why he wasn't still passed out in Centra.

"You're in hospital a Squall, in Esthar, Laguna came to get you." She answered, as he slowly gazed around the room noticing the setting.

It was a private hospital room, modestly big. The walls were divided in half with a plastic panelling, the top half being painted in a light mint green and the bottom painted white. Three small 10x10 inch frames decorated the end wall with pictures of purple and pink flowers centred on a ivory background.

To the end of the room were three arm chairs aligned against the wall, a small shelf holding magazines and another small table with a small black television screen.

On his left sat Rinoa on another arm chair with a large window behind her and a bedside table next to her carrying a bottle of water and a vase of purple flowers.

"Squall I'm going to go call Laguna, Ok? He just went to get some food for us while you were out of it." She replied getting up and gently removing her hand from Squall's.

She walked out of the room leaving Squall to rest quietly.

Within that time Squall was able to assess his own situation. A small beeping noise on his left connected him to a bag of morphine that was keeping his pain at bay. He felt numb on the right side of his jaw and the back of his head. Reaching up with his hand he felt a bandage wrapped around his head.

Feeling the ache in his back, he placed both hands palm down, on the bed and tried pushing himself onto a sitting position.

"Argh!" He cried out, wincing from pain. It started with sharp pain on the right side of his abdomen, it felt like his insides were torn, then lessened to a throbbing.

Laying back down, he breathed in short gasps. Squall lifted his bed covers, throwing them down to his legs and looked at his body. He was wearing a green hospital gown with white thermal pants. Taking the hem of his gown, he pulled it up to his chest and looked to what was causing him such pain. There on the lower right side of his abdomen, was a freshly sealed bandage.

A flashback came back to him. Norg held a glass shard above his body, then brought it down quick and sharp. It pierced into his skin, breaking through and travelling deep until it hit something soft and wedged inside.

Squall shuddered at the thought and closed his eyes.

The doors opened and Rinoa came back in with a nurse.

"Squall!" She cried out once she noticed the bedcovers thrown down to his legs. "Squall, you have a serious injury, don't move." She demanded.

Half an hour later, after Laguna returned with both food and a doctor, Squall was told of his injury. The glass shard had hit his right kidney, piercing and cutting right through it. Not only that, but he had suffered both internal and external bleeding, causing him to lose a lot of blood.

"The operation should be simple, but we'll need to do a blood transfer straight after it, otherwise you'll lose too much blood and this can cause the new kidney to fail." The doctor explained.

"How will it be done?" Squall asked, slightly worried about having an operation done.

"Well," the doctor started, removing his spectacles and wiping them on a handkerchief, "you'll be put on general anaesthesia while we operate, so you wont feel anything." The doctor said, noting Squall's fear.

"I know." Squall replied, trying to be brave.

"Once the anaesthesia is at work, you'll fall unconscious and we can start the operation. During this time we'll be taking the transplanted kidney and place it on the lower right side of your abdomen where it can be connected with other blood vessels. The failed kidney will be taken out and discarded of-"

"Taken out? I thought you don't normally remove the old kidney?" Squall asked worriedly. He knew his kidney was all torn and unresponsive, but the idea of a part of him having to be taken out wasn't appealing.

"Well normally we don't, unless under three conditions: If the kidney has repeated infections that could spread to the transplanted kidney, uncontrollable hypertensions which would be caused by the kidney, or in the case of reflux; backup of urine into your kidneys." The doctor explained.

"So what category do I fall under?" Squall asked sorrowfully.

"Squall, that shard that hit your kidney carried masses of chemical fluid to help preserve those species. There is a chance that they infected your kidney, so the safest choice here is to take it out."

Squall nodded understanding. A question popped into his head and he looked back the doctor.

"Do you have a donor?" He asked inquisitively.

"I'm the donor." Laguna spoke up. "I've already been tested and it came up positive."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Squall asked, looking Laguna straight in the eyes. It was a lot to do for someone, giving up an organ. Laguna would be at risk of a lot more illnesses, lest his other kidney failed.

"You're my son, of course I'm sure." Laguna replied, somewhat offended. Truth was, he was scared when he had seen Squall's body lying on the blue couch in Centra. Seeing him brought all the memories of Raine's last days with him back again. He didn't want to go through all of that again, he didn't want to lose the only blood relation left to him. He loved Squall too much to let it happen. He'd give up his own life to let the boy live.

"The operation doesn't stop there however, you still need a blood transfer straight after." The doctor continued as Squall frowned. "You lost a lot of blood Squall, too much to be able to produce enough to help you run sufficiently for the next week."

"Well I'm up and about now." He replied sarcastically.

"Only just." The doctor replied back quickly. "Your blood type is AB, and you happen to be running on our last batch of AB donated blood."

Squall looked down at the cotton bed covers, noticing the delicate stitching of the threads woven from one to another. They were all interconnecting, weft interlocking from the top and warp from the sides.

"But, seems like fate is on your side, you friend here happens to be a carrier of the same type." The doctor smiled, looking over at Rinoa.

Squall shot a stare at Rinoa who smiled at him and held his hand.

"You can't." He said to her shaking his head.

"You're in here because of me; the least I can do is give you some blood, Squall." She replied sorrowful.

"Rin-"

"Squall, for once in your life will you stop being the hero and just let us take care of you!" Laguna agitatedly cried. "You're a seventeen year old school kid Squall, you're not some elite mercenary with magical powers, destined to save the world."

"That's what you think." Squall replied back with a smirk.

"Squall Leonhart, was that a joke?" Rinoa cried, amazed that he had made a joke.

"As sad as I am to cut the scene short, we'll need to hurry with the operations; you're still losing a lot of blood." The doctor interrupted.

Squall cleared his throat and went back to his serious mode. "What happens if the new kidney rejects my body?"

"Then we'll have to put you on standby and wait for a donor." The doctor replied quietly.

Squall nodded slowly, understanding his predicament. The doctor announced that he was going to prep the theatre room and his staff, giving Squall some time to mentally prepare.

"Dad." Squall spoke softly, sparking a genuinely worried look from Laguna. "I want to speak to Rinoa alone."

"Ok." Laguna responded, getting up off his chair and making his way to the door. "I'll go see if your father is here yet, Rinoa."

Rinoa nodded back and walked closer to Squall, sitting on the end of his bed facing him.

"It's okay to be scared, Squall." She said once the door closed, leaving the two teens to themselves.

"Rinoa, I am scared, I don't know if the operation will be successful, and I don't know if I have enough strength or blood in me to keep me going. If my body rejects this kidney, I might be waiting a long time before another one is compatible with me." He started saying. Taking her hand, he held it tightly and looked at her worried eyes.

"I was so scared when Norg was holding on you, I couldn't stand and watch someone hurt you like that." He said, his voice shaking with hatred.

"Squall, he didn't hurt me." She tried comforting him.

"I know, but just the idea that he would have done something. I don't ever want anything bad to happen to you." He whispered, frowning hard.

"Don't think about it anymore, it's over." She tried to make him forget, the last thing he needed before the operation was worrying about something that was out of his hands.

"Rin, I want to be with you forever, I don't ever want to let you go, I just want you to stay next to me and let me protect you."

"Squall, you know how I feel about you." She said seriously. "I'll always be here."

"I might not be, not if this operation doesn't go well. I won't get to enjoy life with you." He said painfully.

"Squ-"

"Promise me something!" He demanded, grasping her hand and holding it against his chest.

"Squall, don't make me make some stupid promise because you think you're going to die." She said with a trembling voice. "We've come too far for that nonsen-". With her voice faltering, she let lose a couple of tears. She couldn't help the image of Squall lying in her arms come back, nor the sound of his shrieking voice from the pain of having the glass shard removed.

They had both been through a lot, problems many never face in their entire life. Yet, within the space of a few months, they had pretty much been thrown into a maze of tribulations. It had made them stronger, more determined, more patient and most importantly, more affectionate towards one another. They desired each other stronger than ever before.

Yet Squall still felt it would all be taken away.

"Please promise me." He pleaded.

"What do you think he's asking her?" Caraway asked Laguna.

The General had arrived shortly after Laguna left the room. He had a call come in from Laguna when they had landed in Esthar. Kiros and Ward took the Ragnarok to Deling City and picked up the General personally.

It had scared him finding out what Rinoa had gone through, he was happy for the personal service that he took advantage of, to get to her sooner. It was a father's worse nightmare to be called and told that his daughter's life was in danger. It wasn't something Caraway wanted to ever experience again.

"If he's anything like his mother, the same thing she said to me." Laguna said emotionally. "He'll be telling her that he loves her, but if he had to, he'd let her go. For her to move on after him and find someone else to love. The only agreement being, to remember him every now and then."

Caraway shook his head while looking down at tiled hospital floor. "They're so young to be going through all of this." He whispered.

"I agree. But there's just something about those two that make them seem so much older. You wouldn't have ever thought you'd be in such a serious relationship at their age." Laguna retorted, remembering his youthful days. Meeting Raine at the age of twenty-seven had matured him enough to be able to have some sort of serious relationship with someone of the opposite sex.

"At their age, I was too occupied in following my father's footsteps and getting into Deling Military Academy." Caraway responded next to him.

They both silently watched the two teens through the glass panel of the door for a few seconds until they noticed Rinoa nodding her head and hugging Squall. It seemed she had agreed to his wishes, they knew she would have, she loved him enough to agree to whatever he demanded.

Rinoa soon walked over to the room's entranced and opened the door. Wiping her tears she hugged her father and welcomed him.

"Squall wants to talk to both of you." She said quietly, moving aside for both men to enter the room.

Alexander put his keys down on his office table and sat down on his chair. Most of the other detectives were out on their own missions so he pretty much had the place to himself.

He lifted his hand and hovered it over the office phone, pondering whether it was a good idea to call Tiamat and Bahamut and tell them of his real reason for why he was in Centra.

Before he left, Bahamut had called the Centrian Police force who flew over to the Centre and officially arrested Norg. Though Alexander wanted to arrest him himself, Centra had their own strict laws, and seeing as the crime took place in Centra, it was a Centri arrested.

Alexander gathered he should be thankful that the man would now be behind bars, and not running off freely after the crime he intended to commit. Sure he would be behind bars for attempted murder, but it was better that he got a ten year sentence than a life sentence for ending the young Caraway's life.

One thing Alexander wanted to make sure of was the money to recover the costs for the damages done to the Centre. He had enough money to pay for the damages himself, but a little favour from a Centri Judge and maybe Norg could end up paying. After all, he did have that five million gil sitting in his bank account; he'd hardly need it in prison.

Smiling to himself, Alexander picked up the phone and dialled in the Deep Sea Research Centre number, he'd made a mental note to make the call to the Centri Judge after he was done with his ex-colleagues.

"Deep Sea Research Centre, Leviathan speaking, how may I help you?" A voice spoke back.

"Levy, it's me Alex, put Tiamat on will you." Alexander replied.

It would take a while, but the DSR centre would be back on its feet.

Alright, chapter 21 over, two more to go and then its all over...

Oh yeah, another chance at a competition. You all remember my OC Lauren right? The girl who locked Rinoa and Seifer in the bathroom? Well, Rinoa said she'd get her back another time, and that time is coming up.

I'd like for my readers and reviewers to think of what Rinoa could do to get Lauren back, you can make it as evil as you want, but dont go overboard. Just drop me a review or PM of your idea and the winner will have their idea used in the next chapters. You could even write out the sequence, exactly what Lauren's reaction will be and what Rinoa says to her etc.

So, get writing!