Sever All Ties
Chapter Eight: Starting Home
Disclaimer: I don't own Radiata Stories or any of the characters in the game; they are the property of the brilliant minds at Square Enix.
Author's Note(s): Words in '…' indicate a thought. Words in "…" indicate spoken words. This story will proceed based on the assumption that Jack has joined Ridley on the path of the non-human. This path would inevitably lead him to face his former friends and allies in combat. It is these fights I will illustrate in this story. Some creative liberties will be taken regarding who they face (i.e. Jack will face opponents in this fic that you don't get to face in the game). I hope you enjoy.
Walking the path back to the bridge, the four companions were silent. The lack of any creatures or combat left them with plenty of time for introspection. Each was focused on their own thoughts. Jack was considering all they had learned from Algandars Castle. They still didn't know how to cure Algandars itself, but Jack felt better nonetheless. His own convictions had been strengthened, and he felt ready for anything. He knew that he was doing the right thing.
Of course, he had always known he was doing the right thing, but it was different now. Before, he had known he was doing the right thing for himself, and for Ridley. Now, he knew he was doing the right thing for everyone, human and non-human alike. The kingdom of Radiata was clearly not interested in making peace. The non-humans were the ones who had attempted to maintain a peaceful coexistence. If a solution were to be found, it would be the non-humans who found it. They needed to find one quickly though. Things would get tougher before they got easier.
As if the world was required to mirror his thoughts, the bridge to the Adien Region came into view. From their vantage point, Jack could see that new guards had been posted at the foot of the bridge. There were six axe-wielding knights and two more with sabers. He was unable to see to the far side. Quietly, he pointed out their opposition to the others. Gil smiled, and looked very near laughing. Mikey shook his head, with a weary. Ridley stared blankly at the sentries. They all knew what would have to happen.
"Why do they send more men out," Mikey asked. "These guys don't have any more of a chance then the ones we beat yesterday. Surely they know that."
"It's their duty," Ridley answered. Mikey's head turned. "Most likely they do know that they'll be beaten in a fight, whether they'll admit it to themselves or not. The point is, Radiata will not give up any ground. Even if we defeat men in the same place every day, they'd only send more every time. These men are willing to die for their country."
"It's laughable," added Gil. "That they lack the intellect to see the futility of their efforts. Their deaths will be meaningless. The worst part is, those fools in your castle can't see that a change in tactics is needed."
"Watch what you say," Ridley said with a menacing glare. Her grip on her axe tightened.
"Oh," Gil said. "I didn't realize you still had feelings for some of them. Get rid of them."
"Enough," said Jack, stepping between the two. "Let's just get this over with. Ridley's right about one thing: there will be more men here today. Where we had guardsmen yesterday, there'll be knights today. Mikey, you're going to have to start us off with your magic. Gil, fly up and come down behind the guys at the bridge's base. Ridley and I will head straight up the middle. The signal will be my whistle."
Mikey nodded, and started to the left, finding the best angle to attack from. Gil silently glided to the right. When he was out far enough, he rose into the air, and moved toward the bridge. Jack and Ridley stayed in place while the other two positioned themselves, watching their opponents. Jack tried to decide which knight to attack first, and which ones Mikey and Gil would take out. Looking at Ridley, he saw that she was not doing a very good job of hiding her unease. Reaching out, Jack put a hand on her shoulder. When she looked at him, he gave her a smile full of confidence.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "I can take these guys down. You don't have to fight."
"No," said Ridley. "I do. I have to get over this."
"All right," Jack said. "Ready?"
When Ridley nodded, he stood up and began walking down the path. As soon as he saw that they had been seen, he whistled loudly. The first man who stepped forward was knocked to the ground by a fireball. Moments later, a hail of the blazing spheres were flying toward the bridge's defenders. The men were now uncertain about rushing ahead. In fact, they seemed to be preparing to do the opposite. As they turned to retreat, they ran into Gil. The light elf had silently landed behind them, and now began his offensive. He cut into the men before him, who had little time to launch any attacks of their own. When they finally recovered, they managed a few attacks. Gil easily deflected the saber swings, cutting into the knights in front of him. Unbeknownst to him, an axe-wielding knight was preparing to attack from his blind side.
Just as the axe began to descend, Jack ran into the man. Plowing into him, he knocked the man to the ground, and followed with a ruthless downward stroke. The knights were stunned by his and Ridley's appearance. Faced with magic attacks and an elf assassin, they had momentarily forgotten the two former knights. Taking advantage of the confusion, the two quickly finished the knights, who now faced attack from both sides. Jack then signaled for Mikey to come out from his position and join them. Looking across the bridge, he knew it would be too much to hope that their attack had gone unnoticed. Guards from the other side were already rushing onto the bridge. More saber swinging knights were charging forward, determined to halt the attackers. Gil immediately ran up the steps and onto the bridge. Jack followed, telling the other two to move forward as well.
They met the knights at the bridge's halfway point, pushing two of them aside at the beginning. On the narrow bridge, everyone's strategy revolved around knocking their opponent off. Jack viciously attacked the men in front of him, his sweeping strokes cutting them down and pushing them aside. Mikey was unable to do much, as striking with his magic would threaten the bridge's stability. Gil moved with fluid grace, easily evading the strokes of the best knights. Ridley had moved up, but was unable to get into the forefront. The bridge only permitted two people to move abreast, and she was forced to stay behind Jack and Gil. The knights were steadily giving ground, and their push had nearly gained them the other side.
As they started to descend the stairs, Mikey's magic attacks resumed. However, the knights were managing to hold their own at the base of the bridge. Without thinking, Jack jumped off the side of the stairs. He hit the ground and immediately ran forward. Without the elevation advantage, and faced with a powerful new foe, the knights were on the verge of collapsing. Rushing into their midst, he began an aggressive assault. His sword flashed quickly as it struck men all around him. His sweeping thrusts hammered the knights, forcing them to give ground. As they did, they moved directly into Mikey and Gil's attacks. Trying to defend against attacks from both sides, they inadvertently left themselves open. This resulted in a very quick and decisive victory for the four warriors who attacked.
Turning and walking away, Jack motioned for the others to follow him. Gil had not needed the gesture, and was already walking down the road. Mikey glanced back only once before he moved on. Ridley hesitated for a few long moments before she grudgingly started forward. She cast several long, sorrowful looks backward. As they walked down the path, Jack studied Ridley intently. He was worried about the toll this fighting was taking on her. She wasn't hurt physically, but he could tell that she had been wounded in other ways. Jack wanted to comfort her, and was preparing to do so, when three men came into view. Jack's hand immediately went to his sword. Any men in this area would not be friends. Walking closer, Jack recognized more friends of his from the town. Alvin, Miranda, and Vitas, three of Olacion's trainee monks stood before them. As they got closer, Jack began taking larger strides, and signaled for the other three to stop behind him.
"I'll handle this," Jack said calmly.
Walking closer, he saw that the young fighters had changed little since he had last seen them. Alvin's feet were firmly planted, and he looked ready to fight. Miranda looked as if she were uncertain as to what would happen next, and was afraid to find out. Vitas' posture said she was ready to fight, but her eyes betrayed her. She seemed hesitant to attack. Jack knew these three very well, having once been asked by their master to test their strength. It seemed like ages ago, though it hadn't been all that long. More importantly, Jack knew they hadn't improved enough in that time to beat him. When Jack got within twenty paces, all three simultaneously tensed. He stopped fifteen paces away.
"So, they didn't think Vancoor could handle this route anymore," Jack asked.
"That's not quite true," Vitas answered.
"All of the guilds are rotating duties," Alvin added.
"The schedule gives the guild warriors time to rest and recuperate," said Miranda.
"Bet they're keeping Doctor Morfinn busy," Jack said.
"Both he and our healers have been very busy," Miranda replied. "Why have you done this Jack?"
"I have my own path to follow," Jack answered.
"You think that's good enough," exclaimed Vitas. "You turn against your own friends, and the only explanation you have is that it's your path? That's not good enough!"
"It will have to be," replied Jack. "I have no other answer."
"Come back with us Jack," Alvin said. "We don't want to have to fight you. Surely the king will pardon you if you tell him the non-humans' plans."
"Alvin," Jack began. "We both know that's not going to happen. I've made my choice, and I'm going to keep to it. You three made your choice in coming here today. We're both going to have to face the repercussions of our choices, good or bad. Unfortunately for you, the consequences of your actions will not be good. By choosing to confront me, your lives are forfeit. I'm sorry it has to come to this."
"You'll send those others against us," asked Miranda.
"No," Jack answered. "I'll fight all of you, three on one."
"Jack," Vitas said tensely. "We will kill you."
"I hope so," said Jack. They looked confused. "Well, I don't hope that you actually kill me. I do hope that you will try though, because I'm not holding back, and I'd hate to think you are. Now, let's do this. It's going to take everything you've got just to have a chance."
Jack drew his sword as the three monks took their fighting stances. He stared at them for a several moments. Each second seemed to be an eternity. He was giving them the opportunity to strike first. It was the best he could do. When none of them looked as if they would make a move, Jack decided to act. He lunged forward to attack. He rushed straight for Alvin, trying to divide the warriors. He swung his saber from left to right, forcing his opponent to fall back. Miranda, on Alvin's left, also jumped back. Vitas was quick to attack from Jack's left. Reflexively, he swung his saber, and slashed across her leg. The girl fell to her knees in front of him.
As Jack prepared to finish her, he heard Alvin's steps behind him. Rolling to the side, Jack got out of the way just in time. Unable to stop himself, Alvin ran into Vitas, and the two fell into a pile on the ground. While they were untangling themselves, he turned his attention on Miranda. She attacked quickly, trying to keep his focus on her. Skillfully evading her attacks, he countered, leaving a gash down the length of her arm. Hitting her chest with the hilt of his saber, he turned to face the other two warriors, who were preparing to attack him again. Both had spread out wide, and were rushing toward him.
When they got closer, both rushed to the middle at sharp angles, ready to attack. Unfazed, Jack stepped forward and attacked Vitas, who was on his left. She brought her hands up to deflect his blade, and quickly recoiled as the blaze saber burned her hands. Turning to his right, Jack brought the sword down, cutting Alvin's right side. Thrusting his sword out, Jack spun completely around, cutting both at once. While Alvin and Vitas staggered back, he rushed at Miranda. The young girl was still nursing the wound on her right arm, and was not in a position to defend. She made a futile effort to attack with her left hand, which Jack brushed aside. Thrusting his left knee forward, he knocked Miranda to the ground. He quickly lunged forward, his sword descending on the girl. However, his target rolled to the side, evading his attack.
While Jack was preparing to run forward, he heard movement behind him. Turning around, he saw Vitas struggling to her feet. Alvin was already standing, though he was nearly doubled over with his hand at his side. He ran at these two, determined to finish them quickly. Vitas wasn't even on her feet when his blade sliced across her stomach. A quick back-pivot put him in perfect position to attack Alvin. His sword feint made Alvin prepare for an attack from above. Jack, however, attacked from the right. Cutting into his opponent's side, Jack continued his offensive by attacking with the hilt of the sword itself. Hastening Alvin's fall, Jack brought the sword down one final time. The young monk cried out in pain as he hit the ground. Pulling his sword free, Jack moved on, knowing that sound was Alvin's last.
Jack turned around, trying to determine whom to finish next. On his right, Miranda had managed to get back on her feet. Vitas was still having difficulty standing. Wasting no time, he rushed toward Miranda, readying his attack. His sword stretched out in a slash from the right to the left. The healer actually managed to void his initial strike, and he found himself temporarily in between the two girls. Since he was now facing Vitas, he immediately moved to engage her. The girl had only just managed to regain her footing, and her stance was shaky at best. His upward stroke cut deeply, and knocked her to the ground. Instinctively, he spun to his right. The charging Miranda ran right past him, and he brought his saber down. In the next instant, she was laying facedown next to Vitas. The fight was over.
Suddenly, the reality of the last few minutes sank into Jack. Staring at Vitas in front of him, he felt cold inside. The girl in front of him stared back with a strange mix of hatred, pain, and admiration. Her breath came in labored gasps, and Jack knew she would not last much longer. Miranda, laying next Vitas, was not in any better shape. Facedown in grass, her chest rose and fell very slowly. She would not outlive her friend by long. Jack's emptiness felt different than it had on any other occasion. Cutting down his friends was never going to become easy. Additionally, facing these young girls was far different then the trained warriors of Vancoor. Looking down at Vitas, he was filled with sorrow at having to strike down his friends. He was surprised when Vitas began to speak.
"You've gotten even stronger," she began. "It…it's amazing. We didn't even touch you."
"The path I've chosen necessitates strength," Jack said simply.
"Then walk it to the end," said Vitas. She even gave him a small smile.
"I wish it hadn't ended this way," Jack said.
"I…I do too," Vitas said. "I guess it did, though. Too bad for…us."
"Yeah, I guess it is," Jack said.
"Master…Achilles said this might happen," Vitas said. "Defeat, he told us, was always a possibility. He tried to…to prepare us for this reality. It's no…not what I thought it would be. It's more…more real. I can't feel my legs."
"That's the risk you took," Jack said simply.
"I know," Vitas responded. She lay still for a moment before finally speaking again. "Jack…"
Before she could finish, her eyes closed, and Vitas' breathing stopped. Jack bowed his head. Looking next to her, he realized that Miranda was still alive. Quickly but gently, he turned her onto her back. Her eyes were already partially glazed, but she spoke with surprising clarity.
"I don't think I can heal these wounds Jack," she said simply. Suddenly, she moaned in pain.
"Miranda," exclaimed Jack.
"Jack," Miranda whispered. "Jack, the pain. It's everywhere."
"There's not much I can do," Jack said. "It'll all be over in a few minutes."
"No," Miranda said, wincing. "There is something you can do. End my pain."
"What," Jack asked. "No, I can't. I won't!"
"Please Jack," said Miranda. "You didn't have any problems getting this far. Finish…me"
"You're wrong," Jack replied. "If there was any way to avoid this fight, I would have done so. And I won't strike you down while you're helpless."
"I'm…begging you," Miranda said. Her body tensed. "Please, save me from the pain."
"This is what you want," Jack asked. Miranda's nod brought a sigh of defeat from Jack. "All right."
Silently, he tightened his grip on the saber in his right hand. Gently, Jack laid Miranda back on the ground. She was in obvious pain, and her eyes begged for release. As he raised his sword, her body stiffened. Jack hesitated only an instant before his blade fell.
Vegeta26: Eight chapters done, and still going. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's glad to see that the Radiata Stories genre is growing. Well, rest assured that my story isn't going anywhere, and there's still plenty in store. Thanks again to those who continue to review.
Zeroark: Thanks for the review. Hope you continue to enjoy. Didn't get to slip a real Jack/Ridley in this chapter, but I think they work better when they're not forced into every single chapter.
Blue Persuasion: Glad you're still reading. Characters like Gil aren't too hard to write. Honestly, the quiet ones like Mikey are tougher, because you don't get as much information to go on.
Sono Ketsuraku Rinku: The Book of Angels took forever for me to find too. I kept trying to find a branch of the Septem Cave that went to it. As for the story, writing fighting scenes has always been my specialty.