Sever All Ties
Chapter Thirty: Explanations
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.
The old hinges creaked, and Jack winced as he pushed the door open. He had been hoping that he could enter the room silently, but this was clearly not going to happen. The sight of Ridley sleeping silently on her bed drew a small sigh of relief. He hesitated only for a moment, and then he walked into the room. Jack immediately sat down in the chair to the left of her bed; it looked rather flimsy, but was surprisingly sturdy. He sat patiently, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest, and thought about what he would say when she inevitably woke up. Try as he might, he was unable to come up with a satisfactory phrasing of the words he knew would have to be spoken.
'Ridley, I failed' Jack thought that just saying it might be the easiest thing to do. 'I tried, but I couldn't do it. I wish I didn't have to tell her, but she's going to find out anyway.'
As if on cue, Ridley began to stir. It began as a small movement of her head, and then worked its way down to the her arms, and to her legs. When her eyes fluttered open, she was her head was turned to the right, and she was still unaware of Jack's presence. He watched silently as she studied the room to the right of her bed. Her eyes lingered for a moment on the open door, and she seemed puzzled by it. When she turned to look to her left, her eyes fell upon Jack. Though she was lying down, Ridley's surprise seemed to make her jump. She gasped slightly, and looked flustered. Jack was overjoyed to see Ridley's beautiful emerald eyes looking back at him. She had managed to win her internal battle. A smile crept over his face.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," said Jack.
"You should be," Ridley said with a frown. "How long have you been back?"
"Long enough," Jack said cryptically. "But, that's not important. How are you?"
"I'm doing all right," Ridley said. "Still tired, but I'm okay."
"That's good to hear," Jack said with a smile. "So, when did you see Captain Ganz?"
"The Captain's here," Ridley asked. "I haven't seen him."
"He was here, I'm sure of it," Jack said, nodding his head. "I talked to him earlier, and he's speaking with Sir Gawain right now. I'm sure he saw you, though."
"I must have been sleeping," Ridley replied. She looked past Jack to the window. "It's almost evening, isn't it?"
"Yeah, why," Jack asked.
"The last thing I remember, it was late at night, and I was still struggling with Hap," Ridley appeared to be thinking as she spoke. "How long were you gone?"
"It seemed like an eternity," said Jack, tensely. "But, I think it was only a day and a half."
"I remember you leaving in the evening," Ridley said thoughtfully.
"I was gone that whole night," Jack began. "The whole next day, and now it's mid-afternoon today."
"So, it was that long," Ridley said, nodding her head.
"What exactly happened," asked Jack. "Lord Zane said you and Hap were fighting for control of your body."
"Essentially, yes," Ridley answered. "As both of our souls recovered, they seemed to grow. It was a lot like running out of space, if that makes any sense. Both Hap and myself wanted to control my body. I had to fight to maintain control over my own thoughts and feelings. It's strange, but we aren't fighting anymore. His soul is still present, but Hap is content to allow me to be in control. I learned a lot about myself, Jack, and I succeeded."
"That's great to hear," Jack said with a genuine smile. "I don't know what I would have done without you."
"And I'm not sure what I'd do without you," Ridley smiled as she spoke, and Jack smiled back. "Tell me how your last struggle ended."
At these words, Jack's smile disappeared entirely, and he looked away. Staring intently at a small yellow bird sitting on a tree branch outside the window. Ridley watched with a puzzled look, not sure what Jack was doing, but certain that he was troubled. Silently, she moved to sit on the side of her bed, closer to Jack. She gently put her hand on his shoulder, and joined him in staring at the bird. As if he sensed that someone was watching, the bird suddenly fluttered away. This left the boy and girl staring out the window in a forced silence. A silence that Ridley could not tolerate.
"What's wrong," Ridley asked. As she spoke, she turned Jack's body so that he was facing her. Then, she pulled him gently onto the bed, so that he was seated next to her. "Whatever it is, it can't be that bad. Jack, please, tell me what happened."
"I don't even know where to begin," Jack said solemnly, staring down at his shoes.
"Well, you begin at the beginning, silly," Ridley said. She smiled, trying to draw the same reaction from Jack.
"The beginning," Jack started. His face darkened as he continued. "The first night, I ran as hard as I could. I took the Journey Pig to the Adien Region, thinking I could come up on Radiata's forces from behind. Instead, I ran into the Quarto Squad from Theater Vancoor. I had to fight and kill all three members. Gareth, Aldo, and Caesar all died. The indestructible Sergeant Caesar, and I killed him. Then, I kept running. I ran as hard as I could, until I got to Shangri La. As I attempted to cross into Dichett Region, I ran into the Chief. I had to face Theater Vancoor's leader."
"You killed Elwen," Ridley asked in surprise.
"No," Jack said quickly. He even managed to look up and make eye contact. The words were starting to come easier. "I defeated her, though. We had a decisive exchange, and I struck the stronger blow. By this time, it was practically morning. I made my way through the Dichett Region and into Fire Mountain. I had to fight off blood orcs, and the Noire Mouton Brigade just to get to the Fire Dragon's chamber. General Dynas and Cross were already there."
"Did you have to fight them both," Ridley asked. "I'm sure Lord Parsec was a great help."
"No," Jack said shaking his head. His eyes drifted back to the floor; she was expecting a story of his heroism. "I only fought Cross, and Lord Parsec wasn't much help. I guess I should say I wasn't much help. Ridley, I failed. Lord Parsec is dead. He's dead, and I should be too. Cross defeated me, and the only reason I didn't die is because Sir Gawain showed up and saved me. I was gone for a day and a half, but I don't remember any of the half day. I was unconscious, and Sir Gawain was carrying me back here."
"Jack, I," Ridley began, but trailed off. She could hear the anguish in Jack's voice as he spoke. "You did all that you could. No one can ask any more of you than that."
"No, you're wrong," Jack said. He was still looking down. "Everything I had wasn't enough. I failed; I broke my promise to you. That's worse. I should have died."
"But you didn't," Ridley said. Her voice was full of conviction. "You didn't die, Jack. And, I need you to live. I need you here with me."
"I'm not strong enough," Jack replied. "I can't protect you."
"Jack," Ridley said tenderly. As she spoke, she reached for him. "You are what I need. Your strength and your spirit are your real weapons, Jack. I need you."
"You don't understand," Jack said, shrugging her off as he rose to his feet.
"Don't leave me," Ridley pleaded. "I'm begging you, don't leave."
"I'm sorry," said Jack. As he turned and walked out the door, Ridley's shoulders slumped and she looked away.
Walking down the hall, Jack's mind was filled with thoughts. He wasn't really sure what he had just done, or why he had done it. All he knew was that he couldn't stay in that room with Ridley. It was hard enough to tell her that he had been unable to defeat Cross, and she had only made him feel worse. His weakness had led to his failure, and no else understood. His thoughts were filled with the faces of his friends, the ones he had defeated.
'Why did they die,' Jack wondered. 'I told myself they were dying because I had to succeed, but I failed. Has it all been meaningless? I told myself to be strong, but I wasn't. Have I been fighting for nothing?'
Jack was suddenly brought out of his musings. He had unconsciously walked out of the Fort and to the practice yard where he had been reunited with Ganz and his sister; the place where he had come after completing all of his missions. A place that had seen much happiness. All he saw now was an exit. As he began to walk toward the Journey Pig, Jack heard a voice behind him.
"Don't," was all Sir Gawain said. Jack turned around to face him. The Lion of the West was holding his mace, the Morningstar.
"You think you're going to stop me," Jack asked.
"No," Gawain replied. "I hope you'll stop yourself."
"It's over, Sir Gawain," said Jack. He turned his back.
"You're the only one who thinks so," Gawain said. "Ridley doesn't think it's over."
"She wasn't there," Jack answered. "She didn't see the battle. I need strength, not sympathy."
"She needs you," Gawain countered. "Your strength, your friendship, your protection."
"You don't understand," Jack shouted. "There's supposed to be a meaning to all of this! There's supposed to be a reason to fight! And there's not."
"Lord Zane doesn't think it's over," Gawain continued. "Even without Lord Parsec, we'll still fight."
"Of course you will," Jack said. "But that's not my fight. I was here for Ridley, and I failed her."
"You're failing her by leaving," Gawain retorted.
"I already failed her," said Jack. "I failed when I let Lord Parsec die, I failed when I was defeated."
"You're still alive," Gawain said. "You have a chance to rectify your mistake. If you leave, then everything you've done will have been for nothing."
"Everything I've done was for nothing," Jack exclaimed. "I failed, it's over."
"It's not over, Jack," Gawain answered. "If you leave, you will be sorely missed. You will regret having failed; but, more importantly, you will regret not staying to make it right. Running away from a problem doesn't make it better. Remember, I'm speaking from experience."
"I'm not of use to anyone," Jack said, shaking his head.
"Elwen thought otherwise," Gawain interjected.
"You talked to the Chief," Jack asked, turning around.
"I did," Gawain said, nodding his head.
"What did she say," Jack asked.
"Jack, who do you think is stronger: Elwen or Cross," Gawain inquired.
"The Chief has to be stronger," Jack said without hesitation.
"I agree," said Gawain. "And yet, you defeated Elwen and lost to Cross. Why do you think that is?"
"I…I don't know," Jack answered. "I'm trying to figure that out for myself."
"When I encountered Elwen on my way to Fire Mountain, I asked what had happened," Gawain began. "She told me that you had faced her and emerged victorious. She said that you had found your purpose, and that your devotion to Ridley had given you the strength to land the final blow. You'll imagine my surprise then, when I watched you lose to Cross."
"When you what," Jack asked. "You were there?"
"For the latter half of the battle, yes," Gawain stated. "Lord Parsec had already fallen, and you were engaging Cross."
"Why did you just stand aside," Jack demanded.
"If I had joined the battle, and helped you succeed, you would be asking the exact opposite," Gawain replied. "The Jack Russell I've been around would want to prove his strength."
"Except that I failed," Jack said.
"Do you know why you failed," asked Gawain. "Because you forgot the strength you had against Elwen. You were fighting for yourself. You used your hatred of Cross as motivation, instead of your love for Ridley. The strength you drew upon when you fought Elwen will see you through anything."
"You really think that my thoughts made that much difference," Jack asked.
"Yes, I do," Gawain answered. "I think you do, too. I'd be willing to show you."
"I can't," Jack said, turning toward the Journey Pig.
"Of course you can't," said Gawain. "You ran away from the humans when they needed you the most, so it only makes sense to leave the non-humans when they need you the most. I only wonder where you'll go if you're despised by every race in existence."
"What did you say," Jack asked, turning around. His hand went to the hilt of his saber.
"You can't think that Radiata will take you back, and I guarantee Lord Zane will put out the order to kill you," Gawain explained. "Your weakness is pathetic."
"I'll show you weakness," Jack cried, rushing forward. His sword was instantly freed, and ready to attack.
Gawain blocked a series of sword thrusts with the haft of his mace, pushing the younger warrior back. Jack charged forward again, his sword moving quickly. However, each attack was deflected by the bigger man's weapon. Gawain's small crossbow suddenly appeared in his hand, and Jack was forced to lunge to the side. He scrambled to his feet and lunged forward again. Again, his attacks were repeatedly turned aside. He was unable to land a blow. Gawain found an opening to counterattack and swung his mace. Jack was able to block the attack, but the force of the blow caused him to stagger backward. He charged forward, swinging his saber wildly, trying to land a hit. After ducking under one of Jack's attacks, Gawain swung the Morningstar and nearly connected. This forced Jack to fall back again. The two warriors regarded each other silently for a moment. Both were breathing heavily, though neither had been wounded.
"What do you think now, Sir Gawain," Jack asked.
"You're holding on, but that's all," Gawain said simply. "You'll never manage to finish me, even if you do manage to land a hit."
"I'll show you," Jack shouted. Flames appeared all around him as he began to focus his strength. His sword swung in a half-circle, and his afterimages appeared.
"This won't work," Gawain said. He waited patiently as Jack prepared his attack. When he appeared ready, Gawain planted his feet. Finally, Jack charged forward.
"Army of Shadows," he cried. As the four swords came together, Gawain swung his mace. The resulting shock sent Jack sailing back. Gawain's Morningstar had connected with Jack's sword. While Gawain was untouched, Jack hit the ground hard, and had difficulty standing. When he finally got to his feet, he realized that Gawain's blow had broken his blaze saber. Shards of the dwarven blade were scattered in the grass around his feet.
"So much for your strength," Gawain stated simply.
Vegeta26: All right, there's an update that didn't take months. Things might seem a little tense and weird right now, but be patient, a resolution is coming. In the mean time, I hope that everyone reading continues to enjoy. Please, by all means, write a review. Thanks, as always.
Weasel Debater: Good to hear from you. I could never figure out why Adele just disappeared in the game, so I gave her a little bit more in this story. Hope to hear from you again.
Lord Voldios: Welcome. I'm glad you're enjoying the story. I this chapter was to your liking as well. I just write the world of the game as I see it. The idea for the Argent Faucon was one that just occurred to me, the characters aren't really based on any specific people, or anything. I look forward to hearing from you.
Roxine27-TheBlingGalsRock4eva: It's nice to hear from you. I'm glad that you're still enjoying the story. I hope to hear from you again.
PaulXion: I'm glad to hear that you like the story. To me, although the game was lighthearted, there was room for a much more serious story to take place. I hope you'll let me know what you think.
zigyy553: I know it took me a while to update, but I had a very busy summer. I'm not sure that's a real excuse, but it'll have to be good enough. Hope you still like the story.