Yes, I am back. No, I didn't die. Yes, this is a new chapter and not an announcement of any sort and no, I'm not being lazy…too much. Hello everyone, sorry for the delay in this chapter. I have the greatest writer's block ever which is making me, besides being almost sleeping while writing, go on really slowly with this. The chapters will continue coming but slower than usual I'm afraid. And now to the disclaimer
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Josh: I do not understand why she makes us do this every bloody chapter. Everyone already knows she doesn't own anything at all.
Aria: She's masochist and likes to see that written every chapter
Stef: She's sadistic and likes to suffer
Eris: She's getting mad right about now
Rea: (Glares reaching for weapon)
Eris: All the OCs belong to my murdering cousin as well as plot changes and additional plot. Have fun and don't forget to review (walks away)
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Welcome to the fiftieth-second chapter of Second Life.
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- "Beckerman?" – The former general looked at her as if she was a ghost and not the flesh and blood warrior standing in front of him. Aria mentally rolled her eyes. She sincerely didn't think ghosts would appear covered in dust and debris. But she did know that the stupidity of her thoughts increased when she was in death danger and worried.
– "No, my twin sister general" – Ariadne stated dryly – "Can you walk?" – The older man blinked once…twice…Aria could almost hear Sasha's teeth grinding against one another…until eyes narrowed and he tried to stand from his dirty cot, legs wobbling slightly on his feet as he did so.
Took him about five seconds to stop shaking, a look to the two girls promising dire things if they said anything about what they had just seen. None of them even thought about it.
– "I'll take that as yes." – He nodded sharply.
– "What is happening here?" – Caraway asked, slowly regaining the commanding attitude and both Seed's annoyance. Not the smartest action at the moment.
– "We're taking back what's ours" – Said Sasha unbuckling the black sheath of a Galbadian sword she had retrieved earlier – "I expect you still know how to use this ol…"
- "Sasha!" – Interrupted Ariadne with a faint frown – "Not now alright?"
– "Am I giving her permission to continue this later?" – She thought absently. Sasha smiled dangerously, silver eyes promising future problems.
– "I wouldn't think it as so" – Replied Sacred with a sigh – "Apparently she thinks otherwise."
– "Smart kid"
– "Taur" – Whispered Aria with a mental glare – "Could you please stop placing wood on the fire?" – Minotaur grumbled something but fell silent.
Caraway looked at her emotionlessly before taking the sword that was being offered to him with a swiftness of movement that spoke of years spent using something similar if not equal.
– "I'm a general" – He said calmly.
– "You are a bastard" – Aria shot back mentally when a sharp of anger made itself feel inside her chest. Her teeth bit her lip strongly to avoid saying words she didn't want to at the moment. That and the growing hate her dislike for military was quickly turning into.
– "That doesn't mean shit now" – She finally hissed. Her hands pulled her katanas out of their sheaths in a sharp move – "Follow us if you want to do something useful."
– "Wait!" – Ariadne rolled her eyes.
– "In case you didn't notice General" – No small amount of scorn stressed the title – "This is not exactly a good place for a tea party."
– "Yes" – Continued Sasha not even looking at him while she checked the hallway for any intruders – "Any wonderful comments you wish to grace us with can wait until we get the hell out of here" – He apparently didn't consider so.
As soon as Ariadne passed in front of him to join her friend his hand grasped her arm, snapping her to react-mode. She ripped his hand away with a blunt hit of the hilt of her katana, emerald eyes flashing in anger showing a somewhat plain threat while the other touched his throat.
– "Never" – Aria said unhurriedly – "Do that again." – Both seemed like statues, not moving a single muscle.
– "Rinoa" – The General whispered, voice breaking slightly – "Rinoa…is she?"
– "She's fine Caraway" – Answered the Seed pulling her weapon away – "I would have told you already otherwise now move before we get any unwanted attention."
– Does that mean you wanted that thing's?" – Asked Sasha looking at something outside the door and sounding way too unconcerned to Aria's tastes.
It took barely a moment for the older Seed to join her and then curse under her breath as if there would be no tomorrow. There could be seen another robot, just like the one both had destroyed fifteen minutes before.
– "Oh yes" – Drawled Aria sarcastically – "Just what I had asked for Christmas" – Sasha looked at her, eyebrow raised.
– "What the hell is Christmas?" – Ariadne smirked.
– "I'll teach you if you beat me to that thing" – And with that she jumped to the front, katanas flashing the blood red of her magic.
– "Shit!" – Sasha cursed following swiftly – "I hate when you cheat Aria!" – Aria just smiled without really thinking about it. Hope was beginning to return to her heart. They have made through the first step.
– "Look out" – The grave voice of Caraway reached her ears just in time for her to evade the blade coming towards her too close for comfort. The General slashed the visual system just like she had done. – "The white panel."
– "Aura!" – Yelled Sasha behind them. Ariadne smirked lightly as energy filled her body.
– "Death Sentence!" – The robot fell at her feet, sparks as the only sign that the piece of rubble had once been a working device. – "We take all" – She said fiercely. Sasha's expression mirrored hers.
– "And no one will stop us" – Her friend whispered. Caraway looked from one to another and gave them a small nod.
– "Let us finish this" – Ariadne smiled as she followed them. She could see the confusion and surprise on Sasha's eyes even as she ran. She could see Caraway's determination and thankfulness on his face. And she knew hers wasn't much different
– "This is faith!" – Ariadne thought with certainty – "We're taking our home back!"
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My POV
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I believe now. When I saw us working together like that, like we were one forgetting all the preconceptions, all the prejudice and anger between us …all the resentment we held against each other. Or putting them to the side for a greater goal than beating the crap out of idiotic generals with greatness illusions.
I won't lie and say that I suddenly like the guy. That would be the cause for me to have the greatest attack of laughter of my life. But I can forget that for a while.
As they can.
Because we are all working for something far more important. We are fighting for the persons locked in this prison, for the ones lost in the middle of the desert and…for us.
Does that make me unable to join Sasha in major problems of state when we finish this? And by problems I mean the beating Caraway needs like hell and the trip to visit Martine that's has been delayed for who knows how long. No, Sasha isn't the only that doesn't forget easily…Can anyone blame me for that?
If one does then sorry but get a clue and leave the hole you're locked in. I don't hate easily now…but I'm allowed to feel.
Phase one is done for now…now I can only hope we can make it alive to the second. And by the way…I have some friends to kill. They will listen to me about how over-protectiveness has bloody limits. That and their ability to get themselves in deep shit.
That's my job thank you very much.
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3rd Person POV
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Ariadne just ran without thinking much about anything but her task, eyes locked with Sasha's form ahead. She knew, without needing to look, that Caraway was running behind her just as quick and anxiously. Adrenaline cursed through her veins like fire, the worry and alarm joining with the urge to battle that Aria had learned long ago to rely on.
So she ran, the blasted alarm still pounding on her ears and the screams reaching from some place near serving as a guide for the small group on the labyrinth-like hallways they had to cross.
– "Security cameras" – Her whisper was enough as Sasha nodded with her characteristic smile that just promised trouble before smashing the once closer to her with her staff. Ariadne copied her action on the opposite side without a single comment.
It wasn't pretty, or even near useful to hide them, as it was a giant WE ARE HERE note…but it would hide anything they needed to do and provide a small degree of surprise factor. Any of that was welcome as their companions had apparently chosen to throw all of that away.
– "Aria?" – Called Sasha with a audible tone of worry – "Something is really wrong"
– "Too silent" – Completed Caraway frowning.
– "I know…" - The lieutenant shook her head slightly, eyes swiping through the darkened hallways as quickly as possible – "But this is the way…we can't go back. This can only mean…"
- "Something's up" – Added the other Seed. None of the two saw the General freeze as if shocked, neither gave a second thought to the faint shiver that crossed his frame or the way dark brown orbs seemed scared for a moment.
– "Hell with discretion" – Sasha snapped angrily and would have run ahead if Aria's arm hadn't held onto hers.
Her mouth opened for her to shout but one look at her friend's face and that urge went out the window. Ariadne's emerald eyes seemed to burn in rage but there was something behind, a knowledge Sasha didn't wish to see or have…but she had already done so.
– "We are going there" - Aria said sternly – "But we won't play by their rules. We will play by ours. Now lets go before the party ends while we are here talking" – And she smirked with a faint hint of amusement, one Sasha knew to be forced. It was easy to see that. But she nodded nevertheless.
It was then that the bomb dropped. Literally. The prison shook abruptly, lacking any kind of warning and making the entire group, with no exception, falter in their steps almost falling to the floor in the meanwhile.
– "What the fuck was that?" – Asked Sasha while holding herself to the wall.
– "Wanna bet that that was the something that was about to happen?" – Aria retorted, all amusement already vanished from both her tone and expression.
– "The new weaponry" – Whispered Caraway.
– "What?" – The General's eyes found angry emerald.
– "Esthar" – He said simply.
Ariadne didn't comment for a moment, fist closing with too much strength around her weapons as the only testimony of the self control she was exerting upon herself. It was silently that she began running once more down the hallways, her friend yelling behind her for her to stop.
But Aria couldn't. She just couldn't.
Her brain could only think one thing. Mistake. And it was her own. Failure. She ran as if Ultimecia had just came back for their blood, thirsty for a revenge she had given up for. And the scene that met Ariadne's eyes was of pure hell.
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- "Alex!" – Aria's scream tore through the battleground with urgency as she dove between pieces of debris, trying to find her way while dust filled her eyes and constricted her breathing.
– "Alex!" – She shouted again – "Eliza!" – A katana slashed a piece of column that would have hit her head otherwise. A hand pulled her back viciously, trying to stop her advance.
– "You are alerting them of your presence" – Said Caraway's voice from somewhere behind her. When Aria turned back all her attitude screamed that that hadn't been a smart move at all.
– "I believe" – She ripped her arm from his hold one more time and pointed at the destroyed hall where they were at the moment. What should have been the place where visitors had once been allowed entry to visit the ones inside was now totally unrecognizable, grey walls marred with black marks either from the explosion or the powder, pieces of stone and wood thrown everywhere with a strength obviously none of the builders had expected upon construction. And then screams of pain filling the air, curses mingling with the dust and oil.
– "I believe" – Ariadne repeated with an undertone of hatred in her forcedly calm voice – "They know quite right that there is someone here already" – To that the General had no answer.
– "Stone!" – She continued, steps taking her further towards the place where the explosives seemed to have hit more strongly – "You better answer me right now or I swear I'm going to fucking kill you!" – Stones rolled and rubble fell, bringing arms up ready to cast spells at the first sign of attack.
– What…" - Someone coughed – "What a nice…" - Another cough – "Calling Aria…"
- "Alex!" – Sasha jumped ahead without waiting for instructions to where a tall figure could be seen rising slowly from the middle of the wrecks.
His black double-bladed sword seemed to almost swallow whatever light that managed to pass through the dust, while pushing the piece of the ceiling that was almost falling on them…them.
Ariadne's eyes turned to the rest of the group and her heart clenched. Gina seemed alright, sword firmly gripped on the hands and all her stance showed that she was not up to any jokes at the moment. Derek was by her side, his large gun held up high, the cannon directly aimed at them.
But that didn't matter.
What did was the figure laying on the ground, dark crimson staining her dark clothes, its alluring and yet wicked shine showing that, whatever the cause of it, was recent, and the painful frown the girl on the ground was sporting. She, who normally was the soul, the joy among her friends…
- "Dear Hyne…Eliza!" – Aria ran to her fallen friend, the anguish she hated to feel already settled in her chest muffling all the hope and faith she had felt barely minutes before.
– "'Liza" – She had to force herself not to show anything besides worry. She had to stop the will to cry and hug her friend, curse at Hyne or whoever divinity that had let that happen. But she couldn't. She had to be strong, respect others' wishes…others' choices. So Ariadne forced a smile as pained brown eyes opened to look at hers.
– "Hey" – Eliza whispered with a strained grin – "You know…something 'Ri…? This kinda hurts" – Aria didn't know if she should laugh or cry or just scream her throat raw for her friend's badly timed jokes.
– "I'm sure it does 'Liza" – Her hand rested the katana on the floor and cleaned the sweat marring the dust with tenderness – "But you keep yourself silent right now alright? You need your strength."
– "You…got it…chief" – And Eliza smiled again before wincing slightly. Ariadne decided in that moment that whoever had been in command was in for some very painful hours and a very slow death. Cause? Her.
– "Alex…"
- "No" – Her friend shook his head without waiting for her to finish the sentence – "I know I should have remained still until your signal..."
– "I wasn't going to tell you that" – Ariadne said, kneeling on the ground and watching the small regiment on the outside of the building that could be seen through the destroyed wall. – "Change of plans."
– "I love those" – Intervened Sasha absently that appeared to be casting every single healing spell she knew without going directly to cauterization. Aria had told her how internal haemorrhage was a really painful thing to bear. – "Share please" – Aria nodded while counting under her breath.
– "I think they are about 20 for what I can see" – She stated – "They must think we are a smaller group than we actually are. GFs all the way. Alex, we need to carry Eliza to the hospital ASAP."
– "I'm going with you" – His tone booked no arguments.
– "Alex" – Her tone neither as well.
– "I will." – Ariadne could have hugged Sasha at that moment. – "I take junior-boy here" – The other girl informed cocking her head at Derek, without even looking, while casting another spell – "The lesser we are, lesser the chances we get spotted."
– "I take the General and Gina" – Continued Aria kneeling again, features turning to back to a deep frown – "And the pain in the ass too. Don't stop. Just run." – Sasha gave her friend a tense smile when she saw the hints of the pale green that showed just how much Aria was worried...and how much she was trying to hide that from them. A gloved hand touched Eliza's face caringly, making the pale girl open her eyes wider.
– "Don't…be soft…'cause of me 'Ri" – She said slowly – "War…to"
– "Shh" – Ariadne smiled again, apparently pushing all her concerns away for a moment – "I know…we'll finish this. Rest." – The girl stood, hand reaching for her weapon, eyes crossing with Alex's for a second, fear and anxiety mixed with determination.
The black clothes she had been wearing were already covered with dust, her hair smeared with the white and grey powder that had been permeating the room. But Ariadne thought nothing of it. The two katanas were already on her hands, their red hue a prediction of something she had been dreading ever since her eyes had opened to the reality in her country.
People were going to die.
Her people were going to die.
By her hands.
– "I can't regret" – Aria thought fiercely – "Not now. I cannot be weak now." – Emerald orbs shifted to her weapons. The ones that had protected her through all she had been forced to face. For a moment she felt disgusted at herself…for a moment.
– "Aria?" – Whispered the two brothers on her mind. A deep breath left her lips as she hugged the twin blades.
– "Mom, dad, Lugh…Medea" – She muttered to herself – "I'm sorry." – Ariadne gripped the handles again, eyes narrowing – "I can't give up now" – And she walked silently to the almost completely destroyed door, barely aware of steps following her.
– "I'm sorry" – A slow smirk crossed her lips, the call for battle already in her mind and heart. Her head turned slightly to Alexander seeing the same strength in his posture.
– "This ends today" – His words echoed her thoughts. A last sigh as weapons were trained upon them.
– "Hyne" – Aria said slowly – "If there's a moment I needed you to help it's now." – And she jumped to attack, a wordless scream of anguish in her mind.
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Silence filled the piloting cabin where the group awaited for the landing. All stern, even the usually happy Selphie, all worried with what they didn't know to be happening and with what little they did know that was happening in that exact moment. The fear of being to late could be seen in every face, every gesture. If a toothpick fell to the floor some would probably be scared half to death. But no one seemed inclined even to move never mind to talk to each other.
– "How much longer?" – Except for Zell that had been doing that same question for the past three hours. Someone muttered a quiet "Not again" while a loud sigh of exasperation was heard.
– "Don't know" – Selphie said slowly. Apparently she was not happy for having to be the one to say those same words over and over again. Even if she was close to burst out laughing each time she looked at him and saw a large red bruise on his forehead. Loud bangs on a wall did call attention after all.
– "But we will be there soon" – Everyone turned to Rinoa. Her face was so expressionless that it almost seemed an expression Squall would wear, dark eyes firmly glued to the window not showing whether she was seeing the nature outside or the faces reflected on it. Either way none of them could know.
– "I've lived here most of my life" – Rinoa continued without being asked to – I know these mountains well. I would wager about half an hour, maybe less.
– "It's too long" – Exclaimed Irvine. He was definitively on the edge ever since he had been told about the beginning of the operation. Galbadia Garden was important to him…but he was also a Galbadian.
– "We cannot force the ship anymore Irvine" – Stated Quistis clearly.
– "Otherwise we're all on foot" – Completed Selphie – "I'm not destroying my baby only to walk for days and arrive to catch dust.
– "Baby!" – Mouthed Zell with an incredulous look. Squall merely frowned still looking at of the window, seating on its shield and choosing to remain quiet.
– "We can't just stand here either" – Said the cowboy standing from his chair for thirtieth time in last fifteen minutes.
– "And being nervous won't help anything" – Completed the headmaster.
That was one presence that no one had expected. Everyone seemed too used to see the man behind a desk in the Garden. But his wife had come, steel-like resolve in her brown eyes, frowning every now and then as if seeing something none of them could except for her.
– "Neither will sitting here like morons" – Muttered Zell under his breath.
Quistis gave him a piercing glare that was a clear sign that shutting up would be a very wise thing to do. In fact she gave the exact same look to Irvine and Selphie cutting the conversation short. Silence fell again as it had barely ten minutes before…and then more ten and more twenty and so on and so forth.
The instructor's gaze rolled over the entire group before resting once more in the control panel. The only sounds that could be heard came from the levels bellow where the other Seeds were waiting for arrival. Most of them were carefree, secure in the knowledge that they had already beaten those same forces before.
But there were those who knew well what was going to be waiting for them. Quistis shook her head slightly as she noticed Zell about to open his mouth again and the dangerous glint in Selphie's green eyes. But just then a loud gasp was heard bringing all attention back to Edea. She had a hand on her chest, right above her beating heart, a frown marring her expression as if something was constricting her chest, a pain none of them knew where it had came from.
– "Matron!" – Cried Selphie. The ship gave a sudden jerk to the right.
– "Hands on the controls" – Squall commanded abruptly, standing up without a thought.
– "What he says!" – Yelled Zell, before falling to the floor with a painful thud, as the group tried to hold to whatever support they could reach so they wouldn't follow. Edea stayed where she was, a hand firmly gripping the wall as the other rested on her chest, breathing laboured and slow.
Cid held her gently, waiting for something, anything to happen. What did happen was the ship stabilizing once more allowing Squall to reach the older woman. She held urgency in her gaze, fear in the way how she gripped his wrist in her smaller hand.
– "Now" – Edea whispered – "We are needed now. We have no time."
– "But we cannot move any quicker!" – Complained Selphie. Edea winced again.
– "Try" – Ordered Squall – "Everyone move into the cargo bay. We won't stay here waiting." – Some confused looks were thrown his way but there was no single comment against it. At last only him and Selphie stayed behind, Zell and Rinoa being led away after a particular hard look from the Commander.
– "What am I supposed to do Squall?" – The girl asked somewhat subdued. His eyes narrowed.
– "Open the bay, call someone to take your place and meet us there. We're waiting no longer." – And that was the only thing he said before leaving without looking back.
Somewhere, random time
- "I knew there was a reason why I liked that guy" – Hyne said with a wide grin – "Hello! Moving had to be done" – An impatient sound resounded behind her
– "Hey" – The sorceress almost pouted – "I am not interfering per se. I am just being…encouraging." – If the presence could roll its eyes it would have. Hyne's eyes seemed to harden after a second.
– "It was my fault" – She whispered – "My mistake. And they all paid for it. So many people…so many" – The woman shook her head gently – "The least I can do is insure help is on the way." – A booming sound replied in exasperation.
– "Well, I know that I didn't need to do that" – Hyne grinned openly as she knelt next to a small rippling lake of what could only be described as liquid magic – "But isn't it fun to mess up with things?" – The sounds that followed could be described as an angry parental rant to an oblivious child. Hyne seemed to ignore it as she watched the rippling magic in front of her eyes.
– "You can't fall now" – She whispered – "There's too much too lose and too much to win. You can't fail" – Something pushed her into the lake.
– "DAD!"
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And one more chapter has reached its end. I'm once again sorry for the delay but it's really hard to write some scenes and for them to be alright I'm going to need more time. Nevertheless I would like to receive some opinions so any comments, suggestions and the like are welcome. REVIEW YA ALL!
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Next chapter: Traitors and vegetables (yes, vegetables)
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See ya all soon
Reyavie