Chapter 9: Conversations in Prison

Hikaru groaned, trying to pick herself up. She was aware that she was lying on a hard surface, a floor or something. She shook her head, seeing stars. The last thing she remembered was that horrible stabbing pain in her midsection. Before that she remembered seeing...

"Umi, Fuu!" She snapped back to reality and looked around. She was inside of a cold, lifeless empty square room. There was one circular door in front of her with a single window looking outside. A cell...she was in a prison cell! "Hey, let me out of here!" she yelled, getting to her feet and pounding on the door. "Umi, Fuu! Where are you?" she continued to yell, but there was no answer.

She was about to use Flame Arrow to blast the door open only to realize that she didn't have her glove on! The Zill must have taken it from her when they brought her in. Now panic was beginning to set in. She had no magic, no idea where her friends were, no clue how long she had been here, and no idea what was going to happen. She tried pounding on the door again but to no avail.

"No no no, this can't be happening," she said, backing away from the door. It wasn't supposed to go like this. Now she and her friends were prisoners of the Zill, stripped of their powers, and Cephiro was left defenseless. She fell to her knees, shaking, wondering what could she possibly do now.

There was a hiss and the door began to open. She raised her head, looking up and expecting to see some burly menacing guard come in for her. Instead she saw a familiar and welcome face. "Kefka!" she exclaimed, nearly jumping up to her feet.

"I'll take it from here, guardman," said Kefka to the guard. The guard nodded and let Kefka into the cell, closing it behind him. "Hey Hikaru, how are you holding up?" he asked, coming up to her.

"Much better, now that you're here," she said, smiling. "How did you find me?"

"Word is all over the fleet right now," he replied. "Everyone is talking about how the Black Dragon brought down the Magic Knights in less than a day. I pulled some strings and was allowed to come see you, and bring you this." He pulled out two small boxes with the Zill crest on top. He opened one, revealing some freeze dried food and some drink vials.

"Is that supposed to be food?" she asked curiously.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," said Kefka. "The taste leaves something be desired, and I would advise against drinking the yellow one. But it will keep you alive. I guess even the Zill aren't without some decency."

"I knew that as soon as I got to know you," she said. "What's the other box?"

"A first aid kit," he said, opening it up. "I knew you'd be injured, so I came to patch you up." He pulled out a small device and began moving it slowly over her injuries, emitting a soft blue light. Little by little, her wounds started fading away and the pain was dying down.

"That feels so much better," said Hikaru, "thank you. Kefka, do you know where my friends are?"

"I'm working on that right now," he said. "Don't worry, I'll do what I can for them. So will the rest of the War Wolves. They're helping me on this."

"Thank you, Kefka," said Hikaru. She set the box to the side, then quickly stood up and put her arms around his torso.

"Hi-Hikaru?" he asked, feeling his heart start hammering in his armored chest. Slowly he returned the embrace, holding her close.

Slowly she broke the hug and looked up at him. "That's for everything you've done for me," she said.

"I... I was glad to be of service," he said, gently brushing her cheek with his gloved hand. "I need to go...but we'll see each other again soon, I promise. Stay strong until then."

"I will, I promise," she said, nodding her head.

Slowly, reluctantly, he left the cell and watched the guard seal it shut again. He turned and left, ready to put the next step of his plan into action.

Cell Bay AA12

Umi was kneeling on the floor of her cell where she had woken up, sore and confused. All she had seen was bare walls, a sealed doorway, and her glove had been taken from her. Not only that, but her friends were also gone with no idea where they were. She was defenseless, alone, cut off from her friends, and trapped like a rat.

"Hikaru...Fuu...anyone," she whimpered, holding herself. "This can't be happening...what's going to happen to me?" She was so scared that she began crying, her whole body shaking.

Just then the door hissed and began to open. She looked up, tears still running down her face, eyes wide with terror. She quickly scooted back across the floor, until her back was pressed against the wall. All she could think about was what was going to happen to her at that moment, what these Zill might do to her.

In walked a tall Zill with a lean build and a sash over his chest. His helmet visor glowed bright yellow in the dim light of the cell. Once he was in, the cell door shut. Now they were all alone.

"Wha-what do you want?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What are you going to do to me?"

"Just relax" he said, in an oddly familiar voice. "I'm not going to hurt you."

She blinked and looked at him. "Wait...have we...have we met before?" she asked.

"We crossed paths twice before," he said to her. "In fact, the last time we met you were getting payback on me for kicking your butt."

"Wait...are you the pilot?" She couldn't believe it.

"Glad you remember that much," he said with a chuckle. "The name is Raxx, by the way. Kefka is my commanding officer. He's the one who got me in to see you."

"But...why did you want to come see me?" asked Umi, still back to the wall.

"Believe it or not, I was worried about you," said Raxx. "I may be a Zill, but I'm not a heartless animal."

"That means a lot from someone whose friends decided to rain fire and death on innocent people," she said angrily.

"I'll take that shot," said Raxx. "But you have to believe me, none of us knew what was going to happen. We were just supposed to fight with you, nothing more. I know that isn't exactly much better, but it's the truth."

Umi looked at him warily and began to get to her feet. "So why were you worried about me?" she asked. "You don't even know me."

"I have a basic idea," he said. "You've got a temper, but you're a caring and protective person who is devoted to those that she cares for. You're prideful and won't back down from a challenge, no matter how big or small. In battle, you're calm, cold and controlled like the element of water."

Umi's eyes widened and she felt herself starting to blush. "Wha...how...how did you know all of that?"

"We Zill have a saying," said Raxx. "You never truly know someone else until you've crossed blades with them. And in the two times we've battled, I've observed all of this from you."

"You got all of that just from us fighting? What, is fighting how you Zill ask people out?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not exactly, it's just how we express our innermost selves," said Raxx. "Why, what do the people of Cephiro do to know one another?"

"Well...I'm not from Cephiro," Umi admitted. "I come from a whole other world, far from here."

"Another world? So how did you find yourself defending Cephiro?" he asked, tilting his head.

"It's a long story," said Umi. "Short version is we were summoned from another world to save Cephiro, and we stuck around to keep protecting it."

"You risk your life to protect a world that isn't even yours, and you do it gladly," said Raxx. "You're not just beautiful, you're amazing as well."

Umi turned an even brighter shade of red. "S-stop it, you're embarrassing me," she said, looking away.

"Sorry about that, I was just being honest," said Raxx. "Oh, before they come and kick me out, I brought you these." He held out a ration box, much like the one Kefka had brought to Hikaru. "Word of advice, though...don't drink the yellow one. It's pure concentrated awfulness. And this one right here is a first aid kit," he added, pulling it out. "I was hoping I could heal your injuries."

"I... thank you, Raxx, I'll remember that," she said, taking the box from him. "And... yeah, I am pretty beat up. I could use some healing."

"Okay, just stay still," said Raxx, pulling out the healing device. He slowly passed it over Umi's wounds, shining that soft blue light.

"Wow, that... that feels really good," said Umi. "Thank you very much." She paused for a moment. "Umm, Raxx? If you can, can you make sure my friends are okay?" she asked.

"My squad mates will be checking on them when they can, don't worry," said Raxx. "We'll do what we can to help you all, that's a promise." The cell door opened, and he turned to leave. "Take care of yourself, Umi Ryuuzaki." He stepped through and the door closed.

"Thank you, Raxx," she said with a soft smile.

Cell Bay AA23

Fuu sat in the corner of her cell, holding herself and trying to remain calm. When she'd woken up, it had been in this barely lit, empty cell and there had been no sign of life from anyone, not even the guards. She had no idea where Hikaru and Umi were, or where she was, or what was going to happen to them all. "Miss Umi...Miss Hikaru...where are you?" she whispered, fighting back tears.

A hissing sound came from the door mechanism as it rolled open and in stepped a Zill soldier with citations on his chest plate. He looked at her with that glowing yellow visor, breath softly hissing through his helmet. He wasn't armed, but in the dim light he still looked menacing, especially with that broad shouldered build of his.

Fuu gasped, eyes widening as she saw him enter and the door closed behind him. "Who...who are you?" she asked faintly.

"I am Shakku of the War Wolves," he replied in a voice she had only heard once. "My commander, Kefka, managed to get me in here to check on you."

"Shakku...the pilot I was fighting," she said as she recalled where she'd heard his voice before. "What do you want with me?"

"I came to see if you were alright," said Shakku. "I know the Black Dragon hit you hard during the fight, so I thought you might be injured. I brought these." He pulled out a ration kit and a Zill first aid kit.

"I... well I am hurt and I am unable to heal myself," she admitted. "If you are truly here to help, then I accept."

"Of course," he said, approaching her. As he walked, she took notice that he had a limp in his left leg. It wasn't a big one, but it was noticeable.

"Are...are you okay?" she asked him.

"I suffered an injury to my leg a year ago," he said, carefully kneeling down in front of her. "They were able to save my leg, but the damage seemed to be more than our technology could handle. Now it's only a matter of time before my leg gives out completely and I have to have it replaced with a bionic one." He pulled a small device from the first aid kit and held it over her wounds, shining a bright blue light over them. Little by little, she could feel the pain going away as she watched her injuries fade away.

"Thank you," she whispered, looking up at him. "Is there really nothing you can do for your leg?"

"Even the medical knowledge of the Zill has its limits," he said, shaking his head. "All I can do is make do with the time I have left. That's the way life is sometimes. But at least I can ease your pain."

"If only I still had my glove," she said, "then I could try to heal you, the way you have healed me."

"I appreciate your kind offer," said Shakku. "For now, focus on keeping yourself safe. My squad and I will do what we can for you and your friends."

"Why are you doing this for us?" she asked him, putting a hand on his.

"Several reasons, actually," said Shakku. "Because Kefka cares deeply for your friend, and will do anything to help her. Because Kefka is like a brother to me and I will stand by him no matter what. And because I choose to do the right thing, regardless of what side we may be on."

Fuu listened to him and smiled. "You're a good man, Shakku. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, Fuu Hououji," he said, passing her the ration box and slowly standing back up. "I'll see you later. And by the way, don't drink the yellow one, no matter what." He turned and walked out of the cell, the door closing behind him.