Martin Rueday smiled at the captured prisoners, who glared sullenly back at him, unable to do anything with the spells Lila had cast on them. Malleable robots now. Perfect.
“Not one for secrecy, are you?” he tsked. “Flying a spaceship over Timber and landing it? Who else has a spaceship, did you think we wouldn’t guess.” Laughing insanely, he tweaked the chin of the pretty brunette in blue and sent a wink at the brunette with green eyes. “Welcome to Timber.”
* * *
Quistis stared out, across the rooftops of Timber, blue eyes narrow and squinting against the setting sun. “Any second now.” Paige nodded and pulled her hair back into a messy imitation of a bun, tucking the shorter strands behind her ears. Sighing, Quistis shaded her eyes. “C’mon, Seifer, move it!”
A flash of light blinded them both for a moment, and Quistis closed her eyes, resting her hand on her hip, before opening them to peer at the frantically waving Seifer, sunlight glinting off the metal of Hyperion. She raised her own arm and waved back. Paige tilted her head, eyes on Joe. “Why do they both look like they’ve been in a fistfight?”
“It’s Seifer,” Quistis shrugged as if that should explain it, before proceeding to make sure her whip was secure and that her GFs were junctioned. “You ready?”
“Lead on.” Paige removed her hand from her necklace, tucking the charm back into her shirt, but not before Quistis glimpsed the “J” crossed with a sai. She opened her mouth to say something, but thought better of it, and shut it again. “How do we get by the Scan you said was in the stairwell?”
“Supposedly, if I don’t turn the mechanics on, there isn’t a Scan.” Quistis climbed over the roofwall and carefully pulled herself to the rooftop of the next, before turning to help Paige.
But Paige wasn’t there. She was already on the next rooftop. “Gymnastics training,” she answered Quistis’ unspoken question. “Next building?”
An affirmative reply had Paige headed toward the other side, breaking into a run at the center. Her eyes widened, and she stopped short, slamming into the wall with a force that caused Quistis to wince. Paige leaned halfway over, trying to maintain her balance before pulling herself back down to lean against the wall.
“Paige? Are you okay?” Quistis was immediately at her side. Wordlessly, Paige gestured over the roof, and Quistis frowned, stood and caught her breath.
There, in a row, stood Squall, Rinoa, Selphie, Zell, and Irvine, surrounded by Rueday’s guards. Lila and Rueday stood off to the side, talking. With a sharp movement of his head, Martin Rueday barked an order at his guards and disappeared inside the weapons shop. Slowly, mechanically, the group followed him, eyes downcast and blank. Lila brought up the rear.
Quistis’ breath hissed out. “Why aren’t they fighting back?” Her eyes narrowed and she raised her head, searching the surrounding area for Seifer. There! On the station platform! She targeted him since he was too far to signal with a hand wave, and cast a weak Fire spell. Unable to help herself, she snickered, happy for a little revenge as he turned around, Hyperion in hand. Cracking her whip, she sent up a flare, and felt the sizzle as their eyes met. Furiously, she sliced her hands through the air and pointed at the entrance to the compound, before mimicking a gunblade and a gun. Immediately, he started in their direction.
Paige giggled, causing Quistis to turn. “What?”
“Just kind of funny seeing SeeDs resorting to charades to talk to each other…” In an exaggerated imitation of Quistis, Paige went through the same motions, including a ridiculous face.
“Cute.” Quistis turned back around, and leapt over the edge of the roof. Rolling her eyes, Paige followed suit.
Both women crept towards the weapons shop, Quistis in the lead. “Stay here, I’m going to make sure it’s clear.” At Paige’s nod, Quistis sneaked across the street, low to the ground. Slowly, she peered around the side of the building, and seeing no one, she motioned to Paige. When Paige didn’t come, Quistis turned her head to find Paige’s gray eyes wide over a gloved hand and her arms bound at her sides by a huge arm. “Paige!” Sprinting across the street, Quistis unhooked her whip and prepared to strike. Paige twisted her body, and Quistis let loose with a crack that snapped across the assailant’s face. He cried out, grabbing his face, and Paige twisted out of his grip, drawing her knives with a flick of her wrist. Eyes narrow, she stabbed at who she recognized as one of Rueday’s guards, and heard the satisfying sound of splitting skin.
Quistis stood off to the side, watching as Paige attacked with a vengeance, making short work of the guard, eyes filled with admiration. A resistance member who didn’t need to be rescued all the time, and Quistis couldn’t resist the malicious grin that crossed her face. She liked Rinoa, she really did, but sometimes the girl needed to learn how to take care of herself. Like her cousin. Paige resheathed her knives, and turned to Quistis. She opened her mouth to yell but Quistis felt the stab of the blade in her right shoulder.
Her blue eyes widened and filled with pain. Steel still her back, she fell to her knees, cursing herself for not paying attention. Almost as soon as she put her left hand down to support herself, she felt the poison run cold through her body. Her breath came faster and more shallow. Slowly, she turned her head to look at her attacker, but her arm gave out. Blue eyes closed before her head hit the pavement.
“QUISTIS!”
Both the attacker and Paige looked up, startled at the male yell, and Paige watched in horror and awe as Seifer sliced the attacker in two with one easy motion. The blond man yanked the blade out of her shoulder and tossed it aside, calling forth a Cure. However, the wound refused to close, and Seifer sank to his knees, picking up Quistis’ still body to hold against him. “Quistis, wake-up!” He watched her face but there was no movement. “Quistis!” Paige and Joe ran up, but stood a respectful distance back, Paige sinking down onto her haunches. Joe patted her shoulder, watching Seifer worriedly. “Damn you, Quistis, get the fuck up!”
“So that’s her real name.”
Three heads shot up to face the new voice. Green eyes glowed from the shadows, and Paige and Joe both took a step back. Martin Rueday stepped out onto the street, hand in his pocket, and leaned against the side of the building. “An Instructor at Balamb Garden perhaps?” He smiled charmingly. His eyes focused on the two beyond Seifer. “Ah, and members of the Blinders. Well, at least you brought me some of them, Seifer…the Sorceress’ Knight.”
Seifer’s jade eyes hardened. “Heal her.”
Martin raised an eyebrow.
“Heal her, damn you!”
Head titled to one side, Martin pretended to consider, before returning his gaze to Seifer. “And what do I get if I do?”
There was no answer.
He shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t work for free. Let’s see,” he tapped his chin. “I get those two-“he pointed at Paige and Joe,” and you are my prisoners. If I heal her.”
“No,” Seifer ground out.
“Then say good-bye, Seifer,” Martin bowed and turned away. “She’ll die and we’ll capture you anyway.”
Torn, Seifer looked up at the Blinders members. Paige’s mouth quirked up in a half-smile and Joe put his arm around the redhead, nodding. Seifer nodded, and then looked down at Quistis. “Hold on.”
“Did you say something?” Martin tossed a glance over his shoulder.
“Deal,” was the low reply. “Just heal her.”
“As you wish.” Martin bowed. “After you.” Seifer picked Quistis up and followed the man into the shadows of his compound.