Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Chapter sixteen...
(Ah, yes, I've finally gotten back into writing. I didn't particularly like this chapter, though...anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it...)

“I claim the top bunk!” Sakura declared triumphantly. She dashed into the room that she and Tifa now shared, immediately perching herself atop the bunk bed, surveying the room with a small frown. “Oh, well…do you see a remote anywhere down there?”

Tifa put down the bags full of items that Lucia had purchased, and looked around. Their room was well furbished, with a bunk bed, a television set built into the wall, a phone, a mini refrigerator, a wardrobe and a bathroom. The walls were plain, with only one picture of a dolphin hanging on the wall. In its entirety, the cabin was quite simple.

She grabbed the remote and, with the press of a button, the screen on the wall lit up, and the nonchalant face of President Shinra appeared. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” he said, with a regal air. “In light of the massacre that occurred last night at the E.S.O, I have appointed a new Minister of Defense, to ensure the capture of those responsible. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these fugitives will be required to inform the relevant authorities as soon as possible. On behalf of Minister Xenos and myself, I thank you for your cooperation.”

Both Tifa and Sakura were now staring at the television set in disbelief. A musical score heralded the news, and a young anchorwoman sat behind the news desk, a fake smile on her painted lips. “That was a public statement released by President Shinra hours ago,” she announced. “The public is advised to be on the lookout for Cloud Strife, and ex-Soldier and a member of the terrorist faction Avalanche, who seems to be the mastermind behind this upsurge in terror, as well as--”

Without waiting to hear another accusation, Tifa switched off the television set, her expression pensive. “He knows,” she muttered to herself, pulling on her suspenders and gloves.

Sakura raised her head to look at Tifa. “Hey, are you okay?”

“…I’m fine,” she lied. “I just need to get some air.”

“Okay. But remember, Lucia wants to go out for dinner, so don’t get lost.”

“I won’t.”

+++++++

Elsewhere, Cloud and the others were not faring so well. The constant patrol of sailors had given them no choice but to hide amongst the crates on the cargo area. Eventually, when the patrol had seemed to come to a halt, Cloud leapt out of the vegetable crate that had temporarily housed him and flicked a speck of vegetable residue off his shirt. “Okay, the coast seems to be clear now,” he said. “Where’s Ryudo?”

For a moment there was silence, followed by a deep groan. Tidus looked around in time to notice Ryudo sitting in the corner, his back turned to them. “Cheer up, bloke,” Tidus said amiably. “I think you’re handling sea sickness quite well. You’ll be fine once we reach shore…whenever that may be…” He paused patted Ryudo on the back as a friendly gesture, and Ryudo lurched away and grumbled, resisting the urge to vomit.

The door of the cargo compartment swung open with a sudden bang that alerted the group, who hid among the crates. A few sailors barged in, armed with what appeared to be harpoon guns. “All right, we know you’re in here!” one barked. “Come along peacefully, and no one gets hurt.”

Cloud was prepared to surrender himself when the cover on one of the crates burst open with a thud, and a young man with dark hair and glasses emerged, arms held high in surrender. A pale girl with a scar over one eye peered out from a crate, as did a slim boy with blue hair.

“We’re not stowaways, sir,” the young man with glasses protested. “I’m Dave, and my friend Abby here was sick, and we decided to bring her down here to…to get some air. Yeah, the crates down here tend to get all breezy since the wood is so porous and stuff…ain’t that right, Abby?”

Abbis nodded her white head, though she stared at Dave with sheer incredulity in her eyes. No sooner than the sailors had begun loading their harpoon guns than a groan resounded from behind one of the crates. Ryudo stumbled out, with one bony hand held firmly over his mouth and the other clutching his sword, now alive with a pulsating aura. He hurtled through them, tossing them aside with brute force before another wave of nausea seized him. He could hear the mechanical whirring of a harpoon gun, and instantly felt a sharp pain on his leg. He roared and sank to the floor, doubled over in agony.

Seizing the moment, Tidus and Cloud came out of hiding and closed in on the sailors, swords drawn. Cold steel bit through sweaty flesh, and within a matter of moments, lifeless bodies, bruised and bleeding profusely, littered the floor.

“Who are you three?” Tidus inquired of the trio standing before them.

“You can call me Abbis,” said the white-haired young woman. “We wish to speak with Cloud.”

Cloud did not attempt to sheathe his sword, but instead held it closely at his side. “What do you want with me?” he inquired, unintentionally abrupt with his words.

“Look, we don’t want any trouble here,” the one known as Tiago said. “All we want to know is why we were brought here, and how we’re supposed to get back home.”

“And you expect that we know this?” Tidus asked. “Look, we’re just as confused as you all are. We were brought here under the same circumstances.”

“But we were lead to believe that Cloud is the reason why we’re here,” Dave said coolly, eyeing Cloud keenly over the frames of his glasses. “So speak up already, blondie. We want some answers.”

“Join the club,” Cloud stated dully, lowering his sword. “We have many questions as well, and we believe that there is one who has the answers, one who may very well be the reason that we’re here and who may provide our way back home. That person is Aeris Gainsborough.”

Cloud’s words were interrupted by a snort and stifled giggle from Abbis. “Be a little realistic here, people! We’re all rational teenagers here. What use is Aeris going to be, especially since she’s both fictional and dead?”

The mention of Aeris’ name triggered off a surge of rage within Cloud. His expression suddenly became cold and distant, his eyes glowing fiercely in the half-light. “Unless you have a better idea, this is the plan I’m sticking with,” he said tartly. “You’re free to do whatever you want. I’m not going to try to convince you to join us.”

With that, Cloud stormed off and slumped against the wall at the far end of the room, feigning to take no notice of their stares of apprehension. Abbis, Dave and Tiago exchanged looks.

“What a tightwad that Cloud is.”

“Shh, he can still hear us, you know…”

“Don’t ‘shh’ me!”

“…Now what?”

With Tidus’ aid, Ryudo slowly rose to his feet. “If I might offer a suggestion,” he muttered thickly. “I’d say we get out of here as soon as possible. It isn’t safe to stay here.”

“You’re right,” Tidus concurred. “But, there’s no way we can just walk out of here unnoticed.”

Dave crouched before one of the sailors and grabbed him by the collar, smirking to himself. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he said brightly, “I believe I have an idea…”

(Chapter seventeen...coming soon...hopefully...)
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