Chapter 8: The Rescue
Jillian: Yeah, me too... *walks to the next stairway* I'm getting tired of these booby traps.. *quickly descendes down the stairs*
Garnet: *moves quickly into the next room, notices a slightly chill fog everywhere* Oh, this is strange...
Aiden: At least we can see this time...
Jillian: *sees a flash of red hair ahead in the mist* ... m-.. m-mom? *begins walking towards her*
Aiden: *looks at Jillian, whispers to Baku* She's crazy! *suddenly hears a little boy crying* *looks around* W-what? *begins looking frantic*
Garnet: *softly* What's going on... Aiden?
Aiden: *darts off into the room, disappears in the fog*
Jillian: *walks up to Medda, surrounded by the dense fog* Mom..? Is that really you?
Medda: Yes, dear.. it's me. I thought I needed to get out of the area.
Jillian: But.. how... we're so far away from home, how did you get out here?
Aiden: *sees a little boy crying in the corner, kneels down in front of him* Hey... what's wrong...
Little Boy: *looks up at Aiden, rubs his eyes* My b-brother...
Aiden: *moves back a little, noticing the little boy is him years ago* What... what is this...
Baku: *sees an image of his first ship, the Talmascan I* I can't believe it! My ship! *begins laughing, running after the illusions, as if trying to get aboard...*
Medda: *smiles and turns away a little, spreading out her arms* I flew!
Jillian: *stops and blinks, thinking* But.. you hate heights..
Medda: *turns back and flickers slightly* Oh, you know what I mean.
Jillian: *stares at her* How is Julianna?
Medda: Who? *begins flickering occasionally*
Garnet: *looks around at everyone acting strangely* What's going on? Hey, HEY! We need to keep moving! *turns to suddenly see an image before her - an unclear, giant creature, it's eyes glow gold* *just stares into its eyes* I... I know you... *seems to get entranced*
Aiden: *turns around to see another boy in front of him*
Boy: You let me die...
Aiden: *covers eyes* I didn't, it wasn't my fault! IT WASN'T MY FAULT!
Baku: *runs past Aiden skipping, following an imaginary ship* *laughs*
Jillian: You... You aren't.... *turns around, trying to see the others*
Garnet: *stares into the creature, but her trance breaks when she sees a dark, black-winged figure behind engulfs it* *gasps, turns around quickly, running right into Azrael*
Azrael: *holds her for a second and stares forward* We need to go... NOW. *grabs her arm firmly and pulls her quickly, moving through the room, blood pours out of the winged figure following them, screams of what seems like thousands of people echo*
Garnet: *looks frightened* What... what is that?
Azrael: *sees Aiden, grabs his arm firmly as well and pulls him* We're leaving.
Jillian: *sees the three of them moving towards the exit* *quickly follows them, grabbing Baku's wrist along the way* What's going on?
Baku: *laughs and reaches back towards the imaginary ship, but watches as it gets engulfed by the figure* *gasps* MY SHIP! WHAT IS THAT!
Azrael: Just keep moving. *lets Aiden go forward and pushes Jillian and Baku along faster*
Aiden: *escapes the room and into an isolated hallway, falls to his knees and covers his face*
Jillian: *jumps through the door, nearly tripping on Aiden in the process* *looks back at Garnet and Azrael*
*winged figure grabs at the group as the exit, but disappears along with everything else as they exit*
Baku: *slumps to the floor, looking forlornly back at the room*
Azrael: *lets go of Garnet, leans forward against the wall, burying head in arm, breathing heavily, moves hand ever so slightly against the wall in an almost clawing fashion*
Jillian: *walks over to Azrael* What was that..?
Azrael: *pushes her away, eyes flashing red, almost growling out his words* Get back... get back... *leans back against wall and looks up*
Garnet: *gives a worried look to Azrael, then turns attention to Aiden, kneels down and puts arms around him* Are you okay?
Aiden: *shakes head, burying face into Garnet's shoulder*
Jillian: *gasps and backs away from Azrael, watching him*
Aiden: *turns head around, eyes wiggling, looks back at the room* What the fuck was that place?!
Garnet: *looks around at everyone* What happened in there...?
Azrael: *just uses his eyes to look down at Jillian, gives an evil, almost inhuman laugh*
Garnet: *turns attention to Azrael*
Jillian: *backs against the wall, still just staring at Azrael*
Azrael: *slides down the wall and sits on the ground, laughs and runs hands through his hair* Fuck. *looks up again*
Aiden: *shaky* That room showed the past... or something, I don't know... I saw me. As a kid. ME. And I saw... *just stops*
Garnet: The... past? *thinks to self - Now it makes sense, I knew I saw that creature before... I can't believe it...*
Baku: *grasping towards the room* *softly* My ship, my ship...
Jillian: *blinks and looks at Aiden and Garnet* Yeah.. that makes sense... I saw my mother, back in Greenleaf..
Azrael: Either way... *suddenly stands up and moves forward through the hallway* We need to get moving.
Garnet: *helps Aiden stand up* But what was that thing following us? It was terrible, I heard--
Azrael: *turns around quickly, looking intently at everyone* For all your sake's, I would forget what you saw. *turns back around and walks towards the stairwell*
Jillian: *silently follows him down the stairwell* Let's hope there's no more rooms like that one. *steps through the door at the bottom of the stairs and into a dark room with one light; a person sitting in a chair sits under the light*
Azrael: *turns around to look at everyone* There's your girl.
Baku: *slumps behind everyone, still looking upset*
Aiden: *straightens himself up, tries to look more confident now that he sees Callie* Well, let's rescue her!
Jillian: Wait, what if there's another trap or something? Like, we walk forward and fall into a bottomless pit. *calls out* Callie?
Callie: *lifts and turns her head to the group* *smiles brightly* You guys came for me! Kuro is such a feline-brat! She tricked me!
Garnet: *crosses arms* Yeah, this seems a little TOO easy.
Aiden: *acts brave* I'll go first then! *moves slowly towards Callie, looking around for any traps*
Jillian: *watches Aiden closely, then starts following him after he's several feet ahead*
Callie: What are you guys doing?
Aiden: We're making sure it's safe, so we won't die before we rescue you!! *reaches Callie* Well, that was easy...
Garnet: *doesn't move* Huh. Well, untie and let's blow this joint.
Baku: *suddenly pipes up* I'm not going anywhere 'til I have that cat-girl's neck between my two hands!!
Jillian: *also reaches Callie and begins to untie her* I agree.
Kuro: *steps out from the shadows with Callie's crossbow loaded and aimed at Jillian* I wouldn't do that if I were you.
Callie: Jilly, watch out!
Garnet: *quickly pulls out gunblade and points it at Kuro, slowly moving forward* And I wouldn't do THAT if I were you...
Aiden: *rests hand on sword, looking at Kuro*
Baku: KUUURRROOOO!! *angrily moves towards her* How DARE you! I trusted you! Put you on my ship, and you have the NERVE to destroy it!!
Kuro: *lowers crossbow and looks at Baku* That dingy little thing? I would barely call that a rowboat! It was a great coincidence that I already knew you.. that made capturing this little kitten so much easier.
Azrael: *leans against the wall, watching the scene intently*
Baku: Redd is turning over in his grave, knowing he has a wretched little bitch of a niece like you! You'll pay for what you've done! *pulls out sword*
Garnet: *looks at Aiden and Jillian* Get Callie out of here, we'll handle her...
Jillian: *nods as she finishes untying the last rope* *whispers* Let's go.
Kuro: Uncle Redd? *laughs* He was a fool to ever serve under a joke of a captain such as you! *tosses the crossbow aside and draws a dagger in one hand and kunai knives in the other* But if you really want to play, you can go and join him!
Aiden: *helps Callie out of the chair and pulls her quietly along, protecting her*
Garnet: *flips weapon to the blade and prepares to attack Kuro* C'mon, c'mon...
Baku: *swings sword at Kuro* You little bitch!
Kuro: *very quickly and nimbly blocks his blow, moving in close to him and swinging her dagger at him all in the same motion*
Baku: *blocks her attack, then attacks her, slicing her cheek*
Garnet: *covers Baku, letting him have his revenge, looks back at Azrael with a "Why aren't you helping?" look*
Azrael: *merely smirks*
Kuro: Mrrow! *jumps back and touches her cheek gently* *throws two of her kunai knives, one aimed for Baku and the other aimed for Garnet*
Garnet: *blocks the knife with her gunblade, then attacks Kuro, slamming her into a wall*
Baku: *dodges the knife and attacks Kuro after Garnet*
Azrael: *watches as the knife sticks into the wall right next to his head, laughs*
Kuro: *blocks Baku's attack, then bends one knee, putting her foot flat on the wall and pushes off, causing both her and Garnet to fly into the middle of the room* *jumps back and swings her dagger at Garnet before spinning and doing the same towards Baku*
Garnet: *grabs Kuro's tail before she hits Baku with her dagger, swings her and slams her into the ground* *switches blade into gun and points it at her* Don't move.
Baku: *moves to Kuro with his sword*
Kuro: *lets out a cat-like screech and she spins into the ground* *sits up, frowning* You may have caught me playing with garbage, but don't think your fight is over. The Baroness's reign is only beginning.
Garnet: What are you talking about? What Baroness? *prepares to fire gunblade...*
Kuro: *smirks* You'll find out soon enough. *is suddenly engulfed in a cloud of grey smoke and is gone when the smoke dissipates*
Garnet: *looks confused* WHAT WAS THAT?
Baku: *looks worried, glances back at Azrael...*
Azrael: *moves next to Garnet and Baku* Well, that was fun. Looks like she got away though.
Garnet: *shoots Azrael a dirty look* Why didn't you help us? You could have easily stopped her from getting away!
Azrael: I don't think you would want to see what I could have done to her. *smirks and moves towards the exit, beckoning Garnet and Baku to follow*
Jillian: *pushes open the door to the outside and climbs out* I don't understand how all of that stuff just disappeared. Even the spikes! *breathes in deeply* Ahh, fresh air!
Callie: What are you talking about, Jilly, there was never anything there! Just lots of stairs.
Aiden: *remembers the fog room* There was definitely something there... *sighs*
Garnet: *reaches the three* Are you guys okay? Kuro escaped!
Baku: Yeah, that little bitch disappeared, saying something about a Baroness... the hell does that mean!
Callie: She kept talking about her the entire time! That's who her mentor is. She was calling her the fire queen too. *gives a face of disgust* Hopefully we'll never see her again.
Baku: If I ever see her again, I'll kill her. *looks angry*
Garnet: *pats Baku on the shoulder*
Jillian: So.. should we head back to town or something? Find somewhere to stay for the night?
Garnet: *yawns* I already think I've had enough of this town, and we haven't even been here a day.
Baku: Well, I would say we'd leave, but MY SHIP EXPLODED. *huffs*
Jillian: *frowns* Either way, let's go back. *starts walking toward the town* *softer* Hopefully Jack found somewhere for us to stay..
Garnet: *lazily walks* I'm so tired... *yawns* *sees Roxas running towards her up ahead* Roxas! Where did you come from?
Roxas: *barks* *is purple and yellow polka-dotted*
Garnet: Oh, eww... *rubs his head* We need to get you a bath as soon as possible...
Jack: *meets the group at the edge of the town* I see it went well.
Jillian: *smiles* Yeah, it did. But now we're wiped, so I'm really hoping you found us somewhere to sleep. *looks at him hopeful*
Jack: Sure did. On Baku's ship. Let's go. *starts walking towards the docks*
Baku: *perks up* What? Did I hear my ship? DID YOU FIX MY SHIP?! *runs forward, next to Jack*
Jack: Well.. not quite. *walks ahead a little ways and stops in front of what looks like a brand new ship, one and a half times the size of the Talmascan II* I figured you would want to name her. *looks up at the ship*
Baku: How? How did this happen?!
Fiona: *waves from the ship* Hello everyone! I'm glad you all made it back safely!
Roxas: *runs up on the ship barking loudly*
Jack: *smiles slightly at him* Let's just say I have a lot of connections. *walks onto the ship* Oh, and there's enough rooms that no one has to share, with a few extra even.
Jillian: *walks up to Baku, smiling* So, do you think you can trust us? *walks past him and onto the ship*
Baku: *crosses arms and smirks* For now...
Garnet: *walks with the rest of everyone onto the ship* I'm so happy I get my own room! *darts off with Roxas behind her towards the quarters*
Baku: *holds hands up and looks at his new ship* I dub thee, the TALMASCAN III!
Aiden: *coughs* How original...
Baku: *smacks Aiden in the back of the head and grins*
Aiden: Ow...
This chat was completed on Tuesday, July 3, 2007.