Lower Junon

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Ami was totally bushed, and the puppets were still coming strong... but she couldn't stop smiling. Death is not enough to keep us from fighting together. Sunset... I owe you one.

Rude kept shooting without taking a pause for breath... but he was not entirely happy about this new ally. Ami, I think you've finally gone off the deep end. She'd better know what she's doing...

Reno made it to Nikky with little further resistance. He picked up her limp form and made a break for it, not caring where he was going... anywhere away from where he'd last seen that maniac was fine by him. I've got to get her away... I can help the others later... She needs me NOW.

He was running so fast and hard that he didn't even realize he'd begun talking to her. "Nikky... come on, Nikky, don't die now... come on, wake up... wake up, I'm going to get you out of here... please, don't die..."

[*~Nikkole~*]

the goonies fought hard and fast. they died too though.

nikky was out....

kamen was gone and no more goonies came.

[Gdosimirj Sunset]

Kadaj didn't notice or care who he was fighting with or against as long as he was protecting his sister. He stabbed his sword into the heart of one goon, sliced the head off another, and so it went. He pointed his finger at one of them and the electricity coursing over his body leapt onto the goon, electrocuting him. Kadaj grinned. Couldn't do that one before...

He slashed down another cloak... and stopped short. He was looking right into Rude's face. A strange smile crept up his face as he glanced from the elecronic ram to Rude and back to Ami, sizing up the situation. He then glanced at the last of the goons who were converging on them. He looked back at Rude, shrugged, flashed a peace sign at him and went back to fighting the goons.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

The last of the goons went down quickly, thanks to the supernatural help Ami and her friends had suddenly acquired. Ami looked around and sighed at the mess she had made. "Well, that was anticlimatic... I called you here to help us take care of Emo Boy, and he literally disappeared on us. Lame, lame, lame. That's all I can say." She grinned at her brother to show she was only kidding. "Maybe you scared him off. Lord knows I'd have a heart attack if I saw you coming after me."

He's been dead for a year... and I'm standing here yakking with him as if we've been across the hall from each other all this time. But in a way... he has been with me all along.

"It's good to see you again... and while fully conscious this time, to boot. You and me, beating the tar out of people who deserve it, just like old times." Her tone shifted towards seriousness. "How long can you stay?" She was hoping he'd say something to the effect of "a while", but she had a feeling that wasn't the way it would work out...

[Gdosimirj Sunset]

Kadaj made a move to reach out and touch his sister's arm, then stopped. "Not for long. Not if you want Gdosimirj to live. Electricity wasn't meant to work this way, and it's ten times worse on her body than fire was on poor Vieve." He smiled sadly. "Oh, I know you wish it couldn't be this way. Next time, try water."

[Amnesty Lazuli]

"Water, huh?" She couldn't help giggling at that. "I always knew you were wishy-washy." Ami hoped he could tell she was only laughing because this hurt so much-- together again at last, but with no way to sustain the connection. "I've really missed you... and when I gave up my Jenova cells... I thought I'd never see you again." She felt like she was about to start crying, but the last thing she wanted to do was begin sobbing like a big baby, especially considering how little time she had... Ami stopped. "I have an idea..."

She could tell he was thinking something like Not another one, but she continued anyway. "This avatarring and dreamwalking business seems a little tricky. Maybe we should try something more reliable... like a summon materia?" Her face was bright with hope.

Rude's was dark with apprehension. He'd held his tongue during this coversation, but it was beginning to take a disturbing turn... and speaking of disturbing details, Reno and Nikky were nowhere in sight. Rude took off the in direction he'd seen Reno heading...

[Gdosimirj Sunset]

Kadaj tapped his chin. "Intriguing. That just might work. I know you aren't very fond of the idea of using materia... it's warming to know you'd experiment with it just to see me." He thought for a moment. "I can't guarantee anything, but I would try working with silver materia. It's pretty rare, and very expensive, but it's the only kind I can think of that would work." He took a step closer. "And try to go easy on the avatarring until you figure it out. You're wearing Sunset out. She only has so much energy. I know this was a willing sacrifice on her part, but this was an emergency. Try to remember she's not a cell phone."

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Ami laughed again, not forcing it this time. "'Sunset' does not equal 'Nokia'. Check." She could tell he was preparing to say goodbye... his look gave it away. "Hold it," she interrupted. Ami bent down and started to unbuckle her boot. She could feel Kad's amused gaze on her as he tilted his head down to see what she was up to.

She pulled her boot off and stuffed her hand into it like a glove, as she had a few days earlier to break down the lab doors in the abandoned Shinra complex. She held it up towards him. She observed he still didn't get it. "Rubber soles," she clarified. "Silly, I know, but I'll try anything once." He was half a second away from dissolving into laughter, she could tell... but she had to do this. She reached out to touch him, nothing too fancy at all... just the flat of her hand on his shoulder, the first physical contact she'd had with him since that awful night two years ago-- the night he told her, only thinly veiling his pain, that he had to either leave, or watch Geostigma take her away. Since that night, so much had changed ... she had changed, so greatly that she was surprised her brother could even recognize her anymore.

She had to prove to herself that this was really happening, that he was actually standing in front of her... and that he was, once again, being forced to leave her... but at least this time, he wouldn't be leaving her alone.

And as bizarre as this scenario was, it was the first time she had felt like she was in the real world ever since he left. This is unreal... but it's real in every important way. She smiled at him. "Until we meet again?"

[Gdosimirj Sunset]

Kadaj chuckled. He reached a hand towards her face to brush some hair away, speaking in a soft voice. "I have to go now..."

The electric shell of Kadaj exploded into a white light, and for just a moment, they stood in a white space. Time stopped as his hand touched her face and then as he wrapped his arms around her in a gentle embrace. "...but I won't be gone for long. Promise."

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Ami hugged him back, her smile wide and genuine. If Kidd or Cloud could see this, they'd drop dead of disbelief. "You better mean that this time." My goodbyes aren't forever... "Love you, brother..." She acquired a mischievous gleam in her eye. "...in the purely familial sense, of course."

She blinked... and the netherworld disappeared. Ami found herself hugging Sunset, who was barely conscious and whose hair looked like something from Bride of Frankenstein. "Guys? I'm gonna need some help getting Sunny back into the ship... guys?"

Reno and Rude were AWOL. Ami sighed. "Typical Lazuli luck." She began dragging the comatose woman up the exit ramp...

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Reno finally came to a stop when he realized he didn't know where he was... he'd gotten past the lights of the city, beyond the suburban district... some vacant lot of grass outside the city, not yet developed, absolutely pitch black. He lay Nikky's limp form down carefully as he could, afraid he would drop her if he had to support her much longer. "Nikky..."

He'd stopped believing in God years ago. No one could see and do all he had without losing the faith... but he found himself silently praying. Please, don't let it be too late... I never thought I'd admit this about anybody... but I love her. Good grief, I can't even believe it. But it's true.

H**l, maybe it's not-- how would I know? I've never loved anybody.

He touched her arm... much, much too cold. He froze, the cold sinking into his hand. Oh, G**... "Nikky, wake up."

Normally, I'd be making wisecracks. I can't. I won't. I'm tired, okay?!

I'm tired of everything that used to make me happy: playing cool, killing people I've never even met, chasing every girl who breathes. I used to LIVE for doing all that stuff, especially the chasing girls part... all that was what my life was ABOUT. But these past few days have made me stop and think, something I'll admit I don't often do.

And I found that I've never had anything worth a d**n in my life. Wasted fifteen years protecting the biggest a**hole on the planet. What was the point? Spent every day of my existence acting like I was the hippest cat in creation, and who's gonna remember ten years down the road? Strutted around like I was hot property... but who was buying?

In comparison, I have known this girl for barely two days, two days in which I have done more for myself and the world in general than in the rest of my life put together.

Here I have something that may actually have some kind of value attached to it... and I'm set to lose it, practically on the same day I found it?

****

Reno had left a trail bigger than the average hurricane for Rude to follow. And if he was interpreting the signs correctly, Reno was getting progressively more frantic with the distance he traveled. In fact, it seemed he hadn't gotten too far before he began losing track of where he'd been and actually traveled in circles a couple of times.

Rude had gotten as far as the outskirts when he turned back and got a few things from the ship. He then proceeded to repeat the journey, his cargo in tow and a flashlight in hand.

A few minutes later, Rude spotted an unmistakeable dash of red in the midst of a lot filled with tall grass, not more than half a mile from the ship. And unless he was imagining things... he could swear he heard something that sounded suspiciously like... sniffling.

He approached Reno and dumped the stuff he'd brought along next to him... lamp, blanket, hot watter bottle, some food, and the business card for Mishy's limo. (Ami, arranging Sunset in one of the cabins, had solemnly suggested he might also need a shovel. Rude had given her a chilling glare and set out immediately after-- the girl was only tryng to help, he understood, but that was the kind of help he certainly did not need.)

"Reno."

"What." Not a question, just a programmed response.

"Check her pulse."

Reno blinked. "Huh?"

"Check the girl's pulse. If she's still alive, she'll have one." Rude got the lamp lit.

****

Rude's unshakable cool was undoubtedly at its finest hour. In the space of a few short minutes, he managed to discover that Nikky was merely unconscious from the lack of oxygen and could be expected to revive before morning. Also, he somehow managed to get her wrapped in the blanket with the water bottle to ward off the possibility of her going into shock.

With those issues settled, he called the limo to get them back to the ship and divvied up the food for them to eat while they waited for it to arrive.

He lapsed into his customary silence, as he always did, as soon as there was no more need for discussion. The weird thing was, Reno did the same. That was what the food was for-- Rude needed to buy his partner a little bit of time to pull himself together.

Reno ate robotically, staring at the ground the entire time. Rude asked for no explanations, but hoped the silence would imply the need for them.

"Rude..."

"Yeah?"

Reno studied his shoes. "I never freak out like this. Ever."

"I know."

"As in, ever."

"I heard you."

Reno scuffed the grass with his foot, mumbling something.

"What's that?"

"She almost died," Reno repeated. "I couldn't do anything to stop it."

"No. You couldn't."

"And then I panicked."

"Yes, you did."

"H**l, Rude!" Reno was getting agitated again. "What if she HAD died?"

"You would have already slit your wrists by now, I'm sure."

"Be serious."

"Reno, I'm always serious."

"I barely know this girl, if you want to be 'serious' about it. OK? I don't even know why that nutjob was after her. She could be a serial killer, for all I know."

"But when you thought you'd lost her, you felt like the world had ended. It's a classic tune-- not one I ever thought I'd hear you sing, but it's familiar enough." Rude continued to eat placidly.

Reno huffed. Familiar. Yeah, right. I've known you since you were seventeen. You had a mom and a dad... you joined the Turks because you wanted to, not because you were in anybody's way. What would you know about this?

Rude didn't hear the words behind the huff, but the huff was enough. He looked steadily at his partner. "'In literature as in love, we are astonished at what is chosen by others. We choose to love, we do not choose to cease loving.'" He bit into a chip.

Reno blinked and let out a low whistle. "Since when were you a philosopher?"

"I'm not. Pulilius Syrus was. TerraFirmian. Say what you will about our forebears... some of those people could really think."

Reno looked back over at Nikky, still out cold. "So what are you, or Syrus, or whoever, saying here?"

"I'm saying, you're in love with the girl. Might last, might not. Deal with it."

"And you're, like, giving your blessing on this?"

"Reno, I'm your partner, not your father. Thank G**."

The limo pulled up right about then. Getting Nikky inside was not so difficult as Rude had suspected it might be, but convincing Reno to not hold her all the way back was impossible. Whatever cosmic entity happens to be favorably inclined towards me... don't let the girl wake up before we get back to the ship. I've had enough PDA's for one day.

[*~Nikkole~*]

nikky murmured and shifted slowly. she shivered and snuggled, staying asleep. she didn't want to wake up.... not for another hour or so.

kamen ws gathering his men and arms some ways away. hne wasn't nervous... he wasn't fearful. simply as calm as ever.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

((I apologize for the length of my last post. Good grief, I get so carried away. I gotta get a grip!))

Reno felt Nikky moving and sighed with relief. Finally, a good sign. He kissed her cheek and readjusted his hold on her. I'm not letting you out of my sight until this loser bites the dust.

****

Ami, back at the Ragnorak, had little else to do besides fidget and wait. She'd brought Sunset inside, pulled her into one of the cabins, and laid her out on a cot. She even went so far as to yank off the girl's shoes and cover her with a sheet before going out to make sure her chocobo was OK. Nobody ever said I wasn't a gracious hostess.

She petted the oversized bird amiably, hoping it wasn't of a cranky disposition, and tied it up somehwere a little more comfortable before leaving it a few veggies. If we ever go anywhere in the ship, it beats the zark out of me how we're going to transport this bruiser. All she could do was keep herself busy with such trivialities for now... she had to do something keep herself from worrying. Squall and Lutz disappeared sometime around the start of the battle... what if something happened to them?

And of course, there's still Reno, Rude, and Nikky to consider. Heaven knows where they've got off to. I'd like to head back into town before the pawn shops close and get some more rounds for the Tears of Heaven-- I'm fresh out-- but I can't leave Sunset alone. That maniac might just come back. Reno, Rude, where ARE you?

Never thought I'd see the day I depended on those two goons for my safety. Yesterday, they were my sworn enemies. But I guess I'm getting a little fond of those kooks... at least they make things a little more interesting around here. And sometimes they do come in handy. But a day will come when I sit them down and have a little talk with them about how they've related to my family in the past. They owe me that much.

****

The limo pulled up beside the ship once again. Mishy was glowing with excitement. "You guys are the most entertaining fare I've had this whole month," she beamed. "I'm gonna tell all my freinds about you..."

Rude paid the woman in hopes that would make her shut up. They exited the limo and let her drive away again. "The woman must be a glutton for punishment," Rude snorted.

Reno nodded. "Next time, we'll have her take the beating from a psycho and see how 'entertaining' she thinks it is."

Rude knocked on the exit hatch as Reno carried Nikky. "Ami, open up."

****

Ami snapped back to consciousness. The exploits of the day had finally caught up to her, and she'd dozed off. "Coming!"

She activated the ramp. "Guys, there you are, thank G**. I was starting to get a little tense there."

Rude, still ticked about the shovel comment, ignored the comment and got straight to business. "I'm going to help Reno tend to Nikky... and then you and I will have a chat about your new friend... and why she already knows my name."

Ami gulped. Looks like the jig is up.

****

Reno laid Nikky down in another cot... the one Ami had slept in earlier... and covered her with the blanket. He then sat on the edge of it and took off his shoes.

Rude did not look amused. "What are you doing?"

"Relax. I'm not gonna make a pass at a girl who just nearly got suffocated."

"You haven't answered my question."

Reno shrugged. "Just wanna see what it'd be like to wake up next to her, that's all."

Rude shook his head. "Fine, whatever. Meanwhile, I have more pressing matters to attend to."

Rude walked out to the passenger area. Reno lay down on top of the covers and put an arm over his sleeping girlfriend. Hope she doesn't freak out when she wakes up.

He scooted in next to her and closed his eyes.

****

Rude found Ami tapping her foot restlessly on the Ragnorak's metal floor. "Look, I know we have to discuss Sunset.... but can we do it while we're picking up some things? I've got a serious ammo shortage here."

Rude didn't feel favorably inclined towards that idea... "I'd rather not leave the others here by themselves."

Ami raised an eyebrow. "Don't be a prude, man."

"That's not what I'm worried about. When-- not if, when-- that Kamen character reappears..."

"We'll need some serious weaponry to finish him off," Ami interrupted. "Else, we're sitting ducks."

Rude couldn't very well argue that point. "All right, fine. But this goes against my better judgement."

Rude stuck his head into the cabin. "Ami and I are going to get some supplies. We should be back in an hour at most. Stay sharp."

Reno nodded, not bothering to get up.

Rude returned to Ami, feeling even less confident about this decision than before.

"Don't worry. He's a big boy, he can take care of himself." Ami strapped on her helmet and went outside to board her cycle.

Rude muttered under his breath as he followed her. "That's what I'm afraid of." He'll take care of himself, and not anybody else.

They headed into the business district...

[Gdosimirj Sunset]

Sunset opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the migrane that split her head. Must have been one h**l of a dream... She slowly focused heavy eyes on the ceiling... a ceiling that suddenly didn't look familiar at all. Her eyes flashed open in a panic. This is NOT the Kalm Town Inn. Where... Her hands shot down to her belt instinctively. At least I still have my guns... Her eyebrows furrowed. ...but somebody jacked my clips. What in the... She stood up in a flash, looking around huntedly. Her expression changed to bemusement. A ship? Wait, I think I've seen this...

She lurched into the hall, searching for some sign of life. The ship seemed nearly dead with isolation. She looked in each room she passed, finding nothing- until she came to a room with Reno and some girl lying on a cot. She nearly screamed at the sight of the Turk, then drew her guns.

"What... the F**K... is this?!" she questioned loudly and coldly. "Why am I here, how did I get here, and where IS here? And if the answer isn't Kalm... it better be good."

[Amnesty Lazuli]

"What the s**t?!" Reno got up and grabbed his EMR... and realized two guns were being pointed into his face. "Hey, hey! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let's..." He glanced back over at Nikky, who in spite of all this noise, hadn't so much as fidgeted. "Let's not be hasty here, all right?" I knew I didn't like you... Who is this chick, anyway? Is this the one that bailed Ami out during the brawl? I never got a good look at her...