Djillaywaska

[*~Nikkole~*]

nikky closed her eyes. i am helping him ami... my methods are different from yours but i can't look at him... it hurts too much... i need space to think. she mulled over all her info carefully.

the voice laughed. oh yes... a little notch of my own.... how lovely. well i should leave you to your dreaming... good bye little child. take care of the boy... he knows here i am.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, Reno taunted. Gonna chicken out just when things are getting interesting...

He felt a dark presence coming as the other receded. It was headed straight for them... He saw through its eyes as it speedily slunk along towards the hut to find a lone figure.

His eyes popped open. "Nikky..."

He released Kamen and rushed outside just in time to intercept his dark doppelganger. "HEY!" He whipped out his EMR.

Axel gritted his teeth with frustration and flung his staffs at them without even breaking pace, Reno going nuts trying to deflect them all.

Ami jumped, startled by Reno's sudden switch from mental sparring to full real world action. She watched Rude charge outside to help his partner in battle and shook Kamen a little harder. "Kamen, wake up! We're in trouble!"

[*~Nikkole~*]

nikky gasped and snarled. ''can't i get i moments peace!?'' ><!!

kamen was jarred awake. he stared at ami before slowly processing her words. he nodded and went to get up.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

"Apparently, not," Axel smirked, moving in on her and grabbing her wrist. "You're coming with me."

"Is that right?" Rude disproved that concept with a boulder-like punch to the back of the head. Axel pitched forward and spun around, barely gaining his balance in time, swinging a staff at Rude's midsection. Rude managed to lunge back just barely in time and aimed a roundhouse kick at Axel, who ducked under it and punched Rude in a rather sensitive area, sending him backwards a couple of feet and incapacitating him.

Reno was surrounded by the floating staffs, all fighting him at once as though weilded by invisible warriors. There were way too many of them, all swinging at him at once... he was barely managing to keep them at bay, and one or two got some stiff blows on him...

He flung one back and turned to find one flying at his head. He couldn't block it in time...

But Ami could. She locked it between her swords and chopped it in half, throwing herself into the free-for-all, splintering staffs left and right. She tossed one of her blades over to Reno. "Use this!"

He dropped the EMR and began chopping at the flying beams, cutting them down to size, making his way towards Nikky.

Axel wanted to groan. Reinforcements again? I better wrap this up fast...

The pair of look-alikes rushed each other in a furious game of pedestrian chicken, Nikky in between, exactly the same distance from them both... Who'll get to her first?

[*~Nikkole~*]

nikky was busy trying to fight of her own mind, she fought anything that came near her blindly. ><

kamen helped them the best he could.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Axel got to her a fraction of a second ahead of Reno and snatched her back. "Sorry, pal... you lose this round."

He leered at her. "Besides... pretty soon, she's gonna be mine anyway... might as well let her get used to the idea, huh?"

Reno charged him with a wild cry, swinging Ami's short sword at his neck. Axel fell back and flung Nikky in front of him as a shield.

Reno came to a stop just a hair's breadth from Nikky's throat, the keen edge of the sword nearly touching her. He yanked the blade back, eyes wide, as Axel came around with a staff towards Reno's head.

Reno took the full impact and went down like something very heavy and inanimate, head reeling. He sprang back to his feet, staggering, and pulled back his hand to deliver another blow... just as he realized nothing was in it. Oh, s**t. I dropped the sword...

"Looking for something?" Axel had the blade at Nikky's neck with her arm twisted behind her.

Reno's jaw dropped and he stepped forward. "How--"

"Stay back or she's dead!" Axel yelled.

He backed off, unable to take his eyes away from that sword, his nerves stretched to the breaking point.

Ami and Rude, having finished off the staffs, could only watch in horror.

Axel grinned. "You and me... we have to have a little one-on-one here," he demanded. "Don't call me... I'll call you, give ya the time and place when I feel like it. And anybody who gets cute ideas about following me or using a tracking device will have her blood on his..." he glared at Ami... "...or her hands. Get me?"

He sprang away, almost as if flying. He gave Nikky an appraising look as they blew along... "Hmm, you're a pretty one... my Other has good taste... maybe I should find out how good, huh?"

****

Reno goggled as they disappeared into the distance at an unnatural speed, like a shadow fleeing before the sunrise. He began to run, even though he knew it would be absurdly hopeless.

A flash got into his head of Axel pointing the sword into Nikky's side, and he screeched to a halt.

Ami glared. "That SOB took my sword!"

Reno slowly turned to look at her. He didn't bother saying anything... he just stood there and stared at her.

Ami shrank. Badly placed comment...

He walked haltingly to Rude, his leg injured by the fight. "Partner..." he began flatly. "Tell me you have an idea. Because right now, I am too absolutely horrified to even think."

Rude stared out to the horizon where this strange double had faded out of sight... You b******d. "Let me think."

He turned to Ami. "Any thoughts?"

She shook her head, glaring into the distance.

Reno's legs went out from under him as he looked at the void where she had been standing. "Oh, my G**..." He sat flat on the ground and didn't bother to move. "My G**." We've got to get her back. If he does ANYTHING to her... I'm going to have to kill him, right before I kill me. If she dies because he wants my life... neither of us will get it in the end.

[*~Nikkole~*]

nikky glared and snarled at him. ''good taste also includes a**kicking. give me the chance and i will destroy you...'' she hissed as she squirmed and fought. she ignored the pain.

kamen stared at them blankly before looking off in the direction axel had gone. he sighed.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

He smirked at her. "Some people like to be destroyed."

He launched himself far out over the sea towards a place he knew had been used as a hiding ground for others... thanks to a hot tip from a new ally of his...
((To the Forgotten City))

****

Ami watched the townpeople surging towards a structure at the far end of the square as the sun sank... "Oh, no... The city council meeting! If we aren't there when the sun touches the wall, my family can't stay here."

A lightbulb went off in her head. "Reno, you have to tell them what has happened here. They may help us, and there is no way they'll turn us away after..."

Reno kicked her feet out from under her. She sat up, stunned. "What the--"

"Can we stop going on about YOUR precious family for five seconds?! He has Nikky, d**nit! She's all I've got!" His eyes were misting over, but he jammed his fists into the to push the tears of anger and fear back.

Ami looked up at him darkly. "You have us. You've got me and Rude... and as long as you do, we're not letting anything happen to Nikky."

She got up and dusted herself off. "Either way, the others have to know what's happening. I'm going to the meeting... you guys can come or go as you please."

Reno watched her march off. He looked to his partner, who shrugged and silently followed her.

He turned back. "Coming?"

Reno stumbled after them in the growing dusk numbly. What else was there to do?

[*~Nikkole~*]

kamen watched them go, he lingered a moment before slinking after them. he tailed them silently, feeling slightly guilty.

[Squall]

Squall woke with a start aboard the Ragnorak. What the hell? he rubbed his scar and looked around, what am I doing in here?... oh Ami, I think ill stick to driving. Squall hopped up and grabbed his gunblade, heading outside.

" Wha...?!"

Squall looked around agog at his unfamiliar surroundings, What did i miss this time?! " GUYS!?" squall shouted, looking around... " Crap" *kicks the dirt*

[Squall]

Squall headed back inside and sat down in the thingpit, Who the hell flew us here? Cant have been Ami? ... None of the others have a clue either?...* sighs* " View surveilance" A video of Squalls cabin appeared on the control panel, " not this one..." * click* " ... Is that Reno and Nikki?... ... AAH! *click* "...Here we go." The image was now of the thingpit, squall waved a hand and watched it on the moniter, Never gets boring... " Rewind to last flight" * sees himself get knocked out and shakes head, Im so ashame... hey whos that? Squall leaned forwards and held his head close to the image. " Who the hell are you?!" Squall scratched his head, not liking the idea of strangers on his ship, especially flying it, " You been flying with us long?..." *sits back* I dont like him already... What the..?! *sits forward again suddenly* Hes got a gunblade too?

[lutz]

Lutz woke up in a cell chained up to the wall. it took him awhile to come to he sleep wasn't the best.
Well at least I am chained up now where I can do no harm....
He lowered hishead and realized what he almost did. He had an ich on his chest but could not reach it all chained up.
all caged up like the animal I am....like in Shinra.....I should be locked away forever....
A small tear rolled off Lutz's face as he stood in his cold dark cell.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Rude got his cell out and considered calling back to the Ragnorak, to see if Squall had come around yet. But he figured it was too risky with Shinra probably tapping the line... I need to get a new phone.

Ami was filled with dread as they approached the meeting wall. She fingered her necklace uncomfortably. What I'd give to have my old ESP back... Squall, I could really use your company now. If the ship weren't so far, I'd try to bring you here... Why is it we always seem to be seperated just when we need each other most?

I'll need backup, and I doubt my family will be any help.

She looked around. Speaking of... where's Lana?

****

Lana peered into the prison cell through a small, grimy, barred window, having slipped away after dinner with a second helping of meat. She swiveled her eyes to the left and found Lutz chained on the wall a few feet from the opening, looking so awful her heart nearly broke. Like her sister, she'd been raised to have a sympathetic nature, and she'd always been a big softy for helpless, furry creatures...

She squeezed her hand through the window, holding the meat out to him. "Hey... I'm Ami's sister, Lana. Are you hungry?" She whispered furtively, so as not to attract the attention of any of those four mean-looking thugs standing guard not too far off...

She saw most of the village headed for the meeting place and heard her sister calling her name... I hope it can wait...

[Squall]

Squall sat silently for a moment contemplating what hed seen. Another seed flying my ship, everyones dissapeared... Argh! Squall stood up and paced around the thingpit for a couple of moments, Sitting heres no good... Ill go look for them, if I dont see anything ill come straight back?... What if they need to get on here?... Squall stop being such a wuss, they should have left a note or something its their fault! Squall laughed a little at himself, dissapointed at his indecisiveness. "... Lets roll."

[matt]

Akira entered to see Lutz chained up in his cell. "Like an animal..." Akira crouched down to see him. His talons grew from his arms as he cut through into the cell. His eyes turned white as he moved towards Lutz.

"Do you really intend to stay here... like an animal...?"