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Post by Oliver on Jun 3, 2009 0:20:40 GMT -5
In the early morning twilight, just before dawn in this smoking city of ill-winds, on the second floor loft of the Chocobo a Gogo sits Oliver naked in a chair facing an open window. Before him, in the distance, past the rooftops and boulevards, rising high into the smoke choked sky is the object of his bane, the symbol of the people’s oppression, the mark of tyrants and earthly demigods, the Lindblum Palace. He shifts in the chair, letting his body slide in the seat, letting his legs relax in a spread as he gazes up at his target. So much power there, before him, in that great tower that watches over the city-state like a giant in the sky at the zoo below his feet.
Oliver runs his hands over his face, ruffling the fur on his checks and muzzle. He glances back at the bed behind him where Iole still rests, exhausted from the events of the day and night prior. Oliver himself spent the little bit of the night that remained restless, a million thoughts shooting through his brain like the bullets outside. For the Party or for the object of his love? So much he’s fought and sacrificed for and now he can have so much more then ever before, yet can he have both? These are some of the questions he asks himself.
Beside him on the floor is a small stack of clothes, the disguise, atop which rests the forged papers. Beside that is the device, the ‘Enfant Terrible’, but no, it is him who is ‘Le Enfant Terrible’, his dark secret he couldn’t muster the courage to even say to the one he cares so much for. He knows that last night will be his last on Gaia, his last night with Iole. It’s too late now, he stands, his tail lying lazily against his legs as he walks to the window to breathe in the crisp morning air. At the window is Emily, who he softly pets across the back while gazing out at the streets and people below. A town car pulls up to the club and several officials exit it and stand beside, waiting. This was his cue.
He changes into the ill-fitting the clothes, the last he’ll ever wear, all the while watching Iole rest peacefully in the warmth of the bed. The urge to fill those empty sheets is like a great weight upon him, but he must do what he must do. Once changed, he approaches the bed and leans over to kiss Iole one last time and take in her delicate, sweet scent. He slips an envelope under her arm as he turns, taking up the device, slinging across his back. He approaches the door, turns once more to look upon Iole, then exits quietly.
-Shortly after-
A knock comes at the door, awaking Iole. “Iole, are you decent? It's Sid."
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Post by Iole on Jun 3, 2009 0:29:13 GMT -5
::Iole sits up in the bed, rubbing her tired eyes. Through the morning fog that grips her brain, she feels something missing. Oliver isn't beside her. Maybe he'd already gone to their morning briefing. Or... no he wouldn't leave without telling her... would he? Hastily she throws on her clothes and pulls her hair back with her clip. She decides to leave her coat where it is. It would be easier to move and change without it. It's then that she notices the envelope right where she was sleeping. How heavy a sleeper was she that it didn't wake her up::
Just a minute Sid.
::She takes the envelope and opens it slowly. She already knows she's not going to like what's inside::
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Post by Oliver on Jun 3, 2009 0:37:56 GMT -5
Sid opens the door and enters, closing it behind him. He remains by the door, letting Iole read the letter.
When she opens it, one of Oliver's combs falls from the paper, hitting the floor with a dull metallic thud. Opening the folded letter, it is revealed a single picture. It's black and white and of Oliver, dressed as an LPA soldier, the date on the back suggest it was taken when he first joined their ranks. Onto the letter itself, it reads:
“Dearest Love,
If you’re reading this, then I’ve already left for the Palace. This last while we’ve had together has been the greatest and worst time in my life and I’m beyond glad that you shared it with me but… I won’t be returning to you this evening. I’ve asked Sid to relay the details to you as I feel you deserve to vent and cry with an actual person then to a letter. No matter what happens today though, understand that I love you beyond even the words I know how to write. My last thoughts this day will be of you and that of your smell as I’ve taken a piece of your clothing – sorry. Please, I don’t expect you to forgive me but always remember me and the time we’ve had. I love you Iole, and I’m happy I could share my love with you in this brief time.
With the sincerest love and sadness, Oliver
P.S. Bet you didn’t think I could write better then I could speak?”
As Iole reads, Sid approaches from behind, resting his hands on her shoulders, waiting for her to finish.
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Post by Iole on Jun 3, 2009 0:47:40 GMT -5
::The letter shakes in Iole's trembling hand as she reaches the last sentence. Her face is already wet with silent tears. She drops the letter to her side, feeling her defenses break down. Then she drops to her knees as the wall shatters. Her sobs seem to shake the room, and her small frame shivers under the strain of venting that much sadness in such a small body. She could have known about this since the day she found him again in the cafe, or even further back to when they first met, and it still wouldn't have been enough time to prepare her for this::
Why?! It's not supposed to be like this! Why?!
::Sid is silent, letting her vent to no one in particular. But soon she rounds on him like it's his fault::
ANSWER ME!
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Post by Oliver on Jun 3, 2009 0:56:30 GMT -5
"Iole!" He grabs her by the shoulders, trying to keep her still and as calm as possible. "There's nothing ve could do, ve tried to find another alternative, but this is vhat has to be done. The device, Ollie tried for months to get it to vork, specially vhen you shoved. So many sleepless nights." He stops to breath, it's clear to Iole that this isn't much easier for him either. "It's a Magitek bomb, extremely devastating, and extremely old. It vas bought off the black market, dead. Ollie brought it back to life but, he could never get the timer to vork and it's too old for remote detonation. He has to detonate it himself. He'll be at ground zero."
He quickly grabs her in a hug, despite and protest or resistance she may give. "I don't like it anymore then you, Ollie has been a good friend and faithful comrade for many years. I hoped, so hoped that you shoving vould make him run away vith you, leave this var behind, but he couldn't live knoving he could of ended this tyranny of men. If you only had shoved vhen this ugly business began... he dies a hero though, a hero that changed the world."
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Post by Iole on Jun 3, 2009 1:17:59 GMT -5
Hero.
::Iole whispers bitterly::
What good are heroes? What have heroes ever changed? They fight and die like anyone else. And when one evil dies, new ones rush to fill the void and Gaia is lost in the flames. What good are heroes? How can someone call themselves a hero if she can't even hold onto the one she loves?
::She gets back to her feet with fists clenched at her sides, marching resolutely out the door and to the staircase with Sid behind her::
Sid: Vhere are you going?
I don't know. I don't know where I'm going and I don't know what I'm going to do. But I suggest you stay out of my way.
??: I know what you're going to do.
::Doug emerges from the bottom of the staircase. His crooked yellow grin is as twisted and disgusting as ever as he points the automatic rifle at the two of them::
Doug: You're going to sit down and shut up.
::Behind him, Sid and Iole can see Violette and Connolly tied at the wrists and bound to each other at the waist with a length of rope. A patch of duct tape covers both of their mouths. Marrissa is standing over them with a grin as twisted and ugly as her husband's, pointing another rifle in her meaty hands at Connolly's head::
Doug: Now let's be grown ups about this. Both of you come down here slowly and do what I say. And none of that changing Miss Blakeney. Remember, you're bullet proof, but your friends aren't.
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Post by Oliver on Jun 3, 2009 1:26:41 GMT -5
"Vell, I should of guessed that you vere just a snake in the grass, Doug." Sid raises his hands to the sky, there was no use fighting like this. "Vhat a way to betray the people. Hoping to hobnob vith the elite, break bread vith them?" -Meanwhile- Oliver sits in the back of that car, watching the buildings and people pass by him, feeling as if he's being driven to the spot of his execution. The profound sadness of leaving Iole behind, what he wouldn't give for the soft touch of her hand right now, but least her scent still lingers on his body, providing him with mixed comfort. The officers in the front seat keep speaking of the amazing sacrifice he is about to undertake, but he could careless, his thoughts are only that of Iole. The drive is far to short before he's let off at the spot where he is to begin is inflitration. Thanks to the info given to him by Lillith and what was collected by those who sacrificed their lives earlier, he'll be able to sneak in through back entrances and under the walls. To the center of the Palace he shall go, his monument and tomb. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GivOzWvIXok
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Post by Iole on Jun 3, 2009 1:33:37 GMT -5
(OOC: Well I might as well www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMmqQk66TXQ&feature=related ) Doug: What can I say old boy? Like the oldest professions, aren't we all respectable capitalists? And Miss Strauss of Internal Affairs. Dog eat dog as the saying goes. Now will you kindly tie up miss Blakeney for me? Strauss has some special plans for her. Now that brings me to my next question. ::Once Iole and Sid are bound at the wrists and against the wall, Marrissa keeps her weapon trained on them while Doug removes the tape from Connolly and Violette:: Doug: Where's little Ollie?
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Post by Oliver on Jun 3, 2009 1:40:29 GMT -5
"On a little vacation, you capitalist cur." Connolly spits out. "I should of shot you when you tried lifting my watch from my coat the other day."
"AHHH!" Violette spits at Marrissa. "Weathered old hag, husband not pork you enough! Oh that's right, he's nothing but pork, you vile pig!" She struggles against her restraints. "I'll scratch your eyes out, both of you! Don't even try to stop Ollie!"
Sid remains fairly cool, sitting in his chair, watching. "You von't get anything out of us, Doug. You knov ve'd die for the revolution, ve have this thing called integrity and hope."
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Post by Iole on Jun 3, 2009 1:46:07 GMT -5
Doug: Nagging little buggers aren't they? Much simpler a life without them.
::Marrissa jabs the barrel of her gun into the side of Violette's head::
Marrissa: We're not taking any lip from the little rat's sloppy seconds.
Doug: So he's already off to the palace then eh? Don't look too suprised though. How do you think the little she-devil at the IA office knew about Le Enfante. I actually have you to thank for that Sid. Those loose lips of yours are going to make me a very rich man.
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Post by Oliver on Jun 3, 2009 1:51:46 GMT -5
Sid's eyes coldly look over to Doug. "You'll choke on those vords, Doug."
Violette stays silent, breathing heavy and hard but keeping her bearing with the gun barrel pressed against her temple. She wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her beg or flinch.
Connolly leans forward, a dark, cold expression befalling his face. "You know what I'm going to do to you, Doug?"
Doug chuckles mockingly. "Oh, please, do enlighten me, Captain."
"I'll cut your throat, slowly, then tear out your tongue by its roots and nail it to the door of the Party headquarters."
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Post by Iole on Jun 3, 2009 2:16:52 GMT -5
Doug: You were always such a crude man Captain. If it weren't for the dough I was cashing in for handing you all over, a respectable gentleman like myself would never have mixed with you half-breeds. But that attitude won't do you any favors when the IA has you. You have no idea what kind of people have been pulling the strings in your precious revolution. But why am I wasting my time on you low lives again? ::He smirks and Marrissa chuckles with her jiggling double chin. Doug pulls a walkie talkie from his filthy baggy coat:: Doug: You see, the IA's special forces are marching on this district as we speak. They'll be here soon to collect you lot. And once I give the word, there'll be another squad in the palace to intercept dear little Ollie. ::Iole's nostrils flare when his hateful pockmarked lips curve around Oliver's name. How dare he say that name. Douglas Fenway's wretched lungs were not fit to breathe the same air Oliver did. She can feel her fingers shaking with anger and it starts to spread to her arms as Doug pushes the button on his communicator:: Doug: Fenway here... yeah, we've got 'em. Is she there right now?... No don't trouble her ladyship. Just tell her I was thinking about upping the price a bit. I mean, this is the Dragoons we're talking about. And when you lot nab the rat, I'll have helped you save this whole city. I think a patriot's price should be a little higher, don't you? *SNAP* ::The sound of the ropes around her wrists are a sharp echo of Iole's temper as that same bestial rage she felt yesterday swallows her, exploding out of her chest. With a savage roar that peels her lips back from her teeth, she rushes him, instinct and anger overpowering reason. His eyes turn to her and widen in fear, but the rest of his body is too slow to react. With a dull squishing sound, his blood spatters the wall and floor behind him. He stands prostrate with Iole's white claws sticking out of his back after entering his chest. With one sharp movement, she pulls her arm out, letting him fall to the floor. She looks over him, thinking bitterly that it had been too good for him. Then another sound brings her back to her senses:: Marrissa: DOUG! ::The portly woman drops her gun where it lands with a dull thud and dives for her husband, pulling his head into her lap. His still open eyes don't react to her touch:: Marrissa: No... No! Come on baby, not like this! It was you and me! Come on! It was always you and me! Don't leave me here please! www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHFRWp7tBJc::Iole's anger fades, letting horror take its place as she steps back from the corpse and its widow. For an instant, Marrissa is replaced by a vision of a small dark haired girl with teary blue eyes, and Doug is replaced by a woman with auburn hair:: I'm sorry Rena. I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry.::The now older and hardened Iole looks back at her once again human hand, stained with fresh blood. What had she done?::
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Post by Oliver on Jun 3, 2009 2:39:51 GMT -5
In the moment of chaos, Connolly, who has been cutting his restraints while Doug yammered on. Springs from his chair, drawing a boot-knife and freeing Violette and Sid.
Sid immediately goes to Iole's side to check on her.
Violette however, takes up Marrissa's fallen gun and coldly walks over to the portly woman. Placing the gun against her head just as she had done to her, Violette is shaking with anger and adrenaline. "Not so pleasant is it? I'm going to make sure you follow your-"
"Violette!" Connolly interrupts, rushing over to the woman and placing his hand on the gun, moving it away. "Not today, but as for-" He turns to look at Doug, his eyes are lifeless, but that's not stopping Connolly. He pushes Marrissa out of the way, forcing her to fall back on her plump rump. Violette stands over her, gun baring down.
Connolly kneels down beside Doug, the boot-knife in hand.
"Don't think you're getting off easy, I'm still tearing out your diseased tongue."
Connolly envelops the body, one hand pushing down over the mans eyes, propping his mouth open.
Sid quickly puts his hands over Iole's eyes, while he watches, static and resolute.
When finished, Connolly turns and stands, Doug's tongue in his hand as he takes the radio that had been in Doug's grip and raises it to his mouth.
"IA? I'm afraid Doug won't be making good on his delivery, rats decided to feast upon his bloated body instead." He tosses the radio down and pockets the tongue, a sick tradition, but one common with the LPA for traitors and spies.
"Captain?" Sid asks. "Orders?"
"We prepare for the assault, Violette get to the Red Regent, let him know. Need to alert the entire district. I'll deal with the sow."
Violette nods then runs off, our of the club.
"And Ollie, sir?"
"Only the fates can help him now. Get your gun, soldier."
"Yes comrade." Sid steps away from Iole, giving her one last reassuring look before departing.
Connolly then approaches Iole. "You did good, you saved us. He was a bad man, don't eat yourself up over it. Come, lets see that Mrs. Piggy here won't be getting away."
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Post by Iole on Jun 3, 2009 2:52:44 GMT -5
::Iole's still frozen eyes linger on Marrissa, still holding her husband and sobbing incoherent pleas::
Leave her. She can't do anything. She's broken.
::She's not sure if Connolly catches her meaning or not, nor does she care::
I'm done.
::On shaky knees she starts making her way out the door. Why had she done that? There was no excuse this time. He had been about to hand them over, but Doug had been no soldier. He couldn't even hold that gun right. He had been no match for her. There might have been another way. But in two seconds she had become what she hated, done what she detested, and for what? A cause that she hadn't given a second thought to until two days ago? The ideals of the time of heroes that Natalia, Rainii, Eva, Kenny, and all the others had impressed on her? Steely blue eyes flash into her mind in the middle of soft gray fur. Then she realizes it was none of those. It had all been for him. Nothing mattered to her but him. She would do anything for him. She would kill for him. If she could just get to him, it would all make sense again. She plays the same thought of reaching him in her mind over and over as she steps out onto the once again war torn streets of the Fashion District::
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Post by Oliver on Jun 3, 2009 3:03:51 GMT -5
Connolly stays behind for a moment to deal with Marrissa, she'll have plenty of time to spend sobbing over the desecrated corpse of her late husband.
After a few moments, Connolly exits to the street, followed closely behind by Sid. They spot Iole in the street, standing alone, her own rock of an emotional island. They call to her but are interrupted by the blare of the emergency siren and the call to arms by the Red Regent.
"By gods, Violette vas fast." Sid exclaims, looking around to the broadcast speaker near their location.
"Think you got scouting competition." Connolly jokes. "Iole." he calls, "You going to be ok?" He approaches her, but stops, feeling a certain air that he shouldn't cross into. "Take your time." He wasn't good at reading feelings, but the tension in the air was obvious. Too long in the war has dulled his emotions just far to much to deal with an emotional creature such as Iole.
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Post by Iole on Jun 3, 2009 3:13:57 GMT -5
::Iole's eyes and her smile are hollow as she turns her head. She looks at Connolly, not as the murderer she had first thought him to be, or the commander she had come to respect, but as a friend::
Captain.... Josh. This might be the last time we see each other. I just want to say thanks for everything you did for Ollie and me. You were someone worth following. But I can't do this anymore. I know it's weak, and childish, but if I can't get to Ollie then I don't have a reason anymore. I'm going to the palace. I don't know what I'll do when I get there. But I know I'm going. I think you can handle things here.
::She turns and calls back to Sid next::
Sid, thanks for everything. It's because of you I'm going to able to live with what I've done since I came here. If you live through this, I don't want you waiting for death anymore. Find something to live for. And tell Violette I said thanks.
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Post by Oliver on Jun 3, 2009 3:26:25 GMT -5
Despite Iole's kind words, Connolly grabs ahold of Iole's arm with a stern expression on his face. "I thank you lass for those kind words, but I can't let you do this. Not as your commander, you are still a subordinate of mine."
Sid nods. "He's right, Iole. This plan has been vorked down to the last second, you cannot interrupt Ollie."
Connolly shushes Sid. "I'll tell you right now, if you change into that dragon of yours, you'll be shot out of the sky by both sides. It's foolish but, should you remove that armband, I'm going to have to let go of you, you'd be a civilian then. I can only do so much to delay you in hopes that Oliver is already upon his target."
-Meanwhile-
Oliver has managed to sneak his way through the underground in into the the the Regent's secret escape passage. Thanks to the intelligence he was given, he's making good time. In his travel though the dark recesses of the Palace, he keeps tightly in his hand the tiny piece of cloth he cut from Iole's clothes. With every step he takes, that scent of hers follows him, bringing him back to her arms and happy memories from the night before and earlier.
He wasn't far now from the library, where from he is to travel down a nearby stairwell and into the kitchen for the next leg of the plan.
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Post by Iole on Jun 3, 2009 3:36:28 GMT -5
::Iole says nothing, just stares blankly back at him. Then she reaches for her arm, tearing the band from it and letting it fall to the ground:: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwEaIgNRioUGood bye. ::Then with a flap of her wings, she's gone and the sillouhette of the white dragon fills the sky::
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Post by Oliver on Jun 3, 2009 3:44:19 GMT -5
"Good girl." Connolly mutters after Iole takes to the sky, both him and Sid watch as she flies off. It isn't a second later that the sound of Anti-Aircraft gun-fire erupts in the city. It would only be a moments before the remaining Regent aircraft will be launched.
"Sir?" Sid asks, still keeping his eyes trained skyward.
"What are you doing soldier, keep your eyes trained ahead. We got fighting to do."
"Right!" With that Sid takes off, joining up with the other mustered soldiers, while Connolly stays behind for a moment, kneeling down to pick up the torn armband. "You're going to want this back one day soon, lass." He takes one more look to the sky, then meets up with his troops.
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Post by Nu on Jun 3, 2009 9:28:46 GMT -5
::Inside the palace::
::Nu, still in disguise as the police chief, bows before the Regent::
"Rest assured sir, the LPA will be wiped out today."
Regent: Excellent. That is all cheif.
"Oh, I almost forgot something. I want you to meet someone."
::At those words, the Regent feels something run him through. He looks down in terror and finds a sword protruding from his heart. He weakly looks behind him and sees its Yami, but doesn't know who she is::
"Time to die Regent." Nu said as he approached him.
Regent: ::Weakly:: W... w... who are you?
::Nu smirks before he drops his disguise, showing the Regent his true form::
"I'm the incarnation of darkness in this world, the last image you'll see before your soul departs your body. Before you die, you were never in control of this war from the very beginning. All of this was my doing."
::Blood pools under him as the regent takes his last breath. Yami pulls her blade arm out, allowing the corpse to fall to the ground. Nu closes his eyes and starts to chant in an ancient tounge Yami couldn't understand. The blod begins to move as if guided over the floor of the throne room, making a arcane symbol. As soon as the symbol forms, Nu opens his eyes::
"Now, let the darkness that was imprisioned rise again! Regive form to those that were destroyed! Let the 13 walk this world again!"
::The blood glows as it draws in the souls of those that have died during this conflict he has caused, both those that worked for the Regent and the LPA. Their howls deafening and horrifying, but Nu stands his ground as they gathered to the center. Their spirits pack together as 13 stones start to form. Then the stones fall to the ground as the howls cease. Nu wlaks to them and picks one up, noting the Virgo symbol on it with a evil grin. The ritual was successful, the Zodiac stones exist once more. He has the other stones levitate to him before he pulls out a pouch and puts each stone in one at a time before having all in.::
"Yami, Iole is on her way here. Do make sure that Oliver's plan fails. ::He places his hand on the stone ground as focuses, the ground begins to shape and twist until it forms into a humanoid shape:: Take this golem with you to hold Oliver back so he won't interfer with you and Iole."
::The girl nods before her and the golem run off. Nu looks to the stone before looking back to the exit to the throne room::
Kamikaze, Astaroth. The ritual was a success, the LPA no longer has any use to me. Destroy them all, I repeat, destroy them all!
::With Kamikaze::
::Upon hearing the news, he continues to lead his men to the other side of the district, knowing that Astaroth and her men were going to be hitting them from the other end. This tactic would force the LPA to fight a battle on two fronts. As Maxwell, his men noticed he was walking with a slight limp::
Solider: Sir, are you okay?
"I'm fine, just jipped my leg yesterday, I can still go on." Though this was the best that his healers could do on short noticed.
::With Yami::
::She and the golem make their way to the passage Oliver was taking, but stayed out of sight once they caught sight of the high rank guards in place to stop Oliver. Yami knew they wouldn't stand a chance and would strike when they were taken cared of::
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