Part 3 of 'Nowhere to go' Wirtten by Squall_2 aka Chris Bailey NOTE: This fanfic is dedicated to Steph (Zell's Girl), for the simple reason that she deserves it. Soldiers of Fortune. Wedge took a moment to reflect. He had plenty of time after all. God forbid they might actually get a customer. He looked back on what had happened since their hiring at this run-down old pub. Biggs had used his natural 'influence' over people to confirm their places. The pay here wasn't great however, and Wedge was beginning to doubt if they would ever leave here. He took a small box out of his pocket and stared at the content. It was the ring that he had planned to give to his lover at the casino, before she died.....A tear came to Wedge's eye. He thought about that brief period of happiness he had enjoyed before that incident. As he thought, a name came to him. Seifer Almasy. Granted, technically her death had been Biggs' fault, but it was Seifer he blamed. It was Seifer he would make pay, with the same toll that he was suffering himself. There were those that would have said that Wedge was sinking into madness, but this was no concern to him. All he cared about was revenge. If Biggs wanted to come along then he could, if not then it was one less matter to worry Wedge. He looked across at his former Captain. Biggs loved it here. At this moment, he was drinking the beer from the tap, which Wedge thought was the only reason he was here. Biggs loved the free beer, the sole attraction of this place. But if they were here, then there was no way to make Seifer feel pain. The first thing Wedge had to do, even before they left, was to find out where Seifer was. He had an idea about that. If the guy was hired to kill Caraway, then it was likely that he would strike another high-ranking official next. And who was the most obvious target? The answer was simple. The obvious target was the ruler of the largest city in the known world - Esthar, ruled by one Laguna Loire. If whoever was hiring Seifer wanted to strike down powerful figures, then he was the obvious choice. The only problem was that they were currently on the other side of the world from Esthar. There was no way that he was going to get out of here on his current salary, and he had used all of his cash from the casino job to buy the engagement ring. He needed one hell of a stroke of luck to get to Esthar..... The stroke of luck he needed was just a few days away. Word was going round that the world famous Squall Leonheart was coming to Winhill - apparently to visit the grave of his mother. This was the break they needed. Wedge knew that Squall would travel on that giant red dragon-shaped ship they always used now. Wedge had heard about what happened last time Leonheart came here. It had been all over the news back home in Galbadia. Word was that he had been kidnapped - apparently by a sorceress cult. Wedge had always insisted that that theory was wrong - he was proved right when it was discovered that the hero had gone to visit his mother's grave here in Winhill, but didn't want anyone to know about it. This time it was a more 'official' visit. He would no doubt have his companions with him this time, making it more difficult to gain entry to the craft. But still, if he could sneak aboard that ship....he could guarantee that they would eventually go to Esthar. All he had to do now was wait.... * * * * * * * * * Three days passed before they arrived. The whole village turned out to see the Ragnarok arrive - it was the only entertainment they were likely to get for a long time. Wedge was hiding in the shadows - or at least was trying to. It wan't easy to be discreet with a moronically drunk Biggs in tow. He saw Squall go down the pathway leading to the town's graveyard. He had a few of his companions with him too. A girl he didn't recognise, dressed in blue, a guy dressed in a trenchcoat and cowboy hat. Following them was a guy he DID recognise. The guy from the comm tower and the prison. The spiky - haired jerk that had caused them to be demoted twice. He had to ensure that he kept Biggs from seeing him - he was uncontrollable at the best of times, so Wedge didn't even want to think about what he would do if he saw this guy while he was drunk. One thing was certain - it would blow their chances of getting to Esthar. They waited until the crowds had dispersed and stealthily crept on board the Ragnarok, Biggs singing quietly to himself. Wedge heard someone coming from down the corridor and ducked into the adjacent doorway, dragging Biggs in too. Biggs peered out of the small window fixed into the door, eager to see the cause of Wedge's discomfort. It was a tall woman dressed in an orange outfit. Biggs Biggs fell back in amazement. Even through his drunken haze he recognised her. Not from the desert prison, but before. He couldn't place it though..... Wedge looked at Biggs, an expression of surprise on his face. He had never seen Biggs like this before. He looked - almost serious. Like he was remembering something from a long time ago....but he dismissed this as an effect of his drunkeness. Biggs hauled himself to his feet - and promptly collapsed. Wedge let out a sigh of relief. They were on their way. Now all he had to do was keep them hidden until they next landed - hopefully in Esthar. He looked down at Biggs, sleeping like a baby. It wouldn't be too hard to keep him hidden now. He sat down next to him to sit out the journey. A few hours later Wedge felt the ship move. They were taking off. He allowed himself a small sigh of satisfaction, safe in the knowledge that he would soon be able to exact his revenge upon Seifer...... * * * * * * * * * * Wedge stirred from his slumber on the floor of the storeroom with a start. He felt something - a bump of some kind. He realised what it was - the landing. They were in Esthar, or at least he hoped they were. He looked down at Biggs, who was starting to awaken and emit low groans brought about by his hangover. "Ugh.....where the hell are we? This 'aint Winhill......" Biggs was clutching his head and hauling himself to his feet. "We're in Esthar Sir. We flew here last night" "It's too early for that 'Sir' crap. And why are we in Esthar? That musta been one helluva night....." Wedge decided against telling Biggs how they had got to their present situation. It would just lead to more trouble than they needed. All he needed to know was that they were there. Wedge took a moment to think. They had made it, all they needed to do was stay hidden until Seifer made his inevitable appearance. And in a city this size, that shouldn't be too hard. He escorted Biggs out into the corridor and left him propped up against the wall while he scouted around for any sign of the crew. Biggs watched his colleague wander off down the hallway and thought about the face through the door. He couldn't remember clearly, a drunken mist was clouding his memories of last night. But the face he saw was vivid in his mind. He recognised her, that much was sure. He knew she had fought them in the desert prison too. But he felt as if he knew her before that, somewhere buried deep in his subconcious. From his childhood? He couldn't remember much of it, in fact he couldn't remember anything before he was about twelve, the date he had come to Galbadia for military training, when he first met Wedge. It was possible she was a long lost memory........ Wedge returned, obviously out of breath. He called down the corridor. "It's clear sir! We can leave now!" Biggs hauled himself upright and slowly made his way towards Wedge. Together they left the Ragnarok and emerged into the blinding sunlight of an Estharian morning. Wedge looked around. There were people everywhere, all going about their daily business. It was fortunate that they were no longer in their uniforms, or they would have been spotted instantly. After the Lunatic Pandora incident Esthar had made its attitude towards Galbadians vrey clear. Still, they needed to find some clothes that allowed them to fit in. With what little money they had, they purchased a set of the traditional Esthar robes and rented a small hotel room. Wedge looked out of the window in their small room. He was amazed at how advanced the landscape that stretched before him was. The shopping arcade was of a completely different style to the one back home in Galbadia. Here, there were no stores, just panels that you touched to select your items, and a small tray that emerged to collect cash. This was only ever used for visitors though. Every Estharian citizen has their own credit account, from which the amount needed is deducted via a screen that the customer places their palm on. The computer reads the palm print and deducts the required amount. He looked in the opposite direction. He could see the huge Presidential Palace towered above the rest of the landscape. It was the largest, most inpressive building he had ever seen. It was mainly blue, just like the rest of the city, with decorative gold areas. Wedge planned to take a closer look at it in the morning. They needed to find some way to get inside, as in that building was the President of Esthar - Laguna Loire - and Seifer's next target. * * * * * * * * * * * The sun was blindingly powerful, shining into Wedge's eyes. himself and Biggs were lying in wait, watching the road ahead. Word was that Laguna was going to travel back to FH to pay a visit to the docked Balamb Garden. He wanted to personally thank them for the role they had played in the defeat of Ultimecia. Wedge had also heard a rumour that someone had successfuly infiltrated the city, and the army were finding it impossible to track down the offending party. Wedge knew what this meant. Seifer was here, and this road the most obvious oppourtunity for him to strike. Biggs had agreed to help on the condition that they tried to head back to Winhill afterwards. Wedge had agreed, after all he intended to kill Seifer this time around so he would have no reason to stay. Laguna, accompanied by his two companions, the large mute guy and the tall, somewhat skinny guy, came into view. Laguna always refused to have armed guards, despite the warnings of his advisors. He trusted everyone too much - that was his biggest problem. As they passed the spot where the duo were hiding, two tranquiliser darts could be seen hitting the necks of the two other men. "Kiros! Ward!" The President let out a surprised cry. A dark figure in a tattered coat dropped from the skyway above. Seifer. "What the hell?" Laguna was fixed to the spot. Seifer raised his gunblade to strike - when the sweep was blocked. Wedge had leapt from his hiding place and was now positioned between Laguna and Seifer. "You?!" The expression on his adversary's face told Wedge that he hadn't expected to see him again. "I'm your shadow, asshole. So long as you still take in air, I'll be here to make you suffer." Seifer grinned. "I'm gonna do the same to you as your buddy did to that slut in Deling..... That tore it. Wedge was already seething with rage, but that comment made him snap. He swung his sword round in a mighty arc, before slashing Seifer's arm. Seifer dropped to the floor. "You're gonna pay for that. You're gonna PAY!" Seifer leapt back onto the skyway with supernatural force, narrowly missing the blow from Wedge that would have been fatal had it connected. "You're gonna PAY!" Seifer ran along the skyway and out of sight. Wedge returned his sword to its sheath. "I'll be waiting......." Laguna returned to life from his frozen state. "Y....you saved my life. W....who are you?" Biggs started to say something, but Wedge cut him off. "I'm nobody sir. Just think of me as a venegful soul........" * * * * * * * * * * * * Crowds of Estharian citizens had gathered at the city entrance to see the ceremony. The two heroes that had saved the life of their beloved President were going to be decorated for bravery in a large ceremony. The President himself was going to present the medals, along with his grateful son. The crowds parted as they official procession approached the platform where Wedge and Biggs were standing. First came President Laguna, followed by his advisors, Kiros and Ward. Next came the nationsl hero Squall Leonheart, son of the President. He was accompanied by two of his closest companions - Rinoa Heartilly and Zell Dincht. After them came the official staff from the presidential palace, with the official Estharian military band. As Laguna approached the platform, a huge cheer went up from the audience. Then, as he was about to present Biggs his medal, a lone voice was heard. "HOLD IT!!" One of Squall's companions, Zell, vaulted onto the stage. "I know these two! They're from Galbadia! They were in the Galbadian army during all that 'Lunar Cry' and 'Lunatic Pandora' stuff! They were ON Lunatic Pandora dammit!" A low murmer emerged from the crowd. It started as confusion, then changed to retribution. They surged forwards. Laguna tried to stop them. "Wait! They still saved......" He was drowned out my the noise of the mob. Wedge turned to look at Biggs. "Run sir." The two ran towards the city entrance, heading for the car rental. Wedge leapt into the waiting car, closely followed by Biggs. As the hovering platform took them out of the city, Wedge could hear the crowd at the spot where ther transport used to be. They burst out of the city, speeding across the desert. All that Wedge could think of was getting as far away as possible. Biggs turned to look out of the back. "Uh.....Wedge......." Wedge turned briefly to see what had got Biggs' attention. He let out a surprised gasp. Following them was what looked like the entire Estharian army in cars similar to their own. Wedge turned back and pressed his foot down had. They were in a wide open desert? How the hell were they gonna get out of this one? A bullet shot through the back windscreen. Damn, thought Wedge, this is all I need. There was only one way to go now, there was only one way that wasn't completely closed off by the Estharians. South. The pursuing cars were gaining fast. It would need some pretty fancy moves on Wedge's part to ensure their escape. They approached a large cliff, which had a small gap, car-width, through the middle. Despite the screams of protest coming from Biggs, Wedge wnet for it. They burst out the other side, a lot of cars still following. The odds were better now, however, as most of the cars that had dared to follow them had crashed into the sides. Then Wedge screamed. The wall of transparent plates that protected Esthar from discovery was looming in front of them. There was only one thing to do. Wedge put his foot down to the floor. The plate in front of his shattered, as did the plates that ther pursuers drove through. But up ahead was theor largest problem. The ocean. Wedge looked around for a soulution, which came to him when he saw the shape of Cactuar Island on the horizon. The Estharians had been planning to research rumours of a giant cactuar on the island, and had begub to construct a temporary bridge. Wedge swerved towards it. As they reached the halfway point, he realised the flaw in his plan. The bridge was incomplete. There was only one thing to do. Biggs fainted with terror as he realised what his companion was planning. As the car sailed off the end of the bridge, only two chasing cars dared to make the leap with them. Wedge and Biggs landed on the island, still accelerating. One of the other two cars landed safely, but the other plummeted the 30 feet into the water. The one remaining driver allowed himself a self-stisfied grin. They were on a small island. There was nowhere to go. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The sand in front of the fleeing car began to be displaced. Wedge sighed. Quicksand. They were doomed. He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were flying through the air. He looked back and say a huge cactuar with a posh looking moustache standing where the supposed quicksand had been. It must have surfaced and sent them flying. Wedge let out a laugh as he saw theire last would - be captor drive straight into the leg of the giant and explode in a huge pillar of smoke. Wedge and Biggs landed in the middle of yet another desert, still accelerating. Wedge tried to press down on the brake, but it refused to have any effect. He looked at his fuel gauge, half full. All he had to do was keep steering until they ran out of fuel. Over the next few hours they drove through a mountain range, past a large yellow -looking ruin and nearly falttened a forest full of chocobos. As the car ground to a halt, Wedge and the now recovered Biggs stepped outside. Opposite them was an old, run-down building near a lighthouse. Wedge turned to look at Biggs. His face was in the same expression it had been in during the flight in the Ragnarok. Did he recognise this place? Biggs walked slowly towards it, old memories trying to surface.....