Authors: Jack Parker
* * * *
Ray and Leon ran down a long stretch of hallway. It was like the end was never going to come. This was the same hallway that the door had led to. They had already been running for at least three minutes. Just how long could one hallway be? If they didn't reach the end soon, they'd be too tired to fight Ramirez. Also, he probably wasn't alone. Some of his men had to still be at the base just incase things went wrong. Well, for him, things were really going wrong.
"We're almost there," said Ray as her eyes landed on a doorway, the door already open. However, the room, like the hallway, was dark. In fact, it was hard to see anything from where they were. A lot of the rooms in his base were dark though. That's just how he liked it.
They reached the room in a matter of seconds, but there wasn't a lot of time to look around. The only thing they saw before their battle began was Ramirez standing by what looked like a desk. It was then that Ramirez's men rushed them. None of them seemed to be armed with a gun. If they were, they weren't using them. Therefore, Ray and Leon decided not to use them either. This would be an old fashioned fist fight, and Ray preferred it that way.
The battle raged on between the twenty men and the two Geno pilots. Ramirez simply stood by his desk, watching them. His ice blue eyes were mainly focused on Ray as he watched her punch and kick his men. Even on skates, she always managed to keep her balance. If anything, they enhanced her fighting skill. She had obviously trained hard and long to be able to maneuver that good while on wheels, especially since she was in no way at a disadvantage right now. The skates made an excellent weapon when kicking someone, and they also helped her move away faster. She never once lost her footing. She was perfect at this art form.
Leon was having just as easy a time. He was throwing punches and kicks at whoever came his way. He had to give these men their props. They were indeed tough, since most of them would get right back up after an attack. However, their fighting was sloppy. Their moves were easy to evade, and they had horrible reaction times. They couldn't even connect a hit with him or Ray. This battle would be over before they knew it.
Ray was fighting off the men that approached her with ease, but she kept her eyes on Ramirez. She had to watch him. She didn't trust the smirk on his face. She knew he was watching both her and Leon as they fought. The question was why? Was he waiting for something? He could very easily flee the base in one of the Genos, and yet he remained. He just stood by his desk, smirking to himself. It was then that Ray saw why. In his hand he now had a pistol, one that gleamed even in the dark lighting of the room. There was no way she'd have time to get out her own. However, he wasn't looking towards her anymore. His eyes were on Leon.
Ramirez slowly raised his gun, moving it towards the unsuspecting Solaris boy. Leon was far too caught up in his own fight to notice Ramirez aiming a gun at him. At this rate, there would be no way for him to counterattack it. Ramirez smirked as he slowly began to pull the trigger.
"Leon!" called Ray, but there wasn't time. He would never be able to dodge it, let alone return fire. If she didn't do something now, he was going to die. Everything she had just done would be for nothing. There was no way she was going to let that happen.
A promise is a promise.
She knocked the last man to the ground and then made a dash for Leon. He was just finishing up with his side as well. He punched out the last guy and then turned towards Ray. She had called out to him earlier, but he had been busy.
"Look out!" shouted Ray, praying he'd notice in time, that he would be able to avoid the bullet, but there just wasn't. She would have to do something drastic. She wasn't going to let him die.
Leon's eyes went from Ray to Ramirez. They fell on him just as he pulled the trigger, releasing one silver bullet from his pistol. Leon wasn't completely sure what was going on, but the next thing he knew, something had hit him from the side. Ray had thrown herself into him, shoving him out of the way.
Please let this work. Please don't let it hit him.
* * * *
The sky was beautiful as the sun was nearly gone from the sky, disappearing behind the horizon. It was at the point where half the sky was still painted in red and purple and the other half in a midnight blue. Some of the stars were even present, shining down on the world below. They were the only light being provided, since the moon was nothing more than a sliver hanging in the sky.
On a cliff edge, high above a vast green forest, sat two Geno pilots. They were just sitting there, staring at the scene before them. If ever there was anything that could be considered beautiful, this was it. This place was the most amazing place on their entire desert planet. It was breathtaking.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" asked Ray, her cherry eyes shining in the fading light of the sun.
"Yeah," said Leon softly as he pulled her closer, his arm resting around her shoulders. His voice had been so soft, as if perhaps his mind wasn't even on the scene. He seemed to be thinking about something else. It was easy to tell. He didn't hide it very well. His dark lavender eyes seemed to give away everything about him.
"Is something wrong?" Ray asked gently, resting her head against his shoulder as she leaned into him a little more.
"Can I ask you something?" he whispered, drawing her attention.
"Sure," she answered, wanting to know just why he had gotten so serious so suddenly. Of course, it's not like their evening hadn't been serious enough the way it was. He had drawn out her last story, and reluctantly, she had let him see her cry. She still felt a little ashamed of doing that, but if there was one person who had to see, she'd pick Leon.
"When this is all over," he began. "When Ramirez is dead…what will you do?"
Ray bit her bottom lip. This was the one question she had been dreading for the longest time now. What was she supposed to do? She was the ace knight. Her loyalty rested with the GRC, with General Gordan and her fellow knights. However, it also rested with Leon. There was no way she could have both. Her life as a knight was time consuming and involved her full attention. However, there was no way she could give up this life, the one she had started with the Solaris family. She wanted to stay with them too. What kind of answer was she supposed to give?
"Ray," began Leon again as he tightened his hold on her. "I…this may seem a bit selfish…but I don't want you to leave the base." She wanted to tell him that she didn't want to either, but once Ramirez was really gone, there'd be no reason for her to stay. She would no longer be bound by her promise to Dr. Solaris. Leon would no longer need protection.
"Leon, I…" she began, unsure as to how to continue that. "I don't…I don't know what I'll do."
"Well," said Leon, a small smile spreading across his face. "How about you stay with us? Not as the ace knight but as a registered pilot for our team? What do you say?"
"Leon…" she said sadly, but he only held her tightly against him, resting his head atop hers.
"Please Ray?" he asked, wanting her to at least consider his offer. "You're the only girl I've been around since my mom died. You're the only person other than my family that knows me so well. At least consider it."
Ray closed her eyes and sighed mentally. She would definitely consider it, but she knew he wanted an answer now. He wanted to hear that she'd be there no matter what. He needed her there, and she could say the same about him. He was the only person who knew her so well, and he was the first boy to ever kiss her. She would definitely consider his offer.
"I can't promise you that I won't go back to headquarters," she began softly, and she felt him flinch as she said this. "But I can promise you…that I'll never leave you. You have my word. I promise."
And a promise is a promise.
* * * *
The next thing Ray felt was white hot pain shoot through her abdomen. She was quickly thrown back, and thanks to her skates, she ended up slamming into the far wall. She slid down to the floor, her face twisted in pain, but she quickly got back to her feet, all the while covering the bullet hole in her stomach.
"Ray!" Leon called in concern as he pushed himself into a half sitting half lying position.
Ramirez smirked widely, not seeming phased at all by the interruption that Ray had caused. In fact, this worked to his favor. He would kill her before she had the chance to draw out her gun. Then he'd deal with Leon. He was going to thoroughly enjoy himself. His finger tightened on the trigger again, and before Ray could even react, he pulled it.
Ray bit her lip to keep from screaming as another bullet hit her, this time passing through her left shoulder. She began to reach for her father's handgun, the one she had finally found bullets for. However, before she could get it, Ramirez shot her again in her left arm. Three more bullets soon came at her. Two hit her legs, and another hit her other shoulder. However, she fought back the pain and grabbed the handle of her gun. She raised it quickly, and just as Ramirez let off another shot, Ray fired off her own.
The two bullets raced through the air. Ray was hit first, the bullet penetrating deep into her upper body. The pain was just too great, and she couldn't stay standing anymore. She began to fall, going down in a bloody heap of torn clothing and bullet holes. However, she was able to watch as her bullet hit its mark…right between Ramirez's cold blue eyes. He had been killed instantly, his gun falling from his hand as he hit his desk and slid to the floor. It was then that Ray felt her shoulder come in contact with the cold metal, and it hurt beyond words.
"Ray!" called Leon as he ran to her. His heart was pounding in his ears, and the sight he found before him didn't quell it. If anything, his fear heightened. Ray was a bloody mess, full of bullet holes. Every limb had at least one, and her left arm and her chest had two. Neither had been very close to the heart, but that didn't matter. These wounds could easily claim her life, even if there was sacrum in her veins. There was just so much blood.
Ray slowly rolled herself over onto her back, but she cringed as her wounds were stretched. It was starting to get hard to keep her eyes open. However, she could just make out the sight of Leon, his face full of concern. He was worried about her, and it's not like she could blame him. She had just been shot seven times. That was definitely a record for her. If she lived through this, she'd have quite a legend behind her.
"Ray, hang on," said Leon as he gently slid his arms under her, holding her limp body in his arms. "You have to hold on. We're going to head back to Torran, alright? Your Geno can get us there."
"I'm sorry…" she managed to rasp out as she forced a smile for him. "I guess…I should have been a bit more careful." She coughed a few times, her body trembling in Leon's arms.
"Look, don't say that," he demanded, his voice almost starting to crack as a few tears formed in the corners of his eyes. "You can't give up yet. You have to make it. You promised me, remember?" Ray's eyes widened just a little as she stared at him, his image starting to blur before her. She was starting to lose control on her sight.
"I promised?" she questioned weakly.
"On the cliff during the sunset," he reminded her. "You promised you'd always be there. You gave me your word. A promise is a promise, Ray."
"A promise…is a promise," she repeated with a small trace of her smile still left. It was then that her whole world went black, and she could have sworn she heard Leon call out to her, but his voice quickly faded. Only one thing seemed to echo in the darkness.
I never break a promise. I won't die, Leon. Not yet. I promise…
* * * *
Torran hospital was starting to become like a second home to the Solaris family, but in no way was that a good thing. Only hours ago had Leon returned, piloting Ray's battered Geno. It was an honest to God miracle that the thing still worked after the damage it had sustained. However, the miracle had been short lived. Leon and Ray had indeed returned, and although Leon had made it out okay, Ray indeed hadn't. The second they had arrived at the hospital, the doctors had taken her. They were currently trying to save her life, which seemed like a losing battle. She had lost so much blood.
Leon was a little surprised to see General Gordan and the knights there. He, along with his father, brother, and Andy, had learned about the battle that had taken place. Apparently they were there for Jace and Aaron. Jace had suffered only from a shoulder injury, but Aaron had been shot four times. That was only three less than Ray, and one of his had been nothing more than a graze to his side. He would live, according to the doctors.
Currently the Solaris family, along with Gordan, Andy, Abby, and Brian, were waiting for any news concerning Ray. They wouldn't leave until they knew what was going to happen. They had to know if she'd live through this. After all, the sacrum in her blood was both a blessing and a curse. It had saved her life so many times before, but now wouldn't be one of those times. She had lost way too much blood. There was nothing that could be done for her. She was completely on her own.