43rd Sphere

[got_blitzed]

[Jecht has seen the writing on the wall.  He tuned into the radio broadcast, heard the weeping voices, listened to Lucy Smith, and he's seen the hazmat suits wandering around town.  He knows most of his friends can handle themselves, but there's one in particular he's worried about.  So he wastes no time in gathering up his weapon and heading straight over to Garnet's place.  Once there, he plants his sword into the ground beside him and simply stands in front of her house, arms crossed and looking none too pleased.  He might not be able to do anything for her, but that's not going to stop him from trying anyway.  The poor little summoner has been through quite enough already, and he's resolved in his head to fight whoever it takes to give her some peace.]

Comments

[itsmystorynow.livejournal.com]

[Yuna sees the serious expression on Jecht's fact. Grabbing a broomstick, she quietly follows along with him. She's not sure what's going on, but she knows what has to be done]

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

Watch out for the guys in the white suits. Don't let 'em inside, whatever you do.

[itsmystorynow.livejournal.com]

[[Yuna clutches the broomstick tighter and nods, wishing that she had her guns or even her summons...but this will have to do]]

Is this the other Summoner you said you knew? Is her world like Spira's?

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Her name's Garnet. The world she comes from is pretty different. Summoners are born that way where she's from, but almost all of 'em got wiped out a while back.

[itsmystorynow.livejournal.com]

[Yuna shakes her head]

I'm tired of people dying...

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

[Jecht grunts uncomfortably, sighing as he continues staring impassively toward the street.]

"...Get used to it. Happens every day here."

[mayfield-mods.livejournal.com]

[Several hazmats walk towards Jecht silently.]

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

"Fuck off, your Russian ain't here."

[All the same, though, and just to be ready, Jecht yanks his sword up from the ground.]

[mayfield-mods.livejournal.com]

[Although their gazes remain him, the hazmats otherwise ignore him, walking past him towards the house.]

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

"No you don't!"

[And since he stormed out here before he heard the warnings, he doesn't bother holding his breath. Instead, he just charges headlong at them, swinging his sword out in a wide arc hoping to take out several at once.]

[mayfield-mods.livejournal.com]

[Those that are hit by the sword collapse into a cloud of poison gas, burning and stinging his skin wherever it touches. Those who are not continue to advance, raising their axes and bringing them swinging down.]

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

[Jecht is caught by surprise when the gas cloud comes out, and he inhales a small lungful before realizing that he needs to hold his breath if he's going to survive this. Thankfully, he's a champion blitzball player, so he's used to holding his breath while undertaking strenuous activity. No problem there.

It's a bit more of a problem when the axes come down. Distracted as he is, he only has time to get his sword in the way of one of them, as the others come crashing down upon his flesh, digging in and drawing blood. He's not down yet - he's fought tougher than this before, after all - but it's definitely not a good way to start off a fight.

Grunting uncomfortably as he chokes back his breath, Jecht tries to block out the pain as best he can. Instead of immediately attacking back, he concentrates for just a moment, transforming into the Final Aeon. He won't be able to hold the form for long, but at least its armored hide should be able to protect him from those axes.

Now it's a race against time - if the hazmats can hold out until Jecht is forced to take a breath or until the transformation wears off, he's as good as dead. All he can do now is try to outlast them. Those wounds will have to wait to be bandaged later.]

[mayfield-mods.livejournal.com]

[The hazmats keep fighting, turning to poison gas as they fall. Despite the armored skin of his transformation, the gas burns him wherever it touches.

Three more hazmats emerge from a street corner and head in his direction.]

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

[At this point, Jecht's more or less giving up the ghost on not dying from this encounter. Even so, he's going to take as many of these bastards down with him as he possibly can. As the most recent group goes down, he dashes out of the cloud of gas to catch his breath.]

"Yo! Come and get me, assholes!"

[His best hope now is to try to draw them away from Garnet's house. Even if he dies in the streets, as long as she lives through this, he'll have done his job as her Guardian. So he tries to keep their attention, doing his best to use what little speed advantage he's got left between fatigue and the gas he's already inhaled.]

"I'll take you all on! Come get some!"

[mayfield-mods.livejournal.com]

[The hazmats follow after him dutifully, axes raised. They do not stop, and more keep appearing on the other side of the street.]

Gratuitous Sin City paraphrasing ahead

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

Good. It's working. Gotta get 'em away from Garnet's place.

[Jecht tries to stay just far enough ahead of the hazmats that they can all keep him in their line of sight. Eventually, though, there's nowhere left for him to run. Recognizing he's at the end of the line here, Jecht hefts his sword and shrugs, grinning defiantly.]

"You should know... a real ace never gives up."

[And without wasting another word, he dashes into the crowd of hazmats, swinging his sword and his fists with all the fury of an unchained beast in its death throes.

The power of the Final Aeon drains away from him midway through, and he weakens with every blow he rains down upon his enemies. There's no chance in hell of his survival now, but damn if he isn't going to do his best to take a few more down with him.

The Guardian dies, and his Summoner lives. Fair trade.]

[thelittlecanary.livejournal.com]

[Garnet has been hemming and hawing over whether or not to step outside and confront her guardian, switching between a sense of dread and gratitude because he was also ensuring Ukraine and Pamela's safety, even if it was at the cost of his own. She considered asking him to come inside, but she could already see the glare that would incite.

Instead, she does her best to gather information while he stands guard outside, both about the men in the silver suits and the conditions of their friends. When the plain clock hanging in the kitchen indicates that it's high time for lunch, Garnet fixes the two of them a sandwich (his being considerably heartier). She takes a deep breath before swinging open the front door and marching outside, a plate in each hand.]

Here. You can't exactly be stubborn and reckless on an empty stomach. [Her tone indicates her displeasure, but she holds the food out to him politely enough.]

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

"Thanks."

[Jecht nods and holds out his hand to take the sandwich, taking a bite and chewing it over. His gaze never wavers from the street as he watches and waits.]

[thelittlecanary.livejournal.com]

[She leans against a banister on the porch, intending to enjoy her meal with him whether he likes it or not.] Our friends are alright, from what I've heard. The men in those suits ignore you unless you provoke them. [She doesn't even want to mention what happens when they are provoked, though.]

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

[Oh, he's got no particular reservations about Garnet being out here with him for the moment, but he's not letting anything distract him from his task of waiting and watching. So he just stands there all stoic, taking bite after bite of his sandwich.]

"...If they try to come in here, get inside. I'll keep you safe."