The Prisoner

-II-

Vincent was woken up by a strange voice.

"Sir, we have arrived at the Gold Saucer. Please enjoy your stay."

He opened his eyes, and remembered what he was doing there. He then went through the open door of the trolley. He spotted a guy dressed in a stupid looking chocobo outfit, hopping all around the place. He wondered how much the guy was paid to do that. He walked up to where a girl in a pink dress was greeting the other passengers.

"Hi. Do you have your ticket wih you sir? If you don´t you can purchase a one-time valid entrance for 3000 gil. Or you could buy one of our special lifetime tickets for just 30000 gil."

He handed the girl the 3000 gil, and entered. He spotted a map near the pneumathic tubes of the place. He checked the map, and entered one of the tubes. He inmediately was sucked and in seconds, he appeared at a graveyard. He spotted the Ghost Hotel and entered it.

"Hello sir. May I help you?" A receptionist in a rather fake ghoul costume asked Vincent.

"Yes. I think you have a reservation for Mr. Connery."

The receptionist pushed a few buttons on the computer, and then he smiled to Vincent.

"Yes, your room is the 304. Please, follow me this way, sir."

After he showed Vincent his room, he then proceeded to accomodate. He put the suitcase he was holding in the bed, and opened it. He quietly took out a 9mm automatic gun from its concealed compartment. All the mechanisms of this gun were made of polymers and ceramics, so the metal detectors at the entrance didn´t registered it. All he needed now were the bullets, and his contact would take care of that. He hid it in the sheat under his right arm and walked out of the room, going into the rendezvous point.

After waiting a couple of minutes, he saw him. The wrestler named Dio was approaching him. He was in the chocobo races lobby, watching a race. He then felt a tap on his shoulder. He quickly turned around, and then Dio nodded him to follow him to the restrooms.

"Does anyone suspect why are you here?" Dio asked.

"No. Do you have the package?"

Dio handed Vincent a small box.

"Royale will be at the casino at 9 o´clock. He stays there for a couple of hours and then he retires to his quarters. He doesn´t has guards there, because he hates security around him, he thinks he is untouchable."

"He hasn´t changed a bit." Vincent thought.

"Okay. Are you sure that you or the company can´t be related to this?"

"Absolutely. Everyone knows that he has earned some enemies among the mafia of Corel, so they will be seen as the culprits. I, on the other hand, have the respect and trust of all the employees, so when that guy dies, everyone will support me to be the manager of this place."

"Alright. Then go away and be in a very public place for the next couple of hours, so you will have an alibi. I guess you have taken care of my escape route."

"I will make sure the trolley doesn´t leaves until one o´clock. You will be well away from Corel before anyone notices the old man´s missing."

Vincent put the bullets in one of his jackets pockets.

"Okay. Now, go away, and don´t try to contact me unless something very important happens."

Dio nodded silently and exited the restroom. Vincent washed his hands, combed his hair, and then went out. He descended the stairs, and went through a tube labeled "Games Square". After a couple of seconds, he appeared in a lobby. At his left some stairs went up to the child´s games. He ignored them, and went through a door at his right. He had to see with his own eyes if it was him before killing him. He then felt it. A cold sensation through his back.

"It can´t be."

He hided behind a turn in the hallway, took out his gun, and waited. The footsteps were growing louder, and then he sprang from his hiding place, pointing it at a man in a blue suit much like his. The man had short blond hair, and a goatee. Vincent didn´t lower his weapon.

"Gustave, what are you doing here?"

"Hey, hey, calm down , Vin. I´m your friend, remember?"

"If you think a "friend" is someone who betrays you in the worst possible moment."

"I thought you would have got over that thing a long time ago."

"I will never forget how you took all the glory of my job. I passed the security, I got pass the guards, I killed the guy, and I got the papers. Then you stole them from me, and then you were promoted."

"You and I know that you don´t have any bullets in that gun."

"Want to bet?"

Vincent continued to point the weapon at Gustave. Gustave didn´t blink. After three long seconds, Vincent put away the gun. Relief could be seen in Gustave´s face.

"Damn, man, I thought you were going to shoot me."

"I haven´t loaded the gun. Yet. So tell me what are you doing here, get out of here, and don´t cross on my way again."

"Well, I´m here on vacation, man. Can´t I go where I want on my vacations?"

"Good story. Now, the truth."

Gustave doubted for a second, but a look into Vincent´s eyes convinced him more than any words.

"Okay. I was sent here as a back-up. The company is risking a lot on this operation, so they don´t want to risk failure."

"Who sent you?"

"Dammit, Vin! You know too well how this works!"

Vincent closed his eyes. He could see Melkior clearly in his office, giving Gustave the details.

"Anyway, I just came here in case something goes wrong. I´m here to help you, nothing more. You´re the one who runs the show."

"Alright then. You´re going to your room at the Ghost Hotel, you lock inside, and don´t dare to come out until it´s morning, understood?"

"But Vin..."

"Understood?"

Gustave sank his head. He then turned around, and went down the corridor. Vincent didn´t turn around until he was sure that Gustave had gone away. He cursed against Melkior silently, and then headed to the casino.