The squirrel perched contently next to Saily, a faint aura of pride flowing off of his demeanor. Ridley was used to the caped rodents which infested the forested lands surrounding Two River, but never knew them to convey a message.

Saily spat the message again amidst a series of broken yaps: "General Ridley sir! This flying squirrel has found an injured man just outside of our territory... he was mugged by bandits and torn up something fierce!"

Thrice damned bandits, Ridley thought. "Saily, can you identify the stranger?"

"No sir, but he was dressed all in blue (but his clothes are blood-stained now), and he had a fire rune (but it didn't look used), and he had a sword with writing all over it (but I don't read human writing)!"

Ridley remembered a tribe of people in Toran who inscripted the name of their loved ones onto their blades. Emily thought it was a perfectly romantic idea, but Ridley would not hear of defacing such a perfect blade, not even with the name of his lovely wife. They had played a large part in the Gate Rune War three years ago; some of the young men from the village even passed through Two River on their respective rites of passage.

But none of this concerned Ridley. Unless...

"Saily, did you sketch the writing on the man's sword?"

"Yes yes yes! Here, on this cloth!"

Saily handed Ridley a piece of thick cloth (apparently torn in haste from her skirt), on which was etched crudely in charcoal the name "Odessa."

"Odessa."

The name registered instantly. Silverburg. The Gate Rune War. A man dressed in blue. No, it couldn't have been. He had been killed after the emporer fell. He and the man-bear had been crushed in the crumbling palace of Gregminster. He knew this for certain- the man-bear had been the sole survivor of North Window's downfall, and his friend had been the most famous hero of the war of Toran's liberation.

But the name was Odessa, that fact couldn't be ignored.

"Saily, direct me to this man. His safety is imperitive."

Saily let out a screeching, anxious yelp and bounded from the tent.

I felt like sawing off my head.

When I opened up my eyes, I was staring at a ceiling. Not one of a building, but one of a tent. I was laying down in a bed. I tried to sit up, but my head felt twenty-times as heavy as it normally was. An immense pain surged through it when I lifted it, so I immediately put it backed down and groaned.

Then, I heard a dog make a "yip" sound followed by "He's awake!"

The only people who did that were Kobolds. Yet, the last thing I remember was being clubbed into unconsciousness was seeing three humans and a thing that sounded like "MU!" when put into words.

Then, sure enough, a female ran over to me and stood over the bed. "You're alive! Thank goodness! You scared many Kobolds when we found you in that condition!"

I said nothing, and just stared upwards.

"How is your head?"

"It feels like a brick is attached to my neck."

As everything started to come back to me, I remembered about my sword. I sat up, forgetting about my head problems for a minute. "Where is my sword? Is it here?"

"Yes, everything was recovered. It's a good thing that squirrel came by when it did!"

Huh?

"Squirrel?"

"Yes! A squirrel in a blue cape flew into the Kobold village and started shouting in eagerness. After General Ridley realized that he wanted the Kobolds to follow him, we followed him and came upon your body tied to a tree, with your sword and your wallet next to you." Her tail began to wag.

Squirrel with a blue cape?

"You were in pretty bad shape, so General Ridley and Kobolds took you and your stuff back to here in Two River. We bandaged you up immediately and hoped for the best."

I lightly touched the back of my head where I received the blows. Sure enough, I felt soaking wet tape on the back of my head. As I brought my hand around, there was some blood on it, so I was still bleeding.

"Oh, Mr. Flik, I'm so glad that you're alive in one piece." Her tail wagged even more.

"How do you know my name?"

"General Ridley placed you immediately. From your blue outfit and the name on the sword, he knew that you had to be 'Blue Lightning' Flik from the Scarlet Moon Empire War."

Who was General Ridley? He may have heard of me, but I don't ever recall his name.

"Come now, Mr. Flik, we change your bandage, do you think you can stand up?"

I slowly slid off the bed and onto my two feet. As I pulled the sheet off, I realized that my complete upper outfit was gone, and I was wearing nothing except the lower half. I started to pull the sheets over me.

The Kobold nurse began to laugh. "You silly humans, so worried about your appearance. Come now, no reason to be shy because of Saily here." She pulled the sheets away from by body, revealing my naked upper body again.

I shrugged it off and slowly started to walk around, trying to regain my senses.

"If it makes you feel any better Mr. Flik, I saw you completely naked."

What the hell? I turned myself around to look at the nurse in the eye, but I turned around a little to fast and fell down.

Saily rushed over to me. Using her for support, I stood myself back up. Instead of thanking her, I darted "Why did you see me naked?"

"Mr. Flik, Saily had to take off all your clothes and wash them. They were all blood-stained. Saily didn't want you to dirty Saily's good linen." Saily laughed and wagged her tail again. "It's okay, Mr. Flik. Saily found out why they called you Blue Lightning after all." She said with a smile and pointed down to my lower half of my body.

I rolled my eyes. I think I would have rather let those muggers get the better of me than having to deal with this. No one's seen me naked except Odessa, and now some random Kobold. Violated twice in two different ways in one week.

Between this sick Kobold nurse, and the pain that's still in my head, I felt sawing my head off.

*

"Come on, Mr. Flik. Saily can't help you unless we remove those bandages! Come, over to the mirror."

I walked over to the mirror and sat down on the chair. There I was, in all my glory. Half naked in front of a Kobold nurse who felt the need to make fun of certain aspects of my sexual drive.

"Hold your breath." She said to me.

"Huh?"

Ever rip a Band-Aid off of skin with lots of hair on it? You know much that hurts? Imagine a Band-Aid on your head, and someone ripping it off.

A Kobold burst into the tent. "Saily, what's going on in here? I heard screaming."

"General Ridley!" She said, yelping. "I'm just treating Mr. Flik, sir."

I stood up and went over to the Kobold. He was dressed very nice and proper. "General Ridley, sir?" I stuck out my hand. "I take it I have you to thank for saving my life."

Ridley shook. "Nonsense! From one military hero to another, it was my honor! If a certain blue-caped squirrel hadn't warned us of your whereabouts, I couldn't have saved you!"

Squirrel again. I'm going to have to find him some day.

General Ridley moved in closer. "Mr. Flik, when you're done here, could you come to my tent for a few? I have to talk to you."

"It would be my pleasure."

"Thank you." He backed out. "Thank you Saily, you may go back to treating him now. You've got the best Kobold nurse in Two River treating you. I guarantee it!" Ridley walked out of the tent.

"Sure." Saily said when he left. "You don't mind you're half naked in front of General Ridley, but in front of Saily, you act all embarrassed. Silly humans."

I rolled my eyes.

"Come now, Mr. Flik. We need to wash your hair." She grabbed my arm and threw me back in the chair. "There's blood all in it." She wheeled over a bowl of water. "Lean back." She commanded.

I did so, for fear of more harassment.

"Gently ease your head into he bowl."

I did so. The cool water felt good against my head. It was the first good feeling I had since breakfast in Greenhill.

"There, the bleeding's stopped, but it's going to be sore there for a while. Try not to bang your head any." Saily said, standing on the chair and combing my hair over the bruise.

"Thank you, Saily. The treatment is much appreciated."

"And go easy with that bandanna when you tie it again. You tie it too tight, it might start the wound bleeding again." She handed me my clothes."

"I don't know how I can repay you for this."

"You don't have to, Mr. Flik. I've seen a side of you that no one's seen before. In more ways than one." She laughed and wagged her tail. "Get dressed, don't forget Ridley wants to see you. His tent is next door." She said as she walked out of the tent.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. I quickly got dressed and headed over to Ridley's tent next door. "General Ridley?"

"Ah, do come in Mr. Flik! I've been waiting for you!" Ridley stood up and wagged his tail.

One thing I learned from Kobolds in the Liberation Army, whenever they're happy, they wag their tails. Regardless of how sophisticated they are, it's an initial reaction. Even a Kobold such as General Ridley couldn't prevent this from happening. It's sorta funny.

"What is it that you wanted to talk to me about, General Ridley?"

"Please, have a seat." He gestured to the table. I did so. "Is there anything I can get you? Tea? Water? Something to eat perhaps?"

I waved my hand. "No thanks, General. I'm more interested in what you wanted to talk to me about."

Ridley looked around the tent. We were the only ones in there, but he leaned closer on the table. "Frankly, Mr. Flik, you're the only one that I can trust."

I leaned back. I'm the only one he could trust? What the devil was he talking about? "I beg your pardon?"

"Well, it's a long story, but Jowston, this country, and Highland, the neighboring country, are about to go to war. The trigger was the massacre at the Unicorn Brigade."

"Massacre? Unicorn Brigade?" I had no idea what he was talking about.

"Yes. You probably have no idea." Ridley nodded his head. "Highland's youth army, the Unicorn Brigade, was slaughtered. Highland blames Jowston, but we led no such attack. We believe it was Highland up to their old tricks. In retaliation, Highland has started invading our territory and started to burn our villages."

I sat there dumbfounded. Who would be so cruel as to take lives like that? Innocent children of all people? That wasn't right. I definitely had to tell Viktor about this.

"Two River, this city, is part of the Jowston city-state, but, frankly, I don't know what side they're on." Ridley leaned back in his chair.

"Why is that, General?"

"The human section of Two River is simply up to no good. I think they've sold out to Highland."

There was an awkward pause.

"Mr. Flik, I need your cooperation. I have spies here in Two River that can take of things that go on here, but I need you to find out more information. I have no idea who to trust, and I can't turn to anyone else. It's almost a blessing that we found you."

"General Ridley, as repayment for nursing me back to health, it is the least I can do for exchange of services." I nodded my head, which was in better shape than when I woke up.

"Thank you, Mr. Flik. Please use this money as payment for your services." We went over to the supplies in the corner and took out a bag of money. He put it on the table. "There's about four-thousand potch there. Use it to get as much information as you need."

"Yes, General Ridley. I will." I picked up the bag and attached it to my belt. "I'll get started right away. I headed out of the tent."

"I'll have a few of my soldiers escort you to Lakewest. You can go on your way then."

"Thank you, General." I shook his hand again

Y'know, I figured that this week was gonna suck. Boy, was I right.

"Come on." I begged the ship guy. "Just take me to North Window, please?"

"Are you kidding?" He looked at me. "No ships go to North Window anymore."

"I'll pay you a thousand potch."

"Two-thousand."

I grunted. "Two-thousand. Fine." I was fed up at this point, and I just wanted to go to North Window.

"All right. Hop on." He said as he untied the ship.

I placed two-thousand potch on the rickety ship. I was sick, tired, and hungry at this point, and I just wanted to make it to North Window before nightfall. It cost me two-thousand potch, but at this point I didn't care.

The ship guy pushed off the dock and jumped on.

The seas were calm as the sun settled in the distance. I tried my best to strike up a conversation with the boatsman, but he wasn't in the mood for talking. I stopped bothering after fourteen "yup"s.

It got dark really quickly, and I couldn't see where anything except water. "You know where we're going?"

"Yup".

I decided not to argue.

Soon, we wound up at a dock. "This is it, North Window. Enjoy your stay." He said, shoving off.

I jumped out of the boat and looked around. There were no ships anywhere on the docks. I went through the cavern and went into the castle. Through the dimly moonlit windows in the castle, I realized something.

The place was trashed, and deserted.

"General Ridley? It is I, your humble servant Desmond."

The collector of stories had been gone for quite some time now, but he was just as Ridley remembered him. Overly-polite, yet ever-pleasant, always with a thousand smiles and a thousand stories. Desmond was always welcome in Ridley's presence, a distinct honor allowed only to a handful of Two River's most respected kobolds.

"Desmond! I welcome you back, my friend. I hope your journey found you well," Ridley replied, snapping back into an uncomfortable reality. In these confusing and stressful times, Ridley's only rest came through the frequent daydreams, actual sleep was difficult to come by.

Desmond took a fidgety step forward, wringing his hands together like a nervous child. "It pains me to inform you, General Ridley, that I should bring such distressing news..."

Ridley nodded, not surprised. "If this news concerns the terrible slaughter of the Unicorn Brigade, I am already quite aware."

Desmond sighed. "Yes, my master Ridley, however it may interest you to know that I have spent a length of time travelling with a man who witnessed firsthand the unimaginable evil of the Highland kingdom... an honorable samurai from Harmonia, sir. He wishes for me to bring you this message..."

The words Genshu had given to Desmond were chasing themselves around in the poor bard's head. How was he to say it? For the first time, Desmond found himself at a loss for words. Nothing truly remained to be said. "General Ridley, we are going to war."

Ridley nodded. Makai must have known this too- but was too afraid to act. He knew what would happen. He knew all too well. And once again, it was time to don his blade.

God speed, Blue Lightning.

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"Flik" and "Suikoden 2" are (C) Konami. This chapter was posted on February 21, 2000