Chapter 11 :The final curtain rises.
Summary : The troupe finally confront their old comrade, but can they really fight Squall?
Notes: still pissed off that the last few hours of spell checking the last 2 chapters didn't stick . I re-did them 3 times so it looks like I'm going to have to do them at a later date, Ill email this one to a friend to check. I hope I get it back before tonights' update. I also hope you guys forgive me! I try oh so hard to be sure that I update every night that I am forced to use my lappy to write on, which only has word-pad on it. ^w^ Now to see if the changes stick this time!
P.s - the tactic mentioned here was the one I used on the final boss of ff8, Except I switched Quistis for Squall.
Odine had been as good as his word, using technology developed after study of Ellones' powers, the scanner was complete within a few hours. It was simply a glass chamber, that held a lock of Rinoas' hair, filled with sensors and hooked up to the Raganroks' digital map. A green arm swept over the image, displaying everything magical on the ground with a green dot and a small 'beep!'. At first Laguna had complained it was too sensitive, as they flew over the continents from a considerable height, it picked up even the smallest magical disturbance. Balamb garden lit up and sent the speakers rattling with the high pitched whine, obviously students getting to grips with Guardian forces. There wasn't another disturbance like that for good few hours, until they flew over an old abandoned Galbadian research facility deep in the mountains. They flew low enough to see the place had attracted monsters, thanks to the research that had taken place here. Galbadia had once tried to emulate the powers of Guardian forces, long ago, to give them a lead in battle, but they had to use monsters as their source of magic. The team aboard the Ragnarok would have to be quick, no doubt other militant forces were looking for the winged figure, that had been terrorising the continents, and they would not be willing to show the mercy that the SeeD would. If anyone bar SeeD found Squall...then it was highly likely that the young man would destroy whatever force confronted him, and unlike his friends, they had a no chance of bringing him to his senses.
The facility was similar to that of D-District prison in its design, the great cone shaped building spiraled down into the ground. Unlike the prison, this could not be raised from the ground, the team needed to make their way down the old fashioned way. Laguna and ward were sat in the cock-pit of the airship, in its upright dragon form, giving covering fire to the SeeD, short lazer burts scattering monsters and allowing them clear passage into the lab. Quistis stopped them as they ducked into the doorway, away from the blasts from the Ragnarok, She checked them over.
'We all fully prepared here? Juntioned, with weapons ready? Zell?' Zell nodded and patted his jacket down.
'Yes ma'am, Shiva, Siren and the jelly bean all present,' the jelly bean was his nickname for pandemonium, 'As well as enough Phoenix downs to stuff a couch.' The headmisstress nodded.
'Give me the downs, I'll take up the back line with Irvine and provide cover until Rinoa has finished drawing our magic. Zell, you and Irvine will be charged with keeping the target busy. Irvine will use silencing shots and you will do your best to keep Hyne away from us. I doubt the shots will work, but I'm sure they'll irritate him. Remember, This could be a trap, it could be just the remains of the experiments done here, or we could be facing the worst threat to hit since Ultimecia, We'll only get through this if we all stick to the plan and follow Rinoas' plan.' Quistis shook her head, 'It's that or we have to take out Squall. I know we don't want to, but we may not have a choice.' No one argued. The group nodded silently, and entered the facility.
The walls were made completely from metal, rusting, with painted signs on them in fading Galbadian. The corridor wound down like a screw, different levels requiring different key cards to access them, each floor connected by a lift shaft that travelled down ten floors, before being replaced by another lift. As a result, there was no single elevator that went all the way to the bottom. Irvine groaned, 'We have three options...' He looked at Zell, who was landing a final blow to a monster that had wondered a bit to close. Several other that had been watching backed off slowly, they didn't fancy the idea of a dinner that fought back.
'First,' he continued after the creature had stopped squealing, 'Is we blast the doors open, And that will take serious time. The power is out, so the doors aren't locked, but they're blast doors, and too heavy to lift.' He hit a low flying bat-like creature with the but of his gun, while the death throes and sounds of fighting were rife in the facility, the sound of a gunshot would have been too alien. 'The second, Is we para-sail down the middle maintenance shafts at the next junction.'
Quistis shot down this idea straight away. 'No way, we could get halfway down to discover the shafts collapsed, And I don't think we have time to be climbing up and down all day.'
'Then our last option, is to make our way down through the lifts. It'll be slower, we'll have to climb down the shafts one at a time, but at least that we we'll be able to see any blockages coming.' Zell scratched his head.
'Why are we going to the bottom, just a thought, couldn't Hyne be on one of the higher floors?' Rinoa nodded.
'Yeah, couldn't he? makes sense, wouldn't have to climb all the way down every night then.' Irvine glanced at Quistis and sighed.
'If he is here, then my guess he'd be on the only floors with power...and those are the last ten. The generator down there hasn't been touched by monsters yet.' It was solid logic, so they began their slow decent down, Irvine and Zell pulling open the doors to the lift shaft, while the girls slid down first. Zell was the last into the space, climbing onto the cables that once held moved the lift, before lowering himself down and into the top of the unmoving lift where he and Irvine had to open the doors again. Every now and then the lift would be on a different floor than the bottom, and Zell would climb up to winch it down manually. It was slow, painstakingly so, but never once did they have to turn back, something, they discovered, they would have had to do if they had gone down the middle shaft anyway. When the climbed out onto the fortieth floor, they were greeted by the sight of the walls bending inwards from the central shaft.
'The bridges connecting the panels must have collapsed.' Irvine panted, catching his breath. 'Good thing we didn't go down there, or we'd have to climb up again. The panels here are busted shut, short of blowing a hole in the wall we'd have been stuck in there.' Zell agreed, wiping sweat from his brow.
'Not only that,' he breathed, 'it's still coming down by the sounds of it, Listen.' The troupe fell silent, Rinoa had stopped wiping the oil on her hands from the cables on Zells' jacket and looked around.
'That banging? But that's coming from below us...' Three pairs of ears strained to listen. Indeed, a few floors down, they could hear a rhythmic pounding.
'That's forty to one! I love that song.' Zell grinned, then it dawned on him what that meant. 'There's someone down there...Playing drums?' Irvine slapped Zell round the back of the head.
'Idiot, if thats anything I'd say it was someone bored hitting a wall.'
'Typical prisoner behaviour,' Nodded Quistis, 'Could be Squall...or it could be...' The made their way to the next shaft, climbing down until they came to the floor with the source of the banging, a floor with power, they must be near the bottom. Most of the doors were broken, but one looked new. It wasn't rusted or bent inwards like the others, it was a newly installed security door, a cell. A faint singing could be heard from inside. Irvine looked to Quistis. 'That's not Hynes' voice...'
'It's not Squalls' either.' Rinoa joined in. Quistis listened for a moment, fully aware it could be a trap, but then her face lit up.
'I know that voice!' She cried, a grin on her face, 'Seifer!' The banging stopped then began in earnest as the prisoner tried to attract the speakers attention.
'Yo! In here!' Siefer shouted. Irvine rolled his eyes.
'And I thought we were trying to be stealthy...' He looked at the control panel and studied it for a moment. 'Code locked...'
'I know its locked!' Shouted the voice from inside the cell. 'Thing is what're you gonna do about it?'
'Will you shut up?' The cowboy took the cowboy approach and fired one round into the code pad, point black to lessen the noise, hoping that if Hyne was here that he would think it was just his prisoner banging. He and Zell took up their places on the right and left of the door and pushed, and pulled, it open. Quistis ran into the room, ignoring all protocol, such a lapse of judgement for someone normally so level headed. The rest of the group followed her into the makeshift cell. Sat, Chained to the far wall by one arm, was Seifer. He'd been using the thick part of the shackle to pound the wall, which was now dented heavily.
'About friggin' time!' He chastised them, 'Even Raijin could have found me faster than you four!' He grinned and added, 'Blind folded!' Zell shook his fist at the cocky-mouthed captive.
'How about some thanks, huh?' Seifer nodded.
'You know? you're right.' He turned to Quistis, 'Thank you for holding this chicken-wuss' hand all the way down here, instructor Trepe.' Before anyone could stop him, Zell darted forward, arm raised to attack.
'Zell, no!' Rinoa cried out, but it was too late. Years of repressed anger suddenly snapped. Unable to hold himself back, Zell brought his fist down towards Seifers head, Hatred burning in his eyes. There was enough power behind those five digits to level an elephant. Siefer watched closely, and with reflexes only years of training could provide, ducked his head at the last second, Raising his shackled arm up to where his head had been a moment before...
There was a clang, a screech of metal on metal and a sick organic cracking noise. The former captive stood up, Zells' fist had cut clean through the chain. 'Cheers chicken-wuss,' He grinned and patted Zell on the shoulder, 'I knew you'd come in handy one day.' Zells' anger was spent, he was panting, looking down at the mess that had once been his right hand. He watched the bones of the broken fingers slowly subside, sinking back from where they had punctured the skin, as his junctioned GFs' undid the damage.
'Well,' Came a soft voice from behind them, 'That was quite the display.' Irvine, who had been bringing up the rear, recognised the tone and spun around for his next tangle with God.
Indeed, Hyne had been stood behind him, just outside the door, watching them. The moment the gunner turned he was grabbed by the throat, thick black claws drawing blood.
'You an the blonde male, you never learn, either of you. How many times must I show you that I cannot be beaten?'
'Just...Once more.' Chocked Irvin who was trying to raise his gun. Hyne rolled his eyes,, black with club shaped pupil, and tutted.
'Again with the toys SeeD?' His hand tightened around Irvines' throat, raising him from the ground, above Hynes' head. He was holding The cowboy aloft in the doorway, using the man as a shield, blocking the others from attacking or escaping. It was over, they were powerless to help their friend, and they were being forced to watch the life be slowly chocked out of him, The guardian forces junctioned to Irvine fighting to keep their master alive.
The claws dug ever deeper, Irvine was forced to drop his gun in order to try and pry the fingers from his neck. Hyne laughed as the man in his grasp struggled.
'Squall, Stop!' Rinoa screamed, unable to take it, 'Don't do this!' The hold on Irvines' neck eased.
'The sorceress?' Rinoa pushed her way past the furious Zell, who had be watching of even the slightest opening, and stood beside Irvine, peering round him to see the figure of Hyne. He was just as Zell had described him, so definitely Squalls' body, But twisted into that of a monster. The great black wings were held close to his body, the tips of the longest feathers touching the ground. The feet were as the hands now, he stood on the balls of his feet, great black claws in place of nails. From his temples, crowning the face that still bore the resemblance of the man she loved, were two blood-red horns that curled at the tips. Similar growths of bone were jutting from the shoulders and the elbows, like blades. Rinoa couldn't help but be reminded by that dream so long ago...
Was I being warned? but...this is not Griever. It's Hyne.
She placed a hand on the arm that held her friend, and felt as it lowered Irvine to get a better look at the Sorceress. Though he still maintained the hold on the neck, Irvine was no longer hanging in the air, the pressure had eased somewhat. 'Please,' Rinoa pleaded, 'Please, stop this Squall, We're your friends.' Hyne scoffed.
'Squall? This body may still bear a passing resemblance to the host, but I can assure you, he can't hear you, little girl. His spirit fell silent and stopped struggling days passed.'
'I don't believe that.' She reached out, gently placing a hand on Hynes' cheek, Squalls' cheek. His black eyes flickered, looking the woman in the face. 'Listen to me, I know you're in there somewhere...Squall, I-' The eyes flashed blue for a moment, a tiny moment, Rinoas' heart lept in her chest, but then the blue was replaced by black, and the look of deepest fury.
'How dare you,' Hissed Hyne, 'You would call out to this poor boys spirit? He's hiding, afraid to watch his former body slaughter those he loves, and you would call him to the surface?' The God gave a twisted grin, one Rinoa had never seen on that face before. 'Very well, You want Squall to be awakened? Then I'll have him here,' He tapped his head, 'Right here, so he can watch as I sear the flesh from your bones, and take your power for my own.' Irvine was cast back into the room, sent flying backwards with an almighty surge of energy, Hyne raised both hands above his head with a flourish that reminded them all so much of Ultimecia. He prepared to strike, fire blooming at his fingertips, the runes scored into his body glowing red. Zell darted forward to put himself between Rinoa and Hyne, and as he pushed her away, Rinoas' eyes caught the ones that were watching them all with such malice. Hyne brought a hand down, fire rushing forward...But the magic died before Rinoa even felt the heat of the blast. The would be God tried again, once more the flames blinked from existence, as though doused. He looked down at his hands, puzzled and trembling. 'My magic, Sorceress, what have you done?'
Quistis saw an opening and raised her whip high, bringing it down towards Hyne with an earsplitting crack. Rinoa had moved between them, catching the whips blow on her forearm, blood seeping through the soft blue cloth. 'Rinoa! Why would you stop me?' Rinoa shook her head, turning to face Hyne, who was still starring in horror at his hands. He looked up at Rinoa, eyes screaming hatred.
'Why can't I kill you?' He hissed 'I have more than enough power, How is it possible you're stopping me?' To the amazement of everyone, Rinoa stepped forward, reaching out to Hyne.
'Rinoa, Don't!' Seifer tried to push his way through to stop her, But Irvine grasped his coat. Still unable to speak, he just nodded towards the pair. Seifer stopped and watched, Rinoa was gazing into Hynes' eyes,one hand on either side of his face.
'It's alright, I know, You couldn't hurt me, could you Squall?' Rinoa smiled softly, taking in the features of the person before her. 'After all, you promised me, right? That you'd protect me?' The anger dropped from Hynes' features as though it had been a mask. 'R-Rinoa?' He whispered, the voice unsteady. The sorceress' eyes gleamed with tears.
'Yes, it's me. That's it Squall, Remember...' The face in her hands began to cry silently, the black tears stung as they ran over Rinoas' fingers, but she didn't care.
'Rinoa...' He looked her in the eye, 'Please, take this out of me.' He begged. Rinoa nodded and closed her eyes, preparing to draw out Hyne while Squall was still in control. A faint light filled the room, Rinoa and Squall both began to tremble with power...
'No!' Someone screeched from the corridor, bowling into the pair, breaking them apart. The spell was broken, Hyne had pushed the Sorceress away, the light still encompassing his body. He grabbed his head as though in pain and screamed.
'He, It can't be! He's fighting back!' The small touch from Rinoa had been enough to dislodge the God from Squalls' mind, enough to let him force the power from his mind. Hyne was expelled from Squalls' body in a blast to rival an explosion. The SeeD' and rino were thrown forward into the room, Squall hitting the floor with a heavy thud. Lokai, the one who had tried to stop the drawing, had been pushed back into the corridor, where he hit the wall with enough force to knock him out cold. It took a few minutes for the confusion to fade, and Irvine was on his feet first, gun pointing at the slumped, winged figure. The man tried to get up, struggling with the after effects of the blast on his body, and looked at the gun pointed his way.
'Do it, Kinneas, End it...You'd be doing me a favour.' He looked Irvine in the face. Though the body remained changed, the eyes were once again Squalls' steely blue. Irvine slowly lowered his weapon.
'Leo, is that you, man?' Squall nodded slowly, sliver hair covering his face.
'Yeah, for now at least...I can't feel him anymore.' Seifer raised an eyebrow before crouching down beside his rival.
'And why should we believe you? Tell me why I shouldn't snap your neck right now, I mean, you say Hyne is gone and all, but look, you still haven't changed back.' Rinoa glared at Seifer and pushed past him, kneeling by Squalls' side, one hand on his arm, the other helping him sit up, soft black feathers beneath her fingers.
'...You're right, Seifer, And I don't think I will be turning back.' He looked at Rinoa sadly, gesturing at his pale and rune-marked with a clawed hand. 'I was turned into this so my body could handle Hynes' power...I get the feeling that isn't something you can just reverse.' Zell knelt down before his friend.
'But, even if...even if you're stuck like this Squall, You can come back to Garden. We can explain what happen-' Squall shook his head.
'No, Zell. Look at me, Seifers' right, I've become a monster, No one could except me, not like this. After all, to everyone else...I'm the thing that's been killing people all over the world.' To everyones surprise, Rinoa slapped him. Hard.
'Do you really think that matters to us Squall? You swore to protect me from the exactly same thing, And as I recall you were the one that saved me.' Squall was speechless, holding his reddening cheek. 'You can be a real idiot sometimes, you know that Squall?' He was about to answer when there was a groan from the corridor. Seifer stepped over them, heading for the source.
'Rin, you draw that b'stard Hyne out of Squally, I'll take care of this little git.' He cracked his knuckles loudly. 'I owe him some pay back.' Seifer stooped and grabbed the professor by the collar, lifting him to head height. 'I hope you're ready for this, shorty.' He pulled back a fist, preparing to let fly at the small mans' face. Quistis and Zell stumbled forward, going to stop what, to them, looked like an attack on an innocent. Seifer suddenly froze, eyes locked with the of Lokai.
'Foolish Human, I AM IMMORTAL!' With a single hand, Lokai blasted Seifer back into the room, where he hit a wall with a nasty crack, out cold at once. Inside his new body, Hyne pulled the shadows around him, just as Squall had once done, and shot off through the cieling, crashing through the floors.
'Get him!,' Screamed the former host, 'Hynes' inside him now!' Irvine and Zell didn't waste a further second, and both charged off after the tiny God. Squall looked up at Rinoa, Sensing her unease, and smiled. 'Go,' he whispered, 'Go and finish this, for me.' Rinoa brushed fresh tears from her eyes, seeing the pain still holding her lovers body, the pain of the separation. Quistis placed a hand on her shoulder.
'Take my magic, He shouldn't be as strong if he's just jumped bodies.' The blonde was stern, as though Rinoa was one of her SeeD officers. 'I'll stay here and keep an eye on these two. We'll come up when we can.'
Rinoa bit her lip and looked from Quistis to Squall. 'I'll go,' She said at last, 'If you promise me something.' Though he looked so different now, Squalls' smile was still the same. He took her hand gently, ever aware of how sharp his claws were. 'I'll never leave you Rin, You know that...Now go.'
The room was filled with a strong purple glow as all Quistis' magic was drawn from her. The light filled Rinoa, Causing her to gasp faintly. She stopped one last time, kissed Squall tenderly on the lips, then Ran after Irvine and Zell.