You know what you should do while you read this? Open up YouTube and search Magitek Research Facility FFVI OST. Listen to it while you read. It totally sets the mood for this chapter.
Chapter Twenty: The Devil's Lab
They approached the continent slowly.
"They'll see us coming in Vector. We have to fly near Tzen or Albrook."
"What about Maranda?"
"Too isolated. No, I'll pull down near Tzen."
They landed. As they explored the town, they bought new equipment and listened to the gossip. All the while, they avoided the imperial troops.
"The towns were put under martial law when Gestahl came to power." explained Malon.
When they were done, they began walking to Vector.
The town was fully made of metal. It was like a pyramid. It all led up to what Link guessed was the Imperial Palace, where Kefka, Gestahl, and General Leo resided.
Upon arrival, they saw three soldiers guarding a side road.
"Excuse me, but what's down here?" asked Nano.
Malon kept out of sight.
"The Magitech Research Facility! Only certified members of the Empire. Only! Get lost!"
They went back and saw an old man standing there.
"Hey! Over here!"
They went back.
"Listen. I'm one of the Returners. Auru sent me here to help you distract the guards. See those metal beams up there?"
They saw them.
"They carry water clean air in there. Use them to slip past the guards. Now, I need someone to punch me in the gut. Hard."
Link hit him. That turned his face green. He was gonna be sick.
"Thanks..." he said painfully as he tottered out.
"Oh! I think I'm gonna hurl it all!" he said as he ran over towards the guards. They began climbing and edging along the pipes.
The man vomited in front of the soldiers, distracting them successfully.
"Aawwww!!! These were new!!!" screamed one soldier in frustration.
They entered the Magitech Research Facility.
It was one of the only places that had electricity. Cranes, clear tubes, and the like were everywhere.
They went looking around. Soon, they heard a laugh that sounded all too familiar.
They ducked behind boxes just as Kefka came into view with two Espers. One was a blue lady, and the other was a feral demon-like thing with horns.
"You two are useless to me now! Go die in a hole!" said Kefka as he kicked them onto a conveyor belt that dropped them into a hole in the ground.
"Uwee hee hee!! I'm God! I'm omnipotent! I am collecting powers from all these Espers!!! And I shall revive the Warring Triad!!! Uwee hee hee!!!"
He ran off.
"That didn't sound good." said Nano.
"I didn't like the part about the Warring Triad." said Malon.
They jumped on the conveyor belt and fell into the hole.
The two Espers jumped up and prepared to fight, but they stopped.
"I sense a kindred spirit." said the demon in a deep voice.
"Is it... Ramuh?" asked the lady in an alto tone.
They all heard a voice in their heads.
"Yes. Ifrit, Shiva, it is good to see you again, though not as well as I had hoped."
"So you two are Ramuh's sibilings?"
"The names are Ifrit, the demon, and I am Shiva." said the lady.
"Why are you here?" asked Ifrit.
"We're here to free these Espers in the hopes that one of them can help our friend Zelda." said Malon.
At the name Zelda, Ifrit and Shiva looked at each other meaningfully.
"The others are through there." said Ifrit pointing at a door.
"I am weary of this world." said Ifrit.
"We will become magicite for you." said Shiva.
There was a bright flash of light. The two appeared as crystals of magicite on the ground.
They picked them up and ran through a door in the side. It led to a hallway.
"Why didn't they go through here to begin with?" asked Nano.
The answer to the question was behind the door at the end of the hallway.
There were six clear glass tubes. Six Espers floated in them. Malon didn't have time to take in the scene before an alarm sounded.
The Espers saw the magicite and there was another bright flash as they transformed.
A professor ran in.
"What are you doing to the Espers!?" he shouted.
He saw the magicite.
"Interesting... This crystal has 100 times more powerful than any magic we drained from them." he said.
"Professor Barnes! You need to shut this place down!" said Malon.
"Dearie me! If it isn't Malon! Tell me, is it true you got accepted by the Resistance as a spy?"
"A spy!?" said Swiftblade.
Link was stunned.
"Malon? Is this... true?"
Malon looked at her feet.
"Link..."
There came a high pitched laugh.
"Excellent performance!! Bravo!! Malon, you really have a talent for this!!"
Kefka ran out.
Swiftblade drew a sword and tried to lunge at Kefka, but Link and Nano held him back.
"Link... I'm sorry..."
She said.
Barnes looked scared out of his mind.
"You've protected me, so now it's my turn!" shouted Malon. She was surrounded by light. Then she and Kefka vanished.
After he recovered from what had happened, Barnes led them downstairs to a minecart.
"Use this! Get out quickly! You must leave Vector!"
They got in and it rocketed off.
Next chapter, we learn Zelda's backstory. R&R.