Twisted Fantasy

by Revir

AN Final Fantasy VIII AU story with several twists. Basically, how the story could develop if most of the main, and many not so main, characters were of the opposite gender. After a long hiatus, Chapter 42 is finally seeing the light of day. Take a breather in this LONGEST visit to the Hidden Shumi Village. Hope you: Read&Enjoy

25. Chapter 25: Tortures and Escapes

Disclaimer – I don't own Final Fantasy VIII… What was that? You wanna give it to me?!? No? Owww… C'mon, don't play me like that... :-/

Chapter 25 – Tortures and Escapes

Her eyes opened slowly, focusing on the unfamiliar ceiling on top of her head. Where am I? She wondered as, even though she had just woken up after Hyne knew how much time in the unnatural deep slumber of the dream world, she still felt a profound tiredness…

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Zanya suddenly awoke, sitting up too abruptly as her fast movements made her head ache, reminiscent of the intensity of the attacks that had been used to bring her down the previous night. Looking around to clear her mind, she couldn't help but feel a certain familiarity in the foreign room she found herself in.

"Welcome back." A male voice somewhere around her sounded making the blonde woman slowly turn around to face her three friends that sat leaning against the wall.

Zanya nodded slowly as to not aggravate her still ever so present headache as she adjusted her sitting position to face them in a less straining pose.

"Is everyone alright…?" She asked as her eyes once again scanned the room, frowning afterwards as she saw no one else in the room but the three young men.

"Where're Schala and that other one?" She asked as she focused on their faces, concern and uncertainty plastered all over them.

"When we came to, there were only the four of us…" Quentin provided. "We don't know what happened to them…" He added, sparing a side glance at Rian as he just locked his chocolate eyes onto the floor.

Rian had told them what he last saw and didn't see. Schala being pierced in the chest by the Sorceress's ice shard and Inara disappearing into thin air. None were good omens.

"…" Zanya stayed silent in thought. Though Schala's fate held the most concern, she couldn't help but wonder about the annoying cowgirl as well.

"We were brought here a while back and you've been out the whole time…" Sorphan started, trying to lighten the mood from the foreboding environment. "Was it Lana again?"

His question succeeded in drawing all of them from their reveries as they focused on Zanya for her response.

"Well… kinda…" At their inquisitive stares, the martial artist elaborated. "I only saw Wada and she wasn't near her friends…"

"Ohh, what happened?" Sorphan insisted, curious to the galbadian women's endeavours.

"Well, from what I could make out…" Zanya continued. "After their escape from Centra… you remember that?" The three men nodded affirmatively. "Well, seems they got separated somehow… Wada was discharged and is all alone… working in some sort of prison-like place, unknowing of her friends' fate…"

"Major bummer…" Sorphan commented as the other two were suddenly thoughtful.

"Yeah… The woman is bored outta her mind!" She couldn't help a little smile. "All she wants is to be back at Lana's and Kiara's side…"

"I wonder what is this we're experiencing…" Quentin let out, not exactly meant as a question to any of them, just a random thought passing not only by his mind but the others' as well.

Except for Rian, whose thoughts were focused on something else the blonde woman had mentioned.

"You said that Wada was working in some sort of prison, right?" He suddenly inquired, drawing the others' attention and a raised eyebrow from the martial artist.

"Yeah, so…?" Zanya wasn't following.

"And she was from Galbadia…?" He continued, gaining a nod as a response. "Well… is it possible she was… here?" He asked, gaining a strange look from both Zanya and Sorphan as Quentin seemed to understand where he was going with that.

Zanya suppressed a huff. Of all the stupid questi… she thought as it suddenly dawned on her. Hey? Whoa?!? Wait a sec…

"I know this place!" She suddenly cried loudly, standing up in a jump and in all her enthusiasm, forgetting all about her previous headache. "This is it! Wada works here! She's a janitor of some sort." Zanya looked around the room once more just to make sure. "Yup, this is the place! There are lots of rooms just like this one! It's got to be here!" she continued eagerly.

"There're a few prisons in the Galbadian territory…" Rian started, staring off to nowhere in particular. "The highest security one is for political activists and serious offenders… spies…" He continued half-heartedly. "We were probably brought to that one, and it's where Wada works, it seems…"

"Well, it's no surprise we were brought to jail." Quentin started again, his eyes scanning the room. "We did attack the sorceress…"

"And we went up against the president…" Rian added. "We'll all be sentenced to death for sure…" For those who aren't already… He couldn't stop but think, considering Schala's most probable fate, though he refused to accept it fully…

"The president is of no consequence for a long time now…" Quentin commented, his eyes narrowing. "He was just another puppet, a means to an end… When his usefulness ended he became expendable…"

"The Sorceress is running the show now…" Rian completed his train of thought. "But, what does that imply for us?" He wondered.

Quentin just shook his head. Their future looked more and more uncertain by the minute.

"Things don't look so good…" Sorphan let out, followed by a sigh. Stuck in a cage with no news of the outside...

"…" Zanya leaned back, thoughts of their situation haunting her mind.

What's going to happen to us…?

And Schala…? What happened to her… where is she…?

And where the hell is that Inara chick, anyways…?

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Bright cobalt blue eyes closed quickly as the sudden sun glare almost blinded them. Inara straightened in her sitting position, her neck cracking from the strain of her sleeping pose, a deep slumber that had suddenly overtaken her the night before, after she had left Deling city.

It had been abnormal, to say the least. And it hadn't just been the sudden sleepiness but also that wicked dream she had experienced. Inara had had strange dreams before, mostly after a long night, but never something like that.

Opening her eyes carefully against the annoyingly bright morning sun, Inara looked out the window to access her surroundings. The thick and extensive Galbadian desert completely surrounded her, but she could still barely make out a structure far ahead along the road she was able to steer off before falling heavily asleep. Inara was already quite near her destination, the facility where she was supposed to go retrieve one of the perpetrators to the attack on the sorceress. The only one that along with her, would be granted freedom…

Her eyes shifted from the outside to the empty seat next to her, where only an envelope rested. She frowned as her mind wandered to the events of her previous night…

«Flashback»

"Let go of me!" Inara screamed as she struggled with the men's strong grasp.

The second the soldiers stormed the float, she was pulled back by a couple of them that placed something over her eyes and all but dragged her away, kicking and screaming, were it not for the hand covering her mouth. Now she had freed herself at least from that hand, but she was still being carried somewhere.

A few more minutes of struggling and she was suddenly thrown off, impacting with the floor with a grunt but, contrary to what she was expecting, the floor was rather soft. Her hands went to the ground beneath her and she felt soft carpet fibres, making her frown beneath the mask, hood or whatever they had used to blindfold her.

As she gathered her wit to remove the cloth over her eyes, Inara also noticed how silent it was wherever she was. The loud sounds of the parade and soldiers and battle were nothing more than muffled whispers. It seemed she was in some sort of house or room at some distance from the commotion, but still close enough that the remnants of it were still barely audible.

She finally removed her blindfold, half-expecting what she was going to find. Her eyes settled on the proud, dark figure in front of her who looked down on her with a deep frown on her face and a certain degree of irritation reflected in her dark blue eyes.

"You failed." Kaede Caraway stated more than asked as the red headed sharpshooter slowly stood up, dusting off her clothes and looking around her, temporarily avoiding the other woman's eyes.

Inara searched the room. The guards that had brought her in, probably under the congresswoman's influence, were just passing past her and only the two of them and her assistant, Nishida, were left in the room. She also took notice of her shotgun resting over the woman's desk, making her wonder if she would have to fight for its possession.

"What happened out there, why did you fail?" The congressman demanded to know, drawing Inara's attention back to her as her stern eyes demanded an answer.

"For one, I didn't fail. My aim was perfect!" Inara clarified, what neither impressed nor intimidated the tough politician. "The sorceress had a personal shield that stopped the bullet… maybe the ammunition was faulty…" She added, causing the woman to frown as Inara paced around the room, apparently not intimidated by her strong stance and power.

"And the frontal attack?" Kaede continued her query.

"The guards mobilized more quickly than we anticipated…" Inara explained to all truth, choosing her words carefully as to not aggravate the woman's anger. She might enjoy confrontations, but she wasn't stupid. "When we got to the float, the sorceress was prepared for us…" Her cobalt eyes locked on the congresswoman. "She is much stronger than you and the Headmistress predicted…"

Kaede sighed. She had considered the possibility of failure though she had truly hoped they would succeed. Unfortunately, it seemed not even the powerful SeeDs were a match for the dreadful witch.

Resigned with the situation, she turned to Nishida that nodded and stepped forward.

"According to our Intel…" The tall man started, certainly relaying the information received from the guards. "... The remaining SeeDs and Master Rian have been captured by the soldiers and taken to the D-District prison facility located in the Galbadian desert, for interrogation." He stated, quite serious though with an apprehensive look.

"You are to head for the facility as soon as possible and retrieve…"

"You want me to bust them out? Just me? Are you serious?!?" Inara let out in outrage. She was just one person, what could she possibly do…?

"You are not going to bust anyone out of anywhere!" Congresswoman Caraway's voice felt itself hear once more as she turned from the window she had just been peering through to look back at the stunned sharpshooter.

"You are going to the prison, with that letter…" She added, motioning to an envelope on her desk, near the shotgun. "And bring back my son for me!" She concluded, her stern and commanding eyes leaving no room for doubt.

Inara hesitated as she spared a glance at the destined letter.

"What about the others?" She asked, knowing she wouldn't like the answer.

The congresswoman turned back to the window, watching the still agitated town.

"They are SeeDs, they have been trained to withstand torture, my son has not!" She said with disdain, making Inara strain to keep from replying. "Besides…" She added with inappropriate amusement. "They are elite mercenaries trained within Garden… if they can't even break out of that prison, they have been given too much credit…"

Inara's frown and barely contained anger deepened. The congresswoman knew better than most that no one had ever broken out of the high-security prison. It was obvious to her that she only wanted to protect her own ass, probably fearing that her son could give in her involvement in the assassination attempt under torture… something the SeeDs would never do since it was as she had said. They had been trained to withstand torture.

Rian had not.

As much as she wanted to curse the older woman to Hell, to disregard her orders and not get involved in anything else, her upbringing made her rethink that. She wanted to save her friends, but alone she couldn't do anything… if there was a chance of saving just one of them, even one she didn't know for that long, she would take it.

"Fine." Inara finally replied, noting the congresswoman releasing a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"Please take these." Nishida's voice almost made the red headed jump in surprise. Smiling apologetically, the man placed in her hands the envelope and a set of keys. "There's a truck prepared for you at the edge of the city. I suggest you wait for the city to calm down before heading out."

Inara nodded in comprehension. The last thing she wanted now was to be arrested for suspicious behaviour. Sparing a last irritated look at the politician's back, since she still faced the window, Inara turned around and left the house, garden and compound, closing her long coat and heading slowly and as inconspicuous as possible.

«End of Flashback»

Inara cursed under her breath. She didn't like this mission but now she had little choice. Not to mention than the abnormal sleep and wicked dream had delayed her considerably.

She had no more time to lose.

Turning the key in the ignition, the red headed woman placed the gear in drive and sped out of the improvised sidewalk, sending gravel flying behind the truck and driving down the road she had been following at great speed.

As she got closer, the sun reflected off the large triple drill like structure, now standing tall above the Earth.

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Blue-grey eyes stared up at the ceiling for a moment in complete abstraction before awareness crawled back inside her.

Images and sounds from the previous night flashed inside her mind in an instant as she remembered what had happened. In her shock, Schala sat up abruptly and immediately collapsed back onto the weak and uncomfortable bed as strength abandoned her.

Schala breathed deeply, calming herself as her memories flowed slowly into her conscience, providing her with understanding on her situation. She remembered now… the attempt on the sorceress, the battle and the painful outcome. Her hands moved, as quickly as she could make them, over her chest, where the ice spear had impaled her torso.

My wound…Schala wondered as her hands found no remnants of the deadly injury. Frowning, she strained to sit up enough so that she could glimpse at where she had felt the icicle hit.

No wound…? She wondered in surprise as no trace whatsoever of it ever being there was present in her abnormally pale skin. Schala kept staring as the lack of damage contradicted her weakness. But her paleness explained it somehow…

I lost a lot of blood... I still haven't recovered fully from the loss… She reasoned, but her injury – or lack there of – still disturbed her.

Only the Sorceress could have healed such a deadly wound leaving no trace, after all even a less serious cut on her forehead had left such a scar…

But why…? Why would she save her…?

Her thoughts reeled back to her last conscious moments when bright sea-green eyes locked on her slowly dying ones. Her eyes narrowed. Seifer had just stood there, watching as her life slowly left her with the Sorceress next to him, leering down at her. Though she remembered noticing the old intensity in his eyes, he had still just stood there and did nothing but watch her die.

Anger, not only for his abandonment but also for the whole situation invaded her as she strained to stand up, having to support herself on the walls of her rather small cell.

"Damn you, Seifer!" She cursed out loud and in that instant, the cage moved.

It trembled considerably as the sound of gears and metal moving over metal let itself be heard within her tight confinement. Schala leaned completely against the wall for balance and just as it seemed to stop, it moved again, this time sliding off its previous spot as the mechanical arm pulled it over to the centre of the structure, a deep, empty round pit that reached from the higher levels to its bottom.

The arm dragged the cage onto a type of elevator that once the cell was secure, began to rise.

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"What, what… was that loud noise?" Sorphan asked as their thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the thunderous sound of the moving cage above them.

So loud had been the upstairs' commotion, they hadn't even noticed as a group of about four guards stepped inside their cell, two of them standing by the threshold with their weapons at the ready as the other two stepped forward towards the teens.

"That was the sound of your friend being lead to the torture room." One of the men, a tall one with unattractive features and messy, short brown hair, said once he approached.

Our friend…? They all inquired to themselves, unsure as to get their hopes too high. Was it Inara or Schala? And whoever it was, how and where was the other one? However the word that mostly caught Rian's attention was "torture". Either one that could be on her way to be tortured, couldn't be good.

"Yeah, tortured…" The other man added, swinging a baton on his hands. "It's what's expecting you as well…"

"That's right…" The first man spoke again as the four teens straightened up. "And we're here to soften you up a bit…" He added as he approached them even more, drawing a baton himself as he stepped up menacingly.

Zanya bit her lower lip as the guys tensed. She could easily take care of the guards, no problem there, however… she might not reach the other two before they'd start shooting. Not without her GFs that she hadn't been able to contact since she had awoken, problem shared by her companions.

It seemed they would have to endure the abuse for a while…

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Schala had just adapted to the cell's constant trembling when it suddenly stopped raising, remaining hanging for a few seconds before it moved again, this time sideways. The young woman was already having great difficulties remaining standing when the cage stopped again and dropped a couple centimetres off the ground.

She was completely thrown off her footing, stepping back in a vain attempt to regain her balance but failing and falling backwards towards the door to the cell. Said door opened suddenly, leaving nothing but empty space behind her.

That space was quickly filled by someone as, instead of falling onto the hard, cold floor as she expected, Schala collapsed over "something" soft and warm. Strong arms grasped around her waist, preventing her from falling onto the floor and causing her to lean her body further against her benefactor.

"Quite the welcome!" His teasing voice came from behind her, making her tense slightly.

Schala angled her head back in order to see his face, her weak body making her doubt her recognition of the male voice.

"Seifer…?!" She wondered lowly and weakly as her eyes caught his and the acknowledgment was completed.

Seifer cringed ever so slightly at the sound and sight of her debilitated form. She had sounded so weak, so out of character that hadn't Seifer been currently looking at her deep blue-grey eyes, he would've doubted it was the same person.

Something inside him clenched tightly at that sound…

But his momentarily lapse went unnoticed by the guards that watched them from outside the cell as he – apparently – recovered from it quickly and stepped further inside the cage, pushing her in front of him.

"Leonhart, you look pitiful." He added as he turned her around, her condition making it impossible for her to resist him.

Their eyes locked, her weak blue barely opened as his bright sea-green seemed half-amused.

Pushing her further, Seifer pinned Schala against the wall. One of the hands that held her rose to take a hold of her head as he leaned closer.

"I'm going to enjoy this…" He whispered in her ear, leaning closer.

Schala didn't even have time to register or react to his words as he suddenly grabbed her head and smacked it against the wall, knocking her out.

Seifer still held her unconscious body up for a second, looking intensely at her before letting her collapse over the small bed. Her inactive body bounced on the hard mattress as he turned towards the exit of her cell.

"Take her." He ordered the guards that immediately motioned a small group of short, red and orange, furry creatures that rushed inside.

The Moombas surrounded the brunette, lifting her up and carrying her out of the metal cage, following in after the soldiers and the Knight.

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Inara was now very close to the prison facility so that she could make out its entire structure. The large, triple drill system was already half buried into the ground and continued its descent, forcing the red headed sharpshooter to stop the car she was driving.

A thick cloud of sand rose and spread as the drills buried deep within the Earth, while Inara waited for the chance to enter the construction, waiting for it to settle down completely.

As she observed the elaborate procedure, her mind wondered on what she was about to do…

Going in, getting Rian and coming out, leaving the rest of them to their fate. That idea was more than uncomfortable to her. They all meant so much to her, her long lost friends that against all odds found their way back to her only so she could now lose them all over again. That just wasn't right!

But what can I do…? She asked herself for the thousand time, as she leaned back in her seat. I'm just one person, I can't possible break them all outta there on my own… I just can't! She sighed out in defeat.

Even her GFs remained silent during all her inner turmoil. The woman wasn't used to not being alone, and their interference would only confuse her more.

She sighed heavily again, conformed but unhappy with the result of her inner discussion as the dust cloud cleared and the base finally settled down completely, allowing her access to the inside. Starting her engine once again, Inara advanced with caution but speed towards the now open door that would lead her within the large base.

She wanted to get that darn mission over as quickly as possible.

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Schala opened her eyes slowly, cringing at both the weakness and headache she felt, but also at the strain of the odd position she found herself in. Opening her eyes fully, the brunette strained to be able to see her surroundings. She was no longer in the cramped cell, she was now in a larger room that possessed a few consoles and several odd apparatus which felt strangely familiar.

Trying to move, the SeeD suddenly realised the reason behind her increased discomfort. She was chained to the metal wall behind her by her hands, stretched to the sides, and her ankles bound together in a way she could barely touch the ground with the tips of her boots. She remained disarmed, as she was, and someone had removed her jacket, it being discarded onto the floor.

Schala struggled in vain to get free but, not only was she unsuccessful – the bounds were resistant and tight and she was still not completely recovered, not to mention she could not access the strength, power or conscience of her GFs – but her attempts attracted the attention of the room's other occupants.

Seifer turned away from the group of guards, among them one in different uniform, and approached her position with that ever annoying smirk on his face. His eyes, not for the first time, coursed the length of her body as if examining it. His smirk grew as her characteristic frown deepened. Some things never changed.

"I'm sure you know what happens now." He said as he stepped close to her, closer than what she felt comfortable with.

But then again, nothing about her current situation was very comfortable anyways...

"... What do you want?" She inquired with her eyes narrowed in warning of his advances. She disliked him being that close.

As if knowing her discomfort, which he did, he stepped closer even. Seifer raised his hands and rested them on each side of her form as he leaned forward.

"... You..." He whispered in her ear, making a chill run up her spine as her eyes widened slightly.

She could almost feel him smirking in the second before he stepped away, showing her his – indeed – smirking face.

"I want some information from you..." He elaborated, his smirk never leaving his face. "I want to know..."

Seifer's pause made Schala look at him intently in anticipation.

"... Why did SeeD attack the Sorceress?" He asked, causing the girl to frown.

Why? She thought about it. It was just a mission... a joint mission from Balamb and Galbadia Gardens...

"Well?" Seifer insisted, seeing her pensive state and consequently, drawing her out of it. "Why did you attack Sorceress Edea?"

Schala still didn't answer, focusing back on the blond's face. We're mercenaries... there's only one reason why we'd try to kill anyone...

"There must be more to it..." Seifer started again as if he had read her mind, never leaving his now hateful eyes from the brunette's. "There's a reason why you would go to such extremes to kill the Sorceress... Tell me!"

Schala still didn't understand. The Sorceress was a threat and they were ordered to assassinate her. There wasn't that much to it.

"Why does Garden want the Sorceress dead? Why send SeeD to spy and kill her... what is your endgame?" He stressed, his tone raising as his anger grew.

Endgame? We don't have an endgame... The sorceress is a threat... She reasoned, not understanding the course of the questioning.

"There was a mission briefing, I'm sure..." Seifer continued, his anger somewhat subsided. "In it they must have told you more... the why of the assassination... the reason behind it and the use of SeeDs for it..." He paused for a moment, a strange glow in his eyes as he focused on her once more. "The true purpose of SeeD."

True purpose? What the f...? We're mercenaries, Elite mercenaries and combat experts... true purpose...?!?

"You're a SeeD..." She started but his laugh cut her short.

"I'm a Knight!" He yelled out, stepping closer to her in a jump so that his face was mere centimetres away from hers.

Schala resisted flinching from his bold move, showing no remnants of fear as they kept their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills.

"I was hoping you'd see it, Leonhart..." His tone changed in an instant, returning to the mocking manner she had known of him all her life. "So... how'd I look in my moment of triumph?"

Her narrowed eyes gave him the notion she wasn't reaching his point, so he leaned closer to whisper in her ear as she, instinctively, tried to move away, impossible due to her restraining.

"Being a Sorceress' Knight." He clarified, with a smirk she knew was there even as she couldn't see it. "My childhood dream, finally fulfilled..." Seifer continued, his voice failing him a bit on the end.

His smirk vanished and a frown adorned his features for a moment as something felt a bit off and Schala felt it too, somehow.

His dream... His... romantic dream was to become a Sorceress' Knight...? Schala wondered, thinking back on that event during their SeeD Exam at the entrance of the Dollet's Communication Tower. Considering she had no way of knowing what his dream was – after all he failed to tell her – something inside her didn't think that was it.

Seifer's momentary confusion lifted as he shook his head slightly and stepped back to a position where he could see her face again. The movement snapped Schala from her musings as she refocused her narrowed eyes on his, again, smirking ones.

"Yes, a Knight!" He said as if reassuring it to himself, reforming his resolve. "And as my Sorceress' Knight I must do her biding and she wants to know..." He paused as he leaned dangerously close to her face, making the young woman lean against the wall till the back of her head could go no further. "She wishes to know why does Garden plot against her... So tell me... What is SeeD's endgame?"

"There's no such thing." She finally answered him. To all truth for all she knew, there wasn't... but even...

"And if there were... would you tell me...?" Seifer questioned as if, once again he had read her mind. His smirk reformed as he already knew her answer.

"Not a chance!" She firmly replied, to which he laughed again.

"Didn't think you would... not as easily, at least." He stated, looking to the side towards the man in different uniform that had approached one of the consoles to Schala's right.

The brunette frowned as she hadn't notice his movements and seriously disliked the sadistic expression and vibe she got from that man.

"You were always a tough-nut-to-crack... stubborn to a fault..." Seifer continued, refocusing her attention on him. Wonderful quality, I must add... He thought as he stared at her.

"Let's see if this can break ya..." He thought out loud as he signalled the other man.

With a truly sadistic smile, the man moved some valves and levers. His disturbing, dark eyes turned towards Schala, looking at her with an intense and upsetting feeling of lust and cruelty. Then he pressed a button which was blinking on the panel in front of him.

Not even a second later, Schala felt a slight trembling in her fingers and then a massive electrical current coursed through her.

"ARRRRGHHHH!!!..." She cried out as her body was thrown into frenetic and uncontrollable spasms. It felt like she had been hit by a powerful thundaga, and she lacked the elemental protection of her GFs.

The shocking pulse lasted mere seconds that felt like hours of harsh torture. Schala felt even more tired than she had been before as it had taken all her strength just to keep her consciousness.

Seifer watched as she breathed harshly and deeply, winded by the initial shock. But more would follow...

"Well... are you going to talk now?" He asked as he looked at her attentively.

Schala recovered, somewhat, and raised her head slowly. Her stormy blue-grey eyes set on sea-green ones with a defiant and deadly glare. The harshest and most filled with emotion than Seifer had ever seen, which caused in him a mix of fear, excitement and lust. Also, with that look her answer was more than evident.

"Didn't think so..." He commented as he signalled the man again and again, high voltage coursed through her body, making her scream again despite her attempts not to.

The strain to her body, the pain was just too much and when it stopped she was gasping for air. Schala tried to focus on something else but the interrogation and the hurting that enveloped her entire form, just like she had been taught in Garden, but under such strain she found it hard to.

A few moments passed as Seifer allowed her to recover some. He didn't want it to end too quickly.

"Even if you don't talk, the others will..." He said in order to draw a reaction from her.

Well, it worked. Schala raised her head immediately, her eyes slightly widened as she stared at Seifer's annoyingly smirking face.

Th... They're...

"... They're... all here...?" She finished out loud, her voice failing as the pain and soreness would not go unnoticed.

Seifer's smirk seemed to grow to unreal proportions as he paced a bit to the side, always keeping the brunette in the corner of his eyes, watching her as she followed his movements.

"Oh, you bet." His mind wandered through the faces of the other prisoners. "The instructor... I'm gonna have fun with that one..." His sadistic thoughts were now entertaining the idea of bringing the annoying instructor to his knees... starting by cutting his ridiculous long hair...

"That tall courier-boy... Oh, yeah! Scaredy-cat, HAH! She wouldn't last 3 seconds!" He indulged once more with mental images of the martial artist squirming in pain.

"And that pretty-boy..." He paused as, with the young man's face flashing in his mind, another image formed...

The ball, Schala leaning against a column... a guy approaching her... taking her to the dance floor... them dancing together...

"Ohh..." His smirk changed there, making Schala shiver in anticipation. She really didn't like that look on his face, so much it kinda scared her.

Then he turned to face her, and that smile, a truly evil smile bothered her tremendously. He stepped closer, never taking his eyes, full on lust and anger, from her.

"He's that pretty boy from the dance, ain't he?" He asked and Schala was so caught by surprise that her widened eyes gave him all the answer he needed.

Seifer's smile grew even more disturbing as he inched closer to her face.

"Oh, yeah! I'm really going to enjoy this..." He said to her lowly, basking in her widened and surprised eyes before suddenly turning around and facing the guards.

"You there!" He called out, making the men stand in attention. "Go down to the prisoners and bring me the Pretty-boy!" He ordered, making the men salute before hesitating.

"What?" He demanded.

"Humm... which one...?" One of them asked, confused as to how distinguish from the three men in the jail cell he referred to.

Seifer sent the man an angry glare at the question, though such query did make some sense. His fury passed as he focused back on the brunette, with his smirk returning when faced with her – still – widened eyes.

"It's the one with the jet-black hair..." He said and immediately two of the guards saluted and exited the room to perform his orders.

Meanwhile, Knight and SeeD kept their staring contest.

"Seifer..." Schala let out, in both warning and request. Knowing they were alive and, relatively well was enough for her. She didn't want him to torture any of the others, especially Rian that wasn't a SeeD and, not only had he not the training to resist or withstand torture, but couldn't possibly know anything more about SeeD than she did.

"Because I like you so much, I though you should be first..." He said just for her as he was now, and again, extremely close to her, resting his hands on the wall next to her.

"But I'm really going to enjoy this..." He continued with a truly masochist tone and expression, making the woman wonder if the true purpose of SeeD was the only reason why he'd want to question, and torture Rian.

"The fun's just getting started... Leonhart..."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"... Cure!" Sorphan cast within the prison cell in an attempt to heal the injuries caused by the guards mere minutes before.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Zanya wailed as for the fifth time already, the spell failed causing her body to sting all over instead of healing the minor injury.

"Sorry..." Sorphan apologized, sitting back in defeat.

"It's no use." Quentin concluded as his own attempts had failed. "There must be some kind of anti-magic field surrounding us." To prevent escapes, no doubt... He finished in thought. Getting out of there was going to be even more complicated than he had originally thought.

"Major bummer..." Sorphan let out, staring to a particularly ugly bruise on his arm. The guards were so mean, beating them up with their batons when they knew they couldn't fight back. Sorphan didn't know how long they would withstand that abuse before knocking them all out cold.

His bright emerald eyes focused on Zanya, who was half lying on the floor, supported by her elbows. She had been the one to receive the most punishment, especially due to her inability to suppress her instinct to resist the mistreatment, revealing several cuts and bruises all over, and a particular ugly one on her right cheek.

Rian remained sitting against the wall, his thoughts abstract of his surroundings as they tried to focus on other things. He had no thoughts of escapes, however. He knew the reputation of that prison and not even the SeeDs could break out on their own. His musings were now on everything that had happened in the past few days, mostly on the trouble his rash actions had placed them all in. But not knowing the fate of the absent companions were the thoughts that most haunted him. That Schala could have died because of him was an unbearable idea.

All the teens' musings ceased when there was a hard knock on the door.

"Meal time!" The guard outside cried out as he opened the door and a reddish furry creature entered the cell.

The teens stared as the short Moomba walked clumsily on two legs, carrying a tray with a few bowls of – probably inedible – soup and pieces of hard bread for them to eat. Not even Zanya was looking particularly forward to such a meal, but either fortunately or unfortunately, she never had a chance to taste the food as the creature tripped over its own feet and tumbled, spreading the tray's contents all over the jail's floor.

Not even Zanya mourned the loss of the food.

"What was that noise!?" The guard inquired, entering the room as the Moomba wailed slightly. "You again!?" He cried out in disgust as the creature flinched at the man.

"Clumsy beast!" He insulted, kicking the Moomba so it fell again to the floor. He still kicked the poor creature a couple of times, under the disgusted eyes of the teens, before Zanya stood up with a jump and approached the man.

"Yo... Who the fuck do you think you are?" She said more than asked, her tone not the explosive characteristic of hers but low and threatening. And seriously scary.

"Yeah! Stop that!" Sorphan added in, him also just seconds away from saying something to stop the abuse.

The other two young men also stepped up, making the man flinch and suddenly realise he hadn't brought back up that time. As panic seeped over him, a new sound from outside the door called everyone's attention.

"Hey, Miles man, where are ya?" Someone called out and the guard immediately took his cue to rush towards the door.

The teens stared in silence at the missed chance to smack the mean guy around, but a laugh from behind them broke their line of thought. Quentin, Rian and Zanya turned around and saw Sorphan laughing his ass off.

The brunet raised his eyes slowly, tears in the corner of his eyes, facing the others' curious and confused expressions.

"Miles…" He started between laughs. "… His name's Miles… Hahahahah" He added, resuming his uncontrollable laughter as the others could only stare.

Their attentions were drawn to the entrance again as three guards, the mean guy Miles among them, returned to the inside of the cell, weapons up and ready to handle any resistance. Looking at the guards face, a new wave of hilarity almost overcame Sorphan as he struggled to fight it.

"Ok, back off you scoundrels!" One of the other guards ordered and at gunpoint, they couldn't do nothing else but obey.

The two new guards looked over each of the teens, resting their eyes on Rian in the end.

Jet black hair… that's the one! They both thought as one of them stepped closer.

"You there, come with us!" He ordered, signalling Rian who widened his eyes in response.

The others were quick to react, standing in front of the raven haired young man. But the guards weren't impressed as they raised their weapons threateningly.

"Do not resist or you'll be shot!" The one that stayed behind ordered, Miles batting his baton on his free hand. "You with the black hair, step up and come with us without a fight." He paused for a moment. "Or we'll kill your friends and you'll come with us anyway!" He added calmly, solely making the teens tense further and unwavering their resolve.

As no one moved in the following seconds, they cocked their weapons halting the teens' intentions but still, they wouldn't give Rian up easily.

"I'll go with you." Rian said without hesitation, making the others turn rapidly towards him in disbelief.

"Rian… What are you doing?!?" Quentin asked lowly and would have continued had he not interrupted.

"I won't get anyone else hurt because of me…" He silently replied, walking between his newly found friends and towards the guards.

"Good…" One of them said, before both raised their weapons as Zanya stepped up.

"Waddya doing to him, you bastards!?" She couldn't stop but ask.

Her only answer was a gun against her chest. The man's trigger finger twitched as it seemed ready to pull it, but Rian interjected.

"Stop it!" He strained. "I said I'll go!" He insisted so that the matter would end there.

Zanya and the guard were locked in a staring match, one the blonde martial artist eventually forfeit as she stepped back, her eyes focusing on the raven haired as he gave her, and the others, a reassuring smile.

The guard kept his stance, though.

"C'mon, Ben, let it go." The other guard told him as he grabbed Rian by the arm to lead him away.

"Fine!" 'Ben' said after a few seconds, lowering his weapon and stepping back as well. "Let's go." He let out as he and his companion moved towards the door.

The mean guard stayed behind for a couple of seconds more, looking at his prisoners with a superior expression.

"You'll get yours as well… and soon." He stated as he turned towards the exit as well.

"Yeah, yeah…" Zanya commented, waving her hand dismissively. "Just get outta here… Miles…" She added with a mocking smile, causing Quentin to shake his head and throwing Sorphan into a laughing fit.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"You there, what is your business here?" The guard stationed at the parking lot of the prison called as a truck that had just passed the checkpoint, stopped right in front of him.

The door opened and out came a young red headed woman, wearing a long, light brown coat, cowgirl boots and a really short skirt. Inara walked over to the man, who was completely dazzled and taken back from her appearance, thinking that he would finally get lucky.

"Howdy!" She greeted, using all her charm and seduction to make him putty in her hands.

The guard couldn't even formulate one word as she walked slowly over to him, leaning against another parked military truck before relaying her intentions.

"I'm here to pick up a prisoner..." She told him, her husky tone keeping the man completely entranced and barely able to register her words. "I was informed he was brought in yesterday..." She added, looking at him with a sensual intensity.

"Humm... Yeah..." The man started, finally finding his voice as his military character momentarily overcame his manhood. "Yesterday's prisoners are to be interrogated. I'm afraid I can't surrender any of them to you without further orders." He informed, though his expression seemed to suggest there was something she could give him that would change his resolve.

Inara had to suppress a laugh at the man's obvious innuendo. Well, he wasn't extremely ugly but he wasn't particularly handsome either besides, he wasn't her type. Furthermore, Inara had no intention of prolonging this interaction more than she needed to, and this time she didn't have to.

"I have them right here." She said, reaching slowly inside her coat and retrieving the envelope she had received from the Congresswoman and handed it over to the guard. "You'll find everything you'll need in there." She added, though the look in his face indicated he somewhat doubted it.

It might have everything he needed, but certainly not everything he wanted, crossed his mind as he checked the contents. His eyes widened considerably as, in addition to a photograph of a raven haired young man, the prisoner most likely, were around one million gil in really large bills, ones he had never known existed less alone laid his eyes on.

Inara strained to hide her smirk. If there were two things that would sway a man's resolve, it was a hot booty, or a lot of money. This time it seemed to be the latter. However, Inara's smile faltered as the guard raised his head and there was still wanting in his eyes. This man was beginning to annoy her...

"These are important prisoners... I'm gonna need more than this to allow the transfer..." He said and the "more" was more than obvious.

Maybe she shouldn't have come out at him that strongly, then maybe he'd stick solely with the money...

"Oww... that's very unfortunate..." Inara wailed falsely, but convincingly, and this time it was the guard's grin that faltered.

The sharpshooter wasn't willing to do more to the man than she absolutely had to and she was more probable to knocking him out than to do what he wanted. Besides, she still had a trick up her sleeve... the third thing that allows one to get their way...

"Now I gotta go back to Congresswoman Caraway and tell her you didn't let me get her son back..." She paused as she saw his reaction to her words – the one she expected – to slowly creep into his features.

The third thing that allows one to get their way... fear of the powerful and influential ones...

The Congresswoman's reputation was known throughout Galbadia and it wouldn't be long now before he'd be doing her biding as his former lust was rapidly replaced with panic and fear...

"That would make her angry..." She added, fear carefully impersonated in her voice and demeanour. "You wouldn't like her when she's angry..." She finished, suppressing a smile as the man lost all colour.

Inara turned around with a disappointed and gloomy expression, as though it was the last time she'd see the man, and started walking over to her car really slowly. Inwards, she counted backwards, expecting, waiting for it...

… 3… 2… 1…

"Wait!" She smiled wider as he called, replacing it immediately with an oblivious expression as she turned to acknowledge him.

"Yes?" She feigned ignorance.

"I'll get him for you... for the Congresswoman! I'll... I'll think of something!" He blurted out, though at the moment his mind was blank as to how he'd do it.

The only thoughts running through his mind was of what Congresswoman Caraway would do to him if he didn't release her son... best case scenario, he'd end up patrolling the northern Trabia Continent's facilities alone and on foot... best case scenario...

"Oh, that would be great!" Inara eagerly replied, laughing heartily inside her head, accompanied by Minotaur's loud laugh.

"Alright... wait here!" He told her as he clumsily rushed away, deeper inside the facility.

"Right here!" She confirmed when, in his hurry, he could no longer hear her.

Her laugh echoed within the parking lot once she was certain he was out of earshot. That had been fun and had imbedded in her a pleasant feeling of victory.

But then the warm, happy feeling was replaced by sadness as she remembered the implications of her actions and mission. She could save one, but was condemning the others.

And there was nothing she could do...

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Jim cursed inwardly over the pickle he found himself in. On one side, going behind his superior's back as to release one of the prisoners that had participated on the attack on the Sorceress, the new sheriff in town, was a really bad career move. However, going against a congressman, ESPECIALLY Congresswoman Caraway who was by far one of the most influential, didn't seem like a smart move either.

He was between a sword and a hard place, so he chose the hard place. It took him about 10 seconds to decide on the Congresswoman's favour over the other. Besides, with some luck, no one would even miss that particular prisoner.

As Jim entered the prison sector of the complex – his mind reeling in on possible excuses to remove the prisoner in question from his cell – he barely registered his surroundings. He walked with his eyes on the floor, descending the steps out of that drill's control room and nearing the interrogation room.

"C'mon, move it!" A guard ahead of him ordered someone, drawing Jim out of his thoughts as he observed the scene.

He immediately recognized Ben and Stuart as they were pushing a raven haired young man towards the interrogation room, while carrying a large red weapon-like object.

"Knight Almasy is expecting you..." He added suggestively, an evil, smug smile on his face that made Jim freeze in his spot in recognition.

His hands went to his uniform's pocket to retrieve the envelope and the picture in it. There was no mistaking it, the young man in the photo and the prisoner being lead to the interrogation room – that for all intents and purposes was referred to as the torture room – were one and the same. His eyes rose once again to the door where the three men had disappeared into...

Oh, crap...

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Hah, our honour guest has arrived! Welcome!" Seifer greeted with an obvious mocking tone as he stared down at the new arrival with a truly wild grin and anger deeply buried in his stare.

Rian was suddenly invaded by a deep dread, but he strained as to not give the blond the satisfaction that he was scared outta his mind. Something about the Knight's demeanour gave him a really, REALLY bad feeling...

"Hey Leonhart!" He added as he momentarily turned his back on him. "Look who's here!" He told someone as he motioned the guards to bring him closer and further inside the room, one of them using Rian's own weapon to push him inside.

Rian widened his eyes at the mention of that name. It can't be... can it...? He couldn't stop but wonder as he was shoved inside the room and, chained up to the wall, was someone he feared he'd never see again.

"Schala..." He called lowly, fearing his eyes were playing tricks on him.

But his imagination could never recreate that deep blue-grey stare that looked at him with a mixed sense of relief and concern. The emotion in those most beautiful eyes always made him feel as he could easily lose himself in them.

"Hah, what a happy reunion..." Seifer's rancorous tone echoed in the room, stripping Rian of the warm and happy feeling he gained from seeing the brunette woman alive again.

Rian focused on the blond then, his face more dangerous than ever as he removed his black leather gloves and stuffed them in his coat's pocket.

"Let's get down to business, shall we...?" Seifer said out loud as he once again approached Rian.

All attentions were locked on the Knight and the new prisoner, so much no one noticed as one of the guards discarded the strange bended red board on to a corner, nor as another guard entered the room.

"Well now..." Seifer started again and as Rian was expecting some sort of question, he was unprepared for the hard punch to the stomach that followed.

His lungs seemed to have been yanked out through his throat as he felt immediately winded, falling to his knees as he gasped for air. His eyes stung and watered as they loss focus momentarily and for a second there, he actually feared he'd lose consciousness.

Schala fought to get free but the chains were too tight, the sound making Seifer turn his head towards her. His face was frightening, wild and completely out of control. Schala had never seen him like that...

The blond Knight's attention refocused on Rian as this one seemed to recover somewhat. He had to restrain himself... he didn't want it to end too soon... he thought with a smile as he lifted the other man to his feet, pushing him against the wall with a grunt.

"Hmm... let's wipe that pretty-boy's face off, shall we?" He suggested, making Rian's eyes widen considerably.

Why's this guy so angry with me...? He wondered as Seifer punched him in the face, hard. Rian felt like he'd been hit by a truck, making the strength of his legs falter but he didn't fall as Seifer kept him up against the wall.

He punched him again and again and Rian already felt blood pouring from his cheek and lips. Still he didn't understand this punishment... he wasn't even asking him any questions.

The abuse continued under the entertained eyes of the guards, one of which didn't seem too happy though, and Schala's. She could almost feel each strike taken against the raven haired as the sound of each hit echoed in the room. She cringed as with a new kick, Rian fell back to the floor, Seifer finally letting him fall.

He was a mess. Hair and clothes in disarray, face, arms, and most likely chest, full of bruises and even cuts from the violent beating. She didn't know how much longer Rian could withstand such punishment...

"Get up! I'm not finished with you, yet!" Seifer ordered as, when Rian didn't comply, he started kicking his lying form.

"Seifer! Stop it!" Schala couldn't hold it any longer. Anymore and the young man would not only lose consciousness, he could die from internal bleeding.

Seifer stopped mid kick, his face unreadable as he set his foot down and turned his head towards the brunette. Schala shivered. That blank stare, deprived of emotion disturbed her even more than his earlier wild one.

"So..." He started, his voice dangerously low. "... You'd scream for him..." He added, his voice rising a bit on the end as he kicked him again gaining a weak grunt.

Abandoning and apparently forgetting all about Rian, Seifer started walking slowly towards Schala. His eyes started to reveal another type of madness. A mixture of anger, envy, lust, wanting... desire... one very similar to the one he'd carried that night on the ballroom's balcony but this time, ten times more intense...

He stepped closer, almost to the point that their bodies touched as he rested his hands on the wall behind her. He leaned closer, his face millimetres from hers as he whispered in her ear.

"Will you scream for me, now...?" He asked, making her tremble not only for his closeness or words, but mostly on the tone they were spoken on.

.

Rian recovered part of his strength and tried to move just enough so that he could see what was going on. He wasn't being hit anymore, so what was going on? He strained and managed to lift his head enough to see ahead of him. His eyes widened as Seifer was practically on top of Schala and a deep anger and frustration of not being able to do anything invaded him.

.

"What are you talking about?" Schala hastily countered, almost without thinking. He was WAY too close, she just wanted him farther away from her.

Seifer leaned off a bit so that he could look into her eyes and though she silently thanked him for that – his breath tickling her neck was driving her insane – she didn't appreciated his next move. His right hand left the wall as it started tracing her body, making her tense on contact.

His bare hand moved down her back and into the front, descending further onto the split of her skirt and to her thigh. Schala had to close her eyes, biting her lower lip as her body involuntarily leaned forward. She was deeply invaded with a feeling she didn't recognize and couldn't control. She couldn't think and her body seemed to have a mind of its own.

Seifer's hand left her leg and her body almost seemed to mourn the loss of contact. His hand then rested on her face, caressing her cheek as, once again without Schala wanting, her head leaned in to the touch.

Seifer was stunned by her reaction. He didn't expect that at all. Was it a trick? Didn't seem so, at least... he hoped not. Straightening her head, Seifer leaned closer again, his eyes focusing on her dark red lips for a second before locking into her closed eyes. He leaned his forehead against hers, basking in her scent before he spoke tenderly.

"Join me..." He asked and Schala didn't react at first almost as she hadn't heard him.

"Leonhart… Join me at my Sorceress' side…" He repeated and this time, Schala seemed to have heard him.

At the word Sorceress, Schala snapped out of it, her mind suddenly overcoming the weakness of her body towards Seifer's gentle touches. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, careful as to not show she was back in control of herself.

She leaned her head as if asking him to elaborate and as before, he seemed to read her mind.

"Sorceress Edea spared your life… she knows how strong you are!" He explained, confirming Schala's doubts that the Sorceress had been responsible for the healing of her injury. "I'm sure that if I ask her, she'll let you join us… join me…" He added, the meaning of the "join me" bit obvious to her.

After all, his hitting on her and the lust he felt for her were no secret and he had never attempted to hide those particular desires either. Schala might have been confused at times towards his advances but one thing was clear on her mind. She'd never join the murderous sorceress.

She leaned forward towards him, his surprise slowing his reaction as she whispered in his ear, her voice still weak and slightly breathless.

"Seifer…" Her breath ticked in his ear, making him close his eyes expectantly. "The one chance you had with me…" She continued, still keeping him entranced that he didn't notice her slight change of tone. "Was when I was unconscious…"

Now the harshness of the tone on those last words woke him up and he leaned back, his surprised eyes locking on her narrowed, irate ones. She had played him just then and his surprise quickly turned to irritation. And irritation led to anger.

They kept in a silent stare battle for a few seconds before Seifer broke it with a strong slap to her face. Her cheek burned from the hard hit, indicator of just how irritated he really was.

When Schala rose her aching face back at him, his earlier grin was replaced by an angry sneer, effect enhanced by the deep fury in his eyes. He had stepped back before the hit but approached again, his hands to the wall as he leaned dangerously close, his eyes never tearing from hers.

"Well…" He said in a low, threatening tone. "Let's work on that then…" He added as he backed out again, still looking directly into her eyes as he stretched his arm to the side, towards the man near the torture console.

"Hit it!" He ordered and not a second later, Schala's screams filled the room as she was coursed with a strong electrical current, feeling as her blood boiled from the intensity of the high voltage.

"Stop it!" Rian cried out as, in a surge of adrenaline and frustration, he stood with a jump and tried to reach her or attack Seifer, one wouldn't be sure as he hadn't given two steps before one of the guards was knocking him down again.

The electricity stopped, with Schala still holding on to her consciousness as Seifer turned to the, again, lying form of the raven haired.

"Get him out of here!" He ordered, his tone and dangerous expression still revealing the angry state he was in. But now his focus lay solely on the brunette.

"I'll take him…" Jim told the other guards as Seifer was no longer listening, ordering another volt to course the hanging young woman.

"You sure?" Ben asked, looking down at the young man.

"Yeah, he's in no state to gimme trouble…" He tried to act cool and unworried as the opportunity of getting the kid outta there and into the hands of the woman waiting in the parking lot suddenly presented itself. He wouldn't get another one of these.

"I'll just take him back to his cell… no worries…" He rushed and suddenly feared he'd look too eager to get out of there with the young man. But luckily for him, the woman's screams dulled the others' senses as they just shrugged it off.

Nodding, Jim pulled the young man up and led him out of the room – Rian state allowing him to guide him without much resistance – picking up his strange red weapon on the way, and both left the room.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

It had been easier than he thought to carry the young man through the facility and towards the parking lot. Strangely enough, no one had asked what he was doing carrying a half-conscious boy throughout the premises.

Jim thanked for his good fortune as he successfully and without any confrontation, reached his destination with his cargo in one piece… or almost.

"Oh my Hyne, what the hell happened to him?" Inara inquired in true shock and surprise as she rushed toward the two men, immediately relieving the weight of the raven haired off the guard as she then started leading him towards her car, checking his condition as they walked.

"In…ra…" He tried to say but she immediately shushed him as the guard was still in listening distance.

"It wasn't my fault, you gotta tell the congresswoman that!" Jim instantly tried to cover his own ass, though it was true it had not been his fault the young man was in such poor condition.

They had reached her car as Inara, gently, sat Rian on the passenger's, closing the door and looking at the guard with disbelief evident in her eyes. Seemed like all her innuendo had flown outta the window at the pitiful sight of her friend.

"It was the Knight, that Seifer Almasy guy that beat him up to a pulp, I had nothing to do with that!" He quickly explained.

"Seifer…" Inara wondered, her mind travelling back to the orphanage days and the little mischievous blond boy who was always hanging around the silent brunette…

So it was HIM at the parade, the Knight…He's joined with Sorceress Edea… Matron, does that meant Seifer remembers the old days too? She couldn't stop but wonder, it was either that or he was being controlled as well. With what she'd seen ever since this whole thing started, nothing surprised her much.

"So, you'll… you'll tell the Congresswoman I had nothing to do with the boy's beating?" Jim kept asking in panic as Inara rounded the car and opened the door to the driver's seat, only then raising her eyes to the nervous man.

"I… I actually saved him by pulling him out… will you tell her that?!?"

Inara stared at the man for a moment as she snatched Cardinal from the man's hands hand threw it to the back seat of the truck. Her eyes focused on the man once more as he was already half-way inside the car.

"A hero, huh…?" She said, making the man breath in relief as she entered the car, closed the door and started the engine.

As the man stepped back to give her manoeuvrability, she lowered her window and stuck her head out of it.

"I'll think about it!" She said and sped away before the man could say anything else, his colour once again abandoning him.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"ARRRRGHHHH!!!" Schala screamed as the unbearable electrical current coursed through her once more, her body falling limp only held by the shackles of her wrists.

"Still awake, are we?" Seifer started again, having resuming his pacing as he commanded the high voltage to traverse her again and again.

"Well now, Leonhart. I'll ask again." He added, stopping and standing in front of her as he used his right hand to lift her head.

"What is SeeD? And why do you oppose the sorceress?" He asked yet again as he kept his eyes on hers.

Schala could barely keep from fainting but still kept his stare. Still, she was confused by his questions, truly not knowing what he referred to as he inquired to the true purpose of SeeD or why they opposed the sorceress. She just didn't know…

"Sir Almasy…?" A guard called out as he entered the interrogation room, saluting as the blond Knight acknowledged his presence.

"What is it? Can't you see I'm busy?" Seifer spat back, but the guard remained unaltered as he relayed his message.

"Sir, the missiles targeted for the Garden are ready to launch." He informed.

Seifer's eyes glimmered as Schala's widened. Had she heard the man correctly? There were missiles targeted at Garden?

"Excellent…" Seifer commented, dismissing the guard in the process, who saluted and left the room.

Seifer then turned to Schala, the smirk returning to his features.

"Trabia and Balamb Garden are to be destroyed on charges of training SeeDs to oppose the sorceress

WHAT?!? Schala's eyes widened further, not believing the words coming out of his mouth. How could he do that? How could he destroy the only home either of them ever knew…?

"It's a pity, really. I grew up there too…" He sighed out, though his expression showed no sign of remorse or hesitation. "But orders are orders, and Edea wants it destroyed."

"NO!" Schala screamed, refusing to believe both: that they could destroy Garden and Seifer's callous attitude towards it. It was unthinkable in her head that Seifer could be acting on his own free will while saying those things… it just wasn't the Seifer she knew…

"But yes…" He replied, stepping closer to her again and such was her agitation regarding this matter, she didn't even react to his closeness.

"And after the Gardens are gone… the SeeD hunt will begin…" Schala's eyes widened even further, not believing… refusing to believe what she was hearing was coming from the man in front of her. "Starting with Galbadia Garden, I will hunt down every SeeD in the world… I will terminate everyone of your kind…" He added as he stood closer to her, the word "kind" said with such a poisonous tone it disturbed her.

Then he stepped back, turning to the man by the console.

"Continue with the interrogation." He ordered as the man stepped forward.

"Yes sir…" He said half-mockingly, half-serious as he looked at Schala's restrained form. His eyes were beyond disturbing, beyond disturbed as the raw lust reflected in them would be visible even to a blind person.

Seifer's smirk was forced as he approached the grinning man. Then in a fast and sudden move, Seifer grabbed the man by the throat, much to his surprise and the rest of the guards', and slammed him against the metal wall.

He leaned closer, his smirk turning to a dangerous sneer as he set his deadly glare at the man, certain he had his full and undivided attention.

"You touch her…" He warned but was interrupted.

"You'll kill me?" He completed, actually grinning back at him, either outta defiance or nervousness, no one could be sure.

Seifer let go a dry chuckle.

"Perhaps not… but when I'm done with you, you're gonna wish I'd killed you…" He emphasized, pushing him against the wall once more before releasing him, the man barely able to keep from falling down.

Sending one last warning look his way, Seifer turned to leave, but not without a last glance and a simple wave at the hanging brunette.

"You used to be a SeeD too…" She told him just before he fell outta earshot, making him stop by the threshold.

He just stood there for a couple of seconds then resumed his march without another word.

"Right then… let us continue…" The man in different uniform started, drawing everyone's attention as Schala turned her head towards him with narrowed eyes.

"You three… get out." He said simply, causing ht three other guards to look at each others.

"But he said…" One started but it was rudely and immediately cut off.

"I don't care what that kid says!" He spat out. "I prefer to make my interrogations… privately…" He commented, sharing a look her way as she frowned in response.

"Don't worry…" He said, no longer considering the soldiers and almost like he was talking to himself. "This bird will be singing in no time…" He added.

The three guards looked at each others again, unsure on what to do. After a moments' ponderings, they shrugged it off, commenting on something like "your funeral" and walked out of the room, thought they remained just outside the door.

"Well… now that we're alone… let's have some fun, huh?" He said and, without a warning, pressed the button on the console sending a new wave of high voltage coursing through her.

This time the charge lasted more than the previous times and Schala felt like she was being ripped to pieces. When it finally stopped, she could hardly breathe, gasping for air and barely registering as the man abandoned his position and neared hers.

"Such a pretty girl… what a waste…" He commented, without a hint of sorrow as he reached his hand to lift her face.

The young woman flinched visibly, pushing back against the wall till she could go no further, actually trembling in fear of his advances.

"Ohh, you shouldn't have done that…" He said as he inched closer and closer, leaning his face disturbingly closer to hers. "I love it when they do that…" He said as got even closer.

"Do what…?" Schala's voice came out surprisingly calm, as it was a totally different person that was just cowering in fear. So much was it unexpected, the man couldn't even react to her words. "Do this!" She added as, with the little space she had left, she balanced her head and smacked it hard against the unprepared man.

The man collapsed onto the floor, unconscious and with a broken nose and, most probably, pride. Schala shook her head. The blow had been hard on her too, but she had to make sure she'd knock him out.

Reorganizing her thoughts, Schala started pulling her right arm off the wall in an effort of releasing herself. She had noticed in her previous attempts that the right cuff was slightly looser than it should be and, with the right amount of pressure she was unsure to be able to gather, she might be able to get herself free.

She pushed and pulled her arm, almost dislocating it with a particularly clumsy pull, but she could feel the shackle giving in.

"Hey, man… what are you doing in there?" One of the guards asked from outside and, despite Schala's hopes, the men opened the door and re-entered the room.

"What the hell…?!?" The first one commented at the sight of the man splattered in the ground with a bloody nose and the woman struggling to get free.

He rushed towards Schala first and reached her just as, with a particularly painful jerk, she freed her hand, punching the man down as he got too close. As the other two hurried inside as well, she tried to release the other cuff but had to stop as a new electric current slammed against her.

Her screams echoed throughout the room and nearby floors as shock felt much more intense than before. The man with the bloody nose collapsed onto the ground near the console, after spiking up the voltage and pressing the button for an insanely long amount of time. The other two men had to pry the man from the controls before the woman was burned alive…

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Miles' coming!" Sorphan warned, this time not needing to suppress a laugh at the mention of the guard's name. His attention laid elsewhere.

"Alright! Everyone ready?" Quentin made the ready check and, receiving affirmative signs from the remaining occupants of the cell, they all prepared to fulfil their plan.

Miles walked calmly through the halls, doing his patrols of the floor in charged to him. Apart from some useless vagrants, there was a particular cell that held his interest, because it had a total of three prisoners in there but mostly due to the recent humiliation he'd passed there. He was bound to get his revenge.

Passing by said cage's door, he sneaked a peak over the small grated opening.

Inside, the two remaining males sat on the ground leaning against the wall, apparently just resting along with the Moomba that had remained inside after the last incident. The furry creature was lying on the floor.

Hitting the door with his baton in warning and to make his presence known, Miles started to walk away from the door when something hit him.

The door to the cell opened suddenly and abruptly as Miles bursted in, his baton in his hands and he pointed it towards the – apparently surprised by the intrusion – teens.

"Where's that other one?" He asked as he looked around the room and found no trace of the strange blonde chick with all the muscles and tattoos.

"Where's who?" Quentin feigned ignorance. Miles face was turning crimson with rage.

"The woman! Where's the woman?" He yelled out, getting angrier by the second that those two played dumb.

"There was a woman here? Where?!?" Sorphan played his role, looking around excitedly.

"Don't play games with me!" His tone grew in volume as he stepped further inside the cell, waving his baton around so that the others would keep their distance and not try anything. "She couldn't have gotten out! That's the only door out of here and it was locked, just as I left it! So she has to be here, WHERE IS SHE?!?" The guy was snapping as he stepped closer to the teens and the Moomba, deeper inside the holding room.

Just a bit more… They all thought.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Quentin added in his quiet and collected tone, not at all disturbed by his attitude.

"But… was there really a woman here? Where?! I didn't see her…" Sorphan put in, Miles was now as red a tomato, with all the blood rushing to his face.

"I think he might have imagined it… you know, being stationed here for a long time might have gotten him confused somehow… making him see things that aren't there…" Quentin whispered to the tall brunet, though it was more than loud enough for the guard to hear him.

"Ohh, right… so sad…" Sorphan replied, making a really convincing pity face that carried him over the edge.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU PLAYING AT?!" Miles yelled as he stepped forward.

Just one more step…

The guard had stepped within the central area of the cell and above him, almost glued to the ceiling, supported in the bars, hanged Zanya, smirking like mad and barely able to control her laughter on the situation. If he took much longer, she'd blow the whole thing.

"WHERE IS SHE?" Miles demanded, giving one more step towards them.

YES!!!

The two males stopped their acting and turned to him. Smiling, they simply pointed upwards gaining a truly confused look from the man.

"Right here, baby!" Her shout made him look up but it was too late.

The only thing he saw was Zanya falling on top of him, landing expertly over him and knocking him out in two seconds flat.

"Cool…" Sorphan commented, the squeak from the Moomba seemed to indicate the reddish creature agreed with him.

"Piece of cake!" Zanya cheered, standing over her unconscious victim.

"Ok… now we must stick to the plan… Zanya?" Quentin started again as he approached the door to check there weren't anymore guards.

"Right!" Zanya checked as she readied herself to leave the room.

Since the guards had taken Rian that the SeeDs started thinking up a plan to escape. After a few preposterous ideas, among them one that involved skinning the poor Moomba and use his skin as a costume to escape – Sorpan got pretty odd stares after that one, not to mention the furry creature now stood as far away as possible from the tall brunet – the best one thought up was of Zanya using her unarmed combat style to defeat the guard and retrieve the others' weapons. The fact that she was Wada in the dream world and that she worked there for a couple of hours also gave her the advantage.

"Ok… there's a storage room every four levels… I gotta check which level we're on, but either way your weapons should be nearby…" She reasoned, talking mostly to herself than to the others.

"Well, I'm off!" She reinforced, moving towards the exit.

Hearing a loud squeak from behind, the martial artist stopped to see the reddish creature approaching her and jumping up and down, as if trying to say something.

"Huh? What… you wanna go too?" Zanya thought and as she received another squeak and a happy jump in response, she assumed it did.

"Ahh…" She hesitated, but looking at the creature's big round dark eyes, she just couldn't say no. "I guess… Just don't get in the way!" She told it, receiving yet another happy hop in reply.

"Ok, let's get going!" She said again, moving out of the room followed by the shorter Moomba as they entered the wide circular hall under the supporting expressions of the two male SeeDs.

Zanya stepped out and immediately, after checking for guards, started looking for the indication for their floor. It didn't take her long to find a plaque which said "6th floor".

"Alright…" She whispered, facing the sign. "If we're on the 6th floor, it's most likely our weapons were stored on the 8th floor storage room…" She explained, now looking down at the Moomba. "Let's go!"

And they rushed, as silently as they could, towards the stairs leading up. Once they reached the 7th floor, there was no sign of any other guards. Zanya thought it strange at first but didn't complain much as, while always attentive to her surroundings, she made to rise to the next floor, the Moomba close behind her.

On the next floor, the 8th, their destination, again there was no sign of any guards. Now that was strange, there was usually one patrolling guard per level.

Maybe they're on break or something… She reasoned, but didn't ponder much on it since she still had a job to do.

Looking around the hall, she quickly found the storage room across from her, but the door was opened. Proceeding with the utmost caution, Zanya and the Moomba moved slowly towards the opened door.

Once they were close enough, they started hearing voices. Zanya raised her hand as a stop sign, motioning it then to indicate advancing slowly. The Moomba didn't fully understand her hand gestures, but still followed her lead.

Zanya inched near the threshold, now able to understand what was being said as she peaked inside the room.

"Look at this… SeeD weapons…" A guard commented as he looked down at a pile of items spread across the floor.

"Is this what they call a gunblade? That's a weird thing…" Another guard, one Zanya couldn't see from the boxes that cut her line of vision added.

They were ransacking the prisoners' belonging! But at least now she knew she was on the right track.

"Check these out, a whip, nunchaku…" The same man said, allowing Zanya to pinpoint his position from the sound he made.

Signalling the Moomba to stay behind, the martial artist sneaked inside the room, going around her many obstacles till she was near the caged area of the storage room, where their stuff was kept.

As the guards seemed busy with their looting, Zanya got out of hiding and walked slowly nearer to them. When they got aware of her presence, it was too late. She double kicked them in less than a second, throwing them off. She then punched one right in the face, knocking him down, turned and kicked the other one in the stomach. The man bended over in pain, till the woman smacked him in the back of his head, making him collapse on the floor.

"That was easy…" She commented as the Momba followed her in, his sharp eyes widened at the girl's skill. "Ok… now, to get these…" She added as she picked up the weapons and carried them as she could, wrapping the whip around her waist and strapping the gunblade and nunchaku on her back with the help of her long belt.

"Ok, ready…" She added, looking as the Moomba pounded on one of the guards happily. The creature then looked up at the young woman and, though she really couldn't tell, his expression seemed happy.

As if planned, the two of them leaned back and laughed heartily.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Yo, sorry to keep ya waitin'!" Zanya stated as she re-entered the cell where her friends and fellow SeeDs stood, the Moomba walking in behind her.

"Did you get the weapons?" Quentin asked, but his answer was quite clear as he took a good look at her.

"Did I get the weapons…" She replied with a smile as she reached for the accessories she carried and handed them over to their rightful owners, keeping the gunblade by her waist for when they found Schala.

"Cardinal wasn't there…" She mentioned the absence of Rian's weapon making them all wonder what exactly had happened to him…

"But if they had Schala's, it means she must be here somewhere, right?" Sorphan asked, hopeful she was alive.

"The guards mentioned an interrogation room…" Quentin started, and Zanya immediately picked up on it.

"There's an interrogation room on the top floor! About six floors up!" She quickly informed and a new sense of hope coursed through all of them.

"Let's go check it out, then!" Quentin instructed, receiving everyone's approval.

"Time to go kick some ass!" Zanya cheered, punching the air around her.

"Yeah!" Quentin added, cracking his whip and placing it in his belt, ready to use.

"Right on!" Sorphan put in, swinging his nunchaku expertly before replacing it in his back's holster

"Rghhh!!!" The Moomba cheered as well, getting along with their optimist mood.

But as they all prepared to leave, voices from outside made them halt and hold their breaths.

"Is this the room with the uncooperative prisoners?" A strong and strangely familiar voice, at least to Zanya and Sorphan, reached them.

"Yes, this is it." A new voice replied, this one sounding like one of the guards that had come in before to mess with them. "Please give'em something to complain about…" He added with an obvious mean tone.

"Should we be picking on prisoners so soon after gettin' transferred here, sir?" A new and also strangely familiar sounded.

"Just be quiet, and let me handle this!" The first voice added, obviously of a higher rank.

"Strange... the door's open…" The guard whispered. Miles must be messing with them again… he reasoned.

The SeeDs and the Moomba remained as silent as possible, still a bit stunned by the obstacle to their escape, they readied themselves for a possible battle.

"This way please, Lieutenant Biggs, Private Wedge." The guard added as the three men entered the room. A guard from the prison and two galbadian soldiers, one in red uniform and another in blue.

Biggs? Wedge? Both Sorphan and Zanya thought as they shared a look. Those names sounded so familiar and the scene at Dollet's Communication Tower suddenly flashed in their minds as they turned towards the galbadians.

The five men and Zanya just stood there for a couple a seconds, staring at each other as the recognition slowly registered in their brains.

"AAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Wedge, Biggs, Zanya and Sorphan cried out, to the surprise of the guard, who was more concerned with the fact that Miles was knocked out in a corner, and Quentin, who didn't understand what was going on.

After the initial shock passed, Biggs raised his weapon, a smirk on his face.

"S-So we meet again!" He started, glaring at the two teenagers that had given him so much trouble in his last assignment. "Now we'll teach you the lesson we should have taught you earlier! Too bad you're unarmed though… not very sporty…" He added, though he didn't seem too heartbroken that they were helpless.

But their untroubled expressions gave him a bad vibe, justified as the teens pulled out their weapons, and Zanya cracked her knuckles noisily.

"…" Biggs' next line was cut short as he saw that…

"Uh, they are fully armed, sir…" Wedge stated as it was the teens that sported the smirks now.

Biggs' eyes widened, hidden by his helmet he now thanked Hyne he had decided to keep on. He didn't quite understand what was going on, how they had their weapons, but…

"Ahh, the hell with it! Let's go Wedge!" He ordered and powered his weapon to attack with Wedge following his command and pulling out his sabre.

As they started, Zanya rushed to the, now, lieutenant and kicked his gun away, starting up a fist fight with the heavier man while Sorphan duelled Wedge.

Quentin rushed forward, chasing after the guard who was trying to escape. Cracking his whip, the blond instructor launched it forward, wrapping it around the man's throat and pulling him back and onto the floor. The man grunted, but he was still restrained. Quentin twisted his pulse and the man was send twirling and against the wall, collapsing backwards.

Meanwhile Zanya was gaining the upper hand in her battle. The man could pack quite the punch, but it was rather useless when he couldn't hit her. She supported her hands on the floor, raising her feet and kicking the man onto the floor, then she climbed on top of him and punched him hard and with a grunt, he no longer moved.

As for Sorphan, he had trapped Wedge's blade with the chain of his nunchaku and twirled it out of his hands. He then swung them with practiced skill and knocked him out upside the head.

After the battle ended, the teens regrouped, with the Moomba once again, pounding on the unconscious guard.

"You knew them?" Quentin asked, curious as to the little reunion.

"We ran in to them on the SeeD Exam…" Zanya provided, with Sorphan nodding behind her. "Looks like they got demoted, though…" She added with a whisper, smiling at their unconscious forms. It kinda always ended up like that.

"I see…" Quentin thought nothing of it, just a strange and unexpected event. "We need to get moving!" He added and all the others agreed.

But as the SeeDs and the Moomba left the room, there was movement among the fallen bodies. Biggs stirred with difficulty, reaching into his pocket to retrieve a small command.

"Don't you think you can just walk out…" he barely let out, pressing the button and fainting. "Ugh…"

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AN.: Heya… Hides…

Don't hit me, ok? I am SO sorry for the delay… did I mention school was evil? Well… it's worse than evil, it's… well, it's whatever is worse than evil…

I hope you liked this chapter, for all his length… I really enjoyed writing this "little" thing, especially since it's been on my mind almost since the beginning XD.

Kinda sad, ain't it… my story is little over a year old and it's still on the 25th chapter… sad… Oh well, I'll get it done… eventually…

Next, on Twisted Fantasy! Prison Break!! (Sorry girls, no Scofield ;P) Stay tuned!!

Many hugs and kisses to all my readers!!

Read ya later

Revir