Part Thirty Four

Last Train Home

Esthar City

By the time he got back to the palace Squall Leonhart was a man on a mission. He stormed into the palace and asked to see Romana about Doctor Odine. The very air around him seemed to become even icier as he walked through the corridors. He was told that Zell, Selphie, Irvine, Quistis and Rinoa had gone to the Lunatic Pandora to try and stave off the flow of monsters into the city.

Squall had asked Sora and his friends to remain on board the Ragnarok for the time being until he found out where Seifer was being held. Romana would know about Odine's intentions for Seifer Almasy and his Sorcery. The brunet stormed into the labs when he found out Romana had gone back there after leaving the escape pod.

Squall stormed into the labs and everyone back away from the sheer fury etched on his face. He had to find Seifer before Odine got his slimy hands on him. The Commander spotted Romana exiting another part of the lab and he approached her quickly. She looked flustered and disarrayed but when she saw Squall she blew out her relief.

When she saw the anger on his face she stopped dead in her tracks and took a step back. After crash landing back onto Gaia the scientist had entered the city to tell the President what had happened. Zell and the others had used a flying transport to take them to the Lunatic Pandora to battle the monsters.

When Squall demanded to know where Odine had taken Seifer Romana was startled but then realization sank in. Because Seifer was the first male Sorcerer in centuries there was no way Odine would simply let him go. Granted Riku had some level of Sorcery but he was nowhere near as advanced as Seifer.

There was only one place Odine could've taken Seifer. Turning back to the computer console she extracted a chip and handed it to Squall. She told him that the chip contained co-ordinates to the Sorceress Memorial where Seifer would be frozen just like Adel before him.

Nodding his thanks Squall turned and ran back to the gates of the city. He stopped for no one as he pumped his arms for speed. When he reached the Ragnarok he saw Baralai and Ienzo waiting outside for him. He didn't waste any time explaining things so instead he climbed aboard and inserted the chip into the navigation console. Romana had instructed him on how to insert the thing before he took off out of the labs. Squall didn't say a word as the ship's engines roared to life and the vessel began to fly towards the co-ordinates provided for him.

"He hasn't said anything since he got back. Where the heck is he taking us anyway?" Sora whispered to Roxas.

"He must know where Seifer is." The blond replied.

"Looks like Demyx got through to him." Cloud crossed his arms.

"Remind me to never piss that guy off." Leon muttered.

"If you ask me I think he's gone a little crazy. Did you see the look on his face when he came on board?" Riku murmured.

"People do crazy thing when they're in love." Ienzo shrugged with a faint smile on his face.

The Sorceress Memorial

Seifer swallowed thickly as he was taken deeper into the facility to be frozen by Odine and his people. The blond Sorcerer was lead into a large chamber with a single pod in the centre surrounded by thick glass. Various computers were hook up to the glass chamber and wired were attached inside the pod itself.

When Seifer was brought inside the men and women within the chamber stared at him as if he were the last turkey in the shop. He averted his eyes from the people around him and instead stared at his future prison cell. Once he was put in there he wasn't coming out. He swallowed thickly as he thought about Balamb, the people he knew and of course Squall Leonhart.

Seifer had hoped that Squall would've at least tried to prevent him from being taken by Odine but the brunet held his tongue. Despite that Seifer couldn't find it in his heart to hate Squall for leaving him again. At least he got to touch his little lion one more time.

Seifer put up a mask of indifference as he was escorted to the glass chamber. Odine was waiting for him within the chamber and a sickly sweet smile was visible on his lips. Seifer got the chills just by looking at the guy. He was staring at Seifer like he was a piece of very fine and juicy meat.

"To think that the Sorceress powers have passed on to you." Odine sighed.

"Yeah well you can have them." Seifer retorted with a smirk.

"You won't be asleep forever. When I figure out your function then you shall be released." Odine approached the scowling blond.

"Let's just get this over with." Seifer growled lowly.

"As you wish." Odine backed away and motioned for the guards to take Seifer into the glass chamber.

As he stepped inside the pod Seifer was pressed against the cold metal and various wired were attached to his now exposed arms. They had taken his trench coat away, the little fuckers. Seifer felt a little cold in just his blue vest but he remained stoic while Odine got the machine ready to use.

Seifer kept his gaze fixed on the doctors walking around the chamber getting ready to freeze him. He couldn't deny that he was terrified and he entertained the thought of breaking out of here. His powers were still exhausted though and he knew that those guards wouldn't hesitate to shoot him if they were given the chance.

He took in a deep breath as Odine flipped a few switches. Seifer was so busy watching the man decide his fate that he never noticed the figures taking out the guards at the entrance to the Memorial. When he heard someone yell out in pain he looked up and gaped at what he saw. There stood Squall with Lionheart in hand and he was with Sora and his friends. Axel was gripping his twin chakrams and fire blasted out in all directions. The fire user looked exceptionally pissed.

"What are you doing?" Odine screeched.

"I'm taking Seifer with me." Squall snarled as he ran towards the glass chamber.

"But he is a Sorcerer! You cannot do this!" one of the doctors cried out.

"He's coming with us and if you get in our way I'll reduce you to ash got it memorized?" Axel warned.

"The President will hear about this." Odine scowled angrily.

"I don't care." Squall retorted as he sliced through the wires attached to Seifer.

"Squall?" Seifer gasped when his body was free and he fell forward. Squall dropped Lionheart and ran to catch the blond.

"I've got you." Squall whispered as he wrapped his arms around the blond man.

"You care don't you princess?" Seifer sighed.

"Yeah...I do care." Squall stroked the silky blond locks.

"This is really pulling my heartstrings but we need to leave now." Axel interrupted the moment.

The others nodded and Squall pulled Seifer to his feet. Roxas grabbed hold of the blond man's beloved trench coat on the way out. The Ragnarok had landed just outside the black marble building and Baralai was there waiting for them.

The Sorceress Memorial was located on a small island just off the coast of the continent and the Lunatic Pandora wasn't far from the island itself. The large structure was glowing blood red and the screams of the monsters could be heard from the island. Squall hoped that Zell and the others were safe. If they got to Adel they might be able to stop Ultimecia's plans.

"Are you ok Seifer?" Axel stared at the blond.

"Yeah I'll be fine now. Thanks guys." He nodded at them.

"You should thank Demyx. He was the motivation." Cloud grinned. Seifer cocked an eyebrow when Squall blushed.

"We should go to the Pandora now." Leon spoke up.

"So we stop Adel and Ultimecia?" Sora gulped loudly. "I'm not looking forward to this."

"You'll be fine Sora." Riku pressed a kiss to his boyfriend's temple. "The last time we fought a Sorceress we had to fight Demyx but with Adel we can just kick her ass."

"You really know how to cheer me up." Sora blushed when Riku kissed him again.

"I do my best." Riku smiled but the moment was broken when Roxas made gagging noises.

"Butt out Roxas!" Sora groaned.

"I bet that's what Riku says when he gets you on your stomach." Axel laughed and Sora felt his skin burn.

"How did you put up with him in your head?" Squall whispered to Seifer.

"It was actually fun." Seifer shrugged.

"He's a pervert." Squall muttered as jealousy bubbled up. The red head did say he had a thing for blond men.

"No need to be jealous princess. He's only got eyes for Roxas." Seifer smirked when he saw Squall blush red again.

"We're almost there guys." Cloud called back as the Ragnarok was piloted towards the Pandora.

When the dragon ship got close enough it landed on a small platform on the top of the Lunatic Pandora. The platform was surrounded by thick red mist and the group couldn't see beyond the mist. Black lightning forked across the sky and slammed into the sides of the building.

The screams of the monsters were louder now, much louder and so very close. Sora spotted a doorway at the other side of the platform and he made his way there with the others following closely behind him. The building had strange symbols carved into the stone and metal and most of them looked alien to Sora. This place was giving him the creeps.

"Get off me you fucker!" a shout drew everyone's attention towards Riku who was being dragged away by Luxord.

"Let him go!" Sora screamed as he summoned up the Ultima Keyblade.

"Luxord..." Roxas snarled as he called up Axel.

"It's been a while hasn't it Roxas?" Luxord pulled Riku farther away from them. "And Seifer lived I see. It's time for you to play."

"Oh fuck." Seifer breathed when the door opened and monsters emerged.

"Adel is going to suck you dry boy." Luxord grinned lecherously as he opened up a dark portal and pulled Riku through.