Chapter 48 - Working For Redemption

There was little she could do about the blood that stained her skin, her knuckles bruised and covered in a layer of reddish-brown crust. When she moved, pieces of it flaked off and scattered across the floor. But no matter. She could heal herself and stop the bleeding. She would still look like a mess afterwards, with tangled strands of hair falling forward to conceal the bruises on her face, but least she would have full use of her hand again.

'All the better to strangle him with,' Celes thought, leaning forward and placing the corner of her cloak between her teeth. She tore off a strip of fabric, wrapped it around her hand, then tied it in a knot and brushed the hair out of her face.

Her lips curled in a frown, her eyes still gleaming with cold fury as she scanned the room. Just because she was a prisoner didn't mean she had to act like one. There would be no weeping and moaning, no pitiful pleas for her release. Which was something the guards learned the hard way when they came to check on her, and were greeted with the sight of Celes wielding an icicle like a javelin.

She sat down on the edge of her cot, sunlight streaming through the bars on her window. It would be getting dark soon, and she didn't fancy the thought of spending another night in this miserable city. Of all the places that Kefka could have destroyed, it was a pity he didn't start with Vector. But no, of course not. Kefka wouldn't demolish his home. Not yet anyway. Not until he had one of his episodes and forgot where he was. Which, given his history of violence and mental illness, was entirely possible.

Celes sighed, her thoughts interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. If it was Kefka, she would stick her hand through the bars, seize him by the collar of that ridiculous shirt and bash his brains out on the cell door. She was surprised, and somewhat relieved, to see Cid making his way down the hall. Her relief was short lived, however, when she saw that he was wringing his hands, trembling and looking as though he were on the verge of collapse.

She quickly got to her feet and moved towards him, her pale hands slipping between the bars. "Grandpa, what's wrong? Don't tell me it's Kefka..." Her voice trailed off into silence, the back of her hand brushing against his cheek. If that horrible man had threatened him, or hurt him in any way shape or form, she swore that she would hunt him down and hang him from the highest tower in Vector.

"No," Cid replied, still shaking as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to remain calm. "Not yet anyway. But I'm sure that once he gets his hands on the magicite we recovered, all hell is going to break lose." He took another deep breath and gripped her hand, a look of restless anxiety shining in his eyes. "Listen to me, Celes. There's going to be a meeting in twenty minutes to discuss the events that took place upon your arrival. I've managed to convince them that you're spying on the Returners. Even Kefka has decided to go along with it. Though I'm not sure if Gestahl will believe me."

"I don't understand. Why are you doing this, grandpa?"

"Because I'm trying to keep you alive!" he hissed, speaking quickly for fear of being overheard. He glanced over his shoulder, looking down the darkened hallway before continuing. "When I held that shard... That... That crystal you and your friends uncovered from the ruins of the factory, I felt a terrible power inside of it. And I realized... For once I saw the possibilities, the damage he could do if he were to collect magicite and harness the destructive power of the Espers. That is why I requested a meeting with the Emperor. I'm going to see if I can talk him out of this nonsense. I'm also going to see if can convince him to let you rejoin the military. But I need you to cooperate and say that you were spying on them."

Her eyebrows rose towards her hairline, disappearing in the golden curls that framed her face. "Kefka believes you?"

"Yes, he does." He hesitated before continuing, looking rather uneasy as the subject drifted towards his failed experiment. "Or at least I think he does. One can never be sure when it pertains to him."

"And you don't see anything wrong with that?"

The doctor's mouth opened soundlessly, only to close a second later. His voice abandoned him, his shoulders sinking as her astonished expression turned cold, and she yanked her hand out of his grasp. If she could she would have slapped him across the face, thinking that maybe it would knock some sense into him.

"You know me better than that," she said, speaking in a tone of deathly calm. "You practically raised me, and you know damn well that I'm capable of looking after myself. I was doing fine until you interfered. But you're so desperate to carry out this rescue mission that you're willing to risk everything to get what you want."

"I'm sorry," Cid murmured, his gaze drifting towards the floor. "You have every right to be upset with me. But you have to understand that I only did it because I care about you."

Celes turned away, her arms folded across her chest. "If you cared about me, you would have let me stay with the Returners. I want to stop this ridiculous war just as much as you do. But I'm not going to be of much use if I'm still serving Gestahl."

"That isn't true, Celes." He held the bars with one hand, his other hand reaching towards her. "You can still do some good while you're here. Because if I can convince him to stop the war, then we can work on restoring the balance this country once had. You're willing to work together for peace, aren't you?"

"Yes, grandpa, I am. But do you really believe Gestahl will listen to you? Or that Kefka isn't going to take advantage of the situation? You know that Kefka is completely out of his mind, and that anything he's involved in inevitably leads to someone getting hurt or killed."

Silence stretched between them, and in that moment Cid realized that he had once again made a terrible mistake.

He let go of the bars on the door, and slowly he moved away, his back against the wall as he slid down it to sit on the floor. "I would like to do something right," he said, holding up a single finger on his left hand. "Just once. Because when I look around, I see a multitude of soldiers, machines and weapons that wouldn't exist if it weren't for me. People are dying, and it's all because of my inventions. I don't even know if Gestahl will listen to me. And even if he does, there might be nothing I can do to repair the damage that I've caused. I thought that maybe, if all else fails... If I can't save the world, I could at least save you."

He lowered his head, burying his face in his arms so she wouldn't see the tears that spilled from the corners of his eyes. It wasn't every day that Dr. Cid gave into his emotions, letting his sorrow and regrets consume him as wept in silence beside the door.

Celes came forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. When he looked up at her, he saw that her features had softened. She wasn't looking at him with anger burning in her bright, blue eyes. She looked more like herself, like the person she was before becoming one of Vector's most powerful Rune Knights. And yet there was always something, like a spark that shone in the center of a dark room, that told him she had changed.

He could see it in the way she moved, the way she spoke when someone said or did something she didn't approve of. She would lash out at people, verbally assaulting them with words that cut deeper than the sword she fought with. She was a wise, strong, beautiful young lady. But she wouldn't raise a hand except in her own defense, and he never saw her needlessly casting spells on innocent people.

"Please don't cry, grandpa," she said softly. It was a voice he hadn't heard in years; a gentle voice she often used in the days before her infusion. "Your research has helped a lot of people. Like the little boy who healed his mother when she fell off the roof. If it weren't for the magic you gave him, his mother would have died. It's because of you that she's still alive."

"That's one example," he muttered, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "I don't see how one person can be enough to make up for the hundreds that have died."

"You're right," she said simply. "It doesn't make up for everything that's happened. But it matters to them because it had a positive effect on their lives. It means that magic can still be used for good. And if I remember correctly, you once said that I was the greatest achievement."

He looked over his shoulder and saw a smile blossoming on her face. That smile was enough to ease the burden on his heart, lifting his spirits and giving him the strength he needed to continue. "Celes," he murmured. "Good heavens, I haven't seen you smile like that in years. And yes, you are my greatest achievement. If I can make something like you, then it means I have done something right."

Celes patted his shoulder. "Come on, grandpa. It's time to stop living in the past and start working towards the future."

Cid groaned, grunting with exertion as he pushed himself onto his feet. His knees ached and his back hurt from leaning against the wall. But he wasn't going to let these every day aches and pains slow him down. Not when he still had to keep up with his little girl. He stood up slowly, then looked back at her and saw the look of determination shining in her eyes. She was his strength, her unwavering spirit pushing him to strive for something better.

"I made this mess, so it's up to me to make things right. But I can't do it without you, Celes." He offered her his hand. "Will you help me?"

Her smile faded, her expression changing to one of uncertainty.

"Please, Celes," he continued. "I know that I was wrong to lie and force you away from your friends. I should have thought about how my actions would effect you and the friends you made."

A minute passed before she reached through the bars and held his hand. "I'll do it," she said, a smile returning to grace the corners of her lips. "I won't leave you to face them on your own. Not after everything you've done for me."

A flicker of hope shone within her eyes, her thoughts drifting back to the days when he had just begun to care for her. He could see it when she looked at him. It were as though a shadow of her former self passed before her eyes, and for one brief moment he saw her as the child she used to be.

"Thank you," he whispered, his throat constricting with emotion. He decided that it didn't matter what sort of hideous scheme Kefka was planning. Because no matter what problem they faced, they would face it together and overcome any obstacle that stood in their path.

.oOo.

The room was silent as Dr. Cid approached the table. All eyes were on the silken bundle in his hands, which had been neatly folded to conceal the object within. But there was no hiding the faint glow which surrounded the fabric, its pale color stained with greenish hues.

Kefka was seated near the head of the table, his eyes wide, staring at the orb of light in Cid's hands. His breathing had slowed but his pulse was racing, his painted lips forming a straight line across his face. He could hear the spirit that was imprisoned within the crystal, its voice speaking to him from across the room. In his mind he saw the Esper emerge from the crystal, looking very much like one of the dolls he played with. Its body was small, a shadow of its former self, with glowing eyes that mirrored the fiery core within the shining stone.

This transparent figure lingered above the silken mass, whispering, always whispering, but he was unable to make out what it was saying. The voices around him grew faint, the world falling away until there was nothing but the Esper, nothing but the voice of power, the voice of chaos and destruction. It made his wings quiver, his heart pounding against his ribs as goosebumps erupted on the surface of his skin. A muscle twitched over his left eye, and Kefka inhaled sharply, not realizing that he'd been holding his breath until he felt the cool rush of air enter his lungs.

"What is it you've brought me?" asked Gestahl, his eyebrows raised as he watched the doctor unwrap the shard of magicite. He failed to notice that his mage appeared to be having a mild seizure. It wasn't until they heard a loud, agonized whine that they looked over and were startled by what they saw.

Kefka was practically crawling across the table, one arm outstretched and reaching towards the magicite. The voices in his head warned him not to get too close, because everything about this precious shard of ancient magic was wrong. Wrong because no human was meant to handle that much power, because even the slightest touch could push him over the edge. But no. No, the voice screamed, assaulting him with a desire so strong it made his body ache, longing for more, longing for the release he sought since the day he sprouted wings. Because no one understood what it was like to be caught in the middle, stuck between man and god. And he would do anything to ascend the ranks and reach his ultimate form.

"Give it to me," he rasped, his high pitched voice reduced to an inhuman growl. His lips drew back in a fierce snarl, his senses tingling as he inched towards the crystalized shard of magic. "I said give it to me! Give me the power of the gods! The power of ultimate destruction!"

"Kefka!" Gestahl shouted. He brought his fist down on the table, and the mage started, shrieking as he flew out of his seat. "What is the matter with you?"

Kefka blinked and looked around in confusion. 'Not here,' a voice whispered from the dark recesses of his mind. And suddenly the voices were falling away, the Esper's spirit retreating into the shadows from whence it came.

"Oh!" His hands found the red and yellow ruff around his neck, fingering the material as he glanced at the Emperor. "I can't help it," Kefka blurted out, his tone rising like an excited child who'd just been offered a shiny new toy. "I'm like a child. I'm like a two year old. You put that little purply-green crystal in front of me and I can't focus!" he exclaimed, bouncing in his seat.

The Emperor sighed and rolled his eyes. He turned to Cid and held out his hand. "Give it to me," he said, a hint of irritation in his voice.

Cid hesitated, glancing at the others who were seated at the table before giving the stone to Gestahl. "That is magicite," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry, and heard a series of subdued snickers and giggles coming from the man on his left. "That's what they called it, sir."

"And what exactly is magicite?"

"It's the essence of magic in crystalized form, sir. Except this is a hundred, maybe even a thousand times more powerful than what we collected in the laboratory. Preliminary tests show that a single piece of magicite is enough to power more than a dozen armored soldiers for twenty-four hours. That's more than double the amount of power obtained from previous methods."

"One... One hundred?" Kefka was twitching, his lips curling as a wide grin spread across his painted face. He was practically salivating at the thought of having such a tremendous source of magic.

Kefka listened as Dr. Cid explained about the origins of magicite, where it came from and how it worked. Correction, how he thought it worked. The good doctor didn't know everything yet. How could he? It had been less than a week since little miss glitter blizzard waltzed in here like she owned the place. But oh, how he hoped Cid would give him the pleasure of playing with this shiny new toy. It was such a grand treasure. And if the doctor was correct, he could benefit from the stone's magical properties simply by carrying it with him throughout the day.

This made Kefka think of jewelry: breath taking rings set with large, shimmering gemstones, necklaces with pendants made from magicite, and earrings that sparkled in the midday sun. He could see it so clearly in his mind, a treasure trove of Espers, each one dying and transforming into fabulous jewelry. Precious gems. The most precious of all! And it was there for the taking if only they could get past that blasted door.

"We need to unlock the sealed gate," said Kefka, his voice interrupting Dr. Cid. Heads turned as he leaned forward in his seat, still twitching and grinning like a mad hare. "I don't care if we have to unload the Guardian and let it burn through there like a field of dry wheat. Because if this is an example of what lies beyond those walls, then we must have it. All of it. There can be no question of its value because this..." He paused, his eyes gleaming in the fluorescent lights. "This is what we need to win the war."

Dr. Cid shifted in his seat, looking from Gestahl to Kefka and back again. "Yes, about the war, sir. I was thinking that maybe we could - "

"Silence." Gestahl held up a hand, cutting him off in midsentence. He turned to Kefka, no longer interested in what the doctor had to say. "Palazzo, I am well aware of the fact that we need to open that infernal gate. What you don't realize is that we already have the key right in the palm of my hand."

"What?" This broke Kefka's train of thought, his attention shifting towards what was being said rather than the magicite that was winking at him from across the table.

"Terra," said Gestahl, and Kefka felt his heart skip a beat at the mention of her name. A hideous smile formed on his lips, one that made him appear older and more sinister, like a hungry vulture perched atop a skeletal tree, eyeing each and every passing creature as he awaited his next meal. "She is the key to opening the sealed gate. If we give her to the Returners, she will eventually lead them to the gate where her kin will respond to her call."

Kefka's spasms worsened as he listened to the Emperor talk of handing Terra over to the Returners. To Gestahl it seemed like a brilliant plan, but Cid had seen that look in his eyes when Kefka started shaking and twitching uncontrollably, and he leaned back in his seat, not knowing whether or not Kefka was about to fly into one of his rages.

"Terra?" Kefka's voice sounded surprisingly small, like a frightened child asking for his mother. A loud snap pierced the silence as he gripped the table hard enough to break the tips his fingernails. "No no no no no! I was this close," he shouted, raising a hand and holding his thumb and forefinger a few centimeters apart. "This close! The Espers are to blame. They're to blame for everything! And if we let her near them, they'll see her as one of their own and then they'll never let her join our world again!"

"You said it yourself, Palazzo," Gestahl reminded him. "You said that Terra will open the gates and release the Espers into our world. At the time I hadn't given it much thought. But after careful consideration, I decided that it is better to sacrifice her for the sake of obtaining a greater source of power."

His lips quivered, a simpering smile spreading from ear to ear as he fought not to laugh. No, Kefka, don't you dare. This isn't funny, he told himself. But oh yes, there she goes. Bye bye. Right out the door as usual.

"Your Highness, please," said Cid, trying to change the subject before Kefka threw one of his legendary tantrums and burned the palace to the ground. "We don't know what sort of reaction the Espers will have when they come through the gate. It could have disastrous results, and I for one think we should put a stop to this before it gets out of hand."

"Christophe?" Gestahl looked to Leo for a second opinion, seeing as how his mage was currently unable to speak.

Leo seemed at a loss for words, his mouth opening though he failed to produce a single sound. Mass slaughter for the greater good of the empire didn't sound like the best decision they could make, and there was always the chance that the Espers would destroy the city before they could lift a finger in their defense.

The Emperor sighed heavily, massaging his temples in an effort to relieve the pain building behind his left eye. "Idiots," he grumbled, his voice dripping with contempt. The scientist didn't support his plans, the General had been rendered speechless, and the only person who seemed interested in harvesting magicite was twitching and babbling about god knows what. "And what of former General Celes?" asked Gestahl. "You said you had some important information regarding her reinstatement in the military, Marquez."

There was still a chance, Cid thought, his hands clasped in front of him on the table. He glanced in Kefka's direction, and felt his heart plummet into the pit of his stomach when he realized that Kefka probably wouldn't be able to help with the story they'd fabricated.

"I'm sure you're well aware of the rumors circulating throughout the palace," he began. "There has been much confusion regarding her loyalty to the empire, and forgive me for not having a more reliable source, but Kefka was able to confirm that she was spying on the Returners."

Gestahl raised an eyebrow and looked at Kefka with mild curiosity etched into the lines of his face. "Is that so?"

The mage, who was rocking back and forth in his seat, his thumbnail clenched between his teeth as he chewed through the layer of polish, nodded vigorously but refused to say a single word.

"I discussed matters with General Leo," Cid continued, his explanation covering everything from their belief that Kefka lied about Celes' treachery in order to get her killed, to the possibility that Kefka mistakingly thought that she was trying to prevent him from seeing Terra. "Look at him," he said, nodding in Kefka's direction. "You know how he gets when he's separated from her."

"Ha!" Kefka's explosive laughter startled the General, who leapt nearly a foot out of his seat. "She wouldn't have gotten close to her if I didn't allow it. She promised me the Esper in return for helping her spy on the Returners," said Kefka, his words coming quickly, his thoughts racing a mile a minute.

It should have been simple. Manipulating people and deceiving them in order to get what he wanted was simple. And if everything went according to plan, Kefka would have his sweet magic user as well as a treasure trove of magicite. But there was that oh so tempting piece of magicite nestled in the Emperor's hands. It was calling him, distracting him with its presence while Kefka struggled to remember what Dr. Cid told him before coming to the meeting.

He wanted everything and he wanted it now, his voice rising in a scream as he launched himself across the table at Gestahl. His fingers found the lump of crystalized magic in the Emperor's hands, and for one second he felt its warmth flowing through his skin before Leo pounced on him, pinning his arms behind his back and forcing him to the floor.

Kefka was still screaming as they escorted him out of the room, the Emperor watching from a safe distance with his lovely little piece of magicite shining beneath his fingers.

"I want to have a talk with him once he settles down," said Gestahl, and when Cid looked at him, he saw a fire in his eyes that mirrored the shimmering flames at the heart of the enchanted stone.

This worried the aging scientist, for he had seen that look before when Kefka was off on one of his murderous rampages. "I'm sorry, sir," he said, pausing to swallow the anxiety that was blossoming in his chest. It felt as though a knot had formed in his throat, his heart beating faster as he looked at Gestahl and watched the old man rise up, looming above him like a gargoyle perched atop a mountain. "He's just a little excited, what with the discovery of magicite and the possibility of gaining more."

"Oh, I know that, Marquez," said Gestahl, the sinister quality of his voice causing the doctor to quake with fear. He appeared to be changing right before his very eyes, empowered by the glowing stone that fueled the madness within. "I know because I can feel it. But you..." he raised a hand, prodding him in the chest with his index finger. "You don't want to do this anymore, do you, Marquez?"

The doctor tried to speak, his efforts failing as he quailed beneath the Emperor's fierce gaze.

"No, I didn't think so," said Gestahl, speaking in a voice of deathly calm. He considered the frightened scientist, his lip curling in disgust as though he were observing some loathsome insect. "Keep in mind that I don't necessarily have to spare her life. And if I hear anything, anything at all about the war or how you don't think we should continue down the path that I have chosen, you're both going to end up a pile of rotting flesh with the buzzards pecking at your entrails. Do I make myself clear, Marquez?"

"Y-yes, sir. I-I uh-understand, your Highness." His words tumbled out without a moment's hesitation, fear driving him to agree with whatever the Emperor said. And although he had gone into this meeting with hopes for making things right, he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd somehow made everything worse.