Disclaimer: All final fantasy 8 characters belong to Squaresoft and other involved companies. I own none of it. This is strictly for the enjoyment of myself and others.
On one side Squall faces a danger the plagues all of mankind and on the other he faces a force that could prove just as deadly; betrayal. Things heat up as Squall must risk all to reach his destination. Balamb is hanging in the distance. Will he make it in time…
EMPEROR OF DARKNESS
CHAPTER 8
The Unexpected
Things were all moving as planned for Emperor Zeilak. The world was now trembling at his feet and the seeds were all but crippled. Now nothing would bar his path towards his true objective.
The hallow halls, which at one time, served as the great chamber for President Caraway, were now dark and Empty as the king of darkness contemplated his next moves.
The great halls were now transformed into a throne room with a greatly ornamented chair in the center. Naturally, Zeilak was perched atop that chair. He sat back languidly relishing in the comfort of his high position of power.
Slowly, a single figure walked towards him from the distance. Had this figure been anyone else, he would have been dead by now. However, this man was the sole exception to that rule. A man who possessed a power and mindset that Zeilak greatly approved of.
The man dropped to one knee as he came to stand in front of his Emperor. His onyx black cloak slightly concealed his sword which he carried at his side. His black robes collected at his raised knee to reveal the rough fabric of his dark pants and glossy black boots.
Rhazenak lowered his eyes before his emperor as he spoke. "My liege, we have completely sanctioned the City of Deling at last. The people are utterly under your complete control."
"Good." The Emperor replied. "And how did our raid fair? Were all the countries destroyed?"
"Yes, your highness. They have all been leveled. All that remains is our conquering of them. That should prove to be no problem at all."
"No, I would hope not."
"Do you think the time has finally come to initiate the plan, Sire?"
Emperor Zeilak shifted in his chair as he turned the issue over in his mind. He lowered his head and almost immediately afterwards, sparks of energy began to surround him. The light became so intense that Rhazenak had to turn his face to prevent becoming blinded. Finally, the energy slowly began to dissipate. Zeilak raised his head slowly.
"I have conversed amongst the ancient guardians. They have told me all I wish to know." Zeilak muttered, still slightly drained from the experience. "Yessss… all is ready for me to claim the relics which are rightfully mine."
"Your orders, highness?"
"Send the knight. We will start at Balamb."
"The knight, your majesty?" Rhazenak asked, slightly baffled
"Yes, Sir Alfred does have his streak of noble rubbish however this would be a perfect mission for him don't you think? Search and retrieve is a mission better suited for him then slaughter and mayhem."
Rhazenak was shocked. "Since when has his majesty ever granted such privilege?"
"SUCH PRIVILEGE HAS NOT BEEN GRANTED!" Zeilak roared. His patience was slowly wearing thin. "The knight is a pain however he is also a very valuable asset in battle. I don't wish to dispose of him yet. Do not question me any further Rhazenak, You have your orders now go!"
Rhazenak bowed his head in obedience. "By your word, highness."
And with that, the young sorcerer departed from his leader with the same stealth in which he had entered.
Emperor Zeilak watched his retreat in silence. "So now, after all this time, it shall finally commence."
****
Balamb Garden blazed through the skies like a speeding shuttle as its engines strained on the force of maximum velocity. Squall tried to steady himself in the speeding fortress as it thundered through the wilderness of Balamb paving the way to the Capital City.
The Garden had been pushing maximum velocity for 10 minutes. The reactor core and energy outputs were now beginning to give way. Multiple explosions reverberated all throughout the main floors causing the occupants even more turbulence.
"I don't know how much longer we can take these speeds!" Irvin screamed as he clutched his seat with dear life.
"Just hang on a little longer!" Squall yelled from the seat across from him. "We've only got five more minutes!"
Irvin Squeezed his eyes shut against the rush of gravity that was constantly pushing him down into his seat. "Five minutes isn't going to matter at all if we're not alive afterwards!" He hollered back at Squall.
Squall shot a glance at his troubled companion but didn't answer him. Another explosion rocked the ship, causing him to jerk forward violently.
"Sir, that was our navigation control!" Yelled one of the tech officers currently on the bridge. "We can't control it much longer if we keep taking hits like that!"
Squall trained his eyes on the chief tech officer who had accompanied them on the bridge. "If we completely lose the navigation control, will we be able to stay on course by momentum alone?"
"That's a negative. With all the explosions going off, their likely to throw us all over the place."
Squall gritted his teeth in frustration. He pulled out his watch in exasperation. 'Only 4 more minutes.'
"Squall!" Irvin screamed. "If we lose the navigator control then there's nothing more we can do! We'll have to shut down or we may all die!"
"Lets just cross that bridge when we get to it Irvin!" Squall hollered back.
BOOM
"What was that?"
"Sir, a chunk of the reactor just blew away!"
"Damnit!" Squall seethed. "What will that do to our main power supply?" Squall asked the chief tech.
"Our speed may start to drop but at our current velocity I think we may be able to hold for a bit."
BOOM
This time the explosion felt closer to the bridge.
"Was that an explosion from the reactor?" Squall queried. "I thought you said they would be only isolated to the lower levels!"
"You're correct." The chief tech answered back. "I did say they would be isolated there. That explosion wasn't anywhere near where the reactor is."
Squall's eyes widened in shock. "Then that means… Everyone scan your monitors! Check field parameters as best as you can! Something hit us and it hit us hard!"
Irvin rammed his fists on his armrest as he tried to scan the terminal on his side. "Of all the lousy times to fall under enemy attack."
One of the techs scratched his head in confusion. "It just doesn't make sense General. I mean our parameter array may be on the fritz but we're picking up absolutely nothing on our terminals. Are you sure that wasn't a mine maybe?"
Squall shook his head. "No mines could have shook us that bad. Recheck your instruments and try infrared. We may be up against-"
BOOOOM
This time, the ship rocked so violently many people ripped out of the seat straps, falling into the computer terminals and navigation controls ahead. One of Squalls seat straps snapped and he flew soaring into the side of the wall.
:SLAM:
Squall clutched the wall, desperately trying to get on his feet with his mind still reeling from the blast.
"Squall!" Irvin screamed thrusting his hand out to him. "Grab on to my hand!" Squall reached out but suddenly.
BOOM!!!!
This sent Squall's back ramming painfully into the wall. Squall's head bashed against a curve in the framework and darkness promptly followed.
Irvin saw Squall fall listlessly to the ground but could do nothing about it. If he tired to move in any way, he too would be in the same boat Squall was. It was suicide. But they needed Squall; not just him, Selphie, Rinoa, and the rest of his friends but all of Garden. They all needed Squall to survive. He couldn't just die like this. He was too important. So, without another thought for his own safety, Irvin selflessly unstrapped himself from his seat then slowly inched his way towards Squall's prone form.
He could hear a million other voices screaming in the background. They were all in pain and probably dying. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to blot out the painful image of the disfigured bodies around him. "Hold on Squall, I'm coming!"
He inched a bit closer then grabbed onto Squall's jacket and pulled him closer to him. Suddenly the ship listed violently to the side causing everything, including him, to slide along with it.
"Whoa!" Irvin screamed as he just barely managed to grab hold of the side of his chair before he slide off the deck of the bridge. He desperately clutched at squalls shirt, trying to get a better grip. The ship listed more and he felt his grip waning. "Aarrgh! Come on Squall, give me a little help here!" He muttered.
BOOM
If ever Irvin could have had bad luck, then it was definitely now as this time the explosion hit the bridge. Sparks flew everywhere. Terminals erupted into huge bouts of flames. People screamed in agony as bodies flew everyone. Irvin cringed as a disembodied arm slid by him, brushing against his shoulder.
One of the techs still secured in his seat, shot Irvin a frightened glance, then without another word, he too unstrapped his belt and came over to help. He clutched onto the side of his seat strap with dear life then inched his way towards the hanging cowboy. "Here, grab hold!" the man cried as he tossed a cord towards them. Irvin didn't grab it immediately, weary of relinquishing his hold on the temporary safety he did have but he eventually snagged the cord.
"I got it!" He breathed as his heat thundered in his chest. The tech began to move back slowly as he pulled on the cord. "Just hang on!" The man hissed through clenched teeth as he struggled against the force of gravity.
Irvin pulled on his bindings desperately but Squall's weight was just too heavy. He felt his sweaty grip starting to slip off the cord. "Shit!" He screeched. "I'm losing my grip over here!" He hollered to the technician. In response, the man pulled even more on the bindings. "Just hang on a bit longer! I'll have you up!"
Irvin closed his eyes, but obediently clutched onto the cord. 'Nothing I can do but trust him.' He thought to himself. He vaguely wondered if Selphie was doing ok when…
BOOM
Irvin clutched desperately but it was no use. The bindings snapped. The man holding him lost his grip and he too plunged into the bottomless pit he and Squall were destined to journey towards. Irvin wondered what it would be like to die. He had many regrets. He didn't want to die now. Yet the only solace he found in his seemingly unending descent was an overwhelming well of darkness.
Well I know what you're thinking. That's it? Sorry but this just seemed like a good place to leave off at. But don't worry, the next one will be longer. And more intense hopefully. Well, as always, thanks for reading and please review!
-Cordis