Part Six
Squall had been above the cloud cover for nearly an hour. He was using the Ragnarok's stealth mode to follow the ship. Seifer had been manning the controls and Quistis had since joined them, "They've been going at this speed for a while now. How much farther can it possibly be?"
Seifer was looking at a map, "I'm triangulating our position. Oh shit."
"What?"
"Squall, if this thing is write we're within spitting distance of Ester landing station."
"That's impossible."
"Squall, we've been going at mach two for an hour! Ester station is on the east side of town you know."
The orange light on Squall's panel was gone, "What happened?"
Seifer was back to his keyboard, "They've disappeared."
"I can see that. I want to know why."
"At this speed they couldn't have landed and there's nothing in sight."
"Can we land the Ragnarok?"
"Quistis was looking at a map, "Can't, it's all jagged rock down there."
Squall remembered his last trip to Ester. He pressed the com button, a small picture of Selphie came up, "Selphie, can you get up here?"
* * * *
Selphie and Squall were alone on the bridge, "We got this ship from Ester. After Rinoa and I went into space they said we could have it. In the past we've been able to land in Ester so why can't we?"
"There are command codes we have to transmit on a certain band."
"What happened to those codes?"
"Oh, they're still in the computer system somewhere. It might be easier to hack in to Ester's control tower."
"Do whatever it takes."
"It could be days."
"I'm willing to wait. Let me know when you find anything."
* * * *
Squall had been asleep for the past five hours. After following the ship all night and waiting for it all the previous day Squall's eyes were still blood shot. Squall was looking at his face in the mirror, "It's three in the afternoon, time to start my day."
Squall had just walked outside then the intercom clicked on, "Squall, please come to the bridge, I found something!"
Squall groaned, "I could have brought Xu along but no, I had to bring Selphie."
* * * *
Selphie had a several pictures of the desert on the three large monitors, "We all know that Ester is down there somewhere but we have no way of knowing where or how to get in."
"I know. Last time the hologram cover dropped and we got in."
Selphie typed a long string of commands into the computer, "Computer, load EMP."
There was a bright flash of light. For one second the entire desert turned into a sparkling city then it was gone, "They'll be able to defend themselves against that trick if I do it again. Computer, replay." The monitors shifted and the glowing city of Ester reappeared, "If I change the lighting about ten degrees…" The hexagon plates now had a faint glare, "Now we know where the plates are, the next part is finding an entrance."
"Why couldn't you have gotten the pictures the first time you tried this?"
"I did but we were in the wrong place to catch the light. Now, These things here," The monitors zoomed in, "look like doors because the plates are vertical instead of horizontal. There are six of these all. They're centered around that mountain ahead of us I'm willing to bet is the control tower."
"Can we get in?"
"The way I see it we've got three options. Blow a hole in the gate and force our way in, intercept the command codes from the next ship in or out which I'm guessing will be looking for us. Our third option is to blow up the control tower, possible shutting down the entire security network."
"I like the second option."
"There's another problem."
"What?"
"The Ragnarok has been air born for the last seventy two hours. If we wait to long we'll loose the thrusters and crash into the city killing hundreds of innocent people and probably ourselves."
"Okay." Squall groaned, it was going to be a long day, he could feel it.
* * * *
Squall and Quistis stood in the briefing room, "How do you know this will work?"
Squall's arms were crossed, "If she's our guardian angel she has to respond."
The wind in the room shifted, "Did you turn up the heat?"
"No."
"I did." Lydia was standing at the door in her human body, "My feelings effect my surroundings."
Squall and Quistis both spun around, "How did you do that?"
"That is not your concern."
"If you're here then you know…"
Lydia wasn't using her angelic tone of voice, she was angry, "I know what you want and I came here to give you an answer."
"If you can teleport behind us then why can't you go into the control tower and start busting heads?"
Lydia was walking toward Squall, "I will not kill for your gain. You think I am your soldier? I am your guardian. If you think you can call me and give me a mission briefing and expect me to say yes sir and carry it out you're sadly mistaken."
"We need to get inside. If you have the power to help us then why not do it?"
"Because you don't understand. A human life is a valuable thing, I've seen you take to many lives needlessly. I will not will myself to appear in the control tower and kill everyone just to give you a few access codes. However, I will teleport two of your team mates into the city, from there you may do as you please."
"Fine, I choose Zell and Kiyoko. They seem to work well together."
"Done" Lydia vanished in a flash of light but her voice lingered, "I am your guardian, I am not your killing machine."
* * * *
Zell, Kiyoko and Lydia appeared in a large street somewhere in Esthar. Zell looked up, the Ragnarok was hovering high above the city, "It's so hard to believe that they can't see us down here."
Lydia was in mid angel, "Welcome to the neon jungle. You can do whatever you want, I will travel with you but I will not fight for you."
Zell clenched his fist, "That's cool with me. I'm just grateful for the ride." Zell saw a small table floating near a large group of tubes, "I remember this. Have a seat, this is really cool."
Lydia and Kiyoko sat down. Zell sat down on the table and pressed a few buttons, "Take us to the docks." The table floated a little higher then moved into one of the tubes. Zell quickly grabbed the seat as the wind rushed past his head, "Damn, they're faster than I remember."
Lydia sat with her arms crossed and her eyes closed. Kiyoko was looking over her shoulder trying to figure out what she was doing. Lydia breathed in, "This is a large city but I know it very well. We'll be here for another minute."
Zell was still hanging onto the table, "So, I'm trying to figure this out, if you're a half GF like Roc and Kitina why don't you fight?"
"A human is bound by the nature of his GF. Diamond Hawk is a predator, a noble predator but a predator none the less. My nature is to protect instead of destroying."
"Wasn't Lydia a soldier?"
"She was, but Gabriel has shown her the light."
The table came to a stop. Zell and Kiyoko quickly jumped off. Zell looked up to see the a giant building with all sorts of radar equipment on the top, "The station that will open the gates and allow the Ragnarok inside is in the large ring ten stories up. Without using the elevator it will be a long trip."
"Can't you just fly us up?"
"I am your guide, I will not fight with you."
"Fine." Zell was getting a little tired of hearing, 'I won't fight.' From Lydia, "We'll just have to go in there and start busting some heads."
"Actually, see how far you can get without killing anyone."
Zell groaned, "Alright!"
* * * *
Zell walked up to the building and pushed open the huge glass doors, "Hmm, I could use that later." Zell walked into the huge lobby area. Everyone was wearing a white lab coat, "Something ain't right."
Zell was stopped by a fat man in a police uniform, "Excuse me sir. There are no weapons allowed in the building. I'll have to ask you to step this way."
Zell saw a metal detector, "Grief, I hope Squall doesn't have this problem dealing with customs once he lands." Zell stepped through the metal detector, the red light flashed. Zell stepped back through and dropped his metal gloves and chain necklace into the metal trey, he stepped through again, the same red light.
The guard walked up to Zell, "I'm going to have to use the metal detector."
Zell grinned, "I've got this metal plate in my head, real bad accident a while back.
The guard held up the metal detector. Zell put his hand around the guard's wrist. He swung around and threw the guard over one shoulder. He grabbed the metal detector and banged the guard on the head, "Why have a high security area guarded by a fat guy? What ever happened to those hopped up cops off that TV show? Yoko, we're done playing nice, break for it!" Zell grabbed his gloves and looked up, "Shit!"
Twenty men in black uniforms appeared on a balcony overlooking the lobby. Zell and Kiyoko were already running for a door. Zell was keeping his head down as the guards opened fire, "What is this shit?"
Kiyoko rushed for the door, "I think they've spotted us."
Lydia appeared in the doorway, "I guess you tried your best."
Zell and Kiyoko dove through the door. Lydia closed the door behind them and put a metal bar through the handle, "That'll keep them busy for a while."
Zell was leaned against a wall, "Don't use violence, my ass! We could have been killed."
"I must give peace a chance, now that we know peace won't work we can fight."
Zell put his gloves back on, "You're worse than a damn network censor."
* * * *
Zell and Kiyoko had battled their way up three stories. The three were standing at the end of one hallway with five black SeeD shooting at them on the other. Zell had used three machine gun clips, "Ya know, I'm a little tired of this shit."
Zell heard someone at the other end of the hallway yell, "Hold your fire. I want to do this myself."
Zell could hear footsteps coming down the hall. Zell grinned, "It's miss swim suit herself."
Kitina answered, "Put down your weapons and surrender. We have you gunned down."
Lydia's body pulsed white, "Kitina. There's a voice I never thought I'd have to hear again." Lydia stepped around the corner.
Kitina stopped, almost in shock, "You." She drew a saber.
"That's right you harlet. I survived that prison hell you stuck me in. I am the angel of vengeance."
Kitina drew her sword, "I'll kill you myself." Kitina lunged at Lydia. Lydia produced a four foot burning sword and parried the blow. Lydia and Kitina dove back with their swords still locked.
Zell looked back, "Lydia, there's a window behind you!" The window was overlooking a large three story courtyard area with large computers and walkways everywhere.
Lydia clenched her teeth, she hadn't gone full GF. Lydia spread her wings as the window shattered behind her. They fell thirty feet downward and landed on one of the walkways. Zell heard Kitina's voice, "The black SeeD are surprised, take advantage. I'll hold off Kitina."
* * * *
Kitina was attacking furiously. Every time she swung Lydia took a step back and blocked or pushed the sword away. She wasn't attacking at all. Kitina made a swipe at Lydia, "Why won't you fight back?"
Lydia pushed Kitina's sword away, "I will not shed blood needlessly, even yours."
"That's to bad." Kitina made a series of downward swipes, all blocked, "Damnit, fight back!"
Lydia was moving fluently, almost like a dance, she was moving backwards but she was still dodging, "You will never understand, you can't beat me, you can't stop me, all you can do is fight."
"That's not all I can do." Kitina's face shifted, she was part cat, like Kiyoko but tiger instead of leopard, "I've been reading the falious' bio, I know how she moves and I can copy it."
"You are a polymorph, do you even have a face of your own anymore?"
Kitina's fighting style had changed. She was faster and more brutal but she still couldn't connect. Lydia was blocking, "You can't keep this up! You think you're keeping me busy while your friends keep moving? You don't know what I have in store for them."
Lydia parried another blow, "What then?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
* * * *
Zell was up to the sixth floor, he and Kiyoko had decided to split up to throw off the black SeeD, there was no way the black SeeD could divide themselves and still hold their own. Zell had just taken out three black Seed and walked down a hallway. Zell saw a door labeled, "Utility." Zell grinned, "I'll bet they have the breakers in there. I could probably turn off the internal defenses from there."
Zell opened the door and was stopped by a large figure wearing black, "Great, I thought I'd killed enough of you bastards." Zell took a step back and used a fighting stance, "You gonna fight or what?"
The figure stepped out of the shadows and drew two swords. Zell's eyes widened, "Roc? Damn glad to see you." Zell held out one hand.
Roc's face hadn't changed, he was just watching Zell, he clanged both swords together. He saw Zell take a step back, "Shut up and fight." Roc pulled off his jacket. He didn't change his shape but he charged Zell and swung with both swords.
Zell flipped backward, "The hell you doing? You're on our side."
Roc swung again, "By order of black Garden you are under arrest for breaking into a federal building."
Zell was quickly getting the idea, "Yo, what's you problem? You want a fight? You got it!"
Roc swung downward with one sword. Zell crossed the blades on his gloves and blocked, "I don't want to fight you!"
Roc tried to force his sword downward. Zell was almost dropped to his knees, Roc was over a foot taller. Zell quickly tore both gloves apart throwing Roc's sword off to the left. Zell thrust forward trying to come under Roc's swing. Zell could feel the top of his head impact Roc's jaw. Roc staggered back. Zell took a better fighting stance, he was borrowing judo techniques and trying to remember every combat king move he could think of. Roc suddenly regained his balance and charged Zell. He swung downward causing Zell to move to one side. Roc swung around and swung from his right. Zell had to lean back to avoid loosing his head, "Shit! This guy ain't fooling around." Zell leaned back a little too far. He fell backward under Roc's sword blow.
Roc had recovered from his spinning attack, he stabbed at Zell's head. Zell began rolling out of the way, dodging Roc's next seven attempts to stab Zell's head or chest. Zell stopped rolling just a single sword blade stopped him. Zell could feel the sword had barely missed his ear. Zell saw Roc's other sword stick into the ground on the other side of his head. He looked up to see Roc in full hawk with both claws out.
Zell's eyes widened, "I'm boned." Zell knew if he tried to get up he'd loose both ears. Zell looked down to see Roc's legs were right next to his. Zell put both feet together catching Roc's right leg. Zell tilted to the left knocking Roc off his feet. Zell pushed the swords away and stood up. Roc was still on the ground trying to get up. Zell looked down at him, "The hell you trying to prove?"
Roc was on all fours with his head down, he hit the ground hard. He coughed. Zell could see a few drops of blood hit the ground, "You're better then I gave you credit for."
Zell cracked his knuckles, "What's you deal? Wearing a black SeeD uniform? You got brainwashed or something?"
Roc's wings flared out, Zell jumped up to avoid getting cut across the stomach. Roc was instantly to his feet in mid hawk. He caught Zell's throat in one hand and held Zell up. Zell was fighting to get free, he could barely breath. Roc's other hand grew sharper, he drew back, "I am to take you in alive, preferably."
Zell choked, "Roc! Damnit, snap out of it!"
Roc slammed Zell in the chest, hard. Roc's two talons landed on either side of Zell's adams apple with his palm on Zell's Chest. Zell could feel all the air leaving his lungs and his rib cage break, everything went black.
* * * *
Kiyoko had cleared the ninth floor, she hadn't seen a black SeeD since the sixth. The stairwells had all been sealed from the other side. This was most likely a security precaution to stop an intruder from moving around too much. Kiyoko had been using emergency ladders and the air duct system to get around.
Kiyoko walked into a large room filled with filing cabinets, "I will never understand how humans can create this much paper filled with worthless information." Kiyoko looked up, she found what she was looking for, an air duct. Kiyoko jumped onto one of the cabinets. She drew one claw and unscrewed the bolts holding the grate in place. Kiyoko let the grate hit the ground, "From what I saw it should be a little ways down." Kiyoko hoisted herself into the air duct. She was crawling on all fours, "Honestly, I can't imagine how they keep this place secure if I can move around."
The narrow duct opened into a large cylinder. Kiyoko stood up, "Now, if I came from over there and I saw where that leads, I'm trying to go," She looked up and saw a tube about four feet in diameter, "up." Kiyoko drew her claws and jumped. Her claws cut through the thin metal, "This reminds me of climbing trees back in the jungle." Kiyoko looked through one of the punctures she has made in the shaft. She couldn't see much but she could hear two voices.
"Are you sure he's out cold?"
"I did it myself."
"What do we do with him?"
"He's carrying Shiva, that's a really strong GF. I'm sure we could cut him open and take her out."
"I have a better idea. You just try and find his partner."
"I know where she's going. Don't worry."
Kiyoko kept climbing, "I wonder what that was about. Zell is carrying the Shiva GF. I wonder who they caught."
* * * *
Kitina was nearly in a state of rage. All her efforts and her polymorph abilities she couldn't even scratch Lydia. Kitina returned to her human form, "That's it! I'll level this whole building if I have to." Kitina held both hands together and focused. Her eyes rolled back in her head and every muscle in her face contorted, she was using an incredible amount of power.
Lydia stepped back, "You would sacrifice hundreds of innocent lives to kill me? You do not deserve to live." Lydia's eyes turned gold and her sword glowed red, "I will not allow you to toy with the lives of humans." Lydia rushed forward at Kitina, she wasn't even running now, she was using her wings to levitate an inch above the ground. Her movements were still fluent but how she was fighting back. Lydia swung her sword once, knocking Kitina's sword from her hands. Lydia spun backward allowing her sword to come around. Kitina jumped back just in time to miss the blow. Kitina looked down, her uniform was cut and she was bleeding. Lydia leaned forward and made to swings. Kitina had to duck to avoid them both. Kitina tried to stand up, there wasn't time. Lydia did a quick back flip hitting Kitina with her knee. Kitina was lifted off the ground.
Lydia got in close and put her arms around Kitina's waist, "I return this spirit to the earth." Lydia flew upward, almost thirty feet. Kitina looked down to see Lydia's face. Her eyes were still gold. Lydia slowly leaned back, Kitina realized what she was doing, this wasn't an air attack at all, this was about to turn into a swan dive. Lydia was now falling head first holding Kitina to make sure that she hit the ground first. Kitina struggled, "What the hell are you doing? You'll kill us both!"
"Hail Mary full of grace, the soul is willing and blessed…" Was all Kitina could hear. Lydia continued to dive. The moment Kitina's head impacted Lydia let go and bent back. She impacted the ground on her chest. Neither of them moved. Slowly Lydia's body began to stir, slowly at first. Her wings spread to their full length and Lydia floated into the air. Lydia tilted her body forward and put both feet back on the ground. She looked up at the window she had just fallen out of, "Something is wrong, Zell's presence has vanished and I am feeling something else, with the potential for more evil than Kitina. I must see to Kiyoko."
* * * *
After some more climbing Kiyoko was in the air duct over the control room. She was watching three people talking about the Ragnarok. Kiyoko was trying to hear, "I don't think they pose a problem."
"Have you fixed the plates?"
"Yes and we've adjusted to accommodate for any more EMPs. I don't think we're in any danger."
Kiyoko heard a door open, somebody just entered the room, "We're on full alert. It seems that the intruder has come farther than we thought."
The three scientists all turned around. Kiyoko could see whoever was talking walk up to the controls. His back was turned to the air duct, all Kiyoko could see was his long white hair, "I'll stay here in case there is trouble, continue as you were."
The door opened again. Whoever was giving orders spun around. Kiyoko's eyes widened as she saw his face, "Roc?" Kiyoko could feel the anger building inside her, she felt Onrefni shifting in her mind. Kiyoko inhaled sharply, "Rocky is a traitor? That bastard. I won't let him. Sweet dreams." Kiyoko's eyes rolled back, it was almost like she was having a caesurae. Kiyoko began to sing. It was an uncontrollable reaction, her voice was high pitched, almost to the point of being unheard by human ears but the effect was noticeable. Kiyoko saw everyone in the room begin to slow down. Finally Kiyoko's song became to strong, they all fell over in a state of deep sleep. Kiyoko kicked out the grate and dropped into the room. Without anyone awake there was little need to move quietly.
Kiyoko walked over to a control panel and began pressing buttons. Something flashed on the screen, "Open gate 7." Kiyoko removed a headset from one of the sleeping doctors and put it on, "Kiyoko to Ragnarok, you are cleared to land."
Kiyoko heard Squall's voice, "Roger. Glad to know you're alright. Where are Zell and Lydia?"
"I don't know. We split up and I got here first. Listen, Kitina's here and she's…" That was all she could get out. The headset was ripped off her head, "Ouch damnit!"
Roc could hear Squall, "Kiyoko! What happened?" Just before he crushed the head set in his hands, "I've known about your little singing break for a while now. It's amazing what you can learn from a bio analysis these days, come along Kitty, time for a visit to the doctors."
The hair on Kiyoko's back was on end, "If you're working for the black SeeD I have no loyalties to you."
Roc jumped to mid hawk, "That's a real shame."
Kiyoko drew her claws, "Why are you wearing a black SeeD uniform?"
"Isn't it obvious? I was a black SeeD long before I met you. How do you think I got chosen to be bonded?"
"You were kidnapped from your home along with your partner, Kitina."
Roc chuckled, "Why haven't you figured it out yet you stupid, stupid girl. Kitina is not me partner, she is my lover."
"Kitina?"
"You look surprised, I don't give a damn about Squall and his noble quest. I'm sick of it! I had an interesting chat with Kitina, it seems that the black SeeD are willing to show lenience if I can undo everything I've done. I've fixed most of the damage I made to the lab. I've gotten Rinoa and Seifer close to Ester to allow Kitina to capture them, now there was one other thing I did when I was AWOL. Now I remember, I let you free. If I am to rejoin the black SeeD truly, I have to bring you in."
Roc jumped to full hawk and charged. Kiyoko wasn't ready for an attack but she knew how Roc fought in that mode. Kiyoko ducked under Roc's charge. Roc stopped just short of the console Kiyoko had been using. Roc turned around, "Why won't you just be a good girl?"
Kiyoko jumped back and landed on a chair, "I've never been a good girl." Roc charged again. This time Kiyoko jumped into the air just above Roc. She passed over him harmlessly and he tripped over the chair. Kiyoko was now standing against the window, she was beginning to enjoy herself, "Toro! Toro!"
Roc screeched, this was a sort of battle cry he only used in full hawk, it also meant he was mad. He saw what Kiyoko was doing. If he charged again she would push him through the window and since Roc could barely gain altitude when flying he wouldn't be able to get back inside. Roc couldn't let that happen.
Roc stood up, his wings spread and he flexed his muscles. Kiyoko saw the room temperature drop from seventy to negative ten. Kiyoko began to shiver, "I know you've got the fur coat but that won't save you. Did you know that your race died out just after the ice age started?"
Roc wasn't moving. He knew he didn't have to. If he kept on the cold Kiyoko would pass out. Roc's eyes remained fixed on Kiyoko.
Kiyoko heard Lydia's voice, "If you fall I will catch you."
Kiyoko turned around, "I'd rather die then be put back in that tank!" Kiyoko punched the window, with the temperature as low as it was and the frost all over the windows it was no trouble to shatter the entire plate with one punch.
This was the one thing Roc didn't expect to happen. There was simply no choice, Kiyoko was too important to bring back dead. Roc dove out the window after her.
* * * *
Kiyoko looked up, Roc was following her, "If he catches me I'm dead."
Kiyoko felt herself slowing down, Lydia appeared over her, "You came!"
Lydia put her arms around Kiyoko and flapper her wings, "I just finished Kitina. There is a small chance the Polymorph will save her but I feel that I have done the lords work."
"I'm so glad you're here. Roc has…"
"I know about Roc, do not worry. You are under my protection and while I am here he will not harm you."
"He's flying after us."
"Do not worry. I don't know if you are aware of this but I can fly upward, he cannot."
"Did that Ragnarok make it?"
"Yes. The gates are closed and the spaceport is on full alert but Squall is smarter than that. He has hidden the Ragnarok and found refuge in the city. I know where he is."
"What about Zell?"
"Xanna Hashedo has placed him in critical condition. He will be taken to black garden for study."
"We have to go back and save him!"
"If I tried to move him he would die. The black SeeD will repair his body, make him strong enough to survive their tests. He will be safe for a while and if I turned around we'd be fighting Roc and a third of the black SeeD hunter garrison."
Kiyoko relaxed, any other questions could wait.
* * * *
Lydia and Kiyoko stood on a balcony twenty stories up. Kiyoko looked back at the control tower, "I just can't believe Roc's working with the black SeeD now."
Lydia opened the door, "I see you've been waiting for me."
Squall, Quistis and Seifer all sat on the cough that had been tilted around so they could watch the door leading to the balcony. Squall was the first to say anything, "I sprung for a room with a balcony, I thought you'd be visiting. Where's Zell?"
Lydia lowered her eyes, "He was captured by the a black SeeD GF beast."
"Kitina?"
"Roc."
"What?"
"Apparently Roc has found reason to rejoin the black SeeD. We may now count him as a threat."
"Can't you just turn him back?"
Lydia was getting a little annoyed, "Only if his heart truly desires to be on our side."
Quistis got up, "Since you just got here I'll fill you in. The Ragnarok is in a small docking bay where hopefully it won't be noticed. We've changed the id number and call sign to hide it. Half of our team is back there trying to hack into the Ester computer network. Apparently it's a little different then we're used to. Now that we're here we can get back to what we came to do, find black Garden. We suspect it's somewhere in or around the city. There is after all a massive desert out there, along with the lunar gate, Tears point, Lunatic Pandora and the sorceress memorial. That's a lot of ground to cover and we can't launch the Ragnarok, that means one of two things, a long drive in rental cars or we hack into the computer network. Either way we won't be able to move for a while. In the mean time, I guess we scout around."
"Does that mean we can go shopping?"
Quistis groaned, "I guess it does."
* * * *
There was a bright flash of light, Dantares Eldar's eyes opened slowly, "What? What happened?"
There was a deep voice from somewhere in the room, "You have finally regained consciousness. I have been left here to wait for you."
"Who are you?"
"Project Reaper. My orders were to remain in FH until you, project huntsman was able to wake up. I am to tell you what you have missed then take you to Esthar."
"Reaper? That's a new one."
"I was created the moment our superiors were aware of project Gabriel's existence."
"Gabriel? She died."
"No. She appeared in FH and healed the felious."
"Then she is still alive?"
"Yes."
"Then that is all I need to know. I must kill her."
"I have a small craft ready to take us to Esthar to finish our job."
"They're in Esthar already?"
"Yes."
* * * *
Squall and Irvine were walking around Esthar. After being stuck in the hotel with five girls it felt good to get out every once in a while. Squall had just stepped into the commercial district when he heard two very loud voices, "Squall! We found you."
Squall and Irvine both exchanged glances, "Damn. I thought we could at least go for a walk."
Rinoa and Selphie ran up to Squall and Irvine, "We found this really cool clothing store. There is the cutest thing…"
Irvine stopped paying attention. He held out one arm and said in a dull voice, "Lead the way."
Squall looked down at Rinoa who had borrowed Selphie's goofy smile, "We don't want them to get ahead of us." Squall groaned and followed.
* * * *
Irvine was standing outside a large clothing store reading a newspaper. He looked up as Squall walked out carrying what looked like twenty bags, "Hey, fearless leader," Squall didn't answer, "I found something interesting." Irvine folded up the paper to the front page and held it up.
Squall read, "Annual midnight promenade." Squall looked up, "Hosted by Laguna Loire himself. Interesting."
"I wouldn't mind a chance to catch up with him."
"Me neither." Rinoa had followed Squall outside, "You know we're going. I'll need something to wear…"
Rinoa spun around and grabbed Squall's arm. Rinoa pulled Squall back inside. Irvine shook his head, "Pour guy. I really hope he has enough money to cover this."
Irvine dropped his paper when he heard a chirpy voice, "And just what do you think you're doing out here mister?"
Irvine walked inside, "What do you need?"
* * * *
Elsewhere Zell was laying awake strapped to a table and from the feel of his body he was underwater. He couldn't move and there hadn't been any lights on in the room for a while. All Zell knew is that he was wearing some kind of breathing mask and he could only take in a little air at a time. There was a creaking sound, someone had entered the room.
"Lights, healing pool."
A light appeared over Zell's head, "What the hell…" Was all he could get out.
"So, you're awake. Please, don't get up." Zell snorted, "I wouldn't try to move."
"Da hell not?"
There was a sound of footsteps, "Because the machine you're strapped to is the only thing keeping you alive right now. After I finished you back at the control tower your rib cage collapsed. Funny story really."
"Roc?"
"That's me, Xanna Hashedo, Black SeeD ranger division, first class."
"You, bastard."
"I told you, your rib cage collapsed, you can't talk much and the breath mask is giving all the air you can handle and that large weight over your chest is supporting your bone structure and helping you breathe but it wasn't designed so you could carry on a conversation."
"Can't breathe." Zell was having incredible shortness of breath.
"I wanted to let you know, the new girl, Lydia, she did something very rude to my girlfriend. I'm looking to return the favor."
"So, you gonna kill me?"
"I'm going to kill your friends. Just think about this. Between me, Kitina, huntsman, who is on his way back by the way and somebody new we're going to do to Squall what you've been doing to us for the past weeks. There's a party in a few days back in Esthar and guess whose going to be there? Laguna. There's no way Squall won't show up. I'm going to cut Rinoa open and pull Adel from her mind."
Zell was fighting to move, "I'll kill you myself!" Zell was only able to whisper. There still wasn't enough air.
Roc laughed, "Are you in a hurry to die Zell? There's only one reason you're still alive."
"You wanna rematch?"
"I won the last fight. Haven't you figured it out yet? Kiyoko has taken quite a liking to you. She knows your scent and she has every intention of saving you, that's why you're going to be at the party, well," Roc walked over to the table and picked up Zell's jacket. Roc tore off the hood, "Your smell is going to be there anyway. If you're alive and well she will be there holding your hand. "
"That was two hundred gil you punk!" Zell was feeling drained, his eyelids were getting heavy, "I'll, take it out, of, you…" Zell passed out.
Roc walked toward the door, "That was fun. I wanted to know how much strength he had left. Guard!" Two black SeeD appeared in the doorway, "Our experiment worked, the healing tanks are a success, prepare one for Kitina and hurry."
* * * *
Back at the hotel Squall was showing everyone the article, "Laguna's hosting, I don't see how we have much of a choice."
Rinoa was leaned back in a chair, "I wonder what he's up to now. He's got to be, what, sixty?"
Seifer was sitting on a couch with his arms crossed, "You know it's a trap. There are going to be more black SeeD than black ties."
"Laguna is the mayor of Esthar. He probably knows where black garden is."
"I agree, he probably founded black Garden and is trying to kill us."
Kiyoko was getting bored. She didn't see the point to this conversation. All that would happen is that somebody would interrupt and one of them would wind up giving up.
Selphie was about to get a word in, "Laguna was such a nice person, I'm sure he'd be willing to help us. There's no way he'd have founded something like the black…"
Raijin was listening to Seifer's conversation, "Shut up, ya know!"
Selphie sat back down, "He was nice is all."
Kiyoko groaned, that was too predictable, the question was which of them would give up first. Squall continued his argument, "We can enter in small groups, the party is supposed to be about a third of the city, there's no way we'll stand out in a crowd like that."
"Fine. Do whatever you want. I don't give a damn anymore. We'll be out getting rental suits. Raijin! Fujin! Common. Let's go where we're appreciated. I'll see you at the party, then in hell once the black SeeD kill you."
"See you guys later, ya know."
"LOSERS."
Squall sat back down, "I'm really tired of him. When's the party?"
"Tomorrow."
"Good. That will give us some time to find black Garden. How's the hacking coming?"
Selphie stood up. Someone actually wanted to ask her something, "We're almost done. I think another day will do it."
"Another day is almost done?"
"Well, yea. Esthar is a big computer network."
"Whatever. We're all going to the party then. Just don't get drunk. I have a feeling we're going to run into some trouble."
* * * *
The next night Squall was putting on his tux, "I hate these damned things."
Irvine walked out of the bathroom wearing a white tux with matching white top hat, "I can't imagine why. I'm always looking forward to a chance to look this good."
"I thought I told everyone to blend in."
"This is blending in, for me. Besides, I have a matching accessory."
"What's that?"
Selphie walked out of the bathroom wearing a white dress, "Need I say more?"
Rinoa walked into the bathroom next, "You know, as much money as you have and as big as this room is why does it only have one bathroom?"
Lydia and Kiyoko were sitting on the bed playing cards, "I don't see why Selphie gets to wear something strapless and I've got to wear that thing." She pointed to a pair of boxes sitting in the corner.
Lydia had already fit into her open back white dress, "We don't want to attract to much attention. We're just lucky we found black nylon and a dress that style. According to the designer that dress gives you the most freedom of movement."
Squall added, "We were lucky enough to find a designer who didn't get scared when he saw Kiyoko."
Kiyoko held up one hand, "There aren't even any holes for my claws."
"Good." Rinoa was standing in the doorway. She had chosen a gold dress this time in the same style as her old white one, "Any comments?" Squall's jaw had just dropped.
Squall came to his senses, "Don't forget why you're here, Laguna will probably have bodyguards. It's our job to get him alone but don't start a commotion. If you see any black SeeD in the area you have to keep them as far away from Laguna as possible. Everyone with small weapons, find a good place to hide them." Squall saw Quistis slip the metal pipe that turned into a whip into her handbag, "Everyone else, just use whatever you have lying around."
Rinoa had an idea, "Kiyoko, could you turn around?" Kiyoko turned around. Rinoa untied the claw Kiyoko wore at the end of her ponytail. Rinoa held up her northern light and tied Kiyoko's hair to the handle. The northern light was now a gold ring, "I think with your black dress you could pull it off."
Kiyoko tried to look over her shoulder, "Neat."
* * * *
Everyone entered the commercial district only to be hit with every neon light, glowing sign and bright light, "I guess this is the place." Squall and Irvine looked like polar opposites, Squall with his black tux, vest, tie and pants. Irvine was wearing straight white, even his top hat. "I guess we agree to meet up later, at the town square maybe?"
"Sounds good to me." Selphie grabbed Irvine's sleeve and drug him off.
"I guess I'll see you later." Irvine and Selphie vanished into the large crowd of finely dressed people. Lydia seemed almost out of place, "I think I'll go explore. It is strange for me to be in such an open place."
Quistis followed, "I'll go with you."
Squall looked down at Rinoa, "I guess we're finally alone." Squall was leaned down for a kiss. Suddenly there was a loud almost whining voice, "Can we get going? Common, I want to have a look around."
Squall almost passed out, "Kiyoko."
Kiyoko grinned, "Yes."
"I thought you'd be going off alone."
"Are you kidding? You never know when you might need your ring back." Kiyoko spun around letting everyone see the northern light tied to her braid, "I can't leave Rinoa defenseless."
Squall's hopes sank, "Well yes, I guess we'd better get moving."
* * * *
Lydia and Quistis had been walking for some time now. They had finally stopped on a road overlooking the residential district, "It's amazing to think that there could be so many people down there in need of help."
Quistis finished the glass of wine she was drinking, "I can think of a few people here. I still can't understand what happened to Roc."
"Kitina is a master of trickery. If she has bound his mind in sex and lies there may be nothing I can do. It's the struggle within, he'll seal his own coffin . He must see Kitina for what she really…" Lydia suddenly stood straight up, her eyes were gold and she appeared to be in a trance. Lydia suddenly lost hr balance and fell.
Quistis moved back and caught her, "What was that?"
"Someone is here, a GF man like me but different."
"You can since other GFs?"
"No, not all of them. Only the dark ones, those who would kill for pleasure and those twisted creatures who toy with the lives of humans. There are three GF men here besides me. One of them I have met before, long ago. Roc is another. I can't tell the third, his GF is not truly evil."
Quistis felt for the metal poll in her hand bag, "I'm glad you're wearing a back less dress, you're gonna need it. We'd better find Squall."
Lydia grabbed Quistis's arm, "Wait. There is a black SeeD watching you. He is directly behind you."
"How can you tell?"
"His heart seeks to do you harm, that has made me aware of his presence."
A light violin chorus started in the background. With an area this big the entire road was a dance floor as the background music dictated. A tall man wearing a black tux walked up to Quistis, "Excuse me madam, may I have this dance?"
It was him. Quistis could tell by the look in his eye, "I am sorry sir but I am trying to find my boyfriend."
"Then perhaps I can occupy your time and make him come looking for you."
Quistis looked around. To her surprise she saw Seifer standing by a large punch bowl wearing a tux with a deep look on his face. Fujin and Raijin were nowhere to be seen. Quistis was desperate to get away, "Thank you for your offer but I think I have found him."
Quistis marched up to Seifer. She could still feel the man's eyes watching him. She grabbed Seifer's attention, "There you are. I have been looking all over for you."
Seifer was surprised, "What?"
Quistis said in a lower tone, "Just dance. We're being watched."
Seifer set down his glass of punch and put one hand around her back, "I was just getting a drink."
Quistis pushed Seifer's hand down to her waist, "I know what you were doing." Quistis put one arm over his shoulder, "You can't spike the punch here, it already tastes like alcohol."
Seifer and Quistis were keeping eye contact. As they walked arm in arm through the dozens of dancing couples Quistis kept her free hand wrapped around his arm that had settled just above her hip. As they spun around twice it occurred to Seifer that he wasn't leading, she was. They were positioned so that Seifer should have been leading but as Quistis moved Seifer responded. It was quite an interesting thing to happen. Seifer's eyes were now wondering the area. He saw two men watching them, "Black SeeD?"
"That's what Lydia said."
Seifer suddenly planted his feet. He twisted his arm slightly around and set it back on Quistis's waist, "Then we should put on a show." Now Seifer was leading. She was moving where he wanted her to go. Seifer was still eyeing the two black SeeD. They were still looking back, "I can have Fujin and Raijin take care of them if you want."
Quistis was beginning to loosen up, "I'm not in a hurry."
"Judging by your form you've taken lessons."
"Yes."
Seifer moved one leg past Quistis and leaned her back with his arm. Quistis had indeed taken dance lessons. Several years of ballroom dancing back at Balamb, it was sort of a hobby and with as many parties as Selphie threw it was a requirement. Quistis knew how to be dipped, simply relax and let the partner do the work. Seifer pulled her back up and pulled her close. He head was just beside his chest, "You know I'm going to kill you for that."
"I know you're going to try."
They danced for another five minutes. Seifer was trying out the moves he had learned and seeing just how far Quistis would let him go, "They've gone. I think they're convinced that you're somebody else."
Quistis removed Seifer's hand from her waist, "We'll talk. I have to go find Squall."
"Be my guest. Guess I'll call you or something."
Quistis turned around to see Fujin, Raijin and Lydia all start clapping. Quistis blushed, "Well then. If you're going to stand around gawking all day you might as well get a picture."
Fujin coughed, "PAY."
Raijin pulled out ten gil, "She didn't kick Seifer in the nuts, ya know. I guess I lost the bet, ya know."
Fujin pocketed the money, "EASY."
Lydia walked beside Quistis, "That was interesting. I was trying to figure out, who was leading?"
Quistis snorted, "I'll never tell."
* * * *
Squall and Rinoa were walking down a very long street, "Laguna is supposed to be appearing down here somewhere. Knowing him it'll be at a very high place. He's always been the type to make an entrance."
Rinoa looked up, "Like an overpass?" Above them there was another glass bottom road intersecting the one they were standing on. The road was about thirty feet up, it would be the best place to make an entrance, "I guess we wait here."
Kiyoko wasn't far behind, "What? Why are we stopping?"
"We're waiting for Laguna."
"Who?"
"He's the guy who runs the place. He may know where black garden is."
Kiyoko stood watching the empty road for a minute. An odd smell crossed her nose, "What's that?" She looked around, "That scent. Zell?" It was Zell, or at least it smelled just like Zell. Kiyoko traced the scent to someone in a black Tux with short blond hair. Kiyoko couldn't get a look at his face. He as walking away toward a small alley, "They won't mind if I run off for a second."
Kiyoko began to walk off. Rinoa turned around, "Wait." Kiyoko started running. Rinoa reached out and tried to grab at Kiyoko. Ass she could catch was the braid. Rinoa tried to hang on but Kiyoko was moving to fast. The northern light came off Kiyoko's braid, "Damn."
Rinoa could faintly hear Kiyoko saying, "IfoundZell!"
Rinoa held the blade ring in her hand, "I guess I didn't tie it as well as I thought."
* * * *
Kiyoko had just turned into the alley. The man who looked and smelled like Zell was standing facing the wall. There was another figure tied up and hanging from a rope tied to his shirt. Kiyoko drew her claws, "Who are you?"
"I was out for a while, in the hospital for to long. Imagine my surprise when I woke up to find that I had just missed you."
The voice was wrong somehow, "Zell?" Kiyoko saw the face of the man who was tied up. This was Zell.
"My name is Dantares." He threw off the wig. He now had short brown hair. As Kiyoko watched it got longer. The figure turned around, it was huntsman, "And I always catch the animal."
Before Kiyoko could move a series a steel bars came out of the walls on either side of her. The bars moved to quickly, Kiyoko couldn't escape in time. A steel sheet spreading over the top of the cage completing the prison. Kiyoko was grabbing at the bars trying to claw at huntsman. He was staying just out of arms reach, "I'm not an animal you bastard!"
Huntsman watched Kiyoko, "Funny. You reacted to Zell's pheromones like a female cat trying to find a mate."
Zell was squirming around in his ropes, "Untie me you ass hole! I'll give you a fight."
Kiyoko was making growling sounds, "He's right you know. Let either of us go and we'll kill you."
Huntsman snapped his fingers, "That's why I brought help." Roc walked out of a small door in the wall, "I told you. We were just friends but Zell, no she wanted him."
"I owe you an apology. It is always nice to have a personal stake in a hunt. Let's bring them back to black garden."
Kiyoko called out to Roc, "What's wrong with you?"
Roc grinned, "I'm back in black since I hit the sack . Kitina can be very persuasive when she wants to be."
* * * *
Rinoa was looking around trying to find Kiyoko, "What would make her run off like that?"
"I don't know. She can be really impulsive sometimes."
Three men walked across the road. Squall squinted to see them, "I can't recognize any of them…"
One of the men stepped to the edge of the road and waved to the crowd, "Laguna?"
Rinoa looked up, "That's him. Looks like you guessed right."
As Laguna began to speak ten men all dressed alike walked up to Squall. They stood around him but in a crowd that big they weren't that easy to notice. One of them spoke, "Squall Lionhart, you are under arrest for crimes against the black SeeD and humanity."
Squall took a fighting stance. Rinoa had ducked into the crowd the moment she realized that she was being surrounded. All the black SeeD reached into their coats and pulled out guns, "Mr. Lionhart, don't make this hard on yourself, just come with us."
Squall flexed his muscles, "I don't think so. I may not have my gun blade but I can still put up a fight. Ifrit, empower me!"
Squall's eyes glowed red. A ten foot fire red figure was standing over Squall. Squall heard one of them yell, "It's a GF! Shoot to kill!"
All ten black SeeD who were now standing at a distance from Squall/Ifrit pulled out their guns and fired. Ifrit crouched down and put his arm around Squall. As the bullets hit Ifrit's firewall they were melted down in mid air. Ifrit was too strong. Squall and Ifrit both punched in the direction of the road Laguna was standing on. A massive fireball hit the street and continued moving. All the black SeeD jumped out of the way just missing the fireball.
Ifrit disappeared. Squall had one course of action left, run. He was unarmed, he had no magic and his GF needed time to recharge. Squall ran down the road which had been cleared by the blast. There was little chance of escape now. There was no way to duck into the crowd now, nobody would come near him. Squall looked back and saw the ten black SeeD regrouping. This was it. There was nowhere left to run.
Squall heard someone yell, "Catch!"
Squall looked up, it was Laguna. He was holding a rather large machine gun. He slid a clip in and tossed it to Squall. Squall reached out and caught the weapon. He pulled back the slide. He could hear the first bullet enter the chamber. Knowing Laguna it was an automatic. Squall turned around. He was holding the handle with one hand and the clip with the other. Squall squeezed the trigger and moved the gun back and forth of the now twenty black SeeD advancing on him. Most were killed.
Squall felt the last bullet leave the chamber, "Damn."
Squall heard someone yelling from above, "Get your ass up here man!" Squall looked up, Kiros and Ward had pulled out guns and were laying down cover fire.
Squall looked around, "How?"
Laguna looked down, "How should I know?"
Rinoa ran out of the crowd. She wrapped both arms around Squall's waist, "Fast Float!"
A large magic ring appeared around Squall and Rinoa. Squall felt a gust of wind whipping around him, "What the…" Before he could finish he was in the air. Rinoa seemed to be keeping him up. The two flew just over the road Laguna was standing on. Rinoa's strength gave out and she fell to the ground with Squall. Squall helped Rinoa up, "Adel?"
"Yes."
Laguna grabbed Squall and pulled him down. Squall fell to the ground just in time to miss the next wave of black SeeD fire, "Nice to see you again."
Squall looked over the road, "They're still after me. I was sure they wouldn't try anything tonight."
"Listen. I'd love to sit here and chat but can we get a move on? I have a lemo down the street."
Kiros just reloaded, "We'll cover you. We've been having trouble with the black SeeD for a while now." Kiros reached for his headset, "What? Yes. We'll be there shortly."
Laguna looked up at Kiros, "Well."
"Irvine, Selphie, Quistis and someone called Lydia have been taken into our custody. My men are moving them to the capital building. I suggest we get moving ourselves."
Laguna, Rinoa and Squall all took off running down the street keeping their heads low to avoid gunfire, "No way I'm letting you guys get killed before you explain what the hell's going on."
* * * *
Laguna, Squall and Rinoa got in the lemo and sat down, "That was to close."
Squall leaned back and relaxed, "Sorry for the widespread panic. Couldn't be helped."
Laguna clicked on the intercom button, "Kiros, Ward, home."
"Sure thing boss."
Laguna pulled out a bottle of wine and three glasses, "So, what brings you to Esthar?"
Squall watched Laguna pour the wine in three glasses, "We're tracking a garden organization called Black SeeD. We tracked one of their plains from FH here to Esthar. I was hoping to contact you but this wasn't what I had in mind."
"So it was you who tried to take over the control tower. I know all to well about the black SeeD and yes, their garden is within the walls of the Esthar defense system. They're based on doctor Odine's research but if he saw what they were doing he'd probably go into voluntary exile. We don't know too much about them but they have quite a reputation around here. Their ultimate goal seems to be to take over Esthar and use our resources. This is the third attempt on my life. Imagine my surprise when I saw you."
"We've been tracking them for some time now. They're trying to get their hands on a sorceress."
"May I assume from that new spell that Rinoa is using Edea's powers?"
"Adel." Rinoa corrected.
"They also want to capture Seifer and a felious named Kiyoko."
"Seifer? What a nasty piece of work. Are you two working together now?"
"Yes. We've also learned of a new brand of black SeeD. We called them GF men because they are bonded to a GF physically as well mentally. Our old friend Roc for example fused with a GF diamond hawk. He can grow larger and covered with ice then he can grow wings, claws and a beak. He was on our side but now he's a working for them for some reason."
"That's news to me. How many are there?"
"We know of a project diamond hawk, polymorph, Gabriel and huntsman but I wouldn't be surprised if the black SeeD made a few more to deal with us. Gabriel is on our side but the rest are dangerous."
A TV screen appeared in the table in the middle of the lemo. A soldier appeared on the screen and saluted Laguna, "Sir, we were examining an alleyway near the site of the shooting. We found something interesting."
Laguna watched the screen intently, "Squall, I think you should see this."
Laguna turned the TV screen around. Squall saw a wall with something hanging. Squall squinted. It was a pair of nylon sleeves that looked to have been torn off a dress and a pair of gloves with three blades on each glove. They were hanging by an arrow that had been left in front of the wall. Laguna saw Squall's face, "What is it?"
"Roc and Huntsman have Kiyoko."
Squall had been above the cloud cover for nearly an hour. He was using the Ragnarok's stealth mode to follow the ship. Seifer had been manning the controls and Quistis had since joined them, "They've been going at this speed for a while now. How much farther can it possibly be?"
Seifer was looking at a map, "I'm triangulating our position. Oh shit."
"What?"
"Squall, if this thing is write we're within spitting distance of Ester landing station."
"That's impossible."
"Squall, we've been going at mach two for an hour! Ester station is on the east side of town you know."
The orange light on Squall's panel was gone, "What happened?"
Seifer was back to his keyboard, "They've disappeared."
"I can see that. I want to know why."
"At this speed they couldn't have landed and there's nothing in sight."
"Can we land the Ragnarok?"
"Quistis was looking at a map, "Can't, it's all jagged rock down there."
Squall remembered his last trip to Ester. He pressed the com button, a small picture of Selphie came up, "Selphie, can you get up here?"
* * * *
Selphie and Squall were alone on the bridge, "We got this ship from Ester. After Rinoa and I went into space they said we could have it. In the past we've been able to land in Ester so why can't we?"
"There are command codes we have to transmit on a certain band."
"What happened to those codes?"
"Oh, they're still in the computer system somewhere. It might be easier to hack in to Ester's control tower."
"Do whatever it takes."
"It could be days."
"I'm willing to wait. Let me know when you find anything."
* * * *
Squall had been asleep for the past five hours. After following the ship all night and waiting for it all the previous day Squall's eyes were still blood shot. Squall was looking at his face in the mirror, "It's three in the afternoon, time to start my day."
Squall had just walked outside then the intercom clicked on, "Squall, please come to the bridge, I found something!"
Squall groaned, "I could have brought Xu along but no, I had to bring Selphie."
* * * *
Selphie had a several pictures of the desert on the three large monitors, "We all know that Ester is down there somewhere but we have no way of knowing where or how to get in."
"I know. Last time the hologram cover dropped and we got in."
Selphie typed a long string of commands into the computer, "Computer, load EMP."
There was a bright flash of light. For one second the entire desert turned into a sparkling city then it was gone, "They'll be able to defend themselves against that trick if I do it again. Computer, replay." The monitors shifted and the glowing city of Ester reappeared, "If I change the lighting about ten degrees…" The hexagon plates now had a faint glare, "Now we know where the plates are, the next part is finding an entrance."
"Why couldn't you have gotten the pictures the first time you tried this?"
"I did but we were in the wrong place to catch the light. Now, These things here," The monitors zoomed in, "look like doors because the plates are vertical instead of horizontal. There are six of these all. They're centered around that mountain ahead of us I'm willing to bet is the control tower."
"Can we get in?"
"The way I see it we've got three options. Blow a hole in the gate and force our way in, intercept the command codes from the next ship in or out which I'm guessing will be looking for us. Our third option is to blow up the control tower, possible shutting down the entire security network."
"I like the second option."
"There's another problem."
"What?"
"The Ragnarok has been air born for the last seventy two hours. If we wait to long we'll loose the thrusters and crash into the city killing hundreds of innocent people and probably ourselves."
"Okay." Squall groaned, it was going to be a long day, he could feel it.
* * * *
Squall and Quistis stood in the briefing room, "How do you know this will work?"
Squall's arms were crossed, "If she's our guardian angel she has to respond."
The wind in the room shifted, "Did you turn up the heat?"
"No."
"I did." Lydia was standing at the door in her human body, "My feelings effect my surroundings."
Squall and Quistis both spun around, "How did you do that?"
"That is not your concern."
"If you're here then you know…"
Lydia wasn't using her angelic tone of voice, she was angry, "I know what you want and I came here to give you an answer."
"If you can teleport behind us then why can't you go into the control tower and start busting heads?"
Lydia was walking toward Squall, "I will not kill for your gain. You think I am your soldier? I am your guardian. If you think you can call me and give me a mission briefing and expect me to say yes sir and carry it out you're sadly mistaken."
"We need to get inside. If you have the power to help us then why not do it?"
"Because you don't understand. A human life is a valuable thing, I've seen you take to many lives needlessly. I will not will myself to appear in the control tower and kill everyone just to give you a few access codes. However, I will teleport two of your team mates into the city, from there you may do as you please."
"Fine, I choose Zell and Kiyoko. They seem to work well together."
"Done" Lydia vanished in a flash of light but her voice lingered, "I am your guardian, I am not your killing machine."
* * * *
Zell, Kiyoko and Lydia appeared in a large street somewhere in Esthar. Zell looked up, the Ragnarok was hovering high above the city, "It's so hard to believe that they can't see us down here."
Lydia was in mid angel, "Welcome to the neon jungle. You can do whatever you want, I will travel with you but I will not fight for you."
Zell clenched his fist, "That's cool with me. I'm just grateful for the ride." Zell saw a small table floating near a large group of tubes, "I remember this. Have a seat, this is really cool."
Lydia and Kiyoko sat down. Zell sat down on the table and pressed a few buttons, "Take us to the docks." The table floated a little higher then moved into one of the tubes. Zell quickly grabbed the seat as the wind rushed past his head, "Damn, they're faster than I remember."
Lydia sat with her arms crossed and her eyes closed. Kiyoko was looking over her shoulder trying to figure out what she was doing. Lydia breathed in, "This is a large city but I know it very well. We'll be here for another minute."
Zell was still hanging onto the table, "So, I'm trying to figure this out, if you're a half GF like Roc and Kitina why don't you fight?"
"A human is bound by the nature of his GF. Diamond Hawk is a predator, a noble predator but a predator none the less. My nature is to protect instead of destroying."
"Wasn't Lydia a soldier?"
"She was, but Gabriel has shown her the light."
The table came to a stop. Zell and Kiyoko quickly jumped off. Zell looked up to see the a giant building with all sorts of radar equipment on the top, "The station that will open the gates and allow the Ragnarok inside is in the large ring ten stories up. Without using the elevator it will be a long trip."
"Can't you just fly us up?"
"I am your guide, I will not fight with you."
"Fine." Zell was getting a little tired of hearing, 'I won't fight.' From Lydia, "We'll just have to go in there and start busting some heads."
"Actually, see how far you can get without killing anyone."
Zell groaned, "Alright!"
* * * *
Zell walked up to the building and pushed open the huge glass doors, "Hmm, I could use that later." Zell walked into the huge lobby area. Everyone was wearing a white lab coat, "Something ain't right."
Zell was stopped by a fat man in a police uniform, "Excuse me sir. There are no weapons allowed in the building. I'll have to ask you to step this way."
Zell saw a metal detector, "Grief, I hope Squall doesn't have this problem dealing with customs once he lands." Zell stepped through the metal detector, the red light flashed. Zell stepped back through and dropped his metal gloves and chain necklace into the metal trey, he stepped through again, the same red light.
The guard walked up to Zell, "I'm going to have to use the metal detector."
Zell grinned, "I've got this metal plate in my head, real bad accident a while back.
The guard held up the metal detector. Zell put his hand around the guard's wrist. He swung around and threw the guard over one shoulder. He grabbed the metal detector and banged the guard on the head, "Why have a high security area guarded by a fat guy? What ever happened to those hopped up cops off that TV show? Yoko, we're done playing nice, break for it!" Zell grabbed his gloves and looked up, "Shit!"
Twenty men in black uniforms appeared on a balcony overlooking the lobby. Zell and Kiyoko were already running for a door. Zell was keeping his head down as the guards opened fire, "What is this shit?"
Kiyoko rushed for the door, "I think they've spotted us."
Lydia appeared in the doorway, "I guess you tried your best."
Zell and Kiyoko dove through the door. Lydia closed the door behind them and put a metal bar through the handle, "That'll keep them busy for a while."
Zell was leaned against a wall, "Don't use violence, my ass! We could have been killed."
"I must give peace a chance, now that we know peace won't work we can fight."
Zell put his gloves back on, "You're worse than a damn network censor."
* * * *
Zell and Kiyoko had battled their way up three stories. The three were standing at the end of one hallway with five black SeeD shooting at them on the other. Zell had used three machine gun clips, "Ya know, I'm a little tired of this shit."
Zell heard someone at the other end of the hallway yell, "Hold your fire. I want to do this myself."
Zell could hear footsteps coming down the hall. Zell grinned, "It's miss swim suit herself."
Kitina answered, "Put down your weapons and surrender. We have you gunned down."
Lydia's body pulsed white, "Kitina. There's a voice I never thought I'd have to hear again." Lydia stepped around the corner.
Kitina stopped, almost in shock, "You." She drew a saber.
"That's right you harlet. I survived that prison hell you stuck me in. I am the angel of vengeance."
Kitina drew her sword, "I'll kill you myself." Kitina lunged at Lydia. Lydia produced a four foot burning sword and parried the blow. Lydia and Kitina dove back with their swords still locked.
Zell looked back, "Lydia, there's a window behind you!" The window was overlooking a large three story courtyard area with large computers and walkways everywhere.
Lydia clenched her teeth, she hadn't gone full GF. Lydia spread her wings as the window shattered behind her. They fell thirty feet downward and landed on one of the walkways. Zell heard Kitina's voice, "The black SeeD are surprised, take advantage. I'll hold off Kitina."
* * * *
Kitina was attacking furiously. Every time she swung Lydia took a step back and blocked or pushed the sword away. She wasn't attacking at all. Kitina made a swipe at Lydia, "Why won't you fight back?"
Lydia pushed Kitina's sword away, "I will not shed blood needlessly, even yours."
"That's to bad." Kitina made a series of downward swipes, all blocked, "Damnit, fight back!"
Lydia was moving fluently, almost like a dance, she was moving backwards but she was still dodging, "You will never understand, you can't beat me, you can't stop me, all you can do is fight."
"That's not all I can do." Kitina's face shifted, she was part cat, like Kiyoko but tiger instead of leopard, "I've been reading the falious' bio, I know how she moves and I can copy it."
"You are a polymorph, do you even have a face of your own anymore?"
Kitina's fighting style had changed. She was faster and more brutal but she still couldn't connect. Lydia was blocking, "You can't keep this up! You think you're keeping me busy while your friends keep moving? You don't know what I have in store for them."
Lydia parried another blow, "What then?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
* * * *
Zell was up to the sixth floor, he and Kiyoko had decided to split up to throw off the black SeeD, there was no way the black SeeD could divide themselves and still hold their own. Zell had just taken out three black Seed and walked down a hallway. Zell saw a door labeled, "Utility." Zell grinned, "I'll bet they have the breakers in there. I could probably turn off the internal defenses from there."
Zell opened the door and was stopped by a large figure wearing black, "Great, I thought I'd killed enough of you bastards." Zell took a step back and used a fighting stance, "You gonna fight or what?"
The figure stepped out of the shadows and drew two swords. Zell's eyes widened, "Roc? Damn glad to see you." Zell held out one hand.
Roc's face hadn't changed, he was just watching Zell, he clanged both swords together. He saw Zell take a step back, "Shut up and fight." Roc pulled off his jacket. He didn't change his shape but he charged Zell and swung with both swords.
Zell flipped backward, "The hell you doing? You're on our side."
Roc swung again, "By order of black Garden you are under arrest for breaking into a federal building."
Zell was quickly getting the idea, "Yo, what's you problem? You want a fight? You got it!"
Roc swung downward with one sword. Zell crossed the blades on his gloves and blocked, "I don't want to fight you!"
Roc tried to force his sword downward. Zell was almost dropped to his knees, Roc was over a foot taller. Zell quickly tore both gloves apart throwing Roc's sword off to the left. Zell thrust forward trying to come under Roc's swing. Zell could feel the top of his head impact Roc's jaw. Roc staggered back. Zell took a better fighting stance, he was borrowing judo techniques and trying to remember every combat king move he could think of. Roc suddenly regained his balance and charged Zell. He swung downward causing Zell to move to one side. Roc swung around and swung from his right. Zell had to lean back to avoid loosing his head, "Shit! This guy ain't fooling around." Zell leaned back a little too far. He fell backward under Roc's sword blow.
Roc had recovered from his spinning attack, he stabbed at Zell's head. Zell began rolling out of the way, dodging Roc's next seven attempts to stab Zell's head or chest. Zell stopped rolling just a single sword blade stopped him. Zell could feel the sword had barely missed his ear. Zell saw Roc's other sword stick into the ground on the other side of his head. He looked up to see Roc in full hawk with both claws out.
Zell's eyes widened, "I'm boned." Zell knew if he tried to get up he'd loose both ears. Zell looked down to see Roc's legs were right next to his. Zell put both feet together catching Roc's right leg. Zell tilted to the left knocking Roc off his feet. Zell pushed the swords away and stood up. Roc was still on the ground trying to get up. Zell looked down at him, "The hell you trying to prove?"
Roc was on all fours with his head down, he hit the ground hard. He coughed. Zell could see a few drops of blood hit the ground, "You're better then I gave you credit for."
Zell cracked his knuckles, "What's you deal? Wearing a black SeeD uniform? You got brainwashed or something?"
Roc's wings flared out, Zell jumped up to avoid getting cut across the stomach. Roc was instantly to his feet in mid hawk. He caught Zell's throat in one hand and held Zell up. Zell was fighting to get free, he could barely breath. Roc's other hand grew sharper, he drew back, "I am to take you in alive, preferably."
Zell choked, "Roc! Damnit, snap out of it!"
Roc slammed Zell in the chest, hard. Roc's two talons landed on either side of Zell's adams apple with his palm on Zell's Chest. Zell could feel all the air leaving his lungs and his rib cage break, everything went black.
* * * *
Kiyoko had cleared the ninth floor, she hadn't seen a black SeeD since the sixth. The stairwells had all been sealed from the other side. This was most likely a security precaution to stop an intruder from moving around too much. Kiyoko had been using emergency ladders and the air duct system to get around.
Kiyoko walked into a large room filled with filing cabinets, "I will never understand how humans can create this much paper filled with worthless information." Kiyoko looked up, she found what she was looking for, an air duct. Kiyoko jumped onto one of the cabinets. She drew one claw and unscrewed the bolts holding the grate in place. Kiyoko let the grate hit the ground, "From what I saw it should be a little ways down." Kiyoko hoisted herself into the air duct. She was crawling on all fours, "Honestly, I can't imagine how they keep this place secure if I can move around."
The narrow duct opened into a large cylinder. Kiyoko stood up, "Now, if I came from over there and I saw where that leads, I'm trying to go," She looked up and saw a tube about four feet in diameter, "up." Kiyoko drew her claws and jumped. Her claws cut through the thin metal, "This reminds me of climbing trees back in the jungle." Kiyoko looked through one of the punctures she has made in the shaft. She couldn't see much but she could hear two voices.
"Are you sure he's out cold?"
"I did it myself."
"What do we do with him?"
"He's carrying Shiva, that's a really strong GF. I'm sure we could cut him open and take her out."
"I have a better idea. You just try and find his partner."
"I know where she's going. Don't worry."
Kiyoko kept climbing, "I wonder what that was about. Zell is carrying the Shiva GF. I wonder who they caught."
* * * *
Kitina was nearly in a state of rage. All her efforts and her polymorph abilities she couldn't even scratch Lydia. Kitina returned to her human form, "That's it! I'll level this whole building if I have to." Kitina held both hands together and focused. Her eyes rolled back in her head and every muscle in her face contorted, she was using an incredible amount of power.
Lydia stepped back, "You would sacrifice hundreds of innocent lives to kill me? You do not deserve to live." Lydia's eyes turned gold and her sword glowed red, "I will not allow you to toy with the lives of humans." Lydia rushed forward at Kitina, she wasn't even running now, she was using her wings to levitate an inch above the ground. Her movements were still fluent but how she was fighting back. Lydia swung her sword once, knocking Kitina's sword from her hands. Lydia spun backward allowing her sword to come around. Kitina jumped back just in time to miss the blow. Kitina looked down, her uniform was cut and she was bleeding. Lydia leaned forward and made to swings. Kitina had to duck to avoid them both. Kitina tried to stand up, there wasn't time. Lydia did a quick back flip hitting Kitina with her knee. Kitina was lifted off the ground.
Lydia got in close and put her arms around Kitina's waist, "I return this spirit to the earth." Lydia flew upward, almost thirty feet. Kitina looked down to see Lydia's face. Her eyes were still gold. Lydia slowly leaned back, Kitina realized what she was doing, this wasn't an air attack at all, this was about to turn into a swan dive. Lydia was now falling head first holding Kitina to make sure that she hit the ground first. Kitina struggled, "What the hell are you doing? You'll kill us both!"
"Hail Mary full of grace, the soul is willing and blessed…" Was all Kitina could hear. Lydia continued to dive. The moment Kitina's head impacted Lydia let go and bent back. She impacted the ground on her chest. Neither of them moved. Slowly Lydia's body began to stir, slowly at first. Her wings spread to their full length and Lydia floated into the air. Lydia tilted her body forward and put both feet back on the ground. She looked up at the window she had just fallen out of, "Something is wrong, Zell's presence has vanished and I am feeling something else, with the potential for more evil than Kitina. I must see to Kiyoko."
* * * *
After some more climbing Kiyoko was in the air duct over the control room. She was watching three people talking about the Ragnarok. Kiyoko was trying to hear, "I don't think they pose a problem."
"Have you fixed the plates?"
"Yes and we've adjusted to accommodate for any more EMPs. I don't think we're in any danger."
Kiyoko heard a door open, somebody just entered the room, "We're on full alert. It seems that the intruder has come farther than we thought."
The three scientists all turned around. Kiyoko could see whoever was talking walk up to the controls. His back was turned to the air duct, all Kiyoko could see was his long white hair, "I'll stay here in case there is trouble, continue as you were."
The door opened again. Whoever was giving orders spun around. Kiyoko's eyes widened as she saw his face, "Roc?" Kiyoko could feel the anger building inside her, she felt Onrefni shifting in her mind. Kiyoko inhaled sharply, "Rocky is a traitor? That bastard. I won't let him. Sweet dreams." Kiyoko's eyes rolled back, it was almost like she was having a caesurae. Kiyoko began to sing. It was an uncontrollable reaction, her voice was high pitched, almost to the point of being unheard by human ears but the effect was noticeable. Kiyoko saw everyone in the room begin to slow down. Finally Kiyoko's song became to strong, they all fell over in a state of deep sleep. Kiyoko kicked out the grate and dropped into the room. Without anyone awake there was little need to move quietly.
Kiyoko walked over to a control panel and began pressing buttons. Something flashed on the screen, "Open gate 7." Kiyoko removed a headset from one of the sleeping doctors and put it on, "Kiyoko to Ragnarok, you are cleared to land."
Kiyoko heard Squall's voice, "Roger. Glad to know you're alright. Where are Zell and Lydia?"
"I don't know. We split up and I got here first. Listen, Kitina's here and she's…" That was all she could get out. The headset was ripped off her head, "Ouch damnit!"
Roc could hear Squall, "Kiyoko! What happened?" Just before he crushed the head set in his hands, "I've known about your little singing break for a while now. It's amazing what you can learn from a bio analysis these days, come along Kitty, time for a visit to the doctors."
The hair on Kiyoko's back was on end, "If you're working for the black SeeD I have no loyalties to you."
Roc jumped to mid hawk, "That's a real shame."
Kiyoko drew her claws, "Why are you wearing a black SeeD uniform?"
"Isn't it obvious? I was a black SeeD long before I met you. How do you think I got chosen to be bonded?"
"You were kidnapped from your home along with your partner, Kitina."
Roc chuckled, "Why haven't you figured it out yet you stupid, stupid girl. Kitina is not me partner, she is my lover."
"Kitina?"
"You look surprised, I don't give a damn about Squall and his noble quest. I'm sick of it! I had an interesting chat with Kitina, it seems that the black SeeD are willing to show lenience if I can undo everything I've done. I've fixed most of the damage I made to the lab. I've gotten Rinoa and Seifer close to Ester to allow Kitina to capture them, now there was one other thing I did when I was AWOL. Now I remember, I let you free. If I am to rejoin the black SeeD truly, I have to bring you in."
Roc jumped to full hawk and charged. Kiyoko wasn't ready for an attack but she knew how Roc fought in that mode. Kiyoko ducked under Roc's charge. Roc stopped just short of the console Kiyoko had been using. Roc turned around, "Why won't you just be a good girl?"
Kiyoko jumped back and landed on a chair, "I've never been a good girl." Roc charged again. This time Kiyoko jumped into the air just above Roc. She passed over him harmlessly and he tripped over the chair. Kiyoko was now standing against the window, she was beginning to enjoy herself, "Toro! Toro!"
Roc screeched, this was a sort of battle cry he only used in full hawk, it also meant he was mad. He saw what Kiyoko was doing. If he charged again she would push him through the window and since Roc could barely gain altitude when flying he wouldn't be able to get back inside. Roc couldn't let that happen.
Roc stood up, his wings spread and he flexed his muscles. Kiyoko saw the room temperature drop from seventy to negative ten. Kiyoko began to shiver, "I know you've got the fur coat but that won't save you. Did you know that your race died out just after the ice age started?"
Roc wasn't moving. He knew he didn't have to. If he kept on the cold Kiyoko would pass out. Roc's eyes remained fixed on Kiyoko.
Kiyoko heard Lydia's voice, "If you fall I will catch you."
Kiyoko turned around, "I'd rather die then be put back in that tank!" Kiyoko punched the window, with the temperature as low as it was and the frost all over the windows it was no trouble to shatter the entire plate with one punch.
This was the one thing Roc didn't expect to happen. There was simply no choice, Kiyoko was too important to bring back dead. Roc dove out the window after her.
* * * *
Kiyoko looked up, Roc was following her, "If he catches me I'm dead."
Kiyoko felt herself slowing down, Lydia appeared over her, "You came!"
Lydia put her arms around Kiyoko and flapper her wings, "I just finished Kitina. There is a small chance the Polymorph will save her but I feel that I have done the lords work."
"I'm so glad you're here. Roc has…"
"I know about Roc, do not worry. You are under my protection and while I am here he will not harm you."
"He's flying after us."
"Do not worry. I don't know if you are aware of this but I can fly upward, he cannot."
"Did that Ragnarok make it?"
"Yes. The gates are closed and the spaceport is on full alert but Squall is smarter than that. He has hidden the Ragnarok and found refuge in the city. I know where he is."
"What about Zell?"
"Xanna Hashedo has placed him in critical condition. He will be taken to black garden for study."
"We have to go back and save him!"
"If I tried to move him he would die. The black SeeD will repair his body, make him strong enough to survive their tests. He will be safe for a while and if I turned around we'd be fighting Roc and a third of the black SeeD hunter garrison."
Kiyoko relaxed, any other questions could wait.
* * * *
Lydia and Kiyoko stood on a balcony twenty stories up. Kiyoko looked back at the control tower, "I just can't believe Roc's working with the black SeeD now."
Lydia opened the door, "I see you've been waiting for me."
Squall, Quistis and Seifer all sat on the cough that had been tilted around so they could watch the door leading to the balcony. Squall was the first to say anything, "I sprung for a room with a balcony, I thought you'd be visiting. Where's Zell?"
Lydia lowered her eyes, "He was captured by the a black SeeD GF beast."
"Kitina?"
"Roc."
"What?"
"Apparently Roc has found reason to rejoin the black SeeD. We may now count him as a threat."
"Can't you just turn him back?"
Lydia was getting a little annoyed, "Only if his heart truly desires to be on our side."
Quistis got up, "Since you just got here I'll fill you in. The Ragnarok is in a small docking bay where hopefully it won't be noticed. We've changed the id number and call sign to hide it. Half of our team is back there trying to hack into the Ester computer network. Apparently it's a little different then we're used to. Now that we're here we can get back to what we came to do, find black Garden. We suspect it's somewhere in or around the city. There is after all a massive desert out there, along with the lunar gate, Tears point, Lunatic Pandora and the sorceress memorial. That's a lot of ground to cover and we can't launch the Ragnarok, that means one of two things, a long drive in rental cars or we hack into the computer network. Either way we won't be able to move for a while. In the mean time, I guess we scout around."
"Does that mean we can go shopping?"
Quistis groaned, "I guess it does."
* * * *
There was a bright flash of light, Dantares Eldar's eyes opened slowly, "What? What happened?"
There was a deep voice from somewhere in the room, "You have finally regained consciousness. I have been left here to wait for you."
"Who are you?"
"Project Reaper. My orders were to remain in FH until you, project huntsman was able to wake up. I am to tell you what you have missed then take you to Esthar."
"Reaper? That's a new one."
"I was created the moment our superiors were aware of project Gabriel's existence."
"Gabriel? She died."
"No. She appeared in FH and healed the felious."
"Then she is still alive?"
"Yes."
"Then that is all I need to know. I must kill her."
"I have a small craft ready to take us to Esthar to finish our job."
"They're in Esthar already?"
"Yes."
* * * *
Squall and Irvine were walking around Esthar. After being stuck in the hotel with five girls it felt good to get out every once in a while. Squall had just stepped into the commercial district when he heard two very loud voices, "Squall! We found you."
Squall and Irvine both exchanged glances, "Damn. I thought we could at least go for a walk."
Rinoa and Selphie ran up to Squall and Irvine, "We found this really cool clothing store. There is the cutest thing…"
Irvine stopped paying attention. He held out one arm and said in a dull voice, "Lead the way."
Squall looked down at Rinoa who had borrowed Selphie's goofy smile, "We don't want them to get ahead of us." Squall groaned and followed.
* * * *
Irvine was standing outside a large clothing store reading a newspaper. He looked up as Squall walked out carrying what looked like twenty bags, "Hey, fearless leader," Squall didn't answer, "I found something interesting." Irvine folded up the paper to the front page and held it up.
Squall read, "Annual midnight promenade." Squall looked up, "Hosted by Laguna Loire himself. Interesting."
"I wouldn't mind a chance to catch up with him."
"Me neither." Rinoa had followed Squall outside, "You know we're going. I'll need something to wear…"
Rinoa spun around and grabbed Squall's arm. Rinoa pulled Squall back inside. Irvine shook his head, "Pour guy. I really hope he has enough money to cover this."
Irvine dropped his paper when he heard a chirpy voice, "And just what do you think you're doing out here mister?"
Irvine walked inside, "What do you need?"
* * * *
Elsewhere Zell was laying awake strapped to a table and from the feel of his body he was underwater. He couldn't move and there hadn't been any lights on in the room for a while. All Zell knew is that he was wearing some kind of breathing mask and he could only take in a little air at a time. There was a creaking sound, someone had entered the room.
"Lights, healing pool."
A light appeared over Zell's head, "What the hell…" Was all he could get out.
"So, you're awake. Please, don't get up." Zell snorted, "I wouldn't try to move."
"Da hell not?"
There was a sound of footsteps, "Because the machine you're strapped to is the only thing keeping you alive right now. After I finished you back at the control tower your rib cage collapsed. Funny story really."
"Roc?"
"That's me, Xanna Hashedo, Black SeeD ranger division, first class."
"You, bastard."
"I told you, your rib cage collapsed, you can't talk much and the breath mask is giving all the air you can handle and that large weight over your chest is supporting your bone structure and helping you breathe but it wasn't designed so you could carry on a conversation."
"Can't breathe." Zell was having incredible shortness of breath.
"I wanted to let you know, the new girl, Lydia, she did something very rude to my girlfriend. I'm looking to return the favor."
"So, you gonna kill me?"
"I'm going to kill your friends. Just think about this. Between me, Kitina, huntsman, who is on his way back by the way and somebody new we're going to do to Squall what you've been doing to us for the past weeks. There's a party in a few days back in Esthar and guess whose going to be there? Laguna. There's no way Squall won't show up. I'm going to cut Rinoa open and pull Adel from her mind."
Zell was fighting to move, "I'll kill you myself!" Zell was only able to whisper. There still wasn't enough air.
Roc laughed, "Are you in a hurry to die Zell? There's only one reason you're still alive."
"You wanna rematch?"
"I won the last fight. Haven't you figured it out yet? Kiyoko has taken quite a liking to you. She knows your scent and she has every intention of saving you, that's why you're going to be at the party, well," Roc walked over to the table and picked up Zell's jacket. Roc tore off the hood, "Your smell is going to be there anyway. If you're alive and well she will be there holding your hand. "
"That was two hundred gil you punk!" Zell was feeling drained, his eyelids were getting heavy, "I'll, take it out, of, you…" Zell passed out.
Roc walked toward the door, "That was fun. I wanted to know how much strength he had left. Guard!" Two black SeeD appeared in the doorway, "Our experiment worked, the healing tanks are a success, prepare one for Kitina and hurry."
* * * *
Back at the hotel Squall was showing everyone the article, "Laguna's hosting, I don't see how we have much of a choice."
Rinoa was leaned back in a chair, "I wonder what he's up to now. He's got to be, what, sixty?"
Seifer was sitting on a couch with his arms crossed, "You know it's a trap. There are going to be more black SeeD than black ties."
"Laguna is the mayor of Esthar. He probably knows where black garden is."
"I agree, he probably founded black Garden and is trying to kill us."
Kiyoko was getting bored. She didn't see the point to this conversation. All that would happen is that somebody would interrupt and one of them would wind up giving up.
Selphie was about to get a word in, "Laguna was such a nice person, I'm sure he'd be willing to help us. There's no way he'd have founded something like the black…"
Raijin was listening to Seifer's conversation, "Shut up, ya know!"
Selphie sat back down, "He was nice is all."
Kiyoko groaned, that was too predictable, the question was which of them would give up first. Squall continued his argument, "We can enter in small groups, the party is supposed to be about a third of the city, there's no way we'll stand out in a crowd like that."
"Fine. Do whatever you want. I don't give a damn anymore. We'll be out getting rental suits. Raijin! Fujin! Common. Let's go where we're appreciated. I'll see you at the party, then in hell once the black SeeD kill you."
"See you guys later, ya know."
"LOSERS."
Squall sat back down, "I'm really tired of him. When's the party?"
"Tomorrow."
"Good. That will give us some time to find black Garden. How's the hacking coming?"
Selphie stood up. Someone actually wanted to ask her something, "We're almost done. I think another day will do it."
"Another day is almost done?"
"Well, yea. Esthar is a big computer network."
"Whatever. We're all going to the party then. Just don't get drunk. I have a feeling we're going to run into some trouble."
* * * *
The next night Squall was putting on his tux, "I hate these damned things."
Irvine walked out of the bathroom wearing a white tux with matching white top hat, "I can't imagine why. I'm always looking forward to a chance to look this good."
"I thought I told everyone to blend in."
"This is blending in, for me. Besides, I have a matching accessory."
"What's that?"
Selphie walked out of the bathroom wearing a white dress, "Need I say more?"
Rinoa walked into the bathroom next, "You know, as much money as you have and as big as this room is why does it only have one bathroom?"
Lydia and Kiyoko were sitting on the bed playing cards, "I don't see why Selphie gets to wear something strapless and I've got to wear that thing." She pointed to a pair of boxes sitting in the corner.
Lydia had already fit into her open back white dress, "We don't want to attract to much attention. We're just lucky we found black nylon and a dress that style. According to the designer that dress gives you the most freedom of movement."
Squall added, "We were lucky enough to find a designer who didn't get scared when he saw Kiyoko."
Kiyoko held up one hand, "There aren't even any holes for my claws."
"Good." Rinoa was standing in the doorway. She had chosen a gold dress this time in the same style as her old white one, "Any comments?" Squall's jaw had just dropped.
Squall came to his senses, "Don't forget why you're here, Laguna will probably have bodyguards. It's our job to get him alone but don't start a commotion. If you see any black SeeD in the area you have to keep them as far away from Laguna as possible. Everyone with small weapons, find a good place to hide them." Squall saw Quistis slip the metal pipe that turned into a whip into her handbag, "Everyone else, just use whatever you have lying around."
Rinoa had an idea, "Kiyoko, could you turn around?" Kiyoko turned around. Rinoa untied the claw Kiyoko wore at the end of her ponytail. Rinoa held up her northern light and tied Kiyoko's hair to the handle. The northern light was now a gold ring, "I think with your black dress you could pull it off."
Kiyoko tried to look over her shoulder, "Neat."
* * * *
Everyone entered the commercial district only to be hit with every neon light, glowing sign and bright light, "I guess this is the place." Squall and Irvine looked like polar opposites, Squall with his black tux, vest, tie and pants. Irvine was wearing straight white, even his top hat. "I guess we agree to meet up later, at the town square maybe?"
"Sounds good to me." Selphie grabbed Irvine's sleeve and drug him off.
"I guess I'll see you later." Irvine and Selphie vanished into the large crowd of finely dressed people. Lydia seemed almost out of place, "I think I'll go explore. It is strange for me to be in such an open place."
Quistis followed, "I'll go with you."
Squall looked down at Rinoa, "I guess we're finally alone." Squall was leaned down for a kiss. Suddenly there was a loud almost whining voice, "Can we get going? Common, I want to have a look around."
Squall almost passed out, "Kiyoko."
Kiyoko grinned, "Yes."
"I thought you'd be going off alone."
"Are you kidding? You never know when you might need your ring back." Kiyoko spun around letting everyone see the northern light tied to her braid, "I can't leave Rinoa defenseless."
Squall's hopes sank, "Well yes, I guess we'd better get moving."
* * * *
Lydia and Quistis had been walking for some time now. They had finally stopped on a road overlooking the residential district, "It's amazing to think that there could be so many people down there in need of help."
Quistis finished the glass of wine she was drinking, "I can think of a few people here. I still can't understand what happened to Roc."
"Kitina is a master of trickery. If she has bound his mind in sex and lies there may be nothing I can do. It's the struggle within, he'll seal his own coffin . He must see Kitina for what she really…" Lydia suddenly stood straight up, her eyes were gold and she appeared to be in a trance. Lydia suddenly lost hr balance and fell.
Quistis moved back and caught her, "What was that?"
"Someone is here, a GF man like me but different."
"You can since other GFs?"
"No, not all of them. Only the dark ones, those who would kill for pleasure and those twisted creatures who toy with the lives of humans. There are three GF men here besides me. One of them I have met before, long ago. Roc is another. I can't tell the third, his GF is not truly evil."
Quistis felt for the metal poll in her hand bag, "I'm glad you're wearing a back less dress, you're gonna need it. We'd better find Squall."
Lydia grabbed Quistis's arm, "Wait. There is a black SeeD watching you. He is directly behind you."
"How can you tell?"
"His heart seeks to do you harm, that has made me aware of his presence."
A light violin chorus started in the background. With an area this big the entire road was a dance floor as the background music dictated. A tall man wearing a black tux walked up to Quistis, "Excuse me madam, may I have this dance?"
It was him. Quistis could tell by the look in his eye, "I am sorry sir but I am trying to find my boyfriend."
"Then perhaps I can occupy your time and make him come looking for you."
Quistis looked around. To her surprise she saw Seifer standing by a large punch bowl wearing a tux with a deep look on his face. Fujin and Raijin were nowhere to be seen. Quistis was desperate to get away, "Thank you for your offer but I think I have found him."
Quistis marched up to Seifer. She could still feel the man's eyes watching him. She grabbed Seifer's attention, "There you are. I have been looking all over for you."
Seifer was surprised, "What?"
Quistis said in a lower tone, "Just dance. We're being watched."
Seifer set down his glass of punch and put one hand around her back, "I was just getting a drink."
Quistis pushed Seifer's hand down to her waist, "I know what you were doing." Quistis put one arm over his shoulder, "You can't spike the punch here, it already tastes like alcohol."
Seifer and Quistis were keeping eye contact. As they walked arm in arm through the dozens of dancing couples Quistis kept her free hand wrapped around his arm that had settled just above her hip. As they spun around twice it occurred to Seifer that he wasn't leading, she was. They were positioned so that Seifer should have been leading but as Quistis moved Seifer responded. It was quite an interesting thing to happen. Seifer's eyes were now wondering the area. He saw two men watching them, "Black SeeD?"
"That's what Lydia said."
Seifer suddenly planted his feet. He twisted his arm slightly around and set it back on Quistis's waist, "Then we should put on a show." Now Seifer was leading. She was moving where he wanted her to go. Seifer was still eyeing the two black SeeD. They were still looking back, "I can have Fujin and Raijin take care of them if you want."
Quistis was beginning to loosen up, "I'm not in a hurry."
"Judging by your form you've taken lessons."
"Yes."
Seifer moved one leg past Quistis and leaned her back with his arm. Quistis had indeed taken dance lessons. Several years of ballroom dancing back at Balamb, it was sort of a hobby and with as many parties as Selphie threw it was a requirement. Quistis knew how to be dipped, simply relax and let the partner do the work. Seifer pulled her back up and pulled her close. He head was just beside his chest, "You know I'm going to kill you for that."
"I know you're going to try."
They danced for another five minutes. Seifer was trying out the moves he had learned and seeing just how far Quistis would let him go, "They've gone. I think they're convinced that you're somebody else."
Quistis removed Seifer's hand from her waist, "We'll talk. I have to go find Squall."
"Be my guest. Guess I'll call you or something."
Quistis turned around to see Fujin, Raijin and Lydia all start clapping. Quistis blushed, "Well then. If you're going to stand around gawking all day you might as well get a picture."
Fujin coughed, "PAY."
Raijin pulled out ten gil, "She didn't kick Seifer in the nuts, ya know. I guess I lost the bet, ya know."
Fujin pocketed the money, "EASY."
Lydia walked beside Quistis, "That was interesting. I was trying to figure out, who was leading?"
Quistis snorted, "I'll never tell."
* * * *
Squall and Rinoa were walking down a very long street, "Laguna is supposed to be appearing down here somewhere. Knowing him it'll be at a very high place. He's always been the type to make an entrance."
Rinoa looked up, "Like an overpass?" Above them there was another glass bottom road intersecting the one they were standing on. The road was about thirty feet up, it would be the best place to make an entrance, "I guess we wait here."
Kiyoko wasn't far behind, "What? Why are we stopping?"
"We're waiting for Laguna."
"Who?"
"He's the guy who runs the place. He may know where black garden is."
Kiyoko stood watching the empty road for a minute. An odd smell crossed her nose, "What's that?" She looked around, "That scent. Zell?" It was Zell, or at least it smelled just like Zell. Kiyoko traced the scent to someone in a black Tux with short blond hair. Kiyoko couldn't get a look at his face. He as walking away toward a small alley, "They won't mind if I run off for a second."
Kiyoko began to walk off. Rinoa turned around, "Wait." Kiyoko started running. Rinoa reached out and tried to grab at Kiyoko. Ass she could catch was the braid. Rinoa tried to hang on but Kiyoko was moving to fast. The northern light came off Kiyoko's braid, "Damn."
Rinoa could faintly hear Kiyoko saying, "IfoundZell!"
Rinoa held the blade ring in her hand, "I guess I didn't tie it as well as I thought."
* * * *
Kiyoko had just turned into the alley. The man who looked and smelled like Zell was standing facing the wall. There was another figure tied up and hanging from a rope tied to his shirt. Kiyoko drew her claws, "Who are you?"
"I was out for a while, in the hospital for to long. Imagine my surprise when I woke up to find that I had just missed you."
The voice was wrong somehow, "Zell?" Kiyoko saw the face of the man who was tied up. This was Zell.
"My name is Dantares." He threw off the wig. He now had short brown hair. As Kiyoko watched it got longer. The figure turned around, it was huntsman, "And I always catch the animal."
Before Kiyoko could move a series a steel bars came out of the walls on either side of her. The bars moved to quickly, Kiyoko couldn't escape in time. A steel sheet spreading over the top of the cage completing the prison. Kiyoko was grabbing at the bars trying to claw at huntsman. He was staying just out of arms reach, "I'm not an animal you bastard!"
Huntsman watched Kiyoko, "Funny. You reacted to Zell's pheromones like a female cat trying to find a mate."
Zell was squirming around in his ropes, "Untie me you ass hole! I'll give you a fight."
Kiyoko was making growling sounds, "He's right you know. Let either of us go and we'll kill you."
Huntsman snapped his fingers, "That's why I brought help." Roc walked out of a small door in the wall, "I told you. We were just friends but Zell, no she wanted him."
"I owe you an apology. It is always nice to have a personal stake in a hunt. Let's bring them back to black garden."
Kiyoko called out to Roc, "What's wrong with you?"
Roc grinned, "I'm back in black since I hit the sack . Kitina can be very persuasive when she wants to be."
* * * *
Rinoa was looking around trying to find Kiyoko, "What would make her run off like that?"
"I don't know. She can be really impulsive sometimes."
Three men walked across the road. Squall squinted to see them, "I can't recognize any of them…"
One of the men stepped to the edge of the road and waved to the crowd, "Laguna?"
Rinoa looked up, "That's him. Looks like you guessed right."
As Laguna began to speak ten men all dressed alike walked up to Squall. They stood around him but in a crowd that big they weren't that easy to notice. One of them spoke, "Squall Lionhart, you are under arrest for crimes against the black SeeD and humanity."
Squall took a fighting stance. Rinoa had ducked into the crowd the moment she realized that she was being surrounded. All the black SeeD reached into their coats and pulled out guns, "Mr. Lionhart, don't make this hard on yourself, just come with us."
Squall flexed his muscles, "I don't think so. I may not have my gun blade but I can still put up a fight. Ifrit, empower me!"
Squall's eyes glowed red. A ten foot fire red figure was standing over Squall. Squall heard one of them yell, "It's a GF! Shoot to kill!"
All ten black SeeD who were now standing at a distance from Squall/Ifrit pulled out their guns and fired. Ifrit crouched down and put his arm around Squall. As the bullets hit Ifrit's firewall they were melted down in mid air. Ifrit was too strong. Squall and Ifrit both punched in the direction of the road Laguna was standing on. A massive fireball hit the street and continued moving. All the black SeeD jumped out of the way just missing the fireball.
Ifrit disappeared. Squall had one course of action left, run. He was unarmed, he had no magic and his GF needed time to recharge. Squall ran down the road which had been cleared by the blast. There was little chance of escape now. There was no way to duck into the crowd now, nobody would come near him. Squall looked back and saw the ten black SeeD regrouping. This was it. There was nowhere left to run.
Squall heard someone yell, "Catch!"
Squall looked up, it was Laguna. He was holding a rather large machine gun. He slid a clip in and tossed it to Squall. Squall reached out and caught the weapon. He pulled back the slide. He could hear the first bullet enter the chamber. Knowing Laguna it was an automatic. Squall turned around. He was holding the handle with one hand and the clip with the other. Squall squeezed the trigger and moved the gun back and forth of the now twenty black SeeD advancing on him. Most were killed.
Squall felt the last bullet leave the chamber, "Damn."
Squall heard someone yelling from above, "Get your ass up here man!" Squall looked up, Kiros and Ward had pulled out guns and were laying down cover fire.
Squall looked around, "How?"
Laguna looked down, "How should I know?"
Rinoa ran out of the crowd. She wrapped both arms around Squall's waist, "Fast Float!"
A large magic ring appeared around Squall and Rinoa. Squall felt a gust of wind whipping around him, "What the…" Before he could finish he was in the air. Rinoa seemed to be keeping him up. The two flew just over the road Laguna was standing on. Rinoa's strength gave out and she fell to the ground with Squall. Squall helped Rinoa up, "Adel?"
"Yes."
Laguna grabbed Squall and pulled him down. Squall fell to the ground just in time to miss the next wave of black SeeD fire, "Nice to see you again."
Squall looked over the road, "They're still after me. I was sure they wouldn't try anything tonight."
"Listen. I'd love to sit here and chat but can we get a move on? I have a lemo down the street."
Kiros just reloaded, "We'll cover you. We've been having trouble with the black SeeD for a while now." Kiros reached for his headset, "What? Yes. We'll be there shortly."
Laguna looked up at Kiros, "Well."
"Irvine, Selphie, Quistis and someone called Lydia have been taken into our custody. My men are moving them to the capital building. I suggest we get moving ourselves."
Laguna, Rinoa and Squall all took off running down the street keeping their heads low to avoid gunfire, "No way I'm letting you guys get killed before you explain what the hell's going on."
* * * *
Laguna, Squall and Rinoa got in the lemo and sat down, "That was to close."
Squall leaned back and relaxed, "Sorry for the widespread panic. Couldn't be helped."
Laguna clicked on the intercom button, "Kiros, Ward, home."
"Sure thing boss."
Laguna pulled out a bottle of wine and three glasses, "So, what brings you to Esthar?"
Squall watched Laguna pour the wine in three glasses, "We're tracking a garden organization called Black SeeD. We tracked one of their plains from FH here to Esthar. I was hoping to contact you but this wasn't what I had in mind."
"So it was you who tried to take over the control tower. I know all to well about the black SeeD and yes, their garden is within the walls of the Esthar defense system. They're based on doctor Odine's research but if he saw what they were doing he'd probably go into voluntary exile. We don't know too much about them but they have quite a reputation around here. Their ultimate goal seems to be to take over Esthar and use our resources. This is the third attempt on my life. Imagine my surprise when I saw you."
"We've been tracking them for some time now. They're trying to get their hands on a sorceress."
"May I assume from that new spell that Rinoa is using Edea's powers?"
"Adel." Rinoa corrected.
"They also want to capture Seifer and a felious named Kiyoko."
"Seifer? What a nasty piece of work. Are you two working together now?"
"Yes. We've also learned of a new brand of black SeeD. We called them GF men because they are bonded to a GF physically as well mentally. Our old friend Roc for example fused with a GF diamond hawk. He can grow larger and covered with ice then he can grow wings, claws and a beak. He was on our side but now he's a working for them for some reason."
"That's news to me. How many are there?"
"We know of a project diamond hawk, polymorph, Gabriel and huntsman but I wouldn't be surprised if the black SeeD made a few more to deal with us. Gabriel is on our side but the rest are dangerous."
A TV screen appeared in the table in the middle of the lemo. A soldier appeared on the screen and saluted Laguna, "Sir, we were examining an alleyway near the site of the shooting. We found something interesting."
Laguna watched the screen intently, "Squall, I think you should see this."
Laguna turned the TV screen around. Squall saw a wall with something hanging. Squall squinted. It was a pair of nylon sleeves that looked to have been torn off a dress and a pair of gloves with three blades on each glove. They were hanging by an arrow that had been left in front of the wall. Laguna saw Squall's face, "What is it?"
"Roc and Huntsman have Kiyoko."