All's fair in love and war: The interrogation

A dark-skinned, bulky man led her through the corridors. Miss, Placteau will take it from here' he smoothly said, troubling to keep Ariana still. 'Let me go! Who the hell is Placteau?? LET ME GO NOW!' 'As much as you struggle you will not escape, you are on Zaibach's side now. Here's your cell' Ariana felt the colour drain from her face as he and two burly guards led her to a dark, desolate prison cell. 'Hey, you aren't going to lock me up in that, are you?' 'You stay here until Placteau is ready.'
Ariana was forcefully pushed into the damp cell. 'Eww it smells like sour milk and dead people in here, YOU CAN'T KEEP ME HERE! Pleaseeeeeeeee let me out!'
'No you will stay put until Placteau comes' replied the large man, locking the key into place. He and the two guards slowly walked away leaving Ariana alone. What was that smell? It was really making her feel sick. She slumped down to her knees, still clutching the bars of the prison. 'Hmm?' she pricked her ears up curiously because she heard voices in the distance. 'Then we should launch a sneak attack against Zaibach then!' 'Keep your voice down Van' Allen's voice echoed through the interlocking passageways. A sneak attack? She had to tell Dilandau when she got out of this place.
'Hey little girl, what are you doing alone?' Ariana froze on the spot. The pungent smell pricked her nose; a raspy and snake-like voice came from behind her. 'Who's there?' she put her hand over nose as indiscreetly as possible. Ariana couldn't see in the dark but she knew that if she could see, she wouldn't enjoy the view. 'I was sent here by Lord Dilandau.' Ariana relaxed as soon as she heard Dilandau's name. 'So does he have a plan or something? And who are you?'
'My name is Zongi and I have been assigned to help you and the other prisoner' he said the word 'help' as if it was some sort of swear word. So there was another Dragonslayer held captive? She wondered who it could be. 'Just what are you going to do then? And who is Placteau?' she asked orderly. 'Placteau is a professional hypnotist. I will assume his shape and while you are under hypniosis, you will 'give' Chid and the others the wrong answers' So Placteau was somekind of voodoo man and this stranger was going to somehow take his shape. 'How? How are you going to do this though? And who is Chid?' Ariana could feel his glaring eyes striking the darkness. 'Don't ask questions girl! I will become his living wraith and I will get you to confirm to the people of Freid their fears about Allen, they believe he is trying to take over Freid and have locked him and everyone else up.' She felt that there was more to this than he was letting on, she didn't want to be hypnotized, what if some of her own secrets slipped accidentally? 'Hey Zon-' He was gone. The large man loomed out of the darkness. 'Ariana, Placteau is ready, come with me' Her stomach turned 360 degrees, they might find out about Zaibach's imposing attack on Freid, they might find out how to work her guymelef, they might find out her hatred for the Asturians, they might find out her feelings for Dilandau. 'What feelings?' she denied loudly. 'Did you just say something?' the man remarked as he tightly bound her hands behind her back. 'Sorry just thinking out loud' 'Mmmm' his beard quivered. 'The other hostage will go first, if she doesn't speak there will be automatic execution, the same goes if any of you even tries to escape. Ariana wasn't listening. Her heart was pounding, the man said 'she' And the only female Dragonslayers she knew was Viole (with the exception of the girl who Viole had splated with food) but that didn't matter.
When they arrived there, it was quite a cold welcoming, people were sitting outside of a cell; Allen was there, also tied up and held by a guard. Ariana shut her eyes hard, not wanting to open them in fear of who the other prisoner was. 'Sit down!' he ordered. Ariana only did so knowing the fact that Dilandau had a plan, otherwise she would have made a big scene, screaming and shouting. She took her place on the moss-riden floor.
'VIOLE!' Viole sat in the small cell, handcuffed. 'Viole, how did you get-'
'Be quiet prisoner!' yelled a little blonde boy. 'HEY!' Ariana stopped herself saying any more in case she ended up saying too much, she always did somehow or another. Who was the boy, was he Placteau? He only looked about five years old.
'Prince Chid, shall we start with the first prisoner?' suggested the dark man 'Yes Voris, let Placteau start his work' replied the little boy. His voice was all soft, yet intelligent and commanding. Allen looked at Ariana with despair, Viole just sat there, oblivious to everything. Maybe that's what I'll be like when they hypnotize me, she thought. A shiver crept down the back of her spine at the very thought of everyone watching her but being totally unaware of it.
A tall, bald man opened the door to the cell and placed himself on the floor. 'That must be Placteau' 'I SAID BE SILENT!' shouted Chid. Placteau slowly put his hands together, shut his eyes and looked as if he was praying. 'Oh mano la chee carry ana' He started chanting strange foreign words in a smooth, rocking way. But was he Zongi? Zongi said that he was going to take Placteau's form.
'Now girl, what is your name?'
'My name is Viole'
'And do you know anything about Allen Schezar?' Allen flinched slightly.
'Yes,' came Viole's eerily swaying vocals. 'He is planning to overthrow Freid with the help of Fanelia's king, Van Fanel'
'Majesty! This is an outrage!' Allen strained to free himself but failed. 'Allen' Chid gritted his teeth in denial thaty Allen could be a traitor to Freid, the candles on the wall were flickering and were making Ariana feel quite intimidated. This had to be Zongi interrogating Viole or he would have asked her what Zaibach's intentions were. 'I serve under Lord Dilandau in Zaibach' she carried on spewing useless information. 'Well there's enough evidence; Allen is guilty of treason along with Van Fanel, king of all Fanelia. 'Try the other prisoner' Allen helpfully suggested. 'Thanks Allen, but your only trying to save your own ass- owww' Voris led Viole out of the overgrown cage and pushed Ariana into it. She could feel her heard rapidly drumming underneath her uniform. I'm a Dragonslayer, I have no reason to fear a voodoo man she thought bravely, sucking deep breaths in. She hesitantly sat down. Gawd, I hope no one can see me shaking like an idiot.
'Now girl, sit still, you won't feel a thing' He started chanting as if he was in a trance, she would be the one in a trance soon though. Ariana was getting bored and amply stared around, she felt her eyes drooping the urge to sleep was overwhelming, this must be what it feels like when people get Carbon monoxide poisoning, they want to sleep but knowing that if they do something bad will happen to them. Her eyelids were pulling weight on her face, she wanted to sleep yet also wanted to resist, she couldn't resist......
'Don't leave me alone! Don't go!' cried the young boy 'Gooodddbyyee!!' the little girl said as she ascended into the illuminating light.
'Huah?' where was she? 'Stay sleeping little girl' It was Placteau's voice! From where? Was she unconscious? 'Yes I am Zongi, I have inherited Placteau's power along with his form and I know what you are thinking' she felt so awake now. 'Am I sleeping?'
'You are under the formal interrogation' Ariana knew he wasn't speaking out loud, with his mouth, but using his mind to communicate with her. Voices in her head. 'Ahh this is interesting, It'll be good to claim credit with this information'
Whhat??? She had to make herself wake up but she didn't know how, Ariana tensed every muscle in her body and screwed her face up 'Get me out of heeeEEEREEEE!!!!!!' she screamed.
That was weird. Her mouth was pressed against the stone floor of the locked cell. 'What?' Ariana rubbed her eyes dozily. 'That's plenty sufficient information' the fake Placteau smiled slyly. He was going to get the credit off Dilandau for finding the information about Van and Allen's future attack on Zaibach when the praise should be reserved for her. 'Come on, you're going to be locked up again where you belong you Zaibach scum' Voris grabbed her by her fore arm. 'HEY!!' Ariana reluctantly let Voris captor her and take her back to the cell. 'LET ME GO!' That's all she appeared to be shouting today but Voris had a strong grip, even though she was always a strong girl, Ariana could not surpass his strength. Her head bobbed along as he shoved her through the doorway. 'VORIS! ZAIBACH IS ATTACKING!!!'
'What?' He turned in surprise, the young blonde boy, Chid teared after Voris 'Voris, we need your help, we've heard i-its a Zaibach attack' The young boy looked terrified and pale to the bone, Ariana saw this as her chance for escape. 'You stay in this cell instead' he gravely remarked, sqeezing her arm. 'Huah? YOU CAN'T LOCK ME UP!' He hastily unlocked a much smaller cell and shut her in. He ran off with Chid. 'Oh no, if Zaibach are attacking there sure to burn this place to the ground with me still in it' Ariana felt abandoned. Zongi said he would help her but really just used her for information. 'Ariana!' she heard an extremely familiar voice. 'Viole!' Surely enough Viole came running up to her prison. 'How did yo-'
'Those idiots! I crept off while they were rushing around bothering with Zaibach's attack and look what I got!' she swung a silver key, hanging on a chain. She smiled. 'Its the master skeleton key, I bet the big guy doesn't even know its gone, I took it when everyone was listening to you blabbing about nothing' Ariana felt slightly more at home now that Viole had came along. She fiddled with the lock, cautious not to make too much of a din. 'Viole, ermm like....what did I say when they were questioning me?' Viole almost cracked up. 'Oh that was so funny! The fake Placca asked you what your relationship was in the Zaibach army and then you said "I don't have a relationship but I do like someone!" Viole screwed her face up with silent laughter. 'Gawd, it was so funny, nearly everyone was laughing, that's when I got the chance to steal the key. You never said much else but your name and stuff. Ariana gasped at her own stupidity, 'Zongi's gonna die for that!' The door clicked when it was unlocked. 'Come on, I know where the 'melefs are!' I don't know what I'd do without Viole. She's a lifesaver, Ariana panted as she ran down the passageway. 'Here! Our guymelefs are through here!' Viole pointed to a large open space. Both guymelefs were standing there, absently inviting someone to pilot them. 'Yours is the one on the right! Lets go!'
'No you don't girls!' Zongi! He was one ugly guy out in the light. 'Get out of my way, you traitor!' bellowed Ariana at the top of her lungs. 'I knew I couldn't trust you' snarled Viole, 'You're a doppelganger!' He blocked the girl's way. 'You won't be telling Lord Dilandau anything, I am too underestimated and I want some credit around here for once' he sneered cruelly. 'This place is going to burn down!' Ariana hurried her words. 'So pathetic.....I made up the Zaibach attack, there is no attack. Not yet anyway, I was going to help you at first but then I realised your distrust and your contempt for me, so I'm going to make things easy, you either foolishly try to cross me and die or march right back to your cells, I need a guymelef to escape.' Ariana bubbled up inside, there wasn't anything on Earth that would make her go back to the dark, foreign cells and be held captive for the rest of her life. It was now or never, he stared at her. He had huge, alien eyes and a distinct odour surrounding him. Viole nodded in agreeance. 'NOW!' They both pushed past, both girl's feet pounding on the stone floor. 'Viole! Hurry!' Zongi realised their actions and chased them 'You'll never get back alive!' he cried.
'ARIANA! HELP' Viole slowed down her pace. She was tiring out with her heavy uniform weighing her down. 'Hehehe, I told you that you would never get past me, you foolish girl. I need your guymelef' He held Viole up by the neck, there was a difference to the way Zongi did it and Dilandau did it. Zongi looked as if he really was going to murder her. Dilandau just looked as if he hated her. 'Aaaaerrhh!' Viole coughed and spluttered. 'Goodbye little girl' he sniggered. 'No! Viole!' Ariana feebly yelled in disgust.
Zongi dropped her corpse to the floor. Ariana stepped back, anxiously knowing Viole was dead and there was nothing she could do about it. 'Get away from me!' she nervously bluffed. Perspiration dripped down her forehead, Ariana swallowed her fear and made a break for it, running straight ahead in the huge, empty room. She heavily panted as she was being persued by the doppelganger. The guymelef was open! What luck! Her feet collided with the ground as she halted in front of the guymelef and jumped in. 'It's about time I woke up and smelt the coffee!' Ariana loved saying catchy phrases in the heat of things. Zongi stopped dead in front of her guymelef and took a left. He's getting Viole's guymelef! Chesta once said that only the guymelef's owner can control it completely and Zongi was not it's owner. Her own guymelef hissed and screeched as she filled it up. The smell of her guymelef was so welcoming and homey, like an assylum from the real world.
Zongi stood up inside Viole's Alseides. His voice screeched in the intercom 'You will end up like your friend down there' His guymelef pointed to the downed body on the floor. Ariana owed Viole her life but Viole's life was taken, it hadn't yet sunk in though. Zongi pressured up the Crima claw and prepared it to hit her. He tried enormously to shoot it, but it wasn't working. 'Why-why is it not working!?' he cried in disbelief. 'THIS ONE IS FOR VIOLE!' She struck his frozen guymelef right in the energist. Viole's own fell to the ground with a huge metallic crunch. I sounded so good! She thought, getting her guymelef out of the room, which was a guest hangar. Dilandau has to know the truth about Zongi, how he killed Viole and attempted to murder us both, the thought pestered her. Poor Viole.
The invisibility cloak swabbed Alseides as she prepared to take off, the whole Dragonslayer army, No. The whole of Zaibach was going to put Zongi to shame for his treachery and Ariana was going to make it happen.

14:16 16/12/01