ALL THINGS SACRED
CHAPTER FOUR: A FATHER'S PAIN, A LOVER'S BETRAYAL
BY GUNBLADE_78
Let's catch up on things a bit.
As you remember, SeeD, commanded by Squall Leonhart, was dispatched to aid Galbadian and Estharian forces at the site of the D-District Prison, which held the rebel faction "White Army." The Whites had escaped with assistance from a enigmatic figure called Avatar, and with his powers, the Whites took control of the prison. Squall and a small group of SeeDs infiltrated the compound before the major battle began, attempting to cut the snake off at the head and assassinate Avatar. However, Avatar overwhelmed the SeeDs, and he attempted to pass his spirit into Squall's body. The SeeDs would have surely perished, but Seifer broke whatever spell Avatar had lain, and the SeeDs escaped just after the remainder of the White Army was wiped out by the joint coalition. Squall and Zell were both critically injured, and immediately transported to a state-of-the-art ICU unit in Esthar. Seifer was presumed dead.
Two weeks have passed...
"It's a beautiful Monday morning, Squall," Rinoa said: partly to herself, partly to the incapacitated Squall laying in the hospital bed close to the window. "The sun looks beautiful...I just wish you could see it too. You do enjoy a good sunrise, right, baby?"
Squall remained silent, trodding a path through unconsciousness. Rinoa looked at her uniform jacket hanging in the corner as she walked back over to the chair next to Squall's bed. For a moment, she was afraid that she had been late in reporting to Cid and the Garden, but she soon remembered that Cid had assigned Irvine, Quistis, and her to see to Squall and Zell's security and progress. She sighed heavily as she hung her head. Everything had just happened so fast, and they hit her all at once.
"Squall, I miss you so much," she cried. "Wherever you are, I hope you can hear me. I hope you can hold on...to everything...to everyone...to me. Don't give up, Squall. Please."
She heard a faint knocking on the door, and saw Laguna standing outside. "Mind if I come in?" he asked.
"Sure," she replied, wiping a tear from her cheek. Laguna came in and put an arm around Rinoa's shoulders.
"You holding out all right, kiddo?" he asked. "I know this is tough as heck for you."
"It's you I'm worried about," she replied. "I mean...he's your son." Laguna half-heartedly laughed, and looked at the motionless body on the bed.
"I haven't slept more than five hours in the past two weeks," he sighed. "I've been worried about Squall, and lately the Council has been bitching at me over the handling of the Galbadian incident."
"What's their problem this time?" Rinoa asked.
"I followed their charter, as usual," Laguna sarcastically said. "I answered a distress signal from your father, and now they're talking about sanctioning my shipping. They said I had no right to involve myself in a Galbadian situation, and they're practically ignoring the emergency dispatch we received from Deling City."
"I don't understand," Rinoa stated, her face showing a look of confusion. "I don't get what their basis is."
"I do," Laguna replied. "Devas Alvain."
"The Council's Defense Chairman?" Rinoa asked.
"Yep, and possible contender to the Estharian presidency," Laguna said. "He's not kept it secret that he desires the presidency, and I'd rather just give it to him than to have him slander my name all over the damned world. The bastard's trying to make me look like a friggin' war-monger." Rinoa looked at Squall's father.
"Well, maybe Councilor Veran will see through his little plot," Rinoa offered. "Maybe he'll put a stop to it."
"Yeah, right," Laguna groaned. "Veran and Alvain are both graduates of the same university. The only hope I really have is Kiros. Anyway...that's not important right now. How are things looking with Squall here?"
"Not much better," Rinoa replied. "They've removed him from the respirator, but he's still out of it."
"At least we've had some good news, eh?" Laguna optimistically said. He stood up and headed for the door. "I'll be around the office if you need anything. If something happens, make sure and ring me up, OK?"
"Yeah, I will," Rinoa answered. "Try and get some rest, OK? You do look kind of worn-out, old man," she added with a weary smile.
"You do the same," Laguna advised. "Squall's a tough kid. He'll be all right."
Laguna heard the doors whoosh shut behind him and he walked down the dimly lit hallway towards the exit. Squall looked a little better....it seemed that the burns had all been healed and it gave the illusion that the boy was merely sleeping. Now all he had to do was wake up. The main doors hissed open and Laguna walked out onto the blue skyway, taking in a deep breath of the cool morning air. He made his was through the crowds of people on the streets, looking for the nearest transport, hoping he could get back to the palace without too much of a comotion. Even eighteen years after Adel's first defeat, Laguna Loire was still a popular figure in Esthar. Comotion found Laguna on that morning...however, it wasn't the kind he was used to.
"OUR PRESIDENT IS A DESPOT AND A DICTATOR!!" he heard over a loudspeaker near the transport. "HE SENDS OUR SONS TO WAR IN A FOREIGN LAND WITHOUT A SINGLE THOUGHT TO THEIR SAFETY, AND HE DRAINS US OF OUR HARD-EARNED GIL! THE DAYS OF LAGUNA LOIRE ARE NUMBERED...IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE!" Laguna walked through the crowds of protestors near the transport, walked onto the makeshift stage, and took the microphone from the ringleader.
"And what kind of change would that be?" he asked, trying to keep his cool. "Would you rather have Adel back in Esthar and go back to the days of keeping your daughters locked up in your basements? Would you rather have Ultimecia or her little White Generals? Tell me something: when was the last time I passed a direct taxation to the people of this country? When's the last time I sent our military into a situation that I didn't personally accompany them to? Did you know that I was at the prison, directing the efforts of our forces?" He walked over to the young man directing the protest and looked him square in the eye. Cheers went up from some on-lookers.
"Let me tell you a little secret, sir," Laguna growled. "Did you know that the White Army's goal was to wipe out this world? Did you know that they had terrorists here, preparing to detonate nuclear weaponry as soon as their mission in Galbadia was carried out? How would you like that for a change? My god-damned son is rotting in a hospital bed because he fought to keep the people of this planet safe. I'm going to ask you kindly then, sir, to please disband this little gathering and move it, because I really have to get back to my office now. If I have to ask again, I will have you arrested."
"For what, old man?" the kid replied, shoving Laguna. "Speaking out against you and your regime?"
"For public disturbance, among all things," Laguna returned. "You think all these people are here listening to you because they want to? You've got the damned transport logged back ten miles. And if you ever touch me again, I will personally knock your ass to the ground, and then I'll have you tried for assault. MOVE IT!!!" Several members of the crowds burst into cheers for their leader as the young man stepped aside. Laguna snorted as he boarded the transport and directed it to head for the palace.
"You haven't heard the last from us, Loire!" the protestor shouted.
So this is Esthar, huh?
Gabriel Gage put the binoculars back into the case on his belt and stared out at the massive city. It would be hard to track Avatar here, but he'd been to much larger places in much larger worlds after the fallen Seraph. Difficulty came with the job, right? He'd not been chosen because this would be an easy task. He was chosen because he always got the kill...even the greatest Seraphs knew that Gabriel Gage was the best.
"We've finally found the fallen one's sleeping chamber," he recalled Elder's words. "But he's already awakened. He's in a place known as Esthar and he's found a new body. Do your job, Gage."
I can feel his energy...Gabriel thought as he watched the sunrise. He is here, that's for sure. There's plenty of civilians, though. I fear if we battle, many will be hurt and killed...but many more will be killed if I don't stop him. He clenched his fist as he put on his black trenchcoat. He felt the long sword at his hip and the two pistols near his chest. They would deliver this world, and this universe from Avatar. As he began his descent to the city below, he smiled. His long hunt was finally over.
When Squall Leonhart came to, the only thing he knew was he felt like he'd been hit by a bus. Pain throbbed through his entire body, and it took every last ounce of energy he had just to sit up. He gasped heavily, and then he felt a draft on his backside. He was startled at the occurance, and then he made a stark realization: he was interned in a hospital. He rubbed the side of his head and swung around.
"Wonder how long I've been here..." he muttered. With a groan, he pushed himself from the bed and stood up. He looked around the small room: definately one of the most high-tech he'd ever seen, but then wasn't Esthar usually over-elaborate with technology? He pushed the thought from his head as he continued to investigate the room.
"There has to be a bathroom around here somewhere," he whispered to himself as he gingerly stepped around the room. Finally, he found a door in the corner that opened up to a restroom. Now, maybe he'd get rid of this sudden urge to pee.
Whoosh! he heard, and soon the sound of footsteps echoed in the room.
"Squall?" he heard Rinoa ask. "Squall?" More footsteps. "Oh, no..." she gasped. He heard her press the buzzer to the nurses' station. "Where's Squall?!" she shouted. "He's not around here? Did something happen? Is he...oh, my God please say he's..."
"...right behind you," Squall answered as he stepped out of the bathroom. Rinoa whirled around in disbelief as she saw Squall grab his leather jacket from the wall and put it on. "How's it going?"
"You scared me, you damned idiot!" she shouted, "What the hell were you thinking, hiding like that?!"
"Gee, good to see you too," he replied. "Nice to see how much you care."
"Sometimes I wonder about you," she chided with a smile, taking his hand. "Come on, sit down. You're about to overexert yourself." Squall let her help him back to the bed, and he sat down.
"What happened to me?" he asked. "I remember Seifer...that's about it. Did we win? How long have I been out? Is Zell all right?"
"Easy now," Rinoa calmly stated. "Calm it down. We're not sure just what happened to you. When we pulled you out you had burns covering every inch of your body, but obviously things have changed. We crushed the Whites...my father ordered their execution on the spot, but it seems that Laguna's catching heat over what happened. We brought you here after the battle...that was two weeks ago. Zell...Zell's not good. He's on full life support function. They don't know if he'll make it to the end of the week."
"Two weeks..." Squall groaned. "I can't believe it."
"It's true," Rinoa replied. "Look, I need to get a hold of your dad. I'll be back in a few." Rinoa stood up to leave, and as the door opened, she walked straight into Irvine.
"Watch where you're going, cowboy," Rinoa warned.
"I heard Squall's awake," he said. "Seems that the nurses kind of figured that when you went off on him. No matter...look, we gotta go. There's some protesters in the city, and they're hot after Laguna. Been a few fights between them and Laguna's supporters. Says it's dangerous around here. He wants me, you, and Squall at the palace immediately."
"What about Quistis and Zell?" Rinoa asked.
"Zell can't move, and we know damn good and well that Quistis ain't leaving until he can," Irvin replied. "Hurry, Squally-boy, and get dressed; we don't have time to waste."
"It seems that you get more and more controversial as the days go by, President Loire," Councilor Cyrie Veran, head of the Council of Nations, commented. "Now we're assaulting citizens?"
"Look, Veran, I never touched the guy, alright?" Laguna sighed. "I told the guy that if he did it again, then I'd kick his ass. He's started fights all over the city, and I know that this is all Alvain's doing."
"I know, Laguna," Veran replied, surprisingly taking Laguna's side. "He's been dogging you in council for days now. He wants us to remove Esthar from the Council if you don't step down."
"Little does he know that Esthar is the founding nation of this council," Laguna replied. "You've got to do something about this. The people are taking up sides like a friggin' war, Cy. I've got full platoons of troops trying to keep peace in the streets, and they keep getting attacked by Alvain's followers. There's even a vigilante band called 'Laguna's Army' running around starting more skirmishes, and Alvain is just sitting in Deling City, watching it all and laughing. Something needs the boot from the council, and it sure isn't me."
"Laguna, I've tried everything I know," Cyrie replied. "He won't back down. He has it in his head that the presidency is his...all he's waiting for is you to fall."
"He'll be waiting a long damn time, then," Laguna said. "Jeez, why did this bastard get nominated anyway? If I'd have known the kind of shit he stirrs...I'm about five seconds from recalling him and having him arrested!"
"I think that's what he wants you to do," Cyrie replied. "Make him a martyr of sorts."
"Can't you do anything else?" Laguna asked. "Like maybe try him or something? It's obvious he's behind all of this. The people chant his name in the streets. I'm afraid that things are going to get worse."
"I don't know, Laguna," Cyrie said. "I'm not sure how the Charter defines such incidents."
"Then let me talk to him," Laguna derived. "Maybe I can set him straight and be done with this nonsense. Tell him to be at the palace at ten sharp tomorrow morning."
A guard entered the room. "Mr. President, your son and his friends have come."
"Send them in," he ordered. Cyrie shifted in her chair to see Squall, Rinoa, and Irvine enter the room. Squall sat in the chair next to Cyrie; Rinoa and Irvine stood at his side.
"Councillor Veran," Squall greeted. "I see Dad has something big going on here. What's up?"
"It's Alvain," Laguna replied. "He's finally set his beasts out against me. This looks like a damned civil war out there."
"Anything we can do?" Irvine asked. "Squall's still a bit on the weak side, but there might be something he can do, like order SeeD to assist your patrols or something like that."
"This is a touchy, touchy issue," Cyrie said. "Devas wants it that way. One wrong move and it'll all snowball. Laguna, I'm all for helping you, but I've got to keep my senses over this matter. Devas is a revered chairman in the Council. Any action I take may just complicate the issue."
"I know, Cy," Laguna replied, helping her from her chair. "Thanks for your help." Cyrie quickly kissed Laguna.
"I'll see you," she said, heading for the door. "Take care of yourself, Laguna. I love you." With that, she left.
Squall sat and stared at his father for a moment. "Are you telling me...that you've been having...a relationship...with the chair of the Council, Dad?" Laguna nervously looked about the room, and shrugged his shoulders.
"Uh...well...yea...you weren't really supposed to see that," Laguna stuttered. "Just don't say anything right now, please? I have all of the trouble I can stand for a lifetime right now."
"Whoa, wait just a second," Rinoa laughed. "How long has this been going on? I haven't heard anything about it."
"Neither have I," Squall mused.
"Then it's working," Laguna concluded. "Nobody really needs to know right now...at least until I can get this matter with Alvain settled."
"This guy is just plain nuts," Irvine replied. "I'm thinking he wants a civil war."
"What can we do, Dad?" Squall asked. "SeeD is free from your direct control. I can keep a good detachment here until everything calms down."
"If you did that, then it would look like Daddy's giving the orders around Garden," Laguna replied. "I can't complicate this any further. I'm meeting with Alvain tomorrow, hopefully. If everything goes right, maybe I can talk him into calming his little bastards down."
"Something doesn't sound right to me," Squall said. "This just coincides a little closely to the Galbadian incident. I mean, Devas used to be one of your most staunch supporters. Why all of a sudden would he throw a fit over answering a distress call?"
"I don't know," Laguna sighed as he slumped into his chair. "This is just too stressful...I can't hardly think straight. Right now, it seems my biggest enemy is my only hope."
Meanwhile, back at the treatment center...
"Hello, Quistis. I've come a long way to see you."
Quistis startled from her nap in the recliner next to Zell's bed, and saw a dead man standing in her doorway. Seifer Almasy looked at the young instructor...but Quistis noticed something in his eyes: a bright orange fire seemed to burn in his pupils...but then it would vanish. Seifer calmly laughed as he patted his Gunblade. This would be easier than he thought. "I see our friend Zell is none the worse for wear. Poor child...poor, poor, despicable child." He placed a gloved hand onto Zell's throat and began to squeeze.
"NO! STOP IT!" Quistis shouted as she leapt up and grabbed Seifer's arm. "Don't touch him!"
"He doesn't love you, Quistis!" Seifer roared as he released Zell and drew Quistis closer to him. "He hates you...despises you...he wants to see you suffer." Quistis looked at the tall man standing in front of her. He had Seifer's body. Seifer's face. Seifer's voice...
"You're not Seifer," she whispered. "You're..."
"Yes, I am Avatar," Seifer's voice confirmed. "I'm not here to kill you, Quistis. I'm here to offer you what you've desired for so long. Come with me, Quistis. We will rule this pathetic world with such power, even the gods will tremble before our feet."
"You're insane," she countered with the voice of a spellbound lover. "I'll never..."
Avatar made Seifer's hand brush Quistis' cheek. "There's nothing here for you, Quistis, my love. Nobody cares about you, except for me. Be my queen, Quistis Trepe. Do not fight me...I'm trying to save you."
"You can save nothing, Avatar!" Quistis wheeled around and saw a tall, blonde haired man in a dark trenchcoat standing in the doorway. Avatar laughed as he turned to face the new addition.
"Gabriel Gage, the legendary Seraph commander," he chuckled. "You've been hunting me for quite some time now. Five hundred years, has it been?"
"It doesn't matter now," Gabriel replied. "Because it's all over now, Avatar. You betrayed the Seraphs and our world. You left my home in ruins. I have fought, killed, and bled for those five hundred years, just so I could see this day. In the name of Elder Ranjik IV, I have been ordered to deliver the Council's sentence for Arenna, the Avatar; fallen Seraph of Fire: you are to be executed."
"Am I now?" Avatar laughed. "You are one of the greatest, Gage. However, don't underestimate my power; I'm stronger than any Seraph could hope to be."
"We'll just see about that!" Gabriel shouted as he reached for the automatic pistols underneath his coat. As he pulled them to his hands, however, Avatar waved an arm and sent Gage flying across the room. The pistols clattered to the floor. Gabriel couldn't move; somehow, Avatar was holding him.
"You're going to be the first to see the power I now command, Master Gage. Quistis, my darling, you know what to do."
Quistis nodded, and walked next to Zell's bedside. One of Gage's pistols flew to her hand, and she pressed it to Zell's temple.
"Sleep easily, you son of a bitch," she growled as she squeezed the trigger. As Zell's lifeblood splattered against the wall, Quistis pulled Zell's ring from her finger, and threw it to the ground. "I'll see you in Hell," she spat.
"Spectacular, my Queen," Avatar praised. "Now, my love, let us leave here before some unfriendly faces arrive. With a brilliant flash of light, they vanished from Gage's sight.
"Dear God," he gasped. "What can I do now?"
In the next chapter, Squall and company will learn of Quistis' betrayal as they become accomidated with the enigmatic figure, Gabriel Gage. Laguna will also have his hands full when Devas Alvain comes to the Palace and makes some unusual demands. And what of the real Seifer Almasy? Did his spirit just die, like Commander Rinna's? Or does Seifer have the power to fight Avatar's malignant evil from the inside? All this and more in the next installment of
ALL THINGS SACRED!
P/S: Sorry for taking so long with the chapter. I had ch.4 written a long time ago, until I decided to add the character of Gabriel Gage. His addition didn't fit with the flow of the storyline, so I scrapped the fourth chapter and rewrote it, while working forty hours a week at a radio station. Peace out guys, hope to have more soon ^__^!!
CHAPTER FOUR: A FATHER'S PAIN, A LOVER'S BETRAYAL
BY GUNBLADE_78
Let's catch up on things a bit.
As you remember, SeeD, commanded by Squall Leonhart, was dispatched to aid Galbadian and Estharian forces at the site of the D-District Prison, which held the rebel faction "White Army." The Whites had escaped with assistance from a enigmatic figure called Avatar, and with his powers, the Whites took control of the prison. Squall and a small group of SeeDs infiltrated the compound before the major battle began, attempting to cut the snake off at the head and assassinate Avatar. However, Avatar overwhelmed the SeeDs, and he attempted to pass his spirit into Squall's body. The SeeDs would have surely perished, but Seifer broke whatever spell Avatar had lain, and the SeeDs escaped just after the remainder of the White Army was wiped out by the joint coalition. Squall and Zell were both critically injured, and immediately transported to a state-of-the-art ICU unit in Esthar. Seifer was presumed dead.
Two weeks have passed...
"It's a beautiful Monday morning, Squall," Rinoa said: partly to herself, partly to the incapacitated Squall laying in the hospital bed close to the window. "The sun looks beautiful...I just wish you could see it too. You do enjoy a good sunrise, right, baby?"
Squall remained silent, trodding a path through unconsciousness. Rinoa looked at her uniform jacket hanging in the corner as she walked back over to the chair next to Squall's bed. For a moment, she was afraid that she had been late in reporting to Cid and the Garden, but she soon remembered that Cid had assigned Irvine, Quistis, and her to see to Squall and Zell's security and progress. She sighed heavily as she hung her head. Everything had just happened so fast, and they hit her all at once.
"Squall, I miss you so much," she cried. "Wherever you are, I hope you can hear me. I hope you can hold on...to everything...to everyone...to me. Don't give up, Squall. Please."
She heard a faint knocking on the door, and saw Laguna standing outside. "Mind if I come in?" he asked.
"Sure," she replied, wiping a tear from her cheek. Laguna came in and put an arm around Rinoa's shoulders.
"You holding out all right, kiddo?" he asked. "I know this is tough as heck for you."
"It's you I'm worried about," she replied. "I mean...he's your son." Laguna half-heartedly laughed, and looked at the motionless body on the bed.
"I haven't slept more than five hours in the past two weeks," he sighed. "I've been worried about Squall, and lately the Council has been bitching at me over the handling of the Galbadian incident."
"What's their problem this time?" Rinoa asked.
"I followed their charter, as usual," Laguna sarcastically said. "I answered a distress signal from your father, and now they're talking about sanctioning my shipping. They said I had no right to involve myself in a Galbadian situation, and they're practically ignoring the emergency dispatch we received from Deling City."
"I don't understand," Rinoa stated, her face showing a look of confusion. "I don't get what their basis is."
"I do," Laguna replied. "Devas Alvain."
"The Council's Defense Chairman?" Rinoa asked.
"Yep, and possible contender to the Estharian presidency," Laguna said. "He's not kept it secret that he desires the presidency, and I'd rather just give it to him than to have him slander my name all over the damned world. The bastard's trying to make me look like a friggin' war-monger." Rinoa looked at Squall's father.
"Well, maybe Councilor Veran will see through his little plot," Rinoa offered. "Maybe he'll put a stop to it."
"Yeah, right," Laguna groaned. "Veran and Alvain are both graduates of the same university. The only hope I really have is Kiros. Anyway...that's not important right now. How are things looking with Squall here?"
"Not much better," Rinoa replied. "They've removed him from the respirator, but he's still out of it."
"At least we've had some good news, eh?" Laguna optimistically said. He stood up and headed for the door. "I'll be around the office if you need anything. If something happens, make sure and ring me up, OK?"
"Yeah, I will," Rinoa answered. "Try and get some rest, OK? You do look kind of worn-out, old man," she added with a weary smile.
"You do the same," Laguna advised. "Squall's a tough kid. He'll be all right."
Laguna heard the doors whoosh shut behind him and he walked down the dimly lit hallway towards the exit. Squall looked a little better....it seemed that the burns had all been healed and it gave the illusion that the boy was merely sleeping. Now all he had to do was wake up. The main doors hissed open and Laguna walked out onto the blue skyway, taking in a deep breath of the cool morning air. He made his was through the crowds of people on the streets, looking for the nearest transport, hoping he could get back to the palace without too much of a comotion. Even eighteen years after Adel's first defeat, Laguna Loire was still a popular figure in Esthar. Comotion found Laguna on that morning...however, it wasn't the kind he was used to.
"OUR PRESIDENT IS A DESPOT AND A DICTATOR!!" he heard over a loudspeaker near the transport. "HE SENDS OUR SONS TO WAR IN A FOREIGN LAND WITHOUT A SINGLE THOUGHT TO THEIR SAFETY, AND HE DRAINS US OF OUR HARD-EARNED GIL! THE DAYS OF LAGUNA LOIRE ARE NUMBERED...IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE!" Laguna walked through the crowds of protestors near the transport, walked onto the makeshift stage, and took the microphone from the ringleader.
"And what kind of change would that be?" he asked, trying to keep his cool. "Would you rather have Adel back in Esthar and go back to the days of keeping your daughters locked up in your basements? Would you rather have Ultimecia or her little White Generals? Tell me something: when was the last time I passed a direct taxation to the people of this country? When's the last time I sent our military into a situation that I didn't personally accompany them to? Did you know that I was at the prison, directing the efforts of our forces?" He walked over to the young man directing the protest and looked him square in the eye. Cheers went up from some on-lookers.
"Let me tell you a little secret, sir," Laguna growled. "Did you know that the White Army's goal was to wipe out this world? Did you know that they had terrorists here, preparing to detonate nuclear weaponry as soon as their mission in Galbadia was carried out? How would you like that for a change? My god-damned son is rotting in a hospital bed because he fought to keep the people of this planet safe. I'm going to ask you kindly then, sir, to please disband this little gathering and move it, because I really have to get back to my office now. If I have to ask again, I will have you arrested."
"For what, old man?" the kid replied, shoving Laguna. "Speaking out against you and your regime?"
"For public disturbance, among all things," Laguna returned. "You think all these people are here listening to you because they want to? You've got the damned transport logged back ten miles. And if you ever touch me again, I will personally knock your ass to the ground, and then I'll have you tried for assault. MOVE IT!!!" Several members of the crowds burst into cheers for their leader as the young man stepped aside. Laguna snorted as he boarded the transport and directed it to head for the palace.
"You haven't heard the last from us, Loire!" the protestor shouted.
So this is Esthar, huh?
Gabriel Gage put the binoculars back into the case on his belt and stared out at the massive city. It would be hard to track Avatar here, but he'd been to much larger places in much larger worlds after the fallen Seraph. Difficulty came with the job, right? He'd not been chosen because this would be an easy task. He was chosen because he always got the kill...even the greatest Seraphs knew that Gabriel Gage was the best.
"We've finally found the fallen one's sleeping chamber," he recalled Elder's words. "But he's already awakened. He's in a place known as Esthar and he's found a new body. Do your job, Gage."
I can feel his energy...Gabriel thought as he watched the sunrise. He is here, that's for sure. There's plenty of civilians, though. I fear if we battle, many will be hurt and killed...but many more will be killed if I don't stop him. He clenched his fist as he put on his black trenchcoat. He felt the long sword at his hip and the two pistols near his chest. They would deliver this world, and this universe from Avatar. As he began his descent to the city below, he smiled. His long hunt was finally over.
When Squall Leonhart came to, the only thing he knew was he felt like he'd been hit by a bus. Pain throbbed through his entire body, and it took every last ounce of energy he had just to sit up. He gasped heavily, and then he felt a draft on his backside. He was startled at the occurance, and then he made a stark realization: he was interned in a hospital. He rubbed the side of his head and swung around.
"Wonder how long I've been here..." he muttered. With a groan, he pushed himself from the bed and stood up. He looked around the small room: definately one of the most high-tech he'd ever seen, but then wasn't Esthar usually over-elaborate with technology? He pushed the thought from his head as he continued to investigate the room.
"There has to be a bathroom around here somewhere," he whispered to himself as he gingerly stepped around the room. Finally, he found a door in the corner that opened up to a restroom. Now, maybe he'd get rid of this sudden urge to pee.
Whoosh! he heard, and soon the sound of footsteps echoed in the room.
"Squall?" he heard Rinoa ask. "Squall?" More footsteps. "Oh, no..." she gasped. He heard her press the buzzer to the nurses' station. "Where's Squall?!" she shouted. "He's not around here? Did something happen? Is he...oh, my God please say he's..."
"...right behind you," Squall answered as he stepped out of the bathroom. Rinoa whirled around in disbelief as she saw Squall grab his leather jacket from the wall and put it on. "How's it going?"
"You scared me, you damned idiot!" she shouted, "What the hell were you thinking, hiding like that?!"
"Gee, good to see you too," he replied. "Nice to see how much you care."
"Sometimes I wonder about you," she chided with a smile, taking his hand. "Come on, sit down. You're about to overexert yourself." Squall let her help him back to the bed, and he sat down.
"What happened to me?" he asked. "I remember Seifer...that's about it. Did we win? How long have I been out? Is Zell all right?"
"Easy now," Rinoa calmly stated. "Calm it down. We're not sure just what happened to you. When we pulled you out you had burns covering every inch of your body, but obviously things have changed. We crushed the Whites...my father ordered their execution on the spot, but it seems that Laguna's catching heat over what happened. We brought you here after the battle...that was two weeks ago. Zell...Zell's not good. He's on full life support function. They don't know if he'll make it to the end of the week."
"Two weeks..." Squall groaned. "I can't believe it."
"It's true," Rinoa replied. "Look, I need to get a hold of your dad. I'll be back in a few." Rinoa stood up to leave, and as the door opened, she walked straight into Irvine.
"Watch where you're going, cowboy," Rinoa warned.
"I heard Squall's awake," he said. "Seems that the nurses kind of figured that when you went off on him. No matter...look, we gotta go. There's some protesters in the city, and they're hot after Laguna. Been a few fights between them and Laguna's supporters. Says it's dangerous around here. He wants me, you, and Squall at the palace immediately."
"What about Quistis and Zell?" Rinoa asked.
"Zell can't move, and we know damn good and well that Quistis ain't leaving until he can," Irvin replied. "Hurry, Squally-boy, and get dressed; we don't have time to waste."
"It seems that you get more and more controversial as the days go by, President Loire," Councilor Cyrie Veran, head of the Council of Nations, commented. "Now we're assaulting citizens?"
"Look, Veran, I never touched the guy, alright?" Laguna sighed. "I told the guy that if he did it again, then I'd kick his ass. He's started fights all over the city, and I know that this is all Alvain's doing."
"I know, Laguna," Veran replied, surprisingly taking Laguna's side. "He's been dogging you in council for days now. He wants us to remove Esthar from the Council if you don't step down."
"Little does he know that Esthar is the founding nation of this council," Laguna replied. "You've got to do something about this. The people are taking up sides like a friggin' war, Cy. I've got full platoons of troops trying to keep peace in the streets, and they keep getting attacked by Alvain's followers. There's even a vigilante band called 'Laguna's Army' running around starting more skirmishes, and Alvain is just sitting in Deling City, watching it all and laughing. Something needs the boot from the council, and it sure isn't me."
"Laguna, I've tried everything I know," Cyrie replied. "He won't back down. He has it in his head that the presidency is his...all he's waiting for is you to fall."
"He'll be waiting a long damn time, then," Laguna said. "Jeez, why did this bastard get nominated anyway? If I'd have known the kind of shit he stirrs...I'm about five seconds from recalling him and having him arrested!"
"I think that's what he wants you to do," Cyrie replied. "Make him a martyr of sorts."
"Can't you do anything else?" Laguna asked. "Like maybe try him or something? It's obvious he's behind all of this. The people chant his name in the streets. I'm afraid that things are going to get worse."
"I don't know, Laguna," Cyrie said. "I'm not sure how the Charter defines such incidents."
"Then let me talk to him," Laguna derived. "Maybe I can set him straight and be done with this nonsense. Tell him to be at the palace at ten sharp tomorrow morning."
A guard entered the room. "Mr. President, your son and his friends have come."
"Send them in," he ordered. Cyrie shifted in her chair to see Squall, Rinoa, and Irvine enter the room. Squall sat in the chair next to Cyrie; Rinoa and Irvine stood at his side.
"Councillor Veran," Squall greeted. "I see Dad has something big going on here. What's up?"
"It's Alvain," Laguna replied. "He's finally set his beasts out against me. This looks like a damned civil war out there."
"Anything we can do?" Irvine asked. "Squall's still a bit on the weak side, but there might be something he can do, like order SeeD to assist your patrols or something like that."
"This is a touchy, touchy issue," Cyrie said. "Devas wants it that way. One wrong move and it'll all snowball. Laguna, I'm all for helping you, but I've got to keep my senses over this matter. Devas is a revered chairman in the Council. Any action I take may just complicate the issue."
"I know, Cy," Laguna replied, helping her from her chair. "Thanks for your help." Cyrie quickly kissed Laguna.
"I'll see you," she said, heading for the door. "Take care of yourself, Laguna. I love you." With that, she left.
Squall sat and stared at his father for a moment. "Are you telling me...that you've been having...a relationship...with the chair of the Council, Dad?" Laguna nervously looked about the room, and shrugged his shoulders.
"Uh...well...yea...you weren't really supposed to see that," Laguna stuttered. "Just don't say anything right now, please? I have all of the trouble I can stand for a lifetime right now."
"Whoa, wait just a second," Rinoa laughed. "How long has this been going on? I haven't heard anything about it."
"Neither have I," Squall mused.
"Then it's working," Laguna concluded. "Nobody really needs to know right now...at least until I can get this matter with Alvain settled."
"This guy is just plain nuts," Irvine replied. "I'm thinking he wants a civil war."
"What can we do, Dad?" Squall asked. "SeeD is free from your direct control. I can keep a good detachment here until everything calms down."
"If you did that, then it would look like Daddy's giving the orders around Garden," Laguna replied. "I can't complicate this any further. I'm meeting with Alvain tomorrow, hopefully. If everything goes right, maybe I can talk him into calming his little bastards down."
"Something doesn't sound right to me," Squall said. "This just coincides a little closely to the Galbadian incident. I mean, Devas used to be one of your most staunch supporters. Why all of a sudden would he throw a fit over answering a distress call?"
"I don't know," Laguna sighed as he slumped into his chair. "This is just too stressful...I can't hardly think straight. Right now, it seems my biggest enemy is my only hope."
Meanwhile, back at the treatment center...
"Hello, Quistis. I've come a long way to see you."
Quistis startled from her nap in the recliner next to Zell's bed, and saw a dead man standing in her doorway. Seifer Almasy looked at the young instructor...but Quistis noticed something in his eyes: a bright orange fire seemed to burn in his pupils...but then it would vanish. Seifer calmly laughed as he patted his Gunblade. This would be easier than he thought. "I see our friend Zell is none the worse for wear. Poor child...poor, poor, despicable child." He placed a gloved hand onto Zell's throat and began to squeeze.
"NO! STOP IT!" Quistis shouted as she leapt up and grabbed Seifer's arm. "Don't touch him!"
"He doesn't love you, Quistis!" Seifer roared as he released Zell and drew Quistis closer to him. "He hates you...despises you...he wants to see you suffer." Quistis looked at the tall man standing in front of her. He had Seifer's body. Seifer's face. Seifer's voice...
"You're not Seifer," she whispered. "You're..."
"Yes, I am Avatar," Seifer's voice confirmed. "I'm not here to kill you, Quistis. I'm here to offer you what you've desired for so long. Come with me, Quistis. We will rule this pathetic world with such power, even the gods will tremble before our feet."
"You're insane," she countered with the voice of a spellbound lover. "I'll never..."
Avatar made Seifer's hand brush Quistis' cheek. "There's nothing here for you, Quistis, my love. Nobody cares about you, except for me. Be my queen, Quistis Trepe. Do not fight me...I'm trying to save you."
"You can save nothing, Avatar!" Quistis wheeled around and saw a tall, blonde haired man in a dark trenchcoat standing in the doorway. Avatar laughed as he turned to face the new addition.
"Gabriel Gage, the legendary Seraph commander," he chuckled. "You've been hunting me for quite some time now. Five hundred years, has it been?"
"It doesn't matter now," Gabriel replied. "Because it's all over now, Avatar. You betrayed the Seraphs and our world. You left my home in ruins. I have fought, killed, and bled for those five hundred years, just so I could see this day. In the name of Elder Ranjik IV, I have been ordered to deliver the Council's sentence for Arenna, the Avatar; fallen Seraph of Fire: you are to be executed."
"Am I now?" Avatar laughed. "You are one of the greatest, Gage. However, don't underestimate my power; I'm stronger than any Seraph could hope to be."
"We'll just see about that!" Gabriel shouted as he reached for the automatic pistols underneath his coat. As he pulled them to his hands, however, Avatar waved an arm and sent Gage flying across the room. The pistols clattered to the floor. Gabriel couldn't move; somehow, Avatar was holding him.
"You're going to be the first to see the power I now command, Master Gage. Quistis, my darling, you know what to do."
Quistis nodded, and walked next to Zell's bedside. One of Gage's pistols flew to her hand, and she pressed it to Zell's temple.
"Sleep easily, you son of a bitch," she growled as she squeezed the trigger. As Zell's lifeblood splattered against the wall, Quistis pulled Zell's ring from her finger, and threw it to the ground. "I'll see you in Hell," she spat.
"Spectacular, my Queen," Avatar praised. "Now, my love, let us leave here before some unfriendly faces arrive. With a brilliant flash of light, they vanished from Gage's sight.
"Dear God," he gasped. "What can I do now?"
In the next chapter, Squall and company will learn of Quistis' betrayal as they become accomidated with the enigmatic figure, Gabriel Gage. Laguna will also have his hands full when Devas Alvain comes to the Palace and makes some unusual demands. And what of the real Seifer Almasy? Did his spirit just die, like Commander Rinna's? Or does Seifer have the power to fight Avatar's malignant evil from the inside? All this and more in the next installment of
ALL THINGS SACRED!
P/S: Sorry for taking so long with the chapter. I had ch.4 written a long time ago, until I decided to add the character of Gabriel Gage. His addition didn't fit with the flow of the storyline, so I scrapped the fourth chapter and rewrote it, while working forty hours a week at a radio station. Peace out guys, hope to have more soon ^__^!!