Chapter 14 The Time is Now

Author's note: Almost reaching the climax! You guys don't know how happy I am to see this fic getting on nicely ^-^
Quistis tiredly peered out of the windshield. The Abadan Plains loomed ahead, signaling her target was near. She had to land outside the city and make her way in - if anybody saw the Ragnarok she'd be done for. As much as she wanted to come to Eshtar, she realized the implications of letting her presence known - it might result in some serious civilian injury.

She set the ship on auto-pilot and headed down to the haul. Smiling to herself, she opened the door to the Lounge and grinned at the stupefied faces. "Wake up, we're nearly there." It was she could do to stop from rolling in laughter then and there, but the corner of her lips twitched in suppressed humor.

Irvine spluttered incoherently as Quistis walked away, and he turned to Squall. The latter did not seem disturbed. Selphie giggled at Irvine's face and pulled him out of the room. "Come on, Squall!"

Quistis watched as the Ragnarok land on the barren ground. As soon as she was sure it had landed properly, she opened the hangar. Zell stood behind her, yawning unabashedly. Selphie ran out first, with Irvine bringing up the rear. She turned to Squall, who stood on her left. "You guys are making this tough."

"We can't let you do anything stupid." He said quietly. "They're just as concerned for you as they are for Rinoa."

Quistis turned away, feeling slightly angry. But she kept it down. "Did you tell them?"

"...."

"Great." She rolled her eyes. "What happened to the lone-wolf, the clamped-shut guy?"

"I thought you didn't like him."

"Better than a loudmouth." She sighed. "Look, I have to do this alone."

"We're not stopping you." Squall said at last. He faced Quistis. "We're just here to back you up. And save Rinoa."

The bitterness rose again. "Then you don't have much time."
Rinoa banged her fists against the glass. "Let me out!!!"

She gasped as she saw Cody, chained and unconscious. "Cody!"

"Tut-tut... keep quiet, Sorceress. Can't you take any example from the older ones?" Vincent shook his head as he made some adjustments to the machine. Rinoa looked at the cylinder next to hers, where Edea sat, looking drained. "What have you done to Matron?!"

"She's drained." Vincent said sharply. 'And if you keep it up, I'll do the same to you as well!"

"So bite me." Rinoa retorted. "What are you doing?!"

"Children these days..." Vincent rolled his eyes. "All in due time... not too long now."

He stared thoughtfully at the unconscious Cody. "Maybe I should do something to speed things up..."

He walked over to the man and shook him gently. "Go and find them... capture Quistis Trepe - alive. Bring her to me..."

Cody groggily opened his eyes and reverently shook his head. "No..."

Vincent's face darkened in anger. "You defy me?! Do as you're ordered!"

Cody started to say something, but stopped suddenly. "No..."

Rinoa's eyes widened in horror as she saw Vincent burn Cody with a Flare spell. "Cody!!! No!!"

He painfully opened his eyes. "Noa...?"

She realized he could hear her. Vincent realized it too. And he grinned maliciously. "So he responds to his first command, hmm?"

He turned to Rinoa. "Well Sorceress... it appears your Knight is loyal to his Mistress... this is interesting news."

"Don't hurt him!" Rinoa growled. Vincent threw back his head and laughed. "The serum maybe a little defected, but it seems to be working... This gives me infinite possibilities."
"So, Eshtar isn't a daytrip." Quistis frowned. "She can be anywhere."

"The Sorceress' Memorial, Tears' Point, The Lunar Base..." Selphie recited as they stood outside the Ragnarok. Quistis shook her head. "He said Eshtar. They must be in Inner Eshtar."

"Zell, you guard the Ragnarok." Squall directed, ignoring the dismay on his face. "The rest, come on."

They stealthily traveled through the desert, keeping an eye out for any trouble.
It was when they approached the outskirts of the city did they stop. Selphie, being unaware, frowned. "What is it? I don't sense anything."

But Squall and Quistis' heightened sense noticed it - the feeling at you're being watched. "Someone's coming." She said quietly. They stood guard, weapons ready.

Then over the hills came the man, walking - no, staggering towards them. His body had burn marks, and countless lashes of sharp weapons. "Trepe." He said hoarsely. Quistis tensed. She remembered this man. "Cody Rye?"

He collapsed in at her feet, obviously too weak to move any more. "Save her..."

Quistis rushed to him and looked at Selphie, who promptly began using healing magic. Squall crouched next to him. 'Where's Rinoa?"

"She... with 'him'..." Cody muttered, face scrunched up in pain. "Must bring Quistis Trepe..."

Squall exchanged looks with Quistis. "Let's go."

"Please save her..." For the first time, Quistis saw that Cody was close to breaking point. "I can't let her die..."

"Nobody's gonna die." Selphie said determinedly, her usual happiness mask was gone. "Not if I can help it."

"Zell!" Squall tapped his transmitter. "Roger," Zell said, slightly irritated.

"Come here." Squall said quietly. "We have an injured man."

"Geez! Who is it?"

"Rinoa's companion. Take him to - " He stopped abruptly when Cody struggled to get up. "No... Don't leave me..."

"But you're badly hurt - oh!" Selphie gasped in amazement as she beheld the wounds slowly, but surely, closing up. "What is this?!"

Cody knelt, pain crossing his features, but his wounds were surely closing up. "Tiamat." He said hoarsely. "It's Tiamat."

Squall did not answer. Time was of the essence... "What did you come here for?"

"He... threatened her." Cody growled. "Earlier, I was injected with a controlling serum... My orders were to protect her at all costs... Vincent said there was a problem with the serum as I only respond to that command... So he threatened to kill her if I don't bring Quistis Trepe back with me."

Quistis sighed. Man , that guy has some issues... "I have to go alone?"

"Yes. I... I have to stop anyone from coming after you."

"I'll go alone." She said firmly, nodding to the others. "Selphie, look after him for me, okay?"

"Don't think you doing this on your own!" Squall growled, but Quistis took out her whip. "Squall, remember what this mission is all about?"

"I'm not exchanging one life for another!" He said furiously, but Quistis had made up her mind. She raised her arm and yelled; "Stop!!!"

Cody watched in amazement as the others were frozen in time. Quistis had taken off at a running start. The spell won't last long, given Squall's high resistance to magic. But at least she would get there first, and hopefully end this.