Chapter 24 – Breaking the Code
"I believe that you asked us here to look at the findings on the virus." Squall was the one who spoke up, but the rest of them were just as anxious about the outcome.
"Yes, well, Mr. Commander..."
"Squall."
"Alright then, Squall, it appears that our specimen had already been producing antibodies against the virus."
"HER NAME'S WATERLILY! NOT SOME SPECIMEN!" Zell exclaimed in an enraged tone.
"Calm down, Zell." Squall placed a hand on his overtly worked-up friend, and turned back to the Head of Medical Scientists, who had been working on the cure for the mysterious virus ever since it broke out. "And are the antibodies truly capable of fighting the virus?"
"Definitely. With the appropriate equipment, we would be able to reproduce it in large quantities."
"Large quantities….?" Squall looked up with a hint of interest, when in fact he was bursting from within with eagerness for the answer.
"Large enough to cure all of Esthar and beyond." The professor beamed, for finally after days of hard work, they could see the results of their various tests and experiments.
"But why is it that only she was able to produce the antibodies, and not any other patient?"
"Hmm… that was one area we could not solve no matter how we tried. After several medical examinations, we believe that her constitution is slightly different from the average human. This could explain why her appearance was not transformed at all, unlike the other patients."
"Meaning?"
"I really have no idea… But we will get to the bottom of it… I assure you." How the hell am I supposed to tell him that I suspect she isn't a human from our world? It will seriously undermine my dignity and reputation as the Head of Medical Scientists, PHD, Esthar!
"That's not the most crucial issue. You must attempt to produce the serum containing the antibodies as soon as possible. As yet, we have not encountered any deaths, but very soon… a good half of Esthar will be wiped out by the virus!"
"Of course, that will be on our priority list. In fact, we have a sample of the serum right now… we are merely looking for any side-effects to it, which technically there shouldn't be."
"Any other findings?" Rinoa asked quietly, for she knew that the virus was not the only problem staring at them in the face.
"We found a strange plant of some sorts rotting inside her abdomen cavity… it seems that this plant was of unknown origin, and that it had been living off her nourishment for around a day or so... very much alike to a parasitic specie type plant. I have asked my colleague, who is an expert in this field, to examine it, and will duly inform you if we find anything else of interest."
"Can I have the serum please… the President of Esthar has expressed his ardent wishes to be the first guinea pig who uses it."
"Well… I'm not sure… for he is a rather important man… if anything should happen to him, I cannot bear the consequences of failure… surely you can understand?"
"If anything happens, it will be my responsibility, not yours. I can assure you that."
"If you insist…" Reluctantly, the Professor handed him a small vial of transparent liquid. "To be imbibed on an empty stomach."
"If there's nothing else…" Squall and the rest started to take their leave.
"Hold on a minute… I think this might interest you." The Professor held up a picture with the back of the "specimen" exposed.
As they crowded around it, Rinoa and Selphie could not help but let out horrified gasps as they saw the "handiwork" of a certain villain.
"I can't believe anyone can do this!" Someone muttered angrily, his eyes straight and dilated with anger.
"All the more we can't let the culprit off easily. It appears to me that this inhuman thing not only manipulated people at his will and fancy, he also intends to destroy or control the whole of human race as well."
"And the other two dimensions on top of that. In other words… he wants to be Hyne…… he wants to replace Hyne." A foreign voice suddenly appears beside them, and a stranger gradually materializes in the room.
The Professor looked at him in panic, for he had never seen people appear in a room out of nowhere in his entire life… nor have he seen one with wings sprouting out from his back.
The SeeDs, all except one, looked at him curiously.
"Damien! What are you doing here?" Zell was surprised to see him. Damien had gone back to Angel Land for "life-threatening matters", as he had told Zell before vanishing completely. Zell had known that he wasn't exaggerating, for Damien would never leave his Master and Lady at this crucial time unless it was absolutely necessary.
"I bring some important news with me. I know I'm not supposed to reveal myself, but dire times call for dire measures. We need to talk, now."
"We?" Zell asked, gesturing at the group as well.
"Zell, you know this guy?" Irvine, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke up.
"Oh, I forgot. Ummm…. How do I say this?" He scratched his head, trying to find the appropriate words to describe his relationship with Damien.
"Never mind, Zell. Let me.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Damien Silvergrace, and I am Celestine's old friend in Angel Land. All this while, you have not seen me before, but I have known you throughout your lives… for I have served both Seifer and Quistis as their Guardian Angel… any questions?"
"No wonder you looked familiar." Rinoa said slowly. She did not say anything, but ever since a few months ago, she had occasionally seen some guy floating around Quistis or Seifer. Apparently Sorceress powers had made her receptive to such presence.
"Wow… does that mean every one of us has an Angel?" Selphie exclaimed, thrilled with the idea that flashed through her mind.
"Erm… I can't actually reveal that to you. It's against the rules…. And I have already broken some of them by appearing here, as I said earlier. But we haven't got time to waste… I'll bring you to meet my Lord."
"Your Lord?" All of them chorused, the loudest of which came from Zell.
"Yes… now please come with me."
And they left the laboratory, leaving a flabbergasted Professor behind.
"I need to get a new job after this……" He muttered to himself, while taking a small bottle from his vest pocket to drown his screaming thoughts with alcohol……
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She did not know how long she had been in this dark place, calling out for Quistis while scanning it the best she could with the meager light of the shield.
A slender figure appeared abruptly in front of her, wielding something in its hand.
"Quistis?"
As Celestine got nearer, she found that it was indeed Quistis, now grinning widely.
But the grin wasn't a friendly one. It would have looked more at home on a Marlboro than on Quistis' pretty face.
Not to forget, she was holding a weapon, and attempting to hurt Celestine with it.
However, the term "she" was used loosely, for this could not possibly be Quistis, just some apparition or impersonator of her.
Celestine was grateful for the shield. From the way the whip was lashed at her, Celestine could tell that it was powerful enough to split the flesh and tear the skin of those unfortunate enough to have a taste of it. Even if she were invisible, what's there to say that the attacks couldn't get to her?
"Why are you attacking me?" She cried out as the attacks got fast and furious… even if physically unhurt, she still winced as the sharp sounds of each lash rang in her ears.
"Because you have invaded my territory. I have been trained to attack and resist anyone else other than the owner of this body from entering her innermost space."
"But what are you?"
"I am her shadow, a role which was thrust upon me without my consent. There will always be a shadow in everyone's soul, because no matter how virtuous one is, there will always exist my kind, for nobody is perfect. It is up to her to defeat me, accept me, or ignore me. Not anyone else. I… am a magnifying glass of her past sins, her negativity. Now get lost!"
"But… I'm here to help her! She cannot wake up by herself!" Not heeding its warning, Celestine tried to force past it, only to jump back when a wall of flame flared up, obstructing her entry.
The shadow spoke in a harsh voice.
"I suggest you back off, before you get hurt. You might be an Angel, but you cannot meddle in her privacy. Everyone has his or her secrets, and who are you to think that you can rescue her? Nobody but herself can do that. Woe to her if she cannot jump out of it."
There was a slight pause. When she spoke again, her voice had softened, as did her features.
"But… I'm sure she would be touched to see how much you care for her. Run along now… you don't need to worry about her. Just be there to cheer her on."
Celestine fixed her gaze upon the shadow.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She glanced at her for a while then tried to avoid her stare… which could be unnerving at times, especially to people with a guilty conscience.
"You sound as if you hate her… and yet at the same time you're trying to help her…"
"I do hate her… for what gives her the right to be the one on the surface, while here I am dwelling in this desolate, wretched place with no one to talk to except her? But on the other hand… if I do not help her… her life will be in danger. And if she dies… I will too."
"……"
"As I said, she would be fine. She is no longer the vulnerable one with a glass heart and the pride of a lion… for she has changed because of the presence of another. If anyone should rouse her, it should be him… not you. Go. I do not welcome you here."
"Well... I'm not going without a fight! If I can help her get rid of one obstacle by defeating you, by Hyne I'm going to do it! Take heed now…" She started garnering something in both her hands.
"You have no physical body! How are you going to attack? Give it up!"
"You underestimate my resourcefulness… Not all my attacks require a physical presence…"
The shadow gave a snort.
"I'd like to witness that."
In reply to her retort, Celestine pointed her index finger into the air.
The glow from the shield gathered upon her finger, gathering into a not insubstantial ray of light, which she directed towards the Shadow's body.
As the light zipped through her, a hole appeared in her chest.
"Where there's light, there will be source for my attack." Celestine remarked with a grin.
The hole healed immediately to her dismay… for she had no more light as an attack source.
"Not half bad… the first time I've ever seen someone succeed in creating a hole in me! Hahahaha! But I'm getting impatient!"
She paused a little, as if a warning of her next attack.
"Wind!" She shouted, and sure enough, a great gust appeared, carrying with it Celestine and her shield, while the shadow completely disappeared from sight… as if it had never been there before.
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When she opened her eyes, she could not remember where she was.
"Huh?" Was the only sound she made, followed by a yell when Seifer's face suddenly loomed large in her line of vision.
"What are you yelling at? Am I that ugly to look at? My eardrums have been busted, no thanks to you!" He gave an annoyed look, rubbing his ears to demonstrate the damage done to them.
"I'm sorry… you gave me a shock, that's all."
"Well, you didn't succeed did you, seeing that Quisty's still unconscious? I told you it wouldn't work…" He hung his head in disappointment… for he had held a small hope that Celestine would be able to do something…
"………I'm sorry……" She said in a small voice, for she did not really know how to explain to him… that she was barred by Quistis' shadow, and lost…...
"Never mind… I didn't expect her to wake up so easily anyway… I've been trying for days… to no avail."
"Have you tried rousing her memories… like singing a favorite song for example? It might help… I think."
He stared at her for a full minute.
"Hey! Why haven't I thought of that?! It just might work! Celestine, you might turn out to be a genius after all!"
She was about to reply, when a voice burst into her mind with great urgency.
Celestine, come back quick! I think it might have sensed something amiss… I can't hold out any longer… you have to return, or else your body will be lost to the thing!
"I have to go. Now." She threw him the line, and disappeared from the room, just like that.
He could only gape stupidly into space at where her voice was before.
"Good luck…" He whispered.
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She saw a bright flare in the distance.
What's that… seems to be fire. Waitaminit…. Someone's using fire in here? How strange… this I've got to see.
She started out towards that direction.
But she stopped the moment she heard something.
A very flat, toneless voice singing a song that brought a wave of tears to her…
A song of unlimited memories…
It was the song that she and Seifer first danced to at his inauguration ball.
If a picture paints a thousand words
Then why can't I paint you?
The words will never show
The you I've come to know
If a face could launch a thousand ships
Then where am I to go?
There's no one home but you
You're all that's left me to
And when my love for life is running dry
You come and pour yourself on me
If a man could be two places at one time
I'd be with you
Tomorrow and today
Beside you all the way
If the world should stop revolving
Spinning slowly down to die
I'd spend the end with you
And when the world was through
Then one by one the stars would all go out
Then you and I would simply fly away~~~~
She stared upwards, presumably towards the source of the voice.
What am I doing, wandering around here?
When I should have been trying to find a way out, so that I can seek my love, and tell him I'm alright?
When I should be sharing an embrace with him, making up for the lost time?
Quistis Trepe, get a hold of yourself! Now isn't a time for self-pity! How can you let him suffer like this?
Have you forgotten what you felt when he was unconscious? He is experiencing that right now!
She headed for the source of the flat voice without a second's hesitation… for nobody could sing it the way he does…
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She knew she was very near to the entrance, for the sound of that voice had gotten stronger and stronger. Of course, he had stopped singing, for the song was a short one… but he had started recounting past events that happened between them… some sweet, and some so sad it almost brought a tear to her eye. She did not succumb to it, for she knew that she could not afford to be weak.
Before she could take another step, however, she was blocked by another version of herself.
Yes, this was the same version that Celestine had met earlier on, that is, Quistis' shadow.
"You shall not get past me, unless you beat me down." She declared with a whip in hand.
"Buzz off, or I shall spare no mercy."
"I will not. It is against the rules for you to leave without either defeating me or joining me. Pick your choice."
"Screw the rules. I have no time to waste with you. Get away, before I become really mad and you shall suffer my wrath."
"Then show me what your wrath can do… Instructor…" The Shadow replied with an arrogant smirk.
"Why do you remind me so much of someone?" Quistis stared at the Shadow with great anger for imitating that someone.
"Oh, surely that isn't too hard to guess… for much of your negativity stems from this particular person… although…. Much of it has been resolved already."
"So… you really want to fight, eh?" Quistis whirled around to face her/him/it.
"Yeah… whatever…" The shadow changed expression immediately, to a blank one that could rival the Commander's trademark expression.
"Then do it now. I haven't got much time as it is!"
Quistis struck her Ultimate Weapon, Save the Queen a few times onto the ground, a sign that she was ready for battle.
The Shadow morphed into a cross between Seifer, Squall and Rinoa.
"Yuck! What kind of look is that? If you think you can distract me with disgusting images, you're totally wrong!"
"Then, how about this"
The image changed to that of Redrumiel.
Quistis did not respond, for she was already concentrating on casting a spell.
The Shadow did not attack… instead, she snapped her fingers, and a screen appeared from midair.
Quistis cast an Aura upon herself and waited for the yellow glow to suffuse her body, enabling her to use her Blue Magic Limit Breaks.
On the screen was a scene between Celestine and Quistis, in the chamber of the ultimate villain.
Clenching her fingers tightly, Celestine followed Redrumiel into his room, where he claimed to have held Quistis.
Quistis was sitting on one of the couches with her back facing the door.
"Quis!" She cried out joyfully. On her face was an expression of gladness that clearly spelt out how much she had missed her.
Quistis turned around immediately, a shocked yet glad expression reflected on her face.
"Celestine! How did you get in here?" She exclaimed, jumping up to meet her friend.
They looked at each other for a while, smiling with eyes shining with tears.
Celestine gave her a big hug
"Where have you been? I looked all over for you! All over! I'm so glad you're okay!" She started blabbering, unable to stop the words from flowing out of her mouth.
Quistis looked at her sadly for a moment.
A flash of something flitted through her sky-blue eyes.
Slowly, her pupils changed colour, into a hue-less grey.
She grabbed her Save the Queen without a single sound.
The whip lay poised in her hand, as she prepared to lash it upon the sobbing Celestine……
Celestine let out a scream of agony as it landed on her side…
She looked up at Quistis with a pained expression
The Shadow had thought that this would surely weaken Quistis' defenses, emotionally and physically… It had even edited the scenarios a little, in order to bring out the maximum amount of guilt Quistis would suffer from.
But it had miscalculated a step.
If she had been affected by the blow the Shadow had intended to cast upon her, she did not give any indication that she did.
Quistis finished summoning her Blue Magic… and prepared to unleash her deadliest Limit Break, as far as monsters were concerned.
"Blue Magic--------- Degenerator!"
As she directed the attack towards the Shadow, it gave out a bloodcurdling shriek that trailed and trailed, until it finally died off into oblivion.
Two battles at one go… isn't really my cup of tea… I must be getting old…
"Let's go…" Quistis muttered to herself, and reached for the door labeled "To Seifer"……
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Stay tuned for the next chapter, where the author shall attempt to create one of the mushiest scenes she has ever tried before!
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A/N: Whewwwwww…. I think this chapter is thrice the length of my normal chapters… but I just didn't know how to break it up… kept writing and writing and writing… now my neck, shoulders and fingers are officially dead. Please review… cos I spent a lot of effort on this chapter… even if it may not have been the best. Thank you. *bows*
Ps
Thank you Quistis88! You made me smile and forget my aches and pains when I read the review!
CelesteSpring – Thanks for your review… I hope the grappling lived up to your expectations… but there's more to come as she grapples with the thing… man, I hate the thing….