Chapter 5
Things weren't getting much better for Quistis. Since the unfortunate incident earlier, the Garden was split. Students and SeeD couldn't decide which war they were fighting, for Squall or the real meaning of SeeD. It hadn't been a good idea to keep Rinoa in Garden, so she had asked Seifer to take her to a safe place in Esthar. That had appeased some students for now, but it wouldn't stay that way, soon they would try and take it a stage further and demand her life. If only Squall hadn't disappeared then this whole thing would not have happened. There was still no sign of him.
"What are we gonna do Quisty, they're gonna want blood," asked Selphie nervously. The girl was frightened for her friends.
"All we can do is sit tight and hope for the moment, there's nothing much else we can do," she said trying to comfort Selphie.
"Quisty!" crackled Irvine's voice over the comm. "Turn to your television channel. You'll wanna see this."
On the television was a news broadcast. Sekh's face filled the screen. He was talking about the end of the world and how the sorceress was to blame, and that Esthar held her and were unwilling to allow her for trial. Quistis groaned loudly when she heard it.
"I don't believe this," said Selphie, "how did he find this information out. Nobody else knew about it."
"I don't know," said Quistis.
* * *
"Any word yet from our friends at Garden," asked Sahr.
"None," said Sekh, "maybe they're not interested in what we said, but they will be when they find out what we have in store for them, and their princess sorceress."
Sahr and Sekh turned as the butler came down the stairs.
"President Rovan will see you now," he said then turned to go back up the stairs.
After many years of bitter arguments, Irner Rovan had eventually taken up the Presidency of Galbadia, and he was adamant about restoring the country to its former glory, before the sorceress's. The whole country was now united in their destruction of the sorceress's and anyone who helped her. After the last fiasco, who was surprised.
Rovan was a patriot to his country. He had lived in Deling City all his life and had loved it. He was not about to see it collapse because of one little bitch screwing things up.
"Come in, come in. It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he said to Sahr and Sekh. "Now, Miss Peters, Mr Erth, I hope you understand the importance of this accusation. I mean our policy with the sorceress, this could mean another war."
"We understand this, sir, but the fact of the matter is that our commander has disappeared and we know that she's responsible," said Sekh, "she's poisoned his mind, somehow."
"Are you absolutely sure that Esthar is involved in this," asked Rovan, "and will you stand by us while we fight to save the world from this evil? Do you pledge yourself to our cause?"
"Yes, with all of our hearts," they both said together.
"Okay then, you will fight with us in our quest and may the gods be on our side."
* * *
Sia focused all of her powers into the one push. She could see nothing else but that moment when everything flowed together. As she concentrated, the cup slowly rose in the air till it was suspended above the table.
"Now I want you to control it," said a quiet voice behind her, trying not to distract her too much.
Sia moved the cup from left to right slowly; she could not do it any quicker. There was a buzzing sound increasing in her head, making it hard to think. The pain was intense and it had started to travel down her spine.
With a cry of pain she suddenly collapsed.
* * *
"Are you okay, that was quite a fall you took."
Looking down at Sia was her teacher, the mage, Daguro. He patted her hand and smiled warmly down at her.
"That was quite a show. I have never seen many people do so well their first time trying that. Most loose consciousness after the first minute. You, however are very strong," he said, helping her to her feet.
"I'm okay," she said, then promptly sank back down to meet the floor, and was only saved by Daguro's fast reflexes.
"No, you need to rest. You'll still be a bit weak."
Sia looked up into his strange, green eyes, they always seemed to be smiling, but the colour was, well strange. He did have a wonderful smile; that could have caused her sudden relapse of light-headedness. Someone in the background coughed. Leraikhe stood there with Zell behind him.
"Uh, hi. We're going to set off now for the Forbidden Land, so Master Enki would like us all together," said Leraikhe, red from embarrassment of interrupting them.
"Okay Leraikhe, we'll be right there," said Daguro.
"You're coming with us," asked Sia, shocked.
"What's so surprising, don't you want me to come?"
"Yes, I do, but I just didn't think you were," said Sia quietly.
"Don't worry, it'll be fun, let me just grab my stuff."
* * *
The airship, the Celestial Front was slow and clumsy, and it made Zell feel sick. He hung over the side, trying not vomit at every lurch that the old ship made. Somehow, it didn't feel safe. Somehow wasn't the word, obviously sounded better. Zell clung to the railing, trying to keep his dignity and his lunch, while Sia mocked him.
Inside the ship Enki, Squall and Leraikhe prepared battle plans. It was strange to Squall to have Leraikhe as one of the good guys. He was a nice guy too. Enki showed them all the battle plans.
"So while the celebrations are on for the crowning of the leader, you Squall will go with Leraikhe to the Western tower. It will be well guarded, so be careful. That is where their leader rests. There you will take this charm and place it under the leaders pillow."
Enki then produced a small cross charm and gave it to Squall. "The charm is tipped with an aromatic poison, which hopefully will send the leader into a deep sleep. Squall, you will rendezvous with Zell and Daguro, who will be keeping watch on their leader. Yes Squall what is it?"
"Umm… why do you keep calling this person `the leader`?"
"Nobody has ever seen this person. The celebrations are on because it is the grand unveiling of them," answered Enki.
"Where will Leraikhe be?" he asked. "If I'm meeting Zell and Daguro, where will Leraikhe be?"
"Leraikhe will stay behind to kill the leader. I have uses for you elsewhere Squall. You three will be a distraction to the guards, whilst Leraikhe is busy. You four will get out and meet us at the rendezvous point, out by the hill. Good luck everyone, you ARE going to need it. "
* * *
To Squall, the whole mission had an ominous feel to it. So many things seemed wrong to him. He couldn't explain it. Even now as they snuck in a small side way into the palace, the air seemed charged with fear and hatred. This place, it was so different to Alexandria. In the air he could feel the tortured souls looking for something. Revenge would be a good answer. Something felt so wrong.
Leraikhe took the lead, he knew the place well from looking at accounts of people who had come and escaped. He also had some sort of bond with this place though he did not know why. Something called to him, either in his head or so quietly that the others didn't hear; it was eerie.
"Right, this is where we split up," whispered Leraikhe, "Squall, you come with me. Zell and Daguro, I would like you two to go to the central courtyard, you're our distraction. You know what to do."
"Got it," said Zell, as he and Daguro backed away from them.
"Lets go," said Leraikhe.
* * *
"Watch out," Leraikhe whispered as he held Squall back from being seen by the apparent guard dog.
It was too huge to be a regular dog, and it had grotesque features, almost human in its appearance, but the eyes; they definitely had a human quality to them. The creature had intelligence. It reminded Squall of the beast that he had fought trying to get to Andria, in Deling City.
The beast sniffed the air like it had smelled something. Squall held his breath, and he saw that Leraikhe had done the same.
It then looked down another passage, and went. Both Squall and Leraikhe breathed a sigh of relief.
"Come on," motioned Leraikhe.
Squall followed him up the passage. He had said that the end room was the one that they wanted. Apprehension filled Squall, and he still wasn't sure why he was here. The door was locked, and the minute that took Leraikhe to pick the lock was one of the most frightening of Squall's life, as they could be seen from the passages and the courtyard below where Zell and Daguro were. Also now that Squall had seen what lived here, he didn't want to meet it again anytime soon. Finally the door opened and they stepped inside.
* * *
"It's about time, this famous leader showed up," whispered Daguro. They had been waiting for them to show up for a long time and both were getting sick.
They stood among others in the huge courtyard dressed in the same uniforms as the few humans that were there. They had stolen the uniforms of a couple of latecomers, who weren't really late. Now drums started beating, signalling the start of something.
Zell tried to look over the crowd as it moved forward a couple of steps, eager to see and hear all. Daguro had been pulled away from him, and when Zell looked over he couldn't see him. Trying to detach himself from that part of the crowd, Zell moved to the left, searching for his missing comrade.
A very recognisable voice suddenly spoke from the stage.
* * *
Closing the door behind him quietly, Leraikhe bolted it. Then he moved swiftly to the window, almost like a cat in Squall's opinion.
"Why am I in here?" asked Squall. "What must I do here? You're not being totally honest with me, and neither was Enki."
"Truthfully Squall, I cannot reveal the full details, of my part. You are here for reason, which I cannot tell, but be safe in the knowledge that you should be here," Leraikhe said quietly. "You are my lookout, that is all you need to know."
"But-" started Squall, but he was immediately silenced by Leraikhe.
Voices could be heard, but they were not coming from the corridor, they came from the window.
"Go guard the door Squall, let me know if you hear anything coming."
But Squall was walking towards the window. Leraikhe leapt in front of him. Blocking his view of the courtyard.
"Squall, I said guard the-"
Squall pushed him aside as he stared transfixed out of the window into the courtyard, shock and disbelief on his face.
* * *
The face was exactly the same as Zell could tell. A person Zell knew, but no it couldn't be. Andria had died. And yet she stood right before Zell, a little older, but this was Andria Perne who had sired Squall's child after splitting them up.
"We must go now," whispered Daguro. "Zell, you must speak of this to no one, not even Squall, it would kill him and he would try to stop Leraikhe."
"What's goin' on," Zell hissed. "She's supposed to be dead."
"I know a lot of things might seem confusing right now, but we have to go NOW!"
Daguro half dragged Zell through the crowds as discretely as possible. He and Zell tried to keep low. Daguro knew Andria's power and this wasn't the same person that Zell knew. Daguro had seen how she had changed.
Her voice shouted now even louder over the crowd, "Come to me Daguro. Do not think you can run and hide from me."
Around Zell and Daguro people backed away. Some were eager to see what would happen next. Others were only interested in fresh meat. Andria came down from the stage she had been standing on, helped by some human followers. People parted to let her pass to Daguro and Zell.
"Well, it has been a while hasn't it," she said, standing right in front of Daguro, challenging him almost. "And who is this familiar face. Let me think…"
Zell stood up to his full height and glared at her.
"Zell Dinct," said Andria. "What a surprise this is. And where there's a Zell Dinct, there's a…"
"Stop!" shouted Squall right over the crowd. Stumbling as fast as he could through the mass of bodies blocking his way.
Andria flicked her right hand up and at once two guards, one human, the other… not, came up and grabbed Zell and Daguro.
"Leave them," commanded Squall. "They are not important."
"Why must I do that?" asked Andria, smiling her queer smile. "After all I am the one who holds them. You, well for a start you cannot be the person who I know you to be therefore why should I listen to you? Secondly, I am the one holding their lives in my hands, so if I were you then I would be nice."
"Andria, please," begged Squall, " I don't know what's happening, but trust me, you're not well. You would never do this."
"Squall," warned Daguro.
"Take them away," said Andria, remembering about them.
"Andria," begged Squall once more.
"Don't worry about your friends, you are going to join them," said Andria.
Three guards, half men half-wolf creature came up behind Squall and dragged him away, while he fought against them. Andria merely watched his struggles as he was pulled away, shouting out, and she smiled her odd smile.