This is basically just an into to the city. Nothing real big happens, except some familiar people from FF8 appear. There's even a little surprise at the end. Hehe. Well, read and review.

Disclaimer: Don't own FF8 but would like to

Chapter V

Please insert proper information. Registration...confirmed. Password...confirmed. Welcome to Esthar.

Cheryl awoke in her room with a sweat of panic. Where were they? What had happened? She knew that after they defeated the Abadon, Rinoa fell unconscious. She must've too. That caped figure must've done it. She felt her neck to feel a bump on it, signaling where the dart had been.

"Is anybody there?" Cheryl asked to an empty room.

The room was completely empty in fact. There were no chairs, beds, no nothing. Just a floor and walls. Cheryl looked around to see some glass that was probably a one way screen. She knew someone was watching her.

She pounded on the glass, "If you can hear me, then let me the hell out!" She continued to scream and pound on the glass, but there was no answer.

Tired of her efforts, she plopped down onto the ground. It was slightly cold and she hugged her knees to keep herself somewhat warm.

Where's Rinoa. Did they take her here too? I bet she's in a different room like mine. Who did this to us? We weren't doing anything wrong. I can't believe this happened. I wonder if we're in Esthar.

Cheryl sighed in boredom. She was an animal in a cage. She couldn't really do anything. She thought she was in Esthar, so there was probably no way of breaking out of this prison very easily. She would just wait until someone came. Then she might be able to answer some questions.

"Do you really think that was all necessary?" The caped figure said to a chair that turned facing the window in a large office overlooking the grand city of Esthar.

"Maybe, maybe not. But either way...we need them here right now." The figure turned around in his chair. He was dark haired and showing his age of forty.

"But...couldn't we just let them come in and then get them." The caped figure was still arguing.

"I know that would've been a little more humane, but we have to contain the sorceress. It's our only hope right now. If she were to do something...then everything we've worked so hard for could've been lost." The man sighed and got out of his chair.

"But she can't be that dangerous." The caped figure kept going.

The man turned the window and looked at his marvelous city. It was really beginning to thrive after the fall of Ultimicia. It seemed like ages, even though it was only a year. It was probably the time compression that made it seem so long.

"Hello." The caped figure said trying to get his attention.

"What? Oh...sorry. Well...I guess we have no choice but to bring them in. I'll send for them." The man pressed a button by his phone. There was a sort conversation between him and his secretary before he ordered her to bring the two captives in.

"What about Odine?" The caped figure asked.

"Oh...I'll send for him too." The man pressed the button again and added that to it as well.

"I think I'll stay and see how this turns out." The caped figure crossed its arms.

"You miss her that much? Well...then I don't mind." The man laughed a little.

"Just old times." The caped figure sighed.

"But one thing," the man told the caped figure, "don't let your emotions get in the way."

"I won't." The caped figure sat down in a chair and waited for the two new arrivals in Esthar to make their entrance.

Cheryl heard the doors to her room swoosh open. She saw a fat, pudgy man dressed in a white robe. She got up in surprise. The man looked a little scary to her.

"Your presence is requested by the president." The man in the robe said. His voice wasn't normal though. It was kind of mechanical like.

"Who's this president? President of Esthar? What does he want? Did he bring us here?" Cheryl asked the robed man.

"Your questions will be answered shortly. Please come with me." The man began to walk away.

"Well...might as well." Cheryl soon followed him.

It was a strange walk for Cheryl. She had never seen so much technology in this brief walk. Everything was so high-tech. Doors were mechanical, monitors flashed with holograms in front of her, and she saw many other people clothes that were very strange. But she was really blown away when she rode on the teleporting disc. When she sat down she felt the force field covered her and the large man and then carried them down a tunnel to a very fancy place.

The man continued to walk and Cheryl followed. She was a little nervous because she had never seen the president of Esthar. She had hoped he was nice. But how nice could a guy that tranquilizes his visitors be? She continued though. She was definitely stunned when she walked into the hallway that was suspended over the magnificent city. To top it off, it was made of a glass like material that allowed her to see through the walls, ceiling, and floor. She could see the city span for miles with streets of blue and purple. The building reached to the top of the skies with hovering cars all around. Her heart was filled with joy of seeing such a wonderful place. Too bad it wasn't much of a vacation.

The large, presidential doors flung open to reveal a room much like the glass hallway. Except this was a much bigger room and had a large desk in the center. She saw a few lounge chairs by it as well. She was nervous now. How could she be calm when meeting the president of Esthar? She took a deep breath before she was asked to sit by the large, robed man.

She couldn't see the president behind his desk. But she knew he was sitting in the large chair that was facing the window. She peered around the room to see the expansive beauty of Esthar technology. But within her glance she saw a familiar person.

The caped figure had been staring into space when he felt a gaze upon him. He turned his head to see Cheryl with a very pissed off face. He was a little scared of her now. It was easy to sneak up on people, but when he faced them face to face, it was much more difficult to be courageous.

"You!" Cheryl yelled as she jumped up from her seat.

The caped figure became nervous twitched a little.

"I can't believe you're here! How dare you!" Cheryl was about to attack him before the large man grabbed her and put her into the chair again.

"Miss...there will be time for that later. Please, remain calm until everyone arrives."

Cheryl crossed her arms in rage and turned her head from the figure.

The caped figure sighed in relief. In the future, Cheryl would always freak the caped figure out when she got mad.

The doors opened again to reveal a smaller and skinnier man clothed the same was as the larger one. Except Cheryl could see the man's long braids of black hair coming from behind his mask. Along with him came Rinoa. She looked the same as always. Her black clothes were still present and her hair was the same. She was pretty calm about coming in here. Cheryl figured this is what she had been waiting for. Rinoa had come here before and knew the president. But Cheryl was still nervous.

Cheryl and the caped figure stood up and looked towards them. The skinny man stepped by the door to let Rinoa be completely revealed. Rinoa looked around the room and saw Cheryl standing there with a worried look on her face. Of course Cheryl was worried. But Rinoa knew better. She didn't have to be afraid of coming into this office.

But it was someone else that she saw. It was the caped figure. She knew who it was. It was hard to forget what he looked like. But he had changed a lot from the last time she saw him. She couldn't believe he was here either. Her heart leapt in surprise of him being there. She couldn't say anything but just stare.

The caped figure did the same and tried to say something like, "hello" or "how ya' been," but it never came.

"What..." Rinoa tried to put a sentence together.

The skinny figure lead Rinoa to sit down in the middle of Cheryl and the caped figure. She was still in shock from it and wanted to say something, but didn't. The others sat down along with her and the caped figure just stared at her. Cheryl looked as well and didn't know what to say. The two obviously knew each other, but she didn't know how.

"Your attention please," The large man said, "the president of Esthar."

The man turned around in his chair to reveal himself. Rinoa smiled to see him again. It had been a long time since the last time she had seen him.

"Long time." The man said.

"Yes, Laguna." Rinoa smiled even wider.

"So...you do remember me." He smiled back and looked toward the caped figure who was still gazing at Rinoa.

"I see you know everyone here, Rinoa. But your friend..."

"Cheryl" Cheryl added to him.

"Cheryl might not know all of our guests." Her stood up and pointed to the people he began to introduce.

"These are my two assistants...Kiros and Ward." He pointed to the robed men who bowed to Cheryl.

"Hello." She said to them.

"And the man that is next to you, which you probably are a little mad at, is Chief of Armed Forces." He pointed to the caped figure.

"Yeah...I know him. That jerk." Cheryl growled a little.

"Well...don't be mad at him. I ordered him to do it. But I think that you know who he is." He told her.

"Who?" Cheryl had no clue.

"This is Irvine Kenneas." Laguna introduce her.