Fantasy Thunder Chapter Sixteen: Pi
By Blue Dragon
Pi is the holder of all information. A leak in her brain can bring about our defeat.
"Seraph orphanage was an orphanage on the northern side of Galbadia. During the second sorceress war, Adel killed a lot of people there. I was sent there because my parents were nowhere to be found. I woke up in a pile of rubble, a burnt down house, and I couldn't remember anything. I didn't know my name, my age, where I came from, it even took me a while to figure out what I looked like."
Quistis listened intently as Xu spilled out the details of her story. It occurred to her that while others had mentioned details of their past, Xu had said nothing and remained silent.
"There were a few sorceresses on the north side that weren't interested in world conquest, but the people hated them anyway. They managed orphanages across the coast, and there were two in the Seraph orphanage. One of them used her power to tell me how old I was; fourteen. One would try and help me find my past; the other would manage the growing number of kids."
"I never knew there were so many orphanages around the world. I always thought Edea's was the only one"
"Edea's was probably the only one in the south. The war had a much greater effect on the north where Adel's forces were concentrated."
"Makes sense . . . go on"
"One year later, a little after the war ended news of a Balamb Garden reached the Seraph orphanage. Now, the ages for admission are five to twelve, but then they ranged from eleven to sixteen. The white SeeD ship shuttled me and a few others there. A little north, Fastitocalon attacked the ship. The SeeDs destroyed them but not before one got a piece of my arm. At the garden I was taken to the infirmary, and they looked for my records in their database. The scary thing was that they had no data on me. Not a birth record, blood type, living history, parents, siblings, name, nothing. They had to make up stuff on the spot, test my blood, basically make a history for me. They asked me my name and I told them the one the caretakers had given me. They asked my why they called me 'Xu', and I told them it was because they found a symbol on the back of my neck that represented those letters in an ancient alphabet. When those two guys came through the top of the garden to the bridge, I saw something on one that reminded me of Seraph orphanage."
"May I ask what thing you saw?"
"No you may not" Xu said neutrally.
"Will I find out later?" Quistis asked her.
"Maybe. But we have to get there first"
***
The Turks followed Vincent around the corner and down the dark hallway to the room where he had mentioned foul play.
Vincent had stressed stealth, which was easy for him who could move without making a sound, but all through the hallway the Turks were making all kinds of mistakes and noisily giving themselves away.
"Can't you move more quietly?" Vincent asked them in a hushed voice.
"I don't know how you can see where you're going" Elena hissed through the dark.
"Halt" he put his hand out and stopped the mercenaries from moving any further.
"Can you hear that?"
" . . . next time . . . faster . . . get caught . . . "
"Don't . . . move . . . faster, . . . about yourself . . . "
Two faint voices were heard coming from the very room that Vincent had instructed them to move to.
" . . . know . . . Oren . . . close . . . "
". . . trying . . . . me . . . leave . . . anyway . . . "
"Did you hear that?" Rude asked the darkness.
"Quiet, or we'll be discovered" Vincent instructed.
" . . . do . . . girl . . . caught . . .?"
"Just . . . over with . . . kill . . . "
That was enough incentive for Vincent to lurch himself forward and into the room. Two men with black glasses were by his old coffin. They looked at each other, nodded, and opened the air. A blue hole out of nothing appeared and with a roar they launched themselves inside as it disappeared. It seemed very familiar . . .
Vincent walked out and faced his soldiers for hire.
"They left. And I do not know where"
***
"The Alexandrians think that because we are royalty we know not of 'tired' and 'fatigued' and 'torn'. They think we're perfect and expect us to solve any problem that they throw at us. Can I really live like that for the rest of my life?" she asked Zidane.
"Well, you are a queen, right?"
She just looked at him.
"Ironically I don't really know. Where will we go if we don't go back to Alexandria?"
"We could just stay here for the rest of our lives!"
Zidane raised an eyebrow.
"What happened to you? You never seemed to grieve about the duties of a queen before. Come to think of it, you technically have more power than me so why ask my opinion?"
"Its not that I'm asking you to choose for me, I just want to be convinced whether or not to make a decision. Consider this: If we remained here, we could spend all of our time together. We wouldn't have to participate in those agonizingly formal ceremonies, and we could stay where we are as long as we liked as long as we brought capital into the garden."
"Well, that's all nice and good, but what about the people? Could we just abandon them? They hate my guts, but they're in love with you. The city is probably in chaos right now, but think of what would happen if they thought that their ruler would never return."
She gave Zidane a surprised look.
"Since when do you care so much? A few days ago you were complaining that they wouldn't leave you alone. I thought you of all people would want to escape from it."
He shrugged.
"Even if I hate it, it still doesn't make it wrong. Just like me liking something doesn't make it right. If you want to know what I think, its that we should go back and face reality when this is over."
She smiled back.
"Thank you. I feel much better now."
"Don't mention it. I'll just be leaving now before someone finds out I'm over here."
***
Seifer had insisted that Jessica stay behind for the time being as he walked the rest of the way to Balamb. Over the horizon he could see two figures, but from his area of sight they were unrecognizable.
I wish I could fly . . . he thought to himself. He remembered the feeling when he had flown last, and slowly, he felt light. He also felt like his walking was eased, as if he didn't have to step forward to move. When he looked down he noticed that he was hovering above the ground, and was getting higher.
For some reason, he wasn't surprised. Instead he embraced the feeling and flew higher until he could clearly see Balamb. He went higher still, and he could see practically his half of the planet. He saw whales in the blue seas off in the distance, he saw Esthar Garden in all its glory, and he saw the snow tipped mountains that he was flying even higher than. All at once, he felt his heart beat faster, he felt his muscles tighten, and his eyes became keener. His vision grew stronger and he could clearly see the figures were Fujin and Raijin. He saw Jessica aiming with her gun, probably target practice. He could clearly read the signs all through the Balamb, and then he could hear.
The sound was excellent. He heard Jessica put a magazine into the bottom, a squeeze, and the click, even her finger pulling the trigger, and then the now deafening blast as well as the rumble when it hit the mountainside. He heard Fujin and Raijin talking in the distance a sound of impact on flesh, and whining.
"What's happening to me?"
He tried something that he didn't think he could do. He opened his hands in front of him and a roaring blue portal appeared. He thought of where he wanted to be and thrust himself into it. In a second he reappeared beside his friends, who looked at him in amazement.
"S-seifer? What the hell happened to you, ya know?"
"SEIFER?"
"Hello to you guys, too. I see you're happy to see me."
"Buddy!"
While Fujin really couldn't bring herself to hug someone, she gave a rare smile. Not a small one but a wide one.
Raijin, on the other hand, launched himself forward and latched onto his almost forgotten "partner in crime"
"I thought they killed ya! I thought Squall threw you in the ocean! But look at ya, ya know!"
"As much as I like supporting you AND my own body weight, it'd be nice if you would get off. I'm glad to see you, too."
Raijin got off.
"Are you going to stay? We opened a little fish market. I was thinking you could be the bouncer--"
"In a fish market?"
"What's wrong with that? Haven't you played the video game?"
". . . "
"?"
"Well, I have someone for you guys to meet"
Seifer put his arms around both of them, and then the three of them disappeared.
***
Oren had found a nice bench at the edge of town and was about to have a much-needed sit, when Reno bounded up behind him.
"Hey lazy-ass, we need you."
"What now? Haven't I done enough for you all?"
"No. We saw two guys"
"So?"
"They did that opening-in-limbo thing like you do to get us places"
"You're kidding"
"No, seriously. I have 1000 gil riding on this, help me out."
"Fine then, just describe them to me." Oren's tired legs were depressed as he stood back up.
"Vincent said they were both black haired with sunglasses"
"I thought you said that you saw them?"
"Whatever helps us out is good enough for me."
"Well, one of them could have been Omicron, but I find that highly unlikely."
"They must have been like you if they could do what they did, right?"
"Well, you've made a point but I don't know what kind of magic--" Oren cut himself of and looked into the sky, spaced out.
"What now?"
"You . . . you were right. There are Zatach in the area. Right above us. Powerful . . . what are they doing in this planet?" Oren said nothing more as he blasted upward sending Reno flying back into a tree.
***
Squall hurried down the hall to room 17. That had been the place that Laguna had yelled to find him before he had blocked out all memory of Esthar's President.
He had left briskly and in a hurry, ignoring anything that anyone had said. Although he didn't like the idea of talking to that man, he still held answers that he needed. And he didn't like the idea of running away from them all his life, either.
He subconsciously slowed his pace and realized why. He was getting closer no room 17. Refusing to let his fear dictate his movement, he shook this off and went into the final corridor. He boldly opened the door in front of him.
***
Zidane paced around the entrance of the training center, thoroughly bored out of his mind. He was hoping to find someone that would be fighting a monster, but no one seemed to be around at this hour. At first he paid no attention to the rustling that he heard in and around the area, but then he was so desperate for entertainment he immediately followed the source of the first thing he heard.
Zidane was beyond relieved when he saw Tidus with his sword out fighting two grats and a bite bug. The large mosquito charged him first, and in one fluid movement Tidus flipped out of the way and brought his sword down upon the aggressor before it even knew what hit it. One grat decided it was better off running, but the other one rubbed its vines releasing a sleeping fluid, making the blitzer crouch down in an unnatural sleep. To push the attack the other grat brought forth gastric juice from its mouth landing right on its prey, waking up Tidus with a start.
Zidane felt that he should step in but then Tidus rushed with the sword outstretched, then went back and slashed, slid, ran again and slashed, and did this three more times until the grat fell.
Zidane came out of the bushes applauding.
"Hey, that was great. I've been aching for entertainment for hours."
Tidus looked at him strangely.
"Why didn't you just fight a monster yourself?"
"What? Good idea. I will!"
Suddenly the two heard the sounds of monsters retreating, which included stomping, fluttering, and shuffling to a safe distance.
"Am I that good?" Zidane thought aloud as he looked around.
"Look out!" Tidus yelled, dropping his sword and knocking Zidane to the ground when two stray blasts flew from a clearing to the right of them, leaving a trail of destroyed land.
"What the?!" Zidane bolted up and followed the source of the power with Tidus at his heels, who doubled back to retrieve the Caladbolg before continuing. When they stopped at another clearing Tidus recoiled at the sight of Seymour Flux, ignoring Kuja who stood circling him.
". . . I didn't know he could still do that! Hey Kuja! That almost killed you last time!"
Zidane's 'brother' sacrificed not a shred of attention for he was focused on what seemed to be his opponent.
"There's no way that Kuja guy'll be any match for Seymour"
"You don't know Kuja like I do. If you insist, then why don't you fight with him?"
"Are you CRAZY?" He asked, staring right at Zidane who wasn't staring back.
"Why not? You know his secrets, and I know Kuja's. Maybe it would be interesting."
"You know what, what the heck? But only because I wanna prove something."
Tidus trotted over and slowed down as he neared Seymour.
"I don't need your help" Seymour said robotically as he locked his focus on Kuja.
"I don't think you do, but you might need someone to keep him occupied" he jerked a thumb to Zidane who slapped hands and shook tails with Kuja.
". . . I can handle them both. Don't you have something to be doing? I'm not sure if you've noticed, but you're not exactly my favorite person"
"Right back at you. But you're going back to the farplane, so what do I have against you?"
". . . "
Kuja and Zidane seemed to talk, and then Kuja lost power and went back to normal. In his surprise Seymour did, as well.
"What's going on!?" Tidus called.
"We decided on a little plan, but we have to let Kuja here recover so that he can be at full power. You guys should think of a strategy or something, in the meantime. Just sit tight!"
"You shouldn't have any trouble unleashing power" Tidus said, sitting down.
"What do you mean?"
"With all your issues, it shouldn't be a problem being at full strength all the time, right?"
Seymour narrowed his eyes.
"Its no wonder you were so rude to me for so long. You don't even know a thing about me"
"Oh yeah, then tell me"
Seymour leaned on a tree.
"It isn't a pretty story."
***
Oren flew hard and fast towards the sky, feeling that he was just half a mile away. In a few seconds the stopped in mid air among the clouds and began looking around him for the two signals he felt, and according to the lower-back portion of his brain, were still there. He slowly turned around and saw the two he was looking for, staring right back at him. One he didn't recognize, the other he knew from years ago.
"Omicron. What were you doing--"
"Silence!" He held out his hand to quiet his enemy, and took his sunglasses off.
"We needed to come here so you wouldn't interfere with our business"
The one next to him was silent.
"Because, Oren, what we were doing was very delicate. VERY delicate. So, we won't bother you . . . " Omicron backed off slightly, his youth barely showing except for the still bright hair that fell over equally bright eyes.
"This doesn't concern you."
"What are you doing Omicron? I heard foul play was involved."
He smiled.
"Pi, as you know, knows everything important about us. Recently something has been making her forget, and we are going through methods to MAKE her remember."
Oren became angry.
"Are you implying torture?"
"Am I?"
Omicron and the stranger disappeared, along with their power signal.
Oren flew back down to find Reno rubbing his head and giving him a poisonous look.
"Why did you do that?"
"Look Reno, I think this is a little more serious than I initially thought" Oren told him, landing next to him.
"That was Omicron. I don't know who the other guy was. I think they're torturing someone."
"Good. We can get our money and go home."
Oren looked amazed.
"You . . . you know someone's being hurt and you only care about your profit?"
"Hey! I can't compete with any of those guys you're chasing around so leave me out of it."
"I'm your only transportation. You'll help me or walk back to Turk headquarters on the other side of the planet."
"Okay! Okay! Geez. . . "
Reno crossed his arms and turned around.
Oren was ready to sit down and analyze the situation button Xu rushed up to him.
"Can I go to the Seraph orphanage? Please? I'm really in a bit of a hurry."
He sighed.
"Okay, I'll take you and Quistis there but I'll have to leave you along for a while. I might check up every now and then but I'll have to stay here"
"Agreed. I'm very eager to find more of my past."
"Fine. Get Quistis and I'll take you. But hurry, I have to investigate."
Xu rushed back to the inn and Oren finally sat down.
***
Squall opened the door and found Laguna sitting down on the side of his bed reading something. The man looked up and seemed relieved and surprised to find Squall there. He immediately put the book down on a dresser and made eye contact with the unexpected visitor.
"Uh, well what brings you around at this--"
"You know very well what brings me around at this time" Squall abruptly cut Laguna off.
"Oh. Silly me, I should have known. Cards! We have all kinds around here! We have poker, five-card draw . . . "
"Aren't those the same thing?"
" . . . "
"You should know why I'm here"
"Fine. I admit it! I just didn't have any cash on me! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I know it! I'll pay you back the fourteen dollars and twenty-two cents I owe you!"
Squall gave him a look.
"You forgot about it? Heh heh, well, uh, forget I said anything"
"Where were you all those years when I was in that orphanage thinking I had no parents? Where was my mother? And how could you go off somewhere probably knowing you had some son?"
"Well . . . " the man stood up trying to formulate an explanation.
"About your mother . . . she . . . "
"Just tell me where she is. If I can't get anything from you I'll find her!"
"Squall. You don't want to know where your mother is."
The look on his face made a contradiction, causing Laguna to look down to the ground and heave a long depresses sigh. He pointed straight up, Squall slowly following with his cold gaze. Of course, Squall didn't understand.
"She died a long time ago. Childbirth. I'm sorry. . . "
"Oh yeah? Where were you the whole time?"
"I had actually been away, looking for Ellone. She was taken by Esthar. When I found her I told her to stay in the orphanage for a while. I knew Cid and Edea, they were capable people. I got a letter from Ellone while returning to Winhill. It said that you were there. She described you, and inside I knew but I didn't bring myself around to it. Later I accepted it. You were my son and you'd have much more of a home there. Besides, the people of Esthar accepted me, they told me I had saved them, and that I should lead them."
"So you ignored me for a place in Esthar government?"
"That's not it! I just was afraid to face reality! I had probably missed your first words, your first steps, everything. I could you know me as your father? Esthar was my escape, but when you came, grown like that, so much like your mother, I knew I couldn't hide anymore. You became everything I wasn't and more. I'm so sorry I wasn't there, but it looks like you didn't need me, seeing the fine person you've become. Now, I just want to be--"
"That's enough. I've heard enough!"
"Wait!"
His words were ignored as Squall stormed out, and made it a point to slam the door.
When he expected answers, he was only filled with more questions. He stormed down the hall in a flurry, not caring who saw him.
Crap. I'm letting my nature come back and get to me again . . . he ignored to tears rolling down his eyes.
" . . . Father" he said under his breath.
He looked at the elevator, then the railing, and launched himself over, falling freely to the ground. Down to floor three, then two, and then before one, he flipped and landed hard on his feet, and rocketed out of the front door leaving the seventeen spectators including Rinoa and Irvine in shock.
***
When Seifer teleported his friends in front of Jessica, she, for the first time, fell to the ground. In shock, of course.
"S-seifer?"
Seifer let go of Fujin and Raijin and massaged his knuckles.
"I don't know what this is, but I like it"
Jessica eyed him carefully, and cautiously walked up to him. In a flash she moved her hand and drew a thin cut along Seifer's arm. The pain he felt was a delayed effect, but when he felt it he jumped back.
"Why'd you do that?"
"Hold on" She was staring carefully at the cut she had made, making Fujin and Raijin look as well, and inevitably Seifer. After a few seconds purple blood lined the wound.
"Whoa! Ya know!" Raijin jumped back at the height of fear, afraid that he was looking at a zombie. Jessica stared longer, and then the wound closed up and the blood disappeared. Without his consent she used her fingers to pry his eyelids open and stared closely at the pupils.
"Your eyes are no longer dilated like a normal human's. As a matter of fact . . . "
She removed the gun from the holster and pointed a small light mounted on it in the eye. The pupil became as small as a cat's eye.
"From what I've seen, Seifer, your anatomy . . . "
She quickly fired the blast next to his head making Fujin and Raijin jump in shock, while he just stood there.
". . . is completely Zatach. I don't understand it, but you don't even have the normal human reflexes anymore, and since you aren't even momentarily deafened, Zatach hearing as well."
"What are you saying? That I'm using a Zatach body?"
"Frankly, yes. And I wouldn't call it a weak one, either."
***
Oren teleported Xu and Quistis to the Seraph Orphanage, or what was left of it.
"I hope you find what you're looking for, Xu, I'll come back in two hours."
Without another word Oren disturbed the peace with his overly loud portal- creating and disappeared from the scene.
Quistis and Xu looked ahead. The building was built much like Edea's orphanage; actually it was built exactly like it minus the direction it faced in relation to the surrounding geographical features.
The two walked over the small sea of boulders that separated them from the building and made their way the much neglected front door that was once white.
"This place seems as if its still an operational facility, even though it looks old and neglected. As if there was ghostly presence."
Xu didn't want to respond to her companion as they walked around what used to be the parlor, but it was because she was afraid to agree. Her fears were brought to life when she heard soft singing coming from the room to the left. Both women froze and slowly turned to the source.
"Am I hearing things . . . ?"
"I hear it too" Quistis assured. Xu was surprised that she had spoken aloud.
"I hope that I'm not actually hearing that. That . . . "
Quistis looked at her partner with a look of questioning.
"It sounds like the person that used to run this place. She would always sing . . . "
"Couldn't she still be here?"
"No! She . . . she died a long time ago. I was there! I'm hearing the voice of a person that couldn't be alive!"
"Did she die of old age?"
"No. She was young. She died of something worse."
________________________________________________________________________
AN: Sorry for the ridiculously long wait, if anyone's still reading. The next three chapters will be mostly investigation on unfolding mysteries, and then later they will use what they learn to trek further. I just got my account working, thankfully. I finished my other fic so I devote my complete attention to this. Eight chapters to go! The next one will chronicle Seymour's story.
By Blue Dragon
Pi is the holder of all information. A leak in her brain can bring about our defeat.
"Seraph orphanage was an orphanage on the northern side of Galbadia. During the second sorceress war, Adel killed a lot of people there. I was sent there because my parents were nowhere to be found. I woke up in a pile of rubble, a burnt down house, and I couldn't remember anything. I didn't know my name, my age, where I came from, it even took me a while to figure out what I looked like."
Quistis listened intently as Xu spilled out the details of her story. It occurred to her that while others had mentioned details of their past, Xu had said nothing and remained silent.
"There were a few sorceresses on the north side that weren't interested in world conquest, but the people hated them anyway. They managed orphanages across the coast, and there were two in the Seraph orphanage. One of them used her power to tell me how old I was; fourteen. One would try and help me find my past; the other would manage the growing number of kids."
"I never knew there were so many orphanages around the world. I always thought Edea's was the only one"
"Edea's was probably the only one in the south. The war had a much greater effect on the north where Adel's forces were concentrated."
"Makes sense . . . go on"
"One year later, a little after the war ended news of a Balamb Garden reached the Seraph orphanage. Now, the ages for admission are five to twelve, but then they ranged from eleven to sixteen. The white SeeD ship shuttled me and a few others there. A little north, Fastitocalon attacked the ship. The SeeDs destroyed them but not before one got a piece of my arm. At the garden I was taken to the infirmary, and they looked for my records in their database. The scary thing was that they had no data on me. Not a birth record, blood type, living history, parents, siblings, name, nothing. They had to make up stuff on the spot, test my blood, basically make a history for me. They asked me my name and I told them the one the caretakers had given me. They asked my why they called me 'Xu', and I told them it was because they found a symbol on the back of my neck that represented those letters in an ancient alphabet. When those two guys came through the top of the garden to the bridge, I saw something on one that reminded me of Seraph orphanage."
"May I ask what thing you saw?"
"No you may not" Xu said neutrally.
"Will I find out later?" Quistis asked her.
"Maybe. But we have to get there first"
***
The Turks followed Vincent around the corner and down the dark hallway to the room where he had mentioned foul play.
Vincent had stressed stealth, which was easy for him who could move without making a sound, but all through the hallway the Turks were making all kinds of mistakes and noisily giving themselves away.
"Can't you move more quietly?" Vincent asked them in a hushed voice.
"I don't know how you can see where you're going" Elena hissed through the dark.
"Halt" he put his hand out and stopped the mercenaries from moving any further.
"Can you hear that?"
" . . . next time . . . faster . . . get caught . . . "
"Don't . . . move . . . faster, . . . about yourself . . . "
Two faint voices were heard coming from the very room that Vincent had instructed them to move to.
" . . . know . . . Oren . . . close . . . "
". . . trying . . . . me . . . leave . . . anyway . . . "
"Did you hear that?" Rude asked the darkness.
"Quiet, or we'll be discovered" Vincent instructed.
" . . . do . . . girl . . . caught . . .?"
"Just . . . over with . . . kill . . . "
That was enough incentive for Vincent to lurch himself forward and into the room. Two men with black glasses were by his old coffin. They looked at each other, nodded, and opened the air. A blue hole out of nothing appeared and with a roar they launched themselves inside as it disappeared. It seemed very familiar . . .
Vincent walked out and faced his soldiers for hire.
"They left. And I do not know where"
***
"The Alexandrians think that because we are royalty we know not of 'tired' and 'fatigued' and 'torn'. They think we're perfect and expect us to solve any problem that they throw at us. Can I really live like that for the rest of my life?" she asked Zidane.
"Well, you are a queen, right?"
She just looked at him.
"Ironically I don't really know. Where will we go if we don't go back to Alexandria?"
"We could just stay here for the rest of our lives!"
Zidane raised an eyebrow.
"What happened to you? You never seemed to grieve about the duties of a queen before. Come to think of it, you technically have more power than me so why ask my opinion?"
"Its not that I'm asking you to choose for me, I just want to be convinced whether or not to make a decision. Consider this: If we remained here, we could spend all of our time together. We wouldn't have to participate in those agonizingly formal ceremonies, and we could stay where we are as long as we liked as long as we brought capital into the garden."
"Well, that's all nice and good, but what about the people? Could we just abandon them? They hate my guts, but they're in love with you. The city is probably in chaos right now, but think of what would happen if they thought that their ruler would never return."
She gave Zidane a surprised look.
"Since when do you care so much? A few days ago you were complaining that they wouldn't leave you alone. I thought you of all people would want to escape from it."
He shrugged.
"Even if I hate it, it still doesn't make it wrong. Just like me liking something doesn't make it right. If you want to know what I think, its that we should go back and face reality when this is over."
She smiled back.
"Thank you. I feel much better now."
"Don't mention it. I'll just be leaving now before someone finds out I'm over here."
***
Seifer had insisted that Jessica stay behind for the time being as he walked the rest of the way to Balamb. Over the horizon he could see two figures, but from his area of sight they were unrecognizable.
I wish I could fly . . . he thought to himself. He remembered the feeling when he had flown last, and slowly, he felt light. He also felt like his walking was eased, as if he didn't have to step forward to move. When he looked down he noticed that he was hovering above the ground, and was getting higher.
For some reason, he wasn't surprised. Instead he embraced the feeling and flew higher until he could clearly see Balamb. He went higher still, and he could see practically his half of the planet. He saw whales in the blue seas off in the distance, he saw Esthar Garden in all its glory, and he saw the snow tipped mountains that he was flying even higher than. All at once, he felt his heart beat faster, he felt his muscles tighten, and his eyes became keener. His vision grew stronger and he could clearly see the figures were Fujin and Raijin. He saw Jessica aiming with her gun, probably target practice. He could clearly read the signs all through the Balamb, and then he could hear.
The sound was excellent. He heard Jessica put a magazine into the bottom, a squeeze, and the click, even her finger pulling the trigger, and then the now deafening blast as well as the rumble when it hit the mountainside. He heard Fujin and Raijin talking in the distance a sound of impact on flesh, and whining.
"What's happening to me?"
He tried something that he didn't think he could do. He opened his hands in front of him and a roaring blue portal appeared. He thought of where he wanted to be and thrust himself into it. In a second he reappeared beside his friends, who looked at him in amazement.
"S-seifer? What the hell happened to you, ya know?"
"SEIFER?"
"Hello to you guys, too. I see you're happy to see me."
"Buddy!"
While Fujin really couldn't bring herself to hug someone, she gave a rare smile. Not a small one but a wide one.
Raijin, on the other hand, launched himself forward and latched onto his almost forgotten "partner in crime"
"I thought they killed ya! I thought Squall threw you in the ocean! But look at ya, ya know!"
"As much as I like supporting you AND my own body weight, it'd be nice if you would get off. I'm glad to see you, too."
Raijin got off.
"Are you going to stay? We opened a little fish market. I was thinking you could be the bouncer--"
"In a fish market?"
"What's wrong with that? Haven't you played the video game?"
". . . "
"?"
"Well, I have someone for you guys to meet"
Seifer put his arms around both of them, and then the three of them disappeared.
***
Oren had found a nice bench at the edge of town and was about to have a much-needed sit, when Reno bounded up behind him.
"Hey lazy-ass, we need you."
"What now? Haven't I done enough for you all?"
"No. We saw two guys"
"So?"
"They did that opening-in-limbo thing like you do to get us places"
"You're kidding"
"No, seriously. I have 1000 gil riding on this, help me out."
"Fine then, just describe them to me." Oren's tired legs were depressed as he stood back up.
"Vincent said they were both black haired with sunglasses"
"I thought you said that you saw them?"
"Whatever helps us out is good enough for me."
"Well, one of them could have been Omicron, but I find that highly unlikely."
"They must have been like you if they could do what they did, right?"
"Well, you've made a point but I don't know what kind of magic--" Oren cut himself of and looked into the sky, spaced out.
"What now?"
"You . . . you were right. There are Zatach in the area. Right above us. Powerful . . . what are they doing in this planet?" Oren said nothing more as he blasted upward sending Reno flying back into a tree.
***
Squall hurried down the hall to room 17. That had been the place that Laguna had yelled to find him before he had blocked out all memory of Esthar's President.
He had left briskly and in a hurry, ignoring anything that anyone had said. Although he didn't like the idea of talking to that man, he still held answers that he needed. And he didn't like the idea of running away from them all his life, either.
He subconsciously slowed his pace and realized why. He was getting closer no room 17. Refusing to let his fear dictate his movement, he shook this off and went into the final corridor. He boldly opened the door in front of him.
***
Zidane paced around the entrance of the training center, thoroughly bored out of his mind. He was hoping to find someone that would be fighting a monster, but no one seemed to be around at this hour. At first he paid no attention to the rustling that he heard in and around the area, but then he was so desperate for entertainment he immediately followed the source of the first thing he heard.
Zidane was beyond relieved when he saw Tidus with his sword out fighting two grats and a bite bug. The large mosquito charged him first, and in one fluid movement Tidus flipped out of the way and brought his sword down upon the aggressor before it even knew what hit it. One grat decided it was better off running, but the other one rubbed its vines releasing a sleeping fluid, making the blitzer crouch down in an unnatural sleep. To push the attack the other grat brought forth gastric juice from its mouth landing right on its prey, waking up Tidus with a start.
Zidane felt that he should step in but then Tidus rushed with the sword outstretched, then went back and slashed, slid, ran again and slashed, and did this three more times until the grat fell.
Zidane came out of the bushes applauding.
"Hey, that was great. I've been aching for entertainment for hours."
Tidus looked at him strangely.
"Why didn't you just fight a monster yourself?"
"What? Good idea. I will!"
Suddenly the two heard the sounds of monsters retreating, which included stomping, fluttering, and shuffling to a safe distance.
"Am I that good?" Zidane thought aloud as he looked around.
"Look out!" Tidus yelled, dropping his sword and knocking Zidane to the ground when two stray blasts flew from a clearing to the right of them, leaving a trail of destroyed land.
"What the?!" Zidane bolted up and followed the source of the power with Tidus at his heels, who doubled back to retrieve the Caladbolg before continuing. When they stopped at another clearing Tidus recoiled at the sight of Seymour Flux, ignoring Kuja who stood circling him.
". . . I didn't know he could still do that! Hey Kuja! That almost killed you last time!"
Zidane's 'brother' sacrificed not a shred of attention for he was focused on what seemed to be his opponent.
"There's no way that Kuja guy'll be any match for Seymour"
"You don't know Kuja like I do. If you insist, then why don't you fight with him?"
"Are you CRAZY?" He asked, staring right at Zidane who wasn't staring back.
"Why not? You know his secrets, and I know Kuja's. Maybe it would be interesting."
"You know what, what the heck? But only because I wanna prove something."
Tidus trotted over and slowed down as he neared Seymour.
"I don't need your help" Seymour said robotically as he locked his focus on Kuja.
"I don't think you do, but you might need someone to keep him occupied" he jerked a thumb to Zidane who slapped hands and shook tails with Kuja.
". . . I can handle them both. Don't you have something to be doing? I'm not sure if you've noticed, but you're not exactly my favorite person"
"Right back at you. But you're going back to the farplane, so what do I have against you?"
". . . "
Kuja and Zidane seemed to talk, and then Kuja lost power and went back to normal. In his surprise Seymour did, as well.
"What's going on!?" Tidus called.
"We decided on a little plan, but we have to let Kuja here recover so that he can be at full power. You guys should think of a strategy or something, in the meantime. Just sit tight!"
"You shouldn't have any trouble unleashing power" Tidus said, sitting down.
"What do you mean?"
"With all your issues, it shouldn't be a problem being at full strength all the time, right?"
Seymour narrowed his eyes.
"Its no wonder you were so rude to me for so long. You don't even know a thing about me"
"Oh yeah, then tell me"
Seymour leaned on a tree.
"It isn't a pretty story."
***
Oren flew hard and fast towards the sky, feeling that he was just half a mile away. In a few seconds the stopped in mid air among the clouds and began looking around him for the two signals he felt, and according to the lower-back portion of his brain, were still there. He slowly turned around and saw the two he was looking for, staring right back at him. One he didn't recognize, the other he knew from years ago.
"Omicron. What were you doing--"
"Silence!" He held out his hand to quiet his enemy, and took his sunglasses off.
"We needed to come here so you wouldn't interfere with our business"
The one next to him was silent.
"Because, Oren, what we were doing was very delicate. VERY delicate. So, we won't bother you . . . " Omicron backed off slightly, his youth barely showing except for the still bright hair that fell over equally bright eyes.
"This doesn't concern you."
"What are you doing Omicron? I heard foul play was involved."
He smiled.
"Pi, as you know, knows everything important about us. Recently something has been making her forget, and we are going through methods to MAKE her remember."
Oren became angry.
"Are you implying torture?"
"Am I?"
Omicron and the stranger disappeared, along with their power signal.
Oren flew back down to find Reno rubbing his head and giving him a poisonous look.
"Why did you do that?"
"Look Reno, I think this is a little more serious than I initially thought" Oren told him, landing next to him.
"That was Omicron. I don't know who the other guy was. I think they're torturing someone."
"Good. We can get our money and go home."
Oren looked amazed.
"You . . . you know someone's being hurt and you only care about your profit?"
"Hey! I can't compete with any of those guys you're chasing around so leave me out of it."
"I'm your only transportation. You'll help me or walk back to Turk headquarters on the other side of the planet."
"Okay! Okay! Geez. . . "
Reno crossed his arms and turned around.
Oren was ready to sit down and analyze the situation button Xu rushed up to him.
"Can I go to the Seraph orphanage? Please? I'm really in a bit of a hurry."
He sighed.
"Okay, I'll take you and Quistis there but I'll have to leave you along for a while. I might check up every now and then but I'll have to stay here"
"Agreed. I'm very eager to find more of my past."
"Fine. Get Quistis and I'll take you. But hurry, I have to investigate."
Xu rushed back to the inn and Oren finally sat down.
***
Squall opened the door and found Laguna sitting down on the side of his bed reading something. The man looked up and seemed relieved and surprised to find Squall there. He immediately put the book down on a dresser and made eye contact with the unexpected visitor.
"Uh, well what brings you around at this--"
"You know very well what brings me around at this time" Squall abruptly cut Laguna off.
"Oh. Silly me, I should have known. Cards! We have all kinds around here! We have poker, five-card draw . . . "
"Aren't those the same thing?"
" . . . "
"You should know why I'm here"
"Fine. I admit it! I just didn't have any cash on me! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I know it! I'll pay you back the fourteen dollars and twenty-two cents I owe you!"
Squall gave him a look.
"You forgot about it? Heh heh, well, uh, forget I said anything"
"Where were you all those years when I was in that orphanage thinking I had no parents? Where was my mother? And how could you go off somewhere probably knowing you had some son?"
"Well . . . " the man stood up trying to formulate an explanation.
"About your mother . . . she . . . "
"Just tell me where she is. If I can't get anything from you I'll find her!"
"Squall. You don't want to know where your mother is."
The look on his face made a contradiction, causing Laguna to look down to the ground and heave a long depresses sigh. He pointed straight up, Squall slowly following with his cold gaze. Of course, Squall didn't understand.
"She died a long time ago. Childbirth. I'm sorry. . . "
"Oh yeah? Where were you the whole time?"
"I had actually been away, looking for Ellone. She was taken by Esthar. When I found her I told her to stay in the orphanage for a while. I knew Cid and Edea, they were capable people. I got a letter from Ellone while returning to Winhill. It said that you were there. She described you, and inside I knew but I didn't bring myself around to it. Later I accepted it. You were my son and you'd have much more of a home there. Besides, the people of Esthar accepted me, they told me I had saved them, and that I should lead them."
"So you ignored me for a place in Esthar government?"
"That's not it! I just was afraid to face reality! I had probably missed your first words, your first steps, everything. I could you know me as your father? Esthar was my escape, but when you came, grown like that, so much like your mother, I knew I couldn't hide anymore. You became everything I wasn't and more. I'm so sorry I wasn't there, but it looks like you didn't need me, seeing the fine person you've become. Now, I just want to be--"
"That's enough. I've heard enough!"
"Wait!"
His words were ignored as Squall stormed out, and made it a point to slam the door.
When he expected answers, he was only filled with more questions. He stormed down the hall in a flurry, not caring who saw him.
Crap. I'm letting my nature come back and get to me again . . . he ignored to tears rolling down his eyes.
" . . . Father" he said under his breath.
He looked at the elevator, then the railing, and launched himself over, falling freely to the ground. Down to floor three, then two, and then before one, he flipped and landed hard on his feet, and rocketed out of the front door leaving the seventeen spectators including Rinoa and Irvine in shock.
***
When Seifer teleported his friends in front of Jessica, she, for the first time, fell to the ground. In shock, of course.
"S-seifer?"
Seifer let go of Fujin and Raijin and massaged his knuckles.
"I don't know what this is, but I like it"
Jessica eyed him carefully, and cautiously walked up to him. In a flash she moved her hand and drew a thin cut along Seifer's arm. The pain he felt was a delayed effect, but when he felt it he jumped back.
"Why'd you do that?"
"Hold on" She was staring carefully at the cut she had made, making Fujin and Raijin look as well, and inevitably Seifer. After a few seconds purple blood lined the wound.
"Whoa! Ya know!" Raijin jumped back at the height of fear, afraid that he was looking at a zombie. Jessica stared longer, and then the wound closed up and the blood disappeared. Without his consent she used her fingers to pry his eyelids open and stared closely at the pupils.
"Your eyes are no longer dilated like a normal human's. As a matter of fact . . . "
She removed the gun from the holster and pointed a small light mounted on it in the eye. The pupil became as small as a cat's eye.
"From what I've seen, Seifer, your anatomy . . . "
She quickly fired the blast next to his head making Fujin and Raijin jump in shock, while he just stood there.
". . . is completely Zatach. I don't understand it, but you don't even have the normal human reflexes anymore, and since you aren't even momentarily deafened, Zatach hearing as well."
"What are you saying? That I'm using a Zatach body?"
"Frankly, yes. And I wouldn't call it a weak one, either."
***
Oren teleported Xu and Quistis to the Seraph Orphanage, or what was left of it.
"I hope you find what you're looking for, Xu, I'll come back in two hours."
Without another word Oren disturbed the peace with his overly loud portal- creating and disappeared from the scene.
Quistis and Xu looked ahead. The building was built much like Edea's orphanage; actually it was built exactly like it minus the direction it faced in relation to the surrounding geographical features.
The two walked over the small sea of boulders that separated them from the building and made their way the much neglected front door that was once white.
"This place seems as if its still an operational facility, even though it looks old and neglected. As if there was ghostly presence."
Xu didn't want to respond to her companion as they walked around what used to be the parlor, but it was because she was afraid to agree. Her fears were brought to life when she heard soft singing coming from the room to the left. Both women froze and slowly turned to the source.
"Am I hearing things . . . ?"
"I hear it too" Quistis assured. Xu was surprised that she had spoken aloud.
"I hope that I'm not actually hearing that. That . . . "
Quistis looked at her partner with a look of questioning.
"It sounds like the person that used to run this place. She would always sing . . . "
"Couldn't she still be here?"
"No! She . . . she died a long time ago. I was there! I'm hearing the voice of a person that couldn't be alive!"
"Did she die of old age?"
"No. She was young. She died of something worse."
________________________________________________________________________
AN: Sorry for the ridiculously long wait, if anyone's still reading. The next three chapters will be mostly investigation on unfolding mysteries, and then later they will use what they learn to trek further. I just got my account working, thankfully. I finished my other fic so I devote my complete attention to this. Eight chapters to go! The next one will chronicle Seymour's story.