Chapter XII: The one in the shadows.
-This is impossible – kept muttering Edgar as he stared at the capsule with Gestahl inside – Just impossible... I saw how Kefka threw him from the Floating Continent... How...?
He stopped talking when he saw a dark figure moving behind the capsule. Edgar unsheathed his sword. The figure stepped in front of Edgar. But Edgar wasn't able to see his face, he stood in a place that the only Edgar could only see the blackness of the armor he was wearing as well as a smile.
-He must be the one that Thiago told us about – thought Edgar – The master mind – he examined the man carefully – I can't see his face. Only that stupid smile of his.
The man was also examining Edgar.
-I'm surprised you are here – said the man, his voice colder than ice – I thought you come here with all your friends. You are brave.
Edgar frowned.
-So you are the one behind this mess... What's you're name? – demanded Edgar.
The man continued to smile as he turned to see the capsule.
-Watch your tone – he said facing Edgar again always smiling – You can't come to my home and talk to me like that.
-I'm just returning the courtesy – said Edgar coldly.
-Oh! - exclaimed the man – I guess my brother wasn't polite when he visited you.
-Polite? He attacked my kingdom every single night for almost a month – said Edgar angrily.
-You didn't cooperate and that's was the only choice you left us – said the man his smile fading slowly.
-You hadn't answer my question – said Edgar as he tightened the grip on his sword.
The smile reappeared in the man's lips as he answered:
-My name? You don't need to know.
-Then tell me, why you want the plaques? – questioned Edgar – What's your purpose?
The man sighed and said staring at the capsule with devotion:
-I just want to fulfill my father wishes.
Edgar jaw dropped as his eyes widened widely.
-Fa... Father? – muttered Edgar – Gestahl was yours and Gaston's father ?
The man smiled and nodded. Now Edgar understood why Gaston always reminded him of Gestahl.
-So you want to conquer the world as your father intended? – said Edgar taking a combat position. The man didn't answer, he just kept smiling – Well – said Edgar seconds later – I came here to recover the plaques, and if that means I have to defeat you first, I'll do it.
The man began to laugh and said:
-Just try.
Edgar dashed towards the man and jumped to attack him, but he suddenly found himself suspended in the air, unable to move.
-What the hell is going on? – thought Edgar as he tried to move.
The man stared at him smiling and with a smooth move of his left hand, he sent Edgar to crash against the nearest wall. The impact was so violent, that the wall crumbled and Edgar fell from the room along with the stones. As Edgar fell into the void, he could only think:
-This is not good.
******
Clyde ran through the stairs that led to the second floor. The path forked in three. He took the center path and he arrived to a grey door that had a sign that read: "ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONAL". He assumed that the room had something important inside. He tried to open the door, but it was firmly closed. So he used another method. He broke the lock with his shuriken and entered the room. It was a laboratory for sure. It had all type of machines and scientific devices. He walked between the machines and saw a set of at least one thousand of testing tubes. He watched at them closely and discovered in horror that inside were human embryos. He kept walking and saw another set of tubes with fetus, then another set with babies, kids, and with fully developed men.
-So here they "produce" the men – thought Clyde – But how they do it?
And he found the answer in a machine just in the middle of the room that made a monotone sound and test tubes with the embryos kept appearing from a hole on the side to the machine that had a transport band that took the test tubes with the others on the other side of the room. It had a panel with a screen. In the screen was all the data needed to create men, such as weight, height, eye color, hair color, skin color, etc. Clyde also discovered that the time it took to an embryo to develop into a men was only two weeks. -I have to destroy this machine of hell – said Clyde – I won't allow the creation of this aberrations of nature.
And he grabbed some shurikens from his pocket and when he was about to throw them a voice said:
-Don't you dare!
Clyde turned and saw a man standing behind him. He was wearing a white laboratory robe. His head was shaved and he didn't seem to be sane. At least, that was the impression he gave to Clyde.
-What you think you are doing? – asked the man – You should be fighting the invaders that penetrated our defenses.
Clyde tried to hide the smile that threatened to appear in his lips.
-You're the one in charge? – asked Clyde trying to change the topic.
The man nodded.
-My name is Volgia – he said – But why you ask such a dumb question. Everyone knows I'm the genius that developed this great technology – and he began to laugh with an hysterical laughter that made Clyde feel the chills on his back.
-This guy is totally nuts – thought Clyde as Volgia kept laughing. Then he suddenly stopped and said to Clyde:
-You're not one of my beloved creations – Clyde's eyes widened surprised – All my creations know who I am and they know it's forbidden to even dare to think on coming in here... You're an invader... You're an invader...
He kept repeating the word invader. Clyde was surprised that he was discovered without saying more than five words. Now he had to get rid of the mad scientist before he alerted someone of his presence. But before he had time to take out his knife, Volgia attacked him with a metal tube. He jumped backwards to avoid the attack successfully. Volgia kept attacking as he kept saying the word invader. Clyde easily dodged and avoided the attacks.
-Is that all? – he asked in a mocking tone.
Volgia stared at him with eyes full of hatred as his entire body began to glow with a strange purple energy.
-What's going on? – thought Clyde as he stared at Volgia with horror when the body of the scientist grew in size slowly torning his robne– Is this the power of the plaques? – murmured Clyde when Volgia transformed in a 8 ft. purple monster
Volgia growled and hit Clyde with his enormous fist in the face making the helmet of the armor break in to pieces. Clyde crashed in one of the machines, breaking it.
-MY PRECIOUS MACHINE!!!! – said Volgia with a hoarse voice – YOU DESTROYED IT! YOU'LL DIE!
Clyde stood slowly. His nose was broken and it was bleeding. But he didn't have time to complain. Volgia moved incredibly fast for his height and weight and hit Clyde in the abdomen, cracking the armor. Volgia threw another punch but this time, Clyde jumped and hid behind the machine that produced embryos.
-What happened to you? – asked Clyde to Volgia as he hid behind the machine – Is that... you were infused?
Clyde heard a creepy laughter before Volgia said:
-I was the one who developed the infusion process with Cid while we worked in the Empire.
-That's not what I asked – thought Clyde. Volgia kept speaking.
-When the Empire fell and Kefka was defeated, I escaped with all the investigations to Zozo where I met with Gaston who told me about some plaques that were supposed to have magical powers of their own, the magical powers that the Espers had once. We began to search and we find one. I used all my knowledge and created a process to infuse the power to people as I also developed all the great technology in this room. The test subject for the infusion was Kraven, but it didn't work as expected, so I tried it again on me, that's why I have this amazing powers, but I can't use magic, so I kept working until I perfected it – he laughed – Now, we have all the plaques and I'll create perfect humans with their powers... But first, I'll kill you.
Clyde heard the steps of Volgia walking around the laboratory. He took out some shurikens and his knife. He had no idea how he was going to beat Volgia, but he had to. He was not going to allow that insane man to create those "perfect humans". He saw Volgia's shadow at the other side the machine. Clyde decided it was the time to attack. He jumped and threw the shurikens that buried in Volgia's arm and chest. But Volgia was still standing. Then Volgia smiled and said as he remove the shurikens shaking his arm:
-Is that all? – and he grabbed Clyde's head and crashed him against the floor. Clyde moaned with pain. His whole body ache and he would be dead if he hadn't been wearing the armor. Volgia pulled him up from his head and crashed him again in the floor. Clyde tried to stood but he couldn't because Volgia began to step on his back with his foot again and again. Clyde closed his eyes as he thought that was going to be his end. And when Volgia said it was going to be the end he heard a distant bark. He waited for Volgia's attack but nothing happened. He opened his eyes and he saw Interceptor biting Volgia's neck. He stood slowly and knew it was the opportunity to defeat Volgia once and for all. He grabbed his knife and jumping he buried it in Volgia's neck. Volgia began to return to the skinny scientist and fell in the floor, dead.
Clyde sat on the floor. Interceptor walked next to his master and began to lick his hand.
-I'm fine – said Clyde stroking his dog's head – Don't worry...
-Interceptor, are you in there? – interrupted Relm's voice from the door. Interceptor barked.
-Why you ran like that? And what the hell is this creepy place? – was saying Relm until she saw her father in the floor with his bleeding nose, smiling to her.
-Dad! Are you okay? – she said running next to him. She saw the naked corpse of Volgia and stared at her father with worry as she handed him a potion.
-I'm fine don't worry – said Clyde standing with the help of his daughter after he drank the potion – If you're here, that means the plan worked perfectly.
Relm nodded.
-Locke and Thiago were waiting for the rest of us. And when we were wondering were Edgar and you may be, Interceptor ran away. Now I understand he sensed you... - she turned around her head and said – What's this place? It's dreadful.
-It's a place were they produce people artificially. But not anymore – he walked to the machine in the middle of the room and grabbed the metal tube that Volgia first used to attack him. He smashed the machine until it he realized it was going to explode.
-Let get out of here! – he yelled to Relm and Interceptor. They ran outside until they reached the stairs, while they were heading to the floor below, they heard a huge explosion as the hole place began to move like if there was an earthquake going on.
-What happened!? Are you okay, Clyde? Where were you? – asked his friends when they met them in the first floor.
Clyde told them everything, from the production of men, to Volgia's transformation and defeat.
-And Edgar? – asked Terra between worried and nervous – Do you know where he can be?
Clyde shook his head.
-But we can't wait any longer for him – said Setzer – We have to get to the top of this tower.
-I'll look for Edgar – said Clyde – With the help of Interceptor that would be easy. The rest of you go to the last floor of this place.
-Okay – said Setzer – Then lets get going... - and they ran to the stairs opposite from the stairs Clyde used to get to the next floor after they wished him luck and agreeing to meet in the top of the tower. But Terra didn't move. Clyde stared at her frowning and asked to her:
-What's wrong Terra?
-It's just... - she murmured – Edgar... I have a bad feeling...
Clyde smiled and said:
-Don't worry. I'll find him. I'm sure he did just like I did. He discovered something and went to investigate.
Terra nodded.
-Now go with the other – said Clyde – Edgar and I'll catch up with you.
Terra nodded again and left running in the direction the others left. Clyde watch her go and said to his dog:
-Well, Interceptor, lets go. We have a king to find.
And they ran to the stairs.
******
-This is not good – kept thinking Edgar as he fell. He didn't see nothing below him, just mist. Then the vision became clear and he saw he was about to crash in the ground. But he didn't have time to adjust his body so he could land, properly. The only thing he could do was not to hit his head, so he used one of his arms. But he fell with a great speed and his left arm couldn't bear the weight of his body, so it broke. Edgar screamed in pain as the rest of his body fell in the platform. The pain in his arm was intense, he never felt a pain like that before. He looked at his arm and discovered that it was badly broken, he could even see his bone cutting through his skin below his elbow. He tried to remove the armor that covered that part of his arm, but it was too painful. Then he scanned the place with his eyes. He was in a strange circular platform that connected the center and left parts of the trident of the top of the tower.
-How I'm going to return up there? – thought Edgar when he saw the hole he left when Milan crashed him against the wall.
He looked for a way to return to the central part of the trident and he saw a door. He walked to it as fast as he could so his arm remained as still as possible. But the door opened suddenly and Edgar stared at the person that appeared with surprise as he said:
-Gaston...
Gaston smiled when he saw Edgar and said:
-You don't have an idea of how long I've waited for this moment – he smiled as he walked until he was one feet away from Edgar – It's time to pay for your betrayal to my father – Gaston unsheathed his sword. Edgar knew there was no escape from that battle. He sighed and also unsheathed his sword with his good arm.
-Come and get me – said Edgar as he took a defensive stand.
Gaston smiled and prepared to attack.
******
Locke,Thiago, Setzer, Celes, Master Duncan, Sabin, Terra, Relm, Strago, Mog and Gau ran through the different floors of the tower. Cyan was outside leading the troops in the battle outside the tower. They reached the tenth floor when suddenly Sabin stopped running.
-What's wrong, Sabin? – asked Setzer.
-I saw a shadow – said simply Sabin.
-A shadow? – asked Locke confused – So?
-It's not ordinary shadow – said Master Duncan.
-You saw it too, Master? –asked Sabin to the old man.
Master Duncan nodded.
-Sabin and I stay here to handle the shadow... You go on ahead – he said.
Setzer nodded.
-Take care of it – he said to them, the to the rest he said – Lets get going.
They ran to the next floor. Sabin and master Duncan saw the shadow again and Sabin demanded:
-Show yourself!
The shadow stopped moving around and materialized transforming into Kraven.
-I knew it was you – said Sabin as he prepared his fangs.
Kraven didn't answer. He just stood staring coldly at them.
-His the guy you told me about? –asked Master Duncan to his pupil.
Sabin nodded.
-Then – said Master Duncan – Lets do it.
And they dashed to attack Kraven.
******
They kept running until they reached the 15th floor. Two persons were blocking the stairs to the next level. One was tall and was wearing a red armor. The other was not as tall and was wearing a purple armor.
-You can't go any further – they said in unison.
-Really? – said Setzer shuffling his deck – And how you're going to impede us to continue?
The men stared at each other and smiled. Setzer frowned as he stared at his friends shrugging.
-Setzer, Gau, Mog and I deal with them so you can pass– said Locke to Celes – Thiago, show them the way.
-But... - tried to say Celes, but Locke didn't let her talk.
-You go and stop that maniac – he said instead smiling – We'll see you up there.
Celes nodded. Locke and Setzer attacked the men that jumped laterally to avoid the attacks leaving the path to the next floor open.
-Now! – said Locke.
Terra, Celes, Relm, Strago and Thiago ran to the next floor. The men were going to follow them, but Setzer threw some darts to their feet and said:
-Don't forget about us.
The men stared at them and the fight began.
******
Thiago led them through the rest of the levels of the tower until they reached a floor with huge black doors.
-This is it – said Thiago – I heard that in here they had the plaques and the one behind Gaston is in here, too.
-Lets get in – said Celes.
They agreed and before they attempted to open it the door slowly opened. They stared at each other before they entered the room. The door closed. The first thing they noticed was a hole in the wall to their left. Then, they noticed a men sitten in a throne in front of some red curtains.
-So you have arrived – said the man, smiling.
-Who are you? – asked Celes.
The man stood from the throne. He was wearing a black armor and his hair was bright red. His face was similar to Gaston's, specially the smile that was curving his lips.
-You don't remember me Celes? –said the man, always smiling – Guess not. You only see me once, but I still remember you.
Celes stared at him frowning. Then she stared at Terra, asking with her eyes if she knew him, but Terra nodded her head.
The man laughed softly.
-Terra never met me before – said the man – I'll tell you my name. Maybe the you remember me... My name is Milan.
Celes stared at him with eyes wide open.
-Mi... Milan... The son of...? – she didn't finished the sentence.
-Right. I'm the oldest son of Emperor Gestahl. And Gaston is my younger brother – said the man, delighted by Celes's and the others expressions – But you didn't know that Gaston was my brother because my father never mentioned him in front of you. Only Leo and Kefka new about him.
-But I thought you... - muttered Celes – died.
The man smiled as he walked to the hole in the wall.
-I almost died in that awful accident in the Magitek factory but thanks to Cid I recovered completely from my wounds.
-You're the one who ordered Gaston to steal the plaques? – asked Terra.
Milan stared at her with his grey eyes and said:
-Yes... And I must thank you for simplifying things for us. You did a great job.
Terra lowered her eyes. Milan smiled and said:
-Your efforts will be rewarded, Terra. When the time comes, you'll get your reward.
-Hand over the plaques – said Thiago to Milan, as he took out his stick.
Milan stared at him, still smiling and said:
-And what if I don't? – he asked with a mocking tone – Are you going to make me?
Thiago stared at Milan angrily and jumped to attacked Milan with the stick but he suddenly found himself unable to move, the more he tried, the more his body denied to respond. Milan then said:
-Thundaga.
A lightning bolt hit Thiago that screamed with pain and fainted. Relm and Terra dashed to him.
Celes unsheathed her sword and said to Milan:
-We want the plaques. And I'll whatever it takes to get them back.
Milan stared at her and said:
-You'll never beat me. No matter what you do. I'll be victorious and I'll fulfill my father dreams of conquering the world. And the plaques are the key to do it. If I let you get here is because I want witnesses that see how I become the most powerful man that ever steeped into this world. Because I'm the chosen of the legend. The chosen one that this world is been waiting.
-What do you mean? – questioned Strago.
-Yes... I'll tell you the legend: The true power of magic is locked inside... Fire, wind ,water, earth, light and darkness... The elements and their strength is safe within... Put all of us together and the true power will be released... But beware, only the chosen ones can unseal the power... The ones with magic inside... The ones with pure heart and strong spirit... Only them can unleash true power... The ultimate magic... The final power...
-The writings in the plaques – said Strago in a low voice.
-Exactly – said Milan – And I'm the chosen one – he walked to the curtains and drew them.
Celes and the others saw with dread the capsule with Gestahl inside and they also saw that the plaques were put in the top part of the capsule.
-Why...? How...? – babbled Celes.
Milan smile grew wider.
-I also wanted my father to witnessed it. Now that all the things are set we cam begin...
Milan chanted the writings in the plaques one more time and a black light began to glow from the plaques as well as in Milan's body.
-This is not good – thought Celes at this view.
-This is impossible – kept muttering Edgar as he stared at the capsule with Gestahl inside – Just impossible... I saw how Kefka threw him from the Floating Continent... How...?
He stopped talking when he saw a dark figure moving behind the capsule. Edgar unsheathed his sword. The figure stepped in front of Edgar. But Edgar wasn't able to see his face, he stood in a place that the only Edgar could only see the blackness of the armor he was wearing as well as a smile.
-He must be the one that Thiago told us about – thought Edgar – The master mind – he examined the man carefully – I can't see his face. Only that stupid smile of his.
The man was also examining Edgar.
-I'm surprised you are here – said the man, his voice colder than ice – I thought you come here with all your friends. You are brave.
Edgar frowned.
-So you are the one behind this mess... What's you're name? – demanded Edgar.
The man continued to smile as he turned to see the capsule.
-Watch your tone – he said facing Edgar again always smiling – You can't come to my home and talk to me like that.
-I'm just returning the courtesy – said Edgar coldly.
-Oh! - exclaimed the man – I guess my brother wasn't polite when he visited you.
-Polite? He attacked my kingdom every single night for almost a month – said Edgar angrily.
-You didn't cooperate and that's was the only choice you left us – said the man his smile fading slowly.
-You hadn't answer my question – said Edgar as he tightened the grip on his sword.
The smile reappeared in the man's lips as he answered:
-My name? You don't need to know.
-Then tell me, why you want the plaques? – questioned Edgar – What's your purpose?
The man sighed and said staring at the capsule with devotion:
-I just want to fulfill my father wishes.
Edgar jaw dropped as his eyes widened widely.
-Fa... Father? – muttered Edgar – Gestahl was yours and Gaston's father ?
The man smiled and nodded. Now Edgar understood why Gaston always reminded him of Gestahl.
-So you want to conquer the world as your father intended? – said Edgar taking a combat position. The man didn't answer, he just kept smiling – Well – said Edgar seconds later – I came here to recover the plaques, and if that means I have to defeat you first, I'll do it.
The man began to laugh and said:
-Just try.
Edgar dashed towards the man and jumped to attack him, but he suddenly found himself suspended in the air, unable to move.
-What the hell is going on? – thought Edgar as he tried to move.
The man stared at him smiling and with a smooth move of his left hand, he sent Edgar to crash against the nearest wall. The impact was so violent, that the wall crumbled and Edgar fell from the room along with the stones. As Edgar fell into the void, he could only think:
-This is not good.
******
Clyde ran through the stairs that led to the second floor. The path forked in three. He took the center path and he arrived to a grey door that had a sign that read: "ONLY AUTHORIZED PERSONAL". He assumed that the room had something important inside. He tried to open the door, but it was firmly closed. So he used another method. He broke the lock with his shuriken and entered the room. It was a laboratory for sure. It had all type of machines and scientific devices. He walked between the machines and saw a set of at least one thousand of testing tubes. He watched at them closely and discovered in horror that inside were human embryos. He kept walking and saw another set of tubes with fetus, then another set with babies, kids, and with fully developed men.
-So here they "produce" the men – thought Clyde – But how they do it?
And he found the answer in a machine just in the middle of the room that made a monotone sound and test tubes with the embryos kept appearing from a hole on the side to the machine that had a transport band that took the test tubes with the others on the other side of the room. It had a panel with a screen. In the screen was all the data needed to create men, such as weight, height, eye color, hair color, skin color, etc. Clyde also discovered that the time it took to an embryo to develop into a men was only two weeks. -I have to destroy this machine of hell – said Clyde – I won't allow the creation of this aberrations of nature.
And he grabbed some shurikens from his pocket and when he was about to throw them a voice said:
-Don't you dare!
Clyde turned and saw a man standing behind him. He was wearing a white laboratory robe. His head was shaved and he didn't seem to be sane. At least, that was the impression he gave to Clyde.
-What you think you are doing? – asked the man – You should be fighting the invaders that penetrated our defenses.
Clyde tried to hide the smile that threatened to appear in his lips.
-You're the one in charge? – asked Clyde trying to change the topic.
The man nodded.
-My name is Volgia – he said – But why you ask such a dumb question. Everyone knows I'm the genius that developed this great technology – and he began to laugh with an hysterical laughter that made Clyde feel the chills on his back.
-This guy is totally nuts – thought Clyde as Volgia kept laughing. Then he suddenly stopped and said to Clyde:
-You're not one of my beloved creations – Clyde's eyes widened surprised – All my creations know who I am and they know it's forbidden to even dare to think on coming in here... You're an invader... You're an invader...
He kept repeating the word invader. Clyde was surprised that he was discovered without saying more than five words. Now he had to get rid of the mad scientist before he alerted someone of his presence. But before he had time to take out his knife, Volgia attacked him with a metal tube. He jumped backwards to avoid the attack successfully. Volgia kept attacking as he kept saying the word invader. Clyde easily dodged and avoided the attacks.
-Is that all? – he asked in a mocking tone.
Volgia stared at him with eyes full of hatred as his entire body began to glow with a strange purple energy.
-What's going on? – thought Clyde as he stared at Volgia with horror when the body of the scientist grew in size slowly torning his robne– Is this the power of the plaques? – murmured Clyde when Volgia transformed in a 8 ft. purple monster
Volgia growled and hit Clyde with his enormous fist in the face making the helmet of the armor break in to pieces. Clyde crashed in one of the machines, breaking it.
-MY PRECIOUS MACHINE!!!! – said Volgia with a hoarse voice – YOU DESTROYED IT! YOU'LL DIE!
Clyde stood slowly. His nose was broken and it was bleeding. But he didn't have time to complain. Volgia moved incredibly fast for his height and weight and hit Clyde in the abdomen, cracking the armor. Volgia threw another punch but this time, Clyde jumped and hid behind the machine that produced embryos.
-What happened to you? – asked Clyde to Volgia as he hid behind the machine – Is that... you were infused?
Clyde heard a creepy laughter before Volgia said:
-I was the one who developed the infusion process with Cid while we worked in the Empire.
-That's not what I asked – thought Clyde. Volgia kept speaking.
-When the Empire fell and Kefka was defeated, I escaped with all the investigations to Zozo where I met with Gaston who told me about some plaques that were supposed to have magical powers of their own, the magical powers that the Espers had once. We began to search and we find one. I used all my knowledge and created a process to infuse the power to people as I also developed all the great technology in this room. The test subject for the infusion was Kraven, but it didn't work as expected, so I tried it again on me, that's why I have this amazing powers, but I can't use magic, so I kept working until I perfected it – he laughed – Now, we have all the plaques and I'll create perfect humans with their powers... But first, I'll kill you.
Clyde heard the steps of Volgia walking around the laboratory. He took out some shurikens and his knife. He had no idea how he was going to beat Volgia, but he had to. He was not going to allow that insane man to create those "perfect humans". He saw Volgia's shadow at the other side the machine. Clyde decided it was the time to attack. He jumped and threw the shurikens that buried in Volgia's arm and chest. But Volgia was still standing. Then Volgia smiled and said as he remove the shurikens shaking his arm:
-Is that all? – and he grabbed Clyde's head and crashed him against the floor. Clyde moaned with pain. His whole body ache and he would be dead if he hadn't been wearing the armor. Volgia pulled him up from his head and crashed him again in the floor. Clyde tried to stood but he couldn't because Volgia began to step on his back with his foot again and again. Clyde closed his eyes as he thought that was going to be his end. And when Volgia said it was going to be the end he heard a distant bark. He waited for Volgia's attack but nothing happened. He opened his eyes and he saw Interceptor biting Volgia's neck. He stood slowly and knew it was the opportunity to defeat Volgia once and for all. He grabbed his knife and jumping he buried it in Volgia's neck. Volgia began to return to the skinny scientist and fell in the floor, dead.
Clyde sat on the floor. Interceptor walked next to his master and began to lick his hand.
-I'm fine – said Clyde stroking his dog's head – Don't worry...
-Interceptor, are you in there? – interrupted Relm's voice from the door. Interceptor barked.
-Why you ran like that? And what the hell is this creepy place? – was saying Relm until she saw her father in the floor with his bleeding nose, smiling to her.
-Dad! Are you okay? – she said running next to him. She saw the naked corpse of Volgia and stared at her father with worry as she handed him a potion.
-I'm fine don't worry – said Clyde standing with the help of his daughter after he drank the potion – If you're here, that means the plan worked perfectly.
Relm nodded.
-Locke and Thiago were waiting for the rest of us. And when we were wondering were Edgar and you may be, Interceptor ran away. Now I understand he sensed you... - she turned around her head and said – What's this place? It's dreadful.
-It's a place were they produce people artificially. But not anymore – he walked to the machine in the middle of the room and grabbed the metal tube that Volgia first used to attack him. He smashed the machine until it he realized it was going to explode.
-Let get out of here! – he yelled to Relm and Interceptor. They ran outside until they reached the stairs, while they were heading to the floor below, they heard a huge explosion as the hole place began to move like if there was an earthquake going on.
-What happened!? Are you okay, Clyde? Where were you? – asked his friends when they met them in the first floor.
Clyde told them everything, from the production of men, to Volgia's transformation and defeat.
-And Edgar? – asked Terra between worried and nervous – Do you know where he can be?
Clyde shook his head.
-But we can't wait any longer for him – said Setzer – We have to get to the top of this tower.
-I'll look for Edgar – said Clyde – With the help of Interceptor that would be easy. The rest of you go to the last floor of this place.
-Okay – said Setzer – Then lets get going... - and they ran to the stairs opposite from the stairs Clyde used to get to the next floor after they wished him luck and agreeing to meet in the top of the tower. But Terra didn't move. Clyde stared at her frowning and asked to her:
-What's wrong Terra?
-It's just... - she murmured – Edgar... I have a bad feeling...
Clyde smiled and said:
-Don't worry. I'll find him. I'm sure he did just like I did. He discovered something and went to investigate.
Terra nodded.
-Now go with the other – said Clyde – Edgar and I'll catch up with you.
Terra nodded again and left running in the direction the others left. Clyde watch her go and said to his dog:
-Well, Interceptor, lets go. We have a king to find.
And they ran to the stairs.
******
-This is not good – kept thinking Edgar as he fell. He didn't see nothing below him, just mist. Then the vision became clear and he saw he was about to crash in the ground. But he didn't have time to adjust his body so he could land, properly. The only thing he could do was not to hit his head, so he used one of his arms. But he fell with a great speed and his left arm couldn't bear the weight of his body, so it broke. Edgar screamed in pain as the rest of his body fell in the platform. The pain in his arm was intense, he never felt a pain like that before. He looked at his arm and discovered that it was badly broken, he could even see his bone cutting through his skin below his elbow. He tried to remove the armor that covered that part of his arm, but it was too painful. Then he scanned the place with his eyes. He was in a strange circular platform that connected the center and left parts of the trident of the top of the tower.
-How I'm going to return up there? – thought Edgar when he saw the hole he left when Milan crashed him against the wall.
He looked for a way to return to the central part of the trident and he saw a door. He walked to it as fast as he could so his arm remained as still as possible. But the door opened suddenly and Edgar stared at the person that appeared with surprise as he said:
-Gaston...
Gaston smiled when he saw Edgar and said:
-You don't have an idea of how long I've waited for this moment – he smiled as he walked until he was one feet away from Edgar – It's time to pay for your betrayal to my father – Gaston unsheathed his sword. Edgar knew there was no escape from that battle. He sighed and also unsheathed his sword with his good arm.
-Come and get me – said Edgar as he took a defensive stand.
Gaston smiled and prepared to attack.
******
Locke,Thiago, Setzer, Celes, Master Duncan, Sabin, Terra, Relm, Strago, Mog and Gau ran through the different floors of the tower. Cyan was outside leading the troops in the battle outside the tower. They reached the tenth floor when suddenly Sabin stopped running.
-What's wrong, Sabin? – asked Setzer.
-I saw a shadow – said simply Sabin.
-A shadow? – asked Locke confused – So?
-It's not ordinary shadow – said Master Duncan.
-You saw it too, Master? –asked Sabin to the old man.
Master Duncan nodded.
-Sabin and I stay here to handle the shadow... You go on ahead – he said.
Setzer nodded.
-Take care of it – he said to them, the to the rest he said – Lets get going.
They ran to the next floor. Sabin and master Duncan saw the shadow again and Sabin demanded:
-Show yourself!
The shadow stopped moving around and materialized transforming into Kraven.
-I knew it was you – said Sabin as he prepared his fangs.
Kraven didn't answer. He just stood staring coldly at them.
-His the guy you told me about? –asked Master Duncan to his pupil.
Sabin nodded.
-Then – said Master Duncan – Lets do it.
And they dashed to attack Kraven.
******
They kept running until they reached the 15th floor. Two persons were blocking the stairs to the next level. One was tall and was wearing a red armor. The other was not as tall and was wearing a purple armor.
-You can't go any further – they said in unison.
-Really? – said Setzer shuffling his deck – And how you're going to impede us to continue?
The men stared at each other and smiled. Setzer frowned as he stared at his friends shrugging.
-Setzer, Gau, Mog and I deal with them so you can pass– said Locke to Celes – Thiago, show them the way.
-But... - tried to say Celes, but Locke didn't let her talk.
-You go and stop that maniac – he said instead smiling – We'll see you up there.
Celes nodded. Locke and Setzer attacked the men that jumped laterally to avoid the attacks leaving the path to the next floor open.
-Now! – said Locke.
Terra, Celes, Relm, Strago and Thiago ran to the next floor. The men were going to follow them, but Setzer threw some darts to their feet and said:
-Don't forget about us.
The men stared at them and the fight began.
******
Thiago led them through the rest of the levels of the tower until they reached a floor with huge black doors.
-This is it – said Thiago – I heard that in here they had the plaques and the one behind Gaston is in here, too.
-Lets get in – said Celes.
They agreed and before they attempted to open it the door slowly opened. They stared at each other before they entered the room. The door closed. The first thing they noticed was a hole in the wall to their left. Then, they noticed a men sitten in a throne in front of some red curtains.
-So you have arrived – said the man, smiling.
-Who are you? – asked Celes.
The man stood from the throne. He was wearing a black armor and his hair was bright red. His face was similar to Gaston's, specially the smile that was curving his lips.
-You don't remember me Celes? –said the man, always smiling – Guess not. You only see me once, but I still remember you.
Celes stared at him frowning. Then she stared at Terra, asking with her eyes if she knew him, but Terra nodded her head.
The man laughed softly.
-Terra never met me before – said the man – I'll tell you my name. Maybe the you remember me... My name is Milan.
Celes stared at him with eyes wide open.
-Mi... Milan... The son of...? – she didn't finished the sentence.
-Right. I'm the oldest son of Emperor Gestahl. And Gaston is my younger brother – said the man, delighted by Celes's and the others expressions – But you didn't know that Gaston was my brother because my father never mentioned him in front of you. Only Leo and Kefka new about him.
-But I thought you... - muttered Celes – died.
The man smiled as he walked to the hole in the wall.
-I almost died in that awful accident in the Magitek factory but thanks to Cid I recovered completely from my wounds.
-You're the one who ordered Gaston to steal the plaques? – asked Terra.
Milan stared at her with his grey eyes and said:
-Yes... And I must thank you for simplifying things for us. You did a great job.
Terra lowered her eyes. Milan smiled and said:
-Your efforts will be rewarded, Terra. When the time comes, you'll get your reward.
-Hand over the plaques – said Thiago to Milan, as he took out his stick.
Milan stared at him, still smiling and said:
-And what if I don't? – he asked with a mocking tone – Are you going to make me?
Thiago stared at Milan angrily and jumped to attacked Milan with the stick but he suddenly found himself unable to move, the more he tried, the more his body denied to respond. Milan then said:
-Thundaga.
A lightning bolt hit Thiago that screamed with pain and fainted. Relm and Terra dashed to him.
Celes unsheathed her sword and said to Milan:
-We want the plaques. And I'll whatever it takes to get them back.
Milan stared at her and said:
-You'll never beat me. No matter what you do. I'll be victorious and I'll fulfill my father dreams of conquering the world. And the plaques are the key to do it. If I let you get here is because I want witnesses that see how I become the most powerful man that ever steeped into this world. Because I'm the chosen of the legend. The chosen one that this world is been waiting.
-What do you mean? – questioned Strago.
-Yes... I'll tell you the legend: The true power of magic is locked inside... Fire, wind ,water, earth, light and darkness... The elements and their strength is safe within... Put all of us together and the true power will be released... But beware, only the chosen ones can unseal the power... The ones with magic inside... The ones with pure heart and strong spirit... Only them can unleash true power... The ultimate magic... The final power...
-The writings in the plaques – said Strago in a low voice.
-Exactly – said Milan – And I'm the chosen one – he walked to the curtains and drew them.
Celes and the others saw with dread the capsule with Gestahl inside and they also saw that the plaques were put in the top part of the capsule.
-Why...? How...? – babbled Celes.
Milan smile grew wider.
-I also wanted my father to witnessed it. Now that all the things are set we cam begin...
Milan chanted the writings in the plaques one more time and a black light began to glow from the plaques as well as in Milan's body.
-This is not good – thought Celes at this view.