Chapter 17: Fate Beckons
The two soldiers at the roadblock noticed the kid in the white trenchcoat the second he rounded a corner and came into view. While no one actually leveled a weapon at the teenager, though, the Galbadian troops immediately went on a slightly higher stage of alert. Fingers hovered near the triggers of their guns, which were ready to pop up at the slightest threatening motion from the kid.
The tenseness rose a little as the teenager, a blonde kid, strode towards the roadblock confidently, as if he were a general instead of some Timber citizen. Two soldiers from the heavily reinforced position stepped forward and approached the teen as he came closer. Both men noted the scar running down his face as he stopped and smirked at the men.
"I'm sorry, kid, but this street is closed," one of the Galbadian soldiers stated. "You can't go this way."
"Really?" the kid asked, his eyes arcing in surprise. "I have a friend who says this road is open."
The two soldiers glanced at each other, and the soldier who'd spoken laughed.
"Look, kid," the soldier replied. He hooked a thumb over his shoulder at the barricade. "See those guns, tanks, and soldiers? This road is blocked off by the Galbadian army. You can't go through, it would compromise President Deling's security."
"I know," the kid responded, his smile widening. "That's the point," he stated as he closed his eyes.
The two Galbadians blinked in confusion, and then grabbed for their weapons. They weren't sure, but had this kid just told them he intended to hurt the President? The sight of the two soldiers readying their weapons caused the rest of the troops at the barricade to begin to go to alert as well.
"Hey," the second soldier said, frowning as he pointed his rifle at the kid. "You, you're under arre-"
The soldier quieted as the air between him and the trench-coated teenager burned. A portal of raging flame erupted, the heat registering on the soldiers' infrared sensors as the baking fires burned their skin. The two men fell back from the flames, one opening his mouth to shout back to the barricade. But he stopped, as did his comrade, and all the men at the barricade as well, for stepping forward from the hellish portal came a monster. No, not a monster.
A demon.
Ifrit roared, a thundering blast that shook the walls of the structures on either side of the street. Fire then rippled down his arms, and solidified in roiling balls of magma resting in his hands. He raised them.
"Fire! Fire fire fire!" a major at the barricade shouted, and weapons swung to face the fury of the Guardian Force. The rifles, machineguns, and cannons sighted the GF, who then swept his arms forward. Even as the troops began squeezing the triggers, the balls of hellish flame hit the barricade and detonated. Galbadian soldiers, metal, concrete, and ceramic went flying as ammunition detonated and a pair of tanks was reduced to slag. Ifrit roared in triumph and vanished.
As Ifrit struck, a Galbadian army truck rounded the corner and drove hard, its passenger-side door flying open. The white-coated teenager reached out towards the open door as the truck passed and grabbed it. As his hands closed around the metal, Seifer Almasy leaped up and sideways, into the passenger seat. He slammed shut the door beside him as Quistis accelerated through the destroyed barricade.
"That was fun," Seifer commented as they passed the barricade. They rounded another corner and came within sight of the TV Station's front entrance. Squads of blue and red-armored soldiers and a couple of trucks drove their way, doubtless having heard the commotion Ifrit had caused. Quistis slowed down a bit, but kept guning the engine. The soldiers and men in the vehicles didn't even glance their way, thinking them to be on the same side. It was a Galbadian army truck, after all. The Galbadians quickly rounded the corner and passed out of sight as they hurried to the compromised barricade.
"You sure about this?" Quistis asked Seifer, who shrugged as they drove straight for the TV Station's front doors. There were a few men inside the lobby, but that was the extent of the security.
"Almost positive," Seifer replied as he checked his gunblade. "Keep your head low, Instructor, don't want you getting hurt." He flashed her a smile, to which Quistis rolled her eyes. She planted her foot on the gas pedal even harder, and the truck accelerated even faster at the doors.
The men inside looked up to see the truck's approach, and pointed. One waved his hands, as if telling them to stop. The truck, however, did not stop or even slow down, and the man's mouth dropped open as the vehicle barrelled in. He, along with the rest of the Galbadian troops scattered around the lobby, dove for cover as the truck connected with the doors.
Glass shattered and flew, metal bent and warped, and the truck, four tons of metal and plastic, smashed into the center of the lobby. Before it had even really stopped, the passenger-side door flew open as Seifer kicked it. The metal door hung partially off its hinges as the cadet leaped out of the vehicle, Hyperion flashing up.
In front of the doors there had once been a reception/security desk, now smashed into kindling by the truck. Behind that was an elegant fountain, and beyond that was a large double staircase leading up to a landing, beyond which were the elevators. Around the truck, the Galbadians who had dived for cover rose. Several of the soldiers' mouths clenched in anger as rifles and swords rose to meet the intruding cadet.
A fireball sent one man spinning to the floor as the soldiers charged. Three closed with Seifer immediately while a fourth circled around to his right, trying to sight him in his rifle's scope. A fifth ran to the side of the truck, taking cover on the driver's side and pointing his weapon at Seifer over the hood while a sixth and a seventh drew swords and charged around the intervening vehicle.
The driver's side door swung open, and the man by the hood spun, in time to see Quistis plant a foot in his jaw. He fell back, and she stepped forward. Quistis closed her free hands around the rifle, and spun it over. The soldier, his hands tightly grasping the weapon, was flipped over as the rifle spun, and landed hard on his back. Quistis brought the rifle up and swung it down, smashing the side of the man's head with the stock and knocking him out cold. Quistis spun, the stolen rifle in hand, and loosed a burst at one of the sword wielding Galbadians. The man cried out as the bullets tore through his armor and laid him out flat.
The other soldier spun to face Quistis, and cast a quick Fire spell at her.The flash of magic struck her, stunning Quistis for a second. Without her GFs, Quistis was much more vulnerable than normal. She blinked and quickly dropped the rifle, and ducked low as the soldier came in. The man slashed for her head, but her ducking sent her head beneath the arc of the soldier's sword. Quistis' fists shot forward, side by side, taking the soldier in the stomach and doubling him over.
The SeeD uncoiled her rante, simultaneously jumping back to give herself room to maneuver. The chain whip snapped forward as the soldier recovered, and the blade cut into his chest, slicing through his armor. The soldier gasped and grabbed at his gushing chest wound, then fell, his sword clattering to the floor.
Seifer realized that the rifle-wielding soldier wouldn't fire if he was in melee with the man's comrades, due to the unclear shot that would present. Thus, the knight dove at the three Galbadians charging him. The men were clustered together, two in front and spread out to the sides, with the third in back. As the cadet closed in, the one to Seifer's right slashed down diagonally, while the one on his left sliced across. The one at the rear sent a quick thrust at Seifer's head.
The cadet responded by ducking down and to the left, putting him below the plane of the left soldier's slash and out of the path of the right soldier's cut as well. Hyperion weaved up as Seifer's left hand rose, a Fire spell charging. Hyperion intercepted the thrusting blade, and the cadet forced the soldier's weapon down into the floor. At the same moment, Seifer discharged the Fire spell in the left soldier's face.
As that man fell, his face exploding from the fiery blast, Seifer flicked his wrist over, and swept his right arm up and out to the right. The gunblade cleaved clean through the right soldier's neck, and his head went flying. The cadet then rose to his full height, leaping up and back, spinning away from the remaining soldier. As he did so Seifer's left hand crossed over his chest, his palm pointing to the right. Energy gathered there.
Seifer landed on his feet, and stopped spinning. His left palm was pointing directly at the rifle-wielding soldier. The man managed to open his mouth in surprise before the spell took him.
The final soldier began to cast his own spell, but Seifer beat him to the punch. A third Fire spell erupted and dropped that man as well.
"The President's likely in the studio!" Seifer shouted to Quistis as she rounded the truck, her soldiers taken care of. "Haul ass!"
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The image on the giant television resolved, showing the inside of a studio. In the center of the image, between a pair of black flags proudly displaying the Galbadian symbol, there was a large podium. A half-dozen microphones were set on the podium.
The three SeeDs watched as several technicians scrambled about, finishing last-second work. The techs then cleared out as a somewhat pudgy man in a striped suit stepped onscreen and stood behind the podium. He tapped one of the microphones a couple of times.
"Testing," he called, speaking into the microphones. "One, two, testing, testing . . . ." He glanced off screen as someone said something, and then turned to face the camera, suddenly becoming excited. "Oh! P- people of the world! Can you see me? Can you hear me? This is incredible! This is not a recording, this an actual live broadcast over the air! It's been seventeen years since we've been able to do this!"
A shout from off screen stole the announcer's attention, and he paused for a second, face reddening slightly.
"Oh, yes," he said, more subdued. "Please excuse me, I seem to have lost my manners. We would like to present to you today a message from the lifelong President of Galbadia, Vinzer Deling. Ladies and gentlemen, President Deling." The announcer gestured offscreen, and then stepped away from the podium. From the left side entered the President himself, looking exactly like the graying, slightly overweight imposter the SeeDs had encountered on the train.
Deling stood behind of the podium, and looked straight at the camera, as if evaluating his viewers. His dark eyes searched, hidden among the thick wrinkles in his skin. His graying black hair was immaculately combed, and the suit he wore was equally spotless. The dictator seemed every part the politician he was reputed to be.
Finally, Deling spoke.
"Greetings, people of the world," Vinzer Deling began, his voice ringing loudly and clearly. "I am obviously Vinzer Deling, lifelong President of the Galbadian Republic. I come before you today to make the following proposition." He paused, and looked into the camera. The President held up a hand, as if letting something rest in his open palm.
"We, the people of this world, have the power to end all wars. There is hope for peace between all nations, great and small."
"See, see!" Selphie suddenly burst out. The other two SeeDs glanced at her. "It's a peace proposal to the world! I knew it!" both Zell and Squall frowned, not exactly happy that Selphie had seemingly been right all along.
"Unfortunately," Deling continued, holding out his hands as if he were offering friendship. "There are some trifling problems between Galbadia and other nations. They must be resolved before we can draft any proposals for world peace. I plan to convene with the leaders of these nations to solve these problems." Deling paused as there was a shout and something breaking somewhere beyond the camera's point of view. He blinked, and then continued.
"At this time, allow me to introduce the ambassador who will be my representative at the conference."
"What?" Zell muttered. "All this trouble to announce an ambassador?" Squall nodded as Deling paused dramatically before announcing the ambassador. It did seem somewhat pointless to go to all this trouble for a diplomat.
Which was what had Squall worried. Who was an ambassador who was so important that their announcement to the world required a full-scale war?
"The ambassador," Deling stated, holding up a hand and gesturing off screen, "is the Sorceress . . . ." Deling smiled and trailed off, pausing dramatically again. He opened his mouth to state the Sorceress's name, but even as he was about to announce her, Squall's own mouth had opened in shock. A Sorceress?
The term "Sorceress" caused images and lessons in history to flip through Squall's mind at lightning-fast speeds.
The Sorceresses. Women who were endowed with incredible magical power and strength. Able to cast and manipulate magic like it was a nothing. The most glorious and benevolent leaders and also the worst tyrants in history. Entire nations and empires rose or fell with the coming and going of the Sorceresses. Sorceress Adel was the direct cause of the war between the western nations and Esthar nearly two decades ago. Her mad quest for domination had led to countless deaths and atrocities, until she had disappeared seventeen years ago. It was unknown whether Adel was still alive and active or not.
Had Deling thrown in with another Sorceress? Someone to oppose the possible power of Sorceress Adel in Esthar?
Squall's line of thought was broken as, in the midst of Deling's dramatic pause, there could be heard the sound of wood splintering and glass shattering. There were shouts heard off camera and, more surprisingly, the sound of metal ringing on metal and a pair of death cries.
A white-coated figure suddenly leaped into view, causing the shocked President to fall back. The figure brandished a slender, black and silver gunblade. As another Galbadian soldier charged in and was quickly cut down, Squall could make out his features.
"Seifer?!" Squall shouted in surprise as a pair of Galbadians grabbed Seifer from behind, looping their arms underneath his to restrain him.
The blonde cadet smirked and, as a third soldier rushed him, broke free of their grasp with almost casual ease, throwing one man aside and elbowing the second in the face hard enough to hurl him away. In the commotion, someone knocked the camera over, the image rotating ninety degrees as the camera fell on its side.
The third soldier pulled out a handgun, only to be knocked aside as another blonde figure rushed in. She spun around, snapping her whip at a pair of sword-wielding troops as Seifer sprang at the President. The blonde cadet placed his gunblade across Deling's throat as he stood behind the President, using him as a shield.
"Instructor Trepe?" Zell exclaimed as Quistis stood between the soldiers and Seifer.
"Stay back!" she ordered to the soldiers, as more came into view around the sideways camera.
"Squall, what do we do?" Zell asked, frantically as more Galbadians rushed into view, some edging closer to the President and his captor. Seifer leaned closer to the President's ear and said something, likely a threat or order. The President nodded and stood still in response.
"For the last time, stay back!" Quistis commanded the soldiers surrounding them. "You're only going to provoke him!"
"Nothing," Squall replied to Zell's question. "Our job is to assist the Forest Owls. This isn't our business."
Even as Squall spoke, Quistis spun to the overturned camera.
"Timber team, are you watching?" she shouted. "Hurry to the station! You have permission! I need your help!"
Squall stiffened at those words, and nodded as if she were talking to him directly.
"Let's move!" he ordered to his team. The other two SeeDs nodded and ran up the staircase to their left. The catwalk turned to the left as it rounded a building, and led straight to the TV Station, which was alight with spotlights and shining illumination.
A few minutes later the group had entered that station. Following the trail of bodies Seifer had left in his wake, they quickly found the studio where Seifer was holding Deling hostage. The area showed signs of damage, with the bodies of a half-dozen bodyguards sprawled among broken and scattered electronics. Squall scanned the area, to see the remaining soldiers collected at the far side of the room, conferring with several officers. Quistis was standing between them and Seifer and Deling.
"The cameras are offline," Quistis told Squall as soon as she spotted the SeeDs. "The soldiers are keeping their distance, like I advised them. But we have to restrain Deling quickly!" Squall nodded, scanning the area for some heavy-duty cable they could use. Whatever Seifer was planning, it was sanctioned by Garden, or at least by Quistis. If they could restrain Deling and free up Seifer, they might be able to escape. But the SeeDs would have to move quickly, as Deling's soldiers were doubtless surrounding the TV Station even now.
Squall spotted some cable and pointed Selphie to it. She nodded and moved to take a bundle and cut it with her knife. As Selphie did that, Squall turned back to Seifer and Deling.
His self-proclaimed rival was alternating glares towards the Galbadians with softer looks at his fellow SeeDs. He wasn't giving Squall the usual superior look, but instead was regarding them as his comrades, which was something that surprised Squall. Seifer was taking this situation seriously, for once.
"What do you think you're doing?" Squall demanded to Seifer.
"Obvious, ain't it?" Seifer barked. "Resistance makes a kidnapping attempt on Deling. Which means you want him. What are you planning to do with this guy?"
"Planning to do?" Squall echoed, and then Seifer's remarks about the resistance brought Squall back to the conversation he'd had with Rinoa on the train. Rinoa and Seifer knew each other . . . was that why he was here?
"Oh, yeah, I get it," Zell said, nodding. "You're Rinoa's-"
"Shut your damn mouth, Chicken-Wuss!" Seifer cut him off with a snap, scowling viciously at Zell's almost-remark. His quick and forceful tone angered Zell to a degree, judging by the martial artist's clenched jaw and trembling hands. As Zell set his jaw tightly, Quistis turned towards them. Squall opened his mouth to ask why Seifer was here when he was supposed to be in the detention area of Garden, but Quistis cut him off with a raised hand.
"He broke out of the disciplinary room," she said quietly, so only Zell and Squall could hear. "He injured many in the process." Squall nodded, but Zell's face reddened at the news of Seifer's actions. He looked back up at Seifer, who still stood behind the President, although he was edging further back, towards an open door leading out of the studio.
"You stupid idiot!" Zell shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Seifer. The cadet rolled his eyes as the Galbadian bodyguards at the far end of the room looked up, hands dropping to holstered and sheathed weapons.
"Zell, calm down," Squall said, but the martial artist ignored his words. "Be quiet." He glanced to the side as Selphie returned with a bundle of cut cables.
"Instructor, I know!" Zell continued, turning to Quistis. "You're gonna take this idiot's stupid ass back to Garden, right?"
"Zell, no!" Squall exclaimed, slapping one hand over the surprised martial artist's mouth. It was Garden protocol to never openly state that one was a SeeD working for Garden when on covert operations. That would compromise the security of Garden. Zell seemed to have realized that a moment too late, his eyes widening as he slapped a hand over his mouth.
However, it seemed Deling had overheard, and began laughing quietly. The Galbadian soldiers had also stopped talking, and were watching and listening to the conversation intently.
"I see. You're all with Garden, then," Deling stated loudly. He smiled. "Should anything happen to me, the entire Galbadian military will undoubtably crush Garden." There were nods from the assembled soldiers as they understood their implied orders.
"You can let go of me now," Deling remarked to Seifer.
"What, and lose a good meat shield?" Seifer responded, shaking Deling's shoulder. He looked up at Zell, and narrowed his eyes. "Good going, chicken-wuss. You and your stupid big mouth. Instructor and Mr. Leader!" Seifer looked at Quistis, then Squall. "Handle this mess!"
Then he pulled Deling back, towards the door. Quistis began to follow, but at that moment the Galbadian soldiers began to rush forward, swords sliding out of sheaths and rifles rising.
"Follow Seifer!" Squall shouted to Quistis as he focused, calling up Quetzacotl. "We'll keep them busy!" Zell and Selphie nodded at his implied order. As one soldier approached, a shard of ice appeared above Selphie and struck him down, shattering into a thousand glittering needles and deadly frigid air. Two more Galbadians were met by Zell, who quickly disarmed and pounded the two men, shattering bones and cracking skulls.
A bolt of lightning from the ceiling struck the floor as rain inexplicably fell inside the studio. With a flash of awe-inspiring light, Quetzacotl came forth to rain his fury on the Galbadians. As the eyeless snake-bird entity unleashed its lightning, Quistis could barely be seen hurrying out of the door Seifer and Deling had disappeared through.
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"This is obviously not the best course of action for Garden, wouldn't you say?" Deling asked as Seifer backed into another studio, dragging the politician with him.
"If you don't shut your ass, I'll-" Seifer paused, listening to the sounds of distant combat. After a moment, he continued backing away from the door. He glanced around, and spotted some hanging white curtains, partially covering a news stage. Just beyond them Seifer spotted a door on the opposite side of the studio.
"Over there, move it!" Seifer ordered, pushing the President along. Deling sighed but obeyed, and the hostage and his captor moved up onto the stage, heading for the distant door.
Suddenly, Seifer's warrior instincts charged up, and he knew that he and the President weren't alone. Perhaps he'd caught a faint change in the ambient temperature, or perhaps had heard quiet breathing, or maybe just a slight tingle of the unnatural, but Seifer sensed the presence of another.
He tightly grasped Deling's shoulder, and the dictator paused. Seifer caught the edges of the President's mouth rising, which in turn put Seifer more on edge. Whoever was in the room could potentially be an ally of Deling's, which would unnecessarily complicate things.
For once, Seifer actually wished Squall was here to back him up. At least then he wouldn't have to worry about holding onto Deling while Squall dealt with the enemy as quickly and efficiently as Seifer would have otherwise. Despite Squall's nice and honorable tendencies, he had learned rather well from his rival.
The curtains rustled faintly, and Seifer ducked down a little behind Deling. He considered beating the man across the back of his head and putting him out, but before he could begin to go through with that course of action, Deling's ally stepped out from behind the white sheets. Seifer was expecting heavily armed guards, or maybe even a robotic weapon. What he saw instead shocked the cadet for a brief moment.
A slender wisp of a woman, clad in a long, form-fitting dress, glided forward. The dress was a deep shade of purple at the top, but gradually lightened the lower down her body it went, until it was nearly pink around her ankles. Her dress covered her entire body, excepting a bit of cleavage, upper chest, and her neck, the skin an almost milky white. Around her shoulders, the dress featured thick, heavy black fur, reminding Seifer of Squall's jacket somewhat. Her fingers were oddly elongated, although one couldn't tell whether that was due to gloves or if the long digits were natural. She wore a crimson beak-like mask over her face, and was ornamented with a corkscrewing white horn on the left side of her head, with a second, straighter horn of a darker reddish-purple shade rising above that.
"Poor, poor boy," she said quietly, shaking her head as she faced the cadet. Seifer tensed up, his fingers tightening around his gunblade. It was her . . . the Sorceress Deling had spoken of moments ago. One of the women of legend, confronting him. Even through the mask, Seifer could feel her eyes boring into his very soul, searching and probing.
"Stay away from me!" Seifer ordered. He felt her mental probe becoming a little more tangible as it worked its way through his mind. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears as the woman stepped forward, continuing to speak as if he'd said nothing.
"Such a confused little boy," the Sorceress remarked, her voice and tone sounding like a condescending mother speaking to a toddler. The words knifed under Seifer's skin, angering him as they cut into his pride. He felt the urge to release Deling and strike the woman down, but his mission held him back. He had to get out of here with the President, but this woman was in the way.
"Are you going to step forward?" the Sorceress asked, seeming to read his very mind. "Retreat? You have to decide." She edged forward again, and Seifer stepped back, dragging Deling with him. He felt her intrusions growing.
"Stay back!" he ordered again, both at the woman's physical body and her mental assault. Seifer raised his gunblade against Deling's throat slightly, a clear warning.
The Sorceress paused, and waved her hands for a moment, pale purple motes of light forming around her, combining into a single shining light source. Seifer tensed, but the woman did not hurl any magic his way. She gestured past him, toward the door, and Seifer felt a rush of magical energy behind him. He risked a glance over his shoulder.
Quistis was standing in the door as magical power washed over her. She dropped to her knees, clutching her head as the spell took and incapacitated her.
The Sorceress took another step forward, and Seifer spun back to face her, clenching his jaw. He glared at the woman, showing her all the legendary defiance he had developed throughout his years in Garden. He wanted to attack her, to kill her, but he knew he couldn't give in to the urge. He had his mission. He had to do this for Rinoa.
But the Sorceress blocked him from escaping. He wanted to attack, he knew that he had to attack, but not only did he need to get away with Deling, the Sorceress was frightening, something Seifer didn't want to admit. Her magic, her mental intrusions, the way she seemed to be able to see into Seifer's very soul, it was incredible, and intimidating.
"The boy in you is telling you to come," the Sorceress continued, her whispering voice finding the mental mark once more. "The man in you is telling you to back off. You can't make up your mind, you don't know the right answer."
Seifer growled inaudibly, and took another step back. Dammit, where was Squall when he needed him?
"You want help, don't you? You want to be saved from this predicament."
"Shut up!" Seifer growled, frustrated by her and her ability to read his mind.
"Don't be afraid to ask for help," the woman responded, her intrusions shifting deeper in response to the emotional outburst. "After all, you are only a little boy."
"I'm not . . . ." Seifer hissed, angered by her tone and her insults towards his pride. "Stop calling me a boy." He'd intended for the statement to be one of defiance, but it came out as more of a plea. He wasn't a boy. Seifer Almasy was a man. A fearless man, a warrior and a hero. The best. He'd prove it, to everyone. Squall, Quistis, Deling, even this damned Sorceress.
He was Seifer Almasy, Hyne-dammit!
"You don't want to be a boy anymore?" the woman asked, her words almost enticing. No, Seifer wasn't a boy; he'd give anything to not be a child.
"I am not a boy!" Seifer responded loudly and forcefully. The woman nodded and raised a hand, pointing it at him.
It was as if a light had been switched on in his mind. He wasn't a child; the Sorceress knew it. Yes, she knew he was a real man, a warrior. The greatest warrior in the world. She understood. Her words had only been needed to show him the truth.
The Sorceress would let him fulfill his dreams. Seifer would become the ultimate warrior, and all she needed was his service. She needed him to be her knight. Seifer knew this, understood it, and accepted it.
For the Sorceress.
Seifer released Deling, who immediately scrambled away, disappearing out the very door that he and his captor had been headed for earlier. Neither Seifer nor the Sorceress paid him any more attention than a mouse. Deling wasn't important; only Seifer and his Sorceress mattered now. They, and the dreams they were destined to bring.
"Come with me to a place of no return," the Sorceress said to him. Seifer nodded. "Bid farewell to your childhood."
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Squall, Selphie, and Zell had driven the remaining Galbadian soldiers away, and now were charging down the hall Quistis had taken. They burst through the doorway into a room that seemed to have been filled with a faint purple haze. Squall scanned the room, his warrior senses immediately lighting up. Something wasn't right here.
He spotted Quistis, on her knees and clutching her head. An instant later, he spotted Seifer on the stage of the studio, facing a woman in a dark purple dress and wearing a red mask. The woman and Seifer turned to face the SeeDs, and Squall caught the strangest smile on Seifer's face, and an odd gleam in his eye.
Seifer raised Hyperion in a salute to Squall, and the woman gestured. Purple energy suddenly washed over Squall and his comrades, blinding them.
When the light faded, Quistis was standing, the purple haze had vanished, and Seifer and the mysterious woman were gone.
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This chapter was relatively short, but I felt that Seifer's betrayal was an important enough part of the storyline to earn its own chapter.
The two soldiers at the roadblock noticed the kid in the white trenchcoat the second he rounded a corner and came into view. While no one actually leveled a weapon at the teenager, though, the Galbadian troops immediately went on a slightly higher stage of alert. Fingers hovered near the triggers of their guns, which were ready to pop up at the slightest threatening motion from the kid.
The tenseness rose a little as the teenager, a blonde kid, strode towards the roadblock confidently, as if he were a general instead of some Timber citizen. Two soldiers from the heavily reinforced position stepped forward and approached the teen as he came closer. Both men noted the scar running down his face as he stopped and smirked at the men.
"I'm sorry, kid, but this street is closed," one of the Galbadian soldiers stated. "You can't go this way."
"Really?" the kid asked, his eyes arcing in surprise. "I have a friend who says this road is open."
The two soldiers glanced at each other, and the soldier who'd spoken laughed.
"Look, kid," the soldier replied. He hooked a thumb over his shoulder at the barricade. "See those guns, tanks, and soldiers? This road is blocked off by the Galbadian army. You can't go through, it would compromise President Deling's security."
"I know," the kid responded, his smile widening. "That's the point," he stated as he closed his eyes.
The two Galbadians blinked in confusion, and then grabbed for their weapons. They weren't sure, but had this kid just told them he intended to hurt the President? The sight of the two soldiers readying their weapons caused the rest of the troops at the barricade to begin to go to alert as well.
"Hey," the second soldier said, frowning as he pointed his rifle at the kid. "You, you're under arre-"
The soldier quieted as the air between him and the trench-coated teenager burned. A portal of raging flame erupted, the heat registering on the soldiers' infrared sensors as the baking fires burned their skin. The two men fell back from the flames, one opening his mouth to shout back to the barricade. But he stopped, as did his comrade, and all the men at the barricade as well, for stepping forward from the hellish portal came a monster. No, not a monster.
A demon.
Ifrit roared, a thundering blast that shook the walls of the structures on either side of the street. Fire then rippled down his arms, and solidified in roiling balls of magma resting in his hands. He raised them.
"Fire! Fire fire fire!" a major at the barricade shouted, and weapons swung to face the fury of the Guardian Force. The rifles, machineguns, and cannons sighted the GF, who then swept his arms forward. Even as the troops began squeezing the triggers, the balls of hellish flame hit the barricade and detonated. Galbadian soldiers, metal, concrete, and ceramic went flying as ammunition detonated and a pair of tanks was reduced to slag. Ifrit roared in triumph and vanished.
As Ifrit struck, a Galbadian army truck rounded the corner and drove hard, its passenger-side door flying open. The white-coated teenager reached out towards the open door as the truck passed and grabbed it. As his hands closed around the metal, Seifer Almasy leaped up and sideways, into the passenger seat. He slammed shut the door beside him as Quistis accelerated through the destroyed barricade.
"That was fun," Seifer commented as they passed the barricade. They rounded another corner and came within sight of the TV Station's front entrance. Squads of blue and red-armored soldiers and a couple of trucks drove their way, doubtless having heard the commotion Ifrit had caused. Quistis slowed down a bit, but kept guning the engine. The soldiers and men in the vehicles didn't even glance their way, thinking them to be on the same side. It was a Galbadian army truck, after all. The Galbadians quickly rounded the corner and passed out of sight as they hurried to the compromised barricade.
"You sure about this?" Quistis asked Seifer, who shrugged as they drove straight for the TV Station's front doors. There were a few men inside the lobby, but that was the extent of the security.
"Almost positive," Seifer replied as he checked his gunblade. "Keep your head low, Instructor, don't want you getting hurt." He flashed her a smile, to which Quistis rolled her eyes. She planted her foot on the gas pedal even harder, and the truck accelerated even faster at the doors.
The men inside looked up to see the truck's approach, and pointed. One waved his hands, as if telling them to stop. The truck, however, did not stop or even slow down, and the man's mouth dropped open as the vehicle barrelled in. He, along with the rest of the Galbadian troops scattered around the lobby, dove for cover as the truck connected with the doors.
Glass shattered and flew, metal bent and warped, and the truck, four tons of metal and plastic, smashed into the center of the lobby. Before it had even really stopped, the passenger-side door flew open as Seifer kicked it. The metal door hung partially off its hinges as the cadet leaped out of the vehicle, Hyperion flashing up.
In front of the doors there had once been a reception/security desk, now smashed into kindling by the truck. Behind that was an elegant fountain, and beyond that was a large double staircase leading up to a landing, beyond which were the elevators. Around the truck, the Galbadians who had dived for cover rose. Several of the soldiers' mouths clenched in anger as rifles and swords rose to meet the intruding cadet.
A fireball sent one man spinning to the floor as the soldiers charged. Three closed with Seifer immediately while a fourth circled around to his right, trying to sight him in his rifle's scope. A fifth ran to the side of the truck, taking cover on the driver's side and pointing his weapon at Seifer over the hood while a sixth and a seventh drew swords and charged around the intervening vehicle.
The driver's side door swung open, and the man by the hood spun, in time to see Quistis plant a foot in his jaw. He fell back, and she stepped forward. Quistis closed her free hands around the rifle, and spun it over. The soldier, his hands tightly grasping the weapon, was flipped over as the rifle spun, and landed hard on his back. Quistis brought the rifle up and swung it down, smashing the side of the man's head with the stock and knocking him out cold. Quistis spun, the stolen rifle in hand, and loosed a burst at one of the sword wielding Galbadians. The man cried out as the bullets tore through his armor and laid him out flat.
The other soldier spun to face Quistis, and cast a quick Fire spell at her.The flash of magic struck her, stunning Quistis for a second. Without her GFs, Quistis was much more vulnerable than normal. She blinked and quickly dropped the rifle, and ducked low as the soldier came in. The man slashed for her head, but her ducking sent her head beneath the arc of the soldier's sword. Quistis' fists shot forward, side by side, taking the soldier in the stomach and doubling him over.
The SeeD uncoiled her rante, simultaneously jumping back to give herself room to maneuver. The chain whip snapped forward as the soldier recovered, and the blade cut into his chest, slicing through his armor. The soldier gasped and grabbed at his gushing chest wound, then fell, his sword clattering to the floor.
Seifer realized that the rifle-wielding soldier wouldn't fire if he was in melee with the man's comrades, due to the unclear shot that would present. Thus, the knight dove at the three Galbadians charging him. The men were clustered together, two in front and spread out to the sides, with the third in back. As the cadet closed in, the one to Seifer's right slashed down diagonally, while the one on his left sliced across. The one at the rear sent a quick thrust at Seifer's head.
The cadet responded by ducking down and to the left, putting him below the plane of the left soldier's slash and out of the path of the right soldier's cut as well. Hyperion weaved up as Seifer's left hand rose, a Fire spell charging. Hyperion intercepted the thrusting blade, and the cadet forced the soldier's weapon down into the floor. At the same moment, Seifer discharged the Fire spell in the left soldier's face.
As that man fell, his face exploding from the fiery blast, Seifer flicked his wrist over, and swept his right arm up and out to the right. The gunblade cleaved clean through the right soldier's neck, and his head went flying. The cadet then rose to his full height, leaping up and back, spinning away from the remaining soldier. As he did so Seifer's left hand crossed over his chest, his palm pointing to the right. Energy gathered there.
Seifer landed on his feet, and stopped spinning. His left palm was pointing directly at the rifle-wielding soldier. The man managed to open his mouth in surprise before the spell took him.
The final soldier began to cast his own spell, but Seifer beat him to the punch. A third Fire spell erupted and dropped that man as well.
"The President's likely in the studio!" Seifer shouted to Quistis as she rounded the truck, her soldiers taken care of. "Haul ass!"
-------------------
The image on the giant television resolved, showing the inside of a studio. In the center of the image, between a pair of black flags proudly displaying the Galbadian symbol, there was a large podium. A half-dozen microphones were set on the podium.
The three SeeDs watched as several technicians scrambled about, finishing last-second work. The techs then cleared out as a somewhat pudgy man in a striped suit stepped onscreen and stood behind the podium. He tapped one of the microphones a couple of times.
"Testing," he called, speaking into the microphones. "One, two, testing, testing . . . ." He glanced off screen as someone said something, and then turned to face the camera, suddenly becoming excited. "Oh! P- people of the world! Can you see me? Can you hear me? This is incredible! This is not a recording, this an actual live broadcast over the air! It's been seventeen years since we've been able to do this!"
A shout from off screen stole the announcer's attention, and he paused for a second, face reddening slightly.
"Oh, yes," he said, more subdued. "Please excuse me, I seem to have lost my manners. We would like to present to you today a message from the lifelong President of Galbadia, Vinzer Deling. Ladies and gentlemen, President Deling." The announcer gestured offscreen, and then stepped away from the podium. From the left side entered the President himself, looking exactly like the graying, slightly overweight imposter the SeeDs had encountered on the train.
Deling stood behind of the podium, and looked straight at the camera, as if evaluating his viewers. His dark eyes searched, hidden among the thick wrinkles in his skin. His graying black hair was immaculately combed, and the suit he wore was equally spotless. The dictator seemed every part the politician he was reputed to be.
Finally, Deling spoke.
"Greetings, people of the world," Vinzer Deling began, his voice ringing loudly and clearly. "I am obviously Vinzer Deling, lifelong President of the Galbadian Republic. I come before you today to make the following proposition." He paused, and looked into the camera. The President held up a hand, as if letting something rest in his open palm.
"We, the people of this world, have the power to end all wars. There is hope for peace between all nations, great and small."
"See, see!" Selphie suddenly burst out. The other two SeeDs glanced at her. "It's a peace proposal to the world! I knew it!" both Zell and Squall frowned, not exactly happy that Selphie had seemingly been right all along.
"Unfortunately," Deling continued, holding out his hands as if he were offering friendship. "There are some trifling problems between Galbadia and other nations. They must be resolved before we can draft any proposals for world peace. I plan to convene with the leaders of these nations to solve these problems." Deling paused as there was a shout and something breaking somewhere beyond the camera's point of view. He blinked, and then continued.
"At this time, allow me to introduce the ambassador who will be my representative at the conference."
"What?" Zell muttered. "All this trouble to announce an ambassador?" Squall nodded as Deling paused dramatically before announcing the ambassador. It did seem somewhat pointless to go to all this trouble for a diplomat.
Which was what had Squall worried. Who was an ambassador who was so important that their announcement to the world required a full-scale war?
"The ambassador," Deling stated, holding up a hand and gesturing off screen, "is the Sorceress . . . ." Deling smiled and trailed off, pausing dramatically again. He opened his mouth to state the Sorceress's name, but even as he was about to announce her, Squall's own mouth had opened in shock. A Sorceress?
The term "Sorceress" caused images and lessons in history to flip through Squall's mind at lightning-fast speeds.
The Sorceresses. Women who were endowed with incredible magical power and strength. Able to cast and manipulate magic like it was a nothing. The most glorious and benevolent leaders and also the worst tyrants in history. Entire nations and empires rose or fell with the coming and going of the Sorceresses. Sorceress Adel was the direct cause of the war between the western nations and Esthar nearly two decades ago. Her mad quest for domination had led to countless deaths and atrocities, until she had disappeared seventeen years ago. It was unknown whether Adel was still alive and active or not.
Had Deling thrown in with another Sorceress? Someone to oppose the possible power of Sorceress Adel in Esthar?
Squall's line of thought was broken as, in the midst of Deling's dramatic pause, there could be heard the sound of wood splintering and glass shattering. There were shouts heard off camera and, more surprisingly, the sound of metal ringing on metal and a pair of death cries.
A white-coated figure suddenly leaped into view, causing the shocked President to fall back. The figure brandished a slender, black and silver gunblade. As another Galbadian soldier charged in and was quickly cut down, Squall could make out his features.
"Seifer?!" Squall shouted in surprise as a pair of Galbadians grabbed Seifer from behind, looping their arms underneath his to restrain him.
The blonde cadet smirked and, as a third soldier rushed him, broke free of their grasp with almost casual ease, throwing one man aside and elbowing the second in the face hard enough to hurl him away. In the commotion, someone knocked the camera over, the image rotating ninety degrees as the camera fell on its side.
The third soldier pulled out a handgun, only to be knocked aside as another blonde figure rushed in. She spun around, snapping her whip at a pair of sword-wielding troops as Seifer sprang at the President. The blonde cadet placed his gunblade across Deling's throat as he stood behind the President, using him as a shield.
"Instructor Trepe?" Zell exclaimed as Quistis stood between the soldiers and Seifer.
"Stay back!" she ordered to the soldiers, as more came into view around the sideways camera.
"Squall, what do we do?" Zell asked, frantically as more Galbadians rushed into view, some edging closer to the President and his captor. Seifer leaned closer to the President's ear and said something, likely a threat or order. The President nodded and stood still in response.
"For the last time, stay back!" Quistis commanded the soldiers surrounding them. "You're only going to provoke him!"
"Nothing," Squall replied to Zell's question. "Our job is to assist the Forest Owls. This isn't our business."
Even as Squall spoke, Quistis spun to the overturned camera.
"Timber team, are you watching?" she shouted. "Hurry to the station! You have permission! I need your help!"
Squall stiffened at those words, and nodded as if she were talking to him directly.
"Let's move!" he ordered to his team. The other two SeeDs nodded and ran up the staircase to their left. The catwalk turned to the left as it rounded a building, and led straight to the TV Station, which was alight with spotlights and shining illumination.
A few minutes later the group had entered that station. Following the trail of bodies Seifer had left in his wake, they quickly found the studio where Seifer was holding Deling hostage. The area showed signs of damage, with the bodies of a half-dozen bodyguards sprawled among broken and scattered electronics. Squall scanned the area, to see the remaining soldiers collected at the far side of the room, conferring with several officers. Quistis was standing between them and Seifer and Deling.
"The cameras are offline," Quistis told Squall as soon as she spotted the SeeDs. "The soldiers are keeping their distance, like I advised them. But we have to restrain Deling quickly!" Squall nodded, scanning the area for some heavy-duty cable they could use. Whatever Seifer was planning, it was sanctioned by Garden, or at least by Quistis. If they could restrain Deling and free up Seifer, they might be able to escape. But the SeeDs would have to move quickly, as Deling's soldiers were doubtless surrounding the TV Station even now.
Squall spotted some cable and pointed Selphie to it. She nodded and moved to take a bundle and cut it with her knife. As Selphie did that, Squall turned back to Seifer and Deling.
His self-proclaimed rival was alternating glares towards the Galbadians with softer looks at his fellow SeeDs. He wasn't giving Squall the usual superior look, but instead was regarding them as his comrades, which was something that surprised Squall. Seifer was taking this situation seriously, for once.
"What do you think you're doing?" Squall demanded to Seifer.
"Obvious, ain't it?" Seifer barked. "Resistance makes a kidnapping attempt on Deling. Which means you want him. What are you planning to do with this guy?"
"Planning to do?" Squall echoed, and then Seifer's remarks about the resistance brought Squall back to the conversation he'd had with Rinoa on the train. Rinoa and Seifer knew each other . . . was that why he was here?
"Oh, yeah, I get it," Zell said, nodding. "You're Rinoa's-"
"Shut your damn mouth, Chicken-Wuss!" Seifer cut him off with a snap, scowling viciously at Zell's almost-remark. His quick and forceful tone angered Zell to a degree, judging by the martial artist's clenched jaw and trembling hands. As Zell set his jaw tightly, Quistis turned towards them. Squall opened his mouth to ask why Seifer was here when he was supposed to be in the detention area of Garden, but Quistis cut him off with a raised hand.
"He broke out of the disciplinary room," she said quietly, so only Zell and Squall could hear. "He injured many in the process." Squall nodded, but Zell's face reddened at the news of Seifer's actions. He looked back up at Seifer, who still stood behind the President, although he was edging further back, towards an open door leading out of the studio.
"You stupid idiot!" Zell shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Seifer. The cadet rolled his eyes as the Galbadian bodyguards at the far end of the room looked up, hands dropping to holstered and sheathed weapons.
"Zell, calm down," Squall said, but the martial artist ignored his words. "Be quiet." He glanced to the side as Selphie returned with a bundle of cut cables.
"Instructor, I know!" Zell continued, turning to Quistis. "You're gonna take this idiot's stupid ass back to Garden, right?"
"Zell, no!" Squall exclaimed, slapping one hand over the surprised martial artist's mouth. It was Garden protocol to never openly state that one was a SeeD working for Garden when on covert operations. That would compromise the security of Garden. Zell seemed to have realized that a moment too late, his eyes widening as he slapped a hand over his mouth.
However, it seemed Deling had overheard, and began laughing quietly. The Galbadian soldiers had also stopped talking, and were watching and listening to the conversation intently.
"I see. You're all with Garden, then," Deling stated loudly. He smiled. "Should anything happen to me, the entire Galbadian military will undoubtably crush Garden." There were nods from the assembled soldiers as they understood their implied orders.
"You can let go of me now," Deling remarked to Seifer.
"What, and lose a good meat shield?" Seifer responded, shaking Deling's shoulder. He looked up at Zell, and narrowed his eyes. "Good going, chicken-wuss. You and your stupid big mouth. Instructor and Mr. Leader!" Seifer looked at Quistis, then Squall. "Handle this mess!"
Then he pulled Deling back, towards the door. Quistis began to follow, but at that moment the Galbadian soldiers began to rush forward, swords sliding out of sheaths and rifles rising.
"Follow Seifer!" Squall shouted to Quistis as he focused, calling up Quetzacotl. "We'll keep them busy!" Zell and Selphie nodded at his implied order. As one soldier approached, a shard of ice appeared above Selphie and struck him down, shattering into a thousand glittering needles and deadly frigid air. Two more Galbadians were met by Zell, who quickly disarmed and pounded the two men, shattering bones and cracking skulls.
A bolt of lightning from the ceiling struck the floor as rain inexplicably fell inside the studio. With a flash of awe-inspiring light, Quetzacotl came forth to rain his fury on the Galbadians. As the eyeless snake-bird entity unleashed its lightning, Quistis could barely be seen hurrying out of the door Seifer and Deling had disappeared through.
-------------------
"This is obviously not the best course of action for Garden, wouldn't you say?" Deling asked as Seifer backed into another studio, dragging the politician with him.
"If you don't shut your ass, I'll-" Seifer paused, listening to the sounds of distant combat. After a moment, he continued backing away from the door. He glanced around, and spotted some hanging white curtains, partially covering a news stage. Just beyond them Seifer spotted a door on the opposite side of the studio.
"Over there, move it!" Seifer ordered, pushing the President along. Deling sighed but obeyed, and the hostage and his captor moved up onto the stage, heading for the distant door.
Suddenly, Seifer's warrior instincts charged up, and he knew that he and the President weren't alone. Perhaps he'd caught a faint change in the ambient temperature, or perhaps had heard quiet breathing, or maybe just a slight tingle of the unnatural, but Seifer sensed the presence of another.
He tightly grasped Deling's shoulder, and the dictator paused. Seifer caught the edges of the President's mouth rising, which in turn put Seifer more on edge. Whoever was in the room could potentially be an ally of Deling's, which would unnecessarily complicate things.
For once, Seifer actually wished Squall was here to back him up. At least then he wouldn't have to worry about holding onto Deling while Squall dealt with the enemy as quickly and efficiently as Seifer would have otherwise. Despite Squall's nice and honorable tendencies, he had learned rather well from his rival.
The curtains rustled faintly, and Seifer ducked down a little behind Deling. He considered beating the man across the back of his head and putting him out, but before he could begin to go through with that course of action, Deling's ally stepped out from behind the white sheets. Seifer was expecting heavily armed guards, or maybe even a robotic weapon. What he saw instead shocked the cadet for a brief moment.
A slender wisp of a woman, clad in a long, form-fitting dress, glided forward. The dress was a deep shade of purple at the top, but gradually lightened the lower down her body it went, until it was nearly pink around her ankles. Her dress covered her entire body, excepting a bit of cleavage, upper chest, and her neck, the skin an almost milky white. Around her shoulders, the dress featured thick, heavy black fur, reminding Seifer of Squall's jacket somewhat. Her fingers were oddly elongated, although one couldn't tell whether that was due to gloves or if the long digits were natural. She wore a crimson beak-like mask over her face, and was ornamented with a corkscrewing white horn on the left side of her head, with a second, straighter horn of a darker reddish-purple shade rising above that.
"Poor, poor boy," she said quietly, shaking her head as she faced the cadet. Seifer tensed up, his fingers tightening around his gunblade. It was her . . . the Sorceress Deling had spoken of moments ago. One of the women of legend, confronting him. Even through the mask, Seifer could feel her eyes boring into his very soul, searching and probing.
"Stay away from me!" Seifer ordered. He felt her mental probe becoming a little more tangible as it worked its way through his mind. He could feel his heart pounding in his ears as the woman stepped forward, continuing to speak as if he'd said nothing.
"Such a confused little boy," the Sorceress remarked, her voice and tone sounding like a condescending mother speaking to a toddler. The words knifed under Seifer's skin, angering him as they cut into his pride. He felt the urge to release Deling and strike the woman down, but his mission held him back. He had to get out of here with the President, but this woman was in the way.
"Are you going to step forward?" the Sorceress asked, seeming to read his very mind. "Retreat? You have to decide." She edged forward again, and Seifer stepped back, dragging Deling with him. He felt her intrusions growing.
"Stay back!" he ordered again, both at the woman's physical body and her mental assault. Seifer raised his gunblade against Deling's throat slightly, a clear warning.
The Sorceress paused, and waved her hands for a moment, pale purple motes of light forming around her, combining into a single shining light source. Seifer tensed, but the woman did not hurl any magic his way. She gestured past him, toward the door, and Seifer felt a rush of magical energy behind him. He risked a glance over his shoulder.
Quistis was standing in the door as magical power washed over her. She dropped to her knees, clutching her head as the spell took and incapacitated her.
The Sorceress took another step forward, and Seifer spun back to face her, clenching his jaw. He glared at the woman, showing her all the legendary defiance he had developed throughout his years in Garden. He wanted to attack her, to kill her, but he knew he couldn't give in to the urge. He had his mission. He had to do this for Rinoa.
But the Sorceress blocked him from escaping. He wanted to attack, he knew that he had to attack, but not only did he need to get away with Deling, the Sorceress was frightening, something Seifer didn't want to admit. Her magic, her mental intrusions, the way she seemed to be able to see into Seifer's very soul, it was incredible, and intimidating.
"The boy in you is telling you to come," the Sorceress continued, her whispering voice finding the mental mark once more. "The man in you is telling you to back off. You can't make up your mind, you don't know the right answer."
Seifer growled inaudibly, and took another step back. Dammit, where was Squall when he needed him?
"You want help, don't you? You want to be saved from this predicament."
"Shut up!" Seifer growled, frustrated by her and her ability to read his mind.
"Don't be afraid to ask for help," the woman responded, her intrusions shifting deeper in response to the emotional outburst. "After all, you are only a little boy."
"I'm not . . . ." Seifer hissed, angered by her tone and her insults towards his pride. "Stop calling me a boy." He'd intended for the statement to be one of defiance, but it came out as more of a plea. He wasn't a boy. Seifer Almasy was a man. A fearless man, a warrior and a hero. The best. He'd prove it, to everyone. Squall, Quistis, Deling, even this damned Sorceress.
He was Seifer Almasy, Hyne-dammit!
"You don't want to be a boy anymore?" the woman asked, her words almost enticing. No, Seifer wasn't a boy; he'd give anything to not be a child.
"I am not a boy!" Seifer responded loudly and forcefully. The woman nodded and raised a hand, pointing it at him.
It was as if a light had been switched on in his mind. He wasn't a child; the Sorceress knew it. Yes, she knew he was a real man, a warrior. The greatest warrior in the world. She understood. Her words had only been needed to show him the truth.
The Sorceress would let him fulfill his dreams. Seifer would become the ultimate warrior, and all she needed was his service. She needed him to be her knight. Seifer knew this, understood it, and accepted it.
For the Sorceress.
Seifer released Deling, who immediately scrambled away, disappearing out the very door that he and his captor had been headed for earlier. Neither Seifer nor the Sorceress paid him any more attention than a mouse. Deling wasn't important; only Seifer and his Sorceress mattered now. They, and the dreams they were destined to bring.
"Come with me to a place of no return," the Sorceress said to him. Seifer nodded. "Bid farewell to your childhood."
-------------------
Squall, Selphie, and Zell had driven the remaining Galbadian soldiers away, and now were charging down the hall Quistis had taken. They burst through the doorway into a room that seemed to have been filled with a faint purple haze. Squall scanned the room, his warrior senses immediately lighting up. Something wasn't right here.
He spotted Quistis, on her knees and clutching her head. An instant later, he spotted Seifer on the stage of the studio, facing a woman in a dark purple dress and wearing a red mask. The woman and Seifer turned to face the SeeDs, and Squall caught the strangest smile on Seifer's face, and an odd gleam in his eye.
Seifer raised Hyperion in a salute to Squall, and the woman gestured. Purple energy suddenly washed over Squall and his comrades, blinding them.
When the light faded, Quistis was standing, the purple haze had vanished, and Seifer and the mysterious woman were gone.
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This chapter was relatively short, but I felt that Seifer's betrayal was an important enough part of the storyline to earn its own chapter.
