Bonjour! C'est bonne, non? Non….
Disclaimer: I am not associated with Square in any way besides the fact that I just play the games and write stories because I just can't seem to get enough.
Chapter Twenty
They all sat in silence along the round table in Esthar's long conference room. Not a word had been spoken when they were shown in there. It was a long room. Its walls were an off-white and blank. Dark, impenatratable shades covered the three windows. The room was meant to be dark as a flat screen remotely made its way from the ceiling to a point where they could all view.
"I'll start with the news that is less depressing," Laguna said from his spot at the somewhat head of the table. A small panel rested beneath his fingers. It was most likely a device to control the screen.
"Less depressing?" Quistis inquired. "What exactly do you mean?"
"You'll see soon enough," The President answered her with a tone that none of them had heard him use before. He sounded so serious, so business-like. It was just a little weird.
The screen had brightened and a model of an unmistakable energy crystal showed before them.
"This, as you can see, is the energy crystal. Odine brought me this information before you all got here. You were probably on your way while he visited me." Laguna pressed another button and the picture of the crystal was altered. The shape of the thing was outlined and different parts of the crystal were detailed like a diagram of the human body for a health class.
"This shows the chemical composition. Through different tests that challenged the composition, Dr. Odine claims that he has found a flaw in the crystal. Due to something in it's structure complex, it is now useless to us in our fight against Ultimecia. She has some form of an immuntiy to what it can be used for. Granted, if used on most sorceresses, this would not prove to be a problem. Odine believes that he overlooked this problem when testing it against samples that were taken from Edea two years ago when she came searching for him to rid herself of the powers. Odine says that because Edea was once a sorceress, the samples extracted from her, that were believed to be Ultimecia's were actually, indeed, Edea's."
"So, what you're saying is that when Matron came to Dr. Duck- I mean- Odine he ran tests on her and had blood samples taken from her?" Zell asked. He wasn't one who was much into science, but this he actually found fascinating.
"Yes. That was what Odine wrote down in his report on Edea. He had six different samples taken from her. One from each wrist, one from each vein in the elbow, and two taken from the veins at the base of her neck. Each sample had slightly different make-ups to them, which concerned Odine. He asked and was allowed to take his experiments further to obtain a complete analysis of the samples," Laguna replied. He knew what he was talking about. Chemical make-up, structure build, and scientific analysis had been something he was rather good at. That was mostly because he had demanded that every report that Odine had made on any experiment be brought to him. In that past seventeen or eighteen years, he had learned a lot from Dr. Odine and was able to follow what he said very closely.
"Those samples were different? How could that be if they all came from the same person?" Quistis questioned. She stared blankly at the President.
"That is why Odine wanted to take his experiments farther. When he did a few more tests, he came across a conclusion that those samples were infected."
"Infected? Matron's sick?" Selphie exclaimed. She was lost in this.
"No, not sick. Her samples contained the mixed composition of another individual. Edea's composition was there, it was just mixed. Apparently when Ultimecia possessed Edea, she had possessed her for a very long period of time. Over that amount of time, she began to mix her own composition with Edea's. There were places in Edea's composition where Ultimecia's presence was so high and other places where it was not there at all," Laguna tried to explain.
"So, what you're saying is that Ultimecia's cells were merging with Matron's?" Quistis asked. She put a hand to her blonde head. This was unlike anything she had ever heard before. Two completely different compostions simply just don't merge with another!
"In a way, yes. If Ultimecia had remained in Edea for a longer amount of time equal to the time she spent as much as she did, then Ultimecia's composition would have begun to take over. That is why, in certain areas where the samples were very high, that Edea's composition was very low and Ultimecia's was very high." Laguna rested his elbows on the dark, strong wood.
"But that simply just does not happen! Two completely different compositions of two completely different individuals simply just do not merge with each other! It's impossible!" Quistis exclaimed in protest.
"Nothing is impossible in the world of science, Quistis," Laguna answered her curtly.
"Then prove how this came about! Prove to me, to all of us, just how the doctor found this information," Quistis demanded.
"All right." Laguna pressed a button on his little panel and the screen changed completely. This time, it showed what looked like cells. White blood cells, red blood cells, and then another form of what looked like a cell, only it was an almost black color. It, in any way, did not look healthy.
"These are the cells taken from Edea. The white and red blood cells are indeed Edea's. These are the cells found where Ultimecia's 'presence', you might say, was very low."
"So, that would make the other cell one where Ultimecia was really high and where it started to merge?" Irvine asked, following this closely. His hat was now situated on the table in front of him between his arms.
"Yes. When Odine did his tests, he found that those other cells were not only Edea's, but someone else's."
"Wait. Back up a minute. When you say chemical composition, you mean a DNA format?" Rinoa asked, struggling to understand. Unfortuately, she hadn't really paid attention when she took chemistry or biology, or whatever the Hell this subject was. So much for her advanced classes.
"Yes. One's chemical compostion is their DNA." Laguna informed her. He sat back in his chair, slightly pushing away from the table.
"Okay, so Ultimecia's DNA began to mix or merge with Edea's because she had possessed her for so long?" Rinoa asked. Laguna nodded. "Then the merged DNA was of a completely different structure? It held both of their DNA's somewhere in its own form?"
"Yes."
"But, if I remember correctly from my classes, two DNAs cannot combine like that. They don't link like this. Well, in two 'normal' non-magic affected people. Because Edea was a sorceress and Ultimecia was a sorceress, and they had magic that runs through them without the barrier held by a GF, is that why their DNA's mixed like that? The magic that was their own power caused that link in the DNA's? So, not only did their separate DNA's merged, so did their power?" Rinoa's sleepy days through science class were starting to come back. Okay, in some instances, she did pay attention.
Her comrades stared at her in amazement and Laguna chuckled. "That's what I was getting to, just not in those words."
"So the only reason why the chemical composition of the two soreceresses merged was because their powers did it?" Quistis had a look of utmost confusion on her face.
"Yes," Laguna nodded his head in emphasis.
"Is that why previous tests found this impossible? Because they didn't use magic based subjects?" Zell asked.
"In a way, yes." Laguna leaned forward again. "Since soreceresses normally don't publicly announce their power, past scientists had no way of knowing that magic had this kind of effect until now."
"So this form of chemical merging can only be accomplished using a natural form of magic?" Quistis questioned.
"That, we don't know exactly. But most likely, yes."
"Wait! Ultimecia didn't just possess Matron, she possessed two other sorceresses as well. Is it possible that this same effect, in smaller amounts, is in Adel and Rinoa?" Irvine asked.
"We don't know. We were never able to perform tests on Adel and we have been forbidden by a certain individual from performing any sort of test on you, Rinoa." Laguna smiled at the girl. She had to restrain from laughing at Laguna's emphasis.
"Certain individual? What do you mean?" Zell was lost, but then again, so was Selphie. The girl sat there completely and utterly lost.
"Well, let's just put it this way: Odine wanted to do a few experiments after the incident on the Space Station, but was told, in these exact words, 'If you perform any test on Rinoa of any kind, you will find a gunblade shoved up your ass in a very, very uncomfortable away, and that's just the beginning.'" Laguna laughed.
"Well, we know who had a hand in that!" Irvine threw his head back in hysterics.
"I was serious," Squall growled. He had sat in silence for the most part of this conversation. Forms of anger began to rise in his face.
"I know, I know. I wouldn't allow him to do those experiments either." The president let out a loose chuckle and winked at the young sorceress at his side.
"So we have no way of knowing if Rinoa is affected in that same way?" Quistis asked. She gave Rinoa a quick smile to acknowledge her.
"Correct," Laguna answered, "and we will probably never know as long as Squall doesn't allow it, along with myself. Odine was very disappointed when he was forbidden to carry out any experiment of you, Rinoa. But then again, he kind of fears you, Squall." He turned to his other side, where his son sat, just slightly angered.
Squall rolled his eyes and decided that it would be best to ignore that comment.
"All right, but what if I allow the doctor to perform a test on me to find out?" Rinoa wondered. Squall lifted his head, leaned forward and gave her a look that clearly stated, Over my dead body. "Nevermind." Rinoa blushed and looked away.
"I, myself, still would not allow the doctor to perform any type of test on you, my dear," Laguna said a little firm. "That would be very unwise on my part."
"Why?" Quistis and Rinoa both asked.
"I'll get to that soon," he said. "Let's get back on subject, shall we?"
They nodded and left it at that. Laguna had them turn their attention back to the screen.
"Okay, as we said before, the chemical compositions combined. The two different individuals were still there in their separate forms, but Ultimecia's was the alpha. Which was unlike the hypotheses that Odine had at first considered."
"Wait. Did Odine know of Ultimecia at first when he found the different cells? When he first did the tests on Matron?" Zell asked. He scratched at his tattoo.
"No. Edea told him what she knew from when the other sorceress had control over her. You see, Ultimecia sent Edea information about herself involuntarily. That is how she knew so much when Ultimecia released her hold to take on another target. In this case, Rinoa followed by Adel."
"Alright, so when Matron told him about Ultimecia, he was able to identify the other cells?" Zell questioned to better understand this.
"Yes. He found a high magic content in this composition which was considerably stronger than that of Edea's."
"Now, how does all this fit in with the energy crystals?" Quistis spoke up again.
"Ah! Now we get to the real stuff. When Ultimecia put a few of her own cells into Edea, she happened to extract a few of Edea's into her own self."
"So, the process that happened toEdea also happened in Ultimecia?" Squall voiced.
"Yes. And when that occured, certain previous weaknesses against different attacks were turned to immunities. The effect of the energy crystal being one of them. Instead of locking her powers, the energy crystal would only strengthen them, which would be something we don't want to happen," Laguna frowned.
"How did he overlook this factor?" Quistis exclaimed. "It's been two years and he hasn't noticed this until now?"
"Well, technically, this process takes time to actually show. So when you all fought Ultimecia, it probably had not gone into effect."
"But it's had time to build? Time to strengthen?" Rinoa asked.
"Unfortunately," answered Laguna.
"And since we weren't able to defeat her in the first place, it's at an all time high? Stronger than normal?" Quistis questioned. This still made no sense to her, but in a way, it sounded possible.
"Exactly."
"So now what do we do?" Zell banged his fist on the table and earned himself a disapproving look from Quistis.
"That is what Odine intends to figure out. Since we cannot use an energy crystal any longer, we have to find a new alternative. Who knows just how strong she has become?"
"So Odine will be doing more experiments now? Is that why we couldn't find him at his lab?" Selphie wondered, finally speaking up.
"Yes, and Squall and I, like I said before, have come up with an idea that should work. Now, you all went to Dr. Odine's lab to speak with him regarding certain doubts you all had? Is that right?"
"Yes. We thought that maybe Odine was a little afraid of his higher authorities." Selphie answered with a bit of perk.
"So, youall had hoped to get him to trust you and maybe earn some secret info?"
"Yes. That was the plan. Be sympathetic. Have him trust us to tell something that he may be harboring," Quistis explained.
"Well, Dr. Odine is a very cautious man. He just doesn't open up to people and tell them info that is excruciatingly top-secret. And since we need a new alternative, we have a plan. Squall? Why don't you tell them?" Laguna turned to the brunette beside him.
...Whatever.
He nodded once. "We have decided that we will split back into the groups like first planned. Selphie, I will leave you in charge of the second group that is to remain here in Esthar to assist Dr. Odine with finding something that we can use. Irvine, Zell," Squall looked at the two of them. "You will stay here with Selphie. Do not cause her any trouble or you will find yourselves in a bad position." The two men nodded in understanding, influenced by fear. Squall was scary person when he was mad.
"Rinoa, Quistis," he now turned to the two ladies. "You will be coming with me. We have a little problem that we need to find and monitor."
"'Little problem'? What little problem is this that you speak of exactly?" Quistis asked of him.
"Whoops," Laguna muttered, "we forgot to mention that." He looked at Squall who had a hand on his forehead, shaking his head.
"Forgot to mention what?" Quistis asked again.
"That sometime early this morning Ultimecia targeted Cid. He went berserk and injured two Garden emyployees. He has disappeared and we need to find him and keep an eye on him."
"WHAT?" Quistis, Selphie, Irvine, and Zell all exclaimed rather loudly.
"Umm... Squall? I don't think that tone was too good," Laguna frowned.
"Ya' think?" Zell yelled.
"So it was Cid," Rinoa whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear, which was not exactly what she wanted.
"Huh?" Selphie stared at Rinoa. "What are you talking about, Rinny?"
Rinoa looked up. "Oh! That. Nothing. It was nothing. Shock. Nothing more." She answered hurriedly. It was Cid. It was Cid! She had tapped into Cid's mind right when he was possessed! But that meant...
"Rinoa?" Squall's voice brought her back out of her thoughts. "Are you alright?"
Rinoa nodded but said nothing. It wasn't wise to tell them just yet.
"Are we all clear on what's to happen?" Laguna questioned everyone as he stood. Man, his butt hurt from sitting down.
"Yes, sir," Squall answered for everyone.
"Good. Then if we're all prepared for what's ahead, I would like you all to stay here for tonight and get started tomorrow. Squall, if you could please inform them a little better on the situation with Cid." Squall nodded. "All right, then. Stay in Esthar and if I don't see you three tomorrow before you leave," he looked at Squall, Quistis, and Rinoa, "then good luck. And be careful." He gave a clumsy sort of bow, a cheesy smile, and left.
The rest of them stood and stretched.
"The idea for a nap sounds pretty tempting!" Zell smiled with a thumbs-up.
The rest of them just rolled their eyes.
A/N: Wow! I am like totally drained from this chapter. I have been working on it for about six hours. This was my "scientific" chapter. Whether or not this information about chemical compositions and DNA is correct, I don't know. I used my mom's college books to help me and my dad's Illistrated Dictionary of Electronics. This chapter was pretty hard to start, but once I got going it was pretty easy. I hope you all like it somehwhat. Let me know if it was too confusing or a bunch of BS. Ok? Thanx y'all! Later Days!
E/N: Okay, had to edit this buggar twice, because right when I was about to post my Editor's Note, my computer decided I was a horrible person and closed the window on me. But no regrets, it was a good chapter. Though I would've enjoyed the other one more. Seventeen, wasn't it:D Good chapter, very good chapter... Nothing bad to say! Oh no! It's the end of the world! Flee!
A/N: I'm confused? Look at that! I don't even know if I'm confused! Oh, dear Hyne!
E/N: Yeah, definitely the end of the world. Katelyn forgot she's always been confused, one way or another. Oh dear, and I so wanted to Xerox my butt before I perished!
A/N? ...No comment
E/N: None from me either, now post this:P
A/N: Yes, your Majesty...(bows)