Hey people, Part 5's up: time for Seifer to get some action. And get into trouble gnigni>!

Hikari Heijin: Thanks for the reviews! This one's for you . Enjoy!

Fire Storm, Part 5 – Doom's Breath

He really wanted things to have gone differently, but as it was, he had had to get out of Garden, and the staff had refused to let him. Bad combination as it turned out. Doc Kadowaki would have her hands full treating those that had tried to stop him. Only Instructor Trepe had made it through his jail break unscathed, but only because she knew him well enough not to get in the way of Hyperion and had opted to shout dire threats at him in stead.

And she had followed him to Timber, which was less convenient.

"And now, what are you going to do now, Seifer?" she demanded, panting slightly after trying to keep up with him from the train station to Timber City centre.

He halted for a moment to work out the details of his plan and get his bearings. Fortunately, Timber was one of those sleepy cities that didn't change, and everything was pretty much like it had been a year ago, when he'd stayed here with Rinoa.

Rinoa… "When I…hung out with the Heartilly girl, she told me that she wanted to liberate Timber by overthrowing Galbadia's president, so that's what she'll have Puberty Boy and his team do," he thought out loud. "And I overheard someone in the train saying that he'll be broadcasting a speech from the Timber TV station today."

"That's ridiculous!" the instructor exclaimed. "Radio signals of any sort have been impossible for the last seventeen years."

"Yeah, well, obviously Galbadia found something to remedy that. What else could they want to make the Dollet Communications Tower operational for, ey?" He raised his eyebrows sarcastically and then set off in the direction where he remembered the TV station should be.

His memory served him well, and it didn't take him long to find the stairs that led to the studio's. He thundered up, ignoring the young woman following him in hot pursuit. At the top of the stairs was the corridor with the station's studio facilities. Four of the five rooms were empty and had obviously not been used for quiet a while, but the fifth was lit and there was the faint murmur of voices coming through a supposedly soundproof door.

He peaked inside through the little round window in the door and counted heads. Three heads studio crew, some young guy in a suit looking speaking at the camera, and, indeed, the Galbadian president himself. And surprisingly little security too boost. This was going to be easy.

"So what are you planning?" Instructor Trepe's angry voice bit at him. He looked at her. Her face showed a mingle of anger and despair, her eyes betraying that she was well aware that she wouldn't be able to stop him from doing whatever was on his mind. "Are you just going to barge into the studio and capture President Deling at gunpoint?"

"Sure!" he declared quasi-happily. "Why not?"

Instructor Trepe hadn't even drawn breath enough to protest before he swung the door open and charged in.

Everyone in the studio was caught completely off guard. Whereas they'd been fussing about the first live TV transmission in almost two decades moments ago, they were now being overrun by a large man with a huge blade.

Hyperion cut through the air. Some security guards came charging at him, while the president continued his speech as if nothing happened. The lack of reaction from Deling only served to fuel Seifer's determination.

Another swing of the black blade knocked a camera over. Two guards now grabbed Seifer's arms in an attempt to seize him, but it took him little effort to break lose and grab his target, settling Hyperion against the throat of the Lifelong President of Galbadia.

"Stay back!" a strong feminine voice barked at the guards, who were regrouping for a new attempt to restrain Seifer.

Instructor Trepe gave the men a stern look. "For the last time, stay back. You're only going to provoke him." Then she narrowed her eyes at Seifer, a dangerous gesture coming from her. There was no fear in her eyes anymore. Just plain fury. It told him he'd gone too far, but there was no turning back now, anyway. So he held his position and tightened his grip on the president, while the instructor turned to face the camera, which looked like it might still be running.

"Timber team, are you watching? Get over here right now! You have permission! I need you help!"

"Calling back-up for your terrorist plans, are you?" Deling said, his tone infuriatingly calm.

"Hardly," Seifer hissed into his ear. It was tempting to take the bait, but another look from the instructor changed his mind. Anything he said might alert him to their identity, and not matter what, Garden was never to be compromised. That much was drilled into every cadet.

Then his attention was drawn to the sound of footsteps outside the room. He tensed, expecting more security, but as three people rounded the door and came in, he quickly recognised his former classmates.

The three SeeD glanced around, assessing the situation. Then, as good soldiers, they turned to their superior for orders.

"We need to restrain him," Instructor Trepe quickly told the SeeD.

Squall nodded a brief nod of comprehension, and then glared at Seifer with a look of annoyance. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked, tone almost weary. He wasn't going to rush things. If anyone knew how dangerous Seifer was when determined and seemingly irrational, Squall did.

Seifer locked eyes with his rival, his blade never wavering despite the adrenaline rushing through his body. "It's obvious, ain't it? What are you planning to do with this guy?" he demanded in return, nodding at Deling.

The question momentarily confused Squall. "…Planning to do?" But then his internal monologue probably answered that question, because he turned his head away in quiet recognition.

And he wasn't the only one. Zell Dincht, the hyperactive martial artist Seifer loved to bully so much, was jumping up and down like a madman.

"I get it!" the boy exclaimed. "You're Rinoa's..."

"Shut your damn mouth, Chicken-wuss!" Seifer yelled back. He did not want to be reminded of that little episode in his life, and she was not the reason he was here, although that was what his group in front of him seemed to think. It bit.

"He broke out of the disciplinary room, injuring many in the process," Instructor Trepe explained, possibly in an attempt to get to a less touchy topic, if that was even possible considering the precarious situation.

"You stupid idiot!" Zell hollered, shaking with fury.

Squall shot the boy an exasperated look. "Be quiet."

Fithos…

If Zell had heard him, it wasn't showing. Face hotly lit, he turned to Instructor Trepe. "You're gonna take this stupid idiot back to Garden, right?"

"Shut up! NO!"

But Squall's warning had come too late.

Lusec…

Seifer felt his stomach plummet, anticipating the consequences of Zell's actions. He stared at the martial artist in anger and disbelieve. Garden had been compromised. And badly, too.

Wecos…

Under his hands, the president began to chuckle.

"I see… So you're all from Garden."

Dread settled heavily on the youngsters in the room, and the president visibly drew courage from that.

"Should anything happen to me," he continued, "the entire Galbadian military will undoubtedly crush Garden."

Vinosec…

He looked over his shoulder at his captor. "You can let go of me now."

"Nice going, Chicken-wuss. You and your stupid big mouth!" His mind was racing now. Garden, compromised. Retaliation was sure to follow. And the chanting in his head was back, which alarmed him even more. It was much stronger than before. Much louder. He heard words now, although they meant nothing to him. Nothing but that they told him that the Sorceress, the Sorceress, was very, very close. Somewhere behind him. Too close… And Squall was here.

Fithos, lusec…

"Take care of this mess, Instructor and Mr Leader!" he yelled, moving backwards to where he thought he'd seen another way out of this room, pulling Deling along for the ride.

He'd been right about the passage. A gap between two screens lead to another studio. It was dark and empty save for the stage floor and a curtain, but the chanting was filling his mind now, making it hard for him to focus his eyes as well as his mind.

Wecos, vinosec…

Until he saw her standing there and everything fell into place.

R&R people! I need encouragement. The next chap's playing hard-to-get.