Sooner or later, I know I'm bound to get more reviewers. (I know you're out there!)
JadeAlmasy: Nah, I won't give up on this. Of course, I did give up on A Normal Day, but that was doomed to fail anyway.
zornoid13: I updated, and here it is!
OK people, here's more.
CHAPTER 3: SEALING THE SORCERESS
Laguna stared out the window of the car, contemplating his next move in these mind games with Sorceress Adel. Adel knew now that Ellone was gone, and Lunatic Pandora was sitting under the ocean. Whatever he did next, he had to think very carefully about it, as he was like the underdog in a boxing match going for the knockout. Getting Adel where he wanted her was the easy part; the hard part was getting her inside that tomb. Once she was close enough to the Tomb itself, it was going to be difficult to get her those last few inches inside. As his mind raced, he soon found himself at a building, most likely the place where Adel would see her last. He, Kiros, and Ward stepped out of the vehicle. Waiting for them were Dr. Odine, Davis, Zeke, and several others who had contributed to this plan.
"What is this place?" Laguna asked.
"It used to be the place where we launched space vessels." Davis said. "That is, until Adel took over and canceled the Esthar space program."
"I see." Laguna said. His eye then caught three identical space ships.
"What are those?" Laguna asked.
"Those are, or were, the Esthar Space Programs three flagships." Davis said. "The one in the center was our main space transport. We called it the Ragnarok. Beside it are its sister ships, The Dragon and the Serpent.
"Hmm, impressive." Laguna said. "Well, enough sight-seeing. Let's have a look at that tomb."
"Of course, it's inside." Davis said as he led the way. Adel's Tomb was immense. The center cavity would obviously be where Adel was to be held. The sides each dropped nearly twenty feet in an odd pattern. That's where most of the magic sealing gear was.
"Laguna." Zeke said. "Here's that hologram you wanted." Zeke held up a small chip and pushed a button. Out appeared a 3-D image of Ellone crying. "What did you want this for anyway?"
"It's the bait." Laguna said. "Adel will see this, be fooled by it, and approach it, allowing us to get her in there. By the way, I don't see a door or anything, so how DO we get her in there?"
"Let us demonstrate." Davis said. "Those rods at the foot of her tomb will take care of the Dirty Work." Laguna watched as Zeke placed a watermelon at the base of the center cavity, directly between the two rods.
"Say that watermelon is Adel." Davis said. "Once she is in that spot, we push this button." Davis said pointing to a button. As he pressed down, the rods activated, capturing the watermelon in an electric field. The field then rose up, and slammed into the tomb, resulting in a bright flash. Once the flash subsided, Laguna saw the Watermelon in the central cavity.
"So Adel has to stand on that spot." Laguna said.
"Laguna, I have a question." Davis said. "Once we have Adel in there, then what do we do?"
"Uhh…Wow." Laguna said. "Y'know, I really hadn't thought about that. Give me a few minutes, I'll come up with something." Laguna then placed his chin between his index finger and thumb.
"He must be thinking about what I said." Davis said to Kiros and Ward.
"Of course he is." Kiros said. "Ward says 'Don't you smell smoke?"
"Gimme a break here." Laguna whispered, "I'm trying my best." A few more minutes passed before Laguna slammed his fist into his palm. "I've got it!"
"So what's the plan?" Kiros asked.
"We cryogenically freeze her!" Laguna said. "Then we place her, tomb and all, right between the Earth and the Moon! We place her at the exact position where the Gravity from both the Earth and the Moon conflict with each other to hold her in place! It's genius I tell you, pure genius!"
"We did build a space base many years ago." Davis said. "We can use that to keep an eye on her for many years."
"Then that's what we'll do." Laguna said.
"Zo when do we kick zis off?" Odine asked. "Laguna looked down at his watch. It was 11:30 at night."
"It's too late now." Laguna said. "It'll have to wait until tomorrow. C'mon, let's hit the hay."
That night at the hotel, Kiros spotted Laguna staring out the window, thinking hard about something.
"You nervous about what's going on tomorrow?" Kiros asked.
"Kind of." Laguna said. "I'm really thinking more about how Raine's doing. I haven't seen her in 8 months. I've been doing all of this traveling just to save Ellone. Where's Raine? She's home. What's she doing? I don't know."
"Hey man, she'll be OK." Kiros said. "Raine's strong."
"Yeah, she is." Laguna said. "But I'm not going up in space to make sure Adel gets to where we need her to be."
"What? You're not coming?" Kiros asked.
"I can't. This whole thing has been eating me alive." Laguna admitted. "I'll watch as the shuttles take off, but the second they're in the air, I'm heading back to Winhill."
"So then what happens?" Kiros asked.
"Someone will have to let Esthar know Adel is gone." Laguna said. "But as for me and Raine, I don't know. All I know is that I have to get back to her. Very, very soon."
"C'mon man." Kiros said. "Let's gets some sleep."
The next morning, Laguna, Kiros, and Ward arrived at the station at nine o'clock. Davis, Zeke, and Dr. Odine were already waiting for them. Laguna then placed the Ellone hologram inside Adel's Tomb and then addressed his men.
"OK guys, this is the moment of truth!" Laguna said. "If we succeed, we'll go down in history as heroes. If we fail, Adel will no doubt turn us all into dust. If anyone wants to back out, now's the time."
"No way," Zeke said. "I'm with you, all or nothing!"
"Count me in." Davis said.
"Me too." Odine added.
"I think I speak for Ward too when I say we've always been behind you." Kiros said. "That's not going to change now." Ward nodded in agreement.
"OK guys, its time we end this." Laguna said. "Dr. Odine. I need you to go to the palace to get Adel. Tell her that you've tracked down the guys who sunk the Crystal Pillar and kidnapped Ellone and they're at this place. Davis, go a mile down the road and keep an eye out for Adel, gimme a call when you see her and say 'The Sparrow has landed.' Zeke, Kiros, Ward, and I don't move until Adel shows up."
"Got it." Davis said.
"C'mon, let's get zis over with." Odine said as he and Davis took off.
Dr. Odine took several big breaths outside of Adel's chambers at the presidential palace. After counting to three, he knocked on the door.
"What?" Adel bellowed before Odine stepped into the room.
"Milady," Odine began. "We've found ze thieves who moved ze Crystal Pillar and kidnapped Ellone."
"Excellent, Odine." Adel said as she stood up. "You're not entirely useless after all."
"But zere is a problem," Odine said, "Zey're not negotiating. Zey refuse to come out unless you personally show up."
"If they want me, they'll get me!" Adel said with a fire in her eyes. "Where are they?"
"At ze old Space Control Center." Odine said. "Zey have Ellone inside and are waiting for you. Some of my assistants are trying zere best to hold zem at bay."
"Take me there immediately!" Adel told him.
An hour had passed, and Laguna was getting anxious. Adel was probably on her way by now; there was no backing out at this point. Small conversation had been engaged between the four of them until Laguna's phone rang.
"Davis?" Laguna asked.
"The Sparrow has landed." Davis said. Adel was close now.
"Thanks." Laguna said as he hung up the phone. "OK everyone, places! Adel will be here shortly!" The four of them ran up to the driveway and got on their knees when Adel pulled up. Laguna mused in his mind about how many ugly sticks it took to get Adel to look like that. As Adel approached, the four of them began bowing.
"What's going on here?" Adel demanded. Laguna stood up and approached the sorceress.
"We've tracked down the thieves who moved the Crystal Pillar." Laguna said to her. "Ellone has been taken hostage, she's inside." At the mention of Ellone, Adel quickly walked into the building and up to the device where the Ellone hologram was. Laguna, Kiros, and Ward followed, but they hung back as Adel and Laguna approached the tomb. Adel got about three feet away from where they wanted her, before the Ellone hologram flickered.
"Oh crap, she knows." Laguna whispered. Adel got an angry look on her face before turning around to Laguna.
"What kind of moron do you take me for?" Adel yelled. "Did you really think I would fall for this trick?"
"Of course," Laguna said, realizing he was getting an adrenaline rush. "My plans…are always…PERFECT!" With that, Laguna gave Adel a mighty shove, forcing the sorceress to stumble back. Laguna looked at where she was now.
"KIROS, WARD, NOW!" Laguna yelled. The rods activated, capturing Adel in an electric field. The field then rose up, and slammed into the tomb. Laguna's plan had worked! Adel was stuck inside the tomb!
"Piece o' cake!" Laguna said dusting his hands off.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Adel yelled from inside her prison.
"My name is Laguna Loire!" Laguna declared. "I am Ellone's adopted father, and I just psyched you out! You corrupted my past, now I'm going to erase your future! Your reign of tyranny is over, our reign of peace has begun!"
"You will pay, Meteor!" Adel cried as she tried to cast a meteor spell, however, her anti-magic prison destroyed the spell before Adel could even cast it! The sorceress tried to cast other spells, but there was still no effect. As Adel got angrier and angrier, Laguna stood there with a cold look in his eyes. He then decided to piss Adel off to no end as he held up his hand, and raised his middle finger.
"Time to cool you down." Laguna said as he turned a knob on Adel's Tomb. Freezing cold fog then filled the center cavity where Adel was, beginning the cryo freeze.
"See you in hell." Laguna said to her.
"You'll be sorry!" Adel growled.
Raine sat upstairs in her home in Winhill as she watched Ellone play with her toys. Something she hadn't done in nearly eight months as the small TV in the corner showed Ellone's favorite afternoon Cartoons. Raine laid her head back and stared at the ceiling, she was glad to have Ellone home, but she still missed Laguna. As she wondered what he was up to, the TV had answered her question as Ellone let out a complain that a News bulletin had taken over the TV. She complained even more when the same thing was on every channel.
"Good afternoon, Winhill." The news anchor said. "We bring good news from the nation of Esthar today. We go now live to the Esthar Presidential Palace." Raine pretended not to hear the TV, until Ellone piped up.
"Raine! Uncle Laguna's on TV!" Ellone said. Raine carefully sat up to see that Ellone was right! Laguna was standing behind a podium, getting ready to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen." Laguna said. "For those of you out there who do not know me, my name is Laguna Loire, and I am happy to report to the entire world that the Sorceress War is over. Earlier Today, Sorceress Adel was sealed and cryogenically frozen. I know this because I was the one that did it. Within the hour, Sorceress Adel will be shot into space so that Esthar may keep an eye on her in a place where she can no longer bring harm. Finally, peace can be established."
"That's your daddy, Squall." Raine whispered to her stomach.
"Esthar troops will be pulled out of action within two days." Laguna said. "After that, General Mason of the Esthar Army will issue Galbadia an unconditional surrender."
Laguna stepped down from the podium to come face to face with General Mason.
"You did well to seal the sorceress." Mason said. "I have approached you to nominate you as the new President of Esthar. The speech you just made definitely suits presidential qualities. So what do you say, Mr. Loire?" Laguna had to think hard about that one. It was a big job, but he would be able to provide Raine, Ellone, and any children they may have with everything they'd ever want or need. But Raine was so attached to Winhill; it would be tough to get her to leave!
"I'll consider it." Laguna said. "I'm not saying no, but I'm not saying yes either. I have to talk it over with someone-Maybe even sleep on it, but I will give you an answer soon."
"Please consider it." Mason said as he left. Laguna would do it later though; he had something to do at the moment as he grabbed his bag. As he stepped outside onto the streets of Esthar, he saw fireworks being launched and people dancing in the streets. They hated Adel just as much as the rest of the world-maybe more. Now she was gone, and people were celebrating. Several people approached him and shook his hand. Laguna was right; he will go down as a hero. The man who sealed Adel then got into a car and headed for what was now called the Sorceress Memorial. Once he got out of the car, he looked in on Adel herself. She was frozen, just like he had planned. Adel's arms were crossed over her midsection, her head was down, and her eyes were closed. The machine read that Adel was still very much alive though. Laguna then turned around and left the building to find his team waiting for him.
"Are those spaceships gassed up?" Laguna asked.
"You know it." Zeke said.
"Adel's tomb ready to launch?"
"You bet." Davis said.
"Do I have a ride home?" Laguna asked.
"It's ready." Zeke said. "The same boat that took Ellone home."
"Great, let's launch." Laguna said. After about 15 minutes, Laguna was left standing on the ground by himself as The Ragnarok, The Dragon, and The Serpent were about to go airborne. Adel's Tomb shot straight up as the three ships took off. Arms appeared from the ships sides and grabbed the tomb, carrying it up into space. Laguna watched as the ships got higher and higher before he headed for the docks. Once on board, he set his watch back nineteen hours, making it compatible with Winhill. If he was right, he would be home at sunrise.