Part Fifteen

Kiss of the Phoenix

Desert Prison

Zell Dincht honestly had no idea what he was looking for as he entered the computer terminal. He entertained the idea of just destroying the consoles with his fists but he was afraid of activating the self destruct sequence or something. The terminal room was a large circular chamber lined with various console and levers.

A bridge connected o the second pylon and Zell could see someone moving around along the bridge. He glanced around the chamber and spotted a glowing blue screen. Approaching the console Zell glanced at the screen and he quickly scanned the scrolling texts. None of it made any sense to him so he moved on to the next console. Cerulean eyes lit up when he found what he was looking for.

Jamming his finger against the red button on the terminal Zell backed away when he heard alarm klaxons going off throughout the prison. If the guards didn't know about the break out then they knew about it now.

The martial artist glanced towards the bridge connecting the pylons together and he saw those human shapes moving across the structure. He was about to move away when a flash of blue light blinded him and he heard the sound of something hit the metal floor. When his vision cleared Zell saw three people lying on the ground.

"How the hell did you guys get here?" he cried as he helped Baralai then Ienzo and Rinoa to their feet.

"Long story short, Baralai can teleport." Ienzo replied.

"I'm never doing that again." The silver haired man groaned. He looked sickly.

"Where are Squall and the others?" Rinoa questioned. Zell quickly filled them in on what was happening.

"Let's meet up with Riku then." Ienzo said.

"Do you have a weapon?" Zell asked. Ienzo's violet eyes looked around the room then settled on a lance lying against the wall. There were various other weapons here but that lance looked most appealing.

"Venus Gospel?" he murmured when he saw the name written into the purple blade.

"Come on!" Zell called.

"Hello? Can anyone hear me?" a voice called out. It was Irvine.

"What the hell?" Zell muttered then he ran towards the source of the voice. He tapped a button on the console and spoke into the mike.

"Irvine? What's going on?" Zell asked.

"The garage door won't open. You're gonna have to open it from up there." The cowboy replied.

"Hold on a minute." The petite blond looked around the console.

"I think I got it." Rinoa called after they searched for a few moments. There was an electronic map of a place marked 'garage' on the computer screen.

"Irvine, has the door opened yet?" Zell asked.

"Thanks Zell! We'll hold the fort till you get here." That was Selphie.

"Let's go get the others then blow this joint." Zell called as he ran out of the room.

The group ran back into the prison and made their way towards the staircase. Upon entering the chamber below Zell led them around the chamber and down another flight of stairs. He stopped when he came to a room containing two flights of stairs and a large metal door. Ienzo could hear the sound of shouting and weapons clashing coming from behind the door. Gripping his new weapon the slate haired man looked at Zell.

"You and Rinoa go to the garage. Baralai and I will get the others." Ienzo stated.

"Are you sure man?" Zell questioned.

"Just go. I can summon my GF if we get into trouble." Ienzo nodded.

"Good luck." Rinoa said then she and Zell ran down the stairs.

"You ready?" Ienzo turned to the White Mage. When Baralai nodded the duo tore open the door.

Seifer felt a shudder pass through his body when he caught sight of those orange eyes. The names Ansem, Xemnas and Xehanort chimed through his head. He felt Axel's apprehension but the GF was silent for once.

Seifer looked at Cloud but the blond man kept his gaze fixed on the metal door they were about to enter. Gripping Hyperion Seifer got ready to fight. He was surprised when he was given his sword but Cid wanted him to be able to defend himself. Riku entered the room first when another scream tore from Sora's throat.

The room itself was designed for one purpose...to be a torture chamber. Sora and Squall were suspended on a wall, their bodies illuminated by the electricity being coursed through them. Squall was barely managing the pain while Sora screamed out in agony. It was like he was being out under constant Thundaga spells. Leon was strapped to a chair, his wrists and legs bound as he was forced to watch. Saix, Luxord and Xigbar watched with amusement. Riku was the first to act.

"You bastards!" he screamed. Saix turned first and he felt his eyes widen when he saw those orange eyes...eyes that looked so much like Xemnas'...

"Great..." Luxord muttered.

"Go to the Sorceress. I'll handle this." Saix growled. Xigbar and Luxord looked at one another then vanished into two portals.

"I'll make you pay." Riku snarled. He had never been this angry in his life. Just the thought of seeing Sora in pain was enough to make him tap into the darkness he had repressed.

"Then come and fight me." Saix motioned with his finger for Riku to come and get him.

"Cloud!" Leon called. The blond approached the scarred man and quickly tore the ropes off his arms and legs.

"What did the bitch want?" Cloud helped Leon up then handed him Lionheart.

"She wants to know the purpose of SeeD." Leon approached Sora. "Hang on Sora. You're safe now."

"L-Leon?" Sora croaked out. Leon gently lifted him into his arms.

"I'm here buddy." Leon whispered.

"Are you ok?" Cloud helped Squall down. He gave him his own Gunblade.

"Yeah..." he muttered.

"Not much of a talker are you?" Cloud smirked.

"Whatever." Squall barked.

"Son of a bitch!" Riku screamed as his Keyblade clashed with Saix's spiked weapon.

"I should've just killed your precious lover Riku. Maybe then you'd be able to feel what I feel." Saix growled.

"You're a Nobody..." Riku yelled. "You don't feel anything!"

"I thought that too once." Saix and Riku fought around the room, sparks flying from their clashing weapons. "But when Xemnas died at Demyx's hands I felt something within me and it hurt unlike anything I ever knew."

"You want me to pity you?" Riku snarled.

"No, I just want you to die." Saix attacked again.

"Dammit." Cloud lunged himself into the fray. Saix now had his back against the wall, his amber eyes narrowed to slits.

"One day I'll make you suffer." He warned then he opened a portal and vanished.

"Sora!" Riku turned back and ran towards Leon. "Oh god Sora talk to me!"

"Riku?" the bruised brunet whispered.

"Yeah, I'm here Sora." Riku gave him a watery smile.

"We better get out of here now." Leon interrupted.

Riku nodded and he could feel his anger dissolving. His orange eyes were aquamarine again. Seifer and Cloud were both outside looking for any guards while Squall approached his twin. This was no time to discuss such matters but once they got back to Balamb to regroup Squall would ask this Leon the questions he had coiling around his brain.

Leon held onto the now unconscious Sora as he followed Seifer and Cloud back downstairs. They stopped when they heard a woman screaming and gunfire. Squall took the lead now and he ran down the steps. The group kept on going until they came to the lower levels.

Squall stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the other SeeD members standing around the corpse of three guards. Rinoa was kneeling by a person lying on the ground. Squall caught sight of red sneakers then his blood ran cold.

Zell was slumped against the wall, his hands covering ragged bullets holes in his stomach. Blood gurgled out of his mouth. Rinoa was crying but she couldn't heal the small blond. Quistis was using Potions but it wouldn't work. Selphie and Irvine were both white faced. They had tried to use Cure spells but someone had reactivated the barrier and magic couldn't be used.

"What happened?" Squall demanded.

"He saved me." Rinoa choked. "He saw the guards coming and they were gonna shoot me but Zell pushed me aside."

"The barrier is back up." Selphie choked out.

"No..." Squall murmured. Zell looked up and offered Squall a weak smile.

"Sorry...I didn't get out..." he coughed up more blood.

"Don't talk Zell." Squall ordered. "You'll get fixed up in no time."

"Not this time..." Zell whispered weakly. "Tell Ma...love...her..." his blue eyes lost their light as his hands fell away from the wounds.

Squall couldn't look away from the dead SeeD. He felt numb all over. A part of him was waiting to wake up from this nightmare. Zell couldn't be dead. He was the shadow boxing, annoying kid who always made his presence known with that loud attitude of his.

Zell couldn't be dead. It wasn't right. He vaguely heard Selphie, Rinoa and Quistis crying. He didn't notice when Seifer approached Zell and knelt down beside him. The scarred blond was staring at Zell with a distant look on his face.

I can bring him back Seifer. You know what a Phoenix does when it dies right? I'm useful for something other than casting fire spells. Axel's voice was surprisingly gentle. Shiva told me before I came here that if this happened I could channel my power into you.

What do I do?Seifer asked.

How else is the Sleeping Beauty supposed to awaken? Axel smirked.

Seifer felt his cheeks turn red but he only nodded in response. Gently lifting Zell's bloodied body Seifer rested him against his knees and closed his eyes when a warm feeling spread across his body. He could tell it was taking Axel all his strength to just do this and the barrier was only making it more difficult.

When Seifer's lips turned red and the warmth settled there he bent his head to Zell's and pressed his mouth to cold, bloodied ones. He felt the resurrection magic flow from his mouth into Zell's body. The others watched in utter shock as the bullet wounds vanished, the blood flowed back into Zell's body and his hands began to move again.

"Seifer?" Zell whispered when his head fell back and his eyes blinked a few times.

"Welcome back Chicken-Wuss." The tall blond smirked. He turned his jade eyes only to see Squall staring at him with gratefulness and shock in his expression. Roxas, Selphie, Quistis and Irvine were stunned.

"How did you do that?" the brunet asked. Ienzo and Baralai looked at one another in understanding. The name Phoenix wasn't just for the fire Axel possessed.

"Thank Axel." Seifer's answered.

Note-So shall our dear Squall become jealous? And what will Zell make of it, having his childhood bully suddenly locking lips with him? Also for my birthday party yesterday my Mom and Dad got me a cake with a picture of Axel on it! I got to eat a very yummy red head. Anyway the next chapter will be up real soon ad in the next chapter you'll get to see Axel and Demyx's main attack, like Shiva's Diamond Dust. Catch you on the flip side guys.