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Chapter Nineteen

Secrets

"We now bring you update upon the event that had caused the lockdown of Palumpolum," a announcer woman said, "The Sanctum Armed Forces are still not giving us any information on the cause of what had caused them to siege Palumpolum, only the word that who they were looking for had been caught.

As a fugitive of the Sanctum and an enemy of Cocoon, the culprit will be purged by the end of the day on the order of our beloved Primarch Dysley…."

Vaan sighed.

"They are still not releasing the location," he said.

"Maybe they're doing this as hush-hushed as possible," Zack told him, "Don't want to cause a panic by telling the public that a Pulsian got unto Cocoon right underneath their noses."

"Maybe," Tifa said, "But it's unreal that a Pulsian had managed to get on Cocoon."

"Unreal is about right," Vaan said, "Hey Paine, how far are we from Eden?"

Their pilot, Paine glanced back toward him.

"We should be arriving soon," she said, "I'm amazed that this ship can travel this fast considering how old Pulsian technology is."

"Well, Jacques did say he made a few adjustment to it," Zack said.

"I think he was lying," Paine said.

"What makes you think so?"

"A ship can't be repaired by only one man," Paine said, "It will take years for it to happen…and most of the things here, it's top of the line stuff. How did he get his hands upon them?"

"We don't know much about him to tell you the truth," Tifa said, now sounding thoughtful.

"However he does it," Vaan said, "He gave us something to go save Éclair. That's good enough for me."

Paine scoffed.

"Of course you'll say that," she said.

Vaan give her a glance but didn't say anything.

What's wrong with her?

Tifa must have noticed for she walked forward beside her sister and started to talk with her.

"Hey Vaan," Zack said, "Come here and help me with this."

Vaan got off his seat and found Zack seating in the corner of the ship. He was looking at some stuff in front of him and he got the devices out.

"Manadrives," he said smirking at him, "Military version."

"Where did you find them?" Vaan asked, not able to keep shock out of his voice.

"There is a box back here filled with a lot of stuff," Zack told him, "Guns, grenades manadrives and gunblades."

Vaan looked at the large box before looking back up at Zack.

"Okay this is seriously freaking me out," he said, "All of this is for Jacques?"

"Probably," Zack said.

"Was he smuggling them or something?" Vaan asked him.

"Don't know," Zack chuckled pulling out a gunblade, "But it works in our favor."

Vaan looked down at the ammunition they had found.

Where the hell did Jacques get all of these?

"What's the matter with you and Vaan?" Tifa asked Paine.

The silver haired girl glanced at her sister.

"What do you mean?"

"Paine don't try to weasel yourself out of this," Tifa told her, "I know you better than that. Something happened between you and Vaan and you're going to tell me what it is?"

Paine sighed.

When she gets like this…I know I'm not going to be able to lie about it.

"Before you guys found us," she said, "Me and Vaan…"

"Yeah," Tifa said, leaning in.

"We almost kissed."

Tifa give a glance toward the boys who were discussing something over a box in front of them, meaning they won't be overhearing what they're talking about.

"Really?"

"Now I told you, would you leave me alone for now?" Paine told her.

"No," Tifa said, "This is the kind of stuff you talk with your sister about, what happened next?"

"Nothing," Paine said, "We haven't talked about it…mostly, I think Vaan pretended that it never happened."

Tifa frowned.

"How do you know?"

"Well, he is focusing on finding crazy girl isn't he?" Paine snapped at her.

Tifa stayed silent for a few moments, simply observing her sister.

"You're jealous."

Paine looked at her, eyes wide.

"What?"

"That must be it," Tifa said, "you're jealous of the Pulsian…who must be a girl. You're jealous of the attention Vaan is giving her."

"Well you saw him," Paine said, "Isn't that what he is doing?"

Tifa shook her head.

"Have you guys even talked about it?" she asked Paine.

"There is nothing to talk about," Paine said.

"Paine, you've got to talk to him about it," Tifa told her, "If you don't, you'll never know if he feels the same way about you."

Paine didn't say anything but simply tightened her grip unto the ship's controls. Tifa noticing that she wasn't answering caused to sigh softly before she stood up and walked back toward the boys. Paine sighed to herself when her sister was gone.

Could Tifa be right?

But Paine quickly shook her head.

Now is not the time, she thought, I'll talk to him when I got the chance…

Nodding to herself, Paine focused her attention toward the front.

Eden

The Lindblum was landing upon the Eden Sanctum Headquarters. Many soldiers were approaching it, seeing that it was a Cavalry ship. The ship engines were cut and then the ramp was lowered, showing Colonel Lightning Farron and Basch Bartholomew, a sergeant of the Cavalry.

In the middle of the two of them was a person dressed in Purge robes the two sleeves joined together, the hood shadowing the person's face.

"A delegation is already waiting for your arrival Colonel," a soldier said, saluting her.

Lightning frowned slightly.

"I didn't order for one," she said.

"Primarch Dysley had sent it," the soldier said, "with strict orders of bringing the prisoner to him. He also ordered yours and Sergeant Bartholomew presence."

Basch seemed confused.

"Did the Primarch say why?"

"No Sergeant," the soldier said, "If you will follow me."

"Of course soldier," Lightning said, taking hold of the robed figure beside her.

They've walked toward where the groups of car were waiting and Lightning noticed many reporters and cameras that were floating about.

"Let's get inside," Lightning said, pulling the Pulsian into the car with into which she followed and Basch did too.

"Get us to the Primarch's Building," she said.

The driver nodded and the car took off into the street.

"Guys," Paine said suddenly, "Listen to this."

She had turned on the TV.

"Images coming from Eden at this very moment," the announcer voice over said, "The Cavalry ship known as The Lindblum had just landed a few minutes ago and we were lucky to get some of the images here."

The camera was high in the air, and it zoomed in toward three people who were arriving by a car. Vaan had approached and saw the robed figure being pushed inside one of the car by Colonel Lightning and the Cavalry soldier who had looked around at this and Vaan sharp intake of breath.

Paine knew why he had done this, for she had recognized who it was.

"Basch," Vaan said.

"Keep it on," Zack told her, "That way we will know where they are taking her."

Paine nodded.

"At least we know they are in Eden," she said.

Vaan was scowling.

The image of his brother standing there had brought his own hatred for the older boy. At least he knew that the girl was still alive…

Hang on Éclair, we're coming for you.

The delegation approached through the street of Eden and was now coming to a stop in front of a large building. It was all white, similar to the other buildings of Eden and shining brightly into the morning sun and the large white gates opened letting in the car that Lightning Basch and the Pulsian occupied enter the ground while the rest simply stopped in front of the large gates.

Lightning stepped out, glancing around.

They had ships flying about of the large building, probably for security and she pulled the Pulsian by the arm outside of the car. Basch had gotten out by the other side of the car, looking up toward the building an amazement look upon his face.

"So this is the Primarch seat of Power," he said.

"Yes," Lightning said, "Your first time in there."

Basch nodded.

Lightning took hold of the Pulsian's arm and the trio walked in toward the building which they stepped inside. They walked straight for the elevator which took them up.

The Colonel found herself getting anxious. She had never felt that way before when she was about to meet the Primarch, and it made her wonder why. She glanced toward the Pulsian who had even resisted. It was like the girl was accepting her fate that she was about to be killed by them.

But the Pulsian and Lightning known that the Colonel herself was branded by the same Pulsian magic as she was and that as the Pulsian had told her, was to destroy Cocoon.

Even if she dies, I will still be marked by that Curse, Lightning thought, it will mean that Cocoon's destruction will happen, sooner or later.

The elevator come up to a stop and the double door opened showing the long hallway into which beyond was the Primarch's room. Lightning took hold of the woman's arm and led her straight through even thought Lightning's anxiety started to grow.

This is for the good of Cocoon, she thought.

But even her reasoning didn't appease her anxiety. It make it grew even more.

Calm yourself down, she thought, You are a soldier. Act like it.

The large door opened in front of her.

Lightning and the other two stepped inside the room.

It was circular and extremely wide with the design drawn on the ground. It had a painting of the previous Primarchs on the walls and right across them, seated Primarch Dysley. The old man was dressed in white robes and a staff leaning beside him at arm's length. His aged face showed that he was deep in thoughts before his attention was drawn toward them. On his head was a hat which had white veil hanging from it.

"Primarch Dysley," Lightning saluted.

The man turned his eyes toward her and Lightning felt as if she was being X-rayed, almost as if he could see right through her. The man showed no sign of the person that Lightning knew prior everything.

"Remove her hood Colonel," the Primarch ordered.

Lightning frowned slightly before doing as the man commanded. The hood fell off from the Pulsian's face and the woman glanced at Lightning before turning her attention forward, her eyes observing the Primarch.

"A Pulsian upon Cocoon," he said, observing the woman all the while staying seated upon his seat, "One whose face predates the fall of the world below."

Lightning frowned slightly.

What is he talking about?

The Primarch stood up his hand taking hold of his staff.

But before he could say anything more, a bullet slammed straight into his chest causing him to stumble back, a look of surprise crossing his face. Then two more bullets slammed upon him causing the man to fall back onto the ground.

Lightning stood there, her eyes widening in shock before she launched herself forward toward the fallen man.

"Primarch Dysley," she cried, touching his shoulder.

A pool of blood was slowly appearing fro below the man and she didn't need anything else to know that he was dead. The Colonel turned her attention toward Basch who had his handgun out and was now aiming it straight at her.

"Basch, what have you done?"

"Fixing a mistake," he said, "Now hand over the robe control unless you want to die also."

Lightning gritted her teeth.

"Hand it over Lightning," he said.

The woman stayed where she was.

"You killed the Primarch Basch," Lightning yelled, "You've killed the Primarch."

Without Lightning's knowledge, the brand that was on her forearm had started to glow a bright blue color through her clothes and in her anger it exploded out into a large pulse of magic throwing both Éclair and Basch backward as they landed upon the ground.

Basch was the first to get on his feet, as he looked at her, his eyes widened in shock and the Pulsian, Éclair's eyes narrowed slightly.

"W…What are you…?"

Then laughter started to echo around them…an amusing laughter causing the trio to look around themselves to locate the source and Lightning can only feel shock for the voice that was laughing was the Primarch's voice.

This…this isn't possible…

Then a light appeared right behind her causing Lightning to jump from it and pulled out her gunblade to defend her from it but the sight in front of her caused her to freeze in shock…

No…No way, she thought, Not…possible…

There standing all in his glory, was the Primarch Dysley himself, the light coming from around his body, the ghost of his laughter still visible on his face.

"Do you believe that such humane ways are enough to kill me," he said, "Unfortunately for you, I am more than just a man."

How is the Primarch still alive? Lightning is seeing an ugly truth about the world she protect...a truth that can shatter everything she thought she knew...Next chapter: Instrument of Fate

Jacques0 out.

R&R.