Chapter 21: General Grieva
Cephiro Castle
Ferio had called yet another council meeting with the Magic Knights and their allies. The incident with the mysterious Zill warrior had necessitated it.
"I'm glad you all made it back safely," said Ferio. "But it's disheartening to hear how many soldiers we lost today."
"What really worries me is that warrior we were fighting," said Hikaru. "She was…us! I don't know how else to say it, she looked just like us!"
"How in the world was that possible?" asked Caldena. "What exactly are the Zill playing at here?"
"I'm afraid I know," said Meex, running his fingers through his hair. "Hikaru, Umi, Fuu, when the Zill captured you did they perform any type of medical examinations on you?"
"If you could call it that," said Umi with a shudder. "I remember being strapped to this table, and they stuck a huge needle into my arm. Not to mention they strapped this weird thing to my head that felt like it was pulling apart my brain."
"They did the same thing to me," said Fuu, holding herself as she remembered.
"Me, too," said Hikaru. "Why, what were they doing?"
"Standard procedure for high profile Zill prisoners," said Meex. "Take biomatter samples and do a full brain scan. That way they can learn what makes you tick, and how to play with your head. Of course, it seems in your case they had other plans for that data and DNA, and just tried to kill you afterwards."
"Wait a minute," said Umi. "So you're saying they took all that stuff they took from us and…made a person with it? She's literally a clone of all of us?"
"I'm afraid so," said Meex. "I guess they figured as powerful as you three were, they could create their own version and use her to conquer Cephiro."
"But how did they create such a complex clone in so short a time?" asked Shakku. "Something as large and complex as a humanoid lifeform would normally take weeks, if not months to create."
"Accelerated growth incubators have come far in the last few years," said Meex. "Not to mention, Rahksha has Science Director Mammon on board the Adjudicator right now. The best tech combined with the best scientific mind equals a fast delivery of a Zill supersoldier."
"Who is this Mammon?" asked Lafarga.
"A Director in the military Science Division," said Harkoss. "Like the Lieutenant has mentioned, he's a brilliant scientist, particularly in bioengineering. That's a fancy word for being able to create and alter life through scientific means."
"Nobody should be able to tamper with living beings in such a way," said Presea, looking half horrified and half disgusted.
"Well, scientists like him usually don't care much for the moral implications of their work," said Harkoss. "Which is why he's been able to advance so far. Personally, I'm not into such twisted acts of genius. After all, if we lower ourselves to such barbaric levels, can we really claim to be an advanced society?"
"Either way, we need to deal with her and fast," said Hikaru. "She said she's going to be coming for us by tomorrow. Which means we have to find her first, and as far from the castle as possible."
"You're not really going to try and face her again, are you?" asked Caldena.
"We don't have a choice," said Hikaru. "As strong as she is, if she attacks us here you could all be hurt, or worse. The only way is to fight her on open territory, us against her."
"No way you're going by yourself," said Kefka. "We'll go with you."
"Sorry, Kefka, but not this time," said Hikaru. "If anything goes wrong, if we get captured again or worse, you and the War Wolves will be our only remaining option. Either you save us again, or you have to take the lead in defending Cephiro. But we can't risk all of you, too."
"But, I…" Kefka started to protest.
"Don't worry, Kefka," said Hikaru with a reassuring smile. "Everything is going to be okay, I'm sure of it. Remember, Cephiro is a land of the will. Your will, my will, all our wills combine is the greatest power here. If you stay strong and believe in us, everything will work out."
"You're right," said Kefka, nodding. "We'll be ready no matter what happens."
Hikaru smiled warmly at him before turning to Umi and Fuu. "Come on, girls, we've got a crazy girl to track down."
Cephiro, The Eastern Coast
Hikaru, Umi and Fuu were flying high over Cephiro on another patrol, looking for signs of the Zill. So far they had attacked two supply ships and disrupted one ground convoy. Still, there were thousands more Zill on the surface to worry about, and there was only so much that their resistance could do right now.
"If only Harkoss could give us more help," said Umi, looking down at the crystalline sea below.
"I agree," said Fuu. "Still, he has to be cautious. If he reveals himself as our ally too soon, it could have dire consequences on our efforts. We can only make the best of what he can provide us right now."
"Yeah, and we're making progress," said Hikaru. "It's small, but even small steps are just as important as big leaps."
"I guess you're right," said Umi. "I wonder how Kefka and the others are doing?"
"Let me check," said Hikaru, tapping the Zill communicator around her neck. "Kefka, it's Hikaru, how are things?"
"So far so good," came Kefka's reply. "We just finished up with the 169th here after hitting that convoy, then we're heading back to base. How about you three?"
"We're just going to do one more quick search and then we'll be back," said Hikaru. "We still meeting up afterwards?"
"You know it," he said. "Be careful out there, okay? I love you."
"I will, Kefka. I love you too," said Hikaru, ending the conversation.
"Goodness, there seems to be a lot of love in the air," said Fuu with a light giggle.
"Yeah, who would have thought," said Umi. "All three of us found love in another world."
"Yeah, I know I never would have guessed," said Hikaru with a smile. She then chuckled and said, "I can only imagine my brother's faces if I were to tell them."
The girls all shared a laugh, never suspecting that someone was flying towards them at high speed.
Fuu saw a flicker of light out of the corner of her eye and looked. "Girls, someone is coming!" she said, quickly drawing her sword.
The others drew their swords, watching as what appeared to be a mobile armor flew up to them. Upon closer inspection, however, it was something much more.
"It's her again! That warrior who looks like us!" exclaimed Hikaru. "And she has her own Rune-God!"
"Yes, it's me," said the warrior with a sinister laugh. "Seeing as Cephiro is a land of the will, it was no trouble creating this Rune-God from my power. Just what I need to take you all down in the name of the Emperor!"
"Seriously, who is this psycho chick?" shouted Umi. "I don't know where she gets this crazy streak from, but I know it's not me!"
"I didn't get it from either of you," said the warrior, drawing her twin magical blades. "It was a gift from my creators. You can't imagine what it's like, to wield such immense power and not be held back by frailties like compassion! I am all of you, in fully realized perfection!"
"So just who are you, exactly?" demanded Hikaru. "Don't tell me they didn't even give you a name!"
"You want to know my name, Hikaru? Very well, I'll tell you," she said. "You may call me Grieva…General Grieva."
"Grieva? What kind of name is that?" asked Umi with a slight snort.
"The name of your destruction," she replied, grinning wickedly as she charged at the Magic Knights, blades flashing.
The three girls fought back, dueling Grieva and attacking from all sides. Grieva was far more skilled than they had initially thought, however. No matter how many angles they attacked from, she would dodge, evade and counter flawlessly. Almost as if she was predicting their moves in advance.
"This isn't working! She knows all of our techniques!" said Hikaru, flying back and putting some distance between Grieva and herself.
"Well Meex did say they made her with the stuff from our brains," said Umi. "I guess it makes sense she knows how to fight against us!"
"Is it becoming clear to you now?" laughed Grieva, twirling her blades. "I know everything you're going to do before you even do it!"
Fuu suddenly had a moment of realization and smiled. "That may be true," she said, "but that also means that we know everything you're going to do before you do it."
Hikaru and Umi looked at each other. They hadn't thought to look at it that way before. Perhaps that was the key to finally gaining an edge.
"Yeah, what's your point?" said Grieva. "That still means you can't defeat me."
Hikaru suddenly lunged at Grieva, sword ready. But instead of doing one of her usual attacks, she suddenly did one of Umi's fencing moves. The blade passed through Grieva's defense, striking her shoulder. "You sure about that?"
Grieva let out a pained cry and grabbed her shoulder, glaring. "A lucky strike! You won't get another one!" She countered with a flurry of attacks that Hikaru weaved and dodged through, mimicking Umi's fencing style.
Seeing the opportunity, Fuu struck from behind with one of Hikaru's moves, hitting Grieva across the back. Grieva screamed and turned to attack, only to be blindsided by Umi, using one of Fuu's powerful strikes.
Grieva staggered under the blows, growling like a rabid dog. "So, you do have some new tricks to share," she said.
"You're not so cocky now, are you?" asked Umi with a smirk. "Maybe now three on one odds aren't in your favor anymore?"
"You forget," said Grieva with a grin. "I still have more than my swords at my disposal. Have a taste of this!" She raised a hand and a ring of glowing orbs suddenly formed in the sky, all of which began shooting rapid beams of light at the Magic Knights.
The Magic Knights did their best to evade the shots but they were struck several times. "Ugh! Not…a bad move there!" groaned Hikaru, trying to hold it together.
"And it gets better! Try this on for size!" laughed Grieva. As the girls watched, she suddenly split into three! She and her copies charged forwards, attacking the Knights with their swords and blasts of light magic.
"This…isn't looking good," said Umi, trying to fend off her attacker.
"No it isn't," said Fuu. "There's too many of her now!"
"Don't give up!" cried Hikaru, trying to block the incoming sword blows. "The others are counting on us to stop her!"
Just then a horrific scream ripped through the air. Hikaru and Fuu turned around just in time to see Selece fall to the ground with a crash.
"Miss Umi!" cried Fuu, preparing to use her healing magic. Before she could utter the words, Grieva struck her hard from behind. Fuu screamed in pain and Windom fell as well.
"No…no no NO!" screamed Hikaru, fighting harder against Grieva. Valiant as her efforts were, though, all three forms of Grieva overwhelmed her, bringing her down.
The three different forms all merged back into one, and Grieva stood over Hikaru, raising a sword. "This will end it!" she said with a grin, preparing to skewer Rayearth.
"Stand down, General!"
"What? Admiral Rahksha?" Grieva blinked and looked around. "What are you saying?"
"I said to stand down! The Magic Knights are to be brought back alive!" Rahksha's voice stated.
"But, sir, your orders were to terminate them!" Grieva protested.
"This order comes from the Emperor himself," said Rahksha firmly. "He wants to see these Magic Knights for himself. They are to be brought back alive!"
Grieva was silent, wearing a big frown. "Yes, sir…I'll bring them back at once."
"See that you do, General. And I want them intact as well."
Grieva glared down at the Magic Knights and said, "Fortunately for you, it seems my master has his own plans for you. Too bad…death at my hands would have been far more merciful, I suppose."
Cephiro Castle
"Hikaru? Hikaru, answer me! Where are you?" Kefka asked, for what must have been the hundredth time. Still, there was no response to his hails.
"This isn't good," said Caldena. "They should have been back by now. You don't suppose…"
"We can't start thinking like that," said Lantis. "If we give up now, then we have no chance of winning this war."
"But why haven't the Magic Knights returned?" asked Lady Aska. "Something must have happened!"
"Hikaru, please answer me," said Kefka, tapping his comm unit again. "Give me some kind of a sign that you're okay."
The comm crackled and a response came. "Sorry, but Hikaru can't answer you right now," came the voice of Grieva. You could almost hear the mocking undertone in her voice.
"You! Where are Hikaru and the others? What have you done to them?" demanded Kefka, his fur starting to bristle.
"Don't worry, puppy, they're not dead…yet," said Grieva. "They're strong girls, actually gave me a bit of a challenge this time. But I guess that makes sense, seeing as I'm made from them and all."
"What have you done with the Magic Knights?" demanded Ferio, coming to the comm unit.
"Oh, that must be the voice of Prince Ferio," said Grieva. "Your dearly beloved and her friends are going to be the honored guests of a very important person. By that, of course, I mean the Emperor."
There was dead silence in the chamber.
"The Emperor is there now?" asked Kekfa, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Just arrived today via shuttle," said Grieva. "And he's most eager to meet the girls who have been holding up the Imperial invasion so far. I suspect he's going to be very displeased when he meets them, and when the Emperor is displeased…well, I'm sure you know what can happen, Kefka."
"You won't get away with this!" shouted Lafarga. "When we get our hands on you-!"
"Your words are just empty threats, and not very creative ones," Grieva said, laughing. "If you feel so strongly about it, then just try and get your precious Magic Knights. If you do, I'll put together a very special welcome party just for you, hosted by yours truly. Come if you dare!" She laughed maniacally before terminating the call.
"She's taunting us," said Eagle. "They'll be laying a substantial trap for all of us for sure."
"Well my old instructor always said there's only one thing to do when that happens," said Kefka, and he looked at the others. "Spring the trap."
"You plan to go and rescue the Magic Knights regardless of the risk," said Clef.
"I'm not abandoning Hikaru or her friends to torment and death," said Kefka. "Besides, if we already know it's a trap, then they won't have as big of an advantage as they normally would. So yes, I'm going."
"So are the rest of us," said Shakku, standing with the other War Wolves.
Lantis and Lafarga both stood up. "We're coming as well," said Lafarga.
"So am I."
Everyone turned to see the Black Dragon enter the chamber.
"You? Why would you want to go along?" asked Lantis, eyeing him.
"My reasons are my own," said the Black Dragon. "Besides, this Grieva has already proven she's more than a match for all of you. I will face her alone while the rest of you save the Magic Knights."
"What if she proves too powerful even for you?" asked Lafarga.
"Then so be it," said the Black Dragon. "Now, instead of standing around chatting, I suggest we plan our rescue."
They all nodded and set about planning how to rescue their friends, and fast.