Chapter 10

Desperate Gamble

Leo was within the spearhead of Esthar soldiers, now well beyond the Mordred Plains and the gorge at the base of the Vienne Mountains. They were marching through the Bika Snowfield, which was somewhat more passable this time of year, but only marginally so. Impressed with Leo's physicality and his exhibitions during the first evening's sparring sessions, Colonel Vlahos had invited him to travel with her and the young Lieutenant Pandemona in the vanguard.

The complete force numbered a hundred thousand, a fraction of the number that was massing in Timber and Dollet for the Galbadian invasion. However, the force had been deemed adequate for subduing the villagers of the sparsely populated tundra. Esthar's public transport had carried them to the northern reaches of the Trabian colony, but now they were marching on foot, averaging twenty-five miles per day. Had they been moving in more hospitable terrain, they could have deployed their colossal supply vessels to hover alongside them and covered more than double that distance. Many of the Esthari longed to be on the western continent already.

Largely taciturn, speaking only when spoken to, the days of marching had given Leo time to adjust to his precarious predicament. With limited success. He was having trouble accepting that, displaced in time, he had gone from High Commander to a mercenary in the old Empire's auxiliary. However, Leo only intended to keep up the charade long enough to meet with the Ultimecia of this era. He had almost gotten used to thinking of his Empress as 'Reina', and he could not afford to slip until he opened his mind to her.

Leo had resolved that he was going to have to reveal everything to the Empress due to the threat posed by that duplicitous dog, Gerra. If Gerra and Odine's plan to change history was successful, then his Empress would never be, and that could not happen. Leo still had to accept that he would never see the Ultimecia of his era again. But he had already vowed to preserve her ascension in this time until his final breath.

As for his new superiors, Leo knew from history that Vlahos was highly respected by her peers. Many of her ancestors had served in Esthar's military, most notably Odysseus, a hero commander of the First Sorceress War. Herself an esteemed CO during the Third, Selena had left military service following the war's end, declining the rule of one of the Provinces in favour of a quiet life. Attracted only to the same sex, the name of Vlahos had died with her.

Leo assumed that Pandemona was in her late teens. The young officer displayed little outward emotion and spoke as little as Leo did. During the sparring exhibitions, the Lieutenant had impressed Leo with her proficiency of her spear and gladiuses, humiliating more than a dozen infantry soldiers before being bested by Leo himself. Vlahos informed him that Pandemona had once been a child slave, and that she had recruited her from the mines of northern Centra some years ago.

Leo believed the promising Lieutenant would have made great strides had the war not been about to end soon. He could not particularly remember Pandemona from his studies of history, other than that she had been the puppeteer of Ramuh and was about to become the bane of the Abadon of Adaryn. Like Vlahos, Pandemona must have retired following the war.

Tyris had paid that mercenary mind. As soon as she was alone on the day Selena had hired him, Tyris had been able to temporarily free Ramuh from his prison. Momentarily junctioning with the Old One in the conventional sense, Ramuh had informed her that Christophe did not belong, that he could have only been an outworlder or a time traveller. With the presence of Gilgamesh in this world - for which her father was partially responsible - Tyris believed the former was much more likely than the latter.

But it mattered little to Tyris, with her true loyalties. Whoever the sellsword was, without a GF he posed scant threat to her or Selena. Tyris had watched him spar nightly after her humbling, making short work of the infantry grunts as he dual-wielded his two obsidian gunblades with startling speed for such a towering man. He had bested Selena on the second night, too. When a curious Private had asked the big man what he called his gunblades, Christophe had said Alanis and Leona.

Tyris had longed to turn on Esthar as soon as she had junctioned with Ramuh, though knew her newfound power would pale in comparison to that of Reina and Memnon. The time was not right. Only if the battle for Galbadia went badly would she be able to make a move, and that was unlikely, despite her leaking Esthar's plans.

And if she did reveal her true loyaties? Then what? She couldn't, no, wouldn't go home, even after twelve years. She hated her parents for abandoning her almost as much as she hated Reina and Memnon. The next closest person she had known to a mother, Matron, had died twelve years ago. Murdered, by the same Sorceress that Tyris was marching into Trabia for. The same Sorceress who had allowed her to be raped by Memnon while her Matron's blood had still reddened the prairie, and then thrown her ravaged body into the mines.

So where would she go? After Timber, Tyris was known to enemies of Esthar. Not to any of the Children of Fate, as in her eyes, they were just as responsible for what had happened to Matron and Cid. No one close to her parents; Uncle Rai and Aunt Elle were out of the question. Raine was presumably still training to become one of Squall's Neo-SeeDs.

Centra, maybe? No. No matter how long it took Reina to complete the colonisation, living on that continent would always be a reminder of her final night at the orphanage.

Perhaps Thalassa would get her board on the White SeeD Ship. Tyris had known the White SeeD elders from her time at Edea's House, and Raine's brother Raiden was also a White SeeD. A life at sea did not sound so bad for someone who had no real home. It was for that reason Tyris had steered clear of the White SeeDs at Redwood. But Thalassa had been able to sense Ramuh during that battle for Timber's port city, and they had been drawn to one another.

Her thoughts coming back the Trabia campaign, Tyris knew that the primary objective was Sorceress Selphie, with capturing Shiva a secondary one. The first attempt to acquire Selphie would be down to Reina and was out of her hands. Tyris had warned SeeD, but if Squall's vessel was on the other side of the world, there would be nothing they could do.

The Divide may have been a necessity to save Sorceress Rinoa from being consumed by her power, but it had only served to divide the Children of Fate themselves. After two global conflicts, sorcery had become even more despised in the free world. Rinoa had remained in Timber, but Selphie had returned to Trabia, and Quistis had moved to rural Dollet. The Guardian of Trabia and her Knight would likely be standing against Reina alone.

Selena's objective was to take Adaryn, the largest settlement in unconquered Trabia. It encroached on the harsh north, but was strategically in the centre of the continent, with highways to western ports and the trading post with Winter Island. It would be a springboard for conquering the rest of the tundra, as well as the reclusive shumi. More concerned with crushing Esthar's old enemy, Galbadia, Reina would likely halt the advance and divert them west if she enslaved Selphie.

Either way, Reina wanted her banner raised in Adaryn. Taking the town with a hundred thousand troops would be child's play. Wanting to make the Vlahos name proud, Selena intended to do so with just her vanguard, riding the Golden Chocobo at its front. She would etch her own name into the chronicles of war history alongside her forefathers.

Everything ran through Tyris' mind as they camped that night. Having almost given up on blissful sleep, she lay awake, staring at the faint image of the stars through her tent's canopy and feeling frustrated in more ways than one. The young Lieutenant got out of her sleeping bag, putting a thin robe on. Leaving her tent, she quickly endured the chill, crossing to the neighbouring tent, which was Selena's.

The Colonel's invisible shield was over the entrance flap, so that if anyone untoward entered, her linked wristband would vibrate her awake. Unless she had filtered Tyris' own wristband, which she had. Inside, the tent was lit by a solar-powered night light, set to its default moonlight colour.

Selena stirred as Tyris approached, speaking before her eyes opened. 'What is it, Lieutenant?'

Selena slept naked. Her thin, thermal bag covered her squarish, muscular form, but it was unzipped. Tyris let her robe drop to the floor, sitting on the edge of the bag. Her pale breasts were illuminated in the silvery glow of Selena's battery light.

'I can't sleep.'

Her superior smiled faintly. 'Something on your mind?'

Tyris hesitated. 'Maybe it's because this campaign is the beginning of the end. The war is going to end soon. And then what?'

'Peace, finally,' Selena said. 'It will be strange for me, too, knowing peace for the first time since I was a child. The war has raged for two thirds of my life, though for your generation, it is all you have ever known. But this time, it will be for good. A world under the Empress eliminates the need for war, and peace will prosper for centuries. Millenia.'

Tyris only had to think about the children in the mines and the imprisoned Guardian Forces. Her loathing of the Empress meant she would at least try to tip the odds in SeeD and Galbadia's favour. Even if Reina conquered all, Tyris would bide her time, waiting for the chance to strike at Memnon first – even if it was long after the war's end. Then she would find some way of destroying the Empress, whose enslaved GFs would not reveal her duplicity. She would avenge the night Matron and Cid died, or she would die in attempt.

'I know,' Tyris allowed. Her nipples had already hardened in the cool air, and Selena was looking longingly at them. 'I was thinking of buying a pleasure boat.'

Selena's smile returned. 'Maybe we could go halves?' The Colonel opened the unsealed sleeping bag with her legs, spreading them wide, erasing the vengeful thoughts from Tyris' mind. 'You're up, Lieutenant! You woke me, after all!' she said, interlacing her hands behind her head and slowly closing her eyes.

Tyris needed no further instruction.

As dawn broke, Leo was outside a ten-man tent, smoking a spare pipe that an infantrymen had given him. One of the first up, he had already jogged around the perimeter of the camp. The smell from the cooking pots, carried on the faint breeze, made his stomach growl. Leo ignored it, and the tobacco helped to suppress his hearty appetite, knowing that his hunger would be saturated soon enough.

Leo saw a thinly robed Pandemona emerge from Vlahos' tent. He acknowledged the beauty of the young officer for the first time as she stepped into the dawn light, looked hurriedly around, and briefly glanced at Leo. Though she re-entered her own tent as though she was not particularly bothered. Leo could not care less, either. The affairs of officers happening two hundred years before his birth was none of his concern.

He had not reunified Harbinger since travelling with the Trabia force in case anyone realised the weapon was what had slew the seven patrolmen in FH. When Vlahos had asked him what he had named his weapons – a common western tradition – he had given the names of his wife and daughter. Leo also had a son, Griever, serving as a junior soldier in his imperial force.

In truth, Leo had always been in love with Sorceress Ultimecia. Ever since the first time he had seen the Empress in the flesh, back when he had been a junior soldier himself. During weaker moments, by no means amplified by Ultimecia's fascination magic, those feelings had blossomed to obscure his love for Alanis. Attracted only to strong women, Ultimecia was the culmination of his deepest desires. Though Leo had remained a loyal husband through more than twenty years of marriage, and his honour had never allowed him to think once about laying with the Empress.

Ultimecia had learnt the truth upon her mind contact with him, but after Gerra's betrayal, that love for her had meant Leo had been the only one she could trust. If only Leo had been eligible to enter that tournament twelve years ago. As a gladiator, Gerra had been naught more than a bloodthirsty adolescent. Leo would have made short work of the Undying Fire or the Wild Rose in the final, and this never would have happened.

As the Esthari were breaking camp an hour later, the force was approached by a rectangular stealth pod from the north.

'The Empress is here!' Vlahos cried. 'All take a knee!'

The pod was expertly lowered to some flat ground. The hatch opened, and out came Reina's Twelve, the ruby-armoured Praetorians. A learned Leo identified them all by their weapons, as this batch was the most remembered of all of them; this being the final year of the Third Sorceress War.

He recognised the gargantuan Reinhardt. There was the dark-skinned Lani with her huge bardiche and platted hair. The dashing Cullyn with his long auburn hair and stylised beard, who would have stood eye to eye with Leo, his zweihander tip to tip with Harbinger. Krysta, with her dark hair and broad-bladed cutlass. And Gabranth, known as the Judge, with his horned helm and ornate bastard sword.

The three other male Praetorians were Kain, his helm in the image of a dragon's maw, wielding the heavy Dragonhair lance; Angeal, his impossibly wide sword almost as broad as his back; and Nero, his black hair spiked, left hand resting on the handle of the infamous Murasame.

Leo spotted Yuki, her indigenous Balambi ancestry evident with her olive skin and slanted eyes, her neon-glowing chakram hanging from her waist; the flame-headed Rubicanta, her jewel-hilted broadsword with a flame-shaped pommel; the ravishing Grandidi warrior Rillina, holding her lethal karambits; and the slightly-built Ialantha, also Grandidi, but with a painted face and a ceremonial staff ending in a golden chocobo talon.

They were followed by a diminutive woman wearing an unmistakable golden slave crown on her head, who looked almost childlike even with her hugging, magnolia bodysuit. She had a nunchaku, the handles a glowing emerald. Leo knew that this was Sorceress Selphie, now bound to the command of the Empress.

The Praetorians formed a path for the dark-skinned officer that stepped down from the pod. Selphie remained standing, her gaze vacant, and the swarthy man barged her with his shoulder as he passed, knocking her to her knees. This was General Agamemnon Zebalga, ancestor of Vargas. He was too far away to see if historical records of his tattooed eyelids were true, and his scarified arms were veiled by the sleeves of his winter combat gear. The sickle-shaped khopesh, favoured weapon of the Zebalga Clan, was behind his back.

Walking behind Memnon was Ultimecia. Leo's subconscious knew it instantly, only partially from her gait, which had not changed for two centuries. However, her appearance differed from the Sorceress he had served unquestioning for his entire life. The raven furred red dress was instantly recognisable, but she was absent the black wings and tattoos on her face. Her skin was not as pale. Her eyes did not possess that yellow glow, and her hair was a natural blonde as opposed to a light grey, not supernaturally held up in the image of horns. Her feet were bare but not feline in appearance - not that the lioness paws had ever bothered Leo, appreciative as he had always been of her revealing attire.

The more mortal looking Reina did not disappoint. The changes in Ultimecia's appearance – Odine had once explained to him – would happen when she had not given up her powers beyond the end of a normal human lifespan, for a Sorceress cannot die until she does so. When this happens, they begin to reflect their inner nature, much like the shumi do following evolution.

Except the near immortality had its price. After refusing to give up her power for millennia, Adel had become a freak of nature. Her human body reaching its limit, she had begun to mutate into something huge and much more masculine in appearance, her former beauty long forgotten. Adel's predecessor, Queen Zenobia, had lived for so long she no longer resembled anything human, more akin to a gigantic worm. Fearing a similar fate, Adel had allowed Odine to convince her to split her power, unaware that the scientist had been undermining her war effort with the young western Sorceress, Edea. Adel then sought a successor all over the world during the First Sorceress War. Though only two children, Reina and Ellone, had been suitable candidates.

The amplified voice of the Empress could be heard even at the back of the kneeling hundred thousand troops. 'At ease, soldiers! The Guardian of Trabia has been defeated, and her Knight is no more! My will is her command, and she will be bolstering the coming invasion of our old enemy!'

The soldiers erupted with frenzied cheers, and Leo joined them. So, Gerra had not been successful in preventing this, at least.

'With our combined power, the enemy Sorceresses will fall along with their treasured Lionheart, and Galbadia will swiftly follow! Caraway cannot hope to match the might of our forces! The Cowardly Lion and any surviving SeeDs will face retribution for the murder of Sorceress Adel, may her name live for eternity!'

With every pause the soldiers gave hearty cheers again, and many began raising their weapons, chanting Adel's name. After a few moments, the Empress raised an arm to silence them. They did so as one.

'You will continue north and take Adaryn. Once a garrison is established there, the Trabia campaign is to be halted. We will be moving the bulk of our forces to the western continent. After a final, great campaign, the war shall be won. With the western continent in our grasp, only the shumi will remain unconquered, and they will bend their stunted knees when I have torn SeeD from the earth! Now go forth, for the glory of the Empire!'

More wholehearted cheering followed. The Empress said something to the kneeling Guardian of Trabia, and the enslaved Sorceress rose, reboarding the pod. Reina gave one more sweeping look to her loyal soldiers, then turned to board with Memnon, her Praetorians moving into a protective wedge behind her.

Leo strode quickly forward. 'Your Grace!' he shouted, his deep voice audible over the dying cheers.

The Empress looked over her shoulder in his direction.

'Stand down, Christophe!' he heard Selena shout behind him.

'Pray forgive me, Colonel.'

Leo gave Vlahos the briefest of glances, not stopping in his stride. The Empress and Zebalga had both turned to face him, the Praetorians drawing their weapons. Kain pushed the tip of his lance to the breastplate of Leo's standard-issue light armour. The Praetorian glanced split-secondly at the symbol on Leo's left shoulder, marking him as auxiliary. 'Not a step further, sellsword!'

Leo said, 'Your Grace! Long before have I wished to see you in the flesh, to take the knee before you. I was Centran by birth and wish to formally swear fealty!'

The Empress looked him up and down. 'Lower your weapons,' she demanded of the Praetorians. She would know that he had no GF and could pose no threat to her. 'And you are?'

'Leonidas Christophe, Your Grace. My people roam southern Centra but will pledge to you when you expand your colony. Steiner is my kin.'

Technically, this was true. Steiner was his ancestor, and the blood of Centra's last ruling house was in his veins, unbroken across the generations. Leo took a knee several yards from her, bowed his head, and knelt.

'If I impress in the auxiliary, I would like to apply for a place in the Adel Unit, Your Grace. With the aim of one day joining your Praetorian Guard.'

The Empress nodded appreciatively, continuing to size him up. 'Rise, Christophe. I look forward to treating with your kin. Your application will be appreciated.'

Now was Leo's desperate gamble. 'Your Grace, I picked up some worrying information while pursuing a couple of SeeDs in Fisherman's Horizon. It would be simpler if you gleaned it from my mind, as I know you can do, for I wish not to keep you for any longer than necessary.'

The blonde Sorceress paused. 'And who might these SeeDs be?'

'One of them is a man called Gerra Almasy, a relation of Edea's Bloodhound. The other was a young, blonde woman. She is junctioned with Carbuncle.'

The Empress stared at him with the green eyes that were alien to him, then said, 'Very well. But I must warn you, Christophe, I effectively become you during a mind contact. At the slightest hint of duplicity, I will kill you instantly.'

The Twelve formed a circle around Leo as the Empress walked to him, placing her hands on either side of his head, her nails on his temples. Reina was almost six feet tall, though had to stand on the balls of her bare feet to comfortably reach. She closed her green eyes for several seconds, and up close, Leo had noted the yellow tinge. The Praetorians carefully watched Leo's hands, as he had both gunblades behind his back. Leo knew he would be struck down before either hand got to a hilt.

The foreign presence in his mind was unpleasant and made him feel very vulnerable. As a warrior, it was completely abhorrent to him that his defences could be penetrated in such a manner. But he knew that he would not have to endure it for long. At the forefront of his mind, he placed the most relevant information. That he was her loyal subject in the future, here by accident. That he was now trying to defend her from Gerra and preserve her ascension in this era. She would instantly know that this was true.

First Reina's mouth opened, sharply intaking breath as those unfamiliar eyes opened wide. To the dismay of Memnon and her Praetorians, she staggered back, losing her balance. Instinctively, Leo reached forward to stop her from falling, his powerful arms surrounding her body. Around him, he heard the Praetorians move in for the kill.

'No!' the Empress shouted. The Twelve halted as though they had stepped into an invisible wall, some dropping their weapons. She pushed Leo's arms down. 'His loyalty is true!'

Reina turned from Leo and exited the circle, Cullyn and Rillina swiftly parting to allow her through. She walked a few paces, her breathing fast as she looked toward the aircraft. Some of the Praetorians gave Leo a threatening look, but none made any move, nor did they reclose their circle formation.

'I know this is not easy, Your Grace,' Leo said. 'Will you resume the mind contact?'

The Empress turned back to Leo. 'Come to Esthar with me.'