A Door Between Worlds

"Commander Leonheart, report to the Front Gate immediately."

Squall had left the infirmary for a little while, leaving Irvine to keep watch. He was trying to make sense of what Archibald had earlier told them. His mind had been wrestling with it for hours now, and it still didn't fit together. On top of that was another struggle.

He envied Seifer

When Archibald had told them of his going to Beta, a part of Squall had instantly wanted to do the same. Waiting at Rinoa's bedside wasn't his way of doing things. Archibald's assurances of their safety aside, Squall worried about his friends. He had never really taken the time to consider how close he came to losing either of them with the Ultimecia mess years ago. Rinoa in particular, with her being center stage in it all. More of his concern, and attention had been involved in Rinoa's stubborn refusal to acknowledge her powers. While Squall would just as soon have it that they weren't there, he was a realist. She would never find peace, nor he with her, until she made peace with who she was.

And now he had to sit by and watch. Cid had told him often that the role of a true leader is to trust those under his command to do their part, and that if he was constantly checking in on them, and rescuing them from the smallest danger, it undermined trust and confidence. But he hadn't asked to be made Commander. He hadn't asked to have the well being of thousands put in his charge. And he wasn't a strategist, a general type. He was, for better or worse, a soldier. He felt in control while he was in the center of it, doing something.

Now Seifer was there, doing something. Probably the wrong something, knowing him, but doing something nonetheless. And Squall was, though extremely loathe to admit it, concerned for the safety of all of his people, Seifer included. Rinoa and Quistis could seemingly come back of themselves, but Seifer needed help. And his task was not a simple one by any stretch of the imagination.

"Commander Leonheart, please report..."

"Give me that." this time it was Selphie's voice on the intercom. Squall hadn't heard the first message clearly, still deep in thought.

"Squall, get your ass back here. Rinoa's awake."

"Commander Leonheart", now it was Nida again, "an unknown visitor has been found in the garden. She is asking to speak with Miss Heartily or any of her companions. She is being detained at the front gate. Please report to the Front Gate."

Pushing down every instinct he had to run to Rinoa's side, Squall guessed that the two events happening simultaneously weren't a coincidence. Rinoa must have brought someone back with her. He decided to head for the gate. He couldn't bring Rinoa to the gate, so he would bring the visitor to her.

As Squall came upon the Garden entrance, he found Xu and Janice, the new head of the disciplinary committee, keeping watch over a young woman. Her strange dress and blank look told him that she was the one who had appeared.

Janice came to attention with his arrival.

"Commander, this woman..."

"That's fine, Janice. I can take it from here.", then, turning to his quest, "Sorry for the rude welcome. We're not used to finding someone inside Garden who didn't check in at the front gate here."

"This is a garden? It's enormous."

"Well, no, it's not a garden. It was called that by it's creator, Headmaster Cid. It's a facility for training Seeds."

"Training seeds? Now you have me genuinely confused. What's to train? they grow on there own, don't they?"

Squall shook his head. He had been having this conversation with visitors for years. Truthfully, he thought the name absurd himself, but he would never say that to Cid or Edea.

"Never mind. How do you know Rinoa?"

Aerith smiled.

"So you're Squall. She told me a lot about you. Where is she?"

"She's in our infirmary, along with another friend of ours. Do you know Quistis?"

"I do. She was traveling with us as well. Are you saying she didn't return with us?"

"I haven't been to the infirmary to see yet. We should head that way."

Aerith nodded, and they both made their way toward the infirmary.

Upon arrival, they both found Rinoa, out of bed, having to be restrained by Dr. Kadowaki.

"Let go. I have to find Squall."

"He's coming, dear. Just wait for...see. Here he is now."

"Squall!"

And with no other warning, Squall was promptly tackled.

With a giggle, Rinoa let Squall get up off of the ground.

"Sorry. I'm just so happy to see you. I didn't think I'd get to...", and then she saw Aerith.

"How did...What are you doing here?"

"I came back with you. We have to stop my father, and I need your help to do it."

"Your father? You mean this Gast guy they were talking about? And where's Quistis?"

"She must still be back home. I would have thought she would be brought back with us, but it would seem not. I wouldn't worry about her though. She'll come back when the time comes."

Squall cut in, "Rinoa, did you see Seifer there?"

"Seifer? Why would he be there?"

"He took some of Quistis' blood and injected himself. It let him travel, but he has only 'till his body rejects it to get back."

"No, I didn't see him. I hope he's okay."

"He won't be when I get a hold of him."

"So he went back for Quistis, but you didn't go back for me. Who's the hypocrite now, Commander?"

"Rinoa you know I can't just do something like that. I wanted to, you don't know how much I did. But I have to think about more than just us."

"I know, Squall. I'm sorry. It's just been a long trip. Anyway, Aerith, why are we chasing your dad? What's he gonna do?"

"I don't know. He thinks he's acting of his own choice, but something is controlling him. I never really knew my father well, but he wasn't like this. He's obsessed. He wants to open a door between the world's, a permanent one."

"Then we have to stop him. But, Squall, how are we supposed to find him. He could be anywhere on the planet."

"No he can't. There is a number of places that you could land in our world. But very few in this one. I know of only two. One is here in your...um...garden. The other is far from here."

Selphie perked up. "The cave."

"Yes, it is a cave. How did you know? Have you been there?"

"Yea, we have. Squall, we gotta move. Garden will take to long to get there. We need to call Laguna and get Ragnarok on it's way.", and without waiting for his response, she headed for the bridge to do just that.

Squall looked back at Aerith. "So what are we talking about here? What are we going to be facing? We've been told he can create illusions."

"Yes and no. He can create dreams, but they are difficult for him, and they take a while to prepare. I don't know what else he has up his sleeve, but he's liable to do anything."

"If you don't mind my asking, how are you in a fight?"

"I'm more of a healer than a fighter, but I'll manage."

"Can you fight your own father, though?"

"Considering what's at stake, I don't have much choice. He kidnapped me, he drew blood from me. He doesn't see me as his daughter anymore, just a tool to get what he wants"

Rinoa turned to Squall. "Squall, we need to talk. Alone."

Squall considered his options. "Irvine, take...what's your name?"

"Aerith."

"Take Aerith to the bridge. Get Xu and Cid up there to. Start figuring out a game plan. I'll be up there in a while."

"Will do, chief."

As he was leaving the infirmary with Rinoa, Squall turned back and looked at Seifer, laying next to Quistis. He hoped, for the first time since he had known him, that Seifer would find what he was looking for.

He was counting on it now.

-----

It had happened so fast.

One moment, Quistis was talking to Vincent, then he felt a rush of air, and heard her grunt from impact behind him.

Swiftly turning, and drawing Death Penalty in the same motion, he had barely enough time to see a hunched figure standing over her, knife in hand, before he removed it's head with a single shot.

Quistis lay panting, now splashed with her attackers blood.

"Are you injured?"

"No, I'm okay. What was that? And how did it get in here?"

"It was waiting for us. We must be cautious."

"Indeed you must, Turk."

Vincent had let his guard down, and he was hit from the side by another, soon joined by two more.

Quistis had gotten to her feet, and Save the Queen rang out, knocking one of the joining assailants back into the wall behind him. The others ignored her, and attacked Vincent again. But his reflexes and reaction were to fast. He left a red hole in the chest of one, and gravely wounded the other, who couldn't completely get out of the way of the shot.

Looking down the corridor, it was soon apparent to Vincent that they were vastly outnumbered. Whatever these things were, they were relentless. It was all he could do to stay a step ahead.

Vincent's respect for Quistis grew, however, as she more than held her own. Her command of the whip was extraordinary, as she made it dance in air, striking without warning like a snake, then jumping away before anyone could grab hold of it. But they were losing the fight by sheer numbers. Unable to dodge three blows at once, Vincent was knocked to the ground, his gun falling from his grip. When one of the attackers grabbed it, however, he had only a moment to enjoy his triumph, as the cracking whip struck the gun, sending into the hands of it's owner, who brought it's previous holder down a moment later. Vincent and Quistis fell back, trying to regroup. But for every one they took down, two seemed to take it's place. There had to be well over 50 of them now. With a vicious blow, Quistis was knocked to the ground.

And then

"BLOODFEST!"

After his vision cleared, Vincent found only a few of the attackers still standing from the tremendous blow. The swordsman who had initiated it swept through them. Having seen Sephiroth and Cloud in action, Vincent had to admit that this man would have a better than fair chance against either. Strangely, every blow had an accompanying explosion with it, the sound much like his gun going off. But how could that be?

Pushing the thought aside, He saw the mysterious swordsman rush over to where Quistis lay fallen, a cut across her left cheek. He clearly cared for her, Vincent decided.

"Vincent!"

Yuffie rushed by the pair, and threw her arms around Vincent. As he was becoming accustomed to this now, he didn't lose his footing. They stood there for a moment, her arms around his waist, her face buried in his shirt.

"Don't scare me like that, Vinny."

"I had no intention of doing so. To whom do we owe our gratitude?"

"He says his name is Seifer, and he's a friend of Quistis', I guess."

"That would be apparent."

Looking over, she saw Seifer on one knee, next to Quistis, who had been pulled into a sitting position. Yuffie was surprised to see his look of concern for her, the snide grin now gone. Maybe there was something to this guy after all.

And if he was Quistis' boyfriend, all the better for Yuffie.

Removing his glove, Seifer's hand went to her face, over the cut. It was deep, and might leave a scar. Despite the cynical thought of it matching his own, Seifer hoped it wouldn't leave one. To mar this face was sacrilege to him. Quistis' hand went to his covering her face, but she didn't remove it, just held hers over his. Neither spoke in that moment. Even Yuffie recognized a moment like this one, and said nothing.

Finally, Seifer slowly removed his hand, taking hers into it to help her to her feet.

"How are you here?", she asked him, quietly.

"We'll get to that soon enough. Are you alright? Anything else bleeding or broken?"

"Bleeding, no. Aching, most definitely."

As they were considering this, Tifa, Sephiroth, and the rest of the group came running up. Looking around at the carnage, Tifa went pale. Turning to Sephiroth, she questioned him with her eyes, not sure she believed what she was seeing. He simply nodded. It was as she feared.

Yuffie looked down at one of them. "What are these things?"

Sephiroth answered, "Clones. We found one outside of Nibelheim."

"Clones? Of Jenova?"

"Yes. They must have survived Holy, and the Lifestream coming forth."

"But how? It got the whole planet, didn't it?"

"We have no idea how many reactors were being used by Hojo. One of them must have remained standing, and it's pods released them later."

"But wouldn't they look like you? These things are freaks."

"They are unfinished. Or, perhaps they were never meant to look like me. Perhaps they are simply soldiers that had mako poisoning. It's difficult to say."

"But why would they be here?"

"I can only assume that Professor Gast had them in his service, and they were left to guard the area of his work."

"Gast? Why would they follow him?"

"The promise of Jenova's resurrection, I would think. An idea they will be forever consumed with."

Yuffie didn't continue the questions. This had to be hitting a nerve for him, she knew.

It was the Cid who broke the silence. "Who's the hairy unwashed over there?"

Seifer looked from Cid to the rest of the group. "The name's Seifer. I'm a friend of Quistis and Rinoa."

"Looks like you're more than a friend, buddy."

Seifer realized he was still holding Quistis' hand

"Yea, well, I'm kind of her self appointed knight, as it were. Where's Rinoa?"

"She went poof, and vanished."

"Then she must have gone back. We should do the same."

"Went back? Alone?", Quistis shook her head, "Anyway, we can't go back yet. We have to find something first."

"Something like this?"

Seifer held up a materia. But it was unlike anything anyone had seen before. It was neither white or black, but a swirling grey.

As Seifer held it up, Quistis reached for it. As soon as her hand touched it, her knees buckled.

In Quistis' mind, she saw every vision she had seen thus far pass by, one after the other. The cave, Vincent standing in front of her, the plains where she had landed, mountains she didn't recognize, the field Rinoa described, the canyon, a large industrial city in decay, it all passed by in a flash.

And then she heard it. The voice.

"The time is at hand, child. You can't stop it. And neither can she."

Quistis felt herself being shaken, and looked up to see Seifer's panicked face.

"Quistis! What happened?"

"Th...This...stone has been causing our visions. It's how he has been talking to us in our world.

"He? Who?"

"I don't know. Gast, maybe? But he just spoke to me. He said the time is at hand, and we can't stop him."

"Like hell we can't. Come on, we need to get back."

"Will it involve you kissing me again?"

Seifer held the response on his lips. He was afraid of what she would say if he asked her whether she wanted it to or not.

"No. You just have to really want to go."

Quistis looked over the whole group.

"Well..."

Sephiroth stepped froward. "You should do as he requests, Quistis. We have our own world to protect, and you yours. If the planet intends it, you will return. Go with our blessing and gratitude."

Quistis nodded and looked over at Vincent, still being held by Yuffie. She walked over to him, and held out her hand. After a moment's hesitation, he took it in his, and they shook.

"Thanks for the pep talk. No hard feelings then?"

"None. I hope you find what you're looking for, Quistis."

"I would say the same, but I suspect she already found you."

"Quistis, we gotta go.", said Seifer.

"You never did know how to be patient, did you?"

"It's not that, it's just..."

She could have said she did it to shut him up, or to get him back for doing it to her. But the reality of it is, Quistis blindsided him with a kiss because she wanted to. He had come for her. She didn't know how, but she knew why.

Because he was her knight.

-----

"So what did you need to talk about?"

The speed she moved at was almost as shocking as the hard slap to the face he got a moment later.

Almost

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For not being there when I got there. For not being there when I woke up this morning. For not being there!"

"Rinoa I didn't..."

"Just shut up, Squall! For once in your silent life, just shut up."

Rinoa burst into tears, and fell onto his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, and held her there.

"You weren't there."

"I'm sorry, Rinoa. I wanted to be there. I've been dying here, waiting for you."

She pulled her head up, and looked into his eyes, a fire burning in hers that he had never seen. She pulled his head to hers in a savage kiss, her tongue in his mouth before he knew what was happening. Catching up, he returned the kiss with equal passion, his anxiety and guilt over the last day spilling out.

Rinoa stopped kissing him long enough to pull her cloak off, followed quickly by her shirt. She leaned in to his ear, and whispered, in a husky voice, "I said shut up", before returning to his lips. Finally they slowly pulled apart.

"Rinoa, we can't"

"Watch me."

"You said when we got married."

"I said when it was for the right reasons. I've been a virgin for 20 years, Squall. It's mine to give, and I'm giving it now. So go run to the bridge and play commander, or get your ass over to that bed, wearing a lot less than you are now."

Deciding he was done fighting, Squall headed for the bed, pulling his own shirt over his head and his belt off in almost the same motion. Rinoa pulled off her shorts, leaving her in the matching bra and panties that he had bought her for her last birthday.

Although he had seen her naked a number of times, this was different. Her eyes were different. Her walk was different. Something had changed.

Squall felt the pang of regret that he couldn't give her what she now was offering him. When the first girl he had ever seen naked, many years before, had told him this is what people in love do, he hadn't questioned it. It had been nothing like he thought it would be. They had both been young and scared, and he couldn't get out of his mind ever again the sound of her crying afterward. He knew it was supposed to hurt for her, but he still felt that it was his fault, that in his ignorance, he had done it wrong. She had transferred to a different Garden shortly after, and he lost touch with her. She had been his world, the first time he had reached out his hand and his heart, and seeing her leave had killed him. Not in the way a poet describes it. It had been a literal death, the loss of his innocence. The death of his dreams, his plans, his future. He had carried on as a shell of himself, cursing every morning that fate had allowed him another day of torture. And he had trained as he never had before, becoming the ultimate weapon. But the soul and spirit he lost was, in time, replaced by another. And she was waiting for him now. She was the reason he hoped, or dreamed, or planned. She was his life now.

And so it was that he had waited for her to say it was time. It had to be right, it had to be on her terms. The showering together had been her idea, and he had accepted reluctantly, not sure he trusted himself to be restrained. But he had been. For her. And now she was giving him her blessing, her innocence. And he would get this one right. He wasn't the scared little boy anymore.

Letting his pants fall to the floor, he stepped out of them, and, lifting her into his arms, laid her softly on the bed. She moved to kiss him again, but he placed a single finger on her lips, and began a series of kisses down her body, starting at her neck. When he reached her bra, he left it on, kissing down the center, than back up along both breasts, stopping at each nipple to play his tongue along them. With her moans and squirming telling him all he needed at the moment, he continued the kisses down her chest to her navel, giving it extra attention before continuing on down to her rapidly moistening panties. As he made his way toward the prize, his kisses took on more of a sucking motion, and the moans got progressively louder. With his destination reached, his last kiss became a bite, softly pulling the flesh away through the fabric before releasing. This drew a gasp, and her back arched forward. Smiling at his success, he moved back up to her lips for a long kiss, letting her taste herself on his lips.

As they kissed, his hands found her breasts, and began molding them, taking time to rub and twist the nipples till they were hard. He gathered from her whimpering, and wiggling, that she was frustrated by the fabric in between her and his touch, and he finally moved his hands behind her to unclasp the bra, breaking the kiss again while tossing it aside. Bringing his head down, he again let his tongue play with each nipple, enjoying the sound of her inhaled breath with each touch. His hand moved down further and came to rest between her legs. tracing up her thigh before reaching, and pinching, her little nub. This elicited a shriek.

Whatever he had planned next went out the window, because Rinoa got tired of him doing all the work. Grabbing him with both hands, she shifted their weight until she was laying on top, and ran her tongue over his hardened chest, playing with his nipples as he had with hers, though she added a bit of bite to it. Kissing down his chest, she got to his boxers, and slowly pulled them off, releasing his considerable manhood in the process. She knew he was big, but it looked a lot bigger up close, and she hesitated for a moment, wondering how this was going to fit in her. Deciding she was up for finding out, she moved back up his body, pumping him with her hand. Meeting him for another kiss, she moved over him, and slowly lowered her thoroughly wet pussy over the head.They both stopped, and with a look, he asked her again. Her answer was to slide down over him, feeling his cock enter her, and the skin tear as she pushed down. Holding back the tears as best she could, she continued pushing down until he filled her.

Squall couldn't remember much from the first time, but he was pretty sure she hadn't been anywhere near this tight. Of course, he had been smaller then. After a few moments for her to settle, he slowly began pumping up and down. He knew it hurt, but he hoped by preparing her first, the pain wouldn't last long. He was rewarded as the grunts slowly became moans, and she began moving with him, with a wet smacking sound every time they came together. Feeling emboldened, he moved with more power, and soon his thrusting in and out of her was little more than a blur. She finally said the first coherent thing either had attempted.

"O gods, Squall. It feels...so good."

"It...gets...better."

Not knowing what he meant, she sucked in another breath when he began squeezing her breasts again, and nibbling on her neck. Rinoa's brain had all but shut down by this point, as the assault of each wave of pleasure was to much for her to separate from each other. Soon, she felt something building up within her, knowing what it was, but having never felt it. With the last of her strength, she slammed herself down on him, and felt like her body was exploding from the inside out.

Hearing her scream his name, he felt her squeeze down on him so hard it hurt, but what wonderful pain. With no more will to hold it back, he let go, and felt himself empty into her, so much that most of it emptied out onto the bed. He wasn't sure how long they had gone, but knew it would get longer, and better, as each became more familiar with each others sensitive points. And there would be no tears after, that's what mattered. He had made her feel a pleasure she had never imagined, and instead of an ending, it felt like a beginning.

He moved to pull out of her, but she stopped him. She didn't want it to be over just yet. In time, her heard her breathing slow, and slowly pulled out, moving from under her. He climbed out of the bed, and stood next to it, watching her sleep. He knew she must be exhausted from everything that had happened, and he simply pulled the bed covers over her, and got dressed. He wondered if he should shower, if only to wash the blood from himself, but decided against it. They would wash it off together. Looking back for a moment, he headed out the door for the bridge.

He had a battle to prepare for, against a foe he didn't know anything about.

-----

He looked around at the interior of what had to be a cave. He was standing on a stone table. Climbing off of it, he made his way toward the source of light, and found two large doors. They were to heavy for him to move in his weakened state, but that didn't concern him. He would get his strength back in a matter of moments, he knew.

He had been told as much

Gast Faremis felt more alive than he had ever felt. He had found the answer. After all his searching and efforts, he had been reunited with his daughter, and soon his sweet Ifalna. He would bring her here, and the planet wouldn't be able to hurt her anymore.

He had always blamed the planet for her illness. When Hojo had come to take them away, and had killed Gast in the process, only to bring him back as a monster, he had all but lost hope. He thought he had lost everything. But they had both lived. Aerith had been rescued by the SOLDIER, of all people, and Ifalna had survived all that Hojo had put her through, only dying after her daughter had saved the planet. Gast had even found his research from the groups he had gathered, and was surprised to find that, despite Hojo's vehement objections, most of the control group had been released. Gast felt the pain again, the guilt at doing all he had to them. Especially the Lockhart woman. He had waited each day for death to mercifully take her, and each day she had found the strength to rise each morning. It had been about her daughter, she had said. She wanted to get home to her. Gast wondered if he had ever loved Aerith that way, or if he was even capable of it. He should have felt more guilt at hurting her to get the blood he needed, but he couldn't bring himself to. She was helping her mother, one way or another. And she would come here to, they all would. He would find a way to isolate what was in her blood so that he could synthesize it and allow himself to remain here with them indefinitely. It would work, he knew it would.

He had been told as much.

He hadn't believed at first, when the strange man came and found him in that bar. He had wanted to die, but the monster he had become couldn't. Then the stranger had told him about a materia, unlike any other, that would help him not only get revenge, but allow him to finish his research. And in doing so, he could bring them both back. He had even found a way to control those creations of Hojo's that had survived, and had gotten them to act as both his guardians and messengers to find what he needed. He could only guess at what had been promised to them, but he didn't care. They would either find what they wanted or be destroyed. He would get his family back, whatever the cost.

He didn't know why the man wanted a doorway opened, and he didn't care. If he was powerful enough to take over a world, he could have that one. This one would work out fine for Gast. He knew he had to move quickly. The longer he was here, the higher the chance that the SOLDIER and his friends would find Aerith and the materia. He wished he could bring both with him, but that would have to come later. For now, he had to get the cave ready. And he would need an ancient to do it. Or a sorceress, as they were called here. He knew there were two here, and that both would be found in the same place. He had the element of surprise. It would have to be enough. It had been in taking his daughter from her friends.

"You've finally arrived."

Turning toward the voice he knew well, Gast smiled.

"Yes. Thank you for the means."

"You have only yourself to thank, Professor. Your research has opened a way for both of us to get what we want."

"And what is that for you? This doorway, or something more?"

"The same as you, Gast. I want redemption. To have what was taken from me restored. And to make those who took it suffer sufficiently."

"So be it then. I should get going."

"You needn't try. They know you are here. And they are coming for you."

"They?"

"Your daughter is here. She returned with her companions from this world. They are numerous. You will need to plan accordingly."

"So I will. I am again in your debt, friend. Are there any I can call upon in this world for aid?"

"One of their own will soon join you. It is better for them to remain undetected for now."

"Indeed. You are well prepared, as always. Do they have the materia?"

"They do. Just as I had planned. The time is at hand."

Gast smiled at that. He had waited for so long. What was a few more hours in the end?

-----

First point: Yes, I know the mysterious man at the end sounds like Emperor Palpatine. I do that only for the 3 people who haven't yet figured out who he is yet. And yes, I know I suck at adult material. That's probably why I don't write it very often. Those who have followed the story thinking I would blow them away when flesh hits flesh should have known better.

And, for those who haven't played FF8, Janice is my original creation. I figure that if someone popped in out of nowhere, seeing as they have no police force, per se, that the head of discipline would get the job of figuring it all out. And there was nothing in the game about who got the job after Seifer was kicked out. I was tempted to say it was Zell, just to include him into the chapter, but it was to much of a stretch, even for me.