Chapter 16: The Soldiers Regroup
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As Sascha and Akfek walked in, Akfek spotted a number of his old friends
from Geshtal's army.  "Ahh, Akfek, you're here!" yelled Connor.

Akfek pretended to smile and replied, "Hello, Connor.  I see you have found
a few number of our old companions."

"And who is this young lady?" asked Connor.

Akfek quickly stopped Connor from proceeding any further, "Careful, Connor,
she could rip you in half if she wanted to."  Sascha looked at the mere
weakling - the next person to touch her would die a very *unhappy* death.

Connor then spoke loudly, "Everybody, please stop your converstations now.
We are gathered here as former soldiers of Geshtal's army.  Our leader has
perished now - possibly killed by that slimy clown, Kefka."  Anger began to
rise in Akfek but control was extremely significant at a time like this.
Connors continued, "That clown didn't even beleive our assistance would be
valuable.  But today, we are powerless and I don't want to see all of us
live through this land without reaching our goal - to conquer this world
together.  In two weeks from now, we will meet again at the coliseum.
There, we will select a new leader to lead us!"

"Hoorraayyy!" yelled the soldiers.

Connors raised his voice again, "From now until two weeks' time, I want all
of you to go and seek all our former friends of Geshtal's army.  They are
scattered throughout the world.  We will meet at the coliseum in two weeks'
time where we will select our new leader."

It was time for Akfek to speak up. "I WILL BE YOUR NEW LEADER," announced
Akfek in an authoritative and chilling voice.

One soldier, near the corner of the room, bickered out loud, "And why
should you be our new leader?  You were a weak soldier before and did
nothing for us.  I'd rather have my head on a plate then see you as our
leader."

Akfek laughed a most heineous laugh.  "Haa haa ha haa ha...  So, you want
your head on a plate, eh?  Your wish has been granted."  Sascha looked away
from the foolish soldier standing in the corner.

Akfek raised his fingers and at once opened a gate to the X-Zone.  The gate
surrounded the soldier's body from the toes to the neck but did not
surround his head.  The gate closed and the soldier's body was swallowed
into the X-Zone but his head remained in the normal world. In effect, the
gate only swallowed the soldier's body but did not swallow the head,
leaving the head in the present world.  There was a short loud shriek and
the soldier's head dropped to the ground with blood seeping through the
floor.

Sascha looked back again and gazed upon the head laying on the ground.
Upon the soldier's remarks, she had expected this to occur.  The outcome
was *too* obvious. Sascha scanned the room and noticed the room was dead
silent.  Everybody had their eyes fixed upon the head with the blood
flowing from it slowly into the ground.

Akfek roared with laughter.  "Anybody else who contradicts me will suffer
the same fate.  Now, are there any objections to me being your new leader?"
Everybody else in the room trembled with fear;  they were also curious as
to how Akfek possessed magic.  Akfek resumed, "When we meet at the coliseum
in two weeks, I will challenge anybody who seeks to be the new leader.  I
do not need to fight, for I have magic now, but do not question where my
magic abilities originated from.  Connor will organize you and send you to
your destinations.  Go at once and do not arouse any suspicion from
outsiders.  You must also listen to Sascha.  She is my assistant and
anybody who disobeys her will suffer a most painful death, although she has
the ability to kill you herself.  Also, somebody come and get a plate for
this head."

When the meeting ended, Connor gave the soldiers a location of their former
comrades and they left immediately.  When the soldiers had exited, Connor
commenced a converstation with Akfek.  "Akfek, you will be a great leader
indeed.  But this is beside the point of my conversation with you.  I've
heard that Vector survived the day the World of Balance split into the
World of Ruin but its location is still hidden.  I've already sent a group
of my assistants to search for Vector.  They will report to you at the
coliseum in two weeks."

"You have done well, Connor.  Do you remember Cid?"

Connor nodded.  "Yes, I remember him.  I don't know his whereabouts,
though."

"I want you to find Cid or a student of his.  We will need a person
familiar with technological applications.  I will be waiting for you at the
coliseum in two weeks. Do not fail me."  As Connor departed, Afkek turned
to Sascha and said, "Sascha, Shade has informed me of another elemental
nearby on the Veldt.  Our task now is to find him."

"Yes, another elemental would surely help our cause," replied Sascha.  So
Sascha and Akfek left for the Veldt.

Shade continued to direct Akfek and Sascha towards the direction of the
next elemental upon the Veldt.  They reached the location but there was
nothing in sight.  "He must be in the ground" remarked Shade.  Suddenly,
the groud began to shake and a peculiar brown creature with large feet and
an oval face with a green took jumped out of the ground.  "I'm Gnome,"
announced the elemental, "the elemental of earth.  Who are you?"