Sascha walked into her room back at Doma and collapsed
onto the bed with a sigh, exhausted. The past week had been a
very busy one. She was definitely ready for a nap, and nightmares
be damned. She closed her eyes..and heard a knock at the door.

     "Who is it?" she called irritably.

     "Ah, ah, I - I'm terribly sorry to disturb you, Lady," a
nervous voice replied. "But McArthur, ah,says he needs to see
you and Lord Akfek, ah, right away..."

     "Can't he wait until morning?"

     "Ah, I don't think so..."

     "Very well." She dragged herself up reluctantly. 'This had
better be REALLY important,' she thought as she followed the
antsy cadet who had fetched her. After a few minutes, they reached
the hall. Akfek was already there, talking to McArthur with a
grim expression on his face. Garek was there too, stroking his chin
thoughtfully. Sascha could tell that something was up, and it
would have to be important to make Akfek forget about Garek's
earlier failure.

     "What's wrong?" she asked, getting right to the point.

     "Ah good, you're here," said Akfek, turning to face her.
"Garek has brought us some disturbing news. Not only is this
'rebellion' stronger than we had thought, but it also appears to be
preparing for an attack."

     "I see," said Sascha, taking it all in.

     "Not only that," put in Garek, "but among their numbers are
some of the Warriors of Balance."

     Sascha turned to Akfek for confirmation. Could this be true?
He nodded. "Well," she began, banishing thoughts of sleep from her
mind, "the solution seems obvious to me. Attack them before they
attack us."

     "My thoughts exactly," responded Akfek. "We will luanch a
surprise attack, before they are prepared."

     "But it must be soon," interjected Garek. "My sources tell
me that they are almost ready for an assault now."

     Akfek eyed him thoughtfully. "Tomorrow," he said. "We
will attack them tomorrow, at dawn. And," he continued, an evil
grin on his face, "we will use ...  this!" He withdrew Cid's
potion.

     Sascha's devious look mirrored his. "But who will we use it
on?"

     "I have already given this some thought," he replied. "Since
the potion is meant to change the subject's form, physical stature
and prowess are irrelevant. What we require  is someone who is
fiercely loyal to our cause, maybe even to the point of insanity..."

     Sascha understood immediately. "Rokal," she said. "Of course.
Her fanaticism will serve us well."

     "I have already sent for her. In the meantime, let us plan
our strategy. Even as we speak, Cid and Kromm are returning here
with the Defiant, which, by all reports, is fully repaired..."

*		 *	       *	       *	      *

     The next moring, at about 3:00, Shirak Rokal was brought
to Akfek and Sascha. The two were seated at a large table.

     "Why have you summoned me here, my lord?" the small
woman asked Akfek. "Thre is much to be done back at the Tower."

     "Shirak," began Akfek, "how would you like to exchange
your frail body for another, and join us in our fight for Kefka?"

     Rokal's head snapped up at this, and her eyes flashed. "What
do you mean?" She took a step forward, leaning on her staff.

     "We can give you a new body, so that you can fight for the
glory of Kefka!" put in Sascha, playing her role well as always.

     "Tell me how." Shirak's eyes were ablaze.

     "All you have to do," said Akfek, leaning forward in his
chair, "is drink this." He placed the vial on the table. Rokal picked
it up and gave it a cursory examination. Then, without further
hesitation, she uncorked it and downed it.

     At first, nothing happened. Sascha was beginning to doubt
the potion's efficacity when, suddenly, the priestess' body began to
twitch, her face contorting horribly. Then, she ran shrieking out of
the main door of the castle. Sascha glanced at Akfek, and the two
hurried after her.

     Outside awaited a terrible scene. Rokal's head had split in
two! The two halves were growing larger and sprouting black
scales. Her body was becoming larger, and more massive, splitting
the priestess' robes. Four huge arms grew from her sides, and huge
leathery wings were forming on her back. Sascha watched in
horrified amazement as the creture writhed, its bloodcurdling
screams rending the night.

     Finally, it was over. Sascha and Akfek found themselves
held in the gaze of the monster's two huge heads.

     "Rokal, can you understand me?" asked Akfek calmly. The
two black dragon heads looked down at him, and four glowing red
eyes sought his. "Can you speak?" he continued. The creature drew
itself up to its full height - almost as tall as the castle. The black
scales on its neck glinted in the starlight, and the wicked spikes
along its back stood straight up, protruding from the black fur of
its body. Its long armored tailtwitched, and the creature flapped its
huge wings once. Then, both of its mouths opened, dripping a
noxious green substance.

     "Praise be to Kefka," it said.

*		    *		    *		    *

     A few hours later, Sascha was standing on the deck of the
newly refitted Defiant. The wind whipped her hair about, and the
air was cool on her skin. She glanced around her. Light was just
beginning to creep across the horizon; it would not be long now.
The enemy's airships had been sighted, and soon Akfek would give
the order that would send them hurtling into battle. At the
moment, he was below, making final preparations, and McArthur
was steering the Defiant closer to the enemy.

     Ah yes. She could see them now. Two mid-sized airships,
and one that was shaped vaguely like a fish. 'The Big Whale,' she
realized. 'What a strange ship...' Then a thought struck her. What
if Merine was aboard one of those ships? She couldn't possibly
harm her old friend, but what if...? "Impossible!" she said aloud,
dismissing the idea as nonsense. "Where would Merine get an
airship, anyway?" she muttered, reassuring herself.

     It was at this point that Akfek came on deck. "Sascha," he
said, "it is time. I have ordered Rokal to attack."

*		*	       *	      *		*

     How strange it was to see through four eyes. How strange,
and how wonderful! And to be able to fly! This new form was truly
a gift from Kefka. And she would prove herself worthy of it. She
would carry out His divine wishes! Now, where was that airship?
Two heads scanned the horizon. Ah, over there. Four eyes narrowed
intently, focusing on their target. She could see all three
clearly now. What was that? Activity! Someone was coming up onto
the deck of one of the airships; a blonde woman in a white cape.
Rokal recognized her immediately. Celes Chere! One of those who
had defeated Kefka! Well, now she would pay for her sacrilege...
With a screech of rage, Rokal flew swiftly toward the enemy
airship. The woman, caught by surprise, turned just in time to
see the huge creature stop directly in front of her.

     "Back in the name of Kefka," it growled, and drew in a
deep breath.