Chapter II

The Dream Of The Killer Beauty

If there was one thing Zell didn't like, it was going to the administrative floor.

Although he knew and was friends with most of the Garden administrative staff, especially Quistis and Squall, going to the third floor after being summoned by Cid usually meant work for Zell, and of the boring kind.

After being branded a hero following the end of the last Sorceress War, Zell Dincht had been offered all sorts of prestigious positions inside the Seed hierarchy, at one point being even offered the position of commander at Galbadia Garden. But for the most part, Zell had been happy to decline most offers, preferring to remain among the active fighting force of SeeD and overseeing the martial arts department of Balamb (a position that actually made him work somewhat, but with so many students choosing the gunblade and rifle, Zell considered his duty to keep the brawler tradition in the SeeD alive). Only Squall had been able to offer Zell a position he could enjoy (although most assume it was Quistis's idea). The commander had offered him the position of lieutenant, Squall's second in command in all things military, and considering Zell would have little administrative paperwork as long as Squall was alive (and no one expected the commander to go anywhere for a long time), that was a position Zell had no problem accepting.

But even still, once in a while Cid summoned him to his office and Zell knew that could only mean boring, administrative work. If Zell was being sent on a mission, he would be briefed by either Squall or Quisits, while talking to Cid on official matters usually meant disusing academic programs, money expenses or even worse, a new job opportunity that would make him break his "no paperwork" rule.

As Zell knocked at Cid's wooden and highly decorated door, the brawler only prayed the student he knocked unconscious by accident during class hadn't decided to press charges.

Following the knock, Cid's polite and professional voice invited Zell to come in, which he did, opening the door and entering the biggest office in Balamb Garden, obviously reserved to the man who had created the academy in the first place. The fake walls, made of the same high grade wood as the rest of the floor were decorated with various souvenirs from every corner of the world, echoing how long Cid had travelled far and wide searching for sponsors interested in his Garden project. Various photos also stood atop tables and drawers by the side. Cid was in all of these photos, smiling alongside many political leaders, other Garden headmasters both past and present, elite SeeDs… it just went to prove how far Cid's connections went and Zell knew the headmaster was more than happy to show them to any possible client he met in his office.

To Zell's relief, his comrades from the Sorceress War, Squall and Quistis, were also in Cid's office. Surely the two of them wouldn't be there just because a student pressed charges against Zell. That could only mean something bigger was going to happen, and Zell liked bigger as it meant action for him.

"Welcome Zell, we've been expecting you." Cid started, Squall frowned, indicating that they had indeed been waiting, and not for a short time. Zell was going to apologise for the tardiness but Cid proceeded to the matter at hand, obviously uninterested in Zell's (usually fancy) excuses. "I've summoned you all here to discuss this year's SeeD field exam."

"Of course… The SeeD exam. They must want me to oversee the exam this year…" Zell thought, as much as going to the battlefield thrilled Zell, overseeing others do is job wasn't quite as appealing , but it still beat paperwork anyday.

"This year we're having something special" Cid continued, managing to regain the attention of Zell who was starting to drift into his thoughts. "As you all know, Esthar Garden hasn't been around for long but this year the first students finished the course and are ready to take on the field exam."

Zell reminded himself of Esthar Garden. He had been there only once but the picture would be stuck in his head even if he never saw it again. Esthar city was huge, too huge to be believable without actually seeing it, but the Garden built at the edge of the city was nothing but colossal with its huge octagonal shape, the four majestic towers-

"Zell, are you listening?" The voice was Quistis's who was staring at Zell as he noticed that again, he had drifted into thought and quickly apologized to Cid. Sighing, the headmaster proceeded. "As I was saying, E-Garden still doesn't have enough of a SeeD organization to successfully plan a field exam, and thus their headmaster asked us to incorporate their cadets into our exam."

"How many cadets?" The question came from Squall, speaking for the first time since the meeting begun.

"That's the bad part. The maximum number of cadets in each year's field exam is 50 in Balamb. But as we all know Esthar has a much bigger Garden and thus a bigger cap. They selected the 150 best cadets to try the exam, and that's the number of people arriving at 0500 tomorrow."

The number made everyone in the room grasp, even Squall who was not easily impressed had to blink twice before the information was processed. But it was Quistis who first raised her concerns. "Sir, what are we going to do with 200 cadets? Siege Deling?"

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you Quistis, but your concern is understandable." Cid smiled at the lead instructor. "Our employees for this mission will be both the government of Galbadia and Esthar as it seems a group of corsairs called Sherkol's Raiders has taken residence in the barren shores of the southern continent of Centra and are raiding passing merchant ships. Now, while they are a sizable force, the scouting parties I sent tell us that they don't have any serious firepower, so for the most part, our cadets should be in no serious danger. It's the perfect opportunity to test such a high number of cadets in reasonable security conditions."

"And how will the transportation be made?" Squall asked, seemingly more interested now than when the meeting first begun.

"Your father, president Loire, will lend us four battleships for the duration of the operation. They will arrive carrying the Estharian cadets tomorrow."

"Sir, considering we're the only ones here, I take it that Squall, me and Zell are the ones overseeing the exam?" Quistis asked, polite as ever, although she seemed more nervous about the news than everyone else.

"Of course" Cid smiled to the trio. "This will be a groundbreaking operation and for that, I want nothing but the best leading. You will be joined by commander Brent from E-Garden in the morning and the cadets will be divided in 4 groups, each one of you leading a group. Squall will be in charge of the whole operation. Any more questions?"

The three SeeD remained silent and Cid concluded the meeting. As Zell saluted and headed back towards the door, half of him was thrilled at the prospect of such a groundbreaking assignment while the other half was cursing his luck for having to evaluate 50 students by himself." So much for the "No paperwork" rule." He thought as he pressed the elevator call button.

If Cid, Zell and even Squall had been ok with the plan for tomorrow's field exam, Quisitis couldn't shake the bad feeling she had about it. Even as she admitted to herself that she had no better solution considering the number of Estharian cadets, and that the mission should in fact be safe enough to test them, the uneasiness followed her all the way to the top floor of the dorm area where the luxurious rooms for the elite SeeD were located. With a smile and a waving hand she had wished her fellow partners from the war a good night, but as they turned to their respective rooms, she headed back to the elevator and left the dorm area to the only facility opened after the already imposed curfew: the training center.

Sleeping and resting would be much more useful to Quistis than training, considering that she was one of the greatest fighters in the world, one of the six that defeated Ultimecia two years ago. But she could not sleep, so instead she decided to take her frustration and tension on the helpless monsters who roamed the center. the plant creatures were greatly outmatched as Quistis cut them to shreds with her whip, slashing left and right with ease. After a while and dozens of the monsters covering the floor, Quistis was charged by a T-Rex, rolling at the last moment. The T-Rex was the dread of all students in Garden, especially those who didn't pay attention in class and didn't know the T-Rex could be easily put to sleep with a sleep spell, leaving the great lizard open for attack. Still, Quistis decided to face the mighty beast face to face, his jaw against her whip. Her skill outmatched the beast's power so victory was certain, but the fight would give her the rush she needed to get her mind out of her worries.

She assumed her battle stance and waited for the beast to attack. In response, the T-Rex unleashed a terrifying roar and lunged at her, its huge maw ready to deliver a mortal bite to the imprudent human. Quistis stood her ground, ready to dodge at the last second when suddenly, her world went white.

And then she heard a slash.

As Qusitis managed to see her surroundings once again, she could do no less than to stand in sheer amazement as the mighty T-Rex fell to the side, dead. Quistis immediately noticed what killed the creature as the huge slashing wound that run through the beast's stomach and ribcage was hard to miss, it's hide, thick as steel, was torn like a piece of paper. Quistis knew well enough that no one in Garden was able to do that.

"I believe that one will not bother us anymore."

Quistis, startled by the unannounced voice, turned around to meet another woman, blonde and of the same height as her, the stranger wore a trench coat despite the hot temperature and in her hand she carried a mighty broadsword whose blade, although stained with the blood of the T-Rex, seemed to radiate with an emerald glow. Taking a closer look at the strange weapon, Quistis noticed that somehow the blood dripping from the blade seemed hot… too hot for the body temperature of the slain T-Rex. Somehow the contact with the blade made the blood so hot it was… boiling.

"Who…. Are you?" Was all Quistis managed to say to the strange figure.

"A fine question" the woman replied in a relaxed and confident tone "but at this particular juncture the answer is of no importance."

With that, she took one step towards Quistis who immediately snapped out of her amazement. "Wait right there! You don't belong here do you?"

"It has been a long time since I belonged anywhere." The woman took another step towards Quistis, giving her a defying look.

"You are in a restricted area and I'll have to ask you to leave. If you don't comply, I'll use force." Quistis threatened, assuming her battle stance.

As if moved by Quistis warning, the woman stopped. She was in range of Quistis's whip and she intended to strike her down should the woman raised her sword even an inch. But she did not, instead she smiled at Quistis."I'd love to see that."

Quistis needed no more incentive. Fast as lightning she raised her whip and swung it at the mysterious female, ready to slash her into two. Her target didn't move, didn't even raise her sword to block the strike, the spike at the end of the whip would hit her straight in the face.

And then it stopped.

To Quistis amazement, her whip stood frozen in mid-air, the tip hovering an inch from her opponent's face. As Quistis tried to pull it back she noticed her own muscles were also frozen in place, solid as stone. She was paralysed and so seemed everything else.

"Easy mortal, I have no time to toy with you. My mission is to retrieve the information my master desires. But as you crossed my path, I have no choice but to kill you."

With that, the woman produced a highly ornamented handgun from her trench coat, raising it towards Quistis's chest. "By the way, it's a bad idea to go to Centra."

And then she fired.

Suddenly Quistis was somewhere else…safe… in a bed. Quickly she turned the lights on to discover she was in her room at the top floor of the dorm area. As Quistis reached for her chest in search for the bullet wound she noticed she was wearing her night dress, her usual uniform folded atop a chair, ready to be wore tomorrow. Searching for the bullet wound, she found nothing but the old scars years of missions and fights had given her.

"Was it all a dream? It was so real… I'm not hurt so it can't be real…" as Quistis resigned herself to lie down and try to sleep, her mind was racing. "What if it was a warning?"

There would be little sleeping for the instructor that night.

Author's Comments:

Ok, this chapter took longer than I wanted it to take. I blame school work... you know, college boys don't have it easy. I'll try to be faster on the next one, but I think it'll be a big one, and with the exams drawing near, I can't promise much.

If the last two chapters (including the prologue) were meant to introduce our new characters, in this chapter we set in motion the plot device that will bring the story foward for the next chapters. I know in the last chapter's comments I promised mystery and action and while I'm sure the mystery you all saw, the action was lacking, but expect that in the next chapter.

For me it's a joy to write about Switchblade. Her character is possibly the richest in the entire story and her backstory (to be revealed as we go) is extremely deep. I hope you like her (along with all the other wonderful characters of course :P)

Esthar Garden will play a major role in future events to come. I know I was vague about it, but expect more information and backstory about it was we go.

Sorry Irivine fans, but I don't think everyone's favorite gunslinger will be making his debut in the next chapter. but fear not, I haven't forgotten about him... or Seifer for that matter ;)

So anyway, it would be awesome if you could take some time to comment and tell me what you think. Take care and see ya on the next chapter, it's about to get hot!

JadeAlmasy: Again, thank you so much for your comment. I'm relieved you didn't find the backstories and descriptions boring. I was alittle worried about that. Hope you like this chapter too :)