Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII, or any of the characters…that's it.

The Imposter

Chapter 8

Pondering over Decision

"I didn't think we'd have to resort to the slap," Quistis' voice was the first to speak.

"I…I didn't think so, either," Rinoa spoke up next, her voice breaking, "I didn't want to, either."

It was about an hour after Squall Leonhart had fled from Garden unwillingly and Headmaster Cid had held a formal meeting inside his office with all the SeeDs and SeeD cadets he most trusted and of the highest ranks. However, they seemed to get nowhere with Quistis, Zell, Rinoa, Selphie, and Irvine talking about Squall's escape.

"You, Quistis, told her to do that when he doesn't leave?" Selphie asked, shocked.

"Yes," Quistis nodded, guilty, "I had to, since I already knew beforehand he wouldn't leave. It's never him to flee, growing up with him in the orphanage gotta teach me at least that."

"I was there, too," Zell said.

"Yeah, but all you ever did was cry and bawled when Seifer get on your nerves," Irvine said, chuckling.

"Oh, shut up," Zell said, "And you, you were too busy chasing after a girl, what's her name? With the short, brown hair. And you described her as what, special?"

"Enough!" Quistis said, her commanding tone came on, startling the other SeeDs in the room who were dressed more formally in their black uniforms. For a moment before, they seemed to forget the attractive young woman in the room used to be a strict, stiff, and authorative instructor, "This is not helping, you guys are all off the subject. Now, why don't we hand this matter over to Headmaster Cid, see if he got something to say? Headmaster, Sir?"

Cid nodded, impressed at how Quistis still hadn't lost her touch as an instructor with glowing authority.

"You see here, as you've already heard through the intercom," Cid said gravely, "Your SeeD Commander, Squall Leonhart, had killed a female cadet in Garden. This is, as you all know, is an unforgivable crime and we will need the three Garden's decisions on his execution. Unfortunately, he had fled. We are in the progress of contacting every town and city in the world so they will aid us in tracking him down. Your job, my SeeD cadets, are to always be prepared, keep your eyes open. Be alert for any incoming messages, by a messenger by foot, by mail sent tied to the leg of a dove, or by an Air Soldier, those guys in Galbadia…anything, and be alert whenever Squall Leonhart is mentioned…especially when he shows up for real…"

Cid swallowed, realizing he was talking about Squall as if he was some serious criminal that murdered for all of his existence.

"That's it, any questions?" Headmistress Edea asked.

"Leonhart?" a SeeD with black hair asked, "The Squall Leonhart?"

"Meeting adjourned," Quistis said, disgusted, "All dismissed. If we're gonna have questions, let's not have them be so ridiculous. How many Leonharts are there?"

The cadets muttered and whispered among each other as they stood and filed out the door of the Headmaster's office. Zell and the rest remained. Cid heaved a heavy sigh as his office clicked shut.

"What are we to do?" Edea asked, putting hand on her husband's shoulder.

"I just talked to the President of Esthar," Cid said, "He's willing to stand against us if it means defending his son."

Quistis nodded with understanding even if Cid wasn't talking to her.

"I still can't believe…it," everyone turned at the fragility of the voice to see Rinoa leaning against the glass window, her face tears-streaked.

"This?" Selphie asked.

"I can't believe everything…I can't believe Squall would do this, or did he?" Rinoa said, "I'm just so confused…and guilty. I've told him before I'd stay with him no matter what happens…I never thought this would happen. And I was the one who drove him away too. What was I thinking? He's my whole life…He has…"

"Rinoa…" Quistis said, biting her lips.

"Still," Cid said, "The evidence spoke all against him."

"I dunno, you guys," Rinoa said, "Maybe…maybe…"

"What?" Zell asked, sitting flat on the floor on his bottom, looking tired and annoyed.

"Headmaster Cid," a small voice spoke at the door, and Cid nodded, motioning for Selphie to open the door and let the person in. Stumbling inside was a SeeD cadet looking so young Cid was unsure he should be ranked as a SeeD yet. Perhaps he was just a trainee of lower rank.

"SeeD cadet reporting, Sir, permission to speak," the cadet saluted formally.

"Go on," Cid said, too tired to be formal.

"I've heard about what Commander Leonhart had done, Sir," the SeeD said, "I was with Zell when he was granted permission to search the Commander's room for any piece of evidence, Sir."

"Is this true, Zell?" Cid asked.

"I dunno," Zell mumbled, "I asked a few trainees and cadets to help, I didn't even look at their faces."

"Go on," Cid said.

"I've found this tape, sir," the cadet reached into his large coat pocket pulled out a video tape labeled 'My Confession', "I believe it is the evidence we need."

Cid looked tiredly over at Quistis and Edea. When they both nodded and told him to go ahead and play the tape without calling over the other cadets, he nodded and told the SeeD cadet to hand the tape to Zell.

"Let me pop this baby in," Zell said, looking the tape up and down and then slid it into the VCR positioned right below the TV screen. He pressed play, and everybody gasped lightly as the image of Squall Leonhart popped onto the screen.

"Hello, everyone," Squall said, "This is recorded right after I've done something I cannot believe I did. I've single handedly killed a female student in our Garden. I don't know why I did it nor do I remember how I did it. I probably can't say this out loud in front of public, so when given the chance to flee, I'll flee. If you ever come across this tape, then I guess you're sure I've done this, no doubt anymore. My apologies to all. When you catch me, lay me down with the harshest punishment and execution…

My feelings for everyone are still the same. Cid, Edea, you're still like a mother and a father to me. Quistis, you're still like a sister. Zell, Irvine, best of friends. Selphie, spunky little sister. Rinoa, I'll love you, always and beyond time. Please don't hate me for what I did. Ellone, too, my big Sis, take care of yourself, alright?

And lastly, Dad, President Laguna of Esthar, I owe it all to you. I don't hate you for telling me that you're my father too late. I just wish it could have been better. I remember all the nights that I was up, thinking about you and whispering the word 'Dad' over and over until it loses all meaning. I've never had a Dad before. Dad, take care of yourself and Ellone, and I'll be with Mom soon."

The screen went black, and that was it.

Rinoa was the first one to crumble to the floor and broke down. Selphie turned to Irvine's shirt and wept into it. Quistis put her forehead into her palm, a remarkable resemblance to Squall. Zell sat flat on the floor, staring at the screen in disbelief. Cid and Edea just stared ahead like zombies.

"It can't be him," Selphie said, crying, "He did it, he confessed…"

"It's recorded right after the murder, he said," Quistis observed, "So he was lying all along that he didn't do it."

"Of course, criminals aren't going to say 'yes, I did it'," Cid shook his head.

"I don't believe it," Rinoa sobbed, "It sounds exactly like his tone of voice…even if a person disguised as him and said it, I would recognize it by the different ways they talk. But this…this is how Squall talks…he's…"

"Laguna should hear this, too," Edea said.

"Yes, that's right," Quistis said, "Laguna should, we should call him later and let him see this. He got a special phone of his…"

"This is a very valuable piece of evidence, Sir," the SeeD cadet said, saluting.

"Thank you," Cid nodded, "Now all we have to do is to track down Squall…"

"You wouldn't happen to know…?" Quistis started.

"I do, actually," the cadet said, "I saw Commander Leonhart fled out of here. I myself helped him take the train to Deling to escape."

"Escape?" Zell asked.

"I knew if he goes there, and if I tell you, he'll be as good as a rabbit in a bag," the cadet said, grinning.

"That's dirty, kid," Irvine said, releasing Selphie, "But still, it worked."

"So he's in Deling," Cid muttered to himself.

"You've been helpful, kid, a lot," Quistis smiled, please, "Who are you? Are you new here?"

"Yes, Ma'am," the cadet saluted, "Name's Lukre, Ma'am."

"Well, Lukre, thanks for being such a big help, how old are you?" Edea asked.

"Fifteen, Ma'am,"

"You do look a bit too young for your age," Edea observed.

"I know," Lukre said sadly, "I know, but I do have some abilities that make up for it."

"Yeah, the ability to play dirty and backstab others," Zell said, then smiled, "Just don't do it again, kid."

"I'll call Laguna now," Cid said, with pain in his heart, "Quistis, can you please contact Deling for me, make it fast, before Squall gets ahead of us."

"Yes, Sir," Quistis nodded, then walked out of the office and granted herself permission to use the computer in Squall's room.

Deling, Rinoa thought, looking up from the floor, Deling? My father's the General of the army there…he'll tear Squall apart…!