Chapter XIV – Dark Messenger
An ominous cloud…
Conceals and reveals…
All because of one call.
"Oh, yes, yes, of course, my good doctor… Yes, right away. Within the next two days, guaranteed. Yes, I will inform them, but I'll have you know that Squall is—"
Dr. Odine interrupted Cid again on the other end of the line. The Headmaster furrowed his brows and tried to listen to the long-winded request.
"All right…yes, yes…if it's pertinent to the situation, then I'm sure he'll consider. Well, thank you for your patronage. Don't worry, I'll take care of it. Yes, good day." He hung up.
Cid sat back in his seat and heaved a long, long sigh. This news would not be received well. He stood up to pace around his office, trying to phrase the words in his mind to get them just right. Finally, after a few moments, he sat back down, took a deep breath, and dialed the number Squall had left him for emergency contact.
The ringing continued for quite some time before Squall was annoyed enough to pick up the call.
"Hello?"
"Good morning, Squall! How have you been?"
Cid's attempt at injecting enthusiasm fell flat, as most attempts of a similar nature had a tendency to do when it came to Squall.
"I was asleep. What is it?"
"Er, sorry to wake and disturb you during the last days of your honeymoon, but I received an urgent call from Dr. Odine a few minutes ago, and needed to speak with you right away."
"Who is it, Squall?" Rinoa whispered next to him. Squall held up a hand to hush her. She backed down and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his back.
"What is it?" he spoke curtly, hoping Cid will get the hint.
"He needs a team of SeeDs for a special research project – he wouldn't tell me what – and demanded a tailored team."
"What are the conditions?"
"He requested that the SeeDs must include at least a few people who were on active duty during the last War, people who knew what was going on with Time Compression. Since you and the rest of your team were heavily involved, I thought that you might perhaps like to investigate what is happening."
"What is happening?" Squall felt a tug on his sleeve and glanced at Rinoa. She made a circle with each hand and placed them on her face to frame her eyes. Squall nodded.
"That's the thing, we don't know, and we don't seem to be privy to any further information. Dr. Odine said that intel will be shared only with the team we send. So, what about it?"
"Squall, we'll be home soon, can't he just wait a day or two?" Rinoa pleaded. "Please?"
Squall sighed. He had been the (reluctant) hero for far too long, and wanted to waive the responsibility just this once, or at least delay it. "Just how much of an emergency is this?"
"We really don't know. Dr. Odine sounded manic."
"He always sounds manic."
"Well, yes, that's true… Squall, I do understand the emotional toll of revisiting this subject, or anything related to the War…so who would you like to send in your place as leader?"
Squall pondered for a second and not a moment longer. "Quistis." She's the most reliable. I trust her to get things done.
"Very well. I'll let her know. Thank you for your time, Squall. Have a safe journey home when you do come back. Again, sorry for the disturbance."
"Whatever. We'll talk more when I get there." Squall paused, then added, "And tell them to take the Ragnarok, just in case. You never know what Dr. Odine is up to."
"You paged me, sir?" Quistis gave a salute.
"Yes, Quistis, have a seat," Cid gestured toward the chairs in front of his desk. "To be precise, Squall asked for you."
She perked up at the name and asked, interested. "Squall? Has he already returned? Is something wrong?"
"No, no, nothing is 'wrong', so to speak, and no, he's not back quite yet." He took a breath before continuing. "We have a mission for you."
A mission? Doesn't he remember that I'm an Instructor now? However, if Squall requested it… "What are the details?"
"All we know is that Dr. Odine asked for a team led by people who have experience with Time Compression. They don't necessarily have to have had experienced Time Compression the way you have, but even just a familiarity with it will do. Do you know of any former students of yours who may have an interest in the subject?"
"I know several. May I presume that you are asking me to lead such a team?"
"Well, ideally, Squall would be leading it, but…"
"He's still away."
"Precisely. I called him for some input, and he was confident that you would be able to take his place until his return. Dr. Odine said he probably wouldn't keep the team for more than two or three days."
"I will do my best, sir."
"Assemble a team of nine, if you can. You will be the one to make the calls. Squall has also permitted the use of the Ragnarok."
Quistis nodded. She was hoping Cid would bring it up, but… "Sir, there is one problem. If you recall, you've assigned me to oversee the next field exam on the day after tomorrow."
Cid looked perplexed for a moment, but then he remembered. "Oh, yes! Ahh, well…you know that missions take priority over examinations."
"But, sir, Seifer will be taking that exam." She was worried, of course, and had every right to be.
The Headmaster widened his eyes. "Already?"
"I suggested that he take an early exam, considering his twentieth birthday is coming soon. SeeD graduation regulations…" she trailed off.
"Hmm. But Quistis, because this mission may be closely related to the War, I would much rather we prioritize this event and see how Seifer does on his own. I'm sure you've adequately prepared him for his exam." He didn't wait for her response. "You know the protocol, should these conflicts arise. I trust you will take care of everything."
"Certainly, Headmaster."
"Very well. The day is still young," he glanced at his desk clock, which read 0913. "Take some time to prepare, and please be ready to leave at dawn tomorrow. Dr. Odine and his staff will provide all the necessary information. You are dismissed."
By the time Quistis left the office and reached the elevator, she had already mentally compiled a list of suitable candidates for the mission.
Quistis was both exhausted and energized from running around. After tracking down the SeeDs she wanted, she left Selphie and Irvine a message in their dorm rooms about the mission, and she was sure that they would respond promptly. She needed a pilot for the Ragnarok (whom better than Selphie?) and someone to keep the pilot grounded. Two extra team leaders wouldn't hurt. Recruiting Zell was out of the question, since he was off visiting Ma Dincht for some much-needed time off (much like the Commander himself), and Quistis didn't know if she had what it took to keep Zell's energetic nature in check.
When everything was done, she sat down at the desk in her room, simply contemplating. She hoped that the mission would not keep her away for too long. Even though missions and assignments had their thrills, she preferred the comfortable routine of Garden. Sure, things were monotonous, but she still liked to maintain a sense of control over her surroundings. The familiar held more appeal to Quistis than the unpredictable. But how would that explain the strange tolerance (much more than tolerance, really) for Seifer? Maybe it was a sign that, like everyone else, she too can grow weary of tedium, and wouldn't mind an adventure now and then.
Adventure…
She glanced at her phone and laid a hand over the receiver. The mission is tomorrow. I'd better do it soon if I'm going to do it at all.
Quistis carefully dialed the number for Trabia Garden and reached the operator. "Patch me through to Instructor Cedric Dolan, please."
"One moment, Miss." Quistis was put on hold, and half-listened to a bombastic arrangement of Trabia's anthem. She snapped back to full consciousness when the music made an abrupt stop. "Instructor Dolan is not available at the moment." It was the same operator. "Did you want to leave a message for him?"
"No, that's fine. Thank you." So much for that, I suppose.
She rose from her chair and stretched, briefly looking out the window. She surveyed her dorm and landed her eyes on the stack of library books – books she had to return to the library to procure due to Seifer's brusque interruption the other day. Quistis chose the shortest read of the pile and headed for the cafeteria, hoping to do some light reading during lunch.
Balamb Garden's halls were slightly more lively than usual. Examinations have started and classes were over for the term. The cafeteria was a different story. Quistis was pleased to find that she had made it there before the lunch rush. There were only ten people in line, but unsurprisingly there were no more hot dogs left (so said a sign). Quistis took her place in line behind a young female Cadet, who blushed when she realized she was standing close to the Quistis Trepe, but the Cadet didn't want to make a scene.
Quistis took this time to browse through her book. Just as she was about to put on her reading glasses, she felt a tap on her shoulder. With her glasses still in hand, she turned to see who it was.
Atop a familiar uniform with a dark amethyst trim, a handsome smile greeted her curiosity.
"Instructor Dolan!" Quistis couldn't believe her luck. When he tilted his head and raised an eyebrow in response, she corrected herself. "Cedric. Nice to see you again."
"The feeling is mutual, Quistis," he said gently. "Here for an early lunch?" They exchanged other pleasantries, and Quistis offered to pay for his meal. "Oh, no, I couldn't let you do that," he said.
"Please, I insist. You're a very important visitor." She smiled and waved away his objections, and he reluctantly complied. They walked as a pair to a secluded table and sat down, slightly obscured from the rest of the cafeteria by way of some potted plants. "What brings you to Balamb Garden?"
"Well, Instructor Brahne is retiring," Cedric started, emptying some of a pouch of sugar into his tea, "and she had posted on the Instructor's Exchange Board that she wanted to give away her teaching materials and other resources to interested parties, so I came by to pick them up since it is examinations week and all." Quistis looked around his person to find that he had been carrying nothing. He noticed the inference. "I don't have them yet, unfortunately. I visited her shortly before I came here, and she said she would have them ready for me within the hour, so I thought I would have lunch first."
"I see." Quistis stirred her own tea deftly and continued, unsure of where to begin. "Actually, I had wanted to meet with you."
"Oh?"
As Seifer stepped out of the shower in his dorm, his stomach began to beg loudly for food. Training in the Training Centre was rougher than usual today, but only because he pushed himself rather hard. He went many a battle without healing himself in-between and, as a result, were able to hone his reaction times; one tended to be quicker when one's life was at stake.
He took to the cafeteria, half following his sense of smell, half following his ears. There was quite a ruckus there, and by the time Seifer arrived, he could barely make his way inside. The line for food orders was long and winding, but even bigger still was the crowd that had gathered around some plants. Seifer recognized some Cadets from his class, and even some upper classmen.
"Wow, she's usually here alone!" chirped a young female voice.
"She looks awesome without her glasses on!" some teenager commented.
"Is that the first time you've seen her without her glasses? You're such a newbie."
"I wish I were eating lunch with her."
"I wish I were her!"
Seifer rolled his eyes and started to walk the other way. Trepies.
"Who's that guy?"
Guy?
"Oh, he's so dreamy!"
"It's like they were made for each other."
"Hmph. Quistis is more attractive than him."
"They totally look like royalty… Oh, let me be your prince, too, Quistis!"
Sickening.
"I think I know him! I have a friend that goes to T-Garden, and she always talks about this really hot Instructor she has for this one class… This guy totally fits her description!"
"Hyne, I'm going to faint…"
"Oh, look, he's laughing at something she said!"
"Give us a name!"
"Cedric Dolan!"
Dolan. Seifer's head turned toward what he couldn't see. He wasn't going to try his hand at weeding through the fan club. The crowd was too thick, like a poisonous fog, threatening to wind around the Garden and bring everything to a standstill.
Whatever. Seifer unintentionally stole the words of his rival (and where had Squall been these days anyway?).
The trip to the cafeteria wasn't a waste. He wasn't hungry anymore.
Seifer strolled idly by the classrooms on the upper level of Garden and found himself feeling uneasy. This is it. If you pass that field exam in a few days, you won't be stuck in this hellhole anymore. No more homework, no more Aki, no more lectures from Trepe…
He paused to let reality sink in. What does it matter?
"Thanks a million, Instructor Brahne." Seifer recognized the voice but did not see the person. "Have a good day." He saw Cedric Dolan walk out of a nearby classroom carrying a mid-sized cardboard box. Try as he might, Seifer couldn't bring himself to dislike him. Not that he has a reason to dislike him…right?
"Need a hand, Dolan?" Seifer asked.
"Seifer!" The Instructor smiled. "Thank you, but I can handle a box just fine. Although, if a T-Rexaur were to come out right this second, I think I'd have to ditch the box and make a run for it," he joked. "Teaching materials just aren't worth nearly that much." The younger man smirked at the comment. "Have you been well?"
"Well enough." Seifer was more intrigued by why Cedric was even here. "You didn't come all this way just for this box, did you?"
Cedric laughed, a very gentlemanly chuckle. "Actually, yes, that is pretty much all I came here for, but I guess I got distracted by a certain Miss Trepe and we had a good conversation for a while, until we noticed quite a few students watching from a rather uncomfortable distance."
"Cadets here have nothing better to do these days," Seifer remarked.
"Most Cadets are like that, I think," Instructor Dolan said knowingly. "By the way, Quistis told me that you're taking your field exam very soon. Are you ready for it?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." Quistis was talking about me? Seifer's stomach chose this moment to remind him of its presence again. Of all people to embarrass me in front of. Thanks, stomach.
"Not like that, you won't," Cedric was generous with his laughter. "I almost forgot." He put down the box and reached inside. Before Seifer could see what it was, Cedric had tossed it to him and Seifer was now the one holding it with both hands. "Quistis told me to give that to you if I ran into you. If not, then I was to keep it for myself. I wonder how she knew. Anyway, I must be off. 'Back to the grind', if you will. Papers to grade and all that. If you see Quistis, please tell her that I said not to worry about a thing."
Seifer hid his confusion by uttering a quick thanks and a good-bye. As Cedric walked away, Seifer examined what had been tossed to him, and was amused to find a neatly wrapped sandwich. He peeled back the wrapper and took a bite of chicken, tomato and lettuce, his appetites savoring the long-awaited fare.
At least she has good taste.