Queen of Souls
By Soul Hunter
Chapter Two
The Esthar War Council used to argue heatedly with the members of the Science Tribunal regarding the restoration of Lunarside Base, the space-bound installation destroyed during the last Lunar Cry that freed the tyrant sorceress, Adel Van Thaylo. Internal politics advocated that the technology used to setup the roving space station can be used for other purposes aside from the imprisonment of the late despot. And while both sectors agreed to the concept, they fought bitterly against each other to get the upper hand as far as budget allocation is concerned.
In the end, the Science Tribunal won out due in no small part to President Laguna Loire's intervention. Despite the fact that he used to be a soldier, the Esthar sovereign felt it more beneficial for the expensive technology to be utilized for the purpose of positive research. Besides, he had never been one to promote the use of advanced technology for warfare. It's bad enough that they already have high-tech weaponry at their disposal: those developed during Sorceress Adel's regime. Worse, he was aware of clandestine transactions the War Council conduct with some private companies to develop more advanced weapons. And sometimes, these secret dealings had led to nigh-catastrophic results.
One glaring example was the incident involving a demented Dollet businessman, Ulyard Earl Kipman, who used his Estharian connections to sneak in a bomb that was meant to destroy Tears Point and kill all the diplomats in a recently concluded peace summit *. If it hadn't been for those scheming military generals whom Laguna consider to be the necessary evils in his ranks that he just can't do away with, that incident would never have been made possible. Good thing there were Balamb Garden and SeeD to save the day.
So for the simple reason of insulting the War Council, Laguna turned over half the control of the Estharian satellite project to Cid Kramer of Balamb Garden. Together with the generally benevolent constituents of the Esthar Science Tribunal, Headmaster Kramer had been making sure that the technology was being put to good use only. And today, he was reaping the benefits of his labor.
Though in a morbid manner of speaking.
The experimental orbiting surveillance probe shots displayed on the Balamb Garden Strategy Room monitor spoke out unspeakable horror, showing the carnage that took place in a remote Centran location merely a few days previous. The seven young warriors expressed varied forms of reaction upon beholding the ghastly sight. Before them, a huge picture of slaughtered Estharian soldiers glared dreadfully.
"Oh gross" Selphie uttered. "What happened to them?"
"Ewwww" followed Rinoa.
"It looks like they've been gutted like fishes." Irvine groaned.
"What could have done this?" Zell shot out.
"That, my young progenies," Cid Kramer began, "is what we need to find out."
He leisurely flicked the switch of the monitor to turn it off, automatically activating the soft lights of the Strategy Room's main pilots. Cid looked around, noting the perturbed expressions of the seven. He focused on Seifer's silent form and wondered if there's anything in this world capable of disturbing his seemingly indifferent mind.
"You're awfully quiet, Seifer."
The young Almasy didn't respond, though he noticed Squall and Quistis simultaneously turning their eyes at him.
"Two hours ago, I received a call from Kiros in Esthar, and he told me about the trail of genocide that started in a small fishing village of Romna, near the old orphanage in Centra our old home." The Headmaster started anew. "Fortunately, Edea ordered Gem and the other White SeeDs to vacate the premises prior to the first spotting of this unusual and rather gruesome event. Or else I shudder to think what might have happened to them had they remained there."
"Why, Headmaster? You have an idea what's doing this?" Inquired Quistis.
"No, I don't. And neither do our allies. Perhaps the only intel report that we have on this is the terrible fates that befell those who were in its path whatever it is."
Cid activated the monitor screen once more, this time displaying a more detailed picture of the massacre.
"As you can see, this entity or entities didn't intend to take prisoners. The soldiers were not merely killed. They were slaughtered. And" He paused briefly. "Notice the ashes and the blackened matter littered all over the place?"
"Uh-huh" Echoed Irvine.
"Those black lumps were once people. Murdered burnt to a crisp."
"My goodness!" The instructor bellowed. "Are you saying that it was a monster of some sort that did this?"
"Or a Weapon." Zell suggested. "A new one. No one could possibly be more ferocious than that."
"It could be anything, ladies and gentlemen. Esthar intel had been laboring to find out the identity of the perpetrator. But so far everything and everyone they sent out to intercept it was either found dead, destroyed, or lost altogether. And judging from the situation, I think it fitting to assess this as a class A threat. That's why I'm sending the seven of you." He paused again, tossing a brief glance at Seifer. "You are my best soldiers, and I can't think of anyone more suited to do the job."
"Well, Weapon or not, whatever it is is definitely toast, right guys?" Irvine proudly declared. But his confident smirk was quickly wiped out when everyone hurled a wry look at him. " Uhh right"
Rinoa giggled at Irvine's consequently sheepish facade. However, her cheery mood was replaced with discomfort when she noticed Seifer staring at her. She pondered deeply, he had been acting this way since the night they secretly met in the club at Galbadia Hotel a little more than a week ago **. Part of her regretted the words that she told him then, she wasn't exactly adept at hurting people who cared for her.
However, she knew then, as now, that there can be no gentler way to do what she did. She still felt awkward, always wary about the times when the two of them would come within twenty feet of each other. Until today, Rinoa still didn't know how to deal with the knowledge that Seifer still harbored old feelings for her. And for the umpteenth time, her mind was torn between wishing for circumstances to stay as it is and for them to go back to how they were when she was still sixteen.
But why in the world was she thinking this? Maybe she just felt immensely sorry for Seifer. Or maybe
No it's not possible.
"The first thing that you need to do is follow the trail of blood left behind by this thing." Cid spoke out once more, breaking Rinoa's trance. "No special stealth effects or anything of that sort. Just plain search and destroy. The photos that I showed you was taken from its last known appearance in what used to be a farming town at the northern boundary of Lenown Plains. That is where you're going to start. You leave tomorrow morning for a brief rendezvous with Estharian intelligence officials. So I suggest you all forget about the party and get some rest."
"Ohh" Selphie whined. "And I was gonna finalize the details of the Garden Festival with the committee today"
"Let's go, Sefie. That can wait 'til later." Irvine invited. And as she stood up, Selphie caught Zell looking at her meaningfully. She then shook her head slightly, silently conveying the message that Irvine won't be spending the night with her. Zell nodded before turning away.
"Seifer, a moment of your time please."
He squinted at the Headmaster, half-suspicious about his intent and half-expecting another fairly long lecture on the value of prudence and keeping his attitude at bay in light of this important mission at hand. Cid noticed his reservation, but chose to maintain his composed demeanor.
"I'd appreciate it if you can keep this between the two of us for now."
"What are you talking about, Headmaster?" Seifer returned quizzically. Now he's totally at a loss. Even though it had been quite a while since his misguided act of betrayal, he still didn't think Headmaster Cid to fully take him as trustworthy. For him, the leader of Balamb garden still remained in the list of people least likely to share something with him in confidence. What kind of secret could he be intending to reveal? And why him? Why not Squall or Quistis?
And the sealed envelope that was handed to him aggravated Seifer's bafflement. Taking the envelope from Cid's hands, Seifer stared at him questioningly.
"Open it." Cid ordered.
He complied, slowly forcing his fingers under a gap in the seal. The ripping sound was almost deafening. Could this be an official notice of his expulsion?
Seifer read the note. His eyes glared furiously upon understanding the message.
"Headmaster, you can't be serious" He shot out. "W-Why me?"
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Nobody said that spying would be easy. And even though he had been doing this for most of his adult life, the intruder still runs into annoying obstacles once in a while. For instance, he knew that it was going to take extra effort to eavesdrop into the just adjourned meeting the young warriors held with their mentor. The Strategy Room wasn't one of the most accessible locations in Garden. And the task was made more arduous by the room's structure. He was frowning earlier. Unlike in the movies, not all meeting rooms can be reached via a ventilation shaft.
Carefully, he pulled the fiber-optic tube penetrating into the Strategy Room from his present perch at the ceiling of the Garden parking lot situated right below it. Thank the gods for modern electronic surveillance equipment, he said in his mind. The tube, with a micro-camera and another sound amplifier inserted at the tip, didn't have to puncture all the way through the floor of the meeting chamber. When placed near enough an opposing surface, the tiny x-ray emitters in the camera were sufficient to provide a clear picture of the other end of a barrier.
Without abandoning his overhanging position, the intruder switched the small monitor screen in his hand to review the scene he recorded. He stared grimly at the youthful warriors, with their faces bearing a smugness that may have reason if based on their past, outstanding accomplishments.
The caliginous figure could feel nothing but sullen resignation. Through his mind's eyes, he felt like he was looking at an army of dead men.
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Quistis thought Squall would not be happy about this if he knew. She should be sleeping, and yet the churning sensation in her stomach obstinately denied her the rest. And she knew that it wasn't caused by the six glasses of Bouquet Merlott she drank at the party. Lifting her face up, Quistis stared at her pretty yet paling face in the mirror. She has never seen a more pitiful façade.
"Hmph" She scoffed. "Some queen"
Resigned to the inconvenient moment, the instructor just opted to while the night away with a good book. Who knows, it might even let her get the sleep she sorely needed. Walking leisurely toward the mini-library behind the study desk, Quistis traversed her fingers along the row of romance novels at the bottom shelf. She then relented, pulling her hand back in the process.
"Hnn no wonder you're such a lovesick idiot, Quisty." She quipped while turning around. "Do yourself a favor, girlie. Stop doing this to yourself and get rid of those books."
Too late. Just seeing the title of her favorite volume, Songs of the Skylark, was enough to remind her of her present heartache. And to think that so many men in Garden see her as the ultimate prize. But why is that, actually? Why is it that among the multitude of deserving men who would give their lives for her, she had to be enamored with the one who wouldn't? What curse is this that was forced into her life, compelling her to long for an affection that can never, ever be.
Except in the land of dreams.
Never mind that night. On the contrary, she knew that for her own good, she had to forget about that night. It only brought her false hopes.
But how can she possibly forget that night? No, she could not. Not now. Not ever
Quistis lifted her bare legs, one at a time, and slowly climbed over the soft bed. For the millionth time in her life, she will force herself into sleep, hoping that her slumbering consciousness will once again bring her into that dreamland. Her head rested on the fluffy pillow, then turned to the side together with her body. This bed was almost the same size as the one in that hotel room, she remembered. And softer. The hum of romantic jazz music softly permeated the room. Music that came from the same radio station where the hotel's pipe-in music was tuned during that night. She had memorized it. At the very least, whenever Quistis wanted to relive that night, she would have something to reenact the atmosphere.
But some things didn't have to be memorized. Some things just have the penchant to remain in her memory even without her trying. She thought she could still smell his cologne.
One night. One blissful, heavenly night. A night that will always be in her heart and mind. Might as well, she thought. It will never happen again anywhere else, anyway.
Curiously, Quistis wondered. How would it feel like to love someone else?
Anyone would do. All she needed was to love someone else.
Maybe the first guy to walk into her room tonight?
"Whoever's destined for me" She began to whisper as a bead trickled down her eyes. " let him come now. At this very moment."
She waited.
She laughed.
She didn't know whether to feel sorry or amused at herself.
"Good night, Quisty." She said to herself. "Tomorrow will be a better day hopefully."
Suddenly, she sat up, feeling another presence in the room. Her eyes then widened, surprised to see a dark silhouette slowly taking shape at the far corner of her quarters. Quistis consequently felt alarmed upon realizing that she wasn't alone. Before her, the shadow grew bigger and closer. And it didn't stop moving until the faint radiance of her overhead night light gave it dimensions. She was utterly taken by astonishment as the intruder took full form in front of her.
Within arms reach, he stopped and stood. Quistis didn't know whether to talk or not, to question the intruder or scream for help. For some reason, her attention was transfixed at his solid figure covered in both shimmering and flat black. She knew she had to do something. But she just can't.
And despite the black, reflective visor covering his face, she was aware that his eyes were exploring her entire body. She wore a sheer, black camisole with its matching lower article, and nothing else. Her milky white complexion contrasted sharply against the dark threads of that almost see-through fabric. Only a girl who wanted to tease her lover would normally wear something like this.
Quistis was aware of all these things, and she didn't even move to cover her near-nakedness. She didn't even bother to pull up the spaghetti straps that had slid down her smooth shoulders. She just sat there, as if mesmerized, and listened to the sounds of his breath resonating through the shiny, black helmet.
She couldn't figure out why she wished for him to talk. She couldn't understand why she wanted to hear his voice.
But when he did talk, his words chilled her blood.
"You will die. All of you."
End of Chapter Two
* As chronicled in Tour de Force
** This little rendezvous took place in True Destiny