FFVIII fan fiction
Part One
Rinoa stepped in the elevator at the center of Balamb garden. She leaned against the wall, it wasn't often that Squall called her to his office. The doors swung closed and the lift began to rise. Rinoa looked through the glass at the garden, diamond and jack were playing cards on a bench, the electronic bill board flashed a map of the garden, life had returned to normal. Rinoa saw the floor pass her, she was on the second floor and the scenery had changed, a group of people, probably students walked into the computer room, probably going to check out the new part of Selphie's web page. Rinoa shook her head, no that couldn't be it. They probably had a class. The new students at SeeD had been given the bum rush upon entering the garden. Quistis was finally going to let them into the garden training area to try and fight a T-rex. There had been so many new faces at the garden it was so hard to keep track. Another floor lowered into place and Rinoa stepped off as the door opened.
Rinoa walked toward the gold double doors that marked Squalls office. The doors swung open, slowly at first. Rinoa half expected Zell to go storming out of Squalls office because he had been refused a three day pass to see the Mrs. swim suit 2001 show in the nearby city of Balamb or Irvine having just received a stern lecture about public displays of affection. Instead Xu walked by, "Squall wanted to see you on the observation deck."
This was Squall's new name for the control tower. Xu was the normal pilot of Balamb garden but now that the threat to the world had ended Squall had parked the city in its usual place outside Balamb. Rinoa was a little surprised, "Uh, Why?" Squall almost never went to the control tower.
Xu shrugged as she spun around in the elevator, "Darned if I know. I'm on a lunch break."
Rinoa waved as the glass doors closed, "I heard they just got a new batch of hot dogs, you may have to fight off Zell and Irvine."
Rinoa could faintly hear Xu's response, "I'm not worried about those two."
Rinoa stepped onto the platform. There was a click then the platform started to rise. Rinoa looked up to see the roof fold back to allow enough room for her to clear the ceiling. Rinoa peered over the edge. There was a hole in the floor where the platform had sat. Rinoa heard some of the freshmen whispering about a trap door that dropped a disrespectful student in the training area. Rinoa didn't believe a word of it, although there was a fold in the middle of the new carpet Squall had put in…
The platform stopped at the control tower. She came eye level with Squall to see him sitting on the steps watching the space Rinoa had filled. Rinoa noticed the usual somber look on Squalls face. Trying to ignore this Rinoa was her usual cheerful self, "Hi Squall."
There was a brief gust of wind, it whipped around Rinoa's face pushing her hair in front of her eye. She brushed it back briefly. Squall exhaled sharply, this the closest thing to laugh anyone could get out of him, "Have you heard about the new restaurant opened in Deling City?"
Rinoa most certainly had. The restaurant was added on to the hotel. Rinoa had been particularly depressed about this because of her memory of Laguna there. That building had meant a lot to Laguna and to her. Rinoa decided to play dumb, "Why no, I hadn't."
"I've got to stay in Dollet for a week, I'm trying to establish a Dollet Garden near the town but I have to stay there for a week to talk with General Caraway. I was thinking that you travel with me and maybe I'll take a night off."
Rinoa walked to the edge of the platform she was still standing on, "Sounds like a date."
Squall stood up and walked forward, "I guess it does."
Squall was almost right in front of Rinoa. She saw what he was trying to do, "I'd better pack." Rinoa flipped a switch with her boot. The platform clicked and began to drop slowly, "Better luck next time." Rinoa knew that Squall had trouble expressing himself and she had sworn to cure him and she wasn't going to be that easy to kiss.
* * * *
The next morning Squall and Rinoa set off for Deling City. The Ragnarok was being studied by the SeeD engineers. They were trying to figure out the thrusters that allowed them to reach low orbit without the use of booster rockets. Squall predicted it would be another twenty years before they figured it out and they were on their own since Esher had once again disappeared into the desert. After their adventures a slow, simple train ride didn't seem so bad. Squall stepped onto the train in the car he had reserved. He was carrying both suitcases. Squall walked into the living room area and dropped both bags on the couch. He stepped back and fell into the chair. He leaned back, "How much stuff did you pack?"
Rinoa was leaning against the door, "Just enough."
"You do know that they have a lot of stuff in Deling, like towels, soap, food. You didn't have to pack all of it."
Squall looked up to see that Rinoa wasn't even listening. She was looking out the window as the train started and Balamb began to move outside the window, "You know if Selphe was here she'd probably be standing here rocking her head back and forth singing, 'train, train, take me away…" Rinoa turned around, Squall wasn't even listening. He was asleep already. Rinoa turned around and looked out the window, "Train, train, take me away…"
* * * *
Three days had passed. Rinoa spent one of them on the train and the other two in Deling shopping. Squall had spent most of the day in General Caraways office. Rinoa had gotten bored quickly and since they were staying in Caraway's mansion Rinoa had no trouble getting out when the boredom got to her.
That night Rinoa was sitting in her room admiring herself in a new blue dress. She was standing in front of a full-length mirror spinning around.
Squall opened the door to the room, "I finally got the night off. Hey, did I pack my card deck?"
Rinoa plopped down on the bad, "How should I know?"
"Anyway, can you be ready in a half hour?"
"I'm ready now."
"Uh," Squall was trying to sound as inoffensive as possible, "The restaurant has a black tie dress code."
Rinoa reached into Squall's suitcase and pulled a clip-on black tie. She held it over her neck, "Now I'm ready." She giggled.
Squall rolled his eyes as Rinoa tossed him the tie, "Why did you pack that anyway? I thought your SeeD uniform counted as a suit."
"I thought so to. I just got my rental tux. The restaurant opens tonight and our reservations are in a half hour."
"Then I'll get changed."
Squall could see that Rinoa wasn't about to give up easily, "I'd better do the same." Squall walked into the bathroom right as Rinoa was about to step into his way, "Damnit! Oh well. I can get him to loosen up at the restaurant"
* * * *
Squall was standing beside a limo, He was looking at his watch. The front gate swung open. Squall could hear the door man, "Have a pleasant evening Mrs. Heartilly." Squall breathed a sigh of relief, there was still time.
Squalls worries about being late all seemed to vanish when he saw Rinoa walked out wearing the white dress Squall knew all to well. Squall opened the door allowing Rinoa to sit down in the limo, "What's wrong Squall?"
Squall took a moment before following her into the limo, "Oh, nothing."
* * * *
Back at Garden Quistis sat at Squall's desk with her feet propped up on the table. She was twirling a pen in her hand. Since Squall was placed in charge of the Garden he had decreed that Quistis be promoted back to the level of instructor. He had also placed her in charge in his absence. Quistis enjoyed these brief periods as head master. With the crisis over there was almost nothing for a headmaster to do, with the possible acceptation of chewing out a new students.
The door burst open. Xu walked in leading a young man into the room. It at first appeared that Xu was walking behind someone. Once she got into the room she dropped the man on the carpet. As it turned out Xu had one hand around his throat cutting off the air flow. She was holding Selphies nunchaku to lock the man's arms behind his back. Xu dropped to one knee and held the end of the nunchaku by his neck, "Tell her what you told me!"
Quistis was already to her feet, "What happened?"
"Ah, don't hurt me! This psycho bitch put me in a chokehold in Balamb! She came out of nowhere. I don't…"
The nunchaku moved closer to his neck, "Alright! Alright! The black seed are planning an assault on Deling City."
Quistis pulled out her whip, "Xu, what is he saying?"
"Some new organization called black seed are planning to attack Deling City. Apparently they've been planning this for a while now. Most of the soldiers are gathered in Dollet and the plan starts in one hour."
Quistis cracked her whip in the air once, "Thank you Xu. I won't forget this. I'll handle the interrogation from here." A thought crossed Quistis's mind, "Wait outside. I'd like to talk to you in a moment."
Xu bowed and left the room. Quistis turned to the man lying on the floor, "Alright, who are the black seed?"
"We're a small organization dedicated to wiping out the sorcerers."
"We took care of that, Ultamecia, remember?"
"Well, yea. The problem is that the headmaster is planning to build a second garden in Deling City and we can't let that happen."
"What is your plan?"
"I don't know." The whip cut through the air, "Honest I don't know. We were to receive orders en'route to Deling City."
"So, what are you doing in Balamb?"
"It's a half hour train ride to Dollet from Balamb. I thought I could get there in time."
Quistis saw that she got all the information she needed. She picked the man up off the floor and walked out of her office. She pushed the man in Xu's direction, "Ready the Ragnarok. We're going to Deling City. By the way, what were you doing in Balamb?"
Xu realized that she was caught, "I was having a party with Zell, Selphie and Irvine."
"Mrs. swim suit 2001?"
Xu muttered, "Yes. They said it was going to be a good party."
"Ready my car, Apparently I'm driving to Balamb first."
* * * *
Quistis walked through the front gate at Balamb, there was definitely a party going on. As Quistis walked through Main Street she could hear loud music coming from the docks. In addition to her whip Quistis was carrying Selphie's nunckaku under her belt. If Deling City was going to be attacked she needed the whole SeeD team.
Quistis turned the corner of the hotel half expecting to see Zell and Irvine with a few other guys dancing and making fools out of themselves. Instead the entire city was there. The dock had been turned into a stage with about thirty women wearing bathing suits. Quistis rolled her eyes. She pushed through the massive crowd, "Knowing Zell and Irvine they'd be pressed against the rail trying to get a good view."
Quistis came to the rail where a row of guys leaning over the rail giving the girls cat calls. She saw Zell and Irvine with margaritas. The two clanked glasses and drank. Quistis roller her eyes again, "I must remember to play loud music on the stereo in a few hours when the hangover sets in." So far Zell and Irvine had not noticed her. She tried to sneak up behind them.
Quistis reached out and grabbed Zell and Irvine by the ear lobe and yanked. Irvine instinctively yelled, "What other women?" Irvine's expression changed when he saw that he was talking to Quistis instead of Selphie, "Oh shit." Zell said something similar.
"Squall says you two can't go to the party and what do you do? You ditch class to go anyway, and what's worse you get Xu and Selphie to go with you."
Irvine finally got his ear free of Quistis's sharp fingernails. He had already taken another sip of his margarita, "Oh, come on Quisy, it ain't like that! They wanted to come."
Quistis pulled out the nunchaku, "And where is Selphie? Probably in the ladies room with her fingers plugged in her ears hiding from the loud music."
Irvine and Zell exchanged glances, "That's probably it. You're, er, totally right. We'll go get her right away."
Quistis noticed that Irvine and Zell seemed to be hiding something. Quistis looked past Zell and Irvine to the pier. If Balamb garden had gotten up and landed in the bay Quistis could not have been more surprised. Selphie was standing on the pier with a yellow two piece swimsuit with a button that had #12 written in it, "We'll go try and find Selphie, she's probably in the hotel somewhere."
Zell nodded, "Yea, the hotel, that's probably it." When Zell saw the look on Quistis's face he knew he was busted.
The announcer walked out onto the pier, "Alright, let's hear it for the ladies!" The audience howled as all thirty girls waved and blew kisses at the crowd, "That was the swimsuit portion of our contest. Now for a race. First one to the dock wins." The audience stopped cheering. Apparently watching them swim wasn't as important, "Did I mention that after that the girls will be wet. I think a wet T-shirt contest is in order."
Zell mused to himself, "Selphie's a shoe in." Zell saw Irvine glaring at him. Irvine and Seiphie had become quite an item lately, "Because she's such a good swimmer. What with her seed training and all."
Irvine chugged the rest of his margarita, "That's what I thought."
Quistis still had her arms crossed, "Why is Selphie competing and why did she bring her weapons?"
Irvine laughed, "Oh, that. There was a costume contest. We were thinking that we could make her, 'armed and dangerous."
"Well, it's not going to happen. We've got a situation. I want you three sober and dressed for combat in ten minutes."
Zell drank the rest of his margarita, "Sure thing Q, we'll just pick up Selphie." Quistis tilted her head to indicate her displeasure.
Already the girls had dove into the water and began to swim. Zell could hear the announcer, "Number twelve is really going. I think she'll win for sure."
Zell could see the vein on Quistis's head swelling. Zell heard a cheerful voice, "Hey, guys. I think I won!"
Zell and Irvine looked down to see Selphie treading water below them, "You sure did."
Selphie saw Quistis, "You're here. See guys, I told you she'd take a little time off."
"We have a situation. I want you three dressed, sober and ready for a fight in ten minutes." Zell and Irvine exchanged glances. They realized that the fun was over. They both leaned over the rail. They grabbed Selphie's shoulders and tried to pull her up. They both heard Quistis say something else, "I want you dressed, sober and dry."
Zell and Irvine both looked up. They tried to pull up but it was to late. Quistis had pushed them both into the water. Quistis chuckled to herself, "I'll be waiting at the Garden. Report to Squalls office."
Zell brought his head above water, "Man, I never saw that coming. She made me drop my margarita!"
Selphie was giggling, "I guess I'm out of the contest. There's a ladder over there."
* * * *
Zell, Irvine, Selphie and Xu stood in Squall's office. Selphie, Irvine and Zell were carrying towels to dry themselves off. Selphie's yellow dress was drenched and the shock of hair on Zell's head that usually stood up was instead covering one eye. Irvine's hair was mangled and loose without the ponytail. Xu was keeping her distance so that she couldn't be blamed for dripping water on the carpet.
Quistis was sitting at her desk, the three wet students were quite a sight, "I can't believe you four, after this everybody in Balamb will think this is some party school!"
"It's not my fault!" Zell was already protesting, "Why am I being yelled at? Irvine's the one who danced on stage when they played Cowboy by Kid Rock!"
Irvine stood up, "Now wait a minute! You're the one who was flirting with seventeen! If you turned any redder I thought your tattoo would melt off!"
Selphie raised her hand slightly, "I was a runner up."
Zell and Irvine both turned to Selphie, "Shut up!" The two continued arguing, "You're the one who got in a fist fight with the guy who took the last beer!"
"Hey, I was drunk! I thought Raijin was challenging me!"
"He said, 'ya know' and you dive like he's talking about your woman!"
Quistis stood up and pounded the desk with both hands, "I don't want to hear it!!!" Irvine and Zell sat down, "I don't give a damn if buhamit was on the coast trying to blow up the island! You should not have cut class. I'm writing you up for starters."
Quistis reached for the pen at the edge of squall's desk. When Quistis tried to pull it up she found it to be stuck. Quistis tilted the pen. There was a click and a drawer on the side of Squall's desk dropped to reveal a gun blade. Zell seemed amused, "I was wondering where he kept that thing." A sharp look from Quistis told Zell to shut up. Quistis grabbed the other pen and began to right.
"There is a situation." Quistis said through clenched teeth, "There is a new organization called the black SeeD. I'm afraid they're going to attack Deling City."
"Isn't that where Squall and Rinoa went?"
"Yes. That's why we're going there in the Ragnarok. We're taking the senior class. It's time to give them some field training. I can't believe I'm doing this but until the black seed are taken care of I'm promoting all of you to acting field inspectors. You'll each get a small garrison of students. Remember, I'm trusting you with our most precious resource."
Selphie was already back to being cheerful, "The senior class?"
"No, the Ragnarok. Get out of here! You've got half an hour to get ready. I'll be coming with you. Xu, you're in charge until I get back. Your first job is to find out who was at that party in Balamb and right them all up." Quistis produced her whip from the drawer, "Zell, bring squall's gun blade. I have a feeling he's going to need it."
* * * *
Everyone was on board the Ragnarok. Quistis was standing at the head of the briefing room, "I trust you all know the layout of Deling city. The time is fourteen hundred hours. We assume that the ambush will take place later tonight. Remember, this will be your first field assignment. You will all be graded. Headmaster Squall passed this Exam not a year ago. Seifer failed this exam and got expelled. Zell scored a C average on his exam and his stupid ass is still a senior." There was snickering from the crowd. Quistis laughed at her own joke, "Those of you with a student id number ending with two numbers twenty four or lower will be placed under Zell's command. Twenty-five through forty-nine will follow Selphie. Fifty to seventy four work for Irvine. Everyone else follows me."
The entire crowd stood at attention, "Yes ma'am!" This was followed by the entire class beginning a conversation about whomever they were following. Quistis heard someone say, "I'm working for Selphie!" or a, "Cool, I'm working for a hot head like Zell!"
* * * *
Back in Deling City a parking attendant opened the door for Rinoa. This had been a better turn out then she expected. The hotel had been demolished, replaced with a three story building, "Probably has a dance floor."
Squall stood up, "I wouldn't be surprised." Squall and Rinoa walked up the red carpet. Squall looked past the velvet rope to see the photographers. Through the lights Squall thought he saw someone with a white coat standing in the corner away from everyone else. The Red Cross on the sleeves and the short blond hair instantly gave him away. Squall reached for his belt thinking his gun blade was there. It wasn't
Rinoa clung to Squall's other arm, "What's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost. Why are you so tense?"
"Seifer."
"What?"
"I just saw Seifer. He's over there." Rinoa didn't see anybody, "He was there. A trained seed agent like him can vanish into a crowd no problem."
"Whatever."
"I'm serious.
"Just relax. This is our night."
Squall focused on Rinoa. He and Seifer have always been rivals. It was probably Squall's imagination but if Seifer was going to come out of hiding and attack this would be a great time to do it.
* * * *
The inside was well decorated and very well lit. It was rumored that the building was modeled after the old Galbadia garden convention center. The restaurant was indeed three floors. The first was where most of the tables were. Squall felt like he was entering a different environment. With the violinist in the corner Squall was tempted to say something like, "Cool, irritating elevator music." He could also see himself getting a friendly elbow in the stomach from Rinoa. They were seated by one of the waiters.
Squall hadn't been seated for two minutes when Rinoa began to point out things about the bar that used to be here, "I see they kept the pictures of Laguna and Julia. They even have an old article from Timber maniacs. We should really mention this to Selphie when we get back…"
Squall rolled his eyes, "There she goes again." Squall glanced around the room. Several waiters walked out of the kitchen. Squall noticed that they didn't quite fit in. One had a scar on the side of his face, two had ear rings and none of them were clean shaven. Squall found his hand reaching for his hip where his gun blade usually rested. It still wasn't there. Squall didn't even bring it. Rinoa's shooting star was back at Caraway's mansion. Squall saw the three waiters just stood there. They were waiting for something. Squall was getting edgy, "Rinoa, do you think you should go powder your nose or something?"
Rinoa was a little annoyed from being interrupted, "I powdered my nose before I left."
"I'm sorry, maybe it's the light. It just looked like the makeup on your cheek is smearing off."
Rinoa reached for her purse, "Really? I barely put any blush on. I'd better go. I'll be right back."
Rinoa got up and walked toward the rest room. Squall breathed a sigh of relief, she was out of the way. If those three waiters tried anything Rinoa would be well out of the way. Squall didn't want anything to happen to her.
* * * *
Rinoa walked out of the ladies room, "I don't know what Squall is talking about," she grumbled to herself, "If he's going to interrupt me like…" Someone grabbed Rinoa's arm. Before she could turn around another hand was grasped over her mouth.
Rinoa was pulled into the men's room. She could hear someone whispering, "I remember when you used to dress like that for me." Rinoa's eyes widened, Seifer!, "I'm going to let you go now. If you scream you may get yourself killed. Do you understand?"
Rinoa nodded, "m'hm." Seifer released his hand. Rinoa instantly spun around and took a weak version of a fighting stance, "What are you doing here?"
Seifer grinned, "I'll explain that later." He brushed his hand over his coat. Rinoa could see the gun blade hanging around his hip, "Don't try running. Boys, come on out. She's still in one piece."
Two bathroom stalls opened at once. Both Fujin and Raijin stepped out fully armed and dressed for a fight. Raijin produced his staff, "You want us to bust some heads, ya know?"
Fujin only smiled, "KILL"
Seifer smirked, "All in good time. I see Squall isn't with you. That's good. At least that Leonardo Decaprio lookalike knows an ambush when he sees one. Those three waiters out there aren't waiters."
"So why are you planning to rob the place?"
Seifer turned t his friends, "Hey, guys. She thinks were here to rob the place." The three of them laughed, "Listen hot lips. Believe it or not we're here to help you out?"
"Why should I believe you?"
"Why else would I put Fujin in the men's room?"
Fujin looked annoyed, "PERVERT." She glared at Raijin.
"Were here to get you out of the city safely. Those three out there are part of a mercenary team called black seed. I've been tracking them for some time now and my search has brought me here. They're after you."
"Why?" Rinoa cut right to the point."
"What were the SeeD created to stop?"
"Terrorists like you!"
Seifer laughed, "Is that what Squall told you? Wake up Rinoa. They were trained to kill sorcerers! I know what happened to Edea when she died."
"Do you now?" Rinoa knew exactly what Seifer was going to say next.
"You may be able to keep Edea's powers from Squall but I'm a knight. I can smell it! In about five minutes those three are going to pull out guns and demand to see the headmaster of Balamb. That's Squall. They're going to kill him and go to his table. When they see that your purse isn't there they're going to come back here. Then they'll get what they want and I can't let that happen."
"Why the sudden interest. Do all men really want what they can't have?"
"I can either answer your questions or I can get you out of here and we can talk outside Deling in a van headed for our base in Timber."
Rinoa relaxed. She was in little to no danger, "How do you plan to get me out of here without walking outside?"
"Fujin!" Fujin spun around and threw her pinwheel. The pinwheel knocked out a security camera Rinoa hadn't noticed. Seifer drew his weapon, "Raijin, now!" Raijin took two steps forward. He held his staff in front of him and pounded the ground once. The floor cracked. Seifer raised his gun blade. With one motion he jumped into the air and cut down the light fixture in the ceiling. The lights went out.
Rinoa felt someone grab her waist. Suddenly she was falling. She landed on a hard cement surface. She could hear Raijin yell, "Fire!" A small fireball flew from Raijin's hand lighting up the area around Rinoa for a few seconds. Rinoa was in the sewers below Deling City, "It's a good thing they kept this trap door here. Raijin couldn't have broken through the tile floor and the wooden door if there had been a layer of cement. Thanks you two. Raijin and I will escort Rinoa out of here. Fujin, cover us."
Fujin groaned, "MEN" She knelt down and with one motion sprang up through the hole.
"What was that about?"
"You know Fujin. She loves a good fight. Don't worry though. She'll be fine. Raijin, take Rinoa through the gates to the van. I'll be along shortly."
"You can't go in there, ya know. We need you, ya know. If you stay, I stay, ya know."
Seifer looked back, "I'm not missing Squall getting killed for anything. Besides, the spy I left in Balamb should have tipped off Quistis hours ago. If I'm right SeeD agents will be storming the city any minute now and I know they're going to ask some really irritating questions, ya know?" Raijin nodded, "I'm counting on you. Just remember, Rinoa is the queen in our little game. Lay down your life to protect her if you have to."
"Yes sir, let's go Rinoa, ya know."
Seifer watched them run down the sewers, "I'll be seeing you around, hot lips."
* * * *
Outside the city Quistis, Irvine, Zell and Selphie looked down at Deling City, "Alright, Squall should have just arrived at the new building where the bar used to be. I imagine we've got five minutes. Here's the plan…"
* * * *
Zell and his team had just been dropped off outside the city. Zell stood over the railroad track. He looked at the city, "Alright boys. I'm missed Mrs. swimsuit 2001 to come here. Let's not get killed." Zell's group began to march toward the city. The train track let underground. This was the only cover Zell needed. Zell's mind began to wonder back to when he first entered Deling City on a train. The train station lead into the fountain and Main Street. The problem was that there was a long staircase because the train station was built below ground. This would be the perfect place for an ambush, it's also the first place someone would think to attack.
Zell was wearing his street cloths despite Quistis telling him otherwise. He wanted to stand out to the senior class for some reason Zell had been given the most soldiers of the four groups. Zell tightened his gloves. Zell cracked his knuckles, "Everybody, weapons at the ready. Zell stood at the train station, "Everybody up. I don't think this are will be guarded." Two seniors in SeeD uniforms gave Zell a boost up to the area where people waiting for a train usually stood. Zell's suspicions were correct. "Move out!"
Zell and two SeeD walked into the open area to see the fountain on Main Street. This is where the ambush was going to happen. Zell stood his ground. He insisted that he be standing in the front. Zell winked to the SeeD on his right, "I guess there's nobody here." Zell said a little to loudly.
Three men wearing straight black with a small amount of armor stood at the top of the stairs, "The City is under martial law. I'm sorry, we can't let you in."
Zell raised his fist, "Funny, you three idiots don't look like cops! You look more like SeeD agents."
The three men drew machine guns, "The city is off limits!"
All of Zell's men drew their weapons, "We'll see about that! Fall back to the opening!" Zell and the two soldiers began to back away. Zell could hear every SeeD hiding in the train station open fire at once. Zell was now hiding behind a column just out of the way of enemy fire, "Can someone pass me a weapon?" A SeeD threw Zell a machine gun, "Now you're talking! Keep it up. Once they run out of ammo we'll switch to hand to hand combat." Zell grinned. The diversion was going well. Now it was up to Quistis and Irvine.
* * * *
Selphie piloted the Ragnarok. Right now she was facing Deling City from the north. A screen to her right crackled then Quistis's face appeared on the monitor, "We're ready at the drop point."
Irvine's voice chimed on the microphone, "Same here. Let's light the city up!"
Quistis responded, "Irvine, you're reckon and air support, my team is the one that does the lighting."
Selphie could imagine Irvine's grin, "Then we'll try not to get in your way."
* * * *
The Ragnarok engines blared behind Quistis. A large team of soldiers stood by the hanger strapping down parachutes. Quistis was yelling loudly to be heard over the engines, "Selphie's going to go south at minimum speed. You are going to start dropping. This is a wide hanger, I want you going out in groups of three. The last thing we want is to get chutes tangled. Quistis had just strapped on her parachute, "This is going to be tricky. There's a landing strip outside the city hall. When the red light flashes and the hanger swings open you run. I want a two second space between groups. We will probably be dropping into a firefight, if Zell did his job there should be a few guards. Once you've deployed get your guns and start shooting anyone wearing a uniform."
Three ropes were secured along the hanger. Everyone was hanging on to one of them. Selphie's voice came on the intercom, "Quistis! We're on target." The red light came on and there was a loud hiss. The hanged began to drop. Quistis had already resumed barking orders. The first three stepped toward the edge slowly. They all watched Quistis.
"Go!" Quistis screamed over the engines. The first group let go of the rope and fell back. Most seed were trained to paradrop if the mission called for it. Quistis grabbed the rope, she would be in the last group. Quistis was carrying a handgun in a small pouch on her shirt. She was holding her whip. Quistis tied the leather coil around her waist and tucked the handle into her belt, "God save the queen." She whispered.
* * * *
Irvine's team was the smallest of the four. Who said that they were divided evenly. Quistis had known roughly what the student's numbers were. If was enough to guess and give Irvine the small group.
Because of Quistis's team landing in the palace garden they needed to use the hanger which left Irvine's team in the forward hanger where the needle nose of the ship opened up and allowed soldiers to run through if the ship had to batter it's why through anything.
This would be the hard part of the plan. The Ragnarok was designed to operate within an atmosphere but it was no jet plain. Once the Ragnarok had been refitted to handle space travel, back when it belonged to Ester research facilities. The idea was that as fast as Selphie was going a full reverse would take time, ten seconds to be precise. During this time the Ragnarok would be close to the gate in the center of town. Irvine's job was to get his twenty SeeD down to the tower to serve as reckon and sharpshooters if the need arose.
Irvine clicked on a head set, "Selphie, you there?" There was a cheerful, um'hm from the speaker, "Can you patch me through to 1025, it's am AM station."
"Why?"
"They were covering the concert in Balamb last I checked and with the time zones it should be going on for another four hours."
"I'll try."
There was a moment of static, then the signal came in clearly, "We're back at Balamb with what remains of the miss swimsuit contest." Irvine grinned, "Apparently there's been a cat fight between two of the contestants." The signal went dead.
Irvine tapped the microphone to make sure it was working. He could hear two voices that weren't the announcers, "Diamond Hawk, come it. Over"
"Xanna Roc here. I'm ready in the sewers. The black seed won't get sorceress. I'll kill everyone of them if I have to."
"I just hope you leave some for me. I'm looking for some payback after what they did to me."
"Don't worry. I'll save the restaurant for you. Over and out Kitty."
"Damnit! Don't call me Kitty!"
The voices went dead. Irvine's eyes widened, "What was that? Selphie, you getting your signals crossed?"
There was static, "No."
"Never mind then."
"Here's a classic from Kid Rock..."
Irvine smiled, "Okay boys, Selphie's piloting. There's a full moon and my station's playing my song. Let's rock and roll."
Irvine steadied himself on the rope that ran along the wall, "Well, I'm packing up my game and I'm a head out west where real women come equipped with scripts and fake breasts."
Irvine saw the hanger open, "Alright everybody, go in pairs. When you feel the ship reverse dive for it!"
"I'd buy a ship with a flag that said chillen the most, then rock that bitch up and down the coast."
Irvine began to sing along as he steadied himself for the fall, "Give a toast to the sun, drink with the stars. Get thrown in the mix and tossed out of bars…" Irvine and his partner were next, "I'm heading out west sucker, because I want to be a cowboy baby!" Irvine let go of the rope and dove out the hanger just as the ship began to reverse. The reverse thrusters blared around Irvine's head but he didn't let that stop him, "Rock at night because I sleep all day. Cowboy, baby !" Irvine was counting down from five with the music. When he reached one he pulled the ripcord. The rush of air around his head seemed to reverse. Irvine grabbed his hat with one hand. SeeD parachutes were designed to operate without a person holding the two cords for steering. This was to allow a person in free fall to use a weapon or operate a communicator. Irvine had but to shift his weight to change directions. He was right on target for the bridge. He could see the first three teams had already landed and were wrapping up their parachutes. Irvine then realized that skydiving in a leather trench coat wasn't the best idea in the world but it was better then a navy blue seed uniform.
Irvine landed on the roof. He quickly spun around and bundled his parachute. He tossed the bag aside. Twenty SeeD stood at attention, "Alright, you know the drill. Half of you face north and cover Quistis's team. The rest, scout around."
Irvine pulled out the Killjoy. This was a modified form of the Exeter he had used in Ester. Irvine held it up and spun it once. The gun clicked as the armor piercing bullets entered the barrel. Irvine liked the click, "That's what I'm talking about. Irvine stood up the north wall and knelt down. He raised the gun and looked through the scope. He heard the static in his head set lower, "Irvine team, in position. Zell's team is gunned down in the train station. Quistis's boys are just landing. Selphie. You there?"
Selphie's voice chimed on the intercom, "I'm landing now. How sure are you that Squall's in the new restaurant?"
Irvine turned to the west, "Sure enough. There's a black tie party going on in there and you know how our fearless leader feels about parties. The place is crawling with black SeeD. Should I start shooting?"
Quistis's voice came on the speaker, "Negative. They could get scared and start shooting people. Just back up me and Zell's team."
"Roger."
* * * *
Below the city Raijin and Rinoa were walking across a bridge. Raijin stood against the wall. He peered around the corner. After being satisfied that is was safe he nodded, "All clear, ya know."
Rinoa walked ahead, "Why is Seifer taking the time to protect me?"
"Sorry Rinoa, I can't say, ya know?"
Raijin came to another corner. As he leaned against a wall Rinoa walked in around the corner before Raijin had a chance to look, "If you keep that up we'll be here till…" Rinoa stopped.
Raijin rounded the corner quickly, "What's wrong, ya know?" Five men in black uniforms stood in Rinoa's way. Raijin drew his weapon, "If you want her, you've got to go through me, ya know?" Raijin raised both hands and held his staff in front of him, "Thundarga!"
All five black SeeD raised their hands, "Aura!"
When Raijin heard the word Aura his eyes widened, "Oh shit, ya know!" All five seed charged at once. Raijin swung his staff in a wide arc trying to keep the soldiers at a distance. The first ducked under her swing. He gave Raijin a large uppercut lifting Raijin off the ground for one moment. One moment was all they needed. Two other agents jumped into the air they spun around once and kicked Raijin in the stomach, hard. Raijin flew back. One of the SeeD materialized behind him. He wrapped his hands around Raijin's stomach. His hands tightened around Raijin's stomach. Almost effortlessly he jumped into the air and back flipped with Raijin still in hand. The two fell into the water.
Rinoa watched as the fifth walked toward her, "By order of the president of Ester and headmaster of Ester garden you are under arrest for charges of sorceress and traitor to your species."
Rinoa was getting ready to run, "What? Species?"
"By taking the powers of a sorcerer you are a traitor to humanity. Come quietly, I am allowed to bring you in dead if I have to."
Rinoa's head spun. She had thought that the sorcerer hunters had been long gone since Ultimecia. Rinoa did the one thing she could, she turned and ran.
She hadn't run ten feet when she was stopped. She looked up, the man she had bumped into was over six and a half feet tall, "Who, who are you?"
"The name's Roc and you're safe now."
The five black SeeD had gathered slowly but they were all poised to attack, "You, stay out of this!"
The man had long white hair worn back in a ponytail. He wore a long black trench coat with the sleeves torn off. He was carrying a saber in each hand, "Five men against one woman doesn't seem fair to me. Maybe if I even things up. Get behind me Sorceress!"
Rinoa did what she was told. The five men were charging for another spell. The man removed his coat and flexed his muscles. His body glowed blue. As Rinoa watched his form grew six inches in height and small chunks of ice formed on his body. His arms, chest and face had large crystals of ice growing. The man raised his head and gave a loud cry like a falcon. His hair shifted and crystallized. His hair was now spiked back accept for one small crystal that stood up in front. Ice highlighted his cheekbones and mouth. He crossed his swords, "Diamond hawk!"
At this two large blades of ice grew from his back. The blades bent downward and spread. It almost looked like he had wings. There was another deafening scream.
Rinoa looked down, the floor around him was covered with ice. Rinoa was barely able to stand.
In one motion he spread his swords and stood straight. The walls of the sewer crystallized and the water began to freeze. The ice began moving toward the five SeeD who were now shivering in the cold. The man's body glowed white and a stream of ice came out of his mouth. The five seed were blown against a wall and their bodies were frozen in place.
The Diamond Hawk returned to his human shape. Most of the ice in the area vanished, "What was that?"
"My little secret. The ice will melt inside of an hour."
"Where's Raijin?"
"Who?"
"The man I was traveling with. He fell into the water."
The man looked at the water. He raised one hand. It glowed white. As he did a small area of water crystallized and Raijin's body floated to the surface, "He took a beating from those black SeeD, he'll be fine with a little rest. I am willing to take you to wherever you two were going. I will even carry him."
"Uh, I'm not sure where he was taking me."
"That explains why he was leading. Did he give you any clue as to his destination?"
"He said there was a van outside the city."
"Oh, I saw it on the way in. I'll take you there if you will follow me."
He walked over to the mound of ice and picked up Raijin, "Grab my coat, would you?"
Rinoa picked up the coat and folded it, "What do I call you?"
The man took his coat, "You may call me Roc. All you need to know right now is that I'm on your side. Come, there will be more SeeD soon."
* * * *
Squall sat at the table sipping a glass of Sherry. He looked at the rest rooms every few seconds, "Where was Rinoa? I was hoping she'd get the message and go out through the window or at least come out of there after the shooting was already over. There hasn't been any shooting. Those three just stand there watching me."
Squall's eyes were fixed on one of the waiters. He whirled around when he saw Fujin sit beside her, "SORRY." She said as she bumped the table.
Squall was ready to stand up when Fujin grabbed his arm, "NO." She pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket, "READ."
Squall opened the letter
Squall, this may seem strange but I'm on your side for once. Rinoa is safe, I have taken her out of the city to safety. All you need to know right now is that the black SeeD know who you are and what you can do. They'll kill you and everyone here if you do anything stupid. Fujin will act as Rinoa to draw them away. Just play along.
By the way, your idiot friends at SeeD are going to try and save you. Be ready to think fast.
Seifer
Squall looked up at Fujin, "So, Rinoa." The words almost got stuck in Squall's throat, "They left an extra glass of Sherry."
Fujin picked up the glass and chugged. When the glass was empty she put it down and wiped her lip with her sleeve, "THANKS." Fujin groaned. She didn't like Squall any more then he liked her.
Squall took another sip, "You're the funny one if Seifer's gang, aren't you?"
Fujin glared at Squall with her good eye, "NO."
"He's here isn't he?"
Fujin groaned, "MORON."
"Those three over there seem to be keeping an eye on us. If you brought your blade wheel you could take them out. I have a feeling they're going to have guns once the action starts."
"DUH."
Squall looked at his glass. Then, bringing his head back he chugged the rest of the Sherry, "We wait?"
Fujin nodded.
There was loud gunfire outside. Squall stood up. Fujin grabbed Squall's shoulder and pulled him down, "CALM."
Squall sat down. The three waiters all turned their attention to the window. One of them walked over to the door. Fujin reached for her blade wheel. Squall grabbed her wrist, "Not yet. I think he's going outside to see what's going on. I think we can handle two."
The man opened the door. Thirty soldiers poured into the room. Ten went up the stairs at the end of the room. One raised his gun and fired three shots in the air, "Listen up. We're not robbers, we're SeeD same as those losers at Balamb. We're looking for Squall Lionhart and Rinoa Heartilly. They have thirty seconds to stand up or I shoot two people every minute."
Squall turned back to Fujin to ask for advice. When he turned Fujin was already gone, "Damnit. Why did I know that was going to happen?"
Squall looked around. He saw a shadow move up the staircase behind him. Fujin was going to deal with the people upstairs and leave Squall to rot. The gunfire continued outside.
* * * *
Outside Irvine was still watching the restaurant, "Quistis. Almost every black SeeD around the restaurant has gone inside. I think they're pushing their plans up."
Irvine received a response from Quistis, "Then we've run out of time. Irvine, start killing SeeD in the streets around you. I'll accelerate the attack. Selphie, deploy. Zell, break out the big guns."
There were two voices, "Roger."
Irvine cocked the riffle, "You heard the boss lady. Start shooting!"
* * * *
Squall heard gunfire from the other side of the building. Three spotlights came on. Squall heard Selphie's voice on a loud speaker outside, "This is Selphie Tilmitt on behalf of Balamb garden. Drop your weapons and come out with your hands up."
The leader of the Black SeeD was standing beside an elderly couple, "Alright Squall. Stand up now or these two are your first casualties."
Squall saw three spotlights outside, "Selphie will never attack that quickly. I've got no choice."
Squall stood up, "I'm the one you want!"
The leader of the black SeeD smiled, "I knew you'd come out soon enough. Get him!" Within moments Three black SeeD with guns were standing around Squall. Squall raised his hands. The leader yelled to Squall, "Where's your girlfriend? The Sorceress."
Squall yelled back, "She wasn't feeling well. She's back at the hotel."
The guard fired a shot inches from the old mans head, "Bull shit. I'll ask again."
"Why? I'll just give the same answer?"
The leader gritted his teeth, "Hold him up to the window, let this Selphie Tilmitt see her leader be executed."
Squall was lead to the window and held against it. His hands were behind his head. Squall heard three guns cock all at once. Squall looked outside to see Selphie looking back with a pair of binoculars. Squall observed his reflection.
The reflection shifted and changed shape. Squall's reflection looked like a person crossed with a leopard. She had long brown hair, two large bangs and a ponytail hanging around her knees. The face was reshaped to look like a cat and the arms and legs were larger then usual. Squall heard a whisper in his ears, "Quiet, I'm about to break the window, you're going to want to run like hell." Squall nodded quietly.
Squall could hear the leader yell, "Ready! Aim!" There was a pause. The reflection winked.
Squall held his arms in front of his head. About three feet above Squall's head the window shattered. The leopard woman had jumped through with her arms crossed over her face. She landed between Squall and the three black SeeD. She slashed once and knocked all three of their guns away, "Run you ideate!"
Squall ran to his right. He leapt through the swinging doors that lead to the kitchen. Rinoa wasn't the only one who had been here when it was still a bar. Squall rolled and came to his feet. He had just barely dodged the gunfire. He was against a wall in the back. Squall grabbed a small pipe lying on the floor. He was getting ready to club anyone who followed him. Squall heard a familiar voice, "A club? Don't you think this would work better?"
Squall spun around and swung his pipe. Zell raised his hand to block, "God Squall, you're stressed." Zell had a sword tied to his belt. He pulled it out and handed it to Squall, "Quistis tried to pick up the pen on your desk."
Squall realized that this was his gun blade because of the lion insignia on the side, "You found the lionheart, just what I need. If you and Selphie are here does that mean…"
"That Irvine and Quistis are here and the senior class is clearing out the black SeeD. Yea. Cool, huh?"
"How did you know?"
"We caught some guy trying to sign on with the black SeeD in Balamb."
"You were at the miss swim suit 2001 contest, weren't you?"
"That's not important right now. There are thirty guys in there. They've got most of the building covered. We can't get in. I slid in through the air duct system and you should have seen the mess they left in the men's room."
"Good. Have you seen Fujin or Seifer?"
"No. Ah man! Are those ass holes here to?"
"I saw Fujin a minute ago. I asked where Seifer was."
"Did she answer you?"
"Does she ever?"
There was a loud noise. Squall and Zell both took fighting stances. The leopard woman who had helped squall slid through the door on her back. She had three gunshot wounds on her arm. She hissed loudly, "Damnit, are you two going to help a lady out or what?"
Three black SeeD entered the room, both pointing guns at the leopard woman, "Now we're going send you back to hell."
Zell clenched his teeth, "If you think I'm gonna sit back and watch these losers execute a woman you don't know Zell Dincht! I'm one step closer to the edge, and I'm about to break !" Zell's body glowed gold for a moment. Squall realized that he was using an aura spell, "BEAT RUSH!!!" Zell went into a flurry of motion. He rushed the three black SeeD. Once he came into striking distance of one of them he began punching and kicking wildly. Zell kneed one of them in the gut. When he doubled over Zell spun around and brought his leg up. His heel came down on the SeeD's head. He dropped. Another approached. Zell Dove under his fist and made one motion. Coming under his swing Zell punched him in the chest. Zell had delivered about ten hits when he passed out. The third tried to sneak up on Zell. This was a stupid idea. Once Zell became aware of his presence he swung around and heel kicked the SeeD in the head. The SeeD blocked and caught Zell's hand. Zell side kicked the SeeD in the kneecap. Zell got his hand free. It was time for the finisher. Zell's fist glowed gold. Zell took two steps forward, he was going for the head. He made two sharp punches, one to the left knocking the SeeD to the left. Zell made an upper cut, this didn't hit anything. He brought his elbow down. The SeeD's head landed on Zell's knee. He bounced back and fell to the ground. All three SeeD were knocked out. Zell clenched his fist and made two sharp punches, "Yea!"
Squall stood against the wall with his arms crossed, "having fun?"
"Actually, yea."
"I hope that wasn't your last aura spell."
"Actually, it kinda was." Zell knelt down over the woman he had saved, "You okay?"
"That was pretty cool. How did you do that?"
"I just can't stand to see a woman in trouble."
The leopard woman chuckled, "Cool." With that she passed out.
Zell stood up, "Damnit! I was to late."
Squall felt for a pulse, "She's asleep. That fight must have tired her out. She's lost a lot of blood though. We should probably get her to a doctor."
"We've got bigger problems. There are still twenty of 'em out there. Squall, can you break?"
"No."
"Well, that's to bad. They're about to execute someone out there. Apparently our friend only got them mad. Squall, if you can run out there and do that lion heart move I think you could get all of them."
"I can't just break on command."
"Do you have a junction right now?"
"I'm on vacation!"
"Bull shit, you're on a mission."
"Alright, I took Ifrit. I also have most of the spells. I don't have the aura spell."
Junctions were a tricky thing. A person with a guardian force could invite it into his mind. They can absorb spells from others. They also have the power to push a human's rage to the limit. Zell was using Shiva. Seeing the leopard woman about to be killed had pushed Zell to the edge of anger. Shiva had focused this anger into Zell's fist. Most people who have a guardian force can do this but anger is manifested in many different ways. Ifrit was a fire demon.
Squall raised his sword, "I'll have to fight on my own. If I use Iftir I'll incinerate everyone in the room."
Zell had an idea, "Squall. You know I'm your friend, right?"
"Yes."
"And if I hurt you, I'm sorry. I really am."
"What are you getting at?"
Zell punched Squall in the stomach. Squall fell to his knees. Zell stood over him, "Sorry dude." Zell hit Squall across the face twice, "I need you mad."
Squall's head lowered for a moment. Squall looked up. He was smiling and his pupils had turned blood red, "You want me mad Zell? You've got it!"
Squall stood up. He held his gun blade in his right hand. The lion on the side began to burn. Squall charged through the doors. Zell half expected Squall to attack him, he didn't feel right about hitting his best friend.
* * * *
Squall had come through the doors like he was one fire. He would take one swing, killing a SeeD. Without even raising his weapon he'd run to the next SeeD and swing upward, also killing his victim. Squall had finished off all but one of the SeeD. Squall calmed down. He wanted to leave at least one of them alive for questioning. Nobody was going to try to take Rinoa without answering to him. The last one was against a wall, his gun was shaking in his hand.
Squall's attention focused on him. Squall's gun blade was resting on his shoulder, "Alright, this can be really painful or sort of painful. Today it's victim's choice. Who are you working for?"
"We're the black SeeD"
"I asked who you are working for, not who you are. I could care less who you are."
The last SeeD realized he was armed and that Squalls gun blade wasn't a long-range weapon. He raised his gun.
Squall screamed with anger. With one motion Squall rushed forward and slashed upward, slicing the gun in half. Squall stabbed forward. The blade of his gun was inches from the SeeD's neck, "You're going to answer me or I'm going to slice you into pieces and feed you to my GF. Where's Rinoa!"
Squall heard someone laughing, "You expect a black SeeD to give up information? They've had more training then we did."
Squall knew that voice. Squall turned around, "Seifer! I thought I smelled hair jell and dead rat."
The SeeD Squall had been holding moved away and began running for the door. Fujin whirled around and threw her blade wheel. Squall held up his sword. If the blade touched the sword it would stop. The blade cut across the SeeD's throat. He fell dead, "I was in the middle of an interrogation."
"He wouldn't have told you anything."
Squall raised his sword, he was mad now. Squall charged.
Fujin was getting ready to charge. Seifer made a motion that unquestionably meant, "Stay back. Seifer jumped into the air and pulled out his gun blade. He landed and charged straight at Squall. They met in the center of the room. Their blades were crossed and they were face to face.
"I'm going to get you to calm down if I have to finish what I started with your face!"
"Where's Rinoa?"
"I've told you she's safe you bad Leonardo Decaprio lookalike."
Squall realized that Raijin wasn't with them, "I'll try this another way. Where's Raijin?" Squall pushed Seifer back. Squall took three steps back and took a more aggressive stance. Seifer had done the same.
There was a loud growl. Squall and Seifer both looked to the kitchen to see the leopard woman leading against Zell, "your girlfriend's in good hands. My partner's in the sewers waiting for her. Your moron flunkey, Raijin, didn't know that there were five black SeeD down in the sewers waiting for him. If you were any kind of a leader you'd know that!" The leopard woman passed out again."
Squall gritted his teeth, "Who's the cat?"
Seifer's eyes locked on Squall, "I thought she was one of yours."
"You're on my side?"
"That's what I said."
"You two get Raijin, we'll get Rinoa, and we're taking the cat."
"You can have the cat but we need Rinoa."
"Then we've got a problem." Squall and Seifer were staring each other down.
Zell was getting annoyed, "Squall. This won't do jack! We've mixed it up with these two before. Walk away."
Squall's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, "How can you say that?"
"Dude, they say they're on our side, for what it's worth, I believe them. Let's just walk away. We'll get Rinoa back later."
Squall said under his breath, "You're damned right we will."
Seifer smirked and he and Fujin turned and walked out the door.
Zell and Squall were now holding the leopard woman. Zell took off his headset and handed it to Squall, "Irvine want's to talk to you."
Squall put on the headset, "This is Squall, over."
"Great to hear your voice fearless leader. I've got a clear shot at Seifer and Fujin, believe it or not. They just left the building and I'm over the bridge. Do I take the shot?"
Squall's eyes widened, "Negative. Do not take the shot. They're the only ones who know where Rinoa is. Watch them. See which way they go."
"Roger."
"Common Zell. Signal Selphie that we've won. Let's get her back to the Ragnarok."
* * * *
Squall, Zell, Selphie, Irvine and Quistis all walked back to the Ragnarok, which Selphie had parked outside the city. Selphie punched a set of controls that triggered the hanger door to open. The hanger dropped. Sitting on top of the hanger were two figures. One was Rinoa, the other Squall didn't recognize. He was six and a half feet tall with long white hair. He and Rinoa were talking quietly.
Squall, Zell and Selphie drew their weapons and took fighting stances, "Who are you!"
The man stood up and drew two swords. Rinoa saw what was happening. She jumped to her feet and stood in front of her new friend with her arms spread, "Wait a minute! He's on our side."
Squall tied his gun blade to his belt and walked forward, "Rinoa, what in the hell is going on?"
"Apparently there's a new gardens somewhere that produces black SeeD, the same way Edea's garden had white SeeD. These guys figured out that I still have about half of Adel's powers. Seifer was trying to get me out of the city where I'd be safe but when the black SeeD ambushed me and Raijin, Xanna here saved me and brought me here."
"Please, I'd prefer to be called Roc."
Squall wasn't quite convinced, "Okay, Roc, where's Raijin?"
"Oh, when he came to I told him what happened. Once he was convinced I wasn't working for the black SeeD he left, something about meeting up with his friends, ya know."
"Okay, so why is it so important to you that Rinoa should be safe?"
"I'm trying to bring down the black SeeD for what they did to me but my partner and I can't do it alone."
Squall snapped his fingers at Zell and Selphie. They brought the leopard woman forward, "Your partner?"
Roc reacted, "Kiyoko! What happened?"
"She took about three gunshot wounds to the arm. She saved my life."
"That was to be expected. Do you have medical facilities?"
"Yes, back at Balamb. We'll have to take her back in the Ragnarok. I'm a little worried to move her."
"Kiyoko is a very fast healer. It's the cat in her really. If you are taking Kiyoko back I'd like to come with you. I think I could be of use to you."
Rinoa said quietly, "He's not kidding. I saw him cast ice magic like a sorcerer."
"I am honored but I am no sorcerer. My body is not that of a human. Come, Kiyoko is growing weaker."
Part One
Rinoa stepped in the elevator at the center of Balamb garden. She leaned against the wall, it wasn't often that Squall called her to his office. The doors swung closed and the lift began to rise. Rinoa looked through the glass at the garden, diamond and jack were playing cards on a bench, the electronic bill board flashed a map of the garden, life had returned to normal. Rinoa saw the floor pass her, she was on the second floor and the scenery had changed, a group of people, probably students walked into the computer room, probably going to check out the new part of Selphie's web page. Rinoa shook her head, no that couldn't be it. They probably had a class. The new students at SeeD had been given the bum rush upon entering the garden. Quistis was finally going to let them into the garden training area to try and fight a T-rex. There had been so many new faces at the garden it was so hard to keep track. Another floor lowered into place and Rinoa stepped off as the door opened.
Rinoa walked toward the gold double doors that marked Squalls office. The doors swung open, slowly at first. Rinoa half expected Zell to go storming out of Squalls office because he had been refused a three day pass to see the Mrs. swim suit 2001 show in the nearby city of Balamb or Irvine having just received a stern lecture about public displays of affection. Instead Xu walked by, "Squall wanted to see you on the observation deck."
This was Squall's new name for the control tower. Xu was the normal pilot of Balamb garden but now that the threat to the world had ended Squall had parked the city in its usual place outside Balamb. Rinoa was a little surprised, "Uh, Why?" Squall almost never went to the control tower.
Xu shrugged as she spun around in the elevator, "Darned if I know. I'm on a lunch break."
Rinoa waved as the glass doors closed, "I heard they just got a new batch of hot dogs, you may have to fight off Zell and Irvine."
Rinoa could faintly hear Xu's response, "I'm not worried about those two."
Rinoa stepped onto the platform. There was a click then the platform started to rise. Rinoa looked up to see the roof fold back to allow enough room for her to clear the ceiling. Rinoa peered over the edge. There was a hole in the floor where the platform had sat. Rinoa heard some of the freshmen whispering about a trap door that dropped a disrespectful student in the training area. Rinoa didn't believe a word of it, although there was a fold in the middle of the new carpet Squall had put in…
The platform stopped at the control tower. She came eye level with Squall to see him sitting on the steps watching the space Rinoa had filled. Rinoa noticed the usual somber look on Squalls face. Trying to ignore this Rinoa was her usual cheerful self, "Hi Squall."
There was a brief gust of wind, it whipped around Rinoa's face pushing her hair in front of her eye. She brushed it back briefly. Squall exhaled sharply, this the closest thing to laugh anyone could get out of him, "Have you heard about the new restaurant opened in Deling City?"
Rinoa most certainly had. The restaurant was added on to the hotel. Rinoa had been particularly depressed about this because of her memory of Laguna there. That building had meant a lot to Laguna and to her. Rinoa decided to play dumb, "Why no, I hadn't."
"I've got to stay in Dollet for a week, I'm trying to establish a Dollet Garden near the town but I have to stay there for a week to talk with General Caraway. I was thinking that you travel with me and maybe I'll take a night off."
Rinoa walked to the edge of the platform she was still standing on, "Sounds like a date."
Squall stood up and walked forward, "I guess it does."
Squall was almost right in front of Rinoa. She saw what he was trying to do, "I'd better pack." Rinoa flipped a switch with her boot. The platform clicked and began to drop slowly, "Better luck next time." Rinoa knew that Squall had trouble expressing himself and she had sworn to cure him and she wasn't going to be that easy to kiss.
* * * *
The next morning Squall and Rinoa set off for Deling City. The Ragnarok was being studied by the SeeD engineers. They were trying to figure out the thrusters that allowed them to reach low orbit without the use of booster rockets. Squall predicted it would be another twenty years before they figured it out and they were on their own since Esher had once again disappeared into the desert. After their adventures a slow, simple train ride didn't seem so bad. Squall stepped onto the train in the car he had reserved. He was carrying both suitcases. Squall walked into the living room area and dropped both bags on the couch. He stepped back and fell into the chair. He leaned back, "How much stuff did you pack?"
Rinoa was leaning against the door, "Just enough."
"You do know that they have a lot of stuff in Deling, like towels, soap, food. You didn't have to pack all of it."
Squall looked up to see that Rinoa wasn't even listening. She was looking out the window as the train started and Balamb began to move outside the window, "You know if Selphe was here she'd probably be standing here rocking her head back and forth singing, 'train, train, take me away…" Rinoa turned around, Squall wasn't even listening. He was asleep already. Rinoa turned around and looked out the window, "Train, train, take me away…"
* * * *
Three days had passed. Rinoa spent one of them on the train and the other two in Deling shopping. Squall had spent most of the day in General Caraways office. Rinoa had gotten bored quickly and since they were staying in Caraway's mansion Rinoa had no trouble getting out when the boredom got to her.
That night Rinoa was sitting in her room admiring herself in a new blue dress. She was standing in front of a full-length mirror spinning around.
Squall opened the door to the room, "I finally got the night off. Hey, did I pack my card deck?"
Rinoa plopped down on the bad, "How should I know?"
"Anyway, can you be ready in a half hour?"
"I'm ready now."
"Uh," Squall was trying to sound as inoffensive as possible, "The restaurant has a black tie dress code."
Rinoa reached into Squall's suitcase and pulled a clip-on black tie. She held it over her neck, "Now I'm ready." She giggled.
Squall rolled his eyes as Rinoa tossed him the tie, "Why did you pack that anyway? I thought your SeeD uniform counted as a suit."
"I thought so to. I just got my rental tux. The restaurant opens tonight and our reservations are in a half hour."
"Then I'll get changed."
Squall could see that Rinoa wasn't about to give up easily, "I'd better do the same." Squall walked into the bathroom right as Rinoa was about to step into his way, "Damnit! Oh well. I can get him to loosen up at the restaurant"
* * * *
Squall was standing beside a limo, He was looking at his watch. The front gate swung open. Squall could hear the door man, "Have a pleasant evening Mrs. Heartilly." Squall breathed a sigh of relief, there was still time.
Squalls worries about being late all seemed to vanish when he saw Rinoa walked out wearing the white dress Squall knew all to well. Squall opened the door allowing Rinoa to sit down in the limo, "What's wrong Squall?"
Squall took a moment before following her into the limo, "Oh, nothing."
* * * *
Back at Garden Quistis sat at Squall's desk with her feet propped up on the table. She was twirling a pen in her hand. Since Squall was placed in charge of the Garden he had decreed that Quistis be promoted back to the level of instructor. He had also placed her in charge in his absence. Quistis enjoyed these brief periods as head master. With the crisis over there was almost nothing for a headmaster to do, with the possible acceptation of chewing out a new students.
The door burst open. Xu walked in leading a young man into the room. It at first appeared that Xu was walking behind someone. Once she got into the room she dropped the man on the carpet. As it turned out Xu had one hand around his throat cutting off the air flow. She was holding Selphies nunchaku to lock the man's arms behind his back. Xu dropped to one knee and held the end of the nunchaku by his neck, "Tell her what you told me!"
Quistis was already to her feet, "What happened?"
"Ah, don't hurt me! This psycho bitch put me in a chokehold in Balamb! She came out of nowhere. I don't…"
The nunchaku moved closer to his neck, "Alright! Alright! The black seed are planning an assault on Deling City."
Quistis pulled out her whip, "Xu, what is he saying?"
"Some new organization called black seed are planning to attack Deling City. Apparently they've been planning this for a while now. Most of the soldiers are gathered in Dollet and the plan starts in one hour."
Quistis cracked her whip in the air once, "Thank you Xu. I won't forget this. I'll handle the interrogation from here." A thought crossed Quistis's mind, "Wait outside. I'd like to talk to you in a moment."
Xu bowed and left the room. Quistis turned to the man lying on the floor, "Alright, who are the black seed?"
"We're a small organization dedicated to wiping out the sorcerers."
"We took care of that, Ultamecia, remember?"
"Well, yea. The problem is that the headmaster is planning to build a second garden in Deling City and we can't let that happen."
"What is your plan?"
"I don't know." The whip cut through the air, "Honest I don't know. We were to receive orders en'route to Deling City."
"So, what are you doing in Balamb?"
"It's a half hour train ride to Dollet from Balamb. I thought I could get there in time."
Quistis saw that she got all the information she needed. She picked the man up off the floor and walked out of her office. She pushed the man in Xu's direction, "Ready the Ragnarok. We're going to Deling City. By the way, what were you doing in Balamb?"
Xu realized that she was caught, "I was having a party with Zell, Selphie and Irvine."
"Mrs. swim suit 2001?"
Xu muttered, "Yes. They said it was going to be a good party."
"Ready my car, Apparently I'm driving to Balamb first."
* * * *
Quistis walked through the front gate at Balamb, there was definitely a party going on. As Quistis walked through Main Street she could hear loud music coming from the docks. In addition to her whip Quistis was carrying Selphie's nunckaku under her belt. If Deling City was going to be attacked she needed the whole SeeD team.
Quistis turned the corner of the hotel half expecting to see Zell and Irvine with a few other guys dancing and making fools out of themselves. Instead the entire city was there. The dock had been turned into a stage with about thirty women wearing bathing suits. Quistis rolled her eyes. She pushed through the massive crowd, "Knowing Zell and Irvine they'd be pressed against the rail trying to get a good view."
Quistis came to the rail where a row of guys leaning over the rail giving the girls cat calls. She saw Zell and Irvine with margaritas. The two clanked glasses and drank. Quistis roller her eyes again, "I must remember to play loud music on the stereo in a few hours when the hangover sets in." So far Zell and Irvine had not noticed her. She tried to sneak up behind them.
Quistis reached out and grabbed Zell and Irvine by the ear lobe and yanked. Irvine instinctively yelled, "What other women?" Irvine's expression changed when he saw that he was talking to Quistis instead of Selphie, "Oh shit." Zell said something similar.
"Squall says you two can't go to the party and what do you do? You ditch class to go anyway, and what's worse you get Xu and Selphie to go with you."
Irvine finally got his ear free of Quistis's sharp fingernails. He had already taken another sip of his margarita, "Oh, come on Quisy, it ain't like that! They wanted to come."
Quistis pulled out the nunchaku, "And where is Selphie? Probably in the ladies room with her fingers plugged in her ears hiding from the loud music."
Irvine and Zell exchanged glances, "That's probably it. You're, er, totally right. We'll go get her right away."
Quistis noticed that Irvine and Zell seemed to be hiding something. Quistis looked past Zell and Irvine to the pier. If Balamb garden had gotten up and landed in the bay Quistis could not have been more surprised. Selphie was standing on the pier with a yellow two piece swimsuit with a button that had #12 written in it, "We'll go try and find Selphie, she's probably in the hotel somewhere."
Zell nodded, "Yea, the hotel, that's probably it." When Zell saw the look on Quistis's face he knew he was busted.
The announcer walked out onto the pier, "Alright, let's hear it for the ladies!" The audience howled as all thirty girls waved and blew kisses at the crowd, "That was the swimsuit portion of our contest. Now for a race. First one to the dock wins." The audience stopped cheering. Apparently watching them swim wasn't as important, "Did I mention that after that the girls will be wet. I think a wet T-shirt contest is in order."
Zell mused to himself, "Selphie's a shoe in." Zell saw Irvine glaring at him. Irvine and Seiphie had become quite an item lately, "Because she's such a good swimmer. What with her seed training and all."
Irvine chugged the rest of his margarita, "That's what I thought."
Quistis still had her arms crossed, "Why is Selphie competing and why did she bring her weapons?"
Irvine laughed, "Oh, that. There was a costume contest. We were thinking that we could make her, 'armed and dangerous."
"Well, it's not going to happen. We've got a situation. I want you three sober and dressed for combat in ten minutes."
Zell drank the rest of his margarita, "Sure thing Q, we'll just pick up Selphie." Quistis tilted her head to indicate her displeasure.
Already the girls had dove into the water and began to swim. Zell could hear the announcer, "Number twelve is really going. I think she'll win for sure."
Zell could see the vein on Quistis's head swelling. Zell heard a cheerful voice, "Hey, guys. I think I won!"
Zell and Irvine looked down to see Selphie treading water below them, "You sure did."
Selphie saw Quistis, "You're here. See guys, I told you she'd take a little time off."
"We have a situation. I want you three dressed, sober and ready for a fight in ten minutes." Zell and Irvine exchanged glances. They realized that the fun was over. They both leaned over the rail. They grabbed Selphie's shoulders and tried to pull her up. They both heard Quistis say something else, "I want you dressed, sober and dry."
Zell and Irvine both looked up. They tried to pull up but it was to late. Quistis had pushed them both into the water. Quistis chuckled to herself, "I'll be waiting at the Garden. Report to Squalls office."
Zell brought his head above water, "Man, I never saw that coming. She made me drop my margarita!"
Selphie was giggling, "I guess I'm out of the contest. There's a ladder over there."
* * * *
Zell, Irvine, Selphie and Xu stood in Squall's office. Selphie, Irvine and Zell were carrying towels to dry themselves off. Selphie's yellow dress was drenched and the shock of hair on Zell's head that usually stood up was instead covering one eye. Irvine's hair was mangled and loose without the ponytail. Xu was keeping her distance so that she couldn't be blamed for dripping water on the carpet.
Quistis was sitting at her desk, the three wet students were quite a sight, "I can't believe you four, after this everybody in Balamb will think this is some party school!"
"It's not my fault!" Zell was already protesting, "Why am I being yelled at? Irvine's the one who danced on stage when they played Cowboy by Kid Rock!"
Irvine stood up, "Now wait a minute! You're the one who was flirting with seventeen! If you turned any redder I thought your tattoo would melt off!"
Selphie raised her hand slightly, "I was a runner up."
Zell and Irvine both turned to Selphie, "Shut up!" The two continued arguing, "You're the one who got in a fist fight with the guy who took the last beer!"
"Hey, I was drunk! I thought Raijin was challenging me!"
"He said, 'ya know' and you dive like he's talking about your woman!"
Quistis stood up and pounded the desk with both hands, "I don't want to hear it!!!" Irvine and Zell sat down, "I don't give a damn if buhamit was on the coast trying to blow up the island! You should not have cut class. I'm writing you up for starters."
Quistis reached for the pen at the edge of squall's desk. When Quistis tried to pull it up she found it to be stuck. Quistis tilted the pen. There was a click and a drawer on the side of Squall's desk dropped to reveal a gun blade. Zell seemed amused, "I was wondering where he kept that thing." A sharp look from Quistis told Zell to shut up. Quistis grabbed the other pen and began to right.
"There is a situation." Quistis said through clenched teeth, "There is a new organization called the black SeeD. I'm afraid they're going to attack Deling City."
"Isn't that where Squall and Rinoa went?"
"Yes. That's why we're going there in the Ragnarok. We're taking the senior class. It's time to give them some field training. I can't believe I'm doing this but until the black seed are taken care of I'm promoting all of you to acting field inspectors. You'll each get a small garrison of students. Remember, I'm trusting you with our most precious resource."
Selphie was already back to being cheerful, "The senior class?"
"No, the Ragnarok. Get out of here! You've got half an hour to get ready. I'll be coming with you. Xu, you're in charge until I get back. Your first job is to find out who was at that party in Balamb and right them all up." Quistis produced her whip from the drawer, "Zell, bring squall's gun blade. I have a feeling he's going to need it."
* * * *
Everyone was on board the Ragnarok. Quistis was standing at the head of the briefing room, "I trust you all know the layout of Deling city. The time is fourteen hundred hours. We assume that the ambush will take place later tonight. Remember, this will be your first field assignment. You will all be graded. Headmaster Squall passed this Exam not a year ago. Seifer failed this exam and got expelled. Zell scored a C average on his exam and his stupid ass is still a senior." There was snickering from the crowd. Quistis laughed at her own joke, "Those of you with a student id number ending with two numbers twenty four or lower will be placed under Zell's command. Twenty-five through forty-nine will follow Selphie. Fifty to seventy four work for Irvine. Everyone else follows me."
The entire crowd stood at attention, "Yes ma'am!" This was followed by the entire class beginning a conversation about whomever they were following. Quistis heard someone say, "I'm working for Selphie!" or a, "Cool, I'm working for a hot head like Zell!"
* * * *
Back in Deling City a parking attendant opened the door for Rinoa. This had been a better turn out then she expected. The hotel had been demolished, replaced with a three story building, "Probably has a dance floor."
Squall stood up, "I wouldn't be surprised." Squall and Rinoa walked up the red carpet. Squall looked past the velvet rope to see the photographers. Through the lights Squall thought he saw someone with a white coat standing in the corner away from everyone else. The Red Cross on the sleeves and the short blond hair instantly gave him away. Squall reached for his belt thinking his gun blade was there. It wasn't
Rinoa clung to Squall's other arm, "What's wrong? You look like you just saw a ghost. Why are you so tense?"
"Seifer."
"What?"
"I just saw Seifer. He's over there." Rinoa didn't see anybody, "He was there. A trained seed agent like him can vanish into a crowd no problem."
"Whatever."
"I'm serious.
"Just relax. This is our night."
Squall focused on Rinoa. He and Seifer have always been rivals. It was probably Squall's imagination but if Seifer was going to come out of hiding and attack this would be a great time to do it.
* * * *
The inside was well decorated and very well lit. It was rumored that the building was modeled after the old Galbadia garden convention center. The restaurant was indeed three floors. The first was where most of the tables were. Squall felt like he was entering a different environment. With the violinist in the corner Squall was tempted to say something like, "Cool, irritating elevator music." He could also see himself getting a friendly elbow in the stomach from Rinoa. They were seated by one of the waiters.
Squall hadn't been seated for two minutes when Rinoa began to point out things about the bar that used to be here, "I see they kept the pictures of Laguna and Julia. They even have an old article from Timber maniacs. We should really mention this to Selphie when we get back…"
Squall rolled his eyes, "There she goes again." Squall glanced around the room. Several waiters walked out of the kitchen. Squall noticed that they didn't quite fit in. One had a scar on the side of his face, two had ear rings and none of them were clean shaven. Squall found his hand reaching for his hip where his gun blade usually rested. It still wasn't there. Squall didn't even bring it. Rinoa's shooting star was back at Caraway's mansion. Squall saw the three waiters just stood there. They were waiting for something. Squall was getting edgy, "Rinoa, do you think you should go powder your nose or something?"
Rinoa was a little annoyed from being interrupted, "I powdered my nose before I left."
"I'm sorry, maybe it's the light. It just looked like the makeup on your cheek is smearing off."
Rinoa reached for her purse, "Really? I barely put any blush on. I'd better go. I'll be right back."
Rinoa got up and walked toward the rest room. Squall breathed a sigh of relief, she was out of the way. If those three waiters tried anything Rinoa would be well out of the way. Squall didn't want anything to happen to her.
* * * *
Rinoa walked out of the ladies room, "I don't know what Squall is talking about," she grumbled to herself, "If he's going to interrupt me like…" Someone grabbed Rinoa's arm. Before she could turn around another hand was grasped over her mouth.
Rinoa was pulled into the men's room. She could hear someone whispering, "I remember when you used to dress like that for me." Rinoa's eyes widened, Seifer!, "I'm going to let you go now. If you scream you may get yourself killed. Do you understand?"
Rinoa nodded, "m'hm." Seifer released his hand. Rinoa instantly spun around and took a weak version of a fighting stance, "What are you doing here?"
Seifer grinned, "I'll explain that later." He brushed his hand over his coat. Rinoa could see the gun blade hanging around his hip, "Don't try running. Boys, come on out. She's still in one piece."
Two bathroom stalls opened at once. Both Fujin and Raijin stepped out fully armed and dressed for a fight. Raijin produced his staff, "You want us to bust some heads, ya know?"
Fujin only smiled, "KILL"
Seifer smirked, "All in good time. I see Squall isn't with you. That's good. At least that Leonardo Decaprio lookalike knows an ambush when he sees one. Those three waiters out there aren't waiters."
"So why are you planning to rob the place?"
Seifer turned t his friends, "Hey, guys. She thinks were here to rob the place." The three of them laughed, "Listen hot lips. Believe it or not we're here to help you out?"
"Why should I believe you?"
"Why else would I put Fujin in the men's room?"
Fujin looked annoyed, "PERVERT." She glared at Raijin.
"Were here to get you out of the city safely. Those three out there are part of a mercenary team called black seed. I've been tracking them for some time now and my search has brought me here. They're after you."
"Why?" Rinoa cut right to the point."
"What were the SeeD created to stop?"
"Terrorists like you!"
Seifer laughed, "Is that what Squall told you? Wake up Rinoa. They were trained to kill sorcerers! I know what happened to Edea when she died."
"Do you now?" Rinoa knew exactly what Seifer was going to say next.
"You may be able to keep Edea's powers from Squall but I'm a knight. I can smell it! In about five minutes those three are going to pull out guns and demand to see the headmaster of Balamb. That's Squall. They're going to kill him and go to his table. When they see that your purse isn't there they're going to come back here. Then they'll get what they want and I can't let that happen."
"Why the sudden interest. Do all men really want what they can't have?"
"I can either answer your questions or I can get you out of here and we can talk outside Deling in a van headed for our base in Timber."
Rinoa relaxed. She was in little to no danger, "How do you plan to get me out of here without walking outside?"
"Fujin!" Fujin spun around and threw her pinwheel. The pinwheel knocked out a security camera Rinoa hadn't noticed. Seifer drew his weapon, "Raijin, now!" Raijin took two steps forward. He held his staff in front of him and pounded the ground once. The floor cracked. Seifer raised his gun blade. With one motion he jumped into the air and cut down the light fixture in the ceiling. The lights went out.
Rinoa felt someone grab her waist. Suddenly she was falling. She landed on a hard cement surface. She could hear Raijin yell, "Fire!" A small fireball flew from Raijin's hand lighting up the area around Rinoa for a few seconds. Rinoa was in the sewers below Deling City, "It's a good thing they kept this trap door here. Raijin couldn't have broken through the tile floor and the wooden door if there had been a layer of cement. Thanks you two. Raijin and I will escort Rinoa out of here. Fujin, cover us."
Fujin groaned, "MEN" She knelt down and with one motion sprang up through the hole.
"What was that about?"
"You know Fujin. She loves a good fight. Don't worry though. She'll be fine. Raijin, take Rinoa through the gates to the van. I'll be along shortly."
"You can't go in there, ya know. We need you, ya know. If you stay, I stay, ya know."
Seifer looked back, "I'm not missing Squall getting killed for anything. Besides, the spy I left in Balamb should have tipped off Quistis hours ago. If I'm right SeeD agents will be storming the city any minute now and I know they're going to ask some really irritating questions, ya know?" Raijin nodded, "I'm counting on you. Just remember, Rinoa is the queen in our little game. Lay down your life to protect her if you have to."
"Yes sir, let's go Rinoa, ya know."
Seifer watched them run down the sewers, "I'll be seeing you around, hot lips."
* * * *
Outside the city Quistis, Irvine, Zell and Selphie looked down at Deling City, "Alright, Squall should have just arrived at the new building where the bar used to be. I imagine we've got five minutes. Here's the plan…"
* * * *
Zell and his team had just been dropped off outside the city. Zell stood over the railroad track. He looked at the city, "Alright boys. I'm missed Mrs. swimsuit 2001 to come here. Let's not get killed." Zell's group began to march toward the city. The train track let underground. This was the only cover Zell needed. Zell's mind began to wonder back to when he first entered Deling City on a train. The train station lead into the fountain and Main Street. The problem was that there was a long staircase because the train station was built below ground. This would be the perfect place for an ambush, it's also the first place someone would think to attack.
Zell was wearing his street cloths despite Quistis telling him otherwise. He wanted to stand out to the senior class for some reason Zell had been given the most soldiers of the four groups. Zell tightened his gloves. Zell cracked his knuckles, "Everybody, weapons at the ready. Zell stood at the train station, "Everybody up. I don't think this are will be guarded." Two seniors in SeeD uniforms gave Zell a boost up to the area where people waiting for a train usually stood. Zell's suspicions were correct. "Move out!"
Zell and two SeeD walked into the open area to see the fountain on Main Street. This is where the ambush was going to happen. Zell stood his ground. He insisted that he be standing in the front. Zell winked to the SeeD on his right, "I guess there's nobody here." Zell said a little to loudly.
Three men wearing straight black with a small amount of armor stood at the top of the stairs, "The City is under martial law. I'm sorry, we can't let you in."
Zell raised his fist, "Funny, you three idiots don't look like cops! You look more like SeeD agents."
The three men drew machine guns, "The city is off limits!"
All of Zell's men drew their weapons, "We'll see about that! Fall back to the opening!" Zell and the two soldiers began to back away. Zell could hear every SeeD hiding in the train station open fire at once. Zell was now hiding behind a column just out of the way of enemy fire, "Can someone pass me a weapon?" A SeeD threw Zell a machine gun, "Now you're talking! Keep it up. Once they run out of ammo we'll switch to hand to hand combat." Zell grinned. The diversion was going well. Now it was up to Quistis and Irvine.
* * * *
Selphie piloted the Ragnarok. Right now she was facing Deling City from the north. A screen to her right crackled then Quistis's face appeared on the monitor, "We're ready at the drop point."
Irvine's voice chimed on the microphone, "Same here. Let's light the city up!"
Quistis responded, "Irvine, you're reckon and air support, my team is the one that does the lighting."
Selphie could imagine Irvine's grin, "Then we'll try not to get in your way."
* * * *
The Ragnarok engines blared behind Quistis. A large team of soldiers stood by the hanger strapping down parachutes. Quistis was yelling loudly to be heard over the engines, "Selphie's going to go south at minimum speed. You are going to start dropping. This is a wide hanger, I want you going out in groups of three. The last thing we want is to get chutes tangled. Quistis had just strapped on her parachute, "This is going to be tricky. There's a landing strip outside the city hall. When the red light flashes and the hanger swings open you run. I want a two second space between groups. We will probably be dropping into a firefight, if Zell did his job there should be a few guards. Once you've deployed get your guns and start shooting anyone wearing a uniform."
Three ropes were secured along the hanger. Everyone was hanging on to one of them. Selphie's voice came on the intercom, "Quistis! We're on target." The red light came on and there was a loud hiss. The hanged began to drop. Quistis had already resumed barking orders. The first three stepped toward the edge slowly. They all watched Quistis.
"Go!" Quistis screamed over the engines. The first group let go of the rope and fell back. Most seed were trained to paradrop if the mission called for it. Quistis grabbed the rope, she would be in the last group. Quistis was carrying a handgun in a small pouch on her shirt. She was holding her whip. Quistis tied the leather coil around her waist and tucked the handle into her belt, "God save the queen." She whispered.
* * * *
Irvine's team was the smallest of the four. Who said that they were divided evenly. Quistis had known roughly what the student's numbers were. If was enough to guess and give Irvine the small group.
Because of Quistis's team landing in the palace garden they needed to use the hanger which left Irvine's team in the forward hanger where the needle nose of the ship opened up and allowed soldiers to run through if the ship had to batter it's why through anything.
This would be the hard part of the plan. The Ragnarok was designed to operate within an atmosphere but it was no jet plain. Once the Ragnarok had been refitted to handle space travel, back when it belonged to Ester research facilities. The idea was that as fast as Selphie was going a full reverse would take time, ten seconds to be precise. During this time the Ragnarok would be close to the gate in the center of town. Irvine's job was to get his twenty SeeD down to the tower to serve as reckon and sharpshooters if the need arose.
Irvine clicked on a head set, "Selphie, you there?" There was a cheerful, um'hm from the speaker, "Can you patch me through to 1025, it's am AM station."
"Why?"
"They were covering the concert in Balamb last I checked and with the time zones it should be going on for another four hours."
"I'll try."
There was a moment of static, then the signal came in clearly, "We're back at Balamb with what remains of the miss swimsuit contest." Irvine grinned, "Apparently there's been a cat fight between two of the contestants." The signal went dead.
Irvine tapped the microphone to make sure it was working. He could hear two voices that weren't the announcers, "Diamond Hawk, come it. Over"
"Xanna Roc here. I'm ready in the sewers. The black seed won't get sorceress. I'll kill everyone of them if I have to."
"I just hope you leave some for me. I'm looking for some payback after what they did to me."
"Don't worry. I'll save the restaurant for you. Over and out Kitty."
"Damnit! Don't call me Kitty!"
The voices went dead. Irvine's eyes widened, "What was that? Selphie, you getting your signals crossed?"
There was static, "No."
"Never mind then."
"Here's a classic from Kid Rock..."
Irvine smiled, "Okay boys, Selphie's piloting. There's a full moon and my station's playing my song. Let's rock and roll."
Irvine steadied himself on the rope that ran along the wall, "Well, I'm packing up my game and I'm a head out west where real women come equipped with scripts and fake breasts."
Irvine saw the hanger open, "Alright everybody, go in pairs. When you feel the ship reverse dive for it!"
"I'd buy a ship with a flag that said chillen the most, then rock that bitch up and down the coast."
Irvine began to sing along as he steadied himself for the fall, "Give a toast to the sun, drink with the stars. Get thrown in the mix and tossed out of bars…" Irvine and his partner were next, "I'm heading out west sucker, because I want to be a cowboy baby!" Irvine let go of the rope and dove out the hanger just as the ship began to reverse. The reverse thrusters blared around Irvine's head but he didn't let that stop him, "Rock at night because I sleep all day. Cowboy, baby !" Irvine was counting down from five with the music. When he reached one he pulled the ripcord. The rush of air around his head seemed to reverse. Irvine grabbed his hat with one hand. SeeD parachutes were designed to operate without a person holding the two cords for steering. This was to allow a person in free fall to use a weapon or operate a communicator. Irvine had but to shift his weight to change directions. He was right on target for the bridge. He could see the first three teams had already landed and were wrapping up their parachutes. Irvine then realized that skydiving in a leather trench coat wasn't the best idea in the world but it was better then a navy blue seed uniform.
Irvine landed on the roof. He quickly spun around and bundled his parachute. He tossed the bag aside. Twenty SeeD stood at attention, "Alright, you know the drill. Half of you face north and cover Quistis's team. The rest, scout around."
Irvine pulled out the Killjoy. This was a modified form of the Exeter he had used in Ester. Irvine held it up and spun it once. The gun clicked as the armor piercing bullets entered the barrel. Irvine liked the click, "That's what I'm talking about. Irvine stood up the north wall and knelt down. He raised the gun and looked through the scope. He heard the static in his head set lower, "Irvine team, in position. Zell's team is gunned down in the train station. Quistis's boys are just landing. Selphie. You there?"
Selphie's voice chimed on the intercom, "I'm landing now. How sure are you that Squall's in the new restaurant?"
Irvine turned to the west, "Sure enough. There's a black tie party going on in there and you know how our fearless leader feels about parties. The place is crawling with black SeeD. Should I start shooting?"
Quistis's voice came on the speaker, "Negative. They could get scared and start shooting people. Just back up me and Zell's team."
"Roger."
* * * *
Below the city Raijin and Rinoa were walking across a bridge. Raijin stood against the wall. He peered around the corner. After being satisfied that is was safe he nodded, "All clear, ya know."
Rinoa walked ahead, "Why is Seifer taking the time to protect me?"
"Sorry Rinoa, I can't say, ya know?"
Raijin came to another corner. As he leaned against a wall Rinoa walked in around the corner before Raijin had a chance to look, "If you keep that up we'll be here till…" Rinoa stopped.
Raijin rounded the corner quickly, "What's wrong, ya know?" Five men in black uniforms stood in Rinoa's way. Raijin drew his weapon, "If you want her, you've got to go through me, ya know?" Raijin raised both hands and held his staff in front of him, "Thundarga!"
All five black SeeD raised their hands, "Aura!"
When Raijin heard the word Aura his eyes widened, "Oh shit, ya know!" All five seed charged at once. Raijin swung his staff in a wide arc trying to keep the soldiers at a distance. The first ducked under her swing. He gave Raijin a large uppercut lifting Raijin off the ground for one moment. One moment was all they needed. Two other agents jumped into the air they spun around once and kicked Raijin in the stomach, hard. Raijin flew back. One of the SeeD materialized behind him. He wrapped his hands around Raijin's stomach. His hands tightened around Raijin's stomach. Almost effortlessly he jumped into the air and back flipped with Raijin still in hand. The two fell into the water.
Rinoa watched as the fifth walked toward her, "By order of the president of Ester and headmaster of Ester garden you are under arrest for charges of sorceress and traitor to your species."
Rinoa was getting ready to run, "What? Species?"
"By taking the powers of a sorcerer you are a traitor to humanity. Come quietly, I am allowed to bring you in dead if I have to."
Rinoa's head spun. She had thought that the sorcerer hunters had been long gone since Ultimecia. Rinoa did the one thing she could, she turned and ran.
She hadn't run ten feet when she was stopped. She looked up, the man she had bumped into was over six and a half feet tall, "Who, who are you?"
"The name's Roc and you're safe now."
The five black SeeD had gathered slowly but they were all poised to attack, "You, stay out of this!"
The man had long white hair worn back in a ponytail. He wore a long black trench coat with the sleeves torn off. He was carrying a saber in each hand, "Five men against one woman doesn't seem fair to me. Maybe if I even things up. Get behind me Sorceress!"
Rinoa did what she was told. The five men were charging for another spell. The man removed his coat and flexed his muscles. His body glowed blue. As Rinoa watched his form grew six inches in height and small chunks of ice formed on his body. His arms, chest and face had large crystals of ice growing. The man raised his head and gave a loud cry like a falcon. His hair shifted and crystallized. His hair was now spiked back accept for one small crystal that stood up in front. Ice highlighted his cheekbones and mouth. He crossed his swords, "Diamond hawk!"
At this two large blades of ice grew from his back. The blades bent downward and spread. It almost looked like he had wings. There was another deafening scream.
Rinoa looked down, the floor around him was covered with ice. Rinoa was barely able to stand.
In one motion he spread his swords and stood straight. The walls of the sewer crystallized and the water began to freeze. The ice began moving toward the five SeeD who were now shivering in the cold. The man's body glowed white and a stream of ice came out of his mouth. The five seed were blown against a wall and their bodies were frozen in place.
The Diamond Hawk returned to his human shape. Most of the ice in the area vanished, "What was that?"
"My little secret. The ice will melt inside of an hour."
"Where's Raijin?"
"Who?"
"The man I was traveling with. He fell into the water."
The man looked at the water. He raised one hand. It glowed white. As he did a small area of water crystallized and Raijin's body floated to the surface, "He took a beating from those black SeeD, he'll be fine with a little rest. I am willing to take you to wherever you two were going. I will even carry him."
"Uh, I'm not sure where he was taking me."
"That explains why he was leading. Did he give you any clue as to his destination?"
"He said there was a van outside the city."
"Oh, I saw it on the way in. I'll take you there if you will follow me."
He walked over to the mound of ice and picked up Raijin, "Grab my coat, would you?"
Rinoa picked up the coat and folded it, "What do I call you?"
The man took his coat, "You may call me Roc. All you need to know right now is that I'm on your side. Come, there will be more SeeD soon."
* * * *
Squall sat at the table sipping a glass of Sherry. He looked at the rest rooms every few seconds, "Where was Rinoa? I was hoping she'd get the message and go out through the window or at least come out of there after the shooting was already over. There hasn't been any shooting. Those three just stand there watching me."
Squall's eyes were fixed on one of the waiters. He whirled around when he saw Fujin sit beside her, "SORRY." She said as she bumped the table.
Squall was ready to stand up when Fujin grabbed his arm, "NO." She pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket, "READ."
Squall opened the letter
Squall, this may seem strange but I'm on your side for once. Rinoa is safe, I have taken her out of the city to safety. All you need to know right now is that the black SeeD know who you are and what you can do. They'll kill you and everyone here if you do anything stupid. Fujin will act as Rinoa to draw them away. Just play along.
By the way, your idiot friends at SeeD are going to try and save you. Be ready to think fast.
Seifer
Squall looked up at Fujin, "So, Rinoa." The words almost got stuck in Squall's throat, "They left an extra glass of Sherry."
Fujin picked up the glass and chugged. When the glass was empty she put it down and wiped her lip with her sleeve, "THANKS." Fujin groaned. She didn't like Squall any more then he liked her.
Squall took another sip, "You're the funny one if Seifer's gang, aren't you?"
Fujin glared at Squall with her good eye, "NO."
"He's here isn't he?"
Fujin groaned, "MORON."
"Those three over there seem to be keeping an eye on us. If you brought your blade wheel you could take them out. I have a feeling they're going to have guns once the action starts."
"DUH."
Squall looked at his glass. Then, bringing his head back he chugged the rest of the Sherry, "We wait?"
Fujin nodded.
There was loud gunfire outside. Squall stood up. Fujin grabbed Squall's shoulder and pulled him down, "CALM."
Squall sat down. The three waiters all turned their attention to the window. One of them walked over to the door. Fujin reached for her blade wheel. Squall grabbed her wrist, "Not yet. I think he's going outside to see what's going on. I think we can handle two."
The man opened the door. Thirty soldiers poured into the room. Ten went up the stairs at the end of the room. One raised his gun and fired three shots in the air, "Listen up. We're not robbers, we're SeeD same as those losers at Balamb. We're looking for Squall Lionhart and Rinoa Heartilly. They have thirty seconds to stand up or I shoot two people every minute."
Squall turned back to Fujin to ask for advice. When he turned Fujin was already gone, "Damnit. Why did I know that was going to happen?"
Squall looked around. He saw a shadow move up the staircase behind him. Fujin was going to deal with the people upstairs and leave Squall to rot. The gunfire continued outside.
* * * *
Outside Irvine was still watching the restaurant, "Quistis. Almost every black SeeD around the restaurant has gone inside. I think they're pushing their plans up."
Irvine received a response from Quistis, "Then we've run out of time. Irvine, start killing SeeD in the streets around you. I'll accelerate the attack. Selphie, deploy. Zell, break out the big guns."
There were two voices, "Roger."
Irvine cocked the riffle, "You heard the boss lady. Start shooting!"
* * * *
Squall heard gunfire from the other side of the building. Three spotlights came on. Squall heard Selphie's voice on a loud speaker outside, "This is Selphie Tilmitt on behalf of Balamb garden. Drop your weapons and come out with your hands up."
The leader of the Black SeeD was standing beside an elderly couple, "Alright Squall. Stand up now or these two are your first casualties."
Squall saw three spotlights outside, "Selphie will never attack that quickly. I've got no choice."
Squall stood up, "I'm the one you want!"
The leader of the black SeeD smiled, "I knew you'd come out soon enough. Get him!" Within moments Three black SeeD with guns were standing around Squall. Squall raised his hands. The leader yelled to Squall, "Where's your girlfriend? The Sorceress."
Squall yelled back, "She wasn't feeling well. She's back at the hotel."
The guard fired a shot inches from the old mans head, "Bull shit. I'll ask again."
"Why? I'll just give the same answer?"
The leader gritted his teeth, "Hold him up to the window, let this Selphie Tilmitt see her leader be executed."
Squall was lead to the window and held against it. His hands were behind his head. Squall heard three guns cock all at once. Squall looked outside to see Selphie looking back with a pair of binoculars. Squall observed his reflection.
The reflection shifted and changed shape. Squall's reflection looked like a person crossed with a leopard. She had long brown hair, two large bangs and a ponytail hanging around her knees. The face was reshaped to look like a cat and the arms and legs were larger then usual. Squall heard a whisper in his ears, "Quiet, I'm about to break the window, you're going to want to run like hell." Squall nodded quietly.
Squall could hear the leader yell, "Ready! Aim!" There was a pause. The reflection winked.
Squall held his arms in front of his head. About three feet above Squall's head the window shattered. The leopard woman had jumped through with her arms crossed over her face. She landed between Squall and the three black SeeD. She slashed once and knocked all three of their guns away, "Run you ideate!"
Squall ran to his right. He leapt through the swinging doors that lead to the kitchen. Rinoa wasn't the only one who had been here when it was still a bar. Squall rolled and came to his feet. He had just barely dodged the gunfire. He was against a wall in the back. Squall grabbed a small pipe lying on the floor. He was getting ready to club anyone who followed him. Squall heard a familiar voice, "A club? Don't you think this would work better?"
Squall spun around and swung his pipe. Zell raised his hand to block, "God Squall, you're stressed." Zell had a sword tied to his belt. He pulled it out and handed it to Squall, "Quistis tried to pick up the pen on your desk."
Squall realized that this was his gun blade because of the lion insignia on the side, "You found the lionheart, just what I need. If you and Selphie are here does that mean…"
"That Irvine and Quistis are here and the senior class is clearing out the black SeeD. Yea. Cool, huh?"
"How did you know?"
"We caught some guy trying to sign on with the black SeeD in Balamb."
"You were at the miss swim suit 2001 contest, weren't you?"
"That's not important right now. There are thirty guys in there. They've got most of the building covered. We can't get in. I slid in through the air duct system and you should have seen the mess they left in the men's room."
"Good. Have you seen Fujin or Seifer?"
"No. Ah man! Are those ass holes here to?"
"I saw Fujin a minute ago. I asked where Seifer was."
"Did she answer you?"
"Does she ever?"
There was a loud noise. Squall and Zell both took fighting stances. The leopard woman who had helped squall slid through the door on her back. She had three gunshot wounds on her arm. She hissed loudly, "Damnit, are you two going to help a lady out or what?"
Three black SeeD entered the room, both pointing guns at the leopard woman, "Now we're going send you back to hell."
Zell clenched his teeth, "If you think I'm gonna sit back and watch these losers execute a woman you don't know Zell Dincht! I'm one step closer to the edge, and I'm about to break !" Zell's body glowed gold for a moment. Squall realized that he was using an aura spell, "BEAT RUSH!!!" Zell went into a flurry of motion. He rushed the three black SeeD. Once he came into striking distance of one of them he began punching and kicking wildly. Zell kneed one of them in the gut. When he doubled over Zell spun around and brought his leg up. His heel came down on the SeeD's head. He dropped. Another approached. Zell Dove under his fist and made one motion. Coming under his swing Zell punched him in the chest. Zell had delivered about ten hits when he passed out. The third tried to sneak up on Zell. This was a stupid idea. Once Zell became aware of his presence he swung around and heel kicked the SeeD in the head. The SeeD blocked and caught Zell's hand. Zell side kicked the SeeD in the kneecap. Zell got his hand free. It was time for the finisher. Zell's fist glowed gold. Zell took two steps forward, he was going for the head. He made two sharp punches, one to the left knocking the SeeD to the left. Zell made an upper cut, this didn't hit anything. He brought his elbow down. The SeeD's head landed on Zell's knee. He bounced back and fell to the ground. All three SeeD were knocked out. Zell clenched his fist and made two sharp punches, "Yea!"
Squall stood against the wall with his arms crossed, "having fun?"
"Actually, yea."
"I hope that wasn't your last aura spell."
"Actually, it kinda was." Zell knelt down over the woman he had saved, "You okay?"
"That was pretty cool. How did you do that?"
"I just can't stand to see a woman in trouble."
The leopard woman chuckled, "Cool." With that she passed out.
Zell stood up, "Damnit! I was to late."
Squall felt for a pulse, "She's asleep. That fight must have tired her out. She's lost a lot of blood though. We should probably get her to a doctor."
"We've got bigger problems. There are still twenty of 'em out there. Squall, can you break?"
"No."
"Well, that's to bad. They're about to execute someone out there. Apparently our friend only got them mad. Squall, if you can run out there and do that lion heart move I think you could get all of them."
"I can't just break on command."
"Do you have a junction right now?"
"I'm on vacation!"
"Bull shit, you're on a mission."
"Alright, I took Ifrit. I also have most of the spells. I don't have the aura spell."
Junctions were a tricky thing. A person with a guardian force could invite it into his mind. They can absorb spells from others. They also have the power to push a human's rage to the limit. Zell was using Shiva. Seeing the leopard woman about to be killed had pushed Zell to the edge of anger. Shiva had focused this anger into Zell's fist. Most people who have a guardian force can do this but anger is manifested in many different ways. Ifrit was a fire demon.
Squall raised his sword, "I'll have to fight on my own. If I use Iftir I'll incinerate everyone in the room."
Zell had an idea, "Squall. You know I'm your friend, right?"
"Yes."
"And if I hurt you, I'm sorry. I really am."
"What are you getting at?"
Zell punched Squall in the stomach. Squall fell to his knees. Zell stood over him, "Sorry dude." Zell hit Squall across the face twice, "I need you mad."
Squall's head lowered for a moment. Squall looked up. He was smiling and his pupils had turned blood red, "You want me mad Zell? You've got it!"
Squall stood up. He held his gun blade in his right hand. The lion on the side began to burn. Squall charged through the doors. Zell half expected Squall to attack him, he didn't feel right about hitting his best friend.
* * * *
Squall had come through the doors like he was one fire. He would take one swing, killing a SeeD. Without even raising his weapon he'd run to the next SeeD and swing upward, also killing his victim. Squall had finished off all but one of the SeeD. Squall calmed down. He wanted to leave at least one of them alive for questioning. Nobody was going to try to take Rinoa without answering to him. The last one was against a wall, his gun was shaking in his hand.
Squall's attention focused on him. Squall's gun blade was resting on his shoulder, "Alright, this can be really painful or sort of painful. Today it's victim's choice. Who are you working for?"
"We're the black SeeD"
"I asked who you are working for, not who you are. I could care less who you are."
The last SeeD realized he was armed and that Squalls gun blade wasn't a long-range weapon. He raised his gun.
Squall screamed with anger. With one motion Squall rushed forward and slashed upward, slicing the gun in half. Squall stabbed forward. The blade of his gun was inches from the SeeD's neck, "You're going to answer me or I'm going to slice you into pieces and feed you to my GF. Where's Rinoa!"
Squall heard someone laughing, "You expect a black SeeD to give up information? They've had more training then we did."
Squall knew that voice. Squall turned around, "Seifer! I thought I smelled hair jell and dead rat."
The SeeD Squall had been holding moved away and began running for the door. Fujin whirled around and threw her blade wheel. Squall held up his sword. If the blade touched the sword it would stop. The blade cut across the SeeD's throat. He fell dead, "I was in the middle of an interrogation."
"He wouldn't have told you anything."
Squall raised his sword, he was mad now. Squall charged.
Fujin was getting ready to charge. Seifer made a motion that unquestionably meant, "Stay back. Seifer jumped into the air and pulled out his gun blade. He landed and charged straight at Squall. They met in the center of the room. Their blades were crossed and they were face to face.
"I'm going to get you to calm down if I have to finish what I started with your face!"
"Where's Rinoa?"
"I've told you she's safe you bad Leonardo Decaprio lookalike."
Squall realized that Raijin wasn't with them, "I'll try this another way. Where's Raijin?" Squall pushed Seifer back. Squall took three steps back and took a more aggressive stance. Seifer had done the same.
There was a loud growl. Squall and Seifer both looked to the kitchen to see the leopard woman leading against Zell, "your girlfriend's in good hands. My partner's in the sewers waiting for her. Your moron flunkey, Raijin, didn't know that there were five black SeeD down in the sewers waiting for him. If you were any kind of a leader you'd know that!" The leopard woman passed out again."
Squall gritted his teeth, "Who's the cat?"
Seifer's eyes locked on Squall, "I thought she was one of yours."
"You're on my side?"
"That's what I said."
"You two get Raijin, we'll get Rinoa, and we're taking the cat."
"You can have the cat but we need Rinoa."
"Then we've got a problem." Squall and Seifer were staring each other down.
Zell was getting annoyed, "Squall. This won't do jack! We've mixed it up with these two before. Walk away."
Squall's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, "How can you say that?"
"Dude, they say they're on our side, for what it's worth, I believe them. Let's just walk away. We'll get Rinoa back later."
Squall said under his breath, "You're damned right we will."
Seifer smirked and he and Fujin turned and walked out the door.
Zell and Squall were now holding the leopard woman. Zell took off his headset and handed it to Squall, "Irvine want's to talk to you."
Squall put on the headset, "This is Squall, over."
"Great to hear your voice fearless leader. I've got a clear shot at Seifer and Fujin, believe it or not. They just left the building and I'm over the bridge. Do I take the shot?"
Squall's eyes widened, "Negative. Do not take the shot. They're the only ones who know where Rinoa is. Watch them. See which way they go."
"Roger."
"Common Zell. Signal Selphie that we've won. Let's get her back to the Ragnarok."
* * * *
Squall, Zell, Selphie, Irvine and Quistis all walked back to the Ragnarok, which Selphie had parked outside the city. Selphie punched a set of controls that triggered the hanger door to open. The hanger dropped. Sitting on top of the hanger were two figures. One was Rinoa, the other Squall didn't recognize. He was six and a half feet tall with long white hair. He and Rinoa were talking quietly.
Squall, Zell and Selphie drew their weapons and took fighting stances, "Who are you!"
The man stood up and drew two swords. Rinoa saw what was happening. She jumped to her feet and stood in front of her new friend with her arms spread, "Wait a minute! He's on our side."
Squall tied his gun blade to his belt and walked forward, "Rinoa, what in the hell is going on?"
"Apparently there's a new gardens somewhere that produces black SeeD, the same way Edea's garden had white SeeD. These guys figured out that I still have about half of Adel's powers. Seifer was trying to get me out of the city where I'd be safe but when the black SeeD ambushed me and Raijin, Xanna here saved me and brought me here."
"Please, I'd prefer to be called Roc."
Squall wasn't quite convinced, "Okay, Roc, where's Raijin?"
"Oh, when he came to I told him what happened. Once he was convinced I wasn't working for the black SeeD he left, something about meeting up with his friends, ya know."
"Okay, so why is it so important to you that Rinoa should be safe?"
"I'm trying to bring down the black SeeD for what they did to me but my partner and I can't do it alone."
Squall snapped his fingers at Zell and Selphie. They brought the leopard woman forward, "Your partner?"
Roc reacted, "Kiyoko! What happened?"
"She took about three gunshot wounds to the arm. She saved my life."
"That was to be expected. Do you have medical facilities?"
"Yes, back at Balamb. We'll have to take her back in the Ragnarok. I'm a little worried to move her."
"Kiyoko is a very fast healer. It's the cat in her really. If you are taking Kiyoko back I'd like to come with you. I think I could be of use to you."
Rinoa said quietly, "He's not kidding. I saw him cast ice magic like a sorcerer."
"I am honored but I am no sorcerer. My body is not that of a human. Come, Kiyoko is growing weaker."