Project Guardian Force

by Red Dragon2

First try at a fanfic. This is one of those three months after the game deals but it's big enough to be a fifth disk. I have one or two new characters. Enjoy.

5. Project Guardian force 5 (Gabriel)

Part five



Roc's eyes flared open, "Where am I?" The room was black. Roc was laying down, something was wrong, "What happened to me?" Roc's eyes shifted, he was trying to find something, anything he could see.
He felt someone shifting around in his head, "How could you fall for that?"
Roc grabbed his head, he was sweating, "Who's there? Diamond Hawk?"
"Yes."
Roc strained his eyes. At this point Roc's vision would have been enhanced by the diamond hawk but something was wrong, "How is it that I can hear you? We are supposed to think as one. Your memories are mine, my body…"
"What is your name?"
Roc answered quickly without thinking, "Xanna Hishedo. Wait, something's wrong. My name is Roc. Our name is Roc."
"The five black SeeD team who brought us in were pounding your head pretty hard. I think they knew that if I was allowed to take over they would all have died."
"What do I look like? Are you somewhere else in the room? Have we…"
"No. I am still inside your mind and my body is still keeping yours going."
"Then how can we talk to each other? Why can't I remember?"
"The part of our mind you know as yours was starved for air when you jumped out of the Ragnarok. My side took over after you were captured. Because you came so close to death our minds were separated."
"Is this forever? Can I still…"
"Be calm. This is only temporary. You're still dazed and your body is racked with injury. Your left leg is broken in four places, two of your lower ribs are cracked and you have a concussion. That's what's keeping us separate. I am using my energy to heal you. It should be another hour."
Xanna exhaled. There was something about the idea of never being able to fly again that was just to unsettling. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No. You must get some rest and if the black SeeD come for you, you must avoid taking any more blows to the head."
* * * *
Kiyoko woke up in the infirmary on board the Ragnarok. She saw two people looking over her with white coats. Kiyoko's eyes suddenly came into focus. Xu and Selphie were looking back at her. Kiyoko jumped to her feet and raised her claws. She slashed at Xu who was brandishing a pair of chargers. Both chargers broke in Xu's hand. Kiyoko got down on both hands and did a sweep knocking down Xu. Kiyoko instantly jumped in the air and landed over Xu with one claw under her throat.
Xu coughed, "I surrender! Damnit, you were about to flat line. I know you hate getting shocked but I was trying to help."
The door swung open, Squall and Irvine ran in, "I heard a crash."
Kiyoko retracted her claws, "I don't like hospitals!"
"I'm just glad you're awake."
Xu removed her lab coat and examined the claw marks, "Speak for yourself."
Selphie was standing against a wall, "I'm so glad you're here."
Irvine set down his gun and walked over to the corner to help the shivering Selphie, "There there."
Kiyoko growled, "Where's Roc?"
"We don't know."
Kiyoko realized that she was wearing a headband with four wires connecting to a computer in the corner. She cut all four wires wit her claws and tore the band off her head, "I don't like computers! What in the hell happened to Roc?"
Squall had already set down his weapon, "How much do you remember?"
"I was on the balcony watching the fight. I was just about to drop down and help. I saw the black SeeD holding a crossbow, I was thinking he was just a fruitcake or something. After all, why carry a crossbow when you have automatic weapons? I saw him twitch. By the time I realized he was aiming at me I barely had time to dodge before I…"
Kiyoko realized that her shoulder was bandaged up. She was getting ready to rip it when Squall stopped her, "I wouldn't. From what I heard that arrow was lodged between your upper arm and your collarbone. It'll take more than a good licking to get rid of."
"When I got hit with the arrow it hurt like hell. I was feeling kind of tired. I leaned against the rail to try and get my balance then I just fell off. I heard the words diamond rage then I drifted off. Next thing I know I wake up with Barbie and Skipper trying to kill me."
"When you got hit with that arrow Roc figured it had to be laced with something to get you to pass out. He used a break to blow huntsman through the wall. The problem is that he took me with him. Rinoa dove out the Ragnarok to save Roc and me dove after huntsman. He probably figured that he might have the antidote. When I looked down two SeeD scooped up Roc and flew off."
"That doesn't make since, he wasn't a target."
"I know. We checked the arrow, there was a large amount of tranquilizer on the arrow, no poison, no other chemicals. Whatever he was doing he wasn't intent on killing anybody."
"That bastard! He used me to get at Roc. When do we land in FH?"
"We already have. You're not on the Ragnarok. You're in FH hospital."
Kiyoko was beginning to realize how much time had actually passed, "Is black garden here?"
"I don't know. We got here this morning and the mayor only recently stopped bitching at me about weapons in the city. When I said I was here to take care of the black robed men causing trouble he let me dock in the city. We should have just brought the whole damn garden, it might have saved time."
"When do we attack?"
"As always, we go hunting tonight. This time we're leaving you, Seifer and Rinoa here in the Ragnarok with external defense at level ten."
"You don't want me to get out?"
"We don't want huntsman to get in. From what I saw he makes Kitina look like nothing and if he's followed us here we could be in a lot of trouble."
* * * *
Roc was still surrounded by pitch black. He had spent most of the time drifting in and out of a dream. Xanna and Diamond Hawk had rejoined and Roc was slowly healing. His leg was still broken but his ribs were only bruised. Roc was trying to think about where he was. From the pressure change he was still on a plane. Diamond Hawk was an airborne GF. At any given time Roc could guess about how far above sea level he was; three thousand feet and dropping, they were landing. Roc didn't move. From the Diamond Hawk's keeping time it had been eighteen hours since he had dove after huntsman.
Roc saw a light for a moment. A door opened then closed. Someone had entered the room. Roc did not move, better to let whomever it was think that he was still asleep. There was a small fire lit in front of the door, a match? No, the air doesn't smell right. Kitina.
"I know you're awake Roc. You can't hide it from me."
Roc had closed his eyes. It had been nearly pitch black for to long. Roc tried to relax, "What do you want Kitina?"
"Come now Roc, is that any way to talk to your fiancée?"
"I don' know what you're talking about."
"I think you do."
"Somehow, being taken in the middle of the night, placed in a room with a diamond monster and having him thrust into my body against my will, and his, tends to change a guys mind about a woman."
"How long until you stop whining about that. You're not Xanna Hishedo any more; you're Roc, a mythological bird who can block out the sun. You use diamond hawk's powers all the time. If you were really still mad you wouldn't have stayed in your human form when you fought."
"What about you, project changeling."
"Polymorph, I'm project polymorph."
"Whatever. If you are like me then they did the same thing to you."
Kitina lit a cigarette, "You don't know this but you were the third of your kind. Project Gabriel died shortly after being bonded, the GF was to strong, it fought to get out and it fought to hard. Project Incubus had a weak host. He didn't survive the bonding, the Incubus consumed him. We had the idea that the body and the GF had to be strong enough to handle the other, a human needs a lot of strength to change shape the way you do. A GF burns off half the human's energy to change the first time. That's why we needed a swordsman like you and the Diamond hawk was weak when we brought it in. It probably needed you to survive. The problem was that when you two joined minds you just got more stubborn then we know how to handle."
Roc was getting irritated. The only point of this was to taunt Roc, "Shut up."
"We were trying to figure out how project diamond hawk worked while incubus and Gabriel both died. We thought about the strength that wasn't it. We first came to the decision that it didn't matter what the human thought about the bonding, so long as the GF wasn't willing the process would work. That's why they paired me up with Polymorph. Once they saw that I wasn't drawn to escaping and blowing up a quarter of black garden it was obvious that my mental discipline combined with polymorph's youth made us less prone to violence. That's why any new projects will use younger guardian forces."
"What's your point?"
"You're defective."
"I could say the same about you."
"Not really. I'm what the project set out to achieve. Next came the twins."
"Revos and Onrefni? The two dragons."
"You guessed it. Thanks to you we found out what happens to a GF once someone who bonds successfully dies. What we didn't know was what happens when someone like you tries to use another GF besides his partner. You have used Revos before."
"So?"
"So you are impossible. You shouldn't be able to use Revos and Diamond hawk. It was speculated that you'd spit Revos out and die. Imagine my surprise."
"Knowing you black SeeD bastards you probably want to cut me open and figure out what happened."
"Well, yea, but first there are a few things I want to know."
Roc crossed his arms, "Black SeeD don't give information, you know that. I went through the same training you did and if you think your fire powers will scare me you're wrong."
Kitina stood up, "Oh, I know what training you've been through."
* * * *
Squall, Selphie, Zell and Irvine were walking around the dock. Squall was looking for anything out of the ordinary. If the black SeeD chose this for a base it was probably for the large seaport. They could reach every coastal city in the world from here. If they did there would be no way to stop them. If they reached that far they must have at least one ship in the port now. Zell had a roster on a clipboard, "Read them off."
Zell flipped through one of two pages, "We've got six ships in the harbor right now. The angel wing, bound for Dollet with trivial cargo. The Delphen, bound for Timber, nothing special. The Demon wind, a private ship, to small to carry more than three hundred. The west wind, bound for Galbadia area with, oh, wait, this is a passenger ship, my bad. The five star, bound for, all it says is parts unknown. Finally, the Albatross, bound for Balamb with a shipment of," Zell paused, trying to make since of what he was reading, "Food for Balamb gardens."
Selphie was thinking out loud again, "Demon wind? Sounds kind of creepy."
Zell licked his lips, "Albatross, sounds kind of suspicious."
Squall glared at Zell, "I don't give a damn it there's a life time supply of hot dogs in there, Roc's in trouble. What's the size and payload of the five star?"
Zell flipped through the pages, "It doesn't say exactly, it's a class five, according to the key that means," Zell read the key looking for class five, "A lot."
"Where is it?"
"Uh, if there are thirty docks, the first half being on the north side and the other fifteen on the south side, according to this it's dock Sixteen. That means south side."
* * * *
Squall stood in front of dock sixteen. He grabbed the clipboard from Zell and hit him on the head with it, "There's nothing here."
"Don't yell at me! Yell at the damn clipboard."
Irvine was looking around, "Last I checked these ships weren't invisible." Irvine threw a stone at the area where the ship should have been, "Maybe the five star is a submarine."
Selphie giggled, "Let's throw Zell into the bay and have him find out."
Zell waved his fist at Selphie, "Stay out of this you!"
"Irvine, save me."
Zell growled. Another quick bonk on the head from Squall's clipboard got Zell's attention, "I checked the board, it should be sixteen and since the sign says sixteen something must be wrong. They're not supposed to leave for another twelve hours. Something must be wrong."
"Like what?"
"Like somebody changed the numbers on the dock."
* * * *
Roc felt a quick hit to the jaw, "Wake up!"
Roc shook awake. He was hand cuffed to a chair. There was a light above Roc's head, "What?"
"I said why was Squall headed for FH?"
Roc tried to use his mid hawk body to freeze the handcuffs. Nothing happened. Roc tried to go mid hawk, he couldn't. Roc strained to call his ice powers, "What's wrong with me?"
"We made you, we know you. That lamp is raising the temperature to one hundred twenty degrees. Your ice body wouldn't last ten seconds."
"Okay, then why are we a hundred feet below sea level?"
"I'm asking the questions here. Why was Squall headed for FH?"
Roc relaxed, he needed some way to take out the lamp. He could see the single male SeeD asking questions but there was a second presence in the room. Roc's eyes saw only shadows but his GF saw a young guardian force he recognized as Polymorph. Roc nodded slowly, "You just couldn't stay away, could you Kitina?"
"Hey! You're answering my questions. Then maybe I'll answer yours."
Roc spread his arms, the chain on the handcuffs wasn't six inches long. He bent his elbows and put his wrists level with the black of the wood chair. Roc smirked, "Rinoa scanned one of your black SeeD's minds. He was from FH. Rinoa caught on quick. That and Squall found the fifty thousand police reports filed by FH officers. If you kept any kind of tabs on your agents that probably wouldn't have happened."
"Why doesn't Squall know where black garden is?"
"Because I haven't told him."
"Why not?"
"I think I've said enough. By the way, I'm not just a pretty GF, I'm also pretty strong." Roc bent his arms back and pounded the back of the chair with both arms. The back snapped apart, Roc's hands were still cuffed behind his back but he could move. He stood in front of the chair and back flipped. He kicked the light bulb with his foot. The bulb shattered. When Roc landed he crushed the chair under his weight and had already broke the handcuffs with his full hawk body. Roc grabbed the black SeeD's shoulders with both hands and gave him a large head but with his diamond head. The room was pitch black already. Roc's eyes dilated fully, "Where are you Kitina?"
Roc spread his wings, he was ready for a fight, "Common, "It's not like you to watch someone being questioned and not get involved. Where are you!" This was more of a command than a question. Roc exhaled, he could see his breath. After the heat lamp Roc was a little disillusioned. If the black SeeD thought to put that in the room they must have been getting ready for Roc specifically.
Roc felt someone sneaking up behind him. He swung around and spread his right wing further out to catch Kitina. She had already ducked down. She stood up, put both hands in front of Roc's eyes and user her fire powers to light her hands on fire. Roc was blinded. He took a step back with both hands over his eyes, "Damnit! You bitch!"
Kitina changed shape completely. She was now Raijin's height and build. She kicked punched Roc in the face, twice. She swung around and changed shape again, this time smaller and quicker. She kicked Roc in the chest.
Roc fell back over the male black SeeD who was asking him questions. He stood up. Without wasting time he wrapped Roc's arm around his leg and twisted backwards putting strain on Roc's arms. Kitina stood over Roc. She had taken her human form again. Her hands were burning brightly. Roc couldn't transform. He groaned as his arm was twisted around, "What in the hell was that!"
"That was me, Roc. Getting pounded by a girl? Where's the great Xanna Hishedo now? This will do until we can fix the bulb in here. I guess I'm asking the questions."
* * * *
Squall was walking around the docks. Zell and Selphie were arguing about what would happen if the guys from Korn and N Synch were to fight. Zell was shadow boxing to show what kind of moves John Davis would be, 'busting out' as he put it. "Common, Korn's got the gangster moves! They'd pound those gay freaks into the ground!"
"They're not gay! They're just misunderstood! Besides, all N Synch would have to do is wait for all the drugs Korn takes to wear off! Let's see them win a four on five with denial symptoms. John Davis would probably fall over until he got some more crack!"
"At least Korn doesn't need five hundred gallons of hair jell! The only reason they can't play in Balamb is because there'd be a hole in the ozone above their heads!"
"At least N Synch wouldn't have a restraining order against the city of Balamb!"
"You know they're gay. You ever heard their song? Five by guys!"
"It's bye, bye, bye."
"You say tomato, I say homo! Next thing you'll be telling me that Brittany Spears doesn't have a fake chest!"
"Is that why you have a poster of her in your room?"
Zell punched a wall with is fist. He turned to Irvine and handed him five gil, "You didn't hear that."
"My, my, isn't that interesting. At least Kid Rock's not all about freaks on leashes and dead bodies."
Zell grinned, "How would you know? I thought you liked Garth brooks or that guy he turns into when he dies his hair black."
"Chris Gains and that's none of our business."
Squall was looking out at pier 15, "I don't get it. This is the last pier. Sixteen is the first pier on the other side. What's the problem?"
Squall looked around, there were several warehouses and a weapons store. Squall looked at the clip board, "Who would build a weapon shop out here?"
"I donno. I guess some people who get off here want to get weapons."
Squall walked inside, "Yea right."
* * * *
Inside the store was empty. Irvine had his hand over his gun, "I don't think they're out for lunch."
The door to the back room opened. Three black SeeD walked out. They were talking casually until they saw Squall. They all produced swords from the counter. Apparently they weren't carrying their guns. Squall pulled out his gun blade, "We'll handle them. Go around back and see if there are any more." Irvine ducked behind three stands. The second the black SeeD started the fight he was ready to run for the back room.
One of the black SeeD jumped over the counter and swung at Selphie. Selphie crossed the two nunchuku sticks and blocked. She spread her arms trapping the sword inside the chain. Selphie spun her weapon right then to the left. The black SeeD was pushed to the left. Selphie let go of his weapon and brought both sticks down on his head, "That'll teach you to pick on a lady!"
Zell managed to catch his black SeeD off guard. Zell managed to come under his swing and pound him in the gut with his tiger claws. Squall's black SeeD hadn't been too hard to kill.
The three stood in front of the counter, "We'd better help Irvine."
The door to the back room broke as Irvine flew backward through it. He hit the wall on the other side of the room and landed with a thud. Kitina stepped out, "I swear, you people must stop breaking into out safe houses."
Squall's hand tightened around his gun blade, "Selphie, Zell! Get Irvine out of here."
"What about you?"
Squall grinned devilishly. Two large horns appeared on his head for a moment, "Don't worry about me."
"Ifrit?" Zell grinned, "Sure thing."
Squall waited for Zell and Selphie to leave. He turned around and faced Kitina, "I'll only ask once, where's Roc?"
"Didn't he tell you? Only one person has ever taken him down in combat, that was me."
"I heard. Anybody can use fire to stop Roc but I'm not made of ice."
Kitina threw both hands forward, "Burn in hell!"
Ifrit appeared around Squall's body. As Squall crossed his arms to guard against the blast so did Ifrit. Squall stood up and started walking toward Kitina, he and Ifrit spoke as one, "Ladies first."
Kitina threw three fireballs at Squall. One swipe of Ifrit's hand they were gone, "Do you still think you can handle me woman?"
Kitina changed shape into a half cat like Kiyoko only with stripes instead of spots, "I don't need fire magic to deal with you."
She lunged at Squall with her claws out. Squall raised his gun blade and swung once. Kitina landed on the ground, there was a large cut across her chest. She was covering the wound with both hands as her blood spread along the floor, "You'll never find Roc. I won't let you." Kitina produced a small pad with a small button.
Squall took a step back, "What's that?"
"Self destruct."
Squall didn't ask any more questions. In one motion he turned and dove out the door.
* * * *
Squall saw Zell and Selphie ready to run back into the weapons shop. Squall dove out and yelled, "Hit the deck!" Just as Squall hit the ground the shop blew up.
Zell dove over Irvine, "Damnit! I thought you were going to win!"
Squall stood up, his cloths were charred but he wasn't hurt. He coughed, "the shop had an auto destruct button."
Zell looked out at the bay, "What the hell is that?"
Selphie looked up. There was a massive jet of water about twenty feet below the surface, "They did have a submarine! Pier sixteen was under water! Those bastards!"
Squall picked up a small radio, "I'll bet Roc is on that ship. Squall calling Ragnarok! One of you pick up!"
"Rinoa here."
"Listen Rinoa, can you fly the Ragnarok?"
"A little."
"Damnit! Alright, get that thing in the air, now. A ship just left the harbor going north by northeast. I need you three to track it."
"Okay, I'm sitting in the drivers seat."
"Press the three green buttons about six inches below the large lever on the right hand control panel. I'm going to have to guide you through the start up."
There was a loud noise, "Good. Now, hold the radio up to the microphone."
"Okay."
Squall cleared his throat, "Activate vertical take off. Swing around north by north east." Squall could see the Ragnarok rise above the buildings, "Auto pilot engage. Proceed and drop censor once over the water. Set for sonic vibrations."
The Ragnarok began to move through the air slowly at first. Squall watched it fly overhead.
Zell looked up, "Ya know, you never really understand how big that thing is."
"Deploy!"
A small round object dropped into the bay, "Rinoa, is there a sonar pulse?"
"Yes."
"Are there any green dots on the screen?"
"Uh, no."
"What?"
"Damnit. They must have silent running. Swing around and pick us up."
"Where are you?"
"Look for the fire."
* * * *
Roc was back to sitting in a chair. This time the chair was made of metal, he was tied up with chains as will as handcuffs and the four heat lamps were behind small metal cages. Roc groaned, he really pushed his luck with that last one. A small blue light came on, "Alert, alert, program seven, active. Ejecting ship."
The whole room shook. Roc was throne to the ground, "What the hell…"
Roc quickly thought about black SeeD protocol, "Program seven, black SeeD don't leave information behind. If a base is compromised an agent should activate the detonator. Any vehicle docked at the station is ejected automatically. That means somebody from Squall's team is around. Good."
Roc flexed his muscles, the chains didn't budge, "Damn. The heat lamps still work. I can't use my ice powers and since my GF is ice based I can't do shit. I've got to wait."
* * * *
Squall sat down in the pilot seat. He was moving quickly barking orders at the computer, "Computer, sensor pod for sonar."
"No ships in the area."
"Set to pick up sound waves."
"No ship in the area."
"Set for motion censor!"
"Five thousand signatures detected."
Squall pounded the control panel with both hands, "Useless! There is a ship down there somewhere. How can we find it?"
"Unknown."
Squall got up, "Damn. The black SeeD got away. Roc was probably with them."
Rinoa was trying to calm Squall down, "Okay, we'll get them next time."
Squall jabbed the control panel, "You don't understand. If they had used a plain we could follow them. If they had fun off on foot we could track them down but they're under water and we have no way to track them. In other words, WE"RE SCREWED!!!"
"Okay Squall, calm down."
Seifer was standing in the doorway with a smug look on his face, "Problem Squall?" Before Squall could answer Seifer continued talking, "I heard everything on the com system. I hope you realize that you're being way to serious."
"Seifer, if you're looking for a fight."
"Hey, we have a truce, remember? Think for a second. How did Roc get here? Did they use a submarine?"
"No. It was a jet."
"Good. Did a jet fly out of the wreckage?"
"No."
"Then it's still here. All we have to do is find it. Doesn't that seem to make more since than hammering on the walls?"
Squall was getting really tired of Seifer.
There was a loud beeping from a console on the bridge, "Squall, this is Quistis. We saw the Ragnarok take off. Is there a problem?"
Seifer and Squall sat down at two consoles. A picture of Quistis appeared on Squall's monitor, "No. It's fine. We found a black SeeD strong hold. They blew it up and launched a submarine which we can't find."
Seifer had put on a headset, "Yes."
Seifer heard Fujin's course voice, "EMERGENCY?"
"No. we just ran into a bit of trouble. Can you think of any place in the city where a black SeeD stealth fighter could be hidden?"
"COMPLICATED."
"Could be anywhere, ya know?"
"Start thinking. If you see any black SeeD in the area follow them. They're probably headed for wherever that fighter is hidden. If you do send a signal, I'll be there to back you up."
Squall was having a similar conversation with Quistis, "I want you to split up from Fujin and Raijin. I think you could do better on your own. I need you to plant a tracking device on the ship if you find it. Maybe they'll take us to black garden."
"Orders received. Over and out."
Squall stood up and turned to Zell, "I need a favor."
* * * *
Zell walked into the briefing room. Kiyoko had taken a nap in three of the chairs. Zell sat down next to her, "Hey."
Kiyoko woke up slowly. Once she realized it was Zell she sat up, "Uh, hi."
Zell leaned back, "Man. Some kind of explosion earlier. Did you hear why the Ragnarok started up all of a sudden?"
"Yea. Rinoa announced it in the intercom."
"Cool. We think that Roc was in that submarine that launched."
"Roc! Really?"
"Yea. Problem is we've got no way down there."
"Bummer."
"I was thinking. Do you remember much from when you escaped from Black garden?"
After I was frozen things sort of mixed together. I remember waking up underwater with this mask on my face so I could breathe. I remember pounding on he wall then I got shocked. I remember having blood drawn and I remember passing out several times. One time I woke up, I saw the door to the lab had been closed and I saw Roc using a massive fire spell into the hallway. The door was welded shut. I remember pounding on the glass trying to get him to notice me. He did."
"I remember seeing Roc take off his jacket and spreading his arms. That was the first time I ever saw him use his full hawk body. It was really cool. He started growing spikes and wings and, well, you've seen it. He flapped his wings and jumped into the air. I saw him cast this wicked spell in mid air. He just hung there. The glass shattered. I fell out of the tank and tore off the breathing mask. First I was mad. I remember drawing my claws and taking a swing at him. I don't know why, I guess I thought he was one of the ones holding me back. He caught my hand in his fist. I thought he was going to crush my hand. He just stood there like I wasn't even enough to worry him. He just said, 'I may have saved your life. If you want to get out of here you're going to have to trust me.' I was feeling really weak. It turns out I was being fed through a tube in my arm. When I ripped it out I think I must have had rejection symptoms. Roc dropped my hand and crossed his arms, "You're in a weakened state. There's no way you'd survive."
"I remember seeing him use two GFs at once. I growled, 'You've got a lot of nerve using two guardian forces at once and talking to me about how weak I am.' Roc was watching the door. I think the black SeeD were on the other side of the door with a blowtorch. 'What would you have me do about it?' I was ready to scream, 'Give me one!' Roc took my arm and said, 'So be it."
Zell was listening, "You have Onrefni, right?"
"Yea. I got this weird hit and I felt stronger. I could move again. Once the black SeeD broke down the door we fought them off. All off 'em. It was sort of strange, I felt like we were working together, like this was supposed to happen. Later after a lot of nagging I got Roc to admit he felt the same way. We finally got out of black Garden. I've got to tell you, the sun never looked so good."
"When you got outside where were you?"
"I don't know. I got knocked out by one of the black SeeD officers. Hurt really badly. I thought I was going to wake up in a tank again. I woke up under a tree with Roc sitting beside me. I was wearing his jacket and he had just cooked something. After that we talked for a while. He realized that I wanted to get back at the black SeeD more than anything. He also saw that I could fight. We decided to dedicate ourselves to bringing down the black SeeD once and for all."
"Where did you go?"
"We were stuck in this desert for a while. We found what Roc called a jump ship. It was a two-man air ship that had been abandoned. By this time roc was in really bad shape. He couldn't use his ice powers as hot as it was outside. I think he was dying. Good thing I know a thing or two about survival. I managed to get Roc to the ship. After Roc got inside he was found a few emergency supplies. Once he got cooled off he pulled a few strings and fixed the ship. I remember getting in the way once. I got knocked out when the wing swung around and hit me in the back of the head. When I woke up I was in the air. Roc said he had been flying for just over five hours."
"So you don't know where you took off from?"
"Nope. Roc said I didn't miss much. When I woke up we were over the ocean."
"Which way were you headed?"
"I don't know. The compass was on his side. We spent some time in Winhill getting back on our feet. After a while we heard about a black SeeD attack planned for Deling City. We decided to step in and I think you know the rest."
"Cool. By the way, what does black Garden look like?"
"I told you, I don't know. I was out cold by the time we reached the front gate. When I woke up it was out of sight."
"Man, it must have been kind of annoying to not have seen black garden."
"Honestly, I don't even want to think about it."
* * * *
"Roc was a black SeeD agent and in all his time escaping Kiyoko never saw where black garden was? That proves Kiyoko's story is legit. It also gives me reason not to trust Roc." Seifer switched off the com system. He was sitting on the bridge with a headset on. "I wonder why Roc would hide black garden's location. If Kiyoko really doesn't know where black garden is then she can't know about Roc. Of course it's possible that they're working together."
Selphie was looking over Roc's shoulder, "What are you doing at the controls?"
"Oh, just looking over some old pictures of FH. This place is a lot more than a harbor, you know. There is also a traveler's rest stop. Everyone's been here some time. There are hundreds of places large enough to hold that ship we fought."
Selphie pushed Seifer out of the way and sat down, "You could try something more intelligent."
Selphie began typing on the keyboard, "I thought you didn't know that much about computers."
Selphie was looking at the screen, "I can't fly the Ragnarok, I don't know the auto pilot commands but I know a lot about computers. How do you think I put up that web page?"
"Using AOL. Go figure."
Selphie ignored Seifer's remark. Words came up on the screen, "Searching for streets mentioned in police reports. Crossing with map of FH." A map appeared on the screen with small red dots focused around certain areas.
Selphie stood up letting Seifer get his seat back, "There you go. Three locations, one was the harbor, I guess we can rule out that one."
Seifer clapped once or twice, "Clever. Should I send out teams?"
"Whatever."
Seifer rolled his eyes as Selphie skipped out of the room, "I swear to god, if she were any dumber the GF would enter her head and find a vacancy sign."
* * * *
Zell, Irvine and Kiyoko were on the roof. Across the street was one a large warehouse. Irvine was watching them with the scope on his gun, "It's them all right. Selphie sure guessed right."
"Dumb luck." Kiyoko muttered.
Zell clenched his fist. The gloves tightened over his hand, "So our mission is to drop a tracker on their ship? We don't have to blow anything up?"
"Not really but we can if we want to. Wait." Irvine zoomed in, "Remember project huntsman?"
Kiyoko cringed, "Yea."
"Well, he's inside and he's barking orders. I think they're getting ready for something."
Kiyoko drew her claws, "If I distract huntsman and one of you keeps the soldiers busy can one of you plant the tracker?"
"Yea."
Kiyoko took a fighting stance, "I want to see that map of the city." Kiyoko studied the map, "Alright, Rinoa and Fujin are waiting here, right?"
"Yea."
"I'm going to cause a commotion, once they chase me out the back door you two can handle the rest." Kiyoko dove over the side of the building. Zell watched her catch herself on a fire escape and climb down the ladder headfirst.
Irvine stood up and ran for the fire escape, "Common. If Kiyoko's that agile we don't have much time."
Zell was still watching her climb down the ladder head first, "How in the hell does she do that? It's pretty cool."
* * * *
Kiyoko sat on one of the beams near the top of the warehouse. She was looking down at the black SeeD gathered around huntsman, "Those bastards will never know what hit them." Kiyoko stood up, there was only a few inched between her head and the roof. She ran along the beam, agile as a cat. Kiyoko looked down at the large SeeD ship, "At least Selphie's good for something. I'll have to be quick."
Kiyoko saw the corner of the warehouse had several hundred barrels piled up, "Probably rocket fuel. Kiyoko jumped from one beam to the next, "I've got to challenge the huntsman without getting every black SeeD in the area to come after me." Kiyoko dropped to the pile of barrels. She was sure nobody had seen her. She was to fast and to quiet to be caught that easily. She was hiding behind one of the barrels, "How should I get their attention?"
Kiyoko saw one of the barrels on the bottom of a large pile, "I guess a loud noise would do the job." Kiyoko pulled the barrel out from under the pile. There was a loud rumbling and all the barrels started to fall. Kiyoko was already halfway to the giant garage door when everyone turned around.
Someone yelled, "Close the hanger!"
Kiyoko got faster, now there was something at steak. As the large metal doors started to drop she lunged at the door, her shoulder hit the ground and she kept sliding. She rolled out of the building just as the door closed behind her.
Kiyoko was laying on her back, "Now that was fun." She sighed, "I bet it'll take them a while to clean that up." Kiyoko stood up. She heard clapping.
A black figure was standing by the corner of the building, "Impressive. I didn't think you were that strong." He walked forward. It was a single black SeeD with short hair and a crossbow. As he walked his hair grew longer and he grew a moustache. His coat changed into dark green flowing robes. He raised his crossbow, "A huntsman must find prey and from what I hear you're the last of your kind."
Kiyoko drew her claws, "I'm not going back! I'll die before you jerks put me back in that tank."
"Who said anything about a tank? I'm going to kill you and keep the head as a trophy. If you're going to be sporting I suggest you start running or I'll kill you right here."
Kiyoko thought it over. This guy wasn't out for a capture. Kiyoko spun around and started running.
* * * *
Zell stood outside the door, "We can assume Kiyoko's already done her job." Zell drew back and punched the door.
Irvine stepped in front of Zell and entered the building. The door had fallen flat after one punch from Zell. Irvine unloaded a dark Shell. At least twenty black SeeD were dead. Zell was running along the wall. As a team of Black SeeD tried to stop him. Zell kicked off the wall and spun around knocking two of them down. Zell had been reading several issues of combat king back in Timber and he was planning to use every one of them. Zell did a black flip. His foot caught one of the black SeeD in the jaw. Zell landed on his back and quickly kicked back to his feet. Zell was moving quickly. He had already laid out about seven of the black SeeD.
Zell had just done a combo and smashed a black SeeD's arm when there was a loud gunshot. Twenty black SeeD got caught in the blast, "Zell, common!"
Zell rushed through the crowd. As they reached the door Irvine spun around. The Killjoy clicked as a fire shell slid down the barrel. Irvine fired in the general direction of the fallen oil drums, "Dive for it!"
Irvine and Zell ran out of the warehouse in the front door. They both ran into the alley across the street and dropped. There was a loud explosion. Zell stood up, "What the hell was that? How are they supposed to track down a ship of you blew it up?"
"That plain can survive the explosion no problem. Once they dig it out they're going to take it home and give it an overhaul. We have time to get ready for them now."
Zell was on his back, "What about Kiyoko?"
"Oh, yea. She's headed for the hotel. She said that we would never be able to keep up with her but if you see an explosion come running."
* * * *
Kiyoko was in an alley, the huntsman was right behind her. She looked up. The fire escape latter was ten feet up, "The plans were wrong! I thought it was six feet." Kiyoko stood on a trash can and jumped. Her hands gripped the bottom rung of the latter. She quickly got her balance.
Kiyoko was three stories up the fire escape when she looked down and saw the huntsman. He was aiming his crossbow. Kiyoko was moving faster now, "He's not playing games this time. I'll bet he isn't using tranquilizers anymore. Kiyoko jumped to the ledge of the building and climbed up just missing an arrow from the huntsman.
Kiyoko ran across the roof quickly. She jumped the ten-foot ledge between buildings, "He's better than I thought. That last one almost had me. I wonder…" Kiyoko dropped into the alley at the end of the next building. She landed in a large pile of plastic bags, "I'm going to be sick." Kiyoko slid under the bags, she was sure that she was hidden accept for a small crack she could see through. She waited.
She was half expecting huntsman to jump over the ledge thinking that she had gone on. She saw the huntsman stop and look down at her. His eyes searched the alley for anything out of the ordinary. He was holding his crossbow at his side like he was still looking. He fired three arrows straight at the pile of trash Kiyoko was hiding in.
Kiyoko broke through the pile and ran for the street. She could feel all three arrows just miss her, "Damn. If I hadn't moved I would have taken a hit to the head chest and leg, this guy is good."
Kiyoko ran across the street. She was sure huntsman couldn't jump that far. She ran into one of the warehouses.
She closed the door behind her. Kiyoko's heart was racing, "What in the hell is this guy! He knew exactly where I was. That's impossible." Kiyoko ran across the warehouse, moving though all the stacks of boxes, "Gotta keep low. Can't let him see me. Rinoa and Selphie are about ten blocks down waiting at the hotel. I have to move."
Kiyoko heard footsteps for one instant, then absolute silence. She paused with her back to a crate, "He's here. But where. I've gone to far for him to be able to see me." Kiyoko was running for the exit but it was difficult to find a way through the maze of boxes. She was using all her old memories of hunting in the forest, she was being absolutely silent and keeping aware of what she could hear. Kiyoko finally found the door. She was standing on a loading area for trucks, "I'm in the open, but at least it'll take him a few minutes to find me."
* * * *
Kiyoko had just climbed another fire escape. She was back on the roof. This way she could move faster and she could see everyone on the streets below, her keen eyes could pick someone out of a crowd without too much trouble. Kiyoko was looking down at the streets looking for a street sign to let her know where she was. There was a small clang sound. Kiyoko quickly back flipped. She landed in a crouch and saw three arrows sticking out of the metal roof, "How in the hell can arrows like that break a solid metal sheet?"
She looked up, huntsman was standing over her with a crossbow aimed right at her head, "I hope you enjoyed your little run."
Kiyoko was breathing deeply, "How?"
"I am the perfect hunter. An animal finds safety in his den. You just happen to be staying in a hotel nearby. A cat likes high places, you just happen to know how to climb fire escapes. An animal responds to noise. When I stepped into the warehouse I let you hear me so you'd know to use the other exit. An animal…"
Kiyoko snarled, "I'm not an animal." Kiyoko spun to the right and did a leg sweep. The huntsman was knocked down. The huntsman stood up and fired an arrow. Kiyoko dodged and managed to get her hand around the arrow. She held it up to her nose, "There's nothing on here."
"You were expecting a tranquilizer? Do you think I'm trying to bring you in alive?"
Kiyoko threw the arrow down, "I'm a priority, aren't I?"
"To Kitina, yes. To me you are the ultimate prey, an animal who can think and use logic. Every hunter dreams of such prey."
Kiyoko drew her claws, "I'm not an animal." She charged.
Huntsman dropped his crossbow and pulled out a small ax, "I've killed rabbits quicker then you, come on!" Kiyoko slashed with her right hand. The huntsman used the shaft of his ax to block. He tried to kick Kiyoko.
Kiyoko caught his leg with her other hand. She quickly stood up, wrapped both arms around his leg and twisted. Huntsman fell on his side. Kiyoko continued to twist forcing huntsman to turn on his stomach, "You think I'm an animal. How many animals have fought back?"
"Most of them, it is a disappointment when an animal doesn't fight back. I've killed loins, griffins even ruby dragons but they are all animals. They act on instinct alone to survive. I have dreamed of a prey that could think, reason, fight back. Imagine my joy when I was ordered to bring you back, a felious."
Kiyoko put more force on his leg, "How much information do you jerks have on me?" There was no answer. Kiyoko drew her claws, "Give me one reason I shouldn't do all the little animals of the forest a favor and kill you now?"
Huntsman was looking around, "I have a reason…" Huntsman grabbed Kiyoko's tail with his free hand. He yanked.
Kiyoko fell back, "Damnit!"
Huntsman was back on his feet with his ax, "The hunter always kills the animal." He brought the ax down.
Kiyoko screamed, "I'm not an animal! Onrefni, I need you." Kiyoko was down on all fours. When the giant fire dragon appeared over her he was in the same pose. Kiyoko and Onrefni both growled, "And just want do you plan to do now?"
Huntsman was standing on the edge of the building, "I was not told that an animal could use a guardian force."
Kiyoko stood up, Onrefni was now on his rear legs. Kiyoko yelled, "I'm not an animal!" Onrefni's attack mirrored Kiyoko's rage. He pounded the roof with both fists. The entire area of the roof ignited in an instant. There was a loud creak then the roof broke. Kiyoko and huntsman were both falling into the warehouse.
* * * *
Kiyoko was suddenly awake. She could hear Selphie's irritating chirp, "I think I found her."
Kiyoko groaned, "I'm in hell."
There was another voice. This was Zell, "Damn. This thing looks heavy. Irvine, Raijin, get over here!" There was a sound of someone straining. Kiyoko felt one of the beams getting lighter. There was a light. There was another loud noise. Kiyoko saw Zell and Irvine lift a sheet of metal, "Found her!"
Kiyoko moaned, "What happened?"
Rinoa and Fujin helped Kiyoko to her feet, "Common, you got hurt really bad when the roof collapsed."
"How did you find me?"
"We were at the hotel checking out when we saw a twenty foot red dragon appear over the city. We figured you were in a fight."
Zell cut in, "Same here. We got the tracker on the ship thanks to you."
"Great." Kiyoko passed out.
Rinoa and Fujin moved to catch her, "DEAD?"
Rinoa felt for a pulse, "No. Not yet anyway. This took a lot out of her. We should get her to the local hospital."
Fujin shook her head, "RAGNAROK."
"She needs the best medical attention we can give."
Fujin scoffed, "PRIVACY."
"Kiyoko's life is more important."
Selphie wasn't going to be ignored in this conversation, "You know what I think?"
Rinoa yelled, "Shut up Selphie!"
Fujin snorted, "QUIET!"
Selphie crossed her arms and turned around. Irvine rolled his eyes and walked after her.
Rinoa put Kiyoko's arm over her shoulder, "I don't have time to argue. We use the Ragnarok."
* * * *
Roc had been sitting in his chair for six hours. He had not seen another human being since the ship took off. Roc had been looking at the floor for the past half hour trying to daydream. The heat lamps were all on and nothing had changed.
"What are their plans for me? I'm probably going to die here."
There was a calming voice inside Roc's head, "A human can only be called dead when he gives up hope."
"That voice, where?"
The wall rippled. An angel appeared. She had long red hair, white robes and a pair of pure white wings with black tips. Roc leaned back to take in what he was seeing, "Your body is home to two minds. You place your GF in danger by losing hope."
"Who are you? What are you?"
"I am the answer to lost souls who cry out in pain."
"Am I a lost soul?"
"You tell me. You have friends on the surface who are looking for you, you have a guardian force who would die for you and you have a good friend who is worried about you. Are you really a lost soul?"
"Kiyoko? You know Kiyoko?"
"She is very worried about you. She fears that you have died and your death will be her fault."
"Can you help me escape? Break the heat lamps perhaps."
"Alas, No. I am but a shadow. My true self is with your friends. Kiyoko has been badly hurt."
"Wait, you're project Gabriel! I thought you died after being bonded to agent Lydia pick a last name. How are you still alive?"
"A guardian force has instincts. You, Roc, can ride the winds when you call the diamond hawk's powers. Gabriel defends the weak and protects human life. When Gabriel realized that leaving Lydia's mind would destroy her body he chose to stay. He used her energy to survive the bonding and cast a resurrection spell once Lydia's body had been discarded."
"So what are you doing in FH?"
"The black SeeD have gone mad. Their experiments have gone beyond the realms of science and entered barbarism. As an archangel I cannot sit back and watch this happen."
"You're working with Squall?"
"No. He has taken to many lives needlessly. I will not join him but I am on your side."
Roc leaned back, "That is good to know."
"I must return to Kiyoko to tell her that you're still alive. It will ease her pain for true healing comes from within. And you can rest easy knowing that I will keep your past a secret."
Roc was suddenly alone again, "If I hadn't read the report on Gabriel I'd never believe I'd see her."
* * * *
Kiyoko was surrounded by black. She kept seeing the huntsman everywhere. When she ran for help, called out in pain, only the huntsman was there to answer. Kiyoko wanted to scream but there was nothing there. Suddenly there was a white light. She saw a hand reach down for her. Kiyoko took the hand allowing the white light to wash over her. She saw Roc chained down but very much alive.
Kiyoko opened her eyes. She was laying in the infirmary aboard the Ragnarok. A human with long flowing red hair was standing over her.
Selphie took a step back, "She's going to attack. This is the third time this has happened. We need Roc around before we wake her up."
Lydia was still using her magic, "Shut up Selphie."
Kiyoko lay still in the bed, "I was lost, then I saw you. Who…"
"Relax child. The huntsman is gone. He will not attack you again while you are with your friends."
Lydia looked around, "It's alright. Kiyoko has been healed by my powers."
Kiyoko sat up. She was calmer then she had ever been inside of a hospital, "I saw Roc. He's still alive."
"If there is nothing else you need I'll be off."
Squall stopped Lydia as she turned to leave, "Wait. You've been a great help but I'd like to know why."
"You would call me project Gabriel. I am like Roc accept that I was bonded with an angel guardian force. I want to see the black SeeD dead as much as you do. Kiyoko would have died if it were not for me and that is why I appeared before you."
"If you hate the black SeeD maybe you should…"
"Do not ask me to join you Squall Lionhart. You have drawn blood needlessly and I cannot fight with you but I will watch over you and lend a hand from time. That is all you really need to know."
Lydia walked past Squall and into the air lock. Lydia pressed the button that opened the door. As she looked over the city of FH she spread her arms. Large, six foot wings grew from her back. She let herself fall from the airlock into open sky. With a single flap of her wings she was gliding down to the city.
Rinoa watched her, "We've got another one of Roc's kind. Should we go after her?"
Squall closed the air lock, "No. If she says she won't fight with us then she won't fight with us but I think she'll be there if we need her. After all, we've got a guardian angel now."
* * * *
Kitina was standing on the bay. For the past six hours she had been healing herself. Now she could stand under her own power and use her guardian force. She held up a small remote control. She pressed a button and held up the microphone, "Five Star, home in on my signal and approach twenty feet, depth, fifty meters."
Kitina focused, "I need a half fish, gills instead of lungs, webbed hands, something that can move quickly."
Kitina's shape began to change. Her skin was now greenish, she had gills in her neck as well as webbed hands and feet. Her nose and mouth were both gone. Kitina could feel her new gills pushing for air. Kitina dove into the water. Now she could breathe. Her legs kicked at the water forcing her downward. She found herself not minding the fact that she had no mouth or nose. She saw a mass of bubbles in the water, "Finally. My ride is here." She thought to herself.
Kitina swam up to the side of the Five Star. She punched four numbers on a small panel. The words, "Password confirmed. Requiring voice recognition in one minute."
"Damn. I forgot." Kitina put both hands up to the microphone. Her hands made a cup. "I have to do this quickly." For one moment Kitina's gills vanished and her mouth returned, "Kitina Blade." Kitina quickly changed back to the gills, "That was close."
The letters appeared, "Voice ID confirmed. Opening air lock." Kitina swam inside.
"Draining air lock."
Kitina was back to her human form. She inhaled, "That has got to be the most disturbing form I know how to take."
Kitina walked the hall of the submarine, "Everyone's gone. I'll bet I know someone who's still here." Kitina walked up to a door marked interrogation. She knocked twice, "Rocky, oh Rocky." Kitina opened the door.
Roc looked up, he had been in a state of meditation but how he was fully awake, "And here I thought you'd forgotten about me."
Kitina walked up to Roc, "Please, you're to valuable a resource to just leave down here. I'm taking you home."
Roc struggled against the chains, "You know I'll kill you."
"I know you'll try." Kitina put one leg on the chair right next to Roc's hip. She pushed back leaning Roc against a wall. She was right in Roc's face, "I remember when we used to do this for fun."
Roc scoffed, "Funny, I seem to remember thing a little differently and it was only fun for you."
Kitina ran her hand along roc's face, "Now, now. Let's not say things we can't take back. It's a good thing I've forgiven you."
"Forgiven me? What could you possibly have forgiven me for?"
Kitina stepped back leaving Roc leaned back, "Try skipping town."
"I blew up a third of black garden and you say I skipped town?"
"We've fixed the damage by now. I think if you give us the information we need the black SeeD could show forgiveness."
"What makes you think I'd be willing to sign on after what they did to me?"
"If you were really against us why didn't you tell them where black garden is to begin with?"
* * * *
Squall and Irvine jumped into the pilot and navigator seats on the bridge, "I just got an alert. Something underwater is moving very fast."
"How can we tell?"
"Remember that censor I dropped into the bay? I kept it on."
"I thought the ship was radar proof and silent."
"Everything that moves displaces water. The censor is tracking waves. Computer, track the ship, can you give me a size and shape?"
A red shape appeared on one of the monitors. The image focused, "It's a class three, that's not very big."
"A stealth sub can't be very big, to much engine noise."
The Ragnarok was traveling ten feet above the water. The monitors were all showing the submarine's location. Squall had both hands on the controls, the screen blinked for a moment and the sub was gone. Squall pulled the throttle forward and stopped, "What the hell happened? We lost the signal."
Irvine pressed a few keys, "Hmm, this place is a resort for a number of reasons, the coral reef in the area." A picture of two scuba divers appeared on the screen, "There are hundreds of underground caves around here. There's no telling where they lead and there's no way we can get down there."
Squall pounded the console with both hands, "Damn! Which way were they headed?"
"East."
"What's in that direction?"
"A long highway, a canyon and the hidden city of Ester."
Squall stood up, "Tell everyone to get their stuff. Once that jet leaves we're following it, and we're not coming back."
* * * *
Squall and Rinoa had been sitting in the bridge of the Ragnarok for the past hour. Squall had spent the whole time watching the screen without moving. Irvine had been trying to make conversation but was only being answered by grumbling from Squall. Irvine was getting bored, "I'm going down to the lower decks, maybe Selphie's still awake."
"Sit down!"
Irvine sat back down, "You know it's getting really late."
"I've seen you go days without sleeping, we're waiting here as long as it takes."
"That's when I'm at a party! I'm falling asleep at the console." Irvine was almost wining, "Sides, there are such things as shift changes."
"Fine, you're no use to me if you're asleep. Send somebody up here when you go."
"Why?"
"I don't know, anybody."
Irvine stepped onto the elevator, "I'll see if Rinoa's still awake."
* * * *
Irvine walked into the room he shared with Zell. Zell looked up, "Sup?"
Irvine fell down on the bed, "Squall has spend the past hour burning a hole in that monitor with his eyes. I just sent Rinoa up there to keep him company."
Zell was reading an issue of girl next door, "Want to play cards?"
Irvine pulled out his deck, "Sure thing."
"Good, god down the hall and challenge Kiyoko to a game, make sure she uses the hexidragon."
"Will you come off it. It's her card now! Let her have it."
"I worked long and hard for that hexidragon. That thing was twenty games with Xu."
"How many cards did you lose playing her for that one?"
"Oh, five, we weren't using sudden death and we kept having draws."
"I thought Xu was in the card club?"
"She was."
"Then you're really good. Why aren't you a member?"
"Because I didn't know she was heart at the time, she wasn't using her full deck."
Irvine groaned, "Alright! If it'll get you to shut up about your stupid hexidragon."
* * * *
Rinoa stepped off the elevator on the bridge. All she could see was the back of Squall's head looking at the control panel, "Irvine said he needed some sleep." Squall's voice was monotone, "I'm going to sit here for as long as it takes to catch these bastards."
Rinoa sat down in the navigator's chair, "I know. Irvine said you could use someone to help you relax."
"Rinoa, oh, sorry."
Rinoa rubbed Squall's shoulders, "What's got you so tense?"
"Squall saw that there was no escape. He leaned back in his chair, "It's those black SeeD. They always seem to be one step ahead of us. Everywhere we've been they're always just leaving, every battle we fight they've already planned. They're starting to make black SeeD for the purpose of killing us."
"Huh?"
"Kitina is a pyrokinetic and a shape shifter, I can't think of a better way to stop Roc's ice powers. Kiyoko's animal instincts make her a perfect fighter but huntsman knows how to turn her instincts against her. What's next, somebody with the power to stop holy magic for Lydia, some kind of sorcerer hunter to stop you? Something's wrong. They're to damn smart."
Squall heard elevator stop, "I was wondering how long it would take you to figure it out."
Squall spun around in his chair and stood up, "What are you doing here?"
Seifer stepped out of the lift, "Calm down, I swear, you're going to get yourself killed if you don't learn to trust people. Besides, I feel the same way you do."
"Knowing you I'm sure you have a theory, let me guess, a bug on the Ragnarok?"
"No. We have a Traitor."
"A what?"
Rinoa had already inched herself to the lift, "I think I'll grab a cup of coffee, you want anything? Didn't think so, bye." Rinoa didn't even wait for an answer.
Squall turned back around, "I hope you've got a lot of proof to be saying something like that."
Seifer sat down in the second chair, "As a matter of fact I do. It's Roc."
"What?"
"Back in Timber I walked in on Roc in the sauna, well, he didn't see me but I was there. He and Kitina were talking. From what I heard they used to date. She also said that Roc was a black SeeD."
"I don't buy it."
"Think for a minute you moron! Why doesn't he know where black garden is? If he were on our side he would have told us. He said he studied under a master martial artist. Masters usually have a single style, how does Roc know three? He's an expert in several varieties of sword there is no way in hell a master would know about. I've seen him get caught several times, he doesn't give information, just like them."
"He explained that diamond hawk can give him incredible bursts of energy, he has a high tolerance for pain. He could probably stand up to a lot of torture before giving up."
"His capture, why would he dive out of a ship like this unless he was sure he wouldn't fall. Don't you find it odd that we could get so close to him so many times and not find him?"
"If what you're saying in true does that mean Kiyoko's a traitor?"
"I don't think so. I used the com system to listen in on Zell and Kiyoko talking. Every time she was at risk of seeing where black Garden was she was knocked out from behind, or lost energy. It's to perfect. Nothing happens that many times, that well, that same way. Roc's been keeping her as a pet."
Squall spun around, "You're risking a lot to be telling me this." There was an alert siren. Squall spun back around, "No time. The jet just launched." Squall was using every keyboard and monitor on his panel, "I'll have to talk to you later. Get Rinoa."
Seifer spun around and manned his console, "Are you kidding? I've been reading the manual for this bucket. I'm with you. The beacon is moving slowly, they're swinging around. I'm bringing up the tracker program now."
Squall saw an orange dot move across the screen. He pushed both handles forward, "I'm not letting them get away this time."