Chapter Eighteen
Home Again, Home Again,
Zone's Surprise
Squall's Treat
Kasumi's Blessing
Zell's Punishment
Cid began morning staff meeting by nodding at Doctor Kadowaki and saying "I would like to thank the doctor for agreeing to attend these meetings, until Xu is able to get up and around. By the way, how is Xu, doctor?"
"She's doing as well as can be expected, given the seriousness of her wounds. But I wouldn't expect her to be her old self anytime soon."
Turning to Seifer and Fujin, Cid asked "Any luck with discovering anything in Akane's room?"
Fujin replied, "SOME."
Seifer elaborated, "We discovered this small transmitter hidden in her room" and held up an object that could pass for a fountain pen at first glance. "They must have this calibrated exactly to the pressure of Akane's touch because when I pushed it, the transmitter shut down and completely fused together."
"So this means that Deling City is now aware we've probably discovered Akane is a spy and she is in custody," commented the doctor.
Seifer nodded while Fujin agreed "YES."
"We spoke with her roommate," Seifer explained, "and she told us there was a boy named Arnaz, who Akane was thick with for a couple of days and then he seemed to disappear into thin air. We checked your records and we've never had a student here by that name, so chances are he was a confederate of her's and was used as a messenger."
"How do you suppose Deling City learned about Squall's mission in the first place to realize to assign a spy here?" the doctor questioned.
Cid answered patiently, "They didn't know anything about it initially. It was just a fluke Akane showed up here, just after the assignment by Esthar. My best guess is Mamoru is planning a takeover of the Garden and he assigned her to just gather as much information as she could about our present structure and functioning, so he could pinpoint some weakness."
Seifer spoke up, "One of our major weaknesses is our security system sucks! I'm sorry, Cid, but we've gotta do something."
Cid flushed, but aknowledged Seifer was correct in his assessment. Cid continued, "I'm placing you and Fujin in charge of our internal security program as of now."
Seifer nodded in satisfaction and shot a look at Fujin, who grinned.
Doctor Kadowaki persisted. "But why was Akane in such an all fired hurry to break into your file cabinets that it caused her to be noticed and ultimately caught? It doesn't seem to fit in at all with the other sophisticated acting she displayed, since entering the Garden."
Cid replied, "She was searching for Mamoru's file from his SeeD days. Since we were in Trabia, she was probably planning on leaving for the Missile Base that very night. In fact, she would have gotten away with it, except for one thing. I had moved Mamoru's file to the safe in my apartment. She also stole his picture from the library and probably destroyed it."
"But speaking of Akane," Cid continued, "how is she doing?"
"Not too well" the doctor admitted. "I entered the disciplinary room last evening to talk with her and she attacked me and ripped all my clothes off before I could be rescued."
"What?!" Cid shouted. "Who gave permission for that?"
Doctor Kadowaki stared at Cid with a sudden steely gaze. "I did, Cid, as Chief Medical Officer for the Garden."
Cid glanced away momentarily and apologized for his abrupt manner. Returning his gaze to the doctor, he suggested, "How about we try having Edea go in with Fujin as protection and attempting to reach her? Edea is wonderful with damaged children."
The doctor was impressed and replied, "That's an excellent idea, Cid. Will you make sure to follow up on that?"
"Certainly" Cid assured her.
General Caraway sat in the cockpit as the plane flew over the Trabia snowfields searching for the Garden. Initially upon entering the plane, the General had allowed the four young people their privacy, but had finally managed to spend a few minutes alone with Squall, who suggested they search for the Garden in Trabia, because Rinoa had informed him that's where it had been two days previous.
Sitting beside him, the pilot had serious reservations concerning what he was presently involved in, but being unwilling to challenge the ultimate authority of General Caraway, he continued to pilot the plane, as ordered. The General felt an immense sadness to be this close to Rinoa and yet still, in actuality, he may as well have been a thousand miles away. He was frightened, if he attempted to speak with her, she would speak to him in a manner that would rend his already broken heart further. He decided it would be much better for all concerned, if he continued to stay away from her.
"Over there!" General Caraway suddenly exclaimed, pointing to his right where the Ragnarok sat gleaming on the snowfield next to the Garden.
"Set her down over there" ordered the General.
"Yes sir!" responded the pilot.
General Caraway stepped down the portable ramp from the plane after the four young adults had already disembarked. He watched as Squall and Rinoa walked together arm in arm and Quistis, now wearing Irvine's coat, walked beside a laughing Irvine. Squall glanced back and offered the General a wink of his right eye and the General nodded in return. After they disappeared into the Garden, the General turned and motioned to the pilot to take off and then purposefully strode into the Garden.
Fujin suddenly exclaimed, "ELEVATOR!"
Sure enough, as the people seated at the table instinctively turned towards the elevator, they could hear the faint hum of the elevator approaching the third floor.
Cid sat wondering who could be so bold to interrupt morning staff meeting uninvited and was happily surprised, when the elevator door opened and Zell, Mishima, Selphie and Brian sprang into view.
As surprised as the people, who were seated around the table, were at the sudden appearance of the four SeeDs, it did not begin to hold a candle to the shock and amazement Selphie experienced when she beheld the sight of Seifer and Fujin wearing Seed uniforms and sitting in the Garden morning staff meeting.
Selphie thought to herself, "What in the hell has happened here since we left?"
Cid stood up happily and, holding his arms out, invited "Everybody, come sit down."
Mishima moved to Doctor Kadowaki and leaned down and informed her of the condition of Shinji.
The doctor stood immediately and spoke to Cid. "You must excuse me. I have an emergency." And she quickly entered the elevator and rode down to the first floor.
Zell also noticed the SeeD uniforms on Fujin and Seifer and, as he sat down he glanced at Mishima, who had now seated herself, to note her reaction and she stuck her tongue out at him.
Zell began to laugh as Cid requested, "I need a full report from everyone involved naturally, but first I want to hear any update you might have involving the possible rescue of Squall and Quistis."
As Zell proceeded to fill Cid in, as best he could, regarding their contact with Rinoa and Irvine the night before, Selphie, who was sitting beside Fujin, began to read the notes she had taken of the meeting thus far. When Selphie began to read the portion of the notes concerning Akane, she suddenly exclaimed, "What the hell?!"
Zell fell silent and, as everyone seated at the table turned to look at her, Selphie asked, "Why is Akane being held in the disciplinary room?"
Cid replied, "Selphie please! We'll explain all this to you in order, but I'm extremely concerned about Squall and Quistis."
Suddenly Fujin exclaimed, "ELEVATOR!"
As soon as the elevator doors opened and Squall, Quistis, Rinoa and Irvine stepped out, the room appeared to explode in a cacophony of noise, as everyone began speaking loudly in their excitement simultaneously.
Cid stood up to attempt to restore some order to the room, but was ineffectual.
Selphie, as was her wont, was also attempting to restore some sanity and finally achieved success by screaming "SHUT UP!" As everyone fell silent, Cid declared, "Everybody, please sit down." After everyone in the room had gained a seat, Cid continued, "I'm sure all of you, who have just returned, have things to do more important than sitting in a meeting, such as, taking a real shower or doing some laundry or acquiring some much needed rest, so I'll attempt to not keep you much longer. But there are some things I would like to say to all of you."
Cid glanced at Rinoa and spoke. "Rinoa, I really don't have the slightest idea how you managed to enter the D-District Prison and rescue Squall and Quistis, but I will be forever in your debt for having done so. I think anyone that could accomplish what you did deserves to call herself a SeeD and you can, as of this moment."
Rinoa felt so overwhelmed by his pronouncement, on top of everything else she had experienced in the last twenty-four hours, she broke into tears.
Selphie left her seat and knelt down by Rinoa, giving her a big hug while whispering in her ear, "I'm so proud of you. I didn't think you could do any of it, but you have proven me wrong."
Mishima smiled at them from across the table and thought, "That Selphie sure is a sweetheart."
Cid asked totally perplexed by Rinoa's response, "Did I say something wrong?"
"No," Quistis responded, "I think you said something extremely right."
As Selphie returned to her seat, Squall sat completely mystified, since he had no knowledge of Rinoa ever desiring to be a SeeD.
Cid continued, "There's one more thing I want to touch on, before you all leave." Cid proceeded to inform the returning SeeDs concerning the entire episode of the Galbadian Missile Base, which ended with his describing Seifer's heroic actions.
Seifer sat stoically through most of the rendition, but when Cid neared the end, he lowered his head and stared at the table, not wishing to observe anyone's expression.
Cid declared, "Okay, that's it." As everyone began to arise from their chairs, Cid added as an afterthought, "Oh, make sure you visit Xu in the infirmary. I'm sure she'd appreciate it. And another thing, Selphie - I expect to have your written report in the morning and Squall - be on time for morning staff meeting for a change."
As people began to mill around Cid's office talking, Squall crossed to Seifer and held out his right hand. As Seifer took it in his, Squall said tersely, "Good job." Fujin nodded and smiled to herself.
"Oh, Rinoa," Cid called out. Rinoa paused in her conversation with Selphie and turned her attention to Cid. Cid explained, "I want you to assist Seifer and Fujin with the Garden Internal Security Program."
"Good grief!" Rinoa thought, "Me with Seifer and Fujin? What next?"
A few moments after Cid had dismissed everyone from morning staff meeting, the elevator doors opened and Cid was astounded to observe General Caraway stride off the elevator and step into his office.
Cid sprang up from behind his desk and quickly moved to the General.
"Great Hyne!" Cid exclaimed.
The General replied, "It's a bit of a shock, isn't it? I'm still rather shocked myself, but here I am at your disposal."
Glancing at Fujin, Cid ordered, "Screen all my appointments. I'm going to be in conference with the General."
Fujin replied "UNDERSTOOD."
Cid directed, "Come right this way, General, if you please" and led the General into his apartment.
Thirty minutes later, Cid and General Caraway reentered Cid's office. Cid had his right hand resting on the General's shoulder and was saying "Naturally I'm ecstatic to have you aboard, General. Feel free to make yourself at home in my quarters."
Crossing to Fujin, Cid explained, "The General will be staying in my apartment until suitable arrangements can be made." Fujin nodded her understanding.
Turning back to the General, Cid requested, "If you will excuse me, General Caraway, I need to return to my constant backlog of paper work."
The General nodded. "I certainly understand, having been there myself. I believe I'll take a tour of your Garden in order to familiarize myself with your base of operations."
"That's a fine idea," replied Cid, who was moving behind his desk to sit down.
The General strode to the elevator and rode down to the lower floors.
"Strange" Fujin murmured to herself.
"Selphie?" Quistis said in the laundry area, as Selphie was cramming her dirty laundry into a huge industrial sized washing machine.
"What?!" Selphie almost screamed whirling around confronting the now physically flinching Quistis.
"Don't sneak up on me like that" cautioned Selphie.
"Nerves a little on edge?" Quistis asked with a slight smirk on her face.
"No, it's that damn Zone!"
"Zone?" Quistis questioned, "What does Zone have to do with it?"
Suddenly Selphie appeared more than a little paranoid and asked, "You haven't seen Zone on your way down here, have you?"
"Why? Are you looking for him?"
"No!" Selphie shouted. Noticing Quistis flinched again, Selphie repeated in a lower tone, "No. He's been following me everywhere and he's making me crazy."
"I can see that," Quistis replied dryly.
Selphie returned to her laundry and, while continuing to load the machine with her dirty clothes, asked, "What do you want, anyway?"
"I've come to ask a favor."
Placing the laundry soap into the washing machine, Selphie started the machine and turned to face Quistis. "What is it?"
"I think you could use a good soak in the baths, while your laundry is washing" Quistis suggested.
Selphie's face broke into a huge smile. "You're right. Let's go."
The laundry area was adjacent to the baths and, as the two women walked briskly down the corridor, Quistis explained she wanted Selphie to travel with her to Winhill and the reason for it.
A few minutes later, the two young women were seated in the women's bath, relaxing in the warm sauna.
"Aw, that's really sad" Selphie responded. "Of course I'll go with you. When do you want to go?" asked Selphie.
As Quistis began to answer, Selphie suddenly caught a glimpse of Zone entering the bath area and she became so enraged, she quickly arose standing totally nude and began screaming at him. Only when finally noticing Zone was standing there displaying a sizeable bulge beneath his trousers, did her present predicament begin to dawn on her. Fortunately, at that point, a laughing Quistis had the presence of mind to pull Selphie back down into the bath. Zone rapidly scurried away.
"I'm gonna kill him" Selphie vowed.
Rinoa knocked loudly on the door of Squall's room. She was positive he was in there sleeping, because she hadn't seen him since their return to the Garden and he had mentioned to her on the Ragnarok he hadn't slept since two days before. She knocked loudly, since he was a very sound sleeper.
"Go away" came the sound of Squall's aggravated voice from inside the room.
"It's me, Squall."
"Oh, Rinoa. Come on in, the door's unlocked."
Rinoa let herself into the room and, sure enough, Squall was sprawled on the bed.
Squall rolled over and smiled at her.
Rinoa declared, "I see you're not ready for our first night back together."
Squall asked perplexed "What are you talking about?"
"You've still got all your clothes on."
Squall blushed and responded, "I always sleep in my clothes."
"Yeah, I know and when was the last time you washed that outfit?"
To change the subject, Squall asked, while pointing at a small valise Rinoa was carrying in her right hand, "What's that for?"
"It has another outfit in it. I'm prepared this time. I'm never going through that again."
Squall grinned and Rinoa, suddenly dropping the valise on the floor and quickly disrobing, dashed stark nakedly across the tiny room in two steps and flung herself onto Squall. She began to passionately kiss him, while unfastening his clothes.
"Hey! Slow down!" Squall exclaimed, "You're going to wear me out again."
Rinoa giggled, as she deftly removed his jockey shorts.
It was still extremely early the following morning, when the doctor stepped quietly into the darkened clinic room and gazed down upon the small figure of Kasumi, who had finally managed to find some relief from her intense worry over Shinji with the narcotic of sleep. Doctor Kadowaki felt much sympathy for the anguish she realized the young female SeeD had been experiencing over the possible negative conclusion to Shinji's serious medical condition and much respect for the manner, in which Kasumi had stood up to her on the previous day and her refusal to leave the clinic, until she knew for certain if Shinji were to live or die.
"And it certainly had been questionable" the doctor thought ruefully. It had taken all of her medical knowledge and experience to save the young SeeD, but she believed he had turned the corner and was going to live, although his recuperation would be slow.
Doctor Kadowaki touched Kasumi lightly awakening her and gently spoke, "I hate to wake you when you've finally fallen asleep, but I promised you I would whenever I finally knew something."
Kasumi sat bolt upright on the cot almost immediately, apprehension and anguish clearly visible across her pretty features. "What is it?" she demanded.
"Calm down" the doctor replied lovingly, "He's going to be fine."
"Oh, thank Hyne," Kasumi whispered as her tears began to flow down her face.
Doctor Kadowaki took a tissue from her medical coat pocket and dabbed at Kasumi's face wiping the tears away. "There's no reason to cry."
"When can I see him?"
"He's awake presently. You can go in now."
Kasumi leaped off the cot and raced from the small room and into the room, where Shinji lay flat on his back. He was receiving glucose and a blood transfusion through I.V.'s and was being monitored by several impressive appearing machines.
"Oh, Shinji," Kasumi sobbed, "I'm so sorry, it's all my fault."
Shinji, a slight, dark-haired youth with regular features, spoke softly, "What ever are you talking about, Kasumi? The doctor informed me of the hardships you endured to find me. I owe you my life."
Kasumi leaned over and kissed him, murmuring, "I love you so much. I don't think I could have lived without you."
The doctor declared, entering the room, "You're just going to have to live now, Kasumi. He's going to make it just fine, but will have to take it slow for a while."
Kasumi stood up, embarrassed at being overheard by Doctor Kadowaki. Kasumi explained, "I'll be back to visit later today." "When we can get some privacy," Kasumi thought to herself, as she was leaving the room.
Doctor Kadowaki advised, "That's a very special young woman you have there. You'd better hang on to her."
Shinji smiled gently and replied, "I know" before drifting back to sleep.
Irvine, Selphie, Zell and the pigtail girl were sitting around an early morning coffee shop table on their first full day back at Garden.
Selphie questioned, "I wonder where Rinoa is this morning?"
Irvine glanced at her in disbelief. "Come on, Selphie! Last night was Squall and Rinoa's first night together for a while. Where do you think she is?"
Selphie, flushing slightly, retorted, "Get your mind out of the gutter!"
"Get your mind out of the clouds!" Irvine counterattacked.
"Knock it off, you guys! Can't we just have one nice quiet morning?" asked Zell.
Before Selphie or Irvine could respond, Mishima who was crossing the coffee shop espied Zell and called out, "Hey, Zell! You sweetheart!"
She rapidly approached their table and leaned down and embraced the ever-reddening Zell in a hug, with her substantial breasts pressing against the side of his head and enveloping his face. Standing up, she gazed at the now slightly glowering pigtail girl and said, "You must be Zell's girlfriend. I'm Mishima."
Turning her attention to the rest of the table, Mishima declared, "I spoke with Kasumi a couple of hours ago and Shinji's gonna be alright!" Mishima exclaimed, "Gotta run!" She began walking away, but paused suddenly and said to the pigtail girl, "You're certainly a lucky young woman to have Zell for a boyfriend."
As Mishima was leaving the coffee shop, Zell explained, "Uh, that was Mishima, Na-."
"I know who it was, Zell!" the pigtail girl angrily interrupted. "What I want to know is what she is to you."
As Selphie and Irvine looked on greatly entertained, Zell asked confused, "Uh, what do you mean?"
"I mean," the pigtail girl explained, biting off each word, "that I spoke with Kasumi after Mishima talked to her and she told me all about it."
"All about what?" Zell asked, blushing furiously and fearing the worse.
"About how you and Mishima were alone together the entire time, after she left Dollet with Shinji!"
As Zell began to protest, the pigtail girl demanded, "Let me finish! She also told me you told her you loved Mishima. And, as if that wasn't bad enough, you watched Mishima strip herself stark naked in front of you!" With that said, the pigtail girl burst into sobs and, arising quickly from the table, fled the coffee shop.
"Oh Shiva!" exclaimed Zell, "I can't believe it."
Irvine gazed at Zell with a smirk and asked, "Can't we have just one quiet morning?"