Chapter 4

Selphie and Irvine took the two in their rooms. Quistis hopped the energetic girl could cheer up Fujin. It was the first time they saw her like that, so… helpless…

I'm pretty worried about her. And about Seifer. If Fujin is right, it's not good at all. If only we had a little idea where to find him? Unfortunately, we have no clue. He was only passing when he met them.

" We could ask for other government to find him." Propose Zell.

"It's useless. They already have a reward on his head. If one of them would have found him, he had to be judged."

" So what can we d…"

The buzzing com interrupts Quistis. The secretary announces me I have a call from my father. I buzzed the flashing button and meet my father's eyes on the screen of the Videophone.

"Hi, dad."

He smiles at me, enjoying the fact I call him dad. He doesn't ask big thing to be happy.

"Hi Squall. Hum… look, we, I mean, I was wondering if you could come here to visit… There… we are organising a kind of dinner, and… well.. I would had like it if you were here, you and your friends…"

I can imagine he's repressing the urge to shake his cramped leg.

" It's okay, dad. We'll be there for tomorrow morning."

"Really!? That's great! I'll *ouch * ...well. See you tomorrow"

Before the image fads I catch a glimpse to Kiros laughing behind him while he cursed his leg. I can repress a smile. Quistis looked at me.

"A cramp?"

" Yap."

I don't have to tell them anything. They already know that Laguna asks us to go in Eshtar for something.

"What did he say?"

Well. Rinoa doesn't. Damn. I hate repeat myself.

"We're going in Eshtar in my father's palace for dinner."

"Oh. I see."

Yeah. And I can imagine what that means… 'Squally- pooh! We could go shopping while there!'. My poor bank account is going to have an heart attack. If account have an heart.

"Squally- pooh! We could go shopping while there!"

Like I said.

" I don't know Rin. It's only a dinner. And we have a lot of thing to do."

"Like what? Look after Seifer? We have all the time."

Quistis and Zell shoots deadly glare at her. I think I'm doing the same. But she doesn't notice it. Why in hell, am I with her?

"We'll see. For now. Quistis, call Edea and explain her the situation. Zell. Go see how Selphie's doing. "

They salute in mock and go out of the room, leaving me alone with Rinoa. Oh oh. Is it a good idea?

"Squally-poooohhh?"

No.

The com buzzes again. Thank hyne.

"Sir? A team just came back from a mission. They've found a strange creature."

"Okay. I'm on my way."

I should thank the creature for being trapped. I stand up and go out of the room. I don't have to look at Rinoa. I'm damn sure she has the usual pout on her face. I head toward the elevator, trying to see a way to found Seifer. Hell. There must be a way.

The elevator's door open on the basement, which is used as a laboratory since we re-built the Garden. In the middle of the room has been placed a cage, surrounded by some Seeds. Quistis is already here, with Eric Tiger Law, the new searcher of Balamb.

I approach the cage and take a look of its containing. I nearly gasp at the creature. A human looking like a cat? A cat- human? Or merely a cat-woman, seeing the forms.

"What's that?"

"If I refer to old books, it's a Suylen." Answer Eric.

"A suylen?"

" Mixing of cat and human. Magical creatures. Supposed to be extinct race. Used to live in the south of Eshtar. Destroyed by Adel 20 years ago."

Why scientists are always speaking strangely? Anyway. It was better to have a robot than a clown. Squall looked back at the sleeping creature.

"Is it dangerous?"

"According to records, no. Cage just a prevention. Can't know its reaction once awake."

" I see."

"Wha! What's that?" exclaimed Zell.

I turn to see the others looking at the creature from the elevator. Eric rolls his eyes.

"Suylen. Going to run some test on it. "

"How do you think it get there?"

"Time compression." Is all he said before returning at his gauges. Hyne this man hasn't any patience.

" That's kind of strange…" said Selphie. Suddenly, the cat's eyes open making Selphie jump.

"She's awake! What are we gonna do now?" Asked Zell

"Where am I? Let me go out of there!"

"She can talk!" cried Selphie.

"Of course I can talk. Let me get out of this cage! It's horribly dirty in there."

I open the cage, letting the cat-girl get out. She stretched herself and sits on the cage. She takes a look around. For my part, I observe her closer. A light white fur, longer on the tail, covers her body. She got white hairs too, with big blue eyes. 

"Where am I?"

"In Balamb Garden."

"Balamb? I thought I was in Galbadia?"

"You were. Some Seeds from Balamb found you and take you here."

"Why? I hadn't done anything. I was just on my way to Winhill. Why had they arrested me?"

"Because they get afraid of you. They didn't know what kind of creature you were. And since the Lunar Cry, we decided to examine the new monsters species."

"They didn't know what I was? It's stupid! Everybody know what a Suylen is! Your Seed must be really stupid. And firstly, what is the Lunar Cry?"

The cat looks at me angrily then at Eric who approaches her. After checking his papers, he asks.

"What are the current event for you?"

She seems to be puzzled, before humming a little.

" Galbadian army sent soldiers in Eshtar to break Adel's yoke of tyranny. They are planning to kill him. The first move is for tomorrow. For our part, we are planning on attacking him and neutralize her power. That way, she won't be a threat for anybody, and it would easier to decide what to do with her."

Eric considers what she just said.

"You said the galbadian are going to attack "tomorrow"?"

The cat nods.

"Squall can I talk to you in private?"

I don't have the time to answer he already goes in his lab. As I enter the room, I find him reading something on his computer screen. I wait for him to begin. Without leaving the screen, he writes some notes on a paper.

"The attack she's talking about took place twenty-two years ago.. Suylen civilisation has been destroyed three days after it, as well as some other species living in co-operation with them. It has been establish they indeed found a way to neutralize Adel' s power, but didn't have the time to try it."

"So you mean this thing come from the past?"

He nodded. I take a look at the creature trough the window. What am I going to do with her? Maybe Laguna could help. Or at least there would be somebody to take care of her.

I get out of the lab. Zell and Selphie are talking to the cat, whose giggles happily. It seems they already become friends. I'm always surprised to see how fast they make friend with other people. It's incredible. Even if I'll never say it that aloud.

Selphie bounces next to me.

" Could Silver come with us to Eshtar?" She asks pointing the creature . "We can't leave her alone here, can we? She'll be sooooo lonely and unhappy and sad and…"

"I was planning on it." Not for the same reason though.

She hugs me before hugging Silver, the cat. Not very difficult to make her happy.