© Copyright 2002 Original storyline by Gold (e-mail: goldenstarlight@hotmail.com)
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Characters and universe borrowed from Final Fantasy VIII. Not owned by Gold.
Title: In Whose Name?
Part 7: Cid's Reminiscences
Cid Kramer, Headmaster of Balamb Garden, stopped where he was and looked down at the Quad, a small smile on his face. Quistis Trepe, Rinoa Heartlilly and Seifer Almasy were walking in step with one another across the Quad. Cid's gaze rested on the blonde and he nodded to himself. She had proved herself and Edea, as usual, had been right.
"The operation will take thirteen hours, the surgeon says. Sir—Matron said—Matron wants me to save Seifer. She made me promise her." Quistis was pale and her eyes, red-rimmed, but she looked almost mutinous. "Sir, what is this all about? She said I was to ask you."
Edea's words had recalled to Cid what he was supposed to do. So he returned her instructor's licence and told her the truth.
Quistis had been stripped of her instructor's position for no other reason than because she had been needed to watch Seifer. Apparently, despite Squall's famous ability to be more close-mouthed than a superglued oyster, Edea Kramer had guessed and feared something close to the truth all those years ago when Squall visited her from the future—and had telegraphed her fears to Cid. Seifer had been blocked from every opportunity to become SeeD to keep him safe, at Edea's behest, and his own rebellious attitude had made it easier to decide not to admit him into SeeD. It also convinced Cid that Edea had been right, although neither of them was quite sure of what it was that they feared.
When his wife had disappeared mysteriously, Cid knew without being told that the time was close at hand. Unsubstantiated rumours reached him that Edea had been seen in Galbadia and Timber, and almost immediately, Timber's resistance movement had sent their leader to ask SeeD for help. Cid Kramer was not a Garden Headmaster for nothing. He put two and two together, and took steps. He stripped Quistis of her position and locked Seifer up, then put Quistis to watch him. There were only two people in Garden who could take out Seifer when necessary—Quistis Trepe and Squall Leonhart, and Squall had to go to Timber. You couldn't ask an instructor to watch a student, especially when said instructor had more pressing duties. So of course, said instructor had been relieved of duties in the most effective possible manner. That way, Cid could skim over giving reasons. As headmaster, he had sole power over the appointment and dismissal of instructors. A suspension would have been too messy, what with having to appoint committees to look into the conduct complained of, and endless reviews and appeals, and Cid had had a strong feeling that time was running out.
Needless to say, Quistis hadn't looked very pleased when Cid had finished the story.
"Liberi Fatali," she said bitterly. "That's what we are. No matter what anybody did, it couldn't stop Ultimecia, it couldn't stop Seifer, it couldn't stop any of it from happening, because it had to happen. And now I've got to go save someone who tortured us, fought us, nearly killed us all and almost destroyed the world into the bargain. And Matron's lying in a hospital, and everyone's celebrating the fall of Ultimecia and the capture of the Sorceress' Knight, and here I am, getting my licence back, and being informed that I failed Seifer Almasy once as his childhood friend, once as his instructor, and once as his guard. And now, to redeem myself, I'm sure, I have to SAVE him! Hyne DAMMIT!"
But she had run true to form—Quistis always did. She had calmed down almost immediately after her tirade, and while she hadn't apologised for her outburst, she had given every sign that she was going to do as Edea had begged. She had told him to tell Matron if she woke up—when she woke up—that all would be well. Then she had marched away.
He hadn't known what she was up to until she ended up in the infirmary, in the contagious ward, for having a particularly virulent strain of measles, coupled with whooping cough. Apparently, she'd been scouring the world on matters related to Seifer Almasy's trial. Unfortunately, she was warded five days before the trial and nobody was allowed to see her. In her condition, nobody wanted to, anyway…Edea, surprisingly enough, hadn't fretted about Seifer, and instead assured Cid from her hospital bed that everything would turn out fine—and she had been right. Quistis had managed to reach a young lawyer before she came down with the measles et cetera. Said young lawyer turned up and then whacked the whole world upside down.
Cid shook himself from his reverie and nodded to the three young people as they approached. Rinoa and Quistis saluted smartly; Seifer just nodded. He remembered vaguely that he had never saluted to Cid like that; he could never do so. His brow wrinkled: he had never made SeeD. Why? He didn't realise that he had spoken aloud until Quistis turned her head sharply.
"You could try again if you want to," she said, eyeing him severely. "But I don't think you wanted to. After the trial, you didn't come back to Garden."
That was true.
"You might be a little too old now," offered Rinoa in a mild tone. "Usually SeeD candidates must pass by the time they're eighteen."
"And I screwed that up, too," finished Seifer with a laugh that had a hard edge to it. "I seem to have screwed up a lot of things."
Quistis seemed sunk in thought, a dangerous glint sparking in her eyes. Her voice was hard. "I think you would pass SeeD. There was never any reason why you shouldn't have passed." Headmaster didn't play fair. You ought to get another chance, if you want a shot at it again.
Seifer and Rinoa gave her startled glances, but Quistis' jaw was set and she didn't appear to be in a mood to be trifled with, so neither of them dared to say anything. They walked on in silence and presently, they reached the infirmary, where Dr. Kadowaki was waiting, looking a little impatient.
"There you are," she said, frowning. "Quistis, could you do me a favour? Can you make sure that some sort of announcement goes out reminding all students and SeeDs not to climb the scaffolding that's been set up in the ballroom? There are apparently idiots out there who think that it's fun to scale a rickety and incomplete structure without safety equipment. I have two broken arms and a concussion in here now."
As soon as they were out of earshot, Rinoa turned to Quistis. "Without safety equipment? I thought SeeDs could scale anything. I mean, think of some of the things we did."
"I suppose Dr. Kadowaki doesn't want to see any unnecessary injuries," pointed out Quistis. "Courage is fine, but idiocy can't be excused. Besides, if I know anything about SeeDs, well, there was probably a betting pool on the results."
Rinoa giggled. "Yeah. I say—Quistis?"
"Yes?" Quistis wondered at the sudden serious tone in Rinoa's voice.
"If he decides to go for SeeD, he'll want Hyperion back." Rinoa's voice was quiet. "And—well—after what you told me—are you sure it's safe? What if he—" She stopped.
"I'm giving it back to him tomorrow."
Rinoa whirled on Quistis, her mouth open. "Quistis Trepe!"
Quistis held up her hands helplessly. "I know. But I'm hoping—hoping it'll jog his memory—somehow—"
Rinoa stared at her. "What did Fujin say?"
Quistis sighed. "Nothing that's of help to us. She said that Seifer appeared as usual those last few days before I found him—"
"Rescued him—" corrected Rinoa.
"She did mention he had been a bit broody and moody, but she and Raijin hadn't thought much about it, putting it down to Seifer-in-a-mood. Apparently, he's been brooding and mood-ing since his trial ended."
"That doesn't get us very far."
"No," agreed Quistis. "But Fujin says she's trying to get information…she didn't say how, though."
"Reading his diary?" guessed Rinoa. "I would, if I were her."
"That is, if Seifer ever kept a diary…" murmured Quistis dubiously. She glanced at Rinoa. "You didn't tell Squall, did you?"
"Of course not. I know Seifer well enough—and he is very proud." Rinoa hesitated. "Did you—have you told Matron?"
Quistis stared at the floor. "No." She lifted her chin. "I don't want her worried."
"But she has a right to know," Rinoa argued softly. "She loves him so much, Quistis. At his trial, she even turned up to testify for him although she was sick and—and almost dying—"
"I know. It's just—although she wouldn't tell Seifer, I think he would see the truth in her face…"
Rinoa took a deep breath. "I hope," she said quietly, "that with the three of us working on it, we can get somewhere."
Quistis nodded.