Chapter 3 Return to the Prison
Cid heard the sudden thud, but he kept quiet. She's been knocked out. Rather than shout, he turned the volume up and listened intently.
"What do we do with her?"
"Don't kill her. The commander said no SeeDs were to be killed, remember?"
"Well. The Desert Prison then. Should we inform Commander Almasy?"
Cid caught his breath. So.
"Yeah. We don't want to be on the wrong end of his Hyperion, do we?" Laughter, and then crackle. They had picked her up, but the transmitter fell.
Cid stared thoughtfully outside. Quistis had not told him much. but she did send a report about seeing Galbadian soldiers around the Communication Tower. Making up his mind, he pressed the PA System. "Attention to the Commander. I repeat, attention to the Commander, report to the bridge immediately."
The announcement rang though the Garden and many people wondered why Headmaster Cid sounded so grave. Squall was in the Training Centre where he watched a group of Cadets battle a Grat. Irvine was with him, and he cast a worried look at Squall. "Is it Rinoa?"
Squall didn't answer. Rinoa was sent on a mission to Timber yesterday, but it was a fairly simple matter, and he didn't expect him to be called. If it really was Rinoa, then Cid wouldn't have asked for him. He would've sent someone. less damaging.
Cid stared at Squall's reflection in the glass as he entered. "You called?" "You're leaving for the Desert Prison with the Ragnarok in fifteen minutes." Cid said shortly. Squall blinked. No briefing? What was going on? Desert Prison? " What's going on, Headmaster?"
"Instructor Trepe has been captured." He said shortly. "I have underestimated the mission, and now we must get her back."
Squall nodded. "I'll inform the rest."
"There is no other rest." Cid said tightly. "You will go alone." His face softened when he saw Squall's confusion. "As I understand it, Irvine is currently working on something with Selphie. am I right?" He smiled. "Rinoa is now working on her first mission alone, which I believe you have the decency to give her the satisfaction of completing it. And, Zell is not suitable for the job."
"Why?"
Cid paused, wondering if he should say it. The reason he wanted Squall to go alone was because he was more than able, and also because this time it will be Seifer again. Bringing along the others will alert the enemy faster, jeopardizing Quistis's life. He wondered if he should tell Edea too.
"You will meet your rival." Cid said at last. "But remember, your priority is to rescue Instructor Trepe, and then based on her information, act on it. Dismissed." But he paused, and then handed something to Squall. "Her transmitter has been destroyed. Give this to her."
Squall nodded. It was strange, but orders were orders. He rushed through the entrance of the Garden, literally bumping into. Selphie. "Hiya Squall! Were are you going?"
"A mission."
"Oh." Her face fell. 'Hey. do you know when Quisty's coming back? The thing's in a week, you know, and there's still no sign on her."
Squall hesitated. Orders were orders. "She'll be around. Cid said so." He said finally. Selphie brightened up. "Really? Great! Oh, don't be too long, okay?"
Squall headed to where the giant aircraft was parked outside the Garden. Selphie took it out for a spin yesterday, and didn't bother to put it in the hangar. Seeing the huge, dragon-like structure never failed to bowl Squall over. It was still small compared to the massive Garden, but it was theirs. It was gleaming, and Squall suspected the Squallies had been polishing it. He entered the cockpit and deftly switched on the ignition. Almost instantly the aircraft was airborne, and he set a course for Galbadia Desert. He wondered where should he land. finally he settled to land behind the mountains in the outskirts of Deling. and going to the Prison at night. It was much safer, and faster too.
Rinoa hesitated before a shop. She was supposed to investigate the sudden disappearance of the Mayor's son, but she wasn't sure on where to start. So far, she's asked about his hobbies and hangouts. but still hadn't a clue. Finally she did get a piece of useful information. Apparently the boy had been seen taking a train to Timber. She smiled delightedly. She hadn't been to Timber in ages.
Darkness slowly gave was to swimming vision as Quistis groggily awoke. Almost at once a thudding pounded in her head, the spot where she had been cudgeled. It really hurt. Oh Hyne! She swore silently. How careless could she be? And right before delivering important information too! She tried to remember if she had given any hint. but nothing. And where was she? What day is it?
The ache in her arms slowly gave way to the realization that she was mounted on the wall, crucified style. It was the most humiliating position she could think of, especially when she saw a figure emerge from the darkness. "Seifer."
"Hello." Seifer said pleasantly; about as pleasantly as Quistis might have hoped from the likes of him. His eyes glinted maliciously as he beheld her. "Had a good sleep?"
If anyone needed sleep it would be him, she thought derisively. He wore the same gray trench coat, the same gloves, Hyperion at his side. But somehow it wasn't him. His eyes were hollow, dull, and he seemed to be far away.
The room seemed strangely familiar.then she knew. She was in the exact spot there Squall was once tortured. yikes! Her eyes swiftly darted to the control panel on her right, with a Galbadian soldier at the controls. Seifer followed her line of vision. "Would you like to try it?"
"I never thought you could be that heartless." Quistis said through gritted teeth. Seifer did not smile. "Are any of the others with you?"
"Why? Afraid?"
"Answer my question!" She gasped as the gun blade made a gash in her arm.
"I was alone." She said pointedly. 'So kill me."
"Since you're alone, there's no reason to." He said dully. "You'll die soon enough."
Quistis mentally shook her head. This was Seifer. but at the same time, she could tell something was amiss. For one, he didn't have that annoying smirk on his face. he didn't make one reference to Squall, but most of all, he didn't call her Instructor.
"Anything to say, SeeD
"Oh please. Call me Quistis. I'm not saying more than I have to." Quistis snarled.
"Really?" He motioned his hand and the next instant Quistis screamed as a strong surge of electricity jolted through her systems.
"You'll change your mind." He said curtly. "Of course, once the others find you're gone, they'll send a search party, just like we predicted.
"We? Who's we?" Quistis gasped, pain racking her body.
Seifer ignored her. "They'll never think to search for you in Galbadia. Which makes it doubly convenient."
Convenient. her mind was becoming numb. and she passed out again.
Cid heard the sudden thud, but he kept quiet. She's been knocked out. Rather than shout, he turned the volume up and listened intently.
"What do we do with her?"
"Don't kill her. The commander said no SeeDs were to be killed, remember?"
"Well. The Desert Prison then. Should we inform Commander Almasy?"
Cid caught his breath. So.
"Yeah. We don't want to be on the wrong end of his Hyperion, do we?" Laughter, and then crackle. They had picked her up, but the transmitter fell.
Cid stared thoughtfully outside. Quistis had not told him much. but she did send a report about seeing Galbadian soldiers around the Communication Tower. Making up his mind, he pressed the PA System. "Attention to the Commander. I repeat, attention to the Commander, report to the bridge immediately."
The announcement rang though the Garden and many people wondered why Headmaster Cid sounded so grave. Squall was in the Training Centre where he watched a group of Cadets battle a Grat. Irvine was with him, and he cast a worried look at Squall. "Is it Rinoa?"
Squall didn't answer. Rinoa was sent on a mission to Timber yesterday, but it was a fairly simple matter, and he didn't expect him to be called. If it really was Rinoa, then Cid wouldn't have asked for him. He would've sent someone. less damaging.
Cid stared at Squall's reflection in the glass as he entered. "You called?" "You're leaving for the Desert Prison with the Ragnarok in fifteen minutes." Cid said shortly. Squall blinked. No briefing? What was going on? Desert Prison? " What's going on, Headmaster?"
"Instructor Trepe has been captured." He said shortly. "I have underestimated the mission, and now we must get her back."
Squall nodded. "I'll inform the rest."
"There is no other rest." Cid said tightly. "You will go alone." His face softened when he saw Squall's confusion. "As I understand it, Irvine is currently working on something with Selphie. am I right?" He smiled. "Rinoa is now working on her first mission alone, which I believe you have the decency to give her the satisfaction of completing it. And, Zell is not suitable for the job."
"Why?"
Cid paused, wondering if he should say it. The reason he wanted Squall to go alone was because he was more than able, and also because this time it will be Seifer again. Bringing along the others will alert the enemy faster, jeopardizing Quistis's life. He wondered if he should tell Edea too.
"You will meet your rival." Cid said at last. "But remember, your priority is to rescue Instructor Trepe, and then based on her information, act on it. Dismissed." But he paused, and then handed something to Squall. "Her transmitter has been destroyed. Give this to her."
Squall nodded. It was strange, but orders were orders. He rushed through the entrance of the Garden, literally bumping into. Selphie. "Hiya Squall! Were are you going?"
"A mission."
"Oh." Her face fell. 'Hey. do you know when Quisty's coming back? The thing's in a week, you know, and there's still no sign on her."
Squall hesitated. Orders were orders. "She'll be around. Cid said so." He said finally. Selphie brightened up. "Really? Great! Oh, don't be too long, okay?"
Squall headed to where the giant aircraft was parked outside the Garden. Selphie took it out for a spin yesterday, and didn't bother to put it in the hangar. Seeing the huge, dragon-like structure never failed to bowl Squall over. It was still small compared to the massive Garden, but it was theirs. It was gleaming, and Squall suspected the Squallies had been polishing it. He entered the cockpit and deftly switched on the ignition. Almost instantly the aircraft was airborne, and he set a course for Galbadia Desert. He wondered where should he land. finally he settled to land behind the mountains in the outskirts of Deling. and going to the Prison at night. It was much safer, and faster too.
Rinoa hesitated before a shop. She was supposed to investigate the sudden disappearance of the Mayor's son, but she wasn't sure on where to start. So far, she's asked about his hobbies and hangouts. but still hadn't a clue. Finally she did get a piece of useful information. Apparently the boy had been seen taking a train to Timber. She smiled delightedly. She hadn't been to Timber in ages.
Darkness slowly gave was to swimming vision as Quistis groggily awoke. Almost at once a thudding pounded in her head, the spot where she had been cudgeled. It really hurt. Oh Hyne! She swore silently. How careless could she be? And right before delivering important information too! She tried to remember if she had given any hint. but nothing. And where was she? What day is it?
The ache in her arms slowly gave way to the realization that she was mounted on the wall, crucified style. It was the most humiliating position she could think of, especially when she saw a figure emerge from the darkness. "Seifer."
"Hello." Seifer said pleasantly; about as pleasantly as Quistis might have hoped from the likes of him. His eyes glinted maliciously as he beheld her. "Had a good sleep?"
If anyone needed sleep it would be him, she thought derisively. He wore the same gray trench coat, the same gloves, Hyperion at his side. But somehow it wasn't him. His eyes were hollow, dull, and he seemed to be far away.
The room seemed strangely familiar.then she knew. She was in the exact spot there Squall was once tortured. yikes! Her eyes swiftly darted to the control panel on her right, with a Galbadian soldier at the controls. Seifer followed her line of vision. "Would you like to try it?"
"I never thought you could be that heartless." Quistis said through gritted teeth. Seifer did not smile. "Are any of the others with you?"
"Why? Afraid?"
"Answer my question!" She gasped as the gun blade made a gash in her arm.
"I was alone." She said pointedly. 'So kill me."
"Since you're alone, there's no reason to." He said dully. "You'll die soon enough."
Quistis mentally shook her head. This was Seifer. but at the same time, she could tell something was amiss. For one, he didn't have that annoying smirk on his face. he didn't make one reference to Squall, but most of all, he didn't call her Instructor.
"Anything to say, SeeD
"Oh please. Call me Quistis. I'm not saying more than I have to." Quistis snarled.
"Really?" He motioned his hand and the next instant Quistis screamed as a strong surge of electricity jolted through her systems.
"You'll change your mind." He said curtly. "Of course, once the others find you're gone, they'll send a search party, just like we predicted.
"We? Who's we?" Quistis gasped, pain racking her body.
Seifer ignored her. "They'll never think to search for you in Galbadia. Which makes it doubly convenient."
Convenient. her mind was becoming numb. and she passed out again.