Tracking a Killer

Ch. 2

~ Galbadian Intensive Care Center ~

Squall was immediately transferred to the best available health facility in Galbadia. His condition was poor, and was currently surrounded by doctors in an operating room, where he'd been for 9 hours. Ellone walked down a wide hallway cluttered with stretchers and IV units. She found Rinoa in a waiting room that was a short distance from the Operating Rooms.

"Any news on how he's doing?" Ellone said as she put her hand on Rinoa's back and knelt down.

Rinoa had her face buried in her hands, and she gave no response.

"Rinoa, I'm glad you informed me, but It didn't seem to me like this was the only reason you wanted me to come."

Rinoa looked up from her hands, and into Ellone's eyes. "I need your help. When he comes out of there, you might be able to get an ID on the killer, cause chances are, Squall saw him before he got attacked."

'If he came out alive,' Ellone thought to herself. It was useless if she tried to see his past when he was no longer alive. "Yes, I'll do it. We'll catch him and put him in prison for the remainder of his life."

Rinoa looked back down at her feet. In one week, her father had said to her face that he never wanted to see her again, due to her refusal to live in Galbadia and find a decent man who didn't occupy his life as a dishonorable mercenary. The mercenary that she lost her old life for, was no on the brink of death, and without him she knew she would be completely alone in life.

A tall, veteran doctor came out of the OR and approached the two young women. Rinoa began to stand up, but Ellone forced her down. "I insist to talk to him first."

Rinoa reluctantly sat back down, and Ellone walked away with the doctor.

"Well, we were able to assess the damage and..." The doctor began, but got cut off by Ellone.

"Just tell me doctor. The sooner I know, the better."

The doctor took a long sigh. "The bleeding did not stop in time. He has lost a lot of blood, and yet he still seems to be bleeding internally. He won't live through the night. If you wish to go give your final respects before we unhook the life support, you better do it now. He's in the recovery ward." The doctor paused in his tracks, saw that Ellone was deep in thought, and he turned and walked down another hallway.

Ellone turned around and slowly walked back to the waiting room. Rinoa was balling in her seat, and Ellone sat down next to her and hugged her. Ellone then guided Rinoa to her feet, and walked her to the recovery ward.

Squall was in a far corner, pale and hooked up to a respirator, heart monitor, and much more. Rinoa dropped to her knees, grabbed Squall's limp hand, then forced her head into the bed sheets and cried.

Ellone knew there was no point in asking if Rinoa was ready. Ellone closed her eyes and concentrated. Rinoa's ears began to ring, and then she blacked out. She thought she came back to consciousness, and found herself staring at a beautiful diamond engagement ring. Rinoa realized she was in her rented house, in the upstairs living room. The door at the top of the staircase opened, and in came an unknown man, Rinoa instantly recognized the uniform. It was red with silver lining. The uniform of a high-ranking Galbadian soldier.

Rinoa blacked out again. She heard a distant sound of a steady, high- pitched tone. The sound gradually became not so distant, until she realized it was in the same room with her. She opened her eyes, and saw herself being dragged away from the hospital bed she was collapsed next to. The heart monitor was showing a flat-line and the medical staff was working feverishly.

Rinoa then heard the phrase that put her into total shock. A doctor announced to the others, "Time of Death, 3:17 AM."

~ Balamb Garden, 2 days later ~

Quistis's desk was below the inactive bridge on Balamb Garden, actually, in the elevator hall. The Garden was still mobile, but would only be moved in an emergency. It was placed back at its old location, and the flight equipment was hidden under a layer of loose astro-turf.

Cid's office was directly below the bridge. This would soon be Quistis's office, cause Cid was in very poor health, and he already named Quistis his successor. He originally wanted Squall to be the upcoming Headmaster of Balamb Garden, but Squall refused to accept the job. Quistis was chosen, only because of her experience against Ultimecia, and the fact that she had partial teaching experience.

Rinoa exited the elevator when it reached the third floor. Quistis stood up and walked over, shaking her hand, then hugging her, all in silence. "Rinoa, it was a shame. More than a shame, it was a tragedy."

Rinoa made her way out of Quistis's arms, then instantly got down to business. "Quistis, I need to talk to Cid. For the second time in my life, I have to hire SeeD."

Quistis sat down behind her desk. "I can take care of it. No need to contact Cid."

"I want to hire the team that defeated Ultimecia, including you."

Quistis sighed. "Do you realize how much money that will cost? Individually, they aren't as expensive, but when you hire the top rated team ever to come across all of Garden, you are out well over half a million Gil. The group would probably be willing to do it for cheap to honor Squall, but that's not how the system works. The Garden claims a good percentage of that money."

"I can get the money. I'll force my father to pay."

"Alright," Quistis walked back around the back of her desk. "I can have you a list in one minute." Quistis wrote down some information, a total amount of Gil, and the SeeDs she would hire to go along side herself. "Done."

Rinoa looked over the list.

Zell Dincht

Selphie Tilmit

Dante Alexander

Quistis Trepe

Seifer Almasy

"Seifer? We can't hire Seifer. He is hated by everyone else on this list, and he isn't even a graduated SeeD."

"No, after he was free of Ultimecia's spell, he went to Trabia Garden, helped them rebuild it, and then passed the final exams. Ever since he's been a weapons trainer at Trabia." Quistis began writing out a bill, which was over half a million Gil.

"Still," Rinoa complained, "he never even liked Squall. He has no purpose being on this mission."

"Rinoa, Seifer respected Squall more than anyone else on the planet. Plus, he is a leader. Nobody else on that list is much of a leader, including me. We always found someone with leadership qualities for a mission, most of the time it was Squall."

"Fine, but as soon as he starts acting up, he's fired." Rinoa looked again at the list. "Who's Dante Alexander?"

"He's the top ranked gunslinger from Galbadia Garden. I think it my be useful to have a sharpshooter on the team."

"Why not just get Irvine? Somebody who had ties with Squall."

"Did nobody tell you?" Quistis looked up at Rinoa.

"Tell me what?"

"I personally told Squall. I don't see why he wouldn't have told you." Quistis stood up.

"For crying out loud! What happened?"

"Irvine was shot and killed in Galbadia. A fatal wound to the throat, four months ago. Dante Alexander was the one and only witness."

"Dante was on the same mission?"

"Dante and Irvine were full time partners. You couldn't hire one without the other. They had become the best of friends."

"Alright, I'll accept. Write up the contract, and I'll sign." Rinoa headed back to the elevator.

"Rinoa, I am sorry. You know I have always loved Squall, as a friend and a brother."

Rinoa nodded, and went back down the elevator.

~ Balamb City ~

Zell Dincht pulled into Balamb Harbor in the late afternoon. He had been out to see on his old boat all day. He got an emergency call of duty out on the ocean, otherwise he would've still been out there wasting his time away. He got out of his boat and stepped onto the dock, attaching his boat to some cleats on dry land with a rope. He heard a continuous hum of whipping air overhead, and he recognized the sound before he even looked up.

Selphie steadied the Ragnorak into a low hover at the Balamb docks. She hit a few switches, and a ramp expelled out from the front of the ship, leading to the passenger hold.

Zell wasted no time climbing the ramp, and then went deeper into the ship, until he reached the small elevator that lead to the cockpit. The cabin had 3 pilots inside, Selphie was in the position of the Head Captain. Selphie turned around, and saw Zell. "Zell!" she shouted in joy. "Good to see ya!"

Selphie ran up to him and gave him a hug, Zell hugging back. "What are you doing here girl?" Zell asked as they pulled away from each other. "Once you became official captain of this ship, I never get to see you anymore."

"I'm not exactly sure why I'm here. I got a call from the Garden about a highly important mission."

"Same here. Looks like we've both been hired."

The cockpit door opened again, and in came Quistis, closely followed by Rinoa.

"This is great!" Selphie exclaimed. "It's like an old reunion, well, not totally. We're missing Squall, and Irvine is now missed for ever." Selphie had suddenly brought her spirits down with that phrase and then she noticed the depression in Rinoa's face. "What's the matter?"

Quistis didn't allow Rinoa to answer, fearing she might break down crying. "Squall was murdered 3 days ago. You two and I have been hired by Rinoa to track the killer, and make an arrest. We have two other people joining us, a sharp shooter named Dante Alexander, and Seifer Almasy. Seifer will be commander of this mission."

"Hell no! I'm not doing anything with that jackass!" Zell declared out loud.

"It's already been set in the contract Zell," Quistis said.

Zell hung his head down and sat down in a nearby chair. Selphie dismissed everyone other pilot in the cockpit.

"C'mon Selphie, we need to get to Galbadia and pick up Dante, then go to Trabia." Quistis said as she took a seat.