Chapter 2
Because they wished to defy time, Time destroyed them.
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I can't believe it.. He's gone…
FLASHBACK
"His car was tracked to be on the ocean floor… Passers-by confirmed him being in the car, and driving beyond the cliff. His communicator is still functioning and has sent data readings that say there are no life signs. President Loire has already ordered his fastest vessels to search and retrieve his car and his body."
FLASHBACK
He's dead.. He killed himself…
FLASHBACK
"They recovered the vehicle and took out the last few video recordings from the system. It was taken before he… took the plunge…" He pushed the button and then everyone was silent. You practically hear a pin drop…
Squall flashed onscreen, his unmistakable scowl and scar confirmed it was him.. He murmured, "What the heck… Who cares right?" The numbers flashing around the screen meant that he had just accelerated greatly. More numbers came, saying the tires were unable to grip anything, after all they were now running on the air. Bigger numbers replaced the former ones, stating that there was a forthcoming crash.
He closed his eyes… And then the screen produced nothing but static
"His body was not found inside nor anywhere near the wreckage. A large hurricane is preventing the Armageddon from searching the coasts for it. We believe that his body may have been eaten by some monster or may have washed up on Centra's shore. Because of these findings, we believe that he has committed suicide, and that there shall be no further investigations on his death"
FLASHBACK
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I sighed as I entered the conference room… How much longer do I have to be here as the 'acting-Commander'? Can't they just pick someone to get it over with.. Cid had offered me the position, but I wouldn't dare take it… I'm probably the only one, save Seifer (which is very uncharacteristically so), that believes Squall to be alive.. I mean.. What if he wasn't wearing the communicator? What if he didn't drown?
I sat down on the in front of the humongous holographic model of Esthar, as the five other did. They remained silent, as expected. I monotonously explained where the new assassin may strike.. I wasn't even listening to myself, I realized later on when a person rose up and pointed a gun at me, only the gasps had brought me out of my trance.
As my SeeD training dictates, I looked at the face of the assailant, only to find that he had his face covered by a hat. When he spoke, it dawned upon me that this.. this was the very man I was just talking about! He was the assassin! His undecipherable and clearly mechanical voice echoed as he spoke, "This is a warning." Before anyone could do anything, he swiftly opened the nearest and largest window and jumped out.
I almost immediately ran to the spot where he had just jumped…
I saw nothing but the fluttering of his black trenchcoat and rippling of water… I sighed as I tore my eyes away, not believing that the assassin was right there!
When I looked back, I realized that I was now alone in the room.. It seems that either those that I was talking were cowards or in cahoots with the assassin.. Naturally it was the cowardly part…
The door suddenly burst open as 5 B SeeDs ran into the room, "I need you too scan for all humanoid life signs out of the Garden." I said to my wrist communicator. The SeeD at the other end said, "Sure, Xu!.. I mean Commander!" I dismissed the SeeDs that were saluting in front of me.
"Umm.."
"Sara, what is it?" I asked her, rolling my eyes… Why did she always have to pause like that? Holding me in suspense or something?
"Wait.. Can I ask, Commander, why we need to look for any life signs?" I sighed, mentally kicking myself for not explaining to her earlier… I rolled my eyes again, wondering if just a day as acting-Commander had turned me into a Squall… I shook that thought out of me as I answered, "The Centran Syndicate was, uncharacteristically, working in Esthar… Seems they sent an assassin to infiltrate the Estharian Government. There had been recent killings.. and well.." I said trailing off…
"Let me guess… The assassin was in the conference…"
"Uhuh.. How did you know?" She only continued, as if she never heard me say that…
"And he pointed a gun at you, said, 'This is a sign.' And then he jumped out of the window… Into what you thought was the sea… Didn't he?" She sighed.. as if she knew exactly who it was…
"So who is it?" I asked impatiently… I mean why does she have to do this anyway? "I don't know.." She said trailing off… I rolled my eyes, geez.. did she really have to make me this agitated? Wait… Thought was the sea…My eyes widened as I realized that when the assassin fell, it was nothing but an illusion… He must have just dropped down on to the Quad… He's probably wearing a cadet's uniform under his trenchcoat! Shit!
"Sara, did you close the Parking Lot's garage doors already!" I asked franticly… worried about the assassin getting away…
"Uhm.. no.. Why?"
"No time to explain.. just close it immediately!" I said, running through the almost empty corridors, footsteps echoing off the walls. By the time I reached the Garage, there were many brightly colored cars.. But there was one thing that caught her attention… There was a roaring black lion in the middle of the room…
It didn't move, save for the roars and swaying of it's mane. As I came closer, I realized it was nothing but a realistic hologram. When I was but a few steps away from it, the lion disappeared… What came out next mildly surprised me… A holographic projection of a large red dragon encircling the black lion, an eagle, a white wolf and a snake appeared.
It took a few seconds for my mind to register what group held that symbol… One who have been rivals with Garden ever since she came here…
Dark…
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