Chapter 12: Declaration
It was warm and peaceful, something Squall had almost forgotten existed after what had happened to him the previous day. He lay back in the bed, the most comfortable mattress he had ever rested in, warm and blissful. By all rights, he should have been slumbering, but he wasn't. Despite the fact that he had earned this rest, and was physically exhausted,he still had not fallen asleep, even after collapsing into bed.
"Can't sleep again?"
Squall opened his eyes, and turned his head slightly to his right, and found himself looking into Rinoa's eyes, her gaze searching his own, as always. It was hard to see her face in the darkness, but her eyes seemed to stand out in the dead of night.
"How did you know?" he asked quietly, turning his body slightly toward hers.
"Your breathing," she replied. "It wasn't relaxed, like you were sleeping. You're thinking about what happened yesterday, right?"
"Yeah," Squall replied, looking back up at the ceiling.
"You need to stop worrying," Rinoa whispered in his ear, and he felt her thread her arms around his body, pulling him closer. "I'm safe with you. I always will be, no matter what."
"I know," Squall replied, putting an arm around her as well. He squeezed her against his body, and turned to face her again. "I . . . I don't think its that, though," he continued.
"What is it?" she asked, and Squall shook his head.
"Illarra said some strange things to me. Things I don't know how to place. She told me why I can't rest anymore, why I want to fight so often . . . ."
"Did you believe her?"
"I don't know what I want to believe, now," Squall replied with a slight shake of his head. "Some of the things she said are bothering me, though."
"You won't figure them out at this time of night," Rinoa responded, resting her head against his cheek. "Just relax, and let things sort themselves out."
"I should, but I can't," Squall whispered. "Something won't let me rest until I find out more. I need to talk to her, to get the rest of the truth out of her . . .but if I do, she's as likely to attack me as speak with me."
"You can't do anything right now," Rinoa pressed. "Just rest. You've earned a night's sleep after today."
Squall didn't respond, but instead nodded slightly, his nose brushing against hers. He cleared his mind, closed his eyes, and replaced all the memories of the previous day with Rinoa's face.
Within moments, Squall had begun to drift off to sleep, when he heard Rinoa whisper something as she snuggled closer.
"What?" he asked quietly, almost beneath his breath.
"I was thinking about our little girl," Rinoa replied. "She would have been three a week from now."
"We can go visit her after everything has calmed down," Squall said quietly, and Rinoa nodded.
"Now, you need to sleep," she continued. "That's an order."
Squall chuckled, and, without much more difficulty, he cleared his mind once again, and drifted off to a well-deserved rest.
A dozen SeeDs flanked the door into Interrogation One, weapons out and ready. The Garden troops were on high alert after Squall's escape earlier that day, and even more so now that an extremely high-priority prisoner was contained within. They quickly stood at attention, however, as Quistis Trepemoved down the hallway purposefully, directly at their door.
"I need to see the prisoner," she stated brusquely to the squad captain of the unit. The SeeD nodded.
"Understood, ma'am," he replied, and nodded toward the SeeD closest to the door. That SeeD opened the door and allowed Quistis entry into the monitoring chamber, where a single SeeD was on duty, watching the monitors and glass window peering into Interrogation One.
Sitting behind the table, feet propped up and head hanging back over her seat, was Illarra, perched in a pose of absolute boredom. She had beens tripped down to just aher shirt and a pair of pants, and had been thoroughly searched for anything she might have been armed with.
"Good morning, ma'am," the SeeD on duty said, and Quistis nodded, watching Illarra as she sat back, clearly waiting for something to happen.
"How is she doing?" Quistis asked, and the SeeD shrugged, hand playing over a button marked "alarm clock."
"No food, minimal water, and been keeping her awake whenever she nods off," responded the SeeD. "Hasn't shown any signs of stress at the moment. Probably going to be a few days before we crack her." The SeeD paused, and glanced at a monitor showing vital signs. "Nodding off again. That fight with the Commander must have tired her out."
He slapped the button, and a foghorn erupted inside the interrogation room. Illarra jerked up, shocked for a split second, and then her expression shifted to anger. She sent a raised middle finger at the window and settled back, to which the SeeD chuckled.
"She's in high spirits," Quistis commented, and the SeeD nodded, yawning. She glanced at him. "Tired?"
"Keeping an eye on her is boring," the SeeD responded. "I've almost fallen asleep a few times. I wanted to get some coffee, but she's high priority.I can't take my eyes off her."
"Go get some, I'll keepwatch on her," explained Quistis, and the SeeD sat forward.
"You sure? Thanks." He stood up, stretched, and moved outside. "I owe you one." Quistis nodded, and waited for the man to leave the room. As soon as the door closed, Quistis' hands played over one of the keyboards. Within seconds, the monitors cut off, and the video feeds vanished.
"Clear," she whispered, and looked over her shoulder. "You can-"
"Enter?" Alucard asked, right beside Quistis, and she jerked in surprise. She almost told him to quit doing that, but said nothing. His habit of suddenly appearing out of nowhere was bothering her, but Quistis knew he likely wouldn't stop, even if she asked him to.
"Yeah," she replied. "Though judging by what Squall told me, I don't think you needed my help to get in there."
"Breaking someone out, no, I need no help," Alucard replied. "But carrying out an interrogation, on the other hand . . . Well, I like to have someone to keep an eye on things. Temporal displacement bubbles require some effort to hold, and I don't think I can properly interrogate her and keep one active at the same time."
"Admitting limitations?" Quistis mused with a slight smile as the mysterious figure stepped toward the door. He made a jovial grin, but didn't otherwise respond, and opened the door. It took Quistis a moment to remember it should have been locked, but Alucard didn't seem to play by those kinds of human rules.
Quistis watched the glass as Alucard strode into the room. Illarra perked up as soon as he entered, and then sat up straighter, obviously alarmed.
"The hell are you?" she snarled. "Garden pick up a new interrogator?"
"Interrogator, yes," Alucard replied, slowly cracking the knuckles of his gloved hands. "But associated with Garden . . . Only in the loosest of terms."
"Hmph," she responded. "Fine. Is Squall trying to get around Cid's 'no torture' limitation here? I wouldn't be surprised if he was. He's out there, isn't he?" She sent a jaunty wave at the window, complete with a plastered smile.
"Actually, the Commander is elsewhere," Alucard stated. "I'm doing this alone, mind you. Now, let's get started, shall we?"
"Do whatever you want," Illarra said with a shrug. "Doesn't matter what you throw at me. When it comes to pain," she sat forward, a strange smile on her face, "we're close friends."
"Of course," Alucard answered as he rounded the table. "Standard interrogation won't work. That's why I like to do this."
His hand shot forward as he stood over her, and tightened around Illarra's neck. Her eyes opened slightly in surprise, and he lifted her up out of the chair with effortless ease.
"Oooh, big strong guy picking me up by the throat," Illarra muttered. "I've seen this plenty of times. What are you going to do? Choke? Stab? Cut? Maybe throw me around the room? How about smash my head against the wall, that's happened a few times."
"You are no stranger to torture," Alucard mused, but then his face twisted into a smile. "But I don't use anything as inelegant as pain."
Illarra was about to snap off some retort, but as she opened her mouth, her jaw went slack, dropping open. Alucard shifted his arm, bringing her closer so he could stare into her eyes.
Quistis watched as Illarra's fingers started to tremble slightly, and her eyes were locked open as Alucard looked into them. His expression remained rock solid, but his eyes seemed to shift, transforming into a strange dark purple color, a faint glow passing between them and Illarra's orbs.
"Tell me," Alucard hissed.
Illarra didn't respond, seeming to be struck still and awed by Alucard's presence. He brought her closer to his face, smile changing to a more sinister expression.
"Tell me," he repeated.
Illarra's jaw started to tremble as well, and her eyes started moving back and forth, a sif looking for some means of escape. Alucard held her firmly, staring at her, his gaze never wavering. The room seemed to darken as he pushed his will upon his prisoner ever more strongly.
"Tell me!" he snarled viciously, surprising Quistis, and Illarra's jaw suddenly moved, quickly speaking out two syllables, almost under her breath. Quistis certainly couldn't hear the words, but Alucard definitely made them out. The room cleared, the glow vanished, and Alucard made a single motion with his arm, dropping his victim back into the chair. He clapped his hands together and turned around briskly, while Illarra fell forward onto the table, eyes closed, body limp in unconsciousness.
The elegantly attired man stepped out of the room, straightening his cross-shaped tie, a firm, satisfied smile on his face.
"She should awaken in but a moment, with no memory that this ever happened," he stated, apparently quite happy with the results.
"Is that it?" Quistis asked, surprised, and Alucard nodded.
"One word is often all one needs to hear, my dear Quistis," he replied with a casual wave of his hand. "When one peers deeply into another's soul, and tears out the one thing that locks away all their secrets, then one has bypassed all their defenses. Only those with the stoutest of hearts can withstand such an interrogation. Illarra does not have such a defense; her armor is callous anger and rage, and the befuddlement of mental anguish and sickness. No normal interrogation will ever break her."
"What did she say?" Quistis asked, and Alucard paused, rubbing his chin.
"What would happen if I told you, I wonder?" he asked. "How would this knowledge be used? What might happen if I let this slip?"
"What are you talking about?" Quistis asked, and then sighed angrily. It seemed every conversation with this guy ended up with someone asking that question.
"I speak of matters that may best be left out of human hands," Alucard answered. "If I told you, things would change. Letting slip one tiny word can alter the course of the future forever. I must be very careful here . . . ."
"Just say it," Quistis demanded, crossing her arms. Alucard considered for a moment, and then looked at her impatient expression, and finally chuckled.
"Fine, then," he replied. "She said 'Iceblood.' That is where the secret to everything lies, I believe." He then suddenly bowed formally. "Until we meet again, Quistis Trepe. I bid you a fond farewell."
Then, like magic, Alucard simply stepped backwards, and . . . was gone.
Nightwalker: A term given to a collection of particular creatures who apparently defy normal classification. Nightwalkers are rare entities that do not possess standard magical powers or abilities, nor do they seem to have been mutated or brought to the planet due to Lunar Cries. Nightwalkers take on various forms, and are rumored to possess multiple forms, and all appear to be sentient and highly intelligent. There are numerous legends about Nightwalkers aiding humans in need against lunar monsters, but reports on these creatures have slackened off in the last two hundred years, as technology has flourished. Some reports indicate that Nightwalkers may be connected to the Unbound.
Rinoa sat back, widened her eyes, and then blinking them quickly. She rubbed them, her retinas a bit tired from staring at the computer screen for so long. She had been following up onher Alucard research from the previous day, but so far had found little more than legends about him, mostly gathered from old Centran and Galbadian mythos. They certainly didn't describe him as the figure she'd caught a glimpse of in the warehouse, but these were myths from ancient peoples. Authors from those civilizations tended to embellish their characters.
One particular legend had included several references to Alucard as a "nightwalker," and when she'd looked it up, a new entry had appeared, which intrigued her. Even moreso was the last line, relating to the Unbound. Rinoa knew a little about them, but not much. Like Nightwalkers, they resided in legend. She looked up that term, wanting to gather more information. Anything might help her and Squall figure out what the heck this strange guy was.
Unbound: A specificterm given to certainGuardian Forces. Guardian Forces fall under several classifications, the most common known as Bound and Unbound. Unbound Guardians differ from their Bound relations by the fact that they are not confined to a specific location or object. Commonly known Bound Guardian Forces include Ifrit, which resides specifically in the Fire Cavern on the eastern coast of Balamb, or the Brothers Minotaur and Sacred, which reside within the Tomb of the Unknown King on the northern coast of Galbadia. Unbound, on the other hand, are harder to pinpoint and identify. There are rumors that Unbound masquerade as humans, walking among mankind without revealing themselves. Their agendas are varied yet unknown. Of the few known Unbound, one is Fenrir, a great wolf-like Guardian, said to wander the forests of the world. Another is Ramuh, a Guardian of storms and wind, who is said to preside over other wind or electrical-based Guardians such as Queztocotl or Pandemonea.
Rinoa shook her head as she looked the data over. None of this was really helpful in determining who Alucard was. He was still a complete enigma. Maybe if she had a chance to meet with him, Rinoa could attempt to read him using her magic, but otherwise, the library's archives were drawing up nothing but question marks.
The Sorceress sighed and closed the terminal. She sat back for a moment, looking up at the ceiling, when a face interposed itself between her and the rooftop.
"S'up?" asked Zell jovially a smile across his face. Rinoa winced when she saw the cut across the brawler's neck, and the bandage applied to it.
"Hey," Rinoa answered, sitting forward again and spinning the rotating chair around. Zell leaned back against a bookcase, crossing his arms. "You look pretty rough, though I don't want to imagine what happened to the other guy."
Zell chuckled, and touched his bandage. A year ago, he wouldn't have needed one, but Cid was growing more concerned with Garden's reliance on magic for healing purposes, and was restricting its uses to actual battlefield injuries as opposed to medical treatments in the infirmary. Magic was still unpredictable, even after all the study put into it, and no one wanted to risk it failing at a critical moment.
"He got knocked around nicely too," Zell responded. "At least I'm not like Lex. Guy's stuck in the infirmary for a week, until he recovers from all the burns. I don't think anyone got out of that fight without some kinda wound." He glanced at the terminal, and raised an eyebrow. "Looking something up?"
"I was," Rinoa answered, sitting back and shaking her head. "Nothing's coming up, though. I was running a search on this guy who keeps showing up around here, but all I'm getting are old legends and links that lead nowhere."
"Who are you looking up?" Zell asked.
"His name is Alucard," Rinoa replied. "He's been helping us out, but Squall is suspicious, and Quistis has been trying to find out more about him . . . ." Rinoa paused, noticing Zell's thoughtful expression. "What is it?"
"I heard that name before, and pretty recently," Zell said after a few moments. "I think it was something about the Estharian Bureau of Intelligence, looking out for any mentions of his name, or something. We'd probably find out more if we searched the Garden Intel records."
"I can get us authorization from Squall," Rinoa said quickly, standing up. Finally, a new lead . . . .
"Let's go find him," Zell replied. "You know where he went?" Rinoa paused at the question.
"Oh, he told me he was going down to the brig level," she stated after a moment. "I told him it wasn't a good idea, but he said he had to talk to her as soon as possible."
"That Illarra bitch?" Zell asked, and Rinoa nodded. "What does he want with her?"
"He didn't say," Rinoa replied. "He's not saying anything about what they were talking about during the battle yesterday. I'm not sure why, but it has to be something personal."
"Personal?" Zell echoed. "Squall? He hasn't been around long enough for this kind of thing to be personal. He doesn't make enemies. At least, when he does, they tend to die pretty fast."
"Good afternoon, Commander," stated the SeeD on guard in the monitoring room of Interrogation One. Squall grunted a reply, turning toward the window and watching Illarra. He narrowed his eyes as he saw her looking down at her fingernails, obviously completely without care. She glanced back up at the window, and then back to her hand.
"Say anything?" Squall asked, and the SeeD shook his head.
"Except for a few curses every time we wake her back up, she's been completely mute," answered the SeeD. Squall nodded, then removed his gunblade belt. He set the weapon, along with his sidearm and his knives, on the desk beside him, and then glanced to the SeeD.
"Kill the feeds," he ordered. The SeeD hesitated, but then snapped to his orders. His hands played across the panel before him, and a moment later, he looked back to Squall.
"Microphones and video off. Life monitors off. Sir . . . I hope you're not going to do something nasty to her."
"I'd like to," Squall answered darkly. "But I just need to talk with her. Privately." With that, Squall walked toward the door, tapped the keypad, and opened the portal. He stepped into the room, catching Illarra's attention, and she sat forward, a smile crossing over her face.
"Squall! About time you showed up!" she stated with a snicker. "I'm getting lonely, and I want to complain about the room service. These people have been very rude to me, I demand a new room."
"Shut up," Squall snarled, closing the door behind him. He moved across the room, to stand in front of the table. Illarra leaned back, stretching out languidly, before interlocking her fingers behind her head.
"So, why are you here? Not to share tea and gawk at my lovely features, I'm guessing?"
Squall's scowl widened her grin. She knew he was still uncomfortable with the strange physical similarities between them.
"You know something," Squall stated. "Spit it out."
"I know a lot," she replied, smug smile firmly entrenched on her features. "But I don't like sharing my little secrets, Commander. You'll have to find them out for yourself."
Squall stood there for several moments, staring at her, and suddenly reached down, grabbing the table and lifting it up. He cast the furniture aside, launching it against the wall, and stalked forward.
"Throwing furniture," Illarra commented offhandedly. "Oldest interrogation trick in the book. What are you tryi-"
Illarra's words were cut off as Squall sent a vicious right hook into her smiling face, launching her backwards and tipping over the chair. She spilled onto the floor, and the SeeD Commander, grabbed her roughly by her hair and hauled her to her feet.
"The table was in my way," Squall answered. "And this-" he sent a powerful uppercut into her gut, doubling her over, "is just to make me feel better."
"Oooh, Squall, I like it when you play rough," she cooed as she stumbled away. Illarra straightened, smile still on her face, though a nasty bruise was apparent on her right cheek.
"What do you know about me?" Squall demanded, stalking back across the room.
"Everything," Illarra answered. She scooped up the chair she had been sitting in and sat back down. "I know everything about you that there is to know. I know more about you than anyone, even your father or Headmaster Kramer, is aware of."
"You mentioned my mother," Squall asked, crossing his arms. "What about her?"
"Only that she gave birth to you, and that's all that matters," Illarra replied, grinning. "Or at least, all I'll tell you. The secrets about your family are there, Squall. You just have to dig them up. The Chimera's blood . . . it's a very dangerous thing."
"How do you have it?" Squall asked next, and she burst out with a gale of laughter.
"Oh, my story," she whispered. "Its tied inextricably with the story of the Chimera himself. Suffice it to say, Squall, things between us are very . . . complicated. Your family is very strange, Squall. The drama that surrounds our lives is very intriguing, from your ancestor all the way to those who never even saw life after the womb."
Squall paused, and stared at her hard. She stared back, a strange smile across her face.
"What did I say?" she echoed. "Oh, yes. Your daughter? Stillborn, so sad, too bad. Do you know why it happened?"
Squall shook his head.
"Your daughter's death still haunts you, doesn't it?" she asked. "A perfectly developed baby girl, about to come out of the womb, and then, pop! Dead. No explanation, no warning. No discernable medical reason. You want know why she died?"
Illarra sat forward, staring at Squall intently.
"She died because of what genes you carry!" Illarra stated. "Our blood is cursed. At childbirth, someone always dies! Your mother, mine, your baby . . . None of us escape that curse that marks us. The blood of the Chimera killed your mother, and it killed your daughter, too!"
Squall stood there, silently for a moment, and then nodded.
"I see," he answered. He thought about what she had said for a moment, and then nodded again. "Thanks. You told you me a lot more than you thought you did."
Illarra's face scrunched up in confusion, and Squall suddenly turned around, moving toward the door. He left the room without another word, leaving Illarra quiet and alone in the empty interrogation chamber, uncertain what he had just said.
Squall walked back out into the corridor outside, shaking his head. His show had been to keep the satisfaction from his prisoner, but in reality, what Illarra had said jarred him to the core. What she had said about his unborn daughter alone was shocking enough, but the implications of that knowledge . . . .
Squall paused near the elevator as a group of SeeDs, a dozen or so, filed out of the lift, fully armed. He glanced at his watch, and nodded. It was shift change time; they were relieving the guards at Interrogation One. He stepped past the SeeDs as the last one moved out, and ascended toward the command deck.
In the center of the group, hidden from Squall's view, one of the men released his breath. Good . . . He wasn't going to be connected with this group when the crap hit the fan after they were done. The group of SeeDs moved down the hallway, and met with the guards at the entrance. There were salutes, a passcode was given to confirm that they were the new shift of guards, and the old group moved off, glad to be off duty. The new group flanked the doorway, and the man in the center of the unit stepped forward, opening the door to Interrogation One.
"Sir!" said the SeeD behind the desk, standing up quickly and saluting. The man responded with a salute of his own, and glanced toward the interrogation room, noting the table that had been tossed across the chamber.
"Everything alright?" he asked, and the SeeD nodded.
"The Commander roughed her up, but its nothing serious," he answered. "The mics were off; I didn't hear anything. I still haven't brought the feeds back up yet."
"You should, and quickly," the man replied. "We've received word that her people may attempt a rescue."
"Really?" the SeeD asked, looking back at Illarra's cell. "Any idea when they might move?"
"Yes. Right now."
The SeeD's head jerked to the side as the man fired two silenced bullets into the side of his head, and then replaced the smoking gun within the folds of his coat. As the dead man fell to the floor, the killer calmly crossed the room, opening the door to Illarra's cell. She glanced up at the newcomer, and quickly stood.
"You," she muttered, suddenly excited. "Is it time?"
"A dozen of my men are waiting outside," he replied, nodding. "They should get you out of here with little trouble. Your weapons and equipment are waiting outside. You should hurry."
The powerful Estharian airship Render settled in behind Mayor Dobe's home, the backwash from its anti-gravity system blowing Laguna's hair back. He moved forward as it settled in, and the President of Esthar was waiting when the ramp lowered. His grin was wide and sincere as his two closest friends and aides strode down the ramp.
"Kiros! Ward! Great to see you guys!" he called. The massive, powerfully built Ward, along with the slender and agile Kiros, advanced down the ramp, wearing equally sincere grins. They were not bedecked in Estharian robes, but rather in gear more closely resembling their old battle garments, though of considerably better quality and make. Ward stepped forward at the foot of the ramp and pulled Laguna into a massive bear hug.
"Ack!" the President wheezed. "Uncle! Uncle! Lay off, not everyone benches three hundred!"
Ward dropped his friend to the concrete with a hearty chuckle, and Kiros help Laguna pick himself back up.
"Good to see you're alive, man," the slender man admitted. "When we heard about the train, both of us were hit pretty bad. But we figured you were still alive, somehow." Ward grunted something, sounding annoyed.
"Yeah, man," Kiros continued. "With the comms blackout after the bombing, we were lucky we could hear the news you were alive. I don't think anyone else knows, the message got cut off pretty fast."
"Wait, what?" Laguna asked. "Comms blackout?"
"Reports from all over Esthar are saying that comms systems are going haywire due to some outside interference," Kiros explained. "Electronic systems all over the country are out because of some virus that was downloaded through external comms systems. We were able to cut it off when we disabled wireless communications, and we had to cut HD lines too to completely stop it. Suffice it to say, Esthar had to be cut off from the outside world to stop the attacks."
"Who was responsible?"
"Bureau intelligence still hasn't placed it," Kiros replied, shaking his head. "They said it was routed from a series of islands, but may have originated from here in FH."
"Don't trust the Bureau," Laguna said quickly, remembering what Simmons had said before he had tasted Laguna's wrath. "We can't believe any reports we get from them." Ward grunted in confusion, and Kiros echoed the sentiment.
"What do you mean?" he asked. "The Bureau's always been reliable. Has their intelligence been compromised?"
"For longer than you can imagine," Laguna answered grimly. "Let's get inside Garden, I've got some real bad news. Who ordered the comms blackout? You guys?"
"No, Director Varines did, right after the bombing."
Laguna jerked to a halt.
"Crell?" he asked, shocked. "When did he get that authority?"
"After the bombing of the Palace," Kiros replied. Ward snorted something, and Kiros nodded. "Right, he hasn't gotten the worst news."
"What happened?" Laguna demanded.
"There was a meeting of the Wisemen's Council after the train attack," Kiros explained. "Director Crell Varines called it. Intelligence has always been quick when it comes to this stuff. He apparently was late to the meeting, which saved his life, because there was a hovercar bombing by the same people who did the train attack and the assassination attempt here. All the Wisemen were killed, excepting Crell. He's now acting head of Esthar until you return."
Laguna felt his knees go weak. He stumbled for a moment, and Ward managed to catch him.
"That . . . That damn sonova . . . He has control of my country?"
"Laguna, what are you talking about?" Kiros asked, and Laguna shook his head, standing up.
"Crell Varines is Major Virago," Laguna answered. Both Kiros and Ward stood dumbstruck for several moments, and Laguna nodded. "I got it from a very reliable source. Virago must have been using his contacts to make up a new identity. I don't know how he got to be so high-up, but . . . Dammit!" Laguna punched a fist into a cupped hand, shaking his head as he did so.
"If you're right-"
"I'm positive!" Laguna answered. "If he's in control of Esthar, and judging by what we saw in that island base . . . he's going to start a world war!"
"We have to tell Garden, and President Caraway and Duke Haroldington," Kiros said immediately, and Ward made an affirmative grunt.
"Let's not waste any time!" Laguna continued, and pointed toward Garden. "Hurry!"
"Good morning, Commander," Cid said as Squall walked into his office. He reflexively glanced at the broken glass, which still had not been repaired, tough Garden's maintenance staff had managed to replace the broken privacy blinds.
"Headmaster," Squall answered quickly. "I went ahead and looked into some of the information we found relating to those hidden cameras Intelligence located, and what we recovered from Illarra's base of operations. I think I found something you may want to hear."
Cid nodded, and tapped the button on his desk that closed the privacy blinds. As they slid shut, Squall continued.
"Cid, I've found the traitor."
"Who?" Cid asked, surprised, and at the same time very interested.
"I had to clear some people first," Squall explained. "The only way that Illarra could have done some of the things she did would have required Garden personnel with high-level clearance. They also would have required a high enough clearance to access Garden security protocols, in order to get around our sweeps for bugs and hidden cameras. They would need someone who could move around completely unquestioned. Here at Balamb, the only people with a high enough clearance are myself, you, Xu, and Quistis."
"That's right." Cid replied, nodding. "I certainly hope you're not implying Xu or Quistis did it."
"No, Headmaster," Squall replied, shaking his head. "Xu intervened in the attempted assassination. If she was the traitor, she would have known I'd be up there in the first place anyway, and would have avoided coming in. That clears Xu. Quistis helped me take down Illarra. That, and I trust her too much for this. I know her through and through. She'd never betray us."
"I agree," Cid answered with a nod. "And since its obviously not you or me, that leaves us at an impasse."
"Not quite," Squall answered. "This doesn't take into account that-"
Squall was cut off as the door opened behind him, and Headmaster Martine walked in.
"Ah, Headmaster Cid, Commander, I'm sorry," the Galbadia Garden Headmaster quickly apologized. "I didn't know there was a meeting. I apologize for interrupting it."
"No problem, Martine," Cid responded. "Please, come in. You may need to hear this. Squall was explaining something very important to me. He believes he may have uncovered who was behind this entire incident."
"Really?" Martine answered, closing the door behind him. "Interesting. I was coming up here, bearing the exact same news."
"You've located the traitor?" Squall asked cautiously.
"Why, yes, Commander," Martine replied evenly. "An exhaustive analysis of intelligence by Galbadia Garden Intelligence, with separate confirmations from secondary agencies, has determined who it was that orchestrated this entire attack."
"And that person is?" Cid asked, listening intently. Squall waited as well, wanting to know the name of the person behind this assault on his life. Headmaster Martine looked at Squall intently for a moment, and closed his eyes.
"Commander Leonhart, Headmaster Kramer, the person behind this attack was Sorceress Rinoa Heartilly."
"What?" Cid asked, rocked back in shock. He was speechless for a few moments. Squall, on the other hand, nodded, clenching his fists.
"I understand," the SeeD Commander replied. He sighed, and looked back at Cid, then at the closed security blinds. "I regret to hear that news."
"You understand, then, what has to be done," Martine continued, and Squall nodded once more.
"Perfectly."
Martine's head was rocked back as Squall's fist met his chin, and before the Galbadia Garden Headmaster could even begin to realize he was under attack, Squall fell upon him with a barrage of savage blows that pummeled him viciously. A few seconds later, Martine's battered form lay on the office floor, thoroughly unconscious, and Squall turned back to Cid, who was obviously even more shocked than before at what his Commander had done.
"What on earth was that for?" Cid demanded.
"Headmaster, as I was saying before he arrived," Squall continued, "I examined who was capable of carrying out everything required for the terrorist attacks yesterday. There was one person who was responsible for arranging everything, both in the conference and how the attendees would arrive, as well as had intimate enough knowledge of Garden's security networks to track me. I cleared all the higher-ups in Balamb Garden, and since Trabia Garden's personnel are too far away from here to be able to do what was necessary to support Illarra's terrorist actions, that left one Garden remaining. I couldn't be sure who it was, but when I interrogated Illarra a few minutes ago, she told me something that confirmed my suspicions.
"She knew sealed medical information about Rinoa's failed childbirth three years ago. Whoever was helping her had access to confidential medical records. Only myself, Garden medical staff, and Headmasters have access to that information."
Squall pointed at the body at his feet.
"Headmaster Martine Cayes is the traitor."
"You're certain," Cid said. It wasn't a question, but Squall nodded.
"Beyond a doubt," the Commander replied. "No one else could have done this."
"Good work," Cid replied after a second. "I was always suspicious of him. Why do you think he did it?"
"Money, power, fear, ideology," Squall replied, and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. We have to secure him, and now."
"Agreed," Cid said, and hit another button on his desk. "Xu! I need you and a security detail up here now!" Cid received an acknowledgement, and then looked to the unconscious body.
"Now what do we do?" Cid asked, and Squall shook his head.
"I'm not sure," he replied. "We've unmasked Martine, but now we need to decide on our next move. Zell's report is very ominous, but . . . ." He glanced at Martine, scowling. "Martine was attempting to turn Rinoa against us. Or us against Rinoa. We can't have that."
"It's worse than that," Cid replied. "If Martine had made his case, then you would have been relieved of your command because of your association with Rinoa, due to Garden protocols. I would have been relieved because of the potential that I was involved or corrupted in some manner. Xu and Quistis would also be removed due to suspicion, and your own closest comrades would be suspended until an investigation was over. And in the meantime, Martine would assume command of both Gardens."
"And if Zell's estimates are right, then that army he saw at the island base could begin to move while we were out of commission," Squall answered. "That would immobilize Garden and leave Galbadia and Dollet to fight alone. Andif the plan yesterday had worked,their leaders would havejust beenassassinated."
"They thought this plan out brilliantly," Cid muttered. "No leaders for the other nations, Garden under their command . . . but they would need Esthar . . . ."
The door flew open, and four SeeDs on security detail, with Xu at the head, burst into the room. They looked around, and spotted Martine's body on the floor.
"Xu, I need you to take Headmaster Martine Cayes into custody," Cid ordered. "Under charges of treason against Garden."
"Understood," Xu stated without missing a beat. She and the Security officers quickly moved to arrest Martine as he lay unconscious on the cold floor.
"Members of Galbadia Garden might be a part of this," Squall stated, and Cid nodded.
"Let's get down to the command floor and mobilize," the Headmaster suggested, and the two leaders of Balamb Garden quickly moved outside, past Xu and her troops, and down onto the command floor.
"Attention!" Squall barked. "New orders!" The entirety of the staff shifted their attention to their two commanders.
"People, we have new information that changes things," Cid stated. "We are to consider all members of Galbadia Garden to be potential threats as of this moment. Headmaster Martine Cayes has been confirmed to be behind yesterday's attacks. We don't know if anyone else is operating in collusion with him."
"Scramble all passcodes," Squall ordered. "Bring Balamb Garden to Yellow Alert!"
"Intelligence!" Cid shouted. "Shift all of our assets and redirect them at Galbadia Garden! I want to know what every cadet, SeeD, and staffer of Galbadia Garden is doing, right now!"
"Issue recall orders to all Balamb Garden personnel outside the building!" Squall shouted. "I want everyone to drop what they are doing and get back inside! They are to avoid contact with any members of Galbadia Garden if possible!"
"Intrusion," Cid called. "I need taps into the Galbadia Garden mainframe, right now! Use all passcodes. I want to know what they are doing inside that Garden, and I want it now!"
"Security is to detain all Galbadia Garden personnel inside Balamb Garden," Squall ordered. "We are to hold them until we have confirmed they are not a threat."
There were several moments of silence as the SeeDs processed the string of orders.
"Get to it, people!" Squall demanded, and the room burst into activity as the technicians moved to follow the new orders. Squall and Cid watched them move about their tasks, and then glanced to each other.
"Feels good to be back in charge, right Squall?" Cid asked with a smile, despite the seriousness of the situation.
"Yes, Headmaster," Squall answered. He saw movement, and turned to see the Garden Security officers dragging a semiconscious Martine down the steps.
"Excellent work, Commander," Cid added. "Hopefully we can defuse this entire situation soon."
"I wouldn't count on it," came a voice, and the two heads of Balamb Garden turned, to see Laguna Loire moving into the room, Kiros and Ward right behind them.
"President Loire!" Cid called. "What are you up here for?"
"Because we're about to go to war," Laguna answered ominously. Squall and Cid glanced at one another, obviously surprised, but not terribly so, at the news.
"Crell Varines is in command of the Estharian government," Laguna explained. "Crell's real name is Virago. He was a member of Adel's regime, and is part of the Neo-Adelist movement to bring back her rule. He was behind the terrorist attacks yesterday. He's the mastermind behind everything."
"Everything?" Squall asked, and Laguna nodded.
"The train attack, the kidnapping, using you to plant the bomb and try to kill the world leaders," Laguna stated. "He's in charge of the base where we saw those Garden knock-offs, and he's running my country. There's a complete comms blackout, and I'm guessing that if we try to get back into Esthar he'll have the military shoot us down. He's in control, and he's not letting go."
"You mean he's planning a new world war?" Cid asked, and Laguna nodded.
"No question about it."
Squall and Cid shared another significant look, but before they could say anything, there was a shout from one of the technicians.
"Headmaster, Commander!" she called, stealing their attention. "Sirs, we're picking up a transmission from Esthar! Its on all the channels and frequencies! Some kind of speech from the acting President over there!"
"Put it up on the main screen! Cid shouted, and a moment later, the main television screen overlooking the command deck shifted, to show a man standing behind a white podium of Estharian pastel blue, emblazoned with the Estharian sigil. Squall moved to catch a better look, and froze.
The man was at average height, much like Squall, and was in his late thirties, with thick, closely shaved brown hair. His face was slender, and he had blue eyes, matching Squall's. In fact, if it weren't for the age and the shaved head, he would look shockingly like Squall himself.
This was no coincidence, the Commander realized.
"As of this moment," the man declared at the camera facing him. "Every television, radio, and HD cable in the world is receiving this declaration. Esthar's leadership has fallen, victims of the vile terrorist acts against our nation, and against other nations."
"That's him," Laguna stated grimly. "Crell Varines. Major Virago. The guy who played all of us for damn fools."
"But these butchers have failed to bring down all of Esthar's leadership! I stand here, Director Crell Varines of the Estharian Bureau of Intelligence, last surviving member of Laguna Loire's Wiseman's Council, and here, I take Esthar's leadership role. The nation of Esthar is under my stewardship, and I stand firm in protecting this nation against all of its enemies.
"These are trying times," Crell continued, clenching his fists tightly. "We all must be strong. Our foe today is ancient and even now, the wounds they have left on our great society are still bleeding. They have dealt fresh wounds yesterday, and we are all suffering. However, people of Esthar, and of the world, fear not! For we shall strike out! Those who committed these acts of injustice shall pay!"
"What's he talking about?" Squall muttered, confused. "Is he actually saying he's on our side?"
"No," Cid replied grimly. "He's not on our side. I know where this is headed."
Twenty years ago, Esthar was ruled by the brutal Adel Harbringer! Three years ago, the western nations battled Edea Kramer! Shortly afterward, we faced invasion and war at the hands of Ultimecia! And now, today, we have determined that yet another Sorceress has brought war to our doorsteps, rising up to strike at our leadership in a vile effort at casting the world into chaos! Through our vast intelligence networks, we have confirmed, without a doubt, that the enemy we are facing is now the Sorceress Rinoa Heartilly!"
Squall took a step forward, shock and outrage flashing through his mind. It was one thing for Martine, a confirmed traitor, to have made such a declaration. But for a head of state to declare war against Rinoa . . . .
"Balamb Garden is her home, and we call upon the people there to cast this vile witch out! She has manipulated everyone, threatening to inflict chaos through her seductive wiles and vicious, terrible power. She must be stopped before another Sorceress War begins!
"I declare to you, people of the world, that this day Esthar's army and navy shall mobilize! We shall find this Sorceress, and bring her to justice, and ensure that he entire world is safe from her tyranny! No longer shall the world be under the grasp of the Sorceress! Any who stand with her are our enemy, and we shall seek them out as well as the Sorceress herself, and end the danger their kind represent to our planet!
"This broadcast is my declaration of war. Peoples of the free world, join us in our hunt for the Sorceress. Stand with us or stand against us. But we shall not hesitate or falter. Justice will be meted out to those who warrant it. Make no mistake, for we shall win through!"
Crell went silent, and a moment later, his image disappeared. Squall glanced back and forth between Laguna and Cid, and the other two leaders slowly shook their heads. Squall nodded after a second, and stepped forward.
"Attention!" he called, and all the SeeDs turned their gazes toward him.He stared over them, evaluating his people, and finally gave them a firm nod.
"Gear up!" Squall roared, eyes narrowing. His voice resounded across the chamber, echoing off the walls. "He wants a war? He's going to fucking get one!"
-
Yay. One chapter that's mostly plot and dialogue, before we get back into the ACTION! And I assure you, this little rest is probably all we'll be getting. Within the next few chapters, war will begin, and the truth about Squall and Illarra, Crell's secret plan, and what Iceblood Prison's relationship to everything really is will start to surface. Next chapter, expect to see Irvine and Selphie again, behind bars! (is it just me, or does everytime someone escape, someone else ends up getting captured?I just noticed that...)
Anyway. LAS SHOUTOS-OUTSOS!
Orestes666: Yes. There is a clear connection between the Estharian soldiers and Malachi. They're a lot like him, but they're unnamed scrubs, while Malachi is a badass. The White Robes are under Veronica's control, but I won't slip anything else. Their signifigance will be explained, possibly as soon as next chapter.
Solid Shark: Oh, yes. I took some ideas there. Not a tremendous amount, butI was inspired by Metal Gear.
DBZ Fanfiction Queen: Yeah, Iceblood is the same prison The Governor is located within. Speaking of him, he may appear next chapter, hopefully.
I was disqualified because I have flat feet. That's very bad if for a branch of the militarythat runs three miles every morning before breakfast.
And yeah, Irvine likes making witty, Han Solo commentary. After all, that's the role he plays in the group.
Platonic1: DING DING DING! You guessed the traitor! Also, you think that consiracy is massive, wait until you see who is really behind everything. There are so many layers in this story . . . .
Leonhartilly: Not just Squinoa, heh. There'll be some other pairings you may not be expecting. No yaoi though. Sick, foul, heathen things those fics are!
E: I believe that if a character has to die, they need to die with a meaningful death. To quote Ghost: "When its my time, let it be for something, and not of something."
Illarra is not a clone. Though she is conditioned to hate someone, I will say that.
Heh. Is this going to be a Zellone fic? Very possibly. I haven't seen very many of those...
OniRazz: Don't mess with Zell, who in tha hood is called Flexmasta Z.
Your guesses are wrong. Excepting Iceblood being where Irvine and Selphie are headed. (heck, a quick check of the prologue would confirm that) Iceblood is based more off Crematoria, at least,t he Undercity is. Lockdown is much like Butcher Bay, though.
JadeAlmasy: Remember how in the first chapter, Irivne and Selphie were commenting about there not being an old fortress or cackling witch on this mission? Yep. Heh.
Nida was not mentioned in the story. He wasn't the traitor, sorry.
Chris Ganale: You gotta love stormtrooper dialogue. Its the best for random goonery.
Daniel Wesley Rydell: Heh. Wild guesses, and obviously, completely incorrect. Good try, though.
Tain Shari: Heh. You have no idea of the trouble they're in. Some pretty bad stuff i going to happen, and, well, someone isn't leaving Iceblood the same way they went in.
I feel safe saying this: Crell is not pulling all the strings. Precisely who it is, I'm not naming, though I'd point my fingers at that little girl in the hovercar he was speaking with...
Karaoke Risa: Well, gee, she didn't stay put very long, did she?
Elachim: First off, oh, yes, Irvine is much like Han Solo. Remember that one quote in Gunblade? "Hokey magic and ancient weapons are fine, but they're no match for a good six-shooter by your side." He's the Han of this party.
Indeed. I wonder where Illarra got her Guardian Forces from? Maybe we'll find out...
Seifer may appear again as soon as the next chapter.
I didn't mean to sound presumptious. I meant that I write novelizations more easily than I write other stories.
There will be no time travel...I hope. Maybe for a sequel to this. I already have ideas for that planned out.
And yep, you guessed right. Here's a cookie. You caught on to the subtlety of Martine's arrival perfectly. He shouldn't have been there that quickly, but he was. A simple off-handed comment...how incriminating. You're also right on accessibility. As for motive, while not perfectly on, I will say greed did play a role in it. As I portrayed him in Gunblade, Martine is focused on his well-being and pocketbook. Also, you missed a big pointer I made very early on: Martine arranged for the entire conference to be at Fisherman's Horizon, and was behind the use of trains, as well. He set up the entire framework for the assassination attempts.
Psylockian Emperor: Aw, you're leaving? I'm sad.
I did fail to fully utilize Irvine and Selphie, I'll admit that. Their characters will become more apparent in Iceblood, however.
Yeah, I am keeping Alucard a bit...secretive, aren't I? His whole part in the story will emerge soon, and his conenctions, origin, and parts will surprise a lot of people, I'm betting.
Ah, I love making shoker moments like that. My favorite moments when writing include points where I write out the shocking plot development moments. Illarra speaking of the Chimera, Irvine and Selphie going to Iceblood, and in this chapter, the revelation that Martine is the traitor.
Yes. I'm a Jackass. I admit it. :P
Anyway, that everyone? Super.
Until next chapter!