Final Fantasy VIII [2nd Instalment]
Grace Barton
Chapter Two
After being taken from his cell, Squall was taken to the D-District Prison's most feared place: the interrogation room. The two Moombas led Squall over to a rack on the far wall, and with the help of guards stationed in the room, they lifted the swordsman up onto the wall. Chains were placed around his wrists, and tight iron shackles were clamped around his ankles to prevent him from moving.
Seifer watched as the guards fixed Squall to the wall. He smiled in amusement, enjoying this. Once Squall was secure the guards and the Moombas stepped away, leaving him there.
"I'm sure you can imagine what happens now," Seifer said.
Squall wriggled, and his chains rattled. He could not move his feet at all, and the chains on his wrists gave him only limited movement. The swordsman stopped struggling and looked at the wall behind him. There were a number of holes drilled into the wall, and he could see electric cables running beneath them. Squall had little doubt what they were for. He turned back to Seifer.
"…What do you want?" he asked.
Seifer smiled and raised his gunblade. He pointed it at Squall. "Tell me what SeeD is," he ordered. "Edea demands to know."
"SeeD…" Squall repeated. He closed his eyes. …A code name, he thought, for Balamb Garden's elite mercenary force… SeeD… Combat specialists… …? Squall frowned. He opened his eyes. "…Don't you already know?" he asked.
Seifer lowered his sword. He ran his fingers along the edge of the blade. "I'm not a SeeD," he replied, and his voice had a touch of bitterness. His fingers reached the blade's tip. He looked up at Squall. "There must be some kind of secret you're given when you become a SeeD."
"There's nothing," said Squall at once. "Even if there were, you think I'd tell you?"
"You're on my 'tough-nut-to-crack' list," Seifer remarked with a chuckle. "Didn't think you'd talk that easily."
"…Geez, I'm honoured."
Seifer ignored him. "So here's a little somethin' for you," he said.
He turned to a guard standing by a console and clicked his fingers. At his command, the guard nodded and turned to the console he was manning. Grabbing hold of a lever, he pulled it down.
An electric current went shooting through the wall. It emerged out of the holes, passed along the chains and onto Squall's body. Squall gasped and cried out as his body stiffened, straining against the chains. The swordsman writhed. The pain was excruciating. He had never felt pain like it!
This went on for a second or two before Seifer clicked his fingers again. The guard pushed the lever back up. The current stopped and the bolts of electricity flickered and died out. Squall, released from the torturous charge, sagged against the wall. His knees bent a little, as far as they could go with the chains on Squall's wrists holding him up. His head dropped down to his chest, and his hair fell over his face. He gasped for breath.
"Even if you don't talk," Seifer was saying, as he paced the floor, "others will. The instructor, the little messenger girl, or that Chicken-wuss… He wouldn't last three seconds!" Seifer put his hand on his chest and laughed at the thought.
Th… They're… Squall raised his head. "…They're… all here…?" he asked.
"Oh, you bet. But since I like you so much, I thought you should go first." Seifer stopped pacing and turned to Squall. "I was hoping you'd be there, Squall," he said, grinning. "So… how'd I look in my moment of triumph? My childhood dream, fulfilled! I've become the sorceress' knight."
Squall's vision started to swim. His tongue felt numb, and his eyes were heavy. His chest muscles were stretched taut from the electricity, making it hard to breathe. Spots started to dance in front of his eyes, and his head began to bob.
…Sorceress' knight… Squall thought. Through the waves of pain he recalled the words Seifer had said to him, during the SeeD exam. …His… romantic dream…? He looked down at his old rival. But… Seifer… Now you're just…
"…A torturer," he finished aloud. The spots in front of his eyes grew larger. Squall gave a sigh and then sagged, his head dropping onto his chest. His eyes closed.
Seifer's eyes narrowed. "What did you say!" he demanded, stepping forward. When he realised that Squall could not hear him, Seifer stopped and put his hand on his hip. He grinned. "Passed out cold, eh?" he said with a laugh. "This is the scene where you swear your undying hatred for me!"
Seifer raised his gunblade. He swung it through the air, smiled as he heard the whoosh of the air as it passed over the blade. After a few swipes he stopped and held it out in front of him. He spun the barrel, and it clicked into place.
"The tale of the evil mercenary vs. the sorceress' knight…" he said. He looked at his reflection in the blade's polished surface, and then looked at the unconscious Squall. "The fun's just started, Squall. Don't disappoint me now."
Seifer nodded his head at the guard. The guard grabbed the lever and pulled it down. Electricity crackled over the wall again. Squall snapped awake in an instant and cried out in agony as he was once again electrified by the wall. He struggled and writhed in his chains, and Seifer watched him, a smile on his face.
Selphie tried again. She raised her hands. "Draw… Cure!"
Green light sparkled around her hands and dripped onto Zell. The fighter, leaning against the wall, flinched and gasped in pain as the light touched his skin. The wounds inflicted by the guards did not heal, and the light faded to nothing.
"Ow ow ow…" Zell gasped. He batted Selphie away.
Quistis, kneeling nearby, sighed and shook her head. "It's no use…" she told them. "There seems to be an anti-magic field here."
Zell and Selphie nodded in agreement. Despite Selphie's best efforts to heal Zell's wounds, not a single one had healed. They were just lucky that the damage to Zell's body was not severe; he would only suffer bruising to his neck and torso. If Rinoa had not intervened when she did, it could have ended up much worse. Selphie left Zell to rest and sat down next to Quistis again.
As she sat down, the cell door opened and a peculiar little creature walked in. The creature was known as a 'Moomba', and was usually found in the icy wastes to the north of Trabia. They were probably one of the kindest sentient creatures ever known; Moombas held no ill will towards anyone. Unfortunately, this kindness and their inability to speak the human language led them to be used as servants by humans, and were often treated very poorly.
Moombas stood just a metre in height and were covered in soft, red fur. They had large, gem-like eyes that gazed out innocently at the world around them. Their back and forepaws were large, perhaps too large for their bodies, but they were not hindered by them.
This particular Moomba had been drafted in to work as a servant at the D-District Prison. Though Moombas normally moved about on all-fours, this one entered the cell on its hind legs only. In its forepaws it carried a large tray of food. The tray was wide and looked far too heavy for the Moomba to carry.
The Moomba headed towards Zell and the group. Then, unaccustomed to walking on its hind legs, it tripped over its own feet and fell down. The tray fell from its paws and crashed onto the ground. One of the plates smashed, and food spilled over the floor. The Moomba raised its head and shook it.
"What was that noise!" shouted a voice from outside, and the mean-looking guard walked into the cell. The Moomba got to its feet. When the guard saw the Moomba his face twisted into a scowl. "You again!" he snapped. He kicked the Moomba. The creature yelped and fell back. Selphie gasped, horrified at the brutal treatment. The Moomba curled up into a ball and hid its head in its hands.
Zell stared down at the terrified Moomba. He then looked up at the guard. Damn him… he cursed. That numskull! I'll stop him! Ignoring the pain in his side, Zell got to his feet. "Yo!" he shouted at the guard. "Who do you think you are!"
"Yeah, you big MEANIE!" said Selphie, standing up. Quistis did the same. "Stop that!"
The guard frowned at Selphie. He then walked towards her. Unhooking his baton, he raised it above his head in preparation to strike her. Before he could bring it down, Zell stepped forward and grabbed his arm. The guard struggled, but Zell tightened his grip. He glared at the guard and then shoved him back towards the door. The guard glowered but Zell stood firm and stamped his foot. Selphie did the same, along with Quistis.
The guard paused and looked around him. The three did not move. A flicker of alarm crossed the guard's face. It was three against one. Even though the prisoners were unarmed—their weapons confiscated—they were still a danger.
The guard stepped back again. "Y-You'll regret those words!" he warned them, and then he hurried out of the cell. He closed the door behind him and locked them in.
Everybody stared at the door. For a moment, they could not believe what they had done. They had already seen a glimpse of the guards' brutality. Now they had openly defied them and stood up to them. Next time the guards came, their retribution would be swift and even more brutal.
A soft growling sound drew their attention back to the reason they had stood up to the guard in the first place. The Moomba, still on the floor, lifted its head out of the ball it had curled into. Then the creature uncurled its body and climbed onto its knees. It rubbed its hide where the guard had kicked him. The Moomba then stood on its hind legs and looked up at them warily, its large eyes wide.
Selphie went to the Moomba. "He's so mean…" she said, pouting. She leaned over the Moomba, who stepped back in alarm. She gave the creature a warm smile. "You okay?" she asked him. The Moomba blinked and did not reply. Selphie stood up straight. "Doesn't work so well, but…" She threw up her hands. "Cure!"
Light flashed around her hands and descended on the Moomba. When the light touched it, the Moomba flinched and jumped on the spot. It shook its head and batted at its face, making soft cries. The healing light faded. The anti-magic field prevented the magic from doing a complete job, but it seemed to be enough to please the Moomba. It growled happily, and its eyes were full of warmth.
The lever was pushed back up, and the electricity stopped flowing over the rack. Squall sagged against the wall, gasping for breath. This pain was unimaginable. His whole body ached, every muscle twitched. Even breathing felt like torture. Squall tried to raise his head, but his weary body would not respond.
Below him, Seifer paced across the room. He came to a stop and lifted his gunblade, placing it upon his shoulder. "Well now, Squall," he said. "I'll ask again. What's SeeD? And why do they oppose the sorceress?"
SeeD… Oppose the sorceress… Squall could only shake his head. His throat was too dry; talking was too painful. He lowered his eyes.
The door to the chamber opened and another guard walked in. He stopped close to Seifer and saluted him.
"Sir Seifer, the missiles targeted for the Garden are ready to launch."
"Excellent," replied Seifer, and the guard left. Seifer then turned his attention back to Squall. "Balamb Garden is to be destroyed on charges of training SeeDs to oppose the sorceress," he said.
…WHAT! Squall lifted his head. The movement sent a shooting pain down his neck and shoulders, but he fought it. He stared at Seifer in disbelief.
Seifer shrugged. "It's a pity, really," he confessed. "I grew up there, too… But orders are orders and Edea wants it destroyed."
Squall shook his head. "…N-No…"
"After the Garden's gone," Seifer continued, ignoring him, "the SeeD hunt will begin." He raised his gunblade and pointed it at Squall. "I'll be Edea's bloodhound and hunt down every one of your kind." He laughed. "It'll be fun, Squall. Don't die on me yet." He lowered his gunblade and clicked his fingers. "Continue with the interrogation," he ordered.
The guard saluted, and Seifer walked out. When the door closed, the guard lowered his arm and shook his head. How had it come to this, he wondered, taking orders from teenagers? The guard left the console and went over to the wall rack. He stood in front of Squall and put his hands on his hips, grimacing.
"Ready to talk?" he snapped.
"…I… don't understand… the question…" Squall replied. He lowered his head.
It was true. He didn't understand. What Seifer and the guards were asking did not make any sense. What else was there to SeeD than what he—what both of them—did not already know? The talk of Garden raising SeeDs to 'oppose the sorceress'… What did they mean by that?
The guard was having none of it. "Don't mess with me!" he shouted. He jabbed a stubby finger at Squall. "Edea says you know something! Now spit it out!" The guard ran back to the console. He grabbed hold of the lever. "Talk!" he ordered. "What is SeeD all about it!"
He pulled the lever down. Electricity shot over the wall. Squall screamed and writhed in his chains.
SeeD… Aren't we… mercenaries… from Balamb Garden… Special forces…?
The guard pushed the lever back up. The electricity stopped, and Squall slumped against the wall. He gasped for breath. Why couldn't they understand? He did not know anything at all. No matter how many times they tortured him, he would not be able to produce an answer.
The guard turned from the console. "Hm? Yeah, so!" he demanded. He was still waiting for an answer.
I… I don't know any… anything… W-Why… do you… keep… asking… me… …Just let me die.
He groaned.
The guard heard the sound and spun around. "What's that?" he demanded. He left the console and stopped in front of Squall.
"Your…" Squall began.
"What did you say?"
With the last of his strength, Squall raised his head. The movement caused his head to swim, but he could not pass out yet. He fought against the darkness long enough to lock eyes with the guard.
"Your… breath st… stin… stinks!" he spat.
The guard looked taken aback. Then his expression twisted into a hateful scowl. "Punk…" he said. "You asked for it!"
He ran back to the console and threw down the lever. Squall cried out as his body was electrocuted by the current. Then the guard pushed the lever back up and turned to him.
"How's that!" he asked, grinning wickedly. "How you like me now, huh!"
He threw down the lever again. This time Squall did not scream or yell as the electricity covered him. He did not struggle or writhe in his chains. He accepted the pain as it washed over him. He stared up at the ceiling through the flickering bolts, waiting for death to claim him.
As darkness started to cloud his sight, Squall almost smiled. …Goodnight… he thought. He closed his eyes. The pain ebbed away. Squall let out one final breath before darkness finally took him, and he felt nothing more.
"Tch!" a voice said, piercing the darkness. "Completely knocked out cold. Hey! You two Moombas! Watch him!"
Meanwhile, Zell and the others were still locked in their cell. They were unaware of what was going on in the torture chamber with Squall. To their knowledge, they did not even know if he was still alive.
Following the incident with the guard, the Moomba had remained locked up with them. Nobody came to remove him. Almost on instinct, the creature cleaned up the mess it had made with the food trays and then took a seat in front of Zell and Selphie. After its initial nervousness, the Moomba showed no fear towards them now. Their attempts to heal the wound inflicted by its cruel human master had earned them its trust, and it seemed content to sit with them.
As time ticked by, Zell grew more and more irritated. He did not like all this waiting about. After their defiance he had expected more guards to come in an instant, to 'teach them a lesson', as it were. If they were going to do something, why didn't they just get on and do it? Hm, maybe they frightened the guard more than they thought, Zell pondered.
He shook his head, shaking the thought away. This wasn't the time to be thinking about that. They had to do something to get out of here. They had to find Squall and Rinoa… and Irvine too, although Zell would be quite happy to leave the gunman behind. What now… he asked himself. What indeed?
"What do we do?" asked Selphie, breaking the silence. "Just stay here? We'll get tortured for sure! I wonder how they'll torture us? I hope it won't hurt!"
"We can't just sit here," Quistis said. "We have to think of a way to escape."
Easier said than done, Zell told himself. He crossed his legs. "Anyone got a plan?"
"Well," Selphie began. She turned to the Moomba, who was watching them curiously. "We could always skin this little guy and wear him as a disguise…"
The Moomba's eyes widened. He jumped up and backed away from Selphie. The creature then fell to his knees and put his paws together. He made a series of soft growls and purrs that were filled with panic. He shook his head, frantic. He was pleading for his life.
Selphie smiled and spread her hands. "I'm kidding! I'm kidding!" she laughed.
Zell, however, stared at her. Doesn't sound like you are… he thought.
"Well," Quistis interrupted, trying to steer the conversation back on track. "We can't rely on magic here, so we have to go with weapons. We have to get them back somehow…" Her brow creased in thought, trying to come up with a plan. Selphie, after a moment, did the same.
Weapons… Zell thought. He looked down at his hands. My weapons are these fists o'mine! I could do some serious damage without weapons! The fighter jumped to his feet. Excitement filled him. He clenched his fists. It's up to me, baby!
"Let me go," he said to Quistis and Selphie. "I'll get the weapons back!"
Quistis and Selphie stared up at him. Then Selphie's eyes widened. "Oh yeah! You worked here as Ward, so you know the place!" she exclaimed.
Zell hesitated. He flushed and scratched his head. Not really… he confessed. All Ward did was mop the floors… He did not say this out loud, though. "Just leave it to me!" Zell looked around the cell, and then turned back to the women. "You two lie down there," he told them.
The women shared a look. Then they shrugged and did as he bade, lying facedown on the cold cell floor. The Moomba watched them, and he tilted his head, curious. Zell walked past him and went over to the door.
"Zell…"
"I hope this works…"
Zell waited unto the two were in position. Then he turned to the door and banged his fist on it. "Guard! Guard!" he called, and banged again. "We need some help! Open the door!"
At first, nothing happened. Then: "What's the problem?" a guard's voice said.
"The women are unconscious!" Zell said back. "I think a snake bit 'em!"
"What…?"
There was a moment's pause. The cell door unlocked and slid open. The mean-looking guard was there again, and he looked even more displeased than before. He laid a hand on his baton and flashed Zell a warning glance. The fighter stepped back away from the door, his palms spread.
The guard stepped into the cell. As soon as he was inside the door, Zell clenched his fists and punched the guard in the stomach. The guard gave a groan and then slumped onto the floor. The Moomba threw up his hands, growling in delight.
Zell rubbed his hands. He turned to Quistis and Selphie, who were getting up. "Well, I'm off!" he said cheerily, and then headed for the door.
A growl behind him made him stop. Zell turned to the Moomba. The creature ran to him, growling. He raised a paw.
"Huh? You wanna go, too?" Zell asked the creature. The Moomba nodded. Zell scratched his head. "Ahh, I guess…" he said. "Just don't get in the way!"
The Moomba nodded again. He ran to the door and waved at Zell before running out.
The fighter stayed behind for a moment. He went over to the guard, lying unconscious on the floor. He picked the guard up by his feet and dragged him out of the cell, dumping him by the wall. Then he returned to the cell and looked in at Quistis and Selphie. The two nodded their heads. Zell gave them a confident grin before he pushed the buttons on the panel, and the door slid shut. Then he and the Moomba hurried off in search of their missing weapons.