Once Again

A Final Fantasy VIII Fan Fic

Characters and Locations from said game belong to SquareSoft.

By Robertdogwood

Once Again

Chapter Six

'Escape From Deling'

'Quistis’ Surprise'

'Kasumi Comes Home'

Several hours later, Squall and Quistis were curled up sleeping on the opposite ends of Quistis’s bed. They had decided that they might have to leave Deling City suddenly so they should acquire some sleep, just in case.

The moment the gentle knock touched the door, Squall was instantly awake. He touched Quistis waking her up and motioned for her to remain silent. He quickly crossed the room on cat-like feet not making a sound. Squall cracked the door open to see General Caraway waiting in the hall. He pulled the door open so the General could enter.

The General stepped into the center of the room and said, “Well, my 'niece' keeps appearing in the oddest places.”

“Sorry, General,” Squall apologized. “But it was of the utmost importance to us that we identified the President.”

General Caraway replied, “And now I suppose you know who he is?”

“Yes, we do,” Squall answered. “Squall!” Quistis protested.

Squall made a shooing motion with his hand. He turned to Quistis and explained, “The General has been honest with us. We are going to be honest with him. General, you might want to sit down. This may take a little while.”

As General Caraway sat in the one chair in the room, Squall paced while he told him the story of the Legendary SeeD. After Squall was finished, the General asked, “And you’re absolutely positive that this is the same man?”

“Without a doubt,” Quistis responded.

The General stroked his chin and said thoughtfully, “Well, that would explain a great deal. I told you his battle tactics and fighting skills are second to none. I wonder where he’s been all these years? I would like to thank you for sharing this information with me. Anything that affords me an edge with this man might save me in the long run.”

Squall asked, “General, is there anything you can tell us concerning the conversation you had with the President?”

General Caraway stood up. “I can only say it was about the Missile Base. Apparently my need to know was upgraded.” The General took a step toward Squall and held his hand out to Squall, who shook it. “Now I must not only bid you good night, but also goodbye because I’m off tomorrow on my reassignment. Please take care of Rinoa.”

Quistis said, “Of course! And thank you for everything.”

Squall asked, “General, have you ever considered defecting?”

General Caraway appeared puzzled. “To Esthar, no.”

Squall said, “Not to Esthar. To us! We could certainly use your strength, intelligence and experience.”

General Caraway slightly cocked his head. “I’ll keep it in mind, son. Keep safe, the two of you.” With that General Caraway turned and left the room shutting the door behind him. Squall immediately crossed the room and locked the door. Squall turned and looked at Quistis. “Well?”

Quistis commented, “It’s too bad he couldn’t tell us where the Missile Base is.”

“Ah, but he did,” Squall insisted. “Do you remember the first day we were here and he told us he was going to be reassigned to the Grandidi Forest?”

Quistis nodded and then a light of comprehension entered her eyes. “And he just said that his need to know had just been upgraded. Squall, that means,” she said excitedly “that the Missile Base -.”

“Is somewhere around Trabia,” Squall said finishing her thought.

Quistis worried, “Oh, I hope we can get word to Trabia Garden in time before they just stumble into it.”

Squall agreed, “Let’s hope so.”

………………..

After sleeping for three more hours in their respective bedrooms, Squall and Quistis reconvened in her room to discuss their escape plans. Quistis asked as per usual, “Any ideas, Squall?”

“Yes,” he said. “But you’re not going to like them.”

Quistis interjected, “I always hate it when you say that.”

Squall continued, “We should separate. You should leave on the-.”

“No, Squall!” Quistis interrupted.

“Let me finish,” Squall insisted. “They’re looking for me and you, Quistis. In other words, a young man and a young woman traveling together, they will not be expecting us to separate therefore we separate. You will take the train. I don’t foresee any way that someone is going to interfere with a schoolgirl on her way to East Academy.”

Quistis said puzzled, “East Academy?”

“Yes, East Academy,” Squall repeated patiently. “At some point after we’re gone, they’re going to figure out that we left. Do you think they’re just going to let us walk away? No, I don’t. I think they’ll start running sweeps everywhere. If we’re stranded in Timber or Dollet, we’ll be sitting ducks. East Academy is considered an open city despite being presently under Galbadian control. There is a major university there. We will have no problem fitting in and, in case of trouble, there are a number of escape routes out of the city.”

“Okay, Squall. You’ve convinced me. If I’m taking the train and by the way where I am taking the train to? There is no train to East Academy from here.”

Squall answered, “You’re taking the train to the Monterosa Plateau in West Galbadia. I will meet you there. I’m renting a car and driving over to the Vaulny Canyon Forest that we passed through on our way to the Galbadian Garden.”

“Squall,” Quistis warned, “that forest can be very dangerous for just one person to try to pass through.”

“No worries, mate,” Squall quipped with a grin. “I think Mr. Diablos and Mr. Bahamut will have something to say about it.”

Quistis stated, “You’ve gotten it all worked out again, Squall. I’m beginning to think you’re the one who should have been the instructor.”

“Yeah, right,” said Squall ducking his head.

………………..

Squall and Quistis emerged from the door leading outside to the streets of Deling City after coming up the ladder from the sewers. It was early morning and would still be dark for several hours.

Quistis turned to Squall and said, “Under the cover of the night, eh Squall?”

Squall grinned and replied, “That’s right, Quisty. Let’s go.”

Squall walked her down to near the train station and then stood across the street and watched her walk up the long staircase leading to the departing trains. He hoped everything went well for her. After she disappeared from view, he walked down the street toward the Rent-A-Car business on the outskirts of Deling City.

Squall hadn’t informed Quistis of his concern that possibly the Galbadian Government would have temporarily closed down the rental car business, because he didn’t want to cause her needless worry. He had worked out a contingency plan of his own that involved his also taking the train, but an hour later after Quistis boarded. So he was relieved when he saw the bright lights of the Rent-A-Car sign. He rented the car without any difficulty, using his false I.D. and having to place a large deposit down on the car, which he did gladly. By the time he turned the car’s headlights on high and roared down the main thoroughfare out of town, he was glad he was putting the lights of Deling City behind him.
………………..

Quistis waited in the ticket line, bought her ticket for West Galbadia using her false I.D. and now stood in the boarding line without incident. Blushing slightly from remembering Squall’s directive, she removed her backpack from her back and held it with her arms in front of her chest.

She surreptitiously took small glances at her surroundings seeing many Galbadian soldiers around each of the boarding gates and a number of official appearing men, who were not wearing uniforms, that were probably members of the Galbadian Secret Police.

Squall was right again, Quistis realized. If they had stood here together – disguises or not – they would have been pulled out of line, interrogated somewhere and probably discovered.

The train Quistis was waiting for finally pulled into the station and the boarding line began to move. As Quistis neared the front of the line she noted, with mounting terror, that the Galbadian solder, next to the ticket-taking conductor, was going through people’s bags and suitcases before allowing them to board. If she had to open her backpack and display ‘Save the Queen’, she was as good as arrested!

As the line continued to move, Quistis quickly formulated a plan in which she would cause her short skirt to plummet to the ground hoping to cause enough confusion after to avoid having to open her backpack. She made her preparations accordingly. When Quistis finally reached the front of the line and handed the conductor her ticket with her right hand, the Galbadian soldier stepped forward and ordered, “Open that backpack.” Quistis was holding her backpack in her left hand and, as she lowered it to the ground, she pulled her belt, which she had already unbuckled, through her schoolgirl uniform’s skirt belt loops causing the skirt to plunge to the ground. Unfortunately her plan went slightly awry as the weight of her skirt and belt caused her sheer panties to also plummet to the ground leaving her naked from the waist down!

Shocked and panicked, Quistis attempted to shield the lower half of her body as best she could, but somehow managed to remain in her role as she shrieked in a high pitched voice “Oh! You yucky pervert! You didn’t say anything about a strip search. What could I possibly be hiding under my skirt and panties?” Heads were turning towards her from all around the train station. The Galbadian soldier backed up in confusion with his arms held straight out from his body as if to prove he hadn’t touched her.

The conductor handed Quistis her now punched ticket and false I.D., noted with a slight smirk the half nakedness of her pretty pubes and bare legs and said, “You may pass.”

Later sitting in the back of the day coach in a mostly empty car, because traffic to West Galbadia was never heavy during the week, Quistis breathed a sigh of relief. Her plan had worked! But she sincerely hoped that Squall never heard about this.

………………..

As Cid sat down at his desk with his first cup of coffee of the morning, he couldn’t help but notice that Fujin was already at her desk.

He greeted her, “Good Morning, Fujin.”

“MORNING,” she echoed.

Cid further went on, “You don’t have to be at your desk for another hour when our morning staff meeting begins.”

“REALIZE,” explained Fujin.

“Then why are you here?” Cid couldn’t help but ask.

“LIKE,” said Fujin nodding at him.

Cid slightly grinned to himself and nodded back.

Suddenly Xu burst out of the elevator excitedly and headed toward Cid, but stopped when she realized Fujin was sitting at her desk. “Fujin?” she asked “Why are you here so early?”

Cid interrupted, “We’ve already been through that, Xu.”

Xu brought her attention back to Cid and said in a more controlled manner than when she first burst into the room, “Kasumi’s back from Deling City with some messages from Squall and Quistis. Should I bring her up?”

Cid directed, “Make it so,” with an impish grin.

As soon as Xu stepped off the elevator with Kasumi, Cid stood up and said, “Welcome back, Kasumi. Come sit down at the table.”

After everybody, including Fujin, was seated at the table, Kasumi began to relate the occurrences she had experienced since leaving the Garden on her initial assignment. It took her the better part of an hour to recount the entire episode.

When she was finished, Cid exclaimed, “Wow! That’s a lot to chew on. So they really think it might be Mamoru?”

“Who?” Kasumi asked.

“The Legendary SeeD” Cid explained, “That’s his name.” Cid nodded toward Xu. “Do you have any questions for Kasumi? No, all right. Kasumi, you can be excused for right now. Go get some breakfast and a hot shower. Go see your friends and, when we know exactly how we’re going to proceed, we’ll page you over the intercom, okay?”

Cid added, “And Kasumi,” as Kasumi stood up from the table to leave, “You did very well making it back here. We’re all very proud of you.”

Tears began to form in Kasumi’s eyes and she ducked her head quickly and mumbled, “Thank you.”

After Kasumi had gotten on the elevator, Cid turned to Xu and Fujin and asked, “What are we going to do?”

Xu suggested, “Maybe we should try to approach this in a logical order. First of all, I think we should send Selphie and Zell immediately to Esthar on the Ragnarok and deliver Squall’s message to Laguna. We’ll tell them to return immediately, because they’ll probably be needed in other areas. We’ll need to decide if we’re going to risk compromising Squall and Quistis’s position in Deling City by going in with the Ragnarok and attempting to help them escape or if we should leave it to them to escape themselves, because it sounds as if, presently, Deling City is shut down tight searching for them.”

Xu went on, “Now as far as this thing concerning there being a Galbadian spy in the Garden, this needs to stay in this room until we decide the proper way to approach it.” Xu finished the statement by staring at Fujin who replied, “UNDERSTOOD.”

“Good,” Xu continued, “We need to send Kasumi and two other SeeDs back to Timber. We can drop them off from the Garden on the outskirts of Timber on our way to Trabia.”

Cid questioned, “But what if Squall and Quistis manage to escape Deling City and return to Balamb? Shouldn’t we stay here?”

Xu explained, “There are two answers to that. The most important is Squall’s message mentioned that General Caraway was being reassigned to the Grandidi Forest. That probably means the Galbadian Army is forming their new front in Trabia. I think it’s imperative that we travel there to protect Trabia Garden if anything comes of it. And we can leave the Ragnarok here guarded by some SeeDs in case Squall and Quistis return. Quistis can pilot it, if need be.”

“That’s well thought out!” exclaimed Cid. “YES” echoed Fujin.

“Thank you,” Xu acknowledged the compliment looking strangely at Fujin. “Now as I was saying we should send Kasumi and two other SeeDs to look for Brian, Shinji and Mishima.”

“Who’s Mishima?” Cid asked. “I can’t seem to place her.”

“Oh, you know her Cid,” Xu explained. “She always wears a midriff white blouse, a short leather skirt with suspenders and has very large – you know -,” said Xu while she held out her cupped hands in front of her chest.

Cid asked, “Hands?”

Xu said, “Oh, never mind Cid, it’s not important,” shooting a glance at Fujin, who nodded and grinned.

Cid stated, “I think we should send Selphie and Zell with Kasumi. It’s imperative that we find out what has happened to our people and they’re the best we have right now.”

Fujin said, “AGREED.”

Xu excitedly replied, “Now wait a minute, Fujin! I think it’s more than enough that we have you sit in to take notes if there’s something that needs to be written down, but I don’t think we need your feedback on staff decisions.”

Cid protested, “You're out of line, Xu. Fujin and I have had some long conversations and I appreciate her opinion.”

Xu appeared completely befuddled, “Conversations with Fujin?”

Fujin said, “YES.”

Xu turned to Fujin. “Okay, I stand corrected and I apologize.”

“ACCEPTED” Fujin said.

Xu turned back to Cid. “Okay, we’ll send Selphie and Zell with Kasumi. We’ll inform them after they return from Esthar. Are you ready to send for them, Cid?”

Cid arose from the table and, crossing to his desk, he leaned down and pressed his intercom button.

………………..

Zell, Selphie, Irvine, Rinoa, and Akane were sitting at a table eating breakfast, when Kasumi burst into the cafeteria heading straight toward their table. Irvine called out, “Hey slow down, Kasumi! You’re gonna have a stroke.” Kasumi grabbed a chair and sat down.

Irvine asked, “What’s up, Kasumi? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen you for over a week.”

Kasumi took a moment to catch her breath, before she explained that she had been on a mission to Timber. “But that’s not the big news! I saw Squall and Quistis in Deling City!”

Kasumi sat back in her chair enjoying everyone’s startled expressions. Rinoa, leaping up from her chair, exclaimed, “Tell me, Kasumi! Are they okay?”

Selphie said quietly, “Rinoa, sit down. You’re making a spectacle of yourself again.”

Rinoa blushed and quickly reseated.

Kasumi informed her, “They were fine! And guess what? They think they found out who the new President of Galbadia is!”

Akane leaned forward and asked, “Is Squall coming home?”

Kasumi looked at her strangely and asked, “I’m sorry, who are you?”

Irvine shouted out, “Wait a minute everybody! I want to know who the President is.”

Kasumi said, “Oh, I can’t tell you that. This is all very hush-hush.”

Selphie introduced Akane to Kasumi, who slightly bowed and said, “Pleased to meet you, I’m sure and to answer your question – Yes, I think he and Quistis are preparing to leave Deling City momentarily. In fact, they may have already left.”

Rinoa, whose complexion appeared ash white, whispered, “Thank God.”

Selphie, glancing over to Rinoa, felt pangs of sympathy for her and reached out with her hand and placed it over one of Rinoa’s and said, “It’ll be fine, Rinoa. You know Squall knows how to take care of himself.”

“Yeah, right on!” chimed in Zell.

Suddenly the intercom clicked on and practically everyone in the cafeteria fell silent in anticipation of the upcoming message, “Zell and Selphie, please report to Headmaster Cid’s office immediately.”

Zell leaped up from his chair and exclaimed, “Hot damn! Some action at last!” while pounding his left fist into his right hand. As Zell and Selphie were hurrying from the cafeteria, they could hear Irvine asking, “Do you want me to walk you to class, Akane?”

………………..

On his way to the Vaulny Canyon Forest, Squall drove off road as much as possible to avoid any complications arising from Galbadian Army vehicles or other government officials. As he drove along at a reasonable rate of speed, because he didn’t want to attract any unnecessary attention to himself and he had plenty of time to meet Quistis arriving on the train, his thoughts drifted back to the Garden and then Rinoa and finally to the Legendary SeeD and whether he would end up having to fight him. He wondered how he could possibly defeat the best gunblade specialist Cid had ever seen.

Squall gave his head a shake, slightly disgusted with himself for projecting things in the future that may never happen. He never worried about the future – He had too much to worry about in the present he thought ruefully.

As he neared East Academy, he turned left over the bridge and parked on the Monterosa Plateau very close to the forest. As he locked the car, he took a good look around and, perceiving nothing out of the ordinary, began to walk through the forest.

Squall had crossed half way through the forest, when two Anacondaurs suddenly sprang across his path. Squall realized that although the option of fleeing was always available it wasn’t wise against these giant snakes because of the possibility of their releasing poisonous mist that could cause severe damage before he could escape. Eschewing the use of his GF’s despite what he told Quistis, he leaped forward and after two quick hits with ‘Lion Heart’ the first Anacondaur lay dead. The giant snake’s partner took exception to that and laid a good smack along the side of Squall’s head which Squall ignored while leaping forward again and killing it also.

When he stepped out of the forest and noticed the train hadn’t arrived yet, Squall was indecisive concerning how to continue. The Monterosa Plateau was basically flat and afforded a view for miles. He could see Galbadian Army trucks blocking the main intersections of many of the highways in the area and was relieved he had traveled the route he did, but he was concerned at this point to not call attention to himself and there was literally no where to hide. He purposely didn’t want to enter the train station early because he realized it would be full of Galbadian soldiers, some waiting to be transported back to Deling City and some on duty looking for him and Quistis. He also assumed there would be Galbadian Secret Police lurking around. The problem became academic, as Squall watched the train from Deling City arrive from a mile away. He would just have to bite the bullet and hope he could mingle with the crowd that would step down from the train. He could not afford to have Quistis standing around attracting unwanted attention.

As Squall entered the train station, he noticed that a Galbadian soldier was standing at the head of a short boarding line for a train that was preparing to depart and was searching the carry-on bags and suitcases of the people waiting in line. Squall became instantly concerned about Quistis and whether she had even been able to board the train in Deling City or had been immediately arrested. ‘Damn’ he thought. ‘Maybe we should have stayed together. At least we might have had a chance of fighting our way clear.’

So Squall felt a great sense of relief when he observed Quistis emerging from the train, but the station had an even greater amount of soldiers than even he had anticipated and there was no crowd to speak of. Quistis had paused immediately after exiting the train instead of advancing purposefully down the long staircase and it was only a matter of time before she would be approached by a soldier and questioned extensively.

Taking the bull by the horns, Squall bounded up the long staircase two steps at a time and shouted, “Hey Sis! Down here! Come on, Dad’s waiting!”

He reached the top of the staircase quickly and, noticing with a slight grin that Quistis was carrying her backpack in front of her chest as he had instructed her to, he gave her a quick brotherly kiss on the cheek, took her backpack in his right hand and transferring his guitar case to his right hand, he grabbed her upper right arm with his left hand and escorted her briskly back down toward the floor.

“Sis?” Quistis smiled.

Squall cautioned, “Be serious. We’re not out of the woods yet.” Once they reached the station floor, Squall told her, “Glance around for any Galbadian Secret Police.” After exiting the station Quistis said, “I think we’re safe. I didn’t see any.”

But Quistis was wrong. Immediately following their leaving the station, a man dressed in a black suit stepped from around a corner and stared intently at where their backs had been a second before.

Once they had stepped into the protection of the forest, Squall handed Quistis her backpack.

“Welcome to West Galbadia, Quisty” he said softly. “It was really good to see you step down off that train. However did you avoid having to open your backpack in Deling City?”

Quistis flushed uncomfortably while slipping on her backpack and said, “Oh, I’ll tell you another time. Shouldn’t we get going?”

Squall noticing her embarrassment decided to not pursue the subject. “Not yet,” he answered. “Give me your false I.D.” Quistis handed it to Squall with obvious puzzlement on her face and had even more so as Squall took it and cut it into tiny pieces with an incredibly sharp penknife that he brought out of his back pocket. He then took his false I.D. and performed the same procedure. He knelt down and dug out a small depression in the forest floor and buried the pieces making certain to place leaves and dirt back over the hole.

“Squall!” Quistis said.

“Wait Quistis, I’ll explain,” Squall directed. He next opened his guitar case, took out the guitar and lifted up the false bottom and set it on the ground. After removing ‘Lion Heart’ he pulled out two different false I.D. along with matching birth certificates for he and Quistis. Handing Quistis hers, he took his and placed them in his wallet that he wore on a chain attached to his belt.

Quistis exclaimed in a surprised voice, “These are in a different name!”

Squall nodded. “Xu’s idea. To prevent us from leaving a paper trail, if we had to go somewhere else after Deling City.”

Quistis smiled and said admiringly “That Xu, she thinks of everything.”

Squall reassembled his guitar case and stood up. “Let’s go. We can talk in the car.”