Stealth
Chapter xxxi
By YuriNigasa
*standard I don't own FFVIII, Squaresoft, characters, etc. applies from now until whenever I decide I'm done*
Stealth
Chapter xxxi
By YuriNigasa
Early in the afternoon I was talking with Quistis when the klaxon sounded. Immediately we scrambled up and to the terminal to see what set it off.
"Status!" I barked.
"Perimeter breached at section nineteen, Sir."
"Who's in the area?"
"Maio and Palana."
"Tell them to hold position until we get an image."
"Coming in now."
The first shot was grainy. As precious seconds ticked away, the image renderer began to do an intuitive filter. I scowled as it only served to make it a more well-defined blur.
"Successive frames?"
"Got one!" Came a voice from behind me. "Oh no. Sir, you won't believe this. We need to get a team out there now."
I turned and looked at the terminal. I felt a lurch in my stomach as I was met with an image of a very disoriented, disheveled, and scared looking Alisa Case.
I hit the com button and alerted the others. Within moments I could hear the sound of footsteps pounding across the floor.
"What is it?" asked Selphie.
I pointed to the screen.
"Alisa," whispered Seifer.
"We've got to be careful," cautioned Quistis. "For all we know it's a trap."
"I already assumed it was," I said, "but we've got no choice. Load up."
The vehicle sped along the rough ground, bumps and dips jarring it as if it were on springs. I held on to the rollbar with an iron grip as did everyone else in the back. In the front Zell had a death grip on the steering wheel and beside him Squall sat calmly as if he didn't even notice the discomfort. We spotted the two men on patrol and pulled to a halt nearby so they could climb in, then sped off again.
As we neared the point of perimeter breach, we slowed down, pulling the vehicle to a stop and kicking up a fierce dust cloud.
"Almasy and I will take point. Tilmett, Maio, and Kinneas flank right. Trepe, Dincht, and Palana flank left. Maio, I want Barrier and Reflect active on all members."
Maio nodded and I saw the faint flicker of casting from his fingertips. My skin grew warm with the tingle of protective magic.
"At the first sign of conflict you are to retreat, is that understood? We can't afford to lose anyone, so keep your guard up at all times. Under no circumstances cast healing magic. Offensive spells only. Keep an open com link. Now, go!" Squall's expression was hardened in preparation for potential conflict.
We made our way forward slowly as the other groups began to fan out.
"Base," Squall called into the com unit, "I need last verified position for Alisa Case."
"Target left perimeter zone at fifteen forty-seven. Crossed at mark sixty-three point two. Estimated direction and speed based on data is north north-west at less than four kilometers."
"Pinpoint current position of team in relation to last known position."
"Approximately two hundred thirty meters south. Suggested target intercept falls within one hundred seventy to two hundred meters."
We should be able to see her soon, if she was in fact out here.
"All teams, status," I called on the open channel.
"Negative," came Irvine's voice.
"Make that two," said Zell.
We continued on in silence until Zell's voice came through again.
"We've got visual," he called, giving out their position.
"On our way. What do you see?" Squall asked.
"Target appears solo. Obviously disoriented, movement is very haphazard."
I saw the three of them and angled my path to meet them, Squall walking beside me. I turned to glance behind and could just make out the other team on their way. I felt my heart pounding in anticipation, expecting an attack at any moment.
When we arrived Zell handed over his binoculars to Squall for a closer look.
"It's her," he said, handing the device to me.
I peered through the lenses and felt my stomach lurch. She was dirty, her clothing shredded, her hair sticking out at odd angles. She held her hands out before her as if maintaining her balance. I saw her stumble and fall, failing to catch herself from impacting the ground hard on her knees.
The others came up quietly and I relinquished the binoculars to Maio.
"So, what now?" I asked quietly.
"Maio, give me a Scan," Squall said.
"Human female. She's injured though. Whatever it is, it's got her borderlining. I'm surprised she got up. We need her out of there as fast as possible," he replied.
"Kinneas, Palana, I want you back here providing cover and keeping watch. You see anything that's not one of us, kill it."
Irvine shouldered Exteter and Palana flicked off the safety on his sniper rifle.
"We've got you covered," Irvine said. "Now get out there and get her."
"Almasy I want you to get her. She's more comfortable with you than any of us. The rest of us I want a circular formation, keeping an eye out as we advance."
We headed the last fifty or so meters out, heading slowly towards Alisa. I called out to her and she turned her head toward us, but her face showed no sign of recognition whatsoever. As I stepped closer I understood why.
Something had gouged out her eyes.
She clutched a hand to her throat, opening her mouth, but no words came out. Silence? I wondered. Then I heard a low, gutteral moan and realized that whatever had taken her eyes had taken her tongue as well.
I kept my mouth shut, knowing that I would have to watch every single word I said. I signaled to the others to remain silent. Our reaction would determine how she would behave. As we approached I watched her grow skittish, backing up only to nearly fall again.
"Alisa, do you know who it is?" I called out, cursing silently, knowing there was no way she'd know since I hadn't said a damn thing to her really.
She shook her head negatively.
"It's Seifer. I'm with Commander Leonhart and some other SeeD members. We want to take you back where we can get you some help, okay?" I kept my tone light, friendly, positive.
Another nod, this one affirmative.
"Good. I'm going to put your hand on my arm so you can steady yourself. We brought a vehicle so don't panic if you hear anything. We have eight people here. You're safe now."
She collapsed against me, sobbing. Hands reaching to wipe tears from eyes that no longer existed. As if the promise of security had been enough to break the front of bravery she was wearing.
I jerked my head back in the direction of the transport. Zell caught my look and motioned Selphie to accompany him. There was no way I could lead her all the way back like this. I was waiting for the proverbial other shoe, the what next. It couldn't be this easy, it never was this easy.
As I heard the vehicle approach a while later, I breathed a sigh of relief.
For once, it had been that easy.
I sat outside the town's small clinic, mentally pacing a hole in the floor. We were gathered in the hallway, all expecting the worst.
When the door opened, six pairs of eyes went to the figure in the white lab coat.
"How is she?" asked Quistis.
"I gave her a sedative," said the doctor, "She's asleep right now, which is the best thing for her. Medically speaking, I think the damage done to her was not magically initiated. It appears that her vocal cords are gone. It appears that some sort of curative magic was used after they mutilated her, ensuring that there would be no possible restoration. Blood loss from such trauma would have killed her under ordinary circumstances. Given proper treatment she can recover, although her sight and voice are gone forever."
"Thank you for your candor," I nodded my head.
"You're quite welcome, Commander, I just wish I had better news. If you will excuse me?" he turned and headed toward another examination room.
"Anyone care to guess the message in this?" Seifer asked bitterly.
"Take the voice, take the sight," said Quistis softly.
"And we were powerless to stop it," Seifer punched a clenched fist into his open palm.
"But why not just kill her? Why go to all the trouble of taking her and bringing her back?" asked Zell.
"That's brutal!" exclaimed Selphie. "Try a little more tact next time?"
"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "But you know it's true."
"Whoever's doing this wants us to know who's got the real power right now. Let me clue you, it's not us," Irvine said dryly.
The sound of boots on the tile floor made me look up. Approaching us was Eckner, lugging the remote terminal with him.
"I think you should see this," he called out.