Chapter 4: Friends United

“It’s all set,” Selphie yelled back from the cockpit as she set the autopilot on the most direct route to Balamb Garden. Sighing deeply, she turned and began walking slowly towards the back of the plane. Her mind engrossed in thought, Selphie fumbled into a big, cozy chair to clear her mind.

“Darlin’?” questioned a voice that seemed to come from right in front of her.

“…….Yes?” Selphie responded as she lifted her swollen red eyes to find her boyfriend crouched down at the foot of the chair in which she rested.

Irvine reached up to lightly brush away her tears.

“It’s alright, ya know,” he explained to her softly. “Zell one the most capable young’uns out there. Hell, he’s saved me a plenty a times!”

At that a small smile appeared across Selphie’s face. Irvine rose to his feet, looking concernedly at his girlfriend.

“We’ll find him. I promise….” With that Irvine bent down and kissed her gently on the lips.

“Mmmm……..thank you.” Selphie whispered. “I’m just a little tired, I guess. You go on and do what you need to do, I’m just gonna take a short nap.”

As if to confirm this statement, she let out a big yawn.

“Alrighty,” Irvine told her as he backed out of the room, heading towards the cockpit. “Good night.”

Alone in the room, Selphie dried her eyes and snuggled closer to the chair.

“It’ll be okay,” she mumbled to herself as she slowly drifted to sleep. “Everything’s…gonna be……fine…”

“NO, NO, NO!! GET OUT!!”

Cid jumped back from the door as sounds of yelling bursted out of the room he was just about to go into. His ears were ringing loudly, and he shook his head in hopes of clearing his mind of the torturous sound.

“Squall’s back, and his voice is as good as ever,” he mumbled wearily to himself as he reached for the doorknob to ‘Headmaster Squall’s Office’, trying his luck again in entering the room.

As Cid opened the door a young new trainee came running past him, obviously unsettled by the previous meeting with Squall. Taking a deep breath and bracing himself for the up and coming conference, Cid took a few long strides into the office and seated himself in a leather chair, opposite the mahogany desk used by Balamb Garden’s Headmaster.

Squall, engrossed in paperwork, didn’t even notice Cid’s arrival. He sat quietly, concentrating deeply on the tasks before him.

“Ehem….” Cid cleared his throat.

Squall looked up sharply, anger swelling within him, but seeing that it was only Cid, his madness dissolved away to weariness.

“Hey….” Squall said softly as he put the articles he was working on to the side and focused his attention on his unexpected visitor.

“Are you alright?” Cid asked as regret swept over him as he saw how tired and worn out Squall was. He shouldn’t have asked Squall to come back to Balamb. It was too much work for one person to handle, and when Squall was in charge, he liked to do everything on his own. It was something Cid really admired: Squall’s independence.

Squall hesitated. “I’m not the one in danger here. It’s Zell, the victims at Trabia, and Rinoa…..”

“Rinoa?” Cid asked. “What’s wrong with Rinoa?”

“……..well…….every morning now for the last five days or so,” Squall sighed, “she’s been getting sick. I think it’s some sort of stomach illness. Nothing life threatening, but it still bothers me.”

“Hmmmm, every morning?” Cid thought to himself. “Doesn’t sound too serious. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

“Yeah……..” Squall took in a deep breath as he ran his hand through his hair. “So, what brings you to my office?”

“Right. I just wanted to inform you that Selphie contacted the Garden,” he began. “She told us that she expected to arrive here in less than an hour. You know her; she’ll be here as soon as possible. Irvine’s coming, too.

“Ok, well I’m glad that the search will be underway soon,” Squall stated. “It’ll be comforting knowing that Selphie’s out looking for…Zell.”

Cid sighed, “Yes it will. But that’s not all I came to tell you about. I had sent out a girl named Helen, you know, the one with the ponytail?”

Squall nodded.

“She flew in a solo flyer to Kempi Island, retrieving as much as the Phlemnisium Herb as she could find, and carry on her small craft.” Cid smiled at the thought of the shy girl. “She and Zell were close……. And she was very concerned when Zell was reported missing…..”

Squall turned away. He knew how she felt too well. He didn’t want to let his feelings in, to think about them. He needed to keep going, and to stay busy.

Suddenly, they’re conversation was interrupted by a voice over the loudspeaker:

“Attention, landing dock 54 has received its flight. Councilor Cid, please report to landing dock 54, SeeD agents Selphie and Irvine have arrived. I repeat, Councilor Cid is requested at landing dock 54. Thank you.”

After this announcement, Cid abruptly stood and began to leave.

“Wait,” Squall called. “I’m coming, too.”

With that, the two Headmasters, one retired and one just starting out, jogged down the hall towards the landing docks. Jumping into the elevator, Squall quickly pressed “4” and held the door for Cid. Up they went, finally reaching their destination: the 4^th floor.

“Here we are,” Squall mumbled to himself as he jogged down the corridor to landing dock number 54.

Squall keyed in the access code, and the big metal door “clicked”. Suddenly, the door slide opened to reveal Selphie and Irvine.

“Hey!!” Selphie squealed with surprise and delight. She leaped into Squall’s arms, embracing him with a long hug.

“Howdy, there Squall, Cid,” Irvine nodded as he extended his hand to shake.

“Come on,” Squall said, taking Selphie’s hand in his own. “Let’s go to my office.”

Squall led the little band of four up the path he had just a minute ago came by along side of Cid. Down the elevator, and still father down they descended. A loud “bing” indicated that they had reached their desired floor. A second later, the doors slid open and they all filed out.

Finally, the group came to a door with a plate inscribed: “Headmaster Squall’s Office”.

“Here we are,” Squall forced a smile at Selphie as he let them into his private room.

Selphie followed right behind Squall, and he could clearly hear her little “ooo’s” and “ahhh’s” that she made as she gazed around the room. She had last seen the office about a year ago, when Cid held the title of Headmaster, and Squall had since remodeled it to better fit his liking. Now, the room was no longer just an ornate place for special meetings and honor ceremonies; it was a workstation.

Selphie unexpectedly yelped in awe, grabbing Squall’s arm to gain his attention.

“Look!” she exclaimed as she pointed and ran at the same time towards the desk.

Both Cid and Squall stared in bewilderment as Selphie jumped into the big, leather swivel chair behind the desk.

Irvine shook his head, stifling a laugh, as his girlfriend twirled around in the chair gleefully.

“Ya’ll better slow down, now,” Irvine warned between chuckles.

But his warning was too late. Selphie, just a minute ago yelling out in exhilaration because of the spinning-type ride, felt her stomach move. She brought herself to an abrupt stop and, as her head spun, sickness came over her. Placing her hands over her mouth, she ran past the three half stunned, half worried gentlemen out of the room and towards the bathroom.

Squall, Cid, and Irvine both exchanged glances.

“She’ll be fine,” Cid assured the two others as he sat and gestured them to do the same.

Irvine sighed and took his seat, “Down ta business.”

“Right,” Squall responded. He rose from his seat and walked over to his desk. Holding down the intercom button, he paged “Quistis Trepe”, asking her to his office.

Cid nodded. “As soon as Quistis, and Selphie, get here, we can start.”

As if on cue, there was a sudden knock at the office door.

“Come in,” Cid called over his shoulder.

Quistis slowly pushed the door wide, holding Selphie up and guiding her into the room. She eased the pale-faced girl into Irvine’s arms, and he, in turn, seated her in a chair right next to his own.

“Thank ya, Quisty,” Irvine told her sincerely, as Selphie moaned her own appreciation to their old friend.

“Hey, just happy to help out a friend.” smiled Quistis, waving her hand in greetings to the others in the room.

“NOW, I believe we are ready for you to begin,” Cid said to Squall.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Squall began to explain the plan:

“First, you’ll all be happy to know that the samples SeeD agent Helen Martinez brought back to us have been tested, and the cure made from it has been declared safe and effective for all the residents of Trabia Garden. I will be going, along with a group of five or so other agents and a farming team, to Kempi Island in order to supervise the harvest of the Phlemnisium Herb. It is essential that we accomplish this task, so I am going. Cid will look after the Garden in my absence.”

Cid nodded his approval, “Sure, I can do that.”

Squall smiled, gaining strength with this voiced support, and then he continued,

“Irvine, Selphie, and Quistis, I need you three to go to all the islands that appear near the route Zell was going on to get to Kempi Island. The storm out there is pretty bad, and I’m sure he took cover on one of those places. Helen Martinez assured us that there was no trace of him on Kempi, but my team will radio you if he happens to show up.”

“ I’ll expect hourly reports,” Squall proclaimed sternly, “ and please TRY not to get hurt yourselves! I can’t have more than one SeeD……or friend…..missing at a time.”

Irvine, Selphie, and Quistis all assured Squall of their cooperation. Then there was a sudden voice, assuring HER cooperation to the terms that Squall just listed, from the door.

They all turned to see Ellone, Squall’s sister, standing at the door.

“I’m going with the search party, too,” she announced to the group, staring at her brother.

Squall opened his mouth in protest, but quickly dismissed the idea. He knew that his sister had made up her mind. She wanted to help, and arguing would be pointless.

“Okay,” Squall said reluctantly. “You FOUR will go to look for Zell. I suggest you start with Yali, Giboon, and Naoki Island.”

“Alrighty,” Irvine cocked his left eyebrow, while rising to his feet. “Girls, what are we waitin’ for?”

The four of them headed back up to the landing dock, leaving Squall and Cid to discuss their other plans of getting the cure together and how the Garden was to be run while Squall was on Kempi Island.

Now, the search had truly begun.

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