"Revolting. How dare you display these?"

Vinzer Deling, lifelong president of Galbadia, swept his arm across the table and the offending photographs scattered. He wasn't wrong; the images were truly disgusting. Depicted in blurry black and white was the grisly aftermath of a brawl between one of his body doubles and a group of would-be assassins. Scraps of undead flesh and claws floated in puddles of unidentifiable slime. Even the walls and ceiling were sprayed with viscera, the nauseating result of Gerogero's maddened death throes.

"Someone will speak. Whose fault is this? Surely you won't tell me that making me sick is an acceptable use of military resources." Vinzer folded his hands neatly on the table and glared around the room. The assembled military officers and advisors, supposedly brave and accomplished men, had fallen into abject silence at their leader's rebuke.

"The Gerogero creature did complete its mission," one of the youngest uniformed men spoke up at last. His words came slowly, quietly, carefully chosen. The poor boy, a newly graduated SeeD from Galbadia Garden, had likely thought he could find the right words and distinguish himself. "The pictures are... unsettling, yes, but we're recovering very useful data from the remains. We exposed one of the resistance groups. And you're safe, sir!"

Vinzer rolled his eyes theatrically. "Spare me. You've exposed the resistance, have you? Then where are the pictures of their corpses? Why are we wasting time looking at a pile of guts soaking into one of my suits?!"

Cowed, humiliated, the young SeeD simply stared at the floor. Some of his nearby comrades shuffled aside, while those across the room fixed him with haughty sneers. Unsubtle attempts to ingratiate themselves with the volatile president. Vinzer appreciated the craven predictability.

At the president's right hand, 'Fury' Caraway reached out for one of the photographs, neatly flipping it upside down. One of Galbadia's senior generals and a man of some charisma, he had always been an essential damper on the president's foul moods. Relief washed over the room as his measured, calm words finally joined the conversation. "The bioweapon was a failure. The terrorists escaped. The footage we have is embarrassing to our military. We must do better, gentlemen."

"These 'Forest Owls'," Vinzer snapped.

"They'll be destroyed. We have footage of their train leaving Timber. They can't hide."

"The photographs. The creature."

"Destroyed as well. The bioweapon's design was in extremely bad taste. I apologize."

Vinzer allowed a thin, pursed smile. "At least one of you understands your job. Very well. You're all dismissed."

Military officers and civilian advisors alike stood to attention, then abruptly rushed for the door. Caraway waited until the hallway outside was silent, then returned to his seat next to the president. His voice was softer now, but no less precise. "You know, I've read the full report, and it's good. The level of detail is exemplary. That boy you singled out is a bright one."

Vinzer sighed, waved his hand dismissively as he leaned back in his chair. "Martine's newest graduates are all the same. Impetuous and disrespectful. I want soldiers, not adventurers."

"Are you still going to Timber?" Caraway lowered his voice. "After today, I'm not sure we can guarantee your safety. We should be very careful."

"My train departs shortly. The television broadcast will take place immediately upon my arrival. But I don't need your guarantee, Caraway. As you know, I have additional protection."

Caraway grimaced. "Yes, sir. I'll escort you to your vehicle."

‡

Outside, the lights of Deling City glittered in puddles left by a light summer rain. The air was warm and muggy. Vinzer Deling stepped out to the road, where an armoured navy blue G-Limo waited, flanked by four soldiers on idling motorcycles. A distant bell tower was pealing out the first few notes of Galbadia's anthem, affectionately nicknamed 'Cactus Jack'. Three hours until midnight.

Protocol required that Caraway should accompany Vinzer to the vehicle, open the door, hold his umbrella if necessary. However, he stayed well back, standing to attention and saluting from the entrance of the military headquarters. Vinzer opened the massive door himself, and ignored the general.

Inside the G-Limo, the air was freezing. Vinzer took his usual seat, his back to the concealed driver, and smiled, really smiled for the first time that day. He seemed to escape the day's stress as easily as he escaped the cloying air outside. He had come to embrace her chill.

Across from the president, she sat in shadow, motionless. Her sinuous purple dress was otherworldly against the backdrop of the bulky armoured vehicle. Her hands were delicately folded in her lap. Her face was concealed behind a blood red mask. Meditating, perhaps. He joined in for a moment, until the vehicle began to move.

"Edea, I'm here," Vinzer said softly. "I'm so glad to see you. Such a pleasure to travel with you."

She made him wait for several long seconds before her mask vanished in a shimmer of red light. He could see her face for just a moment, before the shadows returned. Was she smiling too? "President Deling… we must focus on our work. The announcement in Timber shall lead to the transformation of this world… the creation of a fantasy beyond imagination." She was gazing past him, looking somewhere else in time. Then her voice softened, and she finally looked into his eyes. She was smiling, just a little. "We mustn't be distracted with your flattery... however sweet you might be."

Vinzer Deling's old heart leapt.