Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Final Fantasy VII or Final Fantasy VIII. They belong to Square Enix and their respective creators. I just own my intensive fangirlness and this idea.
Running Out of Time
Chapter 2
Recovery & Mission
The evening bell rings, signaling the end of classes for that day. The sun begins setting, and shadows played across the hallways. Cloud and Raijin chattered on various topics, none of which Fujin was interested in though she did listen. She was more so curious of why Cloud decided to stay.
Trailing back through memories, Squall and Cloud had nothing in common. Both arrived at Balamb Garden in different years, held different weapons, and had different social circles (if you could say that Squall had a social circle).
Cloud was more approachable, and rumored to have gone on and completed several Elite SeeD missions. A 5'7", spiky blond hair SeeD, Cloud's muscular body was able to handle the massive weight of his Hardedge buster sword weapon which was always with him. It was common knowledge that new and older cadets wanted to try lifting the heavy weapon, and Cloud would humor them. Raijin is the only other person able to successfully pickup and wield Hardedge albeit not as well as Cloud. Zell was almost able to pickup the blade.
Squall, on the other hand, distance himself from others. Arriving at Garden several years before Cloud, Squall clearly didn't have any friends except for his rivalry with Seifer. Squall always sat in the back of the class, always the last one to leave, and one of the two persons wielding a gunblade. Fujin doubts a word was ever exchanged between Squall and Cloud.
If Cloud and Squall had nothing in common, why would Cloud stay for Squall?
The Infirmary doors open, and Quistis stands in the entry way. Exhausted, she manages a smile at the trio.
"I hope you guys weren't thinking the worse. It'll take more than a T-Rexaur to take those two down. Come on in," Quistis softly speaks, turning back round. Fujin, Raijin and Cloud enter the Infirmary. Dr. Kadowaki steps out of the dark room directly across from the entryway. Her normally clean doctor's coat is splattered with blood.
"Squall is finally stable," she announces. "I don't know if it was Seifer's constant shouting or what, but Squall pulled through. For a while, we thought we'd lose him. That T-Rexaur certainly did a number on him. It's amazing he's even alive."
"Woo-hoo! That's great to hear, ya know!" Raijin cheers. Fujin nods her head.
"SEIFER?" Fujin asks. Quistis pulls back the curtain to the first cubicle. Seifer is sitting up, bandages over his hands, torso, abdomen and half his face, but otherwise he looks fine.
"If I ever die by a wimpy monster, make something up. Got a reputation to protect," sprouts the man. Fujin crosses her arms over her chest; she wanted to kick the man, and she might do so later.
"Yeah yeah," Quistis slips in, "Squall is the only one I can kill, blah blah blah, I'll be damned if some dinosaur takes that from me, blah blah. I'm pretty sure the Library could hear you."
"Speakin' of dinosaur, what happened yo?" Raijin interrupts. Dr. Kadowaki and Quistis look to Seifer to hear the tale; Dr. Kadowaki removes her doctor's coat and dumps it in the hamper and proceeds to wash her hands, both behind her desk. Seifer frowns.
"Squall and I were battlin', tryin' to see who would come out on top before the SeeD exams. I nearly had Squall too, but that T-Rexaur came out of no where," he begins to explain. Seifer never loses, never has to explain his actions, but this nearly cost his and Squall's life. This one time, he'll make an exception. "We didn't equip any GFs. It picked Squall up—" Seifer pauses, remembering the terrible crunch sound the T-Rexaur made. A waterfall of blood. Squall's blood.
Someone saved them. Had to. Someone had taken down the T-Rexaur, but damnit, he couldn't recall how. Seifer glances up, and sees a blond male standing a ways behind Fujin and Raijin. On cue, his head begins to ring.
He is not yours to kill.
Seifer's face scrunches up in irritation. He brings his hands over his ears, but the annoying ringing sound continues. Quistis quickly steps in to check up on him. While the others concern themselves over Seifer, Cloud makes his way to the other room. Only Dr. Kadowaki notices, and that's fine. He was just going to put Griever down, and see about Squall's condition.
The door shuts behind Cloud. Dark and almost eerie, the room gently echoes the annoying heart monitor machine's beeps. Several IV bags strung near the patient, partner needles embedded into the skin. Squall was heavily bandaged: face, arms, and torso as far as Cloud could tell. Some of the bandages already tinted from blood and pus. A breathing tube providing the oxygen flow. A thin blanket conceals the rest of Squall's body. Nearby is thick black thread and clean needles for stitching.
In the darkness of the room as the lighting was set to dim, Cloud's glowing blue eyes look on Squall's pitiful form. It would be easy, and it would look like the damage from the T-Rexaur had ended Squall's life. Who would mourn the life of a teenager who didn't have any friends?
Wait. You don't want to do that.
Cloud tilts his head to the side slightly at the voice in his head. Should he listen? Should he even care?
Nobody wants to die alone. We do this to protect them.
Dr. Kadowaki opens the door, and steps into the room. Cloud's eyes dim as the murderous intentions disappear. For now. She doesn't say a word. Checking the machines, and looking over Squall's body, she sights lightly.
"Not the worst I've seen," she comments. "During the Sorceress War days, back when Para-Magic and our technology seem so small and ancient, he would've died at the Training Area. Now, we can save more lives." Cloud doesn't say anything. Instead, he glances at the table in the far corner.
Squall's fur trim leather jacket is resting on it. It's torn and bloodied; there was no way to repair it to its former glory. Several belts, a white V-neck shirt, and pants are in the same condition. Cloud steps over, and gently rests the blade on the stack as it was the only place out of the way, and nobody would kick it case Squall's condition turns worse.
"Do you have someone to protect?" She dips into her clean doctor's pocket, and removes a vial; the contents glowing a bright turquoise. Cloud looks at the woman, his eyes narrowing at her. He snatches the tiny bottle.
"No," he simply states, and leaves the room.
Dr. Kadowaki chuckles.
"Six years later, and you're almost the same. You and Squall are more alike than you think."
*-.*-.*-.*
Cloud knocks on Headmaster Cid's door. A good SeeD would've reported to the Headmaster within minutes of his or her arrival; summarizing the mission, discussions of the next actions to take, whatever have you. Cloud, however, did not do this. Although the guards at the front entrance would confirm that Cloud Strife had indeed entered Balamb Garden, no one knew where he would disappear to for a few hours. To Cid's annoyance, Cloud would show up five minutes before the offices closed. SeeD missions had to be reported in, and Cid be damned if he suffered another long lecture from NORG.
1755, right on time. Cloud hears a grumbled 'come in', and the door automatically slides open. He marches up to Headmaster Cid's desk. Both men were tired, but Cid's age and cowardice makes it worse.
"Alright Cloud, let's get on with it," the Headmaster yawns out. Having to deal with Squall's and Seifer's battle in the Training Room, discard the T-Rexaur corpse, and reassure parents and faculty members that this incident wouldn't happen again would tire any man out. Xu had to drag Cid out from under the desk because the elderly man refused to deal with the situation. Unfortunately for him, his Elite SeeD threatened to take him to NORG if he held off any longer.
"Yes, Sir," Cloud begins, saluting. "At 0700 on April 10th, I began my scouting mission of Dollet's Communication Tower. As the Mayor addressed five months ago, there had been noise and increased monster attacks due to an unknown problem. During that time, I secured a hidden location, and observed the pathway, cliffs and the Communication Tower itself. The Mayor was indeed correct in the increased monsters in the area, and I was able to locate the reason behind it.
"Due to the Sorceress War seventeen years ago, the Communication Tower became useless as it served no other purpose since radio waves return as static. In addition to shortages seventeen years ago, the Mayor decided to cut the power supply to the Tower. Between April 12th and May, Galbadian soldiers arrive, and instructed with the task of repairing the Tower. There are three key people: Major Jessie, Lieutenant Biggs and Sergeant Wedge. They were unable to make advance repairs because of no electrical power, and rendering them unable to see if the Tower would turn on. Anacondaurs and Geezards are well populated in the area, and most likely cut the power lines during the years, further preventing strangers from simply turning on the Tower. A random Galbadian soldier discovers a mako pit underground in an Anacondaur pit. Major Jessie orders special equipment to channel it to the Tower; and requests backup and advanced weaponry to eliminate the Anacondaurs and Geezards. This way, Dollet would be unable to cut off the power supply, and continue to be in the dark of Galbadia's plans."
Cid perks up.
"June 2nd at 2300, Scarlet, Head of the Weapons Development of Shinra, is escorted to the Tower. Scarlet offers them a large spider-like machine called X-ATM092. However, Major Jessie refused to use it as would alert Dollet. X-ATM092 is equipped with night vision, heat sensors and a Galbadian recognition database making it near impossible to stay near the Tower longer than necessary. They did not conduct any tests to show its worth or its capabilities aside from the ones I've mentioned. June 5th, the Galbadian group receive a crate filled with toxin gas containers. Even the Anacondaurs weren't immune to it, and the monsters fled the area with most of them ending up in Dollet. Dollet uses its small military to eliminate the monsters; occupying them still. The remaining period was spent observing."
Cloud breaths in deeply. Summarizing a five month mission was windy.
"What conclusions do you have on the matter?" Cid asks.
"Sergeant Wedge kept accurate notes of the project. His last one of yesterday as of 0300 said it would be another month before the Tower would be completed. Galbadian President Shinra is going to reactivate the Tower, and use it to broadcast a special announcement."
"And we don't know what this special announcement is, do we." Cid stands up, and paces around the desk. "Why did you leave your post?"
"Lieutenant Biggs is anticipating a battle between Galbadia and Dollet. Dollet will not survive." Cid's eyes widen.
"Shinra wouldn't bring the entire Galbadian Army to little Dollet for something as silly as the Communication Tower, do you think?"
Why was this man in charge of Garden, Cloud questions to himself.
"That is unclear."
"Very well. Return in two days while I get this situated, and we can plan accordingly. You're dismissed." Cid Kramer is an idiot. Cloud salutes the Headmaster and turns to leave. "Oh, and Cloud?" Oh great Shiva. Cloud turns around. "Thank you for staying for Squall." Cloud nods his head, and exits.
*-.*-.*-.*
It was near closing time as Cloud steps into the cafeteria. The ladies and gentlemen behind the counters were cleaning up so they could return to Balamb before it got too dark. There were a couple of students at the tables, finishing up their meals and laughing. Cloud approaches the food counter, and glances at the leftovers, but didn't feel very hungry.
"Yo! Cloud!" Cloud raises an eyebrow as he turns to see Zell run towards him. For five years now, Zell adopted an acute interest in Cloud's Hardedge and Cloud himself. It could be said they were friends though it seemed like Zell did the talking, and Cloud did the listening, but they made a compatible friendship. Zell would make it a point to make sure Cloud actually ate since the swordsman would skip a meal without hesitation. Ma Dincht would send care packages to the boys, and Cloud wouldn't say no to some home cooking. The two greet each other by gently punching the other on the shoulder. "Heard ya were at the Infirmary lookin' afta Squall."
"More like being a bodyguard, but Fujin had that covered. I saw several cadets running away when she threw Pinwheel at 'em," Cloud answers. Zell shivers lightly, having known the woman for a couple of years, and knowing how quick and painful her temper could become. "Seifer was doing fine when I left." Zell groans in disagreement.
"Ya gonna make me lose my appetite." Zell looks at one of cafeteria women. "Are there any hot dogs left?" The woman sighs heavily, and shakes her head.
"Zell, it's closing time, and you're asking if there are any hot dogs left. Honestly," she speaks, pulling out a take out container from behind a pot, walks over, and hands it to the hyperactive boy. "Saved two of ya guys. Don't eat it here otherwise other students will be askin'." Zell could've kissed the woman, and would have if Cloud hadn't taken the container of precious hot dogs.
"Thank ya!"
The two fighters walk off, smiles on their faces.
*-.*-.*-.*
The Quad was mostly empty. Couples and friends chitchatted as curves over Balamb. Zell and Cloud found an empty spot away from everyone down near the stage.
"Five months without ya were terribly boring man," Zell begins, digging into his hot dog. Cloud chuckles, and slowly begins to eat his.
"The silence was nice without you ruining it."
"Hey! I am excellent company!" Zell finished his hot dog.
"Maybe that's why Seifer enjoys teasin' you so much."
"Are they gonna be alright?" Zell's tone was low and serious. Rumors had been flying around since that morning, and no one knew what to make of it. When he heard that Fujin and Raijin were guarding the Infirmary entrance, Zell felt reassurance that no one was going to interrupt Quistis, Dr. Kadowaki and the other medical cadets from saving the two gunbladians.
"Yeah, they'll be fine. Seifer's awake and kickin'. Squall's asleep, and may be so for another week."
"Do you know what happened?"
"Only that a T-Rexaur got them by surprise. They're likely they're alive. Squall took most of the damage." Cloud finishes his meal; staring into the mountains and landscape that is this tiny island. Being friends for so long, Cloud could almost hear the question Zell wanted to ask. "Squall will be able to fight again. No worries."
Zell grins at the news. For the rest of the time, they talked like there wasn't an impending war ahead of them. For right now, Cloud could forget his worries.
*-.*-.*-.*
If you're curious to when the other VII characters will pop in, don't worry! They will… eventually. I have plans for them.
A special thanks to Molly for reviewing! It made my day! More to come!