Phenomenon
Warnings Unheeded
Quistis was going through her planner at her desk when she heard a voice emerge from the door to her office.
"Headmaster Trepe?"
She lifted her head at the sound of her name to find Nida standing before her. He stood straight and calm – his face bearing a friendly, yet serious expression. She could only wonder what could be on his mind given such – and the tone with which he'd said her name.
"Nida," she said, questioningly, "What can I help you with?"
Nida was quick to respond – wasting no time in bringing up the matter at hand.
"Xu is here. She requested to see you."
"Xu?" she asked, with a surprised expression as she tipped her head, "Send her in."
Nida nodded and looked toward the door – Xu immediately walking in as she headed right for Quistis' desk. Her face, though friendly like Nida's, bore an expression that sent a sense of discomfort through the young headmaster's body. She knew her friend well enough to know when something was wrong. She just wasn't sure she wanted to know what it was.
Xu approached her desk quietly, one hand grabbing her wrist at the waist, as she looked at Quistis head on. She stopped as she got up next to Nida.
Quistis and Xu were silent for a moment as they looked at each other. Xu seemed hesitant to speak – which fit perfectly with Quistis' hesitation to hear what was on her mind. She had been enjoying the apparent peace and joy since Ultimecia's defeat. Did all of that really have to end already?
Quistis sighed as she looked at Xu intently.
"So…what's your reason for being here today?" she asked, trying to hide the dread that was rapidly rising inside of her.
Xu took a deep breath as she finally spoke.
"Actually…I was hoping to find Squall here," she stated, "Do you know where he is?"
Quistis glanced from Xu to Nida and back in a bit of confusion.
"Um…no, I haven't seen him in the last hour or so," she explained, "He's been rather busy these days – taking care of Garden and all of that. He is Commander, after all."
Xu nodded her head in understanding.
"Right, well…do you think you could call him up here?" she asked, "It's…rather urgent, I'm afraid."
Just like that, Quistis' feeling of dread and discomfort quickly overwhelmed her. She knew right then that the peace their world had been enjoying for little more than a year now was somehow over. Whatever had happened…things were once again about to turn upside down. Her stomach dropped at such a thought. They had barely been able to enjoy themselves since defeating Ultimecia – and just when she thought things might truly be back to normal…everything suddenly came down in an instant. She hadn't even heard the news Xu was so anxious to share, but she could already tell she didn't really need to either. Her tone of voice and unwillingness to let them in on it was more than enough for the young headmaster. She could only imagine how Squall might take it.
She was hesitant to reach for the microphone. Squall was already busy enough these days and even she could tell he was getting a bit tired of his work. She felt bad to bring this down on him. It was the last thing he would need right now.
To stall a bit so she could make sure it was really necessary to involve Squall, she looked back at Xu – trying to keep her intentions in the dark.
"What's the problem exactly?" she asked, curiously.
Xu didn't answer for a moment – a fact that only served to further Quistis' discomfort. She was nearly getting sick from the awkward and uncomfortable tension in the room.
However, the SeeD sighed lightly to herself as she decided she might as well let the new headmaster in on the news. It concerned her, and everyone else as well, after all – not just Squall.
"Well…" she said, quietly, reluctant to burden them with the heavy news, "It's about Galbadia."
Quistis and Nida exchanged looks as they glanced at each other and back at Xu - the SeeD maintaining her composure as she spoke again.
"I've recently received some…disquieting news, if I may so." she explained.
Interestingly enough, despite the heavy dread that loomed over her, Quistis still couldn't help but be a bit intrigued by the SeeD's words.
"How disquieting?" she asked.
Xu looked at her closely.
"…From what I heard, they may be planning something," she explained, vaguely, "I don't know what it is just yet though."
Quistis thought on her words for a moment. None of this really made sense. Galbadia would have no reason to engage in any kind of suspicious activity after the fall of Ultimecia. The Garden had since been grounded and over time, the students had moved to Trabia to help rebuild while some now attended Balamb. Since Deling was killed, Galbadia and its citizens, the army included, were actually rather relaxed nowadays - even the new president, despite who he was, had seemed to be fairly quiet - as suspicious as that was to her. She couldn't imagine what could possibly have happened for everything to change so suddenly.
She looked back at Xu.
"Are you sure you heard right? It's just so...sudden."
Xu only shrugged as she shook her head at her words.
"I know. I was a bit surprised and doubtful at first as well," she replied, "However…"
She looked down for a moment as she took another breath.
"…My sources are completely reliable," she said, "I know for a fact they wouldn't lie – especially about something like this."
She looked at Quistis again.
"I don't know what's going on in Galbadia, but nevertheless…we should be prepared – just in case."
Quistis looked at Nida for a moment, the latter only nodding lightly in agreement with Xu as Quistis caved – closing her eyes and dropping her head in reluctance as she shook it lightly. Still not wanting to bring this burden on Squall, but knowing there was no way around it, she slowly reached for the microphone. However, to avoid worry and commotion throughout Garden, she tried to make the announcement subtle - yet with enough urgency for Squall to catch on.
"Squall, your presence is requested at the bridge. Please report."
She turned back to Xu after shutting off the microphone.
"Hopefully he caught on." she said, a bit worried that she might not have been subtle enough.
They waited silently and anxiously for Squall to come to the bridge. Quistis could only dread further over the thought of how he would react upon hearing the news that awaited him.
In a few short minutes, Squall walked into Quistis' office to be greeted by the sight of Nida and Xu – immediately serving to confuse, and somewhat discomfort him, as he looked at them in question.
"Xu?" he asked.
"Commander." she replied, bowing her head lightly in respect as she looked at him. Squall immediately looked away at her gesture.
"I have some news of the utmost importance." she stated.
Squall sighed under his breath as he looked at the floor – his stomach tying in knots as he could only imagine what might be on her mind. Things had been going far too well and smoothly lately – so, it was certainly the best time for this moment to come up.
He looked back at Xu intently as she began to explain the matter at hand.
"We have reason to believe Galbadia may be up to something. We don't quite know for sure why or what, but there's definitely a concern."
Squall put one hand on his waist as he looked at her for a moment.
"Where'd you hear about this?" he asked, a hint of suspicion, and annoyance, in his voice.
"I'm always up-to-date." she said, calmly.
Squall folded his arms as he looked away again.
"This world just can't leave well enough alone, can it?" he thought, angrily.
Quistis, Xu, and Nida looked at him in question and concern as he stood in silence for a moment.
"Squall?" Quistis asked.
Squall slowly turned his head back toward them – trying not to be obvious as to the frustration he was quickly being overcome with, but still finding it hard to refrain completely.
"What exactly are you proposing we do?" he asked, "Without sufficient information we don't know how to act; how to prepare. What kind of precautions are we supposed to take?"
Xu was dumbfounded by his words. They had been so sudden and rather displeasing – his curt tone only serving to confuse and shock them even more. They thought for sure Squall, of all people, would have been the first to take action and plan ahead on the situation.
"I…I don't know yet really," Xu said, quietly, "I only know what I heard; what I was told. Galbadia is apparently trying to get their army back together – probably as we speak. That's really all for now."
She looked at him closely.
"But, from past experience, we know for a fact the Galbadian Army would not mobilize if they had no intentions of taking action."
Quistis couldn't help but agree as she nodded lightly to herself.
Squall sighed as he thought to himself once again.
"It still doesn't make sense," he mumbled, "Deling is no longer in charge and Edea nor Ultimecia are a threat anymore."
He looked at Xu again.
"Something about this doesn't seem right to me."
Xu shook her head in understanding of his perspective as she looked back at Quistis in anticipation. The young headmaster nodded lightly once again as she stepped forward from behind her desk – looking at Squall intently as she stepped up next to Xu.
"About that…" she said, glancing at the floor.
She went silent for a moment – a sight that made Squall rather uneasy and further confused as he looked at her in question and anticipation.
"It's true," she said, "Vinzer Deling is obviously dead: killed by Sorceress Ultimecia last year. However…"
She thought on her words for a moment – recalling exactly how much they had taken her by surprise when she'd learned of such the first time. It was still rather hard to grasp. It had been so unexpected. She still couldn't see how it was possible, and yet…the proof stood there in the Presidential Residence of Deling City – still appropriately dubbed.
Squall looked at Quistis, a bit annoyed by the constant pauses of drama, as he waited for her to speak again.
The former SeeD lifted her head again to look at Squall once more as she finally continued.
"What most people aren't aware of…is that Vinzer had a son."
Squall's expression immediately changed to one of complete shock at her words. Had he really heard right? How in the world could Vinzer Deling have a son and no one know about it? It just seemed so surreal – at the least.
"Vinzer? Are you serious?" he asked, hoping he'd misheard somehow.
Quistis and Xu only nodded in response.
"His existence was kept in the dark all this time for, we believe…a means of security and deception." Quistis stated.
"We feel that Vinzer figured if no one knew about his son – knowing how most citizens felt about him - his death, giving Galbadians peace of mind from his tyranny, would allow for them to drop their guard upon believing his rule had ended," Xu added, "Then, at that time, his son could rise to power unexpectedly, continuing his ruthless and malevolent reign upon the unprepared and fearful populace."
Squall turned his head away and sighed once again, now shaking his head lightly as he thought on their words. Put that way, it actually was easy to believe now. He hadn't known much about Deling, but what he had learned in his short time in Deling City last year, had been enough to allow him to see and understand exactly the kind of person he had been. It was no surprise really that he would be able to keep such a secret to himself – even all the way to his grave. Now, knowing that Deling's offspring sat in his office today…he could clearly see how and that Galbadia may prove to be a problem after all. This unexpected news fit all the pieces together that he'd previously thought were unclear.
"Are you kidding me?" he thought to himself, rather annoyed at the whole predicament.
He turned his head to the other side as he kept thinking to himself for a moment.
"I can't believe Deling had a son. Things just got really bad, didn't they?"
Xu dropped her head a little as she recalled one more bit of information that was certain to cause more unrest for the other three. Still though…it also couldn't afford to be overlooked – as the contents of such news would certainly be cause for alarm even if Galbadia alone wasn't.
"There's also…one more thing," she said, in a quiet voice.
Quistis, Nida, and Squall looked at her in surprise and curiosity as she sighed – the words slowly emerging from her mouth. She was hesitant to speak, as the thought on her mind just seemed so unlikely, but nevertheless…she couldn't let it go unacknowledged.
"I've also been told that Galbadia has gotten in touch with Esthar." she explained.
Quistis and Nida's eyes got wide at her words while Squall remained unalarmed – just shaking his head lightly in denial.
"I seriously doubt we have anything to worry about as far as that's concerned."
They wanted to believe him, but Xu still had her doubts. As right as Squall was, when it came to Galbadia…they couldn't afford to overlook anything – no matter how farfetched it might seem.
"Maybe so," she said, "But still…isn't it better we stay alert just in case? This is a serious matter. We can't afford to take any chances."
Squall turned his head away once again.
"Galbadia is a problem, yes," he said, "But, as for Esthar…I think we'll be alright."
Xu got a bit annoyed as she looked at Squall in a bit of frustration.
"How can you be so sure? You're taking this way too lightly."
Squall sighed as he looked at the floor. He hated the thought that had come to mind, as it was still so hard to accept. However…it was also that very same thought that filled him with such certainty – allowing him to easily take it so "lightly". Though he hadn't really taken time to get to know Laguna more upon finding out they were related, he still knew enough to know what he was saying was true. Since the defeat of Adel and Ultimecia, Esthar hadn't exactly returned to being the "Silent Country", but had still decided to refrain from outside matters – ironically, becoming exactly what Mayor Dobe of FH had once envisioned for it. They didn't engage in military activity unless threatened directly. Maybe they'd make exceptions for Balamb, but in general…they were neutral.
"I just know, okay," he said, "…Trust me."
Xu and Nida looked at each other in question and confusion and Xu turned to Quistis – the former Seed merely nodding her head to ensure her of Squall's words, knowing the meaning behind what he was saying.
Although still a bit uncertain, Xu nevertheless complied – reluctantly, at that, as she nodded lightly in response.
"…Fine," she said, in a low voice, "Either way, what are we doing to do? We can't just lay back like nothing is happening."
Squall didn't reply as he appeared to think to himself again – looking away once more as he closed his eyes. This was too much. It had only been a year since things had calmed down and yet, another threat was encroaching upon them. How? Why? When would it ever end?
"Like I really needed this right now," he thought, "What is going on? Why can't things just settle down and stay that way? What is it going to take?"
He thought more on Xu's news for another moment as he dropped his head a little.
"What could Galbadia possibly be up to? They have no reason to start another war – especially so soon. It doesn't make sense."
Again, Xu and Quistis were a bit troubled by Squall's silence as the young headmaster slowly stepped toward him – holding her hand out a little.
"Squall…?"
The young Commander turned back to them upon hearing his name as he took a deep breath.
"Look," he said, "Right now, all we have is pretty much speculation. Until we can be sure, we can't really take precautionary measures if we don't know what we're up against."
He looked at Quistis, Xu, and Nida closely as he kept speaking.
"Let's just keep a low profile right now; try not to let them know in any way that we're aware of what they're doing. If anything more comes up, let me know. Until then…we'll just carry on as we have been for now."
He folded his arms as he glanced at the floor.
"I know it sounds stupid and reckless, but it's really all we can do right now."
He looked ahead again at the trio before him.
"Just keep it to yourselves for the time being," he said, his words sounding like an order, "I don't want to cause discomfort and unrest among everyone else."
Quistis, Xu, and Nida all nodded in unison at his words.
"Understood." Xu nodded, bowing once again as Nida did the same.
"We'll keep a close eye on Galbadia for now." Quistis said.
Squall nodded in agreement.
"Alright. Later." he mumbled, turning around and heading back toward the elevator.
Xu turned back to Quistis as soon as he was out of sight.
"Do you think he believed any of it?" she asked, a bit doubtful.
Quistis laughed lightly as she put her hand to her mouth.
"Trust me," she said, "Squall may seem uncaring, but he listens – especially when it comes to matters like this. I'm sure he believes it. He probably just won't act on it until he has real proof. It's sort of his way of taking "precautionary measures". He believes that acting too soon is a sign of desperation, which only results in panic, and ultimately, failure."
Xu thought on those words for a moment and realized they made sense. It was a great relief to her, and everyone, that Quistis understood Squall so well.
"Okay, so then we focus on the other matter at hand." she said.
Quistis and Nida looked at her in surprise upon hearing those sudden words.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Xu took a deep breath as she thought back to the conversation from which she had acquired this information.
"I think the Galbadian Army may just be a ploy; a cover for Deling's true intentions."
