Chapter 07- A Long Walk on a Short Pier

The Shumi Tribe of Winter Island wasn't exactly inhospitable. Nobody could say that they did not go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome. However the differences between them and the outside world were too great to be ignored, and there was always a sense of unease in relations with them.

The massive dome that they lived in was an elaborate mining complex. They mined rare stones that they sold and used in crafts. Their outside experience with anyone other than traders had been with the occasional military force, which was rarely pleasant and made this conversation even more awkward.

"Good day sir," Nida said, bowing politely to the town elder, who was a massive humanoid being draped in white robes.

"Good day to you as well," replied the Elder.

Nida was expecting him to ask about his intrusion, but as the Elder remained quiet, Nida put it upon himself to explain the situation.

"We are SeeDs from Balamb Garden. We are a segment of a rescue mission," Nida began.

"Rescue mission?" The Elder asked. "Well none here need rescuing. It looks like you who needs to be rescued."

The Elder spoke jovially, but Nida couldn't shake the suspicion that the Elder was mocking him. He explained about the Garden crashing, the rafts and the maelstrom that hit them.

"We have not seen your other friends come by here, I'm afraid," the Elder replied. "And I'm afraid our radio communication technology is limited to internal drones that mine for us."

"We expected that," Nida sighed. "Do you have anything in the way of a boat that we can use to sail south to Balamb?"

"I'm sorry but we have no need to leave this dome, much less sail the high seas," the Elder said. "However if you require a ship, there is a pier to the west of here where traders are constantly coming and going. There's no guarantee a ship will be in dock, but they come at least once a week."

"Many thanks," Nida bowed.

--

Xu awoke with an unpleasant bump. The raft had hit the side of a rock on the beach. The first thing she did was tear off her sleeping bag and SeeD jacket.

"Well this is different," Xu groaned as she rolled up her sleeves and unbuttoned her shirt. Kevin coughed politely and Xu hissed at him. "It's gotta 100 degrees out here, grow up."

Patrick followed suit and took off both his jacket and shirt. "So what now?"

"We cross the desert. It's a three days journey at least. We have to take the raft with us so we can sail once we get to the other side," Xu explained.

"Sail to where?" Patrick asked.

Xu honestly wasn't sure herself, but for now she said the first thing that came to her mind. "Fisherman's Horizon. We can get a cable broadcast to Esthar requesting help."

"No we can't," Kevin said. The other two looked at him with curiosity. "Fisherman's Horizon cut all contact with the outside world. That includes cable transmission. We might as well be at the Shumi Tribe for what good it'll do us."

"Then we hop a ship to Balamb from there," Xu instructed. "Patrick, grab the end."

Xu walked over the raft, and began to push it up the beach, but Patrick took the tether line from the front and pulled it with such force that Xu lost her grip. "I've got it Colonel."

Kevin sighed and threw his jacket and shirt onto the raft. "So a three day hike, you think?" Kevin asked.

"Why man?" Patrick asked. "Can't do the distance?"

"Naw, I'm just wondering why we won't sail around?" Kevin asked grabbing onto the other line. He tied it to his belt loop, a move with Patrick noticed and followed.

"Because," Xu said. "It would take about six days to get around the head of this continent and navigate the strait between this and Esthar continent."

Kevin nodded. "Then walk it is."

--

Irvine glanced over at the strange structure that loomed in front of him. He couldn't quite make it out, even with binoculars, although that was probably because an unsettling mist hung over the sea and it had begun to snow.

"What is it?" Asked Katrina.

"I'm not sure. I don't think it's Garden. We never got turned around and we couldn't have circumnavigated the earth yet," Irvine replied. He set his binoculars down and lifted his rifle.

Katrina readied her pistol as well, not sure what to make of Irvine's reaction. Irvine leaned over to Quistis who was sleeping.

"Quistis," Irvine said. "Sorry to wake you but you need to see this."

Quistis groaned and rolled over to see what had caught Irvine's attention. She then leaned over the rafts railing and grabbed the binoculars from Irvine.

"What do you make of it?" Irvine asked.

Quistis sighed. "We're about 200 miles off course. That is Battleship Island- The Deep Sea Research Facility."

--

Xander sat in the middle of one of the destroyed classrooms. He looked around at his comrades. Younger students freezing to death because of the lack of power. Magic operatives creating fires to maintain as much warmth as possible. He saw what supplies he had left, and the numbers weren't promising. They could maybe last another week or two on their food.

"Can I get your attention, please!" Xander shouted.

Everyone who could glanced over at Xander, but some lay on the ground injured or sick. Xander stepped on top of a table and set his sword down.

"It's been a day since we sank to the bottom of the ocean and we haven't heard anything from our comrades upstairs. Furthermore, I believe observance of rank is no longer mandated given our hopeless situation. With that in mind, I would humbly request that you choose me as the leader for the time being," Xander said.

Some people grumbled, others laughed, and one person shouted. "Do you have a plan?"

"I do," Xander said. "What is SeeD's sworn duty?"

Many students answered different things, others didn't care and were simply waiting for him to make his point.

"Our duty is to eliminate the Sorceress, whoever she may be," Xander said. "Don't you think the timing odd? We allow a Sorceress in our base, and our leader becomes her lover. And now we are stuck in the middle of the ocean with no hope of rescue."

"You're nuts man!" One student shouted.

"You should be shot for treason!" Another offered.

Xander simply seemed amused. "Treason? Have you not witnessed the power of the Sorceress? I have. I've seen Edea lift a vehicle through shear force of will and throw it at me. I saw Adel manipulate an entire space station. And our dear Rinoa, who has the same powers, can't find us a way to escape?"

The crowd's mood was starting to turn. There was still some objection to his view, but he had prepared for this.

"Maybe she doesn't want us to. Sorceress's require less food than regular humans. They can absorb energy from around them and use that as sustenance. Maybe she wants to wait for us all to die and then she can return to the surface," Xander said.

Suddenly a can of preserves hit him in the face. There was a collective gasp and Xander rubbed his forehead, which was now bleeding. Standing in front of Xander was the 16 year old Sally Turner, a private. Her boyfriend, 17-year old Corporal Kim Teng stood beside her.

"Don't talk such rot, man. I think the sea has gone to your head," Kim said.

"Ah, so Corporal Teng thinks he knows all about Sorceress's," Xander laughed. "Stoning me won't stop you from dying."

"I threw the can," Sally said raising her hand. "And it does make us feel better."

Kim lifted his blade, but before he knew it almost everyone else in the room had their weapons drawn as well. There were two noticeable stand-outs who adjourned to the hallway.

"Well now it seems that I am the more popular choice down here. And I control the food source to boot," Xander said. "So, are you on my side?"

Kim lowered his blade and he and Sally left the room.

"You'll be back once you get hungry enough," Xander mocked.

--

The third floor conditions were about as bad as the second floor, with the exception that the cramped conditions made for more body heat. It took some creative organization, but they did eventually find room for everyone to lay down and positioned coolers and food boxes near certain groups. Squall and Rinoa used Squall's room and Zell and Selphie sat in the top box next to Dr. Kadowaki and a couple injured students, including the Brawler that Zell was assigned to take care of.

Rinoa glanced over at Squall. He lay in bed with his hand over his forehead. He barely moved or made a sound, but Rinoa knew that he was crying. He had already lost a group of his close friends and two others had been scattered to the four winds. And now it was very likely that they would all die here and fade into obscurity. And the worst part was that there was nothing he could do about it. The pressure would have caused a lesser man to break by now.

Rinoa touched his arm and Squall sat up. His eyes were slightly red, but he looked otherwise as distant as he always had.

"Are you okay?" Rinoa asked.

"That's a silly question and you know it," Squall replied.

Rinoa couldn't really take offense at this; she regretted asking immediately after saying it.

"Have you come up with anything yet?" Rinoa asked.

Another question she regretted asking.

"No. Well I have some theories, but nothing solid yet."

"Well what are your theories?" Asked Rinoa.

Squall stood up. "I want to share them with the rest of the group. I need their input." Squall glanced over at Rinoa, who was staring at him as though he was the only thing in the world that mattered to her right now. "I need you as well."

Rinoa smiled. "I'm right behind you."

--

Jen sat at the docks casting glances out at the sea which had so far given her nothing but an allergic reaction to something in the air. Nida walked over and sat beside her.

"Enjoying the weather?" Nida teased.

"You're a smart ass, you know that right?" Jen replied only half-joking.

"Your shift is up. Go back to where it is warm," Nida ordered.

"Warmer. I don't think an arctic tent counts as warm," Jen sighed.

Nida chuckled and watched as Jen returned to the tent they had set up further up the shore. Four flaming bins sat around the tent, providing heat for the relatively small abode. It could only fit three, so Nida had come up with the idea of six-hour shifts watching the sea for any sign of boats. They would probably be waiting for a while.

--

The vessel landed with a bump against the side of the island. There was a groan from Quistis as she lifted herself up on the raised pier. A similar groan was heard when the team lifted up their boxes and finally the raft itself.

"Well," Quistis said. "Let's go see if Bahamut is home."