The President

It seems he owes his oldest and best friend a huge favor:

Kiros' gut has saved his life.

He knew something was wrong the moment he saw Kiros face in the doorway of his hotel. Kiros knows how much Laguna hates to use the body-double. He hates to rely on anyone and to think his loyal aid could die in his place is not an easy thought, even though he knows that he is trained to do just that.

So instead of getting into the limousine, Laguna is stuffed in the back of an old crappy Timber-taxi. Why Kiros choose to use this transportation he doesn't know, and he doesn't have time to think about it cause Ward is already sitting behind the wheels of the small car and is driving in the opposite direction of the plaza, far away from the summit.

"Tell me again why we couldn't stay in the hotel?"

Kiros rolls his eye at Laguna's childish tone. "Because with all the security at the plaza there aren't enough people to guarantee your security, and you know you need them."

Laguna huffs while crossing his arms, Kiros is right as always. "Where are we going then? We're not leaving yet, right? I mean, we at least have to wait for Seifer and my so…s…Squall."

Ignoring the slip of the tongue, Kiros replies: "We are going to wait for them, of course. Just not here in Timber." Seeing Laguna's hopeful look he adds, "nor Deling City."

That's too bad. Laguna sure would love to reminisce with his friends in the bar they used to hang out in. With the lovely Julia singing her songs.

"We're going to Winhill"

Winhill, that is the last place on earth Laguna wants to be. Too many painful memories, too many mistakes he has made in that small town. No, Laguna wasn't keen to go that way.

=XXX=

They weren't even in the outskirts of Timber when the news of the shooting of the president (well his body-double) and the bombing that followed the shooting reaches their ears.

Nobody said anything. What was their left to say?

They had failed once again.

They weren't as save as they believed they were.

And now lots of people were dead because of their ignorance.

It's a tense and silent ride.

=XXX=

Watching the destruction on tv is harder than what it would be if they were at the scene.

Feeling helpless is not a feeling Laguna likes very much.

When the three man had arrived in a small town between Timber and Winhill they went to the pub and rented a room. Thankfully everyone's gaze was on the screen, so they didn't notice the President and his aids enter and slipping upstairs.

He knows there is no more time to waste, they have to take action.

Grabbing his suitcase he retrieves his laptop and with the help of Ward it doesn't take long before Nida Kazuka's grim face appears on the screen in front of him.

"Mister President! You're alive!"

If the time wasn't so desperate, Laguna would have laughed at Nida's shocked face, but alas, that time is not now.

"I sure am. You can't get rid of me that easily."

That brought a small smile on Nida's face.

"I need to speak to Cid ASAP!" continued Laguna.

"Right away, Sir."

The screen blurs, but they don't have to wait long to see Cid's relieved face.

"Thank Hyne." Cid sighs.

Laguna doesn't know if they should thank Hyne so fast. Isn't she the one who created Sorceresses? Isn't she the one responsible for this mess they are in?

But he doesn't correct Cid. Cid, off all people, has a great need to believe in something holy.

=XXX=

While his conversation with Cid was enlightening, they had to agree to disagree.

Cid was adamant that Laguna keeps a low-profile while his SeeD try to locate the Sorceress and her knight. Laguna however has no intention to stay back. No, this time he is going to fight in the frontlines, hopefully with his son next to him.

He knows his son is safe, but he doesn't know where he is right now. The last he saw of his son, he was with a woman he vaguely recognized, but he doesn't know from where.

Cid also asked about Ellone. For the last year she was safe upon the White Seed Ship, but for how long will that be the best place for her? With the return of the Sorceress he rather keeps her close by his side. And he told Cid that.

Cid however, reminded him of the last time he had keep her close by, and that had almost killed her, thousands of miles away from the planet.

Although Cid was right, his comment stung.

It also didn't help that in the same sentence he offered to keep her safe in Balamb.

'Just like last time!' He had retorted back. Even at Balamb Garden she hadn't been completely save.

Cid had wisely decided to let Laguna handle the safety of Ellone, after all he has other big problems he needs to solve, and they couldn't be sure if the Sorceress was after Ellone this time or not.

Still, Laguna rather doesn't take any changes with her safety.

"We've got to get Ellone." Laguna said softly, long after his call with Cid has ended.

Ward nods his head, adjusting some settings on the laptop.

"I agree," Kiros said. "But where will we go after we've got her? We can't go to Esthar and Galbadia is no better. Balamb isn't an option either, or at least not until we really don't have another place to go. So where….?" He trailed off, rubbing his hand under his clean-shaven chin.

"We'll figure something out," Laguna said with a wave of his hand. "First we have to find her. Any luck Ward?"

Ward turns the laptop around so both Laguna and Kiros can see the world map that Ward has pulled up. At the most southern tip a red-spot blinks, the location of the White SeeD Ship.

"The Orphanage huh…looks like we're going back to the place where I found her again, so many years ago.

=XXX=

22 years ago.

He fought in the Galbadian Army along with his buddy's Ward and Kiros. His favorite pastime was ogling at Julia the singer, or hanging around with his buddies of course. That was a good life until they patrolled the wrong place at the wrong time. He fought against the Estharian Soldiers and they were on the winning hand, but those nasty soldiers had one more trick on their sleeve. He was mortally wound when he jumped of that clive. Months of rehabilitation was his reward for serving the army. But also gaining the love of an amazing woman and her cute adoptive daughter.

It wasn't to last.

Ellone was kidnapped, he got captured while trying to save her. He found her, and send her back to Winhill while he tried to save the world. He succeeded, and before he knew what had happened he was president of Esthar and a very busy man. Hw was so busy that it almost took three years before he finally made it back in Winhill, but the love of his life wasn't there anymore. Nor was Ellone.

The two most important women in his life were gone, out of his reach.

But not for always.

Many years later he heard a rumor, that his little girl was in Cetra near the southern light tower. So he went there, and he found Ellone, in the Orphanage run by Edea Kramer.

He took her with him to Esthar, and all was good in life.

Until 3 years ago.

There will always be another Sorceress, another threat.