Disclaimer : I don't own anything.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A Little Ways from the Prison, Shane's POV)
After listening to Hunter complain about being stuck in a vehicle with two guys, for about 20 minutes, we finally reached a temporary resting point and stopped the vehicle next to the jeep, getting out and standing with the girls as we tried to sort out everything we'd learned and how we were going to deal with it.
But to be brutally honest, I was having a hard time focusing. All I could think about, besides Kapri's habit of saying the strangest things at the oddest times, was that Balamb Garden was going to be targeted by missiles.
Watching as Marah climbed atop a broken, and fairly rusted car, I sighed as she looked out over the desert behind us.
"What?" I asked, looking to Tori who had approached me rather quickly.
"The sorceress is about to launch missiles at Garden!" she cried incredulously, pacing and biting her lip a bit with a look of worry etched into her face.
Marah nodded from where she stood above the car. "That's what Kapri heard from Hunter!"
"The only thing we can do right now, is to go back to Garden as soon as possible and warn the students." I said sternly barely holding back my own panic. "Alright, let's get into the cars and go." I said, nodding.
"But..."
I turned to find Marah biting her lip. "They're targeting both Balamb and Trabia Gardens! We have to interfere with the launch! We have to stop the missiles!" she cried desperately.
I frowned and looked away. That's all well and good, but what if something goes wrong? If we all go, we'll be captured and then who'll warn Balamb?
"I just transfered from Trabia Garden! I can't just sit around knowing Trabia Garden is in danger! Shane, please! Decide who's gonna go to the Missile Base before it's too late!" she continued with tears in her eyes and her face pale.
That's easier said than done... What if something happens to the people I chose? I thought, folding my arms over my chest. I knew she was right, and it was my job as the leader, but I couldn't help but wonder what if they got hurt? What if they were captured?
"Let's take a vote!" Kapri called with a small smile. "Shane will decide on who goes to the base. He'll return to Balamb Garden because he's the leader. Anyone against this plan, please raise your right hand!" She looked and once she saw that no one was objecting, nodded with a smile. "I don't mind which team you put me on." she added.
Again I frowned. But you're an outsider...? Still, though she was an outsider, she was as vital a part of this team as any other member. I realized, even with the amount of time I'd known her, I'd come to rely on her. This made me frown. I didn't like to rely on anyone...
"You're the leader, Shane. What are the teams?" Tori asked a little impatiently.
Leader? I remembered that Headmaster Kanoi made me the leader, but only of the Timber mission. Tori here was the ex-instructor! She should be the leader! I never asked to be the leader.
There was a faint sound of whistling and we all turned to find a salvo of missiles firing into the sky. The flew up into the clouds and grew farther and farther away.
Were... Were we too late?
I felt my heart clench painfully as I thought of all the innocent people, and all the people I knew, who could possibly be dead right now...or die very soon.
Turning back, I watched as Hunter closed his eyes tightly and sighed deeply. "I...heard they were hitting Trabia first, and then Balamb." he said softly.
Even if it wasn't Balamb, it was just as bad. An innocent Garden that had nothing to do with the attack on the sorceress. So many innocent people...
Giving a loud cry of pain, Marah collapsed to her knees and Dustin quickly hopped onto the roof of the car, grabbing her close and holding her tightly as tears streamed down her face.
Though I'd never been to Trabia, I too felt pain and guilt, for this happening. And an almost unbearable anger. Blake was so indifferent about all this... Didn't he think of all the innocent lives?!
And the others were no better. Kapri looked horrified and was shaky, and pale. Tori's eyes were wide and her face ashen as she slowly looked away with a grimace. Hunter actually looked horribly sympathetic and hurt and gazed at the ground sadly. And Dustin, the pain was there, but it was hidden under a veil of rage at what had transpired.
Walking over to Marah, I watched as she cried for the people she knew. "Trabia... I'm sorry... I couldn't stop it... Please, let everyone be alright. Please..." Standing up shakily, she wiped away her tears and looked at Dustin and me hopefully. "That was a miss...right? Shane, you have to report to Balamb! Who are you taking with you?!"
"C'mon Shane!" Dustin cried in a panicky voice.
Tori sighed and shook her head. "You have to decide, Shane!"
I've had it up to here with this leader thing! I thought angrily, glaring at the ground. How could they depend on me so much? If they wanted the group made up so badly, then why didn't they do it?! Looking at their scared and hopeful faces, I sighed. Alright, alright... I'll choose...
"I'm on the missile base infiltration team! I have to be!" Marah cried angrily. "They fired missiles at MY garden!"
So, out of Tori, Hunter, Kapri and Dustin... "Kapri and Dustin." Why do I always chose Kapri on my team?? Maybe because I promised her I'd look after her, and wanted to keep her near so I could. With a determined nod, I looked to Marah. "This mission is unlike any other. It's not an order or request from any Garden... Marah, do you have some sort of plan?"
She nodded unsurely a moment as she looked around. Her eyes landed on the grey military jeep and her look hardened a little. "I think that if we take this Military vehicle, we should be able to make it into the base." Then she frowned. "But... That's about it. I'll have to think about the rest once we're inside. Do you think that's be ok?" she asked me nervously.
It's your mission. You're the leader. I thought with a raised eyebrow, staying quiet and watching her.
Her eyes widened a moment and she nodded shakily. "I'm sorry...I mean, thanks." It was obvious she'd never been the leader of a mission, but there was no time like the present to learn. This was a personal mission for her, so I chose her to lead it, knowing that despite her anger, she was the best choice. "There isn't much time. You'd better hurry to Balamb Garden!" she stated with a nod and a look of determination.
Nodding slowly, I sighed and stood at attention, saluting her a moment, and watching as she repeated the action shakily. "See you at Garden." I hope.
Splitting up, Marah took Hunter and Tori in the grey military vehicle, and headed off towards the base, and the rest of us took the yellow jeep, heading for the nearby Train Depot.
It didn't take us long to get here, and we abandoned the vehicle, sneaking along side the stationary train until we made it to the engine. I gestured to Dustin and Kapri to remain silent while I snuck up to the door and watched as a Galbadian soldier checked the console before jumping out of the engine room and heading off. That's when I turned back and gestured for the others to come with me, jumping up into the room and starting the train.
As it began to move away, I distantly heard the sound of an alarmed cry, but chose to ignore it as the train gathered speed.
"HEY!! STOP!!"
"Shane, the guard's coming after us!" Kapri called, and I turned to find that one guard was chasing down the train as fast as he could.
It did no good. The train kept gathering speed and though he'd reached the engine room door, he was quickly losing ground.
"S-Stop the train!" the guy almost begged as he stumbled but managed to keep his footing. "AHHHHH! C'MON!!!"
Kapri looked a little guilty and shook her head. "Sorry!"
The guard stumbled again but this time couldn't keep his balance and fell to the ground, rolling a couple of times before he came to a stop, slamming his fist into the ground as the train sped off.
"Sorry, this is an emergency!" Kapri called, wincing as the guard got shakily up.
Turning my gaze on her, I sighed. If she apologized to everyone we came across, for every little thing, this could be a long trip.
(Missile Base, Marah's POV)
Standing outside our vehcle, just outside the viscinity of the Missile Base, I turned to look at hunter and Tori. I guess I was a little disappointed that Dustin went with Shane, but this was a serious mission and now wasn't the time to think about that.
Our mission was fairly simple, but also, probably the most difficult one. We had to secretly infiltrate the Galbadian Missile Base long enough to find out how to disable the missiles, and do so. Then we had to get out unscathed.
I was scared.
My first mission. My first solo mission without Shane as the leader. No, this time, I was the leader. Could I do it? I didn't know. Did I have to do it? For the safety of Balamb Garden and countless innocent lives? ...Yeah. I did.
So I put on a brave face, determined to do my very best on this mission. "C'mon! To the missile Base!" I called, forgetting about the vehicle and strolling on foot up to the gate where an older guard was posted.
I tried to walk right past him, but he stopped me immediately, sneering down at me with his gun pointed at my chest. Giving me a suggestive grin, he shook his head. "This is a maximum security area! No kids allowed!" he stated condescendingly.
Eww. Frowning, I bit my lip to keep from saying something that could really get me into a lot of trouble. If he wanted to be a jerk, I could play that game too, but now wasn't the time. So instead, I plastered the most flirtatious grin to my face that I could conjure and placed a hand on my hip, leaning a little to the side. Gross, gross gross! "I just wanna take a peak." I sid as innocently as I could, biting back my rage at him for being a part of this place. Batting my eyelashes, I tilted my head a little and played with my hair. "Pretty pleeeaase?" I think I'm gonna be sick!
His suggestive grin turned to a genuine sneer and he laughed. "No! This isn't some club you can sweet talk yourself into." he said seriously. Then he shrugged and looked at me with disgust. "Besides..." He stared pointedly at my chest. "You're just a kid. I prefer someone more mature."
Scowling at him, I shook my head and flipped him off, sticking out my tongue and glaring at him. How dare he!? "Up yours!!" I yelled, stalking off, back to the car where I saw Tori and Hunter standing there with barely concealed amusement. "Gee, thanks for the help guys!" I said sarcastically.
Without another word to them, I sighed and got into the vehicle. "Well, now what?"
"What about these?" Hunter asked, holding up a few extra uniforms that were in the back.
Groaning, I looked at them and made a face before reluctantly nodding. It's the only idea we have. Tori and I kicked Hunter out of the car as we changed, thankful for the automatic locks and heavily tinted windows, before allowing him back in and leaving ourselves so he could get changed. Ok, ok. So basically, we just pulled them on over our clothes, but hello! Skirt? Short skirt?!
Once we were done, we headed back to the base in the vehicle, rolling down the windows as we drove up to the guard. Resisting the urge to kick him where it would hurt the most, I nodded casually and he nodded back before hitting a button and the security bar rose.
"Go on through." he said indifferently.
Really? Phew! With another nod, I drove us inside, parking by another set of vehicles and stepping outside to meet up with Tori and Hunter.
"Following the launch on Trabia Garden, prepare for the launch on Balamb Garden. All personel take your positions." someone yelled over the speakers.
Frowning, I scratched my uniform and wrinkled my nose at the smell of sweat. Ewww... This uniform is so smelly and itchy! I thought as I scratched my side.
"When is the launch time?" Tori asked, clearly struggling to keep her panic under control.
I couldn't blame her. I was in the same boat. But as much as I wanted to scream and yell and destroy everything, I couldn't give into it. "Who cares?! We have to stop the missiles! That's all there is to it, right?! If there's a door, we go in! If there's anything we can break, we break! And in the end, we blow the place to smitherenes!!I" I cried, jumping a little in excitement at the prospect of revenge.
Hunter lifted his mask and grinned with a nod. "Hey, Marah, I like your style!" he stated with a laugh as he pulled the mask back down into place. "Let's do it up!"
"Let's get a move on!" I cried, turning to the only building we could get into. Heading inside, we walked up to a set of double doors and I frowned when they didn't open. Still, I pushed on the door, tried lifting it, grabbed the handle and tried pulling...nothing. "It's locked!" I cried in despair. Next, I turned to the card slot to the door and read the inscription out loud. "Insert ID Card?! But... We don't have one!!!" I wailed.
"Marah, calm down!" Tori scolded slightly with a sigh.
I ignored her as I sulked. Don't tell me we'd failed our mission before we already began!
"Hey, Marah?"
I turned and slumped against the door as I looked at Hunter. He shrugged and scratched the back of his head before holding up a small card.
"So, like...I found this in the car. Give it a try." he said indifferently, handing me the card.
What else do we have to lose? Turning to the slot, I shrugged and swiped the card.
"Verifying...Access Granted." the automated voice spoke as the red light above the door turned to green and the audible click of a lock sounded, letting us know it worked.
"Whoo-hoo!" Jumping up in excitement, I turned to Hunter and hugged him briefly before turning back and taking a deep breath. This is it... Forcing myself to calm down, I walked through and immediately froze upon seeing the guard stationed outside a nearby door. Yikes! There's someone there! What to do...? What to do...?
Thinking for a moment, I decided that running would be suspicious, and turning and running away would be even worse. I glanced at the others and nodded slowly. Our best bet is to walk by calmly and hope he doesn't notice anything wrong.
Walking along the catwalk and to the only other set of stairs, I almost sighed out of relief when the guard called to us, and instead, I felt my breath catch in my throat.
"Hey! You, stop right there!" he called gruffly.
I felt my heart begin to pound but took a deep breath and slowly turned, thankful for the helmet that covered my face. Yikes! Do we look that suspicious?!
Nodding to us, the guard kept up his stance at the door. "Hah! Walking in single file... Your parents must have raised you well. That's very good manners!" he chuckled. I could swear I heard a grin in his voice. "Always be thankful to your parents for bringing you up!"
I nodded silently, rolling my eyes behind the helmet. That's what he called to us for?!? "Yes, sir!" I responded finally, saluting him firmly. Wow. That was weird... What a strange man...
Heading down the stairs, we found ourselves in a smaller room with a door on the opposite wall, a path under the stairs we stood on, and another flight of stairs across the room, leading up. But that other flight was blocked by a soldier and I had no doubt he wouldn't let us pass.
So instead, we made our way to the door and tried to enter, only to have the guard stand in the way and shake his head slowly, telling us that this was the missile launch room and that it was off-limits at the moment.
I turned away and was about to head for the path under the first flight of stairs when I noticed a computer console on the wall, and checked it. It displayed weapons and armor information, information on the missiles and their targets, and thought this probably would have been a good place to sabotage the guidance in the missiles, it required a Keycard to get into it, and that, we didn't have.
Taking the path under the stairs, we came out in a large room with grating along the floors. It was fairly empty but for a few random boxes, and two soldiers who stood by the railing across the room, so we headed over, seeing if they either had information, or would give us a job that allowed us to enter one of the guarded rooms.
Making my way to the closest guard, I tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned to look at me.
"Huh? I'm busy now. Whaddaya want?" he said gruffly.
The other guard slowly turned to face him, leaning back against the railing. "Oh yeah...aren't we suppos'ta inspect the circuit room soon?"
The first guard checked his watch. "Oh, is it time, already? We're doing the real thing today, so there's no way we have time for it."
With a nod, the second guard turned to us. "Sorry to trouble you, but could you deliver a message for us? Tell the guys at the missile launcher to go ahead and that we'll catch up with 'em later."
The first guard sighed and leaned against the railing. "Thanks a lot. We really appreciate it."
But I didn't say anything. I thought with a pout as I nodded absently and walked out of the room. But still...this could be the chance we were waiting for.
Heading to the missile launch room, we were allowed inside, and I walked straight over to a soldier that held a clip board, ignoring the six ominous missile launchers that were being moved into place for the attack on Balamb. I felt my heart clench a little, seeing that five were already in place, but bit my lip and tapped the man on the shoulder. "S'cuse me, sir? I have a message for you."
He nodded slightly and lowered the clipboard. "Well? What is it?" His tone was surprisingly friendly, and it startled me so that I forgot what the message was.
Ah... What was it again? It was either something about the others going on ahead to the inspection, or telling him to... Oh yeah. "It's about inspecting the circuit room. The maintenance team said they were too busy, so that you should go on ahead." I informed him with a salute.
His head dropped down and I knew he was checking out the clipboard again. "Oh, ok. But I'm still not done here, you know. Hmmm... Could you tell them that I can't go just yet? Thanks, I appreciate it." Then he turned away to watch as three soldiers tried to manually move a large missile launcher.
Heeeeey! I was getting a little irritated, but I knew this was our only chance. Leading the others back to the other room, we once again spoke to the two guards standing by the rail, whom I noticed, hadn't moved since they gave us our message. Hmph! Busy my ass! "They said they were too busy to go, too." I informed them with a salute. God, but this was irritating.
"Geez, what do we do now?" the first guard asked in irritation.
The second guard shrugged. "Guess we have no choice but to go..." He trailed off as he looked at us.
The first guard was also looking at us and I began to get nervous. "Aaahhh, alright..." the guy sighed. "Can we ask you to go?"
Are you kidding?! I thought incredulously, resisting the urge to jump up and pump my fist into the air in excitement.
"What?!" the second guard cried shock. "Hey, that's not cool! What if the base commander finds out!?"
I grinned under my helmet. Then you're in some deeeeeep doo-doo!
"Ahh, it'll be fine." the first guy said flippiantly as he waved his hand in dismissal. "All we do is go and check that everything's working."
"Well, I hope you're right..."
He nodded. "So, that's that. We're counting on you." he said to us.
My grin grew and I nodded. "Yes, sir!" ...Whoo-hoo! Blow the place to smitherenes! Teach them to fire missiles at my Garden!!
So we made our way to the circuit room and stood single file in front of the guard. "The maintenance team asked us to take their place with the inspection." I informed him, almost giggling giddily.
He seemed hesitant for a moment before shrugging and nodding. "Oh, really? Then I guess my shift is over. I'm gonna call in my relief. Go ahead with the inspection." he responded with a salute before taking off.
We stepped inside the room and I paused at the doorway, taking it in. It was a fairly small room, with a glowing, rotating energy core in a separate room that we could see through some very thick bullet-proof glass on the right wall... The Reactor. Nothing was against the left wall and against the wall ahead of us was a big computer. Since it was the only thing readily accessable in the room, that's where we went.
Tori took one side of the largest panel, Hunter took the other and I took the middle. I was looking at a blinking console with what looked like energy readouts on a small screen. This must be the control panel, but I'm not sure what to do...
I could mess with it and see what happens, but what if I accidentally set off the missiles? Or we could shoot the panel and destroy it, but that would definitely alert the guards. Frowning, I sighed and looked at the panel before shaking my head, raising my fist and banging on it.
When I was done, I pulled back and waited for something to happen while nursing my sore fist, but when nothing did, I groaned and kicked the panel hard before hitting a lot of random switches. Do something, damn you! I thought furiously.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, there was NO good place to break this into chapters, but if I left it as one, it would be twice as long as this.
Sorry about the wait between updates, but I like to update multiple chapters. Plus, I've been so busy and exhausted lately, that I've only had enough energy to write maybe a fifth of a chapter a day.
Hope you like it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Wouldn't it be a mega bummer is we launched the missiles by mistake?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
R+R please.
Thank you.
Tenshi,