Blue
Chapter 6
by Mariye
======
Disclaimer: I don't own FF8.
======
Quistis woke and found herself lying on one of the captains seats in the Ragnarok. She got up and looked around.
~Someone must have carried me in here, but who? And where is this person?~
Shaken, she walked to the bridge. The ship was prepped and ready to set out, but there was no sign of anyone around her.
"Is someone here? Squall? Irvine? Rinoa?" She went down on the lift and made her way to the loading dock, where everyone was accustomed to boarding. "This isn't funny! Where is everyone? Someone has to be here."
She shook her head and looked at the clock on the wall.
~Barely 5:24... they couldn't have gotten down here that fast. So how did I get on the ship and how did it get prepped?~
Her head began to hurt as she tried to analyse and think of an idea that made sense. She decided it was better to think about it later. There was a task to accomplish and people who would need her to be solid.
She found herself standing in the pilot's seat when Squall and Rinoa finally boarded, and by the time Irvine finally got there, they had almost taken off.
"So Squall, are you all right?" Rinoa asked, voice filled with concern.
"I'm fine." His voice was monotone and hollow. As if the event had affected him, but he wasn't about to let anyone see.
"We shouldn't worry. They'll all be okay. They'll be safe. They're fighters." Irvine assured only himself with those words.
~Hopefully. But hope is running thin.~ Quistis thought as she checked their altitude.
"They'll be safe, right Quisty?" Irvine asked her. As if her answer would be law and reality.
"We can't be sure. There is a chance that they could be alright."
~And there's a stronger chance that they could be all dead. Gone. Erased.~
After she set the autopilot, she turned and looked at all of them. Squall stood facing a wall, while Rinoa tried to coax him into talking, revealing how he felt.
~Good luck with that. There's no chance of him breaking down walls for you right now.~
She looked at Irvine. It was as if her short answer had reaffirmed his faith and hope, and he was looking out the window, scouting of any signs of the magnificent city of Esthar.
~I wish I could have that kind of faith. Be able to believe when someone I trusted reassured me of something.~ She turned and looked out the front window.
Still nothing appeared on the horizon, and by now there should have been something at least. A small house. A car. Monsters even.
Quistis checked the map in the ship's computer. 50 more miles.
~Please let me be wrong.~
"We're never wrong."
She was startled when she heard the voice again, but tried not to show it.
~I can't alarm the others.~
"Like they're paying attention. Come on. You know this isn't necessary. You know what you'll find if you go to that wasteland, so what's the point of going?"
~To prove you wrong.~
"I'm infallible."
~We'll see.~
Quistis saw the scorched land ten miles before the were in sight of Esthar. She let Squall and Rinoa continue their silent conversation, but she let Irvine see what lay ahead.
"Its all... just gone."
"No wreckage. Nothing left. Its just a wasteland." Quistis slowly moved the Ragnarok closer to the ground.
~Just like Centra.~ She thought without meaning to.
Squall came forward.
"Do you see anything... oh my god...." He looked around the plain. The lake was even dry, and completely flat.
"They had to make it out. There's no way that blast or attack could have completely wiped them out. They made it." Irvine repeated over and over. Rinoa just stood near the back. Quistis landed the Ragnarok.
"We have to look around. Squall, you and Rinoa stay on board in case we need to take off in a hurry. Irvine, you come with me. We'll scout around the area for signs of life."
Squall started to voice an objection, but it died in his throat. He nodded and went to the controls, with Rinoa following him.
"Don't worry Quistis. We'll handle things here."
Irvine escorted her out.
"So what do we look for?"
"Tents. Natural caves they could have used. Fox-holes. Trenches. Any possible place people could hide."
"Well, at least it should be easy." Irvine looked across the horizon.
"At least we have visibility on our side. And it seems like there are no monster arounds too. We're fortunate." She started walking East, towards the mountains.
"Should we have left them both on board the Ragnarok?"
"Its best. Especially if..." She didn't seem to want to finish the sentence.
"If Laguna, Kiros, Ward, and Sis didn't make it?"
"Yes." Quistis turned and nodded.
~I wish I were like Elle. She could tell if people were alive by looking into their memories.~
Quistis suddenly saw a flash of white.
She was standing in a dark room. An underground shelter. There were about 20 people in there, among them, Laguna, Kiros, and Ellone. Ellone saw her and called out. When Quistis tried to respond, everything went black.
"QUISTIS!"
She felt someone shaking her, and opened her eyes.
"Irvine?"
"You just collapsed! Are you alright?"
She slowly got up.
"Fine. They're all in an underground shelter. Near here. We're close."
"How do you know?"
"I just do."
"How far?"
"I'm not sure. If we're lucky, they should be sending off a signal soon, or maybe even emerge."
~I hope they do. I hope they know we're here.~
"So until then we walk?"
"We walk."
They continued on for ten more minutes, with Quistis becoming aware of Irvine allowing her a little extra space. He also would steal strange glances at her.
~Does he think I'm hallucnating? That I'm insane? Is he afraid of me?~
"You know, if you want to know, just read his thoughts. You have that kind of power."
~Shut up.~
"Or you'll make me? Thats a laugh. You can't even see me and here you're threatening me?"
~Are you here?~
"You should know that. You always did seem weak. Even from the start."
~Leave me alone.~
"Have it your way. There was something else I was thinking about doing, and since you're in such a hurry to be rid of me, then I'll go attend to that now."
~You do that.~
"Remember you said that Quistis."
She felt the air churn up around them at that moment.
~Why me?~
She saw Irvine pause.
"What's wrong?"
"There's something here Instructor."
"What?" She turned and looked down where he stopped. "A door?"
"Its... its an underground shelter...." He looked up in shock, then tried to pull it open. After a few unsuccessful tries, he started pounding on it.
"Hello? Is anyone there? We're SeeDs! Kinneas and Trepe!"
"Irvine?"
Quistis's heart jumped. That was Ellone.
"Yes! Sis! Its me!"
The door burst open, and a dust covered Ellone appeared.
"Oh thank Hyne! You're here! It was awful!" She hugged Irvine, but froze when she saw Quistis.
"You... Quisty. You were there the whole time..."
"What?"
"When that... creature... attacked Esthar. You were there. Standing next to him. You talked o him. You didn't even stop him, or turn when we all called out to you."
"Ellone, Quistis was at Garden with all of us." Irvine said, but Ellone was frantic.
"And a few moments ago, you were here! We were all so scared! We thought that monster had returned and you were leading him to us."
"Ellone, it... it wasn't real. None of it was." Quistis said, trying to remain calm.
~But it all was... all that was real... so what does it mean?~
"Listen, we have the Ragnarok. We need to get everyone on board and take them to Garden."
Ellone nodded silently as others rose out of the depths onto the surface again. All of them seemed to be in shock as they saw their rescuers. Quistis decided to move on the side and call the Ragnarok.
~They've been through enough, and seeing me only seems to agitate them further.~
She hailed the ship.
"Rinoa? Squall? Its me. Irvine and I found 22 survivors. Laguna, Kiros, and Ellie are among them. Can you pick us up?"
"Thats good news, but we have more bad news. Its Deiling City."
"What about it?"
"Its gone."
======
What happened to Deiling?
Is the creature Hyne?
What are these new powers Quistis possesses?
Chapter 6
by Mariye
======
Disclaimer: I don't own FF8.
======
Quistis woke and found herself lying on one of the captains seats in the Ragnarok. She got up and looked around.
~Someone must have carried me in here, but who? And where is this person?~
Shaken, she walked to the bridge. The ship was prepped and ready to set out, but there was no sign of anyone around her.
"Is someone here? Squall? Irvine? Rinoa?" She went down on the lift and made her way to the loading dock, where everyone was accustomed to boarding. "This isn't funny! Where is everyone? Someone has to be here."
She shook her head and looked at the clock on the wall.
~Barely 5:24... they couldn't have gotten down here that fast. So how did I get on the ship and how did it get prepped?~
Her head began to hurt as she tried to analyse and think of an idea that made sense. She decided it was better to think about it later. There was a task to accomplish and people who would need her to be solid.
She found herself standing in the pilot's seat when Squall and Rinoa finally boarded, and by the time Irvine finally got there, they had almost taken off.
"So Squall, are you all right?" Rinoa asked, voice filled with concern.
"I'm fine." His voice was monotone and hollow. As if the event had affected him, but he wasn't about to let anyone see.
"We shouldn't worry. They'll all be okay. They'll be safe. They're fighters." Irvine assured only himself with those words.
~Hopefully. But hope is running thin.~ Quistis thought as she checked their altitude.
"They'll be safe, right Quisty?" Irvine asked her. As if her answer would be law and reality.
"We can't be sure. There is a chance that they could be alright."
~And there's a stronger chance that they could be all dead. Gone. Erased.~
After she set the autopilot, she turned and looked at all of them. Squall stood facing a wall, while Rinoa tried to coax him into talking, revealing how he felt.
~Good luck with that. There's no chance of him breaking down walls for you right now.~
She looked at Irvine. It was as if her short answer had reaffirmed his faith and hope, and he was looking out the window, scouting of any signs of the magnificent city of Esthar.
~I wish I could have that kind of faith. Be able to believe when someone I trusted reassured me of something.~ She turned and looked out the front window.
Still nothing appeared on the horizon, and by now there should have been something at least. A small house. A car. Monsters even.
Quistis checked the map in the ship's computer. 50 more miles.
~Please let me be wrong.~
"We're never wrong."
She was startled when she heard the voice again, but tried not to show it.
~I can't alarm the others.~
"Like they're paying attention. Come on. You know this isn't necessary. You know what you'll find if you go to that wasteland, so what's the point of going?"
~To prove you wrong.~
"I'm infallible."
~We'll see.~
Quistis saw the scorched land ten miles before the were in sight of Esthar. She let Squall and Rinoa continue their silent conversation, but she let Irvine see what lay ahead.
"Its all... just gone."
"No wreckage. Nothing left. Its just a wasteland." Quistis slowly moved the Ragnarok closer to the ground.
~Just like Centra.~ She thought without meaning to.
Squall came forward.
"Do you see anything... oh my god...." He looked around the plain. The lake was even dry, and completely flat.
"They had to make it out. There's no way that blast or attack could have completely wiped them out. They made it." Irvine repeated over and over. Rinoa just stood near the back. Quistis landed the Ragnarok.
"We have to look around. Squall, you and Rinoa stay on board in case we need to take off in a hurry. Irvine, you come with me. We'll scout around the area for signs of life."
Squall started to voice an objection, but it died in his throat. He nodded and went to the controls, with Rinoa following him.
"Don't worry Quistis. We'll handle things here."
Irvine escorted her out.
"So what do we look for?"
"Tents. Natural caves they could have used. Fox-holes. Trenches. Any possible place people could hide."
"Well, at least it should be easy." Irvine looked across the horizon.
"At least we have visibility on our side. And it seems like there are no monster arounds too. We're fortunate." She started walking East, towards the mountains.
"Should we have left them both on board the Ragnarok?"
"Its best. Especially if..." She didn't seem to want to finish the sentence.
"If Laguna, Kiros, Ward, and Sis didn't make it?"
"Yes." Quistis turned and nodded.
~I wish I were like Elle. She could tell if people were alive by looking into their memories.~
Quistis suddenly saw a flash of white.
She was standing in a dark room. An underground shelter. There were about 20 people in there, among them, Laguna, Kiros, and Ellone. Ellone saw her and called out. When Quistis tried to respond, everything went black.
"QUISTIS!"
She felt someone shaking her, and opened her eyes.
"Irvine?"
"You just collapsed! Are you alright?"
She slowly got up.
"Fine. They're all in an underground shelter. Near here. We're close."
"How do you know?"
"I just do."
"How far?"
"I'm not sure. If we're lucky, they should be sending off a signal soon, or maybe even emerge."
~I hope they do. I hope they know we're here.~
"So until then we walk?"
"We walk."
They continued on for ten more minutes, with Quistis becoming aware of Irvine allowing her a little extra space. He also would steal strange glances at her.
~Does he think I'm hallucnating? That I'm insane? Is he afraid of me?~
"You know, if you want to know, just read his thoughts. You have that kind of power."
~Shut up.~
"Or you'll make me? Thats a laugh. You can't even see me and here you're threatening me?"
~Are you here?~
"You should know that. You always did seem weak. Even from the start."
~Leave me alone.~
"Have it your way. There was something else I was thinking about doing, and since you're in such a hurry to be rid of me, then I'll go attend to that now."
~You do that.~
"Remember you said that Quistis."
She felt the air churn up around them at that moment.
~Why me?~
She saw Irvine pause.
"What's wrong?"
"There's something here Instructor."
"What?" She turned and looked down where he stopped. "A door?"
"Its... its an underground shelter...." He looked up in shock, then tried to pull it open. After a few unsuccessful tries, he started pounding on it.
"Hello? Is anyone there? We're SeeDs! Kinneas and Trepe!"
"Irvine?"
Quistis's heart jumped. That was Ellone.
"Yes! Sis! Its me!"
The door burst open, and a dust covered Ellone appeared.
"Oh thank Hyne! You're here! It was awful!" She hugged Irvine, but froze when she saw Quistis.
"You... Quisty. You were there the whole time..."
"What?"
"When that... creature... attacked Esthar. You were there. Standing next to him. You talked o him. You didn't even stop him, or turn when we all called out to you."
"Ellone, Quistis was at Garden with all of us." Irvine said, but Ellone was frantic.
"And a few moments ago, you were here! We were all so scared! We thought that monster had returned and you were leading him to us."
"Ellone, it... it wasn't real. None of it was." Quistis said, trying to remain calm.
~But it all was... all that was real... so what does it mean?~
"Listen, we have the Ragnarok. We need to get everyone on board and take them to Garden."
Ellone nodded silently as others rose out of the depths onto the surface again. All of them seemed to be in shock as they saw their rescuers. Quistis decided to move on the side and call the Ragnarok.
~They've been through enough, and seeing me only seems to agitate them further.~
She hailed the ship.
"Rinoa? Squall? Its me. Irvine and I found 22 survivors. Laguna, Kiros, and Ellie are among them. Can you pick us up?"
"Thats good news, but we have more bad news. Its Deiling City."
"What about it?"
"Its gone."
======
What happened to Deiling?
Is the creature Hyne?
What are these new powers Quistis possesses?