"Our mistake was coming to Harket."
Squall stood on the bridge of Balamb Garden, with Xu, Laguna, and Caraway.
"We should have made Harket come to us."
Laguna shook his head, "How exactly do we go about something like that?"
Squall sighed, "It's risky. It is very risky. I'll tell you later, but we need to figure out where Harket is now."
Laguna sighed, "I think he might be in Esthar."
Caraway nodded, "Knowing this guy's record, that would be a definite next move. He is a sorcerer after all, and we all remember what part Esthar had in the sorceress wars."
"Right," Squall said, "But that only makes things harder."
"Squall, what are you planning to do, anyway?"
Squall grinned at Laguna, "Same thing my father did, only a bit more complicated."
***
Miles and Jasmine sat next to each other in the small crowd that had gathered for the event. Lee stood rather uncomfortably in his tux at the front of the room, waiting silently for the moment.
And it came. The music began to play, and in walked Veronica, dressed in a long, flowing dress, and with a significant procession. Jasmine leaned over to Miles and whispered, "Reminds me of our wedding."
"It should, we had it right here."
She smiled, "So… were you serious?"
"Huh?"
"About a kid? Do you really want to go ahead with this?"
"Jas, I've never been more sure than anything in my life."
Veronica arrived next to Lee, and the preacher began, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, in the sight of Hyne…"
***
"This is totally insane."
"It WILL work."
"Squall, I'm telling you, it's too risky."
"Dad, Harket is feeling very cocky right now. I'm telling you, this'll work."
"We have no idea what Harket will do."
Caraway interrupted, "Look, both of you, I agree with Squall. This should work. Harket is overconfident, and we can win the day."
Squall nodded, "Thank you. Look, dad, you did the same thing. We get a hologram of Neos. Send a few fake transmissions suggesting that he's been stranded with someone by Esthar. When he personally investigates, he finds himself in a cruel ambush. Meanwhile, we've got a small team getting Neos safely off the planet to the Lunar Base, which you still have control of."
"Right, but what if Harket doesn't fall for it, or doesn't go himself?"
"Then we modify the plan. Point here is, it gives us time to get Neos safely off-planet. If we get Harket in the deal, so be it."
Laguna shook his head, "I still think it's a mistake. Have you talked to Rinoa about this?"
"Yes, and she wants the same. We have to get the kid out of this situation."
"So who goes where?"
"You'll have to make the transport to Lunar Base; you've got the control. Lee and Veronica Reist will serve as your escort to the takeoff."
Laguna nodded, "This had better work."
"Trust me." Squall grinned, "It will."
((Next Chapter: The Ragnarok, the space station, one last showdown, Laguna rises, things blow up, and guns get shot. Need you ask for anything more?))
Squall stood on the bridge of Balamb Garden, with Xu, Laguna, and Caraway.
"We should have made Harket come to us."
Laguna shook his head, "How exactly do we go about something like that?"
Squall sighed, "It's risky. It is very risky. I'll tell you later, but we need to figure out where Harket is now."
Laguna sighed, "I think he might be in Esthar."
Caraway nodded, "Knowing this guy's record, that would be a definite next move. He is a sorcerer after all, and we all remember what part Esthar had in the sorceress wars."
"Right," Squall said, "But that only makes things harder."
"Squall, what are you planning to do, anyway?"
Squall grinned at Laguna, "Same thing my father did, only a bit more complicated."
***
Miles and Jasmine sat next to each other in the small crowd that had gathered for the event. Lee stood rather uncomfortably in his tux at the front of the room, waiting silently for the moment.
And it came. The music began to play, and in walked Veronica, dressed in a long, flowing dress, and with a significant procession. Jasmine leaned over to Miles and whispered, "Reminds me of our wedding."
"It should, we had it right here."
She smiled, "So… were you serious?"
"Huh?"
"About a kid? Do you really want to go ahead with this?"
"Jas, I've never been more sure than anything in my life."
Veronica arrived next to Lee, and the preacher began, "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, in the sight of Hyne…"
***
"This is totally insane."
"It WILL work."
"Squall, I'm telling you, it's too risky."
"Dad, Harket is feeling very cocky right now. I'm telling you, this'll work."
"We have no idea what Harket will do."
Caraway interrupted, "Look, both of you, I agree with Squall. This should work. Harket is overconfident, and we can win the day."
Squall nodded, "Thank you. Look, dad, you did the same thing. We get a hologram of Neos. Send a few fake transmissions suggesting that he's been stranded with someone by Esthar. When he personally investigates, he finds himself in a cruel ambush. Meanwhile, we've got a small team getting Neos safely off the planet to the Lunar Base, which you still have control of."
"Right, but what if Harket doesn't fall for it, or doesn't go himself?"
"Then we modify the plan. Point here is, it gives us time to get Neos safely off-planet. If we get Harket in the deal, so be it."
Laguna shook his head, "I still think it's a mistake. Have you talked to Rinoa about this?"
"Yes, and she wants the same. We have to get the kid out of this situation."
"So who goes where?"
"You'll have to make the transport to Lunar Base; you've got the control. Lee and Veronica Reist will serve as your escort to the takeoff."
Laguna nodded, "This had better work."
"Trust me." Squall grinned, "It will."
((Next Chapter: The Ragnarok, the space station, one last showdown, Laguna rises, things blow up, and guns get shot. Need you ask for anything more?))