Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1
Plan
Chapter Seven
Laguna stared dreamily out of the window, it was dark now. It was his forth day in Dollet and he had done nothing, nothing that would save Squall. What could they do? The Galbadians, who had completely dominated the west side of Dollet, had made it clear that if they made any sudden movements or attacked the G-forces, that Squall would be killed. They had been forced to remain stationary, only to defend themselves and the east side of Dollet. Squall remained on the west in an unknown condition. They only knew that he was alive, at lest, that was what the Galbadians said. Laguna hoped they were telling the truth.
Zell walked silently in, his eyes were puffy with lack of sleep. "Laguna," he said. Laguna didn't say anything, he didn't look at Zell, and he just continued to stare out of the window. Zell wondered if he had heard him, "Laguna?" he repeated.
"What is it Zell? Any news on Squall?" he asked his tone showing that that was the only information he was going to listen to.
"No, sorry Laguna," Zell replied. Laguna bowed his head and closed his eyes. Zell remained silent, not knowing what to say to Squall's father.
"Then what do you want?" his tone implied that he wanted to be alone. Zell looked down, he didn't really want anything, just someone to talk to, and someone he felt close to. Irvine was no where to be seen, Quistis wasn't much company as she was frustrated with all the events which had been mounting up, Clad was too depressed and Zell didn't like him. This left the normally friendly Laguna, but even he seemed unwilling to talk to Zell.
"Nothing, just thought you would like some company, that's all," Zell said his tone low and depressed. His feelings had turned from angry to furious and then to a huge wave of sadness, it was the same for all of them, right now, the situation seemed hopeless, but Zell knew, they couldn't give up. It seemed all the confidence Rinoa had summoned in herself and passed onto them had died away, they were no longer being strong, but weak. "Chicken wuss..." Zell muttered to himself.
"Huh?" Laguna looked at Zell suddenly with confusion. "Are you talking to me?" Laguna sounded a little angry and offended.
"Seifer used to call me that, chicken wuss and right now I think he's right. We're all chicken wuss's..." Zell sounded more upset then angry, he hated to realize that Seifer was actually right about him. Something began to build up in Zell's chest, it made his eyes burn. "I want to help Squall but we can't, but at least I'm not staring out of a window, or going mad like Quistis or even hiding like Irvine, or whatever he's doing! We have to do something and all you lot are doing is standing around and looking like doughnuts. We're supposed to be his friends, we're supposed to be helping him, but we're not!" Zell almost shouted but only raised his voice slightly.
"Zell's right," came a voice: Irvine. Zell almost jumped and moved aside from the doorway to let Irvine come in. Irvine swung his silver gun and tucked it inside his coat.
"Irvine? Where the hell have you been? You've been gone all day," Zell asked, staring at his friend.
"Been thinking and I have some information not about Squall though. I went to explore the border between the east and west of Dollet. The Galbadians have constructed this wall thing, it looks impassable. While I was exploring it, I saw some familiar faces. Fujin and Rajin, you'd never guessed, so I predict Seifer is amongst them," Irvine told them. Zell and Laguna stared at him.
"But I thought...that Seifer had nothing to do with the Galbadians anymore? I mean, didn't they kick him out?" Zell asked, stupefied. Irvine nodded.
"That's what I thought, but it looks like they took him back..." Irvine replied.
"Odd," Laguna commented, "well, there must be a reason. So, could Seifer be the leader of the army then? I mean, we never really knew who he was."
"It might be. Anyway, that gives us the reason why Squall was taken, if Seifer in charge or something. They're still rivals and always will be, until one of them kills the other," Irvine said. Zell frowned, punching his fist into his palm, the new that Seifer was in town was more then he could handle.
"Zell, calm down. Seifer may want to fight Squall," Laguna said, wondering if this was true, or if Seifer, whom he hardly knew, would just kill Squall. Zell relaxed his body and slumped in a chair.
The next few hours were spent mainly in silent thought until Quistis entered. She looked a bit green but less frustrated then she had been. Zell and Irvine welcomed her, Laguna had returned to staring out of the window.
Quistis sighed and walked up to the window, closing it in Laguna's face. Laguna looked slightly annoyed but turned to face everybody.
"Laguna, I have news from Garden and Esthar. Firstly, Kiros and Ward are coming down with a hundred more SeeDs. Now that Esthar has dealt with its minor problem of transport...they will also be arriving by tomorrow morning. Also, Seifer is now, yet again head of Galbadia...for an unknown reason.
Laguna, we have to do something about Squall and it will be up to us, not SeeD," Quistis said, her whole professional posture was now full re-composed.
"You mean...bust in there?" Zell asked. Quistis sighed deeply.
"SeeD will make no action against Galbadia. We will, but that is for later, first we must get SeeD a solid defense formation. We will discuss our movement later on," Quistis said calmly, though her insides did not feel that calmness. Adrenaline was pumping through her body, like it did before every battle, but this time it was more and they all felt it, it glowed like fire in their eyes.
Laguna felt better, knowing his two good friends were going to be joining him. It was hard being with Squall's friends, though he liked them all, they were all too young to be any heart-warming company. They were his son's friends, father's didn't 'hang out' with their children's friends, did they? They had fond memories together; Laguna looked back to those days with Kiros and Ward. The days when he hadn't even known Raine...
"Any news on Rinoa, Quistis?" Laguna asked. Quistis gave a little smile, she had been told all about the wedding.
"Oh, yes, she is back in Garden, the wedding preparations are well under the way," Quistis felt tears form in her eyes. Wedding preparations Squall would be married to Rinoa. Quistis threw the thoughts and images out of her head as she saw Rinoa walking down the isle with Squall at the top. Why am I feeling as if I am losing him? Quistis sighed silently and smiled at Laguna. "If Rinoa can carry on as normal, then we can too, none of this sad depression which came over us, we've always believed in Squall and we always will, why stop now?" Quistis sounded reassuring. Yes and why start feeling nostalgic about Squall. It's not as if I'm losing anything.
"And Selphie, is she okay too?" Irvine asked. Zell smirked a little. Quistis looked at Irvine, who blushed profoundly.
"Everyone is OK Irvine," she smiled. Even Irvine has found love...what about me? Zell has some girl in the library after him...that leaves little old me.
"Oh all right...cool," he stuttered, wondering why he was so embarrassed that everyone knew he and Selphie were now finally in love. He had made it obvious from the start that he had liked Selphie, he wanted this to happen, he had wanted to show off.
Quistis put her hand to her mouth and laughed a little, Zell grinned widely and Laguna looked amused. Irvine snorted and walked off. "Well at least I found love! And I don't know what you're laughing at Zell, that pig tailed lass from the library was practically hanging off from around your neck last time I saw you together!" Irvine shouted as he left the room. Zell turned bright red, avoided eye contact with Quistis and Laguna, who were looking at him with the greatest interest and stormed out after Irvine.
"Anybody in your life, Quistis?" Laguna asked. Quistis looked embarrassed as she shook her head in reply.
"Pity, you're a lovely woman Quistis," Laguna said, "I better be off to bed," he smiled. Quistis said goodnight as he left her all alone.
Quistis laid her head on her hands as she leaned on the table. Who would want me though? When I thought I was in love with someone who would never have loved me it wasn't even real love. That was disappointing. I know Squall so well though, like a sister and he's leaving me. Rinoa and Squall Leonhart, that's what they'll be. Then, Irvine and Selphie Kinneas. Who knows what after that, Zell and pigtail girl Dincht. I'll be standing here alone and waiting for my knight in shining amour to whisk me away.
Squall...what are you doing are you hurt? You're probably sitting in the dark somewhere doing nothing because you can't see what to do, because there's nothing you can do. Have you given up? Do you think you're going to die? Quistis thought as she fell asleep, slumped over the table like a floppy doll.
Quistis looked up in her dream, she was in Garden and she was about seven, Squall was six. She could see him arguing with Seifer, which wasn't unusual. Sighing, seven year old Quistis ran over and pushed the two apart. Squall looked tearful, Seifer looked angry.
'I got to wait for Sis!' Squall had said and walked off. Seifer snorted and went off in the other direction. Quistis hurried after Squall and tried to comfort him, but he kept on going on that he would be alright alone and without Sis Elle.
Quistis woke crying, the childhood memory had somehow hurt. The pitiful image of Squall was heart breaking. All those years she had tried to take Ellone's place for Squall had built up a sisterly love for him. A love so strong...I thought I was in love with him, but I wasn't. It was sisterly and all I wanted to do was protecting him and be his friend like Ellone, but I never managed to heal that wound. I just built up a great understanding of Squall, until I knew almost his every move Quistis arose from the hard chair she had been sitting on and the table she had been laying on and stretched her aching back.
"Morin'" Zell entered the room, followed by Irvine, Laguna, Kiros and Ward.
"Oh! You're here!" she exclaimed looking at the people she had once been inside the heads of. Kiros and Ward nodded.
Ward looked at Laguna who smiled at his friend and wiped a tear from his eye. "Yes, this will be our final battle together," he said emotionally.
"You sound as if you're going to die," Zell said. Kiros couldn't help but laugh and Ward shook slightly with his silent laughter.
"We may die, but our friendship won't," Kiros said. Quistis, Zell and Irvine felt an emotion rise full in their chest. Love never dies and nor will friendship.
"So, have SeeD arrived yet?" Irvine asked. Laguna nodded.
"So, Quistis, when do we make our move?" Zell said, all eyes turned to the blonde woman.
"Not yet, when SeeD has put up a strong defense, then we will make our move," Quistis said. "The operation will not be classified as a SeeD mission this is our private one and if any of the other officials, Xu for instance wants to interfere...we aren't going to listen," Zell and Irvine looked amused, Quistis normally liked to keep to the rules and guide lines of SeeD.
"Doesn't Xu know about your plan to bust into the west side?" Laguna asked. A mischievous smile passed over the blonde woman's face.
"No, Xu wouldn't approve of this, I am sure," she replied, her cheeks flushing slightly.
"Cool, so we forget Garden, don't follow orders and bust in across the west side border of Dollet?" Zell asked, he wanted to be sure he was hearing things correctly.
Quistis felt the excitement grow. It was a new adventure. Danger was nothing for them, they had faced it all before, from fighting sorceresses, from the ugly Adel to the most evil Ultimecia, who had even tried to use time compression to achieve her wicked goal. Quistis felt her heartbeat grow in her temple, it felt ready to explode, this was a different danger, this involved Squall and he was alone. Maybe two years ago, when they hadn't been so close the worry may not have extended beyond general comradeship and care for other members of Garden or the people who held them in contract. Now it was different, they were all extremely close friends, they all loved each other; they loved Squall and they couldn't lose him. He was Rinoa's one true love, Quistis couldn't bear now to think about how she would feel, if they returned from Dollet, baring Squalls wooden coffin.
