IV
"And what are we doing? While our enemies are plotting, laying their traps, what are we doing?"
--Vinzer Deling, remark during the Sorceress War

The light streamed in through the open hatch, illuminating the pentagonal room. Dyne had furnished it well, with the customary black-and-silver prominently displayed. Obsidian cobras reared in each of the five corners, facing inwards to the silver-gilt serpent attatched to the floor. Black silk cushions were scattered about, and a pair of silver tables stood one to either side of the door. Outside the door Squall could see the burly guard there, though it was plain no guard was needed. The jacket he wore wouldn't permit him to do anything Dyne didn't like.

Squall had been testing the limits the jacket set, and it was clear that he wouldn't be able to get away with anything with it. He could examine the jacket as much as he wanted, even to the point of figuring out the eleaborate hooks that kept it closed, but the moment he tried to take it off his muscles would freeze, not letting him do anything until he gave up. He could question the guard, (he found out that the guards had a different form of jacket, one that required them to follow all orders he or Dyne might give them but do nothing beyond that unless it was a direct mandate from the force controlling the jackets themselves--a force they refused to speak of) but as soon as he tried to order them to take off his or their jacket his throat closed and he couldn't talk.

In short, Dyne was playing a huge joke on him. He was letting him get maddeningly close to freedom--then laughing in his face.

So Squall only stood, staring out that hatch at the water and the three black ships that were visible. They were all the small, three-hulled ships that the guard had identified as skimmers--landing craft and scouts. He had not been allowed to explore the craft he was in, but had learned it was a one-of-a-kind submersible, almost a third as large as Balamb Garden and carrying almost a half of the remaining army. The guard had refered to it as the floating city, and Squall could tell why. Any ship comprable to a third of the Garden's size would be like a floating city--and probably incredibly powerful when it came to battle.

There was a noise from the door, and the jacket made Squall turn around. Dyne stepped in, motioning away the guard, and sat gracefully down on one of the cushions. "I hope you enjoy the view," he said. "We'll be reaching Fisherman's Horizon in about fourty minutes."

Fisherman's Horizon? Squall thought, remembering the odd gravity-elemental coral reef there. I would think he would have all the power he needed from the Crystal Pillar.

"Once we are there we will begin relocating the natives onto the skimmers you see alongside. We will be taking control of FH, and we don't need any prisoners to worry about." Dyne leaned back, weird blue-green eyes staring at Squall. So. Tell me what you're thinking." His tone clearly said it was an order, not a question, and the jacket interpreted it as one. Squall managed to avoid answering for several seconds before the jacket overpowered him.

"...why?"

Dyne laughed. "It should be obvious. That city is the most strategically placed in the globe. With it as one of our three main bases, we would be able to launch an attack on any country on the face of the planet."

"...three?"

"Yes." Dyne stood, moving sinuously over to Squall to stare him in the eyes. Squall thought he saw a flash of something there--maybe fear?--but wasn't quite sure. Dyne's voice lowered. "You are no doubt wondering why I am telling you this. The jacket you wear binds you to my service completely, know that. The fact that I have left your mind free could change any moment I feel you are a threat."

...no doubt... Squall thought.

A hint of the old arrogance began to filter back into his voice. "Because I know you cannot turn against me, you will be taking control of Fisherman's Horizon once we clear the natives out. Though my partner and I will be residing here as well, we will be controlling the Islands Closest to Heaven and Hell, respectively."

Partner?

"You will meet my partner once we are done with the evacuation. Once this happens, we will begin setting up the FH defences and securing the Horizon Railroad. You will oversee the construction of new ships and secure the Horizon Bridge, while my partner and I concern ourselves with building up the ranks you decimated so easily."

Dyne turned to leave, then stopped. Whirling around, he struck Squall in the face. The jacket held him motionless as he fell to the floor, and Dyne put a foot on his chest and began shifting his weight onto it. Just before Squall's ribs cracked, Dyne stopped, staring at Squall with the strangest mix of fear, arrogance and anger Squall had ever seen.

"I control you, Squall Leonhart," he said, scorn dripping so heavily from his voice that Squall was mildly surprised there weren't puddles of it on the floor. "I could make you regret everything you have ever done to me. You will cooperate with me fully, because you have no other choice. You will not raise a single hand against me, because I will not let you. And if you persist in defying me, you will die very... very... slowly."

Dyne stepped back, turned, and exited.

"Heeeey!" Selphie waved at the small party coming from Trabia Garden, jumping up and down excitedly. "Jessieee!"

"Selphie?" came a voice, wafting over the still air. The other team broke into a run, and within moments they came to a stop beside Zell, Selphie and Irvine. The light-blue Trabia Cadet's uniforms blended in with the icy landscape better than Zell would have guessed.

"Selphie!" Jessie said, jumping into the air.

God, there's two of them, Irvine thought with a smile.

"What are you doing here?" Jessie asked, patting her friend on the back.

"We just wanted to see if there's anything going on up here," Selphie said. "Like an army or something."

"An army? Up here?" Jessie laughed. "We don't even rate a SeeD academy. What makes you think there'd be an army?"

"Weirder things have happened," Irvine said. Then, pretending to remember his manners, he smiled in what he hoped was a charming manner. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Irvine Kinneas, a sharpshooter formerly of Galbadia Garden, and presently of Balamb Garden." Extending a hand, he smiled warmly when Jessie shook it.

"I'm Zell," Zell said, wiping off a glove and holding it out. Either Jessie didn't see him or was ignoring him, because she turned back to Selphie and started talking. Selphie managed to explain their situation in her typical manner: unconcerned, offhand. Zell exhaled loudly, turned away, and started shadow-boxing.

"Well, since you're here for three days, you should come back to Trabia Garden," Jessie said. "We've almost gotten it all fixed up--and mobile, too!"

"Ooh! Really?" Selphie jumped again. "Hurry up and show us!"

Jessie started off at a walk, talking with Selphie. Irvine pulled Zell along, not bothering to try and talk to the two other students on patrol.

Gradually Trabia Garden came into view, the beige walls with their elaborate blue design blending into the blue-grey peaks of the mountains in the background. "Welcome to the Trabia-Bika Snowfield," one of the cadets said. "There isn't much to see, but it's home."

Zell took a critical look at the Garden. Though nowhere near as impressive as Balamb Garden, and far less imposing than Galbadia Garden, it was nevertheless awing to see it: since the last time he had been there they had managed to get most of the visible parts completely fixed, and had even unearthed some of the underground parts. The broken ring was gone, and in its place was a fair amount of machinery that emitted a silver-blue, pulsing light like the one in the core of the Galbadian Mobile Research Facility.

"See?" Jessie asked. "We went through reams of blueprints we found, and figured out how to make the place fly! I wonder if all Gardens can?"

Seems like, Zell thought. There were, after all, only the three.

"So does this mean we're stuck up here for three days?" Zell asked Irvine. Irvine shrugged.

"Probably." With a look at Jessie, he added "Can't say I'm complaining, though."

"Yggh," Zell said, making a face.

The cadets issued them through an entryway cut out of the metal wall, into the wide courtyards. A huge granite gargoyle stood in the center, amid a frozen pool of water. Beyond the courtyard the main building stood, with so much scaffolding it looked like a skeleton.

"We'll put you in the guest quarters," Jessie said. "Maybe later you can help out with the test flight!"

Yay, Zell thought. "Well, we're here for three days. I guess we should help out if we can."

"Great!" Jessie said. "Let's get to work!"

"That's the last of them, sir--s?"

Dyne turned to Squall, ignoring the guard. "Shall we go ashore?" he asked, smiling. Turning back to someone behind him, he said "Send them to Galbadia. Start carting the artillery up, and order three-mile patrols along the bridge. Meanwhile, make sure no one sets foot on the dish. It shall hold the residences of my leiutenant here--" he patted Squall's shoulder, smiling even more widely as Squall tried to frown, "--Naja and I."

The guard paled. "Yes, sir," he said. "I'll make sure no one disturbs you."

Dyne turned to Squall. "I'm sure it won't be neccessary. Come along," he ordered. Squall followed sullenly. Stepping onto the metal deck of the city, Squall noticed that armored men were already dragging artillary out of the ships. Another group of men, armorless but not jacketless, were issuing orders to armored men on skimmers. Dyne moved off towards the solar dish, beckoning for Squall to follow.

As they reached the dish, Squall noticed that the mayor's house looked particularly ransacked. Dyne tsked and shook his head, drumming a hand against his thigh.

"Stupid soldiers. Can't do anything without collateral damage. They can't tell me that the old little mayor put up a fight."

"Even a sssstupid dog would ressisssst you, Dyne," hissed a voice from somewhere. Squall whirled around to see a huge, black cobra sliding towards him, scaly hood extended. Dyne turned around, smiled, and extended both arms as the thing reared up to display the silver-gold markings on the inside of the hood, and the ember-red eyes glaring at him.

"Naja, meet my new Lieutenant, Squall Leonhart," Dyne said. "Squall, meet Naja, the forsaken GF. We have worked together for years now."

"You give yourssself more credit than you dessserve," Naja hissed. "Jusssst give me a chance, Dyne. You will find yourself dead the next day."

"That is... not likely," Dyne said darkly. "Well, Naja, I believe that you will be teaching Squall the ropes and the rules around here. I shall be off to see to other concerns."

With an elaborate bow, Dyne disappeared. Naja slid over to Squall, looking him over.

"Human child," Naja hissed. "You have no idea what you've gotten into, do you?"

...not really...

Naja stared at him, eyes biting deep into Squall's mind. "Lisssten, human child, and lissssten well. I will explain." The cobra drew back a bit, eyes unfocusing. "Yearssss ago," he began softly, "I lived well in what you called the Kashkabald Desert. A good life... interrupted most cruelly. Dyne found me, and, with the help of three other friendssss, defeated me. Sssssince then, all three others have died off... all killed by Dyne himssself. He became my massster, and with my help wasss able to build--thisss!"

Naja reared up, hissing. Squall took a step back, but the jacket prevented him from leaving. "Stand still, human child," Naja said, hissing accent gone. Now, a mix of resignation and irritation flavored the GF's voice. "I'm not going to hurt you unless Dyne forces me to. Now, listen: the army here is under Dyne's command for one reason: the jackets they all wear force them to obey him. And, since Dyne cannot possibly concentrate enough to control an army of that magnitude, I control the jackets. So, you see? The jackets control the men, I control the jackets, and Dyne controls me."

...efficient, Squall thought. This is not good.

Naja laughed, a dry, hissing sound. Squall had the unpleasant feeling that the GF was listening in on his thoughts. "You think correctly, human child," Naja said, confirming his suspicions. "It is no secret that I loath my master. The troops know it, Dyne knows it, and is scared of it. Thus he tightens his control over me--and reassures himself. For a time, I am unable even to think without his permission, then he relaxes and I... am almost free. Almost. After a few days he becomes scared again." A hissing laugh emanated from the thing's mouth. "Damnfool human. You could sssset your watch by him. Thussss, I will make a deal with you: if ever there is a chance, I shall do my best to loosen the control of your jacket. At that time, you will either kill me--or him. Underssssstand?"

"You want me to kill you?" Squall asked, surprised. Naja thrust his huge head into Squall's, almost knocking him over.

"This is no life," he murmured. "If you were as I am now... you would ask the same thing."

I doubt it, Squall thought. As long as you're alive, you can still fight--

A heavy blow to his ribs knocked him to the ground, and Squall looked up to see Naja's tail raising again. "Fool human!" the snake spat. "As long as you wear that jacket, you will cooperate with Dyne fully! Fully! You will not resist, because if you do, the day that Dyne ever turns his back on you or me will never come! Yessss..." the hiss began to creep into his voice again. "You will cooperate, and Dyne will not sssuspect. When he trusssts you, I shall loossssen my control asssss well asssss I am able. Yessss... you will kill him." The baleful eyes regarded him for a bit more, then the huge GF turned and slithered away silently.

Standing, Squall turned to see Dyne coming down the ramp, talking intensely with someone else. The second man nodded and moved off as Dyne stepped down in front of Squall, smiling.

"So, are you ready to take charge of the boat-building?" he asked.

Squall nodded, wondering if Dyne was really overconfident enough not to suspect.

"Good!" Dyne smiled even wider. "I can see that the little chat with Naja has taught you resistance is useless. Nevertheless, you were one of my more stubborn ones. The last Lieutenant I had folded as soon as we got the jacket on him."

Dyne laughed, turning to the mayor's house. He's overconfident, Squall noted. Trusts his control over Naja so much that he can't see a way his pet could turn against him. That is either very good or very bad.

There were two possibilities Squall could see: that Dyne was too confident and would make a fatal mistake sometime--or that he wasn't overconfident, and the trust he showed was founded. As far as Squall knew, he wouldn't be able to lift a finger against Dyne even if Naja did help.

No worrying about that now, Squall thought sternly at himself. For now, see what you can learn about him, and about this operation. We'll have enough problems soon enough.

Laguna sprinted down the walkway towards the low, geodesic dome that stood framed by the Trabia bluffs and the white snow. The pathway was kept clean and iceless by the long tubes on either side, which misted some sort of advanced antifreeze onto the walkway at regular intervals.

The huge doors slid open and Laguna stepped in, rubbing his hands together. "Whew!" he said, looking around. "Colder than I remembered."

Seifer, Edea and Rinoa stepped in after him, looking around. "Aren't there supposed to be... people here?" Rinoa asked, noting how empty the room was.

"They're probably all just down in the village," Laguna said confidantly. "Let's get on the elevator."

"Okay," Rinoa agreed.

Stepping into the big, six-seated elevator, Laguna grinned as the recorded message chimed in: /Please have a seat./ "Just like I remember," he said.

The door closed as everyone sat down, and the window in the back of the elevator showed that they were moving. Gradually the lights changed shape and color, and the elevator stopped. /Please exit through the door/ the synthesized voice said.

Where else would we exit through, the ceiling? Or maybe the window?Seifer wondered. The door slid open, and Laguna ran through enthusiastically. "Huh, that's odd," he said as he stepped into the regulated air of the Shumi mining village. "There's no one here to meet us...?"

"Maybe they're in the hotel?" Rinoa asked. Laguna scratched his head.

"Must be," he said. Moving over, the door slid open automatically. Laguna walked over to the desk and peered over, expecting to see the short little Shumi hotel manager. There was no one there. "Hello?" he called, walking to the back room. No one.

"Perhaps they're in another part of town?" Edea suggested.

"This isn't right, man," Laguna said, looking worried. "There should be someone here." Turning to Rinoa, he shrugged. "You know this place too, right? Why don't you check the workshop, while I check out the Elder's house?"

"Okay," Rinoa said. Seifer, without waiting for instructions, followed Rinoa.

Walking past the oddly designed buildings, Seifer couldn't tell what was so wrong. For the first time he had been into a Shumi village, it looked fine to him. Maybe the occupants were just sleeping, or hibernating, or doing some weird alien thing.

Rinoa moved through the city quickly, arriving at Sculptor's workshop before Laguna had gone to the Elder's house. Throwing open the door, Rinoa stepped inside.

"There's no one in here either," she said with a hint of worry flavoring her tone. "I wonder what's happened?"

Seifer stepped in and looked around, looking for signs of a struggle or an invasion. There weren't any.

"Looks like they just packed up and left," he said.

"But why would they do that if they were expecting us?" Rinoa countered. "Maybe they were all captured...?"

"Doesn't look like it," Seifer said. "There would be more stuff just left... undone. The city wouldn't be as neat. It wouldn't look like they knew they had to leave."

Rinoa walked to one of the tables, looking at the carefully stacked tools and rocks. "I guess you're right," she said. "But..."

"Let's find Laguna," Seifer said. "Maybe he'll know something.

Laguna met them on their way to the elder's house, shaking his head. "This isn't right, man," he said. "I can't find anyone."

Don't tell me this is some kind of freakish ghost city, Seifer thought. "Where could they all have gone?" Edea asked.

"Winter Island doesn't have that much on it," Laguna said. "It's either this or the Chocobo Forest."

"Sure, the entire population of the village went to catch chocobos," Seifer said scornfully.

"No, really, guys," Laguna started. "This isn't right."

"I think we can tell," Seifer retorted. "What do you want to do about it?"

"We should meet up with Zell at Trabia Garden," Rinoa suggested. "We could get there by Chocobo."

"Sounds good," Laguna said, scratching his head. "Let's go, then."