Echoes of Time
Chapter 3:The Sorceress Speaks
By Sephiroth 4000
Seifer Almasy was a happy, happy man. Not only was he rid of Squall Leonhart, who had been sent off to Galbadia Garden like a messenger boy, he was also the leader of his first mission, which would involve seeing and protecting his Princess. Yes, Seifer was very happy.
If only he could get rid of that slight headache he'd had since they had all collapsed at the train station. . .
He nodded at Watts. No careful coded phrases were needed; all of the Timber Owls knew him from sight, from his last acquaintance with them last summer. They were led onto the train, Zell shooting him murderous looks from more teasing on the train, while his posse and Selphie Tilmitt's faces were utterly unreadable. Who knew what they felt? He certainly didn't care. All he could feel was the heady rush of exhilaration and adrenaline. He couldn't wait to see Rinoa again.
Zone greeted him with relative friendliness, though a bit cooler then usual for him. Truth be told, Zone thought Seifer was an ass, but Rinoa liked, maybe even loved him, and people Rinoa liked, Rinoa defended to the death.
It was one of the perks of being good friends with her. God knew, he thought affectionately, there were enough downsides. They hadn't given her the nickname "Princess" for nothing. Still, for a girl from a stuck up rich Galbadian family, she was pretty decent.
In answer to Seifer's inquiry of Rinoa's whereabouts, he grinned, and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "The Princess was late getting home last night. She's taking a nap in the last room. Wake her up will you?"
Seifer grinned back, though he resented being sent over like an errand boy. He was a SeeD now after all. But the thought of surprising Rinoa like that. . .she would probably think she was dreaming at first.
Alas, even as he entered, the train shuddered to an ungainly halt, waking her. She blinked sleepily at him, half sitting up, and rubbed her eyes. "Seifer. . .?" she said slowly.
"Hi Princess." He grinned and opened his arms.
"SEIFER!" she exclaimed, and flung herself into his arms. He whirled her around before settling her gently to her feet. She gazed at him with frank wonder, and then began to laugh. "I can't believe you came so quickly! I thought it would be at least a week before you got here. . ."
He shrugged at that. "Zone and Watts said that it was time that we were briefed in on the mission. I just came to wake you up."
She linked her arm through his companionably. "Right. Let's go." There was a light in her dark eyes, and a set in her shoulders that bespoke determination.
The pseudo Presidents' eyes began to glow, and it swayed impossibly. Seifer knew what that meant; the construct was going to self-destruct, and try to take them with it. Shit.
The mission had gone off well at first, but he should have known that something would go wrong. The way the Owls had just plopped down together, and hadn't even asked them for input had spoke of inexperience. Dammit, Seifer should have intervened, but hadn't thought of it. He was a SeeD, and SeeDs followed their client's orders. It must have been the intelligence, because their plan, although risky, had worked. It was only that the Galbadian Government had taken the resistance factions into account. . .
"Retreat!" he yelled, as he grabbed Rinoa and hauled ass to the exit. The train was still moving, but he didn't care, even as pushed the alarm button by the door. The door slid open abruptly, and he dived out rolling around and around, doing his best to protect Rinoa from the bumps. Thank god she wasn't the type to scream her lungs out when frightened.
Several more thuds sounded, and small showers of gravel heralded the escape of others. Mere seconds later, even as the train continued, there was a deafening explosion, and the backwash of heat and debris rolled over them all.
"Our base. . .it's gone." A quiet, frightened, almost awed exhalation from Zone, their so-called leader. Maybe Zone and Watts fathers had had some grit to them, but those two seemed soft to Seifer. They hadn't even gone on the mission, but had let their "Princess" go. Disgusting.
Seifer shook his head. "Accept it." His voice was hard. "The thing to think about now, is what to do. Where do we go from here? After all, all of us," a sweep of his hand to his fellow SeeDs, "are contracted to you until 'the independence of Timber.'"
He had had no idea that the contract old Cid had drawn up would include something like that. How were five people supposed to free Timber when countless resistance groups had failed? Even if they were SeeDs, and with all the training that guaranteed. They were still only a group of five.
Rinoa struggled up, and brushed the dirt off her clothes, and out of her hair. "We won't be able to go to Timber for a while," she said absently. "Seifer. I think you'd better take us somewhere safe until all the ruckus dies down."
Zone shook his head. "Look, maybe you should go with them Rinoa. But me and Watts had better go back into Timber, and reassure all out contacts that we're still alive. And set up another base. Stay in touch."
Rinoa watched them go, her distress evident, but did not stop them.
Seifer shook his head in slight disbelief, but let it go. "Right,' he began authoritatively. "In cases of emergency, SeeDs should head to the nearest Garden, and no, Raijin I don't remember what article that is, or what number. And I don't want to know. The nearest Garden is Galbadia. That should be safe for enough for us. Rinoa, you had best pretend to be another SeeD. Less questions that way, and then they won't inquire about you, or try to hand you over to the Galbadian Government. We'll stay there until Zone or Watts contacts us. Any questions?"
They all shook their heads. Seifer felt a moment of gratification, for they all looked relieved that someone had known what to do, even Chicken-Wuss. Yes, he was a good leader now, and could forget that mess in Dollet. . .for a little while.
They had been at Galbadia Garden for a week now. Classes seemed to be different here: Squall had attended a few out of curiosity of how the respective Gardens worked. Instead of classroom discussion and teaching, here an Instructor would just talk and talk while all the cadets took reams of notes. Odd; although this way seemed more efficient, Squall liked Balamb Garden's way better. Here, the student's only learned exactly what they needed, nothing less, but nothing more either.
He was bored out of his mind. He had no idea what most SeeDs did in their spare time, but since he got here, he had mostly been training, because there was simply nothing else to do. He hadn't realized classes had taken up so much of his time, even in his last year as a cadet. And now. . .Hyne he was bored.
He had even resorted to watching TV, not that there was anything that interested him. All he was doing was flicking through them one by one. . .around and around. Quistis had gone out; although he hated boredom, it was better then hearing her probing questions. Why the hell was she always so interested in what he felt and thought? Part of Garden's training was to learn to distance yourself from emotions; often they hampered in battle. And yet, here was Instructor Trepe constantly asking him how he felt. He would never ever understand why.
Abruptly, all the channels fuzzed out, with a loud crackle. Letting out a curse, Squall straightened out of his slump, even as a fat portly man in a tan suit gave a squeak of excitement from behind a podium on the TV screen.
"Oh my. . .Is it really working? Oh! Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in seventeen years, we have a live broadcast! Yes, this is a live broadcast, not a recording! And now, please welcome President Vinzer Deling of Galbadia!"
The national anthem of Galbadia blared on, jarringly loud, even as the President stepped up to speak. His smile was hearty, but the cold calculation in his eyes showed through even on camera. Squall listened in disbelief at the absolute drivel the man was spouting, about "goodwill to all nations," even though everyone had been shocked by the recent, sudden savage invasion of Dollet. He continued on in much the same sentimental vein, finally summarizing, and then ended. "And now," he said, gesturing grandiosely, "I would like to introduce my ambassador to the world. . .the Sorceress Edea!"
Squall leaned forward, his eyes intent on the small TV screen, even as a stunningly beautiful woman gracefully inclined her head to Vinzer Deling, before speaking to the world. Squall ignored her words, which seemed to be much in the same vein as the President's, and carefully dissected her with his eyes, finally arriving at the conclusion that she was from no country that he knew of. The way she dressed, her elaborate eye make-up. . .Even the colour of her skin and the possible colour of her hair (dark, from her eyebrows; they rest had been hidden by some sort of head dress), she could have come from anywhere. There was also a peculiar agelessness about her. . .he revised his earlier opinion. Although she was beautiful, it was in a kind of repulsive way, much like the way an insect or an oil slick can be beautiful. But behind that, she seemed strangely familiar to him.
His studies had covered all the countries of the world, with one exception; Esthar. Esthar had completely shut itself away from the world seventeen years ago, right after the end of the third Sorceress War. And this "ambassador" had been introduced as a Sorceress. If Galbadia had managed to ally themselves with Esthar, a country that had been remarkably well advanced in technology seventeen years ago, they were all in trouble. He hated to see what level of technology the Silent Country was at now. Interesting times to live in. With the smell and threat of war around, SeeD should be even more in demand.
The broadcast ended, and he switched the television off thoughtfully, even as Quistis entered. She seemed somewhat worked up. "Squall," she said shortly. "Principal Martin has called us in at last. However, I also saw Seifer and his group just come in. They have also been summoned."
Squall shrugged. "We'd better report." Speculating would do nothing at the moment, especially since they could just go and find out right now.
"A moment please," the head of Galbadia Garden said. "At ease."
The five from Balamb relaxed immediately, and Seifer watched with some amusement as Rinoa hastily copied. She had been just a second slower then the rest in standing at attention, and saluting, but was bearing up well.
Strict training forced him not to look around when the door slid open and shut behind him. However, he did flinch when a familiar expressionless voice said directly behind him, "Here as commanded, Sir."
Seifer watched in disbelief as Squall and Instructor Trepe circled around his group, and saluted crisply to the Principal. Martin nodded in return.
"You are all from Balamb Garden?"
"Correct, sir." Squall and Seifer answered at the same time.
"Here are your orders. I believe that you," he pointed at Squall, "have been ordered leader by Headmaster Kramer himself. This is a very special mission." Principal Martin eyed them all, even as he handed over the orders to their leader. Squall was their leader. Seifer couldn't believe it; it was like a slap in the face from Cid. Had the Headmaster known that their mission in Timber would fail? Had he thought that Seifer would fail?
"Sir."
Seifer was startled by his rival's disconcertingly calm voice. Had Squall known. . .
"This mission requires a sniper. Presently there is no one here with that skill."
"Yes. A sniper by the name of Irvine Kinneas will join you. He is waiting by the front gate."
"Sir."
"Anymore questions?" The Principal's eyes were icy, and he was impatiently drumming his fingers on his desk.
"No sir."
"Dismissed."
Once they were outside, Selphie who looked like she was bursting with curiousity, exclaimed. "Squall! What are you doing here! And what's our mission?"
At the same time, Rinoa, who had finally gotten a clear look at Squall's face; and his scar, also exclaimed, "You! You're the boy from the dance!"
Dead silence greeted her words, even as Squall blandly scrutinized her smiling face, before turning to address Seifer. "She's not a SeeD, Seifer. What are you doing passing her off as one?"
Seifer shrugged lazily, and slung a casual, proprietary arm around Rinoa.. "Protecting a client. . .you know how it works Squall. I'm held to protect my client through whatever means possible."
Squall eyed him dubiously. "Sure. But brining her to this mission won't be the best way to 'protect' her, Seifer."
"Excuse me!" Selphie burst out loudly. "I'd kinda like to know what our mission is!"
"So would I," Rinoa said, shrugging Seifer's arm off.
Squall quelled both girls with a look. "It's probably best if we meet this sharpshooter first. That way, if he doesn't know this missions details I can inform him at the same time."
Without another word, he turned, and headed for the front gate. After a moments incredulous silence, the rest of the group followed.
"Seifer's really steamed," Zell whispered to Selphie. With Seifer taken up with Rinoa (not that he wanted to talk to Seifer) and Raijin and Fujin keeping to themselves, he had been thrown into Selphie's company a lot. He was comfortable working with her, but was a little amazed by her constant cheerfulness.
Selphie looked at him, then giggled quietly. "I'll say. Not leader AND the leader is his arch-rival. And in front of Rinoa too."
Zell grinned, then his smile faltered. "Squall seems. . .well, Squall."
"You can say that again. I don't think anything throws him out of step. He'll always be the same, and react the same too."
"Yup."
"Now what's a pretty bunch of ladies doing with these boys?"
Selphie's gaze snapped up. It appeared that they had found their sniper.
"Our mission," Squall stopped, dreading the inevitable outcry there would be when he told them. "Right. Recently President Vinzer Deling appointed an ambassador, the Sorceress Edea. The heads of Garden conferred, and they believe the Sorceress will pressure the other leaders of the world, the ones that aren't already under Galbadia's thumb. Our mission," he paused again, despite the others annoyed looks, "Is to assassinate the Sorceress."
Gasps all around, and immediate protests. He held up a hand for silence, and they subsided quickly. Thank god for their training. "We will divide into groups of three. In a week, Deling is holding a parade for Edea in his city. We will attack then. Group A will trap the Sorceress' float between two gates. Group B will be with Irvine, and make sure nothing threatens him directly. Group C will be stationed near the gates, and attack the Sorceress directly, if the shot somehow fails."
Irvine smirked. "Trust me, there won't be any need. I won't miss."
Squall glanced at him coldly. "I'll be with Group C. I trust you'll want to be with your posse?" he asked Seifer.
Seifer shook his head, smirking at his erst-while rival. "No way Squall. I'll be with you and make sure you don't mess up. And of course, Miss Heartilly will come with me?"
"Sure."
"This isn't a game," Squall snapped. "She's a civilian."
"Aw, is Squall worried he won't be able to protect her? Don't worry; I'll protect her."
"I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself," Rinoa said tartly. "I may not be in the same caliber as you all, but I can avoid getting hurt."
Squall shrugged, but seemed displeased, much to Seifer's pleasure.
Irvine drawled from behind them all, "I think I'll take these two lovely ladies." He pointed rakishly at Quistis and Selphie. Both looked astonished.
Squall shrugged again. "Fine. Have a good time. . ."
For some reason Squall couldn't fathom both girls gaped at him, then glared and sniffed.
"Fine!" Selphie said in a low tight voice. "We will have a good time. C'mon Irvy."
Irvine looked surprised, but didn't skip a beat, and wrapped an arm around each girl. "Let's go," he said, grinning widely.
Author's Note: Sorry I took such a long long time to update. I know it's dragging a little bit, but I just need to get past these first stages before the storyline really starts to diverge from FF8's. Please bear with me, and don't give up! Arigato. And thanks for all your lovely reviews, you all say such nice things to me.