Yadadada: I don't own FF8. So please don't sue me. I do own my story and characters though.
Chapter Six
In Harm's Way.
"Unidentified Aircraft, this is Esther Airstation, do you copy?"
"I copy you Esther. This is the Ragnarok. I'm trying to reach President Laguna Loire. Can you patch me through? Tell him this is Squall Leonhart from Balamb Garden."
"Copy that Ragnarok, please standby for confirmation of landing clearance."
Squall leaned back in the pilot's chair and stared out through the front view screen. The view outside still took his breath away no matter how many times he saw it. Esther was known as the most technologically advanced city in the world. And it also the largest. Which was why Squall could never figure out how his father had ended up in charge.
'He did help overthrow and capture Adel. He apparently earned their respect.'
'Yeah, but why him? Why not Kiros or even Ward? Oh well it isn't my problem who they want to have running the show over there.'
'Speaking of your father, what are your plans?'
'I'm not entirely sure myself Bahamut. I was kinda hoping that Ellone could send me back into Rinoa and I could find a clue as to where she is being held? After that I just don't know?'
'What about Garden? They will undoubtedly send people after you.'
'I guess we'll just have to cross that bridge when we get to it.'
"Ragnarok, we have the President on line for you. You can go ahead whenever you are ready."
"Thank you, Airstation." Squall paused until he heard a click followed by the familiar voice of Laguna Loire filter through the speaker.
"Squall, my boy, is that you? How are you? Is Rinoa with you? I wasn't aware you were coming. And Kiros here tells me that I didn't forget either. Which by the way that last time was a complete accident I assure you." Squall not feeling like listening to his father ramble on for fifteen minutes quickly jumped in when Laguna paused for breath.
"Listen Laguna I need to talk to you and Sis but it wouldn't be safe to talk over the airwaves. Can you get me permission to land so that we can talk?"
"Still won't call me Dad will you? Oh well, of course you can land. I'll have Kiros inform them immediately. And I can even send someone out to get you and bring you back to the palace so that you don't have to walk." Laguna paused for a second and Squall could faintly hear him talking to Kiros in the background. Once he came back on he informed Squall that he could begin the landing and that he would see him in half an hour. After they said their good-byes and signed off, Squall brought the Ragnarok around towards the Airstation and dropped altitude until he was over the landing pad. Once there he dropped the ship down onto the field with only a slight bounce and then shut down all of the engines. As soon as everything was locked down he stood up and grabbed his Gunblade off of the copilot's seat and headed for the exit.
As he approached the ramp he made a quick check that he was fully Junctioned in case of any monsters still lurking in the city. Then as an afterthought he went ahead and had Diablo's use his ability to make Squall invisible to monsters. He decided he really didn't feel like fighting some random monster.
As soon as the ramp was back in it's locked position he set out towards the road where he could already see Kiros waiting next to a parked car.
Kiros saw him and motioned the driver to start the car. He then walked up to Squall and stuck his hand out in greeting. "Squall good to see you again! Laguna is very excited about the visit. In fact he was running around his office thinking of things the two of you could do while you're here."
"I hate to disappoint him," Squall stated sarcastically, "but I only came to see if Ellone could use her powers to help me find Rinoa."
Kiros began to ask what had happened but Squall raised a hand to stop him. "Let's wait until everyone is together so that I don't have to go over it repeatedly."
"Of course. Well shall we go then?"
"Yeah let's get this over with."
{-----------------------------------------------------------------------------}
"So as you can see I came here after leaving Garden and was hoping that you could help me." Everyone was sitting around Laguna's office listening as Squall finished filling them in on what had happened in the last forty-eight hours.
Ellone sat silently for a moment before standing and walking across the room to stand beside Laguna, who was pacing back and forth behind his desk. She then put and arm on his shoulder to stop him. Which was a major relief to everyone else present. She then turned back to Squall with a look of concern plain on her face. "I can try to send you back as close as possible. I need you to lay down on the couch and I want everyone else to stay quiet so that I can concentrate."
Seeing that everyone understood she walked back over to Squall and motioned for him to lay down. As soon as he did she turned back to Laguna, Kiros and Ward to make sure they were ready. Getting nod from all of them she began.
Squall waited silently as she closed her eyes and swayed silently. Within seconds he began to hear a ringing in his ears and the room started to darken until it faded away completely.
OK Squall I'm going to begin now.
I'm ready whenever you are Sis.
Then slowly at first but quickly speeding up Squall started to notice sounds which were followed immediately by images.
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dreamscape~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
Rinoa settled into her cabin as the train began it's descent into the underwater tunnel towards Timber. Opening the small carry on bag she had brought with her, she pulled out the Timber Maniacs magazine she had borrowed from Squall and began to read.
'Rinoa, someone is coming towards the door.'
Squall watched through Rinoa's eyes as she glanced up towards the door.
'What? Oh thank you Shiva.'
KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!
"Just a second!" Rinoa yelled as she stood up and walked towards the door. She could hear talking coming from the other side of the door and figured it was a steward checking to see if she wanted anything.
He watched as she walked forward and grabbed the door handle. In the past he might have yelled a warning but now he knew it would do no good. So he simply watched with dread as she began to open the door.
She pulled the door open to see who was there. Just as she did she heard a mental shout of warning.
Unfortunately, Shiva's warning was a second too late. The last thing Rinoa saw was the butt of a Rifle connecting with her face.
Squall concentrated on those last few seconds and as he did a glint of light reflected off of the attackers chest. He stared harder and saw that it was a medallion of sorts with the picture of a beautiful women on it. Then the image disappeared as Rinoa slipped into unconsciousness.
Then blackness….
|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dreamscape End~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
Squall jerked awake and sat up so fast he almost fell off of the couch he was sitting on. He heard a yelp as Laguna, who had been kneeling over him jumped back in fright. Remembering where he was at he looked around and noticed Ellone standing silently nearby.
She looked at him and saw that he was fully awake. "Did it help any? I couldn't connect you to any time since then. It's almost as if she is drugged because all I get are random thoughts or memory fragments."
Squall nodded slightly and then went on to describe the medallion he had seen on the attacker. "Other than that medallion I couldn't figure anything out." Cursing softly he stood up from the couch and crossed over to the large window behind Laguna's desk. The medallion might be a clue but if it was than Squall had no idea how to use it.
Laguna stepped up next to him and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Listen, you sound like you've had a rough time so why don't you stay here tonight and get some rest. First thing tomorrow we can sit down and figure out where to go from here. How's that sound?"
Squall was about to decline when he thought about the fact that there really wasn't anything else he could do that night. And he had to admit to himself that he did need to rest. Other than when he had been unconscious the previous night he hadn't really slept for several days.
"Yeah if it isn't to much trouble I think I'll stay."
{---------------------------------------------------------------------------------}
Squall had to admit that the bed was comfortable. But he couldn't seem to fall asleep. Looking at the clock next to him he noticed that it was getting close to midnight. Giving up on sleep he rolled out of bed and grunted slightly as he bumped his sore shoulder. He rose and threw on a pair of pant and a black T-shirt that he had grabbed from the Ragnarok and made his way out into the Living Room. He was startled when he realized that someone else was in the room with him. He was just about to dive back into his room where he had left his Gunblade when he heard a polite cough.
"Squall, it's just me Laguna."
"Oh what are you doing up?" he asked, "Or do you always sit around at night trying to scare your guests."
"Actually, I'm a light sleeper and I just came out here to get a glass of water." He replied.
Squall walked over and sat down across the table from him, taking the proffered glass that was handed to him. Taking a sip he stared around the room. It really wasn't to bad a place if you were into a lot of fancy pictures and stuff.
He was just about to comment on it when someone started pounding on the door. Laguna stood up and walked over to see who would be knocking at such an hour. He opened the door with a little more force than he meant to and slammed it into the wall leaving a hole. "Yes, what is it?"
To his surprise he was confronted by a blood covered Esther Soldier.
"Sir! The Palace is under attack!"
To be continued…
Authors Note: Thanks everyone for all of your reviews. And as always have a good night. I am going to bed before my head pops from to much writing.
