"All right, Ragnarok, the airstrip is yours." Nida switched off communications with Esthar Airstation and activated the ship's intercom.
"Okay, kids, we'll be there in just a few minutes. The Airstation has informed me that President Loire is going to greet us personally." He chuckled after making this announcement, envisioning the scene in the passenger section of the ship.
* *
As Nida predicted, his announcement threw Selphie into a complete frenzy. She scrambled, searching for a reflective surface, trying to straighten her hair and clothes. She snarled, an angry finger jabbing at the intercom button.
"Nida, you... how long have you known he's going to be there?"
"Oh, a little while... Say, since we entered Esthar airspace."
"You bastard! That was fifteen minutes ago! You could have given me some warning! When we get back, you are such a dead man!"
"Sorry, babe, but I can't talk now. I have to make a good landing in front of the President. Oh look! There he is."
Selphie screamed in panic as and redoubled her frantic search. Realizing the satisfaction her terror gave Nida, she sat down, attempted to regain her composure, and resumed grooming.
Seifer turned to Squall, raising an eyebrow at this behavior. Squall held up his hand and shook his head, a pained expression on his face. Seifer sat back in his seat and waited, amusing himself by watching Selphie's frenzy.
* *
Squall walked down the ramp leading out of the Ragnarok, head held high. Seifer flanked him as they approached the presidential party, and Selphie followed nervously behind. They stopped in front of the entourage, and Squall appraised the scene with a cold gaze.
Squall's metallic gray eyes took in Laguna Loire, President of Esthar. Laguna stood about an inch and a half taller than Squall, and had warm blue eyes. His black hair hung down past his shoulders, and showed the faintest hints of gray streaks. Laguna smiled -- an act that caused his eyes to light up and contract, so that he seemed to squint. The lines at the corners of his eyes revealed that he made a habit of smiling.
"President Loire. Squall Leonhart, field commander for SeeD reporting," Squall said, saluting his father as he spoke. Laguna's smile widened as he watched Squall for a moment, before sweeping the SeeD into a large hug.
"That sounded so official! Good to see you, son." Squall's body started to rebel at the sudden contact, but he did his best to enjoy being in the arms of the father denied him since birth.
"Hi." The two men stepped apart, but the warmth of Laguna's expression kept the moment intimate. Laguna extended his gaze to include Seifer.
Holding out a hand, Laguna asked, "And Seifer, it's always a pleasure."
"Thank you, sir," Seifer said, bowing his head deeply. During his travels before becoming President, Laguna worked -- for a brief period -- as an actor, always portraying the gunblade-wielding hero in a series of adventure films. Seifer saw every one of the films in his childhood and vowed to emulate his idol. Even now, Seifer's fighting style mimicked Laguna's stance in the movies, every one of which Seifer owned on videotape.
More to the point, in the aftermath of the Second Sorceress War, Laguna stood almost alone in trying to protect Seifer. Esthar's Senate pressured Laguna to execute the rogue cadet outright, but Laguna resisted, insistent on rescuing Seifer from Ultimecia.
"Seifer, I must confess, I do have one request of you. Kindly step aside so I may feast my eyes on that gorgeous brunette standing behind you."
Seifer stepped to one side, exposing Selphie, who stood hiding behind his much larger body. When everyone turned to look at her, a deep crimson flush covered her from head to toe. She immediately began focusing all her attention on the scuffed toe of her boot.
"I thought that was Selphie! How are you today, my angel?"
Selphie looked up, about to speak, but on meeting Laguna's eyes, seemed to lose the power of speech.
"Come here, Selphie, and give me a hug." She crept over to Laguna, trying to keep from looking overeager. He embraced her, and then, holding her at arm's length, added, "How is it that you get more beautiful every time I see you?"
This time, an indecipherable series of squeaks issued from Selphie's mouth, a sound somewhat reminiscent of an excited chicobo.
"So what brings a stunning young lady like yourself into my humble domain?"
Selphie, still trying to form a coherent sentence, let fly with another barrage of non-verbal noises, prompting Squall to interrupt by clearing his throat, signifying that he wanted to get down to business. He found Selphie's fixation with his father amusing when parceled out in small doses, but it didn't take long for Squall to lose patience with the situation.
"Thank you, Selphie. So, Laguna, about the mission..."
"Well, we've been handling things as well as can be expected, I suppose, considering that this whole situation has turned into a public relations nightmare. There's this opponent of mine in the Senate... well, he wasn't always in the Senate. He started out in the Army... or was it the Air Force...? Anyhow, he doesn't like the fact that I don't come from Esthar originally, and thinks I might be a spy for the Galbadian government, although I've lived here for... how many years? Let's see... I'd been here seventeen when you showed up so..." Squall took a deep breath, looking for his opening, knowing that, if left unchecked, his father could talk through the well into the evening without even taking a breath.
"We recovered the technology intact," Squall blurted out. Laguna kept on talking without even slowing.
"That's great! Say, why don't you guys let the technicians unload it, I'll get us an escort to the Palace, and over dinner I can tell you about the time I..."
"I wish we could, but we have to get back to Garden. The teachers are waiting on me so they can make final grade rulings for the exams." Squall did his best to ignore the pleading in Selphie's bright green eyes.
"Okay. Still, it was nice to see you. I'll make sure Kiros gets your contingency payment deposited at once. Will you come and have lunch with me next week?"
"I'll see what I can do." Laguna administered hugs to all and as he talked, the SeeDs made their way back to the Ragnarok.
Collapsing to her seat in the passenger section, Selphie looked out the window at Laguna's retreating form, still waving to them. She sighed as he faded from view.
"You know, Squall," Seifer began, his face twisting into his classic smirk, "if this keeps up, Selphie could be your stepmother!"
Selphie turned bright red again. Squall glared, bloodlust in his eyes. Seifer prepared another jest, laughing, but thought better once he saw the look in Squall's eyes.