100%…Something
The party walked to the Training Center. All the way Zell was wondering what the others could want to talk to him about, and what it had to do with his beloved hot dogs. They had to dodge a few Grats on their way, but it posed no problem for the hardened SeeDs. When they arrived at the Secret Area, they quickly shooed out everyone else there, interrupting several couples who were very busy necking and very displeased when they were forced to relocate.
When they were finally settled, Irvine started the conversation. "Zell, you would do just about anything for a hot dog, wouldn't you?"
Zell was caught off guard. This isn't right, his paranoid little mind thought, Something's up. He slowly started to back away from the others.
"This isn't some kind of trick is it? I won't take any bets, even for a hot dog." He was prepared to run if they tried to restrain him, and his fists were readied at his sides.
"Zell, would you just relax?" said Rinoa. "We're not going to do anything to you. Just listen for a second. We all know that the hot dogs are more valuable than adamantine around Garden. They're sensational. But…"
"What", interrupted Irvine, "do you think they are made of?"
Zell thought for a minute, which was ultimately futile, and replied with his usual astuteness, "Um…meat?"
"We, that is, the three of us, are heading a research study of the Balamb Garden food service.
"A secret study", countered Irvine. "How is it that they can make all that crappy food, yet one product is so unbelievably good that we are at a loss to explain it? We have heard tons of theories, but all of them tend to get around to what the things are made of."
"Well, what are they made of?" inquired Zell.
"Just between us, we managed to sneak an empty shipping box from the cafeteria that said they were '100%…Tasty!'. We then thought, 'Shouldn't there be some nutritional info on the side of the package?' There wasn't any. Zell, do you realize what this means?"
The thought passed for a fraction of a second through Zell's mind, but then passed on to somewhere else while Zell continued to look stupefied.
"It means", said Squall cryptically, "that not only are they violating 'Right to Know' laws, but there could be some kind of major scandal going on here. The hot dogs could be drugged or something, the product of a deranged corporate mind. You know, addictive so that they could drive up profits. Zell, we need to find out what is going on here, and you are the man we need. Imagine the headlines: 'Brave SeeD Uncovers Truth About Fetid Franks'. You would be rich, famous, and get primary billing when they made it into a movie. You would never want for a hot dog again."
Zell's eyes became the size of plums and got that mystical haze to them. "So…what exactly am I supposed to do?"
"It is your mission…no, your duty to SeeD and to yourself to stake out the cafeteria and determine just what goes on in there. Find out if the cafeteria workers are killing animals in there. Something."
Zell was instilled anew with a sense of purpose, which could also have been defined as ego. "Well, OK. I'll do it."
"And remember", said Irvine with as much sincerity as he could muster, "we're counting on you."
Zell gave a melodramatic salute and strode off. Once he was out of earshot, the entire group erupted in hysterical laughter.
"Tell Nida that the trap has been set, and the prey has fallen in." said Squall through choking chuckles. "By the way, I want my payment on delivery of the tape."
"I wonder what Zell will do when he finds out what he's just gotten himself into?" mused Rinoa.
"Probably get really red, stutter a lot, or maybe just hit some people." answered Irvine.
They began to walk back to their respective dorms, very pleased with themselves.
The party walked to the Training Center. All the way Zell was wondering what the others could want to talk to him about, and what it had to do with his beloved hot dogs. They had to dodge a few Grats on their way, but it posed no problem for the hardened SeeDs. When they arrived at the Secret Area, they quickly shooed out everyone else there, interrupting several couples who were very busy necking and very displeased when they were forced to relocate.
When they were finally settled, Irvine started the conversation. "Zell, you would do just about anything for a hot dog, wouldn't you?"
Zell was caught off guard. This isn't right, his paranoid little mind thought, Something's up. He slowly started to back away from the others.
"This isn't some kind of trick is it? I won't take any bets, even for a hot dog." He was prepared to run if they tried to restrain him, and his fists were readied at his sides.
"Zell, would you just relax?" said Rinoa. "We're not going to do anything to you. Just listen for a second. We all know that the hot dogs are more valuable than adamantine around Garden. They're sensational. But…"
"What", interrupted Irvine, "do you think they are made of?"
Zell thought for a minute, which was ultimately futile, and replied with his usual astuteness, "Um…meat?"
"We, that is, the three of us, are heading a research study of the Balamb Garden food service.
"A secret study", countered Irvine. "How is it that they can make all that crappy food, yet one product is so unbelievably good that we are at a loss to explain it? We have heard tons of theories, but all of them tend to get around to what the things are made of."
"Well, what are they made of?" inquired Zell.
"Just between us, we managed to sneak an empty shipping box from the cafeteria that said they were '100%…Tasty!'. We then thought, 'Shouldn't there be some nutritional info on the side of the package?' There wasn't any. Zell, do you realize what this means?"
The thought passed for a fraction of a second through Zell's mind, but then passed on to somewhere else while Zell continued to look stupefied.
"It means", said Squall cryptically, "that not only are they violating 'Right to Know' laws, but there could be some kind of major scandal going on here. The hot dogs could be drugged or something, the product of a deranged corporate mind. You know, addictive so that they could drive up profits. Zell, we need to find out what is going on here, and you are the man we need. Imagine the headlines: 'Brave SeeD Uncovers Truth About Fetid Franks'. You would be rich, famous, and get primary billing when they made it into a movie. You would never want for a hot dog again."
Zell's eyes became the size of plums and got that mystical haze to them. "So…what exactly am I supposed to do?"
"It is your mission…no, your duty to SeeD and to yourself to stake out the cafeteria and determine just what goes on in there. Find out if the cafeteria workers are killing animals in there. Something."
Zell was instilled anew with a sense of purpose, which could also have been defined as ego. "Well, OK. I'll do it."
"And remember", said Irvine with as much sincerity as he could muster, "we're counting on you."
Zell gave a melodramatic salute and strode off. Once he was out of earshot, the entire group erupted in hysterical laughter.
"Tell Nida that the trap has been set, and the prey has fallen in." said Squall through choking chuckles. "By the way, I want my payment on delivery of the tape."
"I wonder what Zell will do when he finds out what he's just gotten himself into?" mused Rinoa.
"Probably get really red, stutter a lot, or maybe just hit some people." answered Irvine.
They began to walk back to their respective dorms, very pleased with themselves.