Imprisonment
He was lying on his back on a tiny bed, trying to dwell on positive thoughts. He mostly could not believe that they had Ellone, and what they wanted to do. Kill Rinoa? He didn't really understand the theory only that three people would die in order for their plan to take place.
He stared at the ceiling- invariably his thoughts involved Rinoa- but he tried to remember the good memories rather than the thought of her dying soon.
Hyne, I can't stand this. He shifted on the bed and sighed, the balcony- where they had kissed. Afterwards the mock argument they had about whether they should kiss in public. They had both won; he didn't have to dance when she wanted to so long as he kissed her when she wanted to.
But had they really experienced much of a relationship for the short while they had been together? He guessed it wasn't conventional to love your first partner in your very first relationship but considering all that had happened he felt it should be more.
But he wasn't near her, everything had happened so quickly that he had barely time to think. He was in a relationship for the first time in his life, he had just finished the most difficult mission he was ever likely to face and to top it all he found out he was related to Laguna- that wasn't something he wanted to deal with. He had tried to forget but it wasn't working.
It was his natural reaction; he had long ago learnt that he preferred things to stay the same. That was another difference between them- Laguna thrived on change while Squall felt SeeD provided enough risk without fixing what wasn't broken.
But his mind drifted back to Rinoa- making it a resolution that Laguna would not be in his head in this situation. He had not paid for what he had done and until he had Squall would not forgive him. He banged his fist on the wall- Laguna was still in his head. He had to stop this now.
Rinoa was at risk though. He was afraid- the scientist's reasons for planning to kill him were insufficient and Squall was beginning to believe that this carefully organised group weren't so organised after all. Just a group of rejected soldiers from the Galbadian army who wanted to kill and start wars. Tehn himself seemed to want to make a name for himself. A group like that were extremely dangerous and unpredictable.
Squall saw the guard who was guarding his cell mutter some obscene words and pushing a tray of the terrible food through the door. Squall had seen it earlier, but it had been old and the smell was gone, now it came back in full force. Explaining why the guard had muttered, it reeked of ingredients that had been wrongly mixed together.
"Are you trying to poison me?" He murmured, the guard who had surprisingly sharp hearing looked inside the cell.
"What's the matter with you?" He called, he had a loud voice too and Squall felt the sound echo off the walls, making his head ache further. But he wanted to get rid of the food as quickly as possible.
"That stuff." He said, surprisingly finding he was enjoying the prospect of an argument. It was better than doing nothing. "It's not fit for you to eat, and I'm certainly not going to eat it." He almost smiled, but as always he caught himself just before he did. The guard's face was a picture.
"I swear if we weren't forbidden to injure you until the sorceress gets here I'd…" Squall did not reply with the expected 'what?' as he was already bored. The guard turned his attention back to the corridors and Squall turned his attention back to the ceiling.
If I could only get out of here- everything would be okay. But it wouldn't would it? He considered the matter, if he was alone and Ellone was not involved he would have a higher chance. But the current situation could not be changed and he had to hope that Garden had noticed and was searching for him. He had left in the middle of a world peace treaty. With no one to vouch for them Esthar was in a dangerous position.
He sat up; this might be about the sorceress and trying to help the world according to the soldiers. But if they were trying to help the world why were they starting a potential war? Because if the situation looked desperate there would be no better time to strike than when the enemy was missing it's leader.
Somewhere the reasoning behind the organisation had been corrupted. Either way, there would be no happy outcome- war or Rinoa's death. Squall sat absorbed by the horror or either choice.
The guard outside watched the prisoner, trying to remember what he had said that might have induced the effect of transfixing Squall into the statue like state he was in.
~~~~~~~~~
Quistis looked at the reports. She had always believed in the power of science and didn't understand why the headmaster had allowed Selphie to head the mission to search all over Centra for clues rather than trusting the satellites to take geographical surveys. They had turned out some useful information.
Xu was looking over Quistis' shoulder at the findings. "That looks suspicious doesn't it?" Quistis turned around and agreed.
"Someone's been excavating here." Sitting down at the chair of her desk again she continued to examine them. "It stands out because there are supposed to be caves underground."
Xu smiled, "That's why Selphie couldn't see anything."
"I don't know Xu." Quistis allowed herself to voice the doubts about the competence of SeeD. "We've been making stabs in the dark since the beginning. I don't know how we managed to find anything at all." Xu took a deep breath, evidently the reason she came in was going to be revealed now.
"Laguna wants to know if you found anything. That's why I came here now. I didn't want to interrupt your work." Quistis saw Xu making the involuntary glance to her desk piled with paperwork. Quistis felt a little embarrassed at how behind she was becoming. She had once been on top of all her paperwork.
"Tell him we might have found a possible location of the base, but first tell Selphie to check the coordinates discreetly. We don't need them finding out that we know where they are." Xu nodded, saluted and left.
Quistis never felt comfortable when she was saluted and tried to busy herself in her reports. But peace did not last long and in barged Laguna, obviously in a temper, something Quistis couldn't recall seeing even in his younger self when Ellone had been sending everyone into the past.
"Is something wrong President?" She addressed him formally despite his anything but formal appearance. He seemed unnerved by the title and lost some of his stride. Quistis felt almost sorry for him, he was not someone who could stay mad for long by the looks of it.
"Er- yeah, I wanted to know what was that you tried to pass as information on Ellone and Squall yet for." He paused, "I mean don't you lot think I should have a bit of information too?" He folded his arms across his chest- he was accusing her.
"You were told not no expect too much good news right?" Laguna nodded. "And you get your hopes up easily, if we told you everything you'd get carried away and are disappointed again. We're trying to avoid that."
"Don't act like I'm that naïve Quistis. I've lived a lot longer than you." Laguna looked stressed, the worrying about Ellone was getting to him, Quistis tried to ascertain whether Squall's capture worried him too. But it was difficult to tell from a face. Anyway, she guessed she shouldn't be getting involved. Or at least until the prospect of war died down, the politicians had not trusted her and were demanding the old representative. But what could she tell him? There were no words that could make the situation easier.
She rose from the chair and directed her eyes at his to emphasize that she was telling the truth. "Laguna, we have possible coordinates, Selphie is checking them now and when we receive a report from her, if it proves to be where they've taken Squall and Ellone we will send SeeDs in."
Laguna was going to say something, but he never got the chance as Xu came marching into the room in a hurry, she saluted hastily and repeated what she had been told.
"Selphie believes it is the base Commander, there have been sightings of Esthar technicians and Galbadian soldiers at the coordinates you gave." She awaited orders.
Quistis could barely believe it. That the coordinates could actually be the location they were looking for- such a stab in the dark- was so unexpected that she couldn't conceal her surprise for a moment. When she regained her composure she replied. "Tell Selphie to return here and pick up the SeeDs who will be going on this mission as soon as possible. We need to resolve this before war breaks out."
"Yes Commander." Xu answered and left the room again. Quitis glanced at Laguna, he was getting a glimmer of hope in his eyes that Quistis could hardly tell him to lose, and she felt it herself. Maybe finally since Squall had vanished things would start to work out.
Maybe.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Woo hoo!" Selphie was zooming toward Garden which was still at FH. She loved flying, the feeling of being in the air and not having to wait for someone to get out of the way. The sky was clear, and hers. She could go wherever she wanted- plus, it was every child's dream to fly, and here she was living it and having to share it with no one.
Well, Irvine didn't count. He was standing next to her and calling out things like 'go Selphie!' which she didn't really mind. She felt happy despite the current situation. Ellone and Squall missing and in potential danger as hostages but right now there was no point in worrying.
Having just received Quistis' message she was flying to pick up the SeeDs. There was more at stake than just their friend's lives; there would be war if Laguna couldn't return to the conference for peace talks. And that was something most citizens wanted to avoid.
She flew past a light cloud, wistfully looking out of the window for a second; women were able to multi-task but the ability didn't extend to being able to pilot the Ragnarok and watch the clouds as she went. She could give up control to Irvine but that would mean relinquishing control of the Ragnarok and anyway, she never trusted anyone else to fly her airship.
"Watch out Selphie!" Irvine cried out, Selphie saw where he was pointing to and pulled the Ragnarok higher so it flew steeply over the mountain they had come close to colliding with. Selphie saw Irvine was covering his face and snorted in derision at his cowardice.
"Come on Irvy, I wouldn't let us crash. You know that!" She didn't turn her head to watch him, so she didn't know what face he just pulled. He had better hope I never find out what it was. Smiling sweetly she caused the Ragnarok to perform a series of astonishing spins through the air, pulling up when the Ragnarok came to close to the ground. When the Ragnarok turned steeply to the right- her doing, Irvine cried out and slid from his position on the right of her seat and crashed into the side wall.
"Selphie watch what you're doing!" He cried out, picking himself off the floor as the Ragnarok straightened and continued its course to FH. He had landed in a heap and his extra height made the tangle more complicated. He staggered up from the floor and sat down in the seat next to her, careful to put on a seat belt to avoid a repeat. Selphie took a quick look at him and saw his cheeks were red with embarrassment.
"Serve you right." Selphie said, and then she laughed. "Did you scream back there?"
"No!" Irvine felt compelled to defend himself, "What was that for anyway?"
"Oh, just because I thought you deserved it." Selphie answered easily, attempting to give herself an air of mystery. "Why would I think you deserve it Irvine?"
"Because- wait, ohhhh, I get it." He undid his seatbelt to turn around and face her.
"Watch out, I might do a 180 degree turn this time."
Irvine frowned, not sure whether she had the maths right but decided to ignore it. "You're still mad about the Post-Ultimecia party." That was what the celebration was now called, it had been invented some time after the party and now it stuck, because of what the party had meant it was remembered now by everyone. Students kept referring to it because it was the most eventful party they would probably have to remember.
"Well yeah I'm still mad!" She could hear no remorse in his tone. "You flirted with like- every woman there! Do you know how embarrassing it is to be associated with a male flirt?" Her face reddened as she realised what it sounded like, and Irvine picked up on it as well.
"You're jealous." His face wore an unbearably smug expression and it made her wish she could crash the Ragnarok that second.
"I am not! Why on earth would I be jealous? I'm just looking out for the female population that's all."
"They don't need protecting Selphie I'm all yours if you want me to be." He sat sideways in the co-pilot seat and tipped his hat at her. "You only need to say."
He fell for the second time that day, as they had reached FH Selphie used it as an excuse to land with a steep dive, avoiding crashing it by inches. A lot of FH citizens had run for cover, Selphie undid her own seatbelt and turned to leave the cockpit. "I told you to do up your seatbelt didn't I Irvy?" She said, her anger gone now and amusement taking its place. Irvine untangled himself again and followed her outside down the ramp to where Quistis was, a few groups of SeeDs waiting to board the Ragnarok, Quistis ready to lead them.
Now they were here Selphie was already starting to miss the power of being in charge. She couldn't command Irvine to stop pestering her, but then again she considered- he hadn't listened before so maybe it wouldn't be all that different.
Quistis looked stressed; Laguna was waiting outside to see the troops off. Selphie gave her report to Quistis who nodded and gave the order to board the Ragnarok.
"Remember everyone, we aren't just rescuing hostages, we're trying to prevent a war. This mission is extremely important, do your best and there can be nothing more to ask of you all." She nodded. The troops began boarding the Ragnarok and Selphie watched the SeeDs walk calmly file by file.
Zell and Rinoa waited their turn and Selphie thought it a cause for concern. "Is it a good idea to let Rinoa come?" She whispered to Irvine. He shrugged.
"Her magic could really help us on this mission." Selphie watched, the unease in her mind growing. But ignoring the thought she joined the rest of them in boarding the airship.
"You know, we don't really have a plan do we Irvy?"
"We'll be fine Sephie." He spun the gun in his hand. "I won't let anyone hurt you." A reply which earned him a smack round the head. "What was that for?"
"Keep your attention on the mission."
He frowned and but it soon vanished. They were boarding the Ragnarok and the same feeling of nervousness as they considered what was at stake. Two lives, many more if war was announced, and their own.
It was a lot to risk.
Wow! I still can't believe Ashbear reviewed me, I hope my writing has improved in quality because I really feel I've been letting it slip.
Thanks to all of my reviewers and the nice and useful comments. (Caleb Nova! The latter especially)
Yay, I'm pleased with this. Ok- the mission takes place next in my plans, over several chapters. I've got further with this story than I have with any of my others.
Thanks Ashbear for the inadvertent reminder that I should take pains to write as well as I can, I hope I improve with time but for now I'm happy with the way this turned out so far.