Final Fantasy : Historical Bonds
Chapter 2 - First Impressions
By: Fat Zombie
I've been searching for you,
I heard a cry within my soul,
I've never had a yearning quite like this before,
Now that you are walking right through my door.
Taken from Lenny Kravitz - Again
"There you go" said Squall as he put a tray carrying two soda's and several hot dogs on the table. Zell smiled and rubbed his hands together.
"So" he said, taking a bite of one of the hot dogs. "What were you so angry about?"
"Seifer's coming back" Squall explained. "He may already be here".
Zell sat and stared in disbelief, as a piece of hot-dog fell out of his open mouth. "Say what" he finally managed to blurt out.
"He's coming back to study under Quistis" Squall confirmed.
"Who the hell's brain storm was that?" Zell asked.
"Hers" Squall replied simply.
"Quistis?" said a surprised Zell, a little louder than he intended.
"She says it's because we've had a shortage of graduates recently" explained Squall. Zell nodded in agreement with the statement. "She thinks that if she can tackle his attitude problems, he'll become a good SeeD".
"What the hell does she think she's doing" asked Zell, again a little louder than originally intended.
"I don't know" answered Squall. "I hope she does".
Zell sat looking at the ceiling for a moment. It seemed he had lost interest as he often did in conversations of this type. "Maybe she's got an ulterior motive for all this" he said suddenly.
"What?" Squall said confusedly.
"Think about it" said Zell, uncharacteristically coherent. "When we were all students, who was she looking out for all the time?"
"Well, Seifer" answered Squall. "But that was because he was constantly causing trouble".
"That's what she says" Zell argued. "She also once said he was one of the most troubled students she'd ever encountered, so why would she bring him back?"
"What are you getting at?" said Squall.
"Look at it this way, when you say he's comin' back to study under Quistis, maybe he really will be studying under Quistis" Zell explained. "Hell, maybe his attitude will change with that".
"You seem to have put an awful lot of thought into this" said Squall.
"I'm more complex than you think" stated Zell. Squall leaned back in his seat and frowned. Those words seemed strangely familiar. "But trust me" Zell said, regaining Squall's attention. "I'm putting an awful lot more thought into other things at the moment".
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Squall.
"Well-" Zell started before he was interupted by a loud speaker crackling to life.
"Squall, please report to the bridge immediately" the speaker stated, before fading into silence with a ringing of chimes.
"A commanders work is never done, eh" said Zell jokingly. "Well if you need me I'll be here with the hot dogs".
Squall gave Zell a nod and half-smile as he stood up and made his way out of the cafeteria. He walked briskly, eager to get whatever had to be done out of the way as quickly as possible. As he reached the top of the steps in the main hall, the elevator doors opened and Quistis stepped out. She looked at Squall, but Squall turned away to look at nothing in particular.
"Squall, this is stupid" Quistis said.
"That's right it is" he replied, finally looking at her. "And on your head be the consequences".
Squall stepped into the elevator and shot upward to his destination as Quistis stared at him.
* * * *
"Sefie, do you have to do all this now" whined Irvine, leaning against a doorframe.
"The garden festival is in one week" she explained. "You know how much this means to me" she explained. "I didn't get to do it last year, so I'm gonna make this one the best ever".
"Selphie, just give the guy something to do" said Nevaeh dryly. "Please" she added.
"Okay, okay" Selphie said. "Irvine, come help me with this".
"Cool" said Irvine, like a child who had just been tricked into thinking he had been given a position of responsibility. He pushed himself away from the doorway and walked over to sit next to Selphie.
"I've got almost everything done, but there's one big problem" Selphie explained.
"What's the problem" asked Irvine.
"Music" Selphie replied bluntly.
"What's the problem with the music" questioned Irvine.
"We haven't got any" Nevaeh answered in an infinitely more dry fashion than before.
"Ah" replied Irvine in the blunt manner that seemed to be in fashion in the room at the moment.
"All we've got at the moment is pre-recorded music" Selphie explained. "So we're going to have an empty stage all night".
Irvine stood in thought. "What about these people you had your eye on for last years festival" he suggested.
"They've disbanded" replied Selphie.
"Well can't they just reform for the festival quickly" asked Irvine.
"I don't think you could persuade them to do that" Selphie answered.
"Not even for just one night?" Irvine asked. "Why not?"
"Because they all told each other that they sucked" Nevaeh answered. "Consequently, they don't get along very well anymore".
Irvine jumped up out of his seat. "Well let's go and find someone then" he stated cheerfully as he pulled Selphie out of her seat. "You too" he added, gesturing towards Nevaeh.
"Yes sir" she replied sarcastically.
As the three walked down the corridor, away from the dorms, Nevaeh looked at one of the clocks on the walls. "Hey numb-skull" she said to Irvine. "You do realise it's past curfew don't you, no ones going to be out".
"It's not past curfew for the senior SeeD's" he commented. "And if you're not gonna stop moaning then you can go back to your dorm because you're not a senior ranked SeeD yet. You're only getting away with this 'cause you're with me".
Irvine led the two out into the main hall and stopped, searching for any signs of light or movement around the entrances to the different sections of Balamb garden. He found none, but heard laughter emanating from the cafeteria. "This way" he ordered, and strode off towards the large room.
"The cafeteria" said Selphie confusedly.
"Why are we going there" asked Nevaeh.
Irvine stopped suddenly and turned around. "Do you two ever stop asking questions?" he said playfully. With this said, he turned and entered the cafeteria, observing it intently. The power had been shut off, but a glimmer of light silhouetted the door of the SeeD officer's bar. It was a converted and formally un-used storeroom at the back of the cafeteria. It wasn't big, but had enough space to accommodate all the SeeD officers, namely Squall, Rinoa, Zell, Quistis, Selphie, Irvine, Nida, several others and any acquaintances they happened to have with them. The laughter could now be heard more loudly inside, as the group approached the door and entered.
"And so I said to her-" Zell was halfway through his joke when three figures entered the room. Zell let out a short yelp when he saw who was accompanying Irvine and Selphie. Nida barely contained his laughter, and instead managed to greet Irvine with a nod.
"We're here with a purpose" said Irvine in a jokingly bold manner, his hands on his hips in a super-hero pose.
"Well sit down and tell us about it" he continued. "Let us get you a drink".
"Thanks" Irvine, Selphie and Nevaeh all said in vague unison.
"So, what'll it be" said Nida to Irvine.
"Uh, I'll have a beer, and" Irvine paused and turned to Selphie. "What're you havin'?"
"Umm, just an orange juice" answered Selphie, which was met by a quizzical look from Nida. "I'm not a big drinker, and I've got to work on the festival tomorrow, so I'm afraid I'll have to pass on the hangover".
"Clever words" said Nida with a laugh. He turned and looked at Zell, as if expecting him to do something, but Zell just sat and stared at Nevaeh. While Nevaeh looked around nervously trying to avoid the dumb gaze of Zell, Nida quickly nudged him with his elbow.
"Uh, and for the lady?" Zell asked, regaining his composure.
"I'll have a beer as well" Nevaeh stated. Selphie glared at her, and Nevaeh just shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "Hey, this is your festival" she stated. "And anyway, one drink won't hurt".
"Exactly" said Zell, motioning to the bartender to prepare the drinks.
"Anything you two want before I get these?" the bartender asked, addressing Nida and Zell.
"I'll have a vodka and get Zell one of his weird mixes" Nida answered.
The bartender turned to a small refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of beer and poured an orange juice. As Nida passed these to their respective recipients, the bartender settled Nida's vodka next to him. He then went about the task of making the one of Zell's 'weird mixes', which in Zell's traditional eccentricity, he had nicknamed a 'Brainbuster'.
Irvine and Nevaeh drank from their bottles, while Selphie sipped her orange juice and Nida knocked back his vodka like it was milk. The bartender finally finished constructing the near lethal cocktail, and put it down in front of Zell, then carefully backed away as if he expected it to spontaneously combust at any moment. Zell picked up the glass and swirled the liquid inside around for a while.
"This should be good" Nida said quietly to the other three, who watched expectantly.
Zell stared at the glass for a little longer, then suddenly tipped the whole contents into his mouth, and swallowed it in one go while slamming the glass on the table. Zell's grip remained tight on the glass, and his gaze was fixed on a shelf containing glasses behind the bartender.
"What's he doing" asked Selphie curiously.
"God knows" replied Nida. "And he won't be able to tell you either".
"Does he do this a lot" asked Irvine.
"Oh yeah" said Nida. "He's had one of those things almost every time I've seen him in here".
Zell suddenly released his grip on the glass and slumped over, smashing his head on the bar-top. This provoked a shocked reaction from Selphie, while Irvine stood in wide-eyed astonishment.
"Now that" Nida said in an eerily calm manner, due to his slight inebriation. "I've never seen him do".
"My gods" shouted Nevaeh. "Is he gonna be alright?"
"One moment" said the bartender calmly, while pouring a glass of water. He turned a poured the contents of the newly filled glass over Zell's head, who moaned quietly then quickly sat upright.
"What the hell man" Zell said, half-conscious, half-angry.
"He's done that before?" asked Selphie, sounding concerned.
"On a few occasions" the bartender replied.
"Well what kind of man are you?" asked Nevaeh, sounding slightly annoyed. "Why do you keep letting him have them?"
"What can I say" the bartender began to explain, raising his hands. "He's a very persistent guy. If he wants something, he'll have it".
The bartender turned and slipped the last of the days used glasses into a dishwasher. The group stood on the other side of the bar continued to stare at Zell, who stared back cluelessly.
"I don't think any of us know how many brain cells you just killed" Nida started, breaking the silence. "But I'm sure it was a lot".
"It's just a drink" Zell argued.
"Have you always slumped over the table like that?" Nida asked. "Because I've never seen you do it".
"Well no, but-" Zell tried to explain, struggling to find basis for his side of the argument.
"Well you're not having any more" Nida stated bluntly.
"C'mon" Zell whined.
"You probably shouldn't do that again" Nevaeh backed up Nida.
"Okay" Zell complied, with almost no hesitation. Nida turned and frowned at him, and Zell just shrugged.
"You said you where here with a purpose" said Nida, changing the subject.
"Yeah" Selphie started. "We're looking for candidates".
"Candidates for what?" Zell asked.
"The band for the festival" Irvine replied quickly, wanting to be a part of Selphie's little endeavour.
"We haven't got anyone yet, and we've only got a week left" Nevaeh added.
"I'll do it" said Zell suddenly.
"Zell, you don't have a band" said Nida.
"Shut up" Zell hissed, surprising Nida, who didn't say another word.
"Could you be ready by the end of the week?" asked Selphie excitedly.
"Uh, sure" Zell replied.
"Wow" said Selphie. "I didn't even know you had a band".
"There's lots of things people don't know about me" said Zell, grinning at Nida, who merely sneered.
"Well we better be on our way" informed Irvine.
"Thanks Zell" said Selphie cheerfully.
"Yeah" Nevaeh added. "And no more drinking. I don't want the main act to drop dead before the festival".
"Okay" Zell said, while waving.
As the three left the bar, Nida turned and glared at Zell, in what seemed to Zell like a questioning manner. Zell tried to ignore him by turning to face the small television that sat on a brace, fixed at a high angle on one of the walls of the small room. This tactic didn't achieve the desired affect, as seconds later, Zell realised that the television was not turned on, and Nida was still staring at him.
"What?" asked Zell, finding himself unable to sit with Nida constantly glaring at him.
"So who's your band mastermind?" Nida asked mockingly.
"Me and you so far" replied Zell, as if the question had been a serious one.
"What" said Nida flatly.
"Well when I was little, I used to play bass guitar a lot. As I got older my garden duties became more demanding, but since the end of that Ultimecia thing I've started playing again" Zell explained. "And if I remember correctly, you play the drums".
"Well, yeah" Nida faltered. "But that was a long time ago".
"C'mon man" Zell asked in a whiny tone. "Just help me out on this".
"Zell-" Nida began, as Zell stared at him. "Alright, alright. I'll do it".
"Great" said Zell happily. "Now all we need is a guitarist".
* * * *
Quistis walked through the main training centre gates. She looked around to see if she could find any trace of her newest troublesome student. She figured that Seifer would probably be at the place where he used to spend most of his time. There was a sudden rustling in the trees, which disturbed Quistis from her searching. She readied herself for combat. As she turned to the source of the noise, the rustling stopped and the trees where once again still. She relaxed her stance, confident that there was nothing there, or if there had been, it had already left. As she turned back around the thick foliage of one of the trees burst open and Seifer came flying out, landing behind her. He grabbed her arms and held them behind her, so that she could not move.
"Lesson one" said Seifer. "Never let your guard down" he stated. "Garden has lots of enemies".
"That applies to when you're outside Garden" Quistis replied, still a little surprised by the speed of Seifer's assault.
Seifer released his hold, and Quistis turned to face him. As she did so, her whip snaked out and wrapped around Seifer's right leg. She pulled her arm back swiftly, and Seifer was sent tumbling to the ground.
"Here's another lesson" Quistis said, a triumphant smile on her face. "Never underestimate your opponents abilities".
Seifer sneered as Quistis bent down and held her hand out in an attempt to help Seifer up. Seifer looked at the hand, then smirked as he stood up, ignoring the help offered to him. Suddenly, a loud speaker crackled into life.
"Quistis, if you and your friend have finished the lethal tango, I'd appreciate it if you would join me on the bridge" said Squall, who had been watching the two over the Garden's security camera network. "Zell, Irvine, Selphie and Nida, I want all of you up here as well".
As the loudspeaker died, Seifer looked to Quistis. "He sounded happy as usual" said Seifer.
"Oh, and Quistis" the loudspeaker crackled back to life. "Bring your dance partner too" said Squall sarcastically. "Maybe we can see if your 'instincts' are right".
The loudspeaker died again, and Seifer turned to one of the security cameras on the wall. He stared at it for a while, then made an obscene gesture towards it, well aware of the fact that Squall was still watching.
* * * *
"I really hate that man" sighed Squall, turning away from a monitor. Xu looked at him, unaware of who he was talking about. "Seifer" Squall added. "That guy's still an asshole".
Zell and Nida were the first to arrive on the bridge, both looking slightly disoriented. Squall stared at them for second, immediately realising where they had been, and decided to make no attempt to question them about it. He could have killed Rinoa for persuading Cid to have that bar installed. He did enjoy it himself, but not on the level that Nida and Zell enjoyed it. Sometimes, it just caused problems if an urgent mission came up, as was the case now. Squall leant his forehead on his hand and frowned. Seifer wasn't even here yet, and things were already going wrong. Selphie and Irvine arrived while Squall considered how difficult this briefing could be.
"What's goin' on Squall?" Selphie asked.
"I'll tell you when we're all here" he replied.
Irvine frowned as he remembered something, and looked to Squall. "What was all that about Quistis' 'dance partner' anyway?" he asked. Everyone turned as the sound of the elevator droned around the bridge. The platform had arrived before Squall could answer, and he once again leant his head on his hand. The team stared at Quistis and Seifer as they stepped off the elevator.
"Oop, he's here" said Zell calmly, being one of the few people in the room who was not standing in silent shock. Zell turned around and walked aimlessly along the side of the bridge.
Quistis walked past the group and took her usual place opposite Xu. Squall turned and looked at her quizzically, and she merely raised her eyebrows and glanced back. The rest of the group continued to stare at Seifer, who stared right back at them.
"Okay then" Squall broke the silence. "I guess that's one less bit of explaining that I'll have to do". This statement received nothing but a stare from Selphie, which seemed to convey the words 'You think so do you?' Squall decided to continue. "You're here because something has come up".
"We've got trouble in Dollet" continued Cid, stepping away from the large window at the front of the bridge and turning towards the SeeD's. "A group are holding many of the citizens hostage in the antenna building, so it looks like this will be a second visit for most of you". Cid pushed a button on one of the many control panels placed around the Garden's bridge, and a green heads-up-display was illuminated in front of the team. "They've taken out the bridge leading to the tower, so we'll need to find an alternative entry route" Cid explained.
"Intelligence shows that they're camped out in the basement of the facility. If true, this could mean more searching for us, depending on the layout of various items in the rooms on the basement" said Squall. "The basement has a much larger surface area than the antenna tower itself, meaning more room for our bad guys to hide".
"Just a question" interrupted Selphie. "Are we meant to just bust in there or try and negotiate with these guys?"
"All negotiations that the Dollet police have conducted have fallen through" Cid answered. "We are to go in and the resolve the situation with minimal casualties" he explained.
"As far as the police can tell, no one has been hurt yet, and they are going to try and keep the terrorists talking as long as possible" said Squall.
"Time is of the essence here" said Cid seriously. "Therefore, you shall be leaving in fifteen minutes. In that time, you should load whatever need onto the Ragnarok. A briefing on the entry method and plan of action will be given en-route to Dollet".
"Selphie, you're piloting" Squall added quickly.
"No problem" Selphie replied confidently. Selphie piloted the Ragnarok when Garden itself was mobile, unlike today, as it sat securely moored to the Balamb coastline. Usually when Garden was in its immobile state Nida would fly the Ragnarok, meaning Selphie's combat experience could be used on the ground. Today though, given Nida's current state, Squall thought it best that Selphie take over the controls.
"Remember, don't do anything stupid. You can't help these people if you end up dead" said Cid, unable to stop a compassionate look grace his friendly features. He had helped raise these children himself, and couldn't help but get worried each time they departed on a mission. "Dismissed" he said, regaining the authoritative tone in his voice.
Author's Note: - Wow, got this chapter out faster than I thought I would. It's a little longer than I expected to be, as I was adding things in here and there, but I think it came out okay. As always, it's up to you to decide what it's like, and I'll be interested to hear your comments.
Just a few notes on some parts of the story. Zell's line " Look at it this way, when you say he's comin' back to study under Quistis, maybe he really will be studying 'under' Quistis" I think may not be liked by some readers. Then again, maybe no one will notice. I wasn't sure whether to put this line in, but I did in the end anyway. I included as I think young adults (18/19/20 year olds. - However old they are a year after the end of the game) would talk about these things to each other quite a lot. At least, all the 18, 19 and 20 year olds that I know do. Sorry if anyone doesn't like this line, but I thought it firstly added some humour to the situation, and secondly added some realism to the story.
Anyway enough of my babbling. In the next chapter, which may well be very short or very long (I think it's gonna be one of those two. I don't think it will be anywhere in between) we should see the SeeD's set off on their mission, where they will encounter one of the biggest shocks of their lives. The ending to the next chapter should be surprising...maybe. P.S. For all you Rinoa fans - DON'T WORRY. She will be making an appearance soon. I haven't forgotten about her and she should turn up sometime between the third and fifth chapter!!!
C ya...