Shiva, how much further is this settlement?
It is not much further. And it's not exactly a settlement.
Squall felt a tinge of amusement in her voice. He could have asked, but decided not to. Shiva had a strange sense of humor, and at times he was better off not knowing what she was talking about.
One foot in front of the other. Rinoa. One more step. Rinoa. Squall kept repeating this mantra to himself. His naked feet were being burnt badly by the hot sands, and each step was proving to be an agony. Thoughts of his Sorceress were all that kept him going at this point. The sun turned the open desert into an infernal oven, and it sucked his strength rapidly.
Squall decided he needed something to take his mind off things. Shiva?
Again the sense of amusement. My you're talkative today.
Whatever. Squall decided to ask her about something. Forgetfulness because of the use of GF's was a fact in his life. There was so much that was difficult to recall. How long have we been together?
I was your first junction. We have been a part of one another since you were 10 years old. I note you are thirsty.
Squall couldn't help but chuckle at that one. Yeah, you could say that.
Summon me.
What?
Just do as I ask.
Squall shrugged, as well he was able, and went into the mindset that allowed Shiva to materialize on this plane. Shiva appeared and launched into her attack ritual upon a patch of empty desert. It wasn't like she didn't have a lot to choose from. The Guardian's apparently useless attack ended, and she disappeared. Leaving only a pile of ice upon the sands.
Squall shielded his eyes from the sun, and contemplated this futile gesture, when something clicked in his mind. Ice melts, and becomes… He didn't even notice the pain in his feet, or sun burnt skin, as he ran towards the ice mound.
He broke off pieces, and popped them into his mouth. He remembered from his survival classes to never drink quickly after a prolonged thirst. Much better to take it slowly. While the ice melted in his mouth, he broke off additional fragments; and rubbed them on his baked chest, arms, and feet. It was wonderfully soothing. He smiled and sent a thought out to Shiva. And here I was wishing I had Leviathan.
Hmmph. The oaf would likely have drowned you.
~*~*~
Seifer found himself staring in the mirror. Something he'd been doing a lot of lately. Watching Squall's behavior of the past few days had given him more than one mirror to look in. Looking at the Commander showed how he had treated others all of his life. It was a reflection he didn't like much.
Running the towel over his face, he gave one last check to make sure the last of the shaving cream was removed. That attended to, he turned his mind to starting the day. There was nothing really pressing to do, so he decided to do something he'd been putting off. Getting to the bottom of why Squall was acting like this; once and for all.
Luckily, his rival wasn't hard to find. Lately, he'd taken up his old habit of spending almost every waking hour in the Training Center. It didn't take long to get there, and even a shorter time to locate him. Squall was currently fighting a few Grats, and Seifer stopped to watch for a few moments. Something was bothering him; something about the way the Commander fought… was different.
His conversation with Bahamut immediately sprang to mind. 'Things are not as they seem with that one.' No kidding, and Seifer was going to find out why, right here and now.
Squall finished off the last of the Grats he was combating, and wiped his gun blade. It didn't take him long to notice Seifer's presence. "What do you want Almasy?"
Seifer grinned maliciously. "I'm here for a little trip down memory lane. Been a while since we trained together hasn't it?" He unsheathed the Hyperion, whirling it about in a flourish. "You could use another scar. Builds character."
The Commander sneered. "Alright Almasy. Can't promise you'll survive this. There might be an 'accident'."
"I'll take my chances."
Seifer was a little surprised that Squall jumped on the attack first. He had no time to think about it. Puberty Boy was a load to handle, and he needed to be ready. As a wild thrust was coming towards him, Seifer spun away. Squall overbalanced and fell to the ground.
Rather than laughing as he normally would, Seifer stepped away and took a few seconds to think. That attack had been much too easily defended. The style, the moves, all of them were different. It was almost as if he wasn't fighting Squall at all. One way to test that theory.
Squall got to his feet, and snarled. Seifer didn't give him a chance to take the initiative. Attacking furiously, he drove the Commander backwards. A flurry of blows followed, and Squall seemed confused, not sure of how to defend. Seifer took full advantage, and stepped inside his opponent's lead foot. A vicious shoulder block knocked Squall off of his feet.
Seifer extended Hyperion to the tip of his rival's throat, and stepped firmly on his sword arm. "Who are you?"
"What do you mean dumb shit? I'm Squall!"
Seifer shook his head. "Nuh uh. Much as I hate to admit it, I could never beat Puberty Boy this easy. You're not him. I know that now." 'Squall' started to say something and Hyperion pressed harder against his throat. "Don't bother to deny it. Now, who are you?!"
A sudden laugh. "What are you going to do Almasy? Kill me? I'm everyone's darling Commander. They'd execute you without a second thought."
"No, but I could tell everyone the truth."
"You don't exactly have the best credibility in the world. All I'd have to do is say that little bump on the head had me out of sorts for a while, and apologize. They'd never believe you then." Seifer swore to himself furiously, this pretender was right. 'Squall' grinned at him. "Checkmate lapdog. You can't do shit, and you know it."
"What are you doing here? And where's the real Squall?"
"Don't think I'll tell you that. I will tell you that things are going to get real interesting around here." He winked at Seifer. "Just sit back and enjoy the show. Nothing else you can do."
Seifer stared him straight in the eyes for a moment, before replying. "Somehow, somewhere, you're going to make a mistake."
A sudden chime indicated the intercom coming on, and Cid's voice echoed throughout the Training Center. "Will Squall Leonheart please report to my office? Thank you."
Seifer took a step back, but held Hyperion at the ready, just in case. "Remember this 'Squall', from now on, you turn around and I'll be there. I'm going to be watching you."
The fake Commander leaped to his feet. "Your day's coming. I won't forget this Almasy. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some Garden business to attend to."
~*~*~
Red faced with embarrassment, the true Squall Leonheart strode through the patio area of the resort he had come upon. Shiva was laughing uncontrollably in his mind, and he seriously considered un-junctioning her. He had been worried about finding clothes when he came upon the settlement. Various horror scenarios had played through his mind. Squall need not have worried. He had always heard places like this existed, but never believed. It was now a fact in his mind. The evidence was unmistakable. He had entered a nudist resort.
Keeping his eyes straight ahead, Squall did his best to walk normally. His feet and sun burnt skin were killing him though. Doing so was extremely difficult. Various cat calls and lewd whistles from females greeted him as he walked to the lobby of the hotel portion. The Commander ignored it as best he could, focused on his current mission. Finding a phone, and calling Garden. Not seeing one immediately, he decided it was best to ask the front desk clerk.
Squall hit the little bell on the counter, and turned his gaze to the ceiling while he waited. There were pictures of naked people painted up there too. It seemed there was no escape. A throat clearing attracted his attention, and Squall started to ask where the phones were, but immediately stopped.
The Commander had been through Time Compression, faced down innumerable fearsome beasts, and took part in destroying a Sorceress from the future. Through all of it, he had been scared at times. Only a fool wouldn't have been. Nothing like what he was now though. Squall had just confronted the ultimate horror. This was an image that was burned into his cornea.
The seventy year old naked woman asked him politely. "Can I help you?"
He stammered. "Need…phone…"
The clerk took notice of his sun burnt skin. "Aww, stay out in the sun too long, hon?"
Squall looked anywhere but at her, and quickly recovered his composure. "Something like that."
"Did you need a room?"
"No, just need to use a phone."
"I'm sorry. The only phones we have are in rooms."
He inwardly cursed. Being without clothes obviously meant he had no money, but SeeD had contingencies for situations like this. "If I give you an account number, can you run it through?"
"Certainly."
Squall rattled off the numbers from memory, hoping he got it right. While waiting, he faced his fear and looked at her. "How do people get to and from here?"
"There's a ship that comes once a week from Esthar."
"And when's it due to come again?"
"Three days."
Squall almost screamed in frustration. Three days at a nudist resort. He didn't know how he was going to survive. Maybe Cid could get him out of here sooner.
"Sir, your transaction has gone through. And SeeD's account…" She took a second look at his face. "Hey, aren't you…? You know from that Time Compression thing that was on the news."
"Yeah. That was me."
She winked conspiratorially at him, and he felt his 'assets' shrink further in upon themselves; if that was possible. "Here on a mission? Or do you just like to feel free like the rest of us?"
Squall cleared his throat nervously. The second choice was much easier. "A mission."
"Ah, I'll alert the staff. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Room 402. Just up the elevator."
The Commander received his key, and hurried away as quickly as was polite. Pressing the elevator button, he waited with several other people. A slap on his rear quickly alerted him to a smiling middle aged woman behind him. Squall had never wished for the Lionheart as much as he did this moment.
She winked at him. "You're a cutie."
He turned back around, blushing furiously. He resolved to spend every moment in his room from this point on. Upon reaching his room, he quickly picked up he phone and dialed Cid's office extension. He breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the Headmaster's voice. "Yes?"
"Sir, it's Squall. I'm afraid I'm in a bit of trouble here.'
"You certainly sound like him, but I'm afraid it's impossible. He was just in my office."
"Sir, I assure you it's me."
"Whoever put you up to this, I'm afraid the prank won't fly. Goodbye."
A click signaled the end of the conversation. Squall couldn't help but think of what he was going to do now.
*************************************************************************************
Seifer stood at attention before the Headmaster, Rinoa beside him. Both had received summons a short time ago, and had just arrived. Cid looked up, and signaled they should be at ease. Seifer relaxed his posture and Cid spoke.
"I have a mission for the two of you. Squall will be the leader of this particular endeavor. He's awaiting you at the Ragnarok."
Surprisingly, it was Rinoa who asked with a slight nervousness in her voice. "Squall?"
"Yes." Cid took off his glasses and looked at her in confused fashion. "Is there a problem with that Rinoa?"
"No sir."
"I didn't think there would be. It will give you some time together. And Rinoa, I'm aware of your pregnancy. Please be careful, and don't take unnecessary chances. This mission shouldn't be unduly hazardous anyway."
Seifer asked. "What are we doing?"
"Squall has the operational details. In a side note, have either of you noticed anything strange about him? He was almost rude when we talked. Not like him at all."
Rinoa and Seifer exchanged glances, before Seifer answered. "We honestly don't know what's wrong with him."
Cid nodded. "Well, see if you can help him sort it out. Dismissed."
