Chapter 11
Seifer leaned back on his chair thinking about the past few days, from Squall's disappearance the bomb at the Estharian palace that had claimed over eighty lives. Luckily Laguna hadn't been hurt, just shocked that it had happened. But it was always likely to happen; the Galbadians hated Esthar and everything that it stood for. They believed that it had been Esthar that had brought the sorceresses; that had not been the way at all, Galbadia was responsible for Edea.
"Hey Seifer, how are you?" asked Quistis as she stepped into his room. Seifer merely shrugged and continued staring out of the window. The emptiness of the Esthar Plains burned deep into his soul.
Understanding his loneliness, Quistis sat down in the other chair next to his and caressed his hand. She understood Seifer's loss at loosing Squall. Without an equal to constantly battle and outdo, he was nothing, a lost little boy.
"Don't Quistis," he said taking his hand away. "I don't need sympathy."
"Listen," she said looking into his eyes, trying to make him look back. "Things may be bad, but they're not all the way down. The only way that we can make things better is by putting them back on track ourselves."
She now saw that she had his full attention, so she carried on. "I mean starting with Rinoa. We want to get her back, so we're going into Deling City. We're gonna rescue her."
"I'm in," Seifer said standing up. "Rally the troops." He then strode out of the room, purposeful.
"W-wait," called out Quistis, taken aback at Seifer's sudden vigour. "Don't you wanna hear the plan first?"
"No need, we'll go in the back way then storm the palace."
"Seifer," shouted Quistis. It was no use; if that was his plan then they might as well lock themselves in the Estharian prison.
"Here we go again," she whispered.
* * *
Huddling close together, Vincent and Ling clutched at their books, studying for anything that they might find useful. So far they had found nothing at all.
"Paradoxes, alternate universes… Jesus. Nothing here helps us. What did you find Ling?"
Ling sighed and stretched her arms and legs out. "No it's all for more advanced people. The only person who can help us needs magic abilities."
"And that would be…"
"Rinoa!"
* * *
Jake toddled round the temporary office that had been erected. Laguna watched him like a hawk as he fiddled with the buttons of the scanning equipment put up.
"No, no zis is not right, zis is delicate," wailed Odine as he fussed around the room at Jake. "DO NOT TOUCH ZAT!"
Jake started crying in response to Odine's shout. That was the final straw for Laguna, the last twenty four hours taking their toll.
"That's it Odine! Get out; you don't talk to my grandson like that!"
Sweeping up Jake he stormed out of the room and straight past Vincent. About to open his mouth, Vincent thought better of it when he saw Laguna's anger and worry.
"Better find someone else then," he muttered.
* * *
"All I'm saying is that you need to listen to m-. Are you listening to me Seifer?" Quistis tried to be patient with Seifer as she ran after him down the corridor, but he just wasn't listening. "Have you really thought about it-"
"Oof!" Suddenly she ran into something soft; Seifer's back.
"Move out of the way short stuff," growled Seifer. He pushed roughly past Vincent and continued on.
"Don't you want to hear what I have to say first?" asked Vincent, crossing his arms. Seifer stopped, waiting.
"We can bring Squall back, me an' Ling, but first we need Rinoa. We'll help, but only for Squall. So lets go!"
"Is that it," said Quistis. "You're encouraging him!"
"Hey at least we get Squall back," said Seifer.
* * *
Miles away Rinoa wasn't felling well. In fact she was feeling… well scared. All she knew was that her hands were tied behind her back and she couldn't see. She was now walking somewhere, after departing from an airship. It was inside, and two people had grabbed her arms to stop her from using any magic.
Suddenly she was stopped and pushed roughly back onto a chair. The cloth covering her eyes was removed. Light suddenly filled her eyes, and it hurt.
"Well Miss Heartilly you have been a difficult one to find."
In front of her stood President Rovan. Funny how he looked a lot shorter than she thought he was.
"Why?" asked Rinoa.
"Why did I bring you here? Of course I thought it obvious, my apologies. You are here to be dealt with permanently."
It took a moment for the shock to register. Dealt with!?! What a choice of words, killed really. She'd always thought that she'd die surrounded by her family, not like this. Not cold and alone, no friends, nothing to hold on to or remember.
"What can I do to you now? Why?"
"The answer is simple Miss Heartilly. The danger that your powers posses could destroy our world, it would be best for you to sacrifice yourself and make a lot of nervous people happier."
"What," Rinoa whispered as she was led away.
* * *
"This is so stupid. We don't have a plan, no idea about anything at all. This will honestly not work at all," Quistis said, while sitting in the pilot seat of Laguna's Estharian airship. Seifer was sulking in the back, even after a year, his pilot skills had stayed the same, and Quistis wasn't taking any chances; they needed this plan to work.
"Are we ready?" she asked Irvine as he entered the cockpit.
"No, Selph's setting up," he answered, glancing uneasily at Seifer. "Ummm, Seifer," he asked, turning to him. "Can you help me in the back, we need the safety lines set up."
"Fine," he said storming out. His stomping could be heard all the way downstairs.
* * *
An hour later, they were ready. All were set up in parachutes to jump down, the sewers were to dangerous to enter now as President Rovan had ordered foot patrols and some of the most dangerous captured monsters to patrol.
"Wheeeee, this is gonna be brill," yelled Selphie. Irvine hugged her.
"I'll see you at the bottom," said Quistis then leapt from the airship. Everyone else followed.