Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VIIIdoesn't belong to me or any of my minions. It belongs to Squaresoft and their minions.
*_; I've been terribly lazy and haven't updated this in soooooo long. Heh heh. Sorry!! ;_*
*******************************************************************************************************************
Chapter 7: Jellyfish
The clapping of heavy boots rang down the long, empty hallway. Mud and debris were left after each step, ruining the appearance of crystal clean'. Attached to these messy boots was a fair sized man, dressed in bright orange. In one hand he carried a gas mask, while in the other he caressed his bruised forehead. Oaths were sworn as he approached a small door located at the end of the hall. It was the only door in this side of the building, yet the common passerby would have been tricked by its camouflaging costume.
Grasping the handle, the man swung the door open forcefully, nearly throwing it off its hinges. An elderly man sat in the corner patiently observing the man, as if already expecting his entrance. The old man wore bright, folded robes and a broad collar circled his skinny neck. Wrinkles sagged under his wise eyes an gathered under his small, jutted chin.
"Yes?" the older one inquired.
Shifting from one foot to the other, the young man uncomfortable scratched his head and licked his cracked lips. "Umm, well, we found the girl -"
"Zat iz great newz! Where iz she?"
"But she escaped," the man paused, catching the angry glare of the old man sitting across from him. "It was chaos out there and I was never warned she could bite like a tiger!"
"Well what did you expect?! Of course choaz would follow zat girl!Where did she go?"
"We're not sure, but the Ragnarok was spotted at our arrival, so we know she has means of transportation. Its possible that her destination is to Balamb Island."
"No, no, za girl iz too smart for such nonsense." Robes fluttered when the old man waved off the girl's possible ignorance. "But I'm not sure she makes az good of choicez az she could. Most likely she iz located at Winhill. Search for za girl there!"
"Yes Doctor," saluted the younger man. And after tenderly touching his forehead again, he swiftly left the room, eager for revenge.
_________________
Squall luxuriously stretched out on the small bed, watching various fish swim high above him. He vaguely wondered how much business there would be if this research center were transformed into some sort of get-away resort. The place was a bit broken down and the beds weren't exactly the most comfortable, but the tropical paradise atmosphere gave him the feeling of being on vacation.
Squall sighed. Vacation. Such a foreign word to him. His last vacation was some four years ago, before he was a SeeD. He'd meant to visit his sister in the two week break, but she was still being held by the Esthar government.
Asudden rapping on Squall's door startled him. Before he could even blink again, Selphie came bouncing into the room, waving here arms around, shouting some sort of gibberish.
"Mr. Irvine said he wants to talk to you because of something really really important and he needs to see you immediately... or maybe it wasn't important, but he still wanted to see you! Wait! It was important, but he doesn't care if you see him! No, maybe he said...." Selphie hesitated, thoughtful for a brief moment.
Squall took this rare chance of silence and escaped her rambling utterance. Quickly, he slipped outside into the hall and began his way up the many floors of the Deep Sea Research Center. Selphie followed more slowly, still searching her mind for the correct message.
It wasn't long before Squall reached the main floor and found Irvine. This floor was much larger than the other floors, but was cramped by cause of a giant glowing tube in the center. All professional equipment was lined along the round room, beeping and buzzing as researchers studied.
Irvine sat alone at a large desk. Placed about the table were the items retrieved from Tomb of the Unknown King. Placed right beneath his nose was a box of pure glory. Recently dissected from a large stone, this cube of diamond had been fossilized and preserved for years beyond count. An enigma of some sort had been etched into its glassy surface and was currently being studied.
Squall approached nonchalantly and stood beside Irvine, arms crossed over his chest. "What did you want Irvine?" he snapped bitterly.
"Oh!" Irvine looked up from the valuable specimen and grinned broadly at Squall. "Didn't see you there, sorry. Ahem, well anyway, I asked you here for your own benefits, so stop frowning like that!
"Get on with it!"
"Fine, geez. Well, I can see how wonderfully busy each of your days spent here are and I'm sure you've been enjoying yourself from day one," Irvine stated sarcastically. "So while you and your little follow-ups have been loitering around, I've been working hard in figuring this box-thingie out. Unfortunately, the more I discover, the more complicated the puzzle becomes. Seeing as how your weren't for this whole research trip' in the first place, I'm granting all of you a little break until further ado."
"But how do we-"
"Just getting to that Mr. Leonhart. You'll be assigned four cell phones for you and each of your companions and I have a ferry taking you to a neighboring city of Timber. There, I have three cars pre-rented for all of you to do with as you wish. Just try not to blow them up or anything."
Squall raised one eyebrow suspiciously. "Uhh, thank you.... I guess. But we're probably going to need five cell phones, considering there are five of us."
"Hmm, yes, you did catch onto that pretty quickly. Good commander skills. About that fifth one though, if its acceptable with you, I'd like to keep Mr. Almasy here for personal matters. I think I remember him from... uhh... somewhere and I'd like to see if he remembers me, too."
At this, Squall raised both eyebrows and smirked nefariously. "Go ahead and kill him if you like."
"Yes, yes, we'll see." Irvine, winking, rose from his chair and rushed Squall out of the room. "Tell everyone and meet me on the surface level in two hours."
_____________
Names are suppose to mean something - signify a meaning. When given a name, you are represented by that meaning and held responsible to maintain that demeanor. Simple enough, yet a few still manage to defy their title. For example, the name Squall'. A violent windstorm and a calm, collected seventeen year old hardly seem to relate.
Knowing the theory of a name, a common person would call this incident a mistake throughout the universe; an error. But, as most common people are known for, the error is only seen, not felt. A shell' as some might call it. Interior differs and always corresponds with a given name - whether its the parent-given name, or just a name that a person favors. The universe will never make a mistake, as many seem to argue, though fate twists and knots at every moment of life.
Squall is not alone in his name contrast. A small, deserted city lies some miles away from the busy Timber and appears dead. The name Bantam was given to it for purpose, honoring the strong spirited and spunky people that help keep the city thriving. The only vehicles here are three small rentals driven down from Timber. They wait patiently and unnoticed at the docks.
"Man, this is great! I'm goin' straight to Deling when we touch land!"
"Well, Zell, when you're deserted half way across the desert without gas, nobody's coming out to save you," sighed Quistis.
"Yeah, well, there's gotta be a station somewhere out there!"
"Ooh! Look, we're here!" shouted Selphie, chipper as ever.
Once off the ferry, and in sight of their cars, Squall walked ahead of the group, eager to get away first. He was relieved to see the keys already in the ignition, undisturbed by Bantam's inhabitance. Escape was nearly possible if Hyne had mercy.
"Squallllll, wait up!!" Selphie ran to catch Squall. "Hey, what about the rest of us Commander?"
"I don't know! Do what you want, all of you have a cell phone! Share the other two cars and only call me if its an emergency. Got that?!"
"Alrighty Groucho," the girl pouted. "Have fun visiting your sister!!"
Squall rolled his eyes, silently wondering how the blithe girl always knew everything.
Whatever' was his only thought as he climbed into the car and sped off in the general direction of Winhill.
____________
"Seifer, a word with you please."
"And I need a few paragraphs with you, asshole!" spat Seifer across the room.
Sighing, Irvine slowly began pacing Seifer's room. A chill ran throughout the room, yet the chill between the two men was biting. Irvine stopped a the glass wall, gazing dreamily out into the depths of ocean oblivion. Blue reflections of water danced across the metal floor, flowing over every inch except the dark corner Seifer sat within.
"You let them go and you leave me here to rot in your damn lab!" Seifer slammed his fist upon the steel wall. "What the hell's your problem?!"
Still observing the outside, Irvine smiled slightly at Seifer's reaction. "They all look alike."
"What?"
Irvine gestured to the creatures of the ocean. "The fish, of course. Well, sure they all have unique features and different patterns, but how many people know each distinct species of fish and their characteristics?"
"What's your point?"
"How many people can tell you that that fish over there is fatal to touch, or that that fish over there has the fastest growth rate. How many people know all scientific names for each family of fish?" He paused. "Well, are you going to answer me or just sit there with that stupid face?"
"How the hell should I know? My guess is nobody knows all of them!"
Irvine laughed softly and now turned to face Seifer. There was a wistful look deep within the archaeologist's eyes. "Ahh, but you do know. But you choose to lie. You know a great deal. More than the average person, I'd presume."
"Stop shitting with me!" Seifer stepped out from his corner, confronting Irvine.
"So much we have in common! Yet you would kill me right now if I revealed myself to you. I know who you are. I know as well as anyone who knows that jellyfish are poisonous. But you are disguised with gills and scales. Now you appear as a simple fish, swimming through the throng of the sea. Nobody notices you, you're like the rest; nothing different."
"What are you talking about? Who are you?"
"But one flaw. You made one mistake and swam against the school. That's how I know who you are. I didn't admit it at first, I couldn't believe you still exist! But the more I denied, the more obvious it was!" From one of the many pockets hidden within Irvine's coat, he pulled out the small, diamond box. "You know what this is!"
Seifer stepped back, his eyes glazed slightly. "What?! No I don't! Get away from me!"
"Yes, you do know! It is designed from your people! Look! Look at the inscription!"
A flicker of acknowledgment flashed momentarily through Seifer's emerald eyes, sealing his doom to Irvine's interrogation. "I've never seen this kind of writing in my life!"
"No, not in this life! But you know!" Irvine advanced upon Seifer, sensing the blonde's sudden fear. "Read it!Solve it! Open this box! You knew what we were searching for in the Tomb of the Unknown King!In the fork you traveled left - in the correct direction of this artifact! You weren't there when we fought Minotaur, but instead you were waiting for us by this!" He shoved the box in Seifer's face. "You thought you made it by slyly, I made no notice towards you then, but I know now! You know! Tell me!"
Seifer, from being suddenly panicked, began to laugh softly. At first barely audible, it grew louder and louder until it was almost psychotic. Pushing Irvine out of his face, he snatched the diamond box and examined it closely. "Wait, now that I have a good look at it, this writing does seem a little familiar. Actually, I think I can read it! What do you know? I was wrong!"
"What does it say? Solve it!"
Seifer grinned and began to laugh again. "Why? What's your big hurry? Is there a prize in the middle?" He sarcastically shook it near his ear. Then, tiring of this foolish game, he frowned at Irvine. "I think I'm ready to get rid these scales. How about you? I know who you are now. Why else would you be in some rush to open pandora's box? I'd tell you, I really would, but it isn't really your business, seeing as how it was my people who made it. I'm sorry, I'll guess you'll have to go back to studying fish."
Irvine stood some distance away from Seifer with a stoic face. His hands clenched and unclenched. "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way Seifer, but if your not sharing information, then I'm not sharing freedom." Without a second glance, Irvine turned his heel and left the room, locking it behind him.
Too late to change fate's bending turns, Seifer sprang to the door as the lock clicked. "Shit!" He cursed as the gem was hurled across the room and into the wall.
________________
Evening crimson bathed Winhill in bloody light when Squall pulled up the dusty road. In a mad dash, he escaped the confines of his car and ran into the destroyed town. Houses and shops lay crumbled and sprawled across paths. Clouds of dust gathered above and around the broken shards of buildings, barely permitting light through.
"No," he whispered to himself.
Squall ran down the long dirt road in a confused frenzy, tripping and choking out sobs as he went. Occasionally he'd catch a glimpse of a limb or body part hanging out of a pile of rubble. Each one he searched, unsuccessful in finding Ellone. The house he and her had once dwelt in lay at the end of his path, a half a mile away from where he stood. He stopped and was afraid to go any further. Afraid of what he'd find and who he'd see. But the cruelty of unsatiated curiosity drove him on, seeking the truth and the answer he didn't want to know.
As he ran he breathed the polluted air and tasted death. He coughed and sputtered, blood forming on the brim of his lips. Tears streaked dirty paths down his cheeks and jaw. At times he would fall and crumble to the ground, making low, agonizing moans. But he would get back up, despair the only thing driving him on, and run.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, he caught a glimpse of where his house should have been - and what he expected to be demolished to a mere rubble. Yet what he saw filled him with hope and supreme joy. His house, one of the oldest in the whole town, was the only one left standing. Around it the other buildings were shattered and broken, but absolutely nothing had touched his home - almost as if a veil from heaven had been dropped upon it. He was too shocked to question the miracle.
He ran now with tears of bliss and tripped because he didn't particularly care. Upon reaching the door, he stopped for breath and took the time to wipe the dirt from his black attire. Still sobbing lightly, he entered and was free of the stench of decay.
"Ellone!" he shouted. "Ellone!"
Squall searched and ran throughout the house - the bedroom, bathroom, front room, backyard, kitchen, and family room. No one.
"ELLONE!" he screamed desperately.
Maybe she's not here. Maybe she's still at Esthar. Maybe she had to be kept longer and she's not here yet.' Squall tried to reason with himself, but he shuddered and his lower lip began to quiver.
Wait! The guest room!'
Sprinting, Squall was in his childhood room in less than a second. His breath caught in his throat. A girl was curled in a ball atop the mattress, thin sheets spread over her.
Ellone!' was his first thought. But after a moment, he realized it was someone else. He approached cautiously and kneeled before the bed.
The young girl was faced towards him, her face hidden behind long black hair. Carefully moving the locks aside, Squall gasped and fell back. It was the girl he met at Deling!
****************************************************************************************
Lots of stuff and clues happening in this chapter. Hope you guys enjoyed it! R+R!!!!!!!!!!!!