BREAKING THE MIRROR
Disclaimer – I don't own any of the FF8 characters etc, but I do however own some original characters that are going to be included in this story, and the imagination I have to give them life. Hope you like it…
Chapter 3 – The mission, the man, and the test.
(Squall – Dollet)
The Garden dropped him off at Dollet. Looking back up at it, he saw her. Looking down at him, even from this point, he could see the sadness on her face. He too felt sad, as he didn't know when he would see her again, or, more importantly, if. He didn't want to think about that part, but he also realised there was a huge possibility of that happening. What was worse was what the others were going to say. Only Himself, Rinoa, Quistis, Cid and Xu knew where he was going, and he also knew about the fuss it would cause the others… he didn't need all this fussing, but he had long accepted them as friends. Fussy, yes, but friends. He watched the Garden hover away, thought one last time of Rinoa, and set off, to catch the train that would take him to Deling City, where the mission would start.
His mission was 'simple', he laughed quietly. Simple. Such a fickle word. Find Zell, get Zell, dead or alive, find out who or what the Galbadian government is up to, and stop them.
Simple.
He shakes his head, and sets off into the town.
(Zell -?)
He drifted in and out of consciousness. Each time he woke up, there was a new face above him, he had no idea what the hell they were doing to him, but the strangest thing was, like his capture, they were being ever so careful with him. He panicked slightly as the needles and syringes were filled with the substances, but not once did they go near him. The only thing that went near him was an empty needle, to take some of his blood. But still, strapped down to this table, with an assortment of doctors, all masked, was not particularly pleasant. Also, he thought his mind was playing tricks on him. As he looked to his right, the table where he thought he saw someone familiar was empty.
He is interrupted from his thoughts as the man in the suit walks over to him, and looks down on him. Unlike the others, he is not masked. He is wearing an impeccably crisp suit, and his face is one of 'concern?' He looks to be about 25 years old, and he says nothing, just looking down on him. When he does speak, he doesn't talk to Zell directly, more like about him, rather than to him.
"SeeD. So amazing. The best of the best. Training and magic is second to none. Well, perhaps the Sorceress, but very rarely."
Zell tries to speak, but the man places a gloved hand over his mouth.
"Do not worry, Mr Dincht, you are in no harm, you are not going to be 'tested' on, or killed. As a matter of fact, you are going to be released soon. Then you can scurry back to your Garden and tell the higher-ups what these 'nasty' men did to you. Believe me. We have already done 'tests' without even touching you."
He smiles. Zell says nothing, merely looks up at him.
"Ah, the vow of silence. Fair enough, Mr Dincht, but there's really no need. As you will soon find out. Like I said, you are not going to die. Not now, but you will if anyone challenges me. I will claim vengeance for my father. I would ask you where she is, but no, finding out is half the fun."
He walks away, leaving Zell to his thoughts. Zell vowed to remember everything about him, and what he said.
(Squall – Train to Deling)
He thinks of very little as the train to Deling races through the mountainside. He hopes that Zell is all right, and he also thinks of why he took this mission, and alone.
Because Zell was his best friend. He frowns as he thinks of that word. 'Friends'. He was always alone, now here he was with all these friends, risking himself for one of them on a mission. If this was last year, or before Ultimecia, this would have been a mission to rescue a 'SeeD', not a 'friend'.
He also thinks of his other friends, and also of Rinoa. He hated it when she started to cry, which was the reason why he quickly shut up and didn't say about the 'huge possibility' of him not coming back alive.
But he would come back alive.
So would Zell.
(Zell -?)
He wakes up again. For some reason, the scientists/doctors keep seeing fit to send him to sleep on the 'man in the suits' commands. But again, when he does wake up, he feels no pain, and the man is standing over him again. Zell keeps his mouth shut.
"Still not talking huh? Don't worry, I do not mind. As you will be free soon. Part of me is thinking that one of your friends is coming for you. Well, they must be, they must have found that rather grim discovery up by the Tomb of Unknown King by now." He smiles. Zell snarls at him.
"When I find you…"
"You're going to do nothing," says the man softly, "because if you do, I will send him after you, and believe me, even though you have been recognised as the greatest hand-to-hand combatant around in the world today, don't think for one second I do not have that field covered."
Zell frowns as he puzzles over what the man means. He doesn't ask because he thinks he won't tell him, but To Zell's surprise…
"Oh believe me boy, when I am finished, believe me, you think it was bad that Galbadia wanted total world domination before? No no, on the contrary, this is different, because, not only will they want it, they will have it. Garden included. And I will have my revenge on her…
Zell remains silent, curious as to whom he means by 'her'.
"Now in a few hours, you will be released. To do as you wish, but be forewarned, do not come after me Mr Dincht, because it will be the last act you will ever do."
And on that note, Zell is gassed again, and put to sleep, his last vision being the mans face…
(Squall – Deling City)
Squall disembarks. Making sure no one notices him. It should be difficult, as he is not wearing his usual garb, just blue jeans, white T-shirt and a leather coat is all he has. Lionheart is sitting at his side, but no one takes notice, as there are several other people who also walk about with weapons, as do the soldiers. Monster attacks could happen at any time, so people are armed any time.
Squall quickly takes off for the Victory arch, which will take him into the underground passageways. He decides to see General Caraway first, to see if he has found anything else out. As he steps out of the station, he looks at the sight that greets him.
A tower, a massive tower, reaches up into the sky above the presidential palace. Squall, while no architect, shakes his head at the size of it. How could they possibly build something so big within a few weeks? A structure like that would take months surely…
His thoughts are further interrupted as a car screeches to a halt at the bottom of the stairs, the back door is flung open, and someone is flung out, tied up.
It's Zell.
Squall stares at the car, and into the eyes of someone, who is covered by a hooded cloak. They lock eyes for a minute, and the mans eyes widen, then the car door closes and speeds off. Squall races down the stairs and grabs Zell, untying the bonds. He is out cold. People and soldiers immediately surround them, but a shout stops anything else.
"Let me through damn!" Squall recognises the voice. It's the voice of General Caraway. He looks at Zell, then Squall. He quickly adopts an official pose, as he immediately recognises the reason Squall is here.
"Let them through, come, help him to my car, young citizen," he says to Squall. Who obeys.
(Caraways Mansion)
"What the hell is going on?" asks Squall angrily. "There's something going on, and for what it's worth I'm sorry General, but I think you know what that is." He glares at him. Zell is sleeping on the couch, apparently no injuries are sustained to him, which is the first thing that puzzles Squall, but he does notice a small needle mark just at the top of his forearm…
"Squall, I truly do not know what's going on any better than you, but I think it has something to do with whoever the new Galbadian president is, we shall find out within 2 days, as the official announcement is then."
Squall says nothing, merely looks out of the window. He points at the tower. "What the hell is that? Why are they building it?"
Caraway shakes his head. "I truly do not know."
Squall shakes his head quietly, then sits down. He takes a minute to get his head together. "Do you think that those guys in the car are connected to the new president?"
Caraway thinks for a minute. "I would guess so, all this fear and rumours about bribery and threats are stemming from the presidential palace. Of course they are denying it, but I believe so, since it has been strictly runners for the presidency that have been threatened."
"Can you give me the names of who was running for it, or rather, who's left?" he asks the General, thinking of an idea.
Caraway writes down on a bit of paper the names of the 3 candidates still left. Squall takes a look at the names.
Carlos Decinal
Vince Gilned
Thomas Alburn
Squall looks at the names. None of them are familiar to him. "This is no good, all these are are names."
"I might be able to help," says Zell. Squall turns around and looks at him, he sees nothing but hate and anger on his face.