Ch 8, p/t conference
The five SeeDs found the head of the military where he said he'd be, next to one of the towers forming the monumental Arc.
"After a public address each, President Deling and the Sorceress will both ride a parade through the city. Shortly before the finale it passes underneath this arch, approaching this way. At that time the sniper team gets one shot from a platform above the government building straight ahead."
He paused for them to digest this. "Security should be with the heads of state instead of staying behind in the building, but just in case that's what your sniper's backup is for." Squall nodded grimly. He'd make sure he and Vash reached the designated area. "If that works, your job is done and all that's left is to elude the city and go home.
"If not, you three will lower both gates of the arch from the control room above so the Sorceress can't escape by simply having her drivers floor the vehicle; and naturally her fleeing on foot would be of no use. Then all of you will converge in an all-out, nonstop assault."
Nonstop?
Quistis put delicately what most of them were thinking. "And if this phase goes awry too, do we have recourse to withdraw?"
"Of course I don't expect you to do a suicide mission," he laughed patronizingly as if that were not what he was setting them up for. "But consider, Garden's bylaws are as clear as military, are they not? Disobeying an order is insurrection. Retreating without orders amounts to cowardice." General Caraway smiled toothily. "Either way you'd be court-martialed or fugitives. Think it over. Good day."
The general sarcastically saluted, which forced the lower ranked to respond in kind -- much as they hated to. They waited until he went out of eyesight off to his own schedule for the evening before they exploded.
"I don't fricken believe this!" Zell screamed and vented everything against the wall. Funny how the boy had no problems punching craters into brick but couldn't swear past a certain point.
"You're not helping," Quistis snapped. "Let's see Galbania's instructions. Do we have to stand for this?"
Squall handed over the letter given by this district's headmaster. Zell backed off not so much because he felt less irked but that he hoped no one would notice he was nursing his hand.
"Headmaster Martine wrote, 'SeeD services shall belong to General Caraway for one day in order to eliminate the Sorceress by means of a sniper, and directions to carry out said goal are up to the contractor.' That's it? Well that's just great." She made a face.
Vash was still sticking to Selphie but now they were less flirty and more of a huddle. He tentatively asked, "Excuse me, but is it normal to have no limits on a job?"
"You bet your butt -- not." Selphie shook her head until her curls bobbed against her cheeks. "It looks like Garden assumed the boss would want us to mostly use the sniper which would be safer, so they didn't mention rules about anything else. Headmaster Martine has it set it up so Caraway could make us jump through fire hoops with clown suits on if he wanted to."
"Maybe next week we can do that," her beau was sure to quip.
Quistis reread the all-too brief letter. "Cid's contracts might have been wordy and obsessively complicated but at least he looks out for us better than this."
"Using his name without title, openly criticizing our superiors, a personal opinion on the job? I can't remember you ever sounding like this before, Instructor. Since when do you talk like a human being?" Now that he was at full power again the smirking Mr. Know It All just had to bring out his wit.
"(For crying out loud did you think I wasn't human?!)" But Quistis bit her tongue in time to change her mind. Everyone else could use a pep talk, and now was the time; of course the designated leader wouldn't consider encouragement necessary to beginning a mission. "That was the classroom, the place to instill codes and respect. This is the field where we have to be on the level. And I believe we won't need to retreat." And the ex-instructor proceeded to get everyone riled about the coming battle.
By the time she was through, she had them believing the Sorceress was already handed over on a silver platter and ready to be carved and sliced up to boot. Selphie went around making "Kapow! Ka-POW!" noises to herself. Zell was already shadowboxing again and this time he got the spunky petite woman to join in too with her nunchucks.
Squall still hadn't said a word or budged much since the revelation. The gunblader was standing quietly by himself like a fatalist simply waiting until it was time to act.
Vash picked that moment to try to buddy up with him again. He gave a light elbow nudge. "Rinoa's dad was pretty scary, huh? I'll let you have him for an in-law."
* * * * * * * *
Da author, end Jan / beginning of Feb-- We'll be catching up with Edea for a while, plus Rinoa, and who else is around do you think "class reunion" wouldn't be complete without?
New blessing: May you do well in whatever world you will be in!
