Chapter Three: Failure is not an option
Three hours later, after the movie, our heores depart the theatre and.(dramatic pause)
"And the T-rex said to the chicobo, "What are you doing here?" in this seriously bad-ass villain voice." Irvine's voice was drowned out as the guys howled in laughter. The girls sat with their male companions, looking fondly at them as a mother might view a precocious child. They were in a popular hangout, 'The Milky Way' , which sold everything from Bite Bug sandwiches to the greatest chocolate milkshakes in the entire continent.
Business was booming as usual, and it was a while before the eight could find a table large enough to accommodate them. Once they did, Selphie signaled to the owner, whom they knew well, by standing on her chair and waving her arms above her head energetically. "Helloooo, Pete!" she hollered happily, oblivious to the stares she was earning from out-of- towners. The regulars, used to Selphie's antics, just shrugged and smiled.
Pete, a thirty-something man with a round face and a pleasant deposition, popped out seemingly out of nowhere. He eyed the dusty footprints Selphie had left on his formerly clean upholstery and sighed, but he genuinely cared for the brunette and would endure anything to keep that sunny smile on her face. Selphie climbed down from her chair and hugged him like they hadn't seen each other in practically a century, though it had been at most a week since they had last met. She only released him when Irvine coughed and made subtle references on Pete's unhealthy face color and fish noises.
"Whoops! Sorry!" she said, giggling, tilting her head to one side and looking unbearably cute. Nida, grinning, elbowed Irvine in the ribs and said in a stage whisper that could have been overheard by at least half the patrons in the Milky Way, "You're a lucky man, Irvine." Irvine put a smirk on his own face as he countered, "What's going on between you and Xu, then?"
Nida suddenly became very interested in examining his fingernails. Irvine pumped his fist up in victory and departed the field of battle to return his attention back to his girlfriend. Selphie's friendship with Pete certainly had some advantages, especially when the line at the counter was at least the length of a Ragnorak. Selphie was pleading with Pete with huge puppy eyes, and when he finally threw his arms up in the air, Irvine knew he had succumbed to that dynamic Selphie 'cuteness'. Pete collected their orders and walked off, vowing that this would be the last time it would ever happen, but every one of them knew that it was going to be broken the next time Selphie came to the Milky Way. It was tough to refuse those emerald green eyes and heartbreaking smile. A few SeeDs in line, having witnessed the scene-and previously others like it-cast the eight sitting comfortably at their table an envious look.
"Way to go, Selph!" Faine said, giving her friend a high-five. This was the reason why Selphie was one of the most sought-after girl in Balamg Garden. Not only was she gifted with enchanting looks and a 'let's do it!' attitude, one could always be ensured of free sundaes every time they went to the Milky Way.
A waitress presently arrived, staggering under the weight of a tray loaded with two strawberry sundaes, a fruit tropical surprise, a mocha ice cream, four chocolate shakes, free lime drinks, courtesy of Pete, a salad for Quistis, Balamb trout burgers for Kelly, Selphie, Faine and Rinoa, three hot dog buns (Surprise, surprise) for Zell, and bug 'wiches for the rest of the guys. They all tucked in with a will, and for a moment there was silence between the companions other than some serious chomping and the occasional burp from Zell.
"Zell, you are disgusting," Quistis observed with a raised eyebrow.
The martial artist looked properly indignant. "Hey, you can't blame a guy for liking his hot dogs," he protested. Or, at least, that was what he tried to say. To his friends, it sounded along the lines of "Hieyio(munch, munch)blmaguyfarlyhingisotdogs(munch, munch)."
"Swallow your food before speaking, big guy," Kelly said sternly, whacking his head with an overlarge purse. Looking cowed, Zell shut up. Nothing like a stentorian girl and her purse to instill fear in the hearts of men, Selphie thought with a gleeful grin. She finished the last of her lime juice(her favorite, bless Pete's heart) and stood up. "Ready to roll, guys?" she asked with an impish smile.
A general chorus of "yeah' and 'sure' went up, and the overstuffed SeeDs got unsteadily to their feet. Carefully they waded through the crowd and , on Zell's insistence, went to his house so he could visit his mother. Kelly challenged her for a game of triple triad but lost spectacularly. She groaned as Mrs. Dincht pocketed her newly won Tiamat card. "Hyne, you're good."
"Not that good," Mrs. Dincht chuckled. "I got beaten twice so far, I think.by Quistis and Squall. He's the one that got hold of the Zell card." Both Zell and Quistis exchanged a grin. Only her friends and the other members of the CC Card Group knew that in secret she was the Card King, one of the best card players in Garden.
They talked a bit more, about some Garden stuff and the second Sorceress War, until Rinoa happened to glance out of the wondow. "Hyne, we're going to be late," she gasped in horror, leaping to her feet. "It's been great talking to you, Mrs. Dincht!" The SeeDs, remembering what had happened the last time they were late, bade Mrs. Dincht goodbye hastily and departed. Suffice it to say that they would rather have been trampled by a herd of Chocobos. Within minutes the two cars were roaring their way back to Garden.
*** Cold green eyes watched the SeeDs with unnerving intensity until they had sped out of sight. Only then did he turn to regard the other man standing beside him.
"You know what to do," his partner said in clipped, military tones, with the unmistakable sharpness of a Galbadian accent. "Failure is not an option."
The green-eyed man's lips curled in a bitter smile. "Since when has it been anything but?" he muttered. He hoisted the rifle higher on his shoulder. "Figure it's enough to handle her?" he asked, one hand stroking the smooth metal. "Our sources report that even with the power of a sorceress, she is still susceptible to certain substances," his partner retorted more sharply than he had intended. "Believe me, once the bullet reaches its target.game over."
"If we actually get close enough. She's dangerous."
"She's a child. I hope you're not getting second thoughts."
"Never." The sniper dismissed such a possibility with a vehement shake of his head. "I just want to make sure you fully understand the seriousness of the situation you're sending me into. I'd better be promoted for this little stunt."
"You will get what you want," the other promised, a bite of impatience in his tone. "Let us depart, before we are found. The Balambians have very little patience with Galbadians, and should we be exposed." His words hung in the still sir, the warning unvoiced. The two men nodded grudgingly to each other, before turning away to disappear into the shadows.
*** Somewhere far away, violet eyes saw sunlight for the first time.
Ooooo, a cliffie! Remember, ALWAYS, ALWAYS read and review and maybe I'll get an idea as to what I'm going to write next. And thanx a bunch, Rinoa36, for being so encouraging! And for sending in the first review!!!
Three hours later, after the movie, our heores depart the theatre and.(dramatic pause)
"And the T-rex said to the chicobo, "What are you doing here?" in this seriously bad-ass villain voice." Irvine's voice was drowned out as the guys howled in laughter. The girls sat with their male companions, looking fondly at them as a mother might view a precocious child. They were in a popular hangout, 'The Milky Way' , which sold everything from Bite Bug sandwiches to the greatest chocolate milkshakes in the entire continent.
Business was booming as usual, and it was a while before the eight could find a table large enough to accommodate them. Once they did, Selphie signaled to the owner, whom they knew well, by standing on her chair and waving her arms above her head energetically. "Helloooo, Pete!" she hollered happily, oblivious to the stares she was earning from out-of- towners. The regulars, used to Selphie's antics, just shrugged and smiled.
Pete, a thirty-something man with a round face and a pleasant deposition, popped out seemingly out of nowhere. He eyed the dusty footprints Selphie had left on his formerly clean upholstery and sighed, but he genuinely cared for the brunette and would endure anything to keep that sunny smile on her face. Selphie climbed down from her chair and hugged him like they hadn't seen each other in practically a century, though it had been at most a week since they had last met. She only released him when Irvine coughed and made subtle references on Pete's unhealthy face color and fish noises.
"Whoops! Sorry!" she said, giggling, tilting her head to one side and looking unbearably cute. Nida, grinning, elbowed Irvine in the ribs and said in a stage whisper that could have been overheard by at least half the patrons in the Milky Way, "You're a lucky man, Irvine." Irvine put a smirk on his own face as he countered, "What's going on between you and Xu, then?"
Nida suddenly became very interested in examining his fingernails. Irvine pumped his fist up in victory and departed the field of battle to return his attention back to his girlfriend. Selphie's friendship with Pete certainly had some advantages, especially when the line at the counter was at least the length of a Ragnorak. Selphie was pleading with Pete with huge puppy eyes, and when he finally threw his arms up in the air, Irvine knew he had succumbed to that dynamic Selphie 'cuteness'. Pete collected their orders and walked off, vowing that this would be the last time it would ever happen, but every one of them knew that it was going to be broken the next time Selphie came to the Milky Way. It was tough to refuse those emerald green eyes and heartbreaking smile. A few SeeDs in line, having witnessed the scene-and previously others like it-cast the eight sitting comfortably at their table an envious look.
"Way to go, Selph!" Faine said, giving her friend a high-five. This was the reason why Selphie was one of the most sought-after girl in Balamg Garden. Not only was she gifted with enchanting looks and a 'let's do it!' attitude, one could always be ensured of free sundaes every time they went to the Milky Way.
A waitress presently arrived, staggering under the weight of a tray loaded with two strawberry sundaes, a fruit tropical surprise, a mocha ice cream, four chocolate shakes, free lime drinks, courtesy of Pete, a salad for Quistis, Balamb trout burgers for Kelly, Selphie, Faine and Rinoa, three hot dog buns (Surprise, surprise) for Zell, and bug 'wiches for the rest of the guys. They all tucked in with a will, and for a moment there was silence between the companions other than some serious chomping and the occasional burp from Zell.
"Zell, you are disgusting," Quistis observed with a raised eyebrow.
The martial artist looked properly indignant. "Hey, you can't blame a guy for liking his hot dogs," he protested. Or, at least, that was what he tried to say. To his friends, it sounded along the lines of "Hieyio(munch, munch)blmaguyfarlyhingisotdogs(munch, munch)."
"Swallow your food before speaking, big guy," Kelly said sternly, whacking his head with an overlarge purse. Looking cowed, Zell shut up. Nothing like a stentorian girl and her purse to instill fear in the hearts of men, Selphie thought with a gleeful grin. She finished the last of her lime juice(her favorite, bless Pete's heart) and stood up. "Ready to roll, guys?" she asked with an impish smile.
A general chorus of "yeah' and 'sure' went up, and the overstuffed SeeDs got unsteadily to their feet. Carefully they waded through the crowd and , on Zell's insistence, went to his house so he could visit his mother. Kelly challenged her for a game of triple triad but lost spectacularly. She groaned as Mrs. Dincht pocketed her newly won Tiamat card. "Hyne, you're good."
"Not that good," Mrs. Dincht chuckled. "I got beaten twice so far, I think.by Quistis and Squall. He's the one that got hold of the Zell card." Both Zell and Quistis exchanged a grin. Only her friends and the other members of the CC Card Group knew that in secret she was the Card King, one of the best card players in Garden.
They talked a bit more, about some Garden stuff and the second Sorceress War, until Rinoa happened to glance out of the wondow. "Hyne, we're going to be late," she gasped in horror, leaping to her feet. "It's been great talking to you, Mrs. Dincht!" The SeeDs, remembering what had happened the last time they were late, bade Mrs. Dincht goodbye hastily and departed. Suffice it to say that they would rather have been trampled by a herd of Chocobos. Within minutes the two cars were roaring their way back to Garden.
*** Cold green eyes watched the SeeDs with unnerving intensity until they had sped out of sight. Only then did he turn to regard the other man standing beside him.
"You know what to do," his partner said in clipped, military tones, with the unmistakable sharpness of a Galbadian accent. "Failure is not an option."
The green-eyed man's lips curled in a bitter smile. "Since when has it been anything but?" he muttered. He hoisted the rifle higher on his shoulder. "Figure it's enough to handle her?" he asked, one hand stroking the smooth metal. "Our sources report that even with the power of a sorceress, she is still susceptible to certain substances," his partner retorted more sharply than he had intended. "Believe me, once the bullet reaches its target.game over."
"If we actually get close enough. She's dangerous."
"She's a child. I hope you're not getting second thoughts."
"Never." The sniper dismissed such a possibility with a vehement shake of his head. "I just want to make sure you fully understand the seriousness of the situation you're sending me into. I'd better be promoted for this little stunt."
"You will get what you want," the other promised, a bite of impatience in his tone. "Let us depart, before we are found. The Balambians have very little patience with Galbadians, and should we be exposed." His words hung in the still sir, the warning unvoiced. The two men nodded grudgingly to each other, before turning away to disappear into the shadows.
*** Somewhere far away, violet eyes saw sunlight for the first time.
Ooooo, a cliffie! Remember, ALWAYS, ALWAYS read and review and maybe I'll get an idea as to what I'm going to write next. And thanx a bunch, Rinoa36, for being so encouraging! And for sending in the first review!!!