Chapter 10.
Live, from Timber
Squall, Zell and Selphie took a break as the train made its way back to Timber. Rinoa had given them a rough idea of what they needed to do when they got back. Basically, they just needed to get to the Timber TV station, and Interupt Vinzer Deling's broadcast somehow. Once they did that, they could broadcast their own message.
Squall wanted to be left alone for a while, until they reached Timber again. But the only place he could find to rest was the train's operating room. Other members of 'The Forest Owls' were in there, talking, and Squall listened in on their conversation.
"You know, Watts and Zone's fathers founded 'The Forest Owls', " One said.
"Get out! really!?" another replied.
"Yep. 18 years ago on the day before the big invasion, there was an all out hunt for resitance members." Watts and Zone's fathers both died to protect everyone in the city..."
"How'd they... bite it?"
"Galbadian soldiers shot them in front of everyone as a warning. Everybody looked away as they were executed. But..." he paused. "Watts and Zone were watching. They saw the whole thing."
"Oh man..."
"Deling glared down at the two of them like they were dirty rats. He had just become president, so, to show his power... He took a soldier's gun and shot their fathers' already dead bodies."
"That ...Bastard!"
"From that day on, they decided to carry on with their fathers' work as 'Forest Owls'."
"Wow...what a story!"
"Yeah I know... I decided to become a member after hearing that."
"Oh brother ..." Squall thought. It wasn't that he didn't belive the story, but it sounded pretty embelished, and something in it didn't make sense.
"Watts and Zone aren't much older than me... If that was 18 years ago, they'd only be 1 or 2 years old. There's no way they'd remeber seeing that."
The 'Forest Owl' who had told the story looked at Squall, noticing that he was rolling his eyes.
"Hey, we Forest Owls may look like a buch of jokers to you guys..." he said indignatly. "But we all have our stories. So try to understand, eh? When it comes down to it, we get the job done."
Squall turned his head away, irritated
"Still, we've got a long way to go to live up to our two founding fathers." he continued, turning back to the other 'Forest owl'.
Rinoa came in.
"Oh! There you are!" she said as she spotted Squall. "Com'on! We're about to pull in to Timber. When we do, we should start heading over to the TV station!"
Squall just nodded and follwed her out. Zell and Selphie were waiting at the front of the train.
Squall passed Watts, and asked him a question.
"Where is the TV station anyway?"
"The TV station, sir? It's close if you take the local train...But all the trains have stopped running. Even the transcontinental ones, sir." Watts answered sheepishly. He stopped and thought for a moment.
"Nothing to worry about, sir!" he blurted, not wanting Squall to get angry. "There must be someone in town who knows how to get there..."
"These guys don't even know the terrain of their battlefield...?" Squall thought. "Even as a rebel faction making discreet attacks, they should know how to get around..."
The train came to a stop and jerked everyone backwards.
"We'll get off and start looking I guess." Squall said. He was about to have the entire squad come, but he paused a moment. Squall figured that at least one SeeD should stay with the base while he was out.
"Selphie, you stay with Zone and Watts. Zell, you come with me and Rinoa."
"Best of luck, sir! I'll be keeping watch here!" Watts said.
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On the Timber railline overpass, a group of Galbadian guards and soldiers stood, talking intensly. A major was getting reports from some soldiers.
"A guy dressed up as a cadet... Gathering information?" he said.
A soldier answered quickly.
"He was asking about the president's stay! I found it starnge that a cadet would keep asking about the president... But he was very polite, and kept adressing me as 'sir'."
Another soldier spoke up.
"I think I know who you're talking about! He was talking care of three suspisious looking charecters from Balamb!" He answered. "I'll go question every teenager in the area!!!
The major yelled at him.
"No! We can't just go up to anybody and..." But the soldier ran off.
"*Ahem*. These are citizens. We can't inflict any..." he began again, but another soldier innterupted him.
"How dare they try to kidnap the president!" He said. "Not only is it disrespectful to the president, but also to us soldiers as well! I'll be sure to find them and throw their sad be-hinds in jail!!!" and he ran off, follwed by the other soldier.
"...Please... Hear me out to the very end... " the major said, holding back his anger.
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Squall, Zell, and Rinoa dissmounted the train. Squall was finally able to get a good look at Timber. It was a comfotable town, much like Balamb, but Timber seemed designed speciffically for the train tracks which ran all over the town. Train's were obviously a big part of the area's culture.
As they started walking, Watts called after them, and came out on the platform.
"...Say! I remeber now, sir!" he yelled. "I think the TV station is located behind the old Timber maniacs builind! Head that way. I hope you find it!"
They heard Zone yell from inside the train.
"WaaaaaaTTTS!!! C'MON! The Galbadian soldiers are comin'!!!"
"Lots of guards patrolling the city now! Please be careful, sir!" Watts said to Squall.
'The Forest owl's' train started pulling out quickly.
"Hey!!!' Watts yelled. "Don't leave me, sirrr...!"
He lept off the platform and ran after the train.
Squall, Zell and Rinoa walked off the platform. Squall rumaged through his pockets, looking for some supplies.
"We need to stock up on some potions before we head out. Where's the nearsest shop?" he asked Rinoa.
"Just across the tracks. Over there." She pointed.
At the shop Squall bought ten potions. As he was exchanging his Gil, Rinoa laughed.
"Look..." she said. "'Naughty magazines'."
"What?" Squall thought. Then he saw what she was pointing at. "Oh God..."
"Whazzat?" the elderly shop keeper asked. "I can't sell 'Naughty Magazines' to underage kids!"
"No..." Squall began. "We don't want any..."
"You kids get out of here!" he yelled, throwing the potions at Squall.
Squall caught the bag and rolled his eyes. Adults were so difficult sometimes. Old people were even worse.
"Rinoa sure isn't making this easy, either..."
He glared at her as they walked away from the shop.
She was oblivious to his irriataion.
"...Zone's into 'Naughty Magazines'..." she said, still giggling.
"...Whatever."
As they started walking Rinoa made an announcment.
" I need to stop somewhere." she said. "It'll be real short, okay?"
"Sure." said Squall. "We need to find someone who can tell us how to get to the TV station anyway."
They reached the 'Timber Maniacs' building, it's logo posted in wide letters on the front. There was a man standing outside, smoking.
"'Timber Maniacs' is the name of a puplishing company. They print all kinds of stuff, right here in Timber." Rinoa explained.
Squall walked up to the man standing outside the building.
"Excuse me..." Squall said. "Where's the TV station?"
The man pulled a ciggerette from his mouth and looked at Squall strangly.
"Yeah, that's in this town... There's an alley behind the house next door, but it's below this street level... That'll be your only way to get over to the TV station, since the trains aren't running."
"That still doesn't tell us how to get there..." Squall thought. "Oh well..."
"Thanks." Squall said coldly.
"No problem." the man lazily replied. Then his tone changed drastically. "Say! You kids wanna know about 'Timber Maniacs'...? He excitedly.
"Uh...No." Squall said coldly.
"This guy won't be any more help..." he thought.
"Oh...well, okay." the man said, putting the ciggerette back in his mouth. "But it's a pretty important place here in Timber..."
"Hey Squall!" Zell said. "Why don't we just go ahead and take a look inside the 'Timber Maniacs' building anyway. Watts said that the TV station was somehwere behind it..."
"That sounds like a good idea I guess..." Squall thought.
"Alright." he said.
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Inside the 'Timber Maniacs' front lobby, the floor was tiled and over head lights reflected brightly from it. The room was clean and well kept, except for the piles of old magazines laying on the floor.
At the front desk, a red-haired woman looked up and smiled.
"Hello. What can I do for you honey?" She asked, eyeing Squall curiously.
Squall grew uncomfortable.
"Does she have to look at me like that...?"
"Nothing." he answered quickly. "We just want to look around."
"Oh, I see. Well cute boys like you are always welcome. Feel free to look around." She winked at Squall and sat down at her desk.
"...Oh Brother..." Squall thought. Zell nudged him, smirking.
Squall looked around at the magazines on the floor.
"There's a lot of old magazines here..." he thought. "Hey, these are the 'Battle seris'. I've read all of them."
They made their way to the back of the lobby and entered the conference room. They were looking for a way to get behind the building.
Inside the back room was a large conference table, piled high with books, magizines and ashtrays. At the back of the room was a large desk.
Squall walked over to the desk, where a man was standing, just staring at the closed window.
"He should be able to tell us where the TV station is..."
The man turned around, noticing Squall and the others. He looked old and depressed, but he tried to be amicable.
"Oh, you kids lookin' around? Is there anything you want to know?
"We were just looking for the TV station, actually." Squall replied. "Do you know how to get there...?"
"Oh, kids these days. All they're interested in is technology." The man started. "Boy, when I was young, we didn't care about the latest gizmos and gadgets. And what does all this technology bring anyway? Violence, thats what! And thats all that people are interested in! Thats why the 'Battle seris' books that we published sold so well... They still do! I tell you, if I was young again I'd change some things that I did when I first started writing..."
The man went on like this for quite a while.
"... I just don't enjoy this line of work any more. When I was younger, during the Sorceress war, I could write about things that I was passionate about... Now all we do is cater to the public's yearning for violence and sleeze..."
Squall didn't know how to get out. This man wouldn't stop talking, and he hadn't even answered the question.
"This is so typical." Squall thought. "Adults reminiscing and talking on and on about the things they couldnt or didn't do." Squall didn't want to listen to old people feeling sorry for themselves... it was too depressing.
"...I hate it." he decided.
Finally, Squall was able to get a word in.
"Look, uh... We've got to go." he said.
"Oh okay." the man responded, not realizing how long he'd kept them. "A word of advice though!" the man yelled out as Squall and the others walked away. "You're still young! Don't let your life pass you by!"
"That was a mistake..." Squall thought.
They all walked out of the 'Timber Maniacs' building, still unsure about where the TV station was.
"Man!" Zell exclaimed. "That took forever! Just goin' on and on..."
"I feel sorry for him." Rinoa insisted. "He's stuck doing something that he dosen't care about any more. I think it's sad..."
"Whatever." Squall thought.
"We still need to find the TV station...What do you plan on doing exactly once we get in there anyway?" he said to Rinoa.
"Oh... umm... Hey, how about I just tell you when we find it. Okay?" she replied nervously.
Zell looked at Squall oddly. Though the basic idea was to ambush the president when they reached the TV station, neither of them knew exactly how she was planning to do it. They were getting fed up with the hap-hazard attitude that 'The Forest Owls' seemed to employ.
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Squall, Zell and Rinoa continued walking around Timber, until they reached a railline overpass. Rinoa peered down at the tracks.
"Looks like the trains have stopped running..." she began. "Usually, at least the local trains would be running here. A lot of hustle and bustle..."
Rinoa hadn't lived in Timber her whole life, in fact she had only joined the resistance about a year ago. But Timber felt like home to her. She missed the sounds of the trains rumbling by.
The group continued down the road until they reached the Timber Hotel.
"I wanted to stop here." Rinoa informed them, pointing at the hotel. "Let's see if we can stay later tonight if we need to... There isn't a lot of room on the base..."
The Hotel wasn't very glamorous. But it was large enough to be comfortable. It even fit a large model train track in the far corner of the lobby.
Rinoa walked up to the front desk.
"Oh Rinoa! I'm sorry but you can't stay here tonight..." the woman said as she saw Rinoa. She leaned over and whispered in her ear. "(Can't say this out loud, but there are a bunch of roughnecks from Galbadia staying here right now.)"
Rinoa frowned with dissapointment, but she looked up at the woman and smiled politly.
"I understand. Thanks Miss DiMarco."
"Oh, Rinoa..." the woman scolded. "How long have we known each other? Call me Francesca." she said. " You know I'm behind you all the way! Good luck."
*--------------------------PLACE MARKER---------------------*
(Sick of reading right now? Take a break, and find your spot right here when you come back to the story!)
Squall and Zell were admiring the model train set that was set up in the middle of the lobby as they waited for Rinoa. A young woman was staring at it as well. She started speaking alloud.
This model looks really good... Quite some craftsmanship..." She noticed Squall standing there. "Don't you think?"
She turned to him.
"What!? " Squall thought, surprised. "Geez, I don't know... I guess."
"Better than Rinoa's... " Squall said, quietly joking to Zell. But Rinoa overheard him.
She sat down on the floor in a huff, hugging her knees.
"Thats so mean! I worked really hard on mine!" she said, biting her bottem lip.She really wasn't too upset, but she had been teased enough about her model train.
Squall looked at her. He suddennly felt awful.
"...Just kidding." he offered.
"When someone says they're kidding, it's usuallty half true..." The girl who had been staring at the trains lectured Squall.
Squall was speechless. He felt horrible for saying what he had. He didn't even know why he had said it in the first place. Joking around like that was something he thought was better suited to Seifer, anyway.
Rinoa picked herself off the floor, feeling better.
"...Squall?" she said. Squall hadn't said anything, and he wasn't looking at her.
His back still turned, Squall answered.
"Oh...Um.. It's just a saying, you know...? ...I'm sorry." he said, visably flustered.
Rinoa looked at Squall, confused. She hadn't been that upset. But she felt bad that he was so embarressed. Though it did seem odd, esspessially for him.
"But then again, I don't really know him that well..." she thought. "Maybe he's not as cold as he seems..."
Squall regained his composure and they left the hotel, hoping to find a route to the TV station. They almost reached Timber's exit, but two Galbadian Soldiers and two Timber guards were standing by the gate. They heard the soldiers mocking the two guards.
"Better keep you eyes peeled. If you let one resistance meber in here, your dear kids are... well, dead meat. Heh heh heh." The Galbadian soldier laughed.
The guard simply looked away, holding back his rage.
"We have to find the TV station, fast. I can't bear to watch them suffer like this." Rinoa whispered to Squall and Zell.
The soldiers continued.
"So I heard everyone here supports the resitance. You guys are such fools." he mocked. "Just imagine how much this place would thrive if you were loyal to us. This place is gonna be stuck in the back woods forever!"
The guard couldn't take any more.
"...And you?" he retorted. "Are you happy with your life? Blindly following orders everyday, doing things you probably don't belive in?"
The other guard chimed in.
"So what if we're underdeveloped. We're not looking to Thrive. All we want is to be able to stand on our own feet; to be indepentdant and live according to what we belive."
The first guard spoke in agreement.
"You guys will probably never understand, having thrown away your pride and dignity. We're not the fools. You are."
The Galbadian soldiers were infuriated. They weren't going to take this from some backwood, Timber 'hicks'.
"You're both DEAD!" one screamed, aiming his gun at the guard's head.
Rinoa couldn't stand it. She had to help.
"No!" she yelled. Rinoa ran over to the soldiers, followed by Squall and Zell.
She attacked the armed Galbadian soldiers quickly, firing at them with her projectile blade, a 'Blaster Edge'..
"Ugh!" they yelled as the blade sliced through their red uniforms.
"Thank you for your help." said one of the guards, after Rinoa had finished off the two soldiers. "I got a little carried away."
"Yes...We appricate your help." the other guard said gratefully.
"Don't worry about it." Rinoa said, smileing.
Squall and Zell were astounded. Rinoa attacked those soldiers head on. She could fight, but she seemed so childish at the same time. Fighting like that seemed to go agaisnt her friendly nature. But she obviously didn't fall back when the need arose.
Squall spoke up.
"We really should get moving. We still need to get to the station... Wherever it is." he said. "Is there another section of town we can get to from here? The Station obviously isn't accesable from this part of town."
"How can nobody here know where the frickin' TV station is anyway...?" Zell thought impatiently.
Rinoa paused a moment.
"I think there might be an alley behind the local pub." she said. "Usually we'd just take a train to the other part of town, but since they're not running..."
"Let's try it." Squall said, getting impatient. "It might be the same alley that guy near 'Timber Maniacs' was talking about."
Rinoa led Squall and Zell to the pub. It was set below the normal street level, like the man had said that the alleyway was.
As they walked down the steps, they over heard some Galbadian soldiers talking.
"That was too easy, man. Heh heh... for a country bumpkin he sure had some good stuff."
"Yo, better ease off a little. These Timber hicks hate us enough as it is."
The first soldier looked up, and shock came over his face. He was half-drunk, but he recognized Squall and Zell. They had come out of the train from Balamb.
"That's those suspisious 'Balamb kids'! Lets get 'em!" he yelled.
The soldiers ran at them clumsily. Squall, Zell, and Rinoa fought them off quickly.
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Once inside the pub, Squall, Zell, and Rinoa heard someone yelling loudly.
"I've had a enough of this city!" a druken man at the back of the bar said. He was propped up agaisnt the back door, rambling.
"I came from Dollet to have a good time. And now...Trains are no longer running. Can't even stay in a hotel, because some stupid official... Harrassed by a Galbadian soldier...stole my card... This hasn't been my day." He mumbled and swore about his 'rotten luck'.
The bartender just huffed and looked over at the group that had just entered.
"Those jerks. " he said. "They think they can use brute force to get anything they want." he paused. "Hell... this towns a good example..."
The drunk in the back heard him, and spoke up again.
"Yeah..." he said. "Everything's jacked up because the resistence tried to kidnap the president." He started screaming now. "Thanks to them, the trains have stopped... There's Galbadian soldiers all over the place... All because of them!!! Don't they understand that I'm the one suffering from thier reckless actions.!? Stuipid, boneheaded, good-for-nothing resistance! You can just kiss my..."
Rinoa innterupted his rambling.
"Hey!" she yelled.
The bartender scolded the drifter, agreeing with Rinoa.
"You don't understand anything!." he said. "The resistance is fighting for Timber's future! They're all doing the best they can. It's the Galbadian soldiers and their leader who are at fault!"
The drunk just turned his head.
"Pshh..."
"We need to get through that door..." Squall thought. "But I don't want to make a scene with this drunken idiot..."
Rinoa looked worried.
"What should we do?" she asked.
Squall looked at the drunken man. He deciced to try talking with him.
"We need to get through." he said plainly.
The drunk just continued yelling.
"Geez, and now I'm getting dissed by some punk,,,!?" he said to himself. Then he yelled out. "Owner! Gimme another drink!"
Zell had an idea.
"Hey Squall... (buy him a drink.)" he whispered. "I'm sure he'd be a lot more helpful if we did somethin' for him..."
"What? Zell I can't..." Squall began, remebering the expirience with the shopkeeper earlier. "They won't sell drinks to 'underaged' kids..."
"Tell the bartender that it's for him!" Zell pointed at the drunk. "It'll be fine, just explian that we need to get back there. "
"...I guess we have to try something."
Squall went up to the counter and told the bar tender the situation.
"Yeah, no problem kiddo. Here...take some Krakka. That's what he's been drinkin' for the past hour or so."
The bar tender handed Squall a red bottle.
"That's strong stuff though... he's gonna get sick..." he warned.
Squall handed the man the bottle.
"Here you go." he said. "Can we go through now?" Squall asked, trying to sound patient.
"Hey, punk! You got good manners!" He snatched the bottle from Squalls hand.
"I ain't the rude type either. Here, take some o' this!" he handed Squall some 'Triple-Triad' game cards to repay him.
"...Whatever." Squall thought. "I just hope he moves!"
"Hey, owner..." the man yelled. "I can't stand up. Can ya help me?"
The owner came over and pulled the drunk away from the door.
"Whoa... *Hic*... I'm totally wasted..." he realized, and then he passed out.
The owner turned to Squall.
"You can get to the back alley through that door if you need too." he said. Then he looked over at the collapsed drunk. "Boy... We were kind of lost on what to do about him. Thanks"
Squall nodded and opened the back door. Sure enough there was an alley way leading out to another part of town.
"That took too long..." Squall thought. "I'm sure that we won't get to the TV Station in time to go through with whatever Rinoa's 'plan' is..."
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As they exited the alley, Squall looked up and saw a flight of stairs leading up to a large building with the words 'Timber TV Station' painted on the side.
"Wow! It's right here!" Zell said.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Rinoa asked excitedly. "Lets go!"
Squall led them up the stairs. As they climbed to the top level, they saw a huge moniter attached in the side of the buliding.
"Whoa!" Zell yelled. "An outdoor TV!"
The screen was large, but nothing was being played on it, just static and noise randomly intercepted by the station. Nothing had been broadcasted yet.
"This is creepy..." Rinoa began, looking at the static. "What is it?"
"This noise is broadcast over most of the freqencies." Squall answered. "Somthing has to be done about this before they can broadcast it over the air."
"Oh really?" Zell said. "I was wondering that myself, actually."
They heard footsteps running quickly up the stairs. It was Watts. He found out what direction the group had went by asking around town.
"The presidents's in the studio now, sir." he reported sadly. "Too many guards now, so we won't be able to storm the place, sir!"
He ran back down the stairs, on his way back to the base.
Rinoa put her hand to her chin.
"So we can't just rush in..." she thought aloud.
"What, is she making this up on the spot?!" Zell thought.
Squall was having similar concerns. He wasn't sure that they could carry out a plan with out any amount of time to prepare.
"We've gotta come up with a new plan now!" Rinoa commanded. "If the president leaves, maybe the guards will be gone too?" she looked at Squall questioningly.
"Thats when we do OUR broadcast. It might not be as influential, but it's better than nothing, right?" Rinoa said. She was still looking to Squall to offer her some answers. "We don't stand a chance if we take 'em head on, right?"
"...Don't worry about us." Squall said. "We'll fight your enimies based on your decision." Squall looked away and recited. "That's our duty."
Zell agreed.
"You tell us to go, we go." he said. "Even if it is a losing battle."
Rinoa, a little frusterated that they hadn't any input on what should be done, was surprised at their comments.
"How sad..." she said quietly. "Act on my decision? That's 'your duty'?" She sighed heavily. "Oh, what an easy life it must be, just to follow orders..." her voice trailed off.
"Easy... but I couldn't handle it..." she thought. "I just couldn't follow orders all the time like that..."
Squall and Zell were insulted. Was she looking down on them? Their job was to carry out the faction's plans, not make major decsions for them. Squall looked at Zell, whispered somthing to him, and Zell nodded.
"Call it what you want." Squall said coldly. "All we want is for you to achive your goal using our help." he paused a moment. "I find it hard to belive that you can do it though..."
Rinoa's eyes widened, and her nostrils flared.
"W-What did you say!?" she said indignatly. Squall was quiet. He didn't feel like arguing right now, but he had some major problems with the way "The Forest Owls' conducted 'buisness'.
"If you have something to say, just say it!" Rinoa insisted.
Squall looked at her a moment. He wasn't sure that she could take what he had to say.
"Tell me whats on your mind!" Rinoa said. "This is an order. An order from your client!"
"How serious are you...? Really...?" Squall finally replied. He walked over to her, trying to be calm. But she had asked for it, and he was going to give it to her.
"The three of you plop down on the floor to discuss strategy?" he said. "On top of that, you can't make a decision without our input... right?" he mocked.
Rinoa's eyes glistened, but she held back her tears. She was angry at his words.
"How do you think we feel working for such an orginazation?" Squall continued in a harsh tone.
"Whoa..." Zell thought. "Ease up man." He walked over to Squall and whispered.
"(You're being to hard man.)"
Squall paused. He hadn't held back any of his irritation, and he now noticed how angry Rinoa was getting.
"Maybe..." he thought.
Squall never use to care about how anyone else felt. He always just kept to himself, anyway.
"Why is she getting so upset, though?" he thought. "She really looks like she's about to cry..."
Squall knew that he had gone too far with Rinoa here. But he didn't entirely understand her feelings either.
"Zell just takes things too personally sometimes, also... but I'll bet he can handle real critisism better than this."
Somehow, though, Rinoa's reactions to his harsh attitude made him think twice about the way he said things, even just teasing Zell.
"...Sorry." he said quietly. "Guess I got a little carried away."
He meant it, but he was embarressed, having to apologize again. He sounded as if he had only done it so they wouldn't have to talk anymore.
Rinoa glared at him.
"Thats all he can say? After all that? 'I got a little carried away'...? He's really cold..." she thought. "Well, two can play that game."
"You know..." she began. "Maybe this was all a big mistake. I thought everything would work out fine once SeeD came to help us." she turned her back to Squall. "But, I guess it's not that easy... You were all hired. It's not like you're one of us." she said, harshly.
Feeling somewhat vindicated, she tried to get back to the situation at hand.
"Um, lets see... We'll cancel the plan and we'll disprese for now. We don't stand a chance if we take 'em head on, right?" she continued.
Rinoa paused. She was so irriatated at Squall, she couldn't keep from saying this next.
"So...You guys probably think this is all a game to us." she began." Well, its not!" she yelled. "We're serious. So serious... it hurts."
Squall looked at her curiously, feeling sorry once again for not watching his words. But that sympathy gave way to discomfort. Squall felt his emotions surging, and it bothered him immensely.
"So she's upset... I get it, Alright?" Squall thought, trying to supress his feelings. But it was a difficult battle. "Arggh... Whats going on with me?"
Though he didn't want to admit it, Rinoa's way of expressing her feelings, without reservation, was starting to bring Squall out of his 'shell', and he didn't like it.
Rinoa started to feel the tears coming stronger now as she grew even more upset. She didn't want to be seen crying in the middle of a tough situation, so she ran down the stairs to be alone.
Selphie had followed Watts to the TV station. she was walking up the stairs when Rinoa passed her.
"...Heeey?" Selphie exclaimed as Rinoa ran away.
"Whats wrong with her...?" Selphie thought.
She just shrugged her shoulders and ran up to join Squall and Zell.
Sudennly the TV scren started flicklering, the static becoming less intense.
"Are they starting?" Selphie asked.
Thye screen projected an image now. On the huge moiniter was a podium, backdropped by flags and other Galbadian decorum. The screen flickered slightly, and then cleared up.
Squall and the others saw crewmen running around, still setting up the stage, checking equipment. A man in a suit walked up to the podium, and the stage crew dispersed.
"T-Testing... 1...2... Testing Testing..." sudennly, the annoncer realized that he was on the air. "Ohhh! P-People of the world! Can you see me?! Can you hear me?!..." he asked excitedly. "Oh, this is incredible! Ladies and gentlemen, this is not a recording! This is an actual broadcast over the air! Yes, it's been 17 years since a live broadcast has been possible!"
His voice echoed through the speakers. Sudennly, someone from behind the scenes whispered angrily at the announcer.
"Oh, please excuse me... I seem to have lost my composure." he started again. Dramatic, horn-based music started playing in the backround as the announcer revelied the reason for the broadcast.
"We would like to present to you today, a message from the lifelong president of Galbadia, Vinzer Deling." He said. "Ladies and Gentlemen... President Deling."
The announcer walked off the stage, allowing Vinzer Deling to approach the podium. He looked like a classic politician. Black suit, Blue tie, and slicked back, greying hair.
"Greetings." he began. "I am Vinzer Deling, lifelong president of Galbadia. Today I stand before you to make the following proposition." he began gesturing wildly.
"We the people of this world have the power to end all wars." he stated dramatically, his voice fitting in perfectly with the music.
As Squall, Zell, and Selphie watched from outside, Selphie grew excited.
"See, see! It's a peace proposal to the world. I knew it!" she jumped up and down.
The president continued.
"Unfortunately, there are some trifling problems standing between Galbadia and other nations, and they must be resolved." he said with mock concern.
A jumbling of equipment was heard in the backround. The president looked over his shoulder, irritated, but went on with his speech.
"I plan to convene with other nations' leaders immediately to reslove these problems. At this time, allow me to introduce the ambassador who will be my representative for the conference." he spoke steadily at this point, almost mechanically.
*--------------------------PLACE MARKER BONUS!---------------------*
(Sick of reading right now? Take a break, and find your spot right here when you come back to the story! Oh and here's a little info on 'Timber Maniacs'... It's not much, but just try to live with it for now... ^_^)
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Timber maniacs was established 20 years ago. It's first publication, 'Tim Mani', was a compelation of freelance writing. reports letters etc. 'Tim Mani' is no longer printed. "Timber Maniacs' main production is the 'Battle seris' magazines (Magazines about Battling tips, I guess... sort of an 'EGM' or 'Tips and Tricks' for sword fighting or somthing.), and an assortment of anonomous writings.
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Zell was surprised. He thought that the announcment would be more important than that.
"Man! All this just to introduce an ambassador."
"The ambassador, is the Sorceress..." President Deling continued.
Now it was Squall's turn to be shocked.
"...The Sorceress?"
A louder clashing innterupted the president again. He looked. But before he could respond, a trench-coated man rushed into the picture. Galbadian soldiers tried to hold him back, but he sliced at them with his gunblade.
"...Seifer?!" Squall thought.
He was finally restrained by a soldier. Another ran up to help. But Seifer kicked him away, causing the soldier who had a hold of him to fall. Seifer seized this opportunity. He rushed at Vincer Deling, and held him with his arm, the blade of his weapon pushed threatiningly close to the presidents neck
"Whats he doin'?" Selphie yelled.
Sudennly, another familiar figure ran into the screen.
"Stay back!" she yelled to a soldier, who was about to attack Seifer.
"Instructor Trepe!?" Zell cried out in alarm."Squall, what are we gonna do!?"
Another soldier on the screen walked slowly up to Seifer and the president. Seifer's face was intense. He knew he had put himself in a bad spot, and he was getting desperate.
"For the last time, stay back!" Quistis yelled. "You're only going to provoke him."
Squall wasn't sure if they should do anything. Seifer might become even more dangerous.
"...Squall!?" Zell yelled again.
"... Nothing. Our job is to assist the 'Owls'." Squall finally replied."It's none of our buisness."
As if she had heard Squall speaking, Quistis turned to face the camera, which had fallen over in all the commotion.
"Timber Team, are you watching?" she yelled."Get over here right now!" she commanded fircely. "You HAVE permission! I need your help!"
The screen went fuzzy again. Static rushed over the picture.
"Squall?" Zell said, worried.
"Squad leader?" Selphie chimed in.
Squall had no chioce now.
"This is going to be bad..." he thought.
Squall knew that Seifer might become even more hostile at seeing him. But Quistis had commanded that they come. Squall gestured for Zell and Selphie to follow, and they ran into the Station, ready to fight.
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As they entered, Squall saw that all the Galbadian soldiers had left the room. Only Quistis, Seifer, and his captive, President Deling, remained. Seifer was still poised to kill the president in a single move.
Quistis felt relived at the arrival of Squall's squad.
"We need to restrain him!" she ordered.
Squall looked at Seifer, and put his hand on his hip.
"We gotta try talking with him first..."
"What do you think you're doing?" he said to Seifer.
"It's obvious, ain't it!?" Seifer yelled back, his eyes darting around nervously. "What are you planning to do with this guy?"
"...Planning to do?" Squall said, half-bluffing. He wondered how Seifer knew about their mission.
"That's right..." Squall remebered. "He knows Rinoa. Is that why he's here?"
"I get it!" Zell blurted out. "You're Rinoa's ..."
"Shut your damn mouth! Chicken-wuss!" Seifer innterupted.
Zell held back his anger, shaking his fists.
Quistis turned to Squall, trying to explain what had happened.
"He broke out of the disciplinary room, injuring many in the process."
President Deling was frightened, and confused. Who were these people? How had his security failed so miserably?
Zell couldn't hold in his rage any longer. Not only had Seifer insulted him, but he had hurt people in Garden... His Garden.
"YOU STUPID IDIOT!" Zell screamed.
"Zell, please..." Squall thought. Zell was getting too emotional.
"Be quiet." Squall commanded harshly.
Zell ignored him.
"Instructor, I know...! You're gonna take this stupid idiot back to Garden, right!?"
"Shut up! NO!" Squall yelled. But it was too late. Zell had already said too much.
Zell stepped back, realizing what he had revealed.
"Oh my God...! What have I done!?" he thought.
President Deling understood completly now.
"I see... So you're all from Garden." he said slowly.
Zell put his hand to his mouth. He still couldn't belive he had let himself reveal Garden.
Seifer shook his head angrily. The president spoke again.
"Should anything happen to me, the entire Galnadian military will undoubtedly crush Garden." The president said, becoming sure of himself. "You can let go of me now."
Seifer galred at Zell.
"Nice going, Chicken-wuss!" he said. "You and your stupid big mouth!"
Zell was so upset at himself, that he didn't even get mad at Seifer for calling him a Chicken-wuss. Zell just hung his head in shame.
"Take care of this mess! Instructor and Mr. Leader!" Seifer called out as he backed away from them.
Quistis didn't move at first, But then she followed Seifer quickly. Squall ran after them.
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Seifer entered the backstage room still holding the president close. He stopped, looking around for the exit. All he could see was Broadcasting equipment laying on the floor.
"Dammit!" he thought.
Sudennly, a hazy, purple smog seemed to instantly fill the room. Seifer stood still, confused and surprised.
"Poor, poor boy..." A erily soft voice came from behind a stage. Seifer saw a woman step out from the stage curtain, dressed in a lavender gown. Her head was covered by a strange mask.
"Stay away from me!" Seifer yelled, inching the blade closer to the presidents neck.
The strange woman paused a moment, and then continued coxing Seifer.
"Such a confused little boy. Are you going to step forward? Retreat? You have to decide."
"Stay back!" Seifer warned.
Quistis ran into the room, noticing the strange haze. The woman saw her, and raised her hand. With that stroke, Quistis was frozen, unable to move.
"The boy in you is telling you to come." She began speaking to Seifer again. "The adult in you is telling you to back off."
She walked closer now. Seifer began to listen, mesmerized by her words.
"You can't make up your mind. You don't kinow the right answer." she paused again "You want help, don't you? You want to be saved from this predicament."
Seifer shook his head.
"What is she doing to me!?" he panicked.
"Shut up!" Seifer yelled.
"Don't be ashamed to ask for help. Besides, you're only a little boy."
She was inside him. Inside Seifer's head. He could barly resist her now.
"I'm not... Stop calling me a boy." he replied calmly. She was gaining control somehow.
"You don't want to be a boy anymore?" she asked, mocking surprise.
Seifer tetered on the edge of sanity, as the woman began manipulating his mind.
"I am not a BOY!" he yelled, his last attempt at fighting back.
The woman gestured, and Seifer released President Deling. The president ran off scared. But she had control of Seifer now. She gestured for him to come near her.
Squall and the others rushed in just then. They, too, became frozen in place.
"Come with me to a place of no return. Bid farewell to you childhood." she said.
Her voice echoed in Seifer's head, and he acted as if he understood now, what he felt he must do.
Seifer waved his gunblade in the air, smileing at the motionless group below him. He then dissapeared behind the stage curtain. The woman followed him.
After they had vanished, The purple haze* was lifted from the room. Quistis shook her head, and ran up to look behind the curtain. Nothing.
"What just happened...?" Quistis thought. She was keeping her cool, as usual, but what had happened was almost too much to take.
The others came to. As they were gathering themsleves, Rinoa sudennly appeard from a back room.
"Hey guys!" she said cheerfully.
She started looking around the room.
"Where's Seifer?" she asked. She had seen Seifer from the outside moiniter.
Squall looked at Quistis. She shrugged her shoulders.
"He just dissapeared behind those curtains...?" Squall thought.
"We don't know." he replied.
Rinoa looked at the ground, biting her lip.
"He'll be ok, right?" she asked.
She decided that she didn't want to hear the answer. She ran out of the building, followed by Quistis, Squall and the others.
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*This is one of my favorite songs...
End chap 10.
Well there you have it. This one was pretty long too.
You know, while I was editing this chapter, I was listening to a lot of 'Queen' and eating Ice cream... I don't know if that means anything, but after hearing 'Fat-bottem girls' about ten times over, on a suger-high, I think my mind got a little warped.
I have some concerns I would like to address about my charecter development, actually. I'm a little worried that I might be putting too much of my own personality into, what is basically my 'version' of, Squall. I think it's because I named Squall 'Nique' in the game ^_^. (Yes, if you haven't figured it out by now, I am writing this story while playing FF8, to get all the major dialog right) So I think I tend to want to make him more like me, or how I would want him to be, or somthing. Does any one have similar concerns? Is my 'Squall' staying true to the original? Is he being develpoed too fast? Are any other charecters bothering you? Please let me know if you have some comments or sugestions. (constructive critisim here, please folks.)
On that note, here's an odd little coincedence... Check out my profile compared to Squall's...
Name: Squall Leonhart.
Height: 5'8"
Age: 17
Hair: Dark Brown
Eye color: Light Blue.
Build: Medium. ( I'm assuming about 150 to 170 pounds. Pretty average...)
Favorite accessory(s): Necklace with strange animal on the pendent (yes I know what it is...), Ring with same Beast engraved on it. Leather gloves, Leather jacket.
Weapon of choice: Gunblade.
Squall is a lone wolf. He prefers to keep to himself, and is viewed by others as a cold person. Though in him resides a hidden pain, reveiling it to anyone would require trust. That trust requires a certain degree of freindship, which Squall is afraid of. By getting close to someone, then you open yourself up to be hurt and dissapointed. This is why Squall is so silent. He is afraid to open up any emotional ties, so he simply chooses to be anti-social.
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Name: Nicholas. (Full name? Online...? I don't think so... sorry!)
Height: 5'8"
Age: 17
Hair: Dark Brown
Eye color: Light Blue
Build: Medium. 165 pounds.
Favorite accessory(s): Necklace with a Bear-head-on-a-claw pendant (It kinda looks like Griver, oddly enough.) and another necklace with a Thunder bird pendant, (Hey! Thunder Bird... Quezecotl...?) Class Ring, Leather gloves and Leather Jacket.
Weapon of choice: Dude, if I had a weapon, you KNOW it would be some kinda kick-ass sword. Gunblades are definatly high on that list.
Well, I'm not quite like Squall in ALL respects, (thankfully!), but then again, I didn't go through what he did in his childhood. But, I'm pretty quiet, though it's more out of a desire to be mature and *ahem* more 'adult', than it is out of shyness, and I've been accused of anti-socialness many times becasue of that.(That's sort of like Squall, I suppose.) I prefer to work alone at most things, as I have trouble trusting my peers to get the job done, whatever it may be. And I have a large circle of friends which I've had since I was just a little guy. Three maybe Four... (FF8 vets will be able to draw the similaritys there easially...)
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Weird, huh!? I mean, I was able to identify with Squall pretty well the first time I played through the game, but I never realized how much physically I had in common with the charecter until now. Even some major personality traits I've noticed in myself, match Squall's...
It was really kind of odd when i realized this, not only because of my similaritys with Squall, but also because my best freind is... 6'2", 18 years old, and has short blond hair... ( *cough! cough!* Seifer! *cough! cough!*) Though I assure you, my friend has never given me a deep scare across my forehead, and he will never hold a sword up to the neck of a government official. (Unless, of course, he was ordered to do so by his 'Garden'... ^_^)
So anyway... yeah, that was weird. I know it sounds like I might be making this stuff up, but I swear it's all true! It's just somthing I noticed one day...! Any of you ever had that expirience? The feeling that you are so similar to a charecter in a book, movie, or video game, that it just kinda freaks you out?
Uhhh. okay this is going on way too long so I'll try to wrap it up here pretty quick... Just one more thing...
I've at times felt that my vocab in the story is somewhat repetative. I actually do have a fairly extensive vocabulary, but I seem to have trouble putting it in to practice. If you feel that I could use a little more variety in my grammer, reference me to an online thesaurous or something. it would be greatly appriciated.
Well, up next!
Chapter 11: Garden code: Article 8 line 7.
P.S. Now that more charecters are coming into play, there are options of how to divide up the the party members. This is difficult for me, because I have to decide who goes where in my story! I supose this won't affect any major stroyline points, but go ahead and drop me a line telling me who you want to see in the main group in which part of the story. Yes that's right! you have some control over this! But be sure to tell me why you want it that way, or I can't really consider it. I will most likely put the sugestion in to play when the story requiers that two groups be in two different places at once.
(Basically, the most entertaining, or most reasonable request 'wins'.)
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