Squall paced like a caged lion in the outer room of the train, unable even to grant himself access to the inside without an electronic ticket. Nida and Seifer were both inside, he knew--and he also knew that since through the outer room was the only way out, he would be seeing them both again as soon as they reached Timber. Still, it didn't help his disposition any that he had no idea what was going on.

Well, he reasoned, at least it's not fighting. I should be able to hear it if a bloodbath develops....

...then again, Nida trained as an assassin. ...oh, hell.

The train ride was incredibly monotonous, punctuated only by brief flashes of light as the window window passed one of the tunnel's lights. A low rumble echoed up from the point where the wheels met the track, but that had long since faded to background noise. And he had been pacing almost continuously.

It came as a distinct relief when the train intercom broke in over the speaker system on the wall.

"Next stop Timber, Timber.... Next stop Timber, Timber...."

There was a brief lurch as the train rose from the tunnel and onto the countryside surrounding Timber, and the light spilling in through the window made him wince. The certainty that dealing with Seifer again was going to put him in an even worse mood wasn't making him feel any better.

Thus, it came as a sort of mixed blessing when the door slid open to allow Nida--and only Nida--through.

Nida looked resigned, and a bit annoyed. "Yeah," he started. "...he says that he's not going to negotiate terms until you get off the train."

Squall shook his head. "What is there to negotiate?"

"Well, I explained to him why we were after him, and he said something about not needing SeeD protection, and I insisted, and he said something about following Fujin and Raijin out here and how we weren't going to stop him. And I think I got him to agree to come back to Garden once he's found them, but I think that backing him into a corner wouldn't be the best way to press our advantage. So I honestly think that you might just want to get off the train."

Squall turned the information over in his head for a moment. "...what do you mean, he's following Fujin and Raijin?"

"What, you think he told me everything?" Nida shook his head. "All he told me was that they left to go to Centra, and he wants to find them. Like I know why."

Squall shook his head. "Our orders--"

"--probably, knowing Cid, say something about how we're to bring Seifer back safely. And, knowing Cid, I'll also bet that there's no specifics in there about a deadline of any sort. And, really, how long to you think carting him back to Garden will last if he's dead-set on going after those two?"

After a moment, Squall was forced to admit that Nida had a point. "...fine," he said darkly, wondering how much more he was going to have to concede to Seifer. "But as soon as we find Fujin and Raijin--"

Nida held up his hands in a warding gesture. "Hey, discuss that with Seifer. I'm not his agent."

Squall glowered. However, finding nothing else to say, he turned and got off the train.

-


Raijin was tired.

He had a feeling that he was meant to be tired. He had a feeling that Fujin was trying to wear him out and leave him behind. He knew she wanted to be left alone.

He also knew that, under the circumstances, it might be best not to leave her.

Still, he was really beginning to wish that there was a train going to--wherever they were going.

"Hey, Fuj'?"

"WHAT?"

That was a change, at least--she was speaking to him now.

"Where're we headin'?"

Fujin made a little growl, but didn't say anything.

"There's nothin' out here, ya know? I mean, there's the Plains, but there's nothin' here. I think we should go home, ya know? It's probably not the same guy, anyway."

Fujin ignored him.

Raijin sped up a little, drawing up alongside her. "C'mon," he plead. "At leat tell me where we're goin'?"

"LANKER DOCKS."

"An' then?"

"CENTRA."

The word almost made him fall over. "C-Centra? Why? There's nothin' there, Fuj'! Just rocks and dirt an' stuff, ya know!"

Fujin stopped, turned, and fixed him with a glare strong enough to ignite wood. "THEN GO."

Raijin deflated. "Man... Fuj', ya know I can't just leave you! Wh-what'll Seifer say?"

"APATHY."

"It's--it's just crazy, ya know?" Raijin said, returning to his tactic of convincing her it wasn't a good idea. "What're we gonna do in Centra? Where're we goin'?"

"OASIS KALM."

Raijin jumped. "Oasis K--"

"QUIET." Fujin turned on her heel and stalked off. Raijin ran to catch up with her.

"That's all the way in the Desert, ya know! It'll take forever! An'--an' it's dangerous, ya know!"

Fujin turned again, swinging an arm around to point back at Timber. "THEN GO."

Raijin hung his head. "Ya know I'm not gonna."

"THEN, QUIET."

Fujin walked away. Raijin, utterly defeated, had no choice but to follow.