Chapter 15: Getting to the Ragnarok
Selphie woke up first with the morning light shining in her face; she slowly got out of the bed trying not to get blinded by the sun, while being careful not to wake Rinoa asleep next to her. Her neck really ached, 'Maybe I shouldn't have thrown that pillow at Cloud last night' she thought as she stepped over his sprawled out body on the floor on the way to the bathroom. He seemed to be asleep, but it was hard to tell with those dark sunglasses on; why would anyone want to sleep with them on? Strange, he still had his gloves on too. Looking guiltily around to see if anyone was watching her, she reached to Cloud's face and took hold of the glasses. Suddenly a hand flew up and caught hold her arm with an iron grip. Selphie squeaked loudly, luckily no one woke up to the high-pitched sound, although Cloud did grimace as though it hurt his ears.
"What are you doing?" He asked coldly, squeezing her wrist slightly harder
"Erm…nothing…."
"Don't look like nothing, dear." Cloud hissed, his eyes narrowing behind the sunglasses.
"I…just wanted to see your eyes."
"My eyes?" He asked obviously shocked, "Why?"
Selphie shrugged, letting go of her grip on the rim of the creepy glasses, "I've just not seen the before, what colour as they? Are they red like Vincent's? Can I see them?"
"No"
"No, what?"
"No they're not red and no you can't see them."
"How come?" She tried to pull her arm out of his grasp, but his hands were strong after so much fighting practise with his overly large broad sword, she couldn't pull away from him. Selphie decided to simply ignore his grip on her, seeing as she couldn't make him let go anyway. Ironic how she'd managed to stop an evil Sorceress from the future wanting to compress time, but couldn't remove the grip of a simple cadet.
"Do you always ask so many questions?"
"Do you never answer any questions?"
Cloud gave her a half smile, and then let go of her arm, making her fall backwards onto the floor.
"Ouch. Come on!!!" she wined while rubbing her wrist, not wanting to rub where it actually hurt in front of him.
"No"
"Cloud said no, Selphie, please respect his wishes." Said a soft voice coming from one of the beds. Vincent sat up, the bed sheet falling around his waist as he did so, his golden arm in sharp contrast to his pale skin. He saw her looking and pulled up the sheet slightly as though embarrassed. Selphie wondered how he had got the artificial limb, she didn't believe the whole 'car crash' thing he had talked about yesterday, after all, what sort of freak doctor would give a boy a metal claw instead of an arm?
"Oh hey Vinny!"
"Vinny?" he repeated, frowning at her, that name was reserved for AVALANCHE members only to use, her using it sounded…wrong…just as it had done when Zell had called him it only a couple of days ago.
"Vinny, make Cloud show me his eyes!"
Vincent and Cloud looked at each other. Silent communication passed between the two that Selphie didn't understand before Vincent broke eye contact with his brother.
"Its Cloud's choice of what to do or not to, not mine."
"Vinny!" she wined again
"Don't call me Vinny, my name is Vincent." He almost snapped
"Why can't I call you it?"
"Oh for Gaia's sake Selphie! Some of us are trying to sleep over here!" Came Quistis's annoyed voice from her bed, "Leave them alone and get ready, we'll be going after we get breakfast. Let the little boys have their secrets if they want them."
Cloud and Vincent glared at her 'Boys?!?!' Cloud thought 'I'm 22, and Vincent's like 60!'
Selphie sighed in defeat, before grinning madly and running into the bathroom to take a shower and use up all the hot water, leaving none for the rest…that would show them for being mean to her.
45 minutes later
Cloud, Vincent and the Gaians were sat around a large table in the dinning area of the Inn. Each had a full English breakfast of eggs, toast, beans, sausages and bacon, and a mug of tea, bar Vincent who was sat with a coffee and was idly stirring the drink with a glass spoon as though lost in thought, his left arm hidden in the new long black coat he was wearing.
"Ewww" said Selphie after seeing what he was drinking, "How can you drink coffee like that? There's no sugar or milk or anything in it!"
"…I am quite aware of that."
"Can't you talk like a normal teenager? Say 'Shut up foo, I like it, so mind your own damn business!'"
"…" 'Odd, Barret or Cid would have said something similar to that had they been asked…' Vincent pondered but refused to answer to annoying girl.
"Say it"
"…"
"Come on!"
"..."
"Vinny, say something!"
"Go away you little bitch, can't you see we don't wanna talk?" Chaos snarled from deep within Vincent's throat having sensed his Master's annoyance. The ex-Turk covered his mouth with his hands in disbelief and embarrassment, then all but ran from the room, leaving the rest, bar Cloud, gaping after him.
"At least he doesn't put lard in it." Cloud muttered to himself.
An hour later the food had been finished, bags packed, and the group were on the their way back to the Ragnarok. Vincent had returned by this time, Chaos once more under his control and behind his mental barriers that kept the beast at bay. Vincent trailed behind the others, his natural (or rather unnatural) instincts keeping him protecting their backs as he had always automatically done with AVALANCHE. This way he would be the first person to be hit if a back attack occurred. Although the SeeDs were obviously strong, they were no match for either him or Cloud; therefore he needed to keep his guard up, although in reality he never really let it down. This lot never would have survived a trip to the Northern Crater, never mind reached Sephiroth had they been back on Planet during the Meteor crisis. Although with both Cloud and himself laden down like pack chocobos, he knew that their reflexes would be seriously slowed down until they had rid themselves of the clothes and other things the girls had bought the day before. But he was really trailing behind in case Chaos got annoyed again and decided to butt in, there was no fooling himself and he knew it.
After about half an hour of walking through the high-tech city, they arrived at the Presidential palace, if Cloud had done what Vincent thought he had done the night before then it wasn't wise to be here, but this was where the transport was as so they were too. Surprisingly the palace looked like it did yesterday, he had been expecting huge crowds of news reporters and policemen searching for clues. There were a few civilian men about, but not many, that meant that no one knew about the President's death, they were covering it up, or Cloud hadn't gone through with it in the end. Having worked at the corrupt Shin-Ra for years, he guessed the cover up story was the most likely, after all Cloud had been a mercenary for a while and so would happily kill if ordered to, as their boss Sephiroth, had commanded.
Quistis had walked up to the front door to ask for them to be let in so they could get the Ragnarok from the private docking bay. Vincent stood at the opposite end of the glass bridge from her leaning against a low wall, and put down some of the heavier bags. It all kind of reminded him of the high bridges in Mako reactors, and the long drop to the slums below, he hoped this bridge was safer than those. He'd heard of when Cloud fell off one and fell to the Sector 5 church beneath – in fact it had been the butt of many of AVALANCHE's jokes, even though it hadn't really been his fault. His enhanced hearing could easily pick up the conversation Quisits was having with a group of about seven guards, or soldiers, who were blocking the way, filtering it out from the one the other Gaian's were having. It seemed like the guards ('Were there any guards here yesterday?' he didn't know) were refusing them entry, and Quistis was currently trying to get them to allow her to see Laguna ('The President?' he wondered) so he could sort this out and let them in so they could get their aircraft. 'Not likely' he thought as she carried on trying to convince the guards to let them in, 'Laguna's as dead as Hojo by now, and we had to kill him three times before he died.'
Cloud sat down with his back against one of the low glass walls, the amount of glass in this city was making him slightly nervous. He hated glass buildings and objects, it reminded him too much of Hojo's lab in the Shin-Ra mansion back in Nibelheim. Vincent seemed to be off in his own little world for the time being, Cloud wondered how he could so easily do that, ignoring everything going on around him. He took out a materia from his Escort Guard, the strong magnetism keeping it in place barely noticed with his enhanced strength, and studied it carefully.
Materia had condensed Lifestream or Mako inside it, depending on where it was made, which made it glow gently. But the Knights of the Round materia seemed to be glowing incredibly brightly, much more so than normal. He sensed Selphie coming over and tightened his fist around the red materia, the girl reminded him of Yuffie, and you could never be too careful with materia when she was around.
"What's that?" she asked, pointing at his closed fist where the materia could still be seen shining through his gloved fingers.
"Nothing." He re-equipped the materia back into his armour, immediately feeling the effects of increased MP but reduced HP it caused.
Selphie sighed, "Cloud, what's with all the secrets, you can trust us you know. Garden is like a family, if you can't trust us then who can you trust?"
"I don't have a family." Cloud deadpanned
"What about Vincent?" Selphie frowned
"Erm…well apart from him of course." Cloud said, mentally kicking himself for forgetting such an important lie. 'How much dumber could I get?' he thought angrily, 'I have to at least remember my lies to carry out the mission as ordered.'
"Right…"
Selphie watched Cloud in silent thought for a while before prodding the Escort Guard, making Cloud move his arm away from her.
"Don't touch it."
"What is it? A bangle?"
Cloud sighed, getting bored of all the 'what' questions he was being asked. "Its an Escort Guard, duh."
"Escort Guard? What's that?"
Cloud rolled his eyes, if she said 'what' just one more time…"It protects me from Lighting, Earth, Water and Poison attacks." 'And keeps my trusty Master Materia, Knights of the Round, mastered Double Cut and steal materia safe.' He added, fingering each of the orbs in turn.
"How?"
"I dunno, it just does." He said coldly, wanting to drop the subject. The mechanics of status defence wasn't something normally taught in SOLDIER, especially to a lowly 3rd class like him.
"Why don't you just junction your magic to your status defence like the rest of us?"
Cloud blinked at her, 'What the hell is she going on about?' "Erm…why not?"
"Whatever, Cloud" Selphie said, pinching one of Squall's favourite sayings.
"Why do you keep annoying me?" he asked.
"No reason." Selphie blushed.
Just as Vincent was about to go over and help Quistis out, she gave up arguing with the guards and returned to the others, much to Vincent's amusement, he hadn't gathered her for being someone as stubborn as that, she'd been arguing for almost 40 minutes by now.
"Follow me." She whispered to everyone once they had gathered closer to her, "They wont let us into the palace, and wont let us see Laguna, Kiros or Ward, so we're gonna sneak in and get the Ragnarok, ok?" She then calmly walked over to one side of the palace where a high electric fence was erected as though she wasn't about to break in. knowing that the others would follow.
No one said anything, but instead started to edge their way to the side of the building where the guards wouldn't see them, and although the guards eyed them suspiciously, none moved to see where they were going. It was a simple plan, climb the fence, stick to the side of the building, and cross the parade area to get to the Ragnarok once they reached the end corner of the building. Vincent wondered if it would work, his naturally pessimistic nature preparing him for the worst.
Cloud and Vincent eyed the electric fence apprehensively wondering how they were going to get over with all the bags and Cloud's huge Ultima Weapon without making any noise. Cloud had it worst out of the two, being shorter and having the bulky weapon on his back. Rinoa had an answer though; she cast Float on each person, and silently lifted them over the fence. Vincent raised an eyebrow at this, the girl obviously had magical experience, but how had she managed to cast the magic if she had no materia equipped? He'd never heard of Float magic before, it would have been helpful all those times AVALANCHE had fought monsters that caused Earthquakes, or even back in Mideel. Cloud and Tifa would never had fallen in the Lifestream is they could've cast that. He wondered briefly if she was an Ancient, but quickly threw the thought away, Aeris had been the last of her kind. 'I wonder if it's to do with this Drawing thing that the girl Sephiroth…interrogated… mentioned back in Midgar's ruins.' He decided to ask someone about it later, maybe Zell, he probably wouldn't think too much about not knowing about magic, Vincent idly wondered if he ever thought about anything other than hotdogs and fighting. Realising his thoughts were drifting away from the situation at hand, Vincent pulled himself out of them and focused on the others who were creeping stealthy away.
Together they slipped from shadow to shadow, slowly making their way to the red ship. Cloud and Vincent made the most noise, due to the amount of shopping they were both carrying, earning them stern looks from Quistis. They kept to the side of the huge building, practically hugging the walls as they went, keeping low as not to be seen from a window.
Rinoa, who was in the lead, held up her right hand as she reached the end of the building, it was a SeeD signal for everyone to stop and get down. The SeeDs immediately knelt down, Cloud and Vincent knew a similar signal from their Shin-Ra training, so understood what the dark haired girl meant. They got down like the SeeD, only laid on the ground instead of kneeling, as they had been taught. By now the Ragnarok could be seen straight ahead, a huge open tarmac area was between them and it, anyone would be able to see them crossing if they looked, it seemed tantalisingly close. But to a trained sniper like Vincent, it would seem like shooting fish in a barrel had he been on lookout in a window. He subconsciously felt the rifle Irvine had given him; Heaven's Peace was solidly reassuring under his coat.
An Esthar soldier walked from around the corner after a few minutes, he or she was wearing the usual uniform; white and blue. The combination would have made Vincent chuckle if he had been the laughing type. How where you supposed to look intimidating and move stealthily if you practically glowed in the dark and looked like you were wearing a poor man's space suit?
The soldier walked straight past them, training in this world was certainly lax. The newest recruit into SOLDIER or the Turks would easily have spotted them, but this…joke of a man didn't even notice them only a few meters away. Vincent noticed Cloud stuffing a gloved fist into his mouth, trying not to laugh out loud at the soldier.
The soldier soon turned around and walked back the way he had come, he must have been on some sort of guard duty. If all the soldiers were like that, they should have no problems getting to the Ragnarok. Rinoa motioned for everyone to move closer to her at the corner of the building she had been peering around.
"There's a gap between here and the Ragnarok, we're gonna have to make a break for it, Selphie first seeing as you've got the keys and know all the codes. When you get there, be ready for the rest of us, so we can set off ASAP" She whispered. Quistis seemed happy to be taking orders from the SeeD, as did Selphie, Vincent just couldn't get to grips with the whole leadership thing in this group, it seemed to change every few minutes.
Selphie nodded seriously in response to Rinoa's statement and moved past everyone to look around the corner, her normally child-like behaviour gone. Vincent assumed she hadn't seen anyone for she suddenly sprang forward and raced towards the huge red ship. Once she was halfway across the tarmac, Quistis ran dragging Cloud with her, even though he was carrying bags, he easily kept up. Only Rinoa and himself were left now. Vincent prepared to move out once Cloud and Quistis had reached half way, but was stopped by Rinoa's arm as he prepared to leave the comfort of the shadows.
"Hang on a minute Vincent" she hissed quietly
Vincent kept silent and moved back slightly into the shadows to keep from being seen if someone was watching, he raised an eyebrow at her, wondering what she wanted.
"I know you and Cloud are up to something, so don't even try to deny it. I can't say what, 'cause I don't know, but you're defiantly up to something, and I plan to find it out. I also know you did something to Zell's SeeD in training, it's a bit of a coincidence that they both mysteriously vanish then you and your brother appear from no where with weird clothes and talking about places we've never heard from before and take their places."
"I do not believe that this is the time for this conversation."
"Did you even hear what I said?"
"Indeed I did. You do what you wish to, as will I." He replied coldly, 'oooooo…déjà vu,' he thought, 'I said something like this earlier, hang on...did I just think that?' Vincent pondered thinking back to his conversation with Selphie that morning. ' My mind is not what it was before Cosmo Canyon, I'm starting to feel as though I am really about 15, scary thought.' He could feel Chaos nodding in the back of his mind in agreement.
"Sometimes, I don't think you're 15 at all Valentine." Rinoa said ironically while starring into his eyes, as though they could give her answers she sought, but quickly broke contact with the red orbs feeling unnerved just looking at them, "Just watch you're back Vincent, because they're others who wont be as open about this as me. Oh yeah, and don't you ever speak to Selphie like you did back at the inn or you'll be doing push ups until your hair turns grey, understand?"
Vincent ignored her blathering easily enough, she was no match on Yuffie for ramblings and random telling offs, and he could ignore her without difficulty. Everyone else by this time was in the Ragnarok waiting for them both, so he quickly sprang out of the shadows while Rinoa was still yapping on at him, and ran towards the ship. The bags weighed him down as little as they had done for Cloud. Although to his ears they caused a lot of noise compared to his normal movements and made him glance around in case anyone had noticed, all the windows were empty that faced his direction. And a single closed door was the only entrance or exit to the back of the building he could see.
Rinoa glared at Vincent's back as he ran away, there was something just not right about that boy, and she was going to find out what it was. Maybe Quistis would help, after all now she was an instructor again she spent a lot of time with students and sorting out their problems, she knew how to be subtle and when not to be. As though deciding to ask for help lifted a weight of her shoulders, she ran to the Ragnarok with newly found optimism in her heart.
Balamb Garden, Basement level 1, Commander's office
Squall was slowly making his way through yet more paperwork, he really needed a secretary or something else he'd never get anything remotely interesting done ever again. He sighed and leaned back in his chair while staring at the simple gunblade on the wall, that was what he had started off with all those years ago, the first weapon he'd ever had. It would always be his favourite; even the more powerful Lion Heart that was currently resting beside his desk was no match for his first weapon. As he was reminiscing about the first monster he had ever killed with the gunblade his phone started to ring, he considered ignoring it but in the end picked it up with a sigh.
"Hello, is this Mr Squall Loire? This is Doctor Kisby." An unknown man's voice said on the other end of the line.
"Erm…sorry no doctor, this is Commander Squall Leonhart of Balamb Garden speaking."
"Leonhart? Not Loire?"
"No, its Leonhart" Squall frowned
There was a silence on the other end as though he'd been put on hold, or the mouthpiece had been covered up.
"Do you know a Laguna Loire?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Well he has put you down as next of kin on his personal records, but as Squall Lorie not Leonhart."
"…"
"…Are you still there Mr Loir-Leonhart?"
"…Yes…"
"Are there any Squall Loire's there?"
"…No"
"Well, Mr Lorie is in a critical condition at the Esthar Heart Hospital, and as you are his only living relative would you please come down and see him, we have some things to discuss that would be best to do in person."
"Only living relative?" Squall repeated, "I'm sorry sir but I think you've made a mistake, I'm…an orphan, I have no relatives." 'Especially not bumbling morons like Laguna' he mentally added, 'I'd rather be an orphan than be related to him.'
"Well, according to his records you are related, would you please come down ASAP. Mr Lorrie is in room 34A on floor 6." Squall quickly made a note it on the back of his hand.
"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can, doctor."
"Right, oh, and as this is the President we're talking about, please keep this conversation private. The Esthar government is having a hard enough time keeping everything under wraps, understand?"
"Yes Sir."
"Goodbye then Mr Loire, we will be waiting for you." There was a click followed by a soft buzzing noise indicating the man had hung up. Squall slowly did the same.
Squall stared at the phone for a long time after the call; he had no family, no next of kin. Laguna didn't either, he'd been married once, but she'd died a long time ago, how Squall couldn't remember but he knew she had. 'I wonder why I was written down as Squall Loire, I bet it wasn't even me the doctor was talking about, it was probably another Squall he wanted, not me…then again Squall isn't exactly a common name. Maybe I should go, he said they'd be waiting for me…an odd way to put it.' He contemplated whether to go or not for a long time, and in the end decided to, Ellone would have wanted him to go, and he was friends with the man…kind of…plus he'd be able to sort out the whole wrong surname thing. He grabbed hold of the Lion Heart and headed out of his office while mentally checking he was fully stocked up on magic.
"I'm getting too old for this sorta thing…" he muttered as he headed for the elevator.
Author's notes:
Sorry about the long update time, it just been exams and coursework for ages! -sigh- at least the exams are over, and my c/w deadlines in about 2 weeks, the joy….so it'll b back 2 normal after that, yey. Something just didn't seem…right…about this chapter, so I've spent a while trying 2 figure out what's wrong with it, hope its beta now anyways.
I just wanna thank everyone who's reviewed to this and been pestering me to update! Especially Vincents-soul, Falcon Strife, the Omnipotent, Chris, Kyle and everyone else who's reviewed or constantly nagged me since I started.
Keep reviewing, u make it all worthwhile! (even if its just to say that you're reading it) ^_^