Chapter 2
"Yo, Squall. How long till we're there?" Zell was jumping around the carriage 'swatting flies.'
"About five minutes less than the last time you asked." Squall's patience was growing thin.
"Geez, there's no need to be so moody."
"Yes there is, he's Squall," chipped in Irvine. "He has to be moody and grumpy. It's his job or something." Squall shot him a look before returning to staring out of the window.
"That's unfair. I'm sure he's not always this bad." Zell ruffled Squall's hair but found himself swiftly being launched across the room by Squall, who left his seat to sit as far away from Irvine and Zell as he could.
"We'd better be there soon," he thought to himself. "I don't know how much more of these two I can handle."
"When are we going to meet Quistis and Selphie?"
"You're not. I'm going alone," replied Squall.
"Why? That's not fair."
"It's orders. I actually bothered to read the file. I will meet Quistis alone, without you two, to avoid suspicion."
"When are you going?"
"Now. You two had better stay in the hotel, I don't have time to babysit." With that he walked out of the room, not even bothering to say goodbye.
Squall scanned the pub, looking for Quistis. He spotted her, sat at the table in the far corner, half hidden in shadows.
"Instructor Trepe."
"Squall."
"Do you have the information that I need?" She nodded.
"Selphie and I are now trusted members of the Forest Owls. We've been able to obtain detailed information on her schedule for the next few days. I believe you will have the best opportunity to perform the kidnapping tomorrow."
"After the meeting with Forest Fox?"
"That was exactly what I was thinking." She smiled at him, trying to make eye contact. "Isn't it funny?"
"What?"
"Never mind." Quistis had secretly liked Squall for years but he just wouldn't speak to her. "It's not like I haven't dropped any hints," she thought. "Why won't he even look at me?"
"Are you listening to me?" he demanded.
"Sorry?"
"I asked who this Forest Fox was."
"Oh, right. She's the leader of another resistance group. The Forest Owls wish to forge an alliance with them. Do you think that's why Caraway wants Miss Heartilly kidnapped? To stop the merging of resistance group." He shrugged.
"It's not my concern, and it's not any of yours either. All that matters is the mission."
"Do you have a plan?"
"Yes. SeeD have a specially commissioned train in Timber to ensure a quick and speedy escape. As soon as the meeting begins, we'll bring the train into the station, along Miss Heartilly's route back to her base. There is a perfect sniper spot for Irvine on the Timber Maniacs building. I trust you and Selphie will be with her at this time."
"We will. What do you need us to do?"
"Create a distraction. I don't want anyone to see me kidnap her. I should only need a few seconds to drag her aboard the train. We'll leave immediately. There is a rental car parked just outside Timber for Selphie, Irvine and yourself. You'll need to find it and drive it to this location." He handed her a map with a cross marked on it. "We cannot afford to wait for you to board the train inside Timber, the priority is that we escape with Miss Heartilly. That is why you must meet up with us later. Understand?"
"Yes, sir." It killed Quistis to know that Squall outranked her in mission situations due to his higher SeeD rank. She was used to being an instructor, and hated being on missions, especially with Squall. He was the last person she wanted to take orders from.
"Be ready tomorrow." He stood up and strode out of the bar with Quistis staring after him in a daze.
"Yo, Squall. How long till we're there?" Zell was jumping around the carriage 'swatting flies.'
"About five minutes less than the last time you asked." Squall's patience was growing thin.
"Geez, there's no need to be so moody."
"Yes there is, he's Squall," chipped in Irvine. "He has to be moody and grumpy. It's his job or something." Squall shot him a look before returning to staring out of the window.
"That's unfair. I'm sure he's not always this bad." Zell ruffled Squall's hair but found himself swiftly being launched across the room by Squall, who left his seat to sit as far away from Irvine and Zell as he could.
"We'd better be there soon," he thought to himself. "I don't know how much more of these two I can handle."
"When are we going to meet Quistis and Selphie?"
"You're not. I'm going alone," replied Squall.
"Why? That's not fair."
"It's orders. I actually bothered to read the file. I will meet Quistis alone, without you two, to avoid suspicion."
"When are you going?"
"Now. You two had better stay in the hotel, I don't have time to babysit." With that he walked out of the room, not even bothering to say goodbye.
Squall scanned the pub, looking for Quistis. He spotted her, sat at the table in the far corner, half hidden in shadows.
"Instructor Trepe."
"Squall."
"Do you have the information that I need?" She nodded.
"Selphie and I are now trusted members of the Forest Owls. We've been able to obtain detailed information on her schedule for the next few days. I believe you will have the best opportunity to perform the kidnapping tomorrow."
"After the meeting with Forest Fox?"
"That was exactly what I was thinking." She smiled at him, trying to make eye contact. "Isn't it funny?"
"What?"
"Never mind." Quistis had secretly liked Squall for years but he just wouldn't speak to her. "It's not like I haven't dropped any hints," she thought. "Why won't he even look at me?"
"Are you listening to me?" he demanded.
"Sorry?"
"I asked who this Forest Fox was."
"Oh, right. She's the leader of another resistance group. The Forest Owls wish to forge an alliance with them. Do you think that's why Caraway wants Miss Heartilly kidnapped? To stop the merging of resistance group." He shrugged.
"It's not my concern, and it's not any of yours either. All that matters is the mission."
"Do you have a plan?"
"Yes. SeeD have a specially commissioned train in Timber to ensure a quick and speedy escape. As soon as the meeting begins, we'll bring the train into the station, along Miss Heartilly's route back to her base. There is a perfect sniper spot for Irvine on the Timber Maniacs building. I trust you and Selphie will be with her at this time."
"We will. What do you need us to do?"
"Create a distraction. I don't want anyone to see me kidnap her. I should only need a few seconds to drag her aboard the train. We'll leave immediately. There is a rental car parked just outside Timber for Selphie, Irvine and yourself. You'll need to find it and drive it to this location." He handed her a map with a cross marked on it. "We cannot afford to wait for you to board the train inside Timber, the priority is that we escape with Miss Heartilly. That is why you must meet up with us later. Understand?"
"Yes, sir." It killed Quistis to know that Squall outranked her in mission situations due to his higher SeeD rank. She was used to being an instructor, and hated being on missions, especially with Squall. He was the last person she wanted to take orders from.
"Be ready tomorrow." He stood up and strode out of the bar with Quistis staring after him in a daze.