Ok, I made a few changes here. The Gateway team will not go back to apologize to Rinoa, that will come later, and Caraway has a different way of explaining the plan. Anyway, it didn't seem that too many people like the Tomb of the Unknown King part of the game. But since I've played through the game so many times, and I know how to do it pretty fast. Just take every right turn you come to. Then once you've hit every dead end and did what was needed to be done, just head for the center.
Griever Weapon: Afan of all trades. Don't forget the ladies.
jasmine32: I knew Irvine was popular, but I had no idea.
JadeAlmasy: Here's the update.
QueenAdreena: That was probably your best chapter in my opinion. It was one of those things where I could say, "After it was all over, I needed a cigarette."
CHAPTER 17: RECIPIE FOR ASSASINATION
The gang returned to Deling City, hoping they had the right code as they approached the guard at Caraway's gate.
"I think we have the code number." Squall told him.
"Yes, what is it?" The guard asked.
"Is it 152?" Squall asked. The rest of the gang crossed their fingers, except Rinoa, who felt pretty confident about it.
"That's correct!" the guard said, "Please, go inside." Squall approached the front door of Caraway's mansion, raising his hand to knock, however, Rinoa walked ahead of him and opened the door herself, she seemed agitated just to be here. They waited in Caraway's den for a few minutes. Quistis and Rinoa waited patiently on the couch, Selphie stared out the window, Irvine casually slumped down behind the desk, putting his feet up while Zell began to pace back and forth.
"Hmph, he always does this," Rinoa said. "So discourteous, making people wait. I'm gonna go complain."
"Are you sure that's a good Idea?" Squall asked.
"Don't worry about it, this is my house too." she said, causing everyone to look at her strangely.
"You mean that General Caraway is your..." Zell began.
"Don't you DARE say it." Rinoa said. "Just wait here."
"Is something going to happen to you?" Squall asked.
"I don't know," Rinoa said. "Just treat this like an order from your client." Rinoa left to find General Caraway.
"What the hell's going on here?" Zell wondered. No one could answer him as General Caraway entered the room, alone.
"Where's Rinoa?" Squall asked.
"She has not received the type of training you all have and may become a burden," the general said. "It's for the best that she stays out of this operation."
"So, you're Rinoa's father?" Selphie said, asking the sixty-four thousand dollar question. Caraway stared at the ground before answering.
"I can't even remember the last time she called me that." He said with regret.
"So the father's a top military officer and the daughter's the head of a resistance faction?" Zell asked. "That's bad, REAL bad."
"Yes, it's a serious problem, but it doesn't concern you, it's our problem." Caraway said. "Besides, we have far more important things to worry about."
"Still, once our mission is accomplished here, we're working for Rinoa as per our contract," Squall said. "I don't know the situation between you and your daughter, but please, do not interfere when the time comes."
"And if I do?" Caraway asked.
"We're all SeeDs here," Squall said, "We'll act accordingly."
"Hey hey, fellas." Irvine said, grabbing their attention. "We're here to knock off the Sorceress, right? So let's get down to business."
"Very well, please follow me." Caraway said, leading them into his basement. On the Table sat a model of Deling City.
"I'm sure you know about the Galbadian Government reaching an agreement with Sorceress Edea." Caraway said. Somehow, the name Edea felt familiar to Squall. "There is going to be a ceremony tomorrow night to commemorate the event. It'll be held at the presidential residence. During the ceremony, you will split up into two teams and get in position. The Gateway Team and the Sniper Team. The Gateway Team will enter the gateway in the center of the city and standby. The Sniper team will wait at the front of the Presidential Residence for the ceremony to start." Caraway took out a laser pointer and pointed to a spot in front of the presidential residence.
"The Sniper Team will wait here on this spot." Caraway said. "Once the sorceress completes her speech, a parade will begin. Once the gate opens, the sniper team will move in. With the parade drawing the attention of the crown and the guards, it should be easy to move about. Head for the roof of the residence to gain entry. In the corridor by the sorceress room, there is a hatch leading to the clock tower, where I have planted a sniper rifle. Stand by in the clock tower until 2000 hours. The sorceress will be riding on a float, where it will circle the perimeter of the city. Once it comes back, it will head for the gateway, where the Gateway team comes into play. At exactly 2000 hours, the Float will pass under the gateway. Your job is to flip the switch and cause the gates to drop, trapping the sorceress inside. Also, the Carousel clock will rise from the presidential residence, carrying the sniper team with it. With the sorceress trapped, you are to take the open shot."
"OK, leave it to us." Squall said.
"Meet back here tomorrow night at 1830," Caraway said. We'll hold a final meeting then." With that, Squall, Zell, Irvine, Quistis, and Selphie headed for the hotel. Rinoa however, would sleep in her own bed.
The group spent most of the next day buying Items they may need. Stuff like potions and ammo. Squall couldn't help but wonder if Rinoa was getting along with her father at home, but from the way she seemed to act, he could easily guess that she hated him. Once 6 p.m. rolled around, the group headed back for Caraway's mansion. Caraway greeted them at the door, and then led them inside to talk in private.
"It's time to form the teams," the General said. "The sniper and the Leader of this operation will form the Sniper Team. The leaders role is vital."
"What do you mean?" Squall asked.
"If the plan fails for some reason," Caraway said, "Or should the sniper miss, the leader must carry out a direct assault against the sorceress. The plan was devised carefully because we intended this to be a covert operation. But our ultimate goal is to eliminate the sorceress, and this must be achieved at all cost, even if they uncover our identities. So who's going to lead this operation?" All eyes fell on Squall.
"I will." Squall said.
"Fine, I'll leave the rest up to you." Caraway said.
"Irvine and I will make up the sniper team." Squall said. "The gateway team will be Quistis, Zell, and Selphie."
"So who's going to lead the gateway team?" Selphie asked. Zell began to shadow box, obviously wanting the job. However, Quistis was more experienced. Even if the Garden Faculty didn't trust her leadership qualities, Squall did.
"Instuc...Quistis Trepe, you're in charge." Squall said. Zell put his head down, disappointed.
"Okay, leave it to me." Quistis said. General Caraway began to lead them out. Squall and Irvine were the only ones to get out when Rinoa ran in to speak with them.
"Finally got out of there," Rinoa said, "Did that man say something? Hey, where's Squall?"
"I'm sorry Rinoa," Said Quistis, "But we have to get going."
"Hold on a sec," Rinoa said as she whipped out a piece of jewelry. "Take a look at THIS! This is called an Odine Bangle, I found it in that mans room." For some reason, Rinoa only referred to her father as 'that man.'
"Whatcha gonna do with it?" Selphie asked.
"It's supposed to suppress the sorceress powers." Rinoa said, "But its effects are still unknown, so I don't think they're going to use it for this message."
"If it's Odine brand, it should be pretty effective," Zell said, "They're number 1 when it comes to magical goods."
"Right!" Rinoa said.
"You're planning on having the sorceress put it on?" Quistis asked, getting that stern tone in her voice again. "Who? When? How?"
"That's what we're going to discuss!" Rinoa said, equally as stern.
"We don't have time!" Quistis said. "Squall and Irvine are already standing by, we have a mission to carry out too. This isn't a father-daughter quarrel. This isn't a game!" With that, Quistis left, Zell and Selphie close behind. Luckily, Caraway, Squall, and Irvine hadn't gotten too far.
"Who said this was a game?" Rinoa whispered to herself. "It's not like I don't have a plan."
"I'll make the first charge when we make the full-on attack," Squall said. "I'll try to buy some time."
"That won't be necessary," Irvine said, "I'll get the job done." Caraway continued to lead the pack to their positions before Irvine spoke up again.
"So like, is it true that SeeDs aren't supposed to question their mission?" Irvine asked.
"Why do you care?" Squall said, curiously.
"So like, if you knew your enemies were pure evil, you'd get more pumped up to fight them, right?" Irvine asked.
"A purely evil enemy?" Squall asked. "Good and evil are not what separates us, both sides blame one another, there is no good side or bad side." As Squall finished his Sentence, the 6 of them made it to the gateway.
"The Gateway team can enter through this door," Caraway said. "Climb the ladder to find the control console for the gates. Drop them at the instant the sorceress passes through." Quistis, Zell, and Selphie entered as Caraway led Squall and Irvine to the presidential residence.
"You two will wait here." He said.
"General, why has the sorceress decided to have such an extravagant parade?" Squall asked.
"She wants to establish her place in Galbadia Garden, since she has chosen it to serve as her base." Caraway said. "It's starting, I'm returning to my residence, good luck." Caraway headed back to his residence, where Rinoa was sitting on the floor with her knees to her chest.
"It'll be chaos out there soon," He told his daughter, "You'll be safe here." Rinoa simply waved him off. Once he left the room, Rinoa heard a beeping sound.
"He's going to lock me in," she whispered to herself. She knew that she had to help her friends. She grabbed the Odine bangle. "I can do this," she told herself as she ran out the door before it shut. Quickly, she headed towards the Presidential residence, where she found a car sitting next to the compound. She began climbing to the roof of the residence.
"I'm not a SeeD, but I can do this." she told herself.
