I had this great dream last night. Squaresoft gave me the deed to Final Fantasy VIII. Unfortunately, then I woke up. The deed mysteriously vanished.
Chapter Three: Presidential candidates
When they arrived in Dollet later that day, Squall left. They tried to follow him, but he easily evaded them, ducking down a side alley and into a park. They'd searched the whole park, but they didn't see him leave anywhere. Now they stood in line at the ticket booth, waiting to get their train tickets.
"I cannot believe this!" Selphie exclaimed, pacing around. "We should know what that mission is about! After all, Squall said it was connected to ours. So, naturally, we should know!"
"Selphie, I learned along time ago that nothing the Garden staff does makes sense. I've just learned to deal with it, and get on with my life," Seifer said.
"Oh yes, you deal with people real well," Zell said.
"You're right, I do," Seifer said, keeping his voice as calm as he could. Must not retaliate, must not kill...
"Yeah, but what if this is important?" argued Selphie, oblivious to the tension that had risen around her. Or perhaps she was ignoring it and keeping up her spirits, as was her usual way to deal with problems. "It may be information that will help us do our job better!"
"That maybe true, but what if something happens to us, and we're caught? Then they know everything," reasoned Zell. "It's just safer this way." As they argued, the line had moved forward. Now they were at the ticket booth. A young woman smiled at them.
"Hello. What would you like today?"
"Hello. I'd like three tickets to Deling City, in the SeeD car," Seifer said.
"Id?" the woman asked.
"What?" Seifer said, confused.
"She wants to see the SeeD id, Seifer. Something you don't have yet," Zell said, flashing the id at her. She punched in the number, then nodded. "Don't you remember anything about our training?"
"I remember how to use my gunblade. Want me to show you?"
"That's not what I meant, you idiot," Zell muttered as he gave the woman the gil.
"I know that," rejoined Seifer as he took the tickets the woman handed them. A jumping Selphie lead the way to the car, and jumped on. A few minutes later, the train started to move.
"Open the door!" Selphie said, jumping up and down. "Please?"
"One momen,." Seifer said, who was looking around the entrance landing. "Nice car you SeeDs get. Can I buy one?" he asked, sarcastically.
"No. And this isn't the car. The actually car is down that hallway," Zell said, annoyed, as he pointed to a closed door. "Can't you ever be serious? This could endanger the mission."
"Sure, I can be serious if I want to. I just decided the situatation required some humor."
"Train, train, take us away..." Selphie sang in a slightly off-key tone, swaying slightly. Seifer raised his eyebrow.
"Quick, open the door! Swipe your ticket in that slot!" Zell said, making hurry motions with his hands. Seifer looked startled at this, but quickly complied.
"Tee-hee. Thanks!" she said, and ran into the hallway. Seifer just stared.
"Does she always do that?" he asked, looking shocked.
"Yeah, all the time," Zell replied, and walked into the room. Seifer looked around for another moment, then followed Zell. Selphie was standing in the corridor, singing the train song. Seifer quickly entered the door on his left. He looked around the well furnished car.
"Now this is more like it," Seifer said. Zell was already sitting on the couch, bouncing up and down. Yeah, this'll be a long mission, Seifer thought as he sat on the other end of the couch. He could still faintly hear the notes of Selphie's slightly cracked voice as she continued to sing, and the couch swayed up and down as Zell moved.
"How can she sing the same four lines over and over again?" Seifer asked, annoyed.
"With Selphie, you never know. But trust me, this can and will go on for hours, or until she needs a drink break." Seifer nodded, enlightened. Long doesn't even begin to describe this mission. Between the noise and the movement Seifer started to get a headache. He moved off the couch, and sat down on the bed, picking up a magazine laying nearby. It was about dogs, but he needed something to read. An hour later, Selphie came in, grabbed a bottle of water from the refridgerator tucked out of the way in the corner, and sat on the rug in the middle of the room. She couldn't take the silence that Zell and Seifer had been living in, though. She turned to Seifer, who had finished reading the magazine for the third time and was putting it down again.
"Haven't seen you much since Lunatic Pandora, Seifer. Where have you been?"
"Around."
"Doing what?"
"Stuff."
"How has your health been?"
"Other than being chased to near death, okay."
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Sure, because women love it when men are on the run from the law. What's with all the questions anyway? I've already been through several interrogations, I don't want to go through another one."
"Well, I don't know much about your life, and I wanted to see how you've been. Besides, it's good to know who you're going to be on a mission with."
"Ah, that explains it," Seifer muttered sarcastically.
"What's your favorite color?"
"Red."
"When is your birthday?"
"December 22."
"How old are you?"
"Twenty-one, soon to be twenty-two."
"Um..." She was quiet for a few minutes, thinking of something else to say. "What is your favorite flower?"
"Selphie, shut up." They sat in silence.
"Deling City!" called the conductor. "Everyone for Deling City, this is your stop!" Selphie, Zell and Seifer exited the train, and walked to the stairs that led to Deling City, and the Rent-A-Car.
As they stepped onto the street, they immediately noticed how cold it was out. They all shivered, especially Selphie, in her short yellow dress. As they approached the Rent-A-Car, they noticed a lone man standing under the sign. They stood still for several moments, and the man moved his hand in a complicated series of motions. Seifer performed the countersign. After
looking around for a few moments, to make sure that no one had noticed the exchange, the person approached them. He was a little under six feet tall, with short sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.
"You're the SeeDs who were dispatched from Balamb Garden?" asked the man.
"Yup!" Selphie said, jumping up and down. "I'm Selphie Tilmitt, and this is Zell Dincht and-"
"I know who that is," said the man, annoyed. Seifer waved nervously.
"Um, how are you Gary?" Seifer asked.
"Fine," Gary said, annoyed.
"So, you know Seifer?" Zell asked casually.
"He's only just the guy who nearly got me killed, and kissed my girlfriend!"
"Hey, that was five years ago, and she told me that she didn't have a boyfriend!" Seifer said, swiftly defending himself. "And with the near killing thing, I didn't know you were that weak with a T-Rexaur running after you! Geez, when you tell someone you need assistance, you should specify." Zell started to snigger behind his hand.
"That's Seifer. He's a little messed up in the attic," Zell said, then started to laugh again. Seifer resisted the urge to kill.
"Anyway, I'm here to assist you. I'm Gary Sevrin," he held out his hand to Selphie and Zell, and they both shook it. Gary gestured toward the city. "Shall we head toward General Caraway's?" he asked. They nodded, and together started down the street. Gary and Seifer made sure they stayed on separate sides from each other.
They reached General Caraway's mansion, and knocked on the door. A maid answered.
"Yes?" she asked, surveying them. Seifer answered.
"We're here to see General Caraway. He's expecting us."
"One moment." She closed the door, and they could hear her receding footsteps echoing in the hall. After five minutes, she came back. "He'll see you now," she said, and led them into library. They were barely there a minute when General Caraway burst in.
"Okay, here's the deal. There is an upcoming event, and everyone important in Galbadia will be there. There you will guard me, as well as gathering information. But we will discuss this tomorrow. The maid will lead you to your rooms. Breakfast is at eight. Please do not disturb me, I will be working tonight," he said in one breath, then left them, rushing out of the room again. They all just stared.
"Is it just me, or is General Caraway?a little preoccupied?" asked Selphie.
"He wasn't like this the last time we talked to him," Zell said. The maid came up to them.
"Follow me," she said, and lead them down several corridors. She pointed to four doors. "Those are your rooms." She marched away. Seifer's eyebrows rose.
"Wow, everyone sure is abrupt around here. I wonder what's going on?" he wondered out loud. Everyone just shrugged.
"I guess there's something going on we don't know about," Selphie said.
"Well, I'm going to bed," Gary announced, and walked into the first door on the right. "Me too," said Zell, and walked into the other door on the right. Seifer and Selphie looked at one another and shrugged. Then Seifer took the first door on the left, and Selphie the remaining room.
Selphie looked around the room. Everyone had been up by eight the next morning, and assembled in the dining room, which a surly maid pointed out to them, before stomping away.
"Man, the service around here needs to pick up a bit. The room was musty, a huge bell went off at 5:00 in the morning, everyone uses sentences of five words or less if they can because they're like these Squall clones, it's 8:45 and the breakfast hasn't arrived!" complained Seifer, looking out the window. "Even the service at Garden was better!"
"There was no service at Garden, unless you count the cooks," Zell said.
"That was my point."
"I have an idea for passing the time!" Selphie said, waving her hand in the air, as though she was in class, nearly hitting Zell in the head.
"Hey, watch it!" he snapped, annoyed.
"Sorry! But you need to hear my idea!" Selphie said.
"Well, what is it?" said Gary.
"We can pass the time by playing chess."
"Why do you think chess is remotely interesting?" asked Seifer. "You seem like you'd usually play anything else."
"I don't, but that's the only game I see in here," Selphie said, pointing to the chessboard under the large picture windows. Seifer just sighed, and went back to contemplating the paintings adorning the walls. General Caraway walked in.
"I ask that you forgive me and my workers for being to abrupt last night, but we have a situation here. The maids know nothing specific, but even they know about the power struggle that has been going on."
"Power struggle?" Selphie asked.
"Yes. There was a lot of turmoil after Deling was killed. A temporary president stepped up, but a real election needs to occur before people being to get angry."
"Who was the temporary president?"
"General Wilkie."
"Is he running for president?"
"Yes, he is."
"Did he have access to the army?"
"Not after the Second Sorceress War. Ever since then they've had no real leader, so several of them decided to get them to become mercenaries. General Wilkie was supposed to be leading them, but he was busy with the presidental duties, so the responsibility fell to me. I don't know how to get them under control again..."
"Who's the most prominent candidate for president?" asked Seifer. He didn't want to seem rude, but he didn't care about Caraway's personal problems. He had something else to worry about. Maybe if I can pull this off really well I'll get into SeeD. Maybe this will help me repay what I have taken. His personal problems can't get in the way of this. It can't. I've come so close...
"A senator, Vinzer Deling's nephew, Darius. But I will tell you more while looking at these packets." He gave each of them packets, with photos and information on the candidates. "As I was saying, Darius Deling in the prime candidate, and he has a lot of support. Unfortunately, I recently learned he's involved in illegal activities. I don't have any specifics yet, but I know someone who does know. Her name is Natalie Illuna. She's an information broker, and I know she doesn't do anything illegal. I know she'll help us. But you need to contact her at the party this evening, as it will be your only chance. No one knows where she lives."
Hm, we're supposed to just trust some person we've never heard of before, just because you say so? I don't know if I want to do that. After all, we only have Caraway's word, and he could be wrong about her. We'll need to be careful, Seifer thought.
"Interesting." Zell said. "Is Miss Illuna a candidate, or trying to become one?"
"No, Natalie prefers to work behind the scenes. Other candidates are Horace Wilkie, Marcus Deling, Kayla Friedman, and Mariana Skye. Marcus Deling is another nephew of Vinzer, but he has the least amount of support. Just enough that anyone who wants to could give him a substantial sum of money, so he can drop out of the race and tell his supporters 'this is the man to vote for'. I've seen many people approach him already, on behalf of all the other candidates. Marcus is also subservient to Darius when it come to orders and threats."
"So Darius will probably get his votes?"
"Yes. Horace Wilkie is a general, the one I mentioned before, and damned good one at that. Not as good as me, but good. I was his leader once. He's right under Darius in support. The battle is bound to be between those two. Personally, I think it would be better if he won, but that probably won't happen. Kayla Friedman is a private citizen, but has been a worker behind the scenes for years. During the later years of Vinzer's life, until Sorceress Edea came, she was the puppet master for Deling. Mariana Skye is an acclaimed senator. She has a clean record, but won't win, I can guarantee that."
"So who should we keep an eye on?"
"Darius Deling, Marcus Deling, and Kayla Friedman. Now, to continue with tonight's events. We will arrive at seven, and you will have until eleven to locate and speak to Natalie. You can identify her from the picture in the back of the packet I gave you. I don't care about the rest of your activities. Now, if you will excuse me, I have some work to complete." And with that, Caraway exited the room.
"Now what?" Seifer asked.
"We need to create a plan," Selphie said. She was about to outline a plan, but a knock at the door interrupted her. She turned, annoyed, then smiled.
"Hey Quistis! What're you doing here?" she asked.
"I've been sent as a replacement for you."
"What?" Selphie asked, confused.
"Your knowledge of Trabia is needed on a different mission, so I have been sent to replace you."
"Oh, that's great! Was that Irvine's mission?"
"Yes."
"Great! We're just about to create a plan." Selphie quickly outlined everything they had learned. Quistis nodded.
"Okay. Here's your ticket, Selphie. You leave in three hours. Good luck."
"Thanks!" she said, and scampered off to pack. Quistis turned to the others.
"Here's what I think would work best. Two people should go out into Deling to gather information from the streets about the candidates. There are mostly rumors out there, but in every lie there is a grain of truth. So anything at all will probably help. Someone needs to stay here; obviously, to keep up the pretense there is a threat to Caraway's life. Also-"
"Wait a moment," Gary snapped. "Why are you creating the plan? Why don't we get any say in this? I was told I was the leader."
"Balamb Garden informed me I was leading this mission," Quistis said, frowning. "My orders specifically stated that."
"That is against my orders, which stated that in the case Miss Tilmitt needed to leave for any reason, or was otherwise incapable of performing her duty, I was to assume command. Why don't we call Garden and straighten this out?" he asked.
"Okay," she said, and pulled out the portable phone, then walked over into a corner. Everyone else started to talk as she dialed the Balamb Garden number, then waited while the secretary answered.
"Hello, this is Balamb Garden. Please state your name and whom you wish to speak to," the secretary said in a false cheerful voice.
"I'm SeeD Quistis Trepe, and I would like to speak to Commander Squall Leonhart."
"One moment please." There was a click on the other end, and an annoyed voice answered at the other end.
"Is this important, Quistis? I'm really busy right now."
"Yes, it is. I was told in my orders I was commanding this mission, but Galbadia Garden SeeD Gary Sevrin was informed he was in command. We were wondering whose orders was correct."
"Give me a minute," he muttered, and she heard the clicking of computer keys on the other end. Squall's voice came back.
"According to this, Gary Sevrin is in command now, because Selphie went to Trabia," Squall said. Quistis stared at the phone in horror. In the background Seifer and Zell were arguing again, but that didn't register in her head.
"Why?" she whispered. "This was supposed to be my test..."
"Look, I know you really wanted to command mission, but Mr. Sevrin has more knowledge of Galbadia, and we need to show Galbadia Garden there are no hard feelings. Everything is purely political right now. I really want to help you, because I know you want that license, and I'll see what I can do. But Cid wants it this way. I don't think there is much I can do."
"But if I command while he supplies information-" Quistis began, but Squall but her off.
"Look, what you want to do isn't a part of this decision. You are to follow orders, understood? Besides, Cid isn't ready to test you, even though you now have your temporary license. He wants to make sure you can handle being an Instructor."
"Yes sir," she muttered.
"I'm truely sorry,"
"Me too," she whispered and turned the phone off. She took a deep breath, plastered on a false smile, and returned to the group.
"Well, it turns out my orders were messed up," she said. "So, what should we do, sir?"
Gary looked pleased with himself. "Everyone will reconnoiter, while I stay here. Seifer, you have upper Deling, Zell has middle Deling, and Quistis has lower Deling. Any questions?" Everyone shook their heads. "Great. Be back here by 1100 hours." They saluted, and exited the mansion.
Seifer wanted the chance to talk to Quistis, but he didn't have that chance right now. He thought about what he had seen, as he walked through the streets, when Quistis had delivered the news. He had seen the smile she was wearing was false, and the disappointed aura around her was obvious, at least to him. But he knew the others hadn't seen it, because they weren't used to seeing such things. But Seifer knew a mask when he saw one. Hell, he used masks all the time, although they were masks of malice and spite, not happiness. But her performance was every bit as fake as his. In reality, many things bothered and concerned him. He had been truly upset when he thought they might die in Timber, and many other times to, when he wasn't blinded by Ultimecia's visions.
He remembered how Fujin and Raijin had helped him, telling him that maybe he was also blinded by his dream. He remembered the impact Fujin not speaking in her usual manner had had on him. And as he stood before Adel, he had finally looked beyond the illusion, the dream, and seen reality.
And he remembered growing up in the orphanage. Ellone had always protected them, but Quistis was always there for them mentally, because she had always been much more mature than them. She always kept their spirits up, even when they wanted nothing more than to die, during every night when they cried for their fallen parents, everytime they fell she picked them up and told them they could do it, they just needed to try again.
Seifer shook his head. Now wasn't the time to remember past mistakes and friends. He should probably worry about Quistis' reaction, as he was the only one who had seen it. But briefly, he wondered where Fujin and Raijin were. They were his only friends, and had always supported him. When this was over, he should go find them.
I know she's disappointed about the leadership thing. I heard she needed to successfully command a mission to get her full credentials, but I also think it's something else. I don't know what was said, but something that was said really upset her. Maybe I can talk to her later. He continued to wander the streets, looking around. Really, Deling looked kind of pretty. At least, the nicer section of Deling. He hadn't noticed, the last time he was here. He had been kind of distracted by the people cheering him on, and the battle with his rival.
Man, It's been a while since I've actually worried about someone. But Quistis was my friend, no matter what back then. And she never gave up on me when I was a student. I owe her something, way more than I owe the others. When I'm done I should talk to her.
He walked back to the house at 11:00, and gave Gary his report. Then he went to Selphie's old room, and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so he tried the door. It was open, so he walked in, but she wasn't there. He walked through the rest of the house, trying to see where she had gone. Maybe she isn't back yet, he thought. Just then he nearly walked into a glass door, which looked out on a beautiful garden.
He walked out into it, inhaling the fragrant scent that wafted from the colorful flowers that lined the extensive paths. He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket, and lit it up. It had been a long day, and it would probably get longer. He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. He watched the smoke curl into the sky above him for a moment, then started forward, to where ever the path would take him. Seifer wandered the paths, and soon came across a pond, with a tree near it. And Quistis was sitting under the tree, staring at the depths of the pond. He walked over.
"Hey, what's up?" he asked, sitting down next to her. She looked up, startled, and he could see she had been crying.
"Oh, hello Seifer. Nice day, isn't it?" she said, trying to sounding like her normal self, except her voice cracked and she was wiping furiously at the wetness on her cheeks.
"Don't evade the question. What's the matter?" he asked again.
"I told you, nothing."
"Quistis, please. I know an act when I see one. Now come on." She sighed, and dropped the happy act. She didn't know what it was that made her do it, just something that told her she didn't need to pretend to be strong right now.
"Oh, I was just upset because I didn't get to lead the mission. I really wanted to, but Squall said I couldn't because we need to 'show Galbadia Garden there are no hard feelings', or some damn thing like that." Seifer's eyebrow rose. Quistis may have been furious on more than one occasion before, but he could never remember her being so angry she had started to swear. At least, not in public, which was really the only time he ever did see her any more.
"I'm sorry." she muttered a moment later. "It's just...ever since I became a temporary Instructor, I've wanted to actually lead a mission, to prove that I can be a good Instructor again. And...and now, now I'm stuck as a minion again, just when I though I had my chance!" she hissed, clenching her fists.
"And?" he prompted, knowing there had to be more to the story.
"And...he said I couldn't lead the mission because Cid doubts my abilities, and Squall won't back me up in thinking I'm pretty good." she finally said, burying her face in her hands and sniffling. Seifer gave her time to recover, knowing she would finish what she was saying when she wanted to.
"I'm such a failure." she whispered. "They were right, I was too young. I've failed."
"Why do you believe that?" he asked mildly. She looked over at him again.
"Do you think I'm a good Instructor? And tell the truth!" she added, attempting to glare at him from behind her tears.
"Honestly, I think you are a very good Instructor. You really helped me with my tests, and you have always helped students. More often than not, your students succeed and have great careers. Look at Squall, and wasn't Nida your student too? There's nothing wrong with that, I just don't think Squall understands what the reality is. Besides, are you really going to believe what Squall thinks about people? Come on, Squall doesn't know anything about people. Absolutely nothing." Quistis sniffed.
"Thanks Seifer. Really, that means a lot. And it's all the more important because you said it seriously and meant it," She smiled. "Do you really think that I'll be able to get my permanent license?"
"Of course you can," he said. "Come on, let's go back in. Just prove to everyone you're better at everything than they think you are." And together they walked back toward Caraway's mansion.