Chapter 15: Directional
"What the hell is going on?" Irvine muttered, turning toward Nash, eyes wide. The sharpshooter was having to say that a lot lately, and requiring those words was seriously getting on his nerves.
"Serra," Nash answered with a nod. "The Prototype for the Elemental Project. She is the Alpha.." He turned back toward the door and peered into the window. "The first pure, sentient Elemental we created. A near-perfect life-form, a combination of magic and the strongest and most effective human genes, raised from birth. She is, without question, the ultimate creation of this project. Literally no other Elemental can come close; even pure ones such as Selphie are but pale shadows compared to what she can do . . . ."
"Why?" Irvine demanded, and Nash sighed. He turned back to the sharpshooter, expression filled with sorrow, regret, and a surprising degree of anger.
"To perfect the project's output, Odine needed to create an Elemental of immense power. We needed a pure, unblemished and undamaged subject. Serra was the best candidate, and she was given her injections at an extremely young age . . . . Two years and one month ago, to be exact, when she was still an unborn child."
"Two years," Irvine said, not believing what Nash had just told him, and he glanced back at the girl within the dome. "She can't be that young . . . She's got to be my age!"
"The Elemental process aged her at a tremendous rate," Nash replied. "And the rapid growth with Elemental powers gave her unprecedented capability. She tries to suppress it, but it's there, buried deep within her. An untapped potential of unimaginable power."
Nash strode across the room, and touched a panel o a desk. A glowing light appeared, and Irvine took his eyes away from Serra's still, curled form, to see a humanoid mannequin set up near the dome. Upon the mannequin was what looked like a very lightweight suit of armor, constructed of steel-blue threads of material. It consisted of what looked like a thick metallic that wrapped around the head, which connected to a column of plates that supposedly ran down the wearer's backbone. Serrated, chitinous blue plates started at shoulder-level and ran down to the elbow, where slender delicate gauntlets covered the forearms, wrists and fingers. Slender cords and delicate plates of metal closed over the torso, and plates covered what would be the thighs, along with grieves protecting the legs, all of it constructed of the same delicate metal.
"Requiem," Nash stated calmly as he looked over the armor. "Designed exclusively for use by Elementals. The armor is made so that only individuals who utilize elemental energy as they can wear and activate it."
"What does it do?" Irvine asked, circling around the device.
"It enhances the ability to call forth magical power by a significant degree, but its true power is to amplify the Elemental's speed, strength, and ability to withstand pain," Nash continued. "It also is capable of regenerating physical wounds by a substantial degree and has the capacity to act as a fully functional life support system in the event of fatal injuries. Furthermore, it enables the wearer to influence the minds of any Elemental it comes into contact with, excepting those who are pure. However, the design is . . . Flawed."
"That sounds like a good thing," Irvine muttered.
"Requiem's internal computers are inextricably linked with its wearer's mental processes," Nash stated. "Because of its design, however, Requiem seems to amplify base, negative emotions within its wearer. Fury, hatred, sadness, grief, jealousy, and the like are all enhanced, and can take almost take over the host's mind. In our tests, with regular Elemental soldiers, they rapidly became violent and destructive, and eventually we had to euthanize them before they could cause substantial destruction."
"Yeah, sounds like a nasty flaw," Irvine said with a nod. His hands grasped the air for a moment, as if trying to hold a weapon. "Mind if I add a few more?"
"The Warden would notice if we ruined his prized armor," Nash responded with a shake of his head. "Not to mention the armor is made of some of the toughest metals we can synthesize. No normal weapon can damage it. Only magic and energy have been noted to damage it, and those only barely."
Irvine snorted.
"Okay, next question. Why do you need Serra for this thing?" Irvine asked.
"The armor was built originally based on the newborn Serra's data. However, that data is incompatible with an adult's information. We didn't realize that until after we made the armor based on her specifications . . . And that was after the Prototype was supposed to have been disposed of." Nash shook his head. "I had just joined the project as an outside scientist, and I was unable to grasp the barbarity of Virago or Odine's intentions. I refused to allow them to kill a newborn child, and I hid her away in a forgotten village far from here. It took over a year for these bastards to figure out that Serra was alive and that her data could be used to perfect the Requiem. Now that she's been captured, its only a matter of time before the armor is perfected and the wearer retains their sanity."
Nash narrowed his eyes as he stared at the armor.
"I can't let that happen," he whispered, and looked to Irvine. "And as fate would have it, when we captured Serra, you two came here as well. I'll need your help if I'm going to stop this project in its tracks."
"Hold it," Irvine said, raising a hand to stop Nash. "First you inject Selphie with that shit, and now you ask me to help you destroy this base? Are you nuts? Why should I help you?"
"You're a half-naked, unjunctioned SeeD armed with a surgical scalpel in the middle of an ultra-secure prison in the middle of Trabia, and you have to escape with an unconscious comrade, and escape before they discover you've broken free," Nash explained. "You'll need some help."
"Right," Irvine said, nodding. "I forgot about that part. But still . . . Why me, and why inject Selphie?"
"She's the first,' Nash explained. "I hope to get those vials of Guardian Force essences to Garden before it is too late, so that the SeeDs can utilize them to enhance their physical capabilities. Even a dozen pure Elementals would be enough to allow an army to stop Crell's Elemental battalion in its tracks. You have to understand, Irvine . . . There's no way that this madman's army can be defeated, not with the full military might of Esthar backing his Elemental forces."
"But Selphie . . . ." Irvine clenched his fists in anger as he looked down to the floor. His Selphie, being turned into something inhuman . . . .
"I'm sorry, and I'll do whatever it takes to ensure you escape from here to warn Garden about the enemy," Nash explained. "And I promise you, I will find a way to reverse the process, no matter how long it takes, once this war ends. But whether Selphie was forced into this or not . . . We need her now, and with the information I've gotten from how quickly she is adapting, I know SeeD can quickly utilize the vials and put an end to the war. It's the only way."
"No," Irvine answered, looking up. "You said there was another way."
"Yes," Nash answered and hesitated. "But I am hesitant to use it."
"What?" Irvine asked, and Nash nodded toward Serra's prison.
"Serra. Her body, judging by the readings I've gathered from her, is as close to perfect as an Elemental gets. The purified nature of her being is a weapon in and of itself. Merely being in close proximity with an impure Elemental is devastating to the creature. For the incomplete things you fought outside, her body literally annihilates them by being too close, causing them to combust. For normal Elementals, those without Guardian Forces but retaining their sentience, she drains their inhuman essence from them and reduces them to trembling human beings. She also drains magical energy in her proximity as well. Has your magic been weakened after meeting with her?
"Yeah," Irvine answered, nodding. "Neither Selphie nor Victor's magic worked very well outside. Serra stole those powers from us?" Nash nodded.
"Serra can level the playing field by merely walking among the enemy, and in combat . . . I suspect nothing, human, SeeD, or Elemental, can stand against her."
"She can fight?" Irvine mused, and Nash shrugged.
"Her body can fight," he answered. "Serra's Elemental aspect consists of two Guardian Forces, one good, one evil. Odine wanted to test out the interaction within her mind and body. They both remain dormant, but given the proper provocation, one can rise up and attack targets or defend her against harm. I suspect in a combat situation, her Guardians will be more active. But to tell the truth, I have no idea what will happen."
Nash walked over to the dome and looked inside, and then circled around it. Irvine followed, and saw Nash stop next to a holographic panel. The scientist waved his hand over it, and then hit some keys.
"Twenty-four hours," he muttered. "That's all the time this will take for the energy in her containment field to be siphoned off just enough to let her get free."
"You're letting her go?" Irvine asked, and Nash chuckled.
"Twenty four hours from now, when that field is weak enough that she can break free . . . ." He pointed at the ceiling. "Anyone left in this prison will be dead."
Nash paused for a moment, and a strange smile cut across his features.
"Either that, or they'll wish that they were," the scientist finished. "Come on, Irvine. Let's get your girl out of this mess. Then, there's a man down in the Undercity I'm sure you'd like to meet."
The old, beat-up Centran technology that had powered Garden three years ago was functional, but it paled in comparison to the advanced engines that Esthar had developed, base doff the old Centran designs. After the war, and the defeat of Ultimecia, Garden had shared a cozy relationship with Laguna Loire's Esthar, and the President had made certain that the Centran machinery had been replaced with up-to-date Estharian tech. Thus, it was less thanthree hoursafter the destruction of the Estharian battle group that Garden, with a hundred warships as escort, arrived in port at Dollet.
"Good to be back in safe harbor," Zell commented as he stood on one of the piers branching out from the docks. SeeDs and cadets walked past them, taking shore leave as Squall had ordered.
"We're only here for supplies, and to meet with the General," Quistis replied. "We need to plan out our next move."
"Trabia," Squall grunted as he walked past them.
"Huh?" Zell said, confused, and Squall turned around, shaking his head.
"Crell wants to take out Garden . . . and his first target will be Trabia Garden," Squall explained. "It's the easiest target he has available, and well within striking distance. We need to move fast, before his army gets there."
"Right!" Zell said with a nod. "Let's get moving!"
"Garden won't have enough troops to stop all of Esthar," Quistis said, and Squall nodded.
"That's why we need help," he stated. "Dollet and Galbadia are already at war with Esthar now. That should be all the troops we need."
"I'll go see about arranging a meeting with General Randolph," Quistis said, and the two men nodded as she moved off. Zell glanced at Squall, and crossed his arms.
"Hey, man, I was talking with Rinoa earlier today," the brawler said. "We've got an idea."
"What is it?" the Commander asked.
"Okay, she was looking up information on this 'Alucard' guy. Not much was coming up, but when she mentioned it to me, I remembered hearing something about the Estharian Bureau poking around for the same thing."
"We won't be getting much help from the Bureau now," Squall commented dryly, and Zell nodded.
"But that got me thinking," Zell continued. "I wonder if someone else may have intel on this guy? Maybe Garden Intelligence, or Galbadia or Dollet knows something. That kind of information isn't in the main library, after all. Of course, I'd need authorization to do a search through intel records."
"It'll be done," Squall replied with a nod. "See what you can dig up. I get the feeling that the more we know about this man, the better our chances of surviving will be."
"Thanks, Squall!" Zell said with a grin. "I'll get on it!" The brawler hurried back toward Garden. Squall watched him leave for a moment, and then turned back around, moving toward the city. He abruptly stopped when a figure stood in his way, and for an instant Squall almost drew his gunblade, but stood down.
"If you wanted to know, you could have just asked," Alucard said, an enigmatic smile on his face. Squall opened his mouth, and then shook his head. It was always this way, wasn't it?
"Okay, fine," Squall muttered. "You seem to know everything that's going on, don't you? Why don't you tell us the whole truth?"
"If I knew everything, I could meddle far more effectively," Alucard answered, chuckling. "I've determined useful information, but I haven't learned all I require. There are still very many pieces of information that have yet to be uncovered."
"Still," Squall responded, shaking his head. "You know more than we do."
"Not necessarily," Alucard replied, shaking his head. "I know a few things, but what is relevant people within your organization already know. I've told Quistis something most interesting, but she hasn't had a chance to tell you yet. Perhaps you should ask her first. Until then . . . ." the strange man turned away.
"Hold it," Squall growled, and Alucard paused, looking back. Squall had his hand on his gunblade, and it seemed Alucard could read his intentions. After a moment, he chuckled again, and turned back to face Squall. An instant later, the passing SeeDs and Dollet citizens simply stopped in mid-motion. Alucard calmly cracked his knuckles as the temporal nullification field took effect, and held up a hand, raising a trio of fingers.
"Three passes," he said, smiling. "That's all I think I'll ask of you."
"Fine," Squall replied, and swiftly drew Lionheart from its sheath. "If I win, you tell me something more useful than vague hints. Deal?"
"Agreed," Alucard replied. He strode forward calmly, arms at his side, but Squall knew instinctively that his opponent was quite prepared for battle. The stranger paused just outside Squall's reach with his gunblade, and raised a hand, putting his thumb and index finger together. The SeeD cocked his head to the side in confusion, and then Alucard snapped his fingers.
And in that instant, he was flickering through the air, appearing beside Squall, then vanishing and shooting past the SeeD. Squall whirled immediately, keeping his foe in front of him as Alucard came back, and the SeeD ducked as he caught a flicker of motion aimed at his head. A fist cut past Squall's face, and he spun, chopping across with his gunblade. He heard a grunt, followed by a laugh as Alucard moved past him, and Squall turned again, slashing low.
Alucard came in for another pass, and materialized behind the gunblade's cut, spinning around into a lazy yet powerful backhand that clubbed Squall across the face. The figure spun around, coming up into a high, spinning kick, but Squall was already falling back and away, ducking low beneath the foot. Lionheart shot up in a hard slash, but Alucard faded away in a heartbeat and reappeared behind Squall, swooping in for a low punch at the SeeD's gut.
Squall came around, acting entirely on instinct, and smacked the flat of his gunblade down on Alucard's extended arm. The arm shot down toward the ground, and Squall's left hand flew across, balling into a fist, and slamming into the side of Alucard's face. He fell back, head snapping to the side, and then disappeared once again, before reappearing a few steps away, outside Squall's range.
"Brilliant," he whispered, rubbing his jaw. "Absolutely brilliant. Even when I punched you, you turned the impact into advantage and nearly cut me in two. You really are his descendant."
"His descendant?" Squall muttered as the people around him began to move again. Alucard nodded calmly as Squall put away his gunblade before anyone noticed.
"The Chimera's blood runs freely through your veins, and it is a magnificent thing, Squall Leonhart," Alucard said. "Your family history certainly shows . . . Though one would never guess, judging by your mother's outlook and temperament."
"My mother," Squall said, narrowing his eyes. "Raine . . . ."
"Looking at her, one would never guess that she was one of thethe children of Centra's greatest and deadliest soldier. Quite fascinating. You really should look into your family . . . And if there's anyone who knows about that subject, it would be Illarra."
Alucard looked up at the sky and then back to Squall, and smiled again.
"It's a beautiful day, Commander," he stated calmly. "You should enjoy it before Trabia calls."
Squall looked up at the sky as well, and toward the slowly setting sun, and then back to Alucard as the man departed down the pier, rapidly vanishing amid the people milling about.
Trabia. Everything's going to go down out there. I wonder-
Squall paused, suddenly remembering.
Shit, Irvine and Selphie are out there! Are they safe from Esthar in Trabia?
Squall shook his head after a few moments. Of course they were safe. Esthar didn't care about a couple of wandering SeeDs. Besides, he reminded himself, they probably heard about the war declaration right after it was broadcast. They probably retreated back to safety as soon as they had gotten the message. He would have to check with Trabia Garden to ensure they had arrived safely back at the Garden.
Interesting . . . .
The voice that spoke was soft, elegant, and warm, almost motherly.
What?
I've never connected to a mortal like this before. I've been junctioned, certainly, but to connect so intimately is unheard of . . . Though Ifrit has spoken of a connection like this one.
Who are you? Shiva?
There was a faint laughter, and the mental equivalent of a nod, which she was somehow able to perceive.
Yes, I am what you call Shiva. The Guardian of frost and cold. I'm sure you have questions to ask me. You're starting to regain consciousness now, I suppose, if we can communicate.
What happened to me?
Mortals have brought us closer together than thought possible. I am integrated into your blood and am becoming connected to your very essence.
What does that mean?
You are becoming part of me, and can channel my energies almost as effectively as I can myself. Which is saying quite a bit, considering I hold total dominion over cold and ice.
There was a momentary pause in the conversation.
You should be waking soon. You may soon need to make use of what you have possession of now. Call upon my aid as needed.
There was sudden pressure on her hands, and some noises pounding in her ears. Blurry whiteness filled the empty void that she had existed within moments before, and light cut into her eyes as she opened them, to find herself staring up at a face that, for an instant, was filled only with concern, and then quickly shifted to a relieved smile.
"Selphie," Irvine gasped, laughing quietly.
"Irvine," she responded softly. There was a sudden rush of excitement and hope, but her weak voice did little to convey it as the sharpshooter quickly hooked his arms under her body and lifted her up off the bed. She could tell he was still missing his clothes, but he was clearly free, and as she looked into his eyes, Selphie realized she was safe with him.
"You're cold," he muttered as he cradled her in surprisingly strong hands. Irvine glanced to the side. "Is she supposed to be that way?"
"Her body is adapting," came a familiar voice on the other side of the bed, and Selphie turned her head weakly, and saw the familiar brown-haired man who had injected her with the Shiva essence. His blue eyes met her green ones, and Selphie could tell instantly that he was deeply sorry for what had happened to her. She managed a weak nod, reassuring him that she wasn't angry with Nash, and the man visibly slumped in relief.
"Are we going to get out of here?" she asked as she felt her strength steadily return. Irvine nodded quickly.
"Yeah, we just have to get you out of here first," he replied. "Nash is going to get our gear back, too. Once that happens, we'll head for the Undercity, and meet with someone he calls the 'Governor.'" Irvine looked back at Nash. "Right?"
"Yeah," Nash replied. "The Governor and I have been planning things for a while, now. We've even had him scare some guards senseless and tell them he wants me dead to cover up the real plan. Your gear is locked in a security locker down the hall, but I can get it open. Wait here."
Irvine cradled Selphie securely in his arms as Nash movedout of the medical bay,leaving the pair alone.
"How are you feeling?" Irvine asked her, and she managed a slight chuckle.
"Weak," she said. "But I'm getting stronger now. I was scared for a while, but now I'm fine." She reached up and wrapped her arms around his chest, pulling tighter to the sharpshooter. "I feel warm and safe with you now."
Irvine managed an ironic laugh, as Selphie's skin was still cold to the touch against his bare torso. Even so, he felt far better now that he was holding her securely in his arms. Irvine was surprised at how much he had missed Selphie's presence while they had been separated, though it was only for a brief while. It felt like he hadn't held her in a lifetime.
"Just like Rinoa," Selphie murmured, and managed a chuckle. Irvine blinked at the odd statement.
"Huh?" he asked, and she smiled.
"No, I was just thinking of what Rinoa said to me one time," she explained. "When she was coming back down to the planet on the Ragnarok, Squall was holding her, kind of like you're holding me." Selphie pulled tighter against Irvine, surprising him. "She said . . . In his arms, she felt so comfortable, and so safe, like nothing could hurt her. I understand what she meant now."
Irvine didn't say anything immediately, still surprised at the comparison.
Jeez, I am acting kind of like Squall did, now, aren't I?
He was actually even more surprised at how similar Selphie and Rinoa's situations were. Not entirely certain what to say, Irvine finally tightened his own hug around her, cradling Selphie more closely to his own body.
I'm not letting you get taken away from me again, okay? I promise you that, Selphie. I don't care what I'm up against . . . I'm not leaving your side. You're not a Sorceress, and I'm certainly no Knight, but . . . .
"I'm not going anywhere," Irvine whispered.
"I know you won't," she answered, and pulled back a little bit, looking up into his eyes.
There was a moment, a shared exchange of desires, between the pair. In three years, the two had been the staunchest of comrades and closest of friends. There was no question that there existed a mutual attraction between them, but neither of the pair had yet to really act on it. There was some uncertainty between them, a natural hesitation and a desire to analyze and confirm.
Friends? Clearly. Inseparable? Certainly. But was there something more between them?
When Irvine brushed his warm lips with Selphie's chilled ones, both of them knew, without question, that the answer was yes.
"I don't mean to be rude," came a quiet voice, and both SeeDs looked up in surprise at Nash as he entered the medical room, a heavy duffel bag in hand. "Not surprised, though." He tossed the duffel casually at Irvine's feet. The sharpshooter glanced at Selphie.
"Can you stand?"
"Let me see," she responded, and Irvine gently set her down. Her feet touched the bare floor, and he gently eased her full weight onto her feet. Within a few moments, Selphie was standing, and managed a nod.
"Very good," Nash remarked, and glanced back outside. "Your full strength should return very soon. In the meantime, you two should arm yourselves, obviously." The pair quickly got their gear together, Selphie grabbing her nunchaku and donning her boots and bracelet, while Irvine quickly donned his vest and the white winter coat he had worn outside. The guards had been kind enough to keep all of his weapons together, and the sharpshooter wasted no time wrapping the webbing and belts around his body, securing all of his guns and ammunition. Finally, he donned his hat.
"I knew something didn't seem right," Selphie quipped, and he chuckled. She stretched out for a moment, and then hopped between her feet for a moment, and then nodded.
"Let's rock," Irvine said, drawing his pistols.
Despite Dollet's remarkably verbose titles, the country's bureaucracy was surprisingly streamlined and efficient. It took Squall less than twenty minutes to secure a meeting with Duke Haroldington and General Randolph in the Dollet Warfare Command Tower, the rather ironic name for a two-story high structure that was mostly underground, buried into the cliffs just beyond the city limits.
The conference was small; the only people present beyond Squall, the Duke, and Randolph were Laguna, Cid, Quistis, and President Caraway, on a video monitor on the wall overlooking the secure conference room.
"The situation isn't good," Squall was explaining, hands clasped on the oak table that dominated the center of the secured chamber. "Trabia Garden is well within striking range. If Crell wants to hurt the alliance against him, its an obvious target that he can hit quickly and with minimal risk."
"Our airborne spy drones have confirmed this," Caraway added over the monitor. "There is a division-sized Estharian force assembling near the Trabia Crater. They are well within striking distance of Trabia Garden."
"How long would your military need to reach the Garden?" General Randolph asked Laguna, who shook his head.
"From the crater. A division-sized force . . . Overland, four days. But if they have air support for transportation, we're looking at less than twenty-four hours. And I can bet that Crell will want Trabia Garden gone as soon as possible."
"Can we get reinforcements there in time?" Cid asked, and the Duke shook his head.
"If I could, I'd deploy every soldier in Dollet to help you," the Duke stated bluntly. "But there's the issue of getting our men there fast enough to make a difference."
"Our fastest transport planes can drop a large force at Trabia Garden in thirty-six hours," Randolph stated. "I can have the 125th and a half dozen other battalions onboard planes and there in a day and a half, but that's half a day too late for Trabia."
"The situation is the same here," Caraway added. "My Galbadian Rangers can get to Trabia inside thirty-six hours, with full mechanized support and artillery, but by then it'll be too late. Unless your people can hold them back."
"A division-sized Estharian force would crush Trabia Garden's defenses with minimal effort," Quistis said grimly. "We have only a few hundred SeeDs and cadets there. Even with their skills in magic, they have no chance to hold out against a large Estharian army."
"I'm not going to just write Trabia Garden off," Squall said, shaking his head resolutely. "There has to be some way to get help to them."
"Even if we deployed every ready soldier to defend Trabia Garden, it won't make a difference," Randolph stated. "The Estharian army is too numerous and too-well equipped. We cannot hold a fixed position, especially one so far away."
"What about the drive system?" Caraway asked. "Trabia Garden should be equipped with the same system that Balamb and Galbadia Garden uses."
"Right!" Cid said, nodding, surprised he'd forgotten that option. "If we activate the drive system, we can evacuate the entire Garden!"
"Even if we do, the Garden will be chased down by Estharian aircraft and warships," Quistis added. "Plus, Trabia Garden's basement is buried under the permafrost. It'll take time to get a team down to the drive system to get it operational."
"What we need is something to slow down the enemy advance," Laguna said, thinking. "If we can keep the enemy from advancing long enough to deploy reinforcements to Trabia Garden, and activate the drive system, we can get the whole structure out of there."
"We don't have anything fast enough to get troops there," Randolph repeated.
"Yes we do," Laguna replied, looking up. "The Ragnarok and Render can get to Trabia fast enough to beat Crell's army!"
"But they can carry only so many men," Quistis interjected. "We'd deploy, at best, a few hundred troops, who'll be up against an entire Estharian division."
"Sounds like a job for SeeD," Squall stated. "A few hundred SeeDs can slow down the enemy advance, at least enough so that Dollet and Galbadian reinforcements can arrive, or until we can get Trabia Garden flying."
"Get that Garden to the ocean, and the Dollet and Galbadian Navies ca protect it," Randolph added. "This could work . . . But the SeeDs will be badly outnumbered."
"Nothing we can't handle," Squall stated, standing. "Just get your people moving, and be ready to back up our advance force as soon as you can."
"Will do, Commander," Randolph said as everyone rose, and Caraway's screen went dark. "The 125th will be airborne within the hour."
A few moments later, the Garden contingent was leaving the meeting room and heading back outside the Command Tower. They advanced down a long corridor of steel and concrete, with Dollet guards quickly saluting the trio, and they giving salutes back.
Quistis began to trail behind a bit, and Squall glanced back at her. She paused in mid-step.
"Squall, I need to tell you something," she stated quietly, and he stopped as well. Cid glanced back at them, but Squall waved his hand.
"This will just be a second," Quistis told the Headmaster before Squall could say anything, and Cid nodded, moving off down the hall.
"What is it?" Squall asked, and Quistis took a moment before speaking.
"Earlier today, before you spoke with her, Alucard interrogated Illarra," she explained. "He asked me to help him, and I figured this would help us as well, so I agreed."
Squall didn't respond verbally, but simply nodded. Quistis relaxed slightly; he wasn't angry o annoyed that she had gone behind his back and done this.
"I'm not sure what he did," she continued. "All I know is that he pulled a single word from her, and he told me that this one ward was all he needed. He didn't want to say what it was to me, because he was uncertain how it would effect Garden, and the course of events."
"What was it?" Squall asked.
"The word . . . was Iceblood," she stated quietly. "He said that it would define everything. I know Illarra escaped to Iceblood, but I don't think that's everything. In fact, from what he said, Iceblood may hold the key to everything in this war."
"I see," Squall mused, nodding. "If that's the case, we'll need to follow up on this." He looked away for a moment.
"We can't launch an attack on the prison," Quistis said quickly, shaking her head. "We don't even know where it is, and Trabia Garden needs protection. We don't have the troops to spare."
"I know," Squall answered, thinking. "What we really would need is a small team to locate the prison and get inside. Look around, see what's going on, and report back."
"Whoever it is needs to be very good," Quistis replied, running a potential list of candidates through her mind. "The team will need to be small enough to move undetected, but still . . . They'll likely be dropped into an area where the Estharian army is moving. Can we ask anyone to take that risk?"
"A lot of SeeDs would volunteer on the spot," Squall replied, shaking his head. "No. We don't have anyone good enough to risk dropping into such a hostile environment. I'd prefer to minimize how many people go in, but I can't ask anyone to go in alone. Not against a division-sized Estharian force."
"Someone needs to get into that prison, though," Quistis answered, and Squall nodded.
"I know who can get in there," he replied. "The person best qualified to infiltrate the prison and get back out."
"Who?" Quistis asked, and a very faint smile crossed Squall's features as his face hardened with determination.
"Me.
-
Okay, done. I think I'm getting to the end of the dialogue-heavy chapters of this part of the story. Very soon, we're going to see a LOT of action, and a tremendous amount of plot develoment. There are a lot of what I like to call "Mindfuck Bombs" waiting to be dropped :P
The Crazy Spiffy Caffine-FreeShout-Outs!
Daniel Wesley Rydell: Okay, fine. Ruin my fun :P Iceblood was partially inspired by Ysanne Isard, main villian of the Star Wars X-Wing book series, who otherwise went by the name "Iceheart."
DO THE MAMBO!
Chris Ganale: Funny you mention white suits of full body armor. I mean, you don't go into Trabia wearing bright blue or green uniforms... :P
Leonhartilly: Over here in the States, the season is already over :P Good season, not quite as shocking as the second or first ones, but better than the third.
Platonic1: Hey, I don't mind if I don't get reviews. I like reviews, though, so give them if you have time.
DBZ Fanfiction Queen: Normal Seifer v s. Sephiroth, Seifer loses. Now, the Governor against Sephiroth...heh, Seph better run and hide. Governor Seifer is hardcore.
Heh. Look, Alucard did make an appearance, whaddya know!
Yes. I loved writing Squall pissed off XD
I'm fucking with your head. Or then again, maybe I'm not. You'll eventually see what the heck I'm talking about sooner or later :P Trust me, you will be surprised. I explained the whole thing to my editor, and his response was ";; my head exploded..." Nash, Crell, and Illarra's appearances are actually all natural, though Illarra used slight physical surgery to alter her eye colors to match Squall's.
Thanks. I thought my idea was kinda cliche'd, turning Selphie into something more than human.
OniRazz: Yeah, Irvine was acting like Solid Snake, though it was more of his constant questions as opposed to his stealthy-ness :P
Solid Shark: You want a bit of a clue as to what happens next? Remember The Empire Strikes Back and Hoth? Yeah. Hee.
Angel of Apocalypse: I love ending my chapters in suspenseful or on dramatic notes. Kinda like this one.
JadeAlmasy: Part of the reason Squall (erronously) thought Garden would turn on him is because Rinoa is a Sorceress. But obviously, that doesn't matter to them, heh.
Yeah, I love it when I have Squall act like a badass. Where's Squall? Choking the fuck out of that traitorMartine, that's where!
Well, Irvien won't stay in Iceblood forever. Within the next few chapters there'll be an escape attempt, I will admit that. And poor guy. hekeeps getting abused, I know :P
Red Eyed Divine Dragoon: Hm. Let's see, at least three or four more chapters for the Iceblood Trabia Battle arc, then a couple of transitionary chapters where heads explode from story revelations, and then a few more chapters...I'll say we're looking at at least a dozen more chapters before the end.
Tain Shairi: Yeah, someone needs to arm Garden you know. I can imagine a fully-equipped and armed Garden war machine.
JJFirebrand05: Bah. I really should spot these typos, but I never do. Hmph.
Yes. The people who look like Squall all have Chimera Blood. That means Squall, Crell, Illarra, Nash, and . . . whoops, almost let that one slip, heh. And the Chimera is exactly what Alucard and Illarra explained: Centra's supersoldier, a legendary warrior with genetic and magical treatments that makes him the ultimate soldier.
You know what? I almost forgot about Edea there! I need to put her in this story too.
Well, the navies made open broadcasts because they did want everyone to know their intentions, and making encrypted broadacts is kind of pointless if you want to talk to the enemy in the first place. :P
GF action? Well, wait and see, heh.
Cloudfightback: Gee, all that to point out a tiny mistake:P
Wolf of Light: Heh. Funny you mention The Omega. This may have some superficial similarities to The Omega, but trust me, it will go off on its own soon enough. As for Alucard . . . I say nothing! Haha!
Kimahrigirl: Bah. Plenty of Seifer next chapter. Along with Solid Snake/Sam Fisher Squall!
Johnny: Don't worry: this crazy fic will be seen through to the end.
Spikestrife: Wow. That's a compliment :P And thanks for telling me that this is unique! I get worried I rip off other people sometimes.
Yeah, I didn't waste any time capturing Rinoa :P
Agreed on Squall's temper. He's cool and thoughtful, but at the same time he can become incredibly emotional and explosive at the drop of a hat. Later on, he's going to become more severe in that department, and for a veyr, very good reason.
Yes. Repeating that line is intentional. Its kind of a Garden rallying cry to get behind Squall and fight Crell.
Well, here's your update. Hopefully, now that we're edging into the more action-oriented and fast-paced chapters, things will get much better when it comes to me updating.
That everyone? Spiffy.
Till next chapter!