C:\ cd nomad\fanfic\1388651

C:\nomad\fanfic\1388651 chapter3.rtf

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(A)bort, (R)etry, (F)ail? R_


The Ragnarok's rockets ignited even before the hover systems had completely lifted it off the ground; the vessel shot away from Balamb Garden as if it had been fired from a cannon, and it was fortunate for all concerned that no persons or structures had been located directly in front of or behind the spaceship at the time.

Selphie exclaimed, removing her hands from the control panel in order to raise them triumphantly in the air. That was soooo cool!

Selphie, look out! Quistis exclaimed, as the Ragnarok, still flying at a very low altitude, nearly plowed straight through the Balamb forest. Responding with lightning-fast resources, Selphie flipped the nose of the vessel nearly ninety degrees upward, sending them shooting into the sky and sending anyone not comfortably seated sprawling backwards in the second or two it took for the artificial gravity to switch on. Their altitude went from ten meters to ten thousand in the moment it took for Selphie to level them off.

I honestly can't imagine why the Esthar pilot allowed us to take this ship, said Quistis, whose heart rate had increased by a factor of 2.7 in the fourteen seconds since their takeoff.

Who cares? Selphie asked. This ship is soooo cool! It'd be really fun sometime to just fly it around really fast!

Please don't, moaned Rinoa.

Quistis frowned. Rinoa, what are you doing here, anyway? Shouldn't you be in the Infirmary still?

I can't stay behind, Quistis, said Rinoa. I need answers. I need to know why this is happening to me.

You expect to find answers on a mission to hunt aliens? Quistis asked.

Let her come, Quistis, said Squall. She needs to do this.

Quistis shrugged. Well, it's not as if I have much choice, considering I'm not in charge of this mission and we've already taken off.

Speaking of things that don't make too much sense, Nida said, Doesn't it seem kind of odd that you got your Instructor's license reinstated, but you're still being sent on missions like a regular SeeD?

Quistis frowned. Nida, what are you doing here?

Nodding, Squall went back to sit with Rinoa. How are you feeling? he asked.

she replied. Squall, I thought about a lot of things while I was away from you, and...mostly, I was thinking about you. I know I said I couldn't bear to think about what happened, but I can't stop myself. Looking back...I think maybe I shouldn't have run away. That didn't solve anything, and I'm sorry I did it. But I still can't believe you could have given up on me so easily!

What are you talking about? Squall asked. I didn't do anything! You ran away and told me not to go after you!

I never said that! Rinoa exclaimed. And even if I had, you should have done it anyway! Any good boyfriend knows that! She turned away from him and hugged her legs. Seifer knew that.

Is there something you want to tell me about Seifer? Squall asked. Just say it if there is.

Rinoa turned back around. Squall, there's something I have to ask you.



Rinoa hesitated, looking hesitant. Why —

We're here! Selphie exclaimed.


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That was a fast trip, Quistis commented, as they struck out across the Winhill plains.

I flew us here really fast! declared Selphie proudly. Rockets are sooo cool! They make things go really really fast!

So what are we supposed to be looking for, anyway? Irvine asked.

Squall told him.

Yeah, but how are we supposed to do that? I mean, I guess I slept through all my alien-hunting classes back at Garden.

We look around until we find something, Squall explained. There has to be a reason we were sent here.

Like maybe because the guy didn't have anyplace better to send us, because he's an idiot? asked Irvine.

Don't refer to our employer that way, said Squall. ...Not out loud, anyway.

Heey, guys! Selphie exclaimed. Look at this! She was pointing to a circular depression in the ground. This could be a footprint from an alien landing pad!

What kind of ship would only have one landing pad? Irvine asked.

An alien one! Selphie replied. Or maybe it was caused by their abductor beam, because it doesn't just pick up people but the patch of ground they were standing on too!

We should keep looking, Squall suggested.

Selphie bounded ahead. They've gotta be nearby!

said Rinoa. I don't feel well.

Maybe you should go back to the ship, Rinoa, suggested Quistis.

Rinoa shook her head. No, I wanna stay with Squall.

Quistis sighed.

So, how long until we can say there are no aliens here and go home? asked Irvine.

Squall took out their contract. According to this, we have to stay until we find the aliens and determine their weaknesses. There's no mention of what to do if we can't find any, except that we're to wait here until we do.

Oh, great, said Irvine. What kind of a mission is that?

Kind of like the one that was supposed to be active until Timber gained its independence, said Nida, who was still hanging around.

Irvine groaned. Squall, when you're Headmaster, promise me you'll stop taking such idiotic jobs, okay?

Nida was frowning. Wait...can you people hear me now?

Selphie exclaimed, as she found herself being lifted off the ground by an invisible force. A circular patch of the earth she had been standing on was being lifted up as well. Guys, I think I found the aliens! And they're lifting me off the ground! Somebody help!

Oh, my, said Quistis, looking up at the saucer-shaped craft that was hovering above Selphie's position. It really is an alien spaceship.

I'm still skeptical, said Irvine. It could be swamp gas, or some kind of crazy Float spell gone wrong.

Selphie prodded, as she rose higher into the air.

Don't worry, Selphie! Quistis called. We'll get you down! She turned to Squall. How are we going to get her down again, Squall?

Squall blinked. How should I know?

Squall, you've gotta do something! Zell exclaimed.

Yeah, Selphie's counting on you! added Irvine.

Save me, Squall! Selphie called.

Why the hell does everything always become my responsibility? Squall demanded. Wy can't any of you do something for a change?

Time's running out, Squall! Quistis urged. Hurry! Think of something!

Squall pressed his hand to his forehead. By the time he was once again paying attention to his surroundings, Selphie had been swallowed up by a bright light at the bottom of the alien ship which was now disappearing over the horizon.

...We'd better report back to Garden, he said.


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What are you back here for, then? demanded the man with the tinfoil hat. You just let the aliens get away, just like that? I demand that you follow them back to their mothership immediately!

The...unidentified vessel was outside the range of the Ragnarok's radar by the time we had taken off, Squall reported. There was no way to track them.

I hired you people to track down and interdict the alien menace! insisted the tinfoil hat man. You get out there and don't come back until you've found them! And interdicted their menace! He stomped out the door.

...What a moron, Squall said.

Hey, aren't we supposed to not say things like that about our employer? Irvine asked.

What, like Squall ever follows his own advice? inquired Nida rhetorically.

We do have to save Selphie, though, said Quistis.

But how are we gonna do that? asked Zell. I mean, the aliens took her off in some kinda spaceship! How are we gonna track down something like that?

...With another spaceship, maybe? asked Irvine.

Yeah, but were are we gonna find one of those? I mean, it's not like spaceships just fall outta the sky or somethin'.

The Ragnarok is a spaceship, Zell, said Quistis.

Zell hesitated. ...Oh, yeah.

Now, I'm not saying I actually think this is an alien spaceship we're dealing with, said Irvine. That's silly, because aliens aren't real.

We'll prepare the Ragnarok for orbital flight, said Squall. Everyone, be ready to leave. We're going to find these aliens, and we'll get Selphie back.


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Squall, what are we really doing? Quistis asked. They were alone now in the Garden's front courtyard.

I don't know, Squall admitted. Everything's been different since Rinoa came back.

Quistis shook her head. Rinoa. It's always about her, isn't it? I've tried to be patient, Squall, but I can't stand the way that whenever she's around, she becomes the only thing in the world for you! How do you think that makes me feel?

Quistis, why does everything always have to be about you? Squall shot back. It's annoying. Why don't you just accept that I care about Rinoa, because it isn't ever going to change!

Quistis recoiled, for a moment looking completely heartbroken. Then, she assumed her more common expression of cold impersonality. she said. Then I guess there's no point in our being together any longer.

Squall watched silently as she turned and walked away.

Well, now, came a voice from nearby, where Seifer was standing. For some reason, neither Squall nor Quistis had noticed him before. You've got quite a way with the ladies, don't you, Puberty Boy?

Shut up, Seifer, said Squall.

Seifer laughed. Are you ever going to learn a new retort, Squall? That one's not just lame; it's getting kind of old.

Shut — Squall stopped himself, and glared. What do you want?

At the moment, I want to see if your vocabulary can go beyond a few canned responses, said Seifer. So far, the results aren't promising.

I don't care about any of that! Squall declared.

Oh, don't worry, said Seifer while grinning. It's not your fault. As a matter of fact, there's no way you could know what's about to happen.

What are you talking about, Seifer? Squall demanded.

You'll find out, he replied. And you'll just love what your role will be in this new drama. I know I'm looking forward to it. Laughing ominously, he turned and left.

growled Squall, glaring after Seifer in a hostile manner.

Just then, he was hit on the head by a rock.

You suck! declared Mr. Monkey, who retreated into the shadows before Squall could retaliate.

In response, Squall glowered some more.


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