C:\ cd nomad\fanfic\1388651

C:\nomad\fanfic\1388651 chapter5.rtf

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


Squall, are you sure this is such a good idea? asked Quistis.

I don't want Seifer causing trouble while I'm away, Squall insisted, as they headed for the library, Seifer's last known location.

So instead he'll be causing trouble for us on the Ragnarok? Quistis shook her head. I don't like it. Xu can handle Seifer; and I think it'd be best to keep him away from you, and especially Zell.

Can't you ever be supportive of my ideas? Squall grumbled.

Quistis scoffed. Oh, you're one to talk about being supportive.

Squall grumbled.

Further argument was cut off by the sudden appearance of a student leaving the library. This particular student was most notable for the fact that he was sailing through the air, rather than walking out in the normal fashion. He was, in fact, so high off the ground that he cleared the safety rail and fell right into the large pool that lay underneath the hall's walkway.

What the...? Squall began; but the answer to this question immediately came running out after him.

That'll teach you to make noise in the library, ya know! Raijin declared. You ain't welcome here no more! Gotta order your books online, ya know!

Uh, excuse me.... The Library Girl with a Pigtail was timidly approaching Raijin from behind. We don't really have the authority to ban people from the Li—

There's one guy who won't be botherin' the other students, ya know! Raijin declared triumphantly, as the student hurriedly swam away.

Quistis said, arriving on the scene. Have you seen Seifer?

Raijin asked. He was in here checkin' out some textbooks earlier, but I dunno where he is now. It's really cool workin' in here, ya know? The Library Committee is way better than the Disciplinary Committee, ya know!

This prompted a sigh from the Library Girl with a Pigtail.

Hey, Fujin might know! suggested Raijin.

Where could we find her? Quistis asked.

Oh, she's in class, ya know! said Raijin. Cid's puttin' us to work right away, ya know!

Which class? asked Squall.


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The student gulped nervously as he stood by his painting. So...how is it, ma'am? he asked.

The color scheme suggests a surrealistic motif that is not consistent with the straightforward nature of the piece. Its sharp lines suggest a style that contrasts badly with the disproportionate bodies and exaggerated facial features. This could have made a respectable ironic statement, mocking the disorganized nature of most modern art, but the detail put into the bodies seems to suggest a more dramatic intention, and this fails completely.

The student blinked.

the instructor paraphrased. POORLY DONE. D-MINUS.

The student jumped. Y-Yes, ma'am!

Squall and Quistis entered. Fujin, can we talk to you for a second?

Fujin nodded.

Have you seen Seifer? Squall asked.

Fujin nodded.

Is he still here inside Garden? Squall asked.

Fujin shook her head.

Did he leave Balamb? Squall asked.

Fujin shook her head.

Did Seifer fall down the well? Quistis asked.

Fujin stared at her.

Where is he? Squall asked.

Fujin answered.

Squall said.

So he's all ready to go already? Quistis asked.

Fujin confirmed.

All ready? Already? Quistis frowned. Okay, I'm never saying that again.

Let's go, Squall suggested. The others are probably at the Ragnarok by now, too.


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Where is everybody? Rinoa asked. She and Seifer were standing alone on the Ragnarok's bridge.

Maybe they'd hurry up if we took off and left without Seifer suggested.

Rinoa giggled. You know how to fly this thing?

Seifer shrugged. Sure. I went through my last year of SeeD training four times, so I racked up a lot of electives. Foreign Spacecraft Operation was one of my favorites, right behind Advanced Sorceress Mythology and Theatre Arts.

Rinoa began, as if she had something important to say. ...No. I shouldn't be talking about it.

Is it about Squall? Seifer asked. He's not worth it, you know.

But I care about him! Rinoa declared. I only wish...he felt the same way for me. But how could he, after what he did?

You know, said Seifer. You've been goin' over the same introspective for, like, a year now. Doesn't it ever get old for you? Cause I've gotta say, listening to you angst about Mr. Leader Puberty Boy all the time isn't a big thrill for me. He noticed that Squall was standing on the lift. Oh, hi Squall.

We're leaving, said Squall. Where are all the others?

Seifer shrugged. Got me. Lost your crew again, Mr. Leader? Judging by your performance so far, I can't even guess why someone thought you'd make a good Headmaster.

Can't you do anything but throw insults, Seifer? asked Squall.

Seifer shrugged again. Oh, I can do other stuff, Puberty Boy. This is just way more fun.

Then Irvine arrived on the bridge. Oh, so you guys are all finally here! he said. Can we please go save Selphie now?

Is everyone aboard? asked Squall.

Quistis, Fujin and Raijin are on the lower level, Irvine replied.

Which you really should know, considering you came aboard with them, said Nida.

Then let's get going, said Squall.


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Where are you going? asked Xu.

Although he looked startled for a moment, Colonel Torzen covered it well by projecting a strong air of calm secrecy. I was just going to inspect your Garden's MD level, to see if we could salvage its equipment for other uses, he said.

said Xu. What's all this equipment for? She indicated the large amount of electronics he was carrying.

My own personal diagnostic devices, he replied. This Garden's equipment stores did not have what I require, so I had to have my own equipment shipped in from Dollet.

Xu nodded.

I do apologize for the use of Garden funds, Torzen said, but I felt it important that the work be done right away. The only way possible was for me to use my own equipment and conduct the work myself.

Xu nodded. I see.

It's all perfectly normal and not in any way associated with a sinister agenda, Torzen said.

Xu nodded. Of course.

The two of them stared at each other for a moment in silence.

Well, then, said Torzen. I'll just get back to my work, if you don't mind.

Xu nodded.

Good day, ma'am, said Torzen; and he went on his way into the lift.

Xu frowned at him as he left. There was something decidedly strange about that man.


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I'm telling you, man, there's something really strange about this, Zell was saying.

You mean the part where Selphie got abducted by aliens, the part where Seifer appeared out of the blue and got readmitted to Garden, the part where Rinoa appeared out of the blue with him and keeps getting knocked out by Ultimecia, the part where Laguna appeared out of the blue to tell Squall he's his father, or how all of those things happened within the space of a few hours? asked Nida.

Quistis agreed. Something strange is certainly going on here. She blinked, looking at Nida. Wait...Laguna said what to Squall?!

Even supposin' there are aliens, Zell said. Why'd they be pokin' around our planet, anyway? I mean, it's 4 light-years to the nearest star, so even if that's where they're from, an' assuming their ships can travel at practically the speed of light, it'd take them four years to get here? Why'd they make such a long trip jus' to abduct Selphie?

I can't believe Squall didn't tell me! Quistis exclaimed.

Uh, it's Squall, Nida pointed out. Not that she was paying attention.

Besides, if you examine the way alien sightings jumped up right after the Sorceress War, you notice that they really seem like they're just fueled by the media frenzy, Zell continued. I mean, the first flying saucers weren't saucer-shaped at all; they got the name because the guy who described them said they were like saucers skippin' through water! But after that, every UFO anyone sees is always saucer-shaped! What's up with that?

It's like our relationship doesn't mean anything to him! continued Quistis. Something like discovering that he isn't an orphan after all; even if we weren't together, he should have told his friends!

And what kind of plan would require the aliens to run around and abduct random people, then bring em back later so they can tell the whole world about what happened? continued Zell. It doesn't make any sense, you know?

Quistis shook her head. That's it! I'm going to have a talk with him right now! And she stormed off.

Zell sighed. Aw man...all alone.

Nida groaned.


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