Angelus Errare
Written by -Laguna-
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Chapter 4: The Pursuit…
"Wow." Skye gasped in astonishment. "Impressive..uh…stuff here."
She examined what appeared to be a row of boats, in dry dock inside the cavern. They didn't look like normal boats; machine guns were mounted atop on most of them, plus they had the smooth form of a submarine.
Each of the boats was held up a few feet above the ground with some sort of wire-frame like contraption.
Squinting, she counted five that were docked, one after another, the cave being too narrow for having two or more along side each other. A whole bunch of tools and equipment was lying around the boats, and crates no doubt filled with supplies were stacked along the cavern wall.
-"These are Balamb Garden's armored transports." Squall told her. "When they're not docked in Balamb harbor, they're here. Not many people know about that."
Slowly, Skye approached the nearest boat. She noticed the curved lines of the boat and very slick aerodynamic shape. It was clearly designed for high-speeds.
"Can you pilot it?" She asked, amazed by the good state the vessel she stood by was in. It looked brand new, she could even see her own reflection in it.
Squall nodded and investigated the stack of crates. He opened one of them, and picked up some sort of can from it.
'Rations' was printed on it with big white letters. Squall looked dirty at it for a second, then shrugged and placed it on the ground, so both hands were free to continue pilfering.
-"It should be practically automatic." He said, reaching for more cans of rations. "I just need to pack a few supplies now, and we're off. Balamb is probably still busy dealing with the aftermath."
"Is there anything I can do?"
-"Yeah, you could start the engine of that vessel you're standing by. It takes a few minutes to fully warm-up."
Skye imitated a SeeD salute as she'd seen before, and moved along the vessel's hull.
"Uhm.." She mumbled, tossing Squall an awkward glance. "Where is the door?"
Squall sighed, picked up the few cans he had gathered and walked towards Skye.
"There," He pointed with his nose now that his hands were full. "Hit that button."
Grinning sheepishly, she turned to the little red button she had overlooked and bashed it in with her fist.
She heard a click, and a door in the vessel slid open to the ground, at the same time providing a stair to climb in with its backside.
"Wow." She laughed as she stepped up. "Modern technology…"
She stood in the vessel's opening, and turned to Squall. Laughing at the fact she was now taller than he was.
Not amused, he carefully handed her the cans. "Put these in the back somewhere."
"Hey, what kinda food is this? This is heavy!" She said, her short form almost buckling under the weight of half a dozen cans of army supplies.
-"Rations. It doesn't taste good, but it'll keep you going." He explained.
Skye went inside the transport and quickly dropped the cans on one of the two benches she found there. It would perhaps have been more accurate to call them two rows of seats, since these definitely weren't park benches. Each seat had two seatbelts, hanging left and right. When someone fastened them they would cross and really strap someone in. At least, that's what she ascertained just from looking at it.
Skye inspected the rest of the vessel. Though it wasn't too roomy, there were four seats on opposite sides, and in between these stood a small table. A high-tech map covered most of it, some touch-panels and buttons the rest.
-"Go to the control panel." Squall told her, as he was busy sifting through more boxes. "Press 'start', it should work."
"Okay," She replied and moved up to the front. "I'm there."
The cockpit of the vessel was suddenly very narrow compared to the rest. She guessed only one 'pilot' was needed. Or..did they call it driver? Perhaps seaman? She had no idea.
"Let's see now," She said moving her hand across the panel in search for the ignition. Many buttons, levers and view-screens made up the entire panel. Maybe she'd be better of reading the manual first…
"Uhm…Squall?" Skye called.
She heard a thud behind her and saw Squall walking up after dropping off a belt of ammunition, together with his gunblade.
"Move over," He said, slightly annoyed. "I'll take care of everything, just take a seat."
Skye looked down. "I'm sorry, I'm not any help…"
Squall sighed, and immediately found the right button to start up the system. As he pressed it, all kinds of lights suddenly blinked on in the small cockpit. Several status screens flashed green. The transport was kept in good shape.
Skye was about to take a seat in the back when she peered through the one of the small windows.
"Squall, shouldn't we push this vessel to sea first?" She asked, realizing a boat is no good on dry land. Oh yes, she was the rare smart blond type. "There's no water in this cave."
-"It'll be okay." He assured her from the cockpit. "Believe it or not, the dry-dock this vessel is on has wheels. It'll drive us in the water."
"Oh…okay." She said as she sat down and buckled up. It could get pretty rough for all she knew.
The vessel began slightly trembling and the cans of rations started rolling, some dropping on the floor. Skye heard the faint sound of a starting motor, somewhere just below the floor under her feet.
Not far from the seaside cave, a group of five Balamb students stood carefully scanning around. In the distance they saw a group of retreating Galbadian soldiers, but they weren't important right now.
-"So where is she?" A student asked her squad leader.
The unit leader, Bell Liosa -who had finally been giving an assignment other than guard duty- turned to Nida. "Well?"
Nida held up the tracking device. "Close by. Can't tell exactly, something is causing interference."
His eyes widened. "The transports! She's trying to get away!"
The students sprung into action and ran towards the cave, their leader following close behind.
Pressing their bodies against the rock wall, they carefully proceeded until they were next to the entrance.
-"Sir?" A female student called, noticing the net that normally covered up the Garden's secret cave had been thrown on the ground. Gesturing his squad to wait, Liosa peered around the corner, into to dark cavern.
The sound of a starting engine echoed.
He clutched his sword. "Let's head in!"
Squall took a seat in the 'pilot' chair and fastened his seatbelt. He glanced across the control panel. All he needed to do was punch in a few coordinates, but that was easier said than done.
"Squall!" Skye yelled from behind him. "They found us!"
He looked up through the front viewports and saw several figures carefully moving towards them. It was too dark to tell from which Garden they were, but Squall could clearly see they were armed; their swords reflected the sun light at the end of the cavern.
Squall quickly closed the vessel's door. Glancing over on the engine's status screen, it still displayed a time of two minutes before it was warmed-up.
"We don't have that much time!" He yelled at the device and switched it to manual. A warning screen appeared. Squall ignored it and throttled up. The engine roared and the vessel began to drive down the cave with tremendous speed, the small wheels of its dry-dock heavily screeching along the way.
-"Get out of the way!" Liosa warned his squad, quickly jumping aside.
The students threw down their swords and pressed themselves against the cavern wall. With a gust, the transport craft drove by them and left at trail of thick dust along its way. As this settled, Bell Liosa quickly ran towards the sea. But all he could see was the dry dock, more than half-emerged, and a quickly dissipating trail in the water left by the vessel's small but fast engine cluster.
Nida slowly opened his eyes, amazed he had remained unharmed. If he were just a few seconds slower, the vessel would have surely ran him over. He knew being a student at Balamb Garden meant taking risks, but to be run over by a boat seemed way too inhumane.
"Dammit!" Nida's squad leader cursed as he walked back to his team. "We failed."
-"We can still go after her in one of the other boats Sir."
He nodded at two team members and they went for the nearest transport. "Let's hope we can catch up."
-"Well, at least we will know where they're headed." Nida said, handing the tracking device to his leader.
The blink on its tiny radar appeared to be going to the southeast.
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Seifer stood at the edge of Balamb harbor. He watched the waves of water moving up and down peacefully, unhindered by all the fighting that went on in the world. One day, when all this was over, he would have to go fish here once.
"Uh, Seifer?" Raijin called as Fujin nudged him. "I..uh…I don't think they're here, ya know?"
Apart from them and a lowly old fisherman, the dock area of Balamb was deserted. There was only one boat docked and it looked like it needed a good work over. Raijin was surprised it managed to stay afloat in the first place.
-"Damn." Seifer replied. He was following a small spot on the horizon with his eyes.
Fujin and Raijin squinted. A plane? No…wait…a boat?
"That's them." He said with an annoyed look. "The Sorceress and that guy."
-"How can ya tell?" Raijin asked shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand. The boat disappeared over the distant blue-lined horizon.
He smirked. "Just trust me on this."
"So, what we gonna do now?" Raijin asked.
-"What else?" Seifer asked in reply.
Raijin looked puzzled as Seifer turned around and made for Balamb plains- which were sure to be crawling with Balamb forces by now, looking to deal with the pockets of fleeing Galbadians.
Fujin kicked his shine. "FOLLOW."
Raijin hopped on his one good leg. "Ow, hey Fu that really hurts, ya know?"
In a rare occasion, she smiled. "AFFIRMATIVE."
Seifer led the way out Balamb town and towards a cavern near the sea. He stopped by the entrance to it and listened to sounds coming from deeper inside the cave.
"SEEDS?" Fujin asked.
-"Not sure. Raijin, you go."
"Me?" He began shaking uncontrollably. "Don'tcha remember what happened last time I fought the SeeDs?"
Seifer shrugged. "So they beat ya, join the club. I'm not asking you to defeat them, I just need one thing."
"She's not yet warmed up Sir." The student behind the transport controls reported.
Liosa had been going through opened supply crates to determine what the Sorceress had stolen. "Just wait a little longer. We don't wanna get an engine failure at open sea."
He found an open ammo box. At least one belt of revolver rounds was missing. He was pondering the meaning of this when someone tapped him on his shoulder.
"Yeah yeah, I'm coming." He straightened and found himself standing face to face with sub commander Raijin. Before he could reach for his sword, he received a sharp blow in the stomach, and doubled up.
"Sorry, ya know." Raijin apologized, which he did to each of the five team members he knocked out. The ones he knocked out AND threw out of the transport even got two apologies.
The muscleman climbed behind the transport's controls. The short, narrow space pushed his knees up and in, and barely gave him room to pull his elbows in. He played with the seat's adjustment buttons for a moment and got it to assume a semi-reclining position. Satisfied, he drove her out of the dry-dock cavern.
Raijin pulled up the transport next to Seifer and Fujin, one hand on the steer, one stuck out a small view port tapping the outer hull- as if to say 'check out my ride'. Fujin merely glared at him. He got the message and closed the window.
Geez, not even allowed to have some fun.
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"So, FH it is?" Skye asked, stepping up to the cockpit doorway. She noticed the screen displaying the world map. A course was plotted out; it led south to the town that she knew from Squall's story to be Fisherman's Horizon.
Squall sat observing a few screens. The autopilot appeared to have been engaged, as Squall wasn't steering.
-"I guess so." Squall replied.
He unfastened his seatbelt and moved to take a seat on the bench in the main compartment. Maybe he was a little claustrophobic, but he'd prefer sitting out the ride there.
As he was about to sit down, the transport vessel hit a high wave. The boat edged towards the right and Squall fell down in the seat. Skye laughed at this but stopped as she noticed he had a worried look on his face.
-"Maybe I should go to Timber, and find Rinoa." He said, shaking his head. The same sensation he felt earlier engulfed him again. He had no idea what to do, no idea what was going on. How could he possibly know he had down the right thing by escaping from Balamb Garden?
What the hell was going on?
"But what if Rinoa doesn't know who you are either?" Skye offered.
He sighed. "Yeah, that could be." But still Squall felt concerned over Rinoa.
"So, what about you? Where are you going?" Squall asked, wondering about the mysterious Sorceress Skye.
Skye eyed her Odine bangle. "I still need to get this off."
Squall inspected it again, this time with better lighting than before. "Hm, I still don't think I can get it off with a gunblade. I suppose I could try shooting it, but if the bullet ricochets--"
Skye grinned nervously. "No shooting me please."
She pulled at the bangle, and, seeing it still wouldn't budge, sighed hopelessly. "The Headmaster put it on, maybe he's the only one that can get it off again."
-"No, I'm sure Doctor Odine can as well." He assured her. "After all, he designed it."
"Isn't he in Esthar?" Skye asked. "And isn't that where you're going?"
-"Yeah, but I'm going there to see Ellone." He told her. "Although I can't even be sure if she will be there."
"We'll just have to see when we get there." She said cheery.
One of Squall's eyebrows shot up. "We?"
Skye's smile broadened. "We escaped together didn't we? And we both have business in Esthar."
He looked uneasy and tried being as nice as possible with what he had to say. "Skye, look, I don't think you should come with me. You have no idea what I'm involved in. I don't even know."
Her smile quickly disappeared.
"At least you know who you are." She countered. She hadn't meant for it to sound bitter, but it did.
-"Hey, I'm sorry about what happened to you, but I've got my own problems."
"We both have our problems." She emphasized.
-"I understand what you're getting at, but I want do this alone."
She looked hurt. "So that's what you're like."
"Yes, I thought I'd changed, but I guess I haven't. Other people only complicate things, especially now."
-"Maybe so, but I have nowhere else to go." Skye told him. "I don't know anyone and you're one of the few people that's actually been nice to me."
"Who are the others?" Squall asked, thinking callously of dumping her somewhere. Truly this situation had reverted him to his old form and habits.
-"Doctor Kadowaki, and one of the prison guards. He managed to steal me some good food from the Cafeteria."
Squall began to look worried.
Somehow she could tell what he was thinking. "No, he wasn't guarding us when we were attacked. That must have been another shift."
"You're quite insightful." Squall remarked. Aside from Quistis and Rinoa, there weren't many people that could ever tell what he was thinking of. The girls had even jokingly called their ability 'The Gift'.
"Thanks."
Which then reminded him. "How did you know about the squad of soldiers entering the cave anyway? You were back in the passenger section, you couldn't have seen them."
She was surprised by the question, but when she thought about it, she couldn't really tell what it was that alerted her.
"That's what I thought." He said when he saw her struggle to put it into words. "It's natural to you."
-"What do you mean?"
"Your heightened awareness." He said. "The trait of a Sorceress."
She gave her bangle another dirty look. "So this isn't just wrist decoration, huh?"
"Seems so."
So Skye really was a Sorceress and this was an especially dangerous time to be of that class. Callous Squall would have liked to abandon her then and there since that was the most convenient solution to reduce the amount of worries he had. But he couldn't…because of Rinoa. Skye was a Sorceress, just like her. And from what he could tell, one on the side of good guys as well. In his mind, Callous Squall and the new Caring Squall wrestled each other on this issue before reaching a consensus.
Squall picked up two cans of rations from the floor. He pulled their lids open and handed one to Skye.
She laughed. "Making amends with food? Does this mean you changed your mind?"
"Let's get to FH first, we'll sort things out once there." He suggested, and she naturally agreed.
Skye looked at her food. As far as it could be called that.
"Ew…what's this brown stuff?" She asked with a disgusted face. There were brown chunks floating in darker brown liquid. Eating had never seemed this revolting before.
Squall moved the can to his mouth and ate one of the food chunks, although it looked more like he was drinking soda, which said a lot about the quality and texture (or total lack thereof!).
"I told you, they're rations. It's not great, but it will have to do."
-"No thanks." She sighed, placing the can beside her. "I'll pass."
Squall had only taken a few small portions when he got up and moved to the cockpit doorway. There had been a sound that alerted him, a beep of some sort. He sat down and slowly acquainted himself with the instruments and their readings. He found the origin of the sound soon enough, as the beeping got not only louder but also faster, with less and less time between each beep. His eyes widened in quick realization.
"Skye, brace yourself!"
She grabbed the handles of her seat just moments before the entire transport shook with substantial force. She looked out the small viewports lining the hull and saw another transport vessel coming up along side theirs. The other vessel pulled away slightly, sped up, and hit hard again. The two vessel were scraping each others paint off.
"What's he doing!" She panicked, seeing the hull in front of her bending inwards, while the high-pitched metal screams protested against the force applied to it.
"Just hold on." Squall yelled at her. He was fighting the controls. The engine output was dropping and with the other vessel's mass added to theirs, the steer hardly responded to his actions. The transport began to sway when it was supposed to be going in a straight line. Then, instead of trying to break free he slammed back at the other vessel, and the tactic worked, the vessel broke off. But it was still right in their wake, stalking them.
A blinking screen informed Squall of what he already knew, their transport had sustained heavy damage on one side. Their maximum speed had almost halved and the other transport, only lightly damaged, had no trouble keeping up.
Out in the open seas, with nothing but endless dark blue water in sight, the one transport hunted the other, breaking through crashing waves that Squall and Skye's transport caused in its wake.
Machinegun fire erupted from the pursuing transport, spraying the aft of Squall's transport. It sounded like a heavy rain of hailstones hitting a window. Skye made herself small and covered her face with her arms instinctively. The bullets sounded dangerously close to her.
The transport began rocking side to side as Squall no doubt tried his best to avoid the incoming fire but it was of little use with reduced maneuverability. They straightened out again, or as best the vessel still could anyway.
Skye nearly jumped out of her skin when Squall entered the passenger compartment.
"Hey- who's steering this thing?!" She yelled at him.
He unfastened her straps and pulled her up. "You are."
"What do you mean? I can't--"
"You CAN." He told her with confidence. "I've put the safeties on, you can't do anything stupid, and the basic controls aren't too hard to master. Just hold on to the steer and follow my orders. It's easy as riding a bike. "
Though his tone was harsh, it sobered her up, preventing from further panicking. She did as told and took a seat behind the alien-looking array of controls. Over her shoulder she saw Squall climbing up a ladder and opening up the top hatch.
Easy as riding a bike. Squall's words repeated in Skye's mind…there was only one problem then.
She couldn't recall ever riding a bike before.
The other vessel's machine guns found a new target when Squall manned the turret. He kept his head low waiting for the burst to end. When it did, he popped up and squeezed the trigger of the twin guns at his disposal. Soon ejected empty shells piled up at his feet. Squall spotted a blonde-haired man ducking behind the armored plating.
The bullets he had fired did virtually no damage to the thick shell of the other transport. Squall ducked when his guns paused to reload, and the other ones fired. The two Balamb transports exchanged deadly machinegun fire like this for some time, without doing any serious damage to either vessel. Squall peeked over the plating that protected his life, wondering why the other had stopped. Now he was sure of who he was dealing with- he identified Seifer as the one manning the other transport's guns. Seifer's vessel pulled out of the wake of theirs and to the left, to get a clear shot on the side that had been severely damaged by the repeated collisions. With the armored plating ripped open in several places, the side wouldn't be able to sustain much of an attack.
Squall thanked himself for having followed the classes on naval combat. He knew all the enemy needed to do was make a leak- didn't even have to be a big one, at these speeds the water would flood in anyway, and the hull, however reinforced it was, would buckle under the pressure.
"Skye!" Squall called down to her with great urgency. "When I tell you to, shut off the engines!"
She had already found the large throttle lever and held on to it with her left hand, holding the steer with the other. She was smaller than her seat and felt like a dwarf in a giant's chair…but with a little help from the vessel's navigation system, she wasn't doing too bad.
Seifer's vessel crept up and Squall saw the machine guns being turned to target their weakened hull. Seifer smirked and opened up fire.
"Now!" Squall yelled.
Their transport abruptly fell back and the bullets flew by Skye's front viewports, hitting only air and eventually, water.
"Quickly hit the gas and try to come up behind them." Squall ordered and spun the turret on its circular track to face front. He closed one eye and with the other looked through the crosshair.
Skye was beginning to get the hang of it and perfectly lined up behind the other vessel, just where Squall wanted to be.
It was a difficult shot that he had planned, but the only chance to shake off their pursuers. Squall's guns started spewing bullets and they splashed into the water just behind Seifer's transport. Seifer himself had ducked at first but when he realized the bullets weren't aimed for him, got up and turned his guns to return fire.
"What are you doing?" Skye called up as bullets bounced off of their vessel's front armor.
Squall fired in short concentrated bursts and just before his clip was out, his bullets did their job. There was a small underwater explosion underneath the aft of Seifer's transport and it visibly lost power.
Quickly reacting to the change, Skye with some effort steered them out of the other vessel's path. Now their ship, despite having only half the maximum speed, was by far the faster one. Squall let go of the trigger and looked back, satisfied, at Seifer's transport. It was now practically dead in the water with a blown engine, they'd only have one back-up engine but it wouldn't provide enough speed to give chase.
Seifer shot a couple of more times at them but they were already gaining distance.
Squall smiled and welcomed the wind that blew across his face and through his hair. They'd escaped--again.
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After knocking and being welcomed in from the other side, Kenan entered his sister Tia's quarters. She was still lying in bed, black hair fanned out across her large white pillow. Her skin was pale and she generally seemed unwell.
"I'm glad to see you're okay." She said.
Kenan looked at his wound that he had gotten wrapped up in bandage in the mean time. "Yeah, it's just this one injury, but it's alright. Doesn't even hurt much."
He looked at her. "How are you holding up?"
She rested her head back on her pillow. "Still feels like someone shoved Sorceress powers down my throat."
Kenan took up a seat close to the bed and became mournful. "I'm sorry Ti, I really am."
She reached for his hand and held on to it.
-"No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that." She told him. "It's not your fault, you know that."
He was studying the back of his own hand as if it was interesting. "Yeah, I guess."
"Hey, is something the matter?"
"This guy came by earlier. Squall Leonhart." He began. "He started telling this amazing story about how he and the team -me excluded- had already defeated Ultimecia. Said he was supposed to be the Commander instead of me."
She took it in without looking as stunned as he was at the time. "Did you believe him?"
He grinned. "No. We thought he was a Galbadian spy, and locked him up."
His tone suddenly changed. "But he escaped sometime during the battle just now. Together with Sorceress Skye- remember I told you about her?"
Tia nodded. "Yes. Poor girl, I know how she feels. Maybe you shouldn't have treated her the way you did, don't you think that's why she ran away?"
"She's not like you Tia. She may have actually gotten her powers willingly, although with that condition of hers we couldn't get much out of her. Either way, it's not the same."
He looked for some sign of approval in his sister's purple eyes. "That's what made her so dangerous and unpredictable Ti, don't you understand? You're still a Balamb student, we know you're on our side, but with her there's no telling."
She was entirely swayed. "But you told me that the Headmaster had advised you that he thought the Galbadians could be after her. If she's the enemy's enemy--"
He stopped her there. He knew exactly what she meant to say, as it was something that had crossed his mind as well.
"One plus one doesn't always make two Ti. I mean Leonhart seems to be running from the Galbadians too. We don't really know why…but, maybe there's a third side to be on? In the past, powerful Sorceresses have always fought one and other for total domination. Just look at the Adel-Lumia wars twenty years ago. If Laguna Loire hadn't gotten rid of Adel, that war could have gone on indefinitely."
He got up. "Anyway, I should be going. Things are kind of hectic right now, we're about to move out again."
"Okay."
He was already at the door when Tia called his name. He turned. "Yeah?"
"About Squall's story."
This perked his interest. "What about it?"
"Whether it's true or not…I'll still be your sister, won't I?"
A smile spread on his combat-battered face. "Yeah, of course."
He didn't see the wisdom in her words until he was marching through the corridor. He loved Tia for being able to think outside the box. She didn't speculate about the truth of the guy's claims, but cleverly pointed out that there were some things no amount of Squall Leonharts could ever change.
While heading for the Headmaster's Office, Kenan couldn't help but wonder if Leonhart had any brothers or sisters…
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"We're almost there." Squall told her as he saw FH's distinctive shape looming up in the distance.
Skye was back in one of the passenger seats again. She was happy to have proven her usefulness when she took control of the vessel, but now there was no particular need for her at the helm. Nor for Squall. The autopilot could manage getting them to FH, despite the damage suffered.
"Something wrong?" Skye asked her, noticing wrinkles on her companion's forehead.
He closed his eyes and bowed down his head, away from the overhead light, as if this was hurting him.
"Just tired." He told her. "I can't explain it- I shouldn't be at this hour. But it's been coming and going."
-"Maybe with having to escape and all." She offered.
Squall wasn't at all unfamiliar with the term known as combat fatigue, but that wasn't it. His drowsiness was linked to his headaches, which in turn he felt was linked to the phenomenon that started everything. He still didn't have a clue what that was, and hadn't even thought about it for a while now, circumstances forcing him to focus on something else.
Now was no different. A beeping sound came from the cockpit. He and Skye shared concerned looks.
"Stay here."
Squall ran and plopped down behind the controls. The beep sounded different. It came from a different system this time. He relaxed when he found it was merely the autopilot telling him it was done with its programmed task. It had taken them close to FH, the docking had to be done manually.
-"Is everything okay?" Skye asked from her seat.
"Yeah, I just need to dock." Squall replied.
Carefully Squall lowered speed and, avoiding a few old barges and fishing boats, maneuvered his vessel in one of the many docking spaces at FH harbor.
He docked the vessel beside a huge crane that cast a huge shadow on their spot. With luck, their vessel would hardly be noticed by anyone.
"All right," Squall said as they came to a full stop. "Let's go."
He opened up the vessel's side entrance and switched off the main control panel. For a second he wondered if there was a way to lock the controls but then he considered there were no thieves in Fisherman's Horizon. Squall had gotten out first and with his hand supported Skye walked down the steps. She took a deep breath of the brisk, salty, but clean sea air and then smiled.
"It's so…so--" She searched to put her feeling into words.
-"Fresh?"
She visibly perked up. "Yeah! Exactly that."
With her eyes she started to explore the town, all the while looking more amazed and joyous. This town, had such a great atmosphere to it. So quiet, so peaceful. In some ways the opposite of Balamb Garden. She wouldn't mind staying here for a while, but didn't figure she would. That Seifer guy could still be after her.
She turned to look for Squall but he'd disappeared. "Squall?"
A few seconds later his voice came from inside the transport. "Here, catch."
She turned and a backpack flew right in her arms.
-"Whoa, what's this?" Skye asked as Squall stepped out and closed the entrance. He carried a backpack too.
"I found those under the seats." He explained, moving his shoulders up a bit so his backpack wouldn't suddenly slip off. "We can bring a some rations with us in that."
-"Hmph.." Skye uttered, putting on her backpack. "I still think we should just dump those awful cans."
"I also found this." Squall said holding up a handful of coins. "We can use it to check into a hotel."
"It is a very long walk towards Esthar, and I'm tired." He added as an explanation. "We need a short break."
-"Yeah, that's not a bad idea." Skye agreed.
He started climbing a set of stairs that lead to the main street. She skipped after him, obviously in a good mood.
He looked aside. "What is it?"
She bounced on her toes and smiled. "Thinking of taking me along aren't ya?"
He kept walking. How did she know that? "Yeah. It's mutually beneficial."
"Mutually beneficial!" She laughed, trying to mimic the seriousness of his face.
Squall started to become annoyed. Upon seeing this Skye only laughed again.
After a while he stopped. "What's so funny?"
A look of innocent came over her face. "Nothin'."
He resumed walking, rolling his eyes. This girl had special powers alright- the power to make him grouchy for one. She appeared at his side again, still quite the walking bundle of joy. Squall wondered if the brisk air had affected her brain.
In the distance, on a rundown fishing boat bearing the name "Old Faithful", a number of fishermen stood watching the couple as they crossed the main street. The men were all clad in flimsy yellow raincoats with their hoods up over their heads. They dropped their fishing rods and turned to one and other.
"Is that the one ?" Asked one.
-"Short girl, blonde hair with red highlights, that's her alright." Said the second.
"Should we move Hank?" The first asked.
-"The name is Jack." A third said with heldback anger. "And no, let's wait for the Commander to arrive. I heard he's on his way now."
The first nodded. "Yeah, the Commander will know what to do with her."
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Commander Gantt and the rest of the gang had joined up in Cid's office again. If they looked like a raggedy bunch before, they certainly looked it now. Irvine's outfit was covered in charcoal and part of his trusty purple body armor that he always wore beneath his coat had actually melted. Zell's hair, flamboyant and striking when at its best, now after the battle was standing straight up as if it'd been scared- or in contact with electricity. Considering his skirmishes with the droid squads it was likely latter.
Selphie's once yellow dress had become gray with the dust from the Galbadia Garden explosion. Quistis, though her clothes the least affected of all, had a smudged face that was wrinkled in concern, where normally it looked young and healthy. The Commander had an arm wrapped up in bandages and some dried up bloodstains on his dark battle suit.
He looked aside. Zell and Irvine were leaning against each other. A sleepy-looking Selphie standing up straight a few feet away. The excess energy she usually possesses seemed drained. Quistis, whom stood aside her, appeared the least effected by exhaustion of all. She examined Kenan's bandage around his arm. He smiled, assuring her he was fine.
"Irvine, Zell, get it together." Kenan ordered, thinking by now those two knew he liked a disciplined squad.
Moaning, Irvine scratched the back of his head and stood at attention.
Zell rubbed his eyes, looking aside. "H-ey, and what about Selphie?"
"At least she's standing straight." Quistis replied.
Selphie was about to say something, then they heard the small elevator descended.
"Ah, you're all here." Headmaster smiled. The elevator reached the floor and he stepped off.
Zell grumbled but managed to keep from complaining.
Headmaster Cid smiled. "Sorry to call upon you all again but it's rather important."
-"What's the matter, Sir?" Quistis asked.
His smile faded.
Kenan studied the Headmaster's expression. "The Sorceress?"
"Indeed Commander," Cid replied. "She managed to escape in one of our transports."
-"Where to?" Irvine asked.
Selphie patted him on the back. "Hey, you're awake!"
He squirmed at her touch. "Ouch, gentle, gentle please."
"The transport is nearing Fisherman's Horizon." Cid told them, studying a small black object he held in one hand.
-"I knew it," Kenan concluded. "You should have let us SeeDs handle it." He didn't believe a bunch of students were up to the task. He was proven to be right.
Putting his hands behind his back, the Headmaster started pacing back and forth in his office.
"They might have caught her if Seifer hadn't interfered."
Zell gritted his teeth. "I hate that guy so much."
"So the question is, whose side is Squall Leonhart on, if not on Seifer's? And why is he helping the Sorceress?" Quistis was voicing her thoughts.
Suddenly stopping with pacing about, the Headmaster turned to Quistis. "Perhaps he isn't aware of the threat she poses."
Selphie thought back to the picture she'd seen. That Sorceress looked like just an average girl, perhaps even about her own age. She knew better than to question the Headmaster, but still, what threat could she possibly pose?
The others appeared to be thinking the same. Well, except Zell of course. Selphie could just imagine all he thought about were hotdogs.
-"Everything's ready, Sir." A woman's voice said.
They turned and noticed Xu walked in, closing the door behind her.
"Ready for what?" Zell asked.
-"We're heading to FH." Kenan explained.
"Oh, hey everyone." Xu greeted with a warm smile. "You guys all right?"
-"No…" Zell moaned.
Quistis giggled. "They're fine. Just a little tired."
-"A LITTLE?" Zell exclaimed with eyes wide. "Man, I could sleep for a hundred years right about now!"
Kenan cleared his throat, a sure sign for Zell to shut his trap.
Xu smiled and stepped on the small elevator. "Well, I'm glad you're all okay."
"See ya later." She said as she went up to the Garden's controls.
Running his hand through his hair, Kenan looked at Cid questioningly. "So, are WE going after Skye this time, Sir?"
"Always straight to the point, Commander." He replied. "But, you are correct."
"Your mission is to recapture her and bring her back here."
-"And Squall?" Selphie wondered. "Do we have to capture him as well?"
Cid frowned. "I'd rather it didn't have to come to that. And don't harm him either."
"Tell Mr. Leonhart I want to talk to him." He added. "And that this time, I'm willing to listen."
-"I think we understand." Quistis told Cid. "If he's an ally, we could persuade him to help us."
Zell sighed. "Can't someone else do all that? We already have one Sorceress to take on."
"Ultimecia herself hasn't made a move for days," Kenan offered. "Plus others weren't up to the task, we are."
-"Yeah…we kick ass…" Selphie yawned and then quickly covered her mouth, not wanting to be inappropriate in front of the Headmaster. Or being inappropriate in company of the Commander for that matter.
Quistis stared up at the sky. It turned around, playing tricks with her sense of balance and orientation. She realized it was in the fact the Garden that turned.
The room vibrated, and the Garden slowly started picking up speed. Below on the 1st floor a student cursed loudly, having his impressive house of cards ruined thanks the sudden acceleration.
"You'll be dropped off in FH." The Headmaster explained. "We will remain there until you return and repairs to the Garden are completed."
"Are they going to Esthar?" Kenan asked studying a small print of the world map. He figured that was the only logical choice. No Sorceress or SeeD could ever have much business in a town like Fisherman's Horizon.
Cid smiled. "That's what I assume Commander. Possibly to visit Doctor Odine, to remove the Odine's bangle."
Zell started punching the air. "Hey, we can't let that happen!"
Irvine rested his shotgun on his shoulder. "Don't worry Zell, it aint gonna happen."
-"We should warn President Loire." Quistis suggested. "I'm sure they'll be able to detain the Sorceress."
"Yes. But the communication panels were damaged during the battle." Cid told them. "We're unable to contact anyone on the outside."
"Bummer." Zell mumbled.
Headmaster Cid handed a small device to Kenan. "With this you can locate Sorceress Skye."
Kenan carefully put the device in his pocket. "It shouldn't be hard then."
"We'll reach FH in a few minutes." Cid informed them. "I suggest you go to the second floor observation deck and move out as soon as we dock. I hope the Mayor won't give you any trouble this time."
Irvine agreed. "The sooner we complete this mission, the better."
Zell and Irvine opened the office door.
"After you." Irvine said, gesturing Zell with his hat to go through. The cowboy mourned for the loss of his favorite coat, but somehow his beloved hat had survived the battle.
-"Naw, you first." Zell replied, not quite trusting Irvine.
Selphie patted Irvine on the back and walked through the door towards the elevator.
The cowboy yelped. "Hey! Don't forget my backside was lightly sizzled recently."
He followed Selphie to the elevator with the rest of the team.
-"Oh, one more thing." The Headmaster spoke from his office doorway.
Selphie pressed the call button and turned around. "Sir?"
"Clearly the Galbadians are still after Sorceress Skye." He said with a concerned look. "Be careful."
A small light blinked and the elevator doors slid open.
"We'll be right back Sir." Kenan assured the Headmaster as he and the others stepped inside the elevator.
-"Ugh, I get the feeling it's kinda too small for all of us." Selphie mumbled, being pushed against one side.
The doors closed. Quistis pushed the button for the 2nd floor and they descended.
Apart from the elevator's engine, there was an eerie silence. The silence before the storm?
Irvine laughed and patted Kenan on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Zell leaning against the wall panel with his cheek. His eyes were closed and his mouth hung open.
"The excitement never stops with Zell around…" Selphie grinned.
The elevator stopped and Quistis was first to step out as the doors slid open.
Kenan and Irvine quickly followed.
"Hey," Selphie exclaimed, hands on her hips. "Zell, wake UP!"
He moaned something incoherent and hardly moved a muscle.
She kicked him in the shin. "I said, WAKE UP!"
-"OW! Aah! I'm up! I'm up!" Zell yelled as he stumbled out the elevator, jumping on one leg.
"Is it just me, or does this look familiar?" Irvine asked.
Kenan smirked. "Fujin and Raijin…"
The group proceeded down the second floor hall towards the observation deck, Zell limping behind.
------------------------------------------
Squall turned the doorknob. The crummy wooden door swung open, heavily screeching.
"This the best room you could get?" Skye asked, looking around the rather cramped hotel chamber. It was better than the brig they were in earlier-- but not by much.
Two simple, separate beds filled up the most of the hotel room. A colorful rug in between the beds added a bit of a cozy feeling, but not enough to compensate for the dull gray walls.
There was one empty oak-wood closet, placed against the opposite wall. Next to it a small sink with a mirror.
She noticed the room didn't even have a window.
-"It's just to take a quick rest." Squall reminded her. He let Skye step in first and then followed, shutting the door behind him. At once his tiredness returned. Or maybe now that he knew they'd be safe for a while, he stopped suppressing it.
Skye threw off her backpack and plopped down on one of the beds. She laughed as she bounced up slightly. "Wow, they don't look much but these beds are great."
Squall sat down on the edge of the other bed. He took off his boots and jacket, glad he could finally rest. Placing them other the bed together with his gunblade and the backpack, he lay down.
Squall stared up at the ceiling. Rinoa…what happened to you? What happened to me? This is all so…weird
Skye lay with her cheek on the pillow, facing Squall. "Hey Squall, can I ask you something?"
He grinned. "Nothing stopped you from doing that before."
She rested her head on one hand. "Why did you help me in the first place? I know you were seriously contemplating about whether or not to take me along back there on the transport, but why help at all? You could have escaped the Garden without me. That would have been easier."
-"I don't know," Squall replied. "You looked like you could use some help."
After a short pause he cocked his head at her. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
-"What's it like, not knowing anything?"
She didn't answer right away. That alone told Squall plenty. Sometimes a silence screamed, something only a quiet person such as himself could truly understand.
"It's…like walking in the dark." She reflected. "Total darkness. And I have no idea how to get out, or if there's even a way out at all. Maybe the dark is all there is? That scares me beyond belief."
Squall turned back to the ceiling. "But, is it worse than knowing what you've lost…?"
His thoughts wandered again to Rinoa. He could picture her face. She was smiling at him, then pointed her finger up at the sky. The picture expanded into the memory, and for one short moment, he could see himself standing on the balcony of the Quad, enjoying a star-lit night sky with his love. But it was just that- a memory. It had no substance; it wasn't real.
"I…" She wavered for an instance, thinking about it. "Yeah, I think so."
Squall frowned. "I don't understand. Somehow you've become a Sorceress, that never happens pleasantly. Maybe it's good not to remember some things."
-"This conversation isn't about my condition anymore, is it?"
He didn't say anything to that. Didn't have to. Skye knew she was right. He had to admit that she was a smarter girl than he initially gave her credit for. But she was also scared, even now. She tried to be cheery but he'd seen her good mood go away when the hotel manager had suspiciously looked at them. It could have simply been her shabby clothes, or the fact that he was carrying a sword, or perhaps it was both. Either way, it was in this moment that he truly made up his mind.
He would have to take Skye along, there was no choice. He owed her. If it weren't for her presence, he would have reverted to his old self- withdrawn, reclusive. Without her knowing it, Skye forced him to be social, to care even. Regardless of his own worries, he worried for her sake too.
He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he left Skye behind in FH.
Skye observed Squall for a few moments. His eyes were shut. The unexplained tiredness he was telling her about appeared to have won the battle.
She crawled up and walked to the sink. In turning the valve, a stream of water poured out. She held her hands and arms under it, rubbing off the smudges and stains.
Bending forwards, she splashed some water in her face.
Skye got up and stared into the mirror that confronted her with an unfamiliar image…that of her own face.
"…Sorceress Skye…" She whispered to herself. "That's me?"
------------------------------------------
"What do you mean 'it's not opening'?" Zell asked, pushing Quistis aside.
Much too everyone's disgust, he spat on his hands and rubbed them together.
"Good luck." Quistis sighed, doubting Zell could open it.
-"We're rooting for ya." Kenan laughed.
Zell took a deep breath, made sure he was firmly planted, then pushed the metal door with all his might.
-"Not opening so much as an inch there," Irvine observed. "Keep it up Dincht."
"UGH!" Zell yelled as his face gradually turned red.
Quistis shook her head and turned to examine the panel next to the door. She pushed the open button again but nothing happened. Not even an error indicator. Now that she looked at the panel more closely, it seemed completely shut off. How strange, a power failure?
"Pooooof!" Zell uttered as he let out all the air in his lungs. "Okay. It's not opening."
-"I already came to that conclusion Zell." Quistis giggled.
Selphie threw up her hands. "We can't get out!"
"Hmm," Kenan mumbled, rubbing his unshaved chin. "Not through this exit anyway"
The second floor deck wasn't the only exit. Only the most convenient for entering FH, as most of the city was built above the water, when the Garden's main entrance was exactly at water level.
Kenan looked aside. The panel next to the emergency exit didn't seem to function either.
Quistis crossed her arms. "We'd better inform the technicians about this."
"Let's just go to the front gate." Kenan suggested. "We'll probably have to climb up somewhere…we'll see."
They went back to the elevator.
A student stood pacing back and forth in front of the elevator doors.
"Sir," She said as the Commander and the other SeeDs approached her. "I think it's out of order."
-"It was working fine just a minute ago." Quistis told the student.
"Something very strange is going on here." Irvine concluded.
-"Great," Zell uttered, leaning over the railing like a sandbag. "We're stuck up here."
"Well, we could always throw you down." Selphie chuckled.
Kenan pressed the button to call the elevator, but to no avail. "Looks like we'll have to wait then."
Zell plopped down on the floor. He crossed his legs and pulled out a deck of cards. "Triple Triad, anyone?'
"Not THAT again…" Kenan mumbled covering his face with his hands.
Zell looked up. "Quistis? How about it?"
-"No thanks," She smiled. "Maybe later."
Grinning, Kenan threw his arm around Quistis. "Ha, she hasn't played since I beat her."
She shook off his arm. "You were just lucky."
He tossed her a charming grin. "Oh really?"
-"Uhm…guys?" Selphie interrupted. "We have to get to FH, the Sorceress might be getting away!"
Kenan walked to the railing and stared down. "Right, we need some rope…"
Irvine frowned. "I doubt there is any on this floor. Just lots of classrooms."
-"I know." Quistis said, her face lit up. "We should use the remaining jetpack."
"What jetpack?" Zell asked, putting his cards back in his pockets and standing up.
-"Seifer entered this Garden in a jetpack, along with two Para-troopers." She explained. "He used one to escape, and Squall used one to escape. So,"
"There should be one left." Irvine deducted.
Zell redid the math on his fingers and reached that same conclusion.
-"Okay, bring it over here and I'll fly you all down one by one." Kenan told them.
Balamb Garden lowered speed and eventually came to a full stop in the dock. They had docked by the same big crane as they had before. Several nosy towns' people gathered in the main street and stared up at Balamb Garden. Even if they had seen it before, it was still a beautiful sight. But at the same time, a sense of worry spread among them. What if they would lead the evil Sorceress right to them? The mayor walked up to crowd of people.
"Don't worry," He assured his citizens. "I'll handle this." Did those militaristic barbarians really expect they could just drop by like that? The nerve of these people…
------------------------------------------
Fujin judged they were about halfway to FH now. The damaged boat wasn't going exactly what one would call fast. She was behind the controls now, but bored out of her mind. All she needed to do was keep the boat steady, but even Raijin could do that.
-"This is no fun, ya know?" Raijin uttered, leaning against the doorway.
"AFFIRMATIVE."
Seifer still stood up top. A flock of seagulls flew over. He followed them with his eyes until they disappeared over the horizon. He got bored with the view and climbed down. He had overhead his comrades' conversation.
"I have a feeling we'll get enough action soon," He told Raijin and Fujin. "Relax for now."
He sat down and somehow found an old issue of Weapons Monthly under his seat. He casually sat back and started to sift through the pages. With much interest Seifer glared at the gunblade page. He didn't have one for the time being, so maybe he should get one in Fisherman's Horizon. That Flame Saber sure looked good.
"Hey! Lemme see, lemme see!" Raijin cried out, noticing the Weapon's Monthly issue Seifer was holding.
Seifer smirked and threw the magazine far out the top hatch and into the sea. "C'mon Raijin, no weapons of any interest to you in it…"
Raijin's body sagged. "Hey…what if I want to try out a gunblade?"
Seifer laughed. "YOU? A gunblade? Heh, right."
-"FOOL." Fujin said in agreement with Seifer. Only a few people can handle a gunblade, she very much doubted Raijin was one of those.
Punching the bulkhead hard, he showed his fury. "I COULD! YA KNOW!"
The tiniest hint of a crack appeared in the metal. Raijin inspected his fist; it was a glowing red color.
Fujin sighed, unimpressed, and turned back to the steering wheel.
"You just use your staff or whatever you call it." Seifer suggested, equally unimpressed by Raijin's little outburst. The day he would fear Raijin…naw…who was he kidding, that would never happen.
Raijin sat down in one of the seats and his stomach churned loudly. He looked to Fujin, like a dog begging his master for food. She didn't respond. Then he turned to Seifer.
He replied by throwing up his hands. "I don't have any food. We forgot to pack."
"Ah! I'm gonna die of starvation!" Raijin whimpered.
Seifer walked past Raijin and joined up with Fujin in the narrow cockpit.
"Did I see Balamb Garden fly by over the horizon a few minutes ago?" He asked. "It was too far away to tell. Whatever it was, it was heading in the same direction as we are."
-"AFFIRMATIVE."
Seifer crossed his arms. "Well well, looks like we get to swat two flies with one blow..."
She turned to Seifer questioningly. "SEED?"
"Yeah, they're probably after Sorceress Skye as well." He replied without sounding at all concerned.
Raijin shook his attention from his stomach. "What's so important about her, ya know?"
"I don't know." Seifer replied. "Ultimecia wants her captured, that's all I've been told."
Scratching his head, Raijin thought back to his encounter with Kenan and the SeeDs in Balamb some time ago. They said Seifer was just an obedient dog to the Sorceress. That hurt. He didn't know his buddy to ever conform to..well..anyone.
Oh well, Raijin was sure Seifer knew what he was doing.
"Wake me up when we reach FH…" Seifer yawned and moved back to his seat, sinking into it.
-"Roger, ya know."