Disclaimer : I don't own anything. God, these are annoying, but I guess site rules are site rules. (Shakes head)
Note : Ok, first of all, for those of you who've read my other PRNS/FF crossovers like Of Rangers and Guardians, and Saving Spira Again, my muse for this one is not as good. I still have one, but chances are I won't update as fast as I did for the other fiction. Still, I am still working on it whenever I can, so bare with me.
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"Man, I can't believe the president was a fake!" Dustin cried, relaxing once the battle was over.
Kapri shook her head with shame in her eyes. "I can't believe we fell for it." she muttered quietly.
"Info sir!" Bridge came running in. "New Info! It's big news! I found out the real reason the president's here, sir! The president's going to the TV station! Security's real tight, sir!" he informed us.
"Let's go back." Kapri stated in a quiet voice as we made our way back to the strategy room.
Once we got back, Kapri leaned against a wall and sighed as she folded her arms over her chest. "…The TV Station? Why in Timber?" she questioned out loud. "They can broadcast just as easily in Galbadia."
"Do you think the Dollet Communication Town has anything to do with this?" Marah asked with a thoughtful frown as she looked at the floor.
"What's that?" Billy asked, his head turning in her direction.
Thinking back, I remembered how the main target of Galbadia's attack on Dollet had been the abandoned Comm Tower. "Dollet has a radio tower that can transmit and receive radio waves. It had been abandoned for a long time, but the Galbadian army got it up and running yesterday." I explained.
Nodding in understanding, Billy frowned. "Ohhh…I get it. The only TV Station that can handle broadcasts over the air is in Timber. Other stations use HD cable, which only supports online broadcasts."
"So, what's that supposed to mean?" Kapri asked.
"They're planning on using radio waves. This way, they can transmit images to regions with cable." Shaking his head, Billy sighed.
Kapri scowled at him for that and raised an eyebrow. "I know that…! What I want to know is, what is the president planning on broadcasting? Why use radio waves? There must be something they want to say to the whole world. What can it be?"
Marah jumped up and grinned. "Everybody! Peace and love!" she cried dramatically.
I gave her a look for that, and noticed that everyone else was staring at her blankly before Billy continued.
"If I remember correctly, radio waves haven't been used in 17 years."
"It's been that long?" Kapri cried in disbelief. There was something about her look that seemed more surprised that she really should have been. Then, she began to grin. "Wouldn't it be great if the first broadcast could be the declaration of Timber's independence?"
"Hey!" Billy seemed to get what she meant. "That might be possible!"
She nodded. "Let's come up with a plan then!" Turning to us, she gave a small shrug. "Can you guys give us a moment?"
Turning to the others, she walked over to a corner with them and they squatted down to begin strategizing. This made me raise an eyebrow. To come up with plans, they sat on the floor?
Marah walked over and gave me an exhausted look. "Can't we go home now? Shouldn't we check out our contract?"
Dustin nodded and frowned at their forms. "That call that a strategy meeting??"
We could hear them whispering back and forth and I walked over to crouch beside Kapri who gave me a surprised look. "Oh, good timing! We're coming up with a plan!"
I smacked my forehead with my hand before sighing and shaking my head. "Before we get into that, can I take a look at your contract with our Garden?"
Nodding, she handed me a slip of paper and I frowned at what was written on it. Squad A… Squad B… Squad C... Huh? I didn't understand a word on it, and told her so, causing her to blush and nod.
"Oh yeah, that one's pretty confusing. When I told him I didn't understand, he gave me a different one." Taking back the first contract, she dug around before handing me another. "Kanoi's such a nice man."
Why was there a hint of pain in her eyes when she said that? Taking the second contract, I began to read over it.
"To the forest Owls,
This SeeD deployment contract will last until Timber reaches independence. Please make good use of each SeeD member. I wish you the best with your objective. Please understand that this contract is an exception, and no replacement of any SeeD members can be made.
Balamb Garden Headmaster, Kanoi Watanabi."
"Until Timber's Independence?!" Dustin cried.
Marah shook her head. "That is sooooo vague!"
"Hey, you're paid professionals! No complaining!" Kapri protested with a pout. Turning to her friends, she sighed. "Okay. Let's decide the parties."
"Gathering information is my specialty, sir!" Bridge called, saluting before taking off out of the room.
Billy nodded before doubling over in pain. "Ooouuuuuchh! My stomach!"
So, out of the four of us remaining, I chose Dustin and Kapri as part of my main group with Marah as a backup, in case any of us got hurt. Heading back to town, our mission this time was to get to the TV Station. Apparently, the trains running to it have stopped, so we'd have to find another way.
(Timber, Kapri's POV)
Wow. This is so much harder than I thought!
Trying to act like I didn't know these people, even if to some extent, I didn't... It wasn't easy. I wanted to burst out and call their names. Call Kanoi 'Uncle'. Ask Blake why he was being such an ass, and why Cam was being so kind and carefree.
But the same words keep repeating in my head. These aren't the people you know. These aren't the people you know. As much as I didn't want to admit it... As much as I wanted to just be able to close my eyes and wake up, to find myslef fighting the Rangers once again, I knew it wasn't possible.
I gave up on the hope that it was all some strange dream, long ago.
Do you know how much it hurts? Facing a different version of someone you love, and not knowing if a relationship is possible? I see Shane, he looks so different, but acts so much the same...even if he's a little more broody than normal... I keep asking myself, 'Where's Skyla?' When's she going to appear and take him away?
No... That's not right. I thought as we disembarked from the train. He was never mine to begin with, so she couldn't take him away.
I barely heard Bridge mumbling something about how the trains to the TV Station were out, and how we'd have to find another way. 'Someone in town should know the way, so just ask around', he said, as if it was the easiest thing to do... What, with all the Galbadian Soldiers around at the moment.
With a sigh, I led the three SeeDs from Balamb through the town, though I was still a little lost myself. I still couldn't get over the fact that I was travelling with Shane and my own sister, but again...not the people I knew.
As we crossed a bridge, I looked down to the multitude of tracks below and frowned a little as I saw not one train pass by. Feeling like I was being watched, I turned my head to find Shane watching me, but he looked away after a moment, not saying a word.
Why is it, I always feel like I'm the one who has to start any sort of conversation? Half the time he doesn't say a word, anyways. And I thought Hunter was broody! wait... Speaking of Hunter...
I was a little confused as to why I hadn't run into him yet. I'm run into just about everyone else I knew. Marah, Tori, Cam, Dustin, Blake, Shane, Uncle Kanoi... So why not him?
Biting my lip, I closed my eyes and counted to ten before speaking. "Looks like the trains have stopped running..." Duh! Way to state the obvious! "Usually, the local trains would be running here. A lot of hustle and bustle..." Still boring but maybe not so bad.
Shane glanced at me and nodded slightly, looking bored, before he looked away, and I noticed that Dustin and Marah hadn't even seemed to have heard a word I said. Nodding to myself, I turned and continued on across the bridge, knowing they'd follow me, seeing as I was their 'employer'.
We made it to a hotel, where apparently, we couldn't stay for the night. A large number of Galbadia soldiers had rented every room there, leaving everyone else to fend for themselves. I watched and followed Shane when he went over to examine a model train, similar to the one we used to explain our mission. As I looked at it, I felt myself blush, remembering the not-so-amazing job I'd done on mine, even with as hard as I worked on it.
Then, a lovely young woman with long black hair and green eyes, sauntered up to Shane and I, and smiled warmly before turning to the model. "This model looks really good." she sid conversationally. "Quite some craftsmanship, don't you think?"
I nodded, agreeing completely, and Shane remained silent a moment before raising his eyebrows. "...Better than Kapri's." he said quietly.
I didn't know whether or not to take him seriously, but with this Shane, I knew he didn't joke very often. "Hey! That's mean! I worked really hard on mine!" I scolded, feeling a pain in my heart at his indifferent words.
Raising his hands in defense, he turned to me and offered a small smile, though I could tell it was forced. "Just kidding!" he insisted.
"When someone says they're kidding, it's usually only half true." the strange woman mused out loud.
So he really meant it? Ok, so I know it was a crappy job, but did he really have to be so cruel about it? "...Shane?" I felt my heart drop even more, as his face paled a little.
He looked at me with a clearly apologetic look, but remained silent and I sighed deeply as I looked to the ground. Yeah, I guess he really meant it. I thought sadly to myself.
The girl looked startled and turned slightly pale before raising her own hand a little. "Oh...umm...It's just a saying, you know, I'm sorry." she said quickly before leaving.
Not bothering to wait around, I headed off into the town, looking for a way to the TV Station. I knew the others were following me, so there was no need to check, and I really didn't feel like looking at Shane right now.
Walking past a friend's house, I smiled to myself when I heard her laughing about something. "Bridge got left behind again... It looks so funny when he chases after the train..." the woman mused.
I bit back a giggle because I knew it was true. Bridge was a little...slow, and often got left behind, resulting in him chasing after the train as fast as he could, until it stopped and he ran face first into the back of it. To be honest, I was surprised he hadn't gotten himself killed yet.
Then I paused. That woman... I recognized her. She wasn't just a friend...a civilian... Like me, she lead a resistence group. Backtracking, I headed to her house and spoke to her, hoping she'd be able to tell us how to get to the TV Station. Telling her that we were trying to get to the station, her eyes went wide when she realized we were walking.
"What? You're walking to the station?" she asked incredulously.
Shane nodded. "We have no choice. The trains aren't running."
Nodding thoughtfully, she seemed to think about it. "Well, let's see... There used to be a path from the back of the local pub. You have to speak to the owner of the pub about it. He might be scary looking, but..." she paused for a long moment before her face turned almost bitter. "Well, I guess he ain't too nice either. Just go talk to him." she advised.
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Dustin asked in confusion as a young woman exited the house and the older woman left.
The young woman walked over and laughed. "They fight a lot, but my parents totally get along." she said in amusement.
I raised an eyebrow at that, trying to work out the obviously twisted logic. Fight a lot but totally get along? How's that work?
"I can't wait until I meet a guy I can exchange blows with!" she added whistfully before walking off.
Dustin shook his head with a creeped out look on his face. "That's really, really weird." he muttered and I couldn't help but agree.
We talked to several more villagers until we came to a woman who jumped a little when we appeared behind her. After scolding us, she went on about the different trains and where they went to, an about how she was almost hit by a train when she was younger.
"Once, I almost got hit by a train when someone decided to sneak up on me. But a very handsome man quickly saved me..." her face screwed up as she thought of it. "I think...his name was...Oliver, or something."
I noticed Shane frown a little at this but remain silent.
"To tell you the truth... He was my ideal man, but he was wearing a Galbadian uniform. To me, Galbadians are my sworn enemy. They killed my father..." she sighed a little with a confused look. "Kinda sounds like Romeo and Juliet, huh?"
Shane's frown deepend a little more and I thought I saw a flash of recognition before it disappeared and we left the woman by the tracks, making our way to the pub and going inside.
Of course, I didn't bother to question him about it. I knew enough by now to know that he'd remain silent and give me a death glare for even asking.
In the bar, there were two people sitting at tables, a drunk in front of a door in the back, a man in an apron trying to talk to the drunk, and a lady behind the bar. It looked pretty dead, and I listened a moment, to the arguement we'd just seemed to have walked into.
"I've had enough of this city!" the drunk by the back door yelled angrily, waving his arm wildly and slopping his drink all over the floor. "I came from Dollet to have me a good time, but now... Trains are no longer running... Can't even stay at the hotel because of some stupid government official... ! Harassed by Galbadian Soldiers! ...This hasn't been my day." he grumbled. "Those jerks! They think they can use brute force to get everything they want! Hell...this town's a good example! Yeah..."
I felt my heart drop as I stared at him, understanding how he felt. I may not have been from this world, but I understood. He felt trapped. Someone more powerful was keeping him locked up, giving him no place to stay, and keeping him from leaving. It was a fear of being killed that kept him from confronting the Galbadian officials themselves.
It's different, but it's also the same. I mused. Back on earth, I stayed by Uncle Lothor because I was afraid to defy him. I didn't know anything else but being evil, I didn't think anyone would give me a chance if I turned good, and I was afraid he'd come after me.
I'd been trapped too.
But is it really any different on this world? I'm meeting the people I knew...the people I loved, again, only they have no knowledge of me. It's my chance to start over new and live a new life, but my knowledge of my world and the people there... It's like it haunted me. A small part of me wanted to know how my family and the Rangers were doing, but the bigger part of me like it here.
Even with all the battles... The impending war with Galbadia... I felt free.
At least...more free than I ever felt on earth.
"Everything's messed up because the resistence tried to kidnap the president." the drunk continued, glaring into his now empty glass.
But...we didn't know... I thought, frowning at his words.
"Thanks to them, the trains have stopped... There's Galbadian soldiers all over the place... All thanks to them!" he yelled as he threw his glass at a nearby wall. "Don't they understand that I'm the one suffering from their reckless actions?! Stupid, boneheaded, good-for-nothing resistence! You can just kiss my-"
"Hey!" I cried, stopping him in mid rant.
Another man shook his head and stood up, glaring at the drunk. "You don't understand anything!" he yelled, a lot more soberly than the other guy. "The resistence is fighting for Timber's future! They're all doing the best they can! It's the Galbadian soldiers and their leader who're at fault!"
I gaped at him a moment, surprised at how well he understood our actions. Then, I grinned wryly. Couldn't have explained it better myself.
"Pssshh!" the drunk scoffed, sagging against the door.
Realizing that was the door we needed, I sighed and shook my head before going over to the man in the apron and speaking to him. I realized this must've been the man that my friend was talking about, but he wasn't as 'mean' as she'd made him out to be, at all. Actually, he was really nice.
"You wanna get to the back alley? Have fun. That guy gets pissy if you try to move him from that spot, so it might be a little difficult right now. Maybe if you try buying him a drink..." he mused.
Nodding, I looked at the label of the empty bottle he was holding before ordering a second bottle, and watching as he drank it happily. Once he realized it was us who bought him the drink, and our plight, he nodded slowly and got the owner to help him move off to the side. As the door was freed, I turned and grinned to Shane and the others before walking through and into the back alley.
It led us down a narrow path that reeked of garbage before we ended up at the base of the TV Station. There was a large tower in front of us and a staircase that needed climbing, but at least we were almost there.
As we began to climb the stairs, we kept an eye out for soldiers, but luckily, it seemed the outdoor security was low. We ran into one or two but finished them off quickly before making it to the halfway mark and finding a large, outdoor TV.
"Whoa, an outdoor TV!" Dustin cried, staring at it in shock.
I shivered as I listened to the static, feeling thoroughly freaked. "It's creepy...what is it?" It certainly didn't feel like the same static we saw on TVs back on earth.
"This noise is broadcast over most frequencies." Shane explained simply with a shrug. "Something has to be done about this before they can broadcast it over the air."
He was right. It had a strange, almost hypnotic effect and I didn't think it would be a good sign for people to watch.
Suddenly, Bridge came racing up the stairs, panting as he stopped on a case below us and stared up at us. "The president's in the studio now, sir!" he called warningly. "Too many guards, so we won't be able to storm the place, sir!" he finished before running off back down the staircase.
"So, we can't just rush in..." I mused out loud. Well, I'd say it was time for a Plan B, but unfortunately, I didn't think that far ahead. Oh well, gotta think on my feet, then. "We've gotta come up with a new plan, now! If the president leaves, maybe the gaurds will be gone, too?" I asked hopefully, turning to face the SeeDs and barely noticing the irritated look on Shane's face.
"That's when we do our broadcast." I continued. "It might not be as influential, but it's better than nothing, right? We don't stand a chance if we take them on head on, right?"
Folding his arms over his chest, Shane looked away with an annoyed frown. "Don't worry about us." he said tersely. "We'll fight your enemies based on your decision. That's our duty."
Wow... I could only stare mutely and wonder if maybe Shane was replaced by a robot at some point. He had the mechanical movements and tone down perfectly.
"You tell us to go, we go." Dustin put in with a shrug. "Even if it's a losing battle."
I can't believe this... I thought incredulously. "...How sad..." Living under other peoples' orders. "Act on my decision? That's your duty? Oh, what an easy life it must be, just to follow orders." I said with a frown.
"Call it what you want..." Shane said with a shake of his head before frowning. "All we want is for you to achieve your goal with our help. I find it hard to believe that you can do it, though..." he said thoughtfully, a hint of distaste in his tone.
I felt my eyes widen as it felt like a knife was jabbed into my heart. Biting my lip hard, I closed my eyes and counted to ten to keep from lashing out or crying. "What did you say?" I asked softly, feeling my eyes tear up. He remained silent and I glared at him, holding back my tears. "If you have something to say, just say it!" I demanded angrily. How dare he...
Shane's eyes narrowed and hardened slightly at that before he let out a clearly irritated sigh. "How serious are you...? Really...?" he demanded with a raised eyebrow. "The three of you plop down on the floor to discuss strategy??" His eyes grew more irritated and he clenched his fists at his sides. "On top of that, you can't make any decisions without our input, right? How do you think we feel, working for such an organisation?"
...Wha...? Staring at him blankly as I let it set in, I realized he was kind of right. We weren't really that organized, and I did always ask them for their opinion, but we're not playing around! Is it so wrong to want to know how they feel about my decisions? It's their lives that they're putting on the line, after all! I thought as I felt my eyes tear up even more and swallowed painfully.
I barely heard Dustin telling him he was being a little harsh, over the rapid pounding of my heart as that stabbing pain came again and again.
Then he sighed and I turned my wet eyes on his face, noting the hint of apology in his own eyes. "...Sorry." he muttered quietly, looking away with a slight hint of shame in his face. "I guess I got carried away."
But you were honest, and if that's how you really feel... "You know..." I began, clearing my throat when my voice came out weak and shaky. "Maybe this was all a big mistake." No shit. I should've known that grouping with Shane was gonig to end up badly. "I thought everything would work out fine once SeeD showed up to help... But I guess it's not that easy."
I bit my lip and turned my back on them as I took a few steps away. "You were hired, it's not like you're one of us." You just don't understand. "Um, let's see..." I began to think, trying to come up with a new strategy on my own, standing on my own two feet. "We'll cancel the plan and disperse for now. We don't stand a chance if we take 'em head on, right?" I asked, mimicking Bridge's earlier words.
I looked over my shoulder to see a slight confusion and pain in Shane's eyes and Dustin looked shocked and lost about what to do. I focused my eyes on Shane and forced myself to steel them against his gaze. "So...you probably think this is all just a game to us." I put in bitterly. You have no idea, but how could you? You don't even know what's going on. Never experienced it personally. "Well it's not!" I cried, glaring at him as a tear made it's way down my cheek. "We're serious! So serious...it hurts!"
Without even waiting to see if the ever fearless and cold-as-ice leader had a response to my words, I turned and raced down the steps, making my way into town and leaving behind the two SeeDs, passing Marah as she made her way up to join them. I didn't even pause to see if she stopped or not.
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Yeah, Shane's got problems. I thought he and Squall (the real character from the game) fit perfectly because their attitudes seemed a lot alike. In the beginning, I felt, Shane was colder to his companions, though not nearly this bad, but as the show continued, he got nicer, as did Squall. Again, there are numerous twists that are going to be fun working with. Bonds between characters that you might not have expected (unless you've played FF8), a certain character with parents that you might not have suspected, certain characters ending up with odd couples (which I didn't see until too late, sorry!), and more...
Hope you liked it.
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"Timber team, are you watching? Get over here right now! You have permission! I need your help!"
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R+R please.
Thank you everyone.
Tenshi.