A/N: I just found out I got another review! I'm so happy! :))) Anyway, please read and review!
Chapter 12: Trips
An Estharian private airship was slowly riding the clouds over Deling City. It's red metal exterior reflected the light from the sun. The Estharian insignia was starting to fade from the sides of the ship. Written on its wing was the word "RAINE"
Looking at the clouds through the glass window was a man in his 60s. The man had long black hair that was tied up in a ponytail. He wore a powder blue button down shirt and khaki pants.
"This little piece of heaven above the clouds always inspires me so." it was ex-president Laguna Loire. The airship, RAINE, was designed and built 17 years ago, after the second Sorceress War. It was built while Laguna was still president of Esthar. He named it after Raine.
"It just makes me nauseous." another gentleman was sitting in one of the comfortable couches on the private airship. His hair had some silver streaks and was neatly brushed up. He wore a long-sleeved brown button down shirt with black pants. The windows beside him were covered while he was holding a glass of champagne. The other man was Fury Caraway, Galbadia's retired military official.
"Come on, General Caraway. This trip is pretty exciting, don't you think?"
"It's pointless. Those kids will never agree."
"It's worth a try. Besides, It's been a long time since I visited Centra. If they don't agree, then at least it was a good trip, right?"
Appraoching Destination. Landing in 10 minutes. Fasten your seat belts.
"Well, you were right, Laguna. This thing is fast." Fury Caraway spoke as he secured his seat belt. The Raine had an autopilot and autolanding system, the latest of Esthar's technology 17 years ago. It was upgraded every year until the end of Laguna's term as president. After his term, the poor airship never got another upgrade. Still, the technology of Esthar 17 years ago is far more advanced than the technology of Galbadia in the present.
"What did I tell you, Caraway?" Laguna grinned as he sat and fastened his seatbelt. The airship slowly lowered itslef to the ground as wheels engaged from its bottom. The wheels touched the ground in a smooth landing and the airship slowly decelerated to a halt in an empty patch of land beside the orphanage.
The airship has landed. The engines will automatically turn off in 15 seconds.
"Open the ramp, please." Laguna commanded the airship.
Opening ramp.
"So this thing runs on your voice?" asked Fury Caraway as he unfastened his seatbelt.
"You can say, Although, we would've been her much earlier if Kiros was driving." replied Laguna as he unfastened his seatbelt and walked towards the boarding ramp. The ramp was open and the dry and arid Centran landscape welcomed the two men. The white marble of Edea's orphanage was visible just in front of the hoizon. From a distance the orphanage and its lighthouse looked like a small house made of ice.
The two men reached the orphanage after walking for a couple of minutes. They rang the doorbell twice. A few seconds later, Ellone opened the door for them.
"Uncle Laguna!" the lady welcomed her adoptive parent with a hug. "Matron! They're here!" Ellone shouted as she let go of her uncle.
"Good Afternoon, General Caraway." Ellone greeted the veteran with a warm handshake and a smile.
"Young lady, I'm not a general anymore." Caraway smiled. Ellone then let the two men in and both of them sat on the couch in the living room. Edea entered wearing her signature black dress.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen. Would any of you like anything to drink?" Edea said with a beaming smile.
"No thanks. Of course, you know why we came here. We would like to accomplish our mission as soon as we can." General Caraway replied.
"What's the rush, Fury? Let's just enjoy our brief stay here in Centra, shall we?" Laguna was smiling. He was always happy when he's with Ellone. "I would like an iced tea, please."
Edea nodded. "General Caraway, are you sure you do not want anything?" Edea and Caraway looked at each other awkwardly. It was General Caraway who helped in Edea's assassination. Edea knew it wasn't his fault but everyone knows you can't always look at your killer directly in the eye, even if you wanted to be killed then.
"Actually, an iced tea would be nice, Sorceress."
"Alright." Edea started walking to the kitchen. She stopped. "Oh and please call me, Edea. You know I don't really like titles, General." Edea smiled as she walked to the kitchen.
"So Elle, where are the kids?" asked Laguna.
"Gramps?" Louie Leonhart stood wet and shirtless in the doorway. Behind him were the SeeDs, the gang and the sorceress. "And Grandfather?" Louie smiled.
Laguna's smile widened. "Louie! It's been a while!"
"What are you two doing here?" asked Louie as he grabbed a towel from behind the door and started wiping the ocean from his body. The teenagers behind him all rushed in to see the two gentlemen who visited them. "Oh. You guys, this is my Gramps, Sir Laguna Loire and my Grandfather, General Caraway."
"Nice day for a swim?" asked Caraway as stood up from the couch as well.
"Of course you've met Carlos, Krys and Dash." said Louie. "These two girls are Celine and Elaine." the young Leonhart pointed to the two girls who were covering themselves up for the guests. "And I believe you met Lady Sylphia, heir to the Duchy of Dollet."
"Miss Sylphia! It has been a while. How is your father?" asked General Caraway.
"He's fine, sir. Well, he was fine the last time I checked. I've been away from home for far too long, sir." answered the sorceress.
"So what are you two doing here?" asked Louie.
"They are not here to play beach with all of you children. Go get dressed and meet these two gentlemen in 30 minutes, you hear?" Edea walked into the living room, carrying with her two glasses of iced tea.
Laguna laughed. "It's quite alright, ma'am." he smiled.
"Regardless. You children go to your room and wear descent clothing for our guests."
The teenagers bowed their head in compliance and walked to their room. Laguna was smiling the whole time while General Caraway was holding in a laugh.
"Iced Tea?" Edea offered.
"Thank you." the two men said as they took their glasses and had a small sip.
"So what exactly did both of you come here for? Are the children in trouble?" Edea sat on one of the small chairs in front of the couch.
"Well, Edea, technically, they are. But we're not here to arrest them. We're here to help." answered Caraway.
"And how do you plan on doing that?"
"We'll take the SeeDs and the sorceress to Deling Ci-"
"That's preposterous! They'll get arrested on the spot, or worse, killed! Oh my Hyne!"
"Hear us out, Edea! We plan to take them there in disguise. If they're in Galbadia, it'll be easier for them to monitor the situation in Timber and to determine when the best moment to strike is. Besides, we both have private armies. If they attack from here, directly to Timber, our private armies won't be able to monitor them."
"What is your specific plan of action?"
"The SeeDs and the sorceress stay at my mansion until they receive a go signal from the squads in Timber. They will be in a hidden room so that in the event that the house is raided by troupes, they have a strategic advantage. The hidden room has its own exit that leads to the Tomb of Unknown King."
"Did Squall and Seifer hear about this?"
"Yes they did."
"And what did they say?
"They said that it's up to the leader of the squad. Who would that be, in this case?"
"Louie."
"What exactly are we going to do at Timber, Squall?" asked Selphie Kinneas who was sitting on one of the bunk beds in the special SeeD cabin of the train. The underwater train had only started moving from Trabia to Timber and it was going to be a long trip. The orphanage gang, excluding Zell, were all there, trying to get comfortable with the rocking motion of the train. Zell took a different train - one that was bound to Dollet. He and Sophie wanted to start their research on Lady Sylphia as soon as they can.
"We are going to make a deal with the resistance factions to help us with Lady Sylphia's speech." answered the commander.
"Why didn't we just send out SeeDs from Garden to do this?" asked Quistis. Quistis had a point, as usual. It would be much easier to have SeeDs dispatched to Timber to deal with the resistance groups. With them staying at Garden, they can easuly monitor the situation of all the spy SeeDs dispatched to Galbadia and Esthar. To be honest, Squall just wanted to get out of the office. The paperwork is starting to pile up. His office is full of letters from parents that are worried about their children and requests for SeeD escorts and security.
"I think it would be better if they made a deal with people that they had already met." the commander replied.
"Besides, Q, weren't you just dying to get out of that classroom?" Seifer added. The commander of the crimson Garden wanted to get out of the office too. He wasn't made for administrative work and he knew that Squall hated it too. He figured it would be fun for the gang if they all went for a little trip.
"Point taken." said the blonde instructor. "How many hours is this train ride?"
"24 hours. We better get some rest." replied Seifer Almasy, who was now lying on one of the bottom bunk beds.
Silence filled the small SeeD cabin. The room had two bunk beds and one long couch in between them, were Irvine was sitting comfortably while Selphie's head was in his lap. No one took the top bunks. Squall and Rinoa settled in one of the bottom bunks and Seifer and Quistis were in the other one.
"You guys. Are we wanted people?" asked Rinoa.
"What do you mean?" Quistis spoke.
"I mean. We are all here trying our hardest best to protect the person that everyone fears the most. Does that mean that we are wanted people?"
Quistis sat up from the bed. "Well, technically, we're not wanted yet. But we might as well be. Now people see Garden and SeeD as traitors and it's very frustrating. I guess we'll officially be wanted people sooner or later."
"That's sad."
"It is. But you know, we can't do anything about it. People are now living in fear of Ultimecia's existence. Fear is what drives them now."
"It's all just hysteria. You guys know what I think?" Irvine butted in with another one of his conspiracy theories.
"God, Irvy! Can you stop it with your conspiracy theories." Selphie held out a hand from the cowboy's lap to cover his mouth which he then removed.
"Hear me out on this one!" Irvine adjusted his seat, which stirred the head of the brunette at his lap. Selphie sat up and fixed her hair.
"This mass hysteria is just driving people mad. I have a feeling that this Lamia Brasque lady knows who Lady Sylphia really is and she knows that she is not Ultimecia. However, the fear caused by a sorceress suspected to be Ultimecia is so great that it drives people crazy paranoid. This makes them vulnerable to suggestions of higher power. She practically has people at the palm of her hands. With fear, she controls the presidents of both Esthar and Galbadia and the citizens with them."
Silence followed. Somehow, everything the cowboy said made sense. Their opinions might be biased because right now, they hate the guts of this Lamia Brasque ambasadress but they can't deny the possibility that what Irvine said may be true.
"Whether or not Irvine's theory is true, we have to keep doing the right thing." Squall broke the silence.
"And what exactly is the right thing, Leonhart? In truth, nobody knows what the right thing really is. Everybody just believe that they are doing the right thing. Right and wrong are not what separates us from our enemies. It's our different standpoints, our perspectives that separate us. Both sides blame one another. There's no good or bad side. Just two sides holding different views."
The room fell silent after the striking words of the commander of Galbadia Garden.
"Those were your words, Leonhart."
"Fine, we may not be sure if we're doing the right thing. But we've gone this far, there's no point in turning back. Besides, if Irvine's theory is correct, then they hold the same views as ours. We just have to prove to the world that they're just being used."
"And what if Irvine's wrong?"
"Then, we fight for what we believe in."
"Louie, they're going to be leaving in an hour. Are you sure you're all staying here?" Ellone asked Louie who was sitting on the porch, staring at the flower fields.
"I guess so, Auntie Ellone."
"Louie. Are you scared that something might happen in Deling?"
"Yes."
"Louie, if you let your life be ruled by fear, then you're no different from the people who foolishly believe that Sylphia is Ultimecia."
"But Auntie Ellone, it's a risky move."
"I know it is. You've been trained to calculate the risks in every situation. I think you can handle it."
"Really?"
"Come on, Louie. You're a sorcerer and a gunblade specialist. And you're a great leader. Not to mention, the fighters by your side are amazing."
Louie smiled. "Thanks, Auntie Ellone." He stood and walked back inside the house but before he entered, he looked back at his aunt.
"Auntie Ellone?"
"Yes, dear?
"Did you do anything... you know... with your abilities two nights ago?"
Ellone sighed. She knew he would bring it up sooner or later. "Yes."
"Wha.. I.. I'm confused."
"I realize it's difficult to take it all in right now, Louie. Just please, forget about it for now."
"But Auntie Ellone-"
"Please, Louie. For your good and for the good of your team."
The blue glass doors of Dr. Ode's Laboratory opened automatically for a certain black-haired woman. The woman was old enough to have visible silver streaks of hair. Her chic bob bounced with bevery step she took in the halls leading to the laboratory. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the silent corridor. The woman was expressionless. A thick collection of papers were lodged in between her arms as she headed to the main laboratory where Dr. Odine used to reside.
"Odine!" the soman said as she opened the doors to the lab.
A black-haired guy wearing white laboratory garments and thick glasses was startled out of his stupor. Test tubes filled with multicolored liquids toppled over and spilled on the tiled floor of the laboratory. The young man was all alone in the room. In front of him was a laboratory table complete with a sink, a burner, some instruments and a computer. The young man looked like a teenager who's maybe 18 years old.
"Mother! You've startled me!." said the boy.
"Goodness! Look at this mess you've made!" the woman brought her papers down on one of the tables and presses a green button in the side panel beside the door. In an instant, a helper dressed in blue overalls entered the laboratory and cleaned the spilled liquids.
"Sorry again!" the young boy whispered to the helper. The helper did not react. She finished her chore and got out of the laboratory.
"Is my research ready yet?"
"Not yet, mother. Although I've gathered some useful information on sorceresses that you may like." the young man grabbed some papers on his table and handed them to his mother.
"You work so slow." the woman complained to her son. "What's in these papers?"
"The key to unlocking the one's ultimate sorceress powers."
"I'm not interested in unlocking the powers of sorceresses! What else do you have?"
"It says there that once the abilities are unlocked, the sorceress becomes mad with power. She will basically become a ticking time bomb."
The woman smiled. "Interesting. And how will she be able to activate her full potential?"
"Well, according to my research, the physical manifestation of the abilities of the sorceress is said to be located within the brain's limbic system, the emotion center of the brain. The limbic system is located in right under the cerbru-"
"Get to the point. Do we wack her in the head with a stick?"
"If theories about the sorceress power is correct, to activate the sorceress power, we must increase the electromagnetic flow in the limbic system."
The woman was getting irritated. "And?!"
"Her emotions must be heightened."
The woman smiled. The young man lowered his head once more and went back to his research.
"Mother. If you don't mind me asking, what is all this for?"
"It's none of your business! Get back to work!"
"Is Lady Sylphia really going to be Ultimecia?"
"What does your research say?"
Ladies and gentlemen, our next station is Balamb Station. We will be arriving in Balamb in 6 hours. Thank you and good day!
The train announcements boomed through the intercomm in the special SeeD cabin. Celine and Elaine were the only ones inside the cabin. Louie and Sylphia went outside to get some privacy to prepare their speech in Timber. Carlos is somewhere alone on the train. He never likes these underwater trains. Krys and Dash are in a separate, smaller room in another SeeD cabin.
"Why did they make us take the train? I thought we were gonna take that big Estharian airship?" asked Celine.
"They wanted our entry to be inconspicuous. If we take the private airship with them, the people will know what's up." Elaine answered, trying her blonde hair with a ponytail and relaxing in the long couch in the cabin. "This place is nice. I guess there are certain privileges that comes with being a SeeD."
"Yeah. We deserve them after working our asses off to satisfy our clients."
Elaine laughed. It was true. Right after passing the SeeD exam, the only real rest they ever had was in the orphanage. The two girls have been assigned to administrative duties for a while while their missions were being sorted out before going to Centra. Celine hated the paperwork. Elaine thought it was pretty bearable.
"Celine. Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"What is up between you and Louie?"
"What?!" Celine was shocked. "Nothing! Nothing is up! Why do you ask?"
"Well, it seems like you two are spending an awful lot of time together."
"No we're not!"
"Our first night in Centra, the night we saw Lamia's speech, oh and you think I don't know about the little trip you two had after the inauguration ball?!"
"How the-"
"It doesn't matter. What is up, Celine?"
"Nothing. He's not making a move because I have boyfriend. Besides, I don't think he likes me."
"Whatever."
"Where is Louie, anyway?"
Elaine smiled teasingly. "Why do you ask?"
"He's our squad leader."
"He's with Lady Sylphia, helping her for her speech."
"He's with Carlos and Sylphia?"
"Nope. Just Sylphia."
"What?"
"Jealous?"
"No!"
Krystof Kinneas slept in one of the bunk beds in the SeeD cabin. They had just passed Balamb and he was getting sleepy. Dash Dincht was with him in the cabin, playing solitaire with a deck of cards he found at the entertainment section of the cabin.
"Krys!" said Dash.
Nothing.
"Krys!"
Still nothing.
"Krystof!"
Silence. The blonde martial artist stood up and shook the sleeping gunner from his sleep. "KRYSTOOOFF WAKE THE HELL UP!"
The next thing Dash, a punch already landed in his face. Dash fell to the ground.
"WHY THE HELL DID YOU PUNCH ME, DUDE?!"
Krys rubbed his eyes. "You woke me up, Wuss! What the hell do you need now?!" Krystof Kinneas was never the teasing type. That was Carlos. This case, however, is a special one. Right now, Krys thinks Dash deserves a special circle in hell.
"I'm bored."
Krys sighed. He knew he wasn't getting any sleep tonight. "What do you wanna do?"
"Triple Triad?"
"Whatever." said Krys as he sat on the carpeted floor, rubbing the sleep off his eyes once more before taking out his deck. After choosing five cards, the two started playing.
"Dude, what do you think will happen when we storm Timber?" asked Dash.
"I don't know, dude!"
"Hey do you think Lady Sylphia has wings too?"
"I don't know. maybe?"
Dash's curiosity was astounding. He kept asking questions like there was no tomorrow. He got this quality from the library. As a kid, his mother, Sophie Dincht, would always bring him to the library in their spare time. As a result, Dash became very smart and bookish.
"Dude, why aren't you answering all my questions?" Normally, Krys would laugh at the blonde who was like a child in his ways. Dash is the entertainment source of the group. What he lacks in subtlety, he more than makes up for in the entertainment he provides for everyone around him.
"You're so obnoxious tonight and I don't even know why." replied Krys, who was obliviously not in the mood. Krys is the "chill" guy of the group. Normally, he would be calm and collected.
Dash couldn't take the silence.
"So dude, what do you think will happen when we storm Timber?" Dash asked once more.
"For the last time, Dash. You are going to stay in the mansion, we, meaning the SeeDs and me. Are going to Timber."
"What?! Why not me?!"
"You're not even in Garden yet."
"So? I can help."
"It's more complicated than that, Dash."
"Explain."
Krys sighed. If only he junctioned a GF so he can cast a silence spell on this guy. "You can't storm Timber because you are not part of Garden yet. Your name is not included in the agreement. Louie just decided that you can come because it would be safer for you to be in the mansion."
"But I can help, Krys."
"I know, bro. Now is just not the time."
Dash is tired of being the odd man out. He was always left out by his group of friends. When they all came to Garden, he was left in Deling City, when they all got their weapons from their parents. He was tired of it all. It was time to prove himself and joining the mission is the way to go. Whether they want him to or not.