As president of the Galbadian Republic, Vinzer Deling normally didn't have time to read his speeches before delivering them. This particular statement, however, he had deemed important enough to write himself, and he had finalized it the night before. Naturally, his speechwriters had then insisted on reviewing a copy, and had managed to add some two thousand words to the document in the past ten hours.

Our goal should be a world in which the promise of tranquility and domestic security is fully realized by the good credit and faith of all nations great and small,' he read, as the sound crew was testing the recording equipment that had lay unused for seventeen years. A world where no citizen must fear because their leaders sit on the edge of war; where no nation must devote resources to national defense that could be turned instead to citizens' well-being; where non-agression is synonymous with peace rather than an interlude between wars; where....' Trailing off, the president flipped through the half-dozen pages that he hadn't got to yet. How long does this go on, exactly?

Mr. President, this is the defining speech of your presidential history, said his speechwriter. This is your chance to make a profound impact on history and the international community.

I've given agenda speeches to the National Assembly that were interesting than this, said Deling. Where's the original? I'm just going to read that.

His aides looked at each other uncertainly. ...We didn't bring the original, sir.

Deling shook his head. Oh, for begging Hyne.

Mr. President, it's the conclusion of the staff that this version provides a much more comprehensive and better reflects the policy drafted by the Foreign Affairs department —

Since when did I tailor my statements to satisfy Foreign Affairs? snapped Deling. It should be the other way around. Remind them of that, if you please. In the mean time....

asked the announcer. We're nearly ready to begin now. It'll just be a few more moments.

Deling shook his head. Well, it seems I'll have to recite the old speech from memory.

Mr. President! The speechwriter was becoming agitated. Foreign Affairs feels that the current language is a clear and effective representation of the policy that—

Oh, I'll be clear, Deling said, straightening his tie. Foreign shouldn't worry itself about that. He then nodded to the announcer. All right, let's go.

Then the lights went out.

A commotion erupted behind the president, although since he was unable to see properly in the dim light that remained it was difficult for Deling to tell exactly what happened. There were obvious sounds of fighting, and more than one piece of equipment was knocked over and possibly broken. When gunshots rang out, he became especially concerned, but couldn't seem to find the exit. One of his aides managed to reactivate the lights just in time for the president to see a pair of young men standing over his defeated guards, one aiming a gunblade at his head.

Hold it right there, President, he said. Then, laughing, he added to his companion, What did I tell you, Squall? Too easy.

Wh-what's the meaning of this? Deling sputtered, hoping for time to collect his thoughts as much as anything. Were these two affiliated with the Timber resistance? What group would have the ability to carry out such a strike against him? Most of all, why could neither of them be any older than twenty?

You'll figure it out, snapped back the taller of the two, keeping the business end of his gunblade hovering centimeters from Deling's throat. Now here's what you're gonna do.

All three of them turned their heads immediately to the exit, where a young woman in orange had joined the scene. She had been ready to say something more, but the sight of the one in black leather seemed to leave her quite shocked.

Deling had come to the conclusion by now that he would be having a very bad day.



Squall was starting to get an impression of just how much trouble Seifer was getting him into. As it usually was with Seifer, by the time Squall had figured this out, it was far too late to do anything about it; nor would he have refused Seifer's challenge anyway, even if he had known everything that had happened because of his acceptance.

So far, anyway.

You two need to stop this right away, Quistis said, trying to sound authoritative and failing completely. You've already caused incredible amounts of trouble, and things can only get worse from here.

I dunno, said Seifer. I can think of plenty of things we can make better with this guy in our custody. Hey, President, you sure you don't want to pull all your troops out of Timber?

You won't accomplish anything with this adventure, insisted Deling, doing his best not to look flustered and failing almost as completely as Quistis had. My government does not negotiate with terrorists.

Seifer snorted. Well, see, that's another policy you might want to reconsider.

This is foolish, Seifer, said Quistis, taking a cautious step forward. I've never known you to do anything quite this reckless.

I'm trying new things, said Seifer. The old game was getting kind of...you know. Old.

Poor little boy.

Squall blinked at the voice. It seemed to leap directly into his mind, but it was distinctly not his own, nor that of anyone else he knew. But it did sound eerily familiar, like the melody from a song he couldn't quite place the whole of. He glanced around, trying to find a source that wasn't inside his head; but there was no one in the room who could have spoken it.

Who are you people? demanded Deling. How could you have possibly got in here?

You made a pretty big mistake coming to Timber, said Seifer. Shouldn't step into the fire if you don't wanna get burned.

retorted Deling. No Timber resistance group could have done this. We crushed all the serious opposition years ago.

Well, I guess we're kind of like evidence to the contrary, though, said Seifer.

Shaking her head, Quistis gave up on Seifer. she said, Think about what you're putting at risk here. Whatever you're trying to prove, it isn't worth it.

Run away, little boy. The voice was back. Run and hide, like you always did.

I won't run away, Squall insisted; though whether he was speaking to Quistis or the voice, he was not sure.

Trying to drive a wedge between us? asked Seifer. That's not the oldest trick in the book.

It's not a trick, said Quistis. If it's too late for you to listen to reason, then I can only hope it isn't too late for Squall.

Too late to make her stay, but still you always have to try. Poor, scared, pathetic little boy.

Stop calling me that, Squall said, turning away from Quistis and Seifer and Deling.

Now Quistis was becoming confused. ...Squall, are you all right?

Don't cry.

Shut up, Squall said. Quistis probably took this the wrong way.

said Deling. You're completely unprofessional.

That's enough from you! Seifer was becoming more on edge himself. Squall, get it together and get out of here with this guy!

There were running footsteps approaching. I'm afraid it's far too late for that, said Deling. That will be the soldiers from my guard, here to incarcerate you all. I trust you'll enjoy our federal prison as much as I've enjoyed this encounter.

Seconds later, Zell Dincht and the two others who had passed the SeeD exam the previous day came running through the door. exclaimed Zell.

...What in the hell is going on here? was all Deling managed to say.

Then they all froze. Squall didn't notice at first, because they had all been more or less frozen with surprise at any rate. However, after a moment it became clear that even Zell couldn't hold such a bizarre pose as his — he looked as if he were miming a headlong crash into a brick wall — naturally for as long as he was.

You want to run away. The voice was very real now, and coming from behind him. He spun around to see a tall, slender form emerging from behind a curtain. It was clearly female, though her face was obscured behind a large ornamental beak that heralded from a culture Squall didn't recognize. The fabric of her dress extended all the way over her hands, giving her the appearance of long, claw-like fingers; overall, she resembled some eerie, menacing bird.

And yet, she looked eerily familiar.

Where are you going to run? Or will you stay, and blindly follow? Would she approve of what you've done? Which will you be, the puppet or the coward?

What do you want? Squall demanded. Who are you?

You've been reacting all your life, and what do you have to show for it? she asked. Don't you think it's time you acted on your own? She was circling him now, slowly; and though the beak obscured her eyes, he could feel her gaze always directly upon him. But you don't know how to act. All you can do is respond. You know that isn't enough, but it's all you ever dare to do. You never run, but you always hide.

You don't know what you're talking about! snapped Squall. He didn't know either; but whatever it was, he was becoming very agitated about it.

Would you like to learn how to take action for yourself? She was back in front of the curtain now, and she had stopped. Come and play the puppet on a larger stage. Run away with me, and you will see her again.

Squall didn't know who this person was, or how she had appeared. He didn't know why she wanted him to go with her, or what she expected him to do. He didn't know what she had done to the others. He didn't know what any of her words to him had meant.

He did know that, more than anything he could remember, he wanted to go with her.

Almost unconsciously, his feet carried him towards her. Nodding, she retreated from him, disappearing into the shadows behind the curtain. Suddenly worried that he might lose her and be unable to follow, Squall quickened his pace and nearly ran into the darkness himself.

As the shadows enveloped him, her voice drifted back to him one more time.

Before you die, she said.