11
CHAPTER 11 – WAR ON THE HORIZON
The headmaster's insistence to remain calm had fallen on deaf ears. Squall and his two comrades rushed into the atrium, finding a buzzing swarm of cadets and SeeDs packed together around the elevators; there was no chance of pushing their way through. The three turned back down the hallway leading to the training center, and into the maintenance stairway they'd passed along its length. Several flights of steps later, they came to the second floor landing. Squall gingerly cracked the door ajar, taking care not to fling it open into the path of an oncoming student, and led the way amid a fresh wave of cadets to the port-side observation deck.
The wide, curving hallway mirrored the starboard side, where he'd watched Ellone take her leave with the White SeeDs two weeks ago. As they approached the doorway, crowded by students vying for a spot on the deck, he noted the emergency exit beside it. Perhaps it would serve its purpose shortly. Squall forcibly cleared a path for Quistis and Rinoa, and stepped on through the doorway to join the onlookers.
The town proper appeared to have been constructed around a winding, circular train depot shooting off from the Horizon Bridge. The long stretch of abandoned, intertwining railroad tracks now served as streets along the water's edge. They paved the way all around the looming, rusted central complex. Dozens of ramshackle homes stood erected in its shadow; they looked to be composed of various recycled building materials. Wooden docks extended out from the tracks, several trailing nearly as far as the sea wall the Garden had smashed through. More than 20 large windmills poked over top the surrounding barrier, kept in perpetual motion by the breeze. However soothing it felt upon Squall's skin, the sounds it carried to his ears brought him no peace of mind.
"Is that… gunfire?" Rinoa asked from his side.
Her sentiment echoed that of every other student among them. He raised his eyes to the height of the central structure. A horde of seemingly frantic townspeople spilled from over the lip and onto the upper tracks. They scattered in every direction, racing for the nearest downward incline to sea level.
"What's going on up there?" one nearby student pondered.
"Guess we really freaked the hell outta 'em," another piped up.
"But what are they shooting at if it's not us?"
"It's not them shooting!" Quistis declared; in an instant, all muttering around them fell silent. "There's not a gun in this town if there's a person who'd be willing to touch one! Everybody get back inside. Spread the word for all SeeDs who are able to prepare for battle immediately, and report to the second level for deployment. You two! Get over to the starboard side, and throw open the emergency exit. Start sending people down as soon as they're ready to go. Let's move, everyone!"
The students quickly dispersed back through the door at her command. The head of the pack kicked up a ruckus as he bellowed her instructions verbatim to everyone in earshot. As the crowd thinned in his midst, Squall kept his eyes fixed to the chaos afoot in Fisherman's Horizon. Soon enough, a swathe of blue and silver uniforms began their charge in the distance; they pushed along the lower streets from the bridge's west end. In an instant, Quistis' hunch was no longer mere conjecture.
"Squall!" she called to him as she ducked back through the door. "Give me a hand with this!"
He spun on his heel with Rinoa, and stepped back through into the bustling hallway. There they found her by the port-side emergency hatch, her grasp set firmly on one of the dual release levers. He immediately took hold of the one opposite. After a quick three-count, they both heaved hard, and pulled up with all of their might.
As a gust of wind whipped into the hallway, the sound of yet more rapidly pressurizing air came from Squall's feet. The long yellow slide promptly inflated with the speed of an airbag. It shot out from beneath the open hatch like a striking hedge viper, arcing over the surrounding waters, and falling on the edge of the encircling railroad tracks. The angle at which it settled was not especially steep. It provided a gradual decline for the gathering contingent of SeeDs to take.
"Listen up!" Quistis turned back to the first respondents in their midst. "You're to secure the streets, and make your way to the summit. There could potentially be a hostage situation in progress up there, so exercise extreme caution. Now, move out! Go, go, go!"
The squad of roughly 10 raced forward at her command. They seated themselves two at a time on the lip of the yellow slide, and took the plunge without hesitation. Squall shifted his gaze further along the tracks from where the slide had touched down, to see the one on the starboard side had been deployed as well. However resilient the constructive fiber was, he doubted it could withstand incoming gunfire. It was imperative that as many operatives be deployed as quickly as possible, while the Galbadian troops were still preoccupied with the fleeing townspeople.
"Rinoa," he addressed his student as he turned back to her. "Stay up here and help with sending people-"
He cut himself short. The girl was nowhere in sight amid the students swarming the corridor. He frantically darted his eyes left and right, hoping to catch a glimpse of her flowing dark hair. It was then that his gut told him to look to the one place he desperately hoped not to see her; that he felt so was reason enough to believe she was. His eyes landed on the slide, just in time to see Rinoa push off from the edge.
"No, wait!" he desperately called out.
He barely resisted the urge to lunge forward for fear of tumbling out of the hatch. Whether or not she'd heard him, gravity refused to comply.
"Looks like someone's ready for her field exam," Quistis dryly commented. She looked concerned, if not at all surprised. "Go on. I'll catch up once we've gotten more troops on the ground. Take care of her out there."
"You don't have to tell me," he snapped back.
He fell to his rear, and cast off. The wind whipped through his locks as he plunged downward, gaining momentum at an alarming rate. He raised his eyes to the looming central structure, growing ever more imposing as he slid towards its base. The stream of civilians cascading down the upper tracks had become a rampaging mob. Frenzied men and women raced down the curving roads, some holding tightly to children in their arms. Judging by the crowd's density, the hostage situation must have involved the town's entire population; the lower tracks where his comrades had touched down were certainly vacant.
Squall abruptly seized hold of either side as the flume met its end. He quickly maneuvered his feet over the edge and onto the rails. Rinoa stood amid the dispersing SeeDs not far from his position. Further along the tracks, the first batch of Garden troops from the starboard side had made landfall, spreading out down the west end the moment their feet hit the ground. Squall paid them little mind as he strode up to the reckless girl.
"What the hell are you thinking?!" he chastised her. She jumped as she turned to face him. "Don't just go rushing off into a war zone like that!"
"And don't you tell me to stay behind!" she countered with a determined stare. "I asked you to teach me how to use this sphere so I could pull my own weight. That's what I'm here to do."
He stifled the urge to remind her she'd only started training 2 weeks earlier; the fast encroaching chaos took precedent. Regardless of whether she would listen, there was presently no way for her to re-board the Garden to begin with.
"Stay close to me," he gave in, activating the sphere on his belt. "And get your shield up, now."
"Way ahead of you," she smirked, evidently satisfied with her small victory.
Squall quickly conjured his own protective barrier. Gunfire continued to echo down from atop the central complex; it sounded to be concentrated further inward as opposed to around the ring, where the civilians had scattered. The absence of snipers around the circumference above appeared to be a blunder on the Galbadians' part.
At an imposing 50 feet high or more, Squall knew his wind-leap technique would come up short, much less while carrying Rinoa on his back. He'd only just reached the 3rd floor of the Presidential Residence with Irvine hanging onto him, after a running start to build up speed, no less. The tracks had been laid down in the shadow of the upper lip; there was nowhere near enough room for such an approach. With most townspeople currently storming down the nearest decline to the east, they would have to find passage further along the tracks circling due west.
"Let's move!" he gestured to Rinoa. Together, they set out after his fellow SeeDs who'd already begun their charge into the fray.
The first offensive wave spread their formation as wide as possible; the limited space between the street-side houses and the water gave them little room to do so. The roads were completely devoid of ruin, carnage, or any indication of a struggle. Quistis' prior comment regarding their pacifist nature seemed to be on the mark. Hopefully SeeD's assistance would incline them to be more welcoming of their sudden imposition afterwards.
The enemy troops came into sight from further down the tracks. In terms of infantry, their number closely matched that of the SeeD forces. What cause for concern they'd brought with them trailed close behind. A pair of imposing, tank-like mechs rumbled and jerked, their treads fighting to stay balanced atop the rails running through the road. Both sported a cannon on the fore, with a spooling machine gun turret just below.
Assault rifle fire kicked up from both sides. The Galbadians' shots predictably pinged off the charging CQC division as they closed the gap. Squall kept himself and Rinoa to the rear of the platoon, on account of her inexperience with forming a shield. Even as the enemy troops started falling, the marksmen began their dispersal to the houses along the inside of the tracks. Taking Rinoa's hand, he forcibly guided her out of the tanks' line of fire. He sought refuge with her behind a nearby support beam to the central structure.
Two detonations came one after another the next moment. Squall reflexively brought his arm up before himself and Rinoa. The ground shook as shrapnel and smoke filled the air, rising from a pair of fresh craters incised into the tracks. Soaring steel and concrete spilled into the water and across the fore of the nearby houses. He strained his eyes to peer through the devastation. Several bodies lay motionless beside the wreckage, others bobbing in the water nearby. Before the haze could fully settle, a blinding light shot forth into its midst. It promptly overtook the ravaged tracks, rapidly growing in size until it exploded outward from its source.
The light faded away to reveal a striking humanoid female standing amid the rubble. Much like Quistis' own Guardian Force, the woman's slender figure was exposed for all to behold. By contrast, her skin tone was far more natural than the ice familiar's pale blue. The voluminous golden feathers sprouting from her back were arrayed around her, forming a makeshift open corset and skirt. Her hands bore sharpened claws, gleaming in the sun as she raised them before her. Her hairstyle at first looked to be comprised of two unnaturally long fringes trailing down to her ankles. In actuality, they were wings resembling an angel's, or a large bird's.
A pair of radiant spheres formed within the woman's talons, both clearly of the same holy energy Selphie's familiar had conjured aboard the train. She unleashed them the next moment, sending them careening at the two tank mechs. Surviving Galbadian troops scrambled for cover; those nearest the water dove in headfirst to escape the blast. Both heavy-armored vehicles detonated with a tremendous roar, putting to shame the damage they'd dealt to the decommissioned railway.
Squall swung his head back around the support beam for cover, holding tightly to Rinoa. He didn't dare peek out again until, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the mystical woman's figure become engulfed by the light again. The energy dispersed in a flash. The familiar's conjurer then promptly stepped forward over the debris, with 7 additional SeeDs in tow.
"Keep pushing forward!" Commandant Xu shouted. "To the summit! Let's go!"
Her face was as stern and determined as Squall had ever seen as she drew her short swords. A cheer sprung up along the tracks as the SeeDs relieved themselves from cover. The combat specialists collectively resumed their charge, while the marksmen began picking off the surviving soldiers in the water. Squall shared a brief glance with Rinoa, still holding her by the shoulders. Her eyes met his, brimming with apprehension, but not the fear he'd seen after her close brush with death in Deling City. Satisfied, he released her, turned away, and motioned for her to follow.
They both fell back into formation with the offensive surge, bringing up the rear. As they progressed, he would perform routine checks over his shoulder to be sure they weren't being flanked. The throngs of townspeople had finally made their descent. They hurriedly dashed along the street for what safety their dwellings could provide. Before long, the platoon hung a sharp left at Xu's command, and continued up a connecting set of tracks to the apex. What few infantrymen they met along the way were easily dispatched by the frontlines.
It was only then that it occurred to Squall what a paltry detachment Galbadia had deployed. The logistics were sound enough; the town was compact, its population relatively low, and the probability of resistance even lower. Gazing out over the guardrails as they climbed, still more SeeDs and cadets continued spilling out from the Garden. The numbers were clearly in their favor. He'd yet to draw his gunblade, nor had Rinoa needed to fight thus far. As they neared the top of the tracks, he prayed that their fortune would remain favorable.
The squad fanned out. They circled in either direction around what looked like a massive crater spanning the full central structure. After a moment, Squall realized it was so much more. The concave basin was filled with more solar panels than he'd ever seen assembled in one place. Straggling civilians darted beneath for cover. The nearby set of stairs leading down laid bare its casualties, wounded and deceased alike strewn about without care. Oddly, a number of Galbadian troops lay among them, disposed of ahead of their arrival.
So, they did fight back?
The SeeDs made their advance. Some circled around the circumference, while others charged down the stairs. As his surroundings cleared, a pair of enemy corpses lying prone on the basin's lip caught Squall's attention. Both rested beside their fallen sniper rifles, their sheared-through helmets looking as though they'd each taken a shot from another high-caliber round. He briefly considered the possibility of friendly fire. It took only a glance down to the solar array's center to confirm his suspicions. Uniformed soldiers clashed before a rustic home on a raised platform below, locked in what appeared to be exclusively close quarters combat; what gunfire he could still hear came from further back along the lower tracks.
"What's happening?" Rinoa echoed his thoughts. "Why are they fighting each other?"
"Just get down," he ordered.
He quickly raced over to the fallen snipers, and shoved the nearest body aside. He then appropriated its rifle, flattened himself on the ground, and took aim on the platform. The conflict seemed clustered around two particular spots on either side of the house's fore. To one end, a lone, particularly scrawny soldier fended off several more with a pair of glaives in either hand. On the opposite side, another repelled similarly stacked odds with only his physical prowess. As Squall focused the scope on the man's hands, his breath caught in his throat; the rogue soldier's fists were encased in stone.
No way…
He swiveled the scope back to the puny first soldier. As he breathlessly observed the fighter wielding the dual blades, it became clear the style was not derived from any school of swordsmanship, but martial arts. The elegant flowing motion in each strike was unmistakable, at times appearing as though the two glaives were connected by an invisible chain. He was snapped back to reality as two incoming soldiers suddenly toppled over onto the platform, one after the other, well before coming into range of the blades. Their necks jerked violently as they fell, dispatched by a pair of well placed sniper shots. They'd certainly not been his own.
That makes all three… I don't believe it…
"Anything?" Rinoa asked from his side. "What's the call?"
"I… feel a little lighter," he answered. He set the rifle aside, and pushed himself up to his knees.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Never mind. Come on. I have a feeling everyone here's going to be in for a big surprise."
Squall righted himself, and took off down the stairs before Rinoa could start pestering him. He kept his eyes down to avoid stumbling over the bodies on the steps. The steepness subsided as he drew closer to the bottom. His fellow SeeDs had come to a halt in the open stretch of space around the platform, watching the ongoing battle unfold. Xu, presently at the head of the group, held her arm out to signal a ceasefire. Whether or not she'd made the same observations he had, something was amiss. With plenty of reinforcements waiting in the wings, picking off the surviving troops would take little effort either way.
The last of the genuine Galbadian forces fell within 20 seconds. Finished, the two defectors shared a glance before turning to the crowd of onlookers. The taller of the pair allowed his earthen gauntlets to dissipate. What tension already hung in the air thickened to an entirely new threshold; not one of the SeeDs clustered around Squall dared so much as breathe. The smaller soldier dropped the glaives, and strode to the edge of the stage, appearing unfazed by the platoon of armed operatives below. The soldier reached up to take hold of their helmet, and with nary a pause to savor the suspense, hoisted it up.
"Booyaka!"
A relief unlike any Squall had ever known washed over him. From the very moment he'd bumped into her in the Garden atrium, he'd considered her a nuisance to be rid of. The discovery of her illegitimate GF sphere had only furthered his dislike, to speak nothing of the distrust it brought. And yet, as she stood atop the platform now, proudly beaming as she belted her victory cry, he couldn't help himself. The corners of his mouth curled upward all on their own.
"Selphie!" Rinoa shrieked from beside him. She suddenly dashed on by and through the platoon of bewildered SeeDs.
Without thinking, Squall was on her heels. The buzzing crowd parted at Rinoa's behest, clearing a path for him to follow. He reached the front just as she cleared the top step. There, the two girls met in an excited embrace. The second soldier stepped forward as Squall started up. He lifted off his helmet to reveal a familiar head of spiked blonde hair.
"Hey!" Zell called to him, his eyes alight. "Funny meeting you here, huh? Man, are you guys a sight for sore eyes."
"It's great to see you too," Squall replied. For once, he sincerely meant it. "And I'm guessing those sniper shots before were…?"
"Yup, he'll be right down," he confirmed as Rinoa released her hug with Selphie, and darted over to give him one.
"Did'ya miss us, Squall?" the brown-haired girl giggled. "Were you worried?"
"Of course," he said. "I was sure you'd been caught when the missiles showed up. How did you end up all the way out here, anyway?"
"We oughta be asking you the same thing!" Zell exclaimed as he and Rinoa parted. "And since when the hell can the Garden move?!"
"It's a long story on both ends, I'm sure," Xu interjected, having joined them on the platform. "Nevertheless, it's good to see that you're both still in one piece. You've done a fine job here today, at the very least."
"Don't go fergettin' 'bout me down here, sugar!"
Squall didn't need to turn his head to know who'd made the comment; the twangy inflection, so irksome before, was now music to his ears. He swiveled his head, meeting the sharpshooter's gaze staring up at him from beside the stage. The cowboy hat was missing, as was the helmet he'd traded it for. The congregation of SeeDs bristled at his approach, doubtless wary of the shotgun dangling at his side. It was to his benefit that he'd kept it holstered, and made his way down brandishing only a slick grin.
"And who might you be, sir?" Xu irately acknowledged him.
"A real character," Squall assured her as Irvine started up the steps. "But a damn fine marksman."
Rinoa intercepted him as he reached the top, and thrust herself into his arms for another hug. Squall stared back out over the platoon of SeeDs to the height of the solar array. An additional detachment raced down the stairs to the north, led by another familiar head of blonde hair. He could perfectly imagine Quistis' relief to see their 3 comrades alive. It was the same he felt now.
Everything's… alright after all…
"Ahem!" came a sudden hoarse clearing of the throat.
Squall spun back around. An elderly couple had emerged from the house and onto the platform. The man was outfitted in a khaki shirt with plain green trousers, his shoulder-length hair dark with streaks of grey running through. The woman just behind him was of a similarly plain fashion: fading blonde hair with a purple blouse and beige jeans. For what Squall presumed to be the mayor of Fisherman's Horizon and his wife, their wardrobe looked no different from the common folk.
"May I assume it's finally safe for us to come out?" the man asked Zell.
"Oh!" the young man snapped to attention. "Yes, of course, sir! Thank you very much for your cooperation. We've managed to secure the solar array, and the rest of our forces should be mopping up the remaining troops in town."
"I can see that," he muttered. He swept his gaze across the platform strewn with bludgeoned and beaten soldiers.
"There's no need to thank us, sir," Xu formally said as she stepped forward. "Commandant Xu Adrastia of SeeD, at your service."
"Mayor Dobe. But please, young miss, do not misunderstand me. I'm not thanking you. I merely wish to know when it is you intend on leaving."
All fell silent in the wake of his blunt remark. Quistis' platoon had arrived at the base of the solar array in the meantime, coming to a halt behind the now silent crowd of SeeDs.
"Y-yes, sir!" Xu stammered with a deep bow. "I'd like to sincerely apologize on behalf of our navigation crew for the damage we caused to your outer wall."
"And the rest of our town, I assume?"
"Yes, of course, sir. We only just discovered that our Garden is capable of moving. The base technology is quite archaic, and in need of servicing. We believe that's why we failed to come to a stop in time. In addition, our food supply is beginning to dwindle. With your permission, sir… we would ask you to please allow us to stay docked in the harbor until we have finished our repairs and restocking."
Silence again enveloped the heart of the solar array. Xu stayed hunched forward in deference all the while. Dobe shared a brief glance with his wife. Squall privately clung to the hope they would find the kindness to repay them for liberating the town. All the same, he prepared for the worst. At last, the mayor responded.
"I will speak with our technicians… presuming they are still alive… and have them assist with your repairs. As for your food shortage, and need to resupply… I'm afraid that is something I cannot abide."
"Why not?!" Selphie blurted out, appearing to either not grasp or care for the delicacy of the conversation.
"Is it not obvious?" Dobe rhetorically mused. "How do you think we manage to sustain ourselves so far from civilization? These waters have kept our town well fed for more than 50 years, and we have taken great pains to ensure the ecosystem stays viable for our needs. You can't expect us to allow your army to start fishing our port dry."
"We would only require enough to keep us fed for a few more days," Xu tried to negotiate.
"Even that might be too much for us to allow. I'm positive the number aboard your vessel far exceeds our own population. Especially now with…"
He trailed off, his eyes veering across the solar array. Squall followed his line of sight to the silhouettes of fallen townspeople and soldiers lining the ground. Although the body count was nowhere close to the Dollet casualty figures a month earlier, given the town's size, it was surely every bit as devastating.
"I understand," Xu finally conceded. "I'll pass this information on to the headmaster. Regardless, thank you very much for offering to assist with the repairs."
"So long as it helps you all on your way sooner rather than later," he coldly replied. He turned away back towards the house with his wife. "Good day."
What a crotchety old asshole…
"Excuse me!"
Squall spun around to Rinoa. He stared daggers at her, desperately hoping she was not about to say what he'd just been thinking.
"We're all very sorry for what's happened here today," she began. "But speaking for myself, I really don't appreciate the condescension. Why is it that you want us gone so badly?"
Squall's jaw fell open of its own accord.
What are you doing?! Just keep keep your mouth shut! They obviously have their reasons. You're just going to screw us out of what little goodwill we already have with them!
"Very well," Dobe responded in an irritable tone. He turned back around to face her. "The long and short of it is that military organizations of any stripe are not welcome here in Fisherman's Horizon. The very nature of your trade flies in direct defiance of our principles. Violence only begets violence, as we have seen so clearly today. We do not want any affiliation with your mercenary ilk. This town was founded on the belief that any problem, large or small, can be settled with peaceful discussion."
"And how'd that work out for you with Galbadia?" Rinoa shot back. "SeeD just saved you from having your way of life snuffed out. The least you could do is show a bit of gratitude, instead of festering like a stubborn jacka-"
"Rinoa!"
Quistis suddenly jumped in from behind, putting her hand on the girl's shoulder. Squall was so taken aback, he hadn't even seen her climb up to the platform. While he shared Rinoa's sentiments to a tee, he wouldn't have dared voice them aloud so brashly. Her apparent lack of a filter had all but certainly destroyed their chances of receiving any assistance at all.
"Gratitude?!" the mayor snapped. His wrinkled features turned fierce as he stormed over to her. "Be grateful to an organization like yours?! An army whose sole purpose is profiteering off of war? The nerve! Acting all high and mighty, like you've done us some noble deed. At the end of the day, all you lot care about is how much money you can squeeze out of every conflict."
"That's not true!"
Once again, all eyes fell upon one person standing on the stage. Squall darted his own every which way, before the realization finally sunk in. The outburst had been his. He froze on the spot.
"It's… it's not all about the money," he eked out, fighting to keep himself composed. "That's not what SeeD's true purpose is."
"Oh?" Dobe questioned, his focus now directed squarely on him. "Is that so? Then please, educate me. What is it all about?"
Squall's tongue became leaden. His mind raced frantically for something, anything, that might possibly appease the mayor. He knew the truth now. The truth that SeeD's mercenary stature had merely been a byproduct of Norg's stranglehold on the Garden. That the organization had been established by Headmaster Cid and his now-estranged wife to prepare for the coming of another sorceress. And yet, as he sucked in a breath to calm himself, such distinctions were meaningless. All that truly mattered was what SeeD meant to him, personally.
For what purpose did he fight? Cid and Edea's reason hadn't been the one that had kept him pushing onward for all these years. Indeed, the reason was different for each and every one among them. He could only share his own perspective of what it was SeeD stood for, or rather, what it was he stood for as a SeeD.
Here goes nothing…
"It's hard for me to explain… and maybe I'm not the best one to be explaining it, but… I also wish everything could be settled peacefully, just like you're preaching. And that there would be no need for violence like this. That we could settle everything with discussion, and come to a mutual understanding with each other. The problem is that there are times when people just aren't willing to listen. And it's in times like those, when fighting becomes unavoidable, that we must speak with our actions rather than our words. Especially when innocent lives are at stake, and our opponents are beyond reasoning with, like today. It's an unfortunate reality, but it's one that we can't just pretend doesn't exist. That's why I fight… why we fight, and why we'll continue to fight. We lay down our lives today, in the hope that future generations will learn from our mistakes, and come to work their differences out peacefully."
Nary a breath could be heard as Squall brought his speech to a close. He at last averted his eyes from Dobe's to glance around. Rinoa, Quistis, Selphie, Irvine, Zell, Xu, and every SeeD on the ground kept their eyes locked to him.
"T-that's all I have to say," he concluded, turning on his heel. "You don't have to respect what we do, or even thank us, but… I just wish you could be a little more understanding of who we are. We're not just a bunch of warmongers. I hope you understand someday. I think the world needs both people like you and us. Thank you again for your help. Good-bye."
He kept his eyes downcast as he retraced his steps back across the platform. The silence was shattered by a single crack as he reached the top of the stairs. He bolted up for fear of it being a gunshot. It was then layered by another, and then several more in rapid succession before the noise's true nature became clear. Within seconds, the light applause became a full-blown standing ovation among the platoon of SeeDs, replete with whistles and gratuitous hollering aplenty.
Squall stood dumbfounded on the stairs, his face uncomfortably flush. He turned back around to those on the platform. His comrades, and even the commandant had joined in, all beaming with pride. Only the mayor and his wife abstained. Both hobbled back to their house with what looked like embarrassment to rival his own. The applause finally died down only once the door had shut behind them.
"Now that's what I call havin' somethin' between yer legs," Irvine piped up as he approached.
With a friendly pat on Squall's shoulder, he descended the steps, and made his way around the bustling crowd without waiting for a proper dismissal. It came moments later as Xu gave the order to begin clearing the area of bodies and wreckage. The crowd dispersed on command, trailing back up the surrounding staircases to undertake their duty.
"That was quite the speech," she told him as she strode over. "Probably the best morale boost anyone could have given the troops right now."
"It was just something I needed to get off my chest," Squall modestly accepted the praise. "Whether or not it made any difference to him."
"I see," the commandant mused as she descended. "Still, don't be surprised if you suddenly find yourself gaining a reputation around the Garden. In fact… well, let's just say I'd bet on it if I were you."
Why don't I like the sound of that?
"Man, it'll be nice to sleep in my own bed again tonight," Zell groaned as he stretched. "Happy birthday to me."
"Wait, really?!" Selphie turned to him in surprise.
"Well, tomorrow. Don't worry, it doesn't need to be anything special."
"I'm sure Squall could always think up something for you," Rinoa commented. She flashed him a cheeky sideways glance.
Is this really what my life is turning to?
"Right now, I just wanna finally get outta this uniform and back into my own clothes," Zell said.
"Tell me about it," Selphie agreed. "Oh, and nice new threads, Rinoa! Looking to join up?"
"Sorta kinda. It's more just because my old clothes got so torn up. It's a real pain having just the one set, though."
"I could give you my old cadet uniform if you want! It's barely been worn."
"I think we ought to start tidying things up around here," Quistis interrupted them. She bent down to hoist up a Galbadian soldier's limp body. "Let's get them piled up over on that side for now."
The others complied, spreading out across the platform. Squall paced several steps to the nearest infantryman, and lifted him up with both hands from beneath his underarms. Rinoa bent down opposite him to elevate the feet.
"You've… really changed," she spoke softly as they carried the soldier across the stage. "I never could've imagined the guy I knew back in Timber making a speech like that."
"It's the truth," he insisted. "I don't take pleasure in any of this. I never have. Anyone who would is a lunatic."
"I love battles. The scent of scorched earth, the roaring gunfire, the sheer visceral energy between you and your enemy as you strike him down… I live for that shit."
That's the dividing line between us. The one I'll never cross…
"Well, it's a day full of surprises, then," Rinoa replied as they tossed the body over the edge of the platform. "You looked really happy to see the others were okay."
"What's surprising about that?" he cocked his eyebrow. "I was the one who grouped them together and sent them off to the base. Their safety was my responsibility."
"But that's not all, is it? They might be your comrades, or your subordinates, or whatever they are to you, officially. But more than that, they're your friends. And it was… refreshing to see you act so honestly."
Squall turned his eyes to Zell and Selphie across the platform, watching them struggle to haul a bulky red Galbadian commander to the drop-off pile. The two had been a constant source of irritation for him over the course of their assignment, to speak nothing of the wisecracking sharpshooter. And yet, there was no denying the sense of melancholy whenever he'd stopped to consider them over the past two weeks.
Friends, huh?
"Hey, Squall. Would you have been that worried about me, too? You know, if you'd sent me along with them instead?"
"It never would have come to that," he explained. "It would have been too dangerous to send you out there. When I was deciding on the teams, your safety was my top priority. And as long as you were with me, I'd be able to see to that myself."
It was only as he swiveled his head back around that the implications of what he'd said hit home. Rinoa's expression was proof enough they hadn't been lost on her, either. His mind went numb. A bottomless pit formed in his stomach.
"You… really care that much?"
"I… well, what I mean is… you were my employer, and I-"
"Oh my gosh, you're turning red!" she chuckled, keeling forward as she clutched her sides in hilarity. Squall stood still, utterly mortified. "You are so cute, taking it so seriously!"
"What's so funny?" Zell asked as he and Selphie finally reached them with their hefty load.
"Nothing," Squall spat. He spun on his heel, and briskly walked away from his snickering student. "Quit messing around! We've got work to do."