The Fourth Universe - Chapter Three

[08.26.00] » by Soul-Hunter

"Good morning, Mr. President. How are you doing today?"

"’ Morning, Vlade. Well, you know me. Always peachy keen." A lively Laguna returns his Aide’s greeting. "Oh, by the way, have you seen Kiros and Ward yet?"

"I don’t believe I have, sir. However, General Caraway is already up. I believe he’s waiting for you at the reception hall, sir."

"Ahh yes. I suppose he’ll be glad when he learns about what happened in Deling City last night. Anyways, carry on Vlade."

"Yes sir. Have a nice day, your excellency."

"Oh, and one more thing…"

"Yes, sir?"

"Umm, like how do you think the Estharians will react if I propose to abolish the requirement of wearing those long gowns everyday? I mean, don’t you find that outfit uncomfortable?"

The Aide flashed a wide grin. "Honestly, sir? I would love that. I’ve always wanted to try wearing something more… groovy… uhh, is that the right word, sir?"

"Heh, I believe the term you’re looking for is ‘preppy’." Laguna replied.

"What does that word mean, sir?"

"Beats the hell out of me, Vlade. Anyway, I’ll see you around."

Laguna scratches his head. For the last week he has been meeting Galbadia’s acting president in their effort to draw up a series of political and economic treatises that they believe will improve diplomatic ties between Galbadia and Esthar. Their conversations have been characterized as generally formal and direct. The two never really had the chance to engage in casual small talk.

Until now, that is. With the official summit nearing a successful conclusion, the only real reason General Caraway is still in Esthar is the isolated incident of mutiny back in Deling City, which the SeeDs he hired had successfully vanquished. Now, for the first time, he will be facing the Galbadian leader on easier terms. Laguna somewhat feels apprehensive with the prospect; the conversation just might wander towards a subject involving Julia. And he wonders, how would it feel for a man to face his deceased wife’s former beau?

He pauses just before entering the reception room.

"Ahh, what the heck. It’s all in the past." Muttered the former Galbadian soldier before finally stepping in.

"Good morning, President Loire." A high-spirited General Caraway echoed.

"It couldn’t be a more pleasant morning, General." Laguna responded with equal fervor. "Have you heard the news?"

"What? Oh yeah. Those impressive kids… they got the job done…" Caraway trailed off before falling into an apparent state of melancholy.

"Uhh, I was expecting you’d take the news in a much lighter note, General. Anything bothering you?"

"Oh, nothing. It’s nothing, really… except that…"

Laguna hesitated. He has a pretty good idea why the general would display a less than affirmative reaction towards the good tidings. Those kids that Caraway referred to also happen to be the friends and comrades of his estranged daughter, Rinoa.

"I sure wish I can talk to her." Caraway suddenly followed up, to which Laguna effortlessly caught on.

"Why don’t you try? I’ve met Rinoa, and she seems to be a really nice girl."

"Nice? Heh, that’s an understatement. Rinoa is the epitome of ardor. She is passion AND compassion personified. I’ve never really met anyone who didn’t immediately develop a liking for her." a beaming Caraway exclaimed. Laguna just smiled.

"And sadly, this same passion led to the road of severe misunderstanding between the two of us." The general furthered, referring to the falling away he had with Rinoa because of his former position as the late President Deling’s right hand man. And he knows only too well how she detested the deceased Galbadian president’s dictatorial policies, which led her to join Timber’s resistance group, the Forest Owls, in the first place.

"Ahh, enough about that." Caraway blurted out in an effort to change the subject. Laguna didn’t utter a word out of respect for the Galbadian ruler’s wish.

"President Loire, why didn’t you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"That you were a Galbadian soldier. What command were you stationed in?"

"Uhh… I used to be in the infantry. But I was transferred to the panzer division during the war with Timber." Laguna softly answered.

"Oh, that explains it."

"Explain what?"

"Why you weren’t able to return to Deling city 19 years ago."

"Uh-oh, here we go." Laguna thought to himself.

"She was… nearly devastated… waiting for you to come back. And I felt so sorry for her." General Caraway said, drawing a concerned look from the Esthar president. Laguna opted to remain silent. For the first time in his life, he found himself totally at a loss for words.

"I… I’m sorry, President Loire, maybe we shouldn’t be talking about this."

"Actually, I’m more concerned about you." Laguna replied with a forced smile on his lips. The two momentarily fell silent, not knowing what to say next. Then Laguna somehow found the strength to further the subject.

"So, were you two happy?"

"Well, I reckon we were. Especially after Rinoa was born. You know… Julia is, all things considered, a very strong woman. It really didn’t take that long for her to accept that… you two weren’t meant for each other."

"Yeah…" was all Laguna could say.

"So how about you?" Caraway followed up. "You don’t seem to be a guy likely to spend the rest of his life being alone. Have you… well, you know…"

"Me? Oh yes, as a matter of fact, I have met someone. But…" Laguna paused, a slight shade of gloominess descending on his face,  "she’s gone now…"

"Oh… I’m sorry to heat that. But I guess that makes us truly two of a kind." General Caraway remarked, which evoked a questioning look from Laguna.

"Two pathetic, lonely widowers, that is." The two laughed resoundingly at the General’s repartee.

"What’s going on inside?" Kiros asked the Aide stationed by the door of the reception room, when he heard the loud guffaws emanating from inside it.

"President Laguna and General Caraway are in there. Why they’re laughing? I don’t know."

"…….." Ward gestured.

"What did he say?" the Aide returned a question to Kiros.

"Oh. Ward says he hopes they’re not laughing at one of Laguna’s jokes. Honestly, I hope so too. The last thing Galbadia needs right now is a leader with the same kind of sense of humor as Laguna’s."

Squall heaves a deep breath before stepping inside the Balamb Garden gala room. How long has it been since he last saw this place? Roughly a year ago. Everyone was in a festive mood then after the six of them returned from the future and that life-and-death battle against Ultimecia. During that time, he still didn’t feel like socializing with the other students, opting as usual to post himself by the entrance until he saw Rinoa walk toward the gala room porch. Squall smiled in lieu of where his train of thought led him: that memorable moment when his lips met Rinoa’s. It is perhaps one of the sweetest moments of his life.

He snappily brushed off some dust particles from the chest area of his SeeD uniform before proceeding inside. There, Squall immediately caught sight of Irvine, showing off his SeeD uniform to Selphie.

"Sefie, my beloved. Now, you can’t possibly resist the new and more debonair me inside these dashing threads."

"Hmm, not bad, Irvy. But… can you lose the pony-tail? I don’t think it goes with the uniform."

"Heh, you’ll have a much easier time telling me to fight ten Malboros instead."

Squall wandered his eyes some more, as if looking for someone. It didn’t take long before his sight locked on to the stately figure of Rinoa, likewise wearing a SeeD uniform identical to the one Quistis is wearing. Squall beamed, feeling immensely proud of the woman he loves as he just stood there staring at Rinoa, who was at that time engaged in a lively chat with Zell, Quistis, Cid and the woman whom they all fondly call Matron, the former sorceress Edea.

"Hey, Squall. How do I look?" a voice from behind broke the SeeD commander’s trance. Behind him stood another newly appointed SeeD, Marcus Derlini, president of the Balamb Garden-wide Quistis Trepe fan club known as the Trepe Groupies.

"Hey Marcus. Congratulations." Squall greeted the instructor’s most ardent supporter.

"Thanks man. And oh, have you by any chance seen Tom? I just wanna show off my uniform. You know, Tom and I had a bet. He always insists that I’ll never be a SeeD because I’m always too preoccupied thinking about Instructor Trepe. Heh heh, I wanna see the look in his face now when he fights that T-Rexaur in the monster’s lair."

"Really. Well, just be careful, okay?" the head SeeD promptly replied before turning his back on Marcus.

Quistis suddenly fell silent when she saw Squall approaching. Knowing only too well what kind of scene will unfold once he and Rinoa got together, the long-suffering instructor chose to make herself scarce, not wanting to once more go through the perennial experience of having to watch the object of her affection cuddle up with another girl who also happens to be her friend.

"Headmaster, Matron, I just remembered something that I need to do. Please excuse me."

"Yo, Quisty. Where you off to?" Zell questioned his evasive comrade.

"Have to run an errand." Quistis shot back. "Zell, Rinoa, I’ll see you later."

Half-questioning herself for what she thinks as a somewhat infantile behavior, Quistis hesitantly looked back at the gala room. But nevertheless decided to continue walking slowly along the quiet hall, all the while shaking her head in apparent disappointment. Although she had given up a long time ago on her ardent wish of having a more intimate relationship with the elusive Squall Leonhart, Quistis still can’t seem to muster the strength to let go of her lingering feelings as well. If only she could meet someone who would somehow tear her hopeless affection away from her erstwhile student, Quistis thought.

But the prospect of finding a man of her own seems somewhat… remote, to say the least. Of course, men with promising characteristics abound in Balamb Garden. How many times has she received beautifully arranged bouquet of flowers in her room, or found romantic notes from some not-so-anonymous admirers, tucked inside her instructor’s planner? But why hasn’t anyone caught her fancy yet? Is it due to some subconscious albeit unreasonably high criteria that she holds? Or is it because no matter how hard she tries, she still can’t help but use Squall as the ultimate measuring stick in screening her hopeful admirers.

Unable to find answers to her nagging self-inquiries, the pretty instructor just sighed as she trained her gaze toward the emptied front hall of the Garden. Her eyes consequently caught sight of a solitary figure examining the Balamb Garden central directory. Quistis’ eyebrows drew closer upon recognizing the individual as the man who fearlessly (if not foolishly) wrestled a T-Rexaur to submission at the training center two days ago. Curiosity getting the better of her, Quistis opted to approach the man, though unsure of what good her mundane action could possibly accomplish.

"Hello." The instructor opened with a smile.

"Huh? On, uhh… hi." The stranger shot back with a start. "I was just browsing through this board. You have a pretty huge school here."

"Uh-huh… uh… say, I never got to thank you for coming to my aid last time. So… thank you, I really appreciate it."

The man’s face assumed a slight frown after hearing Quistis’ expression of gratitude, which the perceptive SeeD didn’t fail to notice. "Hey, did I say something wrong?"

He crossed his arms in front of his chest and took on a more formal stance, moving to face the resolute SeeD squarely. "Perhaps you failed to comprehend. I didn’t rescue you from the T-Rex. I rescued it from you and your trigger-happy friend."

"Oh, is that so." The instructor’s voice faded, reminding herself that she’s presently having a conversation with a resident of FH. And as such, he is expected to have a hostile attitude towards soldiers and mercenaries like herself. Not that it doesn’t show, anyway, as Quistis easily took note of how adamant he pronounced the word ‘trigger-happy’,

"Perhaps you don’t desire company." The dejected SeeD softly replied. "I’m sorry for having intruded on you. I’ll be on my way now."

Despite his firm conviction that provides for a strong repugnance for anything that connotes armed conflict, the FH resident nevertheless felt a tinge of guilt for displaying such gross effrontery to Quistis. He may be an obstinate pacifist, the man thought. But he will not ever develop the habit of treating women the way he did, whether they be SeeDs, professional mercenaries or soldiers.

"I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so rude." He called out to Quistis. "My name’s Siegfried. Siegfried Waller. And you are..?"

Quistis turned around, and eyed Siegfried intently, apparently trying to perceive some sincerity in his sudden change of attitude. She then went back and offered her hand. "Mine’s Quistis. Quistis Trepe. I’m a SeeD here in Balamb Garden."

"Yes, I’m quite aware of that." He replied. "So, I thought you’re having a party. What are you doing here all by your lonesome?"

"Oh, I just thought I’d get some fresh air. It’s becoming a bit… stifling in there." Quistis echoed, followed by an absent-minded grooming of her blonde hair. "How about you? I thought I saw some of your friends in there. Don’t you wish to join them and have some fun?"

"I’m not the partying type." Siegfried shot back as he fidgeted visibly in front of Quistis. For some unknown reason, the FH technician felt an uncanny warmth setting over his face as he stared at Quistis’ gentle and alluring visage. A feeling that suddenly gave him a fit of alien discomfort.

"Uhh, yes?" the instructor quipped when she noticed her conversant becoming speechless all of the sudden.

"What?"

"Is there something wrong with my face?" she smilingly followed up, half teasing the obviously beleaguered Siegfried. "You’ve been staring at me for the last ten seconds or so."

"Oh, I’m terribly sorry. I never meant to…" he cracked, unable to finish his apology due to the sudden bout of embarrassment. "I… I have to go and check on something."

Quistis clutched her mouth in an effort to keep herself from laughing at Siegfried. "Okay, I’m gonna call it a day as well. It’s been nice talking to you, Siegfried." After which she turned her back on him and headed for the dormitory section.

"Quistis?"

"Yeah?"

"Will I be… seeing you again?"

The instructor’s eyes squinted as she tossed a gaze towards Siegfried. His face turned pale-white, reflecting uncontrollable anxiety, thinking that he might have said something wrong. His fears just as quickly subsided, though, when Quistis flashed a most enchanting smile.

"Of course you will. I live here, you know. Good night."

Siegfried didn’t utter a single word and just stood there, staring at Quistis as she made her way down the circular pathway before turning left toward the dormitory. He finally heaved a deep breath when she disappeared from his sight. Shaking his head, Siegfried smiled, half-appreciating the moment and yet half-scorning himself, realizing that this turn of event he allowed himself to be caught up with could easily turn into a major conflict in his otherwise quiet and simplistic life.

Chapter Four