FF8 Presents The Thing

Chapter 8

Of all the residential areas, Seifer’s room was the furthest away from people. Tonight, Zell was with him. Zell had his own room but sometimes spent the nights with Seifer. The blond lays on the bed reading a magazine. Seifer was playing electronic chess.

Seifer was playing a mean game with the computer as he sips some beer. The computer though is a better player and soon checkmates him.

Seifer, “ Damn it.... “

Seifer throws his can in a random direction. This almost gets Zell in the head as the can sails past him and into a wall.

Zell, “ Hey!”

Seifer grumbles, “ Sorry... “ and sees he is out of beer.

Zell comes up and rubs his shoulders, “ Need someone to help you relax?”

Seifer almost shrugs him off but knows Zell means well, “ Maybe when I come back. I’m gonna go get more drinks.”

With that seifer puts on his coat and heads out. He knows where they keep the beer and soda. But some noise gets his attention. He has to use ropes to get close to the source of the noise due to winds and snow make moving around hard.

Seifer finds himself with the choppers. The cockpit is ajar. Inside he can see the controls have been destroyed. At the camp he can hear gun bering fired. This brings him rushing back. Seifer enters to find Irvine and Kiros already there.

Seifer, “ What is going on?”

Irvine, “ Yo, Raijin went nuts!

Kiros, “ He is holed up in the radio room with Fujin. I’m not sure how she is.”

Squall was already at the radio room. He tries to look inside but gunfire forces him back. Fujin is out cold by simple hit to back of her head but otherwise fine. Raijin hated to hit her. Hated to hurt his close pals, but this was something he had to do! He uses his staff with one hand to club the radio, smashing the controls.

Raijin, “ No one innocent people be involved! “

Seifer by now joined the others, “ He destroyed the controls to one of the choppers... “

Squall, “ Zell, go check the other chopper and the tractor.”

Zell, “ Got it!” and hurries off.

Raijin is still swinging at the controls of the radio. Keeps an eye on the doorway. He looks determined to do what he felt was the right thing, “ I’m not crazy, ya know! I know what's going on better then you guys to treat me like an idiot. I’m saving the world, ya know!”

Ward mouths, ‘ Back window ‘

Seifer, “ This is crazy.”

Raijin, “ Ya think it wanted to become a Chocobo? Chocobo can’t cross the ocean, ya know. No birds this time year. It wants to be us!”

Zell returns breathless from the running, “ Both choppers are dead and the tractor is messed up.”

Squall, “ We might need to shoot him.”

Seifer, “ Lets try the fuse box.” Unwilling to even seriously hurt Raijin who clearly was hysterical. “ No one touches him but me... “

Squall nods and signals for Ward to go. Ward hurries down the hall to the fuse box. Seifer didn’t bother to thank Squall. Wasn’t the type to thank anyone.

Raijin, “ If one cell gets out of here.. the world is doomed, ya know! Doomed!”

Seifer, “ I believe you, Raijin. That's the hard truth you speak. But we have to be calm and rational too. Its me Seifer... I’m your friend.”

Raijin lowers the gun, “ Seifer? But... How do I know its you. You could be an alien too, ya know?”

Seifer, “ You know me. I have to keep my posse together.”

Then the lights go out. Seifer dives into the room, knocking Raijin to the ground. After a bit of a struggle, he manages to get the man under control. Raijin is left weeping under his friend.

Raijin is escorted out to a tool shed. Its actually very spacious and livable compared to their normal living quarters. He will have two windows and a soft cot to sleep on. Dr. Kadowaki injects him with a sedative so he can rest calmly.

Raijin, “ Why am I being punished?”

Quistis, “ Not punished. You will be safe here.”

Raijin, “ But.. Seifer... “

Seifer, “ I’ll be by later. Now just sleep. That's my order!” Last said with stern look.

Raijin takes comfort in Seifer giving orders to him and lays down, “ I trust you., ya know.. You are my friend. But... don’t trust Selphie, ya know? She let that chocobo run loose... “

Seifer, “ I gotcha.”

They all exit the shed. Seifer hates to leave him there.. but keeps his face hard. He ponders Raijin’s words. Was Selphie really Selphie?? Inside He sees to Fujin, who has a headache from the blow but no other ill effects.

The new day was starting. Cold , dark, gray day... as winter’s storm was still holding tight to the area. Kiros is dumping the trash. He passes Zell and Irvine who are trying to save one of the choppers. One was possibly salvaged about, or so Zell thought. Irvine is just there to try and be helpful but sadly isn’t much help.

Squall and Seifer are with Fujin in the radio room. The panel is wrecked beyond repair.

Seifer, “ Are you okay?”

Fujin, “ ANGRY! “

Squall, “ Get some rest... You had a long night.”

Seifer puts a hand on her shoulder as she wanted to protest this but agrees to go rest.

Much later, Laguna served up some warm breakfast. Most of the group was there eating except for Fujin, Raijin and Seifer. Selphie is also not there because she went to feed the Chocobo.

Dr. Kadowaki hands Laguna a pill, “ Please put this in Raijin’s juice before you give him his food.”

Selphie then comes running into the mess all. “ The Chocobo are gone!”

Squall goes with Selphie to see the kennel was open and empty. The lock can’t be open from the inside. The tracks led outside into the ice and snow.

Selphie, “ They ran away... “

Squall, “ When is the time time they were seen?”

Selphie, “ Ummm... last feeding yesterday.”

Seifer, “ I’m tracking them down.”

Ward mouths something.

Laguna, “ Ward’s right. The weather is too bad out. Besides no matter how far they go they aren’t gonna make it. They’ll starve to death first.”

Irvine, “ Plus all our vehicles are busted.”

Seifer hands Squall a list, “ I just need supplies and the snowmobile.”

Squall, “ That is too slow to catch a chocobo. “

Seifer, “ Zell, think you can boost the speed?”

Zell, “ I guess so. No sweat!”

Squall, “ Whatever... just don’t get yourselves killed.”

TBC