Orange Haze

True Chapter 1:

AGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRR!

And with that, the monstrosity that called itself the president's body double melted into a puddle of red orange ooze. Rinoa stepped back as it slowly inched its now somewhat congealing self to where she had just stood. She watched the semi-transparent goo as it played its final attempt of revenge against for being defeated by such rebel scum', as he had called them. Revenge by trying to coat itself all over their shoes.

"Ewww! That is SO gross!" commented Selphie as she too watched the remains. They all did, well, all exception for a certain SeeD who sported a scar between his eyes. He just stared at his companions and current employer as they all stood around utterly captivated. He on the other hand, wasn't sure if he was more annoyed or disgusted at their childish behavior.

"That just ain't right…" muttered Zell as he stepped closer to examine the ooze. "Just not right at all…"

After a while of staring at, commenting on and strangely enough poking at the strange goo, the leather clad SeeD leader finally called an end to the nonsense. "Let's go."

"But I want to look at it a lil' longer!" Zell complained, now wiping goo off his fingers onto his shorts. Both Selphie and Rinoa threw him disgusted looks but he just ignored them and focused on the retreating back of his leader. "C'mon Squall!"

"Let's go." Silence drifted though the air until the SeeD leader was gone.

"Perhaps it is time for us to leave…" Rinoa placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder and pulled him gently in the exit's direction. "We should regroup and plan what we should do next."

"Yeah, you're right, Rin." He replied, calling Rinoa by the new nickname Zell and Selphie insisted on calling her. When they realized just who they were working for… well, let's just say it was like hitting a brick wall while speeding… but luckily, they had gotten over the initial shock quite quickly and were able to carry out the mission.

SUNDAY:

"Just yesterday afternoon, a rebel group calling themselves the Forest Owls attempted to kidnap the president while he was in route to Timber. Luckily, the rebels had abducted the president's body double and the president is completely unharmed. Authorities are now searching for these rebels and once found the scum will be punished to the fullest extent of the law."

"So, what now?" Selphie asked, sitting on the bed, her legs drawn up and her eyes fixed on the hotel room's radio. There was a long moment of silence from the group as Squall leaned with his arms crossed against the wall and just continued to stare out of the window. Zell enviously paced back and forth, every once and a while punching empty air while Rinoa squatted on the floor next to the bed drawing circles on the carpet with the tip of her finger.

"Well," Rinoa finally began. She turned slightly on her heels and looked up at Squall who was still staring with a stone gaze out of the hotel window. "What do you suggest we do? I mean, you are the professionals."

"And you are our employer. We do as you see fit until our contract is expired." He answered back coldly. She sighed and looked down at the carpet. He was absolutely right. Since they had decided to return to Timber, they had thought of what their next would be. She had to move forward. She had to look ahead. She had to keep going. She had no idea what to do next.

"Well, in these situations, what would Instructor Trepe tell us to do?" Selphie asked, thinking. Although Quistis had only been her instructor for a short time, Selphie had learned a thing or two from the blonde.

"Find out why the president was heading here in the first place!" Zell jumped up, pounding his fist into the air above his head. "So, why was he?"

Rinoa stared at the floor in thought. She had heard a rumor about the president wanting to do something that hadn't been done in a long time, if only she could remember what that something was.

"Hey, Squall, remember that tower in Dollet? Think that's got something to do with it?" Zell asked. Selphie nearly jumped out of her seat.

"That's right! It must have something to do with that!" She shook her head. Squall turned his attention from the window and looked at the three huddled around the radio.

"Why'd they need an old antenna anyways?" Zell asked. Rinoa shot up from her position on the floor, nearly colliding with Zell in the process.

"That's right! There's an old broadcasting station here in Timber. It went offline about 17 years ago when that sort of broadcasting became obsolete!" She yelled, looking at each SeeD member. That's what that rumor was. "He must want to broadcast something really important!"

"But why use radio waves?" Squall looked at her with a cold gaze, unmoving from his spot by the window. She looked at him silently for a moment. "There are so many better ways to communicate these days…"

Once again silence fell upon the group as they returned to their previous positions, deep in thought. 'Why would they use such an old method?' Rinoa thought. If she was making a majorly important speech to the world, what would she do? For one, she would want as many people to hear it as possible. How would she do that? Not everyone had… that's it!

"Because not everyone in the world uses the same technology! He wants everyone to hear it!" Rinoa exclaimed. "Everyone at least can still somehow receive a radio signal! He wants to get his message heard by has many people as he can and that's the perfect way to do it! At least, that's what I'd do…"

"Yeah, Rin's right! That's why they activated that old tower, Squall! To carry the president's message!" Zell high fived Rinoa while Selphie gave the raven haired girl a hug.

"Assuming that is true, what do we do about it?" Squall cut in, his voice as neutral as usual. The three stopped their victory partly and thought.

"We go there and stop them." Rinoa said with a firm nod. Squall returned the nod and moved towards the door, while gathering his things. "To the broadcasting station!"

TO BE CONTINUED…

A/N: Anyways, sorry for the wait but I've been really busy between school and other things. Well, this is the true chapter one or at least the beginning of it. I think it came out very well. I tried my best to recall what the characters said at this point of the game and the real reason for them going there. I hope I got it right. Also shout outs to all my reviews. Thanks for the reviews!