This story was originally posted under a different name. For those of you who remember what it was I ask that you keep it to yourselves as it contains spoilers. Do not post it in the review section. Feel free to private message me if you'd like.

For new readers; welcome. This is a re-write of an old story I had posted years ago. I took it down because I have since learned some editing techniques to make myself a better writer. I did the same thing to my Final Fantasy VIII Novelization and I'm hoping to start reposting that one very soon. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or it's characters. I make no monetary gain from this story. It is purely for entertainment value.

Chapter 1: New Threat

Three months had passed since Sorceress Ultimecia initiated a third Sorceress War with only time as her deadliest weapon.

No one outside of those involved knew the incredible truth of that war's conclusion. To the rest of the world, the Sorceress was defeated when SeeD fought her forces at the Cape of Good Hope in Centra. The trouble in Esthar was put on her knight, who was still intent on chaos.

Under normal circumstances, he would call it an injustice to be scapegoated. But Seifer Almasy had learned his lesson and gone to ground. He was last seen in the custody of Dollet soldier, but never made it to a cell.

He was the least of Garden's worries, however. The real issue was the lack of funds following Norg's deposal. SeeD still had a flood of mission requests – while students and faculty tightened their belts – but it wouldn't be enough to keep Garden afloat beyond the next two years without a new backer.

There were two cutbacks Garden wanted to employ, but couldn't as they would lose face. Rinoa Heartily was granted Garden privileges and residential status as thanks for her pivotal role in the war. Though no complained aloud, she was an additional mouth they could not afford to feed. Not to mention the world's only known sorceress. That made her not only a freeloader but a potentially dangerous one.

That Irvine Kinneas was a freeloader that Garden treated better did not miss his notice. He was very protective of those he deemed friends and family. Any unfair treatment in his presence would be defended with ferocity. It did not win him many allies, though people who judged what they didn't understand would always be distant second to his family.

He was too easy going to care that he was regarded as an outsider. He had been much the same at his home Garden, which had a strict and rigid nature he had always rebelled against. Whether it was student or Faculty, defiance was was likely the reason Martine was so quick to send him to his death against the Sorceress. One less rebel to worry about.

The Galbadian Garden Master could not have foreseen the end results. Irvine sure hadn't.

But now that he wanted to change Gardens, Martine was loathe to let him go. Irvine lacked the military discipline Martine wanted. However, he couldn't just cast aside a sharpshooter renowned as a hero.

Martine only wanted to save face. When Ultimecia took control of Galbadia Garden she had taken everything from the Garden Master. His reputation in tatters, he was forced to turn to FH – the only nation that remained supportive – and accept a life of exile. Irvine's transfer would only fuel the questions about Martine's authority, whether he truly could control the Garden.

It wasn't Irvine's problem.

He was bored, there was nothing to do and no one to hang out with. So he lay on the floor of the quad and watched the afternoon sky. The tedium was broken only a little by his interpretation of the clouds as other images. He just wished the others were free, but life was not so kind. Zell had only just returned from a mission and was in his dorm, dead to the world. Quistis had regained her instructor's licence for the fall semester and was in her classroom. Rinoa had gone into town to pick up supplies for Angelo. Squall, well, he was busy with responsibilities that shouldn't have been thrust upon a socially-inept eighteen year old. Selphie – his usual cloud-watching partner in crime – had been deployed on a mission a week ago. She could be away for a while, the Quad wouldn't be much fun without her, yet he opted to go anyway.

Now he regretted the decision, but there was little else he could do alone. Irvine did not do well in close quarters combat and the monsters in the Training Centre could get uncomfortably close if he wasn't careful. Sparring was much of the same. So he stayed in the quad and picked out familiar shapes and designs that trekked through the sky.

Balamb was most certainly a far cry from Galbadia Garden. Wrapped in an atmosphere of freedom, Garden conduct and attire were left to the discretion of the students. The rules were still to be followed but otherwise everyone was left to their own devices. Even though he'd been here since the end of the war, Irvine was so used to being called out by faculty for his trench coat, stetson and roper-style riding boots that it was unnerving to be ignored in spite of them. No one cared how he acted or what he wore so long as he presented himself accordingly during formal occasions.

He shook himself awake from an impromptu dose and admitted defeat. Either he could fall asleep out in the open or he could find something else to do. He returned to Garden's inner halls and hunkered down on a bench that faced the library. His hat tilted low, arms draped over the backrest and legs spread. The shift from cloud-watcher to people-watcher was complete. As students and SeeDs went by some nodded to acknowledge his presence while others ignored him. To the former he nodded back, the latter he let slide. If he was greeted by a girl, a little smirk and nod usually sent them away with a giggle. He no longer followed up on his flirts but that didn't mean he had to stop altogether.

Some time passed before he considered what else he could do. He only played triple triad with girls but was bored enough to make an exception. He rose to his feet and started for the elevator. A majority of the students would be on the second floor by now, around the classrooms.

As he turned the corner, he saw someone familiar reach the bottom steps beyond the elevator. Irvine recognized the fur-collared beater jacket but stopped himself before he could wave Squall over. He suspected the elder youth was likely busy with Garden administration bullshit. As usual. The brunet called Irvine over, to his surprise. When he stood there dumbly, Squall strode over. His posture betrayed his irritation and a sense of urgency.

Irvine tipped his hat in greeting. "Where's tha fire?"

"Front Gate. You need to come with me."

"Why's that?" By the time he got the words out Squall had already started for the turnstiles. Irvine had to jog to catch up. "Ya wanna at least tell me what's goin' on?"

"Something went wrong on one of the missions." Squall's tone was even, all business.

"Wha' happened ta tha secrecy an' all that?"

"It has to do with Selphie."

Irvine stopped, filled with dread at the answer. Squall made it a few paces further before he realized the sharpshooter was no longer with him. When he turned around, he fixed the taller youth with a glare of impatience.

"What about her?" Irvine's mouth had gone dry, it was a miracle he even got the question out.

"Come with me and you'll see." Then Squall started off again.

The crisp November weather hit him full force the moment they stepped outside. While Balamb did not see snow beyond the mountains, the weather was still not merciful. Even Squall pulled at his collar to bring the fur as close to his ears as he could manage. Irvine flipped the lapel of his trench coat to do the same and followed Squall to Garden's front gate.

Ragnarok completed its landing process beyond the golden gates. A small congregation waited for its passengers to emerge. He recognized the Headmaster, Cid Kramer, and the Garden Physician Doctor Kadowaki along with Lieutenant-Commander Xu. With them were SeeDs the sharpshooter did not know.

The hangar door dropped open and two SeeDs climbed out. A girl with curly brown hair and a guy whose long black hair was pulled back into a braid. Both wore civilian clothes. Slung on the guy's back was the third member of their team, someone Irvine recognized instantly.

Squall pulled Irvine back before he could charge forward. The look he got was terse and told him that he'd be removed if he interfered in any way. He stayed his ground. When the team passed he caught a glimpse of the Selphie and did not like what he saw. While unconscious she looked lifeless, a stark contrast to the almost-inexhaustible energy she often gave off. Squall's hand stayed firm on Irvine's shoulder, a silent reminder they were not alone and had to remain professional.

"What happened to her?"

"I intend to find out," Squall promised. "But I need to ask you some questions first. You were the last person to see her before the mission, and we need to rule out any pre-existing conditions that could've led to this."

"She was fine before she left." Irvine didn't say they had gotten into a stupid fight about something he couldn't even remember, or that they'd both stormed to their corners in foul moods. By the time he'd cooled down enough to bury the hatchet, Selphie had already left. "She was healthy."

"Nothing out of the ordinary? Strange about her behaviour?"

"She was tha same ol' Selphie." Irvine didn't know how else to explain it. "What did her teammates hafta say?"

"Nothing helpful." Squall shook his head with a heavy sigh.

Irvine didn't realize they were inside until he no longer felt the cold. The halls were empty now. The students had likely been shepherded away by either Xu or Kadowaki. Maybe both of them.

A sudden thought filled him with a helpless dread. "I can go see her, right? Tha doc'll let me in, won't she?"

When Squall didn't respond right away, Irvine held his breath. It could be Squall was lost in his own thoughts. "It could go either way. We don't know what's caused Selphie to collapse. It's a good sign her teammates haven't followed suit, but it could be a matter of time before they do."

"So yer sayin' she won't."

"I'm saying be prepared."

Frustrated with the answer, Irvine fell into a sullen silence. He half expected Squall to stop him because of some bullshit procedure or policy, but was surprised when Squall followed a step behind. Irvine relaxed a little when the Infirmary door slid open. If there were any concerns about contagion they would have been locked out. The fact that the SeeD helpers weren't decked out in hazmat suits was also a good sign.

At the end of the battle at the Cape of Good Hope the Infirmary had been packed full with the dead and injured, with hardly enough space to manoeuvre. Now, in peace time, with barely another soul it felt like a mausoleum. Kadowaki looked up from her notes and strode over to the pair who stood like awkward statues by the door. She ushered them to follow her to her office. As Irvine looked back, he realized that he couldn't see Selphie through the students who surrounded her.

"We've drawn some blood and are running tests," Kadowaki started as her office door slid shut and she took a seat. "The MRI is being prepped in case whatever happened has a neurological cause. Neither will present any results for a few days but I'll put a rush on it all the same."

"Are you allowing visitors?"

Squall asked the question before Irvine could. It was odd: the brunet hadn't been overly optimistic of his chances. Before he could question it the Doctor nodded her consent.

"You'll have to wait until we've finished but I see no harm in it. Short visits shouldn't be a problem but I worry about long term exposure." She turned to the brunet. "Speaking of which, I will have to quarantine her teammates for the time being."

A terse nod from Squall was what she received. "I want updates as soon as you can give them."

"Yessir."

Satisfied with her answer, Squall turned on his heel and left a moment later. Irvine did not question the departure. Squall would have to ensure there was no panic from whatever the hell this was. There was no doubt that he would have his hands full even more than he already did.

Irvine did not envy him.