This is a repost and re-write of a story I started years ago. I had all but forgotten about it until I played FF8 again. Then imagine my surprise when I logged onto and found that there are still stories being posted. Happy day.

The sky rumbled loudly and lightning split the sky. The flashes of light briefly illuminated three rain soaked SEEDs.

Squall looked up into the sky watching as another bolt of lightning lit the horizon. His rain soaked hair hung limply over his face, obscuring his right eye. He didn't care though. He glanced over at his companions.

Zell Dincht was leaning against a large boulder the rain had caused his normally spiky hair to lay flat against his head and there were rivulets of red being washed out of his hair by the storm.

Irvine Kienas lay on the muddy ground his expression a mask of pure misery. In one arm a faded trenchcoat was wrapped around his beloved Exeter. In his other he held his cherished hat. That selfsame item had been shredded by bullets and scorched by magic, yet he still clung to it as if it was the greatest thing in his world.

Squall turned his gaze back to the sky. He let his thoughts wander to Rinoa. "I wonder what she's doing now" He mused. "If she's thinking of me while im thinking of her"

His face fell a bit more as he thought about their final parting before he left.

"Squall can't you send someone else?" She had asked.

"You know I can't Rinoa, this mission is too dangerous for me to even bring you along."

She sighed and hugged him tightly and softly kissing his lips.
"Please be careful for me." She whispered.

Before He could even reply she had turned and walked off.

"Squall. SQUALL!" Zell shook Squall's arm and sighed in relief as his commander's eyes focused and he came black to this world.

"Geez man you ok? Come on, they're coming again."

Squall silently got back to his feet and close his hand around Lionheart's hilt. The weapon's weight reassured him. It was the one object he allowed himself to draw comfort from.

Irvine climbed to his feet, placed his tattered hat on his head and unwrapped Exeter. He broke open the weapon and loaded a pair of pulse shells into the gun then snapped it closed.
Squall turned his eyes to the east. "How far?" He asked.

Irvine clambered up a boulder and peered through a spotting scope. "About five hundred yards approaching at a fast walk."

"Shit" Squall cursed quietly. "How had the Galbadians caught up that quickly? Be ready to move in three minutes." He then turned to his own gear and began thrusting items in his pack.

Three minutes later the elite SEED's set off to the west. As they ran Squalls mind went back to Cid's office five days ago. When the headmaster had first informed them of this mission.

"Squall, the Esthar government has contracted us to find and infiltrate a Galbadian base that they believe is hidden in the Centra mountains. They have paid top gil in advance and have called for our three top SEED's to move out immediately." Cid handed him a sealed envelope.

Squall took it and looked into the Headmaster's eyes, he almost looked scared. "Squall this is a very dangerous mission. It is believed that this is a weapons research facility. Expect heavy resistance." Cid forced a small smile. Not that I have any doubt in your abilities but… Cid trailed off. "Just be careful Squall."

Squall snapped a sharp salute and walked out of the office.
His thoughts were interrupted again as a fireball exploded in front of them. The team drew up short as a team of Galbadian soldiers stepped out of the boulder-strewn field ahead of them.

"AGAIN?" Zell cried in dismay. He slammed his fist against the ground. "Hyne why won't they give up? They just keep coming."
Squall breathed deeply. He hated to admit it but Zell was right. Every time they thought they had given the Galbadians the slip they were found again. He gritted his teeth at an unfamiliar fury as Zell continued to rant.

"I'm sick of this." Zell growled. His face was filled with frustration and anger. I'm sick of running. I'm sick of being shot at. AND IM SICK OF THESE DAMN GALBADIANS BEING ON OUR BACKS AT EVERY TURN."

Squall drew Lionheart and glared defiantly at the leading Galbadian, Zell looked concerned at Squall's expression. Ever since they had begun running he had been his usual silent self. With Rinoa's help he had begun actually showing his emotions. Now...now there was something about his behavior. Something dark. It scared him.

Irvine too was sick of everything about this mission. He was sick of being kept away from Selphie. He kept his eyes on Squall. He was worried about that look in his eye. He took a deep breath and prepared himself for the battle.
Squall slowly walked towards the Galbadian formation. The five men grinned at the sight of their battle weary prey and spread out around him. Each of them held a long thin katana in his hands that was the standard issue melee weapon of the Galbadian army. These were no average soldiers however. All of the SEED's could see that. The men had the poise and radiated the confidence of men who had seen vicious battles and come out on top. They were a hardened squad and they were here to pick up the slack.

Squall tightened his fingers on Lionhearts hilt, resting his finger on the trigger. Zell loudly popped his knuckles. Irvine pumped his shotgun and flicked the safety off as he brought it to his shoulder.

The five men lunged forward their blades all aimed to skewer Squall where he stood. Only he wasn't there anymore. Squall danced back a step as Lionheart came crashing down on one of the outstretching blades, slamming it into the ground. Then he was moving. He roughly shouldered the smallest Galbadian and moved passed him. He turned and brought his elbow up in a quick arc into the man's nose as he turned to follow. Then he brought Lionheart around in a vicious arc that sunk into the man's shoulder and neck. The man fell to the ground in a spray of blood as Squall wrenched his blade free and thrust it at the chest of the soldier to his right. The man brought his sword up in a wild parry but managed to deflect the thrust and raised his blade to attack again.

The soldier then screamed briefly as a pulse round from Irvine's shotgun lodged itself in his back and exploded, covering squall and the two men closest to him in blood and viscera.

Zell was throwing precise calculated punches at the soldier closest to him. Using his adamantine gloves to deflect the thrusts slashes and stabs that Galbadian threw at him. He ducked as the soldier tried to take his head off and followed up with a sharp punch to the throat. The soldier staggered back, his hand clutching his windpipe as he tried to suck in a breath of air.

Irvine was sighting in on the leader of the squad when the man threw up his hands. Irvine had time to blink before a fire spell slammed into his chest knocking him flying through the air. He landed with a thud on the rocky ground and lay still.

Zell ducked another slash aimed at his neck and grabbed the soldier's outstretched arm. He gave a sharp twist. The man gave a shrill scream as his arm fractured and a shard of bone was pushed through his skin, he staggered away his arm dripping only to pass out a moment later. Zell turned his attention to the last soldier as the Commander of the squad turned to Squall and held up his sword in a mocking salute. Then lunged.

Squall was caught by surprise by the Commander's speed and wildly parried the Commander's opening strike and fought for his stance. The Galbadian paused and regained his own stance. Squall felt something bubble inside him. A fierce rush of energy being fueled by his anger. He had thought it had deserted him. The Commander struck once more. Squall sidestepped the vertical slash and swung his sword low, aiming for the knees. The commander pivoted and dropped the point of his sword to the ground blocking Squalls slice. Both men took a step back and regained their footing. This time Squall entered the attack feinting at the man's shoulder and then pulling his sword back spinning around delivering a power slash at his opponent's side. Yet again the large Galbadian's sword interposed itself between Squall's sword and his flesh. The Galbadian slashed for Squall's neck but even as squall ducked and the blade whistled over his head he thrust at the man's gut. Lionheart bit home and blood spurted from the Galbadian commander's armor. Yet the soldier would not fall. He stepped back and held his hand against the wound and muttered, "cure".

Squall saw a blue glow and the flesh mended. Then took a quick step back as the Galbadian's sword sought to sunder his sword arm from its shoulder. Squall let out a guttural growl and narrowed his eye. Then brought lionheart around in a lightning quick strike. Slamming the glowing blade down on top of the Galbadian's sword. Driving the point into the earth. Squall took a step back and felt his rage building. The Galbadian looked up from trying to free his sword from the rocky ground. For the first time he saw his opponents face and froze. One of his eyes was covered by his hair. But the left eye. There was something in that eye. A hate that he had never seen before, he felt all the joy happiness anger and sorrow almost being sucked from his body. The only thing he was able to feel was terror.
Then Squall struck.

"LIONHEART" Squall bellowed. Bringing the flat of his sword up and knocking the Galbadian up into the air. Squall leapt into the air after him and began hacking and slashing the defenseless man with stroke after stroke. Finally bringing his sword down in a clean diagonal slice and cutting the man into two pieces. Squall landed on one knee and planted Lionheart into the ground, as he took a deep breath he watched his opponent's pieces land around him.
Zell and his opponent had both stopped fighting. Watching their respective commanders battle it out. After seeing how quickly his Commander was defeated the Galbadian turned and ran as fast as he could. Zell relaxed and looked over at Squall. With a start he realized that Squall had his hand outstretched and was concentrating on something.

"METEOR!" Squall yelled.

Zell watched in fascination and horror as flaming rocks rained from the skies impacting all around the panicked man until finally a rock landed directly on top of him. Flattening him with a squelch.

Squall finally lowered his hand. His eyes passed over the death that he and his team had caused in the past few minutes and sighed. His eyes focused on Zell. Who now looked at him like he was some sort of daemon. "What the hell was that about man?" He wasn't a threat anymore. Whydja waste him man?"

Squall remained silent as he walked over to Irvine. "Cure." He muttered. Irvine stirred and finally woke up. Rising to his feet. "What happened?"

Squall remained silent his face becoming stony again. Zell mentally sighed in relief and told Irvine in a hushed voice everything that happened as the trio set off west again. The sounds of Galbadian pursuit falling behind them.

Rate, review etc. The more you review the quicker I will write more if you all like it.
Mike