Disclaimer: You know it by now...

Chapter Three: Calm before the storm

There was a kind of uneasiness in the air that morning, and Kassi didn't need three guesses to know why. She fiddled with the hem of her uniform, tapped her feet, played with her hair, and just all around fidgeted as she waited for Instructor Trepe to show up and assign herself and many others in her position to their squads for the SeeD exam.

So she stood there for at least half an hour until the Instructor graced the cadets with her appearance, and then at least another half hour waiting for her name to be called. Gods she was bored... and nervous... and irritated... and-

"Kassandra Starbreeze, you're squad E's leader."

Finally!

Kassi stepped forward and took her place at the front, waiting for the other members of her group to be called out.

"The other members of squad E are... Tirioch Orion."

Tirioch leapt up happily, eagerly joining his friend, wrapping an arm over her shoulders, "I'm with you! Great! We're so gonna ace this exam!"

Kassi eyed him side long, "Well I'm glad you're so enthusiastic..."

"Gallatrix Y'Loren, you as well."

The large youth joined his friends, smiling at Kassi, "You'll be a great leader Kassi, don't worry."

"Worried?" She laughed, "Who says I'm worried!"

Gallatrix and Tirioch exchanged a look, then looked back at the girl, "You are." they said in unison.

Kassi narrowed her eyes, "Hey..."

"And last member for squad E," Quistis continued, "is Riel Caladon."

The three young cadets froze as the petite blonde made his way forward, what he lacked in height he made up for in skill, strength and aloofness. Kassi was inwardly grateful to have such as powerful team-mate, but team-mate was as far as it went really, she could hardly call him a friend. She could trust his ability, that much was certain, but how well would he co-operate?

"Er... Glad to have you with us..."

Riel regarded her seriously for a moment; slit reptilian blue eyes fixed on her, unafraid and definitely unimpressed. After a long moment, he nodded and went back to listening to what the Instructor had to say. Kassi also turned her intention to Quistis, after a sigh of relief when Riel's attention was no longer on her.

"Thank you, now, the Commander has a few words he'd like to share with you before you go, best of luck to you all."

"Thanks Quistis." Squall said as he stepped forward. He briefly looked over this years candidates and approvingly. "Welcome. No doubt you're all a little nervous."

There was the sound of weak-hearted laughter from the crowd, to which Squall spared a half smile.

"I won't bore you with the "I remember the day I stood where you do now" speech, but I will tell you that your mission will be tough on you, you are going onto a real battlefield after all. And don't expect your opponent to back off if you feel you're in a losing fight, because all of your battles will be real. There will be no Instructors to tell you what to do and no one to help but your companions. Help each other out, listen to each other, and above all, trust each other. Leaders, do what you can to make the best descisions, but remember to ask your comrades for help, you don't have to do it alone, and the rest of you, don't expect your leader to make all the choices. I wish you all the best of luck, do your best."

The candidates saluted in perfect unison, shouting out "Yes Sir!" although Kassi felt all the more nervous. A real battlefield... Whoopdie flippin' do, I think I just saw my confidence fly out the window...

Squall saluted them in return, a rare sight someone so high up the military ladder. His right hand that was raised in perfect SeeD salute style crossed his chest and he held it at the left side of his face, then it swung out and pointed out the door, "Move out!" He cried.

With a fierce cry, the assembled cadets made their way to storm the car park where the vehicles were waiting for them.

Squall jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder, then breathed a sigh of relief when he found it was his wife, Rinoa.

"Wow, you sure know how to rally a crowd." she complimented.

Squall shrugged, "You get used to it after two years of practice..."

Rinoa's warm smile turned to one of concern, "I couldn't help but notice that Kassi was among this years lot..."

"She did pass the written exam..."

"But... Are you sure she's ready? Squall she's still very young and-"

"Rinoa," Squall interrupted, "she's not a little girl anymore. She can take care of herself. Besides, I think we provided her with enough motivation..."

"You mean Riel, right?"

Squall nodded. "He'll protect her... At least, he'd better..."

Rinoa hid her smile behind her hand; "Looks like you were worried after all..." she choked down her laughter, her face becoming serious, "But you know Squall, you have changed allot these past two years..."

Squall folded his arms across his chest, "Whatever..."

Rinoa giggled, "Squall, wasn't your wedding vow that'd you stop that?"

"Oh shush you..."

No matter how many times people had said it, no amount of warning could have prepared him for what he had to face now. It set his mind on edge, he was getting increasingly agitated and moody, and he was more than ready to attack anyone who tried to tell him to calm down and... How the hell could the others stand it?

"So Kassi," Tirioch began, not even noticing Riel's increasing aggressiveness, "do you have the mission brief?"

Kassi nodded, "Yeah, we're on our way to Esthar, we're aiding the Esthar army in their battle against Galbadia, Garden received their request for aid a few days ago and decided that it would be the perfect opportunity to test us. We're to-"

"Do you guys mind?" Riel cried.

The three other teenagers turned their wide-eyed gazes to the blonde.

"Riel?" Kassi ventured.

"Have you guys no idea of how to be quiet! You've been chatting this whole time, it's giving me a headache!"

"Geez... who ruffled your feathers?" Gallatrix mused.

"Scales Gallatrix." Tirioch corrected, "He's not a bird-"

"What was that?" the shorter boy leapt to his feet, murder looking as if it were at the top of his to do list.

"All right guys break it up!" Kassi piped up, "Gallatrix, Tirioch, don't make him more annoyed than he already is. And Riel, what the hell's gotten into you?"

"What's gotten into me," Riel growled, "is that you guys have no clue of the meaning of the words 'shut up!'"

"I think the others have every right to be briefed about their mission, and I think you would do well to listen, don't you?" Kassi asked.

Riel turned his face away, "Feh, do what you want."

Kassi glared at him while he was turned away, damned Dragon-boy. "I will." She turned to the other two boys, "So, you wanted a mission brief?"

They nodded in unison.

"Right," Kassi began, "as I said, we're going to aid Esthar. Galbadia invaded at least a week ago, Esthar thought they could handle them, but Galbadia has been using highly powerful monsters in their infantry. Thing is, these monsters aren't natural, Galbadia has some sort of technology that we didn't know of." She took a breath as she read the document in her hand, "Squad E - that's us - are to infiltrate Galbadia Garden, locate the source of these monsters and disable it."

Tirioch nodded, "Sounds simple enough..."

Kassi continued to read her documents, "I wouldn't be so sure, these monsters seem to be very powerful."

Gallatrix shrugged, "We'll be fine, we've got Riel on our team!"

Riel opened one eye and glared at the large youth. Since his argument with the crimson haired girl, he'd decided to stretch himself out across two vacant seats, his arms folded behind his head, one leg crossed over the other in a casually relaxed gesture.

"Well I'm glad you're so confident in my skills." the blonde growled, "Try doing something yourself."

Kassi narrowed her eyes at him. Whatever Dragon-boy. "Anyway, we need to find a way into this Garden." She stepped to the side of the giant monitor on the wall and switched it on; an image of Galbadia Garden appeared on the screen. "Well, this is a map of Galbadia Garden." she pointed at a flashing red dot just off-centre, "And this is our target. We gotta get there." She raised one perfect red eyebrow, "Any ideas?"

Gallatrix shrugged his huge shoulders, "There's a front entrance isn't there?"

"And security dumass." Riel added quietly.

"What about the roof? Surely we can get in from there." Tirioch suggested, "Come on, there's always an entrance at the roof."

"Which is exactly why there isn't one, moron." Riel muttered.

"Well do you have any better ideas four-foot-nothing!" Tirioch cried.

Riel leapt to his feet, "Care to say that again?"

"Enough!" Kassi cried. "Tirioch, don't provoke him. Riel, I've got no idea what's wrong with you, but don't take it out on us. If you think our ideas are so bad, why don't you enlighten us with your obviously superior knowledge, princess."

Riel glared at her, his slit eyes menacing but Kassi was either accustomed to it, or just far too angry for it to effect her. "You-"

"Yes me." Kassi cut in, "Don't forget your place here Riel, I'm squad leader and you're not. Now, are you gonna be part of out team or not? Or do you need me to find you a dictionary and look up team for you?"

Riel opened his mouth to reply, but quickly changed his mind. He huffed out his breath and sat back down, folding his arms, "...Fine."

Kassi breathed a sigh of relief. Tirioch smile up at her but she scowled at him in return, "Don't think you're the innocent party. If you hadn't provoked them, I wouldn't have had to split you two up like a pair of kids!"

Tirioch hung his head, looking down at his feet, "Sorry Kassi..."

She sighed, "Well, you shouldn't really be apologising to me... but I won't embarrass either of you like that. Shall I continue?"

Tirioch nodded, and Riel, his pride not quite willing for him to show a display of submission to the redhead, merely looked up and paid attention to Kassi's instructions.

"So," she continued, "How are we getting in here? The front door will be too heavily guarded, and Galbadia isn't dumb enough to know that the roof is vulnerable, they'll have it guarded too."

Riel peered at the image of the enemy Garden, eyes narrowing, he pointed at a large, square shaped area, "What's that?"

"That?" Kassi asked, frowning, "That's the basketball court... Wait, that's it!"

Tirioch frowned, "It is?"

"Yeah! The court's open air! Sure, it'll be guarded, but nothing we can't handle, right?" Kassi cried. "Nice one Riel."

Riel looked at her from the corner of his eye, then leaned his head against the back of the chair, closing his deep blue eyes, "Whatever."

Tirioch glared at the blonde, "She just gave you a compliment."

"Tirioch..." Kassi groaned.

"And?" Riel asked the other boy, sitting up and glaring at him, ignoring the crimson haired teen.

"Riel..."

"You could at least sound a little grateful." Tirioch said, eyes narrowing.

"Guys..."

"You know Tirioch, for a moment, I thought I might have cared." Riel replied, closing his eyes again.

"Why you-"

"Whatever moron."

"Bring it shorty!"

"I'm daring you to say that to my face asshole!"

"I would if I didn't have to bend down so far!"

"That's it! You're dead!"

Kassi sighed; this was going to be a loooong day.

Aww, poor Kassi... lol. R'n'R please!