"Hey," asked one of the students hanging around Galbadia Garden. "Aren't you in that para-magic course with me? D'you have the notes for last class?"

"Uh," said Nida. "...I—"

"Oh wait, you're not him. Never mind." The student walked off. Nida sighed.

Zell had been pacing in circles for the past few minutes. "Erghhh..." he said. "How long are they gonna make us wait?"

"Seriously," agreed Selphie. "He's pretty late."

As if on cue, Nida spotted a vehicle approaching. "Maybe that's him?" Rinoa asked, before he could point it out.

Indeed, the car pulled up next to them, and Headmaster Martine stepped out with Quistis. The three other SeeDs saluted. Rinoa stood off to the side, looking awkward.

"Good day," Martine said. "I have official orders from Headmaster Cid addressed to you. Following regulations, I have gone over those orders. In addition, we have been approached independently regarding a similar objective. For logistical purposes, these missions have been combined." He raised an eyebrow. "Actually, we, too, had been planning this for some time now."

"Is this guy bein' totally vague on purpose?" Zell muttered. Quistis shot him a warning glare, and he straightened.

"I've already discussed the particulars of the mission with Quistis," said Martine. "But in order to stress the importance of this mission, I must first brief you on the current situation. At ease." The SeeDs relaxed. "Earlier this morning, senior military officials invoked martial law throughout Galbadia. We presumed this was a response to President Deling's kidnapping, to give the military full authority over the country. But a few hours later, we learned that the military itself had lost control, and someone else entirely now rules Galbadia." He paused. "That someone is the Sorceress Edea."

Nida blinked.

"...The Sorceress?" asked Zell.

"Deling has told us he intended to appoint the Sorceress as an ambassador for peace," Martine went on. "That would have given her a forum to intimidate other nations into submission. But it seems Deling underestimated the Sorceress' own ambition. In any case, it's clear that Galbadia's ultimate goal is world domination. Garden is no exception. Indeed, we expect the Sorceress to use this Garden as her base of operations." He looked each of them in the eyes. "...We have very few options available to us. We entrust world peace, and the future, to you. Any questions?"

"Um?" Rinoa spoke up. "What's gonna be done with Deling?"

"He'll remain here for the moment," Martine said. "If possible, we'll honor your contract, but he is of little value as a hostage now, with the Sorceress running things."

"And Seifer?" asked Zell.

"He'll be transferred back to Balamb Garden at the earliest opportunity for proper disciplinary action. Anything else?" No one spoke up. "...For the purposes of this mission, we're assigning one of Galbadia Garden's elite sharpshooters to your team." He looked off at a guy with long hair, a cowboy hat, and a brown trenchcoat who was lying in the grass nearby. Nida recalled seeing this guy arrive around the same time as the SeeDs had reached the courtyard, but he hadn't bothered to identify himself to anyone. "Kinneas! Irvine Kinneas!"

Irvine took his time getting to his feet, picking up his double-barreled shotgun and slinging it over his shoulder in a pose that was probably supposed to look cool. Nida heard Zell groan, and sympathized.

"This is Irvine Kinneas," said Martine. "He'll be your sharpshooter. Leave whenever you're ready." He turned to get back in the car, then hesitated. "Failure is not an option," he added before leaving.

As he left, Irvine pointed after him with a gun gesture. "BANG!"

"...Hi," said Nida.

Irvine gave him a weird look. Or more accurately, a weird look that was different from the weird looks he was giving everyone else. "Looks like I'm with you rubes from Balamb," he said. "Greetings."

Zell was already shaking. "...So what's our mission?" Nida asked quickly.

"It's a joint order from both Balamb and Galbadia Gardens," Quistis said. "We're to assassinate the Sorceress."

Everyone started – especially Irvine, Nida noticed; for a second he looked genuinely horrified. "We have detailed intelligence regarding her whereabouts," continued Quistis, "and should be able to eliminate her from afar using the sharpshooter." She nodded to Irvine. "If that fails, we'll have to attack head on."

"Hey, thanks for the support," said Irvine, having apparently recovered completely. "But I never miss my target."

"...Shouldn't you have a sniper rifle?" asked Nida, eyeing his shotgun.

"Pfft," said Irvine. "What, like I'm gonna shoot Geezards with it? Are you crazy?"

"The sniper's equipment will all be provided for on-site," said Quistis. "Those are the orders. For the moment, we're going to Deling City, Galbadia's capital. There we'll meet a General Caraway, and go over the details of the plan." She looked at Rinoa, who suddenly looked very surprised. "Rinoa, you're to accompany us. I'm not sure why, but apparently the general mentioned you specifically. This supersedes your contract with Balamb Garden."

Rinoa, who now looked a bit horrified herself, nodded stiffly.

"We'll travel in two teams," Quistis said. "Nida, you lead the second team with Zell and Selphie. Irvine and Rinoa, you're with me."

They all nodded, Irvine most enthusiastically so. "All right," he said, looking at the two girls he had been paired with. "I can totally dig this job." Though he gave Selphie a look that suggested his level of digging it could have been improved still further.

Nida was becoming seriously worried about Zell's blood pressure; but Quistis stepped in. "Let's go," she said, with a reproachful look at Irvine – who actually did seem to be somewhat chastened. "We'll meet up at the rail station."

- - - — - - -

It was Nida's first time in Deling City, and the sight was impressive, with pavement seeming to stretch to the horizon in every direction. Most of the buildings didn't get very high, but made up for this horizontally. Buses ran constantly along the streets, which was fortunate since it seemed like getting anywhere on foot would take forever.

The group was just stepping out of one such bus outside the Caraway mansion, a large, grandiose structure with an expansive courtyard and a soldier standing guard at the gate.

"I'm Quistis Trepe," said Quistis to the guard. "The General should be expecting us."

The soldier nodded. "Yes, indeed. But I can't just let you walk in."

"I'm sorry?" Quistis asked.

"I was ordered not to let you through until your skills had been tested," said the guard.

"Heey!" exclaimed Selphie. "We are SeeDs, you know!"

"Selphie," Quistis cautioned. "...What does he want us to do?"

"The 'Tomb of the Unknown King' to the northeast," said the guard. "All you have to do is go there. It's real simple, but...you have to bring back proof that you were there. A code number."

"We came all the way out here for some stupid test of courage?" demanded Zell. "Who does he think we are?"

The guard shrugged. "There are many students like yourself who wish to call on General Caraway. There was a student from Galbadia Garden yesterday, who has yet to return from the test at the Tomb of the Unknown King. Your objective is to go to the Tomb of the Unknown King, look for traces of this lost student, and return with his ID number."

Nida thought he got it. Caraway was making sure to treat them like any other students who came to visit him, so as not to arouse suspicion. That, or he'd just forgotten to tell his guard that the future of the world was at stake and to dispense with the usual business, but he found the first possibility more reassuring.

Quistis sighed. "...Very well."

- - - — - - -

"Eighty-four," said Quistis that evening, as the party arrived back at the mansion, all visibly the worse for wear.

"That's correct!" said the guard. "Please, right this way."

"May I ask what the purpose of all that was?" Quistis asked as he led them toward the mansion.

"The General wants to make sure his visitors are capable of handling various situations," said the guard.

"But the ID number was right inside the entrance," Quistis protested. "If we hadn't gone looking for that GF, it wouldn't even have been difficult."

"It is a pretty cool GF, though!" Zell chimed in.

The guard jumped. "Wait, you actually defeated the GF?"

"Yeah, man!" said Zell. "We're SeeDs! You think you can tell us about some mysterious GF an' then not have us go lookin' for it?"

Quistis just folded her arms. "Satisfied with our skills now?"

They had reached the entrance, where Rinoa hesitated. "Um," she asked Nida. "...Is my contract still in effect? I know this mission takes priority, but..."

"It's...complicated," said Nida, trying not to think about the possibility of going back to the Forest Owls after all this. "Why?"

"Just...don't leave me in this house, okay?" she asked. They were almost at the door; she grabbed Nida's arm as he was about to go through. She didn't look exactly scared, but she was definitely serious. "Promise me?"

"...Sure," said Nida.

They went up a flight of stairs to a waiting room on the building's second floor, where the guard disappeared behind another set of ornate doors, to reappear a few moments later. "Rinoa," he said. "He'd like to see you."

Rinoa gulped. "...All right." The others looked more than a little confused. "I'm just gonna go talk to him," she said to them, walking to the door. "...Oh, by the way — this is my house. So don't worry."

Nida blinked, as Rinoa turned and walked out.

"...What the hell's goin' on?" demanded Zell.

"This is...getting strange," Quistis agreed.

-

Rinoa hadn't been in the building for nearly a year, but it looked exactly the same. Really, the building had been all but static for as long as she could remember; nothing in the place had really changed since her childhood.

With one major exception.

"Hello, Rinoa," said the general. "You've certainly been busy lately."

She folded her arms and didn't answer.

"It was you who was involved in the kidnapping of the president, wasn't it?" he asked. "You and those SeeDs. If not for everything else that's happened, you would have put me in a terrible position. I might not have been able to keep you out of prison."

"I never asked you to!" snapped Rinoa. "I can make my own choices, okay? And this is something I believe in!"

"You don't have any idea how much trouble you've caused," said the general. "And I don't just mean yesterday. We've been tracking your activities for some time, but until now it was decided that your arrest would cause more embarrassment than it was worth."

Rinoa rocked backward a little on her heels. "...You've been spying on me?"

"You've been trying to overthrow the government," said the general. "I think I'm entitled." He shook his head. "Honestly, Rinoa, why bring Timber into this? If it's between us —"

"It's not about you!" Rinoa shouted. "It's about what I want! And I'm not gonna let you deny Timber freedom!"

The general shook his head sadly. "I have a duty, Rinoa," he said. "Please don't interfere with it."

"That's always what it's about with you, isn't it?" demanded Rinoa. "'My duties demand it' or 'I have obligations for this and that.' So what, you brought SeeD here 'cause of your duty too?"

"Yes, I did," he said. "Because the Sorceress actually has overthrown the government, and I can't let that stand. Rinoa, please. Don't make yourself an enemy like her."

"Or you'll hire someone to assassinate me?" Rinoa asked challengingly.

"Of course not," said the general. "Rinoa, whatever you believe, I want only the best for you. But the path you're on will only lead to disaster. Please." Rinoa just folded her arms and glared at him. "...I need to go over the business with your SeeD companions. Please wait in your room. We'll continue this later."

"It's not my room," said Rinoa. "And I don't have anything else to say to you." She turned and left.

The General sighed, and turned to the guard who had been standing passively by the door. "Make sure she doesn't go anywhere," he said.

Then he walked out to the waiting room. "I'm sorry for the delay. Please come in."

-

The SeeDs plus Irvine entered Caraway's office. "...Where's Rinoa?" asked Nida, looking around.

"She has not received the type of training you all have," said Caraway, "and may become a burden. It's for the best that she stays out of this operation."

"So you're Rinoa's father?" asked Selphie.

Caraway smiled wanly. "I can't remember the last time she called me that."

Nida raised an eyebrow. "And that's why you wanted us to bring her here?" he asked. "Are you going to force her to stay?"

"That isn't your concern," Caraway said cooly.

"Don't I wish," muttered Nida.

"...Man." Zell was shaking his head. "So the father's a top military officer, and the daughter's a member of an anti-government faction? That's bad...Really BAD!"

Nida guessed Caraway already knew about Rinoa's involvement in the Forest Owls, but still he winced at the outburst.

Now Caraway was eyeing Zell. "Yes, indeed, it's a serious problem. But at the moment, we have far more important things to worry about."

"Yeah, no kidding," said Irvine, stepping forward with a faux-authoritative tone. "We're here to knock off the Sorceress, right? Let's get down to business."

Caraway didn't give him a very approving look either; but he nodded. "...Okay. Let me explain the plan.

"The Sorceress has arranged for a large parade to be held tonight to inaugurate her rule. The event had to be adjusted somewhat after President Deling was kidnapped —" he gave the SeeDs a look "— but we know the relevant details. It's at this event that the Sorceress will announce her intentions. It's also when she'll be at her most vulnerable."

"Just tell us what you want us to do," Quistis said.