((Hello everyone! Welcome to the third installment in the Final Call series. This one takes place twenty years after Final Call II, so prepare for a new bunch of characters, and a whole lot more fun. The usual disclaimer: I do not own any of the original Final Fantasy VIII material. The following are my original characters: Miles Animus, Peter Animus, Neos Leonheart, Jasmine Animus, Julia Leonheart, Lee Reist, Veronica Reist, Alex Reist, Lance Derikson))

Chapter One: Since Then

"Pull."
Peter Animus raised his revolver up and gripped it solidly with both hands. The first small disk flew into the air, and he fired off a shot. It hit dead on target, and the second and third discs flew up from the ground. He took quick aim, and shot at each. Another disk, another hit. The process continued for five minutes, until finally he yelled for them to stop.
Peter holstered the gun, and turned to a very impressed Neos Leonheart. At twenty-seven, Neos was Peter's senior by seven years, and stood a good two inches taller with an impressive 6'1" height. Peter grinned and exited the training room with Neos.
The small attachment to the Training Center had been placed in ten years ago, to compensate for the lack of real target practice for gun users. They exited into the halls of Balamb Garden, where students rushed to their next class, or for a personal rendezvous. Garden was currently landed in the Alcaud plains near Balamb, for a fresh arrival of students and supplies.
A lot had changed in 20 years, yet much was still the same. Squall had retired from his position, and moved to Winhill with his wife, Rinoa. They were in their mid-fifties now, and Rinoa still didn't look a day over thirty. Irvine and Selphie had moved away fifteen years ago, and lived in Balamb now. Quistis still worked in Garden, now mainly doing paperwork. Zell, meanwhile, had moved back into Balamb to care for his aging parents ten years ago. They passed away, but he remained behind. Peter's parents, Miles and Jasmine, were in their mid forties now. Miles was in command of Garden, while Jasmine stuck with her instructor position. Lee Reist served as the head of SeeD's strategic elements. His wife, Veronica, was now one of the more dependable SeeD members. Their child, Alex, was one of Peter's good friends for a while. He had left Garden about a year ago, and no one had heard from him since. The other Leonheart child, Julia, was 18 now, and had recently become a SeeD. Laguna was long dead, but still hailed as one of Esthar's great leaders.
Neos extended a hand to Peter, "That was some great shooting, Pete."
Peter smiled, "Thanks, it really wasn't much."
"Bull. You didn't miss a target."
"Well…"
"Don't be modest Pete, it doesn't suit you, or your family."
Peter grinned, "I'm going to the cafeteria."
Neos shrugged, "Have fun."

***

"So why don't we use GFs anymore?"
Jasmine sighed at the student's question. Inevitably, every year, she covered the topic of GFs in her class, and inevitably, every year, someone asked that same question. People were just eager for power. Lots of it. Fast.
"The junction of Guardian Force DOES increase our power, and allows us to use abilities that we wouldn't normally be able to use. However, the junction of Guardian Force also forces us to use a portion of our mind. The part it uses, however, is a piece of our memory. Effectively, Guardian Force use wipes out our memory."
"How do we know this?"
"During the Second Sorceress War, Squall Leonheart and his team learned this lesson the hard way. They all have very few memories of their life before Garden, and until they stopped Junctioning, they continued to lose their memories."
"Isn't there a way we can use a GF without losing our memory?"
She sighed again, "A lot of research was done about this, and no conclusive, surefire plan was formed. That is why Squall implemented the GF ban on Garden. As long as you are here, you will not use a GF. The price is not worth it."
One of the students, an obnoxious little brat who seemed to think it his personal responsibility to annoy the hell out of everyone, spoke up, "Why do we listen to that old fart anyway? His time is past! We're in a different world now!"
Jasmine glared at him, "Thanks to Squall Leonheart, we are in a very different world. A safer world. He and his group saved the world, have you forgotten? The fall of Galbadia can be traced back to their efforts. The second fall of Galbadia can be traced back to their efforts once again. We wouldn't even exist if it weren't for them."
Another voice interrupted, "Plus, he could whoop you pretty bad even at 54."
Jasmine turned to the doorway where her husband, Miles, was standing.
"Believe me kid, I know."
The bell rang, and the class quickly filed out. Miles turned to Jasmine, "Little jackass give you trouble?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle."
"Obviously. Hey, I was gonna take a car and go visit Zell, you got any classes?"
"No, that was it for today."
"Great, you wanna come?"
She smiled, remembering the past twenty-seven years of adventure, "Sure. Meet you there in ten minutes?"
He grinned and gave her a kiss, "Nothing sounds better."

***

As promised, she arrived in ten minutes. Miles was already set to go, and she hopped into the passenger side of the Garden car. Miles put the key in the ignition, and began to turn it, and then he remembered something.
"Oh damn, I'll be right back."
He opened up the door and stepped out the car. Jasmine gazed at him, "Where are you going?"
He flashed a smile, "I gotta get a gift I left in my room."
She rolled her eyes and moved into the driver's seat, "I'll drive then!"
He shrugged, "I'll be right back. I love you!"
She smiled, "I know!"
Then she turned the key in the ignition.
Everything brightened up. Miles was shoved up against the wall by the shockwave of the blast, and he felt a few ribs break. The sound came a split second later, a deafening blast that shook the room. Miles struggled and opened his eyes, slowly turning himself around to look at Jasmine. The car was gone, totally destroyed. Tires had blown off, and shards of metal were now everywhere. It was nothing but a flaming wreck.
He let his eyes close, and faded off into unconsciousness.