Redemption:

Final Fantasy VIII

***

Before you judge me take a look at you

Can't you find something better to do

Point the finger, slow to understand

Arrogance and ignorance go hand in hand

: Metallica

"Holier Than Thou"

***

"SEIFER." A gray-haired young woman calls across the hall.

A tall blond man turns, "What is it, Fujin?"

She jogs over to him, "SEE D EXAM. MEET HOUR. NEW STUDENT, TRAIN."

"Fujin, why'd you leave me behind?" A well-built dark skinned man breathlessly runs up.

"WIMP!" Fujin shouts as she kicks the man in the shin.

"OUCH! What Fujin was trying to say was, that all SeeD recruits hafta report to the front hall in an hour and there's a new student who came to take the test. He's in the training center, now."

"I understood what she said, Raijin! Let's go meet this student. The three of us are the Disciplinary Committee, after all."

"Yo, you sure 'bout that, Seifer?"

"Of course I'm sure! I wouldn't have said it if I hadn't meant it!" Seifer says as he strides to the Training center.

Fujin and Raijin trail behind Seifer, albeit reluctantly. As the three walk through the huge gate they immediately snap to attention and draw their weapons, well aware that one moment of inattention could lead to death. In the distance they hear the sounds of monsters that lurk in the thick under- brush and above it all comes the sounds of a life and death struggle. Seifer stops, motions for Fujin and Raijin to slip off to the left and move in closer to the fight. While the pair follows his instructions, Seifer continues straight to the fight. What he sees when he arrives shocks him to the core. A young woman, even shorter and thinner than Selphie and bearing a wicked looking Glaive, is locked in battle with a Grat. It sweeps at her feet but just in time she managed to jump. After landing, she charges forward, a battle cry escapes her lips, and splits the grat from roots to its tentacles. She smoothly turns away from the carnage and tucks a lock of her black hair behind her ear. Seifer steps out from the brush, clears his throat, and freezes. His eyes widen as he realizes that the point of the glaive is poised only a few millimeters from his forehead. She looks at him and disgust flashes across her elfin features as she remove the glaive.

"You shouldn't sneak up on people, it's a very deadly habit." She says to him as she moves off to face the next monster that thinks she's an easy meal.

"Look, you, I don't think you know who I am…" Seifer starts.

"Oh, you mean you're not the local asshole? 'Cause I assumed you were. And my name isn't You. It's Mileena Dubois." Mileena says, completely not intimidated.

Fujin and Raijin take this moment to appear. Raijin is attempting not to laugh but is failing. Until Seifer glares at him, that is.

"You listen up, Dubois. I'm the head of the Disciplinary Committee and if you know what's good for you, you better show some respect for me."

Mileena just laughs but is cut off suddenly as she is slammed into Seifer who in turn hits a tree. Both hit the ground hard in a tangle. The T-rexaur roars triumphantly. Fujin tries to hold off the T-rexaur while Seifer and Mileena try to recover. Raijin attempts to run but Fujin grabs him. Mileena manages to get up first; of course she wasn't the one who hit the tree. She stumbles forward as she sweeps her right hand forward. The sounds of a powerful pair of wings fill the area as a huge bird flies in low. As he closes in on the T-rexaur he pulls up and flies straight toward the ceiling. Then he dives down, sending a huge shockwave at the monster. Finally he turns and serenely flies away. Seifer finally manages to pull himself up.

"What the hell was that!?" he asks.

"That was my GF, Palidor and we just saved your ass." She tells him calmly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go to the front hall for the SeeD exam."

It's during this conversation that Seifer takes a good look at Mileena. She stands only about 4'8". She is exceedingly thin; her hair is black, just above her shoulders and is cut in the same style as Selphie's only completely straight. Her eyes are cold and dark purple. She's currently wearing the student's uniform. The glaive she carries is nearly three feet longer than she is and she wields it as smoothly as something half its size.

Seeing that Seifer is involved with Mileena, Raijin takes this moment to pull out a small notebook. He makes a couple of marks in it and puts it away. Mileena, being true to her word, walks out of the training center. Seifer spins around and faces his friends, who are trying not to smile or in Raijin's case, laugh.

"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!?" He yells, and then storms out of the center.

***

Squall looks over the squad assignments for the exam, shakes his head, and then looks out of the window. Then he feels a pair of arms slide around his waist.

"Squall, what's wrong? You look worried." Rinoa asks as Squall turns around in her embrace.

"Nothing."

"Nothing." Rinoa copies, and then giggles. "I thought we covered this a year ago. You know, about you trusting us and talking about your problems."



"I know. I was just going over the squad assignments. Fujin, Raijin, and Seifer are on the same squad. I get the feeling that we're going to have a repeat of the Dollet Mission." Squall confides in his wife.

"I'm sure everything will work out fine." She tells him.

Squall leans over and kisses his wife, deeply, and then the door to their room swings open and slams against the wall.

"YO, Squall…Oh man! You REALLY need to put a sign on your door when you guys do that!" Zell says, blushing furiously.

"They wouldn't have to worry about that if you would learn how to knock." Quistis says as she enters behind Zell. "Anyway, the students are all gathered in the front hall and they're waiting on you. So whenever you're…ah…finished here, you can meet us downstairs." Quistis finishes with a smirk.

Quistis leaves, and then notices that Zell is still gawking at the pair, and reaches back and grabs him. She then quietly closes the door. Squall and Rinoa hear Quistis berating Zell all the way down the hall.

"I better go, before they send Irvine or Selphie up here and make this situation worse than it already is."

"Hurry back. Remember we're still on our honeymoon."

"How could I forget?" Squall says, giving her one of his rare smiles.

***

"Congratulations, you are the students that have met the qualifications to take the exam. You should all be very proud of yourselves and now to tell you the squad assignments, here's Commander Leonhart." Headmaster Cid announces to the gathered students.

"Please don't call me that, Headmaster." Squall whispers to him. He quickly goes through the first three squads then announces D squad. "Seifer, Fujin, and Raijin. The leader is Mileena Dubois."

"WHAT!? I'm not taking orders from a kid!" Seifer roars.

"Then we shouldn't have any problems, because I'm 19." Mileena says.

Raijin once more pulls out the notebook and makes another mark in it. This time Fujin notices.

"WHAT?"

"I'm keeping score, ya know."

"IDIOT."

At the same time Zell turns to Quistis, "That name seems familiar, do you know anything about her?"

"Of course I do, Zell, she was originally at Galbadia Garden. When Ultimecia took over she was the one who got all of the junior classmen out. Her nickname there was "The Demon" and for good reason, Seifer's finding out now. She's one of the few people he can't bully."

"This will be interesting."

"You have no idea, Zell."

***

After the students have gotten settled in the train, the real briefing begins.

"SeeD have been hired by the city of Maranda. The monsters that had fallen because of the Lunar Cry have arrived there and the people are not equipped to handle the problem." Quistis tells Squad D.

"Yo, Instructor Trepe, ain't Maranda near Galbadia?" Raijin asks.

"Yes it is, but we foresee no problems with Galbadia. Mileena, you are to take your squad to this section of the forest and secure it. Eliminate any and all monsters you find there. Understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Mileena says as she salutes.

"Remember, from now on every move you make will be watched and graded. Oh and Seifer, try not to make a mess of this mission." Quistis tells them, almost pleading with Seifer at the end.

"Yeah, whatever." Seifer says with a sneer.

"You know, you'd get in a lot less trouble if you'd actually listen to your betters. Of course, that's nearly everyone. Sorry I didn't mean to make that too complicated for you." Mileena smirks.

Raijin takes out his notebook and puts another mark in it. Fujin looks disgusted.

"WHAT SCORE?" She asks.

"5 to 1 she's winning, ya know." Raijin whispers to her. "I can't believe how badly he's losing."

"Fujin! Raijin! Add Dubois to the List!" Seifer shouts as soon as the double insult hits home.

"The List? What's that? People who can kick your ass?" Mileena asks.

Once more the notebook comes out and a mark entered. Seifer clinches his fists and seethes at his inability to fluster the young woman. Quistis rolls her eyes.

"This is going to be a long trip." Quistis murmurs to herself as she sits as far away from the students as possible.

The rest of the trip goes rather smoothly except for one small incident. Seifer opens his mouth to say something, but before he can get the scathing remark out, Mileena beats him to the punch.

"No, don't say anything, you'll only end up embarrassing yourself." Mileena says, holding up one delicate hand.

Seifer turns red and sees it. For one moment everyone in the cabin, except Mileena, were sure that Seifer was going to take a swing at the woman. Instead he stands up and very carefully walks out of the cabin.

***

"Damn it! Doesn't she know who I am! I am Seifer Almasy, leader of the Disciplinary Committee. I'll show her! Just you wait, Mileena Dubois, I'm going to show you just who leads this squad!" Seifer thinks to himself as he paces up and down the hallway. He glances out the window and watched as Maranda comes into view. It looks quiet, too quiet. There should be signs of battle but there is nothing.

"Seifer, this is it. Get ready." Mileena says as she leans against the wall, across from Seifer.

"What's the matter? You scared, little kid?" Seifer sneers at her.

"No, but I figured you might be." Mileena fires right back without losing a step.

"Alright! Break it up, you two!" Quistis interrupts before anything can happen. "Assemble at the back of the train."

"Yes, Ma'am." Mileena salutes and walks to the back.

Quistis grabs Seifer's arm. "Please don't do anything stupid, Seifer. If you fail this exam you'll be expelled from Garden. I don't want to see that happen to you."

"Don't worry about me, Instructor, worry about that child Squall has leading us." Seifer says with a look that chills Quistis to the bone.

Seifer then walks to the back of the train, leaving Quistis praying that they all come back…alive.

***

"Alright! We are to secure the East entrance. So stay together and pay attention." Mileena says as she leads the way.

The Disciplinary Committee follows her and immediately monsters assault them. A torama and a wendigo charge into the square and set up for their attack. Mileena immediately begins shouting orders.

"Seifer, Raijin, you two take the wendigo. I'll take care of the torama. Fujin get ready with Esuna and Cure spells." She shouts as they break and take on their targets.

Seifer and Raijin double-team the wendigo. They charge in from opposite directions with the ease that is born of working together for many years. Seifer reaches the creature first and leaps just as it tries to knock the man off of his feet. At the same time Raijin attacks the wendigo from the back. He swings his staff with such force that the collision can be heard over the other fight. The wendigo has no chance for a counter-attack because Seifer comes down with an overhand slash and pulls the trigger just as the blade connects, cleaving the creature neatly in half. Mileena faces off with the torama. It fires its blaster attack at her. She dives and rolls out of the way. She gets up and runs closer, and then using the speed she leaps up and uses her body weight to spear the torama to the ground. She flips off, leaving the glaive trapped in its body; she turns and fires a Firaga spell at it. The Torama instantly vaporizes and the glaive falls to the ground. She calmly walks over and picks it up.

"Wow! That was awesome!" Raijin tells her.

"Thanks, you weren't to bad yourself." She replies with just a hint of a smile across lips.

***

"MaStEr," a silky voice oozed from the shadows. "SeEd Is HeRe. ThEy HaVe CoMe LiKe YoU sAiD. tHeY aRe TaKiNg Up PoSiTiOnS sUrRoUnDiNg ThE cItY."

"Good, let them get secured, then kill them." A sinister voice whispers.

"EvEn ThE cHilDrEn?"

"ALL OF THEM!!!!! NO SEED MUST BE LEFT ALIVE!" The Master roars.

"YeS, mAsTeR, aS yOu WiSh."

***

"Shut up, Raijin, she got lucky!" Seifer growls at him.

He immediately is rewarded by a glare from Mileena. "Get moving! We still need to secure the East entrance, that is if you haven't forgotten yet, Seifer." She snarls at him as she storms off. Seifer smiles as he follows. Fujin and Raijin bring up the rear.

"Wow. I think Seifer finally got to her." Raijin tells Fujin as he places another mark in his notebook.

"YES. NOT GOOD."

"I agree with you completely, Fujin, she seems pretty cool. He shouldn't be so hard on her."

"YOU LIKE" Fujin smirks.

"Not like that. She ain't my type. She's just someone I'd like to have on my side in a fight."

After a while they arrived at the East Gate. Oddly enough, no monsters decided to harass them.

"It's too quite. Something should have attacked us by now and there's no movement in the houses. Someone should have peeked out of a window." Mileena says softly.

"You're right, I'm going to check it out." Seifer says.

"Oh no you're not. We were ordered to stay here." She says warningly.

"Sorry, but it's time for your wake up call, Kid. I'm the Leader here, no matter what that idiot Squall says. I'm going." Seifer sneers as he turns to leave.

"No, you're not." She says calmly and regally.

The last thing Seifer sees as he turns to face her is her fist flying straight for his jaw. It connects and he collapses.

"I said you're staying." She says to his unconscious figure.

Fujin and Raijin just stand in shock. This little slip of a girl knocked out Seifer in one blow. Mileena calmly kneels, her back to a tree, and her glaive resting against her shoulder. She looks almost as though she's meditating. About 30 minutes later Seifer comes to.

"Ohhhh. Why in hell did you hit me?" He asked Mileena.

"Like you told me, "It's time for your wake up call." I only did what was necessary and do you really think that you should be in SeeD if you have a glass jaw?" She asks him.

"Glass JAW! I oughta…" He says but is cut off as Mileena's hand comes up and motions to the side.

"Shhhh. I think I heard something. Get ready…" She whispers to the three members of her squad.

Then seven figures leap from the brush. They're humanoid shaped but their faces are defiantly not human. They carry a small arsenal with them. One shouts, "KiLl ThE SeEdS!" They charge the group.

"It's a trap! Seifer, Fujin, Raijin, get back to the train! Now!" Mileena screams as she rushes forward to meet the onslaught.

"What about you?!" Seifer yells.

"I'll be fine! Someone's gotta guard your rear! Now go!"

She ducks under the first's blow and swings her glaive up splitting him from groin to sternum. As he/she/it falls, two more arrive bent on getting revenge. She slips in between them. She drives her glaive into one's stomach, presses a button on the shaft of her weapon, causing a 6-inch blade to lock into place. Before the other thing realizes what happened she drives that blade into it. She jerks the blade from its black body and runs for the train. Then a shot rings out, Seifer hears the unmistakable sound of a body hitting the ground. He turns and sees Mileena sprawled on the path.