IV


"Are you sure this doesn't compromise some obscure safety code?" Nida asked hopefully, hanging a sprig of something Selphie referred to as "mistletoe" above the entrance to the Quad. "I mean," he continued, "If this falls off, someone could trip on it and break their neck. Honestly, I don't see how we can expose people to that kind of risk in good conscience."

Quistis glanced over, shaking her head. "Quit complaining," she said. "Look, you could be doing paperwork for Squall, whereas instead you get to help decorate Garden for the Festival. I know which I'd rather be doing."

Nida shook his head, trying to balance on the stepladder and secure the adhesive putty to the top of the doorway at the same time. "I'd rather be doing something rational," he grumbled. "Think about it. We're hanging bits of foliage around the garden. Not even flowers, too--except for those scary-looking poisonous ones. No, we're out mangling trees and bushes and random small--" he examined the mistletoe, making a heroic effort to keep his balance at the same time. "--herbs?" he guessed.

"Winhill has its Flower Festival," Quistis said. "No one thinks that's odd."

"Like I said, most of these plants aren't even flowers," Nida argued, climbing down from the ladder. "And what's the idea, anyway? Aren't you supposed to do all the nature stuff in spring and summer? It's the dead of winter. Nothing's even alive--which is probably the reason we're wasting our time with these. ...ow!" Nida muttered something impolite as he pricked his hand on a pine wreath.

"That's the point," Quistis said. "According to Selphie this is a celebration about birth, about life in the middle of death."

"Right. Couldn't whatever god it was this time have chosen a better month to be born in?"

Quistis frowned. "And you were afraid of Selphie being struck down for blasphemy? Anyway, it's supposed to be uplifting."

"Yeah, uplifting for the people who weren't blackmailed into decorating for it." Nida gingerly picked up the wreath, looking for a wall to hang it.

"Speaking of which," Quistis started. Nida groaned.

"Oh, no. Don't go into that again. Not the Military Adjunct CPU story again."

"I'd really like to hear it."

"Sure you would. Everyone would. ...where did Selphie manage to scrounge up all these decorations, anyway?" Nida asked in a futile attempt to change the subject.

Quistis shrugged, taking another wreath from the box. "It just seems like any story involving you and a computer would make an interesting tale."

"Ha, ha. Don't you have a meeting or something to go to?"

Quistis's hand froze halfway to the wall, and she dropped the wreath in surprise. "Oh, my!" she exclaimed. "You're right! I completely forgot!"

Ignoring the fallen wreath, she scurried out the door. Nida watched her go.

"Wow," he muttered to himself. "I'm going to have to try that more often."

--- - - - ---


Squall glanced up as Quistis hurried through the door into the study room in the library, customary frown deepening.

"Before you say anything, I know I'm late," Quistis said. "I'm terribly sorry. I was helping Nida in the Quad, and it completely slipped my mind."

"It's no big deal," Xu said. "Headmaster ValHalla hasn't arrived yet, either."

"Speaking of whom," Mesmer said as Quistis took her seat, "what do you think of her? I know we haven't had long to get a first impression, but...."

Xu shook her head. "Honestly, I don't know what to think," she said. "I can't figure her out."

"It would be logical to assume that the Tribunal has her safely under their thumb," Squall said. "That might be why they spent so long selecting her."

"Which means we're going to be having a rougher time of it," Quistis translated. Squall nodded.

"The Tribunal is concerned, first and foremost, with alleviating the debts we still have. The fact that NORG is dead doesn't help their mood any."

Xu shook her head. "Unbelievable. Two years, and they're still holding a grudge."

"I've had dealings with them," Mesmer said. "Trust me, they can be quite vindictive. They live four to five times as long as we do, remember, and with that kind of lifespan comes a memory that can be quite...."

"Uncompromising?" Quistis suggested. Mesmer nodded.

"That would be the word."

"Really," came a flat voice from the door to the study area. All four stood, only to be motioned back to their seats by a wave of ValHalla's hand. "I'm thinking its safe to assume you've been talking about me?"

The four exchanged glances. Squall cleared his throat to speak, but ValHalla shook her head, closing the door behind her.

"It's all right. Your prerogative. I'm not part of the gang yet, so to speak."

"It wasn't our intention to exclude you--" Squall started.

"It never is. Don't worry about it--I'm not angry. I've been the newcomer enough to realize how it goes."

A headache gave its first warning pangs in Squall's forehead. Now his headmaster was trying to guilt-trip him.

"Won't you have a seat?" he asked, gesturing to an open chair.

"Thank you, no. I prefer to pace." ValHalla moved forward, resting her hands on the back of the chair. "SeeD Trepe?"

Quistis glanced up, unsure of what she had done wrong.

"It was my assumption that the Student Council was not given a seat in classified meetings."

"I've asked SeeD Trepe to be here," Squall interposed. "I've come to rely on her advice."

There was a moment while ValHalla considered this, then she nodded. "All right. I'll trust your good judgment," she said, looking directly at Squall. Squall felt his confidence take another blow.

"I'm sorry if I sound impatient," Xu said, "but I have a class to teach soon. Could we get on with the meeting?"

Squall breathed a sigh of relief, making a mental note to thank Xu for rescuing them all from a very uncomfortable situation. ValHalla nodded, letting go of the chair and taking a few steps to the side. Tucking one arm behind her, she used the other hand to gesture as she began to pace.

"In the few days I've been here," she started, "I've been very impressed with what I've seen. This Garden is exceptionally clean and smoothly run, and morale is as high--in fact, higher--than what can be expected under the circumstances. Due to this, I've decided to expedite matters a bit."

Everyone exchanged glances. Expedite matters? What matters?

"You may or may not be aware of the reason I was sent here," ValHalla continued smoothly. "While Garden is an excellent source of revenue and services, it is also a large administrative burden to the Tribunal. It was decided that I would be sent to determine whether or nor it was a burden that the Tribunal might want to invest in further."

A bad feeling began to clench its hand around Squall's stomach.

ValHalla stopped, turning to face the group. "The Tribunal is going to be sending down an inspector in a bit. I've requested a particular date--one that should fall right smack dab on the Winter Festival. If the Inspector likes what he sees, we're looking at a raise in funds, sponsored publicity...."

There was a moment of silence.

"And if not?" Quistis asked, voicing the question they all shared.

"If not, we're looking at a decrease of funds, more direct Tribunal control--or worse," Valhalla said.

"Worse?" Mesmer asked. ValHalla nodded grimly.

"Complete disbandment of SeeD."

The headache spiked, and Squall began to get an almost physically ill feeling. Glancing around the table, he could see that the other three felt the same way.

They had just been saddled with the responsibility of ensuring a future for over two hundred SeeDs, four hundred military cadets, and almost a full hundred instructors and faculty. And--as they had discovered--the Tribunal could be very, very demanding.

ValHalla rested her hands on the back of the chair. "I'm sure you'll want to get in as much preparation time as you can. Dismissed. Commander Leonhart, I'll want to talk to you later in my office."

ValHalla turned, leaving the study hall. Squall closed his eyes, letting his head drop to rest in his palm. There was a moment of silence, then Xu stood up.

"We should talk about this later--when I have more time," she said softly.

"Agreed," Mesmer said. Heading towards the door, he muttered "What an unpleasant briefing...."

The door swung shut as Mesmer and Xu left, leaving Quistis alone with the commander. She sighed.

"This puts a lot of pressure on us, doesn't it?" she asked.

And by 'us' you're trying to say me, Squall translated. "Keep helping Selphie with the Festival," he said. "If we can make a good impression...."

"I'll see what I can do," Quistis said, patting Squall on the shoulder. "I wish it didn't have to be this way."

Don't we all, Squall wondered.