SeeD was created to defeat the Sorceress. Now, at least part of that goal has been accomplished. But we can't let ourselves think that our battle is over. It'll be a long time before Garden's purpose is truly done.
The crowd watched him silently, filling the entire middle and lower levels of the Quad. They were packed right up to the fenced-off area beyond which there was still a gaping hole where the ground had literally fallen away during the battle with Galbadia Garden. There had been no time since to repair the damage.
Squall felt uncomfortable in his SeeD uniform; it still felt new, and it itched. He had realized when he put it on that it had been hanging above his bed ever since the graduation dance; despite being appointed Commander and placed in charge of the military aspect of the entire Garden, he had worn his uniform only once.
Twice now.
The speech, he reminded himself. We...Garden...must be prepared at all times, because we can never be sure what will happen. We've learned this lesson the hard way.
His forehead was throbbing fiercely, despite the fact that his wound had all but healed. He resisted the urge to press a hand to it as he tried to straighten out his thoughts. This is a memorial, not a board meeting, he chided himself. They don't want to hear our mission statement.
Trying to dismiss the memory of the disastrous speech he had given after becoming a SeeD, he forged on. We lost a lot of people in the fight against Ultimecia. I hoped that once the battle ended, we would never have to face this again. But it never ends. We'll all have to deal with this in our own way, he finished, stepping off to the side. Fortunately, Cid had agreed to speak after him; perhaps his performance would be forgotten.
What am I supposed to say at a time like this? he demanded of no one in particular. There's nothing that can bring those people back to life, and I didn't even know most of them. How am I supposed to know what to do?
I wish Quistis were here.
I wish Rinoa were here.
I wish none of this was happening.
Looking out at the crowd, he spotted Zell and Selphie by the front, both looking unusually somber. He noticed that, while he recognized many of the others' faces, he knew few of their names. Even the female student with a black pigtail who was holding Zell's hand was a complete stranger to him. It was hardly a surprise; he had never given any real attention to the people around him before.
It hadn't really occurred to him until the battle with Galbadia Garden that there were other people being affected by his actions. Following his orders. Depending on him. Now, he had been made to speak at the memorial for eleven students whose names he hadn't even known until he read the reports on their deaths.
I see these people every day, but don't pay them any attention. I hardly ever think about them. Before, I could just tell myself it was none of my business, but now....
He could hardly deny that he had friends now, although he was still a bit foggy on how exactly that had come about. He had come to care about them, without even really realizing it. The thing was, he remained unchanged to the Garden as a whole. He had made sure to consider everyone in the battle with Galbadia Garden, but he had instinctively put his comrades in charge of the fighting. Even though, with the exception of Quistis, none of them had any command experience. Why did he automatically assume they were better than everyone else?
A hundred hushed voices started talking at once, and Squall realized that the Headmaster's speech was finished. Now the students were dispersing, moving past Squall and out the exit, with the forced quiet of a morgue. Zell, Selphie, and...the girl with a pigtail stopped in front of him.
Hey, Squall, Zell said. So...what are we gonna do now?
We find out what caused the Lunar Cry, Squall replied, trying to put all his other thoughts out of his mind. Right now, they couldn't be helped. The Headmaster is trying to get information from Esthar and Galbadia, and SeeD is going to scout the Winhill area for anything unusual.
A friend of mine said something about this weird airship that was carrying a cow, offered the pigtails girl.
That was one of those things Squall couldn't think of a reply to. ...Well, we'll observe the area for now, until we understand the situation better. Whenever that will be. I still don't understand things about the Ultimecia campaign.
This is all so depressing, Selphie piped up. Did you know a whole bunch more students are dropping out now? It's like Galbadia Garden all over again!
Squall nodded, thinking, When I graduated, there were over a thousand students here. Now there's less than half that. Not that I don't mind the quiet, but, like this, the Garden just seems...wrong.
This has been a hard time for everyone, he said.
The intercom saved him from further conversation. Will Squall Leonhart please come to the bridge right away, Xu's voice said. I repeat, will Squall please report to the bridge.
- - = = = = - -
The Garden was at sea, and Squall could see the seemingly endless stretch of the Horizon Bridge outside the windows as he stepped through the heavy wooden doors to Cid's office. He could hear voices coming from the top of the metal pillar at the far end of the room. The pilot was standing at its bottom by the windows, speaking with another student. Squall ignored them for the most part, stepping onto the lift, which automatically began its ascent.
Cid and Xu were on the bridge, with a third man whom Squall could not identify. He and Cid were looking out at the sea, their backs to the elevator. Xu was standing at her usual place to the right of the platform, hands clasped loosely at her waist. She was the first to notice Squall's arrival.
she said.
The two looked around, and Cid, upon seeing him, offered a smile. Ah, Squall, he said. You remember Headmaster Martine?
Squall looked again at the third man. Of course, he thought. In retrospect, the man's altered Galbadian general's uniform should have been a dead givaway.
Good day, Martine offered, looking straight at Squall's feet.
We were just discussing what our team in Galbadia Garden must be facing, Cid explained. I'm afraid our troubles didn't end with Ultimecia's defeat.
Pardon me. Martine, still not making eye contact with Squall, walked past to the lift. Squall frowned, wondering what was eating him.
You'll have to excuse him, Cid said after Martine had left. As you can imagine, this hasn't been a good month for him.
Like it has for anyone else? Squall asked silently.
Cid clapped his hands together. We have a mission for you.
Why doesn't that surprise me?
Just before the service, we recieved a message from Esthar, the headmaster went on. Their government has agreed to hire a group of SeeDs to deal with this Lunar Cry business. At the moment, their armies are still working to clear the monsters out of the city, but they have a fair idea of what the problem may be.
I want you, Zell, and Selphie to go on the mission.
So much for time to recover, Squall thought. Do we ever get a break?
I know you must be tired, Cid continued, but you three are the only ones with any sort of experience with what you'll be dealing with.
You don't even know what we'll be dealing with.
I wish I could promise you that things will get easier from here, but I'm afraid life doesn't work that way. We all have to do our duties.
I'm sick of doing what's expected of me. ...Is that all? he asked.
Xu spoke up. Actually, there's one more thing that you might want to know. There was a news update just a little while ago. Apparently, there was a break-in at the D-district prison.
That got his attention.
She nodded. It's being called an independent action by a disgruntled ex-soldier, and they didn't mention any details. But there was one escapee.
Squall's heart leaped. He told himself that the odds against the escapee being Rinoa were astronomical, asked himself what Galbadian would bother to rescue her. But he could not repress the enthusiasm.
I just thought you should know, Xu said.
You have the rest of the day off, Cid picked up. The Ragnarok should arrive tomorrow morning; be prepared to leave right away.
Squall nodded absently, his mind still locked on Xu's report. As the lift began to descend, a new thought hit him.
Suppose Rinoa has escaped. Where would she go? Who is she with?
How will I ever find her again?