Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VIII...

Author's Note: Thanks for the positive reviews! In the last chapter, I forgot to tell you that I kinda made Quistis a bitch in this fic. I'm sorry if that offends anyone, but it really goes along with the story line. Here's chapter two...

Never Free

Chapter 2- The Proposition

Rinoa spun around and found herself staring into the most amazing blue eyes she had ever seen. Except, now they were filled with anger and hate.

"I asked you a question." He said menacingly.

Normally, under these circumstances, she would have attacked the enemy and gotten away, but she found herself rooted there, lost in his eyes...

The man looked away and suddenly noticed the bag on the floor. He reached for it and Rinoa suddenly came to her senses. "No, don't!" She exclaimed.

The man ignored her pleas and picked up the bag. He opened it to reveal the bomb hidden inside. "Trying to take out Balamb Garden? Billows must have sent you..." It's a good thing I come down here so often or I wouldn't be alive right now... "Come with me." He said as he grabbed her wrist. Rinoa struggled to get out of his grasp. "I said come with me!" He drew out his gunblade and held it against her throat. "Ready to cooperate?"

Before Rinoa could say anything, her radio went off. "Rinoa, get out of there! Rinoa Heartilly, do you hear me?!" It was Irvine.

"You're Rinoa Heartilly?" The man asked in disbelief. Rinoa nodded. "I've heard a lot about you. You're not as tough as they say..."

"You just caught me off guard. I could take you down any day." Rinoa told him.

"Whatever." He said as they got into the elevator and took it up to the third floor. Once there, the man knocked on the door to Cid's office.

"Come in." Cid called.

They walked into the room. "Sir." The man saluted. "I found this woman in the basement trying to...plant a bomb. I found out that she is none other than Rinoa Heartilly..."

Cid stood up. "Excellent job, Agent Leonhart." He's Squall Leonhart?!

"What would you like me to do with her, Sir?" Squall asked.

"For the time being, nothing. I will question her now, but I'd like it if you were present." Cid told him.

"Yes, Sir." Squall took a seat.

"Have a seat, Ms. Heartilly." Rinoa obeyed.

"It is quite obvious who sent you here. Rodney Billows, correct?" Cid asked.

Rinoa nodded reluctantly. She had a feeling that this man could see right through her.

"Let me cut to the chase. You have worked for Galbadia all your life under the instruction of General Caraway, you father, but you have been lied to. Rodney Billows is nothing but a lying, selfish asshole. He is using you and your father to bring down Balamb so that Galbadia will rule all. If that were to happen, the world as we know it would no longer exist..."

"Why are you telling me this?" Rinoa asked.

"You were told that your mother died in a car accident, correct?" Cid questioned.

"Yes, but I don't see what that has to do with anything..."

"Your mother was killed by Rodney Billows. She learned of your father's job and was killed...by the man you work for, by Galbadia."

"Why should I believe you?"

"You don't have to believe a word I say, but I am telling you that it is the truth." Rinoa looked into his eyes and realized that this man was telling her the truth. How can this be? Everything I've been fighting for is a lie. What do I do now?

"I know that you must be confused and hurt, but please listen to me. You are a very valuable asset to us. Therefore, how would you like to work for us, as a double-agent? You and your father?"

"I...well...yes. If it means going against Galbadia and getting revenge for my mother's death, then yes."

"Alright. You're going to have to go back to Galbadia now. Tell Billows that you planted the bomb, but it was defective. You couldn't contact your partner because someone was coming and you didn't want them to hear you. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Agent Leonhart here, he will be you handler. In other words, he will be in charge of you and notify you of your missions. This is a dangerous world...are you sure you want to be involved?"

"With all due respect Sir, I'm already involved."

"Alright. Whenever you get a call asking if it's the Deling Movie Theater, it means to come here and meet with Agent Leonhart in the basement. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. I'll see you soon then. Oh, and inform your father of everything. That is all. Dismissed."

Rinoa was about to exit the room, when two people, a man and a woman, walked in.

The woman spoke up first. "Who's she?"

"This is Ms. Heartilly. She is our newest agent. I expect that you treat her with respect."

"Of course." The woman smiled. Rinoa could see right through that fake smile. She didn't trust her one bit.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Ms. Heartilly, this is Agent Quistis Trepe." He said as he gestured towards the blonde woman. "This man is Agent Seifer Almasy." Seifer winked. "Now, Ms. Heartilly, you really are dismissed. Agent Leonhart, can you please escort Ms. Heartilly to Balamb?"

"Yeah, whatever..." Squall replied. He turned to Rinoa. "Let's go." As Rinoa turned to leave, she could have sworn that Quistis stuck her tongue out at her...

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"Uh, listen. I'm...sorry about what I did back there. I almost killed you..." Rinoa apologized. They were in Squall's car, on their way to the train station in Balamb.

"Don't worry about it. You didn't know what you were doing." Squall told her.

Rinoa sighed. "I'm just so confused about this whole thing. All my life, I've been lied to. I can't believe that I've been working for the man that killed my mother. I am so stupid..."

Squall was silent for a moment before he responded. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You were lied to. None of that's your fault." He paused. "And...if it means anything to you, I'm...sorry, as well."

"For what?"

"I almost killed you back there."

"You were protecting Balamb Garden. You're a hero..." She smiled wistfully.

"I was just doing my job." Their conversation ended there as Squall pulled the car into the parking lot at the train station. Rinoa got out of the car.

"Um...thank you." Rinoa said sincerely. "For everything."

"Don't worry about it. I'll see you soon..." With that, he turned the car around and drove off.

Rinoa was just about to board the train when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Rinoa?"

She turned around and was filled with dread. "Zell?!"

Author's Note: Please review!