Chapter 5 : A Hard on the Heart Field Exam
The rumors about the field exam started to be spread around Garden two weeks later. Carole and Miaka were hanging together again and Carole started seeing Audrey again too. Her friend didn't have the chance to be participating to the field exam. Better luck next time. But she still wasn't ready to see Squall again yet and it seemed to him there definately was something wrong with it. It was like he was missing her company or something like that. He was even missing arguing with her. Gackt always with him noticed but he kept it for himself.
Finally, during a class, the field exam was announced to be that afternoon. It was in a morning class it was announced and every student was eager to be there. There were still the teams to make. The students were to learn about it a bit later.
Earlier, Quistis asked Squall to meet her at the Directory after his class. Which he did. He found the headmaster there as well. Both had a pile of paper in their hands. When Quistis saw Squall, she waved at him, almost dropping all her papers.
"Glad to see you came, Squall."
"What is it, Instructor?"
Quistis was asked to come back as an instructor after the Sorceress' war.
[for those who don't remember, Quistis gave up her instructor job. She told Squall after the graduation party, in the secret area of the training center]
"You've been chosen to be one of the team leaders for the field exam," she explained.
"Congratulations," Cid said.
Quistis handed Squall a couple of papers. Without a word, Squall looked at the papers.
"Two girls who entered Garden just a few months ago?!"
"They're quite something," Cid said.
Squall was having a strange feeling when he switched papers to read names.
"Sue Anne and... Carole..." his voice trailed off.
"Anything wrong?" Quistis inquired.
The SeeD was silent. Looks like I'll have to see her again, he thought. I wonder what she'll think about this...
"Squall?"
"Oh, sorry. There's nothing. Just that I know them both..."
"Great! Then there won't be any troubles with introductions!"
Squall wished he could be enthousiastic like the headmaster. He had a bad feeling and he didn't know where it was coming from.
"What is the mission?"
"Keep reading the papers. It's explained in details further," Quistis informed.
"Good luck, Squall. May your decisions lead your team members to victory. I hope when you come back, you bring us new SeeDs."
Squall did the SeeD salute.
"Yes, sir. Thanks sir."
"Dismissed."
Squall looked at both of them with respect and left for the library but he just sat down near the entrance instead of going in. He turned the papers to the last page but didn't read right away.
"Miaka and Carole in my team... what a coincidence. Or is it a tricky joke fate is playing on me?"
"You got Mia in your team?!" a voice exclaimed.
Squall looked up and saw Gackt standing in front of him.
"Hi, Gackt."
"So you're a quad leader on this exam?"
"It seems so. Squad... A," he said after checking the first page again.
"Hey! I'm a Squad leader too! Squad B!"
"We should be in the same area then."
Gackt frowned, curious.
"Yes we are. You haven't read the purpose and about the place, huh?"
"Not yet."
"Well I'll let you do that then. I'm pretty jealous of you! You got two cute girls in your Squad and you know them! I ended up with a guy and a girl I don't even know! See ya later!"
And Gackt left. Squall was wondering what was the meaning behind the strange face of his friend. He got his answer when he read where was the exam and who hired SeeDs even before reading the purpose of the mission...
Quistis turned to the headmaster once Squall was out of sight.
"Maybe we shouldn't have put him as a leader, sir."
"Quistis..."
"But you know how he feels towards this. I don't think it's a good idea."
"I think he'll be just fine."
"And I tell you he'll be back here in a minute, pretty mad."
Footsteps coming their way brought a smile to Quistis' lips. She could recognize Squall's steps better than anyone in the whole world. She was smiling from the fact that she knew him so well.
"N-O W-A-Y!" were Squall's words when he appeared in front of them. "I'm not going to Timber to help Rinoa's group!"
"So you know the Timber Wings is the new name for her group?" Cid asked.
"That I know isn't really surprising! She changed the name when Tinber became independant and Zone and Watts left the town. She was afraid peace wouldn't last and two new members entered her group..."
And she left me for one of them, he thought.
But he kept that comment for himself.
"The Galbadian soldiers are trying to take Timber back," the headmaster explained. "The reason why we are sending SeeDs along is that the soldiers are using new kind of weaponry and it makes the mission pretty risky."
"No! No way! There are plenty of SeeDs in this Garden, ask somebody else!"
"Squall calm down," Quistis said. "A SeeD's life is made of all kind of missions, even when he doesn't want to."
"What part of no don't you understand? I'm not doing it!"
"Squall, that's enough!"
Squall froze and added nothing. It was the first time Cid was raising his voice at him like that.
"A SeeD's duty comes before his personal feelings," Cid said a bit softer.
"I know. Forgive me, sir."
"Yes, I forgive you. You're a good SeeD and I trust you with this mission."
"The candidates should be here soon. Once you find your team members, find Squad B and head for Balamb town. There, you'll take the train to Timber."
"Thanks, Quistis."
And Squall walked away.
Rinoa... after all that time, I'll see you again. Are you still with him? Are you happy with him? Do you still think about me? I do... almost all the time...
People started gathering near the directory. SeeD candidates could be recognized by their uniforms. They had nothing to do excpet wait for their leaders to claim them. Some SeeDs were asking names around the crowd, looking for their mates. Carole was looking around with her friend Miaka along.
"I sure hope I'm in Gackt's team!" she said all excited.
"I just hope I'm with you," Carole answered. "That would already be great!"
"Hai, sure!"
The crowd was getting bigger and it was getting hard to move without bumping onto someone or step on a foot.
Carole was trying to pay attention to names that were called and bumped into somebody.
"Sorry," she said.
"Man, there's so many people!" the guy said turning to her. "No wonder we hit everyone... Carole!"
"Uh? Oh, Zell!"
"Yo! Long time no see!"
"You... are you a team leader as well?"
"Yup! Finally, I'll be leading a team!"
Carole smiled to him, She knew he was rarely trusted with leadership before and even thoug he was only leading SeeD candidates, it really meant a lot to him.
"There you are..." a voice said behind the girls.
Carole turned around, the smile still on her face but it disappeared and her eyes wide opened when she saw Squall there.
"No surprise to see you two together," he said with a hand on his hip. "It will save us some time."
Miaka turned around too.
"Oh! Squall! What are you doing here?"
"I'm your Squad leader," he said with a cold face.
In Squall's mind, at the very moment the team is formed, there is no place for feelings or emotions so it was impossible to say what he was thinking about.
"Say what?!" Carole exclaimed.
"I'm your leader for the field exam," he said with the same tone.
But it wasn't the same face he was showing. It was enigmatic. Like he was thinking about somthing else.
"Me too?" Miaka cut in.
Squall turned to her and nodded.
"You two girls and I are ths squad A. The only thing left to do is to find squad B."
"Why?" Carole asked.
"Because we always go like this. Squad A and B will act in the same area so we leave together."
Then he started looking around.
"And... who's in squad B?" Carole asked.
She was speaking formally, thinking about the mission.
"Leader is Gackt," he said peeking at Miaka from the corner of his eyes.
"Really?" she said with enthusiasm.
"You didn't know?" Carole asked. "I think he could have told you."
"We learned it just a while ago so I think he couldn't tell her yet," Squall said.
Carole turned to him while he was still looking around, searching for Gackt. She had a question on the tip of her tongue and she had to ask.
"Aren't you... mad?"
Squall interrupted his searching and looked at her. With Miaka searching like mad for her boyfriend, the job was still carried on.
"About what?"
Carole lowered her head and twisted her fingers.
"Well... I haven't been with you for a while and now... we're in the same team... I thought you'd be mad..."
"In fact I thought YOU'd be mad. You're the one who avoided me the whole time."
She's been so busy with her training and studies, she just forgot why she spent the time alone. But when it came back, she shook it out of her mind.
"Besides, a SeeD's duty comes before personal feelings," he said looking away.
"I see..."
"There he is!" Miaka suddenly exclaimed. "Gackt, over here!"
Carole and Squall turned to the way Miaka was showing and saw Gackt with a girl and a guy unknown to them. Squad A walked to Squad B. Miaka forced herself not to hug her boyfriend. They were in mission now. There would be plenty of time for that later.
"Hi, guys," Gackt said. "This guy is Karl Thomas and the girl is Stacy Hilton."
The candidates shook hands and Squall avoided it with his arms folded on his chest.
"Let's get a move on," Squall said.
He headed for the parking lot, his team and the other close behind.
Gackt offered to drive, what he did. The car went to Balamb and the teams got off once there.
"We have to take the train to Timber," Squall informed.
The four candidates nodded and Gackt smiled, amused.
The train was waiting so they bought their tickets. The leaders were paying for the others. Then they all got in. Some teams were already in and more came before the train departed. Then Squall and Gackt briefed their teams about the mission.
Miaka and Carole were talking about the mission with Karl and Stacy while Gackt took place beside Squall leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, looking at his feet. Gackt elbowed him gently with a mocking smile.
"Come on, Squall! Why do you have to take it so seriously? It's gonna be fun!"
"SeeD is always serious, Gackt. We can have fun when the mission's done."
Gackt leant against the wall and folded his arms with a discouraged sigh.
"You're not funny at all..."
"...Whatever..."
From the corner of her eye, Carole was watching, scanning Squall's face to try to find out what was on his mind but he was like a wall. She was feeling sorry for Gackt. Squall was really giving him a hard time.
When the train stopped in Timber, the squads got off and went in different ways to reach their assigned areas. Even squad B left for its area. Only squad A had to meet the Timber Wings as the leading team of this mission. It was just a matter of formalities. The other squads were eliminating the galbadian threat on their respective areas.
Squall couldn't understand. Only Squad A had to meet the Timber Wings and he had to lead especially THAT team! He couldn't understand! That he was chosen to lead a team was okay but the only team meeting Rinoa and her group? It was pure cruelty! When Cid's words came back in Squall's mind, he stopped thinking totally like he used to.
Looking around the place, Squall was frowning.
"At least, they could have come to meet us here," he said.
"Who?" Carole asked.
"The Timber Wings."
"Ah! The ones who hired us!" Miaka recalled.
"Yeah..."
Squall avoided saying Rinoa was the leader of that group. He didn't think it was important. Besides, the two girls already knew.
The leader lead his team in the city. Walking in the front with his gunblade tapping his left leg; Carole and Miaka just behind with their weapons as well. Miaka with her rope on her waist and Carole with her gunblade against her leg.
Squall was walking fast, almost nervously.
How do you feel about this, Squall? Carole wondered. You're gonna see Rinoa after all this time, don't you care? I know you do...
Squall slowered his step and ended up between the girls. They were going towards Timber Maniacs building. There they were, just by the entrance: Rinoa with her usual blue sleeveless coat and black boots, her arm under a guy's. He had pale brown hair tied up in a ponytail. There was a bow and a quiver on his back. With them, another guy about the same age as the other guy, with darker hair tied up as well. He was wearing glasses and chinese like clothes. There was a sword on his belt.
Squall was only seeing Rinoa and her new boyfriend. He was the one she left him for. His heart sqeezed in his chest from that sight and ached from past good memories he had with this girl. He was sad and angry, jealous and envying. Then, on an impulse from the pain he felt, he moved his hand and caught Carole's in his. He held it tight, making her heart jump few times in her chest. She turned to him with a surprised look, feeling her cheeks burning, wondering why he was doing that. She reached for her chest with her free hand and clenched her pounding heart. What are you doing? She thought. Why here and now?
She looked at him once again and saw something on his face she never saw before: desire for revenge. Even jealousy. Why...? When she looked ahead and saw Rinoa with the guy. I see... It's just to make her jealous...
Her heart shattered and she felt like crying. Why does it deceive me? I know he couldn't be serious at a time like this. I hate you Squall! I understand why you do this and I hate you! But she didn't say a word or free her hand.
The team was facing their employers.
"Welcome, SeeDs," Rinoa greeted. "Long time no see, Squall."
Carole was amazed. How could she act so casual?
"Hi, Rinoa," Squall answered with a cold face.
Rinoa was smiling but there was something on her face saying she knew and understood the treetment from Squall. Then Carole looked at her boyfriend and stared. That hair, those eyes, that face... Her jaw dropped when she recognized him.
"A...Adam?"
The guy frowned, trying to recall who she was.
"No way! Is that you Carole?"
The guy looked at her from head to toes while the other four were frowning, curious. Her eyes were shining and her mouth formed an open smile.
"Adam!" Carole exclaimed freeing herself from Squall's hand to run to her friend.
Seeing it was a friend's reunion, Rinoa released Adam's arm. He opened his arms and received his friend in them. Carole wrapped her arms around him and he held her tight as well.
"I thought I'd never see you again!" Carole exclaimed.
"Where have you been after the crash? I was worried sick and I couldn't find you. I thought you might not have survived."
"I got back to Esthar. It takes more than the Lunar Cry to kill me!"
They finally released each other and smiled. Adam looked at his friend, still unable to believe it.
"I didn't recognize you right away with that uniform. So you're a SeeD?"
"Not yet. This mission is my exam, my last exam."
A coughing sound coming from behind made Carole turn around. Squall was frowning with a fist on his hip.
"You know him?"
What's wrong? Are you jealous?
"Tell us!" Miaka exclaimed. "Who is he?"
"He's my friend from the Lunar Base: Adam Gauthier. This is my chilfhood friend Chan Sue Anne but everyone calls her Miaka."
"Then I'll call you Miaka too," he said shaking hands.
He smiled warmly to the girl. Carole giggled.
"You alway liked asian girls, didn't you?"
"See for yourself."
He wrapped an arm around Rinoa's shoulders. Carole noticed Squall looking away. Then it was the other guy's turn to clear his throat.
"Oh, yeah," Adam said. "This is my cousin: Dave Adam."
"Nice to meet you all," Dave said with a smile.
"Tee hee! You have the same name," Miaka said. "Dave's last name is Adam's first name."
The guys slapped their forehead and Rinoa started laughing.
"Come on... why do people always have to tease us because of that?"
"Sorry, I didn't know..."
"Forget it."
"Sorry to interrupt you," Squall cut in. "We have a mission."
Carole looked at Adam and he nodded. There would be plenty of time later to be relieved to see each other alive.
"As you already know," Rinoa explained, "the Galbadians are trying to take over the city again and they're using new kinds of weaponry."
"That's why a SeeD was chosen for leader," Squall said.
"There's a lot of them," Adam said. "You'll have to secure the area."
"Alright, alright, we know what we have to do," Squall said a cold way.
Carole frowned at him.
"Are you fighting along or only us?" Carole inquired.
"Why do you think we have our weapons for?" Adam asked with a smile.
"We'll not be far from you," Dave said. "If you're in trouble, just call us."
"We'll be fine," Squall assured. "We're experienced fighters, you know."
Rinoa caught Squall's arm and lead him away a little, telling the others they just needed a minute.
"What is it?" Squall asked. "If it's to scold me for my behavior, I'm not apologizing."
"That's not it. I'm not blaming you for anything. I just want to make something clear: that girl with you, the one with the gunblade, is she... are you together?"
Squall frowned.
"It's none of your business. Why do you care?"
He walked back to his team and Rinoa followed.
"Let's go then," Squall said to his team.
The girls nodded and followed their leader to the entrance of the city.
"Don't forget: you must use physical strength only if you can. Or else you'll have points deducted."
The girls already knew about that but they still had to draw some more magics and junction them to become stronger.
Squad A fought lots of battles, defeated many soldiers without relying on GFs. Points were depending on the number of enemies defeated, the judgement during battle and other things. The number of soldiers diminished before there was no more around anymore. Following Squall's command, they waited, standing on guard, watching for any remaining soldier. After half an hour of nothingness, Squall thought the area was secured.
"Good job, team," he said turning to the girls. "Let's go meet Squad B and leave this... place."
Squall made a step back in town, peeking at Carole. He stopped and turned to her. Carole and Miaka stopped along.
"What's wrong?" Miaka asked her leader.
Squall only looked at Carole, curious. She was purposely avoiding his eyes.
"What's on your mind?" he asked not answering Miaka. "You seem thoughtful. Your fighting wasn't really good today."
"What do you mean?" Miaka asked. "She was great!"
"It's true but that's nothing compared to the usual. In training, she gives everything in each blow, putting her heart and soul each time the gunblade strikes. It's like you were not really into it today. What's wrong?"
Miaka turned to her friend in disbelief. She was amazed she didn't notice herself sooner and that Squall did. Truth is Carole always trained with Squall more than with her. Just a few times and it was for fun. With Squall, it was serious, preparing for the exams.
"And you dare to ask?" Carole finally spoke.
She spoke a low tone and without any emotion. Squall was about to ask something else when a loading sound was heard around.
"Freeze!" a voice shouted at them. "One move and we'll shoot!"
They froze, cursing their carelessness.
"Turn around! Slowly!"
They obeyed. There was a dozen soldier blocking the exit of the town. The only way out of this mess was back in town but they would be shot before they would make it to a safe spot.
"Put your weapons down, SeeDs!"
Squall smirked with a frown, peeking at his team mates who nodded.
"Now!!" the soldier insisted.
"Sure!" Miaka said. "What if I put it down on you?"
She threw her rope and it rolled up around one of the soldier's neck, breaking it. Carole and Squall took advantage of the surprise effect to attack but the enemy snapped out pretty fast, too fast.
Then the youth knew why a SeeD was needed: some soldiers had machine guns but improved types. Their shots were more precise and faster than before. The others had swords but soon, it seemed hard to fight.
Squall took a blow on his arm, cutting through the leather and just brushing the skin so he didn't bother at first until he suddenly felt weak. He leant on his gunblade and Carole, worried, went to him while Miaka was covering them.
"What's wrong? You hurt?"
"Darn! There's poison on their blades."
"What?"
"It's not lethal, just to make the victim grow really weak, weakening by the minute so he becomes easy to defeat. It's too dangerous for you. You'll have to go, I'll cover you."
"No way! We're not leaving!"
"Carole, if our team doesn't make it, these soldiers will take over one area after another. Go find squad B and head back to Garden to warn the headmaster. Then you'll be able to come back better prepared."
"Forget it! I'm not leaving you behind!"
"Remember the rule? If partners are hurt but that the mission is at stake..."
"'The wounded SeeDs are to be left behind even if it's the leader...'" Carole finished.
Squall smiled, taking his gunblade in two hands.
"Good. Now I'm couting on you to lead our team out of here."
"To lead? You mean..."
"Just go!"
Miaka stepped back slowly, looking at Carole. She was the leader now so she waited for her command.
"Maybe I'll finish them fast enough to make it."
"You'd better come back! I'm not done with you yet! Miaka, let's go!"
And Miaka ran into town, Carole taking one last glance at Squall running to the six remaining fighters.
Six Galbadian soldiers, she thought as she ran. Six mere Galbadian soldiers... he can do it...
What was left of squad A made it back in front of the Timber Maniacs building where squad B was already waiting. Gackt frowned, worried when he saw the girls coming back alone. He walked to meet them and stood in front of them. Stacy and Karl came along.
"What happened? Where's Squall?"
He looked at Miaka first who was trying to act normally but she just approached him for comfort. Then he looked at Carole. She lowered her head and looked aside.
"An order to withdraw takes priority... He told me to lead us out of here while he's covering our backs."
"I see... So you are..."
She nodded.
Let's go," she said walking away.
Then a painful scream was heard. Carole turned around and stared the way they came from. It was Squall's voice. She had a concerned frown, feeling her heartbeat fastened in fear. He won't make it, she thought.
She made a step that way but Gackt caught her arm to stop her. She turned to him, angry.
"Let go of me!"
"You can't go! He told you to lead our teams outta here, he made you the leader!!"
"If you go, you'll disobey a direct order!" Miaka said.
"And one of SeeD's rules," Gackt added.
"I don't care! I always hated that rules!"
"You're disobeying your leader," Gackt told.
"You risk to fail your exam!"
"I don't care! I'm not leaving him behind! I'm the leader now and I'm going!"
She freed her arm from Gackt's grip who couldn't catch her back.
"Carole-chan!" Miaka called going after her.
Gackt caught her.
"Don't make the same mistake, you'll fail your exam too!"
"Then what are we suppposed to do?"
"Wait... There's nothing else to do..."
Carole was running, nothing could have stopped her.
"I don't care if I fail! I'm not leaving him here! I'm not letting him die like this!"
At the fight, there were only three soldiers left and one was dying but Squall couldn't finish him. The poison won, making him defenseless, helpless. He was on his knees, barely standing. One soldier was in front of him, sword in hand.
"You're overpowered, now. I'll cut your head off!"
Squall looked up and frowned. Then he lowered his head.
"As a SeeD, I'm prepared to die."
"Fine!"
He raised his sword.
You'll make it, Squall thought. I'm counting on you..."
While he was expecting pain before nothingness, he heard a shout shortly followed by the clash of metal against metal. He looked up and couldn't believe his eyes. Carole smiled at him.
"I think I kept ya waiting long enough!"
"What are you..."
"Later!"
She finished the soldier handedly then the other one in good shape. The dying one wasn't of any threat now. Once they were down, she turned to Squall, gunblade in hand, panting and the twisted lock on her forehead was sticking with sweat.
"Guess I made it just in time, huh?" she said putting her gunblade back on her belt.
She took his arm around her neck and lead him back in town.
"Why did you do that? I told you to leave!"
She didn't respond.
Noises behind them made them turn their head. Soldiers were coming.
"Shit! The dying soldier must have called reinforcements!" Carole said. "It was careless to let him live."
She started running as fast as she could carrying Squall.
When the others saw them, they couldn't believe it.
"Carole chan!" Miaka exclaimed. "Squall san!"
"That girl's amazing!" Karl commented. "I didn't think she could do it."
"Don't underestimate her," Gackt advised.
They urged to their friends with relief but Carole stopped them.
"They got reinforcements! You think you can take care of them while I'm taking care of Squall?"
"Sure! Leave it to us!"
They let them pass and prepared for the attack.
Carole led Squall to a wall where she made him rest against. He grimaced with pain.
"Stay still," she told.
She was looking for something in her items.
"Why?" Squall asked. "You disobeyed me, your leader."
"Not really," she said still looking in her things. "You asked me to leave, I did. But you made me the leader so I didn't disobeyed my leader... There it is!"
She took out a remedy + bottle and gave it to Squall.
"Here. Hope this is strong enough to nullify the poison."
Squall swallowed the medecine but Carole was still looking for something.
"You disobeyed one of SeeD's rules."
"So what? You know I hate that rule! And I always will... aha!"
She showed a Hi-potion.
"Where did you get that? They only sell simple potions in Balamb."
"I'm from Esthar, remember? I bought some before moving to Balamb. I know a simple potion is not enough for you. You have much more energy than I. Take it."
After a short hesitation, he swallowed the liquid that he so well knew for drinking a lot of it in the past. And he knew he would drink more in the future. Luckily its taste wasn't bad.
He put the empty bottle aside and looked at Carole while she was looking for major injuries on him.
"Are you stupid?" he asked.
"No more that you."
"Then why? You're risking
everything here! You might fail your exam now!"
She looked straight in his eyes and he shivered, There was so much in her eyes he couldn't tell what it was. But her frown was at least telling she was mad.
"Fine! Fail me if you want, I don't give it a damn! I'll take the next exam and if it happens again, I'll do it again! Howevere many times it would happen, I'll do it again and again until you all realize there's no point in leaving people behind for a simple mission! One life or a hundred they're all worth the same to me! So you understand?!"
She was crying with anger, feeling pain. Was she the only one feeling this way? Was she wrong to want that? Was she asking for something impossible? Her tears melted Squall's ice a bit. He could understand but SeeDs were mercenaries, they were always prepared to die.
Carole wasn't sure why she was crying anymore. Was it against Garden for having such stupid rules? For not understanding how precious even a single life can be? Or against Squall maybe? For not understanding her? For being so selfish? Was it only because she was against the rule she saved him or just because it was him?
She lowered her head to hide her tears. Her fists were clenched on her tighs so tightly they were trembling.
Squall was feeling uneasy. He knew he should say something, he wanted to say something but he didn't know what. He lifted a hand to her.
"I..."
"Carole watch out!" somebody shouted.
The girl didn't have the time to look who screamed. Squall quickly placed his hand on her shoulder and dragged her against him. Something whistled close to her ear and when she looked up, she saw a soldier with his gun pointed at Squall and her with an arrow in his chest. He fell on his back, dead.
Carole quickly looked the opposite way and saw Adam with his bow in hand and the other on his head, looking embarassed.
"Nice reflexes, Squall," he said.
"That was really close," Squall commented.
Only then he realized he still had his hand around Carole so he released her.
"A little too close!" Carole exclaimed getting up.
She went to her friend and shook a threatening finger under his nose.
"You're crazy?! You could have killed me!"
She was yelling but not with anger. It was teasing a funny way.
"Hey! I saved your life, is that all I get for thanks?"
He was smiling too.
"Thanks, she said. "It was a close shot, you're very good! That soldier never saw anything coming."
Adam arched an eyebrow.
"Which soldier? I was aiming at Squall, I thought he was gonna hurt you."
She stared at him and knew he was kidding so she laughed.
"Very funny..."
Carole turned around and saw Squall there. She looked from a guy to the other, wondering what would happen. But Squall lifted a thumb.
"Nice shot. You're good."
"Thanks."
And he looked at Carole, nodding at her before turning around to leave. There was no more soldiers around. Dave and Rinoa arrived behind Adam. Miaka, Gackt, Karl and Stacy took their respective weapons back in place and walked after Squall.
"I guess this is good-bye, then. If I can become a SeeD despite what I did, I wonder when I'll see you again."
"I'm sure we'll find some time."
Carole smiled, confident when two hands pressed on her shoulders suddenly, making her jump up with surprise.
"Ya coming?" Miaka asked when Carole turned around.
"Don't ever do that again!" Carole said with a sigh.
"Come on!" Miaka urged her friend pulling her arm.
"I'm coming, I'm coming, already! See ya, Adam! It was nice to meet you, Dave, maybe we'll meet again sometime, Rinoa!"
The three waved to the girls going after their long gone leader.