Disclaimer:
You what I think that Squaresoft should give the rights of the characters to us writers ^_^
In the meantime why can't take the hoors we deserve for the characters and maybe some of the stories ^_^, I've also borrowed some from Capcom.
Authors note:
Sorry about the last part in the last chapter I was in a hurry so when I have the time I'll correct it right now I want to get on with the story, we've almost got to the part where it gets really interesting. Feel free to Email me of there's something that you want to change or if there is anything that is wrong, then I'll take your mail under consideration and of course I would be very flattered if you took the time to write me an mail ^_^
***
Gary was very awed of the garden, when he walked in the garden he was astonished how big it was and how organized it seemed to be.
He had got lost two or three times on purpose, one of the reasons being all the pretty girls.
He had been shown to the elevator by some librarian girl with a pigtail and pretty smile.
Know he was standing in the elevator listening to the rythmic sounds of the hydraulics of the elevator as it worked its way up to the third floor.
He considered his mission to be a mission of great importance, he was to deliever a message to the headmaster of Balamb garden. The message was supposed to be from his president,
the president of the now ravaged and desolate land of Eshtar, president Laguna Loire.
The message was a request to catch the man called Seifer Almasy former student of Balamb garden and devourer of Eshtar, God Gary hated that man he had been on his sister funeral because of him.
As Seifer was trained in garden he would have exceptional fighting skills and magic potential.
Therefore Laguna needed someone who could understand his tactics and way of thinking, Laguna held Seed responsible for letting that loose canon free.
To have Seeds assistance was of great importance for the cause of capturing Eshtars most hated man, and then there would be fewer casualties on their own side.
He smiled to himself they would get him, the smile disappeared in flash and his he was gaping instead.
The elevator had stopped and the door was opening.
The first thing he saw was a delicate long, pale and naked leg enter, shortly followed by the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his whole life.
She was tall for a woman her blond long golden hair held up in very intriguing way, her eyes was the clearest green he had ever seen and her glasses magnified her already stunning beauty. She was dressed in a uniform and she looked so sad that he wanted to comfort her.
The uniform fitted on her in a strange way it amplified the authority she already had, the sad look she had made her look very fragile and tragic.
As he looked at her eyes again he noticed that she was aware of his presence.
He got startled, he tried to say something but there wasn't a word just strange noises.
She gave him a sad smile, he swore that whatever had made her so sad should regret it when he was finished with it.
The smile burned his soul and woke his lust, a lust that would have severe consequences and endless grief in the future.
Quistis looked at the tall man that stood before her, when she had entered he had looked clubbed, now he looked furious but he didn't seem to be mad at her just utterly agitated.
"What's wrong?" His gray eyes was big and innocent except for the storm raging within them
it scared Quistis.
She studied the man more as she waited for the answer to her question.
He was about 6'2 with brown hair like Squall with a similar haircut, his face was an everyday face that when you looked at you would have forgotten it 15 minutes later.
He had a military deportment that discovered that he was or at least had had military experience, he had a muscular body and he looked very athletic.
"Nothing" was the reply, the voice was dark and mellowed, and there was a pause
"I could ask the same thing with you" the voice had an pleading tone, Quistis wasn't sure but he seemed like it was very important to him "Nothing" The man shrugged on his shoulders as if he was bothered by something, then he stepped out of the elevator.
Quistis noticed that he was carrying a diplomatic parchment, she also saw the seal of Laguna Loire, and the sight of the parchment made her shiver.
He cleared his throat, Quistis immediately looked at him again "May I ask you something more"
His tone was very polite but it sounded strained "Yes but I choose if I wish to answer it"
"Fair enough" he smiled a genuine smile that Quistis found very attractive.
"What's your name my fair lady?" Quistis put a hand on her mouth as she giggled.
"Well my names Quistis, Quistis Trepe and if you paid more attention soldier you should have seen my name badge on my uniform.
"I did see it but that's not the way to treat a lady, and besides I didn't know if I had your permission to use it"
Her eyebrows sank dangerously "What makes you think that you are allowed now"
"As I said it's not polite not to ask about the ladies name, and for the second about the permission about using your name… my lady I would be granted the best of dreams if you allowed me to speak your name?" Quistis was flattered so she played along "yes dear sir you may speak my name" He bowed, he seemed very good at it too. "I am blessed, for thine permission to use thine name" Quistis laughed it felt very good laughing of sheer joy.
"Then tell me dear sir what's thy name?" He graced her with a smile, his white teeth flashing.
"My name is no secret fair lady, Gary is me and I'm Gary that is I, Gary Striker"
"Well then Gary Striker what is your rank?" Quistis just guessed but she was pretty sure that he was still active within some military force although he wasn't dressed as one.
He had a cloak and beyond the anger she saw in his eyes there was a suppressed fear, something that he had to deal with everyday and hide it.
"I'm a lieutenant, I'm not allowed to pass that on but for you my lady I'd do any thing"
Quistis felt she had to give him something in return, so she made up her mind That's maybe the best way to forget my past… To forget Squall The thought of Squall made her lose her smile. And maybe Gary is the one for me She made up her mind and told him what she had decided.
Her decision was made, thereby sealing the future to come.
As Gary turned around to go and meet with the commanding officer he smiled a grim smile almost as insane as his leader.
He strolled down the corridor thinking of the best way of claiming ownership over Quistis.
There would be no rivals, if there were any he would kill them, fierce and without mercy, he whistled as he kept going to the commanding deck.
***
Irvine rushed towards the elevator, as he reached he slammed at the buttons a couple of times.
He realized that he was panting, he calmed down a bit and caught his breath.
There was a ping from the elevator and he was just about to rush in, when he crashed with a tall man maybe even taller than he was, and he had a very familiar haircut he saw everyday on Squalls spikey head.
"Watch your step moron" the Squall wannabe rose to his feet and cleaned of imaginary dust.
"Humph it's not my fault your so big that you can't fit in a door!" Irvine annoyed himself on the guy attitude, and he wasn't going to bully him around.
"Get out of my way chump before I have to do something permanent about you" The wannabe said in a cold and calm manner, that agitated Irvine even more.
"And if I don't? You'll do what? spit me in the face?" the other man smiled.
Irvine had a hard time to comprehend what happened next.
With his smirk still in his face Gary spat the annoyance in the eyes and with a lightning fast right as a follow up he downed Irvine, there was a loud crack as something broke in Irvines face.
Gary kept on going ignoring the moaning from the knocked Cowboy, he had to find his property, he had to find Quistis.
He turned around "next time I'll kill you!" with that he left with another mission accomplished.
***
"Will he be alright?" Selphie looked really worried and she was pacing in the small cabine of the infirmary.
Xu who had found Irvine lying on the floor next to the elevator had called upon the doctor when she saw that his jaw was located very unnatural.
She had been on her way to inform Squall that Quistis had resigned she sniffled.
"Calm down Selphie Doc said it was just an dislocated jaw." She saw thunder in the petite brunettes eyes, her voice was bloodthirsty and held a promise of violence.
"I'll have the perpetrators heart for this, no one humiliates Irvine like that NO ONE"
Xu had never seen Selphie like this, not this agressive, it sounded like she meant what she was saying, Xu shivered.
The brunette kept on pacing and Xu formed out her report to Squall about Quistis and the newest problem, how would they handle Seifer.
Although Seifer didn't get any payment he still was enrolled in the lists of Seed not as Seed but as a student.
They had two alternatives wich was the best she didn't know, she would leave that to Squall he seemed to be able to handle everything.
The first alternative was to aid the Eshtarians and then let them handle it, with reports in her hand of the damage Seifer had caused upon Eshtar she concluded they would likely give him a death-penalty.
Laguna had given them a second alternative, that Balamb garden would take full responsibility take him in with the aid of Eshtarians and take and punish him in a way that would be appropriate with garden rules.
And as garden took full responsibility they would also bind themselves to pay for the damage that Seifer had caused.
This was a very delicate matter. Although Seifer did it on his own garden policy is that Garden backs up every action that it's inhabitants may do during a mission as long as it isn't a crime against the laws of garden or countries.
But even then garden backs you up with morale support and other necessary details.
That included paying the court expenses paying bail and such, and Seifer still belong to the ranks of garden inhabitants.
In each case they lose, if the stand up and follow the garden policy the garden will be ruined and Seed as such will perish.
If they let the Eshtarians take Seifer they would damage Gardens reputation of unswerving loyalty towards its inhabitants and many may lose faith in garden even though that Seifers actions was unforgivable.
What a mess Xu sighed and hoped that Squall would find a solution.
I better calm Selphie down before she blows up something up With that she rose and tried to calm a very agitated and furious woman Why me? She thought as she approached the other woman.
***
Sophie found the man she yearned for in the town of Dollet in a bar sitting in a chair leaning towards the desk staring into an empty glass.
She approached the spike-haired man with that thrilling tatto on his face, his wasn't spikey today though and he looked miserable. When she got close enough she saw that he was crying, his shirt wasn't entirely stuffed in his pants as it used to be.
"Give me another one bartender" Zell held up his glass gesturing with it.
"Coming right up" the moody bartender was glad he could sell booze this early.
Sophie had been dating Zell a couple of times, he was a shy person and very caring although he had his problems with expressing himself when she was near him, that went for them both.
When she had gone out with Zell he had never been really drinking, just zipping on the same glass all evening, she could see five of them around Zell.
She touched his shoulder lightly, he recoiled from the touched and he looked around the room a bit confused then he recognized her.
"Whatsch tha matter sschophie?" he staggered back in his chair when he realized his feet weren't very wellresponding. The girl with a pigtail put her hands on her hips "No Zell what is it with you?"
"Me? I'm juscht a Jerk a real jerk who forget mi friendscch" he blinked "Do you have a sischter Sschopie?" Sophie looked around and turned her attention to the miserable young man again.
"No I don't have a sister, what are you talking about Zell you're the sweetest person that ever lived"
"No I'm NOT, I'm a PIG how could I do that to her?" Sophie wrinkled her nose, his breath was a killer "What did you do and to who?"
Zell began cry real hard now, long heartstriking sobs "Quistis! how could I forget her? I was scho upsschet yesschterday when I schaw Quistisch wash hurt that I took a little drink to calm my nerveschs but it schemms that it wash too mussh." He burrowed his head in her embrace.
"Today I forgot to vishit her, and later on I met Schu an che told me that Quistish have reschigned from Zeed" He started bawling
"ssch Zell I don't think she was mad at you, you are the last person someone would get mad at" He looked up and dried his face "Honestly?" she graced him with her lovely smile "Honestly" she said in simple matter, although it was sad that Quistis had left garden.
It wasn't nearly as sad if she lost her Zell.
"Bartender cancel that last order" she held up Zells face and looked him in the eyes.
"Let's go my barbaric hero, I have something that will help against all that alcohol.
Zell only nodded holding the slender girl closely to him.
And of they went.
They left a usually moody bartender as in a bad mood, that girl had stolen his customer.
He snorted and drank Zells drink that had been canceled.