Author's Note: DAY here! Guess what? Another chapter! Not really all
that much to say about this one, apart form it took me quite a while to
figure out the mission . . . No reviews for my last chapter . . . ;( oh
well. I guess I just have to live with that sort of thing, right? Newayz,
here's the next chapter!
Chapter 3 - The Briefing
The PA system came on with a buzz. "Please excuse all students and Instructors who are taking part in today's SeeD field exam to meet on the south end of Garden by the directory. Thank you." There was a buzz as the PA went dead.
(Today is the day. It all hinges on today, and whether I pass this test. I really hope I do pass . . . or else I'm gonna have some pretty important people pissed at me . . .) Zephyr thought as she gathered her books. She pushed her glasses back up her nose as she prepared to leave the room.
"You can leave those here, Miss Masters. You don't need to worry about them being disturbed seeing as I am coming as well. I intend to lock my classroom until we get back." Instructor Trepe stood up as well. "You heard me class. The rest of you, apart from Miss Masters and Miss Westing, have the rest of the period as a Study Hall. Now scram!" Zephyr laughed as the whole of the class cheered and ran out of the room. All apart from another young woman.
"Come on Miss Westing, we can't be late," Quistis chided the young woman.
Zephyr tried not to stare at the young woman. She was almost a head shorter than Zephyr's 5' 7", had a hawkish profile with mousy brown hair. But it was her eyes that caught Zephyr's attention. They were a clear, deep, sapphire blue. Zephyr guessed that Miss Westing wasn't any older than 16. She noticed that she had a tight grip on what appeared to be a short whip that made almost crackling noises as she stood there.
The three women left the room together and took the elevator to the first floor. They appeared to be about the last ones there. Zephyr scanned the people standing there, trying to figure out who was all there. She noticed the Headmaster and his wife, Instructor Leonheart, head of the magic department. There was Instructor Dincht and Instructor Kinneas. Over there was Instructor Tilmett, who helped Instructor Leonheart in the magic department as well as helping with any students who wanted to learn how to use nunchaku. There were two other SeeD's, maybe Instructors, that she didn't know, though. She also recognized a few of the students also taking the test. Rey Strife was in a couple of her classes, not the specialized weapons training courses, though. She knew he fought with long double daggers. Marissa Evans was a magic specialist, and one of Instructor Leonheart's favorites. Makhir Mohammed was a Middle Eastern looking kid who was in most of her revolver/pistol handling classes, but he wasn't doing sniping. Sticking to the simple stuff. He could put two and two together really quickly, though. There were two students that she didn't recognize either. She had come with Instructor Trepe and Sonya Westing . Including herself, that made a grand total of 15: 8 SeeD's and 7 candidates. (15? Isn't that an awful odd number to group us in? 5 groups of 3, I guess . . .)
Zephyr caught sight of a little dissention down by where Squall and Zell were standing. She could barely make out what they were saying.
"He's not here," Squall stated. "If he doesn't turn up soon, we'll have to go without him."
"He'll be here. I know he will. Have some faith, okay?"
Squall checked his watched before replying. "Five minutes. We leave in five minutes, with or without him." Zell didn't respond. He was looking around worriedly.
(Who is he talking about? Who would be late for the SeeD test? What kind of idiot would make a bad impression this early on?) Zephyr thought as she joined the small crowd.
At that moment, a tall young man with black hair came sprinting down from the direction of the dormitories. He had a satchel slung over one shoulder with a short strap. The pouch was bumping against his waist as he ran. He came over to the group and doubled over, hands on knees, breathing hard.
"Sorry . . . Instructor Dincht. I . . . forgot my . . . laptop . . . in my room," he said in between gasps.
(Lance! I didn't know he was . . . yes I did! He told me, the first day. What an idiot.)
Zephyr laughed inwardly at Lance's tardiness. She caught his eyes, and Lance could see the amusement that flickered within them. Over the last couple of days, they had become close friends, and had learned to communicate to each other with looks and gestures, breath being precious while training so hard physically. Lance subtly, yet jokingly, stuck his tongue out at her, just the tip between his teeth.
"Okay, people! Quiet!" Squall quickly got the motley group silent. "Now that everybody's here, we're going to load up. Four to a car, head for Balamb. Once there, head to the dock and board the ship waiting there. The briefing will be on the ship. Now move out!"
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
"No way! Rey, you are NOT driving! We'll all be little smears of red before we reach Balamb!"
"Shut up, Makhir! I can drive just fine! Just 'cause I wanna live a little . . ."
Zephyr, Lance, Rey and Makhir had ended up in a car together. Zephyr and Lance agreed with Makhir, not wanting to trust Rey's prowess at the wheel. If his attitude towards driving was anything like his attitude towards food or women, 'I can do anything once,' then Makhir was quite right about their position after the ride.
"Move over, Rey. I'm driving. I, for one, want to pass this test. And you are not going to mess it up for me. You know how long I've wanted to be a SeeD? I'm not going to let you screw up my chances just because you feel like strutting your stuff. Move. Now! I'll hit you . . ." Zephyr's voice took a menacing tone, and Rey didn't dare to argue with her. He scrambled over the seat into the back. Lance burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Rey flipped his chocolate brown hair over his shoulder. It was tied up at the nape of his neck and reached to just below his shoulders. "I could laugh at you for a bunch of stuff, Mr. I-forgot-my- laptop!"
"You scrawny little . . ."
"Okay, guys. That's enough." Lance was cut off from his retort, and the punch that he was about to land on Rey's face, by Makhir's quick thinking. "Lance, you sit up by Zephyr. I'll sit behind you by Rey." As the guys were changing seats, Makhir leaned over and whispered in Zephyr's ear.
"Looks like we get to play babysitter all afternoon for two 21 year old guys with fluctuating hormones."
Zephyr snorted with laughter and Rey and Lance glared at her. Makhir winked at her, and she couldn't help but like his quick wit and light manner.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
"Okay guys, here's the story." The whole group was now seated in a large room on the ship that had just left Balamb. Squall was addressing the group for their briefing. "We were contacted 10 hours ago for a request for SeeD in Dollet. The Galbadian Army has occupied the city. The small resistance force was forced to retreat to the mountains by the fully functional Communications Tower. They have General Caraway captured and held in the center of the city. Our mission is to get him out." Squall took a deep breath and turned on a screen where a map of Dollet came up.
Makhir had a puzzled look on his face. He spoke up uncertainly, "But, Headmaster, why are we to rescue General Caraway? Why was he even captured in the first place? I thought he was in the Galbadian Army. It all sounds a little like a trap to me . . ."
"Indeed, Mister Mohammed, you have a valid point," Quistis spoke up to answer his question. "Intelligence that both Balamb and Galbadia Gardens have gathered alludes to the fact that Caraway disagreed about going to war again, so he gave away valuable information to the first few towns that they prepared to attack. The top Commander caught him in the act. He attempted to have Caraway executed, but he managed to escape, probably with inside help, and took refuge in Dollet. It is speculated that the Army wants to keep Caraway alive until they can execute him publicly to use him as an example."
"So we want to keep him alive because he might know some crucial information about the way the newly restructured Galbadian Army runs, and other useful information . . ." Makhir cut in.
"Exactly," Squall agreed. "You have a fast mind, Makhir." Makhir nodded in acknowledgement. "Now, this is the way we're going to do this. We have been told that security around the compound where Caraway is being held here," he pointed to the screen somewhere near the center of Dollet where an X appeared, "is very tight, so a smaller group will have an easier time getting in than a larger group. The 16 of us will divide into group of 3-4 with 1-2 SeeD's and 1-2 SeeD candidates in each group. Group A will consist of SeeD's Rinoa and Xu, and candidates Marissa and Sean. Group B will consist of SeeD's Quistis and Selphie and candidate Sonya. Group C will be SeeD Zell and candidates Lance and Sara. Group D is SeeD's Nida and Irvine and candidate Makhir. Group E will consist of myself and candidates Rey and Zephyr." Zephyr rolled her eyes. She didn't like the prospect of spending all day with that idiot.
"The mission will start at 20 00 hours, and we will have cleared Dollet by 22 00 hours. Groups D and E will need to be airlifted. Nida, will you give Rey a little time at the controls?"
(Oh God! Rey's training to be a pilot?!) Zephyr thought to herself.
Nida nodded the affirmative, and Squall continued. "The airlift will start at 20 00 hours. Group A will attack the southern side of Dollet at 20 15. This should be a silent attack, go all out magically. I want this to last as long as possible before they realize they're under attack. Xu, you're in charge of your group. Groups B and C will attack the western and eastern sides of Dollet, respectively, at 20 45. By this time, you should be attacking the flanks of the main force. Quistis and Zell are in charge. The airlift should be finished by 20 30. Group D will then rendezvous with the resistance force at the Communications Tower, and they will attack from the northern edge of Dollet at 21 10. Nida, you're in charge for the airlift, then hand over command to Irvine for the confrontation. By 21 15, Group E should have landed. The other groups are diversion groups to draw troops away from compound. If all goes well, we should have Caraway out in no time. Either way, all forces are to meet at the southern beach where we will dock at no later than 22 00 hours. Group D is to come back on the aircraft. Any questions?" No answer. "Good. Then you all are dismissed until we dock at 19 30. Report back here then."
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
The candidates all rushed away to spend the last of their free time relaxing before the mission began. Then the SeeD's left the room. Eventually, the only people left in the room where Squall and Rinoa.
"Sit down, Squall. You're not getting away from me again!" Rinoa commanded her husband.
Squall sighed as he took a seat. "Why?"
"I have to talk to you." She walked over to him and sat on his lap. "I have something very important to tell you, and I'm not going to let you escape again."
Squall's eyebrows raised in surprise when his wife leaned over and whispered in his ear.
"Wha . . .what?" Squall would have jumped up in surprise if Rinoa hadn't been sitting on him.
"You heard me."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure, you idiot. Do you really think that I would get something like this wrong?"
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Squall asked exasperatedly. "If I knew, I would have brought someone else."
"I tried! But every time I was about to tell you, something more important popped up."
"But you're sure?" Squall had to ask as a smile spread slowly across his face.
"Ah, so the great Squall is excited at the prospect of being a father," Rinoa remarked as she noticed Squall's smile. She didn't have a chance to say anything else as he kissed her.
Author's Note: Squall's gonna be a daddy! How sweet! Big exciting chapter next time! Big mission! YAY! Newayz, don't forget to review on your way out. And don't forget to smile today!
Chapter 3 - The Briefing
The PA system came on with a buzz. "Please excuse all students and Instructors who are taking part in today's SeeD field exam to meet on the south end of Garden by the directory. Thank you." There was a buzz as the PA went dead.
(Today is the day. It all hinges on today, and whether I pass this test. I really hope I do pass . . . or else I'm gonna have some pretty important people pissed at me . . .) Zephyr thought as she gathered her books. She pushed her glasses back up her nose as she prepared to leave the room.
"You can leave those here, Miss Masters. You don't need to worry about them being disturbed seeing as I am coming as well. I intend to lock my classroom until we get back." Instructor Trepe stood up as well. "You heard me class. The rest of you, apart from Miss Masters and Miss Westing, have the rest of the period as a Study Hall. Now scram!" Zephyr laughed as the whole of the class cheered and ran out of the room. All apart from another young woman.
"Come on Miss Westing, we can't be late," Quistis chided the young woman.
Zephyr tried not to stare at the young woman. She was almost a head shorter than Zephyr's 5' 7", had a hawkish profile with mousy brown hair. But it was her eyes that caught Zephyr's attention. They were a clear, deep, sapphire blue. Zephyr guessed that Miss Westing wasn't any older than 16. She noticed that she had a tight grip on what appeared to be a short whip that made almost crackling noises as she stood there.
The three women left the room together and took the elevator to the first floor. They appeared to be about the last ones there. Zephyr scanned the people standing there, trying to figure out who was all there. She noticed the Headmaster and his wife, Instructor Leonheart, head of the magic department. There was Instructor Dincht and Instructor Kinneas. Over there was Instructor Tilmett, who helped Instructor Leonheart in the magic department as well as helping with any students who wanted to learn how to use nunchaku. There were two other SeeD's, maybe Instructors, that she didn't know, though. She also recognized a few of the students also taking the test. Rey Strife was in a couple of her classes, not the specialized weapons training courses, though. She knew he fought with long double daggers. Marissa Evans was a magic specialist, and one of Instructor Leonheart's favorites. Makhir Mohammed was a Middle Eastern looking kid who was in most of her revolver/pistol handling classes, but he wasn't doing sniping. Sticking to the simple stuff. He could put two and two together really quickly, though. There were two students that she didn't recognize either. She had come with Instructor Trepe and Sonya Westing . Including herself, that made a grand total of 15: 8 SeeD's and 7 candidates. (15? Isn't that an awful odd number to group us in? 5 groups of 3, I guess . . .)
Zephyr caught sight of a little dissention down by where Squall and Zell were standing. She could barely make out what they were saying.
"He's not here," Squall stated. "If he doesn't turn up soon, we'll have to go without him."
"He'll be here. I know he will. Have some faith, okay?"
Squall checked his watched before replying. "Five minutes. We leave in five minutes, with or without him." Zell didn't respond. He was looking around worriedly.
(Who is he talking about? Who would be late for the SeeD test? What kind of idiot would make a bad impression this early on?) Zephyr thought as she joined the small crowd.
At that moment, a tall young man with black hair came sprinting down from the direction of the dormitories. He had a satchel slung over one shoulder with a short strap. The pouch was bumping against his waist as he ran. He came over to the group and doubled over, hands on knees, breathing hard.
"Sorry . . . Instructor Dincht. I . . . forgot my . . . laptop . . . in my room," he said in between gasps.
(Lance! I didn't know he was . . . yes I did! He told me, the first day. What an idiot.)
Zephyr laughed inwardly at Lance's tardiness. She caught his eyes, and Lance could see the amusement that flickered within them. Over the last couple of days, they had become close friends, and had learned to communicate to each other with looks and gestures, breath being precious while training so hard physically. Lance subtly, yet jokingly, stuck his tongue out at her, just the tip between his teeth.
"Okay, people! Quiet!" Squall quickly got the motley group silent. "Now that everybody's here, we're going to load up. Four to a car, head for Balamb. Once there, head to the dock and board the ship waiting there. The briefing will be on the ship. Now move out!"
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
"No way! Rey, you are NOT driving! We'll all be little smears of red before we reach Balamb!"
"Shut up, Makhir! I can drive just fine! Just 'cause I wanna live a little . . ."
Zephyr, Lance, Rey and Makhir had ended up in a car together. Zephyr and Lance agreed with Makhir, not wanting to trust Rey's prowess at the wheel. If his attitude towards driving was anything like his attitude towards food or women, 'I can do anything once,' then Makhir was quite right about their position after the ride.
"Move over, Rey. I'm driving. I, for one, want to pass this test. And you are not going to mess it up for me. You know how long I've wanted to be a SeeD? I'm not going to let you screw up my chances just because you feel like strutting your stuff. Move. Now! I'll hit you . . ." Zephyr's voice took a menacing tone, and Rey didn't dare to argue with her. He scrambled over the seat into the back. Lance burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Rey flipped his chocolate brown hair over his shoulder. It was tied up at the nape of his neck and reached to just below his shoulders. "I could laugh at you for a bunch of stuff, Mr. I-forgot-my- laptop!"
"You scrawny little . . ."
"Okay, guys. That's enough." Lance was cut off from his retort, and the punch that he was about to land on Rey's face, by Makhir's quick thinking. "Lance, you sit up by Zephyr. I'll sit behind you by Rey." As the guys were changing seats, Makhir leaned over and whispered in Zephyr's ear.
"Looks like we get to play babysitter all afternoon for two 21 year old guys with fluctuating hormones."
Zephyr snorted with laughter and Rey and Lance glared at her. Makhir winked at her, and she couldn't help but like his quick wit and light manner.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
"Okay guys, here's the story." The whole group was now seated in a large room on the ship that had just left Balamb. Squall was addressing the group for their briefing. "We were contacted 10 hours ago for a request for SeeD in Dollet. The Galbadian Army has occupied the city. The small resistance force was forced to retreat to the mountains by the fully functional Communications Tower. They have General Caraway captured and held in the center of the city. Our mission is to get him out." Squall took a deep breath and turned on a screen where a map of Dollet came up.
Makhir had a puzzled look on his face. He spoke up uncertainly, "But, Headmaster, why are we to rescue General Caraway? Why was he even captured in the first place? I thought he was in the Galbadian Army. It all sounds a little like a trap to me . . ."
"Indeed, Mister Mohammed, you have a valid point," Quistis spoke up to answer his question. "Intelligence that both Balamb and Galbadia Gardens have gathered alludes to the fact that Caraway disagreed about going to war again, so he gave away valuable information to the first few towns that they prepared to attack. The top Commander caught him in the act. He attempted to have Caraway executed, but he managed to escape, probably with inside help, and took refuge in Dollet. It is speculated that the Army wants to keep Caraway alive until they can execute him publicly to use him as an example."
"So we want to keep him alive because he might know some crucial information about the way the newly restructured Galbadian Army runs, and other useful information . . ." Makhir cut in.
"Exactly," Squall agreed. "You have a fast mind, Makhir." Makhir nodded in acknowledgement. "Now, this is the way we're going to do this. We have been told that security around the compound where Caraway is being held here," he pointed to the screen somewhere near the center of Dollet where an X appeared, "is very tight, so a smaller group will have an easier time getting in than a larger group. The 16 of us will divide into group of 3-4 with 1-2 SeeD's and 1-2 SeeD candidates in each group. Group A will consist of SeeD's Rinoa and Xu, and candidates Marissa and Sean. Group B will consist of SeeD's Quistis and Selphie and candidate Sonya. Group C will be SeeD Zell and candidates Lance and Sara. Group D is SeeD's Nida and Irvine and candidate Makhir. Group E will consist of myself and candidates Rey and Zephyr." Zephyr rolled her eyes. She didn't like the prospect of spending all day with that idiot.
"The mission will start at 20 00 hours, and we will have cleared Dollet by 22 00 hours. Groups D and E will need to be airlifted. Nida, will you give Rey a little time at the controls?"
(Oh God! Rey's training to be a pilot?!) Zephyr thought to herself.
Nida nodded the affirmative, and Squall continued. "The airlift will start at 20 00 hours. Group A will attack the southern side of Dollet at 20 15. This should be a silent attack, go all out magically. I want this to last as long as possible before they realize they're under attack. Xu, you're in charge of your group. Groups B and C will attack the western and eastern sides of Dollet, respectively, at 20 45. By this time, you should be attacking the flanks of the main force. Quistis and Zell are in charge. The airlift should be finished by 20 30. Group D will then rendezvous with the resistance force at the Communications Tower, and they will attack from the northern edge of Dollet at 21 10. Nida, you're in charge for the airlift, then hand over command to Irvine for the confrontation. By 21 15, Group E should have landed. The other groups are diversion groups to draw troops away from compound. If all goes well, we should have Caraway out in no time. Either way, all forces are to meet at the southern beach where we will dock at no later than 22 00 hours. Group D is to come back on the aircraft. Any questions?" No answer. "Good. Then you all are dismissed until we dock at 19 30. Report back here then."
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
The candidates all rushed away to spend the last of their free time relaxing before the mission began. Then the SeeD's left the room. Eventually, the only people left in the room where Squall and Rinoa.
"Sit down, Squall. You're not getting away from me again!" Rinoa commanded her husband.
Squall sighed as he took a seat. "Why?"
"I have to talk to you." She walked over to him and sat on his lap. "I have something very important to tell you, and I'm not going to let you escape again."
Squall's eyebrows raised in surprise when his wife leaned over and whispered in his ear.
"Wha . . .what?" Squall would have jumped up in surprise if Rinoa hadn't been sitting on him.
"You heard me."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure, you idiot. Do you really think that I would get something like this wrong?"
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Squall asked exasperatedly. "If I knew, I would have brought someone else."
"I tried! But every time I was about to tell you, something more important popped up."
"But you're sure?" Squall had to ask as a smile spread slowly across his face.
"Ah, so the great Squall is excited at the prospect of being a father," Rinoa remarked as she noticed Squall's smile. She didn't have a chance to say anything else as he kissed her.
Author's Note: Squall's gonna be a daddy! How sweet! Big exciting chapter next time! Big mission! YAY! Newayz, don't forget to review on your way out. And don't forget to smile today!