Squall awoke to pounding on the door of his apartment. Taking care not to disturb Rinoa (who was already stirring because of the pounding), he dressed and went to the door. After undoing the locks, he opened the door to find an exasperated Zell, wearing an expression of concern and fear.

            "Zell!" Squall shook hands with his old partner. "What brings you here?"

            "No time for explanations, dude." He peered over Squall's shoulder, trying to see Rinoa. "Is she here too?"

            "Yeah, why?"

            "Seifer has called an emergency SeeD meeting in a few hours. He says it's really important. Your phone was out, so I had to come here myself."

            "I see." He contemplated for a moment even going. "Did you come by ship?"

            "Yeah. We're docked at the East Beach. Don't stay too long, 'kay?"

            "I need to talk to Rinoa first. We'll meet you as soon as we can."

            "Right. See ya."

            Squall closed the door. He put on his fur jacket and belts and opened the closet where the gunblade lay. He reached his hand up, then hesitated.

            "Take it with you." He turned to find Rinoa, fully dressed, strapping on her wrist launcher. "Just to be safe."

            "Why do I have to fight?" he asked, half-rhetorically.

            "Don't be like that," she chided. "For all we know, he may want us to round up an escaped flock of chocobos." She looked into his eyes, hoping to comfort him. "Let's just see what he wants, alright?"

            "Alright." He placed the weapon in its holster and embraced the small woman. "Did you sleep well?"

            "Next to you, who wouldn't?" She closed her eyes right before he kissed her softly. Rinoa felt her body go limp as he held her. "Let's get back safely so this won't be our last kiss."

            "Definitely." He started towards the door. "Let's go."

            "So how's it been?" Zell asked. They were sitting in a SeeD ship, piloted by Quistis.

            "Okay." Rinoa responded. "How have you and Quistis been getting along?"

            "We're alright. We have separate mattresses, though," he whispered.

            Squall spoke up. "Does this make you the ultimate Trepie?"

            "Heh heh… not quite." He seemed embarrassed. The couple decided to leave the subject alone.

            "Have you heard from Selphie or Irvine?" Rinoa asked.

            "No, not in a couple of weeks. They should be at the meeting, though."

            "Any idea what it's about?" Squall asked, hoping for the best.

            "Nope. Seifer wouldn't say. Fujin kept mumbling about 'SHADOWS…' or something." Squall absently touched his scar upon mention of Seifer's name.

            They entered the Garden courtyard and made their way to the Headmaster's Office. Seifer stood where Cid once sat, in front of Fujin, Raijin, Irvine, and Selphie, while Zell, Squall, Rinoa, and Quistis filed in. After a minute of shaking hands by the men and hugging by the women (except Fujin) Seifer began.

            "Let me start off by saying that I'm glad all of you could make it." He cleared his throat. "I know I don't live up to Headmaster Cid, but I feel like I can fulfill this office without him…"

            Raijin interrupted. "Boss, don't you think we should skip to the destruction part?"

            "AGREED." Fujin added.

            "Right. Well, recently our informants in Deling City have reported strange creatures sprouting up all over the area. Informants in Trabia…"

            "Me!" Selphie blurted out.

            Seifer continued unnoticing. "…have confirmed this, and reported similar activity in their own area."

            "What sorta creatures are we talkin' about?" asked Irvine.

            "Well…" Seifer opened a small terminal on the desk. "They look very similar to this." As everyone crowded around the screen, they saw a small, squat creature, completely black without any identifying marks save for two glowing yellow eyes. Small antennae adorned its head, and its hands seemed like small, but sharp claws. Its feet were long and pointy, and though the image was still, Squall could visualize how it moved.

            "They've been named 'Shadows,'" Seifer spoke up, "because that's what they are. They seem to be attracted to all living creatures, not just humans." He shifted the image to a frightening one of a creature cornering a SeeD. "When they kill," he continued, "the person's entire body vanishes, without any sort of residue or vapor. What's especially frightening is that apparently anyone who is killed by one, becomes one."

            "So how are we supposed to help?" Squall asked flippantly. He was hoping it wouldn't have come to this. "This doesn't fall under my jurisdiction as a Dollet police officer."

            "Dammit Leonhart!" Seifer slammed his fist on the table in anger, as the screen blinked off. "This isn't about jurisdiction! It's about human lives! There are NO MORE citizens in Deling City! The entire town has been completely wiped out! You're all the top-ranking SeeD's in the world, and we need your help!"

            "There better be a little more added to my salary for this."

            "Squall," Rinoa tugged at his sleeve and whispered. "Why aren't you more eager to protect people?"

            "I never want to destroy again," he replied coldly. "No mater if it's a Galbadian soldier or a creepy black thing."

            "I'm surprised at you," Rinoa continued. "I didn't know you could be so heartless."

            That word awakened a memory in Squall, but he didn't know what it was or where it was from. He sighed, then looked at Seifer. "We agree…"

            "Good," he replied. "Glad to see she can talk some sense into you." Squall glared at him. "We'll divide into three teams, each of which will attack a different sector." From the screen he conjured a map of Deling City. "Leonhart, you and Heartlilly will take Dincht and enter by the northern road." He turned to Quistis. "Trepe, you take Tilmitt and Kinneas and come in by the northeastern coast. Fujin, Raijin, and I will come in by the south road. Is everyone clear on the mission?" All eight heads nodded, Squall's only barely. "Alright. Make sure you stock up on magic and put your GF's in order. We leave in two hours."