Disclaimer: I own none of Final Fantasy VIII except for Squall......I wish.

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Chapter 2: A Simple Mission

Even though the curtains were drawn, the sun's rays still pierced the deep sleep of the impassive seventeen year old. He groaned lethargically and turned against the brightness. Sleep did not come again, though. Much lingered on his young mind. Too much has happened and too much still had to be done. Today, unfortunately, was his meeting with the Garden's leader, Cid. Cid had infinite ways of placing great burdens upon his students, especially the commanding SeeDs. The brunet made a mental note to kill himself before he heard another order.

Groaning again, he rubbed his face with enough potency to strip the drowsiness away. By habit he glanced at his clock. 9:32. Still too early to be cognizant. He sniffed and sat up, trying to regain his senses. He definitely didn't do mornings. Sighing, he sat in perfect stillness for a few moments before rising sluggishly to his feet. And after readjusting his boxers, he took his time shuffling over to the bathroom, prolonging each new step of the way. By the time he finally made it to the bathroom sink, it was nearly 10:00. Still half conscious, he studied himself in the mirror.

The elusive teen gazed deeply into his own azure eyes, as if he wasn't sure who was staring back at him. He grunted disapprovingly and turned on the water. Filling his cupped hands with the crisp liquid, he splashed onto his face and neck. Then, gazing again into the reflection, he studied his wet features, as if the water had changed his whole identity.

Nope. I'm still the same cursed, egoistical soul trapped in this hell,' Squall thought to himself regretfully. He washed the rest of his face, brushed his teeth, and did a few morning (afternoon) exercises. Then he attired himself properly for the meeting set for 1:30. He tugged irritably at his SeeD tunic which he personally thought fit like a woman's corset. But the outfit was mandatory on the formal dress code.

Taking one last look at himself in the dorm's closet mirror, he exited the room. With even more delay than he used to reach his bathroom, Squall strolled slowly down through the corridors. Students walked, skipped, and stumbled past him, but payed him no heed. They knew better that to waste their breath on The Wall'. Each day there was a new and even more prolific nickname created for him. But just as each name suggested, he ignored them all.

Finally he reached the elevator door when he heard a familiar, yet vexatious voice calling for him.

"Squall!!" panted the worn out girl running to catch up. "Squall...I've been following you ever since you've left your dorm! Its as if you don't even hear me!! Is there something wrong? Why don't you ever talk?" continued Selphie in a gasping, yet shrill voice. "Hey, ya know about the meeting today, right? Well I suppose, since your all dressed up and stuff. Cool, I'm headed there too....Squall are listening to me?"

Squall buried his face in one hand as he reluctantly listened to this over-joyed, hyper girl babble on and on. She was a faithful companion, but Squall, more often than not, felt strong urges to strangle her. Rubbing his temples, he interrupted her self conversation.

"Can I go before I'm even later?" He glanced at his watch. The assembly should have started five minutes ago.

"Sure!" piped Selphie gaily. "I want this powwow to be over quickly, too... Hey! Wait up!"

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"So, in conclusion..." the ring of the elevator door interrupted the speech. Squall and the happy Selphie walked into the conference room and took their seats assigned for the SeeDs.

"Ah, thank you for joining us Squall, Selphie," Cid nodded in the direction of the two dilatory students. "Nida and the rest of us were just discussing the tardy issues. Too bad you both weren't here to enjoy it." Cid sat at the far end of the desk. He was a middle aged man with medium brown hair, small glasses, and a warm smile. His callused hands were folded, resting on the desk. He smiled expectantly at both Squall and Sephie.

Everyone watched as both the SeeDs stood up, saluted, and apologized for their act of inconvenience.' Cid nodded, and they sat down stiffly in their seats. Squall shot Selphie a piercing glare, as if she'd been the one to blame for his own procrastination.

The SeeDs all readjusted into more comfortable positions and prepared themselves to hear the reason on why they were here. Quistis, an intelligent instructor, flicked her strawberry blonde hair off of her shoulders and sat up straighter. Being an apt student throughout her life, she became the youngest SeeD of her generation. Soon after, she was upgraded to a part time instructor. Her shrewd looks give her personality a sharp edge and a controlling attitude.

Zell, on the other hand, lived his 17 years in complete oblivion. His assignments were turned in half completed and usually illegible. But even with his carefree and mostly humble attitude, Zell had a tendency to take on every dare presented to him. By the age of 13, he humiliated his mother when he came home with an abnormal tattoo burnt into the left side of his face. He had explained at the time that it was a popular thing to do and he had wanted it for a long time, but, much to his mother's dismay, she was later informed from the great vine' that some alley kid had dared him to do it. Everyone he had known thought it a miracle or an accident that he made it into SeeD. He was sitting slumped in his chair, dreading the boring speech to come.

Selphie, the happiest of the highest ranking SeeDs there today, still giggled at the malicious face Squall had given her earlier. Though not a total opposite of Zell, Selphie was a dependable student, always turning in assignments completed and on time (even if the paper's margins were full of hearts and doodles.) Her bouncy brown hair matched her bouncy and up-beat attitude. She could always be found in an optimistic mood, no matter what situation she was in. Her thoughts were clever, but her knowledge and choices were sometimes questionable. The girl's heart and mind were always lost in ideas for the Garden Committee Festival, even during class lectures. She had gotten in trouble for her dazing and humming more than once, and her classmates often blamed her for having some type of an attention disorder.

The most depressing and distant SeeD, of course, was Squall Leonhart. Nobody dead or alive had made it onto Squall's social list (all except his lovely sister, Ellone, who still lived across Gia, in Winhill). The harder people tried, the farther Squall pushed them away. He was often described as distant, occult, mysterious, mute, grumpy, anti-social, and a lone wolf. And as much as he hated it, he stood out the most. Students and instructors alike took an interest to his abnormal behavior and the moody atmosphere he presented. Girls giggled behind his back and boys had laughed in his face. The crude humor they had made of him took a sudden turn for fear and respect one day after the untimely death of a very annoying cadet.

Squall leaned back in his chair, glaring at people through his long bangs if they so much as passed their eyes over him. He tapped the edge of the desk in an irritating tone with a gloved hand. He then turned his attention to his childhood rival, Seifer Almasy, who, by all means necessary, was trying to draw attention to himself. Seifer, with no hint of respect present in his arrogant mind, was attempting to pull Nida's chair from under him.

"Seifer, is there a reason why you insist on being the center of attention? Or making your fellow SeeDs uncomfortable? Or do we need to sit you in that corner over there?" Cid gestured to a dark corner in the far back of the room. Everyone chuckled lowly over Cid's comment.

"No, sir..." Seifer seized his disruptive chair game, folded his arms across his chest, and turned his attention now to making disturbing faces at Quistis.

Cid sighed despondently and was thankful that Quistis had an inconsiderable time ignoring Seifer's persistence. He also noticed she was almost enjoying watching Seifer get more and more irritated at his failure to disrupt her. A small smile crossed her tiny lips when Seifer gave up, turned around, and pouted.

"Ahem," Cid grunted, passing a glance at everyone in the room. "Now that that wonderful divertissement has concluded, we shall move on.

"I have brought you all here, the highest of SeeDs, to be sent on a rather simple mission. Your probably not surprised," he looked at his audience, noticing Zell was nodding off. Cid continue, "Your probably not surprised, Mr. Dincht," Zell's eyes fluttered open at his name, "but this mission is different from the previous ones I've sent you on. You see, this is not something where you assigned to assassinate or arrest anyone, but something a little more complex than that.......yes, Selphie?"

Selphie shyly pulled down her arm. "Uhh...," she mumbled, noticing all eyes were on her. Then she became more confident. "If we're not getting into any kind of trouble, then why do you need all five of us to go?"

"Now, Selphie, I never said you weren't getting into trouble." Cid stated and Selphie sank back down into her chair, embarrassed. "And I'm not saying that you are. I am simply taking the safest road by sending all of you. I am unsure of what this assignment's future will hold for all of you. I do not even have much information on what it is you're doing exactly, besides where you're all to be sent." Cid coughed.

"Anyway, getting to the facts, you are being sent to Deling City tomorrow afternoon. So be ready by then," He particularly looked in Zell's direction. "From there you will wait at the Deling City Hotel until that evening. At this time you will receive a call, telling you to meet someone somewhere. These facts I unfortunately do not know. Supposably, something of great importance has been found. Its meanings are unknown.

"That's pretty much all I know about this, except that the man you will meet will most likely send you all on another mission. That right there should answer you question, Selphie."

All the SeeDs stared at Cid in a discombobulated manner, as if expecting him to go on. Cid shrugged, clueless, and looked at them for their approval, even though it wasn't their decision. Squall, Seifer, Selphie, Zell, and Quistis, in a not too organized motion, stood up and saluted to Cid.

"Very well, now go back to your dorms and pack. The rest of the day is yours, so use it wisely," Cid stated, casting another glance at the mischievous Zell.

Everyone crowded over the elevator indolently, though they all wanted to leave as soon as possible.

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Squall lay stretched out his bed. The room was dark and gloomy, lit only by a small lamp in the far corner. His thoughts traveled adrift through his bordered mind. He thought about the mission he was about to depart on, he thought about his childhood, and he thought about his sister. His sister was the one person Squall had been able to connect to. He came to her with all of his problems and difficulties. Even if she hadn't been able to solve all of them, she atleast had ways of comforting Squall.

Squall turned on his side, wondering deeply about what his sister was thinking now. Did she ever think of him? Did she even care anymore? Or had she left him too?

That's ridiculous,' Squall thought to himself in the dark. He curled into a ball as his mind still grasped those loathsome doubts. How he missed her. He couldn't even think how long it had been since he had been with her. He imperceptibly remembered his mother. He only could recall her comforting presence. She had left him, too. Ellone had never told him how she died, but he didn't especially care to know, either.

This is when he ran to his sister for comfort. His father, Laguna Loire, was still serving in the Galbadian Army and was stuck over in Esthar somewhere. Ellone had taken care of Squall when she was only 9 years of age. She had been there for him for about 4 years. During this time, Squall had become excessively connected with Ellone and clung to her at all times. But just as the others had done, Ellone eventually left him.

On morning, Esthar Soldiers had captured and taken her away from Winhill, leaving her desolate younger brother behind. Squall went into a deep state of apathy and depression. He stayed, forlorn, in the abandoned house for about 3 days. He only sat where his sister had left him, weeping ruefully. At this time, the neighbors had found him half starved. They prepared to send him to an orphanage located in the southern most continent.

Squall was later picked up in a white SeeD ship where he traveled south. In the ship he met a sublime little girl named Selphie Tilmitt. As happy and social as she was, Squall never really acknowledged her, though he was inwardly thankful for her company.

When they reached the orphanage, the two children met Quistis, Zell, and Edea, their matron. Seifer arrived only a week after. The orphanage was placed near the base of a peninsula, not too far from a lighthouse. Surrounding the orphanage was a vast field of untamed flowers. The sweet fragrance arised the childrens' moods, so they had spent most of their time playing amongst the foliage. Squall, alone, sat at the steps of the old building, waiting despondently for his sister's return. Finally, word came of her.

The white SeeDs had reported, at Edea's request, that Ellone had been studied by Dr. Odine for top secret reasons. She would not be capable of visiting the orphanage, or anywhere for that matter. She was to remain in Winhill until further notice.

The news upset Squall that he wouldn't be seeing his sister in many years, but he was relieved that she was alright. So, time went on, and soon the five orphans were transferred to Balamb Garden, where Zell was adopted by the Dincht couple. They all eventually became SeeDs and were assigned many missions, all of which were successful. Unfortunantely, Cid kept the SeeDs so busy, that Squall never had time to visit his beloved sister.

Squall turned back on his other side, still lost in thought. Maybe this new mission would take him somewhere in reach of Ellone. He lay there for long moments, dwelling in the comfortable thoughts of seeing his sister again, but was soon disturbed by his pessimistic side.

She'll just be taken away from you again,' his mind scolded him.

Squall flinched at the thought of losing her as soon as he found her again. He closed his eyes tight, hoping to crush the hopeless thoughts. He curled up tighter, lost within his own self pity and fear. He heaved a shuddering sigh and wept himself to a troubled sleep.

Dawn broke through the heavy fog of night, flooding warmth over the lush island of Balamb. The forest trees surrounding Garden swayed and serenaded for life. Foam-bordered waves smoothed out over the beaches, then receded in harmony back to the vast ocean. Inalterable mountains stood strong against the northern side of Balamb's terrain, protecting the small town from the harassing Trabian winds.

Squall and the others stood waiting at Balamb's train station. Seifer sat moodily in one of the benches, passing crude remarks to Zell under his breath. Quistis leaned on the attendant's desk, socializing with the ticket woman about weather in Deling. Squall could usually count on her to gather all the needed information. Selphie was already shivering with anticipation and explaining, to whoever would listen, about how much she loved trains. Squall sat across from Seifer, filling out papers for when they reached Deling.

"Now departing for Deling City and Galbadia Garden," screeched the speaker.

Selphie squealed with delight. "Ooh, hurry, hurry! That's us!" She beamed at everyone and encouraged them to move with more haste.

The train ride to Deling was pleasant....for most of them. Zell entertained himself the full 6 hours bouncing on the cabin seats and checking out the magazines. Seifer was in the car ahead of them, most likely flirting or boasting, as usual. Quistis and Squall, unlike the others, had a miserable time trying to stop Selphie's shrill singing. It would have even made it more tolerable if the song she sang had more than four stanzas.

Finally, Squall and Quistis moved to the other side of the train, where Selphie's piercing voice could no longer penetrate the walls. Squall plopped into a seat, placing his forehead in his hand. Quistis came to sit next to him.

"Uhh, can I sit here?" she asked hesitantly, after seeing Squall snarl from under his hand.

"...whatever," he replied with a hint of irritation.

Quistis didn't seem to take the hint and sat down next to him. She then turned to face him, raising an eyebrow.

"Why don't you ever talk to anyone?" she urged him. "Its always as if you're never on this planet....like now. You just always seem so grumpy."

Squall stared out the window, ignoring Quistis as if she never had a purpose. Suddenly, he turned to her, starling her so much that she flinched away.

"Why do care so much?" he snapped. "You never bother anyone else? Why me, then?" He glared at her angrily. "Why don't you just leave me alone, instructor."

Quistis sat in shock at Squall's sudden outburst. Her pale face soon filled to her ears with a crimson tint. "Fine, Mr. Leonhart," she said, using all of her strength to hide her rage. "If you like being left alone in your boxed up mind, then be my guest. I'll be sure to never question your thoughts again." With that, Quistis stood up, cast Squall a furious glance, and calmly stepped back in the direction of the cabins.

Squall sat there, thankfully abandoned by Quistis's persistence. He gazed back out the window, studying the passing scenes. Comparing his thoughts to the blurring images outside, he found a scarce number of differences. Sometimes, when lost in thought, he wondered to why he was so mean and rude to others, but then his mind would severely chastise him, reminding him of how much he had lost when he began to depend.

Squall spent the rest of the trip daydreaming out the window. It was 8:00 in the evening by the time the locomotive came to a screeching halt. Slowly, people from each car began filing out. Selphie was the first of the leap out of the train, jumping and prancing all the while. Next came Zell, then Quistis, then Squall, and, after winking to some girl, came Seifer. All of them, shortly after being awe struck by the city dressed in its evening lights, headed for the neared taxi.

Driving into the midst of the phenomenal city was an adventure in itself. Fluorescent lights lit the nocturnal city into a midnight tableau. Neon colors bordered signs of every type of advertisement, theater, and boutique. Flashy clubs flipped their Closed' signs to Open', entertainers filled the streets and sidewalks, doing their hard practiced performances for passing citizens, and there were even a few spotted prostitutes, seducing anyone who stopped to hear them out.

Squall and the rest of the group stopped at a crowded sidewalk just as the city was really beginning to get interesting. A vertical sign colored in blue neon above a nearby building suggested that they had reached the Deling City Hotel. Pushing past people, they finally made it off the bus and into the hotel's lobby.

Quistis, after double checking they had all of their supplies, checked in at the front desk. She came back after about ten minutes, handing each one of them a card key. Soon after discussing where they would meet in the morning, all of them shuffled sleepily to their rooms.

Squall had barely any time to survey his surroundings before he was sound asleep. The past few days had sucked the remaining energy from both his body and mind. He slept soundly and dreamed of fields full of wildflowers.

Morning broke with a ringing phone set next to Squall's bed.

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Sorry for making this chapter sooooo boring! I'll try to move a little faster next time. Please R+R and tell me what you think so far!