The Seventh Month
Headmaster & Commander
A knock at my office door disturbed my thoughts as I look up from mini computer absently hitting the save. "Yes" I call to the door hoping that whoever was on the other side was not here to hand in a report for me to read or an application to be considered and signed. I also hoped that whoever was opening the door was not some scared little cadet. They drove me insane. I know you are supposed to respect your superiors but you didn't have to be scared to death of them and in complete awe.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you commander, but Cid has asked for your presence at the meeting" My eyes focus on Xu who has come to attention in front of my desk. I looked at her confused. There was no meeting on the schedule especially not one from the headmaster. Xu must have seen the confusion in my eyes because she continued. "It was a last minute thing. Headmaster Cid sent the meeting time to everyone through their e-mail. He guessed that you hadn't gotten around to it yet. So he sent me to come and get you." There was a hint of a smile as I turned from my mini computer to glare at my terminal screen. That was still off from when I left yesterday night. I hated checking my email first thing in the morning. There was never any good news. Only more work. "Oh, I see you were typing in your journal instead." She said reaching a hand over to the mini computer. I snapped the screen down, turning it off and activating the security device. Every SeeD was issued one after the sorceress war. The Garden could not afford to give up the power of the GFs and until a method to prevent memory loss could be found we were supposed to write the days events and other memories into the computer. It was about the size of a Discman, and sort of looked like one too. The screen folded up to reveal the keyboard. It was made specifically for a SeeD journal, and they all had tight security codes. Of course that also meant that the only people who had access to them were the owner, the headmaster, the doctor, and myself. For safety reasons of course. I hated typing in them, but Dr. Kadowaki would not be pleased with me if she found out I had written nothing but childhood memories in it. So summarizing the past seven months in three journal entries wasn't all that bad to appease her.
"Let's go." I said after I noticed she was standing there waiting for my reply. She gave me a look that said 'like you have anything interesting in your journal anyway' and started out the door making sure I was following. Figuring nobody would be in my office and no one had access anyway I left my seldom used journal on my desk and headed out after her. She led me to the conference room and waited for me to go in ahead of her. I was wondering what Cid's meeting could possibly be about as Xu opened the door with a 'Sir'. The second my foot was in the door I hear a much louder "SURPRISE" I swear if I wasn't me I would have had a heart attack and jumped ten feet in the air. As it was I was broken out of my inner thoughts and blinked a few times. All my friends, except Rinoa who wasn't officially a SeeD, were in the room as well as Cid and some of the other directors. What was going on? This is when I saw the banner behind a very happy and bouncy Selphie. 'Congratulations Headmaster Leonhart" Hyne, I thought I had at least another month to talk Cid out of the Headmaster bit. That's the last thought I get as I'm quickly surrounded by my friends and glomped by Selphie.
"Congratulations Squall!! We are so proud of you for your promotion. Aren't you excited. You looked so surprised when we jumped out to congratulate you. Well not really surprised like normal people, but you blinked a few times and I know we scared you right out of that inner world of yours." I look down at Selphie willing my brain to keep up with her fast dialogue and not push out of her embrace. She releases me from her bear hug and taps me on my head instead for her last point. Thankfully Irvine has arrived to gently pull Selphie away from me so I could have a little room.
"I wasn't expecting this" I said in complete honesty. I was expecting another month at least and if I couldn't talk Cid out of it then a nice quiet meeting between us and the board members where we would sign a few papers and Garden would be handed over completely into my command. What was I thinking. Everything is a reason to throw a party with Selphie around.
"Come on Headmaster, there are people here who want to congratulate you" Quistis said gently taking my elbow and guiding me further into the room.
"Yeah not to mention make a quick get away before Selphie starts her all out party" Zell retorted getting a swift kick in the shins from the little ray of sunshine. "Damn, that hurt....I wasn't insulting you Sel, I was insulting the old board guys" This resulted in another kick from Irvine. "OWww!" I sometimes can't believe the stupidity of Zell. I don't know what it is, but sometimes he can just become a complete moron. Like right now, when we are ten feet away from the people that loosely hold the strings of Garden.
"Why don't you be a little louder there Zell. I'm not quite sure if all those important people who help operate and fund Garden heard you insult them." Leave it to Irvine to straighten Zell out, thank goodness I'm not the only one with common sense around here.
"Geesh, you don't have to be so mean about it Irvine" Zell replied as he left the group to what I assume will be a hotdog run from the buffet tables.
Since Norg's early retirement Garden was forced to look elsewhere for corporate backing. Yes Garden is a not a non-profit organization and we do make more than enough to cover all the expenses but Garden thought it better to be safe then sorry, and also this makes us seem less opposing to outside countries, since we have business partners and all. To make sure that Garden is never again split into two faction we decided not to go with a full partnership. Instead Garden retains 51% of all operating control and the other 49% was divided into four different companies. So although they need to be included in high level decisions they have no real power since Garden has the majority of the votes. Even still it doesn't hurt to mingle and keep them happy. After being congratulated and told how happy they are to be working with me I find myself in front of Cid and on the opposite end of the room of my friends.
"Sorry about the early retirement there boy, but some things happen sooner than you think they will. So the Garden will no be in your capable hands. I really wish I didn't have to do this to you but...." I tune Cid out for a minute as he blathers on. I know he has something important to tell me, but he just takes so long getting to the point. I also wonder what happened sooner than he thought. Oh well, I'll have to think about it later, he's about to make a point. ".... So because of all of that you will be starting official active headmaster duty as soon as the papers are signed, and I'll be leaving this afternoon." He hands the papers over to me, and looks at me like he is waiting for a question. Of course the obvious one would be why the hell are you doing this to me, I just want to be a normal SeeD.... But I somehow don't think he would appreciate that one with all the directors watching us. So I settle for the obvious as I quickly but thoroughly read the papers.
"Where will you be going? And Will I be able to reach you if I need to?" This seems to satisfy him as he starts saying how I've been running Garden for weeks now, and this only makes it official and that he will be with Edea and rebuilding the orphanage and such.... I should care, after all for many years he was the closest thing I had to a father. But I just can't seem to get over the shock of signing on to officially become the headmaster in charge of the most powerful fighting force on the planet to care about Cid's retirement plans. Besides I know Zell or someone will fill me in on the important stuff later, and Cid himself will leave me emergency contact numbers, even if he says he won't be able to be contacted. He stops talking and I hand the papers back to him so he can sign them, they are then passed around to the directors who sign it, take a copy, wish me a congratulations and then make a hasty retreat out of the room.
"Well, I'll let you enjoy your party and see you in your new office after lunch. I'm going to go finish up a few things." He whispers something about being proud and knowing I could do it in my ear before exiting. I didn't really hear him as I watch some more SeeDs and Rinoa come through the door. I guess Selphie must have told them the party had started. I managed to make my way towards the door to greet Rinoa. Surprisingly it didn't hurt not to be with her. I wonder if she had told the others. Probably, or else she would have been there from the start. I should thank her for that.
I make my way to Rinoa and she comes towards me and grabs me in a hug. "Congratulations Headmaster. Too bad I'll never have the honour of staying the night in the Headmaster's quarters." Despite myself I blush at her comments. Only she can make sex jokes with her ex-boyfriend of less than 5 hours and get away with it. If she was hoping to take my mind off work for a few minutes she succeeded.
"Thanks for telling them" I whisper to her as we finish our hug. She shrugs at me and winks. We then go over to hang with rest of the gang. Thankfully the remainder of the party went without incident, and I managed to escape relatively sober. Although if it were left up to Irvine I would have been completely drunk my first official day of work. I could see the headlines now. I headed to the Headmaster's and soon to be my Office. It was only down the hall from my old one, but twice as large and with a connected bathroom. It pays to be in charge.
I stand in front of the door trying to decided whether or not I should knock. I mean it is my office, but Cid said he had to finish up things. Before I could get into a long debate over it with myself Cid opens the door in front of me. "Ah, Squall, perfect timing. I was just about to go look for you. I finished up with everything here, I was just going to show you a few Headmaster type things before I go. Come in and welcome to your new office." I follow Cid into his...my office. He goes to his/my desk and starts showing me all sorts of files, numbers, passwords and so on. It's times like these when I'm thankful I have a good memory. ".....Just incase you didn't get all that down I wrote it all out for you, but please learn it as soon as possible then destroy the paper." Of course, Cid writes notes for everything. I remember the first few weeks of Commander, every time he gave me more of my or now that I think of it probably his duties he sent down notes with it, even if we had just spent hours discussing something. "So do you think you're all set here Headmaster?" He says the last part with a smile, and my only response to that is my standard.
"Whatever." He doesn't seem to mind my remark, and seems more preoccupied with getting away from Garden and into retirement. Can't blame him though I'd probably feel much the same. As he was saying his final farewells to me A question comes into my head. "Sir," He turns around to give me his full attention. I hope I don't sound stupid for asking this. "Who is going to replace me as Commander?" I thought I was pretty good at reading Cid's look, but this one I can't seem to read. At first it's confusion and then I don't know.
"A Commander isn't all that important out of war times, but they do come in handy. You get a commander to be in charge of training, and accepting and evaluating cadets and SeeD's and even help to plan out missions." He finishes as though he has answered my question. I look at him oddly. I'm pretty sure I asked who should be commander not what is a commander. He fidgets a bit under my glare and then continues. "There are plenty of candidates for Commander, but the final choice is up to you. However if you want my suggestion then I would consider the next person you see in your office." He then waves and exits. Leaving me baffled to his suggestion. The next person in my office? What the hell is he talking about.
Deciding I've stood in the Headmasters office looking like an idiot long enough I head down the hall to return to the Commander's Office. Might as well start moving some of my stuff over, plus I need to grab my journal. What was I thinking to just leave it laying around like that. My secretary is not at her desk, I had planned on asking her if I had missed any calls, she probably wouldn't have known anyway she wasn't that useful. I hope I get Cid's old secretary, she was a really great organizer and was more efficient than any machine. I walk up to my old door and notice a note taped to it. I ripped it off and read it to myself.
Sir, An unexpected appointment dropped by. I checked
your schedule and since it was clear I told him it would be okay to meet with
you right now. I let him go and wait inside since I had some errands to run and
wouldn't be able to keep an eye on him.
Hamilton. 1357
Just great. What was she thinking. She didn't know if she could trust him with her boring secretary work, but she can leave him unattended for. I look at my watch it reads 1402. Five minutes in there alone. I don't want to even think about the destruction this person could have done in that time. Or the classified information he could have read. I make a mental note to myself to fire Ms. Hamilton and quickly make my way inside.
I swear this day is severely shortening my lifespan. I enter my old office to see a tall young blonde man lounging in a chair with his legs propped up on the desk. A gunblade rests besides him and he just sends off waves of arrogance. I know in a split second who he is, but that isn't what shocks me. It's what he's doing with his hands that almost make me have a heart attack. I slam the door closed behind me making him drop my mini computer onto his lap. He turns to face me.
"Seifer Almasy! What the hell gives you the right to come into my office, lounge around and read my personal and locked journal. How the hell did you get into it, and you better pray to some Guardian that you didn't manage to read a single word." I have moved to the desk, and around to my side of it and was attempting to push his feet off my desk and grab my mini computer when I finished my tirade. Through out the whole thing my icy glare never left my face.
"Well hello to you to Headmaster. If you don't want people reading your things maybe you shouldn't leave them laying around. But if it makes you feel any better. This mini computer is mine. Standard issue to ever SeeD right?" He waves the mini computer at me and I notice that it holds his name on the cover and that mine lays exactly where I had left it. How could I have missed that? Seifer always makes me act before I think I hate that. "Also if I'm not mistaken since you are the new headmaster then that also means this isn't technically your office anymore either." I glare at him some more and he just smirks at me. He takes his feet off the desk and sits up straight as if he is getting ready to discuss something important. "So aren't you even going to welcome me back home?" He asks me with that smirk still in place and his green eyes glittering with mischief.
"Welcome Back Seifer. And just where the hell do you think you've been the past seven months?" The Question slips out before I know it. I can't believe it. Seifer Almasy is back and acting as though nothing was ever wrong with the world. Yet something has changed about him, and he seems pleased that I've shown some concern about his whereabouts. I'm still confused as to why he chooses the day I'm promoted Headmaster to make an appearance in my office....Wait a second. Cid! Of course. The old Weasel must have tracked him down and told him to come today. But if he's in my office. Does that mean... Surely Cid doesn't expect me to ..... Commander Almasy.... Well I've heard worse ideas....
~~~~~~~~~Author's Notes~~~~~~~~~~~
Yeah another update, and I also edited and changed a few things in the first two chapters, nothing major. Just fixed some stupid mistakes and added a few more things to make it flow. Anyway We are finally out of Squall's journal and I would really appreciate some feed back on this chapter and what you think. He's finally interacting with people, is it what you expected? should I change style or what do you want to see? It took a lot more time to get him to sign those Headmaster papers than I thought, so there was hardly any Seifer, but at least he's finally in the Garden. Yeah! I just hope this chapter makes sense. Well I'll stop typing, but please Review. Also thank you to my loyal reviewers you are the best. I never thought I would have regular readers and reviewers. I hope I don't disappoint.