Chapter 7.

First Mission


Squall awoke that morning to a knocking on his door

"Squall, it's our first SeeD mission!" Selphie yelled from the other side of the door."Looks like we're going to Timber! Meet by the front gate! Hurry!" and she ran off.

Squall pushed away the sheets slowly.

"A mission? Already...!?" he thought. Squall had just become a SeeD yesterday. He never imagined that he would recive a mission this soon.

"I guess thats the way it is, being a SeeD... You're on-call all of the time..."

Squall showered, and put on his causual clothes. It was a warm day, but Squall always wore his fur collared, leather jacket, and black pants. He felt comfortable in the outfit. Squall also put on his necklace, a metal chain with an attached lion-head shaped pendant.

He strapped his gunblade onto its' hilt and started to head out the door. He caught a glimpse of his weapon in the mirror and rubbed some mud off of the trigger. Squall and Seifer were the only two students at Garden who used gunblades.

The gunblade was an effective, yet ackward sword, which took years to control properly. It took even longer to fully master.

But Squall and Seifer had started training with the weapon at a young age, and had both become very talented in using it. Seifer's gunblade was broad at the base, and then narrowed off to a point at the end. The blade was attached to the butt-end of a hand-gun, complete with a trigger. Squall's gunblade, however,was broader, and possesed a revolver-like handle. Squall had also had an image etched into his blade, along with a chain, both of which matched his necklace.

Squall adjusted his gunblade, so he could walk comfortably with it attached to his belt, and left his dorm quickly.

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As Squall passed some students in the hall talking about their classes, he almost ran into the 'jogger', a student who ran around the main hallway several times a day, trying to stay in shape. Squall admired the young student's energy, but it was funny to see a lower classmen have so much enthusiasm.

He finally made it out to the front gate. Headmaster Cid was waiting there, along with a Garden staff member, and Selphie, who was dressed much more approapriatly for the weather. She was wearing a yellow overall-skirt, and some comfortable-looking boots. The only other thing she had with her was her nunchaku.

Selphie Tilmitt was her full name. Though she had just transferred to Balamb Garden from Trabia Garden, Selphie had made many friends quickly. She was always outgoing and looking for something fun to do, which was why she joined the Garden Festival commitee.

She was a bit exahuasted lately from all her activity, though. Becoming a SeeD within days of her arrival had been a tireing, but exciting expirience. Only now she was reciving a mission right away. It was a bit too much.

"Everything is happening so fast..." she thought. But she always remained optomistic and cheerful, despite any stressful circumstances.

Squall went over to the group. They were still waiting for one person.

"....One more minute..." The Garden staff said.

Suddennly, Zell came out, gliding on a T-board. He circled around the group and kicked his board up.

"Made it!" he announced.

Zell, too, was dressed causually in his black vest, sneakers and long shorts.

SeeD were usually hired for covert operations, the recent assignment in Dollet being one of the few that required full-on assualts, and they were encouraged to simply wear their causual clothes most of the time. SeeD didn't want to draw attention to themselves by wearing uniforms too often.

The Garden staff looked at Zell angrilly.

"T-boards are prohibited in Garden." he said "Have you forgotten?"

"Oops, sorry!" Zell apologized."But this is really cool. It may come in handy on a SeeD mission, someday."

"Nice try, Zell." Squall thought.

"We'll be the judges of that." the Garden staff replied. He took Zell's T-board and handed it to another Staff member.

"Confiscate it." he said. Then he turned to the group. "All of you are members of SeeD, but... Nevertheless, you're still students at this Garden. Furthermore, because you are SeeDs. you must set an example to all others and abide by the Garden's rules. Understood!?"

The staff member stood back now, allowing Cid to tell them about the mission. Zell shook his fist at the staff member while his back was turned.

"Well, about you first mission..." Cid began. "You are to go to Timber. There you will be supporting a resistance faction, That is your mission." Cid folded his arms. "A member of the faction will contact you at Timber Station..."

The Garden staff butted in again.

"This person will talk to you and say, 'The forests of Timber sure have changed'. At this time you must reply, 'But the owls are still around'. That is the password."

He stopped and allowed Cid to continue.

"Just follow the faction's orders." he said.

Zell looked around and was curious about something.

"Uh... Just us three?" he asked, confused.

The Garden Staff answered.

"Correct. We have agreed to do this mission for very little money. Normally, we would never accept such requests, but..."

Now Cid Interupted the Staff member.

"Turnabout's fair play..." he thought.

"Enough talk about that." Cid said. He looked at Squall. "Well then, Squall, you are the squad leader. Use your best judgement based on the situation. Zell and Selphie, you are to support Squall and give your all to carry out the faction's plans. You are all to leave immediately." Cid was about to dissmiss them, but he remembered one thing.

"Oh, and Squall, I forgot to give you this." He handed Squall an old, broken, oil lamp. "It's a cursed item, supposedly, but if you're strong enough you may be able to use it, It's said to contain a GF."

He smiled at the group, proud that he was the headmaster of such skilled students. "Now go." he said. "Remeber the password."

He went with the Garden staff, returning to his office.

Zell walked over to Squall.

"So, uh that's it? We just leave for Timber now?"

"...I guess so. " thought Squall.

"Alright." Squall said. "Let's get going. We have to catch a train to Timber from Balamb."

"Hey waitaminute!" Zell said. "Why aren't we taking the car to Balamb? It'd be a lot quicker..."

"Another group of SeeDs are probably using it." Squall said. "And whatever they're doing probably takes priority..."

"Thats right!" Selphie blurted out. "Didn't the staff member say something about doing this for 'very little money'?"

"That sucks..." Zell said, sulking. "Guess we'd better move out pretty quick then..."

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Upon reaching Balamb, the group was greeted warmly by some shopkeepers, and other residents. Zell approached an old man on a bench who seemed to know him.

"Hi, Zell, how are you doing?" the old man asked.

""Hey, how's it goin'!?" Zell replied back. "You know me, I'm always good."

"Good. Make sure you stop by and say 'hi' to your mom." the man said.

Zell turned to Squall.

"You don't mind do you...?" he asked.

"I guess not..." Squall answered apathetically.

Zell ran over to his house, just down the street, followed by Squall and Selphie.

"Ma, I'm home!" Zell said, barging in.

"Zell! What a surprise! Are these your friends?" his mother answered.

Zell looked at Squall and Selphie.

"This is my house... But don't make yourselves to comfortable!" he joked.

"So, Zell. Are you off today?" Zell's mother asked.

"Nah, 'Outdoor class'." Zell answered.

"Alright then. You drop by whenever you can. Even just to say 'hi'."

Squall took a look at the time. It wasn't late, but they needed to find out when the train for Timber left.

"We'd better get going." Squall said.

"Yeah...Okay." Zell said, looking around his house. "I don't get to be home very much, ya' know?"

"...Whatever." Thought Squall.

They left the Dincht house, and headed down the street for the Balamb train station. "Excuse me..." Squall asked a conductor. "Is the train headed for Timber here yet?"

"Yes. The train to Timber is here." the conductor answered, wondering what a bunch of teenagers were going to Timber for.

"Must be SeeD..." he realized.

"Three tickets to Timber?" he asked. "That'll be 3000 Gil."

"Man... Thats pretty expensive." thought Squall, handing the conductor the money.

"But I guess we'll be paid shortly after this anyway. We are SeeDs now..."

"The Train will be leaving shortly." the conductor said giving them their tickets. "You know, all the SeeDs that I've seen off have come back safely." he said. "So, I'm sure there's nothing for you three to worry about, right?" He smiled at them. "Have a safe trip."

Squall, Zell, and Selphie found their way to the back of the station, where the train was prepareing to leave. They boarded quickly, and, within minutes, the train began moving.

Squall was leaned up against the door way, looking out the window, and Selphie on the other side of the trains entrance area, watching the outside as the train sped along.

"This train is awsome!" Selphie said, giddy with excitment.

"A transcontinental railway, baby!" Zell said, just as excited. "This track even runs through an underwater tunnel to get to Timber!" Pretty cool, huh?" Zell turned to Squall, hoping for some response.

"Sure is..." Squall said lazily.

Zell sighed and hung his head

"Guess you're not interested." he said. "Oh, by the way, Squall... You have to use your ticket to get in to our cabin."

Squall pushed himself off of the wall, and walked over to the entranceway. He pushed his ticket in side a slot, and the train door unlocked.

"Okay, we can go in now." he said.

Selphie heard, and went running over to the door before Squall or Zell could go through.

"I'm gonna go check out the front." she said, quickly and excitedly. Then, remebering her manners, she turned to Squall

"Tee-hee." she giggled. "Thanks!" and she ran in.

"Lets go check it out, Squall." Zell invited him.

"...Go ahead. I'll be back in a minute." Squall told him, wanting to be left alone.

" 'Kay." Zell said. and he went in with Selphie.

Squall stayed in the entrance way for a while. But it became too quit, even for him, so he decided to head to the front with Zell, and Selphie.

They were both looking out the train window, watching as the train passed through the huge tunnel.

Zell saw Squall come in and showed him the door to their cabin. He hadn't been inside yet because he was waiting for Squall.

"Yo, check it out!" Zell said. "This is SeeDs private cabin...!"

Zell stepped in and was taken aback by the huge room.

"WHOA!" he yelled, shocked. Then he ran in. "OHHH YEAHHH! AWSOME!"

Squall rolled his eyes and leaned up against the window. He heard Selphie start talking to herself.

"I love trains." she said. She started singing a children's lullaby.

"Train, train, Take us away, ...Take us away, far away, ...too the future we will go... "

Squall thought he had heard it before somewhere, but he couldnt remember.

Selphie stopped singing, but she was still talking to herself, enjoying the train ride. "Such a nice breeze.... Oh!" Selphie noticed Squall standing there. "I'll meet you inside." she said. "I'm gonna hang out here for a bit."

Squall took the hint, and went inside their cabin. Once he was in, he saw Zell sitting on a couch, jumping around.

"Heh-heh. This is soo cool." he said, his baggy shorts bouncing wildly.

"... I'm glad you're so excited." Squall said sarcastically.

Zell stopped and looked up at him.

"They even have magazines!" he said, handing Squall a magazine called 'pet pals'. Squall set the magazine down, and sat on the couch, resting his head on his hands.

"This is pretty damn amazing. It pays to be a member of SeeD!" Zell said.

Squall wondered how he could get so excited over a silly thing like a train cabin.

"Must be entertained pretty eaisilly..." thought Squall.

Zell decided to change the subject.

"Squall, y'know anything about Timber?"

"Finally... He wants to talk about the mission for once...." Squall thought.

"Not too much." he said.

"Thought so." Zell said, smugly. "Well, let me fill you in... Timber used to be a country surronded by deep forests. But about 18 years ago, Galbadia invaded."

"Galbadia...Seems like SeeD has been fighting them a lot lately..." Squall thought.

Zell continued.

"Timber fell quite eaisly to Galbadia. So now Timber is under Galbadian oocupation. It's said that there's a whole bunch of resistance factions, big and small."

Zell ended there.

"... And?" Squall said.

Zell laughed.

"Nope, thats it!"

"Oh brother..." thought Squall. "That was pointless..."

"...Thank you Mr. know it-all-Zell." Squall said sarcastically.

Zell smiled, ignoring Squall's rude tone.

"Hey, no prob!"

Just then, Selphie came in. She walked in slow and lazily, dragging her feet and hanging her head.

"I'm not... feeling well..." she said, in a sleepy voice. She was not her usual, cheery self.

Squall and Zell looked at her strangely.

"You should get some rest if you're tired." Squall offered

Selphies eyes began drooping, and her voice made her sound only half-awake.

"I'm really sleepy..." she said.

"Whats going on?" Squall thought. "She was more than fine a minute ago..."

"You ok?" he asked.

No answer. She simply stood there.

"Huh! Hey...!" Zell sudennly got up and stretched his arms. "What the...!? Somthin's wrong with me...Now I feel sleepy...." Zell's voice trailed off as he yawned.

Selphie walked over and currled up on the couch where Zell had been sitting. Zell moved over, plopped down, and began to dose off.

"Whats going on?" Squall said. Then he felt it.

"Ugh!"

A strange sensation sudennly came over Squall. He heard ringing in his ears and began to feel incredibly drousy.

"What is this?" he said in a weakening voice. The sensation overtook him, and he fell onto the floor, unconcious.


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End Chap. 7

Well there it is. A suspenseful ending for chapter 7. I've already written a lot of 8 at this point, but I wanted to keep you guys waiting. ^_^

Anyway. Isn't Selphie funny? Her song doesn't even rhyme... but it's so darn catchy...

This chapter was really short, so you impatient readers will be happy, (unless it sucks or somthing...) I don't paticularly appriciate long chapters myself, but its hard not to write them somtimes. (I'm still quaking in fear over how long chapter three was...)

Okay! Next up! Chapter 8 "Dreaming"

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