OK, the PC's back so let me respond to the masses.

lady-rinoa: I'm trying my best to improvise, but this is my first stab at FF8 Fan fiction. Turns out I got your review about making 'Squall meets Rinoa', so I'll try to make it long enough when they officially meet. jasmine32: (Talking like Beavis): Heh-heh-heh. Encouragement kicks ass. Heh-he

Crystopher: Glad that you're reading. I had no intention of giving up on this, Ultimecia's goin' down!

Laurendil: I try my best, 100 of the time.

CHAPTER 8: THE SECRET AREA

Squall was glad to be back in his normal clothes. Grabbing his gunblade, he headed for the Training Center. On the way, he bumped into someone. This person was wearing a SeeD uniform, but it was white.

"Sorry 'bout that." Squall said.

"No, no, my fault." The other man replied. Squall then walked into the hallway leading to the Training Center, where Quistis was leaning against the wall.

"Squall, I was just wondering, have you ever beaten a T-Rexaur" She asked

"I'm not sure." He replied.

"If you junction Sleep magic to your weapon, you can beat it pretty easily." She said, before they could leave, Siren's GF stone appeared in Quistis hand. With that, Squall and Quistis headed into the Training Center, which had that 'Jurassic Park' feel to it. A few grats attacked, but were easily dispatched. It didn't take long to reach the Secret Area that Quistis was referring to.

"I haven't been here for a while." Quistis said. As she approached the railing, staring out into space and the exterior view of Balamb Garden, its Halo giving light to an otherwise pitch black night.

"What time is it" Quistis asked to Squall, who had stood to her left.

"It's after midnight" he replied, remembering what his clock read while he was changing.

"Oh well" Quistis sighed. "I, Quistis Trepe, am no longer an instructor as of now." Squall wondered what she meant, did she quit"I'm just a member of SeeD now, just like you. Who knows, maybe we'll end up working together"

"Oh really" Squall said.

"Is that all you're going to say" she asked.

"If that's how it was decided, you have to abide by it." Squall told her.

"They told me that I failed as an instructor." Squall knew what that meant, she was fired. "Basically that I lacked leadership qualities." Squall tried to tune her out as she rambled on. "I was a SeeD by the age of 15, got my instructor license at 17. It's only been a year since I got it. I wonder where I went wrong? I did my best." She noticed Squall wasn't saying anything. "Are you listening"

"Are you done yet" Squall asked. "I don't wanna talk about it. What am I supposed to say about other peoples problems"

"I'm not asking you to say anything, I just want you to listen." Quistis said.

"Then go talk to a wall." Squall said. Quistis let out a sigh.

"Aren't there times when you want to share your feelings with someone" She asked.

"Everyone has to take care of themselves." Squall said"I don't want to carry anyone's burden." With that, Squall walked out.

"No leadership qualities, failed instructor, maybe they're right." Quistis thought. She took one more look out into the open, and then left the place as well. She was able to see Squall ahead of her, but decided to keep her distance, that is, until both of them heard a scream. "Somebody help" Quistis ran to catch up with Squall, who was unsheathing his Gunblade, as well as Quistis uncoiling her whip.

The two of them found a young woman being cornered by a flying beast, known as a Granaldo. Squall recognized the woman; she was the girl he saw in the Infirmary!

"Squall" she called out as Quistis joined him.

"Squall! Quisty" She said. Squall swiped the Creature, taking the focus off of the Girl, and on to him. The monster flew forward and grabbed Squall in its claws. Quistis struck the monster in the back to make it let go of Squall.

"Blue Magic! Laser Eye" Quistis went into her Limit Break, shooting eye lasers at the Granaldo. As it flew forward, it didn't notice Squall climbing up its back. As it went in for a fatal swipe, Squall thrust his Gunblade upward into the monsters head. The monster fell into a heap, twitched a few times, and finally, stopped moving. With the monster done with, Squall turned his attention to the young woman.

"How do you..." before Squall could finish, the man he had bumped into earlier appeared, and took his place next to this woman.

"It's not safe here" He told her. "Please, let's go."

"Alright" she agreed before thanking Squall.

"Who was that" Quistis said out loud. As she said it, the Girl stopped momentarily, and then continued walking. It looked like a tear had passed her eye. Squall and Quistis took this time to leave.

"Squall, it's not like everyone can get by on their own." Quistis said before walking off.

"Says who" Squall mumbled, before heading back to his dorm. As he entered the hallway, he found Zell waiting for him.

"There you are" Zell said"Where the hell were you, I've been looking everywhere. Well, anyway, now that were SeeDs, we got our own room's baby! No more roommates! I moved all your stuff for ya, I didn't think you would mind. Anyway, your new rooms right across the hall from your old one." Squall heard Zell out about the new rooms, but otherwise just ignored him. He stepped into his new room, flipped through a weapons magazine, and went to sleep.