"Elizabeth Andros and Sally Feinstein, please report to the commander's office."

Elizabeth groaned and rolled over on her bed, finally able to get some modicum of sleep after talking with Zell. She looked at her clock to see that she had only slept four hours. Oh well… duty calls. She climbed out of bed and dressed herself again, then ran a hand through her messy tresses of coppery hair. Slept she had, however it was not calm or peaceful.

She moved with a catlike grace out of her room and all the way to the elevator undisturbed. Her mind was already working by the time she got there. Sally Feinstein, annoying bitch, slut extraordinare. Sally was the kind of girl all the men in Garden loved, at least those who violated the unsaid rule forbidding the kind of relations which she had shared with Irvine earlier. Between Squall's marriage and the cowboy's promotion however, most knew that the rule had been relaxed to a significant degree, and more and more people were starting to partake in the 'forbidden fruit'.

Sure enough, Sally marched up, wearing an overly tight t-shirt which showed of her well endowed chest. Her blonde hair came down in straight locks, and her face was powdery with makeup, while her body was well bronzed and sun kissed. Liz felt a glimmer of jealousy, peaked when she blew a kiss to a passing male SeeD. Good Hyne, were getting to be as bad as Galbadians now.

The elevator dinged and the two women rode up in silence. They eyed each other, Sally somehow managing to be looking down at Elizabeth despite the fact that the red-haired girl was 5 inches taller than the blonde, while the taller girl glowered at the other's 'perfect' body. Liz never felt as self-conscious as she did when around Sally. Hyne… please don't put me on a mission with her.

The elevator dinged and deposited the two women in front of Xu. The raven haired Asian secretary motioned to Irvine's office and the two marched in and saluted, painfully aware that they were on duty, suddenly. Inside, Irvine sat in his chair, with Squall, Quistis, Selphie, Zell, and Cid all circled around the desk, a map unrolled out on it.

Squall returned the salute then pointed at a spot on the map. Irvine nodded then looked up at them. "Ladies, we have a priority mission here. Liz, that card you brought back, we decoded it."

Squall continued the thought. "Not only was it the plans of Galbadia's next generation missiles to counter the Estharian Military, it's their target lists too. One batch of these missiles is targeted at us. Only problem is were not exactly sure where the base is."

Both girls remained silent. They knew the gravity of the situation. "We're a bit shorthanded right now, with a good majority of SeeDs on missions, and we know that pictures of the entire command staff have been handed out, so none of us can go. Liz, you are in charge of the mission. Find those missiles and take them out."

Liz nodded and Squall took out another data card. "This program will require ninety-four seconds to load on their system, and it will corrupt their firing solutions and give us access to the computer mainframe. This will keep the base inoperable for months while we plan a much more extensive mission to remove them permanently. Get in, load the program, and get out."

Sally of course had to ask the question. "Sir, if we don't know where the base is, how are we supposed to get there and accomplish the mission?"

Squall pointed to the map on Irvine's desk again. They have to hide the base pretty well; it's a very large facility. We've narrowed the location down to just a few areas, courtesy of the Rangarok's recon work."

Squall studied the two girls for a moment then handed the card to Liz and looked at Sally. "You have to take out that base, or else we're sitting ducks. You must succeed; all of Garden is counting on you. Be careful. Dismissed."

The two women saluted the Captain and spun around, never saying a word. Outside, Xu handed them a pair of forms. "We're taking you by Sea Skimmer to Dollet, as we know Galbadian Agents are watching the Balamb and Timber trains. You are going to have to hike it the rest of the way by foot. Here are the maps…" She handed them both paper maps and data cards. "...and all the information we have on the base. You depart in two hours."

Both responded with a "Yes, ma'am" and went to prepare for the mission. Great… just great. Not only did she have to go on a mission with Sally, but she now had to camp with her too, likely a few days of hiking each way. I hate you Hyne.

Liz stormed out of the Command deck in a huff. She could not believe she was just assigned to partner with Sally. Without even waiting for her new 'partner' she rode the first elevator down to the main level, not bothering to hold the elevator door while Sally ran towards it, her chest bouncing like nobody's business with each exaggerated stride. She could only roll her eyes at this. Are those implants or something?

That thought made Liz smirk a bit as the elevator dinged and opened, depositing her on the main level of Garden. She marched off towards the dormitory section to pack, but a voice calling her name stopped her. She whirled around with fire in her eyes, but softened seeing Rinoa there. "Hey girl"

Rinoa came up and hugged Liz. "I heard about Jasmine..." Liz sighed softly and shook her head. The shorter raven haired girl continued. "How are you doing? I didn't know Jasmine very well but she seemed like a nice girl."

Liz sighed and started walking towards the dormitory. "I have asked myself a million times if I could have done something to save her."

Rinoa kept watching her friend for a moment before saying anything. When it seemed that Liz would not be more forthcoming, she pushed slightly. "...and?"

Elizabeth sighed softly and shook her head. "I could have checked her weapon. I could have helped her out instead of going to complete the mission. I could have done many things. "

Rinoa stayed quiet for a moment. "But would they have helped?"

Liz eyed her for a moment. "You sound like you've been talking to Zell."

Rinoa smiled softly, brushing her hair back behind her ear. Her light brown highlights curled back, encircling her face with a gentle halo. "He mentioned you were having problems with her death, and since you were one of my bride's maids, I felt honor bound to come down and help you. "

Liz snorted softly. "I see Captain Whatever has been rubbing off on you. 'Honor bound'" She rolled her eyes.

Rinoa snorted in laughter. "Squall doesn't very much appreciate being called that you know."

Liz smirked slightly. "Oh I know. That's why I call him that, but let's not tell him I said it this time around shall we?"

Rinoa grinned a bit. "He already knows..."

Rinoa tapped her temple softly and Liz groaned. "Oh right... that whole sorceress-knight thing."

Rinoa chuckled softly. "Have you ever thought about getting married?"

Liz burst out in laughter. "And chain myself to a man? I'd never allow my wings to be clipped like that."

Rinoa shrugged. "So you say now."

Liz stopped and glared at her friend. "Don't you start that. No man will ever tie me down. "

Rinoa grinned and flipped her hair back over her shoulders again. "We'll see. Have a safe trip. My five year anniversary is coming up in six months, and I want ALL my brides maids to be there, understood?"

Liz couldn't help a final grin before turning to head to her room. "If only one bride's maid is still alive to make it, you can guarantee it'll be me."

Rinoa and Elizabeth exchanged hugs and Rinoa whispered softly. "I'm going to hold you to that."

Liz had to admit one thing. She was amazed that they had gotten this far before Sally had annoyed her to the point where Liz felt she had to put the blond back in her place. Sally was pressed tightly against the wall of the sea skimmer thirty-five minutes out from Balamb staring down the barrel of a polished black and ivory pistol. The hilt had gold leaf inlaid with the ivory in intricate and beautiful designs. All in all it was a very beautiful gun.

Save when you were staring down the barrel.

Liz's eyes raged with fire as the shorter blond girl quaked with fear. "Hyne, Liz, what the HELL are you doing!"

That was the Sea Skimmer's gunner, James. Chances are he probably had slept with her more than a few times already. Liz did not take her eyes off Sally but answered in a growled voice. "This is none of your business. "

James scrambled up and grabbed Liz's arm, trying to pull it away from the other girl's face. He was successful, and was rewarded with an elbow to his nose before Liz brought the gun right back to her face. "Let's get one thing clear here, Sally. I am in charge. We do not powder our face while waiting for our mission to start, we do not do strip dances, and we most certainly do not start sucking face with our transport personnel, understood?"

Sally's eyes flickered around for a moment. James was nursing what was probably a broken nose, and she was very alone with a mad woman pointing a gun at her face. What should she do?

She smirked "What's the matter, Liz, jealous that you can't get any?"

Liz's face was strangely calm as she pulled the trigger in half way. Just a few millimeters more and the gun would fire. "Go ahead, you dirty little tramp, push me…" Her voice dropped to a low growl again "One... inch... further."

Whether or not Sally perceived the actual dangers that she was in or not was immaterial. Everybody knew Liz was a powder keg with a match burning right next to it. Sure, she had never actually shot a partner before, but that did not mean she would not. Something in her eyes glittering with anger told the blond that the redhead was dead serious. "I understand... ma'am"

Sally had nearly spit out the words, and most certainly let them drip with sarcasm, but Liz backed away and holstered her pistol. "Good. Now get out of my sight."

Sally nodded silently and marched out of the interior compartment, heading to the gun deck. She paused however and used a finger to tell James to follow. He had finished wiping off his bloody nose – which Liz saw was not broken, much to her disappointment – and followed her up.

Liz sighed and shook her head as she sat down. Yes, Garden was much more like a military organization now instead of a school, and yes a majority of the residents were SeeDs not students, but there were those who were bordering on insubordination. Liz realized she would probably be cashiered out of Garden if they actually came down and enforced all the rules which were in place at Garden along with Sally, but she knew at least she did her job, and she earned her bed and her job. Sally... She probably just slept around enough to get her SeeD commission and her rank.

A sudden thought hit her. I've slept with Irvine. Was his recommendation for my promotion based on that? Or am I really the best person for the job? This thought disturbed her more than a little. Or maybe he's reassigning me so that Selphie will not find out about his affair with me. Liz shivered once at that thought. This would bear much thinking while she traveled to the Galbadian missile base.

A series of screams, moans, and grunts started to come from the hatch leading out to the gun deck, and Liz rolled her eyes, dreading the next few days alone with Sally. If I can get any thinking done while we travel, that is...