Chapter 1 – The SeeD Mission
No two people had been through so much together. These two had taken so much pain in their lives.
Now it was all over.
Adel and Ultimecia were dead. Seifer had fled and was nowhere to be found. All was right with the world.
Squall lay on his front on a hospital bed in the infirmary. It was part of a new routine check-up all SeeDs had to go though, just to make sure they were in top condition. Of course, Squall was. He always was.
Light footsteps sounded on the infirmary floor. Squall turned and looked up to see Quistis Trepe walking into the room. She smiled as she looked at him.
"Don't forget that today is the field exam for SeeD candidates, Squall." Quistis reminded her former student.
"Where are we meeting?" Squall asked. He didn't want to go. He just wanted to be with Rinoa. Just wanted to hear her voice. He didn't want to be taken away from her again…
"Squall, are you listening?" Quistis asked, pulling Squall out of his thoughts.
"Wha…?" Squall said, returning his attention to Quistis.
"I said," Quistis repeated, "Go to the first hall floor near the directory when you're ready."
"Okay." Squall replied.
"Oh, and Squall?" Quistis said, before leaving the room, "Do your team well. Make them succeed. We need more people like you around."
Today's the day, he thought. As he slipped his boots on, he said to himself, "I know my destiny. I know we'll meet today. 'Try and resolve your differences.', Cid said. Well, that's what he thinks.". He laughed. In the past year, no one had been able to stop him. He wasn't about t to break his record any time soon.
Squall walked down the hall from the lift. He saw Rinoa Heartilly waiting by the directory. Looking around, he saw that Quistis, Irvine and Zell were also there. Selphie too. He knew that Quistis, Zell and Selphie were there to assist the SeeD candidates, so was he. Irvine hoped to become a SeeD. Why was Rinoa there? Maybe she wanted to become a SeeD too.
"Now that you are all here," Headmaster Cid said, glancing at Squall, "I will assign the teams."
Squall looked at Rinoa and smiled shyly. She smiled back. He mouthed something to her. She laughed and turned away.
"The SeeDs attending the exam are Squall, Zell, Selphie and Quistis. The candidates attending are Irvine Kinneas and Rinoa Heartilly. There were not many test takers this year, and those that have failed the test will not be participating in the mission.
"As we only have two candidates this year, we want them to do well. And with only two teams, we will have to do our best.
"In Team A, there will be Squall, Zell and Rinoa. Team B will consist of Quistis, Selphie and Irvine.
"Now that we have assigned the teams," Headmaster Cid began, taking an eye over everyone present, "I will explain the mission.
"As you all know, Centra has been re-built thanks to Esthar's technology. However, there have been some problems. The city of Centra has been invaded by a new band of Galbadian soldiers. They are causing quite a lot of trouble, and it is your job to take care of it. Team B will take care of the soldiers, and Team A will take on the leader, hopefully find out what his plans are."
Squall looked at Rinoa. He noticed the serious look on her face. She mouthed someone's name to him. A look of disbelief spread across his face.
"With that said," Headmaster Cid concluded, "we will begin our journey to Centra. The Garden will set off at fourteen hundred hours. You will have free time until the arrival. Dismissed!" Headmaster Cid walked to the lift and up to his office.
Squall will pay, he thought. He was the only one to beat me, but things are going to change. He won't beat me again. I will dominate him. Make him beg for mercy. Make him scream. He will never beat me again. Never.