Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII or any of its characters and locations… sadly. :(
Author's note: I'm thankful for the reviews I have gotten and as soon as I finish the third chapter I started the forth. Plus one of my classes is so boringly slow I can actually get some writing done as he speaks; trust me he is slow. Anyways, enjoy!! XD
Chapter 4: B R I E F I N G
Seifer opened his eyes to the knock on his door. Slowly sitting up, he looked at his alarm clock; it read 0530 hours. The knocking was persistent. He groggily got up and stumbled towards the door, cursing on his way. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Xu standing there in her Garden issue pajamas, which was a sleeveless gray top and long navy blue baggy pants and her hair was in loose pigtails, but her face was unchanged as if she had been awake for hours. He rubbed his eyes and leaned against the doorway.
"What brings you here?" Seifer said between yawns. Xu raised an eyebrow not knowing why Squall wanted to see him as well. She just stood there for a couple of seconds, glaring at the man in front of her. He quietly stared at her as her frown deepened. She could not understand how they could let him return just like that. He frowned when she said nothing. "Are you going to say something or are you just going to glare at me all morning?" He said a little more irritated than he had intended to.
"Squall wants you in his office." She said seriously. Seifer looked up to the ceiling and let out a chuckle. "Don't make him wait." She walked away deeper into the male wing of the dorms area. Apparently, she still had to tell the other guys. Seifer stretched his arms and grabbed his white cloak. He also grabbed a pair of black slippers and began to walk towards the elevator.
When Seifer walked into Squall's office, all the females were there. Squall was behind his desk looking at a notepad and rewriting some of the notes on his computer and marking locations. Quistis was sitting on one of the chairs and so was Fujin, who turned to him and nodded. Rinoa was sitting on the floor with her back against the wall to his right, Angelo next to her and Selphie's head on her lap. The usually energetic brunette was still sleepy; she was not a morning person. A few minutes after Seifer's arrival Irvine walked in and went directly to sit next to Rinoa and Selphie. He yawned loudly and leaned closer to Rinoa to touch Selphie's head. Following Irvine's entrance, Zell walked through the door wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts Selphie gave him as a birthday present; it had a cute yellow chicobo right in the front and a speech bubble that said: pet me. Seifer stared at the sleepy blonde stagger up to a wall to Quistis left and leaned there with his eyes closed. Seifer stifled a laugh as soon as he got a glimpse of Squall's face when he noticed Zell's boxer shorts; it was a mixture of confusion and disgust.
Raijin was the last one to arrive along with Cid and Edea. The muscle bound man just burst out laughing when he noticed Zell, making Seifer release the laugh he had been holding. Zell scowled and made a million faces to both males as they laughed until Squall stopped them.
"That's enough." Squall yelled, getting everyone's attention. He was not one to lose his temper, but there were more pressing matters. They quieted down and waited for Squall to start talking. "As you all know, our mission to retrieve Seifer was a success, but there are some things in this whole ordeal that you don't know." Squall took a deep breath and looked over at the notes he had written. "Before heading back to Garden I went to have a talk with General Caraway and he was able to confirm some of my thoughts and give me more information." Squall explained. Selphie raised an arm from where she was lying.
"Since when you did you started to get along with anyone outside of Balamb Garden?" Selphie said with her eyes closed and her head still on Rinoa's lap. Squall let out a sigh.
"During a meeting a few months ago, the President of Galbadia he made me an offer I had to refuse. Things got a little heated between the man and me; Caraway interfered and probably saved my life." Squall paused for a moment and ran his hand through his hair. "Since he agreed with me, but had said nothing to the president, he promised to keep me informed about whatever was decided." Squall said, rubbing his eyes and the bridge of his nose. Quistis thought for a second and reacted to what he said.
"What was the offer, Squall?" Quistis spoke while pulling a stray bang of her hair behind her ear. Squall looked at her and looked back down at his notes.
"I will be giving you that information shortly." Squall said, thinking on how to tell such delicate information. "For the past few months there had been some rumors that if they were to be true it could alter the world as we know it." Zell gasped loudly while Quistis and Fujin exchanged worried looks as Squall continued. "These rumors place Balamb Garden as a threat to Galbadia and have been marked down as a target." Selphie quickly sat up and Irvine frowned at what he was hearing. "Seifer's execution was bait to lure us into breaking laws against Galbadia; it was the start of a master plan to eliminate us. Right now, they are free to go public about us and launch a publicity campaign against us." Irvine scratched the back of his head.
"We took the bait… We got Seifer back." Irvine said with a disbelieving tone. Seifer remained serious. Squall softly sighed again as his friends all looked down.
"Usually, I'm not the optimistic one, but if we didn't take that bait, Seifer would have been dead by now." Squall said trying to point out the positive aspect of it all and cheer his friends up a little.
"Are they gonna launch some missiles again?" Zell asked, reliving the fear of having B-Garden almost blow up. Squall looked at Zell and shook his head.
"I don't think they will for three different reasons: number 1, back then their plan backfired when Selphie's party destroyed the missile base; number 2, they are most likely to miss Garden since it is in constant movement and number 3, we have something they want and can't afford to destroy." Squall said, rubbing his eyes again with one hand.
"Is it possible that you can tell us what it is?" Cid asked from where he stood near the door. The others nodded in agreement. Squall nodded.
"Well…" Squall started whilst taking in a big breath. "They want… they want the sorceress." Squall said staring at Rinoa straight in the eye. They all gasped in unison. "They want Rinoa." He added with a glint of sadness in his eyes. "The day of the meeting he offered me an exchange; Rinoa for a position in the world's new order, one he wants to bring. I refused knowing that the world order of which he speaks is nothing but a selfish act on his part and because I'm not about to handover Rinoa." Squall said his voice with a tone of determination. "As to why he wants Rinoa is still a mystery. Caraway can only find out as much with everyone knowing Rinoa is his daughter." Squall got up from his chair and looked at them. "In order to attack Garden and retrieve Rinoa without harming her, they will be forced to attack Garden head on with an enormous amount of soldiers and machinery operated by more soldiers." Squall paused as he placed his map against a wall.
"So what are we gonna do?" Seifer said, standing closer to Quistis's back. Squall looked at him over his shoulder.
"I'm on it." Squall said; as he finished putting some pieces of tape on the corners of the map to hold it against the wall. "Due to the fact that they don't have much choice than a head-on-attack, we have to relocate both Garden and Ragnarok away from every country." Squall said turning to his friends. "If we stay close to any other country while Garden is being observed by Galbadia, they might attack claiming they are sheltering us. This is our fight and I don't want innocent people dying because of this." Squall turned to the map again. "Right now, Ragnarok and Garden are at Fisherman's Horizon, the mayor will freak as soon as he hears of Garden's position. We have fewer options than I had thought. We have the island closest to hell, the island closest to heaven and Centra; please give me your opinion." Squall said, showing the locations he mentioned on the map, which were circled with a red marker. Quistis fixed her eyeglasses.
"I suggest Centra; not only because is the most secluded area with lots of space to maneuver and battle, but because the creatures wont pose a threat during the battle." Quistis explained while looking from Zell to Squall to Rinoa and back to Squall. Squall nodded in understanding while Seifer folded his arms across his chest.
"If that's the case, it'll be easier for them to find us." Seifer said, looking down at Quistis, who quickly turned to him with a raised eyebrow.
"Then what do you suggest, Seifer?" She said with a sarcastic tone. He looked at the map.
"We could hide Garden within a forest." Seifer said. Squall looked at him and shook his head. "Why not?" Seifer asked glaring at the Commander.
"If we hide Garden within a forest and they find us out, they could decide to launch a sneak attack and obliterate us." Squall said, leaning against his seat and rubbing his eyes again. Seifer remained thoughtful. "Those who agree with Quistis idea raise your hand and if you have another idea feel free to share it." Squall said looking around. Slowly they all raised their hands, even Seifer. "Well then it's been decided; both Garden and Ragnarok will be relocated to Centra." Squall said and looked down to his notes again. "We have to go to Esthar; President Loire must be warned about the possibility of an attack for Esthar's close relations with Garden. The team in charge of taking Ragnarok to Centra will be the one to head to Esthar before doing so." Squall got up and looked at Selphie. "Selphie, Irvine, Rinoa and me will head to Esthar in Ragnarok to warn the President. Quistis will take my place as Commander while I'm away, which means you won't be giving your class today. Seifer, Raijin, Fuijin and Zell will go into Fisherman's Horizon and will gather any stray students into Garden before departure in two hours."
"Who the hell could be out there at 0645?" Zell said, stretching and yawning. Squall looked at him and sighed.
"That would be anyone who wants to eat something different for breakfast." Squall said getting up from his seat; Zell groaned. Selphie and Irvine were the first ones out the door, followed by Seifer, Raijin and Fujin. Zell started to walk out. "Zell, if I were you I would consider changing those boxers. I really don't think that is a suitable message for a SeeD to show around." Squall said, getting another groaned from Zell.
Squall looked around his office to see Rinoa still sitting against the wall; she was the only one left. She sadly looked up at him. He slowly walked closer to her and knelt in front of her. He gave her one of his rare smiles.
"Everything is going to be alright." He said, trying to make her smile again while cupping her cheek in his hand. She felt the tears welled up in her eyes and stared directly into his stormy eyes. Those eyes were serene, strong and calm. She wondered how he could remain so cool and unmoved by everything around him. He was determined and confident, maybe a little too confident. She smiled sadly. He got up again and extended his hand at her, which she took and he pulled her up. He turned to grab his notepad and a few other files.
"Squall, if Garden is in danger because I'm here… what if I left or what if I gave myself up to them? Wouldn't it be better..?" She began as he picked up the files, but he suddenly threw them against his desk again and turned back around to face her.
"Don't you dare say something like that again, Rinoa." Squall said, getting closer to her and putting his hands on her shoulders. "Even if you still don't realize it you are one of us, you became one of us." His voice started to break up a little. He was staring straight into her eyes; his slate colored eyes piercing right through her dark chocolate ones. "I… Even if Garden decides to throw you out or give you up, even if the whole world becomes your enemy… I will be there for you; I'll still be your knight." Her eyes opened wide as those words left his mouth. It was then he finally realized what he said and took a step back while letting go off of her shoulders. Never in his life had he lost control of his action to the extent of saying more than he should. It was not the first time that thought had crossed his mind, but he had never expected to actually say them. She looked at him; he looked as confused as she was. He quickly turned to his desk to pick up the files he had thrown there. Silence ensued for the following minutes. She decided to walk out of the office, but his deep voice stopped her. "Rinoa…" She turned to look at his unmoving form. "I-I meant every word I just said." She felt her heart skip a beat. He had admitted his feelings or at least some of them. He was willing to go against Garden for her; Garden was his whole life, everything he knew and he was willing to leave all that for her sake. She turned to the door again and walked out of the office. Squall remained unmoving for a few minutes, trying to regain some of his composure. He closed his eyes and leaned against his desk. He had to think things through.
Author's note: Finally done with chapter 4. I'm writing as well, as fast and as entertaining as I can. Still feel free to review, I accept some constructive critics, but please don't flame me. Thanks.