Once again...I own nothing. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy this next Chappie.
Martine sighed and returned the phone to its cradle. He had not been surprised at the strength of the reaction from the Balamb Headmistress and, more specifically, Commander Leonhart. If it was one thing that caused the younger Commander anger, it was any form of neglect on the Cadets. Squall was right; he had failed all the Cadets involved and, partially because of him, one of the Cadets had died while three others could be held responsible for his death. If he had fought harder, then it was possible that he could have delayed enough that the proposed idea for the SeeD exam would not have occurred. He was the Master of Galbadia Garden and he had lost sight of that. Martine realized he had been more concerned with keeping the administrative team in the Garden together than protecting his students, and because of that one had died. He promised himself he would not fail another, and no matter what decision the Garden made about the case it was presented with, he would protect the young girl as much as he could from the fall out of her decision.
He had witnessed the SeeD exam tapes, and had seen the devastating effects of the infection on Suzu's body. If it was enough to sicken him just watching from video, he never wanted to find out what it was like actually to be a personal witness of someone's death to such a vile concoction. He found himself wondering at the images that had recorded themselves in the memories on the three surviving cadets. How traumatic the memories would be for them, being so young and expected to handle so much. The Commander of Galbadia Garden had expected them to carry on as if nothing had happened after their first human kill, seemingly having lost sight of the relative age of those he was deliberately sending into danger.
Martine wondered, when the idea had originally been proposed, if it wasn't an obvious attempt to thrust several of his favorites into the spotlight, having survived so much and still managing to complete their mission. Verauan was not above gloating to the smaller Gardens on how his Cadets were doing, and especially what Cadets he had. It may be better to remove Kayden and Kohana from his influence than have them potentially in more danger, as the Commander would certainly try to place them in missions above their experience. 'That's assuming that the two become SeeDs at all… there could still be charges pending.'
He sighed once more over the situation, and without waiting a moment longer, he called through to the smallest Garden. This conversation was short; just an acknowledgement that Commander Leonhart had received their message, and a tribunal had been suggested. There was no blame here as Jemsia answered the phone having just freed herself from the seemingly calm Commander of Balamb.
That was something Martine noticed about Squall; he never seemed to take his anger out on those not involved in the situation. Sadly, Squall had every right to express his annoyance to the elder male; he had failed in one of his responsibilities as Headmaster. 'I have to get out of this job. When this is over, I'll suggest to Squall that a new headmaster be found. I'm too old for this and don't have the energy anymore.'
He hit the intercom once more, paging Instructor Bane and his three students to his office. Once done, Martine leaned back and waited for the four to arrive. It wasn't long before the door opened and they stepped through, each falling into a SeeD salute automatically and the dog, Bast, once more sitting proudly at his owner's side. Martine smiled internally. He had at least called that one right. Kohana would object to leaving her pet in the care of others. The dog was a comfort to her, and Martine knew in this situation all three Cadets needed as much comfort as they could get. Two of the three would have the comfort of their parents, but the third had no record of parents and would need something else.
He nodded and the four dropped to an attentive stance, waiting for him to speak.
"As you all have probably heard by now, the situation is at a stand still. Both Trabia Garden and Galbadia Garden cannot reach a consensus and we have just called Balamb Garden officials to mediate."
"Yes sir." The three Cadets chorused.
"I have just received instructions from the Commander at Balamb that there will be a tribunal formed in Balamb to discuss the results. You three are expected to speak to the tribunal, and thus you must be in Balamb as soon as possible."
"Yes sir."
"Instructor Bane, you will be traveling with your students, escorted by a team of five SeeDs."
"As you wish, sir." Bane answered in a calm tone.
"Are there any questions?"
"My dog, sir. Is he allowed to come?" Kohana asked, her dog seemingly perking up at being mentioned and turning large golden eyes in his direction.
Martine could almost see the astuteness shining in the cute dog's eyes, and wondered just how smart that dog actually was. The eyes of the animal were just too intelligent at times, and seemed far too old.
"It has been arranged between myself and Commander Leonhart that your pet may come as long as he acts appropriately."
"Thank you sir."
"Anything else?" Martine asked.
"Have our parents been informed?" Kayden said, Ryu nodding in agreement.
"I am sure that Commander Leonhart will inform them of the events, as he can. You three are representatives of Galbadia Garden, I expect you to act as such."
"I am sure the Cadets understand the situation and will not bring shame upon themselves or Galbadia Garden." Bane addressed smoothly.
"With Commander Leonhart around, I think you have nothing to worry about." Kayden muttered before flashing an almost cheeky grin.
Martine frowned to himself, recognizing the smirk that was just below the eldest boy's expression, and by the look of almost horror that flickered over Kohana's face, she too knew that look well. Kayden had figured out the loophole in his neatly given order to behave while out of his reach. Ryu, he had no worries about. But Kayden just seemed to bring out the worst in Kohana and the two were frequently at odds with the Garden and his attempts to discipline them.
He was aware of their escapes from the safe confines of the building; it was difficult not to be, but when the matter had been brought to his attention by their irate instructor, who had found them wandering outside the walls at 0100 hundred with no given excuse as to why, his attempt to rectify the situation had promptly been stopped by the almost amused Commander. He had issued his own 'punishment'; one so gentle that it could not even be considered a slap on the wrist for the two committing the worst offense. To sneak out of Garden after hours was the most dangerous activity he had ever heard of, and Martine found himself wishing that he had more control over the two gunblade specialists.
They had stopped when he had asked previously, but after a few months of silence, Kayden and Kohana fell to temptation and absconded once more. It would take a firm hand to bring them into line. They were not students at Balamb Garden, and could not be disciplined as if they were, unless he gave his permission to the heads of Balamb Garden that if caught doing an offense within their own walls, the two be treated as Cadets from their own Garden.
"I will inform Headmistress Xu and Commander Leonhart of my permission to discipline you all as Cadets at their own Garden." Martine spoke.
The smirk on Kayden's face died instantly and Kohana's almost tangible relief was evident. Martine had some knowledge on who the ringleader of the absconding from Garden was, however Kohana still allowed herself to be dragged into it and that was just as bad. When alone, the young girl was very quiet and almost withdrawn from people around her, especially adults.
He had not had any incline to what would occur to the quiet girl when placed near Kayden for an extended period of time. Kayden had succeeded in pulling Kohana out of her shell around people her own age and, slowly, with himself and her instructors; but had also managed to pull her into the majority of his own stunts. The first incline that the relationship between the two would become so chaotic, was their first meeting; when both had succeeded in placing the other in the infirmary for over a week and again a day after they were released.
"I will not tolerate any disregard of rules." Martine continued. "Is that clear?"
"Yes sir." The three chorused, even though his question had really been directed at the two gunbladers.
"Good." He approved. 'You two may have gotten away with your acts before, but I don't think you will now, especially if Squall catches wind of what you two have been up to.'
"Sir?" Ryu spoke up suddenly. "I don't mean to bring more into this situation, but our friends; we usually visit our parents during this time. They may want to come with us."
"Their names?" Martine asked. He already knew, but he had to ask for the record.
"Cadets Breana and Tobias Kinneas, and Cadet Ronna Dincht.' Ryu answered.
"That sounds reasonable. I will pass that onto Balamb for final consent, but I don't see a problem with them coming." Martine answered. 'Maybe, if there are enough people around that Kohana trusts, she will follow their lead with who they trust too. The last thing I need is for her to clam up and go silent again.'
"Dismissed." He called.
The three immediately saluted once more and quickly slipped from the room, leaving him with their instructor.
"Do you expect there to be a problem with the cadets, sir?" Bane asked.
"I don't blame the two if they try something. They've managed to get away with their acts here and it is reasonable to assume something will happen. Hopefully Kayden is still intimidated by Commander Leonhart and will not try to pull anything."
"That's like wishing that the sun not come up." Bane answered.
Martine sighed. "I know. Those two really do need a firm hand to disabuse them of that notion. I don't want to put that on Squall, but if he catches wind of their acts in his Garden, I think he will handle it as he sees fit."
"I almost pity Kohana, then. She has no idea of what's coming." Bane mused. "Perhaps Kayden will shield her from that."
"I doubt that." Martine spoke once more. "He tends to be the leader of the two, and she follows at will. That doesn't mean she is any less responsible for her actions. Kayden is adventurous, and with that technicality he has us with, he will try to use it to his advantage in Balamb."
"You did not inform him of the rule change?" Bane asked.
"It will be a lesson for the two." Martine informed. "They have to learn that it will not be tolerated. If I can't do it, then Balamb will have to teach them."
"Commander Verauan does not have a firm hold on the two." Bane spoke. "They do not respect him."
"They use his favouritism to their advantage." Martine pointed out.
"Not really. I have heard that both do not like the situation and, even if they were not favored by the Commander, they would still have us on the technicality and would continue to sneak out. Their absconding from Garden has nothing to do with their knowledge of the favouritism on them. Rather I think it's because of it."
"What?" Martine asked.
"You told me that Kohana came to you with concerns over Verauan. I believe that the two are trying their hardest to have him court marshaled."
"How?"
"If it becomes apparent to the other Gardens that if specific students continue in acts that would usually have them punished severely, and are hardly punished at all, then there must be something wrong with how the punishments are handled."
"It seems that almost targets me instead of Verauan." Martine muttered.
"Not really. It would investigated by a tribunal and the recorded attempt to discipline the two by yourself would be found, as well as the Commander's response to that. It would expose him as favouring those two and when more evidence came out, it would look very bad for him. The Cadets are trying to take a fall for you and the rest of the students in order to fix the situation."
"I never really viewed it that way. Both seem to just have a discipline problem." Martine spoke surprised. 'What dedication they have, if that's true.'
"Are you sure?" Martine asked.
"Very. I've been watching the two for years. They're both extremely intelligent children, and know exactly what will occur if they press hard enough at the system and its rules."
"But their attempts have failed. Commander Verauan protects them, and the faculty that support him would not bring it up to me if they do see the two leaving. Why are they continuing if they know they won't be caught?"
"That is why I didn't say anything about the rule change either." Bane answered. "Now that the two are assured that they will get away with their actions, it has become a game to them. A game that does not need to end, as there is no consequence for their actions, and none have given them a good enough reason to stop. I trust Commander Leonhart will enforce the rules harshly and tell them exactly why they are in place."
"Hopefully that will scare them out of it." Martine said.
"I doubt the punishment will scare them out of it. More like the dressing down they will receive. Leonhart is an intimidating person, even when he does not wish to be seen as such. It is likely he will scare them himself."
"But what of Kohana? She does not trust many easily, and it may cause repercussions during the tribunal if he intimidates her too much."
"I do not think he would set out to scare her, not deliberately. He would explain the rules and explain why it is so dangerous that they leave the protection of Garden at night and then issue a punishment." Bane answered before pausing as if thinking something new. "And after that, I do not think she would do anything to purposely incur his attention in that manner again, she would behave just to avoid him."
"That's sad." Martine answered. "I would not like a child to behave just because of fear."
"I don't think she will be afraid; more like she would be more cautious with him than other adults." Bane answered. "It is very hard to actually intimidate that child, but she is always cautious. She is a reasonable child. If someone like Commander Leonhart explained the actual meaning behind the rule, as well as the danger when breaking them, she would respect him enough to listen."
"Well." Martine started. "Let's just hope the two actually obey the rules, while in Balamb."
"Once again… that's wishing the sun not to rise." Bane laughed before turning to leave. "Good day, Headmaster."
"Good day, Instructor." Martine finished the conversation. "I'm going back to sleep now."
"I wish I had that chance. Don't forget, you have to call Commander Leonhart back to see if the other Cadets are allowed to accompany their friends."
Martine sighed once again and picked up the phone. He just hoped that Squall would not bite off what was left of his pride for calling twice in one day. 'I need a nap.' Martine thought as the phone rang.
"Balamb office, Ferix speaking. How may I help you, Headmaster Martine?"
"Would it be possible to speak to Commander Leonhart?" Martine asked.
He was sure he heard the familiar hum of instruments playing a funeral march as he asked the question. There was a long pause before the secretary answered.
"I can patch you in, hold on please." The woman answered.
There was a beep and then the annoyed voice of the Commander of Balamb Garden answered the phone. "What is it now, Martine?"
"I apologize for calling again, but I have just been asked by Cadet Dincht if it is possible that the rest of his friends be allowed to travel with the three."
"Who exactly?" Squall asked, a note of cautiousness creeping into his voice.
Martine almost pitied the man. Putting the group of six together was sure to cause problems, but it would reassure the three involved, that Garden was not prejudiced against them prematurely.
"Cadets Breana Kinneas, Tobias Kinneas and Ronna Dincht."
He heard the man sigh over the phone. "I don't see a problem with it."
Martine was almost sure Squall was regretting those words even as he spoke them.
"They may come, if they wish." Squall continued after a moment.
"I feel I have to warn you, Commander." Martine spoke up. "Cadet Maeda and Cadet Trepe are involved romantically."
Martine was almost sure he heard a loud slapping noise at that news, but he wasn't exactly sure. There was a strangled silence until the calm Commander answered. "I see. Anything else?"
"Cadet Trepe has a tendency to pull Cadet Maeda into situations with him. They both have spent a long amount of time in the infirmary too, due to the injuries they seem to cause the other."
"I understand."
"If a situation comes up, where the two Cadets are found breaking your Garden's rules, I would ask that you discipline them as Cadets from your own Garden. Cadet Trepe was quick enough to figure out that, unless stated otherwise, they could act as they wished in your Garden without repercussions. Both Cadets have been made aware that I would hand responsibility for them over to your Garden while they stay there."
"You expect there to be problems." It was not a question.
"I'm not sure, however this is strictly a precautionary measure. We both know exactly what Kayden is like."
"Opportunistic little menace. Does he have the opportunity to break the rules at leisure in your Garden, Headmaster?"
"He is quick enough that he has us at a technicality on one rule."
"And that is…?"
"The rule stating that Cadets are supposed to 'be' in their rooms between 2300 hundred and 0600 hundred hours."
"That rule is stated as 'stay' in Balamb. I changed it myself." Squall answered. "You're setting them up."
"I am. The Cadets believe that they can get away with their actions. I'm sorry for placing this on you, but my hands are tied."
"Why didn't you tell me there was a problem with this rule?" Squall asked.
"As you recall, I tried. But Verauan tied my hands there too."
"Another problem with your Commander? He seems to have too much control over the Garden and its faculty."
"I know. He's been pulling control away from me for years. I just noticed recently, but when I tried to bring it to your attention he stopped my attempt in procedures. I have noticed that he tends to favour some students and faculty over others."
"Gather the evidence as it exists and I will have the tribunal investigate your allegations."
"Yes sir." Martine addressed. "And the Cadets?"
"If a situation occurs, Xu or myself will handle it as we would with our Cadets."
"Thank you."
"Is there anything else, while I'm here?" Squall questioned.
Martine could almost hear the barely controlled stress in his voice gathering momentum as the situation became worse and worse.
"I believe that's all."
"Good. Send all of their records onto me. I want to have a background on all the Cadets involved."
"Right away, Commander." Martine said before disconnecting.
It was going to be a long day.
This was going to be a horrible day followed by an equally horrible week. There, on the phone, Squall had his confirmation on where he stood with Hyne. Hyne not only hated him, but wanted to make his life as unpleasant as much as possible; doing everything he could think of to make this situation worse.
There was the actual SeeD exam, and the risk it placed the entire graduating year in. Following that was the events that occurred to Squad A and the entire charge of manslaughter. Then, Cadet Maeda had just managed to find the exact middle ground between the charge and mercy, until he had heard that he had been sure that no middle ground existed, and she had disabused him of that notion.
He then learned that the Commander of Galbadian forces had wrested too much control over the Garden away from its Headmaster, and was almost in complete control; enough that Verauan thought he could get away with showing favouritism to specific students. He believed that, with the idiocy that had come from Verauan during the actual SeeD exam.
And finally, Hyne confirmed his deepest suspicions and had the two discipline problems involved in a romantic and rivalry relationship with each other. They would almost certainly cause a problem in his Garden; just what he needed to deal with at the moment, with the two going from acting as boyfriend and girlfriend to trying to put the other in the infirmary as often as possible. Hopefully this situation would not become any more complicated. But with Hyne and his seeming target on himself, Squall was sure that many things that could go wrong would go wrong and at the worst possible moment, with him being the only one who could deal with it. 'Why is it always me?'
Squall sighed and picked up the faxes he had just received from Martine, on the members of Squad A's permanent records. He wasn't interested in the boys, but had requested theirs anyways. Having had Kayden and Ryu attending Balamb Garden originally, he was already familiar with them. However, the third child he had no idea on.
'So this would be Verauan's female Gunblade specialist. She's tiny! How can she possibly wield a gunblade! Well, I haven't seen her with it. I'm being judgmental. Her record states she has a lot of raw talent with it, and shows much potential. This is Martine's work not Verauan's, so it's a fair representation. She also shows a high aptitude for magic. Well, she did come from Trabia and high level magical abilities are to be expected from their Cadets. There's mention of parents living in Trabia and that she entered Garden at ten. Why?' Squall mused. 'It says she's generally quiet and calm but seems to have trust issues with people her age and more specifically with adults. Perfect.'
There was nothing else in the girl's records. Whatever reason she had entered Garden was not recorded, and Squall's eyebrow shot up in response. That was out of nature for the policies regarding the entry of children into Garden. Usually, the parents entered their children or they were recently orphaned and no other place was available. Children that were found to be abused were only accepted if there was counseling set up. But this said nothing.
The last thing that was noted in the record was the relationship and its diversity that existed between Kayden and the girl. It appeared to start as a rivalry between the only two children to take up the challenge of a gunblade, which ended with the two spending a lot of time in the infirmary together due to the injuries they had caused. And then the romantic relationship had suddenly developed a year or so after the girl had transferred to Galbadia Garden.
'Leave kids alone together long enough and something usually happens along those lines, if they're already attracted to each other. Especially as Kayden seems to be out to make her the female version of himself. Just what I need; the menace and one in training.'