Author's Note - Sorry for the huge delay in getting this chapter uploaded. It would've been done a couple of days ago but for some reason the site wouldn't let me upload any documents. XD But, anyhow, here's the next installment of SSW. Enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen

Ties That Bind

By the time they reached Deling City again, the sun was starting it's slow decent toward the horizon. Rinoa had given Zell back his jacket—having dried out in the sun. She still seemed uncomfortable, however, antsy and restless as they got off the number 8 bus and approached the guard once more. Squall did his best to ignore her, needing to concentrate on the mission at hand.

The guard raised his brows as they approached. "Yes, what is it?"

Squall produced the broken blade, much to the wide-eyed guard's amazement. "79," he droned.

"That's correct!" he agreed, sounding slightly stunned. He cleared his throat then and turned. "Please, right this way!" The guard led them all up the long walk and toward the stone porch and massive front doors. Inwardly Squall sighed.

Both Balamb and Galbadia Garden are joining forces with the general from the Galbadian Army, he mused silently. Why? Then he shook his head with a scowl. No point in me thinking about it. SeeDs aren't meant to question why.

The guard opened the door for them, but before Squall could enter Rinoa suddenly caught his arm and stopped him. Her eyes were very wide, face a shade pale.

"Um . . . is my contract . . . still in effect?" she questioned haltingly.

What is it this time, he wondered, annoyed. But he nodded. She swallowed hard, then,

"Don't leave me alone in this house," she suddenly entreated, her hand tightening over his forearm nearly to the point where her nails were biting through his jacket sleeve. She bit her lower lip. "Want me to explain why?"

Squall rolled his eyes. This could take a while . . . He figured she was probably afraid of getting arrested by the General of Galbadia, being a resistance faction member and all. Hyne only knew what she and her little inept gang had done to this guy in the past. "You should know by now," he announced, highly uncomfortable, gently removing his arm from her grasp. "Just tell us what to do and we'll do it."

The relieved smile she gave him was dazzling, and Squall did his best to try and ignore it. And failed miserably.

"Okay then," she agreed, dark eyes dancing. "Thanks."

The others chose that moment to catch up to them, and Seifer gave them an impatient look. "Can we get a move on please?"

Squall didn't reply, just stepped over the threshold and then followed the soldier as he led them all to a large, opulent and lavishly furnished sitting room. Irvine strolled into the back and sat down at the large desk, leaning back in the chair and then propping his boots up on the corner. He tipped his hat low, and then folded his hands over his belly and looked for all the world to be napping. Selphie went to stand at the tall windows, gazing out at the lights and bustle of the city. Seifer came in and plopped down on a two-seater divan, slouching down and resting his arms across the back. Rinoa seated herself in a cushioned chair across from him. Zell was too energetic to sit, and instead began pacing the room, his hands stuffed in his back pockets.

Squall himself came to stand in the corner, arms crossed, staring unseeingly at the paintings on the wall. He noticed right away that one of the paintings resembled the statue on the other side of the room. The only difference being that the woman in the painting had a wine glass in her hand, and the statue's hands were empty—though placed in the exact same position. There were fine crystal wine glasses on display on a shelf right next to the statue though. Squall snorted. Probably a secret entrance or something. Geez, how blatant could you get?

The group sat in relative silence for nearly a half an hour or more. Finally Rinoa—who had been growing more restless and agitated with every passing minute—slammed her fist into the arm of her chair.

"Hmph! He always does this!" Squall felt his eyebrow quirk. "So discourteous, making people wait!" Seifer frowned.

"Rinoa," he called in warning, but she ignored him and shot to her feet.

"I'm gonna go complain," she announced firmly, starting for the door. "Everyone just wait here."

She slipped through the door and Seifer put his face in his hand with a groan. She ducked back in then and gave the others' startled looks a strained smile. "Oh, by the way, this is my house," she announced then, "so don't worry."

And then she left completely. The silence was so thick you could hear a pin drop. Squall just blinked, utterly stunned. Okay, he definitely hadn't seen that one coming. Hope it doesn't lead to trouble. He noticed right away that Seifer didn't seem at all surprised. "You knew?" he questioned. The blonde shrugged, as if to say 'no shit.'

"What the hell's goin' on?!" Zell demanded then.

Before he had a chance to answer, a man in dark green military dress suddenly entered. He had Rinoa's black hair—his streaked in silver at the temples—though his eyes were a glacial blue. Apparently Rinoa had gotten her soft doe-brown eyes from her mother, whoever that was. The tall man swept the room, his face darkening when it fell on Seifer—who didn't bother returning the stare. He sighed and came farther into the room then.

Alone.

Squall scowled. "Where's Rinoa?" he demanded. The older man turned to pin him with a cold stare.

"She has not received the same type of training you all have," he announced coldly, "and may become a burden. It's for the best that she stay out of this operation."

"So you're Rinoa's father?" Selphie questioned then. The man turned to give her a sneering smile.

"I can't remember the last time she called me that."

Zell blew a sharp whistle. "So the father's a top military officer and the daughter's a member of an anti-government faction?!" He shook his head. "That's bad! . . . Really bad!"

"Yes indeed," the General murmured, tone dry. "It's a serious problem." He walked over to the window, arms folded behind him. "But it doesn't concern you," he announced then. "It's our problem."

Squall approached, eyes narrowed. The others watched him silently, wondering what he'd do.

That's not the case . . .

"Besides, we have far more important things to worry about," Caraway continued.

"Yeah, who gives a damn if you try and lock your daughter up in a gilded cage," Seifer sneered, still glaring in another direction. "And you wonder why she defies you at every turn."

The General didn't turn either. "I wouldn't offer an opinion on what you think I should be doing with my daughter, Almasy," he sneered softly. "Else I might go ahead and shoot you like I should've done last year."

The others' eyes widened at that juicy little tidbit. Squall did his best to ignore it.

Garden's directive and Rinoa's orders have the same value to us, he thought sneeringly, then cleared his throat to gain the General's attention. "Once our mission is accomplished here," he began stiffly, "we're working for Rinoa, as per our contract. I don't know what your situation is, but please don't interfere when the time comes."

The older man slowly turned from the window and pinned Squall with an ice-cold stare. "And if I do?"

Squall's glare was as equally frosty. What's this guy's problem? "We're all SeeD here," was his flat response. "We'll act accordingly."

Seifer, Zell and Selphie were all quick to give their silent, glaring agreement. Irvine suddenly sighed loudly, gaining everyone else's attention.

"Hey, hey, hey," he drawled. "Fellas . . . We're here to knock off the sorceress, right?" He pushed himself up over the desk and onto his feet, then leaned back against it on his hip, arms crossing. His normally smiling face was uncommonly stern. "So let's get down to business."

The General turned stiffly from the window and strode to the door. "Ok," he heaved. "Let me explain the plan."

Everyone reluctantly followed him out of the house. "I'm sure you know about the Sorceress Edea being elected ambassador."

The Sorceress' name is Edea? Squall wondered silently. The General continued, leading them down his front walk and across the street.

"There's going to be a ceremony tonight to commemorate the event."

Sorceress Edea . . . .

"It'll be at the Presidential Residence." He led them down the street and then in front of the huge palace in question, barred by massive gates bearing the Galbadian government seal. "During the ceremony you will split up into two teams and get in position. The gateway team will enter the gateway and stand by. The sniper team will stand by at the front of the Presidential Residence until the ceremony is over." He led them to the far right of the square. "This is where the sniper team will wait, right here, where I'm standing."

So we're gonna divide into 2 teams ; the sniper team and the gateway team, Squall muttered inwardly, committing the plan to memory.

The General motioned to the monstrous building in front of them. "That's the presidential residence," he announced needlessly. "Once the ceremony ends, a parade for the sorceress will begin. That's when the gate will open." He turned to Squall. "Lay low until then. The parade may be canceled if there is any commotion. We must avoid that at all costs." He turned back forward. "Once the gate opens, the sniper team will move out. With the parade drawing the crowd and the guards' attention, it should be rather easy to move about. The sniper team will head for the roof of the residence. In the corridor by the sorceress' room, there is a hatch that leads to the clock tower, which houses a massive carousel clock. You'll find the sniper rifle there. Stand by in the clock tower until exactly 20:00."

The General approached the huge gates of the presidential residence. "The parade will begin by the gate. The sorceress will be riding on the parade vehicle. After it leaves the gate, the vehicle will turn left. The parade will circle once around the city along the outer road and return to this space. It will return on the right side. Then it will turn right again and head this way."

He led them down the street toward the massive gateway beyond. "Here's where the gateway team comes into play." He came to stop at a service door near the base. "At exactly 20:00 the parade will pass under the gateway. At this point, the gateway team will operate the console to drop the gates. The sorceress will be trapped inside. Also at 20:00 the carousel clock will rise out of the roof, carrying the sniper team up was well. There will be no obstruction between the sniper team and the sorceress." He turned to pin Irvine with his unnerving stare. "Take the open shot." Then he sighed, arms folding back behind him. "That is all. Now we wait. You're free to go anywhere. Check out the city if you wish. Just one thing. Stay out of trouble."

Who do you think we are? Squall sneered. We're not like your daughter . . . "We're SeeDs," he finally snapped. The General didn't even twitch. Squall felt like punching the old bastard square in the nose. Hyne, was this how everyone else thought about him when he gave the emotionless treatment?

"Report to my residence when you're ready," the General announced. "We'll hold a final meeting then. After that, we'll proceed with the operation."

And then with that the General Caraway turned on his heel and stalked off. Seifer let out a foul curse after he'd gone.

"Hyne-damn that uptight bastard always got on my last fuckin' nerve."

"So you've met him before, huh?" Zell questioned, eyebrow raised and smirk merciless. "Just why is it the General was talking about shooting ya, eh?" Amazingly Seifer actually started to blush, his neck and ears turning a ruddy red.

Squall—who really didn't want to hear about the reason why General Caraway felt the need to shoot Almasy—interrupted impatiently with, "everyone go ahead and take care of whatever last minute preparations you need. Be back at Caraway's Mansion in a hour."

Then he turned and stalked off. Zell blinked.

"I think he was upset," he murmured. Seifer snorted.

"Naw, you think?!" he sneered sarcastically. Zell frowned.

"Well, how come?"

"No clue," Seifer returned dryly, then turned and stalked off too.

"I think Squall's got a crush on Rinoa!" Selphie announced with a grin. Zell looked startled, then he snorted and shook his head.

"Squall?! Like Rinoa?! No way!"

Zell loped off into the night, still shaking his head at such a preposterous idea. Selphie and Irvine were left standing together, and remained that way for an awkward moment or two before Selphie abruptly turned around and hurried off. Irvine hung his head with a heavy sigh, stuffing his fists in the pockets of his coat before turning in another direction and wandering off himself.

Everyone but Seifer managed to return to the residence on time. The tall blonde was only five minutes late, and muttered for Squall to kiss his ass when the stone-faced teen gave him that disapproving stare of his. They gathered back into the sitting room once more, and this time the General was a little more prompt—now that he didn't have a feisty daughter to lure away from her protectors.

"It's time to form the teams," he pronounced. "The sniper and the leader of this operation will form the sniper team. The leader's role is vital."

Squall quirked a brow. What does he mean?

"If the plan fails for some reason," Caraway explained, "or should the sniper miss, the leader must carry out a direct assault against the sorceress. The plan was devised carefully, because we intend this to be a covert operation. But our ultimate goal is to eliminate the sorceress, and we must achieve this at all cost. Even if they uncover our identities. So, who's going to lead the operation?"

Both Seifer and Squall spoke at the same time. "I will."

Seifer turned to him with a glare. "No way, Pubes. You've played King of the Hill long enough, dammit."

"You're not even supposed to be here, Almasy," Squall shot back. Then he gave a sneering smile. "Besides, I grossly outrank you."

Seifer clenched his fists and took a step forward, but Selphie suddenly pounced in between them, hands held out to hold the two volatile males apart.

"Wait, wait, wait!" she cried, giving them both a stern pout. "How about this? Why don't we put it to a vote?" Seifer sighed and backed off, then nodded. Squall did as well. "Okay then," she nodded, putting her hands on her hips. "Everyone who thinks Seifer should be the leader of this operation, raise your hand."

Only one person did so.

Seifer lowered his arm again and gave them all a black glare. "Oh, I see how it's going to be," he growled. "I'll remember all you, you little traitorous bitches." Selphie giggled at that fearlessly, then turned back.

"Looks like Squall's the leader again."

The General took in a slow breath, then released it again. "Fine," he murmured. "I'll leave the rest up to you."

The sniper team is decided, he mused. "Irvine and I will make up the sniper team," he announced. "The gateway team will be . . ." He glanced at the others.

"The only ones left," Seifer sneered distastefully, crossing his arms.

"Woo!" Selphie cried, pumping a fist in the air.

"Let's do it!" Zell followed eagerly.

Selphie put a finger to her chin then. "Who's gonna be the leader for the gateway team?"

Zell started shadow-boxing eagerly, but Squall winced. Sorry Zell . . . He turned to a sour-faced Seifer and nodded.

"Almasy, you're in charge." Zell slumped miserably.

"Oh my, let me try and contain my excitement," was Seifer's sneering retort. Squall just rolled his eyes and ignored him.

"Ok," the General called. "Let's begin."

He led Squall and Irvine from the room. Seifer sighed, shaking out his coat.

"Ok, Almasy," Zell heaved. "We're on your team. Let's go kick some ass!"

"Woo hoo!" Selphie quickly followed. Seifer just fixed them both with a glare.

"We're going to go flip a switch. That's it. How in the hell can you two get excited about that?" Selphie stuck her tongue out at him and he grinned. "Don't stick that out at me unless you plan on using it, sweet-pea."

Surprisingly Selphie didn't balk, just grinned. "Anywhere, anytime, big boy."

Zell shuddered. "There's something about that right there that's just downright unsettling."

Seifer chuckled, then started leading the way out of the sitting room. He nearly ran into Rinoa on the way in.

"Hi!" she burst out, flushed. "Finally got out of there!" Then she glanced around. "Where's Squall?"

Seifer sighed. "Sorry Rin, but we have to get going."

"Hold on a sec," she entreated, then pulled something out of her pocket. "Take a look at this! This is called an Odine Bangle! I found it in my—that man's room."

"Odine?!" Zell parroted. Selphie frowned.

"Whatcha gonna do with it?"

"It's supposed to suppress sorceress' powers," she replied. Seifer sighed loudly, rolling his eyes heavenward. Oblivious to his shortening temper, Rinoa strolled farther into the room, arms crossed behind her. "But it's effects are still unknown," she admitted. "So I don't think they're going to use it for this mission."

"If it's Odine brand," Zell announced, "it should be pretty effective! They're number one when it comes to magical goods." She turned eagerly to the wuss while Seifer scrubbed at his face with one hand, trying to think of a way to approach this calmly.

"Right, right!" she agreed. Seifer finally turned to her, scowling.

"So what exactly do you want to do with the damn thing?!" he demanded harshly. "What, are you planning to have the sorceress put it on or something?" He stalked closer, glaring down at her. "Who? When? How?"

She stamped her foot, glaring back. "That's what we're going to discuss!" Seifer made a swiping motion with his arm.

"We don't have time for this shit! Pubes and Cowboy are already standing by. We have an operation to carry out to, as pussy-fied as it may be." Hurt flashed in her eyes before she turned away and mulishly glared at the wall. "Hyne-dammit, Rin, this isn't a game!" he roared. "I can't just sit around here and indulge another one of your daughter-daddy spats! Just . . . for once in your life, stay the fuck put until this is all over, alright?!"

Seifer whirled from her and stalked out. "C'mon!" he snarled to his teammates, who—after shooting her sympathetic looks—eventually filed out behind him.

Back in the room, Rinoa's lip trembled and tears threatened. "Who said this was a game?" she demanded of no one, her voice trembling. She slowly crouched to the ground, staring at the bangle in her hands, watching with morbid fascination as it slowly became nothing but a blur of color. "I understand what's going on," she continued to whisper brokenly. "It's not like I don't have a plan."

She finally just sat on the floor, knees drawn up to her chest, and stared at the wall in front of her, one hand clutching at her mother's wedding ring hanging around her neck.

Squall and the others left the mansion once more, trailing after the General as they moved out to take their positions. The streets were becoming clogged and crowded with spectators as everyone turned out to see the celebration ahead. Squall glanced at the tall redheaded cowboy at his side as they walked.

"I'll make the first charge when we make the full-on attack," he pronounced. "I'll try to buy us some time."

Irvine gave him a slow smile. "That won't be necessary," he murmured confidently. "I'll get the job done." They were silent for a moment as they crossed the street and took the garden path toward the presidential residence. "So," Irvine suddenly murmured, "is it true that SeeDs aren't supposed to question their mission?"

Squall snorted softly. There are times I'd like to know myself, he thought to himself. Like . . . now for example. But . . . "Why do you care?" he finally asked aloud.

Irvine just shrugged, then continued. "So like . . . if you knew that your enemies were pure evil, you'd get more fired up to fight them, right?"

Squall frowned, but didn't reply. At least not aloud. Inwardly his mind was going a hundred miles an hour. An enemy that's pure evil? Right and wrong are not what separate us and our enemies. It's our different stand-points, our perspectives that separate us. Both sides blame one another. There's no good or bad side. Just two sides holding different views.

They reached the gateway and Seifer broke away with Selphie and Zell. The General pinned the tall blonde with his cold stare.

"The gateway team will wait inside the gate until 20:00," he reminded them. "You can enter through this door. The sorceress will pass through the gateway at exactly 20:00. In that instant, lower the gates using the control console located on the top floor and trap her inside."

Seifer rolled his eyes but nodded and then turned to usher the other two into the service door.

Caraway led Squall and Irvine over to their designated waiting spot. "You two will wait here."

Squall came forward, frowning. "General, why has the sorceress decided to have such an extravagant parade?" he questioned.

He sighed. "She wants to establish her place in Galbadia Garden, since she has chosen that to be her base."

So that's why Galbadia Garden wants her out, Squall mused, then raised a brow. "So why are you so eager to see her dead?"

The General turned to pin him with his cold blue eyes before turning on his heel. "I'm returning to my residence," he pronounced, ignoring Squall's question as if he'd never spoken. "Good luck."

Squall watched him go for a moment, then sighed and turned his attention back to the operation at hand. As Irvine had said, it wasn't a SeeD's place to question the mission. They went where they were told to go, did what they were told to do. They never questioned why.

So why was he dying to know the answer to that very forbidden question?

Rinoa lifted her head when she heard footsteps outside the room. She still sat on the floor, and turned to glare over her shoulder when the door opened. Her gaze locked with that of the tall, powerful man that had sired her. A man she hated and loved with equal measure—much as her mother had, Rinoa had learned later in life. All she saw reflected back at her in those cold blue eyes was disappointment. She never could seem to please him, no matter how hard she'd tried. Much like her mother. Finally, like Julia, Rinoa had just stopped trying altogether.

She turned away again and then motioned for him to leave her alone. She heard him sigh heavily.

"It'll be chaos out there soon," he murmured. "You'll be safe here."

Rinoa didn't turn, just motioned rudely for him to leave her be once more. There was silence for a moment, and then the sound of him turning around and leaving her again. She slowly got to her feet afterward, wiping at the tearstains on her face. She jerked however when she heard the tell-tale click and bleep of the room's lock engaging. She gasped.

"Oh no!" she hissed. "He's gonna lock me in!" She ran to the door, but hesitated. She gripped her mother's ring, then straightened with a determined scowl. "I . . . I can do it."

Rinoa slipped out of the room just before the door slammed shut and locked behind her. She avoided all the cameras and snuck out of the mansion through years and years of experience. The dark-haired girl slipped through the press and snuck past the guards, calling on a lifetime of sneaking and mischief, then made her way to the rear of the presidential residence. She assessed the old truck and crates in front of her for a moment, then began climbing.

"I'm not a SeeD," she grumbled to herself, "but I can do this." She hopped up on top of the truck, then began climbing on top of the crates in the back. "This isn't some kind of game."

Rinoa jumped off the crates onto the roof near-by, then hurried across and over to the ladder that would lead up to the balcony area. She hesitated there, crouching, checking to make sure there was no one about. Then she hurried into the balcony entrance and then snuck down the long hallway beyond.

Her heart felt permanently lodged up into her throat as she crept up to the large circular room in which the sorceress sat, her back to the door. A river of ink-colored hair fell down the back of the chair, pooling the tiles below. Rinoa clasped her hands behind her, one fisted tightly around the bangle, and swallowed thickly.

"Um . . . Excuse me," she called, voice whisper soft with nervousness. The sorceress didn't turn or indicate that she'd heard. "I'm . . . the daughter of, um . . . Galbadian Army's, um . . . General Caraway," she continued to ramble. The woman in black didn't react at all, so Rinoa plowed ahead. "I . . . thought I'd . . . come pay my respects . . . You know . . . 'cause of my father and all. So, I . . . um . . . brought you a small gift. Please . . ."

Rinoa took a few hesitant steps forward. She let out a sharp cry when she suddenly hit some sort of invisible barrier. The force field flung her backward onto her back. Rinoa groaned, dazed, and slowly rolled up into a sitting position. Her whole body hurt, as if she'd just been electrocuted. The sorceress remained seated and silent.

Rinoa shook her head slightly, then her eyes widened when her hand holding the bangle began to tremble, then began shaking violently. Rinoa tried to grab and still it with her other hand, but let out another startled scream when the hand holding the bangle suddenly shot up into the air and lifted her clean off the ground by a good three feet. She dangled there for a moment, eyes huge, then she jerked when something . . . strange . . . invaded her mind. Whispers, haunting, evil, words she knew but didn't know began echoing throughout her head. Her eyes rolled back, and then she was dropped to the ground, slumping.

The long black hair of the sorceress began to flow up and receded back into her headdress, and then the red mask covering her face disappeared. It revealed a shockingly pale but beautiful visage, lips painted in black and her eyes in violet. Behind her Rinoa stood back up, but now her eyes were blank and glassy, her expression slack. The sorceress gained her feet as well, metal cape snapping out behind her with two long lavender silk attachments drifting back as well.

The sorceress motioned with her arms, then stepped forward and walked through the now-rippling wall. Rinoa followed along helplessly, swaying on her feet like a marionette doll on a string.