Hi friends! After many many months/years of deliberation, I have decided to share this with the world and it is (mostly) completed. Enjoy! =)

CHAPTER ONE: OVERTURE 20/6 (MONDAY)

the world has never been a simple place: the complex organisms that inhabit it build and thrive on its soil, creating lives for themselves. From the smallest ant, to the largest bird, they lived their lives day to day, becoming stronger, and more self-sufficient as time went by.

The humans too, fought and struggled, often against themselves. Galbadia and Esthar warred over technology, bickered over diplomacy. The sorceresses came and created havoc for anyone who got in there way. It was the same not long ago: Balamb GARDEN had fought against Galbadia's best, combining their small forces with Esthar to defeat a sorceress from the future and bring a relative peace to the world.

Balamb GARDEN was the pride and joy of Edea and Cid Kramer. They constructed it over an old Centrian mobile shelter 20 years ago.

It one of the few reasons the GARDEN had survived after its larger counterpart, Galbadian GARDEN had fired on it in retaliation for an attack on their president. After Cid Kramer's hasty decision, the academy had floated for days before crashing into fisherman's Horizon, where they repaired it, and given the ability to be piloted through the skies. 2 years had passed since that time, and only 6 months after the GARDEN became a mobile fortress, did the then new headmistress decommission the GARDEN, removing its motility capabilities, and grounding it back in the heartland of Balamb. Over time, everything was returning to normal.

At least, that's what they thought. The warriors of the final battle lived everyday with their scars. They ached, dealt with their turmoil and put their masks on to survive.

Squall Leonhart was the figurehead for the war: the saviour, the hero. The hero that was confined to his desk chair, day in, day out, co-signing forms, commissioning missions and aching for his blade to sing through flesh and bone as it once had. He signed what felt like the millionth form in a day, a small time mission in Winhill, when his private phone rang.

The GARDEN commander sighed, putting on a calm facade as he picked up the phone and tried not to bark into the receiver.

"Commander Leonhart's office," he answered in his strong tenor. He tried to keep his voice personable as he spoke, something he didn't bother to do any other time. If someone was calling him on his personal line, it called for a certain level of inter-personality. "Why didn't you call through the usual channels like a normal advisor? ...uh-huh... the president? We might be able to spare a group of seasoned... Me? Pardon Mr Seagil but don't you think that's a touch forward? ... I don't care who it is, you can't call MY number to commission my best SeeDs! ...how much... that can pay the entire cost of repairing Trabia with Gil to spare! I can't spare Quistis, she does too much here to keep our head above water... how seasoned? ... At least 2 years' experience... Call through reception, or fill in the paper work and email it to me. I don't want this looking any fishier than it already does. I'll have five qualified SeeDs contacted before the sun sets in Deling City... Rhodes City? I suppose they want to flex their political muscles. Regardless, they'll be ready for deployment tomorrow."

Squall hung up, resisting the human urge to throw the phone, and all his paperwork at the glass window. They had an army of their own, why did they need SeeD? Running his fingers through his dark hair, Squall crossed to his filing cabinet, scowling as he crouched with a click and pulled open the V-Z drawer, sifting through the files with long fingers until he came across the desired file.

A serious, pale faced brunette stared up at the commander in her identification photo. A wind affin Dragoon, trained in the old style of hand to hand combat and basic firearms, she had become a SeeD the year before Squall. He knew her well enough to know he could trust her with this job. He closed the drawer with a well-placed kick, file in hand and he crossed back to his desk. He picked up his phone, dialled a familiar number and waited.

"Hello?" a cheery woman answered, "I wasn't expecting to talk to you until later Squall!"

"Quistis," Squall said to his work partner, voice returning to a monotone, "Can I borrow Nida to run a quick errand?"

"Of course Squall...may I ask why?" Squall grunted his impatience, "you don't HAVE to tell me," she grouched.

"It's just as you guessed Quistis," Squall conceded, "they're under attack, and they need SeeDs." Squall explained the situation, and told the blonde headmistress that she would be staying behind.

"Then who else are you taking with you?"

"The only other person I can trust with this mission... White."

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Students bustled through the halls without care, travelling from lecture to lecture with bright smiles and a skip in their steps. As a lecture on the first sorceress war of almost twenty-five years ago came to its end, a dark haired, dark eyed girl's stomach began to rumble in its haste for nutrients. Caitlin White turned her attention to the derisive organ in annoyance as she bundled her laptop into her arms and hoisted her bag over her shoulder, muttering at it to wait just an hour more. Several students glanced at her as they took the stairs in a quick, but noisy way; giggling under their breaths as they realized that it was in fact that she was- AGAIN- talking to herself. A straggler within the group stared too long and Cait set and dark look down at the girl, who squeaked timidly and quickened her pace to meet up with her friends.

A satisfied smirk crossed over her pale face as she made her own way down the stairs in the lecture hall, grimacing as pain lanced through her left foot, as it did on most days. "I think there's a potion in my room..." mumbled to herself as she exited the second floor hall and made her way for the new staircase that would lead her to the hallway near her dormitory.

"Student 301-285-43: Caitlin White?" Cait turned on her heel, thick ponytail whacking her in the face as she peered at the dark haired man leaning against the wall. She squirmed as he gave her the once over through his bangs, a mixture of anger and intrigue in his green eyes.

"Yes Nida?" she asked him, resting her free hand on the edge of her hip, transferring almost all her weight onto her right foot. She didn't like to stand for too long when she spoke to people. The way she shifted and changed her stance due to the injuries in her feet often made people uncomfortable, like they were talking to a child who had consumed too much sugar in a short period of time. It also made Cait uncomfortable, not just because of the pain, but because people were impatient with her shifting stance, her ever changing focus: few tried for a second conversation. She thanked any God above that Nida was a succinct man, who got straight to the meat of it.

"Commander Leonhart requires your presence in his office in one hour in relation to a mission. He did not disclose the nature of the mission, but asked me to let you know that it might be something you'd enjoy." He bowed his head, as he did to most female SeeDs, and Cait felt a surge of pity for him. Ever since he had lost control of the GARDEN's movement, he had been a shell of a man, lost and drifting, like a bird whose wings had been clipped: he had gone from an eagle to a mere carrier pigeon. She thanked him and he left without another word. Shaking off the nagging feelings of pity she had for the Headmistresses personal assistant, Cait straightened her stance, shifted her weight between her toes and looked down the hallway.

"An hour, huh?" she muttered, peering towards the large, glass elevator at the end of the hall, "screw my essay, I'm gettin' me some grub!"

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Cait arrived at her dormitory five minutes after her conversation with Nida. She allowed the door to close with a swish behind her as she reached down to unzip her knee high flats. They did nothing for her feet on a structural level, but she liked them for the conformability and swelling room. She tossed them to the other side of the room, where they landed with a thud beside her seven foot spear, Obelisk. She smiled at the beautiful weapon, gifted to her on her eighteenth birthday by Jack, the man who trained her. It was a replacement for her old weapon, the fire engine-red Partisan, which she lost during the war. She turned her attention to the GARDEN issue phone, which sat on her little desk, piled high with papers and letters, blinking away. Her smile grew into a grin as she crossed to it and pressed the message play button. She listened to the speaker play her custom message to people who were fortunate enough to have her number, punched in her password (her birthday) and sat on her desk chair as the messages began to play. The first was from Squall, reiterating what Nida had told her moments ago, adding his own personal touch.

"It's an international job, and according to the records, you've never been further than Timber: so I'd say it's time to spread your democratic wings." Cait chuckled at the Commanders thought process, and smiled as a light voice filled the room.

"Caitie!" Cait could feel Hal's happiness even from over the phone. Hal kept her grounded when she felt overwhelmed by the world; a light in the darkness. He kept her alive in many ways after the war, "I know you're still in class, and I know you hate hearing bad news over the phone, but I wanted to let you know that John managed to break his leg this morning." Cait felt her stomach drop; John was the toughest person she knew, the man who had found her on the streets of Balamb, angry and full of hate. He turned her into someone more solid, more prepared to take on the world, even when it seemed futile. "He's okay of course," he continued, "his ego is the real thing hurt. They're keeping him in for a few day, but you know how he is, he's still telling them that he needs to go home- that there's nothing wrong with him." He laughed and Cait knew he must have been all right; if he could yell at the staff then it could definitely be a lot worse off.

"But even so, he'll be in hospital for the next week or so. If you get the chance, I know he'd love to hear from you, see how you're doing and everything. The rest of us would too, it's been too long since we've heard from you!" Cait listened and heard another familiar voice in the background: David was yelling something at Hal, who wrapped up his message with Cait before he hung up, David calling her name in the background. As Cait pulled on an orange hooded jumper, she declared that when she got back from her meeting with Leonhart and a quick dinner that she would call her friends back and have a good long conversation with them.

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Thoughts of her potential new mission made Cait's pulse race as she entered the elevator with four other students, who departed on the second floor. She hummed along with the music as the machine continued its ascent, curious so to what this new mission would hold.

"Commander Squall Leonhart and Headmistress Quistis Trepe's office: have a pleasant day," the computerized female said kindly as the doors opened.

"Thanks!" Cait chirped at it as she walked out of the elevator. The blonde receptionist gave Cait a familiar smile as she activated the intercom.

"Miss White for you sir," she said, tapping her fingers against the machine as she awaited an answer. It came after a high-pitched squeak that made Cait cover her ears with a grimace. "Megan, Squall's gone off for a bathroom break," a cheery, all too bubbly female replied, "Caitie can come in, considering she's LATE!" Cait laughed aloud as the door swung open to allow her access.

"I'm not late," she told the short haired brunette who occupied Squall's high backed leather chair. "I'm the only other sucker here, and they're not busted up like I am." She added, jabbing a long finger at the girl, who began to munch on a chocolate as Cait entered, feeling the door close behind her with a swish.

Squall's office never ceased to amaze her; it was all dark wood and leathers, with a window along the entire length of the northern wall, so that he always had a good view of the distant beaches and closer forests. She knew of the little door on the western edge, that lead off to a small bathroom and not so small entertainment system; it was also the thoroughfare to Quistis' airy office. Cait took a seat in one of the smaller chairs, across from Selphie Tilmitt, who pulled a half melted chocolate from the pocket of her short yellow overalls and tossed it to her friend, who caught it and sat it on her lap.

"We're busted up too," she argued in a defiant tone as she flipped her forever short hair from her green eyes, "...but then I suppose we were category one, and were handled pretty fast. You should ask Squall to move you name up the list some." Cait shook her head, knowing that the little woman would do anything for anyone, especially her friends.

The pair chatted for several minutes- or rather, Selphie talked while Cait listened, nodding when appropriate and only replying when Selphie asked her an actual question. The smaller's tirade about the treatment of her pygmy Chocobo was ended as the door swished open. The pair turned to the door and waved at Irvine Kinneas, who entered with his usual swagger, as if it were normal for him to adjust EVERYTHING he was wearing and then grin at the pair like he was surveying a delicious meal. Cait set her face in a half-hearted glare as he crossed to plunk himself in the seat next to her, his midnight blue eyes looking at her.

"That's all I get?" he asked in his faded Galbadian accent, "I come bearing gifts and all I get is a wave?" the pair shrugged in unison as Cait reached over to muss up his auburn fauxhawk.

"I'm sure you did cowboy," Selphie teased as he stared at Cait, reaching up to straighten his short hair. He reached into his pocket and pulled a squashed sandwich from its depths. Cait and Selphie looked at each other and grimaced. "All right, all right, fine!" he conceded, head drooping, "I didn't bring ya anythin', but can ya blame me for tryin'?" Cait plucked the sandwich from the sharpshooters hand as he looked at Selphie. She turned it over in her hands, tilting her head to one side as she examined it.

"You can keep it," she decided, tossing it back into his lap without giving him a look. He snatched it up and poked his tongue out at her.

Cait had met the so-called 'heroes' 3 months after the War had ended. Rehabilitation was a challenge at the best of times, and one evening she found herself alone, at the mercy of a vicious T-Rexaur.

In retrospect, Cait knew she had been reckless. She had thrown the spear, crying in out in pain from exertion. It turned and roared once, lumbering towards her, head thrashing, irritated by the spear. When she was six feet away, Cait pushed herself up towards the sky, using a draft to keep her afloat as the rex paused, confused. Cait came to the ground, looking left and right for a makeshift weapon.

She looked too long. The rex had a mate, and he wasn't afraid to rake his claws across Cait's back. Pain shot through her, sharp and hot, and the next thing she knew the training centre was sideways, and the rexaur's were getting closer.

Then the centre flashed bright white, and the monsters collapsed, eyes closed as they slept. There was a voice cursing, which sounded far away

A hand touched her shoulder, and she heard a cry of pain that she realized later had come from her. "What were you doing out here by yourself?" the stranger's voice was frantic, tearing the fabric of Cait's shirt away from the long wounds.

Cait felt far away, drifting as the stranger healed her wounds with countless potions, but soon enough the wounds closed, one by one, until all that was left was a series of angry scars and blood. A moment later, Cait was staring at the metal roof of the training centre, sucking in deep breaths as she was looked over. "M'fine," she grumbled, pushing herself into a sitting position. She looked to the left where the sounds of her saviour's voice came from.

"Feel better?" the blonde man asked, rubbing a gloved hand across his tattooed cheek, "pretty dumb idea to take on 2 of them," he commented, narrowing his blue eyes at her. Cait shrugged half-heartedly, dragging her hands through her hair, eyes narrowed. "Have you got a death wish?"

"Some days," the words came out before she could think the question through, the blonde blinked, taken aback, before standing and offering her his hand. Cait took it and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. She thanked him and he smiled, "I got stupid," she added, folding her arms a moment after she dropped his hand.

"We all do sometimes," he replied, shrugging his broad shoulders, "c'mon, you should get cleaned up."

He ordered her to the showers and waited for her to rinse the blood away from her body. She exited 10 minutes later, clean and dressed from head to toe in black. "You waited?" she asked, shaking her wet hair out over her shoulders.

"Wanted to make sure you were alright," he offered, watching a little smile come to her face.

"Thanks, I'm Cait," she said, sticking her hand towards him. He took it and shook it, a grin on his tanned face.

"Zell."

The door swished open again, and this time only Cait turned at the stocky, vibrant blonde strolled into the room. Although it seemed that stormed would have been a better term; Zell Dincht's blue eyes were downcast as he swept the room, allowing a tiny smile for his friends before he swore, pushing his sweater sleeves up past his elbows. "Leonhart called me up here- from my DINNER- and now he's not even here?" the silence was answer enough for him, as he swore again and punched the door hard.

"You can have some of Irvine's sandwich," Selphie suggested, a devious smirk playing on her face. The red-head nodded his agreement, offering his blonde friend the sandwich. Cait alone remained horrified, trying to get Zell's ever-wandering attention without waving her arms like a maniac.

The hungry teen took the sandwich lightning fast with one hand as he scratched his tattooed arm with the other. The tattoo was nothing fancy; just more tribal swirls that curled around the muscles of his upper and left forearm. He unwrapped the food with swift hands and stuffed half of it into his mouth.

The trio watched him chew for a moment before turning a delicate shade of green. Instinct must have taken over because Cait watched in surprise as he spat the half-chewed piece of food back into its wrapper, sheer horror etched into his face. He turned his attention to Irvine and croaked;

"How long has that been sitting in your God-damn pocket?" Irvine raised a long finger to his chin, tapping his jaw, eyes narrowed. He turned to Zell and shrugged. "GOD DAMMIT IRVINE ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME!" the sentence broke off in an angry scream as the blonde launched at the gunman, whose eyes widened in shock as their bodies connected with a thud, sending them straight into the path of Cait, whose chair plummeted to the ground as she stared at her two friends from the edge of the desk.

"I suppose that warrants a point for quick thinking."

Cait and Selphie turned their heads to glance at Squall Leonhart, who was watching his two friends wrestle on the ground in annoyance. Cait shrugged, half a smirk on her face.

"He started it," Zell offered as an explanation a moment later, after Selphie had beaten him over the head for his rudeness and he had taken her place in the same seat as Cait. He looked at his friend, who sighed, just as Squall did, making Zell and Selphie giggle, like only Cait and Squall often did. "Stupid Irvine..."Zell added, glaring at him. Cait watched Irvine, who was staring at Squall, ignoring Zell.

"So Squall," Cait began, wiping the mocking look from her eyes as her SeeD instincts took over, "Nida told me you had a good mission for me?" Squall shook his head, brown hair falling into his dark eyes.

"You fluctuate like mad..." he mumbled under his breath, "but your right, there IS a new mission that's just been approved. Rather, it's a mission for the five of us; Kiros Seagil of the presidential guard in Esthar called me approximately two and a half hours ago, requesting two things. The first is to liberate their spy from under Galbadia's nose. Reports say they're holding him in Deling City, so we have to rescue him before we travel to Esthar where the real job begins. Second is to act as a security contingent, put in place to fend off attacks from Galbadian soldiers."

"So you're saying we're glorified bodyguards?" Irvine asked from his post against the wall. He looked at Squall, eyebrows knotted together above his eyes, "for who?"

"Who do you think, dork?" Selphie called, folding her arms in his direction, "Sir Laguna needs a hand! ... Right Squall?" the peppy brunette let loose a squeal of delight when Squall nodded. Cait stared at her, knowing full aware that Selphie had something a kin to a school girl crush on Esthar's president, although after hearing about him from Squall and Zell, she could only surmise that it was because the pair were so similar; a pair of giant goofballs. But, she thought, scratching the side of her head, if he was a world leader, why would he need SeeDs to defend him? She posed the question to Squall who shrugged.

"I suppose the president figures his soldiers are unable to work as well as we can. The five of us are being dispatched, and the intent is to leave tomorrow morning. We'll be traveling by car most of the way, so Cait, if you have a need for some more medication for your motion sickness, stock up." She nodded twice, mentally making a note of it. She had suffered from crippling motion sickness for as long as she could remember, and found a mixture of medication and para-magic was the only cure.

"Squall," Selphie began in a little voice, "you sure you're okay with this?"

"Yes." The coldness in the Gunblader's voice indicated otherwise, even Cait could tell and it was enough to turn the deserts cold. Selphie looked down at her little hands in an unspoken apology.

"Sorry Selphie," he told her, raising a hand as affirmation, "I suppose I'm just a little tired." Selphie nodded, looking back at her commander, grinning. Squall managed to return the smile, "I trust you'll all be there by 0800 tomorrow morning, right?" there was a collective nod throughout the room, "excellent; dismissed."

When Cait parted with Zell and Irvine at her dormitory door, she crossed to her little bed and sat on it for a long minute. She stared up at the pale yellow wall, eyes coming to focus on the bright red hue of a Chakram. It hung against the wall with nails and brought a wave of immense sadness to Cait's chest. She squeezed her eyes closed, curling into herself; the weapon was a reminder- a memorial- for her late best friend. The GARDEN war took the cheerful brunette from right under her nose, at the pinnacle of the battle with Galbadia- with Seifer Almasy. A feral, irrational growl slipped past her pursed lips as she stood in a single movement, moving to her phone and dialling Hal.

She heard David's calm voice and sighed. She explained she was traveling to Esthar, where she knew they were currently staying.

"You'll love it here Cait," he told her, chuckling at her, "it's a lot busier than anywhere you've ever been."

"Hell, I'll take a mission almost anywhere at this point, so long as Rinoa doesn't follow, I might actually be able to relax for a change." David laughed and said his farewells. Just as Cait got off the phone, her stomach growled, reminding her that it had been hours since she had last eaten. "Dammit, all right, we're going!"