Stealth
Chapter xxxiii
By YuriNigasa
*standard I don't own FFVIII, Squaresoft, characters, etc. applies from now until whenever I decide I'm done*
Stealth
Chapter xxxiii
By YuriNigasa
"This is it," I said. "It's got to be." We stood outside the Command Center, leaning against the wall.
Squall looked dubious. "You realize that finding that particular area would require bringing Usuki in? I don't know if that's the wisest choice."
"So we leave out some relevant details. He's a harmless archaeologist. It's not like we've got to go totally in depth with him. We can tell him we're looking for a Guardian Force, which is true. We don't have to tell him why." I put my hand up to the chipping paint and began peeling pieces away.
"I don't like leaving the area unprotected. We've also got Alisa Case to deal with. Given what happened last time, what's to say that they won't make a raid to get her back?" He frowned slightly.
"Simple. Transport her to Galbadia Garden. Or better, Balamb. Galbadia wasn't in great shape last time I saw it. What if we evacuate the town?" I shrugged.
"A bit extreme. The evacuation that is. Once we do that, we've admitted that there's something we can't handle. That will undoubtedly incite panic." He folded his hands across his chest and blew a wayward strand of hair from his eyes. It promptly fell back down.
"And panic is worse than dead citizens how?" I reached out and tucked the strand behind his ear.
"I'd rather avoid both. Of course I don't want to lose any of our people, either." He rolled his eyes at me, his expression amused at my gesture.
"Once we go away the problem probably will. After all, it was Alisa who brought it to our attention. Something tells me the entire thing was a setup to get us all here. Only maybe things haven't gone the way they were supposed to, I don't think. Which reminds me, are you going to attempt to contact Elle?" I felt like kicking myself for bringing it up, but it had been nagging at my mind for a while.
"I'd rather wait until we get some answers, head to Centra first maybe."
"So, who's going to tell Usuki he's leading an expedition to Centra?" I said, smiling.
"Quistis is doing a remarkable job of handling him. Let her break the news."
Arrangements were made with Balamb to transport Alisa Case. Terpischore would be accompanying her on the trip, which would be made via private rail. Balamb would send out a hydrotransport with another eighteen active SeeD to Galbadia and the boat would simply take the two women back. The doctor seemed to think that Alisa would be acclimated enough for travel within a week. That gave us less than seven days to prepare to head to Centra for what could prove to be a fairly difficult operation.
Usuki had been brought up to speed on the most basic aspects of the operation, and was now technically in the employ of Garden in an advisory capacity. He was preparing lists of what we would need to have available if we were going to do any heavy excavation work. I made sure that Balamb would have the Ragnarok prepped and ready for use. One useful toy we'd forgotten to return to the rightful Estharian owners. Then again, I suppose I could claim salvage rights. I'd like to see them try and get it back. It would be a short but amusing attempt.
As I closed the com link, I smiled to myself. There had been one more small matter that I had taken care of while I'd had the ear of the Council's leader. I sat down to write out a tentative plan for the next week. I would leave Seifer and Elijah with Usuki. Anyone else would have gotten in the way, and they had the most experience working with him. I wanted Zell to handle the roster for the incoming SeeD deployment. If the Council had their way I'd be Balamb's new Headmaster within the next six months. Zell needed to learn the ropes fast if he was going to take my place. By the time I told him he was going to be Commander, he should be ready for it. Quistis could replace Terpischore as the active medical tech. Irvine and Selphie would be acting as Squad Leaders for the duration of the week, replacing the three fallen members.
I glanced at my watch when my stomach gave a disgusting rumble. Twenty-one hundred hours. That might explain the hunger pangs. I had forgotten lunch in all the chaos. I paged Seifer and told him to meet me in the hotel's dining area. He said to give him another ten minutes and he'd join me. I didn't know if my body would last that long, or start to devour itself before then. He just laughed when I told him.
I took a table in the far corner with a good view of the double glass doors in front. I ordered our food so it would be ready by the time he arrived. Right on schedule, I saw him. I watched him jog across the street and up to the door. Pulling on the handle, he made his way inside and over to the table I had gotten in the corner. I looked up and he leaned over for a quick kiss before sitting down and taking a menu off the rack.
"I'm starving," he said, "We've been compiling lists for the past couple of hours and it's getting monotonous."
"Somehow I don't think monotony's going to be a problem this week. We don't have a lot of time on our hands."
"I know. I'm just glad that it feels like we're finally getting a break on this. I think I realize how you guys must have felt when everything just fell into place for you. It's freaky."
Our food arrived and we began to dig in voraciously.
"At least last time there was a reason. This time it's just inexplicable coincidence. I don't like it."
"Well it's not inexplicable, it's just not very rational."
"Exactly what worries me. But, enough about that. I want a nice, peaceful dinner." I couldn't help but smirk as my thoughts went to that first dinner we had shared. It seemed like it had been months ago, so much had happened since then.
"What's going on in there?" Seifer asked.
I stared at him, really looking at him for the first time that day. It never failed to strike me how handsome he was, but it was so much more than that. I felt this warm flutter in my chest, not as scary as it had been that first time, but still as strong as ever. "Thoughts," I said.
He chuckled. "Aren't there always?"
I nodded. It seemed my mind rarely quit its chatter. As we finished up our meal and I leaned forward, elbows on the table. "I have something you need to know," I began.
A brief look of worry flickered across Seifer's face. "What is it?"
"Well, I didn't know how you'd take it, so I wanted to discuss it in private with you first."
Now, he definitely looked concerned. He raised a questioning eyebrow.
I put my hand in my pocket, feeling for the small envelope I had put there. I pulled it out and slid it across the table to him. "Open it," I prompted.
He pulled back the fastener and opened the flap. Holding out a hand, he upended the envelope. Two small chevrons fell out, glittering gold against his palm. He looked up at me, eyes wide. "Are you serious?"
"Given exemplary performance during extenuating circumstances, I've been authorized to give you a field promotion, from Cadet to SeeD, starting rank five," I smiled.
"Wow. Really? Wow." He stared down at the pins.
I was more pleased than I thought I would have been. I honestly hadn't had a desire to make SeeD but to look down in my hand and see those tiny emblems was a little intimidating. Squall reached over and took one from my hand, pulling the back off it. He stood up a little and reached for my shirt collar, pressing the pin through the fabric before attaching the back. It was almost like I could feel it go straight through me, not just my shirt. Taking the other pin, he did the same thing to the other side of my collar.
He sat back and smiled at me. I could tell this really made him happy. "Welcome to SeeD, Mr. Almasy," he said.
"Thank you, Commander," I replied.
"Would you like your first official order as a member of SeeD?" I asked, lowering my eyes and smiling at him coyly.
He gazed at me, his eyes a bright green. He made no effort to disguise the smoldering look of pure lust in them. "I take orders well," he purred.
"Well then," I lowered my voice to a near whisper, "Why don't you accompany your Commander to bed?"
"With pleasure," he said, standing.
I followed him out of the dining area and up the stairs.
Some days, it paid to be in charge.