Another mission completed. Another to add to the hundreds she'd already been on-battle support, undercover operations, rescue ops-assignments expected of a mercenary for hire to both governments and civilians. They blurred in her mind forming one endless, continuing reality of who she was and what she did and what she would always be...Quistis Trepe, SeeD Combat Specialist, and after Squall, Balamb Garden's best. And because she was second-best, the Commander kept her busy.

She stepped out of the Ragnarok and into the soft evening breeze common to the Balamb continent. The evening air wasn't too chilly-it was warm, actually-but her uniform was damp, as was everything else she had packed for the mission. Damp from spending a week out in the rain, damp with sweat, and damp with blood. Not hers, of course, but Squint's, and Squint was now swiftly on his way to the infirmary; Dr. Kadawaki's emergency team had been awaiting their arrival. Thankfully, it looked like he was going to be okay, and would probably be back in the field in less than seven weeks. What more could any SeeD ask for?

Straightening her spine and taking a full, deep breath, she sucked whatever vitality she could from the air. Hardly reinvigorated, at least she thought she could make it to the Commander's office to report to Squall. Required of all SeeDs upon completion of an assignment, it couldn't be put off until later. But she hoped that once she left him, she would find herself in the shelter of her dorm room, burrowed beneath warm, soft blankets, asleep until the next evening or possibly well beyond. If only she could sleep away all remembrances of the death and brutality she'd witnessed the past few years since Balamb had changed its policy on Guardian Forces. If she could always keep one junctioned, the memories would begin to fade away...

She was used to being assigned the more extreme operations; Squall often admitted he rested easier whenever she was on a case and she was very proud of that. But she was still just a woman, one in desperate need of rest, and the Commander ought to be aware that even she couldn't keep going at the pace she was on for much longer. Hyne, if in her shoes, he probably couldn't either.

After this last assignment, captaining a team of newer, unproven Seeds, she deserved a break. Although, despite a lack of experience, they had done a remarkable job...and everyone was still alive. There had been several, cold moments she was sure that none of them, including herself, would be for much longer. But they had made it and were still here, yet for how long, no one in their line of work really knew.

Down the gangway, they were trailing behind her now, like shadows, gray-faced and soundless. Once her feet touched the ground, she motioned them to a halt.

"Good work, everyone. Commander Leonhart should be pleased by what we've accomplished." They stood at attention, their gaunt, sallow eyes the only indicator that they too were as tired as she. She couldn't help but nod her approval at their grit, but she also felt pity. "I'll report to him alone. Get some rest."

They saluted her silently and then faded into the darkness, scattering off to enter Garden where they would greet friends and lovers and then fall into their beds. Later, they would be eager to tell others of the experience, most likely exaggerating several points and falsely turning the mission into a lark. She wondered if in the earlier days she had ever done the same. Somehow, even without the GF's, she couldn't remember.

Footsteps pounded down the gangway from behind her and she turned again, this time to thank Nida Addison for the flight home. He smiled in acknowledgment, his eyes crinkling with amusement when she allowed herself to yawn a moment later. It was not like her to show weakness, but at that moment, she didn't care.

"Rough one, huh?"

Her answering smile was pinched, but she smiled, nonetheless. He was always such a cheerful, pleasant person to speak to; she always felt lighter whenever he was near.

"It was, but it's over and Squall owes me...big time."

"Well, it's not like he can boost your rank anymore. I believe you're maxed out, Miss Elite, Rank A. But maybe you can demand more gil."

"Or added vacation time..."

"Or that," he agreed. He turned and looked out to where a line of silvery fur trees began to thicken into the eastern forest. His eyes grew wistful. "I wouldn't mind moving up a rank myself, although my opportunities to do so are generally few. Not that I'm complaining, of course." His eyes turned rueful. "Piloting is nice, but sometimes, I get a little jealous of the adventures you all get to go on."

"They're rarely fun or glamorous."

"No, just dangerous and exciting-"

"And deadly. Did you see those kids tonight? Always look long and hard at those you're transporting. Chances are a day will come you'll never see them again."

He laughed at that, and she cringed, having been entirely serious. "Nida-"

"Let's get you to Squall so you can give your report and get to bed." He picked up her bag and flung it over his shoulders. She wanted to protest, but knew it would be in vain. He was always a gentleman, despite a girl wishing him to be one or not. The Commander's office was situated beneath the bridge where Nida was headed anyway; just the thought of the long walk wearied her.

They skirted over the grass and slipped through Garden's front gate, their footsteps making quick clicks upon the cement pavers. When they entered the expansive lobby, and Quistis heard the familiar sound of the fountains tinkling and echoing throughout Garden's main chamber, she let out a deep breath as some of her tension eased. She was home.

The lobby was a place to tell secrets. There were pockets of both cadets and SeeDs alike, sitting and standing in small groups and in pairs, catching up on the daily gossip before curfew. The fountains created enough noise to cloak even the loudest of exclamations or the highest-pitched giggles.

But there was one giggle that the water had a hard time masking. Quistis heard Selphie Tilmitt long before she caught sight of her, and once she did, she wasn't surprised to see her sharing confidences with the Commander's girlfriend, Rinoa Heartilly.

Her two friends- she shook her head, knowing what they were ardently discussing by the gleam in their eyes and the flush on their cheeks. They were shameless, absolutely shameless.

Rinoa was perched on the arm of a wrought-iron bench, but when she caught sight of Quistis, she sprung to her feet, beckoning her to join them. Quistis only waved. "I'll find you girls later," she called. And it would be later. Much, much later. She knew what they were discussing and for once she was glad she had the excuse to report to Squall.

Sex...the two girls were insatiable, goofy, like a pair of prepubescent boys discussing what it would be like to feel their first breast. Although both were growing more and more experienced. Squall and Irvine were seeing to that...the Commander trying to be discreet, the cowboy, not so much.

And whenever Selphie and Rinoa got together, sans their other halves, they compared notes, made suggestions and giggled and giggled and giggled. It was enough to give Quistis a headache and send her running to seek out other company.

The problem was, it was rare to find anyone, male or female, who hadn't caught the bug. Hormones were fertilizing Garden and Dr. Kadowaki worked harder dispensing birth control than actually tending the sick or wounded. And Cid...he serenely smiled at it all.

Every one of her closest friends belonged to someone. Zell was often found snuggling in tight corners with his cute, little librarian, Piggy-an awful nickname that made Quistis shudder. The day prior to her most recent mission, she had stumbled upon Zell practically devouring his girlfriend, nibbling on her flesh between a pair of dusty, old book shelves. It had been an awkward encounter, from which she withdrew as quickly as possible, clenching her fists as the sound of his rumbling laughter chased her away. He was as shameless as the girls.

And her friend Xu? Xu had been as stalwart as she in resisting the trend; together they had bemoaned the lack of control that had taken hold of Garden's residents. But one day, Xu began to steal glances at an older SeeD, and it was not long after, that she began to obsess over him. And it wasn't much after that that she and Xander Flynn were grossly in love. It was now only a matter of time before Xu joined Selphie, Rinoa and the ranks of numerous other SeeD girls in leaving her singular dorm room to move in with a guy. Xu was her ally no longer.

What a shame it was, Quistis sighed. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Nida look at her questioningly, but she ignored him, not wishing to speak to him of such matters. Besides, she suspected he had tender feelings for her. If she saw his eyes soften or begin to look wistful, she didn't know what she'd do.

She missed her girlfriends. The quality of time now spent with them was severely diminished, as their subject matter always concerned love, sex and all sorts of nonsense. Perhaps it was just as well that she always seemed to work harder than the rest.

Climbing the short staircase to the dais supporting the elevator, she scanned the crowd of young people, waiting for the lift to make its descent. Did Salli Benson seriously have to straddle her boyfriend's lap in public? Decency had completely vanished from the institution.

The elevator chimed, and she turned and followed Nida through its doors, bracing herself as it then sprung into ascension. When they arrived at the third floor, with a parting grin, he handed over her bag and then continued up to the next level. As she walked down the hallway, she realized she had forgotten to thank him.

The door to Squall's office was half open, but still she knocked. He looked up from where he was going over several files with his secretary and waved her in.

"Will you page Zell Dincht to my office?" he asked his secretary before she left. Then he bade Quistis take a seat. For once, she appreciated his lack of common pleasantries as they both sat down and immediately got to business.

He jotted several quick notes as she spoke, and when she was through, told her not to bother writing up the customary formal report the next day.

She looked at him blankly. Report writing was part of protocol. "Squall?" she questioned. He bent the rules as rarely as she.

"I'll have Gibbs do it. It will be good experience. Besides, tomorrow you'll be gone."

"Excuse me?"

"I'm sending you on another mission. You leave in five hours, so I suggest you quickly pack and then take a berth on board the Ragnarok. That way, your sleep will remain uninterrupted when Nida takes off."

"Squall, you cannot seriously be doing this to me."

There was a knock on the door and Squall left his desk to answer it. Quistis was certain he was glad for the excuse not to reply.

It was Zell.

"Sit down." Squall motioned him to the seat next to hers. "I was just telling Quistis there's another assignment and I've chosen the both of you for it."

Quistis settled back into her chair, resigning herself to her fate; that was life as a SeeD after all. But sometimes, she thought, it would be nice to have a choice in some matters.

"I received a call from Kiros Seagill, Vice President of Esthar-"

Quistis forcefully kept herself from rolling her eyes. Squall was always formal while briefing a mission, but was doubly so whenever any of the leaders of Esthar were mentioned.

He continued. "Apparently, over the past year, President Loire has received several threats from a small anti-sorceress, terrorist organization. Neither he nor the Vice President were too concerned as the members are disorganized and few in numbers. But this past week, there was a break in at the Presidential office and then the next evening, when the President was taking dinner at a popular restaurant in the city, he was shot at."

"Is he okay?" Zell asked breathlessly.

Squall nodded without visible emotion. "He's fine, but nonetheless, to be safe, Kiros is insistent security be heightened about him. He has increased Laguna's bodyguards, but for extra protection, would like a SeeD always near him as well. They are concerned that the break in was an inside job, as they claim the executive offices are impenetrable."

"Nothing is impenetrable," Zell grinned.

"For the next several weeks, you'll both be stationed with Laguna Monday through Friday, in which I'll have Nida fly you back to Balamb and Selphie and Irvine take your places on the weekends. I'm not sure how long this assignment will last-hopefully not years-but for now, we'll take it a week at a time.

"Quistis, you'll be with him during the day. Zell, the night. You'll also be staying in the president's apartments...Kiros is insistent SeeD keep close."

"Do I have to, um, stand guard while he sleeps? That could be sort of awkward, you know?"

"Outside his bedroom door should suffice, unless Kiros states differently. However, Quistis, you will stay with him at all times in his office."

She nodded. "I understand."

"Kiros has ensured me you will greatly enjoy the use of all the amenities of Laguna's home during your off hours."

Zell sprung to his feet. "This is going to be awesome! I'll miss Piggy, of course, but those guys know how to have a good time! We rocked Esthar the last time I was there!

After Ultimecia, a friendship had sprung up between Zell and Ward Zabac, and several times he had used his break periods to vacation in Esthar. "Your dad's the best, Squall. I wish you'd-"

Quistis watched Squall's face darken as he interrupted Zell's plea. "Zell, be sure to pack your formal uniform. The President must often attend high events. You too, Quistis, just in case it would be best to double up for an evening."

She nodded. The mission didn't sound too bad. She had always liked Esthar, although it was one country she'd not seen much of in the two years since Time Compression. While it was slowly becoming part of a larger, global society, the people still kept themselves somewhat apart, but their president was trying to change that.

President Loire was... She pursed her lips in disapproval. Squall was only half right; the mission could be fairly simple or it could be a nightmare. It all rested upon Laguna Loire's actions. Of course, he would never intend to be difficult, but he was a magnet for all sorts of bizarre happenings. And he seemed to enjoy it. Esthar had the oddest president the world had ever seen.

After receiving several more instructions, they were dismissed to go pack. Zell quickly fled, eager to spend his last hours with Piggy, but Quistis was slower to stand, her body aching with exhaustion. She thought bitterly that the vast majority of her clothing was dirty, crumpled into the pack now lying at her feet. Perhaps she could launder it in Esthar; tonight was out of the question.

She didn't bother saying goodnight, knowing Squall would hardly acknowledge the gesture, but as she was opening the door, she remembered Nida, and quietly clicked it shut again.

Squall was busy stacking several files together, clearing his desk to leave for the night and she was positive she detected a small smile upon his face. He looked to be anticipating something. She narrowed her eyes...most likely Rinoa.

"Squall, there's one other thing."

He looked up and his body shifted in annoyance when he realized she was still there. "Yes?" he asked, turning his attention back to his task.

It bugged her. Hardly ever considerate of her time, why should she be of his?

But still, she didn't want him to transfer his ill humor over to the pilot, so she tried to be brief.

"Nida would really like a break from piloting to go on a couple of missions. You might consider him sometime."

"Nida's a good pilot, so I hate to risk him. He's too valuable."

"Perhaps, but how would you feel training for missions all of your life, only to be endlessly stuck in a cockpit?"

Squall let the file in his hand drop to his desk. He then looked at her steadily, but she couldn't make much of out his expression. Even his annoyance had dissipated. "How would you feel training for missions all of your life, only to be endlessly stuck in an office? It is what it is, Quistis."

"I see." And she did. And then she wondered how many in Garden were happy with their work, or even with their lives. Was she? "It is, what it is," she mused aloud, more for herself.

Squall continued to lock his focus on her, as if he wished her to understand something about him. Finally, he looked away.

"I'll consider it. I'm not indifferent to how he must feel."

"Thanks, Squall," she nodded and then left.

The lobby was now empty as she passed through it towards the corridor that led to the dorm rooms. Curfew was almost upon them, and Garden was strict. Unless in the training center, one had better be in her room...or someone else's. As she walked down the hallway toward her own, she wondered at all that was going on inside the closed doors that she passed, glad to not have a part in any of it.