I looked up from the computer terminal located in the newly remodeled basement of Balamb Garden and straightened. Seifer stood at the entrance to his office of the Garden Network Security Division dressed in his new usual black slacks, black silk shirt, and black dress-shoes. He held his favorite coffee mug. That gave me a jolt of satisfaction. I had given him the dark blue mug upon his reinstatement to Garden as Head of Security.
"SIR?"
Seifer stepped back and motioned into his office. "A word."
I curtly nodded and strode forward, stepping past him to stand at attention across from his desk. Previously, I wouldn't have. Standing at attention and saluting had been traditions with no basis in respect or deserving. My entire career on the Disciplinary Committee I hadn't saluted but maybe once. Now, with Seifer as Head of Security for the entire Garden Network, and myself reinstated as his second in command, the tradition felt right. It felt deserved.
Seifer closed the door and made his way to the other side of his desk. He set his mug down before meeting my gaze.
"Report."
I pulled a sheaf of papers from the inside pocket of my SeeD uniform jacket and presented it to him.
"Trabia?" he asked.
"YES."
"Are they with us?"
"YES."
Seifer responded with a curt nod and set the papers on his desk. "Good. Trepe and Regal have agreed. They've set the plans in motion."
I motioned to the basement Security office's main floor seen through the window behind me. "SISTER."
Seifer lowered himself into his black leather chair. "The younger Regal believes her brother is actually wanting to date Trepe." He smirked. "She has no idea of the mission or the conspiracy. I want to keep it that way."
I briskly nodded. "ORDERS?"
Seifer kicked his feet up onto the desk after taking up his coffee mug. "Go to Galbadia Garden and touch base with Marshal. He'll need a secure line in order to contact me."
I saluted and turned.
"Fujin."
I turned back to Seifer and silently waited.
Seifer regarded me with that same honestly intense look I'd come to trust. The expression I knew could see through any weakness or falsity. To my surprise, the intensity changed as he stared at me.
"Ahndra, it's been five years."
I blinked at the use of my real name. "SIR?"
"Five years," he repeated meaningfully. "Time to let it go. Move on, dammit."
I briefly clenched my jaw, my hands clasped behind my back as memories began to push at me. "EXPLAIN."
Seifer pulled his legs from his desk and stood to move across from me. His gaze held mine. "Ahndra, it's been five damn years. When are you going to quit being his toy soldier?"
I went rigid, arms at my sides as my good eye sparked. "BEWARE."
Seifer leaned against his desk and scoffed. "Bullshit, Ahndra. I'm not the asshole here. He was. He's gone. Five years gone." He focused on his coffee mug as he purposefully set it beside him. "We used to really talk about shit, Ahndra." He looked up and met my gaze. "It's been five damn years."
I held his gaze, knowing he wouldn't look away. I clenched my jaw.
Seifer crossed his arms, and the honest intensity returned as bright as ever. "Dismissed."
I saluted and strode from the office, fists clenched as I left the Security Division and boarded the elevator to the main floor. I frowned and tightly crossed my arms, my head lowering a fraction as my hard glare focused on the seam of the elevator door.
Whispers...
Shouts...
Pain--
I sharply lifted my head, my arms going to my sides as the lift doors opened. I strode out and down the stairs, turning left and heading for the dorms to gather my gear.
I stowed my pack and weapon on the couch of the train and sat beside them, leaning back into the couch with crossed arms as I stared at the far wall. 'What were you thinking, you liitle slut! Get outta h--' I flinched, hiding it with an adjustment of my arms as I looked away from the wall. 'Dammit, Ahndra! Didn't I tell you not to--' I flinched again and crossed my legs, moving my gaze to my knee.
I glared. "...bastard."
There was a twinge of pain in my left eye, so I reached up to remove the patch. I closed my eyes and gently massaged away the throb with my fingertips. 'Next time' -- slap -- 'I tell you' -- smack -- 'to be quiet' -- slap -- 'shut the hell up!'
I fisted the eye patch and sharply stood. "STOP!"
The voices and images quieted, lurking in the back part of my mind along with the name 'Ahndra'. I slipped the eye patch back on, adjusted it slightly, and then sat back into the couch with crossed arms and a glare aimed at my knee.
"bastard."
I headed past the main gate of Galbadia Garden and entered the main section of the facility, passing through the main corridor and taking the left hallway to the security section. A man of average height and better-than-average build with black hair and silver eyes exited the room. He stopped when his eyes focused on me.
He smiled and stepped toward me. "Hey Fujin. How's it going?" He presented his hand.
I halted in front of him; two paces from his outstretched hand. "MARSHAL," I greeted with a curt nod. "PRIVATE."
Marshal cleared his throat, retracted his hand to rub at the back of his neck, and then motioned for me to follow him back into the security section. "Sure. Let's head on in and go to my office."
I strode past and into the section. It was easily 1/3 the size of the security division within Balamb Garden, which was the head of operations for all security matters within the entire Network.
I made my way into the back right portion of the section and waited at the door of Marshal's high-security office. He tapped in his security code, pressed his thumb against a panel to the right of the key pad, and entered when the door opened.
He closed the door behind him. "So, what's the word from Seifer? On or off?" he asked as he moved to his desk.
"ON."
Marshal smiled. "Hot damn. A real sting." He sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Haven't had this much fun since my field exam. Not even when Sally Regal--"
"MESSAGE?"
Marshal blinked. Then he smirked and leaned forward, gesturing to the seat across from him. I shook my head but stood at ease with my hands behind my back.
"Message. Right. Well..." He rubbed the back of his neck again. "Just ask Seifer to keep me up on whatever's going on. If he needs me to do something, just send the word. I'll get right on it."
"AFFIRMATIVE."
"Oh. And tell him we're good to go with those names. And, hey, thanks for the heads up." I pulled a phone off a holster on my hip and handed it forward. "SECURE."
Marshal stood and took the phone. He examined it with a raised eyebrow. "Hot damn. This is awesome. Internet, network, and secure phone line in one." He opened it and began typing through the different menus and options. "Scrambler. Satellite connection. Hell. This is better than my handheld." He looked up. "Thanks."
I curtly nodded and turned to go. Marshal stood and hurried forward to open the door for me. I sent him a raised eyebrow and a cold stare.
He smiled and motioned past. "Ladies first."
'Damn slut! Aren't good for anything bu--' I clenched my jaw and looked away, striding forward to exit the office.
Marshal walked along beside, and then he reached out for the exit door, a hand going to the knob at the same time he touched the small of my back--
I spun and grabbed him by the throat, propelling him around and slamming him against the wall beside the door. The security section went deathly silent. Marshal stared down at me with wide eyes. Mine was narrowed and cold.
"NEVER."
Marshal's face began to redden, his lips growing blue as he slightly nodded.
I held him a moment more and then released my hold. He gasped and fell to his knees, hands rubbing his throat as he choked and coughed. I yanked open the door and strode outside. 'How do you like it, whore?!' screams 'Huh?! Damn, cock-suckin' bitch--' smack smack 'Stay out all night... this what you want?' choked screams and pleadings... 'Is it?!'
I halted and spun, slamming a fist into the wall to my right. "BASTARD!" My voice cracked. I pressed my palms and forehead against the wall. "DAMMIT!" Punch. "Dammit." thump thump "...dammit..."
I tossed my gear onto the farthest couch and slumped down onto the other, bending over my knees to stare at the floor of the SeeD's cabin on the train back to Balamb. My hands hung limp as my wrists rested against my knees. I flinched and cringed and reached up to press a hand to my forehead. Throbbing... Burning... I laid back and covered my face with my hands, drowning under the flames of memories...
*