Daughters of Hyne

"I care for the rules about as much as I care you. In case you missed that, I care for neither." Gina is your typical SeeD candidate—orphaned, cynical, and really only looking for profitable trouble. That is, until she meets someone that turns her world upside down. Warnings inside.

WARNINGS:

Rated M for: Violence, wartime stories, references to gore and torture, nudity, (allusion to) sex, (allusion to/mention of) rape, and life as a female mercenary.

Lesbian main character. SeeD will be depicted as the mercenaries they are. Ninety percent of Garden students are orphans, this will be reflected in backstories. Starts at the beginning of Disc 1. Loosely follows storyline, but with more emphasis on Sorceresses, culture, history, and warfare. World will be greatly expanded upon, given my imagination is not limited by Playstaion 1 hardware. And there will be organizations that use different forms of magic systems, as one would expect from a world that researches these things.

Chapter 1—Take the hint

8-8

"GF. Short for Guardian Force. A being of immense power that allows the user to take their body to the extremes of its limitations." Instructor Quistis is always like this. Droning on and on and on about things that she droned on about last week.

I roll my eyes, plopping my chin onto the base of my palm as I stare at the options in front of me. Everything seems out of focus, but that's okay—it's not as if I haven't worked with their ass-backwards system from the last five years of my training here.

Clicking to activate the personal registration system, I finally push my glasses further up onto my nose so I can see. The palm scanner glows monochrome green, inviting me to slap the taste out of its mouth. I simply lay my left hand onto it. A moment later, my sole GF pops up—Princess. Sure those other asses call her Shiva, but the fact is and remains that they know nothing about GFs, only the bullshit the instructors here tell them.

I'd bet my left tit they never summoned their GF just to talk, to get to know them, to see what they like or what they don't like. To learn what GFs truly are. I'll bet they didn't even know their GF can talk. No. The only uses they have for GFs, is junctioning their para-magics like goods little soldiers.

Clicking on her, I check her stats again, mostly just because. I see the usual stats, the abilities that I so meticulously unlocked via the prescribed method here—junction your GF, go into the training area, and show how much of a sociopath you are by slaughtering the monsters we bring in here just for that purpose.

"A GF's attack is on par with your Limit Break, if you've already mastered it. Only, unlike your Limit Break, your GF can also absorb the attacks you would otherwise sustain. But do keep in mind that your GF has its limit as well. If you check your GF's stats, you'll see its HP, when this runs out, the GF can no longer be summoned."

And, per the norm, that's all that gets said. As if to reinforce the idea that this is all there is, and this is all there ever will be regarding GFs. Typical.

"Now. Tomorrow is the practical examinations. Those who still have to pass the Limit Break Test, that will be given in the Training Area. The Ice Grotto Test is available to those who have yet to pass. And the Fire Cavern Test is…" I look up, wondering what's up with her this time. Oh, her phone's ringing. "Yes, Doctor Kadowaki?" Either Seifer or Squall got fucked up. Again. During a 'spar' no less. The idiots. "I'm on my way."

She slams the receiver onto its hook, 'hanging up' as 'calm and poised' as ever. "I need to go deal with this. Everyone will review today's lesson on their panel. And no one is permitted to leave this room until I return."

Sigh. Well, there goes that idea.

I log out of my GF data screen, and head onto the Garden Page, browsing the latest happenings. Six new cadets arrive today—there's some data on each, a picture so we know to welcome them, and a bunch of shit like that. I click instead on the dot above the last 'n' on 'Garden', jumping over to the happenings of the happenings. Seifer and Squall spotted in the parking lot 'sparring', figures. Janine is holding a party in the training area tonight, from eight until. Interesting, but not terribly. The hotdogs are fresh, uploaded two minutes ago. Hmm, that means' Dincht is going to be an utter ass in less than a—

"ALL RIGHT!" Sigh. You could at least try to be less predictable, you twat.

Getting back to the good stuff, there's been an incident. Dollet City is being occupied by Galbadian forces. Shit, that means the SeeD exam is going to be today.

Fuck. That means I either pass that Limit Breaker Test, or I get my ass left behind. Again. And that means Tina wins the bet—that's just not I want to have happen!

Fine. Whatever. Fuck it. I can hold my tongue if it means holding Tina to her part of the bargain.

Instructor Quistis walks in, followed closely by Squall the mute now sporting quite the scar fucking up his pretty face. I click off the page and shut my panel down. I know how this is going to play out.

Instructor Quistis goes on about safety procedures during a spar, and gives Seifer ANOTHER warning about not injuring his partner. Mutey says nothing, fumey slams a fist on his panel—so much has changed. Instructor, you've really gotten through to those two. It's… it's just… it's beautiful. Really. I'm moved almost to tears.

"For those who haven't heard, the SeeD Examination is today. All cadets who've passed all prerequisites may participate. Squall, Gina, and Terrance. I need to speak with you three after class."

PING!

And saved by the bell. I get up and walk ahead. "Ah, Gina. Instructor Xu is awaiting you at the entrance to the Training Area. Do try not to mouth off this time."

"Instructor. I would never!" I claim, holding a hand against my heart like her words wound me. She just rolls her blue eyes and tilts her blond, done-up head to the door, as if to say to just get going. "Not ever a word of encouragement, Instructor? My, my. It's no wonder I failed the last three exams."

"Calling your Limit Break 'sucking your mother', 'strutting my strap-on', and 'drunken sex' might be more on point," she quips, shaking her head in disgust.

"Your logic is infallible, as always," I mutter heading off. Because Renzokuken is so much nicer on the ears. Or the doorknob's Dolphin Kick, or whatever.

8-8

Walking down the cold and sterile walkway, I cringe at the thought of Instructor Xu proctoring my exam. She's a hardass, and she docks points for every-fucking-thing you do. I take a left, heading to the elevator. The overpass opens up to show the skylights letting in the early-morning sun, barely a cloud in the sky. I look over the railing, spying all the girls down on the floor below. Some jogging, others gossiping, a few pointing excitedly at the new greenery what's-his-face is planting.

Everything around here is more of the same. Metal walls, floors, and ceilings kept in pristine condition—by painting it all white and putting linoleum beneath our feet. It's so bad that they have to put blue stripes to make sure people notice that's a wall, and that's a door. It's bullshit!

I reach to press the button, but the elevator is already on its way up. Could be someone going to the third floor, so I press the button anyway. The lights stop on this floor, and the doors slide open—some brunette in a barely-there dress darts straight out of there like her ass is on fire. I don't know, and I don't plan on asking. I enter, pressing the button for the first floor.

Not surprisingly, some ten others enter with me, but it's not too crowded in here. I unzip my mini-jacket. It leaves my midriff completely bare, but I don't mind since it's a nipple-teaser anyway—it does nothing against the cold, the wind, or even the rain. I wear it purely to cover my twin holsters and the pistols within.

"Whatever it is, Gina, I didn't do it. I swear!" Some ass starts talking shit. I unzip my nipple-teaser, and someone assumes I'm going to shoot him. Typical. I don't even turn to him, I walk straight out when the door slides open again, and down the stairs to the lobby. I take a left and head straight for the Training Area.

Taking out one of my pistols, I click the magazine out of the bay, peering into it to make sure it's fully loaded. It always is, but I'd rather be sure. There are live monsters in the Training Area, and I don't plan on dying today.

Satisfied, I click it back in and check the second pistol. Both are locked and loaded. Good. I reach into the pouch I keep on my lower back, fishing out all six magazines in there. I check them one by one, judging their weight even as I peer into them to see if there are enough cartridges. They all seem fully loaded, so I stuff them back where they belong.

The sound of running water, streaming past in that little 'river' meant to water the plants catches my attention. As usual, I ignore it. I glance into the Library as I pass it, finding some people mulling about, but I can't tell who or what they're doing, so I ignore them as well. Then the Training Area.

Instructor Xu is waiting in right at the turn off, her arms crossed. Her SeeD uniform jacket looks like it was press-ironed onto her, and her skirt drapes modestly to her knees. The dark grey of her outfit matches her black hair, and even blacker eyes. All in all, the exact expectation I had of her. The subtle scowl isn't all that new either. She looks pissed—but she generally does. She isn't tapping her foot, so I think I'm good.

"Instructor," I greet, bobbing my head semi-respectfully. I swear, if Tina didn't bet me a nude lap dance that I would never get into the SeeD Exam, I would have already commented on the friction marks on Xu's right index and middle fingers—lube is important, after all.

"Cadet Luciana Lafayette. I will proctor your Limit Break Exam. Have you named and mastered your Limit Break?"

"I have."

"…" She works her jaw, but no sound comes out. She gives me a once over, checking my dark green form-fitting jeans, my mocha-colored hip pouch, my black long-sleeve shirt, my nipple-teaser, and the twin holsters. "Are you combat ready?"

"I am. GF Shiva junctioned. Strength, Elemental Attack, and dual Elemental Defense junctioned." I fucking hate not calling her Princess—but that just invites the obvious 'and which GF is that?'

"Your sole GF?" she asks, either unsure what to make of my semi-professional stature and speech, or inviting me to mouth off.

"She is." I nod, placing my hand on my hip.

"Very well. I will be your backup. We will engage in a maximum of ten consecutive battles, during which the goal is to showcase your Limit Break at least once. You will announce the name you've selected before you execute, so I will know to pay attention. And you are to set a timer to show you understand the territory ahead, the battles you will face, and your own skill to face both. Choose twenty, thirty, or forty minutes, and your exam will begin."

No point in trying to show off. I just need a pass here. "Thirty."

"Lead the way." She motions me ahead.

I start jogging ahead, loving my army boots all the more now. I focus on summoning Princess, and halfway down the empty corridor, she fades into view beside me. "Hey, Princess. Limit Break Exam. Risking combat with Grats, mostly, but there's a chance for T-Rexaur. Be ready if it comes to that."

Her chilly blue eyes spy the Grat dashing for us, her blue and white-speckled hair bouncing with her every step as she keeps in stride with me. She offers only a nod, unsummoning to await an actual fight.

Curious, I check my stock of Sleeps and Silences, finding I'm full to the brim. So this is purely about getting those Grats dead, and building my fury to my limit. The plan-like insect comes at me in a mad dash, almost as if it's being chased.

I grab my pistols, dual wielding and already aiming for the head. Just to be sure, I double check my Elemental Attack, finding Blizaga junctioned to it, the full one hundred—good, I switched back after training yesterday. Being anal when it comes to battle has its perks.

With no reason not to, I open fire, a single shot aimed just below the 'leaf-covered' mouth, between the little slots it calls eyes. It drops dead instantly.

A little rush jolts through me, a smile stealing across my face. Just make sure not to mouth off, you twat! Getting yourself all riled up is what gets you in the most trouble!

I dash passed the downed beast, encountering another Grat almost instantly. I aim just the same, a single shot is fired, and the shithead drops just the same. My smile grows wider.

"You enjoy combat, it seems." I don't answer—forcefully biting back how I'd enjoy eating her out even more. We dash into the first clearing, and two Grats come running—if you can call it that. Their stick-like legs tippy-tapping against the metal flooring makes me think of rats scampering on chipped tiles—I hated it then, I damn well hate it now.

I let that utter disgust balloon within me. Even as I aim both pistols at once, I let those long nights in that rat-infested shithouse creep into me again. I let that emotion, that revulsion, fill me up.

I squeeze both triggers at once. The pressure against both palms shoots up to my slightly bent elbows. The scent of spent sulfur fills tickles my nose. Four shots fire, two for each pistol. Eleven cartridges remaining in each.

Instead of heading to the right, towards the gangways, I head left to a series of clearings. I need room to maneuver, to this is tactically the best route—though she might try to argue that the gangways would bottleneck the attackers and give me an advantage that way. There's always a reason to fail.

Another Grat comes at me in a blind rage. All I see, is a rat's head superimposed onto it. And I open fire!

It drops with no more effort than its fellows.

"GRAAAAAAAARG!" Ah. That's what they were running from. T-fucking-Rexuar. The piece of shit comes barreling at me, charging with its head kept low as if it sees a snack.

"It's sometimes wiser to run!" Xu gets out.

The T-Rexaur's attention is on another Grat. Hmm. Let's see. Grat has Sleep. Sleep means an easy battle. Double that with Princess and me tag-teaming?

I grin.

I focus on the Grat, Drawing Sleep and casting it on the T-Rexaur. "Cadet Lafayette! Run!"

My face is almost being split by a grin now. I feel it. The howling in my veins, the life and death choice my soul makes to try to keep me alive. Coupled with the fury roiling within me, I don't doubt I have exactly what I need.

"Limit Break! Cryogenic Fury!"

The power floods the chambers of my guns, and just as dino-shit's eyes are lulled shut, the clearing grows cold. Sleet forms on the floor, and I just keep pulling the trigger.

A staccato of shots ring out, each electric blue and colder than hell, turning an ancient lifeform into Swiss fucking cheese as it's buffeted with both the kinetic force and the cryogenic wrath I offer.

The attack wakes it up, and it looks mildly miffed. The only eye not gushing blood takes me in, the holes where teeth used to be being worked with its tongue as if to assess the damage.

I Draw Sleep again, casting it on my prehistoric dinner, but it resists this time. Its ginormous head comes right for me, but all I see is a building-sized rat—like that little fucker that crawled over my face while I was sleeping the one time.

Waiting for the last second, I dive out of the way, letting it thunder passed me. I make sure to put a few rounds in its hind legs, to slow it down and keep its attention on me. I focus on the Draw again, but the fucker gets the Grat, chomping on it like it owed the fucker money.

"You've shown what you need to! Move out!" Xu grabs my arm and jerks me down towards the other clearing, and the hallway just beyond.

We make it to the entrance in no time at all. You'd almost think Xu was scared with how she fucking hightailed it out of there. And yet, when we're back among the pedestrians, she almost flings me forward.

"What the hell was that?!"

"Me knowing my enemy, the surrounding area, and my own skill," I drone. My pistols are still sticking to my hands from the attack. I really need to get me some gloves. I take a deep breath, shoving my preferred weapons into their holsters and ripping my hands off them, tearing my skin open in two places on each palm.

Naturally, my nipples are perky enough to cut glass, with my usual Ice attacks so recently executed. She eyes my chest, no doubt taking note of that herself. Instead of worrying with her, I cast Heal on my hands to close the wounds.

"Riddle me this, Instructor. Did I show what I was required to show?"

"…" She wants to say no, but she can't. I did. "You ignored a direct order." She's still trying?

"It's sometimes wiser to run? Is that in the format of an order? Or are you unjustly adamant in trying to tear me down?" She sputters and tries to come up with something, but nothing intelligible comes. "I'll tell you what. Why don't we have this conversation with the headmaster? Let him decide."

All of a sudden, she isn't so sure.

"Good. Now that we're once again thinking instead of reacting, let's try this again. Did I show what you described before we entered? As in: knowledge of terrain, knowledge of enemies, knowledge of own skill, and announcing the name of my Limit Break before executing it within the parameters of the ten battles."

She shifts her weight nervously. "You're the kind of cadet that gets herself and her team killed. But yes, you've shown what this exam requires of you." She sighs and rubs her forehead nervously. "Very well. Put on your uniform, arm yourself for heavy combat, and report to the lobby at eleven hundred hours. You will be assigned to your team there."

"Thank you, Instructor." I bob my head and zip up my nipple-teaser, walking towards the dorms without a care. Fucking idiots, I swear.

8-8

Having taken a nice, long, steaming hot shower—without a naked accomplice, I'm afraid—I find myself in my shared dorm. I'm already in uniform, I've already loaded up my mags, and now… now I have only final prep to worry for.

"I have my Tits."

"You and your names. They're pistols," Nida complains. I look up at my light-skinned brunette of a dorm mate, seeing her brown eyes lit up with amusement. She knows I'm into girls, and even though she's wearing only a towel, she doesn't seem to care. Or is she planning on making her move?

"I have three boxes of cartridges."

"Bullets, you mean?" Bullets are just the parts that fly out after being shot. The whole thing, pre-shooting, is called a cartridge. "You're being snarky in your head again."

"And you're being blonde," I snipe. Hmm. Should I bring my rifle? It could prove advantageous. "I think I will." I walk back into my tiny ass room and grab my Pussifier off the pegs that kept it over my bed. It's nothing special, just an H-15 Justifier rifle with 40-125 scope. But it's accurate up to eight hundred meters on a cold barrel, and up to five hundred when she's hot.

I grab a box of .378 cartridges and head out to plop them onto the table. "Now I just need a reason to fucking wear pants," I complain, stuff the box into the bag I'm carrying with me. "And my nipple-teaser." I hate this bullshit uniform. But oh well. Wearing it gets me my lap dance, and I want me my naked motherfucking lap dance!

"For Hyne's sake, stop calling your jacket that! It gives people a bad impression of you," she gets on my case again.

"Is it an inaccurate impression?" I challenge. She opens her mouth, raising her finger as if to make a point. She hesitates. "I thought so. So, Miss Prances-in-towels. I'll be back. Keep my bed warm for me?"

"H-hey! I ne never a agreed to th that!" Nervous much?

"I never said you did," I tease, giving her a cocky smirk. "But given you're already half naked, I figure you might be tempted." She swats me, the force tugging the loose knot in her towel loose. And just like that, Mister Towel is but a heap around her ankles. My eyes drink in the angelic beauty before me, so flagrantly on display.

"I swear, one of these days I'm going to sweep you off your feet," I say. She just stands there, nervous and clearly afraid of something. I take the final step towards her, the fear in her eyes intensifies. "But not until you beg me." I kiss her cheek, leaving her there in her birthday suit.

"Luciana?" I stop, just as I'm about to open the door. She comes up behind me, wrapping her arms around my middle. "You're coming back in one piece… right?"

"I owe you lunch, a resource run, and a dance at your graduation. What do you think?"

"That you've broken every promise to everyone," she mutters, the tears obvious in her voice.

"Have I broken one to you?"

"Thirty five." I sense much butt-hurt in this one.

"Someone's keeping track," I deadpan, flicking her hands to tell her to let me go. She hesitates. "You need to get ready, Ni. We have a half hour before reporting in." A sigh escapes her as she finally lets go. Her footsteps retreat into her room.

I can't figure her out. Is she into me? Is she worried I'll go kamikaze on the enemy and get myself killed? Does she think us friends?

I sling my rifle over my shoulder and my bag is tied to my waist, sitting just a smidge lower than the pouch. I check that I can reach into both without issue. Deciding it isn't a problem—that none of this is my problem—I head out.

8-8

End Chapter 1

8-8

A/N: I hate my muse sometimes. I haven't even played the game in years, and yet she refuses to let this story slip away. I mean, it's not like I don't have enough going on. Still, it's been bubbling through my head off and on for enough years to just get it done.