AN: well, two books down, and after a serious plot bashing session with my muses, two books to go :)  Thanks to AnimeGrrl for reviewing Deaths Angel - I'd just like to point out that no, I don't normally post entire stories at once, the exceptions being both History Repeating and Deaths Angel, because they're revised versions of previously posted stories.  Hence also the 'reviews from version 1' sections at the end of some of the chapters.  I do appreciate your review however, and I'm heartened to discover that the 'constructive review' breed of reader is not extinct ;p

Disclaimers: Final Fantasy VIII is not mine, neither is anything directly taken from the game (characters, locations etc.) - the history, mechanics of temporal physics, mechanics of sorcerous powers and other original stuff is mine however, so no takee without askee k?  Oh, and this is the only disclaimer you'll see - treasure it and take it to heart, questions won't be asked, but quarter won't be given style o' thing

Warnings: It's rated R - Restricted.  It's rated R - for a Reason.  If you haven't read the summary and the reasons for the rating contained therein, I highly doubt you're reading this... (Seifer: so why are you talking to them?) ignores muse  If you have, well, there's nothing to add.  You knew the risks when you signed up.  (Squall: hits forehead with hand she's lost it.)

Book Three of the Sorcerer Arc Battle Lines Chapter One Vanishing Spiders

It was anything but standard practice to summon a GF on yourself, and it was strictly forbidden during combat training.  So to see the X-ATV61Ues fade from the world was somewhat disconcerting.  Even more disconcerting was the way Shiva herself paused before attacking - only doing so when Squall nodded, indicating that the summon to attack them was deliberate.

Zell wondered if it was simply because Squall was a sorcerer, or if a GF had the freedom to choose whether it ultimately attacked or not.  It was a scary thought - that a GF with low compatibility might not only take forever to appear, but might then also refuse to act.  His thoughts scattered as the creeping tendrils of ice wound up his legs, chilling and immobilising him.  Fear followed with a rush, and he tried to turn to look at Quistis - but the ice was already cradling his head.

At the last moment he closed his eyes, remembering his ice-survival lessons from his early days as a cadet.  One unfortunate hadn't closed their eyes in time, and the result...  Zell flinched, both at the memory and in pain as his icy prison shattered around him.  A quick glance at the others showed him their situation was dire.  Quistis was on the floor - alive but unconscious.  Seifer looked like grim determination was all that was keeping him upright as his opponent faded back into view.  Squall was actually looking marginally better than before Shiva had attacked, which still left him looking worse than Seifer...

Stumbling over to Quistis' side, Zell fumbled a phoenix down from his pocket - glad he'd thought to ask Squall for that and a couple of potions as they made their way out of the tower.  The sparkle of light as he tipped the liquid magic over his wife's still form galvanised the Blue Widows into action.  No longer aiming to kill, they instead attempted to sweep aside their opponents.  Seifer somehow, incredibly, managed to block the blow of one, but Squall was just too drained.  The energy he'd used restoring Zell to life had left him with no reserves to tap, and though he tried - bringing Lionheart up in time to take the brunt of the blow - the machine simply shoved its way past.

Quistis was stirring, but there was no way she would be able to cast Degenerator before the machine got to her.  Eyes flashing in anger and determination, Zell braced himself to halt the Blue Widow's charge with himself.  It would most likely kill him, but the few seconds delay would be just enough for Quistis to complete the spell she was already muttering behind him...

The Blue Widow drew closer, folding its first set of legs to make a battering ram.  If anything its speed increased as it went from eight to six-legged movement.  Suddenly there was a blur of dark motion, and a figure slammed into the X-ATV61UE's side, just as it took a step.  The machine wavered, legs doing a mad jig as it attempted to re-coordinate its movement.   Quistis' voice rose to a triumphant shout as she finished and cast the spell...

But the Blue Widows had both vanished - almost as if they'd never been there in the first place.

"Teleportation."  Came the disgusted snort from Seifer.  Zell looked around.  The blur that had knocked the X-ATV61UE off stride could only have been Squall, but where was he now, and why - and how - had he done it, when he had been so obviously on the verge of collapse moments before?

"Because I didn't bring you back to the world of the living just for you to throw your life away."  Zell jumped as Squall's voice answered his unspoken question.  He turned, finding the brunette behind him.

Squall was still standing - barely.  It looked like he'd managed to take a potion at some point, but the way his outline blurred suggested that he'd also cast Haste on himself.  Lionheart was sheathed, and he'd slammed shoulder-first into the Blue Widow if the way his right arm dangled was any indication.

"Squall!"  Seifer's shout came just as Zell saw Squall's eyes roll back, and the brunette crumpled bonelessly to the floor.  Seifer was there in seconds, anxiously feeling for a pulse before casting some sort of Scan spell.  He seemed satisfied with whatever he found - satisfied enough to glare at Zell.

"Is he alright?"  It was Quistis' weak voice that broke the silence.  Seifer glanced across at her, quickly assessing her own condition.

"He will be."  He admitted, almost grudgingly.  "He used too much energy getting Zell back..."  The blond cut off sharply, as if having said too much.  He was right.

"Getting Zell back..."  Quistis repeated.  Zell frowned as well - he'd thought Squall was being unusually poetic talking about the world of the living, but with what Seifer had let slip...  "What do you mean?"  Quistis asked, also frowning.  Seifer sighed, and scooped Squall into his arms.  The brunette tensed for a moment, then seemed to recognise who was holding him, relaxing into the safety of his knight's embrace.

"I'll explain on the Ragnarok."

With the Ragnarok safely on its way back to Garden under the capable hands of its SeeD pilot, Quistis and Zell finally cornered Seifer in the Infirmary, watching over the unconscious Squall.

"You said he'd be ok..."  Zell's words were part question, part statement.  Seifer nodded.

"Yeah.  His body knows when to quit - unlike him."  The blond frowned at his sorcerer.  "Damn fool hero."  He added affectionately.

"So.  An explanation is in order."  Quistis reminded him.  Seifer flashed her his most charming grin, ignoring Zell's proprietary glare.  "The truth, Seifer Almasy.  Squall's in no state to stop me kicking your ass until you do."  Seifer's face fell.

"Instructor," he moaned, holding his hand to his heart.  "I'm wounded.  Would I tell a lie?"  Zell snorted his opinion of that sentiment.  Finally Seifer sighed.  "Zell was dead."  Quistis frowned.  "Not dead as in 'his heart just stopped a minute ago' dead.  Dead, dead.  As in 'dear departed soul' dead.  No sorceress could've saved him."

"I am here."  Zell muttered half-heartedly.  Seifer glared at him.

"Squall had to drag your soul back to the world of the living from the world of the dead."  He clarified.  "You'd passed over Chickenwuss."  Zell blanched, but Quistis just looked thoughtful.

"Why couldn't a sorceress have saved him - She tortured us both to the point of death, and then brought us back to do it again."

"To the point of death."  Seifer emphasised.  "And her name is Kylari."  He added.  "Sorcerers have a connection with the dead, and so..."  He suddenly trailed off, blanching as he stared at the door of the infirmary - behind Quistis and Zell.  They turned, but there was nothing there that they could see.  Swapping a glance, the two sat down, Quistis leaning towards the stricken blond knight.

"Seifer?  What's wrong?"

"Sweet Hyne..."  He whimpered in response, finally looking at them both.  They were shocked to see tears in his eyes.  "You don't know yet..."  He sank back in his chair, staring bleakly at them.

"Know what?"  Zell asked, frowning.  Seifer swallowed and took a deep breath, letting it out shakily.

"Kylari destroyed Trabia Garden two days ago.  Selphie and Irvine are among the dead."

Quistis and Zell were still in shock when they reached Balamb Garden.  They followed Seifer automatically as he took Squall to the Infirmary, barely noticing the anxious stares of the students.  Likewise they went through Dr Kadowaki's checkup on automatic, answering her questions with yes, no or a shrug.  The doctor was sympathetic, but quietly warned Seifer that they needed something to focus on other than what had happened in their absence.  Seifer agreed, but was at a loss to think of anything other than their normal duties.  That and the fact that they had yet to learn of the destruction of Deling and Esthar, and Martine's abduction and death.

The blond hadn't really let himself stop to think about any of it yet.  He knew that if he did, he'd most likely end up in a similar state as Quistis and Zell.  That wasn't an option.  Especially now that Squall was temporarily incapacitated.  Garden could run itself quite well without senior staff - as long as nothing out of the ordinary occurred - but to do so whilst on a war footing was untenable.  The students in particular needed the reassurance that someone knew what was going on, and knew what actions to take in an emergency.

And now he was in command.  Seifer Almasy, finally at the top of the command chain - and he realised this was never what he'd wanted.  Squall had been right all along.  It was all very well wanting the bright lights and the adulation of the masses, but after the parades were over, it was all thankless hard work.  Paperwork at that.

Sure, he'd done his turn signing requisition forms and marking student work.  Hell, he'd even taught a few classes, and supervised field training in Trabia.  But it was nothing compared to what Squall had to deal with on an average day.  Requests for SeeD assistance had to be assessed, a process that involved calculating the expected overheads for a mission, the risks involved for mission personnel and even the political impact - and that was just to decide whether the application made it into the 'consideration' pile.  Then, for each one, Squall had to consider what skills teams would need, the number of members in the team - or teams - and whether suitable personnel were available in SeeD, and which Garden.  If that assessment was favourable, then negotiations for the contract began - a process that could take anything up to a month.

On top of that Squall had to deal with calls from groups whose requests for assistance was turned down, organise Garden security and emergency drill procedures, review SeeD training procedures, double-check any requisition or other forms posted for his notice, induct new students into Garden, deal with parents of students, and deal with all the political side of Garden and SeeD operations.

No - Seifer didn't envy him at all.

Mind you, there were advantages to being the hero of the war against Ultemecia.  Many politicians had dismissed the brunette - both because of his age, and because they assumed it had been pure brawn that had brought down the sorceress.  They'd learned too late that Squall, much as he hated politics, was a born politician.  With a poker face that had yet to meet its equal, a reputation such that accusations lasted as long as a snowball in the Fire Caverns, an ability to crush political manoeuvres that would impact SeeD before they could start, and not the slightest reservation about gathering and using blackmail material, the brunette was a force unto himself.  Neither could he be accused of favouring Galbadian or Estharian leanings, since he as frequently dropped spanners into their political works as he did anyone else's.

A point in case would be when Edea arrived in Balamb Garden the day after next.  Whether Squall would try reason, would simply refuse to support her, or would concede some measure of support, Seifer didn't know.  He did know, however, that it would be a battle royal between two of the strongest-willed people he knew.

AN: Whee - chapter one done!  I was gonna add something here, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was ;;

Squall: I said she'd lost it.

Zephyr5: Shut up you.  Born politician you may be snorts but you can't blackmail the author.

Seifer (in background): sniggers ...singing 'give me a cucumber, be happy'...

Zephyr5: blushes Seifer shut up!

Seifer: Huh?  What?

Read and review - please!