Chapter 2
Revelations



Squall walked tiredly through the Garden, heading for the Training Centre to workout. He was hoping it would help wake him up, plus he just needed to get out of his office. He’d nearly fallen asleep at his desk, not something a Commander should do. ‘They’re just dreams, they’ll go away eventually.’ he assured himself as he passed a few cadets who saluted him as he walked by. He half-heartedly saluted back, wishing that they could forget he was their Commander for just once.

“Commander Leonhart, please come to my office at once,” he heard Cid’s voice echo throughout the building when he was just steps from his destination.

“Great, what now?” he muttered, and changed direction to see what the Headmaster wanted. He stifled a yawn as he made his way to the elevator, mentally cursing for his lack of sleep. He just couldn’t function this way. There had to be something that he could do to stop the repeated nightmare. ‘Maybe I need a vacation,’ he thought, then pushed it away. ‘That isn’t going to happen.’ He was perfectly happy with being ridiculously busy, much to Rinoa’s annoyance at times.

He stepped on the elevator, pushing the button for Cid’s floor with a deep sigh, relaxing his back against the wall as his eyes slid closed. “Damn, I’m so tired.’ Alone in the elevator, he let himself relax without worrying about any cadets seeing him in such a state. He couldn’t let himself appear exhausted and weak, even though that’s the way he felt at the moment. The motion of the ride up wasn’t helping, and he stumbled slightly when he started to fall asleep. “Shit,” he hissed, straightening up and rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands. “I have to get some sleep,” he mumbled as he reached his floor, the door sliding opening to reveal Cid’s outer office, and his aging secretary sitting at her desk with the phone to her ear.

“He’s expecting you,” she said, covering the mouthpiece of the phone as she spoke. “Go on in, Commander,” she said in a motherly way, and he gave her a nod in thanks before going to the door and stepping inside.

“Squall, come and sit,” Cid offered when he closed the door behind him. He took the plush chair if front of the Headmaster’s desk, ignoring his bodies desire to sit back and relax into the comfortable seat. “I have a special assignment for you. In two weeks you’ll be leaving for Deling City,” Cid said, handing Squall a file folder with the information that he needed.

Squall didn’t speak, but opened the folder instead, glancing over the contents of the first page, feeling a trace of disappointed annoyance. ‘Bodyguard duty?