Chapter Five :: Debrief

[Hadrian D'arcell]

LOL!! Omg, Hadrian should know better than to mess with Jun right now.
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"If you wanna chill then go jump into the snowfields naked yourself!"

Hadrian let out a snicker. He found Jun's comment to be comedic more than anything. Besides, he wasn't omniscient enough to know how innocent Reese really was contrary to her who looked like she knew better.

"You heard it didn't you? Even if Headmaster Leonhart tried to appeal for Reese Amaerick, the board of Defense will not let him go." He rested his chin on his palm. "What you're doing is pointless. Why waste your breath?"

[ST]

"Enough." Squall interjected sharply just as Hadrian finished his sentence.

His eyes watched Stardust's back as she jerked open the conference room door and left the room without saying a word. He exhaled through his nostrils but made no sound or motion to stop her, his eyes taking on a hard glare as he watched the door swing shut.

He turned his attention back to the rest of the team.

"The disorder this has caused among you all is ridiculous. It is appalling to me that even a few of you are willing to stoop to an absolutely childish level of insolence just for the sake of defending a criminal. Yes -- I said criminal. Whether he organized the bombing or not, there are still other charges against him that he will have to be held accountable for. He was a DotNA agent and we have proof of that. He is a criminal."

He stood from his seat.

"I intended to cover the details of our next objective during this meeting, but my patience with you all is now too thin. You are officially dismissed. I would advise that you use this time to re-evaluate your position on this team and decide what part of you is more invested this, your head or your heart.

"Those of you that choose to continue service, meet me in the private dining hall at seven tonight. I'll discuss our next course of action then. Please dress in SeeD uniform; this is not a covert operation and you will be leaving for duty immediately following our meal."

Without another word he lifted his briefcase from the table and left the room.

---

"Infinity?" He said the name in a steely tone.

Squall had just entered the lobby and caught sight of her. "I'm assuming you have an explanation for your early departure, which has nothing to do with Reese Amaerick." He stared at her back with mute contempt.

[Blaze Sanaku]

Blaze was about to open her mouth to agree with Hadrian when she realized that she would actually be AGREEING with Hadrian. So she remained silent until Squall stormed out of the room in his little temper tantrum. Blaze had actually been quite impressed with Squall's comeback at Gemma and felt little urges of her crush resurfacing. She felt his power then, and that's what she'd been crushing on all along- how powerful Squall was. She couldn't believe that these stupid weakling little teammates had tried to backtalk him... didn't they know that Squall could kill them with one slice of his gunblade?

Those little urges vanished with the disgusted look Squall gave them all before he departed.

"The disorder this has caused among you all is rIdIcULoUs," Blaze mimicked in the annoying way she always mimicked people. It was completely unfair. Blaze and Hadrian had no cause for being punished and yelled at, they were on the Headmaster's side! Squall was totally ignoring the fact that she was trying to defend his actions. He didn't even acknowledge her viewpoint at all. That prick

"Um, just to let you know, I've re-evaulated my position and I'm pretty much over you guys." Blaze pushed herself off the wall she was leaning on, flashing her eyes at Jun and Gemma in particular, "Why don't you pathetic fangirls just make 'I love Reese' T-shirts and stand in the hall wailing about it. You can make a petition for the junior cadets to sign and hand out pieces of candy when they do. GET OVER IT."

Blaze followed Squall out the door, then stopped and turned around. "I'll be at the dining hall at 7, but I'm sure everyone else will be too busy mourning Reese and kneeling at the shrine they've created for him, hahahaha." Blaze cackled in that evil way she knew made people grit their teeth in contempt. She gave a broad smile and slammed the door behind her.

[stardust]

Blaze called Squall a prick HAHAHA
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Sitting on one of the couches, Stardust looked up at the Headmaster standing in front of her. At times like this, she didn't know how to respond. Would she make up a lie? Tell the truth?

"I won't try to defend myself." She looked to the side. "I apologize, sir." She exhaled.

[Jax Ridean]

Jax shook his head with disbelief. He didn't even know what to say after Blaze made her freakishly psychotic exit. Man, did she forget to take her meds today or what? The girl was always a bit too "spirited" but now she just reached a whole new level of crazy.

Whuahhhaoohh....

The sound of her cackles echoing down the hallway was almost as painful as scraping steel and cement.

But even he had to admit that, like Loony-Tunes, he was surprised that Gemma was ready to take up the guard for that Reese guy.

Except he wasn't surprised. This was typical behavior from his sister--always so self-righteous and trying to set an example for others...all from some unfettered sense of moral authority sent from Hyne knows where. It usually drove him crazy when it was used as weapon against him. But he had to agree...Reese's indictment had "Betrayal" written all over it...

"Tch, Gemma..." He widened his eyes in mock indignation. "Can't believe you took that sitting down. You gonna let that chick talk to you that way?"

Rather than the usual comeback he had expected, his last words were followed by an uncomfortable silence.

"Hey!" He whirled around to find that his sister had not moved an inch since she last stood up to Squall ten minutes ago. However, she was standing so still---her body tense, her arms rigid like pencil sticks at her sides--that she seemed more like a piece of furniture rather than a person. Head bowed down so far towards the floor, any expression on her face was masked by a veil of hair. But her hands now balled up in tight fists---now there was the real story.

Was it shock or disappointment? What Leonhart said crossed the line of civil discourse but Jax never thought his stoic sister would let mere words get to her. As always in the past, the Gemma he knew would soak it all up like champ and just take it without getting emotional.

Then, she slowly began to raise her fists... And then slammed them--HARD--onto the table, causing him and everyone else to flinch. She stared back at them for a second and suddenly rushed out of the room, closing the door behind her with a loud crash.

It was the second time that a door had been slammed in his face. Jax slowly turned back towards the center of the room and grinned ruefully. "She's always been the angry one."

[waterlily43]

Rayden shook his head. He didn't know much about this Reese so naturally he didn't give his opinion on it. The best thing he had done all day, as apparently the Headmaster didn't care for any. It would just be a waste of breath. After Gemma's dramatic exit Rayden had to wonder what it was about the water they all drank that made the girls so antsy.
"Geez talk about worked up. Think she's gonna be alright?" He asked Jax. "I mean, she would turn up for the meeting later right?" He shook his head. He wasn't usually one to criticise his superiors but Leonhart could've chosen his words more carefully. But when someone didn't care...well that just doesn't happen.

He strolled across the room sidling up next to Stella. That earlier news about Galbadia Garden had to be hard to take in. And even before that, she didn't look too well as she entered the room, and he couldn't help being worried.

"You alright, babe? Looks like you need some rest." He peered at her face resting a hand on her back.

[Zacke]

Just a minute ago he was smirking like an idiot at Blaze's 'fangirl' tirade, shaking his head at the humorous image her words conjured. It was pretty amusing to picture girls in 'I love Reese!' shirts. It was hilarious to picture a Reese shrine.

He wasn't smirking now though. Gemma's fists pounding into the table had instantly jolted his attention back to reality. In fact, he even flinched in his chair like a gunshot had gone off. He looked over at her with the smirk wiped from his face completely, his eyes a little wide and his brow set in a worried frown. She was standing there looking downward. The way her side-swept bangs hung from her bun formed a veil over half her face, so he couldn't read her eyes. His gaze traveled down her arms and ended at her balled up trembling fists.

She raised her head for half a second and didn't speak a word before rushing out of the room and slamming the door. Their eyes never met, and Zacke's frown grew. Did Leonhart shake her up that bad? His gaze immediately flicked over to Jax, who he presumed would be on his way out the door as well. He would follow after his sister, right?

Jax sat there for an awkward moment with his eyes on the door, then turned to them all and flashed a grin.

"She's always been the angry one."

Zacke raised an eyebrow. So I guess he's not going... ? He glanced at the door again. That poor door... Gemma marked the third emotional female to slam it within the past ten minutes.

That worried frown centered on his brow again. Pounding fists, slamming doors... Common sense told him Gemma wanted to be left alone right now, but... something about letting her walk away all worked up like that just didn't feel right. He wondered briefly if her being upset had anything to do with what he said to Leonhart. Did it make her mad that he interrupted? His worried frown grew. He was just trying to mediate so that things wouldn't get worse. He knew if she continued to challenge Leonhart like that, she was going to face consequences... And honestly, Reese wasn't worth that kind of sacrifice.

He stood from his chair, cleared his throat awkwardly and pushed up the sleeves of his racer jacket. He gave a quick glance backward and brief nod at the remaining of the team before he left the room.

"Gemma," He said her name almost as soon as the door shut behind him. Her pace was quick and rigid. Even a complete stranger would be able to tell from her body language that she was upset. It didn't seem at all like she wanted company, and he didn't even know her that well, but...

Since when did that ever stop Zacke?

He quickened his pace.

"Gemma, wait up... Are you gonna be okay?"

[ST]

The Headmaster stared back at Stardust for a few long moments, his eyes cold as ever. He debated with himself over whether harassing her any further was really worth the time and energy it would take away from him.

It wasn't. In choosing not to defend herself, she'd already said all he needed to her. When it came down to it, she would choose Reese Amaerick over her allegiance to him. Her apology fell on deaf ears.

"Whatever... "

The word was barely audible. With a silent sigh, he turned and walked away from her.

[Hadrian D'arcell]

Hadrian shook his head at Blaze and Gemma. Stardust was unavailable right now, but that wasn't stopping Blaze from making enemies. He stared at the piece of paper in front of him. Squall didn't look like he cared for whatever piece of information he remembered from the hacking. The random filenames he can remember didn't make much sense anyway. He'd figure out a better use for this later on. His left arm throbbed again.

Exhaling, Hadrian stood up. "Hey Jun, let's go. Rayden and Stella are going to get their freak on." He grinned at the two and headed towards the door. Maybe he'd go find some clinic or get someone to cast another Curaga spell on him. More than the need to resupply his equipments, his arm hurts.

"Tch.."

[Gemma Ridean]

Whether the intense fury festering within her was born out of anger or distress, Gemma knew she had to get of that room before the rest of her emotions could get the best of her.

"Stupid...stupid.." she muttered to herself as she stormed down the hallway. She had enough. Forget Squall, forget Trinity, forget SeeD. It was all a mistake. A foolish childhood pipe dream that had just been dashed against the cruel barbs of reality. Is this what she sacrificed her life for? She had so much opportunity in Esthar. Public service, justice--all the things she was passionate about--she could have pursued professionally as a civilian. So why Garden? Why become a Hyne-damned SeeD?

Because you wanted to be independent. Strong. Courageous.


Naive romantic dreams.

She and all the others--they were just pawns to be used for Garden's disposal for its own scheme. Squall didn't respect them and what they had to say. He said so himself.

"Stoop to a childish level of insolence."

There was no trust, no confidence. Every mission, they were on a need-to-know basis, given only shards of information to get the job done--no more. Target this group. Kill this person. Who is your friend. Who is your enemy. The next mission is going to be the same.

"Or maybe your just being a hypocrite?"

Gemma flinched mentally. Those words had cut through her like a knife wound.

Maybe I don't belong here anymore.

"Gemma wait up...are you going to be ok?" She instantly recognized the voice and froze. Why had he come after her? Some part of her badly wanted to confide in him. But Zacke was so focused on Trinity...it wouldn't be right.

Looking straight down the hall, in a deadened voice, she responded softly.

"I'm a little tired. I'll see you later."

And continued walking.

[Jax Ridean]

"Hey Jun, let's go. Rayden and Stella are going to get their freak on."

Jax raised a single eyebrow as his gaze flickered back and forth between the supposedly-already-established-amongst-the-people "love couple." Really? Had he been living in a hole for these past couple months? Rayden and Stella. Frankly, he couldn't see it.

It took a few seconds to get over his initial shock. Until he realized the second half of what Hadrian said.

"Aaaaaa...ohhhh" He quickly got out of his seat and moved towards the exit doors. "I guess I'll be leaving to then...don't want to get caught...in the middle of things.." Sliding past Hadrian who was standing in the middle of the door frame, Jax stopped as he held the door open and looked back. "You kids have fun. But don't forget though. We still have a meeting at 7...so um...let's try and be professional."

[Hadrian D'arcell]

Fast forward!
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Clad in his SeeD Uniform, Hadrian stood in front of the double doors of the private dining hall. With 15 minutes to spare till the appointed time, he stood there staring at the door.

Are you serious? Hadrian thought to himself. Am I the only one here yet? He knew Squall would be on the other side of the door. If he went on ahead without the others, Hadrian would look too antsy to start the next mission compare to how his teammates acted earlier. Actually, it was more than that.

He just didn't want to face the old man, be alone with the old man in a wide silent room. With how he pissed off the commander the other day and totally blowing off the mission, he had no face to show to him. He felt an earful regarding his attitude might come up, and that was the last thing he wanted. It was a different story however if there was one or more person to make up a crowd. That way, Squall's eyes wouldn't be on him. He placed a hand in his pocket and scratched his cheek.

Damn it...why isn't anyone coming? He looked around.

[waterlily43]

Jun stared hard at the indicator as she waited for the elevator to ascend, her arms stuck tightly at the sides, her mind running through all the choice words Squall Leonhart had for her. She couldn't remember ever being labelled childish or insolent. So what if the unfairness of Reese's treatment still rankled her, so what if the Headmaster's coldness became more apparent now. In the end she had no choice.

So I just have to suck it up and deal, right?

As the elevator doors dinged open, Hadrian's red hair conspicuously acted as a beacon and she had no problem identifying which was the dining room. With a sigh she headed towards the room, tapping the hacker on the shoulder hen she reached him.

"What, having cold feet again?" She said, shaking her head. "This has got to go, does the Headmaster intimidate you that much?"

Without waiting for his reply she knocked on the door and opened it.