The Pain of Others Can't be forgotten
Squall knew today was going to be long and stressful, but never to these 
extremes. Three new transfer A-SeeDs' would be arriving today. Squall wasn't 
sure what the A stood for but it had to be good. The youngest was only 14, 
which is rare to see. The others were 30 and 38. 
Responding to the previous announcement, Squall made his way to the Front 
gate to greet the new members. Squall noticed Zell and Selphie on their way 
to the gate also. "Hey guys," Squall yelled. " Yo Squall," Zell replied, "You 
on your way for the Induction?" "Yeah, heard these guys are the best of SeeD 
HQ" Squall answered. Squall saw the three listening to Cid's speech. "Damn 
those guys look tough." Zell whispered. 
"Squall, Zell, Selphie, meet Terra, as Cid pointed to the lady in back, 
Ion, the middle aged man, and Fire, the younger one." Squall was assigned to 
give Fire a tour of the Garden. Squall quickly noticed the katana he carried 
in its' sheath in one hand and the K-Bar he wore on his leg. Squall also 
picked up the Hooked shaped scar at his hairline. 
"Well," Squall said, "lets begin the tour." Squall showed the various 
features of the Garden and Fire nodded an approval at each stop. " I heard 
you were really good at fighting." Squall inquired. Fire, forced to talk, 
said " You heard right." "Want to give me a shot." Squall replied boldly, 
confident he could beat the youth. 
Fire replied by drawing his blade, still holding the un-strapped sheath, 
whipped around and struck Squall's side with the sheath. Squall was knocked 
down by the force of the blow, but recovered and advanced on him quickly. 
Squall took an overhead swing, but Fire blocked with the sheath and 
thrust his blade so it barely touched Squall's neck. Squall backed off and 
complicated a new strategy. Squall took a side swing but Fire blocked with 
the blade, swung and smashed the back of Squall's left knee. 
Squall fell to the ground and in one motion felt the blade touch the back 
of his neck. Fire backed up and allowed Squall to rise. 'At least no one saw 
that,' Squall thought, but his mouth turned dry to see Rinoa, Zell, and the 
rest of the gang watching. 
"Damn," Squall thought. 

Hours later, and three Advil for his leg, Squall was at dinner with his 
friends. "Saw your little fight with the new recruit this morning." Zell said 
with a smirk, "Although it wasn't much of a fight." "Yeah, What happened?" 
Irvine inquired, "I never thought you could lose."
"Why do you think he's an A-SeeD," Squall snapped back, "He's 14 yet he 
passed the exam with a 300%." 
"I didn't know someone could score so well." Rinoa replied, trying to calm 
Squall down.
"Well, he killed 124 men, and wounded 50 without a GF." Squall responded. 
"The HQ saw this and picked him up instantly." 
"I was trying to talk to him earlier," Rinoa said, "He's really shy." 
"He's not shy!" Squall shouted, feeling he had to stand up for him all of the 
sudden. Rinoa flinched at this. "I'm sorry, It's just that he reminds me of 
how I was at his age," Squall replied, "Cold and Hateful, yet he has 
something about him you can't describe."
"Look how he's all by himself, just trying to get by, all alone." Squall 
said, "He doesn't have any friends, doesn't want any either, just wants to be 
left alone." At this Rinoa got up and walked over to him. "Hey," Rinoa said, 
" You look lonely." Rinoa thought she saw a tear as he said " It's none of 
your…." (Business) Squall thought, reading Fire's lips. Rinoa placed a 
hand on his shoulder. He first tensed up, and then relaxed, seeming to be 
comforted by it. Then, he jumped up and exited. 
"He's not all hate and anger," Rinoa stated as she walked back to the 
table, " He just needs someone to be there for him." (He's just like I 
was…Exactly) Squall thought.


Fire heard the familiar sound of Squall's blade behind him and he knew 
Squall was pulling his weight against the 25 Forbiddens that had popped up. 
Fire had been training with Squall for the past month and they had picked up 
a strategy. Fire ran his blade through one's skull and smashed another with 
his sheath. (5 more to go) Fire thought as he dropped another. Fire had 
killed 14 and Squall had picked up 6. Minutes later both Fire and Squall 
exited without a scratch. " So Fire, were all going out to Balamb for drinks 
tonight and were wondering if you were interested in joining us." Squall 
asked. Fire looked up, "Sure." 
"Oh, Fire, leave the blade."

Fire couldn't help but smile as Zell finished is training center story. 
"What is with you guys?" Zell asked, noticing everyone, including Fire, was 
laughing at him.
"Zell, you are such a liar," Irvine said, "NO one can take on 3 Forbiddens 
by themselves." 
Both Fire and squall stopped Smiling and looked at each other. "So, 
Rinoa, how is your counseling coming along." Quistis asked. "All right, have 
to spend time on every one individually." Rinoa knew Fire needed help and had 
made an appointment for Fire tomorrow. Fire hammered down another drink and 
noticed a tough looking biker gang glancing at him. 
"What do they want?" Rinoa asked. "Trouble," Fire said saying loud enough 
for the gang to hear. 
"Hey kid, are you sure your mommy will let you drink?" the biker asked. 
Fire replied by drawing his K-Bar knife and standing up. 

Squall didn't quite know what happened but there were 12 dead bikers on 
the ground. Fire had to go to the local police department and Squall went 
with him. The others decided to go back and try to explain to Cid what had 
happened. 
At the station Fire explained his story and got off with 800 Gil fine. 
Fire gladly paid and made his way to the Garden with Squall. 

The next morning the speaker blared, " The following SeeDs' need to 
report to my office….Fire… uhhh….that is all." In the cafeteria Squall 
watched Fire get up from his table and make his way to Cid's office. "This 
can't be good." Rinoa said.
"Fire you know why your hear and I know even in self defense you could 
have spared them," Cid coldly said, "You are giving Garden a bad name, you 
get me." Fire, who knew enough not to start an argument, replied, "Sir, I get 
you, Sir!" "Good, then report to your schedule activity, lets see you got an 
appointment with Rinoa." Cid reported. " What, I never scheduled." Fire said. 
"Well she put you down for 3 hours and you can't change it now." Cid replied. 
"That's 3 hours of training I'll miss" Fire complained, "Fire! You are going 
to go!" Cid yelled. 
Fire turned and left.

Fire made his way to Rinoa's office but was stopped by a group of classmen. 
"Look at the killer" one said. "Fire punched him in the ribs hearing the 
usual snap as his fist broke through bone. Another boy drew his dagger and 
attacked Fire. Remembering what Cid said he unsheathed his blade and buried 
it in his shoulder. The boy fell instantly, not used to the pain. "Whose next 
mother fu." "Fire!!!" Rinoa Screamed before Fire could finish, "Get in my 
office NOW."


"Fire I scheduled this meeting because I feel you need help with your 
selflessness." Rinoa said. "My being alone has its reasons." Fire stated. 
"Then tell me why you constantly alienate your self, constantly carry a sword 
with you, and cry out in your sleep." Rinoa said softly. "I..I don't want to 
talk about it," Fire said, " I'm fine with who I am." "This is my job Fire," 
Rinoa said, " To listen and try to help." Fire relented and started his 
story. "It all started when I was 7. I was abducted and taken to an old 
factory. When they took off the blindfold they had my sister in front of me. 
The man told me if I could beat him in a duel, my sister could live but if I 
lost…. I tried my best but he easily over powered me. Another woman held me 
back as he forced my sister to the ground. He then…" Fire trailed off, "After 
that he put his blade to her and it was at least 5 minutes before she died. 
He gave the sword to me and I've kept it till this day." "From that day forth 
I've trained with the sword as much as I could, I killed blindly sometimes 
for no reason at all." "Then one day a woman came to me and told me she knew 
a place where someone with my skill was needed. The annual Galbadian Fight 
Fest was taking place. I signed up for the woman's team and we won every 
battle. I killed 45 and we totaled 78 overall. SeeD members were watching and 
told me they would let me take the Exam. That's how I'm here today." Fire 
finished, "Having your only family killed in front of you does a lot to the 
mind."
Rinoa's mouth went dry as he continued his stories of his fights and 
encounters. She wondered if she could help someone this disturbed. She knew 
it would take a lot of work.

Meanwhile, Squall was receiving briefing on a mission. "Squall, you and a 
team of 4 are to infiltrate a Galbadian chemical weapons store. We feel that 
these weapons are too dangerous for any one to have. All guards are to be 
killed and the storehouse is to be demolished. You have three hours to 
assemble your team, good luck," Cid said.
Squall left, wondering whom he should take. He knew Irvine and Rinoa both 
had projectile weapons so he knew they should come. Zell would be good at 
setting the bombs so he added him. Squall knew none of his friends could slay 
an innocent guard, begging for mercy, so he added Fire to the team.
Squall assembled his team and told them each their role. "Irvine, you're 
to guard Zell why he sets up the bombs. Rinoa, you are to come with me and 
provide cover while I neutralize the chemical weapons." " Fire, your to 
eliminate all guards and personnel. No one is to be sparred, no wounded, zero 
tolerance." "Oh yeah, were all allowed to use any SeeD equipment on this 
mission. Were to go to the Armory before we leave." 

Fire looked over each piece of equipment with great patience, spending 
minutes going over scenarios using them. The HQ staff had taught him well. 
Squall walked in with the rest of the team and was confronted by an angry 
clerk. "That boy has spent 3 hours in here and he hasn't chose anything yet." 
The clerk yelled. Fire felt all their eyes on him so he pulled out his A-SeeD 
card and proceeded to the safe in back. He swiped his card in the reader and 
the door slowly opened. He grabbed his armor, harness, and his utility bag. 
He walked in deeper and proceeded out decked with full combat gear. He 
carried his black ski mask in one hand and his blade in the other. Squall 
froze in place as he saw Fire walk out. He looked like he was going to war. 
"Traveling light?' Rinoa asked. 
"As possible, for a hunt and kill mission." Fire replied coldly.

The team left in the gardens new model A-SeeD aircraft. Fire paced 
silently back and forth slowly, going over the mission again and again. 
Squall held Rinoa closely, she seemed scared, and Squall was freezing, flying 
at 2000 ft. Irvine polished his gun, while Zell stared off in the distance 
blankly. "Attention, we will be flying over the facility soon so get a 
glimpse as we pass. The team was slow to rise as they made their to the glass 
bottom window. Fire put on his ski mask and Squall noticed it lacked 
eyeholes. 
"Fire, how do you plan to see?" Zell asked. Fire tossed a coin up and in 
an instant chopped it in half with his blade. Zell swallowed nervously. Fire 
walked over to the cargo door and pushed the open button. "What the hell are 
you doing?" Squall yelled. 
Fire just back flipped out of door and disappeared instantly. 
Rinoa ran past the others and she watched him free fall until he was about to 
hit the bottom. Then Fire's chute opened up and he coasted down. 
The aircraft landed just outside the base. Squall led his team towards 
the base. On the way they found 4 dead guards, throats slashed wide open. 
They never knew he was coming. Squall pressed on until he reached the back 
door. Zell and Irvine split up and made their way around, to the side. Rinoa 
stood close to Squall as he kicked down the door and made his way in.

Fire spotted the next guard down the hall. He picked up speed and charged 
the guard. Fire buried the blade in his throat. His partner didn't have time 
to react as Fire slashed through his chest. Fire moved on to find then next 
guard or…Fire spotted the female scientist working on a power pack. Fire 
snuck up behind her. He raised his blade and brought it down on the back of 
her neck.
Squall and Rinoa moved quickly to the weapons store. They found 13 dead 
guards and 9 scientist sprawled all over the floor. (No wounded, this guy 
knows how to follow orders) Squall thought to him self. Then Squall spotted 
the dead teenage girl on the ground. (Zero tolerance) Squall thought to 
himself. Squall found the chemical tubes and started to work on them. 
Zell and Irvine moved through the halls dodging the corpses. Zell found 
the first generator and started wiring the explosives. "Stop right there," a 
voice commanded. Zell and Irvine turned around to see a guard pointing his 
gun at them. " You killed my friends," the guard said, "I'll aven..." The 
guard was cut short as a blade protruded through his throat. "Irvine," Fire 
said walking out from behind the guard, "do your job."
Squall carefully extracted the chemicals from their containers and 
injected them with the neutralizers. 

Squall's alarm went off signaling that they needed to get back to the 
aircraft. 
Squall grabbed Rinoa and they ran to the front doors, stepping over numerous 
corpses. 
Zell heard his alarm go off and he and Irvine found Squall and Rinoa 
outside the main door. Rinoa saw a little girl run in and Rinoa prayed Fire 
wouldn't find her. Then, Fire burst out of the door carrying the girl in one 
arm as they ran towards the aircraft. The facility exploded just as they took 
off. 

Back at the garden the team was receiving debriefing. "Zell and Irvine, 
you obviously did your job with great skill. The building is completely 
totaled," the Garden
commissioner said. "Squall and Rinoa, the chemicals did not spread out into 
the atmosphere, good job." "Fire, I believe your job is not yet finished." 2 
SeeD members brought in the girl. 
Rinoa turned her head as Fire drew his blade. Fire knew what zero 
tolerance stood for. 


The girl fell 

Rinoa knew Fire would need help.
She knew he wasn't a ruthless killer. 



Part 2 shall come very soon. I need more ideas to finish the story so send 
all thoughts (critiques, and anything else) to knightof1world@aol.com