After the Fact (Bookworms and Booya #2)

  ~*~*~

  Commander Squall didn’t often make an appearance in the security level of Balamb Garden. When he did, all security personnel knew the resulting meeting between the Head of Garden Network Security Sub-Lt. Commander Seifer Almasy and the Garden Network Commander Squall Leonhart most often meant a Network-wide policy change, a Network-cooperative mission assignment, or a Garden Network police action.

  So, when Cmdr. Squall exited the elevator with a stern expression and made his way directly to Sub-Lt. Cmdr. Seifer’s office, not many looked away from their initial glance to see who had ventured to their territory. Not until Cmdr. Squall closed in on their position.

  They quickly looked busy.

  When the door to Sub-Lt. Cmdr. Seifer’s office was opened and closed without a word, all eyes focused on the windows of the office. They were almost immediately shielded, blocking all from view and leaving the inhabitants of the office as secluded as those few political prisoners in the holding cells in the east wing of the security section.

  As the security personnel exchanged quick glances and returned to their assignments, the silence in the Head of Garden Network Security’s office remained as Seifer regarded Garden Network’s Commander with a slight smirk, not standing from his chair or setting aside the report in his hand.

  Squall stood somewhat rigid and still, jaw clenched and expression slightly scowling.

  The silence pressed outward from the 20-year-old Commander, twitching one of Seifer’s eyebrows and making him finally set aside his report and prompt “Yes, Commander?”

  “Sally Regal,” was all Squall said, tone carefully controlled.

  Again, Seifer’s eyebrow twitched. “New recruit,” he informed, somewhat annoyed. “Approved for transfer by yourself, remember?”

  “A specifically requested transfer,” Squall reminded.

  Leaning back in his chair with crossed arms, Seifer admitted, “Yes. Your point?”

  Squall’s eyebrows momentarily dipped. “Did you notice how she exited your security section?”

  Seifer scoffed. “No spine. She’ll need to be put onto a few missions in order to--”

  “The medical staff made a joint recommendation; specifically, that no field missions were to be assigned to her for three years upon graduation.”

  Scoffing again, Seifer made a rough motion toward the general area of the elevator. “If she’s going to be on my team, then my prerogative and Garden Network Security’s needs outweigh any specific requirements and recommenda--”

  Squall took two steps forward, leaning in to press both palms flat onto the desktop. “That is the standing recommendation, Seifer, and that is the recommendation the Garden Network agreed to. You vowed to follow the regulations the Garden Network outlined when it started, so you follow that same agreement.”

  A scowl appeared on Seifer’s face, and he briefly ground his teeth before uttering a harsh, “Fine. Agreed. No field assignments.”

  Pausing a slight moment, Squall straightened. “And you will adjust your behavior around her.”

  Seifer stood sharply to his feet. “Like hell! No one in this office gets special treatment from me! I don’t care what they do or how damn good they do it!”

  “Fine. She’s now Library Network Admin.”

  “What?” Seifer pointed sharply in Squall’s face. “You assigned her to me, paperwork filed and approved. Password and security changed in the system! There is no way in Hyne’s Holy Ass she’s going to Ne--”

  “Then you alter your behavior.”

  “If she can’t take it, then she can--”

  “Library Network Admin,” Squall informed in a tone that was calm and with an expression that was mildly stern.

  Seifer clamped his mouth shut with a click, his jaw muscle twitching wildly as he glared at the Commander of the Garden Network one year his junior. “Damn it! You can’t expect her to survive in security,” he fumed, again gesturing roughly toward the elevator outside his office, “if we treat her like some fragile--”

  “Library Network Admin.”

  Seifer sharply lowered his arm, fisting his hands as his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. “You know as well as I do, sir,” he hissed, “that her talents on a computer are wasted in that department.”

  “That is exactly why I approved the transfer. So if you don’t give her the ‘special consideration’ she needs, she and her ‘fragile’ attitude won’t be your problem. It’s your choice.”

  Fisting his hands so hard they popped, Seifer glared at Squall for a full five minutes before swearing and slamming his fist onto his desktop. “Fine, damn it! Fine!”

  Restraining the smirk, Squall said, “Good. If I hear anything to the contrary--Library Network Admin.” Then he turned and left the office, his smirk widening as the Head of Network Security swore so violently that the security personnel avoided his office for the rest of the day.