A/N: Sorry for the delay. My semester is hell. Also, you may want to look through the past chapters. Theres been some changes. Thanks so much for all your kind words so far, and I hope you enjoy! Oh, and I have to thank Sarinia Trepe for the chat scene between Seifer and Quistis- go read her story, FF8-DGO, its in my favorites section and its hilarious! (I wish shed write a sequel, hint hint! J )

While Im at it, I highly recommend that you all check out the authors/stories in my favorites section- theyre all great picks if youre in need of a good read!

Gods and Gardens

Chapter 3

If I don't say this now I will surely break
As I'm leaving the one I want to take
Forgive the urgency but hurry up and wait
My heart has started to separate

There now, steady love, so few come and don't go
Will you won't you, be the one I always know
When I'm losing my control, the city spins around
You're the only one who knows, you slow it down

It's always have and never hold
You've begun to feel like home
What's mine is yours to leave or take
What's mine is yours to make your own

Ill look after you.

-The Fray Look After You

After ten o clock in Balamb Garden, the sound of a pin drop could be heard throughout most of the halls. Curfew was at 9pm, and only the hall monitors and high ranking officers had excuses for roaming the halls with impunity. He knew these rules well, and he also knew the corridors to walk to be avoided.

Shuffling in with the rest of his crew, Seifer Almasy was filthy, hungry, and exhausted. The usual grime inherent in long travels with little ventilation hung heavily on his skin, weighing him down with every step. The rest of his squad shuffled off to bed- Seifer, however, had a late-night meeting to attend to.

Adjusting his collar, he began the long trek down the polished marble halls. The White SeeD all wore high necked jackets that zipped over their mouths and noses- the heavy hoods obscured a clear view of their eyes. They were all required to wear the outfits when traveling back to Balamb Garden, to reduce visibility, and to prevent other students from recognizing them, should they happen to be spotted. The only other people who would ever see the White SeeDs faces would be dead at the end of the business day, anyway. Frankly, Seifer thought it made them look like a badly dressed cult, but he left Xu her delusions, however numerous. The White SeeD was never around during normal operating hours, and if they were, they were virtually incognito- a mist in the halls. In fact, there were only a select few that knew the identity of the group- Xu, and the rest of the heroes. With the exception of Laguna and Serabin, that anonymity extended to those that contracted them- that way, everyone was blissfully unaware should anycomplications arise.

Seifer raked a hand through his hair, his thumb running across the piece of plaster in the groove of his scar before peeling it off. He unfastened the chip on his neck, feeling a prickling sensation on his scalp and momentary blind spots in his eyes- a glitch Ceres was still working on. He stuffed the chip into his pocket. They were single-use chips, with only enough Cloak/Shield hybrid magic to last a day- hed have to acquire more from the supply room before he left.

He took a turn around the corner. What he needed was a hot meal, a shower, and some sleep. The last thing he needed was Xu Chang.

Yawning, he entered the pass code for the administrative wing, and pulled down his hood as he shuffled into the well-lit office. The Headmaster was slightly reclined in her seat, flipping through a manila folder. He swore the woman never slept.

Thought I smelled wet dog, said Xu, without looking up.

Seifer unzipped his jacket and tossed his mission write-up onto her desk.

After a moment, she turned page in her report as she spared a glance at him, sighing. What a shame. Youve returned safely.

Nice to see you too, princess, replied Seifer, putting his muddy feet up on her desk.

The Headmaster licked her fingertip, turning another page. Mm. Keep them there and Ill break them.

Break them and youre out a workhouse, replied Seifer, folding his hands behind his head and staring at the ceiling. More than anything, he relied on Xus love of efficiency not to kill him. If she did, shed have to train a new illegal faction leader, and Xu was nothing if not practical. Now, what is it I had to haul ass back for?

Xu set the folder down. Constructions going to start around EuGen pretty soon- they want to further develop the sister cities that have sprung up around it. First, they need a clean-up crew. There have been some pretty nasty Marlboro infestations recently, and its costing them a lot of man hours...and men. Ill need a lot of bodies on that job.

Thats supervised JC work, replied Seifer, raising an eyebrow. Why do you need me there?

I dont. replied the Headmistress. Lagunas simultaneously contracted us for a clean sweep of the city now that rebuilding efforts are complete in Esthar. I can only split up my teams so much, and Ive got Leonhart and Kinneas contracted for something else. That leaves a handful of other SeeDs to baby-sit EuGens operation, and Dinchts out. I want you to take your team to Estharits easy work, and Lagunas one of the five people that know about you, so you can work with Kiros and Ward and keep it low profile. Besides, I dont want EuGen knowing about you guys. I dont trust them. What I want in Esthar is a clean job and minimal headaches, and your team has a reasonably good record so far. You can wipe the fuckers out at night with a couple of floodlights, shouldnt take you more than a few days.

Careful, replied Seifer, yawning. Youre coming dangerously close to calling me competent.

I know, replied Xu, looking unhappy. Leaning forward, she tossed the brief across the desk, the thick sheath colliding with Seifers boots. Youre contracted until the job is done to Lagunas satisfaction.

Seifer leaned forward and grabbed the file, thumbing through it. Low-profileminimal artillerytch. Wheres the fun?

Theres something else I want you to do for me while youre there, said the Headmaster, folding her arms across her chest as she reclined.

Oh?

Theres an emerging terrorist sect reportedly milling around Esthar. Rumor has it theyre going to be targeting the construction sites in EuGen pretty soon. Might be an offshoot of Eve, might not. Mid-level, newly operative. I want you to gather initial information, pictures, numbers, that kind of thing.

More surveillancefucking great.

Xu rolled her eyes. Take the missions and get out of my sight, she muttered, turning the chair around. And if youre looking for Quistis, dont bother. She had a last-minute mission herself.

Screwed again.

Or not.

Where?

Just a little contract negotiation, replied Xu, looking back down at her report.

I leave, she stays. I stay, she goes. If I didnt know better, Id say you didnt want us to be together, Xu.

You know what they sayabsence makes the heart grow fonder. Or maybe Im thinking of my fondness for you. Hm. Xu turned another page in the report. Leave and lets see which one it is.

Seifer got to his feet, slinging Helios over his shoulder as he shoved the manila folder inside his jacket. Oh, Xu, we all know you dont have a heart. Its like your female reproductive organs, all shriveled and blackened from years of disuse-

Xu, like every other Headmaster before her, had a collection of paperweights. However, unlike every other Headmaster before her, Xu used them for Seifers skull.

This particular paperweight, a bronze apple, dented the plaster above his head.

Such a shame, mused Seifer. You pee like a man, but you throw like a

Xus next throw, a pewter replica of the Ragnarok, ricocheted off the door as Seifer made a hasty retreat, his laughter echoing down the empty corridor. Xu set down her next projectile, a letter opener, and swore under her breath.

Checking the back of his head to make sure there were no new puncture wounds, Seifer shuffled tiredly to room 22B West and slid the key card through the door. Seifer Almasy, being dead, no longer had a dorm room, but fortunately for him, Quistis Trepe still had her old Instructor suite. This was good, because he didnt feel like driving all the way back to the beach house tonight. Rajin would let the dogs out, and feed Glyph. Hed run back to the house before the Ragnarok took off and pick up a spare set of clothes tomorrow.

The room was surprisingly messy, by Quistis standards- she must have left in a rush. Medical textbooks were strewn across her desk, along with several highlighted pages of notes, some of which had spilled onto the floor. A cold cup of coffee sat on her nightstand, and a white lab coat was slung haphazardly over a chair. Seifer leaned over the desk as he took off his jacket, glancing at her sketches. She had some chemical equations in the margins, along with some other energy equations that didnt look familiar. Then again, he had never really paid much attention inpretty much any scholastic setting, come to think of it. It was probably something for the research she and Kadowaki were doing. Quistis spent a lot of time studying in the SeeD dorms while she was there, as she got virtually no work done at the beach house. Hed served as a guinea pig several times in the lab for the two ladieswith various rewards, mostly from Quistis.

Quistis did not exactly live in the beach house, but she didnt live at Garden, either. She split her time between the two, and her things were split haphazardly between both places as well. She had several drawers dedicated to her at the beach house, and took up a large amount of space in Seifers closet. At first, Seifer had been protective of his space- he had been rather intimidated by the prospect of living with someone. However, as time wore on, he found her presence was not intrusive- that in fact, he liked her touches around the house, and that he almost missed tripping over her shoes when she was gone. One of these days, hed convince her to move in permanently.

Yawning, he stripped off his shirt and tossed it into a corner of the room, falling forward in a heap onto the bed. His nose was instantly assaulted by the scent of her, buried deep in the pillows. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. Raspberries and the scent of her shampoosweet and dark and thrilling.

an empty thrill, though, as she was long gone.

He stared at the bedside clock as he set the alarm- next to it, there was a picture of the two of them together. It had been taken during Balamb Gardens reconstruction- he had a bright white handprint on the side of his cheek, while Quistis had paint smeared across her forehead and nose. Their clothes were dripping with paint splatters- if he remembered right, this was just after they painted Dincht white with the stuff. He had his arm draped lazily around her, smirking at the camera, and Quistis was laughing, one of her slim hands braced against his chest. Selphie had grinned, pointed the camera, and yelled say cheese! He had plaster over his scar, of course, and his hair was blackened- he looked almost human in this photo. Quistiss hair had fallen completely out of its ponytail, sloping over her shoulder in a shine of gold and plaster- it always amazed him how pretty she was, how out of place in a military academy. No matter how often he saw her, he was always struck by it. She could have been a model, and he had told her so several times, only to be laughed at.

He supposed it was to his advantage that Quistis seemed ignorant of how to wield her looks- one of these days shed probably wake up and realize that she could have any man she wanted, not some carved up ex-knight with a hovel for a beach house that every day threatened to cave in.

His girlfriend. It felt weird thinking of her in those terms. He had never really had a girlfriend before, just a succession of one night stands strung together like links on a conquest chain. Sure, there was Rinoa, but none of that really counted- they were young and stupid. He was in love with the idea of protecting something, and she was in love with the idea of pissing her father off.

He remembered Quistis at Rinoa and Squalls wedding, two years ago, their matron of honor, dressed in blue and cream satin with her hair threaded with roses. Her blue eyes were lit up by the dresss deep color, her hair pinned up in long, loose curls. There was also a pistol strapped to the inside of her thigh for security, which he had discovered on the way to finding that she wasnt wearing underwearall in all, it had been a very distracting wedding. Along with everyone else, they had drunk too much champagne and stayed up late dancingher body soft against his, her mouth curving against his cheek as he whispered ridiculous things in her earhe remembered thinking then that she was the music in a hurricane- the order in his disordered life.

It occurred to him, too, that he should probably marry her. After all, girls liked that kind of shit and they had been together over three years without killing each other. Still, what could he give her? A hovel by the sea? Someone elses name?

Seifer Almasy wasnt the marrying kind, was he?

Serabins voice It is still Trepe, isnt it?

He exhaled into the pillow, shutting his eyes against the thought of them together. Four hours of sleep, and hed be dragging his ass out of bed for another mission.

He fell asleep instantly, with her scent in his senses and a single thought in his mind:

Soon.

The word stretched in every direction.

..

By the time the Ragnarok touched down, Quistis had to resist the urge to run out and kiss the ground. Neither Selphies flying nor Quistis stomach for it had improved over the years, and as Quistis walked down the platform, she felt her organs to make sure they hadnt been left behind beneath her seat.

Selphie stood in the entryway. Good luck, Quisty! Ill see you tomorrow, eleven hundred minutes sharp!

Quistis smiled and shook her head as she waved at her friend. Even after nearly five years, Selphies sense of military timing was still terrible.

A handsome young man stood outside a sleek black limousine, shielding his eyes from the sun and the dust as the Ragnarok took off. Miss Trepe? His name tag read EuGen, and he wore a plain dark blue suit.

Yes.

Smiling, he opened the door for her. Allow me to escort you to the building.

EuGen was an impressive structure located amongst and outcropping of smaller towns, all of which had sprung up since its development. The Ragnarok had been forced to land well outside the residential areas, and because of this, Quistis was assured a vehicle escort to the building.

The car rumbled with enough force to rattle her seat, and Quistis braced her hand on the window. The drivers dark eyes met hers in the rearview mirror. A small earthquake, Miss Trepe, he explained. Common in this area, and nothing to worry about.

After a moment, the shaking stopped, and Quistis was left to enjoy the rest of the ride in the limo in peace. She found a small flute of mimosa perched in a decorative cup holder, and took a sip. EuGen certainly knew how to treat its guests. Perhaps this visit wouldnt be so bad, after all.

Her visit had been fully prepared for and accommodated, explained her driver- she would be spending the night in one of the small developing towns, at a small inn. After thanking her driver and adjusting her sleeves, Quistis picked up her briefcase and headed towards the EuGen gates. For being only two years old, it was still an impressive-looking complex, with a single high rise tower in the back and a plain, single-story complex in front, where Quistis suspected they kept their labs and offices. Large metal tubes plunged into the earth behind the large tower, giving the impression of a poised steel arachnid.

The main entryway was filled with a series of fountains, and a large platform featuring an impressive-looking motorcycle. Prototype: X2497: Material fueled twin engine. It was an upgrade from Seifers current model, to be sure. Shed have to tell him about it. Reaching into her purse, she flipped open her phone and snapped a picture to show Rajin and Seifer when she got home.

She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small handful of cards and sorting through them until she found the right one. Her appointment card read 1:30- she was early. Below it, she had her hotel stipend- good for one night at the LackaDaisy Inn, wherever that was. The sooner she got this contract signed, the sooner she could get out of these heels and order a big cart of room service items at Xus expense. She tucked the cards back into her pocket, smoothing her suit. She was wearing a plain black jacket and skirt set, with a pressed white blouse underneath. She had not worn the SeeD uniform since her original was practically blown off of her in Esthar- as far as she knew, the shreds were hanging in some museum, along with the fifty thousand fragments of steel and glass that had practically gone through her. Irvine said that they had fragments of Galbadia Garden, (among them a toilet seat), as well as preserved tissues samples of what remained of Adel, which amounted to an arm and half a face. Squall regarded the exhibit with a kind of grim irritation, but Zell, Irvine and Selphie seemed to find it wildly funny, Zell going so far as to sign his old cast for the exhibit featuring the Battle with the Bionic Sorceress. Still, there were things there that Quistis did not want to rememberand despite her friends recommendations, she had no intentions of going to see the iconized items of her pain and suffering.

She had never much cared for war museums- the tattered uniforms, the old pistols with small signs below them detailing their origins, things far apart from the horrors they had seen. Perhaps it was because she knew what it felt like to wear a uniformto shoot a gunto have a bullet burst through her flesh. These things, the real souvenirs of war, were not things that people left behind in a museumthey carried them around like shrapnel in the skin every day.

In some ways, she missed her SeeD uniformbut she was no longer SeeD and it was no longer appropriate. Once an Alpha-level caster, she now had no ability to cast, and she had found out nearly two years ago that this applied to her Blue magic as well. She was no longer Quistis Trepe, SeeD first class-she was simply Quistis Trepe. It seemed a very short name, now. Quistis had been familiar with Quistis Trepe, Second Lieutenant and SeeD first class. She was still learning things about Quistis Trepe, doctor in training and girlfriend to a dead man.

She rounded the corner. There was a man standing in the main room, dressed in a white lab coat with his hands folded behind his back. Squinting, she could see his name tag flash under the florescent lights- Dr. Hojo, one of the scientists Xu had told her about. Excellent. She wouldnt have to search for him in the maze of offices and laboratories. This saved time.

She walked forward, taking him in. As a naturally cautious person, Quistis first impressions of people were often ruthless, and Hojo was no different. Hojo was a gaunt looking man with an eager, rat-like face and intelligent dark eyes. His forehead bulged through his dark, disheveled hair, as if his brain were trying to crawl out of his skull. She half-expected a tail to twitch behind him. He smiled at her, running the tip of his tongue along his top teeth and giving her a look that made her feel as if she was under a cover slip, as if he had dismantled and reassembled her in the span of a second. She disliked him immediately.

Something instinctive in her recoiled, even if every other part of her walked forward, and extended her hand.

She inclined her head respectfully, the lines of her lips stretched only to accommodate the barest of smiles. Dr. Hojo, Im Quistis Trepe, sent on behalf of Balamb Garden. Its a pleasure to meet you.

Liar, and its probably showing, a voice in the back of her head nagged. Be nice. You should be building diplomatic relations.

Just get it signed and get the hell out, replied another. This one she liked better. This one told her to order a big bottle of wine at Xus expense for making her run this fools errand.

Hojos hand was cold and smelled of antiseptic, and the feeling washed through her as soon as their skin collided. The pleasure is ours. It is quite an honor to meet one of the heroes.

She inclined her head in response. She had never gotten used to being called a hero, and was ever unsure of how to acknowledge it.

Hojo motioned behind him. Gast sends his apologies, but hes finishing some things up at one of our northern excavation sites. A pityI know he would have liked to meet you. Hojo released her hand and stepped back. At any rate, welcome. Im afraid youll have to excuse the mess. The company is expanding at a larger rate than we could have predicted, and as such, construction is a constant. Please, this way.

You must be doing well, to be expanding so fast, remarked Quistis, dodging the plaster and support blocks.

Yes, replied Hojo. There is talk of a possible merger already, but the details are not yet cemented. For now, I must say nothing. I would hate to scare away our investors. His smile was positively oily.

She followed behind him, her soldier training fluttering to the surface as she committed the layout of the facility to memory. She also sized up Hojo- his hair, his toothpick limbs. She could easily break one of them. She swatted that stray thought away like a fly, chiding her soldiers instinct as she would a child. Though she was no longer a caster, she could still destroy a man physically, and the knowledge was part of her, trailing her like a loyal dog. Something primal in her disliked the man- but it was inexplicable and not at all useful in a diplomatic setting. She set it aside for now.

The room he led her to was a large, round room filled with glass jars and bluish liquid that decorated every inch of the twenty foot shelves. Within the liquid floated countless animals, both large and small: lizards, grats, even part of a wendigo graced a particularly large jar, its tendons and a partial vertebra protruding from the severed head. On his desk stood a large jar featuring a human hand severed at the elbow, the fingers bent and extended upward as if trying to screw its way out. Making a face, Quistis quickly diverted her attention to the only other thing in the room- Hojo. It was a toss-up as to which she found less uncomfortable.

I see youre admiring my specimens.

You have quite a collection, she replied, truthfully, lacing her hands behind her back.

Yes. They are from all over- some are quite rare.

Quistis wanted to ask about their usefulness dead and canned, but she refrained. She had the feeling that she didnt want to know.

Hojo folded his hands. Youll have to forgive the mess in my office as well. So many experimentsso many specimens

She acknowledged his apology with a slight bow. Its understandable.

Hm. Youre being polite. Hojo frowned at her, as if he found the idea insulting. Would you care for a tour? EuGen protocol insists that I show our facility to all kind enough to help in our work, and to answer any questions you may have about our mission here. This was obviously a practiced speech, and one Hojo himself seemed to find distasteful.

Anything to get out of this room, and the thousands of eyes peering dully out at her from their formaldehyde tombs. Yes, thank you.

She would come to regret her decision immensely.

First, there seemed to be an endless amount of stairs. Her boots clopped on the metal winding platforms, creating crashing echoes. Down, down, down, down into the steam and the roar of the generators. The height was giving her a strange sense of vergito, but perhaps it was the noise. Hojo was saying something about the sub-terrainian conditions being ideal for the necessary reactions, but it was difficult to hear him. She eventually stopped listening to him altogether, and focused on maintaining her balance.

Quistis quickly lost track of direction. Below, there was swirling steam and the loud, throbbing hum of the massive generators. Up, there was the swirling staircase and the blinking of overhead lights. Directions quickly condensed there until there was only down and up.

At last, said Hojo, looking around, folding his arms. Weve arrived.

Arrived?

The core reactor, replied Hojo, as if he were talking to a child. They stood on a metal grating, surrounded by steam. Here, we have what we call a Mako Reactor core, the first of its kind on a significant scale. Mako refers to the energy that you SeeDs are used to drawing in its raw form, a name Gast coined for it in his early research. I rather like it better than the world magic, with I believe is whimsical and misleading. The reactor here uses heat to first convert the substance into a liquid, then high pressure to convert it further into an orb. The final product is Materia, an orb of condensed mako that can be used as a conduit for human and mako interaction. An experienced SeeD like yourself has learned to convert mako energy through rigorous training, and in fact what you do is a form of the conversion we have developed here. However, the energy you use is finite- it must be continually replenished. Made properly, a condensed materia sphere can last much, much longer.

I thought it could also be used as an energy source? That is the most common use for it currently, am I right? She leaned on the railing. She was beginning to feel nauseous, but throwing on Hojos shoes did not seem like a good way of building diplomatic unity.

Of course, and that is what you see before you. A generator like this is not designed for production of Materia, but rather, uses raw Materia as a power source. It creates it through high pressure, then utilizes the energy released by the subsequent reaction.

Quistis knew from experience that learning to draw raw mag-energy, or mako energy, as Hojo called it, was a process that literally took years. The energy was unstable, unpredictable, and very few people had the temperance for it. There were lower animals that could accomplish it, but the junction and release aspect of it resulted from years of evolution, and was poignant, but directionless. It was a gut reaction, a defense mechanism that arose like a reflex, and lacked the finesse that a human medium was capable of producing. Quistis, who had channeled the energy through her veins for years, found the idea fantastic that it could be harnessed and controlled to such an extent. She had worked for years, and was considered a top caster, alpha level, bested only by Rinoas sorceress abilities. Even in Quistis own veins, however, the magic was a rushing sensation, unstable and mostly unpredictable. It took absolute concentration, and to walk around with magic constantly junctioned was extremely tiresome to those who had not built up a tolerance. She did not control the energy, perse, but channeled it, directed it, and did it quickly, before the energy denatured in the body. Seifer, who was terrible with Bolt magic, constantly misfired it, and had the burns to prove it. She had her own souvenirs from the process, well-hidden by her sleeves. To watch it running through the metal pipes, humming through the generator like a sleeping beast, was a strangely thrilling experience.

Its amazing. She said, truthfully. And it wasif not a little frightening. In some ways, harnessing raw mag-energy was like harnessing a god.

The noise in the pipes was whirring, a solid whisper against the wanted to put her hands on the pipes, to feel the vibrations hum against her fingertips.

Im sorry, what? she said.

Hojo glanced at her. I said nothing.

The current was pounding through the walls. Her ears were pounding. Her arms were pounding. She looked down at her wrists, the scars, and it seemed to her that her blood was trying to burst through them, so loud was the pounding in her ears.

She felt dizzy.

The room was too loud, too large, and it seemed to be sucking her in, a thrum, a buzz that drew steadily louder, pulling at her, screaming at her, like knives stabbing through her ears, punching into her brain-

Quistis put her palm to one of the generator pipes to steady herself, and instantly, her entire body was filled with pain, a terrible pain that coursed through her like a current, spiking in her from head to toe. She opened her eyes wide and tried to snatch her hand away, but it seemed stuck, soddered to the metal by some invisible force. Something was shrieking in her ears, unintelligible but deafening, and she gritted her teeth, her head ringing, her hand burning-

Miss Trepe.

Jumping, she tore her hand away, gasping for breath.

Miss Trepe.

She turned to find Hojo, looking at her intensely. Are you feeling all right? There was no concern in the mans voice- rather, a morbid curiosity Quistis suspected stemmed from something much more sinister. The man seemed positively fascinated with her discomfort.

Her hand was positively on fire- a quick glance showed an angry burn quickly spreading across her palm.

Yes, fine, thank you, she lied, putting her hand behind her back. Thank you for the tour. Shall we attend to the contracts now?

Of course, replied Hojo, smiling. Right this way.

Hojo led her to a small white room, the color so stark it almost seemed to give off a soft, gentle sound. It was a contrast to the fury and fire of the reactor, and she was grateful for it. There was a single table in the room with two metal folding chairs, and Quistis quickly sat down, pressing her palm against the cold metal of the chair bottom.

May I get you something for the burn?

Damnit. He saw it.

Im fine, she replied, feeling like an idiot. What was wrong with her today?

Hojo set down the contract on the table in front of her. Im afraid, Miss Trepe, that there can be no negotiation.

She blinked. Im sorry?

Youre a reasonably intelligent woman, I think. Surely you know that I understand that your Headmistress wishes to use our Draw sites to fuel her military, and not her medical research.

Dr. Hojo, Balamb has offered a generous sum-

Which pales in comparison to the gil this company turns over in profit every week. I believe you know this, too.

The proposed usage is relatively small-

He folded his hands. It isnt a question of your proposed use- its an issue of rights to use.

Quistis wanted to throw up her hands. Look, Dr. Hojo, you could have sent your immediate refusal when you last conversed with Xu. And yet, I was sent here. Youre a busy man- I cant believe that you would waste an afternoon. There must be something you want.

There is.

The two looked at each other for a long moment, and Quistis was filled with an unexplained sense of foreboding.

Im sorry, didnt I inquire as to what? Quistis tried to tear herself away from the mans gaze, failing miserably. Her hand was killing her.

There is, in fact, something you do have for which this company would be willing to trade.

Which would be? Between the terrible burn and her growing dislike for the man, she was rapidly losing patience.

Why, you, Miss Trepe, replied Hojo, leaning forward.

A feeling like ice water spread over her, pooling in her stomach.

Im sorry, I must have heard you wrong.

The doctor smiled, the light catching his dark eyes and she knew instantly that he was smarter than she, light years ahead of her. While her reasonably bright mind had traveled down a few avenues of his possible meaning, his mind had plotted thousands. It was a decidedly uncomfortable feeling. She could kill him, true, but that thought gave her little comfort at the moment.

Your case of mag poisoning is an unprecedented one. Thus far, we have only cases that have survived at 47% blood concentration, and those ended in an acidosis-induced coma. Though two cases awakened, there wereundesirable side effects. You have survived at over 87% concentration, with full function.

Im sorry, but I still dont understand.

As you know EuGen is refining raw magic into concentrated capsules, called Materia, for commercial use. However, we want to better understand the effects of raw or denatured mako, what you call mag-energy, on the body. Hojo folded his hands and placed his chin atop them. In other words, we would like to acquire your consent to examine your blood and tissue, in exchange for unlimited rights to the mako sites on our lands for both medical and military purposes.

What?

She stalled. Ill need to speak to Xu-

Your Headmistress has already given her consent.

Shit.

Something that had uneasily stabbed at Quistis since her arrival now sharpened into something like anger. She did, did she? she repeated, trying to quell the feeling of being ambushedand a little betrayed.

Hojo handed her a stack of papers. This contract states that all biomass retrieved, that is, that you allow us to harness, becomes the property of EuGen and thus is subject to its exclusive and classified use.

Quistis scanned the paper. Sure enough, Xus signature was already at the bottom, along with Hojos.

She ambushed me. She ambushed me with this shit because she knew shed have to drag me into this place kicking and screaming otherwise.

She set down the stack. And if I refuse?

EuGen is most content to keep its private lands private, said Hojo, smiling, folding his hands underneath his chin.

Quistis sat back. It was a small thing they were asking, her blood in exchange for rights to a myriad of land sites for an undisclosed amount of use.

Precisely why she didnt trust it.

Still, what choice did she have? If she refused, Gardens ability to harvest mag-energy would be limited to a few sites, and her and Kadowakis research would be limited as well. Xu could always go behind EuGens back to retrieve the mako, but if she was caught, it would mean severe sanctions, ones Garden could not currently afford to pay.

Quistis picked up the pen, and slowly, glanced over the paperwork. There didnt seem to be anything about creating a race of clones, or anything else ominous. Id like a copy of this, for my records, she said, looking at him coldly.

Of course, replied Hojo.

Quistis skimmed the stipulations. So Ill be required to report-

-once every month, for a year. finished Hojo. As well be interested to see how your blood replenishes, and in what condition. Your transport and lodging will be paid for, of course.

And after the year is up?

The contract expires. No strings attached, I assure you.

Quistis picked up the pen, and after a moments hesitation, looped her signature on the bottom, resisting an urge to wipe Hojos satisfied smile off his face by plunging the felt tip of the writing implement into his skinny neck.

Hojo stood. My assistant will take the samples. I believe youll find her to be most agreeable.

A rabid wendigo would have been preferable to the good doctor at that point, and she had to bite her tongue to prevent herself from telling him so.

To her surprise, it was not a rabid Wendigo that greeted her, but a beautiful young woman with long brown hair, her hands folded. You must be Quistis Trepe. Its a pleasure to meet you in person, she said, bowing respectfully. Your paper on GF hippocampus effects over prolonged use was very interesting to both Hojo and myself. Suddenly, she laughed. But Im getting ahead of myself! My name is Lucretia. May I take your coat, Miss Trepe?

Quistis raised an eyebrow. Had he kidnapped this woman? She seemed out of place in this sterile atmosphere, like a flower in an industrial park.

If I may ask you to remove your jacket and roll up your sleeves, please, you may have a seat in the chair.

Quistis obliged, rolling up the sleeves on her blouse and taking a seat.

Lucrecia reached out, taking her wrists in her hands. If the young woman was surprised at the terrible scars that snaked from her wrist to her armpit, she hid it well. Then again, they most likely had her file, and knew what to expect. Now, well just have a look at your veins to see which arm-Miss Trepe, your hand!

Please, call me Quistis, she replied, feeling strange at being addressed so formally by a woman her own age. And its fine. I was justcareless The flesh was an angry, smooth red, and beginning to blister.

Oh no, let me put something on it for you. This must sting terribly.

Lucrecia was certainly a pleasant change from Hojo, but then again, a rock would have been equally refreshing. Still, Quistis found herself relaxing for the first time all day. The young woman was sweet, and very gentle, and the two women chatted amicably as Quistis blood drained into a small plastic bag.

Im sorry if Hojo seemed rude, before. He can be a bit-

Intense? muttered Quistis, flexing her now bandaged hand. Because Quistis could not have any mag-infused potions or salines, Lucrecia had used a thick paste ground from one of the plants in the lab. It had helped, but Quistis still longed for the instantaneous relief of the magic. Natural healing was such a tedious process. Still, Kadowaki insisted on her absence from it- the traces, she said, were unstable, and adding more to it could only worsen her condition. At the same time, Quistis thought it had something to do with Kadowakis fear that Quistis, with her already high tolerance, could develop an addiction to Junctioning, a dependency in spite of all the pain it caused her. Her fears were misplaced. Quistis had no wish to spend hours over the toilet, dry heaving for hours as she had when she had tried to summon her Blue Magic again last year.

I was going to say, abrupt, said Lucretia, her cheeks coloring. Hojo is brilliant, but Im afraid he lackssocial finesse at times.

I was going to say humanity, thought Quistis to herself. But social finesse works, too.

Quistis squeezed the piece of foam in her hand, watching her blood coil down in a dark plastic coil. She felt detached, watching it go, knowing now the cells accumulating in the bag no longer belonged to her, but were a copyrightand herself, a specimen like those whose eyes glittered dully in Hojos jars.

Youre being dramatic, she told herself.

I cant imagine what good this can do. Said Quistis, pumping her fist again.

A world of good! exclaimed the pretty young woman. Once we understand whats so special about you, we can isolate and replicate the factor. New breakthroughs in bio-mag infusions for medical purposes-

And military, no doubt. said Quistis dully, but Lucretia did not seem to hear her. She watched her blood drain into the coil, but it no longer seemed a part of her.

..

This is Lucrecia Cresent, scientist at EuGen Laboratories. The following is a series of taped interviews with Specimen 041657, name Quistis Trepe. Sorry, Quistis, the specimen thing is just Hojos formality.

Its fine.

What is your name?

Quistis Trepe.

Your birthday?

October 4th.

Please recount, as best you can, the Second Siege of Esthar.

Balamb Garden had just been shot down. Our last radio communication showed that our soldiers were in trouble. I went to Esthar to see if I could help. Commander Leonhart had been woundedI helped him as best as I could and sent him back to base. There were thousands of Galbadian soldiers, a few ATMs, a kamakazi-type tankthat was my biggest concern. I was suffering from acute mag-poisoning, but I thought I could still be of some help. I was still Junctioned against doctors orders.

I deployed the JCs, and tried to make a stronghold, but it was failing. I eventually ordered the retreat.

Lucrecias voice. But you stayed.

A pause. Yes. I wanted to see if I could take out the tank.

I think I wanted to die.

And?

It gets fuzzyI unloaded the last clip at it, using one of the machine guns on the mobile-type units. They told me later that I had summoned ProtectI really dont remember that, or anything after that.

You had extensive injuries.

It should be there in the medical report.

And you had mag-poisoning before, correct?

Yes. I over-cast myself on a fellow cadet.

Spells used?

Cure and Esuna, mostly.

Do you recall what level poisoning Kadowaki characterized your symptoms at?

Im afraid I dont. I was restricted from casting, though.

After the Second Siege of Estharyour symptoms upon awaking?

I was nauseated all the timemy muscles had severely atrophied due to the hemorrhaged spells and the prolonged period of disuse. I hadover two hundred stitches.

You were in a coma for several weeks, am I right?

If thats what the report says. I dont remember.

Do you remember anything about that time?

no.

There was no way she was going to tell them about the ocean, about Cid. She remembered that well enoughtrying to follow Cid into the water, but something pulling her backpulling her uppulling her away from the ocean and the people she wanted to see-

This concludes Session 1, Specimen 041657, Quistis Trepe. Thank you, Quistis.

In the antiseptic solitude of her hotel room, Quistis sat surrounded by room service, her hand in a bucket of ice that came with the wine. Although the alcohol had dulled her senses, it did nothing to dull the pain that beat in her chest, thinking of Cid and the beach and the sterile, numb dark of the dream that the deposition had churned up. She wore a tank top and a pair of shorts, the right lip of the fabric bunched up to expose a piece of gauze taped to her upper thigh where they had harvested a small tissue sample. They had used a kind of metallic punch tool, an instrument that took a small, symmetrical, and deep chunk of flesh. Lucrecia assured her it would soon heal.

She had already sent Xu a confirmation e-mail to let her know that the acquisition papers were signed, resisting the urge to add on a few choice words for ambushing her with the contract. She decided to save them for later.

She settled back against her pillow and took a long sip of wine.

Cid, in the water, smiling at her. Her mother, in the water.a billion voices whispering under the wavesand yet, she could walk no furthershe could not reach them

Her blood in a bagnew currencybut then, it had been currency the second she put on the uniform.

What else do I have to sell? What else do I have left?

She raised the bottle of wine in a toast. Cheers, she muttered dully, to no one.

.

.

*

ROOM 11467 HAS BEEN CREATED BY BOOK_WURM AT 12:55 AM.

firacruz has signed on.

firacruz: You here?

blue has signed on.

blue: hey

firacruz: hey

blue: it was pretty nice of Ceres to set this up

firacruz: yeah

firacruz: so I was expecting this hot chick in my house when I got back- all I got was two dogs and some smelly fishmonger

blue: disappointed?

firacruz: yeah, a little. raj doesnt put out.

blue: haha

firacruz: i fixed the front door today before I left

blue: good, now you can fix the bed post.

firacruz: what do you mean?

blue: it squeaks! you know it squeaks!

firacruz: hm, dont remember. youll have to get on it and show me when you get back.

blue: pervert.

firacruz: guilty. You know you like it

blue: I plead the fifth.

firacruz: where the hell are you anyway

blue: Currently, a guest of the EuGen corporation. Didnt they tell you?

firacruz: she mentioned somethingvague.

blue: She would. Dr. K was originally going to go and negotiate leasing rights for the draw points at EuGen, but the boss decided to send me instead.

firacruz: howd it go?

blue: The contracts signed, anyway

firacruz: whats up?

blue: Ill tell you when I get home.

firacruz: you betterdo I need to kill anyone?

blue: haha.

blue: where are you?

firacruz: cant say. Ill tell you about it later.

firacruz: so what are you wearing?

blue: oh no

firacruz: what?

blue: this isnt a fully secure transfer!

firacruz: come on.

blue: I highly doubt that this is the purpose for which these communication boards were designed.

firacruz: sure it is. use your imagination.

blue: no

firacruz: come on

blue: NO

firacruz: dont make me beg

blue: FINE. Remember what you got me from Timber?

firacruz: hell yeah

blue: That.

blue: hello?

firacruz: thats not fair.

blue: you asked!

firacruz: i immediately regret my decision

firacruz: man, now Ive got a fucking situation here

blue: Well, its your own fault. I think Ill go take a shower now, maybe order in some room service

firacruz: not in that outfit, you arent

blue: lol, i was kidding, Im wearing an old t-shirt and garden-issue shorts

firacruz: forget it, my minds still on the first one. Heartless whore.

blue: poor thing

firacruz: when are you getting back?

blue: tomorrow afternoon

firacruz: fucking great

blue: what is it?

firacruz: I wont be back till the day after

blue: two ships passing in the night..or is it trains..

firacruz: yeah, I know, it sucks. look, Ill get back in the afternoon, and Ill take you out to the blue crush.

blue: .my favorite restaurantwhatd you do? ;)

firacruz: nothingyet.

blue: hmmmm

firacruz: hmmmm..

blue: Well, I should get to bed. Sels coming early.

firacruz: yeah I gotta get up too.

firacruz: try not to have lewd dreams

blue: right

firacruz: of sitting on my face

blue: THIS IS A PUBLIC CHATROOM

firacruz: You could always sit around in your underwear

blue: STOP!!!

firacruz: and touch yourself

firacruz: and send me pictures.

blue: ugh, goodNIGHT

Blue has signed out.

Firacruzsign out? Y/N

Y

ROOM 11467 HAS BEEN DELETED.

Closing the screen on his laptop, Seifer leaned back in the tent and laughed.

A/N: I promise, youll see some S/Q action in the next chapter! Till then!