Part Four
Selphie and Rinoa were standing outside a large freezer. Every now and then Rinoa wiped the fog off the glass and looked inside. Roc was lying on the floor with frost covering his body. "I still want to know what happened to him to do that much damage."
Selphie was on her tip toes trying to see inside, "It's kind of creepy. He's just lying there. Are you sure it was a good idea to put him in there after we dumped him in the bath tub. He'll catch a cold."
Rinoa was sitting against the door, "I don't think he minds the cold. Besides, we want him awake as soon as possible."
"I heard you did a really new spell last night."
"Rinoa leaned back against the door, "Oh, that. I think it was called a blast flair. I was trying to channel Adel's powers. You remember back when we had to evolve magic, five fires turn into a fira. Fifteen firages turn into a flare. I think Adel made me evolve my magic to the next level. It was strange. When I was using my powers this ring appeared around me on the floor. I don't know why but I think it was a summoning ring."
"Summoning ring?"
"Yea. In ancient times people believed people could use these rings to call guardian forces but it was a myth."
There was a loud banging sound from the other side of the door. Rinoa stood up as Selphie looked through the glass window. Roc in full hawk was staring back at her. Selphie was a little startled. Rinoa opened the door and let Roc out. He was covered with frost along with his usual ice shell. Roc folded his wings and walked through the doorway. He brushed off the frost, "May I assume that Kiyoko told you how to bring me back after I was defeated by Kitina?"
Rinoa brushed the ice off Roc's shoulder, "Yea, and I'd keep my distance. Kiyoko's been mad as a hornet since you dumped her in the trash dumpster. She's been trying to wash the smell out of her hair for a while now."
"Kiyoko's senses are far beyond that of a human. She may still be able to smell garbage while others don't. That and she gets really prissy when someone messes with her hair. It's almost embarrassing. I'd better talk to her before she does something crazy."
* * * *
Roc walked into the hotel room Quistis and Kiyoko shared. After Seifer had gotten his room Kiyoko had been given the chance to change roommates. Kiyoko was sitting in a chair combing out her hair. She was only wearing a towel. She saw Roc enter the room. He dropped his ice body and shrank down. Kiyoko stood up and whirled around, "Rocky, you're awake!"
Kiyoko ran over and gave Roc a hug. Roc rolled his eyes but finding no way to escape Kiyoko's death grip he accepted his fate and put his arm around her, "How long have I been out."
Kiyoko pulled back a little, "I was going to give you something."
Roc was a little weirder out, "What's that?" Roc got punched in the face.
"That's for dumping me in the garbage dumpster!" Roc rubbed the bruise on his cheek. Kiyoko had her arms crossed, "Why did you do that to me?"
Roc sat down on the bed, "You may not realize it but I saved your life."
Kiyoko sat back down in her stool, "How's that?"
"You remember how they want to take Rinoa, Seifer and you in alive. Well, they don't want me. I saw Kitina running for the door I knew if I fought her I'd loose. I knew if we fought her we'd loose. If I'd lost she would have killed me and taken you back to black garden. I knew if she didn't see you she'd attack me and leave me for dead, that's why the diamond hawk put me into shock instead of sleep. She thought I was dead. That's the only reason I'm alive now."
"You knew her?"
"Think about it. When you found me I had those two metal strips around my shoulders. She was using some serious fire magic. She heated those things and bent them around me. With burning hot metal on my skin and the area where my wings appeared I couldn't transform. I was stuck as a human. The two trash cans lit on fire were to take the diamond hawk. How fast do you think she'd have to be to stop me in my full hawk body?"
"Faster then me."
"That's right. She would have done all that to me then seen you and hunted you down like an animal."
"I guess I can live with hair that smells like garbage if you saved my life."
* * * *
Seifer walked into a steam room labeled unisex. The steam was blinding. He saw a sign, men on the right, women on the left. Roc turned to the right and sat down against a wall. The room was large, divided down the middle by a wood sheet about six feet high, this was to allow men and women to sit in the same room without being able to see each other in their towels. Roc leaned against the wall, "I know you're here."
There was a female voice from the other side of the board, "I'm a star now. I've got to keep up my girlish figure."
"I could kill you right now and nobody would ever know about it."
There was laughter, "No you couldn't. you don' have your swords, if you did they'd be getting pretty hot right now, you wouldn't be able to hold them. That means you can only fight in full hawk and you're in a steam room. You wouldn't last five minutes without going into shock."
"That fire GF of yours wouldn't be able to do anything without blowing up half the spa. You'd be killed in the rubble. I don't think you brought your sword. Now that you're in the public eye you can't carry a katana into a public building."
"Why did you come here?"
"I wanted to see if that blond illusion of yours is really hiding Major Kitina Blade."
"I don't believe you. You want to see if I still know who you are."
"When we fought last night you took me down a notch. There's no shame in that. If you could bend those straps around my shoulders you've read my file and you know what I can do. That's all I ever was to you, a file."
Seifer cracked the door. He was about to ask if anyone was in the room. When he heard Roc and Kitina talking he hid behind the door. He listened.
"You were more than that. I don't suppose you stuck around long enough to know this but that's how somebody makes major. They get a project with their name on it. If the project works, that's your code name. Project diamond hawk was a huge success. It's a shame black SeeD didn't get to see the fruits of their labor."
"That's not what you said in Esther. I think you remember."
"So what if I do? You may have gone against us but you still have our GF and we're going to get it back one way or another."
"It'll be a cold day in hell before I put on a black SeeD uniform again."
"I don't know. Cold days in hot places are your specialty. By the way, what happened to your little kitten last night?"
"You know I won't answer that. I'll die before I let you have any of them. You can put me into a coma as many times as you want, I'll keep coming, and I won't stop until I bring down every one of you. You have my word on that."
"I can't wait. I will have the kitten, the sorceress and Seifer, over your dead body if I have to."
Roc got up to leave. He had issued his challenge, "By the way, what was your codename?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
* * * *
Irvine and Zell were talking to Kiyoko later that day, "listen, we're really sorry about earlier, Seifer and Raijin tricked us into walking into the ladies room. It wasn't our fault."
Kiyoko crossed her arms, "Yea, right."
"I'm serious, they've been trying to get at us for a while, even back when we were classmates."
"I suppose you didn't do anything to start this."
"No way! We were just minding out own business."
"I was talking to Roc. Did you know that the hot water pump in the hot tub is busted?"
Zell and Irvine exchanged glances, "Yea."
"I'm in. What can I do?"
* * * *
Kiyoko was holding an empty bottle of Pepsi and was using her claw like a coffee stir. The liquid inside was green, "This is something mother used to make. It's made for other felious because we have a higher resistance to alcohol. I think if we put it in someone's drink they should be able to survive. They'll just pass out for a little while."
"So it's a very old version of cat nip?"
"What's that?"
"Uh, nothing. Where did you get the supplies for this?"
"A few herbal remedies from the gift shop. I'll carry the bottle in. Remember, once we dump it we have to get rid of the bottle."
* * * *
Kiyoko, Zell and Irvine walked into the lunch room. Seifer and Raijin were celebrating a victory over two guys in the basketball court. Zell and Irvine grabbed treys and sat down on the other side of the table.
Seifer looked up, "What do you want chicken wuss?"
Zell gritted his teeth, "We were going to challenge you to a basketball game."
Seifer leaned back, "Sounds like fun. What's in it for us?"
"I donno. Let's say, a hundred gil."
"Or we could have some fun. If we win, maybe, you three walking through Balamb garden in those towels of yours."
Zell grinned, "If we win, you three can't make fun of us any more."
Seifer laughed, "Ah, is the chicken wuss getting angry? If it means that much to you it's a deal."
"Three on three. Zell, Kiyoko and me against you two and Fujin." Irvine looked up, "Hey Fujin."
Seifer and Raijin turned around for a moment. Kiyoko popped the cap and dumped some of the green liquid into Seifer's drink. Kiyoko sat the drink down on the table, "It's on."
"Seifer took a sip of his drink, "Only if Fujin agrees."
Fujin was standing behind Seifer, "WHAT?"
Seifer turned around, "Oh, a three on three basketball game. Us against them."
"FOR?"
"We win, they strip at Balamb, they win I can't make fun of the chicken wuss."
"BABY."
"That's just what I said."
Fujin picked up a bottle of pepsi sitting on the table. She chugged most of it. She set down an almost empty bottle on the table, "FINE."
Raijin picked up the bottle and finished it off, "Just say when."
The three stood up and left. Zell Irvine and Kiyoko were all looking at the bottle with the same expression, "With that much Fujin shouldn't be able to stand."
"Raijin's won't be able to talk straight, well, less straight."
The three saw the empty bottle of whatever the green cat nip was. They wall started laughing hysterically.
* * * *
After a few minutes Kiyoko and Zell were walking down the hall. They saw Seifer, Raijin and Fujin passed out on the floor. Zell was thinking to himself, "Ya know, it would be a terrible, terrible, terribly funny thin if we were to do something very evil to them while they were asleep."
Irvine crossed his arms, "I'm open to suggestions."
Zell grinned, "Let's throw them in the locker rooms."
Kiyoko grinned, "Let's mill them."
Zell and Irvine both stopped, "I think you're missing the point of a prank war." Zell grinned, "I've got an idea. Kiyoko, can you get Quistis's makeup kit?"
"No problem."
"Irvine, can you get two women's swim suits?"
"You have to ask?"
"Good. Meet in Seifer's room in a half-hour. First, we get these three back to their rooms. Once we do we meet in a half hour with our supplies."
* * * *
Zell stood in front of a large bed. Laying one the bed were Seifer wearing a blue two piece swimsuit and thick mascara with blush. Raijin had been given Selphie's pokadot bikini and a large helping of lipstick. Fujin had been given a black mask and Quistis's whip. Zell was winding up a one use camera he bought in the gift shop. Irvine and Kiyoko were standing in the corner of the room watching. Irvine chuckled, "We couldn't have done this without you Yoko."
Kiyoko was watching Seifer and Raijin, "Do all humans look like that?"
"Mostly."
Zell finished winding the camera, "Alright, before I snap this picture is everybody sure they don't mind a fist fight with Seifer once they wake up?"
Irvine grinned, "Yea yea, whatever. You're looking your magic hour."
Kiyoko grinned, "This has got to be the most messed up thing I've ever done."
As Zell was about to snap the picture the door to the room slid open. Zell dropped the camera as Squall and Rinoa walked into the room. Squall took one look at Seifer in his swimsuit and Zell with a stupid grin on his face, "We're boned."
Squall took the camera out of Zell's hands. He smashed it against the table, breaking it open, "We're supposed to be working with these three, not, not, what in the hell were you doing anyway?"
Irvine shrugged, "We just walked in here and found them laying like this. I guess this explains why Fujin is always beating Raijin like a rag doll."
The vein on Squall's head looked like it was about to burst, "With Quistis's makeup kit? Not likely. You three get out of here. We're having a meeting in my room in one hour. I'll wake them if I have to."
* * * *
Squall had gathered everyone in his room. Seifer, Fujin and Raijin who had been given their normal cloths were sitting on one side of the room while Kiyoko, Zell and Irvine were sitting at the other. Everyone else was sitting on one of the two beds. Squall started off, "First, we may have found the SeeD hideout in the city. We'll all storm the place tonight. First, Roc, I want to know everything you can about the woman you were fighting. Kitina Christian Blade I believe."
Roc sighed, "Back when I was living in my hometown I was being trained by one of the best sword masters around. Back then Kitina was my sparing partner. We'd known each other for a long time. After a few years I came back to my master's cabin to find the place had been torn apart. The master's star student had bee kidnapped. All he said was that they called themselves the black SeeD. They had seen the student fighting and they believed that his body could stand up to one of their experiments. Kitina took her saber and I took my sabers and we followed the black SeeD for a while. Once we found our comrade it was too late. He had been killed. We were captured and subjected to the experiments of the black SeeD as well. I was project Diamond Hawk. I am not sure what her code name was but she seemed to a metamorph."
Kiyoko was paying attention now, "Doesn't that mean she can change shapes?"
"Yes and no. You have seen me when I use my full hawk body. I loose my sword skills and use a slashing fighting style the diamond hawk is good at. It's not that I prefer one style to another, when I go full hawk I can't use my swords, I don't know how. His instincts overpower Xanna Hashedo's. The same way, when Kitina is using her powers she probably can't use her natural ability."
"What is her natural ability?"
"She is what you call a pyrokinetic. She can create and manipulate fire."
Zell was the first to speak up, "I thought in your mid hawk body you used your swords."
"That is correct. When Kitina goes what I'll call mid morph she can alter her shape slightly but keep her firepower. The problem is that she isn't limited to humans. I saw her become as much as half-animal in full morph and a fourth animal in mid morph. That is how she beat me last night. She took my wings, Kiyoko's long arms and legs and her own fire power and beat me senseless. By the way, if she used Kiyoko's legs that means that the black SeeD did enough of a study on you to know what you can do. If we fight Kitina I will have to rely on your help but I recommend that Rinoa Seifer and Kiyoko stay away and not be seen. If she defeats me she will take you without to much trouble."
Squall had an idea, "If we kill her she won't be able to lead us to black garden, wherever it is."
"You would have better luck tracking a single drop of water in the ocean. If she was to duck into a crowd for even a second she could vanish completely. Her team of SeeD cannot. This should be used to our advantage. She is at least a major in their higharchy and she is never alone."
Seifer was pondering this information, "Roc used to be a black SeeD, if the sword master is true then she must have his training. The experiments must be used to gain a certain rank. Interesting. I don't believe Roc is a spy, maybe a runaway, yes, that's it. What Kiyoko says is true, I don't think she knows any of this. I must keep a close eye on Roc in the coming fights. A single dodge or reaction from him could tell me for sure." Seifer's mind was razor sharp as always. "This should be interesting indeed."
* * * *
That night Squall had issued marching orders. Roc, Squall, Irvine and Selphie were to return to the abandoned TV station to try and figure out where the black garden was because there would be no way they'd use the same base after being discovered. Rinoa, Fujin and Raijin wound go through the city to try and find any information about the black SeeD's new base. Everyone else would remain at the hotel. There was no point in putting the three black SeeD's targets in danger. Seifer had Raijin and Fujin to protect him.
Squall and roc were standing on the roof of the station. Squall was looking through the window, "I don't see anybody. I think the coast is clear."
Roc was looking around, "I think we can get in without to much trouble."
"Listen. I'll take Selphie inside. Irvine can guard the doors. I want you to stay here on the roof."
"Why me?"
"Because you can put up the best fight against Kitina, that and you can move across the rooftops to get help if you have to."
"Alright but I'll be watching out for you."
* * * *
Squall and Selphie walked around the back stage area. Selphie was looking around at the old props collecting dust in the back. Squall was looking for anything the black SeeD might have left behind. Selphie's mind was wandering off, "I remember when I was young. I used to watch this station all the time."
Squall had knelt down, "Will you shut up. Someone could still be around." Squall picked up a matchbook with a symbol on the front, "I don't recognize the sign. It's a city that could be almost anywhere."
Squall felt someone breathing on his neck. He spun around, it was only Selphie, "What did you find?"
Squall sighed, "Why did I ask you to come in with me? I forgot?"
"What?"
"Nothing. It's a matchbook. I don't know the symbol."
Selphie looked at it, "With the tower in the back it looks like Winhill."
Squall saw what she was talking about, "Oh. I guess I know what our next stop is."
Squall heard something move in the corner. He stood up and drew his gun blade, "What was that?"
"What was what?"
Squall lunged at the noise. He tore through a set of curtains. Standing there was a single black SeeD agent. Squall pinned him to a wall, "What are you doing here?"
The agent was silent. Squall gritted his teeth, he had forgotten one of the rules Seifer had given him about black SeeD, they never give information. Squall was struck down by a small fire spell. Ifrit seemed to have taken most of it. Squall was still on the ground, unarmed with four black SeeD standing over him. Squall saw Selphie with the fifth black SeeD holding her against the wall. Selphie appeared to be in no position to help.
Squall looked at one of his black SeeD captors, "I suppose you used the back door."
Squall heard a male voice, "Don't answer that. He's probably got people covering the exits." There were footsteps, "Hold him face down. I don't want him to see my face."
One of the black SeeD tugged Squall's hair and banged his face into the ground, "I'll only ask once, where is project Diamond Hawk?"
Squall didn't answer. The voice continued, "Alright then. I want the feleus, tell me where she is and I'll let you live."
Squall chuckled, "I've taken a few lessons from you losers. I don't give information."
"It doesn't really matter about the sorceress, or Seifer for that matter. We've got them cornered at the hotel."
Squall looked up, "What?"
"You heard me. He's no good to us. Kill him, get the whiney girl too."
Selphie was struggling to break free but the SeeD holding her down was too strong. Selphie was thinking, "Whiny? I don't wine!" Selphie's eyes turned blue, a spell came to mind, "No more mister nice guy! No more mister clean ! Meteor, triple hitter!" Three rocks appeared above Selphie's head. One of them caught fire and struck the SeeD holding her down in the back, he was dead. Selphie's arms spread apart. The other two rocks swirled around. She waved her hand at the other SeeD standing around Squall. Selphie dropped two of them just above Squall's head. Selphie cried, "Duck! Squall slid to the side narrowly missing two black SeeD who were swinging at him. "Big bang!" The two meteors exploded blinding all four SeeD. Squall drew his gun blade and executed the blinded SeeD.
Squall slid the matchbook into his pocket. "Where did he go?"
"Who?"
"The one who was asking me questions. He must have run off when you used a break."
"I didn't even get to see his face. I think he ran toward the stage."
* * * *
Squall and Selphie ran onto the stage area with their weapons drawn. It was no surprise that thirty black SeeD were waiting for them. Squall raised his weapon, "Where's your boss? Didn't he have the nerve to stay and fight?"
There was a loud scream from above. The glass roof shattered. Squall and Selphie ducked for cover and Roc dove to the ground in full hawk with nearly fifty pounds of glass shards around him. He wasn't slowing down. Squall and Selphie draped a part of the curtain over their heads. Squall was just able to look up to see Roc's wings flair open. Roc slowed down in the air. He watched the glass hit the ground. None of the black SeeD were without injury. Cuts and glass shards lined their faces. In a single moment Roc dropped to mid hawk and landed. His body shrunk and he drew his swords, "Squall! He went through the back door! Irvine won't be able to handle him alone! Go help, I'll deal with them."
Selphie struck a pose with her weapon, "I can help!"
A sharper deeper voice replied, "GO!!!"
* * * *
Squall kicked down the door leading outside. He and Selphie jumped out ready to fight another man GF. Squall lowered his weapon when he saw Irvine sitting in a chair polishing his gun, 'Anything wrong?"
Squall groaned, "Didn't he come out this way?"
"Nope. It's just you."
Squall relaxed, "He got away but we got what we came from. I found a matchbook left by one of the black SeeD. It's from Winhill."
"You think black garden is out in the country?"
"Yes."
Selphie remembered what the one black SeeD had said, "Didn't he say something about the others being cornered at the hotel? Isn't that where we left Rinoa and Kiyoko?"
"You two get back to the hotel, I'll help Roc." Squall drew his weapon and ran back inside.
Selphie was a little surprised, "Shouldn't we be worried about him?"
"Nah."
* * * *
Back at the hotel Kiyoko and Zell were in the middle of a card game. Zell had just dropped a SAM08G in the corner of the board. Kiyoko was grinning ear to ear. She placed a Grand Mantis card above the SAM08G. She turned over that card as well as the Belhelmel card in the top left corner, "Same rule!"
Zell groaned and leaned back in the chair, "The same rule doesn't apply here! We use plus."
"Five plus five is ten. Ten is the same as ten."
"You can't have the same numbers together like that! Then it would be the same rule."
"Ten is the same as ten!"
"If you, oh hell. Quistis, you're king, can you help?"
Quistis walked over and looked at Zell's cards, then Kiyoko's cards. She pointed to an empty square, "Play the Hexadragon there." Zell put down his hexidragon down. He flipped Kiyoko's Grand mantis.
Quistis walked over to Kiyoko's side, "Put Grendel there."
Kiyoko put the final card down. She flipped Hexidragon, SAM08G and three other cards of Zell's. Kiyoko threw her hands up in celebration, "We were using the all rule! I win!"
Quistis grinned, "That's how the plus rule works."
Zell groaned and gave Kiyoko his cards, "Man, I got screwed."
There was a knock at the door, "Room service."
Kiyoko and Seifer were sitting in the living room. Quistis got up to answer the door. Zell turned his attention to Seifer, "What cards do you have?"
"You actually think I have a deck?"
"I figure it's got to be boring running with Fujin and Raijin. One can't talk much and the other won't shut up."
Seifer pulled out five cards. He was holding Bahamut, Alexander, Quezaciol, Odin and Cerberus. Zell groaned, "Hey, Kiyoko, he looks about your level."
Kiyoko was looking over Seifer's shoulder, "Where did you get all those?"
"There's always some dumb ass soldier carrying a deck and I've killed my share of soldiers back in Ester and that's where half the big cards come from."
There was a loud crash. Quistis fell back and dropped to the ground. She reached up to try and grab the man catcher that was resting on the table. There was a loud noise caused by three guns cocking at once.
From the bedroom Zell had already put on the wolf claw. He hid behind the corner waiting for one of them to get close enough. Zell held one finger over his lips. He had a sedestic grin on his face. Kiyoko's claws came out of her fingers and she was in a crouched pose ready to pounce on something.
Quistis saw Zell waiting. She reached for her pocket, "Seifer and Kiyoko are in the next room. I have the key card."
One of the black SeeD stepped forward. Zell was standing against the wall. He saw the black SeeD's gun. That was it. Zell put his two fists together. He spun around and brought his fists down on the gun. He jabbed the black SeeD in the face with his elbow. As he fell back his gun flew into the air. Zell grabbed the gun with his right hand and the black SeeD's collar with his left hand. He spun the black SeeD around and put his arm around the black SeeD's throat. Now Zell had cover. He unloaded half the clip at the two black SeeD. Once the two black SeeD had fallen he snapped the other's neck.
Zell turned back to Quistis, "What happened? I heard a gunshot."
"I was standing by the table. When I realized who was coming in I took the flower vase on the table and threw it at them. When one of them fired a warning shot the glass shattered in midair. The bullet wouldn't have hit me anyway."
Quistis picked up her whip and pressed the button that dropped the stinger, "They travel in fives, there are two left."
Zell clenched his fist, "Bring 'em on."
"If Kitina is with them we could be in trouble."
There was a loud crash from down the hall. The door was still open. Zell and Quistis looked around the room, "There's more than five in that party. Sounds more like fifty."
Seifer looked out the window, "There's a group of ten in the parking lot but we're five stories up. We wouldn't survive the fall."
Kiyoko sniffed the air, "Kitina isn't anywhere near here." Kiyoko's ears perked up, "There's someone barking orders. I can't hear a name but someone just called him project huntsman."
"A hunter GF. We don't have a choice."
Seifer stood just inside the door, "Honestly, if you want to know something you look." Seifer stepped into hallway. There were about thirty gunshots. Seifer dove back inside, "Seventy is more like it. Just a damn minute. They want me alive, why would they be shooting at me?"
Kiyoko sniffed again, "The air in here smells funny."
Quistis's eyes widened, "They're not coming in, they must have pumped something into the air vent. Think about it. The black SeeD have been staying here for two days, how long would it take to rig the air ducts? We've got to get out of here, now."
Seifer aimed his gun blade at the window, "To hell with all of you. Stay and die if you want, the night is calling, I have to go. Fire!" Seifer's gun blew a fireball at the window which shattered on impact. "I think I could survive the fall with the right spells."
Zell pointed to the window, "That won't be necessary. Shiva, I need you!" Zell's body was engulfed by ice. Shiva, the queen of ice appeared over Zell's head, "We need a bridge leading down to the courtyard."
Zell pushed his hand toward the window. Shiva copied his movements. A spray of ice formed over the hole in the wall. Zell dropped both hands. A slide made of ice appeared. Quistis saw the other end touch the ground, "Will this thing be here once you recall Shiva?"
"Da hell if I know."
Quistis stood against the window, "One way to find out." Quistis dropped and landed on the slide. Zell and Kiyoko followed.
Seifer cocked his gun. Zell stopped, "What are you doing?"
"I'll hold them off."
"Bull shit! There are like seventy of em. You'll never make it!"
"Go!" Zell let go of the wall and slid down to the ground.
Seifer stood straight. His gun blade was firmly gripped in both hands, "Bring it on." The crosses on Seifer's coat glowed red.
* * * *
Zell had just landed in the parking lot. He looked back to see the three upper floors of the hotel explode. Bits of fire and twisted metal flew everywhere. Zell swung around and dove on Kiyoko. Quistis stood back and crossed her arms over her face.
Zell stood up, "What did he do?"
"I think he just wiped out the black SeeD population in Timber."
A confused Kiyoko stood up, "All our stuff was in there and why did you tackle me?" Kiyoko punched Zell lightly in the arm."
"I saw shrapnel, someone could have gotten hit."
Kiyoko was blushing, "Oh."
Quistis held up one hand to cover her eyes from the firelight, "You know Squall's going to have a heart attack."
Quistis saw a single figure hitting the ground. He stood up and brushed off his coat, "Damn, when that Alexander attacks, he attacks."
Quistis was ready to turn the man catcher on Seifer, "Oh to hell with it. We'd better tell Squall what happened."
Seifer tied his gun blade to his belt, "Nope, I think everyone in the city saw that. Besides, I think a few of 'em got away along with that project huntsman, whoever he was. We should go after them."
Zell was also shielding his eyes, "In this mess? Forget it. Let's just head back to the old TV station. I'm sure Squall is working on a speech to yell at us."
* * * *
Squall Irvine and Selphie were running back to the hotel. As they rounded the corner they saw the gigantic explosion. Squall more than ready to panic until he saw Seifer jump out of the exploding building. Squall and Irvine were instantly running. If Seifer got away he could have turned on Quistis. If that had happened Squall and Seifer would fight and there would be only one survivor.
Squall and Irvine stopped when they saw Quistis, Kiyoko and Zell watching the fire. Squall had to stop and catch his breath, "What happened?"
"We were ambushed. There were like a hundred black SeeD and the room was filling with some kind of gas. When I used Shiva to get us out Seifer here blew up the building to cover our escape."
Seifer grinned, "I must thank you for letting me have Alexander. My kind of GF."
Squall gritted his teeth, "You know you're paying for this." That was more of a statement than a request. "I found a matchbook from Whinhill. If one of the black SeeD dropped it that's probably where they've been. We'll head there next."
Seifer chuckled, "Kitina must read detective novels. You honestly think a well-organized team like the black SeeD would be dumb enough to leave behind such an obvious clue? I think it was a decoy."
* * * *
Fujin and Raijin were sitting in the bar. Rinoa was trying not to look nervous. Raijin was holding a can of miller, "There are two black SeeD watching us, ya know?"
Fujin slammed a bottle of whisky, "YES."
"You want me to take them out, ya know?"
"WAIT."
Rinoa was looking over her shoulder, "I don't see anyone."
Raijin grinned, "I saw them on the way in, ya know."
"Oh. Why aren't we starting a bar fight? I thought that's what you two do?"
"OVERKILL."
Raijin leaned on the bar, "We can just walk outside and they'll ambush us, ya know. That's when we start fighting, ya know. Just let us finish our drinks, ya know?"
* * * *
Rinoa walked outside. She was looking for some fresh air after the stuffy bar. She slumped her shoulders when she realized that the alley wasn't much better. Raijin cracked his knuckles, "I think I saw him go out this way, ya know."
Rinoa was confused, "What are you talking about? I didn't…" Rinoa was stopped by Fujin and Raijin both putting their fingers over their lips.
Five black SeeD dropped from the roof of the bar and drew swords, "Where do you think you're going?"
Rinoa and Fujin drew their blade wheels. Raijin took a fighting stance, "You don't know who you're messing with, ya know."
Fujin threw her blade wheel straight at one of the black SeeD. Raijin rushed the black SeeD. The second one of them dodged the blade wheel Raijin was right there to drive a punch home. Rinoa had been training with her new weapon. She had adapted a swinging fighting style with the weapon. One of the black SeeD came at her, "Sorceress, you are under arrest for crimes against the species. By order of black Garden you will be taken into custody."
Rinoa grabbed the handle in the center of the northern light. She swung he arm around knocking the sword from the black SeeD's hand. She whirled around, on the next pass she brought her right leg up and kicked the black SeeD in the face. The next pass her blade slit his throat.
There was one black SeeD left. He had been disarmed and was barely able to stand. Fujin was about to kill him. Rinoa's eyes glowed blue, "Wait. Raijin, hold him up." Rinoa put her hands on his face, "Mind scan." A magic star appeared around Rinoa. Her eyes blue, then gold. The SeeD's eyes glowed gold in response. Rinoa gritted her teeth, "Tell me or I will rip it from your mind."
"I think she's doing that thing where she evolves magic spells, ya know."
"MINDSCAN?"
The black SeeD fell dead and Rinoa fell back. Raijin picked her up.
Fujin groaned, "EXPLAIN."
"You know the scan spell? The one that lets you see your opponent's skills and weaknesses. I called Adel's powers and about twenty scan spells I held in reserve changed into a mind scan. I don't even know how I did it."
"What did you find out, ya know?"
"All I could get was that they traveled here from FH."
"FH."
"I guess that's where we go next, ya know."
"Better tell Squall."
* * * *
The next day everyone moke up in the small hotel on the other side of Timber. Everyone had been confined to two rooms and they had no luggage left. All they had were their cloths and their weapons. That morning the eleven were sitting in the lobby eating doughnuts. Squall was sitting on the couch with a glass of orange juice, "Last night I found a matchbook on the floor of the theater. One of the black SeeD must have dropped it. I say we head there next."
Seifer wasn't eating, "I can't believe you're still harping on about that stupid match book. They probably dropped it on purpose to make you head the wrong way. I'll bet there's a black SeeD task force waiting for you to walk into town."
Zell swallowed half a doughnut, "You got a better idea? If you hadn't been such a trigger happy ass hole we'd be back in the spa right now."
"Don't talk with your mouth full chicken wuss. Hell, don't talk at all. Rinoa read one of the black SeeD's minds. Talk to her."
Rinoa was eating a bowl of frosted flakes, "The seed had just come back from FH. We should try there next."
Squall rolled his eyes, "I know. If a black SeeD doesn't give information do you think they wouldn't have some defense against mind probing?"
Quistis was eating an apple, "There aren't any spells for mind probing, until now."
"I still think we should go to Winhill."
Seifer was getting annoyed, "Listen to your girlfriend, she's trying to tell you that you got fooled."
Squall took two steps toward Seifer, "Why don't you mind your own business?"
"Sorry, I'm just trying to stand up for Rinoa, someone sure has to. Can't you see you've been tricked?"
Selphie butted in, "I hear the weather in Winhill is nice this time of year."
"SHUT UP!" Squall and Seifer both yelled at once.
Squall gritted his teeth and reached for his gun blade. Fujin and Raijin both stood up at once. Seifer waved them back as he stood up himself. He was right in Squall's face, "I seem to recall us promising not to fight each other until the black are dead. I've been good to my word. Are you?"
Squall took a step back, "I'm a little tired of you. One more word about Rinoa and I send you to the black SeeD gift wrapped."
Seifer crossed his arms, "I'm just putting my two cents in."
Squall sat back down, "Fine. Take a vote. There are eleven of us, that doesn't leave room for a tie."
Rinoa was first, "From what I saw it's FH." Not much surprise here, Rinoa saw the vision first hand. Squall obviously chose Winhill while Seifer agreed with Rinoa.
Selphie grinned, "I think Winhill would be a great place for a hide out."
Squall was repressing the urge to yell for her to shut up again. Irvine stood up next, "Who could say no to this pretty face? Winhill it is."
Kiyoko had her arms crossed. She was thinking, "I could." All she said was, "I think it's FH."
Raijin spoke up, "I think Seifer's on to something, ya know. I think we should go to FH, ya know."
Fujin nodded, "FH."
Quistis shrugged, "Squall's lead us right before, Winhill."
Zell nodded, "It's gotta be Winhill."
Roc crossed his arms, everyone was listening to him, "If the black SeeD are after Rinoa that's all the more reason to take her visions seriously. FH."
It was settled. Six votes for FH, five for Winhill. Seifer noticed Roc, "If he's a black SeeD he'd know where black garden is. If he's still loyal to them then he's lying we're heading into a trap. If he's on our side FH is the right direction and he just proved himself. Interesting."
* * * *
Squall was making a long distance call in the pay phone at Timber station, "Two Hours? All right. We'll be just outside the city. Hotel. No, don't look for the new spa. We sort of blew it up. Xu? Are you still there? WAKE UP DAMNIT!"
Zell and Irvine were reading the new issue of girl next door. They both looked up when Squall started yelling into the phone. Squall calmed down when there was an answer, "What? Fainted you say. I don't blame you."
Quistis and Kiyoko were sitting across a bench playing cards. Bot hands were laid out on the bench and Quistis was giving advice. Squall leaned against the wall, "I'd love to take the train but I wasn't carrying enough cash to get that many tickets. This will help us out a lot."
Selphie and Rinoa were talking about an issue of seventeen. Selphie began giggling wildly, "A three of twenty? That's bad."
Squall rolled his eyes, "I'll deal with the science department. Just bring it." Squall hung up the phone, "Alright. She'll be here inside of two hours. We'll meet near the river just north of here. Xu is supposed to have the Ragnarok, we shouldn't have to ride in the trains anymore." There was a light applause, "They also have a change of cloths."
Irvine and Zell threw their magazines in the air, "Hell yea!"
* * * *
Everyone was sitting on the beach north of Timber. So far there were no black SeeD in the area. Squall had instructed that they leave through the west exit. He wanted to give the black SeeD the idea that he had fallen for their trick and were heading to Winhill. Zell was skipping stones into the water. Kiyoko snuck up behind him, "Wanna win your cards back?"
Zell jumped, "Oh, uh, yea."
"I've been getting lessons from Quistis, you don't have to help me anymore."
Zell cracked his knuckles, "Alright. What rules are we playing?"
Kiyoko tried to remember, "Same, combo, random and," she paused for effect, "Sudden death."
Zell shuffled thirty cards, "Done." Zell drew five cards, "God…, uh, cool, a good hand."
Kiyoko shuffled, "Oh look, my hexidragon."
Zell gritted his teeth, "You mean my hexidragon."
* * * *
Roc was lying on the sand with his coat off and his swords sitting on the ground. There was a loud humming sound then a large wind. Roc opened his eyes. The Ragnarok was hovering over the lake. Roc groaned as he got up, "Is she going to land or am I going to have to fly up?"
A platform dropped from the back of the Ragnarok. It landed on the ground.
Zell slapped down his last card, "Now I gotcha!"
Kiyoko grinned, she held up her last card and dropped the hexidragon in the corner of the board, "Same rule! Two threes and two fours." Kiyoko flipped over four cards. Zell put a Bite bug in the lower left corner of the board, "Damnit. I didn't see that."
Kiyoko picked up the deck, "All rule! I get your five cards."
"We were using the __ rule. You get how ever many cards you beat me by."
Kiyoko counted, "Six cards please!"
Zell grumbled, "All rule it is."
Kiyoko danced around, "I won! I won! I won!"
Roc looked down at her, making a total fool out of herself, "You won a bite bug, two buels, a tonberry and a red bat. What in the hell are you celebrating?"
"I got to keep the hexidragon!"
Zell groaned, "That rips it. No more random rule."
Squall was standing on the platform, "Finished, or do you two want to have a splash fight in the lake?"
Kiyoko knew she was being scolded, "Only if you think we have time."
* * * *
The platform was slowly lifting off the ground. Kiyoko looked over the edge, she could see most of Timber, "Hey, they finally put out that fire in the spa. What do you think happened to Miss swim… uh, Kitina?"
Roc crossed his arms, "I hope she got caught in the blast."
Seifer grinned, "At least I'm not the only one who can appreciate the value of a good explosion."
Squall punched three numbers on the control panel standing on a three legged stand in the corner of the platform. Xu's face appeared on the screen. She was sitting in the control chair with her feet propped up on the control panel eating a candy bar, "Oh, uh." She quickly swallowed and threw the candy bar over her shoulder, "Squall, SeeD inspector second class Xu reporting for duty."
Squall leaned against the panel, "At ease. I'm just glad you got here as fast as you did. Any news from Balamb?"
"Not really. By the way, the science department is working on a speech to give you when you get back. They saw they're going to publish it when they get done."
"Wonderful." Squall said sarcastically, "I'll but ear plugs in FH. Seriously, has it been confirmed that the black SeeD have set up a base in FH?"
Xu typed something on the keyboard. Her face shifted to a smaller screen in the corner. Several reports appeared on the screen, "What you are seeing are all police reports filed in the last seventy two hours from FH, observe."
Thirty three reports appeared on the screen in small boxes. Several words on each report were highlighted and blown up, "Men wearing black. Attackers dressed in black. Struck down by five men wearing black. Wearing black with badge of a skull with vines growing from the eyes." There was at least one reference on every report, "Seventy two mentions of black SeeD. Get the picture?"
Squall looked back and Seifer and Rinoa, "Yea, I get it. Could you look up police reports in Winhill?"
Another screen came up, "Three police reports filed, petty theft, vandalism and," She paused as the final report came up on the screen, "disturbing the peace."
"We're bound for FH." Squall switched off the monitor.
* * * *
The sun was setting. Squall checked the fuel reserves. They were almost full. Squall picked up the speaker, "Attention, we will be staying the night in the Ragnarok. There will be three night shifts. We should land in FH tomorrow morning." Squall shifted the Ragnarok back to auto pilot, "We could all use a good night sleep."
Squall walked past Irvine in the hallway, "You're on first watch and for crying out loud, don't invite Selphie to stay up past her bed time."
Irvine tipped his hat, "Sure thing Squall. I guess not everyone knows Selphie like I do." Irvine walked into the cockpit and sat down in the drivers seat, "Computer, are we in range to pick up radio stations from Balamb?"
"Negative."
"Television stations?"
"Negative."
Irvine groaned, "I should have asked Zell to fill in."
* * * *
That night Irvine was asleep at the helm. The autopilot was working and everything was functioning normally. There was a loud crash. Irvine fell out of his seat as red lights started flashing. Irvine jumped back into his seat and put his hat back on, "Computer, what happened?"
"Intruder alert! Hull breach!"
Irvine began punching keys on the keyboard, "Internal defenses, activate!"
"Negative. Internal defenses inactive. Hull breach."
Irvine cocked his gun, "You said that already. Where?"
"Hull breach on rear port."
Irvine picked up the microphone, "Everybody up! Black SeeD on the main deck. Squall, get your ass up here, now!"
Irvine ran to the door, "Computer, resume auto pilot, signal if there anything appears on the radar."
"Beep. Radar detecting enemy ship on port side. Intentions hostile."
Irvine punched the wall, "Damnit. Computer, kill auto pilot." Irvine jumped over the back of the chair put both hands on the wheel, "Begin artificial gravity. If I'm going to do evasive actions I don't want Squall being tossed around."
* * * *
Squall and Quistis stood in front of the door to the main deck, "We need a plan."
Quistis uncoiled her whip, "How long can they stay there? There should be a vacuum at this height."
"We assume if they knew where to punch a hole in the ship they know to wear oxygen masks. We've got to seal that hole."
"Squall punched a wall panel, "Irvine! What the hell's going on?"
There was a faint response, "Sorry Squall. I'm just as confused as you. I activated artificial gravity. That means the ship thinks we're still in outer space. It should begin to close the hole in no time."
"With what?"
There was a loud beeping, "This bucket has emergency armor. It should be dropping over the damaged sector…" There was a loud clang from the other side, "now. Judging by the external cameras I just cut the line to their ship. There are about ten black SeeD inside. I'll deal with the ship."
Squall punched the wall panel again, "Out." Squall walked up to the door, "Let's go. We've got to do this quick, while they're still dazed."
* * * *
Squall and Quistis stood on the balcony. The black SeeD were regrouping and loading their weapons. Squall jumped over the rail and landed on the lower deck. He got up and ran at the black SeeD. He had already killed two of them by the time the others had seen him. Quistis had walked down the stairs and was whipping three black SeeD. Squall had just disarmed one more of the black SeeD when the door to the crew quarters swung open. Squall turned his attention away from the black SeeD, "Who could that be?"
Roc ran out of the door in full hawk. Rinoa wasn't far behind. Squall swung around and finished the black SeeD, "Rinoa! Get back! Don't get involved in this fight."
One of the black SeeD looked up, "Rinoa? That's all I need to know. I am project huntsman, you are under arrest."
The SeeD's face began to change. He grew a short beard, longer hair and his eyes turned black. He put his gun back in the sheath and pulled out a crossbow. Roc's eyes widened, "Huntsman?"
The huntsman raised his crossbow and fired one shot. Roc was diving in front of Rinoa. When Roc saw huntsman he realized that the bow was aimed to high. As Roc looked up he saw Kiyoko dive from the balcony with an arrow in her left shoulder. Roc gritted his teeth, "Kiyoko! Oh that's it. Nobody messes with Kiyoko while I draw breath! Diamond Rage!" Roc let out a single scream. The crystals all over his body grew longer and sharper. His body glowed white. Roc's fists closed as the blades on his hands expanded to two feet in length. Roc pushed both hands forward. A burst of light blew from his eyes. For a moment his form rippled back to that as a human as the white beam changed shape into a hawk.
Huntsman slapped a new arrow into his crossbow. He put a metal bracelet around his wrist, "I won't die alone." He fired one arrow at Squall. Squall didn't have time to dodge, he held up his hand in an effort to guard. Squall hadn't realized that the arrow had a hook and that there was a string tied around his arm now.
Roc's Diamond rage hit the huntsman square in the chest. He was blown back. He swung around and fired a large arrow at the hull. The arrow exploded on impact. Huntsman flew out the hole and took Squall with him.
Rinoa was running up to the hole in the hull. Squall was barely hanging on to a loose steel beam. Rinoa cast a wind spell because the vacuum was sucking all the air out of the ship. Squall looked back to see the huntsman climbing back up. Squall's eyes narrowed and he let go.
Roc handed Kiyoko to Quistis, "She's been poisoned. That arrow was tainted. Get her out if here!"
Quistis threw Kiyoko over one shoulder, 'What about you?"
Roc turned from human to full hawk, "I'm going after huntsman."
"What? That's crazy!" The door slammed in front of Quistis. Roc and Rinoa were sealed inside.
Rinoa was focusing energy. She felt a presence behind her, "You should get to safety Rinoa."
"I'm going after Squall."
"Good. Once you do swing around and pick me up."
Roc dove out the hole in the ship. His ice beak sealed creating a pocket of air. Roc gritted his teeth, "You will not escape. Roc went into a dive.. He passed Squall who had spread his arms and legs to try to slow his fall. As Roc passed Squall he cut the rope holding him to the huntsman. Roc winked as he passed. Squall probably didn't see the gustier but now it was simple. Rinoa could save Squall without too much trouble. Roc could take on the huntsman by himself.
Rinoa followed Roc out the hole. She swung around just as the armor covered the hole. Now it was time for Rinoa's little secret weapon, "Siren, I need you."
Rinoa stopped falling. The siren had appeared behind her. Her strong arms grabbed Rinoa. She breathed a sigh of relief, "No, save Squall! He's still falling."
Rinoa felt herself falling again. She was getting closer to Squall, "If I catch him I will drop you."
"I'll be fine. Adel! Where are you?" A ring of light appeared below Rinoa. As she passed through the ring she yelled, "Super twister!" A massive whirlwind formed around Rinoa. She was being lifted. Siren had snatched Squall without too much trouble. Rinoa focused causing the twister to go up, "Back to the ship with Squall. We've got to get in before they close the armor."
* * * *
Huntsman looked up, "Following me out the air lock? Not to smart really." Huntsman fired three arrows at Roc.
Roc quickly dodged. After the third arrow he had enough momentum to swing downward and catch the huntsman. Roc put the pressure on his left wing, he dove at an angel and caught huntsman in his talon, and "I can save you I want to know what you did to Kiyoko!"
Huntsman crossed his arms, "Being a black SeeD you should know that I don't give information."
"I am not a black SeeD."
"Bull shit." Huntsman picked up a small two way radio, "I've got him. Send the ship." Huntsman wrapped both hands around Roc's chest, "You honestly think I wasn't informed about you?"
Roc's eyes widened, "This was a set up? To get to me?"
"Black SeeD never tell."
Roc turned back to mid hawk, "Go to hell."
"You first."
Roc saw what appeared to be two black SeeD wearing jump suits. Roc had seen the design used by Galbadia Garden during their legendary battle with Balamb garden. Roc didn't think black garden had the technology for it. The two swooped overhead, "Unlike you, they have the ability to climb in a state of free fall. You need a high place to dive from. Didn't you think that you couldn't get back to the Ragnarok once you jumped off?"
"I…I…I didn't…"
The two black SeeD dropped a net between them. Roc and huntsman were caught, "Cut the rope and you will perish. By the black Garden you are under arrest for aiding criminals, treason against black garden, deserting and murder in the first."
* * * *
Rinoa had just gotten a very dazed Squall back inside the air lock. She collapsed once Siren disappeared. The air lock opened and Irvine ran in. He and Selphie picked up Squall as Quistis and Zell picked up Rinoa, "Up you go."
Squall's eyes were barely open, "What in the hell happened?"
"Don't you worry about that. Let's just be thankful that you're alive and that the black SeeD ship is pulling away."
"Rinoa?"
"Just fine. A little tired out though. Using that magic trick of hers with a GF out is pretty tricky."
"Roc?"
Selphie and Rinoa were standing outside a large freezer. Every now and then Rinoa wiped the fog off the glass and looked inside. Roc was lying on the floor with frost covering his body. "I still want to know what happened to him to do that much damage."
Selphie was on her tip toes trying to see inside, "It's kind of creepy. He's just lying there. Are you sure it was a good idea to put him in there after we dumped him in the bath tub. He'll catch a cold."
Rinoa was sitting against the door, "I don't think he minds the cold. Besides, we want him awake as soon as possible."
"I heard you did a really new spell last night."
"Rinoa leaned back against the door, "Oh, that. I think it was called a blast flair. I was trying to channel Adel's powers. You remember back when we had to evolve magic, five fires turn into a fira. Fifteen firages turn into a flare. I think Adel made me evolve my magic to the next level. It was strange. When I was using my powers this ring appeared around me on the floor. I don't know why but I think it was a summoning ring."
"Summoning ring?"
"Yea. In ancient times people believed people could use these rings to call guardian forces but it was a myth."
There was a loud banging sound from the other side of the door. Rinoa stood up as Selphie looked through the glass window. Roc in full hawk was staring back at her. Selphie was a little startled. Rinoa opened the door and let Roc out. He was covered with frost along with his usual ice shell. Roc folded his wings and walked through the doorway. He brushed off the frost, "May I assume that Kiyoko told you how to bring me back after I was defeated by Kitina?"
Rinoa brushed the ice off Roc's shoulder, "Yea, and I'd keep my distance. Kiyoko's been mad as a hornet since you dumped her in the trash dumpster. She's been trying to wash the smell out of her hair for a while now."
"Kiyoko's senses are far beyond that of a human. She may still be able to smell garbage while others don't. That and she gets really prissy when someone messes with her hair. It's almost embarrassing. I'd better talk to her before she does something crazy."
* * * *
Roc walked into the hotel room Quistis and Kiyoko shared. After Seifer had gotten his room Kiyoko had been given the chance to change roommates. Kiyoko was sitting in a chair combing out her hair. She was only wearing a towel. She saw Roc enter the room. He dropped his ice body and shrank down. Kiyoko stood up and whirled around, "Rocky, you're awake!"
Kiyoko ran over and gave Roc a hug. Roc rolled his eyes but finding no way to escape Kiyoko's death grip he accepted his fate and put his arm around her, "How long have I been out."
Kiyoko pulled back a little, "I was going to give you something."
Roc was a little weirder out, "What's that?" Roc got punched in the face.
"That's for dumping me in the garbage dumpster!" Roc rubbed the bruise on his cheek. Kiyoko had her arms crossed, "Why did you do that to me?"
Roc sat down on the bed, "You may not realize it but I saved your life."
Kiyoko sat back down in her stool, "How's that?"
"You remember how they want to take Rinoa, Seifer and you in alive. Well, they don't want me. I saw Kitina running for the door I knew if I fought her I'd loose. I knew if we fought her we'd loose. If I'd lost she would have killed me and taken you back to black garden. I knew if she didn't see you she'd attack me and leave me for dead, that's why the diamond hawk put me into shock instead of sleep. She thought I was dead. That's the only reason I'm alive now."
"You knew her?"
"Think about it. When you found me I had those two metal strips around my shoulders. She was using some serious fire magic. She heated those things and bent them around me. With burning hot metal on my skin and the area where my wings appeared I couldn't transform. I was stuck as a human. The two trash cans lit on fire were to take the diamond hawk. How fast do you think she'd have to be to stop me in my full hawk body?"
"Faster then me."
"That's right. She would have done all that to me then seen you and hunted you down like an animal."
"I guess I can live with hair that smells like garbage if you saved my life."
* * * *
Seifer walked into a steam room labeled unisex. The steam was blinding. He saw a sign, men on the right, women on the left. Roc turned to the right and sat down against a wall. The room was large, divided down the middle by a wood sheet about six feet high, this was to allow men and women to sit in the same room without being able to see each other in their towels. Roc leaned against the wall, "I know you're here."
There was a female voice from the other side of the board, "I'm a star now. I've got to keep up my girlish figure."
"I could kill you right now and nobody would ever know about it."
There was laughter, "No you couldn't. you don' have your swords, if you did they'd be getting pretty hot right now, you wouldn't be able to hold them. That means you can only fight in full hawk and you're in a steam room. You wouldn't last five minutes without going into shock."
"That fire GF of yours wouldn't be able to do anything without blowing up half the spa. You'd be killed in the rubble. I don't think you brought your sword. Now that you're in the public eye you can't carry a katana into a public building."
"Why did you come here?"
"I wanted to see if that blond illusion of yours is really hiding Major Kitina Blade."
"I don't believe you. You want to see if I still know who you are."
"When we fought last night you took me down a notch. There's no shame in that. If you could bend those straps around my shoulders you've read my file and you know what I can do. That's all I ever was to you, a file."
Seifer cracked the door. He was about to ask if anyone was in the room. When he heard Roc and Kitina talking he hid behind the door. He listened.
"You were more than that. I don't suppose you stuck around long enough to know this but that's how somebody makes major. They get a project with their name on it. If the project works, that's your code name. Project diamond hawk was a huge success. It's a shame black SeeD didn't get to see the fruits of their labor."
"That's not what you said in Esther. I think you remember."
"So what if I do? You may have gone against us but you still have our GF and we're going to get it back one way or another."
"It'll be a cold day in hell before I put on a black SeeD uniform again."
"I don't know. Cold days in hot places are your specialty. By the way, what happened to your little kitten last night?"
"You know I won't answer that. I'll die before I let you have any of them. You can put me into a coma as many times as you want, I'll keep coming, and I won't stop until I bring down every one of you. You have my word on that."
"I can't wait. I will have the kitten, the sorceress and Seifer, over your dead body if I have to."
Roc got up to leave. He had issued his challenge, "By the way, what was your codename?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
* * * *
Irvine and Zell were talking to Kiyoko later that day, "listen, we're really sorry about earlier, Seifer and Raijin tricked us into walking into the ladies room. It wasn't our fault."
Kiyoko crossed her arms, "Yea, right."
"I'm serious, they've been trying to get at us for a while, even back when we were classmates."
"I suppose you didn't do anything to start this."
"No way! We were just minding out own business."
"I was talking to Roc. Did you know that the hot water pump in the hot tub is busted?"
Zell and Irvine exchanged glances, "Yea."
"I'm in. What can I do?"
* * * *
Kiyoko was holding an empty bottle of Pepsi and was using her claw like a coffee stir. The liquid inside was green, "This is something mother used to make. It's made for other felious because we have a higher resistance to alcohol. I think if we put it in someone's drink they should be able to survive. They'll just pass out for a little while."
"So it's a very old version of cat nip?"
"What's that?"
"Uh, nothing. Where did you get the supplies for this?"
"A few herbal remedies from the gift shop. I'll carry the bottle in. Remember, once we dump it we have to get rid of the bottle."
* * * *
Kiyoko, Zell and Irvine walked into the lunch room. Seifer and Raijin were celebrating a victory over two guys in the basketball court. Zell and Irvine grabbed treys and sat down on the other side of the table.
Seifer looked up, "What do you want chicken wuss?"
Zell gritted his teeth, "We were going to challenge you to a basketball game."
Seifer leaned back, "Sounds like fun. What's in it for us?"
"I donno. Let's say, a hundred gil."
"Or we could have some fun. If we win, maybe, you three walking through Balamb garden in those towels of yours."
Zell grinned, "If we win, you three can't make fun of us any more."
Seifer laughed, "Ah, is the chicken wuss getting angry? If it means that much to you it's a deal."
"Three on three. Zell, Kiyoko and me against you two and Fujin." Irvine looked up, "Hey Fujin."
Seifer and Raijin turned around for a moment. Kiyoko popped the cap and dumped some of the green liquid into Seifer's drink. Kiyoko sat the drink down on the table, "It's on."
"Seifer took a sip of his drink, "Only if Fujin agrees."
Fujin was standing behind Seifer, "WHAT?"
Seifer turned around, "Oh, a three on three basketball game. Us against them."
"FOR?"
"We win, they strip at Balamb, they win I can't make fun of the chicken wuss."
"BABY."
"That's just what I said."
Fujin picked up a bottle of pepsi sitting on the table. She chugged most of it. She set down an almost empty bottle on the table, "FINE."
Raijin picked up the bottle and finished it off, "Just say when."
The three stood up and left. Zell Irvine and Kiyoko were all looking at the bottle with the same expression, "With that much Fujin shouldn't be able to stand."
"Raijin's won't be able to talk straight, well, less straight."
The three saw the empty bottle of whatever the green cat nip was. They wall started laughing hysterically.
* * * *
After a few minutes Kiyoko and Zell were walking down the hall. They saw Seifer, Raijin and Fujin passed out on the floor. Zell was thinking to himself, "Ya know, it would be a terrible, terrible, terribly funny thin if we were to do something very evil to them while they were asleep."
Irvine crossed his arms, "I'm open to suggestions."
Zell grinned, "Let's throw them in the locker rooms."
Kiyoko grinned, "Let's mill them."
Zell and Irvine both stopped, "I think you're missing the point of a prank war." Zell grinned, "I've got an idea. Kiyoko, can you get Quistis's makeup kit?"
"No problem."
"Irvine, can you get two women's swim suits?"
"You have to ask?"
"Good. Meet in Seifer's room in a half-hour. First, we get these three back to their rooms. Once we do we meet in a half hour with our supplies."
* * * *
Zell stood in front of a large bed. Laying one the bed were Seifer wearing a blue two piece swimsuit and thick mascara with blush. Raijin had been given Selphie's pokadot bikini and a large helping of lipstick. Fujin had been given a black mask and Quistis's whip. Zell was winding up a one use camera he bought in the gift shop. Irvine and Kiyoko were standing in the corner of the room watching. Irvine chuckled, "We couldn't have done this without you Yoko."
Kiyoko was watching Seifer and Raijin, "Do all humans look like that?"
"Mostly."
Zell finished winding the camera, "Alright, before I snap this picture is everybody sure they don't mind a fist fight with Seifer once they wake up?"
Irvine grinned, "Yea yea, whatever. You're looking your magic hour."
Kiyoko grinned, "This has got to be the most messed up thing I've ever done."
As Zell was about to snap the picture the door to the room slid open. Zell dropped the camera as Squall and Rinoa walked into the room. Squall took one look at Seifer in his swimsuit and Zell with a stupid grin on his face, "We're boned."
Squall took the camera out of Zell's hands. He smashed it against the table, breaking it open, "We're supposed to be working with these three, not, not, what in the hell were you doing anyway?"
Irvine shrugged, "We just walked in here and found them laying like this. I guess this explains why Fujin is always beating Raijin like a rag doll."
The vein on Squall's head looked like it was about to burst, "With Quistis's makeup kit? Not likely. You three get out of here. We're having a meeting in my room in one hour. I'll wake them if I have to."
* * * *
Squall had gathered everyone in his room. Seifer, Fujin and Raijin who had been given their normal cloths were sitting on one side of the room while Kiyoko, Zell and Irvine were sitting at the other. Everyone else was sitting on one of the two beds. Squall started off, "First, we may have found the SeeD hideout in the city. We'll all storm the place tonight. First, Roc, I want to know everything you can about the woman you were fighting. Kitina Christian Blade I believe."
Roc sighed, "Back when I was living in my hometown I was being trained by one of the best sword masters around. Back then Kitina was my sparing partner. We'd known each other for a long time. After a few years I came back to my master's cabin to find the place had been torn apart. The master's star student had bee kidnapped. All he said was that they called themselves the black SeeD. They had seen the student fighting and they believed that his body could stand up to one of their experiments. Kitina took her saber and I took my sabers and we followed the black SeeD for a while. Once we found our comrade it was too late. He had been killed. We were captured and subjected to the experiments of the black SeeD as well. I was project Diamond Hawk. I am not sure what her code name was but she seemed to a metamorph."
Kiyoko was paying attention now, "Doesn't that mean she can change shapes?"
"Yes and no. You have seen me when I use my full hawk body. I loose my sword skills and use a slashing fighting style the diamond hawk is good at. It's not that I prefer one style to another, when I go full hawk I can't use my swords, I don't know how. His instincts overpower Xanna Hashedo's. The same way, when Kitina is using her powers she probably can't use her natural ability."
"What is her natural ability?"
"She is what you call a pyrokinetic. She can create and manipulate fire."
Zell was the first to speak up, "I thought in your mid hawk body you used your swords."
"That is correct. When Kitina goes what I'll call mid morph she can alter her shape slightly but keep her firepower. The problem is that she isn't limited to humans. I saw her become as much as half-animal in full morph and a fourth animal in mid morph. That is how she beat me last night. She took my wings, Kiyoko's long arms and legs and her own fire power and beat me senseless. By the way, if she used Kiyoko's legs that means that the black SeeD did enough of a study on you to know what you can do. If we fight Kitina I will have to rely on your help but I recommend that Rinoa Seifer and Kiyoko stay away and not be seen. If she defeats me she will take you without to much trouble."
Squall had an idea, "If we kill her she won't be able to lead us to black garden, wherever it is."
"You would have better luck tracking a single drop of water in the ocean. If she was to duck into a crowd for even a second she could vanish completely. Her team of SeeD cannot. This should be used to our advantage. She is at least a major in their higharchy and she is never alone."
Seifer was pondering this information, "Roc used to be a black SeeD, if the sword master is true then she must have his training. The experiments must be used to gain a certain rank. Interesting. I don't believe Roc is a spy, maybe a runaway, yes, that's it. What Kiyoko says is true, I don't think she knows any of this. I must keep a close eye on Roc in the coming fights. A single dodge or reaction from him could tell me for sure." Seifer's mind was razor sharp as always. "This should be interesting indeed."
* * * *
That night Squall had issued marching orders. Roc, Squall, Irvine and Selphie were to return to the abandoned TV station to try and figure out where the black garden was because there would be no way they'd use the same base after being discovered. Rinoa, Fujin and Raijin wound go through the city to try and find any information about the black SeeD's new base. Everyone else would remain at the hotel. There was no point in putting the three black SeeD's targets in danger. Seifer had Raijin and Fujin to protect him.
Squall and roc were standing on the roof of the station. Squall was looking through the window, "I don't see anybody. I think the coast is clear."
Roc was looking around, "I think we can get in without to much trouble."
"Listen. I'll take Selphie inside. Irvine can guard the doors. I want you to stay here on the roof."
"Why me?"
"Because you can put up the best fight against Kitina, that and you can move across the rooftops to get help if you have to."
"Alright but I'll be watching out for you."
* * * *
Squall and Selphie walked around the back stage area. Selphie was looking around at the old props collecting dust in the back. Squall was looking for anything the black SeeD might have left behind. Selphie's mind was wandering off, "I remember when I was young. I used to watch this station all the time."
Squall had knelt down, "Will you shut up. Someone could still be around." Squall picked up a matchbook with a symbol on the front, "I don't recognize the sign. It's a city that could be almost anywhere."
Squall felt someone breathing on his neck. He spun around, it was only Selphie, "What did you find?"
Squall sighed, "Why did I ask you to come in with me? I forgot?"
"What?"
"Nothing. It's a matchbook. I don't know the symbol."
Selphie looked at it, "With the tower in the back it looks like Winhill."
Squall saw what she was talking about, "Oh. I guess I know what our next stop is."
Squall heard something move in the corner. He stood up and drew his gun blade, "What was that?"
"What was what?"
Squall lunged at the noise. He tore through a set of curtains. Standing there was a single black SeeD agent. Squall pinned him to a wall, "What are you doing here?"
The agent was silent. Squall gritted his teeth, he had forgotten one of the rules Seifer had given him about black SeeD, they never give information. Squall was struck down by a small fire spell. Ifrit seemed to have taken most of it. Squall was still on the ground, unarmed with four black SeeD standing over him. Squall saw Selphie with the fifth black SeeD holding her against the wall. Selphie appeared to be in no position to help.
Squall looked at one of his black SeeD captors, "I suppose you used the back door."
Squall heard a male voice, "Don't answer that. He's probably got people covering the exits." There were footsteps, "Hold him face down. I don't want him to see my face."
One of the black SeeD tugged Squall's hair and banged his face into the ground, "I'll only ask once, where is project Diamond Hawk?"
Squall didn't answer. The voice continued, "Alright then. I want the feleus, tell me where she is and I'll let you live."
Squall chuckled, "I've taken a few lessons from you losers. I don't give information."
"It doesn't really matter about the sorceress, or Seifer for that matter. We've got them cornered at the hotel."
Squall looked up, "What?"
"You heard me. He's no good to us. Kill him, get the whiney girl too."
Selphie was struggling to break free but the SeeD holding her down was too strong. Selphie was thinking, "Whiny? I don't wine!" Selphie's eyes turned blue, a spell came to mind, "No more mister nice guy! No more mister clean ! Meteor, triple hitter!" Three rocks appeared above Selphie's head. One of them caught fire and struck the SeeD holding her down in the back, he was dead. Selphie's arms spread apart. The other two rocks swirled around. She waved her hand at the other SeeD standing around Squall. Selphie dropped two of them just above Squall's head. Selphie cried, "Duck! Squall slid to the side narrowly missing two black SeeD who were swinging at him. "Big bang!" The two meteors exploded blinding all four SeeD. Squall drew his gun blade and executed the blinded SeeD.
Squall slid the matchbook into his pocket. "Where did he go?"
"Who?"
"The one who was asking me questions. He must have run off when you used a break."
"I didn't even get to see his face. I think he ran toward the stage."
* * * *
Squall and Selphie ran onto the stage area with their weapons drawn. It was no surprise that thirty black SeeD were waiting for them. Squall raised his weapon, "Where's your boss? Didn't he have the nerve to stay and fight?"
There was a loud scream from above. The glass roof shattered. Squall and Selphie ducked for cover and Roc dove to the ground in full hawk with nearly fifty pounds of glass shards around him. He wasn't slowing down. Squall and Selphie draped a part of the curtain over their heads. Squall was just able to look up to see Roc's wings flair open. Roc slowed down in the air. He watched the glass hit the ground. None of the black SeeD were without injury. Cuts and glass shards lined their faces. In a single moment Roc dropped to mid hawk and landed. His body shrunk and he drew his swords, "Squall! He went through the back door! Irvine won't be able to handle him alone! Go help, I'll deal with them."
Selphie struck a pose with her weapon, "I can help!"
A sharper deeper voice replied, "GO!!!"
* * * *
Squall kicked down the door leading outside. He and Selphie jumped out ready to fight another man GF. Squall lowered his weapon when he saw Irvine sitting in a chair polishing his gun, 'Anything wrong?"
Squall groaned, "Didn't he come out this way?"
"Nope. It's just you."
Squall relaxed, "He got away but we got what we came from. I found a matchbook left by one of the black SeeD. It's from Winhill."
"You think black garden is out in the country?"
"Yes."
Selphie remembered what the one black SeeD had said, "Didn't he say something about the others being cornered at the hotel? Isn't that where we left Rinoa and Kiyoko?"
"You two get back to the hotel, I'll help Roc." Squall drew his weapon and ran back inside.
Selphie was a little surprised, "Shouldn't we be worried about him?"
"Nah."
* * * *
Back at the hotel Kiyoko and Zell were in the middle of a card game. Zell had just dropped a SAM08G in the corner of the board. Kiyoko was grinning ear to ear. She placed a Grand Mantis card above the SAM08G. She turned over that card as well as the Belhelmel card in the top left corner, "Same rule!"
Zell groaned and leaned back in the chair, "The same rule doesn't apply here! We use plus."
"Five plus five is ten. Ten is the same as ten."
"You can't have the same numbers together like that! Then it would be the same rule."
"Ten is the same as ten!"
"If you, oh hell. Quistis, you're king, can you help?"
Quistis walked over and looked at Zell's cards, then Kiyoko's cards. She pointed to an empty square, "Play the Hexadragon there." Zell put down his hexidragon down. He flipped Kiyoko's Grand mantis.
Quistis walked over to Kiyoko's side, "Put Grendel there."
Kiyoko put the final card down. She flipped Hexidragon, SAM08G and three other cards of Zell's. Kiyoko threw her hands up in celebration, "We were using the all rule! I win!"
Quistis grinned, "That's how the plus rule works."
Zell groaned and gave Kiyoko his cards, "Man, I got screwed."
There was a knock at the door, "Room service."
Kiyoko and Seifer were sitting in the living room. Quistis got up to answer the door. Zell turned his attention to Seifer, "What cards do you have?"
"You actually think I have a deck?"
"I figure it's got to be boring running with Fujin and Raijin. One can't talk much and the other won't shut up."
Seifer pulled out five cards. He was holding Bahamut, Alexander, Quezaciol, Odin and Cerberus. Zell groaned, "Hey, Kiyoko, he looks about your level."
Kiyoko was looking over Seifer's shoulder, "Where did you get all those?"
"There's always some dumb ass soldier carrying a deck and I've killed my share of soldiers back in Ester and that's where half the big cards come from."
There was a loud crash. Quistis fell back and dropped to the ground. She reached up to try and grab the man catcher that was resting on the table. There was a loud noise caused by three guns cocking at once.
From the bedroom Zell had already put on the wolf claw. He hid behind the corner waiting for one of them to get close enough. Zell held one finger over his lips. He had a sedestic grin on his face. Kiyoko's claws came out of her fingers and she was in a crouched pose ready to pounce on something.
Quistis saw Zell waiting. She reached for her pocket, "Seifer and Kiyoko are in the next room. I have the key card."
One of the black SeeD stepped forward. Zell was standing against the wall. He saw the black SeeD's gun. That was it. Zell put his two fists together. He spun around and brought his fists down on the gun. He jabbed the black SeeD in the face with his elbow. As he fell back his gun flew into the air. Zell grabbed the gun with his right hand and the black SeeD's collar with his left hand. He spun the black SeeD around and put his arm around the black SeeD's throat. Now Zell had cover. He unloaded half the clip at the two black SeeD. Once the two black SeeD had fallen he snapped the other's neck.
Zell turned back to Quistis, "What happened? I heard a gunshot."
"I was standing by the table. When I realized who was coming in I took the flower vase on the table and threw it at them. When one of them fired a warning shot the glass shattered in midair. The bullet wouldn't have hit me anyway."
Quistis picked up her whip and pressed the button that dropped the stinger, "They travel in fives, there are two left."
Zell clenched his fist, "Bring 'em on."
"If Kitina is with them we could be in trouble."
There was a loud crash from down the hall. The door was still open. Zell and Quistis looked around the room, "There's more than five in that party. Sounds more like fifty."
Seifer looked out the window, "There's a group of ten in the parking lot but we're five stories up. We wouldn't survive the fall."
Kiyoko sniffed the air, "Kitina isn't anywhere near here." Kiyoko's ears perked up, "There's someone barking orders. I can't hear a name but someone just called him project huntsman."
"A hunter GF. We don't have a choice."
Seifer stood just inside the door, "Honestly, if you want to know something you look." Seifer stepped into hallway. There were about thirty gunshots. Seifer dove back inside, "Seventy is more like it. Just a damn minute. They want me alive, why would they be shooting at me?"
Kiyoko sniffed again, "The air in here smells funny."
Quistis's eyes widened, "They're not coming in, they must have pumped something into the air vent. Think about it. The black SeeD have been staying here for two days, how long would it take to rig the air ducts? We've got to get out of here, now."
Seifer aimed his gun blade at the window, "To hell with all of you. Stay and die if you want, the night is calling, I have to go. Fire!" Seifer's gun blew a fireball at the window which shattered on impact. "I think I could survive the fall with the right spells."
Zell pointed to the window, "That won't be necessary. Shiva, I need you!" Zell's body was engulfed by ice. Shiva, the queen of ice appeared over Zell's head, "We need a bridge leading down to the courtyard."
Zell pushed his hand toward the window. Shiva copied his movements. A spray of ice formed over the hole in the wall. Zell dropped both hands. A slide made of ice appeared. Quistis saw the other end touch the ground, "Will this thing be here once you recall Shiva?"
"Da hell if I know."
Quistis stood against the window, "One way to find out." Quistis dropped and landed on the slide. Zell and Kiyoko followed.
Seifer cocked his gun. Zell stopped, "What are you doing?"
"I'll hold them off."
"Bull shit! There are like seventy of em. You'll never make it!"
"Go!" Zell let go of the wall and slid down to the ground.
Seifer stood straight. His gun blade was firmly gripped in both hands, "Bring it on." The crosses on Seifer's coat glowed red.
* * * *
Zell had just landed in the parking lot. He looked back to see the three upper floors of the hotel explode. Bits of fire and twisted metal flew everywhere. Zell swung around and dove on Kiyoko. Quistis stood back and crossed her arms over her face.
Zell stood up, "What did he do?"
"I think he just wiped out the black SeeD population in Timber."
A confused Kiyoko stood up, "All our stuff was in there and why did you tackle me?" Kiyoko punched Zell lightly in the arm."
"I saw shrapnel, someone could have gotten hit."
Kiyoko was blushing, "Oh."
Quistis held up one hand to cover her eyes from the firelight, "You know Squall's going to have a heart attack."
Quistis saw a single figure hitting the ground. He stood up and brushed off his coat, "Damn, when that Alexander attacks, he attacks."
Quistis was ready to turn the man catcher on Seifer, "Oh to hell with it. We'd better tell Squall what happened."
Seifer tied his gun blade to his belt, "Nope, I think everyone in the city saw that. Besides, I think a few of 'em got away along with that project huntsman, whoever he was. We should go after them."
Zell was also shielding his eyes, "In this mess? Forget it. Let's just head back to the old TV station. I'm sure Squall is working on a speech to yell at us."
* * * *
Squall Irvine and Selphie were running back to the hotel. As they rounded the corner they saw the gigantic explosion. Squall more than ready to panic until he saw Seifer jump out of the exploding building. Squall and Irvine were instantly running. If Seifer got away he could have turned on Quistis. If that had happened Squall and Seifer would fight and there would be only one survivor.
Squall and Irvine stopped when they saw Quistis, Kiyoko and Zell watching the fire. Squall had to stop and catch his breath, "What happened?"
"We were ambushed. There were like a hundred black SeeD and the room was filling with some kind of gas. When I used Shiva to get us out Seifer here blew up the building to cover our escape."
Seifer grinned, "I must thank you for letting me have Alexander. My kind of GF."
Squall gritted his teeth, "You know you're paying for this." That was more of a statement than a request. "I found a matchbook from Whinhill. If one of the black SeeD dropped it that's probably where they've been. We'll head there next."
Seifer chuckled, "Kitina must read detective novels. You honestly think a well-organized team like the black SeeD would be dumb enough to leave behind such an obvious clue? I think it was a decoy."
* * * *
Fujin and Raijin were sitting in the bar. Rinoa was trying not to look nervous. Raijin was holding a can of miller, "There are two black SeeD watching us, ya know?"
Fujin slammed a bottle of whisky, "YES."
"You want me to take them out, ya know?"
"WAIT."
Rinoa was looking over her shoulder, "I don't see anyone."
Raijin grinned, "I saw them on the way in, ya know."
"Oh. Why aren't we starting a bar fight? I thought that's what you two do?"
"OVERKILL."
Raijin leaned on the bar, "We can just walk outside and they'll ambush us, ya know. That's when we start fighting, ya know. Just let us finish our drinks, ya know?"
* * * *
Rinoa walked outside. She was looking for some fresh air after the stuffy bar. She slumped her shoulders when she realized that the alley wasn't much better. Raijin cracked his knuckles, "I think I saw him go out this way, ya know."
Rinoa was confused, "What are you talking about? I didn't…" Rinoa was stopped by Fujin and Raijin both putting their fingers over their lips.
Five black SeeD dropped from the roof of the bar and drew swords, "Where do you think you're going?"
Rinoa and Fujin drew their blade wheels. Raijin took a fighting stance, "You don't know who you're messing with, ya know."
Fujin threw her blade wheel straight at one of the black SeeD. Raijin rushed the black SeeD. The second one of them dodged the blade wheel Raijin was right there to drive a punch home. Rinoa had been training with her new weapon. She had adapted a swinging fighting style with the weapon. One of the black SeeD came at her, "Sorceress, you are under arrest for crimes against the species. By order of black Garden you will be taken into custody."
Rinoa grabbed the handle in the center of the northern light. She swung he arm around knocking the sword from the black SeeD's hand. She whirled around, on the next pass she brought her right leg up and kicked the black SeeD in the face. The next pass her blade slit his throat.
There was one black SeeD left. He had been disarmed and was barely able to stand. Fujin was about to kill him. Rinoa's eyes glowed blue, "Wait. Raijin, hold him up." Rinoa put her hands on his face, "Mind scan." A magic star appeared around Rinoa. Her eyes blue, then gold. The SeeD's eyes glowed gold in response. Rinoa gritted her teeth, "Tell me or I will rip it from your mind."
"I think she's doing that thing where she evolves magic spells, ya know."
"MINDSCAN?"
The black SeeD fell dead and Rinoa fell back. Raijin picked her up.
Fujin groaned, "EXPLAIN."
"You know the scan spell? The one that lets you see your opponent's skills and weaknesses. I called Adel's powers and about twenty scan spells I held in reserve changed into a mind scan. I don't even know how I did it."
"What did you find out, ya know?"
"All I could get was that they traveled here from FH."
"FH."
"I guess that's where we go next, ya know."
"Better tell Squall."
* * * *
The next day everyone moke up in the small hotel on the other side of Timber. Everyone had been confined to two rooms and they had no luggage left. All they had were their cloths and their weapons. That morning the eleven were sitting in the lobby eating doughnuts. Squall was sitting on the couch with a glass of orange juice, "Last night I found a matchbook on the floor of the theater. One of the black SeeD must have dropped it. I say we head there next."
Seifer wasn't eating, "I can't believe you're still harping on about that stupid match book. They probably dropped it on purpose to make you head the wrong way. I'll bet there's a black SeeD task force waiting for you to walk into town."
Zell swallowed half a doughnut, "You got a better idea? If you hadn't been such a trigger happy ass hole we'd be back in the spa right now."
"Don't talk with your mouth full chicken wuss. Hell, don't talk at all. Rinoa read one of the black SeeD's minds. Talk to her."
Rinoa was eating a bowl of frosted flakes, "The seed had just come back from FH. We should try there next."
Squall rolled his eyes, "I know. If a black SeeD doesn't give information do you think they wouldn't have some defense against mind probing?"
Quistis was eating an apple, "There aren't any spells for mind probing, until now."
"I still think we should go to Winhill."
Seifer was getting annoyed, "Listen to your girlfriend, she's trying to tell you that you got fooled."
Squall took two steps toward Seifer, "Why don't you mind your own business?"
"Sorry, I'm just trying to stand up for Rinoa, someone sure has to. Can't you see you've been tricked?"
Selphie butted in, "I hear the weather in Winhill is nice this time of year."
"SHUT UP!" Squall and Seifer both yelled at once.
Squall gritted his teeth and reached for his gun blade. Fujin and Raijin both stood up at once. Seifer waved them back as he stood up himself. He was right in Squall's face, "I seem to recall us promising not to fight each other until the black are dead. I've been good to my word. Are you?"
Squall took a step back, "I'm a little tired of you. One more word about Rinoa and I send you to the black SeeD gift wrapped."
Seifer crossed his arms, "I'm just putting my two cents in."
Squall sat back down, "Fine. Take a vote. There are eleven of us, that doesn't leave room for a tie."
Rinoa was first, "From what I saw it's FH." Not much surprise here, Rinoa saw the vision first hand. Squall obviously chose Winhill while Seifer agreed with Rinoa.
Selphie grinned, "I think Winhill would be a great place for a hide out."
Squall was repressing the urge to yell for her to shut up again. Irvine stood up next, "Who could say no to this pretty face? Winhill it is."
Kiyoko had her arms crossed. She was thinking, "I could." All she said was, "I think it's FH."
Raijin spoke up, "I think Seifer's on to something, ya know. I think we should go to FH, ya know."
Fujin nodded, "FH."
Quistis shrugged, "Squall's lead us right before, Winhill."
Zell nodded, "It's gotta be Winhill."
Roc crossed his arms, everyone was listening to him, "If the black SeeD are after Rinoa that's all the more reason to take her visions seriously. FH."
It was settled. Six votes for FH, five for Winhill. Seifer noticed Roc, "If he's a black SeeD he'd know where black garden is. If he's still loyal to them then he's lying we're heading into a trap. If he's on our side FH is the right direction and he just proved himself. Interesting."
* * * *
Squall was making a long distance call in the pay phone at Timber station, "Two Hours? All right. We'll be just outside the city. Hotel. No, don't look for the new spa. We sort of blew it up. Xu? Are you still there? WAKE UP DAMNIT!"
Zell and Irvine were reading the new issue of girl next door. They both looked up when Squall started yelling into the phone. Squall calmed down when there was an answer, "What? Fainted you say. I don't blame you."
Quistis and Kiyoko were sitting across a bench playing cards. Bot hands were laid out on the bench and Quistis was giving advice. Squall leaned against the wall, "I'd love to take the train but I wasn't carrying enough cash to get that many tickets. This will help us out a lot."
Selphie and Rinoa were talking about an issue of seventeen. Selphie began giggling wildly, "A three of twenty? That's bad."
Squall rolled his eyes, "I'll deal with the science department. Just bring it." Squall hung up the phone, "Alright. She'll be here inside of two hours. We'll meet near the river just north of here. Xu is supposed to have the Ragnarok, we shouldn't have to ride in the trains anymore." There was a light applause, "They also have a change of cloths."
Irvine and Zell threw their magazines in the air, "Hell yea!"
* * * *
Everyone was sitting on the beach north of Timber. So far there were no black SeeD in the area. Squall had instructed that they leave through the west exit. He wanted to give the black SeeD the idea that he had fallen for their trick and were heading to Winhill. Zell was skipping stones into the water. Kiyoko snuck up behind him, "Wanna win your cards back?"
Zell jumped, "Oh, uh, yea."
"I've been getting lessons from Quistis, you don't have to help me anymore."
Zell cracked his knuckles, "Alright. What rules are we playing?"
Kiyoko tried to remember, "Same, combo, random and," she paused for effect, "Sudden death."
Zell shuffled thirty cards, "Done." Zell drew five cards, "God…, uh, cool, a good hand."
Kiyoko shuffled, "Oh look, my hexidragon."
Zell gritted his teeth, "You mean my hexidragon."
* * * *
Roc was lying on the sand with his coat off and his swords sitting on the ground. There was a loud humming sound then a large wind. Roc opened his eyes. The Ragnarok was hovering over the lake. Roc groaned as he got up, "Is she going to land or am I going to have to fly up?"
A platform dropped from the back of the Ragnarok. It landed on the ground.
Zell slapped down his last card, "Now I gotcha!"
Kiyoko grinned, she held up her last card and dropped the hexidragon in the corner of the board, "Same rule! Two threes and two fours." Kiyoko flipped over four cards. Zell put a Bite bug in the lower left corner of the board, "Damnit. I didn't see that."
Kiyoko picked up the deck, "All rule! I get your five cards."
"We were using the __ rule. You get how ever many cards you beat me by."
Kiyoko counted, "Six cards please!"
Zell grumbled, "All rule it is."
Kiyoko danced around, "I won! I won! I won!"
Roc looked down at her, making a total fool out of herself, "You won a bite bug, two buels, a tonberry and a red bat. What in the hell are you celebrating?"
"I got to keep the hexidragon!"
Zell groaned, "That rips it. No more random rule."
Squall was standing on the platform, "Finished, or do you two want to have a splash fight in the lake?"
Kiyoko knew she was being scolded, "Only if you think we have time."
* * * *
The platform was slowly lifting off the ground. Kiyoko looked over the edge, she could see most of Timber, "Hey, they finally put out that fire in the spa. What do you think happened to Miss swim… uh, Kitina?"
Roc crossed his arms, "I hope she got caught in the blast."
Seifer grinned, "At least I'm not the only one who can appreciate the value of a good explosion."
Squall punched three numbers on the control panel standing on a three legged stand in the corner of the platform. Xu's face appeared on the screen. She was sitting in the control chair with her feet propped up on the control panel eating a candy bar, "Oh, uh." She quickly swallowed and threw the candy bar over her shoulder, "Squall, SeeD inspector second class Xu reporting for duty."
Squall leaned against the panel, "At ease. I'm just glad you got here as fast as you did. Any news from Balamb?"
"Not really. By the way, the science department is working on a speech to give you when you get back. They saw they're going to publish it when they get done."
"Wonderful." Squall said sarcastically, "I'll but ear plugs in FH. Seriously, has it been confirmed that the black SeeD have set up a base in FH?"
Xu typed something on the keyboard. Her face shifted to a smaller screen in the corner. Several reports appeared on the screen, "What you are seeing are all police reports filed in the last seventy two hours from FH, observe."
Thirty three reports appeared on the screen in small boxes. Several words on each report were highlighted and blown up, "Men wearing black. Attackers dressed in black. Struck down by five men wearing black. Wearing black with badge of a skull with vines growing from the eyes." There was at least one reference on every report, "Seventy two mentions of black SeeD. Get the picture?"
Squall looked back and Seifer and Rinoa, "Yea, I get it. Could you look up police reports in Winhill?"
Another screen came up, "Three police reports filed, petty theft, vandalism and," She paused as the final report came up on the screen, "disturbing the peace."
"We're bound for FH." Squall switched off the monitor.
* * * *
The sun was setting. Squall checked the fuel reserves. They were almost full. Squall picked up the speaker, "Attention, we will be staying the night in the Ragnarok. There will be three night shifts. We should land in FH tomorrow morning." Squall shifted the Ragnarok back to auto pilot, "We could all use a good night sleep."
Squall walked past Irvine in the hallway, "You're on first watch and for crying out loud, don't invite Selphie to stay up past her bed time."
Irvine tipped his hat, "Sure thing Squall. I guess not everyone knows Selphie like I do." Irvine walked into the cockpit and sat down in the drivers seat, "Computer, are we in range to pick up radio stations from Balamb?"
"Negative."
"Television stations?"
"Negative."
Irvine groaned, "I should have asked Zell to fill in."
* * * *
That night Irvine was asleep at the helm. The autopilot was working and everything was functioning normally. There was a loud crash. Irvine fell out of his seat as red lights started flashing. Irvine jumped back into his seat and put his hat back on, "Computer, what happened?"
"Intruder alert! Hull breach!"
Irvine began punching keys on the keyboard, "Internal defenses, activate!"
"Negative. Internal defenses inactive. Hull breach."
Irvine cocked his gun, "You said that already. Where?"
"Hull breach on rear port."
Irvine picked up the microphone, "Everybody up! Black SeeD on the main deck. Squall, get your ass up here, now!"
Irvine ran to the door, "Computer, resume auto pilot, signal if there anything appears on the radar."
"Beep. Radar detecting enemy ship on port side. Intentions hostile."
Irvine punched the wall, "Damnit. Computer, kill auto pilot." Irvine jumped over the back of the chair put both hands on the wheel, "Begin artificial gravity. If I'm going to do evasive actions I don't want Squall being tossed around."
* * * *
Squall and Quistis stood in front of the door to the main deck, "We need a plan."
Quistis uncoiled her whip, "How long can they stay there? There should be a vacuum at this height."
"We assume if they knew where to punch a hole in the ship they know to wear oxygen masks. We've got to seal that hole."
"Squall punched a wall panel, "Irvine! What the hell's going on?"
There was a faint response, "Sorry Squall. I'm just as confused as you. I activated artificial gravity. That means the ship thinks we're still in outer space. It should begin to close the hole in no time."
"With what?"
There was a loud beeping, "This bucket has emergency armor. It should be dropping over the damaged sector…" There was a loud clang from the other side, "now. Judging by the external cameras I just cut the line to their ship. There are about ten black SeeD inside. I'll deal with the ship."
Squall punched the wall panel again, "Out." Squall walked up to the door, "Let's go. We've got to do this quick, while they're still dazed."
* * * *
Squall and Quistis stood on the balcony. The black SeeD were regrouping and loading their weapons. Squall jumped over the rail and landed on the lower deck. He got up and ran at the black SeeD. He had already killed two of them by the time the others had seen him. Quistis had walked down the stairs and was whipping three black SeeD. Squall had just disarmed one more of the black SeeD when the door to the crew quarters swung open. Squall turned his attention away from the black SeeD, "Who could that be?"
Roc ran out of the door in full hawk. Rinoa wasn't far behind. Squall swung around and finished the black SeeD, "Rinoa! Get back! Don't get involved in this fight."
One of the black SeeD looked up, "Rinoa? That's all I need to know. I am project huntsman, you are under arrest."
The SeeD's face began to change. He grew a short beard, longer hair and his eyes turned black. He put his gun back in the sheath and pulled out a crossbow. Roc's eyes widened, "Huntsman?"
The huntsman raised his crossbow and fired one shot. Roc was diving in front of Rinoa. When Roc saw huntsman he realized that the bow was aimed to high. As Roc looked up he saw Kiyoko dive from the balcony with an arrow in her left shoulder. Roc gritted his teeth, "Kiyoko! Oh that's it. Nobody messes with Kiyoko while I draw breath! Diamond Rage!" Roc let out a single scream. The crystals all over his body grew longer and sharper. His body glowed white. Roc's fists closed as the blades on his hands expanded to two feet in length. Roc pushed both hands forward. A burst of light blew from his eyes. For a moment his form rippled back to that as a human as the white beam changed shape into a hawk.
Huntsman slapped a new arrow into his crossbow. He put a metal bracelet around his wrist, "I won't die alone." He fired one arrow at Squall. Squall didn't have time to dodge, he held up his hand in an effort to guard. Squall hadn't realized that the arrow had a hook and that there was a string tied around his arm now.
Roc's Diamond rage hit the huntsman square in the chest. He was blown back. He swung around and fired a large arrow at the hull. The arrow exploded on impact. Huntsman flew out the hole and took Squall with him.
Rinoa was running up to the hole in the hull. Squall was barely hanging on to a loose steel beam. Rinoa cast a wind spell because the vacuum was sucking all the air out of the ship. Squall looked back to see the huntsman climbing back up. Squall's eyes narrowed and he let go.
Roc handed Kiyoko to Quistis, "She's been poisoned. That arrow was tainted. Get her out if here!"
Quistis threw Kiyoko over one shoulder, 'What about you?"
Roc turned from human to full hawk, "I'm going after huntsman."
"What? That's crazy!" The door slammed in front of Quistis. Roc and Rinoa were sealed inside.
Rinoa was focusing energy. She felt a presence behind her, "You should get to safety Rinoa."
"I'm going after Squall."
"Good. Once you do swing around and pick me up."
Roc dove out the hole in the ship. His ice beak sealed creating a pocket of air. Roc gritted his teeth, "You will not escape. Roc went into a dive.. He passed Squall who had spread his arms and legs to try to slow his fall. As Roc passed Squall he cut the rope holding him to the huntsman. Roc winked as he passed. Squall probably didn't see the gustier but now it was simple. Rinoa could save Squall without too much trouble. Roc could take on the huntsman by himself.
Rinoa followed Roc out the hole. She swung around just as the armor covered the hole. Now it was time for Rinoa's little secret weapon, "Siren, I need you."
Rinoa stopped falling. The siren had appeared behind her. Her strong arms grabbed Rinoa. She breathed a sigh of relief, "No, save Squall! He's still falling."
Rinoa felt herself falling again. She was getting closer to Squall, "If I catch him I will drop you."
"I'll be fine. Adel! Where are you?" A ring of light appeared below Rinoa. As she passed through the ring she yelled, "Super twister!" A massive whirlwind formed around Rinoa. She was being lifted. Siren had snatched Squall without too much trouble. Rinoa focused causing the twister to go up, "Back to the ship with Squall. We've got to get in before they close the armor."
* * * *
Huntsman looked up, "Following me out the air lock? Not to smart really." Huntsman fired three arrows at Roc.
Roc quickly dodged. After the third arrow he had enough momentum to swing downward and catch the huntsman. Roc put the pressure on his left wing, he dove at an angel and caught huntsman in his talon, and "I can save you I want to know what you did to Kiyoko!"
Huntsman crossed his arms, "Being a black SeeD you should know that I don't give information."
"I am not a black SeeD."
"Bull shit." Huntsman picked up a small two way radio, "I've got him. Send the ship." Huntsman wrapped both hands around Roc's chest, "You honestly think I wasn't informed about you?"
Roc's eyes widened, "This was a set up? To get to me?"
"Black SeeD never tell."
Roc turned back to mid hawk, "Go to hell."
"You first."
Roc saw what appeared to be two black SeeD wearing jump suits. Roc had seen the design used by Galbadia Garden during their legendary battle with Balamb garden. Roc didn't think black garden had the technology for it. The two swooped overhead, "Unlike you, they have the ability to climb in a state of free fall. You need a high place to dive from. Didn't you think that you couldn't get back to the Ragnarok once you jumped off?"
"I…I…I didn't…"
The two black SeeD dropped a net between them. Roc and huntsman were caught, "Cut the rope and you will perish. By the black Garden you are under arrest for aiding criminals, treason against black garden, deserting and murder in the first."
* * * *
Rinoa had just gotten a very dazed Squall back inside the air lock. She collapsed once Siren disappeared. The air lock opened and Irvine ran in. He and Selphie picked up Squall as Quistis and Zell picked up Rinoa, "Up you go."
Squall's eyes were barely open, "What in the hell happened?"
"Don't you worry about that. Let's just be thankful that you're alive and that the black SeeD ship is pulling away."
"Rinoa?"
"Just fine. A little tired out though. Using that magic trick of hers with a GF out is pretty tricky."
"Roc?"