PeRFecT

Chapter 17

"Death."

Quistis quickly annihilated the bite bug then fell to her knees, utterly defenseless.  It took all of her concentration and energy to summon even one of her relatively weaker spells. Her pulse was out of control and her head was spinning like a centrifuge. She felt like shit.  But she was grinning like an idiot.

"Hyne, Quistis. You did it."

Samah's voice quivered with awe and fear and joy. However horrifying the idea of instant death was, the success of the spell was thrice as thrilling to the two SeeDs.  He knelt beside Quistis and rubbed her back in between her shoulder blades.

"Quistis. Are you alright?  How do you feel?"

"Awful." She laughed in between deep, gulping breaths. "But wonderful.  Though. . .I can't move. . ."

"Rest for a moment."  Helping her into a comfortable seated position, Samah took a moment for silent prayer.  Quistis took the opportunity to regulate her internal, bodily activity.  Her breathing and heart rate decelerated and her sense of equilibrium slowly returned to her. Though her limbs felt limp and numb, she was starting to recover more quickly from her magic episodes- half a week ago her attempts at magic control had rendered her incapacitated for three hours.  And most of the attempts had been failures.  The success of the spell breathed new life into her weary body.  She now felt relaxed.

"Congratulations."  Samah murmured affectionately. "Three and a half weeks.  I expected no less from the mighty Quistis Trepe. Actually- I'm surprised it took you this long. . ."

"Shut up, Lukan.  Or else I'll cast my degenerator on you.  There have been times over the last few weeks that I've asked Hyne to suck you into another dimension. You'd best beware now that I'm capable of doing it myself. . ."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Trepe." He tried to feign hurt, but cracked the biggest grin Quistis had ever seen. She was shocked- he never grinned. Just quiet little smiles. His toothy beam was priceless. It reminded her that, really, he was only five years older than her and a fellow orphan. He was not the overly-serious, heavily-burdened task master that he sometimes appeared to be. He erased the child-like look from his face with his regular air. "Degenerator will take more focus than death. It's a longer process, remember. Also, you are tampering with the space/time gamut- It will take a still and focused mind to manipulate the laws of physics. But. . ." Seeing her slightly downcast face he continued. "We'll try it tomorrow. If you feel up to it."

"I feel up to it now." She announced, jumping to her feet. Samah simply blinked.

"Ummmm. . . ."

"I'm on a magic high. Get up, now- let's find another bite bug. I don't care how weak they are- they're irritating and the wing-buzz drives me batty. I'll try an easy spell first.  Ultra Waves or Laser Eye or something. Come on. . ." She used her instructor voice on her colleague, who simply sat at her feet and stared at her dumbly. "Lukan. . ."

"Quistis- I'm sorry. But. . . are you joking?" He asked in all seriousness. "A moment ago you were ready to collapse and meet your maker- now you're up and raring to strike again? Why don't you rest?"

"Because I'm 'feeling antsy'." She quoted her favorite source of Galbadian vernacular.  "My adrenalin's pumping and my head is spinning and I just want to kic. . . magic the hell out of something." He rose one dark eyebrow, to which she responded with an eye roll. "C'mon Lukan. Please. I feel absolutely fabulous now. Plus, I've been inspired to rid the Galbadian scene of the bite bug infestation.  No time like the present. . . ."  She turned on her heel and headed off into the landscape.  She prayed to Hyne that her almost-fascist sorceress aid would believe and follow her. If she tried anything without another soldier present she would be risking her life- she was not one hundred percent accurate with her spells, and when they failed she was completely incapacitated.  So Samah needed to trail her.  She walked off for a second, then glanced into the corner of her glasses to check if he was accompanying her.  In the reflection, she witnessed him slowly rise to his feet and shake his head. 'He's generally such a tyrant, but he can be so sweet and yielding when he wants to be.' Giggling, she marched off towards the dripping sunset.

'He kNoWs MaNY tHiNGs-mOsT oF wHiCh ArE dAnGeROuS. . .'

'I don't see how Samah can be dangerous. . .'

'He kNoWs hOw tO sEAl SoRCeREssES.'

'Does this scare you?'  Quistis asked in an impish mental tone.  The voice almost grunted.

'I feAr NoTHinG. . .bUt It sHoULd fRiGhTeN yOU. . .'

'Doesn't bother me, really. . .I'm gaining control of myself. I don't even dream about hurting other people anymore. . .'

'tHe eArTh WilL sHiFT aNd HisTorY cAn aNd MaY rEpeAt iTsElF, DiAdEm. . .'

Quistis stopped in her tracks.

'Did you just CALL me Diadem?'

'. . .'

"Bitch."  Quistis spat- a little more than annoyed at her cerebral parasite, or whatever it was.

"Pardon me?!?!?"  Samah's bewildered and offended tone thrust Quistis back into a more friendly mood.  Giggling, she turned back to him.

"Oh, I'm sorry!  Did I say that aloud?  That wasn't directed at you. That was for my own personal benefit. I was trying to motivate myself, you understand. . ." She beamed then pointed to a shadow in locomotion against the horizon. "Damned bite bugs. Look- there's an appropriate candidate for annihilation.  Do try to keep up, Instructor Samah. . ." She took off towards the unsuspecting creature, with the martial artist lagging only steps behind. The shadow leapt up and flew across the sky in a wide arc, then descended down behind the rolling hillocks.  Quistis readied her Laser Eye spell- she was going to get this little buzzing bastard if it killed her. It flew up again, several feet in front of her- but it was well within range.  The harsh orange sun glared from behind the eclipsing creature and momentarily blinded Quistis, but she didn't need her sense of sight to focus her intense powers.  Her white hot energy surged through her veins and fleshy circuits and burst out of her hands like blue napalm.  The laser pitched toward and encompassed the pathetic beast and a sick odor rose from the charred mass that fell and rolled down the hill.  Quistis fell to all fours as she heard quick, hollow footsteps behind her.

"Damn. Two for two, Trepe. Excellent. How do you feel?"

"I think I'm starting to get the hang of this, Samah." She breathed.  Quistis was a little breathless and her heart was palpitating, but this was not highly unusual. Just a simple biological reaction.  Her limbs were just a little sore from strain, but the limpness that usually accompanied the power was gone. The rawness was there, but not in a painful way.  It felt amazing.

'cOnGrAtuLatIoNs- yOu aRe A sOrCeReSs. . .'

'I am the Blue Sorceress. All bite bugs shall cower in my shadow. . .'

'aLl  wIlL cOwEr In YoUr sHaDoW, DiAdEm. . .'

'Stop.'

"Quistis?" Samah interrupted her internal dialogue. He seemed genuinely concerned. Hiding her mental friend from him was taxing, but she wasn't comfortable enough with the situation to share it with him. Not yet.

"Hey!  What the fuck? What happened to our fucking football? Shit. . ."

Quistis and Samah both rose their heads in alarm.  No one (save one or two inconveniences) knew about their extra-curricular activities.  There were rumors circulating about the time they spent together, but there was no proof to back them. Now, if someone caught wind about the sorceress training, an entirely different situation would be manifested.  Instructor Samah helped Quistis to her feet and they both crept towards and peeked over the hill.

There stood a bewildered Seifer Almasy, cursing violently and shaking his fists at the sky.  Beside him a pretty dark-haired girl-Rinny?- was poking at the charred thing curiously while little Astrid cowered against a stonefaced and stalwart Hunter.  The four of them created a circle around the dead bug.

"It looks like lightning hit it- But the sky is clear. . ." Rinny announced, glancing up, desperately trying to calm down her enraged paramour. 

"No- It looked like an Estharian Laser. . ." Hunter uttered kicking at it. It exploded into dust at his touch and settled on the thick green turf in a charcoal film.  Astrid scrunched her little button nose in disgust.

"Well- you boys shouldn't have been using a bite bug for a football- it's cruel and inhumane. I think Hyne sent that laser beam down to teach you a lesson.  He was really aiming for Seifer, but I think his perception was just a little off 'cause he's so far away. . ."

"Do you really think so?"  Rinny's eyes grew wide and frightened. "I mean- where else would it have come from?"

"Y'all, it was like obviously spontaneous combustion. Now, lets all just simmer down- s'no big deal, right?"  That voice just seemed to pull at her heart strings.  'That's my boy- ever the mediator. . .well, when he's not scrapping it up with Seifer, that is.' Quistis added mentally, trying to figure out where her cadet was exactly. 'What the hell are they all doing out here, anyway? It's a weeknight- it's past curfew for them. . .'

"Shuddap, Kinneas. You weren't even watching" Seifer turned and spoke in Irvine's general direction. The sharpshooter was subtly camouflaged in the long grass and hidden by the wide shadow of an elegant willow tree. Quistis could only see the tip of his persona-defining cowboy hat as it slanted toward Seifer and his demeaning declaration " . . .Say, what the hell are you doing over there, anyway?"

". . . .Polishing my gun. . ."

"Wow- you're just full of metaphors, aren't you."  Hunter muttered, raising an eyebrow. Seifer grunted while Rinny and Astrid giggled. Quistis smothered a giggle herself.   Samah shook his head sadly and, gesturing for Quistis to remain hidden, he rose and approached the mismatched crowd.

"Yes well- I hope one of you geniuses can come up with a clever reason to explain why you're all out of doors after curfew." Samah crossed his arms over his chest in standard, disciplinarian fashion. As if on cue, Seifer smirked, rose up to his full height and mimicked his hand to hand instructor's pose. His three companions glanced guiltily at their feet. Quistis noticed the tip of her cadet's cowboy hat slowly descend into total camouflaged obscurity.

"Kinneas- get over here- I know you're there. You think I can't smell that playboy cologne you douse yourself in every morning?  I'm sorry, but unless you're hiding in a department store, any attempts at stealth will be foiled."

"But Instructor Samah, he has to smell pretty for Instructor Trepe. . ." Seifer sneered as he grabbed hold of a rather large pebble and lobbed it over in Irvine's general direction. The gesture was rewarded with a grunt and a curse.

"Shit, Almasy. Did you just throw a rock at me?" Irvine stood, rubbing his forehead which was marked with a mean red streak. Rinny giggled and slapped her knee as the Galbadian  cadet   sauntered  over to stand beside Seifer.  Astrid strategically placed herself in between the two. 'What a smart, subtle girl. I'll have to convince Evana to boost that girl's grade a bit. Applied strategy. . .that's it.'

"Alright, boys. Cool it. Believe you me- you're all in enough trouble as is. However. . .I will forgive this little incident on one condition. . ." Samah mysteriously trailed off. 

"Just tell us, Instructor Samah. Not that we have a whole lotta options. . ." Irvine sighed in defeat, exchanging glances with a pouting Astrid.

"Really simple.  You forget that this. . ." He pointed to the bite bug remains, "ever happened.  Don't talk about it, not even amongst yourselves. I don't want any of the cadets to know about this. . .blue combustion illness that so many of these particular creatures seem to have contracted until we know more about the situation. Do you understand?"

"Keepin' this secret equals no mass hysteria equals blissful ignorance equals no detention.Yep- gotcha chief." Irvine saluted.

"Thanks for putting that in perspective for us, Kinneas." Hunter commented. "So. . .here's the point in our meeting where you pat us off the head and send us off to bed at nine o'clock in the evening, right instructor Samah?"

"Yes- all except for you." He pointed to the  little brunette who was currently gazing adoringly at one Seifer Almasy. "You don't belong here, no matter how much time you spend here. Go home or go back to Timber- it's your prerogative, miss Heartilly. But I do suggest you get out of here while you can- my sources have informed me that a certain general will be arriving at a certain garden at a certain time during a certain day, and I wouldn't want any unpleasantness to arise from such an easily-averted confrontation. Seifer- you have permission to borrow the instructor's motorcycle for the means of escorting Rinoa to the Train station. You will be forced to sleep in the underground barracks at the station- check in the with the commanding officer and return tomorrow morning by  six thirty. If these rules aren't followed implicitly, you will be suspended. Again.  Get going. . ."  Glaring, Seifer put his arm around Rinoa's waist and shepherded her back to garden. Quistis dipped behind the hill as the young couple passed her. Seifer's tender attitude toward his sweetheart shocked her- Quistis had never seen the problematic young man so willing to please and protect.  He was an entirely different person.

'He JuST wAnTS aFfEcTIoN lIkE aLl GoOD BoYS. . .'

'Stop trying to justify him. . .Seifer Almasy is a bad apple. . .'

"And you three- you definitely know better than this. You've been here for ten years. You would've been briefed on any changes to curfew hours. So, I suggest you get back to your dormitories before Instructor Botchaskya and/or Furtivan discover  you're missing.  I suppose your roommate will cover for you, as she always does, Miss Lorenz, but Mr. Sargent you better hope to hell you're faster than that sneaky ole graybeard, because you have ten minutes before bed check, and your roommate is standing right beside me. Don't think you're getting away with anything, Kinneas- you're staying behind with me. There's something we need to discuss. But anyway. . ."

"We're going, Instructor Samah. G'night." Astrid piped up grabbing her stonefaced counterpart's hand. The second pair of  naughty cadets  took their leave of their instructor and furiously dashed off.  They passed her in total obliviousness. That left Irvine Kinneas with Lukan Samah. Quistis held her breath and listened. They were at a stand off.

"Instructor Samah. . .I don't know if it's regulation for you to be out here with me after hours. .." Irvine grinned and winked. Quistis giggled soundlessly and Samah bit back a patient smile.

"Don't start with me, Irvine. That last thing I need right now is your perverted sense of humor. . ."

"Alright, well- whadda ya want?  Is it about the bite bug, 'cause, honestly, I don't know nothin'. . ."

"I know- Irvine. Don't worry about that. It's all taken care of. No. . it's something a little more serious. . ."  It seemed to take all of Samah's strength to pronounce his words.  Irvine's eyes darkened.

"Lukan, if this is 'bout Quisty and me then you can just forget about any coopera. . ."

"No. no. This is not about you and Quistis. I. . .told you I don't want to discuss that with you. I don't have any say in your personal affairs and I'd be a hypocrite to lecture you on this. . ."

'What? How much does he know?'

"Then for Hyne's sake, what is it?" Irvine asked, utterly exasperated. Samah wrung his hands nervously. " Lukan. . . ."

"Matron."

Irvine's matron.  The word stuck with Quistis and plagued her. The term seemed so familiar- and it was not as if it was a word in every day use..

'Hyne- who is this woman?'

'IrVY lOvES hIs MatRoN aNd hIs MaMA. . .'

Irvine slowly sank to the ground and fell back into a sitting position.  Samah  knelt before him.

"I know."

"What do you know?"

"They're gonna seal her. In space, right? Somehow. . ." Irvine stared at his hands and lowered his head  in a pious, meditative gesture. Samah didn't seem at all surprised by Irvine's foreknowledge.

'IrVy hAs uNtApPEd PowErS. . .aNd hIS mAmA. . .'

"Yes. Did SHE tell you that?"  Samah asked delicately, with a slightly hostile emphasis on 'she'.

'She?'

'. . .mAMa. . .'

"Does it matter?" Irvine uttered, a little defensively and very powerlessly. "I. . .there was so much I was hopin' ta say to'er. To discuss with'er. Hyne. . .she's not evil! How can Esthar do this? How can they imprison an innocent woman, Lukan? 's just not. . .fa. . .right."

"Adel was innocent once too, Irvine.  But I do everything in my power to ensure that monster never walks this earth again.  I'm sorry I brought it up. I was just wondering if you did already know.  I can't do anything about it, Irvine.  The president has already set about  readying the sorceress memorial."

"Three weeks. . ."

"Yes- end of August. God- nothing from the past escapes you and nothing from the future either. . ."

"Don't remind me- I remember."  Irvine smiled bitterly. He glanced up with tear-laced eyes. "Thanks Lukan. . .I really appreciate yer carin' an all. . ."

"Irvine- I do need to tell you this one thing- you can get mad at me if you want, but I need to say it." He paused and glanced around nervously. "I know you love Matron and I realize that you have a lot of unfinished business with her, but I am glad that she is leaving. . .for your sake. The farther she is away from you, the less danger your. .. gift is going to pose. Other than the random visit from Odine's lackeys, you'll be safe.  And Galbadia might actually allow you to graduate from Garden.  When you mourn, I want you to remember this- Matron is doing you a favor. I know she loves you and cares for you.  I remember when Xu and I were with her on the White Ship, she would always get this happy nostalgic look in her eyes when she talked about her little orphanage clan. And about you. You put each other in danger- our lives and fates are interconnected with hers. But, truly, I'm afraid of what that could mean for you."

"Would it be possible for me ta see'er just once before I leave.  Up in Trabia, in the mountains, in the  sorceress sealing-bubble. . .?"

Samah's eyes bugged out of his head.

"H. . .h. . how, did you? No. ..Irvine. Don't say anything else about this. I shouldn't've even discussed this with you. And no. You can't see her. Hyne- Irvine. . .get some sleep. Get your mind off this calamity. Or go fight some "critters" with Trepe- I sent her off to find some more of those bite bugs she hates so much so I could talk to you kids. . ."

"I kinda figured as much.  Though, the bite bug virus story was pretty durn good. . .Which way'd the girl go?"

"East, I think. But if you do stay out, you should probably grab a tent and some blankets and. . ."

"Naw. We're fine. I'm gonna go find my girl. . ."

'My girl. . .it's both romantic and demeaning. . .'

'He MeAnS wElL. . .'

'I know that. . .'

'HE'lL Be mAD iF He DiSCoVeRs yOu lIsTeNiNG iN On HiM.  BaCK uP aNd ThEN aPprOacH. . .'

The disembodied voice made a good point.  Quistis scooted a quick hundred meters to the east, keeping fairly low to the ground as she did.  Drawing her whip, she lashed out at random bite bug and grabbed it by the antennae.

'PRoOF.'

Then Quistis sauntered back toward her previous station only to meet Irvine as he  strode up the hill.  Breaking into a flaming grin, he wrapped his arms around her waist and twirled her around, mid-air.

"Hello sweetheart!"  He drawled, planting a sloppy wet kiss on her right cheek. She returned the sentimental gesture with a gift of her own.

"This is for you."  Quistis giggled.  He blushed and shook his head.

"Awww, honey- a dead bite bug! Ain't that sweet? What a nice present- thankya, I love it. . ." He mimicked hugging the creature, which became too much for Quistis' unyielding view of the species.

"Alright, alright. Drop that disgusting thing." She swatted it out of his hands and pecked him gently on the mouth. After wiping his hands on his duster, he wrapped his arms around her waist peered deeply into her long-lashed, cerulean eyes. The intensity in his gaze drew a blush from her cheeks and left her virtually breathless.

"So. . .sweetheart. Wanna chase sa'more bite 'bugs around the countryside?  It seems that you've found a new means of killin' the buggers. . . wouldya like ta show me?"

Glancing around, Quistis espied a bite bug buzzing along the horizon.  She cracked her fingers and arched her neck then pointed towards the beast. "Laser eye."

The feeble collapsed in a smoking heap of char.

"Wow. Isn't that somethin'. . ." Irvine scratched his head and chuckled nervously. Purring, she arched up against him and took his face in her hands.

"I'm pretty dangerous, cowboy. . . .you think you can handle it?"  She murmured huskily in his ear. With a flick of her tongue, she tickled his oh-so-sensitive ear, then, with a raised eyebrow, teasingly escaped his embrace and ran a few steps.  Infused with desire with a mind clouded by kinky fantasies, Irvine was a little slow on the uptake and Quistis managed to evade his grasp for several minutes. His long-legged stride helped him eventually overcome her. Grabbing Quistis around the waist, Irvine pulled her against him forcefully, the velocity of their pursuit causing both to lose their balance and tumble to the ground in a mass of flailing limbs and giggles. The blonde Instructor took the opportunity to crawl onto her chuckling boy and pin him to the dusty Galbadian surface.

"I told you I was dangerous. . ." She giggled.  He coughed up cloud of dust.

"I'll concede- y'are dangerous. . .as a flippin' chocobo!" He roared, pulling his knees up to his chest and thrusting her into the air and onto her back.  Launching himself on top of her, he wiggled his eyebrows and smirked. "Whatchya gonna do now, Quisty? Hey? Hey? Whatchya gonna do?"

"Um….rip off your clothes and seduce the hell out of you?" She offered, shrugging as best she could. "If that's alright with you. . ." She offhandedly remarked, caressing him with the tip of her boot. Irvine smirked mischievously as he sat up on his haunches and began to divest.

"No sweetheart. . .I don't mind in the. . ack!"

She moved her feet to his chest, pushed him onto his back then jumped him and restrained him completely.

"You are so gullible." She laughed. "As if I'd ask for your permission to seduce you. . .that should've been your first clue. . ."

"I was kinda wond'rin' 'bout that. . ." He chuckled. "But I'm not one to question a lady's methods. . .don't wanna spoil my chances of. . .hey. . ."  Irvine craned his neck to get a better view of the sky.  Quistis glared.

"No you don't!  I'm not going to fall for any of your schemes, Irvine Kinneas. I'm dirty enough as is. . ."

"Yer damn right yer dirty!" He howled, meriting one of Quistis' infamous pinches. "But. . . ow!  No, can't you hear it?  There's something up there."

They both fell silent for a second.  Quistis listened intently and could hear the gentle whirring of propellers.  She stood, releasing Irvine, and peered around. She found what she was searching for.

"It's Xu's airship, I'm sure of it.  And it sounds as if she's preparing to land."

"Xu's comin' ta Galbadia, eh?  Wonder what's up this time. . .Let's check it!"  Irvine started off in a sprint. Quistis reached out to grab his duster, but missed by an inch.

"Irvine! Come back I. .. oh, Hyne."  She took off in an weary jog, confident in her inability to catch him. She had cast three spells in the last half hour. Quistis was ready to collapse on the lush green turf, stick  out her tongue out and toss up a white lily.

She found Irvine hiding behind a pyramid of large, wooden crates located a few feet of the landing pad.  He watched the small, charcoal dirigible land gracefully on the tarmac and called her over to join him.

"Irvine-we shouldn't be here!  If she finds us together out here after curfew, she will inquire. It doesn't matter if she's my friend or not.  Let's go. Let's. . ."

"Hey, look there's Samah."  Irvine ignored his lover's words and pointed subtly as the dark-haired martial artist came into view. He approached the landing pad, and rested silently as the vessel came to a complete halt.

"Irvine!" Quistis hissed. "We have to get out of here! We have to. . ."

The airship groaned as the mechanical portal slowly grew and opened from the center. Quistis shut her mouth angrily and curled up against Irvine as a thick rope ladder was tossed out the hold.  A tired looking field commander emerged and stepped to the ground.  As pristine and professional as she always was, Xu had dark circles under her large, hazel eyes, and her pale skin was both whiter and unnaturally flushed. She blinked twice.

"It's late- past curfew.  Garden's all locked up."

Lukan Samah stepped onto the tarmac, his voice barely a whisper.  Xu nodded.

"I know. I was delayed. The time zone discrepancies don't help, either."  Pulling a remote control from her uniform pocket, she flipped a switch.  The rope raveled itself into a neat bundle and disappeared into the ship. Pushing a button closed the entrance.  Re-inserting the remote in left jacket pocket, Xu met Samah at the edge of the launch pad.

"So I have an excuse.  What are you doing out here?  You haven't missed curfew in six years, Captain Samah. . ."

"I was just heading in and noticed the Balamb Zeppelin on the horizon. I. . .figured you'd appreciate a welcome committee. . .even if it was only a one man band. . ."

"You were always good to break a few rules if given a reason, Lukan."  Xu murmured.  He blushed slightly and nodded.

"It was easy with you around Xu- you just made up new ones to replace the old ones."He chuckled. "Poor Cid- first Matron, then you- he never had a chance to 'wear the pants' in the family. Even I was higher on the dominance scale than he was.

"Not much." Was Xu's response. There was a mystical, nostalgic look on her face that was totally foreign to Quistis.  The blonde SeeD heard a sharp gasp from her companion.

"Irvine?"

"Quisty. . .did Xu just smile?" He whispered, a little stunned.

"I. . .don't know."  Quistis replied, a little traumatized. "Whatever it was, it was unnerving. . ."

'Samah and Xu. . .'

'KuRsEd sEEd'S. . .'

'huh?'

"Was Martine aware of this visit?"  Samah asked, changing the subject. Xu shook her head slightly, her  thick, brunette bob bouncing from side to side.

"No. I wasn't even aware of it until five minutes before I left. I had to get over here with this assignment tonight, because the team should have been assembled for tomorrow morning- a rather substantial issue, but we'll just have to postpone until the morning. I WAS hoping that Cid would patch a transmission through to the office, but I have a feeling he fell asleep. He's getting on in years- he's just not as attentive as he used to be."

"Well, that's why he has you." Samah offered. "Balamb is the head Garden and it needs you there. Cid needs you there and Matron needed you there. You're doing an astounding job. The SeeDs are amazing- just look at Trepe. These kids need Garden, Xu. And you."

"You are so full of sensitive bullshit, Lukan.  I miss that sometimes." She smiled (?!?) softly and, reaching up, stroked his cheek.  It was an uncharacteristic gesture for the frigid Balamb field commander. Samah closed his eyes and grinned sheepishly.

"I'm glad you've grown to miss it . ."

"I miss a lot." She whispered, her words only audible to the two voyeurs because of the clarity of the summer night landscape. "I didn't think I was going to get to see you before the sealing. So. . .I wanted to make a point of visiting you before then.  I didn't want our first rendezvous in a year to be on those terms. It's depressing. So. . .I. . ."

"You can be here whenever you want!" He interrupted, his voice suddenly sliding out of generally quiet tone into a loud, resounding horn-like baritone. She smiled and shook her head.

"No. I can't. You know that. Don't provoke me, Lukan.  If I stay more than a day. . ."

"I won't let you go." He finished simply and dejectedly.

"If I stay more than a day I won't let myself go." She corrected. "And this is not about distance or past or future or even our GFs- though all of those elements could just simply add to the distress our relationship would inflict on our situations. Something is coming. Something beyond us. I don't understand it.  Matron foretold it. Cid knows something.  Psyche is buzzing in my head every moment of every day.  And then, there is all of this shit with Galbadia and Esthar- I don't know what's going on, Lukan, but we need to get Matron sealed. As much as it wounds me to say that. It's been four years- what's another month to a relationship that's been on and off for the last seventeen years?"

He didn't answer her. He was too frustrated.

'Seventeen years? Xu and Samah have known each other since I was born'

'KuRsEd sEEds. . .eVeN tHeN. . .'

"What's Psyche been saying?"  Samah asked, his normal, quiet demeanor returned.

"psst- hun? Who's Psyche?"  Irvine asked, his lips pressed softly to Quistis' ear.

"Xu's GF.  She's a psionic GF with psychic foresight and the ability to link to every GF on the planet. That's how Balamb can locate Guardians for the SeeD exams. . ."

". . .Oh."

" She's afraid, Lukan. She won't tell me, but she's been very excitable and stressed. And she's. .. been asking for something.  Which is another reason why I wanted to talk to you. . ."  Xu trailed off in an almost cowardly fashion, which startled Quistis.  But it didn't phase Samah, who simply shook his head resolutely.

"I. . .won't junction him. You remember what happened last time. The power's insane. And especially not now, with Trepe understanding her powers and everything.  She'd sense it from out there in the wild, no matter how. . .involved she was." Quistis bridled at the comment.

"Lukan, you know I wouldn't ask you to junction him if I didn't think it was the only way." Xu exclaimed, full of alien passion. "Something is coming!  Something bigger than us. Bigger than Garden. Bigger. . .than Adel."

"Don't pray on my weaknesses, Xu. That's cheap and ignoble. I. . .I'll think about junctioning him. But. . .ah hell- we can't keep using the GFs. They destroy our memories! I think mine is going to kill me, and yours is slowly consuming you. You're right- there is something on it's way. But using GFs to predict the future is practically blasphemous. Time magic is only evil. I. . .Hyne, I'm sorry Xu. I'll stop preaching.  You know I support you, and you know every possible way to make me cave in, so I don't see why I'm making a stand. I'll let you and Psyche create a co-junction with Vigil and I if you need to. Just make sure we do it on a Friday so my period of incapacitation falls on  weekend- I have to teach on Mondays."

'Umm. . .huh?'

'KurSed. . .'

'Alright, alright. Hyne. . .'

"Oh God, Lukan." Xu shook her head patted his cheek. "Just when I thought you'd developed a sturdy backbone, you go and discard your moral stance because of paranoia.  I'll just keep prodding Psyche and maybe we won't need Vigil.  I hate making you summon him- frankly, he scares the hell out of me and makes Psyche go virtually insane.  And he hurts you. Contrary to what you believe, I no longer enjoy watching you squirm in pain and agony." She stopped and smirked. "I stopped wishing death on you six and a half years ago.  And have only looked back once or thrice. . ."

"Xu. . ."

"Can you get back into Garden tonight?" She asked suddenly.

"You know I can't. . ."

"Where are you sleeping?"

" I. . ."

"C'mon." She pulled out her remote control and re-opened the ship.  The rope bridge fell at her feet.

"Is there an extra bed in there? Is there any bed in there?"  Samah asked, peering up.  Xu rolled her eyes.

"No- there are no beds in there. And don't be stupid- you know damn well if there was more than one you wouldn't get to use it. Hyne, for a guy who hasn't been laid in a year, you sure are picky." She growled.

'Eeeps! Xu. . .'

"Why do you just naturally assume that I will sleep with. . ." Xu gave Samah her trademark look- the look she used to put all students, faculty and Cid in their places. Samah gulped, grinned and  hopped up the ladder.  Before following, Xu put her hand to her temple  and closed her eyes for a moment. She stood there in complete stillness for a moment, then slowly opened her eyes and stared out into the landscape.  Then all of a sudden, she flung her gaze on the crate pyramid and locked eyes with Quistis.

'. . .shit. . .'

Xu raised an eyebrow, and cocked her head.  Xu'd seen Irvine. Of course.  Smirking, she saluted slightly and whispered a good night. Then the field commander climbed into her ship and locked the door behind her and Samah.

After a moment, Quistis sneaked out from behind the wooden crates with Irvine in tow.  Xu was sly and  Quistis was just a little paranoid now that the Balamb commander had discovered her tryst.

"Wow. . .I kinda wish that we didn't spy on'em- though I am happy that Instructor's Samah's getting' laid- you will be too, hun. He's so laid back and happy. Sometimes, I just wanna buy'em a hooker, or somethin' so he gets off my back, y'know? But he's mad fer Xu, so this'll be great. . .Do ya think I can convince her to visit on a weekly basis. 'cause, he'd be so much more lenient if he was gettin' a lil more lovin'. . ."

"Irvine- what the fuck is going on? What do you know?"  Quistis interrupted his stereotypically-Irvine tangent. He blinked.

"Uh, what?"

"What is going on around here? What were they talking about?  Who is Matron? Why are they sealing her and what is coming? How are you connected to the sorceresses and what are these special powers of yours?  Spill. Now."  

"Quisty, honey. . .I don't know . . ."

"Don't lie to me." She interrupted. "You may not know all of it, but. .please, Irvine. Tell me something. So I don't feel like I'm drowning and powerless. I'm. . .afraid for you." She ended in a subdued whisper. She was ready to sob, but she didn't.

"Okay, sweetheart. Okay."

Gathering her in his arms, Irvine directed her to their campsite.  He lit and fire and pulled her close as she snuggled up against his chest.  His wool and suede duster  was spread over their weary bodies, and Irvine used his hat as a pillow, while Quistis used his shoulder.  Irvine pulled his lover's hair from it's fine clasp and gently stroked it.

"Irvine. . ."

"You remember that story I told you in the hotel, Quisty?  'Bout the sorceress dying 'n stuff?"  She nodded. "Well. . .Matron- my matron, Xu's matron and Samah's matron- she. . .inherited the powers. She absorbed them. After that, she sent me away- me an' the rest of the kids. Some were adopted, other's weren't ever. Like me. . .and Seifer. Seifer and I were in the same orphanage when we were little, did ya know that?"

"No. I didn't. . ."

"He didn't either.  He didn't remember me. The first day he came to Galbadia I recognized him and approached him- I was sure that he remembered me. We used to play guns tagether- big surprise that I'm a sharpshooter and he's a gunbladesmen.  We used ta always watch these "Sorceress Knight" movies too. . but anyway. I started ta talk ta him 'bout the orphanage, but he treated me like I was crazy.  He couldn't remember anything. Then I got desperate and tried ta convince him that his own past had happened- he got really pissed off and threatened ta beat the hell outta me. Then I mentioned somethin' that only he and I would know and he stopped. See- there was this lighthouse near the orphanage and we used ta sneak up there and play.  Seif would bring me because I got excited easily and I was a good patsy, but I didn't cry. So we went up there during this storm and tried breaking the lock to the door, but we couldn't break it. So we started ta try ta break down the door. Well, the force of us throwin' our little selves 'gainst that door somehow managed ta loosen a couple stones from the exterior which fell and knocked us both out.  When I woke up, I found him unconscious and his mouth was all bloody- two of his teeth had been knocked out.  I thought it was funny and sang my bully song- he got real mad when he woke up and punched me in the. . .anyway, to make a long story a bit shorter, I revealed this little story ta Seifer and showed him which teeth he'd lost and the scar in his mouth.  And that was the only thing he'd remembered 'bout his entire childhood."

"Hyne. . ."

"Yeah. But what was even worse was that he got so mad at me for rememberin' all this that he came ta find me later in the cafeteria that day and started ta beat the hell outta me.  That was that first fight.  I told Martine that Seif had tried ta bud inta the lunch line, but he was really lookin' ta fight me.  I can't blame'em though- knowledge is a real powerful thing.  How would'you feel knowin' that someone else knows everything about you while you know nothin'?  That's why he was always so pissed at me.  'Cause I had some sort of power over him."

"Irvine. I can't believe. . .you and Seifer. Wow."

"Wild, eh?  He was just as much an asshole when he was little. Used ta beat on this one kid all the time- heh heh, the kid was such a cry baby, though. . .Seffie used ta tell on Seifer all the time, but he wouldn't beat her up 'cause he didn't beat on girls, so I got beat for her.  Didn't hurt much- Matron usually stopped him. Then after the sorceress thing, I could always anticipate Seifer's moves, so it didn't matter anymore."

"After the sorceress. .. ?" 

Irvine wrapped his arms around her waist fiercely and protectively. He kissed her full, sweetened lips and put his mouth close to her ear.

"You said you wanted to know. About my 'powers'. But you can't ever speak of them, or else. . .well, I don't really know. Somethin' bad'll happen. Promise me. . ."

"I promise. . ." Quistis' heart was racing. An impending sensation of terror came upon her and her entire body tensed and ached. He held onto her.

"Here goes. . ." he whispered. "  That day, the sorceress. Do you remember what I said.  How she grabbed my arm and started whispering garbled words at me?  You're a sorceress, honey- what was that?"

Quistis had an epiphany. "Holy mother of Hyne, a spell."

"Yeah.  She was sayin' a spell. But she didn't cast it- no, her sayin' that spell wasn't about castin' it. She was dyin'- what use did she have for castin' a spell?  Honey, She was sayin' that spell. . ."

"So you'd remember it." Quistis whispered. "Like a legacy."

"Exactly." He whispered- his voice trembling slightly. "And I do.  Every sound, every inflection, every facial and physical movement. And she knew that. I don't know how, and I don't know why, but she knew about my memory.  And she had this cruel smirk on her face when she was done.  Quisty- this spell. . .I don't know what it is. But it's powerful. More powerful than anythin' I've ever felt.  Even without bein' cast, it does stuff ta me- Sometimes, I get flashes of things in the future, or things in the past- stuff that I could never hope ta live through. And. . .sometimes, I can hear my matron in my head- even recently, when she's been sealed away. Not only that- but I can hear my mama. My REAL mama- from the dead. She tells me stuff. You think you have problems with voices in yer head- I got both these ladies in there tellin' me stuff.  Not all the times, mind ya, but sometimes. And. . my sniperin'. I hate ta say it, but I'm a good shot because I can see things happen a split second before they occur. That's why my reaction's are so good.  This spell does stuff ta me, Quisty. I'm. . .afraid of what it is. Odine wants me, Galbadia wants me- Fuck, who knows who else does.  But it's inside of me, I can feel it sometimes- it pulsates and even burns me sometimes.  And when that happens, all I can think 'bout is that crazy sorceress with the electric blond hair and the tattoos on her face, smellin' like gunpowder and metal and dead roses and  smirking like she's just got a fine taste of cold vengeance. For some reason, she wanted me ta remember that spell. I don't know. . ." He stopped for a moment.  "Quisty, hun . . I. . .honestly don't know what else ta. . ."

"Don't tell me anything else. That's frightening enough as is." Quistis sighed and snuggled against her handsome lover. "I'm glad I'm exhausted- that means I'll sleep even after that. Will you be okay?"

"Sure- I've been livin' with this fer ten years. I can handle another night. 'specially when I get ta spend it with my favorite girl. . ."  Irvine lifted Quistis' face and kissed her sincerely. "I love you Quistis Trepe. I do. You got me- whether ya want it or not."

"Hyne. . .Irvine, I love you too. I. .."

"I know, hun- we both do. We don't have ta say it. We know. But it is nice ta hear and say it sometimes. . .Let's sleep now- I have a feeling I'm gonna be leavin' tomorrow on an assignment. Unless I tell Martine and Xu ta fuck off. I'm not quite sure yet. . ."

"Be a good boy so I can take you back to Mother Garden, Irvine. She'll be happy to meet you. . ."

"G'night Quisty."

"Good night."

They slept and Quistis' dreams were filled with song.

"BiG BAD SeIFy, lIkEs To pUnCh aNd bItE

aLl He cAn dO iS gRrR aNd grOWl aND fIgHt.

TOo bAd MaTRoN sEnDs hIm oFf to bEd

CaUse I'M So SmArT anD I'Ll bEat'Em uP InStEad!"