Rating: R (I tried to keep it lower, but it just wasn't destined to happen - unlike other things [which are responsible for the rating])

Disclaimer: SG characters are (c) MGM (thankie to Morrigan for that :p).  FF8 characters are (c) Squaresoft, original characters are mine – ask nicely and I might let you play with them, s'long's you don't break them...

Warnings: SxS - Yaoi (guyxguy) later - if u don't like, don't read.  Character death.  Maybe angst (I do like to torture my characters sometimes :p), language (prob nothin u aint heard b4, but still...)

~Chapter Ten: Discoveries~

When Laguna said the scout craft could travel faster than the Ragnarok, Quistis mused, struggling to regain her balance on ground that seemed to be moving faster than a train, she had never for one moment really believed him.  She was gratified to find, after staggering around a corner, that Zell was having a similarly difficult transition from travelling at over 1,100 feet per second to walking on terra firma.

They had startled everyone with the speed of their arrival, both in time from receiving the message and in velocity itself.  The pilot had been rescued from Selphie by the simple expedient of Irvine explaining that there were no weapons or any of the 'funky' gadgets Selphie so adored on the Ragnarok.  She had almost immediately lost interest, not even turning to watch as the pilot took off and headed back to Esthar.

Quistis paused as she felt the familiar tingle of an esuna spell wash over her, and spun around to find Irvine with a grin on his face.  Automatically she opened her mouth to scold him, and then realised that the world was no longer moving past at an incredible pace.  Zell too had recovered with the spell, and he called a hearty 'thanks' to Irvine before he turned and headed for his room.

"I know, I know."  Irvine waved down the still pending lecture.  "I'm not supposed to go around casting magic wherever it might help."  He snorted at the Garden rule.  "Well, a) I'm not in Garden right now, b) it appears to have worked and c) I don't know when, if, anything's going to happen, and I'd rather not have you and Zell wandering around half crazed if something does happen."  Quistis sighed and closed her mouth on the lecture.

"Well, I'll go change and..."  She stopped as the buildings began to resonate with a low rumble.  She exchanged a look with Irvine, then they both ran for the source.  Quistis felt another tingle as she ran through a doorway on Irvine's heels.

"Shell and Protect - Odine's idea.  Gets you on the way in, but not the way out.  People were forgetting to put the spells on before they came in."  He explained quickly, shouting the information over his shoulder at her.

AN: Well, now we know how to make Selphie lose interest in something... *grins*