The Virus
A/N: OMG, is it true?! Do I biufinally/b/i/u feel the need to update! I DO!
buChapter 8: Seifer/b/u
The sun rose on a new day in Balamb. At the Garden, many of the students were just waking and preparing themselves for another day of training. Instructors went to their classrooms and booted up the computers, then went over their lesson plans. The cafeteria ladies had just finished preparing the breakfast and were starting to get ready to serve the hungry students.
However...
The radio that connected the happenings of the Ragnarok to Balamb Garden had been giving them nothing but static for two and a half days. Headmaster Cid was beginning to worry, and from the description of Noble Island he'd gotten out of books and scientists, things weren't looking good for the Elite group of SeeDs.
"What are we supposed to do?" The headmaster anxiously asked, pacing back and forth across his office. Seated in various places were Dr. Kadowaki, Xu, and Kiros, who had shown up on behalf of President Laguna.
"The last time a group of people went to retrieve the blossom... Out of the several that went, two returned and one was permanentely injured." Xu said gravely, shaking her head with dissappointment.
"When did you lose contact with them?" Kiros slowly asked, as usual he was nothing but calm.
"We lost contact right after they made their landing on the island... It wasn't a crash landing, because we were in the middle of a radio transmission with Irvine when the static began."
Kiros looked thoughtful and folded his arms across his chest. "If you recieved a transmission while they were on the island, the problem can't be that they're simply out of range. If they didn't crash, it most likely rules out the idea of damage to the ship... It's made of the strongest possible material, and I can't name one monster that can cause damage to it." He stood and smoothed out his clothing. "I've never come across a problem like this. It seems like it's going to remain a mystery until we find any possible causes for the lack of communications."
"The most serious problem is that we've sent the best group of SeeDs to an island they know nothing about, armed with only their weapons and a stock of spells. Spells run out, as does ammo. It's known now that the Phettia blossom calls this island home, and it's a tropical island. There will be rain, and muddy conditions, which leads to the blossom wishing to spread the disease."
"Is it a blossom, or is it a monster?" Asked Kiros, turning away from the window he had been looking out of. "It has monster characteristics. It wishes to poison people, and it can choose it's victims."
"The book classifies it as a monster." Xu nodded, showing him the page. "What I'm saying is that there's a great possibility that more people than Zell could become infected, and there's a chance they already have."
"We need a plan. We have to get them out of there." Cid sighed, shaking his head. "I've known a great deal of these SeeDs since they were four or five... They're like children to me." "I could speak to Laguna about possibly sending someone in there to get them. We could take two extra ships, incase something happened. I'm sure he'd agree, seeing as his son is one of the people."
"Laguna would agree anyways." Xu stood now, closing the book. "I think now it's the only possible thing to do. We could find some fighters, and take some doctors and scientists, and head to the island. We'll locate Squall and the others and get them off the island."
"But what about Zell?" Dr. Kadowaki asked, eyes wide. "If you take him off the island before he's had the cure... It'll only be a matter of months before he can't fight death anymore."
"It all depends on the situation. If we get there and find them all struggling to live, we can't let them all die to save one person. I'm sorry." Xu sighed softly. "If Zell hasn't taken the cure by the time we arrive, he's going to have to leave without it."
"That's crazy." Kiros snapped. "Almost as crazy as believing Squall would let you take him away without the cure. He considers everything a mission, and this is no different. He'll complete this mission, if not only to save his best friend, or he'll die trying."
"But... We can't leave all of our best SeeDs in jeopardy because of one person!"
"No, Kiros is right, Xu... We won't get any of them off the island until Zell is cured." Cid nodded slowly. "I think his plan is better. We'll gather a bunch of our SeeDs and send them to Esthar... There, they can get a flight to the island and locate the rest of our SeeDs, hopefully before anything happens, and then they can accompany them to the blossom."
"You can't do that either, Cid." Dr. Kadowaki said. "Then all the others will be infected possibly, and there's not enough equipment to save more than ten people, providing no one makes a mistake when they're mixing the cure. Sending too many people would be foolish."
Kiros smiled slightly. "I have another idea... You might not all approve of this, but I think it'll work. There's someone in Esthar who has been meaning to prove himself since the war against Ultimecia ended... He was in rough shape for a bit, but it seems like he's pulled himself together and he's shaping up to be a trustworthy young man."
"You can't possibly mean..." Cid began, but trailed off slowly. "I heard he was living in Esthar... But you can't mean..."
"I do mean him. Seifer Almasy. Give him a chance, you'll be surprised."
"Seifer alone isn't going to bring back the entire party of SeeDs. And I don't think they'll trust him enough to go with him."
"I think you underestimate their intelligence, Xu." Kiros snapped. "Think of it. Seifer shows up in the middle of their mission at an extremely dangerous island. He says he has a way for them to get back home. Why would he go through all that trouble just to lie to them and trick them into thinking that he's helping them? It would mean he put himself in severe danger just to have a good laugh at their expense? No. And you seem to have forgotten that a certain member of that group has since befriended him again."
"You must mean Rinoa. I did hear she was speaking with him again." Cid stopped pacing and sat down. "You might have a point here... Seifer wouldn't agree to it unless he was serious about saving them."
"Sir! He betrayed the Garden! He befriended a sorceress!" Xu's face was red with anger.
"Like I said, he's shaping up to be trustworthy." Kiros turned back to the window.
"How would you even know this?!" Xu's fists were clenched at her sides. "Have you been around him enough to know his behaviour? I've known him since he was around thirteen, and Headmaster Cid has known him since he was a troublemaking five year old! He has always been the same!"
"You really need to look past your own perspective." Kiros sighed, rolling his eyes. "Yes, he betrayed Garden during the war. Why? He was hypnotized by Ultimecia's powers, by her seductive charms... The chance to actually be someone after years of failing course after course in school... It was a great draw for him... But after he thought he had gotten everything he wanted... He loses his best friends, then he loses in battle to Squall, someone who had always been his equal... He realized he no longer had powers like he did, and now he's alone... After Ultimecia blew him off, he was completely alone... He travels for a while before he meets up with Fujin and Raijin... He felt so guilty for what he had put them through, he apologized many many times... Through broken one word sentences and a great deal of 'ya know's I managed to gather from the two of them that Seifer had realized if he was going to amount to anything, he'd need to do it on his own... Now, this was hard to do, since now everyone hated him. He couldn't find a job, he was getting things thrown at him in the streets... And eventually Fujin and Raijin both told him if he couldn't support himself, he had to leave... They were having a hard enough time with work as it was. So he left his dwelling place at Fisherman's Horizon and he started to travel again... But he could never find a friendly face... Three months ago, however, he was in Deling City on a day when Rinoa was visiting her father. She took pity on him, and she convinced Squall to get him to Esthar, where she begged Laguna to get him a job, which was hard, but he finally pulled it off. Seifer became a bouncer for a bar in the city, and it disappointed us to learn that he was getting into fights at work... The last straw was when he stopped showing up on time, and the day before he got fired, he had the nerve to show up drunk."
"Sounds like a great guy to entrust the lives of our SeeDs too." Xu muttered sarcastically.
"I'm not finished." Kiros glared. "I dislike interruptions, please refrain from butting into my story again. Now, as I was saying... We pulled him in front of Laguna, thinking he would instill a good punishment on him... But instead, Laguna gives him a job as an aide. Now, I was wondering now who casted the confusion spell on the President without me noticing... But I saw right from day one that Laguna really made an effort in his spare time to get to know Seifer, and to understand why he was doing the things he does.. Which I always thought was just him being Seifer... Now, I don't know a good deal about the issues behind the behaviour, but Laguna assured me there was a good one... Seifer smartened up, and Laguna gave him a job as the head of the Esthar Army... Neither myself or Ward thought it was a smart move, but we were wrong. Seifer made good calls on handling issues, and he had an active role in planning anything involving strategy... I think he would be the perfect candidate for this rescue operation... And, of course... I believe I could spare my services as well. We are both skilled fighters, I believe we could handle locating Squall and the rest, helping them cure Zell, and bringing them back here unharmed."
"Seifer was always good at his strategy classes... When he tried." Cid gave Kiros a bright smile. "If you think Seifer can do this, Kiros, I can trust you. You're a very intelligent man, and from what I've heard, you are wrong very rarely."
"Thank you." Kiros nodded politely to the compliments. "So, does this mean I should head back to Esthar and inform Seifer of this new mission?"
"I think you should." Cid stood up and offered Kiros his hand, which the ex-soldier shook firmly. "Just... Keep yourselves in contact with Laguna, so he can inform us of any developments."
"Will do." Kiros nodded and headed for the door, pausing only to give Xu a look that caused her to snort indignantly and turn her back on him.
*****
"We should be fine with a group of around fifteen soldiers down there." Seifer Almasy explained, pointing to a small area on the map. "The monsters shouldn't break through, they're weak and we've had alot of practice."
"General Almasy, sir."
He turned around to face a soldier in the doorway of his office. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
"I know, sir, but Presidential Aide Kiros sent me to get you. He says he has something urgent to tell you."
Seifer sighed and turned back to the high ranking soldiers who had been planning with him. "Two seconds, guys." He strolled over to the soldier and took him out of the room. "What could be so important that I have to compromise security for the city? Because that's what I'm in the middle of doing!"
The soldier looked frightened now. "Sir, I was only doing my job! Sir Kiros said I had to get you right away!"
"Fine, fine. Where is he?"
"He's waiting at the front of the building, sir."
Seifer let the soldier go and began to head for the front. He rolled his eyes, wondering what the hell the big emergency was. Kiros never panicked, not ever, so it couldn't be that urgent... If it was extremely important, Kiros would have come and gotten Seifer himself. He went to adjust his jacket before remembering he no longer wore it... And he again cursed the dress code of the army.
"Ah. General Almasy." Kiros greeted him with a wan smile.
Seifer stopped in front of the lithe man and crossed his arms. "What do you want?"
"I see you're still not making any effort to be polite to me."
"Yeah, well, I think you're arrogant."
Kiros laughed at that, but it wasn't a humorous laugh. "Pot. Kettle. Black."
"Get on with it, Seagill. I have better things to do."
"Not anymore, you don't." Kiros put his hand on his hip, taking on a cocky stance. "Laguna's given you an order to accompany me to Noble Island."
"What?! That's crazy! I'm in the middle of securing the city's safety from the remainders of those moon-monsters!"
"Ward, I believe, will be taking over while you're gone. We've got a mission from Balamb Garden."
Seifer's eyes darkened visibly. "Why would I do anything for them? It's not like they've helped me a day in my life."
"It's like this. On a mission, Zell was infected with a virus to which there is only one cure... This cure is so rare, you can only find it by heading deep into Noble Island."
"Keep talking."
"Squall and the rest went to the island to find the cure but right after landing, Balamb lost all contact with the Ragnarok."
"And I should give a shit why?"
"Because Rinoa's with them. If we don't locate them and give them a way home from the island... You'll never see her again. And... If for no other reason... If you don't do this, you have no clue how Laguna will get. You've never seen the man in a depressed mood. I have. I've been through two of those moods, and you feel like you don't even know him... First he lost Julia because he left to go to war... She married someone else... Then he lost Raine to childbirth... If he loses his only son..." Kiros shrugged. "But, if you don't give a shit..."
"Don't patronize me, Seagill." Seifer snapped, his eyes narrowed. "I don't like it when you try this guilt-trip shit. You should know better than anyone that I do what I want to do."
"I'm not giving you a 'guilt-trip', Seifer. I'm simply telling you... If you turn down Laguna's order and Squall never comes home, or if I go alone and none of us return, he'll most likely blame you." Kiros lowered his voice. "And without the President's backing, Seifer, how many people do you think are going to support you?"
Seifer glared at Kiros, but inside he knew the older man was right... If he lost the friendship of Laguna, he'd be back to square one. No job... No friends... No life. He couldn't let it go back to how it had been... And... He couldn't just stand by knowing Rinoa was in danger like that. "Fine." He answered, his voice low but dangerous. "I'll go with you. But watch your back, Seagill, cause I won't be." And he turned and strode away, every movement radiating his fury.
Kiros smiled to himself and also left the front foyer of the army building. He had known Seifer would see it his way.
*****
Smiling brightly, President Laguna Loire waved to Seifer, who was approaching his desk. "Hey Seifer!"
The young man, however, didn't seem to be in such a cheerful mood. "What is this about a 'mission to Noble island' Kiros is all over me about?"
Laguna blinked in surprise at Seifer and tilted his head. "He told you already? I thought you were at work..."
"I was!" Seifer shouted, but quickly lowered his voice when Laguna looked hurt. "I'm sorry... It's just... I'm trying to do my best to keep up the defences here, and I can't get called off to go on some mission... And I especially have a problem going with Seagill."
"But Kiros is my best friend! I've known him a long time, Seifer, he's a good guy!"
"Maybe to you."
"Well... Yeah! I don't get it, Seifer... I've never had a problem with him!"
"Laguna..." Seifer started, but then trailed off with a sigh. "Nevermind. What am I supposed to do on this mission?"
"Didn't Kiros fill you in?"
"No, I got away from him as soon as I could."
"Oh... Well... Zell got sick on a mission for Garden-"
"Yeah, I heard that part, Laguna. I meant what exactly am I supposed to do about this?"
"Well, in a day I was planning on you and Kiros taking an airship down to Noble and finding Squall and the rest of them and getting them to their destination, and back, safely..." Laguna trailed off and a rare sad expression came over his face. "I just hope their alive when you two get there..."
"Hey."
Laguna looked back up at Seifer slowly, still looking depressed.
"I'll be ready to leave tonight, if you can arrange it."
"Really?!"
Seifer nodded and sighed.
"Thanks! You're a great guy, Seifer! I'll tell Kiros and you two can go tonight and be at Noble a few hours later!" Laguna stood up and threw his arms around Seifer happily.
"Ok, ok, just quit hugging me." Seifer tried to sound angry, but there was amusement in his voice. Try as he might, he could never seem to get angry with Laguna. He was too... Innocent? Nah. Too stupid, maybe, to waste his anger on. Seifer smirked at the thought. 'Well, he is the epitome of stupid...'
Laguna let him go and regained his composure. "Well, I'm going to grab Kiros... You go and pack your stuff! Oh, yeah! I was talking to Doctor Kadowaki on the phone, she said to make sure you have plenty of... Oh..." He scratched his head. "What was it she said? It wasn't curaga..." A faint blush spread across his cheeks. "Ah... I forgot! Ok, you go and find Kiros and... No, wait, you don't like Kiros, so I'll find him and you call Doctor Kadowaki and find out what she wanted you to bring lots of! I think the number's on my desk. Somewhere." He started searching the cluttered top of his desk frantically. "I could've sworn it was here somewhere..."
"It's ok, Laguna. I know the number for Balamb Garden, I'll just have them put me through to her office."
"Oh, ok! Good!" He didn't stay any longer, because it was obvious he was excited at the prospect of his son's rescue...
Seifer felt a surge of jealousy at that... Squall had a good dad, but he never wanted to talk to the guy... Yet Laguna had this undying, devoted love for Squall... 'I would treat him like a son should treat a father...' Seifer thought to himself bitterly as he picked up the phone. 'Too bad he'd never love me like that...' He quickly pushed aside the depressing thoughts, like he had been doing alot recently. There was no time for his self-pity... He had a mission, and he was going to devote himself to it... Maybe as a way to re-prove himself to the world... If word got out that he saved the world-wide hero Squall from certain doom... He'd be re- considered and everyone would have to like him. He sat down in the chair behind Laguna's desk and put his feet up, ignoring the paperwork he was putting his boots on.
i"Balamb Garden switchboard. Who are you calling for?"/i Came the voice over the phone.
"Doctor Kadowaki, and make it quick. It's urgent, and long distance."
i"Yes sir, one moment please."/i
The phone rang in his ear a couple times before the doctor picked it up. i"Doctor Kadowaki, can I help you?"/i
"It's Seifer."
i"Ah, I was expecting you might call. Laguna was quite busy when we spoke, and I've heard many times that he tends to be a bit scatterbrained."/i
"He forgot what you wanted me to bring along."
i"I told him, 'Tell Seifer to bring along plenty of Esunas, some Curagas, Elixirs, and possibly some strong defensive magic, like Flare or Ultima."/i
"Why flare and ultima?"
i"The species of monsters on this particular island are a force to be reckoned with... I'm hoping Ultima or Flare would at least daze them."/i
"Daze them? Don't you mean kill them?"
i"Not these monsters. It wouldn't even come close to killing them. The esuna magic is for Zell... He must be in bad shape by now... The curagas and elixirs would be for the rest of the team, and yourself. Between you and Kiros, you should be able to make it to them quickly... You won't be carrying anything except the elixirs and possibly tents, whereas they must be carrying alot... If the ship was damaged, it's very possible they need to take turns carrying Zell."/i
Seifer rolled his eyes. "Of course Chicken-wuss would let them fuss over him and carry them."
i"Seifer."/i The doctor's tone made him roll his eyes a second time. i"Zell is in no condition to be walking on his own. You might not understand now, but when you see him you'll know what I mean. He won't be the Zell you remember."/i
"Does the disease make people shape-shift, or what? The chicken-wuss I know wouldn't even let some stupid sickness get in the way."
i"Seifer... Zell isn't just sick. He's dying."/i
Seifer nearly dropped the phone at this. "He's what?!"
i"This disease isn't just something that makes him weak until he gets cured... It will slowly take over his body until he's nothing but a vegetable. Then he'll die slowly. The more activity he's forced to do, the quicker the disease will spread... And others could end up infected, because the flower blooms actively on Noble... If they all end up sick, they would be forced to be walking all day carrying food and tents and the equipment to make the cure... I'm afraid none of them would even make it to their destination."/i
"Yeah, well, I'm leaving tonight." Seifer effectively kept the worry out of his voice. "Don't worry about it, I'm going to take care of everything."
i"You sound like you've grown up quite a bit since the last time I saw you, Seifer... I'm glad to hear you've been making some good choices down in Esthar."/i
"Yeah, gotta go Doctor. Things to do." Without waiting for a response, he hung up the phone and stood, stretching his arms and legs out, before heading off towards his room to pack some stuff for the journey.
*****
"I don't think I can thank you enough for leaving tonight." Laguna said to Kiros and Seifer while they waited for an airship. "And you know I'd go if I could... But... I can't just leave Esthar. I have responsibilities..." He looked at the two of them, and then looked at the ground and sniffled softly. "You two had better come back. Understand?"
"Don't worry about me, Laguna." Kiros said to his friend, a smile on his face. "I'm a grown man, I can take care of myself. No use upsetting yourself over my acceptance of the mission." He didn't move a muscle when Laguna threw his arms around Kiros' shoulders in a tight bear hug. Instead he laughed and returned the embrace. "You truly are one of a kind, Laguna."
The black haired man let go of Kiros and then turned to Seifer. "I was waiting for a chance to say this, and I guess now is as good as any... Seifer, since you got to Esthar and I started to get to know you, you've more or less grown on me... And..." He put his hand on Seifer's shoulder, squeezing softly. "I thought you might be glad to know that you're as much of a son to me as Squall is... I want you both to get back here safely."
And for the first time in his life, Seifer was completely speechless. No sarcastic reply would come to his mouth, no matter how much he wished for it to... Instead, as an answer, he stiffly hugged Laguna. He never had been good at expressing any emotions except anger and arrogance... He had liked it that way. The other stuff took a toll on him. He pulled away after a few seconds and sighed heavily. "Well... It's time to go." He turned and picked up his bag of things and quickly strode into the airship.
Laguna, however, wasn't upset by the lack of response. Instead he bade Kiros goodbye a few (twenty) more times before finally allowing his friend to go on his way. He watched the last of the crew that had been checking the airship leave, and then he watched the doors shut. Ignoring the depressing way he felt, he waved cheerily to the airship as it lifted off the ground... Very quickly it had vanished from his vision.
"President Laguna, sir?"
He turned to look at a timid young mechanic, who was holding out a folded peice of paper.
"General Almasy asked me to give this too you, sir."
"Thanks." He accepted and opened the note, and the words inside brought tears to his eyes.
'You're like the father I never had, Laguna. Thanks.
-Seifer'
A/N: Well, sorry about any typoes. I threw this out real fast and then skimmed it to add in some html stuffs so it wouldn't look messed up on ff.net. My writing has a habit of deleting paragprahs.
A/N: OMG, is it true?! Do I biufinally/b/i/u feel the need to update! I DO!
buChapter 8: Seifer/b/u
The sun rose on a new day in Balamb. At the Garden, many of the students were just waking and preparing themselves for another day of training. Instructors went to their classrooms and booted up the computers, then went over their lesson plans. The cafeteria ladies had just finished preparing the breakfast and were starting to get ready to serve the hungry students.
However...
The radio that connected the happenings of the Ragnarok to Balamb Garden had been giving them nothing but static for two and a half days. Headmaster Cid was beginning to worry, and from the description of Noble Island he'd gotten out of books and scientists, things weren't looking good for the Elite group of SeeDs.
"What are we supposed to do?" The headmaster anxiously asked, pacing back and forth across his office. Seated in various places were Dr. Kadowaki, Xu, and Kiros, who had shown up on behalf of President Laguna.
"The last time a group of people went to retrieve the blossom... Out of the several that went, two returned and one was permanentely injured." Xu said gravely, shaking her head with dissappointment.
"When did you lose contact with them?" Kiros slowly asked, as usual he was nothing but calm.
"We lost contact right after they made their landing on the island... It wasn't a crash landing, because we were in the middle of a radio transmission with Irvine when the static began."
Kiros looked thoughtful and folded his arms across his chest. "If you recieved a transmission while they were on the island, the problem can't be that they're simply out of range. If they didn't crash, it most likely rules out the idea of damage to the ship... It's made of the strongest possible material, and I can't name one monster that can cause damage to it." He stood and smoothed out his clothing. "I've never come across a problem like this. It seems like it's going to remain a mystery until we find any possible causes for the lack of communications."
"The most serious problem is that we've sent the best group of SeeDs to an island they know nothing about, armed with only their weapons and a stock of spells. Spells run out, as does ammo. It's known now that the Phettia blossom calls this island home, and it's a tropical island. There will be rain, and muddy conditions, which leads to the blossom wishing to spread the disease."
"Is it a blossom, or is it a monster?" Asked Kiros, turning away from the window he had been looking out of. "It has monster characteristics. It wishes to poison people, and it can choose it's victims."
"The book classifies it as a monster." Xu nodded, showing him the page. "What I'm saying is that there's a great possibility that more people than Zell could become infected, and there's a chance they already have."
"We need a plan. We have to get them out of there." Cid sighed, shaking his head. "I've known a great deal of these SeeDs since they were four or five... They're like children to me." "I could speak to Laguna about possibly sending someone in there to get them. We could take two extra ships, incase something happened. I'm sure he'd agree, seeing as his son is one of the people."
"Laguna would agree anyways." Xu stood now, closing the book. "I think now it's the only possible thing to do. We could find some fighters, and take some doctors and scientists, and head to the island. We'll locate Squall and the others and get them off the island."
"But what about Zell?" Dr. Kadowaki asked, eyes wide. "If you take him off the island before he's had the cure... It'll only be a matter of months before he can't fight death anymore."
"It all depends on the situation. If we get there and find them all struggling to live, we can't let them all die to save one person. I'm sorry." Xu sighed softly. "If Zell hasn't taken the cure by the time we arrive, he's going to have to leave without it."
"That's crazy." Kiros snapped. "Almost as crazy as believing Squall would let you take him away without the cure. He considers everything a mission, and this is no different. He'll complete this mission, if not only to save his best friend, or he'll die trying."
"But... We can't leave all of our best SeeDs in jeopardy because of one person!"
"No, Kiros is right, Xu... We won't get any of them off the island until Zell is cured." Cid nodded slowly. "I think his plan is better. We'll gather a bunch of our SeeDs and send them to Esthar... There, they can get a flight to the island and locate the rest of our SeeDs, hopefully before anything happens, and then they can accompany them to the blossom."
"You can't do that either, Cid." Dr. Kadowaki said. "Then all the others will be infected possibly, and there's not enough equipment to save more than ten people, providing no one makes a mistake when they're mixing the cure. Sending too many people would be foolish."
Kiros smiled slightly. "I have another idea... You might not all approve of this, but I think it'll work. There's someone in Esthar who has been meaning to prove himself since the war against Ultimecia ended... He was in rough shape for a bit, but it seems like he's pulled himself together and he's shaping up to be a trustworthy young man."
"You can't possibly mean..." Cid began, but trailed off slowly. "I heard he was living in Esthar... But you can't mean..."
"I do mean him. Seifer Almasy. Give him a chance, you'll be surprised."
"Seifer alone isn't going to bring back the entire party of SeeDs. And I don't think they'll trust him enough to go with him."
"I think you underestimate their intelligence, Xu." Kiros snapped. "Think of it. Seifer shows up in the middle of their mission at an extremely dangerous island. He says he has a way for them to get back home. Why would he go through all that trouble just to lie to them and trick them into thinking that he's helping them? It would mean he put himself in severe danger just to have a good laugh at their expense? No. And you seem to have forgotten that a certain member of that group has since befriended him again."
"You must mean Rinoa. I did hear she was speaking with him again." Cid stopped pacing and sat down. "You might have a point here... Seifer wouldn't agree to it unless he was serious about saving them."
"Sir! He betrayed the Garden! He befriended a sorceress!" Xu's face was red with anger.
"Like I said, he's shaping up to be trustworthy." Kiros turned back to the window.
"How would you even know this?!" Xu's fists were clenched at her sides. "Have you been around him enough to know his behaviour? I've known him since he was around thirteen, and Headmaster Cid has known him since he was a troublemaking five year old! He has always been the same!"
"You really need to look past your own perspective." Kiros sighed, rolling his eyes. "Yes, he betrayed Garden during the war. Why? He was hypnotized by Ultimecia's powers, by her seductive charms... The chance to actually be someone after years of failing course after course in school... It was a great draw for him... But after he thought he had gotten everything he wanted... He loses his best friends, then he loses in battle to Squall, someone who had always been his equal... He realized he no longer had powers like he did, and now he's alone... After Ultimecia blew him off, he was completely alone... He travels for a while before he meets up with Fujin and Raijin... He felt so guilty for what he had put them through, he apologized many many times... Through broken one word sentences and a great deal of 'ya know's I managed to gather from the two of them that Seifer had realized if he was going to amount to anything, he'd need to do it on his own... Now, this was hard to do, since now everyone hated him. He couldn't find a job, he was getting things thrown at him in the streets... And eventually Fujin and Raijin both told him if he couldn't support himself, he had to leave... They were having a hard enough time with work as it was. So he left his dwelling place at Fisherman's Horizon and he started to travel again... But he could never find a friendly face... Three months ago, however, he was in Deling City on a day when Rinoa was visiting her father. She took pity on him, and she convinced Squall to get him to Esthar, where she begged Laguna to get him a job, which was hard, but he finally pulled it off. Seifer became a bouncer for a bar in the city, and it disappointed us to learn that he was getting into fights at work... The last straw was when he stopped showing up on time, and the day before he got fired, he had the nerve to show up drunk."
"Sounds like a great guy to entrust the lives of our SeeDs too." Xu muttered sarcastically.
"I'm not finished." Kiros glared. "I dislike interruptions, please refrain from butting into my story again. Now, as I was saying... We pulled him in front of Laguna, thinking he would instill a good punishment on him... But instead, Laguna gives him a job as an aide. Now, I was wondering now who casted the confusion spell on the President without me noticing... But I saw right from day one that Laguna really made an effort in his spare time to get to know Seifer, and to understand why he was doing the things he does.. Which I always thought was just him being Seifer... Now, I don't know a good deal about the issues behind the behaviour, but Laguna assured me there was a good one... Seifer smartened up, and Laguna gave him a job as the head of the Esthar Army... Neither myself or Ward thought it was a smart move, but we were wrong. Seifer made good calls on handling issues, and he had an active role in planning anything involving strategy... I think he would be the perfect candidate for this rescue operation... And, of course... I believe I could spare my services as well. We are both skilled fighters, I believe we could handle locating Squall and the rest, helping them cure Zell, and bringing them back here unharmed."
"Seifer was always good at his strategy classes... When he tried." Cid gave Kiros a bright smile. "If you think Seifer can do this, Kiros, I can trust you. You're a very intelligent man, and from what I've heard, you are wrong very rarely."
"Thank you." Kiros nodded politely to the compliments. "So, does this mean I should head back to Esthar and inform Seifer of this new mission?"
"I think you should." Cid stood up and offered Kiros his hand, which the ex-soldier shook firmly. "Just... Keep yourselves in contact with Laguna, so he can inform us of any developments."
"Will do." Kiros nodded and headed for the door, pausing only to give Xu a look that caused her to snort indignantly and turn her back on him.
*****
"We should be fine with a group of around fifteen soldiers down there." Seifer Almasy explained, pointing to a small area on the map. "The monsters shouldn't break through, they're weak and we've had alot of practice."
"General Almasy, sir."
He turned around to face a soldier in the doorway of his office. "Can't you see I'm busy?"
"I know, sir, but Presidential Aide Kiros sent me to get you. He says he has something urgent to tell you."
Seifer sighed and turned back to the high ranking soldiers who had been planning with him. "Two seconds, guys." He strolled over to the soldier and took him out of the room. "What could be so important that I have to compromise security for the city? Because that's what I'm in the middle of doing!"
The soldier looked frightened now. "Sir, I was only doing my job! Sir Kiros said I had to get you right away!"
"Fine, fine. Where is he?"
"He's waiting at the front of the building, sir."
Seifer let the soldier go and began to head for the front. He rolled his eyes, wondering what the hell the big emergency was. Kiros never panicked, not ever, so it couldn't be that urgent... If it was extremely important, Kiros would have come and gotten Seifer himself. He went to adjust his jacket before remembering he no longer wore it... And he again cursed the dress code of the army.
"Ah. General Almasy." Kiros greeted him with a wan smile.
Seifer stopped in front of the lithe man and crossed his arms. "What do you want?"
"I see you're still not making any effort to be polite to me."
"Yeah, well, I think you're arrogant."
Kiros laughed at that, but it wasn't a humorous laugh. "Pot. Kettle. Black."
"Get on with it, Seagill. I have better things to do."
"Not anymore, you don't." Kiros put his hand on his hip, taking on a cocky stance. "Laguna's given you an order to accompany me to Noble Island."
"What?! That's crazy! I'm in the middle of securing the city's safety from the remainders of those moon-monsters!"
"Ward, I believe, will be taking over while you're gone. We've got a mission from Balamb Garden."
Seifer's eyes darkened visibly. "Why would I do anything for them? It's not like they've helped me a day in my life."
"It's like this. On a mission, Zell was infected with a virus to which there is only one cure... This cure is so rare, you can only find it by heading deep into Noble Island."
"Keep talking."
"Squall and the rest went to the island to find the cure but right after landing, Balamb lost all contact with the Ragnarok."
"And I should give a shit why?"
"Because Rinoa's with them. If we don't locate them and give them a way home from the island... You'll never see her again. And... If for no other reason... If you don't do this, you have no clue how Laguna will get. You've never seen the man in a depressed mood. I have. I've been through two of those moods, and you feel like you don't even know him... First he lost Julia because he left to go to war... She married someone else... Then he lost Raine to childbirth... If he loses his only son..." Kiros shrugged. "But, if you don't give a shit..."
"Don't patronize me, Seagill." Seifer snapped, his eyes narrowed. "I don't like it when you try this guilt-trip shit. You should know better than anyone that I do what I want to do."
"I'm not giving you a 'guilt-trip', Seifer. I'm simply telling you... If you turn down Laguna's order and Squall never comes home, or if I go alone and none of us return, he'll most likely blame you." Kiros lowered his voice. "And without the President's backing, Seifer, how many people do you think are going to support you?"
Seifer glared at Kiros, but inside he knew the older man was right... If he lost the friendship of Laguna, he'd be back to square one. No job... No friends... No life. He couldn't let it go back to how it had been... And... He couldn't just stand by knowing Rinoa was in danger like that. "Fine." He answered, his voice low but dangerous. "I'll go with you. But watch your back, Seagill, cause I won't be." And he turned and strode away, every movement radiating his fury.
Kiros smiled to himself and also left the front foyer of the army building. He had known Seifer would see it his way.
*****
Smiling brightly, President Laguna Loire waved to Seifer, who was approaching his desk. "Hey Seifer!"
The young man, however, didn't seem to be in such a cheerful mood. "What is this about a 'mission to Noble island' Kiros is all over me about?"
Laguna blinked in surprise at Seifer and tilted his head. "He told you already? I thought you were at work..."
"I was!" Seifer shouted, but quickly lowered his voice when Laguna looked hurt. "I'm sorry... It's just... I'm trying to do my best to keep up the defences here, and I can't get called off to go on some mission... And I especially have a problem going with Seagill."
"But Kiros is my best friend! I've known him a long time, Seifer, he's a good guy!"
"Maybe to you."
"Well... Yeah! I don't get it, Seifer... I've never had a problem with him!"
"Laguna..." Seifer started, but then trailed off with a sigh. "Nevermind. What am I supposed to do on this mission?"
"Didn't Kiros fill you in?"
"No, I got away from him as soon as I could."
"Oh... Well... Zell got sick on a mission for Garden-"
"Yeah, I heard that part, Laguna. I meant what exactly am I supposed to do about this?"
"Well, in a day I was planning on you and Kiros taking an airship down to Noble and finding Squall and the rest of them and getting them to their destination, and back, safely..." Laguna trailed off and a rare sad expression came over his face. "I just hope their alive when you two get there..."
"Hey."
Laguna looked back up at Seifer slowly, still looking depressed.
"I'll be ready to leave tonight, if you can arrange it."
"Really?!"
Seifer nodded and sighed.
"Thanks! You're a great guy, Seifer! I'll tell Kiros and you two can go tonight and be at Noble a few hours later!" Laguna stood up and threw his arms around Seifer happily.
"Ok, ok, just quit hugging me." Seifer tried to sound angry, but there was amusement in his voice. Try as he might, he could never seem to get angry with Laguna. He was too... Innocent? Nah. Too stupid, maybe, to waste his anger on. Seifer smirked at the thought. 'Well, he is the epitome of stupid...'
Laguna let him go and regained his composure. "Well, I'm going to grab Kiros... You go and pack your stuff! Oh, yeah! I was talking to Doctor Kadowaki on the phone, she said to make sure you have plenty of... Oh..." He scratched his head. "What was it she said? It wasn't curaga..." A faint blush spread across his cheeks. "Ah... I forgot! Ok, you go and find Kiros and... No, wait, you don't like Kiros, so I'll find him and you call Doctor Kadowaki and find out what she wanted you to bring lots of! I think the number's on my desk. Somewhere." He started searching the cluttered top of his desk frantically. "I could've sworn it was here somewhere..."
"It's ok, Laguna. I know the number for Balamb Garden, I'll just have them put me through to her office."
"Oh, ok! Good!" He didn't stay any longer, because it was obvious he was excited at the prospect of his son's rescue...
Seifer felt a surge of jealousy at that... Squall had a good dad, but he never wanted to talk to the guy... Yet Laguna had this undying, devoted love for Squall... 'I would treat him like a son should treat a father...' Seifer thought to himself bitterly as he picked up the phone. 'Too bad he'd never love me like that...' He quickly pushed aside the depressing thoughts, like he had been doing alot recently. There was no time for his self-pity... He had a mission, and he was going to devote himself to it... Maybe as a way to re-prove himself to the world... If word got out that he saved the world-wide hero Squall from certain doom... He'd be re- considered and everyone would have to like him. He sat down in the chair behind Laguna's desk and put his feet up, ignoring the paperwork he was putting his boots on.
i"Balamb Garden switchboard. Who are you calling for?"/i Came the voice over the phone.
"Doctor Kadowaki, and make it quick. It's urgent, and long distance."
i"Yes sir, one moment please."/i
The phone rang in his ear a couple times before the doctor picked it up. i"Doctor Kadowaki, can I help you?"/i
"It's Seifer."
i"Ah, I was expecting you might call. Laguna was quite busy when we spoke, and I've heard many times that he tends to be a bit scatterbrained."/i
"He forgot what you wanted me to bring along."
i"I told him, 'Tell Seifer to bring along plenty of Esunas, some Curagas, Elixirs, and possibly some strong defensive magic, like Flare or Ultima."/i
"Why flare and ultima?"
i"The species of monsters on this particular island are a force to be reckoned with... I'm hoping Ultima or Flare would at least daze them."/i
"Daze them? Don't you mean kill them?"
i"Not these monsters. It wouldn't even come close to killing them. The esuna magic is for Zell... He must be in bad shape by now... The curagas and elixirs would be for the rest of the team, and yourself. Between you and Kiros, you should be able to make it to them quickly... You won't be carrying anything except the elixirs and possibly tents, whereas they must be carrying alot... If the ship was damaged, it's very possible they need to take turns carrying Zell."/i
Seifer rolled his eyes. "Of course Chicken-wuss would let them fuss over him and carry them."
i"Seifer."/i The doctor's tone made him roll his eyes a second time. i"Zell is in no condition to be walking on his own. You might not understand now, but when you see him you'll know what I mean. He won't be the Zell you remember."/i
"Does the disease make people shape-shift, or what? The chicken-wuss I know wouldn't even let some stupid sickness get in the way."
i"Seifer... Zell isn't just sick. He's dying."/i
Seifer nearly dropped the phone at this. "He's what?!"
i"This disease isn't just something that makes him weak until he gets cured... It will slowly take over his body until he's nothing but a vegetable. Then he'll die slowly. The more activity he's forced to do, the quicker the disease will spread... And others could end up infected, because the flower blooms actively on Noble... If they all end up sick, they would be forced to be walking all day carrying food and tents and the equipment to make the cure... I'm afraid none of them would even make it to their destination."/i
"Yeah, well, I'm leaving tonight." Seifer effectively kept the worry out of his voice. "Don't worry about it, I'm going to take care of everything."
i"You sound like you've grown up quite a bit since the last time I saw you, Seifer... I'm glad to hear you've been making some good choices down in Esthar."/i
"Yeah, gotta go Doctor. Things to do." Without waiting for a response, he hung up the phone and stood, stretching his arms and legs out, before heading off towards his room to pack some stuff for the journey.
*****
"I don't think I can thank you enough for leaving tonight." Laguna said to Kiros and Seifer while they waited for an airship. "And you know I'd go if I could... But... I can't just leave Esthar. I have responsibilities..." He looked at the two of them, and then looked at the ground and sniffled softly. "You two had better come back. Understand?"
"Don't worry about me, Laguna." Kiros said to his friend, a smile on his face. "I'm a grown man, I can take care of myself. No use upsetting yourself over my acceptance of the mission." He didn't move a muscle when Laguna threw his arms around Kiros' shoulders in a tight bear hug. Instead he laughed and returned the embrace. "You truly are one of a kind, Laguna."
The black haired man let go of Kiros and then turned to Seifer. "I was waiting for a chance to say this, and I guess now is as good as any... Seifer, since you got to Esthar and I started to get to know you, you've more or less grown on me... And..." He put his hand on Seifer's shoulder, squeezing softly. "I thought you might be glad to know that you're as much of a son to me as Squall is... I want you both to get back here safely."
And for the first time in his life, Seifer was completely speechless. No sarcastic reply would come to his mouth, no matter how much he wished for it to... Instead, as an answer, he stiffly hugged Laguna. He never had been good at expressing any emotions except anger and arrogance... He had liked it that way. The other stuff took a toll on him. He pulled away after a few seconds and sighed heavily. "Well... It's time to go." He turned and picked up his bag of things and quickly strode into the airship.
Laguna, however, wasn't upset by the lack of response. Instead he bade Kiros goodbye a few (twenty) more times before finally allowing his friend to go on his way. He watched the last of the crew that had been checking the airship leave, and then he watched the doors shut. Ignoring the depressing way he felt, he waved cheerily to the airship as it lifted off the ground... Very quickly it had vanished from his vision.
"President Laguna, sir?"
He turned to look at a timid young mechanic, who was holding out a folded peice of paper.
"General Almasy asked me to give this too you, sir."
"Thanks." He accepted and opened the note, and the words inside brought tears to his eyes.
'You're like the father I never had, Laguna. Thanks.
-Seifer'
A/N: Well, sorry about any typoes. I threw this out real fast and then skimmed it to add in some html stuffs so it wouldn't look messed up on ff.net. My writing has a habit of deleting paragprahs.
