Disclamier: Ok I forget the last time, won't now. I don't own jack, Square does. period.

Thanks again everyone for the reviews!

Chapter 5: Unlikely Help

Zell sat down at the lone desk, a single light bulb hanged from overhead. A figure sat across from him, his face covered in darkness while he rapped his fingers wrapped on the desk. As Zell sat there, he could swear he heard songs that sounded like they where from a spaghetti western where playing in that room and that room only. He took a deep breath, not once blinking or taking his eyes off the man who sat across from him.

"Alright," Zell begin to expalin, "A couple of days ago the normally active commander of this institution, one Squall Leonheart, left on vacation with his girl friend, one Rinoa Heartilly. I was named Commander while he is away. During my time, One Selphie Tilmitt and One Irvine Kinneas began to throw the annual Garden Festival by having a week long kegger, this action made One Quistis Trepe lead a strike of The Garden Facility including the maintenance men. Now both situations have since been cleared up and both kegger and strike have ended. Unfortunately during that time the much needed maintenance that needed to be done to the fences in the training center never occurred, and the fences went down....while most of the creatures have been returned to the training center, a lot of the more dangerous ones are still running around the garden, and the worst part is they have begun breeding. The extermination of all these monsters has now become top priority and the SeeD examinations. This year would be the largest class taking the examination, a total of thirty students. Unfortunately, due to what has now been called 'the Selphie and Irvine kegalicous festival of beers', About twenty six of them failed the written examination part due to their hangovers. So we have about five people...that is not enough people needed to rid the garden of theses monsters"

"And what does this have to do with me?" said the man in the darkness.

"Although I hate to admit this...You don't know how much I hate it... I need someone like you with the skills you posses. Your one of the finest warriors living today. If you accept this, I will grant you amnesty within all Gardens...but you will be on a two year probation, any fatal slip up and your gone for good."

"Amnesty sounds nice...but what do I get when I'm done."

"...I give you what you want. I will make you a SeeD."

"So let me get this straight Commander...I help do a little dirty work, kill as many monsters as I can...and I become a member of the Elite Special Warriors of Balamb Garden."

"....Yes." Zell muttered under his breath. He hated this bastard more then anything...He couldn't believe he was asking this person for this...but he knew this man had the skills needed to pass this and help save the Garden and that was more important then his own prejudice.

"Very well, I accept." said Seifer Almnasy as he stood up and stuck his left hand out. Zell hesitantly shook it.

"What's the matter Commander Chicken Wuss? Don't trust me?"

"Hell no I don't...and since you are back at this Garden, I will say this, I am the Commander for right now, You will address me as Commander Zell, you will address Quistis as Instructor Trepe, you be about it too. And if you ever say one damn thing about Rinoa I will make sure when Squall comes back he brings the entire Garden down on your head."

"Jeez, Chicken Wuss"

"....IT'S COMMANDER ZELL! WHY THE HELL DO YOU KEEP SAYING CHICKEN WUSS YOU SORRY EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING!" shouted Zell. Siefer looked down and rubbed his head. He slowly sat back down and looked up at Zell with a look of respect and fear. Zell didn't notice this as now he was worried Siefer wouldn't do it now, and leave the Garden at the mercy at the monsters. 'Yeah theres enough SeeD's to beat them back, but there all hung over as over, it's just me, Quistis, Xu and Selphie....that's not enough of us' thought Zell.

"I'm sorry." Zell's eye's widened and he looked over at Siefer... 'Did Siefer Almnasy just apologize to me?'

"What Siefer?"

"I said I'm sorry. I called you Chicken Wuss because....I don't know you last name enough to give you a respectful greeting."

"It's Dincht. Why can't you just call me Commander Zell, everyone else does."

"...I'm gonna tell you something Dincht, that I have never told anyone else. Swear to me you won't another living soul."

"Alright, I swear. What is it?"

Siefer opened his mouth, and strange noises came out....like a cat trying to hock up a hairball, finally he said the word "cckell". Zell looked at him oddly.

"What the hell was that?"

"I have a speech impediment problem. I cannot pronounce the last letter of the alphabet."

"Your kidding"

"Nope...this the part where you laugh and I get pissed."

"Why would I laugh? It's not funny." Siefer looked over at Zell with a strange look.

"Your kidding?"

"Nope. My momma always taught me not to laugh at others misfortunes." Siefer smiled at this, anyone who ever say him trying to pronounce a Z usually laugh.....maybe he had Zell figured out all wrong.

"...Thanks."

"Sorry's and thank you's from Siefer Almnasy? Did we beat some since into you at Lunatic Pandora or something?"

"Heh...you could say that. I early needed that ass kicking. All the months at Fishermen's Horizon allowed me to look back on my life...and I decided to change, that's why I'm going to do this...but I want you to do me one more favor Dincht."

"Yes?"

"You know how you promised to make me a SeeD?"

"Yeah...you need that in writing or something?"

"No...I need you not to promise that."

"HUH!? What? I thought you wanted to be one."

"I do...just I want to earn it." Siefer said quietly. Zell smiled.

"Alright...deal. So you called me Chicken Wuss because you can't call me Zell and you didn't know my last name?"

"Honestly? Yeah."

"Hmm...alright."

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The next morning the sun came in threw Gardens windows...Squall would be back in a day. Zell overlooked the four original SeeD applicants...Siefer would show up in a few minutes, "making a big entrance' thought Zell. The five stood their, ready to go. Nini and Irvine where taking the test, so where two classmen trying the test for the first time. Their names where: Alexandros Strife and Rose Alcamen. Nini's weapon was a staff, Alexandros was a double edged blade, and Rose where odd looking katal's called "cat's claws". Xu, Quistis, Nida, and Selphie stood next to Zell, waiting.

"So we haven't started yet?" came that familiar voice. Xu, Quistis, Irvine and Selphie immediately took a defensive stance.

"Calm Down, He's taking the test with all of you." said Zell. Quistis got right in his face.

"Zell....THAT'S SIEFER! YOU KNOW WHAT HE DID!"

"Yes I do, but I'm giving him a last chance...I already talked to Cid about it and its fine. Now all of you, this is the SeeD finals. The mission is simple...kill all monsters that are roaming free. Each one of you applicants will be accompanied by a SeeD member. Xu, you will accompany Irvine. Selphie, you have Nini. Alexandros, I will be the one going with you. Rose, Nida is your SeeD...that means your with Quistis Siefer."

"BUT!"

"NO BUTS QUISTIS!" shouted Zell, everyone looked at him in shock. "...look, this Garden is our home, and It is my job to make sure it would be safe. But right now its under attack, and it is my fault. We don't have enough SeeD's to protect our home because none of them though it would be a good idea to take any chaser caplets. So I went out and I got someone who could help us."

"But why didn't why don't you just wait till Squall gets back?" asked Irvine.

"Because Irivine, this place might no be standing tomorrow...because I should clean this mess up and not leave it all one him....BECAUSE THIS PLACE IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. This place is our home...and I'll be damned if I let it go to hell cause I made a few mistakes. We have 13 hours to complete this mission...lets go." Siefer raised his gunblade and pointed it forward.

"Ladies and Gentlmen...lets have some fun."

DUN DUN DUN!!! Siefer helping out? What could it mean? Will the monsters be destroyed? Or will Garden? Tune in next time to find out.

Oh yeah, R/R!