Hi folks. Nice to be back. In case you were wondering no I did not just leave the story hanging. It was time for me to go home and visit the home I had not seen for almost a year. Sorry but that means that writing went on the backburner for a bit. But regardless I am back and still very grateful for all of you that reviewed me.

I have a question and a couple of non-plot killing answers.

First off. Can anybody tell me how the hell to make realize that I am indenting with each paragraph. The damn stories look like I failed high school grammar. I would appreciate any help. I am using Microsoft word if that is important.

Now answers for those of you who have questions.

XXI: There were only 3 SEED's sent because the purpose of the mission was recon and sabotage. That is not something to be undertaken by a large group. Also bear in mind that the best of the best were sent.

Nameless Reviewer: You didn't have questions but you did have suggestions and I appreciate those. I am not inclined to bump off a major character. Yet. Also I do not intend to break up and mix around relationships. Though the idea has merit I just don't really know how to pull it off.

Thanks also to Dream-Kingdom, Statik Paranoia, Seth8, One with no name, Hassun, and Gunblade 8 for commenting on either my violence or the darker nature of my story or just saying to keep it up. I would buy you all a beer if I could.

Oh and Hassun. I have Zell popping his knuckles as his way of preparing himself. Squall gets to pull his gunblade. Irvine gets to pump his shotgun. Zell gets to stand dumbfounded with a funny look unless I have him do something. However just for you I will see if I can throw a couple other actions in as well.

Ok enough of this mushy crap. Lets get back to the killing.

Squall threw himself behind a desk as the Galbadian squad leader leveled his machine gun at him and pulled the trigger. Squall howled in pain as one of the bullets caught him in the shin. Gritting his teeth he held his hand to his bleeding leg.

"Cura." He muttered.

He winced as the bulled was forced out of his leg by the knitting bones and flesh. A stone cold mask settled over his face and he rolled from behind the desk into a fighting position.

Zell squared off against one of the soldiers. He bent over pulling his stomach in as the soldier sliced at his stomach. On the back swing Zell caught the blade and brought his hand down hard on the soldiers wrist. The man blinked for a moment when his weapon was wrenched from his grasp but didn't hesitate further and stepped back and held up his hand.

"FIRA." He cried.

Zell's eyes widened. "Oh crap." He thought. Then he was blown into the wall by the explosion.

Irvine was engaged in a gun battle with the leader. Both were crouching behind a desk. Irvine had one of his submachine guns out and fired a burst over the top of the desk. The leader retaliated with a longer burst from his heavier gun. Irvine cursed as one of the bullets blew a hole through the metal desk an inch away from his elbow.

The last swordsman charged at Squall as soon as he came to his feet. Squall brought Lionheart around in a vicious arc. The Galbadian brought up his sword and parried the strike but was totally unprepared when Squall kicked out with his foot. The boot caught him square in the shin and the man cursed violently as he hopped back out of reach.

Squall stood with Lionheart at the ready and waited. The man quickly recovered and thrust at Squall's stomach. Squall brought Lionheart down on the seeking blade and quickly twisted and pulled back up. Jerking the sword out of the startled soldiers' hands. This man was not as quick to react as Zell's opponent. He barely even squeaked as Squall severed his head from his neck.

Squall ducked down as the leader tried to fill him with bullets.

The other swordsman had recovered his sword and was moving to finish off Zell when Squall moved to interpose. The soldier gave a small smile and held his sword at the ready. His eyes widened in shock as Irvine emptied the remainder of his clip into his back. Squall ducked behind the same desk as Irvine and nodded approvingly at his tactic.

The Galbadian squad leader was not feeling near as cocky anymore. He thought he had the situation under control when he got the drop on the SEED's. Now it was all he could do just to keep them behind that desk. He was still trying to figure out what to do when he heard a soft clink behind him. He turned and his eyes widened as the grenade exploded pitching him over the desk.

Squall stood and offered a hand to Irvine. Who accepted it. Squall pulled him up and walked over to the groaning man. His armor had absorbed most of the blast but he was definitely out of the fight.

Irvine walked over to Zell and checked him out. The fighter was breathing but barely. He placed his hands on Zell's chest. "Curaga." He said softly.

Zell's breathing evened out and his wounds closed but he remained unconscious.

Squall stood next to the burned and bleeding squad leader, leaning lightly on Lionheart.

"So." He said. "Lets try this line of questioning again. What is the purpose of this base?"

"Go fuck yourself." The soldier growled, then spat at him.

Squall wiped his shirt and pressed his gunblade lightly against the man's bicep. "Are you sure that's the way you want to play?" He asked. "It would be so much easier for both of us if you would reconsider."

"I told you to go fuck yourself SEED." The man replied.

The soldier screamed as Squall leaned down on Lionheart. Severing his bicep.

Irvine looked up at the leader's shrill scream. His face turned white when he saw what squall was doing. Then he saw that Squall's face was still as impassive as a slab of granite. He quickly turned back to Zell who was beginning to come around.

"Still want to play this way?" Squall asked as he pulled Lionheart from the man's arm.

"What the hell man? Are you crazy or something?" The leader ranted in a scared voice. "You must be really screwed up in the head."

"Whatever." Squall said. "Do I need to continue or are you ready to talk?" Squall placed Lionheart in the middle of the man's wrist."

"Easy kid I'll talk I'll talk." The leader said.

"Good." Squall said simply. Then pressed down on Lionheart again severing the Man's hand.

The Galbadian screamed even louder than before.

Irvine looked up again and ran over. "Squall what the hell is the matter with you? He said he would talk?"

"I know." Squall said. "That was to make sure he wasn't planning on lying." Squall set his gunblade on the desk and laid his hand on the blade and closed his eyes. He focused his mind on the gunblade and whispered. "Fire." The blade began to glow and Squall picked it up. "Hold him." He commanded Irvine.

Irvine's face turned white and he knelt by the Galbadian and put his weight on his shoulders.

Squall bent over and touched the glowing gunblade to the man's bleeding wrist.

The Galbadian screamed louder than ever and tried to writhe away from the searing heat.

After he finished Squall stood and laid his gunblade on the table. He looked over at Irvine. "Take Zell outside and secure that corridor." Squall pointed at the door that the Galbadians had come through a few minutes ago.

Irvine nodded and helped a still dazed Zell to his feet. When he got to the door he stopped. "Squall." He said.

Squall looked up.

"Go easy man. He has had enough."

Squall's face softened for a moment then hardened and he nodded.

The Galbadian looked over as Irvine walked out the door with Zell, then looked up with terror in his eyes as Squall focused on him again.

Twenty Minutes later squall came out of the room with Lionheart over his shoulder and the Leader's Machine gun in his other hand.

Irvine looked up.

Squall tossed the gun to Irvine. "I figured you could use this." Squall said.

"Thanks." Irvine replied. "Squall what was that about? I've never seen you like that before." Irvine asked as he checked out the gun.

"We needed information Irvine. I was not going to go further into this facility without knowing what else was waiting for us. If there had been another way to be sure I gladly would have taken it. But there was nothing else I could do and still be sure he was being straight with us." Squall's face softened as he spoke.

Irvine looked into Squall's eyes and nodded.

"Where is Zell?" Squall asked.

"Other end of the Corridor. Irvine replied. "I thought it might be best if he didn't know what was going on."

"You thought right." Squall replied. "Let's get him. You both need to hear this."

Four minutes later all three SEED's were standing at the end of the corridor.

"Squall took a look around and then began speaking. "It turns out our friend in the other room was Second in command for base security and defense so he had quite a bit to share with us. He didn't know everything but he did fill in a lot of gaps. This base is primarily being used as a genetic research and augmentation lab. They are experimenting on their own soldiers along with several varieties of monster. They are crossing DNA and adding cybernetics. Trying to make a better super soldier. They are apparently still a ways off though. The blasts that Esthar saw is the way the Lab disposes of failed projects. They lead the creatures outside and detonate about ten thousand pounds of high explosives."

"Did he say what was wrong with the creatures?" Zell asked.

"They are not exactly sure." Squall replied. "Most of them are Hybrids. They either injected the DNA of a monster into a human or vice versa. The problem is they did not expect extreme behavior changes. The human subjects became too vicious to control and the monster subjects either became cunning and vicious or docile."

"So what is the plan?" Irvine asked.

"The mainframe computer is still our primary target. Although I have determined that if we can get to the main generator we can definitely throw a monkey wrench in their plans. The cell walls for the creatures are electrified. If we kill the generator we should be able to slip out in the confusion."

"But wont we risk running into the monsters as well?" Zell piped up.

"Yes but it is a low risk. The monsters are on the lower levels with the mainframe. The generator is on this level. So we should be able to take out the generator in relative safety. Any questions?"

Both men shook their heads.

"Good." Lets go.

The SEED's set off down the corridor.

A/N Sorry this one was so short. This just seemed like too good of a stopping place to pass up on. I am going to go ahead and get started on the next chapter. You guys know the drill. I promise no two week lag on the next chapter.

Reviews are good. Give them to me.

Facing terror isn't half as fun as sharing it.

Mike