First off, I should have done this in the beginning but I forgot. I half dedicate this entire dark fic to Caleb Nova. His novelized FF8 fic is pretty dark stuff too. "On Earth as it is in Hell" I highly recommend it. It's just a really awesome train wreck of a fanfiction, and he half inspired me to start going into more of my dark side in writing. The other half is just a challenge I've set for myself.

And I dedicate this chapter to Prodigy, because he gave me a little inspiration as I read a certain part of his kickass FF8 game novel, "The Ultimecia Affair." I also highly recommend this story. Prodigy: You keep it up my friend. It's really amazing. I'll keep reading on and reviewing!

On with the story, since that important stuff's out of the way. Lyrics used: "Pieces" by Hoobastank, off their self titled album. Hoobastank produces some addicting songs for me. Lol, props to them!

Chapter 10: Hidden Secrets

I like a rock, sink! Sinking 'til I hit the bottom

The water is much deeper than I thought…

"Just place her on the table there," Kowadaki told Seifer. The sound of her voice was a mixture of ease and urgency all in one setting. Seifer did as he was told, because he knew Kowadaki was a good doctor. She's helped him before in the past as well. Say, last week when he was "training" with Squall. Besides Rajin, Fujin, and Marianne, she was the only other person in which Seifer had been at ease around. Pretty much to everyone else, he acted immaturely.

Dr. Kowadaki knew Seifer for years, ever since he came to Balamb Garden at the age of thirteen or fourteen. Today, Almasy didn't appear to be himself. He'd usually be smug, and dare devil like around her. But she was never given any disrespect. The relationship is almost to that of a mother towards a son.

"Seifer, what exactly happened? Do you know her name?" she wanted to know, while she was plugging in and setting up the X-ray equipment. Seifer gave a simple shrug. He knew he wasn't supposed to reveal everything. "Well, it was basically like Zell said. A boulder slammed into her head…" As a matter of fact, he couldn't come up with the courage to explain the details of him being under the control of a sorceress. "Her name is Marianne. She doesn't have anywhere else to go, so we brought her here," Almasy added, manipulating the truth. It was true that Marianne had nowhere to go at the moment, and of course he got the name right.

He watched as Kowadaki was at the controls. "Well, I'm glad you did bring her here than just leave her there at Deling City. It's getting to be quite hostile over there." No kidding, thought Almasy in dry sarcasm. After a few more button pushing, the X-ray began to scan Marianne's head as she remained asleep. Seifer stood silently and watched the machine flash a light up and down her head. When the scan was done, Kowadaki took the slip out and taped it on the lit up tag board behind her. "It'll take a few seconds for the scan to develop…" the doctor informed him. She examined his face. Seifer appeared to look sad in his eyes. And he was, for Marianne. "What's wrong Seifer?" The tall blonde just closed his eyes for a brief moment, and then opened them. "Nothing…" Seifer slowly replied and turned to the X-ray scan, which was complete.

Seifer pointed to the area in which he had seen the nasty purple bruise on Marianne's head. There were small and crooked fault lines. "A slight fracture," confirmed Kowadaki as she slowly turned to look upon Marianne's motionless form. "She was lucky…" "Yeah, very lucky," Seifer said, a little surprised of the results.

Slowly, the sleeping one was gaining consciousness now. It was a nice few hour nap, and the pain was just slightly bothering her by a little. It first touched her like a small bee sting, and it kept increasing from there. The other two heard her moan. "Hey," Seifer called to her from where he stood. "Are you awake?" She faintly heard Almasy's voice. "…Seifer?" she replied, and tried opening her eyes. Ah damn, it's bright here…

Nothing to swim with

Kicking, but I keep sinking!

A lesson that no one could have ever taught…

He walked to be beside her on the bed. Marianne realized in opening her eyes that she wasn't in the rental car anymore. She could see the ceiling lights in the background behind Seifer's head. The guardian angel, practically glowing in her mind as her vision focused. "…Huh? Are we there?" Marianne asked him in a tired voice. In seeing Dr. Kowadaki appearing on the other side of where she was, her concerns were answered. So this is Dr. K…

"Marianne, how are you feeling? How's your head?" asked Kowadaki in friendly terms. There came a moan from her patient in response. "…Still hurts like hell. The lights aren't helping at all." Marianne uttered, feeling rather unpleasant. "Some ice would be good to soothe the pain some…" Kowadaki smiled warmly. "Sure." She turned to Seifer once again upon request. "Lead her back to the bed. I'll go set up an ice bag." Almasy nodded, in a placid mood. She felt it to be rather strange, Seifer in such a calm, silent mood. "Are you sure you're alright? Is there anything I could do…?" Seifer assured her, "I'm fine." Kowadaki nodded in acknowledgement and went to the back of the medic center.

Marianne was being helped to slowly sit up. The pain was all the same as before as she continued to softly moan in aggravation. "So, what did I miss?" she wondered dully as Seifer filled her in with the details. "Well," he began. "Kowadaki just X-rayed your head and there's a small fracture in where your bruise is. It's nothing too bad, but I got a feeling you'll be in here for a while." He wrapped a gentle arm around her and coaxed her to the bed in which he set her upon from before.

She looked to him, thoughts kicking in. Someone must have carried me here… "Seifer? Uh…who brought me here?" Marianne wondered out of her own habits of curiosity. "I did," Almasy told her in a calm tone of voice. "Oh," she said, a bit surprised to know. "Okay, I was just wonderin'." "I know," Seifer said as he helped her lay down. In observation, she was still in a lot of pain.

Shortly, Dr. Kowadaki had come back with a blue ice bag and gave it to her. "Thanks," Marianne said kindly and applied it to the sore spot on her left temple. "You must have been terrified," Kowadaki said. "I've been notified on how you got the fracture." "Oh…you have no idea," was the reply from the younger woman, and looked back to Seifer. With her right hand, she reached out for his hand. Seifer took the offer and gently squeezed. "…Seifer…" He was once again all ears to whatever Marianne had to say. "Yeah?" "Where is everyone else?" A small smile formed on Seifer's lips as he gave a reply. "They're in the lobby." "Perhaps you should tell them, and let her rest a while." Kowadaki calmly suggested. Seifer nodded and released Marianne's hand. "Thanks, for taking me in," were her last words to him. "Sure…" Seifer responded. "I'll see you later, alright?" He looked upon her. Her left hand was holding the ice bag to her head, while the other dangled limply from the other side of the bed. "See ya," Marianne said in a breathy voice as he patted her shoulder.

As she watched him leave, her eyes shifted to Kowadaki again. She seemed to be a nice doctor to her. Probably pretty good too, since there were probably so many young ones with the Garden that would injure themselves from training or accidents. "…Don't think I can go back to another nap, so I'll just lie here," Marianne softly told her. The doctor nodded. "Alright. You just relax and don't say anything." "Okay…" came the breathy response.

She was trying to relax, but she was still afraid deep down inside. Still afraid about last night and what had happened this morning. She felt insecure and suddenly wished that Seifer hadn't left her side. Even the smell of rubbing alcohol was getting to her. From that time in saving her life up until now, she had formed a trust with him. "Y'know, that's the guy that saved my life last night," Marianne told Kowadaki, who just smiled in return. "Could he come back, after he's finished telling everyone?" She nodded. "Of course dear, but you're much too weak right now for chit chat." Kowadaki moved her hand gently across Marianne's cheek in motherly comfort. "You just need to not say anything and relax for a bit."

'Cause I can almost breathe the air, right beyond my fingertips

I'll turn around and pick up the pieces…

As Kowadaki had informed her that she had paperwork to do, as usual, Marianne was left alone to her thoughts. She didn't like being alone like this, but knew she wasn't completely alone, because Bahamut was still there inside her head.

One thing: I hope things will slow down some, she directed her thoughts to the dragon king. "Yes, everything else just sped past by you, didn't it?" The flashbacks of the previous night had shown him on why Marianne was acting this way. And he felt quite an amount of insecurity. "In words of comfort, I'll just say that I'm sure things are starting to settle down." Marianne slowly nodded her head. As long as she was basically by herself, Marianne didn't have to worry. Bahamut was there. Thanks Bahamut. I'm glad you're my GF. "I'm glad to have met you," Bahamut said. "You hold a good spirit." A small smile formed on Marianne's lips and stifled back some giggling. How flattering. She could feel him express some happiness in return.

She exhaled a slightly relaxed sigh. She felt a little better in knowing the fact that Bahamut would keep her company for a time. Besides, Seifer would come back in a few short minutes, right…?

Just one more push and I'll be there, back where I belong…

I'll turn around and pick up the pieces…

One of the robotic faculty members was by the entrance to the elevator. "Back so soon, Leonhart?" it said in its mechanical voice. Squall had always thought of this to be strange, but respected Headmaster Cid's intentions about having robots serve as administrators. Actually, they were built by NORG, but ever since Squall was first transported from the old orphanage in Centra to Balamb Garden, he wasn't notified about the Garden Master. Ever. Leonhart only Cid was behind everything in keeping the school/home running.

And he never seemed to fail in noticing how strange these machines were. They were shrouded in white robes, with round tan hats. The face could never be seen under it, just the sinister looking glow of the red light up eyes. The arms and legs were slim and thin as sticks, but surely were built to be very strong, or otherwise they would be useless to Cid. The metallic fingers looked bony, the five of them on one hand were pointed straight up, palm facing Squall. A signal to stop in where ever he was going.

"Yes, the mission had failed," Squall told the robot calmly. "I'm off to report to the Headmaster about it. Is he in his office?" "No, unfortunately Cid is at a meeting. You cannot speak with him now. It's rather…important business," replied the Shumi's loyal servant. In being built, they were designed to speak in low profile, so only NORG and Headmaster Cid could go into the money talks alone, with no one else invited in.

"But surely what I have to say is important business too." Leonhart verbally counter attacked. I don't care how human they seem to be. In my opinion, having robots serve as faculty members is a STUPID idea, he silently complained to himself. He felt rather impatient, resting one hand on his hip. Couldn't the hunk of metal even SEE how important SeeD missions were to this Garden?! Apparently not.

"Of course, but discussion on funds are more important," it argued. Now that's just bullshit, Squall thought. In frustration, he quickly gave up in a sigh. There was no use in fighting with a machine designed to follow specific orders. It was stupid. "Well, can you pass a message for me?" requested Squall, rather irritated. With a slow nod, the robot complied. "Good… Tell Cid that I have to speak with him in private…in his office. I have to report to him about the mission's failure, and other matters." With his eyes as cold as steel, he added, "And be sure to tell him this…now." The faculty member nodded again, and replied, "I shall tell him this directly. Thank you Squall." It walked towards the glass doors of the elevator. They welcomingly slid open in a heartbeat. Before the robot stepped in, he turned and faced Leonhart one last time. "Is there anything else?" "No…" said Squall as he turned around and decided to head back toward the others. It wasn't like there was anything better to do. Besides, didn't Dr. Kowadaki finish up with the X-raying of Marianne's head by now? Surely, he was curious in Quistis's suspicions of a possible fracture. And if he ignored his curiosity, it would bug him until he would reluctantly obey and feel rather grumpy as a result.

The robot willingly stepped inside the elevator, and opened a panel on the side of it as the bulletproof glass doors shut close as quickly as they opened. It was a computer panel of some sort. There were numbered keys from 0-9 below the screen as it automatically turned on. Using a bony metal index finger he punched in a number code and pressed the enter key to the right of the others. "ACCESS GRANTED," read the screen in capital and digitalized green letters. The elevator slowly began to descend…

During those four minutes in the lobby, the others managed to keep themselves occupied. Zell was thumbing through his Triple Triad card collection. Irvine was polishing his gun, since it had been hours since the last time he's done so. Selphie and Quistis were chatting amongst themselves. Their faces expressed concern and worry. Fujin just stood silently, staring at the doorway to the infirmary. She was waiting expectantly for Seifer to return.

Rajin was looking around from one person to the other, obviously trying to find something to do. He peeked over Zell's shoulder, looking at the cards. He shortly glanced at Irvine rubbing a while cloth up and down his rifle. Quistis and Selphie seemed rather busy. So he was talking to Fujin. The silver haired tomboy wasn't one of friendly chat, but Rajin had seen her to be a good listener, and every now and then she'd reply in a few words of statements.

"Ya know, I don't think Seifer's himself today," Rajin said suspiciously to his posse partner. He talked in a low voice so no one could overhear him. "Him and that new chick have been having a little chit chat, shunning us out, ya know? It's not like I don't approve of Marianne. She's cool and all, but I just find this strange, ya know?" Fujin had no comments to give at this time as she had felt slight relief in seeing Seifer walking out of the infirmary. Finally, the one man she could tolerate.

"Hey," Almasy said calmly in getting everyone's attention. Quistis spoke up. "Seifer, what did Kowadaki say?" With an innocent shrug (and he seemed to be doing this a lot recently), Seifer answered, "You're right. Marianne's got a fracture, but it's only a small one." Just then, he turned to see Squall run up to join everyone else. He seemed to have caught the last sentence that escaped from Almasy's mouth. "So, she's going to be alright?" asked Leonhart. With a huff, Seifer replied with a rude remark. "What do you care?! All you do is scare her." The brown haired young man scowled in annoyance. I don't have the time for your stupid insults goddamn it. Just SHUT UP, thought Squall, mainly directing the facial expression to Seifer.

"Well, it's only just a small crack in the side of her head, so she'll only have to be in there for a week or so," Almasy estimated. So, she made it by a thread. Marianne had been lucky, Leonhart confirmed to himself as he shifted his eyes upward into Seifer's and acknowledged the information with a slow nod.

"Seifer?" called a voice from behind. Almasy turned around to see Dr. Kowadaki standing in the doorway entrance hall to the infirmary. "Marianne wants to see you." Seifer nodded respectfully and began to follow her back, with the others slowly joining him…

As the elevator reached the basement area of Garden, the glass doors flew open. Inside the room, there were other faculty members, NORG, and Cid, sitting at a long rectangular table with a small bunch of chairs for the robots to sit in. They were treated like human beings to the yellow faced one. NORG was rather obese and large for a Shumi. The name itself was an acronym in short for the entire Shumi name. Namaksi Orga Rhinal Gerlohl. The Shumi language was a very sophisticated one, and humans would never be able to learn what they mean. When the Gardenmaster first introduced himself to Mr. Kramer, he thought up the name NORG.

As he sat in his big cushioned sofa chair, he was just ending the first negotiation to all finances of Balamb Garden. He was interrupted by the new arrival. "Mr. Gerlohl," it called to its master. Whenever the robots were to be in NORG's presence, they were to formally address him by "Mr. Gerlohl." And the Gardenmaster said it was okay to use the abbreviation around humans, since he came into contact with very little. Just with the Headmaster. "I've come with a message for Mr. Kramer…"

The machine waited patiently as NORG was able to tolerate it. Surely a message from one of those youths couldn't be much of a delay. The wrinkles on his forehead were now shown as NORG's eyebrows narrowed a little, usually not liking to be interrupted while talking about money. "Very well, but make it quick," the Shumi said to his creation. It nodded and focused its glowing red eyes to Cid. The Headmaster listened attentively as the robot repeated the exact message that Squall had given. "Message from SeeD Squall Leonhart just recently: he wishes to report you of his mission's failures and other important manners."

The middle aged human, like the Shumi, seemed to like to eat, but not as much as NORG, whose stomach was larger in size. In his comfortable brown trousers, red cotton vest, and white long sleeve dress shirt, a frown showed on Kramer's face. He failed? Well, I'll have to speak with him right after this meeting is over, he thought as NORG brought back attention to discuss another matter. NORG was a being who didn't like time wasted.

Leaning forward in his seat, NORG informed, "Mr. Kramer, I must now talk about Mr. Seifer Almasy. He failed the exam four times over the previous years, did he not?" Cid nodded in confirming the facts. "Yes, but what about him?" NORG's hands came together and explained, "We'll have to consider of escorting Almasy off the premises. He's becoming a problem in my interest rates." "No," Cid quickly disagreed. "Just one more year, and I'll make sure Seifer becomes a SeeD. Reconsider this. He's the only other gunblade specialist out of Garden History. He's passed at the top of his class." "And I believe the other is Squall Leonhart, the SeeD with the message about a failed mission," added NORG, patience growing thin. " I think we can be proud enough for one who can master such a powerful weapon. Cid, Almasy is menace to this establishment. A waste of Gil. If you want him to succeed, then send him off to another Garden to be someone else's problem."

Was he hearing clearly? What the Shumi was saying didn't make Cid pleased at all. He was rather upset. "No, I cannot allow it," Kramer firmly stated. "If we transfer him to another Garden, then he will never change! All I ask is one more-" "NO!" The loud bellow from NORG'S breath echoed throughout the entire basement area they were sitting in. "NO more chances! Seifer's had four already! …Cid, you have failed to make him improve. I need more room for funding and I will not let him stand in my way!" He turned to one robot who passed the message from Squall. With a slight frown, NORG realized that he had forgotten to dismiss this loyal servant. "Go tell Almasy to pack up his things and leave the premises as soon as possible," he growled, not happy about how this negotiation was going. "Yes sir," the robot replied blankly, and walked back to the elevator.

"You…you can't do this," Cid argued, rather shocked and angry at the same time of NORG's sudden decision. "I already have. Can we move on?" NORG pressed his partner in irritation. They've had disagreements and came to terms of negotiation before, but this was rather different. Seifer was a human being, and NORG felt he couldn't fit into his plans anymore. Sure he admired his skills before in the past, and tried to have hope in him succeeding, but the Shumi had started to give up on him after noticing that he had not passed the SeeD exam for the fourth time now. "No, we may not move on," Cid said rather stubbornly and stood out of his seat. "Not until you give Seifer one final chance. I'll make sure this time, one hundred percent, that he succeeds." "You've said something similar the last time!!" NORG hollered in Kramer's face. Smelling his Hyne awful bad breath had caused the Headmaster to slowly sit back down.

One of his hands clenched into a fist and banged hard against the long table's smooth and wooden surface. "Is that all you care about?! Money?!" NORG gave a simple nod in reply. "Are you forgetting?" one of his robots piped in. "Mr. Gerlohl is very rich and had generously offered his wages to keep Balamb Garden money. Mr. Almasy is nothing more than a failed financial benefit." "Financial benefit?! …After all this time, " began a very disappointed Cid Kramer. NORG couldn't take the pressure anymore and cut off his partner once again. "MOVING ON…" With that, Cid felt rather hurt, and got up from his chair, similar to NORG's. The rest were wooden. "Seifer is one of my very own, and I can't send him out like that! He has nowhere to go! I'm going to have a talk with him," One of the faculty administrators to the right of Cid grabbed him roughly by the arm. "Sit down Mr. Kramer," it said. "Let go of me!! You piece of-" Cid yelled as another faculty rushed to help the other robot in restraining him.

"You are not leaving until this meeting is over," NORG said under his breath. Rather angry was he. "There are still more things we need to discuss." Never in his entire career had the Headmaster seen the Shumi act like this! This was just appalling. "You… money pinching son of a bitch!" Cid cried out, struggling to fight back the urge to break down in tears. Seifer was one of many he loved and cherished as a son, and now he was going to lose him. There was an awful future up ahead for him, and there was nothing that Kramer could do about it. In aggravation, NORG rubbed his brows on his hairless head with his fat yellow fingers. This meeting was going to be longer than what he had planned…

I see the picture! Blurry, but now it's in focus!

A fairy tale I purchased on my own…

The X-ray transparency was examined and held by a set of long and slender fingertips. Trepe pushed her light pair of glasses up to the bridge of her nose. "…It doesn't look too bad," the blonde haired female said, looking up to the others. She passed Marianne's X-ray results over to Selphie, who briefly nodded simply in looking at it and gave it to Zell. "It almost looks like a scratch," he observed as Squall took a glance too. "You were really lucky Marianne," Selphie said in kindness. "Yeah, by a thread," Seifer added dryly to the "messenger girl". The nickname he came up with, and didn't even get to learn her name yet. Until about now. "If it weren't for me, she would have died." Almasy then stopped, noticing how quiet Marianne was.

Dincht had pulled out a chair near the bed she laid down upon and was trying to keep her calm all he could. In his eyes, Marianne looked rather down. She must be thinkin' about her world or somethin'…

Marianne's eyes shifted to look at them one by one. Including Squall, who leaned up against the wall on the left of her band, next one of the windows and blankly looked at her in response. Her insides cringed once again. She would start feeling nervous inside while coming into close contact with Leonhart. "So…" she slowly began. "Did you talk to Cid yet?"

Squall shook his head no and looked to her. "He's at a meeting, something more important than what I have to say to him." He was grumbling a little bit in his words. "What? What could be more important than this?!" Quistis demanded, not believing what she heard. "We have to go talk with the Headmaster. Now." "One of those damn faculty members wouldn't let me intrude, so I asked it by the elevator to pass on a message," Leonhart explained. Zell quirked an eyebrow. "What kind of message?" he wondered as all eyes were looking on the original SeeD squad leader.

Rajin then suddenly announced in the background, "I'm goin' to the men's room, ya know?" and began to leave. He was standing behind Seifer, who was standing next to the chair that Zell was sitting in. Basically everyone but Kowadaki (who was busy in the back) had crowded around Marianne's hospital bed. Besides, Rajin had been wanting to go to a restroom for a long while anyway. He heard Quistis, Zell, and Squall debating about the issue with Headmaster Cid in leaving. "What are we going to do now guys?" "I don't know…" "Yo, I think we should just go to Cid now…"

The conversation was still going on as Rajin walked into the lobby, and made himself head for the dormitory area. One of the faculty members of Garden could be seen walking around, turning its head as to look for something. It spotted Rajin, and knew where ever him, and Fujin or one of the two were, Seifer would not be far away.

Rajin gave a friendly gesture and was walking the robot's way. "Mr. Rajin, would you happen to know where Mr. Seifer Almasy could be?" Rajin looked rather surprised and said, "Yeah, why? Is Seifer in trouble…again?" He asked this specifically because Seifer had been known to 'cause trouble within Balamb Garden's walls. Picking on others, mouthing off at the teachers, or just skipping class. "No, he is not in trouble," NORG's robot stated in a firm reply. "I just need to speak with him." Rajin shrugged his shoulders and whatever tension he had slide off with ease. For this muscular guy, he never held a grudge against anyone in his life. But if one of the posse was in trouble, Rajin would stand up for his friends without hesitation.

"He's in the infirmary," Rajin told the faculty member without any anger in his voice, bit he sounded laid back and easygoing. With that the loyal servant of NORG headed for the infirmary as he as instructed to in getting Almasy to pack up his things and just leave.

In arriving, the mechanical administrator called to Seifer by name. Seifer knew he was probably in deep shit for causing a havoc within Garden in attempt to flee to Timber to help Rinoa out. Almost he wanted to tell it to fuck off, but knew that whenever he was in trouble, one or two faculty members would tell Seifer to go to Headmaster Cid. Hah! Like those lessons from the old man actually helped him any. He would only keep low for a bit and then rise to cause trouble all over again. "So, let me guess, go see the headmaster?" he wondered of the machine. It shook its head. "No, because you have to pack up and leave Balamb Garden as soon as possible."

Marianne had started to slowly sit up on this. "What?" she asked of what she saw as a junk pile of metal. "I was ordered to tell Seifer to gather his belongings and leave the premises," said the faculty bot. "WHAT?!" Almasy shrieked, not liking this at all. But…I've only just begun to trust Seifer. He just can't get up and go now. Zell had seen Marianne sit up and was trying to coax her to lie back down, but no. Seifer and her had formed a bond of trust and that was going to be broken if he left. She pushed Zell's arm away. "No, he's not going anywhere," Marianne told "Metal Trash," the nickname she mentally thought up for the faculty member that was getting on her and Seifer's nerves. "Who are you?" the robot demanded of the human he didn't recognize. "You certainly cannot be a student of Balamb Garden." "Take me to NORG," she said to Metal Trash bluntly, and to the point. There was a moment of silence. NORG? thought Squall. "What the-" Seifer began in cursing, but he was cut off by the robot's urge to speak to this girl again.

"How do you know about him? None of you are supposed to know," Metal Trash said. If it remained silent any longer, the mechanical humanoid would blow a small fuse or two in unbelieving in what it had heard Marianne say. "Why don't you take me to him? I'm not gonna let Seifer leave," she said in a rather low and dull tone of voice. The robot thought this was a smart decision. Marianne winced a little from the head pain, but struggled to push it aside. "Follow me then," the bot instructed the human, whom it assumed her to be strange.

"Marianne, no…" Quistis insisted. "You have to lie down." "What are you doing?!" a displeased Bahamut hissed in her mind. "No, I have to do this." Marianne told Trepe, ignoring Bahamut for the second time ever. She was going to repay Seifer now, and if he did leave, she might not ever see him again. Zell and Selphie were talking to her at the same time. She only caught words mentioning about her headache and she had to rest up. The rest was just yadda yadda. Irvine observed Marianne's facial features. "HEY!" he yelled over the quarreling of Timlitt and Dincht. They all looked to him. "Marianne, be reasonable about this…" "Fuck that," Marianne grumbled before Kinneas could continue. Seifer was rather surprised by her outburst.

Marianne gave a slow nod to NORG's loyal servant while everyone else around her fell in shocked silence. "I'll go with you on one condition," she continued, her angry eyes burning into the light up eyes of the scrap metal who was ordered to make Seifer leave. "Seifer and Squall come with me." She looked to those two. "Squall has to report to Cid on what happened with his mission." Leonhart felt himself nod in agreement. This seemed good and bad to him. He was glad to come along to make sure Marianne didn't try to do anything she would regret, and the fact that he had a report to give to Headmaster Cid. The bad thing was that she wouldn't be feeling too much up to it, with her head pain and all. But I got the feeling she has to do this now…

Marianne then looked to Seifer, and forced a grin and wink to him. He looked pretty concerned about her well being and confused at the same time as to what in the HELL was going on. Shit Marianne, what do you think you're doing?! "And I believe Seifer here also wants to know why he is ordered to leave," Marianne quickly added. After listening to her requests, the robot nodded, absorbing the information.

With that, Squall, Marianne, and Seifer, being reluctant, followed Metal Trash to the elevator. On the way, Almasy demanded of her, "Are you sure you want to do this?" Usually the only people that stood up for him were Rajin and Fujin, and the fact that she had those head pains. "It's too late to turn back now…" Marianne replied to him as they walked along the lobby area. "And, I feel like I owe you one." "You don't owe me anything," Seifer said arrogantly. "I can take of myself." Squall rolled his eyes. Right, sure…

Stepping inside the elevator's interior, they watched the faculty bot type in the following numbers: 076368. Then it pressed the enter button. Like last time, the letters on the control panel screen read "ACCESS GRANTED." Slowly, the elevator began to descend.

While they were moving, Marianne had something to ask of Metal Trash. Heh heh, damn that's funny… A little humor was good at a time like this, but surely it wouldn't last long. "Hey, Metal Trash," Marianne began to the robot. "…Metal Trash?" Seifer repeated as he looked to Marianne in bewilderment. Okay, that pretty much blew her being silly moment. She mumbled to herself, forgetting what she was going to ask. Well, in whatever it was that she wanted to know, she would soon find out.

The doors opened as the three humans looked through the glass. There's that yellow bastard NORG alright, Marianne thought to herself as the Shumi noticed the door open. He was rather angry of the interruption. He then sighed to himself. Machines aren't always perfect. Every now and then they would make an error. Marianne commented to herself, Whoa, that is one ugly creature…

The Shumi were the only creatures with brains similar to a human's. Only Hyne knows why they were created. Most of the time, these two races were at peace with each other. With NORG, it's a different story.

Barely treading, water knowing I will not give up

I will not give up!!!

I will not give up….

"Mr. Gerlohl-" the robot began, but Marianne stepped past it and blurted, "I just have to say one thing. Seifer. Stays." Leonhart and Seifer looked at NORG for the first time. They looked to Cid, who was in tears. Marianne had seen Cid too, and was about to walk up when NORG stepped in front of her. "WHO ARE YOU to barge in here and say what goes?!" he exclaimed, causing Marianne to squint in pain. "You need anger management," Marianne replied, pointing to him. Really, she didn't need his crap. One of the robots grabbed her by the arms and held her back. Seifer tried to help her, but he was held back too.

"You don't understand!!" Marianne yelled, a little louder, ignoring the head throbs. "Give Seifer a fucking break!" She looked to Cid, angrily. "Marianne… Careful what you say…" Bahamut cautioned. She wasn't paying attention and felt rather upset. "He was possessed by YOUR…WIFE…"

That did it. The last sentence that came from her lips had brought NORG's full attention. Leonhart's too, for he was rather shocked. At first he didn't want to believe her. "Squall, it's true. Cid is married to Edea," Quezacotl confirmed. Squall was alarmed. "You're married to Sorceress Edea?!" he shrilled at Cid, who just nodded through his tears.

Seifer was alarmed too. "Son of a BITCH!" he cursed while struggling free of the robot's strongly firm grip. "How do you know about this?" Cid asked Marianne through his bitter sobs. Marianne hated him seeing him like this, but the truth revealed was never pleasant from the beginning.

NORG, on the other hand, was FUMING mad. "Tell your damn robots to let us go!" Marianne snapped, but NORG wasn't approaching her kindly at all. "Squall's got a report to make!" she added, while Leonhart looked rather shocked of all this. And angry in seeing Cid break down and being held prisoner in his seat. "Who are you?! Why are you doing this to Cid?!" he yelled to NORG who just bellowed "SILENCE!" in reply. Everyone fell quiet. Except for Marianne, who let out a moan in pain.

The Shumi turned to the girl. "This one seems to know more than she should," piped up the robot holding her still. It was twisting her arms behind her back, to which she felt the pain very much. "Owww!" she yelped. "You're not a SeeD of this establishment, are you?" NORG suspected. "I'm not telling you anything," Marianne managed to say through the agonizing pain she was in. She was struggling free but it was no use. She was no match for the machine's strength. It was best to not let her reveal anything else or something truly awful would happen.

And something awful was happening. She was getting rather upset and pissed off right now. "GET!! OFF!! OF!! ME!!" she yelled at the top of her lungs and still couldn't break free of the robot's grip. Tears were pouring out of her eyes.

Seifer had to help her, so he managed to twist free of his captor's grip and shoved the other one away that was holding her very hostilely. Squall had broken free and shoved his Revolver gunblade into the one that was holding him still. "I suggest you'd better stop this and leave, before someone gets hurt," he told NORG. "LEAVE?! LEAVE MY GARDEN?!" NORG boomed furiously. "YOUR Garden?!" Seifer repeated. "Squall, let's just kick his fuckin' ass!"

In over the past Headmaster Cid was given little respect, but Seifer knew that Balamb Garden was best off in his hands. And since when did this bastard have the right to take it from him?! "You FOOLS!" NORG bellowed. "I paid money for this establishment! I help with all finances, and everything else! I AM this Garden's MASTER!!" "Well, you're a penny pinching son of a bitch anyway," Marianne grumbled through the pain. "And you SERIOUSLY need anger management classes…"

Now NORG had just had enough of this foolish brat's attitude. He lost it. Blew off his lid. "WHEN I SERVE YOUR HEADS TO EDEA MYSELF, THIS SHALL BE STILL MY GARDEN!" "Well, you got a problem there!!" Seifer countered. "Edea is gone!!" But NORG was in no more mood to talk now.

In the back of his own basement area was some sort of device. There were two crystal orbs on the sides of them. There was a big seat, suited to fit NORG's size as he climbed into it. A metal covering slid over him. He began pushing different colored buttons and activated the orbs. From the outside of this strange weapon, the others had seen the two orbs on the sides glowing a pale blue. "…The hell?!" Seifer yelled in anger. "Marianne!" He turned to look at her, who looked really pale now. She was shaking, terrified. Squall had seen the look on her face too. …I got a really bad feeling about this. "THIS DEVICE IS MOST EFFECTIVE WITH LOTS OF MAGIC…" NORG boomed in explanation. "WHEN THE ORBS ARE RED, THAT MEANS A LOT OF MAGIC. I NEED LOTS OF MAGIC…PREPARE TO DIE…"

"Oh shit," Marianne whispered in a scared voice.

Finishing Statement by the Author: Yeah, another very evil cliffhanger, but that's how this chapter's gotta end. I've yet to start chapter 11, which all about the two battles: against NORG…and somethin' else. I'm not gonna say, so you'll have to wait and see -cackles in evil laughter- MWAHAHA those two cursed words, "wait and see." And the next two chapters will probably take some time to get them to the way I like it.