THE MARK OF AN ESPER

Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure
Setting: FF9 landscaping
Main Characters: Zidane

Note from the Authoress: This is loosely based on FF6, but set all over all the games. It's my new FF fic

Part 4

The cloaked figure moved swiftly. Zidane was having trouble trying to keep up with it. Then, down a particularly busy street in the Business District, the figure turned abruptly down a side road. People were consistently getting in Zidane's way. By the time he reached the corner, the figure was nowhere to be seen. With an exasperated sigh, he collapsed against the wall. Things weren't going very well. He had a feeling he had tracked down the right girl, but she had slipped from his grasp. He thought for a bit about the mission, before coming to a decision. He had to find out more about this mission. Why had Terra been so afraid and distrustful? And why where those men after her? Making up his mind, he stood, and slowly headed back to the air cab to take him back to the palace, to speak with Cid.

Threading his way through groups of people, he wasn't really paying attention to the happenings around him. It was only by chance that he happened to look up. There, standing at a corner, looking incredibly shifty, was another of the men, wearing the same uniform as those who had attacked at the café. He was talking to a cloaked figure. Curious, Zidane crept closer. As he approached, the cloaked one appeared to look around, before motioning to an alley nearby. The two disappeared into it. Determined to find out what they were whispering about, Zidane climbed quickly onto the roof of the nearby building. He sneaked quietly along, before he spotted the two in the alley. Perfect. There was a slight overhang just above them. Silently, Zidane dropped to it in time to hear the final parts of a conversation.

"But some guy helped her escape." The man had finished speaking. The cloaked figure spoke. Its voice was harsh, and Zidane was not sure if the speaker was male or female.

"So, someone is helping the little Esper."

"She's an Esper?" the man sounded surprised, and slightly wary.

"Not exactly. There is no harm in letting you know what you are trying to capture. The mark on the girls arm, it is special. She is possessed by the spirit of an Esper."

"But why do you want to capture her" The cloaked figures voice spat its reply, making it clear the conversation was at an end.

"There is no reason for you to know that. Now go. If I hear you have been asking more questions you will die." There was a swish, and presumably, the cloaked figure left the alley. Zidane remained crouched on the roof, giving the two time to leave. After about ten minutes, he stood, cautiously and jumped down in the alley. He was just about to leave, when the harsh voice spoke out.

"I trust you heard enough to satisfy you." Zidane froze. Slowly, the cloaked figure walked into his view. It hadn't left after all. It spoke again. "Spying is a nasty habit, and one you must pay for." it lifted its hand and Zidane heard a distinct crackling sound. With a yelp, he dove to the side, rolling and landing on his feet, just in time to see blue lightning destroy a section of the wall, directly behind where he had been standing seconds before. Drawing his daggers, he leapt at the cloaked figure. It merely waved its hand and sent him crashing into a pile of boxes in the corner. The boxes fell down around him, all but burying him. The figure let out a harsh laugh. Zidane heard the distinct crackling again, before a blue light filled his eyes. The blue dimmed into black and Zidane knew no more.

Zidane's eyes flickered open. He was alive! The boxes had clearly blocked the worst of the lightning strike. He tried to sit. Extreme pain flared through him, causing him to gasp and fall back. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus. He could feel a dull ache through his entire body. He opened his eyes again, and looked down at himself. He gave a groan. One of the boxes had shattered with the impact of the lightning, sending splinters all down his left arm and leg. Another seemed to have slashed against him, cutting his chest, although, thankfully, not to deep. Three more long jagged cuts decorated his right arm, and his stomach. Bruises were starting to appear over any visible skin. He couldn't see any visible damage to his right leg, but the dull throbbing told him it had been damaged in some way. He tried to move again, causing pain to flare through him again. It seemed that the lightning had struck him just enough to cause him sufficient pain to stop him moving. His eyes travelled over the alley. There was no sign of the cloaked figure. And it seemed doubtful anyone would find him here. He groaned again, and closed his eyes, wondering if he was going to die in this alley.

END OF PART 4