Chapter Thirteen:
A/N: EXAM TIME! Tessa prepares for the test that determines whether or not she becomes a SeeD. Also, an important new OC shows up, and immediately clashes with our "beloved" heroine.
Gullwing Yunie Thanks. I really want to give thisfic more than the usual point-shoot-kill story line that most zombie fics have. It's boring, I know, but these chapters are essential for the action, right?
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The next morning the library was crowded and the library staff was finding it hard to keep control. Rather than put them on the Garden Network, someone thought it was a good idea to post the exam assignments on the library's bulletin board. Tessa found herself on the outside, trying to push through the throng of students with little success.
"Tessa!" someone called out. "Tessa!"
"Who is it?" she yelled. "What do you want?"
Someone tapped her on the shoulder, causing her to start. She turned around and saw Phelan standing behind her. "You don't need to go in there."
"Yes I do," she said, slightly annoyed. "I need my exam assignment."
"That's what I'm saying. I already have it," Phelan said as he held up a piece of paper. "I have a friend on the library staff and he got me a copy of the exams before the rush."
"Give it to me," Tessa said as she snatched the paper from his hand. She poured over it until she found her name. "What the hell is this?"
"I know," Phelan said. "I was on my way over there when I saw you."
The paper had Tessa and two other people, Phelan and a person named Adette Berna, reporting to Headmaster Cid for further instructions. Tessa's hands were shaking out of nerves, but Phelan didn't notice. She was nervous because she hadn't seen the Headmaster since the night of her attack.
"I'll walk you over," Phelan said as he took her arm in his. However, Tessa jerked it away as though she were on fire.
"I can walk myself," Tessa said. "I don't need an escort."
"Well, I'm already headed there, so we can at least walk together," Phelan told her. "Is that okay with you?"
"Just don't do anything stupid," Tessa said warily. "I've got an eye on you."
"He'll be with you shortly," the Headmaster's receptionist said. She was looking at Tessa oddly, but neither one remembered the exchange they'd last had. "Just wait over there."
She pointed to the bench Tessa had sat on last time, but there was already someone sitting there. She was short, thin, and had straight black hair that fell down to her shoulders.
"You must be Adette," Phelan said as he offered his hand. "I'm Phelan and this is Tessa."
"Nice to meet you, Phelan," the girl said. She shook his hand and then stuck hers in front of Tessa. "Tessa."
"Howdy," Tessa said sarcastically, not taking Adette's hand. "How long have you been here?"
"About an hour," Adette said as she dropped her hand to her side. "I was one of the first to see the exam list."
"I wonder what we're doing," Phelan said as he sat beside Adette. "It didn't say very much."
"Don't ask me, I'm just as clueless as you are," Adette said with a shrug. "But it's probably something incredibly important."
"Hah!" Tessa said loud enough to draw the attention of the receptionist. "If it were important, why send students? Especially ones like him?"
"Why are you being so rude?" Adette asked. "Just who the hell do you think you are?"
"I'm Antessence Matleo, Queen of the Universe," she responded sarcastically. "Now I demand you worship me."
"Oh, she's just being Tessa," Phelan said as he laid a hand on Adette's shoulder. "Don't take her seriously, only she does."
Tessa scoffed and walked over to the receptionist. "How much longer?"
"He will be with you shortly," the receptionist repeated. "Please have a seat."
"Hey, I have important things to do, just give me a timetable or something," Tessa demanded. She leaned on the desk and glared at the receptionist.
"Is she insane?" Adette asked Phelan. Tessa stood still and listened.
"Nah, she just wants everyone to think she's tough," he said.
"I can hear you," Tessa said in a singsong voice.
"I'm ready for the students," Cid said when he opened his office door. He looked at Tessa, and then decided to turn to the other two. "If you three would please come with me."
Tessa pushed off the desk and walked into the office, followed by Phelan and Adette. The office hadn't changed at all; it looked exactly the same. Standing off to the side was a SeeD that Tessa thought she recognized, but she couldn't place her.
"Sit down, please," Cid said. Phelan and Adette sat down in hard wooden chairs. Tessa chose to stand and put her hands on the back of Phelan's chair and leaned forward. "I'm sure you know by now that you have a special assignment for your exam," (Phelan and Adette both look at Tessa with "told you so" looks on their faces) "and I'm also confident that you have not so much as an inkling as to what it is."
"That's true, Sir," Tessa said in agreement. Does this man think we're stupid or something? she thought irritably.
"The reason your exam wasn't on the list was because you three have been specially selected. You are going to be taking an extended exam that could take up to a week to complete," Cid said as he sat down in his own chair. "You will be doing a fact-finding mission. We lost contact with a team in Galbadia City and we're sending you to find out why."
"Reconnaissance?" Tessa said in shock. "We're reconnaissance? How does that test our abilities?"
"I'm sure you were expecting something a little more exciting, but this is very important nonetheless. You will be led by a very capable SeeD, Xu," he gestured to the SeeD standing in the room before continuing. "And you have a secondary objective as well."
"What is it, Sir?" Phelan asked, clearly unsure of how to conduct himself. "Does it involve the use of our skills?"
Cid leaned back in his chair and looked at Phelan. "Ah, yes, your skills are all quite remarkable. I know Miss Matleo is a more than capable physician, but you two don't stand out as much. I hope that by exposing you to her forcible personality, you will become more confident.
"Mr. Barson, you're a great swordsman, but you underestimate yourself. Your Combat Instructor tells me that you have great potential. Miss Berna, you are an expert marksman…"
"Person," Tessa interjected. Immediately afterward, she felt like kicking herself.
"Ah, yes, I mean you're a good shot, but I'm told that you're not fast enough of a draw," Cid said as he straightened his glasses. "And Miss Matleo…"
"What is it, Sir?" Tessa asked. She didn't know why she kept interrupting Cid, but she had a sudden feeling of distrust. "What's wrong with me?"
"Aside from your blatant disregard for authority?" Cid shot, effectively shutting her up. "I want to improve your people skills. Many of your Instructors have informed me that, while highly skilled, you often fight with your classmates. I even witnessed one while you were being taught by Instructor Blair."
"You came to my Martial Arts class?" Tessa was shocked. Even her friends didn't go with her to Martial Arts.
"You take Martial Arts?" Phelan said in awe. "I guess you weren't being arrogant when you said you were going to kick my ass."
"Quiet!" Adette said with a shove to Phelan. She turned to Cid and said, "Please continue, Headmaster. You mentioned a second objective?"
"Yes, you three will also be supporting the escort of Miss Rinoa Heartilly. She wished to go to Galbadia City and will accompany you there. Her escort can bring her back on his own though."
"When do we leave, Sir?" Phelan asked.
"You leave tomorrow. You will meet at the parking garage at 800 hours and Xu will explain the rest of your exam when you get there," Cid said. "You are dismissed."
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"I'm leaving tomorrow," Tessa said later that day. She'd done her goodbyes with her friends and had her supplies packed and waiting in her room.
"Am I supposed to care?" Jayne asked as she took a drag off her cigarette. Tessa wasn't smoking, but she was on the balcony, anyway.
"Just thought you should know," Tessa said. "I am a little nervous. It's my first exam."
"If you do it right it'll be your last," Jayne told her.
Tessa's hair was blown into her face by the wind and she brushed it away with her hand. She turned around and had her hand on the door into the Garden. "Well, I've got to get going."
"Hey, wait," Jayne said with a trail of smoke exiting her mouth. "Come here."
Tessa turned around and walked to the older girl. "What is it?"
Jayne's cigarette drooped in her mouth and her left hand was rubbing a finger on her right. "When I took my first exam my roommate gave me this ring for good luck. I haven't taken it off since."
"What does it have to do with me?" Tessa asked as her hair blew in her face again.
"Heh," Jayne laughed as she jumped off the railing. She pushed Tessa's hair away and put their faces up against each other. "I just thought you'd appreciate this."
Jayne reached behind her neck and undid her collar. She pressed it in Tessa's hand and smiled. "Good luck out there. You'll need it; everyone does."
"Thanks?" Tessa said, confused.
"Peace out, or some shit like that," Jayne said. Then she spun Tessa around and gave her a shove in the direction of the door.