Chapter Forty-Two:

A/N: I've noticed that a lot of writers on this site have their SeeDs communicating with the GFs that they're junctioned to, so I figured I'd start doing the same. It's always nice to add new elements to stories, isn't it? Plus, now two ice queens inhabit the same body. Also, words in bold are Shiva's. (She'll be hanging around for awhile.) And there will be devlopment between Tessa and Adette. I hope no one was surprised by the (possible) pairing, since I tried to drop hints all over the place.

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"I see you've begun talking to Shiva," Adette said. "I'll just go topside and let you two get to know each other."

I've been with Adette with for a few months. She's a great girl. I was a birthday present from her girlfriend.

Are you THE Shiva, from the Sorceress War?

No, I'm a different Shiva. Two GFs, Shivas and Queazacotls, are produced by Gardens for student use. We're quite common. I have met the Ifrit and Leviathan from the Sorceress War, though. They're very interesting.

A simple "no" would have done just fine.

Touchy are we?

I just don't like chitchat, takes up too much time. So, unless you have something important to tell me, shut up.

Wow, no wonder Phoenix never spoke to you.

What would you know about that?

When a GF is junctioned, it attaches itself to the brain. When it leaves, there are still traces of it left behind. I picked up on those and, while it did care for you, Phoenix was afraid of backlash. Siren was just too snobby to talk to you, though.

Siren?

From the night the Blonde attacked you. You remember, in the forest.

How the hell do you know about that? What kind of shit is this?

My, what a mouth you have.

It's not my mouth you have to worry about.

What are you going to do to me?

I'll think of something. I can't afford to go without being junctioned, though. You lucked out on that.

You could always just return me to Adette. She seems to be more pleasant than you anyway.

Like hell, I'm doing that. Do you know what would look like if I did that?

A loud obnoxious bitch? You wouldn't be the first to junction me.

Oh really? Who else have you been junctioned to?

That's none of your business. Besides, shouldn't you go get the GFs from Rinoa's body before it's chucked?

Good idea, I should go do that. Maybe you're not so useless after all.

Get going, then. Go on, move it.

Shut up already!

Tessa stood up, the food having already restored some of her strength. The door to the upper deck had been left open and she trudged up the stairs. The smell of the salt in the sea met her nose as she popped her head out of the hull.

Rinoa was still lying on the deck, but the gore surrounding her body was gone. Adette was standing off by the railing, nodding and looking to be in serious thought.

She's probably talking to Phoenix, the stupid bird.

Hey, that "stupid bird" saved your life back in Timber.

How do you know that?

I'm in your head. I can read your memories. That's how I know.

So that damn bird is telling Adette all of my secrets? I'll rip it off of her and chuck it in the ocean!

That's not likely to happen. GFs usually don't share the thoughts of one host with another.

Host?

That's the term we GFs use in describing the people junctioning us. Now go get those GFs from Rinoa. There's no sense in letting them get thrown out, you know.

Tessa leaned over Rinoa's body and fought back the bile that rose in her throat. It wasn't a feeling of disgust or revulsion that caused her reaction, it was an intense hatred that boiled from somewhere dark and foreign. Somewhere Tessa didn't know she had.

If I junction more than one GF, would there be more voices rattling around inside my head? I can barely take having me in here, much less you.

I'll make you a deal: junction any more GFs; I'll warn them about you and act as the go-between. How does that sound?

No more annoying freaks in there?

None that you can hear, that is. It's just you and I.

That's two too many. I'll have to learn to live with it, I guess.

That's all I ask.

"Shut up," Tessa said loudly. Adette looked at her and grinned.

"How's she treating you?"

Which one of us is she talking to? Probably me.

"We're doing fine," Tessa answered, actively ignoring Shiva. "She is quite talkative though. Won't shut her fucking trap."

"Phoenix says hello. He's really funny."

I didn't know Phoenix was male.

I could've told you that. All you had to do was ask.

Shut up, I'm having a conversation!

"Tessa, will you do me a favour? I asked Phoenix to do it, but he can't. Seems a GF has to be present for it to work," Adette explained. "But you could ask Shiva something for me?"

"Why don't you just junction Shiva and ask her yourself?" Tessa asked. "I need a break from her already."

Bite me.

If it were possible, I would.

"I want you to know too," Adette said. "Besides, I'm sacred."

I wish she'd junction me. I never really got to say goodbye.

Can the sweetness. The girl is talking.

You want to talk about sweet, Miss Make-Out-After-A-Murder?

You know what? Fuck you! What went on between Holt and I is none of your damn business. I could easily chuck you out into the ocean, leaving you to suffer an eternity alone.

You wouldn't do that, I mean too much to Adette and she means too much to you.

What the hell do you know about Adette and I?

I was there when she kissed you. I see your own memories and thoughts about her. It may not be love, but you two have a definite connection. It must be a survivor thing.

Just shut up!

"Tessa, can you hear me?"

"Sorry, Shiva won't shut up."

"Is she the first GF to talk to you?"

"Yeah, and I don't know why. I almost wish she wouldn't."

Good luck with that.

"Good luck with that," Adette unwittingly echoed. "It'll take awhile to get used to it, but GFs can become great friends. They can help you remember to do your assignments, help you figure out what decisions to make, or even keep you awake during a boring class."

"You wanted me to ask Shiva something?" Tessa said, ignoring everything that Adette had told her. "Shoot."

"Can you ask her… can you ask her what was going through my mind during those days in Galbadia City? I want to know who I was, what I was."