A lot had happened since he'd last seen the UFO, but it stayed in the back of his mind. It seemed like everyone had some weird obsession. Squall and Rinoa were of course intent on beating the future sorceress. He didn't know where their strength came from, particularly Rinoa seeing as how she was the new sorceress, but he was glad for it. If either one of them broke down he knew he was going to be next. Selphie had taken to piloting the Ragnarok pretty quickly. Her magazine collection had also grown by leaps and bounds, her love for Sir Laguna only intensifying. Zell was following clues from a shadowy lake figure and a monkey. He didn't know why or what exactly, but a few useful items had come of it, so he was supportive. Quistis, the person he was most at odds with had become even odder. She would disappear for hours at a time in strange forests, leaving the rest of them to mill about and try to learn what they could.
It was actually during one of her disappearing acts that he saw his own personal demon again. He was with Selphie of course and for some reason Zell was tagging along. They had left Squall and Rinoa outside of the forest and gone up to an island a short distance away. The creatures there made strange battle cries, but they also stocked some desperately needed magic, so it was decided to stay and acquire more. He was actually enjoying the work, the GF's in his head now giving him even more bonuses when he learned something new.
After about half an hour an itchy sensation began to crawl up his spine. He looked around trying to pinpoint where the feeling was coming from even as his companions pushed further out. A new battle cry rang out, different from the rest, followed by an intense rustling in the copse of trees just over the next hill. He looked ahead to his friends just in time to see Selphie and Zell exchange a look. The pair both jumped up in glee and sprinted towards the loud noise. His eyes widened a little in fear as their excited shouts floated back to him.
He stumbled, trying to keep up. He knew it was impossible, the two of them were like children on a sugar rush during a bad day and today they felt great. He could only see flashes of yellow and blue through the trees. He heard hits and voices crying out. He managed to push through and catch up in time to see another one of the regular monsters fall. The three exchanged looks and scanned the area. After a moment the weird battle cry rang out again, this time in the direction they just came from. They took off again, pushing through the undergrowth heedless of small scratches. He was still a little behind when the hyper pair split of in different directions, presumable to flank the creature. He continued forward, gun at the ready.
His hair snarled in branches, but miraculously he managed to keep his hat. Small forest creatures ran from the sound of his boots. He swallowed leaves as he pushed his way through the last bush to stumble, stunned, into a small clearing. A second later while he was still regaining his footing Selphie and Zell exploded from opposite sides, both attacking the air and letting out silly battle yells. They looked disappointed at not finding anything, giving him a minute to bend over and wheeze, waiting for his breath to come back. The looks scanning the area now were ones of confusion and irritation, bloodlust not having been satisfied.
He had just coughed up his last mouthful of leaves when the battle cry started up again, louder this time. It continued for longer than seemed possible and the air began to feel electrified. He looked up from where he was bent over to see Zell and Selphie staring behind him, frozen in fighting posture, astonished looks on their faces. He turned around, dread making him feel like he was in slow motion. There behind him, the plant he had just burst through was levitating in an unnatural yellow light. His eyes reluctantly followed the beam up to the source and he gulped nervously knowing what he was going to see. The plate thing was hovering there, almost in indecision, having been caught kidnapping a plant. It swooped a little and he fell to his knees. He heard the rattling of chains as Selphie was broken out of her daze, now intent on capturing the thing.
He heard cries of Booyaka as the two jumped over his prone form. The kreening of the plate thing rose in volume and it swooped towards the two, dragging the plant threateningly. They parted, dodging while he went fetal on the ground. He buried his face in his palms and stayed curled as he heard the space thing circle a few times before flying off.
"Come on, Irvie. We saw where it went. It's just like something Sir Laguna once saw. We have to get it!"
"Get up, you stupid cowboy. We have to go. The commander is going to want a report."
He curled up tighter as they tugged on him. "The plate thing is real and it's stalking me!" was whispered furtively under his breath. He felt fearfully for his Diablos junction, not caring how he was tearing it away from. After equipping –enc/none he felt a little better, but only a little. After a few minutes he realized he was walking, holding hands with both Zell and Selphie like he was a child. He squeezed both of their hands tighter, they wouldn't let the plate thing get him.