Chapter 4: The Ship
Leonhart doesn't make it to the early SeeD field exam due to a badly sprained shoulder. He'll have to wait until the next opportunity in September—the exam that he and I were originally scheduled for.
There are seven remaining cadets including yours truly.
Our client is an eccentric businessman and award-winning pioneer in Smart Technology and Artificial Intelligence. We're tasked with rescuing a prototype of his smart battleship that's estimated to be worth one million gil. His beloved invention has been stolen by a ring of notorious cybercriminals who are no doubt planning to strip the electronic infrastructure and sell the assets to the highest bidders on the black market.
The Galbadian Police Bureau has caught wind of our contract and wants in on our little SWAT team.
"There will be NO kills today," Xu instructs us sternly, "which is why you all are to use hand-to-hand combat and tranquilizer guns only. Refrain from magic spells unless they're for curative purposes. GPB wants all perps captured alive. Is that understood?"
Some of the cadets look disappointed. Others seem relieved at the prospect of an "easier" exam. My excitement drops several notches.
I can't believe that I won't even get to bring my gunblade.
Where's the romance? Where's the glory?
"And whatever you do, try NOT to damage the ship!"
That's the end of Xu's briefing, at which point we're immediately thrust into the field exam.
My squad members and I navigate a deadly minefield and swim through shark territory just to get onto the ship.
Cadet Dallas almost blows himself up with a mine.
Cadet Green nearly passes out while swimming.
Cadet Pennyworth tries to support Cadet Green, who accidentally punches her in the nose.
Once we make it to our destination, I target the first perp in my line of sight.
She's a tiny girl and she's devilishly fast. Too fast to fall victim to my tranq darts.
As the chase builds up, she starts picking up objects, and eventually pieces of furniture, to hurl violently in my direction. It's clear that this girl's not going down without a fight.
I don't dodge the stuff she's throwing at me. If I do, she's going to break the ship's assets, and Xu's directive to leave the ship unharmed rings loud and clear.
So I employ a technique that I learned from Instructor Trepe, which is this: if I control my breathing at just the right intervals, I can intensify the temperature of my Blizzard variants to decelerate incoming projectiles and shatter them instantaneously.
Frosty, sub-zero grenades.
(Yeah, I'm going against the restriction on non-curative magic. But I'm following the more important order, right!?)
The other squad soon arrives with screeches and explosions, and we quickly manage to subdue all of the cybercriminals with our combined forces.
It's at this point that I reluctantly acknowledge the power of teamwork.
More importantly, I realize that SeeD isn't merely about killing and conquering…
Maybe there's a different kind of value in work like this—the type of work that doesn't involve saving rural townsfolk from a burgeoning monster population.
The GPB summarily apprehends the criminals. The battleship is taken to their investigative unit for further examination.
Our field exam is over in less than one hour.
That doesn't sound like a long time at all, but this exam is by far the most exhausting one I've taken.
The seven of us are sopping wet and shivering cold. We're bruised and cut and torn in various places. Cadet Pennyworth's nose is still bleeding lightly. Instructor May J. tends to our wounds as best as she can on the car ride back to Garden.
I take a scalding shower, crank up the AC, and crawl under my bed covers to recuperate.
All things considered, I don't think I did too badly.
Wait, what am I talking about?
I did damn good because it's the first time I've actually followed (most of the) orders and coordinated with my squadmates instead of going off and trying to do my own thing!
That in itself is a huge improvement considering my past failures.
And it's all thanks to Instructor Trepe.
She went out of her way to get close to me. She recommended me for this exam cohort. She gave me the drive to succeed.
The field exam results will be released later this afternoon.
My afternoon of waiting ends up being frustratingly long, incredibly boring, and disappointingly lonely.
Raijin has been studying in the library since this morning.
Fujin gets stuck helping Selphie with the Garden Festival.
There's nothing to watch on TV.
I realize that I don't have many hobbies.
(Instructor Trepe is my hobby.)
It feels like an entire day has passed by the time I head over to the hallway outside of the 2F Classroom for the exam results.
All seven of us—me, Dallas, Green, Pennyworth, and the cadets from the other squad—find out that we've passed.
I can't believe it. I fucking made it. I'm a SeeD now.
I'm a SeeD!
Exuberant cheers abound in our small gathering. The girls exchange squealing hugs and the guys slap each other on the back.
The Faculty hands us our individual scorecards. I'm content with my starting rank because I know that I'll have opportunities to boost it going forward. The important thing is that I've reached the ultimate goal as a Balamb Garden enrollee. Knowing that my time here hasn't been in vain is life-giving.
My squadmates and I stay and talk for a while. I feel a strange sense of kinship with them. I never thought I'd make this many friends in a single day. The student rumors must be true—you really do develop a special bond with your graduating cohort.
When I return to my dorm, I hear a mini explosion in the dark.
"What the—"
"Surprise!"
The light switch is flipped on, confetti is whirling everywhere, and a transparent box of strawberry shortcake is waiting for me on the table.
"SEED!"
"Congrats, boss!" Raijin grins widely. "We heard the good news from Instructor Trepe!"
So she found out about my status ahead of time? But why isn't she here with us for the celebration?
"Thanks, guys. I'm still in shock."
"NONSENSE."
"We knew you would pass!"
It's then that I notice Cadet Brooks, formerly known as the Denim Thief, standing awkwardly in the background.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I demand none too kindly.
"INTERN," explains Fujin.
Raijin waves at Cadet Brooks with enthusiasm. "He was the only one who applied to the DC, ya know?"
"REFORMED."
Cadet Brooks nods vigorously. "I find you to be an inspiration, SeeD Almasy! If you're willing to take me under your wing…"
I hold back a sigh.
We obviously don't need another member for our club to function properly, but Instructor Trepe recently mentioned that recruiting one more person would qualify the DC to enter the All-Club Sports Competition coming up in the summer.
The incentive?
Cash prizes, of course.
"Fine," I bark. "But you're on a probationary period, Brooks. Over the next three months, you need to show us just how serious you are about the Disciplinary Committee."
"Understood, SeeD Almasy!"
"You can call me boss."
"Understood, boss!"
"Now cut me a slice of cake, okay?"
"Okay, boss!"
I spend the remainder of the day hoping (expecting) Instructor Trepe to call me or appear at my door.
If she took the time to inform Fujin and Raijin that I'd passed the SeeD field exam, then surely she can take a moment to congratulate me.
I don't need a gift. I don't need her body. I just want her to be proud of me.
I take back my statement.
I do need her body. Her body can be my gift. And I want to tell her all about my field exam. How I swam with herculean strength. How I nailed her Blizzard technique repeatedly. How I saw a different side of mercenary life that I hadn't thought about before.
But over the next few days, none of us hears from Instructor Trepe.
She misses our weekly DC meeting.
She's absent from Advanced Principles of Para-Magic.
She isn't with Dr. Kadowaki in the infirmary.
I call her dorm line and it automatically rolls into voicemail.
Fujin attempts to check on her at her dorm but there's no answer.
Raijin skillfully eavesdrops on Instructor May J., who is apparently close to Instructor Trepe, but all he can find out is that the latter has suddenly taken personal leave.
I instinctively know that something is wrong.
I'm sick to my stomach.
Baby is hurting.
To Be Continued
Author's Notes: Can this ship be saved!?
Puns aside, many thanks to those of you who are following along. I'm planning to write one more part to conclude this mini-series.
I appreciate your patience with my posting schedule as I just started on another Seiftis that you may have already seen: a fantasy/drama longfic that will be released biweekly from October to May. However, I'm still 100% committed to finishing this Baby Is… storyline with a bang—it will just take a little more time than usual. :)
