Legacy

Second story in the Sands of Time series.
by scribblemoose

Chapter 5

Irvine woke early, too early, when the sun was barely up and there was nothing to do and the thoughts were too busy in his head. He pressed an arm over his eyes and sighed.

No point getting up. What was there to look forward to? Squall was mad at him. Rinoa was mad at him. Selphie was probably mad at him for finding her and doing her a favour and Xu was pretty much always mad at him. Quistis...

He couldn't actually think of anything he'd done to piss Quistis off lately, but it was probably only a matter of time.

At least there were no missions today. The cadets - Frila - would be out taking their final field exam, and he'd promised Selphie he would help her get things ready for the Graduation party. After that, he was free.

Free to go back to Galbadia and a simple, uncomplicated life with Duck and Zef.

Irvine scratched his chest where his pendant tickled his skin. He felt miserable and his dick was hard as iron. Junctioning Ether would be a bad idea. It felt quiet and not a little lonely without his favourite Guardian nestled into its usual corner in his mind.

Irvine blinked his eyes open and looked around the room. Old, faded photographs on the wall, which had been there so long they were almost invisible. Clutter that he hadn't touched for months. He ought to clear up. Put things in boxes. Own up to the fact that however hard he'd tried to fool himself, he really didn't live here any more. It was a good room; some newly-graduated SeeD would enjoy it as a triumph. He'd enjoyed it himself in his day. There were happy memories here.

They were just too close to the other kind to be trusted, that was all.

Irvine squinted at the clock: seven am. If he got up now and showered he could get breakfast, go to Balamb and fetch Exeter and be back in plenty of time to help Selphie. That might make him feel better.

Irvine forced himself out of bed, thinking mostly of Frila as he collected his towel and made his way to the shower.

*******

Squall sat on the edge of the bed to pull his boots on. Rinoa was still asleep, dark hair spread over the pillow. She looked peaceful, a damn sight more peaceful than she had last night. They hadn't talked much. She'd been furious and he, as usual, hadn't had the faintest idea what to say. He'd worked late to catch up on the things he'd missed to pick her up from the station and by the time he returned she was already asleep.

Today was business as usual only more so. The test, graduation, the fucking party... at least Rin had a day off to recover a little.

Squall raked his fingers through his hair and let out a long sigh. It would be the other end of the day before they got to spend any time together. She wouldn't be happy about that.

If he was honest, though, he felt relieved. He never knew how to put things right after a fight. He had a habit of making things a lot worse before they got better. It was never straightforward. He wasn't even sure if it had been a fight, but she'd been furious, and he knew he'd said some things on the phone the other night she hadn't liked.

He didn't understand why it was so difficult. He loved her. He knew she loved him. They'd been together for two years now. True, they didn't see as much of each other as other couples, but...

Squall's head drooped from his shoulders. He was no good at any of this. He wished there was somewhere he could go for help. The only time he'd asked Zell about this stuff Zell had completely confused him with a lecture about showing the other person how much you care, which seemed to involve a lot more dinners and flowers than Rinoa had ever shown an interest in. Selphie had told him not to worry, that everything would sort itself out. He hadn't liked to ask Quistis, because she was single and might have thought him tactless. He'd considered asking Laguna, but... no. Just, no. And Irvine was never around.

Squall gently brushed back a strand of hair that was tickling Rinoa's nose. She murmured and smiled in her sleep, nuzzling into the pillow. Squall's heart ached. After all they'd been through, it didn't seem fair that things should still be so hard.

But then again, Squall reminded himself as he kissed Rinoa softly on the forehead and crept from the room, since when was life really fair?

******

She'd taken such care to avoid him, and yet she found herself here all the same.

It was stupid. She should be training.

The door slid open.

He was dressed in old jeans, ripped across one knee, and a soft cotton shirt. The copper tones of his hair caught the sunlight as it fell loose over his shoulders. He was folding a pile of clothes that were strewn all over the bed.

"Frila?"

He looked surprised. Of course he would. They hadn't seen each other for months, and on the odd occasions they had it was only because her avoidance tactics had failed. His too, perhaps. They certainly hadn't sought each other out for a long, long time. Somewhere deep inside, Frila harboured the feeling that if he'd really wanted to see her, he could have tried a little harder.

But then, why would he?

She cleared her throat. "Hey. Sorry, you're busy, I'll-"

"No, no. Here." Irvine grabbed an armful of clothes and dumped them on the floor, leaving a space on the bed. "Sit down. The kettle's just boiled, I'll make coffee."

Panic cramped in Frila's chest. "No, I'm fine, I'll just..."

"It's no trouble." He smiled kindly at her. "It's good to see you."

Her resistance melted and she found herself sitting on the bed after all. It smelt of clean laundry with a faint tang of gun oil.

"Doing some washing?" she said, stupidly, and even as she blurted the words out she realised the truth. "Oh."

He was packing.

"Two sugars, right?"

"Yes, please, I... you're going somewhere."

"Yeah. I'm transferring to Galbadia for a while."

"Oh. Galbadia?" For some reason Frila found herself shocked.

"They need extra help, with the refit and everything. Duty calls, and all that." He smiled as he gave her a mug of steaming coffee. There was something else, something he wasn't saying.

She took the mug. "Thanks. When are you going?"

"First thing tomorrow. After graduation. I wouldn't miss that." There was a soft look to his eyes that she carefully ignored.

"I might not be there. I've got to pass the field exam first."

"You'll be just fine. You can show those green cadets a thing or two about combat."

She returned his smile and took a sip of coffee. She regretted it immediately.

"Fuck, that's awful." She peered suspiciously at the dark liquid.

Irvine shrugged. "My coffee is unique, it's true. How's Sanke doing?"

"Okay." Frila cradled her mug in both hands. "I think she's going to struggle with some of her classes but she'll catch up."

"Whose idea was it to put her through SeeD training?"

"I'm not sure, I think it was mostly Squall and Laguna. It seemed to be a good idea. It'll be safer for her here, I can keep an eye on her and she'll learn about where she came from, who.... well. You know. Her heritage."

"Oceanus."

"Yes," she said, quietly.

Then he was sitting on the bed beside her, and suddenly she was fighting tears.

"Still hurts, huh?"

His sympathy struck her like a blow; she couldn't bear it. "I'm fine," she said, wiping her eyes savagely on her sleeve. "I must be more nervous than I thought, you know, field test..."

"Yeah, of course. Still, you did real good in the written, I heard. You'll do just fine. Promise."

"It's the not knowing that's the hardest. You know, like the mission could be anything, anywhere, and I don't have a clue who's likely to be on the team, could be anyone." She was aware she was babbling, but somehow couldn't stop. "Or even what Guardian I'll get, what its powers might be, and I suck geezard balls at fire magic, what's the betting I end up with Ifrit, and-"

He caught her hand and squeezed it tight. She shivered.

"Shhh," he whispered. "You'll be fine. I promise."

She dared to look into his eyes, and saw things there she didn't expect: sadness and concern and pride, and she couldn't cope. She'd lived alone for two years, no friends, no-one but Sanke and the team who were there to help her. No-one she had to share things with. She wasn't ready for this. She didn't know what to do with it.

She scrambled off the bed, tugging her hand from his and wrapping her arms around herself. "Sorry. I ought to be training, I just..."

"I mean it," Irvine said. "You're a great gunblader, and you've worked so hard. I'm sure everything'll go fine. Hey, look at it this way: at least you're not Seifer. If you're nervous, imagine what he must feel like after all these years of failing."

She managed a grin at that thought. "Don't expect me to do that. If I fail, that's it, over and done. No coming back for a second chance."

"Not gonna happen," said Irvine. "You're gonna pass with flying colours."

"I really do have to go," she said. "Good luck with Galbadia."

"I'll see you tonight. At the Graduation party."

He said it with such confidence and belief that Frila could almost imagine it might be true.

*******

Xu woke when the sun hit her eyes, gave a little moan of complaint and turned over to bury her face in the pillow, one arm stretching out to embrace the reassuring warmth of Selphie's body.

But Selphie wasn't there.

"Baby?"

"Hey sweetheart."

Xu scrunched up her eyes against the light and squinted into the room. Selphie was standing by the dresser, fully dressed, packing her laptop into her bag.

"Where are you going?"

"It's Graduation day," said Selphie brightly. "Parties don't happen by themselves."

Xu sat up, panic rising in her throat. "Sweetheart, you've forgotten - you're off work for a month. The doctor-"

"Oh, pish." Selphie waved her hand airily. "Doctors always say things like that. Covering her back, more like. I'm fine. I was just a little tired yesterday is all." Her hair bounced as she turned to wink at Xu. "One too many all-nighters, I expect."

"Selphie, no." Xu scrambled to get out of bed, trying to clear her sleep-addled mind and shuffling into her robe. "No, baby, this isn't right. I'm pleased you feel better, but I don't think-"

"The Graduation party won't happen by itself." The smile on Selphie's face looked fixed, the set of her shoulders determined.

"Quistis has taken over. It'll be fine."

Selphie's eyes narrowed. "Quistis? Since when?"

"I called her last night. She was more than happy to help. Selphie, I don't-" But Selphie was already headed for the door. "Selphie, where are you going?!"

"To find Quisty and tell her it was all some stupid mistake. Really, Xu, you silly, you panic over nothing and then-"

Her hand was on the door pad. Xu ran over to her and grabbed her wrist. "No. Not nothing. The doctor said-"

"The doctor said what she thought you wanted to hear. She's very kind. I am tired, it's true, but-"

"You're not tired! You're exhausted! You need rest. And help, please, if you won't listen to the doctor listen to me."

"You're being silly," said Selphie, steel in her voice this time. "And just a little stifling, don't you think? I'm a grown woman. I can look after myself."

"Can you?" Xu's voice was high; she felt desperate. "Look at yourself, Selphie. You're not sleeping, you're overworking, you're making mistakes and you won't eat-"

Selphie rolled her eyes. "I might have guessed we'd get back to that."

"And how many potions have you been taking? When we found you yesterday-"

"You're not my mother," said Selphie, coldly, struggling to free her arm from Xu's grip. "Have you ever thought this might all be your fault?"

Xu went cold and still, and her fingers fell from Selphie's rail-thin arm.

Of course I have. Every single day.

"That's not fair," she choked out, even though she knew it was.

"Oh, isn't it?"

Xu's eyes filled with tears and she could only stand and watch as Selphie left.

******

Frila stared unblinking at the list of names on the notice board, unable to make any sense of it whatsoever. She knew there were words there, but at that moment it just looked like a bunch of random squiggles.

"Centra," said Kellon. "Weird, I didn't know there was anything going on there. Gods, I hope it's recon."

Frila continued to stare at the part of the list where the A's should be, and finally her name came into focus. Alfyrd, Frila. Report to front gate at eleven hundred hours. Destination: Deling.

"Same here. Deling's not major monster territory either." Frila was vaguely disappointed. She'd expected something tough and violent. Not Deling. Deling was full of diplomats and clothes shops.

"Wow!" Kellon exclaimed, gripping Frila's arm.

"What?"

"Look, there's a star by your name. That means you're team leader!"

Frila shrugged. "That's just because I'm older."

The grip lessened. Kellon gave a low whistle.

"What? Really, it's just because I had field experience and-"

"No, no, look! Look who else is going to Deling."

Frila's eyes followed Kellon's pointing finger back to the list. She registered her own name, and then...

Alfyrd, Frila*, team A, report to: front gate, destination: Deling.
Almasy, Seifer, team A, report to: front gate, destination: Deling.

Frila blinked. Swallowed. Blinked again.

"Wow," Kellon repeated.

"That's a mistake," said Frila.

"Instructor Trepe doesn't make mistakes," said Kellon. "Who else have you got?"

"What?"

"Team of three, who's the other one?" Kellon anxiously scanned the list. "Oh. Tenta."

"Tenta? Who's Tenta?" Frila still couldn't drag her eyes further than the A's.

"Tenta Foley. That's bad luck."

"Kell, I'm on a team with Seifer fucking Almasy. How much worse can it get?"

"Seriously. She's a total brat. Her father owns a mine somewhere, she thinks she's a fucking princess or something."

"Weapon?"

"Throwing darts. She's okay at that but she flunked GF class twice and nearly got thrown out for bullying."

"Oh, great." Frila dropped back, letting another flurry of anxious cadets in to read the board.

"And to think," she murmured. "I used to think Quistis actually liked me."

******

"Hey Irvine."

Irvine glanced up from the remains of his breakfast to find Rinoa looking down at him. She was carrying a tray laden with fruit and warm bread and fragrant tea.

She didn't look as angry as he'd expected. But her big brown eyes were full of reproach in a way that reminded him too much of Angelo. It was worse than if she'd come in and zapped him with a lightning bolt.

Much worse.

"Rin, I'm so sorry. I couldn't-"

"I needed you, you bastard. And you promised."

"I know." Irvine hung his head. "I'm sorry."

Rinoa sighed and slid into the seat opposite. Irvine glared at his half-empty plate and failed to think of anything to say.

Then he felt the soft touch of fingers to his hair. He looked up to find Rinoa smiling a small, unbearably kind smile. "You look like shit," she said. "That's so unfair. I really wanted to beat the crap out of you for letting me down, but I can't do a thing when you look like that."

Irvine managed a grin, even though he didn't feel he deserved it.

"Here, have some tea," said Rinoa. "I can't bear to see my cowboy looking like a kicked puppy for long."

"Thanks." Irvine watched her fill his mug and then her own. He stirred in milk and sugar.

"What happened?" said Rinoa, slicing banana onto a piece of bread.

"Went on a mission for Selphie, took a bit longer than I expected. Nida drives the Rag like an old man. Are you really making a banana sandwich?"

"Yes. Want to make something of it?" Rinoa gave him a menacing look.

"No, no, that's fine. Just, um... yeah."

"Guardian capture?"

"Yeah, only we didn't actually capture anything. I fucked that up too."

"Poor Irvy." Rinoa took a bite of her sandwich. Then she put it back on her plate and started to add strawberries.

"I deserved it. I haven't been training much lately."

"Not even back in Galbadia? What on earth do you do with your time back there?"

Irvine couldn't begin to find the words to tell her. "Hang out, mostly. Wind Martine up. Oh, and I've been tutoring this kid in handguns."

"That sounds interesting."

"Yeah. It's okay. How about you? How was Deling?"

Rinoa pulled a face. "My father is such a bastard."

"I heard there was some kind of problem with a diplomat."

"Yeah."

"And the Forest Owls?"

"That's what they call themselves." She sighed and put her sandwich back down on her plate. "Oh, Hyne, it's such a mess."

"Why? Because you won't do what your father wants?"

"Yeah, partly that, and partly... oh, I don't know."

Irvine gave her hand a little squeeze. "It's okay. Squall won't let anything get out of hand."

She looked as if she were about to say something, but it turned into another shrug. "I know. It's just a pain, you know?"

"Yeah," said Irvine. "I know. So what are your plans today?"

"Training centre first, to blow off some steam. Catch up on some laundry, and then write the reports I should have written over the weekend. You?"

"I promised I'd help Selphie with the Graduation party."

"Oh, shit, I forgot. Tell her I'm sorry, would you? I really need to do these reports."

"Sure. That reminds me, have you noticed anything about Seffie lately?"

"Not particularly. She's been tired, but she always works damn hard for the Graduation ball so that's not surprising."

"Yeah, I guess that's it."

"Xu takes good care of her, Irvy. You don't have to worry about Selphie."

"I suppose." Irvine managed a wry grin. "Don't suppose that'll stop me, though."

Rinoa drained her mug and set it back on her tray. "So, fancy a few grats in the training centre, cowboy?"

Irvine's spirits lifted just a little. It would be good to try out the remodelled Exeter.

"Sure," he said. "Lead the way."

******

Frila sat on the wall by the front gate polishing her gunblade, and glared at Seifer as he approached.

"Well, Quisty certainly gets the last laugh this time," he said.

Frila tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach. "I'm not mad keen either but we have to play what we're dealt, Almasy."

Seifer smirked at her. "Interesting, though. See, I know why Ms Trepe is pissed at me. She's got all kinds of reasons, and not all common knowledge. But you - I thought you were in with the in crowd, Hotshot."

Frila jumped down from the wall and tightened her grip on the hilt of her gunblade. "Don't call me that."

"Touchy." He ran smug fingers through his hair and towered over her.

"My name's Frila."

"Mine's Seifer." He held out his hand. "Pleased to meet you, mission leader. How may I help you today?"

Frila forced herself to breathe. How Seifer had got past puberty without Squall killing him was a mystery. Then again, the livid scar between Seifer's eyes bore testimony to the fact it wasn't for want of trying on Squall's part. It might have been down to their different colouring, but Seifer's scar looked fresher and angrier than its mate on Squall's pretty face.

She took comfort from that. The man was a braggart, an egotistical, cruel bastard - but he had been defeated, more than once.

She drew herself to her full height - still a clear foot less than his - and squared her shoulders. "I'll make this simple for you," she said with a cool, pleasant smile worthy of Quistis herself. "Do you want to pass or not? From what I've heard this is your last chance. Fail now and Squall's gonna raise the bar so high Edea herself couldn't jump it. If you want to fail, go right on behaving like a five year old and you'll be sending the rest of your days in FH. But if, by any remoter-than-the-Island-of-Hell chance you actually want to pass this time, we're in this together. If we can get along just long enough to get through this stupid mission, you can be as much of a smug, arrogant bastard as you like for the rest of your life. So. What's it gonna be?"

She'd caught his attention and for a second his piercing blue eyes were serious. Then he leaned a little closer and the intensity of his gaze dissipated.

"You know, you're beautiful when you're angry," he purred.

Her fist clenched, arm snapped back and she would have landed a powerful punch to his jaw, had Squall not arrived at that precise moment.

"Alfyrd, Almasy," he growled.

She let her arm fall back to her side and saluted Squall smartly. Seifer lounged against the wall, arms folded over his chest, smirking.

"I can fail you at any point," Squall said. "I don't even have to wait until you're on the transport."

Seifer raised a hand in a calm mockery of the SeeD salute. "Sorry, Commander."

Squall rolled his eyes.

"Takes me right back to that day in Dollet," Seifer mused. "Eh, Leonhart?"

"No," said Squall.

Just then there was a squeal of brakes and a car came to a dramatic and screeching halt in front of the entrance. Squall glared disapproval.

The passenger door opened and a pair of long, elegant legs swung out, clad in black stockings and regulation SeeD boots.

Tenta Foley.

She got out of the car in one graceful movement, straightened her extremely short uniform skirt, said something to the driver and shut the door, waving as it purred out of sight. Then she turned and smiled at Squall, fluttering her eyelashes and tossing her long blonde hair. "Commander Leonhart, I hope I'm not late." She kept her eyes firmly fixed on him as she saluted.

Squall just stared as if he didn't know quite what to do with her.

Frila wished she was far, far away.

Seifer chuckled.

"Alfyrd," Squall said, shaking his head as if to empty his mind of the mirage of the 6' of stunning blonde that was Tenta Foley. "Your orders." He gave her a sealed manila envelope. "You are to take the transport to Deling with teams B, C and D. On arrival however, you will split off for the purposes of your mission. You are expected to complete the mission without contact with or support from other teams or any other SeeD personnel. It is strictly a retrieval mission," Squall shot Seifer a hard look. "No casualties are expected. I repeat, no casualties. All the information you need is in that envelope, and you will find standard surveillance equipment waiting for you in the transport. Instructor Trepe will accompany all teams to Deling and will be assessing your performance. Report to me in the training hall upon your return. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sir!" Frila saluted.

"Absolutely, Commander," said Seifer, still propping up the wall. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of your little girlies."

Tenta laughed an affected, musical little laugh behind her hand. "Oh dear, Frill, I don't think Mr Almasy is taking us very seriously, is he?"

"He will," said Frila, darkly. "And my name's Frila. Shall we get on?"

Seifer laughed and pushed himself away from the wall. "Sure, Frila. To the transport!"

He strode past Squall without a glance, and was almost out of reach when Squall's hand shot out and grabbed Seifer's elbow.

Frila didn't hear what Squall said to him in that calm, powerful way he had, but Seifer's smirk turned to a glower and when he wrenched his arm away and continued towards the transport, his step had lost a good deal of its swagger.

Maybe there was hope after all.

Just maybe.

*******

Xu sifted through the journal in front of her, failing to make out much of the content. She hated this at the best of times, snooping through other peoples' lives. She considered herself lucky that Squall had let her resume this part of her job after what had happened two years ago; it showed how completely he trusted her, to gift her with the memories of the whole garden, the fragile, shifting realities captured fleetingly on paper. But she hated doing it, especially today. She couldn't concentrate. She kept thinking of Selphie and how badly things had gone wrong, and she couldn't bear it.

A tear splashed on the thick cover of the journal she should have been reading. Xu brushed it away hurriedly and fished a handkerchief out of her pocket quickly. She didn't want to cry, couldn't afford to, not here, not at work, but some part of her obviously felt differently, and the tears kept coming. She slumped back in her seat, grateful to be alone in the office, and wept.

Finally, her head aching and face salt-stung, she shoved the journals to one side and pulled herself to her feet.

It was no good just sitting around crying. That wasn't going to get Selphie well again, or mend what had broken between them.

With a desperate sort of resolution, Xu blew her nose and wiped her eyes, and set off to put things right.

*******

Quistis collected in three sets of entrance papers and left Team A alone in the transport while she went to register the other teams. There was a lurch as the transport left dock and started on its way to Deling.

"I hope this doesn't take long. It's going to take me hours to get ready for the party. I've got this dress that has to be practically sprayed on and-"

Frila stared at Tenta in disbelief. Seifer laughed.

"You've got to pass first," Frila said.

Tenta waved a hand airily . "That's your problem. I mean, it's your mission, isn't it? If we mess up it'll be all your fault."

Seifer shuffled a bit further up the seat and took her hand. "I'm afraid it's not quite that simple, sweetheart. See, they expect us all to do our part."

Tenta giggled, batting Seifer away. "Oh, I know, silly. And honestly, are you in any position to be giving out advice? You're not the best advert for passing SeeD, are you?"

Seifer's expression hardened. "What the fuck d'you mean by that?"

"Now now," Tenta patted his knee. "You have to admit you've made your mistakes. How many times have you taken the test now?"

"Less than you think. Don't get carried away, sweetheart. I work by different rules." His eyes darted to Frila, cold blue steel. "That goes for you, too, Hotshot."

She held his gaze levelly. It was good that he'd got her mad. When she was mad she forgot to be scared, and remembered that however arrogant jerks like Seifer could be, there were things she had known and tasted that he could never touch. Dark, painful places where there was the hiss of the ocean and dragon's breath on her face and nothing really mattered any more.

Vector swirled in her mind, responding to her anger; her body surged with strength and her heart sang for battle.

"I'm not going to give you orders, Almasy. You two can bicker all the way to Deling and back and I don't give a fuck. But if either of you do anything to jeopardise the mission I will kick your ass all the way back to Garden. We're going to get through this test, we are all going to pass and if you don't want a part of that speak now so you still stand a chance of swimming back to Balamb when I toss you over the side."

Tenta hid her fear behind a giggle and a shrug. Seifer's eyes glinted at the challenge. There was something like respect in there as well. She wasn't enough of a fool to think she'd won him over. But she might just have shut him up for ten minutes.

She'd surprised them both. That felt good.

"It's not difficult." She tossed a map in Tenta's direction. "Open that out on the floor where we can all see it."

Tenta caught the map and spread it out without comment.

"According to Intel., the device we're looking for is being kept in a warehouse, here." She pointed at a spot on the map with the tip of her gunblade. "There will be guards but we are not expected to incur human casualties. However, there's only one entrance so we'll have to deal with them somehow. Once inside we can expect the device to be further protected but have no information on how. Could be more guards, could be something else."

"Simple," said Seifer. "Knock the guards unconscious, blast our way inside, if it's human stun it, if it's not human kill it, get the gizmo and go."

"There might be traps," said Tenta.

Frila was pleasantly surprised. Looked like the girl had something close to a brain after all. "Yes. In fact, if this thing is valuable enough for someone to pay SeeD to recover it, I'd be surprised if it was as easy as bopping a few guards and rushing in."

"Do what you like," said Seifer. "Leave the guards to me."

Frila chose to ignore that. "Vector can cloak and silence me. If I can get in I'll be able to scope the place out. We need a distraction."

"Most people find my gunblade particularly distracting," said Seifer. Tenta giggled.

"No casualties," said Frila.

"Oh, oh, I can do that," said Tenta. "I do this neat thing with Ifrit, like these itty bitty fireballs, it's like a volcano burping or something."

Frila and Seifer stared at her. She giggled again.

"A volcano.... never mind," said Frila. "That should be pretty distracting. You do that. Draw them away from the warehouse, then sleep them. And I mean, sleep. I don't want so much as a bruise on either of them."

"Yes Ma'am," said Seifer with an irritating smirk.

"Then you can follow me in. I should have sorted... I mean, I will have neutralised any threats by then."

"Okay," said Seifer.

"Good plan," said Tenta.

Frila blinked. Somehow she'd expected more resistance.

Tenta carefully folded up the map and gave it back to her. "You're right. We all want to pass. No point fighting among ourselves now, is there? Seif?"

Seifer shrugged.

"So," Tenta slid a little closer to Seifer, and dragged her fingers slowly over the hilt the gunblade that rested at his hip. "That's a mighty fine blade you got there, mean boy."

"You'd better believe it," Seifer purred.

Frila shoved the map back in her pocket and let out a heartfelt sigh.

It suddenly seemed like a long, long way to Deling.

*******

Irvine found Squall in one of the meeting rooms on the first floor. He was alone, tapping away at a computer terminal.

"Hey man."

Squall glanced up and smiled.

"You got a minute?"

Squall kicked out the chair next to him. "Save me."

"Trouble?" Irvine twirled the chair around with a well-placed kick and slung his leg across it.

"Just the usual. I'm starting to think I need more lawyers."

"Lawyers? What does a world-saving hero need with lawyers?"

"It would be someone to see off the politicians."

Squall was almost smiling.

"You could just wave your gunblade around and threaten them some. That usually seems to work."

"That would be sweet," said Squall, wistfully. "Sometimes monsters that look like monsters are easier to deal with."

"They should come labelled."

"Yeah. It's just not so clear-cut any more."

"Don't you have advisors to help with this kind of shit?"

"Yeah." Squall sighed. "I can't rely on them for everything, though. They spend most of their time researching all the big stuff, making sense of whatever they're spying on, looking into the future. Some things I have to decide for myself. Even if you get advice, the advice can be more baffling than the politics. It's all opinion, none of it really based on facts and absolutely fuck-all to do with me or even SeeD as far as I can tell. It's simple in my head. We're here to protect the world from evil sorceresses and battle monsters. Not to get involved in petty power struggles."

"Seems pretty straightforward to me."

"You'd think. But everyone else seems to... ah, fuck it. Sorry, man, I'm ranting. I'm just pissed off. What was it you wanted to talk about?"

Irvine took a deep breath and looked Squall in the eyes. He knew this wasn't going to be easy. Squall wouldn't refuse him permission for the transfer, but he wouldn't necessarily like it. Irvine felt he owed it to his old friend to tell him why he was going, at least. Or as near an explanation as he could manage.

Squall looked tired. There were dark circles under his eyes and worry lines creasing the scar between his brows. His grey eyes were troubled.

"The Graduation party," Irvine said. "You are coming?"

Squall blinked. "The party?"

"Yeah. Only, Selphie's worked herself into the ground and it's important to her, you know?"

Squall's face broke into a smile. "This is one of those social things I'm crap at, right?"

"That's it, Commander. Just reminding you to support the rank and file and all that. 'Specially Selph. She's really stressed right now."

"I'll make sure I'm there and I'll encourage her. You're right, I haven't seen her lately and she always does a great job on these things. It's easy to forget what's going on elsewhere in Garden when I'm stuck in here." He waved a derisory hand around the meeting room.

"Good. Well, don't forget. And it's not formal this year. It's a band thing. Dress casual but extremely sexy."

"I'll bear that in mind," said Squall with a wry grin.

"There's a good Commander. Well, that was it. Guess I'll let you get back to your Commandering." Irvine rose to his feet; Squall did the same. "Don't take any rubbish from those politicians. They're nothing but talk. Wouldn't last ten seconds in the training centre."

"Now there's a thought. Maybe I ought to give them a tour sometime."

They both laughed and for a moment Irvine thought....

But no.

So Squall went back to his work, and Irvine walked away.

*******

Frila and Seifer watched from a safe vantage point behind a wall as Tenta found herself a suitable position among the low factory buildings opposite the warehouse from which to mount her distraction.

Vector was swirling around in Frila's head; she kept getting images of colours and textures and shapes, as if the Guardian was searching around for the most suitable disguise. It was intriguing; she hadn't experienced anything quite like it, and whatever else it was, Vector most definitely wasn't elemental. There was something reassuringly calm and scientific about the way it operated.

Seifer cleared his throat. She looked up at him and caught a rare unguarded expression on his face. He looked a little awkward, embarrassed perhaps.

"Yes?" she said.

He scuffed his foot back against the wall and sighed. "Look, you know I don't have a Guardian, right?"

"Yeah, they told me."

"It's not that I couldn't handle it. It's just..."

"You're not allowed."

"Whatever. It's just rules. Stupid rules, if you ask me."

"I'm not going to break them, stupid or otherwise."

He glared at her. "That wasn't why I mentioned it."

"Okay. Why, then?"

"There's no need to make it public knowledge."

"I wasn't planning to shout it from the rooftops. What do you... oh, I see. You don't want Tenta to know."

"It might make her lose confidence," said Seifer.

Personally Frila thought that might be a blessing; if there was one thing the girl had too much of it was confidence. But. "I doubt it. But I won't tell her unless she needs to know."

"Thanks. I owe you one."

Frila raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not a total bastard, you know," Seifer said, running his fingers through his hair.

She didn't answer that.

"And I can totally handle myself without any little visitors in here," he tapped his forehead. "But... it's weird. You sort of miss it."

"They just give you power," Frila said quietly. "They're useless if you don't have the skill to use it."

Seifer gave her a thoughtful look and was about to say something else when the sky lit up with a flash.

A million tiny fireballs exploded in the air above them, fizzling out just barely before they reached the roofs of the warehouses and factories around them.

"Impressive," murmured Seifer.

"And right on time." Frila watched the guards have a brief, hurried conversation before one of them hurried off to investigate the cause of the explosion. The other remained at his post but his attention wasn't on the door of the warehouse but still in the sky where another batch of fireworks were soaring.

"Don't do anything stupid," Frila told Seifer, and let Vector shield her.

The guard had stepped a few feet away from the warehouse door; Seifer went over and asked him anxiously about the fire raining from the sky.

Unnoticed, Frila slipped inside.

*******

"What are you doing here?"

Xu actually took a step backwards, so intense was Selphie's hostility.

There was bustle all around them; people laying cables and moving furniture, hanging streamers and shouting for no apparent reason. In the middle of it all stood Selphie with a clipboard, her hair scraped back from her face into a ponytail, giving orders. And, apparently, she was furious.

"I just came to check you're getting on alright," said Xu.

"I see you brought a professional along to help with that." Selphie nodded towards Dr Kadowaki, who was standing at Xu's side.

"I was worried," Xu said.

"You shouldn't be. I told you I was fine." Selphie turned a smile to the Doctor. "I'm sorry you've been troubled, Doctor. As you can see a little rest worked wonders and I'm feeling much better now."

"You need a month off work at least," said the Doctor. I've already passed the paperwork through to your COs."

"Well, strictly speaking this isn't work, now is it? But it's very important and you know how I love a party. Please? Just this one thing? Then tomorrow I promise I'll come by your office and you'll see for yourself I'm just fine to go back on duty."

The Doctor humphed and folded her arms. "What if I say no?"

"Oh, really!" Selphie gave the Doctor's shoulder a playful push. "Do I look ill? Now, don't you worry your head. This is just the therapy I need. I'll see you in the morning."

"No," said Xu. "Selphie, no, this isn't-"

"She worries so," Selphie stage-whispered to the Doctor.

Xu wasn't sure whether Dr Kadowaki had been charmed out of her good sense or whether she just wasn't prepared to take things further in public with an unwilling patient, but either way she watched in horror as the Doctor patted Selphie gently on the shoulder, saying in a softly chastising tone: "first thing tomorrow, and don't make me come and find you this time," and Selphie was looking sheepish and agreeing and smiling brightly - far, far too brightly - and Dr Kadowaki was taking her leave.

Just like that.

"Why did you do that?" said Xu, exasperated. "Selphie, you're ill. You can't do this. You can't put yourself through any of this stress and-"

"Yes, I can," said Selphie coldly. "I'm a grown up. Stop fucking nagging me and leave me alone. I can take care of myself. I beat a sorceress, you know. And worse. So don't go telling me what to do!"

"But you're not well!" Tears welled in Xu's eyes. "Did you eat today? Did you take a break at all? What lies did you tell Quistis to get her to give all this back? Can't you see, Selphie, you need help! This is all wrong. This is-"

And then Selphie hit her. One sharp slap across the cheek, as if bringing a hysteric out of a fit. It stung and the tears made it sting more, and Xu could barely see. She was dimly aware that they had an audience; the level of noise around them had dropped and she could feel the stillness of the crowd.

"Come home. We can't talk about this here. Please, Selphie."

"It's not home," said Selphie. Her voice wobbled and for the first time in a long while Xu felt like she actually had some kind of connection with the woman she'd fallen in love with. "I'm sorry, Xu. I can't do this any more."

"No, and that's okay, sweetie, really. I'll call Quistis and she can find someone to-"

"Not the party. I mean us. I can't do us any more."

Xu just stared.

"I'm sorry," Selphie said. "I'll call around for my stuff tomorrow."

And with that she turned her attention back to her clipboard and the guy she'd been talking to when Xu came in.

Just like that.

"Selphie!"

"No," said Selphie, firmly, softly, meaning it, fucking meaning it, and then she'd passed through the crowd and everyone was looking and Xu wanted more than anything to hide.

Just...

There was sympathy. People were looking at her with sympathy and pity because she'd lost the love of her life, the one person who meant more to her than anything else, who she'd risked everything for and she couldn't bear it.

She did the only thing she could do.

She turned and ran.

*******

There were no guards on the inside of the warehouse. In fact, there was nothing at all on the inside of the warehouse, and that was a surprise. Frila had imagined a variety of cunning and grisly traps, some kind of plinth with her prize suspended temptingly upon it, guarded by exotic wereleopards - or a safe, even. But there was nothing. Just gloom, a vast expanse of dust and a few abandoned crates.

Still hiding under Vector's cloak, she paced out the interior. Same size as outside. No secret rooms, then.

She hesitated, ready to reduce the place to rubble in a fit of frustration. But there had to be some way in. SeeD intelligence was usually more reliable than to direct them to a harmless, empty warehouse - she took a moment to wonder whether they'd got the right one, but they had, she was certain of it.

She got out her torch and began to scan the space for clues. The floor was bare floorboards, dusty, dotted with the occasional scuffle of footprints. Nothing remarkable until she reached the far end, opposite to the door, and even then she nearly missed it. But the third sweep of her torch across the patch of floor revealed two parallel cracks in the boards, a little too straight and dark to be there by accident.

Frila knelt and ran her finger along the outline she'd discovered.

~Secret~, purred Vector.

~A secret door?~

~Yes. You wish me to open it?~

~Just a sec. Let me scan it first.~ Frila swiftly ran the spell but picked up nothing. ~Okay. Do your thing.~

She felt the Guardian draw strength, making her giddy for a second. She knew Vector thrived on darkness and shadows and the warehouse had plenty of both.

Vector cast a shaft of magic at the floor. The floorboards shimmered and contorted. Frila stood back, watching in fascination as a trapdoor slowly appeared.

Somewhere in the distance she heard the door open and a crack of light shot across the room. She glanced over her shoulder to see Seifer striding towards her with Tenta close behind.

"Alfyrd?" Seifer said, looking around.

Of course. She was still under Vector's cloak.

~You can make me visible again now.~

Vector obediently dropped the cloak. To Frila's amusement Seifer jumped about two feet as she materialised suddenly in front of him. Tenta giggled.

"Good, you're here," Frila said. "Trap door."

"Ah, shit, not underground," Tenta complained. "I get claustrophobic. And there's always bats."

"I'll go down and see what we're dealing with. You two stay guard here until I give the signal."

"Let Little Miss Scared-of-the-Dark stay here. I'll come with you."

"No. Wait for my signal."

"Huh. Want all the glory for yourself, huh?"

"I can go cloaked, you can't, jerkface," Frila snapped. Seifer bristled and turned away, muttering something under his breath.

Cursing Quistis for the hundredth time that day, Frila grasped the handle of the door and tugged.

It opened easily, well-used despite the dust and rust, revealing a deep, dark hole. Dark, but not completely black. There was a dim grey light that got a little brighter as Frila's eyes adjusted to the gloom. There was a ladder leading down.

She was suddenly reminded of an adventure with a well and her brother Sen, when she was about ten. She'd been so scared, and she'd argued fiercely that it was a bad idea, but he wouldn't listen. So she followed him into the dark, scary place and put her trust entirely in him.

They'd been rescued within a day, which was lucky.

He listened to her a lot more after that.

Okay.

"I'll cast silence when I'm out of range, but if I hit the ladder you'll still hear it up here. I'll tap like this..." Frila demonstrated a rhythm on the ground. "When it's okay for you to follow. If I tap like this.... that means I'm in trouble."

"Got it," said Tenta. "And if you're in trouble....?"

"That's your choice," said Frila. "Try and keep him from doing anything stupid, okay?"

Tenta gave Seifer a dubious look.

Frila tipped the door back all the way and took a firm grip on the frame of the trapdoor. She lowered herself down slowly, lodging her heels on the ladder as quietly as she could.

~Silence. Cloak.~

It was eerie, working her way down the ladder in absolute quiet, only her own thoughts and Vector's swirling imagery for company.

She found herself remembering a dream, and struggled to concentrate.

There had been the ocean, waves as high as houses and from between them rolled a dragon with scales the colour of sea-foam and eyes that might contain a universe, and a feathery tail had wrapped around her and sweet dragon breath had bathed her and she thought she heard him sing...

The clang of metal startled her to a halt, breathing hard.

~You came out of the zone of the silence spell,~ Vector observed, calmly.

Frila pressed her head into the cool metal rung of the ladder, clinging tightly. It suddenly occurred to her that she was going down a hole that could be endless, on a ladder that could be trapped, and she had no idea at all what might await her at the bottom.

~I will protect you,~ Vector said. ~You will not be seen.~

"That's what Sen said," Frila muttered under her breath.

She took a deep breath, and willed her muscles to relax.

No more dreams. No more memories. Just move.

Centred tightly in each moment as it passed, Frila forced herself down the ladder. It got easier after a while, the noises reassuring rather than alarming.

It seemed like a long way down, although in reality it couldn't be that far. It was getting lighter, and the shaft was widening out. Finally she could see a smooth-paved floor beneath her.

~Silence~

She jumped noiselessly the last few feet and landed neatly on the balls of her feet. She span and looked around.

There was a corridor leading to narrow opening, and beyond that the source of the light. She could see shapes moving around, and cursed herself for casting silence before she'd scanned the area.

Just as well Seifer wasn't around to remind her of that one.

Suddenly reminded that she wasn't - or shouldn't be - alone, Frila tapped neatly and silently on the ladder.

A moment later the ladder started to move a little as the others made their way down.

At least, she hoped it was the others.

Frila flattened herself against the smooth stone wall of the corridor and began to make her way towards the opening. A few feet along she realised there was a door, after all; it was semi-transparent plastic and there was a glow about it that looked suspiciously like magic.

She returned to the bottom of the ladder, holding the cloak until she was certain it was Seifer and Tenta and that they hadn't brought any unwanted guests.

Tenta emerged from the gloom first, placing her booted feet firmly on the ground and looking around mouthing Frila's name. Seifer was right behind her, he said something to her, looked concerned, and then Frila noticed how pale Tenta was.

Claustrophobia. She'd said she was claustrophobic. Oh great.

Frila's instincts screamed at her to send them both back. She'd stand a better chance alone. Seifer was a loose cannon and Tenta was a wreck. They couldn't function as a team; Frila would have to look after them and she didn't do that any more, only for Sanke.

For Sanke. This whole test was for Sanke, Frila reminded herself. However hard, whatever was asked of her. She could protect Sanke better as a SeeD, and that was all that mattered.

~Uncloak.~

Tenta screamed. It was just as well the silence spell hadn't worn off.

Seifer clapped his hand over her mouth instinctively, and although there was no sound to muffle it served at least to calm her down. Frila tried to think. She couldn't send Tenta back alone. She'd fail the test or worse, get killed by angry guards and besides, Ifrit might be needed and there was no way Frila wanted to take that particular junction if she could help it.

They were in this together.

~Dispel.~

The silence spell dissipated in a muted fizz of blue and sound rushed back. There was a tell-tale buzz coming from the direction of the opening, and a dripping that sounded like water in a cave.

"Are you alright?" Frila whispered.

"I don't like enclosed spaces," Tenta said, a bit too loudly for Frila's liking and she would have popped another silence spell at her, but she needed to do that scan.

"Tough," said Seifer. "You'll have to deal."

"It's not that simple," Tenta whined.

"Try not to think about it," said Frila. "Breathe."

Tenta whimpered.

"Then let's make it quick. There's a door up there. First we find out what's on the other side, then we work out how to get through and neutralise it. Tenta, scan."

"What?"

"Cast a scan spell in the direction of that door." Frila jerked her thumb over her shoulder.

"From here?"

"No, moron," Seifer said. "Get in range first. Look, d'you want to pass or not?"

"'Course I do," said Tenta crossly.

"The do as you're fuckin' told."

Tenta glared at him, fear forgotten for the moment, and set off towards the doorway with the others close behind. She cast the spell.

"Two toramas, a tunnel worm and something I don't recognise," she said. "Door's protected with electricity."

"Right," said Frila. "Seifer, you take the worm, Tenta and I will take a Torama each."

"What about the other thing?"

"We'll deal with that when we get to it. I'll cloak to add an element of surprise but it'll go as soon as I strike."

The others nodded agreement. Frila gathered her power and shot magic at the doorway.

~Dispel.~

The blue glow faltered, but remained.

"Tenta."

Tenta looked blankly at her.

"Needs another spell. Go for it."

"Oh, right."

This time the barrier fell.

So far, so good.

Frila drew her gunblade and led the other two through the opening. It was tight; she had to pull her elbows in and Seifer had to turn sideways.

A quick glance around the room confirmed Tenta's assessment to a point: two torama (already headed for Seifer and Tenta), check, one tunnel worm (asleep but rousing fast), check, something that looked a lot like a wall safe and... a bucket.

The unknown thing was, presumably, in the bucket.

There was a door in the wall on the right, too. Frila kept half an eye on it as she ran towards the Torama.

The monsters went down quickly. Tenta preferred to use magic, apparently, blasting away at the Torama with a seemingly endless stream of fire spells of various kinds. Seifer diced the worm with his gunblade, every slash and slot precise and deadly. Frila stuck to the gunblade too, saving Vector's strength for now. It felt good to fight after all that sneaking around.

Her Torama had just fallen when the door opened and a half dozen guards flooded out. Seifer charged, still in full battle mode.

Frila followed, sliding to a halt to ready a spell.

Seifer charged on, blade swinging, slicing. Shooting.

Shit. Shit shit shit shit... "Almasy, no! No human casualties! Tenta, cast sleep, I've got to-"

There was a roaring sound behind her; water rushing across the room in a torrent to engulf Tenta and lap at Frila's heels.

"Tenta!!"

One of the guards screamed, wrenching Frila's attention back. "Seifer, stop!" ~Sleep!~

The guard that was begging for his life at Seifer's feet toppled over.

"Yeah, yeah, I remember," hissed Seifer, grabbing the next guard by the lapel. "We don't all have magic, remember? Some of us have to do put them to sleep the old fashioned way."

~Sleep.~ "Well... good, then."

Two more.

Frila darted a look over her shoulder. Water was swirling around, somehow contained to one side of the room. Tenta was nowhere to be seen.

"Faster, Seifer. Tenta's down."

"I know. You go. Leave these guys to me."

She scowled at him.

"Yeah, I know. No casualties." Seifer cracked the next guard on the back of the head with the hilt of his gunblade. Frila winced. "Go save the bint."

Frila turned and plunged into the water.

It didn't take much to work out that it wasn't ordinary water. It crashed over Frila's head in a deluge, leaving her spluttering and cursing.

"Tenta, are you there? Call Ifrit! Now!!"

Something thudded softly against Frila's shin with the swell of the water. Tenta. Her limp body flowed with the creature's tide, swept suddenly out of reach just as Frila reached to grab her hand.

The water surged forwards, forming shape. Frila could see Tenta in the centre as the glassy liquid surrounded her, drowning her.

"No!" Frila slashed blindly with her gunblade but it sliced harmlessly through the liquid. The monster made no sign of noticing.

And then it swelled, as if in anger and all at once formed something like a mouth and spat Tenta out to fall in a heap at Frila's feet. Unmoving. Frila dropped to her knees and felt for a pulse; nothing. Shit. Shit shit shit...

She reached into her pocket for a potion, wishing leather wasn't so intractable when wet.

But her fingers never closed around the precious bottle. There was a smack of water, a roaring like the ocean in her ears, but not like... nothing like... and then....

The world went black.

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