Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Body Switch ❯ The Seed Test ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer: I´m tired of writing that down, so just look on the the first chapter. Ok. Rico and Modo are mine. (sort of mine)

Author´s note: Ok. Ok. Sue me, because I post only one chapter. (but a looong chapter.) I said: I´d always post two. I´m really busy guys, so give me a break. I thought I could at least post this chapter. Ok, ok, my beta-reader and I were both busy. (*both whining: School sucks sooooo much.* -_-") Though, thanks CC-chan. I´m glad you could do it. ^_~

Warning: yaoi. Seifer and Zell.

Chapter 5
By Little Leila

The day of the Seed test came and Seifer was more than nervous. Despite the fact that he was lucky and didn't have to be the leader again, he could still screw up. It was really hilarious, the mission was once again in Dollet, like his last. He didn't like the memory of it. It reminded him how much of a jerk, he really was. Leaving the one he loved there, to fight the soldiers, a beast and a horrible Galbadien machine. He still cursed himself for doing this, but in the past he knew that Zell could make it without his useless presence. Another reason why Ultimecia could control him.

His self-pity.

Two hours before the mission began, Zell paid him a visit in his dorm. Seifer was pretty surprised to see him, before the Seed test. He was dressed all in black. It was a special fighting suit, designed by the scientists of Esthar. A tight but robust material, fitting to every move he made, like a second skin. His chest and his arms were protected by black armor. And his new claw-combat gloves made the look perfect.

Seifer was almost drooling. The armor seemed to be a black, plastic-like material and it traced every muscle of his chest and stomach, the armor on his arms too. Silently he asked himself how a fighting suit, could be so seductive.
Zell was there, to soothe Seifer's nerves. Saying that everything was going to be fine and if something happened, he and his friends would help him out. The thought of Zell watching every move and action he made wasn't really soothing. But he made the best of it. However, it was good to know that he wasn't all alone and by himself.

For Zell it was time to go. The backup had to leave before the Seed candidates. He wished Seifer good luck and gave him a encouraging, reassuring and yet simple advice.

"If you really want to win the fight, say: ...*I believe*"

Then he left Seifer's room, heading back, for the ship in Balamb, which would bring him to Dollet. Seifer dressed in his uniform, admired himself for the last time in the mirror and then he went out too.

~~~

The mission was explained on the way to Dollet, strange soldiers had appeared in Dollet. They took possession of the town and were waiting there for something, possibly for further orders. The mission was like his last, cleaning the town from the foreign soldiers. There were also two other candidates. A Galbadien transfer student, the leader of the team, called Allan and a female transfer student from Trabia. Her name was Becky.

Allan with his wild brown hair looked much like Squall, but his eyes were chocolate brown. He wasn't on friendly terms with Seifer. Allan still held some grudge against the Ex-Sorceress Knight. And he showed him that in every possible way, glaring none-stop at him and making a face of disgust when Seifer spoke.

Luckily for Seifer, Becky didn't share the same view. She was more of a blond Selphie, but with two short pigtails. Maybe she was one of Selphie's friends? She wasn't bouncy and hyper like the little brunette, but as forgiving and innocent. She even protected Seifer, when Allan tried to trip him. Becky tugged on his sleeve, stopping him from going any further and asked a question about the mission.

Allan growled under his breath and was the first who left the boat. After he left, Becky pulled Seifer down and whispered to him, what Allan had wanted to do and that he should be more careful. Seifer thanked her and left the boat with Becky right behind him. The leader of the team stood outside, tapping his foot impatiently.

"...Snails!" Allan sneered in a voice full of hatred.

He seemed to know, what Becky really achieved with her question and now he hated her, too. In his eyes she wasn't better than Seifer. A traitor like he was, nothing else. Nevertheless, if he wanted to pass the Seed test, he needed them. So he had no choice than dealing with those problems.

It was really frustrating for Seifer, the leader of their team hated him from the start and now it also concerned Becky. It was no use to be sorry now. The Seed test came first and Seifer was determined to pass it. The mission of his team, team A, was to find the foreign soldiers and eliminate them inside of Dollet.

For Seifer it was scary how similar the test was to his last one.

A déjá vu!

Allan ran from the beach into town, not waiting for his team. It reminded Seifer of himself and how much of a jerk he had been in the past. Both followed their leader as quick as they could and soon the first battle began.

~~~

The team A stood outside of the town. There was a wide path, leading to the cliffs along the seaside. At the end of the path was a large plateau. Many Seeds and Seed candidates used it for training.The plateau was also very dangerous. If somebody fell from it, he could hit the cliffs or drop into the sea. One or the other way, death awaited the person.

The team went through eight battles and were a bit tired. Becky sat on a high rock and Seifer leaned against it, both still regaining their strength. Allan was the only one who paced around, looking like a tiger in a small cage. Becky watched him for a while and it started to annoy her.

"Hey leader, stop pacing! You look like a dog who's running after its tail." She teased.

"That's none of your fucking business." He growled.

Something bothered him, Seifer could see that, but Becky was oblivious to it.

"Well, we're finished here. And we have more than one hour left, so we can go back to the ship and go home." She continued.

"Not really. I dunno what, but something is wrong here." Seifer added.

"Looks like the sorceress´ lapdog actually has a brain in his thick skull." Allan sneered.

Seifer ignored him, but he knew, that he and Allan shared the same thought.
It was too easy!

The mission was not more than a better training. The battles were good, but really too easy. Seifer suspected, that the soldiers tried to play for time. The question was: for what? Were they waiting for something to happen? Was the whole possession-of-the-town-thing a diversionary tactic?

"I think it's a diversion." Allan spoke Seifer's thought out loud.

~A bit smarter and he would be dangerous...~ Seifer thought in his usual sarcastic kind of way.

Becky, in her own naive way, had another point of view. For her, the world wasn't as bad, as some people made it. In her mind everything was simple. There were a few strange soldiers, who thought, they could terrorise a town like Dollet. But they didn't hear or think about Seed and were too surprised to fight, when the team had shown up. That's the reason for the easy battles, ...for her.

"You're just paranoid!" She said angrily.

~There we go again. Will this never end?~

Seifer rolled his eyes. Over the day, he lost count, how often the two started a fight. In any case, it was more than he and Allan did. He looked down to the ground and noticed something. In the path were little holes. Smaller than his fist, but still visible.

~Pot holes? ...No! Too many, to be pot holes.~

He followed the holes with his eyes. It was a trail, leading along the path and the cliffs, to the plateau. The trail looked odd. Only on the left and the right side of the path were holes, not in between. What kind of a monster or animal could make such strange trails? And what if it wasn't a ... .

"Hey Seifer, what do you mean?" Becky asked.

Right! Their fight! He was too lost in his thoughts to hear them.

"Hey, what are you looking at, all the time?" Allan said in a suspicious voice.

Seifer smirked at him.

~What a great leader... Claims to be one and is too blind to see obvious things.~

"If you didn't notice, oh great and fearless one, then look at the ground and tell me what you see!" Seifer mocked.

Though, Allan didn't trust him, he did as Seifer said and looked at the trail and Becky did the same. Allan glanced between Seifer and the trail on the path. For the first time, he didn't look at Seifer with his accusing eyes. It was an expression of utter confusion.

"Guys... that's really strange. It's similar to trails in the sand, made by a crab." Becky noticed.

"Yeah...We should go and see what it is." Allan said fierily.

"We should return to the ship! We have less then one hour and if we miss it, then we fail the test."

Normally, Seifer would agree, but he wanted to pass and not fail the test, because of a hothead like Allan. On the other hand, he had to do what the leader says. At least he gave him a good advice.

"You can stay here, if you like... chicken! No wonder you lost in the sorceress war!"

That hit Seifer really hard. Did Zell felt the same way, when he called him that? Feeling so down? Unworthy? Useless? Seifer never knew, how much damage he could cause with the nickname. Now he knew and it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Before Seifer could say anything more, Allan already ran along the path. It was very dangerous to run. The path got smaller the closer somebody went to the plateau, and the cliffs were very sharp.

Becky gave Seifer an unsure glance, whether they should follow their leader or not. In his opinion, he was a member of the team and had to follow the leader. So did he. He ran and gave Becky a wink to come after him. With a catlike grace she jumped of the rock and ran as fast as she could to catch up with the tall blond.

~~~

Both ran up the path, but watching carefully every step they made. Allan was nowhere to be seen. Seifer slowed down. The path got smaller and smaller with each step, but the plateau wasn't that far away. The plateau was now over their heads, still five yards above them. To high for a human to jump to it. Suddenly, Becky noticed something.

"Hey Seifer, look! The trail!"

Seifer looked to the ground. He had already forgot about the holes in the path. He was more surprised when he didn't see any. The trails ended behind him. He looked above him and down to the ground again. Whatever it was, it couldn't have jumped down the cliffs. The holes didn't lead in any direction they just stopped. Like the thing had vanished on the spot. Seifer knelt down, examining the last holes. Three on the left and three on the right were in a parallel direction. And they were deeper then the rest.

~Interesting. The thing has six legs! And it... jumped?~

It was the only explanation Seifer had at the moment. But he asked himself, what thing on this planet could jump so high.

"Seifer, c´mon! We should look for Allan. I have a bad feeling about this. We should go and find him, qui..."

Becky was interrupted by a sharp scream of pain and it sounded like their missed leader. Both ran to the plateau, not caring how small the rest of the path was. They arrived the large plateau within a few minutes. It was larger than Seifer thought. It was flat and high rocks surrounded the west part, with a small cave on the left side. The entrance of the cave was really small, big enough for a kid and an adult to duck to go inside.

The north and the east side of the plateau were free. And down there were the sharp cliffs and the deep, blue sea. Seifer and Becky stood on the south side, were the path lead back to Dollet. What they saw left them totally speechless.

In the center stood a huge machine. Twice as high, as a human. A robot! A robot with six long, iron legs and a long, flexible tail with a pointed end. It looked like a... scorpion, but with two big guns instead of claws. Besides it, near the edge of the plateau was Allan. He laid there and didn't move. Possibly unconscious, maybe dead? Seifer had never fought against such a metallic giant before. He regretted his lack of presence on his last Seed test. Zell knew how to beat things like this and maybe he had known it too, if he just stayed instead of leaving the team.

Without a moment's hesitation, he tried to reach Allan. If he was really dead, he had to be revived with a life-spell or a phoenix down, before his soul left the body. However Seifer couldn't reach Allan. The robot spun around, spotted him and shot. Something exploded around Seifer. He now stood in a mist of gas and coughed when he tried to breath. His vision blurred and his eyes were stinging.

~Tear gas!!!~ He noticed.

Now it was Becky´s turn. She had to pass the mechanic monster in one piece, if she wanted to help Allan. Her attempt was in vain, when the scorpion-like robot swung its tail and knocked her hard against the rocks. Seifer could hear how her fragile body hit the wall.

She passed out and Seifer was all by himself now. He took Hyperion, hoping to fend off the attacks, of the machine, till his vision became clear again. How could he be so careless? He didn't had any items with him. Becky was the one, in the team, who had all the items. Seifer had magic, but to his shame no Esuna spells.

~Great. Fucking great! Becky is out cold, Allan too, and I can't help any of them because I don't see a damn thing. Ok, my chance to survive this is really small, but at least, I have one. And I, sure as hell, won't run away!~

Seifer could see the shape of the metal beast and also his movements. There was only one problem that occurred him in the moment. If the beast would attack him with the tail, he didn't have a chance to react. He wouldn't see it in time! He cast protect and hoped it would shoot with bullets first and then attack with the tail, maybe then he could see it coming. It was just his bad luck that the Scorpion seemed to have other plans with him. The huge beast drew back the tail for a blow. Seifer couldn't see it though; it was too far away for him. The point of the tail aimed at his body. The sharp end flew in his direction in a matter of seconds.

Seifer stood there and didn't see the tail, but he saw a dark figure, which jumped between him and the tail. Then there were two strange sounds. Seifer could only guess what it was. The first, which he definitely remembered, was metal against metal. The second was more of a buzzing. A buzzing like the one Quezacotl made with his Thunder Storm attack. Did somebody summon the mighty GF? Seifer couldn't feel him, so it had to be something else.

Then he saw blurry, how the person in front of him grabbed his arm and dragged him away from the battlefield. He heard a shout from the left side.

"MODO! GO! LOOK FOR HIM!"

Seifer recognized the voice as Rico's. The backup! He didn't have any time left to think. The dark figure, which saved him, pushed him down almost to his knees. He kept resisting till he heard the voice of his secret love.

"Seifer, duck and crawl into the cave! We're safe in there. Becky is already inside and Modo is looking for Allan." Zell said in a hurry.

The tall blond obeyed immediately. If any other person had said this, he wouldn't have done anything, and if, then only reluctantly, but with Zell, it was different. Zell's attention became more important for him than anything else. More important than his arrogance, his pride or the battle, which they were in.

He crawled inside the small cave, hoping Becky would be ok. Her weak and concerned voice took all his fears away.

"Seifer! Are you ok? Hey you can open your eyes now, silly. We're safe!"

He smiled at her comment. Did she really think he had his eyes shut, because he was afraid? She was really naive and innocent. Now he was sure, that most of the Trabian girls were exactly like Selphie.

"Becky, he is blind! Please take a look at him while I'm outside." Zell ordered.

Seifer was startled when he heard Zell's decision. He wanted to go outside again? Facing that horrible machine and the risk of getting killed? Seifer wanted to stop him, saying he wouldn't let him go. However, Rico stopped Zell before Seifer could.

"Zell where are you going?"

"I'll help Modo. He can't handle the thing on his own."

"I'll go out. You'll stay here!"

"But Rico...." Zell began.

"No, *But*. This is an order! Got that?" Rico cut him off.

Seifer flinched when he felt something wet on his face. Becky used the eye drops to cure him. His vision became clear again and he saw Zell and Rico at the entrance of the cave. Suddenly the third member of their team knocked both of their feet, when he jumped into safety. The entrance was small but the cave itself was big enough for an adult to stand. A loud cracking noise could be heard and the sounds of metal against stone filled the air.

"Modo!? Where is Allan?" Zell asked.

"Sorry buddy, too late."

Modo pointed to the robot outside, which tried desperately to get in.

"This stupid piece of junk threw him down the cliffs before I could get to him. Then it choose me, as the next target." He explained.

Still sitting, Zell shook his head, looking really frustrated. Rico put a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him silently that it wasn't his fault.

Suddenly the noise stopped and the three on the ground looked to the entrance. Modo was the first to break the silence.

"That thing is still there!" He blurted out.

"Yeah, but why did it stop?" Zell asked.

"No Guys. The question is: why it doesn't destroy the cave and bury us alive. I'm sure it has enough power." Rico guessed.

"Hey Rico, don't give that damn thing any good ideas, ok?" Modo complained.

"C'mon Guys. I think the tin can is waiting for us to come out and play with it. So we let it wait." Rico answered in a much lower voice.

Seifer almost had problems, to understand Rico's last statement. Nevertheless he agreed with him. The three friends walked slowly inside, joining Seifer and Becky. Rico put his two daggers away and leaned at the rough wall. He pushed his dark sunglasses back and crossed his arms over his chest. It was still a riddle for Seifer how anybody could see a thing with such dark sunglasses. They were in a cave and he could see with them, though. Now when he thought of it, nobody ever saw Rico's eyes. He never put his sunglasses down.

Seifer was interrupted in his thoughts when he heard Becky's voice behind him.

"Heeeey, ... what's this?" She asked.

Seifer turned around to see what she meant. He saw her surprised face and an almost dried trail of blood from her forehead. Obviously from the blow she received from the robot.

"What?" Seifer asked.

Becky pointed to Zell, but Seifer wasn't sure what she meant. Suddenly there were white sparks and they came from Zell's right arm along with the same buzzing sound, Seifer had heard before. It wasn't so loud like before, though. It was only audible when everybody else was silent. Zell looked down to his paralyzed forearm.

"Hm? Oh, that! Guess that thing hit me pretty hard, huh?" Zell said.

Seifer wasn't dense; he could count one and one together. Since he hadn't heard the guns of the metallic-scorpion, it must have used the tail to get him. But Zell stood in front of him and had blocked the sharp steel tip with his forearm. Seifer took a closer look and saw a few wires, standing out of the damaged armor. He guessed that Zell's right arm has to be a cybernetic part of him.

Seifer looked to the ground, he was angry. Angry with the robot and with himself. The metalic beast had hurt his Zell and he let it happen.

~My fault! My fault again!~ Seifer thought bitterly.

Rico glanced at Zell's forearm, noticing the damage that the robot caused. Zell's arm hung down and didn't move at all. It was totally paralyzed. He couldn't fight anymore and it would be suicide for Zell, to fight with only one arm.

"Modo. Could you repair it?" Rico asked.

Modo put his long Katana away and walked over to Zell. He took a quick look at the damage. Then he raised his eyebrows and turned back to Rico.

"You have to be kidding me. I have only a few tools in my bag and in my pockets." He replied.

"Where is the problem, Modo? I thought you could repair anything? You repaired his arm once, didn't you?"

"Yes, but I need a laboratory to fix this mess." He answered half joking.

"Fix it as good as possible! Zell should be able to move his arm at least."

"Rico? What have you planned?" Zell asked.

"We'll see. I'm still working on a plan to get us out. Modo? I know, I ask much of you, but... could you repair it quickly? The ship leaves in a half an hour. If the two wanna pass the test.... " Rico nodded to Becky and Seifer.

"... Then we have to get them, to the ship." He finished.

"Ok, ok. I'll do everything in my power, but don't expect a masterpiece."

Modo took a few tools out of his backpack and the hidden pockets of his fighter suit. He and Zell sat down on the cold, rough ground. After he examined it, he began to repair Zell's damaged forearm. Meanwhile Rico walked closer to the entrance, only near enough to see the robot and stayed there for a few minutes.

~~~

"Ooookeeeey. Now try it! Make a fist!" Modo ordered.

Narrowing his eyes, Zell concentrated on his hand. It clenched to a fist with a jerky movement.

"I see. Open your hand slowly, now!"

Zell did his best, but he couldn't. It opened with the same speed. Modo sighed in defeat.

"Don't get yourself so down, Modo. It's ok, really. At least I can move it and I only need my fists to fight. So you did a good job." Zell said comforting.

"Hmm. Thanks Zell. But we both know, I can do better." Modo pouted slightly.

That was more than funny. Becky started to giggle and Zell chuckled. Modo always had a hard expression. Other students didn't dare talking to him, because he looked like he couldn't take a joke. But now? With a slight pout in his ever-mean expression? Who wouldn't have smiled at that?

Modo blushed slightly and took a few bandages out of his backpack. He opened the clasps on Zell's right shoulder and took his armored sleeve and glove off. The damage was now fully visible. There was a deep hole in the arm with a few wires that stood out of it. Modo put the, now fixed, wires carefully back and wrapped the bandages around Zell's forearm.

"Modo that isn't necessary! I'm not injured."

"So? Then you wanna explain this to everyone in Garden?" Modo reasoned.

Zell groaned annoyed, but let Modo have his way. Rico came back to the group. He was unusual silent and looked around in the cave. Then he raised his head and spotted a hole in the wall. It was highly above him and he could see the sky. The sunlight shone through this opening, filling the cave with enough light to see each other.

"Finished!"

Modo once more checked the bandaged forearm and after he made sure they were tight enough, he put Zell's armored black sleeve and glove back into place. Then he glanced at his watch, on the right wrist, and smiled.

"I needed six minutes, guess that's a new record."

Seifer used those minutes to watch Zell's friends closely and he was really surprised. He didn't thought highly of Modo or Rico. He thought Modo was more like Raijin. Tall, bulky, dense and only skilled in fighting. Now it turned out, that Modo was a mechanic genius and he had a good nature, despite what he looked like to others. And Rico? At first, Rico seemed to be a troublemaker and a superficial macho. Seifer was proved wrong. Rico stood cool and calm over the whole situation, thinking about the problem outside and how to save both Seed candidates at the same time. Now he understood why the rumours in Garden said, that he was the unofficial leader of their group.

Seifer flinched slightly when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey Seifer, why so quiet?" Becky asked with a frown.

"Nothing. Doesn't matter. I was only thinking." He answered quickly.

Suddenly Rico turned around, facing his team members and beckoned Modo over to him.

"Modo. ... Do you think, the robot could be steered by a human inside?"

"Yeah, ...could be. Why? Did you sense something?" Modo asked with a serious expression.

"I can feel two human beings inside of it."

Modo went to the entrance to get a peek of the robot. Then he came back nodding to Rico in agreement.

"Wait a sec. How can you feel that?" Becky interrupted.

"It would take too long to explain, just trust him." Zell replied, still sitting on the ground.

"Anyway, ... I saw two red visors, which I'm sure they're sitting behind. Like a periscope in a submarine." Modo continued.

"So they can see every movement we make?! Are the visors light repelling?" Rico asked.

"Dark colors like blue and black, yes. Not red! I still don't get, why you want to know that. Do you mind, telling me what you've planned?" Modo smirked.

"Soon, bro ...soon. First we need a bit help from outside."

"And how so?" Seifer asked curiously.

"Easy. There was a beach near the path. Big enough for a ship to arrive. So you don't have to run in twenty minutes through Dollet."

Becky gasped, she forgot about the time totally.

"And how do you wanna contact the ship? We're in a cave! Our radio sets won't function in here." Zell reasoned.

"I would agree, if we were in a closed cave. But we have a chance to contact the Seed ship." Rico pointed to the hole above him.

"Uhm.... Let me guess. You need someone who lifts you up, to the hole, right?" Modo assumed.

Rico only nodded.

"Why do I get the feeling, that I'm the poor victim, who has to lift you???" He continued.

"I don't think Zell can lift me with his arm. So either that, or you can go outside and contact the ship, while running away from the armed oil can." Rico said, in a calm indifferent voice.

"... I think ... I'll rather play the ladder."

Modo went to the hole and waited there. He knew Rico would choose the acrobatic way to climb on his shoulders. And he was right; with a quick run-up he jumped and landed on Modo's shoulders.

Becky and Seifer could only stare in awe, while Rico contacted the ship. A few seconds later he jumped down without hurting Modo.

"The ship is on the way. There is only one problem. When I told them the position of the beach, I could feel six human auras. Possibly six of the foreign soldiers. Seifer and Becky are in no condition to fight. It would be too dangerous."

"Hey, I think we are adult enough, we can handle them." Becky complained.

At first Seifer thought of the same, but then, he tried to see the things out of Rico's point of view. How a real leader saw the situation. Not a would-be leader like he was. Seifer looked at the blond girl with the two short pigtails. She wasn't in any condition to fight. He had cured the gash on her forehead, when Rico talked to Modo, but a cure can only heal the wounds. It didn't bring the strength back and Becky needed to rest. As strong as he was, he couldn't fight alone against six soldiers.

"Becky... I think we should listen to him, since we don't have a leader anymore."

Seifer didn't mean to be sarcastic or mean. He just couldn't think of a good reason why they should follow Rico's advice. Nonetheless it worked and Becky hung her head in defeat. Seifer looked at Zell and was surprised, when he saw Zell staring back to him. Zell had a tiny, almost inconspicuous smile on his lips and gave him a nod. Telling him, it was the best what he could do in the moment. Did Zell read his mind?

Seifer had to fight his blush down and concentrate more on Rico's plan.

"Ok, guys, here is the plan: Modo, can you make something like a signal rocket? With a dazzlingly light effect?"

"Give me two minutes." Modo promised.

"Great. I'll throw the rocket and the rest should turned around or cover the eyes. If the soldiers inside, are really so close to their visors as Modo says, then it will dazzle them for a moment. Two of us will run down the path, and if there are soldiers, we have to eliminate them. Seifer?! You and Becky hide down the path where the soldiers and their mechanic toy can't spot you. But... "

~Uh oh. There're strings attached.~ Seifer thought.

"... We need someone who keeps the trash-can busy."

~I could do that. It's still against my nature to lean back and doing nothing. As long as Zell is save, I don't care, about the consequences for me. Even if I fail the Seed test.~

Seifer was determined to pass the test, but he wasn't going to sacrifice his love or somebody else. However, a certain indigo-haired fighter messed up his plans.

"I'll do it!" Zell offered.

"Zell you're in no condition to..." Rico began.

"Rico! Who else? You and Modo can fight! I may have one arm, but I can run, though. I think that's enough to distract it. Besides I can use other moves to defend myself, think of the *Different Beat*." Zell cut him off.

"No Zell! You're not going to fight that thing by your own. I go with you." Seifer protested.

He wouldn't do it again. He wasn't going to leave Zell, like the last time.

"I appreciate your concern, Seifer, but I'm sure I can do it alone." Zell answered with a smile.

"Zell I..."

"Enough!!!" Rico interrupted Seifer in a harsh tone.

Rico sighed and crossed his arms over his chest again. Modo was still busy with the signal rocket and Becky leaned with her back against the wall.

"Listen guys. We don't have the time to start a fight right now. I really hate to admit this, but... Zell's right. I need Modo, if there really are soldiers down the path. Also he's the fastest of the three of us. Zell would you...?"

"Leave it to me." Zell replied happily.

For Seifer, it was amazing how much trust Rico had in his friends. He believed in Zell and in his abilities. Was this real friendship?

"Ok. Then it's decided. Seifer? Becky? When Modo and I run out of the cave you'll follow us. I tell you where to stop and you'll wait there and hide till I come back! Modo will stop the ship from leaving as long as necessary. Zell? Try to distract them as long as possible. When it's too much to handle for you, call us, got that? No solo actions and no suicide attempt, ok?" Rico explained.

Zell nodded, knowing exactly, how serious he was. Modo had finished his work shortly after Rico had finished. Without saying a word he handed his little invention to Rico.

Rico raised one eyebrow over his sunglasses, when he saw *what* Modo had given him.

"A hand grenade? Again? I swear, you have a thing for it."

Modo only shrugged.

"Hey it's not my fault. Look at the bright side! It's two in one. The explosion will be dazzling, like you wanted. And it´s strong enough to cause slight damage."

Now it was time to put the plan into action. Rico advised them to cover their eyes. Since he had sunglasses, he could throw the hand grenade without being affected by the light. He pulled the ring out and threw the hand grenade. It rolled under the robot scorpion and lay there for a few seconds. The soldiers in the scorpion were stupid enough to step back and examine the thing further. It exploded and Rico could see the light, damped by his sunglasses. When it vanished he turned around to his team.

"LET´S GET IT ON!" He shouted.

Modo was the first who left the cave, and then Rico followed by Seifer, who pulled Becky along. Zell, being the last, stood behind, waiting in a safe distance for the metalic giant, to attack him. Seifer would have stayed behind, despite what Rico had ordered, only to help and protect his dark angel. But he was now responsible for Becky's life, so he didn't have any other choice. He just hoped, he wouldn't regret it later. If anything happened to Zell, he would never be able to forgive himself.

~And if he dies? Then there isn't anything that is worth to live for. ... Why must I always be doomed to torment?~ Seifer asked himself silently.

~~~

Meanwhile Zell waited behind the robot. His shoulder-length hair bond to a pigtail, so he could fight with a clear vision.

He waited for the soldiers; he had to play for time until Rico would call him over the radio-set. Then he knew Seifer and Becky were save. He and Seifer had been friends for a month now. And he admitted he had strange feelings when he was with him. Sometimes he felt like he could remember the past any minute but then he was disappointed, when he couldn't. He didn't know much about Seifer, but when he first saw him, he recognized him as a familiar person. A person who had left him alone and returned after many years. Ok, maybe their friendship hadn't been as deep in the past as it was now. Nonetheless, it couldn't have been much worse, could it?

Zell wished he had more time to think about his past or what Seifer had to do with it. But the robot started moving again. It was about time, to take care of this *problem*.

~I can do this. *I believe!* I can win. Maybe not this fight, but time.~

"HEY TIN CAN! WANNA FIGHT AGAINST A REAL OPPONENT? COME HERE!" He provoked.

The scorpion turned around, facing him and attacked.

~~~

"Far enough! ...Stay! ... We'll go down,.... and clean the ...path." Rico panted.

"Hey buddy. Out of breath so soon? You're getting old, huh?" Modo teased.

Seifer and Becky noticed, how right Modo was. Rico was out of breath like they were, but Modo wasn't. He seemed to be in a good condition.

They had reached the place, where the trail of the robot had ended. Seifer looked back to the plateau above him. He couldn't see what was going on up there. That concerned him even more.

"Yeah.... need more practice...Let's go!" Rico answered.

They ran and left Seifer and Becky behind. Becky looked on her watch and frowned slightly. They didn't have much time left, only ten minutes. Seifer didn't notice it. He looked straight to the plateau, hoping to catch a glimpse of Zell. Then it occurred him that the east part of the plateau was larger and if he'd go a few steps back from where they had came, he'd be able to see it. And at the same time the machine could discover him and Rico's plan would be in vain.

"Seifer, I'm sure he'll be ok. He is your friend, huh?" Becky asked.

"... Yes ...my best friend." Seifer lied.

~~~

On the plateau, all hell had broken loose. The scorpion didn't shoot with his guns it attacked with the tail. Zell took a closer look, without slowing down in his speed. The left side was damaged, obviously from Modo's hand grenade.

But why didn't they shoot with the right? And the tail wasn't aiming at him with his sharp tip. They tried to hit him with it and missed every time. Zell jumped out of the way every time when the tail came too near him. He felt more like a chased animal. If they really wanted, they could knock him out or search for the others.

~Are they trying to catch me?~

Zell ducked when the tail swung in his direction. He clenched his fist, on the right, damaged arm, with a jerky movement. And with a swift flick of his left wrist, the three claws, on his glove, shot out ready to slice everyone and anything into pieces.

He attacked the robot, the claws sharp enough to cut through metal. His anger and his strength rose with every punch and cut. The wires stood out of several places, but the scorpion was still moving. The robot swung the tail again and took Zell by surprise and the blow sent him flying to the east side of the plateau. He got up immediately, because the blow wasn't enough to stop him or to knock him out.

When he stood up he felt how something wrapped around his torso. It was the scorpion tail! They tied him up with it, preventing him from attacking. How bold they were to tie him up like that? He felt how the anger took control over his body, or was it something else? Sometimes he got this feeling when he was angry or really annoyed, like when he was with Melissa. He wished he could kill them. He had the urge to slit the thing open and, literally, rip the soldier´s heads off.

Zell felt how he became cruel and evil, but he couldn't care less in that moment. He turned his head around to check his position. He was near the edge of the east side of the plateau. The part, which stood out slightly. Then he had an idea. It could kill him, but he didn't care. He wanted the soldiers dead. They dared to attack him, to tie him up and he had to punish them for it.

He turned his head back and gave them a cold smirk.

"Can you swim?" He asked the soldiers.

With that he started to pull with supernatural strength. His legs made one step after another backwards to the edge. They were as cybernetic as his arm, but nonetheless he still had to put all strength into it. He heard the muffled shouts of the soldiers and how they tried to loosen the tail. Zell made too many cuts into their robot and the tail had malfunctioned. They couldn't untie him even if they wanted to. Zell dragged the machine mercilessly to the edge, till he heard a slight cracking sound under him. Exactly the sound he hoped to hear.

~~~

The noise which came from the plateau made Seifer nervous. It was only minutes since they left Zell there, but for Seifer it felt like hours. Suddenly the noise stopped and that was never a good sign. Seifer made a mad dash back to the plateau.

"SEIFER! WAIT!!!" Becky yelled.

He stopped when he could see a part of the plateau. The east part. The machine had its tail around Zell. He was tied up and could barely move. Zell stood unusually still and gazed at the robot. Then suddenly he started to pull backwards. Seifer was stunned. What had Zell planned? How could a human be so strong? Another sound caught his attention.

~No! He wouldn't...~ He thought in panic.

The plateau began to crack. The machine was too heavy and still Zell pulled it to the edge. Didn't he hear it?

"SEIFER!" Rico yelled.

"What the hell are you doing here? I told you to.... " Rico was silent when he looked into the same direction as Seifer.

"Oh, no. I said: no *suicide attempt* and what is he doing? C´mon we have to stop him before.... "

Rico couldn't finish his sentence. The plateau gave away and both Zell and his metalic opponent fell into the deep sea.

~~~

tbc. ^_~

A cliffhanger. I am so mean. ^^

Oh my God. What´s gotten into Zell? Was he possessed? And Seifer? Will he pass the Seed-test?

I hope after this chapter, that Rico and Modo have a few fans. Modo has already one, I guess. Right, Elisheva? ^_~ I´m going to make a prequel which will explain the friendship between Zell, Rico and Modo. (You can look at it, as a prequel to almost every story from FF8.)

R&R plz ^^