FF8 Presents The Thing

Chapter 10


Back at the base, Selphie is very frazzled and has a good reason to be for she was being interrogated about the chocobos.

Selphie in tears, “ I tell you I lock the kennel!”

Zell, “ Then how did they get out!” Rather temperamental since seeing Kiros killed before his eyes.

Selphie, “ But... I did!”

Squall, “ Why wasn’t Bob kenneled right away?”

Selphie, “ I couldn’t find it.”

Laguna who was upset about the lose of Kiros couldn’t believe young Selphie would intentional have let them go.

Laguna, “ Ease off her! No one here has the right to be judge and executioner!”

Zell, “ That .. thing ate Kiros!”

Laguna, “ I know that! “

Squall rubs the bridge of his nose as Seifer walks into the room with a bundle under arm.

Squall, “ That thing could have gotten to anyone.”

Quistis, “ If it got to Selphie , it could have gotten to the others. Technically we’re all under suspect.”

They all look at each other. No one certain if they can trust anyone, be friend or lover. Ward sits down with a heavy sigh as this was alot to take. Sometimes he wondered how Laguna could take all the stress without cracking.

Seifer drops his bundle on the table, “ Lookie.. its christmas.” What he drops a bundle of shredding long johns. They all look at the clothing. Hard to tell who they belonged to, “ Laguna found this yesterday in his kitchen.”

Laguna, “ Oh yeah..... “ Remembering evwn though yesterday seems like a lifetime ago.

Seifer, “ The tears are just like ripped clothing on Rinoa. The same thing was happening to Kiros’s clothing when the thing took him. It seems they can’t replicate clothing.” reads the label, “ Size large... “

Laguna, “ Most us guys wear that.. except ward who has extra large.”

Seifer, “ I know... But I don’t think it got more then one of us. But it did get someone.”

Fujin, “ DISTURBING!”

Ward mouths something.

Laguna, “ Ward wants to know... how can we tell who is human?”

Dr. Kadowaki, “ I can tests our blood.”

Quistis, “ Our blood?”

Dr. Kadowaki, “ The alien has a different blood chemistry then our own. Basically we mix our blood with uncontaminated blood. If the blood reacts then we have our alien.”

Zell, “ How do we know the uncontaminated blood we use is uncontaminated?”

Quistis, “ We use the blood in storage.”

Squall, “ How long will it take?”

Dr. Kadowaki, “ A couple of hours... “

Squall, “ Then lets get it started.”

Squall takes out a key and hands it to Quistis. Both Quistis and Dr. Kadowaki head down to the infirmary.

Irvine, “ But there is something that puzzles me. How did it get to the other Chocobos?”

Squall, “ They could have swallowed even a little piece of it during the fight. “

Irvine, “ That's all it took?”

Quistis, “ Squall! Guys! Come here!”

The infirmary they find Quistis and Dr. Kadowaki standing before an open fridge and dried blood that covered the floor. Dr. Kadowaki is very pale.

Quistis, “ Someone got to the blood... “

Laguna, “ Whoa.... This bites.”

Seifer, “.. I’m gonna break the face of whoever did this.”

Dr. Kadowaki, “ Someone unlocked the door, got the blood, and relocked it.”

Seifer, “ Who has access to it?”

Dr. Kadowaki, “ I have the access but only Squall has the key.”

Squall, “ Would the test have really worked?”

Dr. Kadowaki, “ Yes... “

Zell, “ Someone else was sure of it too.”

Squall, “ I only would give the key to Dr. Kadowaki.”

Dr. Kadowaki, “ And when I’m done, I give it back to Squall. Last time I used it was.. day or two ago.”

Squall found all eyes on him, “ Maybe someone stole it from me... “

Zell, “ That ring is always with you!”

Squall snaps, “ I haven’t been near the refrigerator.” They all back off in thought, “ Dr. Kadowaki is the only one who uses it.”

Dr. Kadowaki, “ Squall has been in here a few times too.”

Quistis, “ And Dr. Kadowaki did think of the test.”

Zell, “ This is giving me a headache!”

Suddenly Fujin blots out the door. The others stand in stunned silence and then run after her.

Squall, “ Fujin!”

Fujin runs to the weapon storage room to grab a shotgun. But it was empty. She franticly looks around for some ammo finding the case locked. bashing it open and shakily puts ammo into the shotgun when she hears people coming. Puts the gun at doorway.

Squall, “ Put the gun down.”

Fujin, “ NO. Alien!”

Seifer, “ Fujin..... Please put the gun down.”

Fujin drops down to her knees crying. Laguna skates on over to give her a shoulder to cry on. Squall breaths out a sigh of relief.

Squall, “ I didn’t go near the plasma... But if you can’t trust me then I’ll make someone else the leader... “

Zell, “ I’ll do it! I’ll do it!”

Squall looks to Seifer, “ I would prefer you take the lead.”

Seifer, “ I’ll do it.”

Zell slumps a bit as Squall never leaves him in command of anything!

Seifer looks around the group, “ Any objections?” Daring someone to object.

Squall, “ Very well, what do we do now?”

They gather in the rec room to discuss their options. But there is no trust among them now.

Seifer, “ We are going to divide into groups of two or three. No one is to be alone.”

Zell, “ What about the suspects?”

Seifer, “ Do we have some morphine?”

Quistis, “ In storage.”

Laguna, “ Hey! That Chocobo tried to get into my kitchen! So maybe I should be under too?”

Squall, “ Dad.... No morphine for you!”

Quistis, “ We should sleep in shifts.”

Seifer, “ Good idea. So half of us can be awake al all times.”

Fujin concentrates and talks slowly, “ How.. do.. we find it?”

Seifer, “ There has to be another way to test.”

Quistis, “ I am sure but.. only Dr. Kadowaki can help me find one.”

Zell, “ Hell no! She is could be it!”

Seifer, “ It takes ah hour to take someone over so we are to return to this room every twenties minutes. if anyone is late, we kill them.”

It is dark outside. Irvine fights the cold as he works on the engine of the helicopter. He would prefer Zell do this. Seifer checks on Fujin who is looking through the dumpster for any more discarding clothing.

Dr. Kadowaki, Selphie and Squall sit on the couch awaiting the injections. Ward is assigned to inject them but he is very new at this. Zell stands guard with his torch.

Dr. Kadowaki, “ Are you sure you want to try? I would hate to lose a good needle.”

Ward shakes his head indicating he wants to try.

Dr. Kadowaki, “ Then I shall try to verbally take you through this step by step.

Laguna skates the compound, checking the trash bins as he goes and looking behind shelves or other obscure places. Seifer comes his way.

Laguna, “ Sorry but it musta got clever in hiding clothing.”

Seifer, “ Just keep looking.”

Quistis looks over the books in the laboratory. Several of them lay open. Seifer comes by checking on her.

Seifer, “ Any progress?”

Quistis, “ No.. but.. if we ingest even a little it will take over. We better prepare our own food form now on.”

Seifer goes on with his rounds. At the twenty minute mark the siren goes off and everyone heads to the rec room. Irvine lugs with him part of the chopper engine.

Irvine, “ Hey Zell! You’re the engine genius... where is the magneto that goes to this?”

Zell looks confused, “ Why? I don’t have it.”

Irvine, “ Oh man... I guess its missing then.”

Seifer, “ Move it guys.”

Irvine sets the part down and follows them to the rec room. As they enter then ahh, Seifer locks the door behind them.

Seifer, “ When you have the time, I want the snowmobiles dissembled.”

They meet and soon go to get food in the kitchen. Each man opening their own can. Laguna gets some food and takes it out to Raijin’s shed.

Laguna, “ Hey, I you some food.”

Raijin has nailed the inside of the door closed.

Laguna, “ Aww come on.... How can I get the food to ya?”

Raijin, “ No one is gonna get me, ya know!”

Laguna, “... But who would wanna?”

Raijin, “ I know ya been drugging my food! I ain’t that dumb, ya know! I would rather die then let it get me!”

Laguna, “... Oookay.”

Irvine soon sets to work on the motorcycle while Fujin resuming digging through the trash. Seifer then trashes the weather balloons to make them useless. Laguna was doing what he did best in the kitchen cleaning dishes. That left Zell with guard duty.

Selphie, “ I gotta go pee pee.... “

Zell, “ Hold it.”

Selphie starts to whine, “ I can’t! “

Zell, “ Okay okay but be quick!”

Selphie, “ Yipee!” and skips on over to the bathroom.

Zell tries to keep an eye on her and the other two prisoners. Then the lights began to flicker.

Zell, “ OH man!”

Then the lights die.

Laguna, “ Hey, Zell, the fuse die?”

Zell, “ No! That's the generator! The auxiliary box is off the kitchen. Get it working!” as he fumbles with his flashlight. “ You guys still there?”

Someone starts to giggle.

Zell, “ Squall don’t get frisky! “

Squall a bit insulted, “ I’m not.”

Laguna, “ The thing ain’t working!”

Zell, “ Impossible! Damn.. okay... Selphie, are you still pissing?”

Laguna, “ This box is shorted out big time.”

Zell, “ Selphie! Get on out ofd there!” Turns on his torch for light and sees Squall is missing, “ Hey where is Squall?!”

Zell hits the alarms. Seifer, Fujin and Irvine come back to the compound. Zell meanwhile is looking all round for squall.

Zell, “ Come on man, don’t fuck with me! Laguna get me a lamp!”

Laguna, “ Someone took that too!”

Zell, “ That's it, Selphie I’m going in after you!”

Seifer, Fujin, and Irvine almost collide in the hall that is pitch black. They are disorientated at first and try to get their bearings.

Seifer, “ What happened?!”

Laguna, “ Is that you Seifer?”

Seifer, “ Who else?!”

Laguna, “ The generator died! No power!”

Seifer, “ We need to bring it back up.”

Zell, “ Seifer! Squall is missing!”

Seifer, “ Shit! Okay..... hang on!”

Zell, “ Oh thanks for the helping hand. “ he mutters.

Seifer and irvine enter the generator room with their flashlights feebly giving light. Seifer and Zell notice that Irvine is gone now too.

Irvine, “ Seifer, the fuel pump is missing. If we don’t get this fixed.. it’ll freeze on us. Then that's all folks!” Seifer then runs back upstairs.

In the lab, Quistis is working by candle, when someone springs at her.

Zell tries to keep an eye on Dr. Kadowaki and keep warm at the same time. Not an easy feat for Zell. Seifer comes back with a fuel pump and bumps into someone.

Seifer, “ Who is that?!”

Irvine, “ Seifer hurry up!”

Seifer gets to Irvine and hands it over.

Irvine as he installs it, “ Some wiley padre did this.”

Seifer, “ Will it work?”

Irvine, “ This is our moment of truth... “

Sound of screeching is heard. Somewhere in the compound... Fear creeps in eyes of Seifer and Irvine. The lights come back on. Everyone is grim and tense, except for Dr. Kadowaki. Irvine, Laguna, and Fujin spread out about the room keeping as much distance from the others as they can. Ward and Zell tie Dr. Kadowaki, Selphie, and Squall to the couch. Seifer has a few makeshift torches ready to be used.

Fujin, “ FLASHLIGHTS?!”

Seifer, “ Most of them were missing.”

Irvine, “ Alot of things gone missing!”

Laguna, “ My kitchen stuff been going missing too!”

Zell, “ Squall where did you go?” Squall stares into empty space in a drugged fashion, “ Answer me!”

Squall, “ ... Wanted... a light... “

Zell, “ Don’t lie!”

Squall looks him in the eyes, “ Stuff it.” as he was not yet tied down so he grabs Zell by the shirt.

Zell, “ Sit down!”

Squall gives a clumsy punch and the two fall over. Seifer and ward jump in to break them apart.

Ward has hard time getting Squall away and is left breathing hard, massing his chest.

Seifer, “ The storm is going to get rough so we have little time left.” Gives Zell a torch, “ We need to find Quistis and kill her.”

Zell, “ But.. why?”

Seifer, “ It got to her... She is the only one not accounted for. Laguna.. You , Zell and I will check the shacks. “ Tosses torches to Fujin and Irvine, “ You two search the inside.”

Irvine, “ I ain’t going with her.”

Fujin glares at Irvine.

Irvine, “ I still ain’t going with you!”

Seifer, “ Fine! Fujin can come with us. Ward can stand guard here. If they move.. fry them. If you hear anything weird, use the siren. We will all meet back here in twenties minutes no matter what. Got it? Okay lets move out.”


TBC