Here is is, the story now shifts to more familiar grounds for all the final fantasy VII fans, I thought it to be fun to let Sephiroth encounter someone that would challenge him on his own turf, both mentally and physically, throwing in a hesitant attraction to eachother too.

beware! yaoi is building, if you dont like it, stop now.

Part two: the combat competition

What lies?

Full moon and thoughts collide

We look for answers in those catatonic, blood shod eyes

We ask if vermin are the ones that already learned

Those aren't just tears

They're just bad bad blood

Bad blood, ministry

He couldn't think of anything else anymore, after having looked at the files. The envoi from Althea was coming within a week, and preparations where in full swing. The excitement of the upcoming event was building. Room was being made to accommodate the fifty-plus group that would invade his world. He had no idea what had possessed Shinra to invite these people, but it had to be important, if he was quite willing to have his whole organisation stand on its head for five days. Of course it was none of the presidents concern how much extra work it caused, on top of all the other headache causing duties he had to cope with, as long as his orders where carried out. After having read the files of the commanding officers and a brief description of the different ranks of trainees they would bring, his curiosity had been spiked. Zach sat on the other side of the desk, with his own collection of files sorted in stacks.

"You know Nathan Charrander is planning to bring women in here?" he asked.

"Not planning, he is." Sephiroth corrected.

"You agreed?" Zack asked, his voice lilting with surprise.

"You don't?" the older man asked, wanting to see if his friend's motives matched his own dissaproval.

"I just think the army is no place for women, Seph, it's just.. not natural. No, I don't agree."

"I see your point. Nathan seems to think differently. I'm actually very curious to see what his

girls are capable of, I have heard rumours of them being every bit a capable as a man." The general mused, resting his chin on his knuckles, his eyes on Zack, who was still visibly struggling coming to grips with the idea.

"We can't make special allowances for them, though. We just managed to make room them in the barracks. Did you know Nathan didn't request separate quarters for himself? What if they want to take showers? And you know they all insisted on sleeping on the floor?"

And then there was also the unrest to consider they would cause among the all male population here.

Sephiroth was actually quite amused seeing his friend and fellow officer squirm like this.

"Did you do this on purpose, or something? Do you really enjoy seeing me freak out like this?" Zach said, reading the amusement on Sephiroth's face.

"Of course I do. You're so cute when you're mad." He answered, one corner of his mouth curling, "In answer of your question, the decision wasn't mine to make. Our beloved president saw to that. I think you're exaggerating the situation a bit, Zack." He said, standing up.

"Have all the preparations been made for the outdoor exercise?" he asked, looking outside his office window.

"Yep. The practice grounds have been cleared of all old ammo, and the old storage hangars will serve just fine for the indoor simulations. There is nothing in there which will be missed should people get carried away and start destroying things."

"Good." The General said, pleased that they had gotten ready on schedule.

" I'm actually looking forward to these exercises. Finally a bit of action without any real killing." Zach said. I just wish the preparations where a bit less strenuous."

The General nodded. "That Nathan is no fool. He insists on doing this sort of thing to his new recruits. The show the more experienced combatants put on is apparently realistic enough to make you rethink your decision. He says it helps to weed out the wanna-be's from the genuine warriors."

"Really? I can hardly wait. What if it makes our own recruits turn tail and run?" Zach asked.

"We shall see." The other answered.

"I have got things to do. I will see you later, Seph." Zach said, and shuffled the files into a neat stack, then got ready to leave the office.

Woman warriors, what had the world come to indeed?

"Zach, I have a job to do for you." He said at Zach who already had his hand on the door handle. Something was nagging at his mind. Nathan was up to something, and he was intent on not letting the commander gain advantage over him in any way, especially not on his own turf.

"I want you to spend time with the higher ranking officers, socialize a bit, see what you can find out."

Great! As if he hadn't enough to do "Why?" he asked.

"Feint within a feint, Zach. I need you to do this." Turning his back toward the younger man, dismissing him.

I can float in here forever..

In this room we cant touch the floor..

In here we're all anaemic

In here, anomic is sweet… so

Go get your knife, go get your knife.. and come in

knife party, deftones

The moment had finally come. They had arrived. The main gate of the compound opened for the guests to make their entrance. The General and his senior officer could see hem coming up the road, all on foot from the landing strip about a quarter of a mile away. Luggage was taken over by an army truck that rode just behind the small advancing army. From his office he could overlook the entire group.

He could spot the Charrander family members quite easily, having red their personal files recognising Nathan's younger brother Jason, the twins brothers Erik and Enak, one sister had joined as well, judging by the long sleek black hair it was Siona, the Benjamin of the clan. Her appearance a stark contrast to her brothers who stood out above almost every one in the group, and all had coarse reddish blond hair.

Looking at the rest of them, they didn't look very much like a military group, having no real matching uniforms. They all seemed to wear different types of robes, some in tight fitting dark grey combat suits, covered with long armoured sleeveless coats, the ones he recognised as being at novice level, all wearing the same brown Yukata, and light grey hamaka underneath.

They where encircled by the lightly more senior pupils, behind them came the trainees, and the graduates, who differed from the trainees in that they all wore their weapons all openly on their backs, but in the same clothing as the novices.

The ones that impressed him the most, where the Unit Members. All moving with clear intent, all dressed in their black armour, swords slung across their backs, but Sephiroth realised that those where the only ones openly displayed.

Knowledge of your enemy is power, he knew, and they didn't allow their opponent any more then was absolutely necessary. Suddenly several of the persons in combat suits looked up, directly at where he was watching them.

It was impossible for them to see him, as the window of his office where mirrored, but he could swear they all looked straight at him. That was a rather unnerving experience for them both, he had to admit.

"They could see us!" Zach said, "How on Gaial did they know?"

"Lets go welcome our guests, shall we," the general said," try not to look to ruffled, Zach."

They swept into the building like a wave, filling the halls with their presence as they entered, being led by one of the lower ranking officers to the great hall where the general and Zack stood waiting. The group stopped, and folded away left and right, making room for their commanding officer.

Nathan Charrander stepped forward, approaching within a couple of steps from the silver haired General and smiled warmly at him.

"General Sephiroth, it has been a while." He said, his voice low and friendly.

" It has been indeed, Commander Charrander. Welcome to Midgar."

The other man answered, managing to match some of the friendliness of the older man, but still maintaining an unrelenting cool aloofness.

Jeh-ri watched their energies briefly slam into each other, then they clapped their right hands together, Nathan grabbing the other man's shoulder, and briefly, just ever so briefly, the ice broke from the other, and everyone assembled in the hall breathed a sigh of relief.

Without needing much instruction, all groups seemed to know where to find the persons of their own level, as they all started intermingling, haltingly at first, as the cadets of the academy where more used to the rigidity of their more military education, but soon warmed to the more organic flexible feel of the Project Ark people.

The novices and the cadets where almost cute, touching each others clothes and laughing, the more experienced members seeking each other out and taking seats on the floor, talking about the Creator knows what, but all looking friendly. There still would be plenty of time for hostilities, now they where all relaxing, getting a feel for each other. This would prove vital for one of the plans Nathan and the General had worked out together.

How much do you know, what's been happening?

There's a ghost in our hall

Watching you without me,

But I am not here, I am not here

Watching you without me, Kate Bush

From the moment we had entered the academy, Jeh-ri had not felt at ease, never having been in a city or away from the green valleys he'd had grown up in. He now had been transported from a world of wood and stone and earth to one made of steel and concrete, and felt displaced, as a transplanted organ in a foreign body.

Closing himself from the moment we had left the Aeronef, wanting to become dim, invisible. Still managing to maintain this as the commander motioned for all senior officers to follow him and the General to another space, where they all took place, opposing sides facing each other.

As he seated himself behind Nathan and Siona, his sister, he slightly hung his head to his chest as he slowly sank into truth-sayer trance, allowing him to step outside his body, moving around the group, to the side, where he had a clear view of the General.

He could see him self sitting slightly slumped, eyes closed, the energy flowing freely around the room. Nathan and Sephiroth, being physically relatively each other's equals, really enjoyed locking minds, Nathan having cooled to match this other man's demeanour, wanting his cooperation, further cementing and confirming the details of the events to come. The handsome young man with long black spiky hair seemed to have found a connection with Ian and the twins, who in their energy seemed so similar they could have been siblings. Siona and Leisa sitting side by side, knowing that they would be largely ignored, not out of impoliteness, but out of awkwardness from the other party, quietly observing the members of the opposition.

He briefly ventured back to the training dome, looking at the group of people gathered there, seeing what the presence that their females was having on the other group. Nervous energies where blooming like anemones in coral reef. Check out the fireworks! They where in for some interesting days, all right!

Then he turned his attention back to this mysterious general. On the surface his energy seemed bruised, scarred, and he could briefly see a shimmer how his energy and that of the man beside him intermingled with each other. Seeing this, Jeh-ri knew they had been intimate at one stage. Of everyone he was the most trusted one here, but not ever letting him in.

Digging a little deeper, right beneath the surface, he could see a lot of physical suffering, burning, and seething at the hand of someone who he seemed to see as his father, his mind spinning at the amounts of Mako that had been injected into him already, making the veins in his body stand out like ill looking rivers of mercury.

But there was something else as well.

The mindreader tried to sink in even deeper, moving to another level. All around now he could see how the first class SOLDIERS had been injected too, but no one as badly as this Sephiroth and then the alter ego emerged, ever so slightly, could see something superimpose itself, hovering behind him and above him.

An entity emerged as if stepping from a shadow into a pale stream of light. A tortured female form, torn to pieces, suspended in a tank filled with tubes and fluids in some kind of laboratory. One bright eye gleamed in the soggy expressionless face, behind one the armless shoulder the remains of what once must have been a wing, and then the who merged. For one split second he could see what would become of this man, the atrocity, the calamity reborn. Destructive, monstrous, insane. And then it happened; he looked back at him.

Not at the still form half hidden behind his Commander, but at the disembodied spirit, and he also knew it wasn't the Sephiroth sitting here in the room that saw him, but the other. It seemed to sink into him again, whispering at him, and his eyes now briefly shifted focus, looking straight at him.

Startled he fled back into his body, which started to tremble uncontrollably at the forced re-entry. The man was glad that Nathan's back was so broad. It shielded it from the prying eyes of the man across the boardroom table.

He slowly regained control of his senses, his hearing coming back first then his sight slowly becoming clear again. He still felt cold though, and Leisa moved beside him, poking him hard in the ribs, trying to get himself together.

Sephiroth enjoyed discussing the events with this commander, finally being able to talk with someone more of his level. They talked about the where, what and when, confirming the agenda. Nathan broke off their conversation to ask something to one of the officers beside him, and he was briefly left to his own thoughts. Then something caught his eye, a shimmer seemed to appear off to the side of the room, just within the reach of his peripheral vision, but as he shifted focus, it disappeared.

Then he noticed the young woman who was beside the commander's sister before, change position and her shoulder making a small sharp movement to something to the left of her.

Spotting the young man with the red hair, he slightly shifted in his seat, trying to get a better view. He could remember taking every ones face in as they had seated themselves and had been introduced, but him he couldn't remember at all. That was very unusual, as he never overlooked anyone, especially if that person was allowed into the boardroom.

"I think one of your staff is bored." He said indicating his head toward the young man who now turned extremely pale. If the negotiations of these events are making you fall asleep, maybe you should step outside." His voice but cold and hard, striking him like a whip.

"Jeh-ri, explain yourself." Nathan snapped, covering the fact that he knew exactly why he was in his currant state.

"I am.. Very sorry if I have offended you, General," Holding his voice steady and low, denying the fact he was in fact doing something untoward, jolting him to full awareness again. "This is how I concentrate best on what is being said." His cheeks burning with this sudden attention.

'Save me, Nathan, he saw me as I was scanning him, don't ask me how!'

"Jeh-ri here is gifted with an amazing memory and has never been on an official task before. In order to store all that has been said, he placed himself in a trance, cutting off all other sensory perception except for what he hears." Nathan explained, still sounding annoyed at the fact I hadn't been able to stay out of sight.

"Has he indeed, I'll be looking forward to seeing this in action during our combat simulations, I will make sure to make full use of it." He said coldly, not sounding impressed

Fuck, fuck, fucked it up!!

He looked up at him with a start, seeing the pale hard green of his eyes for the first time, making the chill run cold shivers down his spine. What on the planet was the General talking about? He would find out soon enough, as it turned out, as tomorrow the first simulation would start. Every one filed out of the boardroom leaving him disorientated and very angry with himself. Erik came up to him, having hung back somewhat.

"That was very clumsy of you, I thought I had taught you better than that." he growled at him, leaning against the broad boardroom table, arms crossed.

"He saw me, Sir." He said, his mind still a mess. And he had hurt him just by looking at him.. He was now scared beyond his wits, trembling. "He broke through my defences like they weren't even there."

"He broke through because they weren't in place, Jeh-ri," he said. You made the mistake of thinking that you would be invisible, not having anyone around with your abilities. Here's an important lesson for you." He said, and he was totally right. He had only put energy into making himself unnoticed, but had put no mind into defending himself.

"And stop with the formalities. It is bad enough having dad rope me into this mission. You look different, dear, but you are still the same person I knew in the academy. He will get to you through your emotions, it will be your undoing if you don't exercise some more control." He stood up, and followed the rest of the group. He followed, having a lot to stow away, and didn't speak to anyone until evening fell.

They al got their gear together and where shown around the rest of the building. Settling into their assigned sleeping quarters which existed of two adjoined rooms, one quite large and one smaller. The novices, pupils and trainees bounced into the larger of the rooms, getting a mattress from a large pile in one of the corners.

"Do they always show this amount of lack of self control?" Sephiroth asked Nathan, obviously annoyed at all the noise.

Not being intimidated by the thoroughly disapproving look from his host, Nathan gestured for the twins to come closer.

"Its just the new environment, General, and most of them being still quite young, always seem to have an abundance of energy. Just watch." Nathan placed one of his hands on each shoulders of the twins. Briefly looking at them, after which they entered the room.

Sephiroth observed how the twins dealt with the nervous energy of them all, as he and Zach had watched the state of disorder with which the group had piled into the room. Erik and Enak stood back to back in the middle of the room, just raised one hand, palm facing outward, and turned a slow circle. As they did, every one looked at their faces, calmed down, and immediately and went about their business, without saying anything.

One minute later they where all settled on their mattresses, either kneeling or in lotus position, looking intently at the two brothers, one with the huge mass of dreadlocks and braids hanging down to his waist, the other, jet black and straight hair just as long, but tied into a ponytail at the nape of his neck. Then they turned toward Zack, Erik grinning fiercely, Enak smiling softly, who had been silently watching with awe.

Nathan entered the room and they all looked up to him as one.

"Kat ta nag na mon tia na kat anor, kweh tsa aa mun." he said slowly, lilting and singing the words, carefully laying the right amount of stress in the rhythm of the syllables.

'Bed down and rest well, my young ones, tomorrow you will need your strength.'

"Yes Commander, good night." They all said in one voice, and went about getting settled for the night, still silent as cats.

"Hm, impressive, commander." Sephiroth said. His voice level, betraying no emotion. He and Nathan walked off by them selves a little and Zach walked over to the twins who had stepped outside the room.

"What was that language you just spoke there?" he asked genuinely curious.

"Nay- Ta-uut, Sephiroth, battle language."

"It doesn't sound like anything I have ever heard." He said.

"That would surprise me, as you will be the first outside our people to hear it." Nathan said, now them being somewhat by themselves, they could discuss more serious matters.

"The syllables are at random to be assembled, changing meaning all the time, but loaded with a program that even the youngest novice can hear and will obey. Where most military outfits seem to busy themselves barking orders, we sing to them."

"You do things your way, I'll do it mine." He said sharply.

"I know, General, I have been to training academies the whole planet over, and nowhere do I encounter things differently from here."

"How did you do that?" Zach asked, "if I could my cadets to get that focused before exams, they'd all be straight A students!"

Erik grinned. "It takes years of practice-","-and an unhealthy overdose of charisma" Enak finished sarcastically, looking at his brother. They left the room entering the hallway, eyes locking.

"Lighten up, brother.." he goaded, making kissing noises at Enak, who slapped him clean across the face, smiled wickedly, then turned and stalked away. Erik just stood there, grinning broadly. "Nice to see your mood is still on the up and up!" Erik called after his retreating twin.

Jeh-ri had entered the hall finally being able to be amongst my people again after his brief self invoked punishment, and had watched what had taken place. He sighed deeply.

"Emotional bunch, aren't you?" Zach observed, and Jeh-ri being of a lower rank than them, felt responsible for apologising on their behalf to Zach, whose face had reached all new heights of puzzlement.

"I am sorry you had to see that." Jeh-ri said to him and he turned to face Zach.

He shook his head, not understanding. "What was that?" He asked eyes still wide with amazement.

"They have a history, Sir. It is the first time in years that they are together. They will be reprimanded, for their behaviour" He explained. Those idiots! Jeh-ri was embarrassed enough being caught with his pants down during a routine scan, but them venting old hurt in full view of people they needed to impress, was unforgivable.

"Name and rank, combatant." He said drawing him self up, folding his arms, showing the other proper behaviour, as he flushed in embarrassment again. There would have a shitload to make up for.

"Jeh-ri Sung, Sir, graduate level. After these simulations he will hear if a make the grade of Unit member." He said, and they walked slowly down the hallway, nowhere really in particular.

"On what depends that assessment?" he asked and the other could feel some friendliness come into his voice.

"Whether or not I have shown to have mastered and utilized all that has been taught to me in my training. We don't really have exams, we just get sent out on missions, and get observed."

"Explain your ranking system to me, I have read the files, but couldn't get a clear picture in my head." It seemed a neutral enough thing to talk about, so he agreed.

He went on to explain that you entered the temple as novice, where your strengths are tested, and finding that what suits you most. Not all that entered became warriors, some becoming healers, herbalists, black smiths, armour makers, intelligence gatherers, or administrative staff. If you had the disposition, your novice status was elevated to pupil, where you get taught hand-to-hand combat, and basic training in swordsmanship. From that level you could grow to trainee, using real weapons, like learning archery; kyudo, the katana, and other shorter blades, and the Souba; the double bladed Katana, but not many did that, being actually only for those who had reached Unit member level. After completing those skills, you received your armour, made specially only for you. That was the level he was at now, only lacking combat experience. They continued talking about training, discussing the differences in approach, and the advantages and disadvantages of both.

He felt a warm tingling along his stomach, being able to talk about the things he loved, eased the tension.

"So after this is all over, you get sent on real missions?" Zach asked, having listened intently.

He nodded, "But only if you have agreed to enter special operations. Otherwise you just belong to the regular forces. Then you stay at the temple only at short intervals to keep your skills sharp, but for the rest of the time you are free to get a partner and start a family if you want."

"Do you want a family?" Zach asked as the other withdrew back into himself fast, not wanting to go there, not thinking of all he had left behind.

"I.. would like to sometime in the future, but not for quite while. Do you?" He said as he deflected the subject back at the dark haired man.

"I have a girlfriend in Nimbelheim." He said.

"So do I, she is a at the temple with me." Jeh-ri added.

"Is she learning to become a healer or something? " he asked, presuming too much for his liking.

"No, she has entered trainee level now. She is getting good too, I still have some bruises to show for it." He said trying to rub him up the wrong way.

"You.. spar together?" he asked, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Of course we do. Its great foreplay, you know." He said, teasing him, watched as the others mind reeling at the thought. He had caught on the slight sexist tone in his questions about him having a partner in the same training program as himself, and didn't like it.

"I sense you don't approve, Zach." He ventured on the border of informality, he knew. He was nice enough to have shown a genuine interest in him and his people, and felt the need to explain further, trying to make him see things their way.

"We have the courage to realize that those with no weapons or the skills to use them are killed just the same by those who can. My people just want everyone to have a fighting chance, Zach. All the girls and young women with us are here because they chose this life. They are a force to be reckoned with, you will see." Jeh-ri realised his last retort sounded more than a bit on the defensive side.

"Have you ever seen it, Zach? Villages butchered and burned, the streets littered with the bodies of those unable to defend themselves?" He asked gently, knowing this was all a lot for him to take in at once. As time would tell, he would.

"I am sorry if I have offended you, Jeh-ri. We just do things differently around here. I am looking forward to tomorrow, though." He said, but he could still feel the unease in his voice.

"I would like to continue this conversation sometime soon, if you like?" He asked. The other nodded and smiled in agreement.

He went his own way and he entered the room that had been reserved for the seniors of the group, finding Hazel already settled on her mattress and beckoned him to join her. He let his clothes fall of him and as she opened to covers to reveal her sleek, naked form, he knew that at this moment he was faced with the ultimate choice, he would elect to stay Jeh-ri, make her his sim partner and just stay with Hazel. He felt a hand reach under their covers and pinching him in butt.

"Oi! No bonking, lover boy!" Ian and Leisa had made their bed beside theirs.

"So what do you think of General Sephiroth, people." Nathan boomed across the room, him being on his mattress against the far wall.

"I think he really easy on the eyes, that's for sure." Hazel answered. Did you see that hair of his?" she whispered at Leisa who smiled at her in agreement.

"Cold, though." Siona joined in from across the room.

"I don't find him attractive in that way at all." Another woman's voice from further down the room said. "He has an amazing presence though, awesome.. he demands your attention just by being in the same space with you." A murmur of agreement rolled through the room.

"In a way, he is a lot like you, brother," Siona said, "but where he commands loyalty and devotion of his troops, demanding it. But with us it is given, freely. Having all of that personality bearing down upon you kind of forces you into submission." He agreed to that, so did the others.

"I guess we just looooove you to death, Nate." Ian jibed. "I wonder what he's like in bed though.." Ian said. Jeh-ri punched him in the ribs, and he burst out laughing as did the rest of us.

"That is probably how he gets his partners too." Leisa mused.

"The boys here sure worship the ground he walks on, that's for sure." One of the other men said.

Leisa nodded in agreement. "He is not for us girls anyway."

"Ah! I knew it, he likes men." Hazel chimed in.

"I think he finds us too soft, to fragile to entice him. He probably finds us too emotional too, to contrasting to that cool aloof attitude of his." Leisa said. "He would have a hard time finding someone to match him physically."

"He appreciates his strength too much, using it as a shield. That's why men. it makes me wander in what sort of setting he grew up in." Jeh-ri mused, "He is looking for a counterpart, someone who is his mirror and his opposite, But at the same time he trusts no one what so ever. Even his second in command, that Zach, he has been close with him, but more in a maintenance kind of way, there's no love in it." he said, giving an assessment of what he had seen in the scan, but not mentioning the vision he had seen, the creature hidden inside.

"Have you sparred him, Commander?" one of the unit members asked.

"I didn't get the chance the last time I was here, but I have seen him in action once, but only from a distance." Nathan told him.

"Is he any good with that oversized butter knife of his, Nate?" Ian asked.

"He could cut your armour off you stitch by stitch, peeling you like an orange and never graze your skin, Ian. Underestimating him with his Masamune is the last mistake you'll ever make." Nathan concluded, his voice trailing off as in a day dream.

"Aaahh what fantastic foreplay that would've been," Ian panted at Leisa. " Take me, Leisa I'm so horny I could burst!"

"Get a grip, combatant." Leisa said flatly, her eyes humourless, the rest of them laughing again.

He was wondering briefly what the General would have thought of them having a military briefing this way, all naked on their mattresses on the floor, curled up comfortable with their partners and family. A split moment later he decided that he didn't really care as Hazel softly touched him, tracing his collarbone with her tongue, seeking intimacy. Their bodies entwined briefly, not really having the privacy they needed, and then falling into a deep sleep.

During the night, Sephiroth had decided to go for a walk through the levels where his guests had been placed. He'd been having trouble sleeping since his last Mako treatment. After the initial days of physical discomfort and delirium, he now became restless, and had a tightness in his head that came and went, driving him mad at times and depriving him of his much needed sleep.

Walking along the corridors he suddenly found himself wandering into the area he had Zach reserve in order to keep them somewhat isolated from the rest of the population, en encountered a female guard standing at a strategic point in the hallway. The woman inclined her head respectfully, "Good morning, General" she said. Not knowing what to call her, he just nodded back, but didn't pay any more attention to her as was necessary. As he mover further into the compound, he encountered more guards, but they where all al already alerted to his presence.

Finally he encountered one of the women in the grey combat suits, knowing them to be Nathan's personal guard. "Is there anything I can do for you?" She asked, her voice slightly annoyed, probably wandering why he was here this hour of the night. Why had he come here anyway?

"Just making sure everything is all right." He said, feeling that he didn't really need to explain himself to this person, but still having to admit to himself that it was irregular for him to just wander around here.

He decided it was better for him to return to his own rooms, maybe get some sleep. As he walked passed the large doors of the rooms where the guests where sleeping, he could several pairs of eyes glow at him in the dark. We know you are here, don't try anything funny, they seemed to say at him. Someone had appeared at the doorway, and he recognised one of the twin brothers.

"You look troubled, General." He stated, not looking one bit rumpled or tired from having spent the night awake.

"You must have looked after those young ones more often. They look very comfortable with you." He said, deflecting the subject.

"I am a teacher at the Project Ark academy, as is my brother. We have trained most of them."

The man answered. Him and the other might be twins, but they where not identical. This one was much more delicate, with a slighter build, his long black hair, now free from the ponytail and it streamed over bare shoulders, and his skin a reddish brown.

His build was muscular, and slightly shorter than himself but no way near as burly as his brother, who was built like a tank. His eyes where most different though. They where a light brown, almost going toward a deep golden orange.

He wore wide falling pants, clinging to his hips just below his navel by a weapon belt, and his feet where bare. They all had bare feet, with only the Commander and his personal guards as an exception. Nice.. very nice. He briefly hoped he would be the one to pull a black marble from the bag tomorrow, placing him in his camp, at his disposal. His attitude was defensive, as Sephiroth had to justify his presence here.

Satisfied that nothing was the matter, the man turned, "Good night, General." Enak said, in a tone of voice that told him that he was no longer welcome, and stepped over the still sleeping shapes on the floor, where he again sat down, but his eyes still shining back at the silver haired intruder in the hall.

As he turned to walk back out the same way he had come in, he encountered the Commander in the corridor, which had elevators that gave access to the higher levels of the Shinra Building. He was wearing a long black silk kimono that reached all the way down, hiding his feet, his hands hidden in the wide flowing sleeves. His light blond hair spilling free across his shoulders reaching halfway down to his elbows. He just stood there, leaning against the wall, his face expressionless, his arms crossed on his chest.

"Trouble sleeping, General?" He said, his voice level, authoritive. "I heard you where wandering around our part of the building, I thought I'd meet you half way."

There it was again, that annoying feeling he was being led somewhere, manipulated in a way that was so subtle it was barely noticeable.

"You presume much." He sneered.

"Do I now?" he said, smiling, with a look on his face that told him not to play this game as if he didn't know what this was about. "Do you think I am some horny old man cruising for a piece of ass, Sephiroth?"

"The thought just crossed my mind." He said, withdrawing behind his comfortable wall of arrogance again.

One of Nathan's eyebrows shot up, but the retort didn't seem to ruffle him in the slightest.

"If that is the case, that would that make you, walking around the guest area looking for me?"

Sephiroth turned from the older man with a snort.

"What makes you so damn sure I am attracted to you?"

"I send the invitation, and you took it, seeking me out." He said his voice warmer now, but still in control, not giving the other the chance to deny why he had indeed given into an overwhelming need to see him, to be in his presence.

"If you weren't interested, you could have ignored the impression I sent you. I know you are very capable of ignoring fleeting moments, always so in control of your emotions, but you made a decision to act on it." Had he done that? Had he really made a conscious decision to walk into that area of the building? He had wandered what he was doing there, but it seemed unimportant as he had a need that was crying to be fulfilled.

"I see you are not ready, that is too bad. Good night, General." He said, and walked away.

This was a trap, and he knew it too. Nathan had thrown him a baited line, trying to intrigue him. But if he didn't care, then why did he have this damn ache in his stomach, why did it seem to matter like nothing else in the world?

He punched in the access code that would allow him to ascend to the level where his apartment was, and gestured with his hand for the Commander to join him. "Commander, would you join me, please" he asked, through clenched teeth, his irritation rising to an unbearable level.

The commander turned slowly, frowning, then walking toward the open doors of the elevator with slow deliberate steps, as if to give the younger man to change his mind again.

Sephiroth resented his own confusion, as the elevator went up, the who men circled each other, the older man still with his hands still hidden as his arms where crossed on his chest, the younger one trying his best to decide on a next course of action.

Sephiroth hit the stop button on the control panel, and the elevator jerked to a halt.

Suddenly he realized what had gone on, finally being able to pinpoint the annoying itch at the back of his consciousness, feeling the soft whisper of Nathan's ghost fingers tease his mind.

"Get out of my head." He said, snarling at the older man, who's eyes flashed briefly, but didn't waver. He pushed with his ghost, trying to make the feeling disappear, fighting to regain control.

The air in the small elevator bristled with energy as the two men locked minds. One trying to push the other back, the other just absorbing the onslaught, letting it glance off sideways and around. Then the intent shifted again, as he no longer felt the need to fight, but just encountered the older man's presence, as a parent inviting a child to come for an embrace.

"I never intended to hurt you, I just want to show you something." He said quietly. "I just needed to entice you a bit, to be open to the experience."

"What do you want from me?" The younger man snapped, already knowing the answer, but needing to hear the other admit it to his face.

"You are angry, why?" the blond haired man said quietly, his eyes soft beneath the reddish blond feathery eyebrows.

He realised now what it was, that slow tingling churning feeling in the pit of his stomach. Nathan wanted him, and he now realised he was too intrigued to pull back.

"What are you afraid of? That you might actually find a challenge, other that total unconditional surrender you usually encounter?" Nathan asked, his face still unyielding and level.

The General had to agree with the older man, there had been interests here, but they had been easy to overcome, to dominate. This man actually did have every capability to give rise to a totally new experience. Offering the choice of letting go, of being showed the other side of the coin.

He pushed off the side of the elevator he had been leaning against. As they now stood eye to eye, he could sense the older mans presence enveloping him, as one black silk arm rose and took his hip, but then withdrew, as the elevator had reached the selected floor.

The silver haired man leading the way down a long corridor, then turning to another wing. opening a door after entering another access code, that gave way to a small hall where the General took off his boots, and opened another door to a living area, which was very sparsely furnished by only two low dark brown tables and one long closet along the wall, the doors solid and unreflective of the person who lived here.

The Masamune cradled on a horizontal standard against the far wall, glinting in the clear hard overhead lights.

Nathan walked over to the seven foot long sword. "May I?" he asked, and the General nodded. He lifted it off the black wooden standard, feeling its weight, not unlike his Souba, but at least two feet longer. He slowly swung the great sliver of metal around him, searching for balance, but returned it to its place.

"Do you think you could wield it?" The younger man asked, his eyes amused.

"If left with no choice, I think I could, but it would take a lot of getting used to. You have my admiration"

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Nathan." He said, his voice humourless.

"I would be a bit disappointed if it did, Sephiroth." He said, mimicking the younger man's invitation for informality.

Now the younger man had taken his boots off, Nathan was slightly taller, but only by about the width of an eye.

Nathan stepped up to him, and placed one large square hand on the younger man's cheek. "I know why you are hiding, why you don't allow yourself to feel, child." He whispered into his mind, finding the connection frighteningly easy to make, realizing this one had no idea of his potential, and it was better this way.

"Child?" He countered, slightly annoyed at the demeaning comment.

"I am old enough to be your grandfather, Sephiroth. I was already fighting against the enemies of my people when your parents where still children. I think I deserve to look at you that way." He said softy. He laughed at the look of puzzlement on the pale face. "We Altheans age very, very slowly."

"I don't mind you staying just where you are, I know you feel safer that way. It just means I will have to come to you." Sephiroth decided to go along with him, not knowing if this man was worthy of trust, but the feeling growing in his chest told him different, knowing there was no treachery in the pale blue of his irises that had him pinned from the word go. He slid one hand behind the others neck, and pulled him in to a rough kiss, their mouths greedily biting into each other.

The silver haired man heard him swallow, as he drank him in, his eyes never leaving his, and he held the connection even as the other man gently but insistently pressed his body against his.

Nathan placed one hand within the coat of the General, on the bare chest, and let the other hand undo the one clasp that held the two halves together. Slowly he peeled away all the layers of black leather until there was nothing left to hold him away, he slid his hands along his sides to his waist, and lifted him up, off the ground.

Sephiroth's heart raced as he felt the hard strength of the gold blond man's hands dig into the muscles of his sides, and lift him up. He pulled his knees up so the pale strong legs could wrap themselves around his waist, the contrast in hue to his black kimono shocking as he held him up against the wall.

The smooth slick feel of the silk against the insides of his legs and lower abdomen, as well as the sleepy, sensitive parts of him, now waking up, felt cool and warm at the same time.

He slid his hands along the collar of the kimono, feeling the hard muscles and the strands of coarse gold blond hair that felt a lot softer that they looked. With one powerful heave he managed to pull the slack up from the sash around Nathan's waist, allowing the fabric to slide of his shoulders.

The older man pulled his arms free from the kimono and pressed his chest against that of the other, who tightening his legs around his waist, making him moan from the pressure he was exerting on his ribs. He laughed as Nathan buried his face against his neck, biting hard into the muscle between his shoulder and neck, bruising him. Nathan pulled the knot out of the obi around his waist, letting the kimono fall to the ground.

"The Great Creator made bodies as a temple for the soul, Sephiroth, and sex is the ultimate form of worship." He whispered up at the pale face above him, the emerald green around the cat's pupils drilling into the sky blue of his eyes.

"Then worship me, Nathan, and be always find all others wanting in comparison." He breathed back.

"There never was any doubt in my mind." He said back, meaning every word.

Then he lifted Sephiroth off the wall and into his arms as if he where a bride, his hair falling like a silvery white veil around and enveloping them both as they kissed again, and carried him off to the bed.

Come on get up and let me see your bruises

Come on, get up

Come on get up, and let me see your bruises

Come on, get up

Bruises, Unloco

They assembled all again in the great hall the next day, after having a simple breakfast. Most of the novices and pupil curious at the food we where getting, had eaten their fill.

He shot a nervous glance at Erik, who had the reputation of starting food fights, but he noticed Ian talking to him, keeping his mind on something else, thank the Creator for that.

Jeh-ri spotted Zach sitting at one of the tables too, and he motioned for him to come and join him. Hazel was already sitting at the same table opposite him, talking.

"Are you trying to chat up my girlfriend, Zach?" He said smiling, Hazel smiling wildly.

"She.. oh okay. Sorry man, I had no idea, really!" he apologised, raising his hands laughing, feigning regret. By Gaia, did he and Ian have a lot in common! Speaking of which, he suddenly came into view, walking in along the side of the General and the commander, flanked by some of his first class SOLDIERs already in full battle gear.

As his presence entering the hall, everyone fell silent at once. He could see the younger members of our group look him, filled with awe. Him and Nathan briefly locked eyes, then Nathan nodded. Sephiroth's voice snapped like a whip;

"Today we will go outside for our outdoor combat exercise. You will all get your gear together and be ready within the hour to head outside. That will be all." He concluded. All the Shinra troops jumped to their feet, hurrying to meet their General's demand.

He noticed that all their novices, pupils, and trainees had hurried out together with the cadets, only the graduates and unit members remaining. Maybe it was because they had already put on everything needed, having received the orders in their sleep just before sun up, or was the General testing his hold over their more influence able people. He had found himself fighting a brief impulse to jump up too, seeing his fellow graduates and even the unit members twitch visibly, much to Zach's amusement.

"Quite the commanding presence isn't he?" He grinned at him, "He's a bully, but he is our bully." He whispered at Hazel who smiled at him. He is chatting up my girlfriend, he thought!

Sephiroth looked at the Commander, a cold little smile flickered across his face, then turned and walked back out. Nathan sniggering to himself, shaking his head, amused by something he and the General must have had shared in the earlier hours of the morning.

In less than half an hour everyone was ready in the exercise hall they had al encountered each other the day before. Nathan stood in the middle of the floor, Sephiroth at his side them both holding a black bag.

Nathan raised his voice, every bit of commanding as Sephiroth, but different in intent, deep and rough, yet missing the cold steel undertone of the General.

"Every one here with the exception of the novices and the class three cadets will come forward in turn and take a marble from the bag. The ones with the white marble will join me, the ones with the black marble will join General Sephiroth. The purpose of this being to test how well you all will take orders from someone besides the ones who trained you, and testing your ability to fit in with new brothers and sisters in arms. The moment the last marble had been claimed, the white troops will go to the mess hall and await the order to go on the hunt for the black troops, then the exercise will begin! "

A loud roar went through hall, he noticed that most of it was coming from his people, revelling at the thought of the hunt that would soon be on. Then he realised what had gone on before. Nathan had won the toss for who would be the hunter, and Sephiroth had taken it out on all of them, demonstrated his ability to out dominate Nathan's presence in the mess hall by ordering his and the troops of his guest. Tit for tat. He nearly burst his seams with mirth! The General was human after all, and a sore loser too.

His heart sang with anticipation. Outside, yeah! Finally out of this box of concrete and steel.

Slowly the seniors stood up, one by one and walked over toward the two leaders, standing in the middle of the hall. As they pulled a marble from the bag, they showed it to the one man the colour corresponded with, and went to stand beside them. Master Samune took white, Master Tsuba, black. Zach also got white, as did Leisa. Siona got black, and looked at Sephiroth, and nodded; his face stone cold as alabaster. The twins approached, both pulling black. Thank goodness, at least they where on the same team. Things would get complicated enough without those two having it out. Ian also drew black, and so did several other unit members. A lot of Sephiroth's seniors went to Nathan's side, now it was his turn, having let all that outranked him go first. He elected to take a marble from the General's bag, just to make a point, that despite the poor impression he had left on him the day before, he wanted to prove himself.

He saw a slight flicker in his eyes as he stepped up to him and reached inside the bag. And although his insides where squirming, did so without trembling and produced the marble and held it up to him without looking at it. He knew from the moment we where told what was going to happen today, that he would draw a black marble. He looked him in the eye, but saw nothing reflected back.

He was glad to see that Hazel had gotten black also and she quietly settled more to the back of the group, which was steadily growing. Now everyone had been sorted into their teams, the time had come for us to head out toward training grounds. Master Tsuba, being the oldest and most experienced, approached the General. "What are your orders, Sir." He said formally.

"Sort our troops, send scouts and march us to a place where we will make our defence, Master Suba." He said, and stood back, arms crossed. He could read the look on his face, lets see what these kids can do, it said.

Master Tsuba who took the general's elbow, before we head out "Sir, can I have a word with you please."

The general frowned slightly, eyebrows furrowing. Master Tsuba gestured for Enak who had been wearing a large hooded cloak for some reason, to join him.

"What do you have in mind, Master?" He asked, not really in the mood for games, but curious non the less.

"I have been assigned to you by fate. General. And I will serve to the best of my ability." The older man stated.

Sephiroth nodded in acknowledgement of this. He expected a little give on his part.

"I know my enemy, and his way of warfare, having trained him myself."

"I am counting on you using that to our advantage, I take it?"

"I am. Enak here matches your physical appearance the most, I would have you dress the same as us."

"I do not hide from my enemy. Never have, never will." The General said sternly.

"I know, and so does your opponent, Sir. Our strength as warriors comes from individuality, working together as a single unit. Not having one member stand out too much from the rest, confuses the enemy." At that he pulled the hood away from Enak, and all of us let out a gasp of surprise as Enak's hair had gone from jet black to snow white overnight. His skin colour had also become a lot lighter, just a little darker than the Generals.

The look on his face took on a look fierceness and amusement as the idea took hold, and he undid the straps that held his shoulder guards in place. Enak caught them, and moved off to one side. Master Tsuba gestured to three of the unit members, who produced parts of a new upper body armour ones similar to the one we all wore, made from interlacing layers of toughened Borronix hide. The general took off his long coat, stood there stripped to his waist, as Master Suba handed him an undershirt. At first he had refused the padded shirt, but Master Suba pointed out that the new armour hadn't been broken in and would rub him raw if he didn't put it on.

One Unit member handed him a long overcoat, similar in appearance and length as his own, but with loops that allowed for the attachments for the different layers of outer armour to guard his shoulders and spine. The unit members held the different layers in place as Master Suba moved around the taller man, letting parts out around his upper chest, and fastening straps.

The other men folded away from the general revealing his new form, and he could hear the sharp intake of breath from his fellow combatants. My, he was a sight to behold, now completely covered in black. He rolled his shoulders, shifting the guards in place, testing their movement. Then he looked at Jeh-ri's bare feet, and frowned disapprovingly.

"I have agreed to change for you, now you put some shoes on." He said, "I know that my men will exploit your unprotected feet, and you cannot fight if you can't stand." He said, as he moved so fast on him, he felt the gentle pressure of one of his boots on his toes, before he could blink. Fair enough. he could always just place his hands on the ground if he needed to scan the environment. They all put winter boots on, fastening buckles and tying laces fast.

"What is the terrain like, sir?" Master Tsuba asked.

"Sand, dust, rocks, some sparse shrubbery, but nothing much."

"Tehemat set" – desert country- Master Tsuba said to us, automatically falling back to their battle language.

They took off the Yukata and turned it inside out, to match the colour of the terrain. Others produced similar garments for the SOLDIERs to put on over their combat gear. Then we had one more surprise for him as he produced his sheathed Masamune, they all pulled two sticks from their packs, and joined them together to form a similar shaped weapon. Looking around the group, they now all looked alike.

Enak rejoined us, now wearing the General's armour.

Master Tsuba shifted his gaze back and forth between Enak and the General, and seeing what he was getting at, Jeh-ri walked up to him, drawing a short blade from a holster at his thigh. Enak knelt, so he could undo the tie which held his hair back, then gathered a small amount of his soft tresses that framed his face, and cutting them to match that of his silver haired counterpart. Of course was Enak not of his physical calibre, being a bit shorter and slighter of build, but even from a small distance the resemblance was quite disturbing. The Shinra SOLDIERS looked at each other. Confused, but fascinated.

"Wow, if you told me that Enak would turn into Sephiroth minor today, I would have asked you to share your drugs with me." Ian observed "This is freaky!" and jeh-ri had to agree.

In order to make our troops more efficient, Master Tsuba coupled one of his own to one of the Shinra men, and then gave orders to three teams to scout ahead, exploring the grounds and seeking places in which an ambush could lie in waiting, but nothing happened as they left the Shinra outer gates. They poured into the south side of the valley, which was strewn with rocks and coarse shrubbery.

The ground consisting of a yellowish grey sand and dust which flew up as they walked.

"General, I suggest a different way of going to our destination. This dust will give away our position and number."

"What do you suggest?" The General asked, very interested to see what surprise would this older battle hardened man would spring on him.

I want you to avoid the ground as much as possible, use the rocks." He said.

"Some of those rocks are too far apart to jump for some of our less advanced men." One of the SOLDIERs observed.

Master Tsuba gestured for his Unit members to come together.

"Let's play catch, people, help each other across. Jumping from rock to rock was quite exhilarating, as his fellow teammates always used to training outdoors, bounced around happily. The lower ranking and less experienced SOLDIERs who had trouble keeping up where given a boost, allowing them to fly to the next rock where one of the Project Ark people would help them to land, ensured them to find footing. He looked back at the General, who easily kept up, his first class men, Master Suba and Enak always staying close to him. But just slightly more ahead.

He saw how well the younger man managed to mimic his leader, in presence as well as movements. It was quite unnerving to behold.

Then suddenly an arrow came flying out of nowhere, striking one of the men closest to Enak, who drew his Katana and beat away another arrow shot at him. Hazel and the other archers took out their Ybi's and got ready to return fire. Erik and Ian looked at the General who jerked his head in the direction the arrows had come from. They took off, running fast, under cover of Hazel and Siona who where firing their arrows in response to other arrows still coming at Enak, but now where also coming more in the direction of the General, now that they had seen their mistake. He had drawn his Masamune and was picking the arrows fired at him out of the air like flies.

Moments later Ian and Erik emerged, each carrying a man, one of the Commander, and one SOLDIER. Each had been tagged, and they now where no longer allowed to participate in the simulation.

"Make you way back to the academy for assessment." The General said, and sent them on their way.

"That was a bit cowardly, sending assassins like that." One of the Shinra men said.

"Not really, if a war and loss of life can be avoided by killing the leader, we do it." Erik said.

The General nodded, seeing the point.

"Now you understand why the dress-up was necessary. They mistook Enak for you."

"I wonder why they did go for Enak, as the General was only about twenty feet behind." Another SOLDIER asked.

"Because they assumed Sephiroth would be heading the group. They assumed wrong." Master Suba said.

"Nice try, though." Ian said. And we all headed onward again.

They moved on until the sullen solid grey clouds steadily started to grow darker. Then Jeh-ri spotted Hazel, who had made her way far ahead into the fields, making her way back to report, together with the younger SOLDIER she had been assigned with, gesturing with her hands, pointing toward a spot a couple of hours march away.

"Report." the General said.

"Yes Sir." The SOLDIER answered. "There is a large flat rock about a quarter of a day's march from here. The surface is about forty feet off the desert bottom, and is too high to be jumped. It can only be climbed at one side by a very narrow path, forcing the other side to take a lot of risk trying to take the shelf." He said. As he explained, Hazel started to draw a bird's eye view of the situation in the dust.

"We will be left with no retreat, though. Having all accesses cut off if we are surrounded." He said. "All they have to do is wait for us to surrender of thirst." Shaking his head, not liking this idea very much.

Then the SOLDIER looked at Hazel who had completed her drawing.

"There is a pinnacle standing straight opposite the only way up, it is dotted with small caves, big enough for two or three people. It is a perfect spot to place archers to guard the way up, and giving cover for an eventual retreat. Also the rock surface in very uneven, and there are a lot of cracks and crevices inside, the whole rock is filled with small water pockets. It is a bit bitter tasting, but drinkable non the less." She said, standing up.

"What about ground cover?" he said, seeing the possibilities.

"On the desert floor, almost none. The surface of the shelf exists of several layers separated by cracks wide enough and deep enough to use as trenches." The SOLDIER said.

Master Tsuba was very pleased.

He looked at the General who nodded his approval.

"Well done, people, shows us the way." He said. The young woman had proved quite resourceful. Choosing this location, considering various possibilities of defence.

They where still young and inexperienced, but it was a good start.

Master Tsuba motioned for Jeh-ri to come forward.

"Do you want to go on, Sir?" Master Tsuba asked the General." We could reach this place just after down if we march during the night."

"I just wander if this is going to hold." The General said, pointing at the sky, frowning.

"Jeh-ri." Master Tsuba said.

He stuck his nose in the wind, feeling the currant was about to shift. It would break the clouds open soon. "The moon is almost full, it is going to be light out, tonight. The wind turn north and pick up enough speed to break the clouds." He said.

Master Tsuba nodded.

"The ground is rockier further in, so there is no more need to bounce around. I still want my troops to be able to have the strength to fight. It was useful while it was needed, though." The General said.

Master Tsuba inclined his head, accepting the compliment, and gave the order to start walking again.

"Jeh-ri, any sign of the Commander?" He asked.

He concentrated, frowning, and send out a pulse, counted.. ten, eleven, twelve.. then put his hands on the ground, sending a pulse there too, but sensed nothing. "He's far, just not on this ground. There is no one here for miles around."

"What? Explain." The General bore down on him.

"He never entered the practice fields, I would have been able to sense someone, but we are alone, sir."

"He could just be shielding his troops, Jeh-ri." Ian said.

"That he can do, but he can't shield the SOLDIERs. I would have been able to feel them."

Suddenly he realised something. "Is there water or a river running through the fields?"

"There is a river just on the western half of the grounds, it runs north east, then bends south." One of the Shinra men answered.

"He is in the river!" Master Tsuba, Enak, Erik and he said as one.

"That would put them right in our path. They are moving to intercept us before we can reach a place to fortify." Another one concluded, tensely.

"Quiet, SOLDIER, your making everyone nervous." The silver haired man snapped. "Lets pick up the pace people, move like we have a purpose." He said and they all pushed into a light canter.

Jeh-ri hung back a little, allowing himself to run just behind Enak and the General.

"It will be alright, we will make it in time." He said, still being able to talk through his accelerated breathing pattern.

"Are you a fortune teller or something?" The General asked, a slight sarcastic edge to his voice.

"Sometimes, but this is pure logic. He has sacrificed speed for stealth." He said. "He has to ride the river around before he comes toward us, then he still has quite a distance to travel on foot." I answered.

"And he will be wet and slow for the first couple of miles." Master Tsuba agreed.

About ten minutes later, the wind shifted and the clouds broke to reveal a pale silvery moon. In the distance the rocky shelf started to emerge, dark and looming on the horizon. We had made it in plenty of time. About two hours later, the first troops started to make their way up the narrow path, after four teams of archers had been instructed to take up positions on the pinnacle.

"He is on the ground now." He said, sensing his distinct pattern as he caressed the soil

"He is taking it easy." He said to the twins, who where standing beside me, and as the General was within earshot, they started to analyse our situation, so he would be kept up to date.

Enak began talking; "He is letting us know, he knows we where on to him, having chosen to press on-", "- instead of making camp for the night, and moving on at day break." Erik said.

"If we hadn't, he would have beaten us to it, leaving us out in the open and vulnerable." The General agreed.

He was pleased with how things had turned out. He watched as Erik was one of the last to head up, leaving only him, Enak, Jeh-ri, and Master Tsuba still below. The older man asked his leader if he was alright. He answered in a in a tone that told he wasn't happy it was asked. The old man nodded, and headed up.

Enak and the General moved off by them selves a bit, standing quite close. Jeh-ri's breath froze as he saw the taller man incline his head, as one hand moved up to touch Enak's face, and Enak dropped his head, after smiling briefly. Then the younger man stepped back, bowed shortly and bounded up the path.

"Why do you keep putting your hands on the ground, Graduate?" The General asked, frowning again, and the other wandered at his irritation.

"You ordered me to put boots on, sir." He answered, trying to sound as submissive as possible, not wanting to aggravate him.

"If you had informed me you needed to be bare footed to do your job, I would've made an exception for you." He said pointedly, as he squatted down to the other's level, as he was still on his knees, hands on the rocky surface.

"Remember that next time. I cannot lead to my full abilities if I am not aware of what my people are capable of. Is there anything else I need to know?" He said again with an edge to his voice that made the other's skin crawl.

"If this would have been a real combat situation, I would've objected, knowing our survival would be at stake." He said, sick of embarrassed yet again.

"Permission to speak freely, sir?" Him not making an answer to the contrary, he assumed he could. "I can sense in the earth how and where people are moving, but I can also tell when people are lying. You lied about being fine; I can see you have a splitting headache, and you haven't had a decent nights sleep in days." There, stick that in your pipe, and smoke it, you bad tempered brute!

He knew very well he would still be in plenty good shape to kick the living snot out of every one here, but he just wanted him to lighten up!

"I am very capable of seeking medical attention, Graduate. Don't presume to lecture me on how to take care of myself." He sneered.

"Then why don't you. Sir." He said softly. "You want to win this competition just as much as everyone here, Let me help you."

"What makes you so sure you can?" he said, still sneering, but the edge in his voice softening slightly.

"I can see what is causing it. At least you will get a decent sleep. Nathan won't attack until sun down."

He opened his mouth to ask how I was so sure, but the question never came. Just to be released of this maddening pain would be a blessing.

"What do you have in mind?" he said, finally caving in.

"Just sit down." He said, patting the ground, standing up. "I need to get at your neck, Sir." He said and he reached back with one hand pulling his hair away over one shoulder. He undid the straps of his upper armour taking the added weight of his tortured shoulders, relieving some of the tension.

He began to dig his thumbs in, starting at the base of his skull, then down along his spine, stopping just between his shoulder blades. Everything was as hard as quinces, it was like touching a rock. He could see the blooms of damage from the Mako injections, causing pressure on nerves. The tendons between his spine and his scapula's had become angry knots in self-defence.

He used his elbow to put pressure on those spots, pivoting his hand around, gently at first, then building enough pressure to force them to release, encouraging the blood to flow more freely, and continued for about ten more minutes, trying to cover as much as possible.

"Is this supposed to hurt? He asked.

"I wouldn't be doing it properly if it didn't." the copper haired man said. "I'm increasing he blood flow to the tensed areas, so it will heal itself. This should do for now." He said. Tying the shoulder guards back in place.

"We should head up." He said, getting on his feet and making for the narrow path, the General just behind him.

Continues in: Just as we hit the green