Blitz couldn't believe it. Even though he was there when it happened, even though he saw it with his own eyes, his mind could not comprehend what was happening. He sat beside Bandit and Jager with the rest of Team Rainbow accompanying them as Monika Weiss, also known to the rest of the team as IQ, was being lowered into the ground, her body enclosed in a casket.
Tears welled up in Blitz's eyes but with a deep breath, he pushed them back, determined to remain strong for his remaining teammates.
The GSG9 were expected to give a eulogy for her, and reluctantly lined up at her gravestone, prepared to break the lifeless silence that had formed.
Jager took a deep breath and spoke first. "Monika Weiss was not just a teammate. She was a friend, definitely the smart one among all of us." He said with a humourless chuckle. "Whenever one of us was bored and bordered on doing something stupid, she was always there to step in and prevent any of us from getting hurt. She saved all of our lives countless times and I'm disappointed that I couldn't save hers." He ended his speech and looked at Bandit, who nodded back.
"In addition to Marius' words, I would also like to say that despite her originally gruff demeanour, Monika was one of the nicest people I've ever met. She went out of her way to help others, never complained and was always willing to listen to our problems when she had more than enough of her own."
When it was Blitz's turn to talk, he glanced down at the casket and wished that it was him in there instead of her. IQ had a mother, father, two brothers and a sister. And who did he have? No one. His mother and father were both dead, he had grown up with no siblings and had no wife or girlfriend.
Blitz took another deep breath to delay the tears and spoke from the heart. "Monika always knew what was best for each of us. She never pushed anyone to do what she told them to do, merely offered her opinion and let them take it from there. She never got angry, never yelled, was always patient and never let anyone give up on themselves. I don't think she would approve of our grieving and would ask… no, beg that we move on with our lives and keep our minds focused on the task at hand so that no one else is hurt and nobody has to go through what we are right now."
Bandit put a hand on his teammate's shoulder and nodded in agreement. The remaining three members of the GSG9 then took their seats as the resident priest read quotes from the bible.
As the rest of Team Rainbow digested Blitz's words and listened to the priest, the German shield-bearer was focused on seeking retribution for not only his teammate, but also his love interest.