Chapter 2
Seifer raises his arm to protect his eyes from the sand coming from the tires of the cars. A medic transport and two SUV trucks speed away. He was glad to see that Laguna took all of this so seriously, they still hadn't found anything. Dr. Odine is working on the black box but Seifer doubts that will explain anything about what happened in the Thor. Nida is the only one who can tell them what happened inside that ship, he hopes that Nida will wake up soon, it may be a selfish thought but he couldn't care right now.
The cars are only small dots on the horizon but still Seifer doesn't go inside, he just stares after the cars, and when they are out of his sight he continues staring. His throat is dry and his stomach empty but still he remains standing outside, waiting for a sign. A sign that will tell him were his wife is.
He knew he shouldn't let Quistis go on this mission, his gut feeling told him something would happen, but he hadn't told Quistis. She was so excited to go back into space again, she had been in space once and she always wanted another chance to see the beauty of the galaxy. Seifer suspected it had something to do with her Blue Mages powers; Quistis always has been attracted by the moon. Seifer always thought it was something Quistis used to do, but one night, a few months ago, he returned home from a mission early. He thought his girls would be asleep already since it was really late but both his girls weren't sleeping. Quistis was standing barefoot in the grass with Ayla on her hip, both of them staring at the full moon. Seifer tried to get their attention but it was only after he shook Quistis by the shoulder she acknowledge his presence then, the purple swirl in their eye had grown insignificant, only to return to normal not much later.
He knew it would be a full moon tonight, but would Quistis be able to watch it? Seifer knows Quistis is alive, no matter what that Dr. Odine may say, if she was gone he would know it, off that he is certain.
"Where are you?" He whispers to the sky.
A clasp on his shoulder makes Seifer turn around, the sun is already setting and Kiros is looking at him worriedly.
"You should go back," the older man said.
Shaking his head he walks back inside the base, "not before I knew where Quis is."
"I doubt we will find the answers here. Dr. Odine and Dr. Piet have found nothing on the black box."
"They found nothing? You mean-"
"It is empty." They reached the base and the doors slide open. "Someone has tempered with it."
The black box wasn't able to tell them what happened, the only witness they have is unconscious and still they have no clue about the whereabouts of his wife.
He was feeling so hopeless right now.
He knows he should go back to Esthar, there is nothing he can do here, but he can't face his friends, his family. He can't even face his own daughter, wondering about what she would think of him, afailurenodoubt.
Kicking the wall angrily he is promising himself he is going to listen to his gut feeling next time.
If there will be a next time for Quistis.
He hates to leave Seifer alone, but he also wants to stay with Nida and not only for the information he may have, but also because he is a friend. He was the one who volunteered immediately to fly the Ragnarok towards a Time Consumed world, without even knowing if he would make it out alive. He is the best pilot they have, and Irvine knows that someone must have been tempered with the Thor; Nida has a flawless state of clean landings, notanymore.Unfortunately.
A machine starts beeping and Irvine looks panicked to the pilot, the medic reassures him that nothing is wrong; one of the electrodes has fallen off him.
The rest of the ride went by in a daze, in the hospital Irvine was told to wait in the waiting room while the medics took Nida to the ICU.
Hospitals always made him nervous, he is shifting in his seat every few minutes, the waiting is horrible, and sitting there alone makes Irvine think about everything that has happened, things he doesn't want to think about. He wishes that one of his friends is here with him, just so he could talk with a familiar face. Irvine didn't know how long he had been waiting when the doctor told him he could see Nida.
In the hospital room Nida does look a lot better, the color has returned to his face again so he wasn't as white as a ghost anymore. An IV in his left forearm, his right arm is covered in bandage from his wrist till his shoulder. The doctor told Irvine that Nida had been lucky; he could have gotten worse injuries. Nida's right arm had been cut by glass, but no major arteries or muscles were cut, his left ankle is broken but all his internal bleedings have been taken care off.
Irvine sits down on the only seat in the room, glancing at the monitor that measures Nida's heart rate.
Irvine had been sitting for some time, his butt hurt from the hard chair, when Nida's heartbeat spiked a bit. Irvine's hand traveled to the emergency button, he is ready to press it when Nida's eyes open slowly.
His hand dropped the button and he waits patiently until Nida locks eyes with him, asking him with his eyes, whathappened?
He wished he could tell, but truth is he doesn't know. Instead of telling him his ship had crashed he hands him a glass of water and calls the Doctor.
The doctor examined him and told Irvine he would be fine, after Nida had finished eating some food Irvine is back into the room. He hates to question him right away, but he needs to hear what Nida can remember. Nidawillunderstand, he told himself. "Can you tell me what happened?"
Nida nods his head carefully and he starts talking.
They had found nothing out of the ordinary in space. They didn't found any trace of the transmissions the Estharians had picked up. They even had checked the moon but they found nothing. Quistis had made contact with both Laguna and Squall, she had offered to stay for a bit longer, maybe then they could find out where the transmissions were coming from, but both men declined, the were to install the new satellite and then return home. Delia had been thrilled when she finally could start working on the satellite, she had been closely working with the Estharians to finish this prototype. If things worked out, this would be the first of many they would send into space. Delia didn't tell him much about what they were working on but it had something to do with improving communication on earth.
When the satellite had been placed Delia stayed in the engine room, it was the only room with plenty of power for her computers to be plugged in. Nida was piloting the ship home, a few hours in their ride Quistis was keeping him company, engaging him in some small talk.
"What are you going to do when we get back?"
"I don't know yet. After the party I think I will stay a few days in Esthar." He chuckles slightly, "in all these years I never have been in Esthar outside of work."
"Really?" Quistis has a smile on her face "So you never have been to the good restaurants either?"
"Nope. Every time I was in Esthar I was either working inside the Presidential Palace, Odine's labs or the Airport, I never had time to relax in the city."
"Well then, I know this really good place. Seifer used to take me there. The have the best steaks in the world."
"I will take your suggestion and go there-"
"Not alone," Quistis interrupted him, "you need a date."
"You're offering?"
"No." Quistis holds her hand up, the silver wedding ring gleaming under the light of the stars. "I am already taken."
"It was worth a shot," Nida said with a straight face, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.
His face looked so funny Quistis couldn't help but laugh and smack him on the arm.
"I am serious, maybe you should ask Xu." Quistis had the feeling Nida had a crush on Xu for some time and she knows Xu could use a man like Nida.
Before Nida had the time to say anything Delia Neva's voice sounded through the intercom.
"Jackson?"
"Yes Neva." Nida answered through the intercom.
"I found something interesting regarding the transmissions."
Quistis straightens herself and asked their technician, "What did you find?"
"I found-"
A crashing sound comes through the intercom, followed with a curse from Delia.
"Neva?" Nida tried again "Delia? Come in."
"I'll go check on her," Quistis offered. "She probably dropped something. You know how clumsy she can be."
Nida waited for Quistis to tell him what happened in the engine room. Earth was approaching rapidly, he had to change his attitude before he could enter earth's orbit. He contacted the Lunar Base and he had permission to fly through Esthar's sky.
But still he didn't receive a word from Quistis or Delia. He was getting quite worried; Quistis would call him immediately when she found out what happened. Even Delia should call back despite if she dropped something or not. Nida was contempt to leave the ship on auto-pilot and go check on the girls himself.
A few minutes later his feeling urged him to check on the girls. After making a final check that the auto-pilot is on correctly he climbs off his seat and walks to the lift. He stops halfway in the cockpit when he hears the lift rising.
"What took you so l-" Nida began, but instead of one of the girls a man with light brown hair and grey eyes, dressed in a blue robe is walking in the cockpit. Nida is confused; this man shouldn't be on the Thor, how did he get onboard? Nida wanted to asks who he is and what he is doing on the ship when he was thrown through the small space, he crashed against the seats and drops down on the floor. He could see a pair of boots approaching him, blood covers the noose of his shoes, he lifts his eyes slightly and he sees the man raises his staff and then all Nida can see is black.
"Can't you remember more?"
"That man-" Nida started coughing and Irvine handed him a glass of water. "Thanks." Nida takes a deep breath before continuing, "I have seen a picture of him once, Dr. Odine had a photo of him, and he was standing next to Adel."
Adel? Then the man must be like fifty, how was he able to take down three SeeDs?" Anything else?" Irvine hopes Nida can remember more, at least they knew who was responsible, not yet Irvine, he reprimanded himself.
"No, it all is still kinda fuzzy. How are Quistis and Delia?"
"Delia is dead," Irvine said somberly. "Quistis is missing."
Nida started coughing loudly again and Irvine filled the glass with water which Nida emptied in one swig. Nida's eyes begin to drop and Irvine realizes that Nida had been trough a lot. "Rest," he commands. Nida's breathing is evening and Irvine is glad that he is able to get some sleep.
Irvine walks out of the hospital room, walking to the vending machine he buys himself a coke and a snack. He walks into the small garden inside the hospital and after he has finished his 'meal' he pulls his phone out of his pocket, pushes some numbers and waits.
"Kiros?" Laguna's worried voice travels through the phone.
"No, it is Irvine-" Irvine starts, a siren sounds through the hospital, announcing the incoming of another patient. "Nida has regained conscious. He saw who killed Delia Neva."
Tired, she was so tired, but she didn't want to sleep. It had been ten years since she saw her mother and she has so much to tell her. But trying not to fall asleep didn't work, especially after the night she had last night, and the dreams that disturbed her sleep.
"Go to sleep," her mother touches her shoulder lightly and points whit her head towards Ellone's bed.
"I don't want to sleep," Ellone said through a yawn. Her mother looks at her sternly and Ellone knows she has no other choice but to close her eyes and sleep, or tell her mother about her dream but for that she wasn't ready. She doesn't want to relive her dream again.
Reaching the bed Ellone stomps her shoes off and crawls on the queen-size bed. She was asleep immediately, but not for a long time, a dream tormented her in her sleep, a dream she didn't want to dream again.
Four immortals come across a mortal. A child. A girl with blond hair and brilliant blue eyes with a purple swirl.
A Blue Mage.
Suddenly the child screams. A sword has been plunged through her back and it comes out of her stomach. The child looks at the sword and tears fall from her beautiful eyes. A last plead for her mother.
"Ellone!"
Ellone's eye shut open and she is breathing harshly. Her mother looks at her worriedly and she draws her daughter in a hug. When Ellone's breathing has calmed down and the tears stopped streaming down her face she lays down back on the bed. Her mother doesn't say anything, for which Ellone is glad, this silence is what Ellone needs right now.
After a few minutes of lying down, Ellone sits down next to her mother who placed her arms around her. "Mother, I had a dream."
"I already thought so. Was this the first time you dreamed?"
"No. I had this dream before."
"When?"
"Last night." And with pain in her voice Ellone tells her mother about her dream, it was a short summary but with every word Sarah's face looks more troubled.
"You know who this dream is about," Sarah asked her daughter, with tear in her eyes Ellone nods her head. "I have had this dream too. It was exactly the same dream."
Ellone's head shoots up, two former dreamers who share the same dream, there must be more too it then Ellone initially thought. "You know who this is about?"
"I do."
"Do you know why we had this dream?"
"I don't know honey." Her mother said sadly.
"Have you told anyone?"
"Kaim, Seth and Ming know. Nobody else."
"I didn't tell anyone. I couldn't, but tomorrow I will, I have to." Ellone had made up her mind. Tomorrow when all of them are together she will tell them about this dream, maybe her dream hold some clues about Quistis whereabouts.
"You're right. Tomorrow we will tell them, together." Sarah stands up and asks Ellone, "will you be alright for awhile, I need to do something."
Ellone really didn't want to be alone but she knows that if her mother has to do something that will leave her alone in this state, it must be important. She should be alright without her mother, she is a grown woman, but sometimes it feels so good to rely on someone else. "I'll be fine, just go."
Sarah gives her daughter one tight hug. "If you need me, just call me okay."
Ellone didn't really know how to call her but she didn't ask. Sarah let go of her daughter and walks out of her room, closing the door silently behind her.
The adrenaline rush from the dream had finally worn out and Ellone is feeling tired again, but this time she really doesn't want to go to sleep, especially alone. She decides that she will grab a cup of coffee. She puts some socks on and a nice thick sweater and she makes her way to the kitchen. The lights are already on, meaning someone is already there. Ellone walks into the kitchen and she sees that Ward making some coffee.
"That's just what I need," Ellone said while grabbing a cup.
Ward has a smile on his face but when he takes a closer look at Ellone his smile fades immediately. 'Are you alright?' he asks her.
She wondered how she must look like for Ward to react that way. "I am fine Ward. Really." She is glad for his presence in this room, even though she is closest to Laguna, Ward is the person she needs right know. He wouldn't make her talk, but if she wants to talk, he is the best listener she can have.
Ward pours her a cup and together they enjoy their hot steaming coffee. When Ellone was ready to talk about what bothered her Ward listened to her closely, his eyes full of empathy and love. Ellone talked and talked and Ward listened patiently.
In another room in the presidential palace two old friends were dealing with the pain of the disappearing of their daughter, although neither of them is Quistis' mother they still feel like they are.
Ming is family, a great- something- grandmother of Quistis, they are connected through blood. Ming was there when Quistis was born. She was with her for the first two years of her life, although Quistis doesn't remember anything of it. When Quistis' mother, Quinn, died, Ming was the one who saved Quistis before Adel could get her hands on her. She brought her to Edea who ran an orphanage on the other side of the world, Ming had no choice but to leave her, Adel was still after her and she needed to do something to stop her.
In those years Edea became Quistis' mother, Matron they used to call her. In the years that followed Ming used to visit from time to time, the two women became instant friends. Ming never told her exactly who she is and Edea never asked, both women had their own secrets.
They didn't need to speak, they knew what the other was thinking, and just sitting together was enough comfort for both of them.
And now those two old friends are seated on the balcony of Edea en Cid's room. It was a hot night and both women needed to feel fresh air in their lungs. The sky was turning dark and the first stars began to flicker in the sky.
The balcony doors are open, Seth's voice floats towards them from inside, Seth is telling Ayla some wild story about her pirate life. Words like parley and captain were used often. Ming knows Seth is a great story teller, Seth's son used to tell her that much, when her own daughter was just an infant she had whished for Seth to come back, if only to tell her child the same story's she used to tell Sed.
But she did have Jansen, how many years has it been love? After Jansen died of old age she had never loved a man like him again, she often wondered when she would see him again, it had been so many years, so longed to see him again.
Edea saw the pain etched in Ming's face and asked her, "What's wrong?"
"Everything," Ming exhales a big breath. "Nothing."
Edea looks at her with her soft hazel eyes and Ming elaborates.
"I was thinking about Jansen-"
Ming had never before talked about him, Edea had asked her once if she was married and she told her Jansen's name but Ming refused to say more on the subject and Edea had dropped it.
"-it has been so long since I last saw him. I need to see him, need to feel his strong arms around me," sadness clouds her face, "but I know I can't."
"Not yet," Edea moves to her friends and engulfs her in a loving embrace. "You will see him again, until you do I will be here for you."
"And so will we. We all have to help each other." A soft voice said from behind both women. Ming looks up to see Seth standing there with a stuffed animal in her arms. "You've found yourself a good friend here."
"I certainly have."
Seth nods her head and walks back into the room, to the child who is expectantly awaiting Seth's return with her favorite toy.
Edea walks back to her chair and looks to the sparkling stars. "Remember how we used to take the kids for stargazing?"
"I certainly do," a soft giggle escapes Ming's lips, "and what about the time they took the fireworks-"
"-and they used Cid's lighter to fire them."
"It was to best firework show I had ever seen," Ming finished.
"You know," Edea chuckled softly, "they still think we don't know what they were doing."
"Cid certainly does remember."
Cid had been hiding in the bushes, with a fire extender next to him, he was ready to jump in the fray if things went wrong. Thankfully Cid didn't need to come to the rescue, but it did result in him hiding in the bushes for the entire night, while Mind and Edea were watching the fireworks display from the porch.
"Every year he reminds me of it and each year he threatens to tell the children."
"But he hasn't?" Ming is a bit surprised to hear that, he had expected him to have told the children years ago.
"I have my ways of making him stop thinking about that," a mischief glint appears in Edea's eyes.
"I am sure you do," Ming said and both women couldn't giggle softly.
Watching from some distance Seth is glad both women finally have found something to laugh about, to forget about all the bad things, even if it is only for a few minutes. For Seth everything was a bit different, she didn't knew this people, she had only seen them briefly ten years ago. She didn't have the same connection they had. She did feel a bit out of place, but she knows that she will do anything to help these people. Besides how they all must have felt, they had all welcomed her with open arms.
She remembered something, she scolds herself why she didn't think about it before. When she had the dream she had the feeling that she was missing something, something important, and something she didn't notice but which she should have. It was only when she stood in Ellone's room and she saw the film poster of the movie in which Laguna starred, with Laguna standing in his shiny armor, in one hand he holds a gunblade pointed downwards and his arm is wrapped around a beautiful woman, whom he holds close to his chest. When she looked at the gunblade something clicked in her mind. The sword that the man uses looked so familiar but she doesn't know for sure, that is why she needs to find Kaim. If she is right, then that sword had belonged to him.
But where is he?
Sarah had already checked in their room, but it didn't look like he had set a foot inside. She spotted the housekeeper and asked her if she had seen Kaim.
"I am afraid I haven't," the kind old woman said. "Maybe he is the training room, I did hear a lot of noise coming from there."
The housekeeper told Sarah how to get there, Sarah thanked the old woman and made her way towards the training room.
Indeed the closer she got the sound of swords clashing reached her ears. She opens the door to see Kaim sparring against an Estharian soldier, despite his age he was keeping up with Kaim well.
Kaim was fighting with a large broadsword which he held in two hands while the soldier was fighting with a smaller one-handed sword and a shield in his left hand. A red dragon was painted on the soldier's shield, a dragon Sarah recognizes as Ragnarok.
Although both man are fighting with real weapons Sarah was glad none of them was hurt, she didn't know how long they were already fighting but by the sight of the sweat running down both their faces it must have been some time.
A slash, a block, a dive, another slash, it was like they were dancing. Every movement was in sync, every movement was performed with such grace Sarah hadn't seen in a long time. She remembered the time when Seth and Kaim were sparring, they could go on for hours before they needed to stop, she loved to watch them, knowing they couldn't hurt or kill each other.
One slip and the soldier is pinned down the ground, Kaim's sword pointed at his throat.
"Good fight," Kaim pulls the man from the floor and gives him a pat on the soldier.
"You too," the soldier replied while rolling his soldier. "My grandpa was right about you."
That surprised Sarah, Kaim new this young mans grandfather? Sarah takes a closer look at the man and she noticed his brown eyes, eyes she had looked into before but not into his. A laugh escaped his mouth and the smiles she spots is exactly the same as an old friend of Kaim.
"Your grandfather is Miles Ryan?"
The young man looks at Sarah, he hadn't noticed her before, a small blush colors his cheeks when he answers, "yes, I am Cody Ryan. Pleased to meet you."
"How is your grandfather?"
"He died two years ago."
"I am sorry to hear that."
"Me too." Cody's shrugged his shoulders and puts a small smile on his face. "He died of old age, so that really isn't the worst way to go."
I guess so,Sarah thought but she didn't say it out loud. Death was still a sore subject for all of them. Seeing your children and grandchildren die while you still continue living is not one of the best advantages of being immortal.
"He always told me you were some superman and I never believed him." Cody grabs his shield and sword and put those weapons in his locker, "but now I do." He hints at their immortality,
Sarah knew a lot of people speculated about them and now the rumors will spread again. She wondered how bad it will get this time, she doubted it will be as bad as over two hundred year after the Guardian War, If it wasn't for Kaim I would be… she didn't finish that thought. She didn't want to remember what happened then.
"Have a good night," Cody said while leaving the training room, leaving Kaim and Sarah alone.
"Good night," Sarah said to his retreating back, Cody waved back to her, signaling that he heard her.
"Why are you here?"
Sarah looks up to her husband, "I remembered something important."
Kaim's eyebrows shut up, "What did you remember?"
"In my dream I saw two men fighting. One of them is fighting with a gunblade and the other with a broadsword. That broadsword is not just any sword, it is your sword."
Kaim looked to his sword, the one he is holding in his hand, which is the only sword he owns nowadays. "This one?"
"No. The one you lost."
Sarah can see that Kaim is lost in his thoughts, thinking about the sword Sarah mentioned.
"Durandal?" Kaim whispered.
"Yes. You lost that one while you were fighting against Adel's troop."
Kaim can still remember what happened that day.
Thousands of Adel's man against just a handful of rebels. They had no chance of defeating that large a force, their main goal was to take out as many as they could. Even though he is immortal he couldn't last till the end. His sword was taken away from him and all he could do was run. He knew Adel had always been fascinated by the rumors of Immortals, and he also knew about the experiments Adel liked to perform, where most people died on the table. His best chance was to run and hide, he returned to the rebel base and they needed to plan something else. Adel was on the winning hand and Kaim was in need of a new weapon.
"I almost forgot about that blade."
"Adel was in possession of that sword, so we must look for someone who had a close connection to her."
"Let's find Laguna, maybe he knows who we are looking for."
