The Fall

Chapter 3: Trains of Thought

I don't think about it; I've been trained not to. My chain whip is unfurled the next instant and hurtling through the air at Seifer.

Sense danger, move, don't freeze. Lash out. Take action. Reacting before thinking in immediate danger saves precious milliseconds and often a SeeD's life. It's the backbone of our training, just one of the things that make us the best military force in the world.

Of course, damn it, Seifer's received the same training. He dodges out of the chair to the floor, leaving me with nothing to strike but empty chair. A resounding crack, and it goes flying against the far wall.

With a hard jerk I recall the whiplash and whirl round, strands of hair streaking across my field of vision, nerves singing with adrenaline. Derek's whipped out his handgun and Seifer is already rolling, five quick snapshots marking the floor in his wake. Each misses him by less than a hand's breadth.

Then he's up against a wall with no more escape, and the door bursts open behind us to admit the cadets from the antechamber. Seifer has no chance, he never had any chance.

Derek cocks his gun to shoot where it would subdue but not kill, probably a knee or both. I never find out.

Because at that moment Seifer jumps from his half-crouch against the wall like a cornered animal to charge straight into the line of fire, and my subduing strike comes too late. The gunshot goes wide and Seifer tackles Derek to the floor, raising his fist at the same time. Blood spurts once, twice, and Derek lies bleeding from the nose and mouth.

All right, so we underestimated him. No matter: Good he may be, superhuman he is not. My whip changes direction seemingly of its own volition to wrap itself securely around Seifer's neck. A choked gurgle escapes from his mouth as I pull the lash taut and his windpipe constricts. Seifer may have bested a SeeD but SeeD bested him. Which is as it should be.

I turn to the cadets who look on with awed eyes, whether at me or Seifer it's hard to tell. I'm going to need their help to take Derek to medical bay. As for Seifer, Hyne be my witness, I'll request forced sedation under armed guard if I have to. Then there's a tugging at my whip hand and I turn to look.

It's animal instinct to panic, panic, panic when one can't breathe. Animals are all people are in a life-and-death situation, after all. The animal will try to escape blindly from the immediate obstruction to life-giving air, will struggle like a thing possessed and eventually exhaust itself.

Well, I never stopped to consider how infernally cunning some of them could be. Especially this one. In the split second it takes to turn and look I realize I have let my guard down.

Seifer doesn't waste the last of his precious air supply to struggle against the noose. Instead his hand is entwined in the lash and he pulls, yanking me abruptly off balance. My hand clutches relexively around the handle--in animal panic.

Suddenly lights explode in my head and I'm stumbling back, blinded. Seifer has backhanded me into a wall, I realize a moment later, and I've lost hold of the chain whip.

Though a haze of pain I see Seifer slamming a steel-toed boot into the midsection of a charging cadet, then swinging his inert form into the other cadet's line of attack. The chain whip glitters around his neck like a strange necklace but no longer cuts off air. As the two cadets go down in a tangle of arms and legs Seifer unwinds the chain from around his neck with a look of faint contempt.

"Seifer," I croak, barely recognizing my voice. The side of my face throbs with pain and my heart pounds.

He steps over Derek's prone form on his way, takes his coat from the hook.

"Seifer!" No. He's about to walk out into that vast unknown and I can't stop him because of a stupid blow to the head. A frantic step away from the wall just earns me a nauseating dizzy spell, forcing me to lean back again.

He shrugs his coat on and strolls out the open door, pausing only to pick up Hyperion's matte black case from the antechamber beyond. Another door swishes open and shut, and then he is gone.

An inarticulate gurgle from the floor, and Derek is waking up. I test my feet with a hand to the wall, then gingerly make my way to his side. The world spins a little about me but doesn't flip over, for which I'm duly thankful.

"Quis...tis?" Blood and broken teeth bubble out of Derek's mouth with words. It looks bad, but it's nothing Doctor K can't fix.

"Don't try to talk." I kneel and put a hand on his forhead. "The Doctor will help you."

"Almasy..."

I sigh, and can't believe how unbelievably tired I am all of a sudden. "Gone."

A lopsided grin twists the SeeD's broken mouth, his words slurred together. "So...what're you...wating for?"

"You're absolutely right," I whisper, then raise my voice to a cadet rubbing his head and sitting up. "Keep him awake. Page the infirmary." I squeeze Derek's hand, share a grin, and let go.

Then I'm back on my feet whip in hand, striding to the door without a second glance just like he did. Keep it simple, Quistis. A cadet under your charge has gone AWOL--what are you waiting for?

"Quistis!" Xu's familiar worried frown greets me at the entrance to the garage, which is closed. A swarm of students and personnel surround it, but before I can look closer Xu's iron grip is on my arm, sitting me forcibly down on a bench.

"Xu, I don't have time. Seifer--"

"I know. Quiet." A whispered incantation brings a soft blue glow to her hand, which she runs down the right side of my face. "Jesus, girl. If the bastard had been junctioned--"

"It would have been a lot worse." I shake her hand off and stand, the residual magic making me a little dizzy. The Cure spell does its job anyway; the throbbing in my cheek is soothed away by comforting coolness. Testing with my tongue I can see it's still a little tender, but that should fade soon, too. "Seifer?"

"Gone, with a trail of minor wounded. He took a car, besides Alexander and Tiamat." I close my eyes briefly: We're talking very powerful firepower there in terms of GF. "Considerately jammed the garage doors on his way, too." Xu scowls. "They're going to jimmy them open, or blast them, one of those things. If only we'd had a decent number of SeeDs around..." Just then there's a quick cheer from the garage entrance. I look just in time to see it sliding open.

"He said he was going to Timber." I cut straight through the people through the doors, Xu keeping up at my side. The staccato beat of our heels echoes loudly against concrete. "Can you shut the trains down?"

"It won't be easy."

"Try, anyway. Until we can be sure he's not on the island." I climb into a jeep, swipe my ID card through the ignition. "I don't put it past him to fall behind me to throw me off." Or maybe he anticipates me anticipating him. God, what a mess. The engine rumbles into motion, and the outer door of the garage eases open.

"I'll send backup." Xu steps back holding the door, then her eyes go hard. "Show him the difference, Quistis. Between a talented failure and a real SeeD." The door slams shut with cold finality, then she's backing away and brusquely signaling the technicians to get away from the exit.

A talented failure. Damn him. Tires scream on concrete and coveralled figures dodge out of the way; midday sun floods the car instead of hollow dark. A nameless urgency pounds in my chest: If only I can bring him back before whatever point of no return... I turn due west towards Balamb and drive like a maniac the rest of the way.

There's a Garden-issue jeep in the train station's parking lot. Seifer must have been here. My own car screeches to a stop across three parking spaces and I jump out without bothering to park it properly. Then it's a mad dash to the ticket booth, where I bring myself up short against the window.

"Did you see a tall man, about twenty, tall, blond hair, grey coat?" That comes out all in one breath, and the ticket seller looks a little alarmed.

"I believe I did. It's been a pretty busy day, and I'm not all that sure, but..."

"He has a scar across his face." I trace a diagonal line down my own face. "And red crosses down his sleeves."

"Oh! Him, yeah, I remember. Handsome, isn't he? It's too bad about the scar, but-"

"Which train?"

"The one that's leaving in two minutes, I think. No more tickets for that one, sorry."

"Thank you." So he is taking a train. I have to stop it somehow unless I want to go haring after him all the way to Timber.

I run out to the tracks and sure enough, a sleek red-and-grey train is ready to go on the tracks, overhead speakers blaring announcements, tardy passengers boarding hurriedly with their luggage. I spot a uniformed conductor next to the tracks and stride up to him.

"SeeD." I flash my ID and shout to be heard over the commotion. "You need to stop this train immediately."

The man looks startled and not at all pleased. "Sorry ma'am, I'm not authorized to-"

"Then get someone who is! There's a cadet gone AWOL from Garden on board, and you will stop this vehicle right this moment so SeeD can search for him."

He looks unperturbed. "Do you have the necessary papers?"

I waste a few precious seconds staring. "No, I do not have papers and I have no desire to waste my time-"

Just then, the train starts moving.

"Well, there it goes." The man sounds actually amused.

I shoot him a murderous glance. This day has been much too long and trying for diplomacy.

The chain whip's grip is in firm my hand as I remove it from my belt. Before he can even finish his cry of surprise I take aim at one of the train's vertical bars and strike.

The pull forward is hard and sudden, but I expected that. I kick off hard, the terror and exhilaration rushing as pure energy through my limbs. A sickening lurch and I am brought against the train's outer wall, the wind tearing at my clothes and hair.

"Stop the train!" Comes several panicked voices from behind, the conductor I just spoke to among them. I smirk to myself even as I hang on for dear life. So much for papers.

"It's okay, I got her!" A very familiar voice shouts too close to my ear, too loud. Before I can get my bearings inexorable hands are dragging me away from the sun and wind into cool, quiet shade, to be dumped unceremoniously on a hard surface.

And I'm sitting on the floor inside a link between train cars, whip in hand, watching Seifer Almasy force the door to the outside firmly shut. The train is picking up speed, not stopping.

"Whew! That was a close one." I look up to see another conductor, who goes from relief to severe reprimand when she looks at me. "You'll be charged a fine on arrival, ma'am, for disorderly and irresponsible conduct. Your ticket?"

"I don't have one." Talk about misery.

The train conductor clucks her tongue disapprovingly. "That'll cost you over ten thousand gil, you know." Then she moves on to Seifer and says in a much warmer voice, "that was quite a bit of heroism, young man. You saved the day."

He did nothing of the sort, I feel like screaming while Seifer exchanges pleasantries with the woman, a disturbingly angelic smile on his face. Mercifully soon she's gone with a last friendly wave at Seifer, closing the door behind her. Seifer and I look at each other, and suddenly I'm acutely conscious of the whip still in my hand and Hyperion at Seifer's side, almost hidden in the folds of his grey coat. Then he breaks out into an amused smirk.

"Not going to thank me, Trepe?"

"Thank you?" The nerve! "We both know the only one you saved was yourself, Seifer. If you hadn't pulled me in they'd have stopped the train and you'd be on your way to Garden right this moment."

He fakes a pout. "Well, if you're not feeling grateful I'll just get back to my seat and-"

I shake my head. I need something for this headache--preferably a stiff drink. "SeeD compartment. With me. Right now." I don't want him out of my sight until I can drag him on board the return train.

"Aww...I never knew you were this eager to be alone with me, Instructor."

I have to remind myself that the objective is to bring him back, not kill him. I silently gesture at him to walk ahead of me to the SeeD compartment, where I have the card read and admit us both.

Seifer immediately makes himself at home on the long couch, spreading his arms expansively across the backrest. I sit on a chair facing perpendicular to it, watching him warily. For all his relaxation his hand never strays too far from Hyperion's pistol hilt, and my hand lingers near my weapon belt at all times. Tense silence presses in with tangible force.

Stalemate.

"What would it take to get you to go quietly back with me?"

Seifer looks disinterested. "I don't know. An army?"

I lean back hard in my seat, sighing in exasperation. This man is completely impossible.

"If this keeps up, it's going to get you expelled, Seifer. And that's one of the better-case scenarios."

"I know that." Seifer's voice is suddenly heavy, his face unreadable.

That's curious. Where's the familiar bluster, the grand declaration of future heroics? For a moment Seifer has the look of someone torn by impossible pressures, until the familiar look of arrogance sets in again.

"You know I'm the one who set up this mission, right?" He grins a little at me, but why does it feel so strained?

"Derek said something about that, yes."

"Her name is Rinoa," he blurts out distractedly. "Spoiled brat with great legs, during my, um, summer at Timber. Last summer. She's got this resistance group, useless bunch too, and uh..." His voice fades uncertainly. He hardly seemed to know what he was saying, anyway. Is that clenched fist on his knee trembling? "I helped set up this mission," Seifer continues lamely. "Three rookie SeeDs, shit, what's Garden thinking anyway."

"Are you all right?" Beads of sweat have gathered on his brow, glistening in the overhead lights. "Seifer?" He could have been hurt during the SeeD exam or the earlier fight. Infection-induced fever, maybe. I reach out to take his temperature.

"Leave me be, Trepe!" He flinches away at my touch. "I'm not sick if that's what you think it is."

I try to catch his eye but he looks away. "Something's wrong. Tell me."

Stubborn silence stretches on, punctuated only by the constant sounds from the moving train. Three rookie SeeDs? He's said something to that effect in the disciplinary chamber. I wish I could remember better but all that comes to mind is the glare of fluorescent lights off fallen handcuffs, a crack of a whip, gunshots, violence.

I realize that the pressure on my eardrums is lighter and the darkness outside has been replaced with late-afternoon sunlight. At some point the train emerged from the underwater tunnel, more than halfway to Timber, and I still have no idea how to get Seifer on board the return train.

"Attention, passengers." The speaker crackles to life. "The train will slow for the next twenty minutes due to ongoing railroad repairs. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Wait...an announcement. Something--a broadcast. Communications.

"Is this about the communications tower at Dollet?" I blurt out.

The effect is immediate and unmistakeable. Seifer starts violently out of whatever reverie he was in, and looks at me with something akin to fear in his eyes. Bingo.

"What the hell are you talking about, Trepe?" He sounds unusually harsh, which tells me I'm definitely on the right track.

"But why would the tower be important? The worldwide signal jam doesn't let any radio wave get far."

"Drop it, Trepe." His voice is a low, warning growl, his eyes wild. His hand falls on Hyperion's grip but I stand to face him, hand on my own weapon.

"Unless you built powerful routing stations, but that doesn't make economic sense, doesn't it. That's why cable's replaced broadcasting." My eyes watch Seifer warily even as my mind works at a furious pace. Unpredictable at the best of times, there's no telling the lengths he might go to in this strangely agitated state.

"I said, drop it!" Seifer bursts out of his seat, staring me down with hard eyes. It's hard not to flinch away but I manage somehow, matching glare for glare. It suddenly occurs to me how big he is, towering over me this way. No time for that. Use the fear.

"Of course...the Dollet tower." With its extra-powerful signaling capability it must be worth several dozen signal routers. What does any of this have to do with Timber?

"You said you spent a summer at Timber, didn't you." I speak slowly, trying to line up the clues. Seifer looks livid but he doesn't make a move, as though held by the intensity of my eyes.

A summer at the city...that means he knows something, some relevant fact that evades me. Think, Quistis! What does Timber have? Railroads. Galbadian troops. Resistance.

An old broadcasting station.

With that, the pieces fall neatly into place, revealing the complete picture. The picture Seifer saw before anyone else and became his reason to bolt from confinement.

I let out a long, quiet breath and Seifer tenses even more if that's possible. "I see now, Seifer. I see it."

His shoulders droop, and his eyes drop to the floor. "Damn you, Trepe," he mutters.

"Galbadia's going to make a broadcast, isn't it." A broadcast so important, they couldn't leave it to the uncertainties of cable communication. So important they invaded a sovereign nation to make it happen. And even with the Dollet tower, the smaller routing stations they'd have had to erect on Timber soil must be an enormous cost.

And there's only one reason for any broadcast to be that important: The person making it.

"We've sent them against the Lifelong President of Galbadia." My words are a whisper. "Three rookie SeeDs."

-tbc

A/N: Ugh. The writing style is way too inconsistent and the chapter didn't exactly end the way I envisioned, but this is the third draft of this chapter alone and I had to let go at some point or go mad. The previous two versions of this chapter are available at my site if anyone's interested, in the notes for this chapter of this story.

And now, some thanks are in order to my reviewers:

altol: To be told I do Seifer/Quistis interaction well from the author of Fire and Ice! Wow, you've totally made my day. Hope you enjoy the new chapter!

Fyre Byrd: That's a very apt way to put it, how Seifer is driven by a force no one else understands. To me that's the essence of his character.

Jack Hanek: Thanks! I've seen extraordinarily intelligent people make below-average instructors, which is where I got the idea for flaws in Quistis' teaching method. It's just an easy trap for the very smart to fall into.

Melete: Thank you so much--I'm usually not crazy about game retellings, either, so I'm all the more flattered that you liked this one so well. I'm also happy that you liked the characterizations and relationship between Quistis and Seifer.

Ruby Tuesday: It's going to be more of a standard plotted fic from now on--the first chapter was more of a prologue. I do have some idea about what happened with Quistis' team in the parade but I'm not sure I'll write about it. It has the potential for interesting Seifer/Quistis interaction, so it's likely I will. For now I'm just trying to work my way through the Timber Station and Galbadia Garden, which are both pretty intense.

sibyl: Thanks! I just hope I don't disapppoint.

Starlight: blush Those are some of the nicest comments I've heard about my writing. Thank you. Coming from a stellar(no pun!) writer like yourself, they're especially heartwarming. And yes, Quistis watching Seifer fall under the Sorceress' spell should be an important Seifer/Quistis scene. I'm playing around with some ideas for now.