Chapter Two

"You left me Gilgamesh. You left me, and you left her."
Gilgamesh backed away from the knight, sending the bowl crashing to the ground. He stammered "I..I had n…no choice Seoman."
The black knight reached behind his back and pulled out a two-handed broadsword. He tossed it from hand to hand as if it was light as a feather. A grim smile was on his face as he said, "Well I've got no choice now. I'm sorry old friend, but I've got to do this."
Gilgamesh turned, and vanished. Seoman swore and sheathed his sword "Bloody dimensional interval."

***

A wind grew out of nowhere, sending the brown autumn leaves in Balamb Forest flying in the air, then was gone as suddenly as it began Gilgamesh stood there looking around at where he was. The dimensional interval was an unreliable method of travelling at best. His gaze fell upon a great crater in the distance. Gilgamesh smiled. It was time to call in a favour.

***

Squall came out of the meeting still gobsmacked, not quite believing what had just been thrust on him. Needing air to clear his head, he took the lift up to the bridge. Nida smiled and said a simple "Congratulations."
Squall moved to the side of the bridge and took a deep breath of the sea air. He frowned as he thought of something. "How did you know Nida?"
Nida smiled "They wanted to know whether Esthar is still capable of manufacturing Gardens. I told them they should be able to, seeing as they've got the Lunatic Pandora parts."
"They're destroying it then?"
"Looks like it. They're putting the crystal pillar safely under lock and key in the Lunatic Pandora laboratory. Actually, rumour is Esthar's going to take out a contract with Garden to guard the pillar. Could you just check that gauge over there please Squall?" he said, pointing with his free hand. Squall smiled. No matter how far he went, the people who had graduated with would always treat him as plain Squall Leonhart. Squall busied himself with the gauges for a while before asking Nida "Are you happy with what you've got?"
Nida sat staring out at sea for a moment, hands gently guiding the tiller before answering with a distant smile "Yes. I am Squall. I may not be a saviour of the world, or a SeeD commander, but I'm happy in my work. I love the way you can just forget about the world up here."
Squall and Nida sat for a few minutes, just staring out over the waves. Finally, Squall asked, "Where are we headed anyway?"
"Balamb. Then we'll be going to Esthar. I hear they've picked a nice location for the new garden."
Squall said nothing, but strode over to the lift. He turned and hesitated before saying "Thanks Nida."
Nida smiled. "Anytime Garden Master Squall." He flipped a little salute, and Squall left, shaking his head.

***

In the darkest corner of Deling City Hotel, a man sat drowning his sorrows. Most of the bar's customers were soldiers, and they had steered clear of the man all night. Now though, it was closing time, and the manager went up to the man and cleared his throat. The man looked up at him, bleary-eyed.
"Okay, time for you to go home now friend."
The man grinned as if he saw some big joke in that. "Which home would that be then?" he asked, his words slurred by drink "The one were the man who wants to kill me is in charge? Or maybe the one that's now five hundred feet under the ocean? Or do you think I should go to the one that crashed and burnt on the plains of Esthar?"
The manager shifted uncomfortably. This was not the kind of man you wanted to mess with. He seemed like a man with nothing left to lose. "Well, you can take rooms here." In a sudden surge of generosity, he added, "Half price as well, seeing as you've been such a good customer."
The blond man smiled as he stood up, picking a matt black gunblade from the seat next to him "Thanks for your kind offer, but I can feel where my home is. She needs me you see?"
Seifer Almasy, sorceresses night strode out of the bar, leaving the bar man pondering for a moment. He seemed to realize something, and chased into the lobby after him.
"Hey, what about the bill?"
Seifer gave a wolf's smile, and tossed a bag of gil towards the man. "Keep the change, friend. For telling me to go home."

***

Seoman knelt in front of the sorceress "I could not kill him. He used the dimensional interval."
The woman got up and placed her hands on the knight's forehead. Seoman felt a tingle run through him, as the Aura spell roared through his body, strengthening him as it went. "Find him. I want him dead."
Seoman smiled at the woman, taking her hands from his forehead. He kissed them, then disappeared.