Chapter 3: Tragedy

"Stay alert" Squall whispered to the tall blond by his side and took out his trusted gunblade. The big dark warehouse was completely silent but that didn't mean it had to be empty.

Quistis nodded with her 'Save the Queen' held firmly in her hand. They walked further inside, checking behind every crate and corner so none of the escaped convicts could be hiding there. They'd been chasing shadows close to two weeks now but a tip had told them about the convict's hideout and it had let the SeeD's straight here. "Do you think they knew we were coming?"

"Perhaps" Squall answered slowly and went to check behind a big pile of cargo a couple of meters away.

Quistis continued down until something caught her eye. "Hmm?" she mumbled and pushed away a cloth. Everything around her seized to exist and all she could see were the red blinking numbers. "Squall!"

"What is it?"

She pointed to the mechanical device by her feet and watched as the countdown continued…12, 11, 10…fully aware of what it was but desperately hoping she was wrong.

"SHIT QUISTY, RUN!"

They both ran as fast as they could but just as they were about to exit the building the whole world turned painfully bright before it grew completely black.

***************

"Mr. Almasy!"

Seifer turned around with an annoyed frown, he'd just been about to finally get some rest. The nervous soldier saluted him and then cleared his throat. "General Hendrickson wants you at his office immediately"

"Can't it wait? I haven't slept in 48 fucking hours" Seifer growled, making the young soldier even more nervous.

"N…no sir" he answered and shook his head. "It's important news from Balamb Garden"

Seifer arched an eyebrow and then nodded. "Very well, I'll come"

They walked through the big military facility until they reached the General's office. The young soldier saluted the older man and then disappeared out through the door. Seifer watched as the door closed and then turned to face the high ranking military. "I know you haven't been able to rest yet but I…I think you'd like to know this" General Hendrickson began.

Seifer sat down in one of the chairs, not liking this one bit. A nagging feeling told him something had gone very wrong. "What is it?"

"There's been an explosion and two of Balamb Garden's top SeeD's are missing" the general began. "Apparently they were tricked and didn't have time to leave the warehouse before the bomb detonated…they names are commander Squall Lionheart and second in command Quistis Trepe"

Seifer was already running out of the office before the General had had the time to say their names, Seifer already knew. One thought passed through his head as he ran through the hallways. 'Please be okay Quistis, please be okay'

It didn't take long until he'd reached Trabia Garden where Zell and Rinoa were waiting. "They can't find them Seifer…they can't find them" Rinoa sobbed as she met him in the entrance.

"We're still searching the area" Zell said from behind the black haired sorceress. "But there's been no signs of them, which is good 'cause at least we know they didn't die in the explosion"

"I wanna go out there" Seifer stated.

Zell shook his head. "I don't think that's such a good idea man, you're way too emotionally involved here"

"Fuck you Zell, that's Quistis out there" Seifer growled. "I'm going whether or not I've got your approval"

"…Okay" Zell said after a while. "We'll go right away"

Several hours later Seifer was sitting in a bar, his third whiskey glass in front of him and staring out into thin air. He'd been sent away from the scene since he'd practically gone into a frenzy attack and he didn't really blame Zell, hell, he'd done the same thing if the roles were reversed. "Quisty" Seifer mumbled and drowned the strong liquid and felt it burn its way down his throat.

"Seifer"

The blond gunblade fighter didn't look up but he recognized Zell's voice. "Yeah?"

"How many of those have you had?" Zell asked as he sat down beside him.

"Does it matter?" Seifer snapped. "No, it doesn't…nothing does"

Zell pulled up something from his pocket and Seifer saw the silver necklace with the blue pendant and closed his eyes. "Do you recognize it?"

"Yes" Seifer whispered and then cleared his throat. "Yes, I gave it to her before we all went on our missions"

"I'm sorry Seifer" Zell said and placed it in front of the other man. "We've searched everywhere but there's no trace of them anywhere…this was all we could find. Doesn't mean we should give up hope though"

Seifer bit back a sob. "You know as damn well as I that the possibilities of them surviving an explosion that big are close to impossible"

Zell rose to his feet and placed a strong hand on Seifer's shoulder. "They were my friends too you know so we're all grieving…talk to Rinoa though 'cause Hyne knows how this must be for the two of you"

Seifer didn't answer and heard Zell leave the bar. He shook his head bitterly and wiped away a tear. "I lost everything again" he muttered and poured himself another glass, but instead of drinking he knocked it to the floor and began crying. "Quistis…I love you…come back" he sobbed and clutched her necklace in his hand.