The raiders no longer seemed to be hiding their trail. And they had picked up their pace; as if they were counting on their diversion to grant them enough time to get...wherever they were going. Jay wondered just what it was that they were in such a hurry to reach.

The more he thought about what the raiders were doing, the less it made sense. If they had been frightened away by three SeeDs, then why take on an entire city? Especially as they seemed to have traveled through the night without rest. And why would they not bother to cover their tracks, when they must know that they were being followed. Jay had expected them to have set an ambush in the forest, not...whatever the hell they were doing.

Unless they were being led into a trap right now....

The hovercar skimmed just above the snowy ground, a few dozen meters behind Tiana, who was tracing the raiders' steps on her Chocobo. Even though Jay could see their tracks from the car, he hoped that Tiana would be able to make some sense out of this situation before it was too late. And that she would bother to tell someone.

How much further? Jiri moaned from behind him.

Jay shrugged. They can't be too far away now.

She was silent for a moment. Then, You think all our missions are gonna be like this?

What do you mean?

All this weird stuff. You know, Tiana, Darian, the Shumis — what was that place like, anyway?

Jay admitted. But SeeDs are supposed to see and experience the world, you know.

Yeah, yeah. Jiri's voice seemed exhausted. But does it have to be this boring? I was hoping for some action, not all this running around.

We'll get plenty of action soon enough, Jay promised, gazing out at the mass of tracks that led on to the horizon. Besides, I don't think I want to have a career where all I do is fight.

Yeah? That's the only reason I wanted to be a SeeD.

Could you guys keep it down? Tycho groaned. Some of us are trying to sleep.

They aren't far now, Darian said beside him. Sure enough, Tiana was pulling her Chocobo to a halt. The land had been rising gradually up until here, and they appeared to be just short of a long ridge.

Jay shut off the thrust to the car, allowing it to glide up next to her as he slid open the door. What is it? he asked.

They were just here a few minutes ago, Tiana said. Probably not far past the ridge. Just thought you should know.

Nodding, Jay commanded the car to set down. Wake up, Tycho. Let's get to work.


They left Darian with the car and crossed the ridge on foot, descending into the valley beyond. It was warmer here; patches of grass now covered more ground than the snow. In the distance, the outline of a large town, presumably Midgard, appeared against the coast, still a good day's travel away. The ground immediately ahead was now interrupted by a number of shallow hills.

They might be harder to track without the snow, Jay mused.

Harder for you, maybe, Tiana sneered.

Jay was about to shoot back a reply but Tycho cut him off. Hey, someone's coming! he exclaimed, pointing. Sure enough, a trio of heads had appeared over the ridge, walking purposefully towards them.

They're not the raiders, Tiana declared.

Then who are they? Jay retorted, although he could see she was right. They were two women and a man, clean-shaven and with neatly combed hair. Furthermore, their clothes — a neatly pressed deep green with a gold embroidery on the shoulders — were all wrong.

But Jay did recognize those clothes.

What the hell? he wondered. Those are SeeD uniforms!

Jiri asked.

Hey, you're right! Tycho agreed. That's Grandidi's colors, right?

Jay nodded. Yeah. But what would Grandidi be doing over here?

Why don't you ask them? Tiana quipped.

Jay glared at her, but instead of retorting, he merely straightened his uniform. Come on, he said to Tycho and Jiri, and strode out to meet the other SeeDs.

The Grandidi SeeDs' leader was only a few years older than Jay himself, he guessed. She had short-cropped brown hair and a hard, no-nonsense expression that indicated that this was a dangerous person to mess with. Her companions remained a few steps behind her.

Jay halted, and all six SseDs saluted, with varying degrees of precision. By the book, it was the group that had something to say who spoke first, so he waited.

I'm SeeD Tansha Soren, the Grandidi leader said. Grandidi Garden, ID G340244. This is Ho Juza and Nellin Rall.

SeeD Jaysen Trager, Esthar Garden, ID E512040, he replied, just as formally, then indicated his companions. Tycho DaLannen, Jiri Nasima.

Tansha glanced briefly at Tiana behind them, but did not mention her. You are pursuing a band of raiders, correct?

Jay nodded. That's right. How did she know that?

We're here to inform you that it's been taken care of. You may return to your Garden.

Jay blinked. Excuse me?

We've dealt with the problem. There's no more need for you. There was the tiniest edge in her voice.

What do you mean, taken care of'? Tycho asked. You sure don't look like you've been in a fight.

Jay glared at him. According to protocol, only the leader of a team was supposed to speak at meetings like this. It might be an obsolete tradition, but it was a rule.

Nonetheless, he did have a good point. All three Grandidi SeeDs' uniforms were almost as neat and clean as when they came out of the cleaner. There was some scuffing from travel, but if they had been fighting, it had been very one-sided.

Tansha's eyes narrowed. This is local business. Not Esthar's concern.

We're on a mission from Trabia Garden, Jay explained, feeling his own face tighten. To eliminate the raider threat.

Trabia Garden has been suspended; it has no authority here, she retorted. And the raider threat has been eliminated. Go home. She stressed the last sentence, outright growling.

Jay gritted his teeth, but he knew that Grandidi, as the nearest active Garden, did have jurisdiction. Even so, her refusal to tell him anything besides It's over, beat it' made him slightly uncomfortable. Why does everyone up north have to be so damn tight-lipped?

Your Garden will take responsibility for eliminating the raider threat? he asked, forcing the calm into his voice.



Fine. I'll notify Headmaster Daniels. He saluted, and turned back towards the hovercar.

Woah, Jay, you're just gonna let them take over? Tycho asked.

Jiri agreed. What about our mission?

According to them, it's already finished, Jay said, not breaking his stride. Besides, they have more reason to be here than we do. I would have had Grandidi handling this from the start, he added silently. I wonder why they weren't?

Yeah, but what if they're just trying to get rid of us? Jiri asked. What if they didn't really take out the raiders? We should have checked.

They're SeeDs. Why would they lie?

Still, man, you should have asked for some kind of evidence, Tycho protested. I mean, what if they're just some kind of raider trick?

Did they look like raiders to you? Jay retorted. They wore SeeD uniforms, they knew the protocol better than you do, and they knew that T-Garden had been suspended. What else do you need, their gene maps?

Of course not, but —

Then let's report back to Headmaster Daniels and go home. Jay produced the remote, commanding the hovercar to start up. I'm not going to pretend to understand half of this mission, but I'll be glad when it's over, and things get back to normal.