A/N: Ok… may be I won't be able to finish this story today… just may be… who knows…

Chapter 7

DOLLET – 1230 HRS

"Commander Trepe," saluted the 4 SEEDs of the Dollet team. One of them stepped forward. "I'm Jonathan Kent, leading the Dollet team."

"At ease." Quistis commanded. "Brief me on what is going on." She asked while walking into the town. "And have someone take care of our luggage, please."

The other three officers stepped up to take their luggage while Selphie and Zell ran after Quistis.

"The warning sign was spotted at approximately 0600 HRS this morning by an old couple who owns the clothing store. Nobody knows who put it there and when exactly." Reported Jonathan.

"And how did you let anybody past into the town?" Quistis asked, slightly annoyed at his carelessness.

"Dollet is a small town, m'am, and it has always been at peace." The SEED explained.

"That doesn't mean that you could leave any entrance unguarded." Quistis countered, turning to face him.

"It is not entirely unguarded, m'am. One officer is stationed at each of the 3 post while one patrols the town." Defended the SEED. "The intruder must have slipped through while one of the guards isn't looking."

"And you're saying that there are only the 4 SEEDs guarding this town? Where are the Dollet guards!" Quistis couldn't help shouting as she was getting a little frustrated.

"They were ordered by the mayor to guard the Communication Tower, m'am." Answered Jonathan.

Quistis shook her head and sighed deeply, bringing her hand to rub her temple, "And how many Dollet guards do we have now?"

"7, m'am." Came the SEEDs reply, without giving her any eye contact.

"7!" Quistis repeated in shock.

"Most of them are sent over with the water vehicles to help the other terrorized towns around the world." Explained Jonathan.

Quistis gave another sigh.

"Quisty! Don't sigh so much! Everything will be fine." Selphie rushed up to Quistis, putting her arms around her friend's shoulder for support. "We've got reinforcement, didn't we? And, what's more, we are here."

'Reinforcement.' thought Quistis. 'Yeah, 10 newly recruited SEEDs with no experience, from what she can see. And led by an inexperienced, careless leader.' "What actions are you taking?" She turned to Jonathan.

"The Mayor is convinced that the attackers would be aiming for the Communication tower so that area is packed with the Dollet guards." Reported Jonathan.

"You mean all 7 of them are up there?" Zell asked in disbelief. Jonathan nodded in reply.

"And the positions of the 10 SEEDs recruited this morning?" Quistis interrupted.

"I've got 3 positioned at each of the 3 entrances, and the other 4 of us patrolling the city. The entrance guards are armed at a defensive stance, m'am." Jonathan continued his report.

"Any suspicious activities spotted?" Quistis asked.

"No, m'am. Everything seems to be as calm as ever." Answered Jonathan.

"Is there a place where we can overseer the town?" questioned Quistis.

"The bridge on the second floor of the nightclub."

"Good, I want 2 of you up there with a communication device. Do not let anything past your eyes. Report to me immediately if any suspicious activities or person are seen." Quistis ordered as Jonathan nodded to two of his team members. "And you've got 3 SEEDs positioned at the beach, right?"

Jonathan nodded in reply. Quistis silently thought to herself. 'If they gave out a warning signal like that, they would be expecting Dollet to be heavily guarded. If that's the case, it is very unlikely that this attack would be like the other attacks, which means that there would most definitely be more than just 4 attackers present.' "Zell, lead the team by the main city entrance, Selphie, join me at the beach. I don't think we would need to worry about the Communication tower entrance as we've got a wall of Dollet guards and 3 SEEDs stationed there. However, Jonathan, I need you to lead that team, just in case. And…" she turned over to the remaining SEED officer of the Dollet team.

"Kenneth Wu, m'am". Saluted the officer.

"Kenneth, you're our messenger." Quistis gave her order as she and Selphie headed back to the beach. The Dollet beach, she remembered how Garden had always considered it a convenient site for unloading a large group of SEEDs into the city, as the wide space provided an easy entrance into the town for a large group of people all at the same time. Something inside told her that the beach is where heavy guards are needed. She then turned to Selphie, "What's the hrs, Selphie?"

"0115 HRS." Selphie answered.

'Good, which means we've still got some time.' Quistis thought. According to the past reports, all of the attacks took place after nightfall. Usually late at night where all the townspeople are fast asleep after a tiresome day. 'Clever.' She thought. 'That means that most would be killed unaware in their sleeps.' She sighed deeply.

'He left us long ago, ya know…'

'Left without a word, ya know…'

'GONE'

Quistis closed her eyes slowly before reopening them again to greet the calm waves of the ocean. "Seifer... why?" she said quietly.

A/N: another short chapter… the story is kind of moving slowly, but then… I think it's going faster than I planned which is kind of good… b/c that means that I'd be able to finish it before school reopens. And we're halfway through! -- and please do review… I need them… baaaaad…