The predawn fog was so thick that Janson could barely see the ship's bow as he stepped out from the bridge. They were running dark, as they had every night for months, and so all would be shadow in any event. He could hear waves lapping against the ship's hull feel the deck gently swaying in time with them as the ship pulled against its anchor, but otherwise the ship seemed to have found its own pocket of reality, isolated from all the rest of the world.

He hadn't even had time to have the thought before he was reminded of its falsehood.

They'd detected the approaching vessel on passive sonar for some time, and made brief radio contact after he had decided to take the chance; so there was no surprise as the hum of its engine came from ahead of them. There were a few SeeDs already on deck, and Janson stepped down to join them.

The other vessel approached sedately, cutting its engine to glide into place along their starboard side. It was much smaller than the White SeeDs' ship, and its details were hidden in the fog, but its lines were unmistakable.

A lone figure appeared at the vessel's prow, emerging from a hatch behind the gun turret that currently sat unmanned, and cast a line across to one of the White SeeDs, who proceeded to tether the two craft together. Then the figure climbed up onto the railing and jumped onto the White SeeD ship's deck, in a sort of acrobatics that only another SeeD could manage.

Janson stepped up to greet her, saluting. "Hello, Xu," he said. "It's been a while."

Xu returned the salute. "Just a year," she said, sounding weary.

"I mean really," said Janson. The two of them started walking toward the bow. "We haven't really spoken since...well, since you left. "You were what, fourteen?"

"Thirteen," said Xu. "I tried to find you a couple times, but it was like you'd disappeared off the map. I'd at least expected to see you at the funeral."

Janson didn't answer for a moment. "...We mourned Cid and Matron in our own way," he finally said. "So how did you find us this time?"

"Some SeeDs from Galbadia Garden," Xu said. "The Galbadians hired them to track you down. That pointed me in the right direction, and I got a bit lucky."

Janson shook his head. "Galbadian SeeDs," he said. "And I hear from the news you've given Trabia a SeeD force now. How many mercenaries does this world really need?" Xu didn't answer, and he changed the subject. "...I'm guessing you didn't just come to catch up."

"I'm afraid not," said Xu. "...How much do you know about what the Galbadians are up to now?"

"Just what I hear on the radio," said Janson. "That, and they've been trying to kill us a lot lately."

"It's much worse than people know," Xu said. "We're days away from what could be the biggest war in our history. Galbadia's going to attack Esthar."

"Hyne," said Janson, although he didn't feel particularly shocked. "...Well, it almost had to happen sometime."

"It's been building up for a while," Xu agreed. "But I don't believe it can't be stopped. Galbadian policy is being dictated by a few of its military leaders, and I don't think its people want a war."

"So you're looking for a way to stop it?" asked Janson. "For the sake of Galbadia's people."

"For the sake of everybody," Xu said. "But I can't do it myself." She sighed. "...Janson, I know what you think about us. About me. And you're right about a lot of it; I was so concerned with keeping the Gardens running that I lost sight of why Cid wanted to build them in the first place." She looked away, out at the ocean that was hidden in fog. "But I don't need to tell you how much of a danger the Galbadians are. I came to ask for your help."

Janson smiled wanly. "Xu, I know how you feel. But the reason this ship exists is because not everyone agrees with Cid's dream of using SeeDs to try and make the whole world better."

"I know," said Xu. "And I never pretended to be an authority on what the world needs. But it doesn't need this."

"It doesn't need us telling its nations what to do, either," Janson said. "By putting ourselves in that role, we leave SeeD open to subversion far beyond what Galbadia has done to you now. And it started the day SeeD was created; Cid took missions to support causes he believed in, but he also couldn't help but favor those with the funds to approach him. Galbadia Garden used to funnel troops straight into the G-Army; now it and Trabia have their own soldiers for hire. I won't go down that road as well."

"Not all evil uses magic, Janson," Xu insisted. "The Sorceress isn't the only threat."

"Evil tends to inspire other evils," said Janson. "Even in those who oppose it. We fight the Sorceress because she uses her power to dominate others, to coerce and control. We use our power to prevent such things; I won't take part in them myself."

"This isn't philosophical." Xu's voice was becoming strained, though the difference from her previous tone was subtle. "Together, I think we can stop this war. But I can't do it alone."

"Suppose we stop this war," said Janson. "And Galbadia and Esthar are back at each other's throats in five or ten years. Do we stop them then, too? Do we replace their leaders with people more to our liking? Or do we just take control of their armies and force them to behave?" He shook his head. "We can't just take things one issue at a time. That's what Cid did — and look where it got us."

Xu closed her eyes; Janson couldn't tell if she was exasperated or exhausted, but guessed she was both. "...I can't stop wondering," she said, more quietly. "If Cid hadn't...if he and Matron were still here, would this still be happening?"

"We can't know for sure," Janson said. "I think it would. Still...I've had the same thought." He sighed. "We just barely got away this time. A lot of the crew are wondering how much longer we can go on like this. Or should. And I can't offer them anything except more of the same, for god knows how long."

They stood in silence for a time; neither of them quite knew what more they could say to comfort the other, as each empathized rather too closely with the other's mood.

Maybe it didn't really matter what course they took, Janson thought. Either way, SeeD was doomed to fail.

"I'd better get back," Xu said.

"You can't stay for a few minutes?" asked Janson. "I'm sure everyone would like to see you."

"I shouldn't," said Xu. "Whatever I'm going to do, I should get started. I'm not ready to give up yet."

Janson smiled. "I had a feeling."

Xu smiled, and Janson caught a hint of the kid he remembered. She started back to her transport, but paused after a few steps and turned back to him. "But stop by sometime. It was good seeing you."

"You too," Janson said.