For Duncan, the rest of the trip back to Garden passed like a slow molasses, every second a balance between the pain of losing a student, guilt over the fate of Dollet and the disconcertingly pleasant feeling of Eika asleep against him. He wished he could summon the will to check on his students, but with all that had happened Duncan just wanted to get home and hit the bottle. But first he had responsibilities... The airships surfaced near the town of Balamb, rising gently into the air as they veered toward the Garden. Within minutes they were setting down by the main entrance, where a small crowd had gathered. Medics, engineers and a couple of grim looking suits, the sort of welcoming party you would expect. As the doors swung open, Duncan gently shook the girl attached to his arm, trying to disengage himself before any of the brass got the wrong idea... One he had extricated himself from Eika's embrace, the instructor dismounted to help the wounded and unconscious to their stretchers. It was distressing to watch Xerox and Syrus being wheeled off to the infirmary, but not quite so much as the cold glint in Head Instructor Corvo's eyes as he swept over. The old man stopped inches short of Duncan's face, gaze drilling into his eyes. [b]'... Come debrief me in five, Lerwick.',[/b] he whispered in an almost sympathetic tone, quite in contrast to his stormy expression, before sweeping back off toward the main building.

[i]The hell was that..?[/i] Duncan's confusion would have to wait though and he turned to his remaining students with a grim sigh. [b]'I, we... Ah hell, where do I begin...'[/b] He sparked up a cigarette, trying to get his thoughts in order. [b]'... Bad things happened today, but you all responded as you were trained to. Nothing that happened was your fault; we cannot dictate the actions of our enemies, especially not one so powerful as the Galbadian Army. Dollet will survive, though it will not be easy. And either Riella will be rescued or she... she will be remembered.'[/b] He found himself choking on his words; even though he had known the girl barely an hour, the loss was keenly felt. [b]'For now... you are dismissed. Get some food, have a bath. Sleep. The Field Test results will be announced at 0930 tomorrow in my classroom. Please don't be late. And you, Jericho? Thank you for your assistance today. You know who you're supposed to report to.'[/b] He stood up straighter and gave them all a slow salute, before walking slowly toward Corvo's office. He wasn't looking forward to reliving the last few hours...