The warm summer night breeze ruffled Setzer's hair as he stood
upon the balcony of the inn, gazing out upon the sleeping town he had
returned to.

	The Nightsider's Club had been a bust, and his friendships had
slowly wasted away until none had been heard from again. 'Maybe it's my
fault,' thought Setzer ruefully, leaning heavily on the rail with his
elbows. 'Maybe they're all cards this old gambler has to take up, win or
bluff his way through, then toss aside for the next deal.'

	Awfully pessimistic attitude, mused Setzer. It didn't bode at all
well for his current companions, either. Oh, Xyo would come to trust him,
as would Merine. He'd seen too many friendships grow from a common
cause... from the movement to defeat a dictator, a madman. And they'd be
together, put their lives on the line for each other. But once it was all
done with, when the cards were off the table, and the chips cashed in?
They'd go their seperate ways, looking for adventure and excitement on
their own course.

	Look at Celes.  Their meeting hadn't exactly been what he'd
consider to be ideal. Setzer smoothed the grain of the rail, admiring the
polished wood idly even as his mind mused on. Just another indication
that what they had here wasn't forever by any long shot.  Just another
hand in the game of life.

	Setzer giggled mutely at the triteness of his thoughts. 'Maybe
I'll become a poet,' he snickered.

	Setzer shook his head, turning away from the silent, sleeping
city which served to fuel his morose mind. Daryl was gone as well.
Daryl... he just couldn't seem to leave her behind... couldn't forgive
himself for her death. He should have double-checked her ship, or gone
with her, or... done something! No matter how much he tried, he couldn't
lose the thought that if he had been there, she would have lived. No one
on any of the continents Setzer had travelled could boast the same level
of piloting skill that Setzer could.

	No, Daryl was gone. And there was nothing to be done for it.
Setzer sighed, looking up to the stars Daryl had claimed brashly she would
once fly to. The Falcon was his Daryl now. It was all that he had left of
her, the ship that she and he had worked for months rebuilding, fixing,
repairing, modifying, and tinkering with.  As much effort as he had put
into the Falcon, Daryl had invested twice as much. And the greatest
tribute Setzer could make to her memory was to fly it as she had wanted
it to be flown.

	Setzer turned back around to face the city, murmuring softly.
"Goodbye, Daryl. I loved you... but it's time for me to cash in and try a
different table."

 	The barest ruffling of movement caught Setzer's attention,
distracting him from his resolution. "Yes?" asked Setzer, keeping his
gaze locked onto the soft candlelights of the city.

	"I'm sorry." came a soft voice, its tone making the owner
indiscernable. "I didn't mean to intrude on you."

	Setzer's lips smiled thinly as he responded, his voice containing
a hint of bitterness. "I'm used to not being provided any privacy. Never
had it. Except at the table."

	"Is that all that matters to you?" asked Tiamat, her voice
becoming clear as her tone rose in irritation. "That damned card game you
love so much?"

	Setzer still didn't turn around, reluctant to meet Tiamat's
gaze.. "It's enough for me.  Whatever I might have had before, I lost a
long time ago.  Now all that's left for me is the game and the flight.
Anything else is superficial."

	Tiamat's voice turned hard, the passion of her voice turning her
words into a cold, delicate knife. "So you think this is what your Daryl
would have wanted you to do?  I thought she loved you for more than your
cards."

	Setzer wheeled around, glaring at Tiamat with eyes burning hot
with fury. "You know nothing of her! She loved me for who I was, and...
oh, why bother explaining it to you?"

	Setzer stormed of to the side, feeling his gut wrench as the
truth of Tiamat's words hit home.  Maybe that /was/ all Daryl had loved
him for.  His knowledge of cards and his own love of airships. Maybe...

	Tiamat's voice came to him softly. "I'm sorry, Setzer."

	Setzer shook his head, keeping his gaze toward the city... away
from those piercing, inquisitive eyes waiting for him. "Don't be. Just
leave me alone."

	There was a pause, then the faintest sound of movement as Tiamat
left as silently as she had entered. And Setzer looked over the city. And
wept in rememberence of his Daryl.