Fortunately Duncan's last chance for defiant wit was cut off by the sound of a melee below, coupled with a familiar voice in angry tones; Eika..? Couldn't be, the candidates had no way of knowing he was missing, much less that the Galbadians had him prisoner here. Still... whoever it was down there wasn't messing about, the sound of cracking bones and thunder floated up to the top of the tower. Suddenly the sounds of combat ceased and the lift creaked to life. There was a moment of frenzied activity as the solders prepared to receive whoever was coming up, followed by an inordinately long wait for the lift to arrive. It was with mixed feelings that Duncan watched as Eika strolled off the platform, blood-soaked and outwardly calm; the very reason he had gone off alone to the second substation was to ensure that his students remained together and yet here she was, cut off from her support. Then again, her timing was impeccable... a minute later and Duncan would have been eating soup for the rest of his life.

Eika's outer veneer of calm soon crumbled and the instructor was dumbstruck by her actions; was he [i]that[/i] much of an inspiring teacher..? Lying underneath the Galbadian officer and struggling to free himself from the bonds, Duncan wrestled with conflicting feelings of pride and horror at his student's actions. But before he could do anything, a rough grasp pulled at his hair, dragging him to his knees and he watched helplessly as Syrus and an unknown SeeD arrived on the scene. Had his attention not been so divided, Duncan would have found the technically impossible sealing magic Syrus used very disturbing. As it was, a sword had suddenly appeared at his throat and any questions he may have had died in his throat. With blood pounding in his head, a mild concussion and crashing after a sustained adrenaline rush, Duncan was in no state to follow the situation spiralling around him. There was a sensation of motion as if he were being dropped, then a warm fuzzy feeling around his arms... his free arms. [b]'J... just give me... my junction drive.'[/b] With his conciousness rapidly fading, perhaps from stress, perhaps from the unceremonious beating earlier, he only had a matter of minutes before he would pass out. With his junctions back, Artio's presence would help stabilise him, at least until proper medical care could be administered.