Quistis frowned at the screen, and then bit her lip.
The information she was receiving didn't make sense. She had scanned all of the systems for the possibility of an information leak, but none of the files showed any recent sign of download. The last available access time coincided with the most recent shift change, when all crucial files are reviewed for signs of tampering. During that time, there were always at least five security agents in the mainframe room. It would be impossible for the intruder to have come in and obtained any data during that time frame. However, the facts stood as they were. All crucial data were last accessed during the shift change review. Whoever this individual was, Quistis mused, he must have been one hell of a computer whiz.
Squall hurriedly packed his duffel bag with some spare shirts and pants. He was quivering with fury as he recalled the day of their final attack on Ultimecia.
"Squall," Laguna began hesitantly, "when you come back, we should talk."
Squall nodded. "Of course. About what, exactly?"
Laguna scratched the back of his head self-consciously. "I'll tell you later."
But he hadn't. When Squall and the others returned from Ultimecia's Realm, Laguna and his aides had already returned to Esthar. They received a heroes' welcome in Esthar, as well as back at Balamb Garden, but Laguna never approached Squall about their conversation prior to the battle.
"Cowardly bastard," Squall muttered under his breath as he looked around his dorm for anything else he might need. Satisfied, he strapped on his gunblade and slung his bag over his shoulder.
As he locked the door to his dorm, Rinoa rushed over. "You're going to see him now?" she asked.
Squall chuckled humorlessly. "I'm damn sure not going to wait for him to come to me," he shot back. "I don't have that much patience." He strode down the hall, and she rushed to catch up.
"I'm going to go and see President Caraway," Rinoa informed him. Squall half-smiled at that. Rinoa's father, once a high-ranking general and instrumental in the attempted overthrow of the Sorceress Edea and President Deling, was now the most powerful man in the second-most powerful country in the world. Yet for all his power and fortune, he still hadn't earned the privilege of Rinoa's affection. She still couldn't call him her father.
"He might have some information that would confirm what we've found," she added. "After all, he did end up marrying the woman that your-" she caught herself at Squall's stiffening. He wasn't ready to hear that yet. "That Laguna loved."
Squall nodded. "He might be able to confirm a few things, but I won't believe the whole truth until I hear it from Laguna himself." He walked a little faster, and Rinoa dropped back a few paces to allow him some space. Zell appeared from the newly built hangar that housed the spaceship Ragnarok. "She's all set to go, Squall. Are you sure you won't let me tag along?"
Squall shook his head. He and Rinoa were the only ones who knew about Laguna, and Squall had pleaded with her to keep the information a secret. Rinoa had agreed, and Squall had told his friends only what they needed to know-that he was going away for a training conference with some SeeDs that had been hired as peacekeepers in Esthar. This was partially true. Peacekeeping SeeDs had been hired in Esthar, and Squall planned to visit them, but there was no training conference.
Squall pushed past his friend and walked up the gangplank of the Ragnarok. Rinoa walked into the ship behind him, and he stopped in the ship's hangar, turning to face her.
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him softly. He returned the embrace and the kiss with equal tenderness. Come what may, Squall thought to himself, I will never forget what she's done for me.
Rinoa released him slowly and looked up into his eyes. "Be careful."
Squall nodded. "You, too."
Rinoa winked at him. "This is me you're talking to."
Squall half-smiled. "I know. That's why I said it."
Rinoa let out a small gasp and slapped him playfully on the arm. She paused a moment, and then kissed him on the cheek before turning and walking off the ship. Squall watched her go, and then headed for the cockpit.
Selphie sat on the hard stool and gazed into the haggard face of the man she'd come to admire so much. His skin was so pale, his eyes sunken. Every so often, his eyelids would flicker, and Selphie would feel a glimmer of hope deep within her soul. Then Irvine's muscles would relax, and he would fall back into the pit of unconsciousness in which he had resided for over a day.
Irvine. Selphie sighed. How different he's turned out to be. When he first joined the group, he was so happy-go-lucky. He was cocky, outspoken, flirtatious...
...And so not what I was looking for, thought Selphie with a faint smile.
But time had proven Irvine a reliable, steadfast ally, and a good friend. Selphie sighed again, shaking her head for what seemed like the thousandth time since finding Irvine in the infirmary. Her fingers traced the features of Irvine's passive face. After a moment, she leaned over him. A pair of tears spilled from her eyelashes and onto Irvine's cheek. Her lips brushed his, and she whispered softly in his ear.
"I'll be here until you wake up. I promise."
She sat back and stared at the wall as the monitors beeped out their steady rhythm.
Squall flew in low over the massive city of Esthar. From his port and starboard view screens he could see two squadrons of Esthar Interceptors taking flight and soaring toward him. He prayed that the communiqu� had been sent as Cid promised. The Interceptors were no match for the Ragnarok in a dogfight, but Squall didn't want to start another international war over this.
"This is Interceptor Alpha," the voice crackled over the speaker. "Please state your course and business in Esthar airspace."
Squall flicked the radio switch on the console. "This is Commander Leonhart of Balamb Garden. Headmaster Cid should have sent a communiqu� to President Loire concerning my visit. Requesting permission to dock at Esthar air station. Over."
There was a tense pause, after which the previous voice spoke again. "Commander Leonhart, you are authorized to dock at Esthar air station. Please do not deviate from said course and destination. Alpha out."
The Interceptors, responding to an order which must have come in over a closed frequency, swung around behind the Ragnarok and came up on its starboard and port flanks in escort formation. Squall set his jaw and lowered the ship for its approach.
"Hell of a way to treat guests," he muttered after ensuring that his radio was no longer active. He felt the control beam from the air station catch hold of his ship and released the controls, allowing himself to be guided into a docking bay.
Squall strode down the hall of the Presidential Palace with an air of certainty that sent most passersby scurrying to either side of him with wary looks. The gunblade that hung at his belt was not a reassuring facet of his personality either. Its menacing gleam as Squall's stride caused the lights of the Palace to flash off its polished surface gave many citizens second thoughts about approaching the young man or questioning his intent.
When he reached the doors to Laguna's office, the guards outside halted him. He fumed for a moment, and then finally regained his composure. "I'm expected. My name is Squall Leonhart. I'm the Commander of Balamb Garden."
The guards nodded. "We know who you are," one of them replied. "But you can't come in here with that." He pointed to Squall's gunblade.
Squall glanced down at his weapon, and then glared at the guard. "What, you think I'm going to try and assassinate him? That's ridiculous! He's-" he cut himself short. "I wouldn't try anything."
"Regulations are regulations for a reason, Commander," the guard insisted, emphasizing his title with due respect. Squall sighed, finally relenting. He unfastened his belt and handed over the weapon.
"Fine. I expect it back when I return to Balamb. It's irreplaceable."
The guard nodded. "We'll take good care of it, sir," he assured Squall as his partner opened the door to Laguna's office. Squall strode through angrily.
Laguna waited until the doors had shut before spinning around in his chair to greet him. "Commander," he began with a winning smile. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Squall ground his teeth. "You know damn well why I'm here. I'd like to have that conversation now. You know, the one you wanted to have with me when we returned from Time Compression, but you never got around to?"
Laguna looked uncomfortable. He walked around the table, stopped halfway to Squall, and slumped back against his massive desk, clutching his leg. "Oh, yeah," he grunted. "That one. Listen, I'd meant to get in touch with you..."
"But?" Squall replied sarcastically. "More pressing things occurred? The running of a country? The duties of a president? They're more important, aren't they? Or maybe they're just very convenient! Maybe it's easy to hide behind the responsibilities of a leader than it is to face up to your own personal responsibilities." Squall had been stepping closer and closer to Laguna as his acidic words flew from his mouth. He spat them like foul sewer water at the man in front of him. When he had run out of venom, he found that he was nose-to-nose with Laguna.
"Are you done?" Laguna replied tonelessly. Squall was taken aback; he could recall many times when those words-and that tone-had escaped his lips. He nodded.
Laguna looked into Squall's eyes, and the younger man could see walls and barriers breaking within the older man's soul. Pain showed through in his steady gaze. Beyond all else, Laguna's age showed in his eyes. Squall started to back away, but Laguna put his hands on Squall's arms. His lips parted, and the voice that escaped them was one of desperation. "Please, Squall. I should have told you sooner, but I didn't know how to say it."
Squall brought his arms up in between Laguna's and broke the older man's grip. "So it is true," he muttered. "You are my father."
Laguna nodded. "Yes," he replied, the wind taken from his sails. His body sagged, and he slumped against his desk. "Yes, I am. I'd meant to tell you. I just couldn't find a way to explain..."
Squall shrugged, tugging his jacket back into place. "Well, this is definitely one way." He turned on his heel and headed for the door.
Laguna pushed himself off the desk. "Wait, Squall! Don't leave, please! I have more I want to tell you!"
"Save it!" Squall snapped as the doors shut behind him. He broke into a run a short distance away from Laguna's office. He had no idea where he was going, but he had to go somewhere.
He heard Laguna exit his office, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. Squall shook his head silently. His father might be the president of the most powerful nation, but he couldn't outrun a trained soldier twenty years his junior-especially if that soldier didn't want to be caught.
Squall ran faster, pushing his way past ambling citizens as he bolted out of the Presidential Palace. He jumped onto one of the people movers that crisscrossed the city and programmed it to take him to the city's outskirts.
He couldn't go back to the air station-not yet, anyway. Laguna would surely be waiting for him there.
He just had to get away. He had to think.
Laguna pulled up to a sharp halt as he saw Squall climb onto the people mover and glide away from the front of the palace. He sighed, turning back and heading inside. There were other ways to track his son's movements through the city. He didn't know why he was bothering. If Squall didn't want to talk about it, Laguna couldn't make him. Part of him wanted to just let Squall go and leave things the way they had turned out.
The other part of him knew that if he did that, he would likely never see his son again.
Laguna took a deep breath and hurried to the Transportation Control Center.
"Now arriving at Deling City. All passengers wishing to disembark must do so at this time."
Rinoa gathered her belongings and made her way to the door of the train. As the car came to a stop, the door opened, and she stepped out onto the platform.
The station was a teeming mass of people. Some were tourists who had come to see the sights of the capital city of Galbadia. They were citizens of some of the former occupied cities, such as Dollet and Timber, as well as visitors from outside Galbadia's formerly expansive reach. Rinoa spotted several natives of Balamb whom she had come to recognize in her residence at the Garden. Others in the throng of humanity were residents of the capital city who were seeking a break from the hubbub of daily life. They would be bound for the beaches of Dollet, or perhaps the pastoral countryside that surrounded Winhill. She smiled as she pictured the young couple that passed her, toddler in tow, frolicking in the cool waters of Lake Obel. Such things were more conceivable now that the majority of the monsters that had fallen in the last Lunar Cry had been rounded up or exterminated. SeeDs from all of the Gardens had been hired en masse immediately following the fall of Ultimecia in an effort to eliminate the threat of free-roaming monsters. Small armies had been dispatched to exterminate the many species of monsters that threatened the safety of the newly peaceful countries.
Rinoa shook her head as she ascended to street level on the escalator. Of course, she recalled, there were always those whose idealism, though it flew in the face of common sense, managed to make itself heard in the halls of government. Ecological groups lobbied for, and received, protection laws from most of the major governments. Debates raged in the houses of Citizen's Representatives in Esthar and Galbadia, and finally, a compromise was made. The Island Closest to Hell became a preserve for the endangered species of monsters that were being exterminated. A force shield was erected to prevent the various species of dragons and other winged creatures from escaping the island's confines, and rather than killing the monsters, the SeeDs were forced to resort to other measures to capture and contain the monsters for shipment to the island.
Rinoa sighed as she reached street level and hefted her bag over her shoulder. That preserve was a tragedy waiting to happen. Just one small failure in the force shield's integrity, and the whole mess could start again. Already, the world governments had been forced to expand the force shield to include all the islands in the Western Archipelago, and population growth measures had been enacted. It didn't take much foresight to predict a catastrophe in the making.
The bus pulled up to the stop as Rinoa arrived. She climbed the steps of the vehicle and settled into the seat for her trip to the Presidential Palace.
Laguna strode into his office with a determination that gripped him almost as tightly as his fear. He was on the verge of losing a son he only recently knew he had. The monitors in the Transportation Control Center showed Squall's people mover on a course for the city's outskirts. Laguna had figured on his son's strategic mind. He knew that Squall would not have headed for the air station for fear that he would be intercepted on arrival. Laguna would never resort to imprisoning his son in order to talk to him, but Squall obviously didn't know that.
Laguna opened his closet and pulled out his old civilian clothes. The only way he would get to Squall in time was if he didn't have an entourage of security following his every move. The guards were in the middle of a shift change. If he hurried, he might be able to get out before anyone realized he was gone. He hurried into his clothes and snatched up his rifle. He heard the booted footsteps of the guards on the platform one level below. In moments, they would be on the Presidential level. He strode swiftly out of his office and ducked inside the nearest lift just as the lift doors a few yards away slid open. Laguna breathed a sigh as he double-checked his rifle.
Squall glanced over his shoulder as his boots hit the soil of the Esthar plains. He didn't want to be followed. He didn't want distraction. All he wanted was a chance to mull over his thoughts.
When it became clear that he would not be interrupted, Squall made his way to a patch of grass and seated himself with a huff. Why was he here? What purpose did he think it would serve by flying to Esthar to confront Laguna?
Squall sighed. Deep down, he supposed, he had hoped for a better apology. He had wanted some sort of contriteness on the part of his father. A sense, even, of regret for having missed out on Squall's childhood. He chuckled at his folly. Laguna was the most socially inept person Squall had ever met. The man couldn't order take-out without stuttering. How he had become the leader of Esthar was something that had always puzzled Squall.
Yet, Squall realized, he had presumed to expect so much more of Esthar's President. Why? Maybe Laguna did feel sorry for the things that he had and hadn't done. Maybe he would do things differently, given the chance. The reaction that Squall had received was, most likely, the best indication of those feelings that he was ever going to receive.
A deep growl brought him out of his reverie, and he looked up to see a Hexadragon stomping toward him. He cursed himself for his unprofessional behavior. He had permitted his feelings to obscure his perception, and had almost paid a dear price. He assumed a battle stance and reached for his gunblade.
Squall felt his stomach climb its way up to his throat as his hand encountered empty air. The palace guards still had it in their possession. He'd been in such a hurry to escape his father's presence that he had forgotten to retrieve it.
The Hexadragon loomed closer, and Squall braced himself for his fate.
Rinoa approached the gate of the Presidential Palace and stopped in front of the nearest guard. The soldier examined her with vague interest before speaking.
"Can I help you?" he sneered.
Rinoa nodded. "Yes, I need to see President Caraway."
The guard laughed in her face. Rinoa could smell the foul odor of garlic-roasted Fastitocalon on the man's breath. Her lip curled in disgust.
"You and who else, lady? The President's a busy man."
Rinoa crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the rude soldier. "He'll see me," she insisted. "Go ahead, call him and find out."
The guard smirked at her, shaking his head. "Look, cutie," he jeered, and Rinoa's fist clenched, "if I paged the President every time someone asked me to, he'd never get any work done. Besides, if I disturb him, I run the risk of losing my job, and this is the best gig there is in the army right now."
Rinoa nodded, then turned and walked away, a smirk on her face. She walked to the nearest pay phone, deposited several gil for the long distance call, and asked to be connected to Balamb Garden's central phone system. She waited a few moments as the call went through, and then identified herself to the operator who answered. A few minutes later, she was speaking with Cid.
After explaining her situation, she hung up the phone and walked back to the gate. The guard with whom she had previously spoken glared at her again. "What now, sweet thing? Doesn't matter how much you beg, you know. I'm not letting you in."
Rinoa shrugged. "Suits me."
A few minutes passed, and the front door of the Presidential Palace opened. Rinoa could make out President Caraway's militarily trim form striding down the driveway to the gate. He reached the gate and cleared his throat, catching the guards by surprise.
The guards spun around, saluting quickly and awkwardly at the appearance of their commander-in-chief. Caraway glared at the soldier who had spoken with Rinoa. "I just received a call from the Headmaster of Balamb Garden. He was the one who had to inform me that a SeeD representative-my daughter, I would add-was standing at my gate. He also informed me that she was being treated rudely by my Captain of Guards."
The guard stammered uselessly for a moment before Caraway cut him off. "You are dismissed," he commanded. "Return to the barracks and retrieve your gear. A replacement will be sent for."
The guard hung his head as he shuffled off in disgrace. Caraway turned to Rinoa as the other guard opened the gate. "Long time," he greeted her.
Rinoa nodded. "Uh-huh," she replied. When the gates had opened sufficiently for her to enter, she did so without a second glance at the President. Caraway followed her up the walk to the palace.
Laguna heard the roar in the distance as his feet hit the earth. On the horizon, he could make out the form of Squall doing his best to dodge the attacks of a raging Hexadragon. Laguna's throat tightened as he pushed himself to move even faster. He only hoped he could get there in time.
Squall dove to the side as the Hexadragon charged. Its front hooves slammed into the earth with a fury, barely missing Squall's leg as he rolled away. He felt the wind rush by him as the Hexadragon's hoof hit the ground, and he struggled to focus long enough to channel a spell that would stop the rampaging creature.
The Hexadragon swung its tail around as Squall got to his feet. The tail smacked into him with the force of a speeding train, knocking him twenty feet through the air and sending him crashing to the ground in a hail of dust. The Hexadragon charged, and Squall felt the energy seep from his body. He could barely breathe, much less move. His mind had fragmented into a million different directions, and he could no longer hope to fend off the raging beast. He closed his eyes and braced for the end.
A burst of gunfire filled the air, and Squall looked up to see another human charging the Hexadragon. The lumbering creature cried out in pain as the slugs penetrated its tough hide in several places, sending up spurts of purple blood. It turned to face its new attacker and growled. A haze appeared around its jaws, and Squall tried to cry out a warning to Laguna. His voice would not respond, however, and he could only watch as the Hexadragon cast a Fira spell that scorched the air around the older man.
Laguna cried out in pain and dropped to the ground, rolling in the earth to extinguish the flames. The Hexadragon took advantage of the moment and charged Laguna. Squall managed to get to his feet, and his brow furrowed in a mask of concentration. The Hexadragon was only a few feet from Laguna when Squall cried out. The beast turned to spot the source of the sound, and Squall flung out his arm, casting a Death spell. A skeletal form appeared in a swirling mist before the massive creature, swiping at it with a scythe. The ethereal blade passed through the flesh of the beast without penetration, but the effect of its passing was instant and telling. The huge monster collapsed to the ground without a sound. Squall watched as the flesh peeled away from the bones of the Hexadragon, blowing away in the wind. The bones collapsed into ash, and the winds of the Esthar plains picked up the ashes, carrying them out to sea.
Squall stumbled to Laguna's side. Laguna looked up at him, his face blackened with soot, and smiled.
"You're OK," he observed with a cough.
Squall nodded. "Yes," he replied. "Are you?"
Laguna coughed again. "My gun's screwed," he sighed, holding up the melted carcass of his rifle, "but I'll live."
Squall collapsed in a heap next to his father. His energy was spent. Laguna looked over at him and laughed. Squall just rolled his eyes and stared up at the sky.
President Caraway looked at his daughter from across the room as he poured himself a glass of cognac. He offered Rinoa a glass, but she waved him off with a small smile.
"Your mother? This is a sudden interest that I had not anticipated. Why do you ask?"
Rinoa shrugged. She didn't want to tell Caraway about Squall and Laguna. She would leave that up to Squall's discretion. "She died when I was very young. I never really got to know her. What was she like?"
Caraway nodded slowly, recalling images of times long past. He smiled wistfully. "She was a sweet, kind woman with a beautiful voice." He looked at his daughter, the smile remaining on his face. "You have those same sparkling eyes," he noted. "Full of life."
Rinoa flushed slightly, looking out of the window. After a moment, she stood and walked to the record player that sat on the corner of the desk. She looked down at the record that had sat on the player for as long as she could remember. She sighed, lifting the arm of the player and setting the needle down in the place she knew by heart. Her mother's rich voice filled the room, and Rinoa closed her eyes.
"That was her favorite song," Caraway said. Rinoa turned to look at her father. He was standing with his eyes closed. His drink sat on the table, forgotten. He seemed a million miles away.
"The man in the song," Rinoa began hesitantly. "Was that...you?"
Caraway opened his eyes slowly. For the first time that Rinoa could remember, she could see sadness-no, weakness-in them.
Caraway shook his head, and Rinoa looked down at the floor. "No," he answered softly. "I'm not the man in the song. Your mother fell in love with a soldier who came to hear her sing. One day, he went off on a mission, and he never returned. When I met her, she was still grieving his loss. I comforted her, and we became close in that way. That's all." He closed his eyes again. "Nothing quite so romantic, I'm afraid," he concluded.
Rinoa felt the heat rush to her cheeks. She felt horrible, bringing all of this back and throwing it in her father's face. "I shouldn't have come," she mumbled. She looked up at her father, who was still swaying to the simple music of the song, eyes closed. She saw the tear roll down his cheek, and felt tears of her own well up in her eyes.
Quistis sat at the console, head resting on her fists. Her hair was disheveled, her glasses rested beside her on the console, and her eyes were ringed with the signs of a sleepless night. She was so intent on discovering the motives of the intruder that she didn't even notice Zell sneaking up behind her.
"Find anything yet?" he asked, setting a hand on her shoulder. She jumped, knocking his hand away and glaring up at him.
"Sorry," he apologized. "Thought ya heard me."
Quistis sighed, settling back down in her seat. "No, on both counts. I'm still baffled. If the intruder came in here to steal something from our system, he obviously failed."
Zell pondered a moment. "What if he wasn't here to steal anything?"
Quistis opened her mouth to reply, and then closed it again. "Wait a second. That's not a bad idea."
"Really?" Zell replied. He sounded genuinely surprised.
Quistis nodded. "Uh-huh. I've been going at this from the wrong angle. What if he broke in here to sabotage our system somehow?"
Zell was about to respond when klaxons sounded in the computer room and a panel on the other side of the massive chamber came to life. Quistis turned and rose from her chair to examine the cause of the alert. Zell followed behind at a short distance, giving Quistis space in which to work.
Quistis gazed down at the screen, and her jaw dropped open.
"What is it?" Zell inquired from behind her.
Quistis straightened, her spine growing cold. "Galbadia Garden has just armed its missile silos."
"What?" Zell cried. Quistis ignored him, heading instead for the communications console. After a moment of button pressing, she heard a response tone. "Patch me through to Cid," she ordered the operator. There was a brief pause, and Cid's voice greeted her.
"We've got a problem, Headmaster," Quistis informed him. "Galbadia is arming its missile silos."
Cid groaned audibly. "Are we their intended target?" he probed.
Quistis examined the readouts from the screen once more. "Uncertain." She turned back to the communications console. "Recommend we take immediate defensive measures."
Cid grunted an affirmative. "Indeed. Security Procedure Alpha."
Quistis nodded. "Yes, sir." She switched channels and broadcast an announcement to the entire Garden. "This is Instructor Trepe. On orders from Headmaster Cid, all personnel must begin Security Procedure Alpha. Repeat, all personnel must begin Security Procedure Alpha."
Zell piped up from the other side of the room. "Missiles have been launched."
Quistis cut off the communications link and slumped against the console. "Dear Hyne," she whispered.
Squall heard the roar in the distance and felt his veins flood with ice water. He knew that sound. He'd heard it once before, and the results had been almost catastrophic.
Someone had fired missiles at Esthar, and they were inbound.
Squall got slowly to his feet. Laguna stood next to him, and they watched as the slender projectiles soared toward the massive metropolis.
"They're attacking my city," Laguna murmured in shock.
Squall could only nod. Laguna started running back toward Esthar, and Squall chased after him.
"No!" Squall cried. Laguna ignored him, only running faster in a vain attempt to reach his city before the missiles did. After a few more seconds, Squall threw himself forward and tackled Laguna. The two men rolled to a halt in the dirt. Laguna struggled to get to his feet, but Squall held fast, pinning the older man to the ground.
"What are you doing?" Laguna demanded. "I have to..."
"If you go back, you'll be killed," Squall explained as calmly as possible. "And then what good will you be?"
Laguna stopped struggling.
"We have to find shelter," Squall insisted.
Laguna nodded, and the two men got to their feet. Laguna headed for the canyon to the north of Esthar, and Squall followed behind.
Rinoa lifted the needle from the record player, and silence filled the room. She stared across the open distance at her father, whose head still hung in quiet contemplation and remembrance.
She opened her mouth to speak, only to be cut off by the insistent pounding of a soldier at the door.
"What is it?" Caraway demanded, flinging the door open in a rage.
The soldier was momentarily taken aback, then recovered and saluted. "President Caraway, there's been some kind of accident," he began.
Rinoa turned to regard the soldier with a feeling of dread as Caraway spoke. "What sort of accident?" he demanded.
"Galbadia Garden's defense systems have been activated, sir," the soldier reported, voice quavering.
"Deactivate them, then," Caraway ordered, arching an eyebrow.
The soldier shook his head. "There's more, sir." He paused a moment before taking a deep breath and adding, "Several missiles have been fired at Esthar."
"WHAT?" Caraway roared. The soldier flinched, but stood his ground.
"Estimated time of impact is in five minutes," the soldier concluded. Caraway's eyes darted back and forth as his mind worked frantically for options. After a moment, he spoke.
"Shut down all activity in Galbadia Garden," he ordered. "No one goes in or out until the defense systems have been thoroughly checked out. Place all military units on standby. We don't want to make things worse than they already are by going to full alert."
As he strode to his desk, he called over his shoulder, "And get me a clear channel to Esthar's President."
The soldier saluted him and hurried off, barking orders into his comlink. Caraway seated himself behind his desk, and Rinoa sank into the couch, watching without really seeing the world around her. Her mind was stuck on only one thought.
Squall's in Esthar.
Caraway opened the computer console on his desk and tapped a few keys. A moment later, the presidential seal of Esthar appeared on his screen.
Ward noticed the flashing light above the communications console in the Presidential Office and hurried over to Kiros. He shook his old friend by the shoulder and pointed when he had Kiros' attention.
"Yeah, I saw it," he acknowledged. "I'll answer it in a sec." He turned back to the soldiers. "Have you completed your search?" he asked.
The soldiers saluted. "Yes, sir. All quadrants have reported in. No sign of the President has been found."
Kiros nodded, huffing in frustration. "Damn it!" he swore. "Of all the times for Laguna to go off on a walk, he had to pick this one." He focused his attention back to the soldier. "When was he last seen?"
"Sir, he was in his office forty minutes prior to the proximity sensors picking up the missiles inbound. I saw him myself as I admitted Commander Leonhart," the soldier reported.
Kiros started. "Who?"
"Commander Leonhart," the soldier repeated. "I was just about to leave on shift change when I let him in. He was in there for less than a minute when I started for the lift. As the doors closed, I could have sworn I heard raised voices."
Kiros' brow furrowed. "And the next shift reported the President missing," he murmured. He looked back up at the soldier. "Dismissed. Head for the security bunker downstairs. We will be there presently."
The soldier saluted, turning on his heel. As he departed, Kiros turned to Ward. "You don't suppose...?"
Ward sighed, shrugging his shoulders.
Kiros' expression grew dark. He stormed over to the communications console and snapped open the link. Caraway's face appeared on the screen.
"You're the last person I want to see right now, President Caraway," Kiros growled.
"Minister Seagill," Caraway greeted him nervously. "Where is President Loire?"
Kiros felt his patience slipping away. "In our security bunker," he lied. "You didn't presume that you could divert him with a communiqu� while your missiles impacted on our palace, did you?"
Caraway blanched. "You don't understand. I'm contacting to advise you that there was a malfunction. We certainly would not have done anything so foolish to destroy the fragile peace that we have built."
Kiros glared at the Galbadian. "Why don't I believe that?"
Caraway wiped the sweat from his brow. Smiling uneasily, he added, "I simply wished to contact you and advise you of the situation."
Kiros folded his arms across his chest. "We are well aware of the situation, and your words do not parallel your actions, Mr. President. Now, if you'll excuse us..."
"I'm organizing a battalion to aid in the cleanup efforts in Esthar," Caraway offered as Kiros' hand hovered over the termination switch.
Kiros bared his teeth in a feral growl. "Caraway, Galbadian soldiers will set foot in Esthar at the cost of their lives." He flipped the switch, and the screen went black. Kiros turned to Ward. "Two minutes left. Just enough time. We'd better get moving."
Ward nodded, and the two men ran from the room.
Quistis watched with horror as the missiles took their deadly course toward Esthar. She gripped the console with white knuckles as the blips that signified the lethal projectiles drew closer to the city. Finally, they intersected. Quistis' breath caught in her throat, and she closed her eyes, awaiting the damage reports.
Laguna felt, rather than heard, the impact. The earth shook beneath him, and he struggled against his instinct to leave his shelter to see what had become of his citizens. Squall hunkered down next to him and covered his head against rock fall from the canyon walls above them. Laguna did the same, squeezing his eyes shut and fighting back the guilt that pervaded him.
Rinoa watched over her father's shoulder as the damage reports came in. All transportation systems were down, many of the pedestrian walkways were destroyed in the initial impact. Shockwaves caused some damage to the outer sectors, but no casualties were reported on the outskirts of the city thus far.
The next report that came in made Rinoa's knees buckle. She stumbled backward and fell onto the couch, squeezing her eyes shut. Her mind wouldn't allow her to believe it. Her heart rebelled against it. Yet there it was, in black and white on her father's computer screen.
Esthar Presidential Palace 100% destroyed. Direct Impact.
Rinoa felt her world crash at her feet. Tears streamed down her face, and she sobbed.
Squall was gone.
Kiros turned to the technicians at the consoles in the bunker. "Damage report," he ordered.
"Yes, sir," the tech replied. There was a moment's pause, and then the reports came in. "Outer sectors intact. Slight structural damage. Inner sectors took major damage from initial blast. Presidential Palace was the primary target. 100% destruction of palace is confirmed, Minister Seagill."
Kiros' shoulder's slumped. He took several deep breaths, then asked, "Weapons systems?"
The tech paused before answering. Keystrokes echoed in the chamber. "Online, sir. 70% of our arsenal is operative."
Kiros' fist clenched. "Return fire on Galbadia," he ordered. "Set target as Deling City." He turned to Ward. "If they want to target innocents, then so be it. Let them see how they like it."
Ward nodded. Kiros turned back to the tech, who was awaiting the final order. He nodded. "Fire."
There was another knock on the door, and Caraway climbed to his feet wearily. He couldn't take any more bad news. "What is it?"
"Sir," the soldier replied from the hallway, "I'm here to escort you and your daughter to the shelter. Esthar has returned fire. We have seven missiles inbound."
"Seven?" Caraway echoed, disbelieving. "I had hoped that they would understand. Very well," he complied. "Lead on. Have my staff meet me in the war room upon my arrival."
The soldier saluted, tapping his comlink and making the necessary arrangements as they walked. Rinoa followed behind, half-wishing she could simply stay in her father's study. Squall was gone. Saving herself seemed inconsequential now.
Squall was gone, and it was her fault.
She chocked back another sob as the three of them made their way to the underground bunker.
Quistis turned to Zell. "I don't believe this," she cried.
Zell turned from where he had been reading damage reports. "What?"
Quistis pointed at her screen, and Zell came over to look. "Esthar's returning fire on Galbadia."
Zell jumped back as if burned. "Damn!" he shouted. "They're going to turn this into an all-out war!"
Quistis didn't reply. Instead, she turned to the communications console and contacted Cid again.
This was getting out of hand.
Squall and Laguna stood on the open plains outside the once-great city of Esthar. Smoke plumes filled the sky from a hundred different points within the metropolis. Laguna looked out at the scene through tear-filled eyes.
"I have to go back," he stated. He started off toward Esthar, and Squall stopped him.
"We can't go back there. Not right now. Whoever fired those missiles was aiming for you. Look at that wreckage," Squall pointed to the horizon, where the center of Esthar still blazed.
"They took out the Presidential Palace because they thought you'd be there. They think you're dead. Until we've gotten to the bottom of this mess, why have them believe any differently?" Squall watched as his father's face fell. Laguna saw the logic, though it pained him to do so.
Squall put his hand hesitantly on his father's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he offered.
Laguna lowered his head, not shrugging off Squall. "It was just so senseless. Why would Galbadia attack Esthar?"
Squall was about to answer when there was another rush of air. The gust of wind was swiftly followed by the roar of engines as seven projectiles soared into the sky from somewhere within the ruins of Esthar.
Laguna clenched his fists and set his jaw with determination. "Good old Kiros. He's alive and well, and giving back some of what we got."
Squall watched. "He's returning fire on Galbadia?" he asked, panic filling his voice.
Laguna nodded. "More than twice what they gave us."
Squall took a couple of steps forward, raising his arm to the sky as if to stop the missiles. Laguna stepped up behind Squall as his arm fell back to his side. "What is it?"
Squall's head hung limply. "Rinoa's in Galbadia."
Laguna scratched the back of his head. "That's the girl you're in love with, right? The Sorceress?"
Squall jerked his head up. "We have to get to Deling City. We have to save her!"
Laguna looked at his son as though he had gone over the edge. "Are you nuts? Galbadia is sealing its borders even as we speak! Come to think of it, Esthar's doing the same thing. The only way you're getting out of here is with me, and I have to get back to the palace."
Squall grabbed Laguna by the shoulders and spun him around. "Look," he gritted. "The woman I love is trapped in Galbadia, under fire in a horrible misunderstanding. Now, if I have to swim there, I'm going to save her."
Laguna looked into his son's eyes and shook his head. Squall continued.
"I came here to find my father. You say you're that man. You abandoned me before I was even born, and you've never been a part of my life. Now, if you want to even begin to make that up to me, you'll help me now."
Laguna half-smiled. "Ah, guilt. I know that one well."
Squall shook him once in frustration, then turned and marched off toward the rail bridge that led to Fisherman's Horizon. Time was running out.
"Wait!" Laguna called from behind him. He sighed, turning on his heel.
Laguna shrugged, scratching the back of his head again. "You're gonna need some help."
The corner of Squall's mouth turned up, and he extended his hand. Laguna took it, and the two men shook hands for a brief moment before heading toward the rail bridge.
President Caraway paced in front of his advisors. "Gentlemen," he began, "evacuation procedures are already being set into motion. Esthar's missiles are being targeted for interception as they enter Galbadian airspace. We have secured ourselves and all Citizen's Representatives in shelters." He allowed himself a small smile. "I believe it is safe to say that we are prepared for the worst."
There was a low ripple of laughter from his staff. He stopped pacing and leaned forward on the table at which his staff was seated. Looking each of them in the eyes, he asked, "Now, where do we go from here?"
One of the staff members spoke up. "We need to ensure the safety of Galbadia's citizens not just from invasion, but from possible terrorist attack. Sealing off the borders would be the best option."
Caraway nodded. Turning to his aide, seated at his right, he ordered, "Make it happen." The aide rose from his seat and walked to a computer console behind the president. When Caraway heard keystrokes signifying that his order was being carried out, he turned back to his staff. "Now..."
"Sir," a technician called from further along the bank of computers that lined the back wall. Caraway turned.
"I think there's something you should hear," the tech explained. Caraway strode over and bent down beside the tech, who flipped the speaker switch. "Galbadia Garden, you are on with President Caraway and his staff. Please repeat your message."
"Affirmative," the voice on the other end replied. "Sirs, we have located a worm in the Garden defense systems."
"A worm?" Caraway echoed.
"Yes, sir. It's a program that allows an individual to access data from a remote location."
"Can you trace its source?" Caraway asked.
"We're working on it now, sir. We should have an answer shortly."
"Report back to me directly when you do," Caraway ordered.
"Yes, sir," the voice replied. "Garden out."
The line went dead, and Caraway turned to his staff, who sat in puzzlement.
"It appears that we have been set up to take an awfully large fall, gentlemen," Caraway observed.
The mood in the shelter darkened considerably.
Kiros watched from his seat in the bunker as Ward walked over to a computer bank across the room. The large man seated himself at the computer and beckoned Kiros over. Kiros stood and walked over to his old friend.
"What is it, Ward?" he asked.
LAGUNA, Ward typed.
"What about him?" Kiros pressed.
WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO HIM?
"I wish I knew," Kiros sighed. "There's only one explanation that I can find, and I don't like the path it leads down."
AN ARGUMENT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MAKE A FIGHT.
"True," Kiros admitted, "but we're dealing with a strange set of circumstances."
THE BOY HAS A LOT OF ANGER TOWARD HIS FATHER. BUT COULD HE BE CAPABLE OF ABDUCTION OR WORSE?
Kiros shook his head. "I want to believe Squall's innocence in this matter. He seems like a good kid, and he did so much for us in the battle against Ultimecia."
NO PERSONAL BIASES, KIROS. THEY GET IN THE WAY OF OUR DUTIES.
Kiros nodded. "You're right, of course. We should seal off the borders, just in case."
THAT WOULD BE A WISE COURSE OF ACTION.
Kiros turned to the aide who was seated a short distance away. "Direct our troops to seal the borders of Esthar. No one goes in or out. Is the air station still intact?"
The aide checked his damage reports. "Yes, sir."
"Good," Kiros nodded. "Seal it off. Impound the Ragnarok. And inform your troops that if they see Squall Leonhart, they are to bring him to us for questioning." Kiros glanced to Ward, who nodded. He turned back to the aide. "Inform them that he is not to be harmed."
The aide nodded before turning and heading off to carry out his orders. Kiros turned back to Ward and sighed.
"And Hyne, let me please be wrong about him," he murmured.
