The first rocket streaked up into the sky, producing a faint trail of smoke and a deafening crack. A few seconds later, it exploded into a dazzling pattern of blues and yellows, high above them.
exclaimed a young girl. I wanna do the next one!
Yeah, let Sefie do it! said a boy at the girl's side.
No way! he snapped. I found them, didn't I?
Seifer, let Sefie do one! demanded another girl.
Seifer? Squall wondered. Irvine? Selphie? Quistis?
He could recognize all the people arrayed around the pile of fireworks and the hastily constructed launch rig. And the place — they were on the beach just outside Edea's orphanage.
What is going on here?
Squall heard himself speak, but it was not his voice, and he had no control over the words. But not this one.
Selphie giggled. I get the big one!
Of course! Squall thought. I'm Connected. Ellone must be doing this. But...Seifer? What's this all about?
Seifer said. Sefie, you get the big one.
The second rocket shot up into the air, this one creating a brilliant red-orange flare. There was a muffled yelp from the house, but Seifer ignored it.
Selphie jumped forward. Now I wanna do the big one!
Quistis objected. We should do that one last!
Seifer didn't turn, but he could see the form making his way down the winding path that led up to the orphanage.
Zell...?
Kids aren't suppose'ta play with fireworks! Zell proclaimed, running down to just outside the pool of light created by Selphie's match. I'm tell-ing! I'm gonna tell on yoo!
Seifer mocked, annoyed at the other boy's attempt to put an end to their fun. Go back to bed!
Stop it, Seifer! Zell cried. I'm tell-ing! With that, he turned and ran back up the path.
Somebody help! Selphie said, oblivious to Zell's interruption. This one's not working!
You're doing it wrong! Seifer admonished, dropping down next to her. You gotta light it down here — he indicated the tip of the fuse. And you gotta wait till there's this light....
Selphie exclaimed as the fuse exploded in a shower of sparks.
Look out! Seifer warned, and they all took a step back. The rocket shot up into the sky, leaving a trail of sparks to illustrate its path. After several seconds, it burst high in the air, creating a new galaxy of pale green stars.
I wanna do another! Selphie cried gleefully.
Matron's voice rang down the slope. What are you doing down there?
Reflect on your...childhood....
Everything was gone; the beach had faded into blackness. Squall no longer saw through Seifer's eyes; indeed, he seemed to be nowhere, experiencing nothing.
Your sensation...your words...your emotions....
There was a flash, and the whispery voice was gone as well. Now, however, there was a high-pitched whine hinting at his ears.
I'm sorry, Squall.
Sis? Squall wondered. Ellone?
I'm sorry. I'm doing it again. I must be asleep. I'll try to disconnect.
Asleep...? Squall had never understood Ellone's ability, but he was a bit unsettled by her ability to do it in her sleep.
?
Don't hate him.
Him...?
Seifer. It's not his fault. Please, at least try to forgive him. You're his last hope.
Squall! Come on!
Squall's eyes flew open, and he realized that it was already late in the morning. He had overslept.
Hurry up! Selphie exclaimed, literally jumping up and down at the foot of the bed. Everybody's waiting!
- - = = = = - -
Now that it was again possible to send signals by radio after seventeen years of worldwide interference, the Timber TV station would no doubt soon be flooded with TV companies looking for a larger audience.
For the moment, it was just Squall, Rinoa and Selphie. Having left Zell behind to guard Biggs and Wedge, the three now proceeded to the station, to announce their success to the world.
Unauthorized entry prohibited, huffed a rather portly guard, standing halfway along the narrow catwalk leading to the TV station. There's no way yer gettin' thru here.
Rinoa stepped forward. We have to get to the TV station! We have a message we want to deliver to the whole world!
Doesn't everyone. The guard crossed his arms. Fergit it.
Squall sighed. This was getting nowhere. Producing his gunblade, he held it menacingly between the man's eyes. Let us through, he said.
Surprised, the guard jumped several paces back. Y-you'll regret this! he sputtered, turning and running towards the station.
Rinoa cried. You didn't have to do that!
...He didn't seem convinced, Squall said simply.
Come on! Selphie exclaimed behind them. Let's get to the station and announce Timber's freedom! Woo-hoo!
Squall pressed his hand to his forehead.
She's right, Rinoa said, doing a little hop of her own. Come on! This is exciting!
With a sigh, Squall led them the rest of the way across the catwalk, and onto the large balcony outside the station.
There they are! A quartet of guards, led by the one Squall had just scared away, rushed out of the door. Let's get
That was fast, Squall thought, drawing his gunblade.
Rinoa cried, jumping forward. We can't do this!
What's she talking about? Squall wondered. She's not backing out now, is she?
We can't fight them, Rinoa said, turning to her two companions. They're from Timber, too!
Everybody's from somewhere, Squall thought. They're choosing to fight us. That makes them the enemy.
Rinoa had turned back to the guards. Don't fight us, please. We're on the same side. We're fighting for Timber's freedom!
Not in here, yer not, said the guard. I've got my orders.
Squall looked at Selphie, who, looking back at him, tilted her head to one side, resting it on her hands and briefly closing her eyes. Squall nodded and, sheathing his gunblade, extended his hand toward the guard. Sleep....
Hey, lady, I've got enough problems around here without... His eyes began to flutter as a halo of magic surrounded him. He collapsed to the ground, joined shortly by a second as Selphie repeated the spell.
Get them! exclaimed one of the other guards, and they both charged forward, only to be felled themselves an instant later by Squall and Selphie's second wave of magic.
Rinoa cried, sounding very much like a little child whose TV had been switched off.
Squall shrugged. They'll be fine. Come on.
People of the world, Rinoa began, looking nervously into the camera. This is...um...a live broadcast from...um...Timber by the Forest Owls.
Not all that inspiring, Squall thought. Of course, the last live announcement ended with Seifer attacking the President. After that, she can'tlook bad.
Rinoa went on to explain how the Forest Owls — thankfully she made no mention of SeeD — had captured the Galbadian Lieutenant, and would hold him ransom for Timber's freedom. Squall, however, couldn't bring himself to listen. Now that he had no objective to occupy his mind, he could not help but face his...dream.'
His memories of Edea's orphanage were not entirely clear, but he did remember them setting off fireworks. It had not been too long after Ellone had left, so he had stayed at the orphanage and not taken part, but the fireworks were still clearly visible.
He and Zell were the only ones who hadn't got in trouble.
Ellone had said that she was asleep when she had Connected him to Seifer's past. Squall remembered something about a person's dreams reflecting their last thoughts when they were awake; perhaps Ellone's ability worked the same way. Indeed, what she had said...about not hating Seifer...it did seem like she had been giving the matter some thought.
She doesn't want me to condemn Seifer for what he did. She's worried...why? For him? Squall remembered that she had seen him on the Lunatic Pandora. She had certainly failed in getting him to stop, but apparently she had been convinced that there was still good in him.
Still good in him? What does that mean? There's no such thing as good or evil; it's just something we make up to help us fight our enemies. I don't know why Seifer did what he did, but I don't hate him for it. You don't have to worry about that, Sis.
There was still that voice. That quiet whispery voice, dancing at the edge of his perception. Ultimecia....
Rinoa's voice jerked him back to reality. Looking up, he saw that she and Selphie were both staring at him.
Did you even hear my speech? Rinoa asked.
Squall lied. Though from what he had heard, he could guess how it had gone.
Obviously not believing him, Rinoa turned and stormed away.