Even Galbadia Garden's bridge differed significantly from Balamb's. Located at the peak of the large, hooded structure above the main entrance, the room did not offer the three hundred sixty degree visibility afforded by that of Balamb Garden; indeed, the only bank of windows was facing straight forward. The side walls contained instead glass holo monitors with status displays of the Garden and its systems, as well as what looked like a radar map. Instead of the three large steering pillars of Balamb Garden, however, there was a sort of control panel with a tuning fork-like device in the center. Quistis recognized it as identical to Balamb Garden's original control device before the Fishermans Horizon repair crews had replaced it, although a fair sight cleaner.
Save for her, Irvine, Nida, and Palmer, the room was also completely empty.
Is there any other place where you can control the Garden? Quistis asked.
Palmer shook her head. None that we know of.
So someone hijacked the Garden, and then just left? Nida asked. Seems a bit odd.
So, like, let's stop it, Irvine said simply.
It could be booby-trapped, Nida said.
Nida, can you tell where we're going? Palmer asked.
With a small sigh, Nida walked up to the control console. After looking over the device for a moment, he carefully pushed a button, and looked at the results again.
We're going south, he announced.
I know that, Palmer said sharply.
That's the best I can do, Nida said. There is nothing south of Timber. Just the Centra continent.
So stop it already, Irvine repeated.
Without replying, Nida grasped the twin-pronged control device and pulled it experimentally.
Nothing happened. He pulled harder, with the same result.
It's not responding, he reported.
What's wrong? Quistis asked.
Nida shrugged. I don't know.
You sure you're doing it right? Irvine asked.
Do you want to try?
Hey, no offense, man. I just—
Whoever set the Garden moving must have sabotaged the controls so we couldn't retake it, Palmer concluded, then turned to Nida. Can it be repaired?
I don't even know what's wrong yet. Recognizing his own cue, he dropped to the floor and began inspecting the equipment hidden inside the console.
Do you have any idea who might have done this? Quistis asked.
The way things have been this last week or so... she sighed. Just about anyone could be responsible. This place has been a nightmare to organize.
Whoever they are, they went to a lot of trouble to keep themselves secret, came Nida's voice from the floor. Maybe they're planning something else?
Why would someone hijack the Garden in the first place? Quistis wondered.
Probably because they wanted to go somewhere, Palmer said. A lot of people have been a bit restless about being stranded on the Garden.
Maybe it's the Garden they want, Nida's voice offered. There aren't that many flying buildings around.
So why go to Centra, then? Irvine asked. What's there?
A lot of ruins from the Centra civilization, Palmer mused. Something might still be active.
So how would they know about it? Irvine asked.
Can anybody tell me what the monitor is saying? Nida asked.
They must be planning for a one-way trip, Quistis mused, not hearing him. They can't expect to have control of the Garden for too long.
Then they plan to stay on Centra, Palmer said.
Or do something there, Quistis offered.
Is that Omega Weapon?
Maybe they didn't use these controls, Quistis wondered, not hearing Nida. There must be some other way to operate this equipment.
Palmer nodded. We should check the MD level, just to be sure.
My ascension is nearly at hand, Nida tried. You will all be crushed like insects as I assume my rightful throne.
No one heard him.
Hey, so what about tracking down the people who did this? Irvine asked. They've got to still be here, right?
They must still be here, Quistis said. Where else could they have gone?
There are thousands of students at this Garden, Palmer reminded them. It would be impossible to conduct a full investigation before we arrive.
Hey, there's an airship out there.
Well, we have to try, Quistis said. We can't just wait until we reach Centra.
No, guys, I'm serious. There's—
So I'll ask around, then, Irvine volunteered. If there's something to find, you can bet I'll find it. Guaranteed.
Just a moment, Palmer said, staring out the forward window. Do you see that?
Quistis squinted at the hovering object outside the window. It was a large brown object, shaped vaguely like a tuning fork. Massive twin rotors on either side of its long hull provided the craft's lift, and a smaller pod with a massive bank of windows was suspended below sporting a pair of turbofans for thrust. A pair of large tail fins sprouted at the craft's rear.
It looks like a long-range airship, she said.
Nida sighed.
Only the Galbadians have those things, Irvine offered. And they, like, never use them, either.
With the rail system connecting the entire Galbadian continent and Balamb, air travel was considered too expensive, Palmer agreed. Those airships are more...novelty pieces than modes of transportation.
So what's that one doing here? Nida asked.
Good question, Palmer replied. Nida blinked, as if he had not expected an answer.
They don't seem to be getting any closer, Quistis noted. Maybe they're waiting for something?
Like what? Irvine asked.
It probably has something to do with whoever hijacked the Garden, Palmer said. I think our first objective should be to find them.
What about stopping the Garden? Nida asked.
Palmer shook her head. I don't think we should. If the hijackers are connected to that airship out there, then they must have help in high places. If we try to interfere directly now, we might be taken over by force.
The others nodded.
All right, then. I'll arrange rooms for you all.
- - = = = = - -
As Galbadia Garden had nearly double the number of students and graduates on campus as Balamb, only the faculty and administrators were granted private rooms. All the dorms were identical, with a pair of twin bunks composing one side and a quartet of work stations on the other. It seemed spacious enough, when one did not consider that it was meant to house four people.
Quistis remembered that life in the dorms was not as terrible as the single dorms of Balamb Garden made it seem. Even so, sharing a room with Irvine was enough to wish for a quick end to all this.
How's it going, Nida? she asked, walking over to where the other SeeD sat in the same chair he had occupied for the last two hours. On the large screen was a neverending stream of technical data on the old Centra shelter which the Garden had been built on, and provided the mechanics for its mysterious hovering abilities.
How am I supposed to do this? he muttered, apparently not noticing Quistis. I just fly the thing; how should I know how it works?
He jumped. Oh! Quistis! Umm...I've found the old blueprints for the Centra shelter, but this equipment is a complete mystery. It looks like the Centra were into devices that actually channeled magical energy somehow. Apparently, those machines down on the MD level are just huge Float generators.
I didn't even know that was possible, Quistis said.
Me neither. They've got a couple hundred screens on the mechanics behind the things, and most of it goes against everything they taught me in Magical Theory.
Have you found anything on how the machines are controlled?
Nida sighed. If I did, I probably wouldn't even know it. This whole system is beyond me. I don't see how anyone could know enough about this thing to mess around with the controls like they have been.
Quistis recalled one place in the world where such hover technology was commonplace. They might use the same technology in Esthar, she mused. If we could contact somebody from there, we might be able to learn something.
Xenophobic Esthar? Nida asked. Even if the radio was working, it can't be that easy to just place a call in there.
Quistis realized that Nida was unaware of their connection with Laguna, Esthar's president. Well, as long as the radio was out, it didn't matter. Quistis stared out the dorm window. They were in a position to see Balamb Garden, trailing just out of reach. If we could just talk to someone over there.... she said yearningly.
The doors slid open, and Irvine strode in, a clipboard tucked under his shoulder.
So what's going on? he asked, but before anyone he could answer, he removed a sheet of paper and tossed it onto the desk. Check this out.
Picking up the sheet, Quistis saw a disjointed collection of names, places, and times. During her time as an instructor, she had occasionally been required to check—and decipher—students' notes, but Irvine's seemed to defy all logic.
What does this mean? she asked.
With a sigh, Irvine reclaimed the paper. A masterpiece in investigation. I talked to people in every part of the Garden, and have figured out who's carrying a grudge, who had the chance to take over the Garden, who knows enough about the controls, you name it. Now all we gotta do is program it in.
Quistis nodded. Good work, Irvine.
There was a pause as the three looked at each other. Irvine asked. So what, like, I'm gonna have to type all this?
Why not? Quistis asked.
I can't even read it, Nida said.
With a huff, Irvine dropped into another of the workstation chairs. No one appreciates my work, he moaned.
No one paid him any attention.
Can anyone here read ancient Centra? Nida asked, turning away from a screen filled with incomprehensible symbols and writing.
No, I'm afraid not, Quistis said. What is this?
I have no idea, Nida admitted. I can't read it either.
So, like, I can take you to someone who can, Irvine offered from behind them.