Vat are we doing here? Ze cavern iz meaningless!
Undaunted by Odine's protests, Vaider was proceeding through the route they had taken on the previous excursion, this time with the company of Odine and his assistant to defeat any attempts at introspection on Quistis' part.
Vaider retorted. The density of these fibers shows a severe increase surrounding the chamber.
Iz coincidence! Ze fibers form ze hourglass pattern throughout ze pillar! Ze cavern iz in ze center of ze pillar! There iz no meaning to it!
I don't agree. Vaider pressed on.
This iz waste of time! Odine continued. We should go to ze control room and monitor ze sensors! That iz where ze data is!
The sensors were arrayed according to your theories, Doctor, Vaider said flatly. They will not reveal the answers I seek.
Vat? Vat did you say?
Vader shined his light over a particularly disparate cluster of fibers. The strands surround a slightly thicker strand of a lighter shade, he noted. What is your theory regarding the nature of the Crystal Pillar, Doctor? he asked.
Iz not theory! Ze Crystal Pillar calls monsters from ze moon!
Not that part. How did it come into being?
Vat iz ze difference? I must see my instruments!
Are we sure this guy is the real Doctor Odine? Nida whispered to no one in particular.
Vaider sighed. It is that single-mindedness that dooms you as a scientist, Doctor.
Odine was literally jumping with rage, seeming to do a sort of dance around the much taller Galbadian scientist who, in turn, was doing his best to ignore his antics. You insult Odine? I teach you! Ve fisticuffs! Odine take you to school!
You are only denigrating yourself, Doctor.
Quistis made her way over to Odine's assistant as the doctor continued his tirade. Is he always like this? she asked softly.
The man nodded. He may be a little eccentric, but he is truly an excellent scientist.
Odine iz not wrong! You vant to go outside? Odine teach you!
I'd hate to see your definition of Nida muttered.
Odine was stealing so much of her attention that Quistis hardly realized that they had entered the immense cylindrical cavern once more. This time, Vaider went straight to one of the walls. The emissions monitor, if you please? he asked of the soldier unlucky enough to be chosen to carry his equipment. She fished through her pack, and handed him what looked to be the most expensive set of night-vision goggles Quistis had ever seen. Vaider squinted through the device at the walls, fiddling with dials on the side as he did so. After a moment, he handed it back to the guard, and withdrew his flashlight. As he shined it on one cluster of fibers — the clusters themselves seemed to be denser here as well, Quistis noted. After a moment, the fibers began to glow, and the glow soon spread along their lengths, out of sight above and below. From here, we can affect the Pillar, he said.
Iz meaningless! Odine insisted. Ze fibers absorb all energies! Ze light energy iz useless! This is waste of time!
No, doctor, Vaider said. You have just revealed the significance of this room.
There iz no significance! Odine stomped on the floor for effect, but it only caused his ruff to bounce comically about his head. Which added nothing to his image.
On the contrary. Your theory states that the Pillar formed naturally from the unique energies found beneath Centra, correct?
That is not the case.
Vat? You vant to go outside?
Doctor, please. Vaider's calm appearance was beginning to fail. You stated that this formation is naturally occurring, and that the only significance of the Crystal Pillar is its size, correct
Iz evidence! Ve have found similar crystals all over ze continent!
Similar, but of much lesser size and organization, correct? Vaider asked, motioning to the near-perfect spacing of the fibers.
Right! Ze organization is ze product of ze size!
Vaider nodded. That is a possibility.
Hey, what's — Nida began.
I have a different theory, Vaider continued. The size of the Crystal Pillar is no more natural than the arrangement of the fibers. Both are a product of design, a design based on the properties of natural materials and born from the desire to control yet another aspect of nature. He turned and looked down at Odine, who was waiting with his hands on his hips. The Crystal Pillar was constructed by the Centra people, shortly before the first Great Lunar Cry.
Odine sputtered. Zat is impossible! Preposterous! I will not listen! And he fumbled with his ruff in an attempt to plug his ears.
Actually, I've noticed the Gardens — Nida started again.
Think about it, Doctor, Vaider insisted. All the naturally occurring fiber clusters are disorganized and of much lesser size; there are none even approaching the size or complexity of the Crystal Pillar. Indeed, all known formations are approximately two thousand cubic centimeters in volume, and appear completely random.
Can anyone even hear —
Ze Crystal Pillar was ze special case! Odine retorted. It was formed in ze crystal fields with ze Demi draw point! There iz evidence!
Seriously, there's something weird —
It may certainly have been constructed from those fields, Vaider said evenly. But even there can be found no signs of the organization apparent in the Pillar.
Irvine exclaimed, and pointed to the wall, around where Vaider had aimed the flashlight. Check that out.
The strands Vaider had illuminated were now shimmering in an eerie pattern, and the glow seemed to be spreading to those adjacent as well. It was almost as if they were pulsing with energy.
That's what I was trying to — Nida muttered.
You see? Vaider motioned to the fibers. They are arrayed so perfectly as to facilitate the spread of energy between clusters, a capacity not seen with such uniform coverage in natural formation.
What is this? Quistis asked.
Ze Crystal Pillar is ze conduit for ze energy! Odine exclaimed. Zat iz obvious!
Vaider nodded. When sufficient energy is amassed, the Crystal Pillar produces a field that summons monsters from the moon. Just how much energy is needed and how it acquires that energy is unknown.
And zat iz why I must see my instruments!
Your instruments are faulty, Doctor, Vaider insisted. Before Odine could reply, he added, Your sensor devices themselves produce energy, as does the generator you use to operate this facility. Both have been assimilated into the Crystal Pillar, and have therefore interfered with the very data you wish to gather.
Odine did not reply, instead pointedly examining the spread of the shimmering fibers.
We must set up our equipment as soon as possible, Vaider said to the two soldiers. If I am correct, we have little more than a day before we reach our destination.
Quistis frowned.
Of course. Vaider looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. The Lunatic Pandora has been moving of its own accord, though as to how I am not certain. But it is clear that its direction takes it directly towards the strongest energy nexus on the continent.
Our destination is the ancient Centra ruin known as Odin's Gate.
- - = = = = - -
No doubt you are wondering why I have insisted that your party be included in these excursions, Vaider said on the way back.
By now, a gondola had been set up, running from the entrance of the Lunatic Pandora to the Garden courtyard. Odine, his assistant, and Irvine had already gone down, and Quistis shared the car with Vaider's group and Nida. While it was nice to have a floor to stand on, the gondola seemed a bit too flimsy for Quistis' taste.
You don't seem to have had any need for us so far, she said.
This business with Doctor Odine has taken more time than I would have liked, Vaider said. I had hoped to be conducting my experiments by now. In any case, you three have more practical experience with Centra technology than anyone else available to me. I do not desire any mistakes in my research, as this will likely be my only opportunity.
I don't know how much help we can be, Quistis said. We don't really have much experience with the technology.
Any experience is preferable to none, Vaider replied as the gondola set down on the courtyard. I intend to mount another excursion later this day; be prepared, if you will. And Mister...Nida, I would prefer that you determine a means of manipulating those fibers as quickly as possible. I will make all our research data available to you.
As the doctor strode away, Quistis caught sight of Irvine and Keri standing on the courtyard not too far away. Irvine seemed to be saying something, and Keri was shaking her head. Then, she turned and ran away.
Quistis hurried over to him, deciding to try one last time. Irvine, I know you don't want to talk about it, but you can't just keep on like this.
Irvine didn't look at her. This is none of your business.
Irvine, I'm the leader of this expedition. I have to know how my team is functioning.
I'm functioning' just fine, thanks. Irvine growled. Just leave me be. Instructor. He stalked away.
Quistis sighed. Every time she tried to help someone, it came out a dismal failure. What was she doing so wrong?
Quistis? Are you all right?
She jumped; in that short time, she had completely forgotten Nida's presence behind her. Oh! I.... She sighed. I don't know what to do about Irvine. He's going through a lot, and he's determined to deal with it all alone.
I can't understand it. Why won't he just let us help him? I understand that this is a hard time for him —
— but why does he refuse to confide in us? I don't know if I should even —
Where am I in all this?
— let him keep going with us. What is a good leader supposed to do? She sighed.
Do I really need to be here for this conversation?
Quistis looked at him oddly. What did you say?
Nida raised his eyebrows. I was asking if it would make any difference if I wasn't here.
Nida, what are you talking about? Quistis asked, frowning.
It's just this feeling I get whenever people start talking. Like, it never really matters what I say, because no one ever hears me anyway.
Quistis halted for a second. ...You don't think people pay you any attention? she asked.
Nida paused, looking off without meeting her gaze. So it's like this. I come to Garden when I was nine. I knew nobody. A couple weeks ago, I became a SeeD. And nobody knew me. He shrugged. That was a pretty good day for me, really; at the dance, I actually got someone to dance with me. So, right in the middle of Waltz for the Moon, Squall and Rinoa ram into us. And Rinoa makes this face, like it was somehow my fault. And I realize, that's what it takes for people to recognize I'm there.
Though his tone was neutral, Quistis could sense a pained sort of resentment beneath the words. She wasn't quite sure what to say.
Anyhow, the next time Squall sees me, he doesn't even know who I am. And after that, I'm just the guy who flies the Garden; even when Cid put me on this mission, you guys looked all surprised that my feet could actually move from in front of that flight stick. You know I'm a level 12 SeeD, and this is my first active mission? He paused for a moment, as if a thought had just struck him. What level were you, anyway?
It took Quistis a moment to realize he was actually asking. ...Not that high, she replied. Nida, I'm sorry if I ever —
Don't worry about it, he said, gesturing dismissively. After eight years of being nobody except when someone wants you to do something, you get used to it. He paused. Or at least you'd think you would. Anyway, I'd better get to work on...those fibers or something. He turned and headed away for the entrance, leaving Quistis standing alone in the middle of the courtyard.
He's right, she admitted. I was so concerned about Irvine, that I never really gave him a second thought. Nida's just as much a member of this group, but I never bothered to ask him how he was coping with all this.
She sighed. Maybe this is why I lost my Instructor's license. I get too personally involved with someone, and forget about everyone else.
Maybe if I hadn't been so obsessed with Squall, then I could have helped Seifer before....
Excuse me? Miss?
The voice broke her out of her thoughts, as she saw a Galbadian faculty member looking at her with a concerned expression on his face.
she managed. Everything's fine. Quickly, she made for the entrance, hoping that Irvine and Nida were not in their room. At the moment, she could not bear to face either.