He's coming around?
Yes, finally. His friends were getting agitated.
I need to speak with him, right away.
I don't think we should try to rush him. He was badly drained in the battle; he needs more time to heal.
We're quickly running out of time. Send him to me as soon as possible.
The sound of the door closing was like a thunderclap, jarring Seifer's mind back to consciousness. His eyes flew open, only to snap back closed at the blinding glare. Grunting, he tried to force the issue, squinting against the brightness in an effort to determine his surroundings.
The operative word seemed to be white.' He looked up at a white ceiling, flanked by white walls and a white curtain. A white sheet covered him up to the chest, although he was still fully clothed. A man in a white lab coat was hurrying over to his white bed.
Easy, easy, he cautioned. Don't force yourself. You nearly had a heart attack, and for a while we weren't sure you would make it, even once we used the Phoenix Down.
I'm in a hospital, Seifer realized. In Dollet, probably. Who are you?
I'm Doctor Tigan, the man replied. You're in Dollet's General Infirmary. He smiled. Don't worry, there's no charge.
Seifer swung his legs out over the side and pulled himself to his feet. Where's the exit?
Tigan paused. Actually, Mr. Almasy, after what you did for us at the comm tower, you've drawn the attention of...certain members of the Parliament. They were quite insistent that you speak with them as soon as you were able.
Dollet's Parliament? Seifer scoffed. Bunch of stuffed-shirt pansies who can't take care of their own capital without SeeD help. This should be good for a laugh.
Where do I go? he asked.
Rinoa's voice assaulted him the moment he stepped into the waiting room. She appeared to have been pacing next to a couch containing Fujin and Raijin, both of whom now sprung to their feet.
See, I told you he'd be all right, ya know! Raijin exclaimed. Ain't nothing can keep Seifer down, ya know!
Fujin put in.
Rinoa approached him, but paused awkwardly a meter or so away. I'm...glad you're all right, she ventured.
Seifer guessed that she was trying to be considerate, but all he saw was that she still felt uncomfortable when she was around him. And she had every reason to.
I've got a meeting with the Parliament, he said, stepping past Rinoa towards the exit. Anyone wanna come?
Dollet's Parliament building was every bit as majestic as the Centra civilization of which it was a relic. The domed room Seifer was escorted into bore enough headroom to accommodate an adult Marlboro and was sided liberally with glass paneling, an effect which created an intricate pattern of light on the stone floor. This sign of modernization somehow fit in perfectly with the gothic construction of the room, playing over the ring of tables that usually housed Dollet's Parliament and accentuating the stone-relief Dollet emblem that decorated the floor in the very center. Below the dome, the walls were bare, yet a modified version of the Centra Pledge of Honor ran along the ceiling edge.
Rinoa exclaimed.
Yeah, this place is looking good, ya know?
Which one of you is Seifer Almasy?
The voice came from a shadow on the opposite side of the room. Not particularly impressed by the cloak-and-dagger touch, Seifer stepped forward. That's me.
Of course. The form stepped forward, to reveal an aged man wearing the finest in Dollet's royal wear. I am Arch-Duke Larken, the prime minister of the Dollet Dukedom. The man behind you is War Minister Gerrit.
Seifer spun around to see another, dark-haired man in a dark-green Dollet Marshall's uniform standing in the doorway he had just come through. Nice trick, he observed.
You're recovering from a coma, Mr. Almasy, Gerrit said dryly. Seifer recognized his voice as that of the man talking to Tigan just before he fully came to. I'm sure your senses will improve.
I'll get straight to the point, Larken started. We need your help. All of you, if you're willing. While none of you are citizens of Dollet, and we have no reason to expect your allegiance, our enemy is one that should concern you as well.
You want us to help you take on Galbadia, right? Seifer asked bluntly.
Larken scrutinized him for a moment. That's right.
Twenty years ago, Gerrit pitched in, circling the four of them to stand beside the prime minister, Galbadia gained its independence from the Dollet Dukedom. This loss dealt a critical blow to our military, one from which we have so far not been able to recover.
So you want us to do your dirty work for you? Seifer folded his arms, glaring at the two men. Why not just hire SeeD, like you did last time?
Considering the failure of SeeD to drive the Galbadians out of our city the last time we hired them, and the disastrous result of their deployments in Timber and the assassination attempt in Monterosa City, we have decided that the organization cannot be trusted with an operation of this importance.
Seifer noted the general's mention of Deling City by its Dollet name. Damn fools are kidding themselves, acting like Galbadia is still just some upstart rebellion. Forget it, he said, turning toward the door. I'm not about to take on Galbadia in someone else's war.
Galbadia is an ambitious empire state, Mr. Almasy. Their scope is reaching the point where they may hold sway over the entirety of the open world. That could affect you a great deal, Mr. Almasy.
Don't count on it. He headed for the door.
Rinoa exclaimed from behind him, but he ignored her. He crossed the waiting room towards the stairs, only to find his path blocked by a large brown dog, who yipped at him with almost the same tone as her master.
Out of my way, Angelo, Seifer growled, but the dog held her ground. Before he could try further, he could hear the footsteps coming up behind him, and turned to face his challenger.
Seifer, wait, Rinoa pleaded, having followed nearly right on his heels. She backed up a bit when he turned around, however. Just out of arm's reach. Fujin and Raijin stood at the entrance to the assembly hall, as the double doors swung closed.
I think we need to help them, Rinoa continued. You have to have some feelings about bringing down Galbadia, after all you did for the Forest Owls. She averted her gaze. Or was that all just to get to me?
Seifer's jaw tightened at the accusation. You wanted to free Timber, not bring down Galbadia. What's so different now — aside from how Timber got burned to the ground?
This isn't about Timber! Rinoa exclaimed. You've got a chance to do what's right for a change, but all you can think about is yourself! Are you only willing to stand up from something when you have something to gain?
Seifer glared at her for an instant. At least I don't kid myself. The only reason you care about this is because it's your father on the other side. I'm not getting in the middle of your family fued again.
Rinoa was shaking her head, and her eyes were clouding over. she choked, forcing her way past him and down the stairs.
Woah, Seifer! You were being kinda hard on her, ya know? Raijin admonished, stepping forward. I mean, she was only trying to help you out, ya know?
I don't need anyone telling me what to do, Seifer said crossly.
Fujin added, motioning after her.
He snorted. Yeah? Since when?
Fujin shook her head. That's not fair, Seifer. Even when the rest of Garden condemned you, she wasn't willing to give up. After all you've done to her, she still believes in you, or she wouldn't be here.
When you were in the hospital, she wouldn't even sit down, Rinoa was so worried about you. She, with probably the most reason to hate you, is still trying to make sure you don't destroy yourself. You can't say she doesn't care.
Seriously man, I think she's right, Raijin put in. Galbadia's twisted, ya know. And, what with our role in the whole thing and all, I think we've gotta do something to fix it all.
Seifer was listening with half an ear. Another scene was playing in front of him now. One where he was forcing Rinoa toward the tomb where Sorceress Adel was slowly coming back to life. Even then, she had been pleading with him to stop. Something inside of him had wanted to; he had almost given in...
But then, Squall. That voice, taunting him. Once again, Squall had come to get in his way, to foil him at whatever he set out to do. Impossible to get rid of. Impossible to escape. Everywhere. He. Turned.
And he had done it. He had forced Rinoa and Adel together, perhaps dooming the universe, gone against his own conscience, because Squall hadn't wanted him to.
The one time I managed to break Ultimecia's hold on me, and I go back just to get to Squall? Hyne, I am weak.
Wordlessly, he pushed past his two companions and flung the door open to the assembly hall. Larken and Gerrit were still there, conferring with each other. Whatever the topic was, they fell silent when he entered the room, regarding him patiently.
What do you want us to do? he asked.
END OF PART FOUR