Galbadia Garden, this is Ragnarok. Repeat, this is Ragnarok, out of Esthar Airstation. Please respond. The pilot turned to Kiros, shaking his head. No response, sir.
We might still be out of range, couldn't we? Laguna asked.
This radio can bounce a signal off the moon, sir, the pilot replied.
The cockpit of the Ragnarok fell silent again, save for the air rushing back outside. Presently, Selphie walked up behind the pilot, in her most pleading form.
she asked, swaying back and forth slightly.
The pilot sighed exasperatedly. I'm sorry, miss, I can't let you fly the ship.
Aww, come on! I'm a GREAT pilot! She turned to the other SeeD on the bridge level. Right, Squall?
Selphie turned back to the pilot. Come on! I'll be extra careful!
Why not?
Just for a bit!
Surrendering, Selphie plopped down on the deck behind the pilot's chair. ...Are we there yet?
Rolling his eyes, Squall turned around and headed for the elevator. He didn't exactly know what to do, but he was certain it shouldn't be done here.
The airship was almost completely empty; Laguna's plan had not been particularly well thought-out, so the only persons he had brought with him were Kiros, Ward, the three SeeDs, and a small crew from Esthar Airstation. Squall stepped out of the door that led him to the catwalk running above the cargo hold, trying his hardest not to think. Hearing a slight tapping beyond the opposite door, he proceeded into the air room, where he found Zell, shadowboxing.
Oh, hi, Squall, he said. Hey, if you're going to tell me I oughtta be in uniform, I know. But hey, it's not like anyone ever cares if we just show up in our regular clothes, you know?
...We're not there yet.
Zell ended his exercise, walking over to Squall. So man, what d'you think we're going to run into at G-Garden? I mean, last time, they weren't too friendly and all. I mean, that was when they were being controlled by Seifer and Ultimecia and all, but...you know?
Is he trying to start a conversation? Squall wondered.
Seriously man, what's on your mind? Zell pressed.
Worried about Rinoa, huh? Well, don't worry, I'm sure she's all right. I mean, I don't get why that guy Caraway had to burn down Timber and all that, but he is her father and all. And, you know, he got her out of prison before. And I'm sure Cid is gonna do every thing he can. And, you know, she's a Sorceress. She could probably break out whenever she wanted.
Now he's trying to cheer me up? ...Thanks, Zell.
Hey, no prob! So hey, what about those Lunar Cries, huh?
Are we there yet?
- - = = = = - -
The Centra had ways of focusing the power of the Crystal Pillar, so they could tell it where the monsters were that it needed to control and where they were supposed to go, Keri was saying. Now, they didn't know about the monsters on the moon, see, the Crystal Pillar was just so they could control huge armies of monsters on the ground. Of course, they never got around to that, because the Lunar Cry killed them all, but that doesn't mean that it CAN'T be calibrated. On top of that, if it's calibrated in the wrong way, the Crystal Pillar will shatter, and become completely useless! So if we can just decipher the Centra glyphs on the Pillar and figure out how the aim the signal at itself, we can destroy the thing and prevent the Lunar Cry! She took a breath.
Standing on the other side of the Headmaster's office were Palmer, Vaider, and Odine, all looking at the four students as if they had just recounted their encounter with an alien ship towing a giant head.
You went to the Lunatic Pandora without permission? Palmer asked.
Keri stomped the floor irritatedly. That is SO not the point!
We're sorry for not checking with you, Ma'am, but we think we have a way to prevent the Lunar Cry, Quistis said.
Odine declared. You cannot destroy ze Lunatic Pandora! Zat would ruin my research!
Normally, I would agree, Vaider said. The Crystal Pillar is of great scientific interest to Galbadia as well. However, I think my research — and yours as well, Doctor — would be furthered best by avoiding the destruction of the world.
You vant to go outside?
Vaider rolled his eyes.
All right! Palmer said somewhat harshly. Do you four think you can do this?
I will assist them, Vaider said. Their principles are scientifically sound.
Odine had folded his arms and was tapping the floor with his foot in such a way as to give his ruff a rather comical animation. I vill help too, he said, huffily.
Well, then I don't think we should waste any time, Palmer said. The Lunatic Pandora will reach Odin's Gate in less than an hour.
There aren't any controls. Nida looked around the massive cavern in the center of the Crystal Pillar. The fibers were glowing much more brightly now, creating an almost surreal image for those standing on the clear cavern floor, almost like they were suspended in some colossal vine forest. There's no way to control this thing.
It was probably meant to be used by Centra Magi, Keri said. It's probably controlled by some kind of sorcery.
Irvine said. So all we need is a Sorceress. Anyone here happen to be a Sorceress?
We might just need the right spell, Nida said.
What? Scan?
You're not helping, Irvine, Quistis admonished.
There might be a draw point around here somewhere, Nida offered. Can anyone sense hidden ones?
Quistis nodded. I can.
Here's one! I've never heard of this spell before!
That must be it! Come on, we've only got twenty minutes left!
Quistis stood in a trance, looking at a complex jumble of symbols and ethereal knots of energy. She couldn't make heads or tails of any of it.
Keri, maybe you should be doing this, she said.
I don't have a GF.
You can borrow one of mine. None of this makes any sense to me.
Okay, these here are numbers, it looks like...maybe degrees. This is a measure of length, and these symbols look like letters in the Centra alphabet. I think this is all some kind of table. Keri was pointing to a series of points in empty air. I think if I had enough training, this would all blend perfectly into the fibers in the wall. I'm just not accustomed enough to this process — it's a lot like junctioning, really.
Can you understand it? Palmer asked.
Maybe. It seems to be getting easier the longer I look at it.
Well, please hurry. We're running out of time.
Okay, I think I get it! All I have to do is manipulate the energy flowing through the strands in the right way, and that will change how the Pillar resonates!
That's how you destroy it, right? Irvine asked.
Of course it is!
I was just asking.
Can you do it, Keri? Quistis asked.
...I don't think so.
This iz waste of time!
Oh, shut up! Quistis snapped.
I need some way to manipulate the fibers, Keri said. If I were a Sorceress, I could probably just zap them with lightning bolts or something, but I don't think any of our spells are that accurate.
We have a device that can manipulate the strands, Vaider said. Which I believe one of your SeeDs has stolen from us?
Nida coughed.
Three minutes!
Quistis, Nida and Irvine, and Palmer were doing their best to look helpful as Vaider directed the manipulating device at the strands which Keri indicted. Odine was in a corner, apparently pouting.
Over there! Keri pointed to a point opposite where Vaider was standing. But not for very long! I think we're close!
So how long do we have before the Pillar shatters? Nida asked.
Not long, once it reaches Odin's Gate.
So we should probably get out of here pretty quick, if we don't want the whole thing crashing down on us, he said.
An audible humming noise began to fill the air, and Quistis felt the floor begin to vibrate under her feet. I think we got it! she said.
Yeah, looks like! agreed Keri. Shaking her head, she dispelled the magic aura around her. Let's get out of here!
She received no protest, and the seven quickly made their way back to the tunnel. They made the best time they could with the floor vibrating increasingly violently, and made it to the Lunatic Pandora's entrance less than a minute before the Lunatic Pandora was to be directly above Odin's Gate. As they were making their way down the stairs to the exit hatch, Quistis found herself wishing very much for a guardrail, or really anything to hold onto, as it felt like her feet would slip off the vibrating stairs at any moment.
Wait a minute! cried Nida, who was in the lead. The gondola's not here!
Everyone froze. Y...you mean, someone called it back to Garden? Keri asked haltingly.
Quistis dared to crane her neck around Nida to look out the open hatch. The cables that had connected the gondola to the Lunatic Pandora were hanging limp, and the monolithic creation seemed to be spinning slowly on its axis, so that Galbadia Garden was not even visible.
The cables must have snapped, she declared. The Lunatic Pandora must have started to spin, and the Garden couldn't keep up.
You mean there's no way to get down? Palmer asked.
Unless someone wants to try jumping, Nida said.
Then, Odin's Gate itself drifted into their field of vision. The massive diamond-frame structure was now alive, with white beams of energy coursing up its length to collect at the tip, from which radiated a brilliant, pulsing orb. Occasionally, lightning bolts of energy would shoot from this orb to some point beneath them at the base of the Lunatic Pandora, and this would be mimicked by a deep thrumming from the Crystal Pillar. The structure was less than a kilometer away, Quistis guessed, and it looked like they would be directly on top of it in no time.
Ze Odin's Gate vill transfer its energy to ze Lunatic Pandora! Odine cried. Centuries of power! Unimaginable power! Ve are all doomed!
Keri gulped. Umm...guys, I think we forgot something.
Quistis shot a look back at her.
All the energy from Odin's Gate, Keri said. Like Odine says, it's a huge amount of power.
We can tell, Irvine said.
Well, when the lattice structure of the Crystal Pillar breaks down like we just rigged it to, there won't be any way to contain the energy anymore. She clenched her teeth, looking out at the rapidly approaching frame of Odin's Gate. The Crystal Pillar won't just shatter. It'll explode.