Damon woke up in Balamb Garden three weeks after the battle with the renegade sorcerers. He was hooked up to so many machines that it was hard for him to sit up. He felt fine. It was like waking up from a long nap. Perhaps it had all been a dream. Looking around him though he decided the chances of that where slim. Six other beds where in the circular room. Three others where occupied. Torrin, Cassandra, and Sky were asleep. They too, were all hooked up to the same machines as he was, and they all wore the same hospital clothes. The room was filled with flowers, balloons and banners wishing them well.
The doors opened and an old man came in. "Damon Kramer, it's good to see you awake. I'm doctor Avrrin. I'm a GF specialist. I was contacted by your people to come and over see your recovery."
Damon reached out and shook the man's hand. "What's happened? Have I been asleep all this time?"
The doctor smiled. "You have been asleep, however Dracos has paid us a visit every now and again. He wasn't to found of needles."
"I imagine not. How did he talk over…"
"Dracos simply altered the junction so he could speak and move through you. I was able to find out a lot from him and the other Guardian Forces."
Damon smiled. "Others…we all have them."
The doctor nodded. "Yes, and from the information you stole from the enemy ship, it looks like that there are two more who have yet to be found."
"Does the number have significance?"
"My you're bright." The doctor continued "Earth, fire, wind, water, time, dimension, and spirit. Seven in all, seven days to create the world. According to research if the seven GF's are brought together they will merge as one. Forming the ultimate power, the power of creation. We suspect that is why Archist had such a strong interest in Cassandra and Torrin. I'm afraid that's all we know so far. You should be fine. You can go get changed and go home. Your mother and father are here too, so you might want to drop in on them."
"Thanks doctor, the girls will be okay?"
"They'll be fine." The doctor reassured.
Quistis could feel another migraine coming on. Quistis, Edea, Rinoa, Selphie, Ellone, Laguna, Irvine, Siefer, Zell and Squall all sat around the conference table. They had been working through the night. The information the team had gotten in the enemy's ship was being sorted out and actions where being taken. The enemy now had a name. The Alliance. The group was bigger then any had estimated at first and what worried them all more was the ever so vague suggestion that it was being controlled by someone that wasn't part of their time. The thought of time compression sent chills up Quistis' spine.
"We can't risk having them in Garden." Zell was saying. They cause more trouble then the normal students…"
Rinoa stood up sharply. "Are you implying that Sorcerers are abnormal!?!"
"No it's just that they could be part of The Alliance." Zell said retreating a little.
Rinoa was steamed. "So could you! They have non-magic users in the group."
Zell tried to defend himself. "But the magic users are more of a threat to us."
Edea turned to him and scolded him. "Zell Dincht, you know that is nonsense. We do need to increase our security. I recommend conducting sweeps and singling people who do not believe Garden values out."
Laguna nodded agreement. "I have my own people performing similar sweeps in Esthar. We've managed to find and break up four of there strong holds."
Squall nodded to his father. "Good, we'll conduct similar sweeps here and in Balamb. Now there is the question of the children."
Everyone looked down, refusing to meet each others eyes. Irvine broke the silence. "They are a threat to us, if their GF's fell into the wrong hands…it could mean the fate of the world. Normally, strong GF's like those are destroyed for the benefit of all."
Ellone quickly responded, her heart in her voice. "You can't be serious! If we were to kill the GF's it would likely kill the children. Didn't you read Torrin's report, she went insane just from the removal of the GF. The scan of her brain suggests that there was probably a high risk of death during the extraction procedure!"
Selphie spoke up softly. "Still if something were to go wrong, like The Alliance getting them, it could mean the deaths of thousands."
Siefer pulled out Hyperion. "Anyone one who touches my daughter…I'll kill them."
A fight broke out. Quistis just ignored it and sat fingering her whip. She agreed with Siefer. She would protect her daughter no matter the price. Plus she didn't think any of the kids would give up without a fight. One generation fighting the other, it was a scary thought.
Squall restored order. "It comes to this. I trust the students of this Garden. A leader must trust those who he gives orders to. You must have respect for your men. I trust them to uphold justice. The are the best warriors we have. They will protect themselves and there GF's. We know to little to jump to rash judgments. Therefore the will continue with training and will become SeeDs at the end of next year. We must find the seventh, and Ellone you must confirm that your daughter does have the sixth one."
Ellone nodded. "I'm almost sure. I brought her with me anyway so maybe she'll reveal herself."
Squall sat back. "That's it then. Dismissed."
"Dismissed!" said the voice that echoed like thunder.
What could have been a throne room was lit by flickering candles. A man in a general's uniform kneels before the dais. The woman who speaks is hidden in the shadows. The only thing visible are her purple flowing skirts. A man by her side is dressed in a gray and red surcoat and trousers. His long blonde hair hangs down his back. Battle scares mark his face, giving him the look of being older then he is. A long sword is ever present at his side, but unlike most swords the metal of this one is tinted red. The general nodded and did his best not to scurry out of the audience chamber. Nails as longest claws clicked impatiently against the arm of a chair.
Krinth moved closer to his Lady. "It's a set back is all. The Alliance will rebuild and will establish themselves once again."
Her voice came like a midnight breeze. "Forget the alliance Krinth. They mean nothing compared to this. Archist served us well even though he blundered horrible by involving Garden. The seven are alive in that time. Do you have any idea of what this means? Creation. Ultimecia's time compression was a small event compared to this. Archist will be healed and then returned there with new orders."
"I could go instead of him, my Lady." Krinth volunteered.
"No!…I want you here by my side." She said a bit softer.
"What is your plan My Lady?" Krinth bowed low.
"The same thing it has always been. To rewrite history." Her voice carried a heaviness to it. From the shadow eyes glow bright white.
Torrin ran through the halls. Late for class…again. Irvine was going to kill her. Oh well, it wasn't her fault. Dex had made everyone breakfast and she had just lost track of time is all. Her schedule was so busy these days. She had classes all morning, then special training with Irvine and then Garden Committee. Cassandra, Eveonna, Skylla and her where singing together at the Garden festival. It was going to be so much fun to be up on stage. Everything was back to normal. It was back to being a teenager.
Torrin was relieved to just get on with her life. She didn't realize that for her things would never be normal again. For her or anyone else. When a door is open it's hard to bar the wind from blowing in. Eyes watched from a distance. Those who wanted to protect her, those who loved her and those who wanted vengeance. The children graduated from their first year at the top of the class, and a talent scout saw the girls performance at the festival. They where signed by a recording label and where a sensation. Damon went on another search to find his father, and Zell went to study under a martial arts expert. The Eyes watched them, waiting for a time, when they would once again be together.
The doors opened and an old man came in. "Damon Kramer, it's good to see you awake. I'm doctor Avrrin. I'm a GF specialist. I was contacted by your people to come and over see your recovery."
Damon reached out and shook the man's hand. "What's happened? Have I been asleep all this time?"
The doctor smiled. "You have been asleep, however Dracos has paid us a visit every now and again. He wasn't to found of needles."
"I imagine not. How did he talk over…"
"Dracos simply altered the junction so he could speak and move through you. I was able to find out a lot from him and the other Guardian Forces."
Damon smiled. "Others…we all have them."
The doctor nodded. "Yes, and from the information you stole from the enemy ship, it looks like that there are two more who have yet to be found."
"Does the number have significance?"
"My you're bright." The doctor continued "Earth, fire, wind, water, time, dimension, and spirit. Seven in all, seven days to create the world. According to research if the seven GF's are brought together they will merge as one. Forming the ultimate power, the power of creation. We suspect that is why Archist had such a strong interest in Cassandra and Torrin. I'm afraid that's all we know so far. You should be fine. You can go get changed and go home. Your mother and father are here too, so you might want to drop in on them."
"Thanks doctor, the girls will be okay?"
"They'll be fine." The doctor reassured.
Quistis could feel another migraine coming on. Quistis, Edea, Rinoa, Selphie, Ellone, Laguna, Irvine, Siefer, Zell and Squall all sat around the conference table. They had been working through the night. The information the team had gotten in the enemy's ship was being sorted out and actions where being taken. The enemy now had a name. The Alliance. The group was bigger then any had estimated at first and what worried them all more was the ever so vague suggestion that it was being controlled by someone that wasn't part of their time. The thought of time compression sent chills up Quistis' spine.
"We can't risk having them in Garden." Zell was saying. They cause more trouble then the normal students…"
Rinoa stood up sharply. "Are you implying that Sorcerers are abnormal!?!"
"No it's just that they could be part of The Alliance." Zell said retreating a little.
Rinoa was steamed. "So could you! They have non-magic users in the group."
Zell tried to defend himself. "But the magic users are more of a threat to us."
Edea turned to him and scolded him. "Zell Dincht, you know that is nonsense. We do need to increase our security. I recommend conducting sweeps and singling people who do not believe Garden values out."
Laguna nodded agreement. "I have my own people performing similar sweeps in Esthar. We've managed to find and break up four of there strong holds."
Squall nodded to his father. "Good, we'll conduct similar sweeps here and in Balamb. Now there is the question of the children."
Everyone looked down, refusing to meet each others eyes. Irvine broke the silence. "They are a threat to us, if their GF's fell into the wrong hands…it could mean the fate of the world. Normally, strong GF's like those are destroyed for the benefit of all."
Ellone quickly responded, her heart in her voice. "You can't be serious! If we were to kill the GF's it would likely kill the children. Didn't you read Torrin's report, she went insane just from the removal of the GF. The scan of her brain suggests that there was probably a high risk of death during the extraction procedure!"
Selphie spoke up softly. "Still if something were to go wrong, like The Alliance getting them, it could mean the deaths of thousands."
Siefer pulled out Hyperion. "Anyone one who touches my daughter…I'll kill them."
A fight broke out. Quistis just ignored it and sat fingering her whip. She agreed with Siefer. She would protect her daughter no matter the price. Plus she didn't think any of the kids would give up without a fight. One generation fighting the other, it was a scary thought.
Squall restored order. "It comes to this. I trust the students of this Garden. A leader must trust those who he gives orders to. You must have respect for your men. I trust them to uphold justice. The are the best warriors we have. They will protect themselves and there GF's. We know to little to jump to rash judgments. Therefore the will continue with training and will become SeeDs at the end of next year. We must find the seventh, and Ellone you must confirm that your daughter does have the sixth one."
Ellone nodded. "I'm almost sure. I brought her with me anyway so maybe she'll reveal herself."
Squall sat back. "That's it then. Dismissed."
"Dismissed!" said the voice that echoed like thunder.
What could have been a throne room was lit by flickering candles. A man in a general's uniform kneels before the dais. The woman who speaks is hidden in the shadows. The only thing visible are her purple flowing skirts. A man by her side is dressed in a gray and red surcoat and trousers. His long blonde hair hangs down his back. Battle scares mark his face, giving him the look of being older then he is. A long sword is ever present at his side, but unlike most swords the metal of this one is tinted red. The general nodded and did his best not to scurry out of the audience chamber. Nails as longest claws clicked impatiently against the arm of a chair.
Krinth moved closer to his Lady. "It's a set back is all. The Alliance will rebuild and will establish themselves once again."
Her voice came like a midnight breeze. "Forget the alliance Krinth. They mean nothing compared to this. Archist served us well even though he blundered horrible by involving Garden. The seven are alive in that time. Do you have any idea of what this means? Creation. Ultimecia's time compression was a small event compared to this. Archist will be healed and then returned there with new orders."
"I could go instead of him, my Lady." Krinth volunteered.
"No!…I want you here by my side." She said a bit softer.
"What is your plan My Lady?" Krinth bowed low.
"The same thing it has always been. To rewrite history." Her voice carried a heaviness to it. From the shadow eyes glow bright white.
Torrin ran through the halls. Late for class…again. Irvine was going to kill her. Oh well, it wasn't her fault. Dex had made everyone breakfast and she had just lost track of time is all. Her schedule was so busy these days. She had classes all morning, then special training with Irvine and then Garden Committee. Cassandra, Eveonna, Skylla and her where singing together at the Garden festival. It was going to be so much fun to be up on stage. Everything was back to normal. It was back to being a teenager.
Torrin was relieved to just get on with her life. She didn't realize that for her things would never be normal again. For her or anyone else. When a door is open it's hard to bar the wind from blowing in. Eyes watched from a distance. Those who wanted to protect her, those who loved her and those who wanted vengeance. The children graduated from their first year at the top of the class, and a talent scout saw the girls performance at the festival. They where signed by a recording label and where a sensation. Damon went on another search to find his father, and Zell went to study under a martial arts expert. The Eyes watched them, waiting for a time, when they would once again be together.