Chapter 2
"The power of such a sorceress is haunting, manipulative...if such a force could control a person of my strength, who knows when it will rise again and conquer Rinoa? I'm not even going to begin to suggest that she is weak, but–"
"I understand completely what you mean," replied the president-elect. "But Mr. Almasy, I fail to see any problem to solve with your solution. If she's with SeeD, she's in the safest place possible. Safest for herself and us all."
"She was with SeeD when she released Sorceress Adel; I hardly call that safe," Seifer said condescendingly.
"I cannot lock my daughter away." Caraway looked out his office window. "I have made so many errors in the past, this would just be another to add."
A lean forward, and a flip of strawberry blond hair. "You don't have to do anything. That's why I'm here, remember?"
The older man was silent.
"Oh come on, you're not going to back out now. I thought you wanted to be a responsible leader for Galbadia...for the entire world."
Seifer hadn't noticed that he kept a framed picture on his desk. Faded by time and the light, a dark haired woman in an evening gown proudly showed a golden award to her young daughter. (Our daughter. She's all I have left...and now she's slipped away.) The former general's thoughts turned to the last time he'd seen his daughter. She had been in the company of SeeDs preparing to assassinate Sorceress Edea.
Rinoa had cut off her long hair. (Butchered it) he thought bitterly. She loved styling and playing with it, but at fifteen, he'd made the mistake of complimenting it, so away it went. Along with the light, glittery make-up, and pink clothing...but maybe that was Seifer's doing.
It seemed strange to him that irony deemed that the very young man he'd feared would lead his daughter to ruin had now come to lead her away forever. But he was a knight, and his role would be to support her in her endeavors. Sealing Rinoa off, the boy had explained, would give him a shot to have a normal life.
(But what of Rinoa's life? Barely nineteen, and it would all be over?) "It won't be easy," Caraway said softly, "Leonhart will never allow this without a fight. He prevented her sealing in Esthar a year and a half ago."
"He won't know what we've done until everything is over." A derisive grin touched Seifer's lips. "Supposedly, it will be a 'Galbadian rescue operation'–after all, she is a citizen–and maybe someday, he'll know that she became 'sealed for your protection.'" He laughed a bit at his joke, but Caraway did not smile in return.
"Well, then, your operation will commence at my inauguration." He set his jaw. "However, I should like to see her before you take her to the new missile base."
"Of course, sir." A light salute.
"That will be all." With that, the mercenary knight left. Caraway lifted up the picture, and the late afternoon sun glinted off the glass. Julia and Rinoa looked like they were bathed in light.
(Yes,) he thought bitterly, (this will be all.)
* * * * * *
"I now proudly present to you all, zee Junction Machine Ellone!"
The group of gathered Estharian scientists politely applauded Dr. Odine.
"Zis machine will lead us into zee future...show us zee past...and best of all, further learning in zee field of science!"
"Laguna, what do you think of it?" Kiros whispered to his old friend.
The president cocked his head to the side, scrutinizing the piece of machinery before them. "It's very shiny," he offered. "And for all the problems it has...er...will cause, it's certainly innoculative."
"Innovative, sir?" Kiros hid a smile.
"Oh, oh yes, that's the word! Innovative."
"And here is zee inspiration for all of zis, zee beautiful and gifted Ellone Loire!" The doctor, although egotistical, certainly didn't mind giving credit where credit was due, and the tall graceful brunette walked onto the platform.
She smiled faintly, gathering up her courage to make a small speech, which she knew in her heart, was sure to be disregarded. "Thank you. The doctor's invention will certainly lead us into a wonderful new world of learning and progress. Scholars have said for ages that history is doomed to repeat itself..."
* * * * * *
Rinoa had paused her packing to watch the news conference, live from Esthar. She'd never known Ellone as well as she'd have liked, but a small smile came to her face as she saw the sweet girl speaking on the television.
"...history is doomed to repeat itself, but maybe that is only because scholars lose perspective. No two instances are exactly the same; in fact, one instance can be very different, depending on whose eyes one uses to see it from. With Dr. Odine's invention, we can now all see events of the past through many different perspectives. My deepest desire is for this project to further understanding. That was my dream, and the reason that I participated in such a great undertaking.
"I don't deny that this machine could indeed be the beginning of a dangerous path for all mankind...and there may be some out there with dark wishes to see the fulfillment of old dreams...evil desires." Ellone blinked her eyes, then focused on the camera directly in front of her. She seemed to be directly addressing the viewers.
"Such plans can never come to fruition. Our mistakes will further our learning, and any attempt to change the past will simply move us all backwards. So let us take this new tool of learning, and educate the world of our rich history."
As soon as she backed away from the podium, she was thanked with thunderous applause. The camera panned out to the proud faces of President Loire and his advisors, then the triumphant gaze of the doctor, finally scanning through the excited members of the audience.
An announcer began to speak. "This is truly an historic day for the people of Esthar, and people everywhere. The very annals of the past shall come to play before our eyes, thanks to Junction Machine Ellone. When we return from our break, we will have a one-on-one interview with President Loire himself and his thoughts on the ramifications of such an important breakthrough..."
Rinoa switched off the television, then slipped a brand new light pink dress into a garment bag. The softest satin, it shimmered even in the faint light of the dusk that managed to sneak into her dorm room.
She turned to the mirror, gazing at her reflection. Her hair was still shorn–it was easier to manage that way–but she had washed off the kohl and mascara, and was debating the results. So used to wearing the deep, rich colors, she'd almost forgotten what her eyes looked like bare.
(Black doesn't really match pink, anyway.) Tossing out the contents of her makeup bag, she sorted through the various tubes and containers, until she found a rather old, half-empty jar of eye shadow. She glanced at the label. Moondust.
Twisting it open, she was rather pleased to see a shimmering, iridescent, lavender powder shining at her. (I knew there was a reason why I never threw anything away.) She finished gathering her toiletries, and tossed the small bag inside her satchel, zipping it up. (There. And I only put packing off for a day.)
She smoothed the jacket of her uniform. Since she wasn't technically on leave, she had to dress as a cadet for the trip itself, although formal dress was required for the inauguration itself.
Gingerly, Rinoa sat down on the edge of her bed, still eyeing herself in the mirror. She and Squall were to leave in a few hours. The main event, though, was still two days away.
("...any attempt to change the past will simply move us all backwards..."
I wonder if my father and I will ever be able to forgive each other for the errors of our past? When he did all he could to anger me, and I, him? Will any word that needs to be said, pass our lips too late?
Does he wish that he'd done a few things differently, too?)
* * * * * *
"Are the cameras gone?" Laguna glanced around his office nervously.
Ellone's sweet laugh carried through the room as she walked in. "Oh, Uncle Laguna, how do you ever manage to get through daily life as the president, when you hate publicity that much?"
He leaned back in his desk chair, propping his feet up. "It never used to be half as bad, you know, when Esthar was still cut off from the rest of the world. Sometimes, I wish we still were."
"We have gifts to share with everyone, though!" she said enthusiastically.
"You don't miss the Gardens, sweetie?"
"Oh." She sat down lightly in a comfy wingback chair. "I never said that, but I've gotten a bit old for that. I'm not a child anymore, you know. And my work has been so fulfilling, as long as I forget about Ultimecia's plans in the future."
Kiros, who had been standing next to the president quietly until now, questioned her. "I often wondered how you could work so eagerly on a machine that would cause so much pain."
"I have to believe that there is a good use for it. Besides...if we hadn't made the machine, it would change the world as we know it. That's too much responsibility to place on our heads."
"Many that Ultimecia killed would still be alive."
"Only in this time." She looked up at him, with a bit of pleading in her eyes. "Didn't you hear Squall and the others' descriptions of Ultimecia's castle? All the fallen soldiers outside of it? I like to think that, even if there was some pain caused here and now, that my...my machine allowed for a group who still had hope to go back and give some to our successors in the future. Anything that led to the defeat of such a vile soul can't be bad."
"You don't know that for sure," he persisted.
"Sure? Nothing is sure!" Ellone sent a pleading look to Laguna. "Uncle..."
"I told you there were good reasons when I gave the go-ahead for the completion of the project. It's done and over with now, so we can't change the past and not make it." He stood up, patted his friend on the back, and extended a hand to his adopted niece. "Let's not regret the past. We should go out and celibate!"
"It's celebrate." Ellone giggled and stood.
The three of them left then, to find Ward, and spend an evening happily looking to the future.
