Such Great Heights
Part Two: The Shrillest Highs and the Lowest Lows

The Galbadian missiles, time compression, and a recent earthquake had not been good to Trabia Garden. After the world had returned to normal, new concrete had been laid for the Garden's structure to rest on… but the earthquake of a week prior that had killed ten SeeD recruits had also destroyed the new groundwork.

Selphie nearly broke down into tears when she saw the broken pieces of concrete littering the area of Trabia Garden. Most of the walls and ceilings had collapsed, though thankfully not the dormitory areas so that the people working there had someplace warm and sheltered to stay as they rebuilt the once-great Garden.

"Thank goodness you guys are here," Sadie, the highest-ranking SeeD on the premises had said once she glimpsed Squall and Selphie's arrival. "We could use all the hands we can get." Then, looking Selphie up and down, she had grimaced. "I hope you brought some warmer clothes, young lady."

And that was how Selphie had wound up in thick worker's jeans that were four sizes too big for her, held onto her waist by one of Squall's extra belts. She had borrowed a sweatshirt from one of the cadets and felt utterly ridiculous as she walked the length of the main floor with Squall in the blowing snow.

"First, a new foundation needs to be laid," Squall said, climbing over a pillar that had fallen in his path. "Then, the floor put down and the supports for the walls and ceilings. It can't be fancy, just functional."

"They'll get to the fancy later," Selphie said, shivering a little. "We just need to get a roof on this place." She stopped, standing in the place where a large glass fountain had once stood reflecting the light from the faceted glass ceilings… when the ceilings weren't covered with a foot of snow. Now, there were just pieces of glass scattered all around her, and a small frozen pool a few feet away. "I saw the supply airship come in with the cement trucks. I guess they're going to pour a foundation as soon as we can get it dug." She looked half-heartedly toward a group of SeeDs who were working with pickaxes and shovels to clear away some of the debris blocking the path of a large, yellow bulldozer.

"This needs to happen more quickly," Squall responded, and then took off at his usual fast walk toward the heavy machinery at the far end of what would one day be the main hall.

With Selphie watching in utter disbelief, Squall climbed into the bulldozer and started it. He shouted to the SeeDs to get out of the way, he threw the vehicle into gear and promptly started to forcibly clear the debris, pushing it all into a big pile beyond the markers that indicated where the end of the foundation would be.

Selphie clapped her hands. This was the most amusing thing she had ever seen – including Zell trying to fish a fallen hot dog out of the ocean in Balamb – and she had to wonder if there was a class at Balamb Garden that dealt with operating heavy machinery.

If there was, she wanted to take it.

Finally, Squall jumped out of the yellow vehicle of destruction and said something that Selphie couldn't hear, sending the previously-idle SeeDs scattering. Wiping his hands on his pants, Squall crossed the broken concrete to where Selphie was still standing amidst the glass shards of the fountain. "There," he said once he arrived, "that got them into gear."

"I never knew you could operate heavy machinery," Selphie said, grinning a little.

Squall gave her a sideways glance. "There's a class on it."

Selphie squealed with delight.