Chapter 77

Class of 5001

Now sufficiently washed and breakfasted, Nida donned his SeeD uniform and reported to Squall's office for his formal debrief, the one he expected would be his last. Selphie was also there, sitting on the left hand side of the desk itself, meaning that the last of Cid's SeeDs and three of the four from the legendary 'Class of 5001' were assembled one final time. Rinoa was with them, Angelo III having sought refuge in here after being distressed by the moombas' arrival. As was Rhodry, who was the only other one in formal dress.

The Disavowed had been escorted to the brig. As there were already some moombas in the employ of SeeD, these had been given the morning off, and had been joined by the new arrivals in their vast den belowdecks.

Nida was apprised of everything that transpired during his absence, including the most recent tidings from New Sarona. Thanks to the timely arrival of Tyris and Ballad, that finger of Ultimecia's hand had been blunted, and Baldur Vossler was coordinating a counteroffensive with Headmaster Biggs and Tyris to retake Jericho City. Among the reports were that General Zebalga himself had been defeated. It was at this news that Squall poured all of them a measure of cognac.

The black magicite containing Norg was at the centre of Squall's desk. Crudely fashioned by the shumi, it did not resemble finely cut crystal as the Odine-manufactured ones did, but instead was a rough shard of obsidian resting on the mahogany surface.

'I never saw Norg,' Selphie offered, with a nonchalant shrug. 'I was at the missile base.'

'Be glad you didn't,' Rinoa said. 'He was a sight I would never forget! And the smell!' She cringed at the memory. 'Hyne! When Zell smashed his pod open, the stench alone was bad enough to knock me on my butt!'

Selphie leaned back, throwing her hands behind her. 'I still would've been curious to see. Couldn't one of you have snapped a photo?'

Squall stared at her, his arms folded. On this morning, his tank top was grey and his combats were a darker shade.

'We didn't have phones back then, Selph,' he said.

'Oh, yeah,' she realised.

'And we were a little preoccupied trying to deal with his barrier shift.'

As Nida resumed retelling the tale that the Shumi Elder gave, Selphie begun scrolling on her phone. Squall and Rinoa intermittently looked at the magicite cautiously, as though expecting the shadow magic to burst forth from it, though the shumi's handiwork had proven to be as effective as Odine's, if not as pleasing to the eye.

Rinoa's eyes went distant. 'Griever says he didn't know about Norg's evolution!' she said suddenly. 'Norg's of the Ninth Element now, so it didn't cause any elemental imbalances. Though if he was free, I can't see he would want to answer to a Summoner, let alone Griever.'

'So, what are we gonna do with him?' Selphie asked, not looking up from her phone. 'If we use magicite, we're no better than Ultimecia. In fact, how many SeeDs can even use the Ninth Element?'

When Squall said nothing, Selphie stared expectantly at him. He sighed.

'None,' he admitted. 'We all know how rare that is. In fact, there's only two cadets that have shown aptitude, and they're both junior classwomen. Rydia and Terra. And there's no question of me sending them to battle, no matter how promising they are.' Then he gave a rarely heard chuckle. 'They need to learn not to fall victim to Edge's pranks, first.'

Rinoa gave that slight smile at this. 'Green suits them.'

'I can use the Ninth,' Selphie declared, finally pocketing her phone in its purpose-made case on her dress. 'And I don't have a GF.'

'You just said you wouldn't condone using magicite,' Rhodry mentioned, the first time he had said anything since greeting Nida.

'Then let's try to get his consent,' she said simply.

'Selphie, this is Norg we're talking about!' Rinoa said exasperatedly. 'You never met him! He was forced to cocoon because Zell freed Leviathan from his machine and beat him to a gooey pulp! And Nida just said he gave up his humanity for absolute power! If we let him free, the first thing he'll do is cast an Ultima spell on us!'

Selphie just shrugged. 'Then let's draw him out topside!' She looked at Rinoa and spread her hands. 'We're Descendants of Hyne! We can take him!'

Nida just looked between them. His service was now over, having fulfilled Squall's final request. His limp off-hand was a constant reminder of his infamy. He had no place to influence the verdict, nor the coming events in Timber. His debrief was over, and once Squall dismissed him, he would be journeying back to Winter Island. However, he could offer some input, and opted to do so.

'If I may, my friends,' he said. 'I've had weeks to ponder upon this. Norg bound Mizo no Kami for a dozen years, which any true Servant of Sasune will never forgive. However, he has spent longer than that bound within the magicite, and some western judicial systems would see that as more than time served. Perhaps if Norg can be convinced that he is safer remaining with SeeD, that our enemy will seek to only use him for personal gain, then there may be chance for some common ground. He may even offer you his power willingly,' he finished hopefully.

Squall shifted in his chair. 'Rin's right. As a shumi, Norg never did anything unless there was something in it for him. Chances are, even if he agrees to freely junction, he will wait until a critical moment to take his revenge. I can't take that chance on any battlefield, much less the one to come. A single Ultima spell could wipe out ten SeeDs in the blink of an eye; there's no mana-ward against it. As a GF, Norg has conquered death. It would be characteristic of him to unleash his full power in one, like a nuclear strike. Can you imagine the combined power of a hundred Ultimas being used in a single battle? He would wipe us out and weaken our GF power, free to remerge somewhere else as his energy recovers. And what if Ultimecia entraps him? She used Tiamat's flares to eliminate the Dragoons in one.' He shook his head, saying firmly, 'We can't release him! Not until the war is over, and we've got significantly less foes to worry about.'

As neither Rinoa nor Selphie responded, Nida did so.

'I agree,' he said. 'As ethically questionable as keeping him bound is. My people, for one, would never condone it.'

Any further discussion was interrupted by the office door swinging open. Characteristic of Damian Reno, he did not seek permission to enter anywhere, and everyone's eyes went from him to the dark magicite. The Wraith of Winhill's head had been freshly shaved, and his beard newly oiled and pointed. It was the first time Nida had seen him since Galbadia, though the demonic axe at his back was testament to his walking of the Jade Passage. Nida had only ever seen two other weapons similar to Mastema in theme, and they were the two gunblades crisscrossed on the wall to the right, Cid's Twinlance and Squall's Punishment.

Damian's beady eyes gave a blood-red flash as Diablos relayed something to him, and they rested on Squall. He did not salute. Nida surmised that Damian's recent trials had made him even more egotistical. He had been highly conceited before, but the union with Diablos gave him an air of completeness. He stood there rigidly, all five feet six and two hundred pounds of him, his muscles bulging out of his denim waistcoat, his shoulders raised. He had been largely inactive since the Jade Passage, save for the rout at the Necropolis. Now, he was akin to a caged grendel. He probably believed he could put an end to the war on his own. He swaggered past Nida and stopped before the desk, next to Selphie.

'That's a new GF,' he stated bluntly, to which no one answered. 'Are the rumours on the Network true? About Zebalga's death?'

'They are, Damian,' Squall confirmed. 'We've heard it from Tyris herself. She made short work of him and left his body on top of the Tower of Owen, freeing Tiamat in the process. The Jericho force is now led by Reinhardt, and they are in disarray. The Saronans are hopeful they can retake the city.'

The SeeD Commander reached for the cognac bottle against, pouring a measure in an unused tumbler. He slid it to toward Damian, then said, 'May your heroic father and those of Winhill he stayed to defend rest in peace now.'

'Fine stuff,' Damian remarked, then professed, 'I'll have to thank Almasy.' Then he cut to the chase. 'So, you asked for me, Commander?'

'I did,' Squall said. 'We have a mission for you.' Damian visibly relaxed as he basked in a sense of importance. 'Have you kept up your training?'

'I have, sir!' Damian said proudly. 'I've been eating Praetorians for breakfast!'

Squall regarded him carefully. 'Even Ialantha?'

Damian stiffness seemed to return for a moment, but then he laughed. 'Ialantha has seen over fifty namedays! I'll help her along to the nearest spa retreat!'

Squall's expression changed to one of annoyance. He slammed his hands down on the desk and stood, startling Selphie out of her scrolling.

'She's seen fifty namedays for a good reason!' he responded. 'Need I remind you of the nature of your targets? The Twelve are the most skilled fighters from across the Empire, most of them personally handpicked by Ultimecia from the Adel Unit, who themselves were a match for SeeD before their disbandment!'

Rhodry took over with a gentler tone. 'There is the Twelve, Damian, and then there is Ialantha. The Grandidi tribes despised Adel, as she treated them with contempt and took everything their Endless Forest had to offer. After her death, they began to reclaim what was theirs. As Ialantha came of age, she saw the wisdom in uniting the diverse peoples against foreign invaders, and she spent years devoting her life to such a cause. She bested all of the high chieftains in her quest, some of whom were double her age, and was successful in uniting even the most remote of tribes. They called her the Golden Raptor not for her prowess but because she was freely junctioned with the Golden Chocobo. Before Esthar's Lunar Cry, her followers numbered close to a hundred thousand.'

Nida thought it regrettable Rhodry did not aspire to take the reins of SeeD from Squall someday. Although his voice was not much higher than a whisper, it had a firmness about it that was able to command the full attention of as someone as arrogant as Damian without difficulty. And it was partly because Rhodry was one of the few people Damian knew he could not take.

'And then the daughter of Adel invaded the Grandidi,' Rhodry went on, 'along with her pirates, her marauders and her Kakashbaldi army. By bewitching the minds of the Kakashbaldi tribal chiefs, this young Sorceress Reina had achieved the same in a matter of weeks what Ialantha had achieved through years of trials and tribulations. Ultimecia knew that a hundred thousand Grandidi would greatly swell her force, and she offered a swift demonstration of her power by covering swathes of the Grandidi with crimson fire. Ialantha gallantly rode forth on the Golden chocobo to challenge this young Sorceress. Ignorant of her skill, Reina dismissively ordered Reinhardt and then Zebalga to kill her. Ialantha bested both them with ease, though as skilled and brave as she was, and as fleeting and elegant as the Golden Chocobo was, they were no match for a Sorceress.'

When Rhodry paused, Squall took over. 'Unlike Adel, Ultimecia knew the importance of winning the hearts of her followers in the long term. And so, she spared Ialantha, who imprisoned herself and her people with a blood-oath that would never be fulfilled until our foe's world conquest was complete. In doing so, Ialantha became Ultimecia's own talon.'

'I fought her myself in Timber,' Rhodry added. 'The Golden Raptor has not withered any. Her weapon is unorthodox and her fighting style even more so.'

'So,' Squall said. 'I ask you again, SeeD Reno. Have you ever defeated Ialantha in the Training Centre?'

Damian spoke through gritted teeth. 'No, sir.'

'When the all-out fighting starts, your earlier objective will remain the same. We expect Ultimecia to use her Praetorians to even the odds against our GF bearers, and it will be down to you to hunt down and eliminate them. All of them, except for Ialantha and Mitsuhide Akechi.'

Damian grunted his displeasure, but Squall ignored this. He could never accept being spoken down to, and his voice was steely as he said, 'Yes, sir.'

Rinoa slid around the right corner of the desk to approach him.

'Raine is currently deep within the Roshfall, adding the moogles of Timber to our cause. We don't doubt the ability of her team for an instant, but they're isolated. If Ultimecia gets wind of her location, she could swoop in and attempt to seize their GFs, which could further tip the balance of success against us.'

Damian glanced between Sorceress and Knight.

'Raine and Zhang won't want my help,' he said, then admitted, 'They can't stand me.'

'Well, they're getting it either way,' Squall responded firmly. 'And not just you. Once we've undertaken this mass junction with the moombas, I'm sparing ten SeeDs to accompany you. The reason being that I expect Raine to be very close to East Academy when she fulfils her objective, and when Cassandra Elderwood launches a great Timberian offensive from the Roshfall. It's critical Raine has a strong enough force to eliminate the blockade at Yaulney Canyon, as we need the Galbadians to be able to deploy their entire army. Your presence will greatly improve her odds of success.'

Squall was appealing to Damian's ego here, making him feel vital. Selphie had gone back to her phone, and Nida remained in his spot, having not been dismissed. Damian gave a nod.

'I'm sending you with Deist and Luna, too, to reunite what's left of the Dragoons. Raine and the twins been teaching the other two how to operate as a close-knit, elite unit. I expect you to do the same once you rendezvous. Make sure you set a good example.'

For Damian, this would be more daunting than taking on all the remaining Praetorians at once. He suddenly seemed unsure of himself, his posture taking a noticeable hit.

'What about Vossler?' he asked, likely to divert the subject.

'President Vossler has opted to remain with us,' Squall said. 'Now a GF bearer, he wishes to be part of the vanguard striking at Ultimecia directly, and he's confident the Saronan forces are capable in the hands of his brother. Even Luna has been unable to dissuade him. Still, we're honoured to have a man of Vossler's repute fighting with us. He is a Paladin well and true, and never aspired for rule.' Then he paused, frowning. 'Still, the cohesion of his country is precarious enough as it is. If both the president and his brother fall in the battle, we'll suddenly have a radical and leaderless army outnumbering that of Galbadia and the Forest fighters. Regardless of the outcome, Sarona will be the most powerful of the western nations, once this war is over. Galbadian dominance is a thing of the past.'

Nida was concerned for world politics only so far as it concerned his homeland. Balamb had been juggled between superpowers since the death of Sorceress Nakano, knowing only a few decades of independence with the onset of the Sorceress Wars. It would be a sad thing for Sasune to be reborn only to be threatened by Dollet once more.

Selphie was scrolling again, and it would seem Damian's patience was wearing thin, too.

'When do I disembark, Commander?' he said.

'At 1200.' Squall took a piece paper from the desk drawer and offered it to Damian. 'This is your team. You've got two hours to get them all assembled and junctioned with a moomba. Luna and Deist will be ready and waiting. Take one of our captured stealth pods to Raine's coordinates. You will be squad leader until your rendezvous, from where Raine will be in charge. It will be up to her to designate squads within her reinforced group.'

Something else Damian would find belittling, no doubt.

'Any questions?' Squall asked.

'No, sir.'

'Then you are dismissed,' Squall said.

Damian hesitated for a second, then gave a rigid salute. Nida could tell from his posture that he made the gesture only when obliged to. Though he was surprised when Squall returned it.

'Keep my niece safe, Damian,' the SeeD leader added.

'I will, sir,' Damian said, then left.

Silence fell as the door closed and Squall sat back in his chair. Everyone looked at Nida again, and it was Rhodry who spoke next.

'Nida, is there anything we can say or do to make you reconsider staying behind?' he asked. 'As an instructor, or simply a trainer. Even as an advisor?'

Of the three, Selphie regarded him the most longingly. He had seen that look in those emerald eyes from her before. Contemplative, ponderous and wishful. He would even say daring. Her Knight had fallen, and Nida's Sorceress was gone. Before he left, Nida knew what was going to be asked of him, and he already had his answer in mind. There was no question of him ever assuming that role again. Never. Besides, Selphie did not need him, as long as Rhodry was around.

He sighed heavily, then answered firmly. 'No. I intend to make the journey back to Winter Island at first light.'

'We figured you would say that,' Squall said. 'SeeD Aki, I accept your discharge with immediate effect.' He paused, glancing at Rinoa. 'Well, Rin and I would be pleased to invite you to dinner, with this being your final day here. An invitation I will also extend to Selphie, Rhodry and President Vossler.'

'I'd be honoured to accept,' Nida replied.

He could not have asked for a better send off, and he felt it was much more than he deserved. He permitted himself to grin.

'Here's to the Class of 5001!'

He gave the SeeD salute one final time, which Squall and Selphie both returned. While she had never been a SeeD, Rinoa had perfected the salute over the years, and did one on behalf of the absent Zell. Now filled with something akin to happiness, Nida left the office.