Characters and backstory belong to Squaresoft, of course. The rest is mine!

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Chapter 1 – Energy

Rinoa watched Squall across the room, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. He scowled at the uncooperative computer controls, trying to think of anything that might work. His hair fell in his eyes as he worked: oh, how she wished she could brush it back. But she wouldn't dare: much as she knew he cared for her, she also knew his temper, and that somehow he hated being touched. Or maybe he liked it too much.

Irvine caught her eye and winked. She smiled, flushing slightly, embarrassed that he'd caught her moon-eyed over Squall. If only it had been Irvine she'd fallen for: warm, open, sexy...

"Dammit, you stupid machine, let me in! Bollocks"

Rinoa resisted an urge to laugh at Squall's frustration, reminding herself that they were on a mission and it was very important.

Irvine put a steady hand on Squall's shoulder. "You need a break. Let Selphie have a go."

"It's alright, I can manage," Squall snarled.

Selphie bounced over to him. "Oh, go on Squall. Please?"

Even Squall couldn't resist Selphie's enthusiasm.

"Whatever." He relinquished the computer to Selphie and went to the window. The control centre was positioned on a cliff high above a long, sandy beach; he watched the rhythm of the waves, lost in thought.

Sometimes when Rinoa watched him she felt almost overwhelmingly sad. She had sensed a warmth in him that he was careful to hide; she knew he cared deeply about his friends and yet he was always building a wall to keep them out. She knew he hurt, although she didn't know why. His cool grey eyes gazed out of the window, soft dark hair falling across his beautiful face. She sighed.

"Go and talk to him," whispered Irvine. "it can't be good for him to brood like that."

"I don't know what to say" confessed Rinoa. "He looks so... far away."

"You'll think of something."

"But what if…"

Irvine stopped her with a look, raising one eyebrow. He knew her so well.

"Alright," she smiled at him, "cover me."

* * * * * * *

Squall was aware of her crossing the room, felt her presence drift to his side. It felt right, but disturbingly so. In the instant he imagined her with him, he imagined the unbearable pain of losing her. He closed his eyes. ~No~. He couldn't go through that again.

"Hey. Pretty complicated computer, huh?" ~Oh great,~ thought Rinoa, ~I can just tell this is going to go really badly.~

He shrugged. "Selphie can do it, I'm sure."

"Yeah." ~Come on Rin, you can do better than this.~ "So what happens when the security thing comes down?"

"We go and fetch the crystals. Then we get out of here as quick as possible." At last he turned to look at her. "Safely."

She was lost in his eyes. He cared, she knew he did. Maybe now was the time…

"Yes!!" Selphie leapt up excitedly, punching the air. "Got it!!" Irvine caught her and spun her round.

"That's my girl. Knew you could do it!"

"Right, let's move," Squall had turned his back on the view and was already striding towards the door. "You know what to do. We'll meet the others at the main gates once we've got the crystals."

"I hope they've found a car or we'll have to run mighty fast." Irvine picked up his gun and fell in behind Squall as they left the control room, followed closely by Selphie and Rinoa.

"You're a genius, Selph," hissed Rinoa "but that was damn bad timing."

"Oops! Sorry. Were things going well?"

Rinoa regarded her friend with a wry smile. "Actually, no. Not really."

Selphie squeezed her hand reassuringly as they broke into a jog to keep up with Squall and Irvine's long strides. "Never mind, Rin. It was meant to happen. It will one day."

Rinoa sighed. "I hope I'll still be young enough to enjoy it, Selph. Sometimes I wonder."

* * * * * * *

Squall and Irvine ran down the hall, crossed the short gangway over the main factory workshop and came to a stop by the elevator door.

"Lift or stairs, Squall?"

"Lift. So long as Selphie hasn't knocked the controls out," Squall pressed the button.

"Of course not" exclaimed Selphie indignantly, "at least... I don't think so."

Squall granted her a rare smile as the lift doors opened. They got in, four full grown adults squashed into a space designed for one security guard and a moomba. Rinoa found herself nestled into Squall's side, breathing the heady scent of his battered leather jacket. She tried to keep her mind on the mission ahead of them, but it wasn't easy.

The lift beeped, lurched to a halt and opened its doors to reveal something that looked like an angry rug with a lot of teeth.

"Damn! Irvine, can you take it out?"

"Too close, man."

"Okay, Selphie, Irvine with me. Rinoa, magic. Try cold stuff, it looks warm to me."

Almost a joke, thought Rinoa, what's the world coming to?

The fight went well at first: the monster seemed intent on smothering them, which left it wide open to attack as Irvine shot at it and Squall slashed it's underbelly with this gunblade. Selphie was having more trouble with her attacks: at the edge of the creature was a row of scales that she couldn't seem to penetrate. Rinoa drew her strength and hurled a blizzard at the creature, but with no impact; if anything it seemed to get more vigorous.

"Fuck!" yelled Squall, "no, fire, Rinoa, fire! It's got singed where Irvine's shot it, I think it'll burn!"

Rinoa gathered a fireball in her hand and drew her arm back to strike; she could see Selphie struggling and knew their time to get the crystals was running out.

"Burn!" she commanded, and threw her spell as fast as she could.

The effect was more dramatic than she had dared hope: the second the fireball hit the rug the monster ignited, flames rushing along its length. It screamed with pain and rage, flopping to the floor. Irvine and Squall jumped out of the way but Rinoa watched in horror as Selphie was knocked to the floor under heaps of flaming fur.

"No! Selphie!" In an instant Irvine hit the floor and caught Selphie by the shoulders, rolling her clear. Squall hit the rug with the flat of his gunblade, batting the flaming mass away, sparks flying, smoke billowing. Quickly Riona summoned Leviathan to flood the hall and quench the flames.

Coughing weakly, Selphie was gathered up in Irvine's arms as the soggy mess of charred fur, scale and teeth was swept away. Squall, drenched in the sudden flood, gasped at the shock of the cold water, Lion Heart hissing steam, his wet hair plastered to his face. He turned to Irvine, who was checking Sephie's pulse.

"Selph? Are you OK?"

" mfine... "Selphie murmured, "just w...inded."

Squall quickly passed Irvine a small vial. "Give her this. Wait here. Rinoa and I will go get the crystals."

Irvine nodded. "Hurry!"

Squall turned to head down the corridor at a run, but not before he'd noticed how Irvine's fingers had laced themselves, knuckles white, with Selphie's. He caught Rinoa's eye, briefly, recognition passed between them.

"Thanks for the fire. Let's go."

The corridor they ran down opened out into a lobby, with a central seating area and doors ranged along each wall. Remembering the schematics Quistis had shown them, Squall hardly broke his stride as he chose one. Just as they were about to charge through, the next door along flew open and a small security bot sped out, only to be swiftly dispatched by Squall's gunblade before it could so much as charge up its lasers.

"Squall, hurry!" Rinoa was already through the door, holding it open for him. He followed with a nod.

"Wow." He stopped on the threshold, transfixed for a moment by the sight before them. The room was cavernous, energy crystals growing like stalactites from the ceiling, glistening and reflecting a million colours.

"Squall, it's beautiful."

He stole a glance at her face, bathed in colour, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"Yes," he whispered, "so beautiful."

"Listen... I can hear music. It's coming from over there." She pointed to a small pool in the corner of the room.

"It could be a trap, Rinoa. Be careful."

"It's okay," Rinoa crossed to the pool. "Wow. It kind of makes you feel..."

"Clear headed?"

"Yes!" She spun round to look at him and the instant their eyes locked, the memories flooded back.

Squall gasped, it was almost painful to remember all at once.

"Rinoa! You... I..."

"Oh Squall! How could we forget? Why…"

He cut short her sentence with a kiss, gathering her up in his arms with all the longing he'd been storing a way for an age. His lips covered hers and they melted into each other, singing from the pool filling his ears, overwhelmed by the smell and taste of her, ocean and vanilla.

Finally, reluctantly, they parted.

"How could we forget?"

Squall brushed her hair from her face. "I don't know. The Guardians, maybe? It happened before to some of us, remember? The orphanage..."

"Yes, but that was more than a year ago. We all write everything down..."

"Well yes… so there's only one explanation. Something must have changed the past, and this reminded us... or..."

"But Ellone always said that couldn't be done. Changing the past."

He shrugged helplessly. "I don't know." He found he didn't much care, either. He just wanted to kiss her again. And never stop.

"Oh Squall, how could I…" Again he silenced her with his lips, drinking in the softness of her, filling his hands with her beautiful hair.

"Squall…" she murmured, "the energy crystals..."

He moaned softly. There were always crystals, or shards of something, or bits of something else. He didn't want any of it. He just wanted Rinoa. In his arms, like this. Forever.

~How can you forget you love someone this much?~

He hugged her tight. "Okay, crystals. But whatever happens, just try and remember? Promise?"

"Of course" she kissed him briefly. "I promise. And later we can have a long… talk."

Reluctantly he let her go and pulled his rucksack off his back. "Quistis said at least three good sized ones. There's some in the corner over there already broken off. And some in the pool, in case that makes a difference."

She nodded. They swiftly gathered the crystals, got ready to leave. As they went to the door Squall risked one more kiss, knowing how crucial their mission was but unable to resist, just in case.

And then they ran through the door, and back towards Selphie and Irvine.

"I remember something else!" gasped Squall, "Irvine and Selphie, they were…."

"What? Oh, no, I think they're just friends. Although Irvine would like more, so who knows, maybe one day..."

"What? Rinoa..."

But in the instant it took him to slow a fraction and look over his shoulder at her, her forgot what he'd been going to say. He couldn't even remember collecting the crystals, but could feel the extra weight in his pack.

"You OK, Squall?"

"Yes... the strangest thing... I think maybe I banged my head or something."

"Mmm... well, we're all tired and a bit beat up... let's get back."

They found Irvine and Selphie just where they'd left them. Selphie looked pale but she was standing and looked almost her usual cheerful self.

"You got them? I knew you would!"

"Are you okay?" Rinoa hugged her friend briefly, "you took quite a hit."

"I'm fine. Let's go."

Squall led the way back to the elevator where once more they huddled in the confined space. Squall shook his head, trying to clear his mind and remember.

"Hey, Man, you're like a wet dog!" Irvine protested. Squall looked momentarily confused, then realised he was soaked through – of course, Leviathan.

"Blame Rinoa – she brought the flood!" As he grinned at Rinoa, he realised she was wet too – at least the front of her T shirt was. Funny... if she'd called the Guardian she should have been clear. He noticed his confusion mirrored in her eyes.

Before he had a chance to think about it any more the lift arrived at the lower level and they all piled out into the factory area. Squall raised his hand to stop them, spotting a movement behind one of the huge banks of steel machinery.

"Irvine," he whispered, "did you see that?"

"Already got it." Irvine focused steadily down the sights of his gun, fired. A bullet ricocheted of the far wall.

"Damn," said Squall, "you're losing your touch..."

But as he spoke another ricochet sounded, then a squeal, followed by a thud.

Squall laughed. "You show-off!"

Irvine tipped his hat with a wink. "Glad to be of service."

"There could be more. Keep your eyes open." They moved cautiously across the factory floor. Squall ushered the others through the door to the reception area, but just as he turned to run through the door himself a piercing alarm sounded and the ground beneath them rumbled heavily... Squall didn't have to look to know they were in trouble.

"Fuck! Quistis, where are you?"

"It's an AT705 security bot, Squall," Selphie said, her voice still weak, "we could take it out with Quez."

"Quez is with Zell. Damn, what took us so long?"

"Never mind that, do we fight or run?" Rinoa braced herself, already anticipating his response.

"Fight! Try to hold it off 'til they get here."

"If they get here," Irvine murmured to Selphie. "You OK?" he squeezed her elbow gently.

Selphie nodded. "They'll get here," she said, almost as if convincing herself.

"Selphie, Rinoa, thunder spells and lots of them. Irvine, call Shiva, we'll try to freeze it's batteries out. Just keep going and hope the others get here." Squall drew his gunblade and charged.

The security bot, some twenty foot high, all gleaming metal and pipes, plunged towards them, pulling back its huge cannon ready to fire. Squall whipped his blade round in an arc, slicing through cables and sparking off steel. Circuits hissed and fizzed but the cannon relentlessly fired. He rolled clear; Rinoa and Selphie's spells shot lightning around its casing, but still it fired.

"It's got a conductor!" yelled Selphie "no damage!"

"Shiva's nearly ready" Irvine grabbed Rinoa's hand to get her attention "Rinoa, quick, Leviathan. Now!"

Squall had already hurled himself back at the machine, hacking at anything he could find that looked remotely vulnerable with a savage energy.

"Squall! Watch out!"

He turned just in time to see Leviathan rising in front of him, water cascading from nowhere towards him. In the instant the deluge hit the AT705 Shiva appeared, hurling ice so cold it froze the water on contact. For the second time in less than an hour Squall was drenched from head to foot, chilling him to the bone. Catching his breath he lifted Lion Heart over his head and smashed down on the security bot, shattering the now frozen and brittle casing and slicing wires underneath.

"They're here!" Rinoa was tugging at his arm, "come on, they're here!"

Squall turned and ran as the beginnings of an explosion started to rumble in the AT705, following the others as they hurled themselves into the back of the jeep.

"Go!" ordered Squall, as Irvine and Zell pulled him into the vehicle, electricity crackling across the trail of water that followed him. "Put your foot down, Quist!"

Quistis obliged, wrenching the steering wheel to turn the jeep out of the factory compound, raising a dust cloud behind them as they sped away and finally reached the road to Balamb. Squall sat back on his heels, catching his breath at last.

"Man, you're… wet!"

He looked up to see an amused Zell grinning at him. Relief washed over him, even as the water ran down the back of his neck, and he started to laugh.

"Not my fault!" he pointed at Rinoa, "blame the mad woman with the water guardian!"

"It was Irvine's idea!"

"Hey, man, what can I say... except it worked, didn't it?"

Squall was still laughing, trying to wring water out of his t-shirt, with little success.

Quistis checked out the scene in the rear view mirror, just in time to see Squall shake his head vigorously, drenching his friends in icy water. ~Good Gods~, she thought.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd heard Squall laugh.

* * * * * * *