This location is not accessible on disc 4
Esthar is a ridiculously huge, sprawling city. Several areas within Esthar, such as the Presidential Palace and Dr. Odine's Laboratory, are Locations unto themselves. Much of the city consists of empty pathways, with lifts all over to take you around quickly.
There are a few people you should speak to immediately to make rare magazines available. One is the Presidential Aide, a man wearing blue and white outside the Airstation. After speaking to him, return to the Presidential Palace and speak to him outside your room. He'll leave behind a copy of Occult Fan IV.
You'll also want to speak to a soldier on a high crossing walkway in the middle of the city. He'll say "Oh yeah. That's right." You can speak to him again later as Zell and he'll give you Combat King 004.
The shopping mall puts all of Esthar's Shops in one menu, and it's conveniently located near the city entrance (on the Right Side). You may randomly receive gifts when trying to access the Shops, even those that are closed. Johnny's Shop is usually closed, but keep trying until it's open. The Item list isn't that impressive at first, but if you have the Familiar Ability, you'll find some great Items. Make sure you visit this Shop while it's accessible so you can use it later with the Call Shop Ability.
After Squall heads for the Lunar Base via the Lunar Gate, Zell's party must head back to Esthar. Your first priority is to visit Dr. Odine's Laboratory, which is now open. he will explain the situation.
The basic idea is that you have 20 minutes to board Lunatic Pandora at one of three contact points. However, failure is no big deal—you won't get the opportunity to board Lunatic Pandora briefly, but the plot will continue. The simplest strategy is to head to each contact point in order, proceeding to the next one if you miss your window. Note that any save points in the city will disappear while the timer is running. As with any timed event in hostile territory, the use of Diablos's Enc-None Ability will help immensely.
The first contact point, which opens when there are 15:00 left on the timer and closes when it hits 12:00, is on a walkway across the center of the city. It's immediately past the guard who has Combat King 004, so stop and get that on the way. (You can also do this before visiting Dr. Odine if you don't want to waste any time.)
You can't use the lifts, so from Dr. Odine's Laboratory, you'll want to head left once, up twice, and right three times to reach the contact point. There will be a battle at each contact point, which you will have to win before the window closes. Note that if you arrive early, you'll have to leave or re-enter the screen to trigger the contact.
To reach the second contact point from the first, head right, then up. This puts you on the top walkway, but you want to be on the bottom, so continue up, then go right and then back left to reach the correct walkway. This contact point is open for five minutes, from 10:00 to 5:00.
The final contact point is quite close to the second one. Simply head right from the lower walkway, then down on the next screen, and you're there. This window opens with 3:00 left and ends when the timer runs out.
If you don't want to bother with the first two contact points, head right from Dr. Odine's Laboratory and just keep following the main path past the shopping mall, then wait until the timer reads 3:00.
You will return later to meet the President and formulate a plan to take on Adel in Lunatic Pandora. Keep in mind you can land directly in the Airstation with the Ragnarok.
There are a few people you should speak to immediately to make rare magazines available. One is the Presidential Aide, a man wearing blue and white outside the Airstation. After speaking to him, return to the Presidential Palace and speak to him outside your room. He'll leave behind a copy of Occult Fan IV.
You'll also want to speak to a soldier on a high crossing walkway in the middle of the city. He'll say "Oh yeah. That's right." You can speak to him again later as Zell and he'll give you Combat King 004.
The shopping mall puts all of Esthar's Shops in one menu, and it's conveniently located near the city entrance (on the Right Side). You may randomly receive gifts when trying to access the Shops, even those that are closed. Johnny's Shop is usually closed, but keep trying until it's open. The Item list isn't that impressive at first, but if you have the Familiar Ability, you'll find some great Items. Make sure you visit this Shop while it's accessible so you can use it later with the Call Shop Ability.
After Squall heads for the Lunar Base via the Lunar Gate, Zell's party must head back to Esthar. Your first priority is to visit Dr. Odine's Laboratory, which is now open. he will explain the situation.
The basic idea is that you have 20 minutes to board Lunatic Pandora at one of three contact points. However, failure is no big deal—you won't get the opportunity to board Lunatic Pandora briefly, but the plot will continue. The simplest strategy is to head to each contact point in order, proceeding to the next one if you miss your window. Note that any save points in the city will disappear while the timer is running. As with any timed event in hostile territory, the use of Diablos's Enc-None Ability will help immensely.
The first contact point, which opens when there are 15:00 left on the timer and closes when it hits 12:00, is on a walkway across the center of the city. It's immediately past the guard who has Combat King 004, so stop and get that on the way. (You can also do this before visiting Dr. Odine if you don't want to waste any time.)
You can't use the lifts, so from Dr. Odine's Laboratory, you'll want to head left once, up twice, and right three times to reach the contact point. There will be a battle at each contact point, which you will have to win before the window closes. Note that if you arrive early, you'll have to leave or re-enter the screen to trigger the contact.
To reach the second contact point from the first, head right, then up. This puts you on the top walkway, but you want to be on the bottom, so continue up, then go right and then back left to reach the correct walkway. This contact point is open for five minutes, from 10:00 to 5:00.
The final contact point is quite close to the second one. Simply head right from the lower walkway, then down on the next screen, and you're there. This window opens with 3:00 left and ends when the timer runs out.
If you don't want to bother with the first two contact points, head right from Dr. Odine's Laboratory and just keep following the main path past the shopping mall, then wait until the timer reads 3:00.
You will return later to meet the President and formulate a plan to take on Adel in Lunatic Pandora. Keep in mind you can land directly in the Airstation with the Ragnarok.