Walking across the rope bridge connecting the Gullwing to the tower of one of the new buildings in Kilika, Bilal took in the sight of the growing town. What had once reached the size of a minor city had been burned to the ground almost one and a half years before was built back up. Though it had not reached its previous size and it was far from independent, Kilika was now in good shape. Unfortunately, the only reason the Kilikans were able to rebuild and stay out of the grasp of the New Yevon regime that was quickly solidifying its hold on Spira was the fact that the Gullwing and its crew of now-exiled Al Bhed defended the island fiercely.
Rikku had returned to the Islands after bombarding Bevelle in retribution for the execution of her beloved cousin, Yuna. The majority of the fleet had dismissed themselves from duty prior to that event and had returned home to express their dislike for Rikku and her lack of command talent. Enough of them had protested for the Council to remove Rikku from command of the Al Bhed fleet, despite her father's efforts to protect her position. The girl had refused to leave the Gullwing and was ordered, under penalty of exile, to return the ship to the Islands and disband the crew and marines that had remained onboard. Instead, she left, turning her back on the Al Bhed and their home. The hundreds of men that had gone with her, too, gave up their past lives out of loyalty to her.
Bilal, a man who had lost most of his family at Home and lost his surviving brother on one of the ships at Bevelle, had no doubts about his decision. For the better part of a year, the man had overseen the defense of Kilika from New Yevon raiders. He had even worked out a system of military service for the residents of the town; all able-bodied men and any women that had no children were immediately enlisted when their scout ship brought in reports of an incoming fleet. It was a fortunate that no fleet had been big. The Gullwing had so many open jobs onboard that required little or no mechanical skill that the Kilikans easily made the ship battle-worthy.
As Rikku's executive officer, almost everything was his responsibility. The girl had not even set foot on the enormous ship in over a month. She spent most of her time in a hovel on the edge of the jungle and she rarely accepted visitors. Bilal had not spoken with her in two weeks; the last time they spoke, it was a quick affair consisting of his dropping on her bed a casualty report from the previous attack.
Proceeding across the bridge to the tower, Bilal met one of the newcomers from Luca. A small force of Crusaders had accompanied some civilians fleeing from the Yevon-occupied mainland. In just barely more than a year, New Yevon had tightened its grasp on Spira, determined not to let it go as easily as its predecessor had. The leadership of the religion, now democratic in an attempt to put distance between them and the dictating Maesters, made endless promises to make up for the corruption that had infected the order, distorted the teachings and turned them into falsities.
"Sir, we were, uh, wondering about living arrangements. There isn't enough room in the town for us and the temple just isn't built to hold refugees," said the Crusader, walking with the Al Bhed back down the ramps to the base of the tower.
Bilal bit his bottom lip in thought, trying to come up with an answer quickly. He was good at making fast decisions, even if they were only temporary solutions. "See if anyone wants to stay on-ship permanently. I want Crusaders on the ground, though, in case raiders circle the island and land."
The Crusader nodded as he stepped off the final incline, "Yes, sir." He kept walking, away from Bilal, before he remembered the second issue he was supposed to bring up. He turned quickly and ran back to the Al Bhed, yelling, "One more thing, sir!"
Bilal turned, eyebrows raised slightly, "Hmm?"
"Cala wants to talk to you about some of the Gullwing's combat machina after her class is over. One dropped through a weak platform into the shallows and shorted, almost killed the pilot."
Nodding, the man touched the Crusader's shoulder, "Thanks. Now, get on adjusting living arrangements." Bilal stood on the sand as the Crusader saluted and jogged off down the main platform toward one of the communal lodges. Calling after him, he yelled, "Get a party together to find something edible in the jungle."
The Crusader stopped and turned around, yelling back, "Will do, sir!"
"Preferably something meaty."
Saluting once more, the man returned to his journey to the nearby wooden hut.
Bilal shook his head, remembering the last time Al Bhed and Crusader had worked together. To think that we'd try it again after the outcome of the alliance against Sin. He shrugged. They are good workers, though, I'll give them that.
A boom resonated through the air, causing Bilal to duck slightly and turn toward the direction the sound came from. Smoke rose from one of the machina lifters that had been carrying a heavy cargo of building lumber destined to be a new home for one of the Kilika families. Electricity jumped between the parts of the machina, frying some of the inner components; the wooden boards beneath it were streaked with black. The Al Bhed that had been directing it jumped away and rolled on the ground, smothering some small flames that had attacked his clothing. He cursed loudly in the Al Bhed language.
Bilal took a deep breath and closed his eyes. One thing at a time. It took a moment before he realized how much he loathed that saying. It was meaningful but it was also the motto of New Yevon. They believed that a slow evolution of the customs of Spira was the only way to prevent anarchy. The group had gone so far as to blame all of the difficulties in Spira on the chaos the Yuna's brief reign had promoted. With so many Spirans being sheep, they were quick to accept what the new regime said.
Striding down one of the wooden docks that had survived the burning of the village over a year before, Bilal watched a group of young men on a small protrusion of beach going through a lesson in a martial art that was taught to all Al Bhed during their childhood. Teaching the class was his blonde assistant Cala, one of the most proficient people in that particular art. He could tell they were a new class and had no knowledge of Cala; his subordinate was of a smaller build than most hand-to-hand combat veterans were stereotyped as being and her soft, high voice gave an impression of innocence and even helplessness. Though lacking great strength, she was fast and agile and she knew how to cause the most damage in as little time as possible. The class seemed entirely undisciplined and lacked a proper respect for their instructor. Bilal laughed quietly to himself, knowing that would soon change.
He moved farther down the docks to where a crew of Al Bhed and Kilikans were toweling themselves off with their now-stripped shirts. Kilika was extremely hot in the afternoon and it, understandably, was even worse when doing manual labor. This particular group was building another small lodge to help ease the crowding in the town. Though refugees from the mainland only rarely made it to the island, they tended to arrive in large numbers and had to be given shelter in family homes.
"It's looking good," Bilal said in Al Bhed.
Looking up at him, the Al Bhed workers voiced their thanks. The Kilikans just looked at each other, unsure of what to say or think. They had no idea what he said and probably never would. The coded language was easy to learn and understand but nobody seemed to be able to figure that out until they had actually learned it.
Knowing there would be no response from the Kilikans, Bilal continued down the docks. Though he appeared as though he had a destination, he did not. He was not in the frame of mind to deal with the problems with the old machina that had been locked in the holds of the Gullwing, unused and without maintenance since before the mammoth ship had been found by the Al Bhed in an isolated fjord. Being a better mechanic than he was, Cala should have taken responsibility for the machina from him.
"I guess I should tell her that. Probably now, too, so I can avoid having to listen to her complaints," he said aloud. He liked Cala but there were times when he wanted to tell her to shut up and solve something for herself. If she had one fault is was that she was usually unwilling to take action without instruction from her superiors.
"What, sir?" asked a nearby Crusader who was standing in the doorway of one of the communal lodges.
Bilal turned his head quickly, "Huh? Oh, nothing, I was just… nothing."
The Crusader looked at him oddly before nodding, saluting quickly, and moving inside the hut.
Spinning around on his heel, the Al Bhed ran back down the docks to where Cala was teaching her class. He stood on the wooden platform a few meters from the beach and watched the instruction for a few moments.
Cala slapped the shoulder of the man in front of her and took a step back, waving him forward. The man threw a punch at her and she ducked, slamming her hand up into the man's wrist. She was quick to pull her fist away and grab his wrist with her other hand, yanking him forward as she spun around fluidly and rolled the man over her back. He flew up into the air and fell to the ground in front of her. The man lay there for a second, dazed. Cala knelt down over him and whispered something before standing, taking his hand and hauling him up.
"You can't move so slowly and you can't expect to knock your opponent out of action in one hit. Do not put so much force into a punch without leaving the rest of your body defended. Any trained fighter knows how to use your momentum against you. The only power I used was hitting his wrist. His own drive carried over me and onto the ground where I could have easily dispatched him," Cala lectured. She spotted Bilal at the edge of her vision and turned to face him. She said in Al Bhed, "Commander!"
Bilal raised his eyebrows and spoke so the students could understand, "Very good. Under your teaching, these men will be great additions to our defense force."
Cala smiled at him warmly and abstained from using the Al Bhed language, "Thank you, sir."
"I need to take you away from your class for a moment."
Cala nodded and turned back to her trainees. In a commanding tone, she said, "Lino, lead exercises while I'm away."
The two Al Bhed moved a good distance away from the class and spoke in their tongue.
"I was told you needed to talk to me about the machina problems we've been having." Bilal held a finger up to stop her from talking as he continued, "I have a lot of responsibility here. Hells, I've been taking care of everything for the past few months. I want you to take full charge of everything to do with both teaching these classes and anything to do with machina and ship maintenance."
"But, sir, I… I need to make sure everything fits your plans," Cala bit her lip, not wishing for complete responsibility for anything.
"No, Cala," he said sharply. "You're taking command of it and that's final. I do too much for you to even think about declining a request. It's bad enough that Rikku is making me do everything, I do not need you begging off."
Cala's lip quivered slightly. Bilal's harsh tone had cut into her and she could not stand to make angry those close her. She had always had problems with depression when she made people mad at her. "But… I…," she could not voice what she wanted to say. She did not know what she wanted to say.
"No, Cala. It's yours now, not mine. You need to stop relying on me to tell you your decisions are fine. Get back to your class and I don't want you to protest at all. Ever."
The girl nodded and sniffed, trying not to cry. Bilal looked at her and touched her cheek. He lifted her chin slightly and looked into her green eyes.
"I'm not mad at you, Cala. I just need a break. You understand, right? It's not your fault. If anything, it's mine… or Rikku's."
The young woman stared back at him in silence for a moment. "Yes, sir."
Bilal moved his thumb across her lips, wiping away a droplet of blood. He wiped it off on his sleeve before reaching out and brushing a loose strand of hair back behind her ear. He smiled at her kindly, "Fix yourself back up and get back to teaching. You have to whip those boys into proper fighters."
Cala smiled back at him and nodded, "Yes, sir, I won't let you down."
"I know you won't." Bilal touched her shoulder lightly before turning from her and walking away.
The blonde-haired woman stood watching him walk away, still smiling affectionately. She licked her lips, tasting the slight flavor his skin had left there. She reached up and wiped her eyes, sniffed, and took a deep breath. Turning, she yelled at her class, "Five laps, up to the temple and back. You have twenty minutes!"
The class groaned, causing Cala to change her orders, "Make that fifteen minutes. Now, go!"
The group took off at a quick jog, not knowing that it was nearly impossible to make five laps up all those steps to the temple in fifteen minutes. Cala would penalize them for not succeeding; the punishment would be worse than normal due to her recent upsetting by Bilal.
A small boat approached Kilika, making a straight run for the town. The Gullwing shielded all of the settlement but she knew that. With a boat so small, she would not be attacked upon approach; all she had to do was cooperate and allow any and all security checks and she would be allowed into the town. Perhaps invoking Rikku's name would even get her a direct audience with the young Al Bhed woman.
Her eyes brightened as she remembered the sphere she was carrying with her. Reaching behind her, she took the blue sphere from her satchel and ran her fingers over it, trying to decide whether she should play it once more or not. She had watched it regularly, no less than once a week. It was short but it was also one of the few physical memories of Yuna.
Her finger played over the start key. Chewing gently on her cheek, eyebrows arching upward, she pressed the button.
The sphere flared to life, beginning with the picture of two women holding each other. From out of the scene, a blonde girl rushed forward and jumped onto the back of one of the women. She ran around in circles with the girl clinging to her giggling.
Closing her eyes, the woman decided she did not want to watch it anymore. Every time she saw it, it left her with an empty feeling in her chest, as though her heart had been torn out and the only thing she had left was a dark cavity.
"That no way to treat a friend, yah? C'mon, make up and all be good."
"Make up?"
She shook her head and quickly hit the stop button before the next scene could be heard. The woman reached up and mopped at her eyes with her sleeve. Looking around, she noticed two small boats, each just barely bigger than her own, approaching her. She put the sphere back in her bag and clasped the staff Nirvana to the top, ready to go ashore. Standing slowly, she raised her hands so the incoming people could see that she was not armed.
The boats closed on her quickly and she was met by several gun barrels leveled at her. None of the men spoke for several long moments, but they seemed to be scanning her small boat. Without her consent, two jumped aboard her vessel and seized her rather roughly. She stood still as they patted her down; even though their hands moved over her, over her most personal areas, she let them continue, determined to cooperate fully. Spotting a somewhat attractive female Crusader hop onto her boat, she wished the newcomer had been the person to check her for weapons. At least then she might have enjoyed it a little.
"You look familiar. What's your name?" asked the woman.
"I'm Sadye Vuillemot of Bevelle."
The Crusader waved away the two men searching her and the boat. "Ladyship? Oh, oh wow. You have no idea what a blessing this is. We had taken you for dead along with," she stopped and swallowed, "along with Yuna and Commandant Nooj."
"Well, I made it out."
"What of Nooj? Did he make it, too?" the woman asked hopefully.
Sadye shook her head, "I… I don't think I can talk about this now. Please take me to Rikku. I need to talk to her."
The Crusader nodded and took her hand. "Yes, of course. I'll take you to her myself. Please come this way." The woman took her to the side of one of the ships, where a rope ladder was lowered so they could easily climb aboard. "We'll tow your boat in with the second ship. Ours are faster."
Getting into Kilika had proven easier than she had expected. She had anticipated being met by Al Bhed who, in all likelihood, would not be able to identify her, not even once her name was given. Her few Al Bhed contacts were among the council that led the secluded people; she knew the Council of Tribes had exiled Rikku from the Islands, so the odds of one of her contacts being with her were essentially zero.
The Crusaders hurried her to the shore and were quick to show her the way to the hovel Rikku had spent most of her time in during the last few months. Standing outside, Sadye ran her fingers through her hair and straightened her clothing. She did not know why she bothered trying to make herself more presentable; it was not as though Rikku would think differently of her or even notice that her hair was tousled and blouse wrinkled.
Sadye tapped lightly on the door but heard no answer. She waited for a few moments before trying again, knocking the wood harder the second time.
From inside, she heard a distant, "If you're not Bilal, go away."
She put her hand on the door handle and pushed inward slowly. The door creaked as it swung open.
"What is…it…," Rikku stopped as she saw that it was not Bilal. It took a few seconds for her to recognize who it was. "Sadye?"
The dark-haired woman nodded, "Rikku."
Jumping off the bed and rushing into Sadye's arms, the girl started crying. "I thought you were gone, too. I thought you left me."
Sadye ran her hands over Rikku's back and up over her shoulders. She slowly rested her palms on each of the girl's cheeks and kissed the tip of her nose. "I'm sorry, Rikku. I tried my hardest to get us out of the city, I really did."
She pressed her forehead to the younger woman's and stared into her jade eyes. Tears streamed from them as Rikku sobbed. She lifted her head a little, brushed her lips just above the girl's eyebrow and started crying as well. They stood in the middle of the hut, Rikku's head pressed to the Sadye's upper chest, vulnerable.
