The Seeds of Treason

II

General Leo walked in on me the next morning as I packed my few belongings.

I heard the door creak open behind me, but I didn't turn to see who it was. I knew. "If you're here to try and change my mind about this, you aren't going to get very far," I said to him.

When I turned to look, he was staring at me, dumbfounded. "You… you're leaving? You're abandoning the Empire?"

I strapped my trusted sword, a Regal Cutlass, to my belt and nodded. "This place holds nothing for me anymore. The Empire has lied to me and betrayed me for the last time. I refuse to give in to this evil place for any longer." I turned back to my things. "If you had any sense, you'd come with me."

He glanced around frantically and closed the door quickly. "Celes, if anyone gets wind of this, they'll arrest you for treason!"

"I don't plan on announcing my exit."

"You don't think they'll notice?"

I scoffed. "I'm a general. I'll tell the guards I'm on urgent business. By the time they realize what's happened, I'll be long gone and headed for Doma."

His face went pale. "Doma? You're going to Doma? That's… Even if you make it that far, it's suicide!"

"I don't care," I said resolutely. "I'm not going to stand by and let all of those people be murdered. If I can warn them…"

I moved to put my last cloak in my small bag, but Leo snatched it away. "Listen to me, Celes. You're putting me in an awful position here. If the Emperor asks me where you've gone… I can't lie to him, Celes! If I were found out, I'd be killed!"

I stared angrily at him. "I don't care what you tell him. Give me a day. I'll have a head start on the Empire anyway. Then you can tell Gestahl anything you want." I snatched the bag away from him and stuffed the cloak inside it. "If you really want to help me, you'll offer yourself as my replacement."

"What good will that do?"

I rolled my eyes. "Look, you outrank Kefka. If you're made a part of the Doma operation, you'll still outrank Kefka. Then you can stop him from poisoning the river."

He considered this. "And if the Emperor rejects my offer?"

"You're a smart man," I said, picking up the bag and slinging it over my shoulder. "I'm sure you can figure something out."

I started for the door, but he blocked my path. "Celes… one last time… please don't do this."

I stared him in the eyes for a long time. I could see the desperation in them. I could tell he really cared. That was heart-warming.

But I had made up my mind, and I shook my head. "I have to, Leo."

He hesitated, and then stepped aside. I wordlessly strode by him.

"Celes."

I turned back, looking at him one last time.

"Two days," he said. "After that, you're on your own."

I waited a moment, and then nodded. He nodded back.

The last I saw of him was the defeated look on his face before I swept out the door and headed discreetly out of the palace.

The day had progressed well into afternoon by the time I had gone far enough south to see the rooftops in the distance that marked the small town of Albrook. It had rained heavily for a while, and my cloak was still very damp from the downpour. The sun had found its way back into the open, however, and I was thankful I'd taken the time to pack properly.

Getting out of Vector had been as simple as I'd expected, and the long journey to Albrook consisted of nothing I wasn't already accustomed to. Being an Imperial general had its advantages. But now that I could see Albrook, I was reminded of the disturbing reality that it was occupied by the Imperials. I silently thanked whatever god there was that I hadn't been in command of that mission.

However, it meant that I'd need to disguise myself somehow.

I looked around myself for anything I could use to change my appearance. I'd had to do this on more than one occasion in the service of the Empire, mostly for reconnaissance missions, trying to find information about the Returners. It seemed very strange to be worrying about it now; it felt as if I was trying to fool my own allies. That was what made it difficult.

I spotted a large mud puddle on the border of a section of forest, supposedly provoked by the torrent of rain, and looked back up at the sky, grinning. I then hurried over and began to apply the mud to my scalp, allowing it to ooze through my wiry, blonde hair. With any luck, at least that much would be unrecognizable, even if my face wasn't.

I then began to dirty the clothes I was wearing, adding grass stains from the nearby field of green to the effect. The mud in my hair had seeped as far as my face, and I rubbed it into my skin as best as I could, using the remaining muck on my arms and legs where they were revealed. I then wrapped my cloak around myself, adding a layer of brown to it and lowering the hood.

I looked around for the final touch and spotted a large branch at the base of a thick tree in the nearby forest. I picked it up; it was just about the right size. I leaned on it heavily and practiced my limp, remembering my last visit to Tzen. Hopefully this act would be as effective now as it had been then.

It was really the only chance I had.

I gathered my belongings and, armed with my new disguise, made my way to Albrook. I walked normally for the first twenty minutes or so, but when I neared the guarded entrance to the village I remembered that if I could see the guards, they could see me. I leaned heavily on the stick and began to limp the rest of the way, careful to stumble once or twice to appear convincing.

The shift in pace made the remaining half of the trip take longer than the first had, and it was another thirty minutes before I reached the village. I kept my head ducked down, looking at the ground in front of me and trying as best as I could to avoid eye contact with the two Magitek-equipped guards at the entrance. I silently prayed that they'd leave me alone.

I was surprised by that moment. It was a moment that struck more fear into me of being caught than any of the other espionage assignments I'd done… and I'd done a fair few. My heart was beating so loudly in my chest that I was very afraid the guards would hear it as I passed between them.

But the guards said nothing. I passed them and turned to see the backs of their armour, and neither one had taken as much as a second glance.

I allowed myself to breathe again, and silently congratulated myself. But there was work to be done; I couldn't indulge in my little accomplishments.

Keeping to my guise, I limped across the harbour town. The environment had become much more depressing than the last time I'd been here. Back then, the Imperials hadn't yet seized control. Now – partly thanks to me, I reminded myself – each of the three villages on the small continent had been occupied by brute force.

Everywhere I looked I saw armoured Magitek soldiers and the occasional uniformed officer, and I remembered to keep my low profile for fear that I'd be caught. I refused to allow myself to be caught before I reached Doma. But I couldn't help looking around. The townspeople were all so weary, so depressed. They looked as if they'd lost all hope. These weren't citizens who felt protected by a glorious establishment of order. These were citizens suffering under brutal tyranny.

In every direction there was another demonstration of how evil the Empire really was. It was amazing I hadn't managed to notice.

I passed by the weapon shop, walking along the water's edge toward the dock. I could see a ship there, but there was another obstacle I hadn't thought about. I was familiar with the Imperial rules of occupation, particularly the clause which forbade boats to leave the port during the time of occupation, except for Imperial purposes. Nothing I'd heard about recently had indicated that my ex-allies needed to set sail from Albrook, so unless I could think of a way to duck around the Imperials, I was stranded.

I approached the dock, and the situation looked about as grim as I had suspected: there were Magitek-armoured troops standing guard on dry land, and I could see nobody aboard the vessel. I apparently wasn't going to get off-continent that day. I cursed under my breath.

The sun was beginning to set, and I knew I would look suspicious if I did nothing but stand there and watch the dock. I decided to go to the inn, get my bearings, and figure out what to do the following day. I hobbled up the set of stairs – with some difficulty – and followed the balcony to the inn. Opening the door, I stepped tentatively inside, suddenly very conscious that I was covered in mud.

The man behind the counter looked over, and then looked again with what seemed to be either surprise or apprehension. It looked as if my disguise was working. "May I help you, miss?" he said to me.

I limped over to him, making an elaborate show of leaning heavily on my 'cane'. I let out a few dry coughs, and then adopted the most ragged voice I could muster. "Pardon me, good sir…" I said. "Might you have a room for the night?" I coughed again, pulling out a few gold coins and dropping them on the counter between us.

The innkeeper took them tentatively. "Certainly, ma'am," he said, and I grinned slightly, pleased with myself. The man then gave me a small key. "This is for the first room on your left," he said. "Just return the key in the morning."

In the same rough voice, I thanked the man, who gave me a quick smile and nod, and then returned to his work. I limped across the floor, leaving a trail of dirt in my path, and placed the key in the lock of the first door on the left. The gentle click, and it creaked open, and I hurried inside, closing and locking the door once again and thankfully discarding the disguise for the moment.

I looked around myself. It was certainly not the most luxurious place, but it was definitely better than my chambers back in Vector. I felt another wave of anger when I thought about my old 'home' and willed myself to think about something else, at least until I could calm myself somewhat. I crossed to the window. From here I could look out to the open sea, all the way to the farthest horizon. I could also see the harbour from here, soldiers and all.

It reminded me of my current predicament.

I started pacing around the room. I still had no plan whatsoever to get that ship away from the port and on its way to Doma. I looked out the window again. I could try commandeering it, I thought. But no, there were too many guards. I wouldn't last five minutes.

Just then, a carrier pigeon flew right by the window, and I yelped in surprise. A hand on my beating heart, I watched the small bird for a moment. It flew down to the guards at the dock. One of them took the letter from it and read it, and then said something to the other guard, who turned and started toward the ship.

Curious, I thought.

I watched as the guard boarded the ship and walked around it… it looked as if he was inspecting it. Seconds later, he confirmed my suspicions when he gave a thumbs-up to the guard at the other end of the dock, who then left his post and headed for the bar while the inspector returned to stand watch.

My eyes followed the soldier heading in the direction of the pub. Surely that letter wasn't about leisure hours. Something else was up. I couldn't really tell from here, though; the guard presently disappeared into the small establishment, and I was left with many an unanswered question. I decided to wait by the window and see if the man would reappear.

Fifteen minutes or so passed before I saw him again. This time he wasn't alone, and now I understood what was happening. Following him toward the dock (and looking as if he'd rather still be in the bar) was a sailor, an old, balding man with a prominent beer belly. I couldn't blame him for that; he'd been out of work since the Imperials arrived. He followed helplessly as he was led to the ship, and he and the two guards began to talk amongst themselves.

I could see the intensity of the conversation even from my vantage point all the way back in my room. I could see the defiant look on the captain's face, the increasing anger of the two Imperial soldiers. At one point, one of them raised a hand and dealt the sailor a punch to the face, and I raised my hand to my mouth to keep from uttering a cry. This was true Imperial brutality. I'd seen it before… I'd done it before… but I'd never seen or done it knowing what I knew now, and the very idea that I'd been a part of such terrible things was enough to make me sick to my stomach.

The sailor, as far as I could tell, gave in. To what, I couldn't begin to guess. He walked moodily away from the port, headed for a small house on the east end of the village – preparing his belongings for a sea voyage, no doubt. But if it was for the Empire, I had very little chance of getting aboard, and the chances of that ship going anywhere besides Tzen or Maranda were very low. I sighed. I'd have to find another way.

The sun was setting, and the sky was filled with orange. I stifled a yawn; I'd been unaware of how very tired I was. I crossed the room back to the bed, sitting on it, feeling the sheets and comforters. I'd be better able to think of a way out of my predicament if I were to sleep a little, I thought. I lay my head down on the pillow. Even with the thousands of thoughts and emotions running constantly through my head, it wasn't long before I drifted off into a deep sleep.

I was awakened just before sunrise the next morning by voices on the other side of the wall.

"You mean to tell me you ain't seen 'em?" said one voice. "There's a whole platoon headed from Vector."

I sat bolt upright in bed. Vector?

"No, I didn't," said the other, one I recognized as the innkeeper's. "This is the first I've heard of it. You mean to tell me all those troops are headed off-continent?"

"Yes indeed," said the first voice. "From what I've heard them soldiers talkin' about, there's been some sort o' trouble in South Figaro. S'lookin' like they're gonna go the same way we did: troops all over the streets. I even heard talk of an informer from inside the town."

I really didn't need to hear any more; I was already donning my disguise. As I dressed, though, I kept listening.

I heard the innkeeper again. "What's poor old Sammy got to do with any of this?"

The other voice laughed shortly. "You kiddin'? He's the only half decent captain in Albrook. They went right on into my bar and yanked 'im out on his ear. Beat 'im up, too, from the sound of it. Don't seem to me like he got a choice."

The innkeeper sighed. "Poor sod… taking all those Imperial bastards up to South Figaro… Sometimes I'm glad I'm just an innkeeper."

"I'll drink to that."

I stopped listening at that point. I had all the information I needed. That ship was going to South Figaro, and I was going to be on it when it left.

Dressed once again in my outfit, I hurried out of the door, remembering nearly too late to switch to a limp as I approached the counter. I dropped the key between the innkeeper and the man I didn't know, both of whom looked oddly at me. "Thanks," I said, and hobbled out the door.

The last thing I heard the innkeeper say was, "sounds like her voice got fixed," but I didn't have time to worry about it. The sun was beginning to rise; glancing over to the village entrance, I saw the vast array of brown Imperial helmets marching toward the dock. If I was going to be on that ship, I'd need to do some quick thinking.

I limped as quickly as I could to the harbour. The two guards that had been stationed there had left to greet the new platoon – careless of them, I thought, to leave the vessel unguarded. I took the opportunity and hurried aboard the ship, heading for the silhouette of the captain, who was busy preparing the ship to set sail.

"Excuse me, sir," I said, remembering to alter my voice. The man turned toward me, a confused look on his face. "Sir, might I request passage aboard this ship? I know where it's going and it is very… important that I reach South Figaro."

The captain shook his head fearfully. "Are you crazy, ma'am? See them over there?" He pointed to the Imperials, who'd halted their advance momentarily to listen to the commanding officer. "They're all gonna be aboard this ship, and if they catch you here, it'll mean both you and me tossed overboard!"

"Shhh!" I said to him, putting a desperate finger to my lips and dropping the false façade, aware that it wasn't helping. "Do you want them to hear you? I'm willing to hide somewhere – anywhere. It's a matter of utmost importance!"

His eyes narrowed. "What happened to your voice?"

I waved my hand, aware that the troops would continue toward the ship at any moment. "That's not important. I'm in disguise so that the Imperials don't recognize me. I'm begging you, please let me stay aboard."

The sailor gritted his teeth, still uncertain.

I sighed shakily. "Sir, hundreds of lives are at stake here. The Imperials are going to do something… something unthinkable, and I plan on stopping them. Do you really want the deaths of all those innocent people on your conscience?"

Another moment of hesitation, but then he turned frantically as he saw the Imperials approaching the dock. He rounded on me. "Fine. You've got your wish." He stooped and opened up the hatch he'd been inspecting. "Quick, get in here before they catch us."

I whispered a thank you to him and leapt into the hatch, ducking so that he could close it above me. I heard his heavy boots move to stand on top of it, and then heard – and felt – the reverberations of at least three dozen more pairs of boots marching aboard. Most halted suddenly after a few moments, but I heard a set of footsteps crossing the deck to where the captain was standing.

"So, Captain," the Imperial officer said, and I nearly let out a gasp as I realized I knew who this man was: Commander Andrew Lloyd, my second-in-command from the Maranda operation. "Everything is ready to go? I trust my soldiers weren't too… harsh with you yesterday?" I heard a few chuckles from the other grunts.

I could nearly hear the captain's trembling. "N-no, sir. Everything's ready to go. You just… you just say the word."

A pause. "Consider the word spoken, Captain. I want to be on open water in five minutes."

The boots walked away, and there was a flurry of activity above me, but I was no longer paying attention. I remained silent, feeling the rocking motions of the boat and hearing the splashing water. It wasn't long before I felt the vessel set sail for South Figaro.

Sitting there in the darkness, preparing for the long journey, I fidgeted nervously. It was the first real moment of doubt I had… and I could only hope I'd make it as far as Doma, and that I'd make it in time.

As far as I can remember, I dozed off about then. It was presumably much later when I woke up to the sound of Imperial soldiers talking above me. Intrigued by their conversation, I lifted myself up a little so that I could hear more clearly.

"…and from what I hear, she's run off with the Returners," said one of them. "Might explain why the Emperor wants us up there so quickly."

The second soldier whistled. "Who'd have seen that one coming? One minute she's putting her magical little tush to good use, and the next she's fighting with a band of vagrants…"

I bristled silently. 'Good use' indeed… Were they talking about me? They must have been. What other magic-using defector could they be talking about, unless…

"Ah, I never trusted her to begin with," said the first, and I listened again. "She just came out of nowhere, you know? And that eerie green hair…"

So that was it. The Empire was still after Terra.

"I know what you mean," replied the second. "She never really seemed natural. If you ask me, she was nothing but a little witch. I still can't believe we ever trusted her."

I scoffed under my breath. The only thing they'd trusted was the Slave Crown, and even that didn't work.

The first soldier spoke again. "To think, of all men, it'd be the king of Figaro hiding her. Lousy traitor… would've served him right, what Kefka did to him."

"Yeah," the second laughed. "I'd have liked to see the look on his face when he saw his precious little castle all flames. Too bad he got away."

"Aw, he won't hold out for long." One pair of boots took a few steps toward the bow. "We've got him tracked into the mountains, remember? He might has well have drawn us a map to the Returners' hideout."

The second guard chuckled again. "I can't wait to get me a piece of that Returner scum."

Then I heard a third pair of boots approach, and I heard Commander Lloyd's voice again. "Don't get yourself too worked up, soldier," he said.

I could hear the two men snapping to attention. "General Lloyd, sir!"

I raised my eyebrows. 'General'? He'd been promoted, apparently. I wondered if that had anything to do with my departure.

"As you were, boys," my old comrade said to them. "I'm just here to inform you of your posts. You'll be taking guard stations at South Figaro's west entrance."

I could hear the disappointment in the second soldier's voice. "Guard stations, sir?"

"Yes, that's what I said. Your job is to make sure nobody enters or exits the village. I assure you, you'll be quite safe from the Returners there." The sound of Lloyd's boots faded to the other side of the ship, leaving me alone once again with the two blissfully ignorant soldiers.

The second guard waited until Lloyd was well out of earshot before speaking again. "Guard stations. Can you believe this?"

The first chuckled derisively. "What'd you expect? You enlisted – what, last month? You're lucky to be a part of this assignment at all."

"But I just…"

"Shut up, already," interrupted the first soldier. "Come on, let's grab some rations. I'm starving." They walked away, the second guard muttering under his breath.

I was consequently left with even more to think about. I now knew for sure that Terra was still safe from the Empire… at least for the moment. They'd run into the mountains. I considered this. Maybe after I alerted Doma, I could find my way to their hideout and offer my services. It was an intriguing thought. General Celes, working for the Returners. With my military expertise, I'd be a great help to them… if they could trust me, that is.

But the Imperials were already getting close, from the sound of it. I thought about Figaro. I'd met the king of Figaro once… his name was Edgar. He'd been a charming gentleman, if a little chauvinistic. Interesting that he'd side with the Returners. I hoped he was okay.

What little daylight was seeping through the cracks in the boards was waning, and I could tell that night would fall soon. There was really very little to do other than to sleep, and wait until the ship docked in South Figaro. I'd have to work out what to do next when I got there. I wondered if I'd be able to make it out of the town at all.

Better not to worry about crossing the bridge until I got that far, I thought.

Trying to forget where I was and why I was there, I drifted back into a deep sleep.