Chapter 7 – Operation: Infiltrate Bevelle (Part 2)

Note (3/26/05): I'm going back and rereading my previous chapters, making the occasional error fix or story tweak.


Rikku always got the creeps of Bevelle's temple. The last time she was here, she was helping Yuna escape from Maester Seymour. Every time she thought of that freak trying to marry Yuna, shivers ran down her spine.

"You alright Rikku?" asked Paine, giving her a weird look.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm ok. This place just creeps me out." she replied grimly.

Yuna didn't seem any more enthused to be here than Rikku did. She, too, remember what Seymour tried to do to her here. Nearly killed, and separated from everyone else, she conjured back up the fear she felt during her hegira out of Bevelle.

The lift finally stopped, making visible the intertwining maze that made up the temple. At least now it seemed New Yevon make the temple more easily navigable. Yuna led off, remembering the path to the end of the temple better than she would have liked to. The neon glow of the paths, not to mention the sounds of functioning machina, made her blood boil. She thought of all the people Bevelle persecuted – in past and present, only for them to hypocritically use the same tools themselves.

The Gullwings hopped over to another set of winding paths. There wasn't much in the way of activity, which surprised them. They thought by now they'd have to fight a couple of guards. No automated defenses were set up either.

"This place is a breeze," chuckled Rikku, "those idiot New Yevon people don't even have any defenses..."

Out of no where, a pair of flying fiends swooped down at them. Each one shot at them out with their uni-eyes.

"W-what are fiends doing in Bevelle's temple?" bellowed Paine in complete shock.

This was no mirage, but the Gullwings sure didn't believe what they saw. Yuna got nailed when the fiends swept down, knocking her off her feet. Rikku and Paine did a double roll to dodge the blasts.

"You alright Yunie?" yelled over Rikku.

Yuna rubbed her head, "Yeah, don't worry about me!"

Paine wasted no time in counterattacking the fiends. With one jumping swing, she split both of them in half. Rikku went over to help Yuna up.

"I don't know about you," began Paine, "but fiends in Bevelle can't be good."

Yuna looked at Paine in confusion, "Why are they here? There's no way they're not known. New Yevon must be doing something with them."

"Do we really want to find out?"

Yuna paused for a moment. She didn't want to be here any more than Paine. Still, the force driving her to find Tidus kicked in. If they want to find this sphere, they would have to move forward.

"As much as I don't want to, we should still continue." she answered grayly.

Rikku and Paine nodded, and the three continued down the neon blue road. The fiends were numerous, but not particularly vicious. They were easily dispatched, only adding annoyance to their trip to the Bevelle underground.

Finally, they reached the end. This was the last room Yuna recognized. However, now there was an entrance to another place, even further underground than they were at currently. Yuna inhaled deeply, not wanting to discover what New Yevon could possibly be hiding. With a stern exhale, she opened the door, and nearly passed out in astonishment.

What the Gullwings expected to be another room ended up being a gigantic expanse. Before them was the sight of the Bevelle underground, a huge facility that seemed to dwarf any place they'd ever seen. The sound of machina in motion could be heard echoing throughout.

"What in Spira is all of this? I've never seen such a sight." gasped Paine.

"It's incredible. So this is what Yevon's been hiding all these years." commented Rikku, her eyes bulging out of their sockets.

Yuna looked at the two girls, "Well, this must be where the sphere is. Anyone brought a rope?"

But there was no time for jokes, as a shadow emerged from the darkness surrounding the area where they were. From behind the shadows came a shrewdly dressed young man. His spiky blond hair and green eye (a patch covered the other eye) easily made determinable he was Al-Bhed.

"G-Gippal?" stammered Yuna, barely getting the name out.

"Well, well..." he said, coming more into the light, "High Summoner Lady Yuna – it's a pleasure to meet you in such an odd place."

"What are you doing here?" Paine demanded to know.

"I should ask you the same thing. You know waltzing around Bevelle isn't good for your health." he cackled, taking a fighting posture.

"What's it to you!" yelled back Paine, also taking a fighting stance.

"Fa'na rana du knyp y sphere. Kad uid uv uin fyo! (We're here to grab a sphere. Get out of our way!)" Rikku snapped.

"Bevelle holds many secrets, some more dangerous than others." he said starkly, holding his stance.

"We understand risks, Gippal," answered Yuna, "but that's not of your concern."

"It is if all of Spira could be affected by what you're about to do."

Yuna looked puzzlingly at him, "What do you mean?"

"I already know why you guys are down in the basement of Bevelle – Vegnagun. But I know a lot more about this situation than you guys."

"We know of Vegnagun, but it's a sphere we're here to claim." clamored Rikku, giving Gippal a sharp gaze.

"Look, Lady Yuna...don't make everything you've done in the past for naught," Gippal said in a calmer voice, facing directly at Yuna, "things down here a far too instable for you to mess with. Trust me, turn back and let me handle things."

Yuna looked directly into his eyes, starring with complete intent for an uncomfortable moment. She blinked, and let out a shallow sigh.

"Alright Gippal, I believe you. C'mon, we're leaving."

Both Paine and Rikku instantly bore faces of complete shock.

"A-are you sure, Yuna?" stammered Paine, still in disbelief of Yuna's sudden change.

Yuna simply nodded, and motioned for the girls to follow her. They paused to look at each other's bewilderment, then nodded as well.

"Over there," began Gippal, pointing to an opening in the opposite area, "a lift to the surface is. Use it to leave."

Without even acknowledging him, Yuna turned and headed towards the lift. Rikku and Paine followed suit. They entered the lift, and left for the surface without a word spoken. They only got a glimpse of Gippal, who jumped onto one of the large steel chains connected to the center complex and surfed down the chain towards it. Yuna looked palely at the floor the entire ride up.

After a few awkward minutes, they arrived at the surface. They ended up in a back alley on the outskirts of Bevelle.

"Brother, we're done here. Come pick us up." said Yuna blandly into her Commsphere.

A muttered buzzing sound replied, "That was quick. Did you find the sphere."

Yuna growled, "No...we'll talk about it later."

"Oh...ok, we are coming now."

The Gullwings walked to the edge of Macalania, where they were met by the Celsius. Rikku and Paine, while upset at Yuna for turning tail so quickly, hadn't the heart to say anything. The girls all went their separate ways upon entering the Celsius, disappointed by their day's failure...

"It isn't nice to ruin surprises." laughed a black figure from the shadows of Bevelle's underground.

Gippal hopped off the ledge he had been standing on. He huffed at the figure, and approached him brazenly.

"Vegnagun...where is it Baralai?" he shouted angrily.

"Hmph, if it's that you want, I may have to use the Gullwing's surprise on you." he said, while snapping his fingers.

Two gigantic machina appeared from the complex, with a huge fist on one side, and a rather large gun on the other. Gippal stood his ground, and prepared himself for the inevitable fight to begin.


Next Chapter: Further disappointment greet the girls when the LeBlanc gang pays them a visit. It's clothes and not spheres the girls end up chasing for. However, Gippal wishes he could go clothes hunting rather than battle with Bevelle's machina.