The next two days were torture. I still understood very little about this procedure to extend the lives of the genomes, but Vivi assured me it would be a success. The little black mage remained at my side through every waking moment while Zidane underwent the procedure. His company was the only thing keeping me from having a break down.
Mikoto remained with Zidane and made no effort to keep me posted as to his condition and, I had to admit, that angered me somewhat. Vivi assured me she always stayed close to the genomes undergoing the treatment, but that did little to ease my conscience.
Finally, on the third day, I was brought to the mysterious place where Zidane was being kept. Vivi came with me. We walked a great distance until we came to the mouth of a cavern. Inside I found machinations the like of which I'd never seen anywhere but Terra. So, Mikoto had managed to reconstruct some of the Terran technology.
Several genomes and black mages greeted us further inside the cave which now resembled Terra more than it did a cave on Gaia. Mikoto waited there and motioned for Vivi and I to approach. She stood next to a wide glass wall and, without speaking, turned to look inside. Vivi and I did the same and I gasped at the sight of Zidane lying within a strange machine.
He was unconscious and most of his body appeared entwined with the contraption. I recognized the mist that seemed to be clouding the entire room around him and realized it was coming from the machine.
"What are you doing to him?" I asked, my voice quivering.
"The mist is the very essence of life," Mikoto replied. "We've learned it is not the body that fails us, but the energy source. You would call it the soul."
I shook my head. "You're giving him a new soul?"
She nodded. "That is a very basic explanation, but it is accurate."
I stared through the glass a moment longer before turning away. I felt Vivi's hand close over mine and squeeze it gently. "I have to get out of here," I murmured, suddenly anxious to be out of this cave.
Vivi trotted along beside me as I fled, and we didn't stop until we were well back into the forest. I sat down on a fallen three then and cried. Vivi jumped up and sat beside me. "What's wrong, Dagger?"
"They're not bringing them back," I said between sobs. "They're just recycling their bodies."
Vivi took a moment before responding. "I don't see it that way at all. The mages and genomes were all created this way, given life from the mist."
I had known that about the mages, but had never related that process to Zidane's existence. They were so similar in their construction, it was frightening. Clearly Kuja had taken what he knew of the genomes and used that to construct the black mages. Now Mikoto was using that same knowledge to help her people.
"Have any of the mages had the treatment?" I asked then.
Vivi nodded. "We don't lose our memories the same way, though. I think the genomes' bodies are more complicated than ours."
"Oh, Vivi… What will I do if I lose him?"
Vivi let out a gentle sigh. "We'll all get through it together, if that happens. But you can't give up on him now. Every time Mikoto does the procedure, she makes improvements. Zidane might come back just the way he was. We won't know until they're done."
I nodded. I knew it was a long shot, but I had to keep the faith. Presently, I realized how self-centered I was being. I turned to Vivi and put on a cheerful smile. "Sometimes I forget, I'm not the only one who loves him."
"Zidane has a lot of friends," Vivi agreed. "I don't want to think about losing him now."
I hugged the little mage, then stood up. "I'm going back to the cave. I need to be near him."
Vivi nodded. "I'm coming, too."
It took two more days before Zidane awoke. I had dozed off in a chair near the laboratory and was suddenly awoken by a gentle tap on the shoulder. Vivi stood in front of me then. "He's awake."
I was instantly wide awake. Jumping to my feet, I raced toward the laboratory, only to be stopped by Mikoto at the door.
"Mikoto! How is he? Did he..?"
Mikoto shook her head. "He survived the treatment, but…"
I felt a lump swell in my throat. "Please, just say it."
"…But, I'm afraid it's as we feared. He did not recognize me when I woke him."
I felt my knees wobble, threatening to give out. Mustering all the strength I had left, I then squared my shoulders. "I would like to see him, please."
She nodded, and waved her arm toward the door of a room I hadn't noticed before. I made my way over and opened it slowly, not certain of what to expect.
Zidane lay on a small cot against the wall there, clothed in the strange outfit worn by the genomes back on Terra. He was staring up at the ceiling, but turned at my approach and watched me carefully.
"Zidane?"
"Yes? Do I know you?"
I dropped to my knees then and expressed a deluge of tears. This just couldn't be happening. I'd told myself I'd been prepared for this eventuality, but realized now I never actually expected this. I had convinced myself that Zidane would be different from the others, that he would come out of this treatment no different than he entered it.
I heard him slide off the bed and step barefoot toward me. His hand touched my back and rubbed it gently. For a moment I almost thought his amnesia had been a hoax. This was such a Zidane-like gesture. But when I turned to face him, he flinched away from me slightly. "Why are you crying, Miss?" he asked innocently.
"You don't remember me at all, do you?"
He shook his head slowly. "No. I'm sorry, but I don't."
Gathering myself, I nodded with acceptance. "You will," I said then, looking him square in the face. "I won't give up until you do."
With that, I pushed to my feet and left the room. I thought I heard Mikoto call to me as I rushed out of the cave laboratory, but I wasted no time stopping. It wasn't until I had found my way back to the village that I realized Vivi had been with me all along.
"Are you alright, Dagger?" he asked.
I nodded. "I… I promised him I wouldn't give up on him, even if he lost his memories."
Vivi nodded. "I'll help."
"I need to be alone just now, Vivi… I'm sorry. Please excuse me." I turned and headed back to the inn where I spent several hours consoling myself and formulating a plan.
My thoughts were interrupted suddenly by the sound of tiny feet on the wooden floor. I turned just in time to see the resident moogle, Mogryo, enter my room.
"There's a letter for you, Kupo."
"For me? Who is it from?"
The moogle shrugged and handed me the envelope. "It's from the castle in Alexandria."
I took the letter anxiously, forgetting to thank the moogle who quietly excused himself as I tore the envelope open.
It was from Beatrix.
You must return to Alexandria immediately. A young man claiming to be a nephew of Queen Brahne has demanded an audience with you. He may have intentions of stealing the throne of Alexandria.
I beseech you, my queen, to come home as soon as possible. Alexandria's future may depend upon it!
I crumpled the letter and threw it against the wall. "Not now!" I screamed. How could I just leave Zidane behind? He must be so confused and frightened right now. Once again, the call of duty rang louder than anything else. And, once again, I found myself regretting ever having taken the throne.
Yet I had taken the throne, as well as an oath to serve my people. Whoever this long lost relative was, he needed to be dealt with immediately. I packed my things quickly and retrieved Choco from the stable. Vivi rose with me to the laboratory.
Once there, I explained my reasons for leaving to Mikoto and assured her I would be back in two days at the very most. She seemed irritated at me, and I had to admit, I didn't blame her one bit.
Zidane, whom I loved more than anything in this world, lay helpless in the room beyond. And now I was abandoning him. I told myself he would have understood, had his memories been intact. As it was, he did not know who I was. Surely he would not even notice I had left.
But I certainly would…
