Keeping Things Under Control
"I don't take what it takes. We need those machines in Bevelle now!"
"And for the thousandth time, I am not manufacturing anything until I hear a direct request from Praetor Baralai," I responded with folded arms. "Right now the Machine Faction is focusing on vehicles for the Highroads, Moonflow, and the Calm Lands. Weapons are secondary to both Youth League and New Yevon."
"You can't just ignore the fighting! The Youth League headquarters are just around the corner! If anything this is where the fighting will be most concentrated!" The New Yevon representative was really starting to get on my nerves. The Youth League were here not long ago wanting the same thing but they scattered when Captain Lucil showed up to reprimand them. At least someone in the Youth League has sense.
"If the fighting is going to be concentrated here," I began, "then doesn't that mean that New Yevon will travel here to assault Youth League headquarters?" No answer. "Unless Praetor Baralai has come back and requests the order, then you can forget any weapons. I'm not ignoring the problem; I'm trying to minimise the damage here. Now get out and don't send anyone else for weapon demands."
I turned away and waited for the man to give up and leave. I was pushing myself to keep things running and to keep the other groups at arm's length but they were getting wo9rse and worse as the days went on. The more we rejected them, the more the tensions built up and they were getting angrier and angrier because they had no suitable outlet for the aggression and no direction because there wasn't anyone leading them. Even Lucil, with all her experience, was having difficulties keeping them under control. It was all just one big mess that didn't have much hope of recovery right now.
And this was without adding Vegnagun to the mess. If that became public knowledge I don't know what would happen. Right now I was hoping someone was figuring out how to keep the peace, at least for a little while longer.
I heard the commsphere pick up static for a few seconds before calming down. I looked over to it and saw the interior of the Gullwings' airship, Yuna and Shinra at the front of the screen.
"Good to see you again," I said. After I had thrown the other commsphere down into the hole we'd gotten nothing from it, but later on the Gullwings found Yuna in Bevelle. Really I was glad that they'd gotten a hold of me to let me know what was going on and where Yuna had went. I still could barely believe those holes could lead to the Farplane.
"You look stressed," Yuna said with a furrowed brow.
"The groups aren't taking the hint about the new policy. I don't know if their plan is to wear down my patience until I cave," I sighed. "But anyway, any updates on the situation?"
"Well... the word's only just starting to get out there, but we're holding a concert in the Thunder Plains," there was something about Yuna's tone that made me smile. She seemed uncertain but I could tell there was excitement there.
"You want me to stand in for you?" I asked. Got a laugh from Yuna at least.
"No, it's all me this time. Promise!" She said. "Think you'll be there?"
"Of course," I nodded. "Honestly, I'm glad you're doing this. Right now you're the only person in Spira all sides will listen to. If you can keep them from fighting... well, let's hope the guys can stop Vegnagun and Shuyin in the meantime."
"You don't sound sure," Yuna noted.
"It's not that. Just feels odd we're not the ones trying to save the world," I admitted. As much as I hated to say it Gippal was right; I couldn't resist hero work. Now that knew about Shuyin and Vegnagun I felt like I should do something. What I didn't know and I wasn't stupid enough to go off running after Nooj, Gippal, and Baralai. It felt stupid since I tried so hard to not get involved in the first place and the chances were that I'd be joining in the fight and... I didn't mind it. I unfolded my arms and smiled. "But I'll be at the concert, don't you worry about it. Take care."
"See you there!"
Sure enough we were seeing hypello all over the place spreading the word about Yuna's concert. It was all anyone could really talk about for the next few hours, I actually got everyone gathered and told them that all work would be suspended and they were free to go to the concert. Sure enough a load of people started getting ready to walk to the Thunder Plains. I stayed behind to make sure nothing was going to malfunction and most of the machines were shut down. It really turned as quiet as the temple had been two years ago... even quieter because there was no one chanting the Hymn.
It was getting emptier with the passing hours. The hypello had mentioned that the Celsius would be picking up people as well so I was waiting on that coming. It felt bizarre with all the quiet going on. I guess I'd gotten used to all the noise around here. It was easy to hear people coming and going though, well the people who were left.
The doors to the cloister suddenly shut and I ran to the middle of the floor and looked up. Not only did I not know someone was I the temple with me, I'd shut off the cloister just to be on the safe side if any more fiends came through. I went up the steps and pulled the door open. I checked inside and didn't see anyone. Still there was someone here... they weren't meant to be here.
I kept the door open, slowly making my way into the cloister. I wanted to make sure I had enough time to get away and shut them inside if they turned out to be aggressive, or a thief, or whatever their intentions were. I also kept as quiet as I could; didn't want them knowing where I was unless I had to. There wasn't anywhere to hide really so it was either I saw them first or they saw me first.
There was absolutely no sign on them, even when I went into the antechamber to check. The only sign that someone had been there was that the door to the Chamber of the Fayth was opened. I walked towards the door, curling my hands into fists to be ready for a fight. There weren't any pyreflies coming out so no worry about fiends at least... I hoped.
No one was there. It was completely empty. That didn't mean I was imagining the whole thing... the only place they could have went was down the hole. Only question was who... deep down I had a good idea but right now there was nothing I could do about it. If they had gone down there I wasn't following. Not now anyway.
