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Final Fantasy VI: The Sands of Time

Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 2 - City of Dreams

Part 2.6 - Guilt Trip

Outside the headquarters, Dune and the Captain were standing by a lamppost waiting for the next bus, wondering what had just happened. It was now late in the afternoon, and the sun was casting a deep orange glow across the parts of the buildings above the shadows. Things had not gone at all the way they had expected, and now they were unsure of both where they had been and where they were going. Both of them still fervently believed there had been a storm, even if there was no lingering evidence of it. They were not crazy. Dune was the first to speak up, the Captain having taken the worst of the meeting and still licking his wounds.

"Captain?"

The Captain was busy looking at the ground, thinking over the charts he had read, trying to find a mistake of some kind.

"Hmm."

"Do you believe what they said about the storm? Do you think it's really scientifically plausible that we really went temporarily insane and imagined the whole thing? That I..." Here he faltered, the thought of those horrible wounds on his body being from his own hand being too much for him to admit.

"No, Dune. Something's going on here. My crew saw the storm too. They were right there with me on the bridge, and they were never out in the heat of the desert." The Captain seemed to have come to a firm conclusion on this after meditating on the facts. "We saw the hail too," he added, sensing the worried tone in Dune's last utterance.

"But what about their evidence? What about Dr. Atma and Professor Figaro? Even if there really was a storm, there was definitely something else going on back there in the desert." Dune too was gaining strength from the Captain's own confidence.

"You're right, there's more going on here than we saw. I am willing to trust Alex's judgement and say a bomb destroyed the tower, but that means the intruder was on board for almost a week at least. Maybe longer. Who was he, and what did he want? Dammit!" The Captain's frustration at being unable to find out who had snuck in under his command gave way and he slammed his fist against the lamppost.

"Well what should we do, then? Should we still go on the next mission? Do you think it's safe?"

"Aye, I don't think there's anything for us to worry about yet. There's definitely some shady dealings going on around here, but it seems like they need us, and aren't going to let anything happen to us until they get what they want, whatever that is. I don't like the look of any of those Committee members, Dehr, Kruz...or that Sade fellow. Especially Sade. If we refuse to go on the next mission, I don't think things will look too good for our futures. They'll make our lives a living hell for sure until we agree to do what they want. They've got the power to do it, that's for sure." The Captain seemed almost to be talking to himself, and wasn't looking at Dune while he spoke. After he finished he suddenly did look up at Dune and stared him right in the eye and asked a question that Dune had not been expecting, but had been dreading more than anything.

"Dune, are you sure you didn't find anything out there? I swear you've been acting differently since you came back, and the way that Sade fellow was looking at you the whole time, it's like he knew you had something he wanted and was just waiting for the right moment to leap over the table and take it."

The Captain's piercingly honest stare was too much for Dune, and the crystal couldn't hold back his better judgment any longer. He had to tell the Captain now.

"Well...I...," The words didn't seem to want to come out, but Dune was going to tell the Captain what he found, even if it killed him.

"Yes. I did find something in the desert. I am almost positive it is what the Committee members were looking for. I am sorry Captain for not telling you sooner." Dune felt a rush of relief at finally telling someone about his discovery, but also a rush of dread. Would the Captain ask to see it? To take it?

The Captain remained silent for a moment, digesting this new piece of information. He didn't look like he was surprised, more like dismayed, as if an unpleasant suspicion of his had been confirmed. After staring at the lamppost for a few more moments, he spoke up.

"I thought so. I don't know what you found, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't extremely curious to see what all the fuss is about, but if you kept it secret for this long, and even from me and the Committee, you must have a damn good reason. I won't press you any further. But now the question is what are we going to find on the next mission? If you already found what they were looking for, then what could they hope to find now?"

The Captain saw Dune's confused look and continued, a little more light-hearted than before, "Ah, Dune my boy, don't think you've pulled anything over on the Committee. If I could see something was wrong with you, they sure could. I'm willing to bet they know full well you have what they were looking for. They're just biding their time, I think. Once we find out what our next mission is, I'll be able to say more, but I don't think they are going to try anything until we find whatever else it is they are looking for. We've got ourselves mixed up in something big, Dune. Real big. There's nothing to do now except ride the storm and see where it takes us. Not to an early grave, I hope!"

The Captain let out a grim chuckle and looked up from the lamppost in time to see his bus barreling down the street. "C'mon Dune, I guess it's time to go our separate ways. I'm heading out of the city and back to the wide open sea and my ship. I guess you'll be wanting to go back to Mae? She's probably worried sick about you. Always was a good kid, but I don't think she ever liked the idea of you going out on digs all the time. She seems like the type that needs stability, if you know what I mean." The Captain noticed the fatherly tone his voice was taking and checked himself. "What am I saying, you do what you have to do, right?"

"Don't worry about me or my wife, Captain. She understands my situation. We'll be fine. Thank you for all your support, and I look forward to seeing you again on the next mission. You'd better get moving or the bus will pass us."

"Arrr...yes back to the sea where I belong! Take care of yourself Dune, and don't let those Committee creeps get to you while I'm gone, you hear? If you need any help Alex will still be here, and I trust him more than I trust anyone else alive. Just give him a call and he'll be right up. A friend of mine is a friend of his, you can count on him. Now, it's time for me to shove off. Good luck, Dune!" The Captain shook hands with Dune and he stepped onto the bus.

Dune watched as the bus quickly made its way away from the headquarters and back towards the entrance to the city. Soon the bus was nothing but a dot in the distance, and then it was gone, lost in the flurry of activity that always filled Narsille's streets. Dune started walking back towards his own apartment, which was not far from the center of the city. His mind was heavy with all the new information he had been given, and he desperately wanted to get back home to Mae. He knew she would have a fit over his appearance and the news that there was already another dig planned for the near future, but he would have to deal with that when he got home. He walked with determined steps to his apartment and entered the store on the first floor. He waved at the store owner as he approached the elevator, happy to see his first familiar symbol of home.

This store owner had been here as long as Dune could remember, and always kept a strange pet with him wherever he went. Pets were normally not allowed in Narsille, but the shopkeeper had somehow obtained special permission to keep this creature with him in his store. It was a small round animal with a large red nose and a bright red ball of fuzz sticking out of its head like an antenna. It was covered with soft white fur from head to toe, and had small bat-like wings protruding from its back. It always had an odd expression on its face that made it look like it was always happy. It also always seemed to keep its eyes shut as well, but this didn't seem to impair its vision at all. It gave off the impression that it was extremely intelligent for an animal, and even seemed to have its own language that consisted mostly of variations of a sound that could best be described as "kupo". How much of these sounds where language and how much were gibberish was unknown, though. Dune swore it was one of the cutest little things he had ever seen anywhere, and wondered where the shopkeeper had gotten such an unusual creature. The shopkeeper had refused to tell anyone where he had gotten it, or even what kind of creature it was, but he assured everyone who asked that it was perfectly harmless and very well trained. It did seem to be very well-trained, never needing a leash or any kind of restraint, and no one doubted that it was quite harmless after seeing it.

Dune waved at the small child-like creature as he got on the elevator, and the creature waved back happily with both its paws, its little bat-like wings waving along with its small mole-like claws. Dune smiled at the creature and started the elevator. He had a dizzying climb ahead of him, and settled in for a long ascent. The floor his apartment was on was almost 1000 floors above him, near the top of the tower, and it would take even this fast-moving elevator almost ten minutes to reach the top. He thought to himself what he was going to say to Mae. Maybe he should simply not tell her about the next mission and let her enjoy what little time they will have? No, that would simply be putting off the inevitable. Better to get it over with now and get it out of the way. Should he tell Mae about the crystal? No, of course not. She has no reason to know about its existence. What about his injuries? Tell her it was a storm or...? His thoughts were once again interrupted as the chime of the elevator indicated it was his floor. He slowly walked to his apartment, feeling like he was forgetting something. He knew there was something missing, but couldn't tell what it was. He knew it would come to him eventually, so he just shrugged his shoulders and continued walking towards his apartment.

As he walked towards the end of the hall he passed a window and glanced out. He could just barely make out the sun setting behind the sides of the buildings around him, and could see the tops of some of the more distant buildings skirting the clouds above. He looked down and could see nothing but the walls of the surrounding buildings trailing off to nothing far below. This view was always unsettling for Dune, and at this he quickly turned away and continued down the hall. He saw the door to his apartment and his anticipation started to grow. He was finally going to be in his own apartment again, and he was sure Mae would be waiting for him with open arms, one more time. He stopped and straightened himself out, then walked up to the door with purpose and confidence. He was home.