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Final Fantasy VI: The Sands of Time

Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 4 - Demons Within

Part 4.3 - A Meeting of Minds

"I can assure you that there is absolutely nothing to worry about, Mr. Karn."

President Dehr's soothing voice echoed across the mostly empty conference room of the Committee headquarters. She was still dressed in her official skirt and blazer and had her most diplomatic face on, but Dune's second meeting with the President of the Committee was going to be anything but a formal occasion. Other than Dehr and himself, the only other people present were Kruz, Alex, and Professor Indie and of course his little furry friend. Sade was nowhere to be seen, and yet Dune could still feel an unnatural warmth in the room. It was as if his memories were calling up that dreadful heat in Sade's absence, making sure Dune remembered the danger every bone in his body told him he was in. Every so often Dune would clutch at his pocket with the crystal in it, half-expecting Sade to jump out from the shadows to snatch it at any moment.

The coolness of the crystal only caused him grief now. With every touch Dune could hear faint whisperings of Doom, accusing him of thousands of gruesome images of pain and suffering that he would never think of committing. It also reminded him of the gulf that had grown between him and Mae. Dune knew this was not completely the crystal's doing, but he felt a certain guilty sense of relief to place the blame squarely on its smooth black surface and empty stare. Dune's relationship with the crystal had grown into one of love and hate in equal amounts. He longed for its cold allure, and yet despised the hateful voice behind it. If Sade tried to take it now, Dune would no doubt ask to have it taken from him with complete earnestness, all the while fighting to the death anyone who actually tried.

"We are taking steps to ensure that you are comfortably housed until this current situation is taken of. There are barracks for just these types of circumstances beneath the Committee headquarters. You probably caught a glimpse of them on your way here from the Figaro when you returned from the Thanas."

This caught Dune's attention. Indeed, there had been a great many passages jutting off from the main one he and Captain Bismark had followed. At the time Dune's mind had been preoccupied with the crystal and whether to tell the Committee about it or not, and he only pondered their destinations briefly. Surely the real heart of the Committee was down there, at the end of one of those labyrinthian tunnels. Who knows what else lurked beneath the clean and orderly streets of Narsille, secretly inhabiting the dark maze within the city's complex understructure? It seemed Dune was going to see a small portion of this hidden city within a city for himself.

He wasn't going to fall prey to Dehr's sweet siren's voice and go down to the depths without any questions, though. He spoke up now, cutting through Dehr's pretty words almost mid-sentence. He was aware of the impropriety of his questioning, but didn't care now. Now was the time for answers.

"Exactly what is the situation, Madam President?" Dune asked with a slight note of defiance in his voice.

Kruz looked at Dune as if he had just been slapped by the man. His mouth opened slightly and his eyes bulged out of his head, but he kept his tongue. This was Dehr's show.

Dehr only looked at Dune pleasantly for a moment, then nodded and laughed softly. It was subtle, but this was a sure sign to those that knew her that Dehr was taken by surprise, and anything but happy about it. She was not about to bend to this man's will, but surely throwing him a bone wouldn't hurt? Sade might not be here(oh, but he was always there in spirit, wasn't he? The man's almost inhuman capacity for knowing never ceased to amaze her), but Dehr was privy to enough of his plans and the master plan of his sect to know how to handle a pawn who tried to move beyond its allotted role. She was the Queen in this game, no one else. She gave Dune her motherly look and smiled serenely, no trace of her offense visible on her countenance.

"I suppose you deserve to know that much. A month ago, a bloody and violent coup took place in the nation of Jidorik. The nation had been divided into East and West for quite some time and a constant civil war was tearing the country apart. A close associate and ally of ours, Prince Ralse, had been on the verge of unifying them once more, but was lost during the coup. It was a highly regrettable outcome to what we had hoped would be a step closer to total world peace..."

Dehr shook her head solemnly. It was true that Ralse's defeat was a very regrettable incident. No one could have predicted the tenacity of the West, and she wondered just what they were planning for Narsille. Dehr did not trust Ralse, but she held a certain admiration for him. She knew what he thought of Narsille and the Committee, and he was right to think so, but you'd never be able to tell in any public gatherings with them. In the end, his plans were the same as hers, afterall. They were rivals in the game of power, and they both played the game well.

Ralse was a man after her own heart, lusting only for power and not letting anything stand in his way to the top. He had an appreciation for power, knew its many forms and nuances, and wielded it with the same careful hand as she. But more than that, he understood that beauty was also power, and was one of the few among those oily East Jidorik nobles that seemed to realize this. Ralse was truly a rare specimen; a perfect example of elegant ruthlessness. She did regret the loss of this man, yes, but not just because of the blow his disappearance delivered to her plans. Had the two of them not been so obsessed with themselves and their own machinations, a thing of real beauty and power may have formed, and perhaps much bloodshed would have been averted.

"After Ralse was dethroned, a truly savage rebel claimed leadership of the Jidorik empire. This rebel goes by the title General Draco Christophe, and is as dangerous as any man alive. I cannot stress how important it is you understand this, Mr. Karn. It was this man who sent that assailant to your apartment earlier today. I commend you for not letting them take you. Don't let today's victory lull you into a false sense of security, though! There are many more under his command, and I fear you will not be able to hold them all off. This is why I have decided to extend the protection of the Committee to you. I can assure you that our facilities are the most secure in the world. You couldn't be in better hands than ours."

Despite Dehr's seeming candor, Dune was not satisfied. The burning question on his mind still had not been addressed, and so he pressed further.

"But what about me? What do I have to do with all this? Why does everything seem to keep coming back to me?" Dune said eagerly, almost with frantic sincerity. He remembered his talk with Captain Bismark about his discovery in the desert, and wanted to know just how much the Committee knew about it, and about him.

Now all the eyes of the room went to Dehr, wondering just how much she would tell this man of his role in the game. Everyone present knew some of what was going on in varying degrees and directions, but Dune's involvement was the grayest of the areas. Just how much was Dehr going to reveal here, in this room?

Kruz was stunned into silence. Such boldness! If that man knew the answer to that question he would not be so defiant and eager for more. Still, Kruz was admittedly curious as to how much of the truth Dehr would impart on him. Surely she would not tell him everything? No, of course not. Not even he knew everything, as connected as he was. But even the most basic details could be too much. Kruz knew she could handle herself, but Dehr had to be very careful on this.

Alex, who until this point had been quietly looking down at his hands and not paying much attention to what was going on around him, looked up and peered intently at Dehr. Images of half-forgotten memories began swimming to the surface of his mind like bloated corpses finally floating back into the light after a long and silent sleep. He knew Dune was treading on dangerous ground with those questions, but it was not his place to stop him from seeking the truth. Is that not exactly what he had done over thirty years ago with Indie and Mobius? The truth was a horrible thing, but if Dune was half the scientist Alex though he was, he could take it, and perhaps more...

Professor Indie also looked up with quiet intent, stroking his long white beard and waiting patiently for Dehr's response. He knew the magnitude of those words just as Alex and Kruz did. He didn't like digging up the past again after all these years, but he knew it had to happen eventually. Prophecies must be kept, and promises too, you see. And just when he thought things were settling down and he could enjoy his final years. Even his companion seemed to sense the gravity of the current moment, and looked cautiously back and forth between his master and Dehr, sensing danger in the words that were just spoken.

Dehr did not seem affected by the sudden rise in attention. She was the one in control here, and she had been expecting this question after Dune had brashly opened his mouth the first time. She would not be caught off guard a second time.

"The truth, Mr. Karn," Dehr said with a faint air of a school teacher handing out a particularly weighty assignment, "is that you have something they want. You have something a great many want, actually. I believe you know what I am talking about."

Now it was Dune's turn to look stunned, although not surprised. So here it was. She really was going to call him out on the crystal. The question now was if he would somehow be able to remain in control of it, or if this meeting would take a very sudden, very chilling turn for the worse. Broken flashes of memory from his encounter with Cassandra rushed into his mind, devoid of meaning save the intense cold and fear that overwhelmed him during those fateful moments. As if sensing Dune's growing unease, the crystal shot a flare of coldness through his shirt and straight into his heart. Dune shivered.

No one will take it from us. Kill them all. It will be glorious.

Taking his reaction for acceptance, Dehr continued speaking. What she failed to realize was that the look that she saw in Dune's eyes was not fear or guilt, as she assumed, but death.

"Yes, I see you do know what I am talking about, although I think you don't understand your role yet. I am going to be frank with you, Mr. Karn. Much of this has been deemed classified to all but a very select group of people. You should feel honored to be learning as much of this situation, your situation, as you are. But you are a man of science, and I hope you can appreciate your position. You are currently in possession of an artifact of great importance, which you excavated during the Thanas expedition, and have kept secret from us since then. Do not ask how I know this, but be confident that I do indeed know."

She's going to take it. You must stop her. Do it now.

"This relic was thought lost for many centuries, and the Committee has gone to great lengths to secure it in recent years. In the wrong hands, it could cause great suffering and destruction. The Committee has been dutifully trying to prevent this at all costs. This is what the Jidorik rebel leader Christophe is after, and he will not hesitate to kill you to get it. You must believe that we at the Committee do not hold you responsible for your choice of actions, poor as they may be. The relic has a very strong pull on whoever holds it, as I am sure you have noticed. This is why we did not take it from you when we first suspected you had found it..."

Don't trust her words. She wants what is ours for herself. Kill her! NOW!

"...and why we will not attempt to take it from you now. Instead, we will protect you as the official carrier of the artifact. I feel this is in the best interests to both of us, and will avoid unnecessary conflict."

Dune was at a loss for words. A surge of warm relief rushed over him, quelling the murderous impulses of the crystal and bringing him back to his senses. So, the crystal would be his for a little longer. Since it seemed President Dehr was on the same page as himself as far as the owner of the crystal was concerned, Dune felt he could ask a few questions his scientific mind had been dying to unravel.

"Y, yes...I think that will work, Madam President." Dune struggled a bit, but he was slowly gaining control. Whatever had just passed over him, it was losing its grasp, and Dune's mind was quick to push it away and not dwell on it. "But if I may, what exactly did I find? As an archeologist, the significance of this discovery has intrigued me. It is unlike anything I have ever unearthed."

Dehr seemed pleased with Dune's present course of action. For a moment, she thought she sensed a sharp drop in temperature, and the unmistakable feeling of dread and danger that seemed to emanate from Sade when he was provoked. She didn't like seeing any part of Sade's powerful presence coming from this man. The rest of the company seemed to feel the same way, and a wave of relief spread throughout the room as tensions eased and a more relaxed route of questioning took shape.

"I am glad we are in agreement, then. As for the relic...I'm afraid we do not have much information on it. It is considered a holy object by the Order of the Pearl, and there are many ancient scrolls describing its power and significance in their religion. I trust you have heard of the Order?"

Dune had of course heard of the infamous Order of the Pearl, as had everyone who called Narsille their home. Pearl was a major religious organization in Narsille, and the only organization that was almost as large as the Committee. Unlike the Committee, Pearl kept its affairs mostly to itself, and rarely did members make public appearances outside of their churches and holy places. Dune generally did not pay much attention to the group and its activities within the city, and considered them for the most part to be fools who blindly based their life on faith rather than logic.

To have a piece of their world suddenly thrust into his world was disconcerting to Dune, and he was more than bit skeptical. The first question that entered his coolly logical mind was "Okay, so what is the real nature of this artifact?" He did not speak this thought though, aware that believers came in all guises, and it was wise not to offend anyone present. Dune just nodded to confirm he knew of the organization. The answers would come in time, he supposed. If not from the Committee, then from himself. He was an archeologist after all, and discovery was in his blood.

"Good. Then you will understand why it is important that we keep this a closely guarded secret. Recent efforts on my part to further unify Narsille have allowed a cooperative effort between the Committee and the Order in the securing of this artifact and keeping it out of the hands of those who would use it for destructive purposes. I am confident that we now are one step closer to total peace, thanks to your efforts."

"I thank you for your kind words, Madam President, but what of myself? Am I doomed to be locked in a vault underground with my discovery forever?" Dune said jokingly, but a part of him feared that this was exactly what the Committee had in mind.

"Oh no, of course not. As I said, much of the nature of the artifact is unknown to us, but what is known is still highly classified information. You will be escorted to our maximum security facility for only a brief stay, I assure you. As you may recall, there is another mission planned for you in the approaching future. I believe this mission will shed much light on the artifact, and will hopefully end your burden of keeping it."

"And what of this coming mission? What can you tell me about it?"

Yes, things were going well indeed. Dehr had the archeologist eating out of the palm of her hand. She knew if she kept feeding him useless facts, but no doubt intriguing to a scientist such as him, she would be able to guide him away from the real issue and keep him in the dark a little longer. There will come a time when all the cards will be laid on the table and no amount of manipulating will keep him, and the rest of the world, from knowing the truth in all its terrible finality, but for now things were still able to be maintained. Dehr would hold on to the reigns as long as fate allowed.

"Hmm, yes, we have made great progress in determining the path of the next mission. You see, your artifact is not unique. The ancient scrolls of the Order led us to the one you found, and they hint at the location of another as well. Its location was quite difficult to pinpoint, but using the data we received from the Thanas expedition, we have determined the next artifact to be in the deepest part of the Mordic Ocean. It will not be an easy mission, but Captain Bismark will be accompanying you once more, and his experience should be more than adequate to ensure your success."

"The Mordic? That ocean is known for unusually vicious and unpredictable storms. You are right that it will not be easy!"

This news was disheartening to Dune. He was never a fan of the open seas, and the heart of the Mordic Ocean was probably the worst place on earth he could picture himself being forced to lead a dig on. His normally logical mind gave way to the numerous stories of lost ships, sea monsters and living storms that routinely came from that part of the world. In answer to the images his fearful imagination conjured up, his stomach gave a sudden lurch and a cold sweat broke out all over his body.

"Why do I have to go on this mission? Personally, I would rather you locked me up in a cell in the deepest part of the city than send me to that wretched ocean. You have to understand, I don't work well on the water. Sending me to the Mordic is almost as illogical as sending the Captain into the Thanas."

"I'm afraid that goes beyond what we are capable of telling you at this point, as I told Captain Bismark during our previous meeting. You two are the only ones qualified for these particular missions. Although this time we will allow a bit more help, to account for the increase in potential danger. That is why I asked for Professor Indra to join us. He is our best mind when it comes to weather patterns, and I believe he will be of great help in navigating around the storms known to that area. Also, he personally requested to join this mission when he heard about Captain Bismark heading it. Lastly, we have decided to split this mission into two teams to heighten the odds of success. Captain Bismark will be heading one, with you and Professor Indra under him. The other team will be headed by another reputable marine biologist and sea captain. His name is Captain Jonah Levi."

Both Indie and Alex straightened up in their chairs so suddenly that they nearly fell over. They gave identical sharp glances at Dehr, and then at each other. This news did not sit well with them, and was not expected. Indie was the first to speak up, his normal carefree demeanor gone.

"Levi? Levi? That man has no place on a mission like this. He's a scoundrel and as untrustworthy as a rabid dog. You can't be serious in sending him for such an important mission? Captain Bismark will not take that piece of information lightly, no sirree! Those two are as heated rivals as I've ever seen. Like night and day, they are. You send Levi and you're just asking for a mutiny!"

Dehr seemed to expect this outburst as well, and only shook her head. Levi wasn't as untrustworthy as Professor Indra thought, not by a long shot.

"Do not worry about the other team, Professor. Captain Levi will be captaining his own ship and will only have minimal, if any, contact with your team if all goes according to plan. We have already discussed these matters with him, and he is more than willing to go on this expedition, even with your captain manning the second team."

"Of course he'd be glad to go!" Indie interjected hotly, "That rat savors every ounce of misery he can get out of Mobius, and would never pass up an opportunity to show him up on his own turf. I'm warning you though, he is not a good man, and you'd be a fool to trust him with something like this. You'll regret sending him, I promise you that!"

"Do not concern yourself with Captain Levi's intentions. We trust him, and the Committee does not hire people without due scrutiny. He will work to the best of his abilities to find what we are looking for, and so will you."

"Fine, do what you want, but don't say I didn't warn you when that dog bites you in the ass. As long as he stays out of our way, we'll get the job done."

Dehr seemed to be content with Indra's words, and now turned to back to Dune, who still looked rather pale since the news of his next mission.

"So, do you understand what is ahead of you, Mr. Karn? Any more questions about your mission?"

Dune did not like what was ahead of him one bit, but he understood it. More importantly, he understood that he did not have a choice. He nodded his head and stayed silent for a moment. He had heard enough for now. The more he thought about going back onto the high seas with the kind-hearted, but sometimes dangerously zealous Captain Bismark, the more he wanted to go home and lay down with Mae by his side. It seemed that was not going to happen for a long time, thanks to the crystal and its ever growing influence on his life. He asked one more quick, yet crucial, question before resigning himself to the coming trials.

"What about Mae?"

"She will be taken care of. Do not worry about your wife, Mr. Karn, she is as safe as you are."

For some reason, this did not sit well with Dune. Perhaps because he did not feel very safe at all anymore. He still trusted Dehr's words and knew that they would not let anything happen to her unless they wanted a very uncooperative "Carrier of the Crystal". He said his thanks, and then said no more.

Sensing Dune's resignation to his position and her victory over him in this vital testing of wills, Dehr moved to Alex to end the meeting.

"Professor Figaro, if Dune has no more questions for us, I think it is time to show him to his room. Will you be so kind as to escort him once more? Professor Indra, you may accompany them for now, but we would appreciate it if you return here for a more thorough debriefing tomorrow. I thank you all for your time, and wish for the best in the coming months. Good day, gentlemen."

The three men shifted in their seats and then got up to leave. Kruz leaped up and opened the door for the three, putting on his best "Thank you for coming, now get out of my sight" smile as he shut the door after the scampering pet of Indie's.

"Yes, I suppose it is time to be going, finally. If you would follow me, Dune." Alex had resumed his brooding disposition and looked very much like he looked when he left this room during the last meeting. Like he had just betrayed a friend.