Final Fantasy VIII
Emerald Princess of Vernea
Dream World: Centra Excavation Site
"Kiros, you sure this is the place?" asked Ward.
"Positive.
Ward grunted as he climbed over a rock, continuing up the slope. "I don't wanna be patrolling the wrong place, like last time," he said. He shook his head, recalling how furious the Galbadian sergeant had been when he'd discovered his squad had gone off in entirely the wrong direction.
The two soldiers stepped over another rock and reached the top of the slope where Laguna was waiting for them. Stretched out in the valley ahead of them was a large excavation site. Built in the middle of nowhere, on the abandoned continent of Centra to the south, the land was little more than a wasteland. A great catastrophe had shaken the continent some eighty years earlier, devastating the land. Now all that remained was a barren land devoid of human life, though monsters were abundant here. For plantlife, there were a few withered forests where life was slowly beginning to return, but it was still a miserable and empty place to be.
Esthar, the technological superpower to the east, had taken an interest in the Centra continent in recent months. Reports telling of Esthar soldiers roaming about the barren land had made their way to the ears of the Galbadian government, and President Deling had ordered an immediate investigation to discover what the nation was planning.
Like with Timber, Galbadia and Esthar were also at war with each other. Galbadia, with its great military might, was making swift progress across the western continent. Esthar, to the east, had advanced technology and had also gained control of more than half of its own continent. There were also rumours, disturbing rumours, that the leader of the Esthar nation was a sorceress…
Laguna, Kiros and Ward were among those who had been dispatched from Galbadia to Centra to find out what the Estharians were planning. So far they had found out very little, for the Esthar soldiers were very good at masking their movements. All they had really found were the remains of campsites, and areas where, it seemed, the earth had been dug up.
The excavation site was one of those places. However, unlike the others, this one seemed to still be in operation. Large machinery specific for the digging and removal of rocks had been set up in the valley, as well as various other structures whose purpose Laguna could not even begin to guess. It looked promising.
Laguna looked out at the excavation site. Then he turned back to Kiros and Ward. "Ahh, sorry…" he said, with genuine sincerity. "This ain't the place."
Kiros folded his arms. "This is it," he said. "Let's go, commander."
But Laguna did not look convinced. He turned back to the site and then pulled out a map he had scrunched into his pocket. Their orders had been to scope out an Esthar encampment. In the briefing there had been no mention of a valley, or an excavation site, yet it was clearly here in front of him. It was also marked on the map, with the words 'excavation site – minimal enemy activity reported' scrawled in messy writing. No mention of an encampment anywhere. Laguna pushed the map back into his pocket before turning back to his friends, scratching his head, his face sheepish.
"I brought the wrong map," he confessed.
Kiros let out a deep groan and Ward slapped his hand to his forehead. Only Laguna would pick up the wrong map. This was just what had gone wrong during their last reconnaissance mission. Laguna had picked up the wrong map, and instead of scouting out the area they had ended up walking straight into an enemy camp!
Laguna put the map back into his pocket and scratched his head again. It couldn't be helped. These things happened. Yet, even so, Laguna could not help but feel strange. Looking out at the excavation site again, he was filled with a deep sense of unease, almost foreboding. And there, in the back of his mind, was the faint, familiar buzz, something he had not felt since leaving Deling City… and Julia. It was barely detectable, but it was still present.
"Somehow," the soldier said, thinking out his words. "I have a bad feeling about this…" He then frowned, thinking hard. The buzz subsided, and Laguna shook his head. "Nah, everything's cool…" he told himself. It was just this place, giving him the creeps. Placing his hands on his hips, he turned to Kiros and Ward. "Hey, make sure you guys are fully equipped."
Ward smirked and hefted his harpoon onto his shoulder, and Kiros flashed his two Katals. They did not need to be told to arm themselves, for the instinct was second nature to them. Laguna grinned at them and then checked his machinegun. The weapon was fully loaded, and he had spare cartridges in his magazine. He checked the safety; it was switched on. When the checks were finished Laguna raised his gun and rested it against his own shoulder, beaming at his friends.
"Well," he said, "we are on duty… Let's get a move on and check things out."
His friends nodded their agreement. It might be the wrong place, but since they were already here they might as well check the place out. Who knows, if the excavation site was of Esthar origin, they might find something worth reporting.
Laguna took the lead as he headed down the slope to the excavation site's main entrance. Kiros and Ward fell into step close behind him, keeping their weapons raised and their eyes scanning the perimeter for any signs of the enemy.
The entrance to the site was unguarded, and they were able to slip inside unseen. As they headed into the site proper, they realised that it wasn't just the entrance that was unguarded. The entire excavation site seemed to be deserted, with no signs of life anywhere.
The only things active in the site were the machines. Numerous grinders rumbled as they dug deep into the valley below. The churned up rocks were deposited on moving ramps that carried the rocks to the upper levels to be disposed of outside of the site. The entire ground near the site's entrance rumbled from deep beneath the earth, as more and more rock was pulled out from underground.
Stopping on one of the paths that had been set up over the machinery, the trio looked out. The grinders lined the valley walls, each one working away to deep deeper into the earth. There was nobody around to man the machines; they seemed to be working entirely on their own.
Laguna stepped up to the rail and peered over. Far below the path, he watched as mechanised vehicles moved across the ground, using powerful drills to help churn up the ground. It should have been unnerving to see these machines going around unmanned, but that was the way Esthar was. Their technology was so advanced they could make machines run on their own. It was also rumoured they were working on mechanical soldiers that would replace conventional ones. It was a technology the Galbadian government wanted badly for their own use.
"But seriously…" Laguna said as he looked down at the machines prowling the ground below. "This place is strange…" Turning his gaze back to the grinders, he waved his hand at them. "What the heck is this big pile of rocks? You think these are natural rocks used for carving tombstones?"
Kiros crossed his arms and sighed. "Who knows…" he replied. "Or cares?"
"Speaking of strange…" Ward said, going over to Laguna. "Why have you been… running around so strange?"
Since entering the excavation site, Laguna had been running in a very unusual fashion. His body hunched over, his arms on his hips to prevent his armour and gun from jiggling around too much. It had looked most bizarre.
"Strange…?" Laguna repeated. He looked evasive. "What do you mean strange?" His eyes flicked around the site, over the grinders, the machines, the path, the walls of rocks. He suppressed a shudder. "…Just bein' cautious. That's the basic rule of thu…"
A loud crash sounded from somewhere nearby. Laguna's words drifted off, and he turned back to the path. "…Hey?" He peered ahead.
Further down the path a figure had appeared and was running towards them. It was an Esthar soldier, kitted out from head to foot in silver armour that was enhanced by technology. It seemed that the site was not abandoned, after all.
"Looks like we've got company," Laguna said, voicing his thoughts. He drew his gun from its holster and clicked off the safety. "Esthar soldiers. Still wearin' those flashy uniforms." Facing the approaching soldier, he stood ready.
Behind them there came another loud crash. Laguna did not seem to notice, but Kiros and Ward both turned and looked back down the way they had come. Two more Esthar soldiers, dressed in the same silver armour, ran through the gate.
"Laguna…!" Ward shouted in warning, and raised his harpoon.
A third Esthar soldier entered and ran up behind the second party, making a total of four soldiers surrounding them. All four had the same enhanced armour, making it impossible to tell anything about the men who wore them. All they could be sure of was that each one of the soldiers was armed. This was not a welcoming party.
Laguna, his attention directed solely on the soldier in front, did not notice the soldiers that had come up behind them. "Don't be such a wimp!" he said in scolding tones. Then he did turn around, and when he saw the additional three soldiers he jumped, his body stiffening. "What the…?"
The first soldier, now behind the group, raised his weapon and charged. The most traditional Esthar weapon was a short and stubby sword that had gun barrels built along the edge like a shotgun. It was an alternative design to the gunblade that was much easier to handle, and thanks to the enhancements by Esthar its blade did not dull and its shotgun produced more force than the average gunblade.
Laguna turned in time to meet the soldier head on. The Esthar soldier raised his weapon, aiming to bring the blade down on Laguna's unguarded head.
Lifting his machinegun over his head, Laguna blocked the sword's downward strike. Looking into the Esthar soldier's masked face Laguna felt a chill. Esthar armour was like a full body suit, and the masks covered their faces entirely. Through the plated slots that were its eyes, Laguna could only see his reflection looking back at him. It was haunting to look at.
Laguna pushed back against the soldier and forced him back. Physically, Esthar soldiers were often weaker than their Galbadian counterparts. This was because Esthar soldiers relied too heavily upon their enhanced armour for strength and protection, and neglected to work on their own bodies. As a result, most Esthar soldiers were slender and physically weak in comparison to Galbadian soldiers.
Lowering his gun, Laguna rammed the barrel into the gut of the Esthar soldier. His opponent coughed and keeled over, and then groaned as Laguna delivered another blow to his gut, this time with his knee. With a yell Laguna struck the soldier in the face, cracking the mask, before giving the soldier another shove towards the rail. The Esthar soldier staggered back and lost his balance. He tumbled over the rail, yelling as he fell to the rock depths.
The remaining Esthar soldiers stared as their comrade was pushed to his death. Then they snapped out of their reverie and raised their weapons, the shotguns clicking as they loaded.
Kiros glanced back at Laguna. "Wasn't our mission just to patrol…?" he asked.
"Why does it have to turn out like this?" said Ward.
With a sigh, Laguna turned to the three soldiers. "Seriously…" he replied. "I wasn't expecting this at all!"
The three soldiers charged, and the air was filled with the loud clash of blades on blades, grunting soldiers, and raining gunfire. The Galbadian soldiers fought with all their strength, making no effort to quieten their moves now that they had been discovered. After all, what was the point now?
Kiros dropped and rolled, and as he rose his swung his Katals and slashed against the ankle of an Esthar soldier. His opponent crumpled with an anguished cry, clutching at his ankle. A mixture of blood and a silvery fluid—the armour's power source, leaked from the gap. Kiros spun and kicked the soldier in the middle of his back, pushing him over the edge.
Across from him, Ward dropped his harpoon and grabbed hold of another of the soldiers. With a groan he lifted the soldier off the ground and held him high over his head. The Esthar soldier kicked and struggled, trying to break free of Ward's grip as the Galbadian carried him over to the edge of the path. With a mighty heave, he threw the soldier over the rail. The soldier fell and hit the grinder. He rolled off, joining his two comrades on the ground below.
The last solder swiped his sword, cutting Laguna a glancing blow on his forearm. The blade's edge cut through the blue fabric of his uniform, and Laguna winced. With a cry Laguna charged. He rammed into the soldier, knocking him off balance and forcing him back. Laguna's momentum meant he went with him, and Kiros and Ward had to pull out of the way as the two came barrelling past.
The two soldiers slammed into a nearby pillar. The Esthar soldier's head cracked against it. As Laguna pulled back he shuddered and then slumped onto the floor. His weapon slipped from his fingers.
Laguna kicked the sword away, letting it slide underneath a box containing ground up rocks from the ground. The soldier smirked, smug, and went over to rejoin his comrades. Ward was giving him a pitiful look, and Kiros was shaking his head. Only Laguna would body slam an enemy into submission. Laguna flushed and scratched his head. What did it matter as long as the job was done, right?
Another shout sounded from outside the excavation site. The three soldiers turned towards the exit, to where a number of Esthar soldiers were making their way down the slope. One of them raised his weapon and fired a round. It clanged off the rails.
"There's more coming…?" said Ward. He bent over and picked up his harpoon.
"There's no end to this!" Kiros exclaimed. He wiped his Katals on his trousers and stood ready.
Laguna had other ideas. Sheathing his gun, he said: "Better make a run for it!" and then turned and fled into the site. Kiros and Ward shared a glance before they too began to run, following Laguna.
The trio ran down the path, heading deeper into the excavation site. The Esthar soldiers running down the slope opened fire in an attempt to halt the Galbadians in their tracks. One bullet whizzed past Ward's ear, passing so close he could feel he air whoosh past him.
Further ahead the path split into three. The paths to the left and right seemed to lead to dead ends, but the path straight ahead led to a large hole that had been drilled into the rock. A ladder was positioned at the entrance. Laguna reached it first and immediately began to climb down. Kiros climbed down after him, with Ward coming last. The gunfire continued to rain overhead but then came to an end as the Esthar soldiers realised the intruders had escaped.
They climbed down through the hole and emerged inside a large tunnel. From a glance they knew immediately that this tunnel had not been carved by the Estharians. The walls looked rough but were strangely smooth, almost like crystal. They emitted the same green-white glow, and the light danced along the walls. However, there was no time to stop and examine them, and the soldiers hurried on down the tunnel.
They had only run a short distance when they came across three hatches built into the ground. At first Laguna paid them no attention, but when he ran across the middle hatch he heard a faint click, and the hatch depressed under his weight. Laguna stopped running and turned back to the hatch.
"Hmm…?" The soldier knelt down next to it. He pressed it with his hand, and the hatch moved. Laguna removed his hand and examined the lever that kept the latch in place. His suspicions were confirmed. "The lever on the hatch is loose…" he muttered. He frowned, thinking, and then slammed his fist into his palm. "…! I know! If we use this… Some stubborn Esthar fool won't be able to come after us!"
Behind him, Kiros and Ward stood waiting, impatient to move on. "What the heck are you up to?" Kiros asked Laguna.
"Somethin' stupid again, I bet," said Ward with a snigger.
Laguna's lips pursed together, and then he let out a deep, dramatic sigh. "You guys…" he said, with almost sincere pity. "You're gonna regret sayin' that. They say, the one who makes fun of a genius will end up cryin' in the end."
Kiros and Ward looked at each other, confused. "…So who's the… genius…?" asked Ward. Kiros chuckled.
"Erghhhhhh!" Laguna stood and turned to face them, stamping his foot. "Just shut up! ANYWAY! The lever for this hatch is broken. So if we just loosen it a bit more…"
Kiros latched onto his train of thought. "When they come after use from that side and…"
"YES! Youuu guessed it! They'll walk over it without expecting a thing! Then, all of a sudden, WHOOPS!" Laguna moved his hands to show the hatch falling open, and a figure dropping through the hole. "…And down they go. I have to admit. I really am a genius."
"Heh… Like the Esthar soldiers are really gonna fall for this trap," Ward chuckled.
"We won't know until we try!" Laguna told him in scolding tones. "And those who never try will never know. So… I'm gonna do it! Just remember, if we tamper with this lever we won't be able to make it back to the other side. It'd be idiotic to fall for our own trap…" The soldier knelt back down beside the hatch. "So, here it goes… You guys, stand back."
His friends did as they were told and stood well back. Laguna reached over and began to turn the bolt holding the lever in place. He turned it until the lever slipped free. For a moment he feared the hatch would drop with it, but it remained in place. "There!" Laguna said in triumph. He rubbed his nose and grinned up at Kiros and Ward, who rolled their eyes. The three soldiers then ran on ahead.
Their trap came into use quicker than they expected, although they did not know it. A lone Esthar soldier, after climbing down the ladder, ran down the tunnel in pursuit of the soldiers. He ran across the hatches, not suspecting a thing. When he ran over the middle hatch it fell open, just as Laguna had predicted. Before he knew what was happening, the soldier fell through the hole, disappearing into the depths beyond.
Meanwhile, Laguna, Kiros and Ward continued to make their way through the tunnel. Every so often the tunnel would split into two or even three and they were forced to choose which way they should go. It was like a maze, deep under the ground, and the same question was running through their minds:
What was this place?
It was a question to which they could find no answer. At first they thought the tunnels were naturally made, but they were too perfectly constructed to be made by nature. Add to that the hatches built into the ground, and the various other structures they found littered about in the tunnels… there was no way this place was naturally made.
They did find some things that were made by man. As they ascended an upward slope they came across a small device lying in the middle of the path. A small black box with two switches, and wires that led across the ground. One of the wires led to a large boulder by the wall, locked in place by a small pile of rocks.
"The heck's this?" Laguna asked, as they stopped to examine the box. "A blue and red switch, and two fuses…?"
"A detonator…?" replied Kiros. "You know."
"Ohhh, I get it," said Laguna, snapping his fingers. "This short blue fuse is for that boulder…" He pointed to the nearby boulder. "And the long red fuse is for the boulder further down?" The soldier crossed his arms, thinking. A smile spread on his face.
Ward saw that smile and jumped back in alarm. "Hey, man…! Are you crazy! You don't even know how powerful that thing will be!"
In response, Laguna waved his hand. "Ahh, I bet it's not all that," he said. "The detonator's right here, so as long as we stay behind it, we'll be all right."
"Well… I guess so…"
Ignoring Ward's obvious concern, Laguna turned back to the detonator. "Let's see…" he muttered, kneeling down beside it. "What to do…"
If they were to use the detonator to blow the boulders loose, they could cause more even trouble for the Estharians. The boulder further down, which they had passed on the way here, was positioned next to a sloping tunnel. Blowing that one first would cause that boulder to go down the tunnel, chasing off any soldiers who might be coming up that way. Yes, Laguna decided. That would be the best one to blow first.
He flicked the red switch. Turning to his comrades, he said: "The bomb blast won't reach us here. Just stay put."
He had no sooner finished speaking when an enormous explosion rocked the cavern. It was incredibly loud, bursting their eardrums, and carried so much force that the tunnel shook from top to bottom. The ground trembled, lurching down and then heaving upwards, as though it was being ripped up from its foundations.
"W-W-W-WHAT!" Laguna cried. He waved his arms, trying to keep from falling over.
Down in the tunnel they had just passed, the fuse had detonated the pile of rocks keeping the other boulder in place. Without the rocks the boulder rolled forward. When it reached the slope it swerved and rumbled down, gaining in speed.
At that particular moment, an Esthar soldier had been trying to use the tunnel as a shortcut. When he saw the boulder rolling towards him, he threw down his weapon and fled as fast as he could go. The boulder gained momentum and when the soldier looked back he jumped and pushed himself further.
They broke out of the tunnel, re-emerging on the lower path. A smaller tunnel had been drilled into the wall, and the soldier ran through. The boulder slammed into the wall and jammed into the hole. It was too big to fit through the hole, but it made an effective plug, sealing the soldier on the other side.
"That was… awfully loud," Kiros commented once the shaking had stopped.
"Lucky we were here," Ward agreed.
Turning to them, Laguna put his hands on his hips. "That's what I told you before!" he scolded them. "You should always check how powerful the thing could be…"
Ward raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't that… me, who said that?"
Laguna's eyes flicked right, and he scratched his head. He stammered. "…Uh… Ah… Hm… Anyway, we're still alive, right!"
The soldier then abruptly turned away, leaving Kiros and Ward to chuckle behind his back. Laguna then knelt back beside the detonator and looked at the one remaining blue switch. The fuse for this switch led to the boulder just near to them. If the explosion for this one was as strong as the other, then they did not want to be anywhere near once the fuse was activated. Laguna rubbed his chin and then, almost like an afterthought, he flicked the blue switch. He turned to Kiros and Ward.
"It's gonna blow!" he shouted. "Run for it!"
Kiros and Ward both watched as Laguna then legged it from the tunnel, up the slope and through the door at the other end. When they realised what was happening they too ran, almost tripping over their feet in their hurry to make it out before the detonator went off.
The detonator made a soft click. On the path, the few rocks that were holding the boulder in place slipped out of the way, allowing the boulder to roll forward. It moved slowly at first but then gained speed, rolling back down the tunnel.
Two more Esthar soldiers were making their way towards the tunnel. When they saw the boulder come rolling down the slope towards them, they turned and fled the way they came. One of the soldiers bypassed the slopes and ran straight ahead. His comrade, meanwhile, turned and headed down the sloping path where the previous boulder had gone before.
As with the other boulder, the larger rock also swerved and rolled towards the slope. However, unlike its smaller counterpart, this boulder was too large to fit through the tunnel. When it hit the wall it stopped, fitting perfectly over the tunnel entrance. The Esthar soldier, on the other side, was trapped.
Laguna, Kiros and Ward waited a few more moments before going back into the tunnel. At first they thought the second detonator was a dud, but they saw that the boulder had gone, and there was nothing left but themselves and the detonator.
"That was… awfully quiet," said Kiros, voicing his thoughts.
Ward crossed his arms. "I was expecting a blast of some sort…"
Laguna knelt down and gave the detonator a tap. With both the fuses used up, the machine had now turned itself off. He stood and turned back to his friends. "See! I told you!" he said. "I told you it wasn't all that powerful!"
Ward groaned and slapped a hand to his forehead. Laguna was a brilliant leader, but had such a selective memory at times.
The soldiers left the tunnel and headed up the slope. The next room was a very large open cavern, with a long set of stairs leading to a bridge that passed over the cavern to another tunnel built high up the cavern wall.
There was a lot of light filling the cavern, but none of it came from any manmade source. The light came from the walls themselves, just like the tunnels. The colours here, however, were more varied, with blues and greens and yellows, and even pinks in some places. Laguna and his companions stopped halfway up the steps and looked around the cavern, at the myriad of colours swirling around them. This place was almost unreal. They had never heard of anything like it. Luminous rocks that radiated light of all colours. If they didn't know better, they would have said this place wasn't from their world at all, but from someplace else.
There were, of course, things that reminded them that they were on their world. An Elastoid, an Esthar weapon, was patrolling the cavern. Monstrously huge, with for long and pliable legs like tentacles, floating through the air on an anti-gravity engine; the Elastoid was one of Esthar's anti-personnel weapons. It was bad news.
Laguna and his friends waited for the Elastoid to pass by, and then ran across the bridge while its attention was elsewhere. They did not stop to admire the scenery any further, and hurried into the tunnel at the other end.
The next tunnel they entered sloped upwards. In fact, Laguna realised, they had been going up for quite a while now. How much further did this place go up?
Another boulder was to be found in this tunnel, perched precariously at the top of a steep down slope branching off the path. Laguna stopped next to it and crossed his arms. There were no detonators or fuses attached to this one, so why was it here?
With that thought in mind, Laguna reached out and patted the boulder with his hand. As soon as he touched it the boulder shuddered and slipped free. The soldier cried out in alarm as it lurched forward and then slipped onto the slope. It rolled rapidly, vanishing into the glowing depths. A second after it disappeared he heard someone cry out, and the crash of the boulder smashing into something.
"Phew, that was close…" said Laguna. He wiped his brow.
"Geez…" Ward moaned, giving Laguna a stern gaze. "You have to go around touching everything like a little kid, don't you?"
"Chill out a little, will you…?" Kiros advised, folding his arms.
Scowling, Laguna spun to face them. "WHATEVER-MAN!" he snapped back. "Thanks to ME, those Esthar soldiers and that rock are history. It's like killing two pigs with one stone." The soldier put his hands on his hips, holding his head high. "I am just so awesome… Genius, I tell you…"
Kiros and Ward looked at each other in confusion. "Pigs…" Ward repeated. He scratched his head, brow creased.
"Don't you mean… birds?" Kiros corrected him.
Laguna turned his back on them. Let them say what they wanted; he knew he was a genius and as long as he knew it, nothing else mattered.
The soldiers headed on through the tunnel. At the top of the tunnel the path split into two, with one path heading deeper into the site, while another led to some steps going upwards. At the top of the steps sunlight, and not the glow of the rocks, could be seen. The Galbadians ran up the steps. They had had enough of this place.
The path came out on a rocky cliff outside of the excavation site. The three soldiers were relieved when they felt the warmth of the sun on their faces and not the myriad glow of luminescent rocks. A cool wind blew past them, and the three soldiers spread their arms and took long, deep breaths of cool, refreshing air. They could taste salt in the air; they must be somewhere near the ocean.
They could not relax for long. Marching footsteps came clattering up the footsteps. The three soldiers dropped their arms and turned to face the two Esthar soldiers who had just run up behind them.
"Don't tell me…" muttered Laguna.
"Of all the worst possible…" said Kiros.
"…Predicaments," Ward finished.
They reached for their weapons.
Laguna grunted as he took another small step forward. His boot landed on a small rock, which slipped aside and Laguna wobbled, almost losing his balance. The soldier paused, gathered his breath, and then began to walk once again to the cliff edge.
On his left side was Kiros. Bloodied, wounded, the soldier panted heavily as he allowed Laguna to carry him towards the cliff. On Laguna's right side, Ward was in the same bad shape. The large man's bandana had been torn and his lip was bust, letting blood trickle down his jaw. Ward's breath was hoarse, and he could not walk either.
Both of Laguna's friends were in pretty bad shape. The final battle against the Esthar soldiers had been more than they expected. One of the soldiers had more advanced weaponry than the other, as well as the physical strength to carry it. Before succumbing to defeat, the soldier had launched one more devastating assault. The attack had left both Kiros and Ward wounded on the ground, the strength gone from their bodies.
It was Laguna who picked up his friends and carried them towards the cliff edge. It was a struggle, for Ward in particular was much heavier than Laguna, but the soldier did not give in and kept on moving towards the edge
When he reached the cliff's edge, Laguna lowered his arms and let Kiros and Ward slip onto the ground. He also dropped, falling down between them. His arms and legs burned, and his throat ached with thirst. He licked his lips. Laguna lay there for a moment, catching his breath, before he raised his head and looked out over the cliff.
Stretching out before him was the ocean. The beautiful ocean. The waters were as blue as they were on the shores of Galbadia. The sunlight danced on the ripples and the waves, making it sparkle. It almost brought tears to Laguna's eyes, if he had the energy left to make them.
"Look," he said to his friends, his own voice hoarse and dry. "The ocean… We're saved! Lady Luck is on our side! We can escape to Galbadia!"
Beside him, Kiros coughed. "One would say we've been run down…" the soldier muttered. "That's what they'd normally say…"
Laguna glanced at him, and then forced himself to his feet. His muscles screamed in protest, but Laguna grit his teeth and fought against the burning desire to let himself fall to the ground. When he lifted his head his vision swam, but he fought that, too. Raising his head in defiance, he turned to Kiros.
"Don't say that," he said. "It might come true. Didn't your grandmother tell you that?"
Weakly, Kiros lifted his head. There was a cut on his forehead, just above his eyebrow. It started to bleed again as the soldier frowned in thought, trying to recall all the old stories he had been told as a child.
"…If you say something bad… It will come true… Yeah, I think she did."
On Laguna's other side, Ward groaned. "Ggghh… rrrhhh…"
Laguna looked down at him. "What'd you say?" he asked.
"I think…" Kiros murmured. "His throat… was injured… He lost… his voice." Kiros's own voice was barely more than a whisper.
Laguna looked down at his friend. There was a horrific bruise forming along Ward's throat, passing right across the Adam's apple. In the heat of the battle Laguna could only vaguely recall Ward crying out, but he had been too busy with his own fight to see what had happened. Ward groaned again and tried to speak.
"It… wa… fu… you…"
Laguna leaned over to listen. "Say again?"
Ward swallowed, winced, and tried to speak once more. His words were broken, his voice rasping. It seemed as though he was using every last ounce of his will to get the words out of his mouth.
"It… was… fun… you… guys… La…guna… Ki…ros… It… was… fun…" Then he fell silent.
Laguna stood up straight and frowned down at his friend. "Ward, that's way uncool," he said, almost harshly. "It's not cool to say things like that. Just for that, you're gettin' the Cuch-Cuchi treatment!" The soldier knelt down again and began to tickle Ward under his chin. "How's that, huh! Want more! Well!"
But Ward said nothing in reply. Normally, he would bat Laguna away and shout at him to stop fooling around. Now, though, Ward said nothing, and he did not bat Laguna away. Laguna stopped and looked down at his friend. His eyes, which were always playful, now looked at his friend in sympathy. He patted Ward on the shoulder before standing up and walking to the cliff's edge. He peered down.
At the foot of the cliff was a large, rocky bay. Here the water crashed in large waves. On either side of the cliff, the land extended out into the water. Esthar ships, recognisable from their sleek, streamlined forms, were docked into the bay. This was how the Esthar soldiers made it to and from the site.
"WHOA!" exclaimed Laguna. "Check it out, a boat! We're gettin' on!"
"A… vessel…" Kiros murmured behind him. "…They'd… normally… call… it…"
Laguna waved his hand. "Boat, vessel, whatever. We're going back to Galbadia!"
The soldier turned away from the cliff. One at a time, he helped drag Kiros and Ward onto their feet and led them to the cliff's edge. With a grunt and a heave, Laguna threw them both off the cliff. The two soldiers dropped like stones all the way down to the bottom. They splashed into the sea, disappearing beneath the waves. After a few moments the two surfaced and began to swim, weakly, to the shore.
Laguna watched his friends. "You guys… sure have guts," he said. "You know how high this cliff is…!" Of course, it was him who threw them down there, but they could have fought back if they didn't agree, right?
Laguna peered over the ledge. The cliff wall was rough and rugged, with numerous jutting rocks. Laguna sat down and climbed carefully over the edge, positioning his feet on the cliff wall. He started to climb down.
His boot slipped on a loose rock.
"Oh… Sh…"
Laguna tried to grab the ledge. His fingers lost their grip.
"No way!"
Laguna fell back away from the cliff. He tumbled, headfirst, towards the churning waters below. His scream echoed around the valley.
"AHHHH!"
He hit the water with a loud splash. The waters closed in over his head, a mass of white and blue. Bubbles swarmed around him and he thrashed, fighting against the current of the water.
The sunlight turned to darkness as he sank deeper into the water. The water was cold, and he couldn't breathe.
The darkness closed in on him. Laguna stopped struggling and lay, suspended in the water, waiting for its darkness to take him.
[End of Dream World: Centra Excavation Site]
Coming Next: [Part Three: Assassinate the Sorceress]