FINAL FANTASY: INQUISITION
By Thomas Knapp
Act Three- Scene Three
"Well, so it was true…" Harmon noted as the party stood at the top of a ridge overlooking the Mud Sea. "Record low snowfall has caused the Mud Sea to be much lower this year than in years prior."
"Is this a good thing, or a bad thing?" Harmon asked.
"Oh, it is good… it is VERY good. The mud will be thicker and not as far from end to end, making the trip on the chocobos considerably easier."
"All right then. Let's get in there, then. As much as I'd like to trust the benevolence of King Sabol, I don't want to spend any more time in North Landing then we have to."
Tamara quickly seconded the motion, and the rest took that at a signal to proceed down the ridge to the mud below. Before she followed suit, Yura whirled her chocobo around, taking in the surroundings, then queried, "Where's Trigger?"
Midas chuckled, then said, "You should know by now, Yura. Just because we can't see him, doesn't mean he isn't around. If we need him, he'll be right with us." Accepting that logic, Yura slowly guided her chocobo down the ridge.
At the bottom of the ridge, they discovered there was still a good half-kilometer of solid land before the mud began. As they prepared their chocobos to sprint across the gunk, something caught Creed's eye. "Who is that?"
Midas turned and asked, "What are you talking about?"
Creed squinted to try and get a clearer image, then said, "Yeah, there's someone laying down on the ground over there. I wonder what he's doing?"
Midas drew his chocobo aside Creed, and focused on where Creed was pointing. "Looks like he's laying down." Midas smirked.
"Why?"
Midas took a deep breath, and muttered, "Let's find out, shall we?"
Tamara also saw the man prone on the about 30 meters away. She had a sinking feeling in her gut, but followed nonetheless. As the group approached, it became increasingly clear that the man wasn't moving.
Once they were right up to the body, it only confirmed what they had eventually figured. The man was dead, with dried mud caked onto his red robe. Yura gasped, and said, "That man has a robe like yours, Midas."
Midas regarded the observation silently, staring at the figure. It didn't look like the man had been dead for too long. "Maybe it had been a Red Mage in hiding here in North Landing."
Tamara shook her head, "No, Midas… my father made sure EVERY magic user in North Landing was killed 10 years ago."
Harmon agreed, "Besides, take a good look at the clothes, and the man's skin. It is consistent with the preservation one would find after falling in the Mud Sea."
During this, Creed had been examining the body more thoroughly. "I don't know how to break this to ya people, but I don't think he died from falling into the mud." He then pointed out a vicious gash in the body's side, consistent with being skewered by a lance or polearm.
After which Borz pointed out in the direction of the Mud Sea, and said, "Umm… Midas, you may want to see this…" The statement drew everyone's attention, and it was at this time that they realized the body they were examining was but ONE such corpse. Several others lied strewn about where the Mud would have been in a normal year. Some were partially submerged in the muddy swamp, while others were almost totally covered. The picture that eventually drew their attention was about ten meters away. A lone hand, fingers outstretched, sticking out of the mud, as if reaching for the surface.
Yura vomited, but not from any alcoholic beverage this time. Midas still did not say a word, almost paralyzed by the grotesque scene. All the bodies were of magic users from varying disciplines.
Tamara gulped, and commented, "So THAT'S what my father did with the bodies…"
Midas whirled sharply to address the Knight. "You KNOW who these people are? What did Gregorian do to them?"
In response, a cracked voice, as if from years of disuse rasped, "The Coran Pass Massacre."
Midas had heard this voice before, so he was somewhat prepared. However, everyone else nearly jumped out of their skins when they realized that Trigger had slipped in behind them, and that HE had been the one who had spoken.
"Oh… Trigger… you CAN talk." Fredros stated the obvious, adding, "You gave me a bit of a scare."
Trigger didn't reply. Instead, he untied the thick black scarf, at the same time pulling his mask over his head. Letting both articles drop, he allowed the party to look upon his face for the first time.
The thin face, with high cheekbones and slightly slanted brown eyes was topped with black hair that was showing considerable gray. The picture somehow seemed quite unlike what any of them had been expecting for years. The face wasn't rugged or frayed. It bore no scars or blemishes.
However, Tamara seemed to recognize it, even though she said nothing. Trigger approached the body of the slain Red Mage, and with an almost sorrowful respect, said, "This story is about a man named Hijo, and it takes place just after the Rationalists took control. After Gregorian left to spearhead the Rationalist Revolutions in the other kingdoms, the situation in North Landing changed. Rather than continue the bloody war, Hijo and leaders of the magic users spent the next ten years trying to negotiate a peaceful transition from the old summoner rule."
Trigger glanced down once again at the body, fighting back the hints of tears forming at his face. "Hijo and the magic-users were getting ready to finish the negotiations, when Gregorian returned…"
10 years ago, city of Hamil…
"A fifth is simply too much for merely a tenth of North Landing's population." Hijo rejected, "We will give you a percentage of our reserves based on your current size."
"But, Hijo, you have to realize…" Devid, a Red Mage chosen to be one of the magic-user representatives, "We won't have the benefit of a agricultural supply to augment our stores for at least a year."
Hijo accepted this logic, and relented somewhat. "I cannot authorize you taking more than one-seventh of our reserves."
"Then I guess that we shall have to make do with that, won't we?" Devid nodded in compromise. The argument of what and how much of North Landing's reserve crop would go with the magic-users when they began to set up their new residence on the strip of land past the Western Shield Range, along the coast of the North Outer Sea.
Hijo looked out at the sun, now threatening to plunge below the horizon. "I think we can resume this tomorrow. It is getting quite late."
Devid seemed somewhat reluctant, "But we are so close to being finished now. All that remains is figuring out how or if a mutual trade system will work."
Hijo agreed, "I know… these last ten years have been filled with a lot of bickering and it has been a long, hard period, but if we have waited this long, we can wait one more day. Besides, I'm tired, you're tired, the other delegates are tired… we need to be sure that our minds are fully alert for the final stretch."
"Besides…" Teregen, one of the few Summoners that had survived the opening battles of the Revolution, "Since everything else has been agreed upon, our people can actually begin moving tomorrow while we finish the trade agreement."
"This is true." Devid acknowledged, "Unless you want us to remain here until everything is finalized."
Hijo shook his head, "No… that is quite all right. There is no need to continue this tenuous situation here in Hamil any longer than is necessary. Besides, the sooner your kind can begin to build your new homes, the better."
Once that was said, the magic-users took their leave, and started to filter out. Devid hung around a bit longer, waiting for the other pleasantries to be said. Hijo regarded the Red Mage with a genial glance. It was quite odd to think that he, a pure Rationalist, was enjoying the company of a man that represented everything wrong in this world. However, in the last 10 years, Hijo gradually noticed that it was a select few that gave magic-users a terrible name, unfortunately, it was that select few that had been in power. As the years had gone on, it had become easier to make concessions to a people that Hijo regarded as merely different, not evil.
"Well, as much as I've come to enjoy your company, Hijo, I really am looking forward to finishing this. Think we can settle it all tomorrow?" Devid suggested with an almost visible twinkle in his eye.
"Depends on how willing you are to concede to my restrictions." Hijo shot back. "Either way, it will get finished, and we will finally have a confirmed peace in North Landing."
"Sounds good to me." Devid stated, and started to walk out the door. The Red Mage suddenly stopped, his hand going to his chest as if he was just about to have a heart attack. Hijo stepped to Devid's side to see what was the matter, and quickly realized that it was a BIG matter.
Gregorian stood 2 meters from the doorway; his eyes focused hatefully on Devid. Then the Rationalist leader regarded Hijo, and the glare darkened even further. Gregorian's hands clenched into fists, and his face melded into a vicious scowl. Everything about his posture screamed bloody murder.
Hijo examined the situation carefully, then without taking his eyes off Gregorian, said, "I shall see you tomorrow, Devid. Let's try to wrap this up as soon as possible."
Devid also could not seem to take his eyes off the fuming Rationalist glaring at them. "Right…" And with that, the Red Mage hastily took his leave. Hijo motioned for Gregorian to enter, which the man did, angrily storming into the conference hall.
Hijo reminded himself of Gregorian's… erratic nature, and resolved to remain calm. Despite Gregorian's eccentricities, the Rationalist leader was a logical man. When confronted with the reasons for the actions taken during his absence, he was sure to understand. It was merely a matter of weathering the storm until then.
"Hijo, explain to me WHY IN THE HELL I am seeing magic-users in Hamil, TEN YEARS AFTER I LEFT!" Gregorian screamed.
"We are negotiating for the removal of the magic-users to a pre-selected area where they will not interfere." Hijo replied, "It has been a long, hard period, but we are set to complete…"
"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN! MAGIC-USERS WILL INTERFERE NO MATTER WHERE YOU PUT THEM!" Gregorian interrupted, "THIS IS A REVOLUTION, NOT A TEA PARTY!"
"Where you see revolution, I saw a bloodbath." Hijo commented.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAW! WE ARE REVOLTING, THOSE MAGIC-USERS SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT INTO THE STREETS AND EXECUTED!"
"Are you done?" Hijo commented crassly.
"I PUT YOU IN CHARGE HERE BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU WOULD DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR THE RATIONALIST CAUSE! I SEE THAT I WAS MISTAKEN!"
"In that regard, you are most incorrect. Everything I have done here was for the sake of the people."
Gregorian quieted his tone, but only to sound more threatening, "And how do you think you can say that?"
Hijo took a deep breath, partially so he could sound firm, and also to buffer his control. It did no good to get into a shouting match with Gregorian. "There are 60,000 magic-users in Hamil. The cost of taking the city at the current juncture would have sent casualties up towards a million."
"We would have won, wouldn't we?"
"Yes, but at what cost? A MILLION casualties, Gregor. A MILLION, if not more. That isn't even including all the collateral damage of innocent NON-magic-users and property in Hamil, of which, I would note, is your daughter, who you expressly wished to live in Hamil. Would you be singing the same tune had she been killed in the fighting?"
THAT got Gregorian's attention. The Rationalist Leader, dropped his head, as if acknowledging defeat. Then he asked softly, "When do the magic-users leave?"
"Tomorrow they will head through the Coran Pass, and take up residence along the coastline of the North Outer Sea." Hijo informed, "Once they are there, North Landing will become a totally Rationalist kingdom, and no one needed to lose their lives."
"All right, Hijo…" Gregorian muttered. "You BETTER be right about this…" Turning about, Gregorian strode out of the conference hall, with much less bluster than when he went in.
Once alone, Hijo took a huge sigh of relief.
Following day…
"Well… I'm glad you decided to come today." Hijo said apologetically.
"Devid convinced us that you would make sure that Gregorian was mollified." Teregen stated. "I trust that his confidence was not misplaced."
"Fortunately, I was able to convince Gregorian that this peaceful transition was in the best interest of both parties." Hijo replied.
Then the door to the conference hall burst inward, and Gregorian's voice could be heard saying, "If only that were true, Hijo." Seven soldiers charged into the hall, killing Teregen and the two other delegates. Devid whirled around in his chair just in time to receive a fatal stab in the side with a halberd. In less than ten seconds, the four magic-user delegates were slumped over in their chairs, sitting in pools of their own blood.
Hijo jumped to his feet when this began, and shouted in disbelief, "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS, GREGOR!"
"Guards… take this TRAITOR into custody." Gregorian ordered with a sick smile, "And make it quick, I want for us to get there in time to see the BIG show."
Two of the soldiers cuffed Hijo's hands behind his back, and forced him outside, where several of Hamil's fastest chocobos were waiting.
Coran Pass, an hour later…
Hijo watched in absolute horror from his position on a ledge of a mountain overlooking the pass as the 60,000 magic-users slowly filtered in, expecting a new life without worry of the Rationalists attacking them.
Once the mass had entered the kilometer long pass, Gregorian launched a red flare, giving the signal to close the trap. Chocobos pulling seven large artillery cannons appeared on both ends of the pass. The cannons opened fire just as tens of thousands of Rationalist soldiers flooded into the narrow pathway through the mountains.
Not at all expecting any sort of attack, the magic-users were unable to adequately prepare for battle. Thus, the soldiers rushed through the already diminished numbers without resistance, butchering men, old, women and children alike. Within a half-hour, 60,000 magic-users, either in one piece or blown into several, laid strewn about the pass.
Gregorian turned to Hijo, and said triumphantly, "THAT is how you operate a REVOLUTION!"
Hijo meanwhile, was stunned to absolute silence at the gruesome display below. Gregorian laughed, and said, "Yes, Hijo, look upon the magic-users that you decided were more valuable than your ideals. They TRUSTED you… and now they're dead."
The Rationalist leader straightened in his saddle with a most smug appearance, "I couldn't have done it without you, Hijo. The traitor actually helped me. To think, huh?"
Gregorian then addressed his guards, "Take Hijo to Orland's Point, and arrange for him to be transferred to the new Disciplinary Center. Also, inform Sabol that he is to be the King of North Landing."
As the guards split up on their various tasks, Hijo regained the use of his voice, and screamed, "DAMN YOU, GREGOR! I SWEAR THAT I WILL NOT REST UNTIL I HAVE PERSONALLY RID THE WORLD OF YOUR PRESENCE!"
Gregor merely chuckled, and replied, "You obviously haven't seen the Disciplinary Center yet, have you?"
5 years later…
The Cairos guard paused on his patrol to motion for the other to join him in front of one of stone cell doors, "Take a look at this, Biggs."
Biggs did as requested, peering inside the small barred window in the door. Inside was a lone figure, shackled to the far wall, clothed in black, with a ragged shroud covering his face.
Wedge motioned towards the figure, and said, "THAT is a weird one, let me tell you. In five years, he is EASILY the strangest fellow I have EVER seen in the Disciplinary Center."
"How so?"
"I mean, we've kicked him around, we've tortured him, we've beat him up, and the guy doesn't even make the slightest of peep. Doesn't scream, doesn't do anything. I mean, the fella hasn't talked once that I've heard of the FIVE YEARS he's been here."
"Maybe he's mute."
"Probably." Wedge admitted, "But, damn, I can't help but think it's something more. There is SOMETHING burning in that man, and frankly, it scares me sometimes. There have been times I've checked his cell, and I swear that he's just thinking through all the different ways he can kill me."
"You think he can?"
"From what I understand, the guy's from North Landing. They trained ninjas there as part of the revolution, and no doubt he's one of them that got disenchanted by the way North Landing's been doing things. Frankly, I don't wanna THINK about what he'd do if he got loose."
Suddenly, the alarms sounded, jerking Biggs and Wedge to full awareness. "Someone's broken loose!" Wedge shouted, "We better report in!"
The pair darted away from the cell door, and the shrouded man knew that this was the time to make his move. Hijo had been planning this for the last several days, and pulled the makeshift lock pick, which he had fashioned out of a hairpin that one of the female guards had dropped, out of his mouth, turning his head to work on the left shackle. With a click, he felt the steel fall away, and then Hijo proceeded to work on the right one.
Once free from the wall, Hijo fiddled with the door. He had noted the mortar surrounding the locking mechanism was wearing away, and so Hijo decided to merely help the process along. Within minutes, the bricks holding the lock fell away, and Hijo swung the door open. His chance for revenge was at hand.
Hijo rushed to the corner, and was about to turn, when he heard the sounds of feet approaching. Waiting until they were almost at the intersection, Hijo jumped into the pathway, preparing to strike, then stopped suddenly when the figure leading it reacted just as quickly, sword at the ready.
The figure holding the sword was barely a teenager, yet he wore a scarlet robe that was traditional among Red Mages. The boy sighed in relief, and said, "Well… you obviously aren't a Cairos soldier." He smiled slightly, and said, "Hell… might as well add one more to the party, come on we're getting out of here." The Red Mage motioned for the six people following him to keep moving. Hijo then stepped by them to continue down the direction the escapees had come from when the young Red Mage grabbed his arm.
"Whoa there, killer. We don't have time to be exacting retribution on some Cairos goons. We gotta get out while the gettin's good !" The Red Mage released Hijo, and continued on his way.
5 meters down the hall, the boy stopped, and addressed Hijo again, "Hey, buddy, listen. If you wanna stick around and get caught again, that's fine with me, but I'm leaving now. Are you coming, or not?"
Hijo regarded the young man subtly, and Hijo found his stance softening. The posture that the boy had taken was so reminiscent of how Devid would stand when he felt he had been trying to get Hijo to see reason. The red robe the boy wore merely enhanced the similarities, and Hijo found himself complying with the Red Mage's suggestion despite himself.
Near the Cairos city limits…
"Wonderful… thanks to your dallying, o disguised companion, the guards had time take posts at the exits." The Red Mage commented; his attention focused on the pair of guards. "Follow me, we've gotta take plan B. Come on, you shrouded psycho."
The young man reached out to where Hijo would have been, but instead grabbed nothing but air. "All right… did any of you see where that masked man went?"
Hijo was in the meantime sneaking up to where the guards had stationed themselves, then struck like a viper. Grabbing one guard by the neck, Hijo made a quick arm motion, snapping the neck of the soldier. Meanwhile, Hijo's other arm pulled out the guard's dagger from its sheath, and imbedded the blade into the neck of the other guard, all before either was able to fully realize what was going on.
The Red Mage stood, an incredulous look plastered on his face. "Well, I'll be damned…" The young magic-user muttered, "All right… let's get out of here, and make it fast."
Meeting outside the town, the Red Mage turned to Hijo, "You've got one happy trigger finger there. My name's Midas, what's yours?"
Hijo didn't reply. He had vowed five years ago that he would not speak again until he had repaid Gregorian for the pain that he had caused.
"Okay…" Midas said, slowly catching on, "I see… you don't talk much, don't you? All right, since you won't tell me your name, you'll be… Trigger from now on, okay?"
Hijo mentally cringed, but shrugged, accepting the label. It seemed a lot easier than having Midas continually pester him on the subject.
Midas smiled, and said, "All right, Trigger, then let's get going. I'm sure Cid would LOVE to meet you…" Hijo then smiled under his shroud, and followed Midas towards the Outlands.