FINAL FANTASY: INQUISITION
By Thomas Knapp
Act Four- Scene Four
When the eight emerged from the burst of light, they found themselves standing at the base of a towering stone structure looking downward onto the Great Central Sea. The structure itself looked like it was alive, stone carvings all the way up the obelisk as far as any of the group's eyes could see. The seemingly random overhangs were draped with kelp and other seaweed, suggesting that this place had recently been underwater. There was only one place this could be… the Tower of Alexander.
"Well… that answered the question of where this thing was, and how we were gonna get there." Midas said gratefully. "Now, Yura, why don't you go up there, do your thing, and get this over with."
Yura bit her lower lip, and said softly, "I can't…"
This gave the other seven a good deal of pause. Finally Midas asked slowly, as if he wasn't totally certain what he had just heard, "What do you mean… you can't?"
Yura bit her lip again. She had not anticipated instantaneous travel to Alexander's Tower, so the forthcoming information she had not deemed important. "Alexander can only be summoned on the night of the full moon."
"You mean to tell me that we can't finish this god-forsaken mission for another WEEK?" Creed fumed. "What are we gonna do, SIT HERE?"
"Not in the least." Midas replied, "It will not take Gregorian long to realize what is happening, and no doubt he will pour all his resources into making sure this summoning does not occur."
He walked to the first step leading to the large entryway of the tower, and looked up as if analyzing the structure. Finally, he turned his head to his comrades, and finished, "I intend for us to be ready."
One week later…
The noonday sun sat overhead on the day prior to the full moon. Midas looked over the handiwork of the past week's efforts. He sincerely hoped that it was enough to keep the Rationalists at bay until Alexander was summoned.
"Enough to keep them at bay…" That thought dwelled in his head as it had for the entire week's wait. He had even brought up the issue of what was most likely going to happen. The seven of them couldn't even HOPE to hold back the army that Gregorian was no doubt assembling to attack the tower. The only chance was to hold back the attackers long enough for Alexander to be summoned, then let the Guardian handle the rest.
Obviously, the others did not find much merit in the role they were going to play, but most of them accepted it. Surprisingly, Creed didn't even seem too pleased, even though he was probably going to be granted the wish that had been denied him 5 years ago. This was one thing he decided to make sure he had straight before things went to hell.
The monk was examining one of the multitude of traps that had been set up for their soon to be unwelcome guests when they arrived. From his position one floor higher, Midas grinned, and called out to the monk, "If ANYONE knows how to make a trap, it's you, Creed. I wouldn't be too worried."
Creed glanced up towards Midas's position and shot back, "If my traps were so good, how come you're still standing today?"
As if throwing any caution to the wind, Midas jumped out the tower window, landing five meters below, and rolling to his feet in front of Creed, "I just wanted…" Midas began.
"To make sure that I won't chicken out again." Creed finished. Before Midas could reply, Creed once again interrupted, "Don't try to deny it. I've been thinking about it myself. And to be honest… I don't know."
"I see…" Midas answered.
"I think that I've made it perfectly clear that I wish to die. I've wanted to ever since I deserted my fellow monks in Media. However, I can't say I have any reason to believe that I'll be able to go through with it this time. I would understand completely why you'd want to send me away. You're gonna need to have everyone on the same page… something I cannot guarantee."
"Okay… now that the little self-pity trip is out of the way… let me give you some facts here." Midas said, ticking them off on his fingers as he did so, "One… you've been with us all the way up to this point, and you've been solid the entire time. I don't see any reason to deny you the chance to finish it with us. Two… have you SEEN this place? There isn't exactly anywhere to run TO. Three… how in Alexander's name to do intend for me to send you anywhere?"
While Creed mulled over the various reasons, Midas chuckled, and said, "I came here to see how you were doing. You seemed awfully displeased as to our current situation, and I wanted to know why. Thank you for answering me. I wouldn't worry about a thing, Creed. I am certain you'll do fine."
"Well… I suppose I'm glad YOU think so." Creed said, rubbing his neck uncertainly.
From around the circular tower, Tamara's voice asked, "Do I hear Midas over there?"
Midas stiffened, and he stammered, "Y…y…yeah! I'm here!"
Tamara emerged from around the curved wall, and said, "Can I speak to you for a moment? There is something I need to discuss with you before… well, you know…"
Midas began to stammer an excuse when Creed slapped the Red Mage on the shoulder, saying, "Yeah… I think we're done here. He's all yours, Tamara!" Into Midas's ear, the monk whispered, "It's best you get it over with now. The sooner she can focus on the task at hand, the better."
Depressingly, Midas nodded. He had ducked the issue for as long as he could. Now it was time to settle it. Lifting his head so as not to betray any of his conflicting emotions, he walked over to where Tamara waited.
She led him to the most secluded part of the small island that the Tower of Alexander rested upon, which wasn't particularly secluded. As a matter of fact, any part of the minute island was visible from the fourth level of the tower.
Tamara wrung her hands as she slowly gathered the courage to say what had been burning her for some time. "Midas… I just wanted to tell you about how I feel about you before I couldn't tell you anymore. Granted, you might have figured it out…"
Midas put his hand on her shoulder, and replied, "Yes… neither you nor Yura were terribly discreet about it. You don't need to say anything. I know all about it."
Tamara shook her head, and began, "Well… I want… oh hell… I guess if…" Finally, she looked up at him hopefully asking, "But… What about YOU? How do YOU feel about ME?"
Midas frowned. It was the moment of truth that he had been dreading. Thankfully Yura wasn't anywhere nearby. Hopefully she'd be too busy with the summoning to worry about how he had chosen. "Tamara… I…"
"SHIP COMING FROM THE SOUTH!" Borz cried out, his high-pitched voice carrying all the way from his perch on the higher levels of the tower to the ground level. Likely anyone within a kilometer would have heard his shrill cry.
Reacting instantly, Midas rushed away to the entrance to the tower, leaving Tamara to growl in frustration. If it was what she feared… everything Midas could have said would be left unsaid.
Tower of Alexander, 10th floor…
Looking out the window that Borz had been scouting from, they could see the small wooden speck approaching from the direction that the Black Mage had indicated.
"I can't imagine Gregorian only sending one ship to take this tower." Midas said in confusion. "All of you, check the other windows, make sure that no other ships are coming."
The others carried out the Red Mage's order, and all of them replied in the negative. Finally Harmon reached into his satchel, and after some rummaging about, pulled out what looked like a small wooden tube with two glass lenses on each end, "Here, use this…" he said, handing it to Midas.
Midas examined the strange device, and then asked, "What is it?"
"I really don't have time to explain the laws of light and how it works, so let me just say that it makes images inside the view of that device appear larger. Just put the small end to one eye, point the big end at what you want to look at, and then close your other eye."
Midas did so, and then exclaimed, "By Alexander… that's INCREDIBLE! I can actually see the ship like it's almost upon us!" His voice dropped down, and he said in amazement and query, "That ship is waving Cairos's flag. What is a Cairos ship doing here?"
An hour later, they got their answer as the ship slowly sailed along to the side of the island. A plank cast to the ground, and one lone figure, clad in the dark blue armor of a dragoon, and a long spear in hand, bounced down to the shore, stopping before Midas.
The dragoon pulled off the winged helmet, and Karma said excitedly, "I'm glad I got here before the fun started!"
Midas gaped, then finally managed to ask, "What are you doing here?" Then with a hopeful tint to his voice asked, "Do you bring reinforcements?"
Karma chuckled, then said embarrassingly, "I wish that was the case… you see, Moros has been gathering forces along the border, and I couldn't spare anyone to defend the tower."
Tamara then queried, "Then what are YOU doing here, madam?"
Karma's features then grew determined, and the High Inquisitor said, "Well… something quite special is going to be here very soon, and I would really like to be able to say that I was a part of it."
Midas warned, "You DO realize that there is not much chance ANY of us are going to survive this coming battle?"
Karma nodded, "I know. I've received the reports as to the size of the force that Gregorian set sail with before I departed. I was fortunate to have a strong northern wind behind me. But Midas… I am a Dragoon. My sworn duty is to defend the summoners. Please do not deny me the opportunity to end my life defending the last summoner in her final quest."
Midas shrugged, and replied brightly, "Gee… after that, how can anyone expect me to refuse? Very well, Karma, you will set up on the roof of the tower with Yura. You will be our last line of defense."
"Thank you, Midas. I will not disappoint."
Dusk…
The full moon began to rise on the horizon just as the first ships of Gregorian's fleet appeared. Judging from the speed the ships were travelling, they'd come ashore 2 hours before the moon was fully visible.
"2 hours, huh?" Creed muttered, "The longest two hours of our lives."
"Or the shortest… depending on how quickly we're taken out." Borz amended.
"Let's not worry about how long we'll last, and just focus on holding out." Midas ordered. "Besides… Harmon, I think you've acquired some Fire and Lightning skills, am I correct?" When the Blue Mage nodded, Midas continued, "Then you, Borz, and I will go up to the roof, and give some of our guests a little welcoming present."
As the three mages climbed the tower steps, Midas said, "Get in position, everyone. Use our magic attack as the signal to get ready to repel any and all opposition."
The next hour drug by like a sloth stuck in molasses. Tamara was about ready to charge into the ocean, and swim out to the approaching ships when finally 3 streaking balls of fire ripped through the sky, striking three separate ships, and exploding into three large plumes of smoke and flame.
As sailors and soldiers abandoned ship, the other undamaged vessels readied their cannons. The second volley of spells tore through the air as the cannons fired. Where the mage's attack struck another trio of ships, the cannons were harmlessly deflected from the tower by an unseen force.
Tamara didn't have time to ponder the mysterious defenses that the tower just displayed, for it was at that moment that the first of the surviving ships went ashore, Rationalist soldiers pouring onto the small island.
Tamara and Creed retreated into the tower, where Harmon and Trigger were waiting. As the first soldiers started to work through the entryway, they also became the first ones to die. The entryway kept the invaders from pressing too quickly into the tower, but their sheer numbers soon forced the group backward. Rather than press the issue at the doorway, the four fell back, and at the second level of the tower, met up with Midas, Borz, and Harmon, and also the first of the traps that the group had set.
Tamara, Creed, Trigger, and Fredros ducked down, as Midas intentionally set off the trap, dropping a large boulder just over the four in front, and sending it rolling down the steps, bowling over soldiers that were unable to react. The stone crashed against the entryway, blocking the door.
In response, while some soldiers began working to move the boulder, others started to infiltrate the tower via the window arches. However, access that way proved to be as problematic as the main entry. Grappling hooks were plucked off the windows, or soldiers set off magically warded traps underneath the windows.
But no defense is impenetrable. The boulder was eventually rolled aside, and the traps underneath the windows ran out. Rationalist soldiers started to pour into the tower by the score, forcing the seven defenders further up the tower.
Creed analyzed the increasingly deteriorating situation. While part of his mind raced through fighting, another part couldn't help but think, 'Was THIS what the battle of Media was like? Fighting off what seems like an endless wave of Rationalists?'
Creed struck an approaching soldier in the chest, watching the young man spit up a torrent of blood, and collapse to the steps, sliding down until the body stopped before the pile of similar corpses cluttering the steps. As the body count continued to climb, Creed began to think if this was really the way he had wanted to go.
His subconscious mind began to warp reality, and Creed began to see the faces of old friends in the place of his new ones. Had the Battle of Media gone the same way? Forced back until they could not retreat any further, then mercilessly killed?
Creed didn't want to go like that after all.
He was going to live.
"I AM NOT GOING TO DIE LIKE THIS!" Creed screamed, and for a brief second, it froze the entire battle. Then the battle remained in a type of stasis as they watched Creed become overwhelmed with the Battle Trance.
The monk growled in fury, and glared at the Rationalists below. Creed slapped his hand on the ground with such force that the steps split and collapsed, causing the stone to crumble to dust, and drop chunks of carved stone to the floor below. That sudden obstacle would severely hamper the Rationalists' progress.
However, Creed didn't seem to be done there. He leaped across the new gap, engaging the Rationalists, and starting to push THEM back. Tamara, energized by Creed's sudden counterattack, jumped across as well. Trigger offered support with well placed shurikens whenever there was an opening.
Midas and Borz stepped up the pace of their magic production, searing, freezing, and shocking the rear soldiers, while Fredros worked on keeping everyone patched together.
However, their counter-offensive was short lived as the Rationalist's continued to push forward into the tower. Once again, the party fell back on the defensive, and Tamara made a startling discovery. When she and Creed jumped down the gap, she realized that she couldn't get back up. It appeared that her fighting would be over in mere moments.
Midas began to charge down the steps to join Tamara when an armored body flew over him, rolling to a stop just before the fallen section of steps. Karma stood to her feet, and called out to Tamara and Creed to watch out.
Tamara and Creed ducked down again, as Karma cast a stream of bright white energy that tore through the soldiers, following the winding staircase, burning away the Rationalist presence from the tower. Then there was silence. Karma sighed, and then turning to her allies said, "There are still more ships arriving, but at least I've given all of you a slight reprieve to rest your wearied bodies." Then with a groan of pain added, "But don't expect me to do that too many more times. That skill takes an awful lot out of me…"
"I understand. We'll hold down the fort as long as we can." Midas replied, "Thanks for watching our backs. How is Yura doing?"
"The full moon has cleared the horizon. Yura is beginning the ritual as we speak. I shall return to her now." With that, the Dragoon charged back up the few remaining levels to the roof.
Fredros watched Karma disappear up the steps as the others helped Tamara and Creed make it across the gap in the steps, and he commented wistfully, "It's amazing that despite her incredible power… we know so little about her…"
This caused Midas to raise an eyebrow in the White Mage's direction. "Really, you never heard of her?"
"No… not that I can remember."
"That's kinda strange. According to Yura, Karma was a Dragoon in Wodensland before the revolution."
Fredros scratched his chin, and commented thoughtfully, "That's odd… There were only a score Dragoons in Wodensland, and I don't recall ANY of them being named Karma…"
Midas looked up to the roof. "Something seems fishy… I've suddenly got a very bad feeling about this."
He glanced around his comrades, and he didn't even need to make any sort of order. In almost perfect unison, the seven burst up the steps, hoping they weren't too late.
Meanwhile, two figures appeared in the doorway of the Tower. The first one stepped through, and with a motion of his hand said, "Hurry up, Tarsis. No doubt those magic-users are on the roof. We MUST hurry."
As Gregorian started to run up the steps of the tower, Tarsis passed through the entryway, a devious smile on his face. "Yes… we MUST hurry."
Tower of Alexander, Rooftop…
Midas was the first to the roof as the final words of the summoning ritual passed Yura's lips. For about a minute nothing happened, then glimmering fingers of light appeared overhead, and the five crystals that had been arranged in a circle at Yura's feet rose to meet the shining strands.
The strands passed through the crystals, and then a spectral form began to emerge. It resembled a living castle, with towers serving as arms of a sort, and angelic wings sprouting from behind the ghostly form.
The party was so entranced by the phantasmal image that they had almost forgotten about Karma. Midas spotted her, just a body length from Yura, spear poised to strike.
Midas called out a warning to Yura, and rushed to her, but he was simply too late. Karma's spear found little resistance in the form of Yura's back, ripping through her body, and bursting through the summoner's chest. Yura's face froze in a look of surprise and horror as Karma released her spear, letting Yura collapse in a heap onto the roof.
Midas, sword in hand, charged to strike down the treacherous Dragoon, but suddenly found himself swatted back by an unseen hand, and causing him to land roughly on his back a two meters away.
The adventurers congregated around the Red Mage, and watched helplessly as Karma rose her hands, and shouted, "NOW IS THE TIME, ALEXANDER! THE TIME FOR YOUR DOMINANCE HAS BEGUN!"
The spectral form slowly floated down, and then mashed into a formless smoke, sliding down into Karma's open mouth. From there, Karma's body began to change. Her violet eyes went totally white, and it was as if parts of her skin were turning to stone. Bright wings burst out from her back, and when everything was complete, the result was something that eerily resembled Karma, but was definitely a new and different entity.
At that same time, Gregorian and Tarsis emerged on the roof. The Rationalist leader paused at the sight, his fist clenching in fury. "Karma… I should have known…"
Karma laughed, and in a voice that sounded like hers had been given an intense echo effect, she said, "Yes… you should have, but in your infinite ignorance, you did not. Now your usefulness has ended."
"WHAT?" Gregorian hissed, but then his growl caught in this throat as the tip of a sword emerged from his stomach. Tarsis pulled the blade out from Gregorian's body, and with a maniacal smile bowed to Karma. "I see you were successful, milady."
Karma laughed, and said, "Yes, Tarsis. Alexander has merged with me, and now I shall be the lord and master of this world… nay, ALL OF CREATION! Even the mighty god, who created this world, will bow to me!"
Thick tendrils emerged from Karma's hands, and they rushed down the sides of the tower. In the night, no one could see them burst into the ground below, but they did see the small sparkles of energy rising up from them, and into Karma's body.
"I shall drain all the energy from this planet and people, and with it overthrow the ultimate oppressor, the lord of creation himself!"
In fury, Midas tried to attack again, but the same barrier thwarted him, once again sending the Red Mage sprawling. As he stood, slight movement to the side drew everyone's attention.
Gregorian was mortally wounded, but at the moment was still alive. He wasn't sure how he knew, but in the very fibers of his soul KNEW that Midas was the key to defeating Karma, and he knew that Midas had to get away from the tower immediately.
Jumping to his feet with all the energy he could muster, Gregorian rushed past the surprised Tarsis, and ran towards Midas. In their surprise, no one was able to react as the Rationalist leader grabbed Midas, and charged to the edge of the tower.
Karma screamed in defiance as Gregorian approached the tower's edge. With a pained whisper, Gregorian said to the Red Mage, "You better survive this." Then with the last of his strength, shoved Midas over the edge of the tower.
Tamara bolted to the railing of the tower, screaming Midas's name as he plunged down, hearing a small splash as the Red Mage fell into the ocean below. At the same time, Gregorian collapsed against the railing, his spirit deserting his body. Torn between concern for her two loves, Tamara finally dropped to her knees, and laid her father's head across her lap, to overcome with emotion to even cry.
Karma whirled around to face Tarsis, and pointed over the edge of the tower screaming, "FIND HIM! FIND THE MAGE!" As Tarsis complied, Karma faced the remaining adventurers. "And as for all of you… you have served my purpose well, but you are not done yet! Like this very planet, I need your energy to fuel me. Prepare yourself to face my HOLY JUDGEMENT!"
The entity raised one arm, and a massive ball of glowing white energy formed above them, outshining even the full moon in the sky. Karma then dropped her hand, and the energy sphere fell with a deafening explosion of light on the roof of the Tower of Alexander.
Then as suddenly as the commotion began… all was silent…
End Act Four