FINAL FANTASY: INQUISITION
By Thomas Knapp
Act Six- Scene One
In the center of a small, hastily built camp flickered a rather pathetic excuse for a campfire. At least, until Borz decided that the little ritual involving sticks and a couple of rocks was simply assuming ludicrous proportions.
"FIRA!" The moogle shouted, and the smoking twigs spontaneously combusted in a burst of consuming flame. Creed thumbed the pair of rocks in his hand incredulously, and muttered, "Doesn't that somewhat defeat the purpose of the act?"
"Not to mention drastically increase the likelihood of high degree burns?" Harmon added, checking his robe for any potential fingers of flame that might have found a nice home on his person. "Magic is very erratic with the current state of the world."
"I was getting impatient… and nightfall wasn't gonna wait. Besides… Midas is sitting outside his tent right now. We weren't in any danger of a freak act of magic." Borz quipped.
"What is Midas doing right now?" Creed asked curiously, noting that the Dark Summoner was merely standing in front of his tent about 10 meters away, looking off into the distance.
"I think he's waiting for Tamara… to tell her our decision." Borz replied in somewhat of a hushed tone. Tamara had left with Trigger about an hour before in an attempt to glean some food for the party.
"What decision?" Harmon asked.
"Oh… while you two were failing… I mean… TRYING to make a fire, Fredros, Midas and I got together. Midas let us know that he was going to ask Tamara to stay behind tonight."
Creed nodded, "I kinda expected that. Hell, had she been MY girl… I doubt I would have let her stick around as long as she has… considering her condition."
Harmon smirked and replied, "Yes… and then she would have found a home for her sword in your throat. Tamara is not the type of lady to take a demand of that magnitude too well. Which is why I think I'm going to head elsewhere at this moment…"
Unfortunately, Harmon was a little too late. Trigger literally dropped in on the conversation. Evidently, he had been flittering about in the trees above. Half a minute later, the soft metallic clanking of armor drew their attention to Tamara's approach. She had a large bag slung over her shoulders, suggesting the food acquisition was successful.
Midas noticed Tamara's approach, and he said, "Tamara, leave the food out with the others. You and I need to talk about something."
Creed quickly interceded, "Harmon and I know the deal. You might as well just keep it open. I want to make sure I see this blow up in our faces."
"Why do I get the nagging suspicion I'm the only one that doesn't know what's going on?" Tamara asked suspiciously. Trigger shrugged innocently upon receiving her glare, but everyone else seemed to be intent on avoiding her gaze.
Midas knew the longer that he held back, the worse things were going to get.
Might as well just spit it now… Hades agreed.
With that, Midas opened his mouth, and initially no sound emerged, as if his words were dragging themselves out of his throat. "Tamara… we think that you should stay here."
Expecting a sudden and violent explosion, the seven men were pleasant surprised when she didn't say anything. Instead, Tamara seemed to process this suggestion quite rationally, finally asking, "Why?"
Midas pressed on as if he was trying to fend her off. "We will drop you off in Hamil, and you can keep in touch with us… we just don't think you should join us in the thick of the fray…"
Tamara then repeated herself, "Why?"
It took a moment for Midas to process the fact that Tamara wasn't in the act of inflicting bodily harm on anyone in the vicinity. "W…why?" The Dark Summoner stammered.
"Yes." Tamara affirmed, "Why don't you want me to be at your side when we assault Karma's tower? I thought we went through this."
"We did… but with your illness and all… we just didn't want you to push it any more than you have…"
"Illness?" Tamara asked incredulously. "Where did you get that idea?"
"Tamara… don't play innocent. Borz was listening in when you met the doctor in Hamil." Midas explained, "He heard everything."
"Obviously Borz didn't, because I'm not ill." Tamara denied.
Midas rushed up to Tamara, gripping her by the shoulders gently, "Tamara, you don't have to pretend. We all know…"
"I'M NOT SICK! I'm…"
"Tamara, stop it right now." Midas grew more stern. "We just want to make sure you don't overdo it."
"MIDAS! LISTEN TO ME LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER LISTENED TO ME BEFORE! I AM NOT ILL…"
"Tamara…"
"I'M PREGNANT!"
Thirty-seven naked munchkins wielding halberds DIDN'T materialize into the middle of the camp… but the effect was about the same. Several of the party occasionally opened their mouth to say something, then decided against it. Those same members AGAIN tried to comment on what just occurred, then AGAIN decided against it. It was on the third try that Fredros managed to squeak, "I think… that perhaps… the young couple… need some time alone…"
Never before had the members of the party EVER agreed so quickly on one thing. Suddenly, everyone had an errand or duty that had to be done immediately, and thus Midas and Tamara were quickly abandoned in front of the now healthy fire.
Tamara sighed as Midas slowly sat down, a totally blank expression in his eyes. THIS was the reaction she had been expecting, and now she knew why she hadn't gotten it. She joined Midas on the log that had been rolled out for seating, trying to figure out what she should say next.
It was Midas who broke the silence first, however. "You realize that this means you DEFINITELY aren't going with us."
Tamara clenched her teeth, then slowly uttered, "What point is it to have this child if there is NOTHING for it to inherit? And before you say anything… you need ALL of us right now."
"Perhaps I do." Midas began uncertainly, "But… how can I ask you to follow me into a situation that is perilous at best… especially since… well THIS." He gestured towards Tamara's abdomen almost wildly.
"Midas, you don't have to ASK me to do anything. I'm GOING, simple as that."
With a sigh, Midas recognized that this would be a losing battle, mostly because she was dead set on her opinion, while Midas was not nearly as firm in his.
She smirked victoriously, and added, "Besides… what was it Creed said you told him? You didn't want followers… you wanted allies?"
With a groan, Midas muttered dejectedly, "New rule. No using my own words against me unless I give my approval beforehand."
Tamara chuckled, "Nope. Not gonna happen."
Suddenly, Midas turned absolutely depressed, "What am I going to do, Tamara?"
"What do you mean?"
He threw his hands in the air, and said, "In order to save my… future family… I have to destroy my old one. I've never known my mother, and now it turns out that I'll never get that chance."
He lowered his head on Tamara's shoulder, and in voice suspiciously close to a sob added, "I don't want to kill my mother…"
"EUREKA!" Harmon's voice howled with delight as his body burst upward out of a line of bushes behind the pair. "THAT'S IT!"
Several other voices groaned in despair, and slowly, Creed, Fredros, Borz, and even Trigger stood up. "Way to blow our cover, Harmon."
Despair quickly morphed into anger, and Midas bellowed in demand, "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF ALL THIS?"
Seemingly unfazed by Midas's fury, Harmon chirped happily, "It was what I was trying to remember when you freed me from my prison! There might be a way to prevent killing Karma, and still defeat Alexander!"
As if forgetting all his previous rage, Midas rushed to Harmon and shook the scholar almost violently, his eyes reflecting the hope of a boy much younger than his age would suggest. "How? How can we do this?"
"Well… to be honest, I am not terribly certain. I was still gathering data on Karma's relation with Alexander when I was… interrupted." Harmon began with an unsteady breath. "However, from my observations while merged with Karma… it does not seem that the fusion between her and Alexander was absolute. The two are frequently warring with each other for control of the other."
I also suspect that Alexander would also want to shed Karma's physical form as soon as he gathered enough energy to launch himself into the higher planes. Hades added to Midas. Of course, after sucking all the life out Karma in the process…
Harmon then continued, "I suspect that if we could convince Alexander that Karma's continued existence is in jeopardy…"
"He'd break off the fusion… and we could target him indiscriminately…" Midas finished.
Creed then stepped in with a statement that had to be festering in several minds. "Question… just why are we so intent on saving Karma again? Granted, we know she's Midas's mother and all… but she ain't exactly a saint in all this either."
It was Tamara that interceded on Midas's behalf. "Come on… we all could sense Karma while imprisoned. I don't know if she feels she has any other choice. She is caught in this surge of events much like we are."
Borz nodded, "Granted, Karma hasn't been the best person… but I wonder if any of us would have fared any better in the same situation."
Midas didn't wait for any further objections. "I wish to spare my mother's life, but make no mistake. If we must… I will PERSONALLY be the one to strike the killing blow."
I don't think you'll have to worry about that. Hades replied slyly. If what Harmon surmises is true… I think I know just the trick to pull off this unusual feat.
The Following Day…
For a group of adventurers preparing to embark on the most difficult battle of their lives, the mood on the airship was remarkably upbeat. Maybe it was confidence for their victory, or perhaps they were merely trying to mask their uncertainty from other eyes. Maybe it was both. The only ones that new were the nine who lined up against the deck as Alexander's Tower came into view.
"No welcoming party, huh?" Creed huffed. "Should we thank our lucky stars, or be concerned?"
Be definitely concerned. Hades warned Midas. I can sense that Alexander has nearly gathered enough power to transcend to the higher planes. If he succeeds, there will be little that any of us can do to stop it.
Midas stated out loud after analyzing the Eidolon Lord's comments, "It's likely that whatever forces Karma has is gathered in defense of Alexander's imminent attack on the heavens."
"And if that's the case…" Tamara noted, fingering her sword, "Then we're going to be in for one fun time. But, for the sake of all those still alive, and for those who have yet to have that chance…"
"We can't falter now." Creed finished, "Failure is simply not an option."
Meanwhile Fredros turned to Borz, and stated, "Tarsis is likely inside there. We can't rule out anything that his wily mind can concoct."
Borz nodded, but stated, "Oddly enough, Tarsis isn't the biggest thought on my mind. He's nothing but one roadblock en route to a much larger goal. I guess, in a way, to let him torment my mind… is letting him win…"
Fredros contemplated the argument silently. "Wise words from one still so young in moogle terms."
The little mage turned a sly eye upwards, and retorted, "I had a good teacher."
Harmon mused, "Creed once told me that I would need to choose a side in this battle. Fortunately, I discovered that the choice would be easy to make. It's not magic against science… it is life against death. Only someone without any hope would choose the latter."
To some surprise, Trigger spoke next. "I suppose it would not hurt to break my oath of silence on the eve of this final battle. Gregor once said that the greatest heroes were not born, nor were they made. It is a delicate mix of tragedy, timing, courage… and even a little luck, that makes a legend. On the course of this adventure, I do believe that all of us have been exposed to all of these elements."
A smooth motion drew the ninja's sword, blade pointing directly at the roof of Alexander's Tower. "Now, all that remains is for us to write an adequate ending to this story."
"You heard the man, Micho." Midas commanded, eyes focused totally on their target. "Take us in slowly, and be ready for anything."
