Total Eclipse of the Heart: Part 1 – Cause and Effect: In which a
painful secret is learned.
By
Deborah (Kosagi) Brown
Skies of Arcadia and all associated characters are copyrighted to Overworks and Dreamcast. They just hang around my Gallery to cause trouble.
Ilchymis took a deep breath of fresh morning air and sighed, cracking his back a bit. It had been a long day yesterday and he was bone tired, despite a full night's sleep. Somehow, it seemed, it was simply impossible to rebuild an empire without assorted scrapes, cuts, bruises and occasional amputations.
Still, much of his exhaustion was in the heart. The damage done to his people by the Rains of Destruction sometimes seemed impossible to overcome. So many killed. So many injured. Those who would have considered themselves his 'kind' once – the nobles – were barely surviving, barely able to comprehend the evil that had befallen them. Too used to being catered to, this new world left them bewildered and heartsick, unable to cope with the change.
In a way, the people of Lower City were better off. They were used to the slow, dragging, aching days of effort. Yet even they were emotionally exhausted. Generations of ill-treatment had made them stronger, better able to cope with the damage, but it had also taken much of their compassion. Many would have let the nobles die off. Indeed, some had had to be forcibly stopped from killing those they blamed for their country's destruction.
That the nobles were at fault, Ilchymis could never have denied, but with so few left. A scant few thousand out of nearly half million lives, he knew that the Empire could not afford to lose many more. At least the Emperor seemed to recognize that. Enrique may never have approved of the noble way of ignoring those who built the Empire, but he also knew that every life that could be persuaded to work towards rebuilding must be.
As if thinking of the Emperor caused him to appear, a blonde figure ran up the path to Ilchymis' hut on the northern slope of the Great Circle. "Ilchymis? Could you come up to the castle please? Moegi's been sick all morning."
Ilchymis smiled. He'd noted certain signs. Certain cues that suggested something important was about to happen. Noting his Emperor's anxious expression, the healer gathered his things together. "Of course, Your Majesty," he said gently. "Lead the way."
***
Afternoon sunlight gleamed gently down on Crescent Isle as a single small ship pulled in to dock and a slender man dressed in a simple black outfit climbed out.
"ENRIQUE!"
Aika's squeeze nearly choked the man she was welcoming. Tall, blonde, with tired eyes and a ready smile, the new Emperor of Valua had toughened up immensely in the year and a half since his travels with Vyse, Aika and Fina. Toughened up, but not nearly enough to take being bear-hugged by a red-headed dynamo. "A Can't breathe"
A giggle and a chuckle behind Aika caused the red-head to let go, grinning. "Sorry, your majesty. Should I bow instead?" She dropped into a curtsy that would have done any court maiden proud, had she been wearing a gown instead of her customary leathers.
Vyse, grinning broadly, stepped forward next to clasp his old comrade's hand. Lightly dressed in a sailor's T-shirt and work pants, it was obvious from the grease on his cheek and his hurriedly cleaned fingers that he'd been helping Brabham with repairs. "Good to see you, Enrique."
Enrique bowed slightly over Vyse's hand, an action that amused the young Blue Rogue. No matter how long they might have traveled together, Enrique had never quite lost the formality that was a part of his nature. Nor would I want him to, Vyse thought, grinning to himself as he let Fina step forward and give the young Emperor a shy hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Fina, you look lovely," Enrique said, taking in the Blue Rogue uniform the young Silvite was wearing. Simple and demure, the light denim skirt and full sleeved blouse still showed her allegiance perfectly. Vyse tried not to laugh aloud at Enrique's expression when he took in the pirate hat that Fina's pet and weapon, Cupil, was wearing.
"How is Moegi?" Fina asked, once the greetings were finished.
"Well, very well." Enrique's expression made his next announcement unsurprising to the three Blue Rogues. "She's due in six months." A faint blush reddened his cheeks, but his smile – broad and joyful – was irrepressible.
Vyse grinned broadly and took Enrique's arm. "Well then, this calls for a celebration. Let's go up to the meeting room." Afterwards, you can tell me what was so important that you leave your kingdom and your pregnant wife to visit me.
***
Now this is different. Disconcerting too. A new form of torture? Or just the Moons mocking me? I suppose being stuck in a bag of gems is better than being tossed willy nilly on a storm. A bit better. I wonder how long I had been there. Time has little meaning in Deep Sky. Long enough. Too long, even. Yes. Even if I go to a new torture, at least this is a change.
Movement now. A feeling like an engine pulsing. I contemplate my rescue. Or is that too strong a word? The man who caught me from the storm is masked, his entire body wrapped in and hidden by heavy clothes and gloves. Only his eyes, burning with an obsession almost as intense as mine once was, had been visible.
He had not spoken, just examined me with interest, then dropped me into his pouch. To him, I think, I am just a treasure to be captured. A rare gem. I wonder if he knows how rare? If he has any idea what he has found, or if he simply searches the world for plunder. Will I be part of a necklace to grace the throat of a Valuan Lady? Now that would be torture.
No, torture though it would be, it isn't likely. Galcian – no I – destroyed Valua. If anything is left, it certainly will not include nobles prepared to destroy everyone in their path for a bit of pleasure. So what will be my fate? We are rising now, leaving Deep Sky behind. I can feel my Moon calling me, its strength returning to me.
In a way, this is a worse torture than endless falling. Returning to the world, pulled out of the depths, with no body to call my own. Trapped forever within my Self. I would embrace this punishment, accept it and the madness that calls me, if I only knew where it would end.
***
"You're right, Vyse," Enrique said softly, staring out at the evening skies. "I did have something I wanted to discuss with you." They were alone on the promenade, sitting on the bench beneath the flag that fluttered bravely on the breeze, the winged dolphin that Fina had designed so many months before. The original Delphinus had been returned to Valua, forming the first of that kingdom's new navy, but Vyse's new ship, the Delphinus II still flew that flag.
"Something that you didn't want Aika or Fina to know." Vyse glanced at the young Emperor, reflecting the Prince who'd been so terribly airsick the first weeks of their travel together had turned into a strong, level-headed, ruler. If he felt what he had to say was meant for Vyse's ears only, then it probably was. "I'm guessing Fina. Something to do with Ramirez, right?" It wasn't a difficult guess, either. Aika had no Valuan ties, whereas Ramirez – Fina's 'brother' and their former enemy – had been working for the Valuan military. Or rather for Galcian.
"Right again," Enrique agreed. "This isn't an easy thing to explain." He pulled a device out of the pocket of his cloak. "And it isn't very pleasant, either." The object in his hand was a thick flat square with blocky knobs on its side. It opened out to reveal a screen on one half and another tiny speaker on the other. "We were cleaning up the Fortress. As you know, the Rains destroyed a lot of Valua, but"
"The Fortress was built to take on an armada. There were bound to be more remains," Vyse agreed. He'd been a prisoner in that complex once and he knew from experience just how tough the place had been. If anything survived the Rain of Destruction Galcian had had Ramirez call down on Valua it would have been the Fortress.
"In the process of cleaning up, we found Galcian's private rooms. They were, not unexpectedly, buried deep in the mountain. Most of his documents had been removed, but we found this" Enrique touched a button on the side of his device and the screen flickered, showing an image of a darkened room with a pale-haired man lit by a single bright light. Ramirez, his head pulled back by the Valuan scientist DeLoco. The Silvite's eyes were dazed, unseeing. The face of a man close to death and welcoming it.
Tied to a chair, it was obvious the young Silvite had been a fight for his life. Bruises covered his face and upper torso. Stripped to his shorts, every injury could be clearly seen. Cuts and crusted scabs oozed blood. Gangrenous wounds seeped fluid that Vyse knew must have stank of death and corruption. I figured he had to have been tortured, brainwashed somehow. But Enrique wouldn't be showing me this if it hadn't been something important. Vyse would have liked to look away, but he forced himself to watch and listen.
"He's dying, Lord Galcian. Shall we put him out of our misery?" DeLoco asked.
Galcian's voice came from the speaker, though there was no sign of the Valuan Admiral on the screen. "Has he told us anything about the Gigas? Or the location of the crystals?"
"Nothing. He refuses to speak at all, despite our tortures. Our tests have revealed there's something inside him, though." The scientist tapped the Silvite's chest. "From the power level it seems it might be a refined moon crystal of some sort."
Vyse blinked a little. I thought his crystal was in his hand. He held off on questioning, though, waiting for the recording to end.
"Remove it then. He's useless to us."
DeLoco nodded and beckoned two soldiers forward to hold Ramirez' unresisting body back, allowing him to use a scalpel to slice the Silvite open. Vyse bit at his lip, fists clenching with helpless rage. Ramirez had been an enemy, yes, and one who had nearly destroyed the world in his madness, but this wasn't something he would have wished on anyone. Except maybe Galcian, he thought angrily. I doubt anyone tortured him into becoming the power mad megalomaniac he was.
Unresponsive to the opening of his chest, Ramirez simply stared, sightlessly, at the ceiling. It wasn't until DeLoco reached into the cut – fingers questing around beneath the rib cage, then grasping something – that the Silvite jerked and cried out. No words, just a howling, keening, sound that was – thankfully – too much for the tiny speaker to reproduce.
The screams only stopped when the scientist pulled his hand out, a brilliantly gleaming silver crystal glowing between his blood covered fingers. Ramirez' body slumped, mouth hanging open, eyes wide and dead. Then, to Vyse's shock, and the shock of those in the recording, his body melted into a pool of silver colored goo.
***
Scattered droplets of rainbow flicker around me, rubies, sapphires and other gems. Unable to sleep, all that I have are my thoughts, and poor company they are, too. Unpleasant memories return to me, once hidden somehow by my unwillingness to face them. All the more unpleasant because I understand now what happened and am unable to ever do anything about them.
The fact that I am being examined barely registers. A voice speaking softly. "Indeed, a lovely collection. This one in particular is intriguing." I can see dark eyes upon me, staring with rapt fascination. "I feel power in it. Silver magic. I wonder if that power could be turned to healing?"
I would be frightened, I think, had I the ability to fear. Not without a body, though. Yet I am disturbed. Still, perhaps it is only my just desserts. I let Galcian capture me, did not slay myself when I had the chance. Let myself forget my purpose. Let myself be used. All my fault. The world was to be destroyed again, yes, but it ought not to have been for that man. Not for a betrayer and user.
Laying on the desk, my crystal glowing softly, I realize. I had simply been passed from one user to another. The Elders sent me to bring back Zelos and destroy the world again. They'd seemed so right, so just in their judgment of a world that contained people like Valua's nobles. Yet if they were right, then how was it that Fina could be left undamaged by the evil in the world, how could she have seen anything good? Anything worth saving? It was certain that I had not, but had that been because there was none, or because Elder Prime had said it was so, and – believing him – I had not looked?
Contemplation of that is more interesting than the haggling that goes on over me.
***
"There's more," Enrique said as the image on the screen faded. "Some, prior to this, detailing what was done. I didn't think you needed to see it."
Vyse agreed wholeheartedly. He didn't need to see Ramirez' torture to know it happened, to know it must have been horrifying. "You said 'some', though. Is it something that explains how he could be walking around after that?"
Nodding, Enrique touched a button on the device again. "This."
The screen displayed laboratory. To one side was a glass box with a creature inside it. It looked like Cupil, only larger and more streamlined in its shape, its eyes less gentle. It was also furious, banging away at the glass, struggling to break free. DeLoco ignored the creature, however, too busy examining the gem.
It was glowing brilliantly, set in a telescopic arm. The scientist was looking at it through a microscope, expression intent. So much so that he didn't notice when the Cupil like creature shifted its form, becoming a blade too big to be held within the box and shattering it. Vyse knew the sword only too well, having taken entirely too many blows from it in his fights with Ramirez.
Only when the glass broke did the scientist look up, eyes startled. Before he could move, though, the sword drove its way past him. Then the creature returned to its peculiar bulbous shape. Rising into the air, it circled Ramirez' crystal, body twisting and turning in rapid figure eights. Vyse, who'd seen this behavior before in Fina's pet, was hardly surprised when it swallowed the crystal whole.
What was surprising was what happened next. The creature's body quivered, hanging in mid-air, its shape elongating, its colors shifting. Silver flushed pale, to a pallid skin color. Shape reformed to that of a human body.
When stunned, empty, green eyes opened, Vyse understood what had happened. "So, that's how he was restored." It occurred to Vyse to wonder why Fina's pet hadn't tried to consume the thing.
Enrique nodded. "There are further recordings. Ramirez' memories were, apparently, confused. He only remembered bits and pieces of his life before and nothing of his death. He was easily led, pliable to the point of being easy prey for Galcian's manipulations. Easily led into Galcian's plans. Every thing he thought and did was merely parroting Galcian's beliefs. I have to wonder could we have saved him." The idea didn't seem to please the young Emperor.
There was, Vyse thought and said, little point in speculation. "We can't change what happened. And if we did save him, who would accept that he had no blame?" He clenched his fist, pity at war with a comprehension that no amount of pity could have helped the shattered mind of Fina's kinsman.
"My thoughts as well." Enrique looked pained. "I'm not sure how I would feel, if he were to live again. So, do we show this to Fina? Or at least tell her something of what we found, that we have proof that Ramirez was tortured beyond even his capacity to bear? That much, at least, is true."
Vyse nodded. "The latter. There's no need to tell her the details. But it will make her feel better, to know that the Ramirez she knew really had died. That what was left couldn't have helped what he did anymore than we could have refused to stop him."
And may I be forgiven for hoping she never learns that we might have saved him.
To Be Continued
Author's Notes: While I have a complete rough draft of this story done, I will be posting the rest slowly, in case I need to fix anything over the course of posting. Reviews help me immensely in this process. (That and ego boo is always a good thing.)