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Chapter 12

Mikoto was summoned to the throne room for an interrogation. There was no other way to describe it. She sat, patiently answering questions. Queen Garnet was there, as was Zidane. Steiner and Beatrix were nearby. Blank was also answering questions.

And it all boiled down to the defeat of Kuja.

Again.

"Zidane, you're missing the point. Kuja is not the only problem. He said he was merely a puppet, that he obeyed another's will."

"We're talking about the same Kuja, right?" Zidane countered, "The guy who defied his creator, his programming, and his birthplace? You really think he is under control?"

Mikoto's tail thrashed in irritation, "Kuja is dead. Dead. Who's to say that he can't be controlled?"

"Yeah," Blank added, "he was decomposing. He had these empty eye sockets, and maggot filled-"

"Enough!" Garnet cut in, "I don't need to hear every single gruesome detail. I want to talk to Mikoto alone."

Steiner and Beatris saluted and left, probably right outside the door. Blank got up, gave Mikoto a pat on the shoulder, and disappeared through the doorway.

Zidane stayed right where he was.

"Yourself included, dear." Garnet said, through her teeth.

"But-"

"Out!"

Zidane muttered something under his breath and left the room.

"I swear, Zidane has a one track mind. All you had to do was mention Kuja and he couldn't get past it."

Mikoto nodded, "You agreed to put up with him."

A smile came to the queen's features, "Yes, I did."

"But that's not why we're here," Mikoto said, getting straight to the point, "We need some plan of action."

Garnet sat upright in her throne, "You said the Iifa Tree is indeed alive. So that means it is siphoning souls again. The question is for what?"

"Or who."

"Who?"

Mikoto continued, "Kuja said he was a puppet, I think the person controlling him is the real threat."

"Do you know who is controlling him?"

"He said he obeyed the will of Terra."

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The queen's face was first shocked, the confused, "Didn't Kuja destroy Terra?"

Mikoto nodded, "Yes, he did. But as you know, both moons still hang in our nighttime sky."

"So either Terra was not destroyed, or-"

"Terra has been reincarnated."

"Is that possible?"

Mikoto shrugged, "I don't know, we genomes only learned how to assimilate Gaia. It was our only duty. Then our bodies would be filled with the souls of Terra's inhabitants."

"Hold on," Garnet's face filled with realization, "if the souls of the people of Terra could live again, then why couldn't the soul of Terra do the same?"

"But that still leaves out how Terra could control Kuja."

Garnet dismissed Mikoto's concerns, "It doesn't matter how, as long as we take out Terra."

The queen then got up and went to a desk, where she pulled out some stationary, "I'm going to give orders to destroy the Iifa Tree, it should weaken Terra. Nothing will be left but a smoking crater.

Mikoto, I'm going to put you in charge. Our forces are tied down right now, but perhaps we can prevent another attack by striking first."

"I thought all of the forces were needed here, how am I supposed to get to the Iifa Tree?"

Garnet's face tightened, showing relived pain, "I didn't want that ship to ever fly again, but perhaps now it has some use."

Mikoto understood, "The Invincible."

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Garnet sighed and sealed the letter, "This will give you control of the Invincible. It only requires a pilot, but take Blank with you. He's a good guy. Besides, I think he wants to get back at Kuja. It's probably why Baku sent him along.

Meet up with Vivi and the others in the Black Mage Village first. Maybe they know something, or can offer some help"

"Do you want us to leave right away?"

"First thing tomorrow morning."

Mikoto took the letter, placing it into one of her dress' pockets.

"Why don't you go see the children?"

"I'll do that."

"Mikoto, thank you for doing this. You are one of the few people I would entrust with the Invincible and this task."

"Don't worry, I'll do my job."

The queen smiled, "And I'll do mine."

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Mikoto left the throne room, and was run over by Zidane. He rushed by her, knocking her over, then disappeared into the room.

"You alright?'

"Yes," she accepted Blank's offered hand, "no thanks to my dear brother."

"You know how excited he can get."

She snorted, "More like deranged."

"Exactly." He laughed.

Mikoto dusted herself off, and smoothed her tousled hair. She noticed Beatrix and Steiner nearby, they simply stood guard.

She looked to the thief standing next to her, "Blank, can I speak with you?"

He seemed confused, "Sure."

She motioned for him to follow as she walked down the hallway. When they had rounded the corner she spoke, "Queen Garnet wants me to take the Invincible and destroy the Iifa Tree."

"Good plan."

"She wants you to come with."

He wheeled around, "What!?"

Mikoto stopped, and looked him in the eye. At least where his eyes would be under that belt. "Frankly, I agree with her. I can pilot the Invincible be myself, or the thing can fly on autopilot. However, I'd rather have someone else there too." She smiled, "Come with me?"

Blank looked down, "Well, I'll have to check my schedule."

She raised an eyebrow.

He sighed, "When do we leave?"

"I knew you would see it my way. We leave tomorrow morning." She started to walk away.

"Hey Mikoto," Blank shouted down the hallway as an afterthought, "Why does she want me to go?"

The genome stopped, and shrugged, "She has her reasons."

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A few hours later, Mikoto sat covered in paint and enjoying every minute of it.

"Leo! I want the blue!"

Terra then grabbed the can of paint and dumped it onto Leo's head, turning the prince of Alexandria into a smurf.

The genome laughed, "Terra, you're supposed to paint the paper- not your brother!"

The little girl smiled, "Let's paint Auntie Mikoto!"

"Oh, no…"

Terra pounced on Mikoto, covering the nanny in blues, reds, and yellows. But Terra got as much as she gave, Mikoto used the brush to paint little circles and stars on Terra's cheeks.

Leo busied himself by sticking his hands in the paint and putting them all over the floor, the walls, and himself.

"I thought you were supposed to paint on a canvas."

Mikoto looked up to see her friend Freya. The Burmecian sauntered in, and kneeled by the genome.

Freya had not changed much in the last ten years, keeping mainly to herself and her husband Frately. The two acted as ambassadors between Burmecia and Alexandria. Mikoto had meet the strong willed Burmecian years ago and formed a close friendship.

"It's called an artistic license."

"That's the best excuse you could come up with?" Freya laughed.

"Since you dislike our creative nature so much, you can help me clean up these two."

Mikoto then got up and grabbed Terra, putting the girl into Freya's arms. She then picked up Leo, prying the can of paint out of his hands. They plopped the two into the tub, and started scrubbing their little naked bodies.

"I'm glad you returned safely," Freya started, "When I heard that you went to the Iifa Tree, I was worried. And then Lindblum…"

Mikoto sighed, softly, "Nothing could have prepared me for that attack."

"Not even-"

"Not even the destruction of Bran Bral," Mikoto cut her off, "at least it was only a place, not thousands of lives."

"No one was prepared for it."

The two were silent for a moment, still scrubbing the miscreant children.

Freya continued, "What is Garnet planning?"

Mikoto stopped scrubbing and picked up Terra, drying the child off with a big fuzzy towel, "She is sending me back with the Invincible."

"She's crazy."

Mikoto shook her head, "No, she is striking preemptively. I agree with her decision."

Freya's voice took on a note of exasperation, "Mikoto, how many times have I told you? Don't let others walk all over yourself and make your own decisions."

"I do!" the genome snapped, "I try." She said more softly. "Some decisions are not mine to make. Most others require input from others." She looked to Freya, "No one is making me do anything I don't want to do."

Her friend looked apologetic, "I'm sorry, you know how I worry. I just want you to be happy and have no regrets."

Mikoto understood Freya's position. The Burmecian had endured years apart from her beloved, and it was completely out of her control. Freya hated to see others not in control.

"I'm perfectly happy," Mikoto replied, "I have everything I need, what else could I possibly want?'

"Well, there is always…"

"I told you before Freya, I really just don't think it's possible for me." Mikoto then picked up the now dry Terra and dressed her. The two women then put their charges in the nursery, the children falling asleep almost instantly.

They then went to Mikoto's chambers down the hall, and sat in her plush chairs.

"It's that kind of thinking that won't get you anywhere." Freya commented when they were settled.

Mikoto sighed and leaned her head into her hands, "While I wish I had some kind of gripping romance for you, I don't. No matter how much I want one." The last part was so quiet, Freya barely heard her.

"Look Mikoto, forget I even said it."

The genome smiled sadly, "Don't worry about it."

Freya came over and placed a hand on Mikoto's shoulder, "I want you to be careful when you go to the Iifa Tree," then more formally, "may you run like the wind and your blade strike true."

Mikoto nodded and bid Freya farewell. When she had left, the genome got ready for bed.

Tomorrow would be an important day.