Chapter 1 - Judgement
"Wake up, Terran!"
It seemed like he had known nothing before those first words were spoken. Now his mind was attacked from the inside, as if the words were drilling into his skull. He cried a wordless expression of pain, and then realised with a start that he was fully aware, and his eyes were open. They might as well have been closed, for all he could see. His body was suspended in nothing. Though he could move his limbs, there wasn't the slightest sensation from around him. Strangely, his own body seemed the only source of illumination in this hellish place, a faint glow fading several centimetres from his pale skin. He was beginning to collect himself, and try to remember what had happened when the voice spoke again, mocking and vicious.
"Surprised? You honestly didn't think we would let you get away from us?"
Get away?
The pain in his head returned, and he stuggled to think. He remembered very little - just flashes of people and places he thought he knew. Then in a split-second flood of recognition, the last few moments of his life became clear.
He remembered the crystal.
I should have died... No - I must have died!
He remembered the fall to Gaia. He had prevented his brother and his companions from killing him, but he had realised he did not really want to kill Zidane, or destroy the crystal. In the brief instant, when he looked at his brother lying defeated before him, he began to think clearly for the first time. If he destroyed everything, then he would truly be a mindless puppet - Garland would have won. He then wished to die himself, since then the conflict between them would end. However, he had realised that his controlling personality would not allow anyone other than himself to be responsible for his own death. So instead of allowing Zidane to destroy him, he used the last of his Trance and hurled himself with all his strength towards the surface of Gaia. Lying broken among the roots of the Iifa tree, he had felt the life drain from his shattered body. His last grace was to save Zidane and his companions, who had fought until the end for the Crystal. His brother had come back to be with him at the end, but the roots had engulfed them both.
Now he tried to speak, then he realised there was no sound here, in the void. It was all within him: inside his head. He tried to block out the pain, and directed a thought out into the blackness.
"I meant to destroy the crystal."
"Yes." The voice shook with anger. "An arrogant little Terran clone, you thought to end all life in the Universe! You would even have succeeded, had your brother not tried to stop you."
"I have made terrible mistakes - "
" - and you must be punished for them! Your primitive brain cannot even grasp the enormity of what you could have done!"
Then there was more pain. To the sound of cruel laughter Kuja doubled up in agony, his screams finding no purchase in the void around him. After what seemed like an age, a sharp voice cut his torment short.
"The Elders would not be pleased if they found out you were damaging him." This voice was different to the first, it seemed younger but also very self-assured and full of authority.
"I care not what they think!" The first voice shouted. "This creature almost destroyed us all! Now they talk about fair punishments and repentance when clearly it deserves to feel every second of suffering it caused!"
"That is not for you to decide, Kalat." said the second voice "It will be punished, but we must uphold the Laws of Justice at all times. Remember our position: Remember Necron."
Kuja also remembered Necron. An entity of great power, but almost deranged in his view of the universe - He had believed that life was created for death: only without any life at all could the Universe know true happiness. It was in the battle against Necron that Kuja's brother Zidane had truly shown his power, defeating him and ensuring once again the safety of the Crystal. Kuja had only just managed to pull Zidane and his friends from the collapsing foundations of Memoria as Necron died.
"That fool, had he lived, would have suffered the same fate as this Terran." The second voice said sadly. "How could one of us become so misguided?"
"Never mind that! He is dead, and we have this Terran to deal with! The Elders wish to wait for a trial, and Yushan is still in conference with them after all this time!" The name "Yushan" was said with contempt.
"The traditions must be kept. The Elders must bless our descision."
"It's not going to be OUR descision! They are always favouring Yushan, even though we are her equals. I say we continue with this right now - "
A bright light stabbed at Kuja's eyes, then just as suddenly as it came, it vanished, and Kuja detected a prescence behind him. Twisting round, he saw nothing; but then a gentle female voice spoke.
"Kuja, you must listen. Those Who Seek Justice have passed sentence upon you. The Elders of the Order have decreed that the punishment fit the crime, and your crime is indeed a serious one."
"Yushan!" The one called Kalat said with a sneer. "Finally you come to us. What has been decided between you and your pet Elders?"
"Peace, Kalat. Mavau - has the research been completed?"
The second speaker - Mavau, spoke once more. Though he spoke formally his voice was laced with barely concealed anger.
"Yes, Yushan. The place and time is set. The trials will be harsh, and Jusice shall be done."
"Wait!" Kalat's voice was almost quaking with fury. "This punishment is not enough! The crime is the most grievious a living creature could commit. I demand the right of contesting this descision!"
"You are overseeing this Justice, Kalat." said Yushan. "I must admit I was against it, but I was unable to revoke the descision of the Elders. They have given you this responsibility - I hope your will is Just and your heart Pure."
"You are powerless to interfere now Yushan." Mavau said smugly "Kalat will make sure this Terran's suffering is unparalleled."
"You have your Laws to follow Kalat, as I have mine. We all know our place." Yushan's voice was calm, but she sounded sad.
"Yes, we do. Yours is elsewhere Yushan. Leave us!" Kalat said curtly, and Kuja felt Yushan's presence withdraw.
"Now, Terran. " Kalat said, his voice full of glee. "Your Justice begins."
Once again a bright light struck Kuja, coupled with a terrible raging pain within him. Kuja lost all sense of place and reality as his mind was disorientated beyond breaking point. Just when he thought he couldn't hold on, he heard Yushan's voice at his side.
"I don't have long!" Yushan's voice was urgent "You must listen carefully! You will be sent to another time and place, somewhere you can make a difference. Your task is to help others and prevent tragedy, but I cannot interfere, and Kalat will do all he can to stop you - he hates you, and you must be very careful! Preserve life at all costs, I have faith in you Kuja. Continue the cycle!"
Her voice faded into the swirling light, and Kuja called for her desperately as once more the pain returned.
"Yushan, please! Stop this!"
"She cannot - she is weak." Kalat, his mirth barely conealed in his soft dangerous tone. "You are alone, and there is no-one to save you now."
Just before he lost consciousness, Kalat's essence drew closer and hissed in his ear:
"Give people a happy ending, Terran. Or the world ends, and your life with it."