Chapter XV: Future Taken

"What do you mean this goes beyond Zanarkand, if I may ask Lord Trevan?" Marie asked.

"None really know of this, but the leader of New Zanarkand is my oldest brother. His name is Barthe. My other brother is the leader of the industrial city, Terra Skies. His name is Rolas. Our parents gave each of us one of the four great cities to rule Spira. I chose Luca, Barthe had New Zanarkand, and Rolas was given Terra Skies. Our parents kept Bevelle until the Guado invaded and killed them over ten years ago."

"I'm sorry," Maylina apologized sadly for the people she grew up with.

"It's not your fault my lady. It is neither the fault of the Guado too. We were at war, and the only ones to blame are our leaders who started this war. My parents were our leaders, and your royal Guado family was your leaders," Trevan explained.

He continued, "The problem is this: my older brothers want war. To fight each other, and make Spira suffer. Rolas has, in secret, developing a great and destructive machina weapon. He was going to use the prototype ten years ago on the Guado after Bevelle fell, but I was stood in his way. Now he desires to war with Barthe because he has spread his influence so fast by means of technology."

"Then what should we do?" Connie asked sadly.

Trevan began pacing back and forth. He gave no answer to the rest of the group for several minutes. Until Mason decided to make the decision no one would say out loud.

"We're going to Terra Skies to destroy that weapon, and Rolas down. Then we go after Barthe and his nano-machina."

Not a single person argued with Mason's comment, but rather gave him a silent agreement. Trevan went to the bridge to give directions to Cid for Terra Skies. Maylina accompanied the young leader of Spira too.

Mason went to sit back down when his older sister sat next to him. It was obvious she wanted to talk about something with him. He knew she would upset him, because she always did when criticizing him.

"When you came from the engine room you didn't seem very happy. What happened between you and Maylina?"

He would never answer her. Marie looked at his somber expression, and it seemed like it was the shadow of the night grasping her little brother's conflicted soul and dragging him into the twilight. Ever since he returned into her life he has been changing constantly, and with the dead controlling him she never knew if it was her brother or some other person. Knowing better, Marie left her little brother alone after that.


For several hours nothing to surprising went on during the trip to Terra Skies. There seemed to be an aura of sorrow, despair, and hopelessness in the air. It felt as though Spira was falling apart. Maylina wanted it to all end now. Going to Terra Skies was the first step into fixing Spira.

Maylina did not understand where she was going. It felt like something inside her was directing her on a path. Will it ever end? A question she pondered ever since Bevelle and getting her body back. Now she led her friends to a great machina city, but she was doing something else. She needed to find out about this whole truth behind Shuyin and his past, and how she was connected to him. For some reason she felt like this man had her answers.

The ship reached the outskirts of the city. Once they were there, several men on air bikes approached and stopped their ship at the borders of the city on an island. A call came from the leader of the tear, and it was a stern male figure.

"Explain why you have come to Terra Skies."

Before Cid replied he said to himself, "Again."

He continued but now it was to the guard, "We are here to meet your leader. The leader of Luca, his younger brother, is here with us."

"Hold on one moment," the guard coldly said.

After several more moments of silence, the guard returned with a reply.

"You have been cleared for landing. Once you reach platform A5 expect a thorough inspection."

With that the com went dead, and the guard allowed the cruiser ship to land at the designated platform. Once they landed one man waited for them at the entrance of the city. He looked a lot like Trevan, but a few years older.

Trevan came off the ship to greet the man, "Rolas, you come alone brother?" he asked lightly.

"I see no reason to fear a group of travelers. Come, we will all speak in my waiting room," he said showing them the way.

They all followed the leader through the machina city. Rolas began to explain the city to them.

"This entire city feeds off the energy of the Farplane. So we are not affected by any problems on the mainland."

Maylina frowned in disapproval, "You steal the life of Spira to power your machines?"

"Yes, and to be more precise this 'Farplane' of yours has no life. It is only the core of the planet, and we have all rights to use it. Also priestess, around here we don't be praising your religion. There is no such thing in Terra Skies; we are a people of realists. Simple as that," he replied harshly.

Finally they had reached the meeting room. There was a long table with several elegant chairs placed around it. With only one window that had a view of the entire downtown district. This city indeed was a city of realists, and technology was used everywhere. It was quite a contrast to Guadosalam in Maylina's eyes. She could only shake her head in disgust. So much wasted time on trying to being the best at making cars to making the most exquisite guns in this city it seemed.

"So, Trevan you jumped ship on the main land, and allowed Barthe to expand? So, why come here? You know I am no better," Rolas chuckled.

Trevan sat next to his brother, "Because I know what you will do now. This is a fine excuse to test your weapon, and wipe out all of Spira at the same time."

Rolas could only smile to that response.

"Do you intend to stop me? This is my city, and I won't allow you to run around my city causing problems."

Guards came through the doors of the room, and had guns in hand. The entire group was up in moments, and all surrounded Maylina.

Cid had his mana gun pointed at Rolas when he spoke, "Trevan, take Maylina to the weapon. Mason and Sorren will guard you two."

"I will do so," Trevan replied taking her hand.

They all turned away, and headed towards the hallway. Mason was close behind them both with Sorren as they kept the rear clear. As they left they could hear gunshots and the clashing of magic. They followed Trevan through out Terra Skies, and it wasn't long until guards caught up with them. Soon they were going down stairs and corridors going deeper into the city. Every where machina robots were working feverishly to keep the city in good condition, Maylina felt a sting of regret.

"Trevan, do you know where this weapon is?" Mason yelled.

"Sure do," he replied back in equal volume.

They finally reached a huge room. Machines were moving in many directions, doing many tasks. Trevan then pointed towards to a part of the room that was completely in the shadows.

Maylina turned to the direction to where he pointed. From the shadows she felt a deathly chill. As she continued to stare, two eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness.

"That is Alastimo; the weapon of hate," Trevan replied to the silent eyes.

"I guess it is my job to stop it," Maylina solemnly replied.

They slowly approached the glowing red eyes; still not aware of what it truly looked like. Before they could do anything though lights suddenly focused on them, for all around them along unknown ledges guards had their guns pointed at them.

Maylina looked around, and found Sorren was missing. Trevan and Mason were still with her though.

"Well, I can say this is not good," Mason said as he drew his sword.

Rolas was walking towards them with several guards at each side.

"How unfortunate that you were almost there," he said with a fowl touch to his voice.

Maylina could only stare in sadness.

"Where is your hunter companion?" he continued.

Before any could answer the machina weapon, Alastimo, began to stir in its darkened slumbers. A high pitch scream from it echoed in the vast rooms and hallways of the cities underground.

"What the hell is going on?" Rolas screamed in disbelief.

"Simple, I did a little rewiring to the piece of crap," a voice replied from the top of Alastimo.

From above a shadow jumped down to land in front of Rolas, and it was Sorren. Rolas knew right away that his weapon was in disarray from the shuddering and screaming it produced.

"You will pay for what you have done," he threatened the middle-aged assassin.

He continued with anger building, "Find out what is wrong with the damn thing."

Several of the guards that surrounded them left to obey his orders.

"I will have no summoner and her pathetic guardians get in my way. The rest of your group is now my prisoners. Now join them or die," Rolas threatened.

"What the hell do you think? We'll never surrender to you bastard," Mason arrogantly replied.

He was soon followed by Trevan, "You are insane Rolas."

Before they could react, Trevan was knocked out by a guard. Mason suffered worst when Rolas finally made his shot, shooting two bullets into his legs. He fell to his knees unable to walk now with the newly developed wounds.

"Mason!" Maylina exclaimed joining him at her knees.

Turning to her he flashed a reassuring smile, "I'm fine, because these are nothing. When you turned away from me on the ship, which was a thousand times worse. It felt like I had died, and that is what truly pains me."

"Mason, I didn't know," she solemnly replied.

"Hey, it's okay. You have your duties. I just never thought I would ever truly fall in…"

Before he could finish his enduring confession, Maylina was torn away from him by Rolas by her long locks of blue hair. Sorren was being held down by the guards as Mason struggled to get her back. Rolas kept his gun to her head as he held onto her arm tightly.

"There are no Fayths and no religion. Your death will truly prove it. I won't indulge into my brother's ideals in New Zanarkand by letting you live," he remarked as he pushed her towards the edge of the platform.

Standing proudly she gave her last statement, "My faith will never falter, and I am no one's tool."

Before Mason's eyes he watched in horror as a single shot rang out making perfect aim. It happened so fast, but to Mason it was a moment that last an eternity. The shot had met its target, and the target was Maylina's head. Blood spilled, her body fell back slowly, and right before him she disappeared into the abyss.

"No, I failed her. She can't die, this can't happen," he spoke shockingly to himself.

As the pain began to overcome him, he watched Sorren brake away from the guards, leaping into the abyss to follow Maylina. The last thing he heard was that of Rolas laughing.

To Continue…