General Leo coursed a hand through his thick Mohawk of hair as he strolled towards the Emperor's chamber. His heavy boots sending a resounding beat along the metal gantry as he walked. He was late. Far later than he had anticipated. He couldn't help but feel his liege would be rightly displeased with him. What more he could have managed at such short notice though, he did not know. As he came to the end of the corridor he found his way barred by too most officious looking sentries.
"I'm here to speak with the Emperor. See that we are not disturbed," he said standing patiently before them.
"As you command General Leo," One of the crimson robed imperial guards bowed his head in assent. Together they set their hands to and pushed open the double iron doors to admit him to the throne room.
The Emperor was usually to be found alone, save for the usual compliment of imperial bodyguards stationed at every corner of the room. And so it was that General Leo, most loyal servant of the Empire, found himself pausing momentarily as he was given access to Vector's seat of power. The Emperor had no bodyguards with him today, but he was not entirely alone either.
Gestahl was seated upon his steel throne, clad in armour of crimson hue and gold trim. A black cloak was draped across his shoulders. The Emperor was no longer a young man, the strength had long since gone out of his body, but his eyes betrayed an a keen and calculating mind. Sometimes, Leo thought he saw hunger in those eyes, but he never marked it.
The Emperor's visitor was a girl, but she seemed less a guest and more a sentry on patrol. The girl stood to attention with her hands clasped firmly by her sides. Her hair was a most captivating shade of green and was tied back behind her head, underneath a simple band of silver. The Emperor seemed barely even aware of her presence, his eyes fixed steadily on Leo as he entered. Leo realised he was staring longer than necessary and looked away berating himself inwardly for his rudeness. Whoever the girl was she deserved better than to have an unfamiliar face gawking at her. He approached the Emperor and went to one knee before his liege. Gestahl looked pleased as he lounged back in his throne, gesturing with his left hand for Leo to rise.
"Ah, Leo. I trust your journey back from the East was a pleasant one?" he inquired in a genuinely interested tone.
"Yes my Emperor and I can faithfully report to you that the construction of the military base to the east is proceeding well ahead of schedule. I left command of the operation in the hands of Captain Ordis; a competent man who I'm certain will not fail you, however…"
"However, you are wondering why I asked you to return before the base was completed?" Indeed, Leo had been wondering that very thing ever since he had been recalled. He was certain he had done nothing to displease his master; however there were those among the hierarchy of the Empire who loved him not. It had always proved wise to be wary of hidden knives behind their smiles.
The Emperor smiled indulgently at Leo's polite silence. "I have a more pressing concern for you to take care of Leo. It is something I am most anxious to uncover. Something that I believe will lend us the key to unlocking the secrets of the Magi."
The ill fated Magi. Ashes in the wind of time. Only a fool would seek to possess that deadly power and yet…the Emperor's wisdom was boundless.
"I take it then, that Professor Cid's advances in the manufacture of Magitek weapons are still encountering problems?" Leo's grasp of science was confined to the use of weapons and their strategic consequences. Still, Vector's emergence as the ultimate super power was of great concern to him.
The Emperor shifted uncomfortably in his chair and spared a minimal glance to the silent, but comely girl to his right. Leo was certain he had seen her before somewhere, but the memory evaded him. She seemed as lifeless as a doll.
"Administration of that project has been handed over to Kefka. I've decided that Cid is too…restrained in his methods. We are in a war against time and I have no time for sermonising scientists. Besides he's much better served studying the Gate specimens."
Kefka? That took Leo back a pace. Giving command of a legion to that former guinea pig had been one thing, but allowing him to take over the Magitek facility? Professor Cid was a legend in the field of ancient studies. To be usurped in such a way must have been truly gruelling. Still, it was the will of the Emperor and the will of the Emperor worth more than an old mans pride.
Leo chose his words carefully. "So, we are still a long way from achieving your dream my Emperor?"
A strange look passed over the Emperor's face. "Oh? Perhaps. Perhaps not. The weapons of the Magi were many and numerous. Our history is steeped in mythology and legends echoing back to that dark period. It was one such legend that led me to the east all those years ago…where I first beheld the magnificent potency of magic. Where I had but a brief taste of that forbidden ambrosia. But I was denied and left with…" Again his eyes strayed to the girl, but in an instant they were fixed square on Leo again. "Since that day I have had my agents going over every folk tale, every ancient legend leading all the way back to before the fall of ancient Figaro."
Leo was surprised to hear this from his Emperor's own mouth. Widely it was whispered that the Emperor spent many a sleepless night poring over ancient texts and chasing after fairy tales in his dreams. Since his boyhood, the Magi had been his obsession, now he was on the verge of succeeding them.
"And now you believe you have found something?"
"Yes! Just days ago, we received word via carrier pigeon that a merchant prince by the name of Rostov Carlusso was holding court in Jidoor. The prince has fallen on hard times of late and yet he claims to have discovered several artefacts of historical importance. Now, these facts alone were of no real interest to me, but I was informed that in order to save his fortune the prince decided to auction most of these artefacts off to the highest bidder. Most of it was reportedly junk, though there was one item that attracted the attention of my spies. A scroll. The auctioneer claimed it was hand written in blood. To be more specific it was the blood of a creature that has not walked this world in many a century."
An Esper. Can Esper's bleed and die like men?
"Then I take it your men tried to purchase this scroll?"
The Emperor's mood darkened. "They did, but the fools stepped in with an offer so ridiculously high that the prince immediately became suspicious. He cancelled the auction and made to leave. Probably he had no idea of what he had until that very moment."
Leo was well aware of the edict Gesthal gave his agents. They were his eyes and ears, but when it became necessary, they were his knives as well.
"They tried to take the scroll from the prince." Leo could already guess at what had transpired.
"Yes, but he was amazingly well skilled with a blade and took flight before my men could lay a finger on him. They did manage to lay hands upon the scroll however, before the prince laid his blade across them. One was able to tear an unmarked corner of the scroll from the prince's grasp. Finding no trace of the escaped Prince they bore it back to me."
"And?"
"I had Cid analyse it's composition. The parchment is over 1000 years old," the Emperor smiled, barely able to contain his excitement.
One thousand years. The war of the Magi.
"Yes Leo, this is a text that predates the ancient war, it is written in the blood of an Esper. Do you have any idea how many writings we have from before the great cataclysm?"
He did. "None."
"Then you see how important this scroll could be to me. To the Empire. Leo, I want you to find this Prince Rostov, retrieve that scroll and find out whatever secrets it holds."
"You wish me to take a legion of troops and scour the lands surrounding Jidoor?"
"No," he said abruptly, "I do not wish that at all. If I wanted to attract such attention then the city of Jidoor would be burning as we speak. We are at a critical stage in our build up for the war Leo. Kefka believes he is only months away from perfecting a fully stable Magitek engine. Once we begin mass production, not a nation on this planet can stand against us. This pretty young thing here is another, even more powerful weapon, one I cannot wait to see the potential of."
Leo's eye's flicked back to the girl in bewilderment. She was a weapon? But, she was just a girl, a human being. How could the Emperor believe that a living person was just a tool? Leo did not even view his soldiers with such impassionate ideas. His Emperor's words drew him back.
"However…if our enemies should gain the same advantage we have, if they should learn just what exactly we uncovered in the east all those years ago, they might unite against us and all of Vector would be laid waste. We can not allow that to happen Leo."
"No my liege," Leo saw now his Emperor's purpose in summoning him here, "I understand. You wish me to go alone. The hand of the Empire must not seen in this."
"Yes Leo, you are correct. These spies have failed me for the last time. I need a man of unbridled worth, one who will not flinch in his duty. Leo, you are my greatest warrior. You are the only one I can trust. Go and bring me back this tribute. Serve you Empire with pride," the authority in the Emperor's voice was absolute.
"As you command Emperor," but Leo had a nagging concern he needed to raise, "However, I may well need to employ others in this endeavour. I have no skill in understanding ancient texts and finding one man alone may prove difficult."
"Make use of whatever resources you believe necessary. Just remember, there must be no trace leading back the Empire."
"I swear by my sword it shall be done. Farewell my lord." He rose to leave and strode back towards the entrance. Without knowing why, he spared one final glance for the Emperor's weapon. She returned his stare as coldly as a corpse. The sadness of her existence would hang on his heart for some time.
"That's him over there," A harsh voice muttered, "You a friend a his? Cause let me tell ya' he's got one hell of a bar tab to pay off!"
Locke groped blindly at the tables edge in an effort to give his head the balance he needed to lift it off the table, but failed miserably. He knew they were talking about him, since everyone else had left the pub hours ago and he kind of recognised the rank distaste in the barkeeps voice whenever he spoke to or about him.
Must be those museum guys. I knew they wouldn't sit quiet for long. They want to know what happened to their investments. He felt his forehead crease in puzzlement against the table surface, Hey, am I in a pub?
Locke's recollections of the previous night came in fits and starts. So far he was able to satisfy himself with the excess and stupidity of his drinking without having to come to terms with the fact that he had been miserable enough to do so. The anvil tap dancing inside his skull was a very useful aid in this.
"My thanks. I will see that your expenses are covered."
"Whatever guy, he's all yours."
Gee, what a nice guy. Now maybe I can get back to sleep and deal with all this in the morning. Hey wait, did I sleep on a table last night?
"Locke Cole?"
The barely audible groan of despair was the best Locke could manage as any form of assent at that time. Really this was a little more excitement than he was used to at this hour of the day…which ever hour that was exactly.
"Mr Cole? Are you well?" there was real concern in the voice.
Focusing on the voices was too much of an effort. He found himself drifting back, away from the searing agony of being awake. The voices became muffled noises once more. Somewhere the two men were speaking again. He didn't care. He was comfortable here with his dreams. His dreams.
Something wet and colder than death drenched his face, seeping awareness in to his every beer soaked pore. The wave of shock jolted him awake in splutter of indignation and bewilderment. Someone had sat him upright in his chair and he found himself looking down at a man shaped imprint in the stale residue of what ever he had been pouring down his throat for the past three days. The barkeep was stood over him with an empty jug in his hands and a look on his face that was just too satisfied for his own good. Someone else had seated himself in the chair across from him. He couldn't have been much older than Locke, dressed in a plain leather jerkin and with a thick red woollen cloak over his shoulders. An iron helm covered the top of his head and ran a shadow over his green eyes. Whoever he was he was nobody that Locke had ever seen before, but he had a quiet air about him that Locke could always associate with consummate fighting men. This guy had probably been hired by the museum guys to come and kick his butt. He was a big guy too, which didn't really help the situation any.
Well, at any rate, at least he can't make me feel any worse than I do now.
"Good morning." Said the man politely, though Locke couldn't quite shake the feeling that he had already displeased him in some way.
"Is it?" His voice was little more than a croak. He might as well have been pouring sand down his gullet last night. He swallowed heavily and attempted to dismiss the sudden need to retch.
"Well, I suppose that depends on your point of view. I've come here with a proposition for you Mr Cole, I had hoped to find you in a more conscious state, but I suppose this will have to do. You are a hard man to find."
"But I'm easy to lose. Sorry it took you so long, but I didn't exactly plan on having anyone come look for me. So, we gonna get this over with or what?"
"What exactly are we supposed to be getting over with? Mr Cole, I came here to hire you for a job. In fact I was hoping to recruit you."
Well, that was a bit unexpected.
"You…look, I'm sorry, I thought you were…it doesn't matter. Let's just start over."
The man rubbed a hand along his roughly shaven chin and shrugged. "Why don't we start with you saying whether or not you're interested in my hiring you?"
"You say you want to hire me? Look pal, I'm sorry if whoever you've been speaking to has wasted your time, but I think you have the wrong guy. Whatever it is you think I do, I don't do it any more. Period."
"You are Locke Cole of Kohlingen?"
Locke looked away from the stranger and suddenly found that he wanted nothing more than to retch his living guts out in the street. The man's considering gaze drew him back. "I haven't been to Kohlingen in almost three years."
"I know. That was my first port of call as it happens."
"Then you know…that I don't…I'm not in that business anymore."
"I have no interest in your personal details. All I know is that where Treasure Hunting is concerned, you're one of the best. I'd like to put that to the test."
"Treasure hunter?" Locke's voice rose in disbelief, "Don't make me laugh. I'm nothing more than a worthless thief. Worthless."
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. I need to find something Mr Cole. Something of great worth. An artefact that has survived through the ages, dating back to before the Great War."
Something pulled inside Locke at that. He wasn't sure if it was pain or hope. "Artefact? What kind of artefact?"
The man shrugged. "Is that so important?"
"It might be," he considered for a second, "No, I guess not. You gonna pay me for this?"
The man smiled to himself. "Most certainly, if money is all that you wish. Like I said earlier though, I also wanted to recruit you. I was hoping that when you hear the specifics, you'd agree to join us full time."
"And save yourself a few extra pennies? Whatever. So who are you guys anyway?"
The man in the red cloak looked suitably abashed "Of course, I haven't introduced myself yet. My apologies. My name's Alton Marche. I work for the Returner's."
"Returner's?" What did a resistance group want with him? "You want me to help you fight the Empire?"
"Yes, Mr Cole, we'd like that very much indeed. So what do you say? Do we have a deal?" Alton extended his hand across the table towards Locke. It was tough looking hand, the skin worn by a life of constant toil. It was the kind of hand you could trust.
Locke met Alton's eyes. Despite his hatred of the Empire he had never really given any thought to joining the revolution. For the past three years he had devoted himself to searching for the only thing that mattered to him anymore. But he had failed, just as he had failed…her so many times before. What did he really have anymore?
"Okay, yeah, I'll do it. But not for free mind you. We can work out the details later. First, I got to find me a bath somewhere." He shook Alton's hand who smiled with sincere humour.
"That, I think, we can both agree upon right now."
Locke couldn't help but laugh, despite the spasm of pain it sent through his guts. This Alton Marche was alright, but he wasn't about to talk Locke in to jumping on the band wagon. He'd do this job and take the money and be happy. It was easier to feel that way than thinking about his real reasons for shaking Mr radical's hand.
"So, when do we leave?"
"As soon as possible. We need to get to Jidoor," Alton pushed his chair back from the table and got up, "Another man I wish to hire is there and possibly our quarry as well if the fates are with us."
"Quarry? I thought you wanted me to help you find an relic of some kind?"
"I do. But first we must find the man who holds it."
It was necessary to book passage on a ferry out of Nikeah, once Locke was ready to leave. It would not be cheap, especially as the Captain would doubtlessly ask for a higher fee just to drop them of the coast of Jidoor.
Leo was somewhat unsure of his newly acquired companion. True, he had little to go on so far other than that the man poured his need for solace in to keg of wine each night. He was uncomfortable with the pretence he had constructed to pass himself of as a Returner to Locke, but considering the situation it made perfect sense. From what he had heard in Kohlingen, the man had little reason to love the Empire. From the sound of things Locke Cole was the man to turn to when in the business of acquiring rare antiquities and for that reason Leo was determined to have him. Introducing himself as member to a party opposed to the consolidation of power in Vector seemed like the reasonable thing to do and layering it under the façade that this was all part of a move to recruit him only served to sweeten the lie.
When Locke finally came to meet him on the docks, Leo found himself rather shocked that there had been an eager and energetic young man hiding behind the self piteous drunk he had met that morning. Locke had taken the trouble of shaving the morning shadow from the lower half of his face and dressed in far more practical attire for a long journey. He wore an eight inch blade in a black leather sheath at his belt and had a traveller's pack slung over one shoulder.
"We all set to go?" he asked adjusting a tight fitting bandana around his head.
"Pretty much," he looked Locke up and down considering, "You cleaned yourself up pretty quickly."
"Hey, when I travel, I like to be in firm frame of mind and have everything I need to hand. Since you've told me next to nothing about this whole deal I had to assume every last possibility. Including the eventuality that you might require me to cross reference some charming and sweet ladies along the way. You can't go in to these kinds of thing unprepared.
"Quite. Shall we get on board? We've got a good week's journey ahead of us."
"Lead the way."
And so he did and the journey had begun at last.
Jidoor was cold and wet this time of year. It was still pretty lively, but it was cold.
"It's getting late. You sure this is where we were supposed to meet this guy?" asked Locke an edge of irritation working its way in to his voice. Their long week at sea had been queasy at best. A ponderous storm had followed them all the way from Nikeah.
Leo took a deep breath of the chilled night air. The moon had long since risen and his legs felt sore from the hours of waiting. It had been a long journey beforehand, but he would not go seeking the luxury of an inn until his business in Jidoor was completed. Time was already against him on this.
Leo sighed. "About that. When I said we were here to meet a man, I did not intend for you to think that I had actually arranged a meeting. From what I was lead to believe, this is the sort of man who will find us, once he learns of our interest."
Locke let out a short exclamation of breath in disbelief and shook his head "You're kidding me right? We've been standing here for the past four hours in the cold dampness of sunny Jidoor and now you tell me there's no actual guarantee this guy may be coming? Brilliant! That's just the most fantastic thing I've ever heard," he paused to kick an offending pebble in to the gutter. "This guy better be worth it."
"He is," a dry voice, jagged and cold like the edge of ice rang out from the darkness behind them.
Leo's hand was on his sword hilt as he spun in alarm, while Locke mouthed a curse under his breath that anyone had been able to sneak up on them so easily. Leo had to admit that he had been none the wiser either. This man was everything they had said he would be, a shadow.
"You've come a long way," Shadow said matter-of-factly. How much this Shadow knew of their mission or even their identities, Leo was not willing to gamble on. Caution made him keep his hand clamped firmly a top his sword. With a determined grace that was as much refined as it was intimidating, Shadow emerged from his cranny in the gloom. He was wrapped head to toe, in a tar coloured ninja garb, an antiquated golden helm resting just above his eyes.
"Yes," said Leo guardedly "with good reason I hope. You must be Shadow. My name is Alton Marche and this is Locke Cole. Sargrill of Tzen spoke very highly of you."
"You have further yet to go, before you can claim the rest you hanker after. The man you want is no longer in Jidoor." As Shadow spoke a fierce brown hound stalked from the alley behind him. Lithe, yet powerful looking it stared at them with open animal aggression. From the way Shadow barely acknowledged it, Leo surmised it belonged to him. They seemed to share a common disposition.
"You've seen this guy Rostov then?" asked Locke.
Shadow inclined his head to stare at Locke as if he had only just deigned to admit he was there. "No," he said simply, "Had I seen him, he would still be here. There's a lot of interest floating about for one fat prince." He turned his gaze back towards Leo. "Even before you arrived, there was talk of a reward."
That was of a surprise to Leo. "Indeed? By whom exactly?"
"I don't know." And that it seemed was that. If nothing else this assassin was abrupt.
"So what? You said the Empire was after Rostov too, right Alton? Seems to me that if they want this scroll of his so badly, they'd be putting the feelers out for him."
Yes, indeed. That would be us then. It must be someone else. But then who else could have an interest in this artefact? The real Returners? Imperial security must truly be in disarray for such a leak to occur.
"Shadow, you said we still had a way to go. I assume that means that you already know where, Rostov is headed?" he asked.
"Where do all men go, when they wish to be forgotten? We'll find Rostov hiding amongst the human sewage of Zozo. I imagine you still want time to stop and rest, but I'm afraid there's no time for that. If we wish to catch him we must leave now." Shadow regarded him intently, awaiting his response.
"You don't think he's looking to stay in Zozo full time?" asked Locke.
"No. He's frightened, weak. He lacks direction and resolve. However he is bound by purpose. If we wait too long, then Rostov will be gone and his trail with him."
Leo certainly couldn't allow for that. "Very well. Weary as I am, I see no choice, but to follow your wisdom. Even so, it may benefit us to…"
"Alton! Get off the street, there's Imperials coming this way!" Yelled Locke as he backed away in to a side street.
What!
"Imperial troops? What are they even doing on this continent? I had no…" Leo's mind was a spiralling hex of confusions.
"Hey Alton," whispered Locke hotly from his hiding place, "last time I checked, the Empire doesn't take to kindly to Returner spies. Do you want to arouse suspicion?"
Leo threw a startled look in Locke's direction, only then realising how foolish he had almost been. Shadow had already blended out of plain sight, his uncourteous dog in tow. The general backed under a stone archway, just as an Imperial strike battalion marched by. The ground trembled under the heavy steps of a Heavy Magitek suit bringing up the rear, its lumbering metal frame gushing steam as it rumbled by. The ruckus they caused on their way sent many townspeople fleeing in sudden terror. Probably most of them had never even seen Magitek armour before. Leo had, only…
Only it was still only in the design stages. Those divisions that are up and running are reserved for priority missions only. That they were here for precisely the same reasons as Leo he was certain.Only the Emperor could order such a thing, but this is precisely what he wished to avoid. Something is not right here…perhaps Kefka.
Leo had never had cause to like or trust the Mage-Knight Kefka, but surely even he would not stoop to treason. There was no other that Leo could even think was capable of such foolishness. This would bear considerable scrutiny when he returned to Vector. Until then…
"We should get moving." Leo spoke in to the darkness, knowing his two companions would hear. "If those forces learn the whereabouts of the prince as we have, then we will have even less time to spare. We have to reach Zozo now." He watched as the battalion rounded a corner in the street up ahead and disappeared from sight.
"Alton what was that thing?" asked Locke in a low voice.
"Some new weapon of the Empire's perhaps. Whatever they are they're dangerous, we should avoid them," Leo said trying not to sound too dismissive.
"If we face them, we will have to kill them." Said Shadow, re-emerging. He spoke with a chilling certainty and the way he regarded Leo then unsettled him.
I will not kill those whose only edict is to serve the Emperor, he told himself. And yet…if they are here against the Emperor's behest, if their actions prevent me from completing my mission, I will have no choice.
"Easier said than done," said Locke, "Personally, I'm not so eager to get myself killed. Now, what's the fastest way to Zozo?"
"By Chocobo, it's a long way around the mountains on foot."
"Very well. The ranch should still be open at this hour," said Leo. Warily he left the safety of the archway and went in search of the ranch.
