Chapter 4—Mysteries

It has been about an hour since the girl finished teaching Tidus how to use the sphere grid, and we still haven't had anything to eat. I don't know what they eat here in Spira, but right now, I don't particularly care. The only thing I've had to do, besides mess with the Sphere Grid some more, is read this old magazine type thing I found. It's called an Al Bhed Primer. Don't ask me where the name comes from. It looks like some sort of textbook for learning the language, but it only shows one letter and how it's used. Guess they must've done it in installments, for some reason. My perusing of the material is interrupted by Tidus' voice, coming from the other side of the ship.

"What's this? Some kind of crane?"

The guy with the mohawk turns around, and he doesn't look too happy with Tidus.

"Rao, oui! Kad yfyo vnus drana!"

Tidus seems to get the hint, despite not understanding the words, and slowly backs away, raising his hands.

"All right, all right! You don't have to shout!"

Apparently still bored, Tidus walks over to the girl, who just finished talking to one of the other men, and I walk over as well, figuring that we need to get moving. When I reach the other side of the ship, the girl gives me a small nod, before speaking.

"We found some ancient ruins, right beneath us! It's not active now, but there should still be some power left. We're gonna go down there and activate it, and then we should be able to salvage the big prize!" she says excitedly. Tidus and I give small nods of agreement.

"Okay, let's get to work!" she says, pulling the goggles over her head once more, and walking over to the side of the ship.

"Roger!" Tidus says, following her over. I just grin and follow the two of them.

We dive over the side of the ship, into the murky abyss below, and begin to dive downwards, towards the location of the ruins, or whatever it was that they've found. After a minute or two of swimming, we come upon the ruins. I'm not too experienced at diving, so my eyes are acting a little funny from being underwater. Therefore, I can't make out exactly what it is that we've found. The girl's goggles let her see clearly now, and she moves from spot to spot, pushing what appear to be buttons on several different consoles, and small lights come on after she's done with each one. We move deeper and deeper into the ruins, until she finally hits what I think is the last console, and turns around.

"Okay, that should do it! Let's get back to the boat!"

"Right!" I say, glad to be getting out from this place. Something about it gives me the creeps, and it's not just because I know everything that happens here. It just feels strange.

As we make our way back out to the entrance, the girl stops for a moment, and looks around, before making what I guess was a shrugging gesture and continuing to swim.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Ah...It's nothing. Just thought I saw something, that's all." she replies, as we near the entrance. Suddenly, the water in front of us churns violently, as we're thrown back from the wake of some sort of giant squid. Tros. Drawing my sword, I try to remember the trick to beating him in the game. Hopefully, it'll work here as well. Tidus draws his sword as well, but the girl just floats there, seemingly waiting on something.

"You guys attack it! When I say so, get back as fast as you can!" she says, waiting for us to make our move. We nod, and Tidus charges the creature, slashing at one of its tentacles with his blade. The creature gives a moan of pain, before swimming around the circular tube in the center of the chamber, trying to bide some time to heal.

'That's it! We have to surround it!' I think to myself, before turning to the girl.

"We have to surround this thing, so it can't run!" I yell, and both she and Tidus nod, going around the tube towards the front of the creature, as I circle around to the back. The squid, now seemingly confused at its sudden inability to escape, lashes a tentacle towards the girl, who quickly moves out of the way, pulling something from her bodysuit.

"Hey, you, get back!" she yells to me, and I suddenly realize I never gave her my name.

"The name's Ben!" I yell at her, while swimming away for a moment.

"Save the introductions for later, okay?" Tidus yells at me, before the girl throws the object at the squid, which looks at it with interest for a minute, before it explodes, throwing the creature back, but not killing it. About half of its tentacles are either shredded, or blown off by the attack, though.

Turning back around, I move in to slash at the squid from behind, while Tidus moves in from the front. The combined attack from the both of us gets another howl of pain from the squid. The girl swims in after we move back, studying the creature for a moment, before grabbing something off of it and swimming back.

"She stole something from it. But what?' I think, before she yells again.

"Get back! Another grenade coming through!" she yells, but this time she swims like a maniac towards Tros, holding the grenade in her hand. The fiend tries to slap her away with one of its remaining tentacles, but she evades again, moving right up to the creatures mouth. As it roars at her, she smiles, and pulls the pin of the grenade, throwing it down the creatures maw before it can react. Swimming away as fast as she can, the creature suddenly explodes, a cloud of blood and guts erupting from where the creature floated moments ago, before a wave of pyreflies floats up from its remains.

"Woohoo!" Tidus yells, and I sheath my sword, laughing at the girl's crazy antic.

"Hey, whatever works, huh?" I yell to her, and she turns around, smiling, before turning back and starting to swim off.

"Come on, let's get back to the surface!" she yells, Tidus and I following a moment after.

(Back on the ship)

Removing her goggles and helmet, the girl shakes out her blond hair, before walking over to the people sitting on deck.

"Fa vuiht dra airship! Dra naluntc fana nekrd!" one of them says, raising his hands in triumph.

"Huf, ruf du tnyk ed ib?"

Turning, they begin to walk to the door leading to the interior of the ship. Tidus starts to follow them, but is stopped by a harsh shove from one of the men standing outside.

"Oui, uidceta!" he says, before turning around and walking inside. Tidus seems even more annoyed than he was earlier, if such a thing were possible.

"Hey, I helped out too, didn't I?" he says indignantly, before crossing his arms and walking back over to me. "Sure are friendly to guests, huh?" he mutters. I laugh, and shake my head at Tidus' annoyed expression, as I turn and walk over to the side of the ship, sitting down again and reopening the Al Bhed Primer. Tidus just gives a short 'hmph', before walking over to the door and lying down, head resting against the wall.

"Uhh...hungry..." he moans, my stomach growling in agreement. Suddenly, the door opens again, and the girl walks out, kicking Tidus in the shoulder. Tidus looks up, as the girl places a plate of food in front of him, motioning for me to come over and eat as well. I stand up, and walk over, chuckling to myself at Tidus now, who seems to have gone slightly crazy at the sight of the food.

"Whoa! Right on!" he yells, beginning to scarf down the little bit of food that was in front of him. After about 10 seconds, he starts to choke, and I start laughing out loud now, unable to contain myself any more. The girl gives a short cry, and hands him a small canteen, which he drinks quickly, sighing in relief.

"It's cause you eat too fast!" she says, and I nod.

"I gotta agree with her on that one, Tidus. I don't think I've ever seen anyone eat quite that fast before!" I say, starting to laugh once again. Tidus just throws the canteen at me, before standing up and stretching, the girl walking up behind him.

"Hey!" she says, prompting him to turn around, as I just watch.

"Hello there. What is your name?" he asks her, smiling.

"Rikku." she replies. Tidus' grin gets wider, as he clenches his fists.

"Woohoo!" he cries. "You really do understand!" Then his grin disappears for a moment, as he speaks again.

"But why didn't you say so earlier?" he asks, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I didn't get the chance to!" she says, shaking her finger at Tidus. "Everyone thought oui were a fiend!"

Tidus gets a confused expression on his face, for what has to be the 12th time since I've been with him.

"Uh...'we'?" he says, cocking his head.

Rikku just stares back at him for a moment, before replying.

"Oh, 'oui' means 'you'." she says, before walking away from Tidus for a moment, a concerned expression on her face.

"Who are you guys, anyway?" Tidus asks. I cut in at this, seeing a chance to have some fun.

"They're the Al Bhed, Tidus. You didn't know that?" I say, grinning. Tidus just looks confused for a moment, as Rikku grins.

"That's right! But, how do you know who we are? And, who are you?" she says, the same confused look coming over her face after a moment.

"Well, first, I found a magazine that had 'Al Bhed Primer Vol. 1' on the front, on the deck over there, so I just took a logical guess. Second, the name's Ben. Nice to meet you, Rikku." I reply, earning an eye roll from Rikku at my logic.

"Funny. Wait, you're not Al Bhed haters, are you?" she says, turning to the both of us. I shake my head, but Tidus speaks out again.

"I don't even know what an Al Bhed is." he says, Rikku's eyes widening a moment.

'Yup, this will be funny...' I think to myself, awaiting the conversation between Rikku and Tidus.

"Where are you from?" she asks him, and I smile.

"Zanarkand. I'm a blitzball player. Star player of the Zanarkand Abes!" he says with pride, as Rikku just looks at him, confused.

"Did you hit your head or something?"

"Um, you guys hit me." he replies, as Rikku puts her hand behind her head, sheepishly.

"Oh, right...Do you remember anything before that?" she asks, crossing her arms.

"Well, yea. It all started when I was play..."

I tune Tidus out for the moment, as I don't really need to hear a recounting of everything up to this point. I honestly don't think I'll ever forget it, anyway. I watch in silence, as Rikkus face goes from wonder, to shock, then back to a solemn expression as Tidus finally finishes, a couple minutes later.

"Did I say something funny?" he says, seeing the expression on Rikku's face.

"You were near Sin. Don't worry, you'll be better in no time. They say your head gets funny when Sin is near. Maybe you just had some kind of dream?" she replies, looking at Tidus intently.

"You mean I'm sick?"

"Because of Sin's toxin, yeah."

Tidus frowns. "You sure?"

Rikku puts her hands on her hips. "Yeah, there is no Zanarkand anymore. Sin destroyed it a thousand years ago. So...no one plays blitzball there."

Tidus looks shocked by the sudden knowledge, as he throws his hands up in front of him.

"What do you mean, a thousand years ago? But, I saw Sin attack Zanarkand! You're saying that happened a thousand years ago? No way!" he cries, somewhat mad and startled at the same time. Walking over to Tidus, I place my hand on his shoulder.

"Easy there, Tidus. Just breathe, okay?"

Rikku pauses for a moment, before snapping her fingers, apparently having gotten an idea.

"You said...you play blitzball?" she asks Tidus, who nods. "You know, you should go to Luca. Someone might know who you are, or you might find someone you recognize."

"Luca?" Tidus asks.

Rikku shakes her head, before starting to walk around in circles for a moment. After a minute, she walks behind Tidus and taps him on the back.

"Okay, leave it to me! I'll get you two to Luca, promise!" Tidus looks a little unsure at this, before Rikku speaks again. "You'd rather stay here?" Tidus gets a shocked expression, before quickly shaking his head, causing me to laugh again.

"Okay, I'll go tell the others. Wait here." she says, turning to leave, before stopping and turning back around, pointing a finger at Tidus.

"Oh, and one thing. Don't tell anyone you're from Zanarkand, okay? Yevon says it's a holy place. You might upset someone." she says, a childish tone to the last sentence, before she turns and walks back inside the ship. Tidus just mutters 'okay' under his breath, before turning and leaning on the ship's railing.

"I can't believe it. A thousand years in the future? No way!" he mutters to himself.

"Hey, it's okay, Tidus. We're both in the same boat, you know? I came from a completely different world, in case you didn't know." I say to him, hoping to make him feel a little better. He doesn't seem to have heard me, though. Walking over to the crane, he kicks it hard, just as the whole ship starts to shake, and several people run back out onto the deck frantically, only to fall down as the ship shakes harder. Looking out, I notice a large object moving towards the ship.

"Sin!"

"Sin ec lusa!"

"Ihtan ic! Ihtan ic!"

The deck suddenly erupts into chaos, as the men scramble around, trying to organize some sort of defense from the nearly invincible creature. The ship continues to rock violently, and Tidus and I start to lose our balance as well. Unfortunately, we're standing near the side, not the middle as the other men were, and we suddenly find ourselves hanging onto the ships edge. Screaming, Tidus falls into what appears to be some kind of whirlpool below us, and soon after, I lose my grip as well, screaming the whole way down.


So, how was it? Next up is one of my favorite scenes in the game! As always, read and review please!