III

THE AL BHED

A twilight, filled with long dominating streaks of fiery reds and oranges, consumed the heavens. It was almost like two sky's; one a source, the other a mere reflection from the surface of the ocean. Nothing obscured this beauty save one. A darkened vessel glided across the horizon . It wasn't large, for it carried no sails-but it was gray and shaded with linguistic symbols painted on its hull. If ever one person would spot a vessel like this, it would be a rarity. There is only a few that scour the ocean and most avoid public complications. They are known as scavengers, savages, treasure-hunters, and the Al Bhed.

Two men, wielding surgical instruments, stood over Squalls limp body. His vitals blinked on an old abused respiratory machine. Darkness waded in the shadows of the room, and standing in the infirmary entrance was the young girl. However, she no longer wore the concealing belts and rusted armor-she was a beautiful, petite young woman with sparkling greens eyes and light, sandy blonde hair. She watched one of the men next to Squall-who was tall, equipped with rough muscles, and encased with interweaving tattoos- stand over Squall's nearly dangling limb. He held tweezer like prongs gripping a sharp stitch edge and lowered it to Squalls wounded leg-the same leg the Klikk extended its claw straight though-and slowly penetrated the skin, pulling the two ends of the torn flesh together.

The young woman turned away as blood oozed over the operating table. Another male stepped up to her side. He was average height with a bald head and an aged face. Deep sorrow weighed in his eyes as he stared at Squall.

"Rikku, why did you allow this man on board?" He asked firmly. "You know the laws-if he ever tells anyone about-"

"Father please," She pleaded. "He's not a fiend. If I had let them kill him at the ruins...we could have killed someone in need. Besides, Father, aren't we trying to prove to-"

Her father turned and regarded her briefly. "I hope you know what you are doing."

Rikku watched her father leave. She turned back to Squall and smiled.

She knew what she was doing.

Squall slept. However-not on a warm comfortable bed. No-the more he dwelled on the back cramps eating at his nerves, the more he dissolved away from unconsciousness and realized, he lied on something very hard. Opening his eyes, he could see metal floor all around. His eyes searched around, memories of men dragging his body across the ruins stroke his heart. Where am I?

Squall stood but fell to his knees. He looked down at his leg which vibrated with pain. He lifted his pants leg up to reveal a stitch line which ran down most of his thigh. He touched it-his fingers trembling-remembering that last moment when he thought that his life was about to end.

He looked around. He was on a vessel of some sort in the middle of nowhere. He limped over to the deck railing and stared out at the starry void filling the sky. He took a deep breath. What was next...? Hydraulic pressure emitted from behind Squall and a door rose revealing three men and Rikku who again wore her draping belts of grenades and pistols. They approached him swiftly. One who was encased in tattoos shoved Squall back, knocking him to the deck floor.

"Ced, lybdeja!" He burst in Al Bhed.

Squall rubbed his shoulder. "Hey, that hurts." He tried to get up but another Al Bhed rose a rifle to Squalls chest.

"Hu sujehk, rayn!" He screamed.

"Whoa, okay." Squall figured that they felt threatened by him in some strange way. He just stood still, his eyes trailing over to Rikku who watched from afar.

The tattooed Al Bhed rose his hand, "Caynlr res!"

Two men grabbed Squall by the hair, holding him still while another man patted his cloths down-obviously searching for any weapons.

Then the Al Bhed-who to was covered in ink-stepped forward, holding a pare of goggles. He began with some grunt noises and motioning of the hands which resembled swimming-consistently pointing back to the goggles.

"Right. Whatever."

The leader pointed back to the goggles slightly miffed. "Tu oui hud cbayg?"

Squall just shook his head, frustration built in his tone. "I said I don't understand!"

"Echcumahla!"

A rifle was shoved into Squall chest, knocking him back. Rikku ran up to him, helping him up and eyeing the lead. They stepped forward, rifles all drawn. "Fa gemm ed!"

Rikku moved between them shaking her head. "Fyed!"

She turned to Squall and smiled. "He said you can stay if you make yourself useful."

What! Squall couldn't believe it. "You...you understand me?"

The lead Al Bhed lowered his head in disgust. Rikku eyed him for a moment and turned back to Squall. "Just wait here okay, im going to get you some food and water."

Squall nodded speechless. She turned with the other Al Bhed and disappeared within the ship.

Squall guessed it was late. He never knew it would take so long to get something to eat. He lied on the deck staring out at the ocean passing by. Everything looked so foreign to him-not even the ocean looked like how he remembered it at Zanarkand. He wondered how far Sin had taken him from Zanarkand? He guessed that it was completely destroyed-but something inside of him told him he wanted to go back. Maybe to make sure it was all real.

"Hungry," Squall moaned.

He briefly closed his eyes, his head leaning on his elbow for support. He yawned.

Squall yelped as his arm was kicked out from under him. It was Rikku. She handed him a plate of food gently.

"Whoa, right on!" Roughly, he snatched the plate, crossed his legs and used his hands to scarf the food into his mouth.

Within seconds, he started to moaned and hiccup. He pounded fist against his chest needing something to drink. Squall looked right and left for something and snatched Rikku's cantina

"Hey!"

He flipped open the flask and took a long gulp. He sighed relieved. He got up and stretched smiling. He finally felt better-especially after everything that he had gone through. She smiled at him while he looked out at the ocean. Squall turned back to her.

"Hello-what's your name." He tried to say neutrally.

She tilted her head to the side and sighed. "Rikku."

Squall burst forward, grabbing her hands and shaking them wildly. "Whoa! You really do understand me!"

He hoped that he didn't seem too crazy in his reaction-but he was just happy to find someone who wasn't trying to kill him. He smiled and turned away again stretching-but his smiled faded. He turned back to Rikku with another question that struck his brain.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Rikku rose her hands pleadingly. "I didn't get the chance to! Everyone though oui were a fiend."

Squall looked at her puzzled. "Uh, 'oui'?"

She laughed realizing the accidently spoke Al Bhed. "Oh, 'oui' means 'you'."

Squall stared at her- a thousands questions now plaguing his mind. All of them were centered around these people-but only one seemed most important.

"Who are you guys, anyways?" Maybe it could answer the other question-where did Sin take me?

She smiled and stepped forward. "We're Al Bhed. Can't you tell?" Then she remembered her fathers concerns. "Wait. You're not an Al Bhed-hater, are you?"

Al Bhed? Squall had never heard of such a group of people let alone a Al Bhed hater. "I don't even know what a Al Bhed is."

She looked at him quizzically; her eyes squinting to catch any bit of dishonesty. "Where are you from?"

This was a question Squall could answer. In fact, he suddenly felt a burst of excitement to talk about it. Maybe she can get me home.

"Zanarkand!" He burst. "Im a Blitzball Player." He pretended to grab a ball and kick it. "Star player of the Zanarkand Abes!"

She looked even more baffled. "Um...did you hit your head or something?"

He stepped forward completely clueless to her innuendo. "You guys hit me, remember?"

She hesitated and turned to the ocean and whispered. "Right, so you remember anything before that?"

Squall stared at her confused. "Um, ya..."

He told her everything. About his life at Zanarkand, his father Jecht and Blitzball. He told her about his struggle to beat his fathers reputation and then Sin's attack...and about he and Aiden were engulfed in Sin's light. He said things as they came to mind. Based upon Rikku's bewildered expression, however, he didn't understand what was so unclear.

But then he started to wonder.

"Did I say something funny?"

She stared at the calm ocean breaking against the hull. "You were near Sin."

Squall nodded, eyeing the blue shades streaked throughout the nights sky. "Yeah, I know."

She was quiet-too quiet for Squall. He figured that something was wrong. Possibly he had said something that upset her-or maybe she knew something she wasn't telling.

"Don't worry." She broke the silence. "You'll be better in no time. They said your head gets funny when Sin is near. Maybe you just had some kind of...dream."

Squall didn't understand what she was referring to. "You mean I'm sick?"

She nodded. "Because of Sin's toxin, yeah."

He didn't feel sick-except the excruciating pain coming from his leg and ankle. "You sure?"

Rikku nodded again. "Yeah, there is no Zanarkand anymore. Sin destroyed it a thousand years ago." She spoke matter-of-factly. "So...no one plays Blitzball there."

It took Squall several seconds to process what Rikku had disclosed. A thousand years ago...Sin's toxin...no more Zanarkand...? "What do you mean, a thousand years ago!"

Rikku stared at his expression of frustration and muted confusion.

"But I saw Sin attack Zanarkand! You're saying that happened a thousand years ago?"

She carried a blank face. She didn't know what to say but to look at the ground. "A long time ago, there were a whole lot of cities in Anuthna. The cities had machines to run them. People played all day and let the machines do all the work. And then Sin came, and destroyed the cities and Zanarkand too."

Squall turned away from her. She was lying. How could Sin transport him a thousand years into the future-there was just-no way; it was impossible.

"How...I mean why?"

Rikku shrugged. "Don't know. It happened such a long time ago that people don't even know where Sin came from. Its just a good thing your still alive."

"Why is that?" For he felt that he'd rather be dead.

"Because Sin usually kills anyone who he comes into contact with."

Squall stared at the ocean again. Rikku stared at him for a moment and then turned away debating her own thoughts. "You said...you play Blitzball?"

Squall nodded, rolling his eyes. Not that it matters now.

She smiled, sensing his lack of interest. "You know, you should go to Luca with us. Someone might know who you are, or you might find someone you recognize."

How could I recognize anyone if I was sent through time a thousand years? But Rikku didn't believe that he was enveloped in Sin's portal-she merely thought he had been influenced by Sin's toxin-that the attack on Zanarkand was just a hallucination. Maybe she is right...Squall pondered. Maybe my whole life as just some dream.

"How far is it?" Squall questioned.

She smiled. "Pretty far, but im sure I'll be able to convince the boys to go. They have been wanting to see the Bi-Skill Tournament taking place there."

Squall was unsure.

"Would you rather stay here?"

Squall really didn't know. But she had a point. How was he going to discover why Sin's toxins made him believe that he lived in Zanarkand. Or, if Rikku was wrong, why he was sent through time a thousand years.

"No..." he muttered.

Rikku nodded. "Okay, leave it to me. I'll get you to Luca, promise!" She turned toward the hatch then stopped. "Oh and one thing. Don't tell anyone you're from Zanarkand, okay. Yevon say's it's a holy place. You might upset someone."

He watched her leave.

The morning breeze tugged at Squalls rugged hair. He stared out at the ocean-how it flowed to random length until it curved toward the horizon. Purples and blues reflected from the small, shallow waves which caressed the entire surface. He studied solidly, pushing all inner emotions deeper into a locking chasm. Even after two months of being with the Al Bhed, he refused to believe that he was affected by Sin's toxin. Instead, he believe what others would relatively say was impossible: Sin somehow transported from Zanarkand to a thousand years into the future. And here he was, with each passing moment, coming closer to the city named Luca-a city which had never existed when Squall lived in Zanarkand. But Zanarkand, some kind of holy place? Yevon? Sin? Luca? Squall thought Sin took him to afaraway place, that he could go back in a day or two. But a thousand years into the future? How could it be even be possible.

How could he, in present time, have been affected by Sin's toxin if he existed a thousand years ago. And why did Rikku suddenly rush in with an idea to send him to this city Luca? What was in Luca that Rikku believed would help him?

It was time to get some answers.

Squall turned from the bow of the ship and headed toward the deck hatch.

The interior was shabby and moist; filled a smell of evaporated algae. Squall walked casually down the small enclosed corridor. He stopped at a small hatch, turned a iron wheel and stepped inside. It was completely dark. Squall reached into his pocket and pulled out a match and lit it . Sure is dark...where is everyone? Squall muttered to himself approaching a table in the middle of the room. He lowered the match to a lantern covered in rust probably salvaged along with most of the other junk (as Squall calls it) they have saved.

The lantern caused the shadows to flee, revealing a room filled with a wallpaper of old fishing nets, broken parts to old machines and restored newspaper articles revealing current events from a long history already passed. He looked ahead, through a hallway threshold and into another room was steel bunk beds and unfurnished chairs. Two men, one on a bunk bed and the other hanging off the side of the chair, slept quietly. Squall smiled.

He knew these two men. He had gotten to know them during his stay on the ship. Marcus and Blank were their names-losers by Squalls standards. He was still fresh learning the new language they all spoke, but that's why it was nice to have Rikku around. She taught him the dialogue, how to pronounce the syllables, and even how to roughly translate their unique writing. He didn't understand why she was so willing to help him, especially since they were a exiled group of people. Any knowledge of their whereabouts would bring, as Rikku claimed, "Very big men with large guns." after them.

Suddenly, the door burst open and Baku entered. He walked over and flipped on a light and regarded the two sleeping Al Bhed.

"Wake up!" he boasted in Al Bhed.

Marcus and Blank jolted from comatose. They looked around, yawned, stretched, and stood. Baku, the lead Al Bhed who not only was covered in tattoos, but also the one who stitched Squalls wounded leg, motioned his hand as he entered the hall.

"Come on, we're meeting in the conference room!" Baku shouted down the corridor.

Squall had recently learned that Baku was Rikku's brother. He was just glad that Rikku didn't have his attitude...or his looks.

Squall and several Al Bhed waited around a table filled with maps and models of a city of some sort. He didn't know what was transpiring but he knew who they were waiting for. The hatch door creaked open and Rikku stepped inside. Her blue eyes went around the room and fell upon Squall, causing her to smile briefly. She turned to the front of the table and regarded the men around her who included Baku, Blank, Marcus and Squall. She placed her hands together and sat down at the small chair.

"Okay guys, as you all know we are on our way to Luca."

So that's what the city is on the map, Squall thought.

Marcus yawned again and waved his hand in the air. "And why are we going again?"

Squall's eyes locked with Rikku's. She hadn't told them why yet?

Rikku turned to Marcus and smiled. "Because my father has given us a mission."

Blank rolled his eyes. "Again." he whined "If were doing some underwater bull-crap again, he can kiss my ass."

Rikku ignored his negativity and turned back to the whole group. "Luca is holding there famous Bi-Skill Tournament this year at the Blitzball Stadium. Maester Seymour is going to be their to represent the new recruits and honor his fathers fiftieth year in office."

Maester...what's that? Squall figured questions were better asked for later.

"Yeah so." Marcus rolled his eyes.

"Here's the plan! During the tournament, we go and release all the fiends from the courtyard so they'll attack the audiences. Then we'll come and destroy the fiends and for the service we'll ask the Maester for a pardon from the exile."

"What!" Blank burst. "Are you insane. We'll be sentenced to death for such a crime. Do you really think the Maester is going to be worried about fiends. I have heard stories about a Maester's power. Besides, he is surrounded by Magi."

Baku stood firmly. "Im tired of the pathetic nonsense oozing from your ugly face!" His palm wrapped around Blanks throat and tightened.

"Stop!" Rikku ordered. Baku loosened his grip. Blank coughed grabbing his neck while Baku remained standing.

"C'mon guys." She pleaded. "We have been searching for a way to end this constant debate with the Ihedat Nations for years. We have never have been this close to actually negotiating with an actual leader of the country."

"Why would you want to do it with Maester Seymour?" Marcus carefully asked. "Isn't he only the Emperor's son. How and why would he help us."

Rikku grinned. "Seymour is Emperor Jeckyl's son and only heir to Office. If Seymour feels like it should be done, im sure he can convince the Emperor to go along with him."

Blank coughed. "I don't know Rikku, sounds kinda like...suicide to me."

Baku glared down at him.

"We haven't gotten this far without taking risks." Rikku responded.

"What about the audience?" Squall finally butted in. "Your willing to sacrifice peoples lives in order to convince this Seymour guy?"

Rikku stared at Squall's disturbed expression.

"I thought the Al Bhed were peaceful people, who only care about restoring the old in order to fix the new? But those fiends, once you release them, are going to kill anyone in their sight."

"Squall, you don't understand." Rikku tried to say.

Squall shook his head. "No you don't understand." He stood and shook his head. "When Zanarkand was attacked, I watched my friends, my family torn apart in front of me. I seen people die and suffer when somehow I lived."

Everyone rolled their eyes.

Squall laughed. "You don't have to believe me. But this plan...is going to kill people in the process. And your willing to take that chance?"

Rikku gazed into Squalls eyes. "Yes, we are."

Squall puffed air and nodded. "Okay, I get it. In order to create life you have to take it. Well, I wont be part of this."

Squall stormed out of the room, slamming the iron hatch behind him. Rikku turned back to the others and sighed.

Squall stood at the bow, a fire burning deep in his heart. He couldn't believe it. The only reason Rikku was going to take Squall to Luca was because of some stupid plan. She didn't care about him at all. She was only interested in herself and her people. How could he have been so blind? And for the first time since the Blitzball Tournament, Squall was reminded of his father. Jecht always had another agenda when committing to something which to the mind eye was courteous.

He slammed his fist onto the railing.

"Damn you!" he burst.

Steam rolled from the hydraulics as the interior hatch opened and Rikku stepped out. Squall didn't even turn around to regard her. She stepped forward hesitantly.

"Squall...I just..." She tried to say.

He stared out at the neutral sky.

She walked up beside him and sighed. "I just want our people to be recognized. I just want peace."

Squall huffed and shook his head. "Peace...peace. Your going to kill people in order to get peace?" He turned and looked at Rikku's saddened eyes. "Back at Zanarkand, people didn't kill other people."

Rikku was confused. "Are you saying you have never been in a war before?"

Squall shook his head. "Not against other people. Back then, there was peace. The only danger was when fiends would attack-which was rare."

Rikku stared at him. She was battling with her emotions. Squall sounded so genuine in his stories about Zanarkand-as if he had once lived there. But it was not possible, how could he have been transported to the present. But Squalls present wasn't this time period, it was Zanarkands; the only time he ever knew. Maybe that was why Squall felt so out of place-so disjointed from reality. There was so many differences between Zanarkand and this new world.

Rikku agreed that Squall couldn't be apart of her plan or mission. He had sustained too much trauma in the last couple days to gain composure. Therefore, with a sigh, she broke the silence.

"What would you like me to do?"

Squall looked at her skeptically. "I will go to Luca, but not to be part of your scheme, but to see if anyone can help me."

Rikku nodded and slowly turned. "Then, tomorrow, we will arrive at Luca and we'll part."

She moved back to the hatch and it hummed open. She looked back at him who continued to star out at the rolling ocean. She took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The evening sky drained into a starry oblivion.