Chapter 2
No. 114 didn't bother to listen to the guards. He didn't bother to watch them come in. He didn't bother to keep track of the time. No. 114 just didn't bother. No. 114 wouldn't bother to do anything unless he was told. No. 114 would do only what the guards told him because that was what he what supposed to do.
No. 114 didn't notice how many days went by. One or two perhaps? He didn't really care though, what difference would that make? It wouldn't, so he didn't care.
Whatever amount of time it was, No. 114 didn't spend it listening or thinking. He sat there, numb to his cold, wet and empty world of the underground. He stared blankly ahead, he didn't move or adjust his weight, he didn't flinch at the pain in his legs and back and he didn't bother to watch the changes, not that many happened.
But one did happen, one that no. 114 couldn't keep from noticing.
It was time for the food to come with the new guards, not that no. 114 realized or cared. But instead of the stale and mold usually served to them they were instead given instructions, the first they had ever had since they were pulled from their packages. The day had been completely normal until the special guard came, with two type "A"s following her.
No. 114 instantly jumped from his numb state, he had never seen a type "A" before and had always wondered about them. The pair of them stood behind the guard, as empty and hollow as the others in the room. Their clothing was shabbier than the type "B"s, cheaply made and worn, it also seemed that the coat on one had been re-stitched near his chest where a large rip once was. They were built visibly tougher and harder than the type "B"s but seemed, even in their traced states, worn and weary from the battles they fought.
"General Beatrix?" One of the guards mumbled from no. 114's left side.
"New instructions." Beatrix explained quickly, her voice sweet and beautiful but harshly to the point. "So before you four run off take a listen so you don't lose your jobs. The Queen has ordered an attack and you four are to order and escort these mages to base level and await further instructions."
Although no. 114 was listening this time, he didn't care too much what it was she was saying or what it meant. He was intent on keeping his eyes on the new mages. He watched them as Beatrix moved down the side of the room near him with the two mages following behind her without question.
"Oh come on, it's beyond easy. Easier than ordering a six-year old around." Beatrix remarked to an unsure guard as she came nearer and nearer to no. 114. No. 114 didn't take his eyes off her or the mages, forgetting to hide his stare he allowed his eyes to follow them as they passed.
"Just tell them to –"Beatrix stopped abruptly just after passing no. 114, her voice and stopped and her back went rigid. She spun around and stared straight at no.114.
No. 114 knew he blew it.
Beatrix moved closer staring at no. 114. She pushed aside the two type "B"s lined in front of no. 114's row, the mages fell over slightly and hollowly before re-gaining their perfect sitting stance. Beatrix was now just in front of no. 114, she kneeled down to his sitting height, her right hand clenched on the handle of something that was slugged on her hip, one of eyes was covered by a strange metal plate while the other stared deep into his eyes. No. 114 did his best to stay rock still, to stare blankly ahead as if staring through her, to match the image of every other mage in the room.
No. 114 didn't know what happened to mages that didn't act properly.
"Is something wrong General?" A guard hidden from view asked Beatrix, her voice shaking slightly.
"Maybe I was just imagining it...." Beatrix wondered out loud, still staring into no. 114 eyes. She twisted her mouth and stood shaking her heavy mane of hair, she then went back to her original position on the side row of the room.
"As I was saying..." She re-started, her voice clicking back to her usual tone. "Just tell them to stand and file into the next room then tell them to follow you and walk up the stairs. It's not difficult.... Fine, I'll do it myself. I don't know what you get paid for around here..."
No. 114 found himself wondering what was going on, which was a nice change for him.
"Black Mages!" Beatrix suddenly barked quite loudly. No. 114 had a strange shiver run up his spine, he had never been given a order apart from 'eat', at least not that remembered. He found himself go suddenly tense and felt unable to ignore order. The shiver that had run up his back made him suddenly tense and stiff and set something off inside of him that made him want to listen, to follow her orders.
"Stand!"
No. 114, as well as all the black mages from all his sides, stood instantly. It seemed impossible to over power it. But as he stood he felt the all too familiar pains hit him a hundred times worse than ever before. He felt his body shake at sudden motion and weight under his legs and he noticed that the black mages around him didn't flinch at any pain, although he could see their legs shaking under their weight. No. 114 struggled to stay up, to stay in the rock-solid stance and the empty state as the others but the pain was just too much.
No. 114 collapsed onto the cold hard ground, causing a slight relief in his legs but more pain from the fall. He heard himself groan loudly from the pain in his bones and muscles and felt himself shake. Then he heard the footsteps coming towards him.
"I thought so..." He heard Beatrix breathe quietly from just above him. A shot of fear cursed no. 114's mind and body; he knew he ruined it now. After all this time staying like the others, after hiding his stares and everything... His fall had given himself away, and he didn't know what to expect.
"Black mages: file out through the door; then follow the guards up the stairs." Beatrix ordered the mages from above no. 114. No. 114 tried to push himself up with his shaking arms but was finding it difficult, but he wanted to follow the order. He wanted to get up and follow her order. That what he was supposed to do, follow orders.
No. 114 pushed himself up, he tried his best to keep balance and tried his best to ignore the new sick feeling in his stomach and follow the order. But then he noticed Beatrix, standing right in front of him, staring like a hawk as mages filed out all around them. No. 114 turned to follow the mages out, to follow the order, to see beyond the door...
"No. Stay here." Beatrix cut into him. He turned back to face her, her one un-covered brown eye staring at him in a way that made no. 114 feel uncomfortable. Her right hand was clenched tightly at the handle of... a sword? What was a sword? No. 114 didn't know how he knew what it was, but he also seemed to know that meant something bad... So he stood as solidly as he could, she stared with her one eye, mages walked hollowly in their formation out of the room making their way around the pair.
"Beatrix?" A guard asked nervously from behind, hidden from view by the passing mages.
"You've been given your orders." Beatrix stated, not moving either her stare or grasp on her the sword.
Within the minute, all the mages had left the room save for no. 114 and the two type "A"s still awaiting their orders from Beatrix, even the guards had left. The room was now as hollow and empty as two of the mages who occupied it. No. 114 had never seen the room empty and found it pleasant to have so much space. But he was preoccupied with Beatrix's constant stare.
"Number." She ordered.
Number? What was that supposed to mean? How could 'number' be an order?
No. 114 stared at Beatrix blankly and overly-confused. He had no idea what she meant or what she was asking of him. But he knew he did something wrong when she frowned at him looking rather offended at her order not being carried out. She suddenly grabbed his wrist with her left hand, right one still clamped on the sword. No. 114 fought his urges to pull it back but instead watched confusedly as she unfolded the cuff of his jacket with her thumb to reveal embroidered letters:
No. 114
Type B
Satisfied, Beatrix released his wrist but not her stare. Frowning at him slightly she took her left hand and put up her index finger, she moved her finger up to no. 114's face and moved it from side to side slowly then quickly, no. 114's eyes followed them. Frowning and looking a bit distressed Beatrix let her hand fall back to her side as she gave another order.
"Follow me. And don't try anything." Beatrix ordered stiffly, her voice seemed to mask a nervousness that didn't seem capable with the rest of her. She turned and started for the door, her hand still on the handle of her sword, no. 114 decided it was a good idea to follow her.
No. 114 followed her out the door with the type "A"s walked between him and Beatrix. He found himself in a room like before but this one was different; it was very tall and there were paths ways that lead further and further up passing many doors that led somewhere else. It was still cold and dark but less wet and much more interesting.
They went up on of the pathways, 'stairs' no. 114 learned. Going up them made him feel tired, especially since he still hadn't gotten over the pains from sitting for so long. They went up and up and up, passing lots of doors and other hallways made in ancient stone.
Finally, they reached the door they were going to go through. It was up at the top of the tall room and Beatrix had to stomp on a switch to open it. A strong light poured through nearly blinding no. 114, a strange fresh smell was swept into his lungs and he heard many strange sounds; guards talking and giving orders, footsteps, strange motor sounds, the banging of metal on metal or wood and the strange natural sounds of wind and birds.
Beatrix passed through the door into the grassy courtyard, the two type "A"s and no. 114 followed closely. No. 114 looked around in awe, he was walking on something green, lush and brushy, it was a large square room with no roof, just something blue that looked very far away. Many guards and both "A" and "B" type mages where crowded about, giving and following orders. It the middle was something very large that no. 114 was amazed by, an 'airship' something inside told him, a large door from it was opened, allowing the type "B"s from the room to go inside. No. 114 wondered if that was where they were going.
But instead of going toward the airship Beatrix took a sharp turn and headed for a door on their left. It was then no. 114 realized that the square, green room was surrounded by large towers and stonewalls, a castle. There were lots of little windows that let sunlight pour in, there were beautiful decorations in the stone and on banners and the sight was beyond anything no. 114 could have ever imagined.
No. 114 liked being out of the dark.
No. 114 followed Beatrix through a large wooden door, the inside of the castle was darker than the courtyard but equally pleasing. But no. 114 didn't get enough time to take it in; Beatrix was walking quite quickly and no. 114 didn't want to get lost. She went up a flight of stairs that were covering in a beautiful deep red carpet and went through another large wooden door on the top right of the stairs.
They were outside again but high up. It seemed as if the castle had extended a hand for them to stand on, the courtyard was below them and over the castle wall an entire town could be seen. No. 114 couldn't believe how big everything was. He could see large amounts of water with strange airship-like things floating in it and he saw the water fall off a cliff and disappear. It was beautiful.
Beatrix dismissed the two type "A"s and led no. 114 down a few steps to reveal two strange people. They weren't like the guards no. 114 always saw; they were... different. The first he noticed was very large, her hair stuck up funny, her skin was blue and she draped in many layers of luxurious fabrics of velvet, satin and fur. She didn't look very nice, she seemed rather angry and it appeared as if she had gone mad.
The second was quite different, he was very pale and tall, and his hair was sliver and flowed gently in the light breeze. He was dressed in exotic slivery satins, tall boots and amour although he was so delicate looking. Why would he have amour? But there was something about this man that made no. 114 feel sick and tight on the insides, his eyes were the coldest shade of blue no. 114 would ever see. He stood there like he was important and it seemed like he was either extremely amused or extremely annoyed, perhaps both.
" – I'd recommend you keep on eye on them, or kill them off, whichever your highness prefers." The man spoke, his voice as cold as eyes. He stopped when he caught sight of no. 114, the man smirked and no. 114 could have sworn the man's eyes had somehow seen inside of him.
"What took you so long Beatrix!? You were supposed to be here earlier! We can't plan the attack with you if you're not here!" The large woman barked at Beatrix. No. 114 was suddenly taken back; he didn't know someone could speak to Beatrix like that. Why was she so mad?
"My apologies your highness but I had a bit of trouble – "Beatrix spoke softly, trying to clam the angry woman.
So this is the queen, No. 114 thought.
"Why isn't this one on the ship yet?! We're leaving right away Beatrix!" The Queen snapped at Beatrix, who seemed very disturbed at her queen's anger.
No. 114 felt the man watching him. He didn't like it.
"I'm sorry my Queen but it seems like there is something wrong with this one..." Beatrix spoke quietly, feeling embarrassed about her Queen's behavior.
No. 114 looked down at the floor. He didn't want the man watching him.
"What do you mean 'something wrong'?!" The Queen shouted at the General.
"It's not working like the rest, maybe he's broken..." Beatrix spoke even more softly than before.
"Broken?"
No. 114 didn't like it when the man spoke either.
"Kuja, what's wrong with it!?"
"Let's see...."
No. 114 heard the man, 'Kuja', come close to him, his boots clicking on the floor. He felt shivers run up his back, he felt tense and wished that Kuja would go away. Why did he feel this way about him?
Kuja circled around no. 114 before stopping right in front of him. No. 114 allowed his head to drop lower, he didn't want to look at Kuja. He didn't like him. Why was he feeling like this? Why wouldn't Kuja just go away?
Suddenly Kuja grabbed the front brim of no. 114's hat aggressively and yanked it upwards causing pain to shoot down no, 114's neck and made it feel like the top of his head might rip off. For a second, no. 114 saw Kuja's face. His cold blue eyes, painfully indifferent to the pain he was causing to no. 114, a small smirk on Kuja's face made no. 114 feel extremely sick. No. 114 clamped his bright yellow eyes shut. He didn't like Kuja.
Finally, Kuja let go of him.
"It's broken. Repair is more costly than replacement." Kuja explained, his voice slithered and bit like a poisonous snake. No. 114 felt like he had just swallowed a rock and he could feel it swell in his throat as he dropped his head back down.
No. 114 heard Kuja's boots click on the stone floor as he made his way to the door; he stopped and said simply and hollowly.
"Just kill it."
Kuja walked out the door. That was last of no. 114 ever heard or saw of him. He raised his face up and looked over at the Queen and Beatrix staring at him.
His eyes filled up with fear.