A Generation of Aeons
Chapter Fifty-Five

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy X or X-2

Last Time:

Gaia nodded in shame. "They told me they had cleaned everything out, so I took their word for it, but then when the attack on Macalania happened, I joined them personally so if they found anything I would know exactly what was going on, but then I found out there were still some files missing from the time of Sin so I stumbled on this, but by the time I found it you were back from Macalania, but Takoire was unconscious, and I wanted to bring it before the council, but I thought you should see it first, and-"

"Gaia," Lenne interrupted, holding up a hand.

"What?"

The high summoner rubbed her eyes in exhaustion. "We heave a whole new set of problems to deal with."

Her cousin cocked her head. "Why?"

"Because that prophecy says that I should have the third object, and Sareth knows that now."

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Two days had come and gone, but Lenne found everything remained unchanged. As of this morning when Lenne had left the house, her guardian was still unconscious in her spare bedroom, Sareth remained with his aeons at Guadosalam, and the Council of Factions were still bickering amongst themselves and making no moves against the former leader of Bevelle. But today was slightly different.

Instead of meeting at the Gullwings' building, Council Leader Lucil had called up a formal session, the first since Sareth's first appearance. The Council of Factions had temporarily taken over the Besaid guardians' building to use as a formal court. As Lenne's right hand on the Summoner's Council, Darka had appointed Vidina in charge of security during the meeting, and as a result, the red-headed native was watching closely on the floor.

The room was setup similarly to its counterpart in Bevelle, with three elevated tables dividing the three sub-councils. The session had been made open to the public as a result of several protests against the council, and so the temporary council room was crammed full with people, mostly refugees, seeking answers to their questions. But today was a special session, and no questions would be posed.

"Council Leader Lucil," Lenne started, obviously irritated, "I still don't understand why you have summoned a formal session and not tell us what it's for."

Lucil did not look happy. She gestured to Vidina waiting by the closed chamber doors, also wearing a grim expression. "We have a guest," she answered simply.

The doors opened, and a smiling figure came into view. At the sight of him, Lenne quickly stood in outrage.

"What is this!" the high summoner demanded.

Sareth calmly continued to walk down the aisle towards the council. The medals on his military uniform clinked against each other as he walked. His deep purple hair actually looked as if it had been combed down, and he wore the purple uniform and red sash that once designated Bevelle royalty. The last man Lenne had seen wearing a similar uniform was dying in the arms of his son.

"Lord Sareth came into the city peacefully wishing to address this council," Lucil responded.

Lenne clenched her teeth. "Sareth is not a lord. He is a murderer."

"High Summoner Lenne! You will sit down!" Lucil commanded. "I would expect better behavior from someone of your character."

Looking around the room, Lenne reluctantly took her seat as Sareth took a bow and smiled. "Lenne… how I've missed you."

She bit her tongue.

"Lord Sareth," Lucil started for the second time, "we have allowed you into the city because you sent us a message that expressed your wish for peace. If you are here under false pretenses, then this council session is over."

The young man raised an eyebrow and bowed deeply. "My sincerest apologies, council leader. I only wished to greet an old friend."

Lenne glared. "We are not friends."

Sareth smiled slyly. "I would like to present this council with an offer of peace." He waved his hands casually, as if he had no cares in the world. "I'm rather tired of fighting. I'm also tired of traveling. High Summoner Lenne can do something for me."

"You are not becoming my guardian," Lenne quickly interrupted.

He waved the notion away. "Wouldn't dream of it, especially considering the last time I tried," he ended with a slight chuckle. Lenne squeezed her knee tightly, resisting the urge to summon Byakko himself into the chamber. "No… you see I have horrible headaches, and I want to get rid of them; but to do that, I require Lenne's help. If High Summoner Lenne were to assist me, I wouldn't have to travel and there would never be another reason for you to ever call me your enemy. All I want is a simple life that has nothing to do with my past."

The room was silent even with more than a hundred people packed into a room created for fifty. Until one figure stepped out onto the aisle way and looked at Sareth straight in the eye. "You are a liar."

Sareth let out a scoff. "I'm surprised you can look so untouched after the stunt you pulled, brother."

Lenne's jaw almost dropped. He looked perfectly fine. When she had woken at his side that morning he looked as pale as a ghost, but he was standing up straight in front of the council as if nothing had happened. His guardian uniform looked as sharp as ever, and his hair had been combed down. His face showed no signs of ever being sick. In fact, he showed no signs that he had ever been unconscious. He looked too healthy.

Takoire raised his head. "I'm just full of surprises, but then again, so are you. You turned our family's last council meeting into a bloodbath."

Sareth cocked his head. "You never let that go, do you, brother?"

He shrugged. "I only had one family. So when they're killed off by my own brother, it kind of upsets me."

"But all I want now is peace, brother," Sareth answered, holding out his hands, as if to confirm what he was saying. "I can't make it any simpler than that. If you get your summoner to help me, I will never be a threat to anyone again." He turned back to address the council. "So, here I am offering you peace." The former Bevelle ruler's tone suddenly darkened. "But if you do not accept what I'm offering you, I will ram down the gates to this city with every aeon under my control; and I will show no mercy. The Cheribum alone can stop me, but he won't. He hasn't yet." Sareth looked to the leader of the Council of Summoners. "If you agree to this generous proposition of mine, meet me at the Farplane tomorrow, Lenne." He gave a bow to the council. "I pray you seriously consider my offer, it's in your best interest. Good day."

As calmly as he entered, Sareth turned and walked from the council chamber until he disappeared from around a corner, and Takoire was left alone standing just before the council.

Garren leaned his head toward Vidina, standing beneath him. "Make sure Sareth's gone and report back." The Besaid native nodded. The head Crimson Knight straightened. "Council Leader Lucil, High Summoner Lenne, I make a move to begin a closed session of the council."

Lucil turned to Lenne who nodded. "Very well, all civilian and non-essential personnel are to exit this room immediately."

The crowd rumbled in protest as the stationed guardians began to escort the crowd out.

"We wanna know what's happening!"

"We have a right to know!"

"This isn't right!"

The guardians continued to empty the room until no one was left, but the council members, Takoire, Vidina, and Gaia who had been hiding inconspicuously in the corner the entire time.

Lenne rushed down from the table to Takoire who was still standing as if nothing had happened. "Are you okay?"

Takoire nodded. "I'm fine."

Vidina quickly dismissed two guardians, straightened, and rendered a salute to Garren. "Sir, scouts have confirmed that Sareth has left the city on one of his aeons."

Garren nodded in acknowledgement. "Thank you, Vidina. You're dismissed."

"Sir Garren," Darka began, "if I may, I would like to ask permission for Vidina to stay."

"Why?"

"If it's all right with you, Sir Garren, I was going to approach you about training Vidina as my Deputy Crimson Knight."

The Al Bhed's nose crinkled. "A Deputy Crimson Knight? We've never had one."

Darka nodded. "I can't handle being the head summoner of Suzaku, a representative on the Council of Summoners, and the Crimson Knight of Besaid anymore. I didn't plan to start training Vidina until I planned to resign, but with the strain lately, I need someone to take over some of my duties."

Garren stopped thoughtfully. "It's done. Vidina's now the Deputy Crimson Knight of Besaid." He placed a hand on his childhood friend's shoulder. "We'll work out the details later, Vidina."

Vidina nodded his head dumbly. "Uh… yes-yes, sir."

"What did you think you were doing inviting Sareth into the city!" Lenne suddenly burst out, what little self-control she had dissipating.

But instead of retorting, Lucil shook her head calmly. "We didn't invite him. He came by himself."

"Then why didn't you tell me what the damn council session was about!" Lenne continued.

"Because we knew how you would react," Nooj answered calmly. "We understand how you feel, but we have to be open to all options."

Dona nodded her head. "We've never opened a dialogue with Sareth, and the people are starting to think you imagined this all up. We had to give them something."

"Which is why we had a formal open session of the Council," Lucil finished.

Lenne pointed to the closed doors. "Sareth does not want peace! That son of a bitch doesn't deserve anything from us!"

"We had to hear him out," Nooj maintained.

"So if you had no idea my namesake existed and my mother hadn't come up with that plan, you would have opened up peace negotiations with Shuyin!" Lenne demanded.

Takoire lifted his head to speak… before he quickly stumbled backwards.

"Takoire!" Lenne panicked, barely catching him.

"Sir Takoire!" Vidina immediately jumped to the guardian's other side, helping his surrogate sister to help her guardian up.

The black-haired guardian shook his head. "I-I'll be fine."

Lenne stared at him. What perfect composure and demeanor he had held in Sareth's presence had disappeared, and it barely looked as if he could stand.

But he stumbled back up anyway before turning back to the council. "Sareth is a liar and can't be trusted." His tone softened. "But I also understand that Spira can't keep going the way it has for much longer." The guardian glanced over at his summoner. "The point is… my time's up. I can't stay any longer. I can feel it. The next headache I have will kill me, and I don't have enough strength to block Lenne. Tomorrow I'm going to the Farplane, and I'm going to take down Sareth any way I can."

Lenne stared at him in dismay. "How do you plan to do that the way you are now?"

"Once I'm on the Farplane," he answered, "I'll be fine. For some reason, the pyreflies on the Farplane revitalize me. They do the same for Sareth."

"And if we let you go," Lucil prompted, "what will you do exactly?"

He shook his head. "Forgive me council members, bit it's not a matter of will you let me go. I have to now. I should have been gone more than a week ago. My time's been more than up."

The Crimson Knight of Kilika, Bannerd, swallowed hard. "What kept you from leaving? All of the Council knows your abilities, and you could have full well have snuck into the Farplane even with Sareth controlling it. Why put yourself in such danger?"

The guardian's eyes fell to the floor. "I'm not the greatest guy in the world. I'm weak and selfish, and I just didn't want to let go. And because I was so stupid, I didn't do what I was supposed to do." He looked up. "I'm going tomorrow… and if Sareth isn't stopped, you know why."

Lenne turned to the second highest summoner on her council. "Darka, could you…"

Without a word, he gave a nod and accessed a computer terminal to the side of the three Council tables.

"Takoire," a display came up behind the council members as Lenne spoke, "there's something you haven't seen yet."

He stared at her. "What? Something happen?"

Lenne didn't answer but only motioned to the screen and watched him read. She could see the expression on her guardian's face become a portrait of horror line by line.

"Cheribum… This is where the legend of the third object must come from," his breath was no more than a whisper. "When did you find this?"

"Two days ago. Gaia found it… Sareth did too."

Takoire's eyes widened. "This must be it. He has the third object, and he needs you to use it. He's getting to the point where the headaches are forcing him to leave, like me. That has to be it. Sareth came here because he's desperate." The guardian paused only for a few seconds. "If after tomorrow, if you think there are any signs that Sareth is still alive… don't hesitate."

"I'm going with you," Lenne prompted without warning.

"No, you're not. I'm going alone. I'm not putting you in danger."

"Sir Takoire," Nooj said, rubbing his already red eyes, "Spira's future is at stake. Crimson Knight Bannerd has already pointed out to this council that we are all well aware of your physical abilities, but I don't think anyone on this council could send you alone without having our consciences' plague us for all eternity."

"Takoire," Garren continued, somewhat uneasily, "if I can call you that. I haven't known you for all that long, but I've come to think of you as a friend. I know I won't let you go alone. I'm going with you."

"I'll go too!" Gaia chirped, raising her hand. Takoire stared at her with a blank look. "I'll have you know I can more than handle myself! I grew up with Garren!"

"Uh…" the black-haired guardian struggled.

"Don't argue!" Gaia cut off, pointing a finger at him. "I'm helping."

Darka raised a hand from the side. "I'll go."

Takoire shook his head and scoffed, looking at all of them. "I don't suppose I could talk any of you out of it, can I?"

Gaia shook her head brightly. "Nope."

The guardian returned to the remaining council members. "Does this meet the Council's approval?"

Nooj nodded. "With two council leaders volunteering to go with you, I don't think the motion will have any problem passing."

Takoire bowed his head. "I don't deserve this."

Lenne smiled softly at him. "You don't give yourself enough credit."

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Author's Notes:

Final Revision