Okay, I just realized that I have made a horrible geographical error. Killika is nowhere near the Sanubia Desert. So, let's just pretend that it is...


Title: Random Bits 5 – Chapter 2

Setting: On the way back from a shopping trip things have gone horribly wrong.

Sanubia Desert – Dropping from the sky. Screaming, shouting, stumbling, and general panic.

With a final sputter like a chain smoker on a humid day, the Celcius dropped out of the sky. To the casual observer it would appear that the screaming sound was produced by the wind as the ship rocketed through it, but it was in fact a product of the unfortunate passengers inside the ship. On its way down the ship plummeted through a group of migrating Zus, massacring most of the flock. The subsequent carnage resulted in a rain of pre-cut meat which fell upon an encamped tribe of starving nomads, who were in the act of worshiping Yevon in the hopes of gaining his favor (an possibly a free meal).

Having been slowed somewhat by the Zu flock, the Celcius thunked into the desert floor, bounced off a concealed and very surprised Sandworm, and slammed into a dune in a shower of sand. Despite their descent being slowed, the passengers had had a terrifying ride. Wakka and Tidus had clung together in the middle of the bridge, screaming like frightened girls, while everyone else found something to hold on to. At the moment of impact everyone rattled around like beans in a tin, except for Aruon who had exploded in a cloud of pyre-flies and reformed unharmed.

A cacophony of moans and groans accompanied the Guardians and their Summoner as they emerged from the ship (after they had pried Kimahri of the bulkhead). The stranded companions gathered wearily around a small fire and ate a late dinner of charred Zu, which had been scraped off the hull. No one mentioned names, pointed fingers, or stared laying blame, but there sure were a lot of sharp glances, reproachful glares and dirty looks aimed at Wakka.

"Oh…poopie!" Rikku spat in a whiny tone that was as close to an angry snarl as she ever came.

"The radio is busted and our navigation system is down."

Everyone gathered around the sphere lying on the floor in two halves.

"We can fix it, ya?" This was asked with the optimism of the technically ignorant. Auron looked at Tidus and began a mental countdown as the little Sin spawn got that look about him that suggested he was thinking. Lulu was also watching the boy, her mental 'stupidity weather cock' pointing straight at the approaching storm.

"Yeah," Tidus said adopting the tone of self-appointed tech-wizards everywhere.

"I think I can rig something. Gimme a hand with this Wakka."

Kimahri quickly ushered Yuna and Rikku off on and expedition to the kitchens, just in case something exploded. Auron and Lulu watched in hopeless silence as Wakka and Tidus screwed up their only hope of rescue. Lulu made and amused noise as the two mechanics wrangled the halves of the sphere together then looked for something to hold it together with. The result was a long silence in which they stared at the sphere in stony concentration, long rusted mental gears struggling to move. There was a nearly audible 'clonk' as an idea managed to get the mental crank going

"I know just the thing!" Tidus exclaimed suddenly, shattering the silence with an unnecessary shout. He scrambled to his feet, gears whining away at an accelerating speed, several rust flakes pattering to the dusty floor. Striking a pose he spun like a whirlwind and sprinted out the door, sneakers smoking. Auron and Lulu turned to Wakka, who was wrapped around the sphere, like a quail suffering a maternal crisis. The bridge became silent, except for a muffled wheeze that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.

Before Wakka could wonder if he was being laughed at Tidus returned. The boy skidded to a halt with a roll of shaft-adhesive thrust out in front of him. (Shaft-adhesive, Spira's answer to duct-tape. It's used in the same manner too, ie. For everything.) Tidus quickly taped the two halves of the sphere together, running the roll around it several times in compliance with the saying: More is better. After manhandling the sphere back on its stand they switched it on.

The orb remained stubbornly dark. Lulu and Auron watched as the two repairmen resorted to the tried-and-true techniques employed to fix technology around the universe. In short, they slapped and banged on the little bugger.

"Your half's upside down." Tidus hissed accusingly.

"How do you know it's my half? Maybe your half's upside down."

The fight escalated to shoving and name-calling as the two continued bickering. It was the kind of fight common in schoolyards wherever kindergarteners are present, and involved classics like 'doodie face' and 'stupid head'.

Auron and Lulu left the two to their fight in favor of discussing more important matters, like finding food, water, and surviving in general.


I'll just pray for reviews on this one.