Author's Note: Greetings everyone! Well, I just finished taking my GRE, and if anybody out there believes in prayer, say some for me. And say some for Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd. Other than that, please continue to read and give critical reviews.

The world is a lonely place.
You're on your own.
Guess I will go home, sit down, and moan.
Crying and thinking is all that I do.
Memories I have remind me of you

"Solitude"—Black Sabbath

Mother Terra

Chapter IX

One hour later, Zidane and Eiko arrived at Alexandria's port. They were met by Captain Steiner, Vivi, and Mikoto.

"I'm so sorry, Zidane," began Steiner. "I can't believe what has happened. And I don't even know how it could've happened."

"At least he's not crying like a baby," said Eiko.

"I can't believe what's happened either, Zidane" Vivi said.

"We didn't notice, Zidane," Mikoto added. "Nobody did. The next thing we knew, Dagger and Hunter were gone."

Zidane sighed. "I'm not sure what to think of it myself. Our security's good. I just can't see how it's possible that Goldwin or Aldous…that's who did it, right?"

Steiner nodded. "Yes, I have the letter."

"May I see it?"

"Yes."

"Zidane, make sure you read it out loud," Eiko said, while Zidane took the letter. "I want to know what those two said."

Dear Zidane,

We have to apologize for deceiving you. For the last three weeks we have been assisting Nuri. Our goal all along has been to restore Terra, and we need your help. Of course, Nuri tried to explain that to you; and, of course, you wouldn't listen. And because of that, we had to go to extreme measures. We have taken your wife and son, and will persuade them to persuade you to help us. I know you must hate us for what we have done…

"Damn straight I do!"

But hear us out. No harm will come to either the queen or the prince. We won't allow it. They are being held on Terra. Come to Terra, and Nuri will talk to you.

Again, we are sorry for what has happened,

Goldwin and Aldous

"I don't care how many times they say they're sorry…I'm still gonna break those bastards in half!" Zidane wadded the letter and began to pace.

"It seems so weird though," replied Eiko. "They don't act like your typical villain—at least based on what they wrote…But I remember Zidane saying something about that one time."

When his name was stated, Zidane stopped and turned. "What did I say, Eiko?"

"You said that your enemy believes that his or her cause is as just as yours."

"…That's true, but let me tell you this. Nobody messes with my wife and kid—no one…! Hunter's who I'm worried about the most. I hope they took him directly to Terra, because Mikoto told me the temperature's always the same there."

"Unless what Kuja did altered the climate," Mikoto said.

"…Then I hope Hunter's someplace warm. He wasn't very well dressed when I left."

"I share your concern for the prince, Zidane," responded Steiner. "But what're we going to do now?"

Zidane placed his chin in between his thumb and first finger. "We have to think about what we know…But at the same time, we have to think about what we don't know."

"What do you mean by that?" asked Mikoto.

"I mean that how were Goldwin and Aldous able to escape? It's just impossible! There were too many guards and people here…It's just not possible!"

Steiner scratched his head. "I simply don't know."

"Neither do I," replied Vivi.

"…Maybe we shouldn't worry about that right now," added Mikoto. "We already know where Dagger and Hunter are; maybe we should concentrate on finding them?"

Zidane nodded. "I think you're right, Mikoto, but we still need to gather information…Steiner?

"Yes, Zidane?"

"How many people in the Castle know about what happened to Dagger and Hunter?"

"…I'm sure everybody…News travels around here pretty fast."

"…Have any servants gone home already?"

"…I don't think so."

"…Then I'm worried if I should let them leave."

Steiner was stunned. "What do you mean, Zidane?"

"I mean that I don't know if I want everyone in the city to know that Dagger and Hunter were kidnapped."

"How come?" asked Mikoto. "Wouldn't that help us find Dagger and Hunter easier if more people knew they were missing?"

Zidane nodded. "It could, but it could also lead to a witch hunt."

"A witch hunt?" asked Vivi. "What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what happened to you four years ago. When Brahne sent her black mages to attack Burmecia and Lindblum you were blamed for the attacks—even though you had nothing to do with it."

"…So what you're saying is, is that if a genome from the Black Mage Village came to Alexandria the citizens would do to him exactly what they did to me?"

Zidane nodded. "Right."

"Then what should we do?" asked Steiner.

"…This. I'm going to write a letter to all the servants. I'm going to tell them what has happened, and that no one, with the exception of the military, is permitted to leave or enter the Castle—except in understandable circumstances. The servants may write a letter to their loved ones, but since those letters will be read by the military before they leave the Castle they shouldn't disclose personal information. I will also tell them that for their cooperation, they'll be rewarded with a nice bonus.

"As for the search in the city, I'll let the military handle that one. But if I hear of just one genome receiving unfair treatment by a soldier that soldier will be hear personally from me!"

"I'd like to prevent that from happening," interjected Mikoto.

"What do you want to do?"

"I'd like to remain in the city. If a genome enters, then I'd like the military to call me…Plus, if it's a genome from the Black Mage Village, I'd probably know who it is anyway."

Zidane smiled. "Thank you, Mikoto. That'll probably work out well."

"Now that we have that issue taken care of, what should we do now?" asked Steiner.

"We do two things, and they are based on the knowledge that we do know. The first is the inn that Goldwin and Aldous were staying at. I want to conduct a search of the inn. Perhaps we can find something there?

"The second is that we know they took Dagger and Hunter to Terra. And we know that when the genomes first arrived on Gaia they came to the Black Mage Village. Perhaps the fabric between the two worlds is around the Black Mage Village?"

Steiner nodded. "Very well then, I'll go to the inn right now."

Zidane returned the nod. "Thank you."

"I'm going with him," Vivi said.

"So am I," added Eiko.


About two hours later, Steiner, Vivi, and Eiko returned from the inn.

"So what did you find?" asked Zidane.

Steiner held up a transistor radio. "This." And he gave the radio to Zidane.

"A radio?"

Steiner nodded. "Obviously they were in contact with someone."

"Probably that Nuri guy," added Eiko.

Zidane nodded. "Yeah, probably…I take it that nobody found anything else?"

Vivi shook his head. "No."

Again, Zidane nodded. "That's alright. We're about to begin the second part of our plan."

"You mean we're going to the Black Mage Village?" asked Eiko.

"Yes, we leave immediately."

"Wait, Zidane! Shouldn't we ask our friends for assistance?"

"…No. I don't want to burden them with this problem. And for the record, Vivi, you don't have to come with us. You're under no obligation to help me."

"But I want to help you, Zidane! I'm always willing to help you!"

Zidane smiled. "But you have a family…"

"I know that I have a family, but right now I need to help your family!"

"Vivi sure has changed from the little mage I met four years ago."

"If I didn't help your family, who would come and help me if they came after my family one day?"

Again, Zidane smiled. "Thank you, Vivi."