Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Ok, I'm really sorry for the long wait. There's been a lot of stuff going on lately, what with college about to start, my nephew about to be born, and my slightly fanatical distraction with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I haven't been in the mood to write recently, but worry not, I have every intention of finishing this...eventually. This chapter isn't much, quite pathetic really, but at least it's something, right?

Chapter Seven: Reflections

You think you know, but you haven't even begun.

Celes awoke with a start, breathing heavily. Sitting up, she saw she was in bed in an unfamiliar room. Hearing muffled voices beyond the door, she calmed her breathing and listened.

"I just don't know, Locke," Banon was saying. "Letting her stay here…"

"What has she done that makes you distrust her still?" the thief asked.

"Besides almost killing Cyan?" Edgar answered.

"She was provoked! The guy put a sword to her throat, she was defending herself!"

"Locke, she's one of the Empire's Elite," Sabin reasoned, "as close to Gestahl as you can get."

"Exactly! And you don't see the value in that?"

"I do see the value in that," Edgar began. "But I also see the danger."

"What danger?"

"We find the general's sudden turn from the Empire hard to fathom," Cyan stated.

"It's…unsettling," Edgar agreed. "Something isn't right about it."

"General Leo…" Everyone looked at Sabin. "I was in the Imperial encampment near Doma when Leo received word of Celes' arrest."

"And?" his brother urged.

"He seemed…shocked."

"What happened then?"

"He found Kefka and threw him against some crates. I couldn't hear exactly what they were saying, but it sounded like Leo was accusing Kefka of…something. Anyway, Leo left for South Figaro to transfer Celes to Vector. That's when Kefka poisoned Doma…"

A moment of silence passed in respect for those who had been murdered by Kefka's antics.

Edgar drew a hesitant breath. "Transfer to Vector for what?"

"Trial," Sabin answered.

Celes, who was now standing in the doorway, narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.

"Trial…" the king mused. "Locke, didn't you say she had already been convicted and condemned?"

"Yeah…"

"Something's not right about this," Edgar concluded again. "Celes is arrested seemingly out of the blue, Leo leaves his post to Kefka to take her to trial, but she's already been condemned, and in Leo's absence, Kefka poisons Doma… I don't like this. It doesn't fit."

"Why don't you just ask her?" Locke suggested.

"Because he wouldn't like the answer if he did."

They all whipped their heads around at the voice, finding Celes in the doorway with her arms casually crossed. She seemed quite calm and indifferent, despite what they had just been discussing.

"Celes—"

She silenced Locke by raising her hand. "Kefka used poison in Doma?" When Sabin nodded solemnly, she turned to Cyan. "Then I am sorry for your loss."

Her gentle sincerity surprised them, but still Cyan scoffed.

"Thy apology is like the sting of salt to my wounds."

A shadow of hurt passed over her face, but it quickly faded as Edgar stepped forward.

"I have to ask…"

Her expression betrayed nothing as she silently debated her answer to the unspoken question. The truth wouldn't make her situation any less precarious, but she also didn't see the need to hide it. After all, what could the Returners do to her that doesn't already hang over her head?

"Whatever happened in South Figaro doesn't matter anymore. I engaged in combat with Kefka with intent to kill, so I'm pretty much screwed either way."

Locke dropped his eyes to the floor. "You didn't betray the Empire…did you…?"

She looked directly at him, though he wouldn't meet her gaze. "Locke, I frankly don't give a shit about your cause. I'll come with you, but I'm in it for one thing: revenge. The sooner you all accept this, the sooner we all get along."

Cyan was the only one not made speechless. "So in other words, General, we can't trust thee beyond the mutual goal of defeating Kefka."

Celes looked at the Doman placidly. "I never asked you to trust me in the first place. Nor do I trust any of you."

Her last statement was subtly aimed towards Edgar, but the significance was lost on all but the king and Locke. The former seemed to cringe at the cryptic reference, and he sent the latter a bitter glare for involving the general in Returner affairs.

Oblivious to the voiceless concern circulating through the room, Sabin turned to Celes. "What about Terra?"

That gave Celes pause. "…Alright, two things."

"Do you know what happened?" Banon asked.

"Yes."

"And?" he prompted.

Celes sighed, unsure if she should reveal Terra's secret to these rebels. They seemed to genuinely care about the girl's wellbeing, but then again, nothing was ever what it seemed. Her mind inadvertently wandered to when she discovered that very secret herself. Terra…Test Subject B…the Terrestrial Project and its sister, the Celestial Rise…

Celes snapped back to reality when Locke waved a hand in front of her face. She briefly met his concerned gaze, then sighed again.

"Terra is half Esper."

A resounding silenced fell across the room as her candid statement sunk in with each person at different paces and with varying effects. Locke appeared shocked, Sabin bewildered, Edgar half stunned and half in awe, and Cyan speechless. Banon's eyes glimmered with inspiration and hope, and Gau just scratched his head in ignorance.

"Wh…what? Wh-what do you mean 'she's ha-half Esper'?" Locke stammered.

"Terra is the offspring of a human and an Esper," Celes reiterated, hoping it would satisfy them and close their gaping mouths.

It didn't.

"…How?" Sabin managed to sputter out.

Celes shook her head. "Terra isn't even aware of it herself, so it's really not my place to explain. All I can say is that her transformation was somehow catalyzed by the Esper."

"And…are you…?" Locke ventured carefully.

Her sudden sharp intake of air was imperceptible to the others. "I'm the product of two humans, genetic engineering, and magical augmentation. I'm not half Esper."

Her almost defensive tone aroused some curiosity in the Returners, but no one dared pressed. Banon cleared his throat.

"I believe it's time we return to the issue at hand. With this new understanding of Terra's powers, it's even more urgent we find her."

Celes shot the rebel guru a dirty look. "So you can use her to fight your pathetic little war just like the Empire did?"

"And thou play the innocent in this matter?" Cyan challenged.

"I never asked for Terra to be involved in any of this, but it was never my prerogative to decide!" Celes retorted angrily. "Believe me, I'm the only friend that girl's got! So if you want her safe, then I strongly suggest you shut your mouth and stop questioning me!"

Silence again reigned after the general's surprisingly passionate outburst. They began to see how the still-teenage woman managed to control an army.

"…Right then," Locke said awkwardly.

"Yeah," Edgar followed.

"Didn't you say Terra was seen heading west?"

"Screaming like a banshee? Yes," Edgar confirmed.

"Then let's go!" Sabin pushed eagerly.

"Hold on there, muscle-man," Edgar entreated good-naturedly. "Some of us have to stay in Narshe and help Banon protect the Esper."

Celes abruptly walked out the door, not even bothering to stick around for the decision on teams. She had no desire whatsoever to work with the Returners, but she knew it was probably in her best interest. She would go with them until she knew Terra was safe, then she'd leave without a second thought. An irritating arrangement by her standards, but it would have to do.