Ark of the Nethirym
Chapter I
The giant metal doors shut with a boom. Vaan helped Penelo find a ledge against the ornate back wall of the chamber--to lean against and catch her breath. "Heal yourself, Pen. And wait here." He patted her gently, noticing with a twinge of guilt just how exhausted she looked. He stowed it away for later though--when they were safe away from this place.
He would get them out of there safe, no mistake.
"Vaan…Please wait. I just need a minute." Penelo gripped his arm as he was about to turn away, leaving a bloody smudge on his bicep. "Don't… don't go any further without me." She was suddenly, irrationally afraid. It wasn't like they hadn't been in tighter spots before. But it had been so hard to get to this point, beyond the sentinel monsters and the insane traps. And that last door had just been...unlocked. No puzzle, no trap, no Gigas needed.... It made no sense. And now there they were, in some cavernous chamber that looked suspiciously like so many others had in the past--right before something large and terrible came at them.
And it was just the two of them this time.
Vaan grinned lopsidedly and tweaked Penelo's nose with filthy fingers, dispensing the last of his cure magic as he did so. The telling blue shimmer surrounded her for an instant before going to work. Before she could protest, Vaan pushed forward. "Pen, I can see it from here. There's a dais and I bet that's where this 'key' thing must go. Stay here, rest--we'll be out before lunch. I promise." He cocked a pale brow at her, smiling. "My treat again."
Penelo wanted to argue--but Vaan was more spry than he had any right to be after the morning they'd had--and before she blinked he was halfway across the room, leaving a wake of kicked up dust that hung in the air like a stale fog. The floor beneath the ages old layer of dirt was ornately tiled in a vaguely circular pattern and Penelo hoped the floor wasn't trapped too. Damned near everything else had been.
"Vaan!" she called out. "We still don't know what it is we're supposed to retrieve. So be careful, you bonehead!"
He answered her without looking back. "Once I use the key, I'll know what we came for. Heck I knew less about what I was doing the night I broke into the Palace at Rabanastre."
She snorted, amused in spite of herself. "Yeah, and that went soooo well!"
"Don't worry so much. We're pros now, Penelo. Just wait there, you'll see."
Penelo watched through the settling dust as Vaan cautiously approached the dais, upon which a dimly illuminated console covered in runic carvings was mounted.
Vaan stood there in the oddly focused light for a moment, thinking. He pulled out the ornately scrolled, three dimensional 'key' from where it hung on a chain around his neck--not surprised that the device and the recess upon the console seemed to match exactly. He fitted it carefully into place and eased it in a few inches and waited for something to happen.
They both held their breath. But the stillness of the room remained unbroken.
A few more moments found Vaan jutting his jaw in consternation, chewing his bottom lip. He drug grimy fingers through equally dirty hair, huffing in frustration. "I must have to do something else," he called back to Penelo.
"I'm on my way over," she replied, her voice echoing through the chamber. "We can try pushing it in, or turning it or something. But wait 'till I get over there."
Vaan did what he normally did in these moments, he patently ignored her. "Here I go." He grinned at the curses he heard bounce across the walls from behind him and pressed the key deeper into the recess. Immediately Vaan heard a click and whir underneath his feet. He pulled the key out, waiting guardedly. And for a moment, again nothing happened. Then came the sound of ancient gears grinding deep below, and the dais began to split in two, moving outward in an arc away from the console. The console itself developed a seam and then opened and collapsed to each side and sunk into the floor. Vaan nearly lost his balance before hopping off the moving sections, stepping back just in time to warily watch as a pedestal rose up from where the console had once been, surrounded in an eerie blue nimbus.
"Vaan!" Penelo called, her voice tight with fear, the sound of her quickening steps lost in the rumble of hidden mechanisms working beneath the floor.
"Don't worry Pen. I'm fine!" Vaan called back over his shoulder. "And I think I know what we came after." He studied the pedestal and the palm sized crystal shard that was cinched in the top. "Old Stinky must want this shard. It looks like a skystone of some kind. But I can't tell. It's kind of irregular to fit a Glossair engine. And tiny."
"Don't touch it yet, Vaan!" She was nearly there. If he'd just wait, damn him!
The grinding gears stilled and Vaan could hear Penelo's stomping approach. He didn't wait though. Dagger in hand, he was already braced against the pedestal, prying at the crystal in its setting.
The knife suddenly slipped, slashing Vaan's palm. Cursing, he dropped the blade and clamped his hand over the long slice, liberally trailing drops of crimson over the pedestal and stone. It was a deep cut and he was out of cure magic.
"What did you do?" Penelo demanded, seeing the blood trail out from underneath clamped fingers as he held the injured hand to his chest.
Vaan was about to answer with several more choice curses when the blue glow around the dais intensified and the whole room shuddered and heaved. "Penelo, stay back! Something's happening again!"
"We need to get out of here!" Penelo yelled above the noise. "I don't care what your informant knows…this is too dangerous!" She reached for Vaan but before her fingers could wrap around any part of him, her head was filled with a deep thrumming noise coming from all around them. It was so penetrating it was painful and Penelo couldn't hold in the wail escaping her lips. She doubled over, covering her ears, absolutely sure they must be bleeding. Underneath the pain she was stricken by how strange the noise actually seemed--somehow like a voice, but not. And it sounded almost...contemptuous. She'd never heard anything like it before and prayed she never would again.
Then a wild wind tore through the chamber, nearly knocking her over. The entire room began to quake even more and Penelo was sure if it got any worse, the room would come down on top of them.
Vaan was frozen, enrapt by the stone and immune to the chaos all around him. His unblinking gaze was locked on it as though the chamber held nothing else. The stone winked and throbbed in a pattern of cerulean lights until, without warning, the ornate claws gripping it sprang open. Vaan could feel crystal then, like a living thing broken free from a cage--ecstatic. Even more peculiar still, he could tell that it wanted him to take it. He couldn't imagine how a stone could want something. A remote part of him cut through the trance, screaming a warning in his mind. Run, a deep, instinctual part of him called out. Run!
Vaan fought against the odd draw of the glowing crystal, dragging himself out of the hypnotic fugue and was nearly overcome with shock at the wind and the deafening noise pounding through the room. How had he not heard that? How had he not fallen over from the tremors convulsing the floor? Penelo screamed his name, the wind nearly tearing the sound away before it reached him and Vaan wondered if she'd been calling him all along. Things were going sour fast. He didn't have time to suss out the deeper mysteries of the stone. They needed to get out of there, now.
But if he left without his prize, he'd loose the chance to find out what news Tamaraide had. So Vaan reached out and grabbed for the crystal shard.
The last thing he heard as his fingers closed around it was Penelo screaming for him to stop.
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Vaan felt nothing, heard nothing, saw only black. Not the howling wind, or the chamber. Not even Penelo. There was just...nothing. Nothing he could sense but the dense emptiness all around him.
And then a Voice, he felt rather than heard, seemed to smile in the dark. "Greetings lovely vessel," called to him in coldly amused tone. "Long has our way been barred. And we are hungry for that which was denied us. History shall repeat itself. And through you, we shall rebuild the world in our image."
Vaan tried to scream but there was nothing to his voice. There was just...nothing.
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Making it back into continental air space, Penelo had finally been able to get a communication link through to Larsa. For the millionth time she was glad of his friendship and patronage. Though she never failed to be surprised when the past they'd traveled together continued to foster a bond of friendship between them. Former traveling companions or no, she and Vaan were still commoners, and pirates no less. It was by far much harder to get ahold of Ashe, and they were her subjects.
"It was a trap, Larsa!" Penelo tried to keep the tears out of her voice, but fear was winning. "And now I don't know what to do. He's…He's not right!"
"Calm down, Penelo. And tell me what's happened." Larsa's smooth, youthful voice sounded across of the long-range receiver like a balm on her frayed nerves. Penelo had always thought Larsa had a captivating way about him and as he'd grown, it had only grown with him. She centered herself on his calm tones and took a deep breath.
"We met an informant in Balfonheim. Vaan was buying more information about the Strahl's whereabouts."
"Penelo, I've told Vaan he shouldn't..."
"I know! I know..." Penelo sagged in the cockpit seat, wiping her eyes. "But you don't tell us anything either," she quietly accused. "And we know you know something about them. What else was he supposed to do?"
She heard Larsa's sigh come over the intercom and decided this wasn't the time to rehash that particular old fight. Larsa apparently agreed with her as he cleared his throat and spoke with an apologetic tone. "Penelo. The time will come--probably sooner than later and I will..."
A muffed voice spoke in the background, out of range of the communicator and though Penelo couldn't make out what was said, something about the tone was vaguely familiar. Still, she couldn't quite place it. A moment later, the crackling static of a hand clamping over the communicator on Larsa's side of the transmission indicated she wasn't meant to either.
She was about to end the call when Larsa's voice returned, as strong and sure as ever. Though Penelo couldn't help but mistrust it now. "Penelo, tell me about the informant. This is important, don't leave anything out."
"Okay. Like I said, we met...it in Balfonheim. This time, the informant was really strange. I...I couldn't tell if the thing was a deformed Bangaa or what. It was just so creepy. It smelled like death!" She tried hard to remember every detail of the interaction. It hadn't taken but a few minutes...no time at all to end up on the path to trouble. They should have known this was too much to handle. Penelo felt like the worst kind of fool. "It wanted us to complete a task, before it would divulge the information. That thing, swore it knew where the Strahl was. And Vaan--well--you know how driven he's been. He would do anything to find them, Larsa. And this time...This time we went too far." Penelo took in a shaky breath.
She heard that telltale whisper in the background again and this time Larsa answered, just out of her hearing. By now, Penelo doubted it was Basch. "Larsa, who's..."
"Can you tell me, where exactly did your informant send you and Vaan to?" Larsa's voice held a small thread of what could have been worry, maybe impatience. It was hard to tell. Penelo was beginning to think she'd made a mistake in calling on him. He was an Emperor, even if he was her friend. She must have interrupted something important.
"Larsa, I'm sorry. Did I reach you at a bad time? I…"
"No Penelo, it's fine."
Penelo could hear the unmistakable thread of anxiety in Larsa's tone, clear as day now. "I could call you back later..."
"Don't!" he called, suddenly loud. But then he marshaled himself, clearing his voice. "Don't go just yet, please. It's fine, Penelo."
She swallowed thickly and wondered what in Ivalice was going on over there. "If you're sure..."
"Yes, please continue. It's very important I know everything you can tell me. So I can help you and Vaan."
Penelo was positive something fishy was up. Larsa was afraid, and trying to cover it. And she'd never known Larsa be afraid of anything. It was probably why she'd called him, of all people. Problem was, she had no way of figuring out what was going on. Maybe if she kept him on the line, it would become clear. Of course, maybe the other voice was Bashe, after all. Maybe after the morning she'd had she was just too damn jumpy. "We...we followed a map the informant gave us. It led us to an island far east of the Port--beyond the international waters of Archadia. The map was really old,"
"Could you read it? Did you know where you were going?" Larsa's calm sounded forced to her ears now. There was a tight tone to his inquiry that made Penelo's skin crawl.
"No," she offered hesitantly. "Whatever language it was written in wasn't something we could read. But the continental shoreline matched up to our other maps nearly perfect. The main difference was that none of our other maps had the island on them. It wasn't that hard to figure out where we were headed. It was a Jagd region too. Without the stone Balthier left us, we'd have never made it there."
There was a moment of silence on the line and then Penelo heard it again--a hint of a voice in the background, but more distinct this time. It wasn't Basch's. No, definitely not. It was clearer--A painfully familiar voice, long missed. It couldn't be who it sounded like! "Wait, Larsa. Who is with you?"
"Penelo," Larsa started to say, but he was hushed by the voice. Penelo's heart pounded in her her chest. She could only imagine one person who would dare hush an Emperor. After a pause, an arch voice--much more mature than Larsa's--cleared itself. "Hello Penelo," came cultured tones she had almost given up hope of ever hearing again.
"B…Balthier? Is that you?" Penelo had to remember to breath. After all this time...
His small chuckle reverberated through the cabin, warming her for an instant. "In the flesh, as it were, my dear girl. Now I hear you have a…"
Suddenly, Penelo was furious. "You! Do you KNOW what we've been through, looking for you! What he's been through! How could you…"
"Not now, Penelo," Balthier snapped crisply from the speakers, the amusement in his voice evaporating instantly. "There are far more important things afoot. There will be time for that later."
That didn't slow her a bit. "Not now?" she spat, her tone rising. "Not now! Balthier...I... Where have you been!" She took a deep breath, trying to control the flood of warring emotions inside her.
"Ah, therein lies a grand story, my dear. Which you will get the whole of in due time, if you'll be only a bit more patient."
Penelo almost started into a rant again. He wanted her to be patient? With everything going to hell around her! "Patient! Balthier..."
"The short version is that it seems Vaan has, de rigueur, stumbled onto something much larger than himself. And beat me to the prize, yet again."
"What prize?" she asked. Her voice dwindled away, as all the anger drained suddenly out of her, leaving Penelo cold with worry. She was exhausted and lost and Balthier wanted to play word games--same as ever. "We didn't beat you to anything. All we got was beaten to bits. And Vaan... He's... I'm not sure what's wrong. But he's not himself anymore."
"You said that, my dear. But what does it mean?" Balthier's voice was rich with his trademark aristocratic self-assurance, but there was a clear underpinning of worry knit into it. Just like Larsa's had held.
Penelo would have been almost gratified to hear the vein of concern, if the implications weren't so terrible. It wasn't a tenth of the worry they had experienced on his behalf over the last two years. But what was going on that would shake Balthier, even a fraction? "The stone… Vaan… He took it."
"So you do have the stone then?" Balthier sounded suddenly eager to Penelo, and that didn't sit well with her at all.
"Y…yes. We do. Or rather, Vaan does--I think. I couldn't find it earlier when I cleaned him up."
"You couldn't find it?"
"Balthier," she called firmly. "Tell me that's not all you care about here. Tell me this isn't just about that stone." She knew the words were unworthy, the moment she spoke them. But at the moment she felt a childish need to wound him, if only on Vaan's behalf.
"Penelo, please believe me--we don't have time for this. You must listen carefully. You need to find out what Vaan did with the stone. You and he should still be safe, even if transporting the stone has Vaan acting...a bit odd. Bear in mind, that crystal you retrieved is very dangerous. But touching the stone shouldn't be too problematic. The entity won't awake without a blood sacrifice."
"Entity? Blood," she gasped, feeling suddenly ill. "Balthier, he…he cut himself while trying to get it. His blood, it was all over the place. All over the stone." She winced at the sound of muffled cursing coming across. "Balthier?"
"Penelo. Please tell me Vaan isn't still…well…" Balthier cleared his voice again, his discomfort almost palpable via the transmission.
Penelo heard a faint, lilted voice in the background informing Balthier that delicacy was for people with time to waste. It could only be Fran and Penelo was momentarily elated to hear the Viera's voice. But she was also confused. "Vaan isn't still what, Balthier?" Penelo asked.
A loud sigh sounded over the intercom. "Penelo, is Vaan still...pure?"
She paused for a moment, trying to decide if Balthier was actually asking what she thought he was. "What, you mean... You mean, virginal?" she asked. At any other time, Penelo would have been giggling like a schoolgirl. She couldn't seem to find any humor in this, though. "As…uhm…as far as I know, yes. I mean, not with…well…we haven't, at any rate." She could feel her face go hot and was thankful no one could see her. "I take it you and he never..."
Penelo heard more cursing and a muffled grumble that sounded suspiciously like 'I knew I should have done it before now'.
"You're going to come straight here to Archades," Balthier insisted. "Do you understand, Penelo? No stops for fuel or food."
Balthier's tone was too serious, too hard. It was fear, Penelo knew. But Balthier had asserted many times before, leading men were never afraid. "Balthier, we don't have enough fuel to get to the capital without stopping. We were due to port back in Balfonheim to refuel after meeting the informant." She was starting to panic. Something terrible was happening and she wasn't getting straight answers. "Why won't you tell me what's going on? I want to talk to Larsa. Larsa! Tell me what this is all about!" Penelo's eyes were stinging and her breath coming in rapid, ragged gasps. This was too far beyond her, too large. The bridge was suddenly small and smothering and she felt crushed under the weight of the unknown.
Balthier's voice sounded over the intercom in a sharp, sure tone. "Penelo, you must keep it together. I know you can." He paused a moment, his voice softening. "Vaan needs you to be strong, my dear."
"I...I'm alright, Balthier. What do I do?" She wiped her eyes and took deep, slow breaths, grasping for composure.
"That's a girl. Just listen carefully. The Strahl will meet you halfway there. Come this side of the Cerobi Steppe and hover. You have enough fuel for that?"
"Uhm...yes. Well, we might." She looked at the Galbana's instruments to make sure they did indeed have enough fuel. "Just barely."
"Excellent! Now, don't land there until I tell you. Do you understand? I will find you." Balthier spoke firmly, with the surety that he'd always seemed to exude no matter how tenuous things got. He was giving her what she needed to pull herself together. "Penelo, do you understand?"
"Y...Yes, Balthier. I understand. But…" she pleaded softly. "What's happening? What's happening to Vaan?"
"I'll explain when I get there, my dear. I promise I'll tell you what I can, then," he assured her gently. "Be careful. And be fast with that ship of his."
"Hurry Balthier." And then Larsa was back on the line with her, keeping her mind busy, talking to her of trivial details.
He never did tell her what Balthier had meant by 'entity'.