The Lost Planet

It was sunset on Endor when a guard brought Marina a plate of food. She was surprised at what was on the plate. Steak, mashed potatoes and bread. She tried the steak and it wasn't half bad and it was warm. However, she was left without anything to drink. Marina fell asleep wondering what had happened to Balthier.

--

After showing his father the location of the lost planet, Balthier was sent to his childhood room. It was exactly as he had left it ten years ago. He was somewhat surprised his father hadn't ordered everything in it destroyed. Finding himself not hungry, Balthier laid down on his bed and stared up at the ceiling.

--

A young Ffamran sat down by his mother's bed. She smiled fondly and touched his cheek. "My boy. I shall miss you. I have to go away now and I won't be coming back."

"Take me with you mother", he begged.

She smiled and shook her head. "I can't." Tears began to fill her eyes. "I need you to be strong for me Ffamran. I need you to bring your father back. I know he's different now but I believe you can do it. I've tried to bring him back for so long that my heart is tired. It can't handle this any longer. But I want you to know I love you and that this is not your fault. Do you understand?"

Tears stained Ffamran's cheeks as he nodded. He reached over and hugged her neck. At that moment a guard entered the room but he stayed silently by the door.

"I love you so much", she said as she hugged him back.

"I don't want you to go. Please stay. Why do you have to go?"

She smiled gently. "Everything has an end sweetie. I love you. I will see you again someday. I promise." And the Queen of Endor closed her eyes and fell asleep never to wake up again.

The guard came over and pulled the young boy away from his mother. He screamed, kicked and pulled but it was no use. She was gone.

--

Balthier awoke with a start as someone knocked on his door. He opened the door. "What?", he asked the soldier.

"I'm here to escort you to the ship."

Balthier followed the guard but his mind was on his dream. His mother's death had crushed him but he never saw it phase his father. His father hadn't even been on Endor when she died. And when Ffamran watched a guard break the news to him after his return, Ffamran became angry at his father for not even appearing sad.

And he had never stopped being angry with him. The only difference now was that anger had turned to hate. There had been no one there to comfort him after her death and it was only after he became a teenager did he realize what his mother had been talking about. But he felt that there was no hope for his father and that's when he decided to flee.

But just three years ago his father had contacted him while they were on Alderon. Cid had wanted to make amends. Balthier had refused at first but the boy who had always wanted a father resurfaced long enough to listen to what Cid had to say. Balthier had listened to his story but he refused to accept it. Hating his father was all he had ever really known. And then just two days after he and Marina had overheard Cid and General Mattis talking about the weapon, Cid contacted Balthier again.

"Where have you been?", Marina muttered in his ear.

He hadn't noticed her board the ship but he pretended as if he had. "I'll tell you later" he muttered back.

They were seated on a couch with Cid sitting across from them in a chair. It would take almost two weeks to get there so they were provided with a room and Marina's handcuffs were taken off.

--

"You convinced my son to abandon me didn't you? Princess" Cid said from behind her. She was in the hallway headed for her and Balthier's room.

Marina's eyes widened slightly as she realized Cid had figured out who she was. But she quickly recovered herself. "You abandoned him before he abandoned you."

Cid grabbed her arm tightly and whirled her around to face him. "You don't know anything. Why did you take him away from me?"

"Take him away from you? You chased him away. He loved his mother. More than you did. And he hated you for what you did to her."

Cid shook her slightly. "So he thinks I killed her does he?"

"You did kill her. Her heart couldn't take seeing you obsessed with bloodshed any longer. You weren't even there when she died. So don't blame me for taking him away. You did it yourself." She shoved him away from her and started walking away.

Cid glared after her. "Be careful princess. The only reason I have spared your life is because of my son's ridiculous infatuation with you."

She walked into their room and slammed the door shut behind her.

"What's wrong?" Balthier asked as he sat up on the bed.

Marina glared at him. "You son of a bitch. You gave him the coordinates didn't you? That's where we're going."

Balthier sighed. "If I didn't give them the coordinates they would have killed you."

"And what about being captured on Naboo? Did you have something to do with that too?" she challenged.

He hesitated.

Marina glared hard at him. "You bastard. So how long have you been working for your father?" she spat.

"I-" but he was cut off when a guard entered the room. "We're there" he announced.

--

They had landed without any trouble but the planet had an aura about it that reminded Balthier and Marina of Black Death Forest back on Andor. It was as if death was so powerful you could touch it. General Mattis ordered a few men to walk ahead and cut away anything that got in their way.

The planet was made up of some forest but mostly large grassy hills made up the landscape. But the forest that was there was eerie. The trees were large and covered with moss. You couldn't see a small hint of the sky if you looked for it. The mountain range in the far away distance looked more like a holographic image than reality.

They climbed hills for hours and it wasn't until two hours after the sun had set did they finally make camp. Marina had refused to walk behind Balthier and she refused to be made to sleep near him. The soldiers and General Mattis found it humorous while Cid and Balthier found it typical. Balthier's mother, Christine, had been equally stubborn in her younger years.

Cid remembered the days before his beloved wife's health had begun to fail, with a smile and a heavy heart. Balthier glanced at his father and saw him staring at the fire with a sad smile. Balthier knew what he was thinking about and looked away. He refused to believe Cid had ever cared. That night, only the soldiers slept well.

Im am so sorry it took so long!! School just got hectic all of the sudden. It's getting close to the end so hang in there everybody (and self)!