Kain's Story
As Prishe and Kain made their way back to the campsite, they found two unexpected visitors seated with Lightning and Squall, the weapon specialist, Firion, and Zanarkand's Blitzball ace, Tidus. At the sound of their approaching footsteps, Lightning turned to Kain and said, "Kain, you're back. Firion wants to talk to you."
Kain turned towards Firion, wordlessly indicating that he was all ears. Firion flustered a little before averting his gaze towards Kain from Lightning. He cleared his throat and took up a rather business-like tone and said, "Golbez wanted us to pass a message to you, he said, 'Tell him that his dreams are futile. That he should not be swayed by 'what ifs'. That he should give it up before it's too late. For the sake of others.'" Firion paused for a moment, contemplating his words before continuing, "He also said that he feared that you let your emotions get in the way…"
There was a long uncomfortable silence that followed. Lightning, Squall and Prishe looked at Firion and Kain with a puzzled expression whilst Tidus looked as though he was bracing himself for an upcoming rage which would come from Kain. Firion looked hesitant, wondering if he should push Kain for answers while Kain merely stood still. His intimidating aura more pronounced than ever.
Until at last, Firion spoke up timidly, "Well, if you don't understand them then maybe… ummm… just forget it… we told Golbez that-"
"I never said I did not understand it." Kain said, cutting Firion's speech. "I thank you for taking the trouble of passing the message to me. If you would excuse me, I'm going for another round." With that, he turned and left the campsite again before his companions said another word.
Deeper and deeper he went into the woods, and after about half an hour of walking, Golbez's deep voice greeted him.
"I see that you've received my message," the armor-clad Chaos Warrior stepped into Kain's view without warning.
"How very thoughtful," Kain replied sarcastically.
"You should know," Golbez continued, blatantly ignoring Kain's sarcasm, "Such emotions are futile. This is a world with no happy endings. Or…" He added in a more menacing tone, "Have you forgotten that you have vowed to help me end this war?"
Kain snorted in response, "I haven't. But I don't see your plans working out either."
"You are free to suggest an alternative," Golbez replied casually, "But mark my words… They WILL work out in the end." And before the echoes of his deep resonating voice faded, he was gone.
Kain frowned at Golbez's sudden disappearance and stood there in silence for a long while. He finally set off in the opposite direction from the campsite. It's time to pay him a visit, he thought.
…
Kain took off from the woods and followed a meandering mountain path until he reached a gateway. This gateway was effectively hidden amongst the snowy mountains. Few could have hoped to reach it before giving up to the harsh weather condition.
As Kain reached the gateway, he made haste to the entrance to escape from the blaring gale and freezing cold. But as he entered, he was greeted with a sweep of a dual-bladed sword in his direction. Ever alert and ready, Kain effortlessly summoned his lance to block the impromptu attack.
The wielder of the dual-bladed sword smirked at Kain's defense and separated his sword, creating two single handed swords. He swiftly slashed his blades in the air to create razor sharp winds which flew in Kain's direction. But Kain quickly jumped, slicing the skies of the gateway and landed behind the armor-clad man with his lance pointing at his throat.
The man finally gave a satisfied smile and withdrew his weapons. "You are as strong as ever, Kain. It always gives me pleasure to spar against you."
"So as I, Gabranth," Kain too gave him a small smirk and withdrew his lance.
"I was wondering when you would come and visit…" Gabranth said casually as he seated himself on the throne-like structure in the room. His gestures made it seem as though Kain had just dropped in for tea.
"Let's quit the formalities, shall we?" Kain said, his voice growing impatient with unnecessary pleasantries. "I want information."
"Hmph," Gabranth snorted, his mockingly friendly attitude disappearing in an instant, "Making use of a warrior not involved in the conflict as a spy. How very witty." He remarked sarcastically.
"We all work towards the same goal, don't we, Judge Magister Gabranth?" Kain replied with an equally scathing tone.
"I never said I have any objections," Gabranth calmly replied.
…
"I see," Kain finally said after he had heard Gabranth's report. "Tell the Warrior everything you have just told me. Only he can recall those lost souls." With that, he turned his back, and exited the gateway.
At the exact same time that the cold mountain wind greeted him, he was held at gunpoint.
To be exact, by a gunblade.
"How's your little midnight stroll, Kain?" Lightning asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Lightning? So you've been following me?" Kain asked, his usually calm and stoic voice betrayed him with a hint of astonishment.
"Not you," Lightning said as she casually withdrew her gunblade and tilting it against her shoulder, "Golbez. I saw him near the campsite earlier and followed him. I saw you talking to him, he disappeared, and I followed you here."
"I see…" was Kain's only reply. He was at a loss for words. He debated mentally whether he should tell Lightning the whole truth.
"Care to explain?" Lightning asked, her voice was calm but he sensed her suspicion.
"I just ask that you trust me…" Kain said half-heartedly. He wished that Lightning would not be involved in his dangerous tasks, but he knew that such an answer would not convince her.
And he was right.
"I can't trust you if you don't tell me anything," she said.
Knowing that he had lost, Kain began to tell Lightning of Golbez's plans; of how Golbez, himself and the Warrior of Light had conspired to end the war once and for all; of how they had came across Gabranth, an outsider, and recruited him; of a mysterious mage they had relied on; of how they planned to turn the Chaos warriors against one another… The plans that they have created for months now seemed like a tall tale coming from his mouth, and Kain could not help thinking that Lightning might find that as an excuse for him being caught red-handed as a traitor. Finally, he told Lightning of the information he had just received from Gabranth.
"Tifa and Zidane are being controlled by Ultimecia and Kefka seemed to have tinkered with Terra and Cloud's minds." Kain said, ending his story on that note.
Lightning had kept absolutely quiet throughout his whole recount, barely even fidgeting. She stood there leaning against the mountain with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on the snow at her feet. As Kain wrapped up with the final bit of information, she turned her icy blue eyes on him and asked again for confirmation, as though she found his last statement unbelievable, "So according to this Gabranth, some of our allies are being controlled?"
"Yes," Kain said, "Gabranth makes it his priority not be found out by any other warriors and he's been here far longer than any of us. He knows many shortcuts within gateways and such, making him a valuable spy. With regards to our mind-controlled allies, I've asked Gabranth to pass a message to the Warrior of Light."
"What about Golbez?" Lightning asked, "Can he really be trusted?"
"Golbez cares only for Cecil's well-being." Kain replied shortly.
Lightning averted her gaze away from Kain and once more stared motionlessly at the pile of snow. A few seconds later, she stood up straight and told him, "We'll set off first thing in the morning to warn the rest. For now, we rest."
If Kain was not the stoic, cool person he is; if he was anything like Tidus, Bartz or Vaan; his mouth would have fell open as wide as possible at Lightning's condensed reply. His helmet masked the surprise registering on his face well, but his voice was unable to suppress it, "You don't doubt my credibility?"
"I guess I don't," Now it was Lightning's turn to give Kain a puzzled look. Whoever on earth will complain about being trusted?
After a momentarily silence, Lightning finally spoke slowly, "I don't remember it well, but I know that I have lost a sister once… all because I did not trust her. No amount of apology could fix that. I guess… I've learnt to trust the people around me. All these time you've been fighting as our ally and you suddenly turn your back on us? I'm not buying that."
Words could not express the overflowing feeling of gratitude that Kain felt towards Lightning as she said those words. In times of war, when trust is priceless and scarce, the knowledge of having allies who trusted him regardless of circumstances was an extremely valuable feeling. Still, Kain said to her, "Thank you, Lightning."
…
Meanwhile, Gabranth have located the elusive Warrior of Light. Appearing before him, Gabranth told him, "I've got a job for you, Nameless Warrior." And he began telling him all about the mind-controlled Cosmos Warriors.
"Only you can liberate them, Warrior." Gabranth finally said.
"I understand, that I will do," the Warrior of Light said matter-of-factly. The mysterious warrior was not one known to display any form of emotion. Many of his enemies and allies alike have dubbed him the nicknames 'robot', 'statue' and 'doll'. But in times of crisis and need, this nameless warrior is definitely someone his allies can rely upon. He never falters.
As Gabranth turned to leave, the Warrior of Light issued a final reminder, "Don't let anyone else know you exist."
Gabranth merely grunted in response, "I don't need you to tell me that."