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Final Fantasy VI: The Sands of Time

Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 5 - Maidens of the Sea

Part 5.9 - After the Storm

"Don't pity him, Dune."

Bismark walked with Dune along the length of the Maiden, his voice as calm as the waves around the ship. Whatever trace of a storm there might have been was now at the bottom of the Mordic. By the blessing of Elia, or so the crew claimed, Bismark and his ship had been allowed to limp away from the disastrous scene of the Golden Goddess's demise. Now they were slowly getting things back to normal and preparing to return to Narsille, empty-handed once again.

"I know what you're thinking Dune," Bismark said in that same calm voice. "You think that no man should die the way Levi did, and I'm a monster for savoring it."

Dune said nothing, but merely followed his Captain in quiet contemplation of his own adventure.

"Well you're wrong. Simple as that. Levi was the worst example of what greed could do to a man, and this world is better now that he's rotting at the bottom of the seas. No one will miss him."

Bismark said these things to Dune, but also to himself. A part of him needed to feel justified for the intense hatred he felt towards the man. While Levi was alive, Bismark could let his hate flow without remorse or conscience. The bastard was still alive and laughing, after all. Now that he was dead, Bismark couldn't help but feel a small pang of guilt that he had not only been indirectly responsible for his death, but had thoroughly enjoyed it. Bismark was at peace after thirty years of vengeful rivalry, but what had that peace cost him?

Dune only spared minimal thought to Levi's end. He was more concerned with his own fate, and what the so-called Maiden of Water had told him, as well as the accursed Doom. It seemed he was supposed to be doing something, seeing something, but he was as lost now as he ever was. He knew what he had seen, he knew it was more than dreams and visions that were plaguing him from one end of the world to the other. He didn't believe in the visions though. There was still an explanation out there, and it was his purpose to find out what it was. This is what he believed for now. Only then, only when things made sense, only when things conformed to his way of thinking, could he believe. But believe in what?

The thoughts of both men were interrupted by shouts coming from a knot of crewmen huddled around a miserable looking pile of dripping wet rags. The pile shivered and sputtered, and was swiftly kicked by a nearby foot.

"We found her clinging to the ship's side after the storm!"

"She must be one of Levi's! Kill her!"

"Get the Captain, he'll show no mercy!"

"Stop that at once!" A powerful voice cut through the throng of sailors like a knife, silencing all but the whimpering mass at the center. A form brimming with confidence and justice strode through the mass of angry sailors, no one daring to stand in the way. Gentle hands reached out to the mass on the floor, lifting it up for everyone to see. Compassionate eyes peered into terrified ones, melting away years of suffering as the two connected. For the first time in her short but painful life, this wretched excuse for a woman saw kindness and hope, and nearly fainted with the overwhelming relief of it all. Her nightmare was over at last, thank Elia.

"What is your name, miss? Mine is Alex Figaro, and you are safe here." Alex gave a cold glance to each and every sailor around them, and more than one wilted further back into the crowd, ashamed.

"K-K-Kite...sir." The girl managed to splutter once she had regained her power of speech.

"Kite? Just Kite?"

"Just...Kite."

"Well then, welcome aboard Kite! Shall I show you to your room? I bet you could use a good long rest."

Shock and gratitude erupted on her face, a pretty one, now that the dogged look of a hunted animal was gone from it. "Yes, sir. I would like that very much."

"Please, call me Alex."

With that, the two of them walked out of the crowd of confused sailors. No one sneered or taunted her now, and no one would again. A friend of Alex was a friend of the Captain, and a friend of his was considered royalty to his crew. Kite had gone from rags to riches in the span of a few short moments.

"That's Alex for you. Always the gentleman for a pretty girl." Bismark smirked, but he was glad no harm had come to the ship's newest arrival. She would be able to tell him much about the man he had hated so much for so long. Besides, whatever qualms he had with her former Captain, he had no agenda with his crew. Bismark was the type of man who judged each person he met face-to-face, and would soon be the judge of whether this woman could be trusted to stay on his vessel. For now, Alex trusted her, and that was good enough for him.

Things were quickly getting back under control as the ship made its way back to friendlier waters. The crew had already begun conversing with themselves about the events of only a few hours ago, events that seemed a part of another life time to many of them. They joked about the incredible scenes, wondering if anyone would even believe half of what they had been witness to. Despite the narrow escape from those dark waters, the crew of the Maiden was now in high spirits.

As the hours passed and the sun once again set on the waters of the Mordic, now behind the ship, a subdued figure stood against the railing along the stern and looked back. Dune was still trying to figure out how he should make sense of what had happened to him. He could see the waves now, pushed in a lazy procession by winds that may not have blown across these waters for centuries for all he knew. Soon birds would begin to follow the winds, and life would once again come to the Mordic.

Just like the Thanas...

This entire trip had been almost exactly like the Thanas expedition, right down to the fruitless ending. And yet Dune had secretly found what he was supposed to find last time, hadn't he? Not this time, though. Whatever he was destined to find here, it had eluded him.

I guess even a God can be wrong, eh?

Dune admired the blood-red waters slowly fading to a dark blue-black as the sun dipped below the horizon. As soon as the first stars began to twinkle overhead, Dune felt a sharp prick in his back. He spun around instantly, familiar terror filling his veins. Half-expecting to see Levi's grotesque visage staring at him once more, he was surprised to see nothing at all. Or so he thought.

"Don't move. Don't speak." A clear and chilling voice commanded him from the shadows only inches away from where Dune stood.

"Who...?" But Dune didn't have time to finish his question. Dune saw the glint of starlight reflected in front of him for only a split second before the knife was at his throat and the voice rasping in his ear.

"Say one more word and you die."

Dune nodded as best he could, the knife's edge pressing firmly against his neck as he did. Dune could see nothing and heard nothing except the voice, but he sensed a strange familiarity with his invisible assailant. The crystal pulsed fiercely inside his shirt, filling him with an icy dread he knew only too well. He fought the urge to grab at the crystal.

Just like the Thanas indeed.

"I will take the gravity crystal Mr. Karn, and this time no one will stop me."

At the mention of his secret, the crystal flared to life, ready to defend itself once more. A hand cloaked in darkness reached towards the glowing object with swift precision, hovered over the pocket containing the crystal, then drew back. Dune felt the knife dig deeper into his flesh, but no other movements came from the man behind him. After a tense silence, Dune felt a hot breath on his ear.

"Where is it? Tell me!" The voice spat with impatience.

Now Dune was at a loss for words. Surely he had seen the glow of the crystal? The man seemed to have no trouble finding it last time, either. Had the crystal somehow protected itself from detection? The knife-hand gave a sharp tug, and Dune gasped for air.

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Liar! Where is it? The signs confirm it, the final gravity crystal has been claimed. Now tell me what you did with it, or you'll never see land again!"

But he hadn't found anything this time. Ironic that he was telling the truth this time, and the man didn't believe him. Dune tried his best to remain calm, but he knew that unless he did something, he was a dead man for sure.

"I'm telling you the truth. I found nothing. Levi attacked me and I blacked out, and then I wound up here. If there was something down there, I didn't see it."

Dune heard nothing and saw nothing, but he was sure he felt a smile on the lips that were almost pressed to his ear.

"It's too bad you're not cooperating, but I have my orders. I'm afraid this is where we say good-bye, Mr. Karn. I'm sure your body will give up more than your lips have."

The knife was already pressed against the skin hard enough to draw blood, and Dune's neck muscles tensed in expectation of the mortal cut he knew was coming.

Your life belongs to me and only me, Dune. I am your Doom.

Dune heard the words of Doom echo in his head, and felt a surge of cold energy fill him. He felt like he was expanding, pushing the knife and its owner away from him, further and further. The blue aura grew and for a moment Dune cold see the black outline of his attacker against the bright glow of the crystal as he staggered back in surprise. But the shock lasted only for a moment. The man quickly vanished over the side of the ship before he could be consumed by the demonic energy he had unwittingly unleashed. Seeming satisfied, the aura abated and Dune was forced into unconsciousness yet again.

Below, the shadowy figure was clinging to the side of the ship, cursing his bad luck. Foolish Phantom...you knew the power of the crystal, but you were desperate and careless. Sade will not be pleased. Now all three crystals were claimed and his job was over, with nothing to show for it. He had failed Sade twice. If he went back now, empty-handed, Sade would burn him to ashes without question. Returning now would be suicide. Even attempting to contact Sade would mean his certain death. Sade had ways of finding his victims no matter where they hid. Phantom was on his own now, just like he had always been before all this.

But what had happened to the final crystal? It had been claimed, of this Phantom was sure. If the archeologist was telling the truth, then the crystal was still out there, and with it a chance to save his worthless life. If he found it in time, before it took hold, he could still secure it. This mission had long since lost any enjoyment for Agent Phantom. Now he was working purely for his own survival, and he hated Sade for trapping him like this. His own greed had tempted him into an impossible situation, and there was only one way out now. If he was right, and he was able to claim the crystal for himself, he may be able to exact his revenge on the man who had used him. Phantom was more than one of Sade's mindless followers, and he would prove it, one way or another. He would survive, as he always had. Looking around the side of the ship, he knew there was only one thing left to do.

In the morning several members of the crew awoke to find a missing life boat and a very dazed and confused Dune lying on deck. After a brief conversation it became apparent that the unknown intruder from the Figaro had struck again.