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Final Fantasy VI: The Sands of Time

Book 1: The Begininng

Chapter 8 - Dream's End

Part 8.2 - Sleeping Giant

"Can we really trust him?"

Draco looked at the monstrous form sleeping on the bed in front of him. Its huge limbs spilled over the bed's edges, claws scraping against the floor. The rhythmic sound of deep breathing filled the small quarters, and a faint hint of a growl lingered beneath each exhalation. The others said it was Dune...but was it really? Draco had not known Dune as long as the others, and had only known him as an enemy before he met the man. But now this man was a monster, and Draco wondered if maybe his first impression was actually the right one.

"I truly do not know." Genju's deep, ancient voice. "For now, though, I would exercise caution. We still do not know the full extent of Dune's transformation, or if this is really Dune at all."

"Have you forgotten already? He just saved all our lives, you old buzzard!" Bismark exclaimed heatedly. He stood close to Dune's side, the only person on board willing to stay so close to the "monster". "I trust him with my life, and so should the rest of you." Bismark looked at each of the men in the room, daring them to say something against his friend.

"Mobius...you have to realize what has happened to Dune," Alex said with forced calmness. "This...transformation, it's something completely out of our experience. I'm amazed Dune seemed as calm as he did when he came back looking the way he does. If it were me, I don't think I would be able to take it. The immediate danger we were all in may have kept his mind focused at the time, but when he wakes up and looks in the mirror..."

"Alex is right," Indie said. "It's not that we don't trust Dune. Becoming an Esper...it's a lot to take in, and we're just worried how Dune is going to handle it when he comes to."

Bismark grumbled, but didn't argue. He knew he was being overly sensitive, but this was still Dune, dammit! He would be there for his friend when he awoke, and treat him exactly as he always had.

"They are right," Genju said. "The final ordeal is a traumatic one, and there is no telling how a person will be affected by it, or how they will take losing their humanity afterwards. I spent many years finding myself again after I was chosen to become an Esper. Dune was forced into the transformation against his will, and it will not be easy for him to cope with his new identity at first."

Genju did not voice his suspicions that Dune might not be fully in control of his body yet. He had felt the cold energy flowing from Dune during their dire escape from Sade's awesome new power, and knew from whence that energy came. But it was too soon to tell, and the captain was right - Dune had saved all their lives.

"Pah!" Bismark grunted. "Dune's tougher than he looks. I have faith in him, even if the lot of you don't." That was Bismark's final word on the subject, and he looked away from the others in moody silence.

"What should we do now?" Draco asked after Bismark had calmed down. "It's still a week's journey back to Narsille, and Sade and Leviathan are most likely far ahead of us, judging from Leviathan's speed."

"It will still take Sade and Leviathan time to return to Narsille, even with their Esper powers," Alex said thoughtfully. "They are not gods, and will need to rest just like us, right?" Alex looked at Genju for confirmation, and the old Esper nodded in agreement.

"Our advantage is that we have a ship that can move non-stop, even while we sleep. I know Bismark hates using the engines..." Alex glanced at Bismark with a smile, but the captain remained silent and sulky. Alex shrugged and continued, "but we've been running them at full blast for several days now, and I think we'll be able to catch up to those two. At most, I think we'll only be a day behind them."

"What about Dune? When will he wake up?" Indie said with concern. Dune had fallen into a deep sleep after exhausting his powers in their escape, and had remained unconscious for days.

"He must rest," Genju said. "He has over-exerted himself and it will take time for his new body to recover. I am sure Sade and Leviathan are recuperating somewhere as well, as Alex said. We must be patient and let him recover on his own time while we continue towards Narsille."

"And what then?" Draco asked. "Dune said they were returning to Narsille, but why? What's there that they would want?"

"I do not know," Genju said. "These events are not like anything that has ever happened in my lifetime. The fallen Masters must have their reasons for sending their Espers to this city of yours. I fear I have been in exile for too long, and no longer know what the world of man has become in my absence."

"Well, Narsille is the home of the Order of the Pearl," Draco said. "They seem to be mixed up in all of this. Maybe they have something to do with what's happening now?"

Genju ruffled his wings in agitation at Draco's words. "I am the founder of the Order of the Pearl! I know not what my followers have done since I left them, but they would never knowingly bring about the chaos that is now upon us. No, this Sade, who wore a mockery of our robes, is the one responsible for the current crisis. He has used my Order for his own ends, and it is to him we must assign blame."

"Don't forget those Committee fools," Indie added. "They let Sade get this far. I doubt they knew what Sade was really planning, but they knew enough."

"Well, they don't seem to have any more idea what he's planning now than we do," Alex said. "Crescent Island was as far as their plans went. I'm guessing they thought they'd find some ancient weapon or power source there. I almost feel sorry for them."

"I don't," Bismark spat from Dune's bedside.

"They seem to be trying their best to help us now, though." Indie said. "We may have been enemies, but they really seem to care about what happens to their city, at least. They're squirreled away in their own quarters now, trying to sort out how they're going prepare Narsille for Sade's return. I tried to help them, but the logistics of running a city that size is way over my head."

"The question is, what are we going to do to help once we get there?" Draco said. "I am unfamiliar with your city, so I am afraid I won't be able to do much..."

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," Indie replied. "It's up to Dune and Genju now, I think. Magic against magic, right? We'll do our best to help the citizens when the time comes I suppose. Not much else for old men like us, eh?" Indie let out a weak laugh at his own uselessness.

"Narsille has a population of over four million people," Alex said. "If it comes down to an evacuation, they're going to need people like us who know the city and how it works. Even you, Draco. You're a leader of men, and leaders are what's needed right now. Don't worry, you'll be needed." Draco smiled at Alex's compliment. "I plan on going straight underground to get the Figaro and the other movers," Alex continued. "The entire fleet could safely transport a hundred thousand people out of the city if needed."

Indie shook his head somberly. "A hundred thousand out of four million... If it really comes down to an evacuation, it will be pure mayhem. I shudder at the thought of all those poor people trying to squeeze out of that trap of a city." Indie rubbed his wrinkled forehead in dismay. "Four million people and only one exit...what were we thinking?"

No one had anything to say to this sober realization, and the conversation quickly petered out. For now they could do nothing but wait anxiously and hope they beat Sade and Leviathan to Narsille.