Chapter 34 – Lenne of Arabia
Using her sleeve to brush off the sand gathered on the wooden lid, Lenne sunk her boots into the sand beneath her. She did her best to get a grip on the oversized crate in front of her. With an elongated grunt, she lifted the crate high enough off the ground to slowly waddle her way across the camp with it. She managed five or six steps at a time before dropping it back onto the ground. The muscles in her back ached while the muscles in her hands and fingers cramped.
"What is in this that's so heavy?" she asked herself out loud.
In between her short trips, her mind wandered. Although Gippal opened up digging in the desert to anyone foolish enough to try, everyone she encountered here was Al Bhed. Most of them took up working for the Machine Faction, in the quest for discovering the innumerable secrets hidden beneath of sifting sands of Bikanel. Even with the inhospitable conditions, the inhabitants at the camp called this place home.
The Al Bhed certainly had no qualms about their beloved dunes and cacti friends. For outsiders, the conditions antagonized relentlessly. The Al Bhed took comfort in the harsh desert, perhaps from centuries of necessity. Lenne began to realize that though slaving in the desert proved difficult, even brutal at times, it gave many of those uncertain Al Bhed a purpose they hadn't found elsewhere. She was happy to give herself a new purpose as well.
With another pained groan, Lenne lifted the crate once more, using all her strength to transport the crate beside a parked hovercraft. It shuttered when she all but dropped it out of her grasp on the desert floor. A cloud of sand kicked up from the impact. She coughed, waving her hand in front of her face to chase away the granules of sand floating into her nostrils. Her stomach growled, and she decided to get something to eat.
The mess hall consisted of an unassuming reddish tent with some foldable chairs inside. Upon entering, Lenne smelled the pungent aroma hanging in the tent. Walking up to the serving station, a portly Al Bhed man served a sloppy mess of food onto Lenne's plate. Giving a hesitant smile, she thanked him and walked towards a secluded seat.
"So, what's up with the new girl?" Lenne overheard a tall and slim Al Bhed man ask.
"I don't know much about her," replied a shorter and younger Al Bhed man with spiked hair. "She just kinda showed up here one night."
In a hushed volume, the two men appeared to continue their conversation about Lenne, although she couldn't make out their words any longer. Keeping her head down, she quietly ate her mush. Even inside her thick, protective suit, she could feel her body cool from being out of the hot sun. The sound of footsteps approaching her attracted her attention.
The young Al Bhed man approached her first and waved to her. "Hey there! How are ya doing today?"
Looking up, she replied to the spikey-haired man. "Okay, I guess. It's so hot out here."
He chuckled. "Yeah, it certainly is. You'd better get used to it, 'cause it never snows 'round here."
She let out a small laugh of her own. "I suppose you're right."
Helping himself, he took a seat next to her. "So, what's your name new girl?"
"Oh, Lenne. My name is Lenne."
He wrinkled his nose. "Lenne, huh? Well, that's quite a pretty name. Lenne is a little odd for an Al Bhed name, but hey, whatever. These are new and exciting times!"
"Um, what is your name?" she asked hesitantly back to him.
He smacked himself humorously on the head. "Excuse my bad manners. I'm Keppel, most alluring Al Bhed this part of Bikanel."
"Self-proclaimed of course," chimed in Keppel's taller friend as he shook his head.
Keppel flicked him a quick smirk. "Yeah, whatever. This here's Nomma. Quite the punk he is."
Nomma smiled cordially at Lenne, rubbing his hand on the back of his head. "Yeah, I'm a real punk and all."
The two Al Bhed men let out a hearty laugh. Even Lenne couldn't help but squeak out a laugh, although much feebler in comparison. She tried her best to share in their boisterous banter, but an overwhelming sense of apprehension pulled her back. Through her goggles, she watched the two men toss jokes, insults, and stories back and forth with each other. Part of her yearned to be more open; part of her was glad the heavy clothing hid her true feelings. It was too soon to get too close to anyone new, she thought to herself.
Outside of the mess tent, the hot wind picked up, blowing large clouds of swirling sand around. The loud whistling of the wind hurt her ears. She stopped her mouth in the middle of chewing, holding her fork still up to her face, and watched as the wall of rushing sand outside blotted out her view of her surroundings.
"Hey, ya gotta watch out for sandstorms," said Keppel, putting his hand on her shoulder. "This desert likes to burp and belch at ya."
"Kinda like you do," joked Nomma.
His friend scoffed. "I don't know what you're talkin' about. I'm a model of sophistication."
The rain fly rippled from the constant barrage of wind and sand pounding against the tent. Though her two new friends seemed to heed no mind to the shaking of their shelter, Lenne felt her stomach knot. Her eyes darted around anxiously.
"Don't worry. We build our tents to protect against storms. It won't fall down on us," Nomma explained, his voice confident.
Lenne sat, her hands clenched in a death grip around her fork and spoon. True to his word, the tent remained firmly upright as the sandstorm passed. The excavation site reappeared to her sight, illuminated by hot sunlight once more. She noticed her two new friends had finished their meals. Sitting with poor posture in their chairs, they rambled on about stories of blitzball games played long ago.
"Hey you guys, eat or get back to work!" hollered Nhadala as she walked into the mess tent.
Standing up stick straight in an instant, Koppel and Nomma nodded, then scrambled out of the tent.
Nhadala stood next to Lenne, shaking her head. "Geez, I don't know what I'm going to do about those two."
"They don't seem that bad," replied Lenne softly.
"Nah, they're just a pair," she remarked. "Anyway, I need you to come over to the hovercraft when you're done. It'll be time to go for your first ride."
"Right!" Lenne answered with delight.
Nhadala ambled out of the tent, leaving Lenne alone to finish her meal. She stared down at the last morsels of whatever passed as food in the camp slopped on her plate. Stabbing her fork into it, she hoped she wouldn't be stuck on grunt duty. For the past ten days since she entered the camp, she spent countless hours moving crates, boxes, barrels, and chests from one hapless corner of the camp to another. Pushing her plate away from her, she rushed out of the tent.
As she headed for the hovercraft, she admired the amazing efficiency at which the Al Bhed worked. No wonder, she thought to herself, Nhadala always yelled at Nomma and Keppel. They didn't seem to enjoy the concept of working prudently. They did provide a much-needed sense of excitement and humor to keep the heat from inciting insanity. Nearing the closest hovercraft, a little probe suddenly flew over her head, causing Lenne to shriek.
"Hey babe, are you finally heading out for a mission?" it questioned in a mechanical voice.
Half-startled by the intruding contraption, she muttered back, "Huh? Yeah, I am. Wait, what did you call me?"
It made a nodding-like motion and whooshed away. Letting out a gust of air, she put her hand over her thumping heart. She grumbled to herself, wondering why everything in Bikanel liked to come out of nowhere to scare her. Another Al Bhed man walked up to her, in a less obtrusive manner, and greeted her.
"You must be Lenne. I'm Pilot, and I'll be driving you on your first mission," he proclaimed, shaking her hand.
She nodded and followed him to the hovercraft. Walking into its shadow, she ran her gaze up and down the machine. Swallowing hard, Lenne hesitated to board the hovercraft. Her trepidation stemmed not from awe or wonder, but from fear that it would break into a million pieces at a moment's notice. The loose bolts and rusty frame gave her pause. Her stomach gurgled in response to her uneasiness. She watched as Pilot hopped into the cockpit without a qualm and fired up the engine. With a ripple and a roar, the large propeller belch out a puff of black smoke and started rustling up the sand around it.
"Don't worry. I bet you think this thing is some sort of rust bucket, eh?" Pilot laughed, motioning her to come aboard.
"Oh well, I didn't . . ."
His chuckle boomed over the engine. "It's alright! This beater hasn't failed me yet. Ol' Sally here is as dependable as the sun itself."
Lenne climbed carefully onto the hovercraft, squeezing herself into the metal bucket seat in the back. Holding onto the side, her knuckles turned white when the hovercraft began to move. Gliding over the sweltering dunes, she got a full glimpse of the rolling canvas that was Bikanel. The bronze sand paired perfectly with the hazy blue sky above. Only a handful of puffy white clouds floated gradually across it. Everything almost seemed painted—even if Lenne felt it wasn't much of a masterpiece to live in. Her mind quickly returned to the cramping muscles in her leg. With every bump she closed her eyes, gripping for dear life to the metal frame of the hovercraft.
"So, what brings a nice girl like yourself to this stinkin' desert?" asked Pilot interrogatively.
Lenne paused for a moment to emit a sigh. "Well, I needed to get away. It's difficult to explain."
"Bah, say no more then. We all have our reasons, and they should stay personal. As long as you dig well, and Nhadala likes you, you'll do just fine here," he spoke while nodding to himself.
She didn't reply to his encouraging words, instead sat silently watching the wisps of sand behind the hovercraft kicked up high into the air. Slowing down in what seemed like the middle of a golden void, Pilot switched off the engine. Scanning around her, Lenne only found an endless reach of sand in any direction she looked. Popping open a compartment in the back of the hovercraft, Pilot handed Lenne a little device.
He began saying, "This here's a—"
"Oh yeah, I guess I'll need a transmitter. Thanks!" Lenne interjected.
He scratched his head. "You already know how to use one of these things?"
She gasped slightly, lowering her head for a second. "Oh, um, I had someone at the camp show me already."
Adjusting his goggles, he lit up with a big smile. "Great! Saving time already, you're shaping up quickly!"
He pulled a map from his back pocket and placed it on the hovercraft. After flattening all the crinkles and creases out, he moved his finger around a thick red circle aligned with crossbones.
"This here is the limit you're to go today. Sally here is the 'X' in the middle. Anything within this area is good, but beyond that and you might get into trouble."
Lenne signaled him with a thumbs up. "Okay! Is there anything, in particular, I should be searching for?"
He shook his head. "Nah, we've dug up the Southern Expanse pretty well. Be on the lookout for rare coins though. Rin likes to buy them up for his sphere game thing."
Lenne smiled. "That doesn't sound so bad."
Pilot slapped Lenne on the shoulder. "That's the spirit! Make sure you're back within an hour, or else the heat will eat you up. I don't need you passing out from dehydration."
With his last words of instruction, Lenne set off to adventure in the desolate wasteland of the desert. This particular day burned scorchingly hot with the air hanging heavy from the intense heat. Checking on her water supply, Lenne hoped the flask would last her for an hour. Closing her eyes, she pointed her finger in a random direction and paced through the desert while counting her steps. The hovercraft had vanished from sight by the time she slowed her pace. Flipping on the switch of her transmitter, she grazed it across the ground to see what it could discover. Accompanied by a rusty shovel, she examined what secret treasure might lay hidden below the surface.
"Whew! I forgot how tiresome it could be to dig," she murmured to herself, adjusting her mask.
A series of beeps emitted from her device, showing that something forgotten lurked beneath the surface. Putting the transmitter away, she pulled out her shovel, driving it into the sand in front of her feet. She groaned, noticing the wind kept blowing sand back into her unfinished hole. Frustrated by her lack of progress, she quickened her pace, slinging away the sand with greater urgency. With each swing of her shovel, she let out a pained grunt.
The mindlessness of the repetitive motions opened the way for past thoughts to creep inside her. As sweat trickled down her forehead, images of her past flashed through her thoughts. Regret started consuming her. Her unconscious mind provided no concrete reasoning or direction for these pictures from the past: standing upon the stage in Zanarkand under a starry sky, walking up the stairs of the Palace of Bevelle, running from thunderous footsteps through the dark corridors underneath Bevelle, and finally holding tightly to the man she loved before it all ended.
With each strike, the tip of her shovel cut deeper through the never-ending mound of sand. Her breathing accelerated, the desert air steaming in her lungs. So caught up in the torment from the past, Lenne didn't register the strain the scorching heat inflicted on her body. From her fit of vexation, she collapsed onto the searing desert floor. Her vision blurring, she looked hazily up at the cloudless sky above. Her heavy eyelids closed, and the world faded to black.
A cloud of pyreflies circled Lenne as she came to. Sitting up, she gazed around trying to regain her bearings. Nothing but a void of darkness surrounded her. Patting around with her hands, she felt velvety blades of grass tickle in between her fingers. The only source of light seemed to come from the mystical pyreflies dancing around her. Following their colorful trail of ethereal light, she felt her skin tingle when they brushed up against her face. Putting her hand against her cheek, she let out a sigh. To feel again, she thought to herself, how nice it would be. Rising to her feet, she started to walk. After a dozen steps, she realized every direction looked the same. Clutching her hands against her chest, a pang of fear ran up her spine.
The chime of the pyreflies hummed in her ears. Goosebumps formed on her arms, the gently moving air chilling her skin. Swallowing hard, her walk quickened to a run. She glided across the soft grass, sprinting up to the top of a rolling hill. From her new vantage point, Lenne spied the wondrous world before her. Lines of majestic waterfalls spilled their rushing water down immense, verdant cliffs. The water bordered a field covered in blooming flowers of yellow, purple, and red before seeping out into an endless sea. Painted like an eternal dusk, pyreflies flew unfettered across the horizon.
A voice suddenly called out to her. Quickly she spun around and found herself within an arm's length of a man. Gazing at his welcoming smile, her wide eyes swelled at his sight. Missing him for what felt like an eternity, she yearned to rush into his arms. Yet she stood in place, her feet stuck to the ground. She clasped her hands together, feeling both of them trembling uncontrollably.
When she glanced down at her feet, she noticed she wore her songstress dress. A stream of pyreflies wrapped along her legs, ruffling her black lace skirt, before dispersing around the white lace of her top. Brushing her hand behind her back, the long flow of her hair surprised her. A hand, wearing a black glove, reached out to touch her cheek.
"Why do you cry for me?" he asked, his messy blond hair covering his somber face.
Lenne averted her eyes and placed herself in his arms. Her skin touched the silvery pendant hanging around his neck. She knew all too well the answer to his question. Without him, she had just been floating through life not knowing what path to walk, or where to direct her love. Placing his fingers delicately beneath her chin, he raised her eyes with his. Like looking into a dim mirror, she expected to see sadness within his heart. Connecting with his beautiful, blue eyes, tears rolled down her cheeks. She realized hope and happiness filled his gaze.
"I miss you," she finally replied, feeling his finger wipe away her tears.
"I miss you, too," he replied.
She turned her head to look away from him. "This is all my fault. I should have stopped you before Bevelle. Vegnagun was never the answer."
Admitting her failures was all Lenne could do to stop the flood of pain from bursting inside her. Echoes of gunshots reverberated in her mind. Her eyes wandered to the sash he wore over his right pant leg adorned with the symbol of the Zanarkand Abes.
"Bevelle? You've forgotten who you are, but I haven't. You sacrificed everything to defeat Sin. No matter where you are, I will always see you."
Lenne leaned back, tears swelling in her eyes, with her mouth agape. "After so many long years, I don't know who I am anymore."
"You're stronger than that. Don't give up. Not just yet. Even without me, you have a long and wonderful future ahead of you . . ."
A faint murmuring rang in Lenne's ear. She felt her body being shaken. When she opened her eyes, the hazy desert sky greeted her once more. Sitting up, she shook her head to wake herself up. She moaned as she rubbed her aching head. Looking around, she finally realized Pilot knelt beside her.
"Hey, are you alright, Lenne? Man, you had me worried," he growled, although tinted with a sound of relief.
Lenne blinked a few times. "Huh? What happened?"
He began to rub his head. "Beats me. I watched you digging like a fiend and the next thing I know, you're unconscious getting bathed with sand. Guess you worked yourself too hard."
"Sorry." Lenne ducked her head.
He smiled. "Ah, don't worry about it. You're not the first to be done in by this blasted heat. At least you're okay, that's what counts."
A low humming sound echoed in the distance. A smaller hovercraft glided closer to them. As it came into view, Lenne saw Nhadala driving it. Biting her lip, she wondered if she was going to be in trouble.
"What's she doing here?" Lenne asked hesitantly.
"Nhadala? I called her when I saw you pass out. I think I kinda freaked so I'm not surprised she's on her way here. She takes this business very seriously, and I don't mean just the digging."
Coming to a halt, Nhadala hopped out of her personal hovercraft and strode over to Lenne and Pilot. Her grave expression melted away when she saw Lenne sitting up and conscious. Brushing some of the sand out of her hair, Ndadala stood in front of the two, placing her hands on her hips.
"I thought you said this was an emergency," she grumbled.
Pilot rubbed the back of his head. "Well, it was ten minutes ago. She about fell flat on her face out there digging that hole."
Nhadala glared down at Lenne, who kept her head facing the ground. Tapping her fingers against her legs, Lenne scrunched her body tightly together. She didn't want to look up at her boss. Nhadala knelt down to her eye level.
"Hey, don't worry about this. I'm just glad you're alright. You have to remember you can't push yourself too hard, okay?" she comforted, patting Lenne on the shoulder.
Lenne just nodded in reply, feeling her flush cheeks cooling because she knew Nhadala wasn't upset with her. That did nothing to relieve her of the heartache of the fading presence of the man she eternally loved. She sat quietly while Nhadala and Pilot wandered off, trying not to cry. Once she believed herself to be adequately recomposed, Lenne stood up and dusted the sand off herself. Pilot and Nhadala had walked over to the hole Lenne dug. They peered approvingly at something sunken down in it. Lenne walked over, herself curious as to what she uncovered in the desert.
She watched Pilot carefully pull a small box out of the hole. Its copperish frame was dented on all sides and the latch holding the lid shut had long since broken off. Nhadala leaned in as Pilot flipped open the lid.
"No wonder you were digging so feverishly," commented Nhadala to Lenne. "These are some very rare coins you've discovered!"
"Good timing, too! Isn't Rin coming tomorrow for pickups?" Pilot asked Nhadala while rubbing his chin.
"Yeah, he is. I'm sure he'll be happy to meet you now," she laughed as she bagged the small collection of sandy coins.
Climbing aboard Sally again, Lenne slumped herself down into the bucket seat. Exhausted from the day's strenuous adventure, she leaned her head back against the seat. Wiping the sand from her lenses, she blew out a long stream of air from her lips. Ready to fall asleep, she finally sensed the pain in the muscles of her arms and legs. By the time she arrived back at the camp, the sun had already set for the day.
The temperatures dropped to an unpleasant coolness, even to Lenne's overheated skin. Everyone in the camp gathered in their tents, except for Lenne. Since they hadn't any extra room, Nhadala put together a makeshift shack for her on the edge of the encampment. Although Lenne believed it may have been an outhouse at one time, she was glad it didn't smell inside. Content to be alone in a small and cozy place to steal herself away from the outside world, she closed the flimsy door behind her.
Only a solemn few amenities populated the room. She bent down to light a small lantern on the floor beside the doorway, igniting a tiny flame only strong enough to spread a dim light across the room. Taking off her boots, she placed them on a rickety nightstand. A trickle of sand hidden inside one of her boots splattered on the floor.
Plopping down on the bulky mattress she used for a bed, Lenne rubbed her aching feet. She sighed and wondered if she could hack it out in the desert. It certainly wasn't what she was accustomed to, but she had no other place to escape to. She was safe here, and more importantly, free from the past. Thinking back to her dream in the desert, her jaw clenched as a jolt of anger surged through her body.
Letting out a sharp sigh, she closed her eyes. Falling backward onto the mattress, she emptied her mind. Opening her eyes again, she watched the lantern light flicker against the walls of her minuscule room. All she desired tonight was to rest in a dreamless sleep.
