Ch10-6: City on the Sand
Why is it not surprising that the secret human city is nothing more than a glorious hole in the ground?
Sure, Kip could see a few leaning sand-rock pillars that spouted to the sky here and there. Some of the tilework still remained, looking to have once been decorated with intricate colors and patterns.
But this was now bleached away by years in the relentlessly burning sun. Most of the structures were lost to piles of sand and grit. The only thing that was remotely visible was the chiseled set of steps that led to the caverns somewhere far below the desert heat.
And those were being aptly guarded at the moment.
It had taken Kip and Joran the better part of the night to make their way over the expanse of sand. Luckily, they had run across what seemed to be a merchant’s trail early in their journey. And even more luckily, the trail had been pointed in the general direction that they needed to travel.
Not so lucky for the merchant though.
O.M.E.G.A. had found it hardly a test of his skill to persuade the local cart merchant that his life was worth far more than the use of a chocobo cart and the wares it carried. Though he generally frowned upon theft from the lower classes, Kip was tired of shaking the sand out of his boots.
Now if only Joran was as easy to keep pacified.
Kip had never run across trouble quite like this before. Usually, when he pressed his will into the mind of someone else, they stayed fast under his control. He wasn’t sure if it was because Joran was rejecting the control that much – eventually he had needed to take her free will completely in order to get done what needed to be done. He didn’t know if the close possession of a powerful item like Incrytan was interfering.
No matter what the reason, O.M.E.G.A. had found Joran occasionally wandered off to do her own thing, despite his direct orders. This made it difficult to complete tasks that required stealth and careful planning.
Like what we have going on now.
O.M.E.G.A. studied the stairway ahead.
Seems like about four or five guards on station. Two are standing by… a few of them are working front-door rounds. I wonder what would work better. Direct mind magery or a diversion.
He pursed his lips, one hand reaching out as the Lunar girl wandered too close to the edge of the pillar where they were hiding. Kip put a little emphasis on her name as he commanded, “Joran. Stay still.”
The girl stopped, standing motionless. Somewhere in the pouch at her side, Incrytan crooned quietly, giving off a flickering light. The reaction to being so close to the Crystal of Fire, Kip speculated.
“Just a little while more,” Kip told the girl, adjusting the tightness on his headband. “We have a few more things to do. And when this is all over with, I’ll make sure you get back home to the rest of the Lunars. How about that?”
Joran didn’t respond. Not that he expected her to.
“Though it probably warrants a good mind wipe,” he continued in speculation. “What you don’t remember can’t hurt you. And it’s probably best you don’t remember any of this.”
A life without strange Key Crystals. Without Golbez or O.M.E.G.A. A life without memory of the death and destruction upon the Blue Planet. Of being played as a pawn in a game far beyond what one girl deserved.
Yes. It’s probably better that way.
But first thing was first. They had to find a way into the Chamber of the Fire Crystal where they could—
“Joran! I said stay put!” O.M.E.G.A. commanded again, a slight hint of irritation to his voice as he drew the girl back to him. “Do you want those men to see you? Do you think they could help you? Trust me. You’d be in far more danger from them than from me.”
Again, Joran fell still.
Again, O.M.E.G.A. put his mind back on the patrol before him. He didn’t know how much time they had before everything came falling down. But a proper plan was in order to make sure things got done.
We only have one shot at this. And if Joran balks at my command to use Incrytan against the last Crystal, this could get sticky. He took in a deep breath, eye scanning the motion of the armored men.
Maybe the cover of night would be best. I wager we have a few hours until sundown. And humans seem to lose a few points of IQ when liquor and dice start getting passed around.
His concentration broke as he felt Joran shifting at his side once again. Making her way out from behind the broken pillar. This time, he didn’t use words. Simply a focused, powerful command. His mind closed around her senses, working to pull her back.
And he found himself completely repelled.
What?!
With a resounding mental snap, O.M.E.G.A. jerked back. His burning eye widened. His hand flew up to clutch his head as pain flooded his mind. He spat curses in multiple languages as he fought to regain his composure.
How did she—
“Halt! What is your business here?” came the gruff intonation of one of the guards on patrol.
No..! Joran, you fool!
But as Kip peered out from behind the safety of the pillar, his irritation shifted into surprise. And then into a cold churning deep in the pit of his stomach.
The Lunar girl was tiny standing in the presence of the group of human men. But a light radiated from her. A light that could have only one source. Kip watched in mute shock as the girl drew Incrytan from her side. He watched as the shimmer danced in the widened eyes of the guards.
“Is that the…?” one of the men stammered, staring.
“No. It can’t be. No one’s gotten inside!”
A strange shifting of silvery mists began to condense, flowing from the light between Joran’s hands. An unnatural wind began to move the sands around her bare feet, playing through her loose white hair. Though Kip could not see her face, he could feel. And what he felt terrified him.
“Little girl, you’re going to hand that over now,” one of the men reached a hand towards Incrytan.
“Gladly,” Joran answered in perfect common. The voice was not her own.
He didn’t know why. He didn’t know what prompted him. Humans were, afterall, humans. But Kip found himself leaping from behind the pillar in a flurry. Rushing forward with an upraised hand. Mouth open to call a warning to them.
But it was too late.
The Crystal illuminated the smoking dunes, its light spreading in silent death before it. The men were consumed instantly, lost to the blinding flash. When Kip could see again, their bodies were splayed upon the ground as an eerie white mist rose from the cracks in their armor.
It took a moment before he could manage words, a strangled sound from between his lips, “What… have you done?”
When Joran turned, he could see at once that it was not her. Green eyes had grown pale, almost silver in color. Her face was contorted, lip curled in disdain. And the voice that came was no longer her own, “You are wasting time, KiNaTu.”
Luccious…
A chill rushed over Kip’s body. For a moment, he was speechless. His mind reeled as he began to piece things together. “You didn’t have to kill them.”
“Their spirits will serve a higher purpose now,” came the emotionless reply.
O.M.E.G.A. lowered his brow, “You can release Joran. We will see to it that the job is carried out.”
“No. I think I will not,” her eyes peered straight through him.
“Why?”
“Her connection to Incrytan makes her a valuable vessel.”
Kip balled his fist, surprised at his own words, “I don’t want her getting hurt.”
A slow, chilling smile crossed the girl’s face, “You should have thought of that before you brought her here.”
Then, without another word, Joran began to walk forward. The pulse of Incrytan rose and fell with the cadence of her heartbeat. Her bare feet stepped lithely over the darkened lumps of the fallen guards who had been standing watch at the far end of the stairs. One upraised hand was all it took and the heavy door groaned open.
Something sick reeled through Kip’s stomach. But no matter what he tried, he could not pull the girl back under his control.
This was not part of the deal!
Joran paused, her voice echoing back at her, “Is there something you want to say, KiNaTu?”
Through bared teeth, he spat, “I only have one target. The rest of these humans do not need to be pulled into this!”
“And just what did you think would happen to these people once all the Crystals in this world are destroyed?” she asked.
Again, O.M.E.G.A. found himself without an answer. Just a cold silence in his chest.
“You will get what you desire,” the girl began to walk forward again, obscured by the darkness of the underground cavern ahead. “And I will get what I desire. Everything else that comes between is inconsequential.”
Kip opened his mouth to answer. But before he could find the words, another voice carried over the dunes.
“Quickly! Incrytan is here! I can feel it!”
O.M.E.G.A.’s head jerked around instantly.
Golbez!
First he felt them. Then he could see them. It was Golbez and his companions, striding over the broken sandstone tiles towards the cavern’s entrance. Drawn by the presence of the Key Crystal.
Kip should have stopped to wonder how they had gotten there so quickly… how they had known to find them at the secret desert city. He should have considered staying close to Joran to be sure that no further guards met their fate for stepping between her and the Crystal of Fire. He should have done so many things at that moment.
But at the sight and sound of Golbez, O.M.E.G.A. raged through Kip’s mind. His body shook under its swelling influence. His eye flamed with renewed fury and fervor. His hands gripped the haft of his bladed staff, lips peeling back as his mouth formed a frothy snarl.
“You will get what you desire — your second chance,” Joran’s voice was haunting as she continued to descend the stairway. Her form became nothing but shadow outlined by Incrytan’s pale glow.
As the group rounded the broken pillar, Golbez’s eyes flickered up, focusing on the dark form of the Athrylith. There was a momentary blink of surprise. Then there was anger. Deep, pounding rage boiling behind the two green eyes of his enemy.
A rage that was matched only by the magnitude of O.M.E.G.A.’s own.
“Golbezzz…” he hissed. Then, with a twisted smile and insane trailing laughter, O.M.E.G.A. sprang forward.