So far, there have been two parts that focused on Bart and Margie. When I mean focus, I mean that most of the points of views are either his or hers. It's obvious whom I am referring to, huh? ^^ This third part; however, is multi-perspective, like the Rebuilding part. I felt guilty and also missed the other characters of Xenogears. I wonder what they have been up to? ^^
Something new here:
*~*
…
*~* = dream-like state, more than that actually. It happened in the past, but it isn't a flashback. ^^;; You'll see.
"..." "..." = Speech or monologue.
Well, on with the story.
REBUILDING
Part Three of Aveh - Nisan Chapter
Complications
Written
by
Yen
Version
(9/30/99)
Elly watched as Margie turned in her sleep, mumbled something incoherent, sighed, then turned over again. It doesn't look like she's sleeping well.
The Great Lady of Nisan glanced over to her companion and nodded.
***
"Rise and shine!"
Margie sat up abruptly and winced as bright sunlight suddenly blinded her. "What's going on?!"
"Wake up, Margie! It's a beautiful day."
She blinked and finally made out Elly and Sr, Agnes. Both women were smiling brilliantly at her, literally as well as well as philosophically. The uncurtained windows were directly behind them.
She groaned and burrowed back into the sheets. "Leave me alone and let me sleep," she mumbled. She had a splitting headache.
"But, Marguerite, don't you want to see your presents?"
Presents? What presents?
"Hmm, let's see what the card says... Dear Margie, Thank you for last night." She bolted up, suddenly wide-awake, while Elly continued, "I had such a wonderful time. Dinner was excellent, and your company so enjoyable. I do hope..."
"Give me that!" Margie jumped from her bed and ran after Elly as the latter led her on a merry chase around the room. Sr. Agnes was trying hard not to laugh.
"I do hope we will be able to do the same again soon. Love, Bart." Elly quickly recited, managing to finish just as Margie snatched the card from her hand.
"What did the two of you do last evening, Marguerite?" She turned to see Sr. Agnes smiling at her innocently.
What do they know? Margie wondered frantically, forcing a nonchalant smile on her face. "We just had dinner." She heard Elly giggle behind her, and added, "That's all!"
"Must have been quite a feast then." Elly said, and Margie glanced at her, puzzled.
"Indeed, a man doesn't bequeath so much for a mere meal," Sr. Agnes added.
? "What are you two talking about?!"
"That necklace looks expensive, doesn't it, Sister?"
"It does seem valuable, and those sweets are your favorite, aren't they Marguerite?"
"And those flowers! Those are rare, even in Nisan."
Margie finally noticed the beautiful bouquet of flowers on the table alongside the windows. They were large blossoms, silver-white flowers shining golden in the morning sunshine. Slowly, she walked towards it, mesmerized by the sparkle on dew-covered petals.
***
Elly watched as Margie touched the flowers tentatively. She could understand her apprehension and wondered if Bart even knew the significance of those flowers he sent.
Silver Blossoms they are called. One of the rarest species in the world. It was undetermined whether they grew elsewhere other than in Nisan, but even here, they were extremely hard to cultivate.
They were used in medicines, cosmetics, even crystallized to be made part of jewelry and clothing, but never commercially; they were simply too rare to be used on a large-scale basis. Only high society could afford them.
Their greatest value came in garden shows, and the blooms were never cut or trimmed. Yet, since it was a flower, and a lovely one at that, it was not surprising that they are presented as gifts for favors of love, and in other matters as well. It was a high honor and respect given when one received a Silver Blossom. Afterwards, the flower would be preserved to serve as a momento of the occasion. One flower was the usual case. Two means a great deal. Three was extravagant to say the least. Four... well... There were a dozen Silver Blossoms in that bouquet Bart sent to Margie.
Elly wondered how he ever managed to find so many in such a short time. She imagined him asking the florist the best kind of flower to give to a girl. Said florist says a Silver Blossom is the most expensive. Great! I'll have a dozen!
She giggled, unable to help herself. Sr. Agnes, beside her, looked at her strangely while Margie still continued staring at the flowers. ... The flower-grower probably had a heart attack!
***
News travel fast, even to a working camp on the other side of Blackmoon Forest.
Fei wiped the sweat off his face, and viewed his handiwork with pride. The area he was working on was now cleared of debris and weeds. Soon, construction of a house would begin on the said spot.
He stretched long and hard, a sigh escaping him as he enjoyed the simple exercise. He was content. It felt good, working like this. He had stifled during the past years and so, paper-pushing behind a desk. His mate, Elly, was more inclined to that kind of work then he was, and didn't begrudge her when she insisted on him taking charge of Lahan Project.
She knew him too well and politics too. As the Contact, he had to keep up the appearances of being the leader. It wouldn't do have him be subordinate to someone else, but here, far away from the intrigues and intricacies, the power struggles of the Nortune Council, he could assign leadership to someone else and take on duties more to his liking.
Elly... He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Instinctively, he turned westward, to the direction of Nisan. "I miss you," he whispered softly, the near-silent words echoing his heart's desire. I need you with me, Elhaym.
It's only been a few days, and already he felt homesick. His present life memories were longest in Lahan, but Elly is his home.
A cool wind started, and he closed his eyes, letting it blow gently across his face. It was lightly scented, and for all he knew, the breeze may have passed through Nisan. The city held so many memories for him, both good and bad, but always memorable.
Yet, despite the distance between them, she was there with him, always. It was not telepathic, but the link was there, unclear most of the time except in sleep and dreams, but steady. Sometimes, he felt that their hearts beat at the same time. Part of each other, yet not. A whole sundered, still joined.
... I will be glad to see you again soon, Elly. He opened his eyes and smiled, no one else seeing it except her. The weekend is coming up, and the Yggdrasil will take me back to you quickly.
"Contact Fei, Sir!"
He turned just in time to see a lad straightened in salute. "At ease, Jon."
As the boy relaxed nervously, Fei winced inwardly. I wish they wouldn't act like that around me.
To many of the people, especially the children, Fei and the others were considered as heroes, and they were treated accordingly. It bothered Fei that they saw him as more than an ordinary man. I don't want that. I never asked to the Contact in the first place.
"What is it, Jon?" He asked in a friendly tone with a smile to reassure him. Jon blinked and swallowed, awe in very young eyes. "A message for you, sir." He gulped again. "It's from her ladyship, Elhaym van Houten."
His face brightened, and he quickly headed for the communications tower. On his way, he patted Jon's shoulder. "Thanks!"
***
Behind him, Jon finally managed to turn. He stared at his hero, as the latter became farther away. "You... are... very... welcome, sir...," he said slowly before collapsing to his knees.
***
Elsewhere, not too far away...
BOOM!
It was a wreck, a mangled piece of machinery, oily black and smoking hot. An equally dirty figure emerged slowly and carefully from underneath it.
"Drat this Solarian-based circuitry! Did I not tell those engineers to follow Shevat's plans?!" Citan groused as he tried unsuccessfully to wipe oil from his favorite green tunic. I warned them! Solarian technology is analogous to a double-edged sword. It simply did not and does not go well with other technologies except its own! "Now, I have to fix their mistakes!"
He brushed his bangs off his face as he took off his glasses to clean them. He groaned when he couldn't find a single clean spot on his shirt to wipe it with. "I am having a bad day!" He stated, gazing heavenward as if praying for a celestial being to intervene.
"Will I do?" Yui's soft voice answered. He turned to find his wife smile teasingly at him. Despite his bad mood, he relaxed as she came closer to take his glasses from his hand and wiped them on a clean piece of cloth.
The oily substance came away easily from the glass, and moments later, she placed them back over his eyes. "There, is that much better?"
He smiled in return and nodded. Obeying a natural impulse, he lifted his hand to touch her face, only to frown when she shook her head, backing away from him.
"You are a mess, Hyuga," she stated frankly when she was out of arm's reach.
He stared at her, then at himself. She is right. He was even dirtier then the time he, Fei and Elly were in that trash chute in Solaris. He was from head to toe covered in soot, grime and oil. Parts of his clothing were charred and his hair and eyebrows, singed. No wonder I feel so uncomfortable.
"I'll go prepare the bath-tub." He looked up from his extremely soiled state to see Yui walk away from him, her shoulders shaking in silent laughter.
"It is not a humorous situation, Yui," he called out with a hurt note in his voice.
She coughed before answering, "Of course, it isn't." She turned back to him with a serious expression, and added, "I'll make the water extra hot this time."
Before he could reply to that, Midori came out of the house, with Prism toting on her shoulder. Standing beside Yui, she took a good long look at her father, and looked up at her mother. "There is no more soap left."
...
***
Later that day...
Fei grinned as he handed a package to Yui, who smiled in return before giving it to Midori, who immediately ran from the room.
"So, how's doc doing?" He asked innocently, and Yui laughed as she led him into the living room. "He's feeling a bit grumpy as of now." As Fei sat down, she added, "Of course, now that the soap is here, he'll soon be back to his usual self."
Fei finally laughed, his body shook as he tried to contain his amusement with little success. "I couldn't believe it at first!" He managed to gasped out, before coughing hard to clear his throat. Now and then, a chortle escaped from him.
Finally, he wiped tears from his eyes and looked at his hostess, who just happened to be in the same predicament. That did it. It was sometime before the Uzuki household quieted down.
***
Fei shook his head wonderingly. "I still found it hard to believe that he had already wiped out your rations of soap. We've only been here a few days."
Yui smiled as she poured tea in their cups. "My dear husband has a fetish for cleanliness." She was not at all embarrassed with sharing that particular secret.
"A clean freak, huh?" Fei replied, his eyes mischievous as he picked up his cup of tea. "Then, he shouldn't play around with machinery and stuff."
"I'm afraid that tinkering comes close after personal hygiene."
"We heard six explosions so far down at the camp."
"Seven, actually."
"... No wonder you ran out of soap. At this rate, we better change the manifest order to Bledavik."
"I already did that."
? "You? Isn't that Doc's job?"
"He passed the paperwork over to me after you put him in charge."
"Oh... I see... Anyway, I have news from Nisan."
***
In
Blackmoon Forest...
Maria sighed and glanced at her companion, Emeralda. Unlike her, the green-haired girl looked as if she could live out her entire existence, sitting on the huge log and waiting for Chu-chu to finish whatever it was she was doing.
Suppressing another sigh, the light-haired girl stood up and jumped down to the ground. She heard Emeralda say, "Where are you going, Maria?"
Below, she looked back at her friend, sitting high up above her. "I'm going to see what's taking her so long. We've been waiting for over an hour."
The forest also gave her the creeps. There was something very weird about Blackmoon Forest. She could hear the sounds of animals and the rustle of foliage as the wind disturbed them, just like in any area teemed with life. It was a good sign, but there was something eerie about the place. ... I just can't explain it, Maria thought.
Emeralda soon followed her down as she went over to Chu-chu, who was sitting in front of a large rock.
Maria was a patient person, but had her limits; especially, when she had no idea why they were here in the first place. She and Emeralda were in charge of patrolling Lahan's borders, to serve as look out and defense for any potential mutant and monster attacks. Fortunately, not much happened. Quite boring really, then Chu-chu arrived.
They were all surprised when she came rolling into Lahan. She had been in her gear-sized form, and by the looks of it, had come all the way from Nisan on foot... or paw power.
After she had transformed back to her smaller form, Chu-chu had collapsed in Fei's arms, much to the young man's embarrassment and to the amusement of the people who knew of Chu-chu's affection for him.
Their small comrade had been clearly exhausted, her fur, dirty and matted with brush, twigs, sand and even snow. Citan had commented that it seemed likely she swam across the channel between Nisan and Aveh. She had been severely dehydrated from her trek across the desert, her limbs frost-bitten, showing that she took a straight line from Nisan to Lahan, going over the mountains instead of the path through Blackmoon Forest.
None of them had any idea why she was here. Elly and Margie didn't have a clue as well when they contacted them. They admitted that they have been searching for her for several days, but never expected that she would wind up in Lahan. Chu-chu herself provided no answer. Upon waking up after a three-day dormant sleep, she acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary, ambling around the camp, playing with the youngsters and helping where she could. Most of the time, she followed Fei around.
Finally, it was decided that she just missed Fei. Only one person objected to that.
However, today, Chu-chu told Fei that she was going to Blackmoon Forest, and immediately went off. The latter was glad... and worried, and he asked Maria and Emeralda to keep an eye on her. Having little to do, they agreed; and Maria was definitely having second thoughts.
All she does is sit in front of that rock. Maria paused, a few paces from behind her, wondering what was so interesting about that rock.
It was not remarkable. It wasn't even the largest rock in the area. There was a much larger boulder nearby. What did Chu-chu find so special about it?!
Maria finally sat down besides Chu-chu; Emeralda, doing the same on Chu-chu's other side. All three of them stared at the rock. ... It's just a rock... Maria again concluded, wanting to scream in exasperation.
"Strange..." She turned to Emeralda, who uttered the word. What's so strange about it? "It's a rock," she replied to her friend's comment.
"I know it is," Emeralda answered back politely, "but there appears to be writing on the surface." Leaning forward, she carefully scraped dirt and moss from its surface.
Maria leaned forward as well and squinted, trying to make out patterns on the rock's surface. "... You're right, Emeralda! There are words carved into the stone."
Eagerly, she helped Emeralda remove the many years deposit of grime and growth on the old stone.
When they were done, Maria stared at the writing, trying to make out the words. "It looks like it's written in the language of Shevat." She frowned. "It's in an older dialect..."
While Maria studied the words, Emeralda examined just as carefully, tracing the minute depressions with her fingers. "Analysis shows that these indentations were created with the use of a sonic drill." She also frowned. "But it would be of a model much more compact than the ones we employ now." She tilted her head curiously. "The drill would have to be small enough to be used as a writing tool as it was obviously employed."
Maria glanced at her. "That would mean that whoever wrote on this rock had access to a more advanced technology." She turned back to the writings. "I can understand a few of the words, but I can't make any sense of what they refer to."
Both of turned back to Chu-chu. "Chu-chu," Maria asked, "can you tell us what this all means?"
***
Before the Eldridge crashed into the blue-green planet, before Abel woke up on its soil, before the conflicts of Deus and the Existence played out their drama... before all that, her people lived and flourished on this world.
They called themselves the Chu-chu. They were a race of colorful warm-blooded creatures who lived harmoniously with themselves, with their kind and with their environment. Sentient and intelligent, they had the potential for greatness. However, they lack aggression, that very ambition for power. That very absence lead to their downfall.
Considered as no more than mere animals, they were hunted and persecuted. If not for sport, they were fodder for experiments. The Chu-chu's own sentience made it ideal for the laboratory, a close substitute for actual human experimentation. On this world, there was more than one intelligent race, but one considered itself the master and all others, subordinate.
Despite the wanton destruction of their race, the Chu-chu did little to help themselves. After millennia of living peacefully, they no longer had the ability to defend themselves. Only legends remain, old tales and myths of the strength they once had.
Ironically, it was a human who unlocked that power.
***
Chu-chu looked back at her two friends, blinked, then answered their question.
***
Maria gasped in surprise as darkness surrounded her. Instinctively, she stood up, and looked around her. Where am I? "Chu-chu?! Emeralda?!" She fought down panic. "Where are you?!"
"Maria..." She felt a hand on her shouder and whirled around, striking the hand away from her, her own hands clenched and ready. Violet-white ether outlined her form, its light swallowed up by the surrounding twilight.
"Maria! It is me, Emeralda." Green light flickered, and Maria relaxed upon seeing her friend. Emeralda was looking at her, concern in gold-flecked hazel eyes. "Oh, by Holy Sophia! I am so glad it is you!" Maria exclaimed, impulsively hugging her best friend.
Emeralda returned the embrace awkwardly, and Maria laughed as she released her. "Sorry about that." Despite all this time, Emeralda still had a lot to learn about humans.
"It is all right. I am please to see you too."
Maria smiled at her then turned serious, "Do you know where we are?"
"As far as I can observed, we are in still Blackmoon Forest."
"Emeralda, this doesn't look like Blackmoon Forest to me."
"I concur, so I surmise that we are imagining this."
Maria swallowed nervously. "You mean we are hallucinating?"
"Yes," she informed her calmly. "The Chu-chu have the ability to perform mass hallucinations."
Realization dawned on her. "Of course, they did the same thing years ago, before we went to battle Deus. ... But I don't remember anything..."
"Kim and Elly told me they couldn't recall either. I think human beings lack the ability to remember their dreams during a Chu-chu ceremony."
"... Then we will forget this hallucination as well?"
"I am not certain, but recollection may depend on the Chu-chu performing the ceremony."
Maria sighed. I don't like this at all. "What is she going to show us anyway?"
As if waiting for that question, their surroundings shimmered and coalesced. It became brighter, allowing them to see... or more accurately, to dream...
~*~
"I can't take it anymore!"
Balthazar sighed and tried to reassure him, "Calm down, there is nothing any of us can do. It is the Council's decision."
The other man ignored his words, and continued pacing.
He shook his head wearily and looked over to his other companions. Melchior shrugged at him while Gaspar concentrated on his drink.
"I don't care what those idiots think! They have no right to play God!"
***
Aphel Aura was a bustling city. Noisy, lively and exciting; qualities that befitted the capital city of Shevat. Yet, despite the chaotic nature of the metropolis, there was a wondrous serenity to it. After all, it was a city high up in the clouds. However, unlike its rival Solaris, the people of Shevat would never presume immortality. Look high but remain firmly on the ground. A wise advice to follow, and Shevat remained strongly connected to the surface via the enormous structure known as the Babel Tower.
Balthazar searched frantically through the crowded station, straining his neck to look over the heads of people busily going about their separate ways. He finally spotted him and shouted, "Tezzar!"
***
Tezzar stopped, frowned and turned around to see who had called out his name, his dark brown eyes wide with curiosity as he looked at the people around him.
He was a tall, slender man. His hair, gray-white, was properly trimmed in a style ubiquitous to the day and age. His face was elegantly handsome, sharply featured and intelligent. He was dressed in silk gold-embroidered trousers with a matching long-sleeved tunic, whose bottom extended far down enough to cover his knees. He looked quite like a noble of the Royal Court of Shevat. If not, then, a wealthy businessman from the surface. The only thing that contradicted those suppositions was the small stuffed doll that dangled quite ridiculously from a fine silver chain around his neck.
***
"Nice toy," Balthazar commented. Across the table from him, Tezzar looked up questioningly from his tea. "Hmm...?"
Forcing himself not to wince, he gestured at the fuzzy, light-colored Chu-chu doll still hanging from his friend's throat.
Tezzar followed Balthazar's direction and stared absent-mindedly at the doll. Finally, he frowned slightly and carefully removed it.
"Ah yes, the Chu-chu presented this to me as a farewell gift a while ago."
Balthazar's throat tightened. "So what Gaspar and Melchior told me was right." His hand clenched even as Tezzar lifted his head to look at him with widened eyes. "You are leaving Shevat!"
The small cafe suddenly quieted as his sharp accusation drew stares from the other customers in the establishment. He automatically jerked his head down, both in anger and embarrassment. The first emotion was for losing his temper and control; the second, from his dislike of being the object of too much attention.
His friend; on the other hand, had little problem with being in the spotlight. Tezzar smiled reassuringly at the curious onlookers, and soon the level of conversational noise returned to its norm.
His voice was soft, sad and determined, when he spoke again.
"I have to go."
***
"Why? ... You don't have to. The Council..."
"I can never accept what they have done."
"... I know that! But if you go, that would show that they have won!"
"... I do not care. I am only certain that I cannot stay here anymore."
"We can change things! The four of us together, we can make them change their minds."
"... Balthazar, it is already too late..."
? "..."
***
Two countries at odds, even in truce, are still at war with each other. If not in the battlefield, then elsewhere will do just as well.
***
"While you were out on your archaeological dig, the Forest of the Chu-chu was annihilated by Gebler Ground Forces." "... They said it was their right. After all, Shevat had agreed with Solaris that the Chu-chu was the common property of both nations. Any assistance to the Chu-chu would violate the cease-fire, and armed combat would recommence." "... They slaughtered them... The hunt and the dissection table weren't enough... They bombarded the Forest and wiped them out en masse!" "..." "I could hear them, even so far away, I could hear their cries, their screams... and the worse thing of all, it was... only... one... word." "Why?"
*~*
It was a cold wind that blew over her, and Maria shivered violently, suddenly waking up. Wrapping her arms around herself, she stared at her dark surroundings, not recognizing where she was.
"Maria, are you awake?" She started upon hearing Emeralda's voice. The latter was leaning over her, an ether lamp shining brightly in one hand. Maria had never felt so happy to see her friend.
As Emeralda helped her up, she asked weakly, "Where are we?"
"Blackmoon Forest."
Maria blinked and again took note of the area around her. This time, she saw the dim outline of the rock, which had fascinated Chu-chu so much. "Where's Chu-chu?"
"She's at the gears, waiting for us."
She glanced back at her, narrowing her gaze on Emeralda's beautiful serene face. "You don't remember, do you?"
"... Remember what, Maria?"
She didn't answer, shaking her head instead. "It's a long story, I'll explain it to you and the others once when we get back to Lahan."
"... As you wish, Maria."
***
I make a promise on this stone.
This rock that marks the lives I failed.
My failure, my shame I will never relinquished,
In penance for this unforgivable sin.
Translated script found in Blackmoon Forest
***
Now, you know why I titled this part "Complications."
I don't what happened. All I wanted was a funny spiel in Blackmoon Forest. The next thing I knew, I was writing this sad and angst story. It wrote by itself, I swear!
I don't know if I should continue this plot line. It felt a bit surreal to me. Ironically, this is the only part I have written which has that Xenogears atmosphere. ^^;; Also, there might be some things that went against the Xenogears story line. I'm not sure at all. (sweatdrop)
If there are indeed elements which go against the original, please tell me. Particularly, about the Chu-chu. I may continue this plot line, and if there are errors, I would like to correct them. ^^ In case, there is any doubt, Tezzar is the Sage of Shevat. You know, the resident Chu-chu expert. ^^
What do you think of Rebuilding so far?
Yen
alex@gsilink.com
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