Started: April 7, 2002
Finished: April 8, 2002
III: Refracting
I . . . won't . . . die. . .
"Oh, I have no wish to kill you, Sir Kuja. In fact, I want you alive until I can find out how Garland created you."
W-- why. . .?
"You are an intriguing creation, especially for a Genome. Have you ever noticed that you are different from the others?"
In what way? Kuja queried bitterly. I was sentenced to death, unlike any of the others. I was given a soul, but so were Zidane and Mikoto.
"How about in physical appearance? You must have also noticed that you are far more powerful with magic than they are."
I was created differently than the others; I was part of a series that was eventually annihilated. . . I never asked Garland about it. My series was given magical abilities . . . Zidane can only use magic in his Trance form, and I doubt any of the other Genomes can do even that.
There was an amused chuckle from the strange entity Kuja spoke with, to which Kuja scowled. I'm not the only one you're keeping here. Why do you have other mages here?
"I choose not to answer that," came the reply. "Now, you must be bored having nothing to do in your cell. Would you like to see what you left in Gaia?"
Now why in the seven hells would I want to?
"You would be surprised how starved a mind can get without anything to pique it for so long."
Without any consent from the silver-haired Genome, the nameless entity projected vibrant images into his mind's eye. He recognized the streets of Alexandria and was astounded to find the kingdom reconstructed. How quickly had they rebuilt the kingdom after both he and Garland had gotten through with it?
"It certainly is a beautiful place. . . You must have found such poetry in its destruction."
How is this possible? It's been completely rebuilt!
"Zidane!"
A red-haired young man came into view, dressed in brown leathers and carrying a sword across his back. Zidane Tribal ambles up to him, a bit taller than Kuja had last remembered him being. He had replaced his scruffy rogue outfit for a more aristocratic look -- a white shirt underneath a dark blue overcoat with matching pants. Against all odds, he had even cut his unruly blond hair into something more presentable.
"Blank!" Zidane and Blank shook hands jovially. "Hey, what're you doing in Alexandria now? I thought you'd be staying in Lindblum now that Cid's given you guys honorable standing."
"I'm here to visit my two favorite ex-Tantalus members," Blank replied with a grin. "So, how's the missus?"
Zidane feigned annoyance. "Dagger and I aren't married yet, man. We're waiting until after Rusty pops the question to the General."
Blank burst out laughing. "Are you serious!? I hope you're ready to wait for another decade or so. . ."
"Knowing Rusty, we just might."
"Well, anyway, I've gotta go see Ruby now. Catch ya later, right?"
"Sure. I'll be hanging around town; Freya's paying a visit with her boyfriend."
"So they patched things up? That's a surprise."
The blonde grinned. "Hey, Freya's tough. She's not gonna let amnesia stop her."
What is this? How can the kingdom have been rebuilt so quickly?
"All the kingdoms you helped destroy have been rebuilt -- Alexandria, Lindblum, and Burmecia. Three years have passed since we stole you from your 'deathbed.'"
WHAT?!
"Don't overexcite yourself now, Sir Kuja; you might damage your psyche."
Three years. . . How can I still be alive? Kuja demanded. Garland said I would die soon after he did. How can I be alive now if--
"You are asking the wrong person. I do not know." There was a significant pause as the scene changed into the Black Mage Village. It was a much more lively community than Kuja last remembered it, the Genomes playing with what appeared to be multiple versions of the black mage named 'Vivi' and a young chocobo. There were still many other black mages around, tending to menial tasks such as cleaning happily.
If three years have passed, all the black mages should have stopped functioning by now. . .
"The third soul-Genome is quite a genius. Although she has not found a way to duplicate your creation of black mages, she has eliminated the short lifespan you cursed them with. In addition, she found a way to create 'children' of the prototype. . . Quite an original concept, I must say."
Impossible. . .
"Apparently not. Despite everything you did to condemn them, those black mage machines of yours will live better than you."
No. . .
* * * * *
He awoke back in his cell, his hakama thrown across his long legs and his boots missing. It was a challenge working himself into a sitting position, his head throbbing terribly from whatever the device placed on him had done. His tail twitched restlessly as he struggled to digest the information that he had been given, frowning as he wrapped the silver-furred appendage around his right ankle. It was an action he only did in private, and only when he was deep in thought.
"I finally awaken, expecting to see my jailer dead, only to find my one hope imprisoned himself. What is this, Kuja? Perhaps it was a mistake to trust you one final time with my soul?"
Kuja buried his face in his knees. I don't believe this. . . I thought all of the souls I absorbed wouldn't emerge with any awareness again.
"You said yourself that I was a particularly powerful spirit, Kuja. Now, what is this? What became of your bloody creator and everything else you killed me and many of my innocent people for?"
Garland is dead and Terra was destroyed. I must admit that I went after my little canary and my little brother right after that, but they knocked some much-needed sense into me. And now I'm in a prison called Mute Hall with other abducted mages, held here by aliens I've never really seen other than their full-body armor.
"Mages, you say? Does this mean they will pursue my darling daughter as well?"
A frown found its way to the sorcerer's face. Now that you mention it, they probably will.
"These heathens cannot be allowed to continue this! They must be stopped immediately!"
A wonderful thing to state, but words are not heard here; I have no way out.
"So what shall you do then, Kuja? Sit here and do nothing?"
It is all I can do, Queen Brahne. It is all I can do.
Yay, a longer part than the last two. . . I think this is the last chapter of this, however; the actual story will be under a different name, since "Mute Hall" doesn't fit for the whole of the plot. ^_^
Back to Part 2
Back to Mute Hall