Love Her and Despair Remaster [25]

[auronlu]

Title: Love Her and Despair
Chapter 25: "Illusions That Exalt Us"
Final Fantasy X/X-2 (Yes, both. AU.)
Characters: Auron, Isaaru, Maroda, Rikku, Elma, Nooj, Gippal, Paine, Baralai
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2600
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The Story So Far: Cid, possessed by Shuyin, has attacked Bevelle and forced his way into the palace. Summoner Isaaru, his guardians and Rikku give chase after stunning Maester Baralai and Captain Juno (Paine) when they bar the way.

---

"Um... you should know, I can knock all of you down," Rikku said, wedged behind one of the ornamental buttresses flanking the entrance.

Grim-faced warrior monks closed on her position with raised bayonets. There was no answering explosion, despite Al Bhed bravado. She must be running low on Funguar pollen capsules.

Charging towards them, Auron was reminded why he had resisted standard warrior monk issue. Only one man turned at the sound of footsteps before he barreled into them.

Two went down. Auron swept an arm out, scooping Rikku from her hiding place and hustling her bodily across the threshold. She gave an indignant yelp, but had the sense to start running as soon as her heels struck the ground instead of his knees. Together they plunged into the darkness beyond the open portal. Soldiers fired wildly after them.

"Some guardian," Maroda said.

"Rikku's more of a target than Isaaru," Elma said, marching shoulder to shoulder with him in front of his brother.

"You're dressed like her, you know," Maroda said. Any moment, the warrior monks would turn and see them.

"Well, good! Then they won't aim at Isaaru!"

"Stop!" Isaaru shouted. "In Yevon's name, stop! Isaaru commands you!"

It seemed these warrior monks had not yet heard of his apostasy.

"Lord Isaaru!"

"Grand Maester Isaaru!"

The gunfire died away, leaving silence in a vast plaza usually buzzing with life. Heaps of wreckage from the Tower of Light lay piled up around the palace gates like burned-out bonfires. Every window and streetlamp was dark, save for flickering orange reflections. Overhead, a low ceiling of lumpy smoke had taken on the texture of a glowing bed of coals, growing brighter as the fires began to spread. Proud Bevelle was bleeding flames from many small wounds, and there were few inhabitants left to witness its creeping ruin.

The warrior monks swarmed around Isaaru, touching his robes as if they conferred a blessing. Several bayonets swung in Elma's direction.

Exuding calm, Isaaru moved easily among them, clapping the shoulder of a man who had his gun trained on Elma. "Easy, old friend. That was Sir Auron and Lady Rikku, former guardians to High Summoner Yuna. These two you know: Captain Maroda and Commander Elma."

Stunned murmurs of Sir Auron rippled from lip to lip, prompting a snort from Maroda.

"Your Grace!" The man he had addressed spoke gruffly, fighting tears. "Why, you've got the nerve, breezin' back in the dead o' night in the middle o' bedlam, with no one the wiser! Your brother said you'd died at Djose!"

"Pacce?" Maroda said, suddenly animated. "He's here?"

"Aye, sir, you just missed him! He chased the prisoner inside!"

"Then so shall we," Isaaru said. "Sergeant, do you know Lady Shelinda's whereabouts?"

"Aye, milord. Northgate, overseeing the evacuation. But Maester Baralai—"

"Lord Baralai and Captain Juno have evacuated the palace and taken the wounded to Yuna's Cloister. Collect your squad and report to Lady Shelinda. I and my guardians will recapture Cid."

"But, Your Grace, the tower's a-fire!"

"Pray for us, my friends. But do not despair. Yevon is with us." He bowed in prayer. "Maroda, Elma, follow."

"Sergeant Wedge?" Elma said, her hesitation a minor but uncharacteristic breach of duty.

"Commander?" The man peered. "I thought you were one o' them heathen Al Bhed."

"A disguise. Do you know if—" She stopped short, grimaced, and held out her hand. "Oh, forget it. Give me your nightstick. I left my sword in Djose."

"Ma'am." He unclipped the metal baton from his belt and handed it over.

"Sure you don't want to borrow a rifle, Commander?" Maroda teased.

"Choke on a chocobo chip, Captain," She nodded to Wedge. "Thanks. Get your men to safety, Sergeant."

Maroda led the way into the cavernous entrance hall. The only illumination came from ruddy light beating down through clerestory windows. Despite the haze of smoke hanging in the air, the fires had not yet penetrated this section of the palace. The trio's footsteps echoed between massive columns, unseen tapestries and dead sphere-torches hanging in sconces.

Isaaru turned to Elma. "Commander, if it would ease your mind, go back and ask about Lucil."

"Nah, they're warrior monks. Can't expect 'em to know a thing," Elma said, clinging to a dogged grin. "Anyway, I know the general's alive. Pacce can fill me in when we find him."

"He's a warrior monk too, remember?" Maroda said.

"That explains why he got MIA and KIA mixed up."

"He believes us dead," Isaaru said. "We must relieve the burden of his mind as soon as possible."

They caught up with Auron and Rikku at the first junction. Auron was waiting like a stump. Rikku prowled around him in a restless orbit, using a lightning marble as a lantern.

As the others drew near, her whispers resolved into words. "...and enough with the smug-and-cryptic routine, already! You were a monk here, weren't you? You've got to know which way leads to the temple! We can't afford to wait for those—" She broke off, reverting to a normal volume. "Oh, hey, there you are. Did you guys stop off in Lulu's leather emporium to do some shopping, or what? Let's scoot!"

"Sorry, my lady," Isaaru said. "I needed to put off pursuit. But fear not. Your father and Shuyin are strangers to St. Bevelle. Yevon willing, we shall reach the Cloisters first and waylay them there."

"Assuming we don't get roasted," Maroda observed, pointing his spear up at the clerestory windows showing the nearby Tower of Light, its shaft now fully engulfed in flames. "Temple's right under that."

"Then it's fortunate I've a spell against fire, no?" Isaaru said. "Lead on, my brother."

As they penetrated deeper into the palace, the threat from above grew greater. Several times, they were forced to divert around smoke-filled passages. The ceiling of one room was beginning to smolder. Isaaru lagged behind, letting Auron overtake him. The summoner's breathing was labored, although he made no complaint. He seemed to be fighting the weight of his robes as they hurried through the palace.

"Problem?" Auron said, eye fixed on the others marching ahead.

"Perhaps." Isaaru lowered his voice. "Elma. I fear she is a target for Shuyin in her current state."

"If you send Shuyin, it won't matter."

"Of course. But the sending of an unwilling spirit is difficult, as well you know. I must draw close to Cid, so there will be no error. Then you must stand well back."

Auron gave him a sidelong glower.

Isaaru winked. "Your task will be to draw her away, no?"

"You should trust your guardians."

"You should trust your summoner," Isaaru said. "Please, humor me."

"As you wish."

"Well, here we are," Maroda called, standing at the head of a shallow flight of curving steps that ended at an ornate portal surmounted by Yevon's glyphs. "You two coming?" he said, turning back to glare at Auron, as if he were the cause of Isaaru's dawdling.

"Finally," Rikku said, putting her hands on the wide metal bars that served as handles. "Ow!" She jerked away, blowing on her fingers. "Hot!"

"Stand back," Auron said. Mounting the steps between them, he set his gauntlet against one door and pushed. Sparks and embers swirled through the gap with an angry roar. Auron had a glimpse of the circular great hall lit as if by Ifrit in full frenzy. The rear half of the chamber was an inferno. The overhead portraits of Zaon and Yunalesca were boiling figures of flame. He could not but feel a twinge of bitter satisfaction as he heaved the door shut.

"Now what?" Rikku said. "I don't think NulAll can cope with that."

"That is the only way into the Cloisters, milady," Isaaru said. He smiled and opened his arms, palms tilted towards them in a priest's blessing. "I'm afraid you have but one choice: trust in Yevon."

Gippal, flattened against the pavement, raised his head as Wedge's squad jogged away. "Whew. They've gone. Up you get, Nooj."

Nooj levered himself up with his cane, ignoring Gippal's hand. "We'll have eleven more of them to deal with shortly," he said, nodding towards Juno's squad scattered around them like chaff. "Some of them may wake first. Can you drag Baralai and Paine into that alley? It may buy us time."

"Aw, man. Baralai's not too bad, but I think Paine's put on weight." He rapped her armor with his boot.

"You have five minutes."

Dragging them out of sight of the plaza, Gippal needed the full five. Baralai and his maester's robes were nearly as cumbersome as warrior monk's mail. Nooj limped beside him, tightlipped.

"You okay up there, boss?" Gippal said.

"Oddly, yes. It takes some getting used to, being in charge of myself again."

"I bet." Gippal swore as Paine's armor rang out, colliding with the corner of the building. "Why'd she have to — unh — go and join the warrior monks, anyway? I'd love to peel her out of this fuel tank, but she'd—" Gippal caught Nooj's frown out of the corner of his eye, and grinned— "you'd take my head off. Doesn't suit her, though."

"Doesn't suit Paine," Nooj said, struggling to lift her sword and lever it onto his shoulder. "But she's dead. Thirteen years ago, I suspect."

"You don't have to buy into that crap," Gippal said. "People make their own choices, Nooj."

"I should have found a way to tell her. Apologized."

"Well, yeah, but could you?" Gippal dropped her arms with a clank. "Not like you ever told us."

"Probably not, but at least—"

"You could try now." Juno's face was shadowed by the helm, but her voice sounded crisp and lucid.

Nooj broke into a slow smile. "Perhaps I just did." Bracing on his cane, he unshouldered the sword, set it on its tip, and tilted the hilt towards her, stooping with understated gallantry to bring it within reach. "But let me say it to your face. Juno, I'm sorry. I failed you. My hand, not my heart, pulled the trigger that day, but you've lived with that betrayal all this time. I'll do whatever it takes to make amends, now that I'm free."

Her gloved hand closed over his. Holding his eyes, she rose to her feet, taking care not to pull him off-balance. Suddenly she shifted her grip, locked her fingers around his wrist, and drew her sidearm with her free hand. "By dying?" she said, pressing the gun against his stomach.

"Paine!" Gippal said, scrambling to his feet. "You stupid—"

"That would be somewhat ironic, don't you think?" Nooj said. "But yes, of course."

"Gippal. Don't try it." Juno stepped around Nooj, pistol sliding around his ribs, using him as a shield. "What have you done with Maester Baralai? My squad?"

"Hey, that was Rikku!" Gippal said. "Sleeping powder, same as what hit you. We don't like getting shot at!"

"Baralai's right here," Nooj said. "It should be wearing off any time now."

"Gippal. Wake him," she said.

"Damn, cra'c cdemm y pedlr," Gippal muttered, moving to Baralai to give him a firm shake.

"Yht oui'na cdemm yh ycc," she shot back.

Baralai awoke to the unusual sound of Nooj's dry laughter. The maester stood and stepped backwards, hand smacking against his empty holster. "Juno, are you with me?"

"Yes," she said, reclaiming her sword. Nooj offered no resistance. She stepped to Baralai's side, passing him her gun. He kept it trained on Nooj.

Gippal groaned. "C'mon, Bar."

"Shut up," Baralai said. He raised his eyes, expression bleak. "Bevelle's burning, and I don't have the resources to stop it. All we can do now is head off Cid and Isaaru before they reach Vegnagun. Otherwise—"

"Otherwise, Vegnagun may activate, perceiving them as a threat," Nooj said. "Baralai, we know. They know: Isaaru and the others who went after Cid. Don't worry. They won't use any weapons that might provoke it."

"Don't you get it?" Baralai said. "You think our cannons have the range to strike an airship? That wasn't Bevelle firing at you. That was Vegnagun. Cid's attack roused it. You're lucky your ship isn't as well-armed as his. It would have obliterated you before you reached the ground."

His last few words were drowned out by the roar of engines. They ducked as the airship swooped overhead, headed towards the bay. "Shinra!"

There was a faint tinny pop from Gippal's overalls. He fished out a sphere and shook it. "Shinra, where the hell are you taking my ship?"

"Away." Shinra's voice was hard to make out through the static. "Soldiers trying to board. Sensors show Sin's on its way. Want me to pick you up somewhere?"

Gippal shook his head. "Nope. How long until Sin gets here?"

"Forty minutes, maybe an hour."

"Shinra," Nooj said, "have you figured out how to deactivate Vegnagun?"

"Negative. If Sin attacks—"

"Yeah, we know, kid," Gippal said. "Get going. Get out of the blast zone. I'll call you after it's over, assuming we're still here."

"Affirmative. Be careful. Crimson Avenger out."

Nooj's mouth twitched. "Crimson... Avenger...?"

"Yeah, well." Gippal ducked his head. "Normally I just call her The Gippal Express. So, Baralai, what's the plan?"

"I'm going back to Vegnagun," Baralai said. "I'll move it out of Bevelle, if I have to. Juno, collect your squad and warn the healers in Yuna's Cloister to prepare for Sin's arrival. Move everyone into the bunkers."

"I'm coming with you," she said. "If Isaaru's false, you'll need backup. I'll order my squad to the Cloister."

"And us?" Gippal crossed his arms. "We came to help, Bar."

"Baralai," Nooj said. "That... thing... that's possessed Cid was in me for thirteen years. I'd like to help bring it down. Vengeance for all of us, if you like. And if Isaaru fails, and Cid reaches Vegnagun, I'll give my life to stop him. You have my word."

"Your word doesn't hold much weight with me, Nooj." Baralai shifted his attention to Paine. "But hers does. Juno, what do you think?"

"Let them come." Sighing, she peeled off her helm. "I'd like to believe him."

Nooj drew a sharp breath. Her face was in shadow, but a deep scar ripping through one cheekbone was visible even in the dark.

"All right," Baralai said. "Stay alert. Be prepared to kill him if he tries anything. Bevelle, maybe all of Spira, will pay the price this time if he betrays us."

"Man, it's so nice getting back together like this, y'know?" Gippal said. "You're the navigator, Bar. Lead the way."

---

Next Chapter: "The Tower"

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Author's Notes

“The illusion which exalts us is dearer to us then ten-thousand truths.” -- Alexander Pushkin

Chapter Renumbering: Originally Chapter 27, posted July 2009.  

Comments

[cygna_hime]

It's so sad how the extra years apart made Baralai and Paine/Juno harder and unwilling to trust. I mean, it makes sense, because Baralai hated his job and his coworkers and Paine didn't really open up without Rikku and Yuna (and just - the belief that the impossible could happen). But it's sad. I just want them to all hug.

[auronlu]

Thank owlmoose for inspiring me to address the Crimson Squad on all this. Her writings have very much influenced how I see these characters.

Baralai could be pretty hardnosed in FFX-2. He seems far more gentle than Nooj, but he's also a politician, and Shuyin finds it just as easy to possess him... in canon, at least.

And Paine... yeah. She's had no reason to loosen up in this 'verse.

[mintywolf]

I like the way Auron and Rikku interact in this. Not in a shippy way, but as somewhat begrudging comrades who have nothing in common except for the sense of duty that has once again brought them together. The game itself tells us very little about their relationship, but I think you've portrayed it in a way realistic to both of their characters.

I also enjoy Rikku's shoutout to Garland in the first line. :)

[auronlu]

Hee. I'd totally forgotten I did that, so thank you for pointing it out.

I have such a clear view of how Rikku grew up (extrapolated from FFX; X2 made her more bubbleheaded). She was remarkably levelheaded, independent, and capable at 15. Even in a world with life expectancy, it's not just any teenager who'd be leading salvage expeditions, trotting off on Operation Rescue Yunie apparently on her own initiative, and recognizing/countering her father's flaws despite his being a leader of her people. Add Mom Skills to her Al Bhed survival skills, and she's at least as capable as Auron was on their last pilgrimage, albeit in very different ways.

So she would've earned Auron's respect, even if she's about as far from him in personality as Jecht was. And she's had plenty of experience working around the shortcomings of buttheaded males.

[melchar]

-Stubborn- buttheaded males. ^_^ You can say THAT again!