Chapter One
(New to the story? Start at the beginning.)
The ship had nosed into the harbor just before the false dawn, leaving the details of the port still obscured to the few who were awake and watching at the time. Once the sun had risen, everyone could clearly see they had come to rest at the very same spot they had departed all those days before, that they had sailed in an immense circle. If anything more had been required to finally convince Nooj of the justice of his party’s argument, it was this final insult to his concept of military training procedures.
He had spent much of the latter half of the night going over the reasons presented by Gippal, Baralai and Paine as to why the Maesters were unworthy leaders of the fight against Sin. He had never been persuaded of the correctness of the path laid out by the Yevonite dynasties and, with increasing exposure to their incompetence, he was now convinced of the need to find a different way to free Spira from all her infestations. Sin was no longer the only barrier to progress in the world. He felt an inchoate but real connection between the Church and the Monster and was filled with rage against them both.
“Can you believe this? All the way around the world and back where we started.” The humor in Gippal's voice was almost drowned by the disgust. “Why?”
“We could have stayed right here and saved all that time.” Baralai joined in. He usually agreed with Gippal and this time he had this own reasons to be disgruntled. “We didn’t have to go to Bikanel just to walk across some sand.”
“Sailing! And for nothing.” Nooj was not likely to forget his near-death experience before Baralai had compounded the medication for sea-sickness. “And these are the people who think they can run the Crusaders. Not one of them has any experience at war and they think they can command real Warriors! Bah!” He spat over the rail.
Paine came up behind him and slid, cat-like, under his right arm. “We could have stayed here and done the same things. I know some of the other recruits feel the same way. Why don’t you talk to them and tell them what we’re planning? Some of them may want to join us.”
“I’m not a speechmaker. Gippal, when we get off this thing, you go talk to them.”
“Not me, captain. You’re the one they all look up to. It’s gotta be you to get them on our side. You’re the one who scares them.”
Baralai smothered a ripple of laughter with his sleeve. “Yes, Nooj, they’ll listen to you. You can order them to follow you. The rest of us are just amateurs where leadership is concerned.”
Nooj looked indulgently at the once-priest, “You’re missing the point, Baralai. It's not the honorable thing to order people to commit treason; they have to choose rebellion of their own free will. Yes, I can give orders but I’m not good at persuading, never had to be. Gippal has the gift of the golden tongue. He can talk fish into breathing air.”
The Al Bhed backed away, his hands raised in protest. “Not me. They know I don’t know any more about armies than they do and I’m a foreigner to most of them. They’re taught to despise and fear my kind from the moment Yevon gets its claws in ‘em. They won’t take me seriously. Hell, they might even lynch me.” He gave a theatrical shudder.
Paine turned her face up, “Yes, Nooj, you’re the only one who can even try. You have to do it. You know we can use all the help we can get. You have to do it.”
“Why not you?” He ran his finger along her jaw-line, delighting in the clean shape of the bone. “You’re so eager for speeches, you preach to them.”
“Me! I’m just a Recorder. We get no respect from any of these fools; what's more, they're mostly a bunch of idiots who believe the priests who tell them women are inferior. And it wouldn’t look good for you. Letting a low-rank Recorder and a female be your voice. It would make you look like a weakling.” She was well aware of his sore points and did not hesitate to use them when she felt it was for the common good.
The tall man with the machina limbs sighed in resignation. “OK. I’ll give it a try when we get off this damn’ boat. It’ll take a little while for the rest to get organized and I’ll gather the other recruits before any official orders come down. Now, let’s get our gear together and head for solid ground."
-X-
“Well, they listened. At least they listened.” Paine muttered as she plunged her fingers through her spiked hair. “At least, they seemed to. With faces as blank as that, it’s hard to tell how much they took in.”
Three of the friends were sitting on various boxes piled up on the pier. Nooj, as usual, had propped himself against a convenient piling. He found it hard to get up and down from a low perch. “They may have stood there while I talked but I’m not sure how much they heard.”
Gippal leaned forward and cradled his face in his hands. “And I thought we had some dumbasses at Home. Tell me, Nooj, is it normal for recruits to leave their brains in their rucksacks?”
Their leader gave a rueful nod, “I’m afraid so. Most armies don’t particularly reward individual thinking. In fact, I’ve known commanders whose ideal soldier was an overmuscled hulk with no head. This crew wasn’t all that unusual. To be truthful, I got the sense they were so tired from what they had been through and so thoroughly intimidated by the Maesters and their guards that they couldn't make a free choice even if they understood what I meant. You can't blame them for being what they are. Under other circumstances, they might have been able to stand up and fight. Well, they can't - so I guess we go it alone.”
Baralai broke his silence, “I hope the Maesters don’t hear about us trying to steal some of their troops. They tend to get personal about things like that. We three would probably get off because they'll figure we don’t know any better, but they won’t be easy on a professional like you, Nooj.”
The other glared from under his brows, “The worst they can do is hang me. I’m not afraid of that.”
Paine shifted her position and leaned against his leg, running her hand down his calf. She murmured something inaudible.
“What’s that, Paine?” Nooj ruffled her hair and gave it a gentle pull.
“I was just saying there wasn’t a one of those men or women fit for battle even if they had the courage to join us.” She refused to look up and meet his eyes.
He tipped her head back, “If you believed that, why did you insist I speak to them and try to persuade them to follow us?” He was genuinely curious.
With a sudden twist, she freed herself from his grip, “I thought maybe if they would come with us, we could save them. They’ll die if the Maesters keep using them.” She buried her face in the folded arms on her knees. “I thought ... “
Nooj bent to stroke her exposed neck, “I’m afraid they’re beyond salvation. In their state, they couldn’t keep up and we don’t have the Healers or the potions to take care of them all. Maybe the Maesters will just abandon them. Paine, you can’t save the world.”
Gippal slid over to the woman and put his arm around her shoulders. “It’s OK. You did your best. If we can just get rid of the Yevon stuff, we ‘ll have a big start on saving the world. And Nooj could be right. When the Maesters see these poor slobs are no more good to them, they’ll drop ‘em like so many handfuls of turds, you’ll see. They’ll be all right. We can leave word at the next village and somebody will come to get them.” He patted her comfortingly. “Right, ‘Lai?”
Baralai moved to Paine's other side and took her hand. “Of course. Don’t worry, Paine. We will send them help. We’re not just leaving them to the uncertain mercies of the priests. You must have faith, faith in the goodness of most people.” He kissed her finger tips.
“Enough!” Nooj barked as he straightened up and loomed over them. “We’re soldiers, not social workers. We’ve got to make our plans now that it’s just the four of us. Let’s wander over to the edge of this area and see if the fools have posted guards yet. If not, I suggest we get the hell out of here.”
Gippal leapt to his feet. “I’ll go ahead and see how it looks. Which way do you want to go? Toward Mi'ihen or the Moonflow?”
Their leader thought for a moment, “The Highway. I know that area well from clearing it out before - before I met Sin. It has alternative ways to go if we need to avoid the regular patrols and we may be able to pick up some people among the masterless men who wander there. Yes, you go ahead, Gippal. The rest of us will drift in that direction. If it’s too well guarded, hurry back to tell us and we’ll try the other route.”
The Al Bhed stuck his fists in the pockets of his baggy trousers and meandered off toward the north with an ostentatiously aimless air. After a few moments, the other three followed him, carrying what supplies they could easily hide about their persons. Baralai filled the pouches he had sewed into the lining of his coat with his stock of medications and materials while Paine slung a bag of rations over her shoulder. Nooj, knowing his limitations, strapped a belt of ammunition around his waist, reserving his hands for the purposes of staying upright and in motion.
-X-
They had not gone far when a frantic figure intercepted them, throwing himself at their leader’s tall figure. It was one of the more fit of the surviving candidates for the Crimson Squad. “Nooj, Nooj, wait! I’ve got to talk to you!” The man gasped as he tugged at the captain’s sleeve. “Listen! You’ve got to get away. That bastard, Nivon - you know the one who always sucked up to the priests? He went and told them about what you said. About fighting Yevon. They’re sending their own guards to arrest you. You’ve got to get out of here.” He sank, panting, to his knees, his eyes tearing with fear. “You’ve got to run.”
Nooj placed a comforting hand on the man’s head. “Thank you for the warning. Now go hide yourself; you must not be seen with us. We can take care of ourselves. The best place for you to find safety is amongst the other recruits. Keep your head down and your mouth shut.” He watched with a worried air as the man nodded and, rising, slipped back into the shelter of the various groups milling about the pier.
Satisfied that their well-wisher would be as protected as possible, he turned to Paine, “You see that group of pilgrims over there to the right? That little crowd going to Djose? The ones wearing the brown robes of their sect? Go see if you can buy or steal four of those robes. We need to cover our clothes and change the way we look.” Without a word, the woman sped off on the errand. Nooj tapped Baralai, “Go tell Gippal what’s happening. Paine and I will catch you up.” The priestling nodded and turned his quick steps to the north.
Within moments, Paine was back with a double armload of coarse homespun linen. “They had spares and were running low on cash, so I bought these and told them to keep quiet for Yevon's sake since this was a Temple project and all would be revealed later.” She drew a deep breath after her rushed speech and laughed scornfully, “That sort will believe anything if it has a religious sound.”
“Well done, lady. Here, wrap one around you. Which is the longest? I’ll need to hide this damn’ leg if I can.”
Paine hastily covered herself and helped Nooj drape the generous folds of the dun-colored garment over his scarlet uniform. “There’s a rope belt to keep the things shut. Let me tie it for you.”
Pulling the deep hoods over their heads far enough to shield their faces, the two proceeded toward the rendezvous, moderating their pace in spite of the impulse to hurry, hurry, hurry.
Gippal found them first, slipping up beside Paine and filching one of the remaining robes from her arms before she noticed his presence. “Give me the other one and I’ll pass it to ‘Lai,” he hissed. Then there were four hooded figures weaving through the thinning crowds past the pier and slipping into the Mushroom Rock Road.
They could hear the sound of confusion behind them as muffled shouts and expressions of pain and anger marked the presence of an armed body of guards pushing through the travelers.
“Should we run?” Baralai asked nervously. “They’re getting awfully close.”
Gippal gripped his lover’s elbow, “No. It would just call attention to us. Keep walking and keep your head down. Look pious - you know how. Do I look like a religious nut?”
“You look like Gippal. Pull the hood down a little more.” The other’s voice was steadier. “And shuffle. Pilgrims don’t stride like soldiers.”
Suddenly the guards were upon them. The four gathered into a cohesive knot, positioning themselves so as to hide the cane Nooj could not manage without. Without consultation, Baralai sensed he was the obvious spokesman since he knew the vocabulary and the demeanor of the fanatically religious.
“Greetings in the name of Yevon. What seems to be the trouble, officers? How can we help you?” He kept his hands folded into his sleeves and his face in shadow. The tone of voice was precisely right, obsequious and oilily sanctimonious.
“Are you the leader of this group?” The head guardsman asked with respect. After all, much of his salary came from the offerings of just such journeyers to sacred places. They went from temple to temple making surprisingly generous donations and all who served the Temples learned early in their careers not to annoy them.
“We are humble servants of our faith and have no leader save our faith. However, my three companions have taken a vow of silence until they have prayed at each temple and I am accompanying them as spokesperson and guide, unworthy as I am.” Baralai bowed. “May we proceed on our way? We have many more miles to go before we can rest and break our fast.”
The guard returned the bow, “Certainly, revered one. You and your companions have a safe and holy journey. We’re looking for traitors, not faithful servants of Yevon.”
-X-
Some time later with the bustling pier behind them and the road empty ahead, the quartet paused and took stock of their situation.
“We seem to have made a clean escape,” Paine remarked, noting that they had all pushed back the stifling hoods of their disguises. “I guess it doesn’t hurt anything to take a break.”
Baralai, who had observed with some concern that Nooj was limping more heavily than before and had stumbled several times in the last hour, spoke up. “It’s getting on toward sunset. I think we should try to make it back to our old camping place and stay there for the night. Then we can get up early tomorrow and should be at the Highroad in a couple of hours. That way we won’t do something stupid because we’re tired.” He folded his arms across his chest and surveyed the others questioningly.
Gippal, who had understood almost immediately what Baralai was doing, seconded him. “Yeah, we keep stumbling along in the dark and we’ll get turned around and end up back in the arms of the Maesters. There are arms I would find more enjoyable.” He nudged his partner.
“Very well, if it is the will of you all. We’ll head for the old place. It’s not far from here.” Nooj wearily began the trudge along the road to the nearly hidden entrance he had discovered so long ago.
Once back in their familiar spot, the four spread out the linen robes to serve as sleeping bags. Gippal began assembling a light supper and Paine, at Baralai's nod, surreptitiously slipped one of the Alchemist’s pain pills to Nooj. He did not protest which indicated to her how much the day’s adventures had drained him. Instead he washed it down with a draft of cold water and propped himself against his familiar rock to await the effect. After the evening meal had been consumed, he muttered something about needing a bath and disappeared. Paine knew where he was going and why; after a decorous period of time, she quietly followed him to the water meadow they had so often used as a rendezvous.
As she had expected, she found her lover just emerging from the pond and drying off with a scrap of fabric. When she had bathed herself, she strolled over to the mossy patch where he was sitting, waiting for her.
“Feeling better?” She asked, dropping down at his side and leaning her head against his chest, “The pill help?”
“Yes, but you do more and you know it.” Nooj lay back, pulling her with him. He propped himself on his elbow and looked at her white body in the light of the two moons. “Ixion's horn! I think I’m addicted to you!” There was a note of surprised awe in his voice.
Paine felt an iridescent globe of joy fill her chest. He rarely expressed his feelings toward her and she collected each word of affection like a beachcomber sifting opals from the sand. Moving with languid wantonness, she opened her legs and drew him to her. “Here’s your drug. Take it.”
-X-
The following morning, a greatly refreshed crew set out on the second leg of the walk along the Mushroom Rock Road. As they had expected, no pursuers had surfaced and they felt safe in discarding the heavy hot robes, carefully tucking them away in a dry niche in case other desperate travelers might have need of them. It was strange to pass the area where the mass of recruits had gathered before the trials and hear only quiet instead of the buzzing hum of a mob of humans moving and talking.
Then the reassuring silence was broken by the sound of feet, armored feet, pounding down the rock-strewn road behind them. It was not the sound of innocent travelers. It sounded ominously like pursuit.
Gippal sprinted back a short way and returned at a much faster pace. “It’s soldiers! They’re coming this way. We’ve got to hurry!”
Without protest, the four set off down the hard packed passage as quickly as they could. Paine, seeing Nooj fall behind, slowed her pace to stay by him. He was making better speed than she had thought but it was not easy for him. He could not flex the machina leg rapidly enough to run in a normal fashion so his best speed was attained by a sort of clumsy leap as he swung the left leg together with the cane like a stilt and, shifting to the right one, propelled himself forward again. It was both inefficient and tiring but it had to suffice.
The woman shouted to the other two to find a place to hide since Nooj clearly could not outdistance the pursuers.
“Go ahead. Save yourself.” Nooj panted to the lithe creature at his side. “I can make it.”
“Shut up and run,” she ordered. “I don’t think they’ve seen us. It’s probably just a regular patrol.”
To their dismay, they suddenly heard new voices ahead of them together with the jingle of military harness and caught a quick glimpse of scarlet uniforms along with the more elaborate garments of a Maester. They were trapped between a squadron of soldiers behind and one before. Nooj felt his spirits sink and despair overwhelm him. He had brought his friends to this pass; it was all his fault. He instantly decided to claim he had forced them to accompany him and so take the blame completely upon himself. To that end, he began assembling persuasive testimony in his mind.
A tool-scarred hand reached out of the seemingly solid rock just ahead and grabbed Paine's arm, swinging her into a shallow alcove screened by a growth of brush. She darted immediately out again to steer Nooj into the sanctuary. He crashed against the far wall and stayed there, panting, while he tried to comprehend the improbable fact that they were all safe for the moment.
Nooj was very tired. Running was more difficult than he liked to admit so this pause - even if necessitated by extreme danger - was welcome. He made himself relax against the wall of the little bay and left it to the others to monitor the progress of the forces they were attempting to avoid. Through slitted eyes, he saw the team which had been behind them trot past the opening and disappear. They were in red uniforms as well! Crusaders! If they had been some he had known, they might have helped. Then he told himself he could not have taken the chance. With a sigh of exhaustion, he counted his own group just to make sure they were truly safe. Baralai and Gippal were pressed together at the narrowest part of the slot and Paine was crouched just behind the screen of brush, one fist braced against the ground, listening intently to the conversation which was just finishing on the road outside. The sound was clear enough and the tenor of the words non-confrontational but the fugitives further from the opening could not make out any of the actual statements.
Paine seemed to be making some sense of what was going on just beyond their hiding place. The contingent containing the Maester went by, not noticing the watchers. As soon as the sound of their steps had died away, Paine tensed her muscles, then with neither obvious reason nor prior notice, she sprang to her feet and darted out from the protective cover. None of her companions was fast enough to stop her, although Gippal fell flat on his belly in the attempt.
Next Chapter