The Complete Xenogears Script Part 1: First Disc Author: Sheamon bshea@worldnet.att.net Edition 2.0 Last Updated: 3/28/2001 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Table of Contents ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Script Info (In both parts) A. Things to Notice B. Disclaimer C. About the Author D. Versions E. FAQ F. Special Thanks G. Key II. Script Disc 1 (In Part 1) A. The Lahan Disaster B. Further Mysteries C. The Slayer of God D. The Sand Pirate's Plan E. The Bledavik Rescue F. Nisan G. Desert Despair H. Nortune I. The Battling Tournament J. Attack on Nortune! K. Escaping from Kislev L. The Thames M. Billy the Etone N. Burning Souls O. Shevat P. Rescue Nisan! Q. The Gates R. Solaris S. The Truth III. Script Disc 2 (In Part 2) A. Dreams... B. The Soylent System C. The Anima Dungeons D. Mahanon E. Merkava F. The Truth about Fei G. Attack on Merkava H. Sidequests I. The Final Battle ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I A. Things to Notice ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is the Complete Script to the game Xenogears, Squaresoft's longest and most text- filled game. This script includes the script for every mandatory action in the game, plus the text from all sidequests. It is split up into 2 parts in order to avoid forcing you to download a 800K + file at once. (Yes, it's that big when in one file!) The first part includes the first disc, the second includes the second disc. Both parts include the script info, (parts IA-IF.) This script has actually been on the net in one version or another since I started putting it up in January 2000, but this is the first time I've put it in this kind of form and have allowed other sites to host it. If you would like to see the script split up into smaller files, check them out at my website, located at http://xenoquarters.xenogears.org . The page also includes a mass amount of story info, and special script segments, like a section dedicated to the Gazel conversations, the Cain-Hyuga conversations, etc... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I B. Disclaimer ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The copyright to the game Xenogears and all its characters and terms belong to Squaresoft. However, this written down version of the script belongs to me. It may not be copied in any way, whether on paper or electronically without my permission. If you want permission to put it on your site,, email me at cain@xenogears.org and give me a good reason why you want to use my work. In addition, you must give me the exact URL where it will be, and how you are giving me credit. The following sites have gained my permission: http://www.gamefaqs.com http://xenoquarters.xenogears.org http://xenogears.escaflowneonline.com The script may not be altered in any way. If it is, you will be forced to remove it from your site. If you see the script on a page not listed, please notify me. I would really appreciate it so I could catch those thieves. If you use this script for any purposes other than your entertainment, you must notify me and give credit. This includes using direct quotes for fanfics, and if used for radio plays. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I C. About the Author ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The author of this script, Sheamon, can be reached at bshea@worldnet.att.net . He is the webmaster of Xenogears HQ, and Visions of Escaflowne. He also staffs for Ground Zero Network. He is currently in the process of completing his Galaxy Express site and doing the Chrono Cross script. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I D. Versions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.0 minor revision 3/28/2001 Updated email address. 2.0 12/15/2000 Wow, here we are 3 months later and I haven't gotten around to finishing this yet. Well, I've finally completed it and sent it to gamefaqs. 2.0 9/4/2000 After seriously thinking about it, I decided to prepare a script for submittion to sites like gamefaqs and rpgamer, and converted the script into a Text File. Unfortunately, the original text files had been converted to html, so it took a little longer to do then hoped. 1.3 3/18/2000 It was this date that the script was finally completely put on my site. It was split into 28 parts, and remains there today. 1.2 1/30/2000 Around this time, I decided to split the script into 3 seperate parts: Prologue to Attack on Nortune, Goliath Factory to Sargasso, and Solaris to Ending. 1.1 1/18/2000 I started transferring the script to html and putting it on my site at this time. Although most of the script had been typed on my computer, most of the disc 2 text still wasn't. It was updated frequently the first week or so, then I started to work on larger updates, putting up huge sections at a time. The script was originally going to be in one file. 1.0 1/8/2000 The first version of the script. This existed only in my home in roughly 300 or so sheets of paper where I had either written or typed all the text in the game. This was the result of 4 months of work, over a hundred hours since I started it in the second week of September. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I E. FAQ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I F. Special Thanks ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Thanks go out to: Bill, Josh, Chris, Jason and the others -For recommending I try out Xenogears back in May 1999 Dark Warlord -For being kind enough to host my site so I could get off that dump Angelfire and make it easier for others to find the script Amber Michelle -Her website Guardian Angels helped me learn a lot more about Xenogears than I already knew, and she was one of the people who recommended I put it in a form like this. The Nisan Sanctuary -Their messageboard allowed me to make contact with hundreds of other Xenogears fans, get assistance with story info, and receive comments & suggestions about the early versions of the script. Square Gamer -Same as TNS, but not to the same extent, I had a lot of Xenogears conversations there as well. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I G. Key ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [text] When something appears in brackets, it is a description of something occuring. This does not appear in the game as text. Name:text The person's name appears, then after a colon the text they say is provided. Easy to understand, huh? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II A. The Lahan Disaster ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prologue I Am Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and the End, The First and the Last... [A giant spaceship travels through space at great speed. Suddenly, red lights start to flicker within the control center of the ship] Computer:This is a level 1 emergency Orange haired woman:Omega one restarted. Alpha One genome restructured. Confirming exon replacement... [On a monitor in front of her, an embryo forms into a small winged creature.] Green Haired Woman:Base code 85 million, 100 million! It's speed is overwhelming! Alpha One to Razeal Central, access confirmed. Initializing Feteck. Disconnected! [On the monitor, a white dot travels though a field of polygons.] Orange Haired Woman:Activating emergency shelter... Denied! Contamination is spreading widely. Captain! Captain:Cut off the cables manually. Orange Haired Woman:Roger. Activating self-destruct bolts. Confirming... [Somewhere else in the ship, a pipeworks part falls from the wall, something electrical passes through anyway.] Orange Haired Woman:No good. Nothing happened. Green Haired Woman:Omega One, they are attacking! We can't stop them! 98% of our weapons have been taken over. [A huge cavern with 2 yellow objects rotating in the center lights up.] Orange Haired Woman:Auto pilot system Deus has been accessed. And it's phased space logic is being rewritten. [On the monitor, a large portal appears underneath a sphere.] Orange Haired Woman:Ergo area is increasing. An internal plane is forming. Switch to space displacement mode. Alpha One, confirming transfer of coordinate codes. Cordinates input NX128EZ061, the main planet! [The captain stands.] Captain:Damn, so they're planning on attacking. [He picks up the phone.] Captain:Engine room, activate the emergency sealing system. Engine room? Eng- [The phone which dangles of the hook in the engine room is severed. The captain places the phone down. Suddenly, red text apears on the large monitor in front of them. It contains the statement "You shall be as gods", over and over.] Captain:See that all civilians and passengers are safely transported to the escape shuttles. I will send a dispatch after evacuation is complete. I am evacuating the ship. All of you , evacuate now. [People run in terror through the ship and jump into escape ships. Suddenly, weapons rise from the ship and quickly shoot down the escaping ships. The captain watches in horror. He sits in his chair and pulls out a locket with a picture of his wife and daughter. He sets it aside and pushes some buttons. A small panel rises. He pushes a few buttons and sits in his seat calmly. The ship blows to smithereens over a nearby planet.] [Later, at the wreckage of the ship, a young blue haired woman crawls out of the wreckage. She watches as a light falls from the sky and walks up to the nearby sea...] Story The continent of Ignas, in the northern hemisphere of our world. On this, the largest continent, a war has been raging between two countries for hundreds of years. In the north of the continent lies the Kislev Empire. In the south lies the desert kingdom of Aveh. The war has gone on for so long that the people have forgotten the cause, knowing only the pointless circle of hostility and tragedy. The chronic war obsession was soon to encounter a devastating change. This was due to the Ethos, an institution that preserves our world's culture, repairing tools and weapons excavated from the ruins of an ancient civilization. At once both countries excavated these ruins, and had the Ethos repair the discoveries, in order to increase their military power. The various weapons excavated from the ruins greatly changed the form of warfare. The outcome of the battles between two countries was no longer decided by man-to-man combat, but by Gears- giant humanoid fighting machines- that were obtained from deep within the ruins. Eventually, after continuous swings in the state of the war, Kislev gained the upper hand. The major factor behind this lay in the enormous difference in the amount of resources buried within their ruins. But suddenly, a mysterious military force appeared in the continent of Ignas. Called "Gebler", this force decided to make contact with Aveh. With the assistance of this Gebler militarty force, Aveh was able to recover from being hopelessly outnumbered to being back on an even standing with Kislev. Then, taking further advantage of it's newly gained momentum, Aveh started to capture one territory after another from Kislev, showing no sign of slowing down in their invasion campaign. The remote village of Lahan, in the outskirts of Aveh, near the border with Kislev. This is where it all begins. [The village of Lahan is on fire. Gears are destroying buildings, knocking down trees, and attacking people. People run as far away from the gears as they can, trying to escape from the village with their lives. A large blue gear stands before some of the gears, and the young man inside it calls out.] Fei: Huff, huff... Damn you! [A nearby gear points a gun at the blue gear, but the gear outmaneuvers it and knocks the enemy gear down.] Fei: Huff, huff... That's one down!? [Suddenly, the gear gets up as if it was never attacked.] Fei: What on earth are you? No matter how often I knock you down you still get up! [An older man in his late twenties runs near to the gears and calls to Fei.] Citan: Fei! Stop! You must not fight here! [The enemy gear shoots, striking Fei's gear.] Fei: Guh! Boy are you persistent! [Fei attacks the gear, punching and kicking it until it falls to the ground.] Fei: Huff, huff... Damn it! How come? Why did it have to come to this? [The flames around Fei grow, suddenly, the camera pans back to reveal Fei in his basement painting a picture. He steps back and looks at his latest painting.] Fei: Whew! That about does it! Alright... now for a short break. [Fei goes upstairs, where many men from the village have gathered to talk about the upcoming wedding between Fei's best friends, Timothy and Alice. Fei approaces Timothy.] Timothy:Yo! Hi there, Fei. Sorry for us all using your house like this. But, we have to talk about the big day tomorrow with the village chief. Fei:Yeah tomorrow, huh... Your wedding with Alice! Now that is a big day! Timothy:Yeah... right... But it still hasn't hit me as reality though. Fei:Hey, errh, Timothy, I just want to thank both you and Alice... 3 years ago, I woke up in this village without a trace of my memory... I didn't know who I was, where I had been or what I had been doing up until that day... I couldn't recall a single thing... Despite that, you and Alice sympathised with me and encouraged me to go on. If the two of you hadn't been there for me, I don't know what would have become of me... Timothy... From the bottom of my heart, I thank you! Now, you and Alice had better live happily ever after! Timothy:Hah! Quit it will ya! You don't have to go and get all mushy with me... Anyway, to me it feels like I've always been friends with you ever since we were kids. And we will go on being friends forever, right? Fei:Of course! Timothy:Oh yeah, Fei...Could you stop by and check on Alice? I still have some stuff to discuss with my old man and the village chief. But I'm sure she'll be glad to have some company. Fei:Yeah, sure! I'll do that... Anyway, I'll see you later. Oh and I am really looking foward to the ceremony tomorrow. [Fei goes to the door to exit the house. Suddenly the door bursts open and a 10 year old bursts in.] Dan:So there you are! Fei, I have to talk to you about something! Fei:Why hello there Dan! You're looking lively today... as you are everyday! Timothy:Dan! Don't be so rude. What's this barging in and all? Dan:Argh! Timothy's here too... Butt out, Timothy! Until you marry my sister, you have nothing to do with me at all! I just have some business here with my friend Fei! So anyway, Fei, I errh... I have something to talk to you about later... Fei:What is it Dan? It sounds serious! Dan:Yeah, that's why I can't talk about it here... There's a certain person listening who could cause us trouble...! It's really important! We gotta talk, seriously, one-onone, man-to-man! I'll be hanging around outside. So I'll see ya there later, ok!! Be seein' ya, Timothy! Take care of yourself until tomorrow... [Dan leaves. Fei turns to Timothy.] Fei:Huh? What's up with him? Timothy:As of tomorrow, I'm going to be that kid's brother in law... Hah! That part isn't going to be no honeymoon! [Fei leaves the building and steps outside. He walks over to Dan.] Dan:Oh good Fei! Ya ready to talk? As you know, tomorrow's finally the day of my sister's wedding... So what I want to talk to you about is exactly that... Alice's marriage. Fei, to be perfectly honest with you... I've always wished that you could have been my brother. It's still not too late. You could go steal Alice and run off with her! If you need me to help, I'll be glad to! It may sound odd for me to say this, but my sister's beautiful and a good cook... (And this is just between you and me, but she's well endowed too! Heh heh heh.) So come on! Go for it! Fei:Alright, Dan. You've got it... I guess I'll just go and sweep Alice away and make a run for it! Dan:Really!? I knew I liked you Fei! That's the spirit! ...But if only it was that easy... It's not like we can change their feelings... And you would need to have love for her too... But I'm not gonna forget this, Fei! You were really willing to go that far to help me... Fei, you're a good guy! [Fei walks over to Alice's house. A woman walks up to Fei and talks to him.] Woman:Hello, Fei! Are you here to see Alice? Actually, it's customary that we don't let any men in to see the bride today... But you can be an exception. [Fei walks into Alice's house and walks up a flight of stairs to Alice's room. She is working on her wedding dress.] Fei:Hello, Alice. Is that your wedding dress? Alice:Oh!? Fei, you starled me! Yes it is... I just finished it. It took more work than I expected. Fei:Hmm... You did a great job there! It'll look wonderful on you Alice... Congradulations! Alice:Thank you... [The two talk at the same time.] Alice:Oh, um Fei... Fei:Hey, uh Alice... Fei:What is it? Alice:Oh, nothing... Fei:I see... Alice:Oh yes that's right... Have you seen Dan? Fei:Yeah, he's outside... bragging as always! Alice:Ugh, that kid! I just told him that I had an errand for him to run! Fei:Oh yeah? What kind of an errand? Alice:It's for my wedding tomorrow... I was hoping he could go and borrow a camera and some lights from Doctor Uzuki, up on the mountain peak. Fei:If that's all it is, I'll be glad to do it for you! Alice:Could you? OH, but I couldn't possibly... Fei:Don't worry! Its no problem! Anyway, it doesn't exactly make me comfortable to have Dan handle such delicate instruments. What's more, I might have a chance to eat some of Yui's cooking if I go to the doc's place. Alice:Hee-hee... That's my Fei! Fei:Well, I'll go up there now and get them for you! Alice:Oh... Fei, wait! Fei:Huh? Is there something else you want me to get from Citan? Alice:No... It's not that... Fei:...? Alice:Fei... Have you ever thought about things this way? If... If you had only been born in this village... And we had only known each other earlier on... Fei:.... Alice:Oh, it's nothing. I'm sorry... Fei:Well, I think I had better get going now! Alice:Oh, ok... Be careful on the mountain path. And give my regards to Doctor Uzuki! [Fei walks down the stairs and leaves the house.] Alice:...Is this fate..? I feel so foolish...Who am I kidding? [Fei walks up the mountain path to Dr. Uzuki's house. In about a half an hour, he reaches it. He walks inside and says high to Citan's wife, a woman around 30 years old.] Yui:Hello, Fei. Fei:Hi, Yui, have you seen doc anywhere? Yui:I think he's tinkering with his junk in the backyard. Fei:Thanks, Yui. [Fei walks in the backyard and sees a shed with a giant crab like robot on it.] Fei:Where are you hiding, doc? [Suddenly, Fei hears noice from atop the crab] Fei:Wh, What's going on? Citan:Ohh, this is no good! Why do they use such inferior parts? This is why their intervention strat... [Fei looks up and sees Citan working on the machine.] Fei:Doc! So that's where you were! Citan:Oh, Fei! Good to see you. Fei:Are you alright, doc? What are you doing all the way up there? Citan:I thought I would try to restore this Land Crab. Oh, and that explosion was nothing to worry about! It happens all the time. Ha, ha, ha...! Could you wait a while? I'm just about ready to call it a day. Oh yes. There is something interesting in the storeroom. Why not check it out? Fei:Okay, doc, I will. But please hurry up. It will get dark before you know it. [Fei walks in to the storeroom. He looks at a large box in front of him.] Fei:So this is what doc was talking about. Let me see... what's so interesting about it... [Fei finds a lever next to the box. He pulls it and noises start emulating out of the box.] Fei:Wow!? [The sides of the box fall down and a beautiful angel statue is revealed. Music starts coming out of it.] Fei:Wh, What is this...? This music...? I've heard it before somewhere...? [Citan walks in.] Citan:What do you think? Not bad, huh? Fei:Doc... Citan:Hello again Fei. Sorry to have kept you waiting. Music is a mysterious thing... Sometimes, it makes people remember things that they do not expect. Many thoughts, feelings, memories... things almost forgotten... Regardless of whether the listener desires to remember them or not... Fei:Doc, what is this...? Citan:It was excavated from some old ruins, and is still under repair. Obviously it is an audio device of some type. Long ago people would listen to this melody, just as we are doing now... At times they would have been cheered up... while at times they would have been made to cry. Fei:... Citan:By the way, what brings you here today? Fei:Oh yeah, that's right! Alice asked me to borrow some camera equipment from you. Citan:Oh, yes. Her wedding is tomorrow, right...? Understood. Well, we had better get ready then. Oh, and dinner should be ready soon. Would you like to join us? Fei:Would I ever! I was hoping you would ask. Citan:I still have some cleaning up to do out here. Would you mind giving Midori some company in the house? Fei:Okay. Take your time, doc. I'll go ahead and eat when dinner is ready! Citan:Ha, ha, ha. Go right ahead. But I will not be responsible if you get a stomachache from my wife Yui's cooking. [Fei walks towards the door then stops.] Fei:Doc... I feel strange when I listen to this music... I feel something warm inside… Citan:That just may be because you have someone living inside you... And he too must haveliked this music a long time before he became a part of you... Fei:... [Fei leaves.] Citan:Is Timothy and Alice's wedding really tomorrow... It might actually be better to live an ordinary life, in this condition... As a son of man... Well, anyway, I suppose I had better adjust the gyro at least... Huh? [Suddenly the music stops and the music box shatters into a million pieces.] Citan:This cannot be... Is... is this... an omen...? Now what is going to happen...? [Later that night...] Fei: Mmm... That was good! Your cooking never fails to impress me, Yui! Thank you for such a delicious meal! [Fei and Citan walk to the door.] Yui:You're welcome. If you like my cooking that much, then I'd be happy to cook for you anytime, Fei! Citan:I will bring the equipment you need to the village tomorrow morning, myself... It does not exactly make me feel comfortable to have you handle such delicate instruments, I am afraid! Fei:...Where have I heard that line before!? That's alright by me... Well, see you tomorrow doc! Good night, Yui, Midori! Yui:Good night. We're looking forward to tomorrow's wedding. Midori:... [Fei and Citan walk outside.] Fei:Well, good night, doc. Citan:Yes, good night. [Fei turns.] Citan:Oh, Fei! Please be careful... Ah, I mean... the path is dangerous when it is so dark... Fei:What's wrong doc? There is nothing to worry about! Well, anyway, I'll see you tomorrow. [Fei slowly walks down the mountain path. Suddenly, a loud sound echos through the sky.] Fei:What's that? [Fei sees 4 gears head towards Lahan.] Fei:Giants? [Citan runs down the path and up to Fei.] Fei:Doc! Some flying objects just went toward Lahan!! Citan:So you saw them too! Judging by their shadows, they appear to be a group of Gears from our neighbor country, Kislev. Fei:Those were... Gears...? Citan:!! Oh no! They are headed directly for Lahan! Fei:The ones I just saw? Citan:Let us make haste! Fei:Right! [Fei and Citan run through the Mountain Path as fast as they can. They finally reach Lahan. They are horrified at what they see. They see trees falling down, buildings on fire, and horrified people running away trying to escape.] Fei:No! Lahan's...? [Citan sees Alice and Timothy.] Citan:Alice!? Timothy!! [Fei and Citan run up to Alice and Timothy.] Alice:Doctor Uzuki!? Fei!! Timothy:Doctor! They just came out of nowhere and landed right in our village...! Citan:I know. What on earth are they doing starting a battle here...!? Are you all okay? Alice:Yes! But it's Dan... We can't find him!! Timothy:I'll go look one more time! Alice, go ahead and get out of the village. Citan:No, Timothy, wait! You, Alice, and the villagers should evacuate to a safer location! Timothy:Doc, you know I can't just leave Dan behind! Alice:Timothy... Citan:I understand how you feel, but leave the rest up to Fei and I! The primary thing you should be concerned with is your own safety... Timothy, your responsibity is to protect Alice! Timothy:But... Fei:It's just as the Doc says. The two of you should get out of the village now! Don't worry about Dan. Knowing him, he has already evacuated and is waiting for you! Timothy:...I guess you're right... Okay! Alice, let's evacuate the village now! Alice:Yes, okay. Thank you, Doctor! But Fei... Please look out for Dan! Fei:Yeah, don't worry. If he still happens to be in the village, I'll be sure to save him! Citan:Now, both of you, hurry!! [Alice and Timothy run off to safety.] Citan:I will go check inside the houses to see if there is anyone left behind. Fei, please go around the village and guide the stragglers to a safe location! Fei:Alright! But Doc... You be careful, okay!!? Citan:You too, Fei! [Citan runs into a nearby house to look for Dan. Fei watches as the gears attack the city. Fei is nearly shot down by another gear. The bullets send Fei flying a few feet to the side.] Fei:Whoa!! [Fei sees a large blue gear in front of him.] Fei:...Ah!? [The blue gear kneels down in front of him. The cockpit opens. Inside is a young boy, around 8 years old with hair covering his face and a large smile on his face. Suddenly, Fei sees a cross on a necklace swinging back and forth. Suddenly, the boy is gone. Fei uses the oppurtunity to climb into the gear. Citan steps out of a nearby house and sees what Fei is doing.] Citan:Huh...? Fei!? Wait, Fei!! [Fei ignores Citan and runs off. Suddenly, two gears surround Fei. Even though Fei has no idea how to work a gear, he easily disposes of them. Suddenly, he is surrounded by four more gears.] Fei:On my right too! Damn it! How many of them are there...? [Suddenly, a new gear approaches. This gear is much different than the others. A tall black one with 4 wings coming out of its back, it seems to be in charge of the other gears. The other gears start shooting at Fei.] Fei:I guess...there's no choice... but to fight... [Fei starts battling the other gears. Citan screams out at Fei.] Citan:Fei...!! The way you are fighting... Oh no.. This is not good! If 'he' awakens here... [A voice calls to doc from nearby.] Dan:Doc!! Citan:Dan!? [Dan jumps out of his sister's room and approaches Citan.] Citan:Are you alright!? What on earth are you doing here!? Do you not know how worried Alice and Timothy are? Dan:I'm sorry Doctor Uzuki! I got out of the village earlier, but I came back... I just couldn't bear leaving my sister's wedding dress behind here... Citan:You returned to save your sister's wedding dress...!? Heh... You are such a sentimental boy...! Let us evacuate to a safer spot while Fei has their attention! It appears that they are after that gear Fei is in... Dan:...?!?... Fei's... inside that monster!? Citan:Fei is bound... by the dark, cruel destiny of God... Dan:..Fei...? Citan:Come on now, Dan! We had better get away from here. Timothy:Dan!! [Timothy sees Dan and shouts to the two. He runs over to Dan and Citan.] Timothy:I knew you were still in the village! Boy, I'm glad you're okay!... Huh? [One of the nearby gears notices Timothy.] Citan:Oh no...! Timothy!! Timothy:...Uh!... [Fei in the gear starts running over to protect Timothy.] Fei:Wait!! Don't shoot! Stop it!! These people have nothing to do with you! Timothy! [Two gears run in front of Fei, blocking him from protecting Timothy.] Fei:Out of the way, you bastards! Stop it! I said sto-p i---t! [The lead gear orders one of the gears to shoot. The gear fires multiple bullets that pierce Timothy through the chest. Timothy utters one final scream before his bloody carcas falls to the ground. Fei watches in horror and suddenly gets a terrible pain in his head. The cross necklace swings again in his head. He sees a flashback of a little boy with blood splattered all over his face. The cross swings again and the boy is replaced by the boy with the hair covering his face, blocking his eyes. The small boy starts laughing. The cross swings again and falls off the necklace. Fei regains consciousness, but now has hair covering his face like the boy in his vision. He starts laughing. Suddenly, beams start blasting out of the gear. They easily destroy the nearby gears blocking Fei's path. People nearby scream in horror as their bodies burn in seconds. Alice watches in horror and smiles before crumbling to dust. Dan watches in horror. He tries to get up to save his sister.] Dan:Alice! [Citan holds him back] Dan:No!!!!! [Another blast rocks the city reducing it to nothing. Fei wakes up around 8 hours later on the moutain path near the village.] Fei:Uh... Uhn...? Huh...! Where am I...!? [Fei sees the giant gear he used to destroy the village in front of him. He turns around and sees Citan and Dan along with 15 or so other people from the village.] Fei:Doc! Citan:Oh, you have finally gained consciousness, Fei... Fei:Doc... What happened...? Where's Chief Lee, Timothy, Alice...? What did I...? Citan:Yes... Well that is... [Dan interrupts Citan and screams at Fei] Dan:You murderer!! Citan:Dan! Fei:!? Dan, what do you mean? Dan:It… was because you had to get in that monster…Alice and Timothy… The people of the village are all…!! You killed everyone using that monster…!! Fei:…?!?… Dan:Why did you have to fight in the middle of the village…? How do you even know how to operate such a monster…? Girl:Mother...? Where mother...? Villager:See, I told you so... I said allowing someone we knew nothing about into our village would spell disaster... Child:Owww... Hurts... It hurts... [Fei turns and looks at the gear.] Fei:Dan! [The people of the village back away in terror as Fei approaches them.] Child:Yikes!... No! Keep away!... I'm scared... Dan:Murderer!! My sister... Give me back my sister!! Citan:Dan! There is nothing to be gained from putting the blame all on Fei alone. What is more, you know Fei had no control over the malfunction of that gear. Dan:I...I know that! But... But...!! [Turns to Fei.] Dan:I HATE YOU! [Dan runs off crying.] Citan:It might be better if we left him by himself for a little while... He does not know what to do with his grief, his anger... Fei:... Citan:And Fei… it may be a good idea for you to leave this place. There is no guarantee that reinforcements from yesterday's units are not going to come… They will probably want to know what happened to their comrades. Also, if you stay gere, I do not think the atmosphere is going to be very joyful… If you know what I mean. It is probably best for both you and all the other villagers here. Fei:I guess you're right… This disaster happened because I was here… But… what am I supposed to do now? Citan:Yes, well… Why not go through the Blackmoon Forest and head for Aveh? I am sure those soldiers from yesterday were not from Aveh. If you can manage to get to the Aveh side, they will not be able to track you down very easily. Fei:Okay… I understand, doc…Well, anyway… Please take care of the rest of things here, doc. Citan:Of course… Well, do take care now. [Fei starts leaving. He looks at the gear that destroyed the village. Thoughts of what Dan said go through his mind.] You killed everyone with that monster.... Murderer!! My sister... Give me back my sister!! Fei:...Gh!... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II B. Further Mysteries ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Fei leaves and goes to the Blackmoon Forest. He climbs up a ledge and walks on a log. Suddenly, he hears a noice and a voice behind him.] Woman:Ranahad! [Fei turns and sees a beautiful red haired woman, around his age. She is pointing a gun directed at Fei's head.] Woman:Katenayu tada bintudah akba! Dhan narata! Rana kotay! [She looks at Fei and confusion and switches her voice to the Aveh language.] Woman:Throw down your weapon! Make one wrong move and I'll shoot! Errh... Turn around! Fei:... Woman:I said...turn around! [Fei turns and she walks up to him.] Fei:...Are you shaking? Woman:Be quiet!... You don't seem to be one of the Kislev soldiers who are after me. [Fei turns and faces her.] Woman:Don't move! I have orders to kill all surface dwellers, -Lambs-, I come in contact with… It's part of my mission. It's nothing personal. I have a question for you… How do I get out of this forest? Fei:Are you… lost? Woman:Just answer my question! How do I get out of here? Fei:Sorry, but I'm looking for the way out of here too. Woman:Oh… [The woman lowers her gun.] Fei:How long are you just going to stand there like that? If you're going to shoot me, then hurry up and do it. Woman:What an odd thing to say! Don't you understand the situation you are in? [Fei looks down sadly.] Fei:I don't care about my situation... I'm just a guy whose life is worthless... There's no point in me living anyway! [He walks towards her.] Woman:Don't come any closer! [She fires at Fei but misses by a few feet.] Fei:What are you aiming at? Here! Shoot me here! C'mon... Woman:Are you mocking me? You're weird! Something's very wrong with you! You should at least resist a little bit! [Suddenly, a forest imp jumps behind the woman. She turns.] Woman:What's this? Who are you? [The forest imp punches her knocking her out.] Fei:Stop! Keep your hands off of Elly! [Fei runs up to the beast and finishes it off with a few deathblows.] Fei:Are you alright? Hang in there! [The woman wakes up hours later. It is now night. Fei has made a fire and sits near her.] Fei: Good, you finally woke up! You didn't move for so long that I started to worry… Woman:... Fei:How are you feeling? Woman:... Fei:Do you still intend to kill me? Then go right ahead and shoot me! But you'd better not do it while we're in this forest. Forest monsters hate loud noises, you know!? Woman:... Fei:Fine. Don't talk to me if you don't want to... But it wouldn't kill you to thank me for tending to your wounds. Woman:Th… Thanks… But you shouldn't have helped me. Don't think it will save your life, though. It really doesn't change a thing. Fei:What are you so afraid of? Woman:I'm not afraid, I'm just being cautious. It's natural for me to be this cautious considering I've met such a suspicious surface dwelling -Lamb-. Fei:Hm. Don't you worry. I'm not going to do anything. Besides, you're much more suspicious than I am. Woman:Huh? Fei:So, what's your name? Woman:I won't give my name to a surface dweller -Lamb-. Fei:What's with you and this 'Lamb' thing? We're both lost in this forest, surrounded by dangerous monsters… Shouldn't we at least be cooperating with each other until we get out of here? Woman: … Fei:Good. So what's your name? It's going to be hard for us to cooperate with one another without at least knowing each other's names. Anyway, my name is Fei Fong Wong. You can call me Fei. Woman:I'm… Elhaym. But my parents call me Elly. Fei:'Elly', huh? Somehow I already 'knew' that. Elly: ? Fei:Anyway, it's too dangerous to travel in these parts this late at night… Let's wait till daybreak before we continue looking for a way out of here… If that's okay with you? Elly:I guess we have no choice, do we? Fei:Okay then Elly… How about having something to eat. [The two soon go to sleep. Fei has a dream. He is a boy sitting in a desert all alone. Suddenly, a line of faceless men appear in front of him. walking away. Fei gets up and tries to catch up.] Fei:Wait! Don't leave me here...! [They soon dissappear into the horizen. Fei starts to cry. Suddenly, a young woman approaches him. Her face is covered in shadows.] Young Woman:You must be lonely here by yourself... [The cross necklace on her chest glitters. Fei reaches for her hand. Suddenly, he hears a voice.] Elly:...Fei...Fei...Fei...Fei? Fei? Are you awake? [Fei wakes up and the two head further into the forest. They eventually stop at a small clearing.] Elly:Fei… Yesterday you said that your life was worthless. What did you mean by that? Fei:Why are you asking? Elly:Why? Yesterday you looked like you had a death wish. You think it wouldn't make me wonder…? Say, how did you get stranded in this forest in the first place? Fei:I should ask you the same question. Elly:Huh? Well, I, errh… Fei:I… ran away… from my village… or what's left of it… Elly:Village…? You don't mean…!? Fei:…Lahan… It was a small village that existed between this forest and the mountain range. I ran away from there. Elly:That village…? Fei:It was a nice, peaceful village. Everyone there treated me like family. Then, last night, a group of Gears suddenly appeared and started fighting right in the middle of the place. The village was engulfed in flames… I couldn't just stand there and watch Lahan be destroyed… So to try and save the villagers, I got in an empty Gear… without even knowing how to operate it. I just thought that maybe I could do it… no… it was more like someone whispering to me… Telling me to do it… But it was a disaster! The village… Elly:Was it destroyed by the Kislev army? Fei…? Fei:No… the village was destroyed… by me… Elly:…? Fei:Yes. It was me. I destroyed Lahan. I'm sure of it… Elly:What do you mean you destroyed it? I thought you were trying to help save the villagers? Fei:I did try to help. I actually took out a few Gears. But then I came under heavy fire from a new group of Gears… And then my friend… Timothy... was hit by a hail of bullets… Then I lost it… Everything just went dark... Then I don't remember anything after that. The Gear I was in went out of control... Well, that's what doc said. When I came to... the village... and everyone in it... was... Alice... She was such a... Alice and Timothy... Oh God...! Everybody! All such good people... Elly:Went out of control…? The Gear..? What about the village? Fei? Fei:…Yes, the Gear! Elly:!… Fei:If only they hadn't come… [Elly thinks back to the a few hours before the Lahan disaster. She was leading 3 other gears, being chased by Kislev gears.] Elly:Damn them... They're still giving chase... We've entered Aveh territory... I'm not giving up now. This Gear's too important! [A gear next to Elly is blown up.] Elly:! Thats done it! I'm at a disadvantage now. Sh, Shrapnel... In my back. My thrusters' output is dropping. I can't maintain altitude. [Elly and her friends land in Lahan. She climbs out of the gear and runs off.] Fei:If they had never come to the village, never started fighting there… Then I wouldn't have tried to pilot that Gear. It's all their fault… Not mine! They're the ones to blame. If they'd never come… None of this would have… If not for them! Them! Them! Them!! Elly:Enough of that! Fei:!? Elly:You're a coward! Fei:A coward? ... Me? Elly:Yes, you're a coward. All you're saying is 'them, them, them'. Don't talk as if you had no part of the blame, as well! Fei:I'm to blame? Elly:Yes, that's right! Of course the direct cause of the battle was that a Gear made an emergency landing in your village. But all Kislev wanted was the Gear, right? They weren't invading or out to destroy Lahan. The real damage occurred because you climbed in a Gear and tried to fight back! Fei:... Elly:What ever made you get into that Gear? Not just anyone can pilot them! It takes training! There is no way a civilian could hope to pilot one! Besides... you should have been helping the villagers flee to safety instead! How can you blame the damage on a Gear when you made the decision to fight in it in the first place? Why don't you take some of the responsibility yourself? Why are you putting all of the blame on others? That's just running away! That's what makes you a coward! Fei:Well, if you put it that way... Yes... that's right, I am a coward! I didn't realize my own strength and have been blaming what happened as a result on others. I'm a pitiful excuse for a man. But... I just felt this rush of blood in me and I couldn't help myself! Couldn't help myself... or help others. [Fei sits down next to a nearby tree.] Elly:Fei, I, I'm... Fei: Shut up! What do you know!? When I came to I was surrounded by piles of rubble… I didn't remember what had happened or what I had done. I remembered absolutely nothing. All I knew was that my hands could still feel what they had done. The only thing that penetrated the Gears barrier were screams… Screams accompanied by the stench of blood, the sound of crushing bones, and my own curses. [Fei holds out his hands towards Elly.] Fei:Look! Look at my hands! Can you hear their voices? Can you understand this feeling? The feeling of having destroyed your village with your own hands…? Of not being able to do anything for the children left behind…? Now they have nothing… I have nothing… I have nowhere… no one… I didn't want to get in it… I had no choice… There was no other way… [Elly steps towards Fei to say something, but thinks against it and walks off to a large clearing nearby.] Elly:Why did I go and say that to him…? [Elly thinks back to a few years ago.] Female Voice:You talk as if it's not your responsibility. [Elly kneels on the floor. She is surrounded by multiple corpses. She holds her hands against her head.] Elly:No! I didn't do anything! Female Voice:They died because you had to pilot the gear and start fighting. Elly:It wasn't me, can't you understand? [Elly looks at her bloody hands.] Female Voice:Not just anyone can pilot those machines, you know! Elly:I didn't do it! Female Voice:Why won't you take responsibility? [Elly stands under a spotlight.] Elly:I'm not so strong. Female Voice:Why are you trying to put the blame on others? Elly:I'm not even all that talented. [Elly thinks back to her conversation with Fei.] Elly:You're a coward! Fei:That's right! I'm a coward! [The flashback ends.] Elly:Yes... that's right... I am a coward... [Suddenly, a Rankar, a giant Tyrannosaurus like creature steps into the clearing. It sees Elly and runs towards her. Meanwhile, in the other clearing, Fei hears Elly scream.] Fei:Oh no! [Fei runs as fast as he can to the clearing and sees the monster holding Elly. He runs up to it.] Fei:Elly! Elly! Are you alright?! Darn! She's unconscious! [Fei tries to attack the Rankar but with no avail. Suddenly, Fei hears a familiar voice.] Citan:Fei!! [Suddenly, Citan appear with the gear in his land crab.] Citan:Fei! I have been searching for you! Here, you can use this! [The gear is released and falls in front of Fei.] Fei:Hey! Hold on a second! To tell me I can use this is one thing... Elly... Damn it! Doc. I have a favor to ask! I will defet this monster! But if it looks like I'll go out of control like last time, then shoot me! Citan:Fei... Let us pray that that won't happen! [Fei easily defeats the Rankar in the gear. Citan walks up to it.] Citan:Fei! Are you alright? [Fei jumps out of the cockpit.] Fei:Yeah... I guess so... Citan:That fight with the Rankar was remarkable. An ordinary Gear could not defeat that monster. And you certainly keep yourself in good shape... Fei:Why did you bring this here, doc? Citan:This...? You mean Weltall? Fei:Weltall? This is the Gear that destroyed out village. Why did you bother bringing it here? I never want to see another Gear again. Citan:I understand how you must feel... But, in order to protect yourself you need a certain degree of strength. Even more since we are being pursued. Fei:I agree that a certain degree of strength is needed for self-defense. And if it weren't for this Gear here, Elly and I'd be in that Rankar's stomach right now... But it's power goes beyond what is necessary. Does one really need the power to destroy everything? Citan:... Fei:I don't need that kind of power... I just hate Gears. Citan:Fei, using power or being used by power... is that not a problem of the heart...? If humans do not use their power for wrong it can be a good thing... I believe such power can help us. In that respect, I know you will be fine. It sure helped you out this time. Am I right? Fei:I want to believe that. But something is holding me back. This Gear... Well, whatever... At least Elly is safe now. Citan:She seems to have come to. Elly:Huh...? Citan:I am Citan... a friend of Fei's. You almost did not make it. If Fei had not helped, I hate to think what may have happened. But I was not too pleased with his rashness in trying to take on that Rankar with just his bare fists. Elly:Bare fists? Citan:Well, I am glad that you were able to find a use for what I brought you. [Elly sees Weltall.] Elly:...!! Citan:Let us just say that we are borrowing what the Kislev army left behind... Elly:...Oh. Thank you, Fei. This makes twice. Fei:Don't mention it. I'll just put it on your tab. Citan:It is getting dark. Let us make camp now and start out early tomorrow. The both of you look tired and I need to make some repairs on our friend here... [Later that night... Citan repairs Weltall while Fei sleeps.] Citan:It is no use. The knee actuator and bypass circuti are both ruined. The actuator can be fixed, but the circuit needs to be replaced... [Citan climbs down and approaches Elly.] Citan: Oh, having trouble sleeping there? Elly:Yeah... Citan:I imagine you would. You have had quite a day. This is the machine Fei used when the village was attacked. There was another machine left sitting on the outskirts of the village... Nil bayer dars legus? (It was yours, right?) Elly:!! Citan:Just as I thought... The missing pilot from the Gear that made an emergency landing in Lahan... and the mysterious woman found wandering lost in the forest... are actually one and the same person. Judging from your uniform, I would also say you are with the military... Am I correct? Elly:How...? Who are you? Citan:I checked the ID tags of the soldiers who died in the attack on Lahan... The design on their tags and the design on your uniform there is the same. Elly:! Citan:Do not worry, they were given proper burials. But, they may not have been too pleased to die in a foreign land. Elly:...Maybe. Citan:Does Fei know about you? Elly:I don't think he has realized yet. Citan:Most likely... Fei knows nothing of the world outside of Lahan. Elly:I see... So how come... Citan:In any case, it is best if we do not pry into each other's pasts anymore. Elly:But... Citan:Let us just say that I know a little more about the world than most do. Anyway, Elly... I have a favor I must beg you to do… Elly:... What is it? Citan:Go straight ahead and you will come to a road. Then just keep going... Would you please leave while Fei is still asleep? Elly:!? Citan:Unfortunate things keep happening around Fei. I would like to protect him if possible... I do not want him caught up in any vain struggles. I am also saying this for your benefit. Elly, you do not belong here. Go back to your family. Elly:Um...I... Citan:Do not worry, I will not tell Fei what your true identity is. I will... just tell him you went to meet up with your family… Elly:No, it's not that! I did something terrible to him... So... I want to... apologize. Citan:Something terrible? Elly:Fei told me it was our fault the village was destroyed. Fei kept saying... If only 'they' hadn't come... Then, I called Fei a coward because he was trying to escape from the responsibility... But in fact it was me who was trying to escape from taking the blame... If I hadn't crash-landed there, they would all still be living peacefully now. All those people wouldn't have been caught up in that tragedy. But I accused Fei... Citan:You are a rarity. I did not expect your people would ever think like that. To your people, surface dwellers are nothing more than domesticated animals, are they not...? Elly:The Shepherds, -Abel-, took control over the surface dwelling -Lambs-... Possessing the right to give them life and death as they see fit... Citan:Exactly. Yet you seem to feel responsibility toward Fei and the villagers. Why is that? Elly:I don't know myself... At Jugend I was taught that surface dwellers were stupid and base... And that is why we have to control them... But... Citan:But upon meeting Fei, something about him made you feel differently? Elly:Yes. He's no different than we are... In fact he seemed more powerful. He possesses something... something we don't. He also risked his life to save me... twice. Citan:Most of your people would feel ashamed at receiving such an act. Yet, you are grateful to Fei…? Elly:It's probably because of my father. He had an open mind to surface dwellers. My nanny was... a surface dweller. No one knew about her though... Besides... I am the same as Fei... Citan:The same? Elly:No, nothing. Nevermind... Citan:Hmm. I think I understand. I am sorry. After just saying that we should not pry... It is my nature, you know? My wife says I am too persistent and that I talk too much. But, personally, I do not think I talk too much. It is probably best if you return home to your country. You really should not be here. Elly:I'll return to headquarters. But then what...? Citan:You are worried... Elly:Yes... Citan:Worrying is natural. Even I used to worry once too, you know!? Elly:Oh, Citan... Citan:Anyway, let me handle what to tell Fei... You had better go now. [Elly leaves. The next morning...] Fei:Has Elly gone yet? Citan:Oh, so you were awake? Fei:Yes, I woke up midway, so I only heard parts of what you two were discussing. Citan:... Fei:Elly... so that's what she is? Citan:Fei, she is... Fei:I know, it's not Elly's fault. What happened to the village is all my fault. I took out all my pent up feelings on Elly. I'm the one who should apologize. Citan:Fei, do not blame yourself. If was not your fault either. You were just trying to protect the village. Fei: Thanks, doc... By the way, how is everyone from the village going? Citan:Do not worry, Yui is taking care of them. I told her to leave soon and take them all to a certain place. They should be safe for a while. So you just worry about yourself for now. Fei:Okay, doc. Citan:Now to think what we should do next... Shall we leave this forest and head for the desert town of Dazil? We may learn what Aveh and Kislev are up to... not to mention getting some parts for Weltall. The leader of Aveh is not going to sit back and let the other night's fiasco go unpunished! [The two continue through the forest. Suddenly, they see a large airship.] Fei:What is that...? Citan:I would assume it is an aerial battleship from Aveh... Fei: An aerial battleship? I've never heard of Aveh having anything like that. Citan:Of course it does not come from Aveh originally... Most likely it belongs to the Gebler forces stationed in Aveh. Fei:Gebler? Citan:Special forces from the Sacred Empire of Solaris known as Gebler. I am sure you have heard something about them. They are an organization providing large-scale military aide to the kingdom of Aveh. They showed up in Ignas several months ago. Until then, Aveh was being routed by Kislev. But with the Gebler's help they have managed to regain half their losses. They are now expanding their territory and gathering resources buried in the ruins. Fei:I've heard the village elders talk about it... Is Elly a part of that? Citan:Quite possibly so. Their group has superior technology and power. It is rumored they are here solely to get the resources in the ruins. I am surprised they are using something as powerful as that ship... It must be to suppress the recent border skirmishes. Fei:So they are fighting the Kislev Empire? Citan:Yes. It seems they have found new ruins on the northern edge of Aveh. Those ruins are under a five-hundred-year-old temple. Three weeks ago Kislev took over those ruins. Most likely they are fighting over that. [They leave the forest and walk to the nearby desert town of Dazil.] Fei:This is... Dazil... Citan:Yes, that is right. The desert town of Dazil. Fei:This town's lively. Citan:This is the center for all excavations in Aveh. People come from all over Ignas to try and find the resources buried in the ruins around here. We should be able to find out what both Aveh and Kislev are up to, here. And we also have to gather the things we need to repair Weltall. Fei:Repair Weltall... Citan:Yes, we must exchange the broken parts to fix Weltall... Otherwise it will not be able to function at all! There is an 'Ethos' workshop in the Southern part of this town. Let us go there, Fei. Fei:Yeah, okay doc, let's check this place out then. [The two walk into the nearby Ethos Workshop.] Fei:Wow… So this is the 'Ethos' workshop, heh, doc? Citan:Yes. The 'Ethos' workshops are the only places that officially repair Gears. Let us see if we can get the parts we need to fix Weltall here. As they say, time is money! ...So we should do whatever we can as soon as we are able to. 'Ethos' Worker:Huh? How can we help you? Citan:Sorry to bother you. Our Gear has broken down, so I would like to buy some parts to fix it. 'Ethos' Worker:Tough luck, huh? Can you tell me what make of parts you are after? Citan:Yes, we are hoping to replace an X-29 model injection bypass circuit. 'Ethos' Worker:X-29 model injection circuit? That's only used on the latest military models. We don't keep those kinds of parts in stock here. You can only get such special parts by placing an order at the 'Ethos' headquarters. This workshop is only for the repair of civilian Gears… Citan:I see. Sorry to have bothered you. 'Ethos' worker: Sorry that we can't help you. [The two exit the workshop.] Fei:...Doc, do you have a moment? I need to talk to you. Citan:Yes, of course, Fei... [The two walk to a bridge over the center of Dazil.] Citan:So Fei, what did you want to talk to me about? Fei:Well doc, it's about Weltall... We can't find the parts we need, so is it alright if we just don't fix it? Citan:Do not repair it. What is the problem, Fei? Fei:Well, we've been able to come as far as Dazil on our own… So doesn't that show that we don't need Weltall as much as we thought? Actually, I've been thinking that after things cool down I want to go back to Lahan and help rebuild. That's all I feel I can do now… Citan:...I see. If that's what you want, Fei, then fine. But I think we should try and move Weltall as far away from there as possible. Fei:Move it away? But why do we need to do that, doc? Citan:It is only my speculation, but... I suspect that the incident that evening occurred because the Gebler Special Force stole a Kislev military Gear. Fei:Special Force... You mean Elly's group? Citan:Exactly. When I examined the broken Gear in the village, I realized that the Gebler pilot was riding a Kislev Gear. It must have had some new technology involved in it for the Kislev army to send pursuit forces after it. Fei:New technology? Citan:I suspect that the Gebler Force was out to steal a new experimental Gear. I am sure news of the Special Force's failure has reached the capital. They will be investigating the Lahan area to reclaim whatever parts of the new Gear they can find. Fei:Hold on, doc! Won't the Kislev army still be in Lahan too! Citan:Most probably. An in that case, there will be a conflict between Aveh's inspection team and Kislev's pursuit troops. If they find where we have hidden Weltall... Fei:The armies will fight over who gets Weltall... And right near Lahan too. Citan:So, to avoid any problems, we should move Weltall somewhere else right away! Fei:But, we can't fix it in order to move it… Citan:Right. But staying here will solve nothing. Fortunately, this is the center of all excavation work in this country. There is bound to be some information on where we can find parts... Anyway, the fear is often worse than the danger itself... We should not let such fears hold us back! [They start to exit town, but Citan notices a sand buggy near by.] Citan:This is a sand buggy... That is it, Fei! I have thought of a good way to get the parts we needed for Weltall. First, we have got to find out who will rent us this buggy. Fei:Sand Buggy? Citan:A sand buggy is a special car made for the desert. Its tires do not sink into the sand, so it is a must for long trips into the desert. Fei:So then doc, what do you plan on doing with this sand buggy? Citan:Well, leave it to me. Just you wait and see. [The two enter the rental building. Citan walks up to the owner.] Man:Hm? Never saw you before. You want to rent out a sand buggy too, heh? Citan:Yes, that is right. Do you have any we can rent right now? Man:Of course... The keys are in the ignition, you can take it now. Citan:Well then, if I may. Fei, I am going into the desert to search for parts for Weltall. Fei:Going to the desert? Doc, are you going to excavate some ruins or something? Citan:The Kislev and Aveh armies are confronting each other in the desert all the time. There is talk that their forces often break into battle over the ruins. Fei:What does that have to do with that Gear? Citan:If I search the battlefields for the wrecks of such army Gear... I should be able to find the parts we need. Besides, Weltall is a Kislev Gear, so we need parts from Kislev Gears. Fei:But... Citan:Fei, you are such a worrier. Things have a way of working out. You do not need to worry so much. Why not go kill some time at the bar until I get back. Fei:Doc... Citan:If I search the battlefields for the wrecks of such army Gear... I should be able to find the parts we need. Besides, Weltall is a Kislev Gear, so we need parts from Kislev Gears. Fei:But... Citan:Fei, you are such a worrier. Things have a way of working out. You do not need to worry so much. Why not go kill some time at the bar until I get back. Fei:Doc... Man:Hey, are you letting him go out there alone? Lots of fights break out in the desert... it's a real dangerous place. I've heard about a group of pirates riding around attacking people on a sand cruiser. You really shouldn't let him go out there by himself. [Citan gets in the buggy and leaves.] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II C. The Slayer of God ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Fei heads into the desert and sees some Gears jumping across the desert.] Fei:Gears?... I'm worried about doc... Guess I may as well follow those Gears. [Fei tries to follow them, but to no avail.] Fei:How far has doc gone? ... And now I've lost sight of those gears too. [Suddenly, there is a rumbling.] Fei:What's happening? [Fei sees a giant flying saucer like craft over head.] Fei:!! W, what the heck is that thing? [The craft flies off. Two more gears approach. Fei:A different unit? Are they going toward the direction the saucer went? I'd better follow them as not to lose sight of them. [Fei gets lost. The sun starts to set.] Fei:Does this desert ever end? It'll get dark soon, so I'd better hurry up and... [Fei notices some motorcycles driving by.] Fei:What's going on here? Gears, a flying saucer... and now these guys... I hope doc's alright! [Another bike almost hits Fei. It crashes into a nearby sand hill.] Fei:Errh, sorry about that! Just let me borrow this for a while! [Fei steals the bike and drives off.] Aveh Soldier:Hey Wa~it! [Fei drives for a while, but is suddenly knocked over by a gust of wind. Two gears surround him. Fei:What's with you guys? Aren't you overreacting a little for just stealing a motorcycle...? [Suddenly, bullets strike one of the gears, knocking it over. The other gear turns, but too late. The bullets strike him as well.] Fei:Ah...! [Weltall lands in front of Fei and Citan steps out of it.] Citan:Fei! I was looking everywhere for you. Fei:Doc! You're alright? Citan:Yes, of course...! Looks like we do not have time to chat. [The two gears get up.] Citan:Fei, hurry! Fei:Hurry and do what...? Citan:I cannot use Weltall very well! Only you can use its full potential... Hurry up and get on board! [Fei steps into the gear.] Fei: ...A, a, alright. [Fei beats them after a long fight.] Fei:I don't know how... but I beat them! Strange voice:HA, HA, HA, HA, HA! Fei:W, what the? [Fei looks at a nearby hill. On top of it stands the lead gear from the attack on Lahan. Next to it stands a man with a skull-like mask on his head, and wearing a long black cape.] Man in Black:Your hot blooded desire for battle has not been tamed, I see. Fei:Who are you? [Fei thinks to himself as he stares at the man. The cross swings in his mind.] Fei:Right, I know you... You killed her [Fei as a child kneels down on the ground.] Fei:No! It wasn't! Not me! I... [The boy with the hair in his face approaches.] Boy:Coward... It was you! [Fei thinks back to the present.] Fei:You're the one from... Lahan...!! Citan:Here we go again... Man in Black:My name is Grahf... The seeker of power. You certainly showed how much power you had back there in Lahan, didn't you, Fei!? Fei:How much power I had? What are you talking about! Grahf:A greater power... is what I need to fulfill my mission. I sent those Gears into that land as a catalyst to awaken the power in you... To make contact with you. Fei:As a catalyst!? You mean you caused that intentionally!? Grahf:That's right. The death of your loved ones... And you powerless against it happening... The grief, the screams from your heart born out of the tragedy… There! That was the catalyst for triggering your power. Fei:You mean you attacked my village just to get me into that Gear!? Why!? Why did the villagers have to die...? Grahf:Who cares why! It does not matter how many of them died… They were wretched vermin, only living from day to day without ever fulfilling their prescribed destinies! And have you forgotten? You were the one who destroyed the village. I did not lift a finger. Fei:No!! I was just trying to save the village and its people! I never intended to destroy it!! Grahf:Is that so? Surely you have heard it? It is the very essence of you... the voice of desire from within you that craves destruction. Fei:Shut up! Even if that were true, weren't you the one who caused it!? If you hadn't come, the village wouldn't have suffered the way it did! Grahf:Ah, so now you resort to blame? I see... That sounds like something 'you' would say. That's good. Your basic nature remains unchanged. Fei:Crap... You said you need my power? What were you intending to do with it!? Grahf:You know very well... it is to destroy... Mother God... Fei:D, destroy God? Grahf:Yes, we will destroy god. That is our purpose... That is our destiny! Fei:Don't be ridiculous! I won't get involved in such a thing! If you want to destroy God, or whatever it is you're on about… do it by yourself!! Grahf:Hah, hah, hah... You resemble your father. Fei:My father? You mean my dad? You know my father!? Grahf:That was... a most delightful scream. I was enthralled by it. Nothing is more beautiful than a scream of death. Fei: What did you do to my father!? What happened between you two!? Grahf:Hmph, do you really wish to know? There is no use in you knowing it now. Fei:What!? Grahf:Your power is still beneath that needed for my purposes. Anything unusable must be tried until it becomes suitable. [The ground shakes.] Fei:What? [Suddenly, a huge worm bursts out of the sand.] Fei:What in the hell is that!? Grahf:What will you do, Fei? If you die here, then so be it. You may indeed gain some happiness from not knowing. But surely, that is not what you truly want...? If you want to know the truth... and that is what you want, isn't it, Fei... then here is what to do... You must show me that you have attained the level of strength I require... To do that you must destroy others using your own strength! Then you will gain all that was lost in exchange for that scream of death! Ha, ha, ha, ha!! [Grahf and the gear fly away.] Fei:W, wait! We're not finished yet!! [The worm attacks Fei. Fei defeats it after a long fight.] Citan:Fei! Are you alright!? [Fei climbs out of the cockpit.] Citan:Fei! Fei:...I'm fine... The Gear seems to be broken, though... Citan:I am so glad that you are unharmed. The Gear had only temporary repairs made on it. They were not made to survive an outright battle like that. Fei:... Citan:Fei? [Suddenly, two gears arrive and surround the two.] Citan:Oh no! The Aveh military! Not now...! Fei, I think we should remain calm...? Fei:... Citan:Fei? [The two are captured and brought to a sand cruiser. Fei and Citan sit in a cell with two beds. Citan sits on his bed while Fei sleeps... Fei has a dream of himself in a field. Nearby are three figures. Two of them emit light while the other emits blue. Fei recognizes one person as Grahf and another, his father. Fei does not know the third figure.] Grahf:Let us join together... Khan:I never thought we'd meet again like this. It must be fate... How ironic. But, I'll never let you have him. [The third man, a tall man with long red hair covering his face smiles.] Khan:Even if it kills me! [Fei awakens. And walks up to Citan.] Citan:How are you, Fei? Did you sleep well? Fei:Huh? Ahh... well... sort of... Citan:Sorry I messed up… I was careless. That Gear is a top secret experimental model from Kislev… It was only natural that Aveh would also be madly searching for it. Fei? Are you hurt? You do not look so well. Fei:Well... I suppose you could say I was hurt... Citan:That man in black... spoke of your father's fate... Is that what is wrong? Fei:There is that too, but... It's the other stuff he said... What happened at Lahan was all planned to get me to ride in that Gear... or so he claimed. That's got me worried... Citan:To get you to ride in that Gear...? Fei:Doc, before the village was destroyed, I lived without doubting myself. But it's different now. I don't... know who I am. I've never felt like this before... Citan:Well we cannot do anything as long as we are prisoners... even if we wanted to. Let us rest a little. Maybe it will sort out your feelings a little. Fei:Let's talk more. Citan:Are you worried about what he said about your father? Fei:All I know is what the maids at my home in Lahan told me... One night a strange masked man carried me to Lahan. I was heavily wounded at the time... In my delirium I called out for my father... That's all they could tell me about my background. I don't remember anything of my father or my past... so I guess I'm not really all that lonely or sad... Citan:Let us rest a little. Fei:Good idea. [Fei goes into bed while Citan remains standing. He thinks to himself.] Citan:...(It was him! No mistake... That was no coincidence... Could it be that we are approaching.. the -Time- of the -Gospel-...?) [Citan thinks back to a moment from years before. He stands on a pedestal in front of a large throne. On the throne is a large man, at least 7 feet tall, with a large skull like mask on his face. The pedestal and throne levitate in the air surrounded by various mirrors and images.] Emperor:Yes, the -Gospel-. We are the people expelled from paradise and forced to live on the cruel surface of the earth. We who fill this land will once again return to the presence of God in paradice and live there eternally. That is the -Time- of the -Gospel-. That -Time- is at hand. We, the Gazel, must find God's resting place by then and resurrect him. That is our final prayer. Citan:Our final prayer? Emporer:Our final prayer to escape from the -Fate- that was determined at our genesis. [Citan thinks back to the present. He stares at Fei.] Citan:(Majesty... Is this the end...?) [Someone watches the ship from a telescope.] Voice:Bingo! Just as the report said - an Aveh transport. And look what we have on top...! No mistaking it! That's a new Kislev model! It has to be the stolen Gear everyone is after!! Whatever the case... There's no way we are going to let that Shakhan guy have it... [A young blond haired man, around 18 pushes the telescope back up. He is on the bridge of a large ship.] Pirate:Gunner! Gunner:Turret A 'Anton' and turret B 'Belta' can initiate their electropometers twenty seconds after opening their hatches. Pirate:Franz! Franz:I don't hear anything other than the flowing sound of the sand... No suspicious radar activity detected! Pirate:Marseilles! Marseilles:Maitreya's units are on standby at the catapults. They'll all be able to launch one minute after we resurace! Pirate:Good! Let's do it! Battcon level 1! [The bridge prepares to fire.] Crewmember 1:Engine room, ready! Crewmember 2:Torpedo room, ready! Crewmember 3:Anti-Gear guns, ready! Crewmember 4:Navigation and Engineering are also ready! [Two men walk onto the bridge. One is an old man, around 60 years old. The other is younger, around 30 with white hair and a patch over his eye.] Old Man:Y, young master! What is happening? What was the alarm all about...? White Haired Man:Not again...? Young master! Hold on a second! Pirate:Battle stations, everyone! Surface navigation, begin operating the sand pump! Prepare to fire starboard cannons upon surfacing! Old Man and White Haired Man:Young Master! Pirate:Trim to the right! The wind is strong up there and we may be blown off balance! Jerico! Hand the helm over to me! [Back on the sand cruiser...] Citan:A sand cruiser... It must be those desert pirates! [Back on the pirate's ship...] Crewmember:Alternate firing between A 'Anton' and B 'Belta'! Calculating adjustments! Pirate:Aww yeah! Switch mode over to salvos after the initial shots! Let's slow 'em down. Get ready to give them a spankin' they won't forget! Old Man:Young master, please wait! It may just be a requisitioned ship, not a warship... Pirate:Let me handle this! Whether it's a warship or not, it's carrying a new Gear! Gunner! Let 'em have it! [The pirate ship fires at the prison ship.] Citan:Oh, oh! [Another shot strikes the ship, causing it to slowly sink.] Citan:Judgeing by the angle... it seems as if a gun blast has made a hole in the hull... We will probably sink within minutes. Fei:A few minutes... Doc!! [Citan walks to the cell door.] Citan:It is locked... Somebody free us! Argghh!! [Citan pushes the door, and luckily it breaks. Sand starts filling the room.] Fei:Let's get out of here, doc! [The two escape the cell and slowly make it over to a ladder. By now, the sand has gone up past their waists and it is very difficult to move. After a few minutes, they are able to make their way up the ladder into the above floor just as sand fills the room.] Citan:Whew, that was close. [The two make their way through the ship and finally make it outside to a giant crane. Citan walks over to the controls.] Fei:Doc!? Where did you go, doc!? Citan:Fei! Can you hear me? I am moving the crane towards Weltall's cockpit. Hurry! Go up the crane to Weltall! We are going under fast! Fei:...I got you, doc! But when you're done you hurry up there too, okay!? [Fei climbs over the crane and makes it down into Weltall. He climbs into the cockpit.] Fei:Here we go again... You and I seems to have a fated relationship! [Fei goes over to get Citan.] Fei:C'mon doc! Over here! Hurry up! [Weltall grabs Citan and runs off. They just make getting off the ship.] Citan:Wooh... [Citan jumps down to the ground.] Citan:Whoops... Fei:Are you okay, doc? Citan:Ha ha ha... Well, Doctor Citan Uzuki! Feels like you have sacked your saccules, and tickled your utricles enough for one lifetime! Wow, dizzy! Fei:Sorry about that, doc! I didn't have time to open up the cockpit... Are you really okay doc? Citan:Fei, I was only joking. Riding in the hand was not so bad. I can see what is so good about this top-secret experimental Kislev machine. Fei:Yeah, when I started it up, it began doing all kinds of stuff by itself... The enviromental response system and weight-reduction hovering kicked in straight away... automatically! Citan:Really...? Amazing...! Pirate:Save yourselves but leave your friends to sink in a sea of sand... don't you believe in comradeship? [Fei and Citan turn to see 3 Gears. The Pirate is the middle one, a much more decorated gear than the other two.] Pirate:It's not very manly of you two to leave your platoon to die while you run away in a Gear, you know? Fei:Wait one moment! We're not Aveh soldiers! Pirate:Hm. Can't you make a better plea for your life? You come jumping out of an Aveh ship and claim that you are not Aveh soldiers! Stop trying to fool me! Fei:I tell you, it's true! Pirate:Tsk. How pathetic are you?! Even if you're the pettiest of soldiers, how's about showing a little spine... and put up a decent fight! Fei:Stop it! I'm telling you I'm no soldier! I don't want to fight! Pirate:How nauseating! Why don't you stop grumbling, and leave the Gear and run away? [The pirate attacks Weltall with a whip. Weltall defends it.] Pirate:For someone who doesn't want to fight, you're quite powerful... I see, an all-enviroment model... so that's it, huh? Now I want it even more! [Fei and the pirate fight. Suddenly, the ground beneath them shakes.] Fei:!? Pirate:Oh no! This is not good! In the heat of battle, I get caught in quicksand! Darn. Me, of all people! Damn! It's all your fault! Boy are you going to get it later. So be darn ready! Fei:Why? [The two gears sink into the sand down into an underground Stalactite Cave. The pirate exits his gear and walks up to Weltall.] Pirate:Hey, come down here now! I'm not gonna kill you. All I want is for you to leave this Gear... huh? [Fei exits Weltall.] Pirate:Hey!? You're not an Aveh soldier? Fei:I told you that in my intercom transmission earlier. You're the one who refused to listen to me, right? Pirate:Hah, ha, ha. Sorry, sorry. Yes, I remember you were saying something like that. I went off half-cocked and thought you were the enemy. Uhh, ahem... My name is Bart. I'm the pirate that works this territory. Fei:My name is Fei. I was arrested for no reason, shoved into that Aveh transport ship... And was nearly about to be sent to a concentration camp until you went and blew the thing to blazes. Anyway, I'm just glad to have been able to survive. Bart:I see... Well, I'm glad I at least helped you out a little. But I didn't expect a civilian like you would be riding in a military Gear. Besides, this Gear is a brand new model. I've never seen this type before. Fei:Let's just say that a lot of things have happened... It wasn't like I wanted to pilot it! Where are we anyway? Looks like we fell into one weird place. I've never heard of huge stalactite caves such as this existing under the desert before. Bart:What? You don't know anything, do you? Where are you from? The desert only covers around 1000 sharls of the outer layer of the earth. The stratum underneath that consists of igneous rock. Fei:From a sea of trees to a sea of sand... and now a stalactite cave... What's next...? Bart:What are you talking about? Fei:Oh, nothing... Never mind... Bart:We're in trouble... Look, the hole we fell through has disappeared. We'd better find another way out. So, you wanna call a truce for now...? At least until we find an exit and get out of here. Fei:Yes... agreed. First we gotta find the way out of here... So, let's get going... [Several people stand on the sand cruiser that destroyed the Aveh prison ship.] Aveh Soldier:Phew, thank God... I didn't want to dry up and die in the desert. Pirate:Hey, you! I know you're tired but don't go any further than there! Another Soldier:Shut up! You sunk our ship! Don't you forget that! Another Pirate:No, you shut up! Just be thankful that you were saved! Sand Cruiser Nurse:Excuse me... Is there anyone who is almost dead, with no arms and legs, or in need of an abdominal operation? No one...? Well, that's depressing. [Citan and the white haired man stand further up on the ship watching the feuding parties below. Citan:I see... So your 'young one' has not just been shooting at anything and everything then, Sigurd. Sigurd:Yes, he actually calculated this attack... or so he says! As you can see... no one has died this time, either. [A gear walks up to the cruiser.] Gear:Sigurd, sir! The collectionof the goods and soldiers from the Aveh transport is almost complete. We still can't locate the young master... General Maitreya's platoon will scout around again. Sigurd:Okay. I'm counting on you. Gear:Yes, sir! Since I'm part of the unit I'll also excuse myself. [The Gear leaves.] Citan:So, what happened to this 'young one' you call 'master'? Sigurd:He fell into an underground cave with that other guy in a Gear. It's near an old excavation site, and he is riding in a Gear, so he'll probably be able to come up somehow... We'll try to find him for a while, and if that doesn't work, then we'll wait for him at our meeting point. Citan:You seem to trust him a lot... Sigurd:Trust him... Yeah, I trust he'll get us into trouble. But I never thought I would meet you here, 'Hyu...' Citan:It is not coincidence. It is an inevitable consequence... I assume. Sigurd:...Hyuga... Are you saying something is about to happen? [Underground Fei and Bart come up to an archway blocked by a huge rock.] Bart:Hey, Fei! My sensors are responding to something. There appears to be quite a large cavern on the other side of here. If we can get rid of this rock... But I don't think it's possible. Hey, this is huge. What can we do with this? I doubt you can break it. Fei:I guess we could try pushing it... [Fei presses Weltall against the rock and tries pushing.] Bart:Wait, no matter how you look at it... Fei:What the heck are you doing? Hurry up and help!! [The two gears push the boulder until it falls into the cavern. The two Gears walk through the archway.] Fei:We can get by if we help each other. Let's keep it up so we can get out of here. Bart:The hydromechanic pipe for my knee is on the verge of breaking down. It's all because of that fall from the ceiling... followed by pushing this mega-colossal boulder. It won't be funny if my Gear malfunctions in a huge cavern like this. Fei:Your friends won't come and help us? Bart:It'd be a waste of time waiting. They probably won't come. Fei:But, aren't they your friends? Bart:We believe in a liberal upbringing. They'll think we can escape by ourselves. Fei:I wonder if doc is okay... Bart:Don't worry about the man you were with. I'm sure our guys saved him by now. Fei:... Bart:What is it? Fei:...We wouldn't have fallen in here if only you had listened to me. Bart:Don't blame it on me! You should've surrendered instead of challenging me. All I wanted was your Gear. Fei:Don't be ridiculous! You're the one who blindly attacked me. What else was I supposed to do? I thought I might die if I didn't fight you. Bart:I was taking it easy on you. Couldn't you tell? Then you're a bit dense. Fei:Don't lie to me. I know you were serious. Bart:What! You want some!? Let's have it out! Right here! Fei:... [Fei starts walking away. Bart yells out to him.] Bart:Wait! Settling it right here comes first. I won't be able to get anything done until we settle this once and for all! Fei:I thought you wanted a truce for now? Getting out of here should come first! Once we're out of here, I'll fight you all you want. Let's hurry up and move on out of here! Bart:I don't like you very much... Damn it! I'll get you when we get outta here. [The two gears head through out the cave until they reach a small cave in the cavern with light coming out of it.] Bart:Who'd have ever thought there would be someone living in a place like this!? Let's check it out! [The two get out of their Gears and walk inside. An old man in a colorful robe greets them.] Bart:Hey, Fei! This is a surprise! There's someone living in this place! Old man:Hmm, it's been a while, but I thought I heard the sound of Gears... I assume they are yours? Well anyway, come on back in here and make yourself at home. It's been a long time since my last visitor. What happened? Did you fall from the surface? Bart:I guess that's it. Old man: see...hat's too bad... can tell from the sound that you both ride good Gears...But the legs seem to be playing up a bit. Fei:You mean, you can tell what's wrong just by the sound of its footsteps? Old man:Ha ha ha. It's easy to know what's wrong with Gears by the sounds they make. My guess is that one of them needs a new hydromechanic pipe in its joints. It's making a nasty sound. It must be hard to walk with too. Oh, by the way, the name's Balthasar, but you can call me Ol' Man Bal. Bart:Oh yeah? So it looks like we've got a real fanatic here, huh! What's a old man like you doing in a place like this? Ol' Man Bal:I guess you can call me a 'fossicker' or a 'collector of things'. There is much to be found lying around in this here stalactite cavern. Bart:A collector, huh? Sounds interesting. The things on this shelf, are they some of the stuff you have found? Ol' Man Bal:You mean the fossils? They're one of the things I collect. Feel free to have a look at them. [Fei and Bart take a look at the fossils on the shelf.] Ol' Man Bal:Around here you can dig up ancient machines along with human and animal fossils. Notice anything particular on these shelves? They go from oldest on the left, to newest on the right. Bart:Are you an archaeologist or something, old man? I don't quite see what you are talking about. They just look like a bunch of old bones to me. Fei, what do you think? [Fei steps up to the fossils and takes a look.] Fei:...Let me see. First, there are no human bones up to here. Then, from here on over to the right, something is slightly different... I guess. Old Man Bal:Yes, from a certain point in time, human fossils suddenly no longer appear. That point is roughly 10,000 years ago. Bart:What does that mean? Ol Man Bal:Don't ask me. I don't know for sure... But my guess is, there were no humans on this earth before then. At least it appears so. Bart:How could that be? What about all that talk about evolution? Ol Man Bal:You mean the theory of evolution as taught by the 'Ethos', right? You can't trust that! Rather, I believe in the old legends and myths. Fei:Legends? Myths? Old Man Bal:Haven't you heard of this story...? They say that humans and God lived together in a paradise in the sky. With God's protection, there was no fear of death, and natural disasters were entirely unknown. Then one day, humans ate a forbidden fruit which gave them incredible wisdom. But God drove mankind from the paradise for their sin. Bitter at having been driven out of paradise, humans used the wisdom they had to make giants. With these giants, they plenned to challenge God himself. But God poured his wrath down on them. All who defied God were destroyed. But God himself did not escape unharmed. Taking paradise with him, the wounded God buried himself deep beneath the ocean to sleep for eons. Before going to sleep, God used his remaining power to create right-hearted humans to live on this planet. These people are said to be... our ancestors. Well, anyway, I'll stop my ranting now. Fei:By the way, does this cave have... Old Man Bal:An exit? There is an exit in the excavation site beyond the sand barrier. You can get outside through there. Bart:Sand barrier? You mean that huge wall you can see from your entrance? Old Man Bal:Yes, that's it. On the other side is an old Aveh excavation site. They built that while Aveh was excavating to keep the sand from falling in from above. But they've stopped working there now. Fei:So, how do we open a huge thing like that? Bart:If it's a wall, you can probably break it down. Old Man Bal:Hold your horses there young 'uns. No matter how good a Gear you have, you'll never break that wall down. It's much too strong. So... Let's make a deal. Bart:A deal? Old Man Bal:The wall was closed due to the reaction of the 'Sand Sensors' Thanks to that, now I can't get through to the other side either. Maybe it happened when you two fell in here. Were you boys fighting up there or something? Fei:You seem to be able to tell everything! Anyway, so what can we do about it? Old Man Bal:It is very simple. You just have to turn off the Sand Sensor switches. Doing that will keep the barrier from closing again. While you two are doing that, I'll open it up. Fei:Right, got it. Old Man Bal:The sensors are in two places. You should see their flashing red lights. Well, good luck then. Fei:Let's go Bart. Old Man Bal:Oh, before you go... I can share some parts and fuel with you. Just talk to me whenever you need something, right. Bart:Thanks, old man. Well, we'll go and finish our part of the deal then! [The two travel through the cave for a while, and eventually turn off both sensors. They return to Old Man Bal.] Old Man Bal:Oh, good timing. I was just about to open up the sand barrier now. [The barrier goes back into the ground.] Fei:Well done, old man! Old Man Bal:Our deal is done. Bart:Hey, old man. There's one thing I want to ask you. Old Man Bal:What is it? Bart:I've heard somewhere on this planet is a Gear far superior to all others. I've heard it was called 'the God Gear' and was made in ancient times but was hidden away somewhere. Do you know anything about it? Old Man Bal:A man-made God, created with the wisdom of God! Such a Gear would have the power of a thousand Gears. In a wave of its arm, it could destroy whole cities. Its battle cries would thunder in the heavens. You must be speaking of the 'Omnigear'. Bart:You know of it? Then perhaps it was what you were speaking about in that tale you told us of the battle with God... Old Man Bal:Goodness gracious, you too, boy? Those stories were made to inspire man's soul. But they're only legends. They don't really exist. Anyway, allow me to take a look at your Gears. It'll only take a little while, so wait here, please. [Old Man Bal leaves the cavern.] Bart:Hey, wait! Arhh, he's gone... Fei:Hey Bart. Do you think the Gear in that story's buried in the ground somewhere? Bart:I think that's what I've heard. Fei:Could one of the Gears we are using possibly be it? Bart:Yeah, right! What are the chances of that happening? Fei:? Bart:The Gears that are excavated lately... are usually only a few hundred years old. Nowhere nearly as old as the Gear in that legend. Fei:Then why were they in the ground...? Bart:I don't know. There are no records. Except... Fei:Except what? Bart:There must be some truth in the tales they were buried after a great war... The bullet wounds covering most of the Gears would appear to confirm that. Fei:You mean there are no records from the last several hundred years? How about before that? Bart:None from either period. The 'Ethos' controls all the records from that time period. maybe they had some very ancient records too... All we know about our history is from the little pieces that we find for ourselves. Anyway, Fei, what do you make of the old man? Fei:What do you mean...? Bart:Why would such an old man live all alone in this abandoned cave? Fei:I don't know. Probably digging for ancient Gears or something? Bart:Right! So you think so too? Fei:Hey! I just said that as a joke. Don't take all that stuff seriously. They're only legends, you know. Bart:No... that old man is up to something! [Suddenly, they hear Bal cry out.] Old Man Bal:This can't be... Fei:?? Bart:What's wrong, old man? Old Man Bal:Is this your Gear? [They look up at Weltall.] Fei:Well, sort of... Old Man Bal:Where did you get it? Fei:I'm just borrowing it. Old Man Bal:This is... the host for the spirit of the slayer of God... Fei:Wait a moment! What did you just say? Old Man Bal:Nothing. I didn't say anything! Fei:No! I heard you! You said, slayer of God... That's what you said, isn't it old man!! Old Man Bal:Your Gears are fixed. You have no more business here. This is a bad time for me. Be on your way! Fei:Be on our way...:? Listen here, old man...!! [Bart and Fei leave. They continue past the opened gate and eventually reach a tunnel that looks like it was made of concrete. Suddenly, a giant white Gear arrives and attacks the two. After a difficult battle, it is defeated.] Bart:Hah! What an idiot. Trying to scare us with all show and no power, eh, Fei! [Bart turns around] Fei:... ... ... ... Bart:Anyway... Looks like that's the exit. So, it'll soon be adios to this old cavern! [Suddenly, the Gear gets up and attacks Bart] Fei:!? Bart:What the...!? Fei:Get out of the way, Bart!! [Fei runs up to the Gear and strikes it with all his might. The Gear falls and burns into rubble.] Bart:Woooh! What the hell did you just do? Fei:... ... Bart:Hey!! Fei:... ...huh? Bart:What do you mean 'huh'!? What in blazes was that? ...Don't you know? Fei:... No, err, ... ...I don't know. Bart:That was incredible! You just blew that huge thing to pieces! Why didn't you use that technique a bit earlier? Fei:...I dont' know that technique... I have no idea how I even did it! Bart:Hmm. Oh well, I guess that doesn't matter. Anyway... Thanks for helping me out! Fei:... Bart:So, now that we've gotten rid of that nuisance, let's get out of here, eh, Fei! [They exit the Stalactite Cave and reach the desert. Two mountains are in the horizon.] Bart:Wow... I never thought we'd end up here... Fei:Where are we? Bart:You see the twin mountains over there? That's where Bledavik, the royal capital of Aveh and Fatima castle are located. Currently, there's no king livign there though. Anyway, that's my old hometown. Fei:Hometown... Bart:I'd like to go ahead and settle our dispute but... considering how close we are to the capital of Aveh, we'd probably get caught. Fei:... Bart:Hey, stop looking so glum, chum. I guess I'll have to get you back to your friend soon or you'll die from fretting or something. Anyway, the rendezvous point with the Yggdrasil is right over there. Don't worry, you'll be meeting your friend in no time at all. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II D. The Sand Pirate's Plan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Later...] [Fei stands next to Weltall in a Gear dock.] Citan:Fei! I was worried about you! Fei:Doc... [An old man approaches.] Maison:Welcome to the sand cruiser 'Yggdrasil'. We apologize for that earlier incident. [Bart walks up to them.] Maison:I'm sure everyone has already had the courtesy to introduce themselves. But allow me to introduce the sand pirates' leader, Master Bartholomew. By the way, may I ask, young master, did you apologize to Master Fei? Bart:What? Uhh... Yeah... I told him I was 'wrong'... Right? Fei:... [A man with silver colored hair walks up to Bart.] Man:Just telling someone you were 'wrong' after the event isn't going to solve everything young master. I'm sorry I've delayed introducing myself... My name is 'Sigurd', the first mate of this sand cruiser.. Maison:Well then, please let me know if you need anything. Bart:...That's the situation... So now, forgive me, will ya!? Sigurd:Young master! Stay out of mischief. [Sigurd grabs Bart and pulls him off.] Bart:Ouch ouch ouch! Don't pull my ears! Citan:Let us go and wait in our cabin until we arrive... It is well made and comfortable. Fei:... Citan:What is wrong? You look down. Fei:No... well... Citan:Something happened? Fei:No, nothing. [They go to sleep in the cabin. They later go see Sigurd on the bridge.] Sigurd:We're almost at the hideout... We'll probably stop there for a while for supplies and repairs. [The ship travels through the sand until it arrives at a small hidout in the west. The ship lands in the hideout and they get out.] Kid:Bart, good to see you back! Kid:Welcome back Bart! Man:Welcome back! Kid:Bart! What did you bring us? Bart:Well... I've got a new model Gear and two people that we helped out. Child:Ehh! A Gear... how boring! Don't you have anything more interesting? Bart:I thought you'd say that.... Look! This is amber I found in a stalactite cavern under the desert. It's rare to find one with a bug in it! Boy:Wow! Thanks Bart! Kid:We got some amber! Child:What's that? Boy:Let's go! We gotta show it off to everyone! [The kids run off.] Bart:Well then... I'm gonna tune up my Gear a little... Why don't you two go have some tea with Old Maison? Thanks Old Maison. Maison:Please, walk this way. [They walk through a residental area.] Maison:This is the residental area. Walk this way. [They enter a large dining hall.] Maison:This is the dining hall. I'm sorry it's so gauche. Please take a seat. [They sit down. Maison gets some tea.] Maison:Perhaps you would like some of my famous tea? Master Fei? Good doctor? Young visitors are rare indeed, the young master must be very happy. If things were normal we wouldn't be living under the desert, but rather back in the royal palace... Citan:Royal palace...? You mean that young one is connected to the old Fatima dynasty? Maison:Pardon? N, no... I'm just a senile old fool who talks too much... Pay no attention to what I just said... Hahaha... Citan:But... that one-eyed youth does have a certain bearing. Maison:Oh...oh... oh...! Well spoken sir! Awfully good of you to notice! If I may, I would like to tell you. The young gent is the last forgotten reminder of the once proud Fatima dynasty. ...That is, before it was destroyed by Shakhan's minions... Prince Bartholomew Fatima. Citan:Bartholomew? Edbart IV's successor... I am sure they announced Bartholomew dies of an illness 12 years ago. Maison:Officially, yes. However, in reality, we rescued the young prince from Shakhan's evil grasp. Citan:Then why must the prince, the rightful heir, resort to piracy... Maison:...Since fleeing here, we have had only one wish... That the young master would grow up to be a great man... Citan:Not to... Reclaim the throne? Maison:That is correct. Of course, to say we have absolutely no desire to restore his rule... would be a lie. We have plans for that as well. Citan:And part of those plans woul involve piracy...? Maison:Well, yes... But there is a reason for that... Both Aveh and Kislev are devoted to excavating the ruins. Each country's strength is increasing daily. Even if we could get the help of all our comrades to start a revolution... the combined strength of all of us would still not be enough. We would certainly be suppressed by Shakhan's guards in to time at all. We needed power. We tried excavating the ruins using the Yggdrasil but it didn't work as well as we expected. Excavating requires large amounts of time, labor and capital. The best we could do with our sand cruiser is find small items in the sand. Citan:And the piracy... Maison:Regardless of who gains the ruins' technology, one thing is certain... Both Kislev and Aveh will simply use that power to oppress the other. I agreed with the young master's idea of creating a new power to balance things out a little. Citan:I see... It is far more effective to plunder from the shadows, than to excavate the technology oneself. Maison:Of course pillaging is an unpardonable act. However... For Aveh, for Ignas, to continue like this... I'm sorry if it sounds rather self-righteous. Citan:That is something which outsiders like ourselves cannot comment upon. From what you have told me, I feel that the result of what you are doing will be good. Seeing your children here tells me that. Maison:I am so much relieved by your words. Another cup of tea? Citan:Yes, please. Thank you. [Citan has some more tea.] Citan:You mentioned you had plans. Why have you not put them into action? Maison:With Miss Margie imprisoned, we dare not do anything. Citan:She would not happen to be Nisan's...? Maison:You are well informed, my dear doctor. She is the Great Mother Marguerite of Nisan... and the young master's cousin, as well. Citan:Why would Shakhan take her captive? Maison:For the 'Fatima Jasper'! Citan:The Fatima Jasper that is said to show where the great treasure is? Maison:My, good doctor! You do know an awful lot. I am most impressed. You do not like my tea, Master Fei? Fei:No.. I'm just not thirsty now! Maison:Well, we have no idea what the great treasure actually is... But it is said to be strong enough to save our kingdom even if it is ever in plight! Citan:And Marguerite has the Jasper that tells the location? Maison:Only half of it, to be precise. The young master and Miss Marguerite each have half. Only by combining the two halves will anyone know where the treasure is. Citan:What exactly is the Fatima Jasper? When you say a half of the Jasper, I imagine some kind of necklace... Maison:Only the heirs to Aveh and Nisan know what it really looks like. Citan:I see. So that is why they have her locked up. My guess is that when they do find out, her chances of living are not... [Maison turns.] Citan:Ah, I apologize. I simply, I mean... I was only supposing the worst case. So please do not take it to heart... Maison:No, that is a terribly realistic scenario. Citan:...Ahem. What exactly do you mean by great treasure...? Maison:Welll, I haven't the foggiest... Voice:The Gear...! He means the Gear! That has to be it! [Bart shows up.] Maison:Young master... are the Gears alright? Bart:Yeah... Even though they were sealed, sand's gotten into the joints. It's a pain in the neck to fix, so I'm having the crew take care of it now. My job is just to pilot them anyway. Besides, I'm bad with machines, so I'd just get in the way. Maison:Young master... Bart:Anyway, what were we talking about? Citan:Whether the great treasure could be a... Gear? Bart:Oh, yeah. You know, something like that is drawn in one of the Aveh picture scrolls. Citan:Picture scrolls? Bart:...Well, if you're interested then let's go to the planning room... I'll show you what I mean... Since you're my special guests. Citan:That sounds interesting. [The three walk to a room with a large amount of computers. A large screen is on the floor. Citan:This place is incredible! They probably do not even have equipment like this in the capital! Bart:Heh heh. Surprised? All this technology is thanks to Sig. [They walk on to the screen.] Bart:Hey, Fei! Don't stand on the screen. We won't be able to see! [Fei steps off the screen.] Bart:Alright men! Display my special file on the main screen. [A projector lowers and shows a scene of a red Gear like creature.] Citan:What is this...? Bart:A picture scroll, nearly 500 years old. This is King Fatima I... 'body cloaked in flames making a blood oath with giants'. They say he used the strength of the giants to foung Aveh. Citan:It is amazing that such an ancient scroll exists... and in such good condition too! I though the 'Ethos' controlled all things such as these... Bart:Normally, yes. But this was one of my father's prized possessions. Next! [A new picture shows up, that of the same being sitting down.] Bart:After founding the country, Fatima forced the giants into slumber... to protect his kingdom's people if needed in the future. But we don't know where they are hidden. In another record, one of these giants is called the 'Great Fatima Treasure'. Citan:What about the 'Jasper'? Bart:Hey... you sure know a lot. Perhaps you're one of Shakhan's spies? Citan:Of course not. It is only an intellectual interest... Bart:Just kidding. It appears the Jasper is the key to finding our treasure. Citan:A key... Could that be what Shakhan is looking for? Bart:Not just him. Gebler is also looking for it. Citan:Really? Then we must rescue Marguerite as soon as possible. Bart:You're telling me! Since we helped you... I was wondering if I could, in turn, ask you a favor? Citan:Would that be... for us to help you rescue her...? Bart:Bright boy! That's exactly it. I heard from Sigurd... it seems both Aveh and Kislev are after you! So we can help you and you can help us... How about it? It's not to much to ask. Citan:Well, if it pays for my room and board then I will help in any way I can... What do you think, Fei? You have not said anything for a while... Bart:Yeah. You were great back there in that Stalactite cavern. Your strength alone is greater than ten or twenty of Shakhan's guards. Fei:... Bart:I'd love to have your power on my side! Fei:Why does everyone want to make me fight? Bart:H, huh...? What's wrong with you all of a sudden? Citan:Fei? Fei:I just don't feel like it! 'Love to have my power'? I don't have any! What's wrong with doc, everyone... You're driving me to the brink. Then there's that Gear... Grahf and my father... I don't have the time to help you out with your problems when I've got enough of my own!! [Fei runs off.] Bart:What's with him? Is he always that short-tempered? Citan:No, that is not... I am sorry. Things have happened so fast that he has not had time to deal with it yet. Try to understand. Bart:... [Fei, outside the room, sees to children on the elevator in front of him.] Child:We're gonna help service Gears now! Kid:Yeah!!! Child:Let's go! [Fei walks into Bart's Room and looks around. When he leaves, he sees the doorknob turning. He quickly hides. Bart walks into the room.] Fei:!! Bart:Boy! What's up with this Fei guy? I try and become his friend and he suddenly explodes in anger... Well, looks like he's got a lot on his mind. I don't want to force him. But he would be fun to fight... Maybe I'll ask again. [He goes up to the door.] Bart:If I lie in wait under the elevator... [He leaves.] Fei:... [Fei leaves the room.] [Fei goes down the elevator and approaches the Yggdrasil. Bart comes out and talks to Fei.] Bart:Can I have a second? Fei:Sure. Bart:Citan told me all about your story. Do you want to talk about it? Why didn't you tell me? It sounds pretty rough. Listen... I'm sorry for being a jerk... just now... Forgive me, will ya? Fei:... Bart:Whoa! Anyway... Sorry to bring it up again, but... Fei:No! Bart:What? Fei:I don't like fighting like you do. I only got into that Gear because I had to. I'd rather not ride them. If you want that Gear so much then you can have it! I don't want it! Bart:You think I like fighting? ...Is that it? Fei:Don't you? Sure looks that way. It looks like the only thing you do enjoy is fighting. Bart:I can't let that slide. Who likes fighting? Take it back. Like it or not, I fight because I have to. I got my reasons, but you wouldn't understand. Fei:Well I don't have a reason to fight! I don't want to fight. But you people keep on houndeing me to get me to get into a Gear? WHy don't you just leave me alone!? Bart:It's because I see you skill and think... Fei:Well I hate it! Whenever I get in a Gear people get hurt. If I fight, people die. I don't want to hurt people! I don't want anyone to die! I hate it... can't you see that? Bart:Yeah, I know the feeling of just wanting to run away from reality. But do you think the kids left behind in your village would understand? Fei:... Bart:Citan told me what happened in Lahan. Would it have been better if you had done nothing? Sure, that happened because you were in that Gear. But even if you hadn't, people would have died... right? You weren't the reason. War... no, the people who started the war are the reason. And unless you get rid of the reason, nothing will change. I fight to get rid of the reason... Right now there is no other way so I have to fight... but that doesn't mean I enjoy it. I understand why you would feel guilt towards the kids in your village. And I know you don't want to harm others. But if you want to make it up to those children, don't you have to fight? You do have a reason to fight. A reason you must fight. But as long as you ignore it and continue to run away, those kids will never forgive you. Just remember that. And another thing, I'm not saying that helping me is running away. You don't have to help. This is my own problem. I don't wanna get you in this against your will. But, if I had your skill I could bring all of this to an end... And make it up to those kids. At least that's what I think... Anyway... sorry to hold you up. The mechanic wanted to talk to you about your Gear. You probably don't care now, but at least listen to what he has to say. Fei:... [Bart leaves. Fei goes down an elevator and walks up to Weltall.] Mechanic:Looks like someone really knew how to tune up your Gear... Attack, defense, Ether amplification... an exceptionally balanced machine. But we don't seem to be able to dismantle some parts to see what they do... I guess you could call them... black boxes. There are quite a number of them on this machine... Do you have any idea what they actually do? Fei:No... [The mechanic leaves. Fei stares at Weltall.] Fei:... Voice:Fei! [Fei sees Sigurd and Citan.] Fei:Sigurd, doc... What's up...? Sigurd:We would like to have a word with you... Fei:Oh, okay! [They go up the elevator.] Sigurd:Look over there... [They watch as Bart stands on the hull of the Yggdrasil and talks to himself.] Bart:Hey dad... can you hear me? Ever since I first looked into Fei's eyes I knew... He's the same as me. He'd understand me... Or so I thought... Did I just imagine it? I have no confidence. If I follow after you, dad... It'll just be like I'm some decoration. At the moment I can't carry out your will, let alone rescue Margie... I told him he was running away but I'm really the one who wants to run away... Sigurd:The young master asked me to apologize to you. Pretty strange, huh? He knows it's best to apologize in person... But the young master isn't that good at this sort of thing.... He may not look it, but he's really quite lonely... He's always searching for a friend. We, his minders can't become his friends. Even if we wanted to, he just wouldn't see us that way. He knows that. Why you ask? It's because of the burden that he bears. It must be difficult for one so young to carry so heavy a responsibility. but he does try to do his best, you know? That is why we stick by him... It has nothing to do with him being the prince. Fei, I sense you too are carrying a heavy burden. This might be a selfish request, but... would it be possible for you to help the young master? I'm not asking you to burden yourself with his problems or responsibilities. But could you two... with whatever it is only you two each know, help the other? Please... Fei:I'm sorry... I need time to think. Sigurd:Of course... take your time. It is completely up to you. Whatever you decide, we will be leaving early tomorrow morning. After you're finished preparing for tomorrow, you probably should get some rest. You can use the bedroom in the residential area above. Citan:I wish to speak to Sigurd some more... so you go ahead and get some rest. Fei:... [Fei goes to the residental areas.] Man:We'll leave first thing tomorrow. Are you ready? Fei:Alright. Man:Sleep well. Fei:I'm... so very... tired... [Fei goes to sleep. That night 5 humanoid Gears break into the Gear dock.] Broyer:Confirmed! It's their base, alright. Helmholz:That rock was easy to break through. I thought it would be a little harder... Stratski:These surface-dwelling -Lambs- sure live in a nice place... Renk:Look at that...! They built this place far better than the facilities at Bledavik. It's probably a hidden fort built when their old king was still around... Vance:Who cares...? Let's just get this over and done with! Stratski:So... Where are the Gears? [They head towards some nearby Gears.] Stratski:Over here? Helmholz:To the right! There's a hangar! [They approach some basic Gears.] Vance:Fond them!! Helmholz:These are 'Deurmods'. They're standard pirate Gears. Vance:Ha! Ignore those! We can take them out fast. Stratski:Why not take a few? Even if we only get those, it was worth sneaking in. Renk:Alright! Schpariel is now in place at the back! Get ready to take out anything that gets in our way! Helmholz:Prep complete!! Stratski:OK over here! Broyer:Anytime is fine! Renk:GO!! [In the bed area, Fei is waked by the large noises.] Fei:What was that crash? Intercom:Gears have entered the Yggdrasil's dock! 5 Gebler special force Gears, and one single unidentified large Gear. All pilots report to the Gear hangar! [Fei leaves the room and runs out to the elevator.] Intercom:All noncombatants go to the Yggdrasil!! Immediately! Children:Wahhh, I'm scared!! [Fei runs out to the Yggdrasil. Suddenly, Citan runs up to him and yells...] Citan:Fei! Fei!! Quick! Get to Weltall now!! [Fei ignores him and continues on his way.] Citan:Fei? Bart and the others are already fighting! Aren't you going to do anything? Do you still think it has nothing to do with you? Do you still think it has nothing to do with you? ... [Citan heads to the Gear Dock by himself.] Fei:I... I... What am I? That old man... he called me... the slayer of God... I don't want that kind of power... [Fei stares at his hands.] Fei:My strength... My... My... Home... [Elsewhere...] Bart:How many Gears are there!? I think I took out most of the small fry, but...! Pirate:There are at least four, maybe five of them left! Their performance and technique is far greater than any of the ones we faced before! Bart:Dammit! Pirate:Young master! They're approaching! [Bart and his pirates defeat Swordknight.] [Elsewhere, Maison and Citan approach a large blue Gear.] Citan:Maison, does this Gear work? Maison:Pardon? Yes, it works but... Citan:Alright! [Citan jumps into the Gear and turns it on.] Maison:Out of the question! It is still under maintenance. It is nowhere nearly operational. Sigurd:It's alright, Maison. [Sigurd approaches.] Maison:Master Sigurd! But, for a gent like the good doctor...? Sigurd:It's fine. He'll be okay. It may not even be enough for him. Maison:Master Sigurd...? [Citan leaves in the Gear, called Heimdal.] Citan:Well... it has been 5 years since I last fought... I hope I can still remember... Oh, a wild stallion, eh? Well then, it is high time someone broke you in... Broyer:Eeeaaarrrgh!! Citan:Reinforcements? [Heimdal attacks Aegisknight.] Broyer:H, hey, that hurts!! Citan:Compared to the pain my friends are going through, yours is nothing...!! I cannot allow people like you to persist in tormenting those who cannot fight back. I will take you on in their place. Come on! Broyer:?? What are you talking about!? [Heimdal defeats Aegisknight] Citan:That's it? I know I am a little rusty... There is a limit to what I can learn seeing as I started so late in life. Even so, I hit that guy hard and he did not go down. They must be using 'that stuff'. Young one! They are using -Drive-! They are battle enhancement drugs. Normal attacks will not hurt them! Bart: Are you serious? So, that's how they keep at it, huh? Crap... This'll never end! Citan:Fei!! Bart:It's okay! We'll get by without him! [Citan and Bart defeat 2 Wandknights.] [Nearby, Clawknight attacks two children.] Vance:Where do you think you're going? [Suddenly, Fei arrives.] Vance:Wha!? Fei: Why are you fighting? Vance:You! What are you doing? Fei:What does fighting get you? What if this was your home!? [Fei attacks Clawknight and defeats it.] Citan:Fei! Bart:I knew you'd come around! Fei:We'll talk later! We've got big trouble coming down on us now! [Suddenly, Schpariel, a giant Gear falls in front of them. They defeat it.] Bart:...Th, th, thank... Thanks... Fei. [Bart leaves.] Fei:Bart... Sigurd:Thank you, Fei. Don't know how we could've done it without you. Fei:I... still don't know what I should do. Sigurd:Fei... Fei:What Bart's doing isn't for his own gain. He walks the path he believes in, one step at a time... wishing only for the happiness of those around him. I, on the other hand... Sigurd:... Fei:I thought I didn't have a path that I could take laid out before me. But like he said, that's just running away. I must find my own path. Right, doc? [Citan nods.] Fei:If Bart wishes, I'll cooperate with you guys. That's all I can do now. But I think I'll find the path I should follow as I help others like you. Moreover, I can't turn my back and ignore what such a terrible group of people are doing to others. Sigurd:Thanks Fei. [Later...] Maison:We must infiltrate Aveh and rescue Margie now! Gebler has discovered this base. So we should leave a small garrison and evacuate while we still can. Fortunately, the Yggdrasil is undamaged, so we are able to embark immediately. The crew's preparations are complete. Whenever you are ready, Master Fei and good Doctor, please accompany the young master to the bridge. Doctor Uzuki, Master Fei, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I would truly appreciate it if you would be so kind as to stay with us and help us on our rescue mission! Bart:Hey, alright, alright. Let me say goodbye to the women before we go. [Fei, Citan and Bart go to the Bridge. They talk to Sigurd.] Sigurd:It's time to sneak into Aveh at last. First of all, our party should inspect the town and work out a plan of action. Currently anchored at our hideout... Fei:Let's leave the hideout! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- II E. The Bledavik Rescue ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Sigurd pilots the Yggdrasil to Bledavik. Bart, Fei and Citan exit.] [As soon as Bart, Citan and Fei enter Bledavik, a giant aircraft, the one that Fei and Citan saw in the forest goes through a hatch into the grond. On board a man in his late twenties leads the crew. Next to him stands a beautiful woman with short, straight blue hair.] Crewman 1:Hull, all sections secure. Crewman 2:Gravity distribution normal. Shutting down propulsion system. Crewman 3:Begin docking procedure. Ramsus:Cancel the alert status. Begin repairs and resupply immediately. Miang:The Prime Minister and General Vanderkaum are here to see you, commander. Ramsus:Hmph, what a dismal welcome. Miang:What do you expect? We're on the 'surface'. Ramsus:Miang, let's disembark. Miang:Yes, sir. [The two walk off of the ship onto a long bridge which leads to the Bledavik dock. There stands the General and Shakhan, leader of Aveh, a man in his fifties with a mustache and bald head.] Shakhan:Well, well, Commander. You've only just taken command and already you are achieving splendid results. You dispatched those irksome Kislev units in a matter of days... I'm very impressed. [Ramsus ignores Shakhan and walks over to Vanderkaum, a large man with a beard and a purple cross tattoed to his face.] Ramsus:I can't believe you were beaten by such a small force... I have only just taken over my post and already you have embarrassed me! Vanderkaum:I am sorry Commander. They were more persistent than we anticipated. They had a new model Gear that was very mobile. I couldn't get a lock on it with the main gun... Otherwise there would have been no way we could have been beaten by such... Ramsus:Fool! Know when to use that big gun, and on whom! You failed because you try to solve everything with force. You have muscles instead of brains. Vanderkaum:Commander!! Ramsus:Dismissed. Go polish your 1200 sem cannon. [Ramsus walks with Shakhan and Miang to Fatima Castle.] Shakhan:Tomorrow is the 500th anniversary of this country. Please come to the dedication ceremony. There is a customary Tournament after the dedication ceremony... Ramsus:What about the incident in that report? Shakhan:What? Oh, you mean the 500 year old mobile weapon excavated from the ruins? Thanks to the help of the 'Ethos', the repairs are complete. I thought we could announce it on the day of the dedication ceremony... Ramsus:Toys like that should be given to Vanderkaum. I'm talking about the 'Fatima Jasper'. Shakhan:I already have acquired one half of the crest. But I haven't been able to get her to tell me where the other half is. She is a rather strong-willed girl... Ramsus:You're not being rough with her, are you? Shakhan:Of course not. I know you despise vulgar acts like that. Ramsus:You said the girl is the Holy Mother of Nisan... Is she upstairs? Shakhan:Yes, in the east tower. Ramsus:Miang, could it possibly be a 'Relic'? Miang:Yes. But there is still no response. There seems to be a barrier or something. However, we do know from the 500 year old records that one certainly exists in this vicinity. It's probably well preserved too. Ramsus:Let's meet her. I want to talk to her directly. Miang, you come with me. Miang:Yes sir. [They leave the elevator and walk up to a guarded door.] Shakhan:Open the door. Commander Ramsus is here to see her.] [The guard moves.] Shakhan:Commander, please. [Ramsus and Miang enter while Shakhan goes off to an other room. They walk up to Margie, a young girl around 16 with brown hair.] Margie:Who are you? Ramsus:I am Ramsus, she is Miang. We would like to ask you some questions. Margie:I'm Margie. Actually, it's Marguerite. What do you want to know? My favorite food? I like cake, Chiffon Nisan is my favorite. I haven't had it in so long... Ramsus:Marguerite, we want to ask you about the Fatima family treasure... I'm talking about the 'Fatima Jasper'. You see, I'm keeping the piece you had in a safe place. But I don't know where the other half is. Do you? Margie:Nope. The one I had you took from me. You didn't even give me anything for it. Hey, the next time you come could you bring me some Chiffon Nisan? I used to eat it every day in Nisan. I don't think they make it in Aveh. Aveh used to have such good bakers, but I guess they must have all died in the war. Ramsus:That is too bad. I don't know much about cake, but I'll see if I can find some for you next time. Margie:Thank you, Ramsus. I'll be waiting. Ramsus:Is there anything else you need? If there's something you want I'll bring it next time. Margie:No. I just want to go back to Nisan. They must be so worried about me. Ramsus:I'm sorry but please wait a little longer. We want you to stay here until we find the other half of the 'Fatima Jasper'. [Shakhan watches the scene through a camera he has attached to his mirror.] Shakhan:I'm amazed she talked that much. He can handle women as well as he says. Guard:Is it all right? Shakhan:I can't prevent them from meeting her. Not when it's him we are talking about. Besides, Marguerite isn't talking anyway. So there is no need to worry... But where did the leak about the Jasper come from? ...The 'Ethos'? Ridiculous...! Hmm, if this continues my plans will be... We had better find out who is leaking out our information immediately. In the meantime, we'll have to administer some truth serum to our guest, Miss Marguerite. We must find the other piece of the 'Fatima Jasper' as quickly as we can. Guard:But... Shakhan:However spineless the last commander, Vanderkaum was... this time Gebler has sent their highest commanding officer. His country is throwing all their weight into this. And there is nothing we can do about it! [Bart, Citan and Fei arrive in Bledavik. It is a lively town with many merchants lined up down the street selling various goods. A woman approaches the three.] Woman:Welcome to Bledavik! We're having a festival celebrating the founding of our country, Aveh. There's a martial arts tournament too. It's been a while since we had so many visitors. Do you already have a hotel? Fei:Not yet. Woman:You'd better get a room soon or they'll all be gone. I know a good hotel. The hotel I am talking about is... [She points to a nearby hotel.] Woman:That one. Tell them my name at the front desk and they'll give you a deal. [The three walk into the hotel. Citan stops the other two.] Citan:Let us borrow a room here for our planning session. [A woman an a blue and white robe walks down the stairs and approaches Bart.] Sister:Ah... Excuse me but... aren't you Prince Bartholomew? Bart:... And you are? Sister:I was sent here by the Nisan Sect. I'm here to check up on Mother Marguerite. Prince Bartholomew, I knew you would come sooner or later! Citan:Well, let us not just stand here chatting. Shall we use a room? Sister:You must be tired. I'll be in my room, please come by later. [She points to a room on the balcony.] Sister:That's my room there. [She goes upstairs. The three follow her inside.] Sister:Excuse me but who are they? Bart:Oh, this is Fei and Citan. They're going to help rescue Margie. Sister:Thank you for coming here in this desert heat. I am a servant of the Nisan Sect. Ever since Shakhan took Mother Marguerite I've been looking into ways to get her back. I've been trying to find out where she is being held. I've been busy listening to workers talk about the comings and goings from the castle... And giving food to the guards who are preparing for the Tournament to loosen their lips, too. Finally yesterday, I got some information... Margie's in the citadel. The problem is how to slip into the castle... I thought about it a lot, but it looks pretty bleak. I'm sorry. Bart:No big deal. At least we know where she is now. You just relax, we'll find a way to slip into the castle. Sister:My apologies. If there is anything else I can do to help just ask... Do you have any good leads? Bart:Not yet. We're gonna hit the streets for info. Now. Then we'll think about the rest later. Sister:I see. I'm very relieved that you are all here. Please come see me again if you hear anything new. [The three leave the hotel and approach the castle. Bart stays behind at the square while Citan and Fei continue further.] Gambler:Yo, dude! Try and pick the champion? Citan:The champion of what? Gambler:Huh? The champion of the 'Tournament'! Citan:Excuse us, we have only just arrived and know nothing of the Tournament. Gambler:Oh, tourists, huh? Well, let me tell you about the Tournament. Every year they hold a big martial arts Tournament here in Aveh. Fighters from all over the world gather to see who's the strongest. It's like a big brawl. Everyone goes wild over guessing who'll win. So, wanna give it a try? Citan:Betting on the Tournament... Is that allowed at such a grand event? Gambler:You bet. The soldiers are crazy about it. If Kislev attacked tomorrow Aveh would be dust. What are you gonna do? Registration's not over yet, but all the strong ones have signed up. The rest are only after the consolation prizes anyway... Citan:Let us wait and see. Some strong ones might still register. Gambler:Ha! What a buncha cowards. Citan:Fei, we can use this to our advantage! If you create a stir at the Tournament, the guards will be watching you rather than their posts. It will make it easy for us to sneak into the castle and rescue Margie. What do you think Fei? Will you enter the Tournament? Fei:Who...me? Citan:While you draw the guard's attention the young one can sneak into the castle. Surely, you see that is the only way we will get in? Right... Let us go sign you up. And Fei, do not