The buzz of the airship filled Minfilias’ ears, and distracted her from the metal they flew past, the searchlights gone. The heart of the imperial actions in Eorzea, at this moment - Minfilia gripped her hands into fists, looking to everybody. The ship soon landed, and the group disbarked. At the back of the group, Cid also got off the ship - his voice not his own.

“So here we are… the Ultima Weapon will almost certainly be housed in the depths of the complex.” Was Alexander telling him such? Honestly, though, it was common sense. The other six - K’pandolu, Phae, Bolormaa, Shivan, Alisaie, and Yda - seemed ready.

“I know how this castrums go,” Yda said. “Come on, come on!” And even if Yda wasn’t quite as durable as some of the others, off she skipped. For two steps. Until she saw soldiers, and they saw her. Pointing towards her, they began to charge.

It was a flurry of kicks and punches and magic which knocked out the Garleans. However, Shivan was quiet. He peered down, there were more. Far too many, he pondered, as he picked up one of their security passes. “I will distract them. Catch up to you later.”

The group began to protest, until the soldiers below began to aim their guns. Bolormaa looked Shivan in the eyes. “Burn bright, my new friend.”

They rushed forward. Shivan smiled warmly. He knew he would survive this, if he truly tried. But that was not his goal.

As they rushed forward, to where the door unlocked, Cid flinched. Alexander was speaking to him again, warning him of what he was about to see. (Oh, how he wished he could get Alexander to skip over it.) He stood at the back of the group, as the door opened. As Gaius appeared to him and the group.

Minfilia stepped forward. “Gaius.”

Gaius looked to her for a moment. Ah… the one who had fought for Eorzea. But he was not interested in her. No, his gaze turned to Cid. “Ah, Cid… my boy.

You are late.”

Cid took a step back, before Yda stood in front of him, with a small smile. “There is something I always meant to tell you, yet the time never seemed right. It concerns your father.”

Even as Gaius spoke, however, he looked right into Cids’ eyes. And in them, he saw the same hollowness that corrupted Midas in his final years. Perhaps it was not the time - but they had no more. “In the winter of his years, Midas came to abhor his part in Meteor. He told me that he wanted nothing more than to wash his hands of the whole sordid business.”

“He helmed the project until the day it killed him,” Cid replied, coldly. Disassociating, as he put a hand to Yda. To Yulia, who protected him now.

Perhaps Gaius knew how much this hurt. Perhaps it hurt him. “Come now, Cid…you must know that he did not have the luxury of choice. By the time he realized his error, it was too late. Meteor had him completely in its thrall.” Just as another has you in its thrall, Gaius thought, anger building as he paced on the metal ground. Making sure that the group was always within sight. “Shortly before his…transformation, mayhap sensing that something was amiss, your father confided to me all the regrets of his life. Most of them concerned you.”

Was it love, Gaius wondered, even now? Did Midas love him back? “Early on in your career, he realized that while you had a talent for devising armaments, it would never fulfill you.” A dark scoff to himself.

“Long before you knew your own mind, he saw that you would be far happier using your knowledge for peaceful purposes, and the thought touched him. He was a changed man for it, though he could not let it show.”

“What is it you want?!” Yda interrupted, Cid nodding back at her. “You— you waited for us here, for what?”

“Oh, Yulia…” Gaius began, before snapping to look at Cid again. “I was to offer you a place by my side, Cid. But you already serve another - another Eikon, having robbed me of what is rightfully mine.”

Cid stepped backwards. But none of the party seemed to turn on him. None of them seemed to realise he was not speaking in metaphors. Or did they not care…? “I instead offer his place to you, girl.”

Gaius had turned to Minfilia. A false kindness spread from his position. “With your powers joined to mine, we might do much for this realm. Together, we could bring order to Eorzea, and usher in a lasting peace.”

Minfilia did not pause, nor did she want to give her answer. “I’ve seen what your order means - for man and beast alike. I’m Ala Mhigan, van Baelsar.”

No, in other words. “So be it.” Gaius looked to the control panel behind him. He slammed his fist into it - and from the ground, a mechanical beast rose.

“It was your strength that made me proffer my hand in friendship, and it is your strength that makes me proffer now my blade. Save as an ally, you are too dangerous to be let to remain.”

He left, before anybody could stop him. As he did, his voice echoed though the base. “Run, Cid. Or stay. It makes no matter. You cannot escape the past.”

Even as battle broke out around them, Cid remained still. He stared at where Gaius had been, trying to focus, trying to not let out a cry of confusion. Gaius had raised him, after all. But now he carried these complicated feelings. Thankfully, he snapped out of it when the machine near him exploded. Collapsed to the ground. Cid shook his head. Gentleness re-entered his expression, mixed with the seriousness of the scene. “Knowing Gaius, he is headed for the Ultima Weapon. If we find him, so too will we find our quarry.” Cid moved towards the controls - huh. They seemed tuned to a frequency he’d often observed back when he studied. Back when he roomed with… well. “With these instruments, we can monitor every nook and cranny in the castrum.”

“Oh, oh, I know!” Yda said, bouncing. “We should split into groups! One stays here ready to guide and make sure there’s a safe way out, and the other goes off to follow van Baelsar!”

Cid nodded. “I’ll stay here.

…Yda, I know you’re a master of here, but—”

“—you want protection, right?” Yda replied, bouncing a little. “And somebody has to guide that weird Au Ra once he’s here, right?” Though Yda did wonder what was taking him. Cid nodded, and Yda smiled.

“We’ll be mission control! And you five… stay safe, okay?”

Without Yda at their side, the group had moved slower. But they had found Magitek armour that they could borrow, and had blown a hole into the inner defenses. Still, Phae and K’pandolu looked to each other - the hair on the back of their necks prickled. Alisaie suddenly drew her bow, shooting into the dark passage ahead. Before she could be questioned, there was a flash of light. And then darkness.

Alisaie let out a little huff. “Come on! We have to— what the fuck—?!”

Clang! CLANG! Metal walls fell to seperate the party. Minfilia, for her part, put her power into her glyph, if only weakly. Enough to light the path. “Ah… you have been leaving a fine mess in your wake, adventurers. Each of you are so unique! Miqo’te wanderers, Xaela savages, and two little monsters!”

Minfilias’ ears flickered. She couldn’t see the figure. Cids’ voice echoed though the systems. “Who’s—”

“Garlond. Shut up,” the figure beyond the containers said. “I don’t want to talk to you. You, the mighty Cid Garlond - fallen to such a simple failure!”

Cid knew that voice. And he knew that anger. But he did not know how he swore he heard Neros’ voice all around him. “…Nero? You’re alive?”

“Who knows? More alive then you! If only Lord Gaius had known before! Oh, yes, I heard what he said. A thrall! To an Eikon!” Nero replied, but he was distracted, Minfilia realised. She had to trust in the others, that they could escape. “How horrific… not. Your mind was always over-estimated.”

Leaning on the panel, Cid let out a whine. “Nero, I… It’s not what you think it is.”

Laughing, Nero looked to the boxes in front of him. Yes, he could feel the heat from one… but one out of them going to his Lord? That would be fine. Gaius could kill them, leaving him to play with the others. His mind raced with ideas - even as a firey explosion filled the air with smoke and soot. Minfilia ran past his red armour, with… a large Eikon following her? An Eikon that reminded him of ancient stories, onces written into his very soul.

Lord Gaius could take care of it.

Belias sheltered Minfilia as they burst though the next wall. To an elevator. As Nero let her free, he looked upwards, closed his eyes. Though the security cameras, he could see Cid. Confused. His eyes were ever-so-slightly clouded. “Watch me, Garlond! With Ultima Weapon - and with the power of these adventurers - I shall become a better man then you ever could be—”

Nero had seen the firey explosion. He had not seen the next bit of action, the claws inside the boxes ripping the others open. Alisaie panted, looking him right in the eyes. Alisaie looked up for a moment. Minfilia was alone now. She hadn’t expected this, from the stories. The tales of eight heroes, who rushed though the dungeon in mere minutes.

“We take him out. Now. For Minfilia!”

Belias was unsummoned. Even now, Minfilia feared his power. And besides, it was a simple elevator ride. She was alone.

But not for long. As she stood, humming Ala Mhigan songs under her breath, footsteps stopped her. She looked up. Gaius was there, armour gleaming.

This was going to be a long ride down. Had she not noticed him as the ride began? As the Lucavi she loved had vanished? For a few moments, they remained silent as they gazed at each other.

Gaius was the first to err, to speak. “Tell me…for whom do you fight?”

There was no hesitation. “I fight for those who cannot. For a future you cannot see - one that I’ve worked for my entire life for.”

A moment passed. “How very glib.” Minfilias’ heart bled for people who did not deserve it, Gaius thought. “And do you believe in Eorzea?”

This time, Minfilia was quiet. Did she believe in Eorzea? No… not as it is. “I believe it can become a better place. That simply destroying its’ culture and way of life will not solve the issues with Eorzea.”

Scoffing this time, Gaius looked her right in the eyes. Glib was right. “Eorzea’s unity is forged of falsehoods. Its city–states are built on deceit. And its faith is an instrument of deception. It is naught but a cobweb of lies. To believe in Eorzea is to believe in nothing.”

He got closer. Minfilia took a step back. Ready to summon Belias again. “In Eorzea, the beast tribes often summon gods to fight in their stead─though your comrades only rarely respond in kind. Which is strange, is it not?

Are the “Twelve” otherwise engaged? I was given to understand they were your protectors. If you truly believe them your guardians, why do you not repeat the trick that served you so well at Carteneau, and call them down?” 

Minfilias’ mind turned to the Twelve she’d found were real. No, she could not speak on such - that was a secret. “Your gods are no different from those of the beasts - eikons every one. Accept but this, and you will see how Eorzea’s faith is bleeding the land dry.

Nor is this unknown to your masters. Which prompts the question: why do they cling to these false deities?”

“For Man has always believed in a higher power.” Minfilia replied. “Is it not true that Garleans deify their Emperor Solus? Is it not true that you, too, have a belief that could be seen like the Twelve?” Minfilia replied, harshly. Her fists balled so tight she swore she could feel blood coming from her fingertips.

Her words had no effect on Gaius. “Even man of learning - even the so-called great Louisoix - would grovel at their feet. Why? For your master lack the strength to do otherwise!”

Minfilia would bite back, would ask what he had planned to stop Bahamut, but she could tell Gaius was into this. Instead, she closed her eyes. Would she summon Belias now? Or save both their strength for the Ultima Weapon?”

Gaius continued his monologue, harshly. His armour shimmering, gold coating it. “For the world of man to mean anything, man must own the world. To this end, he hath fought ever to raise himself through conflict - to grow rich through conquest. And when the dust of battle settles, it is ever the strong who dictate the fate of the weak.” Those with magic. Those who cried out to the so-called Gods, and were gifted with power.

“Only a man of power can rightly steer the course of civilization. And in this land of creeping mendacity, that one truth will prove its salvation.” A loud bang, a loud clunk. The elevator had reached the bottom, and Gaius turned towards the massive doorway.

“Come, champion of Eorzea. Bear witness to the true power of the Ultima Weapon - and face me. Your defeat shall serve as proof of my readiness to rule.”

Minfilia dare not stop Gaius now. But she was ready. Even if her head began to buzz, even if she could feel a force surrounding her that she’d not felt for months. It made her want to throw up, but she couldn’t stop now.

She could do this. Minfilia Warde - not a true fighter - against the machine that killed her girlfriend.