Chapter 13, Breakthrough

"Alright, it's eight o'clock," Strago announced, standing straight despite his hunger, "it must be dark out there now."

 "Very well."

    Setzer looked around at the assembled Returners; their exhausted eyes reflecting his own. It was more than anyone needed in order to come to a decision.

 "We're off then," the gambler said and turned to the wheel.

    He put his left hand on the steering circle and reached out his other hand for a black lever attached to the control panel, just to his right. The albino gambler closed his eyes and prayed to Fortuna that the engine would be strong and silent enough to bring them to safety. It seemed to be working, but had yet to prove it's reliability in flying again.

    It had crashed once, though that hadn't been the engine's fault. It seemed like Darryl had been flying too low; low enough for some kind of monster to make a hole in the balloon, from the burn marks Setzer had gained it had been a fire-breather – or as he thought now, a magic user of some kind. Earlier he hadn't really believed in some monsters' natural powers.

    Well, the damage was repaired, he had made sure of that before he had docked it in the grave. It had taken a short flight then, if it was suited for longtime flying again he had no idea.

 'Help us, Darryl…' he thought and pulled the lever.

    The engine growled as more power was asked of it, and complied. Setzer grinned despite his remaining worry and let go of the stick, slamming his hand onto a big red button on the panel before him. It engaged another mechanism, a temporary one that probably wouldn't be used ever again even if it outlived its purpose a second time.

    A screeching was heard from ahead, alike the one that had been heard in the grave but louder. In the dimmed lights of the airship, the Returners watched as the wall before the nose of the Falcon moved; cracking up in two pieces that went in a direction each. Fresh air flowed into the cave like a stream of water over the desert, and the warriors took in heavy breaths of is as if the refreshing wind could cure all their ailments. Of course it couldn't, but it was quite a relief anyway.

 "Come on!" Setzer muttered, glaring at the gate that seemed to move with the speed of two sleepy snails.

    Finally the moving and the screeching noise ceased, and the gambler wasted no time to give the engine the order to get it's real job done.

    The platform that the Falcon had been rested on creaked a little as the weight left it and the sudden pull of movement sent almost everyone to the deck in their weakened state. There was a snap from somewhere below as the cable going to the gate mechanism got stretched beyond its limits, accompanied by another twitch of the ship. The Falcon just swung lightly and went back in course however.

    And they moved. The airship had left its resting place and rose upwards in the huge cavern, following the careful commands of Setzer as he nervously switched the commands to confirm the route. He aimed well, then pushed at the wheel with all his force.

    And the Falcon complied. It soared straight forwards, not even touching the cavern walls as it brushed by.

    As soon as he knew that they were past the obstacle, Setzer hit another button and all the lights went out. The darkness enveloped the ship, silently promising all the safety it could offer.

    After the first few moments of feeling its own force again, the engine also seemed to settle back and the drone turned softer.

 "Any signs of the empire?" Setzer asked, glancing over his shoulder in the direction of his friends.

    Shuffling noises spoke of strategic regrouping for lookouts, but even from the beginning there were carefully relived negative mutters.

 "I can see some searchlights there over the land," Sabin reported, "they seem to be a few more than last night but they're not coming in this direction. They can hardly hear us from there either."

 "Good," Setzer sighed and looked at the sky.

    The stars twinkled down at him, and he smiled. They would lead his way, as he had hoped. Perhaps any gods that were still watching the world had decided to turn to the side of good again, after all…

 "Alright everyone," the gambler grinned and turned the wheel lightly, "we're going to Figaro!"

    They would have cheered if they had had the strength, but the Returners settled back with relieved sighs. And it was enough.

    They had made it out of the enemy country.

 "Nothing, nothing and nothing. Ha!"

    Kefka snickered and emptied his wineglass in one sweep. After coming back by dinner, he had removed all his makeup. Always something less unnatural…

 "I was a little irritated about it earlier today, I admit," he chuckled at his mildly smiling brother, "but seeing Gestahl's frustration makes it all worthwhile."

 "I guess we're all happy then," Gogo commented.

 "Me, you and the Returners? Oh yeah. No, wait…"

    Kefka shook his head, but his smirk didn't go away.

 "That makes me be on their side, doesn't it?" he chuckled.

 "They'd drop dead if they heard you say that," the mimic said.

    He found himself amused at the thought, which surprised him.

 'Shame on you,' Siren commented, but there was a bit of a chuckle in her voice as well.

 'Oxymorons are always funny, aren't they?'

 'I am forced to comply, despite the best intentions.'

 'Good to hear that you're feeling better.'

 'Terra and the others must have gotten away somehow, what else could I be?' she commented, smiling.

 'Good point.'

    During that conversation, which had taken about two seconds, Kefka had been laughing. And he went on a bit further, as well. Gogo couldn't help but smile, though the sound was so screeching that it would have cut anyone's ears. The mimic just kept enjoying the harsh noise, as he had missed it for almost half his lifetime.

 "Now that was one of the more interesting ways of killing people…" the madman chuckled, "one I hadn't tried on them yet, too."

    Gogo's smile died.

 "Kef…" he started before considering it.

    A quick wave of a hand stopped him, accompanied with a pair of thinned, amused eyes.

 "I hear ya," Kefka smirked, soft as silk, "still not got enough proof?"

    Siren winced, though she hardly had grown any warmer feelings towards the madman she found Gogo's twisting denial painful.

    He knew, he knew all too well from what little he had been forced to hear already, however he desperately refused to admit it as the truth. But his brother was a murderer. And not simply that, he was sadistic and gleeful as well.

 "I tried to kill you too, Kef," the madman said, and for every word the amusement seemed to twist between existence and nonexistence, "normally I would have laughed, but it was you."

    Gogo leaned forwards, resting his elbows on the table and entwining his fingers onto a platform which upon he rested his lips.

 "I don't know whether to regard that as a good or bad sign, considering all," he finally muttered without looking up.

 "You lived."

    The voice was unreadable.

 'He did it again,' he thought, idly somehow, 'called me Kef.'

 'Gogo…'

    The mimic closed his eyes.

 'Is he noticing it?'

 '… I can't say yet,' Siren cautiously said.

    Gogo took in a deep breath.

 'I'm sorry, Siren. I'm going to try.'

    At first she seemed about to hiss. Then she calmed. Somewhat.

 'You're crazy. But I can't stop you.'

 'Can he become more ready?'

 'Possibly. But you can't.'

 'Correct.'

 'Bahamut be with us.'

 'Yes… if he's on my side as well.'

 'I dearly hope so.'

 "Brother, how come?" Gogo said aloud.

 "What?" Kefka grunted, putting the empty glass on the table where the mimic's drink already stood.

    The helmeted man finally looked up, seeing another flicker in his brother's eyes. Something was happening, but even the sparkles seemed indecisive of their meaning and of what had triggered them.

    Perhaps the fact that Kefka had admitted wanting to kill his twin again. That was the one thing he hadn't been talking about earlier.

 "Why did Kefka become a murderer?" Gogo pressed, narrowing his eyes.

    In a battle he couldn't stand against his brother, that was already proven. At least not a magic battle. But there are other ways to fight than with violence.

    For a moment Kefka just glared.

 "What's that supposed to mean?" he finally growled.

    It had nothing to do with the question about killing, Gogo knew. What his brother really said – just not aloud – was:

 "What do you mean, 'why did Kefka become a murderer'?"

    For it was also the first time that Gogo more or less indirectly questioned his and his brother's identities ever since the peace treaty.

 "You are my brother. I care about you. And I want to know what made you become what you are now," the mimic stated, not removing his gaze from Kefka's.

    He kept the eyes locked, even if the fire in those that he watched flickered dangerously for a moment.

    The flames settled back as Kefka snorted.

 "What made me like this?" he snapped, "what didn't make you like this, bro?"

    Gogo blinked, not sure what to answer to that, not sure what his brother meant. The surprise was apparently quite obvious since Kefka picked up again:

 "Hiding in a zone eater for twenty years, why aren't you mad?"

    Instead of meeting the irritation with more of its kin Gogo just wisely shook his head, as calm as he could though he was quite tense.

 "Good question," he murmured.

 "Really good question!" Kefka spat and stood, starting to pace over the mat, "I'll tell you what, bro, you are crazy as well, just not the way I am!"

 "How so?"

    Gogo bit his lower lip.

 'Siren, he's acting like Kerr now…'

 'I don't really see any difference,' the esper nervously mumbled.

 'No, you don't know him of course. But that pacing, and listen to him. He's not talking, he's ranting.'

 'He might snap, Gogo. Can you hold him back somehow?'

    But she already knew the answer.

 'Afraid not.'

 "How so, you say?" Kefka scowled, "coming here to confront me, isn't that proof enough?!"

    Siren bit her lower lip. Well, so to speak.

 'I should have made a link…' she thought to herself, unwilling to present her friend with the lost possibility.

    The truth was that she might have been able to stop Kefka, had she only made preparations. But the mere thought had abhorred her, and she had dismissed it as unneeded. Despite the fact that she deep down had felt that it might come to something like this.

    Had she only made Gogo touch his brother with Siren's magicite – without the madman noticing it of course – then the esper would have been able to create a connection somewhat alike the one she used when teaching her carriers of her magic. But the link to Kefka wouldn't have been made for learning, but for restraining.

    It was risky, even with a sane person she had never tried it. And she would have to dive into her hated enemy's mind to do what needed to be done. It was no task she felt any desire for.

    Besides, rendering Kefka comatose for a short period of time would solve very little, she feared. No matter how relieving it might feel.

    And it was too late now, she could do naught but watch.

    Watch Kefka furiously pace, Gogo looking at him and trying to keep his worry at bay.

 "Good point," the mimic carefully murmured, "I'm bound to agree."

 "Good!"

    The imperial lord didn't slow down for a second, at times having his back turned at his brother, then facing him, moving all the while.

 "You agree, don't you? You do! You of all blasted people!"

 "Who else?" Gogo whispered, but he hardly heard himself.

    Either Kefka didn't hear, or he didn't care. The first was more likely.

 "Did you think it was easy? That I liked it?" he growled as he marched at Gogo again, then turning as he continued, "it was the madness! I was mad all along, don't you see? You're just slower! It's better than having to think all the time, it makes my head hurt!"

 "Bro…"

 "I hated you, you know! Your stupid fairytales and your discoveries… me, envious?"

    Gogo had known it to be true, but it still stung. He was still surprised when his brother's eyes were hidden behind his hand when he turned back once more, however. The gesture puzzled Siren quite a bit as well.

    The pain and surprise halted the realization for a moment longer. Then it slammed down.

    Gogo's eyebrows twitched and his eyes widened slightly as it hit him.

 'By Goddess…' Siren whispered.

 "Brother…" the mimic hoarsely said, standing.

    The madman didn't seem to hear him.

 "Why wouldn't we go mad? Did you feel it? No! It's a lie! All a lie!"

    He glared briefly at Gogo as he brushed past, grabbing the empty wineglass in a fluid motion.

 "Just a lie! It's nothing!"

    The glass shattered against the transparent wall, the tiny drop that had been left surely spreading helplessly as well.

    The raging man stopped in the middle of the room, his back at Gogo as he furiously rubbed his temples.

 "It's just a lie… I don't!" he growled.

 "Brother!" Gogo tried once again, more forcefully this time.

    Hands were pressed against the pale face and its grimace.

 "I hate you… damn, I'm talking too much!" Kefka harshly snarled, "it's not… working out…"

 'Gogo, something is wrong!' Siren called, frowning.

    Before the mimic had time to answer either of them, his brother let the hands move away a little, but still kept them at the level of his face as he turned to Gogo. He still looked angry, but it was mixed with confusion again.

 "It's not working out…" he muttered, frowning.

    Gogo opened his mouth to speak. But his brother acted too quickly again.

 "God… my head…"

    With a groan lord Kefka fell to the floor, pressing one hand against his eyes.

    Afterwards Gogo couldn't remember the few steps bringing him to his brother, neither how he fell to his knees and carefully lifted his twin's head into his lap.

 "It's not working out, I'm talking too much…" Kefka mumbled with a slight slurring, his eyes trying to focus on his brother's face, "you are Kerr, aren't you? Then why am I babbling?"

    Siren "held" her breath.

    Gogo on the other hand didn't seem to think at all. Instead he just acted, without any consideration. His brother's hands had fallen limp, and the mimic gently massaged Kefka's forehead as he understood it hurt for one reason or another.

 "Yes, it really isn't working out," the mimic gently said, "but you know, I think you've got a lot more to say. After all, I've been hiding inside of a giant worm for twenty years, there's not much to tell about that. So…"

    This was it…

 "… Why don't we pretend that it's the other way around?"

 "Whaz…?" Kefka murmured, his eyes starting to focus a little again however.

 "I mean," Gogo said with a careful smile and removed his hand, "since you have much more to tell me, you can be Kerr and babble, and I'll listen. How about that, bro?"

    The fallen brother's eyes finally focused and he blinked a couple of times, still looking confused.

 "Feeling any better?" the mimic asked.

 "Yeah…"

    Slowly Kefka sat up and turned to his brother, rubbing his forehead by own force. Not as furiously as earlier though. Gogo said nothing, waiting.

 "What did you say…?" the dizzier one muttered.

 "I was wondering if you'd like to be Kerr, just for now," the mimic said, carefully this time.

    Kefka stopped rubbing his head and looked up at his brother's face.

    Gogo looked back, deep within surprised about how calm he felt.

    Kefka took in a deep breath, shaking his head as he let it out.

 "There's… been a lot happening, Kefka," he finally murmured.

    Gogo smiled and held out a hand as he stood.

 "Really? Well, you'll just have to tell me about it, I've really missed hearing your ramblings, bro."

    Another hand took the one that had reached out, and its owner looked up. His lips twitched a little.

 "I've missed having you listening, I have to admit that," Kerr said.