It was Edgar’s turn at the wheel, but because of a prior incident with a previous airship Setzer wasn’t too comfortable with the idea of letting him have that turn. So, Terra was left alone with Edgar for their entire trip to Zozo while Locke and Setzer went above to pilot the ship. Terra had to be truthful with herself when she admitted she didn’t know whether the short trip to Zozo with him would be too short or too long. There had been something in Edgar’s manner when he and Locke had returned from Jidoor that had made her wary. Then, when Locke had suggested he and Setzer take a turn at the wheel and conveniently leave the two alone, Terra hadn’t known whether to be eager at the prospect of more time with him, or terrified because of how eager she was.

“Are you sure traveling to Zozo is wise?” Edgar came to sit beside her. “You mentioned before that he wouldn’t set camp there for fear of losing his treasures.”

“I know,” she sighed as she rubbed her face and neck, “but I’ve had a chance to think.” Terra looked over at Edgar to catch him watching her. It was a little disconcerting. “Doesn’t it make sense that someone there would be willing to give us information about his operation if we offered enough money? Surely if Setzer was able to discover a name we could do even better.”

Edgar stood with a smile and came to stand behind her, his hands gently massaging her shoulders. “That’s why we always made you leader, Terra. Not only are you beautiful, but you’re bright.”

Terra waved his comments aside and looked down at the map of the newly formed world. “I just don’t know,” she said in an exasperated voice. “It’s been too long, Edgar. I don’t remember how to plan anything.” His touch began to irritate her and she stood sharply, pulling away from him to stand by a window.

“Terra,” Edgar said as he came to stand behind her. “Terra, you mustn’t be so hard on yourself.” Edgar placed his hands on her shoulders again, but she shrugged them off and moved away. “You’re pushing yourself too hard.”

“If I don’t push myself, who will? I can’t just breeze through this and expect none of them to get hurt. I have to think everything through and get it right.”

“Terra.” He turned her around to face him, but she kept her head lowered. “We’re a team. No one expects you to solve this alone. All of us are with you in this.”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then make me understand. I wish to help, Terra. Whatever it is. Whatever you’re going through.”

Terra turned away. “It’s my fault,” she said in a choked voice. “If I had just taken them with me this wouldn’t have happened.”

“There was no way you could know that. You might have only been taken along with them---”

“There had to have been a way, Edgar. A way to stop this! A way to know! I left them alone so that I could have some time by myself.” Terra’s voice was laced with guilt and pain. “Don’t you understand? I... I left them.” Edgar was silent, his eyes dark as he watched her. “It was my job to watch them. They looked up to me for protection and I let them down. I walked away and let them get taken---”

The control broke and the sobs ran free as Edgar stepped forward to wrap her up in his arms. “Terra, you’re not to blame. Not by any means. You deserve time alone as much as any of us do. Besides, you trust the older ones to watch the younger because of the responsibility that they have learned from you. There was nothing wrong with trusting them further.” Edgar pushed her back and held her face in his hands, his thumbs caressing her tear-stained cheeks. “The fault was not yours---”

“It is my fault,” she insisted harshly. She pushed his hands from her face. “All I had to do was watch them because they had no one else and I couldn’t even do that! How can you stand there and say it isn’t my fault? You don’t know what you’re talking about, Edgar! You... y-you don’t know...” She hid her face with her hands and felt his arms surround her again. Terra clung to him and sobbed.

“I know more than you think, Terra,” Edgar said. “I understand that you’re afraid you’ll lose the only people you’ve ever loved. I know that you’re terrified the anger you feel building inside will take control.”

Terra wanted to believe him, but something held her back. Something dark. Something lurking in the back part of her mind. Something that scared her.

“Shh,” he whispered as he stroked her hair. “Shh. It’s all right. It’s all right to be scared. After all, I was terrified that you wouldn’t wish to see my face again after I had acted such a fool. Then there you were on my doorstep asking for help. I was thanking my lucky stars that day.”

Terra looked up at him and reluctantly smiled, her eyes still glistening with tears as her chin quivered. “Oh Edgar, you and that silver tongue of yours,” she said as she wiped at her face. “Can’t you be serious about anything?”

He smirked and helped her dry her face with a silk kerchief he pulled from his pocket. “When I’m holding a lovely creature in my arms such as yourself? Don’t be cruel.” She shook her head with a reluctant laugh. “That’s better. We cannot be having tears in a lady’s eyes on an adventure such as this.” He kissed the kerchief while her eyes watched in surprise, and then tucked it carefully back into his satin vest pocket. “Now, give me your hand and let’s have a laugh or two before tackling the problem again.”

She slipped her hand into his and he brought it to his lips for a long moment before smiling down at her with a strange expression in his eyes.

Terra turned her eyes away and let him lead her back to the table.

Locke looked over at Setzer with a shake of his head. “I don’t like it,” he grumbled for the countless time. “I don’t like it at all.”

Setzer smirked and did some fancy shuffling of his cards. “Leave them alone, Cole. Life is a lonely mistress. Those two deserve what they’re getting.”

“She doesn’t know Edgar like I do. The last thing she needs is him putting the moves on her and kissing her so she can barely think straight. She’s just a kid,” he insisted as his hands gripped the wheel.

“Terra is a woman and Edgar is a man.”

Locke rolled his eyes. “Don’t remind me.”

Setzer laughed. “I thought you wanted them to be married, Cole.”

“He hasn’t exactly put a ring on her finger, has he? I don’t like putting the cart before the chocobo, okay?”

“Do you truly doubt he will? Edgar is a man of honor, Cole. Don’t trifle with that or you’re liable to get your head cleaved in two. Besides,” Setzer paused and palmed the Queen of Hearts. “Besides, I don’t believe anything but a few passionate embraces are being shared. He respects her too much to rush her into more than that.”

“You don’t know Edgar.”

Setzer seemed to get annoyed at that point. “Only Edgar knows Edgar,” he said as he stood. “Trust your friends and leave it at that. I’m going below.”

“If you come back a little pink around the ears, I’ll know you were wrong,” Locke grumbled.

Setzer chuckled despite himself. “It’s nothing I haven’t experienced myself,” he tossed over his shoulder. “A little amusement would be just what I need right now.”

Locke glared after him.

When Setzer made his way below, Edgar and Terra were sharing anything but a tender embrace. The two were gathered around the table examining maps and talking in low tones while pointing at different areas. Setzer smirked with a shake of his head. Terra didn’t appear the least bit disheveled. ‘Pity,’ he thought to himself. ‘She’s in need of some good lovemaking to make her a woman.’ He’d do it himself if it wasn’t for the fact that he was sure Locke would object with the sharp end of his dagger.

Edgar looked up and greeted Setzer with an easy smile. “I do believe we have solved the mystery.”

Setzer raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? You two certainly have been busy.” Terra didn’t even flush a slight color of red and Setzer raised an eyebrow. Such a reaction was unusual given her usual response to his innuendos.

“Before this world of ruin there was a trade route from Nikeah to about here.” She traced a line on the map, then pointed to a section where there was only polluted water. “The Imperial base was there, but as you can see it doesn’t exist in this world.”

Setzer leaned over the map with a nod. “Right. Shall we all observe a moment of silence for the loss?”

“Hardly,” Edgar scoffed. “But Terra and I recalled the fact that the Empire once used slave labor in order to...” He grimaced. “Save money. Harvesting prime candidates for this less than glorious profession had become quite a problem in years gone by. Before Kefka turned our little world upside down, that is. People of all ages would disappear from their homes in the middle of the night and never be heard from again. Whole schools would disappear without a trace.”

Setzer noticed something strange about Terra’s face, but pushed it aside. “So, are you saying that our Empire friends have found a way to resume their charming way of life?”

“Maybe not the Empire directly, but perhaps some of the leftover scum who would know no better,” Edgar said.

Terra changed her gaze from Edgar to Setzer with a nod. “We’re not sure of anything yet, but it’s possible. Do you know anything about this Ledo character? Do you know if he’s had anything to do with the Empire in the past?”

Setzer sat in a chair across from her and leaned back to prop his feet up on the table. “Your typical Zozo slime. Arrogant. Ugly. Anything but charming, to say the least. A real piece of work. Money and power are that character’s only real loves.” Setzer hesitated and a frown twisted the scar over his left eye.

“Do you remember something?” Edgar asked.

“It seems to me that he was throwing a lot of money into that game without flinching. Throwing it and losing it.”

Terra and Edgar exchanged a glance. “What does that mean to you, Setzer?” Terra asked.

“It means that he had just been paid a lot of money. Not only that, he was expecting to be paid more. Soon.”

Terra took in a slow breath and stared down at the map. “I don’t suppose he mentioned anything about it?”

Setzer shook his head. “No.”

“Blast,” Edgar said.

Locke chose that moment to come in to the room. “You’ve got that right.”

“Zozo?” Edgar asked.

“Zozo,” Locke said with a cringe. “I hate this place. Not only does it stink to the heavens, but the population are the worst possible thieves.”

“I’m sure you could give them lessons,” Setzer chuckled.

Locke sent him a glare. “Ha, ha, ha, very funny.”

“I suppose we should go,” Terra said as she rolled up the map. She set it aside and then slipped into her sword and scabbard. “We’ve wasted enough time.”

Setzer stood and collected his razor edged cards. “I’d like to think that we’ve invested time, Terra. ‘Wasted’ is such a harsh word.”

Terra sent him a small smile, which he returned. ‘Ah. The Terra we all know and love seems to have returned. Bravo, Edgar. Bravo. Why didn’t I think of doing it before? Terra would have presented an interesting challenge.’ Setzer thought a moment and then decided against it. Challenges were well and good, but Terra was anything but his type. ‘Now Celes...’ He didn’t waste the time to finish. Locke would have gutted him had he even suspected what the gambler was thinking about his soon-to-be wife and he had too many things yet to do. ‘Ah well. Such is the toss of a coin.’

Terra’s grip on her sword hilt tightened as the group of four entered the dark town of Zozo. It was raining and Terra grimaced at the stench of rotting corpses. The last time had been so different. Transformed by the Esper Tritoch, she had been drawn to the top of one of the buildings by Ramuh’s power. She had been so afraid of herself and the power that had seemed limitless. So terrified that she would hurt someone without meaning to. It had been here that Locke, Edgar, Sabin, and Celes had found her. Here where all her friends had discovered her terrible secret.

Her father was Maduin, an Esper.

Terra led the group further into the city now and pressed her lips together as she saw a group of residents edging closer. “Keep your eyes open,” she warned in a voice only her friends could hear. “It looks like we’re going to have company.”

“Bring ‘em on,” Locke grumbled. “It’ll give me a chance to work out some frustrations. Believe me, I have a lot of frustrations.”

Setzer chuckled. “You always do when you’re away from Celes for any longer than a day.”

Edgar gripped Locke’s arm to keep him from hurling a dagger and sent Setzer a hard look. “Gentlemen, this is neither the place nor the time. Our goal is to locate Terra’s children, remember?”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Sorry, gambler.”

“It’s quite all right.”

Locke looped his thumb on his belt. “So, where to next?”

Terra shook her head. “I’m not sure. This place... This place...” She shook her head again and brought a hand up with a cringe. A spark seemed to have shot out from the very center of her brain causing yellow and white spots to flash in her eyes. “Ooh. My head.”

Edgar stepped closer and gripped her shoulder to keep her from falling when she stumbled. He tilted her chin up and examined her face and eyes. “What’s wrong?” He felt her forehead and glanced sharply over at Locke. “She’s burning up.”

“What?” Locke strode forward and touched her forehead as well, then checked her pulse. He shook his head. “Something spooky’s going on, Edgar. We’ve got to get her back to the ship.”

Terra shook her head feebly and tried to straighten. “No. No, we have to go on,” she insisted.

“Terra,” Edgar said firmly. She locked gazes with him. “Terra, if something here is causing you pain you are not going on. Setzer will take you back to the ship while Locke and I discover what we can.”

Terra pressed her lips together and dropped her hand from Edgar’s arm to straighten under her own power. The pain surged through her body, but she forced herself to not recognize it with even the barest hint of a cringe. She took in a slow breath and willed herself to ignore the burning agony that seemed to melt her brain. “We will go on as a group, Edgar,” she said firmly. Her voice didn’t even quiver. “A group of four in Zozo is bad enough. Two is a suicide mission.”

Edgar shook his head with a reluctant smile after a long pause. “Very well. We will stay together, but I’m only agreeing so that I may keep an eye on you.”

Terra forced a smile.

“You’ve had your eye on her for long enough, don’t you think? I’d say you need to get a little more physical than that.”

Edgar’s ears flushed pink and he shot Setzer a warning glare, ignoring Locke’s loud laugh that even had the Zozo residents looking amongst themselves in confusion. To get the focus off himself, Edgar pulled a small bottle from a pouch on his belt and handed it to Terra. “Here,” he said. “Take this. It may not take away all the pain---”

“Edgar...” Terra took it with a grimace.

“Do not deny that you are hurting. I think it will help.”

“Thank you. I’ll save it for later---”

“No,” Edgar pressed firmly. “No, you will take it now. I have plenty more, as do Locke and Setzer.”

Terra removed the stopper and took in a deep breath as she prepared herself for the super-sweet taste of the herbal potion, as well as the bazaar effects that would linger for several moments afterward. With a last hesitation, she swallowed the thick, greenish-blue liquid and grimaced as she handed the glass bottle back to Edgar. The liquid slid down her throat slowly, causing her whole body to shiver as it’s healing effects tingled and warmed her insides. The burning in her brain receded a bit, making it easier for her to ignore, and the sparks that had begun to cascade through her body from toe to fingertips all but disappeared. She swallowed several times, desperately trying to clear the remaining sticky substance from her mouth as her limbs began to feel a little heavier than normal. The heaviness was due to the effects of the potion and would pass quickly.

“Better?” Edgar asked.

Terra gave Edgar a small nod. “Better.”

“Good, because our company is getting closer,” Locke warned.

Terra sent them a look, carefully gauged the challenge, and decided that there really wasn’t any. “Nothing to worry about.”

Setzer smirked and lightly fingered his deck of cards. “Well said, but a challenge nonetheless. We have, after all, been out of the fighting business for quite a while.”

There was a brief tingling at the base of her skull followed by a pop in each of her ears that quickly faded. Terra sent Setzer a smile. “Come on, gambler, are you telling me you’ve forgotten how to use those cards of yours?” She slowly pulled her sword from it’s sheath and sent Edgar a wink. “Come on, let’s show them how it’s done.”

“Terra! Wait!”

Edgar tried to grab her arm, but she took off with a war cry that scattered the less assured ruffians while causing the more arrogant ones to gather around her. Their move blocked any avenue of escape she might have had. The trio stared after her with shocked gazes.

“What’s gotten into her? She’s never been this way before,” Locke said in confusion.

Edgar holstered his chain saw and hurried forward after her. “It’s the potion,” he shouted over his shoulder. “It has to be!”

“What kind of potion did you give her,” Locke asked as he followed. “Have you had that thing in your pocket your whole life or something?”

“No,” Edgar shot back. “It’s reacting to whatever is causing Terra to be ill.”

Locke grit his teeth. “Remind me to tell you---”

“Save the Philosophy lesson. We’ve got work to do,” Setzer said calmly as he palmed at least 5 cards. “She may be a good fighter, but she’s not as powerful as she used to be. Not only that, I believe 5 or 6 Zozoians would be too much for any woman.”

Locke’s gaze followed Setzer’s and he groaned. “Man, we can’t take her anywhere without some kind of trouble.”

Setzer shook his head and sent Locke a smirk. “What are you saying? Leave her home? That would go over well.”

“It’s a thought, okay? Take her flank, Setzer. Edgar, take the--- Edgar!”

Edgar had already begun hacking his way through the closest residents in order to attempt a clearing of Terra’s right side. Setzer flung his razor sharp cards at the Zozoians attacking her rear and they whistled through the air with a high-pitched whine before hitting their mark with a thud followed by a pain-filled cry.

Locke grinned. “Show-off!” He made his way to one of the last shrouded figures and readied his Gradius and Swordbreaker. Before he could attack, though, he was disarmed and staring stupidly at the black figure that had done the deed. “What the---”

“You need practice,” the dark figure said to Locke.

Locke could hear the familiar cool detachment in the voice and sent the figure a shocked look. “Shadow, what are you doing here? I thought you were dead.”

“Death and I have an arrangement.” Shadow returned Locke’s weapons and silently dispatched the last Zozoian with a shuriken to the throat. “Interceptor smelled trouble."

“Oh wonderful. Now we’ve got a psychic dog added to this crazy bunch.”

Shadow was silent a moment and knelt down to retrieve his shuriken from the gurgling throat of the barely conscious victim. Locke cringed and looked away.

“I suggest you go home to your woman, Locke,” Shadow finally said. “Your mind is anywhere but here.”

“My mind is just fine,” Locke said as Setzer came to stand beside him. Edgar, on the other hand, was desperately trying to calm Terra down. “I knew it was you all the time.” Setzer raised an eyebrow with a chuckle and Locke continued. “So, where’s your dog?”

“He picked up a strange trail and decided to investigate. He will know when he is needed.”

Locke shook his head before turning to check on Edgar’s progress. Terra was still anything but her usual self.

“There is evil at work here,” Shadow told them in his usual somber tone. “The people of this town are uneasy and prone to fights amongst themselves.”

“Aren’t they always?” Setzer asked.

“Not like this. People act differently when here. I haven’t yet been able to determine the reason, but it’s evil. Of this I am sure.”

Locke looked over at Terra and rubbed at his scalp before sending the ninja a probing stare. “Have you noticed any kind of symptoms?”

“Of medicines I know little. All I know is what I see and what Interceptor senses. Things are not right here.”

“How come Setzer and I are okay then?”

Shadow was silent for a long moment before answering. “Are you?”

Locke and Setzer exchanged a glance. “We get your point,” Locke said.

“We have been a little more short-tempered than usual, my friend.” Setzer offered.

“Yeah. It’s just that I hate the fact that some low-life took Terra’s kids, Setzer. It makes me feel helpless, useless, and generally hopeless because there wasn’t anything we could do about it. I don’t think it has anything to do with Zozo or whatever ‘evil’ is here.”

“Perhaps it is reaching outside of Zozo,” Shadow said.

“Doubt it. Terra was fine until she stepped inside here. Then, wham, heart beat going like mad and temperature through the roof.”

Again, Shadow was quiet for a long time. “There is a connection between this evil and Terra.”

“Then what’s the connection between it and the people who actually live here?” To that, Shadow gave no answer. He simply turned and made his way to Edgar and Terra. Locke followed with a slow exhalation of breath. “Didn’t I say it before? A walking freak show, that’s what he is,” he grumbled.

Setzer smirked and pocketed his cards with a shake of his head.

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