[On the bridge of the Leviathan, Ghis awaits them.]
Ghis: Such a tremendous honor to again be graced with your presence, Majesty. You left us with such great dispatch upon our last encounter that I must confess… I had begun to worry that we may have given some cause for offense.
Ashe: Such a heartfelt display of remorse. Now what is it you want?
Ghis: I want you to give me the nethicite.
Penelo: The nethicite?
[Penelo protectively grasps the nethicite from Larsa in her hands, behind her back.]
Ghis: That is a base imitation! We seek Raithwall’s legacy… the ancient relics of the Dynast-King: deifacted nethicite. [pause] Did you not tell them, Captain Azelas?
Vossler: Majesty, he speaks of the Dawn Shard. That is the nethicite.
Basch: Are you mad, Vossler?
Vossler: If we are to save Dalmasca, we must accept the truth. I will fight this profitless battle no more!
Ghis: Captain Azelas has struck a wise bargain. In return for the Dawn Shard the Empire will permit Lady Ashe to reclaim her throne, and the Kingdom of Dalmasca will be restored. Think on it. An entire kingdom for a stone. You must admit, ‘tis more than a fair exchange.
Balthier: And when all is said and done, your master will have another pet.
Ghis: Lady Ashe, let us take him for the people of Dalmasca. Your Majesty wallows in indecision on peril of their heads! [Ghis draws his sword and holds it to Balthier’s neck] And his shall be the first to fall.
Balthier: Well, at least your sword is to the point.
[Ashe hesitantly steps forward with the Dawn Shard in hand. Ghis lowers his sword and takes it from her; she sighs frustratedly as she lets it go.]
Ghis: To think the relics of the Dynast-King were deifacted nethicite. Doctor Cid will be beside himself.
Balthier: What did you say?
Ghis: Captain Azelas, take them to Shiva. They should have leave to return to Rabanastre soon.
[The party is escorted out. Ghis turns to one of the ship crew with the magicite.]
Ghis: I want you to assess its power.
Researcher: Did our orders not specify that we return the stone for testing?
Ghis: I will not chance returning with a Stone that is yet unproven.
[The 8th Fleet of the Archadian Imperial Army – Light Cruiser Class Ship Shiva]
Vossler: When we return to Dalmasca, we can announce that you are alive and well. I will then continue our negotiations with the Empire. I believe Larsa is the key. He’ll listen to us. We should trust him.
Ashe: Who are you, Vossler, to talk of trust?
Vossler: A son of Dalmasca.
[On the Leviathan, the researchers place the Dawn Shard inside a glass capsule; the instant the lid shuts over it, Fran perks up as if she can hear it. The researcher explains to Ghis as the capsule locks into place.]
Researcher: Our equipment here is limited, so we’ll be using the ship’s drive to make our assessment. Once we’ve connected the Stone, the reaction should be easily measured –
Ghis: Methods do not interest me. Only results.
[On the Shiva, the party hears Fran begin to pant, and turn to her, concerned. She is doubled over, seething.]
Vaan: Fran?
Fran: Such heat. The Mist – it’s burning!
[Back on the bridge of the Leviathan…]
Researcher: Sixty-eight hundred, sixty-nine hundred, seven thousand! This must be deifacted nethicite! The count still climbs!
Ghis: We’ve found it at last: true deifacted nethicite. The power of the Dynast-King in my hands. Blood alone does not an emperor make, Vayne.
[A red light starts flashing; alarms go off.]
Researcher: What is this? Something’s wrong!
Ghis: What is it?
[Back to the prisoners - Vaan and Penelo stand over Fran, who is slumped over on the ground as if in pain.]
Imperial: You! Stand!
[The Imperial is knocked back. Vaan and Penelo move away. Vossler makes a command to the other Imperials.]
Vossler: Hold her down!
[Fran scrapes her claws against the floor, then jumps up with a scream and starts taking down the guards. The rest of the party is fiddling with their cuffs while the Imperials fall around them.]]
Penelo: What’s wrong with her?
Balthier: I always knew Fran didn’t take well to being tied up. I just never knew how much. [to Ashe] How about you?
Ashe: I like Fran’s idea. Let’s get out of here!
Vossler: No farther! Sky pirates! The future of Dalmasca will not be stolen! [pause, as Vossler raises his sword] Why do this, Basch? This struggle is futile. You must know where it leads!
Basch: I do know. All too well.
[After defeating Vossler…]
[Vossler falls before Basch. Ashe looks on sadly from a distance. Back on the bridge of the Leviathan, all hell is breaking loose.]
Researcher 2: Engine power falling rapidly. It’s… negative? Impossible! We cannot maintain hover!
Ghis: I want to know what’s happened!
Researcher 1: The nethicite’s draining the ship’s power!
Ghis: Disengage it at once!
Researcher 1: We’re trying. It’s no good!
Researcher 2: It’s inflected! She’ll reach critical in three hundred! Cascade failure!
[Back to the party, who is scrambling to escape as the ship begins to shudder forebodingly.]
Vaan: Ashe, let’s go.
Vossler: All I have done – I’ve ever thought of Dalmasca first.
Basch: I know you do. I would ne’er gainsay your loyalty.
Vossler: Look on what my haste has wrought. Did I act too quick? Or was your return too late? [pause] I can serve her no more. You must take up my charge.
[Basch finally leaves him. On the Leviathan, flames break out. Vossler, alone, looks up as a bright light erupts.]
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