Xenogears Chapter 06: Dazil

[Begin music: "Emotions"]

[Scene opens south of the forest. Fei and Citan walk south of Blackmoon Forest and enter the town of Dazil. Scene change.]

[Begin music: "Dazil, City of Burning Sands"]

[Scene opens at the north gate of Dazil. Fei and Citan walk into the gate. Fei walks a few steps into the town.]

FEI
"This is...Dazil..."

[Citan nods.]

CITAN
"Yes, that is right. The desert town of Dazil."

[Camera pans back to show a wide shot of the town.]

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."

[Camera moves back to original shot of Fei and Citan.]

CITAN
"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 turns around and looks at Citan.]

FEI
"Repair Weltall..."

[Citan nods.]

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 nods.]

FEI
"Yeah, okay doc, let's check this place out then."

[Fei and Citan walk up to the wall and walk around when Fei suddenly stops.]

FEI
"Huh?"

[Scene change to an excavation site.]

FEI
"That's amazing. They're digging right next to this town too?"

[A robot digger walks by.]

CITAN
"This is an Aveh-run excavation site.
The machines and Gears found here are valuable resources that could turn the tide of the war.
They are indispensible to the war effort."

[The conversation pauses.]

CITAN
"Anyway Fei... Let us move on.
We have more pressing matters to do than taking in the 'sites'!"

[Scene changes back to where Fei stopped. They walk further into town, and speak to a civilian.]

CIVILIAN
Since those Gebler forces came, Aveh's hardly ever lost to Kislev.
I wish the 'Ethos' would give out some of those new powerful Gears.

[Fei turns to Citan.]

FEI
"The 'Ethos'? What do Gears have to do with the 'Ethos'?"

CITAN
"Only the 'Ethos' has the technology to maintain generator driven Gear.
The 'Ethos' decides which Gear gets which generator in which country..."

[Fei and Citan walk into a nearby building which is a rental shop. Scene change.]

[Scene opens on rental shop's interior. Fei and Citan walk up and talk to the owner.]

OWNER
Hm? Haven't met you before. So you want to rent out a sand buggy too?

FEI
"Sand buggy?"

[Citan walks up to the desk.]

CITAN
"A sand buggy is a special type of vehicle designed for the desert terrain.
Its tires will not get stuck in the sand... You really need them for long desert trips."

OWNER
Sorry but all our buggies are lent out now. Do you want to wait for one?
Some of those guys hunting for parts should be back soon.

CITAN
"I see... Well then, we will come again later."

[The two leave. Scene change.]

[Scene opens on Dazil. Fei and Citan travel across the town and enter the Inn. Scene change.]

[Scene opens on the Inn's interior, where a couple of soldiers are talking up a storm at the bar.]

SOLDIER 1
Yeah, we did it!

SOLDIER 2
Ha-ha! We did it!

SOLDIER 1
Who'd have thought it?

SOLDIER 2
I didn't think it would go so well...

SOLDIER 1
Sneaking in the night...

SOLDIER 2
Follow after the army excavation teams...

SOLDIER 1
Just like that... Poof!

SOLDIER 2
and steal their treasure!

SOLDIER 1
Gyahahahahaha.

SOLDIER 2
Wahahahahahha.

FEI
"... This sure is a noisy place!"

CITAN
"Well, in a place like this you have to expect this kind of atmosphere."

FEI
"Yeah, but even so..."

[A man in purple clothing behind the soldiers shoves them across the room.]

SOLDIER 1
Yikes!!

STRANGE MAN
"Shaddap!"

[The man doesn't look like he cares a whole lot, standing at the bar, not moving.]

STRANGE MAN
"...hic..."

[The man takes a few steps towards the soldiers, now slumped at the other end of the room.]

STRANGE MAN
"Why're you all yappin' when Big Joe is here trying to drink in peace?
Can't ya'all shuddup...? ...Hic!

[One soldier gets to his feet.]

SOLDIER 1
Who'dya think ya are?
I don't care if you're Big Joe or Big Shmoe! You don't mess with me!

[Big Joe laughs.]

BIG JOE
"Gahahahahaha!"

[Big Joe stops laughing and adresses the soldier.]

BIG JOE
"Yeah, you sure talk big.
Can you dig for treasure as good as you talk?"

SOLDIER 1
What's that ya' say!?

BIG JOE
"You're so tough...
Always lookin' for junk laying around... Why don't you do somethin' more productive for once!?"

SOLDIER 1
If you ask me, You're a big pus--!

[The other soldier gets up and walks to the arguing one.]

SOLDIER 2
Hey, stop it...
This guy's trouble.
He's lookin' wild...

[The first soldier turns to the second.]

SOLDIER 1
Ah, shawdup! Just shut your trap!

[The soldier turns back to Joe and Joe laughs.]

BIG JOE
"Gahahahaha! That's right... Run home to momma, little boys!"
Hicc!

[Soldier 2 runs out the door fast.]

SOLDIER 1
Uwup...!
Da-damn you! You'll keep!

[Soldier 1 runs out the door as fast as Soldier 2.]

BIG JOE
"Ha! Cowardly little punks!"

[Big Joe walks back to his place at the bar.]

CITAN
"Why, this man sure likes to make his presence felt!"

[Fei walks up to Joe and talks to him several times.]

BIG JOE
"...hic... You drinkin' too?
Booze is my life companion! Especially in a sucky world like this.
Everyone's searching for dough and dynamite... Ha, how unromantic."

BIG JOE
"Me?
What am I doing here?
... Whatever I please, I guess."

BIG JOE
"You think you know about yourself?
I could introduce myself right now, and by tomorrow be a different person.
If you didn't understand that, I'll repeat... ... Hic!
Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

[Fei and Citan leave the Inn. Scene change.]

[Scene opens on Dazil. Fei and Citan continue on past the Inn to the Ethos workshop and enter it. Scene change.]

[Scene opens on workshop. Camera pans down to show people working on a Gear not nearly as sophisticated as Weltall, but working hard just the same. Scene cut to show Fei and Citan in the doorway. Fei walks in a couple steps and looks around.]

FEI
"Wow... So this is the 'Ethos' workshop, heh, doc?"

[Citan nods.]

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 do as soon as we are able to."

[The duo walk over to a mechanic who appears to be in charge, overseeing the repair of the unsophisticated Gear.]

MECHANIC
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."

MECHANIC
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."

MECHANIC
X-29 model injection circuit?
That's only used on the latest military models. We don't keep those kind 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."

MECHANIC
Sorry that we can't help you.

[Fei and Citan exit the workshop. Scene change.]

[Scene opens outside the workshop. Fei walks a couple steps and stops.]

FEI
"... Doc, do you have a moment? I need to talk to you."

[Citan nods.]

CITAN
"Yes, of course, Fei..."

[Fei turns around and nods. Scene changes to Fei and Citan standing on an overpass in 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 once 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 is 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 the incident that evening occured because the Gebler Special Force stole a Kislev Military Gear."

FEI
"Special Force... You mean Elly's group?"

[Citan nods.]

CITAN
"Exactly.
When I examined the broken Gear in the village, I realized 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 turns to Citan and shakes his head.]

FEI
"New technology?"

CITAN
"I suspect that the Gebler Force was out to steal a new experimental Gear."

[Citan pauses.]

CITAN
"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 that they can find."

[Fei rocks back on his heels.]

FEI
"Hold on, doc! Won't the Kislev army still be in Lahan too!"

[Citan nods.]

CITAN
"Most probably.
And 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 nods.]

FEI
"The armies will fight over who gets Weltall... And right near Lahan too."

[Citan nods.]

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 shakes his head.]

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!"

[Fei and Citan leave the bridge and head back to the rental shop. A sand buggy is parked outside.]

CITAN
"This is a sand buggy.
... That is it, Fei!
I have thought of a good way to get the parts we need for Weltall.
Let us go back to the rental shop and rent out this buggy."

[Fei turns around to face Citan.]

FEI
"What do you intend on doing, doc?"

CITAN
"Well, leave it to me. Just you wait and see."

[Fei and Citan walk into the rental shop. Scene change.]

[Scene opens inside rental shop. Fei and Citan go up and talk to the owner.]

OWNER
The sand buggy you were waiting for is back.
Do you want to rent it?

[Citan turns and nods.]

CITAN
"Yes, that is right. Do you have any we can rent right now?"

OWNER
Of course... the keys are in the ignition, you can take it now.

[Citan nods.]

CITAN
"Well then, if I may."

[Citan turns to Fei.]

CITAN
"Fei, I am going into the desert to search for parts for Weltall."

[Fei turns to Citan.]

FEI
"Going to the desert? Doc, are you going to excavate some ruins or something?"

[Citan shakes his head.]

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 nods.]

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."

[Citan leaves. Fei watches him go.]

FEI
"Doc..."

[The owner speaks, getting Fei's attention.]

OWNER
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.

[Fei leaves. Scene change.]

[Scene opens on Dazil. Fei walks to the bar. Scene change.]

[Scene opens on the Inn's interior. Big Joe is still there.]

BIG JOE
"...Hic... Where's your friend?
There's a war on in the desert and he just goes wandering off there?
If your friends are important to you, then don't let them get away.
Especially if it's a lady friend... Gahahaha!"

[Fei leaves the bar and exits Dazil. Scene change.]