A lone figure sleeps fitfully, twisting and turning. Once 
again, the same dream that has haunted him for weeks is 
riding rampant through his mind. Always the same dream. 
First, a massive shape, almost but not quite like a hand, 
blotting out the sun. As he watches in horror, everywhere 
it's shadow touches turns to blight. Plants wither,animals
die, and the ground blackens,chars, then cracks as though 
under the effects of a year long drought. Soon,nothing 
remains alive except the young man, weeping in despair at 
his helplessness to save the Veldt. Then, the dream 
switches to show a man and woman making plans to conquer 
once more, like the destroyed Empire. But this time it 
changes. Before, the man was always hidden in shadow, 
more of a suggestion of a man than an actual figure. But 
this time he leans forward into the light, finally 
revealing himself. As the dreamer recoils in shock,the man
laughs a horrifyingly familiar laugh that issues from lips
the dreamer thought long gone...

"NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!" 
cries Gau as he awakes, sweating and shivering uncontrollably 
despite the relative warmth of the cave. 

"KEFKA back! Gau must tell friends!"

Then, a soft voice entered the room. 

"The same dream?" 

The speaker padded into the room, wrapped in a hastily 
knotted fur and carrying a lighted taper, eyes shining with
concern. She sat down beside Gau, and took him into her 
arms, same as always when the dream returns. Gently 
smoothing his hair back, she begins to rock him gently, 
waiting until Gau's breathing slows, and looks at him 
expectantly. 

"Gau saw Kefka! No, wait, not Kefka, but like him! Kefka 
have brother?"

<Poor thing, he is so shook up he has reverted to his old 
self> Dee thought. 

"I could not tell you. The history books never mentioned 
Kefka's lineage. He may have, although some say he had
no father or mother, that he was created, and that was the
cause of his insanity. It is possible. So you finally saw the 
mysterious man at last?"

"Gau saw..."
 
With a slight effort, Gau finally regained control. 

"I mean, I did see the man in the second part of the dream.
He looked like Kefka, even laughed like him! He didn't have
quite the presence Kefka had, but still..."

"What about the first part of the dream? Still the same?", 
Dee asked. 

Gau thought for a moment, then shuddered. 

"Yes. As before, a, a... hand, of sorts, that lays waste to
the Veldt with just it's shadow." 

"So what are you going to do about it?", Dee asked, 
dreading the answer but needing to hear it anyway.

"I guess I have no choice. I'll have to find the others, 
and see if they know anything."

Gau sighed, and looked at Dee, marveling at the luminous 
depths of her eyes, as he had every time he looked at her 
since the day he found her. Seeing the sorrow there 
matching his own, he pressed on with the inevitable. 

"I'll have to go it alone. I can travel faster and farther
on my own. Besides, if anything were to happen to you, 
I'd...I'd...I'd..."
 
His words trailed off as he turned away, cursing the 
wetness around his eyes. 

"And what makes you think I can not take care of myself?"

"Nothing!" Gau exclaimed, memories of her teaching him 
how well she could fight against a human opponent stirring 
up old bruises. 

"It's just I'd be able to think better knowing you were safe 
here. Besides, I AM one of the Heroes of the Balance!" 

Gau was unable to resist that one little bit of bragging, 
teenage pride taking over at last. 

"I do have a *little* more experience at it, I'd like to think!"

Dee snickered at the puffed-up expression on Gau's youthful
face. <Oh well...>

"Alright. Go back to sleep, and we will get you ready
tomorrow." 

With that, she arose and began to leave. Looking
back at Gau, the expression on his face was so pitiable 
that she finally sighed and said "Do you want me to stay 
tonight?"

"Gau like that! Gau like that very... oops, sorry. If you 
would?", his face lighting up a little at the realization 
that she wouldn't be going after all. 

As Gau watched, Dee padded back to the rough pile of furs 
that passed for a bed, and lay down beside him. Blowing out
the taper, she leaned over and took his hand between her 
own, feeling the calluses and tendons there against her own
skin. As his breathing slowed and he slipped back into 
sleep, a familar rasping noise filled the room. Smirking at
the sound of Gau snoring, she reached over and lightly 
rapped his head. 

"Whaa.. sorry, Gau try not snore again." 

And in a flash, Gau passed out again. <So young, but 
yet...> Dee thought to herself, as the same twinges went 
through her as they always did when she was this close to 
him. That he loved her, there was no doubt. The only 
problem was, was it "puppy love", as the people in her old
village called it, or something more? Only time would tell,
and until then, she couldn't say anything. <Maybe this trip
of his will help>, she thought. He had come a long way since
the day he rescued her from being eaten by a Behemoth, all
clad in smelly furs and looking like a scarecrow. <Amazing
what a few good meals and regular baths will do for a 
person. If I ever meet these "Heroes", I will have to have
a talk with them about why they did not bother to at least 
get him some new clothes.> she thought, not knowing about 
the incident with Gau's father, when Sabin tried to make 
Gau "presentable". As sleep finally overtook her, she 
noticed Gau had rolled over into her arms. <Oh well, since
we may not see each other for a while...>, Dee decided just
to accept the embrace, as unconscious as it was.

THE NEXT DAY.
SCENE: OUTSIDE THE VELDT CAVE

Dee and Gau stood on a hilly knoll at the foot of the 
remains of Crescent Mountain. 

"Well, I wish you knew how to use a weapon, but I guess 
your Rages will do in place of one. But at least take 
this." 

Dee handed him a Genji Shield, one of the treasures
Gau had brought back from his last adventure. She absently
fondled the hilt of the Scimitar she wore, another of the 
treasures. She viewed Gau with a critical eye. <His friends
are in for a BIG shock> Dee thought, looking at the sleek 
figure Gau now cut. Wearing breeches, thigh-length boots, 
and a Zephyr cloak, Gau was indeed a splendid figure. Long
hair blowing in the wind, he looked more like a hero than 
when he actually was one. 

"I guess this is it."

"Afraid so."

Gau turned away and faced the Veldt plain itself, preparing 
to summon a rage to carry him off.

"Gau?"

Turning around, Gau was suddenly met by a pair of lips on 
his own. "MMPH!", he exclaimed, then instinct took over and
he melted into the embrace. Minutes passed, and finally 
they broke off. Gau rubbed his now-tingling lips, and eyed
Dee expectantly, unable to think of anything to say. 

"That was for luck. You take good care of yourself, and 
come back to me. Understand?" Dee smiled sweetly at him, 
hoping he would turn around before he noticed the growing 
dampness in her own eyes this time. Gau indeed turned 
around, so she wouldn't see the look on his own face.

"I will. Take care."

"Goodbye."

With that, Gau concentrated, and his eyes suddenly flared 
red. He leapt into the air, borne aloft on flickering wings
and screaming a cry of release as his form shimmered within
that of an Aquila. Soaring high into the morning sky, Gau 
oriented himself and headed southeast, a small voice in the
back of his head suggesting Jidoor may be a good start...