“What the hell is going on?” Locke demanded as he stormed into Setzer’s office.
Setzer sat rigid in his chair. His mind blank. His soul cold. His heart dead within. He didn’t look up. He didn’t blink. He only shuffled his cards.
Edgar followed a few steps after Locke, his expression more controlled and definitely more puzzled. Celes and Terra entered soon after him. “Setzer? What’s wrong? Did you find the opera offensive?”
“Offensive? How?” Locke demanded as he faced Edgar. “It was funny. It was moving. It was the best damned opera I’ve ever seen!” He whirled on Setzer. “What’s the big idea roughing up Maria when she came to visit you?”
Setzer slammed his fist onto his desk as a crack formed in the careful wall around his thoughts and feelings. When he spoke, his voice was devoid of depth or feeling. “Do not say that name in my presence.”
Edgar and Terra exchanged a worried look. Locke raised an eyebrow. Celes regarded Setzer’s expression with silent intensity.
Edgar stepped forward, resting a hand on Locke’s shoulder to urge him to step back. “Setzer–-“
”Get out.”
“What?”
Setzer raised glazed eyes to the king’s face. “Fly the Falcon to Figaro and then get out.”
Edgar gave a slow nod and turned, ushering the others out with a slight shake of his head when they looked about to ask a question. The door closed behind them. Setzer lowered his eyes back to the desk as his hand continued to shuffle the cards. He paused and took the top card with a wince. Ace of Diamonds. The name of the ship on the stage.
He slid the card back into the deck and again began shuffling. Why? But the answers weren’t his to give. He was left to wonder and sift through the ashes to try and find a little bit of life left to live.