The next morning....
True to his word, Cid took me to see the workshop. Overnight, my strength had begun returning with a vengeance, my body responding to proper rest and nourishment. I woke up feeling better than I had since arriving in this world. After a hearty breakfast (Moghan's fluffy kupo nut pancakes, which were heavenly), I followed Cid and Cindy eagerly to the large workshop hangar on the property.
As we passed by the fellow Al Bhed's who waved at us. Some came by and introduced themselves. Unfortunately, they mostly spoke Al Bhed, so I couldn't understand them, but Cid and Cindy were happy to translate.
"Sorry about that, some of the Al Bhed's don't really speak the common language around here. And only a few of us speak both languages well." Cindy said. "Don't worry, I can help you learn. Rikku can help you better than me. She's goes all around the world and know multiple languages. She even knows Wutaian, the language they use over in Wutai."
Wait She's Rikku? Like thee Rikku from the Gullwings with Yuna's group?.... Oh yeah that's right Rikku is a Al Bhed. That means their related to Cindy. I wounder what she and Yuna are up to, this world is so weird I wouldn't know where to begin trying to understand it.
Soon after that we made our way to the workshop. Inside, sunlight filtered through high windows, illuminating a wonderland of machinery. The smell of engine oil, metal, and chocobo feather (from a pile of worn saddle gear in a corner).
Workbenches overflowed with tools and half-assembled gadgets. An entire corner was dedicated to what looked like a stripped-down engine's, except heavily modified with glowing cerulean crystals. I even boxes with labels of magitek cores. Schematics with labels of protypes for weapons, and vehicles. People in overalls and face mask moved around the shop without saying a word. On the second floor I heard voices. They were speaking Al Bhed and bent over a large table.
This garage was huge, and spacious. From the technology to the people. I felt like I was looking at the place all the weapons in the final fantasy universe were being created.
integrated into the design. In the center of the hangar rested an aircraft in progress: a sleek, two-seater airship with its engine compartment exposed and entrails of wiring hanging out.
Cindy marched in with a bright smile like she was showing off her rare collectables. "Welcome to Highwind Garage!" she declared with a wide grin. "This is where the craft of Al Bhed's shine and come to life."
Cid rolled his eyes fondly. "It's just a workshop, Cin. We have some in the city to."
"Daddy It's not just a workshop. It's the coolest workshop in all of Lucis, no the whole world" she insisted. "Jasen look at this," then Cindy waved me over to the half-built motorcycle. "Papa and I have been working on this beauty for months. She's gonna be a fast one when she's done. Maybe the fastest personal bike around."
I ran a hand lightly along the seat, careful not to touch any sensitive-looking components. "She's amazing," I breathed. And I meant it. Even in my old life I'd was no engineer, but I could appreciate a bike with potential. This bike which wasn't even halfway put together, I could tell had potential especially if it was made by these two.
Cid came up beside me. "We call her Ixion. Experimental bike with a dual-drive engine, combining traditional fuel engine with a crystal reactor for magitek boost. The crystal is a shard from the Ixion crystal it's self."
The terminology flowed easily from Cids lips. Then Cid sighed. "Sorry kid. I forgot you wouldn't understand this type of stuff.
He wasn't wrong I didn't understand any of it. I barely understood the magitek part, but I was surprised. Ixion crystal? What type of influence do the crystals have in this world? "Um.... I don't understand what your saying, but I would love to know how to. I learn from being hands on, so if you help me build, let's say my own bike for the future." I said half heartedly. In my pass life always wanted to have and ride a motorbike in my past life. But I never made time for it so it never happened.
Both Cid and Cindy stared at me. I realized I had spoken with to much confidence. I flushed, scrambling to cover my slip. "I-I mean, If It's not to much..."
Cid's brows lifted, a glint of intrigue in his eyes. "What are you saying Jasen, I would happy to teach you everything I know and help build your own bike."
Cindy broke into a wide grin. "Jasen, I will help you to, then when were older we can go ride and go all out. vroom, vroom."
"Really," I mumbled. "But aren't you busy with your company?"
Cid just chuckled and smiled. "Not really kid. Besides the occasional board meeting, I'm at home with my baby girl. Plus that I prefer to be hands on. I don't like slapping my name on something if I or the ones I trust don't approve it. My name mean's something to me and the Al Bheds. If I can't swear on it then my words have no value, no matter how good my skills are."
Wow. This Cid really seems like a honorable man. I can tell he does his game counterparts well. A practical and respectable man. After all he took in and rescued a random kid off the street.
I was never a engineer, mechanic or builder in my past life. But here in this world, If I learn from Cid I could go far. Learning the basics of engineering, along with magic and sword fighting would be perfect.
Cid rubbed his beard, regarding me thoughtfully. "Well, it would be weird if you live hear for a while and don't pull your weight." Cindy smiled and interjected. " That's right. Mama and Rikku always said. A man that doesn't work, doesn't eat."
Cid just smirked. " However you picked it up things around here, this is a village and we all work together. If you're interested, you can tinker around here anytime. It ain't all airships and engines—we do all sorts of projects."
"Really?" I couldn't keep the excitement from my voice.
"Really." Cid gestured to a corner where an array of weapons. Swords, rifles, guns and spears even what looked like a chainsaw-sword hybrid, were mounted on a rack. "We test and improve magitek arms, too. Mostly for the royal army contracts. And over there..." he pointed to a bench covered in circuit boards and crystal fragments. "that's Cindy's pet project. Even I don't completely know what she is up to. Go on, show him Cid."
Cindy practically skipped over to the bench and held up a small device that looked like a metal compass with an embedded crystal. "It's a magitek booster ! You use it like this," she slipped it onto racked sword., "It boost's the cutting power of the weapon. If a monster comes at you snik... The sword began to discharges lightning around the blade. There are still some kinks to workout though"
Jasen and Cid's eyebrows narrowed. "Kinks?" The two said in unison.
The lightning around the swords blade began to discharge more fiercely. "Dang it Cidny." Cid said as he tried to grab the sword. But when he grabbed the hilt. "Daddy wait!!' Cindy protested. As Cid grabbed the hilt of the sword lightning had shocked him. " The damned thing has a bite."
That's when Jasen noticed a racked spear to the side. He ran quickly grabbing it. He could barely pick up the thing that was three times his height. But he managed to grab the black rod, then using all his strength ran with it to the electrified sword. Cid and Cindy noticed Jasen's actions.
"What are you doing kid?" Cid asked. But Jasen didn't respond he leapt right into action. Either out of luck or his past life skill, Jasen swung the black rod spear. Using the blade at the end of the spear to knock of the magitek device from the sword.
The small device flew from the blade and hit the ground smoking. The sword on the other hands began to disintegrate into ash.
After a moment the garage became normal. Everyone was still moving on the ground like nothing had happened. The people on top looked over the railing for a moment, then went back to work as if nothing happened. I guess things like this around here happen on the regular. That might actually be scary.
Cindy came up to Jasen. "That was a nice swing." That's when we heard him. "Cindy...." the two children woke up to see Cid looking down at the two. Cindy just smiled. "That was kinks that needed to worked out." She said with a smile.
Cid just stared at her with a rough expression, and sighed. "Please be careful in the future. That was dangerous." Cindy just smiled with her teeth showing. "Yes Daddy, I will. I will have Jasen with me to help me out. Right Jasen?" Cindy said grabbing my hand, and looking at me with a happy, hopeful expression.
She was too cute to say no to. Plus it would be beneficial to learn from her and her father. "Yes Cindy. I will help you out." I said with a tiny smile. "Yay! So everything's fine daddy."
Cid just smirk. "Fine... Fine, but Cindy that means you also have to help Jasen learn how things work around here." Cid then looked towards Jasen. "Good hit there kid, that was some quick thinking."
Cindy just smirk, "I will daddy. Just you watch Jasen will be as good if not better than any Al Bhed here." Jasen suddenly felt chills down my back and eyes on me.
"Thank you sir." Jasen said. Then a question popped into my head since we were surrounded by weapons. "Do you get a lot of monsters around here?"
"Not too many," Cindy said breezily, though she avoided my eyes for a second. "The estate's protected by a magitek gated field. But sometimes a stray creeps in from the forest. Nothing big, usually just pesky goblins or wild coeurls sniffing around. The coeurls might be a problem depending on the size and breed, but everyone here is armed minus some of the kids."
Cid interjected firmly, "And when they do, we handle it. Still, that's why the rule is: no going beyond the gate line without me or proper protection. Understood?"
Cid's gaze was stern, meant for both of us. Cindy bobbed her head. "Yes, sir." I nodded as well, making a mental note. That last thing I wan to do is run into a monster and have no way of protecting myself or Cindy.