No Chrono Trigger? No, we’re back in the past, before the initial experiment! T has been putting in some late nights, but to what end? (a portal machine, we covered that) And do we know who has been stealing parts from the office? It’s all coming together, as is their lovely Final Fantasy 6 audio drama!
T and G discuss… well, honestly, a lot of our favourite moments big and (mostly) small from the game, including dredging up past unsolved mysteries (and alluding to future ones)! Also, they talk a little bit about what a more direct Chrono Trigger sequel might have looked like, and what it means for a game to be a spiritual successor of Chrono Trigger (if that means anything at all)!
Editing, scripting, and podcast visual design by Nick Terwoord. Special thanks to Square Enix for making that game that we love, Chrono Trigger ...and for not suing us.
Alphabetically, by actor:
Memories: What are some of your favourite small bits?
Curiosities: The many unsolved mysteries
The Zeal Archives is a monthly podcast exploring the A-Z of the world of Chrono Trigger one bit at a time—two parts audio drama, one part discussion podcast, one hundred percent love letter to one of the best JRPGs of all time!
The Zeal Archives is published at zealarchives.com and thenickscast.com and can be found on most podcatching services. Please leave us comments, questions, criticism, or any other feedback at TheNickscast on Facebook or Twitter.
Part 1
INT. COFFEE SHOP
The ambient noise of conversation, steam, grinding beans, and clinking cups slowly fades into prominence. Everything is fuzzy as it feels like we’re waking from a dream.
A voice cuts through the fuzz, and echoes in the mind.
NICK Z
(concerned)
T? T? You ok?
NICK T
(alert)
Oh! Sorry about that, I must have dozed off for a second. What were you saying?
NICK Z
(super casual)
It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. What uh, what’s going on?
NICK T
(distant)
Going on?
NICK Z
(patiently)
You… almost fell asleep? Right now? Are you feeling alright?
NICK T
(inattentive)
Oh sorry. Yeah I’ve been [yawn] staying up pretty late. Losing a lot of sleep.
NICK Z
Any particular reason?
NICK T
Oh absolutely! I’ve been working on this secret project, and I’m really excited about it.
NICK Z
(jokingly)
Well uh… you gonna let in your good friend, Z, on the ol’ secret.
NICK T
(hesitantly)
...I can’t. I promised I wouldn’t.
NICK Z
(backing off)
Alright, alright…
NICK T
(apologetic)
I promise I’ll tell you about it as soon as I can.
NICK Z
Nice. Well, I’m excited to hear more about it. Speaking of secrets… do you know what’s going on at the office?
NICK T
(deflecting)
At the office? No? I mean, what do you mean?
NICK Z
You remember how I was telling you about those missing parts at the office?
T takes a sip of coffee and almost spits it out.
NICK T
(suspicious)
Hmm-hmmm.... I think you’d mentioned something like that.
NICK Z
It feels like it’s been so much worse since then! Having to constantly sign items out and in, mandating we all enter and leave through the same entrance… no out-of-hours office access… I even heard a rumour about installing a metal detector and security at the entrance.
NICK T
(doubtful)
They wouldn’t put in a metal detector. That’s ridiculous!
NICK Z
It’s what I heard! And I work late so I am not a fan…
NICK T
Security though? That’s pretty serious if they go through with it...
NICK Z
Yeah, right?
NICK T
Wait, what does any of that have to do with secrets?
NICK Z
Well, they’ve gotta know who it is, right? I mean, we deal in A.V. equipment, and there’re tons of cameras around the office. There’s no way equipment is getting stolen by some random person: it’s gotta be an inside job!
NICK T
Uhhhhhh…
The coffee shop’s front door jingles as it opens, and G stomps through the hallway to the group. He drops his back down on the table, shaking nearby cups and saucers.
NICK G
[venting noises]
NICK Z
Hey G! Is uh… everything ok?
Nick G pulls out a chair and reluctantly sits down.
NICK G
(short)
No. Nope. Fuck no.
NICK T
O...k. Do you want to talk about it?
NICK G
(sincere)
It’s just… [sigh] Ok. Do you ever get the feeling like… you’re stuck? Like your life just isn’t going where you want it to go, no matter what you try?
NICK Z
No.
NICK T
Yes.
NICK G
(sarcastically)
Thanks guys.
NICK T
(facetious)
No I get it, sometimes it feels like your life is stuck in second gear.
NICK G
(annoyed)
Oh god
NICK Z
(jokingly)
When it hasn’t been your day… your week, your month, or even your year?
NICK G
(frustrated)
Damn it. Come on guys!
NICK T
Sorry! It was too perfect. You do know that we’ll be there for you, right?
NICK Z
Yeah!
NICK G
(annoyed)
Could we be serious for like, just one moment?
NICK T
Yes. For sure. Yes, I’ve felt like that too. I don’t know what to tell you, the only thing I know, based on what I’ve read, is to try to find happiness with where you’re at, and to accept that… but damn that’s been hard to take.
NICK G
Right?!
NICK T
Like I’m much more likely to get angry and try to fight to find a way to fix … whatever the problem is. And probably crash and burn.
NICK Z
(boasting)
I don’t find it that hard…
NICK T
(annoyed)
Z!
NICK G
(annoyed)
Z!
Nick Z turns away as he sips his coffee.
NICK Z
I’m just sayin’... [sips]
NICK G
It… it just feels like there’s got to be more to life than this, you know? Working to barely break even… I want to get ahead. I want to thrive! It always feels like I’m behind.
NICK Z
(philosophical)
Even when it feels like we’re behind… it can be important to try to put things in perspective.
NICK G
(deadpan)
What perspective?
NICK Z
(philosophical)
Like… even though something got you upset before you got here, you’ve still got us! And we got you a coffee. It’s not a big thing, but it’s something that shows that it’s not all bad.
Nick G takes a sip of the coffee.
NICK G
(understanding)
Yeah… I guess that’s true. [sips]
NICK Z
(philosophical)
Yeah! And it’s small moments—little details like this—those are what make an otherwise boring and frustrating life into something remarkable.
NICK T
(jokingly)
Something you’ve been working on for a book, Z?
NICK Z
(jokingly, leaning into it)
Well, actually, I’ve been working on this story set in a pseudo-medieval setting…
NICK Z
[chuckles]
NICK T
[chuckles]
NICK G
[chuckles]
The laughter breaks the tense air for just a moment.
NICK Z
But seriously, G—what got you all frustrated?
NICK G
(hesitating)
Oh… uh…
G’s phone begins to ring a familiar tune. G quickly picks his phone off the table to take a closer look.
NICK G
(disappointed)
Shit… it’s work. I’ll have to get back to you. Gotta run!
G hastily throws his jacket back on and picks up his bag from the table.
NICK T
Hey, we’re still on to work on the audio drama later, right?
NICK G
Should be, yeah. Text me the details.
NICK T
Alright, later G!
NICK Z
Bye!
The bell rings again, but with a dreamlike echoing quality as the audio fuzzes again.
EPISODE DISCUSSION
(To be transcribed)
Part 2
INT. A SMALL RECORDING STUDIO
Nick T, Nick Z, and another voice actor are huddled around different microphones and recording equipment. It is eerily, but unsurprisingly, quiet as the acoustic foam softens any and all noise.
A small amount of white noise slowly fades to a voice over a sort of radio or PA system.
NICK T
Alright, let’s take it from the top. I’ll play the pre-recorded segments, and try to cue you when it’s time for your lines. Got it?
NICK Z
Isn’t that a bit complicated?
NICK T
A bit, but it’s the only thing I could do to make this recording work. Are both of you ready?
NICK Z
Ready!
ARI
Ready!
NICK T
Alright, here we go!
Nick T hits the ‘record’ button on the instrument panel, and the tape deck slowly gets up to speed preparing to record the next take...
Final Fantasy 6 - The Audio Drama: Part 3
Terra is tossing and turning in her sleep, fitting about as she endures vivid nightmares about what happened to her under the influence of the slave crown.
INT. KEFKA’S NIGHTMARISH LAB
Jacob’s ladders, drills, and other unpleasant tools are at the ready.
KEFKA
My sweet little magic user...! Uweee... he... he! With this slave crown I'll practically own you!!
TERRA
No! Get away from me!
EXT. BURNING VILLAGE
Flames roar all around, men, wo men, children, all screaming as swords clash. Terra unleashes a terrible fire beam burning her victims.
KEFKA
Uwee, hee, hee! Good! Burn up everything!
EXT. A MILITARY CELEBRATION
A large crowd is gathered, and a man speaks proudly addresses an empire over the loudspeaker.
GESTAHL
We stand on the brink of a major breakthrough! In the days to come, we'll witness a total revival of Magic!
The crowd cheers.
GESTAHL
It is our destiny, and ours alone, to take this mystic force and claim what is rightfully ours!
The crowd cheers louder.
GESTAHL
With our new-found power, nothing can stand in our way! Hurrah!!! Long live Emperor Gestahl!
There is uproarious applause and saluting.
INT. A WELL KEPT HOME IN A MINING TOWN
Terra is unwell, but is finally waking from what seems like a horrible nightmare. Sweat drips down her face. A familiar Final Fantasy 6 theme begins to play in the background.
TERRA
[tossing and turning, nightmare noises, various intensities and durations]
TERRA
(weakly, confused)
Where am I?
OLD MAN
(surprised)
Whoa! And I only just removed your crown!
TERRA
(wincing)
...head… hurts…
OLD MAN
Easy! This is a slave crown… the others had complete control over you while you were wearing it.
TERRA
(weakly)
I... can’t remember a thing...
OLD MAN
Don’t worry. It’ll all come back to you… in time, that is.
NARRATOR
A mysterious young woman, controlled by the empire, and born with the gift of magic...
TERRA
My name… ...is… Terra...
OLD MAN
Impressive! I’ve never heard of anyone recovering this fast…!
Barking dogs approach, followed quickly by hard rapping on the door.
SOLDIER
Open up! Give us back the girl and the Empire's Magitek Armor!
The two wait in silence, and the rapping continues.
SOLDIER
I said open this door! We want that girl! She's an officer of the Empire!
TERRA
(confused)
Empire...? Magitek Armor...?
OLD MAN
Look, I have to get you out of here! I don't have time to explain!
The old rushes towards a back corner of the room.
OLD MAN
Over here!
The old man reveals a secret exit after sliding aside some room decor.
OLD MAN
Make your way out through the mines! I'll keep these brutes occupied!
TERRA
[sound of agreement / understanding]
Terra runs as fast as she can away from the building, and slams the door. Outside, we can hear muffled voices...
SOLDIER
She’s up there!
The dogs continue barking but make their way away from the main door as they chase a new target.
OLD MAN
[sigh of relief]
Part 2: Part 2
There is another knocking at the door… both in the audio track, and a different one in the real world. Nick Z presses a button on the PA.
NICK Z
Uh… it looks like we’re almost at G’s cue?
NICK T
Hold on a second, maybe that’s him at the door?
The music track continues for a bit in the background as T goes to answer the door. Before he has the chance to open it, Nick G quickly swings it open, slams it behind him, and locks the door. He remains firmly in place, holding the door shut out of caution.
NICK T
(jokingly)
Took you long enough! We were just about to get to your cue.
NICK G
(urgently)
We need to get out of here… er, I need to get out of here. Now.
NICK T
(confused)
Is this some sort of bit?
NICK G
(quietly)
No, and there’s no time to explain.
NICK T
O...k?
NICK G
(quietly)
I did it. I finally quit this shithole.
NICK T
[confused noises] Uh… huh…
There is a pounding on the door and we can hear a voice muffled through the doorway.
BOSS
Get out of there you son of a bitch! How dare you!
NICK T
(curious)
G, what did you do?
NICK G
(insistent)
I promise I’ll explain later, just get me out of here first!
NICK T
Alright, uh… great recording everyone! Thanks Z, Ari!
Nick G and T slip out the alternate exit while the boss continues to pound on the door and fiddle with the lock.
ARI
What just happened? Are things always this chaotic?
Nick Z hesitates for a while.
NICK Z
Ehhhhh… yeah.
EXT. RAINING ALLEYWAY CONNECTED TO INTERIOR CITY ROAD
The metal door from the office swings to a small alleyway littered with garbage. It’s pouring rain, but fortunately T pulls out a small umbrella reducing the harsh rain to a gentle patter.
NICK T
(concerned)
Ok, what’s going on? What happened?
NICK G
(avoidant)
Like I said, I quit.
NICK T
(worried)
The boss is really riled up, it must have been more than that.
Nick G is walking away, splashing in the big puddles as cars drive past in the distance.
NICK G
(avoidant)
I don’t know what to tell you.
NICK T
I was talking with Z at the coffee shop today and he mentioned that the boss has been really irritable lately, really cracking the whip as far as security goes.
NICK G
Yeah, and?
NICK T
And I was thinking that, when you started getting me those parts, and when parts from the office started going missing… those two times sort of line up.
NICK G
You trying to say you think I stole them?
NICK T
No! I mean, I don’t think you stole them…
There’s a brief pause.
NICK T
...Did you?
There’s another long pause, a car drives past.
NICK T
Answer me!
Another pause.
NICK T
Oh shit… it was you! You’re the one who's been stealing parts from the office.
NICK G
(insistently)
You don’t understand.
NICK T
(angry)
What the hell! How could you do that? This has been going on for months!
NICK G
(insistently)
You don’t have any idea!
NICK T
(upset)
Why didn’t you say something?
NICK G
Do you want me to say sorry? Is that it? Well I’m sorry! I fucked up!
NICK G
I’m sorry, ok?! I fucked up!
NICK T
(belligerent)
You sure fucking did!
Nick T begins to storm off into the rain.
NICK G
Wait…
Nick T stops in his tracks.
NICK T
Why the hell should I?
NICK G
Just give me a chance to explain.
A car splashes through a puddle on the main waterway.
NICK T
Get on with it.
NICK G
[takes a deep breath] Do you ever think about what happens to all the things that don’t sell? All the parts I brought you? All that inventory can’t just be thrown away or recycled. There’s a lot of toxic shit in it so it requires a specialized kind of disposal. And normally that would all work out because a percentage of everything we sell goes to pay for that disposal.
There’s a rumble of thunder in the sky.
NICK G
But what if it doesn’t get disposed of properly? What if it instead goes to the lowest bidder, and someone like the boss just pockets the difference? A bidder who just burns it all or lets all the chemicals leach into the earth, or water?
NICK T
Wait, are you saying that the boss was skimming off the top and letting all our old junk poison the planet?
NICK G
That’s exactly what I’m saying.
Nick T’s stance softens a bit.
NICK T
But if you’ve been stealing the parts, isn’t that just doing him a favour? He gets to keep all the profit then.
NICK G
You’d think that, but this whole scheme only works when all the “facts” line up, and it’s hard to claim things are disposed of properly when they go missing.
NICK T
(sympathetic)
Shit… G… why didn’t you say something?
NICK G
No one gives a shit about this! You think HR gives a fuck? They only care about protecting the company. I tried T. I really did. And when that didn’t work? I took things into my own hands. I’m sorry.
There’s a pause.
NICK G
Then… when we started doing the audio drama, and somehow you made that fucking impossible portal… everything started to turn around! It was like, wow! Life doesn’t have to be miserable! Right? I don’t need to keep being stuck in this miserable existence. It felt like great things can really happen.
There is a long pause.
NICK T
Let’s do it.
NICK G
What?
NICK T
You were honest with me… just now… and you’re right
NICK G
Of course I am! I mean, of course I’m going to be honest with you. You and Z are my best friends.
NICK T
Awww… I mean, you’re right, earlier today, about everything being kind of meh. Z is also right about the small things mattering, but also… screw it! This portal thing... whatever it is… it’s special, and yeah, it does feel like great things can really happen.
NICK T
So let’s do it. I’m all in!
The two hug it out, the rain now thoroughly soaking both of them even with the protection of the umbrella.
NICK G
[laughing] We should probably get out of this rain.
NICK T
Yeah, I’m getting pretty soaked.
NICK G
Well… what now?
NICK T
Well, you’ve quit, so we’ll have to make due with what we’ve got on the experiment. I think I’m close to something big.
NICK G
(surprised)
Bigger than portals?!
NICK T
Yeah… I think you’ll be pretty surprised.
NICK G
(sarcastically)
Ha ha.
NICK T
(sincere)
But let’s be honest from now on, ok? And Z is my best friend too, we should let him in on this.
NICK G
(reluctant)
That’s fair…
NICK T
Good! I’m going to get back to work. Do me a favour: Try to stay out of trouble?
NICK G
(half joking)
I’m practically a fugitive on the run; I’ll try to lay low.
NICK T
You do that! See you soon, G!
NICK G
Yeah… see you soon, T.
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