Find the Sky Pirate
The map screen provides a clue, pondering where a “tired, thirsty sky pirate” might go in Rabanastre. Answer: The Sandsea, of course! While approaching the tavern, an event occurs during which Vaan tells Basch about losing his parents to the Plague and describes his sibling-like connection to Penelo; her family raised him.
Enter the Sandsea and go upstairs to the balcony to trigger another event. Balthier and Fran sit at a table where Migelo angrily berates the sky pirate. The bangaa headhunter Ba’Gamnan has kidnapped Penelo and left behind a note telling Balthier to come to the mines in Bhujerba.
According to Balthier, the Imperial Fleet is massing at Bhujerba, a spectacular skycity. Vaan jumps at the chance to save Penelo, even offering the Goddess’s Magicite in exchange for passage. Basch offers to join Vaan, saying he has business in Bhujerba, too. When the event ends, Balthier and Fran join your party. Each new ally who joins opens up new choices about job assignment and party configuration. But, like warnings earlier in the walkthrough, you don't have to feel obligated to immediately choose jobs for new party members. Job choices are permanent, so it's better to stall and think about it longer. At worst, you have to use more Potions and Phoenix Down for healing along the way, and you'll have more LP stocked up whenever you do finally choose which license boards to assign a character.
Board Balthier’s Ship
Balthier sticks around to mention that Ba’Gamnan’s note must refer to the Lhusu Mines in Bhujerba, and says to meet him at the Aerodrome. Now that Fran and Balthier have joined your party, you may want to visit the local merchants and upgrade their equipment. After doing so, head for the Aerodrome in the Westgate district of the city. (It’s marked on in the area map.)
When you reach the Aerodrome, Fran is waiting outside. Talk to her to learn that Balthier feels responsible for what’s happened to Penelo. Enter the Aerodrome and find Balthier waiting in an area near the back of the building, on the left side. Talk to him to learn that Bhujerba is on the sky continent of Dorstonis. The Lhusu Mine is actually a magicite mine located in Bhujerba. He’ll also tell you more about Bhujerba, if you want. The skycity is known for its export of magicite and is ruled by Marquis Ondore, a man who has staved off Imperial invasion by maintaining Bhujerba’s longtime tradition of neutrality.
Or, you can skip all that and just select “I’m ready” and then “I’m really ready.” This triggers an event showing the party boarding Balthier’s ship, the Strahl, after a team of moogles prep it.
