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You must have the following prerequisites before reading this work:
-Must be familiar with the background story of Final Fantasy VII
-Must be able to read and write at the high school level or better.
-Hopefully better.
==============================================================
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EPISODE ONE: Evil Afoot
==============================================================
==============================================================
Half of everything is luck.
And the other half?
Fate.
-- 006 to 007, inside Chemical Warfare Facility #2 - Arkangelsk, Russia
==============================================================
Nanaki, Son of Seto gazed over the ruins. The place had not been lived
in since the humans left it over fifty decades ago, yet the crumbling
remnants of the city spoke deeply to him. The sight of the ancient ruins
brought a joy mingled with grief such that he could not smile without tears
falling from his good eye.
They were gone now.
Even the most powerful one amongst them.
All long dead.
"Returned to the Planet," was how Grandfather had put it.
Nanaki emitted a silent growl as another memory surfaced unbidden. The
blue-eyed man. A high pitched squeal snapped him out of his reverie.
Was there danger?
No.
Just his two grandchildren who had been allowed to accompany him along
this trip with the provision by their grandmother should harm come to any
of them, she would have the old warrior's head. He knew it wasn't an empty
threat. Rusake loved their grandchildren fiercely since the day they were
born.
The two were half playing, half chasing one another in the grass amid
the fallen stones. Satisfied there was no immediate danger, Nanaki rested
his head on his forepaws and basked underneath the sun's warmth. He
remembered how it all started. Strangely enough, the series of events began
when everything was supposed to be the end . . .
**********************************************************************
The woman's body slumped slowly towards the ground. Her lips moved in a
final attempt to form words, a name or perhaps a prayer. The cloaked figure
stood by watching her die in silence. As the body's twitching ceased, the
hooded man raised a slim metallic tube. A bright flare erupted from its tip
and ignited the body. Within seconds of the discharge the flames died out
and the stranger had turned away. Nothing was left of what had transpired
save for the woman's artifacts and a few wisps of smoke.
Stepping outside of the cave, the cloaked man briefly cast his blue
tinged eyes up where a baleful ball of fire hung over an overcast sky. He
turned away stiffly and headed towards a small craft which hovered above
the blades of grass. The weapon he had used a few moments ago had vanished
into the deep folds of his cloak. Unencumbered, his black gloved hands
rapped softly against a small pad at the side of the craft.
"One more confirmed," the man spoke quietly, "and accounted for.
However, I need more time to be sure."
:: time is of the essence ::
"I do not care how you do it, just delay them as long as you can," the
man opened a small vial and downed its contents before continuing,
"Apprehension requires a variance of procedure."
:: you risk their wrath; and ours ::
"Draconian measures for similar times. Sever transmission."
The man walked around his craft, his cold blue-eyes searched about the
vehicle's hull before he climbed aboard. Once inside, the ship rose
silently from the ground.
"Set heading. North by northeast. Set speed. Maximum cruising value,"
the man eased into his seat, lighting a thin black reed before putting it
to his lips, "Engage."
His free hand danced over a glowing console. A series of beeps
undulated from the cockpit's speakers in response. The man took another
long drag of his smoking reed as the craft quickly gained speed.
**********************************************************************
In the Ancients' City, nothing stirred. A bird high in the air saw
water and tucked in its wings to land. It alighted on the edge of a pool
and proceeded to quench its thirst.
BRUP! POPP! BRRPUPOPP! BRRRRUPAPAAP! BROPPP!
Furious activity came from the water as bubbles formed on the surface.
Startled by the noise, the bird cut short its rest and took off in a flurry
of surprise. Had it stayed, it would have seen a young woman's body surface
briefly amidst the foam before being forcibly thrown out of the water.
==============================================================
Maybe today, you could put the past away;
I do wish you would step back from that ledge my friend;
You could cut the ties with all the lies, that you've been living in.
-- 'Jumper' - Third Eye Blind
==============================================================
Two days later, Meteor shuddered and began to crack. The eyes of the
city's inhabitants looked up at the flaming rock which threatened to kill
all life on the Planet. The rock's destruction appeared to them a slow
motion ballet of stone and debris separating from each other before falling
languidly from the sky. Three miles above on board the Highwind, the view
of the disaster was much more lucid and frightening.
This is it, the thought raced through Tifa's mind as the infernal
howling of Meteor drowned out the screams onboard the Highwind. We've done
all we could and now THIS is how it's going to end. It wasn't the fairest
thing in her mind.
Was it supposed to end like this?
Tifa risked a peek at her surroundings. Red XIII was doing his best to
hang on to dear life like the rest of them. Barret had lashed his gun arm
to the railing with steel cable -- the metal barrels were strong as they
were accurate. She could only hope that the others fared as well. She
looked up at the person she clung onto. He had his eyes firmly shut and he
held on to her as best he could.
If we die, she closed her eyes with a degree of finality, we die
together.
At the same time, Cloud dared not open his eyes. He didn't want to see
Tifa die. Not after the tragedy at the Ancients' City. He knew he wouldn't
be able to watch her go as well.
Was that it? he asked himself. No. Not really. There was something
else. A feeling of betrayal. Yes. That was it. He had kept it from Tifa. He
was wrong to keep it from her -- but it seemed the right answer at the
time. It wasn't that he didn't love her. She loved him and he returned it
-- to a degree, because deep in his heart Cloud knew she wasn't the only
woman he
loved.
Aeris.
Countless times he lied awake at night while the others slept and
relived that moment when that cursed blade savagely tore through her
defenseless body as he stood by helpless.
And alone.
Try as he might, Cloud could do nothing but watch her slump to the
floor while her murderer stood tauntingly within striking distance. He had
sworn to protect her and he had failed. His only recourse was to avenge her
-- but even victory seemed hollow. Striking down Sephiroth did little to
soothe his pain or to ease his guilt. Although he remained impassive on the
outside, he allowed it to fester within. The memory gnawed at his very soul
every moment of his life.
Cloud's mind wandered over to his left arm. It was still there. He had
no need to touch it. He knew it was where it was supposed to be. A ribbon.
He had taken it from Aeris when he let her go at the edge of the pool. The
young man kept it underneath his shoulder guard. A clandestine reminder of
a woman lost.
And would never see again.
Of course no one knew of this, not even the woman who now clung tightly
to his side. This was the source of the guilt. Even on the night she
finally revealed her true feelings for him, he had adroitly hid the thin
hair band from her inquisitive eyes and passionate kisses.
Later on while Tifa slept contentedly beside him, he had slipped the
ribbon back on and wept; he muffled his sobs by running his palms along the
his sword until they bled. That agony hardly surpassed the turmoil which
dwelled deep inside.
Presently the howling from Meteor had risen to a deafening level. The
wind and noise buffeted the Highwind. Then, as if the airship could not
have withstood any more punishment, its battered hulk plummeted to earth.
**********************************************************************
Aeris bobbed aimlessly within the Lifestream. When she died she'd
thought she'd lose consciousness and go into an eternal slumber. How wrong
she was. She faintly remembered the pain that went through her when the
sword penetrated her flesh. It wasn't hard to bear. It felt like ice had
been introduced to the inside of her body but the sensation ceased as
quickly as it had come. The one thing Aeris clearly remembered though, was
the look on Cloud's face. The flash of surprise, disbelief, and the intense
anguish on the young man as she collapsed from her wounds haunted her as
she died.
Poor Cloud, she thought aloud, I wish I could say something, anything
to comfort you right now.
Jumbles of voices and memories swam past her eyes. Of people she had
never met and will never meet.
So many, she wondered in awe.
"Aeris."
She turned towards the beckoning voice, peering into the infinite green
expanse that made up the Lifestream. "W-who is it?"
"Aaeerisss."
She couldn't place the voice, but it sounded familiar though. Aeris
wiggled her arms in a vain attempt to move about. It was nothing like what
the scholars at Cosmo Canyon described to her. No words could ever describe
the feeling of being inside this place.
"Who are you?" she called out again.
"Aaaeerissss. Donnnn't leeeaaavve meeee . . . Pleeeaaasssse donnn't
goooo . . ." the voice came to her as a whisper but she finally recognized
it: Cloud.
How in the world, she wondered. Unless he was also -- oh no. Aeris
cried, "Cloud?! Cloud?! Where are you?"
"Aaaaeeerissss. Pleeeeaaaassse . . . I . . . llloov . . . yyyyuuu" His
voice began to fade away. Aeris searched for him. Her mind stretched itself
across the breadth of the Lifestream to reach him. Cloud. She touched the
last wisps of his mind briefly before it vanished.
"Cloud!" She wailed. There was something strange about his thoughts.
Something she had never felt in him before.
What could it be?
Suddenly, a ripple passed through the space around her. The green hue
in the Lifestream began to pale. Aeris let out a cry of panic as everything
rose past her. She had the most unsettling uneasiness in her gut -- she was
falling! Then all at once, the sensation of falling and the great expanse
of the Lifestream vanished leaving a white haze and a sense of unearthly
calm.
**********************************************************************
"Ouch! Quit it!" Tifa giggled as she tried to get away from her
tormentor. Cloud caught her foot just as she hopped past the bed. She let
out a playful squeal as she tried to fend off his advances. His other free
hand reached up and grabbed her by the waist.
"Tiger, please," Tifa's tone became serious, "Please don't. It still
hurts, okay?"
"Oh all right," the young man thumped her bare bosom, "But you sure
could've fooled me."
"Hey, you pervert! What was that for?" she laughed as Cloud got up with
a silly grin.
"When you feel better, we've got a lot of catching up to do," he barely
ducked the pillow heaved his way. He came back with a flurry of furious
tickles which left them both rolling around laughing.
"Oh. Ow. Oh, dammit," Tifa winced and clutched her side.
"Tiff, are you okay? I didn't hurt you did I?" he held her, his voice
full of concern.
"No," she said through clenched teeth. Tifa closed her eyes and leaned
back. "It just comes and goes. I'll be all right. And quit looking so
worried. That bugs me more than anything."
"Okay," Cloud whispered. He brushed her face and kissed her lightly on
the forehead. He then made a mental note to have Tifa examined. Ever since
she peered into his memories while they were together in the Lifestream,
she developed a habit of keeping problems to herself and not make him worry
too much. Luckily for him, she was a lousy liar.
"Don't worry, I'll keep the fires stoked, 'kay?" Tifa flashed her
nakedness from underneath the sheets to tease him.
"I'll be back soon," Cloud gave her a weak smile and began to reach
under his shoulder guard but stopped short before he was half way there --
he'd adjust it later.
**********************************************************************
Once outside, Cloud's thoughts turned dark as did Midgar's sky. He had
found a temporary respite from his wretchedness when Tifa lay badly
wounded, but alive next to him in triage. It reminded him of another time
when he had almost lost her seven years ago. But now, he was able to fight
for her survival. And Cloud fought. He stayed up all night holding her
intravenous bag because there were no stands left, changed her dressings
when they got too soaked with her blood, and monitored her without rest
until the field doctors finally upgraded her condition to stable.
However, his secret never left; it only submerged during Tifa's ordeal.
It reared its ugly presence again as soon as he realized she would live.
Actually, they were both lucky to have survived that near fatal plunge
of the Highwind. It was even more fortunate for them that Reeve had been on
hand with a band of volunteers that responded quickly to the crash to have
rescued them from the ensuing fire that broke out. All of them made it.
Well, almost all. Cloud trotted along the street absently as the day
grew dimmer and dimmer. He himself got off with some surface cuts and
bruises while Tifa had several busted ribs and a punctured lung. Red XIII
was hardly scratched, thanks to his
nimble acrobatics and his eagerness to take foolish actions -- he had
leaped off the Highwind and managed to land onto a sheet metal roof. The
shanty broke his fall but left it a wreck; thankfully the place had been
abandoned.
Barret was another case altogether. His gun arm was torn off, but since
it detached at the natural breaking point, it was easy to find a
replacement. He almost didn't get the chance -- as he immediately got
himself into trouble with Reeve's guards when he emerged from the fiery
wreckage and grabbed the ex-Shinra executive by the throat and threatened
to 'blow his brains all over the Planet damn city' for holding Marlene
hostage. Luckily for the big man, Reeve had the presence of mind to keep
things from getting out of hand. As soon as Barret heard Marlene was alive
and well in Kalm, he showed no intention of staying and left immediately to
be reunited with his daughter.
A blessing in disguise, Cloud thought. Had Marlene stayed in Midgar,
who knew what may have transpired?
The rest of the crew came through with a wide variety of minor wounds.
A bit shook up, but otherwise fine. The only casualty seemed to be Cait
Sith. The puppet had fallen apart upon impact. The intensity of the fire
had prevented anyone from recovering anything from the wreckage until a
makeshift bucket brigade showed up. After the breathing survivors was
saved, Reeve ordered the brigade to stop. His reason was brutally simple:
water had become scarce since the disaster. It made no sense trying to put
it out since Highwind was totalled, as were the animated mog and cat.
Cloud crossed the debris littered street as storm clouds began to
congregate over Midgar's shattered skyline. Reeve told them when he and the
others last smashed into the city to halt an insane Hojo from firing the
Makou cannon, the last remnants of Shinra disintegrated under the group's
concerted attacks and the whole place had gone to hell. The wiry man
however, didn't give in to the chaos which erupted. Rather, he organized
volunteers that ranged from the plate residents to those who dwelt in the
slums into effective rescue teams. Renegade Shinra troops, who raped and
pillaged were quickly squashed when Reeve opened the Shinra armories to the
volunteers. Those troops that surrendered or who sought refuge were
recruited. By the time Meteor began its fractured descent, the city's
residents were prepared for the worst. Some semblance of order had been
restored, with an even handed Reeve in charge.
Tifa had been too injured to be moved about, she had to stay put until
she got better. Cloud in spite of his mixed feelings, had no intention of
leaving her. So he got employed as a constable. The pay was a joke. A
measly two thousand Gil a week. It helped, a little. He knew that there
were worst jobs available. Red XIII had found work as a sniffer for bodies
and other survivors who may still be buried in the rubble that was Midgar.
An unenviable job, Cloud shuddered over the thought as he rounded the
corner of the next building.
"Hey! Watch where the fuck you're going!"
The young man jumped at the challenge and his hand flew to his weapon.
The stranger did the same.
"Cid?" Cloud peered into the darkness.
"Cloud?" The Captain was ready to thrust his spear through his friend.
The young man heaved a sigh of relief. "Dammit Cid, are you that jumpy
tonight?"
"Heh. Funny from coming from you kid," the older man lowered his
weapon, "If you were a lil' more spunky, Tifa woulda gutted my sorry ass
for taking you out. That makes *me* jumpy."
Cloud ignored the joke as he leaned against the side of the building,
"Any word on the blackout?"
"Nope. The boss says he may have all of us out tonight to make sure
nothing goes bad," Cid patted his pockets to check for his smokes. He
offered one to Cloud.
"No thanks."
"Suit yerself. How's Tifa?"
"Okay I guess. Shit. That reminds me. I gotta get a doctor to check her
up," Cloud wore a mask of worry.
"Fat chance, kid. All the docs are busy at the rubble sites an' those
who aren't are prob'ly getting some shut eye," Cid blew a long stream of
smoke into the chilly Midgar night. "She hurtin'?"
"Yeah."
Cid nodded, understanding.
"Don't worry, kid. She's tough as they come. She'll pull through."
Cloud hung up and looked up at the darkened sky, "I hope so."
The two of them stumbled about in the dark silence, broken on occasion
by the baying of dogs or the clank of digging machinery.
"You know, I'd never thought I'd say this. But Meteor did bring down
that damn plate. Now I could see the stars . . ." Cloud started to say then
stopped abruptly as he remembered the events which led up to the Plate
disaster. Reactor Number Five. Sector Six. And ---
He caught himself and closed his eyes.
". . . that's one way to look at it," Cid's cigarette flared up
brightly against the darkness. The two presently found themselves standing
on the moonlit street before a large ruined theater with the words
'Loveless' reflected in the dim light.
"Hey."
"What?"
"You ever see that play?"
"Huh?"
"That play. Over there," Cloud's gaze followed Cid's bandaged finger.
"No. I'm not a theater kind of guy."
"Me neither, kid," Cid scratched his stubbled chin thoughtfully.
"Y'know they've been playing it every summer as long as I could
remember."
"I guess they won't be playing it *this* year," Cloud felt around for
his weapon.
"Reckon so. I 'member seein' it once though."
Hooh boy, thought Cloud. He hefted his blade absently.
"Back when I was here in Midgar interviewin' to become a pilot, I'd
figger I'd kill some time. It put me to sleep just like I thought it
would."
"That good, huh?" Cloud ran his fingers along his sword.
"Yeah," the older man puffed his smoke a bit before going on, "Finally
during the last scene the guy next to me nudged me sayin' I was snorin' too
loud. So I only remember seein' that last part."
"The girl asks this guy, 'Do you really have to go?' And the guy says,
'I promised the people I loved that I would.'"
Cloud stopped fiddling with his weapon as Cid went on, "The girl says,
'I don't understand. But -- please take good care of yourself. And the guy
replies, 'I will. And I'll come back to you. Even if you don't wait for me,
I'll come back knowing
you'll be there.'"
"Is that it?" Cloud asked quietly.
"Yeah. They drew the curtains after that and I left," Cid tossed away
the burned out butt. "I never really understood what they were sayin' at
the time, y'know?"
"Until now?" the younger man asked.
"Yeah," the aging pilot cast his gaze at the ground. "Remember the day
you asked all of us to find some reason for fightin'?"
"I remember."
"I went back to the launch site, y'know. I never rilly had much of a
thing fer anything but machines. Ever since I was a kid, I always hung
around with machines. For me, they're easier to deal with than people," Cid
leaned against his spear.
"What are you getting at?"
"I just stood there outside of my own damn house and I couldn't get
myself to go in," the pilot shook his head sadly. "All those years I
treated her like worm shit, I just couldn't understand why . . ." Cid
trailed off.
Cloud blinked. Ah, woman trouble. "Shera?"
"I'd figger we were all gonna die anyway -- and I might as well
apologize y'know, but I didn't. I didn't know why. I left after standing
there like an ass outside my own house. My own damn house!" Cid slammed his
fist into the nearest wall.
Cloud stood silent, unsure of what to say.
"I never rilly did figger out why I came back with you guys to the
crater," Cid's breathing became slow and heaving.
"I'm glad you did. We would've missed you in the end," Cloud was quiet.
"Yeah. We sure kicked his fuckin' ass, eh kid?" his breathing evened
out and became more normal.
"It's not too late you know."
The old man raised his head; the moon gave away the wetness on his
face.
Cloud continued, "You can always go back and tell her you're sorry. I'm
sure she'll forgive you."
Cid shook his head furiously. "You don't understand, I've been treatin'
her like that for years."
Cloud took a deep breath before going on, "If you don't tell her now,
she'll never know . . ." his voice trailed off.
Cid heard the flash of pain in the young man's voice. He knew why.
"Uh, nevermind. Thanks," the pilot wiped his face with the dirty sleeve
of his jacket.
Cloud was relieved that his friend hadn't pressed for more advice. He
couldn't have done any better, and he didn't want to stay too much on the
subject of lost love.
"What's that?" Both men jumped as the lights slowly came back on.
"Damn. That's a relief," Cid said straightening himself out
immediately.
"Yeah. Looks like you're not gonna pull an all nighter," Cloud stood up
relieved he could be alone for a while. Turning to Cid he asked, "You
turning in then?"
"Yeah. Get some Z's. I'll drop by Tifa and check if she's okay."
"Uh, sure," Cloud murmured, "Thanks."
"Not a problem." Cid gave a half hearted wave and trotted off.
Cloud watched him disappear down the street before heading the other
direction. He took one long look at the theater sign. 'Loveless.' What an
enigmatic title.
I'll come back knowing you'll be there . . . how prophetic, he mused.
Suddenly it dawned upon him when he exactly first saw that sign.
Cloud's heart skipped a beat as he gazed upon those letters. It was
immediately after the bombing of Reactor Number One. That was when he first
bumped into her and smelled her fresh cut flowers.
Cloud choked back the sobs as he sank down to his hands and knees
before the darkened theater. He let his tears fall freely as his fingers
dug into the muck and grime that lined the streets.
Aeris, why can't I let you go?
Why? Why?!
"WHY!?" he screamed to the uncaring skies.
A pair of headlights came suddenly out of nowhere. It came at him at an
incredible speed. If he stepped out, there was no chance for it to stop in
time.
I can end this, he fixed his eyes on the approaching car.
End it right now. It will be quick; the pain a minor nuisance.
All I have to do is just step out a little.
Just a little.
So why aren't you?
I can't.
Why not?
Tifa.
She loves you.
And you love her, don't you?
Cloud shook his head to clear his thoughts.
Who would take care of her then?
The answer was painfully clear.
No one.
The car roared past him without slowing down.
"Tifa," Cloud stood and held his head up towards an indifferent heaven,
"Sweet Tifa. I can't abandon you."
Presently, the rain began to fall upon the silent dark city.
==============================================================
Sleeping late as usual eh, Snake?
Liquid. You're alive.
I won't die, as long as you still live.
-- Liquid Snake to Solid Snake, Underground base - Shadow Moses Island
==============================================================
Aeris fluttered her eyes open and readjusted to her surroundings. A
wood beamed ceiling hung before her, rather it hung above her. She was
lying down on something. That was odd, she thought. Her fingers brushed
something soft and fuzzy. What in the world? Aeris sat up and looked
around. She found herself inside a modest room with a small stove in the
corner and a window next to her bed. A quick peek outside revealed a vast
blanket of white dotted by timber houses with an warm, orange glow coming
through their windows. Woozy from the experience, she held her head between
her hands.
What was going on?
Looking down, she saw she was also missing all of her clothes.
"You are -- awake," a quiet voice came from the corner of the room.
Aeris inhaled sharply as she saw a stranger in black form fitting
clothing sitting at near a small desk amongst a pile of small tools.
"Are you feeling any pain?" the stranger asked.
"N-no," she held her head and winced, "Just a little dizzy."
"Good," the man relaxed visibly, "Then you are fine."
"Who are you? Where am I?" her voice sounded hoarse and cracked. The
man stopped whatever he was doing and turned to face her.
"You are Arr-ees?" he asked.
"Aeris. It's Aeris," she didn't know where to begin. She stretched her
jaws and pursed her lips to work out the soreness she felt.
"As you wish," the man said in mild annoyance.
She pulled the sheets up to cover herself and stared at the stranger.
He stared unabashedly back. He had neatly trimmed black hair and was clean
shaven, yet his face masked something else. Something she could not fathom
to guess. She would've said his age to be in the thirties, but something
told her it was something otherwise. He stood about a head taller than her,
had she been standing. But the most arresting feature was his eyes -- Aeris
thought those eyes looked all too similar to the ones she had seen in
Cloud: Makou eyes. However, this man's eyes possessed no glow. They were
merely blue and the color apparently hadn't restricted itself to the man's
corneas; the whites were seeped in a deep blue which gave her an eerie,
discomforting feeling.
"W-where am I?"
"You are at an inn."
"For how long?"
"Two days."
The stranger handed a glass of water sitting to her. She took it
hesitantly.
"Drink."
"Ack!" Aeris wheezed. Too much too fast, she thought to herself. The
stranger watched in stony silence as she gulped down the rest of the
contents.
"You didn't answer me. Who are you?"
"Greylorn."
She was put off by the terseness of the reply.
"Is that your name?" she asked.
And was that a real name?
"Yes."
"You're not very talkative are you?"
The man remained silent.
"Are you Shinra?" she asked fearfully.
"No."
"What happened to my clothes?" Greylorn nodded his head and she
followed his gaze towards a neatly folded pink dress and a matching red
spencer on a foot dresser.
"Get dressed," the blue-eyed man paused briefly before adding,
"Please."
Aeris looked at him with a hint of fear.
"Did you --?" she looked down.
"I did not," the man replied tersely. "Now, get dressed."
"May you please leave the room? Or at least turn away?" her hands
gathered the sheets closer to her body. Greylorn remained impassive as he
turned around.
Uh oh.
She clutched her tummy. I have to go.
"Um, where's the bathroom?" she asked.
The man pointed without turning around.
"Thanks," she stumbled into the water closet with her clothes in her
arms. Aeris sat down and released herself.
Aaah, she sighed. Better.
One thing loomed in her mind as she wiped and began to dress herself.
"How did I come here? I thought I was dead."
"The Council -- revived -- you. I transported you here. "
"Really? Um, thank you. I really don't know what to say," she struggled
a bit with the spencer -- it was always a tight fit. "So tell me, Greylorn.
What is this 'Council'? Who are you anyway?"
"The Council is a group interested in -- many things. I am an
enforcer."
"A what?" she slipped on her boots.
"I am a field agent from the Council. I carry out their orders."
Aeris froze. She had her fill of dark suited people seeking her out.
"The Council?" she croaked, "Are you here to kidnap me?"
"No. I am here to apprehend a criminal. A fugitive. I believe you have
information That is why I petitioned Council to resuscitate you."
"Oh. Sorry about what I said. I've always been hunted by Shinra."
"I sympathize," Greylorn's tone sounded anything but sympathetic.
"You -- you know about that?" Aeris whispered.
His brow twitched at her as he said slowly, "I do now."
The man turned briefly to look out the window, "What I want now is
information of the whereabouts of this individual. Display image."
Aeris gasped as a flash of light erupted out of nowhere and transformed
itself into a three dimensional portrait of a haggard old man in
unrecognizable clothing.
"Who is he?" she asked.
"His name is not important," the man said quietly.
"I never seen him before."
"You are not lying." Greylorn looked up and saw Aeris looking at him.
"Of course, why would I?!" she cried, "How did you know?"
He ignored her and sat in silence, "Why were you in the city?"
"You mean the Ancients' City?"
He nodded.
"I was trying to stop Sephiroth from destroying Planet."
Greylorn narrowed his eyes.
"Tell me of this --- Sephiroth."
Aeris brushed her hair behind her ears before she replied, "I know he
is not a person to be taken lightly."
Greylorn's brow arched slightly, "Provide a visual description."
"Um, well. White hair. Green eyes, I think . . ."
"You think?"
"Yeah, I didn't really get close enough to really see everything. All I
know is that he'd stand out in a crowd," Aeris huffed as the image of the
man slowly faded away until it disappeared altogether. She was getting
tired of this question and answer session and thought she'd start asking
some questions of her own.
"How'd you do that?"
"Nothing for you to concern yourself with," Greylorn sat apparently
lost in deep thought.
"Hey, you're pretty rude, did you know that?" she put her arms akimbo.
"And you are unhelpful."
"I don't have to take this. I appreciate what you -- I mean what that
Council of yours did for me but I don't have to sit here and put up with
you. I'm leaving," Aeris hardly took a step before a black gloved hand held
her in place.
"Hey!"
Greylorn spun the young woman around and hissed coldly, "I wonder how
far you would go in sub-arctic temperatures with what you have on."
"I thought you weren't here to kidnap me!" Aeris struggled to no avail.
"I am not. However, unless you are so willing to see this world be
destroyed, I suggest you cooperate as I require," the man finished icily.
"Destroyed?" she felt the hold on her loosen slowly. "Are you
threatening to destroy Planet if I don't cooperate?"
"No. I am saying this world will be destroyed if you don't cooperate
and help me find that criminal."
"B-but there is no more threat is there?" her face full of puzzlement,
"Sephiroth's been defeated."
"Dead? Why did you not say so before?" Greylorn looked up mildly
surprised, "How and where did this 'Sephiroth' die?"
"I don't know for sure, and as for where -- somewhere inside Planet, I
guess. Cloud --" Aeris bit her lip.
"Cloud. Is he an acquaintance?"
"Leave him alone! He doesn't know anything!"
"Lying to me just makes things worse," Greylorn snapped.
"Why?" she demanded, "How can you tell?"
"I know," he tapped his head, "if you are lying or not."
"Y-you can read my mind?" Aeris eyed him fearfully.
"No."
"But --!"
"I can tell if you are lying or not," he said simply, "Age has also
taught me to look for other signs as well. Fortunately for you, that is all
you need to fear from me."
Aeris knitted her brow, "What do you mean by that?"
"There are others out there," he waved his hand vaguely, "who are not
so -- limited."
"I don't get it."
"There are -- individuals," his face twitched, "who can readily tear
anything out of your mind if they want to. The process is brutal and not at
all pleasant."
Greylorn stood back up, "Anyone who are subjected to such an effort
will become insane -- they may also have a sudden failure of vital
functions."
"Now," Aeris shivered as the man turned back and focused on her, "About
your 'Sephiroth'."
"What do you need to know?" she said quietly, "I already said he's gone
--"
"He is not the threat."
"How would you know?" she asked.
"Because of this," Greylorn pulled out a bright glowing orb which Aeris
recognized immediately.
"My mother's materia! You saved it!" she exclaimed. Then, "Why is it
glowing yellow?"
"This 'materia' you refer to was part of a planet wide warning system
developed by your people to forecast danger to themselves."
He paused briefly before adding, "And the world they protected."
"You -- know about the Cetra too?"
"Yes, I am familiar with your people."
"Really? Are you --?!" she exclaimed.
"No. My people have no name."
"Oh," disappointment showed in her voice.
"You said you were familiar with the Cetra," Aeris chirped, "Did you
study them?"
"Familiar," Greylorn measured his words carefully, "in the sense that I
have -- interacted with them in the past." He handed the materia to Aeris.
"Really?" she wrapped her hands around the cool stone eagerly, "Wow.
So, this glow means that Planet's in trouble?"
"Yes."
"Maybe it's a mistake?" she spoke softly.
"This system makes no mistakes."
"I'm talking about you," Aeris sat down on the bed, clutching her
childhood memento. "Maybe you misinterpreted the warnings."
"My orders are to act on them, regardless of the source of trouble."
Aeris pursed her lips, "But I thought Planet stopped whatever Sephiroth
had planned."
"You speak of the meteor?"
"Yeah," she looked up, "Did you see it?"
"It was destroyed two days ago."
"Destroyed?" her eyes widened, "Really?"
"I believe so."
Aeris stared at her materia with a joy she hadn't experienced in a long
time. Holy had worked! They did it! And to think that she was alive now.
Oh, and to see them all again . . .
"What makes you think the danger is from without and not within?" he
asked casually.
"What do you mean by that?" she looked up.
"You perceived the threat to this world as something coming from the
stars -- what if I told you the danger is actually from its
depths?"
"You mean your criminal is planning to destroy Planet from the inside?"
"Forget 'plan'," Greylorn walked over to the window again. "Think 'it
will be done'. Soon."
"He's that good?"
Greylorn did not respond.
"What has he done?" she asked, "According to your records?"
"He has been found guilty of fifty counts of genocide."
"*Genocide*?" Aeris' jaw dropped. "He destroyed fifty -- races?"
"Yes. Fifty sentient people. All gone. Fifty one, had you remained
dead."
**********************************************************************
"'Had I remained dead'," she paraphrased and shook her head ruefully,
"So I am the last one afterall."
"Yes."
"You know, you don't look old," Aeris remarked, seeking to change the
subject.
"Looks, can be deceiving," the man went away from the window and rubbed
his shoulder.
"Wow. I guess you're what? A few hundred years old or something if you
actually knew my ancestors," she looked at him intently.
"I stopped counting after eight hundred thousand."
Aeris held her breath, "Eight hundred *thousand*?"
Greylorn said nothing.
"So, about my ancestors," Aeris had so much she wanted to ask, "What
were they like?"
"A noble people from what little I remember," he started hesitantly.
"They had a purpose suited to their nature."
"How many of us were there back then?"
"More than the stars in the sky," the man's eyes crinkled, "And
considerably more than the years I have lived."
"That many?" the young woman eyes sparkled as she spoke. "How did they
live? In the city like the one I saw?"
Greylorn face registered a slight twitch, "I -- do not recognize the
place," the man caught himself, "I do not know more."
He turned towards Aeris, his face bore the strain of a long day. "It is
getting late. We should continue this tomorrow. Do you require sleep?"
"I guess so. I am a little tired," she rubbed her tummy, "And hungry
too."
Greylorn walked over to the desk and opened a drawer, he tossed her a
small pack of Gil.
"For me?" Aeris picked up the stash.
He nodded, "Feel free to eat what you wish."
"Thank you," she hesitated briefly, "Do you want anything?"
"Go on. I have no need for sustenance of such nature," he turned back
to his work on the desk.
"You mean you don't eat?"
"Not in the manner you are familiar with."
"Oh," she said half understanding.
"One of the benefits of long life," he said vaguely.
"I'm not so sure that's such a benefit --" Aeris started.
"Believe what you wish."
She started to leave then asked, "Hey, did you see my ribbon?"
"Pardon?" Greylorn looked back up.
"My hair ribbon. It's missing," she puffed. "Did you leave it by
mistake when you found me?"
"I recovered all your personal effects, including your -- materia. If
it was something you had, you must have lost it before I found you."
"Oh."
"Be sure you return within two hours," Greylorn resumed his work.
"Why?" she demanded.
"This world is not a safe place to be on at the moment," he said dryly.
Aeris quietly picked up her materia before she left and closed the door
behind her.
**********************************************************************
Dawn crept up slowly onto Midgar as Red XIII woke from his sleeping
mat. The warrior got up and stretched a bit.
Sometimes being different had privileges, he thought wryly.
Because of his unusual looks, he had not been offered refuge in the
survivor shelters which housed his bipedal counterparts. So, he sought
refuge away from the crowded, noisy warrens. And he could not have been
happier. The unearthly peace from the abandoned city seemed to be a
remarkable comfort from the past few hectic weeks he had to endure -- and
survive.
"Hhheyyy, Nanakiiiiiiiii!"
Red sighed. It was time for work. Sniff out the bodies and
survivors from the wreckage and help out however he could. They had
partnered him with Yuffie, since she "had the skills to diffuse and
extradite victims from the most difficult situations."
That was how Reeve put it. Personally, Red XIII believed he was
partnered with Yuffie so he could keep a watchful eye on her light fingered
habits.
She wasn't so bad, Red thought as he lapped some water leftover
from the rain last night. He'd just wish she'd shut up once in a while.
"Heyyyyy!! Waaaaake uuuup you sleepy head! We gotta earn our
payyyyyyy!!"
Planet help me, Red XIII said to himself, her voice sounds terrible
inthe morning and gets progressively more annoying as the day wears on.
Still, he was -- glad to be working with her. His lips curled into what he
called a smile. Yuffie said he looked like a rabid dog.
"Pipe down!" he shouted back.
Red XIII jumped down carefully as not to lose his footing or
accidentally impale himself on the various sharp things which protruded
haphazardly amongst the ruins he inhabited.
"THERE you are! Heh heh heh. Wait 'till Reeve hears about THIS! Oooh,
you're gonna get it THIS time, you lazy furball. It's been the third time I
had to wake y -- "
"Yuffie," he growled, "Shut up."
"Hey!! Izzat any way to talk to your partner? Let me tell you
something, buster. I have every reason to . . ."
Red rolled his good eye and just shut her out of his mind completely.
He was used to it anyway. Her incessant chatter had become reassuring in a
strange way -- it helped him focus on his macabre duties.
Yes Yuffie, he smiled grimly as his nose picked up the familiar scent
of putrefied flesh. It is time to earn our pay.
**********************************************************************
Downstairs, the inn bustled with activity. Aeris made her way through
the crowd and settled for a spot at the bar.
"Well, hello dear," the matron smiled and offered her a menu etched out
on a piece of well worn wood, "Glad to see you're finally feeling better.
Your friend said you took quite a spill on the slopes and that you had
knocked yourself out. Looks like a few days of rest did you well."
"Well, I'm all right now," Aeris bobbed her head slightly, "I'll just
have the roasted gull."
"All right dearie, you take it easy," the rotund woman jotted down the
order and shuffled to the kitchen.
Aeris turned from the bar and surveyed the scene. Groups of people were
gathered around tables for supper. Conversation hummed at a tolerable
level, but three men near the small stove at the end of the inn were
talking loud enough for the whole place to hear.
". . . dat a fact . . . ?"
". . . tells you, 'ders something out der. In the woods . . ."
". . . bats you say? C'mon . . ."
"Here you go hon," the matron came back out carrying a plate of smoking
meat topped with some greens and a pile of mush on the side. "Is he going
to join you?"
"Excuse me?" Aeris turned her attention back to the bar.
"The blue-eyed man. Your friend."
"Oh, he's come down with something. He may not feel well enough to
eat," she lied.
"Ah. Well, I hope he feels better soon," the woman hurried off to
another table.
"So do I," Aeris smiled blandly.
The gull tasted fantastic. Probably since she haven't had a thing to
eat since her trip to and subsequent demise at the Ancients' City.
I *was* in a hurry, to have not eaten at all, she thought. Aeris closed
her eyes and chewed slowly, savoring the juices at they flooded her mouth.
When she opened them again, she had noticed one of the men by the stove had
ambled over to refill his ale.
Eyeing Aeris, the drunk slurred, "Hey, girl. You're not from around
here aren'cha?"
Aeris swallowed her bite and examined the newcomer. A bit swarthy but
his cheeks were flushed. His breath reeked of the stuff he had been
imbibing.
"Nope. Can't say I am," she said cautiously.
"Yeah, I figgered as much," he half sat, half stood on the stool next
to her but didn't say anything. As soon as his mug came back full, he
bellowed, "Yeah, lotsa outziderz coming tru' ere nowadys. First the Shinra
'den that spiky haired punk and his friends."
Aeris sat upright and turned toward her unsolicited dinner companion.
"Spiky haired kid? Did he have a name?" she implored.
"Dunno. Diddint say who 'e wuz. Just up and left for the peak after he
hit the ole Holzoff place," the drunk slid off the stool he was on and
rejoined his friends.
"Peak?" Aeris said softly.
"Gaea's Peak, dearie."
Aeris looked up to find the matron wiping the spot where the man had
just been.
"Don't mind old Oglivy. He's just a drinker. He don't mean no harm."
"Oh, he wasn't too much of a bother," the young woman resumed her
dinner. "Tell me, did a spiky haired man come through this place?"
"Spiky haired?" the woman blinked. "Hmm, can't say I have. Mostly
Shinra soldiers that was to fight whats-his-name -- Sephiroth."
"Really?" Aeris swallowed another morsel.
"Those boys didn't do so well,' she said her lips drew thin. "But they
did everything they could. At least I think so. But you know what they're
sayin' now, dear," she lowered her voice to a whisper, "They say Shinra is
no more since Meteor fell on Midgar."
"Midgar!!" she cried in alarm, "Meteor fell?! I thought it was
destroyed!!"
"Oh! I'm sorry if I brought you some bad news, hon. I thought it
destroyed was too. Being this far up north we couldn't see very well. But
apparently, the last report from a Shinra airship said Meteor fell on
Midgar. That was, let's see -- two days ago I think. That happened while
you were taken ill remember?" the matron smiled with bravado and headed
back to the kitchen, leaving Aeris embroiled in her own thoughts.
If Meteor had fallen on Midgar, then Greylorn lied to her. No, wait. If
he had been with her the past few days, then he couldn't have been close
enough to see it. Not this far north, was what the matron said.
"Ma'am?" Aeris asked the woman as she reappeared with her arms full,
"About Midgar --"
"Oh I wouldn't know anything," the matron chirped. "we haven't heard a
single peep from them since. All we've been receiving is the local station.
See?" she pointed her chin towards the television before she hurried off to
deliver her order.
Aeris couldn't believe it. All that sacrifice, all those prayers -- had
they been for naught?
What happened?
Did Planet lie to her?
Did it take her prayer and ignore it?
She searched desperately for some other answer, but there was none.
Planet told her it accepted her plea and that it would release Holy. And
that would have halted the threat.
She died believing in that. But with the news she had now, she wasn't
so sure Planet had acted as it had promised.
It had lied to her. There was no other explanation. Planet allowed all
those people to die. But for what purpose? To save itself? Was it so
selfish as to sacrifice so many to save itself? Her thoughts shifted to
Cloud. He would have never allowed that to happen. She was adamant about
his take on that.
Aeris thought back to the Lifestream. Was that voice really Cloud's?
Was he dead? Was that why she could hear his voice in the first place?
A feeling of dread crept over her. What made it worse was the more she
thought about it, the more everything made sense. Rage and grief raced
through her mind. Part of her screamed blasphemy, as another part of her
wanted to curse the very world she had sworn to protect. Her appetite
vanished as her eyes brimmed with tears. Aeris let them fall freely as she
pushed herself away from the counter, leaving an uncounted pile of Gil
behind.
**********************************************************************
Once outside, Aeris ran. She didn't care which way she headed. She just
kept running with no regard to anything but her anguish. The chill and
freezing wind hardly registered in her mind. Her tears froze on her face
before they had a chance to fall as she ventured farther and farther
afield.
As soon as she reached the adjacent copse, Aeris fell to her knees and
dug her hands fiercely into the snow covered ground.
"DAMN YOU PLANET!! DAMN YOU!!" she shrieked.
"I TRUSTED YOU! I RISKED EVERYTHING FOR YOU! EVERYTHING!!" she clawed
the earth, stricken with a raving madness.
"YOU LIED TO ME! DAMN YOU, YOU LIED TO ME!!" Aeris screamed towards the
moonlit sky.
All of them, you killed all of them to save yourself, she sobbed.
Tifa. Cloud. Mom. Oh, mom.
What did I do? Aeris buried her face with her hands. I was a fool. I
was a fool to think I could save everyone. Curse you, Planet. Curse you to
hell. Why Planet? WHY?
She received no answer.
This didn't feel right, she said to herself. Why couldn't she hear
anything? Planet would have responded had she spoke. What was it trying to
hide?
"Answer me damn you," she spat coldly on the ground, "Show me some
respect you lying piece of dirt."
The silence remained unbroken as Aeris redoubled her efforts to no
avail.
Answer me. Answer me! ANSWER ME!! Her mind shouted to the unyielding
stillness.
The sudden snap of a twig and the slush-slush sound of something
trudging through snow jerked Aeris from her thoughts. She looked around the
dark nervously.
That was stupid, she looked around her surroundings. I shouldn't have
run off so far. There's no telling what was out here.
"Acchoo!" Aeris shivered and put her arms around herself. She felt a
tickle go up her throat. Greylorn was right, I'm not going far in this
cold.
"Acch-g-g-g-g!" she stifled her sneezing.
The sloshing sound became louder -- something was coming her way. Wild
animals? Her eyes searched feverishly to find a weapon, something to defend
herself. Aeris hefted up a sizable rock with both hands and hid herself
near a fallen tree, her breaths came out heavy and labored.
Slush! Slush! Slush! The sound stopped as whatever it was stopped.
Shoot! She bit her lip. Her footprints. She had forgot about her
footprints.
Slush. Slush. What ever it was moved closer to her position.
Closer, she thought. Get closer so I can bash you once over. Her grip
on her rock tightened. NOW! She let out a frightful scream and leaped out
to floor her would be attacker.
"NO! Please no!" the voice pleaded.
Aeris opened her eyes and saw a man in the snow holding up his hands in
obvious terror. He was clothed in furs and looked surprised to see her as
she was to see him.
"Y-You're human," he whispered. Aeris dropped her make shift weapon and
helped him up.
"D'you make it a habit o' jumpin' out at night to scare people, lass?"
he laughed relieved he wasn't going to die.
"Sorry," she said, "I thought you were something else."
"Me too."
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Me? I'm a trapper. I work 'round 'ese parts. You?" His voice was worn
and he bore the tone of an experienced drinker.
"I - I sell flowers," she said cautiously, "I'm Aeris."
"Pleased to meet cha," the man dusted the loose snow from himself. "De
name's Brody. Flowers, huh? Don' see much of 'em dis far up north."
"Oh, I'm from Midgar --" she stopped and looked down.
"Midgar?" Brody looked at her and uttered an understanding, "Oh." He
sniffed and asked, "Ey! 'ow long 'ave ye been out 'ere?"
"Oh not long," she replied. "Why?"
"Ya shakin' like crazy," Brody knelt down and opened a bag he had
dropped moments ago and took out a fur cloak, "'ere, put dis on."
"Huh? Are you sure?" Aeris felt his eyes all over her. Yuck. She hid
her repugnance as best she could.
"Ya betta 'fore ya turn 'nto a popsicle," he grinned and rubbed his
beard.
"Thank you," Aeris took it and wrapped it snugly around herself.
"Whar' ya hedded?" Brody asked.
"Back to the village I guess," she pushed aside the snow with her foot,
"There wasn't a point coming out here anyway."
"Me too. Min' if an ole' trapper walk ya 'ome?"
Aeris smiled as coyly as she could from underneath the hood. "Sure, why
not?"
**********************************************************************
As they walked slowly back towards the village, Brody chatted
ceaselessly about what he did the last few months. Aeris listened with half
an ear, spitting out an occasional "Yes," "Really?" or thoughtful "Hmm." A
half hour later, they had reached the edge of town.
"Here," Aeris began taking off her cloak, "Thank you Mr. Brody, but the
inn is close enough now."
The old trapper held up a rough hand, "S'all right, darlin'. Think o'
it as a giff from ole' Brody fer hearin' 'im pour is' heart out." He gave
her a toothy grin.
"Oh. Well," Aeris smiled demurely, "Thank you Mr. Brody."
"Aw shucks. E' don' mean nuthin. I gots plenty of 'em out der," the man
jerked his thumb towards the forest, "'sides, you remin' me o' her. Damn
straight ye' scarred the livin' daylights outta me girl. I thunk I warse
seein' her ghost."
"Who?" Aeris asked puzzled.
Brody lowered his voice before he whispered, "De' woman Shinra sez was
an Ancien'."
"An Ancient lived here?" she sucked in her breath.
"Yeah. Lon' time ago. She was a purty one too," his eyes brightened at
the memory.
"Den dey' took her away," the man finished glumly.
"Shinra?"
"Yeah," Brody looked at her suspicion in his eyes. "You ain' Shinra,
are ya?"
"NO!" her voice surprised her.
"Aww, don' worry darlin'. Jest a dum ole trapper askin' dumb
ques'juns," he started to turn away.
"Um. Mr. Brody?" The trapper turned around. "Can you tell me where she
lived?"
"O'er 'der," he pointed to a darkened cabin in the distance before he
gave her a goofy wave and sauntered off.
Aeris walked slowly towards the place. The place wasn't lighted and
looked uninviting compared to the inn where she was staying.
But an Ancient -- she braced herself and marched onward; this was
something she had to know.
Snow was piled against the cabin's door. Just in case, she rapped the
door softly. No answer. She knocked louder a second time. When a heated
pounding still brought no response, she tried the knob. It was unlocked.
Aeris looked around. The place had apparently been uninhabited for some
time. There was no stench of life anywhere and the dust on the floor was
thick enough to muffle her footsteps. It was cold, but it was better than
being outside, she shuddered as the howling of the wind began to rise. She
closed the door before taking a step forward -- and letting out a cry of
surprise.
THUD!
"Ow, ow, ow, owwie," she winced in pain and coughed from the swirl of
dust which resulted from her fall. Aeris stood up shakily and brushed some
hair that had gone awry when she fell. Carefully, she groped around in the
dark until she found something which felt like a switch.
"Aargh," Aeris shielded her eyes from the sudden brightness that
assaulted her.
She scrutinized the place more carefully. The young woman stood near
the door where she fell. A short flight of stairs led down from the
threshold. The light came from a web covered chandelier which hung from the
ceiling. A sizable kitchen table was situated over a moldy green rug across
the room from her. Her gaze soon fell onto the contraption which lay to her
left. It looked to be a machine of some sort. Most likely Shinra. A glance
at the glazed logo confirmed her suspicions.
The machine had a working screen which had some words displayed. Aeris
wiped away the dust which covered it. She inspected the screen closely and
read them aloud:
"The Original Crisis."
"What is Weapon?"
"Confidential."
Aeris curled some of hair and bit her lip. She looked around to make
sure she was alone.
She thought to herself, Hmmm. Except of the last one, they all sounded
like scientific projects or something. Everything that had to do with
Shinra was probably something monstrous. She loathed the industrial giant
ever since she could remember. Aeris wasn't sure why, but a strange feeling
washed over her as she reached for those soft glowing words.
You remind me of her . . . that was what Brody had said.
Her hand hesitated briefly before she pushed the START button.
Immediately, the screen blinked and displayed the room she was currently
in. Someone in a white lab coat was adjusting something on the very machine
Aeris was operating.
I get it, she said to herself. A recorder.
Aeris looked around and saw a tipped over chair in the corner. She went
over to grab it and sat down in front of the viewing screen. During her
brief absence, a woman with auburn hair clad in a long, flowing dress had
entered from the side of the camera -- from where the table and rug was,
except on the screen the furnishings looked new and hardly used. As the
woman turned to face the camera, a shock of recognition passed through
Aeris.
"Mother --?" the young woman whispered.
**********************************************************************
Cloud sat at the bedside watching over Tifa's sleeping form. He just
came back from his shift and was tired as hell, but he didn't want to risk
waking her by climbing into bed. He knew she needed the rest more than he
did. He watched her body heave and fall with every breath. So peaceful. So
beautiful. So perfect. So why couldn't he? He asked himself. Why can't he
come clean and tell her exactly how he felt? Why?
"Hey tiger," Tifa's dark brown eyes hovered over him.
"Uh. Tiff?" Cloud shot up in bed still dressed in full uniform. He must
have fallen asleep. At least she didn't try to undress him, otherwise . . .
"You big dope," she smiled at him, "Why didn't you tell me Cid was
coming for a visit?"
"Huh?" Cloud sat a bit dazed and tried to recollect last night. "Oh
yeah, I was gonna call a doctor to check on you but all of them were busy,
so he said he'd come by after his shift to check up on you."
"He's not a doctor," she laughed. "He almost got to see me as one
though."
"What?"
"Oh don't worry yourself -- I may be hurt but I'm still fast when it
comes to getting dressed," she grinned mischievously.
"Oh," Cloud sat looking dazed.
"Don't worry. I'm FINE. It's not hurting right now," Tifa nibbled his
ear, "Now come on. Get in, you need some rest."
"Yeah. Just a minute okay?" he got up and headed behind the screen
they used to hang their clothes. He slipped the ribbon off and stuffed it
into one of his boots. Stripping down, Cloud took a damp cloth and wiped
himself in the places which counted before climbing into bed.
"Mmmm," Tifa ran her tongue over Cloud's chest before kissing him. "Is
it me? Or do you taste better every time?"
"Well, I'm glad to see you're doing better," he said wearily.
"Are you sure you're all right?" Tifa bit playfully into his neck.
"I guess so," he sighed with relief.
Her hands tickled him between his legs before she slowly moved on top
of him and pressed her body against his. His lethargy surprised her.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"I'm just tired Tiff. I'm sorry --"
"Hey. It's okay. It's all right," she kissed him and placed her head
down to listen to his rhythmic breathing. "I'm just glad nothing happened
to you."
"Yeah, me too," Cloud whispered. There was a long pause before, "Tiff?"
"What is it, tiger?"
"I - I love you."
"Huh?" Her eyes showed mild surprise at his outburst. She hugged him
tightly before replying, "Me too. Now let's get some sleep."
He tousled her hair before draping his arms gently over her, but it was
a long time before a fitful sleep finally overtook him.
**********************************************************************
Aeris sat in a stunned silence before a silent and blank screen.
Greylorn had precious little to say about her past compared to what was on
these records. They opened up a new chapter in her muddled past. The Cetra
and their fate; Planet's battle against this terrible enemy from the stars;
and perhaps most importantly, who her parents were. How they had sacrificed
themselves to protect her from the machinations of Shinra. And Hojo.
She got up and noticed another flight of stairs adjacent to the
kitchen. She descended these steps carefully and surveyed the room it led
to. The Makou powered heater cast a warm light all around a room with a
dusty bed and a broken dresser. Where she was born. Aeris clutched her
mother's materia and gazed longingly into its soft amber glow.
"Oh, mother," she whispered softly, "If only you were here now."
Dim memories surfaced swelled up from the recesses of her mind.
Memories of a woman who had sung softly to soothe her cries while she lay
on hard table surrounded by cold metallic machines and equally cold voices;
of a woman who let her eat everything that came through the slits of the
door to their room; of a woman who had whispered softly and encouraged her
to hush as they headed out one dark night and took the train, only to see
her fall down at the last stop -- never to get up again.
She bit her lip in a vain attempt to stop the tears from falling, but
they fell regardless.
"Mother, Mother, Mother," Aeris cried, cradling her childhood memento
on her parents' bed until sleep finally overcame her.
**********************************************************************
"Cloud! Tifa! Open up!! It's Reeve!"
"Ungh," the young man rolled over towards the loud banging.
What the hell is it now?
"I'll get it."
He felt Tifa get up and saw her wrap herself in a ragged robe before
heading for the door. Cloud turned away from the noise and ignored the
ruckus as best he could. He heard the door creak open and Tifa speaking in
hushed tones. He really wanted to sleep, perchance even to dream . . .
"Cloud? Tiger? Wake up!"
He groaned and rolled over to see Tifa dressed in her usual ensemble:
shorts, suspenders, and sleeveless shirt.
"What the -- ?" he sat up.
"Tiger," she said. "We've got a problem."
The young man rubbed his eyes and took a look around. Reeve and Red
XIII had both crowded themselves inside the shack he and Tifa called home
for the past few days.
"Tiff, what's going on?" Cloud stared in bewilderment.
"Listen Cloud," Reeve tugged his goatee. "it's like Tifa said -- we
have a problem."
"Can't this wait?" Cloud groaned. "I've been out all night."
"No, it can't," growled the red skinned warrior from the doorway.
"What is it now? The chocobos not getting enough feed?"
"Tiger!" Tifa admonished, "This is serious!" She sat down on the bed
beside him and nodded to Reeve.
He began, "Four hours ago, guards spotted a band of black robed men
pass through central Midgar."
"Black robed?" Cloud interjected, "Who is it? Not him?! It can't be --"
Tifa took his hand and squeezed it tightly, concern in her beautiful
face.
"No, it's not him," Red XIII answered in a reassuring tone, "The scent
-- it was different."
"Different?" Cloud arched his brow.
"They killed the guards at the checkpoints along the way," Reeve said
soberly. Nodding in Red's direction, he continued, "Luckily he tracked them
to what used to be Shinra Headquarters. They were carrying something
underneath a shroud. We don't know who they are or what they plan to do."
"You want me to check it out?" Cloud asked wearily as he got up and
reached lazily for his clothes.
"Yes. But you're not going alone. Vincent and I are going with you. Cid
and Nanaki too."
"And me."
"No you're not," Cloud stared at Tifa, "You're hurt."
"Say what you want, I'm going with you," she stood up and stared
straight at him.
Reeve turned away and said, "We'll wait for you outside."
"Don't be long," Red XIII snorted as he got up from the floor and
followed the other man out.
As soon as they were alone, Cloud dressed himself in silence.
"Tiff --" he began.
"Dammit, Cloud. Get it through your fat head!" she said. "I'm coming
along!"
He grabbed her by the arm. "No you're not."
He gripped her tightly as she tried to break free from his grip.
"Hey! Lemme go!"
"No," he repeated as he tightened his grip.
"Cloud, if you don't let me go this instant -- I -- I'm going to
scream," she hissed fiercely.
"Fine, scream," Cloud stuffed a nearby rag into her mouth as she opened
her mouth.
"MMMMMMmmmmmmmMMMMMMMnnnnnGGGGGG!" She slapped his face.
Tifa fought and struggled, but Cloud managed to get her onto the bed
and hold her in a bear hug until he could find what he was looking for --
his handcuffs. He restrained her to the bed post as she spat out the rag.
"Dammit!! This isn't funny!! Lemme go!" she screamed tears in her eyes.
"Tiff!" Cloud gritted his teeth, "Calm down."
"Calm down!? Calm down?!! YOU WANT ME TO CALM DOWN?!" her voice rose
several octaves before she broke into sobs.
Cloud approached her cautiously and held her as she wept, "Dammit Tiff.
Listen to me. You're hurt, you're not ready for anything rough."
"How can you do this to me?" she glared at him with her tear streaked
face.
He lifted her chin and brushed away the hair away from her face. "Tifa.
Promise me you won't go along and I'll unlock the handcuffs."
"I can't," she said fiercely, "I won't --"
"Tiff," he took a deep breath, " if something happens to you, I don't
know how I would be able to live with myself. I won't let anything happen
to you, do you understand?"
"Cloud, I can't bear it anymore," she cried. "Ever since you got that
stupid job, I've been living scared out of my wits."
"Huh?" he looked at her astonished. "Why?"
"Why? Because you big dummy," she sat upright as best she could, "Every
night you go out on patrol, I'm afraid I won't ever see you again!"
"What!?"
"You know how dangerous it is in Midgar right now, with all the stuff
that's happened. What if you get shot by mistake? Or trapped somewhere and
no one knew where you were?"
"You're getting paranoid," but he saw the worry in her eyes.
"No, Cloud," she half cried. "I didn't expect you to understand. Did
you know how scared I was when you fell off the reactor? Or when you got
Makou poisoning? I kept asking myself, 'What if I never saw him again? What
if the Cloud I loved would never come back?' I couldn't take it then, and I
sure as hell can't take it now!"
"Tiff," he said softly. "I didn't know."
"Well you do now," she sniffed as he wiped her face gently with a damp
cloth.
CLICK! Tifa looked down at her restraints. They were open.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"If you're coming along, I want you to get something straight," his
tone was grave.
"What?" she rasped rubbing her wrists.
"Stay where I can keep a look out for you, got it?" he took her hands
and kissed her. "Sorry, I got a little rough."
"That's okay," she touched the spot where she had struck him earlier.
He flinched slightly and she drew back. "I'm -- sorry too."
Cloud took her hand and interlocked his fingers with hers.
Both of them swayed a bit as they looked at each other, having reached
a mutual understanding. It was rudely interrupted by a loud banging on
their door followed by, "HEY YOU TWO LOVEBIRDS!! LET'S GET A MOVE ON!"
They both laughed. It had to be Cid.
"C'mon, let's go," he whispered.
"Yeah, let's go," she tiptoed and kissed him.
They both walked out hand in hand.
**********************************************************************
"Wake up. Wake up Cetra."
Someone was shaking her roughly.
"O-o-o-oh," she opened her eyes slowly.
"You are late," a familiar voice snapped at her, "You were supposed to
have come back five minutes ago."
"Sorry. I - I must've fallen asleep," she murmured.
"Yes, you are. And you did. Come on. We are leaving."
"Humnh?" Aeris yawned and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Greylorn's
blue eyes glared at her with an air of silent fury as he stepped towards
her.
"Hey! HEY!!" she screamed as he lifted her body over his shoulder, "Put
me down!"
"We do not have time for this," he headed up the stairs.
"I don't care! Put me down and tell me what's going on!!" she pounded
his back in fury.
"Fine," he dumped her roughly onto the floor.
"OW!!" she yelped rubbing her butt, "Why are always so rude? What on
Planet's gotten into you?!"
She could see he was now covered in a heavy black cloak.
"When I say two hours, I mean two hours. Not two hours five minutes."
"Geeeee, sorry," Aeris growled back sarcastically. "Should I start
calling you 'dad'? How did you find me anyway?"
"I have my methods."
"Which are none of my concern, right?" she said.
"Everyone has disappeared," he said tersely.
Aeris was dumbstruck by the sudden revelation, "What?"
"Everyone in this village except you and me are -- gone."
"How?" Aeris stood back up, "Where?"
"Gone. Captured. Probably dead or dying by now," Greylorn shrugged
indifferently.
Her eyes grew wide, "When?"
"Five minutes ago."
"I didn't hear anything," she was shaken, "Then why are you still here?
Why am I still here?"
"I fought them off."
"Fought? There was a battle?" He nodded. "Is it over?"
"They are beaten."
She looked at him blankly until she realized his cloaks were matted
with dark stains and his movements appeared strained. He smelled faintly of
sweat and blood.
"Are you hurt?"
Greylorn knitted his brow, "I am fine."
"You don't look so well," she took his arm and led him to a nearby
chair.
"No time," he shook her off.
"But --"
He held up his hand and repeated, "No time."
The man closed his eyes and swayed briefly, "I had hoped for more time,
but it has begun."
"What's begun?"
"The beginning of the end," he turned stiffly away as her face drained
of color.
"He's started?" she asked weakly. "But I thought you said it would come
from --"
"No," he cut her off. "Not him. Them."
"Them who?"
"Races older than the Cetra, older than most races which exist," he
lowered his voice.
"Older than you?" Aeris stared.
"As far as I know, yes."
Her eyes widened, "But why? What do they want?"
"The criminal," Greylorn looked grim, "They wish to -- acquire his
expertise in genocide."
Aeris looked at him bewildered, "How come?"
"They continuously seek new methods to subjugate their tributary races.
They can be quite callous with species other than their own."
"What do you mean 'callous'?" she asked cautiously.
"They tend to kill them."
Aeris gasped and covered her mouth. He glanced at the machine she had
operated earlier.
"Catching up on your history?" he intoned.
"You could say that," she stared at him.
"I have gone through some of the Professor's records."
"You read them?" she gaped.
"Yes. After they left."
"All in five minutes? That must've been quite a feat."
He ignored her, "His notes provide -- fascinating news. In it, does not
it say that a being coming from the stars befriended then turned your
people into monsters?"
Aeris thought back to what her mother said about the Knowlespole and
the fate of its inhabitants.
"You mean Jenova?" she finally blurted.
Greylorn nodded gravely, "From what I gathered from that woman's
explanation, the stranger who befriended your ancestors is the individual I
am pursuing."
"That happened thousands of years ago!" Aeris exclaimed and held her
head. This whole ordeal was giving her a headache.
"It may have adopted the name 'Jenova' to disguise itself," Greylorn
explained. "Now, with these records, I am convinced that 'Jenova' is who I
am looking for. The virus he released on your ancestors appears to be more
of his handiwork."
"But why now? After all this time? Why are those older races attacking
now?"
"The only reason is the criminal, the thing you call Jenova, is still
alive."
"It can't be! When I released Holy --" Aeris stopped. And shuddered.
Everything made sense now. If Planet didn't do as she had hoped, then
what makes her so sure that Jenova -- or even Sephiroth, was truly dead?
"For these races, subjugation of everything is the only thing they live
for," the blue eyed man continued gravely, "As long as he is alive, they
will kill anyone who gets in their path."
"They want to kill everyone just because we're here!?"
He nodded gravely.
"We can't let them do this! Greylorn, we've got to do something!" she
stared in disbelief as the man shook his head.
"I am going to apprehend that criminal. Nothing else."
"How can you say that?!" she cried, her hands shook as held the still
glowing materia up to his eyes, "I thought you were supposed to act on the
warnings -- whatever the source!"
"I know the source now," Greylorn said coldly. "It is that thing you
call 'Jenova'. These 'Elders' dare not oppose Council directly. As soon as
I dispose the fugitive, they will cease their attack."
"'Should cease?' How do you know they will stop?!" she wailed.
"They will stop. I -- trust they will."
"How can you say that!?" she yelled at him in disbelief, "I can't
believe you're actually going to let all those people die!" Aeris turned
and buried her face in her hands.
"Listen very carefully to me," his voice hard, "Many more are going to
die if he gets away. Every world he goes to will be ravaged by these Elder
Ones in order to make sure his knowledge becomes theirs and theirs alone.
My orders include resolving the situation with the minimal loss of life."
"Trust me," he put a hand on her shoulder in a token attempt to comfort
her, "This is the best way to minimize losses."
Aeris angrily flung it off, "I don't need any consolation from a
monster like you!"
"It makes no difference to me," he rubbed his hand, "But right now, I
want to get you out of here."
"Why? Why me?" she asked suspiciously. "Why did you only save me? They
were all people too."
"I protect my sources," he said simply.
"Is that all?" she spat.
"Yes. You want to stay here?"
"Why not? It's better than travelling with someone like you," she
turned away in disgust.
"Very well," he said slowly. "Before I go, tell me where I can find
your friend."
"Friend?" she echoed.
"Yes, the friend you mentioned a few hours ago. Cloud, I believe."
"He's dead," Aeris hugged herself tightly. "What more do you want?"
"Dead? Are you sure?"
She turned and said angrily, "I don't care what you want to do now! My
friends are all gone!! My mother, my father, everyone I know IS DEAD!! My
whole life just ended today!! I don't give a damn anymore! Do you
understand!?"
Aeris ran off to the kitchen and hid her face from him. When she turned
around, he was already gone.
Good riddance, she thought.
The young woman held her head between her hands and stared blankly at
the table.
So much in one day. Coming back only to hear everyone she cared for was
gone. All of her efforts were in vain. And now she had nothing. Nothing
except her memories.
Damn you Planet. She put her head down on the table and sobbed.
**********************************************************************
"There," Red XIII whispered to his comrades at arms.
"Where you clumsy furball?" Yuffie peeked out from around the junk
which littered the base of what used to be Shinra headquarters.
"There," Red sighed patiently. "Near the cars on the left."
She tiptoed and saw what he saw: several black robed figures were
chanting and gyrating around a makeshift bonfire from a pile of wrecked
automobiles.
N'GAI IKCK SOTH N' LIKP!
IA ZHRO NYARLATHOTEP!!
N'GAI IKCK SOTH N'LKOP!
JJ'ASL K'GRIKA VIL'KAFFYN'K!!
HCK' SAK ZALUMUNTI!
IA ZHRO NIKOLA!!
The phrases the dancers sung were gibberish to him, but they grated in
his ears. Red gnashed his teeth -- he had never encountered anything which
sounded more annoying than Yuffie. The red skinned warrior looked at the
young materia hunter and snorted. When the party had been formed to detain
the black robed intruders, Reeve had deliberately ordered him *not* to tell
Yuffie. Reeve was probably being cautious, and sensible. Her shenanigans
could provoke trouble that could easily erupt during times like this. But
true to her nature, Yuffie got wind of the mission somehow and tagged along
while the party was enroute, much to Reeve's chagrin and a test to Red's
sanity.
"Quiet down you lil' punk," Cid whispered harshly. "You wanna let 'em
know we're coming? What are they doing?"
"Seems like they're doing some kind of ritual," Cloud whispered.
The black clad group were made up of men of a variety of ages. Whether
they were armed was difficult for him to tell at this distance. Tifa
crouched next to him. She blew him a quick kiss.
"Hey you two," Cid rasped quietly, "Do that stuff on your own time."
Tifa stuck her tongue out at him and giggled. Cloud turned away so she
wouldn't see his face. They had made up -- for now. A pall hung over his
soul, but he hadn't told her yet. Not yet, he thought darkly. Cid knew. He
had to. After how the two men had bared their souls to one another last
night. If things kept going like this, it would only be a matter of time
before Tifa would catch wind of his secret -- and Cloud feared what might
happen when she did.
At best, she would probably leave him.
At worst ---
He shuddered. Tifa had nothing left. He was her only family, as she was
his only family. Cloud pushed the thought out of his mind and forced
himself to focus on the task which lay before him now and turned back to
the others.
". . . you shouldn't go Reeve," Tifa said kneeling on the ground.
"I don't see why you should risk yourselves while I --"
"That's not the point," Vincent cut him off. "You're the only one here
besides me who is proficient at sharp shooting. I can't cover everyone."
"He is right," Red XIII rubbed his snout against his paws. "We have
enough people to close in. One more won't be much help."
"Okay, you made your point," the self appointed mayor readied his
rifle. "You people be careful. And use tact."
"Oh yeah, we can't forget that bossman," Cid scratched his chin, "Not
after they killed all our buddies."
"We'll be tactful." Cloud as usual, ended the argument.
Presently, someone at the edge of the circle of chanters glanced
towards his way. There was a brief pause before ---
"OUTSIDERS!"
The dancers turned away from their ritual as a clamor of surprise
filled the air at the intrusion. Many of them drew knives and advanced
towards the interlopers.
"Kill them! For the Elder Ones!!"
"Sonova ---!" Cid lifted his spear up and readied himself for the
onslaught. Red emitted his trademark howl and tore into the center of the
group.
"Vincent! Cover him!" Reeve shouted and took aim with his rifle. The
ex-Turk unslung a mean looking piece of armament and braced himself
menacingly before firing. Shrieks of pain filled the air as his weapon
shredded several of the attackers.
"Tiff!!" Cloud drew out his sword and placed himself in front of her.
"I can take care of myself!" she shouted. "Just watch my back!!"
Tifa pummelled a dagger wielder who got too close. The man fell to the
ground senseless.
Okay, Cloud thought. This isn't going to be easy. SHLING!! He blocked
an incoming knife and countered automatically with a slash. The thrower
fell over clutching his guts.
I should have left her handcuffed, he rued as Tifa began to take the
fight back to their attackers.
"Tifa!! Wait!" he called to her while he side stepped another man who
rushed at him. A second man swung a large pole aiming for Cloud's skull.
Damn!! He avoided the pole, but in doing so, fell onto the ground. The
oldest trick in the book, he thought. Feint and drive. And he fell for it.
The first man had recovered from his charge and tried to pounce on Cloud
while he was down. The constable on his knees, was in no position to lift
his sword in time to block the blow. The man smiled as he leapt, dagger
aimed at his
throat.
"For the Elder Ones!!"
BLAM!! The man's head flew apart as his body jerked and slammed
harmlessly into the ground. Cloud looked over and saw Vincent give him a
quick nod before turning to shoot another man who crept up close to the
mystery man.
Cloud didn't have time to thank his friend as the pole wielder thrust
awkwardly at him. He responded with a quick jab which pierced the man's
head. He looked around for Tifa but could not find her amidst the melee.
You'll catch hell for this Tifa, Cloud thought grimly. If these guys
don't get you, I will.
**********************************************************************
Aeris awoke with a start.
How long was I out, she wondered as she rubbed her eyes.
WHUP WHUP WHUP WHUP. The heavy beating of wings passed overhead.
What in Planet's name? She got up and investigated the noise.
Outside the village, an eerie silence cast a pall from under which
nothing stirred. The once soft glowing lights were gone. Not a soul was in
sight.
What's going on, she peered around the darkness.
Without warning, a dark skinned man walked out from behind a building
from the far edge of the village. He appeared swarthy, slim, and slender.
Aeris didn't know why, but she felt inclined to go indoors.
Except she couldn't move.
The stranger wore an evil little grin and continued towards her. She
tried to break free from the invisible grip but to no avail. She tried to
speak but to her mounting horror, she found she couldn't even work her
voice. The man was nearer now. Aeris saw he wore gold, flowing robes suited
to more temperate weather. Yet he moved as if the cold did not affect him.
He strode readily towards her, his gaze made her insides churn with fear.
"What pleasures have They granted me here?" he leered.
The stranger towered over her. He had a sinister air around him and his
dark eyes seemed to pierce through her soul. Aeris felt her mind being
forced open, her mind slowly being intruded. She gritted her teeth,
powerless to do anything. Aeris suddenly remembered what Greylorn had said.
If she was read too deeply, it could mean something could fail -- what was
it exactly?
Vital functions? Insanity? Tears formed in her eyes as she desperately
tried to keep out the intruder, but to no avail. Greylorn was right, it
hurt like hell. She felt horribly violated as he began to penetrate her
more and more.
"YYYYYYYEEEAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGH!" the stranger's hands flew to his face
as if to ward off an unseen blow. Immediately, she felt both the paralysis
and the man's presence in her mind vanish.
"You take liberties with your position, messenger," a cold voice rasped
out from the darkness. Aeris looked around and saw Greylorn standing a few
paces behind her. She stood speechless as he beckoned to her with an
outstretched hand. The slender woman quickly obeyed and he ushered her
behind his tall frame.
"As do you, enforcer," the stranger had recovered from the shock
delivered to him earlier and threw his robes back.
"You dare assault a god?"
"You are no *god*," Greylorn uttered the word with vicious sarcasm.
"I am Niccola," the man jutted his chin toward the blue eyed man and
his charge. "I am the harbinger of all that They think. I am Their will
made flesh. I am much more than a mere lackey, enforcer."
Greylorn didn't reply. Aeris cringed behind him as the being called
Niccola threw his gaze upon her.
"What a fascinating creature. A pity."
"She is under Council protection," Greylorn's breath hung in the cold
air, "And mine."
"Still atoning for your sins?" Niccola let out a hollow laugh in the
cold night air.
"You retain your shackles," he levelled his coal black eyes at him,
"You are no different than the day you became like us."
"I - am - not," Greylorn gritted his teeth in silent rage, "And you
should pray to your pantheon that I never shall."
Niccola said nothing as he bore his gaze into the blue eyed man before
him. Aeris looked sideways at her guardian. He was trembling, but not from
the cold. Sweat lined his face. Was it a trace of fear? His fists were
clenched tightly at his sides and his eyes showed the strain of a hidden
struggle. Was he being intruded upon as she was? Her gaze returned to the
man before her. Niccola. He too, bore a similar tautness on his face.
"Do your duty and go," Greylorn said, his voice barely audible.
Niccola's frame shook a little before he replied, "Leave this place;
you've no business here. We shall see to this --- matter --- ourselves."
"Is that a request?"
"IT IS AN ORDER!!!" Niccola raised his bare fist threateningly.
"One I am not obliged to follow," Greylorn's tone stern.
"Then we will act as we see fit!" the other man hissed.
Aeris shuddered at those words.
"I have been assigned to resolve the situation. You doubt my ability?"
"I doubt EVERYTHING about Council!" Niccola spat. "They challenge our
sovereignty. They force us to live with their blunders!"
"Perhaps you should tell them your sentiments," Greylorn replied
stiffly.
"I have done my duty, enforcer. You have been warned," Niccola regained
his composure
"These people will suffer for Council's insolence," his face turned
dark, "And yours."
Aeris risked a glance at Greylorn but the man registered nothing on his
face.
Niccola turned and started off but stopped and added, "We will attack
the largest city south of here and destroy it. I believe it's called
Midgar."
He turned to Aeris and grinned a wicked grin, "Your friends are there
methinks. As is your mother."
"Mom and Midgar?" she looked at him, hope surged in her eyes. "They're
-- okay?"
"Oh, for now," his words struck a chord of fear in her heart.
Niccola threw his head back and laughed viciously at her expression.
His flesh began to crack and fall off, revealing something black and
sinister underneath. Aeris barely had time to scream in horror before the
thing that had been a man a few moments ago tore off its bloody skin to
reveal a foul winged monstrosity. It emitted a long screech no human could
never have or ever will utter. Three incandescent stalks which served as
its eyes writhed in a sick, undulating dance. Aeris shrieked in surprise as
Greylorn twisted her arm and forced her to double over into a ball.
"Shut your eyes and do not move!" his voice steely cold as he held her
at the ground and facing away from the ghastly sight in a suffocating hug.
She gasped for air and did as she was told. An eerie light illuminated
the two figures before the creature took off into the darkened heavens. The
silence that existed before returned as the echoes of the monster's inhuman
cry slowly faded.
**********************************************************************
The attackers lay dead; those who were not had fled. The one captive
was tied up next to the bonfire.
"Hey tiger," Tifa strode up to him and patted him on the back. "You
okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine," Cloud stood with his hands on his knees. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
That was too bad. Now he was ready to beat the crap out of her.
"I thought I told you to wait," Cloud panted from exhaustion, but his
voice was filled with anger.
"I can take care of myself," she said flatly.
"That wasn't what you said," he straightened up and looked at her.
"Oh?" she stared back. "What did I say?"
"You promised to stay where I can look out for you," he said through
clenched teeth. "Remember?"
"Oh right," she nodded. "And you did look out for me, right tiger?"
"You knew you were running off into the thick of things didn't you?" he
fumed.
"But you saw me right? So I kept my promise!" Tifa punched him
playfully.
Across from them, Red XIII had been listening to the two argue. His
ears were more sensitive than human ears, but their voices had been
steadily rising from the start. Tifa was trying to avoid it, but Red wasn't
so sure Cloud would let her slip up go. Cloud being young, male, and overly
protective.
Red was right.
"Tiff, I'm serious. I can't watch you unless I'm there. Running off
like that was reckless and stupid," Cloud gave up all pretense of being
gentle.
"Hey, I'm a lot of things to you," her eyes flashed as she mirrored his
anger. "But one thing I'm not is a defenceless waif who needs protection
every fucking minute!!"
Tifa caught herself as Cloud's face went slack. She knew shouldn't have
said it, but she did. Defenceless waif. She had hit him where it hurt.
Aeris had meant a lot to both of them. She was her best friend. And her
foremost rival. Though she hated to dwell on it, she suspected that had
Aeris remained alive, things would have turned out differently between
Cloud and herself. Before she could even utter an apology, Cloud had
stormed off. And probably not for home either.
"Oh shit," she whispered.
Why are you so dumb, you know how much she meant to him. Tifa's nails
dug deep into her arms until they hurt.
Damn, damn, damn, she berated herself. The tears didn't help either.
Reeve came up behind her. "Hey, where's Cloud?"
"Humh?" Tifa wiped her eyes before she turned to face the man. "Oh, he
uh, left. Said he had to take care of something."
"Oh," Reeve cleared his throat before continuing. "Well, here's
something for your efforts today. And Cloud's." He handed her a thick wad
of Gil. She gave it a cursory count before she accepted it glumly.
"What about our friend over there?" she nodded to the captive.
"He's been unhelpful," Reeve huffed.
"No reason for the guards?"
"Not really," the wiry man scratched his head. "Just something about
appeasing the Old Ones or Great Ones and some gibberish about coming to
Planet."
Tifa let out a sigh.
"I think I'll be going. You know where to reach me," she started to
turn away.
"Hey guys!" Yuffie was jumping up and down excitedly. "Look at that!"
Everyone's gaze followed her pointing finger. A shining beam of light
had appeared from the top of what was Shinra headquarters. It shone
brightly and was aimed straight up at the darkened sky. Around this shaft
of light, dark winged shapes gathered and flitted about.
"Yuffie! Pipe down!" Red's patience snapped as she continued to jump
and holler.
"What in the world?" Reeve shouted to no one in particular.
Horrific screams sifted through the air.
"Those sounds!" Tifa cried out in horror as she cocked her head,
"They're inhuman!!"
Up in the sky, the swarm began their descent into the city.
**********************************************************************
"Who -- what was that?" Aeris stood up slowly, obviously shaken.
"One of them," his breathing came out slow and labored.
"They're the ones who --?"
He released his hold on her.
"Yes," Greylorn spat into the snow. It showed a trace of blood.
"Why'd you come back?" Aeris asked, drawing deep breaths.
"I was waiting," his breathing came out shallow.
"Waiting?"
"Yes. Once They attacked, Niccola was bound to show and explain their
actions."
"Are you all right?" her eyes showed some concern.
"I am," the man righted himself, "fine."
He suddenly coughed forth a stream of red from his mouth.
"The HELL you are!!" her voice rose in alarm as he crumpled slowly to
his knees.
"Curse him," his head low to the ground, "I should have struck more
forcefully."
"Why didn't you?"
He clutched his chest and contorted from the pain.
"Hey!" Aeris shook him roughly.
He opened his eyes slowly.
"He taunts me," he whispered under his breath, "Informing me of their
impending slaughter is an insult."
His face darkened, "And a challenge."
"Save your strength," she said softly.
"It is formidable power. To kill with the gaze of his true form."
"True form?"
"That black thing you saw; that was the real Niccola," he said, blood
ran down his chin.
"But it -- he looked at me too. Didn't he?" Aeris asked him as he
nodded slowly in response, "Then why am I --?"
"Had I not interceded --," Greylorn's words came out painfully slow,
"He knew I would not leave you--" Violent coughing racked his body as
Aeris knelt close by and held him, unsure of what to do. Or what to say.
This was the same man who had said he didn't care how many died before
he captured his criminal. Aeris looked at her guardian with a mixture of
mistrust and concern. If only she had some healing materia! But with the
village so dark, she wasn't sure she would be able to find anything.
"So tell me. Why didn't you go?" she wiped his mouth with her sleeve.
"Believe what you wish," Greylorn's breaths came out heavy and labored,
"Now be quiet. It is -- it is not ---"
He coughed and gathered himself, "Report status of Prometheus."
:: Prometheus is currently not functional ::
Aeris jumped at the unseen voice. She looked around fearfully.
"Cause?" Greylorn rasped.
:: Prometheus has been disabled due to extreme physical stress ::
"Is the damage permanent?"
:: negative ::
"How long until it is again operational?"
:: two days six hours fourteen --::
"Silence," he coughed again before adding, "Curse you. Curse you all."
"Greylorn?" Aeris shook him lightly.
"Not now," his eyes glazed and seemed to focus on something distant and
far off. Aeris glanced in that direction but could find nothing.
"Greylorn?" she whispered. He did not answer her. "What are you --?"
A soft blue glow surrounded his body. It lasted a moment before it
dissipated.
What on Planet is he doing, she wondered.
Greylorn got up unsteadily, "I am fine."
"How'd do you do that?" she eyed him in wonder.
"Pardon?"
"That glow. You healed yourself," she said in amazement. "Without
materia."
"It is a skill I possess," Greylorn sounded apathetic, "I do not use it
often."
"Why not?" she looked at him confused, "It seems pretty helpful."
"There is usually no need to. Prometheus repairs the damage I incur,"
he suddenly soured, "However --"
"Prom-mee--?"
"It is -- difficult to explain," he waved her off.
"Is it that little voice I heard?"
"No."
"So what is it then?"
"Nothing of your concern."
"Right," Aeris pursed her lips, "May you teach me then?"
"Teach you what?"
"That skill to heal."
Greylorn looked at his charge warily before replying, "I do not see why
not."
Aeris clapped her hands together as he spoke, "This skill draws the
energy from the world you are in contact with and transfers it to a
designated target."
He said no more as he sighed and turned away.
"That's it?" she blinked at the briefness of the lesson.
"Were you expecting more?" he intoned.
"Well, yes." Aeris said flustered.
Quiet as ever this man.
"I am curious though. Your mother. Did she ever teach you a skill
similar to this?"
"Mom? She's not --"
"Your birth mother."
"You mean Ifalna?" Aeris cast her eyes downward, "I never got the
chance."
"My condolences. However tardy."
She looked back up at him, "The records -- I thought you knew."
"I do now."
Aeris stayed silent.
"We should go," his eyes swept the area. "If your friends are alive,
they may provide the information of where exactly your 'Sephiroth' died.
Once I know that, I may find an end to all this."
"Oh. Right. I forgot," Aeris stood up as Greylorn walked towards the
copse. Fear seized her again as she remembered the creature's threat. "Will
we get there in time?"
"We will go by air. It will not take long," he said without looking
back.
Her fears allayed, Aeris relished the thought of seeing her friends
again very soon. And the woman she called mom.
Oh mom, I never knew how much I missed you. She skipped playfully
through the snow alongside her guardian and let out a joyful laugh for the
first time for what seemed to be a long time.
**********************************************************************
Cloud stalked down the trash strewn street. His boots angrily kicked
aside the pieces of flotsam which littered the surface.
He wouldn't blame Tifa. He couldn't. It was her nature. She was loose
tongued and full of fight whenever he placed her welfare before his. If he
was protective of Tifa, then she was even more so with him. He walked on
aimlessly, unsure where he should go. He rounded the corner and slammed
into someone obviously in a hurry.
"Out my way!!"
Cloud blinked and saw a woman clutching a small baby. She clawed the
ground and tried desperately to get up.
How rude.
He looked at the flailing woman and weighed whether he should leave
or help. But before he settled on a decision, a band of thin black things
dropped from the sky and alighted themselves before the screaming woman.
During the past few weeks, Cloud had seen many of the monstrosities
Planet had to offer. From the terrible thrashings of a Midgar Zolom to the
ghostly forms of the Gi, Cloud thought he had seen it all. But the things
which stood before him were far more disturbing.
They appeared humanoid, with smooth oily skin which shone dully in the
fleeting daylight. Large bat wings protruded from their backs; their
beatings emitted no sound. Ugly, prehensile claws tipped the creatures'
arms and legs while threatening, barbed tails thrashed about in vexation.
Curved horns which intertwined inwardly with one another topped their
heads. But what truly made these things truly horrid, were their total
absence of facial features. Where there were supposed to be a face, only a
vague blankness existed.
While Cloud was enraptured by his examination, the foremost of the
creatures had seized the child the woman had been holding and held it
threateningly above its barbed tail before the hysterical woman.
"HELP ME!! ANYBODY HELLLP MEEE!!"
Cloud snapped back to his senses and drew his sword.
"Hey!! Let it go!!" he advanced threateningly.
The creature who held the wailing child didn't move -- but two of its
comrades did.
Aw crap, he thought. What the hell am I doing? Cloud brought his sword
up to beat off the first blow, but a second tore a layer of skin off his
arm.
"Yyyaaarrrgghh!!!" Cloud leapt back before he was cut to pieces.
Fuck, he thought. This ain't good. They're too fast. They're too dark
to separate from the shadows. And they made no sound for him to anticipate
where the next blow was going to land.
"NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Cloud looked up just to see the woman scream
and lunge at the stationary creature. The captive infant had a large red
stain on its clothes. He knew with a sinking feeling, that it was dead.
Damn it, he was too late.
A rage surged within him as he rushed the nearest of the creatures. It
saw his charge and flew away, but its partner standing behind it didn't see
the constable until it was too late.
Cloud let out a fevered battle cry as his massive sword cleaved apart
his target. It made no sound even as it died, its limbs jerking
spasmodically. A purplish blood sprayed forth from its body, emitting a
foul stench. Seeing its ally fall, the band of things flew off, perhaps to
seek easier prey.
He looked around to find the woman's chest decorated with a bright
crimson hole. Cloud sheathed his sword and ran over to her. She wasn't
moving at all. He knelt and checked her pulse.
Dead, he shook his head ruefully. Cloud looked up from the fallen body
and was reminded of another time when he saw someone die and all he could
do was watch.
Avenge them. His eyes returned to the body at his feet.
This is all you can do. All you can ever do.
His hands formed fists.
You are no protector.
His heart burned in silent fury.
Just an avenger.
That is all you are. An avenger.
He looked up towards the sky and tried to find where the things had
gone and saw hundreds of them around a familiar ruined tower. He sucked in
his breath as he remembered just where he had been a few moments ago.
'Tifa," he whispered.
Avenge. That is all you can ever do.
NO! His mind screamed.
"TIFA!!"
All thoughts of revenge disappeared as he ran back to Shinra
headquarters, but deep in his heart he feared the worst had already
happened.
**********************************************************************
"We are there."
"Humh?" Aeris opened her eyes and sat up. She stretched and yawned.
"Is that Midgar?" Greylorn jutted his chin towards the view before
them.
She followed his gaze to a sprawling metropolis, the only place in the
world which deserved to be called a "city."
Midgar.
"Is that Midgar?" he repeated in annoyance.
"Yes. That's it," Aeris took a deep breath.
Soon. Very soon, I'll see everyone again.
"There's no other place like it on Planet," she said dreamily.
"I shall take your word on this matter."
Aeris glanced at her companion sideways.
"May we stop by Sector 6? There's someone I need to see."
"No time," his gloved fist slammed down giving her a start, "Look."
The young woman eyes searched the darkened horizon. At first there was
nothing, but then she saw them illuminated by a strange shaft of light in
the center of the city. Horrid black shapes similar to Niccola, but smaller
and skinnier. They flitted above Midgar, darting about. Occasionally, brief
flash of light would erupt and a thing dropped from the sky.
In Planet's name, Aeris thought. They're attacking Midgar! Who was
fighting back?! Shinra probably. But what of her friends? Of mom?
"Greylorn," she pleaded, "I've got to see if my mom is --"
"Still alive?" his cold blue eyes registered no compassion. "I must
delay them long enough to find your acquaintance."
"Please," she tugged his cloak sleeve, "Mom. She means a lot to me. I
--"
"I can drop you off to search for her alone," he intoned. "But I cannot
guarantee your safety --"
"Then don't," she looked at him levelly.
"Your choice," his tone dour as his fingers danced over a console. A
transparent image appeared on the windshield. Aeris took a minute to
recognize the image as Midgar.
"Show me where."
It took her a moment to realize where and she pointed to the edge of
the map.
"Right here."
Aeris felt the craft bank towards the right and accelerate. She looked
out the side and saw flames and blurred movement. Scattered gunfire reached
her ears. They were moving too fast for her to see much, but it looked like
there was chaos everywhere in the streets. Anxiety gripped her as tightly
as she did her armrest. She didn't want to think about it, but it gnawed at
her.
Mom. Was she all right?
Where would she go in all this mayhem? What if she was --?
She shook her head and crossed her fingers. Don't think about it, she
told herself. Keep hope. Have faith. Like I did in Planet. She pursed her
lips. If mom was dead . . .
The craft shook a little before her companion declared, "We have
landed."
Aeris jumped out of her seat and halfway out the door before his hand
gripped hers.
She spun towards him in surprise and anger, "What are you doing!? Let
me go!"
"Wait," he released his iron grip and handed her a small metallic
object. "Take it."
"What's this?" Aeris took it cautiously.
"A maser," he said tersely, "Point and shoot."
She stepped backed from the ship and was about to turn and leave when
he spoke again.
"Whether or not you find her, do not wander off. I will retrieve you
later."
"Where're you going?" she held the weapon gingerly.
"To the light," his eyes bore no expression as the hatch closed.
Aeris shielded her eyes from the dust stirred up by Greylorn's ship as
it took off.
Find her. Find mom. Her mind kept racing as she sprinted down the
ruined but familiar street.
"Mom!?" Aeris burst through the door to her house.
Empty.
She looked around and shouted, "Mmmmmmmoooomm!?"
No answer.
Fear gave way to panic as she ran through her house and searched every
room.
No one was home.
Shoot, she thought. Where could she be at this hour?
Suddenly she heard scratching coming from the door. Aeris froze in
fear.
She gathered up her courage and hollered, "Mom? Is that you?"
No answer.
"Who is it?"
No response.
She grabbed the weapon Greylorn gave her before she inched herself
towards the door.
"Who is it?" she repeated.
Aeris risked a peek out the window.
Nothing.
That was what was on the "face" of the creature. It cocked its head and
the smoothness arched, suggesting the grim satisfaction of finding what it
wanted. Aeris barely had time to scream before it crashed through the glass
with its blood soaked claws and and trampled the furniture beneath its
prehensile feet.
"NO!!" she screamed and pulled the trigger; the creature writhed in
agony as a smoky, nauseating stench invaded her nostrils. Aeris didn't stay
to her handiwork as she turned and ran for her life.
**********************************************************************
"<bzzzz> Reeve!! <sizzle> Reeve!! <crack> We can't fight 'em like
this!! <pop> We gotta get everyone outta here! Evacu ---
yyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrghhgh . . ."
"Warren! Come in Warren!!"
"Look out behind you!!"
The interim mayor ducked just in time to avoid having his head shorn
off by a passing winged monstrosity which was one of many who were intent
on killing everyone they could lay their grotesque claws on. The soldier
who yelled the warning gave him a thumbs up signal right before a yard long
stinger erupted through his throat.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHCKKCKCKKCCKKKKCCKKK . . ."
Wet, sputtering sounds came from the man as blood sprayed from his
mouth with the ferocity of a geyser. Reeve dropped his celphone and fired
his gun. The man's body jerked spastically before the thing which killed
him teetered a bit and fell to its own death. All hell had broken loose
within Midgar after five minutes of sighting the alien creatures. Calls
flooded Reeve's celphone as section leaders called in desperation for help
fighting against the attackers.
Right now, all he could do was stay alive and hopefully live long
enough to mount a counterstrike, provided if there were still people left
to save -- or to carry one out.
"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarcgghghghsgh . . ." someone near Reeve had fired at
one of the creatures and missed. It did not.
"Dammit!!" Cid thrust at one which hovered just above him, deftly
avoiding his blows. "What's it gonna take to kill you bastards!?"
All around, everyone was fighting for their lives. Reeve rolled and
shot another thing which dove at him before he was nicked in the arm by
another which followed. Red XIII raced through the piles of junk and
debris, darting in and out, half tempting the things to strike at him. One
dove at him but he was ready and danced away from the thrashing claws and
sickle tail which proved so lethal today. He pounced on it while it
struggled on the ground trying to regain balance and fly off -- Red held
his breath as he ran for cover from another attacker.
They smell bad when they die, he thought in disgust.
Vincent emptied one gun after another as he fired again and again with
deadly effect.
CLICK!
The silence of an empty magazine rang louder than any reassuring thunk
of metal on flesh -- or whatever those things were made of. He didn't
flinch as he switched to his pistols and continued firing. Tifa meanwhile,
had been locked in intense combat with one of the creatures who had both of
its wings missing. Its movements were strained and it attacked sluggishly.
She struck it mercilessly every chance she got.
"Yeah!" she shouted with glee as she landed another blow.
"You're not so hot on the ground are you?" Tifa landed a swift kick to
its side.
Its claw lashed out in reprisal but she jumped back to avoid it.
"Ooooh tough guy!" her voice mocked her opponent.
"Just you wait 'till I --"
Tifa clutched her side as the pain suddenly erupted. Her opponent
paused slightly expecting another blow. When she didn't deliver it, the
creature advanced -- with a vengeance.
"Oh shit," her eyes stood transfixed on the tail which poised itself to
strike.
Eighty paces away, Cloud had just turned the corner when Tifa doubled
over in pain.
Sixty paces away, he watched in horror as the same winged monster he
saw earlier run towards her helpless form.
Forty paces away, he wrenched his sword out as the beast began to raise
its sinister barbed tail.
Twenty paces away, its tail descended and pierced her dead center in
the chest.
Her scream of agony tore through his soul.
Too late.
He was too late.
You are no protector, the voice railed.
Just an avenger.
That is all you are.
So avenge.
"TEEEEEEEFFFFAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"
His outburst caught the creature's attention -- just long enough for it
to look up and see Cloud leap and smash his sword through its faceless
head. Its body spewed the same putrid glop as Cloud continued to hack in a
frenzy trying to work the tail free of Tifa's body.
"Tiff?," he dropped his weapon and caught her limp frame. "Tifa?! Can
you hear me?"
She didn't answer.
Cloud looked her over and saw the extent of the damage: a hole the size
of his fist was situated in her chest. Blood came out so fast, his pants
were stained deep red.
"MATERIA!!" he screamed through his tears. "DAMMIT!! GET ME SOME
MATERIA OVERHERE!!"
**********************************************************************
Aeris paused to catch her breath and to take a look around. She had
been running for what seemed like forever and now she was unsure where to
go.
Definitely not back to her house that was sure. For one thing, she
wouldn't be sure she would be alive by the time Greylorn came back; her
weapon had been lost in the chaos when she fled the house.
For another, Aeris was sick to her stomach.
Mom, oh mom, she bit her lip.
That thing at the house. The blood on its claws. If mom wasn't home. . .
She shuddered and wiped her tears as she continued walking quickly down
the street, making sure she was well hidden from the air by the surrounding
buildings and doorways.
Aeris ran past a corner and thought she saw something at the corner of
her eye. She stopped and peeked out from behind the building. Her hands
covered her mouth in shock and recognition at the sight which greeted her.
"Tifa?" she whispered.
**********************************************************************
"Don't die," Cloud whispered as he cradled her head. "Please don't
die."
"T-t-tiger?" Tifa gasped out in short breaths. "You - came - back."
"Save your strength," he brushed away the hair.
"I - guess - I - wasn't - feeling - too - well - after - all," her
voice barely audible.
Cloud looked up. His eyes searched the fray for something, anything
that could resemble restorative materia, but he found none. They were
beset by those things by all sides. Even if they tried, no one could help
without endangering themselves. It was because of their efforts that none
of the things had been able to attack him now.
"Cloud?"
He looked back at Tifa.
"Don't," she struggled to speak. "Don't - blame - yourself."
Her hand touched his face and wiped off his tears.
"Don't - mind - me ---" she coughed, "It -- It'll -- be -- okay. I --
I'm - uunnhh -- you'll -- find -- an -- oth -- ther ---"
"No," his tears intensified, "Never again. I love you, Tifa Lockheart."
"Oh -- Cloud -- I -- I -- can -- see -- her," her breathing became
irregular and labored.
"Who?" he whispered hoarsely as she went limp in his arms. Cloud
pressed his face into hers and wept.
"Me."
He looked up and saw her looking exactly as she did the day he had let
her go at the edge of the pool so long ago. Well almost. Her hair let down
and she stood over them like an angel. He looked at Tifa then back at the
vision before him.
Am I going insane?
"Hush now," the Aeris-vision knelt beside them, "It'll be all right."
Her slender hands slid over Tifa's wound. A soft green glow surrounded
Aeris' body. Cloud could only stand by and watch in amazement as the hole
in Tifa's chest began to close and the flesh mend itself. He looked up from
the miraculous spectacle occurring before him and scanned the sky. The
winged things were still around, though they numbered less now. Even if all
this was a battle induced vision, at least they were winning. Cloud
shuddered before turning his attention back to Tifa.
**********************************************************************
'Draw the energy from the world you are in contact with and transfer it
to the target,' Aeris recalled his words. The glow around her body
brightened intensely as her eyes stared deep into the Lifestream.
Yes. Give me Makou to heal her.
You owe me Planet. You have a lot to answer for.
"C-c-cloud?" a familiar voice reached her ears as Aeris pulled herself
back to reality.
I did it! I did it!!
"Unnhh," she swayed unsteadily and held her head.
Greylorn apparently forgot mention about how much effort that little
'trick' of his required.
I've got to ask him about that, she thought as she regained her
balance.
Cloud reached out and tried to steady her as best he could with Tifa
still in his arms.
"Are you -- okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine, thank you," Aeris blinked to clear her head.
"Tifa? Are you all right?" he turned his attention to his waking
charge.
"Yeah, I think so," Tifa touched her chest confused. The wound had been
completely healed; no trace of it remained. "Oh, Cloud. I thought I saw
her."
"I think you did," Cloud turned Tifa's head towards the young woman in
pink.
"A - Aeris!?" Tifa bolted upright.
"Hey Tifa," Aeris smiled weakly.
"You're alive!" Tifa's arms flew out and had Aeris in a tight hug
before she knew it.
"Oh, hey! Nice to see you too!" Aeris laughed and hugged her friend.
"Aeris, y-you're alive," Cloud couldn't find the words.
"Hold on a minute -- Tifa!! I need air!" she squealed.
"Hmm? Sorry," Tifa disengaged her grip, "I - I just can't believe it,"
she whispered through her tears.
"It's okay," the healer brushed her hair aside. "Sometimes, I don't
believe it too."
Cloud meanwhile had been sitting on the ground, taking in every instant
of the moment. Unbelievable! He wasn't sure if he had gone mad or if he was
just dreaming. First Tifa had been on the verge of death, now not only was
she fine but Aeris was alive!
"Hey Aeris?"
"Hum?" she turned her head towards him and gave him a smile he thought
he'd never see again.
"How?" he asked perplexed.
"Yeah," Tifa's tone softened, "I thought you were --"
"I was," Aeris dipped her head, "But --," she bit her lip. "It's a long
story."
"One I'm sure we'll all want to hear," Tifa smiled and squeezed Aeris'
hand.
"Yeah, I --" Cloud stopped and looked past them.
"Cloud! What the HELL?!" Tifa screamed as he slammed both women roughly
to the ground and covered them as best he could.
Aeris could barely see past his big frame as Cloud crowded both her and
a thrashing Tifa underneath him, but she knew why. The large building
Shinra had once called headquarters was bathed in fire. The shaft of light
which she saw earlier from the air was growing in thickness and intensity.
A sharp high pitched hum rose along in conjunction with the thickness of
the beam. The black in the air were being sucked into a swirling pool of
cloud and gas which encircled the shaft of light. Then without warning,
both the beam and the noise vanished without warning as the tower was
wracked with explosions, sending searing debris to the ground. The
stillness after the blast was deafening until disturbed by the crunch of
broken glass which marked the proximity of stern, determined footsteps.
They stopped next to where Aeris lay near the ground.
"I believe my last set of instructions called for you to stay put," a
cold steel voice rang in her ears. Aeris looked up from under Cloud's
protective frame and saw Greylorn standing grimly over her.
"If I did, I wouldn't be alive," she said as she rolled out from Cloud
and stood up slowly.
All around, the things which had had not been sucked in by the giant
whirlpool in the sky were disengaging and flying off.
"They're leaving!!" someone cried.
"Are you all right?" Cloud helped Tifa up.
"Yeah," she said and shook her hair before turning to Aeris, "You
okay?"
"Yeah I guess," she nodded to her friends.
"Aeris?" Red XIII's nose twitched, looking for trickery. He found none.
"Hello Nanaki. Hello all," Aeris gave a general wave.
"What in Holy Hell?" Cid rubbed his eyes.
"We thought you died!!" Yuffie bounced up in astonishment.
"I did, but here I am!" Aeris smiled as she took on their hugs.
"Who's that?" Red motioned to the cloaked stranger in their midst.
"Oh, uh that's Greylorn," Aeris began to fidget nervously, "He ah -- I
met him when he um -- I mean --"
"You are hiding something," his tone hardened. "That means --," a scowl
crept across his face.
"Hide what?" Tifa asked confused.
Aeris shifted her foot.
"Cloud. Where?" Greylorn snapped, "Come on woman, this is no time for
games."
"That's me," Cloud quickly stepped forward, "What do you want?"
Aeris bit her lip and looked down.
"You are Cloud?"
"That's what I just said didn't I?" the young man crossed his arms.
"Yes," Greylorn tapped his temple lightly, "I believe you."
Cloud blinked.
Aeris hugged herself tightly.
Of course he believes you. You can't lie. Not to him.
"You have information I require," Greylorn droned, "But not here. It is
no longer safe."
"Okay," Cloud scratched his head, "how 'bout heading back to my place?
It's far but --"
"I believe we should leave this city to talk."
Cloud stopped in his tracks.
"Why?" he demanded.
"In about six hours, this place will be no more."
"What are you talking about?" Reeve's voice rose.
"I have removed their method of reinforcement," he jutted his chin to
the top of the flaming tower, "They are crippled, but I learned from their
messenger that they will bombard the city with 'gray ash'."
"Gray ash? Messenger?" Tifa asked confused.
"Niccola?" Aeris spoke up suddenly. All eyes turned to her.
"The same," Greylorn coughed.
"Are you okay?"
"I am fine," he said, an evil glitter in his eye, "He is not."
"You fought him?" Aeris whispered.
"I killed him," he wore an mad grin.
"Killed?" she looked astonished, "But you were no match for him
before!"
"You misjudged me," he said coldly, "As he did. Working alone has -- its
advantages."
Aeris shivered as he settled his gaze briefly on her before Tifa cut
in, "Hey! What's this about gray ash?"
"It is a biological agent which is lethal to lifeforms such
yourselves."
"'Lifeforms such as ourselves.' You're not alive?" Red wrinkled his
nose.
"They will drop the first volley in fifteen minutes," he ignored the
red skinned warrior, "I suggest we leave."
"But there are thousands of people who need to be evacuated!!" Reeve
said concerned.
"Not my problem," the stranger shrugged.
"You're pretty bold to come here and shout orders," Red growled
unkindly.
"And expect them to be followed," Cid snapped.
"Watch your tongue simmie," Greylorn glowered coldly at Red XIII before
turning to Cid and adding, "Your choice. All I want is information."
"Fat chance," Cid spat at the man's feet.
"You are not the one I am seeking to query," Greylorn turned away.
"Hey, I don't know who you are, but I'll help you on the condition you
help us fend off this ash," Cloud spoke up. Greylorn eyes surveyed the
group and shook his head.
"There is no defense against it except flight."
"Are you sure?" Reeve asked.
"Yes."
"Won't they try to follow us?" Reeve asked.
"They have suffered significant losses," Greylorn said slowly.
"Aeris, is he telling the truth?" Tifa asked her friend.
"Huh?" Aeris looked up, "Well, I guess."
She knew he wouldn't hesitate to let all these people die, but she
wasn't going to. There was only one recourse to save them.
Flee Midgar.
"These things look pretty dangerous right? They'd probably use
something like that anyway," she said.
"That cuts it," Reeve flipped on his celphone, "I'm not risking anyone.
We're leaving."
"So many," Tifa slumped her shoulders, "This was their home."
"Don't worry, Tiff," Cloud started to put his hand on her shoulder but
he saw Aeris and hesitated briefly before he did. Aeris noticed it too.
The two seemed different somehow, she told herself. A little more
tender, more endearing.
Tiff. A nickname, she bit her lip. Right. It was only natural. How
could she have been so ignorant? After all, how would he had known?
Aeris turned away before another thought jumped into her mind.
Mom.
In spite of all that had happened, she still had to find her, alive or
dead. Something inside her said her surrogate mother was still alive and
yet ---
"You all go ahead," Aeris said turning to Greylorn, "I'm not leaving
until I find my mom."
"If that is what you want," he said slowly and turned to Cloud, "I have
what I require."
Aeris stood a bit shocked, but she half expected it from him. Cloud, on
the other hand, narrowed his eyes in contempt.
"You're not aiming to be popular are you?"
"I have a task to complete," the dusky haired man snapped, "I cannot
afford to watch out for everyone."
"You heartless bastard," Cloud's hands formed into fists.
Tifa interceded before the two men could come to blows, "Elmyra is
staying in Kalm, along with Marlene and Barret."
"Really?" Aeris did an about face and brightened up.
"Yeah, Reeve took it to himself to kidnap and spirit them out of here
when he was after the Keystone. Shame on you Reeve."
He shot her a mean glare. Tifa laughed and wagged her finger at him in
shame.
"Oh mom," Aeris clasped her hands, "Thank you Tifa."
"And we'll probably see her soon too," Reeve snapped his phone shut.
"What do you mean?" Cloud asked.
"Kalm's only a few hours away by choco. We can probably set up a
temporary camp outside the city."
"They goin' along with this?" Cid blew a long stream of white smoke.
"I don't think they have a choice," Cloud looked at Greylorn with
daggers in his eyes.
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Next Episode: Reunion
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