In the Run – Up to the awesome looking Movie – "Advent Children" starring Cloud, Tifa, Barret and Vincent I decided to write a novelization on the game, and hopefully by the time I finish the game be able to continue onto the "Advent Children" as I will have seen it and will be in my DVD collection – Yaas!
(Have you seen Vincent in the trailer??? :D How AWESOME does he look!!!! And Tifa totally going Jackie Chan on Loz of the SHM! My GOD!!! Two of the Three best characters in the game (the 3rd being Cid) are Freakin' AWESOME!!!! AND ARE IN THE MOVIE TOGETHER AS MAIN CHARACTERS!!!! THIS IS SO COOL!!!!)
A minor note here – In the game you where limited to Three characters at a time. I'm disobeying that particular rule cos I like too many characters in that game. Anyways, here we have Chapter One.
Enjoy!
Eye – to – Eye. Man – to – Man. Their rivalry could not have been made more apparent had their been a Neon Sign there to state the fact.
He didn't like Barret. And it was blatantly obvious that Barret didn't have much of a soft spot for him either… Throughout the entire train journey, through the dark tunnels, bouncing ever so slightly as the train balanced on the rickety tracks of the Midgar Metro, Cloud Strife hadn't failed to notice Barret's constant and firm stare upon him.
Of course, with the large amount of differences between them, one could hardly blame Barret for his distrust of the slim yet disturbingly well - built figure of the blonde spiky haired warrior who sat casually across from the tall and overly muscular and black skinned form of Barret Wallace, from the battered seats of the train.
Cloud was not a racist by any means. Racism – a petty excuse to fulfill Mans lust for battle and bloodshed – no, it was not for the difference in skin color that the dislike came across between the two young men. It ran deeper.
Cloud had often heard from a close friend of his, Tifa Lockheart that Barret was actually one of the sweetest people anyone could meet, underneath his tough and rugged exterior.
Cloud snorted at the thought as Barret proceeded to raise a thick black eyebrow from across the train.
"Sumthin' funny?" he demanded, cocking his head to the side, both of his dark eyes on the Ex – Soldier of the Shinra Corporation as he folded his arms over his naked torso, the fingers of his only hand (the left one) gripping the muscular hulk of his right forearm.
Cloud could not help but look at the metallic contraption that now replaced the lower section of his right arm. Heavy looking, and shining with a dull glint in the near darkness, what Barret called a "Gun – Arm", a machine, welded into where his arm should have been, large and clunky – and yet he made it look so weightless the way he would speedily take aim and fire when it came down to attacking and defending. Then again, Cloud had to hand it to him – Barret wasn't exactly low on the muscle capacity.
"Whassamatta wit' you? Ya deaf or sumthin'? Jes cos you was in Soldier don't mean your too good for a few manners…" Barret growled towards him, as Cloud smirked and leaned back on the chair of the train, placing his hands behind his spiky blonde head.
"Barret, have you ever considered Anger Management classes?" Cloud spoke aloud and to his face as Barret pulled up from his relaxed position to sit upright, his glare tightening towards the smaller, skinnier, and probably physically weaker young upstart before him.
"The hell you think your doin' comin' over to join my organization and dissin' me?? I'll kick your scrawny ass if I think for one minute that you's got sumthin' up your sleeve."
"You haven't considered Anger Management classes then? Shame," Cloud quipped nestling deeper into the chair out of comfort. "Wouldn't want that influence on Marlene now would we? Wouldn't like to see her growing up into a hulking big bully like others I could mention."
He knew as soon as he had mentioned the name "Marlene" he had overstepped the borders in Barret's territories of anger, as they sped through the underground tunnel, he heard the loud thud of Barret's boots and the roar of anger, his strong fist snatching him by the shirt and plucking him from his chair, and feeling the cold hard steel of Barret's Gun Arm upon his temple.
"Don't you ever imply anything I'm not bringing up Marlene right, fucking son of a bitch, or I swear to Christ it'll be your last."
Cloud smiled, keeping a cool head even in this situation. Barret – sweet? Yeah – sure – maybe when Hell froze over he could see his way into believing that. Of course, he did feel a little guilty for using the little girl as a verbal weapon against Barret, who had done everything he could to ensure her safety, a proper education, Barret who had made sure that she ate three proper meals a day, kept her clean, nursed her to the best of his ability through illness. Marlene was a cute kid anyways, four years old and yet seemed so much more mature whilst maintaining an innocent and playful childish persona.
Still – Cloud didn't like being suspended in the air by the shirt – and just as well for Barret that there where no other fellow passengers in this particular compartment – the humiliation might have caused a far more instantaneous retaliation.
Withdrawing from his back with one hand, he pulled a large and heavily bladed sword, holding it tightly between his fingers, lifting it and positioning it at the side of Barret's neck. Barret did not respond to his actions, and yet continued to glare loathingly into Cloud's face.
Further conversation might have followed had the compartment door not slid open, stepping forth a young woman, peering through the doorway from under a think fringe of brown hair. Upon seeing the situation, she rushed in to meet the two.
"Barret – what are you doing, we don't have time for this!" she complained, trying to pull back his Gun Arm from Cloud's head. "C'mon Barret, let him go! We're arriving at the Reactor very shortly, we can't miss our stop!"
Barret's glare tightened before violently throwing Cloud back into the chair roughly, the Sword dropping to the ground with a heavy clatter as Barret turned to the woman.
"You're right Jessie – I'm sorry, Biggs and Wedge all set?"
"We're good to go," Jessie nodded with a smile.
"You guys know the drill – right?" Barret asked with an air of authority to his tones as Jessie spoke with no hesitation in her words.
"Biggs and I – we'll take care of the station guards and decrypt the security codes to get us in there, Wedge secures the escape route, whilst you and the - uh – new recruit," she paused glancing at Cloud with eyes that spoke of a disapproving opinion, and yet with pleasurably burning cheeks. "Whilst you and the new recruit set up the bomb, Biggs and I unlock all hurdles in our way, we meet up with Wedge and escape into the City Square where we split up and rendezvous at the Train Station again."
"You got it girl," Barret nodded, casting a quick glance at the map as the train began to slowly grind to a halt. "You go see to the other guys – We'll catch up," he ordered gruffly, as the girl Jessie turned on her heel and sprinted out of the compartment and back into the one of whence she came.
"Tell me," Cloud spoke aloud. "Why don't we just go and take care of the guards instead of those amateurs out there?"
"Don't you go dissin' my friends fuckass!" Barret threatened. "Biggs, Wedge n' Jessie aint no amateurs – and I'm makin' sure you don't go and fuck this up – dun like ya, and I think you still got connections with the Shinra. That's why – anythin' else?"
"Very paranoid, aren't you?" Cloud sighed. "I've no further interest with the Shinra Corp – and if you want the truth – I'm only in AVALANCHE for the money – and to see Tifa again. That's all."
Barret disgustedly turned away from him, looking out of the window, as the train came to a steady halt.
"S'is it – get ready – we're gonna blow that fuckin' hunka junk to Kingdom Come!" Barret announced with a smirk as Cloud readied himself and looking through the window.
He could see through the dirty glass sheet, the athletic form of Biggs as he leapt from the train, holding a defensive pose, as two Shinra guards switched their attention over to the dark haired bandana wearing young man and rushed forward to attack.
Biggs snatched one by the collar, spinning around and throwing him to the ground and finishing by stamping once into his neck, breaking and killing his opponent as Jessie leapt through and into the scene, rushing in to meet the second guard, twisting her hips and landing a swift kick to his face, a hideous crunch – audible to even Cloud and Barret from inside the train echoed loudly and disturbingly.
Barret leapt into action, practically tearing the door open and leaping outside as Biggs and Jessie proceeded to exit the station, followed by the short and tubby form of Wedge. Barret kept his Gun – Arm at the ready to provide cover if necessary. Yet it wasn't, and he turned formally back to the door and jerked his good arm over his shoulder to indicate for Cloud to hurry it up.
"Move it boy! We aint sittin' around all day just for your lazy ass!"
Obliging to the command, Cloud leapt from his position on the train, his Buster Sword firm on his back as he landed on the platform, watching as Barret turned and fled the scene.
Pausing only to pick up two bottle of Health Potion from one of the lifeless guards, Cloud immediately began to head out into the open.
"Halt!"
Cloud froze, tearing his sword from his back as two Soldiers in blue uniform made their appearance before him, wielding Gun – Batons and aiming towards him and ultimately blocking his path to join AVALANCHE in their mission.
"Put the sword down, and back away," the order came in a calm yet firm voice as the duo tautly approached him, refusing to drop guard.
Cloud swiftly ignored him, rushing in and lunging down towards the speaker with his hefty weapon, slicing through his armor and flooring him instantly, turning towards the partner who proceeded to open fire.
Cloud lifted the sword to a vertical position hearing the loud clatter as bullets bounced from his weapon before leaping high into the air, spinning the blade with precise direction and velocity, shielding him from harm as he came to land, and performing a swift swing, and separating the head from the body.
Heading for the stairs and replacing the sword upon his back, he rushed out into the streets of Sector One, his muscles tight and at the ready for sudden interference or surprise attacks as he ran, meeting up with the comical trio of Biggs Wedge and Jessie, Biggs standing on guard as Jessie worked her way at the automatic lock on the gate that locked out civilians to the like of the Mako Reactor.
"New recruit huh?" Biggs broke the silence of concentration with a polite smile, holding out his hand to negotiate friendship.
Too much a pretty damn nice guy to be a terrorist…
Cloud blinked his bright and Mako – mutated eyes towards the young man, stubbornly refusing to break his cold – hearted tough guy exterior.
Biggs tried once more.
"What's your name? I'm – "
"Cloud Ex – Soldier from Nibelheim– I don't really care what any of your names are – let's just get this over with so I can get paid…"
"Soldier??" Jessie's head snapped around to look up at the spiky haired mercenary before her. "Soldier??" she repeated her eyes bearing fear. "Soldier – aren't they the enemy?"
"Hey cool it Jess – He WAS in Soldier – he's on our side now," Biggs sighed, withdrawing his hand and attempt at friendship with Cloud.
Wedge shifted nervously on both feet, his shy features peering nervously around the area for any potential trouble brewing around – not being the violent type, yet wishing for a Hero's status, Wedge found himself using his wit to plan escape routes and back – up plans for failed mission attempts, and he found the dominating figure of Cloud intimidating.
"Where's Barret? Shouldn't he be here?" he backed up against the wall, looking around frantically for signs of his capable leader of AVALANCHE. The dirty streets of Lower Midgar – dark and frightening and full of crime and dark deeds where not exactly the safest places to be, especially when one was messing around with the Shinra Corp.
"Door's open." Jessie announced, gathering herself to her feet, dusting off her Capri pants. "Let's go."
"The Hell y'all doin?!? Thought I told ya's not to gang up in a group!?"
The group turned to the see the hulking form of Barret racing up the street towards them – unknown what exactly he had been doing – yet it mattered not, as Biggs, Wedge and Jessie sped through the open gate, as Barret came level with Cloud, stopping only to look him in the eye.
"Don't trust ya, and I aint letting you outta my sight – you got that? Don't you be tryin' no funny stuff with me or I'll spray your ass all over dis town!"
With his threat over and done with, Barret jerked his head in the direction of the huge reactor and shoved Cloud in front, and beginning a run, Cloud having little to say about his mistreatment, obliged, running through the lower reactor grounds, pausing to take a moment to look up to the hulking form of the reactor as Barret ran ahead – so much for the not letting him out of his sight…
The reactor was tall – but not for much longer if Barret's plan was to follow through successfully…
Running through the complex construction of pipes as the alarm screamed in his ears. Flashing neon signs erupting to life around him, acrid smelling steam hissing from slight kinks in the pipes with the chilling breeze that slithered through his hair. The ground dirty with oil and unidentifiable slime, oozing crap colored gunk seeping into the ground which Cloud thought best to avoid.
His muscles tight and ready for any further, confrontation with guards or any other security precaution that the President Shinra had taken. His sword still bloody from the previous encounter, the handle still damp with the sweat of his palm.
Spying the form of Biggs as he sped through the door, following Jessie, Barret and Wedge, Cloud set off into a full sprint pursuing the foursome to skid to a halt on the filthy ground, mud gathering from the scraping force of his boots as the form a tentacle - headed dog leapt before him, it's head low, a snarling growl omitting from it's throat. Cloud wasted no time, tearing the sword from his back, and swerving to the side as it lunged with it's tentacle whipping for his body, it's teeth snapping viciously. Cloud jumped, raising his sword and bringing it down cutting into its side. The animal gave a whimper as it fell back a distance, only to regain it's four feet.
Cloud circled the beast, his sword held cautiously before him – funny how Barret and his buddies didn't seem to be having the same problems – and a sharp pain in his back made him cry out – more from shock than anything else, knocking him over. His head reaching over his shoulder to see the mutated form of a man, blue in skin color, clawed and with a laser firing Gun – Arm. Like a less muscular version of Barret, except for the fact that Barret was doubtlessly human.
And yet he didn't find the time to attack this creature, as the growl of a certain mongrel bought his attentions. It's dark blue form leapt at him towards his place on the ground, and Cloud rolled to the side, jerking his shoulder into the ground to propel himself off the ground, however slightly, and raise himself back to his feet, instantly, leaping forward and swinging his sword into it's neck as the beast gave a howl and dropped dead.
Pivoting around to meet his second annoyance of the moment, it's diseased form reaching up to him, firing red bullets of light at Cloud's lithe form, as the young man swerved to the side as he advanced in a sprint, slipping between the bullets and to slide his weapon in a side cut into it's body. It jerked as though stung, leaking silvery fluid from the wound, yet stubbornly persisting to attack as Cloud dodged and jumped, brining his sword down through it's helmet and ultimately destroying the inhuman sentry form life.
Taking a second to replace the weapon upon his back, and to turn towards the door of which Barret and his buddies had escaped, Cloud set off once more to rejoin his cause, praying in his mind to be spared of these distractions for the remainder of the mission, a wish he knew unlikely to be granted but it was nice to be hoped for.
A minor tunnel was what the door offered, flashing red with the alarm. A slight adrenaline rush pumped through his veins. If Wedge was securing the escape route alone, Cloud found himself wondering if it would be safe to trust the dopey little man, who had no experience whatsoever in combat – what if the moron was captured?? Another thought that ran through his mind as light spilled into the new hallway, lighting up railed corridors in the shape of a "T". Pretty much the same design of most Mako reactors of the world. They had very subtle – if any noticeable differences in their construction, as Cloud had time to notice in his previous experiences within these buildings.
Wedge stood directly opposite of him before the doorway, glancing nervously towards him, and frantically pointing in the direction of which Cloud assumed was the way of which Barret, Biggs and Jessie had left. With a small nod, Cloud ran to catch up, knowing that Barret would be likely to chastise him for his late coming.
Upon running through the following door, Cloud was quick to notice the alarm seemed so much quieter than outside before looking around him. The area was cold, and held a musty aroma in the dirty air. Cold hulking forms of machinery surrounded him and he spied the disgruntled face of Barret scowling towards him.
"The hell's takin' ya so long!? Get yo ass up here!"
With a sigh, Cloud proceeded to jog lightly approaching the stairs to be met with the sight of a very irritated Barret whilst Jessie and Biggs attempted to hack their way through the electronic doors.
"So…" Cloud began. "Tell me – exactly why are we trying to blow up the reactor."
Barret sighed, his mighty shoulders heaving with the weight of it. When he spoke, his voice was quieter, more serious.
"This Planet – as you probably know, s'full of energy – Mako energy. You could say that it's the blood that keeps the Planet alive, keeps everything fuctionin' like. Well, these motherfuckin' reactors keep suckin' the blood out like some motherfuckin' Vampire or sumthin' – and if it keeps up, the planet's gonna die, and leavin' nothing to support life on…"
"Spare me – I've heard enough of this tree – hugging crap…" Cloud muttered.
"Tree – huggin'…! The Hell's wrong wit' you??" Barret exploded suddenly, his muscles swelling up threateningly before Cloud's cool and cold demeanor. "How in the hell…"
"Barret, please calm down!" Biggs hushed, rushing over and pulling him back from Cloud. "We got the door open, and the security in this area's down for now, we gotta hurry it up!"
Barret threw a stony glare towards the smaller man, before turning away from Cloud and running through the newly opened door into a hallway of electronically locked sliding doors, one of which Jessie was already working on, her nimble hands frantically tapping at the buttons, and shifting the correct wires before the door opened with an electronic buzzing sound.
"God work there Jess," Barret complimented with a quick smile before setting off, Biggs taking the lead into the Complex, and following Jessie's example of which to break into the locking Code and disable it, and it wasn't long either.
Cloud couldn't help but be impressed – perhaps these two weren't so much of a pair of dead – weights as he had first anticipated. They certainly had their worth in this mission…
A final door stood in their way of being able to rush down to the reactors core, and Jessie took the lead once more, fiddling with the contraption that locked it until it slid open, and with a triumphant sigh, and a toss of her head, she turned to Barret.
"We're in!"
"Jessie girl, I dunno what the hell we'd without ya!" Barret grinned, snatching Cloud by the shirt whilst Jessie turned to the gaping door of the elevator and entered, whilst Barret ignored Cloud's angry protests, failing to notice, or even care why Biggs chose to stay behind as Barret violently threw him into the elevator.
He couldn't help but grunt as his back smacked against the metallic wall of the elevator, looking up and glaring with a soft growl of wounded pride as Jessie looked down upon him, eyes showing partial sympathy as Barret's hard boots thudded upon entering the elevator as Cloud got to his feet.
"From now on – you're wit' me – got that?" Barret spoke out his declaration with an air of distrust as he stared down the spiky – haired ex – Soldier.
"Barret…" Jessie sounded somewhat distant as she interrupted. "This really isn't the time for this, the Shinra know we're here and…"
"I know Jess – I know…" Barret cut in, slamming the DOWN button on the wall, stepping aside as the elevator doors slid shut with a mechanical buzz to their functioning and so began the gentle tip of motion as they began their descent into the reactors.
Jessie fumbled in her pockets to withdraw a small box of a metallic gray color; casually tossing it to Barret whom caught it within large and capable hands.
"The bomb - safety mechanism is on, and the timer is pre – set to ten minutes. There's no changing it, so we'd better pray Wedge was right about the escape route…" Jessie trailed off with a small shudder.
"That's positive…" Cloud murmured coldly in sarcasm. "And so ends what little Good is thought of the Name of AVALANCHE – whose brave members blew themselves up because Tubby back there was – "
"What have I told you 'bout dissin my friends dickhead!?" Barret growled threateningly, his dark eyes flashing with hatred for Cloud, though acknowledging Jessie's piercing glance as the Elevator shuddered to a halt. As the doors separated for leave, Barret attempted once more to seize Cloud and force him out of the elevator, pretty much in the same way he had forced him in. Cloud swerved into a dodge underneath Barret's offending arm, and casually strolled outside to come face to face with a complicated world of dirty mechanics, the stench of Mako, and mazes of stairs.
"Let's go!" Jessie ordered, sprinting out towards a set of descending metal – constructed stairs and fleeing downwards on light feet, pursued by the lithe and quick form of Cloud and the big and burly build of Barret the trio set off begin the end of their first mission.
Barret's ill – mood was more than likely down to this fact. His first real course of action that could wind up killing his friends and himself, leaving Marlene to Tifa who already had enough responsibilities, never mind looking after a small child.
He had not expected it to run anywhere near as smoothly as it had so far, and his nervousness was visible through the glistening sheen of sweat on his figure, his very slight trembling – Cloud's attitude wasn't helping at all.
He cast his eyes upon the blonde warrior. His eerie glow of blue/green Mako eyes where set forward on his path as he ran down the stair after Jessie – he was too calm – and to Barret – it didn't seem right at all…
'May God help the poor bastard that betrays me…' Barret thought to himself, eyes darting onto his own path. He almost collided into Cloud as Jessie skidded to a halt upon the final few steps, forcing Cloud and Barret to do likewise.
Awaiting their arrival at the bottom, a pair of robotic guns, dispatched upon security breaches, and small animals resembling Ghostly parrots, poised and ready to strike.
Jessie was unprepared for things such as these – well, the gun robot anyway – staring towards its barrels, backing away cautiously.
"We'll handle this…" Barret called out, flexing his gun – ended arm and gently maneuvering Jessie to the side and behind as Cloud somersaulted over the banister, his feet hitting the ground with a loud smack.
Barret proved to be much faster upon his huge feet than he looked. With an overly muscular exterior, Cloud had never actually seen Barret in real combat and had always imagined the hulking hill of muscle to be rather slow.
As the small billowing forms of color – or the Ghostly Parrots as Jessie saw in her mind fluttered it's caped body towards Barret spraying waves of red flame towards the young man with surprising velocity. Barret swerved, his Gunned Arm swinging to it's aim and forth spat an assault of hot bullets as Barret ran, careful to lock on his aim and to avoid the flames an the bullets of the opposing Gun – Bot as Cloud swept forward, and with and elegant swing through the metallic figure.
It crackled with blue sparks before shuddering to it's demising halt, as the flame spewing apparition dropped upon absorbing enough bullets to confirm a death from Barret as Barret himself immediately spun around to face it's twin and pumping the enemy full of the deadly spray from which his arm gave out, not long before it too collapsed into death.
"…Nice!" Jessie commented, running passed them as though nothing had happened to the floor, turning a sharp left and disappearing through an oil – sodden doorframe, constructed of metallic substances.
"C'mon," Barret ordered gruffly, tossing his head to follow Jessie's chosen direction, awaiting Cloud's pursuit. Cloud nodded once before setting off, replacing his sword upon his back and running after the nimble young woman.
The intrepid trio found themselves before a complicated twist of pipes and ladders and a gap to be leapt over, Jessie stood at the mouth of the gap, carefully calculating her leap before taking an agile spring and landing upon the other side, tipping backwards a little and spinning her arms in a fight to keep balance with a slightly frightened cry before teetering over to safety.
"Y'alright there Jessie?" Barret inquired kindly, concerned for his friends well – being.
"Yeah, I'm good, thanks Barret – you guys coming?" turned to faces the two men on the other side of the gap as she stood back to make room for their advancing leap, and Barret nodded as Cloud took a neat jump and landed with the perfection of cat on the opposite site, and once again, stepping back from the rugged mouth of the hole for Barret to cross.
It took no trouble for the AVALANCHE leader to cross and pretty soon they where headed for the ladders, dirty, filthy with the dirt of the feet of the predecessor and muddy with oil.
"Ewww…" Jessie was heard to moan before her feet hopped lightly from the final rung, onto a large supporting girder, running along to the edge and crouching low, securing the area or so was her intent. "Uh, guys – there's a Potion over here if you think you'll need it?"
Tossing it over to land in Cloud's hands Jessie nodded for the two men to proceed onward to complete the mission, to show his agreement, Barret shoved Cloud forward towards a second set of ladders. Cloud scowled – he was not enjoying Barret's treatment of him at all, but didn't find the time to argue or retaliate – he'd deal with Barret later after the bomb had gone off and they where back in safety.
Sliding down the ladder to come into contact with a large pipe, vibrating ever so slightly with the constant pulse of Mako draining through it and radiating a warmth that Cloud could feel through the soles of his boots, he continued his descent, leaping to a lower section of this particular pipe to meet a final set of ladders.
Again, Cloud proceeded to slide down casually as though using a fireman's pole, and coming near the heart of the reactor, waiting only for Barret to catch up to him, which wasn't very long.
His burly figure landing next to him, eyes dead set towards the reactor, and he ran after Cloud, who had taken off as soon as Barret had hit the ground.
"Wait up!" his deep voice yelling after Cloud as he sped after him, reaching the raw red glowing room of the reactors core…
"We're here." Cloud turned to state the obvious as Barret arrived on the scene, cautiously looking around his heated surroundings, and pointing towards the glowing sphere of the core, pumping full of rich and purified Mako.
"Looks like it…" Barret agreed with an affirmed nod of the head. Now go set the bomb." He ordered snatching Cloud's wrist and into his hand placing the dull metal form of the explosive.
"Shouldn't you do it?" Cloud proceeded to raise a curious eyebrow up towards Barret as he stared at the deceivingly innocent looking contraption in his palm.
"I wanna make sure you don't pull nothin' funny!" Barret replied coolly as Cloud gave an exasperated sigh.
"Fine…"
Turning away from the AVALANCHE leader and walking towards the core, a sudden feeling of overwhelming nausea took over, his head spiraled into dizziness and the faint echoing of a voice was heard…
"Be Careful……This is no Ordinary Reactor…"
Swaying on his feet as though struck, he felt Barret's steadying grip clasp around his shoulders, preventing him from collapse as he shook his head free of all strange phenomena, and it was within this action that his ill – feelings, his headache and all, disappeared with Barret's patience.
"The hell's wrong wit you?? Quit stallin' man!!" his angry voice loud in his ear as Cloud pulled himself free of his grip to advance, not even bothering to throw Barret the glare he wanted to, the occurrence of the voice in his head chilling him though hidden within him. He certainly didn't wish to discuss this with Barret…
Crouching down before the core and placing the small explosive directly in front of it, he withdrew the safety catch and proceeded to tap in the access code of: '7–T-H-H-E-A-V-E-N'. Jessie had chosen the name of the AVALANCHE hideaway as a code. The hideaway and workplace of Cloud's best friend – but now wasn't the time to think of her. The bomb blipped and buzzed before the LCD display of [ 9:59 ]
Came into view and its number depleting with each passing second.
"We're all set – let's go!" Cloud announced, got to his feet and spun around to see Barret staring above them, his hand held out towards Cloud cautiously as he stepped back. Cloud looked up to see what it was that held Barret's interest.
And then he saw it, the clunky build of a Robotic Extermination Droid. Loaded with mechanicals and robotics to provide it with strength and power to bring down most Shinra opposition.
Cloud recognized it almost immediately.
"Guard Scorpion – heads up!" Cloud called out, withdrawing his blade and leaping backwards as the enemy dropped and landed with a shattering crash, almost throwing Barret from his feet as he dodged, noting the fact that it blocked the way out to freedom.
"Shit – how'd we deal with this damn piece of robotic crap!?" Barret cried out, lifting his Gun towards it and retreating slowly.
"Just attack it head on – if it tries to scan you don't move and don't attack whilst it's tail's raised, got it?"
"I got it," Barret replied, rushing into the fight, thrusting his arm forwards and releasing a hail of bullets that spattered and clinked loudly off of it's armor, breaking through with surprisingly relative ease as Cloud leapt into the air swinging his sword and catching upon the hulk of it's facial structure only to be almost instantly felled by stab of tail jarring painfully into his collar bone, knocking him to the ground, his weapon clattering beside him.
Cloud leapt to his feet once more, snatching the sword upon his descent, and noticing and remembering for the first time as a part of the mission, the two green glassy orbs pressed into the groves of his weapon.
Materia – orbs of concentrated Mako that enable a user to expel somewhat magical talents, depending on what type of Materia used.
In Cloud's current state, his held the Materia qualities of Lightening and Ice – two elemental powers to be used at his disposal that could prove invaluable at a time such as this. Also, he could feel his endurances building up a Limit Break – an unleashing of a persons utmost strength as a result of one's body under constant punishment… It was only a matter of time before his would reach its peak, and this thing would be going back to the scrap heap.
Barret was doing extremely well for himself, dodging and twisting form the Scorpions attempted stabbings with it's tail, a continuous firing of hot bullets crushing it's innards as Barret determinedly dodged and attacked, failing to notice the tail beginning to raise.
In a vicious surge of a sparkling and pointed tip it dove and Barret saw and knew that it was too late to move. Raising his defenses at the last possible second and feeling a stabbing pain of the stomach he was sent hurtling backwards, and in the back of his mind he could hear the bleep of the ten minute countdown as though it where a haunting lullaby to see him off to sleep – eternal sleep if he didn't hurry up and finish this thing…
Lifting himself and pulling his only hand from his wound to see it dripping red and feeling his Limit Break slowly but surly charging itself from within his body as he gained his feet, shaking off the pain and to see Cloud doing nothing but bouncing lightly on his feet, as though ready to dodge. Not attacking.
"Remember me telling you sixty seconds ago NOT to attack whilst the tail's up??" Cloud called back as the tail remained suspended above the mechanical menace – not attacking, as though biding its time.
"The Hell's it doin'??" Barret demanded, rinsing himself in Potion and tossing another to cloud, forgetting that he held the one Jessie had uncovered.
"It set's off a vicious retaliation when the tail's up, but won't attack until it's down again, just wait and use it the advantage – got any Materia on you?" Cloud asked, sweat sliding from his brow as the timer bleeped continuously in his ear as the Scorpion refused to budge from it's stance.
"No – can't use the damn things. Dunno how…" Barret admitted, too wrapped up in the fight to be embarrassed about it. Cloud dropped his guard looking over to Barret.
"You're kidding!!"
"Tail's goin' down so shut the fuck up and get to work!" Barret retorted, lifting his gun to begin his assault once more, and Cloud acknowledged the fact, replacing his sword on his back for a short moment to envelop himself in green flame, aiming out his hands to dispel a bolt of thunder striking the robot with an almighty clap.
It shuddered for a moment before turning to Barret – still filling it with bullets to dispel two red lasers towards him.
"BARRET – DON'T MOVE!" Cloud screamed in order as it happened and Barret froze on the spot immediately, trying to control his breathlessness as sweat tumbled from his brow from the pressure and heat of the moment. It only took a moment for the scan to complete before he was back in action leaping back and aiming with a hail of bullets once again.
The beast turned to Cloud, once more enveloped in green flame, all set to try out an Ice Technique before a hail of rockets emerged from it's mouth ramming Cloud in the stomach and he cried out to be smothered in smoke.
"Holy SHIT!!" Barret couldn't help but scream as he saw Cloud disappear behind a wall of exploding rockets, running over to aid. True – he didn't like Cloud and couldn't exactly see them ever being on friendly terms, but he didn't want him dead. That'd break Tifa's heart…"Cloud man – you ok??"
The reply was a scream of rage and as the smoke cleared, all Barret saw was a flash of flaming red and the silhouette of a man, and he witnessed Cloud's Limit Break at it's level's forces leaping twenty feet into the air and smashing down with his sword breaking through the Guard Scorpion's armor with an almighty smash as it burst through the heavy metal hulk as Cloud somersaulted backwards and landed on both feet, gasping for breath, blood coursing down his elfin face and he watched as it sputtered with a few sparks before erupting and juddering to a finish with a cloud of smoke.
Cloud sighed and tipped backwards with exhaustion feeling Barret's grip on him once more protecting him from falling. His head tipped back and he saw Barret's frantic brown eyes on him.
"Here man – take this," Barret didn't even wait for a reply before dousing Cloud with Potion and using his jacket to wipe his face free of blood. "You're still a jackass by the way…"
"Th – thanks…" Cloud muttered shaking himself free of Barret's grip as the Potion took its healing effect and he gained steady feet, as Barret turned to sprint out of the room taking whatever time they had left to escape before detonation.
Cloud followed his feet flying over the ground with the speed of adrenaline in his body, following Barret's figure and hearing the sound of his gunshot ringing in the air and he came to see the interlopers of their escape, more of the security tentacle – headed dogs, and Cloud withdrew his sword as he came level as he rushed forward sliding into attack on one of the beasts, painfully aware of the bomb back there in the core room.
There where two, one lodged onto Barret's good arm with its teeth and snarling viciously, flecks of drool omitting from its mouth as Barret forced the hulk of his metallic arm into it's ribs and fired and the dog squealed as it shuddered its body riddled with bullets as it flew back twisting with the force of the attack before landing still on the ground.
Barret turned to see the other, eyes locked onto Cloud as it dived and Cloud spun once, brining the blade of his sword to the dog's neck, forcing his energies into the attack, driving it through it's neck and severing the head with relative ease, and that was all it was to take before the two allies set off once more.
They reached the ladders without any more molestation from enemies and they began a frantic ascent up to the pipes, and it was here of which they found a pair of the blue mutated forms of what might have once been men before him – just like the one Cloud had dealt with earlier.
"Fuck!" Barret swore his fear for his life now coming across clear and Cloud didn't blame him at all. Getting blown up by a bomb that he had set wasn't exactly how he had pictured dying.
Charging his energies of green flame of Materia to discharge bolts of ice as they wrapped around their figures an they shuddered as Barret began to fill them with bullets, attacking before they had time of their own to strike – neither of the two men had time for any of this. As the ice attack completed itself, Cloud dove in with a single swipe as Barret pulled his gun to a halt, allowing Cloud to finish each off.
That was easy – now to get out…
Climbing the pipes to reach the next ladder, they clambered up quickly, not knowing just how much or just how little time they had left. And their heartbeats pounded as they reached the girder, Barret arriving first and approaching Jessie, still waiting for them, a pained look upon her face.
"Jessie – we gotta go, let's move!" Barret ordered turning his back and fleeing away out of earshot as Jessie wailed out to him to come back as Cloud appeared.
"Cloud! My foot – it's stuck!" her voice in a frightened cry, knowing that the bomb had been set and terrified of being caught in the explosion.
Cloud turned and saw that this was no time to be cold or cruel towards her, running up to her and dropping to his knees and sliding his hands around her ankle and it squirmed in its very limited amount of space around her ankle until it came free. Almost slipping she caught around his shoulders, looking up to him with wet and frightened brown eyes.
"Th – thank you!" she gasped, before Cloud shoved her in front of him to allow her to escape, and so she fled with Cloud pursuing after her on flying feat climbing the final ladder like a spider with its web, they scurried on, Jessie having no trouble in leaping over the gap this time around and Cloud dove after her, and through the door.
The smell of Mako and Fear was big and Jessie was obviously just beginning to realize what she had gotten herself into, trembling and almost crying with terror as she began to run up the set of stairs as Cloud followed her, one hand gripped tightly over the hilt of his sword eyes darting through his surroundings for signs of potential enemies but saw few – and they kept their distance. Probably realized what was going on and decided to flee themselves…
Reaching the top of the flight of stairs, Jessie disappeared through the door followed by the agile Cloud, becoming breathless in his attempts. At the other side, a frantic looking Biggs awaited them as did Barret.
"The hell took ya's so long!?" Barret screamed. "Jessie - Biggs get the codes and lets get the fuck outta here!!"
They obeyed with a simultaneous "Right!" and ran to the doors, speedily getting to work before the opened once more, and AVALANCHE ran through the newly opened gateway and onto the next door – and again unlocked by Jessie and Biggs and so on and so forth until the reaching of the "T" shaped corridor.
Upon seeing them, Wedge leapt into the air, waving desperately for them to hurry up, and upon knowledge that they had seen him, he turned and ran through the door he had secured as Barret flew down the corridor and also disappeared, Biggs right at his tail.
Jessie and Cloud ran a little behind them heading vigorously for the door themselves their minds screaming at them of how the bomb was about to set off at any given second right about now, and it was here that Jessie's foot slipped upon the metal floor and flat upon her face with a thud.
Cloud skidded to a halt, reaching down and lifting her to her feet, and hurriedly disappeared behind the door, with only the sudden sparks of malfunctions of the reactor before the inevitable boom and flaming orange glow and the rush of scorching heat upon his back.
Whew! Honestly – that was a nightmare to write! But I'm in the FF7 mood and I've got some great ideas for the more exciting parts – I know it's a long while away but watch out for the Hojo battle – it WILL be worth the wait. Oh, and if anyone knows where I can get a copy of the E3 Advent Children Trailer that will actually PLAY even after getting the right DivX codec required – please let me know!
Until Next Time!
