(AN: I own absolutely nothing created by Square Soft/Enix, Sony, Final Fantasy VII, or Crisis Core. The only thing that I own is my own character, which this story be mainly about, which the storyline itself I do not own except for any twists I plan to put in. Please R&R, and if you don't like it, just explain and I'll do my best to try and improve.)
Spirits of the Lifestream
Chapter 1: What was Gone, was actually Asleep…
Security Log: #1048
Time: 04/11/2313 10:57 P.M
In this dark, silent hallway within the Shinra building, I couldn't help but feel that I was being watched from a distance. I may have been in a one way hallway, but still, there are the air ducts that run above my head, which may, or may not contain an unpleasant surprise. Seeing that I couldn't really hear things, plus the fact that the smell of sweat was starting to get to me, I had to remove this helmet. Placing my Shinra Inc. automatic rifle on the ground beside me, I brought both of my arms up and pulled the helmet off of my head, allowing my brown, shoulder length hair to flow freely from the restraint of the head gear. I let out a sigh of relief, mainly because I could feel a weight being lifted from my shoulders (Technically head), and could breathe the fresh air once again.
Because I was distracted by the relief over me, I didn't hear the only exit out of the air duct above me open, and also somebody slowly coming down behind me. But, when I felt a hand on my shoulder, I let out a soft, "Eep!" and, grabbing my rifle and rolling away from whoever, I was a bit annoyed at the fact that it was another soldier dressed in a uniform much similar to my own. The only difference between us was that this soldier's scarf was a deep scarlet in color, while my was an ill-green, which symbolized I was a lower rank than this man. And that was probably why he came here to sneak up on me, because he could take advantage of me while my guard was down.
"Hehe, you know you're quite easy to scare, aren't you, Damien? And besides, aren't you going to wear your helmet in case things are to get rough, which seems rather unlikely; the prisoners are locked up with no way out, and the specimens in the lab can't even get out, so what can you do?" The man spoke, and I knew immediately who this man was, an old friend who moved a while back.
"You know, Richter, the lab is supposed to be your responsibility, to make sure that another incident such as the one from seven years ago doesn't be repeated. Though I wasn't there to actually experience what happened, I heard that a SOLDIER 1st Class was the cause of letting a number of beasts to be released." I spoke, remembering something that the head of the Science Department, more specifically known as Hojo, told us. And, Richter was supposed to be on duty in that area to avoid another incident such as the one made by that SOLDIER 1st Class seven years ago.
"Right… But who in their mind would honestly do a thing such as that, surely it wouldn't have been Angeal, for that matter, or even Sephiroth. Which reminds me, you're aware that Sephiroth was defeated seven years ago in a town called Nibelheim, right? I think it was on the continent next to the one we're on now, but hey, whoever defeated Sephiroth had to be another 1st Class SOLDIER, or an incredibly powerful beast." Richter spoke, crossing his arms over his chest while trying to make a point. Besides the three legendary 1st Class SOLDIERs; who were Angeal, Genesis and Sephiroth, I wasn't really told about any other specific SOLDIERs with that rank. And besides, their name would've been written down in Shinra history if they had defeated Sephiroth.
But, before I could respond, I watched as the already dim lights were shut off completely, which had me turn on the built-in flashlight on my rifle to see what was going on. I watched as Richter's own flashlight was activated, but I was surprised when he let off fire in my general direction. At first, I was thinking that Richter had finally lost it, but I heard a beast's roar of pain come from behind me, and when I looked, I saw a deranged, four-legged creature with spines running from its head down its back to its tail. I was surprised to see several others appear down the hallway behind it, some with wings and one eye, others with six legs and countless eyes.
"Damien, what the hell are you waiting for? Get your ass together and wipe out these mother f%/$ers!" He ordered, continuing to let out rounds in a burst-fire pattern, consisting of three or four shots before a short pause. I rolled out of the way and, crouched a fair distance from him on one knee, I too began to let out rounds in a similar manner, but it consisted of two or three instead. But, I'm not one who was great at aiming, and only one of three sets of burst-fires actually hit the target. And, I was aiming at one of the smaller beasts, so that would be the main reason why I was missing so much. I'm sure that the prisoners who were being held in their cells probably heard what was going on out here, but I realized that now wasn't the time to think too much about it. But, seeing that I was missing so much, and aiming at another creature, a six-legged, multi-eyed creature lunged at me, causing my to direct my aim at it and expected the quick and painless death to occur.
But, when I didn't feel anything for a while, I looked up from where I was and, standing before me with their back towards me, I looked at the long, silver haired man. He was incredibly tall, and at first, I thought that he was a SOLDIER 1st Class, at least from the uniform that he wore, but knew that something was wrong. In his hand was an incredibly long katana, which along the edge was covered with the creatures' blood, and I also saw several slash marks against the nearby wall. I knew that this wasn't happening, and remembered that the man known as Sephiroth had these very features, but the thing was, that very man was supposed to be dead.
When he turned around, I saw his blue, mako infused eyes look down at me, and seeing that I was a fair distance away from him, I dropped my rifle and tried to move away from him. But, I was too stunned to even move when his sword was brought only mere centimeters away from my neck, and I knew that I was a goner. My breathing became deeper as I saw him pull back, and at first it looked as though he was going to kill me, but I soon heard Richter's rifle began to let out rounds at the man, who immediately defected them rather easily. I was glad that his attention was no longer set on me, but my concern now was that it was on Richter, and in one demonically quick motion, his sword impaled right through my friend's chest, right where his heart was.
I knew that he was dead just a few moments after the blade plowed right through him, his rifle colliding with the ground with a few clanks before all went silent. The only thing that could be heard was my heavy breathing, and the silent fluttering of this man's black cape, and nothing more. Richter, my best friend, was gone before my very eyes, because of a man who looked exactly like Sephiroth.
It was then I heard this man mutter a few words in a calm, deep, and also threatening voice, "I must go to the 'Promised Land' with Mother… Don't even try to stop me…" He spoke, before pulling his sword from Richter's now lifeless body and allowed it to fall to the ground, blood soaking the ground around him. "All those who get in my way will perish… Including Shinra dogs like you…" He added, before making his way down the hall, after swiping his sword free of blood to avoid it from rusting. It was then I took notice of a creature's head, the headband on it saying something like, 'Jenova'.
I was too stunned to do anything at first, and after I was relaxed a bit, I soon slowly slid over to Richter's side, his helmet removed when he collided with the ground, revealing his features. His hear was a deep auburn, and his eyes were a light blue to show that he was infused with mako energy. Taking my thumb and closed my friend's eyes, I could feel that I had to avenge him, but with a man with speed like that, there was no way I could be able to do it with the way I am now. I knew that he would disappear and become one with the Lifestream in a while, seeing that there was no longer any chance that he could be saved.
And, knowing that the president was also in trouble, I pulled the keys to the prison cells from my pocket and looked at them, wondering if what I plan on doing would be the right thing. I heard that these prisoners were able to make it so far into the building, so they must've been very powerful to take on mass amounts of Shinra troops, members of SOLDIER, and of course the machines that have been developed by the Weapons Department. Another option was to call in reinforcements, however, when I turned on my hand held radio and turned on the option to talk, all I heard was static, which was very painful to my ears.
So basically, I had really no other choice, and because I was in Shinra, I was going to be hated, and would probably be beaten up or even killed by them. But then again, if I was going to let them go against my specific orders to leave them in their cells, then they may give me a chance to describe, or rather show them this journal of what just happened. Looking at the good side of what may happen; I also knew that there weren't any others that I could depend on to help face this man who could possibly even be Sephiroth, as unlikely as it would sound.
After I was relaxed enough to stand up and move around, I stood up and, the moment I did, I looked at the light that came from Richter's lifeless body, starting off bright and colorless, and turned into an aquamarine color. I knew that he was becoming one with the Lifestream, and there was nothing now that could help him return to the life he desired to live. First, it was his legs that disappeared, and from there, his body began to disappear up until it reached the top of his head. I sent a soft prayer for him to rest well in the Lifestream, before going back to the task I had in hand.
Flipping through each of the keys I now held in my hand, I walked to each cell door, unlocked each one and gave a soft knock, as if telling them to get up and out. And, knowing that their equipment was stored away elsewhere in the building, I would take two of them with me to where it was. But, I had only a bit of a vague memory when it comes to remembering things like that, and all I really remember was that it was the Turk's job to do that. Either way though, I would do my best to take them to where their equipment would most likely be stashed away, which would probably be the locker room a few floors down. Now, all I had to do now was to wait for the prisoners… no, the people who were in the cells to come out and, started to come up with answers to their possible questions which would more than likely be aimed at me.
