Final Fantasy VII
Disk 1
Chapter 1
*Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy or any of its characters. These belong to SquareEnix respectively. This story is based off of the game how I played it. Other players may have different encounters and/or have event triggered sooner or later during the game. Not all "Random Battles" were recorded to save time, money, and paper.*
An energy manufacturing mega company known as Shinra Inc. is harvesting the sheer life energy of the Planet (known as the Lifestream) as a simple fossil fuel. The Lifestream is processed and made into products ranging from electricity and heat to Mako and Materia. The latter two materials can work miracles, granting the wisdom of the Ancientsto the user. However, the Lifestream, like most other fuels, is finite in supply, and the Planet's lifeforce is being malevolently drained by the constant exploitation of Mako by Shinra. Though aware of the harmful effects, they function without remorse.
However, the real battle lies not with a corporation, but a force much more competent from the distant past. A long-thought dead warrior bent on becoming a god by draining all of the Lifestream from the planet has risen again and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal.
"Now a small rebel group (known simply as AVALANCHE)emanating from the slums must quell the various dangers toward the innocent, and one mercenary for hire must look amidst the lies and deception and find the man he is within."
Let the legend commence…
Our journey begins as our hero, an Ex-SOLDIER, disembarks from a train in Sector 8 of the world's most technologically advanced city, Midgar. AVALANCHE members, Barret, Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge, spew from the train and take out the two Shinra guards at the station. While Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge head for the Mako Reactor, Barret turns around to encourage our hero.
"C'mon newcomer, follow me."
He runs off to join the rest of the rebels and secure the area. The Ex-SOLDIER waits for a moment, contemplating his next move, and then rushes off in the direction Barret ran off to. Once he arrives at the group of AVALANCHE members (Barret apparently absent), Biggs tries his hand at a conversation.
"Wow! You used to be in SOLDIER alright! … Not everyday you find one in a group like AVALANCHE."
Jessie turns to confront Biggs, confused and alarmed, "SOLDIER? Aren't they the enemy? What's he doing with us in AVALANCHE?"
Biggs simply rolls his eyes and states the obvious, "Hold it Jessie. He WAS is SOLDIER. He quit them and is now one of us." Turning to our hero, he asks, "Didn't catch your name…"
"…Cloud."
Biggs nods and says, "Cloud, eh? I'm…"
Cloud shook his head and held up a steadfast hand, "I don't care what your names are. Once this job's over…I'm outta here."
Barret rushes up to the group from an alleyway, "The hell you all doin?! I thought I told you to never move in a group! Our target's the North Mako Reactor. We'll meet on the bridge in front of it."
The group moves forward through a, now open, gate. As they run off, Barret suddenly stops and turns around to face Cloud.
"Ex-SOLDIER, huh? Don't trust ya!"
He gives Cloud a few pointers on how to run faster, and then sprints after the rest of the team, Cloud in close pursuit. As he runs to the bridge, the members of AVALANCHE take turns running within close proximity of him; while Jessie ran close to Cloud, Wedge would run ahead and Biggs would stand guard and watch out for potential witnesses, and so forth. Occasionally a few MPs, Grunts, or even a few 3rd Class SOLDIERs would pop out and take Cloud by surprise, but they were obviously no match for his superior physical form and intellect. Finally arriving at the bridge, Cloud jogs effortlessly up to Barret, as he had been to beckoning him to come closer.
"Yo! This your first time in a reactor?"
Cloud crosses his arms and adds dully, "No. After all, I did work for Shinra ya'know."
Becoming angry at Cloud's disregard for the seriousness of the situation, Barret replies, "The planet's full of Mako energy. People here use it every day. It's the life blood of this planet. But Shinra keeps suckin' the blood out with these weird machines."
"I'm not here for a lecture. Let's just hurry." Cloud states.
Furious at Cloud, Barret harshly says, "That's it! You're comin' with me from now on."
Cloud simply shrugs in agreement and walks up to Biggs, currently hacking the code on the main entrance to the Reactor.
"Code deciphered," He says as the door slides open. The group moves further into the Reactor, only to be stopped by another door. Jessie begins the routine hacking and before long, "Code deciphered," and the double doors click back effortlessly into the wall, revealing yet another door to be opened across the room. Cloud rummages through some boxes in the back and pulls out a Phoenix Down, a sacred feather that will revive anyone from death if used in battle. He rejoins the group as they open the door and head even further into the immense monstrosity.
The door is actually part of an elevator which is activated by two buttons, when pushed simultaneously; the elevator will descend into the bowels of the structure.
Jessie urges to Cloud, "Push that button over there!"
He follows his given orders and switches the button to the "On" position.
As they descend, Barret speaks up, apparently not quite done with the conversation from earlier.
"Little by little the reactors'll drain out all the life. And that will be that."
"It's not my problem," Cloud shrugs, showing no signs of interest.
Anger yet again by Cloud's lack of concern, Barret yells, "The planet's dyin', Cloud!"
Shaking his head, Cloud replies monotonously, "The only thing I care about is finishin' this job before security and the Roboguards come."
Barret turns away and shakes his fist in anger, turns back to Cloud and glares at him. Finally, the elevator has come to a stop. Jessie, Cloud, and Barret exit the elevator, the others stayed on the floor above to keep watch. They sprint down the extensive stairs and run through the door at the bottom. Meeting up with Jessie, Barret and Cloud begin their descent on some ladders attached to various piping, after a short briefing by Jessie on hold to hold on properly.
Arriving on a catwalk-like structure, Jessie runs to the other side and takes her place as a look out. Steam and poisonous gasses escaped poorly repaired pipes as Barret and Cloud maneuver down a flight of stairs and a ladder, only to end up balanced precariously on a pipe, slick with oil and water. They follow its path for a while and then slide onto another; a ladder within perception, they begin to scurry towards it.
Finally reaching another catwalk, Cloud and Barret head to their right; the reactor's core with arms reach. Mako bubbled and splashed in bright cerulean waves only twenty feet below. They were close enough to feel the Planet's power emitting in a solid beam towards the surface. It was enough to make a grown man sick to his stomach. Fighting past the smell and the overwhelming urge to vomit, Cloud and Barret carried on to the core. A "Restore" materia was stuck in the grating, Cloud picked it up, almost curious as to what the glowing marble was for…almost. Barret reached the core first, and turned to Cloud,
"When we blow this place, this ain't gonna be nothin' more then a hunka junk. Cloud, you set the bomb."
Suddenly aware that the responsibility was placed on him, a shocked Cloud replied, "Shouldn't you do it?"
"Jus' do it! I gotta watch to make sure you don't pull nothin'."
"Fine, be my guest."
Cloud bent down and secured the bomb to the core, and began setting the timer.
Watch out!
This isn't just a reactor!!
"…….What's wrong?" Barret asks, noticing that Cloud wasn't setting the timer anymore.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong, Cloud? Hurry it up!"
"…Yeah, sorry."
He turned the bomb on its side and set the timer. As soon as he did so, an alarm went off. It was loud enough to be heard from the streets above.
Barret frowned, "Heads up, here they come!"
A huge robot in the shape of a red scorpion rushed at them from under the catwalk, catching them off guard. Battling this thing took up a lot of time, but thankfully, they were unharmed. During their battle, Cloud noticed something very obvious on Barret's hand, actually, it wasn't a hand at all, but a machine gun attached to his arm. How on earth did he miss that?
Breaking the stare he had begun, Cloud said hurriedly, hiding his guilt, "Come on, let's get outta here!"
Barret nodded and before they left, Cloud checked the timer. Ten minutes to detonation! It had taken almost twenty to get all the way down here! His eyes widened in terror and he sprinted down the catwalk back to the ladder. Barret, caught off guard by Cloud's sudden decision, took one look at the timer and understood immediately why Cloud was so anxious. Together, they retraced their steps across the pipes and up the ladders. Waves of 3rd Class SOLDIERs and security attacked; depleting the already short time frame they had to get out. Running up another set of stairs, something caught Cloud's eye. Heart beating rapidly, he chose to see what it was, instead of climbing up the ladder to his right. It was Jessie. She was sitting on the searing metal of the catwalk with tears streaming down her face. Obviously tired and emotionally distressed, Cloud ran over to her and knelt down to talk to her.
"You all right?"
"My leg got stuck."
She was trembling in fear and shaking her head from side to side, disoriented by the lack of air and debilitating fear. If Cloud didn't hurry, both of them would blow up or be shot to death by the on slot of advancing troops.
Cloud ripped the fabric of her pants that was holding her to the catwalk and pulled her foot out of the hole. He pulled her to her feet and pushed her along. She was able to mutter a relieved "Thanks!" before she climbed up the ladder. Checking his watch, Cloud gasped in horror. Only six minutes left! He followed Jessie up the ladder and through the door. They dashed the stairs, precious time ticking away. More and more 3rd Class SOLDIERs were beginning to arrive; more and more time was being wasted fighting these pathetic enemies.
Finally, Cloud reached the elevator. Barret stuck close to him as they boarded it. Jessie was already at the upper floor, having snuck past most, if not all, of the responding personnel. Four minutes! For taking at least twenty to get to the bottom, four minutes left was probably pretty good, accounting for of all the enemies they had to fight and how slick the pipes, ladders, and stairs were. Maybe they would make it our alive after all.
Reaching the ground floor of the reactor, Jessie, Biggs, Barret and Cloud all ran like hell out of there. Wedge met up with them just as the reactor blew. They had barely made it out in time; having only seconds to take cover from the blast.
The explosion could bee seen from the other side of the massive city. The tremble it caused could be felt in Slums, under the city itself. Confused citizens of Sector 8 ran amuck in the streets, desperately trying to find their loved ones and possessions. A shock wave of Mako emitted from the top of the blast, and stretched for miles until it finally dispersed in the cool night air. Flaming debris rained down on the populace of Sectors 1,8,7, and 2. The mushroom cloud loomed over the remains of Mako Reactor 1, signifying the beginning of the downfall of the Shinra Empire.
Meanwhile…
"That should keep the planet going…at least a little longer." Biggs said, watching Jessie begin setting another, less powerful bomb where the debris had landed; trapping them inside a tunnel.
Wedge merely whispered, "Yeah." His voice cracking at the end. Barret stood in silence.
"OK! Now everyone get back." Jessie smiled.
They ran as far back as they could and took cover. The debris was blasted away by the erupting fireball. Cloud rolled past the flaming debris, followed by Barret, Biggs, Jessie, and Wedge, in that order. Wedge, being the clumsy and chubby oaf he is, began running in circles around the group; his pants on fire. Batting the flames away he returned to the collection of AVALANCHE members.
"All right, now let's get out of here," Barret said with a stern look on his face, "Rendezvous at Sector 8 station! Split up and get on the train!"
The gang dispersed and Cloud, obviously confused and a bit shaken by earlier events, called to Barret, "H, hey!"
"If it's about your money, save it 'til we're back at the hideout."
He runs off to the station, leaving Cloud utterly bewildered. Shaking off the shock, Cloud runs after Barret. He lost sight of him for a moment and lost his way. He slowed down to a casual walk as he neared a mass of panicked people. A young girl is knocked down and left sitting in some mud. She picks herself up, brushed off some of the mud and walks up to Cloud; confused and scared.
"Excuse me," she asks, "What happened?"
Cloud turns to her and replies,"Nothing…hey, Listen…don't see many flowers around here," noticing the basket of flowers resting on her arm.
"Oh, these? Do you like them? They're only a gil…?" she asks hopefully.
Cloud buys one, intrigued by the fact that flowers don't grow in Midgar; the pollution blocks out most of the sun.
"Oh, thank you!" she smile, "Here you are!"
She hands him a magnificent yellow and white tulip and walks away. He tucks the delicate blossom safely into his pocket and runs in the opposite direction and into a beautiful courtyard with a fountain and checkered flooring. Debris covered the ground and electric line hung dangerously from their poles; it must have been a very beautiful place. A sign told him where he was: Loveless Avenue. Realizing where he was, he nodded to himself and kept running. He was almost to the station.
"Hey! You there!!" a Soldier yelled at him. Uh-oh.
"Shinra Soldiers…" Cloud thought as he backed up.
"Over here!" more arrived and formed a semicircle around him, blocking his exits; he was backed up against some railing near the train tracks. He was trapped!
"Hmph!" Cloud pouted.
"That's as far as you go," a Soldier yelled; they were beginning to move in.
"I don't have time to be messin' around with you guys." Cloud called; taunting their leader.
"Enough babbling……..Grab him!!"
Cloud grabbed the fence and hurtled himself onto the top of the train just now emerging from the tunnel. He turned back and gave a cocky salute as the train descended into the tunnel towards the Slums.
Inside the train:
"Cloud never came," Wedge states sadly.
"Cloud……Wonder if he was killed?" Biggs thought aloud.
"No way!!" Barret snaps back.
Jessie shrinks back against the luggage, "Cloud……."
A loud rumbling begins; something landed hard on the top of the train car. Intrigued, the team looks up at the ceiling, but soon loose interest and resumes their gloomy moods.
"Say, do you think Cloud's….." began Biggs, "Going to fight to the end for AVALANCHE!?"
"The hell would I know!? Do I look like a mind reader?" Barret barks, punching the nearest crate, "Hmph!! If y'all weren't such screw-ups…"
"Hey, Barret!" Wedge cuts in, "What about our money…?"
Barret punches the crate again.
"Uh, nothin'…sorry."
Jessie sighs loudly and suddenly, another clang rang out, this time near the doors of the car. Three more knocks echo out and the team look at each other in confusion. The door was suddenly thrown open, and a very dirty Cloud hops in, slips, and barely misses Barret's feet.
"Cloud!!" they announce in surprise, only Jessie sounded worried and Barret remains silent.
"Looks like I'm a little late," he says, turning to face Barret.
"You damn right, you're late!! Come waltzin' in here makin' a big scene!" he shouts.
Cloud replies monotonously, "It's no big deal. Just what I always do."
"Shi't! Havin' everyone worried like that, you don't give a damn 'bout no one but yourself!" Barret growls, steaming with anger,
Cloud shrugs, "Hmm……You were worried about me!"
"Wha!?" Barret freaks, "I'm takin' it outta your money, hot stuff!" he walks over to Wedge and shakes him vigorously, "Wake up! We're movin' out! Follow me!" he jumps down to the lower floor.
"Hey, Cloud! You were great back there!" Wedge calls as he jumps after Barret.
Biggs smiles to Cloud and, before he jumps down, says, "heh heh……Cloud! We'll do even better next time."
Jessie sighs and walks over to the open door, "Be careful, I'll shut this." She turns to face Cloud, "Oh, Cloud! Your face is pitch-black…" she lovingly wipes away the soot, blushing slightly, "There you go! Say, thanks for helping me back there at the Reactor!" she smiles and jumps after the rest of the crew.
Cloud follows after taking a moment to look over his equipment. A woman's voice plays over the speaker: Last train out of Sector 8 Station. Last stop is Sector 7, Train Graveyard. Expected time of arrival is 12:23AM, Midgar Standard Time. Several other passengers were seated and/or standing around the car, one man was completely disoriented and clung to one of the poles for support. As soon as Barret and co. enter the train car and take their seats, 2 young girls leave and head to the next car. The sick man merely states, "this is why I hate the last train. Hoo-boy" before joining the girls.
Wedge and Jessie head to the scanner and TV to check the news while Barret sits down. Biggs leans up against the wall of the car and Cloud heads down the aisle to view the television with Jessie and wedge. A homeless guy is leaning up against on of the doors. Cloud stops to talk to him.
"Huh…? This is my house, so make yourselves at home."
Cloud tries to start a conversation with Barret, but is interrupted with a stern warning from him. "Stop actin' like a damn kid. Si'down an' shu'up!"
Wedge trembles with excitement when Cloud approaches him. "Someday AVALANCHE's gonna be famous…and me, too!"
"Hey, Cloud," Jessie says, "You want to look at this with me? It's a map of the Midgar Rail System. Let's look at it together. I'll explain it to you. I like this kinda stuff. Bombs and monitors…you know, flashy stuff. "
Cloud leaned in closed to look at the monitor.
"Okay, it's about to start." A green, 3D picture of Midgar glowed on screen. "This is a complete model of the city of Midgar. Its about a 1/10000 scale. The top plate is above 50 meters above ground. A main support structure holds the plate up in the center, and there are other support structures built in each section…"
"psst…whisper…whisper…(the No. 1 Reactor we blew up was in the northern section.) Then there's No. 2, No. 3 all the way up to the No. 8 Reactor. The 8 Reactors provide Midgar with electricity. Each town used to have a name, but no one in Midgar remembers them. Instead of names, we refer to them by numbered sectors. That's the kind of place this is. Phew…, this is next! Look."
A yellow indicator traced a path through the green, holographic city. "This is the route this train is on," Jessie says, pointing to the screen, "the route spirals around the main support structure. We should be coming around the center area, right now. At each checkpoint, an ID sensor devise is set up. It can check the identities and background on each and every passenger on the train by linking it up to the central data bank at Shinra headquarters."
"whisper…whisper… (Anyone could tell we look suspicious, so we're using fake ID's.)"
Cloud pulls back from the monitor and stretches; the lights turn off and a red flashing light blinks rhythmically.
"Speak of the devil…" Jessie says, obviously annoyed, "that light means that we're in the ID Security Check area."
"…whisper…whisper…(When the lights go off, you never know what kind of creeps'll come out.)…anyhow, we're almost back now. That's a relief."
The lights return to normal, Cloud heads towards Barret.
"Look…" he says as he gazes out the window, "you can see the surface now. This city don't have no day or night. If that plate weren't there…we could see the sky."
Cloud heads to the window and peers out, "A floating city…Pretty unsettling scenery."
Barret stands up, stretches, and replies, "Huh? Never expect ta hear that outta someone like you….you jes' full of suprises. The upper world…a city on a plate… it's 'cuz of that &^#$# 'pizza that people underneath are sufferin'! And the city below is full of polluted air. On topa that, the Reactor keeps drainin' up all the energy."
"Then why doesn't everyone move onto the Plate?" Cloud asks.
"Dunno. Probably 'cuz they ain't got no money. Or, maybe… Cuz they love their land, no matter how polluted it gets."
Cloud turns away, "I know… no one lives in the slums because they want to. Its like this train. It can't run anywhere except where its rails take it."
He looks out the window as they go around the last spiral of the tracks; the train pulling into the station moments later; spilling its inhabitants onto the broken and poorly maintained cement platform.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Just as I have already stated in the disclaimer, this is my playthrough and interpretation of the game.
