"Disfigured Lattice - 2nd Edition"
A twisted version of FFVII By HenryCH (disfigured_lattice@yahoo.com)
Book 1 - Chapter 1 - 'Assault On Mako Reactor No.1'
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Disfigured Lattice is going under some major changes in an effort to save this Fanfiction. The reason for this is because it seems that for some reason the story has taken a life of it's own, which has reduced it's quality and veered away from the direction I want it to go.
For the record Disfigured Lattice is a Cloud/Aeris fan-fic, which is an alternative universe to the original Final Fantasy VII. And it will follow the older chapters up until chapter 10 with some changes. After that it will be brand new.
Original Notes: This is my rewrite of what has to be one of the best game plot lines I have ever played in a while (If only they had got round to finishing it!) but has some parts I would have wanted to avoid. This is how I would have liked to see the story go and hopefully you'll all like it. Always before each part there will be a Glossary that I suggest you MUST read.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII is copyright 1997 to Square Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. The characters and names featured in this story are (partially) property of Square Co. Ltd. No infringement was intended. (Please, do not sue me!!!)
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Glossary.Shinra automated access terminal activated:
Loading...
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Welcome to Shinra Achieves...
Loading up Initial welcoming data...
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Battle Move Translation:
'Magic'(Ally or Enemy)
'Limit Trance Magic'
'Summons Magic'
'Limit Trance Summons Magic'
'Enemy Skill' (Ally or Enemy)
'Battle Command'
'Limit Trance Morphing Action'
'Rage Induced Battle Technique'
'Limit Trance Battle Technique'
'Enemy Attack'
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Equipment Section
Weapon: The Currently equipped weapon is shown here. Only certain Characters can used certain weapons. Has Materia Slots.
Head/Neck: An item which is worn on the head or around the neck. Usually increases Mdef and Meva stats.
Wristlet/Glove: This is an accessory that is worn as a wristlet or glove. Usually increase Eva stats.
Armour: This represents a piece of body armour and a Materia Bangle. Increases Def stat and usually increases Mdef stat
Accessory: This item may be worn anywhere usually increases stats or negates negative status effects.
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Please enter requested Archive or Searches...
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Requested profiles found:
Loading Shinra Personnel/Civilian Archive...
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Name: Cloud Strife
Age: 22
Race: Human? - N.B. See Shinra Medical Abnormalities File m476.36.
Profession: Ex-SOLDIER First-Class-Star [1st*]
Height: 5' 7"
Weapon: 'Braver' Class Broad-Sword
Birthplace: Nibelheim
Birthday: 19th August
Parents/Guardians: Father: Unknown. Mother: Amanda Strife
Blood-Type: AB - N.B. See Shinra Medical Abnormalities File m476.36.
Current Situation: M.I.A. (Missing In Action)
Details: Level headed, quick thinking and Intelligent. Strife is a member of SOLDIER's, extremely elite, 1st*. Strife is the second youngest members to enter SOLDIER and has become documented after having a rejection to SOLDIER enhancement operation 1.32A and the fact of Mako infusion has seemed to be already executed. Strife was one of the members of SOLDIER to be involved in Incident n893.93 and is the only person to ever face Sephiroth and, we suspect, survive but like Sephiroth his body has not been found. Other Details Classified: Please Contact Head Of Scientific Research.
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Name: Zack Riley
Age: 23
Race: Human
Profession: Ex-SOLDIER First-Class [1st]
Height: 5' 6"
Weapon: 'Avenger' Class Broad-Sword
Birthplace: Gongaga
Birthday: 23rd July
Parents/Guardians: Father: Alex Riley. Mother: Rebecca Riley.
Blood-Type: B-
Current Situation: Deceased.
Details: Arrogant, cocky, and full of ambition, Riley was a rising member of SOLDIER and a good friend of Cloud Strife. Zack Riley has been declared deceased after his body was discovered after Incident n893.93.
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Name: Aeris Gainsbrough
Age: 22
Race: Ancient
Profession: Flower Merchant
Height: 5' 3"
Weapon: Staff
Birthplace: Classified
Birthday: 7th February
Parents/Guardians: Father: Classified. Mother: Ifalna. Step-Mother: Elmyra Gainsbrough.
Blood-Type: O
Current Situation: Living in Sector Five Slums
Details: Gainsbrough confirmed as one of the surviving Ancients... Other Details Classified: Please Contact Head Of Scientific Research Or Head Of Peace Preservation.
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Name: Tifa Lockheart
Age: 20
Race: Human
Profession: Barmaid.
Height: 5' 4"
Weapon: Combat Claw
Birthplace: Nibelheim
Birthday: 3rd May
Parents/Guardians: Father: Edward Lockheart. Mother: Jen Lockheart.
Blood-Type: B
Current Situation: Hostess of a Bar in Sector Seven.
Details: A childhood friend of Cloud Strife, Lockheart is the only confirmed person to survive Incident n893.93.
See File attachment r525.45
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Name: Barret Wallace
Age: 20
Race: Human
Profession: Suspected leader of Rebel group AVALANCHE, Bouncer.
Height: 6' 4"
Weapon: Gun-Arm
Birthplace: Corel
Birthday: 15th December
Parents/Guardians: Father: Henry Wallace. Mother: Lucy Wallace.
Blood-Type: O
Current Situation: Suspected Leader of AVALANCHE.
Details: Survivor of Incident t496.72. He has a basic hatred for the organisation and survivors from the bombings have given a close description.
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Name: Jessie Hughes
Age: 20
Profession: Technician
Height: 5' 6"
Weapon: Rifle (N.B. When she does fight)
Birthplace: Midgar
Birthday: 14th December
Parents/Guardians: Father: Edmond Hughes. Mother: Angelica Hughes
Blood-Type: O
Current Situation: Bartender at Seventh Heaven Bar in Sector Seven.
Details: Believed member of AVALANCHE, suspected support member of the team who is only ever with them in person when her hacking skills or mechanical skill are required, specialist in electronics, hacking, bomb making and mechanics.
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Name: Red XIII
Age: 48
Race: The Cosmos Fire-Tailed Lion (Shinra Designation)
Profession: Research Specimen.
Height: 3' 9"
Weapon: Head-Dress
Birthplace: Cosmos Canyon
Birthday: Unknown
Parents/Guardians: Father: Unknown. Mother: Unknown.
Blood-Type: N/A
Current Situation: Research Specimen in Shinra HQ labs.
Details: Research Specimen ID 5467-RED-XIII-I496 (Note long life span means that age is divided by 3 (He is 16)), Contact Scientific Research for more Info.
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Name: Cid Highwind
Age: 32
Race: Human
Profession: Shinra pilot.
Height: 5' 8"
Weapon: Spear
Birthplace: Classified
Birthday: 22nd February
Parents/Guardians: Father: James Highwind. Mother: Angela Highwind.
Blood-Type: B
Current Situation: Shinra Pilot rested at Rocket Town.
Details: Destined to be the first man to explore the stars, Highwind is one of Shinra's best pilots in air or on sea. Highwind has become 'rested' after saving the life of a technician but sacrificing the space project.
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Name: Yuffie Kisaragi
Age: 16
Race: Human
Profession: Drifter/Thief.
Height: 5' 2"
Weapon: Shuriken
Birthplace: Wutai
Birthday: 2oth November
Parents/Guardians: Father: Godo Kisaragi. Mother: Unknown.
Blood-Type: A
Current Situation: Unknown.
Details: Not much is known about Kisaragi apart from she has been involved by A LOT of Materia related theft.
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Name: Cait Sith
Age: N/A
Profession: Fortune Teller.
Height: 3' 2"
Weapon: Megaphone.
Birthplace: N/A
Birthday: N/A
Parents/Guardians: N/A
Blood-Type: N/A
Current Situation: Fortune Teller at the Gold Saucer entertainment park.
Details: A ultra intelligent machine which has two personalities, Cait, the small cat which is the brains behind the pair and Sith the strong yet loyal Mog. Other Details Classified... Contact Peace Preservation Department for more info.
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Name: Vincent Valentine
Age: Classified
Race: Mutated Human
Profession: Former TURK.
Height: 6' 0"
Weapon: Handguns
Birthplace: Classified
Birthday: 15th October
Parents/Guardians: Father: Simon Valentine. Mother: Melissa Valentine.
Blood-Type: A
Current Situation: Classified
Details: Classified... Contact Head Of Scientific Research.
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Name: Sephiroth
Age: Classified
Race: Ancient
Profession: Head of SOLDIER.
Height: 6' 1"
Weapon: Masamune Long-Blade
Birthplace: Classified
Birthday: Classified
Parents/Guardians: Father: Classified. Mother: Classified.
Blood-Type: Classified
Current Situation: M.I.A.
Details: Classified... Key involvement in Incident n893.93 Sephiroth has been rumoured to have been killed but his body was never found. Contact Head Of Scientific Research
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Weapon Stats and Modifications:
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Key:
0 - Materia Slot
= - Materia Slot Link
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Name: Executioner
Type: 'Braver' Class Broad-Sword
Attack: Equal to Cloud's Level + 1
Attack percentage: 100
Materia Growth: Double
Materia Slots: 0=0_0=0
Brief Description: Blade same length and shape as the Buster Sword, made out of blue Crystal, the handle is the same as the Ragnarok.
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Name: Ragnarok
Type: 'Braver' Class Broad-Sword
Attack: Equal to Cloud's Level + 6
Attack percentage: 105
Materia Growth: Single
Materia Slots: 0=0_0=0_0=0
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Name: Ultima Weapon
Type: 'Braver' Class Broad-Sword
Attack: 120
Attack percentage: 110
Materia Growth: None
Materia Slots: 0=0_0=0_0=0_0=0_0
NB: Ultima Weapon's single slot (0) is unusable.
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Power System:
Health Power (HP): A Character's health, when it reaches 0 the character is KOed
Magic Power (MP): This allows a character to cast magic as long as the caster has the same or more MP needed to cast.
Ability Power (AP): This allows a character to learn spells or abilities from his/her Materia when they have gathered enough AP, they do not need the Materia to cast the learned skill and have access to new skills.
Rage Power (RP): RP is what allows a Character to fill his Limit Gauge and enter Limit Trance. RP is gained by being attacked and as the Limit Gauge is filled special battle techniques are gained as long as Limit Trance is not entered. The Character gains 1 RP for every 10% of Health Power lost even if the HP is recovered.
... Logging off.
Epilogue - Memories Of A SOLDIER
'You must not show fear, anger, pride, insecurity must I go on... Any emotion you show only allows your opponent the option of playing mind games with you, make you act without thinking, the it is he that holds the other hand, your skills, strength, abilities with Materia, all your training will mean nothing if you allow the mist of anger to cloud your judgement.'
/I listened to him from the back of the classroom as he gave his classic speech to the new recruits./
'A SOLDIER must be emotionless, never revealing the tide of feelings you hide within yourself. To allow you emotions to run free. To allow anger or pride cloud you judgement...'
/The whole room was mesmerised apart from me. I had watched him make this speech, time and time again, I had seen what would happen next go by many times. I didn't even flinch when he slammed Murasame into the ground./
'Will most likely get you killed.'
/I knew he was right from experience a person could be described as a lattice, a structure which if could be flawed slightly without problems but if there was a major problem would not be repairable./
/I now know that the man that is doing this speech, a scene of the past, a man who all that knew him would say he was a disfigured lattice. He was structurally stable like a lattice however there was a few things in his past. Things that when pulled further than they were would cause this lattice to loose is stability./
/How I know this? Once... Once a long time ago I was the second in command of SOLDIER. One of Sephiroth's friends if we could be called that, his closest to be precise. However that was before all of what happened./
/Before return of Jenova./
/I shall have to explain the story from the beginning. Or you won't be able to understand a rants of a older man./
I guess I should introduce myself. It would be rude not to./
/My name is Cloud Strife and this is my story./
/A story that started because of this disfigured lattice./
Chapter 1 - The Assault
There was an air of anticipation as the Ex-SOLDIER waited for the train to stop at the station, he pulled his sword out of the sheath, the ornate blue crystal shining with anticipation for battle, there was sure to be some. He checked the pockets of his overcoat to see that he only had 50 gill and two grenades, he somehow knew that he would need them. The train stopped.
"Wait 'ere, SOLDIER boy." The strongly built and burly man, roughly 6 foot four said as he headed to the door. The Ex-SOLDIER nodded and waited as the burly man, obviously the leader of this group, and the three others, all probably technicians and back up fighters, jumped off the train and dispatch the guards. He jumped out of the train and looked at the leader. "Get ya skinny ass down 'ere." With that he was gone. The Ex-Soldier headed after the leader but stopped.
The bodies.
He quickly searched the downed guards pockets and picked out two potions from each. He smiled and quickly thanked the inner voice.
"Oi! You! Stop!" The two military policemen drew their machine guns. But the Ex-SOLDIER was too fast for them, the Executioner, his weapon finding the MPs, with a mighty 'Diagonal Slash' before they could get in a shot. He pulled out a small pouch of gill and another two potions before heading up the ramp and seeing the group except the leader.
"So." The young girl started. "You were a SOLDIER?"
"SOLDIER? Aren't they the enemy?" The thinner to the two men present asked the girl.
"No... Yes... What I mean is that SOLDIER IS the enemy but he isn't with them anymore." She wasn't sure she understood that herself.
"Er...Yea Jessie." The thinner man turned to the Ex-SOLDIER. "By the way I didn't catch yea name."
"It's Cloud, Cloud Strife." Cloud answered the thin man the Executioner in his hand.
"Well my name's..." Cloud cut him off.
"Listen, I don't mean to be rude or anything but, it can wait until this mission is over and hopefully the robo-guards haven't come." He said trying not to sound cold.
"Yea I understand." Before he could continue a loud bellow was heard.
"You $~^%s! What have I told ya 'bout hanging round together!." He shouted at them and Cloud couldn't help but think that he was going to have to get used to the man.
"Sorry..." Jessie said as the door opened. "There." The other ran into the reactor as the leader entered the door turned to Cloud.
"Ex-SOLDIER huh? Don't trust ya!" Cloud could tell that this man had had problem with the Shinra before problems and grudges he wasn't going to let go of. "The name's Barret Wallace kiddo, don't forget it." With that Barret entered the reactor.
Cloud looked up towards the Reactor and had a really bad feeling of what was to face him inside, no matter he had a job to do and he was going to do it well. With that he entered the reactor and uneventfully made his way to the T shaped catwalk. He saw the fat male acting as a look out. "Hey Cloud go after the others I'll keep a watch here." Cloud nodded as he ran towards the entrance to the inside of the reactor, where he saw Jessie, wasn't it and the other thinner man working on the slide door and Barret watching their back.
"Oi! Cloud." This caught the young warrior surprised. "You been in a Reactor before?"
"Yes... I was in Shinra before." He answered.
"These f&$#&*g reactors are suckin' the life from the planet. If we keep letting 'em do it, there ain't gonna be shit left. These things are killing the Planet slowly, but surely."
"I heard once that Mako and the Lifestream were the same thing but the company always denied it." He sighed. "Listen I heard about what happens to the planet without this stuff so you're not telling me anything I don't know."
"Hum... Interesting little s#%* ain't ya? Come on hotshot ya comin' with me." With that he turned to the thin man. "Biggs ya useless piece of s#%*. Get that bloody door open."
"Code Deciphered ." Biggs said as the door opened and Cloud pulled out the Executioner and went into a ready stance. While Barret point his gun-arm. Nothing.
Jessie moved into the next door and in about three times quicker than Biggs cracked the other. Cloud took the lead but stopped as he saw a side passage. "Hold on a second." He called as he moved down the passage with Barret. He saw a console and a chest behind it. "As I thought." Cloud said as he opened the chest and picked up a Phoenix Down. "This could be useful. You have a satchel? " He asked Barret.
"No man." He replied.
"Great." Cloud sighed as he put it in the small pouch which held all his other items.
"Whatever com' on kid." He said as he lead the warrior to the elevator where Jessie was waiting.
"Cloud can you push that switch over there." She asked him.
"Sure." Cloud answered. As he sheathed the Executioner and it the downwards button. As they exited the lift they met their first resistance, two MPs. Cloud took one down instantly as Barret fired a constant barrage at the other taking him down nearly as quick.
"Follow me." Jessie called as they followed her down the stairway towards the door. They entered the door, Cloud always alert carrying the Executioner at the ready followed her down the ladder to see her go past the next. "I'll wait here as a look out, Cloud you know haw to get the core from here?"
"Yes." Cloud said blankly looking over the side.
"What is it?" Barret asked.
"Security drones. There's about four down there. Want me to handle them?" Cloud asked.
"Hum... Alright kid let's see what ya made of." Barret said. With that he sheathed the Executioner, then he was off jumping the distance to the vertical ladder and then sliding down to the pipe, those years in SOLDIER paid off as he made it to the ladder with no problem. He slid down to a level then let go, twisted and drew in one movement. The guards noticed him and fired but then Cloud pulled a surprise using the broad length of the blade to block the laser fire, as they reloaded Cloud sheathed his weapon and started to concentrate to gather energy causing green ripples to form around him.
'Thunder' 'All'
From no where four lightning bolts came down from the sky short circuiting all four, not taking any chances he drew his large blade and put it through each of the droids making sure they wouldn't come back on-line.
"What the f&$#&*g hell was that?" Barret said as he caught up with the warrior.
"A Thunder spell." Cloud said matter of factly.
"What?"
"Materia induced magic." He pointed to the green Materia orb in the Executioner.
"So this is what makes those blokes in SOLDIER so powerful. " He said.
"One of them." Cloud answered as they headed up to the main Reactor core. "This brings back too many bad memories." He mumbled to himself.
"What?"
"Nothing… Well just one question."
"What?"
"This bombing is supposed to save the planet but what about all the innocent people working around here?"
"You should expect a few casualties in this war."
"And what war is this?"
"Damn stupid f&$#&*g kid! The war to save the planet versus the f&$#&*g Shinra!"
"Then why don't you bomb at night time?"
"Gotta problem with it?"
"Listen I agree with your motives but I'm not to sure your using the right methods."
"Shut up SOLDIER boy! Go set the bomb." He handed Cloud a block of plastic explosives and a detonation timer.
"Shouldn't you do it?" He asked.
"Nah, you'll do fine an' this way I get to keep a watch on ya."
"Alright." He moved up and placed the plastic explosives and set the fuse for fifteen minutes. "Fifteen minutes and counting!" Just then the alarm went off.
"What the hell!" Barret fumed.
"Great! Just what we need!" Cloud said as he pulled out the Executioner and readied himself.
"What!?"
"Guard Scorpion." Cloud said. It came out of the shadows, the giant six legged Cyclops, armed with two Assault Guns and a huge mechanical scorpions tail tipped with a drill shaped mace.
"J#%*$!" The dark skinned man shouted as he readied his gun-arm.
"We share something in common." Cloud called back as he slung the huge sword into it's sheath and started the same hand movements as he had done before.
'Thunder'
The lightning bolt hit the robot's casing causing sparks to fly everywhere and a creaking sound as it moved back as Cloud redrew his weapon. It then proceeded to scan its attacker with search scope. Barret then stepped forward and let rip a salvo of standard rounds onto the machine the first few denting it's armour the rest tearing into it. It scanned Barret as it did Cloud then fired shots from its Assault Guns at him, sending him to the floor.
"You okay?" Cloud called as he threw Barret one of his potions.
"I will be once this m#%&$r- f&$#&r is scrap metal." He stood up after drinking the potion and allowed his rage to influence him as he reloaded his gun arm.
'Explosive Rounds'
As the rounds hit small explosions were made over the Scorpion's armour causing it to fall back. Cloud to his chance pulling out one of his grenades and throwing it as Barret once again readied his Gun-Arm.
'Explosive Rounds'
It did the same damage as last time but now it had pulled up its tail. "Barret, don't attack! while it's tail is up! It's gonna counter-attack with it's laser!"
"Don't tell me what ta do!" He fired another salvo this time of Standard Rounds into it, but this time it, as Cloud said, fired a blast from its tail knocking both down. Cloud was the first up gripping the handle of the Executioner and allowed his own rage to fill him.
'Braver'
The rage induced swordsman's skill, which shared the name of his sword class took over as he lunged towards the scorpion, jumped high in the air and after a second he was pulled down, swinging his sword heavily so the robot was sliced clean in half. "Not bad." Barret said as Cloud moved over to the undamaged Assault Gun and took it off.
"Can you use this?" Cloud asked.
"Dunno. Pass it 'ere and I'll try it." He took off the Gatling Gun and replaced it with the weapon Cloud passed him. He then fired a few shots into a wall and nodded an affirmative.
"We have five minutes, so we better get out of here." Cloud stated as he started to run towards the ladder. The trip up to the door was uneventful until Cloud reached the door.
The Girl
He turned to see Jessie having problems with her foot. He ran back to her. "You okay?" he asked as he kneeled down to help her.
"My foot's stuck." She cried as Cloud freed it. "Thanks. They ran into little resistance as they reached the lift.
"Three minutes." Cloud stated as they reached the door.
However there was a problem. "They've changed the code." Biggs shouted as he was working on the door.
"Great!" Jessie called as she knelt down to help Biggs.
"Two and a half minutes." Cloud said as he and Barret covered the two working on the door.
About a minute later there was a result as the door opened and they passed through the second was slightly harder., but it opened "Twenty seconds!" Cloud yelled as they all ran through the T shaped catwalk. Jessie fell and Cloud quickly picked her up. As they reached the exit where the fatter man had just ran through when the bomb went off.
2.Aftermath"Alright!" The fat man called as Jessie worked on something.
"That's gonna keep going for a little bit longer." Piped in Biggs.
"Right it's set. Everyone out." She called as she finished on what she was working on and ran to the door, as they reached the small explosion happened. Cloud was the first out untouched, followed by Barret, Biggs, Jessie and then the fat man who ran around holding his rear.
"Wedge ya s#%*. Stop pissing around! All meet up at the train station, move out!" He said as the others moved out. "Oh an' SOLDIER boy, ya get the money when you get back." With that he ran towards the main street. Cloud shook his head and started walking, he moved up the path. Has he got to the top of the stairs he headed towards the large sign saying 'Loveless'.
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Outside the theatre the young flower girl watched the commotion trying to stay as calm as she could, she could tell something had happened. The next thing she knew one of the men who were running frantically knocked her down, her heart started beating faster as they all ran off towards the station. She lifted herself back to her feet and quickly picked up and re attached her Guard Stick to its position and touching her hair to make sure that the orb was still there. Then she saw him, walking in from the pathway beside the run down café. The young man probably about her age with spiky sandy blond hair, well built but also had an aqua of intelligence around him. He wore a beige overcoat which ran down to his ankles, underneath she saw that he was wearing black trousers which were slightly baggy with matching boots. On the left shoulder of the coat was a sliver, smooth armoured pad which matched his arm bands and went with the plain black sheath that held the largest sword she had seen in her life. Even though he was armed and looked dangerous, he did not frighten her. He started to move past her and she made a decision.
"Excuse me sir. Do you know what's going on?" She asked and he stopped.
"Nothing to worry about. Hey…" he paused looking at her basket. "…you don't see many flowers nowadays." He smiled at her.
"Would you like to buy one they're only one gill." She replied.
"Sure why not." He put a hand into his pocket and pulled out a pouch. He then opened the pouch and took out a coin, he then handed it to the girl.
"Thank you!" She put her hand into the basket and pulled out a white rose and handed to him before she started to head away.
"Hold it." He called.
"Yes?"
"Can you tell me the way to the station from here?" he asked her.
"It's just down the courtyard, follow the road and you'll find a bridge the tracks run under, head to the right and just follow them." She told him smiling.
"Thank you." He started off down the courtyard as she headed down the alleyway towards home.
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Cloud headed down the courtyard stopping only to pick up some dropped items, he headed the way the flower girl told him only to hear a voice behind him. "Oh! Stop!"
Shinra MPs, he waited a second till they were about six inches and then struck, pulling out the Executioner and swinging in a split second taking both down with his Diagonal Slash. "What the.." Another two ran in from the same direction as the ones Cloud had just killed and Cloud decided to run, he head right only to be cut off by two soldiers, he quickly changed direction but again that was blocked off. "Freeze."
Nowhere to run, Cloud held the Executioner ready to do what it did best.
Jump off the bridge.
'What!' He said to the voice.
Trust me jump.
"I have no time for you guys." He sheathed the Executioner and flipped backwards off the bridge and landed on the train.
End of Chapter 1