A World We Defy
Being the CEO of the biggest record label company in Midgar, Cloud Strife is the single most successful man of his age and generation. But what of the sinister shadows hidden behind the glimmer of his fame? The world he knows, is just about to collapse...
{Prologue: His Normalcy}
"What do you mean by 'unable'?"
Reno shuffled his feet against the cold marbled flooring. "Boss, that's all he said. He ain't coming back anytime soon. N'thin I can do."
Cloud Strife adjusted the cuffs on his sleeves, an action that reminded Reno of an eagle sharpening its claws before a hunt. "What is he up to this time?"
A silence uncharacteristic of Reno pressed on until Rude stepped in to reply. "Boss.. This time it's a bit more serious. He knocked Tseng unconscious, tied him to the bed, left his phone and a note that said he found his.. 'calling and is unable to return to a life of mediocrity."
The cuff fell onto the floor with the effect of a pin drop. "What do you mean by 'a life of mediocrity'? We have made him the most celebrated singer here in Midgar!"
"Boss! We'll find him for sure! We just have to postpone the concert for now." Rude stepped forward, veins popping in his forehead.
Cloud stood up and walked towards the balcony where the curtains are slightly drawn to reveal the skyline of Midgar. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned towards the window like the Don used to do.
The aging Don has only just entrusted him to run the biggest record label company in Midgar, Fantasy Music Group (FMG). Only a 3 month old CEO, he cannot afford to screw up the biggest income generator of this generation.
"Where was he last seen?"
"Costa Del Sol."
"Then overturn the sands of Costa Del Sol! Find him no matter what." Though new, Cloud is still known for his austerity.
"Yes Boss!"
"Aye Boss!"
In their hearts, Reno and Rude said a silent prayer for Genesis.
The most anticipated marriage of the entertainment industry is one between the two heirs of the greatest empires. Beyond marriage, it is a merger of the Music and Film Empire.
Such is the marriage between Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough.
Aerith Gainsborough is the only daughter of Ilfalna Gainsborough, the MD of GB Films, one of the biggest film production companies in all of Gaia.
Perhaps the greatest of all, is that this is a union of love.
"You shouldn't tire yourself so much." Aerith reached over to pour another glass of the finest wine, imported from the best wine cellars in Wutai. "It's not the first time Gen caused trouble for FMG, I'm sure he'll be back again like always."
Cloud's head throbbed from the verbalization of the name. He rubbed his temples and sighed under his breath. "Seems a little more serious this time.. left his phone and belongings behind, not even Tseng could stop him."
Her lips curled upwards into the iconic angelic Aerith smile, always bright, always encouraging as if there was nothing in the world worth furrowing her brows over. "You'll find him, won't you? Then beat him up and tie him to his bed like he did to Tseng."
Cloud chucked lightly. "Yeah." He rubbed her nose with his thumb gently, the way he always did for the years they have dated. "Let's not talk about him now. How is everything with the new movie?"
Aerith giggled and pinched the finger that was messing up the foundation from her nose. "So far it's great! The new lead actor seems a little overwhelmed but the Rufus whipped him into shape."
"Zack Fair, was it?" He asked, reaching back for his food. The filet mignon melted in his mouth like butter.
"Yep! Quite a dashing fellow, just inexperienced. Mom was thinking of signing him on a longer contract. He has huge potential."
"Hmm." He swallowed the mouthful down with a long sip of red wine. "If you need some publicity, I can get him featured in our new album."
"Nu-uh!" Aerith frowned. "Everyone in the industry has been joking about us and how we are planning to dominate the world with our marriage. No more drama puh-lease!"
He rolled his eyes. "Told you not to get bothered by all those rumors. Just stop reading the paparazzi magazines."
Aerith winced in embarrassment. "Hmph." She tilted her head and took a big gulp of wine, finishing what she had filled previously.
The corner of her eye caught the time on the clock and she nearly choked. "Cloud! You're almost late for your appointment!"
Cloud glanced to see the time. "I'll get Rude to call Hojo. It's fine if I skipped a day." He paused, "Been a while since we spent time together."
"No!" Aerith glared at him. "You have to go, Cloud! It's not good to skip therapy sessions. We can always meet up another time."
Cloud looked at her and saw that she was serious about this. He took the napkin and wiped the corners of his mouth before waiving for Reno and Rude to enter.
"I'll see you next week?" He leaned over and kissed her on her forehead.
"Hopefully!" She smiled and returned the kiss on his cheek.
Reno accompanied Cloud down the hallway and into the elevator reserved for VIP guests of the restaurant. He entered the code of their parking lot and the car was sent to them by the smart parking system of the restaurant upon exiting the lift.
Rude stayed behind to escort Aerith back to her car.
Hojo is a man in is late forties.
Often people described him as 'the greasy genius'. Indeed, his graying hair seemed to always hang in wet locks. Nonetheless, he is one of the best doctors in the whole of Midgar. He is all-encompassing in the medical field, having earned 12 different PhDs, including that of neuroscience.
Cloud took off his coat and Reno swiftly took it onto his arms. "You can go now."
"Aye." Reno did a mock salute and retreated towards the exit stretching his back and yawning after a long day. There has been only hell here since Genesis up and left.
Hojo's assistant and fiancée Lucrecia welcomed Cloud into the doctor's office. She led him into his private changing room where his change of clothing and some personal belongings are kept for his weekly treatment. Cloud shut the door and changed into the set of black patient clothing perfectly tailored to his size. He locked his phone and wallet in the safe provided by Don from years ago, which recognized only his fingerprints.
Cloud has been here many times before, yet the thought of the treatment ahead still run his skin cold.
While the doctor's office is covered in bright fluorescent lights, like the embrace of daylight; the treatment room is the absolute opposite. Cloud laid on the reclining couch as always, staring into the red lights above.
He didn't like closing his eyes in this dark treatment room. Something about the red light was comforting; it seemed almost like a pair of eyes, staring at him. It was like soft waves pushing against the shore to him, exciting yet calm. He always found salvage in these lights when the treatment began.
"Welcome, Cloud!" Hojo entered the room with his surgical mask, gloves and cap all donned. "Today we are completing the seventh session of our Mako treatment." Hojo squealed, the way he always does when speaking about the progression of the treatments. Pumped with excitement, he draws the mask over Cloud's nose and connected the sleeping gas.
The room shimmered with the beautiful turquoise iridescence of Mako as sleep overtook Cloud.
He has long learnt to compartmentalize his memories.
The first part is always the past everyone told him about. Don rescuing him after his parents died fighting in Wutai. He dressed him in the finest silk, fed him the most exquisite cuisine. These memories were clear like a HD movie; he sat and watch how Don held his hand and led him away from the burning grounds of Wutai, dressed him in the finest silk and fed him the most exquisite cuisine.
Then, everything is engulfed in black; slowly the storm is starting, and pieces of the memories were swept away.
In this memory, he was falling.
His eyes searches forward, there was no fear in his heart, only relief. It seemed that he had jumped off something like a cliff; the cold air scratched against his skin. He could tell that he was young here, his body swept by the currents of wind like a kite without strings.
Behind, he heard a voice. A faint calling of a girl, but the wind was too strong to make out her words. He tried his best to look behind him, where the sun was shining bright. A silhouette was falling behind him, and immediately he felt his chest explode.
All his adult life, he had never felt something like this. It was so sudden he couldn't even understand what the feelings were. But there was definitely an overwhelming sensation of… happiness.
Cloud opened his eyes, and the room was filled with the pungent smell of Mako.
"How are you feeling?" Lucrecia asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Doctor is monitoring your heart rate and dream wave graphs. I will bring him in shortly."
Cloud sat up against the bed and pulled the IV strip from his wrist. He has long gotten used to the sensation of cold Mako essence slowly moving in his veins.
"Hehe…he…" Hojo chuckled while walking into the room. His face lit up with joy as he flipped the pages of the report in his hands, seems like the latest treatment was a success.
"I haven't seen any more memories this time than before, so why are you acting like you've hit jackpot?" Cloud rubbed his nose, Hojo smelled like he has been in the basement for a week.
"Hehehe… what do you see this time?" Hojo peeked over his foggy glasses, but still focused on the reports.
"Just the past with Don, like always." Cloud murmured. He has long stopped talking about the second part of the memories. "I don't think the treatment is working much."
"Oh?" Hojo laughed. "The treatment is going great! Hehehehehe… The Don will be... very happy with these results!"
The Don, Cloud thought. Haven't seen him in a while. "I'll leave now."
Cloud stepped out of the treatment room and into the bright lights of the doctor's office again. Lucrecia followed behind him. "I will email Reno and Rude about your next appointment, and the Doctor will be forwarding your report to the Don shortly." She paused and adjusted her glasses. "Rude is already waiting outside."
Cloud turned to look at Lucrecia. She always seems pale after the treatments, today she looked more overworked than usual. "Thanks."
In the private changing room, Cloud massaged his wrist, where his veins are sore from all the transfusion. Beyond all his fame and glory, none but few knows of his secret; he is a man without memories.
He was already the Don's son as far as he can remember. He even had to re-learn speech at the age of twelve because of the memory loss; but he persevered. From a baby at twelve, to the top student of the most prestigious high school in Midgar at the age of fifteen. He knew he had to do the Don proud, he owed him everything.
These treatments started when he was seventeen. The Don knew the lack of memory bothered him, and set him apart from the rest, so he hired the best doctor of Gaia, and searched for different treatments to help him. It has been seven years since his first treatment. The Mako treatment was supposed to be the final treatment of all, but he has long gotten used to these sessions that he does not think will ever end.
Just like how he has long given up on finding back his memories.
Cloud looked out the window, the sun was already rising.
"Boss?" Rude knocked.
Cloud has just gotten out of the shower, towel around his hips. "Yes?" He said, while rubbing his hair dry with another towel.
"Tseng is here," Rude replied from over the door, his voice stern. "He brought Genesis."
"I will be out shortly."
Cloud looked into the mirror, his eyes gleaming with an eerie green beneath the sharp blue, an after effect of mako exposure. He ruffled his hair, threw the towels on the bed, slipped on a bathrobe and headed to the study.
"Boss." Tseng stood up to greet Cloud.
"Sit." Cloud waived at him and took a seat at the seat opposite of him. "What news do you have for me?"
Tseng pushed the file on the table to Cloud. "We found him working at a small bar along the beach of Costa Del Sol." He flipped the pages of the file, each page a different picture of Genesis. Some serving drinks, some sun tanning. "I tried speaking to him, but he didn't budge, so I hired some locals and have him escorted here."
"Good job." Cloud flipped the pages of the file and it was obvious that he was after a girl at the bar. Many of the pictures had him leaning over the bar and talking to a girl with her head turned away from the camera. This guy was obviously in heat. "Bring him over."
"Aye boss." Reno answered, and headed out to inform Rude who took over Tseng to look after Genesis.
Cloud continued flipping the pages. "7th Heaven?" He asked.
"Yes, that is the name of the bar."
"Sound like a dirty place."
Tseng nearly choked on his tea. "It's the seventh unit of the street so… I think that's the reason for the name."
Cloud shot him a look and continued looking through the pictures. It didn't take long for Reno and Rude to 'escort' Genesis over.
"Boss." They greeted, and pushed Genesis in before closing the door behind.
"Greetings, Cloud." Genesis put on his ever-dashing million dollar smile. "It's been a while since I've had the honor of meeting you."
Cloud smiled back, yet to Genesis, it was like an eagle ready to strike. "I sure hope it took longer for me to see you again."
Genesis slumped into the couch beside Tseng. "I'm glad we get a chance to speak. I have many things to talk to you about."
"Me too." Cloud rested his chin on his knuckles. "I heard you found your calling?" He slid the file over to where Genesis was. "Was it some sort of mating call?"
Tseng choked again on his tea while Genesis let out a nervous cough. "If you wish to put it that way, sure."
Cloud scoffed.
"Cloud." Genesis' voice turned serious. "I've found my muse, right there at the coast of Costa Del Sol."
"What muse?"
"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess." He closed his eyes, reciting the lyrics of a song in his best selling album, LOVELESS. "Cloud, after meeting her, I've come to realize that there is no true music for me if my music is without her."
"What?" Cloud winced; it was always so difficult to understand this guy. Heck, he doesn't even know why girls around the globe are going crazy over his persona, though he wouldn't complain about the business side of things.
"I cannot make music without her anymore." Genesis gives his ultimatum. "Without her, I can no longer be an artist. If you insist for me to return to how I make music previously, then I quit."
"What the actual fuck." Cloud slammed the table. "Tseng! Can you explain?"
"Boss, this woman Genesis is talking about… is a great pianist." Tseng shifted in his seat. "Perhaps we can hire her as an assistant to Genesis? I'm sure she will do great in assisting the composition of his pieces."
"Not an assistant! Never an assistant!" Genesis frowned. "She is the soul to my music, my muse."
Cloud crossed his arms to resist the urge of throwing the file in Genesis' face. "Then go get her!" Cloud waved at Tseng, his voice trembling with anger.
Genesis nearly jumped in his seat, "Really, Cloud?!"
"Genesis," Cloud rubbed his temples. "After the concert I will be arranging an all-day fan meeting for you."
"What?!" Genesis roared. "I absolutely despise those noisy fan girls!"
"Perfect." Cloud smiled, as friendly as a lion toying his prey. "Then you will come to understand just how much I love dealing with your bullshit."
The inspiration for this story was the song "Worlds Collide" by Nicki Taylor for the League Of Legends World Championships 2015; therefore the title.
We are the ones to ignite the darkened skies;
The champions of a world that we defy!
A solemn reign of the few who rise up high;
And we all fight at the last light.
See you next week!
XOXO, Lacie