Description: Cloud can't escape the ghosts of his past, especially now that he is living in it. But he isn't the only thing that followed him into the past.
Disclaimer: I own my characters and the story line but everything else is owned by Square Enix.
Author's Note: Here is the second chapter rewritten. Thanks!
Words: 2,084
Warning: None.
Status: Rewitten
I felt as light as a feather, something was missing. Who am I?
Cloud?
Yes, Cloud that's my name. Now... wait. Who said that?
...
Okay... hello? Is anyone there? Hello? I guess not. Where am I?
I tried to move but my body felt heavy like a ton of bricks lay on top of me. I gritted my teeth, my muscles started to hurt. My breath caught and my head throbbed. What is happening? I opened my eyes. My heart hummed.
"Cloud! Cloud, you okay?" asked a man, his face filled with light scars. Dark green eyes and messy brown hair. He looked familiar. It was the bad ass, Commander William Johnson, affectionately called the B.A Commander. If my memory served me... he died in Meteor.
I could hear gun fire in the background. "What happened...?" I mumbled, sitting up slowly. The commander helped me.
"We're in battle, Strife. You got nailed right in the head, cracked your helmet." he chuckled, as he ruffled my hair. That made my head throb even more.
I didn't voice that, something I remember about the commander other then the fact that he is physically one of the most strongest men I've ever seen without mako enhancements, is that he hates weakness. I looked around and waited for my vision to straighten up.
Infantry and SOLDIER's were everywhere, my eyes traveled through all the fighting. Stopped on a few selected people Zack, Laylo, Ferson, and Sephiroth.
Sephiroth fought with great grace. He looked like he was dancing a slow dance. Everyone that got near was struck down by his blade with the exception of allies. No, somehow he was able to miss every single one of them without so much as a nick.
I got up. The B.A. Commander smiled. "Way to go, Strife! Join the fight!" the Commander cheered. He patted my back and ran off to join the battle. Grabbing out his duel knifes and killing all swiftly in his path.
I have no gun skills what so ever. To tell the truth, I suck. I looked around for a sword. None of the SOLDIERs have fallen but some of my comrades have. I grabbed a broad sword that was coated in blood, off a dead Wutai warrior.
Swinging it around a few times to get the feel of it. Then I charged. I don't know what battle we are in but I might as well play along for now. I felt strong. I felt free. Something I haven't felt in a long time. I only felt like this when I fought Shin-Ra and caused it's down fall. I was never sorry about that.
But my team. I missed them. They didn't understand. They did their orders. They may have picked on me a lot but they were still nice. They only did it cause we were all friends. I was smallest in the group, I wasn't hugely buff, or extremely tall, but we were all comfortable together.
We were a team.
My sword and I fell into sic. I was never this strong when I was young, but I was now, I felt the power flood through my veins. I looked at the broad sword I had. It wasn't my Buster blade but it was still something. I have to see if Cid can make me a new blade.
I spotted a 1st charge up for a powerful firaga and caste it swiftly at the enemy stronghold, hitting it with enough force to cripple one of the side walls creating a large gapping hole in the once heavily fortified wall.
Only a few feet away from the opening where the doorway that the enemy was using, stopped for fear of crossing the open area exposed. But only served to pause the wave momentarily, before it started up again. In that one moment, Zack and a man that looked similar to him, lunched into the building.
I'm conflicted.
A part of me wanted to join my long lost friend on the inside. I'm strong enough now. I should at least be a bit more help then I used to be. Plus I wouldn't of minded the extra time with Zack once again.
But the other, more stronger part of me stays back. It would seem exceedingly out of place for a lone Infantryman to run into the enemy strong hold, especially without the explicit command of his commanding officer.
Whom, I noticed vaguely, just followed the two SOLDIERs inside the base.
I let that go and looked to the top of the base, the B.A. Commander made his way onto top of a firing turret without a care in the world. He round house kicked the guy off the base into the mess of rapid gun fire and ferocious sword swinging. Then the B.A Commander stood beside the turret, with his hands stuffed into his pockets. He lifted his leg and kicked it.
I was shocked for a moment, I had forgotten the Commanders strength. Rumors floated around during my time here as a Cadet that the B.A Commander showed Sephiroth how to fight in war and was his teacher for a long time.
The sound of metal cracking. It fell to it's side, barely hanging onto it's post, no longer useful. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and studied the broken turret. Without looking he whipped one of his knifes at an enemy troop that charged him alone.
The B.A. Commander can really live up to his title. While he went to retrieve his knife, I looked over to our 'great hero'. Every twitch of his Masume killed at least 15 men. Not one sword or bullet has gotten past his own deadly weapon to his skin.
Then I saw him, Genesis. So then this was before he left and took all those SOLDIERs with him. He stretched his hand out and fire reigned down on the poor fools beneath him. He then landed elegantly and moved on.
Everything that stood in the red headed 1st died before too long. I don't really remember much about Genesis, and this was probably the only time I ever saw him in person before he defected, but I was more focused on the Legendary Hero.
A large explosion erupted from inside the base, distracted me from my thoughts. I quickly defend myself from a Wutai infantry close range officer, killing him swiftly.
The blast sent everyone too close flying away or set aflame. Most of the close ones were SOLDIER. They moved away and put the fire out without a care, like it didn't hurt. It probably didn't.
Out of the smoke, Zack came flying out. "Wooo hoo!" he called as he soared over everyone. Most watched as he landed in the middle of a small troop. He span around and in one swipe, they all fell. He flashed us all a smile. My heart hurt when I saw that smile. I remembered it. It's my fault he doesn't smile anymore. It's my fault he can't do anything anymore.
The other man came flying out moments later. He soared higher then Zack. He held a small box in his arms and Zack's sword on his back. So it must originally be this man's sword before Zack came into ownership of it. It glistened brightly on his back.
The man laded gracefully in between Sephiroth and Genesis. He handed the box to Sephiroth who accepted it without an expression. He turned and walked off. "Move out." He called, barely raising his voice.
SOLDER and Infantry called at once, "Yes sir!" But I find myself still silent.
All abandon their fights and followed after him. I watched them. I hated that they listened to him without a question asked. It bothered me a little, but the enemy was now disoriented and it seemed like that was all we came here to do. I don't much remember this battle but still I frown at the thought of leaving it half done.
The Wutinians didn't follow us.
But regardless of my personal opinion, I followed after all the others, SOLDIERs scattered around the group while the Infantry got into their squads. Mine was near the back. I stood behind all of them, although, that didn't stop them from crowding around me.
"You okay, Cloudy?" Asked Ferson. Short cut black hair and doe brown eyes. He was my first friend in the team, always looked out for me.
"Yeah, you got hit pretty hard by a sniper." Laylo added. Dark brown hair and doe brown eyes. Same eyes as his older brother. Ferson and Laylo are only 3 years apart. Both died fighting Zack as far as I knew. I don't hate Zack though, or them. It's no ones fault but the higher ups in Shin-Ra.
"I'm fine." I told them and offered a small smile. Ferson ruffled my hair. Everyone seemed to do that a lot.
We walked on, moving at a slow but orderly pace back to our destination.
"Hey hey! You! Can I talk to you?" I heard a familiar voice. I looked over at Zack. I felt my heart pound. I pointed to my face slowly. Zack smiled that familiar smile and nodded. "Yeah you, the one who got his helmet shot off by a sniper." he grinned and waved me over.
The guys gave me playful words of encouragement and shoved me in the direction of my former friend. The B.A. Commander nodded for me to go. I followed Zack toward the front of the group. I stopped when Sephiroth came into view.
Zack looked back at me. "Something wrong?" he asked a confused look on his face.
I shook my head. "What is it that you need?" I asked as calmly as I could.
Zack smiled. "My mentor wanted me to make sure everyone got medical attention and since I saw what happened, I figured you might need some. I'm Zack Fair, by the way." he told me.
Not that I didn't already know that but I nodded, he doesn't know me. I swallowed the bit of hurt and introduced myself, "I'm Cloud. Cloud Strife."
Zack hopped up and down. "Nice to meet you!" he smiled wide. "Come on! Angeal's a crabby shit when I don't listen. Let's go." he turned and bounded off ahead like the puppy he is affectionately called.
I nodded and followed him to the group of medics that have stopped and set up a small cluster of tents to tend to the injured. We head to the closest one that is telling some of the injured people on where to go.
"Yes?" I asked softly. I don't look him in the eye. The last thing I need is for someone to notice that I'm not exactly a normal Infantryman anymore.
"Ah, yes. Are you hurt?" the man asked.
"No, sir," I answered immediately without a thought.
He gave me a look. "Head wounds are bad and must be looked at before something goes wrong, if it hasn't already." He said sharply, looking like he thought I was being some sort of smartass.
I brought my hand up to my head and felt the sticky blood there. When did that happen? Maybe I did get hurt when the sniper somehow managed to shoot my helmet off.
I allowed him to sit me down and look over my wound. I couldn't help but notice that Zack gave a little wave then headed off to find more people to bring here. I also couldn't help but notice the aching emptiness in my chest that my friend left unknowingly.
I looked around at the mass of people that are settling down around the tents, waiting for their turns to get looked over while others, mostly SOLDIERs, who weren't hurt in the fight create a protective perimeter around the tiny medical camp.
My eyes caught Sephiroth, along with Genesis and the 1st that was with Zack, all gathered around the box. Sephiroth opened it up and they all looked inside. He closed it immediately afterwards and looked at the other SOLDIER.
"Good work, Angeal," he said in that familiar deep voice. A shiver of fear goes through me.
I wondered what was in the box, possibly something that would further show the evil that not only surrounds the Shin-Ra company but the family name as well.
If I'm wrong, then let all the fire in the heavens strike me down in one fiery swoop.
