Ancient Guards: Chapter 2

by Solovino88

DISCLAIMERS:

You know all the 'disclaimer' drill. And in case you don't, it's the same as in the previous chapter. Remember: I - Solovino - only own this narration.

A cup of tea fell to the ground, shattering pieces spreading around, the delicious infusion spilled in the carpet. A fist flying through the air and barely avoiding the white mechanical body. A man in a red cape opens his eyes to see Barret grabbing Caith Sith (essentially, the cat) against a wall.

- Talk you rat! You're not going all Shinra on us again! - Barret's voice sounded angry and desperate.
- I've told you everything I can!
- Come on, Barret - interrupted Vincent - leave Sith be. I was Turks, remember?
- Whatever!

Barret turned over to where Cloud was sitting.

- So what do we do?
- Transportation of this kind requires not only a lot of secrecy - Cloud answered.
- Right, if blonde says so... - interrupted Cid - but also a secure air passage, which with Ultima roaming around, the Shinra can not afford.
- Damn it! Cid! Cloud! We're talking about a Materia THIS BIG! - Barret extends his arms to give his partners a metaphorical idea about the size, and importance, of the Huge Materia they are about to chase.

The situation was critical, as Cait Sith informed previously that morning.

"I don't know, for one, who released the information. The thing is Scarlet's division has already pinpointed the locations of three... no, four Huge Materias. We were successful in intercepting two of these locations, and look how nice is that Phoenix Summon materia by the way... but things don't end here. The Huge Materia was being collected for some reason, and now that Shinra has lost its grip on half its intended targets, they are trying to do something new."

- Targets? - Cloud inquired: - What do you mean by "targets"?
- Does it matter? Heck, we just go to where the Materia is and take it, that's the mission, what is so complicated about that?

"That's precisely the point. With the other two places, one doesn't just 'go' to where the materia 'is'. I don't know all the details, I said, but I do know that the Turks are involved in protecting these targets and that a special ordinance from Rufus has the special transport convoy unit landing on Junon tomorrow."

- Transport unit... - asked Cid droping his cigarette. - Do they mean the Gelinka?
- Gelinka? - Tifa stepped forward.
- The giant airship we saw before leaving Junon, remember?
- Nope... sorry, I was too busy scratching that slut's cheeks.

"Which by the way was very fun to see... Anyway. What are the Shinra planning to do with this Materia escapes my understanding as of now. I thought they intended to process it in Junon, but... When I heard Vincent say Ultima WEAPON seems to be checking on these same locations, however, I got an idea, but it is quite wild and of course untested. I believe that if what Vincent said is true, we MUST get that Materia before the Shinra takes it to its final destination."

Cid turned on a cigarette.

- Cait is right, we must get that Materia. And we must do it before Shinra shields itself over a couple cities, or we are in big trouble.
- That's all then, who comes?

Barret was the first to raise hand, followed by Yuffie. But Tifa took Yuffie's arm down and raised her own. Cait Sith was not to be there, it was too dangerous to have him close to the Turks. Vincent and Nanaki were outside the ship. So there was only Cid and Cloud left. And Cid was quick to tease up.

- Care to join for one, handsome?
- A'ight... I'll go. Cid, you keep two eyes on Cait, I don't want more Turks surprises.
- On it, "Commander"!

The group of three packaged some stuff, picked some Materia for their weapons, and took up to the cockpit. Cait followed, to brief them about the standard security procedures at Junon. Cid went outside to continue smoking.

Cid's train of thought however was cut almost one hour later, when he heard something like footsteps, but they were not normal footsteps. Only when they got closer could he identify the kind of animal they belonged to.

- What the...

He took to the outside of the ship to meet a man in mexican-style clothes and hat, mounting a beautiful, tall black Chocobo, and leading another black Chocobo by his side. The man was wearing a brown and orange poncho and a hat as black as the feathers of the taller Chocobo were. Upon seeing Cid, the man quickly waives his hat in what seemed to be a form of salutation.

- Good morning, Señor.
- Goes who?
- A Chocobo was requested for a gold class job. I'm here to bring it.
- Wait... do I know you?
- You should, with all respects... I'm the one who has seized the Gold Saucer Master Races five years in a row.
- Sorry, man, but I give a damn about races - Cid lied, he had already lost over 12000 Gil last summer. - State your bizness and do it quick, we are about to leave.
- As I was saying... I bring a Chocobo for a... - the man checked on a list - Señor Valentine?
- That would be me.

Cid turned to see Vincent, right hand up, coming to meet the rider. He produced a bag of Gil from his pockets and handed it to the rider.

- That should cover it, it's a quite complicated two-days journey.
- Worry not, mister. This cute one here - he turned to pet the smaller Chocobo - can take you wherever you want, or don't want, to go.
- Fine then. Is he brave?
- Of course. This little fellow works as a courier in Wutai during the monsoon.
- Uh... how do I send it back to you?
- Pat him in the head three times and say 'Home'. He knows what to do after that.

Vincent took the brides of the golden Chocobo and proceeded to feed it some greens, to keep it from getting stressed as Nanaki was close. The bird ate plenty and let out its classical bark, after which Vincent led the animal to the inner stables. The Chocobo may be bred and well educated, but it was obvious that Nanaki's swirling tail had made it slightly aware.

The other rider checked on the payment, made some annotations in a notebook, and patted his own Chocobo.

- Let's go, Teioh. How about racing the waves at the Pyramid's beaches?

The rider waved goodbye to the team and disappeared in the distance, proudly riding to sunset. That's so a movies–á–cliché, said Cid to himself. He walked to Vincent and was about to ask him where was he leaving to, but Vincent cut him short.

- Gold Saucer. Dusk two days from now. If I'm not there, I'm not anywhere anymore.

Said that, he rode the Chocobo and left the airship full speed.

Cid stood still wondering what that meant... when he heard another sound and turned around to see Nanaki leaving too barefooted, only with his father's comb, carrying only a yellow materia.

- Uh... you go somewhere too?
- I have things to settle off... on my own.
- Look, Red, the team can not split now. We need lots'a'powa.
- With Shinra's intel on our side the guys will do all right. I'll PHS you once I'm back in Cosmo Canyon...
- Cosmo...? Are you going back to see your grandpa?

Nanaki let out a hiss for an answer, and took of. Cid stood there perplexed, for a couple of minutes, until he remembered he was in charge of keeping two eyes over Cait Sith. And the intelligence briefing was long over.

"All right... We're taking off!"

The airship pilot, a LV.3 student of Cid, toot to the controls and soon the ship left the ground, heading northeast. In a couple hours Cloud and co. would be over the Mythril Mines, they would settle there and set up to infiltrate Junon.

Cid had a hard time explaining both Vincent and Nanaki gone away. Yuffie and Cloud didn't care (Cluld to some extent could understand why they were leaving). Barret and Tifa got quite exasperated, but after some convincing that this mission was more important, they agreed to look for them later. Tifa was tremendously worried for the others: Vincent went alone, he at least had transportation; Nanaki left on his own, with only oneMateria, and had to cross the sea to get to Gongaga, then the forests to get to Cosmo. But a look at Cloud's face relaxed her.

Shorthy after diner, Cait Sith approached Cloud.

"Look... boy, I know you've been out in the land of rainbows and talking kittens for a while, but I need you to know something important."

"We're in search of the Huge Materia. That's what we need to save the Planet now. What I'm going to ask from you is quite unexpected. But if you really want to stop me... stop the Shinra... it is the only way."

Cloud looked up to the robot. His gaze was slightly unfocused as if he was not hearing anything Cait said. The effects of his recent Mako poisoning still evident in his body.

"Deep inside and beneath the Junon military base there is an underwater Reactor. It was hidden for long, one of Rufus' favourite projects. Now I heard it's becoming active again. Most importantly, this is: except for the Midgar reactors, this is the one mako reactor left. Without this, Midgar is alone. Without this, Shinra's power is again confined to this continent."

This time, Cloud spoke:

- So, what do yo want me to do?

"To stop it for good. No matter the cost."

Cloud lowers his head, ponders for a while, and nods to the robot. Caith Sith retreats to the radio room to coordinate comm while Cloud checks on the Buster Sword again. Only a Comet materia in one of the slots.

A beautiful morning at Junon...

A couple of soldiers are going down the main elevator in Junon, chatting about who will invite a pretty girl out. As soon as the elevator door opens, they are met by a boy with spikey blonde hair, dressed in old Shinra military clothing, carrying a broadsword. Looks like the one in the "REWARD" signs all over the town.

- Huh...? The intruder!
- Let's take him! The one who gets him gets the girl out!
- All'ight! Come on you, let's "shake hands"!

Cloud smiled to himself as he enters the elevator and the door closes. The sound of metal blades clashing and of item packs thrown away is isolated by the mountain rock and the huge steel door. As soon as the elevator light turns on, a bell inside rings and the lights turn off, the elevator door opening again.

Cloud appears inside. He looks to the ground to the beaten up soldiers, raises his head and waives his hand. From behind some bushes Tifa and Barret come in. They all get into the elevator and smile to each other as the door closes again.

The lights turns on and the elevator goes up...

"Operator? This is Barret. We're inside".

"Splendid", answers Cait. "Now let's the game begin, shall we?"

End of Chapter 2