well, its been a while since i last updated on this one, huh?
this chapter here is a what if Lightning met Denzel after Cocoon's fall, and he is not her nephew.
Survivor
Dust and smoke filled the air as a heavy, coating mist. It clung to everything in it, slowing and dragging anything that moved, and blinded the searching survivors and rescuers. Worse of it, it slipped in and choked people mercilessly. PSICOM and the GC were all to wear oxygen masks and goggles for safety while they searched for survivors in Cocoon's fall.
Cocoon's fall.
She grimaced to herself. As nice as it was to be free of the fal'Cie, the cost for it was large. Many died when Cocoon fell, and Sanctum was struggling to help and find anyone that was able to escape death.
Being a large cause for Cocoon's fall, Lightning did as she was ordered willingly. It was her fault after all. She was at fault as to why Cocoon fell. Though she doubted an apology would fix anything, she did what she could to help Cocoon and even out the score of the mess she caused.
Surprisingly, Sanctum took her back, though begrudgingly. She was watched closely, and the prey to all of Sanctum soldiers' bitter feeling and thoughts.
She took it all though. She listened to each curse sent her way, understanding completely why they growled and snarled at her. It was her fault after all. She wouldn't take them to heart, never would, she did what she had to do for her sister. For her own survival. But she would regret the loss people suffered, and understand them and the person they lost.
She would do it to help make up for making Cocoon fall, for letting millions die.
To help the living thousands that were waiting to be lifted up and away from every danger zone, Lightning searched steadily.
Lightning was one of many wearing such masks as she slipped noisily through the rubble so she would be heard. With heat sensing goggles covering her eyes as she sought for bodies, and an oxygen mask over her face as she breathed, protecting her respiratory system while she looked, so this dust wouldn't clog her up.
But for any survivors here, it was a merciless death field. They'd die choking on the air they desperately need. Instead of air, they'd be breathing in all the dirt in the air, feeling it rake and brush against their throat instead of the cool touch of air. Because of this, this area was going to be declared another dead zone, with the area so unstable and merciless, it seemed near impossible for any survivors. Lightning is one of few soldiers sent to scavenge the land for any last, struggling survivors.
She is seeing none so far, and she's almost an hour into this area and has yet to see any body heat of a survivor. She was just about ready to phone in and declare that her end was clear, the Sanctum would have people look at this area once it has been cleared.
Just as she listed her wrist before, hand ready to signal the radio, a clatter of stones was heard, catching her off guard. Turning to them, she peered warily at a pile of concrete. Adjusting her heat sensing goggles, she intensified their power, and blinked when she saw that there was a body hidden in all that concrete pile, with the rubble almost masking the person completely.
Lightning rushed over, touching the rubble with one hand, and snapping the other, allowing her gravity bomb to fill the area, affecting everything around her. Stones shifted as it surged through them, and Lightning evenly pushed them up and away. When she cleared most of it, she blinked behind her goggles in surprise to see that a boy lay underneath, barely conscious. Ripping away a gas mask form her belt, she clipped it quickly over his face.
"Breathe," she told him, still pushing debris away to get a better reach of him.
He shakily breathed in through the mask, his eyes half lidded like a child struggle to rouse himself for school.
If only.
Gently, but steadily, she pulled him out, and he slumped heavily against her. Wrapping her arms around him securely, she pulled them both up on standing legs. Holding him tightly to her, she intensified her goggles power again and scoped out the area, seeing no other body heat, she contacted the Sanctum.
"Clear, only one survivor found," she told him curtly, holding the trembling, half conscious boy close.
A confirmed beep answered her, informing her that her message got through. Pulling him up closely and along, they stumbled through the descruction, with Lightning's guilt feeling heavier and heavier with each step.
This was her fault after all. Cocoon's fall and all the suffering the people are going through. It was her fault after all.
"Steady," she told him, pulling him back up when he suddenly stumbled. "We're almost there, kid. We're almost there."
He gave no answer to show that he heard her; but she did feel his fingers tighten around her waist in a weak desperate grip as she pulled him along.
She returned it with her own comforting squeeze.
She'll make it up, for sure, she'll make it up for the damage done.
She'll start with this kid. She'll help him get steady on his feet; just like she did for Hope.
"We're almost there," she repeated, more to herself this time. "We're almost there."