"Just one damn break!" Sazh yelled in exasperation, while bringing up his gun and aiming at the monstrous bird. "Why can't I get one damned break!"

Hope swallowed nervously. He tossed his boomerang, and watched as it pinged off the bird's hardened hide, just like before. If only he had his once powerful magic powers, this fight wouldn't be a problem at all. At the rate he was going though, the only way he could kill the bird was with old age. After all, if it could shrug off a grenade to the eyes, then what would a boomerang do?

Lightning stumbled away from the elevator. She was too wounded currently to fight, and besides, what could she do? That huge bird ignored her signature attack, and blasted her at least 15 feet away as an afterthought.

Without the powers their l'Cie curse gave them, was defeating this enemy even possible?

It was clear that nothing the group could do was working. The shots and pings from the relative guns and boomerang was doing nothing but annoy that massive bird, and Binesi was clearly charging up for something. His chest puffed up. Electricity started to crackle around him.

Sazh thought of Vanille. How he couldn't save her. How he would never see Dajh again. Never rib Snow again, or call Lightning "That crazy soldier girl." He aimed upwards and took another shot.

Hope thought of how he wasn't strong enough. The chance they had to save the pair was gone. This was it, the end. He couldn't find his father, and he couldn't save Vanille. He tossed his boomerang in one final gesture of defiance.

Lightning felt remorse and guilt. That mysterious stranger who'd promised to help them, had never arrived. Her cryptic instructions of "just go south" had resulted in this catastrophe. It was because of her that her family was about to die.

Snow would never do anything stupid again, or try to be a hero again. Sazh would never crack another joke, or grumble about his age again. Hope would never be able to look up to anyone, strive to be stronger or better again.

Lightning lowered her head in shame. It was all because of her.

The bird opened its beak, electricity crackling all over it. It was ready to use one last ultimate attack, that would annihilate the peak of the tower, and the nuances on top of it.

The group as one, put down their weapons-

"Been an honor, soldier girl," said Sazh, as he slowly put down his rifle.

"Light... just thanks. For everything," said Hope, as his boomerang kissed the ground.

And the group prepared to die. Together. As one.

A massive flash of light arced out, and suddenly, everything went black

A/N

Oh ho ho, I'm mean with those cliffies.

Don't worry, everyone hasn't died.

But to find out what happened, read the next (currently nonexistent) chapter!

As always, Review please.

-PS, sry for the rather short length...