PROJECT D

Chapter Eight

One thing to note about runnng like hell from the spot where the only freind you have in the world you happen to be in is fighting for his life, is that it is not emotionally easy. I'm not saying that i was crying, that is mostly because i was certain

that Zack would be joining me shortly with one witty remark after another. After a few minutes of Zack not catching up to me i began to grow worried. I thought that maybe i should turn back and help him fight, but i couldn't turn around, fear kept me running fast. It is interesting to think about it, about how even the bravest of people will run in fear. I am not the bravest person alive by any means, nor am i a coward. I am brave to an extent, but now it seemed as if i had reached my

limit. I had been pushed beyond what i could take, and so i ran as fast as i could long after it became clear that Zack would not be catching up to me.

In my desperate flight from the scene fo battle i did not notice the passing of time, nor my growing tiredness, the ache in my muscles growing worse and worse. I noticed these things only s the sun began to rise over the horizon, i then became

aware of how long i had run, and how far. The forests of Gongaga were many miles behind me, and only a couple miles ahead of me was a river beyond which lay a vast desert. In the back of my mind i was faintly aware of the knowledge that in that desert was the golden saucer, and the Corel prison. Reaching the saucer from the ground would be impossible, and once i entered the desert it would be impossible to exit. But i knew of another route, nestled in the mountains to the side

of the desert were the ruins of Corel, where i now decided to go. Where else was there. And so, my run began again as i sloshed through the river, and made my way towards Corel.

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I was not aware of fainting, nor was i aware of the pack of monsters that found me and deemed me their lunch. I was not even aware of the people of Corel who had spotted me as i collapsed, and who rushed out and fought the monsters off.

I was aware of waking up in a very uncomfortable bed in a ragged tent.

"Foo i don't care how far we gotta walk each day, that oilf feild will provide us the money we need to rebuild this place!!!" I heard shouting outside. Having watched Advent Children, i knew the voice of all the primary FFVII characters. I now

recognized the voice of Barret.

"We need people to fend off the monsters!! They are in mating season and many of them have flocked into our area to do it!!" Another voice shouted back.

"Get a few people whoo know how to aim and shoot give'em some guns and they can handle it while the rest of us take care of the oil!!!" The voice i suspected was Barret's shouted back even louder.

I stood and was suprised at how rejuvinated i felt, the last i remembered before waking up here i was barely alive. A cure materia had probably been used i thought, or maybe an elixer. Who knew which? Not me. Regardless i saw my sword and

a fresh change of clothes at the foot of my bed. The new clothes consisted of green camo cargo pants, a white t-shirt, combat boots, and a green camo vest. I moved my sword aside and quickly dressed myself before replacing the blade at my side.

I new someone was watching a split second before they spoke, not because of any noise or movement. I could smell them, the subtle smell of BO nearly made me gag, not because it was strong, but because it had entered the tent so

suddenly.

"I see your up'an about!" I whirled to see the speaker was Barret, as i had suspected.

I said nothing, not out of nervousness so much as a lack of anything to say that would not make me look like an idiot on crack, an image i wished to avoid. "Silent guy eh? You remind me of a certain spikey-assed guy i know!" Barret said with

a big smile.

"Spikey-assed?" I asked, though i beleived i already knew who he was talking about.

"Well the spikes are actually on his head. His names Cloud Strife. My names Barret Wallace." Barret replied.

"David Mckee." I gave my name.

"Mckee? Funny name." Barret commented.

"I guess. So you know Cloud?" I asked, though i already knew he did.

"Yeah! You know'em?" Barret replied.

"Nah, i'm just looking for him." I explained as a plan began to formulate. If i was right, then Sephiroth would consider Cloud a bigger threat then me, and would go after him first. If i could get to him first then i could warn him, maybe help him

when the fight started.

"In that case you just missed him, he left here about two hours ago, heading back for that new town their building around Midgar. Edge i think their calling it." Barret said.

My eyes widened as i said "I see, in that case maybe i can catch him before he reaches Costa Del Sol!!"

"Not likely, he's on his motorcycle." Barret replied.

For a moment my hopes dropped, but then a weird little thought passed through my mind as i asked "You don't happen to have a motorcyle i could borrow do you?"

"You got money?" Barret asked gruffly.

"I can pay you back later." I said.

Barret considered this for a moment before he said "Alright, but you better pay me back inside the month or i'll hunt you down!!"

"Deal!" I said.

Ten minutes later i sped out of Corel on a motorcycle. I was upset over the Zack thing, but i had already decided that i could worry bout that after this whole thing was done and over with. I was lucky enough to have had Barret explain the

basics of riding one of these things before i set off, and i even got some new shades. For the first time i felt like i was a real hero. But i also knew that despite all i had faced so far, the real battle was still ahead. I rode on.