:( Well...I didn't really get any reviews for the last chapter, Except from Zimithrus1 and Clouded Fantasies (thank you so much you guys for your support!), and it was one of my favorites to write so far... anyway, hope this one gets more attention. Again, I don't write for reviews but they are VERY appreciated and I reply to all the ones I can. Chapter starts again a bit confusing and jumps around a bit... just an fyi.
…
We walk alone, in the unknown, we live to win another victory.
We are the young, dying sons, we live to change the face of history.
Don't be afraid, it's the price we pay!
The only easy day was yesterday!
So hear our voice, we have a choice,
to stand and face it!
We are one we are one we are one we will stand together!
Number one, number one, the chosen ones,
We are one we are one we are one we will fight forever!
We are one and we won't die young!
-We are one (idk who sings it)
...
"Right in this door, sir." the lab tech said sheepishly, gesturing. The director pushed past, striding into the room with a smirk. As soon as he set foot in the room, an ear-piercing scream of agony ripped from the throat of the current subject restrained in the center of the room.
What trembled on the floor was neither beast nor man, but a monstrous combination of the two. Shackles trapped its hands and feet to the ground, and a thick metal collar was clamped around its neck with a steel chain holding it to the floor as well. It's pitiful shriek had come from the fact that a scientist had just sliced a five inch gash into its ribs with a scalpel in order to study its pain reaction and healing time. Blood infused with mako dripped to the concrete floor as the creature pulled on its chains, then turned helplessly to the director.
"It appears this one is a failure as well?" the director said, his tone implying a question. The scientist who had just wounded the creature looked back at it.
"Yes, but not entirely. We have better subjects than this one, but this particular subject displays a remarkable healing time." the scientist said, gesturing to the gash that was already starting to seal itself closed.
"However, it is not enough of a success to keep alive. We'll use some of its cells to create a new subject, but we're ever closer to what you were wanting, Director." the scientist said. As if it understood, the creature thrashed in its bonds, sending the chain rattling and grinding the cuffs against its wrists, scraping off the flesh only to have it heal a few seconds later.
"Perfect, your team is making good progress... And I have good news to report that I've sent out a team to retrieve some more notable human components for this project. We'll just have to see what we get when they return." the director said with a smile. The scientist uneasily returned the expression, then went back to the restrained creature.
Preparing a large syringe, the scientist stabbed it into the back of the creature's neck, drawing a small whimper from it as it's strange colored blood filled the syringe quickly. This female scientist handed the sample to the director, who in turn held it up to the light and examined it as the scientist once more returned to the subject. She picked up another large volume syringe, this one full of a highly potent barbiturate anesthetic.
The creature had stopped struggling, turning to the tech with pleading in its mako-altered eyes. Its panicked expression softened, as if it knew what was happening, and the poor subject hung its vaguely dog-like head. The director looked up, handing the sample to the tech beside him.
"Oh, don't waste your resources." he said, pulling a pistol from his hip and taking a half step forward. The creature turned slowly to meet his gaze, making no sound as it lifted its chin slightly.
Without remorse or emotion, the director leveled the gun at the creature's head and pulled the trigger. The shot was deafening in the confined area, and the subject dropped instantly, one leg twitching reflexively from its sudden death. The wound in its skull trickled blood, showing no sign of healing. The director sheathed his pistol and took the sample from the tech, handing it back to the scientist.
"Here. Get someone to clean that up." he said, jerking his chin towards the dead creature before he spun on his heel and walked out.
….
"What exactly is it that we're looking for?" Reno called over his shoulder to Rude, who was walking behind him. Night had since fallen in Midgar, and in the slums where they were now there was little light cast anywhere. Rude grunted.
"Anything suspicious." he answered. Reno gave short laugh, tapping his fighting rod over his shoulder like he'd gotten in the habit of.
"Midgar, at night? You're gonna have to be more specific." Reno said. The faint glow from the moon reflected off of the goggles on his head, giving Rude an approximate idea of where his partner was in front of him. Understandably, he was surprised when the glint suddenly disappeared and Reno hit the ground with a thud and a curse. An instant later, Rude felt a strong blow across his shoulders and was knocked to the ground, hard. He turned to Reno, shouting.
"How clear is this?!" Rude said. He could just make out Reno struggling with some dark-clothed assailant that currently was pinning him to the ground. Rude himself had just thrown his attacker, getting in a fighting stance even though his vision was limited by the darkness. Reno turned his head and called back.
"Crystal! Rude, call it in!" Reno said, getting his left arm free and clocking his attacker on the head with his rod. Rude reached for his phone in his back pocket, but right as he did, someone jumped out of nowhere and grasped his arm, jerking it upwards and snapping it out of its socket. Rude cried out in pain, distracting Reno, who then had his rod taken swiftly from his hand. With a loud 'tok!' Reno slumped unconscious from the blow to his head.
Rude helplessly held his injured arm, circling to keep his attackers in sight, but it was no use. A blinding blow struck the back of his head and he crumpled, still clinging to consciousness. The last thing he saw before the marauders hit him again, strangely, was what looked like a company of SOLDIER infantrymen marching towards him.
….
Cloud felt the enveloping warmth and comfort typical of the City in the Sky as he returned, but it was soon replaced. A feeling wound into his chest like someone was slowly draining the life from his soul.
As soon as he snapped back to his senses in the church, his legs gave way and he crumpled to the ground with a loud thud. Zack and Aerith both hurried to him, Aerith starting to pray earnestly and Zack sitting by his best friend with a concerned look. He gently helped Cloud position himself more comfortably on his back, taking Cloud's sword and sheath as well and lying it next to him.
"Man, you shouldn't have gone back, just look at you..." Zack said. The feeling Cloud had earlier had evolved into the sensation that someone was holding his heart in their clenched fist and was only squeezing it tighter and tighter. With a slight panic, he associated the feeling to when he was dying the first time back on the field. Cloud swallowed hard, rolling his blue gaze towards his friend.
"I...had to... It was Denzel, he almost...got hit by a truck..." Cloud said. Zack raised an eyebrow.
"Almost? What, did you save him?" Cloud nodded.
"Yeah, it...hit me instead..." Cloud answered. From her spot, Aerith gasped and hurried to Cloud's side.
"Oh, Cloud! This is very bad... Do you realize how much that took out of your energy?! You were already weak, and manifesting you would have been bad enough, but getting hit like that!?" Aerith paused a moment, her tone becoming grave. "The planet might reclaim you, Cloud. If you expend your spirit's energy like that...it can be dangerous. You can't die again, but your mind can be assimilated into the lifestream...once that happens...you're gone for good, Cloud." Aerith said. Cloud frowned, not able to even move from the feeling in his chest.
"Okay...I'll be more caref..." Cloud said, suddenly getting light headed. Though he fought it, the ceiling spun a few times and he couldn't stop himself from blacking out.
Zack gasped when Cloud's head lolled to the side on the floor and his eyes closed. He scooted forward on the floor and held his friend's head in his lap. He turned to Aerith with a helpless look in his eye.
"Is he...?" he asked. Aerith moved her hand over Cloud's body, closing her eyes a moment before returning her attention back to Zack.
"No, but he's very weak...I don't suspect he'll be returning to Gaia for some time. I doubt he'll even be able to fly for a while..." Aerith said, looking down at Cloud's prone form before gathering her dress and sitting next to Zack.
"He is who he is, can't leave the past behind...What the hell am I saying?" Zack chuckled. "I couldn't keep from going back either." he said, looking down at his weak friend. Aerith smiled slightly, reaching forward and brushing a bit of Cloud's hair out of his face.
"You gave your life for him, and he for the ones he loved as well. You were his inspiration, his hero, Zack. That's all he talked about after you died." Aerith said, turning her attention to Zack. He looked away and at the floor.
"I know...that's why I told him..." Zack paused, then looked at Aerith. "I told him he was my living legacy, and I know, he tried so damn hard to live up to the standard that he held me to. I don't know Aerith...did I push him too far?" Zack asked. Aerith smiled further.
"Dilly dally shilly shally."
….
Denzel stood on the edge of the street for a long moment, staring at the shining golden feather lying in his hand. He turned it over gently and smoothed it with his other hand. He swore then that he heard Cloud's voice, as if he was standing right next to him. It had an odd whispering, echoing quality that made it hard to focus on, but it was there nonetheless.
"You and the others have always been there, whenever I needed you. Well, now it's my turn." Cloud's voice said before it faded away, leaving no trace of him besides the feather in Denzel's hand. Snapping out of it, Denzel clutched the feather tightly and sprinted off in the direction of the bar, ducking and weaving around pedestrians and earning more than one sour curse.
He reached the door and hardly slowed down to open it, barreling into the bar and running behind the counter where Tifa was. She had been absently washing dishes that were already clean, trying to get her mind off things, and nearly dropped the shot glass she'd been holding when Denzel tripped into her.
"Whoa! Hey, what's the matter Denzel?" She said, setting the glass on the counter and looking down at him. Vincent had been leaning against the far wall when Denzel had burst in, and now stood, interested. Tifa knelt down to Denzel's level, though he was already doubled over and breathing hard from running so fast.
"I almost...got hit... by a truck..." he gasped out, intending to finish his sentence before Tifa cut him off.
"What?! Oh my gosh are you okay?!" Tifa said, looking him up and down. Denzel stamped his foot impatiently.
"That's what... I wanted to tell you! It was Cloud! He saved me, he pushed me out of the way!" Denzel said earnestly. Tifa frowned, looking at Denzel in hurt and grief.
"Don't, Denzel...Cloud...Cloud is dead." Tifa said, willing tears not to come to her eyes again. Denzel smiled.
"I know! That's what I meant! I was just about to get run over, then someone pushed me really hard and I fell out of the way. I heard something get hit behind me, and when I turned around, it was just me and Cloud in a really bright white place full of flowers. He said he came back so he could save me, but...he couldn't stay real long. He started walking away, then...then he had wings with golden feathers, and then he faded away. After that I was back on the street, but...I was holding this." Denzel said breathlessly, holding out his small hand with the still-perfect feather in his palm. Tifa took it gingerly.
She knew birds were a rarity in Midgar, and she'd seen none with the rich golden color that this feather had. She also knew it was much too large to have come from a normal bird. Tifa dropped to both her knees, meeting Denzel's gaze.
"Oh, Denzel...I'm sorry for doubting you..." Tifa said, looking at the feather and choking up. Vincent walked silently around the counter and laid his clawed hand on Denzel's shoulder. The child looked up, and Vincent motioned with his other hand for him to go to the room he had upstairs. Denzel nodded, turning and running up the stairs while Vincent knelt to Tifa's level. She had tears welling up in her brown eyes, and she had collapsed into a choked up mess.
"Cloud...please...please...come back to me..." Tifa whispered.
….
In the City in the Sky, Zack hadn't moved from his previous spot, and Aerith had gone to pray at a shrine to the goddess that was back further in the church. Without warning, Cloud's eyelids flickered and he shot upright.
"Tifa!" he cried, then put a hand to his head and collapsed backwards. Zack caught him, moving out to the side of his friend and patting his shoulder.
"Easy, friend. What's wrong?" Zack asked. Cloud slumped back further against Zack's hold and finally Zack eased Cloud back to the floor.
"Tifa...I heard her... Zack, she misses me so much...she..." Cloud said, struggling to keep his eyes open but losing that battle and passing out again. Zack smiled faintly.
"I know...rest easy, Cloud."
…
Reno awoke slowly, with a feeling that he'd been drugged. Actually, he thought, it was more like a hangover, but he wasn't about to tell anyone that. Looking around, he realized he was in a concrete room with a padded floor. Rude was standing in one corner, pissed as hell with a big lump on his head. Someone had popped his arm back into joint, but it was then that Reno made another discovery.
"What the hell happened to our clothes!?" he said, looking down at himself. They'd been spared their underwear, but that was about all.
"Who knows." Rude said, arms crossed. "They took the rest of our stuff too, not to mention our weapons." he replied. Rude was missing his sunglasses, which was a big no no to anyone that took them; Reno no longer had his goggles on his head, and someone had cut the tie he used to keep his hair in a ponytail, not to mention they apparently hosed his hair down since it was completely flat. Rude had half a smirk on his face.
"That's a good look for you, kinda makes you look like Tifa." Rude said. Reno groaned, dragging a hand down his face, then cast a sideways glance at Rude in his boxers.
"So...chocobos?" Reno said, glancing at the pattern on Rude's undergarments. They featured an aviary's worth of yellow chocobos on a black background, and Rude glared at his partner.
"Got a problem with it? At least I'm not wearing that." Rude said, pointing to Reno's unmentionables. In turn, Reno was only wearing the equivalent of a tight, small red speedo. Not to mention it had a moogle printed right where Rude wished he wouldn't have looked.
"What's wrong with it?!" Reno asked, smirking. His attitude instantly was stripped away when the only door to the room was flung open and a man in a dark suit stood in the doorway with an evil smirk, paying no mind to the half-naked men inside.
"Well, look what the troops dragged in. Turks, welcome...to the new Shinra."
…
Well sorry for the bit of delay! Please review! (IMPORTANT ) OMG WOW you guys! over 2000 views! this calls for something special since I reached my goal of views and this isn't close to being done! ...Okay, a bit unfair, but the first one to review or PM me of what they want will get a FF7 based one-shot dedicated to them. Any other ideas I'll put on a back burner or do when I get writer's block for this. THANK. YOU. ALL. SO. MUCH!