Chapter 10- Lowlife
"Thanks Bernie, this just in, 2 First Class SOLDIERS have been reported A.W.O.L. They apparently sped off in the early morning three days ago with out so much as a reason to why and where they were headed. Be on the look out for these two, they are armed and dangerous." A picture of Sephiroth popped onto the TV screen. "The Legendary SOLDIER Sephiroth and a brand new First Class SOLDIER known by the name of Vincent Valentine. No picture available. Over to you Stan."
"Thanks Catherine. I've done some research on this new First Class SOLDIER and discovered some shocking evidence. It turns out Vincent Valentine is a fake name, the real identity of this new recruit is none other then the monster from the Neibelheim Mako Reactor, masquerading as a human. So shut your doors and lock up tight, this fiend shows no mercy to anyone. Until further notice please stay inside during the night, don't wander off alone, and certainly don't try to find this horrible creature." A man with a microphone spoke on the screen. "I've interviewed some people that used to live in Neibelheim to see what they can tell us about the monster."
"It was night; everyone was asleep when I started hearin' these sreaminin's coming from the reactor. My pop went to go check out what was happening and he never returned. The savage beast killed meh pop when I was just a young'ing."
"I supposed many people would like to pay back that monster for what it did to our home. So many people died because of it! I lost 4 family members in one evening."
Tifa clicked the television screen off with a heavy sigh. She looked around the room Sephiroth was asleep on the bed still and there were a few dishes on the coffee table. She sighed again, this time out of boredom and not irritation. She quickly jotted down a note saying that she was going for a walk and tapped it to Sephiroth's forehead to make sure he'd see it when he woke up. She strolled out of their hotel and wandered down the streets. It was dark outside; they had both made a habit of sleeping during the day. The street lights dimly light the grey cobble stone roads that Tifa was now pacing down.
Sure she looked like a regular girl, but she sure as hell was a lot stronger then one. Truth be told, she was looking for trouble, she was that bored. They had stayed inside the hotel for three days and she wanted to get out. Tifa hated being in once place for a long length of time.
"Let go of me!" A woman shrieked down an alley.
Tifa wandered down there to see two men holding a young woman, not much older then herself by her skinny arms and three other men standing around her. Tifa licked her lips; a habit she had picked up that she would do right before entering combat. It caught the attention of the 5 men in front of her and the woman.
"Hehe, man, we're getting lucky tonight boys!" One of them shouted.
"Oi, leave her alone," Tifa folded her arms over her chest. The two men holding the girl dropped her and approached Tifa.
"Congratulations bitch, you've just earned her place," One of them said as the girl scampered away quickly.
"Hm, I don't like these odds. It's been so long since I've had a fair fight." A sly smirk appeared across her face.
"Aww that's too bad, you should'da thought 'bout that 'fore you started sticking yer nose in'na other peoples business." Another man said as him and his buddies formed a circle around Tifa.
"We'll go one on one if you know what I mean," One of them cackled.
Tifa laughed. "That's not what I meant. 50 of you guys versus me would make it a little more even, though the odds would still be in my favor."
"So smug, but for how long?" A 6th male voice spoke from the entrance of the alley.
Tifa's mouth hung open as she looked at Genesis standing in the light from the street lights.
"Get out of here! Go find your own broad!" One of the guys shouted.
"Broad?!" Tifa screamed in the one guys face.
"Tifa now is neither the time nor place," Genesis stated coolly. "Don't waist your gift on these low some scum."
"Gift?!" She turned to face Genesis, outrage on her face. "Is that what you call it? To you gifts, to me more like some kind of cosmic joke!"
"I'm tired of waiting damn it!" A man shouted as he lunged forward at Tifa. Tifa delivered a swift uppercut to his stomach and sent him flying into the brick wall. The four other men stared at her with mouths ajar.
"Tifa don't make a scene," Genesis ordered.
"Stay out of this!" The four men and the girl shouted back at Genesis.
"I warned you…" Genesis backed off slightly and raised his hand in the air, signaling that he surrendered. Just then a spot light came out of no where and shot down upon Tifa. About 300 SOLDIER troops appeared in the area surrounding the alley way, on roof tops and what not. Each one of them possessed a riffle that was loaded and aimed towards her.
"What the fuck is this shit?!" one of the men shouted.
"Screw it! Let's get out of here!" A man shouted as he dragged his unconscious buddy out of the alley followed by his 3 other friends.
"I'm not going back!" Tifa used her hands to emphasize her words.
"You're not going back to SOLDIER. My mission was to retrieve and relocate you."
"So you're just following orders?" Tifa put her hands angrily on her hips.
Genesis used a darkness materia that blinded Tifa. While she was momentarily stunned, he tied her wrists behind her back and ankles together was strong material that Tifa couldn't seem to break free from. Genesis threw her over his shoulder and proceeded out of the alleyway. Tifa wriggled under his grasp but it was like the darkness he had casted was making her drowsy.
"Put me down!" She hissed, still blind.
"Sephiroth, you're under arrest for Kidnapping, SOLDIER Abandonment, and Grand Theft." Angeal read a list off a piece of paper as he stood in front of his former comrade. "You have the right to remain silent, anything and everything you say will be used against you."
Heavy chains were tightly wrapped around Sephiroth's body, making it difficult for him to not only move but breathe. He scowled at Angeal. Though, Angeal did not look in the least bit like he was enjoying this, he almost seemed pained. Three young cadets came in to the room and hauled Sephiroth out to the street where a helicopter was waiting. Down the road he saw Genesis carrying Tifa to another helicopter. Her eyes were dark so it was obvious she had been temporarily blinded. He saw her thrashing and kicking on Genesis' shoulder. He also read her lips and saw that she was cussing at him.
The helicopter door slammed close and he could no longer see her. Angeal sat across from him, avoiding eye contact. His mouth was drawn into a thin line, a grimace almost.
"Where are they taking her?" Sephiroth snarled.
"My place!" A familiar red haired Turk pilot joked.
Sephiroth began angrily flailing on the floor at the Turks comment, trying to break free of his chains. A young 3rd Class SOLDIER on the helicopter zapped Sephiroth in the neck with a Taser. A bolt of electricity was sent through out his entire body cause him to lurch upwards slightly.
"Touchy… Though, I guess with a woman as fine as that I'd be upset if she was taken away too. Damn, she was fine!" Reno continued.
"I'll fucking kill you!" Sephiroth shouted, his voice filled with venom.
The young SOLDIER zapped Sephiroth again with the Taser when he began rolling around on the floor again. This time, the shock was longer and harder. He panted furiously, trying to break free with 110% more effort this time.
The helicopter finally landed back in Midgar where Sephiroth was once again hauled out and dragged through town. Midgar was a little more active during the night so many civilians were there to watch the show, pointing at Sephiroth and whispering to their neighbors. He continued to work at his chains while kicking his feet franticly, booth were failed attempts at breaking free. Sephiroth took another Taser to the neck, this time it was twice as power as the first two put together. He gritted his teeth as he tried to block out the pain.
He was back at SOLDIER Headquarters; however his new sleeping arrangements were a maximum security prison cell in the sub basement of the building. He was thrown on the cot with his chain loosened enough for him to get off by himself. No one wanted the task of taking of the Legendary General Sephiroth's restraints. He slammed his fists against the cell wall and cried out in furry. He jumped to his feet but felt woozy from all the electricity that had been shot passed his brain. Sephiroth fell backwards and passed out on the cold, hard floor.
Tifa rubbed her eyes and yawned. She sighed and scowled when she recalled her most recent memories of her being kidnapped by Genesis and being blinded. She still couldn't see anything and that was currently frustrating her.
"Good, you're awake." Some one's voice called to her from the other side of the room she was in. It sounded familiar but she wasn't positive. "But still blind I see. I did warn you not to make a scene."
"Genesis…" She said coldly.
"Tifa, please don't hate me." Genesis approached her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Why shouldn't I?" She flicked his hand away from hers.
"Because you're safe now and no more harm will come to you."
"I was safe with Sephiroth!" She blurted out.
"No you weren't. He put you at risk all the more by taking you away from SOLDIER. If we hadn't intervened then more and more people would have clued in to your presence."
"I'm not anyone's object! I don't belong to anyone!" She threw her fists up in the air.
"…I never said you were…"
"Just go away! I don't want to talk to you anymore! Where's Sephiroth?" Tifa heard Genesis walked towards a door then changed her mind. "Wait…"
"Hm?"
"Don't leave me alone. It's dark and I don't like it." She rubbed the back of her neck nervously.
Genesis pulled up a chair next to the cot where Tifa had been discarded.
"Why do you continue to work for SOLDIER?" She asked in a timid, gentle voice. "Even after all the horrible things you've no doubt seen?"
"I have no choice. I too, have been branded by Shinra."
"You can choice to leave, just like Sephiroth and I," Tifa lowered her head even though she still couldn't see anything.
"I suppose, but then I would end up being hunted down just like you and him. With the difference that I would be shot down instead of retrieved. Apparently I'm not as precious as either of you two. Besides, I'm dying anyways."
"Dying?"
Genesis pulled off his left glove and placed in between hers so she could feel it. Tifa ran her fingers over his. Her face saddened when she felt how rough and bony his hand was. It was like a sheet of extra thin sandpaper wrapped on top of bones.
"I'm starting to degrade." He pulled his hand back and pulled his glove back on.
"Is there anything that can stop it?"
"Yes, there is one thing. But the people who are in possession of it wouldn't give a bit up to save me."
"What is it?"
"Jenova Cells."
"He's what?!" Angeal exploded in Lazard's Office.
"That's right, I'm afraid he went A.W.O.L. when the team was recovering Tifa and Sephiroth. Not only him, but 30 other second class SOLDIERS have gone missing along with him," Lazard, being the calm man he was, folded his hands on the table in front of him with out so much as giving a hint of annoyance. "Do you have any idea where to find him?"
Angeal paused to think for a moment. "Banora would be my first guess."
"Of course," Lazard began calling up all possible Banora files on his computer. "Genesis should be no problem for you and Zack to find, however the girl is a different story. She continues to grow stronger by the day. The only person who would stand a chance against her would be Sephiroth, but he'd have no part in SOLDIER anymore."
"Did you speak with him yet?"
"Yes, and thank goodness for his restraints. He would've killed my right then and there," Lazard rubbed his temples.
Just then, a violent explosion shook the building. Lights began flashing red and sirens began sounding. Lazard called up one of the company's surveillance cameras on his computer and sighed heavily.
"Sephiroth's gone," He said as he showed a video clip of Sephiroth's empty cell with a massive hole. A few black feathers lay scattered on the stone floor. "He's going after. Gather up all the remaining 1st class, 2nd class, and 3rd class SOLDIERS and go after Sephiroth. As of right now, the two of them pose the biggest threat. Together, they could destroy the planet."
A/n: Hurray! Another chapter done finished. Drama, drama, drama. :D Sorry this chapter took so long, I kept reciting it over and over again in my head before I wrote it up to make sure I could easily continue on from it. Please R&R if you liked it.
Reviews:
Thanks xSefirosux for the review! Lol no, it wasn't a fantasy. And though this chapter doesn't say exactly what Genesis was/is thinking, but it will be explained better in the nest chapter or so.
Thanks ZakuReno for the review! Perhaps there will be a love triangle… or perhaps he's just using her…. Hmm….
Thanks SorrowSong for the review! I hope this chapter was long enough for you. I wanted to end it on a thought provoking part. Thanks for your feed back.