Gonna keep A/N short as I am really in the full swing of writing right now. Thanks Triva for your wonderful review, I am so glad you enjoyed the Cloud/Zack opening.
I did write out the scene of Cissnei's experiance in the honeybee inn, but decided to cut it. I thought it would be too long, I am sure you can all use your imagination anyway :D.
I'm so poor even the mice moved out and hence I do not own any FF7 material belonging to Square Enix.
Enjoy!
Chapter 10 Part 1- Decisive lies
"Marlene... Marlene look at me, it's ok, nothings gonna hurt you"
"But I'm scared Aeryis"
The tiny four-year old girl was quaking terribly, she reminded Aerith of herself when she was a little girl. When the voices of the planet first started calling to her she would be so scared, even try to hide. Her fear of the voices was made worse by the fact that even as a child she knew it wasn't normal, that she shouldn't be hearing voices in her head and it showed in Elmyra's concerned face.
"I'll keep you safe I promise, were going to meet your dad and I'm gonna tell him how brave you've been"
Scooping Marlene into a tight hug the child clung tightly, scrunching her hands through Aerith's hair.
"What'sis Aeryis?"
Marlene had pulled from her hair, her beloved white materia that had been giving to her by her real mother. It was the only thing she had of her biological mother and still to this day she had not been able to find a purpose other than comfort for the small white orb.
"It's a magical pearl Marlene"
Just like when Zack had given her the flower, Marlene eye's stretched open in wide-eyed awe at the materia.
"Truly really it is?"
Aerith chuckled.
"Yes, anyone holding it is safe and protected no matter what"
When the little girl tenderly pressed the orb into Aerith's hand she felt her heart melt with affection.
"Oh Marlene"
She cradled the girl close for a time.
"I want you to hold it for me ok? hold it tight and you will keep us both safe"
"Aerith! SOLDIER's! we need to go!"
Biggs and Wedge reappeared, breathing and sweating profusely, the sound of patrolling boots a street or two away pushed Aerith to her feet.
Her legs burned from all the running they had done, they'd had countless close encounters with being caught while trying to make their way out off the sector. They set to jogging through the junk yard they were in, the rows and rows of trash piled high formed a maze of narrow sandy roads.
"We can't be too far from the border into sector 6" Biggs called over, he was supporting Wedge who was struggling to keep pace.
"Are you sure your moms house is safe?"
"Only Tseng knows where I live"
"You mean the guy who turned on us and shot at Zack!"
"Tseng won't turn me in, I trust him"
Biggs snorted unconvinced.
He wouldn't hand her over to Shinra... would he?
There would never have been any doubt in her mind in the past, but after their last encounter she wasn't sure anymore. In truth she missed him.
"HALT!"
The loud boom of a gunshot rang out as a bullet whizzed passed her head and ricocheted off a broken down truck.
"SHIT" Biggs cursed
A sharp whistle screamed out in alarm as they burst into a sprint. A cluster of terrifying bangs fired at them from the SOLDIER's in the distance who had spotted them.
They ran as hard as they could, dashing around column after column of rubbish. They kept moving as fast as possible but Aerith could hear the mako enhanced SOLDIER's were gaining on them.
"Run! come on! run! Wedge I need your help here man!"
Biggs furiously yanked a heavily panting Wedge to try to get him to move faster. In the distance they could see the border to sector 6, but to Aerith's stomach churning dismay there were guards at the gate, they had quarantined the entire sector.
"Go... leave... me... go"
Wedge threw Biggs' arm off him and collapsed against a pile of broken crates and barrels. They pulled to a stop.
"I ain't leaving ya man! now get the hell up!"
Biggs tugged at Wedge's collar but he wouldn't be moved. Marlene started to whimper and Aerith felt her joining the girl.
"Biggs.. they've got the gate guarded what do we do?" Aerith despaired.
The sound of the SOLDIER's who had chased after them drew closer, the only other vacant path was across the road from them that led back into the city. With no energy left to run and the distant echoing barks of dogs, they wouldn't last five minutes heading back into the sector. They were out of options.
"Stay hidden and make a run for the gate the moment you get the chance"
Biggs stood up.
"What? what are you doing?"
"You go the moment you get the chance! you get out and get to safety you hear me?!"
Aerith's stomach lurched as she realised what he was planning to do.
"Biggs no!"
"Hey it's ok", Biggs tightened the red martial art's headband he always wore with a smile, "looks like it's my turn to be action movie cool now".
Grabbing a hefty steel rod from the junk pile Biggs waited until the incoming troops had drawn closer before leaping from their hiding spot.
"BIGGS!"
Taking the troops by surprise he smashed the weapon into the temple of one of the SOLDIER's who crashed unconscious to the ground. Before they even had time to realise what was happening he swung again, catching another in the windpipe who fell coughing and spluttering to his knees.
The guards on the border gate overseeing the altercation came running from their post. Biggs had taken out another SOLDIER but was now grappling with a fourth who had disarmed him. Aerith watched in horror as the guards from the gate approached, wanting to help but knowing she needed to keep Marlene safe.
"Aerith... thanks... for always being nice to me"
"Wedge why are you saying that!? were gonna run for the gate together"
"I can't leave Biggs, he's the best friend I ever had.", Wedge took a deep breath as he gently pried Aerith's hand off his arm.
"I guess I can really help for once"
"Don't... no don't!"
Aerith watched through a screen of tears as Wedge stepped out and charged at the guards from the gate. They had knocked Biggs to the ground and were throwing vicious punches and kicks to his body.
"IS THAT ALL YOU GOT! COME AT ME!" Biggs yelled as he still lashed out with kicks of his own.
Wedge hurtled at the guards and barreled into the troops sending them sprawling across the floor. Pulling Biggs to his feet the two of them turned and ran down the path that led back into the city. The SOLDIER's climbed to their feet and chased after them in pursuit.
Choking on tears Aerith grabbed a grieving Marlene into her arms and ran for the empty gate, escaping into the safety of sector 6.
Chapter 10 Part 2- Decisive lies
Tseng drummed his fingers against the table in apprehension, he sat at the table with a worried looking Elmyra Gainsborough.
"What do you mean she's in trouble?"
"Shinra are after her"
"I don't understand, you work for Shinra, are you gonna arrest Aerith?"
Tseng huffed in annoyance and turned to look out of the front room window, Elmyra knew he would never do that.
"Sorry. But it doesn't make any sense, yes I've always known she was special and Shinra were interested in her, but why now?
"The mako crisis, they want her to show them the way to this so-called 'promised land' the presidents obsessed with."
Elmyra knew what he was talking about.
"Well if that's true and they want to capture her, then why are they not here? they know where she lives, I mean for heaven's sake they even pay for this house!"
Tseng felt a twitch of irritation in his brain. Elmyra believed that Shinra had been sending her money as compensation after her husband died in the Wutai war. A lie that he had led her to believe, the truth was it had been him sending her the money from a secret account all these years. Without it, a single widow with a child could never hope to afford such a nice home as this. They'd have been cast out into the slums had he not intervened, something that despite his better judgement he could not allow to happen to a child he had annoyingly become fond of. Though neither of them could or would ever know it was him, it would be too dangerous.
"Midgar's no longer safe for her, I need to get her out of here tonight, I'll send for you in a few day's to meet us in Kalm."
Elmyra nodded mournfully.
"Thankyou Tseng... I always knew this day was coming"
He went back to drumming his fingers nervously against the table, he'd of had no chance of finding her amongst the chaos in sector seven. The only hope was that she would somehow escape and return home. If she didn't then she'd likely be arrested, or worse, accidentally killed... Tseng quickly abandoned that line of thought.
A flash of pink out the window made him heave a sigh of relief, unclenching a fist he didn't know he had balled he glanced at the line of finger nail marks in his palm. Striding out the door he marched up the flower lined path towards Aerith, he swallowed back his feelings at seeing the state she was in. Her clothes were tattered and dirtied as she trudged pitifully down the path. She was shaking almost as violently as the little girl who clung to her leg, her face was stained with spent tears which began to flow again when she looked up and saw him.
He'd always been the one to dry them, never to cause them.
She ran down the rest of the path towards him and slammed her body into his, his arms caught her just in time. He gently held her sobbing form, feeling rather awkward among a number of other emotions which were beyond his interpretation.
"It was so horrible Tseng... they were killing everyone.. even children.. please.. please tell me you didn't know about this"
"I didn't know anything about this" he told her truthfully, "Aerith we need to leave the city"
He refrained from stroking the long delicate trestle of curls down her back. She looked up at him.
"We have to go back to sector seven! Cissnei, Biggs and Wedge are still in there"
"They've ceased the killings and are arresting what remains"
Aerith flinched abruptly and he tried to soften his usual harsh and compassionless tone.
"I'll be sure to get them out of custody"
"What about the others? Zack? Barret? Tifa? Jessie?"
"Their still with Rufus Shinra, they can meet you in Kalm to"
He didn't like lying to Aerith, but his only other choice would be to tie her up kicking and screaming, an option he would take if it meant keeping her safe.
"Thankyou, I knew I could trust you! I knew you would help!"
He turned away, shrugging off the misplaced endearments. Elmyra stepped out of the house and Aerith ran over to hug her.
"Go with Tseng sweetheart, it's not safe here anymore"
"Wait, you're not coming?!"
"Tseng can't be trying to look after all of us, I can leave safely in a few days and meet you"
Aerith surprisingly nodded in understanding.
"Can you look after Marlene mom? her dad's with Zack and I promised to take care of her."
"NO AERYIS DON'T LEAVE ME!" the little girl squealed as her short legs ran past Tseng to go latch onto Aerith.
"I'm not leaving for long Marlene, I just need you to help my mommy Elmyra look after my room for me while I'm gone"
Marlene perked up at the prospect.
"Like to keep boys out and stuff?"
Aerith nodded with a laugh.
"Exactly"
"Even Zack?"
"Maybe just Zack can stay, what do you think?"
Marlene blushed but nodded all the same. The girls eyes wandered curiously over Elmyra who was beaming brightly at her.
"That's your mommy?"
Elmyra knelt down to be eye level with the child.
"I sure am, and we can play all the games I used to play with Aerith when she was just a little girl like you"
The girls tight grip on Aerith's dress loosened ever so slightly, Tseng rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Hey Marlene, remember you showed me your room when we met? how about me and Elmyra show you mine before I leave?"
Tseng inhaled with frustration when the child eventually nodded her head.
"I'll meet you round the back" he stated curtly and stormed off to the helicopter he had parked in the field of flowers.
He was made to wait 10 minutes before Aerith finally returned.
"Tseng! I thought I'd taught you to have more respect for flowers! you've crushed them!"
He shrugged.
"Climb in the back, stay hidden and do not under any circumstance look out of the helicopter"
Starting up the blades the chopper lifted off the ground, Tseng heard a short yelp in the back, she had probably never flown before.
"And stay quiet too"
Lifting off into the air he drove the chopper as low and silently as possible across the city. He had disabled the linked communication coms with the other helicopters to keep his location hidden.
They had been flying for five or so minutes and were nearing the edge of the city until the sound of a second pair of helicopter blades rose above theirs.
"Shit!" he cursed under his breath
The flight control monitor flashed a red and orange warning, telling him that the other helicopter had locked missiles onto him. Even if he attempted to out maneuver the other pilot, they wouldn't make it halfway across the Midgar wastes before a fleet of back up helicopters chased them down. Left with no other choice he flicked the coms system back on.
"Puma 73, identify yourself or you will be fired upon"
"This is Tseng of the Turks, ID 587312"
"Can you confirm why you are flying with your coms down sir?"
"Standard covert procedure by the Turks, now disengage your target lock pilot, that's an order"
There was a hushed murmur of inaudible whispering.
"Unfortunately sir we have orders that the Turks are not permitted to leave the city at this moment in time."
"Orders from who?" he spat
"Order from me"
Tseng almost lost control of the choppers cyclic stick when the voice of the president came over the coms.
"Gentlemen, please escort Tseng to sector seven immediately, after all his incompetencies at dealing with AVALANCHE, I am sure he would greatly appreciate watching me teach him how to do his job."
Keep your cool Tseng, they don't know Aerith's with you, let the old fool have his speech and then leave.
Chapter 10 Part 3- Decisive lies
"Must I do this all day Fair?, now kindly lay down your weapons and hand yourselves in, I have a dinner I must attend"
Arriving at the scene, Tseng watched as Zack Fair and his friends dropped their weapons. They were surrendering in exchange for the lives of around three hundred civilians who were gagged and penned into a square, surrounded by the Shinra army.
Please stay down Aerith, please stay down.
"Ahh Tseng, glad you could join us, let me show you how you deal with terrorists. Seize them!"
Armed SOLDIER's swarmed the four members of AVALANCHE. Zack surrendered without a fight as he was kicked to his knees and put into SOLDIER grade handcuffs.
"Don't cha' go thinkin' this is over ya' piece'a scum!"
Barret punched three guards unconscious before finally letting himself be subdued. The two girls began to go peacefully until one of the SOLDIER's got a little too heavy-handed with Jessie.
"Get your hands off her!"
Tifa's hands were cuffed so she flicked an incredibly powerful kick square into the chest of the SOLDIER who had grabbed Jessie. The man soared through the air and crashed into three of his squad mates. Though they cuffed Tifa's feet as a result, the next SOLDIER to go near Jessie was extremely gentle with her.
Tseng's gaze was drawn by six armed guards entering the courtyard. They were dragging two badly beaten men and dumped them in among the rest of the civilian hostages. They must have been members of AVALANCHE because when Zack and the others saw them they exploded in rage.
"BIGGS! WEDGE!" Tifa screamed
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" Jessie cried hysterically
"YOU MOTHER FUCKERS!" Barret threw off the two guards who had been holding him and launched a face breaking headbutt into a third guard. It took the shot of four taser guns to bring him back down.
Please stay down Aerith, please stay down.
Zack had not said or done anything, but unaware to the SOLDIER's around him the enhanced handcuffs on him were pulled taut and cutting into his bloody wrists. Tseng watched the raw fury he channeled as the veins in his forearms strained close to exploding point. He squinted and leaned slightly out of the chopper, it was hard to see from here but something was different in the ex-SOLDIER. He recoiled sharply, Zack's eyes had turned green, a sickly fluorescent green with cat like pupils he had only seen in one other person.
Suddenly the chains cuffing his wrists impossibly snapped in two. Tseng had quick reactions, yet the buster sword was back in Zack's hand and five SOLDIER's were cut down before even he could notice. Zack hurled the heavy buster sword at the president's helicopter faster than a gun could fire a bullet. The broadsword sliced clean through the choppers tail and the machine lost control and began to fall from the sky. The president who was standing on a platform lost balance and fell towards the ground with a yelp. Before the man could hit the floor Zack seemed to fly more than jump to catch the president mid-air and savagely pinned him to a building wall by the throat.
"YOU LET THESE PEOPLE GO!" he hissed into the presidents wide-eyed and terrified face.
"Y-y-y-you kill me and they'll sh-sh-shoot the lot of them"
The president was right. Zack's hand tightened around the presidents throat and the man squealed in pain.
"Ok ok you have my w-w-word, b-b-but only if you let me go first"
"Know that if you don't, you'll be dead within the next twenty-four hours"
Zack dropped the president sniveling to the floor. Fifteen SOLDIER's rushed over and once again Zack let them arrest him, this time they placed three pairs of cuffs on him.
The president climbed shakily to his feet and composed himself before glaring at Zack in red-faced malevolence.
"I'm afraid your compassion for a group of slum rats has become your downfall boy!"
The president snatched the gun from a third class SOLDIER and smashed the butt of the gun into Zack's face.
"ZACK!"
Aerith no!
Aerith ran out onto the platform of the helicopter before Tseng could stop her.
"Aerith!" Zack cried out
"Marlene's safe! she's ok!"
Tseng's heart thundered in his chest, the president stared up with dark suspicion. Left now with no other choice, he needed to make this look like a convincing capture or he risked execution for himself and more to his concern, his Turks for treason.
Grabbing Aerith roughly he lifted her face to the president.
I'm sorry Aerith
With the back of his hand he slapped her across the face.
"I've captured the ancient sir"
Zack roared in anger.
"Tseng you son of a bitch! how could you do this!?"
The president grinned with satisfaction.
"It seems like I underestimated you Tseng, very good"
Aerith stared up at him in tear filled horror as she clasped her red stinging cheek.
"You lied to me... this whole time you planned to hand me in..."
Tseng kept his pain from showing with a cold stare. Aerith recoiled further.
"I thought you were my friend" she whimpered as tears of hurt rolled down her face.
He'd always been the one to dry them, never to cause them.
"Excellent, well I think that's enough drama for one day" the president chirped cheerily.
He turned to the troops restraining AVALANCHE, "please be sure our guests have a comfortable AND SECURE stay in the tower".
Turning to the second helicopter that still had its missiles locked onto Tseng, "Kindly assist Tseng in escorting the ancient to professor Hojo".
Turning to stare Zack straight in the eyes with hateful derision, "Kill everyone else".
"NO!"
"YOU GAVE YOUR WORD!"
"SHINRA YA' BASTARD!"
"On my mark!"
"NO WAIT! BIGGS! WEDGE! THEIR WITH AVALANCHE TO!"
"Good! kill them! set an example."
"PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS"
"FIRE"
"NO!"
The screams of AVALANCHE crescendoed before being drowned out as SOLDIER opened fire upon the three hundred remaining citizens of sector seven, including two of their comrades.
Even Tseng couldn't watch.