Here's Alex's story, I hope you like it. Please keep reviewing! Next up is Lucy and Cash's story.
Chapter 10: Broken Boy SOLDIER
Alex's head started to swirl, he fought with all his strength to try and escape the chains he was confined in as the bomb continued to count down. Nearby a lone wolf watched over Alex as he desperately used the last of his strength to try and free himself. The wolf slowly walked over to Alex as the timer counted down 10….9….8. Alex took a deep breathe, he felt the sharp pain in his sides as the tight chains constricted against his broken ribs 7….6…5. The approached Alex and sniffed him slightly before growling….4. The wolf chomped down on chains, his sharp teeth tearing through them and into Alex's flesh….4.In an instant Alex realized he was free….3…2. Alex pushed off the chains and made a dash as far as he could run…1. 0…..The explosion was large and the force off it threw Alex a few feet away.
As Alex hit the ground he reached out desperately for help, reaching out in to the empty air. There was no one. Alex lay there broke, battered and bloody. He laid there and slowly slipped into unconsciousness unsure if he would wake up.
One Day Later………
Alex awoke groggily the next day, as he shook off the sleep he scanned his surroundings. The room he awoke in was small and warm. It was dimly lit, but he could see the light poking through the shutters of the nearby window. Alex looked at a nearby alarm clock it was about 7: 00 in the morning.
Alex looked himself over to find he was wearing a pair of blue cotton pajamas. All his battle scars from the other day was gone as well. Alex threw off his covers and decided to take a look around. It was clear that nobody had lived in this room for years, but some one seemed to keep things in order.
All around the room were posters advertising to become a Shinra elite SOLDIER. Alex noticed a picture on the nearby dresser and picked it up. On was a picture of a familiar looking man with spiky black hair wearing a SOLDIER uniform, standing next to a familiar looking woman in a pink dress. Alex smiled slightly as he stared at the picture of the two of them smiling.
"You two are still looking after me aren't you?" whispered Alex
Suddenly an elderly woman came into the room smiling at Alex, happy to see that he was finally awake.
"Oh…it's good to see that your doing better now. My husband and I found you passed out in a ditch. We heard the explosion and came to see what was going on, when we found you. We brought you to the town doctor and he used some cure magic to help heal you up." Replied the kindly woman
"Thanks…I had a ruff day or so." Smiled Alex
"Are you hungry? Because I can make you some breakfast if your hungry." Asked the kind woman
"I'm starving thanks for the offer." Replied Alex
The kindly old woman brought Alex into the kitchen area of the small house. As she started to fix up a breakfast of flapjacks, eggs, and bacon, the woman's husband came into the room and sat down across from Alex.
"Well how ya doing son? When we found ya you were near death. It was lucky the doctor could help you out." Stated the kindly old man
"I've had a ruff couple of days." Smiled Alex
"Sorry ta hear about that. What's your name son?" asked the old man
"My name is Alex……Alex Strife. I think…..I think my dad knew your son." Stated Alex solemnly
The elderly couple stopped in their tracks. The woman began to tear up a bit as the older man looked at Alex sternly.
"My dad said that Zack was the finest SOLDIER he ever met and one of the greatest human beings….ever." replied Alex
The elderly couple smiled, the woman gave Alex a big hug, while the man patted Alex on the forearm. The woman returned to cooking breakfast, while the man poured Alex a nice glass of orange juice.
"Thanks for that son…It's been hard all these years. Who was your dad?" asked the man
"His name is Cloud." Replied Alex
"I remember him….he came by here years ago. He was a good boy…he reminded me off Zack…Your father was a good man. He would be proud of you son." Stated the old man
"Thanks Sir. Thanks for everything I'd bee dead without you two." Thanked Alex
"Don't mention it. You know your gonna need some new clothes…I think there's an old SOLDIER uniform of Zack's in his closet. You can have it." Replied the woman
"No I couldn't possibly….." replied Alex
"Nonsense you need some new clothes so you'll take them." Smiled the old lady
"Okay….hey by the way, what town am I in? I kinda lost track of things." Smiled Alex
"Why dear you're in Gongaga." Replied the old woman
After breakfast Alex put on the old SOLDIER uniform and came out of Zack's old room to check on the elderly couple. The woman was outside working in the small garden surrounding their small house; the man was out back near the wood shed working on some project. Alex stood by an open window and watched the two for a while.
Alex remembered one time when he was young, he went with his mother to the park and watched her pick flowers that she brought home to make things look nicer. He tried to climb a tree, when he lost his footing. Alex remembered screaming as he began to fall to the ground when suddenly he felt himself fall into a pair of strong arms. Alex looked up to see the smiling face of his father.
Alex thought for awhile about the things that had gone on in the past few days. When the sniper attacked and he watched as Lucy the woman he loved almost got tagged by a bullet, when he called his brother and the line went dead. The thought that went through Alex's head at those moments was that he didn't care a thing about himself, he just wanted to protect his family, the people who have always been there to protect him.
Alex thought about those strong arms keeping him from hitting the ground. He thought about the fact that when he ran head first into enemy fire, he had a woman standing next to him willing to risk her life to protect him.
Then Alex realized it…that's why his dad did what he did. Cloud Strife would always be his father….Cloud would always be there trying to protect his son. Alex couldn't blame his father for trying to get rid of the black materia himself. His father had spent many years walking around with all this guilt. If Alex had been in his father's position he probably would have done the same thing. In fact he was sure of it.
Alex smiled then headed outside to help the two out. Alex spent most of the morning helping out the elderly couple with their various chores. Around noon time all three of them had lunch and Alex then prepared to leave.
"Thanks again for all your help." Stated Alex as he hugged the two goodbye
"You sure you don't need anything else?" asked the woman
"No and thank you guys once again……..for everything." Replied Alex
'Well where are you off to now son?" asked the old man
"Well I got some work to do. All lot of people are counting on me, but I'm afraid I'll let them down and I just can't let that happen." Replied Alex
"Son….I've only known you for a day or so, but you remind me so much of my son. You both got a strong heart. And I'm sure that if you look deep inside that heart, you'll find the inner strength you need. You'll never let down anyone who truly cares about you, if ya put your heart into it." Smiled the old man
Alex gave both of them one last hug then headed off down the road. As Alex walked down the empty dirt road four WRO vans approached from the distance. He signaled to the vans, but they merely passed him without notice. Alex kicked the dirt in anger and continued on.
After walking about a mile or so Alex stopped by a pay phone and dialed a number. Alex waited a bit while the phone rang, when suddenly the answering machine came on.
"Aw come on Denzel….where are you?" mumbled Alex
"The line you have dialed is currently dead….please hang up and call again when it is working." Came the voice recording
Alex hung up and dialed another number on the phone and waited for an answer.
"Who the hell is this, huh?" came the answer from Cid Jr's gruff voice
"Cid you jack-A$$...It's me Alex." Exclaimed Alex
"Alex…..where the FCK have you been!! Things have been going to hell every where. Darkwater's made a televised statement….in a couple of hours he's gonna do it. He's crazy man." Exclaimed Cid
"Cid listen…how's everyone doing?" asked Alex concerned
"I don't know….after I went home the other day I lost contact with WRO headquarters, something's gone down over there. And from what I heard…..a couple of people pulled a mutiny and are going to launch a counter attack with METEOR." Sighed Cid
"God DAM!!! Listen Cid….I need a ride we're gonna fix this…I need your help." Replied Alex desperately
Cid listened carefully as Alex informed him about everything he knew. When he was done Cid Jr. was more than ready to help out his friend.
"Bro…..I got your back. Consider me already airborne and on my way. All ya need ta tell me is where you wanna be dropped off." Stated Cid Jr. proudly
"I have a feeling where he might be…he wants to end it where all his pain started…we're going to Midgar bro." replied Alex
"How do you know?" asked Jr.
"I just remembered the things he told me. If I were him and I went through the things he did…..I'd do the same. End things where they began. I need you to take me to him so we can stop this son of a btch. You in?" replied Alex
"I'm on my way!" exclaimed Cid as he hung up
Alex hung up the phone and sat down on a nearby rock to think things over for a bit. Suddenly he felt a shiver down his spine, as a voice whispered in his head.
"Alex….your destiny is almost at hand. Are you ready?" came the voice of the planet
Alex took a deep breathe as he stood up and looked into the bright blue sky.
"No, but I'll give my best!" chuckled Alex
To be continued……….
I hope you liked this chapter keep reviewing more coming soon.
