AH! So, I hope everybody is enjoying this. I love reviews. I can't tell you how much it warms my heart to suddenly see 5 reviews pop up on my email. MUCHOS GRACIAS!!! IT WAS AMAZING! Also, this chapter is a little bit creepy for any people reading. It made me think about it in my own words. 00 I know. Scary.
Reviewers, I thankee again: Artemis-chan of Redwing, Kohryu, Witcher Co, Nanashi Tsumura, and Ogro. You guys rock!
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R.P.O.V. (Reno Point of View)
1:01 a.m. Floor 62, Shin-Ra Headquarters, Midgar, 7000 A.B.
Never before did I think that my own memory could become my worst fear. Heh. Never. I thought I'd die of a bullet in my chest.
Right now, I didn't care what took me. I was in too much pain to acknowledge anything anymore.
She had cornered me, the bitch. I had somehow slipped past her, ready to grab the president from the heavy security and restricted floors. It had seemed the place she would hold him, complete with hacked security screens. All I remember when I faced his office was the blistering cold feeling of the organ in my chest pumping my excited blood faster and faster.
Instead of opening the door, I was gathering my wits. She was upon me like a black houdn of hell before I knew what to do. I didn't have time to even move or glance at her. She had kicked me only once in the chest, sending fiery lances of pain coursing throughout my body. I got a hold, and she broke it like I was a toddler, smacking my head until I was helpless. After that, she had dragged me faster than lightning into a stuffy storage closet with a security lock, and propped me there. I was still fighting somewhat, legs and arms thrashing.
Then she had injected me with mako. I knew that searing pain, the desire and hatred, from anywhere. Heh. Maybe she'd thought I'd go into a catatonic state. Bitch.
She had left me a vegetable only half a minute ago, as quickly as she had come, eyes flashing dangerously as she headed gracefully towards the stairs. I wanted to crawl after her, to shout to Yuffie to get the others out, that she knew we were here. That the plan was a failure.
I couldn't. I was paralyzed.
It wasn't so much my body as my memories; they were resurfacing, reminding and showing me every painful moment, when I had fallen three stories onto pavement and cracked my skull, when I had been shot through my shoulder with a materia machine gun, and especially when I had been fighting that damned silver-haired freak Yazoo. I still remembered the way he simply kicked and I flew.
She reminded me of that. It hurt me to know that a new terror was going to be unleashed.
Damn kindness.
R.P.O.V. (Rikku Point of View)
1:06 a.m. Floor 15, Shin-Ra Headquarters, Midgar, 7000 A.B.
Cloud had split us up. He was with both Yuna and I, completely at ease as he flawlessly directed the others up the stairs and down, spreading out on all floor until we found her. I reviwed. Updates via cell-phone (I decided I really wanted one) would be mandatory. He doubted that the woman would be down this far, but he still didn't want us, as in his little commandos, to be caught off guard.
We made no sound, any of us, as we slipped down hallways, peering in gaping doors to bleak offices, leaving nothing undiscovered. I shuffled through the papers, seeing if she had written any notes, while Yuna went about looking behind every piece of furniture she could find. If if that wasn't enough, every single nook in every blasted room was inspected by Cloud, even after I had gone through it!
After not finding her on that floor, we decided we'd go up one. Actually, I did. I was bored.
That was us at the present situation: we were sidling up the metallic creaking stairs, all eyes trained on the stairwell in front of us. I think Cloud was cursing me, but frankly, I didn't care. I didn't know Reno, didn't know about this entire sneaking in thing. If anything, I should have gone with Yuffie. At least I could understand her.
I had heard and read about Jenova, about Sephiroth, about the flaming hulk of Meteor almost wiping the races from this world. If AVALANCHE, and more importantly Aerith, hadn't protected them, I wouldn't be alive. I wouldn't be here now. They saved the generations in the future…
Suddenly, I heard it.
Barely a whispering, it was the sound of falling flesh.
My heart thumped painfully as I glanced up.
I saw someone falling directly above Cloud.
I didn't miss the long sabre of impending death descending either.
Acting on instinct, I shoved Cloud's broad back, forcing him forward into the wall. I could feel him tense and start to search for the danger, one hand immediately reaching for his sword's grip. On recoil, I practically tackled Yuna into the opposite wall with a painful bang, placing myself protectively in front of her as the person slammed into the metal floor with a terrible screeching sound, kneeling casually on the now-bent metal.
I saw Cloud instantly rip his massive Buster Sword from his scabbard, eyes lighting like a beacon. For a moment, I was paralyzed by the insanely beautiful, insanely strong, insanely dangerous eyes. They burned into the tall, slender woman kneeling there, her short hair flowing like quicksilver down her muscular shoulders.
A sense of danger and familiarity washed over me, and I had to stop myself from crying out.
My hands went limp with mind-numbing shock, letting Yuna out of my death grip, letting her see, wondering if she could see it too. Instantly, I could feel her clench her new automatic handgun tighter. Her nails dug in panic into the veins in my wrist.
Then, like butter, a silky voice whispered, "Hello, Brother."
My heart thumped painfully again.
And I knew.
I knew her.
Paine.
C.P.O.V. (Cloud Point of View)
1:07a.m. Floor 15, Shin-Ra Headquarters, Midgar, 7000 A.B.
When she called me Brother, my heart nearly stopped. Only Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo had called me by that name and in such reverence. She did not raise her head, but seemed as if she was savoring this moment. As if she were about ready to fight.
I hadn't missed the sword that looked awfully like Masamune.
Rikku had heard her coming and shoved me out of the way. How? How had she heard the silence whispering? I saw her protecting Yuna, spiraled emerald eyes wide, and in that moment, I felt anger. She shouldn't have to be doing it; that's why I had wanted them to come with me. Had I been too curled up in my thoughts to notice even an attack from above? The woman didn't wait any longer for us though; she sighed deeply.
"Brother," the woman said again, "I knew you would come."
Her cruel blue-green eyes started to uplift.
A wicked smile came over her face.
Sephiroth...
If I had doubted Reno about this strange woman, it was gone in an instant. Even though I hadn't seen her fight, I had a feeling it would be just as difficult as Sephiroth had been every single time I had managed to get close enough to defeating him. She wouldn't give up.
Now she fluidly lifted her lowered knee, rising to her full, proud height. I saw the way she held herself, awkward, clumsy, but somehow graceful the entire time. Her pupils in her bright eyes were strangely wide, taking in more light than I thought possible. Her sword idly swung back and forth in the air, teasing me.
I gritted my teeth and let her see the Buster Sword hovering just as dangerously. Her hand twitched, and I could see her preparing to slice…
Then Rikku had darted in front of me, nearly grabbing her. Her clenching hand was barely a hair short, but she managed to at least knock the sword away from my direction. I slid forward, the Buster Sword taking the reflex blow meant for Rikku's pretty blonde head.
The surprises didn't stop.
"Paine! Stop it!"
I narrowed my eyes as the woman now identified as Paine cocked her head, blinking behind me. I knew Rikku was paralyzed as those eyes flickered to her like she was dross. Before, this woman had been in control of her body, contained somehow, but now, I saw a flash of pain and horror in her eyes before it was buried, orderly replaced.
Kadaj had been controlled by Sephiroth.
"Rikku. What a surprise. Don't you find this world so much more languid than our home? The way life just has no meaning? Where despair overrules every single hope, every dream…?" Her thin eyebrow raised and she tutted, heels clicking innocently. Before I could stop her, she whipped around, sword nearly cleaving Yuna in half. The sword's tip pierced the wall's metal like a knife through butter.
To my disbelief, I saw a sneer plaster over her face as she took in the upraised, steady gun's barrel pointed directly at her forehead. "Yuna. High Summoner. You're no better than that filthy red-haired man upstairs. He didn't even have time to pull the trigger on me. I'm sure he's done it to himself by now." I jerked in surprise, almost simultaneously with Yuna.
Reno?
Now those brutal eyes returned to me, caressing, not even recognizing me as a threat. Barely behind her, I saw the fear, the pain in Yuna's deep eyes, and she suddenly grabbed her head with her free hand. Rikku moved at my side before the long Masamune sword swung around like a beacon to her neck.
"Brother, brother, brother. Why do you persist as these girls' protection? They have no past with you. You took them into your house I suspect, not knowing. Did you know Yuna has killed thousands of lives, the bare innocents of children lining the streets? And Rikku. All her life she's been a thief. A pickpocket. Stealing and cutting men's very hearts from their still-beating chests."
Then her sabre was flickering out, back towards me, towards Rikku. My legs bunched together; I could feel the mako warning me. Time slowed for half a second. Without thought, I slammed into the woman, chest to chest, but she held her ground, not budging, even though I saw her jaw clench. I pressed the advantage.
She suddenly laughed, eyes manically wild and desperate. I saw the hate, and the hope as shadows slipped away from this floor. "Flee Rikku, flee Yuna. You're next." Furiously, I released my hold, and rammed into her again, the Buster Sword causing her own sword to shake with the strain. Her sword shone in the dull light like the scythe of death.
Like she couldn't even see me, she let out a small smile as Yuna went leaping down the stairs and Rikku went clambering up. Then, her eyes hardened, and she glowered at me. Sparks of twin mako fires resonated in her pupils.
"Meet Heihachi. She is incredibly fast."
Without talking, I pushed her down, a stair or two, ignoring the reverberating clang. If only I could get her away from the others, and backed into a corner, I would have an advantage. I had seen Sephiroth many times before though; I knew his determination. She wouldn't go though. I would have to fight harder.
My muscles obeyed.
R.P.O.V. (Rikku Point of View)
1:10 a.m. Floor 17 Shin-Ra Headquarters, Midgar, 7000 A.B.
Paine.
Paine.
Paine…
My fingers trembled as I handled Cloud's cell-phone, scrolling through his contacts. Anybody, anybody who could help…
Paine…
Paine…
Paine…
How could she be the cruel, heartless woman that everyone kept talking about? Why hadn't she tried to find us? Why hadn't we found a way to her before now?
There! Cid…
Ring…
Ring…
Ring…
Please pick up old man…
"Damn your spiky ass! You nearly gave everyone a god-damned heart-attack-""Cid! Cid! You need to get up to Floor 15! Cloud is holding Paine back! You've got to get up to help him! Do you understand old man!? CLOUD NEEDS YOUR HELP!"
"…Rikku?"
Tears leaked from my eyes, and I clenched the phone. "Yes! Hurry! Get up to Floor 15! Floor 15!"
There was a crash below me, the sound of strong flesh being pounded into strong metal. Hesitantly, I glanced over, clutching the phone, heart beating faster and faster. I nearly fell down to discover that nobody was there. Only the silence of the chasm far below me remained, and I could hear my own heart, pounding, pounding. Cloud and Paine had vanished…
No! Cloud couldn't have been defeated! He was stronger than her; he could have pummeled her back…
Then the phone was crushed in Paine's gloved hand.
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WOAH! SCary...HEh. Did anybody see this development? Cloud got pawned! Sorry. I love Cloud too.
So, I hope people tell me what's up. I'm really lonely, and I wish people would continue to send in their thoughts. It makes me think too, and get more ideas. I need that brain power for end of level testing.