Shado: Ugh...I meant to update this two weekends ago but my laptop decided to have yet another mental breakdown and I couldn't do anything. The alternatives were A) use my mom's computer B) have my dad reload the whole computer and loose everything I've worked on, including getting my hands on Sony Vegas 8 from a friend who sent it through via e-mail C) wait it out and see if my dad found something else that works.
Naturally, C happened. Now I have another antivirus on my computer and it's working just fine. And all thanks go to my beta reader for all the support. I hope this chap is good enough for you guys since I had to make all of you wait a while.
Disclaimer: If I owned FFVII, wouldn't you think this would have happened instead? Yea, thought not.
Chapter 12 Rude Awakening
"We're reaching Nibelheim. Are you sure you want to do this?" Rude gave his temporary partner a worried stare.
Even with the shades on, Cissnei could see the troubled hint in his eyes. Sighing, the female Turk glanced out the window to watch as they came closer to the back-water town. She held a grim expression, she wasn't sure if she wanted to do this. But Cissnei understood that the four angels on board needed the "Fallen One". And it was better her than Rude, who was better at flying their aircraft alone than Cissnei ever could.
"I'm sure." The female Turk nodded.
It had been almost three hours since they left the dark mountain. Dusk was upon them, and it would take until midnight for the aircraft to arrive at Midgar. At least two to three and a half hours if Rude flew full speed. With another heavy sigh, Cissnei gazed over her shoulder to check on the blonde cadet.
To her disappointment Cloud was still asleep. The general said that the cadet knew how to find and wake up the Fallen One, but she hasn't been able to obtain the information. During their whole trip Cloud had been sleeping, and it didn't look like he was going to wake up any time soon.
"Cissnei."
Snapping out of her reverie, the female Turk concentrated on her flying. The two Turks glanced at the ground below for a safe place to land. Rude spotted one, pointing it out to Cissnei before they passed the patch that was big enough for the aircraft.
It was almost a complete circle, surrounded by trees. Carefully hovering over the patch of meadow, Cissnei safely landed the helicopter. Once the blades stopped, the female Turk took off the heavy headphones and unstrapped the seat belt. She stood up and made her way to one of the sliding doors.
"Is your cell phone fully charged?" Angeal spoke up, refraining from a yawn.
"Yes. And just in case I have a charger, and an extra battery." Cissnei nodded.
The female Turk then opened the door, trying to be as quiet as possible since the cadets and the youngest soldier were still asleep. At the beginning of their ride Ryu and Kyle fell asleep, tired from the day's events. And Cissnei couldn't blame them. As for Zack, well, he was just a heavy sleeper.
"Make sure to keep yourself unknown. Women in suits aren't something people in the north are fond of. In many cases women are considered as dogs, to continue the life of humanity, and nothing else." Genesis warned.
"Then I'll make sure to wander around at night." Cissnei replied curtly.
"I'll make sure to tell Tseng where you are." Rude spoke up, taking the female Turk's spot in the pilot seat.
Cissnei nodded, and stepped out of the helicopter. She was nervous for taking the challenge of finding the first angel, and doing it alone with no hints to where he was. It irked her that she was in unfamiliar territory, and she had to search during the wee hours of the night. But she knew that whoever this first angel was, he was deeply needed for the younger four.
"Make sure he's in good health." Cissnei said to the general, referring to Cloud.
Surprised, Sephiroth nodded. Turks rarely showed any emotion to a cadet. Take Tseng for example; on the outside the Wutainese demonstrated no emotion to any cadet or runt. The general wasn't sure what Tseng was like when he wasn't at work with the serious mask on, he never bothered to befriend the Turk. Maybe it was a woman's sense to care for others, even if Cissnei was raised under the Turks.
Closing the door, Cissnei tapped the aircraft's side to let Rude know he can take off. Within moments, the engine was back on and the blades twirled. Making sure she was a safe distance away, Cissnei watched the aircraft hover above the ground a few moments.
She could see Rude silently saluted her through the window, before he raised the helicopter and head south. Biting her lip, Cissnei slowly grasped the idea that she was truly alone. The female Turk didn't mind being alone, but it still irked her that she was in the middle of a back-water town with no help to reach her within miles.
"Pull yourself together. You've had worse missions than this." She told herself.
One arm across her stomach, hand on her upper arm Cissnei slowly made her way towards the tiny town. She wasn't going to enter Nibelheim itself, she needed to check for any abandoned houses. To find the Fallen One, her best chance was to inspect any place she can without attracting attention. She wasn't sure where she came up with the idea of abandoned houses, but it was just one small hunch.
After all she can't wander around into houses that were occupied. So she might as well investigate any location she could. The moment she set eyes on the town, she realized that this part of it was heavily populated. Just about every building had lights on, the ground glimmering from the amber light.
"Hm…maybe I should check the less populated part of Nibelheim." Cissnei pressed her lips together.
Silently the female Turk silently made her way around the populated area and towards the other half of Nibelheim. There she found the same as the rest of Nibelheim. Frowning, Cissnei leaned against the rocky hell side in thought.
She could check the country side of the Nibelheim area, but she would have to walk further south. It would take too much time and Cissnei would become lost while walking in complete darkness. With a sigh, the female Turk silently made her way down the road, mindlessly heading towards one of the mako reactors.
Along the way she happened to gaze up and see with the last bit of sunset that there was an old mansion. Cissnei could see there were a few broken windows, and the roof hadn't been fixed in years. She then almost jumped with excitement, of course, why didn't she think of it earlier? Shinra Manor hadn't been occupied in over two decades!
Taking advantage of the last bit of light, Cissnei ran to the old mansion's grounds. She was prevented when the old gates were locked together. Stamping her foot in agitation, Cissnei pulled out a hairpin from her hair. She didn't use it for her hair specifically; it was one of the advantages of being a woman.
Carefully, Cissnei picked at the lock. Way back when she was a Turk runt, they taught her the basics of picking a lock whether it is the old fashioned one or the more technological one. And one of the easiest tricks to pick the old fashioned locks was a hairpin. Within two minutes there was a small clank and the gates were free.
Smiling to herself, Cissnei put her hairpin back in her hair and pushed at the gates. They made a sickly creak and groan, as if they were protesting to be opened. Still the Turk pressed on and opened the gates just enough for her to slip through. Once on the other side she closed the gates behind her.
Keeping herself in a calm pace, Cissnei made her way into the old manor. She heard stories of it back in Shinra, how Hojo used it when he supposedly found an Ancient in Nibelheim. And how it was one of the last buildings that a legendary Turk resided before he went missing in action, now presumably dead after all these years.
So naturally, Shinra presumed him to be dead. It was a tragic loss for the Turks. Cissnei never met him; she wasn't even born when all of this was going on. Still, she couldn't help but look up to the legendary Turk. It was one of the few times she looked up to someone.
The first few steps into the manor, Cissnei paused when she felt a tickling sensation in her nose. Wrinkling her nose, Cissnei leaned over and sneezed. The dust was heavy in the air, after being unoccupied for so long the dust collected itself on the floor and in the air. The air was stuffy, and the Turk felt the urge to sneeze again.
"Maybe if I open a few windows…?" Cissnei asked herself. "Oh wait, a door would be better…the back door should be enough."
And casually the female Turk headed to the rear part of the manor. Upon her search she found a kitchen, which strangely had a door to the backyard. With much difficulty, since the door was made of metal, Cissnei managed to open it to let at least some of the dust out. When the door opened it created a dust cloud, making her sneeze three times in a row.
"Ugh, next time I'll bring tissues. I doubt there will be any still around in this place." Cissnei frowned.
Now she had another problem. The sun was gone, and now the Turk had to rely on the dim light her cell phone was able to offer. Biting her lip Cissnei weighed her options. She could continue her search in the dark, or she could find a comfortable bed somewhere and continue in the morning. Right now the latter sounded better.
Cissnei was tired, and once she had a good night's sleep she could start with a fresh mind. And not to mention she would have more light and not waste her phone's battery. Although it took her nearly forty five minutes, the Turk finally found a bed with no monster floating around in the room.
She had decided to check on the second floor, which held more bedrooms than the first floor which was more office work with the addition of a kitchen and a huge dinning hall. With a yawn, Cissnei reluctantly laid herself over the creaky bed and fell asleep right when her head met the pillow.
In the morning Cissnei cracked an eye open. She found herself curled up on her side, a position she normally didn't wake up in. When she sat up she knew why. The bed was so old it made her back tense and cramps itself into knots. A soft groan escaped her as Cissnei stood up, rubbing her lower back.
"Hm, at least I had enough sleep." Cissnei told herself with a yawn.
Taking a few moments to stretch herself, she managed to pop her back and it immediately felt better. At least it eased the pain a little. And when she was done Cissnei felt much better, just a tad bit sore from the old springs in the bed.
Her stomach made itself known with a growl.
Rubbing her middle, Cissnei frowned. "I don't think there's going to be food here…even if there is, I doubt it'd be food anymore."
Suppressing her hunger, the Turk began her search again. Now that she could see where she was going, Cissnei decided to check a particular room she wanted to check the night before. It was on the second floor, just at the other end of the hallway from her bedroom.
Upon walking in, she found a lab. Cissnei tensed, sensing something was off about it. In the middle of the lab there was a table, some sort of operating mechanism, computers and shelves of some sorts surrounding the room. Then opposite of the door stood three human sized glass cases. Next to it was a brick wall, and a wooden door some three feet away from the wall.
On closer examination the wall was circular, which seemed odd. Out of everything in this room, that wall was out of place. Cissnei stepped closer, examining it with her hands. The Turk felt the surfaces change. One part was smooth, while the rest was rough and hard to the touch. Cissnei felt around even more, and found that the smooth surface created the shape of a door.
"He…created a secret door…?" Cissnei tilted her head in thought. "Then how do I open it?"
By accident she pressed too hard against the wall and it turned full circle. A shriek escaped Cissnei before she could comprehend what was happening. When it stopped the Turk found herself on the other side. Cissnei took a few minutes to gather her wits and explore her new surroundings.
The Turk found that she couldn't go anywhere but down. Cissnei hoped the ladder was still sturdy enough to use. The ladder didn't even creak as she carefully descended down. When she glanced around, Cissnei stumbled upon a wide basement made of mostly dirt. Columns were spread about equally to support the ceiling and most likely half of the manor just as well.
A hiss caught Cissnei's attention. She turned and faced three bat-like monsters. They each had one eye, big enough to be the size of her head. Holding back a sigh, the Turk raised her shuriken and aimed.
The defeat of the three monsters took some time, for they kept aiming to either petrify or poison Cissnei. Because of the constant attacks the Turk had to stop her own attack by dodging or rolling away. Now and then she kicked one of them if they happened to be close enough. All in all, they went down with a tumble.
Cissnei's stomach growled when the work was done. Because she fought her body demanded to obtain more energy to keep going. Pouting at her stomach, Cissnei tapped it lightly.
"Oh, hush. If I manage to find some clothes fit to disguise myself, then I'll go to town for food." The Turk told herself.
Her stomach grumbled in protest.
Ignoring her hunger again, Cissnei was about to turn and check one of the rooms to the side when something caught her eye. Something was lying where one of the monsters fell. Curious, Cissnei knelt down and picked them up. It was four sets of keys.
"Why would monsters be using keys?"
Cissnei found her answer when she walked into a room full of coffins. There were four in a row; each had a keyhole that fit perfectly with the keys the Turk won from the monsters. She opened one and nearly screamed when the top came off with a boom. Crawling around her feet were three oversized bugs.
Dispatching the bugs in less than a minute (really all she had to do was kick them and they run away screaming) and she tried the second coffin. Bang! It was the same surprise as the first one. Groaning, Cissnei kicked them. The poor creatures cried as they crawled away in fear.
By the third coffin Cissnei braced herself as she turned the key. Instead of a bang, she heard soft, almost inaudible snoring. Gathering all of her strength, Cissnei pushed the top off. The Turk stared at the sleeping figure inside the coffin.
He had pale skin, not ghostly or sickly, but still too pale to Cissnei's comfort. The figure was clad in black leather, and some sort of red cloth as a cloak. Covering the boots were golden plates that pointed at the toes, and a golden claw over his left hand. Framing his face was long, black hair with a red scarf wrapped over his forehead to partially tame his bangs out of the perfectly triangular face.
Cissnei almost had the urge to snap her fingers over his face, or even gently run a hand through the seemingly soft hair, but she took a few steps back instead. The Turk gasped when red eyes snapped open and gazed at her. Not a second later the once sleeping man leaped out of the coffin and aimed to rake Cissnei with his claw.
Instinctively the female Turk rolled to the side. While she was on the ground, the man lashed at her back with his claw again. Seeing his attack, Cissnei twirled around and kicked him right in the jaw. He jumped back with a growl. Feeling over where he was hit to make sure nothing was broken. That was when he reached for his gun. Cissnei gasped and ran for one of the coffins to use as cover.
She heard the loud cracking of the gun as it fired. Seeing that the coffins were good cover, the gunman maneuvered his way around and leapt at the Turk. Cissnei was barely able to gasp when the claw latched around her throat. The female Turk clutched onto the metal hand in vain to pull him off. The gunman growled, straddling her with ease while Cissnei stopped struggling.
"Now tell me, what could Shinra possibly want with me now?" A smooth, baritone voice growled in her ear.
"Ngh! N—nothing…Shinra…has nothing to do with this…!" Cissnei managed to gasp out.
"Then why are you here?" The deep voice snarled, his claw pressed harder around her neck.
"The other…four angels…" The female Turk barely whispered out.
At the mention of the angels, his grip lessoned around her neck. But the claw remained where it was, just not crushing Cissnei's windpipe. The female Turk coughed as she gasped in much needed air. Cissnei's hands remained where they were, gripping the golden arm in vain. Once her breathing settled down, the gunman demanded for her to explain.
"We were on a mission, to find the nests of these monsters…the Surai, and destroy them with one shot. It was with the strongest of SOLDIER, with a few cadets to stay behind as backup and protect the aircraft. But we couldn't find the nest, the Surai attempted to push us over the cliff, so we ran back to the cadets."
Angels. So Vincent was in the coffin for some time now.
"Who are the angels?" He carefully asked.
"They are Commanders Angeal Hewley, Genesis Rhapsodos, General Sephiroth Crescent and Cadet Cloud Strife." Cissnei said all in one breath.
The intense red eyes stared at her when she mentioned the general's name. He seemed taken aback, as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard. In fact he seemed almost frightened of the mention of the general.
"Is…something wrong?" Cissnei wondered out loud. Immediately she felt like slapping herself, if she provoked him then he just might rip her head off.
He ignored her anxiety. "You sure that the general is one…?"
"That's what my boss, Tseng said." Another slip up, mentioning the Head Turk's name but since this man was an angel; he wouldn't kill off Tseng, right?
He frowned. "…Assuming you're telling the truth, which of them is blonde?"
"The cadet. Why?" Cissnei gazed up at the man curiously.
"What does this cadet look like?" He questioned, he knew two of the angels through their mothers. The gunman had to make sure…
"Cadet Strife is short; he has blue eyes and blonde hair. His hair is spiked like a chocobo's." Cissnei quickly added the last part.
"Hm…" This cadet reminded him of the young girl who tried to wake him up some years back.
Flashback
Vincent had slipped into a coma some days before, just after he experienced the worst shock of his life. He had woken up, somehow taller, and deadlier than he last remembered. One of his hands was now a claw, and although he was grateful it wasn't his gun hand, it still frightened him.
Since then Hojo kept Vincent strictly in the glass tube, floating lifelessly in the mako that drifted him back to sleep. He would have slain the scientist at first sight, but Vincent was still too stressed over his situation.
Then, while he was dreaming of what used to be, the days he was happy and normal. The days he had found love, or he thought he found love. It was all confusing now, so those threatening thoughts never crossed his dreams. Then he heard small, delicate hands pounding the glass of his tube. At first he ignored it, and attempted to return to the days before everything turned against him. But the pounded continued, becoming more frustrated as he slept on.
Finally Vincent had enough, and took a peek at who ever disturbed his sleep. His eyes widened when he met wide, blue eyes that seemed to beg for help. She had long, curly blonde hair that framed her pale face. The young woman seemed to be short; the top of her head just barely reached his middle, even though he was floating.
"Vincent, please, help me!" the soft voice screamed at him.
Did I know her?
She shook her head. "No, we've never met, but I know you through my connection to the Lifestream. I'm a Cetra, you see."
A Cetra? Then she can hear the Lifestream. Vincent guessed.
"And thoughts. So long I can concentrate." She added softly.
That can explain a lot. The ex—Turk felt tempted to snort, but with him being in a tube of mako he didn't want to involuntarily swallow some down his throat.
Who are you? Vincent couldn't help but ask.
"I'm Valkyrie Ishihiatto." She said, her free hand rubbing the barely noticeable bump in her lower belly.
"Hojo somehow found me and my friend, Ifalna, the last of the Cetra. Over the years he experimented on us, and Ifalna managed to run away. But after all of that, Hojo impregnated me. I have no idea who the father is. But I do know that my baby is a son…one of the angels." She trailed off.
One of the angels? You mean the same as me? Vincent couldn't help but feel hopeful to some extent. Then he remembered his wings were stripped away, replaced by demon wings that made him appear as a monster.
"Please, Vincent, I need your help!" she pleaded, tears flowing down her cheeks.
Why? I have failed Lucrecia and her child. What makes you think I can do anything for you and your son? Vincent coldly questioned her judgment.
"Please! I beseech you. You are one of the angels, just like my unborn son! I wish for you to protect him. Please, Vincent Valentine! My son, my son!" She screamed, hammering the glass with her fists vehemently.
Why come to me? I have failed her. If I can't protect her, then I can't be of much help for you.
"Because…because deep down, you seek redemption! You may deny it now, but you will soon seek it!" Valkyrie cried.
Why should I?
"Because Lucrecia is dead, and her son, your son, is being raised by Hojo! I've tried to talk to him, to make him see that Hojo is telling him lies about the identity of his mother. I've tried everything I could to get through to him, but he's so lost he wouldn't listen to me. He's your son, Vincent, your son!" she whimpered.
Then it's too late for him. Go away. If I couldn't be of any help to him, then I am no help to your son. Leave me in peace.
"But I need your help! I beseech you, Vincent Valentine, if not for me then for my unborn son! He needs all the help he can get. I fear he will crumble when he faces his destiny!" She shrieked, pounding her fists even more against the glass.
"Vincent—"
Then the door to the lab opened, revealing a distraught Hojo. The scientist cursed loudly, before stamping his way to the frightened blonde. She screamed, struggling weakly as he pulled her away.
"You little bitch, I'll teach you not to run away and interfere with one of my best experiment." Hojo snarled evilly.
"Vincent! Vincent!"
The ex—Turk promptly fell into his dreams.
End of Flashback
Vincent wasn't sure whether he regretted his decision, or maybe if he had done what he meant to have done as a Turk. Then again he was no longer part of the Turk agency. He would have to see the cadet in person to see how he felt. Taking in a deep breath, the gunman crawled off the female Turk and calmly stood up. Cissnei sat up, not daring to get on her feet in case he changed his mind.
"I believe you." He said.
"Then…then will you come with me to Midgar? The others have already landed by now. We had to abort the mission because Cadet Strife was heavily injured. One of his wings was torn by the Surai, and for some reason the general didn't want to cut it off yet." Cissnei explained as she stood up.
The gunman blinked. The general didn't want to cut the wing off? At first Vincent thought that his supposed son would fall under Jenova's control by now. Maybe there was some hope for his redemption of his lost family yet.
"The…Surai, what are they really?"
"They're monsters that are specifically created to bring down the angels. Just before he fell asleep, Cloud said the Surai could sniff out the five saviors and their mothers. He says that was how his mother died." The female Turk elaborated.
Great, another woman died because he chose not to do a thing when he could have. Vincent nearly growled at the thought. He needed to stop thinking so negatively, or else he just might drive himself to jump over a cliff and end his life then and there. Not that he could die from such an action, now that he had demons residing the back of his mind. Again he needed to stop wandering off in thoughts.
Vincent turned, studying Cissnei carefully.
"Yes." He curtly nodded.
Not even bothering to hide a smile, Cissnei thanked him. It felt foreign to Vincent. He hadn't made a woman smile in years. The gunman never got to see Valkyrie smile. Now it was too late.
I need to stop thinking such thoughts. He mentally slapped himself.
"What's your name?" Vincent asked in a relaxed tone.
"Cissnei of the Turks." Her stomach growled and her face colored instantly.
He was amused. "Let's find some food for you." Vincent turned and made his way outside the room and towards the ladder. Cissnei followed, still blushing from her stomach's introduction.
"May I ask who you are?" She tentatively asked.
"Ex—Turk Vincent Valentine."
Cissnei nearly stumbled in shock.
Shado: There. Added a little humor there at the end. xD
1) Valkyrie Ishihiatto: Well, you might wonder why I gave Cloud's mother such a name. But I couldn't really find a name for her, so I thought, if she was a Cetra, and she knew of the angels, including her unborn son being one, why not something a little unique? The name Valkyrie, I don't think I have to explain. As for Ishihiatto, it means "Ice Heart" in Japanese. And no, she's not what her last name suggests, but it refers more to her eyes.
2) Vincent's attitude. You're probably thinking "What the hell!? Why didn't he help poor Cloud???" Well...at the time he already gave up. That, and his mind was still too much into the Turk mode, cut off everything but your job. But when you fail at that and everything else, Vincent gave up. Now that he's awake (after some years in a coma) he's regained a little bit of his lost humanity.
So, I hope you enjoyed. Now, the Review button demands for you to cliiiick it.
