Disclaimer: All Final Fantasy material is copyright to Square-Enix. I do not own any of the official characters. They were merely BORROWED for the purpose of fan-fiction. All non-FF characters belong to me.
A/N: I will note that I have only played FFVII, Dirge of Cerberus, and watched Advent Children, Case of Denzel, and Last Order. Please take that into consideration if you see that some details may not be correct. Also, occasionally the story will go into POV (point of view) with Vincent.
Chapter 25: Infiltration
It seemed like days had gone by, when it was only hours. They had found some survivors of the attack, carrying them aboard the ship and collected all medical supplies and equipment. Black carried the wounded onboard as Nanaki laid out makeshift beds for them. Mona and Riley tended to the wounded, most unconscious. Shamus made plans with Shelke to have her moved onboard the ship, hoping to have the AI onboard at all times rather than wait for updates through cellular. He flew to Cosmo Canyon, hoping it was a safe place after all the survivors were brought aboard.
"I can't believe this actually happened. All those people…" Shamus trailed off before switching to autopilot.
Black was silent in his seat, eyes closed, giving the impression he was asleep, when he was actually in deep thought. Opening his eyes, he got up, leaving the bridge without a word. Shamus huffed, feeling offended for being ignored. The hermit made his way to the cabins, seeing everyone lying on the floor groaning in pain or sleeping uncomfortably. He sighed before seeing Mona, with Riley uncertain as to how to comfort her friend. He kept his distance for now, allowing her attempts. Riley placed a hand on Mona's shoulder and she nodded before Riley stood up, walking away to see if anyone needed her immediate attention. She took notice of Black, giving him a wry smile before walking in a different direction.
It's getting harder, I've noticed. All the pain is building up among all of us. Nanaki and I still suffer from our comrades' deaths, as does Shamus suffer from the fact that his grandfather had died before he was born. Now, Mona had been suffering for ten years, fixated on her revenge, for both herself and her older sister. But the pain isn't the only thing that's getting more difficult. As the day to have the final showdown with the Tsviets comes ever closer, the more I fear my inevitable confession. But I knew that time was getting closer.
Black walked away, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching as Riley and Nanaki helped each other. Mona sat, leaning against a wall between two of her comrades, her expression vacant, and her mind void. She felt a nudge from the guy on her left, regarding him. "You should get some rest, save your strength."
He seemed to struggle with his speech, desperate to say what he needed to say. "Edge…"
She blinked, attention caught. "Edge?"
"They're….in Edge…"
Mona's pupils shrunk to pinpoints before she jumped to her feet, running out of the room and into the elevator. She ran onto the bridge, screaming at Shamus, "Edge, now! Take us to Edge!!"
"Edge, why there? It's nothing but a ghost town!"
"Don't argue with me! My sister's there! Please, Shamus!"
He considered her for five seconds before giving in. Despite the fact she was a bitch, a woman was a woman, especially in distress, and he could not ignore Mona's pleas at this time. He nodded, quickly changing course. Black and Nanaki felt the change in direction, running up to the bridge. "What's going on? Where are we headed?" Black demanded.
"Edge," Shamus replied easily. "Stella's there." He pointed to Mona, as if telling Black to blame her.
Black approached the steadfast woman, a serious expression on his face. "Edge has become a fortress since all its residents were annihilated. Do you realize that you'd be putting us at risk if we even get a mile within its range?"
"I know, but I'm not going to let my big sister die, especially not in Tsviet hands. She's there, and if she's there, then so may be other members. Please, you don't have to go in with me, just get me there and let me do the rescue, and take them away when they're rescued."
Black considered for a moment. "You're not going in alone. I'll be damned if I let you."
Nanaki's tail swished. "There has to be more than the two of you to infiltrate."
"We'll have to sneak in, and sneak out. The only way to successfully do this is by disguise. Which means, you and Riley are staying behind," Black decided.
"What, I have to go?!" Shamus complained.
"Yes, but Nanaki and Riley will remain here to guard the ship. Nanaki is too obvious, and Riley is a little short."
"Why can't we use the transform materia like before?" Mona asked.
"Because we returned it to Nika, as we only borrowed it at the time," he replied, getting a knowing look from Nanaki again.
Shamus snorted before sending a warning glance towards Nanaki. "If my baby gets one scratch, you're dead."
So much like Cid, he thought with amusement. "I will defend the ship with my life."
Mona also gave him a glare. "And I expect you to keep my comrades safe!"
"But, of course. They will not receive any further harm."
Black gave him the same look. "As for Riley, make sure she's safe."
Nanaki blinked. Why was everyone asking him to protect everything? What a bunch of demanding humans! "Black, you're perfectly well aware that Riley can handle herself, despite her level of skill. She has beaten Rosso alone before."
"Barely, she still has yet to learn many things."
"Oh, I see, that's not the real reason, hmm?"
Nanaki would have appeared as if he was raising a brow in question towards Black. Black blinked before clearing his throat and looking away. "I don't know what you're talking about." Please don't go there.
Shamus and Mona both blinked, looking at each other quizzically before shrugging. It wasn't long before Shamus landed a good distance from the city. Riley and Nanaki watched as the trio left them behind, moving quickly across the wasteland. Riley looked to Nanaki before heading back to nurture the wounded. It took the others an hour before reaching the industrial city, made from the scraps of Midgar when it became ruins. However, before entering the city, they all noticed guards at the road gates. Black dragged both Shamus and Mona behind a pile of boulders, peering over them at the guards.
"There are three," Mona pointed out with a whisper.
"Let's take their outfits," Shamus suggested.
"No, we have to be careful who we choose. Those are posted guards. If they're anything like a military, then they're required to give a report almost every hour, or more. If we take them out, and they aren't available to make the report, the rest of the soldiers in the city will go on high alert looking for us."
Shamus scratched the back of his head. "Then how do we get past them without them noticing us?"
Black thought for a moment. "A distraction. We need some form of a distraction."
"I can distract them," Mona offered.
"How? You don't even look attractive," Shamus blurted out.
Mona instantly glared daggers at him. "Wanna say that again, idiot?!"
Black hushed them harshly. "I have a different idea. Who's up for a little hunting?"
"Hunting?" they both asked.
Later on, the guards stood, transfixed upon the wasteland in front of them. Suddenly, one guard was tackled by a wolf, or Fang as they are called in this world, screaming in surprise while the other guards rushed to help him as the snarling beast grabbed the man's arm, shaking its head violently as if trying to rip his arm off. Black and the other two rushed behind them, leaping over the fence. They slid into the shadows swiftly and silently, travelling along the shadowy paths to keep out of sight. They heard a gunshot, indicating that the distraction was now dead. Black glanced at the other two, nodding before moving more quickly. Shamus watched bemusedly as a light rain began to fall, making the place gloomier than before. It scared him a little.
Black moved behind a corner, peering around it to see a couple of guards patrolling the streets, taking opposite ends of the block. Security is definitely tight, he thought bitterly. His body went tense when he heard Shamus' nervous chuckle. At that point in time, he knew they were caught and at gunpoint. Black barely glanced over his shoulder, staring at the trooper. It was only one man with one gun. The smirk came easily to his lips. One man? Well, this made things easy, considering the gun was pointed at Shamus. Black took this chance to charge the man, grabbing his head and violently twisting it, allowing him to fall dead to the ground.
The other two guards heard the noise, looking at each other before moving to investigate. As they turned the corner, Shamus and Mona swung the side of their hands into their throats, at least stunning them before Black moved behind them quickly, wrapping arms around their necks and snapping them. He allowed those bodies to drop as he nodded to the others. They each took their own corpse, finding a place to hide before changing.
Shamus tried to adjust the outfit to make it more comfortable. "Damn, these things are tight. How do they do it?"
"They're meant for soldiers who are a tad bit skinnier, not buff one's like you. Stop complaining, just hope you don't have to fight in it."
Shamus grumbled as Mona had no trouble wearing the armor, though she was a tad too skinny. Black seemed to fit just right. They held the guns assigned to their person before walking off towards the center of the city, eventually coming across the Meteor Monument. Black stared up at it through his helmet's visor for a moment, recalling the time when fear reigned across the globe, all because Sephiroth had summoned the blasted thing. The other two looked at each other then at Black, curious as to what he was thinking about before they were approached by a soldier.
"Why aren't you at your posts?"
They all stood firm and straight before Black answered. "We thought we saw something run this way."
"I see. Anything?"
"Gone, sir."
"Then get back to your posts!"
As he walked away, the other two sighed with relief before Shamus spoke quietly, "That was close."
"No kidding," Mona agreed.
"Let's hurry," Black demanded before walking off, the others following after him.
Meanwhile, Stella cried out in pain, impacting with the floor. Rosso had done a number on her which left her completely helpless. Now the troops were beating on her and her men for their own amusement. She coughed out blood, vision blurred from the pain. The temptation to pass out was great, but she refused to give them the satisfaction of knowing they could knock her out. She would hold out as long as she could. Another beating and another. It had gone on for hours, but it felt like forever. Her pride normally never allowed her to pray, but she hoped somebody, anybody would come to stop the pain. She knew though, that this didn't even come close to Mona's suffering. Oh Gaia, what had people done wrong to deserve such punishments and despair?
Her hair was grabbed before being dragged across the floor as she screamed. The torturers only chuckled while her followers watched in horror. "Please stop! If you must hurt someone, here we are!!"
One looked over. "Why? It's more fun making a woman squirm. Especially this bitch." He regarded Stella. "Just wait till I have my way with you. You'll be in a world worse than hell, but…" He laughed, "You might even enjoy it."
His comrades laughed as she ground her teeth. "You wouldn't." What a stupid thing to say, of course he would! Feeling challenged, all she could see was the smirk from under his helmet while the others chuckled darkly. With her hands tied behind her back, there was little she could do when his hands roughly roamed her body. She struggled, trying to kick him away. "Don't touch me!"
"Leave her alone!!"
"You monsters are scum!"
"Or else what? You'll kill me?" he laughed evilly. "Don't worry, Rosso gave us the command to kill you all after we've made you suffer. Now," he began before looking back at the ringmaster, "where were we?" He looked to the others. "I'm taking her into that room over there. Watch the trash."
"What about me? I want a go at her!"
"Stop complaining! You'll get your turn! C'mon bitch." He dragged her by the hair into what seemed like an office while she struggled and screamed at him.
Black looked up, staring down the street patrolled by snipers and brutes. This has to be where they take their prisoners. He marched up to the leading brute, only to be halted. "I've been told there was trouble here."
"Trouble? What trouble? You've been misinformed."
Shamus and Mona looked at each other as Black argued further. "Are you certain? The other guy insisted that help was needed. I was told that three people were seen sneaking over the gate." His comrades would have gaped at him for blurting that out, but said nothing. What was he up to? Mona got it first before moving away, disappearing around a corner. Shamus spotted Mona atop the rooftops, quickly dispatching a sniper before moving on to the next one. He caught on before doing the same thing as Black spoke to the brute captain.
"Three people?"
"Surely you've heard of them. It's that hermit and two of his comrades from that group."
"Really? You sure? I heard nothing about it on the comm. Maybe that guy was just pulling your leg."
Black seemed to ponder. "No, that's not it." He spoke slowly, making the guard suspicious. "There are three people over the fence. Problem is…you're the last one standing."
Going on alert, the guard looked behind him, seeing that his followers were gone. "What the—?! You!"
Black rushed forward quickly, bringing the end of his rifle up into the guard's face, breaking through the helmet's visor. The kill was quick, stepping on his neck when he fell over, snapping the spine in his neck. The hermit looked ahead, seeing a warehouse. The same one he first met Rosso. Shaking his head of the memories, he moved forward, soon joined by Shamus and Mona.
"So, you think this is it?" asked the mechanic.
"Yes," he answered. "This place had more offensive force than the other places we looked. Snipers, brutes. I wouldn't be surprised if they had suicide bombers as well."
"Let's hope they don't," Mona pointed out, sounding eager.
They gathered at the door before opening it, seeing a few guards watching over resistance survivors. Black noted that they were beaten constantly but not as seriously as the ones back at the ship. Where was Stella though? As if on cue with his question, he heard signs of struggle in the office next to him. Mona went rigid, shaking soon afterwards. Black looked to the Amazon, shaking his head. He walked over to the other guards, looking them up and down.
"What's your reason for being here?" one asked.
The hermit looked over then turned his gaze to the prisoners. "I'll take over now."
"What? There's no change in shifts."
"There is now," he answered, suddenly revealing his Cerberus from under his attire, pointing it at the man's face, firing.
The body dropped and the other guards suddenly went on alert, aiming their guns at them. Black's left hand glowed before he swung that arm, creating a barrier walls behind the prisoners to protect them from the bullets. Mona opened the door to the office just as a man was rushing to get out. They bumped into one another, staring at each other for a split second, and afterwards, Mona punched through the visor, knocking the man into the opposite wall. Stella was on the floor, clothes partially torn, but nothing vital showed.
"You okay?!"
"I'm fine," Stella answered, quite relieved that she had been saved. "What took you so long?"
"Later, let's get you and the others out of here!"
Mona undid her bonds before rushing to the others while Black stood behind them, keeping up the barrier while he fired back at the other guards, keeping them busy. Shamus was already making work on the bindings before Mona helped. When they were all free, those two led them outside just before Black fired up his arm, sending a wave of inferno towards the guards. Screams ran out more out of surprise than pain while Black quickly made his escape outside.
"We have to move quickly. They've likely already alerted the other guards."
"Right, c'mon everybody!" Shamus called out.
Mona had Stella's arm over her shoulders as they ran ahead while Shamus urged the others from behind, covering the back end. Black was in front, already spotting soldiers marching in quickly. He raised his gun, firing off a few shells, clearing the way. They all rushed past while bullets were flying past their heads. A couple of the prisoners were shot, falling face first. Shamus slowed down to check on them but they were already dead. He cursed before looking up at the snipers and ground patrol. He yelled out in anger, firing off the rifle he currently had equipped, actually managing to get a couple.
Black stopped but told the others to go ahead. He called out to Shamus. "Boy! Escape now, kill later!"
Shamus looked briefly over his shoulder, having run out of bullets anyway; he threw the gun away, running to Black's side before they went to catch up with the others. The hermit moved up in front quickly, firing off more bullets before reloading and shooting again. Reload, bang, reload, bang. The noise was beginning to ring in their ears before Mona had enough, stopping by the area where her weapon was hidden. Shamus took off the armour, sighing with relief while they allowed the others to rest while Black distracted the guards.
Mona walked up beside Black. "Cover me!"
"Right."
Mona ran into the middle of the street before pointing her launcher towards the sky, loading it. Her body glowed before the energy went into weapon, then she fired. It shot up to the sky, managing to distract some of the guards, some of them laughing at Mona. She only smirked as the missile slowed down, glowed then multiplied into what seemed like a hundred of them. They had stopped laughing then, actually looking a little shocked. Mona had never used this attack before, so even Stella was a little awed by the show.
"Bring the Rain," Mona whispered.
As if reacting to her words, the missiles burst, shooting downwards like streams of heat-seeking fireballs, aiming towards each and every soldier in the area. With each impact left a crater and a burst of red and gold glitter, making it seem like a fairytale with the explosions as the orchestra and the soldiers screams as the choir. Shamus seemed to be gaping at Mona as she walked back over. Black was merely impressed, but gave nothing away even as he removed his helmet.
"The city gates aren't far," he said. "The ship is about a couple miles out as well, but you'll have to wait till then to rest. We don't have the time for that."
Stella was helped up by Mona as Black quickly removed the armour, replacing his poncho. They moved soon after, quickly running past the gates as Black shot the guards. It took about thirty minutes before they reached the ship, helping the surviving prisoners into a different empty room. Stella was laid upon a couch while the others had some rest on the floor or against the wall. Stella smiled up at her sister.
"I'm glad you came when you did. That one trooper almost had his way with me."
Mona knelt by the couch, looking crestfallen. "I'm sorry I didn't get to the saucer in time."
Stella shook her head. "No, what counts is that you came. The Resistance is practically done for, but you and the other four still have a chance to stop the Tsviets. You can set things right in this world. The planet needs you."
"But I'm just a berserker. Even Rosso beat me. If I can't beat her, then there's o hope of me beating anybody else."
Her sister chuckled. "You forget that you're part of a team. You don't need to be alone. I know you prefer it, but try to think about the situation. Would you rather have a chance with a team, or no chance without one?"
Mona considered this before nodding. "I'm starting to understand that, and their cause. I definitely wanna help them."
Stella smiled. "Good. I'm glad you came."
Mona smiled slightly. "I'm won't let my big sister die," she said, mirroring what Stella had said about her years ago, surprising her.
A/N: I'm slow, I know. The next two chapters will be easier for me to write I think. They might be short too, so we'll see. I've been kind of busy and mostly not at the same time. A lot of stress would be my excuse for being slow. But anyway, sorry to have kept you all waiting. And here comes the interviews!
Me: Now, someone else has sent in a question, and this time, it's for SHAMUS!
Shamus: Alright! What do they want me to do? Take off my shirt? Maybe git nekkid!? It IS a girl right? *shifty eyes*
Me: … *shakes her head before looking at the question on her handy little card* "To Shamus; when did you decide that you wanted to as great as or greater than your grandfather? Your grandma probably told you a lot of stories, huh?"
Shamus: Aww, no getting naked?
Me: No getting naked.
Shamus: Damn. *leans back in his chair* Well, let's just say, my grandfather told my mom a lot of stories, and she passed those stories onto me, my grandmother just kept telling them to me after my parents died since I never knew my gramps. Though some of the dialogue in those stories always involved him saying something like "drink your GODDAMN tea!" and "$#!%! #&*^#%!" and so on.
Me: That definitely sounds like Cid O.O;;
Shamus: Ever since I heard about my gramps and him being famous, a hero, AND being the first man in space, he's been my motivation. The bikini goddess was especially genius. The true symbol of the Highwind family!
Me: -.- Pervert to the last molecule. I'm surprised you haven't groped any girls yet.
Shamus: *grins* Would you like me to?
Me: O.O…No.
Shamus: Damn.
Anyway, please R&R. OH! For those of you who might be interested, I've made little pixel avatars of Riley, Shamus, Mona, and Black. If you wanna see them, just go to my DeviantArt page. The link is located on my profile as my homepage! Bye!