Chapter 26. Nibelheim - Explosive.
Sephiroth's POV
Something made me open my eyes - wide, focusing at once the details of the ceiling. I got up in a sudden move, my body taking me to the window.
What the…?
Reflexively, I opened the blinds and the sight actually shocked me - it was night time, dawn would be here in two hours tops and the dark blue night was now invaded with… fire.
Something was burning, consistently, way ahead. I narrowed my eyes, and I could discern the shape of a house and, out of nothing, reality stroke me.
That is Shinra Mansion.
I widened my eyes, my mind racing and considering strategies, all of it at the speed of light.
I got dressed in seconds - pants up, boots on and gloves, coat - well, I would close it later. I went out, knocking and opening all the doors - since Turks and SOLDIER were the only ones staying at the Inn tonight.
"Everybody up!" I screamed, as the doors opened wide. "This is not a drill! Get ready to leave in an hour."
Tseng was the last one - he was already up when I got there.
"What happened?"
I was fast and straight to the point.
"Shinra mansion is burning."
Tseng's stare turned serious as he seemed to consider what I had told him.
"Five minutes and I'll be down there."
I didn't say a word and went to check the door next to mine - the only one I hadn't checked in first place.
Zack had left earlier - I knew it, and I didn't need to confirm it.
He was out there, doing something he didn't want me to know about… and I had the feeling he had something to do with the sudden fire in the mansion.
I opened the door of his room, the place quiet and smelling of pine. Zack had spent here a couple of hours, tops.
What are you planning, Fair?
He had left his tracking device there, all of his tech gear except… his sword. There was a slight chemical smell in the room, what meant he must have taken something else that wasn't an ordinary weapon.
No guns, no things alike the Turks. He used his sword and… few more.
I scanned the room once again, realizing there was nothing there that would give me extra information.
I exited the room and went down there, where a consistent amount of Turks and SOLDIER gathered. I spotted Tseng at once - he was closing his mobile phone.
"I called the guide." He informed, as he reached me. But then, when he didn't find my second in command, he just had to ask. "Where is-"
"Gone." I declared, my stare harsh on him. "I'd rather not talk about it."
But Tseng didn't let me. His complexion changed, guessing my stress over my SOLDIER 1st class leaving at his will.
"Zack Fair being missing on mission is something you have to talk about."
I locked my jaw in anger.
"He's not missing, Tseng," I declared, as I finally arranged my coat and sword. The buckles were all done and made my leather vest adhere completely to me, like a second skin. "He's out there."
Tseng was going to say something but I didn't let him. It was time to act and soon. I turned to the crowd and started with protocol.
"All right gentlemen, listen up. Something came up and we need to get going to our next destination, now." I declared, Turks and SOLDIER staring attentively at me. "An active fire at the Shinra Mansion demands our immediate attention. Check your weapons, connect your devices and be ready. This mission has officially started."
The guide showed up, the Inn's door opening and showing a sleepy face.
"I came as soon as I could." She said, and I greeted her with a nod.
"Miss Lockhart, we're ready."
The face of that woman exuded strength and will - a trait I enjoyed seeing in the opposite gender, yet very rare indeed. Most of women were emotionally needy and clumsy, and I was glad we had a warrior as our guide.
Stevens had been right - Lockhart was the perfect choice to aid us in our mission.
Once I got outside, it rained ashes. Here and there, the wind brought us the remnants of the fire. A few villagers were outside as well - scared. Worry was printed in their faces, as we gathered nearby the Inn. Their silent faces begged us for salvation.
Okay then.
It was time to go.
Zack's POV
I watched how fire consumed the library - first, the file I had been reading.
I had to be sure Sephiroth wouldn't read a thing about his past, hence I waited until the file 'Project Jenova' consisted only of ashes, spread along the wooden floor.
But, then again, I wasn't sure if there was only a file - or if, by any means, may be there something else that might give Sephiroth that 'click'.
So, I had to play on the safe side.
I would burn the whole place if I had to. Prevention was my main priority and I wanted to cover all the possibilities.
Outside, I watched how the fire consumed the library and upper levels. Strangely, the mansion wasn't built all the same. There were areas of concrete and something else, that seemed extremely resistant to the fire. So, as minutes passed by, I realized fire wouldn't be enough to destroy the whole house.
But, if I got to think about it, Stevens had only mentioned the library - which was my main goal here. I reconsidered several times, recalling her words.
The library was already destroyed so…
All right then.
Phase one of my task was definitely done. Now, I had to rush inside the reactor.
In there, things would be challenging.
Sephiroth's POV
The smell of fire and burning became more intense as we got close to the area. Fire had a very specific sound, and I knew it was still active, engulfing at his will.
Lockhart strode up the trail next to me and Tseng, our men alert as the blue on the sky slowly cleared. Dawn was at hand and I was starting to feel impatient.
A kilometer ahead, we finally reached Shinra Mansion - and the sight was indeed… depressing.
The mansion was half-burned, one of the wings completely destroyed, as if a giant of fire had come and smashed it up lazily. The humidity on the air had done the rest, sparing parts of it, as the rest of the structure cracked, ashes all over, the cold breeze spreading them chaotically.
I narrowed my eyes at the sight and focused, as Turks and SOLDIER checked the area, surrounding the building, accessing the damage.
He was here.
"The west wing is safe, Sir." One of SOLDIER informed. "The upper levels were the most damaged. Basement levels are also secured, but the compartment where the fire began is completely destroyed."
My eyes searched for the guide as I processed the information.
"Thanks, Strife." I declared, eyeing him. "Go back to the defense line. Clear the area while we're here. In this mission, you'll lead SOLDIER from here."
There was a slight pause as I walked away.
"Thank you Sir."
The kid needed someone to trust him and since Zack wasn't here… well, in fact my decision had been based on Stevens' advices. She had been the one saying that Cloud Strife was important. So, we would see that in this mission, if that was true or not.
"Miss Lockhart," I called, and she turned to meet my stare. Her eyes had been focused on Strife for some unknown reason.
"Yes, sir?"
"What can you tell us about it?"
She took a deep breath as she accessed the sight once more. But before she could say something, someone approached us with fresh news.
"The fire started in there," the Turk pointed, "where most of the structure was easily combustible. Fuel did the deed quite effectively. "
"Fuel?" I quoted, narrowing my eyes at him.
"There, that's the Library." The guide said, answering me "Was the library, I mean." She corrected, and I remained silent, processing the information. A library? But why would someone want to destroy a library? The thought puzzled me, and I tried to imagine why would Zack Fair do something like that. If he had been the one doing such thing - and I believed so -, he had to have one hell of a reason.
Stevens' face came to mind, all those secrets she insisted in keeping. I narrowed my eyes at the logics building inside my head.
This was thought out, I concluded.
"Someone did this to prevent us to find something."
Tseng eyed me suspiciously.
"If the fire started there, in the library, and basically resumed there and the upper levels… then this was thought out." I clarified.
"But why?"
"I wish I knew, Tseng." I said, my hand tightening the sword within my grasp. "But as to who…"
The breeze silenced us and we opted not to talk for seconds.
"Let's not jump into conclusions," Tseng declared, and I sensed he understood the person I was referring to. "We have no proof-"
"We have company!"
We turned at the voice, and in that moment, a wave of creatures greeted us.
So, our reasoning would have to wait. It was time to fight and release Masamune. My mind focused as I smirked, walking towards that living wave of beasts.
Zack's POV
I got to the reactor rather fast.
My mind was still in a rush after all I had read about Jenova.
It was impressive, how the Scientist working for SHinra could have been so reckless to use cells from an alien to experiment on… us. Human beings. What were they thinking?
'Zack.'
Yeah, right.
Strange, how my curiosity on Jenova peaked. What could She have for them to use her like that? Why was Jenova so special… and why had she crashed in the Planet in first place?
'Zack.'
I shook my head, doubting my sanity for a moment.
Damn, I'm tired. So I had to do this and fast!
I considered my priorities once again. My eyes scanned the place and I recalled the maps I had seen of this place. The reactor was a maze - and I had to be very thorough in phase 2 of my task.
'Zack, my dear.'
I turned swiftly, my sword on and ready to go, as I scanned the dark where a voice seemed to come from. But there was nothing. Just black void, and I blinked at the silence in my head.
I'm just tired, I thought.
So, I would be quick.
-/-
An hour later, I was done.
The reactor was coated with explosives, from the inside out. There was little to be done right now, the timer was on: in 29 minutes and 58 seconds, this place would be a cloud of dust.
I sighed at how effective this was going to be.
No tempting, no dangerous areas, which meant the General would be safe. It was a fact I had given considerate time to plan this over, considered all strategies and eventually I concluded there was few effective things but the fire to keep evil things astray.
Sometimes, one needed to back to basics. Fire - the common destroyer… would save the Planet.
Looking around, I concluded I still had time to linger a little before leaving, but not before confirming everything was-
'Zack. Save me.'
I stopped dead in my tracks as the voice sounded again. That same voice of before. I narrowed my eyes at the compressive sensation I felt when the voice spoke. Man, it felt like something was pushing my mind. Squeezing it and-
'I'm here. Save me.'
My right hand traveled to my eyes and I tried to focus. Okay, lack of rest was a very plausible possibility - hence why I was listening to a voice besides my mental one.
But, then again, curiosity was a bitch.
Where, I thought, amused at the idea the voice would answer me. Which of course was not going to happen because that would be just ins-
'Can't you feel me?'
This time the smile I had on vanished and I felt a shiver all over my body. It was a fact I did feel something.
Fear. Power. Intensity.
My body took me to a chamber - a place I didn't know existed. A green light illuminated the place and my eyes landed at once in the higher level of the chamber.
An irresistible urge took me to the place where something - or rather someone remained contained. In that glassy cylinder, there was a womanly figure.
'Here.'
I approached her, my eyes curious at the figure that rested inside that… thing. I touched the glass, softly and calmly.
There was no reaction.
Was she dead?
It was a fair question, but I had no time of answering - or thinking about an answer. Thing was, a terrible urge of touching her came out of nothing.
I wanted so bad to remove that creature from there… so badly that, before I knew it, my sword was hitting the glass.
One time.
Two times.
A viscous, neon liquid started to flow from it.
Just one more blast and that was it. She would be free! The thought gave me strength to continue. My only goal was to… free her! Free her! My mind was in a haze, adrenaline pumping inside me.
'Free me!'
"I will!" I said, answering to that voice that threatened to compress my mind into a miserable nut.
But something else happened instead.
"What are you doing?"
That voice. I recognized it, but from where? I stopped my attack on the cylinder glass and turned slowly, only to find… Genesis. Who stared at me with the most flabbergasted face on the Planet.
"Zack Fair? What are you doing here?"
My eyes met his and I couldn't feel more annoyed. How I hated to be interrupted.
"I could ask you the same thing."
I couldn't see him straight, my sight was foggy but there was something on his back. Oh, right. A wing. Black one. Show-off.
"You stole my scientist from me."
His accusation seemed improper.
"Have I?" I said, raising an eyebrow, being obvious he meant Hollander. "Pity I didn't kill him right away. Besides he had nothing more to offer you."
Genesis eyed me with suspicion.
"You're unusually harsh, Fair. That's not… you."
Argh! Enough of silly talk, I had more to do but this - talking to a soon-to-be-dead-SOLDIER.
"I am so fed up with your copies wandering around. It's getting boring killing you over and over again."
But Genesis' priorities were other that engaging in small talk with me.
"Where's Sephiroth? I need to talk to him."
"He's not here."
Duh!
"I'm not blind, SOLDIER."
Impatience took me over and, in a sudden move, I grabbed Genesis right arm rather harshly. His eyes met mine, surprised and reacting at me. I didn't let him speak.
"He will refuse helping you." I declared, half-whispering the words at him. "All those things you want to say to him? It won't work. Do you know what he will say to you when you tell him you're dying?"
Genesis's stare widened and I smiled wickedly at him, taking the chance to speak before he did.
"You go decay."
The face of the man in front of me became angered.
"You're lying!"
I laughed at Genesis' exaggerated reaction. I could hear his heartbeat, accelerated and irregular. He was doomed and his body was failing slowly.
"I wish I was, red-headed jerk." I laughed again, and decided to reinforce the idea. "He will refuse and you will die."
Genesis breathed through his nose, visibly angry. I felt revolt coming from him, and sensed he was preparing to attack me.
I reacted at once. No you won't.
Impatience and fury invaded me out of nothing, and I felt my insides change. Power, strength and an uncontrollable will of killing took me.
"Let me-"
Enough of small talk. It was time for this aberration to just die!
"Say hi to you friend on the other side."
For the first time in my life, I didn't ponder. My mind ordered me, blinded me with orders I didn't know where they came from. Something inside me changed tone and I felt so overpowered, the sensation taking over my actions.
I knocked out Genesis and aimed my sword at him. This would be clean.
"Die."
The voice that came out of my mouth wasn't exactly mine. It was someone else's - but I didn't care. My mental voice had changed tone… and owner. And I felt I had died as well inside my own head. Someone else instead commanded my body, ruled my actions.
Like a puppet.
So, I didn't flinch when I saw Genesis head roll over the floor. My sight was different now, and I saw through the eyes of another… entity. Like a filter.
A damn powerful one.
Cloud's POV
There seemed to be no end to the charges those creatures made.
They came from every corner, every angle. Monstrous things, hideous and aggressive, I didn't know what they were, even though I felt Mako in them.
Lots of it.
It was that exactly - what gave them strength. A pure, uninterrupted flow of energy for someone knew how long.
I charged, my sword beheading creatures, gun lost in the middle of the vegetation. I enjoyed using the sword - much more than guns. The men I lead covered me quite effectively but the charge was neverending. They kept coming, dozens after dozens, like rabid creatures willing to kill and destroy every living being they found at hand.
When I thought I would have to inform it would be cautious if we retreated, someone spoke through the com first.
"Report, Strife."
General. It was him - now that was a relief.
"We're under attack, they're everywhere, Sir." I declared, as the hounds of dead creatures scored the moment. I didn't stop - I couldn't stop being focused on killing… they kept coming like a perpetual wave. "They're all over the place!"
My tone had a hint of despair.
"We'll be there in no time Strife. Hold on."
The line died suddenly and I ordered my men to go defensively for a while. Backup would be here soon and we didn't need to tire ourselves for nothing.
The monsters roamed, smelling us and charging at will, our sporadic hits quite effective.
"Just a little longer…" I whispered, as I hid behind a tree trunk.
The vegetation was thick, creating a maze-like battleground. Which had its advantages. I peaked discreetly, checking on the creatures stalking us.
"Cloud?"
Hearing my name right there at my ear made me turn at once - and my disguise was almost destroyed as I saw my childhood friend Tifa Lockhart smiling openly at me. Pride was all over her and it made my heart swell for a while.
"Yeah."
She made a gesture towards the creatures and blinked at me.
"Ready?"
I nodded at her, as I saw the cavalry arrive behind her. They were like ghosts, daunting and silently invading the area. I smiled at their presence.
General and Turks included, finally the team was complete.
Sephiroth gestured for us to charge, and I felt invigorated. Now, we were whole - and the fight would be even. Much easier, for sure.
"Well done, Strife." He declared, as he passed by me.
I nodded, proud of myself. My eyes met Tifa's and her soft smile felt reassuring.
We showed ourselves to the creatures, roaring at us.
And the battle began again.
Jenova's POV
There was something about the body I was in that didn't feel right.
It was weak - in what concerned sustenance. It had few of me inside, what meant a higher flux of energy necessary to knock its original essence.
This one was exceptionally willed - what wasn't a drama but it was annoying. I searched inside of his mind, hoping I would find some answers.
And what a quest I made. Quite fruitful in fact.
Not only I had discovered the Ancient I wanted so bad to get rid of was this body's concubine, but I had also found out who the right vehicle for me was.
A man, silver hair and so me that it hurt. So fair and powerful, his lineage so obvious that he would be the one for me to use adequately. In fact, it almost felt like he had been made for me to use. Custom-made. These humans were smart after all.
Through the eyes of this weak specimen I could see the Planet fairly well. My body remained dormant in that half-destroyed cylinder, and it would to remain there for a while longer.
However, there was something in these memories I had invaded I didn't quite understand. That woman at the labs who seemed to know it all. What was she, and from where had she come from?
A new world, besides this one - to explore and, who knew, what would I find there? Curiosity peaked and I wondered… pondered on the next step to take.
This body would endure the travel I needed to make… so I shouldn't take much longer.
I turned, reaching the stairs that would take me out of this place. My sight met some kind of pods closed - with creatures inside.
Oh, more Mako.
I smiled, my vehicle mimicking my joy. It was time for those creatures to be free, spread some chaos around the place.
It was a fact the grey-haired man and a bunch of other less important beings were trying to reach the place where I was now - and they wanted to stop me at all cost.
Destroy me, that would be more accurate. Which couldn't do, at all.
In a simple gesture, right arm rising, the pods opened, freeing the creatures inside. Those distorted beings got up lazily, abandoning the pods and walking around me for a while - clearly waiting for an order.
How gratifying, I thought.
"Kill them all." I said, my voice powerful and quite effective. The creatures started running , passing by me as I laughed.
I closed my eyes, sensing the seconds passing by.
It's time.
So I angled my head up and flew up, making way through concrete until I reached mid-air.
Traveling this way was practical. I scanned the geography of the area, catching a hint of animation miles away from the reactor - there was a fight, where the grey-haired man was involved as well.
I tried to search for his stare but then again, something interrupted me.
An explosion - multiplied and followed by dozens. The air got intoxicated with a chemical cloud, the sound deafening and a bubble of fire scoring the area. The effect was incredible, and I had to admit it had been one hell of a good job - considering the vehicle I was in right now had been the one responsible for the masterpiece.
I had no body now - my real one had been reduced to nothing, so I would have to find a way for… sustenance.
Seconds were all the necessary tempo for the ones down there fighting to cover themselves and realize - well, come to terms with the fact that the reactor had been reduced to pieces.
The reaction had been defensive, and with the blast several beasts had been slayed.
But, then again, I had to make eye-contact with him.
I needed to let him know who I was… and that he, in a way, belonged to me.
So, I wasn't surprised that he was the first one staring at the place where the explosion had occurred - and, in a sudden move, his eyes met mine.
Later, son.
His stoic expression didn't show a thing, and I wondered how different things would have been if he had been the one finding me.
That could have been reality… a reality avoided by someone whose image remained carefully guarded inside these memories, starting a cascade of anger right within my being.
So… I guess the responsible for that would have to pay.
And the time was now.
Sephiroth's POV.
As with any attack with high numbers, the only advantage was quantity, because the technique was mediocre. As to be expected with Mako-crazed beasts.
The charges didn't stop coming, strike after strike, animal blood all over - inevitably the bodies started to pile. Thankfully, there had been few men hurt on our side.
Our attack was schematic and quite effective. Tseng and the Turks covered the west area, I covered the east one, SOLDIER slowly gaining territory.
We needed to go towards the reactor and fast. Something was happening there and we needed to intervene.
After all, there was that broken part Stevens had mentioned.
As I launched every deathly strike with my sword, I wondered why we were being stalled like this. Because it did feel that way - that we were being kept apart, far from somewhere else.
The reactor, my mind screamed.
My eyes searched for Tseng in the seconds I had before a creature charge on me and meet death easily. Just a move with Masamune was enough to behead them… these monsters that smelled Mako in its purest form.
"Tseng!" I screamed, earning a stare back. The head of the Turks in this mission was having a bad time knocking monsters down. Guns had that con. They were too slow for this purpose. But, then again, it was a good shooting exercise for our rookies.
"To the reactor!" I declared, my tone decisive, with a gesture. "Go, I'll take care of this here."
Tseng's face showed hesitation as he drew back a couple of meters to meet me. Back to back we remained for moments - I could hear the shots, the bullets impaling monster's heads, as my sword resumed to quartering, quite effectively.
There seemed to be no end to this wave of monsters charging on us. If this wouldn't slow down in the next hour, we would have to retreat - men would start showing signs of fatigue. We all had limits. Well, except from myself.
But, out of nothing, Lockhart's voice sounded.
"They're hundreds!" She said, and we all stared up. She remained high on a tree, from where she must have quite a view. "I just saw them running down the hills, they're coming our way."
Our guide jumped elegantly and met the ground with a muffled sound, getting prepared to battle and charging a random beast, giving me time to make things clear with Tseng, who still remained on by back, shooting at his will.
"Tseng, just go." I said, as Masamune stylishly impaled another creature. "I'll meet you there."
My tone was harsh. I wanted this solved, and it was getting pretty obvious we would stay here for a long time if we didn't do something.
"You're insane, you're going to get yourself killed." Tseng answered me, with a sudden move. Our backs separated and we remained diagonal - the Turk covering my back and I, covering his.
"You won't have a chance to even get there if we don't create a diversion." I declared, my stare on his for a second, then interrupted by another animalistic roar. "You must stop Zack, I don't know what on the Planet he's trying to-"
I stopped talking. Out of nothing, something changed.
In the environment, all around us, something lingering - it felt dangerous and strange, powerful in a very seductive way. The fight scene, the battle that took place around me seemed to go by in slow motion. Lockhart's fighting, Strife's charging, Turks and SOLDIER fighting… Tseng's asking me 'What?'
My stare felt pulled to mid air.
The power called me out, as if there was sameness urging me to-
My eyes met something floating on air. I tilted my head, as I tried to understand what on the Planet was that.
It was Zack - on the outside; but inside, something else lingered there. And that something wanted me to know I had acknowledged it, somehow.
It felt frightening and overwhelming, at the same time. Everything and nothing. Life and death, whole and… the void.
In there, I couldn't find anything I recognized - much like Stevens' stare, all of it was alien and unknown to me. Appealing, in a way.
Instinct growled inside me as I felt danger. Suddenly, I sensed it, clear as water, as the bright sky where Zack remained floating, with that poker face and alien eyes.
But in a blink, he left… towards Midgar. I sensed tragedy pending.
And that made me react at once.
"To the ground!" I screamed. "Now! Get on the ground, now!"
Words hadn't left my mouth when a deafening blast sounded of nowhere. I still had time to see the fire, the immense cloud of flames incinerating the sky before knocking Tseng to the ground, as I kneel down, protecting myself the best I could, hoping we could all survive the shock wave that soon would hit us.
A/N - Hope your readers liked it! I loved writing this chapter and wanted to make it detailed in every perspective. You know, I've been plotting this wicked version of Nibelheim since the begging of the fic. I'm sure some of you don't like what happened to Zack, but then again, this is just a different way of approaching the original plot and, well, things just flowed this way so…
Anyways, I'm sure you'll be surprised with what will happen in the next chapters… :)
Please comment, review, leave your comment and most of all… enjoy the fic*
