A/n Alright guys here is a decent chapter, more talky than fighty though. Now unfortunately things have piled on on my end being so close to my graduation and multiple other events causing problems. There is a large possibility that i won't be able to do the same weekly uploads. Two weeks is possible but I am reserving judgement on that front.
Thanks to the guys and/or girls that told me about my writing and that i am okay but there can be improvements. I appreciate everyones honesty.
Ch 36
(days prior)
White, absence of color, yet is a color itself, and the only one I had been able to see for what seemed like forever. In all honesty I didn't know where I was, I couldn't feel anything around me, in fact I couldn't feel much of anything since I fell. All in all while I was in... well, nothingness. I had time to think and realize I learned quite a bit about Mako and the human body.
The initial part of my fall was when I finally hit the stuff. Being as high as I was, I was lucky enough to have the forethought to try to dive. It still felt like a brick was broken over my head but I was still able to think when I was submerged. Now that I think about that, I would rather have been knocked out than survive my own hell.
Mako was apparently endothermic, meaning it absorbed heat. When I was submerged I was surprised when I found I was suddenly a few degrees colder and increasingly more so as I sank deeper into the pool. It was then that I could compare Mako to reusable toxic waste. After the first five seconds of being submersed I felt as if I was on fire.
My entire body was burning, and it wasn't just my skin. With all of my wounds the Mako was able to get deeper inside myself. I swear I could have heard my atoms screaming the entire time I was under. It was worse when I finally ran out of air and was forced to take the Mako into my lungs, it's only now I can even joke about drinking and inhaling gallons of acid essentially.
It was then I found out how SOLDIERs are able to stay in those tanks for so long. Mako, as an element, is heavily oxygenated. So my surprise when I didn't drown, but continue to experience the feelings of my skin burning, my lungs, stomach, wounds, hell all of my insides felt like they was melting.
I don't know how long I was able to take the pain, it felt like days, but realistically I think I was in for a few minutes. Time really didn't matter to me. I was either unconscious or dead, I would have assumed the latter but having been sucked into a different world, I realize hope gets me a long way around here. I do wish something would happen though. I should have seen the Lifestream or even Minerva if she existed... I think. I would have liked my questions answered by one or the other, yet I'm here, Limbo essentially.
As more time passed I felt the urge to leave grow. I would feel... flashes is the right word I guess. But not of color or sound, no it was emotion. It was horrible and it got worse as time got by. I didn't feel happiness, or sadness, or annoyance. Every flash was pure, raw, hatred. I'd suddenly feel rage beyond anything I had ever felt before, and it wouldn't stop.
It grew more and more as I stayed still, the hardest part was that I couldn't react. I couldn't cringe, hold my head, I couldn't feel a single part of my body when I felt a flash of pain. I had to just take it in; hope that time would let everything pass by.
"...Survival...ossible...Mako...to high..." I heard voices, for the first time in what seemed ages I heard something. It was drifting but I knew I was somewhere now, I wasn't dead...or was but that wasn't the point at the moment.
"Friend... poisoning... recovery?" Friend, so Cloud was here... or someone else. Yuffie was holding onto me when I feel. I could have fucked everything up and dragged her with me.
"Examine...hope...est..." The voices sounded like I was submerged under water and warped, far away even.
As more time passed the voices would get just a little more clear. But the flashes of emotion grew more intense as I tried to think of a way out of my problem. I needed to get back to the real world, I needed to help Cloud get back up on his feet and stop Sephiroth. I wanted to talk to Yuffie again, I didn't want her to cry that I was gone; I didn't want anyone to be depressed...
Slowly the white light that I had been gazing at for so long started to dim. I could see edges of what seemed like a very plain room. I saw multiple metal pans, surgical items, and monitoring equipment. The room was made out of plain wood, and it seemed a little makeshift.
The next moment I turned to the side of my bed and threw up, a rotten and horrible taste suddenly in my mouth. Looking down I felt sicker seeing the glowing green liquid I had been surrounded in for a time. I looked around more and saw my room was very small for a medical room. I groaned as I tried to lift myself up. My body felt heavier than normal, and being inactive for so long made my joints tense. With some perseverance I was able to sit at the edge of my bed and slide to the ground. I fell forward as my legs weren't strong enough to support my full weight. I examined myself to see I wasn't in my clothes anymore; instead I was stuck in a simple hospital gown. My right arm was in a sling, obviously still broken from my fall. I also had bandages wrapped around my forearms and all around my stomach.
"Damn it," I struggled to say. I really was too weak to do anything. I could barely say a word. I slowly stood balanced myself on the hard wooden floor before trying to walk. My muscles were still tense from stretching and suddenly not having the familiar weights of my weapons. Maybe I had been traveling too long. I felt naked... well more naked without any of my weapons or armor on. Looking around the room, I felt a little happiness at the sight of one of my swords. But its condition could have been better.
My Masamune was now soaked in Mako, giving off a somewhat soapy green sheen. After Sephiroth's strike it had been cut down from six feet in length to four with an almost flat and blunt tip. I guess it would be easier to wield without the extra steel. It was still sharp from what I could see. Why waste it, I could still use it and it would probably be easier for me. I still need to find my Genji gloves though.
"Oh my!" I quickly turned my head towards the room's door to see it open and a raven haired nurse staring at me like I was a ghost. She didn't look like a threat but I kept up my guard... wait why would I do that? There's no point, she's just a nurse. Slowly I eased myself and felt awkward at the lack of conversation going on.
However my legs decided to collapse from being under my weight for too long and I fell to the ground, letting out a grunt in the process. Now I feel like an idiot, I tense up when people weaker than me come in and can't even stand up afterwards.
"Little help here," I mumbled, instead she ran out the room, yelling for a doctor to come in. Soon enough she came back in with a man who had thin gray hair as well as a small gray mustache. His eyes widened behind his glasses upon seeing me out of bed.
"Well you weren't exaggerating." He said, the nurse whispering back to him before he nodded and pulled something out of his pocket.
A needle with a clear liquid inside of the vial.
Fuck. That. Shit.
Despite my weak muscles I got up and picked up my sword with my good arm and pointed it at the two.
"Calm down, it's just a mild sedative." He reassured. I knew for a fact whenever a doctor holds a syringe at you saying it's only just a sedative you don't trust the guy.
"Bullshit," I spit out, which only seemed to make the doctor's eyes widen more.
"Motor skills are still intact, and speech is normal, fascinating." I stared him down as he put the syringe away and instead took a medical board near my bed and started writing things down.
"Doctor we should..." Before she finished he held up his hand.
"Nurse, he isn't hostile, he is just confused. We should let him relax before we do anything. He doesn't seem tired, just his body hasn't exerted any energy for a while. Please get him something to eat." He assured. The nurse nodded before leaving the room and the old doctor looked at me with a smile. It wasn't off putting; in fact he looked like an okay guy.
"You have caused quite a bit of trouble here. You're lucky you didn't break anything or I would have to charge you more." He said. I slowly lowered my sword. He didn't seem bad; I mean not all doctors are like Hojo.
"Have you seen my friend?" I asked, speech getting easier.
"The blond haired SOLDIER? He is in the next room over."
"I want to see him." I said, the doctor looked at me as if I was crazy before he shook his head.
"If you can hobble there then be my guest, but you must be back in your bed afterwards. I have many questions for you." I nodded. I kept my sword on me in case anything went wrong. Standing I got up and limped out the door. I was the last room out of what appeared to be five so Cloud was the second to last. I opened his room and saw Cloud.
It was both disheartening and joyful to see him. He had lived like he was supposed to. But to see his condition personally really showed how bad off he was. He was stuck in his wheel chair, head bobbing up and down as he groaned. He eyes were unfocused and had a very intense glow from the Mako poisoning. Looking at him made me realize I was lucky enough to not be in his state, but how wasn't I?
"I believe you've seen enough. Come back and eat while I fill out a few things." The doctor behind me said. Soon enough I was back on my bead eating. I was a little peeved there weren't any real solid foods. Some water, applesauce, and cut bananas were on my tray. But I realized how hungry I was and gave in while the doctor sat in front of me with his clip board.
"Now I am just going to ask you a few questions to clarify a few things. Basic information and the like." I nodded. He looked down at his paper.
"What is your name?"
"Nathan River." Already his pencil stopped and he sighed and shook his head.
"How old are you?"
"Eighteen."
"How long have you been with Shinra." That question threw me for a loop.
"I've never worked for Shinra." That made him stop and look up.
"Never?" He asked, clarifying. I shook my head.
"You must have, you're a part of SOLDIER like your friend aren't you?" Again another question that didn't make sense to me.
"I'm no SOLDIER," I said. The doctor looked completely befuddled until he made multiple notes.
"I think you should look at yourself." He got up and went over to one of his equipment bins before pulling out a mirror. I looked completely normal. My hair was a little bit spiked and my skin was a lighter shade. Although I had bandages wrapped around me forehead, I looked fine. It wasn't until I looked into my own eyes that I actually gasped.
First off I didn't have my glasses on, I finally realized that I had perfect vision without them. My normal brown eyes were now completely different. They had the glow that only Mako enhancements could accomplish. I frowned though upon closer inspection. The glow made it so the brown around my eyes were near nonexistent, mixing with my black pupils and making my eyes look black, and hollow. They reminded me too much of my other self's eyes.
"You are sure you've never been in Shinra? Or have had any memory problems?" I could have lied, but the back lash would be total shit when everyone else got to Mideel. I really don't know how much longer I could hold up to lying about where I was from. They would find out I was never born here and ask questions... maybe it's time to come clean. If I wait till the end then no one would have time to react to it until the final battle is done with. Even then I wouldn't know if I would still be stuck here or go home.
"No, I am sure," I answered. I had maybe a few days time before anyone else shows up. I can clear my mind before anything happens.
"Truly unbelievable. No prior exposure and yet you take to Mako like a fish in water."
"Yes, because taking an acid bath and drinking while breathing the crap is what fish feel everyday doctor."
"Your sense of humor is intact, or has it always been so dry?" I let a smile grace my lips as the doctor got up, continuing his notes before turning back.
"If it is alright with you Mr. River. I would like to have a chance to study you." He asked earnestly. I knew the doctor was a good guy; but I really didn't trust examinations.
"You may be nervous, but I won't dissect you. In fact I just need two seconds to take some of your blood and I can do the rest by myself. I am willing to wave your medical fees for this. As well as give you all of your items." That deal was a little too good to pass up. I needed my armor and Fusion along with all the rings and extras from my adventure.
"Fine, just make it quick." I held out my arm when the doctor nodded and got his syringe. I winced a little when he pierced my skin and started drawing blood but it soon left. However the odd sight of my now slightly light red blood with a faint green glow made me feel uncomfortable.
"You should rest now. It's almost night and it will be some time before I can properly tell you what I have discovered. If you need anything then use the buzzer next to your bed to call the nurse." I nodded and laid down fully into my bed. I soon found I was extremely tired and it didn't take long for me to fall asleep.
"I need more tests done on magic capacity as well as reactions to time materia, now!" An attendant mumbled an acknowledgment before he was shooed off by Hojo, who was examining a sample already in front of him. He had finally arrived back at Midgar after the imprisonment of the AVALANCHE members that didn't escape as well as the Ancient. He couldn't take her with him to Midgar, Rufus had ordered her to be imprisoned in Junon until the rest of AVALANCHE was found. Hojo knew it was a sound plan, make the Ancient a hostage and they wouldn't have to worry about them anymore.
But he wasn't fully disappointed. The data he had received from the anomaly's blood was actually staggering to him. Nothing had surprised him ever so much as when he discovered Jenova. Yet he now had something that made him almost salivate.
The base of the DNA was human. A small disappointment since Hojo hoped he was of a similar, if not actual member of what Jenova was. It reacted the same to near everything normally. It would die off from poisons, change in temperature, all standard things that made a human weak in Hojo's eyes. But the similarities ended when he had ordered for reactions to materia and Mako exposure.
Somehow the blood was resistant to magic; in fact it would fight off poisons caused by magic more so than by natural planet born plants. A detail he would have to investigate further since the multitude of tests he had made later stretched his time thin. But even then it also enhanced the magic that was cast through it. The only thing that had the same properties was his SOLDIER creation process.
"Sir... the t-test results are..."
"Good! Hand it here!" He snatched the papers away from the attendant and read them over. He sneered when the results weren't what he wanted. The blood reacted the same to time altering materia. Perhaps if he had the body he would test out how it reacted to perceptions of time. But that was scrap when the boy had gotten himself killed and dropped a few hundred feet.
Tragic, he would never have a decent supply of samples.
"Mako contact?" He asked, he was handed more papers before the assistant explained.
"The results were... interesting sir. The blood doesn't have any mana from the lifestream, but it has a very strong connection when magic is channeled. Combined with Mako it actually increases magic potential exponentially. But there is a control aspect that needs to be..."
"I have heard enough. Run more tests. We only have so much before we need to be sparing. Run compatibility with other cells." The potential behind this discovery was too much for Hojo. A natural enhancer for magic only existed in Mako, yet this human had such an enhancer inside his body naturally. He needed to make sure that the samples he had could last.
Perhaps a few Jenova cells will make them longer lasting.
"Old man I won't ask you again. I want all your information."
"I told you that's not possible."
My eyes slowly opened to the noise of two men yelling. One I could tell was the doctor while the other I had never heard before. But it was authoritative, angry, and didn't sound like someone to reason with. With renewed strength I got out of my bed and crept toward my door, making sure I didn't make a sound. I slowly opened it to find the doctor across the hall, sitting at a desk.
In front of him were three Shinra military personnel. However the metal shoulder pads as well as the knight like helmet on their heads and similar style suits to Cloud made me realize they were SOLDIERs. Two had a distinct crimson color to their uniform while the other had a light blue suit. Two seconds and one third class. Of all the shit the world could throw at me, it decided to give me this.
"Listen here doctor; we have been patrolling this village and island for a whole week now. I am getting tired of coming back here and you not helping my men." One of the seconds said.
"I have told you from the start I don't have information on who you're looking for." The doctor said, his glare aimed at the obvious leader of the group.
"I don't think you've been honest to us doc. I should call for more men and then you may talk when we have full jurisdiction here." The leader leaned onto the table.
"I have shown you all of my records. You all checked them yourself." The doctor persisted.
"I am not going back to HQ empty handed." The SOLDIER then took the doctor up by his collar and lifted him up in the air.
"Now, I want more than what you gave me. What do you have on a man named Nathan River?" My eyes widened at that. Apparently Rufus didn't send out orders to stop hunting for me and Cloud. He only mentioned me though... I did say this was my home town so he must have thought he would find something on me.
"I told you I have never met the man." The doctor persisted. I was surprised to hear the man deny I was here. He really was more admirable than I thought.
"Sir, this isn't good for Shinra's image. Just put him down. He's a civilian." The other second class almost pleaded.
"Just let the boss do what he needs. It gets the job done." The third class commented, one of his cohorts most likely.
"Not like this." The leader frowned before letting the doctor down with a thud and looking at the other second.
"Are you undermining my authority? Let me remind you you're only chief warrant two and have already been demoted once before. Another call from me and you'll be back to sergeant, as well as a third again. Do you want that?" The only decent person among the three grumbled before he stood straight.
"No sir." The leader nodded before he looked back at the doctor.
"Let's make another patrol men. We'll come back when you're more willing to talk." He waved his hand and the three of them left the room. The doctor let out a sigh before he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead.
"You can come out now. They won't be back for a few days." I opened the door fully. Walking out I looked to see part of the village through several windows.
"They've been doing this for a week now although I have been lying to them," He said, wiping his glasses as well.
"Why did you help me?" I asked. He just got out of his chair and started looking through some files behind him.
"I feel no love for Shinra. I have heard rumors of its treatment towards scientific subjects, both human and beast. As well as SOLDIER becoming nothing more than shock troopers since some of their highest officers were killed." He said. It was understandable, I could tell the doctor valued his trade, and someone perverting it made dedicated people like him be undermined for not taking the drastic measures as often just for minimal results.
"But that is enough about that. In fact I am almost delighted that you woke up this early." From the files he had taken he pulled out one marked with a red tag and laid it out on his desk. I sat down across from him and he opened it up.
"I will cut right to the chase, you are a normal person. Yet you do not have the same magic based properties as everyone else on Gaia." I raised an eyebrow.
"Not the same?" I asked, he nodded.
"Tell me, do you believe in the Lifestream?"
"Of course... I didn't think a doctor would though." I remember Hojo in the game didn't like the term magic when Sephiroth described the power of materia. It seemed like a scientific concept was needed.
"It helps to know a little about that as well as materia theory when it came to your case. I was never a stiff about magic having to be explained by science. I became a doctor to heal people, not to dispute how a cure materia shouldn't be able to mend bones on a scientific level. Now back on topic." He took a few pages out of the folder, both with wavy lines and notes under them.
"The first page is a regular person's magic compatibility, measured by a frequency. Some people are higher than others and even animals can have the ability to cast magic. It's never explained how people can interact with magic, but few such as myself think the Lifestream gives these properties to people. Now..." He placed another sheet in front of me. It had more waves than the other one.
"This is a SOLDIER low second or mid third's compatibility I took some years ago. The addition of Mako increases magic power as well as strength, intelligence, stamina, the works." He put a third sheet in front of me.
"This is yours." Looking at it, the waves seemed like a compressed version of the SOLDIER sheet.
"Unfortunately I can't make a graph for before you took a Mako bath, but I can make a hypothesis. You were somehow born differently than everyone else on Gaia. Your soul was an untapped source of potent magic potential that was waiting for a catalyst to set it free. Judging from your items you used materia quite a bit. So your more potent mana allows you to use magic with more devastating results." Wow... that's actually kind of cool. But shit that means that everyone else on earth is a magical juggernaut just waiting to blow up.
"What does this have to do with my Mako?" I get that I use magic on a stronger level than normal people, and now apparently on par with a cheap SOLDIER. But that doesn't explain how I'm alive and not catatonic. In fact, by all means I should be dead.
"The process to make a SOLDIER starts by checking a person's magic compatibility. A higher compatibility means that a person has a higher possibility of Mako mixing into their body. The extra enhancements Professor Hojo makes it technically safer since it enhances the subject's body as well. Your absorption was a combination of your above average physique, high magic abilities, and dumb luck, although you should be catatonic. The Lifestream tries to force itself into the person's brain, causing Mako poisoning."
"So how did I live?"
"Perhaps those with strong will have the ability to push out the Lifestream's force into the brain." He thought. I decided to think back to everyone else. Sephiroth survived with Jenova's protection of his mind. Tifa didn't get poisoned helping Cloud because of Aeris... oh god.
I almost wanted to kill myself right there. A small detail, one thing I missed would now have the possibility of causing the greatest shitstorm for me yet. I took a breath, I would have to find a way to help Tifa out on that front soon, otherwise everything would fall apart. So everyone that wasn't poisoned had an outside influence that kept the Lifestream out of a person's mind. So mine would be...
I frowned. The flashes of hate started to make sense. My other self couldn't take over a body and be paralyzed later because of the Lifestream pouring itself into my brain. I wasn't taken over because he was using all of his... or rather, my mental capacity to keep everything out. It's actually a little funny. To make sure he had a chance at his destructive ambition, he had to do something good to make it possible.
"Now there are drawbacks to how you were born. You don't have the necessary control that everyone else has to properly use pure magic techniques," he explained, putting the folder away.
"Pure magic techniques?"
"The slang term the younger generation uses is limit breaks. You can't use limit breaks."
Wait...what the hell have I been doing then? My Falcon Punches, Chidori, Air Slash, and Leech are all that stuff.
"But I do use them." I argued.
"Did you use the aid of materia when you used these techniques, or channeled your magic through magic conductive metal such as mythril?" Well all of those used some kind of materia... and my broken sword is mythril... and I know Fusion was a magical sword. Well damn, I can't do that cool stuff without using materia. That sucks actually.
"Well shit." I voiced it out loud. The doctor laughed.
"Now don't be down. With the Mako in your system you are enhanced, just not like a SOLDIER. From what I have been able to monitor since you and your friend got here you have only one and a half times strength you did than the two and one half that come from the extra in the SOLDIER creation procedure. Your eyesight is twenty-twenty, though you may have had that before. Stamina is times two instead of three as well as reaction time, thought process, speed, and other miscellaneous parts of your body." Huh, so I'm the ODST to Cloud's Spartan. Without all the negative effects of having Jenova in my system.
"But why can't I use limit breaks?" I was still bummed about that small fact.
"It's the fact your magic is much too powerful for you to channel properly... Ah! Think of it as a garden hose." Again I was confused.
"A normal person has a garden hose with a nozzle, able to use water, or magic, when they so choose. A SOLDIER has a pipe with a multifunctional nozzle. With regular release, spray, and other functions that represent the versatility they control their magic." Now I started to get it.
"So what does that make me?" I asked.
"You are a fire hose. You can control the flow of magic and it comes out in more quantity than a SOLDIER. But to control it by yourself is impossible." Damn, I need to abuse my magic more. I could use my swords as a secondary for close range. I could basically be a red mage, that's awesome!
"Now we're done with that, you have indeed brightened up my day Mr. River. I may even write about your condition. You may not be the first, or you're one of a kind. Any who I have your possessions here." He pointed behind his desk and I found most of my items, I even put on my gauntlets just to get familiar with them again. However there were a few things missing.
"I had another sword and multiple rings and accessories." If he lost my shit...
"Your rings are being cleaned by the nurse. I never found a sword though." I groaned, there is no way I lost Fusion to the sea.
"Where did you find me and my friend? I need to get that sword its... special." The doctor frowned before sighing.
"I didn't find you with your friend." Wait... I didn't drift to shore like Cloud? Where the hell did I come from then?
"I had picked your friend up a day before I found you. There are multiple Mako fountains around these islands. One is in fact on the other side of the island. I went there to get Mako to test how high your friend's poisoning was to normal levels. I found you there."
"I was from a different fountain?" I asked, he nodded.
"The currents in the Lifestream are not constant Mr. River. Unless you and your friend fell in the same location then even deviating a few meters can change where a person ends up." Wow that's lucky; I could have been spat out near Junon or some other location.
"How far is this other fountain?" The doctor looked at me like I was crazy.
"You're not honestly going out for a sword?"
"Yes, yes I am." Fusion has helped me immensely and it will help me more with my extra magic.
"You have an arm still in your sling. You're not even in decent condition to fight any monsters if you come across them."
"Well I have amazing magic and a backup sword. I have been traveling for the past month and a half so I know how to deal with monsters." The doctor leveled a glare at me which I returned. He looked away and took a breath before he went over to another drawer and took out a map.
"The fountain is a good half a day's travel from here. It's technically Shinra's jurisdiction so I recommend hurrying through. Take your equipment; problem is I don't have a change of clothes for you."
"I'll just take scrubs if you have any, I can get decent clothes some other time." I said. Hell I was the most under armored male on the team, well not considering Nanaki. I could do this.
"Lucky for you I have some. Get your items; I can't give you any food or medical supplies besides a potion or two. So make your way back quickly." He went to a closet and handed me the scrubs. While I dressed he placed all of my extra materia and accessories in my cleaned backpack.
"Take care; if you get caught I will be in as much trouble as you. So think about that while getting your weapon." I smiled, in all my time of visiting doctor's, this guy had to be the most humorous.
"Later doc." With my sword on my back and Genji gloves along with the familiar weight of my items, I left. Looking around I saw all of the other wooden houses that made up the village. They weren't shacks but the buildings weren't without a few holes in them either. Following the map I went north east from Mideel, making sure to avoid anyone I didn't want to be seen by. Over time I traveled through the tropical-like forest. It wasn't so bad, monsters were far and few between and I had a mastered lightning and fire materia.
It did feel good to be moving about again. My body didn't really protest. I guess after traveling for so long, staying still just isn't as good as it was for me before. I let my mind wander while I traveled, thinking back to my decision to tell everyone about myself. I knew I couldn't hide the fact forever, and Nanaki had already found out. Waiting only made it so it would hinder everyone at inopportune moments. Plus it would help in finding all of the secret items without having to lead everyone by the nose. Hell, how could he get anyone to Lucrecia's cave to help Vince without looking suspicious?
The sun was in the middle of the sky now; I could only assume it was around noon without a working watch or PHS to tell the time. When I looked around I noticed the trees were starting to thin out as I was getting closer to my destination. The ground had an odd sheen to it as I got closer to it too.
"Where the hell am I going?" I muttered out loud, getting my sword ready in case I was ambushed in the now changing layout. The ground was now starting to flourish with a moss-like grass and the few trees around were taller than normal. I noticed a faint glow in the distance. Getting closer I got up to a cliff.
All around the area I saw the brilliant glow of green from the Mako pools around the area. The few plants that were alive were thriving on the life energy, the whole place looked familiar. It wasn't formed naturally; the jaggedness of the rocks had shown.
"So... this is what's left of Banora."
I never thought of coming to the town. I mean, I assumed it was near the island of Mideel, but on the same one as the village. It makes me wonder why the doctor didn't mention the destroyed town. Perhaps Mideel was only recently made. I'm not sure really.
"For a place blown to hell it does look good." At least I have the knowledge no one was killed with the explosion. Most the people were taken out, and I believe it was Angeal's mother that was left behind, but she was already dead.
I shook my head; there was no point to dwell on what happened to this place. If I didn't hurry I would get caught by someone. Carefully I traversed down the cliff and landed on the gravel next to a pool of Mako, I felt a small rush of heat pass by me. I guess I was more sensitive to the junk now. I continued looking for Fusion. There were multiple pools so I would have to find one with the sword. Hopefully it was shot out a geyser or something.
"Freeze!" Before I could reach for my sword, three men jumped down from the cliffs around me. All had broad swords out.
"Well looks like we finally found our guy." I slowly inched my hand but the men all crouched.
"One false move and you're chunks, hands where we can see them." I raised my hand in the air. The Planet must love ruining my life. When is the good karma gunna roll in? I am about to cash in on month's worth of bullshit.
"So we finally got our target, looks like that old man was holding out on us. Can't trust civilians anymore," The leader said, a very smug look on his face.
"So what now boss?" The third asked.
"We take him in, and the doctor for withholding information."
"How the fuck did you guys find me so fast?" Seriously I was there for five minutes and they catch my ass.
"We happened to find this here." The third pulled out Fusion from his back. "Must say quality sword, shame it was in your hands. I think it'll be better with me.
"What was he guilty of?" The other second asked.
"He knows just a little too much about Shinra's workings. Add that he is part of a major terrorist organization, then Shinra wants him taken out."
"What about Hojo? He wanted the guy." Wait, Hojo is on my case. Fuck, I forgot he had Jenova cells. He must want to know how I knew so much about Sephiroth. The parasite must have given him some of the information.
"He even ordered for him to be captured alive, for experimentation." My eyes widened.
"Wait, experimentation? Why?" The other second asked.
"I don't know, but now I might have an idea. His eyes look like a SOLDIER's, yet he isn't on our roster."
"I haven't done anything to Shinra besides keep people alive. I was the guy that healed a Turk, I was the guy that made sure most of Sector Seven is still alive, and I am going to be one of the guys that's going to save the world from the giant hunk of red mass in the middle of the sky." I argued. The leader seemed to ignore me.
"Like we care, in fact two of your friends are scheduled for an execution in the next few days. When we're done with you can join 'em." I noticed the third creep up closer out the corner of my eye.
"Now why don't you tell us what secrets you stole, must have been something juicy if both the President and Hojo want you."
"Sir, I don't think we should know." The leader glared at the other second when the third got close enough.
"I don't have any secrets, and fuck you anyway!" I charged a small bolt spell and shot it at the approaching third. The spell had its intended effect and surprised him while I shoved into him. My arm hurt from the sudden contact. Taking advantage of my surprise attack, I took Fusion from the third. Before I could attack I had to roll away from a broad sword coming down at me.
"Well he's fast, the eyes aren't for show." The leader lifted up his sword.
"Boss, you almost killed me!" The third yelled.
"You moved," I smiled.
"I thought I was gunna have trouble with you guys. But I can kick the crap out of a bunch of assholes any day!" My confidence was returning, SOLDIERs weren't as good as people thought anymore. I had enhancements now; I could muscle my way through this if I wanted.
"You know, I think the President won't care about us handing you in already dead. Hojo just wants you for experiments."
"That's against protocol!" The other second said.
"Like I care, I want payback." The Third drew his sword and started running. Even with the increased reaction time I was just barely able to block his attack with my one arm. I channeled a lighting spell through Fusion. The third, having no lightning immune armor, felt the full surge of the spell before he faltered. I made a slash with a wide arc, cutting the SOLDIER on his arm before he jumped back.
"Lucky little…" The cut was decent enough, but knowing their healing factor I needed to keep the damage up.
"A magic junkie. Try this, Tri-fire!" My eyes widened before I dodged the three different fireballs aimed at me. I forgot SOLDIERs had manufactured materia.
"Delta formation!" I heard the order and found the SOLDIERs in the exact same position as before.
"Dark fire!"
"Tri-fire!"
"Drain!" All three cast a different magic attack. I ducked under the more dangerous dark fire but was hit by two of the Tri-fire balls and the drain spell. The leader saw an opening and sprinted to grab onto my broken arm.
"Caught him." I almost bit my tongue trying not to scream. I felt weak, too weak, but I needed to think of something to get me out.
"Finally, let's kill the little shit." The third lifted his arm only to have it slapped away by the other second.
"We are supposed to catch him! This is not how a SOLDIER acts!" He yelled.
"Fuck you. He cut my arm."
"Both of you shut up. When we turn him in we'll all get promotions, I'm sure." He had the same smirk when he started to twist it, making me grunt in pain.
"What are you doing?" The other second asked.
"I'm teaching him a lesson, maybe making sure his arm is permanently broken so he will know not to mess with Shinra again."
"No, we are taking him in. I am done with this abuse. You hassled the villagers to no end, threatened a civilian, and now torturing a person after being captured. This isn't honor; this isn't how a SOLDIER should act.
"Oh, you want us to act like your friend that disappeared four years ago? He was a weakling, so what if he became a First. He died with his stupid honor. We're SOLDIER, we don't need that." the Third said. I started laughing when he turned to me and my arm started getting twisted harder.
"Got something to say?" The leader asked sarcastically. The increase pressure on my arm was killing me.
"There is no honor for Shinra anymore. I know that personally. There are no more hero's either, all of them were killed or defected. SOLDIER is complete shit." I said. Dying never stopped me from running my mouth, increased injury wasn't going to.
"I guess you want your arm broken." He twisted even harder.
"That's enough!" the other second yelled before the Third held him back.
"You know boss, I consider that insubordination and treason. He's trying to stop you from apprehending a target." The Second looked shocked at the accusation.
"...Too bad Warrant, I never liked you anyway. I got tired of your SOLDIER honor a long time ago."
"You can't be serious!" He had his broadsword at the ready. The other two were distracted. I scrambled to remember what materia I had in my right hand.
"Looks like everything gets better. Caught a high profile target and even stopped a SOLDIER from turning against his team." I closed my eyes, concentrating.
"This is what Shinra has come to... I needed a reason to quit. After this I'm going to go find my friend. I'm done with Shinra!" I felt a drain in my magic reserves. The three SOLDIERs froze, noticing something.
"What the hell did you do?" The leader yelled, I smiled.
"Boss look out!" Before he could the man was hit and knocked over by a green blur. My arm now free, I picked my sword back up. I looked at the devil-like summoning. Ifrit looked back at me before he flew forward at the SOLDIERs, a fiery path being left behind as he charged into the Third class. The man screamed as he was smashed into multiple trees as Ifrit disappeared. The beautiful Mako grass now scorched.
"A summoning materia?" The other Second asked. The leader turned back to me, still on the ground.
"Both of you are done." He went for the other Second first, knocking him back and making him release his sword. The other tried to use his materia but the leader second was the better of the two, I knew I had an opening but I had second thoughts. One of the SOLDIERs seemed decent, he was following orders and now he was about to get shafted for having morals.
Hoping my decision wouldn't lead to my death, I thought of how to hit the SOLDIER leader and have enough time to make a kill shot. I had magic, I can duel cast but channeling two high level spells at the same time would mess me up with my possibly re-broken arm... but if I could dual cast then...
"It's over for you." The SOLDIER leader said before he knocked the other down, his broadsword up as he was ready to kill the other. I focused on two materia in my left hand. I made a small gravity ball and channeled lighting through my gauntlets; the spells didn't blow up in my face so I thought I was good.
"Hey!" He spared me a glance. "Taste my lightning fucker. Electric mayhem!" I let the gravity orb burst when I pointed towards the man. The combined spell threw both men back as the lightning surged. The attack lacked precision so it hit both men. I got up and ran towards the now downed leader and stabbed Fusion into him. I felt his hand shoot up and grip my broken arm but I kept the blade in him. After a minute I felt the man's hand fall limp.
I took Fusion out slowly and made sure to clean the blood on the grass. Looking back I saw the other Second in better condition than what the leader was, but he was slumped on a tree next to a pool of Mako. I had walked closer when he had tugged on his broadsword and lofted it up.
"Stay back, i can still fight. You can't have much in you." He was partially true. I was winded from the exertion. Looking at him though he would take a while to heal. Remembering what the potions the doctor gave me I opened my pack and took one potions and started drinking it as well as rubbing some along my fresh scratches and burns. When i was finished i was about to open the second one when I saw the SOLDIER's helmet turned in my direction now instead of looking down. I looked at the potion and him when I decided to go against my better judgement.
"Here." I tossed it to the man who surprisingly caught it with ease. He seemed stunned that I gave it to him though.
"T-Thanks." He was breathing heavily. My attack must have messed him up more than I thought.
"Why would you give me this? I was going to capture you." True...i guess I'm just a bleeding heart.
"You know a lot of people have tried to capture me. The Turks have and I don't blame them. The President is just doing his job, even if I don't agree that fear controls people. I realized that in this world some of my enemy's are inevitably going to be allies in the days to come. I should live for the future, like one without Meteor.
"How could you stop Meteor?" he asked.
"Not just me. I have friends who are going to need my help. AVALANCHE is about saving the Planet. The next issue we're going to solve is Sephiroth and Meteor." I sat down on a tree opposite of the Second class and opened my potion, drinking the concoction and rubbing the stuff on my burns.
"But what are you going to do?" I asked. I kept my sword by me just in case. I may trust the Turks in two years, but I still have to keep my guard up.
"Honestly, I don't know. For the last couple of months I've wanted to find a way to quit Shinra. I really wanted to help a friend that I believed was alive for so long. But now..." He trailed off, I deliberated. The guy didn't like Shinra, he seemed like a decent man. Hell, he valued friendship so much he wants to help.
"How about you work for AVALANCHE?" He looked at me funny, at least I think. Hard to tell with that helmet on his head.
"What? But I'm the guy you're all fighting."
"We have two people who are ex-Shinra now. One who was a pilot for them, two who have been imprisoned by them, and an executive on our side. What's one more, you don't have to travel with us, you could do other stuff. Like information. You'd be our man on the inside, get to know what's going on and relay it to us." That was actually a good idea. We had Reeve but he was a little unreliable without a secondary source.
"I could do that, I know everything in Shinra, I know all of the rumors, new additions, escaped experiments. I could do that... but I would be stuck in Shinra." He looked down.
"Look you don't have to; you can get up right now and start a Chocobo ranching business for all I care. All I'm saying is that if you team up with us, you can make a difference." From the lack of motion I believed he was thinking about what to do. It wasn't until a minute later I got my answer.
"You know, you remind me of my friend. He could get anyone to do anything. He had that charisma about him. You got a little bit of that in you... I'll help you." I let myself smiled before getting up; I went over and offered him a hand.
"I can't really say welcome to AVALANCHE, but when the gang gets to the island I can put in a word for you." He smiled and took my hand, lifting himself up.
"I guess it's the best I can get. But you heard the other guy. Two of them are going to be executed." I waved him off as I started walking away.
"I can guarantee they will escape and be here within the week. I have faith in my friends." I heard footsteps as the man started following me.
"So this is a fresh start between us?" He asked. I nodded.
"Yup, names Nathan, nice to meet you dude." He laughed to himself.
"Same here, I'm Kunsel. I hope to get to know you and your team better."