. R O A D . T O . D A M A S C U S .

. S A G A . T H R E E : T H E . J O U R N E Y . I I .

Chapter Ten: In Memory

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Ecclesiastes 9:5, The Holy Bible

The Highwind airship had took Avalanche back to the Ancient City and the group, with the key they had obtained without difficulty, evading the Emerald Weapon during their search. They had once made their way through the city, reaching to the heart, where a shrine stood in the large building, according to Burgenhagen's research, was once the Council House where all the Cetra came together, to hold meetings.

The place was barren, beautiful with circular rows of stone benches, ascending high and close to the second level. There were pillars and columns supporting the building. The center had a high rising platform where the shrine stood. The entire place, once must had looked beautiful in its splendor and glory now stood in shamble, in ruins.

Avalanche stood, scattered around the place, and had finished exploring, watched as Cloud made her way to the shrine, holding the large key that appeared to be a jagged dagger made out of smooth shell, white with reflection of rainbow when the light hit it.

Burgenhagen had told her what she should do once she had the key. He explained what they should expect once she placed the key in place. She moved the dagger in the slot on the altar, sliding it in place. Burgenhagen explained that the altar was like a music box, and once the key was in, it would activate and answer the key-holder's question.

Cloud held the key as it was in its place, the stone shifted and morphed, creating crystals, shooting upward and glowed in colors. The light shone and music filled the building. The music was soft and ethereal, nothing compared to the music that Cloud had played on the harp before.

She gasped as the water rushed up, creating colorful wall around the shrine, encasing her within. She found she was in the bubble of the water and with her free hand; she pulled out the cell phone and range Tifa, informing her and the other to step in the bubble of water. Soon as everyone entered the enclosed space, the walls of water changed colors and images started to play before their eyes upon the rippling surface.

They recognized it was their memories, together as their view before Aeris was killed. They all saw Aeris, as beautiful and innocent she was, kneeling and praying on the altar, smiles upon her lips.

"Cetera keeps memory of life that goes on the Planet. Right now we all want to know if she prayed for Holy." Cloud said softly as she watched the image.

Dark Sephiroth came down from above and killed her, then she slumped down, lifeless, still with smile on her lips. The image adjusted to view Aeris' hair where the ribbon came free and small white marble fell, so easily hidden in her hair the entire time. It bounced off the altar and rolled into the water, disappearing in the depth.

Tifa held a finger, "look, its glowing green." The Materia did indeed glow a soft green light on the bottom of the pool.

Cloud closed her eyes and the image faded, the wall of water fell all around them to the ground below the altar they stood upon. "Holy had been summoned. She knew what to do…" She fell to her knee, burying her face in her hands, "I'm so sorry it had to cost her life. To Summon Holy, you have to sacrifice your life to meet Gaia and make the request to release Holy."

Tifa knelt beside Cloud, rubbing the fighter's shoulder, "She's not complaining, isn't she?"

Cloud looked up and chuckled, "You're right. We will finish what we are supposed to do."

Barret grinned as he hoisted Cloud roughly back on her feet, "That's right. Stop Dark Sephiroth before he kills everyone."

Yuffie tilted her head in questioning character, "Hey, if Aeris summoned Holy, how come Holy isn't doing anything?"
Cloud turned to her, "You're right. I don't know. Something must be standing in Holy's way…" she turned to the altar and reached for the key. "Let's see why." She turned the key but it wouldn't budge, "Hey, it's not working anymore."

Nanaki moved to her side and nudged his head on her hip, "It only works once for a person." Cloud then cursed under her breath, preparing to turn away but froze.

Tifa gasped as Barret moved to grab Cloud's shoulders but stopped when Cloud's body racked with familiar seizure. She clutched her head as scream filled in her mind. Everyone watched in abated horror until she was able to calm down, holding their breath.

Cloud sighed as she slumped on the altar, holding herself up. Her eyes showed pain and she was breathing raggedly, "The Cetra… we must hurry. It is Dark Sephiroth who is stopping Holy."

"Damn!" Cid grumbled.

"What's he's doing?" Yuffie's eyes went wide.

Cloud shook her head as she stood back up, "I am not sure. Meteor is dropping, with or without me, he wants to destroy Gaia so badly, and he just doesn't care anymore."

Vincent rubbed the back of his neck, "I am sorry. I think everyone else is lost as I am, how does this fit?"

Cloud looked to him, "You know most of the story about the Valkyries and Madoshi and Megamiki?" She saw everyone nod, "this is new, the Cetra was screaming in my head about all those and a new plot they had learned from Dark Sephiroth and Jenova. Jenova believed it was Gaia who destroyed her planet and wanted revenge, using Madoshi's leverage and anger. Really, everything in between this Calamity of the Sky and Gaia, everyone is a pawn in their war. Even Madoshi and Megamiki… Whatever had happened eons ago, it's really wrecking everything up here for everyone."

Yuffie bounced as she remembered something, "Oh! Oh, the legend! My mom told me stories about all those! Gods! Meteor and Holy, Megamiki and Madoshi! This is sooo cool!" She exclaimed as she hopped around everyone until Cid grabbed her to still her.

"What the hell you talking about girl?"

Yuffie giggled as she stood in Cid's grip, "You see, in the story, there is a good ending! Everything's going to be all right! Holy will stop Meteor because Meteor doesn't want to hurt Gaia but he can't do anything, he is a Summon and he has to do what he was told. But Holy can stop him because they will be free and together again."

Cloud frowned, "What other part of the story did your mother tell you?" She asked.

Yuffie turned to Cloud and grinned her mega-watt smile, "The Queen and King part too, they are the one who will make everything right in the world once they reunite. You say Sephiroth is the last Valkyrie son, isn't he?"

"Yes-s…" Cloud drawled, afraid that Yuffie had made connection.

"So," Yuffie shook herself out of Cid's grip who had slackened and turned to everyone, hand on hip and a finger wagging at everyone, "You see, in Wutai legend, it says that the Last Son," she shrugged, "It never said who, but anyhoo…" She exhaled since she was speaking pretty fast in animated way, "He is the King and he will be reunited with his love," She shot a look at Cloud, "You said Sorano was Sephiroth's girlfriend and she died. I don't think so, she's somewhere in the Lifestream and Sephiroth is gathering all the energy from the Lifestream. We all know that the Lifestream is all the souls that once lived on the planet. So, I think he will find Sorano and together, they will stop everything! And," She struck a heroic pose where her fist shot in the air and she yelled, "Presto, everything's all right!" then she suddenly frowned, dropping her arm, "But why are we stopping Sephiroth for? If they're going to do this themselves?"

Cloud dropped her head, afraid that Yuffie was going to reveal her secret but shook her head, almost laughing. "Good point, kid." She looked up and saw that Tifa, Vincent and Nanaki had wide eyes of horror and laughed. "Okay, okay, you got a good theory." The three of them rolled their eyes then and she continued. "Yuffie, there's one little problem in this situation. Its Dark Sephiroth we are dealing with, the real Sephiroth can't do anything unless Jenova and Dark Sephiroth are out of the picture. Sephiroth and this Sorano can't do anything, basically, they both are in the Lifestream and they have to wait until everything is resolved, so it's in our hands now to deal with Dark Sephiroth and Jenova, once they are out of the way, Holy can deal with Meteor afterward. I don't know what will happen to Sephiroth and Sorano after that." She concluded with a nod and crossed her arms on her chest.

Yuffie looked perturbed. "Aw! You'd have to go and ruin my discovery." She pouted.

Cloud laughed and patted the young ninja on the head, "It was a real good theory. You were almost right, but the order was kind of wrong."

"All right, I guess we should go now." Yuffie beamed.

Vincent pursed his lips. "Interesting. I agree we must get going; we can't stand around listening to some love story."

Cloud nodded in agreement. "Right! Let's go!"

Cait Sith hopped to her side and grabbed her arm. "Wait. We've got a bit of a problem."

The blonde fighter turned to the cat, frowning. "What problem?"

"Remember the Junon's Cannon, the Sister Ray?"

Everyone did indeed; they had recalled the massive cannon built at Junon Harbor. However, it had disappeared and they didn't bother while they went around the world, searching for the Huge Materia, getting them out of the ShinRa's hands. It occurred to them, wondering what happened to it then.

The cat bounced off the mog and into Cloud's arms, intending to draw all attention to him. "Actually, Rufus moved it."

Cloud's jaw dropped a bit. "Moved it? That big thing? Where, why?"

The cat turned its head to look at Cloud. "Rufus wants to destroy Dark Sephiroth with it. The cannon operate on Huge Materia. But the Huge Materia has already been used in the Rocket Plan. So since the cannon's useless right now, he decided to move it. To a place where Materia… no, where Mako is gathered…"

Cloud groaned as she rolled her eyes. "So, they're going to use the power of Midgar. Since we took the damn Materia, shit." She cursed and then frowned, glaring at Cid, "You're a real bad influence, see you got me cursing!"

Cid looked affronted, "Hey! Why now out of all things, you're accusing me for that?" The others chuckled and turned to Cait.

The cat hopped out of Cloud's arms and moved about the Mog's back, getting something out of its storage. He hopped back on the top and held a small box with a screen on it. He flicked it on and everyone saw it was a small television video and it was showing the dark Midgar. Several helicopters whirred across the sky and soon, they all saw the Sister Ray towering above Midgar, on top of the ShinRa Headquarter, looking ominous and scary.

"Oh shit…" Barret mumbled as he stared at the small portable television wide eyed. "How the hell he plans to use that damn thing?"

Cloud shook her head. "Unbelievable… Rufus wants to kill Sephiroth so badly… Geez… He's desperate to save the planet but he's doing in the wrong way."

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Inside the President's office at ShinRa Headquarter, Reeve stood among with Heidegger and Scarlet, facing Rufus who were standing behind his desk.

"That's why, Reeve. It's your job to adjust the reactor's output." Rufus gave the ebony haired man a Cheshire cat smile.

Reeve looked away, reluctant to follow in the order. "I see…" Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see Zack standing behind Rufus with a slight hint of scowl on his face. He knew he wasn't the only one who was against the idea.

Scarlet, who happen to choose a short mini skirt and tight top today, still in usual red laughed. "Don't worry about adjusting it, Reeve." She clapped her sharp red talon-fingered hand on his shoulder. "Once you open it all the way, everything will go full speed!"

Heidegger laughed, making his large belly roll. "The President's sure done it this time! If we can only defeat Sephiroth, the idea that Meteor will also disappear is based on different objectives!"

Scarlet moved around the desk and wagged her finger teasingly at Rufus. "Please remember, Mr. President…" She purred as she leaned forward. "It was my idea to fire Mako Reactors powered shells."

The blonde President flipped his hair that was straying over his eyes. "Will the shells really reach the far northern border?" He asked, unsure about the whole situation, feeling there was something amiss. He didn't care unless there were ideas or plan to stop Sephiroth; so far, this was the only idea they had came up with.

The woman rolled her eyes. "Ah, ha. Of course." She waved her arm in a matter-of-fact gesture. "But, Mr. President, please do not call it a Mako cannon. It's Sister Ray."

Rufus rolled his eyes in exasperation and waved his hand to dismiss everyone. Once everyone left the room, only Zack remained.

"Tell me, what you think about this… uhh… Sister Ray Plan?" Rufus asked as he sat down, knowing Zack was behind him.

The current appointed General moved around to the front. "I have no comment."

Rufus looked up, peering into the shadowed face of his General. "The entire time, you had no objections and remain silent. Tell me now, what is truly on your mind?"

Zack scowled at the young President. "Why should I? I have to jump when you order me to jump. Say what you want me to say, think what you want me to think."

Rufus's blond brows furrowed in slight irritation. "Maybe they made you too good. I know there is a real Zack Donovan behind the mask you have there. I knew you once, a jovial outgoing man who were wild in his Academy day, loved by many. A best friend of Sephiroth and this youth… Cloud Strife."

Zack scowled. "How would you know all this? It is all in the past."

Rufus smirked, seeing he had pushed a button and leaned forward, resting his chin on his hands. "Ah. Yes, all in the past. But, it is there. Ah, I think I remember… this little kid that tagged along with you and Sephiroth all the time, he adored you two. Am I right?" Zack's scowl got deeper. Rufus smiled broadly. "Yes, he did." He looked down at the folder on the desk. "Here, it says that he died." He waved the report in the air and slapped it back on the desk, "But why, tell me, why is he still alive and running around out there, making it harder for me to run the company, the countries under ShinRa's control?"

Zack looked away, shrugging his shoulders. "Why should I know? I haven't seen him or spoke to him since I was brought back. It is clear that he is on the other side, not with us anymore."

Rufus frowned again as he leaned back. "Very well. You're dismissed."

Zack gave the usual salute to Rufus and left quickly.

The young President shook his head as he flipped the folder open, looking at the profile on Cloud Strife, a red stamped word across 'his' picture, 'Deceased'. "Cloud Strife… your goal apparently seems to be in every way the same as mine. To stop Sephiroth, but why are you stopping me as well? We could have worked side by side to stop the man." The answer didn't come back, only he was left in silence.

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The darker counterpart of Sephiroth grumbled as he sat upon his rocky red throne in the darkness of the abyss of the Planet, watching his mother pace back and forth, fuming and screaming nonsense.

"Oh, shut up mother. Your ranting is not going to bring him back. He's gone."

Jenova glared at him with her deep ebony eyes that never shone with any emotions. "Sephiroth! I had him! He was perfect son! Nothing you could be… so strong, so sweet… pity he couldn't do what I wanted him to do…" She snarled and returned to pacing. "Oh, Sephiroth, my darling…"

Dark Sephiroth rolled his intense jaded eyes. "Really, mother… I have a better plan. You should know better, all of the souls in the Middle Land becomes…"

"Summoned Ones… so what?" She snapped back.

"Right, when he becomes one, I assure you, he will be back with us."

The alien woman stopped and twirled her dark violet hair, pursing her lips. "Hm, you're right… You better make this work, if it all fails. You're going with the rest of the Planet!" She screamed and with a flash of crack, she disappeared.

"Whatever mother…" He drawled and sighed as he sat back down. "I have a better idea…" He laced his fingers together and rested his chin upon them, smirking. "Dear Cloud Sorano, I still wait for you…"

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In the Middle Land, every Summoned Ones except for Meteor and Sephiroth gathered, running about wildly as scream ripped though the air. Sephiroth swished his head from side to side, confused. "What's happening?"

Shiva stopped and gave him a frantic look. "Gaia is objecting to what's happening out there! She's sending Diamond to destroy Midgar!"

Sephiroth's jaw dropped again. This place, everyone had constantly amazed him to no end. "What? But why?"

Phoenix shook her head as she appeared by Shiva's side. "Gaia feels that Midgar is going to destroy her."

Sephiroth sighed deeply, understanding slightly better. "I think…" He frowned as he concerted at a thought that just occurred to him. "Cloud… Zack…" Then, his brilliant green eyes glowed as he looked back up at the two women. "I understand now… Midgar wants to destroy me, no, Dark Sephiroth, but I think Cloud is going to stop them…"

Shiva rolled her eyes. "Good, Cloud to our rescue…" She then soon disappeared in spark of ice and light.

Another angry scream ripped though the air and Sephiroth cringed. "Is that Gaia?" Phoenix gave him sad looks and a nod.

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As soon Avalanche stepped out of the Council house of the Ancients, the ground shook. "What, what the?" Cloud sputtered as she grabbed the wall for support.

Cid stumbled and gripped onto his staff to keep balance while Yuffie grabbed onto his jacket. "What the hell?" And Barret grabbed Tifa before she lost balance.

The ground stopped shaking and everyone made run to the Highwind. One of the pilot greeted Cid frantically. "It's a strange signal!" The entire airship blared and the light flashed on and off wildly.

Cid turned around, "From where? Here?" He peered at Cait Sith. "Hey cat! What's going on?" He shouted at the cat, grabbing its neck and shook him.

"Whoa, whoa, handle the product with care!" The cat yelped back. "Midgar is going into Red Alert, screwing up my single, also it seems to be setting Highwind's alert off."

Cid frowned as he let the cat go. "Why is Midgar going into Red Alert?"

"Weapon came out of the sea and is heading straight for Midgar."

Cloud stepped up to the cat. "The new weapon should stop him, right?"

The cat shook his little head, the crown almost toppling off. "I don't know if it's ready or not."

Barret shook his fist. "Hey! What's gonna happen to Marlene?"

Tifa placed a comforting hand on his hand. Leave it to the big guy worry about his daughter. "I think Marlene is in a safe place now. She's with Elmyra, right? I am sure Elmyra is taking her far away from Midgar."

Barret grumbled and nodded. "Guess you're right."

"Barret." The cat frowned at the man. "As long Marlene is safe, who cares what else happens, right?" He saw the black man nod his head. "I've been itchin' to say this to ya fer a while now!" The cat hopped off the mog and strode up to Barret, glaring at him. "When ya blew up Reactor 5, how many folks d'ya think died?"

Barret paled slightly knowing Reeve was right. Anybody could have cared for anybody, but Reeve cared for the people that lived in Midgar and he deserved to be right. "You're right. I was thinking for the Planet, gotta expect a few casualties."

The cat shook its arms at Barret in rage. "A few? Gah…" Then, Cloud picked the cat up, taking him away from the big guy.

"Hey, hey. That's no time to think about it. We got bigger problem. Look." Cloud pointed to the bay window of the cockpit.

During the argument between Reeve and Barret, Cid had lifted Highwind into the air and was heading on course to Midgar, over passing the massive silver and black monster, Weapon.

"That thing is going to kill a whole lot more people than Barret did," said Cloud, holding the cat to the window to get a good look at the monster. "We got to stop it before it happens. Cid, land over there." She pointed to the land that was right outside Midgar. "We got to try to stop it. We can do it."

Soon as Cloud placed the cat down, she pulled her pack out, pulling several red stones, the Summon Materias. "Come on, get all of your strongest Materia you got, and your best weapons. We can beat that thing!"

Yuffie jumped up and down, grabbing her weapon that already had some of the strongest Materia in the slots. "All right!"

Cid piloted the large airship and landed just far enough for the group to travel over where they would encounter the Weapon.

Yuffie, Barret and Vincent joined Cloud onto the ground while the rest waited on the Airship. The Weapon came closer and stopped just before them, looking down at them before releasing a loud guttural roar.

"Knights of Round!" Cloud called out, holding her sword as the ground shook, bringing forward the thirteen ghosts of Knights to attack upon the Weapon.

"Bahamut Zero!" Vincent held out his hands to the sky as he held the red stone, summoning the great Dragon. The sky became dark and brewed a storm before parting as the large silver metallic dragon came down, attacking Weapon with its ethereal fire.

Barret grumbled slightly before raising his gun arm that held a red stone in it. "Phoenix!"

As the Knight of Round faded away after the attack with Bahamut Zero, Weapon had released a powerful attack upon the party; wounding Vincent, Yuffie and Barret badly as Cloud were missed.

The song of Phoenix filled the air as the large legendary colorful bird in flame appeared, casting it's magic on the party and attacked the Weapon with her fire. She turned and gave a wink to Cloud, "One Winged Angel is all right in our care. Worry not and save Gaia for all of us."

Cloud smiled as she heard the Phoenix. "I will. Thank you."

The Weapon stumbled back and retreated to the water.

Tifa came running out of the airship to the party. "What's wrong?"

Cloud closed her eyes as the brunette approached. "The Weapon… Something's wrong…" She turned and ran to the airship, yelling back at the rest of the party. "Come on!"

By the time everyone got on the ship and went back up in the air, circling around Weapon once before heading to Midgar. They could see that the Weapon was charging up from its place in the water, facing and ready to destroy Midgar.

Cait Sith jumped frantically. "Get out of here! Get away! Something big… I'm talkin' really big coming!"

Cloud turned to the cat just in time to miss a bright light emitting from the Weapon's chest. She turned back in time to see a beam of light blast out of the chest, heading toward Midgar, "Oh shit!"

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Inside the dark President's office, Rufus stood, facing the window. He could see Weapon in the distance, coming closer. He had witnessed the Avalanche attempting to stop the monstrous beast.

Heidegger came in, smiling, as he was riled up about something. "Sir! Preparation for Sister Ray is now in order."

Scarlet came into the office, grinning as wide as Heidegger was. "Anytime is fine."

Rufus gave them a nod and turned back to the window. "… Fire." He said without much enthusiasm. Scarlet and Heidegger left the room to comply the order, they never noticed the hesitance in their President's voice. Rufus moved closer to the window, watching the Weapon. "Am I making a mistake?"

"Do you think so?" Zack came out of the shadow, taking his place next to Rufus.

The blonde leader turned to the taller man. "I feel like I am signing a death contract."

Zack turned his head to Rufus. "You just did."

The President stepped back, turning his back to the window, hands on the desk. "Everything you told me about Cloud. I thought about it, you're right. I have been doing it all wrong. It's up to Cloud and his group to stop the right Sephiroth. I didn't know…" Zack moved to Rufus, taking hold of his shoulder.

Rufus turned to Zack, giving him a half smile that never reached his lupine grey eyes. "It's too late. Go, go and save yourself. You're free. Go, take Reeve and get out of here. We are all doomed. It's in Cloud's hands now."

Zack nodded once and made his way to the door and turned around. "Thanks. May you go peacefully. We will see to that the Planet has a better future."

Rufus smiled as he waved Zack out. "Hope you get out in time." He turned to the window to watch the Weapon, already powering up to attack soon. "May God take me in his arms when I meet him."

The ominous Sister Ray, sitting above the Midgar, directed toward the Weapon. The cannon had been connected to each Reactor that surrounded Midgar, one by one; each glowed, feeding powers to the large defensive weapon. The energy kept building until the cannon started to shake, rumbling low at first, glowing with halo of light, illuminating the entire city of darkened Midgar for a moment before blasting a massive wave of energy toward Weapon.

The Weapon's blast met with Sister Ray's energy blast, meeting there for a moment in suspense midway then twisted, spiraling across each other as it misses, toward Midgar and Weapon. Upon the same moment, the two burst in explosive blast.

The Sister Ray had too much power that it didn't stop at Weapon but passed though toward the Northern Crater, blasting away the protective barrier that was erected by Dark Sephiroth.

Everyone on the Highwind was glued to the bay window, had just witnessed the most spectacular moment that went down in history in awe and horror.

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Moment before the blast from the Weapon approaching Midgar, Rufus stood at the window, taking a last drink from the glass he held in his hand. He watched in silence as the rest of the city went about in chaos. The blast wiped out his building, taking him away with it and that was the last of Rufus ShinRa, the only heir of the ShinRa legacy. Rufus was no more.

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Zack stood outside the outskirt of Midgar with some of the people he had rescued from the slums with Reeves. "Gods… The Planet can be resentful." He whispered, standing close to Reeve, holding his small form in protective embrace.

Reeve sighed as he buried his head into Zack's shoulder. "There weren't time… We have to go back for survivors. Zack, I'm going back in, take command and put end to this. Go, take the people to Kalm, if it is possible, arrange for the Soldiers from the Academy to help and transport to Junon base. We will need all the helps we can get."

Zack let go of Reeve and smiled at him. "Right. It's time to put end of this chaos. There are more Weapons out there and we can't let this happen again."

The shorter man hugged the General one more time, whispering in his ears. "Thanks, you've been a best friend." Then, they parted to go back to Midgar or what's left of the Headquarter and to Kalm.

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Cloud was the first to turn away from the window. "Oh man…" She looked up to find the cat staring up at her. "What happened?"

Reeve's voice finally came though. "We got out. Rufus sent us away, he finally came to realization and it is up to you to finish this."

Cloud knelt down to the cat. "He's gone, right? I saw everything, it hit the Headquarter."

"Yes. I'm taking control. It's chaos here. I'm sending Zack out to evacuate most of the city as he can. It's going to get worse. The barrier is down at the Northern Crater."

"Right, we should go there now and stop him." Tifa knelt down next to Cloud.

The cat's head turned away from Cloud and started to speak. "Scarlet! Heidegger! What's going on?" Then, the cat went blank as he stopped moving, but the voice box was still on as Avalanches listened on.

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In the board room, or what was left of it, Reeve stood at the head of the table, half broken to the ground with Scarlet and Heidegger came running in, looking frayed.

The top part of Headquarter had been demolished, leaving half of the building still standing and functioning; Soldiers and employees were running around, screaming and going back and forth, still in effect from the chaos.

"Give me the phone!" The massive man grabbed the phone and dialed the number. Holding the receiver at his ear, listening and looked up to Reeve who was giving him a blank look, "His phone is dead. I can't reach him. No one can get up there."

Reeve looked away. "He's dead."

Scarlet gasped. "How can that be?"

Reeve gave her a cold glance. "This is not the matter. We have a bigger problem. The Reactors' output is increasing all by itself."

Scarlet paled. "W-w-wait a minute! That's not wise! It must be cool for three hours or it won't work. Reeve, shut off the machine!"

Reeve shook his head as he placed his hands down on the table. "We can't do that! It's impossible, half of the building's control is gone, half of everything is gone! We're in shamble!" He reached out and grabbed the phone from the massive man and dialed another line. He mumbled something to someone at the other end and his face paled as his eyes went wide. "Someone has switched the machine over to mainframe operation! That's why we couldn't operate from here!"

Scarlet's eyes went wide. "What about the mainframe? Who did that?"

The two turned to Heidegger. "Hey, call the mainframe!" Reeve shouted.

The man took the phone back and dialed, the other two waited and finally, he placed the phone back in its cradle, frowning at Reeve. "Huh? Why are you giving orders?"

Reeve's face stormed over. "I don't give a damn about the details! Rufus is dead, someone has to take over! Now, what's going on?"

The man shook his head. "Someone took over, we can't reach to the Mainframe, and nobody was able to." Scarlet scowled and quietly slipped out of the boardroom.

Reeve slammed his hand on the table, causing it to collapse under weak support. "Damn it!" Heidegger was already gone by the time he looked up and he took out his portable phone and flipped it open. "Cloud. I might need your help."

Cloud's voice came though. "We heard. We're on our way now. The Mainframe is in the center of Midgar, right?"

"Yes."

w w w . y a s h o d o a . c o m / r o a d t o d a m a s c u s

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