Days of Exile

Chapter 37 – The Answer, Revealed

Previously on Days of Exile…

Earlier on, Fred and Kunsel were dispatched to Junon, interrupting their plans to save Meia from her cells. In Junon, they were tasked to transport the Junon Mako Cannon back to Midgar to assemble. No one knew the reason.

Also, Cloud and his party finally found the Key of the Ancients. With the key, they might be able to know more about Meteor. Under Yuffie's suggestion, they explored the seabed further and stumbled upon the mysterious Gelnika airplane…

12 January 0008

Still in the deep waters off the coasts of Junon, Cloud, Yuffie and Cid entered the abandoned Gelnika. It was a stroke of luck that Yuffie had found the remnants of the Shinra transport. What the plane contained though, they would soon find out.

Entering the half-submerged plane, Cloud hummed at the interior design. "This is the Shinra's Gelnika type airplane. I wonder why it went down here?"

"Who cares?" Yuffie giggled. "Let's go run around!" She ran ahead to a door without Cloud could stop her. Cid shook his head and quickly followed after.

Cloud followed after and through the door, he saw a research room of tanks and boxes. "What is this place?" He looked around and analysed things carefully. "Must be some kind of a Research Establishment because there's a Mako generator," he concluded finally.

"Cloud! Look!" Yuffie pointed at a box in front of them. "A treasure chest!"

"Yuffie! Leave that $%^&%^ thing alone!" Cid groaned as Yuffie picked the lock of the box. "As if she would listen." The lock broke and Yuffie lifted the lid eagerly… and fell silent. Cid noticed the unusual response and glanced at the young girl. "What's wrong?"

She did not speak, so Cid and Cloud walked closer, until she spoke, "Conformer."

"What?"

"This is the Conformer." She looked up at Cid and Cloud, her dark eyes shining with awe. "It is one of the legendary shruikens in those Wutai stories. My grandpops always talked about them." She reached a hand out, but seemed almost afraid to touch it. "They said that it disappeared in the last decade…"

"So it has been in Shinra all this while," Cloud finished for her.

The girl stared at Cloud. "Please, Cloud! Can I keep this for myself? I mean, you guys can't use shruikens for nuts. You two macho men will look like prissy girls and you wouldn't want that, right? If I can bring this back to Wutai, grandpops would be so ecstatic. Come on, I'm sure you don't want a stupid little legendary weapon, do you? I promise I won't get you guys into trouble anymore. I don't think I can promise you guys on not stealing Materia, though. It is my habit, and you know that whole sob story that I told you guys about-"

"Yuffie?" Cloud cut in before she launch into another ten-minute soliloquy. "Stop. You can have it."

Her eyes grew to the size of tennis balls. "Really?" She asked. "You don't mind me keeping this?" Cloud shrugged. "Gee… thanks." She mumbled.

Cid grinned and patted his shiny new spear. "I understand how you feel. I like my Venus Gospel very much too." As Yuffie finally took out the weapon from the box and gave it a few test swings, he said, "Now, let's quickly finish this place so that we can get back."

Also in the Gelnika, Reno and Rude walked along the corridors carefully. They were sent by Heidegger to investigate the sunken airplane. During Shinra's plan to collide the Huge Materia into Meteor, the Gelnika plane was used among many others to transport it to Rocket Town. The Gelnika also contained many weapons of the highest rarity and genetically modified monsters for future use. However, on its way back from Rocket Town, it encountered a WEAPON and crashed into the bottom of the sea mere miles from Costa del Sol. Reno and Rude's job was to recover as many weapons as they can and report on its dangerousness to Heidegger.

"The monsters are strong," remarked Reno. "But they will not be enough to give harm to Sephiroth. I mean, we are managing them just fine, a few close calls here and there but generally, manageable." Reno kicked a small carcass aside, watching it disintegrate. Unlike real creatures and humans, these monsters do not have souls. When they die, they will turn to dust and not green swirls of the Lifestream. "Using them against Sephiroth is a joke. Any of us Turks could defeat these monsters..."

"Meia probably couldn't," said Rude bluntly.

"Yeah," admitted Reno. "Maybe she can defeat that little squirt there," he pointed at a poodler, a three-tentacled creature. "Anything else, she will need backup."

"... Still no sign of her?"

Reno thought about his girlfriend who had disappeared without a single trace for the last 5 days. "No." Their silence was interrupted by the shrill ring of Reno's PHS. "Reno, here." He greeted into his PHS.

"Turk!" Heidegger's boisterous voice came through the call. "Are you two still in the sunken Gelnika?

"Yeah. Hey, Heidegger, I'll call you back, yo? We're really looking at something cool and interesting," Reno fibbed coolly.

"My order is for you to return to Shinra!" Reno could almost hear Heidegger jumping up and down on the other side of the phone. He almost sniggered. It was such fun to agitate him. "Be back by 1500 hours!"

"Really?" Reno exclaimed. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Gotcha message. Be right back at ya." Before Heidegger could say anything, Reno flipped his PHS shut. "Heiddy wants us back…" He checked his watch. "Pronto."

Rude nodded. "At least we were able to secure some of the weapons."

"We will need to bring the boys down here if we want to claim the rest."

"... Reno." Rude pushed his sunglasses against his nose. "When we return to Midgar, tell Tseng to give you three hours off. Go and find Cassie, KK or Alana."

Reno stared at his partner. "Are you serious?" He asked.

He knew for a fact that to Rude, once the exiled Turks left the company, there was no reason why they should keep in contact. Rude saw no significance in pursuing his former colleagues who had sought a different life outside Shinra. To Reno's knowledge, Rude has probably only met one or two of them since they left. As for Reno, Meia was the only one he has been seeing.

When Rude kept quiet and continued walking, Reno asked again. "But we decided that we will not unnecessarily approach them already, didn't we?"

"…" Rude stopped to look at his partner. "Isn't Meia more important than your Turk job?" He asked matter-of-factly.

Reno stared at his partner with surprise… and gratitude. "Thanks, partner." He clapped the back of his tall partner. "I will do that, yo? Come with me, Rude. Let's go and say hi to them all."

"…" Rude was walking again, through the door leading to their exit. Reno quickly followed and they closed the metal door. "I will be doing your paperwork while you are gone. I will stay behind," replied Rude.

"You've got a point." Reno kicked at one of the metal doors. "Hey, we need to seal this door shut. We don't want any more of these monsters roaming around unnecessarily."

Rude knelt down to have a closer look. "You are right."

"And I have the tools ready," Reno lifted a metal welding tool. "Let's get it done quickly, before Heidegger jumps his way over here for us."

Rude was quiet. Although it was a common sight, Reno felt that Rude had something he wanted to say. The redhead stared at his partner questioningly, until Rude began. "Reno, there's something you should know."

A different sound caught Reno's attention. "Yeah, but hold on. Did you hear something?"

Rude stilled for a moment, listening. "I think I hear footsteps," he answered.

"And I think I know who it is."

"Turks?" A new voice exclaimed.

Reno and Rude stood up and turned around. Sure enough, it was AVALANCHE.

"Again?" Rude muttered audibly.

Exactly. Reno thought. What business do they have here? Nosy people. "We just seem to keep running into each other lately!" He said, walking towards them slowly. He shook his head in resignation. "There were weapons and Materia developed sorely to destroy Sephiroth."

"But, it was attacked by WEAPON and sunk to the bottom of the sea," added Rude.

"I can't give you what's here." Reno tossed his fringe… and noticed Yuffie held on to her shruiken tighter. "We'll take out Sephiroth. I guess this is our last meeting."

Rude stood straighter and said firmly. "I won't let you get in our way."

Sure you won't, thought Reno smugly. Tifa is not here.

He tapped the EMR against his shoulder, hoping to intimidate AVALANCHE into retreat. But who was he kidding? AVALANCHE had won all four bouts against the Turks so far, of course they would not think that they were at a disadvantage. In fact, they probably were not. Reno wished for a moment that he was stronger. But it was impossible anyway. Not wanting to boast, but he was one of the stronger Turks, back when the Turks were full force…

Alright. Why am I thinking of those guys now? Reno thought. And where in the blazes is that girl? Meia…

"Reno!" Rude shouted.

Before Reno could respond, the spell hit and the flames of "Flare" engulfed him. He quickly shook off the flames, but he knew the damage was done.

"Focus!" barked his partner.

Reno shook himself back to awareness and considered his situation. If they insist on continuing to fight, their lives would be in serious danger. There was no way any of them were going to die at the bottom of the ocean. Not today. Not ever.

Reno checked his watch. Almost time to return to Shinra anyway. Another retreat would be wise. By now, his ego was not as affected as before. AVALANCHE was strong, and Reno just had to accept that. "These guys are pretty tough," he said. Rude nodded, indicating that he will catch up. Giving them a cheeky wave, he ran off.

Reno headed for the escape two-seater Shinra submarine, parked near the Gelnika, to wait for Rude. In his head, he entertained amusing thoughts about AVALANCHE. Despite the destined animosity between them, Reno enjoyed fighting them. Working with them was not too bad too, when they were 'collaborating' to save Elena and Yuffie from the lecherous Don Corneo.

Perhaps if there ever came a day that they could be on friendly terms…

Nah. Reno shook his head. Now you're just being delusional.

(A/N: By the way, I just wanted to mention that when Rude retreats after Reno, he will just brush his sleeves and walk away. No cliché punchlines, no raging promises. How bad ass is that?)

When Rodzen Daisa walked into the ward, he was surprised to see Tseng out of bed and dressing himself in the newly cleaned Turk uniform. "Whoa, what do you think you're doing, Tseng?" He demanded.

The Wutaian leader stared at his former subordinate as if he had just asked the most brainless thing ever. "I am returning to Midgar."

"But you've only recovered enough to leave your bed yesterday!"

"And recovered for too long," Tseng insisted, buttoning his crisp white shirt. "I will not have those two competent goons handling all that mess while I am wasting my life here."

Rod rolled his eyes. "You ain't so strong enough to handle all that on your own anyway!"

"What's going on?" asked Mason as he and Kido entered the room. Looking at Tseng and his getup, they understood immediately. "Tseng, you're leaving? But you've only managed to crawl out of the bed two days ago!"

"Precisely!" Rod interjected. "You tell him, bro!"

Kido sighed and retreated to the far corner of the ward, pulling out his PHS and fiddling with it. Mason tried a softer approach on Tseng. "Sir, I know that you must be feeling helpless about not being there to help." Tseng raised a questioning eye at Mason, hinting for the big man to choose his next words wisely. "All I'm trying to say is, you need all the rest you can, to help them better."

"Yeah!" Rod added. "You know you are more far-sighted than to just rush in, right?"

Tseng frowned. "I am perfectly in the know of what my body can do."

The redhead threw his hands up in the air. "This is hopeless. You will die along the way back to Midgar. I swear, you are being irrational here."

"Let us not forget that I played a part in ensuring that you had a seat in the Turks in the first place," rejoined Tseng, narrowing his eyes at the younger Turk.

"Kido!" Rod turned to the silent man in the corner. "Say something!"

The double-guns user looked up from his PHS and then out of the window. "Jade WEAPON is approaching. For us."

"What?" cried out Mason.

Tseng turned to Kido. "In Junon?" He asked. He needed no introduction about the Jade WEAPON. Being in the Junon ward for more than three weeks gave the three Turks more than enough time to tell Tseng what he needed to know about everything. Tseng knew sufficient details about the ancient being who wanted their lives after they took down Zirconiade.

"Eh, I guess this time it's me whom the Jade WEAPON has not fought with yet," said Rod sheepishly. "Gonna be my first fight with the Jade WEAPON."

"Not to worry," assured Kido. "We have the experience and we'll help you."

"…" Tseng watched the Turks with a frown. Finally, he said, "I'll help, too."

Rod's eyes were the size of tennis balls. "You kidding me, Tseng?"

"Do I look like I'm laughing?"

"No offence, sir, but why do you want to help us?" Kido asked. "The Jade WEAPON is not after you since you did not play any part in destroying Zirconiade."

"From the looks of it, if one WEAPON requires the entire Turk team to take turns to destroy it. I think you need all the help you can get." Tseng checked his Shinra-issued handgun meticulously. "I think the best way is to destroy the WEAPON once and for all, not make it retreat so that it can harm another Tur… any more of you again."

Mason grinned. "Thank you, Tseng sir. Your assistance would be a great help to our team. I should still advise you again not to strain yourself too much."

"Well…" Tseng rolled his shoulders tentatively. "I'll take it as a warmup exercise, then."

Kido nodded. "We will lure the WEAPON away from Junon and settle it. When you're ready, we will all move out."

13 January 0008

When Cloud, Cid and Yuffie returned to the submarine last evening, they recounted their incident with the Turks on their way back to Junon. (May I add that Meia, who had been listening in to their conversations since her return to the cells, was greatly relieved to hear that Reno was doing fine while she had disappeared.) After a night of rest at the Junon inn, the group swiftly flew the Highwind to the Forgotten City the very next morning.

Bugenhagen was ecstatic to see that they had returned so quickly. Clearly he did not expect them to find the key's location so soon. While everyone was away, he did his own reconnaissance around the place and found a suitable place that may be a good place to insert the key. So Cloud, Tifa and Cid stepped forward while everyone waited by the side of the entire stadium. They would be able to see and hear everything that happened at the shrine.

When Cloud handed the key, which looked more like an elaborately designed staff than a key, Bugenhagen floated to a stone music box, made up of many blue crystals. Once he placed the key into the music box, he chuckled. As Cloud, Tifa and Cid looked closer, the crystals dangled against the key musically. Up above where they stood, a gush of water flowed from above them, encircling the altar where Aerith knelt before her death. The water created a curtain around the altar.

Needless to say, everyone watched the entire thing in silent admiration. Even Reeve, who was viewing the scene through Cait Sith's eyes, marvelled at the simple-looking at advanced design that went into creating this.

"Great," said Yuffie, however. "Now we can't hear nor see a single thing while the four of them sees the fun stuff in the waterfall!"

Nanaki shook his mane in a manner that he hoped looked reproachful. "Be patient. Cloud will tell us about it later on."

The Cosmo Canyon elderly floated back to Cloud and said kindly, "Now, go inside. Hope may be inside… Or…" He looked away and sighed ever so softly. What he wanted to say, he did not say, and no one needed him to. One could hardly sound enthusiastic when the Meteor was visible from any part of the Planet. The trio stepped into the altar and looked around them. At first Tifa did not understand what was understanding, until Bugenhagen gasped with understanding. "This was just a screen to project an image! Look! Look at the image projected on the screen of the water!"

As Tifa looked up at the screen, she had never thought she would see Aerith again. Then again, after a close encounter with her in the Lifestream, Tifa was ready to believe anything. On the screen, Aerith's head was bowed and in prayer. Not long after that, she was killed by the same sword that took her father, Martin Lockhart, too.

Then, a new perspective caught all their attention. As Aerith fell, her pink ribbon unravelled and her White Materia fell off too. In all their shock back then, no one bothered about anything else, much less the 'good-for-nothing' Materia. It splashed into the water around the altar and there, on the bottom of the lake, it glowed a pale green. Tifa found herself glancing at the water, hoping to find a singular green glow from the murky waters.

As everyone remarked on how the Materia was no longer white but glowing a pale green, Cloud placed a hand over his heart. "… Aerith. Aerith has already prayed for Holy.

"After I gave the Black Materia to Sephiroth, Aerith's words came into my dreams. She said, she was the only one who could stop Sephiroth. And to do that, there was a secret here..."

Tifa listened in amazement. Ignoring the stab of envy that Cloud and Aerith had such a moment, she realised that the intention of Aerith leaving the group was significant.

"That was Holy," concluded Cloud confidently. "That's why, she had the White Materia. Aerith knew about here, and what she had to do. Aerith has left us great hope. But, it cost her her life… her future…" His voice dropped into a whisper, barely audible against the roar of the water. "I'm sorry, Aerith. I should have figured this out sooner. You left us without saying a word… It was all so sudden, so I couldn't think…"

Did he think that Aerith died all because of him? Tifa thought, her heart softening. No wonder he was so hard on himself whenever it came to Aerith. But…

Cloud spoke again. "That's why it took so long for me to find out. But, Aerith… I understand now. Aerith, I'll do the rest."

It was too much for Tifa to bear. "You mean, WE," She said irritably. As much as she understood Cloud's good intentions for Aerith, it was extremely annoying to see Cloud revert to his previous lonely self. He needed to see that everyone was with him, and that they were going to do this together. As Cloud turned to Tifa, she almost glared at him. However, the look in his eyes was full of gratitude and sincerity that she faltered… and smiled.

"The big gift the flower girl left for us… It'd be sad if we didn't finish it!" Cid chuckled. Cloud nodded at Cid gratefully too.

"Thank you, Aerith. Aerith's voice has already reached the Planet. Just look at the glow of the White Materia." Then, Cloud's face clouded. (A/N: Haha, pun not intended!) "But… how about Holy? How come Holy isn't moving?" He shook his head in bewilderment. "Why?"

"Something's getting in its way," advised Bugenhagen, speaking for the first time since he watched Aerith's death on the water screen.

"… Him…" Cloud clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "He's the only one that could do it. … Sephiroth. Where are you?"

There was nothing they could do. Tifa gently touched his shoulder and Cid patted his back, signalling him that it was time to plan, with everyone else in the Highwind. When they exited the water curtain, everyone had returned to the Highwind. Before they could take another step, Cloud's PHS rings.

He spoke into the phone. "What the?"

Instead, he heard Cait Sith amidst a loud ruckus at the Highwind. Cait Sith whispered to someone else in the background, though Cloud could make out Cait Sith saying, "Sorry, I was a little surprised."

"What happened?" asked Cloud again.

This time, Cait Sith replied, "You remember when the Junon Cannon disappeared? Actually, Rufus moved it."

"Moved it?" Cloud repeated. "That big thing? Where? Why?"

"Rufus wants to destroy Sephiroth with it. That cannon operates 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..."

"And where is that?" asked Cloud, though his heart already knew the answer.

Kunsel and Fred walked slowly, taking steps behind them. "I can't believe it," murmured Fred. "I can't even see everything within my vision."

The dark sky of Midgar, centralised by a fiery Meteor, loomed over Midgar. Indeed, the 'SR' was a grand sight – a large metal structure of pipes, fuel tanks, blinking lights and a large barrel belonging to the Junon Cannon. The cannon that was transported from Junon was miraculously attached to the top of the Shinra Building. Actually, it was not a miracle. The entire Shinra company was activated, which was the reason why all the SOLDIERs were working full time, plus the Turks were called back to help out.

The cannon was still in the midst of being assembled, but at the rate that the company was pushing all its employees, the cannon will be completed by mid-afternoon.

"I admit," added Kunsel. "I'm impressed at how quickly we finished transporting and fixing everything up. If the company does not give us a raise at the end of this year, I think we should protest."

Fred laughed. "I hate to burst your bubble, but…" He shrugged and smiled sadly. "Let's just talk about surviving that monster above our heads past this month or something."

That, no one had the proper reply for.

Do check out my blog at aichioluv dot blogspot dot com to see my author's notes. Do remember to read and review!