WHERE ANCIENTS FEAR TO TREAD
CHAPTER 11
"You look like $hit Cloud!"
The blond haired mercenary looked up from the table of the local restaurant they had all decided on going to. It was now 3:00 in the day and the group had decided on meeting here after searching the city for information on Sephiroth.
"So what did you find out?" The blond haired man asked, completely ignoring Cid's previous statement.
"Not much." He replied smoothly. "Basically no one's heard of him other then the fact that he was a great Shinra war hero who died a couple years back."
Cloud simply sighed heavily. After having that dream of his lost comrade, it only strengthened his resolve to find and kill Sephiroth. The spiky haired mercenary lifted his mug up from the table and took a tentative sip, careful to avoid getting burned by the heat of his coffee.
Cid merely watched the man in morbid fascination for a few more moments. "What the hell did you do to yourself? You don't even seem like your alive right now."
Cloud continued to drink his coffee, once more ignoring the man's concern for his health.
"Look Cloud, you can be as stuck up as you like whenever you like but if you're gonna be keeling over in the battlefield I'd like to know ahead of time. I don't make it a habit of working with people who die on the job because they can't hack it."
Cloud slowly lowered the mug from the bridge of his lower lip then stared icily towards the rugged, ex-pilot. "Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."
"Then do it." Cid replied evenly. "Get some more rest or something. You look like hell and if this is the way you treat yourself then I'm thinking maybe you should seek medical help."
"Whatever…"
Just then the door to the bar swung open allowing a shadowy figure to walk through. The surrounding patrons, upon seeing this ghostly figure, eagerly moved out of the way, allowing him to pass. The man promptly made his way to the back table where the rest of his companions were sitting.
"Any luck?" Cid asked the capped figure nonchalantly.
Vincent gave a brisk shake of the head then took a seat beside Cloud. The spiky blond grimaced a bit at the negative feedback. "So then that mean's we're back to square one huh?"
"I guess so… we could always try again." Cid offered. "I mean this is a city after all, someone's bound to know something!"
"I believe that to be highly unlikely." Vincent interjected smoothly. "These people seem overly lax about things. Judging from what we know of Sephiroth's behavior, people would know if he's been passing to and fro."
"Damn, gotta point there." Cid dug a frustrated hand in his pocket then withdrew a cigarette and proceeded to light it.
"Nibleheim…" Cloud mumbled softly.
"What was that?" Cid asked, momentarily plucking the cigarette from his mouth.
"I said Nibleheim. That was the first place my companions and I were going to journey to before I met up with you two. We had agreed upon going there because that was were this whole mess started from."
"He's correct." Vincent replied absently. "Records say Sephiroth supposedly died in the town of Niblehiem. However, in all actuality, we both know that Niblehiem is actually where he went insane and decided to go on a killing spree."
"Yeah, that's true. But all that information is classified. So how do you know about Sephiroth's origins kid? How did you know what really happened with Shinra's great Ex- SOLDIER?"
Cloud gave Cid an icy stare, as if he were suddenly disgusted with the ex-pilot.
"What? All I'm asking is a simple question. Don't give me that look."
"I was there!" Cloud spat out as if the very taste of his words made him sick to his stomach.
Cid's expression immediately changed from one of idle curiosity to utter shock. His cigarette fell loose from frozen hands while the pilot continued to try and process this new information.
"It makes since…" Vincent said finally, apparently not affected at all by this new revelation. "It would explain why he hates the man so much. What else do you know about Sephiroth and his 'divine mission'?"
For the first time, Cloud saw true interest in the eyes of the mysterious Vincent Valantine. The cloaked man leaned forward slightly, resting both arms on the table while a single mechanical finger tapped methodically on the polished wood surface.
Cloud let out a tentative breath, suddenly becoming slightly nervous under the cloaked man's penetrating, blood red gaze.
"Not much really." Cloud began, trying his best to sound as nonchalant and indifferent as possible. "He came to my town over 8 years ago with a squad of Shinra troopers. Some of them were SOLDIER's like him while others were simply standard military. They were sent there for a routine check on the Reactor because they had been receiving reports of a breakdown. In any case, something big must have happened while they were investigating the reactor because when they returned it was almost as if Sephiroth was a different man all together. He wouldn't talk to anyone, wouldn't look at anyone, he wouldn't even eat or sleep. For three weeks it went on like that until finally the nightmare began. He finally came out of the mansion and left only death in his wake. He slaughtered everyone in the town. He was completely and utterly merciless."
"So then here's the question." Cid interjected, clearing his throat as it was apparent he was still digesting the fact that Cloud was there during the first massacre of Sephiroth.
"How did you survive? I mean, Vincent and I have been tracking Sephiroth down for years and we know well enough that he's not the sparing type. How exactly did you escape his wrath?"
Cloud's shoulders sagged, ever so slightly yet the blond pilot could not tell if that were either from the fatigue the mercenary had been demonstrating all morning or from the severity of what he was about to say next.
"I fought him…" Cloud began. "I challenged 'the' Sephiroth and somehow I survived."
"WHAT???" Cid's eyes nearly jumped out of their sockets. "You mean to tell me you actually went toe to toe with 'the' Sephiroth and beat him? I'm sorry kid but I'm beginning to find this information a little too hard to swallow here. Everyone know's nobody can be-"
"Go on." Vincent interjected, cutting Cid off before he could complete his statement.
"Aw come on Vince! Don't tell me you actually believe this bull$hit! Can't you tell the guy is lying through his teeth?"
Vincent's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "First of all, don't call me 'Vince'. Second, If you think about it, his story is not hard to believe at all. Don't forget, our first time spotting him, we mistook him for Sephiroth ourselves. Don't you remember the comment you made to me afterwards that you'd never seen anyone move like that except for the 'great SOLDIER of Shinra'?" You ask me, I don't find this new information surprising at all."
Cid's face was red with frustration. "I remember what I said, Vincent but still… This Kid ain't no Sephiroth killer."
"That is a rather obvious fact, as Sephiroth is still roaming around."
"Don't patronize me!" the Ex- pilot blurted out. "I'm saying this kid don't look like the type to go out and beat Sephiroth. I mean look at him. If Sephiroth were to be beaten by someone like him then he wouldn't be a problem for us but this kid is constantly got this look about him that says otherwise."
"I never said I beat him." Cloud suddenly got in before the two assassin's arguments could escalate any further. "I merely said I survived. We had a fight true but if you want the real picture of it all, he was the one who won. He drove his sword straight through my gut. I'll never forget the pain I felt… but somehow I managed to push him over the edge of the catwalk. After that, everything went blank. The next thing I remember, My friend Zack had rescued me…"
Cloud suddenly became silent. The thought of his lost friend brought back troubling memories, both of his past and of his recent dreams.
"So what about this friend of yours?" Cid prodded. "What's up with him? He a survivor of Niblehiem too?"
"Enough with the questions already!" Cloud shot back, nearly screaming in anger. "I told you about my past, now it's your turn. Why exactly are the two of you after Sephiroth? I want a straight answer!"
It almost seemed as if both assassins faces darkened. Vincent made a guttural sound, clearing his throat.
"It is only fair I tell you my tale as you have told us yours." The cloaked man began. "I was once an agent working for Shinra, many years ago. A Turk, if you will. Anyway, I was assigned to protect a group of scientists. One of them, the most beautiful woman in the world, Lucrecia, I fell in love with. However, it seems my love was unrequited as she was in love with another. After a time, she became pregnant by this other scientist and then together they preformed experiments on their baby. I tried to stop them, warned the scientist that he was putting the woman he loved and their unborn child at risk. This horrid body is the price I paid for my failure. They continued through with the experiments. Sephiroth is the byproduct of their union together with science."
Cloud's face paled visibly. "Y… you mean Lucrecia was Sephiroth's mother?"
Vincent nodded slowly. "That is correct. That is why I am after him. As a last ditch effort to atone for my sin's."
Cloud was still speechless as he was trying to absorb this new information.
Cid cleared his throat now. "Well, I guess it's my turn to spill the beans. Not long ago, 5 years at best, Sephiroth strolled through my town and killed most of the town folk there. It wasn't a bloodbath like Nibleheim but it was bad. My wife Shera was one of the people He killed. That's why I'm on this quest."
"To avenge loved one's…" Cloud said softly. "I suppose we all have something in common then. We all want to pay him back for his evil deeds."
No one answered. There was no need to. They all knew the answer to that question. Finally Vincent stood up once more, resting both human and metallic hands on the table to prop him up. "You said you wanted to try Nibleheim? Well then let's get going."
"Only one problem with that." Cid interjected. "Niblehiem's across the sea. We'd need a boat to get us there."
"I could help you with that."
All three of the companions turned their heads towards the new voice that had suddenly spoken. Cloud cringed inwardly at the familiarity of the voice he heard.
"What are you doing here?" He spat out in an annoyed voice, though his emotions weren't backing the emphasis of his words for some reason.
The shadows parted the reveal a very muscular, dark skinned man with a gun fastened to his right arm.
Barret messaged his temples in a frustrated manner before speaking. He leaned back ever so slightly in the chair he had been occupying the whole time, listening in on their conversation. "I'm here for the same reason you are Cloud. Don't forget, I never said I was giving up on saving the planet. I'm doing things my way remember? In any case, It seems our paths are converging again. I know of a way we can get a boat and get to Niblehiem."
All three group members suddenly became more interested. "How?" Cloud asked anxiously.
"Shinra's having a celebration party for their new President. Rufus Shinra. I'm sure you've heard of him. In any case, towards the pentacle of the ceremony, the president is going to depart on the newly designed Shinra sailing ship. If we ruffle up some outfits for ourselves, we could have an easy time getting on board the ship."
"Sounds like a pretty reasonable plan…" Vincent interjected smoothly. "However, I have no need of a disguise. I have my own methods of concealing myself. I leave this expedition up to you three."
"What?" Cid nearly yelled. "Vincent are you cashing out on us? You can't leave us. We're a team!"
"Cid you three are well off enough that you can get by without my assistance. I will meet you again once we are all safely stashed on the ship. Until then, we shall go our separate ways."
Cid was about to say more when he felt Cloud's hand on his shoulder, tightening firmly. "Let him go. He's right. He would have a very troubling time disguising himself as a regular trooper. Think about it, even in a disguise, people would suspect his appearance. He can't easily hide his eyes or pale complexion."
Cid grumbled angrily. "Well I guess your right. Let's just get this over with." The ex-pilot turned sharply towards Barret. "I hope 'you' know what you're talking about."
"Don't worry about me." Barret replied. "I've been doing this sorta thing for years. I know exactly what I'm talking about."
"Well arguing is not going to get us any further." Cloud interrupted the two. "We best follow Vincent's example and get a move on. If I'm not mistaken, I think I heard something about a ceremony starting today."
"You heard right. The Ceremony started 5 hours ago. We've got a window of 2 more hours to get safely on the boat. The clocks tick'n so we better hurry."
****
"Whew! We made it!" Squealed an extremely dirty faced yuffie as her face protruded from what seemed to be a sewage tunnel off one of the side streets of Junon.
Unfortunately, Aeris Tifa and Red weren't feeling as jovial.
"Gah!" Red hissed in a half angry, half gagging tone. "I can't believe we made it through with our sanity in tact."
"That has got to be the most filthy place I've ever been in my life." Tifa added.
Aeris was at a complete loss for words as she simply swayed a little on her feet. Tifa steadied her before the green eyed woman passed out completely.
"You ok Aeris?"
"Y- yeah I think so… Is it over?"
Tifa smiled warmly. "Yeah we're finally out of that hell hole." She smiled even more, realizing her words signified the end of that horrid nightmare.
"Awe come on guys, it wasn't that bad." Yuffie argued. "I mean sure it smelled a bit and all but it still got us to our destination in time right?"
The three companions said nothing, opting instead to stare angrily towards the ninja girl.
"Heh, heh, … or maybe not…"
"In any case…" Red began. "We've reached our destination. Hopefully, before Cloud and the others got here."
"This town is huge." Aeris commented. "How do you propose we go about finding him? It could take forever."
"For now, I'd say our best bet is to just start looking." Supplied Yuffie, helpfully.
"You assume we would take any more suggestions from the likes of you?" Red snarled.
"Cool down red. The squirts got a point." The brunette haired member of their party offered. "The best thing we can do right now is to try and look for Cloud. We're only wasting time, sitting around like this."
"I agree with Tifa." Aeris said. "Lets just hurry and check all the places we can. Maybe some of the towns people might have seen him."
"Not impossible…" Red mused. "Very well, we might as well search the area then."
The four comrades quickly began their trek once more. Aeris and Tifa quickened the pace with every second, anxiety ruling their emotions.
Before long the four had found themselves walking the streets of a very worn down part of town. Tifa wrapped her hands briskly about her shoulders as the cold air bit at her unprotected flesh.
Aeris too seemed to favor folding her arms. "This place is almost worse then the sewers." The flower girl commented.
"You have a point." Red interjected. "This really isn't a safe spot in town. We had best hurry before-"
"LOOK OUT!"
Before anyone could say anything, Yuffie rammed her shoulder roughly into the side of Red's body, effectively shoving them both to the side. Suddenly there was a sickening 'THUNK'.
Red turned over, glaring at the ninja angrily. "What the hell are you doing?" His one eye then fell upon the bloody mess that was the ninja girls shoulder as she clutched it in pain, clenching her teeth.
"Trying to protect your ugly a$$ you overgrown fur ball." She spat out, trying to block out the pain.
Immediately, Red's eye turned skyward, trying to pinpoint their attacker.
Tifa and Aeris both ran up to their comrades.
"What happened?" Tifa asked, concern in her voice.
"Apparently, someone's trying to kill us!" Red nearly screamed in a tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Lye still Yuffie, I'll see what I can do about that shoulder." Aeris supplied, helpfully.
Yuffie merely nodded, not having the strength or patience to do anything else. She sagged her back on the ground and let the green eye woman go to work on healing her shoulder.
Meanwhile Tifa was also scanning the horizons. "What was it?"
"I don't know…" The Tiger answered. "I didn't even see it coming. It was my fault. I should have been more perceptive."
"Kurasari gama…"
"What?" Red asked, turned his eyes towards Yuffie.
"That's what it was that was going to attack you… the name of the weapon… it's sickle would have… sliced… you in half… trust me…I've seen it's work before…"
Red said nothing, as he took in this new information.
Suddenly, loud shrieking laughter could be heard from the not too far distance.
"How perceptive of you, little girl!"
All eyes trained upwards and for the first time, everyone caught a glimpse of the cloaked figure standing atop a nearby rooftop. The man wore dark leather, almost identical to Sephiroth's cape jacket however this man was wearing a hooded cloak which had smooth silver metal lining running about it. His face was completely indiscernible as he was wearing a mask. Held firmly in his hands was none other then the weapon in question, the Kurasari gama dripping with the fresh blood of it's latest victim.
"I am Gaster, 4'th clone of Sephiroth. It is my master's wish that I destroy you all." He began. An evil smile formed across the man's lips as he edged his boot a little closer towards their direction. "Your young friend was skilled in taking the hit meant for the tiger. Are the rest of you prepared to receive the full fury of my master's testament?"
Without waiting for a response, Gaster leapt from the rooftop, jumping straight towards them. At the same time, he struck again, letting the fury of his Kurasari gama fly forth once more, seeking the blood of his prey.
::::::::::To Be Continued::::::::::
Author's note: Thanks for reading and please stay tuned for chapter 12.