"Cid!"
"Where
are you?!"
Shouts
were heard on the top plate of Midgar. Cid's crew was running around looking
for their captain. Although they shouted as loud as they could, they still hear
no reply.
"Found
anything?" One of Cid's crew asked three other crew that was heading towards
him
"Nothing."
a crew answered.
"Where
is he?" a crew asked nervously.
"Don't
worry. We will surely find him…or his body." Another crew answered.
Cid's
men were very upset about this. They had just lost their leader. Although Cid
was a tough talking old man that shout at them all the time and never praise
them, them still like him very much. He still remained as their good old leader.
"What
about Shera?" A crew asked.
The
other men shook their heads.
This
gave them another problem. Even if Cid was still alive, he will be really upset
to know that Shera was… Although they haven't found Shera yet, they had a
feeling she was already…
She
was below the cannon at the time the cannon was hit. She was the most
vulnerable one and she had only a slight chance to survive.
"Wait!
Can you guys hear that?"
A
crew said while staring away into the sky. The other men did the same too. They
heard something coming towards them, but they were not sure what it was.
"Look!
Something's coming!"
A
crew shouted and ran towards the edge of the plate. A bright light appeared in
front of him. He covered his eyes and slowly peeked through. It was a helicopter.
A
man jumped off the chopper and landed gracefully. The crew was shocked to see
the man that came down.
"Sep….."
"I
know, I know. You are going to say Sephiroth right? I am Cloud and I will give
you all an explanation later."
Cloud
said and walked towards them. Again, he was mistaken as Sephiroth. He started
getting tired with this.
"Where's
Cid?" Cloud asked the crew.
The
crew looked at each other. One of them stood out.
"We
can't find him. We believed that he was probably…" the crew can't continue.
Cloud
expression changed immediately when he heard this. He looked down at the metal
grating floor. It was true. Reno was right. Cid was already…
Suddenly
something caught his eye. He saw something below the metal grating floor. He
saw a cigarette among the rubbles.
"Had
anyone checked below the metal grating?" Cloud asked.
"We
don't think it's necessary. If he was there is a huge possibility he was
already dead." A crew answered.
"But
there was still a slight chance, right?" Cloud said. The crew looked at each
other. Now the slightest chance will probably bring hope to them.
Cloud
pulled out his musamane and slashed opened the metal grating. He lifted up the
rubble to clear the way towards the platform below.
It
was quite a tough work. Cid's crew helped Cloud too. Slowly by slowly, they
cleared the way and continued looking.
"Here
he is!"
One
of the crew shouted. Cloud turned his attention towards that crew. That crew
pointed at something among the rubble.
It
was a hand.
Cloud
shook his head. Cid was probably already…
"It
can't be Cid's. Cid's hand is much larger." A crew said after inspecting the
hand.
Cloud
was shocked to hear this. He quickly lifted up the piece of rubble on top of
that hand.
To
Cloud's surprise, it was Shera and Cid together. Cid was shielding Shera and he
was taking all the pain for her.
A
crew went in front of the two of them to check their pulse. Cloud waited for
his reply.
"I
can't believe this. Both of them were alive!"
Cloud
was so happy to hear this. Cid and Shera managed to survive such an accident.
It was a miracle!
"Here.
Lit this up." Cloud took out a packet of cigarette and handed it to one of the
crew.
The
crew lit it up. Instantly, Cid started to regain consciousness when he smelt
the smell of his cigarettes.
"Shera…"
Cid
mumbled as he started to wake up.
"Shera!"
Cid
shouted with the top of his voice and he woke up.
Cid
saw Cloud and the rest of the crew in front of him. He felt someone in his
arms. He took a look. It was Shera.
"Shera!"
Cid
shouted and attempted to wake Shera up.
"She's
alive. That's all I can tell you."
"But
what if she never wake up again?" Cid asked.
Cloud
patted Cid on the shoulder. Cid hugged Shera tighter and tears started to flow.
This
was the first time Cloud and Cid's crew saw Cid cry. Although they never saw
him cry before, they know this time he cry because of someone he loved-Shera.
Cloud
stood up and attempted to walk away. Cid slowly put Shera down and stopped
Cloud.
"Where
are you going?" Cid asked.
"Going
to start up the airship." Cloud replied.
"Good.
Bring us to the medical camp below." Cid requested.
"No.
The nearest medical facility is in Kalm. We are heading there now." Cloud said.
"What?
I thought the Shinra army have a medical camp down there, right?" A crew asked.
"There
was." Cloud answered.
Cid
and his crew were shocked. This meant that… The Shinra army was defeated? How
could that be? The Shinra soldiers were one of the best-trained soldiers in the
world. If they lost, that means that…
"It's
true. They were too powerful. When I make my way here, I found out they blocked
all exits. The Shinra army is having a bad time stopping them from coming in."
Cloud said when he saw the shocked looks on Cid and his crew's faces.
"What
about the rest of the team?" Cid asked.
"They
were heading towards sector 1 when I left them. The Turks were there. I think
they won't have any trouble getting out." Cloud said.
"So
now we are going to Kalm?" Cid asked.
Cloud
nodded. He walked away from them towards the airship.
"Do
you think Kalm will survive?" One of Cid's crew asked Cloud.
Cloud
stopped for a while. He didn't turn back.
"The
truth is, probably the whole planet won't be able to survive." Cloud said and
continued walking away.
"Yuffie!"
The
chocobo rider ran towards Yuffie and hugged her. Yup, no mistake. The chocobo
riders were Godo and his troops.
"Aw!
Dad! Stop it!" Yuffie said and tried to push her father away.
"Luckily
you came just in time, or not we won't be able to see you again." Tifa said.
"Well,
thank your lucky stars for that." Godo said and let go Yuffie.
"Why
are you here in the first place?" Red XIII asked.
"Actually
we were just passing by when we heard fighting in here. We believe that there
were still survivors and we lend a helping hand." Godo answered.
"So,
how is the situation out there?" Aeris asked.
"All
I can say is that the situation is very grave. More than half of my men were
gone. These riders here are my best men and they too had a bad time fighting
the ancient soldiers outside. We estimated that even Kalm will be taken over in
a week's time." Godo said with grief.
Everybody
didn't say a word when they hear this. The brave Fort Condor soldiers… the all
time powerful Shinra soldiers… the mythical Wutai warriors… all defeated by
this ancient army. There was probably only little hope to win now.
"I
say that we get out of here before more ancient soldiers show up." Reno said
and walked with Rude and Elena towards the exit.
"The
path to Kalm is not occupied by the enemy yet. You all can make it there if you
all are fast. I suggest you all take our chocobos." Godo said.
"Then
what you all going to ride on?" Aeris asked.
"Who
said that we are going?" Godo asked back.
Everybody
never expect to hear this reply from Godo. Godo is staying? He just can't! He
will surely be killed in battle.
"Cummun.
Yer kiddin right?" Barret try to make Godo change his mind.
"A
Wutai warrior never retreats in battle. So am I." Godo replied.
"What
kind of stupid philosophy is that? You all know that you all will be killed!"
Reno said loudly.
"How
dare you insult us!" A Wutai soldier scolded and stuck his sword up at Reno's
neck.
"Kanata!
Draw your sword back an once!" Godo commanded.
"But…he
just insulted our tradition left by our ancestors! " Kanata protested.
"No
Shinra soldier will understand our principle of battle. Our ancestors fought
with this principle and we are going to do the same." Godo said.
Kanata
drew his sword back. He walked back next to Godo and folded his arms.
"I
am sorry to interrupt this but I don't think this is a wise action to take."
Red XIII said.
"If
Midgar fall into enemy hands they will turn this place into a stronghold. That
time we will had a lot of trouble winning the battle." Godo explained his
actions.
"But
even if you defend Midgar, you know that you are going to fail, right?" Vincent
said.
"We
are willing to die to defend this important location." Godo replied stubbornly.
"Live
now, fight later." Rude said.
"What
is the use of staying alive when you can't do anything?" Godo said.
"You
can regroup you army and fight again. I am sure there are survivors out there."
Aeris suggested.
"My
men will fight to the death. They won't escape and they were willing to
sacrifice themselves to kill the enemy." Godo answered.
"But…"
Cait Sith still trying to change Godo's mind.
"No!
I don't care what you all said, you all are leaving now and that's final. Don't
make me use force to drive you all out of here!" Godo started to get angry.
Everyone
other than the Wutai warriors didn't want to abandon them here and wait for
them to die. But at the same time Godo forced them to leave without them and
this made them felt real bad.
There
was silence. The Wutai soldiers were ready to draw their weapons to force the
others out. A meaningless fight was about to happen.