Chapter 6
Three Weeks Later
Midgar
President Shinra leaned over his desk, glowering at the five figures standing before him. Beside him stood his son, Rufus. The only physical attributes Rufus had inherited from his father were his straw blond hair and watery blue eyes. The younger Shinra had, however, inherited every bit of his father's short temper, lust for power and arrogance. Rufus calmly eyed the other people in the office, the three Turks, Reno, Rude and Tseng, their overseer Senior Turk Maxily Pesach, and Sephiroth. The four Turks stood rigidly at attention, while Sephiroth lounged impudently against a wall.
President Shinra gave a wet cough and tossed the remains of a cigar into a nearby plant.
"It appears we have a traitor on our hands. This is what, the third one in less than a month's time?" President Shinra said, glaring pointedly at Sephiroth.
"It's not my fault if they cannot handle the Soldier training and discipline," shrugged the General.
Shinra ignored him. "This one, however, is a bit more serious. One of the best warriors I have ever seen, second only to Sephiroth over here. Filled with the knowledge of my industrial and military secrets. A former Grand Admiral Laeryn Chase. As I recall, she was only supposed to have one week's leave time, am I right Sephiroth?"
Sephiroth nodded.
"Which means she should have arrived back here, or at least contacted you, two weeks ago."
Another nod.
Shinra began to rant. "I mean, what drives people to do stupid stuff like that? It's not like they ever survive. We always silence them. Like those other two boys, who ran off after the war with Wutai. Cody Salo and Galen Rance. Maxily found them, and silenced them. My company loses valuable assets!"
"If you're quite finished sir, would you care to share with us your plan?" Maxily asked icily. President Shinra cowered a little under Maxily's heavy amber-eyed stare.
"Thank you for asking, Maxily, because I've put you personally in charge of this one. Finding and eliminating this traitor is of paramount importance. As my most skilled operative, I know you will be able to get the job done. The rest of you continue as usual. But wherever you go, on a mission or otherwise, keep a watch for her. Pass it on to all of your underlings. I'll see to it that all the newspapers print 'wanted' ads for her. I'm putting up quite a reward for whoever brings me her head and her swords! Dismissed!" Shinra roared.
Sephiroth followed the Turks as they slid noiselessly from the room. Of course Laeryn had run away. Shinra destroyed her home and her family. Sephiroth knew this, she had told him she lived in North Corel. And he knew about Shinra's plan to burn it. He couldn't bring himself to tell her, because it would upset her. But now he wished he had, because maybe she'd still be here, out of danger. Laeryn was very capable of braving the wilderness and any Soldiers she might run across, but Maxily Pesach was no ordinary monster or Soldier. Sephiroth wrung his long fingers with worry and sadness, knowing he would probably never see Laeryn again.
After reaching his room, Sephiroth closed the door and slumped down on his bed. Life was going to be unbearable. Finally experiencing contentment and peace, only to have it taken away so soon. This existence was going to be even more miserable than before, now that he had something better to compare it to. Whether she knew it or not, Laeryn had been the only spot of color in the sea of laboratory whiteness and black anger that was Sephiroth's life. The fourteen-year-old pair of blue eyes watching him as he spoke had evolved into a being that served as a rock of stability for him. She was always there, practical and sensible, to calm his fits of emotion. Her strength and fearlessness were as inspiring to him as her surprisingly caring nature. Laeryn stood out as the one who had made him feel safe, and more importantly, made him feel human. And now she was gone.
Tears slipped down Sephiroth's face as he realized that he was alone once again.
* * *
Laeryn had been heading into the mountains ever since she fled North Corel. She knew that Shinra would be after as soon as he realized she had deserted. Laeryn was very familiar with the treacherous mountains surrounding North Corel, so she had chosen as difficult a path as possible in hopes of discouraging any pursuit. In addition to the dangerous terrain, several types of large predatory birds and various other unpleasant creatures inhabited the Corel region. Laeryn had been constantly on guard for the past two weeks, fending off attacks from curious predators and the occasional Soldier scout.
Now she sat underneath a rocky ledge, taking shelter from a thunderstorm. She reached out and caught some of the rainwater as it ran down the rocks. After licking the last of the water from her hands, she leaned back against the wall and assessed her situation. She had very little water and no food left and only one clip left for her gun. She was unharmed, but the storm was making the rocks slippery and difficult to climb. Laeryn disliked staying in one place for too long; that made it easier for Shinra to follow her. Laeryn knew it would most likely be the Turks who were after her; they were usually in charge of handling things like mutiny and rebellion. The Turks were the best trackers on the Planet, and no doubt they had been searching for her for at least a week. Well, at least good thing about the storm, she thought, it'll wash away any tracks I may have made.
Laeryn reached forward to catch another handful of water when a flash of lightning cast brief illumination on the surrounding area. She froze at the sight of a movement to her left, and moments later a large bird moved into view, shaking water from its feathers. It was easily half as tall as she was, armed with a yellow needle-like beak. The beak was discolored by dark red-brown stains splattered up its length. Laeryn didn't move, even though her arm was starting to get sore from being extended for such a long time. Her other hand slowly reached for her short sword. She recognized the creature standing before her; she had fought them on several earlier occasions. Like most of the other savage, predatory wildlife on the Planet, this bird had no real name. Laeryn had once heard it referred to as a 'Needle Kiss', which seemed like a strange name for it. Creatures of its type liked electricity, using high voltage shocks to kill its prey. The Needle Kiss narrowed its eyes and made a strange hissing sound. The hiss trailed off into a gurgle as Laeryn's short sword found its way into the Needle Kiss's chest. Laeryn backed away quickly as its beak snapped open and shut a few times before it tipped backwards off the ledge. Laeryn held her sword outside and allowed the dwindling rain to wash the blood away.
The rain slowed down even more and Laeryn emerged from her shelter to see the sun edging around the dark storm clouds. It was time to move on again. By looking at the sun Laeryn was able to tell that she was headed south and west. She needed to find a town of some sort so she could purchase more food and ammunition. There were only two towns anywhere near Corel. One was Gold Saucer, which was in the opposite direction she was travelling. The other was Nibelheim. Nibelheim was small town off the beaten path. It was situated at the base of the Nibel Mountains, an area that no one had set foot in since a Mako reactor had been built there several years ago. Since the building of the reactor Shinra ignored it, with the exception of routine maintenance checks of the reactor.
An ideal destination, Laeryn realized. It was relatively overlooked by Shinra and would have the supplies that she needed. Maybe she would even be able to rest there for a day or so. Looking up at the newly shining sun, Laeryn steered her course a bit more to the south and began climbing again.
* * *
Maxily Pesach was also wandering the wilderness. She had stationed herself on a stretch of green prairie near the base of the Corel Mountains. Her campsite was an elaborate network of technology; a laser net protected the entire site from local wildlife, a global positioning network had been set up to avoid getting lost, and most importantly, a heat-seeking device and satellite radar which could detect any movement in the area. Each morning all of this was disassembled by a team of Privates who served as porters to the high-ranking Turk. They would haul the equipment until Maxily found another suitable site, at which time it would be set up again, and extensive reconnaissance would follow. So far, they had been unsuccessful in finding Laeryn, but Maxily was not about to give up. She knew that Laeryn hadn't gone to Gold Saucer. Soldiers had turned the place inside out. Undercover Soldiers still wandered around there, looking for any sign of her presence.
The sun was beginning to set, and Maxily swore quietly. This would be the end of the third day she'd spent hunting Laeryn. Never before had it taken her this long to complete a mission. Once again she raised a pair of binoculars to her almond-shaped eyes and scanned the area. With a sigh of frustration, she walked back into the camp.
"First watch up now", she snapped at the Soldiers. Three of them leapt up and ran to their posts. The fourth lagged behind.
"Ma'am? I think we've found something," he said.
"This better not be another false alarm," grumbled Maxily as she scrutinized the computer screen. Her amber eyes widened at what she saw.
"Good. This is her. She's about twenty-five kilometers away, heading 250 degrees south of east. Probably trying to reach Nibelheim," she said.
Standing upright, she began barking orders. "Everyone pack up now! We're heading out. We've found what we're looking for, so start moving!"
The Soldiers hurriedly began disassembling the campsite as Maxily watched impatiently.
* * *
Laeryn had almost completely passed through the Corel Mountains. Only the foothills lay ahead of her. Below them was a stretch of prairie, and then the Nibel Mountains rose up sharply. Laeryn estimated she would arrive at Nibelheim in another day or two.
Even though the terrain was less difficult, the weather had warmed up a great deal and it was hot all day. Laeryn had never been much for hot weather; the heat made her feel lethargic. She leaned against a thin pine tree, making the best of the small area of shade. Wiping her brow with the back of her hand, Laeryn wondered if there was a place on the Planet that was completely free of Shinra's scrutiny, where she could live as a regular person instead of a fugitive. She knew of none such place. Having worked for Shinra for so many years, she knew the full extent of their power and it was a bit frightening. What if they do catch me? she wondered, will they have me publicly executed back in Midgar? Or will I simply be shot by whomever finds me first? Absently she wondered who would replace her as Grand Admiral. Probably Zack. Sephiroth seemed to like him.
Guilt washed over Laeryn as soon as she thought of Sephiroth. She remembered the night of the ceremony, when he revealed to her his long-buried feelings. Laeryn had been humbled by the trust he had placed in her. And now she had betrayed that trust by running from him. Laeryn hung her head in shame as she realized how selfish she had been by running away. While sadness for the loss of her family still haunted her, it had lessened somewhat and allowed her to think clearly. She realized she had abandoned Sephiroth and left him at the mercy of those she had promised to protect him from. But it was too late to return now.
Laeryn had never felt so miserable in her entire life. Her family and hometown had been destroyed by the very corporation she worked for, and she had been unable to protect them. After the death of her parents, Sephiroth was the only person she cared about. And now she had run away and abandoned him, too busy thinking of her own sadness and pain to spare a moment for his.
The sound of voices nearby pulled Laeryn from her dismal reverie. Her head snapped upright and she listened intently. Whomever it was that was speaking was approaching her. She squatted down and peered over the edge of the hill, lying on her stomach. A band of ten people was walking slowly along the grasslands below her. All but one were carrying equipment of some sort, heavy equipment which caused them to stoop under the weight of it. Laeryn looked hard and noticed the people were walking in two parallel lines. Another figure, no doubt the leader, walked between the two lines. They approached the cliff face and then turned to walk parallel to it, directly below Laeryn. As they passed below, they came close enough for Laeryn to recognize the cobalt blue Soldier uniforms and a petite dark-haired woman in a Turk suit. Maxily Pesach, sent to search for her
Laeryn had two bullets left in her gun. She carefully eyed the procession below her, gripping the gun with both hands to steady it. Closing one eye and staring down the barrel, she pulled the trigger. The Soldier walking in front of Maxily screamed and dropped to the ground. The load he was carrying also dropped and sprawled across the ground. The other Soldiers began to panic, dropping their loads in heaps and milling around, waving guns and swords. Laeryn looked hard for Maxily. She figured the Turk would be trying to reorganize the group and save whatever equipment it was they were carrying. That would take her attention away from the search, giving Laeryn an opportunity to fire her last shot.
Maxily, however, was nowhere to be found. Laeryn continued to lie on her stomach, nerves on edge. She scanned the entire area for Maxily without success. Laeryn returned to the trees and stood with her back pressed against one, still holding her gun outstretched. The bushes rustled directly in front of her. Laeryn tensed. She saw a flash of navy blue and pulled the trigger. There was no response.
"Freeze." Laeryn felt the cold of a gun muzzle brush her temple and she did as she was told. Maxily cautiously moved in front of Laeryn until there were a couple feet of space between them, the gun always pointed at Laeryn. Laeryn cursed inwardly as she noticed Maxily was only wearing her blouse and tie. Her blue sport jacket had been draped over a branch in the bushes, creating a decoy.
Without taking her eyes from Laeryn, Maxily unclipped handcuffs from her belt.
"Put your hands behind your head and turn around," Maxily ordered.
Laeryn took a split second to size up the woman in front of her. Maxily was in her late thirties. She had a tiny frame but her attitude and uniform made her seem much larger. Her skin and hair were both dark, which had made it easier for her to sneak up on Laeryn in the shadows.
Another split second passed and Laeryn moved. In the same motion she pulled her short sword from its sheath and sliced Maxily's hand. The Turk dropped her gun and snarled in displeasure at the red line that had appeared across her knuckles. Laeryn made a dive for the gun, only be kicked solidly in the stomach. She rolled over, the wind nearly knocked out of her, and narrowly avoided Maxily's sword. The Turk's right hand hung by her side uselessly dripping blood but her left hand wielded the sword with skill. Laeryn's breath began to return as she sprang to her feet, pulling out her long sword in the same motion. She swung at Maxily's head with one sword and as the Turk moved to parry, she stabbed at her midsection with the other. Maxily had anticipated such a move and twisted to the side. With a flick of her wrist Maxily held her sword vertically, causing Laeryn's to slide off. As Laeryn repositioned the blade, Maxily dropped and swung at Laeryn's ankles. Laeryn leapt over the sword and planted her foot squarely in Maxily's face. The Turk reeled back, blood now dripping from her mouth as well as her hand. Laeryn saw the opening in her opponent's defense and stabbed downward, only to have her swords collide with Maxily's as the Turk sprang to her feet.
Laeryn noticed she and her opponent were moving parallel to the cliff face. She noted the position of the sun and allowed Maxily to maneuver her so she was backing toward the edge. Maxily pressed her advantage as much as possible but noticed her error a few moments too late. Laeryn had moved so that the sun was at her back and shining directly into Maxily's eyes. Laeryn continued to bait Maxily, moving steadily backward. The Turk's attack was much weaker now that she could barely see her enemy. At the last moment, Laeryn reversed the positions so Maxily was toward the edge. Laeryn watched her shadow to avoid the glare of the sun. With no more space to back up, Maxily stumbled and rolled awkwardly down the cliff. The Soldiers below had been watching the battle and hollering up at Maxily. When they saw her fall they all grew dead silent. Cautiously they approached her and huddled around her. When they saw Laeryn climbing down the rocks they scattered like scavengers that had been scared away by a predator.
Laeryn didn't look at Maxily's broken corpse as she walked past. She kept her focus south and west, toward Nibelheim.
* * *
Midgar
A light knock on the door caused President Shinra to look up from the papers he was poring over. As always, Rufus sat at his side, a look that was something between boredom, disgust and rebellion written on the younger Shinra's face.
"Come in", called Shinra.
Sephiroth stepped just far enough into the room to allow the door to close behind him. The confines of Shinra's office made him feel claustrophobic.
"Yes?" the General asked icily, wanting to be out of the room as quickly as possible.
"The reactor maintenance crews ran their annual reports yesterday. The results came in this morning," Shinra began.
Sephiroth said nothing, waiting impatiently for the President to give him a reason to care.
"All the reports were favorable, except for one." It seemed as if Shinra was trying to build suspense with his frequent pauses and intent stare. Sephiroth's eyes glowed in the dim smoky room and Shinra quickly looked elsewhere.
"Dad, would you please get to the point?" yawned Rufus, puberty making his voice uneven.
Shinra ignored his son's remark. "You know, son, I think this would be an excellent opportunity for you to practice your leadership skills. Leadership is an important part of running a company, you know. Why don't you take charge of this case?"
Rufus rolled his cobalt blue eyes. Leadership opportunity indeed! Who did his dad think he was? Rufus could hardly wait for the old coot to croak so he could run things his own way.
Rufus cleared his throat and looked up at Sephiroth, who was still glowering against the door. The more he watched Sephiroth, the less certain Rufus was about giving him orders. He looked down at the desk as he gave the report.
"It seems that, uh, the reactor in Nibelheim is experiencing a malfunction. It is no longer reliable and the citizens have been complaining about frequent blackouts. As you know, a malfunctioning reactor can cost the company millions of gil," Rufus felt Sephiroth's eyes boring into him and nervously ran a hand through his straw-orange hair. "Um. The citizens have also been complaining about the local wildlife turning savage. Several people have already been injured. We believe these two incidents may be connected somehow." Rufus blushed as his voice cracked embarrassingly and he could have sworn he saw Sephiroth smirk. "So Sephiroth, you and Grand Admiral Page and someone else are going to arrive in Nibelheim by helicopter. The chopper will leave at 0900 hours. You will find the source of these problems and neutralize them." Rufus had regained enough of his dignity to look up at Sephiroth, who nodded once before stalking out of the room.
Sephiroth sat down in one of the conference rooms and massaged his temples. He did not want to go on this mission. He detested running stupid little errands for Shinra and that bratty son of his. Fixing a malfunctioning reactor was a simple task that did not require the attention of the General of Soldier. Nor did he want to travel to a town, or anyplace where there would be people. Since Laeryn's departure, Sephiroth had become even more reclusive and depressed. He had nothing but the chores and duties of his job to distract him, and these got old very fast.
Sephiroth reached into his pants pocket for his cell phone. He called Zack, who had been promoted to Grand Admiral in Laeryn's place.
"Grand Admiral Page here," came Zack's voice from the phone. Sephiroth sighed heavily at those words, wishing it were Laeryn saying them.
"Zack, come to conference room C on the 69th floor. We've a mission tomorrow. Bring another person you can trust with you. I don't care who." He hung up before Zack had a chance to say anything else. Why did Rufus insist on him bringing a third person? He and Zack would certainly be able to deal with whatever it was they encountered. Oh well. It wasn't his decision to make, and he really didn't care. Sephiroth brightened momentarily when he realized that there was a minute chance he would encounter Laeryn somewhere during his travels. All the newspapers had been saying she was still at large. This gave him some hope, even though he knew she would never return to Midgar.
* * *
Zack knew just the person to bring along to Nibelheim. Cloud Strife opened the door of his ratty apartment and greeted Zack. As usual, it looked as if some creature had taken up residence Cloud's hair. Rough blond peach fuzz was spreading slowly across his sixteen-year-old face. Zack looked upon Cloud's slovenly appearance with a hint of disdain. Zack's hygiene had approved a great deal since his promotion. His dark brown hair, which had once looked similar to Cloud's, was now cut short and organized into a neat row of spikes along the top of his head. With his new hairstyle and regimen of bathing and shaving regularly, people often remarked that he looked older than his seventeen years.
"Cloud, have I got the chance for you," smirked Zack.
Cloud waved him inside. "All right, I'm listening."
"How would you like to go on a mission with me and Sephiroth?"
Cloud's round eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "Whaaat? Why me of all people? I...I never even made it into any office..."
Zack shrugged. "Sephiroth said he didn't care who else came along, so I figured I'd take you."
Cloud picked his jaw up off the floor and his astonishment was replaced by over-enthusiasm. "When are we going? Where? What are we doing?"
"Chill! Sephiroth told us to meet him in the Shinra Headquarters building about ten minutes ago. Hurry up and put some clothes on. We don't want to keep him waiting."
Looking like a gerbil burrowing through its wood chip bedding, Cloud searched his apartment for his least filthy uniform. After hastily throwing it on, he practically bowled Zack over running out the door.
"Okayletsgo!" he exclaimed
Zack rolled his eyes as he followed Cloud down the hall. Maybe the hyper blond hadn't been the best choice for this mission. But it was too late to tell him otherwise.
* * *
Right as Sephiroth's patience was beginning to wear dangerously thin, the door to the conference room burst open and Zack strode in followed by another boy. The second boy was small- five and a half feet tall and the most- with a round face and big equally round blue eyes. Above the eyes was an untamed mass of golden hair that must have added four inches to the boy's height. Below his eyes rested a tiny snub nose and heart-shaped lips. He looked no older than twelve or thirteen.
"General Sephiroth sir!" Zack saluted. The other boy sloppily followed suit. "This is Cloud Strife, who is to accompany us on this mission."
Cloud rolled his hands into loose fists so neither of his superiors would see them shaking. Sephiroth looked at him and he was terrified that Zack would hear his hear pounding. Cloud had never seen Sephiroth in person before, and the younger boy felt completely in awe. Sephiroth's presence was even more impressive in reality than on television or in photographs. Cloud just stood there staring at him.
"How old are you?" asked Sephiroth.
"Se-sixteen, sir," he replied shakily.
Sephiroth didn't acknowledge his reply. He gestured impatiently for Zack and Cloud to sit.
"Shinra has received reports of a malfunctioning reactor in the town of Nibelheim. In addition, the local wildlife has been acting strangely. We are going to Nibelheim to repair the reactor. Its malfunction may be somehow connected to the savage behavior of the animals. Be on the roof of this building at 0900 hours. A helicopter will take most of the way. Since there is no place to safely land a helicopter in the Nibel region, we will land forty kilometers south of the town, near Cosmo Canyon. An off-road vehicle will be waiting for us there. We should arrive in Nibelheim by 1400 hours at the latest. I will give you further details when necessary. Dismissed," Sephiroth explained.
"Yes sir!" Zack saluted and exited the room. Cloud followed him out and kept stealing glances over his shoulder at Sephiroth. The General had leaned back in his chair, studying the ceiling with an almost wistful expression on his face. Cloud wondered what he was thinking about.
As soon as they were safely down the hall, Cloud began to gush. "Oh my god! I can't believe it! That was so cool! I'm so excited for tomorrow! Thanks so much for letting me go with you guys!"
Zack smiled at him. "Hey, I aim to please."
***Sister Ray's Notes***
Hehehe...Cloud's such a dork! But that's part of the point here; how he grows up between the events that happen before the game plot and those that take place during the game plot. I'm not very happy with Zack though; he's turning out to be a rather bland character. Oh well, I guess we can never be perfect.
Three Weeks Later
Midgar
President Shinra leaned over his desk, glowering at the five figures standing before him. Beside him stood his son, Rufus. The only physical attributes Rufus had inherited from his father were his straw blond hair and watery blue eyes. The younger Shinra had, however, inherited every bit of his father's short temper, lust for power and arrogance. Rufus calmly eyed the other people in the office, the three Turks, Reno, Rude and Tseng, their overseer Senior Turk Maxily Pesach, and Sephiroth. The four Turks stood rigidly at attention, while Sephiroth lounged impudently against a wall.
President Shinra gave a wet cough and tossed the remains of a cigar into a nearby plant.
"It appears we have a traitor on our hands. This is what, the third one in less than a month's time?" President Shinra said, glaring pointedly at Sephiroth.
"It's not my fault if they cannot handle the Soldier training and discipline," shrugged the General.
Shinra ignored him. "This one, however, is a bit more serious. One of the best warriors I have ever seen, second only to Sephiroth over here. Filled with the knowledge of my industrial and military secrets. A former Grand Admiral Laeryn Chase. As I recall, she was only supposed to have one week's leave time, am I right Sephiroth?"
Sephiroth nodded.
"Which means she should have arrived back here, or at least contacted you, two weeks ago."
Another nod.
Shinra began to rant. "I mean, what drives people to do stupid stuff like that? It's not like they ever survive. We always silence them. Like those other two boys, who ran off after the war with Wutai. Cody Salo and Galen Rance. Maxily found them, and silenced them. My company loses valuable assets!"
"If you're quite finished sir, would you care to share with us your plan?" Maxily asked icily. President Shinra cowered a little under Maxily's heavy amber-eyed stare.
"Thank you for asking, Maxily, because I've put you personally in charge of this one. Finding and eliminating this traitor is of paramount importance. As my most skilled operative, I know you will be able to get the job done. The rest of you continue as usual. But wherever you go, on a mission or otherwise, keep a watch for her. Pass it on to all of your underlings. I'll see to it that all the newspapers print 'wanted' ads for her. I'm putting up quite a reward for whoever brings me her head and her swords! Dismissed!" Shinra roared.
Sephiroth followed the Turks as they slid noiselessly from the room. Of course Laeryn had run away. Shinra destroyed her home and her family. Sephiroth knew this, she had told him she lived in North Corel. And he knew about Shinra's plan to burn it. He couldn't bring himself to tell her, because it would upset her. But now he wished he had, because maybe she'd still be here, out of danger. Laeryn was very capable of braving the wilderness and any Soldiers she might run across, but Maxily Pesach was no ordinary monster or Soldier. Sephiroth wrung his long fingers with worry and sadness, knowing he would probably never see Laeryn again.
After reaching his room, Sephiroth closed the door and slumped down on his bed. Life was going to be unbearable. Finally experiencing contentment and peace, only to have it taken away so soon. This existence was going to be even more miserable than before, now that he had something better to compare it to. Whether she knew it or not, Laeryn had been the only spot of color in the sea of laboratory whiteness and black anger that was Sephiroth's life. The fourteen-year-old pair of blue eyes watching him as he spoke had evolved into a being that served as a rock of stability for him. She was always there, practical and sensible, to calm his fits of emotion. Her strength and fearlessness were as inspiring to him as her surprisingly caring nature. Laeryn stood out as the one who had made him feel safe, and more importantly, made him feel human. And now she was gone.
Tears slipped down Sephiroth's face as he realized that he was alone once again.
* * *
Laeryn had been heading into the mountains ever since she fled North Corel. She knew that Shinra would be after as soon as he realized she had deserted. Laeryn was very familiar with the treacherous mountains surrounding North Corel, so she had chosen as difficult a path as possible in hopes of discouraging any pursuit. In addition to the dangerous terrain, several types of large predatory birds and various other unpleasant creatures inhabited the Corel region. Laeryn had been constantly on guard for the past two weeks, fending off attacks from curious predators and the occasional Soldier scout.
Now she sat underneath a rocky ledge, taking shelter from a thunderstorm. She reached out and caught some of the rainwater as it ran down the rocks. After licking the last of the water from her hands, she leaned back against the wall and assessed her situation. She had very little water and no food left and only one clip left for her gun. She was unharmed, but the storm was making the rocks slippery and difficult to climb. Laeryn disliked staying in one place for too long; that made it easier for Shinra to follow her. Laeryn knew it would most likely be the Turks who were after her; they were usually in charge of handling things like mutiny and rebellion. The Turks were the best trackers on the Planet, and no doubt they had been searching for her for at least a week. Well, at least good thing about the storm, she thought, it'll wash away any tracks I may have made.
Laeryn reached forward to catch another handful of water when a flash of lightning cast brief illumination on the surrounding area. She froze at the sight of a movement to her left, and moments later a large bird moved into view, shaking water from its feathers. It was easily half as tall as she was, armed with a yellow needle-like beak. The beak was discolored by dark red-brown stains splattered up its length. Laeryn didn't move, even though her arm was starting to get sore from being extended for such a long time. Her other hand slowly reached for her short sword. She recognized the creature standing before her; she had fought them on several earlier occasions. Like most of the other savage, predatory wildlife on the Planet, this bird had no real name. Laeryn had once heard it referred to as a 'Needle Kiss', which seemed like a strange name for it. Creatures of its type liked electricity, using high voltage shocks to kill its prey. The Needle Kiss narrowed its eyes and made a strange hissing sound. The hiss trailed off into a gurgle as Laeryn's short sword found its way into the Needle Kiss's chest. Laeryn backed away quickly as its beak snapped open and shut a few times before it tipped backwards off the ledge. Laeryn held her sword outside and allowed the dwindling rain to wash the blood away.
The rain slowed down even more and Laeryn emerged from her shelter to see the sun edging around the dark storm clouds. It was time to move on again. By looking at the sun Laeryn was able to tell that she was headed south and west. She needed to find a town of some sort so she could purchase more food and ammunition. There were only two towns anywhere near Corel. One was Gold Saucer, which was in the opposite direction she was travelling. The other was Nibelheim. Nibelheim was small town off the beaten path. It was situated at the base of the Nibel Mountains, an area that no one had set foot in since a Mako reactor had been built there several years ago. Since the building of the reactor Shinra ignored it, with the exception of routine maintenance checks of the reactor.
An ideal destination, Laeryn realized. It was relatively overlooked by Shinra and would have the supplies that she needed. Maybe she would even be able to rest there for a day or so. Looking up at the newly shining sun, Laeryn steered her course a bit more to the south and began climbing again.
* * *
Maxily Pesach was also wandering the wilderness. She had stationed herself on a stretch of green prairie near the base of the Corel Mountains. Her campsite was an elaborate network of technology; a laser net protected the entire site from local wildlife, a global positioning network had been set up to avoid getting lost, and most importantly, a heat-seeking device and satellite radar which could detect any movement in the area. Each morning all of this was disassembled by a team of Privates who served as porters to the high-ranking Turk. They would haul the equipment until Maxily found another suitable site, at which time it would be set up again, and extensive reconnaissance would follow. So far, they had been unsuccessful in finding Laeryn, but Maxily was not about to give up. She knew that Laeryn hadn't gone to Gold Saucer. Soldiers had turned the place inside out. Undercover Soldiers still wandered around there, looking for any sign of her presence.
The sun was beginning to set, and Maxily swore quietly. This would be the end of the third day she'd spent hunting Laeryn. Never before had it taken her this long to complete a mission. Once again she raised a pair of binoculars to her almond-shaped eyes and scanned the area. With a sigh of frustration, she walked back into the camp.
"First watch up now", she snapped at the Soldiers. Three of them leapt up and ran to their posts. The fourth lagged behind.
"Ma'am? I think we've found something," he said.
"This better not be another false alarm," grumbled Maxily as she scrutinized the computer screen. Her amber eyes widened at what she saw.
"Good. This is her. She's about twenty-five kilometers away, heading 250 degrees south of east. Probably trying to reach Nibelheim," she said.
Standing upright, she began barking orders. "Everyone pack up now! We're heading out. We've found what we're looking for, so start moving!"
The Soldiers hurriedly began disassembling the campsite as Maxily watched impatiently.
* * *
Laeryn had almost completely passed through the Corel Mountains. Only the foothills lay ahead of her. Below them was a stretch of prairie, and then the Nibel Mountains rose up sharply. Laeryn estimated she would arrive at Nibelheim in another day or two.
Even though the terrain was less difficult, the weather had warmed up a great deal and it was hot all day. Laeryn had never been much for hot weather; the heat made her feel lethargic. She leaned against a thin pine tree, making the best of the small area of shade. Wiping her brow with the back of her hand, Laeryn wondered if there was a place on the Planet that was completely free of Shinra's scrutiny, where she could live as a regular person instead of a fugitive. She knew of none such place. Having worked for Shinra for so many years, she knew the full extent of their power and it was a bit frightening. What if they do catch me? she wondered, will they have me publicly executed back in Midgar? Or will I simply be shot by whomever finds me first? Absently she wondered who would replace her as Grand Admiral. Probably Zack. Sephiroth seemed to like him.
Guilt washed over Laeryn as soon as she thought of Sephiroth. She remembered the night of the ceremony, when he revealed to her his long-buried feelings. Laeryn had been humbled by the trust he had placed in her. And now she had betrayed that trust by running from him. Laeryn hung her head in shame as she realized how selfish she had been by running away. While sadness for the loss of her family still haunted her, it had lessened somewhat and allowed her to think clearly. She realized she had abandoned Sephiroth and left him at the mercy of those she had promised to protect him from. But it was too late to return now.
Laeryn had never felt so miserable in her entire life. Her family and hometown had been destroyed by the very corporation she worked for, and she had been unable to protect them. After the death of her parents, Sephiroth was the only person she cared about. And now she had run away and abandoned him, too busy thinking of her own sadness and pain to spare a moment for his.
The sound of voices nearby pulled Laeryn from her dismal reverie. Her head snapped upright and she listened intently. Whomever it was that was speaking was approaching her. She squatted down and peered over the edge of the hill, lying on her stomach. A band of ten people was walking slowly along the grasslands below her. All but one were carrying equipment of some sort, heavy equipment which caused them to stoop under the weight of it. Laeryn looked hard and noticed the people were walking in two parallel lines. Another figure, no doubt the leader, walked between the two lines. They approached the cliff face and then turned to walk parallel to it, directly below Laeryn. As they passed below, they came close enough for Laeryn to recognize the cobalt blue Soldier uniforms and a petite dark-haired woman in a Turk suit. Maxily Pesach, sent to search for her
Laeryn had two bullets left in her gun. She carefully eyed the procession below her, gripping the gun with both hands to steady it. Closing one eye and staring down the barrel, she pulled the trigger. The Soldier walking in front of Maxily screamed and dropped to the ground. The load he was carrying also dropped and sprawled across the ground. The other Soldiers began to panic, dropping their loads in heaps and milling around, waving guns and swords. Laeryn looked hard for Maxily. She figured the Turk would be trying to reorganize the group and save whatever equipment it was they were carrying. That would take her attention away from the search, giving Laeryn an opportunity to fire her last shot.
Maxily, however, was nowhere to be found. Laeryn continued to lie on her stomach, nerves on edge. She scanned the entire area for Maxily without success. Laeryn returned to the trees and stood with her back pressed against one, still holding her gun outstretched. The bushes rustled directly in front of her. Laeryn tensed. She saw a flash of navy blue and pulled the trigger. There was no response.
"Freeze." Laeryn felt the cold of a gun muzzle brush her temple and she did as she was told. Maxily cautiously moved in front of Laeryn until there were a couple feet of space between them, the gun always pointed at Laeryn. Laeryn cursed inwardly as she noticed Maxily was only wearing her blouse and tie. Her blue sport jacket had been draped over a branch in the bushes, creating a decoy.
Without taking her eyes from Laeryn, Maxily unclipped handcuffs from her belt.
"Put your hands behind your head and turn around," Maxily ordered.
Laeryn took a split second to size up the woman in front of her. Maxily was in her late thirties. She had a tiny frame but her attitude and uniform made her seem much larger. Her skin and hair were both dark, which had made it easier for her to sneak up on Laeryn in the shadows.
Another split second passed and Laeryn moved. In the same motion she pulled her short sword from its sheath and sliced Maxily's hand. The Turk dropped her gun and snarled in displeasure at the red line that had appeared across her knuckles. Laeryn made a dive for the gun, only be kicked solidly in the stomach. She rolled over, the wind nearly knocked out of her, and narrowly avoided Maxily's sword. The Turk's right hand hung by her side uselessly dripping blood but her left hand wielded the sword with skill. Laeryn's breath began to return as she sprang to her feet, pulling out her long sword in the same motion. She swung at Maxily's head with one sword and as the Turk moved to parry, she stabbed at her midsection with the other. Maxily had anticipated such a move and twisted to the side. With a flick of her wrist Maxily held her sword vertically, causing Laeryn's to slide off. As Laeryn repositioned the blade, Maxily dropped and swung at Laeryn's ankles. Laeryn leapt over the sword and planted her foot squarely in Maxily's face. The Turk reeled back, blood now dripping from her mouth as well as her hand. Laeryn saw the opening in her opponent's defense and stabbed downward, only to have her swords collide with Maxily's as the Turk sprang to her feet.
Laeryn noticed she and her opponent were moving parallel to the cliff face. She noted the position of the sun and allowed Maxily to maneuver her so she was backing toward the edge. Maxily pressed her advantage as much as possible but noticed her error a few moments too late. Laeryn had moved so that the sun was at her back and shining directly into Maxily's eyes. Laeryn continued to bait Maxily, moving steadily backward. The Turk's attack was much weaker now that she could barely see her enemy. At the last moment, Laeryn reversed the positions so Maxily was toward the edge. Laeryn watched her shadow to avoid the glare of the sun. With no more space to back up, Maxily stumbled and rolled awkwardly down the cliff. The Soldiers below had been watching the battle and hollering up at Maxily. When they saw her fall they all grew dead silent. Cautiously they approached her and huddled around her. When they saw Laeryn climbing down the rocks they scattered like scavengers that had been scared away by a predator.
Laeryn didn't look at Maxily's broken corpse as she walked past. She kept her focus south and west, toward Nibelheim.
* * *
Midgar
A light knock on the door caused President Shinra to look up from the papers he was poring over. As always, Rufus sat at his side, a look that was something between boredom, disgust and rebellion written on the younger Shinra's face.
"Come in", called Shinra.
Sephiroth stepped just far enough into the room to allow the door to close behind him. The confines of Shinra's office made him feel claustrophobic.
"Yes?" the General asked icily, wanting to be out of the room as quickly as possible.
"The reactor maintenance crews ran their annual reports yesterday. The results came in this morning," Shinra began.
Sephiroth said nothing, waiting impatiently for the President to give him a reason to care.
"All the reports were favorable, except for one." It seemed as if Shinra was trying to build suspense with his frequent pauses and intent stare. Sephiroth's eyes glowed in the dim smoky room and Shinra quickly looked elsewhere.
"Dad, would you please get to the point?" yawned Rufus, puberty making his voice uneven.
Shinra ignored his son's remark. "You know, son, I think this would be an excellent opportunity for you to practice your leadership skills. Leadership is an important part of running a company, you know. Why don't you take charge of this case?"
Rufus rolled his cobalt blue eyes. Leadership opportunity indeed! Who did his dad think he was? Rufus could hardly wait for the old coot to croak so he could run things his own way.
Rufus cleared his throat and looked up at Sephiroth, who was still glowering against the door. The more he watched Sephiroth, the less certain Rufus was about giving him orders. He looked down at the desk as he gave the report.
"It seems that, uh, the reactor in Nibelheim is experiencing a malfunction. It is no longer reliable and the citizens have been complaining about frequent blackouts. As you know, a malfunctioning reactor can cost the company millions of gil," Rufus felt Sephiroth's eyes boring into him and nervously ran a hand through his straw-orange hair. "Um. The citizens have also been complaining about the local wildlife turning savage. Several people have already been injured. We believe these two incidents may be connected somehow." Rufus blushed as his voice cracked embarrassingly and he could have sworn he saw Sephiroth smirk. "So Sephiroth, you and Grand Admiral Page and someone else are going to arrive in Nibelheim by helicopter. The chopper will leave at 0900 hours. You will find the source of these problems and neutralize them." Rufus had regained enough of his dignity to look up at Sephiroth, who nodded once before stalking out of the room.
Sephiroth sat down in one of the conference rooms and massaged his temples. He did not want to go on this mission. He detested running stupid little errands for Shinra and that bratty son of his. Fixing a malfunctioning reactor was a simple task that did not require the attention of the General of Soldier. Nor did he want to travel to a town, or anyplace where there would be people. Since Laeryn's departure, Sephiroth had become even more reclusive and depressed. He had nothing but the chores and duties of his job to distract him, and these got old very fast.
Sephiroth reached into his pants pocket for his cell phone. He called Zack, who had been promoted to Grand Admiral in Laeryn's place.
"Grand Admiral Page here," came Zack's voice from the phone. Sephiroth sighed heavily at those words, wishing it were Laeryn saying them.
"Zack, come to conference room C on the 69th floor. We've a mission tomorrow. Bring another person you can trust with you. I don't care who." He hung up before Zack had a chance to say anything else. Why did Rufus insist on him bringing a third person? He and Zack would certainly be able to deal with whatever it was they encountered. Oh well. It wasn't his decision to make, and he really didn't care. Sephiroth brightened momentarily when he realized that there was a minute chance he would encounter Laeryn somewhere during his travels. All the newspapers had been saying she was still at large. This gave him some hope, even though he knew she would never return to Midgar.
* * *
Zack knew just the person to bring along to Nibelheim. Cloud Strife opened the door of his ratty apartment and greeted Zack. As usual, it looked as if some creature had taken up residence Cloud's hair. Rough blond peach fuzz was spreading slowly across his sixteen-year-old face. Zack looked upon Cloud's slovenly appearance with a hint of disdain. Zack's hygiene had approved a great deal since his promotion. His dark brown hair, which had once looked similar to Cloud's, was now cut short and organized into a neat row of spikes along the top of his head. With his new hairstyle and regimen of bathing and shaving regularly, people often remarked that he looked older than his seventeen years.
"Cloud, have I got the chance for you," smirked Zack.
Cloud waved him inside. "All right, I'm listening."
"How would you like to go on a mission with me and Sephiroth?"
Cloud's round eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "Whaaat? Why me of all people? I...I never even made it into any office..."
Zack shrugged. "Sephiroth said he didn't care who else came along, so I figured I'd take you."
Cloud picked his jaw up off the floor and his astonishment was replaced by over-enthusiasm. "When are we going? Where? What are we doing?"
"Chill! Sephiroth told us to meet him in the Shinra Headquarters building about ten minutes ago. Hurry up and put some clothes on. We don't want to keep him waiting."
Looking like a gerbil burrowing through its wood chip bedding, Cloud searched his apartment for his least filthy uniform. After hastily throwing it on, he practically bowled Zack over running out the door.
"Okayletsgo!" he exclaimed
Zack rolled his eyes as he followed Cloud down the hall. Maybe the hyper blond hadn't been the best choice for this mission. But it was too late to tell him otherwise.
* * *
Right as Sephiroth's patience was beginning to wear dangerously thin, the door to the conference room burst open and Zack strode in followed by another boy. The second boy was small- five and a half feet tall and the most- with a round face and big equally round blue eyes. Above the eyes was an untamed mass of golden hair that must have added four inches to the boy's height. Below his eyes rested a tiny snub nose and heart-shaped lips. He looked no older than twelve or thirteen.
"General Sephiroth sir!" Zack saluted. The other boy sloppily followed suit. "This is Cloud Strife, who is to accompany us on this mission."
Cloud rolled his hands into loose fists so neither of his superiors would see them shaking. Sephiroth looked at him and he was terrified that Zack would hear his hear pounding. Cloud had never seen Sephiroth in person before, and the younger boy felt completely in awe. Sephiroth's presence was even more impressive in reality than on television or in photographs. Cloud just stood there staring at him.
"How old are you?" asked Sephiroth.
"Se-sixteen, sir," he replied shakily.
Sephiroth didn't acknowledge his reply. He gestured impatiently for Zack and Cloud to sit.
"Shinra has received reports of a malfunctioning reactor in the town of Nibelheim. In addition, the local wildlife has been acting strangely. We are going to Nibelheim to repair the reactor. Its malfunction may be somehow connected to the savage behavior of the animals. Be on the roof of this building at 0900 hours. A helicopter will take most of the way. Since there is no place to safely land a helicopter in the Nibel region, we will land forty kilometers south of the town, near Cosmo Canyon. An off-road vehicle will be waiting for us there. We should arrive in Nibelheim by 1400 hours at the latest. I will give you further details when necessary. Dismissed," Sephiroth explained.
"Yes sir!" Zack saluted and exited the room. Cloud followed him out and kept stealing glances over his shoulder at Sephiroth. The General had leaned back in his chair, studying the ceiling with an almost wistful expression on his face. Cloud wondered what he was thinking about.
As soon as they were safely down the hall, Cloud began to gush. "Oh my god! I can't believe it! That was so cool! I'm so excited for tomorrow! Thanks so much for letting me go with you guys!"
Zack smiled at him. "Hey, I aim to please."
***Sister Ray's Notes***
Hehehe...Cloud's such a dork! But that's part of the point here; how he grows up between the events that happen before the game plot and those that take place during the game plot. I'm not very happy with Zack though; he's turning out to be a rather bland character. Oh well, I guess we can never be perfect.
