Chapter 15: Giving Up
Tifa was the only person standing after the battle. She began healing everyone. When she got to Reno, she gasped. He was barely conscious and losing a lot of blood. Trent's switchblade lay shoved in his chest.
"Reno!" she got on her knees and took the knife of quickly. Then she began to cure him. It took two Full Cures. Reno groaned.
"Where is the bastard?" he muttered. "Gone. And even if Trent still was here, you'd be in no condition to fight him." Tifa helped him up.
Avalanche managed to get their bruised and battered selves to Cid's airship. "We can't keep doing this. Every time we fight them, they win. This time, not even a hair was out of place." Cloud said as the ship flew towards Midgar. "They're too damn strong!" Barret yelled. Then he went to check on Marlene, who was sleeping in a room on the ship.
Everyone went their separate ways until only Tifa and Cloud were left. Cloud looked at her and sighed. "You must really like him. It's a shame." he muttered.
"What?" Tifa asked, half-listening.
"Trent." Cloud replied. Tifa bit her lip, and didn't meet the blonde's eyes.
"I don't want to betray my team members. he's the enemy. But…but every time I get around him my knees get weak and I can barely speak. It's like a silly high school crush." Tifa admitted.
"Are you in love with him?" Cloud asked, his voice low.
"I-I don't know…I just don't know." Tifa sighed and walked away.
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"Yes! Yes!" Lady Angel yelled as the fleet of Helicopters started to lower the Angel Ray atop Midgar. Once it was in place she yelled in triumph.
"The adjustments will begin right now!" she told Scarlet.
"What adjustments?" the former Shinra exec asked, puzzled.
"The Angel Ray is so primitive now. It can only shoot one direction. And it takes so long to charge." Lady Angel replied, making her way to the control room.
"But Lady Angel. Have you ever thought of HOW you're going to use this 'Mako Cannon' when we don't use Mako energy anymore." Scarlet questioned.
"Scarlet. Quit all of these foolish questions. Of course I am aware, that is why my precious Super Soldiers have been working day and night to get the Reactors up and running. They should start to work right about…" Lady Angel looked at her watch.
"Now!" she whispered in glee. All over Midgar, the sound of the once defunct Reactors could be heard starting up. They once again began pumping Mako energy.
"Reeve was foolish to restore the Reactors along with Midgar. People like me would get them working again." Lady Angel cackled.
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"Shit! Look at it!" Cid yelled. The Velocity was circling Midgar looking at the huge Mako Cannon, now labeled 'The Angel Ray'. "How'd they do it so fast?" Yuffie wondered.
"And the Reactors are working again!" Cait Sith pointed out in sorrow.
"Cid, let's land." Cloud commanded. In a few minutes, Avalanche was out on the ground and at the Entrance of Midgar. But they didn't get two steps towards it when about 50 men and women dressed in black appeared, coming out of the gates.
"Who the hell are you?" Cid asked.
"We are Lady Angel's Super Soldiers. We have been commanded to kill Avalanche. No one will interfere with the Lady's plans!" a muscular man yelled. "Damn, there's 50 of them." Yuffie moaned.
It occurred to Cloud that Avalanche was no longer the powerful, heroic group they had once been. Not even with the help of Reno, Rude and Elena could they beat five Turks. But just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by an all too familiar voice.
"Awe, come on 'Super Soldiers.' You're honing in on Turks territory. It's OUR job to kill Avalanche." Trent Romasova said. Reno's anger grew when he saw Trent. Only Lillith was with him this time.
"Get out of our way or we will be forced to kill you as well." a female Super Soldier commanded.
"Forced to KILL us. You?" Lillith laughed, REALLY laughed. As if 50 vs. 2 was a joke.
"Look at the odds." Cid muttered. Trent grinned.
"Lily. We'd better make this quick so we hurry back to HQ." he said.
"Alright. Avalanche too?" Lillith asked hopefully. Trent raised his eyebrow at her and she sighed.
"You'll have to kill her sooner or later Trent. You've had all of these opportunities and instead each and every time you've let them live. Worse yet, you're infatuated with HER. And you're always healing HER. And today you kissed HER. You know, she could just b playing along and when your guard is down she'll kill you." Lillith crossed her arms.
Trent sighed, rolling his eyes. "You could at least refer to HER by name. And Lillith, could I distinct the slightest bit of…jealousy?" Trent smiled.
"We'll discuss this later Trent Lockheart. Now let's hurry up." Lillith glared. Trent ignored her last remark.
Tifa had never felt so embarrassed in her life. One by one her team members turned to stare at her. "You better know what you're getting into." Reno growled to her.
She ignored him, trying to focus on the Turks and the Super Soldiers.
"Alright. You have 25, I'll have 25. DEATH ROW!" Trent yelled. In a flash, 25 Super Soldiers dropped as dead as a doorknob.
"SOLAR CALYPSO!!" Lillith screamed. A flash of yellow light burnt the remaining 25 Soldiers until there was nothing left but blackened skeletons. "Gods, this is easy." Lillith muttered. All Avalanche could do was stare.
"Oh, no fighting right now Avalanche. Feel free to try and stop Lady Angel if you wish. It's our off day." Trent called to them and he and Lillith hurried off.
"Y'know, I'm beginning to wonder how we beat Sephiroth and we can't beat them." Cid lit up a cigarette. His team mates nodded in agreement except for Vincent, Tifa and Cloud.
"They just took of 50 of them Super Soldiers." Barret muttered.
"And that Green haired chick can use magic without Materia." Yuffie said in awe.
"We can't give up this easily guys. We didn't give up two years ago!" Tifa said.
"I think the Turks aren't gonna kill us until we become a real challenge." Elena sighed. "They keep fucking toying with us!" Reno yelled in rage.
"I say we get a good rest in The Velocity. Then tomorrow, we go into Midgar." Cloud sighed. Even he wasn't ready to fight just yet.
The members of Avalanche walked to the airship in defeat.
