5.

Stories

The sun was rising over the city of Midgar. For the first time in countless years since the plates were constructed, natural light found its way into the sector 8 slums through the large hole torn in the upper world. Yuffie sat in silence staring at the fallen village.

This didn't make one lick of sense to her. Had they caused the plate to fall? Surly Red X's impact through the gates couldn't have been that powerful to drop the plate. What was going on in this city? Had that spiky haired man from the railway bridge and his friends struck again? Whatever was going on all she knew was she wanted to get out of the city and back to Wutai as soon as she could but she still had a job to do? Kandya seemed to be nothing but trouble since she met her but she still held some use. Kandya was Ex-Solider. She had just demonstrated her use to Yuffie by the fact that she knew the access codes to the Shinra security gates so surly she would know a way into the Shinra Head Quarters. The trick was getting her to assist in this theft. Yuffie knew it was time to start telling more tall-tales….

"Your Ex-Solider?…" Yuffie began "…Then why do they want you dead?"

Kandya was looking at the smoking rubble that lay inside the gates to sector 7. Her mind was on many things now but one thing dominated all. Was that beast dead? She turned to Yuffie and stared at her briefly. She had nearly gotten the girl killed and all she had done to deserve it was save her life twice….She figured Yuffie deserved to know why she nearly died.

"They're not trying to kill me….At least I think not. The sergeant said that Heidegger wanted me bought in…I've sorta gone A.W.O.L. Thing is as soon as that sergeant saw you his attitude changed. I'm guessing you and him have had a run in before yeah?"

Yuffie looked at Kandya with a blank expression. "Ummmm yeah sorta" She attempted to bring the conversation back to Kandya " Why'd you go A.W.O.L?"

Kandya answered "Well it's a long story really" Yuffie sighed " I stole some Materia from him…" Suddenly Yuffie's interest was captured again.

"You stole his material and ran away. Why?" Yuffie asked

"Well….you see it wasn't just any old materia….it was special"

Yuffies interest grew and grew….."Special how was it special?"

"It has no colour" Kandya replied

"You mean its white? White materia?" Yuffie nearly leaped from her seat

"No….It has NO colour. Its clear as crystal." Kandya corrected Yuffie

Yuffie had to practically bite her lip to suppress her excitement "Errm so what does this new materia do pray tell?" She asked as calmly as possible.

"Well we weren't sure at first…" Kandya began "….It was discovered at an archaeological dig in the northern continent. The digger who discovered it bought it here to get it analysed and appraised. But if you know Shinra you know nothing happens in this town without them finding out about it. Being one of Heidegger's…ummnn.. favourites he sent me out to retrieve it and get it back to the lab. Thing is… when we got to the archaeologists room in the Hotel De Treepe in sector 1 on the upper level we found him dead. But not just him….The whole floor had been wiped out. Everyone! Each and every soul on that floor had been mutilated. And even odder was that the archaeologist still had the materia in his possession…right in his hand. Whatever he had gotten from that materia killed everyone on that floor including him"

Yuffie was caught on every word Kandya spoke. "So lemme guess you felt you couldn't let this fall into the Shinra's hands yes…. Morally wrong and so on and so on ?"

"Well yes…of course…I worked for Shinra….I know what they are capable of. There was no way in my right mind I could let a man like Heidegger have such a power at his fingertips. So I stole it there and then from the room. I got it hidden in a safe place….That's why Heidegger wants me….He'd like to…extract the information."

"So…Where is it?" Yuffie asked expectantly

Kandya looked at her for a time and then answered "Well its safe that's all that matters"

A cool breeze blew through snow-covered trees in a forest just a little ways short of the coast of the Northernmost Continent. The wind shook the branches softly causing a tiny snow shower to fall upon the silent moving shape below. He was returning home finally after two weeks travel across the quite continent. You could easily go months without ever meeting another soul here. But that was just how this creature liked it. His tribe was of a solitary race that had long shunned the civilized world. To them that was a contradiction in itself. All these humans did was take the land and level it down just so they could build new places to sell their materia and potions and all forms of destructive devices. His tribe however respected this world and lived in harmony with all of its creations….all except the humans. In fact as a perfect example he had just discovered a new atrocity in his silent travels across the continent. Just a little distance to the north he had been watching from the safety of the forest as men where digging up the sacred bones of the long dead. Had they no respect whatsoever? I took all his strength to control his anger at this and remain hidden.

The creature was nearly home. Not far now. Just another few miles to the waterfall where his people had made there home in the caves beneath. As much as this being was in tune with nature he was unfortunately not aware enough of his surroundings. He was being followed. He had been for the last day and a half. Not too far behind, a small platoon of Shinra Soldiers had been tracking him. He had not been careful enough. While he watched the archaeologists in Bone Village he too was being watched. It did not take long for the reports of this new creature to travel back to Midgar and to the E-mail Inbox of Dr. Hojo. And it wasn't long for the soldiers to receive their orders to follow and capture as many of these beasts as they could for his…."Research". The creature stopped as a fragrance caught his attention. He sniffed the air and decided to investigate further. He turned back to walk down the hill. He stopped again as the fragrance became stronger. This time there was no mistaking it. It was humans and they were very close. The large beast turned and quickly made its way to the east. Further into the forest and as far away from the waterfall over his peoples home as possible. He could not risk them being discovered. A few yards behind the group Capitan received a whispered transmission over his radio…." This is Emerald one to Ruby one I have been discovered. Repeat I have been discovered. The target is moving at speed eastbound. What are my orders?"

The Capitan cursed and quickly responded…" Follow it!!! Don't let it get out of your sight!!! We are tracing you now, a cycle unit will back you up soon" At this the Capitan signalled to the sled group to unload the Snow cycles. Quickly two were assembled and in pursuit. They roared into life as they proceeded to pursue the fleeing creature. The large creature was now running through the forest as he heard the approach of the machines in the distance. But no matter how fast he could move he was no challenge to two Shinra snow cycles. Quickly they were upon him. The large red beast roared. He didn't have a chance to defend as a barrage of tranquilliser shots hit him in the left arm and his chest. He bravely raced on but seconds later his run became a walk. Then a crawl and before he could finish a prayer to his ancestors his world went dark. He was kept in a tranquillised state for two days. He could remember little of what had happened since his capture but he was awake now and alone in the dark. He felt as though he was floating. But there was a tremendous weight upon him. His chest hurt. At least he thought it did. Now his arms hurt. Then his legs. Everything burned in his body yet it didn't feel like any pain he had ever felt before. It was such a confusing feeling. He could feel his muscles contract as he lifted his arms to push the weight upon him but yet his arms didn't reach anything.

Kandya walked back and forth kicking the dust up as she moved.

"I don't understand it. How did they find me?" Kandya turned to yuffie and continued to speak " I'm leaving the city tonight. At least I was supposed to. It was arranged that I would get picked up by chopper at 10pm on the roof of The CarsonsWare Enterprises building tonight."

Yuffie gave her a confused look and asked " Well….Why can't you?"

Kandya sighed "Well obviously if I'm going by Chopper I need to be on the upper plate…That's where the CarsonsWare Enterprises building is. But the freaking plate has just fallen. And its taken with it half the rail track with it. Theres no way up now short of climbing the pillars."

"Whats CarsonWares Enterprises? "Yuffie asked curiously "Is it like a Shinra rival?"

"No not at all it's only a furniture company. But my contact works in security there and has arranged to get me to the roof tonight. But I don't see how I'm going to make it now. I can't get caught. You ever here of Dr. Hojo from Shinra?"

Yuffie shook her head.

"Well he's the monster that made that other monster we just crushed. If he gets his hands on me he can very easily "extract" information. It doesn't matter how strong your will power is. He has his ways. I've seen him do it a hundred times. And it doesn't make one difference whether you can take it or not. When his machines are finished with you there is nothing left of the persons mind. Everything is extracted. But that is not my concern right now. I have to get this materia out of the city and destroyed."

Yuffie was horribly conflicted by this stage. What if she could get her hands on that materia? She could practically change Wutai forever. Return everything to its right state. But what if this materia was really as dangerous as Kandya says it is? She could easily be bringing destruction down upon her town. Right now one thing was clear. She couldn't see Shinra get their hands on it. However an idea was forming in her mind. She might just have a way to get what she wanted from Kandya….access to Shinra. In fact she was certain of it. But first things first they had to get to the upper plate. That wouldn't be easy.

The darkness was unsettling. It would be that is, if you hadn't spent most of your life living in underground caves.

The beast was still at a loss to what was going on around him. Was he dead. Is this what the afterlife felt like. Nothingness just floating. If that were so what was this weight that was so strongly upon him. He could feel it holding him down. He tried again desperately to reach out and touch it but every time he did his arms reached nothing. He was beginning to feel so frustrated. A gentle soft whirring noise began in the darkness. The creature listened intently. Where as it coming from. The noise grew louder. His eyes burned as a bright light suddenly appeared in the complete darkness. He shut them and waited for the pain to stop. He opened his eyes again and when they adjusted he could just make out a shape before his face. The light grew brighter still as the beast again attempted to move. Another sound joined the whirring noise, a soft gentle bleeping noise. Suddenly without warning his body surged with immense pain. His eyes were filled with visions racing before them. It was blackness again but bright green words shone in the darkness. A vision flashed into his mind of a man in a long white jacket standing over him. The darkness returned again the words became clearer to him. He recognised them but still he could not read what they said. They did not make sense to him. Another vision shot into his mind…He was running again, but not from the soldiers in the forest. Now he was being chased down a long white corridor. The darkness returned yet again. Suddenly his body surged again and a pain like a dagger being stabbed into his brain made him groan. The darkness became bright light. A hand pulled the light that was shining in his eyes away. It was the man in the white coat again, but this time his coat was stained with blood. Blackness again….The words raced before his eyes and now he could understand them. "INISTALISING SYSTEM CHECK BETA…..SCAN COMPLETE////////BIO-LINK REACTIVATED The pain surged through his body again. His arms and legs began to move spontaneously but this time he could feel the source of the weight upon him. He pushed with all his might against the weight. Before his eyes visions still ran. The man in the white coat was staring him in the eyes. He spoke with a high voice " You are my child now, What is your designation?" The creature could not help but answer the Vision….."R R RED X….VERSION 1.0 BIO MECHANICAL ASSUALT DIVISION SHINRA INC……NOOOOOOO!!!!! I AM NOT" The man in the white coat asked again "What is your designation?" RED X could not resist " RED X…..V V VERSION 1.0 BIO….BIO…I AM NOT!!!!!!" his mind exploded in a surge of pain he moaned again and the blackness returned again the words flashing before his eyes "WARNING RECOGNITION PROGRAM FALIURE REINISTALISING……WARNING RECOGNITION PROGRAM FALIURE AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN ACTIVE……..WARNING AUTOMATIC SHUTDOWN FALIURE….ATTEMPING CONTACT WITH HOJO-ONE….USER COULD NOT RESPOND…..ACTIVATING SECO.." The words vanished. RED X knew what he was. He knew where he was. He pushed with all his might again. The weight above him began to shift.

" I'll help you" Yuffie finally decided to make her move.

"Excuse me?" Kandya asked curiously

"I'll help you find a way up. I need to get up there anyways. I ummm have some things to gather."

"Well ok thanks. Ummmn…what do you suggest we……" Kandya leaped with surprise. The rubble holding RED X beneath shifted away. "Oh crap its still going RUN YUFFIE!!!"

RED X leaped from the rubble. Kandya turned. She knew herself she couldn't escape the beast but she might be able to get some distance between him and yuffie. "YUFFIE I SAID RUN!!!"

"You can't take that thing by yourself!!" Yuffie protested

"I'll manage just go!" Kandya shouted angrily at Yuffie

"FEMALES. RED X DESTROY FEMALES?" the large beast asked curiously

"You can sure as hell try your best!" Yuffie shouted in defiance

"RED X NOT WANT TO DESTROY FEMALES. RED X WANT TO GO HOME."

The to girls looked at him quietly. Then to each other. "What did you say?" Kandya asked suspiciously

"RED X WANT TO GO HOME. RED X …..RED X…..RED X……" the beast stopped. It was confused again " I AM NOT RED X. I AM….I AM…I AM.." he gave the girls a puzzled look "WHO IS RED X….WHO AM RED X…..WHO AM RED….WHO IS I….WHO…WHO AM I?" he finally found the right combination of words

Kandya slowly approached the towering 8ft machine " You are not RED X?"

"NO….I NOT RED X…I AM NOT" he answered her

"You do not know who you are?" Kandya asked slowly

"NO….NO….I AM SHARWA TRIBE. AM I?" he asked more and more confused

"You are Sharwa Tribe….You mean you're people…your race…they are called Sharwa?"

"YES. AM I NOT…..I AM….I AM OF SHARWA TRIBE….HOW AM I?

"I….I….I don't know sorry. " Kandya said apologetically.

Yuffie was just a little bit bewildered by all this. "YOU NOT RED X? YOU NO KILLY THE FEMALIES NO?" she asked the beast

"NO RED X NOT…I MEAN I NOT….KILL….RED NOT….NO." The beast was to confused. He finally gave into programming "RED X…..IT IS MY NAME NOW. I AM RED X. CALL ME RED X"

"Ok we should probably do that for them mean time" Kandya agreed. She turned to Yuffie "The impact must have broken whatever Hojo had made to control him. I think we're ok with him"

"YES YOU ARE I HAVE NO DESIRE TO HURT YOU" RED X suddenly found it easier to talk now that he wasn't fighting the working aspects of his programming. "I AM OF THE SHARWA TRIBE. BUT I DON'T KNOW MY ORIGINAL DESIG….MY REAL NAME. I AM NOLONGER MYSELF AM I?"

Kandya frowned " I'm afraid not. Hojo has….."

"DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT. I CAN NOT SO YOU SHOULD NOT EITHER."

"You can't?" Kandya asked curious

"NO. IT SEEMS I AM NOT PROGRAMMED TO. IT SEEMS I AM NOT PROGRAMED TO. IT SEEMS I…..SORRY. I I I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH WITH ….FIGHTING….CAN NOT…"

"Its ok …" Kandya interrupted "… You know what you are. A cross between animal and machine. But your programming won't let you deny it in any way?"

RED X decided to just nod in reply.

"Weird" Yuffie stated the obvious "You don't happen to know a way to the upper plate by any chance do ya?"

Kandya gave Yuffie a look of disapproval. How could this woman be so cold about what this creature was going through. The truth was though that Yuffie did indeed feel terrible about it. She couldn't imagine what it must be like to have your body taken from you and made a slave to the new one. But she couldn't bring herself to think about it. It was too cruel a thing to do to a creature.

"YES. I MAY KNOW A WAY" RED X eventually replied.

"You do?" Kandya asked surprised

"YES. BUT IT MAY BE UNCONVENTIONAL. I MUST RETURN TO DOCTOR HOJOS LABOURITORY. I HAVE TO FIND MYSELF."

Kandya frowned. She didn't want to point out to this creature that it was very unlikely Hojo could make him whole again. Even if he wanted to. Which she was sure he wouldn't. "Ok thank you…Lead on"

RED X took the two of them back the way they had came while they were fleeing him. He actually quite liked these two humans. It seemed Kandya had respect for him. The other….well she was Kandya's friend so she must be ok.

Eventually Kandya asked him " Where are we going?"

They just turned the corner to where Yuffie had ditched his replacement engine. "HERE. I MUST REPAIR. I WILL TAKE YOU UP THE PILLAR. BUT FIRST I MUST REPAIR. I HAVE NO CHOICE."

"But will that not return you to your original state?" Kandya asked concerned

"NO IT IS JUST PHYSICAL REPAIR"

"Ok" Kandya replied…..Still she decided to watch him carefully.

It wasn't long till RED X had installed his replacements. He replaced one arm along with some wiring and the replacement engine. They moved inwards into the heart of the sector 8 slums. Minutes later they stood at a large chicken wire fence surrounding the base of the pillar. RED X turned to Yuffie and Kandya and spoke. "I AM AN ASSUALT UNIT. I AM DESIGNED TO CARRY UP TO FOUR SOLIDERS INTO BATTLE" With this there was a sound like a switch blade opening and RED X turned to show that his shoulder blades had opened revealing two sets of bars and footholds inside each.

"Well ok" Kandya said softly as she climbed aboard.

Yuffie was not so sure. "Ummmmn….Is this the only way?"

"I AM AFAID SO" The large beast replied

"Right….shoot ok" Yuffie climbed on. Seconds later RED X's engine fired into life. It picked up place quickly and with one quick leap RED X launched himself into the air. The power from the engine allowed him to hover only a few feet but it was enough to get him up unto the side of the pillar. He climbed quickly up the metal stairways using each flight as a step on a ladder. Moments later he was at the top of the steps and ready to begin the free hand climb up the stone pillar. A long metal spike shot from each of his knuckles and then his toes. He punched one set in then the next. His climb was about to begin.

Yuffie moaned to herself "Uggggghhh I think I'm gonna be sick" And they were on their way.