Okay, so this one took a bit to get posted. I apologize profusely,
and I also give unfortunate warning that this will probably happen most
every time. School + Fanfic = Sacrifices, no da? In any case, I'd like to
point out that all characters, places, and inanimate objects are the sole
property of Square. Not mine, theirs. Also, I'd like to apologize to Dave
Barry for not only stealing one of his jokes, but for misquoting it. I
could not think of a fresh one. I'm an unoriginal bitch and I should be
shot. That said, I hope you enjoy!
-Master Telanis
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The Forgotten Capital
by Master Telanis and Ree-chan the Great
It was a long ride up the coast, riding on the clipped wings of the Tiny Bronco, throughout which Tifa, Cloud and Cid were all deadly silent. Reeve had come to expect this from Cloud and Tifa, but Cid, like Yuffie, seemed never to shut up, no matter how much it might benefit them. Carefully maneuvering - the Bronco was never meant to be used extensively as a boat - Cait Sith pulled himself over to where Cid now sat cross- legged, smoking fervently and staring holes through the propeller, which moved only slightly, as the water's current dictated.
They had just passed the resort town of Costa Del Sol, and were well on their way toward the Northern Continent, and, presumably, the Forgotten Capital. The water was extremely calm, and that unnerved Reeve. Storms along the coast of the Western Continent were usually rather frequent, but they hadn't seen one since. . . well, since he'd met Cloud and his friends. It was as though the Planet itself had become inactive. The feeling wasn't deathly, or, at least not yet, but more of a feeling of tension. Waiting. The Planet was waiting. The Shinra employee shivered, back in his office, and the Cait Sith body mimicked the movement.
Reeve thought about trying to strike up a conversation with Cid, but rejected the idea. Instead, he just joined the chain-smoker in some quiet thought. Eventually, he was surprised to hear Cid say, "Tell my future, furball. . ."
Cait turned to see him, and said, cautiously, "Sorry, Captain. The fortune-teller was the other Cait Sith. This one's pretty much the combat guy."
Cid chuckled harshly. "Right. Guess we c'n always use another *@^#%# muscler. Y'sure y'can't fake it, or some $^%@*# thing like that? Kinda interested, really. . ." Reeve was now aware that Yuffie, Vincent, and Nanaki were all listening in, although they tried not to show it. The only one who actually succeeded in being discreet was the former Turk, but he knew the man always had his ears and eyes open. And, although there was no real basis for it, Reeve had the distinct impression that the man was also sniffing the air, as a bloodhound might to catch the scent of its quarry. A strange, if perceptive, man.
"Oh, I could fake it, but I think I know what the old Cait Sith might have told us. . ." Reeve really wished he could keep his mouth shut. Vincent rustled slightly. Reeve knew he was being subtly chided for an idiot.
"So &#@^$* tell me, then, #^%&! What would #%@&@^ Furball the First say?"
". . ." Reeve was very aware of the irony of his silence. That was exactly what the little slip of paper would have said, in all likelihood. Absolutely nothing.
Cid grumbled, and didn't say anything else. This suited Shinra's head of Urban Development just fine.
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It took two days for the Tiny Bronco to make it all the way up to the Northern Continent, and, for that time, there was an almost maddening silence aboard the tiny plane. Not even Yuffie said much of anything, beyond the occasional "Are we there yet?" Cid was fine with this. He needed some time to puzzle things out, in any case. Unfortunately, he found that he just didn't have enough information to do much more than go in circles.
It still didn't stop him from trying.
When they finally reached the southern shore of the mountainous island, Cid was relieved, for once, to be back on land. It meant they had some kind of direction, again. He took the pack of cigarettes from behind his ear, and shook it over his hand. There was no reassuring feeling of a light, cylindrical shape landing in his palm. He turned it around, looked at it, and then ripped one end wide open. Empty. Damn. Damn, damn, double-damn. Growling, he crumpled the flimsy paper box, and threw it away with an added grunt.
A little irked, now, he turned to look at Cloud, who was disembarking from the beached plane-cum-raft. Cloud was the last one off, and the plane kept shifting, ever-so-slightly, under his weight. Vincent, Barret, Yuffie, Cait Sith, Tifa, and Cid all watched from shore, as Cloud Strife, an ex-SOLDIER and their fearless leader, tripped and fell into the water. For a moment, the man seemed to have simply disappeared, and then he rose from the water, dripping wet, and a fairly grouchy expression on his face. Cid noted with only minor amusement that the man's hair had remained completely unaltered. More than a little interest, but very little amusement.
As Cloud waded ashore, Nanaki gave voice to Cid's observation. "What in the world do you put in your hair?" At Cloud's glare, the cat simply said, "Forget I asked."
Cid asked, "So just where the &$^# we gotta go, Cloud? Where's this &$^#*@ city o' yours?" Completely unaware that he was doing it, he had his spear's point aimed at the ground, and was thumping it against the sand at a rapidly increasing pace.
"Anxious to head into certain danger, are we, Captain?" Cloud answered, grinning snidely.
Cid, deciding that it would be politic to refrain from ripping Cloud's spiky head off, replied, "Anxious t'&$^#*@ help Aeris, kid." Cloud's grin disappeared immediately. Cid seriously considered socking him one, right then and there. It would have felt good. He didn't. Despite Cloud's steadily shortening memory and sense of purpose, he was still the leader. The Planet help them.
Barret spoke up, "Yeah, Cloud. Aeris's s'pos'ta be in this "Fergott'n City" o' yours, but we don' know where th'hell it is!" The large man scratched the back of his head with a corner on his gun arm, and Cid wondered, not for the first time, whether or not the guy ever considered the idea that he might accidentally blow his own head off. Geez. He was getting pretty antsy.
C'mon, kid, say something like "We'll be able to find it," or "Let's find someone and ask." Anything but the truth, they won't understand the truth. Come ON!
To the Captain's dismay, Cloud said, "I can feel her." He turned, pivoting in the sand, to point at a distant line of trees. "She's somewhere over there. In the capital." He looked back at them, and Cid barely kept from shaking his head. Great.
Cid was amazed when Barret stepped forward, and said, "If y'think so, Cloud, then I guess that's where we're goin'."
Cait was next, saying, "Ready when you are, Cloud!"
One by one, the rest followed suit, with Vincent and Tifa both stepping forward second last, at the same time. Cid couldn't help staring, and he was hard-pressed to keep back gales of incredulous laughter. After all the idiotic things they'd seen him do, everyone had complete faith in him as a leader. Cid was the only one having doubts. If Cloud still commanded their respect, maybe there was some hope for him, yet. Cloud looked at him.
"Cid? What about you?"
"What? Ya think I was gonna &#^@*$ come all this way on that &#^@*$ piece-o'-$*#& plane, and then just plant my &#^@*$ ass on this here &#^@*$ beach, gettin' &#^@*$ sand in my &#^@*$ pants, while you assholes go off an' 'ave all th'fun?!" He was grinning. He couldn't help it.
Cloud, brow furrowed, asked, "Uh, does that mean yes?"
"&#^@*$-A, it does! Lead on!" Cid was grinning.
Yuffie piped up. "That's it! Now I know why he smokes so much!" Cloud, brow still crinkled, looked at her. She said, "The cigarettes are really v-chips!"
Cloud grinned, now, and said, "Well, they don't work too well." Barret guffawed. Cid growled at them. "But, even so, I think we ought to get him a pack. He's starting to get grumpy. If anyone needs to wee, go now."
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The trees appeared deceptively close. In truth, it took the better part of the day to reach the woods, trekking across the grassy area which separated it from the beach. Along the way, high-spirits intermingled oddly with an almost somber undercurrent. All parties remained well-aware that they had no idea what they might find when they made it to the Forgotten Capital. However, with the exceptions of Vincent and Tifa, the essential mood was cheeriness.
After a while, Cait Sith struck up a walking song, singing out in a rather tuneful alto voice, high, and far from unpleasant. It lost nothing through the Cait Sith body, and was quickly picked up by a rather enthusiastic and off-key Yuffie, followed by a deep voice which sounded very strange coming out of lithe and youthful Nanaki, in an almost melancholy harmony with Cait. Soon, Cid joined in with a surprisingly pleasant, if a little rough, baritone, and even Barret. Barret sang like Barret. Tifa and Vincent remained silent, although Vincent, if anyone cared to look, could be seen bobbing his head slightly to the music. Cloud grinned, and walked, and traced out the path to where Aeris, and, probably, Sephiroth would be.
Tifa remained pale and withdrawn, opting not to take part in this, the last time when any of them would find some measure of happiness for many days to come.
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At nightfall, they reached a small settlement in the middle of the forest, where there were men digging. Cloud saw a man standing by what seemed to be the ribcage from some enormous animal. The man was fairly small, but compact, and his face was streaked with dirt, as were his clothes. He walked up and asked, "Where are we?"
"Lost, would be my guess," was his gently smiling reply. "This here's an excavation sight." He knocked on one of the ribs, making a very wooden sound. "Only thing beyond this place is a pretty strange forest, and, further north, the ice fields. . . Yup, you gotta be lost, pal."
"Actually," Cloud responded, "we aren't lost at all. Do you know what's beyond that forest?"
"Nope. Ain't none of us been able to get through it." The man shook his head at that, and continued, "Damn thing just won't let us past. No matter how hard we run, we reach a point, and can go no further."
"Well, we need to get through it, so do you know a way?" Cloud scratched the back of his head.
The man was silent for a long time, his face very distant. Then, he suddenly grinned, fixing Cloud's eyes with his own, and stuck out a hand. "Name's Bill Matheson."
Cloud smiled uncertainly, and shook the proferred hand. "Cloud Strife."
"Cloud, eh? Funny name." He studied Cloud's face for another couple of seconds, and added, "Kinda apt, though. I think you'n I got some business to take care of. . ."
". . .Like?"
"First, lemme show you'n yer friends around, kid." He leaned to the side, and Cloud turned to the others. "Who're the rest o' ya?"
Cloud impatiently but dutifully introduced each person in turn. When he reached Cid, Bill jumped in surprise and interrupted. "Cap'n? Ha! It is you! Sorry, din't reconnise ya wi'out the smoke! Whadja do, quit?"
"Quit?! The &#^@ ya mean d'I &#^@*$ quit?! &#^@ no!" Cid bawled. "&#^@*$ ran out, donkey-&#^@. Quit my &#^@*$ ass, &#^@. . ."
Nanaki said, "Translation: I have not quit, unfortunately. I have merely run short of cancer-sticks, kind sir."
Bill's mouth was agape. With one hand, he reached into his back pocket, and fumbled out a small box. He tossed it to the foul-mouthed Captain. Cid caught them, and almost frantically set about shaking one free and lighting it up with his zippo. "Keep'em." Bill turned to Cloud. "Make sure 'e never runs out again."
"Definitely," Cloud added, earning a small nod from the dirt-smeared man. "You know Cid?. . ."
"Heck yeah! I used to be on his crew! You 'member me, doncha, Cap?"
Cid took an enormous drag on the cigarette, causing it to flare all the way up to the filter. He immediately spit that one out and lit up another before speaking, "Yeah, I think I remember you. Used ta be our pilot, right?" Cid paused. "Hey. . . din't I fire yer ass? F'almost flyin' us inta th'&#^@*$ Shinra buildin', right?"
"Uh, right. F'got about that." Bill scratched his head, studying his feet. He looked up again. "Well, I said I was gonna show you bunch around, din't I?" Without waiting for an answer, he began walking, gesturing for them to follow. They did, although Vincent had to nudge Tifa along, her face pale and a little slack. Cid was almost angry at Cloud for not seeing the state that the girl was in, but opted not to make mention. Even he didn't want to pick at some scabs.
There wasn't much to see, really. Bill showed them the areas they'd dug up, adding that they hadn't really found much. Certainly not what they'd been put there to find. When Nanaki had asked what that was, the excavation foreman had simply ignored the question, and moved on. The dig site was situated on a minor cliffside, small enough for a simple ladder to provide access between the upper and lower areas. At the top of the ladder was a small hut, upon which rested a massive skull, probably belonging to the same creature as the ribcage. It was the cook tent, vaguely conical in shape. There was smoke curling out of the empty eyesockets.
Around this upper level grew a wall of trees. It was completely solid, completely impassable, except for a place right at the back, where it grew into an archway. Bill was currently indicating this particular irregularity, and saying, "This's where we went in, before. If you'd like a shot at it, knock yerselves out, butcha won't get anywhere."
Cloud immediately responded, "I believe you, but there's got to be some way through. . ." He was looking at Bill as though the man could somehow supply the answer.
Not surprisingly, he could. "Well, there is a way through, y'unnerstand, but we been set here by Shinra hisself to find it, so that he and his c'n get through."
Cid choked, and said, "Shinra hiredja, even though y'almost flew the &#^@*$ Highwind up 'is ass?" Then, after a moment's pause, what the man had said seemed to finally sink in. Cid spat out a precious cigarette yelling, "THERE'S &#^@*$ A WAY PAST, AND YOU BEEN &#^@*$ WASTIN' OUR &#^@*$ TIME WI'THIS &#^@*$ BULLSHIT!?!?!?" He strode forward, and lifted the smaller man by the collar. "Tell us how t'&#^@*$ pass, asshole."
Bill was sputtering, trying to speak, and, finally, the words came out, "Th'Harp! Th'Lunar Harp! Dammit, man, take a pill!"
Cid responded with a very reasonable, "Yer werkin' fer th'Shinra. We're fightin' th'Shinra. We got us a good-ol'-fashioned conflict of int'rest, here. Not to mention: Yer. Werkin'. Fer. The. Shinra. Asshole." He punctuated each word with a small shake, just enough to make Bill flap with fear. Then, he dropped him. Hard.
Bill was reddening in the face, now. He got up, dusted himself off - a rather redundant act, considering the state he was in - and looked Cid in the eye with a surprising amount of fury. Cloud saw that, in a hand-to- hand fight, Bill might actually give Cid a run for his money. Bill snarled, "Ain't nuthin' wrong with th'Shinra, Asshole! They let me have another job, after you fired my ass. They gave me this here diggin' job. All I gotta do is dig, and say where to dig, and make sure the diggin' gets done. And yer givin' me hell fer that."
Cid's face cleared, and he muttered something incoherent. Then, looking around at the puzzled faces, he said it louder. "Sorry. I fergot y'didn't know 'bout them, Billy. I think you'n I should have us a little chat. . ."
Bill looked confused. Cloud said, "Give us the Lunar Harp, though, so we can continue on our way."
The site foreman said, "First, we ain't got it dug up, yet. Second, we're unner strict orders to hold it fer the President hisself, once we do get it."
Cid shook his head. "Let's talk, Bill." He turned to look at the rest of them, and said, "I'm gonna talk t'Bill 'bout what's been goin' on, lately. You guys're gonna hafta find some way t'occupy yerselves 'til later. Okay?" Not waiting for an answer, he led Bill back to the rib tent. Cloud looked around at everyone else, and also saw that the rest of the workers were staring at them. Shaking his head, he turned and headed toward the strange forest, leaving everyone else to their own devices.
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"Bill, yer werkin' fer the wrong people."
"Wow. Blunt as ever, Cap. Whyzat?" Bill responded, taking a seat in a wooden chair across the desk. The small office was situated toward the back of the "barracks" and offered very little room for a desk as large as this man's. The plank partition that seperated it from the rest of the shelter was decorated with a calendar ("Gurlz of Midgar" it proclaimed), a single-panel cartoon depicting a football game played by tonberrys, and several "inspirational" posters of exactly the type Cid hated. He was ignoring them, this time.
"What if I were t'tellya that they were bad news?" Cid leaned forward, pressing his gloved palms against the oaken desk, which Bill regarded with very little apparent annoyance. In fact, he seemed to be taking this entire thing with very little concern. This irked at the Captain.
"Well, if y'were anyone else, I'd say 'Bull' and toss y'out on yer ass," he replied in a light tone which carried a coolness to it that even Cid heard. Ignoring this, he went on.
"Bill," Cid said in a whiny tone he didn't like at all, "yer gonna hafta lissen up, if y'want t'know why I'm doin' this. . ." Cid sat down, carefully, on the edge of the desk, causing his spear to rattle in its harness. Not really expecting much of a response, the man just jumped right into the story, or what he knew of it, starting with what he'd been told about Jenova, and Sephiroth's past with the company, and eventually making his way to their escape on the Tiny Bronco. From there, it was basically all about their journey on Sephiroth's trail.
When he finished his story, some two hours or so later, Bill was completely silent. The room had filled with cigarette smoke, and there were a number of butts, not to mention burn-marks, on the wooden surface of the desk. Bill appeared to see none of this. He was staring off into space.
Slowly, one hand moved toward a desk drawer, shaking ever so slightly, and opened it. From the drawer, he withdrew a squat little bottle of something. He twisted the cap off, and took a long swallow. He turned his gaze from the air to Cid. He took another long swallow, this time dribbling a little. Cid came to the conclusion that Bill had, indeed, been listening. He was almost sorry he'd doubted the former pilot. Almost.
The man stared at him for another long moment, then leaned forward, offering the bottle to Cid. Cid took it gratefully. He took a few swigs, enjoying the burning sensation of malt whiskey pouring down his throat. He let it slide down for a few seconds before stopping, and placing the bottle on the desk. "Good shit," he said, a little hoarsely, sliding it back to its owner.
Bill looked up at him, nodded, and took the bottle. He downed the remainder in two more gulps. Finally, he said, "Cid, I dunno what yer deal is" - Cid realized with some dismay that the old Bill, whose voice he'd been hearing off and on for the past two hours, was now gone, replaced by this bureaucratic little snot - "but Shinra's never done a damn thing like that, and you know it! Ya used ta work fer 'em, fer Pete's sake!"
Even so, Cid didn't give up hope. Bill had looked uncertain, and that uncertainty, to him, denoted the continued possibility of success. "Bill, lookit those people outside. Cloud used to work fer 'em. He's a former SOLDIER, fer cryin' out loud! And Nanaki. . . ya think 'e got that tattoo during a weekend binge? That's Hojo's doin'! Then there's Vince. Shit, Vince has more'n a few bones ta pick with those guys. They killed ever'one Barret knew, way back when!"
Bill didn't answer for a few seconds, and then he said, "Ya know, ya really have no way to prove something like that. . ."
Cid went on, "And what about Cait Sith? That &#^@*$ toy's really a robot, run by one o' Shinra's execs. Even he's fightin' 'gainst 'em!"
"He could be pullin' yer leg, ya know. You ain't got no way t'tell if he's who 'e says 'e. . ."
A voice spoke up from behind Cid, "Reeve. Head of Urban Development for Shinra Electric Incorporated." Bill's head swiveled unsteadily to see the newcomer. Cid turned, a feeling of relief, and, he'd be the first to admit, not a little pride in the guy. Laying all his cards face-up, just to help them in finding Aeris. Cait Sith's cat face looked more stern than Cid had ever seen it, as he said, "You remember my voice, correct?"
"Muh-Mr. Reeve? Izzat you?" Bill seemed shell-shocked, all the wind gone from his sails. Cid was speechless, for the first time in his life.
Cait - Reeve, he reminded himself (Did he recognize the name? He thought maybe he did.) - said, "Yes, Mr. Matheson. I know my appearance is a little strange to you, but it's me. Shinra doesn't know just how involved in all of this I've allowed myself to be drawn, though. You might want to keep that to yourself, for a bit. They only intended for me to be their informant. Now I'm in it all for good. Shinra's shown their true colors, and made themselves an enemy of. . ." he looked at Cid. ". . .Of my friends. Now, I think that you've actually found this Lunar Harp doohickey, and just plan to give it to Rufus Shinra. We need it. Shinra doesn't know it, but their involvement may make things much worse than they already are." He seemed to be staring, then, and Cid realized that he'd severed the connection for the moment.
He said, "Unnerstand, now?"
Then, the Cait Sith body jumped into sudden life. "Okay, Rufus is sending the Turks to check on things, down here." Bill still seemed pasty in the face. "Bill, I know what my previous orders were, but you've got to listen to me. Our friend has gone off to try and save the Planet on her own. Sephiroth knows, and plans to kill her. If we don't go as soon as possible, she'll die. Since, truthfully, I stopped being a Shinra exec as soon as I fell in with AVALANCHE, I wouldn't be morally right in ordering you, so I'm going to ask you nicely. Bill, please help us."
The excavator stared at him, mouth working, but no words emerging. Finally, he stammered, "I-I-I. . . I guess. . . Uh, okay, Mr. Reeve, Sir. Whatever you say, Sir."
"Man. . . Stop calling me 'Sir', would you? I'm not your boss, anymore, in anything but name, so just quit it!" Reeve turned to face Cid, and added, "So now you know, Captain. That little bit of info is yours to do with as you please, I suppose. It's not like I could stop you if you really wanted to pass it along to Cloud."
Cid was stunned. Just what was he going to do with it? It's not like knowing the name would change anything. However, that was an argument both for and against sharing it. Hell, what did it matter? "Naw. Yer gonna stay Cait fer a bit. Sound good?"
The look of relief which blossomed on the robotic cat's face was almost heartbreaking, and rather amazing, when compared with the air of authority Reeve had just held over Bill the Shinra-bitch. "Sounds great. I mean, I know they already know I work for Shinra, but something about telling them my name. . . Kind of unnerving, you know?"
"Actu'lly, I don't know, but I unnerstand. Y'think, long's they don't know just who y'are, y'might still be able to go back when th'time's right?" Cid shook his head. "Fine. Guess it's up t'you if y'wanna keep ev'ryone at arm's length. Don't 'spect too much trust, though." Nodding to Bill, he turned to leave the office. He paused at the door, and said, over his shoulder, "Fer what it's worth, I do trustcha, Reeve. I seen yer commitment to this. I think maybe others've seen th'same." With that, he stepped out the door, leaving Bill and Reeve to talk.
It took a long time before he realized that his cigarette had burnt right down to the filter and gone out, leaving behind it only a long stick of ash.
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Cid found Cloud sitting just before the strange forest avenue. He was perfectly still, legs crossed, face cradled in his palms. "Hey, kid, we--" Cid began, but Cloud cut him off. "Cid, I know what to do. It's only an idea, and not enough to defeat Sephiroth, but it's a start." He rose to his feet with more grace than Cid had ever seen in him. He stood facing the forest. "What--?" "I understand their value to us humans. They're things to be tapped, used up and discarded, the way we exhaust any of our resources. We're. . . wasteful, that way. But, to the Ancients, they're so much more. . ." "Kid, not followin' ya. What the &#^@ ya talkin' 'bout?" "The mako pools! The springs! Shinra's been using the mako springs as power sources for their goddamned machines! To make money! They use them up, and never realize their true potential! What they can really do! Holy &#^@, Cid!" Sudden anger welled up in the Captain, surprising him with its terrible strength. "Y'just watch th'&#^@*$ mouth, Cloud!" The ex-SOLDIER whirled to face him, stumbling slightly. "Cid?" "Don't look so &#^@*$ s'prised, dammit! A leader's gotta look confident t'the people workin' fer'im. Y've done nothin' t'give make me wanna follow ya. Abso-&#^@*$-lutely nothin'! Y'&#^@*$ wig out every two minutes, y'&#^@*$ act like some rookie pilot on 'is first &#^@*$ mission, 'n y'ignore the people th't really needja! Y'better &#^@*$ shape-up'r y'll 'ave a &#^@*$ mutiny on yer 'ands!" Cloud's mouth worked, but no sound emerged. "Well? Yer tryin' t'&#^@*$ say somethin', s'spit't out, a'ready!" "Uh. . . ignore? Wh-who've I ignored?" "Damn-near ever'body, kid! Jesus! Now, fer some &#^@*$ reason, the rest still got some &#^@*$ faith in y'as a leader. Don't &#^@ that up, Cloud." He paused. "'N think 'bout someone other'n Aeris, once'n a while, &#^@. 'T'll keep yer eyes on th'wheel." "But, Captain--" "Stop &#^@*$ callin' me that! If y'want others t'follow ya, y'gotta stop workin' fer them, and make the little &#^@^& work fer you. That means bein' th'damn Captain they need! I can't &#^@*$ do that for ya! Ain't Barret, Vincent, or Cait c'n &#^@*$ do it, neither! It's all you." With that, he turned to walk away. He paused again, only long enough to add, "Quick tip, Cloud. Whatever y'got floatin' 'round in that spikey-&#^@ noggin' o' yers. . . Keep it t'yerself, fer now. A leader only tells others what 'e's gotta. They completely understand, then that's when they &#^@*$ start t'think yer nothin' special." He walked back toward the excavation site, leaving a flabbergasted Cloud to stare after him.
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Vincent was waiting at the entrance to the forest, along with Tifa, when Cait Sith came bounding up. The cat wore something of a somber expression on his mechanical face. He was also carrying a small stringed instrument.
"So they already had the Lunar Harp on them," Vincent remarked. "I take it we're going, then?"
"Soon's the Captain and Cloud get back, I expect."
"Good. I was getting tired of watching Barret trying to order the other excavators around." He gestured to where Barret was standing, looking down over a digger's shoulder, shouting something. He was rather animated, too, waving his arms around, and occasionally jumping up and down like a madman.
Cait Sith, to the ex-Turk's surprise, chuckled at Barret's antics. Then, he asked, "Uh, where are Yuffie and Nanaki?"
"Well, last I saw, they were out in the forest - the normal forest - doing whatever it is kids do. . ." He trailed off as the the two came trotting back. Nanaki was panting from the run. Yuffie, however, looked quite at ease.
"Hey, guys! You wouldn't believe this awesome materia I found in the Temple! I actually forgot all about it in that mess afterward!" Yuffie was hopping from one foot to the other like a small child.
"That's &#^@*$ great, Yuffs," said a familiar voice, "but I think it c'n wait awhile, don't you?" Cid took a long drag on his cigarette, then tapped away the ashes. He added, "The Leader hisself oughta b'here any time, now."
"I'm right here, Cid!" said Cloud, emerging from the forest behind him. "Got the Harp?" Cait bounced forward, and the moogle tossed the instrument to Cloud, who caught it deftly in one hand. Looking at it, he said, "So this is it, huh? Well, I guess we can go. Ready?"
"Think I speak fer ev'ryone when I say damn-&#^@*$-straight!" Cid raised his spear a little, then lowered it. By contrast, he thought, &#^@*$ spikey-head hotshot's gonna make us march all night, then probably fight when we're all dead-tired. Great.
"Then let's get a move on. Time waits for no man!" With that, he turned and marched into the forest, trusting his companions to follow. Without hesitation, they did.
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Cid didn't know just what to expect, but he least expected the forest to behave like a normal forest. There were no funny lights, no odd twinkling sounds, no movement, no words, nothing. It was simply another stroll in the woods. He grinned, biting down on the filter of his cigarette as they walked normally along the avenue.
Even as he grinned, he walked in the back, keeping an eye on Tifa, who looked like a mannequin brought to life. She shuffled along, without so much as a word to anyone, nervously cracking her knuckles. Just what in the hell had happened to her? He decided to wait for a better time to ask about it.
Up at the front, Cloud and Barret walked, heads together. Cid wondered just what they were discussing, but approved of the marked change in Cloud's leadership abilities. He was starting to get his act together, and it was about damn time!
Vincent was being as silent as ever. This was to be expected. Reeve, on the other hand, was not known to be quiet, so his lack of rousing travelling songs and endless banter were very unsettling. Cid shook his head. Why wouldn't everyone be a little somber? They were off to face Sephiroth himself, and to rescue a friend who may already be dead. . .
Yuffie was running around in the woods, yelling something about her "materia-sense tingling." Squidget could be downright annoying, sometimes. Nanaki, on the other hand, seemed to find her antics amusing to no end, tail flicking playfully as his head followed her progress to and fro.
Eventually, Yuffie yelled, "Stop! I saw one! A materia, in the woods!"
Surprised, everyone else turned to look at her. Barret spoke up, "Th'hell y'talkin' 'bout, Yuffie?"
"DUH! Materia! I saw a red one, in the woods!" She ran over to where Barret stood, pushing past a gape-mouthed Cloud, and began to swing her head wildly from side to side. "What? It's gone!" She ran a hand through her shoulder-length hair, and ran a circle around Barret. "It was right beside you, Big Guy! You didn't see it?"
"'Side me? Dammit, Yuffie, materia don't jus' get up an' move, without bein' seen, y'know! 'S'got a funny glow'n shit like that." Barret was mighty confused.
"But. . . it was here. . ." The materia-hunter was crestfallen. "Aw, forget it!" She went back to walking, but kept a close eye on her surroundings.
Barret watched her, shaking his head, and commenced plodding along. Barely a second later, he felt something hit his chest, quite hard. Reflexively, he stuck out his hand, and caught whatever it was in a ham- sized fist. Unclenching his hand, he looked down at what he'd caught. It was a summon materia. Kjata, it was called. Multi-elemental. Strange little thing. He turned to look at Cloud. The former SOLDIER grinned and shrugged. "Hang onto it," he said. "Might come in handy."
Cid regarded all of this with a slightly disdainful eye, but said nothing.
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They did march all night, as Cid had predicted, and morning's first rays were just lighting the way again when AVALANCHE stumbled from the forest into a large gulley. As the Captain looked about, he could feel Aeris and the Capital clearly. He guessed that Cloud could, too. He even knew exactly which direction it lay. He looked that direction, the length of the gulley. It could barely be seen on the horizon, sort of an inversely conical grouping of trees.
He grimaced. He knew that Cloud would not let them rest until they actually reached the ruins. He was right. Cloud did not even bother indicating that they keep moving. He just took it for granted that they would. They did.
It was around midday when they finally reached it, and it was then that Cloud stopped walking. He simply stood there, and looked around. Paths of pale stone, probably of the same type which had made up the Temple, ran all over the place, apparently at random, and buildings he took to be houses dotted the spaces between. He whistled appreciatively. Cloud looked at him, his face pale, and his eyes unfocussed. "Found her," he whispered.
At that, the ex-SOLDIER toppled forward, going to his knees, and then his face. Cid managed not to shake his head at the man. He said, "Kid finally dropped. Think w'better &#^@*$ get'im somewhere that ain't th'&#^@*$ dirt?"
Reeve spoke up. "Sounds like a plan, Captain." The cave moogle bounded forward and scooped the fallen leader up with one arm. Slinging the blond-haired man over a shoulder, he said, "I'll take him to one of those houses, over there. The rest of you, it might be a good idea to start searching around for Aeris."
"Definitely," replied Cid. "Alright, everyone. I think groups'll be best fer this. Last thing we &#^@*$ need is people gettin' lost. Meet back 'ere b'fore dark. Now, move out!" With that, he turned to follow Cait Sith.
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Yuffie, Vincent, and Nanaki returned from a fruitless search to find Cid and Barret wrestling with a tent, near the entrance to the capital. Yuffie snickered, and Cid looked up. "Great! Y'guys're back! Help me out with this thing, wouldja? Barret can't put up a &#^@*$ tent t'save 'is life."
Vincent shook his head, and said, "What are you two doing? Have you ever TRIED to set up a tent in the sand?"
"Aw we c'n do it, Turk-boy. Cid's on th'job!"
Yuffie said, "Vince's right, guys! Putting a tent up in the sand would be impossible, even if you had twenty trained tent-technicians equipped with tent-Viagra, ya know?"
Cid let out a gusty sigh, and replied, "Y'know, if I c'n &#^@*$ design'n build somethin' like the Highwind, I sure's 'ell c'n put this &#^@&# t'gether! Now, if y'ain't g'nna &#^@*$ help, Cait's over'n th'second 'ouse on th'right, fixin' th'beds."
Yuffie yelled "YES! THANK YOU! BEDS!" and ran off toward the house. Vincent shook his head and followed. Nanaki stayed behind.
After a few minutes with minimal success, Cid looked up at the guardian of Cosmo Canyon, and said, "Th'hell y'want, Fluffy?" It was clear that he was frustrated. Even so, Nanaki spoke.
"Actually, I was just curious as to why you're trying to build a tent out here, when there're perfectly good beds available indoors, with the others. . ."
Barret spoke up, "Red, would you wanna sleep in some ol' dead guy's bed?" He wore a scowl.
Nanaki thought for a moment, then decided that he was glad he could just sleep on the ground quite comfortably. He nodded, then went to find a place for the night.
Night came on. Several hours and three-quarters of a pack of cigarettes later, Cid and Barret had torn the tent in half, and were each using their respective piece as a blanket, there in the sand.
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Okay, so this one wasn't as long as the Temple. So sue me (read: don't sue me). This is just depicting some of the events leading up to the "Big Moment" (-----foreshadowing). I was hard-pressed to put anything resembling an interesting story into it, since not much of anything happens at this point. In any case, the contact info, as usual, is:
my guestbook, which can be found at guns1inger.diaryland.com (yes, that's a one, not an L)
Ree-chan's guestbook, at ree-chan.diaryland.com
Emails - Ree-chan - chaos_vincent21@hotmail.com
- Master Telanis - deschain5@hotmail.com
-Master Telanis
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The Forgotten Capital
by Master Telanis and Ree-chan the Great
It was a long ride up the coast, riding on the clipped wings of the Tiny Bronco, throughout which Tifa, Cloud and Cid were all deadly silent. Reeve had come to expect this from Cloud and Tifa, but Cid, like Yuffie, seemed never to shut up, no matter how much it might benefit them. Carefully maneuvering - the Bronco was never meant to be used extensively as a boat - Cait Sith pulled himself over to where Cid now sat cross- legged, smoking fervently and staring holes through the propeller, which moved only slightly, as the water's current dictated.
They had just passed the resort town of Costa Del Sol, and were well on their way toward the Northern Continent, and, presumably, the Forgotten Capital. The water was extremely calm, and that unnerved Reeve. Storms along the coast of the Western Continent were usually rather frequent, but they hadn't seen one since. . . well, since he'd met Cloud and his friends. It was as though the Planet itself had become inactive. The feeling wasn't deathly, or, at least not yet, but more of a feeling of tension. Waiting. The Planet was waiting. The Shinra employee shivered, back in his office, and the Cait Sith body mimicked the movement.
Reeve thought about trying to strike up a conversation with Cid, but rejected the idea. Instead, he just joined the chain-smoker in some quiet thought. Eventually, he was surprised to hear Cid say, "Tell my future, furball. . ."
Cait turned to see him, and said, cautiously, "Sorry, Captain. The fortune-teller was the other Cait Sith. This one's pretty much the combat guy."
Cid chuckled harshly. "Right. Guess we c'n always use another *@^#%# muscler. Y'sure y'can't fake it, or some $^%@*# thing like that? Kinda interested, really. . ." Reeve was now aware that Yuffie, Vincent, and Nanaki were all listening in, although they tried not to show it. The only one who actually succeeded in being discreet was the former Turk, but he knew the man always had his ears and eyes open. And, although there was no real basis for it, Reeve had the distinct impression that the man was also sniffing the air, as a bloodhound might to catch the scent of its quarry. A strange, if perceptive, man.
"Oh, I could fake it, but I think I know what the old Cait Sith might have told us. . ." Reeve really wished he could keep his mouth shut. Vincent rustled slightly. Reeve knew he was being subtly chided for an idiot.
"So &#@^$* tell me, then, #^%&! What would #%@&@^ Furball the First say?"
". . ." Reeve was very aware of the irony of his silence. That was exactly what the little slip of paper would have said, in all likelihood. Absolutely nothing.
Cid grumbled, and didn't say anything else. This suited Shinra's head of Urban Development just fine.
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It took two days for the Tiny Bronco to make it all the way up to the Northern Continent, and, for that time, there was an almost maddening silence aboard the tiny plane. Not even Yuffie said much of anything, beyond the occasional "Are we there yet?" Cid was fine with this. He needed some time to puzzle things out, in any case. Unfortunately, he found that he just didn't have enough information to do much more than go in circles.
It still didn't stop him from trying.
When they finally reached the southern shore of the mountainous island, Cid was relieved, for once, to be back on land. It meant they had some kind of direction, again. He took the pack of cigarettes from behind his ear, and shook it over his hand. There was no reassuring feeling of a light, cylindrical shape landing in his palm. He turned it around, looked at it, and then ripped one end wide open. Empty. Damn. Damn, damn, double-damn. Growling, he crumpled the flimsy paper box, and threw it away with an added grunt.
A little irked, now, he turned to look at Cloud, who was disembarking from the beached plane-cum-raft. Cloud was the last one off, and the plane kept shifting, ever-so-slightly, under his weight. Vincent, Barret, Yuffie, Cait Sith, Tifa, and Cid all watched from shore, as Cloud Strife, an ex-SOLDIER and their fearless leader, tripped and fell into the water. For a moment, the man seemed to have simply disappeared, and then he rose from the water, dripping wet, and a fairly grouchy expression on his face. Cid noted with only minor amusement that the man's hair had remained completely unaltered. More than a little interest, but very little amusement.
As Cloud waded ashore, Nanaki gave voice to Cid's observation. "What in the world do you put in your hair?" At Cloud's glare, the cat simply said, "Forget I asked."
Cid asked, "So just where the &$^# we gotta go, Cloud? Where's this &$^#*@ city o' yours?" Completely unaware that he was doing it, he had his spear's point aimed at the ground, and was thumping it against the sand at a rapidly increasing pace.
"Anxious to head into certain danger, are we, Captain?" Cloud answered, grinning snidely.
Cid, deciding that it would be politic to refrain from ripping Cloud's spiky head off, replied, "Anxious t'&$^#*@ help Aeris, kid." Cloud's grin disappeared immediately. Cid seriously considered socking him one, right then and there. It would have felt good. He didn't. Despite Cloud's steadily shortening memory and sense of purpose, he was still the leader. The Planet help them.
Barret spoke up, "Yeah, Cloud. Aeris's s'pos'ta be in this "Fergott'n City" o' yours, but we don' know where th'hell it is!" The large man scratched the back of his head with a corner on his gun arm, and Cid wondered, not for the first time, whether or not the guy ever considered the idea that he might accidentally blow his own head off. Geez. He was getting pretty antsy.
C'mon, kid, say something like "We'll be able to find it," or "Let's find someone and ask." Anything but the truth, they won't understand the truth. Come ON!
To the Captain's dismay, Cloud said, "I can feel her." He turned, pivoting in the sand, to point at a distant line of trees. "She's somewhere over there. In the capital." He looked back at them, and Cid barely kept from shaking his head. Great.
Cid was amazed when Barret stepped forward, and said, "If y'think so, Cloud, then I guess that's where we're goin'."
Cait was next, saying, "Ready when you are, Cloud!"
One by one, the rest followed suit, with Vincent and Tifa both stepping forward second last, at the same time. Cid couldn't help staring, and he was hard-pressed to keep back gales of incredulous laughter. After all the idiotic things they'd seen him do, everyone had complete faith in him as a leader. Cid was the only one having doubts. If Cloud still commanded their respect, maybe there was some hope for him, yet. Cloud looked at him.
"Cid? What about you?"
"What? Ya think I was gonna &#^@*$ come all this way on that &#^@*$ piece-o'-$*#& plane, and then just plant my &#^@*$ ass on this here &#^@*$ beach, gettin' &#^@*$ sand in my &#^@*$ pants, while you assholes go off an' 'ave all th'fun?!" He was grinning. He couldn't help it.
Cloud, brow furrowed, asked, "Uh, does that mean yes?"
"&#^@*$-A, it does! Lead on!" Cid was grinning.
Yuffie piped up. "That's it! Now I know why he smokes so much!" Cloud, brow still crinkled, looked at her. She said, "The cigarettes are really v-chips!"
Cloud grinned, now, and said, "Well, they don't work too well." Barret guffawed. Cid growled at them. "But, even so, I think we ought to get him a pack. He's starting to get grumpy. If anyone needs to wee, go now."
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The trees appeared deceptively close. In truth, it took the better part of the day to reach the woods, trekking across the grassy area which separated it from the beach. Along the way, high-spirits intermingled oddly with an almost somber undercurrent. All parties remained well-aware that they had no idea what they might find when they made it to the Forgotten Capital. However, with the exceptions of Vincent and Tifa, the essential mood was cheeriness.
After a while, Cait Sith struck up a walking song, singing out in a rather tuneful alto voice, high, and far from unpleasant. It lost nothing through the Cait Sith body, and was quickly picked up by a rather enthusiastic and off-key Yuffie, followed by a deep voice which sounded very strange coming out of lithe and youthful Nanaki, in an almost melancholy harmony with Cait. Soon, Cid joined in with a surprisingly pleasant, if a little rough, baritone, and even Barret. Barret sang like Barret. Tifa and Vincent remained silent, although Vincent, if anyone cared to look, could be seen bobbing his head slightly to the music. Cloud grinned, and walked, and traced out the path to where Aeris, and, probably, Sephiroth would be.
Tifa remained pale and withdrawn, opting not to take part in this, the last time when any of them would find some measure of happiness for many days to come.
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At nightfall, they reached a small settlement in the middle of the forest, where there were men digging. Cloud saw a man standing by what seemed to be the ribcage from some enormous animal. The man was fairly small, but compact, and his face was streaked with dirt, as were his clothes. He walked up and asked, "Where are we?"
"Lost, would be my guess," was his gently smiling reply. "This here's an excavation sight." He knocked on one of the ribs, making a very wooden sound. "Only thing beyond this place is a pretty strange forest, and, further north, the ice fields. . . Yup, you gotta be lost, pal."
"Actually," Cloud responded, "we aren't lost at all. Do you know what's beyond that forest?"
"Nope. Ain't none of us been able to get through it." The man shook his head at that, and continued, "Damn thing just won't let us past. No matter how hard we run, we reach a point, and can go no further."
"Well, we need to get through it, so do you know a way?" Cloud scratched the back of his head.
The man was silent for a long time, his face very distant. Then, he suddenly grinned, fixing Cloud's eyes with his own, and stuck out a hand. "Name's Bill Matheson."
Cloud smiled uncertainly, and shook the proferred hand. "Cloud Strife."
"Cloud, eh? Funny name." He studied Cloud's face for another couple of seconds, and added, "Kinda apt, though. I think you'n I got some business to take care of. . ."
". . .Like?"
"First, lemme show you'n yer friends around, kid." He leaned to the side, and Cloud turned to the others. "Who're the rest o' ya?"
Cloud impatiently but dutifully introduced each person in turn. When he reached Cid, Bill jumped in surprise and interrupted. "Cap'n? Ha! It is you! Sorry, din't reconnise ya wi'out the smoke! Whadja do, quit?"
"Quit?! The &#^@ ya mean d'I &#^@*$ quit?! &#^@ no!" Cid bawled. "&#^@*$ ran out, donkey-&#^@. Quit my &#^@*$ ass, &#^@. . ."
Nanaki said, "Translation: I have not quit, unfortunately. I have merely run short of cancer-sticks, kind sir."
Bill's mouth was agape. With one hand, he reached into his back pocket, and fumbled out a small box. He tossed it to the foul-mouthed Captain. Cid caught them, and almost frantically set about shaking one free and lighting it up with his zippo. "Keep'em." Bill turned to Cloud. "Make sure 'e never runs out again."
"Definitely," Cloud added, earning a small nod from the dirt-smeared man. "You know Cid?. . ."
"Heck yeah! I used to be on his crew! You 'member me, doncha, Cap?"
Cid took an enormous drag on the cigarette, causing it to flare all the way up to the filter. He immediately spit that one out and lit up another before speaking, "Yeah, I think I remember you. Used ta be our pilot, right?" Cid paused. "Hey. . . din't I fire yer ass? F'almost flyin' us inta th'&#^@*$ Shinra buildin', right?"
"Uh, right. F'got about that." Bill scratched his head, studying his feet. He looked up again. "Well, I said I was gonna show you bunch around, din't I?" Without waiting for an answer, he began walking, gesturing for them to follow. They did, although Vincent had to nudge Tifa along, her face pale and a little slack. Cid was almost angry at Cloud for not seeing the state that the girl was in, but opted not to make mention. Even he didn't want to pick at some scabs.
There wasn't much to see, really. Bill showed them the areas they'd dug up, adding that they hadn't really found much. Certainly not what they'd been put there to find. When Nanaki had asked what that was, the excavation foreman had simply ignored the question, and moved on. The dig site was situated on a minor cliffside, small enough for a simple ladder to provide access between the upper and lower areas. At the top of the ladder was a small hut, upon which rested a massive skull, probably belonging to the same creature as the ribcage. It was the cook tent, vaguely conical in shape. There was smoke curling out of the empty eyesockets.
Around this upper level grew a wall of trees. It was completely solid, completely impassable, except for a place right at the back, where it grew into an archway. Bill was currently indicating this particular irregularity, and saying, "This's where we went in, before. If you'd like a shot at it, knock yerselves out, butcha won't get anywhere."
Cloud immediately responded, "I believe you, but there's got to be some way through. . ." He was looking at Bill as though the man could somehow supply the answer.
Not surprisingly, he could. "Well, there is a way through, y'unnerstand, but we been set here by Shinra hisself to find it, so that he and his c'n get through."
Cid choked, and said, "Shinra hiredja, even though y'almost flew the &#^@*$ Highwind up 'is ass?" Then, after a moment's pause, what the man had said seemed to finally sink in. Cid spat out a precious cigarette yelling, "THERE'S &#^@*$ A WAY PAST, AND YOU BEEN &#^@*$ WASTIN' OUR &#^@*$ TIME WI'THIS &#^@*$ BULLSHIT!?!?!?" He strode forward, and lifted the smaller man by the collar. "Tell us how t'&#^@*$ pass, asshole."
Bill was sputtering, trying to speak, and, finally, the words came out, "Th'Harp! Th'Lunar Harp! Dammit, man, take a pill!"
Cid responded with a very reasonable, "Yer werkin' fer th'Shinra. We're fightin' th'Shinra. We got us a good-ol'-fashioned conflict of int'rest, here. Not to mention: Yer. Werkin'. Fer. The. Shinra. Asshole." He punctuated each word with a small shake, just enough to make Bill flap with fear. Then, he dropped him. Hard.
Bill was reddening in the face, now. He got up, dusted himself off - a rather redundant act, considering the state he was in - and looked Cid in the eye with a surprising amount of fury. Cloud saw that, in a hand-to- hand fight, Bill might actually give Cid a run for his money. Bill snarled, "Ain't nuthin' wrong with th'Shinra, Asshole! They let me have another job, after you fired my ass. They gave me this here diggin' job. All I gotta do is dig, and say where to dig, and make sure the diggin' gets done. And yer givin' me hell fer that."
Cid's face cleared, and he muttered something incoherent. Then, looking around at the puzzled faces, he said it louder. "Sorry. I fergot y'didn't know 'bout them, Billy. I think you'n I should have us a little chat. . ."
Bill looked confused. Cloud said, "Give us the Lunar Harp, though, so we can continue on our way."
The site foreman said, "First, we ain't got it dug up, yet. Second, we're unner strict orders to hold it fer the President hisself, once we do get it."
Cid shook his head. "Let's talk, Bill." He turned to look at the rest of them, and said, "I'm gonna talk t'Bill 'bout what's been goin' on, lately. You guys're gonna hafta find some way t'occupy yerselves 'til later. Okay?" Not waiting for an answer, he led Bill back to the rib tent. Cloud looked around at everyone else, and also saw that the rest of the workers were staring at them. Shaking his head, he turned and headed toward the strange forest, leaving everyone else to their own devices.
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"Bill, yer werkin' fer the wrong people."
"Wow. Blunt as ever, Cap. Whyzat?" Bill responded, taking a seat in a wooden chair across the desk. The small office was situated toward the back of the "barracks" and offered very little room for a desk as large as this man's. The plank partition that seperated it from the rest of the shelter was decorated with a calendar ("Gurlz of Midgar" it proclaimed), a single-panel cartoon depicting a football game played by tonberrys, and several "inspirational" posters of exactly the type Cid hated. He was ignoring them, this time.
"What if I were t'tellya that they were bad news?" Cid leaned forward, pressing his gloved palms against the oaken desk, which Bill regarded with very little apparent annoyance. In fact, he seemed to be taking this entire thing with very little concern. This irked at the Captain.
"Well, if y'were anyone else, I'd say 'Bull' and toss y'out on yer ass," he replied in a light tone which carried a coolness to it that even Cid heard. Ignoring this, he went on.
"Bill," Cid said in a whiny tone he didn't like at all, "yer gonna hafta lissen up, if y'want t'know why I'm doin' this. . ." Cid sat down, carefully, on the edge of the desk, causing his spear to rattle in its harness. Not really expecting much of a response, the man just jumped right into the story, or what he knew of it, starting with what he'd been told about Jenova, and Sephiroth's past with the company, and eventually making his way to their escape on the Tiny Bronco. From there, it was basically all about their journey on Sephiroth's trail.
When he finished his story, some two hours or so later, Bill was completely silent. The room had filled with cigarette smoke, and there were a number of butts, not to mention burn-marks, on the wooden surface of the desk. Bill appeared to see none of this. He was staring off into space.
Slowly, one hand moved toward a desk drawer, shaking ever so slightly, and opened it. From the drawer, he withdrew a squat little bottle of something. He twisted the cap off, and took a long swallow. He turned his gaze from the air to Cid. He took another long swallow, this time dribbling a little. Cid came to the conclusion that Bill had, indeed, been listening. He was almost sorry he'd doubted the former pilot. Almost.
The man stared at him for another long moment, then leaned forward, offering the bottle to Cid. Cid took it gratefully. He took a few swigs, enjoying the burning sensation of malt whiskey pouring down his throat. He let it slide down for a few seconds before stopping, and placing the bottle on the desk. "Good shit," he said, a little hoarsely, sliding it back to its owner.
Bill looked up at him, nodded, and took the bottle. He downed the remainder in two more gulps. Finally, he said, "Cid, I dunno what yer deal is" - Cid realized with some dismay that the old Bill, whose voice he'd been hearing off and on for the past two hours, was now gone, replaced by this bureaucratic little snot - "but Shinra's never done a damn thing like that, and you know it! Ya used ta work fer 'em, fer Pete's sake!"
Even so, Cid didn't give up hope. Bill had looked uncertain, and that uncertainty, to him, denoted the continued possibility of success. "Bill, lookit those people outside. Cloud used to work fer 'em. He's a former SOLDIER, fer cryin' out loud! And Nanaki. . . ya think 'e got that tattoo during a weekend binge? That's Hojo's doin'! Then there's Vince. Shit, Vince has more'n a few bones ta pick with those guys. They killed ever'one Barret knew, way back when!"
Bill didn't answer for a few seconds, and then he said, "Ya know, ya really have no way to prove something like that. . ."
Cid went on, "And what about Cait Sith? That &#^@*$ toy's really a robot, run by one o' Shinra's execs. Even he's fightin' 'gainst 'em!"
"He could be pullin' yer leg, ya know. You ain't got no way t'tell if he's who 'e says 'e. . ."
A voice spoke up from behind Cid, "Reeve. Head of Urban Development for Shinra Electric Incorporated." Bill's head swiveled unsteadily to see the newcomer. Cid turned, a feeling of relief, and, he'd be the first to admit, not a little pride in the guy. Laying all his cards face-up, just to help them in finding Aeris. Cait Sith's cat face looked more stern than Cid had ever seen it, as he said, "You remember my voice, correct?"
"Muh-Mr. Reeve? Izzat you?" Bill seemed shell-shocked, all the wind gone from his sails. Cid was speechless, for the first time in his life.
Cait - Reeve, he reminded himself (Did he recognize the name? He thought maybe he did.) - said, "Yes, Mr. Matheson. I know my appearance is a little strange to you, but it's me. Shinra doesn't know just how involved in all of this I've allowed myself to be drawn, though. You might want to keep that to yourself, for a bit. They only intended for me to be their informant. Now I'm in it all for good. Shinra's shown their true colors, and made themselves an enemy of. . ." he looked at Cid. ". . .Of my friends. Now, I think that you've actually found this Lunar Harp doohickey, and just plan to give it to Rufus Shinra. We need it. Shinra doesn't know it, but their involvement may make things much worse than they already are." He seemed to be staring, then, and Cid realized that he'd severed the connection for the moment.
He said, "Unnerstand, now?"
Then, the Cait Sith body jumped into sudden life. "Okay, Rufus is sending the Turks to check on things, down here." Bill still seemed pasty in the face. "Bill, I know what my previous orders were, but you've got to listen to me. Our friend has gone off to try and save the Planet on her own. Sephiroth knows, and plans to kill her. If we don't go as soon as possible, she'll die. Since, truthfully, I stopped being a Shinra exec as soon as I fell in with AVALANCHE, I wouldn't be morally right in ordering you, so I'm going to ask you nicely. Bill, please help us."
The excavator stared at him, mouth working, but no words emerging. Finally, he stammered, "I-I-I. . . I guess. . . Uh, okay, Mr. Reeve, Sir. Whatever you say, Sir."
"Man. . . Stop calling me 'Sir', would you? I'm not your boss, anymore, in anything but name, so just quit it!" Reeve turned to face Cid, and added, "So now you know, Captain. That little bit of info is yours to do with as you please, I suppose. It's not like I could stop you if you really wanted to pass it along to Cloud."
Cid was stunned. Just what was he going to do with it? It's not like knowing the name would change anything. However, that was an argument both for and against sharing it. Hell, what did it matter? "Naw. Yer gonna stay Cait fer a bit. Sound good?"
The look of relief which blossomed on the robotic cat's face was almost heartbreaking, and rather amazing, when compared with the air of authority Reeve had just held over Bill the Shinra-bitch. "Sounds great. I mean, I know they already know I work for Shinra, but something about telling them my name. . . Kind of unnerving, you know?"
"Actu'lly, I don't know, but I unnerstand. Y'think, long's they don't know just who y'are, y'might still be able to go back when th'time's right?" Cid shook his head. "Fine. Guess it's up t'you if y'wanna keep ev'ryone at arm's length. Don't 'spect too much trust, though." Nodding to Bill, he turned to leave the office. He paused at the door, and said, over his shoulder, "Fer what it's worth, I do trustcha, Reeve. I seen yer commitment to this. I think maybe others've seen th'same." With that, he stepped out the door, leaving Bill and Reeve to talk.
It took a long time before he realized that his cigarette had burnt right down to the filter and gone out, leaving behind it only a long stick of ash.
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Cid found Cloud sitting just before the strange forest avenue. He was perfectly still, legs crossed, face cradled in his palms. "Hey, kid, we--" Cid began, but Cloud cut him off. "Cid, I know what to do. It's only an idea, and not enough to defeat Sephiroth, but it's a start." He rose to his feet with more grace than Cid had ever seen in him. He stood facing the forest. "What--?" "I understand their value to us humans. They're things to be tapped, used up and discarded, the way we exhaust any of our resources. We're. . . wasteful, that way. But, to the Ancients, they're so much more. . ." "Kid, not followin' ya. What the &#^@ ya talkin' 'bout?" "The mako pools! The springs! Shinra's been using the mako springs as power sources for their goddamned machines! To make money! They use them up, and never realize their true potential! What they can really do! Holy &#^@, Cid!" Sudden anger welled up in the Captain, surprising him with its terrible strength. "Y'just watch th'&#^@*$ mouth, Cloud!" The ex-SOLDIER whirled to face him, stumbling slightly. "Cid?" "Don't look so &#^@*$ s'prised, dammit! A leader's gotta look confident t'the people workin' fer'im. Y've done nothin' t'give make me wanna follow ya. Abso-&#^@*$-lutely nothin'! Y'&#^@*$ wig out every two minutes, y'&#^@*$ act like some rookie pilot on 'is first &#^@*$ mission, 'n y'ignore the people th't really needja! Y'better &#^@*$ shape-up'r y'll 'ave a &#^@*$ mutiny on yer 'ands!" Cloud's mouth worked, but no sound emerged. "Well? Yer tryin' t'&#^@*$ say somethin', s'spit't out, a'ready!" "Uh. . . ignore? Wh-who've I ignored?" "Damn-near ever'body, kid! Jesus! Now, fer some &#^@*$ reason, the rest still got some &#^@*$ faith in y'as a leader. Don't &#^@ that up, Cloud." He paused. "'N think 'bout someone other'n Aeris, once'n a while, &#^@. 'T'll keep yer eyes on th'wheel." "But, Captain--" "Stop &#^@*$ callin' me that! If y'want others t'follow ya, y'gotta stop workin' fer them, and make the little &#^@^& work fer you. That means bein' th'damn Captain they need! I can't &#^@*$ do that for ya! Ain't Barret, Vincent, or Cait c'n &#^@*$ do it, neither! It's all you." With that, he turned to walk away. He paused again, only long enough to add, "Quick tip, Cloud. Whatever y'got floatin' 'round in that spikey-&#^@ noggin' o' yers. . . Keep it t'yerself, fer now. A leader only tells others what 'e's gotta. They completely understand, then that's when they &#^@*$ start t'think yer nothin' special." He walked back toward the excavation site, leaving a flabbergasted Cloud to stare after him.
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Vincent was waiting at the entrance to the forest, along with Tifa, when Cait Sith came bounding up. The cat wore something of a somber expression on his mechanical face. He was also carrying a small stringed instrument.
"So they already had the Lunar Harp on them," Vincent remarked. "I take it we're going, then?"
"Soon's the Captain and Cloud get back, I expect."
"Good. I was getting tired of watching Barret trying to order the other excavators around." He gestured to where Barret was standing, looking down over a digger's shoulder, shouting something. He was rather animated, too, waving his arms around, and occasionally jumping up and down like a madman.
Cait Sith, to the ex-Turk's surprise, chuckled at Barret's antics. Then, he asked, "Uh, where are Yuffie and Nanaki?"
"Well, last I saw, they were out in the forest - the normal forest - doing whatever it is kids do. . ." He trailed off as the the two came trotting back. Nanaki was panting from the run. Yuffie, however, looked quite at ease.
"Hey, guys! You wouldn't believe this awesome materia I found in the Temple! I actually forgot all about it in that mess afterward!" Yuffie was hopping from one foot to the other like a small child.
"That's &#^@*$ great, Yuffs," said a familiar voice, "but I think it c'n wait awhile, don't you?" Cid took a long drag on his cigarette, then tapped away the ashes. He added, "The Leader hisself oughta b'here any time, now."
"I'm right here, Cid!" said Cloud, emerging from the forest behind him. "Got the Harp?" Cait bounced forward, and the moogle tossed the instrument to Cloud, who caught it deftly in one hand. Looking at it, he said, "So this is it, huh? Well, I guess we can go. Ready?"
"Think I speak fer ev'ryone when I say damn-&#^@*$-straight!" Cid raised his spear a little, then lowered it. By contrast, he thought, &#^@*$ spikey-head hotshot's gonna make us march all night, then probably fight when we're all dead-tired. Great.
"Then let's get a move on. Time waits for no man!" With that, he turned and marched into the forest, trusting his companions to follow. Without hesitation, they did.
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Cid didn't know just what to expect, but he least expected the forest to behave like a normal forest. There were no funny lights, no odd twinkling sounds, no movement, no words, nothing. It was simply another stroll in the woods. He grinned, biting down on the filter of his cigarette as they walked normally along the avenue.
Even as he grinned, he walked in the back, keeping an eye on Tifa, who looked like a mannequin brought to life. She shuffled along, without so much as a word to anyone, nervously cracking her knuckles. Just what in the hell had happened to her? He decided to wait for a better time to ask about it.
Up at the front, Cloud and Barret walked, heads together. Cid wondered just what they were discussing, but approved of the marked change in Cloud's leadership abilities. He was starting to get his act together, and it was about damn time!
Vincent was being as silent as ever. This was to be expected. Reeve, on the other hand, was not known to be quiet, so his lack of rousing travelling songs and endless banter were very unsettling. Cid shook his head. Why wouldn't everyone be a little somber? They were off to face Sephiroth himself, and to rescue a friend who may already be dead. . .
Yuffie was running around in the woods, yelling something about her "materia-sense tingling." Squidget could be downright annoying, sometimes. Nanaki, on the other hand, seemed to find her antics amusing to no end, tail flicking playfully as his head followed her progress to and fro.
Eventually, Yuffie yelled, "Stop! I saw one! A materia, in the woods!"
Surprised, everyone else turned to look at her. Barret spoke up, "Th'hell y'talkin' 'bout, Yuffie?"
"DUH! Materia! I saw a red one, in the woods!" She ran over to where Barret stood, pushing past a gape-mouthed Cloud, and began to swing her head wildly from side to side. "What? It's gone!" She ran a hand through her shoulder-length hair, and ran a circle around Barret. "It was right beside you, Big Guy! You didn't see it?"
"'Side me? Dammit, Yuffie, materia don't jus' get up an' move, without bein' seen, y'know! 'S'got a funny glow'n shit like that." Barret was mighty confused.
"But. . . it was here. . ." The materia-hunter was crestfallen. "Aw, forget it!" She went back to walking, but kept a close eye on her surroundings.
Barret watched her, shaking his head, and commenced plodding along. Barely a second later, he felt something hit his chest, quite hard. Reflexively, he stuck out his hand, and caught whatever it was in a ham- sized fist. Unclenching his hand, he looked down at what he'd caught. It was a summon materia. Kjata, it was called. Multi-elemental. Strange little thing. He turned to look at Cloud. The former SOLDIER grinned and shrugged. "Hang onto it," he said. "Might come in handy."
Cid regarded all of this with a slightly disdainful eye, but said nothing.
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They did march all night, as Cid had predicted, and morning's first rays were just lighting the way again when AVALANCHE stumbled from the forest into a large gulley. As the Captain looked about, he could feel Aeris and the Capital clearly. He guessed that Cloud could, too. He even knew exactly which direction it lay. He looked that direction, the length of the gulley. It could barely be seen on the horizon, sort of an inversely conical grouping of trees.
He grimaced. He knew that Cloud would not let them rest until they actually reached the ruins. He was right. Cloud did not even bother indicating that they keep moving. He just took it for granted that they would. They did.
It was around midday when they finally reached it, and it was then that Cloud stopped walking. He simply stood there, and looked around. Paths of pale stone, probably of the same type which had made up the Temple, ran all over the place, apparently at random, and buildings he took to be houses dotted the spaces between. He whistled appreciatively. Cloud looked at him, his face pale, and his eyes unfocussed. "Found her," he whispered.
At that, the ex-SOLDIER toppled forward, going to his knees, and then his face. Cid managed not to shake his head at the man. He said, "Kid finally dropped. Think w'better &#^@*$ get'im somewhere that ain't th'&#^@*$ dirt?"
Reeve spoke up. "Sounds like a plan, Captain." The cave moogle bounded forward and scooped the fallen leader up with one arm. Slinging the blond-haired man over a shoulder, he said, "I'll take him to one of those houses, over there. The rest of you, it might be a good idea to start searching around for Aeris."
"Definitely," replied Cid. "Alright, everyone. I think groups'll be best fer this. Last thing we &#^@*$ need is people gettin' lost. Meet back 'ere b'fore dark. Now, move out!" With that, he turned to follow Cait Sith.
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Yuffie, Vincent, and Nanaki returned from a fruitless search to find Cid and Barret wrestling with a tent, near the entrance to the capital. Yuffie snickered, and Cid looked up. "Great! Y'guys're back! Help me out with this thing, wouldja? Barret can't put up a &#^@*$ tent t'save 'is life."
Vincent shook his head, and said, "What are you two doing? Have you ever TRIED to set up a tent in the sand?"
"Aw we c'n do it, Turk-boy. Cid's on th'job!"
Yuffie said, "Vince's right, guys! Putting a tent up in the sand would be impossible, even if you had twenty trained tent-technicians equipped with tent-Viagra, ya know?"
Cid let out a gusty sigh, and replied, "Y'know, if I c'n &#^@*$ design'n build somethin' like the Highwind, I sure's 'ell c'n put this &#^@&# t'gether! Now, if y'ain't g'nna &#^@*$ help, Cait's over'n th'second 'ouse on th'right, fixin' th'beds."
Yuffie yelled "YES! THANK YOU! BEDS!" and ran off toward the house. Vincent shook his head and followed. Nanaki stayed behind.
After a few minutes with minimal success, Cid looked up at the guardian of Cosmo Canyon, and said, "Th'hell y'want, Fluffy?" It was clear that he was frustrated. Even so, Nanaki spoke.
"Actually, I was just curious as to why you're trying to build a tent out here, when there're perfectly good beds available indoors, with the others. . ."
Barret spoke up, "Red, would you wanna sleep in some ol' dead guy's bed?" He wore a scowl.
Nanaki thought for a moment, then decided that he was glad he could just sleep on the ground quite comfortably. He nodded, then went to find a place for the night.
Night came on. Several hours and three-quarters of a pack of cigarettes later, Cid and Barret had torn the tent in half, and were each using their respective piece as a blanket, there in the sand.
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Okay, so this one wasn't as long as the Temple. So sue me (read: don't sue me). This is just depicting some of the events leading up to the "Big Moment" (-----foreshadowing). I was hard-pressed to put anything resembling an interesting story into it, since not much of anything happens at this point. In any case, the contact info, as usual, is:
my guestbook, which can be found at guns1inger.diaryland.com (yes, that's a one, not an L)
Ree-chan's guestbook, at ree-chan.diaryland.com
Emails - Ree-chan - chaos_vincent21@hotmail.com
- Master Telanis - deschain5@hotmail.com