CHAPTER X: Dawn Of Destruction (Lei's Story)
Note: OKAY I'M TIRED OF WRITING THIS NOTE! If you're reading this fanfic you know that chapters may skip to different POVs. THERE! ;)
Jack: Uh oh, I think I'm forgetting the story here, it's been so long since I wrote a chapter!
Barrett: WHAT!? You damn slacker, get your ass in gear! YA MORON!
Jack: 'Ya moron!?' …OH SHIT! O_O I'm getting the FF7 characters mixed up with Xenosaga characters! Argh!
Tifa: Quick Jack, start writing!
Jack: Oh Tifa, it's you! I could never… forget… you…
Tifa: o_O
Jack: Uhh, oh… ummmm… yeeeah…
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"CITAN!" I called into the darkness, while sticky, cold sweat poured down my face and onto my sheets. "CITAAAAAN!!!"
"You called?" a man answered, stepping into the doorway, a silhouette outlined by the moonlight. As he surveyed my shivering, pale body lying on the floor, he immediately took on a concerned tone. "What? What's wrong?"
"In the south… s-something…" I blurted, slapping my palm to my head and trying to concentrate despite the sheer terror pulsing through my body. Citan Uzuki, sheathing his samurai blade, kneeled beside me.
"I know… I've seen the vision many times. I'm not surprised you're seeing it now as well." Helping me up onto my feet, I sat down on the bed beside him, still clutching at my throbbing temple.
"What will you do?" I asked, turning to stare into the calm eyes of the only man I could ever trust.
"I must perform my duty."
It was only but six months ago, when I first met the Gazel, Citan Uzuki. He had saved me from Don Corneo, a rich and powerful, yet sickened man, who was also a male nymphomaniac of sorts. He had run a high-profile gentlemen's club called The Honey Bee's Inn, in which I was forced to 'employ'. That is where I also met Cloud for the first time, the man he has been searching for: the Genome to the Eclipse. Although now we are running short on time, for the Holy Solstice has all but begun.
"We will take the Bahia, she's the fastest transport we've got." He said solemnly, stroking back his hair gently and fastening it with a band. "We must get to Junon quickly!" Stumbling along and smoothing my robes, I too adjusted my hair and tied it into a knot. Sandals shuffling and grinding through the rocky beach outside our cabana, I wondered how he was able to glide so angel-like across the shore and to the boat. As he revved the motor, I sat myself down opposite him.
"When will you tell me the prophecy, Citan? I've loyally followed you these past months, and still you do not tell me the meaning of this journey! If the Eclipse has already happened, then why can't you tell me what the Eclipse is!?!" As the engine roared and I was pulled toward him with the initial jerk of the boat, he turned to face me. Staring into his eyes, I could tell he was searching mine.
"It's for your own good, Lei." he croaked after a period of silence, apparently finding it hard to get the words out.
"Citan…" I whispered, turning to watch the sea wash by. Sadness soon began welling up inside of me at the thought of him finding me untrustworthy.
Three hours later, I was still in a sour mood as we beached our transport under the shade of a rock-formation near the ocean. It was important that we did not announce our arrival to anyone. Shading my eyes from the sun, I stared down the coast to see the looming figure of a gigantic airship floating several hundred feet above the far-away coastal base. Seeing this, I shouted at Citan to take a look.
"Yes, that makes perfect sense. Many are assembling here, for the world war is beginning. It is a part of the prophecy."
"W-w… WAR!? Global warfare!?"
"Yes, ma péche. But do not worry, I am a Gazel. For now, we must infiltrate the city undetected. I am sure security is tight now and that they don't let just anyone into the base. However, I must intercept the Soliciter. He is on his way to Junon, as well."
"…Why do you need to stop a salesman??" I asked, intently curious. Citan laughed.
"No, no, Lei, the Soliciter is what will bring death and destruction to this planet. It is the embodiment of all the intents of every burning soul, the essence of evil, the ruler during the time of the Holy Solstice. It is our goal to stop the Soliciter, the offspring of the Eclipse, the result of joining the Genome with the Evil Spirit." He explained lightly, still chuckling despite the severe grimness of his message. I stared at him in terror, and then realized I had finally gotten my answer. Before I could inquire why it was now that he had decided to give me my desired response, he told me: "It was time that I told you, because we're here." Looking forward, I suddenly noticed that we were indeed standing at the base of one of the towering support structures that held the city base high above the sea level. If he hadn't told me this a second sooner, I would have run right into the concrete wall.
As he stood staring upwards as he had done for the last 20 minutes, I strolled along the polluted beach, kicking up trash and dead fish alike. Scanning the beach, I noticed something strange drifting towards the beach from about 20 feet offshore. It was a chunk of metal, with writing on it. There was also a body clinging to the wreckage.
It was nearing noon, as I cared for the slowly-dying sailor. He couldn't talk, but nodded and shook his head in appreciation. Citan wasn't helping me in aiding the injured man, but had abandoned his attempt to melt the concrete support structure with his mind (as I had joshed him about this earlier). However, he was standing on alert. As I wrapped his wounds in clean bandages from my kit, I unbuttoned his jacket to take a look at his chest. Examining his wounds, I came across something that shocked me to the point of petrification. Running my fingers along his chest, I noticed one so large and so deep that I instantly realized this had been no accident. Citan noticed it too, and we stared into each other's eyes. Suddenly he unsheathed his sword completely, and pointed it toward the horizon. As a cloud blotted out the sun, I looked back at the groaning man, who was making a gagging noise. Convulsing and grabbing at me, he suddenly went still and slid smoothly into the sand. Checking his vitals, it was obvious he was dead.
"This does not bode well." Gazel Citan Uzuki cried, as a wind from the north whipped across his face. Above, the sounds and noises of the city seemed to fade away. It was as if I was going deaf and blind at the same time, for everything was being swallowed up by silence and darkness. As I drowsily fell to the ground in slow motion, I saw a figure emerge from behind a sand dune on the far side of the support beams. Citan wasn't affected as I was, for he ran forward, his war cries fading quickly.
I would have thought I was dead, but I could clearly hear a haunting choir singing. Their words were foreign, but strangely familiar…
Estuans Interius Ira Vehementi.
A whisper:
'I am Cloudroth.'
Note: OKAY I'M TIRED OF WRITING THIS NOTE! If you're reading this fanfic you know that chapters may skip to different POVs. THERE! ;)
Jack: Uh oh, I think I'm forgetting the story here, it's been so long since I wrote a chapter!
Barrett: WHAT!? You damn slacker, get your ass in gear! YA MORON!
Jack: 'Ya moron!?' …OH SHIT! O_O I'm getting the FF7 characters mixed up with Xenosaga characters! Argh!
Tifa: Quick Jack, start writing!
Jack: Oh Tifa, it's you! I could never… forget… you…
Tifa: o_O
Jack: Uhh, oh… ummmm… yeeeah…
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
"CITAN!" I called into the darkness, while sticky, cold sweat poured down my face and onto my sheets. "CITAAAAAN!!!"
"You called?" a man answered, stepping into the doorway, a silhouette outlined by the moonlight. As he surveyed my shivering, pale body lying on the floor, he immediately took on a concerned tone. "What? What's wrong?"
"In the south… s-something…" I blurted, slapping my palm to my head and trying to concentrate despite the sheer terror pulsing through my body. Citan Uzuki, sheathing his samurai blade, kneeled beside me.
"I know… I've seen the vision many times. I'm not surprised you're seeing it now as well." Helping me up onto my feet, I sat down on the bed beside him, still clutching at my throbbing temple.
"What will you do?" I asked, turning to stare into the calm eyes of the only man I could ever trust.
"I must perform my duty."
It was only but six months ago, when I first met the Gazel, Citan Uzuki. He had saved me from Don Corneo, a rich and powerful, yet sickened man, who was also a male nymphomaniac of sorts. He had run a high-profile gentlemen's club called The Honey Bee's Inn, in which I was forced to 'employ'. That is where I also met Cloud for the first time, the man he has been searching for: the Genome to the Eclipse. Although now we are running short on time, for the Holy Solstice has all but begun.
"We will take the Bahia, she's the fastest transport we've got." He said solemnly, stroking back his hair gently and fastening it with a band. "We must get to Junon quickly!" Stumbling along and smoothing my robes, I too adjusted my hair and tied it into a knot. Sandals shuffling and grinding through the rocky beach outside our cabana, I wondered how he was able to glide so angel-like across the shore and to the boat. As he revved the motor, I sat myself down opposite him.
"When will you tell me the prophecy, Citan? I've loyally followed you these past months, and still you do not tell me the meaning of this journey! If the Eclipse has already happened, then why can't you tell me what the Eclipse is!?!" As the engine roared and I was pulled toward him with the initial jerk of the boat, he turned to face me. Staring into his eyes, I could tell he was searching mine.
"It's for your own good, Lei." he croaked after a period of silence, apparently finding it hard to get the words out.
"Citan…" I whispered, turning to watch the sea wash by. Sadness soon began welling up inside of me at the thought of him finding me untrustworthy.
Three hours later, I was still in a sour mood as we beached our transport under the shade of a rock-formation near the ocean. It was important that we did not announce our arrival to anyone. Shading my eyes from the sun, I stared down the coast to see the looming figure of a gigantic airship floating several hundred feet above the far-away coastal base. Seeing this, I shouted at Citan to take a look.
"Yes, that makes perfect sense. Many are assembling here, for the world war is beginning. It is a part of the prophecy."
"W-w… WAR!? Global warfare!?"
"Yes, ma péche. But do not worry, I am a Gazel. For now, we must infiltrate the city undetected. I am sure security is tight now and that they don't let just anyone into the base. However, I must intercept the Soliciter. He is on his way to Junon, as well."
"…Why do you need to stop a salesman??" I asked, intently curious. Citan laughed.
"No, no, Lei, the Soliciter is what will bring death and destruction to this planet. It is the embodiment of all the intents of every burning soul, the essence of evil, the ruler during the time of the Holy Solstice. It is our goal to stop the Soliciter, the offspring of the Eclipse, the result of joining the Genome with the Evil Spirit." He explained lightly, still chuckling despite the severe grimness of his message. I stared at him in terror, and then realized I had finally gotten my answer. Before I could inquire why it was now that he had decided to give me my desired response, he told me: "It was time that I told you, because we're here." Looking forward, I suddenly noticed that we were indeed standing at the base of one of the towering support structures that held the city base high above the sea level. If he hadn't told me this a second sooner, I would have run right into the concrete wall.
As he stood staring upwards as he had done for the last 20 minutes, I strolled along the polluted beach, kicking up trash and dead fish alike. Scanning the beach, I noticed something strange drifting towards the beach from about 20 feet offshore. It was a chunk of metal, with writing on it. There was also a body clinging to the wreckage.
It was nearing noon, as I cared for the slowly-dying sailor. He couldn't talk, but nodded and shook his head in appreciation. Citan wasn't helping me in aiding the injured man, but had abandoned his attempt to melt the concrete support structure with his mind (as I had joshed him about this earlier). However, he was standing on alert. As I wrapped his wounds in clean bandages from my kit, I unbuttoned his jacket to take a look at his chest. Examining his wounds, I came across something that shocked me to the point of petrification. Running my fingers along his chest, I noticed one so large and so deep that I instantly realized this had been no accident. Citan noticed it too, and we stared into each other's eyes. Suddenly he unsheathed his sword completely, and pointed it toward the horizon. As a cloud blotted out the sun, I looked back at the groaning man, who was making a gagging noise. Convulsing and grabbing at me, he suddenly went still and slid smoothly into the sand. Checking his vitals, it was obvious he was dead.
"This does not bode well." Gazel Citan Uzuki cried, as a wind from the north whipped across his face. Above, the sounds and noises of the city seemed to fade away. It was as if I was going deaf and blind at the same time, for everything was being swallowed up by silence and darkness. As I drowsily fell to the ground in slow motion, I saw a figure emerge from behind a sand dune on the far side of the support beams. Citan wasn't affected as I was, for he ran forward, his war cries fading quickly.
I would have thought I was dead, but I could clearly hear a haunting choir singing. Their words were foreign, but strangely familiar…
Estuans Interius Ira Vehementi.
A whisper:
'I am Cloudroth.'