"We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time
And yet I fight
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home"
-"Nutshell", Alice In Chains
***********************************************************************
It was like old times. The former AVALANCHE members stood respectfully around the foreign machine, a mix of emotions in the air. Most were excited to be all together in one room with each other again. It had been near six months since they had parted, going their separate ways. There was also uneasiness floating around them too, as none has seen Vincent sound more concerned before. Red remembered faintly of Vincent phoning him, telling him to come quick... it was urgent. And indeed he now thought it was. Vincent had just finished explaining what happened to the group, and now, Red felt a mix of intrigue and fear fill his chest.
Vincent resided in the near corner, resting against a wall as he watched his old group converse about their new findings. He noticed that Barret seemed quieter than usual, and instead of voicing his opinions, he kept them to himself, as he struggled to understand the discussion. Yuffie's eyes widened at the concept of a time machine, as Red talked in a quiet serious tone. Reeve, deciding to discard his creation Cait Sith now that there was no danger from Shin-ra, looked a little apprehensive from joining the group in the flesh, but it seemed the topic had piqued his interest enough for him the cast aside his worries. It did not surprise him to see Cid quietly inhaling his bitter tobacco, while Tifa kept a concerned eye on Cloud. It slightly worried him to see Cloud pacing, seeming quite agitated... yet with an excited expression on his face all the while. Vincent decided to stop observing his former comrades, as he focused back to their conversation.
"But imagine what we could do with such a machine!" Cloud exclaimed excitedly, "Every wrong that was ever committed against us, could be wiped out, just like that!"
Red stared at Cloud as if he had said something greatly offensive. "Do you even realize what you are saying? You must heed my words.. All of you. Vincent was right to gather us here, to discuss these dangers. Time... it is not a toy to be played with."
"I agree with Red." Vincent finally said from the darkness, "Indeed, we all have incidents from our pasts which we would like to undo... some more painful than others... but we must accept our fates."
"But it has so much potential... so many lives have been wasted! Surely no harm can come from making the future better!" Cloud persisted his argument.
Red sighed, "Let me explain this to you Cloud, to all of you, my friends. Grandfather was often fascinated with time. He would tell me that so much could be prevented, if only we had learned of what would happen if we performed a certain action. If one would go back into the past, and change a certain action, it would cause, what is called, a "ripple effect"."
"What do ya mean?" Barret asked, confused.
"Think of the ocean. When you throw a rock into it, you cause a force of energy, a wave begins, and becomes bigger and bigger as it moves away from the point of impact. Small ripples are the start of tidal waves, my friends. Changing the past, no matter how insignificant it may seem, can alter the future in ways you cannot even imagine." Red finished ominously.
The group became hushed as they took in the foreboding information. The situation seemed to take on a new reality, as each's dreams of changing their past died on their lips. After a minute or so of quiet reflection, Reeve softly spoke up. "I knew that Hojo was capable of many things... but this... I haven't ever heard of this project. What do you think he was planning to do with it?"
"That lunatic was a F#$^in' physco. Im sure you can use your imagination." Cid muttered to the group, so exposed to his language, it would seem abnormal for him to utter a sentence without a profanity.
"I'm sure you know Shin-ra better than any of us, so you should know by now that there were a lot of projects going on that were very hush-hush," Tifa replied to Reeve's question.
"I still believe that there is some good to be brought out by this machine though!" Cloud picked up his argument from seconds ago.
"Listen to the wiser dummy!" Yuffie snapped impatiently.
"What do you know about it?! Can't you all see what we could do with this?! We could all be so happy in the end! Just imagine, Vincent, you can agree with me! You could have Lucretia back!! Think about it!" Cloud ranted.
Vincent shuddered inward at the inappropriate comment. Such wounds were not so easily closed.
"Cloud..." Tifa said with a warning in her tone.
"What?! I can't believe you people! To just let a wonder go to waste! Just look at your--" Cloud's tyrant was cut off.
"Cloud! Get a hold of yourself! Think about what I just said. You need to understand what can happen if we DID use the machine," Red stated calmly, yet firmly, "You could wipe out the whole world with your childish wishes!"
Cloud settled down like a scolded child. Even though the passion was not lost in his eyes, he did not speak another word the rest of the conversation. Red sighed with annoyance apparent in his voice, "Whatever the case, we have to make a decision on what to do with this machine."
"Destroy it." Vincent stated in a cold voice.
All eyes were on Vincent in shock. "Do you really think that's a good idea? What if it screws up time and kills everyone?" Yuffie asked what most were thinking.
"If we leave it, then it will do us more harm than good." Vincent elaborated.
"How so?" Tifa wondered.
Vincent sighed, "It gives me a strange feeling... it was like it called out to me to be found.... It reeks of Hojo's essence."
"Anythin' to do wit dat fool can't be good." Barret muttered through clenched teeth.
"He's right," Reeve admitted, "It was almost as if everything he touched fell in his path of destruction."
"You all have stated good points... But I don't think we should destroy it... what if Yuffie was right?" Cloud added his two cents.
Red stared at his companions looking back at him, yearning for his answer. It seemed as if he had been appointed the leader for this particular quest. He took a breath to try and calm the insistent chattering of his brain in action. Finally, he stated, "It seems as if we won't be able to reach a decision tonight. Perhaps we should sleep on it, and try to figure out the best decision."
"Seems like a good idea to me. All this shit is giving me a f$%^ing headache." Cid announced.
"Yeah... that looks to be the best decision for tonight anyway," Tifa agreed.
There was a jumble of nods, and consenting expressions, as the solution was presented to the group. "All right, so it is settled. We will all meet back here at sunrise to further discuss this situation." Red told them.
As the group desponded to their respectful sleeping quarters, the time machine stared back at them ominously. Its blinking lights and unreadable consequences left all their minds racing as to what would happen in the morning. Their future was uncertain, that was for sure, but none knew how literally that was true.
We face the path of time
And yet I fight
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home"
-"Nutshell", Alice In Chains
***********************************************************************
It was like old times. The former AVALANCHE members stood respectfully around the foreign machine, a mix of emotions in the air. Most were excited to be all together in one room with each other again. It had been near six months since they had parted, going their separate ways. There was also uneasiness floating around them too, as none has seen Vincent sound more concerned before. Red remembered faintly of Vincent phoning him, telling him to come quick... it was urgent. And indeed he now thought it was. Vincent had just finished explaining what happened to the group, and now, Red felt a mix of intrigue and fear fill his chest.
Vincent resided in the near corner, resting against a wall as he watched his old group converse about their new findings. He noticed that Barret seemed quieter than usual, and instead of voicing his opinions, he kept them to himself, as he struggled to understand the discussion. Yuffie's eyes widened at the concept of a time machine, as Red talked in a quiet serious tone. Reeve, deciding to discard his creation Cait Sith now that there was no danger from Shin-ra, looked a little apprehensive from joining the group in the flesh, but it seemed the topic had piqued his interest enough for him the cast aside his worries. It did not surprise him to see Cid quietly inhaling his bitter tobacco, while Tifa kept a concerned eye on Cloud. It slightly worried him to see Cloud pacing, seeming quite agitated... yet with an excited expression on his face all the while. Vincent decided to stop observing his former comrades, as he focused back to their conversation.
"But imagine what we could do with such a machine!" Cloud exclaimed excitedly, "Every wrong that was ever committed against us, could be wiped out, just like that!"
Red stared at Cloud as if he had said something greatly offensive. "Do you even realize what you are saying? You must heed my words.. All of you. Vincent was right to gather us here, to discuss these dangers. Time... it is not a toy to be played with."
"I agree with Red." Vincent finally said from the darkness, "Indeed, we all have incidents from our pasts which we would like to undo... some more painful than others... but we must accept our fates."
"But it has so much potential... so many lives have been wasted! Surely no harm can come from making the future better!" Cloud persisted his argument.
Red sighed, "Let me explain this to you Cloud, to all of you, my friends. Grandfather was often fascinated with time. He would tell me that so much could be prevented, if only we had learned of what would happen if we performed a certain action. If one would go back into the past, and change a certain action, it would cause, what is called, a "ripple effect"."
"What do ya mean?" Barret asked, confused.
"Think of the ocean. When you throw a rock into it, you cause a force of energy, a wave begins, and becomes bigger and bigger as it moves away from the point of impact. Small ripples are the start of tidal waves, my friends. Changing the past, no matter how insignificant it may seem, can alter the future in ways you cannot even imagine." Red finished ominously.
The group became hushed as they took in the foreboding information. The situation seemed to take on a new reality, as each's dreams of changing their past died on their lips. After a minute or so of quiet reflection, Reeve softly spoke up. "I knew that Hojo was capable of many things... but this... I haven't ever heard of this project. What do you think he was planning to do with it?"
"That lunatic was a F#$^in' physco. Im sure you can use your imagination." Cid muttered to the group, so exposed to his language, it would seem abnormal for him to utter a sentence without a profanity.
"I'm sure you know Shin-ra better than any of us, so you should know by now that there were a lot of projects going on that were very hush-hush," Tifa replied to Reeve's question.
"I still believe that there is some good to be brought out by this machine though!" Cloud picked up his argument from seconds ago.
"Listen to the wiser dummy!" Yuffie snapped impatiently.
"What do you know about it?! Can't you all see what we could do with this?! We could all be so happy in the end! Just imagine, Vincent, you can agree with me! You could have Lucretia back!! Think about it!" Cloud ranted.
Vincent shuddered inward at the inappropriate comment. Such wounds were not so easily closed.
"Cloud..." Tifa said with a warning in her tone.
"What?! I can't believe you people! To just let a wonder go to waste! Just look at your--" Cloud's tyrant was cut off.
"Cloud! Get a hold of yourself! Think about what I just said. You need to understand what can happen if we DID use the machine," Red stated calmly, yet firmly, "You could wipe out the whole world with your childish wishes!"
Cloud settled down like a scolded child. Even though the passion was not lost in his eyes, he did not speak another word the rest of the conversation. Red sighed with annoyance apparent in his voice, "Whatever the case, we have to make a decision on what to do with this machine."
"Destroy it." Vincent stated in a cold voice.
All eyes were on Vincent in shock. "Do you really think that's a good idea? What if it screws up time and kills everyone?" Yuffie asked what most were thinking.
"If we leave it, then it will do us more harm than good." Vincent elaborated.
"How so?" Tifa wondered.
Vincent sighed, "It gives me a strange feeling... it was like it called out to me to be found.... It reeks of Hojo's essence."
"Anythin' to do wit dat fool can't be good." Barret muttered through clenched teeth.
"He's right," Reeve admitted, "It was almost as if everything he touched fell in his path of destruction."
"You all have stated good points... But I don't think we should destroy it... what if Yuffie was right?" Cloud added his two cents.
Red stared at his companions looking back at him, yearning for his answer. It seemed as if he had been appointed the leader for this particular quest. He took a breath to try and calm the insistent chattering of his brain in action. Finally, he stated, "It seems as if we won't be able to reach a decision tonight. Perhaps we should sleep on it, and try to figure out the best decision."
"Seems like a good idea to me. All this shit is giving me a f$%^ing headache." Cid announced.
"Yeah... that looks to be the best decision for tonight anyway," Tifa agreed.
There was a jumble of nods, and consenting expressions, as the solution was presented to the group. "All right, so it is settled. We will all meet back here at sunrise to further discuss this situation." Red told them.
As the group desponded to their respectful sleeping quarters, the time machine stared back at them ominously. Its blinking lights and unreadable consequences left all their minds racing as to what would happen in the morning. Their future was uncertain, that was for sure, but none knew how literally that was true.