Chapter 22
What Lays in Wait
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy; all OC's are mine. The names Mifune came from Noacat, and Juskuro came from Aloria.though I don't think you'll see him too much in this chapter considering he's suffering from a slight case of dead.
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A/N: Well, something happens that greatly ticks someone off in this chapter and it could possibly be called funny. I don't know, so you tell me.
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What Lays in Wait:
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"Hey Daitona, have you heard anything about this General Lazarus of Commander Mifune?" Sephiroth asked after a long day of marching.
Daitona sighed and dropped all her stuff where she was planning on sleeping. "Not very much, what have you heard?" She pulled her sleeping bag free then spread it across a soft patch of grass.
"Well.for starters, Commander Mifune has caused Shinra a great deal of trouble. He has had the same troop for some time and has completely annihilated twenty odd friendly troops; from top rank SOLDIER's to young cadets. He has never been defeated and no one has lived to tell the tail.so we don't even know what he looks like," Sephiroth explained and sat down next to Daitona on her sleeping bag.
"His luck is about to run out then, isn't it? People tend to become careless when they have a reputation like that," Daitona pointed out.
"Maybe," Sephiroth hummed. "Now, about General Lazarus. I've heard he is one of the kinds who stands back and lets his men do his bidding, but when forced into battle he is a fierce fighter. His troop.or troops are made up of some of the top Wutain soldiers. Not one of Shinra's forces has attacked Lazarus.until now."
"Maybe we should take the hint? If no one else thought they could take this fort, why should we? It's like we were sent here to do all the dirty work and got stuck with a babysitter and babysitting," Daitona grumbled and laid back on her sleeping bag.
Sephiroth looked down at her and frowned. "What was THAT suppose to mean?"
Daitona crossed her arms over her chest. "Why would the second highest military officer get suck in a grouping with us? He's babysitting to make sure we don't do anything stupid, that's what. Then we have all these cadets." she sighed. "Half of them couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, much less shoot a moving human target. There are a few exceptions to that though. You said it yourself; Zack Smith has a lot of potential. There are a few others but the rest would be lucky to make it into the military in regular circumstances."
"Anyways, it'll take us no less that two weeks to get there at the pace we're going now. Colonel Zante told us there is no hurry, so I don't think we should push the soldiers or ourselves very much."
"Daitona narrowed her eyes then looked at him. "Becoming lazy now are we?"
"No, just tired," he replied softly and lay back next to her.
Daitona turned her head to face him, then propped herself up on her elbow so that she could look down at him. "What's bothering you?" she questioned knowing this wasn't like him. ".you don't like this either, do you?"
Sephiroth sighed heavily then looked her in the eyes. "I've got that bad feeling, Daitona. I always means something.but it's strange this time.It's just nagging at the back of my head telling me there is something wrong.but."
"But what? I feel danger, though there shouldn't be any so soon. I thought the original plan was for us to head for Wutai, but there having us run in the complete opposite direction." Daitona frowned and sat back up. "They're running us all over the place. Fist they marched us half way across the content.to the north, and now we're backtracking in a since. We went in a straight line from the cost to the interior, and now we'll make a straight line down to the far south."
"Someone's not thinking clearly these days," Sephiroth snorted. "Why is Commander Zante being stationed at that fort anyways? Wouldn't they be better off in the field fighting?"
"But then again, who are we to question our orders?"
Sephiroth snorted at her bitterness. "We are but tools, and you know it. Keep them and use them as you see fit, isn't that how it is? Speak to me Daitona. What should we do.and what lays ahead of us that is making me feel this way?"
"I know not how you feel so I couldn't tell you about that," Daitona said softly. "What lies ahead of is death and destruction.and we'll be in the middle of it cutting down ever thing in our path. We are on orders to kill, leave no one alive. We will kill innocent people...civilian's.men, women, kids, babies, and animals all alike. At least that is what President Shinra wishes of us."
"Why such brutality?" a near by cadet asked. A few of the cadets and SOLDIER's had gathered around to listen to what Daitona had to say.
"To send a message to the entire world." Daitona looked around as more joined the ever-growing group. "We will make people think twice before rebelling against Shinra. They'll fear what Shinra might send upon them; they will fear us, they'll fear SOLDIER. They'll respect us, no one will dare to step in our paths or try to stop us. They'll see us as protectors; we'll protect their homesteads from crime and attacks. We'll be all that and so much more."
Daitona fell silent and looked around once more. Everyone who was listening seemed fairly interested in what she was saying, so she went on. "And cadet.can this really be called 'brutality'? War is deaths hand. War.death.destruction.doesn't it all bring around new life? Where would we be now if there was never war and murder? I'll tell you, we'd be living how ancient human ancestors lived; we'd live how the ancient Creta lived."
Sephiroth was sitting up now and smiled faintly. Daitona knew so much more than anyone would give her credit for. 'She could probably tell anyone of these men their deepest, darkest secret.just because of how they act and speak. I guess it doesn't help that she can read minds at will. So Daitona, what's next, what lays in wait for us?'
Daitona looked at Sephiroth and gave him a worried look. "I don't know.I truly don't know. You're feeling of danger is mutual though." Daitona growled as a sudden wave of dread and warning hit her. "There's danger."
Sephiroth frowned. "Daitona.where?"
Daitona looked him in the eyes once more. "All around us.all around our camp.everywhere. If we are not careful.we'll be hurt from within.the danger is one.and ally perhaps."
"There's a traitor in our camp?" Sephiroth breathed.
"Not a traitor," Daitona stated coolly; the one's listening were a little on edge from the sudden change. "He was never with OUR troops to start with."
"An imposter?" a certain cadet asked warily.
Daitona narrowed her eyes then looked at Sephiroth. 'You can read minds too, right?' Sephiroth gave her a deliberate nod. 'If he's suppose to be cadet.I've never seen him before.'
Sephiroth flashed the 'cadet' an icy stare. "Stand up, 'cadet'."
Daitona stare at the 'cadet' intently. There was something strangely familiar about him but she couldn't seem to put her finger on it.
"You're Wutain!" one of the more experienced SOLDIERs snarled.
'Wutain? Black hair.dark eyes.I was fighting one who got away after Sephiroth casted Dragon's Whisper. He had hurt my arm.and.' "YOU!!!" Daitona yelled in shear outrage.
The 'cadet' smirked. "So you remember me Commander Daitona. I would have been hurt if you hadn't."
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?!"
"I want to join your troops. If anyone here is half as good as you the Wutain's don't stand a chance. Why should I voluntarily be on the pointy end of your sword?"
"You already are," Sephiroth growled. "Now who are you, and why have you deceived our troops?"
"My name is Tseng, I am the son of the general YOU killed. I had nowhere else to go since you left an army at the fort. I have no desire to be killed by you people; I have sense enough to know who's going to win this war."
"And you think you can just barge in here and fight along with us?" Sephiroth asked ignorantly. "And just WHY should WE trust the likes of YOU?"
Tseng frowned in thought. What COULD he tell them to make them believe him? "I could help you!"
Daitona narrowed her eyes. Trust wasn't her problem; she just didn't like him.
"How?" Sephiroth asked.
"I.I could help you defeat General Lazarus," Tseng declared.
"What of Commander Mifune?"
Tseng smiled. "Him joining up with the General was just a ploy to distract Shinra forces. They never thought a troop would be sent after them. Right now the fort is not at its best because many of the soldiers have gone home thinking no one would dare to attack Fort Natic."
Sephiroth stare at the younger boy long and hard then finally sighed with a nod of his head. "Daitona."
Daitona didn't respond and glared death at Tseng. As much as she hated letting him come along she has to admit that what he knew could be very useful. She growled, "fine! You can come with us on one condition.you don't come within ten yards of me or I'll castrate you on the spot! Got that?!"
Sephiroth held back a laugh as Daitona got up and stormed away, then he turned his attention back to Tseng and it hit him. "You.you're the one who fought her, aren't you?" The look on Tseng's face told all. "You really shouldn't have done that, and you better take her warning.wouldn't want to loose anything, but I guess that's not my problem." Sephiroth sighed, "No, my problem is getting her to calm down long enough to get our plan put together."
He shook his head and stood up. "You, SOLDIER. Take our 'guest' and show him our 'hospitality'. I am not to be disturbed unless someone wants to get hurt."
Sephiroth didn't wait for a reply and went the way Daitona had gone.
****
"The nerve of the man.how dare he.!" Daitona fumed as she threw rocks angrily into a stream.
"Yes some nerve."
Daitona narrowed her eyes, but didn't look back; she already knew who it was.
"Hmm, you're not mad at me are you?" Sephiroth asked and got no reply. "What did I do? It's not like I'M the one who kissed you in the middle of battle. If he does anything suspicious I'll let you deal with him. I have no grudge with him."
"If it had been YOU fighting it would have not caught me so totally off guard and I would have killed you," Daitona said and finally turned to him.
"You couldn't kill me," Sephiroth teased.
"You wanna bet?!" Daitona challenged.
"Whoa," Sephiroth said putting his hands up. "I didn't mean anything by that, I was only kidding. Maybe you ought to jump in this stream and cool off."
"You first."
Sephiroth shrugged. "Fine by my me."
He reached up and carefully unbuckled the metallic shoulder armor. He set them on the ground then pulled the straps free that crossed his chest letting the cape coat fall to the grassy shore. That done, he took off the remaining straps of the harness that held Masamune to his back. Finally, his boots and socks came off and he walked knee deep into the stream.
"Come on, it's no too cold," Sephiroth said turning back to Daitona, she looked amused.
"And what am I suppose to wear in the water? I can't just take my cloths off like you." Daitona narrowed her eyes at Sephiroth. "You didn't.how could you even think that?!"
Sephiroth laughed and went into deeper water, it came up to his shoulders at the deepest spot. "One can always hope."
"YOU, all man are alike, I swear! And here I thought YOU of all people, was different."
"I am different, I just wanted you to take a swim. There was no harm in that. You have dry cloths back at camp, and I know you have your exercise shirt under that. So come on."
Daitona sighed then nodded. "Ok, you win this time."
****
-End Chapter 22-
A/N: This chapter took my a little longer for a number of reasons, wasn't home, was reading.and I happened to have a good idea for the next chapter so it is partly wrote now. Shouldn't take me too long to finish.
What Lays in Wait
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy; all OC's are mine. The names Mifune came from Noacat, and Juskuro came from Aloria.though I don't think you'll see him too much in this chapter considering he's suffering from a slight case of dead.
-
A/N: Well, something happens that greatly ticks someone off in this chapter and it could possibly be called funny. I don't know, so you tell me.
-
-
What Lays in Wait:
-
"Hey Daitona, have you heard anything about this General Lazarus of Commander Mifune?" Sephiroth asked after a long day of marching.
Daitona sighed and dropped all her stuff where she was planning on sleeping. "Not very much, what have you heard?" She pulled her sleeping bag free then spread it across a soft patch of grass.
"Well.for starters, Commander Mifune has caused Shinra a great deal of trouble. He has had the same troop for some time and has completely annihilated twenty odd friendly troops; from top rank SOLDIER's to young cadets. He has never been defeated and no one has lived to tell the tail.so we don't even know what he looks like," Sephiroth explained and sat down next to Daitona on her sleeping bag.
"His luck is about to run out then, isn't it? People tend to become careless when they have a reputation like that," Daitona pointed out.
"Maybe," Sephiroth hummed. "Now, about General Lazarus. I've heard he is one of the kinds who stands back and lets his men do his bidding, but when forced into battle he is a fierce fighter. His troop.or troops are made up of some of the top Wutain soldiers. Not one of Shinra's forces has attacked Lazarus.until now."
"Maybe we should take the hint? If no one else thought they could take this fort, why should we? It's like we were sent here to do all the dirty work and got stuck with a babysitter and babysitting," Daitona grumbled and laid back on her sleeping bag.
Sephiroth looked down at her and frowned. "What was THAT suppose to mean?"
Daitona crossed her arms over her chest. "Why would the second highest military officer get suck in a grouping with us? He's babysitting to make sure we don't do anything stupid, that's what. Then we have all these cadets." she sighed. "Half of them couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, much less shoot a moving human target. There are a few exceptions to that though. You said it yourself; Zack Smith has a lot of potential. There are a few others but the rest would be lucky to make it into the military in regular circumstances."
"Anyways, it'll take us no less that two weeks to get there at the pace we're going now. Colonel Zante told us there is no hurry, so I don't think we should push the soldiers or ourselves very much."
"Daitona narrowed her eyes then looked at him. "Becoming lazy now are we?"
"No, just tired," he replied softly and lay back next to her.
Daitona turned her head to face him, then propped herself up on her elbow so that she could look down at him. "What's bothering you?" she questioned knowing this wasn't like him. ".you don't like this either, do you?"
Sephiroth sighed heavily then looked her in the eyes. "I've got that bad feeling, Daitona. I always means something.but it's strange this time.It's just nagging at the back of my head telling me there is something wrong.but."
"But what? I feel danger, though there shouldn't be any so soon. I thought the original plan was for us to head for Wutai, but there having us run in the complete opposite direction." Daitona frowned and sat back up. "They're running us all over the place. Fist they marched us half way across the content.to the north, and now we're backtracking in a since. We went in a straight line from the cost to the interior, and now we'll make a straight line down to the far south."
"Someone's not thinking clearly these days," Sephiroth snorted. "Why is Commander Zante being stationed at that fort anyways? Wouldn't they be better off in the field fighting?"
"But then again, who are we to question our orders?"
Sephiroth snorted at her bitterness. "We are but tools, and you know it. Keep them and use them as you see fit, isn't that how it is? Speak to me Daitona. What should we do.and what lays ahead of us that is making me feel this way?"
"I know not how you feel so I couldn't tell you about that," Daitona said softly. "What lies ahead of is death and destruction.and we'll be in the middle of it cutting down ever thing in our path. We are on orders to kill, leave no one alive. We will kill innocent people...civilian's.men, women, kids, babies, and animals all alike. At least that is what President Shinra wishes of us."
"Why such brutality?" a near by cadet asked. A few of the cadets and SOLDIER's had gathered around to listen to what Daitona had to say.
"To send a message to the entire world." Daitona looked around as more joined the ever-growing group. "We will make people think twice before rebelling against Shinra. They'll fear what Shinra might send upon them; they will fear us, they'll fear SOLDIER. They'll respect us, no one will dare to step in our paths or try to stop us. They'll see us as protectors; we'll protect their homesteads from crime and attacks. We'll be all that and so much more."
Daitona fell silent and looked around once more. Everyone who was listening seemed fairly interested in what she was saying, so she went on. "And cadet.can this really be called 'brutality'? War is deaths hand. War.death.destruction.doesn't it all bring around new life? Where would we be now if there was never war and murder? I'll tell you, we'd be living how ancient human ancestors lived; we'd live how the ancient Creta lived."
Sephiroth was sitting up now and smiled faintly. Daitona knew so much more than anyone would give her credit for. 'She could probably tell anyone of these men their deepest, darkest secret.just because of how they act and speak. I guess it doesn't help that she can read minds at will. So Daitona, what's next, what lays in wait for us?'
Daitona looked at Sephiroth and gave him a worried look. "I don't know.I truly don't know. You're feeling of danger is mutual though." Daitona growled as a sudden wave of dread and warning hit her. "There's danger."
Sephiroth frowned. "Daitona.where?"
Daitona looked him in the eyes once more. "All around us.all around our camp.everywhere. If we are not careful.we'll be hurt from within.the danger is one.and ally perhaps."
"There's a traitor in our camp?" Sephiroth breathed.
"Not a traitor," Daitona stated coolly; the one's listening were a little on edge from the sudden change. "He was never with OUR troops to start with."
"An imposter?" a certain cadet asked warily.
Daitona narrowed her eyes then looked at Sephiroth. 'You can read minds too, right?' Sephiroth gave her a deliberate nod. 'If he's suppose to be cadet.I've never seen him before.'
Sephiroth flashed the 'cadet' an icy stare. "Stand up, 'cadet'."
Daitona stare at the 'cadet' intently. There was something strangely familiar about him but she couldn't seem to put her finger on it.
"You're Wutain!" one of the more experienced SOLDIERs snarled.
'Wutain? Black hair.dark eyes.I was fighting one who got away after Sephiroth casted Dragon's Whisper. He had hurt my arm.and.' "YOU!!!" Daitona yelled in shear outrage.
The 'cadet' smirked. "So you remember me Commander Daitona. I would have been hurt if you hadn't."
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!?!"
"I want to join your troops. If anyone here is half as good as you the Wutain's don't stand a chance. Why should I voluntarily be on the pointy end of your sword?"
"You already are," Sephiroth growled. "Now who are you, and why have you deceived our troops?"
"My name is Tseng, I am the son of the general YOU killed. I had nowhere else to go since you left an army at the fort. I have no desire to be killed by you people; I have sense enough to know who's going to win this war."
"And you think you can just barge in here and fight along with us?" Sephiroth asked ignorantly. "And just WHY should WE trust the likes of YOU?"
Tseng frowned in thought. What COULD he tell them to make them believe him? "I could help you!"
Daitona narrowed her eyes. Trust wasn't her problem; she just didn't like him.
"How?" Sephiroth asked.
"I.I could help you defeat General Lazarus," Tseng declared.
"What of Commander Mifune?"
Tseng smiled. "Him joining up with the General was just a ploy to distract Shinra forces. They never thought a troop would be sent after them. Right now the fort is not at its best because many of the soldiers have gone home thinking no one would dare to attack Fort Natic."
Sephiroth stare at the younger boy long and hard then finally sighed with a nod of his head. "Daitona."
Daitona didn't respond and glared death at Tseng. As much as she hated letting him come along she has to admit that what he knew could be very useful. She growled, "fine! You can come with us on one condition.you don't come within ten yards of me or I'll castrate you on the spot! Got that?!"
Sephiroth held back a laugh as Daitona got up and stormed away, then he turned his attention back to Tseng and it hit him. "You.you're the one who fought her, aren't you?" The look on Tseng's face told all. "You really shouldn't have done that, and you better take her warning.wouldn't want to loose anything, but I guess that's not my problem." Sephiroth sighed, "No, my problem is getting her to calm down long enough to get our plan put together."
He shook his head and stood up. "You, SOLDIER. Take our 'guest' and show him our 'hospitality'. I am not to be disturbed unless someone wants to get hurt."
Sephiroth didn't wait for a reply and went the way Daitona had gone.
****
"The nerve of the man.how dare he.!" Daitona fumed as she threw rocks angrily into a stream.
"Yes some nerve."
Daitona narrowed her eyes, but didn't look back; she already knew who it was.
"Hmm, you're not mad at me are you?" Sephiroth asked and got no reply. "What did I do? It's not like I'M the one who kissed you in the middle of battle. If he does anything suspicious I'll let you deal with him. I have no grudge with him."
"If it had been YOU fighting it would have not caught me so totally off guard and I would have killed you," Daitona said and finally turned to him.
"You couldn't kill me," Sephiroth teased.
"You wanna bet?!" Daitona challenged.
"Whoa," Sephiroth said putting his hands up. "I didn't mean anything by that, I was only kidding. Maybe you ought to jump in this stream and cool off."
"You first."
Sephiroth shrugged. "Fine by my me."
He reached up and carefully unbuckled the metallic shoulder armor. He set them on the ground then pulled the straps free that crossed his chest letting the cape coat fall to the grassy shore. That done, he took off the remaining straps of the harness that held Masamune to his back. Finally, his boots and socks came off and he walked knee deep into the stream.
"Come on, it's no too cold," Sephiroth said turning back to Daitona, she looked amused.
"And what am I suppose to wear in the water? I can't just take my cloths off like you." Daitona narrowed her eyes at Sephiroth. "You didn't.how could you even think that?!"
Sephiroth laughed and went into deeper water, it came up to his shoulders at the deepest spot. "One can always hope."
"YOU, all man are alike, I swear! And here I thought YOU of all people, was different."
"I am different, I just wanted you to take a swim. There was no harm in that. You have dry cloths back at camp, and I know you have your exercise shirt under that. So come on."
Daitona sighed then nodded. "Ok, you win this time."
****
-End Chapter 22-
A/N: This chapter took my a little longer for a number of reasons, wasn't home, was reading.and I happened to have a good idea for the next chapter so it is partly wrote now. Shouldn't take me too long to finish.