Howdy y'all! Sorry I haven't updated sooner but I've just been swamped with school work ya know? But never fear! I only have twenty days left and after that I'm FREE! Unless I manage to get a job =0P oh wait I did... but only for Saturday. Alrighty then, I had something to say here, now what was it.. Thinking been too long can't remember. If I remember I'll tell y'all later. Well I've noticed my updates have been a little shorter then usual so I'll try and get back on track, if not this one then definitely the next. Enough of this jabber already, I wanna start typing.
Disclaimer- Curse who's souls have forced me to tell you that don't own Final Fantasy 7 for the 36th time now. I will hire a professional hunter and have them killed! MWAHAHAHA Dialing Hikari- Die's number....Waiting Pick up dammit!
Chapter 36- Hope For Vincent, Maybe
After the meteor incident two years ago, the Mako Reactor in Junon was abandoned. People found the reactor unsafe with all the creatures lurking around in it and there was no use to keep maintenance for the reactor after Reeve took over Shin-Ra corps. He made all mako reactor illegal. The reactor was cut off and it's power was cut, leaving the whole place in darkness.
Being under the ocean and not having maintenance for such a long time, the reactor became flooded in some areas. The rusted walls constantly creak under the water pressure. In a few more years the reactor will collapse and be nothing more then a pile of rubble.
The reactor also became a nesting ground for many aquatic creatures, but do to the fact that the area is exposed to Mako, most of them die and their corpses just float on top of the surface. Yuffie learned this after a slimy dead fish rubs against her legs, "Eww.. GROSSNESS!" Yuffie says backing away from the floating fish, she sticks out her tongue almost gagging at the slimy fish. The water that the three are walking in is about two feet deep. Luckily for Yuffie, she's wearing her normal kaki shorts and green tank top, so the water isn't much of a problem.
"It's just a dead fish." Kao says while rolling his eyes. He walks over to the fish and picks it up by it's tail.
"Yea but it's slimy and it has no eyes, and you didn't have it rub across your legs." Yuffie says defensively.
Kao just rolls his eyes again and tosses the dead fish of to the side, it splashes as it hits the water. "Let's just keep mov-" A huge splash occurs where Kao had thrown the fish.
The three quickly turn in the direction of the splash, each shinning their own spotlight around the area. They scan the area but nothing is there, not even the dead fish. Yuffie turn around and scans behind them to make sure something isn't trying to sneak up on them. "It must of been a part of the reactor falling into the water." Yuffie says, trying to calm her nerves. It's bad enough the place is cold, wet, and dark, she doesn't need anything else to make this worse.
Kao nods in agreement as he slowly turns back around, keeping his eyes on the area. He begins walking towards the end of the hall where a steel hatch is. Rima takes out her gun, getting ready for anything. She squints her eyes as she keeps her light on the area, for a split second she could of sworn she saw something moving underneath the water. The moment she saw it, it's gone. She starts following, Kao and Yuffie, keeping her gun out ready for anything.
Kao stops in front of the steel hatch, "Here" He hands his spotlight over to Yuffie. She takes it into her free hand and keeps both spotlights directed at the hatch. Kao grabs hold of the rusted hatch. He can feel the rust and corrosion on his palm.
He tries to turn the hatch, his face turns a dark shade of red as he tries with all his might to turn the rusted hatch. Kao takes a step back, catching his breath, "Holy shit. That thing ain't moving." He says, wiping the sweat off his forehead.
"Well it better open, it's the only way in." Yuffie replies. She smirks, "You aren't trying hard enough."
Kao shot her a glare, "I'd like to see you.."
"Shh..." Rima silences them. The two look towards the silent woman. Rima scans the area with her spotlight, her gun pointing in the direction of the light. All three pairs of eyes lock on the surface of the water that begins to bubble. Soon other sets of bubbles start up in all different places. Rima slowly looks over her shoulder at Kao, keeping her spotlight pointed out in front of her, "Get the door open now!" Rima nearly shouts.
Kao not waiting to find out what's wrong quickly turns around and tries opening the hatch again. Yuffie keeps looking back and forth from Kao and Rima, wanting to keep and eye on both of them at once but having to settle for looking between the mine. Finally her gaze holds on Rima's still form, "What's out there?" Yuffie finally asks.
Before Rima is able to reply, zombies burst out from underneath the water, splashing as they surface. "ZOMBIES!!!" Yuffie yells in surprise, "GAWD! How did they get down here!"
The zombies stand in their spots groaning, as they stare at the three, as if eyeing a piece of meat. Yuffie quickly turns around towards Kao, "Get the damn hatch open!" She orders.
"I'm trying dammit!" Kao says as he keeps trying to turn the hatch.
The zombies begin to advance on the three. Rima drops her spotlight in the water, and hold her gun in both hands. She aims for the closest zombie and fires her gun. "I'll hold them off while you get the hatch open." She exclaims firing another shot, pushing the zombie back.
Rima charges towards the zombies, moving slower then usual do to the deep water. She swings her rifle like a bat, hitting a zombie in the head, making it fall down underneath the water. Yuffie just stands by Kao, keeping the spotlight in her left hand pointed towards Rima and the one in her right hand at Kao.
"Come on Kao! What's taking so long!" Yuffie asks, her voice in desperation.
"Maybe if I have some HELP, I'd have this open!" Kao says, emphasizing 'help' telling her to give him a hand.
Yuffie looks down at her hands not knowing what to do with the spotlights. She drops them in the water next the hatch so she won't loose them. Then she grabs hold of the hatch and helps Kao trying to open it.
Rima's sight quickly adjusts to the dark, not having the spotlight shining at her anymore, she couldn't make out anything for a few moments. She turns around and raise the barrels of her rifle up to the face of the zombie behind her. A faint smirk crosses her face before she pulls the trigger, blowing the zombies head off from pointblank. The body falls into the water and blood begins to color the water.
Rima quickly turns around the two remaining zombies. They moan loudly as they begin to advance on Rima. Rima narrows her eyes in the dark, and holsters her rifle at her side. She waits for the zombies to get closer. The zombie closest to her outstretches its arm as if trying to grab her.
Just as the decaying corpse's rotting hands begin to close around her neck, she hits them away from her. Rima quickly grabs hold of two daggers, she starts slashing at the zombie mercilessly. She continually slashes at the zombie's chest, her daggers going deeper and deeper with each strike. The zombie stumbles back with each strike. The other zombie reaches for Rima as she continues to attack the one.
Out of the corner of her eye, Rima sees the other zombie's outline in the darkness. Before it can get any closer, Rima jumps up out of the water and kicks the zombie in the head, driving it back a couple of feet. With no more distractions left Rima turns towards the previous zombie. It's right arm stretched out to grab hold of her. Rima quickly slashed upward with the dagger in her right hand. The zombie's right arm flies throw the air and splashes into the water.
Rima pushes the zombie up against the wall now that they are close to it. She dries the dagger in her left hand through the zombie's chest, keeping it in place. With the one in her right hand, she quickly bring it up to the zombie's neck. The zombie uses its remaining hand and begins to choke Rima.
Rima ignores the zombie's hand around her throat and pushes all her weight into the dagger. The zombie's head rolls over her shoulder and into the water. The zombie's hand releases its hold on Rima's neck and falls to it's side. Rima pulls the dagger out of the zombie's chest and the corpse falls into the water. Then she turns around towards the last zombie, preparing to take care of it also.
"Do you...... hear..... something?" Yuffie asks as she continues to pull at the hatch.
"Hear....what?" Kao says out of breath.
"It....sounds like.... it's.... coming from... the other side." Yuffie says.
"Who cares.... just get this... open." Kao says frustratingly. "Ok.... one...two...three, PULL!" The two pulls the hatch with all their strength. The hatch 'creaks' as it turns. "Yes! Finally!" Kao exclaims as he begins turning the hatch. Yuffie quickly picks up her discarded spotlights and shines them at the hatch. CLICK The hatch unlocks. Kao outstretches his right hand asking for his spotlight back. Yuffie hands it over, and the two begin to open the hatch.
Kao and Yuffie both look into the hall the hall that leads to the submarine docks. Both their eyes widen in fright as their spotlights reveal to them, what was making the noise Yuffie heard before. Zombies! Dozens of zombies are behind the hatch. They're packed tightly in, leaving almost no room to walk as they try and shove their ways passed each other.
"HOLY SHIT!!!" They both yell in union. The two drop the spotlights and begin closing the hatch shut. Before they are able to close the hatch completely, several arms from zombies reach through and try and grab hold of the two.
"Crap! How're we going to get to the submarine docks with those things in the way." Kao asks as he puts his back to the hatch and pushes with his weight.
"I don't know! But we still need to get down there." Yuffie says quickly while trying to keep out of the zombies reach.
"Open the hatch." Yuffie and Kao pause and look in front of them, they see Rima's figure in front of them in the darkness.
"What are you nuts! We can't take all those zombies!" Kao exclaims. The hatch knocks open a bit as zombies begin to pound on the door.
Yuffie doesn't say anything but stares up at where she guessed would be Rima's face. In the darkness Yuffie begins to see a dull red begin to glow, growing brighter by the second. "I'll kill'em all"
Yuffie flinched at the voice, recognizing it as the same one Rima has when she becomes a vampire. "Kao let her through" Yuffie orders. Kao, also knowing what just happened, has no objections.
The two jump off and away from the hatch. The hatch bursts open and zombies begin to walk in. Rima smirks, baring her fangs, "Now is time to have some fun." Rima jumps straight up out of the water. As her feet hit the surface of the water she begins charging at the zombies. She picks up a zombie and throws it at the large group of zombies, forcing them through the hatch again. Rima quickly goes through the hatch, running on the surface of the water as if it's solid ground.
Kao quickly makes his way to the hatch and closes it without a second thought, He quickly turns the hatch and locks it. Yuffie realizes what he's doing and quickly runs over, "What do you think you're doing? You can't lock Rima in there with them!"
"She's a frickin vampire right now. You know how crazy she gets when she turns. She may go after us also. Besides, you and I both know that Rima can take care of those zombies." Kao says, making his point.
Yuffie stood there glaring at him, 'It doesn't make it right.' She thinks to herself. Yuffie blinks rapidly as she remembers something, "Did you what Rima did? She ran on the surface of the water. I didn't know vampires could do that."
Kao leans his back on the hatch and lets out a breath, "I don't think anyone knew vampires could do that." The two stand in silence waiting for it to be over. They can hear noises of ripping flesh, spilling blood, splashing water, zombie moans and groans, and an occasional words from Rima on the over side of the hatch. Soon though, the noises disappear and all is quiet.
The two put their ears to the hatch trying to hear any traces of life. KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! The two jump back in surprise at the sound of someone knocking on the hatch. "You can open up now." They hear Rima's quiet voice, not the dark evil voice that she has when she's a vampire.
The two quickly turn the hatch and open it up. They quickly shine their spotlights pass the hatch. Rima quickly brings up her right hand, shielding her eyes from the light, "Mind not shinning those lights into my eyes? They ARE bright, you know"
Yuffie grins, scratches the back of her head and shines the light in a different direction. Her faces scrunches up in disgust as she sees all the headless zombies floating on the surface of the water. The heads of the zombies float like bobbers, and the water is now a dark red from all the blood. "Eww..." Yuffie comments as she walks through the water, pushing the floating zombies to the side to continue forward.
The group cautiously makes their way towards the next hatch. They open it up far more easier then the last. As they open it up the water rushes out through the hatch and drains out down to the submarine docks. The three walk out on the walkway and begin making there way across.
Yuffie pauses halfway through and looks down to the submarine docks to see if anything is there. Yuffie tilts her head to the side, she doesn't see anything, but then again she may have to get closer. She hurries to catch up with Kao and Rima. The trio make there way down the stairs and pass the reactor where the huge materia was born two years ago, they quickly pass the area and walk onto the empty submarine docks.
"See anything?" Kao asks glances around the seemingly empty docks.
"Maybe it's the wrong place." Yuffie says dejectedly.
"It's here." Rima says. the two look at her, each giving her their own questioning look. Rima walks to the end of the dock and looks down into the water. The other two take her example and do the same.
Yuffie glances back and forth from the water and Rima, not fully understanding what they're doing, "Um.. where?" Yuffie finally asks.
Rima points her finger down at the water, "Underneath the surface. It's cold, it's dark, it's wet. A place where the sun can't reach and the weather can never change." Rima repeats what was said in the last letter. Yuffie gives her a look that clearly shows she's lost. Rima gives a faint sigh, "Underneath the surface is stating under the water where it's cold, dark, and wet." Rima states explaining the first part of the riddle, "A place where the sun doesn't shine and the weather never changes. We are in an underwater reactor. The sun can't reach here and the weather can't change from within something that is cut off from the climates."
"OHhh..." Yuffie says finally understanding. She looks down in the water, she makes a face, "But who's going to go in there and search for it?" Yuffie asks curiously. She doesn't get a reply so she looks up at the other two. They're both starring at her, Rima face expressionless while Kao's face holds a smirk. Yuffie points a finger at herself, "Me?" She says in a little voice. The two nod their heads. Yuffie sighs, knowing she has to, "Fine."
"The spotlights are water proof so you'll be able to take one with you." Kao says, trying to give the ninja some comfort.
Yuffie rolls her eyes, "Well duh! I think I realized that when I dropped them in the water before." She says sounding like a smartass.
Yuffie quickly jumps in the water, immediately feeling how cold the water really is. She looks up at the two who stand on the dock waiting, "Th-th-this s-sucks!" She quickly complains. Yuffie takes a couple of deep breaths preparing herself for the dive. Yuffie takes one final breath and....
"By the way" Rima says suddenly, stopping Yuffie before she went. "The Junon ship is leaving in two hours. So hurry up." Rima advises.
Yuffie shoots her a glare, "GAWD! Don't do that! I was just about to go! Now I have to get ready again. Yuffie says angrily, forgetting about the temperature of the water for the time being. She lets out a breath of annoyance and takes a long deep breath. Without further interruptions she dives into the water.
With the spotlight in one hand it makes swimming a bit awkward. The light shoots down, making the bottom a little visible. Behind Yuffie she leave behind a trail of air bubbles as she swims through the water. Yuffie feels pressure build up in her lungs and releases some air making the pressure dissipate. Finally she reaches the bottom, the water pressure making it hard to hold her breath, she tries to spot anything that she's suppose to.
With the spotlight she scans the area. Out of the corner of her right eye she sees a small blinking light. She turns the spotlight towards it. The blinking light is connect to a small tightly sealed case. Yuffie quickly swims to it, all the while thinking, 'Where's an underwater materia when you need one.'
When she reaches the case she stops. She tilts her head to the side as she looks ahead. She's no alone down here. Something is moving. It's coming towards her. It looks like a huge ball of algae. Sudden the huge thing has a mouth, filled with deadly razor sharp teeth. Yuffie's eyes widen and she tries to scream forgetting she's underwater. She loses the air in her lungs.
Yuffie quickly drops the spotlight and grabs the sealed case. She takes off towards the surface desperately wanting to get away from the creature and desperately needing air. She can see the surface of the water coming up. She begins swallowing water not meaning to. Finally she breaks the surface, coughing and choking.
Yuffie swims towards the edge and throws the case on the dock. "You alright?" Kao asks, giving her a hand out of the water.
Yuffie tries to catch her breath. "Am.. I.. alright?" She asks her anger rising. She takes a deep breath, "OF COARSE NOT! i ALMOST DROWNED! AND TO TOP THINGS OFF! I WAS NEARLY EATEN BY A GIANT SLIMY GREEN BLOB THINGAMAJIG!" Yuffie pants trying to catch her breath. She picks up the case and begins walking away from the edge.
Rima and Kao turn around and look at the ninja with raised eyebrows. "Giant slimy green blob thingamajig?" Rima repeats, a faint trace of amusement in her voice. The two start walking away from the edge.
Kao chuckled, "And what did this thing look like?" He asks jokingly.
Yuffie quickly turns around, the anger across her face quickly disappearing. She taps a finger on her chin as if in thought, "Well... I'd have to say it looks like... that!" She points behind the two.
Rima and Kao quickly turn around to see the green blob moving sluggishly towards them, looking almost harmless. Kao scratches the back of his head, "Well wadda know. She wasn't joking after all." Kao says not really frightened from the green blob.
Rima rolls her eyes, "You ran away from this?" She asks Yuffie, who's backing away, the case firmly clutched to her chest.
Yuffie grinned, "Well I'f you want to kill it. By all means go ahead." Yuffie quickly dashes away after finishing.
Rima take out her gun and shoots a single shot at the blob, as Kao stands there and watches. The bullet disappears in the blobs slimy body, making it look as if it wasn't attacked at all. "Well that's an interesting feature." Kao says off handedly.
The green blob makes some sort of bubbling noise and a mouth soundly opens up revealing it's deadly teeth. Rima and Kao exchange a look each thinking, 'That's a more interesting feature.' Not waiting to find out if the creature is hungry or not, the two take from Yuffie's example and take of like a bat out of hell.
They run through the walkway and through the hall of the dead zombies. They see Yuffie waiting at the hatch with a grin on her face, "Decided to run huh?"
The two catch their breath, CRASH! All three look down the hall to see the green blob crash into the wall. It molds itself so it can fit in the narrow hall, it dashes towards them quicker then before.
"How the hell did it get so fast all of a sudden?" Kao asks mystified. Having no other option the three begin to close the heavy hatch. When it's shut, Kao quickly twists the hatch until they all hear the click of the lock. A moment later after it's locked the blob crashes into the hatch, but it stays strong and keeps the blob at bay.
Yuffie let's out a breath of relief, "Let's get out of here." She says. She begins walking but stops almost immediately, "Oh! Almost forgot." Rima and Kao quickly turn around to see what the ninja is up to. Yuffie places the case on the ground and undoes the straps holding it shut. She opens it up to find an envelope and a clear bottle filled with a black fluid. She examines the bottle curiously before opening up the envelope. She reads the letter inside:
Congratulations numbskulls! You've managed to beat the game. I must say that I am a bit impressed that you managed to succeed in solving all the riddles. In the case you will find a serum that was stored with this letter. But one question remains. Do you trust that the serum will save your friend? Or will it end up killing him anyway? I'll leave you to decide that.
"I'm sorry sir. But it will cost you extra for us to transport that." The captain of the Junon ship says.
The man sighs, "Fine." He hands the captain the extra four hundred gil. The captain blows a whistle and a sailor comes forth. The captain points to the man's motorcycle. The sailor nods his head and wheels the motorcycle onto the ship.
The captain gives the man a smile, "Thank you for your understanding. The ship shall be leaving momentarily." The captain advises. The man nods his head and walks away, bringing the hood of his black cloak over his head.
Throughout Junon the sound of the ships horn can be heard. Yuffie and the others are seen running frantically through the town heading towards the ship. Yuffie waves her ticket in the air as she gets closer to the ship, "Wait! wait! WAIT!" The three head up on the platform and reach a sailor standing at the deck taking tickets from travelers. Yuffie grins and hands her ticket to the sailor. When she gets on she turns around and waits for Kao and Rima who are next behind her.
"Talk about cutting it close." Kao comments jokingly as they wait for the departure.
"....." Rima walks towards the stares to go down the lower deck of the ship.
Kao watches Rima leave and a moment later decides to follow, "You coming?" Kao asks Yuffie.
Yuffie gives a grin, "I'll hang out on the deck." She replies.
Kao shrugs his shoulders, "Suite yourself." He begins walking down the steps as the ship begins to depart.
Upon the ships departure, Yuffie immediately feels her stomach begin to turn. Yuffie takes a deep breath and tries to will the seasickness away. Thinking it would be better to go somewhere else, Yuffie makes her way towards the front of the ship.
Yuffie makes her way through the crowds of people, trying to make her way to the front of the ship. Yuffie grins as she passes the crowds where it's nearly empty, ready to take her spot att he railing in front of the ship. Yuffie stopped and gasped in surprise, someone else was already there. Someone she never would of expected to be there, much less on the ship.
FINALLY!!! I managed to find a spot to end this damn chapter! Well since there was a long wait, I made a long chapter MWHAAHAA. Oh I remember what I was going to say before. I'd like to thank Firefly for recommending seeing the movie Underworld a while back. I finally rented the movie and man was it GREAT! It was so cool I went out and bought it. It had great features for the vampires, perhaps it will help me out a bit. Vampires Vs. Werewolves! I never saw that coming! So thanks again Firefly, That movie was awesome!
On an even better note... 17 MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL LEFT YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!! Oh yea um... I hope y'all liked this chapter. So who is it that Yuffie sees? And who has the motorcycle? (Gee that's real hard to guess isn't it?) Heeheehee, actually it's not who most of you probably think it is. Well anyways, review y'all. Need to know y'all are still alive out there. TTNC!