Howdy y'all Ain't this great. I see a lot of you liked the last chapter lol. Man oh man that was my longest one yet! This one will be a bit short, maybe. Depends on how well I'm writing. Anyways, we get to find out, what exactly is going on. I couldn't help but write up this chapter as quickly as I could. Heeheehee.
Disclaimer- Zack- Eight hundred, nine hundred, one thousand gil. There take it and get out. Places money in Sephiroth's hand.
Sephiroth- Looks down at the money then glares. The job was for two thousand.
Zack- Crosses arms behind head and leans back in chair That it was. The deal was to get rid of her. You just left her hanging, heh heh heh.
Sephiroth- Draws the Masamune If you don't give me the rest of the money. I'll just have to take it from you.
Zack.- Smirks I had a feeling you'd say that. Snaps fingers
Sephiroth- Grabbed from behind by a set of claws What the!
Zack.- Meet my new employee. He's rather.... uh playful heh heh heh.
??????- Cackles Can I kill him?
Zack.- No.. Sephiroth is rather skillful. I still have use for him. Now then. Stands up How would you like to help me take over Squaresoft Sephiroth?
Sephiroth- Looks over his shoulder at the creature.
Zack- Release him.
Sephiroth- Pulls out a document and holds it out in front of Zack.
Zack- What's this? Grabs document and reads. I hereby pledge my loyalty to the Squaresoft corporation and shall not, under any agreement, help anyone in trying to take it over. Furthermore I will also kill any who plan to do so. A contract!? Thinks Heeheehee. Stupid Sephiroth. A piece of paper is as useless as the tree it's created from. Takes out lighter and burns the contract.
Sephiroth- That was just a copy. The original is at HQ. So now that I know that you're planning on taking over Squaresoft, I'll just have to kill you. Advances on Zack
Zack- Nervous laugh Riiight. Hey what's that? Points behind Sephiroth
Sephiroth- ??? Glances over his shoulder
Zack-Sucker! Jumps through window OH CRAP! THIS IS HIGHER THEN I THOUGHT AHHH!!! Oof! Get up off the ground and glances up. Heh heh heh. What a idiot! Bushes rustle Huh? Walks over to the bush to have a look. Hmmm... WAH! Pulled into bush
Chapter 46- Mako Showers And Explanations
"Wait a minute... you want us to spend two weeks in there!?" Cloud asks in disbelief as he points to the mako tank. Sephiroth has brought Cloud to the Nibelhiem's mako reactor. In order to get more powerful, like Sephiroth explained he can do, they would have to spend two weeks in a tank outside the door where Jenonva was once kept. While in the tanks they will be submerged in Mako. The process is much like what First-Class Soldiers had to go through for testing and training.
Sephiroth sighs in annoyance as he rubs his temples, fighting off the headache that's growing. He has already explained this to Cloud three times, and yet the blonde haired swordsman just doesn't get it. Sephiroth decides to use words that would make it more understandable. "Listen..." He begins, "When you got rid of Jenova, her cells that were in our bodies died as well. The strength that came with having those cells also deteriorates. You must of noticed that you aren't as strong as you were when you fought against me."
Cloud scratches the back of his head as he thinks about what Sephiroth has said. "Yea... But I figured it's because I hadn't done any training once the planet was saved." He explains.
Sephiroth crosses his arms and scowls, "A true warrior trains even in times of peace. You best remember that." Sephiroth lets put a long breath as he collects his thoughts, "The two week mako shower will enhance your fighting senses. Normally we wouldn't do this unless you've been injected with Jenova cells. Having the cells in your body prevents any abnormalities that may occur."
"Abnormalities?" Cloud asks a bit nervous. The more he hears about this the less he's willing to go through with it. Cloud shakes his head, "You know what? I don't even wanna know." He runs his right hand through his blonde spikes, "Let's just get this over with before I lose my nerve."
Sephiroth gives him a short nod before walking over to a tank's panel. He punches in a few codes and the tank slowly opens, "Anytime you're ready." Sephiroth announces. Cloud takes off his armor and lays it off to the side. He leans his Ultimate Weapon against the tank that's next to the one he'll be getting in.
Cloud walks over to his tank and stops in front of it. He stares at the interior of the tank getting rid of any second thoughts that he might have. He glances over to Sephiroth, giving him a nod to signal to him that he's ready. He steps into the mako tank and sits down in it. "If I come out of here in two weeks with extra limbs or another head, I'll going after you." Cloud warns.
A faint smirk crosses Sephiroth's lips as he presses a button on the control panel. The tank slowly closes, "Trust me, you won't come out of there with an extra head." The tank closes up, "Although.. you may come out with something else. Mako is not the only thing that we'll be showered in." Sephiroth laughs as Cloud's eyes widen. Cloud immediately tries to get out of the tank, knowing that Sephiroth is up to something. The tank fills up with gas making Cloud slowly fall into a deep sleep as the tank fills up with mako.
"See you in two weeks." Sephiroth announces as he walks over to get his own tank ready. He knows that this mako treatment is dangerous, but he also knows that it will make both of them stronger. What he doesn't know however is, will their new combined strength be enough? He'll have to wait two weeks to find out that answer.
Vincent's whole body begins to go numb as Rima's fangs sink into his neck. Apparently, Rima's fangs have some sort of poison in them to paralyze her victims while she drinks their blood. Vincent knew that he's helpless against Rima now. All that is left for him to do is except defeat. He loses his grip on the Death Penalty and it drops to the ground.
Rima's mouth fills up with Vincent's blood. Finally, she's able to quench her cravens. They have been getting so hard to control. It's been so long since her last feeding. Those were her thoughts the instinct before she bit into Vincent's neck. When she finally does bite into his neck, something goes wrong. Her mouth and throat feel like their on fire from his blood. Her eyes widen as tears form in her eyes due to the rotten taste of the man's blood. It makes her stomach knot up as bile threatens to shoot up. His blood makes her body react like it just consumed poison.
Rima gags as she jumps back, spitting the blood out of her mouth. Vincent collapses onto one knee as he puts his human hand on his wound. Rima's right hand automatically covers her mouth to prevent herself from vomiting. That had to be the worst and most distasteful blood she has ever had. It was more like the blood of a demon then a human. No... it WAS demon blood. It had to be. Only a demon's blood makes her body react like that.
Demon's blood tries to take over her body whenever she tries drinking it. But the vampire genes in her is able to kill the demon's before it has a chance to do so. If she does however ends up consuming enough demon's blood, it can in fact end up killing her. That why her body is rejecting it. Rima coughs up more of Vincent's blood, trying to get it all out of her system, "What the hell are you?" She says in between gasps. She looks up from her hunched position just in time to see Vincent's clenched claw crash into the side of her head.
Vincent glances down at the unconscious vampire. His human hand remains pressed against his wound as he breathes heavily, trying to reorient himself. He doesn't know what happened to make her get off him, but whatever it was, it saved his life. Vincent bends down and picks up his Death Penalty, letting the blood run freely from his neck wound. Vincent points his gun at Rima's head, debating whether or not to kill her.
Vincent's crimson eyes focus on Rima's sharp fangs, the fangs that just a few moments ago were imbedded in the side of his neck. Rima's body changes back to normal, making her skin the pale color it was, her fangs shorten and her hair turns back to it's red color. Vincent lowers the Death Penalty a bit after witnessing the change. Vincent closes his eyes and lets out a breath, calming himself down. He places the Death Penalty back in its holster and slowly walks over to Rima's side. He bends down and gently places his claw under her knees while his human arm slides behind her back. He slowly pick her up and walks off in the direction of Cosmo Canyon.
"Why are all you alive? Why would Vain bring you back?" Tifa asks in confusion. Tifa is more or less, shocked at seeing her three formal friends and original members of AVALANCHE. Her mind had practically gone blank the moment she saw Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie, sitting at a table having a few drinks.
"Are you alright Tifa?" Zack asks, not sure on what's going on. He has no idea who the three are except that they know Tifa. Also from what Tifa is asking, it sounds like they are suppose to be dead.
"Vain?" Wedge repeats the name confused.
Biggs elbows the fatter man in the side, "Red XIII told about him remember." Wedge continues to give a confused look. Biggs sighs as he shakes his head, "Bad guy... taking over the world with some zombies and shadow creatures. Any of this ringing a bell?" Biggs asks as he knocks Wedge on the top of the head a few times.
"Hey that hurts." Wedge whines.
"Um guys?" Jessie says getting their attention. They glance at her and she points to Tifa who's standing there speechless, mouth hung open as she stares at the three, "I think we need to give her an explanation." Jessie suggests.
Biggs places a hand on the back of his head as he adjusts his red bandanna, "Yea I guess an explanation is in order." Biggs laughs a bit. "We're assumed dead after all."
Jessie lets out a defeated breath, "Um.. perhaps you'd like to sit down Tifa." Jessie suggests, offering the seat across from her.
Tifa continues to stand in her spot, not able to get over her initial shock. "Come on Tifa. Let's go have a friendly chat with your friend here." Zack says as he directs her to the seat. Once he has her seated, he takes one to her left while Biggs, Wedge and Jessie take a seat across from them.
"You're probably wondering what we're doing here, or better yet, how we are here." Jessie starts.
Tifa finally snaps out of it, "Well yea. I mean the sector seven plate killed you all back then." Tifa says immediately, her voice cracking a bit at the memory.
A small smile spreads across Jessie's face at the comment, "Tifa... we weren't in sector seven when the pillar collapse."
"What?" Tifa asks confused.
A grin spreads across Biggs's face, "What Jessie is trying to say, "He throws an arm over Jessie's shoulder, "Is that we were never dead."
"Ah that's better." Yuffie exclaims as she finishes putting a bandage on her scraped knee. She's been stabbed, sliced, blown up, electrocuted, burned, frozen, and shot at. But in her mind the worst thing to get is a scrapped knee. That really burns a lot more then having a Fire 3 spell cast at you. Amazing how such a small injury can be Yuffie's greatest weakness.
Yuffie yawns as she stretches her arms out, "I wonder where Tifa went." Yuffie thinks to herself as she walks passed the weapons dealer. She passes a few torches as she heads down the few steps from the entrance. She stops at the bottom as she tries to decide where she wants to go. Yuffie's eyes catch sight of the large fire in the middle of town. 'What was it called again?' Yuffie thinks to herself, 'The eternal candle or something like that.' Not really giving much care for the fire's name she begins heading towards it.
As she walks over to the fire her progress is stopped when she hears another set of steps coming from the side. She turns around to see Vincent walking into town carrying Rima in his arms. Yuffie quickly runs over to Vincent and immediately notices the stream of blood coming from the side of his neck, "Vincent! What happened to you?" She asks, although she pretty much already figured everything out already.
Vincent glances to Yuffie, noticing her for the first time. He stops walking and glances down at Rima, "She bit me." Was his short reply.
"Oh." Yuffie says lamely, not knowing what else to say.
"Yuffie?" Vincent calls out as he glances back up at her, his crimson eyes locking with her misty gray ones.
"Y-yes?" She replies nervously.
Vincent's eyes narrow a bit, "You knew." He states.
"Huh? Knew what?" Yuffie says quickly, trying to play innocent. Vincent shoots her a deadly glare. It makes Yuffie spill it all out, "Alright I knew! Rima is like some sort a vampire thing. I didn't tell any of you because I figured you guys wouldn't trust her. But she really is a nice person, when she's not a vampire."
"Yuffie.." Vincent tries to cut her off but it doesn't work.
"She's a really good fighter and everything. She saved my ass plenty of times, even as a vampire. But it's not her fault for what she does when she turns, she like loses her sanity or something. If I knew this would of happened, I swear I would of told you all and-"
"YUFFIE!" Vincent yells in anger, his patience now gone, "Shut up!" Yuffie's mouth snaps shut as she stands there in disbelief. Vincent has actually risen his voice at someone, and not just someone, but her. Yuffie suddenly feel frightened, she's never seen Vincent mad before. It's almost as frightening as when she got Aerith angry, and THAT was by far the scariest thing Yuffie went through, and painful. The Fairy Tail is harder then it looks. Yuffie knows this because she was on the receiving end of the Ancients wrath back then, she wouldn't be surprised if she still has bruises on her head still.
Vincent brushes passed Yuffie as he walks towards the pub/inn. Yuffie silently follows him as he walks in. She notices Tifa and Zack having some sort of discussion with three people at a table but decides not to eavesdrop. She probably in enough trouble with Vincent already. Vincent walks into the room with Yuffie at his heels. He places Rima down on one of the beds and then sits down one of the others.
Yuffie gulps and walks over to him. She sits down next to him, "Here, let me patch that up a bit." Yuffie offers as she pulls a few first aid supplies out of a pouch from her side. Vincent let's out a annoyed breath before unbuckling the straps of his crimson cape and letting it fall to the bed. Yuffie sits up on her knees and turns towards him so she can reach his wound easier. She cleans the blood off his neck, luckily the wound has stopped bleeding. She dabs some antitoxin on the neck wound, making sure it doesn't get infected.
Yuffie places a bandage on the bite. 'She bit me.' Vincent's reply from earlier repeats in her head as she finishes. "Um.. Vincent?"
Vincent's brows lower in annoyance as the silence is broken, "What Yuffie?" He asks calmly, never taking his eyes off of Rima.
Yuffie chews on her bottom lip as she decides whether or not to ask the question that's plaguing her mind. Figuring it's best to asks, just so she knows she lets out a breath as she tries to think of the best way to ask. After a moment she decides to just ask straight out. Hesitantly she asks, "Are you.. going to turn into a vampire?"
"......."
"If you weren't dead then why haven't you contacted me before?" Tifa asks confused. She can't believe what she hearing. They were never dead, they've been alive all along? Everything is just so confusing.
Biggs shrugs his shoulders, "Hey give us a break. How were we suppose to? You guys were always on the move and we didn't have any traveling methods. We've been in Midgar until Vain's army finished the place off. Ever since then we've been here." Biggs explains.
"But why here?" Zack asks curiously.
"We've always wanted to come here." Wedge says happily, "But I must admit that the food here would of been enough to keep me staying."
"Plus we knew that this is Red XIII's home." Jessie says.
"They figured you would eventually come here." Red XIII finishes what Jessie was going to say as he walks into the pub. Everyone turns around and looks at the canyon's guardian as he walks over to the table. Red XIII sits down at the edge of the table as he looks at Tifa, "They came here four months ago explaining who they were. When they informed me that they were part of the original AVALANCHE and that they are friends of yours. I allowed them to stay as long as they want. I knew everyone would be gathering back together eventually, so you'd come here looking for me."
Tifa slowly nods her head in understanding. She glances back at her former comrades and smiles, "It's great to have you all back. Barret would of been so glad to know you guys are alive." Tifa finishes the last part in a whisper as she lowers her head.
The three lower their heads as well. Red XIII had told them about their former leader's fate. Although Barret was never the easiest to put up with, he was still their friend as well. It pained all three of them to know of his demise. A silence hangs in the air s they each remember the foulmouthed, large man. Jessie is the first to break the silence however, "Tifa, we want to help you fight Vain. Although as warriors, we may be weak. We can still help you. My mechanical knowledge can help you." Jessie explains.
Tifa nods and Jessie continues, "Red XIII explained the whole situation to us since we've been here. I heard that there's these creatures called hadions that can't be touched by physical or magic attacks. Their only weakness is light."
Tifa nods her head again, "Yea, we have an awful hard time fighting those creatures when ever they show up. But what can we do about it?" Tifa asks hoping Jessie has the answers.
"I found a way to make your physical attacks inflict damage to them." Jessie says proudly.
"Really? That's amazing!" Zack explains, totally impressed with the turn of events.
"It's not that hard really. Even I could've been able to do it." Biggs says, "It's simple, all she does is take your weapons and puts some do hickey on it that uh.. and yea."
Jessie shakes her head in annoyance, "Give it up Biggs. It's far to technical for your intellect. What I do is modify your weapons. I'm not going to go into the whole set up of it because it'll to more harm them not. But simply when I'm down with it, your weapons will have a switch on them that will activate a small sensor that I will build into your weapons. The sensor is motion activated so when you move your weapon a small mechanism lights up your weapon. Hadions can only be attacked with light."
"So if our weapons let off light when we use them, we can attack them." Tifa finishes, understanding the concept of Jessie's idea.
Jessie nods her head, glad that Tifa understands, "I've already built one in Red XIII's weapon, so it's already tested. All you have to do is hand me your weapons and give me a few days to work on the modifications." Jessie announced.
"That's great!" Tifa exclaims.
"Yea, you can start on mine!" Zack exclaims as he places his Buster Sword on the table.
Jessie glances down at the familiar sword then glances up to Zack, she looks back down at the sword and reaches her hand out to the blade. She runs her hand down the massive blade as a familiar spikey blonde haired man pops up into her mind, "Isn't this... Cloud's sword?" Jessie asks.
Tifa's and Zack's faces drop at the question. Apparently, Red XIII hasn't told them EVERYTHING. "Oh yea! Where is he anyway? Didn't he arrive here with you?" Wedge asks remembering the silent swordsman that had only just joined AVALANCHE when they got split up.
"Perhaps I should finish telling you about our journey, the things we learned, and the things Cloud learned about himself." Red XIII advises.
"Sir we found one!" A soldier says as he stands in front of a desk. Behind the desk sits, the man Dregon. A smirk spread across his face as his eyes like up in excitement at the announcement.
Dregon quickly stands up from his desk, "Ah.. good news at last! Let me see it!" Dregon orders. The man opens up a sack and pulls out something that's wrapped up in cloth. He hands the object to Dregon who quickly unwraps his treasure. The object he uncovers appears to be a broken part of some sort of talisman or perhaps a statue. It's a sea blue color but it gives off a pale green glow as it rests in Dregon's hands. The most noticeable feature of the strange object is the eye carved into the stone with what appears to be a single tear curved at the corner of the eye.
Dregon can barely contain his excitement, "I knew it existed. Now all I need is two more pieces. But where could they be." Dregon glances back to the soldier who brought him the artifact. Dregons eyes narrow, "What are you still doing here?" The soldier takes it as a signal to leave and does just that.
Dregon glances down at his treasure and smiles as he walks back to his desk. He places it on his desk and sits back down. Starring at it he begins to frown, "Even if I collect all the pieces, I'll still need to look into that obnoxious ninja's memories in order to use it." 'And when I do have all the things necessary, I'll show that bastard Vain what true power is!' Dregon's laughter echoes throughout the cavern's walls.
Ohhh.... what's this???? MySteRiOuS. What exactly is Dregon seeking? Is he continuing with his previous plans before Vain's betrayal? Is it truly a more horrifying power then Le Cas Fo Gollost. Will Vincent turn into a vampire? Will he get his demons back? Will Yuffie tell the other's about Rima? What will they do with Rima, now that she has attacked Vincent? Will Cloud and Sephiroth truly become more powerful? Will something go wrong while they are being submerged in mako? Questions, questions, questions, and yet, no answers for any of them. MWAHAHAHAHA! It seems all is not what it appears again. Find out what happens next time! Review y'all! TTNC!