Chapter 27: Traitor in the midst.
"WHAT!" Barret roared before lifting Cait of his stuffed moogle and threw the stuffed creature across the room. "HOW DARE YOU!" Barret moved to continue his assault on the small toy.
Cloud jumped in his way, "Barret stop!" He ordered. "He's got Marlene as a hostage." Barret's eyes shone with anger but his love of Marlene stopped him from destroying Cait Sith.
"Told ya he was creepy." Yuffie said matter-a-factly. She shrank down behind Aerith when Barret and Cloud glared at her. "Don't get mad at me cause that freak gave the Keystone to Shinra!"
"Why ya little-" Barret began.
"ENOUGH!" Cloud shouted. "Cait Sith is a spy but as long as he's got Marlene our hands our tied. Lets just go to the Temple. Maybe we can catch up to them." Cloud turned and entered the tram leaving no room for discussion. Everyone followed him, giving Cait Sith stares of hate, pity, and sadness.
'Can't believe we have to let this guy stay with us!' Yuffie though angrily to herself, 'He's already screwed us once, he'll do it again! Grr!' Everyone continued to be suspicious of Cait Sith as they returned to the Temple of the Ancients.
TEMPLE OF THE ANCIENTS.
"Tseng!" Aerith cried when her eyes adjusted to the dim light within the entryway. "What happened?" The flower girl rushed to the man who had followed her since childhood.
"Sephiroth..was here." Tseng slowly pulled himself back from darkness. "He's inside... urk
"Don't speak." Aerith silenced him and turned to Cloud, "What are we gonna do? We can't leave him here." Aerith's voice was full of distress.
Cloud slowly approached his now helpless adversary and knelt down. "How bad is it Tseng?" he asked motioning to where the current leader of the Turks was holding a bloodstained cloth to his torso. Tseng just looked at Cloud, after a moment Cloud slowly nodded his head. "Do you still have the Keystone? How do we get in the temple?"
Aerith looked to Cloud in shock, "What are you doing! We have to help him!" Tseng reached out and gently placed his hand over Aerith's.
"No." Tseng told her.
"But-?" Aerith's eyes began brimming with tears.
Tseng slowly shook his head, "No." His eyes locked with Aerith's for a moment, silently pleading for forgiveness, and to his surprise receiving it. Tseng slowly pulled himself to his feet, blood poured freely down his blue suit, turning it into a deep violet. "Only 6 of you can enter. It won't let any more in then that. grunt The Keystone seals the way until some of you exit." Tseng slowly moved over to the corner of the room and slid to the floor leaving a smear of blood on the wall.
"Thanks." Cloud nodded to him then turned to back to AVALANCHE, "So who wants to come?"
Aerith, Tifa, and Barret immediately stepped to Cloud's side. Cid flicked the remains of a cigarette out the door, "No way in #$ I'm staying behind." And he joined the larger group. Yuffie was about to jump forward when Cloud spoke.
"Nanaki you'll need to come to. Your knowledge of Ancients will be needed." Cloud explained. Nanaki nodded and walked over. "Ok." Cloud looked over the remaining members, "Vincent you're in charge until we return. Keep an eye out for monsters and Sephiroth." Vincent only nodded in reply. "Ok lets mosey." Cloud ordered.
With that Cloud turned and placed the Keystone in the stone tablet upon the roughly hewn stone altar. A small light shone from within the stone and spread to the tablet. Suddenly the group of 6 began sinking into the floor, after a moment of panic they relaxed and drifted downward. "Be careful." Aerith's voice echoed.
After staring at where the others had just been a moment ago, Yuffie broke the silence, "Ok what now?" She turned to Vincent.
Vincent walked over and leaned against the wall, "Wait." He answered.
Yuffie rolled her eyes, "Great... what do we do while we're waiting?"
"I've got some cards?" Cait Sith offered.
Yuffie eyed the automaton with distrust, "I'll think I'll pass." And began sharpening her shuriken. 'Not gonna play anything with a spy.' She thought harshly.
TIME PASSES SLOWLY.
"No way!" Yuffie threw her cards at Cait Sith, "You're cheating!"
"I am not!" Cait defended himself, "Just because you don't have a poker face doesn't mean I'm cheating!"
"Why you!" Yuffie pounced upon the stuffed toy.
Vincent watched the pair with seeming indifference. "Odd company for the MIA Leader of the Turks." Vincent turned his red gaze to Tseng. "Yes Mr. Valentine, I know who you are." Tseng gave a small chuckle, "Although I thought Reno and Rude had simply had to much to drink, but when Elena said you had returned and joined AVALANCHE I paid attention." Vincent turned his gaze away from the dying man. Tseng continued to watch Vincent. "Do you remember me?"
Vincent looked at Tseng once again, "Yes."
Tseng leaned his head against the wall, "Its been what? 30 years? You left for Nibelhelm the day I joined the Turks. You had become an icon of what a real Turk should be." Tseng coughed roughly. When the fit ended he began again, "Hojo said you had run into the Nibel Mountains when he came back to Midgar." Vincent tensed for a split second at Hojo's name; Tseng gave Vincent a questioning look, "Why do you hate him?"
Vincent met Tseng's look, "He killed her." Tseng's questioning gaze only intensified.
'Wonder what they're talking about?' Yuffie glanced at the pair of killers talking quietly in the corner. 'Does Vincent know him or something?' Yuffie watched them for a moment more before returning her attention to Cait Sith when the moogle jumped on top of her. "Hey!"
"So Lucrecia died because of the experiment that created Sephiroth... Hpmh, I knew Hojo was lying." Tseng said after Vincent revealed why he hated Hojo. "So what are you doing with AVALANCHE? Why not return to the Turks?"
Vincent gave him a long look; "Vincent Valentine of the Turks is dead, only I remain."
Tseng tried to shift his weight but winced in pain as blood began flowing from his wound again, "It all started all the way back then." He mused. Vincent raised an eyebrow. "The end of Shinra and the world began when you left for Nibelhelm." Tseng began to laugh but blood spurted from his mouth, "You know Shinra never stopped paying you... You're probably a very rich man by now." Tseng suddenly inhaled sharply and grit his teeth in pain. "I'm not long now." Vincent just stared at the man who had replaced him. "Next time you see Reno and the others..cough tell them... urk I'm sorry..." the last request of Tseng, leader of the Turks, fell from his now dead lips. Tseng's body slumped to one side and his bloody hand fell away from the gaping wound, his eyes stared blankly toward the lighted doorway.
Vincent walked over and knelt before the now dead man. "I will." He promised as he used his human hand to close Tseng's lifeless eyes.
ring "Hey the PHS!" Yuffie scrambled away from Cat Sith and pulled the small communicator from her knapsack. "What's up?" she yelled excitedly into the device.
"Yuffie not so loud!" Cloud answered back.
"Soorrry!" Yuffie pouted.
Cloud sighed deeply, "Never mind. Ok we've hit a problem. We've found out that Sephiroth is after the Black Materia but-"
"Black Materia!" Yuffie cried excitedly, "Where is it!"
"Yuffie please be quiet!" Cloud ordered, "The temple IS the materia. We know how to shrink it down to a smaller size."
"Ok so lets go outside and do it!" Yuffie nearly hung up the PHS.
"THAT'S where the problem is." Cloud yelled. "One of has to stay inside to do it." That silenced even Yuffie, no one spoke for a while each debating on what they would lose if they stayed.
"I'll do it!" Cat Sith cheered.
"What?" Cloud answered from within the temple.
"My body is only a toy!" Cat Sith replied, "Another one will show up soon enough."
"We can't trust a #$& spy!" Cid yelled after tearing the PHS from Cloud's hand.
"Give me that!" Cloud pulled it back from Cid, "He's right, how can we trust you?"
"Do you think Shinra wants the world to be destroyed?" Cait Sith began, "If Sephiroth is allowed to gain much more power he'll do exactly that! If I go then you guys can keep the Black Materia from him! You'll just have to let me do this!" Cait Sith had lost all of his usual self and had let some of his real self show in the heat of the moment. Cloud remained quiet, "Well?" Cait Sith pressed.
"Ok." Cloud relented. "There is another door at the rear of the temple, bring Tseng and meet us there."
Yuffie looked toward the limb body in the corner, "Uh Cloud?"
"Yes Yuffie?" Cloud answered.
"Tseng is..." Yuffie took a slow breath, "Tseng didn't make it." Yuffie heard Aerith give a small cry, "Sorry."
"Its ok." Cloud said with a concerned voice, "Just meet us at the door." click Cloud shut off the PHS.
Yuffie tossed the PHS into her knapsack, 'Poor Aerith, Tseng's been like a big brother to her.' Yuffie's heart ached for Aerith. 'Hope she'll be ok.' With that the last members of AVALANCHE exited the room, leaving Tseng to be entombed within the temple forever.
REAR OF THE TEMPLE.
"You guys almost here?" Yuffie called again, "We can't open the door from this side."
"We're there now." Cloud paused, "That's strange...?"
"What?" Yuffie countered.
"The door is... warm." Cloud said.
"CLOUD! Look out!" Tifa's yell came over the PHS followed by static as Yuffie was cut off.
Yuffie shook the small device, "What's going on! Don't leave us hanging!" She cried into the machine, her knuckles turning white. Suddenly she felt herself being pulled roughly from the doorway. "What are you doing Vin-" She fell silent when she followed Vincent's hard gaze. "What is that!" The wall was slowly growing, revealing a monster's malformed head. Razor teeth lined the monsters mouth, its long arms ended in gleaming black talons. It roared in fury before lashing at the pair.
Yuffie and Vincent avoided the blow, Yuffie sent her shuriken flying followed by an array of small knives. Vincent fired round after round at the creature, each of their attacks created small wounds in the monster. Cait Sith began throwing large stones at the creature, the creature turned to face the stuffed toy. Its eyes glowed slightly before a mist enveloped Cait Sith. When it cleared, Cait Sith's feet where stone and the effect was slowly climbing higher.
"Vinnie we have to help Cait!" Yuffie called. Vincent nodded and ran to the statue, he reached within his cape and produced a small bag. The creature suddenly lashed its huge hand out and caught Vincent full force. Vincent flew back several feet and slammed into a tree, after a moment he slowly began to stand. Yuffie continued her assault on the monster, when it suddenly howled in pain. Yuffie looked at it in confusion, "What happened?"
ring Yuffie looked about in confusion before jumping out of the creatures physical reach and picking up the PHS. "Yuffie are you there!" Aerith's voice came from the device.
"Yeah, but we're in trouble!" Yuffie exclaimed. "The wall suddenly came alive and started attacking us! Cait Sith is-"
"We know," Aerith cut her off, "Did the monster act as if it was hurt a moment ago?"
"Yes." Yuffie answered, her confusion deepening.
"Okay." Cloud's voice replaced Aerith's, "Yuffie we need you to use a summon materia. We'd use one but there isn't enough room in here. It will hurt BOTH sides of the creature!"
"Ok I will!" Yuffie hung up the phone. 'Ok which one do I have!' She search though her materia, 'Leviathan!' She pushed the orb into her shuriken quickly, "Vincent! Help Cait! I'm going to summon!" She began concentrating everything she was into the small red orb.
Vincent quickly made his way back to Cait Sith as he continued to fire rounds at the creature. "Is about time!" Cait Sith said angrily. Vincent ignored the bouncing cat and opened the small pouch over him, a white dust began settling on Cait Sith, almost immediately his stone body became its usual stuffed self, "Yay I'm me again!" He said as the trio was pulled into another dimension, Vincent turned his attention toward Yuffie.
Droplets of water began forming in front of her; quickly condensing into a huge sphere; in an instant the sphere shattered revealing the intertwining coils of the god of the sea, Leviathan. The blue-snake began untwining itself and faced the demon wall, the aqua eyes of the summon began to shine a bright blue and in the distance a massive roaring sound was heard. The trio turned to see a growing wall of water crashing toward them. The demon roared in defiance as the towering wall of water broke upon it, ripping and shredding the creature's body. After the sea began to release the land Leviathan vanished in a hiss of steam.
Yuffie felt herself return to normal space, "Whoa that was intense." She breathed as she sank to her knees in exhaustion. The creature gave one final scream of pain as its ragged form began to whirl away as dust. After nothing remained of the creature; Cloud and the rest of the group, pushed the stone door open and rejoined their comrades. Yuffie rose shakily to her feet, "You guys better thank me for that one!"
Her only answer was Aerith's and Tifa's smile with a strong pat on the back from Cloud. "Your on Cait." Cloud ordered the moogle-ridding Cait. Cait Sith just remained still, as if pondering something. "Well?" Cloud pressed.
"Let me read your fortunes before I go!" He answered, "I haven't done that in some time! It'll be the last time this body gets to do it! Please!" Cait begged on his knees while the moogle's lower lip quivered.
Cloud looked at Cait then around the group who just shrugged in reply, "Fine." He relented. Cait Sith jumped up and down then walked over to the group.
"Ok, here goes!" Cait Sith turned to Barret, "I predict a bright future for you and your new family!" Barret just grunted in reply. "Cid, look at what's in front of you not what is above you, you'll find a path to both!" Cid just flicked his cigarette at the dancing Cat. "Nanaki, your future has extreme sadness and the utmost joy in it." Nanaki nodded in gratitude. "Tifa! You'll have to go through a hard trial to gain what you desire." Tifa stared at him for a moment before blushing slightly. "Aerith now for you!"
"Can you tell me how compatible Cloud and I are?" Aerith interrupted.
Cait Sith shrugged, "No problem!" He did an exaggerated form of his usually dance, "Here it is! You both stars! Perfect for each other!" Aerith's smile spread ever larger across her face, but faded slightly as she mouthed 'I'm sorry.' to Tifa. "Ok Cloud now you! Wait a minute you already had 2 fortunes, you're done." He turned to Yuffie, "Your future is as bright as you make it be!"
"Well duh!" Yuffie laughed.
Cait grinned broadly before turning to the last member of the party, "Vincent, sorry you had to be last!" Vincent made no move to reply. "Your future is turbulent, filled with uncertainty; lingering threads tie you to the past, barring your future." Cait Sith looked crestfallen when Vincent continued to act uninterested in him. "Well!" Cait Sith perked back up, "I'm off!" He quickly rushed into the door and slammed it behind him, only an echo of "Don't forget the original me!" remained.
"Well now what?" Yuffie asked no one unparticular.
"We wait." Cloud answered absently.
Yuffie dropped to her butt, "Not more waiting!" she cried. Everyone save Vincent chuckled at her outburst, "Anyone got any cards?" Yuffie asked.
TIME FLOWS BY.
"It's starting!" Tifa exclaimed as a black field surrounded the temple. Cracking and scrapping resounded throughout the area as the temple collapsed in on itself, leaving a sizable crater. "Whoa." Tifa's comment only echoed the looks on the groups' faces.
"I'll get the materia." Cloud said as he began climbing down the steep slope.
"I'll go to." Aerith followed him quickly.
"The rest of you stay up there and keep an eye out." Cloud ordered before anyone else could speak. The group watched as the pair descended into the hole. As Cloud picked up the materia they all were suddenly thrown to the ground by an irresistible force.
"Sephiroth!" Vincent growled, fighting in vain against the intense gravity.
"Give me the materia Cloud." Everyone looked up to see Sephiroth's form appear and descend into the pit. Cloud fell to his knees clutching his head as if in pain. "Give it to me! Now!" At the sound of Sephiroth's cutting voice Cloud straightened and slowly held out the ebony orb. Sephiroth laughed as he took the orb and disappeared into the clouds. The group felt the force lift off them allowing them to stand.
"Cloud?" Aerith gingerly touched the blond man's shoulder. At her touch Cloud turned and jumped at her, hands outstretched. After they fell to the ground Cloud began to pummel the small woman. "Cloud! Stop it!" She yelled in pain, but her cry fell upon deaf ears.
"What the #$ do you think you're doing!" Cid exclaimed, "We gotta stop him!" Everyone began to descend into the hole. Vincent with his inhuman reflexes reached the bottom first and with a deft swipe to Cloud's head the former SOLDIER collapsed on top of Aerith. "Now what the #$ do we do?" Cid huffed when he reached the bottom.