CHAPTER ONE
"What is madness, is it a state of mind, or does one become mad because of his actions, or does he actually choose to become it"
Professor R.
Gast.
Lead Shinra
Researcher on the Ancients.
(3 Three years to the Corel Incident, 5 Years till the Nibelhiem Reactor incident, and 7 Till Final Fantasy)
A couple of years after the Materia War, life has begun to go back to normal, most of the world seems to be a little bit more safer, and traveling all over the place is becoming the norm again. People seem to more at ease, of Course if you were living around Midgar, most of the upper plates have been installed, and completed; work is now being focused on building a massive city on the plates. Ian of course is living at Junon, in a small cramped apartment, with little space, he sometimes wanders around. He know most of the shop keepers, and such he is currently assigned to base security, which he has a small 8 man team.
"Man I don't know why I got stuck here, man the action is at Midgar" said Jack.
"Hey don't ask me, I am just glad the war is over, and I have a nice job here ya know" said Ian.
1st Jack Knocksville, is a person that stands about 5, 6 feet, and has black hair, his attitude usually gets him in trouble.
"You know that they have started some top secret SOLDIER program, Ian" said Jack.
"Yes I do know about that, they infuse some cells, into you, and Zap you with Mako radiation "said Ian.
"That's what I am talking about, I put my request in, and they turn me down" said Jack.
"Probably the smartest thing that they did" said Ian with a smirk.
"He watch, it know I am a superior officer" said Jack.
"Well seeing that we are off duty, pardon me if I don't get up, and Salute you" said Ian.
"True, but I will bet that I can beat you at darts" said Jack.
"True you could, but I have to get up early tomorrow, my squad is on patrol, and I think we have go to Fort Junon" said Ian.
"Nothing real exciting happens does it Ian, after the war everything got quiet" said Jack.
"I have got a feeling that, things will probably pick up, because everyone hates Shinra" said Ian.
"True, but with the promise of Space flight, and a town renaming itself to Rocket town" said Jack.
"Yeah Shinra is thinking of going into outer space, but it will be years before until that Rocket is built, probably sometime in our late early thirties" Said Ian.
"True, I think by the time I hit my thirties, I will be a Lt. Col." Said Jack.
"Don't make me laugh, I bet you will be a 1st lt. for the rest of your life" said Ian.
"Well in the meantime I can dream can't I?" asked Jack.
"Or a nightmare" said Ian.
"Funny guy" said Jack.
"Anyways I am outta here" said Ian.
Ian gets up, and heads to his apartment. The night goes uneventful, as the morning approaches his team is in a small APC driving over the terrain heading towards Fort Junon, to relieve a look out team, to ensure that a Giant condor does not make a nest there.
"How many days are we going to be there sir" asked Sergeant Bowles.
"Just about a month this time around, seeing that the thing takes that long to try again" said 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
"Why don't we just kill it?" asked Sgt Bowles.
"You know how many environmentalists would be up our asses Sgt. Bowles?" asked 2nd Lieutenant McDiarmid
"Probably, tens of thousands right" said Sgt. Bowles.
"Sgt, on the nose." said 2nd Lieutenant McDiarmid.
After an hours travel the APC reaches Fort Junon, the ramp comes down and 2nd Lieutenant McDiarmid' squad walks out, to relieve the squad at Fort Junon. Some of the out going soldiers walk tiredly up the ramp, while the Officer in charge of that squad talks to 2nd Lieutenant McDiarmid.
"There you go 2nd Lieutenant McDiarmid the place is all yours, you might have to stock the fridge, but I think you guys can manage" said the officer.
"Swell, did you manage to keep the bird from setting up shop" asked 2nd Lieutenant McDiarmid.
"Of course it was giving us trouble like a son of bitch but we managed." said the officer.
"Well, enjoy your trip back to Junon, I would not want to keep you here any longer" said 2nd Lieutenant McDiarmid.
"Yeah some R&R" said the Officer.
After a few minutes the APC leaves back for Junon, the squad of course takes up positions through out the Fort, and begins to watch over Fort Junon. Hours seem to drag on as so do the days, the condor bird that wants to nest does not show for sometime, but the squad remains ready for anything, waiting for it to show.
"Man, this is so freaking boring, I can not believe that this bird does not have the balls to show up" said one the soldiers.
"Probably a good thing son, it makes this little trip worth it" said Sgt. Bowles.
"Yeah, you right on that one Sergeant" said 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
"I wonder about something, sir?" asked Master Corporal Higgins.
"What is it Higgins?" asked 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
"Well it is about the direction that this world is going" said Higgins.
"So what about this direction, which has you worried, are you afraid of change?" asked 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
"Well no to either sir, during the war Shinra is basically a corporation that builds Mako Reactors, and supplied arms to the Once, and former Eastern Continental Nation, and now after the ECN collapsed everyone is looking to Shinra for power, and protection basically a Mega Conglomerate" said Higgins.
"So now Shinra has transformed itself from a Conglomerate to a Socialize government." said 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
"But know I wonder if this new style of government, is going to the down fall of us all?" asked Higgins.
"Well son, I think to put it in way that all of us can understand, we get a pay cheque, a job, and be able to support ourselves that is all what I see here" said 2nd Lieutenant McDiarmid.
Most of the squad laughs a bit, and with a smile on their faces.
"I know that sir, but think about we do not vote on any of the board members, and the President of the company can stay in power as long as he wants, and at what cost we fought a war, all about the Materia, it was never about Self Defense it was basically about this orbs that grant the user special "powers" said Higgins.
"Well you are right about that one, it was basically about that, I can agree on that I would not worry about Shinra could always lose it's power base, companies always have a hard time holding on to power, so just sit back, and enjoy the ride" said 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
The rest of the day goes very much uneventful, the next day a group of people approach the Fort with signs LET THE CONDOR NEST, they start shouting out there motto.
The squad comes down to greet the protesters.
"Okay what is this about, and who is in charge?" asked 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
An old woman, with glasses, and raggedy clothes walks up to 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
"You should leave Fort Junon, and let the Condor nest here, it should be allowed to!" demanded the woman.
Ian caught off guard by the smell of the woman, so he takes a few steps back, and then looks into the woman's eyes.
"How about NO" said 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
The woman has a shocked look on her face, and begins to get the crowd going. She turns, and faces the crowd.
"YOU SEE, SHINRA DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THE CONDOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO NEST HERE SO THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE ARMED TROOPS HERE, RUNNING THE CHANCE OF POSSIABLILTY OF KILLING IT" screamed the woman.
"Hold on a sec folks, this is a Shinra outpost, and I am here to make sure that thing does not call this place home" said 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
"But you are armed why?" asked the woman.
"Simple to drive it away all of our weapons have blanks in it" said 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
"Oh really you think we can believe you, I am sure that you are lying, YOU HEAR THAT THEY ARE LYING TO US" said the woman.
"Okay, do you want me to prove to you that I have blank rounds then?" asked 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
"Well, I think you are lying" said the woman.
Just then a huge shadow flies over the crowd and the soldiers as the condor circles the Fort ready to land. The protesters are amazed by the beauty, but Ian knows it is a threat.
"Alright men, take up you positions, inside the fort, and start shooting" ordered 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
Most of the squad enters the fort, some take outside positions, ready for the command to open fire.
"Alright Open Fire" said 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
Just as Ian is ready to raise his weapon, and shoot, the woman jumps on him, and the rifle goes of premature the blanks that are in Ian's gun have been mixed in with live rounds, and the bullets start to shred the women, and instantly killing her. Within seconds the Condor sees flashing from the guns, and is occasionally hit, decides to fly off away from the fort.
"MEDIC" screams 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
Two of the squads' medics tend to the woman, but she is already dead.
THIS IS GLOBAL NEWS NETWORK
Today at Fort Junon, a tragedy has taken place as one protester is dead, early indications, that a Shinra soldier has killed a woman accidentally.
Reports also indicate the woman jumped on a Shinra Officer, while his was trying to scare the condor away, at this time no comment from the Shinra Corporation and no word from the army at this time.
A week later 2nd Lt. McDiarmid, is sitting at a board of inquiry awaiting the results of his trial.
"Would the defendant please rise" said the judge.
2nd Lt. McDiarmid rise from his seat.
"2nd Lt. McDiarmid do you have anything to say before your judgment" asked the Judge.
"No, sir" said 2nd Lt. McDiarmid.
"This board of inquiry finds you innocent of all charges, on the grounds that you could not have anticipated that the woman actions would place her in harm, and which lead to her death" said the judge
"However, this board found a little negligence on your part you should have anticipated all the possibilities when dealing with that level of fanatics, however it was a minor side effect" said the judge.
"I am sure with more experience, I am sure that you will be able to be more careful around those types of situations, Court Dismissed." said the judge as he hits the gavel onto the bench.
Ian drops into the chair relieved to hear the good news, and he looks over to the angry group of protesters that watched the proceedings. He leans over to his defense lawyer.
"I am sure that they are going to be really mad" said Ian.
"Don't worry you got off, because one of them tried to be a martyr" said the lawyer.
"True, enough at least now that we can do our job, and leave us alone" said Ian.
"I would not be to sure on that, they might succeed one day" said the lawyer.
"Well it won't be on my watch" said Ian with a Grin on his face.
