CHAPTER SIX
"We should never let our emotions get the best of us"
-Unknown Author.
(15 months till Final Fantasy 7)
It is quiet night at Ian, and Marlene's home, on the upper Midgar Plate of Sector 6. Ian opens the door, and notices the table has candles lit, and the lights dim. Ian thinks to himself it can't be our anniversary, oh no is it her birthday, or it is our first date?"
"C'monover here Ian, I bet you are thinking that you have missed a important date didn't you" said Marlene.
"Well the thought has crossed my mind," said Ian.
"Well, I got back from the doctor today, and he said I am pregnant" said Marlene.
"I am going to be a father," said an excited Ian.
"Yes, I thought I would tell you first," said Marlene.
Ian grabbed, Marlene, and picked her up then spins her around, in celebration.
Meanwhile in the Sector 7 Slums, a young girl walks into a Bar known as Seventh Heaven. Her name is Tifa Lockheart; she is the sole survivor of the Nibelheim incident, to her knowledge. She sits on one of the empty barstools. A ten years old girl approaches her, "What can I get you?".
Tifa looks at the young Girl "What is your name?" she asks.
"Marleneā¦" said the Girl.
"Well, Marlene I am looking for a guy named Barret, do you know where he is?" asked the girl.
"I do not know a guy, by that name" said Marlene.
"Are you sure, I heard he is looking for more people to join Avalanche" said Tifa.
The entire room goes silent, and some patrons run out of the bar, some take cover under their table.
A loud voice booms over the bar.
"Depends on who is asking" said a man.
Tifa scans the room, and then looks around some more.
"Who said that?" asked Tifa.
"Me" said the man as he walks out of the shadows.
" I take it then you are Barret, then" said Tifa.
"Yeah, so you think you are tough enough to join Avalanche eh?" said Barret.
"Yeah I am Pretty tough in a Fight" said Tifa.
"Well then I guess you going to have to prove it" said Barret.
"Alright then, let's do this" said Tifa with a smirk on her face.
Everyone in the bar clears out.
"Let's do this outside then, I don't want anyone to get hurt," said Tifa.
"Alright, we can do that," said Barret.
A huge gathering happens as the crowd forms a circle, and the two combatants face each other. Wedge starts a betting pool, and the house favors Barret in wining.
"No, weapons, just fists" said Tifa.
"All right little girl, you win you are in, I win you get the hell out of here" said Barret.
"Fine by me" said Tifa.
Tifa starts to run towards Barret, which he sees Tifa running towards him. Barret whines up for a haymaker for Tifa, and thrusts it towards her she ducks underneath him, and spins kicks him, knocks him of his feet, she back away. Barret gets up nice try little girl.
"I gave you a freebee, this time you will feel it" said Barret.
"That's what they all say" said Tifa.
She runs towards Barret, and jumps into the air, which he grabs her left leg, and starts to throw her, she is flung, and hits the ground hard. She gets up, and runs again then hits him the gut, he counters with backhand knocking her to the ground which she jumps up.
Tifa is getting a little frustrated with her opponent that keeps defending her attacks. Barret runs towards her, and grabs her , and once again throws her to the ground.
"Looks like this fight is over when it began" said Barret.
"I have a few tricks still up my sleeves" said Tifa.
"Well then you, probably have used them already" said Barret.
"Oh yeah" said Tifa.
She runs towards him again, then slides underneath Barret, and hits him the groin, he bends down, then after minute he turns around ,and then runs towards her, and slap her face. Which knocks her back, a flash emenates from Tifa, then runs fast towards him, and starts repeatedly hitting him, and pushing him back. Barret wipes some blood from his mouth.
'You got lucky with that" said Barret.
A another flash emenates this time from Barret, and he builds up power from his gun arm, it then fires, Tifa manages to dodge, and then jumps in the air, and spin kicks Barret in the face knocking him back, and then lands behind him, confused Barret starts to turn around, but Tifa kicks his knee cap from behind, and then he starts to lose his balance, then falls down to ground on one knee. Barret tries to recover, he gets up, and turns around only to see too late to dodge a fist, and then his knocked onto his, back knocked out.
A man runs out, and starts to count out Barret
"One, Two, Three Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, This match is over" said the Man.
Tifa lifts her hands into the air, moments later Barret gets up walks over to Tifa, and extends his hand.
"Welcome to Avalanche, Tifa" said Barret.
"Thanks you Barret," said Tifa, as she shakes his hand.
One month till the Bombing Mission.
Cloud entered the Bar, with Zack's buster sword slung on his back, he recognizes Tifa.
"Tifa, I thought you had died, from your wounds" said Cloud.
"No, I was saved by , a family friend, which he took me to the nearest town" said Tifa.
"That's a relief, so now you are tending bar" said Cloud.
"Well, actually yes, but I am a part of Avalanche, and we need someone like you to help us blow up Midgar Mako Reactor Number 6" said Tifa.
"Well then if the money is right I will help you" said Cloud.
"Alright, how about 15,000 Gil" said Tifa.
"Deal, Tifa" said Cloud.
Meanwhile, at the Upper Midgar Plate Hospital, Marlene is in labor.
"Push Marlene, c' mon you are almost there" said Ian.
Marlene starts to push even hard, she screams in pain, and squeezes Ian's Hand. A few minutes later Marlene gives birth to a healty baby girl. Ian brings her over to Marlene.
"Look Marlene she has your face, and she is perfect" said Ian.
Marlene takes the baby girl, in her arms, and looks at her.
"What are we going to name you" said Marlene.
"Melissa, my mother' name, and her middle name Heather after your mother, McDiarmid" said Ian.
"That is wonderful Ian" Said Marlene.
Excuse, me sir, the results of the DNA test, it is yours" said a Doctor.
"Why do we have to have DNA test, for?" asked Ian.
"Seeing that you are high ranking officer, in the Security Force, we have to make sure that any off spring of yours is verified, to prevent embarrassment" said the Doctor.
"I guess that it is procedure, then it is procedure" said Ian.
" I better let you sleep Marlene, I will be at our place if you need anyting" said Ian.
"All right, Ian, " said a tired Marlene.
A month later Marlene is getting ready to go out. Ian walks into the house,
"Honey were are you going with Melissa?" asked Ian.
"Well the girls at Reactor 6, want me to come down, and show them the baby." said Marlene.
"Marlene, I have a bad feeling about, please stay home, at least for a couple more days, we have reports, that Avalanche is going for a Reactor here at Midgar, and I want you to be safe" said Ian.
"Don't worry about me, I am sure that they are only posturing seeing that they been making that threat for a long time" said Marlene.
"But I can feel it, Marlene" said Ian.
"Don't worry I am only going to be there for an hour, I will be alright" said Marlene.
"Okay, only for an hour, then" said Ian.
During that time Avalanche, climb aboard the train, and ascend to the upper level plate and then the train stops, at its destination. Avalanche jumps off the train beats up a couple of guards, not before one of them Manages to hit the alarm button.
Meanwhile in the control Room, a red light flashes alerting the person at her station of a security breach.
"Sir, We have a security breach at Reactor 6" said the girl.
"Avalanche, alert all security teams, and begin to evacuate all workers immediately" ordered Ian.
"Yes, sir Squads Two Flower, and Delta Fife are responding," said the girl.
"Tell them, I am on the way, with back up," said Ian.
"Yes, sir" said the woman.
Meanwhile, back at the Midgar Reactor Marlene, grabs Melissa, and start moving with the rest of the evacuees. She notices she forgot Melissa's stuff bear, and quickly runs back to the lunch room. She puts her down, and grabs the bear, and Melissa, and starts to run back holding Melissa, tight.
"Hurry up" said a Solider.
Ian, Speeds towards the Reactor, leading a group of Jeeps, which has armed soldiers responding to the Avalanche threat. Unknown to him that Marlene is still inside.
"Alright, folks this is the real thing, lets stop it before they blow the thing up" said Ian.
The Jeeps get there to late, and the Reactor starts to blow.
"Hit the deck" someone yells out
Ian notices Marlene is just coming out of the Reactor. The explosion catches up with her, and engulfs her.
"Marlene, NO" screams Ian, as he starts to run for her.
Two Soldiers grab him, and restrain him, and push him to the ground
"MARLENE, NO" screams Ian, as he struggles to get free.
An hour later, Ian is pacing back, and forth it has been at least four hours since Marlene entered surgery. He waits with his Parent's, and Marlene's waiting for the Doctor. A few minutes later a doctor dressed in a surgical gown approaches Ian he has a sad look on his face.
"I am sorry, Ian but there was nothing we could do to save her, or Melissa" said the Doctor.
Ian tries to hold back his emotions. He drops to his knees, and then down on all fours his, and Marlene's parents run to Ian, and help him back on his feet.
"Can I see them?" asked Ian.
"Yes of course" said the doctor.
Ian is lead into the room, with Marlene, and an incubator with a blanket drawn over Melissa, he sits down beside Marlene, and the room is quiet, except the life support system, delaying the inevitable for Marlene. Ian grabs her hand, and Marlene moves her head, and barley opens her eyes.
"Ian is that you?" asked Marlene.
"Yes, it is my love," said Ian.
"I should have listen to you," said Marlene.
"Do not worry about that, Marlene," said Ian as he is fighting back tears.
"I should not have gone, back for that teddy bear, I should have kept on going" said Marlene.
"It's alright Marlene, Melissa is sleeping right now" said Ian.
"Thank god, when do you think they will let me out of here?" asked Marlene.
"About a month, Marlene" said Ian.
"That quick eh, I am surprised at you Ian you are a terrible liar," said Marlene.
Ian fights hard to keep from crying. Marlene looks into Ian's eyes both of them remembers that first night they looked into each other's eyes. Marlene coughs a bit, and struggles to hold keep her eyes open.
"Ian, I feel tired, so tired" said Marlene.
"Go to sleep, now Marlene, I will be here when you wake up" said Ian
"Okay, Ian" said Marlene.
Marlene closes her eyes, a few mintues, later her EKG monitor begins to flat line, and he feels her hand getting stiff which he puts it down beside her. He takes the blanket, and covers her face. He walks out of the room, and falls down, he gets up with an angry look on his face, and starts to storm out of the Hospital, both his, and Marlene's parents try to stop him.
"Son, come back," said his dad.
Ian gets into the Jeep, and speed towards the Shinra Tower. He listens to the radio
"All units suspects have been seen in the vicinity of the Sector 6 Market, all units respond." Crackled the radio.
"So, you have been laying low for awhile," said Ian
Ian speeds towards the Sector 6 Market. A few minutes later he sees Cloud being surrounded by three squads of Soldiers. He slams on the brake, grabs his rifle, and runs towards him, by the time he got there Cloud jumped on the Train passing under the bridge. Ian pulls his Rifle up, takes aim, and starts shooting until the clip is empty; he then throws it onto the ground.
A day later, Ian wakes up in an empty house; he walks into Melissa's room, and notices all her stuff is there except for an empty crib. Then he walks into the living room, and notices the first family portrait of Marlene, Melissa, and Ian. He picks it up looks at for a while then puts it back down. He looks around he notices a small necklace; he picks it up, and notices it is holographic pendant. He hits the button, it folds out, and an image of Marlene, holding Melissa.
"Ian, I bought this little trinket, thinking you might get a kick out of it; seeing that you might be sent out, or maybe pulling a night shift, and so I thought I would give you this to remind you that no matter the distance, we always be close, so long for now"
The image disappears, and Ian closes it, he puts around his neck.
"Marlene" said Ian.
Ian is aimlessly driving through Sector 6, when he hears the radio crackle to life.
"ALL, UNITS CONVERGE ON TRAIN STATION, AND SUROUNDING AREA, WE HAVE A SECURITY BREACH, UNAUTHORIZED PASSENGERS, POSSIABLE AVALANCHE ATTACK" said the Radio.
"This time for sure you are going down, and I will make you pay for my wife, and child," said Ian.
Ian floors his Jeep, towards the train station, in hopes to get there first to welcome Avalanche, be he grabs the radio.
"Security, Control bring the Robot units on-line, and have them guard the entrance to the Reactors," said Ian.
"Roger that, but why?" said Dispatch.
"Their target are the Reactors, and we have to slow them down" said Ian.
Hours later, Avalanche meet up at Reactor 1, and start heading towards the entrance several guards units appear.
"Shit retreat" said Barret.
The group starts to back track, the left, and right walk way has been cut off.
A Chopper carrying President Shinra hovers down.
"Your little Rebellion against us is over" said the President.
"Not Fucking likely" said Barret.
Barret aims at the Helicopter, is ready to fire. But then he hears the roar of hover jets a rather large robot sentry hovers down. After the fight the Robot initiates a self-destruction sequence then explodes. Cloud then falls down into the black abyss, while the rest of the group manages to escape barley.
The very next day, Ian drives up to the Hospital, and gets out he walks up to the desk.
"I am here for my dead wife, and daughter," said Ian.
"I am sorry sir, but you can't take them," said the receptionist.
Ian pulls out a 9mm berretta, and points at the receptionist.
"How about this is gun says otherwise, and don't bother calling for security, I have them so tied up right now that they can't make heads or tails" said Ian.
"All Right, then the morgue is on the 2nd basement floor" said the receptionist.
About an hour later, Ian walks out of the hospital with his dead wife, and child. He loads them carefully in the back of the Jeep, and moments later he leaves Midgar. He drives for at least three hours, and drives up a dirt road on the Mythril Mountain range to a secluded spot where it over looks Kalm, and Midgar. Two hours later Ian finishes Burying Marlene, and Melissa. Ian stands in silence for a while, then he sits in front of their graves.
"Ahhh, mourning your loss" said a man.
Ian turns around, and sees Sephiroth, he goes for his gun, but Sephiroth puts his Masamune Blade tip up against his neck.
"Don't even try it" said Sephiroth.
"Well get it over, so I can join my wife, and my daughter" said Ian.
"No, I have proposition for you, I can help you take revenge on those who killed your Family, or you can die like the rest of the Planet" said Sephiroth.
"What guarantee, that you won't turn on me?" asked Ian.
"You will have to trust me" said Sephiroth.
The End?
