Wow, a whole one, more review. Not impressed. Nope. Not impressed at all. I mean sure, it's nice to see that someone else has read my story, or at least part of it, but I'm now going to assume that everyone who was reading my story, now is not. Fine, be that way. I will still continue to write.
This is the last time I am going to ask this. If you are reading this chapter, then review this chapter. Even if you have already reviewed a chapter or even two or three chapters, review anyway. I want to know who is still reading. Thank you.
Chapter 16.
If Life is Like a Box of Chocolates, Then My Chocolates All Have Mold
This was it. The battle for Spira.
Army versus army.
Humans versus monsters.
The entire world up for the taking
And all Wakka could think about was how many licks it really takes to get to the center of those damned Choco-lollis.
Bastards! They make them all different so each one takes a different amount of licks, he thought after his 22nd Choco-lolli, How can I know how many it takes to get to the center if they don't make them the same! I hate them ya! But one day I will figure it out, and then they will pay, oh they will pay. I'll hold their secret ransom. If they don't pay 200 million gil to me, I will reveal the truth and ruin their marketing strategy, sending them down the corporate spiral of doom! Okay, one lick... two licks... CRUNCH! Ahhhh, damn!
Meanwhile on a slightly more intelligent note, the rest of Spira's grand army was working on the development and construction of the battlements in Mushroom Rock. Machina weapons were every where, along with Kimahri's brainchild, the Crescent Death.
The Crescent Death was an incredibly barbaric weapon that was only legalized because the fate of the world was hanging in the balance. For a description of this of this violent tool of slaughter, imagine a large wooden wall, about as long as two and a half school buses parked end to end. About 2 feet above the ground, and another roughly 7 feet above that, were wooden doors or flaps that rose upward on hinges. These flaps almost spanned the length oh the wall. In the back of the wall, behind the 2 opening flaps, were giant blades. The blades themselves took up nearly half of the opening flaps in the wall. Attached to these blades was a pulley system. At one end were the blades and the flaps. At the other were huge blocks of lead. Held up by a smaller structure. When the system was triggered, these huge wieghts would drop, causing the flaps to open up and the blades to shoot out in front of the wall in an arc. Kind of like a sideways catapult, (more properly a sideways trebuchete for the history buffs) only it threw a blade around in an arc, and didn't shoot anything. These two blades were huge and designed to merely slice through everything in its way, and knock over and serverly injure or kill what it couldn't cut through, simple, yet effective.
Only a few miles away from here, Tidus rode a hover, heading toward the complex as fast as possible. His clean getaway from the queen of all drunks was almost hampered by local authorities, but after saving the world once already, you can get away with almost anything, especially when your on your way to save it again.
He radioed Yuna and she notified the guards of his arrival. Like a king before his castle doors, the gates parted and Tidus didn't even have to slow down to pass through.
Auron was sitting at a desk in a small warehouse in the complex. He was sitting across from the mechanic, pouring over manuals, trying to learn everything from controls, to dimensions, to basic driving strategies. Cramming information wasn't Auron's style, and he hadn't done it since the day after three huge parties in a row during his collage days. He had just finally figured the math for thrust, drag, and weight, when Tidus threw open the door, and it slammed into the wall.
He strode up to the desk and started rummaging through Auron's books and papers. He was mumbling, but Auron made out something about "did it all before, oh this is weak, how long were you gonna take on this crap, and stupid Mr. Denesay." "What are you doing?" asked Auron impatiently. "All right, class is over," replied Tidus, "no need to go any further, I'll drive this thing."
"I don't know if you realize, but this is a very advanced piece of machinery. You cant just drive it, it takes a long time to learn," said the mechanic. "I know what it takes to drive one of these," Tidus boasted, "I practically built one back in high school."
"In high school?" Auron asked raising an eye brow, "are you sure your not confusing this with something else." Tidus shot back, "Of course I'm sure. I blew a science test junior year, and had to this a big project on advanced transportation. Instead studying new airships and watercraft like everyone else, I decided to do something military. I had to make a model of the cockpit for my vehicle, and describe how it runs, so I ended up building part of the engine too, to make sure I was right about how it worked. It took me over a month. In the end, I took the license test as a favor from one of my old friends who dropped out of school and joined the military. I even passed."
"That sounds like a huge load of crap to me, but if your that sure you can do this, than I won't stop you," said the mechanic, "but just remember, it's not just you who dies if you don't make it."
"I'm sure, now show me the selection," Tidus said eagerly.
A few minutes later they were in the hanger, the mechanic was showing them all the cheaper models as they passed. Finally they reached another large door inside the hanger. It had an authorized personal only sign on it and an electronic keypad wired to it. The mechanic quickly punched in a long code, and the huge door began to shake, and move. Before them stood a much smaller selection of vehicles, but they looked much more impressive. "All right gentlemen and ladies," the mechanic pointed to one of the hovers, "This is the FA-46 Sonic Boom, the third fastest land vehicle you will find in this complex, and probably the world. Along with her speed comes armor that will keep you alive but won't slow you down, I'm sure she will be strong enough."
At these words Yuna saw Tidus whisper something to Paine. Yuna tried to keep watching them. Her attention was diverted however, when the mechanic started talking about the paperwork. No more than 20 seconds later the mechanic looked up as he heard a small crunch. His eyes widened almost past the explosion point.
"DEAR YEVON MAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"
Yuna turned around to see Tidus standing next to the hover, with Paine's Samurai sword partly in his hands, and partly stuck in a gash running straight through the FA-46's armor. Tidus only smiled and said simply, "it's not strong enough"
"Tidus!" Yuna shouted angrily, "Must you destroy everything you come in contact with!"
"Boys with toys." he said, smiling.
"Well, if that one isn't strong enough for you, then maybe this will work." The mechanic said, looking insulted. He led them around toward the back of the room, and showed them an even larger hover.
"Here we have the FA-53 Paladin Bunny. It was originally going to be the Bullet, but a couple of the geeks down in the lab were calling it the Paladin Bunny, and somehow, it just stuck." Tidus looked it over and decided it didn't need testing.
They talked with a few more people, and finally, it was theirs for the taking. They would leave first thing after the invasion, which had already been confirmed by a few scouts. The fiends were expected to arrive early the next morning. As the finishing touches were being put on the battlements, Tidus took the time to try and weasel his way into very fun night.
"So Yuna, you realize that danger that lies ahead of us right?" "Of course I do," she answered, "what kind of summoner would I be if I didn't."
Tidus kept going, "So you know that this could be our last night in this world. The last night we might ever have together " Yuna laughed, "sorry, but that's not going to work on me, I see right through you. Maybe I would, but I left the pills back on Garrous Island." Tidus swore under his breath. "Try again later," she said, "I'm sexier when I'm not under pressure"
Oh I beg to differ, thought Tidus.
The morning came all too soon for the worried soldiers at Mushroom Rock Road. Auron could see it on their faces as they formed ranks in front of him. He was standing next to General Barogen. After the General went over the battle plans, Auron took the podium.
"I'm not going to lie to you," he said in his usual voice, "there will be nothing happy about this day. This battle will be faught not for a strategic location, or a decisive attack, or even to get the upper hand for a coming battle. This battle, will be faught to take out as many of their numbers as we possibly can. This means that there will be no spies, no raids, and no temporary halts to the fighting. The best advice I can possibly give you I'm sure you already know, but it would do you well to hear it again. Blood will be spilled on this day... make sure it isn't yours!" This last statement brought a tidal wave of cheers from the soldiers.
It all started like someone had planned it out. (hmmm, planned, nah, it's not like it isn't some lame battle scene written by some no name author sitting at home on his outdated computer) Captain Lucil of the Chocobo Knights was out on patrol when she came racing over a hill back toward the base, with an army of fangs on her tail. She had been running for a long time, and her chocobo couldn't run as fast anymore.
"Snipers, take aim!" shouted one of the Al Behd commanding officers. A hundred or so snipers all raised their heads and unison, and picked targets. "Take out the fangs closest to Captain Lucil, and FIRE!" Shots rang out from the cliffs of Mushroom Rock. Small sprays of dirt flew up everywhere around the frightened chocobo and all of the fiends within 8 feet fell to the ground. They continued to fire in an attempt to rescue Captain Lucil, but it wasn't long before there was too many fangs for the snipers to kill. She pushed her Chocobo to do one final jump to safety, but a fiend caught the leg of the chocobo, and Captain Lucil went tumbling off. She stood up and drew her sword, making no attempt to run. Safety was a lost cause.
The officers had ordered the deadly machine guns to open fire, now that Lucil was down. The ground around the Captain exploded as the machine guns opened up.
For a full five seconds the Captain could be seen swinging her sword madly back and forth through the screen of blood, dust, and pyreflies. Finally she fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. Whether it was a fiend that kille her, or the friendly fire of one of the raging machine guns, the world would never know. What was for certain, was that Captain Lucil was dead, and many more were about to follow.
I realize I haven't updated in a long time, but I had to get some new ideas. I wasn't originally going to kill off a semi important character, but I was influenced by a few other stories that I've read. I realized that there should be some charecter who tragically dies that someone might actually care about. (for an example of someone dying and no one caring, see O'aka, chapter 14 ) Bye, and review.