Chapter Two
Deaths at Fort Condor
The candle had long since burned out yet he made no move to replace it. The room was black like a vault that no light could penetrate. He sat there, his eyes roaming around the room, seeing everything despite that there was absolutely no light coming in. His eyes roamed over the books, the floor, the desk he sat at, the table...the table...the test tubes against the wall and then back to the books. Flashes of the past assaulted his mind, names raced by almost to fast to comprehend, images, feelings, memories not just his own. All assaulted him, tortured him, taunted him, pain, sadness, lovelosshelplessnessloyaltycontemptfear. STOP! He felt it, it was coming, always coming, ripping, clawing...Moving faster than any human he was gone, the room lat empty, the only sound was the hinges of the door closing down the hall and the lock being turned.
Tifa woke the next morning feeling refreshed. She hadn't felt this good since she had left Neo-Midgar. 'There's just something good about sleeping on a nice soft bed. More supplies and equipment would be needed to continue on to Junion tomorrow, so best get them today.' Thought Tifa as she dressed to face the day. 'Also, I'll need to pay the stable girl for looking after Hindi.' Heading downstairs, Tifa was surprised to see a lot of people gathered in the waiting room. Walking over to the counter, Tifa turned to the clerk.
"Busy day today?" Tifa said cheerfully.
"No, three people were just found dead this morning. Torn to pieces by some mad beast."
"What! That's awful, but why is everyone here?"
"My Uncle runs this place, and he's in charge of this towns defenses. Everyone came here to ask him what's going to happen. He's talking to them now."
Tifa turned to the crowed and saw an older man calmly talking to the crowed. Moving closer to hear what he was saying, Tifa left the front desk.
"...and so now everyone remain indoors until the scene can be properly looked at. How will we know what happened if the footprints are wiped out by everyone. Return to your houses and I'll call a meeting to discus what was discovered. Rick, Mayha come with me, the rest of you Home! Now!
The old man led a middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman out the door. Tifa followed. Caught up in the flow of people, she had to force her way free. The three people were heading toward the water and Tifa soon caught up. "I'd like to help if I can." She said when the old man turned to tell her off. "I have experience with tracking and monsters."
"Well I suppose...Just don't get in the way. The names Gus, and you are?"
"Tifa."
"Tifa...Hey! You helped defend the Condor from the ShinRa soldiers didn't you?"
"Yes I did. I am surprised you remembered."
"Never forget a good deed, nope. Anyhow we're here."
The three mangled bodies still lay where they had been discarded. Tracks were all over the place. "I an't ever seen tracks like these sir." Said the middle aged woman "Them an't tracks from any local beast, that's for sure."
"I'll have to agree with Mayha on that one. No beast around here makes tracks like these." Rick stated.
"Let's see..." Tifa walked around the tracks, studying them, something familiar...something..."SHIT!" The three people jumped at Tifa's shout. "What is it?" Gus asked looking at Tifa's paling face.
"Vlakorados" Tifa whispered.
"A what? What's that" Gus asked concerned and with worry in his voice.
" It a near impossible monster to kill, found only around Bone Village. But what's one doing here? We're nowhere near where they're found. It takes three heavily trained fighters to kill one and even then it's hard as hell."
The hair on the back of Tifa's neck stood on end, her body went ridged and her eyes shifted to stare in the direction of the beach. The sand shifted under the huge clawed feet as the thick, muscular tail swung back and forth. The red skin gave off an erie glow in the sunlight and the blades on it's head, shoulders, arms, back, legs, and tail reflected the sun like metal. The small yellow eyes seemed to burn into Tifa's and the mouth opened to reveal long, sharp, yellow teeth.
"RRRrrrrrr..." The monster rumbled in it's throat.
Tifa heard a whimper behind her. Very slowly and very quietly Tifa spoke. Her eye's not leaving the Vlakorados'. "Stay calm. Slowly back away from the bodies and walk back to town. Do NOT turn away from the monster and Do NOT run." Tifa feverishly hoped that they had listened. 'Oh well, no time to check.' Tifa thought to herself.
"Hey Ugly" Tifa yelled as she took of at a dead run parallel to the beach. As she had hoped, the Vlakorados let out a roar and started chasing her. In a short time, Tifa could already feel it's breath on her. Gasping for breath, Tifa got ready to give a burst of speed. BWHAM! Tifa was thrown head over heels from the impact. Instinctively she kept rolling until she could gain her footing and form a fighting stance. Her back ached from the impact. Facing the Vlakorados, Tifa stared in confusion as the creature staggered around shaking it's head. It's body suddenly gave a violent shake, and it collapsed.
Tifa slowly walked over to the unmoving monster. It's head rested in a growing pool of blood. Tifa knelt down to take a closer look. A large round hole went straight through the monsters thick skull. Blood wheled inside the hole and poured out onto the ground.
"Wha..."