Comments & Criticism welcomed and appreciated.

Power of the Turks: Part Three

PART Three: Reconstruction

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Disclaimer:

All rights and privileges to Final Fantasy VII and its characters

belong to Square Co., Ltd. The characters of this series are used

without permission for the purpose of entertainment only. This work of

fiction is not meant for sale or profit.

All original characters are the creation of the author. All

copyright privileges to these characters are reserved for the author.

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Author's notes:

WARNING: Violence, Adult language and subject matter.

This is a CONTINUATION - ALTERNATE REALITY Final Fantasy VII fanfic.

It contains major SPOILERS for the game.

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Text Conventions

( ) are character thoughts

// and /- -/ are mental dialogue

are miscellaneous effects

- - and - - are flashbacks

Reconstruction

It was dark out. The night was halfway past and many of the crew was sleeping. Cloud got up occasionally because of a sudden insomnia. He figured it was caused by all of the events. Sometimes he would look out the window and see a red figure moving throughout the streets. He saw a female that looked familiar. He thought she looked like Scarlet at times. If he wasn't looking out the window he was ether sitting down on a chair thinking or eavesdropping on the conversation that was being emitted from a room down the hall. Finally he decided to go outside and walk around on the streets.

The air was brisk and clean, uncommon for Junon. The streets were mostly empty. Cloud saw some troublesome looking men and the occasional prostitute but nothing that bothered him. He remembered Midgar when he was on his off time and Junon was much less crime infested at night.

He was passing by an ally when he heard footsteps sneaking up behind him. He turned around and saw a young man with a short sword. The man was about 5' 9" and looked really light. As Cloud was studying this person another attacked from Cloud's left. This man was rather tall and burly. The first man soon followed the example. In no time they both had Cloud tied up and were carrying him to the edge of the level to throw him over.

"You don't think he'll survive the fall do you," The first man asked.

"Probably not. He looks like a normal soldier to me," the second man answered.

"You there. Put him down this instant," An unknown voice shouted.

Cloud seemed to recognize the voice.

(Is that you? Could it really be you?)

"Who said that," the second man asked. "Is it a patrol officer or a guard?"

"No," The second man answered. "Worse. He looks like a SOLDIER."

"S-SOLDIER? Let me see," the second man looked over and saw a black haired figure with the same style of uniform as Cloud. He also had big spikes in his hair. His height was slightly greater then Clouds.

"Crud it's that Zack fellow from Gongaga," The second man said.

They put Cloud back on the road and ran away. Zack ran up to Cloud and helped untie him.

"You alright Cloud," Zack, asked.

"Yes I'm alright. Where did you come from," Cloud asked.

"I don't really know. All I can say is the last thing I remember after seeing a shower of bullets coming at me was a green fluid that seemed to restore me. How long has it been since we were found?"

"Two months. I spent about a week recovering in Midgar and got a job. Just as you wanted I became a mercenary. But I seemed to adopt your story in the process of recovery."

"I can understand that. You were in quite the mental state. So what all happened," Zack asked.

"I'll tell you in my room," Cloud answered.

They went up into his room and began to talk.

"I was hired as an assistant for a bombing raid that was placed on two of the mako reactors in Midgar. The group that hired me was called Avalanche. They seemed to be environmental activist. I also met Tifa there."

"Your child hood friend. She was such a beautiful gal when I saw her. Your lucky to have a girl like her that you can be around all the time and not worry about the government taking her."

"You mean Aeris. I met her after the second raid. She must have saw through my lies but still thought of me as Zack."

/ Your lie? Don't blame yourself for that. /

/ Well I can't imply that I have two other personas. He'd laugh at me if I said that. /

/ I don't think a good friend would laugh at that. /

/- Zack. Crud there goes my cover. Ok time to kill. -/

/ Dream on you worthless piece of mind. Like you'll overpower us. /

/- And what did I do for the past year? -/

/ Was in a mental coma, couldn't do squat, and I wasn't even trying to remove you. If I wanted control I would have taken it at any moment during the past 5 years. I am the original. /

/- What? You're a liar. Worse than me. -/

/ (As long as they bicker I can keep control. Than again he wants me in control at the moment.) /

"Hay Cloud you alright," Zack asked.

"Oh yes I'm ok. Just thinking a little. Oh by the way would you like your buster sword back.?"

"Sure," Zack said. "But I think you have something more powerful than that in your arsenal. Like a glowing sword?"

Cloud got out the Ultima Weapon and handed it to Zack.

"Oh Cloud you can keep the Buster Sword if you like. I have no use for it now," Zack said as he looked over the Ultima Weapon.

The sun began to rise. They decided to go meet everyone and perform a few introductions. Barret and Reno were staying in the room next to Cloud. As Zack and Cloud walked by the door opened and Reno stepped out. His eyes widened at the site of the missing SOLDIER.

"Well if it isn't the deserter," Reno said coldly. "Back to get your things I take it?"

"Reno, Zack didn't desert. He was kidnapped and latter shot and killed," Cloud said.

"He sure doesn't look dead. Nice excuse," Reno answered.

"Reno you do realize that I may have been revived. Well anyways all I know is that I'm back and I wish to see my girlfriend," Zack said.

Just than Barret stepped up to the door. He had a towel on and looked like he just got out of the shower. He took a quick glance at the hallway and then shut the door.

"Guess that man would like some privacy," Zack started. "Lets move to a different location."

The three of them walked on. After 10 paces they came to a stairway that led to the lounge. Reno began to descend the stairway when a door near the stairs opened. Cid stepped out and glanced over at the three. Reno continued to descend while Cloud went over to Cid to talk.

"Good morning Cid. How are you feeling," Cloud stated.

"Pretty damn good. I had a slight wrestling match last night if you know what I mean. By the way who is that," Cid asked.

"Hello. My name would be Zack. I am SOLDIER First Class. And you look like you might be Captain Cid Highwind. It is good to meet you," Zack answered.

"Say wha? Zack? Didn't Cloud say you were dead," Cid asked.

"He might have. But here I am," Zack responded.

Cid decided to go back into his room. Cloud and Zack began to walk down the stairs when Vincent walked out of his room.

"Hay Cloud who's the new guy? You got a friend here in Junon," Vincent asked.

"His name is Zack. And he's from Gongaga," Cloud replied.

"Gongaga. Now that's a jungle community. Well was before we decided to place a reactor there and modernize the town. Too bad Shinra decided to open the reactor when he know it was malfunctioning. That was about 5 major weapons presentations that I was planning of doing. But didn't due to the mistake. So what's your friends job," Vincent finished.

"I am First Class SOLDIER," Zack replied.

"First Class. I have a roommate who was of the same position. But was he above or below you. Sephiroth will you come here," Vincent shouted.

Sephiroth came out of the room. As soon as he saw Zack his face began to glow.

"Zack is that really you? Oh god I didn't kill you then," Sephiroth said.

"He seems to have a high recollection of that night," Lucrecia said standing by the door.

"Hmmm well you couldn't kill me but some troops somehow managed," Zack said.

"I find it sad that SOLDIERs are being defeated by troops. I guess Hojo's masterpiece just wasn't that good after all. Besides there were far greater things than SOLDIER that existed before Sephiroth was born," Vincent finished.

The five of them decided to go to the lobby and wait for the rest of the crew. After about ten minutes Tifa and Yuffie came down the stairs. Tifa looked different. She had cut her hair to about shoulder width. Cloud couldn't help but seem to find beauty in the new Tifa. What more here hair was braided with beautiful elegance. It was a three-group braid.

"Tifa… you cut your hair. It looks wonderful," Cloud said with utmost excitement.

"Yes I did. I had Yuffie and Aeris help me," Tifa said.

Zack stood up at the moment Aeris' name was said. There was the same look of joy in his eyes as there was in Sephiroth's eyes when he saw Zack. Shortly after Aeris came down the stairs. Both Zack and Aeris looked at each other. The shear look of happiness in their expressions told everyone that they were truly in love and glad to see each other.

"Zack. You're here," Aeris said. "You've been away for so long."

She walked up to him and hugged him, and than punched him in the gut.

"Ohhph," Zack cried.

"Where were you? I've been waiting for 5 years and yet you still didn't come back from the mission," Aeris said.

"Well your still your normal self," Zack said. "I've been in a bit of a fix with Hojo for the past 5 years. You understand what he might do to me do you?"

"Oh dear is that it. Oh I'm going to get him so bad."

Sephiroth laughed.

"You might want to save some for mister Valentine. He'd do a much better job."

"Um Sephiroth I don't think that Hojo is even alive at the moment. He might not even come back," Gast said.

"If Jenova has her way he will be back," Vincent said.

(Correction Valentine, his way, Gast Thought.)

"Well as soon as the others get here we will head off to Midgar. I've already sent word to Kelm and to the refugees outside of Midgar that reconstruction will begin shortly," Rufus said.

Soon the others came down the stairs. Each one of them ready for work and ready to help.

The three Highwinds took off and headed for Midgar. The original Highwind called M-Highwind by Cid carried the Shinra leaders and the other two took construction equipment. When the M-Highwind landed Rufus sent word requesting all able bodied workers to help clean up. The first stage of the operation was to remove the simple scrap and have that fixed for reuse. The next thing was to move the heavy and super heavy stuff with the C-Highwinds.

Elsewhere Reeve, Gast, Tsang, Shera, Lucrecia and Vincent were shutting down reactors so that they can be prepared for coal burning. Vincent estimated that it would take about a month for the reactors to fully shut down and be ready for reactivation and the reprogramming needed to burn coal at top efficiency.

Gast was also removing any data and experiments that Hojo and the Science Department had run in the past 30 years. Gast was amazed by the atrocious experiments run by his old apprentice. He also took mako samples in and around the Reactors to see what the levels are. And he checked for the cause of explosions that erupted in many of the reactors.

"Careful with those beams. One wrong move and the whole structure might come down."

Rufus was pleased with the enthusiasm of the people to remove all the steel and metal from the twisted mess and structure. One by one the peaces were removed by hand and by airship. The C-Highwinds were holding up one of the plates wile some workers fought to free it from the tangled mess. Welding and de-welding could be seen everywhere.

Three days ago Rufus and Avalanche had come and sent word asking for help. The group was overwhelmed and the people were working full throttle knowing what would replace the mess would be a more equal better place. With no slums and cheaper housing and land ownership. The plates would be saved as a bit of a wall to protect each sector as well as separate it from the other sectors so that security would be just a bit better.

"Bring it up. Slowly, slowly," Cid was commanding. "Ok we now have that plate removed. Hay Numb nuts get that thing out of here so we can remove what's under it."

C-Highwind II moved the part of the plate that was now free to a different location while C-Highwind I held up the rest of the plate so that it could be removed. Rufus know that there would be another Highwind soon to help with the extractions.

"Looks pretty good Rufus," Barret started. "We're getting a plate-a-day. At this rate we'll be done cleanin' up and ready for construction in two weeks. And I can't wait to rebuild this place."

"Indeed Barret, indeed. I wonder how Zack is doing at Gongaga. I'd figure he'd have called back by now. Also Sephiroth is the Junon Bridge almost completed?"

"Just about done. They have about 50 yards remaining."

"Good. Good. It appears things will be finished at the end of the month."

"President Shinra! A report has come in from the Gatarian Continent. The reactors have been shut down at Nibelhem, the Gold Saucer, Wrating, Camerage, and Constantine," Cried an employee.

"So the Turks have done their job. Very good. I'd say at this rate we will have our power sooner then expected."

At Ft. Condor Tifa was setting up the mining budget for the Midgarian Continent. She had been told that The Ft. Condor reactor will supply power to the Mythril Mines and that She will need to estimate the cost of the power lines that will send power to the mines. Barret told here that underground would be cheaper than above ground and that it would be less likely to be destroyed. Rufus had also stated that there would be a railroad that will go from Midgar to Junon and stop at the Chocobo Ranch and Ft. Condor on the way. This railroad would be placed under the ground. So she decided to ask Barret if the railroad runs by the mines.

"Hello Tifa," Barret said to the telephone. "Oh you askin' about the railroad. Yes it will swing by the mines. There will be a line that will go from the main line to the mines to pick up coal. You could run the wire through there. What's great is that the tunnels are already done. The railroad was in development 31 years ago and doesn't just link Midgar and Junon. It has an undersea line that goes to the Gatarian and Northern Continent."

Tifa was pleased to hear this. She had made a good estimation after that and the estimation was of low cost. Rufus said that when the mines were ready to open lay the line.

For the past week Midgar was being taken apart. Gongaga and Coral rebuilt. Rocket town had put out two fresh Highwinds and now had a massive hanger built for the shuttle and Higwinds. Wutai had become just a little more industrialized. And Junon had finished the bridge. People were happy and loved what would soon come out of all this, a peace that wouldn't be disturbed.

But that thought would soon be shattered. From the Northern Continent a force of rebels that opposed many of this and wished to place an oppressive Dictatorship at the head of the Midgar power. Though the rebels took over three towns on the Gatarian Continent the Shinra Military soon squashed the rebels. Under Sephiroth and Zack the remaining sane and human SOLDIERs fought alongside the old military.

Midgar was just about cleaned up. And construction on sectors 1-3 had begun. The outer wall was 40 feet in height and was holding up the barrier that would protect Midgar. The inner wall was also 40 feet and had rails on top for the Sister Ray to turn on. The first three Reactors were also under construction and about ready to be activated.

Between Kelm and Midgar the facility for reproducing coal was nearing completion. Rufus and Vincent were getting overjoyed due of the progress. They knew that at months end everything would be complete.

"Well now isn't this spectacular," Reeve said. "And to think a month ago this city was nothing more than a heap of scrap. The Sister Ray is done and placed. The airport is loaded with helicopters. The railroads are transporting supplies and people at a welcome rate. And the barrier has completely surrounded Midgar so that we will be protected from any monster or enemy attack. And it seems all the people of the Sector 7 Slums liked the shelter that saved them from that plate. I can't get over the look on Barret's face when he saw them alive and well. And when he learned that Avalanche was actually around before he even was alive as well as the fact that they are an organization founded and managed by the Turks."

"I can just remember that day two weeks ago."

- -

"Hay what's this," an exited worker called.

"I don't know," Barret said as he looked at a strange hatch. What would a hatch be doing in the basement of the Seventh Heaven? Hay Reeve come over hear."

"What is it now. Oh I see you fond the Sector Seven hatch that leads to the shelter. Well I guess We might as well open it up and check this place out before the construction crews build over it. Lets open it."

Barret, Reeve, and a few guards and workers went down the hole to check for anything or any one. As they were walking down a hall someone pulled a gun to Reeve's head.

"Hold it right there," the mysterious voice commanded. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"I am Reeve of the Turks if that name should sound familiar. Does it Biggs?"

"How did you know it was me? Oh yeah I still use this gun. Who is with you?"

"Would the name Barret have any effect," Barret said excitedly.

"Barret. You're alive. Man we thought the plate got you. Are Cloud and Tifa ok too?"

Fine and dandy. Were are the others,"

"Follow me. This way."

They walked a ways and came to an opening. Barret saw lots of people. People he knew lived or worked in the Sector 7 Slums.

"Hay Barret. How are ya," Wedge said.

"Good. Say how did you all get down hear?"

"Oh we used the hatch that was in the bar basement. This place saved everyone you know," Jessie said.

"And how did you know about this hatch? How did it get there," Barret asked.

"This facility was added to Midgar for the purpose of protection the citizens. The idea came from the bosses of Avalanche. Such as Reeve," Biggs said.

The idea mainly came from Sir Vincent Valentine," Jessie said. "He was an excellent strategist and thinker. He came up with a lot of stuff for the Turks and Avalanche."

"You said that Vincent and Reeve were some of your bosses. Does that mean Avalanche was founded by the Turks," Barret asked.

"Yes." Wedge said. "They are still in control of the main force. We have been running missions for the past few decades that the Turks assigned to us."

"Wait a minute. Jessie weren't you the one who came up with bombing the reactors," Barret asked.

"Um no. I was ordered to tell you the idea and make it look like mine."

"But if you didn't come up with that then who did?"

A slight whistle was coming from Reeve's direction.

"Oh it was his idea. Man if Shinra found out Reeve would be in the next execution brodcast."

- -

(If Shinra found out he'd be utterly amazed as to how Vincent could dupe him like that. He'd also figure out the reason of the Sector 6 plate dropping. Reeve thought)

"It was such a happy reunion. Not even that fact that he was doing things 'We' wanted done didn't spoil his mood. Well I better get ready for the celebration party at Nibelhem. Vincent says it's going to be really fun. And his house is probably just plain wonderful"