Final Fantasy VII
Before Darkness
Chapter 3
The noises had gotten through to Reeve, as he lay in bed, all that he saw was darkness. But what he heared helped him a lot. He heared Cid talking to him, he didn't really understand what he was saying, but it was a familiar voice, and Reeve began to talk back. But he didn't know if his words were reaching Cid. He spoke about how the darkness had took him, he struggled some more. Reeve was on the verge of waking up.
The Sierra soon left Junon behind after Cloud's worst fears were confirmed, Rufus was gone. They had three days to find Rufus, and it was quickly becoming two. The Sierra landed in the middle of nowhere. Looking for Rufus was something they couldn't do together. They had to split up into two groups, while a third group watched the Sierra, the two groups had to search around the world for Rufus. Luckily there were some land vehicle's on the Sierra. The ramp for the Sierra opened, a long black car drove out, with a recovered Vincent driving and an angry Cid in the passanger seat. Then Cloud drove out on a black bike, followed by Tifa and Red in a truck. Cloud looked to Vincent and Cid.
'Let's hope luck is with you today,' Cloud sighed.
'Also with you...' Vincent coldly said. Cloud nodded. Vincent and Cid then drove down south. While Cloud, Tifa and Red all rode up North. Cloud sighed as he sped across the land.
Vincent stood still as he observed Kalm. It had been a long time since he had seen the quiet little town. His memories here were ones he'd rather forget. Cid smoked his pipe as he walked next to Vincent.
'So...' Vincent said. 'You smoke on the ground now?' Vincent wondered. Cid looked at him.
'Did you know the shit I went through!' Cid yelled. 'I need a friggin ciggy every now and then okay!' Vincent nodded. It was only yesterday he had suffered a bullet shot at the hands of a sniper rifle. Luckily it was not a serious wound, and once Vincent was bandaged up, he was released and felt it was not worth mentioning his pain. Cid, on the other hand was much different. Cloud eventually found Cid in the locker. Once Cid woke up, an amazing swearfest began. Cid was furious at being man handled and was angry at everyone in the ship for not knowing about the doctor, not that he knew himself. Cid slowly got out his wisky and began to drink.
'Did you hear anything?' Vincent coldly asked. Cid shook his head.
'I heared shit all, what about you?' Cid asked back. Vincent shook his head.
'No one here has seen any sign of a Shinra truck, a Shinra Uniform, and most importantly, a Shinra president...' Vincent sighed. Cid shrugged.
'Oh well...poker?' Cid asked. Vincent looked at him.
'Poker?' Vincent looked confused. Cid sighed.
'There's a poker game in the bar over there...' Cid yelled. 'I'm friggin awesome at poker, let's play.'
'I don't feel like it...' Vincent sighed. Cid shrugged.
'Please your self Vinny...' Cid then strolled off and barged into the nearest bar. Vincent sighed, yesterday, it was decided that everyone would split up, and go to every town they could to look for Rufus. Vincent looked to the sky, it was night, only two days left. Vincent then felt his wound, a rush of pain went through him and he quickly moved his hand away from the wound.
Hours passed and Cid was still busy drinking in the bar. Vincent leaned against a wall, he did not want to sleep, he had been doing too much of that in his life. Suddenly Vincent heared something, suddenly a clean smooth car pulled up just by Vincent. The car's driver was a tall well built man, short hair, he wore a long blue coat. He walked past Vincent and into the hotel. As he walked past Vincent, Vincent was sure he saw a Shinra badge and the driver's coat. Vincent quickly followed the driver into the hotel.
The driver walked to reception desk, to where the receptionist was.
'I'm here to see Cypher Massi.' the driver said. The receptionist nodded.
'And you are?' she asked. The driver got out his liscence.
'My name is Led Kariss...' the driver, Led coldly said. The receptionist seemed a bit threatened by Led, but she quickly smiled.
'Of course,' she smiled. 'He is expecting you, room 13...' she said nervously. Led smiled.
'Thankyou...' he slowly said. He then turned around, Vincent was by the entrance, they looked each other eye to eye, Led then walked up the stairs. Vincent then saw that Led was wearing a Shinra badge. Vincent gave a faint smile and left. Led continued up the stairs, he turned back for one brief second to think about the mysterious man, he then shrugged and carried on up the stairs.
Vincent sat on the roof of the hotel. He was directly above room 13, where Cypher Massi was suppossed to be. He then heared Led enter the room. Vincent sat still and listened. Cypher Massi sat silenty in his chair, he looked very similar to Led, except he had long black hair. He was not wearing an Shinra gear, he was just wearing a black top. That is why Vincent couldn't find anyone in Shinra uniform. Led entered the room, Cypher quickly stood.
'What was so important it couldn't be said over the phone?' Cypher demanded to know. 'I'm enjoying my vacation...' Led nodded.
'I understand that Mr. Massi, but Mr. Shinra has requested your presense...' Led began. 'We believe that some people, vigilantes if you like...are coming for you?'
'Coming for me?' Cypher asked. 'I'm just one of Rufus' goons...' Cypher sighed.
'We know that, but they don't,' Led said frankly. 'They are looking for anyone who works for Rufus Shinra...'
'Why?' Cypher asked.
'Because they believe that you may be able to give them Rufus' location...' Led said.
'What, Junon?' Cypher wondered. Led shook his head.
'No, Rufus has moved somewhere safer...' Led said.
'Where?' Cypher asked. Vincent listened carefully on the roof. This was his chance to end it all right here and now. Vincent leaned down closer to the roof.
'Rufus is at...' Led began.
'Hey Vinny!' Cid suddenly yelled. Vincent looked up, Cid was stumbling in the streets. 'What the shitting hell you doing up on the roof?' Vincent tried to ignore Cid, he leaned back down on the roof. Led and Cypher had not said anything since Cid's interuption. In the room, Cypher looked at Led, Led got out his gun and then shot three times at the roof. Vincent quickly dodged the shots, but he lost his balance and slid off the roof. Led looked at Cypher.
'We're leaving now!' Led yelled. Led walked out the door, Cypher followed.
'Where to?' Cypher asked.
'The president's location, I'll tell you once we're in the car..' Led yelled. The two made it downstairs.
The Receptionist was about to lock the door for the night when Vincent stormed in with Cid. Led and Cypher looked stunned. The receptionist put her hands up as Vincent aimed his gun at Led.
'Where is Rufus?' Vincent coldly asked. Led quickly grabbed the receptionist and pointed his gun to her head.
'Ahhhhhhhhh...' the receptionist screamed. Led looked Vincent squarely in the eyes.
'Drop the weapons, or I'll kill her...' Led took the safety off his gun. Vincent looked him in the eyes, Led meant it. Vincent looked at Cid.
'Drop the spear...' Vincent dropped his gun. 'We have no choice...'
'Friggin hell...' Cid yelled and slammed his spear to the floor.
'Kick them over to me...' Led said, '...and I'll let her go.' Vincent sighed and kicked his gun to Led, Cid then kicked his spear over. Cypher picked up the weapons and aimed at Cid and Vincent as well.
'Now let her go...' Vincent coldly said. Led smiled, Vincent's heart dropped. Led then pulled the trigger on his gun, the receptionist fell dead.
'No!' Vincent burst out. Led then went to reload his gun for Vincent. Vincent, silently got a hidden knife from his pocket. He threw it suddenly and it knocked the weapons out of Cypher's hands. Cypher screamed in pain, Led, quickly went to fire his gun, Vincent quickly dived on Led and knocked him down. Cid then ran at Cypher, but Cypher was more aware, he ducked as Cid dived, and Cid flew over Cypher and over the receptions desk. Led and Vincent exchanged punches on the floor. Vincent was gaining the upper hand, when Led punched Vincent in his stomach, hitting the bullet wound. 'Arghhhh!' Vincent yelled. Led, realizing Vincent's weak spot hit Vincent again and again, until Vincent fell off him. Vincent groaned in pain.
'How useless you are...' Led grinned. Led went to pick up his gun to shoot Vincent, when Vincent reached for his revolver. Led saw this. 'Run!' Led yelled, he quickly grabbed Cypher and they ran out of the hotel as Vincent's gun shots hit the wall around them. Led and Cypher quickly hopped in Led's car, and drove fastly out of Kalm.
Vincent leant up, he had never shown too much emotion before, but watching Led kill that woman, made his lose his cool. He looked over to the receptionist's body, and sighed. Cid crawled back over the reception's desk, and sat by Vincent.
'They friggin got away...' Cid sighed.
'Yes...' Vincent sighed. Cid looked at Vincent.
'Are you alright Vinny?' Cid asked worried, for the first time. Vincent nodded, the pain was fading away.
'Yes, I think I'm going to alright now...' Vincent sighed as he looked at the carnage in front of him.
Back in the Sierra, in the Medi Bay, Barret sat next to Reeve, the crew's doctor, Dr. Kenji was also there. Yuffie then strolled in.
'Hey Barret?' Yuffie asked.
'What?' Barret asked.
'Uh...can I borrow your materia...' Yuffie smiled. Barret shook his head.
'Borrow my materia? Why?' Barret asked angrilly.
'Uh...I just want to take a look at it?' Yuffie said nervously. Barret laughed.
'No chance foo!' Barret yelled.
'Hey screw you!' Yuffie yelled. 'I don't steal materia anymore and you always accuse me you assho...' Suddenly Reeve started shaking. Barret and Yuffie both looked at him.
'Doctor Kenji? What the hell's happening!' Barret yelled. The doctor then checked Reeve over.
'I think...he's waking up...' Kenji said nervously. Reeve shook and shook, eventually his eyes opened.
'He's up!' Barret smiled. Reeve's eyes were open, they looked terrified, apart from Reeve's eyes, he still seemed asleep.
'I don't think he's awake yet Mr. Wallace...' Kenji sighed. 'You must be patient in this process...'
'I AM FRIGGIN PATIENT!' Barret yelled angrilly.
'Of course...' Kenji said. Yuffie felt Reeve's pulse.
'His pulse is moving faster than Barret when he sees a Pizza in front of him,' Yuffie said, Barret looked at her angrilly, but controlled his anger.
'Darkness...' Reeve muttered through his teeth. Yuffie looked frightened and Barret looked freaked out.
'What's going on?' Yuffie cried to Kenji. Kenji shook his head.
'Trauma...' Kenji sighed. 'But this is the first step to recovery.'
'Darkness covers me...' Reeve muttered again. Barret waved his hand in front of Reeve's eyes, they did not move from their frightened stance.
'Darkness? Is that what that summon did to him?' Barret asked. Kenji nodded.
'Quite possibly,' Kenji noted. 'That summon was set to disorient him, bringing up his worst fears.' Barret started chuckling.
'What are you laughing at?' Yuffie asked.
'Reeve was afraid of the dark,' Barret chuckled.
'Sephiroth...' Reeve muttered. Silence hit the room, Barret had stopped laughing, and there was an awkward moment.
Reno then walked into the Medi Bay, he looked at Reeve.
'Hey!' Reno smiled. 'He's up too?'
'Too?' Yuffie asked. Reno nodded.
'Rude woke up last night,' Reno grinned. 'He's not one hundred percent yet.'
'I thought that poison was strong enough to put him in a coma for weeks?' Barret asked.
'It was,' Kenji said. 'So we found the part of his back where the poison had entered, and we drained it out of him, to wake him up.'
'Yuk!' Yuffie said.
'As you can imagine, he's not one hundred percent yet,' Reno laughed. 'But he'll be fine within a week or two.'
'Great...' Barret said sarcastically. 'Bring him down, we'll have a party.'
'Oh no,' Kenji said. 'Rude's too weak to even stand at the moment, he stays in bed for now.'
'Sephiroth...darkness...' Reeve muttered, making everyone go silent again.
'Anyway,' Reno spoke again. 'We've just been given orders care of Vincent. To the cockpit.'
Reno dived into the cockpit's chair, and set co-ordinates to take off. Barret and Yuffie ran in.
'Well?' Barret yelled angrilly. Reno looked at him.
'Well what?' Reno asked. Barret rammed his fist into the desk. Reno chuckled.
'Oh yeah...' Reno smiled. 'Vincent and Cid just encountered a couple of Rufus' men in Kalm. They escaped, but they can't be far from Kalm, and they're going to where Rufus is...'
'So we gotta find them?' Yuffie asked. Reno nodded.
'Give Cloud a call...' Reno said. 'Let him know...'
Cloud stood on top of the highest cliff of Cosmo Canyon. He far ahead of him, he could see Midgar ruins in the distance. He spoke on his phone while looking over the ground.
'Right...I'll take care of it..' Cloud slowly said. Cloud then jumped down the cliff and landed in the outskirts of Cosmo Canyon. He then slowly entered the city.
Tifa and Red sat by the campfire, they had been to Cosmo Canyon and no one had seen any sign of Rufus. Red, who had been quite offended at the thought of Rufus in his town moped silently.
'There are still places we haven't looked...' Tifa said trying to comfort Red. Red nodded.
'Maybe there are...' Red sighed. 'But we are running out of time.' Cloud slowly joined them at the campfire.
'We have a new lead...' Cloud said. Red quickly hopped up.
'What lead?' Red asked. Cloud sighed.
'Two of Rufus' men managed to escape Vincent in Kalm,' Cloud began. 'Then Barret, Yuffie and Reno asked around in Costa De Sol, and apparently two suspicious men got off a boat from Junon, they are coming our way...' Tifa then hopped up as well. The three knew what they had to do and quickly left the city.
Rufus sat in the dark laboratory, he observed the experiments going on around him and smiled. His phone rang and he slowly answered it.
'Yes?' Rufus asked.
'We're out of Kalm...' Led's voice replied to him.
'Good.'
'We're by the canyon, we'll be there soon. But...we may have a problem...' Led said. Rufus sighed.
'What problem?' he asked.
'Two men saw us in Kalm...they are part of Cloud Strife's group...' Led sighed.
'I see...' Rufus said.
'I thought you had a mole in their administration to warn us about this type of thing?' Led said angrilly.
'He's dead...' Rufus said coldly. 'If you don't want to end up like him...I suggest you be prepared for everything...' Rufus then hung up the phone. He looked at his phone for a second, he only wanted Cypher to stop Cloud getting to him. It may be better for him if Led and Cypher never made it to him alive...
Cloud sat on the floor, at the bottom of a cliff, he hid behind a rock. He kept his eyes on the road, soon enough Led and Cypher would drive through here. Red was waiting on the opposite side, he would provide the distraction, by pretending to get run ver, hopefully Led and Cypher would stop to check what they hit, while Cloud would take one and Tifa would take the other. Cloud sat waiting for his plan to begin...
Led and Cypher continued to drive through the canyon. They were just about to drive down a big hill. Cypher leaned back in his seat, when Led suddenly stopped the car.
'What's up?' Cypher asked. Led began to sweat.
'It wasn't supposed to happen like this!' Led yelled. Cypher continued to stare at him.
'What's going on?' Cypher wondered. Led then opened the car door and got out, he looked at Cypher.
'Get out!' Led yelled. Cypher slowly got out.
'What the hell is going on Led!' Cypher yelled. Led pointed down the hill.
'You know what's at the bottom of that hill?' Led asked him.
'No?' Cypher said confused.
'An assasin, who's gonna try and kill us!' Led screamed.
'How do you know that?' Cypher asked. Led sighed.
'Because I just saw someone poke their head out behind a rock...' Led lowered his head. 'Either Rufus has beytrayed us, or it's that Cloud Strife guy...'
'So what do we do?' Cypher asked.
'There's only one thing we can do...it's kill or be killed Cypher...' Led said.
Cloud quickly poked his head from the rock to look, he could hear a car coming. Soon enough, the car came down the hill. It was approaching Cloud and Red. Cloud quickly signalled Red to run out at the car. Red ran out and stood in the middle of the road, he had planned to dive out the way just in time. The car was fastly approaching.
'Huh?' Red muttered. The car didn't look to have anyone driving or anyone in the passanger's seat. 'Cloud!' Red yelled, but the car was approaching him, he quickly dived out of the way, but the car still hit him in the leg, Red flew into a rock.
'Red!' Cloud yelled. He then saw the car contining to drive down the hill. It was approaching a huge rock. It did not appear to be stopping. 'Oh no...' Cloud muttered. The car then smashed into the rock causing a huge explosian. Cloud quickly ran to Red, Tifa quickly hopped down from her hiding place at the top of the cliff. Cloud lifted Red's head up. 'Red...' Cloud sighed.
'I'll be alright...'Red muttered. Cloud looked at Red, it looked to be crushed.
'Oh Red...' Tifa sighed. Cloud then looked at the car, it was burning.
'What happened?' Cloud wondered as he stepped up.
'There...was no one...' Red began.
'Shhhhh...' Tifa said. 'Don't speak...' Tifa held onto Red, as he drifted in and out of conciousness, as Cloud walked over to the car's ruins. He sighed, if the two drivers had really commited suicide, then he was in trouble. Suddenly a gun shot was heard. Cloud suddenly felt a powerful force wack into his shoulder armour. The bullet hadn't gotten through the armour, but it had shocked Cloud.
'Damn...I missed...' a voice said. Tifa and Red saw this. Tifa quickly moved Red behind a rock out of view. Cloud quickly regained his feet.
'Tifa...run..' Cloud muttered when another gun shot was heard, this one just skimmed Cloud's leg. Tifa quietly climbed the cliffs. As she reached the top, she could see Cypher crouched down on the cliff, aiming at Cloud who was still very visible in the middle of the road. Tifa quickly crept up behind Cypher. She quickly grabbed the gun out of his hand. Cypher faced her.
'Huh?' Cypher muttered. Tifa then kicked him in the face, Cypher then flew off the cliff, and rolled next to Cloud. Tifa stood at the top of the cliff.
'Cloud, I took care of him!' Tifa yelled to Cloud. Cloud regained his feet. Cypher was unconcious, Cloud looked up to Tifa. Tifa saw panic in Cloud's eyes.
'Tifa!' Cloud suddenly yelled. Tifa turned around to see Led facing her. He quickly knocked the gun out of her hand. Led then quickly kicked Tifa in the stomach, Tifa fell from the cliff. Cloud quickly sprinted to the bottom of the cliff. Tifa was going to land head first, it would kill her. Cloud quickly grabbed the falling Tifa, but she still hit the ground, with him clinging onto her. Cloud looked at Tifa, she was unconcious. Cloud quickly let her go, and got out his buster sword. Led jumped down and faced Cloud.
'Dead?' Led smiled. Cloud shook his head.
'No...' Cloud muttered. 'She's alright...' Led looked disapointed. He looked at Cloud's sword.
'I'm not armed..' Led said. 'Will you fight me with honour?' Cloud stuck his sword in the ground.
'I will kill you with honour...' Cloud yelled. Cloud then sprinted at Cloud. The two engaged in a massive karate style fight. Led must have been a very well trained soldier, as he managed to counter all of Cloud's attacks. Eventually the two stepped into the middle of the road. Cloud could see Cypher regaining conciousness. Cloud and Led continued their epic fight. Cloud then hit Led directly in the forehead, this shook Led. Cloud then seized the moment and continued punching Led, Led then flew to the floor. Cloud stood over him. 'Where is Rufus?' Cloud asked.
'That's not for you to know...' Cypher suddenly said. Cloud turned around, Cypher had regained his feet. Led and Cypher then circled Cloud.
'It's over for you now...' Led grinned. Cloud looked to the sky, he could suddenly see a Shinra chopper circling the sky. It was flying low. Cypher and Led looked to the sky too.
'Oh no...' Led sighed. Cypher and Cloud both looked at him confused. Led then quickly sprinted away. Suddenly a gunshot was fired. Cypher fell to the floor dead. Cloud saw that he had been shot in the back.
Led quickly ran and ran until he hopped onto Cloud's motorbike. Led quickly drove off north. Cloud quickly ran to the rocks as more shots were fired at him. Cloud hid under a rock, where Tifa was also hidden. Cloud could see Red hidden behind another rock.
'Shinra...' Red yelled. 'They've been told to kill both the men and us...'
'I know...' Cloud sighed.
'Cloud...' Red muttered. 'We can't let them get away, with one guy dead, and the other escaped, there's no other way to know where Rufus is...' Cloud nodded. Cloud then quietly began to climb the cliff, out of the chopper's view. While the chopper was still firing at Red, hitting nothing but rocks. Cloud reached the top of the cliff. Cloud could see the chopper facing the other way, they could not see him. The chopper was just a metre above the edge of the cliff. Cloud could make it if he jumped. Cloud then sprinted and sprinted until he was at the edge of the cliff, he then jumped into the air, he clung onto the chopper.
Inside the chopper were two people, the man shooting and the man driving the chopper. Cloud quickly climbed in. The shooter quickly turned around and shot at Cloud. Cloud quickly dived forward and kicked the shooter out of the chopper, the bullet just missed him, and the shooter fell to his death.
'What's going on?' the driver asked. Cloud then brought his sword to the driver's neck.
'Move and I kill you...' Cloud coldly said.
'What do you want?' the driver panicked.
'Land the chopper on the cliff...' Cloud demanded. The driver then set the chopper down, just on the edge of the cliff.
'Now what?' the driver asked.
'Step out of the chopper...' Cloud yelled. The driver slowly stepped out of the chopper and stood on the cliff, Cloud followed with his sword aimed at the driver's back.
'What do you want?' the driver cried.
'Where is Rufus?' Cloud asked. The driver shook his head.
'I don't know...' he cried. Cloud then punched the driver in the back, the driver fell to the floor.
'You're going to tell me,' Cloud said. 'It's just a matter of how much you want it to hurt...' The driver panicked.
'I don't...' the driver began. Cloud quickly kicked him in the stomach. The driver refused to talk.
'Right!' Cloud yelled. 'That's it!' Cloud then grabbed his sword. He pointed it towards the driver's face. 'Last chance!' The driver said nothing. 'Fine!' Cloud sighed and then swung his sword at the driver. The driver then screamed.
'Wait!' the driver cried. 'I'll tell you!' Cloud quickly stopped the sword.
'Where is he?' Cloud demanded.
'He's at Nibelhelm...' the driver sighed. 'Nibelhelm is still under Shinra control...he's in the mansion, in the underground base...' the driver cried.
'You better not be lying to me!' Cloud yelled. The driver quickly shook his head.
'I'm not! I swear!' the driver screamed. Cloud nodded.
'Thankyou...' Cloud said. He then punched the driver in the face, knocking him out. Cloud sighed as he looked down at the bottom of the small cliff. Tifa was regaining conciousness, they had to get moving quick.
Rufus sat at his desk in the mansion. His phone rang. He answered.
'Did you get the job done?' Rufus asked.
'No! He didn't Rufus!' Led yelled back. Rufus jumped.
'Led?' Rufus cried.
'Your plan backfired, I saw what happened, Strife managed to take your assasin down, and he told Strife where you are...' Led said.
'Can you see him now?' Rufus asked.
'No... ' Led said. 'I drove off incase you sent anymore...Cypher is dead Rufus...'
'I'm sorry Led...' Rufus sighed. 'I was worried you would be caught...I underestimated you...' Rufus said. 'I want you to come to Nibelhelm.'
'You want me to help you!' Led yelled.
'You have proven your worth to me,' Rufus said. 'How close are you?'
'An hour away...' Led said. 'How can I trust you Rufus?'
'You can't,' Rufus said. 'It's just a question of how much money you want...' Rufus sighed. 'Now you're away from Strife, I need you...please Led...I'll raise your pay to five million...' There was a pause on the phone before Led replied.
'I'll be there soon...' Led eventually said.
'Good,' Rufus smiled. 'Be prepared...it's looks like we're going to war...'
END OF CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR UP SOON
Please! Please! Please! Can I hear all your feedback, I really want to know what you think, as this was an 'EXTREMELY' difficult chapter to write. Thanks for all your input.