"I expect to be paid back in full! With interest! With the first installment due next…ugh!"

Yuffie was cut off as she dipped her head over the side of the Sierra, vomiting shortly thereafter. Ragnar relaxed a bit after wincing. It wasn't from being on deck of the great airship, even though the engines were roaring out loud. It was from Yuffie's rather sonic whining. However, she was silent again now, and so he was able to look out again. It was an amazing sight. He thought he'd be scared to be so high, but apparently all of his time hanging around on heights when he was a kid had helped. Now, he marveled as he saw the land and the oceans rushing below. It was magnificent, unlike anything the youth had ever seen before. Added to the fact that they were finally going back to the Northern Continent, and Ragnar was in a good mood again.

Yuffie did not only have a bank account, but a sizable one. They were easily able to clear the checks and put them in her bank, and then have her write out the money for Cid. That part had been rather difficult. They practically had to hold her hand and force it to move out her signature on it. She hadn't stopped complaining about it since. However, they now had command of the Sierra for a brief time. Cid flew them back to pick up Barret, who had his hundred new recruits, and then back to Midgar to get whoever they could. There was quite a bit of equipment and supplies waiting there for them, as well as the new recruits. It turns out that after broadcasting Ragnar's message, some forty other people of college student age had signed on. A fund had officially been established in Ragnar's name, although it still lacked an army name for the organization. Tifa, Marlene, and Denzel were all there too, packed and ready to go. After picking them up, it was off to the north for the first load. Cid would swing by and pick up more after they were dropped off.

Many of Cloud's old group members were gathered now. The only one missing was a dark assassin named Vincent Valentine, who Cloud explained wasn't a very easy guy to reach. He had bought a phone since last year, but he frequently went into areas of dead space. Nevertheless, if he wanted to come, he would eventually.

The group was on deck with Ragnar. The kids wanted to come up too, but Cloud, Tifa, and Barret didn't want them to risk falling off. That left everyone else. Even Cid was there, for his pilots were running the airship for right now. Ragnar shortly stopped looking over the edge, and turned back to see them. Seeing them like this…they actually did start to look a little like the band he had encountered in Icicle Inn three years ago.

"Once again into the breach, lads?" Red XIII called out to the others.

"Seems we only ever get together when we're out to save the world…" Cid answered back from around his cigarette.

"It's a shame Vincent couldn't have made it." Cait Sith remarked. "Then it really would have felt like old times. And hey! With Ragnar here, it's almost like we have nine members ag-"

Cait Sith cut himself off. Cloud had looked up sharply at that, and gave the cat a glare. Immediately, it swallowed and backed down again. Ragnar swallowed a bit himself. Although he sort of felt like he was a new member of this little group, he had to remind himself he wasn't. And even if he was, he couldn't compare with the one they lost…

"Once we arrive and get settled in," Red XIII spoke up, changing the subject. "The first thing we will need to do is break the companies down into ranks, and then appoint officers over each division."

Barret frowned at that and crossed his arms. "Hell, we don't need any of that shit. We never had ta' do that back when we were runnin' around by ourselves."

"Yes, well, this isn't exactly like last time." The beast calmly replied. "We're essentially forming an army. We're going to have a lot more people under our command eventually than the roughly 360 we have right now. That's a lot of people to organize. They have to be trained. They have to move as units. They have to be sheltered and fed. Their families have to be housed. People need to know where they're going in times of attack. They need to know what to do to in order to retreat. They need people they can go to for information and orders…"

Tifa turned tothe young manwith a smile. "You've got a big job ahead of you, Ragnar."

The youth's eyes expanded a bit, and he turned to Tifa and pointed to himself. "Wha…me?"

"You're the leader, aren't you?" Cloud answered. "It's your responsibility. We volunteered to work under you, not the other way around. Besides, you know more about what we're getting into than everyone else, and you know the terrain much better too. You're the one who's been doing most of the recruiting."

Ragnar paled a bit. This was definitely a lot more work than he had originally bargained for. He didn't realize it was going to take so much bureaucracy and fine details. And he definitely hadn't planned on splitting themselves up into a real military unit, with officers and everything. Yet now that he thought about it, he realized the others were right. They did have to be organized and orderly, or they'd never get anything done. These people were volunteers and refugees now, but they had to be made into soldiers, just like Ragnar had gone from being an ex-prisoner to a warrior. It was a bit of a dizzying thought.

"And you still need to think of a name for your army." Cait Sith reminded.

The youth groaned, and put a hand to his head. "Don't remind me…"

"He's got a point, Ragnar." Cid responded. "Ain't nobody gonna think you're much of anything on these pledges and drives if you don't even have a name for your organization. You need something for the world to identify you with."

"Alright, alright…" Ragnar griped. "I'll have one by tonight."

"Sounds good." Red XIII answered. "We can announce it right before we have our first meeting."

The youth raised an eyebrow at that, looking back up. "…Meeting?"

"Well, we just can't call everyone together, sit on the ground, and then make decisions." The beast answered. "We'll be having lots of meetings. We're going to need cohesion until we get everything working. We'll need to discuss spy reports. We'll have to bring supply issues to the front. We'll need a way to resolve problems. Then there are councils of war, award placements, not to mention all of the meetings we'll have to get this started…"

The youth tried not to groan as Red XIII continued rolling off one new responsibility after another.


Mack looked nervously ahead from the exit of the city, peering into the Sleeping Forest. Ragnar still had time…but it was running out. They would finish the last of the food that day. Just as the man had feared, the people didn't take easily to Ragnar's leaving. Some had calmed down a bit after Mack explained the obvious reasoning, but it was a well known fact that people in groups were dumb, panicky, and irrational. The rumors had already started that Ragnar had deserted them and escaped with his life, ignoring the fact that he could have done that months ago and had much better success with it if he hadn't come back and liberated them too. Mack looked back up to the sky, and saw that it was passing noon. He slowly exhaled, and then looked back down and ahead.

"He'll be back."

Mack looked slightly over to his left. Seated next to him at the front of the town was Zola. The man was a godsend. He always kept his cool, reassured the people constantly, and he was a sure fighter. He took the late watches frequently without looking tired, and he always had a cheery disposition. The one thing about him that was a little unsettling is that he had somehow found a new weapon. It was a rather odd large sword. It looked almost like it was made of serpant scales to Mack. However, the blade was not a single long flat blade, but was rather three thin blades looking like scales extending up from the bottom. It looked almost as if someone had mismade a trident, making the part with the prongs the long portion and the handle the small one. There were barbed spikes on top although the blades themselves were sharp, and he had a rather deadly looking point under the handle. The most surprising thing is that Mack knew it was heavy. It had to weigh at least seventy pounds. And yet Zola wielded it easily, and always carried it on his back without showing the slightest strain.

"He won't abandon us. He didn't then, he won't now." Zola reassured the man.

Mack let out a small snicker. "You seem to have a lot of faith in him. Do you know him?"

Zola hesitated for a moment at that. While still staring out, he slowly answered. "I don't know him…but I've been around. I know that look. I know that passion that I saw burning in his eyes…that spirit. I've seen it before. I've seen it many times throughout my life. For years, I didn't understand it. I didn't think it meant anything. But one day…I realized it was a true mark of greatness, of a spirit that can't be broken. And it leads a person to do incredible and impossible things. I told myself that day…if I ever find another person with that look, I'll be there's. I can think of no better person I would like to serve."

Mack raised his head a bit to this. Zola seemed to have gotten strangely serious all of the sudden. However, he ignored it, and turned back to the forest. He wished it wasn't so quiet here. On one hand, it was great to hear someone coming. But on the other, it could be rather nerve wracking and unnatural. You couldn't hear any birds or rustling or…

Zola cut off Mack's train of thought as he suddenly stood up. His head looked out deep into the Sleeping Forest. Mack looked up to him at that, and began to tense up. "What's wrong?"

"Something's coming from that way…" Zola answered.

Mack turned back to the forest. He couldn't hear a thing. It was silent as always. He turned back to Zola with a frown and shook his head. "You're imagining things."

"No I'm not. Keep listening."

Mack paused, but then turned back to the forest. For a few minutes, he didn't hear anything. Zola continued to stand and listen, but Mack couldn't hear a sound. He began to think that the man was either pulling his leg, or had a ringing in his ears. But after five minutes of silence…he did begin to hear something faintly. He couldn't hear it that well at first, and he thought he was imagining it…but it drew closer. It was a distinct humming, echoing through the wood to the City of the Ancients. Mack kept listening, standing as well and turning his head to the woods. Then, he recognized it. It was a humming. It sounded like an engine.

"Hey…something is coming."

Both Zola and Mack turned back to the forest and waited. The sound drew nearer and nearer, growing louder as it did so. There was a small path leading through the Sleeping Forest under the thick canopy, but they saw nothing.Both stood and waited, wondering what it could be, and hoping that it was someone they were expecting. They kepton for a few more minutes, but then, at last, it turned the corner of the path up ahead, and on it came toward them. Zola and Mack gaped in surprise.

"It's him!" Mack announced.

"And he found some friends!" Zola added with a growing smile.

It was indeed Ragnar. He was in the lead now, marching ahead with a bit of a smile on his face. But he was by no means alone. At his side was a blond, spiky-haired manputtering along slowly on a large motorcycle. A little boy was seated behind him. There was a truck behind him, being driven by a monstrous black man, and had a brown-haired woman in the passenger seat with a young girl in the middle. The truck was loaded to the brim with crates and boxes, almost overflowing. Various other figures surrounded it, including what looked like a red lion/wolf, a young woman with a rather large shuriken on one shoulder, and what appeared to be a stuffed cat riding a giant stuffed moogle. Besides that, there was a massive crowd of people following behind. Most of them had backpacks. A few of them had rifles too. On they came, filling the forest with the sounds of their marching, and making their way to the front of the city.

Mack and Zola grinned with delight. Ragnar had come through for them again. Both of them stepped off to one side as they neared, clearing the way for them to go into the city. Zola proudly gestured ahead, like some sort of traffic controller or barker leading the crowd in. As for Mack, he had to step forward as they came up. He wanted to talk to the man personally. Ragnar broke off from the others and walked up to him. The blond-haired man on the motorcycle likewise turned and rolled up with him, coming to a halt nearby. The kid seated behind him was stunned by everything. He looked around continuously at the city and the forest, and back to the people who now moved past Ragnar and into the city.

"Well?" Ragnar asked as he pulled aside. "How's this for a start?"

Mack grinned in response, and shook his head. "You are something else, man. You came back just in time to make some of those guys eat their words for lunch. I thought that if anyone was crazy enough to help you, it'd only be about a dozen people at most."

"Apparently, the kid doesn't know the power of his own voice."

Mack turned aside at that, and looked down with some puzzlement to who had spoken. It was the blond-haired man on the motorcycle. He stared back at him with a strange cold look. However, the kid on his back soon pulled himself up on his shoulders, and looked to Mack.

"Hi. You guys going to go to war soon?"

Mack continued to look a bit puzzled, and then gestured to them. "Who are they?"

"New recruits." Ragnar answered simply. "Listen guys…you two probably already know where everything is and where everyone has gone too. Go on ahead and help the rest of these guys get situated. We got a lot of work to do."

Zola overheard this, and gave a nod. "Sure thing, general." He answered back. After giving a salute, he immediately turned and followed the crowd. Mack gave a nod as well, smiling again, before turning and going after the others.


That left Ragnar behind on the side of the entering crowd, and looking a bit embarrassed. He nervously turned his head back to Cloud and Denzel. The boy was looking at him curiously, while Cloud had one of his eyebrows crooked.

"General?"

"You didn't tell us you were a general." Denzel added. But after that, he quickly looked around the area again. "Is Bahamut here? I wanna see him."

Ragnar grimaced and shrugged. "He started calling me that. I didn't give myself that title."

Cloud shrugged. "Whatever. Say, there's been something I've been meaning to do for a while since I met you. And now we have a bit of time, since everyone else is settling down. I was wondering if after I get Denzel situated, you might want to step out to a more private, open area for something."

The young man looked a bit confused at this, and gave an innocent shrug. "What's that?"

"Sparring."


Despite having regularly sparred with a legendary creature of inconceivable strength, the idea of fighting Cloud made Ragnar nervous. He was still feeling a few butterflies in his stomach when Cloud finally got Fenrir and Denzel situated, and the two had gone out to the east edge of the city, between the forest and the city itself. There was a pretty open area around here, with not many people to get in the way. An occasional one came by on some errand, but for the most part it was just Cloud and Ragnar all to themselves. Both of them had reclaimed their swords at this point, and had them out here.

The two men stood apart from each other. Cloud rotated his arms a little. Ragnar cracked his neck slightly. They paced around a bit as they did so. Ragnar continued to feel a bit nervous, but this helped loosen his tension a bit. Cloud sure didn't show his fear, assuming he felt any.

After a bit longer, Cloud raised his sword up into his ready position. "Alright. Don't expect me to go easy on you. I'd like to see how good you are."

"No problem." Ragnar added, although he only felt that way partially. "I'd like to see how good I am too."

Both stopped pacing, and faced each other. Cloud moved his feet out while Ragnar moved into his own ready position. It was similar to Cloud's, given their similar nature of weaponry. After that, both stared at each other. Ragnar tried to look as emotionless as possible. Cloud, on his part, glared coldly ahead, betraying no emotion or weaknesses. The two were silent for a brief time, as they sized each other up and began to look for openings.

In the end, Cloud struck first. Ragnar was shocked at his speed. He moved like a bolt of lightning straight at him, raising his sword to jab him. The youth was caught so off guard that he nearly lost the fight there. But at the last moment, he recovered enough to swing his sword down to deflect Cloud's. A clashing sound rang out as Cloud's sword was pushed to the ground. Not changing at all, Cloud pulled his weapon back out of it, raised it back over his head, and advanced with slashing maneuvers. Ragnar's eyes widened a bit again, but he stayed with it. He raised his weapon and blocked three consecutive strikes as Cloud advanced. Each of his blows were rather strong…and his sword was heavy and thick too. It took a bit of effort to deflect him. In the end, Cloud brought his sword back and put more weight behind it, and brought it down on Ragnar again. The youth managed to intercept it. It was powerful, however, and he soon began to buckle. But before he could break, he twisted his blade down, and both went to the ground again. Both pressed themselves close, holding the clash as they did so. Their bodies moved in and nearly touched.

"Impressive." Cloud simply stated. "You're at least at the level of one of the 3rd Class SOLDIERs. I didn't think that was possible for someone like you."

Ragnar, feeling his head grow a bit, grinned slightly. "What? You think I needed Jenova cells to counter that?"

"No. But you might need them for this."

With a mighty shove, Cloud abruptly threw Ragnar backward, breaking the clash. The youth was shocked at his sudden power, and stumbled back a bit. He barely managed to gain his footing before Cloud stepped forward and swung his blade up. Ragnar instinctively blocked it, which was a bad move. The power of Cloud's blow knocked his blade up and out of the way. He was wide open. The young man paled a moment, but then quickly leapt back as Cloud advanced to slash him across the chest. The youth's recovery and nimble reflex surprised the man a bit. However, Ragnar had more up his sleeve. By the time Cloud advanced to attack again, his sword was back, and he blocked two more slashes. On the second, he locked swords for a moment, and used Cloud's blade to push him back and around him, circling his opponent to a more exposed side. Cloud raised an eyebrow to this, but then turned and quickly followed. Ragnar blocked two more slashes from him, before Cloud dove in and tried to jab him with his sword again. To this, Ragnar raised his blade straight up and crossed it before him. He slightly sidestepped, and pushed it aside with his blade. Ragnar was left standing straight and tall, holding his blade straight up, and Cloud was left slightly hunched holding his sword against him.

"You must have been doing something for the past few months." Cloud continued. "You're actually keeping up with me. Maybe you wouldn't have just been dead weight if you traveled with us last time."

Ragnar smiled in response, and shrugged. "Well, I try."

"That sword must not just be glamour and one trick either. It's held up to my blade pretty well."

"Say, what is that sword anyway?"

Ragnar didn't wait for an answer after saying this. Abruptly, he sprung back again, leaving Cloud blocking air. The ex-mercenary was surprised again, and truly this time. The youth smiled and sprung back a moment later, bringing his sword around on Cloud's exposed side. The man was just able to bring his blade back around and deflect Ragnar's sword downward a moment later. However, the youth used this blow to bring his sword up, spin around, and then aim another swipe at Cloud's head. The ex-mercenary actually cracked his mouth open on this one, before bringing it up and stopping it. Ragnar followed with an overhead chop, and after that was intercepted swung his blade back down and around at the side. As he did, he continued to advance, forcing Cloud to step back. At last, Ragnar swung his own sword down with impressive force. Cloud intercepted this, but the power was too great even for him. The scrawny youth was stronger than he looked. His sword was forced down, and Ragnar put enough power behind his blow to hold it there in a clash.

Cloud hesitated a moment, but then cracked a slight smile. "…I call it the Event Horizon. I had it special made about a year ago by a weapon's company that used to manufacture for Shinra's SOLDIERs. It cost me about everything I managed to earn while fighting Shinra, but it was worth it. Mythril steel folded 2,000 times, edge sharpened to an atom, and two separate blades, Event and Horizon."

Ragnar raised an eyebrow at this. "Where's the other blade?"

In a flash, Cloud removed one hand from the hilt and grasped an indentation on the top of the sword. In another instant, a smaller blade ripped from the much larger one, and sailed right for Ragnar. The youth's eyes enlarged, but it was too late. An instant later, the smaller blade halted, just resting its edge on Ragnar's jugular vein, angled to decapitate him.

"It's going through your neck."

Cloud calmly stepped back after that. Ragnar was released, and nearly fell forward. He was still a bit white from what had just happened. However, the spar was over. Cloud raised the Horizon and inserted it back into the larger Event. It locked into place immediately, and he turned the whole assembly over and inserted it into a special sheath on his back. Ragnar himself blinked and steadied his body a moment, but then inhaled and leaned back as well. He wiped a few beads of sweat from his brow. Cloud had never begun to sweat that entire time.

"Seriously though, you're not bad at all. In fact, you're pretty damn good." Cloud continued after a moment of silence. "Not just in terms of skill. You must have been working out with your body and reflexes. Most of the time, they don't even see me coming. I've never seen a person move as fast as you do without having a mako infusion or Jenova cells. If the original Shinra was still around and you weren't on their wanted list, I'm sure Tseng himself would be knocking down your door recruiting you for SOLDIER."

Ragnar steadied himself a moment longer, but then exhaled. After that, he returned his sword to his sheath behind him, and gave a shrug. "Well…skill and power aren't everything. You should know that better than anyone. You were just a regular old human like most of us when you beat Sephiroth the first time."

"Maybe. But I wouldn't have lived to brag about it if I hadn't been turned into a lab rat right after that." Cloud responded. "And I didn't say you were perfect. You still lack experience, and some confidence. When I was fighting you, you were intimidated by me. You let me get under your skin. It wasn't until later in the fight you started getting a bit cocky. You know…I saw you back there when you were talking to those people in Midgar. You were like a different person, totally in control of the situation. I don't even think I could have stood up to you then. Why can't you be like that while you fight?"

Ragnar hesitated, but after a pause sighed and gave a shrug. "I don't know… That wasn't the first time that happened either. It's just…" He frowned to himself, and thought for a moment. "Somehow…I was just in the element there. I just felt like I had to say this, and that I had to make them feel the way I did. I wasn't going to let them give in to their fears or prejudices about me. I was going to make them listen. I was going to make them see the way I saw. And after that…I just felt confident. It just happened."

Cloud stared at Ragnar for a moment after that. The youth, still a bit confused, exhaled and turned back to the ex-mercenary. For a moment, the two just stood across from each other, looking to one another. In the end, however, Cloud cracked a smile again.

"This has been the wildest week I've had in a while, kid. Something tells me I'm going to have a hell of a time learning more about you."


The City of the Ancients was far more organized by that evening.

Everyone was settled in now. There weren't exactly places for everyone, but there were enough tents to house those who couldn't fit. There were a few large tents around too, to add a meeting area and a mess tent. That would have to do for now. Eventually, there had to be more in the way of barracks, but they were still just starting. Their already meager weapon collection was added to considerably, although many of the weapons were home rifles and handguns. There were only a few new assault weapons. They had more food now, and they began to have some medical supplies as well. Most importantly, the new recruits and technology around helped give people a better sense of community, safety, and well being. More transports arrived at two different times that day, bringing in more people, supplies, and a few portable generators. Soon, the city would have lights that weren't just from fires.

As the sun began to set, the first meeting began to convene. Ragnar wasn't sure exactly who to bring to the first one. He ended up deciding on Cloud, his friends, Zola and Mack. These people had shown the most initiative so far, and had the most battle experience. They all gathered into the meeting tent that had been set up. They only had a few kerosene lanterns for illumination, hanging from the ceiling of the old tent, and just a few folding chairs (two of them lawn chairs) as furniture. The room was set up audience style, with all the chairs on one side, and the speaker on the other. An old cooler had been drug in to act as a podium/pedestal/display table/misc.

The members of Cloud's old group had all gathered inside, along with Zola and Mack. The former was trying to introduce himself to everyone cheerfully. The latter was more wary, not quite trusting these people yet. In addition, despite how uncomfortable it made Ragnar…Denzel and Marlene had come along. There wasn't yet a "day care" or "caregiver" set up in the army, and so kids were staying with their parents. Here was no exception. Cloud and Tifa were seated next to each other in the front row, with Marlene and Denzel playing with some of Denzel's action figures at their feet. Barret was nearby, trying to stick close to Marlene. Yuffie was against the canvas wall, looking eager and earnest. Zola and Mack were next going down, with chair spaces between them. Cait Sith took the end, dismounting his moogle to sit on a chair. Last but not least, Red XIII sat on the ground at the end of the first row.

Ragnar was in the front, smiling a bit as he stood there. He had a piece of posterboard in his hands that had been folded in half. But now that everyone was gathered, he was ready to unveil it. Once the meeting had come to order and everyone was silent, he dropped one half of the posterboard, and proudly held up what was inside for all to see. It had been hastily scrawled in a black marker, but the writing was easy to read.

PPA: Planet Protector Army.

The people stared back with dumbfounded expressions.

"Oh my…" Tifa announced uneasily.

"That's the corniest thing I've ever heard!" Yuffie blurted out, far less civil.

"Is that the best your Scrawny-Ass could think up?" Barret grumbled.

Ragnar's smile faded into a rather sour look. "Hey, I didn't hear anyone else offering any names. You all threw this responsibility on top of me, and you kept nagging me all week to think of something. Essentially we're in this war to keep the people of the world free and safe, and to stop Shinra from resuming the use of mako reactors and environmental destruction. We're essentially trying to save the world, so that makes us protectors of the Planet. Hence…we're the Planet Protector Army. And we're sticking with it."

Some grumbled and leaned back into their seats a bit. Zola himself pulled at his collar in a bit of an uneasy fashion. Cait Sith was struggling to stifle another fit of laughter. The others just decided to deal with it. Using the acronym PPA would be easier, anyway. Yuffie muttered aloud something that sounded like, "why don't we call ourselves the Forest Guardians or Nature Children". After this had calmed down, however, Ragnar unceremoniously dropped his sign on the ground, now that it was so ill received, and looked to the others.

"Alright…now, like you said earlier, we're going to appoint officers next. Since you all said I'm the leader…I guess that makes me the general." The youth hesitated after this, somewhat annoyed at how this all sounded like a bunch of kids getting ready to play war, and assigning parts to everyone. He forced himself through it, however, and looked to the crowd next.

"Since he has the most experience in battle, and because he led the people at Fort Condor, and because he knows about how a military system works…I'd like to appoint Cloud Strife as colonel and my second in command."

The others looked to Cloud at this. The blond-haired ex-mercenary looked around a bit at this. He seemed somewhat uncomfortable at this. He was a loner, after all. He didn't like having to look out for other people. He turned back to Ragnar at this with a somewhat dour look.

"Look, kid…thanks for the offer and everything. But I'm really more suited to grunt work."

"Oh, come off it, Cloud!" Cait Sith called back. "You led us, didn't you?"

Ragnar himself crossed his arms and stared back at him, smiling a bit slyly. "And technically, it wasn't an offer. I am general and commander-in-chief, remember? And you did volunteer to serve under me." The youth added with a cocky air.

Cloud frowned a bit in response, and let out a loud exhale as he bowed his head. He didn't get much reprieve, however. Denzel and Marlene both grinned as they looked up to him, hearing the "good news". Tifa also smiled slightly and put a hand on his shoulder. In truth, she sort of liked this too. It would force Cloud to actually interact with them on a constant basis, rather than just run off and be by himself all the time. Besides…she believed in him and his ability.

Ragnar turned to Red XIII next. "Alright…and since Nanaki has the greatest knowledge of tactics, and the highest intellect out of any of us, I'd like to appoint him major and my head military tactitian."

The beast raised his one good eyebrow, but then gave a shrug. "As you wish, though this might put a damper on my being in the front lines. I certainly have my work cut out for me until we get the army in better shape."

The youth gave a nod, but then looked over to crowd again and rested his eyes on another person. "Next, I want to appoint Tifa Lockhart to the spot of commander, and make her the head company officer. She knows the most about personal training and hand-to-hand combat, so I'd like her to take responsibility for organizing exercises and drills for the rest of the troops."

Tifa's eyes widened a bit, before she began to blush slightly. She nervously looked down to the ground. "Er…" She spoke out loud in a half-mutter. "I've…never really…worked as a sensei before… But Zangan did tell me I was his best student…and I think I remember enough of the katas and stretches… I guess I could give it a shot." She ended with a shrug.

Ragnar looked over the crowd again, and moved to the next person. "I'd like to also appoint Barret Wallace to the position of commander and make him head of gunnery. He seems to have the most experience with using a variety of firearms around here, so I'd like him to teach us all how to shoot."

The large man grimaced a bit and crossed his arms, but then sighed and gave a nod. "Alright, alright… But they better do what I tell 'em when I tell 'em. I ain't gonna run around with a corps full of stubborn asses like Spiky over here." He gestured to Cloud soon afterward.

Yuffie, after seeing this, brightened up and looked excitedly to Ragnar for whatever he would say next, in particular her position. However, Ragnar not only looked to her, but also to Zola and Mack as he turned his head across. "Alright…you other three, Yuffie, Zola, and Mack, I'm appointing as lieutenants. We have about 360 troops right now, so each one of you will be in charge of a company of 120. You can appoint as many sergants as you need to keep things in line. As we add more, we'll add more lieutenants."

Mack gave a nod in answer to this, tightening his own hands into fists and showing his determination. Zola gave a salute in response, as if to say, "You can count on me, mon capitan." Yuffie, however, was rather stunned.

"WHAT! You're lumping me in with these bozos? As skilled as I am? All I get is a measely lieutenant position? I'm one of the world's greatest ninjas, and I have to be in the same spot as guys who can't even tie their shoes correctly!"

"You know, we're right here." Mack called out to her with a rather irritated expression.

Here, however, Cait Sith leapt up and down on his chair, frantically waving a paw in the air. "Ooh, ooh! Me, me!" He called out earnestly. "What about me, Ragnar? What do I get to be?"

The youth turned to the stuffed animal, and hesitated a moment. He began to grimace again. "You?" He echoed back. He hesitated again and licked his lips. "Yes…you…" He said again, a bit slower and more uneasily. "You…um…you…er…get to be…um…" He hesitated and thought again, beginning to sweat a little. "Well, for right now, you get to be…um…" In the end, he looked up and plastered on the best smile he could manage. "In charge of company moral, and…guarding the children."

"Alright!" The stuffed cat cheered in reply, jumping for joy on its chair. As for Ragnar, he sighed in relief and wiped his brow again. It was a good thing Reeve programmed that thing to be so gullible…


Leers tapped his fingers twice against the top of his metal table. This wasn't an official meeting, but it didn't mean it was any less important. Colonel Zed sat across from him at the opposite side of the rather long desk. The rest of the room was empty. In front of him, Leers read a copy of the latest report. Zed had one as well, so that he too could follow along with what his general was seeing. In the end, the man looked up and leveled his gaze on the colonel.

"So you found them."

"Yes, but the situation has changed, sir." Zed answered back. "They've been bringing in troops from the rest of the world just like us. They're settling down with more supplies and weapons. It looks like they're actually trying to barricade the valley. I think they might be trying to keep us from moving south."

Leers gave a snort to this. "Cocky little bastard, isn't he?" He half-murmured to himself.

"The heavy machine gun is still their most powerful weapon, as far as we've been able to tell." The colonel continued. "But now they have enough numbers to make it hard, if not impossible, for us to wipe them out with a sortie."

"Well then, let's not just send a sortie." General Leers calmly answered, looking back up to Zed while leaning back and folding his hands. "Prepare the 1st Army to move out on the City of the Ancients."

The old manraised an eyebrow, seeming to be a bit puzzled by this. "Sir? The 1st Army consists of over 20,000 units. They don't even have 400. Isn't this a bit of overkill?"

"These escapees have created a rather annoying bump in my road south." Leers responded. "I'd like it flattened. Now there will be no reasons, or excuses, to have failure in killing them all. I want you to command the unit personally, colonel. Destroy the uprisers and then march on to the sea and secure the area. We will begin our push south right after they are dead. If this Ragnar Vice really is leading them, send him back to me alive, though I don't care if you have to break most of his bones to do it."

The colonel looked a bit uncomfortable at having to actually lead an army. He thought his job had been pretty cushy, and he had subordinates to work things for him. However, in the end, he looked confused for another reason. "You don't want us to just kill him in battle, sir? You'd like prisoners?"

"Just him. The others have already proven themselves to be too unruly to be safe POWs." Leers answered. "But Colonel Maritiza's been working on a new gun for me, and I want to correct its sight."


To be continued...