Chapter 19
Corta
Feardorcha went immediately for one of his many blades but Samael was quicker, he flicked his wrist and the lone table in the room, along with the picture of the star, popped off the ground and smashed into Fear. The Outcast leader was crushed between the table and the wall; he fell to the ground in a daze.
"Come on, we have to get on the bridge to get out of here, this room has some sort of magic dispelling shield," Sam explained.
"What about him?" asked Gast gesturing to the dazed Outcast leader.
"We should leave while he's off his feet," Sam said, "none of us here could defeat him, even if it was three on one."
They followed Sam out on to the bridge, the entire crew of Outcasts turned and looked at them, and some of them registered shock as these people clearly weren't Outcasts.
"Don't mind us," Sam said amiably, "just passing through."
"Samael," said a female voice; they didn't see the owner of the voice until she stepped into view in front of them.
"Charna," Sam said, his voice taking on an unusual attribute that deviated from his usual sarcasm.
"It hasn't been long enough, I'm afraid," the woman replied bitterly.
"I guess it never will be," Sam replied.
Aeris placed the strangeness of his voice it was the hint of an emotion she had detected many times in a person but never from Samael. It sounded a bit like sadness.
"You know I can't let you leave, Sam," Charna said, with a hint of apology.
"You couldn't let me stay either," Sam replied, this seemed to surprise Charna.
Behind his back Sam was doing something with his hand, Aeris couldn't make out what exactly.
"It's not like you cared," Charna replied.
"Oh, really, did you ever ask me if I cared?" asked Sam.
"We both know if I didn't you would," Charna replied.
"Let's get outta here," Sam said shaking his head and began to move his hand from behind his back.
"If I hadn't you know very well it would've been me who would get hurt," Charna said drawing her sword.
Sam stopped his hand and seemed to turn his eyes on her again, this time with a glare.
"I loved you," Sam said almost in a whisper.
"You say that now," Charna replied in a growl.
"I guess I could have said it more often," Sam muttered, "we're on different sides of this, there's no other option for us except to be enemies. See ya later, sweetheart."
Sam pulled his hand from behind his back and threw a small object on the ground, it flashed brightly, temporarily blinding Aeris and Professor Gast.
When their vision cleared they were no longer on the airship, in fact they weren't on any airship. They were back in the Shinra building it appeared, behind them stood the others Sam had left behind to wait for him.
"Welcome back," Vincent greeted.
"That was…interesting," Gast said thoughtfully.
"They told you their plan, why don't you fill everyone in?" suggested Sam turning and walking toward a doorway.
Aeris and Gast now noticed they were no longer in the hall but in a laboratory.
"What about you?" asked Gast.
"I already knew their plan, I just wasn't sure until now," Sam said.
"How could you know?" asked Cloud.
"I gave the idea to the Outcasts," Sam replied looking over his shoulder at them, "back when I used to be one."
"You were an Outcast?" asked Aeris in confusion.
"I was one of the few who realized what kind of destruction their plan could cause," Sam replied, "one of the fewer to survive defecting."
"That's how you knew so much about them," Aeris said.
"I know everything about them, if I didn't then we wouldn't have gotten away from the airship," Sam said. "That small device that flashed was specially attuned to disrupt the field around the bridge only, giving us enough time to get away."
"So then the question is, once we know what they want, what do we do about stopping it?" asked Vincent.
"I can tell you that," Sam said, "let Aeris and the Professor explain some things first."
As Aeris and Gast began to tell their story, detailing every event that occurred after they had been briefly captured, Sam walked out of the lab and back out into the hallway. The airship was still lodged in the decimated window; Sam jumped up on the airship and walked across the top until he found a suitable spot to sit.
He sat silently for an amount of time he wasn't sure of.
"Who was that woman?" asked Professor Gast walking up behind him carefully watching his step on the treacherous roof of the ship.
"Charna," Sam replied as Gast eased to sit beside him, "she and I were…"
Gast waited a few moments before filling in the blank, "Romantically involved?"
"Yeah," Sam said sadly.
"What happened?" asked Gast.
"Oh, you know, we wanted different things," Sam said dismissively, but then smiled, "she wanted to go off and resurrect the Cetra and I wanted to sit around and do nothing all day."
"She dumped you to go with the Outcasts?" asked Gast.
"Yeah, I joined for a while, probably in some foolish attempt to try and win her back," Sam replied, "when I realized she and her good buddy Fear weren't just good buddies anymore I thought of leaving the Outcasts. When I realized what exactly they were planning I knew I had to leave."
"And you two," Gast smiled, "can't still just be friends?"
Sam grinned, "Worst phrase ever, you'd think with all the advancements we'd have come up with something better. No, in fact we couldn't be anything other than enemies at that point."
"And you still love her?" asked Gast.
"I…" Sam seemed sure of his response at first but then paused as if considering another option, "…I'm not sure."
"So you could be," Gast said.
Sam didn't respond.
"That means you know of course that if it comes to it you probably won't be able to kill her," Gast continued.
"Hey, you can do that Cetra mind reading stuff to normal people," Sam said, "but I'm a Cetra, too, so you can be sure I know myself well enough I don't need you doing that Aeris thing."
"Sorry," Gast said, "you're right of course; I'm also not as experienced in the ways of being a Cetra as you are."
"Well, you've definitely got a good start," Sam said.
"Thank you," Gast replied.
"Hey, you two, it's time we started figuring out what to do," Lucrecia called from inside the building.
"You were with the Outcasts for a while, do you feel you have a connection with them as well?" asked Gast.
"Trust me, them, I could kill," Sam replied standing up.
"Just checking," Gast muttered.
The two entered back into the building and rejoined the others in the lab.
"You mentioned you may know which direction we should take to stop the Outcasts," Vincent said to Sam.
"We need to get the White Materia," Sam said.
Aeris nodded, "One of the artifacts they need to make the Star Effect do its job."
"It is here then?" asked Vincent.
"No," Sam replied, "they just think it is."
"So where is it?" asked Gast.
"Only Rufus knows," Sam replied, "that's why we need to find him before the Outcasts do."
"If he knows then we need to hurry, the Outcasts have a head start on us," Cloud said.
"Rufus is well guarded, if they are near him they're likely having trouble with the soldiers," Vincent said logically.
Sam nodded, "Tall, dark and brooding here knows what he's talking about. We back up Rufus' forces and save his ass; he tells us where the Materia is so we can protect it."
"He'll definitely trust Professor Gast," Lucrecia commented, "he'll tell him at least."
"That's good, because it is by no means safe with Shinra, they can't fight these guys like we can," Sam said.
"Rufus is at the top floor I would assume," Vincent said.
Sam nodded, "I'd bet money on it."
"It's still a long way up," Gast said looking up to the roof and imagining the distance between them and where Rufus resided in the Headquarters.
"Oh, come on," Sam said smiling, "by now you must have learned I'm not just another pretty face, stand still we'll be there in no time."
"Just don't teleport us into a wall or something," Aeris murmured.
"Here we go kids, hang on," Sam snapped his fingers and they were gone.
They reappeared where Sam had promised they would, Rufus' office, Cloud and the others recognized it well enough. Two stairways led upward to where they stood; in the seat behind them behind the big desk was where they saw Sephiroth's Masamune Blade embedded in the back of Rufus' father.
At the top of each of the two stairways stood groups of Shinra soldiers firing downward at unseen enemies, Rufus Shinra was on the left side stairway firing downward with his shotgun.
"President Shinra," Gast said running up behind him.
"What the hell is it…" Rufus looked at them and his voice came to a halt, "…Cloud?"
"Really long story, sir, we have something important to tell you," Gast said.
Rufus gave another confused look to Cloud, who should have been dead in this existence, and then back to Gast, "What is it Professor?"
"These men who are attacking are called the Outcasts," Gast began, "in short, they want the White Materia."
"Why?" asked Rufus.
"Some diabolical plan I'm sure," Gast replied hurriedly, "this man, he's a Cetra," Gast gestured to Sam, "he's been sent to protect the White Materia."
"I'm not sure where it is, but I know you must know," Sam said.
Rufus looked at them suspiciously.
"Sir, I realize I can't prove that…" Gast began.
"If we help you get rid of these dark-clad bastards will you trust us?" asked Sam.
Rufus nodded, "Very well, my men are being overrun, they are too powerful, these Outcasts."
"Alright, well, let's make a move on these guys," Sam said.
They all looked to Cloud.
"Through time and space," Sam said, "you're still the fearless leader."
"Sam and I will go down the left staircase," Cloud said, "Aeris and Vincent will go down the left. Gast and Lucrecia should stay on the stairs and use their guns to help the soldiers."
Everyone nodded.
"Let's freakin' do it!" Sam said running for the left hand staircase with Cloud.
Vincent walked toward the right hand stairs with Aeris and drew his revolver.
"Let's get this over with," Vincent muttered.
Cloud and Sam charged past Shinra soldiers and they both jumped off the stairs. They sailed through the air and caught their enemies by complete surprise. Cloud's sword tore through unsuspecting Outcasts.
Sam landed on the ground in a crouch and put his left hand flat on the ground.
"Have a seat gentlemen," Sam muttered, a barely visible ripple shot out from Sam's hand and every Outcast within the general area were thrown off their feet.
Vincent came down the stairs slowly, firing away with his pistol; every shot hit its target. One Outcast drew a throwing dagger and tossed it at Vincent. He effortlessly threw up his golden clawed hand and deflected the dagger, responding with a fatal shot to the thrower's chest.
The deflected dagger never got a chance to hit the ground as Aeris came up behind Vincent and hit it with her staff. A trail of bright green could be seen shooting out from behind the speeding dagger as it was redirected right into the forehead of an Outcast.
One Outcast saw Vincent and Aeris and began throwing a seemingly constant stream of daggers. Aeris caught sight of the storm of blades coming at them just in time.
She pushed Vincent aside and spun her staff in a constant three-sixty; it was so fast and consistent that every dagger was trapped in the momentum of the spin. Finally, when the last of the Outcast's daggers were trapped in Aeris' spinning staff, she let the daggers fly off in random directions.
Some daggers imbedded themselves in walls or other objects, but a good number did hit and kill Outcasts in the area.
Sam ducked under a sword and punched the Outcast in the stomach, he doubled over then Sam brought his right elbow down on the back of the Outcast's neck effectively knocking him unconscious. Sam turned in time to see an Outcast raising two pistols, the clips were much longer than the grips of the guns which told Sam one thing: automatics…trouble. He recognized the female Outcast well enough as well, Corta.
Corta was another attractive Outcast that Sam would have been interested in being involved with if he hadn't met Charna first. Corta had shoulder length blonde hair and was about as tall as Sam himself. She wasn't very physically well-built but Sam knew for a fact she did know how to use those automatic pistols quite well.
"Cloud, get down!" Sam yelled, hoping the man had heard.
Cloud dived to the ground without question just as a wave of bullets shot overhead.
"Corta," Sam said standing up and smiling, "I'm meeting so many old friends; it's like one big happy family reunion."
"Samael," Corta said holding back on firing, "what the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm getting asked that a lot lately," Sam said smiling.
"You're here to stop us, aren't you?" asked Corta.
"Fear warned you, eh?" asked Sam.
"Not really," Corta said, "just a precaution we all take."
"I guess you have to try and kill me," Sam said.
"Sorry," Corta said and pulled the trigger on both of her pistols.
Sam dived into a back flip and then a simultaneous roll that would have put Tifa's athletic feats to shame. Every single bullet shot by harmlessly…by inches some.
"Damn," Corta growled, quickly throwing fresh clips into her guns.
Sam used the little extra time he had to try and get nearer to Corta, he didn't get very far before the spray of bullets came toward him.
Suddenly, there was a crimson object in Sam's peripheral vision, as he turned a little to look he saw it was in fact Vincent landing beside him.
Vincent began firing his revolver faster than Sam thought the weapon looked to be able to fire. The larger bullets of the revolver managed to miraculously intercept every bullet fired from Corta's automatics. The impact of Vincent's bullets hitting Corta's shot sparks in the air and sent bullets ricocheting around the room.
Corta cursed again and hurried to reload her guns again. Just as she managed to slide in fresh clips she noticed how close Sam had gotten to her, he was only about two feet away now.
She struggled to ready the gun and raised it to fire, not bothering to aim she just fired blindly knowing he was close enough to hit.
Sam saw this coming and prepared himself, as the first bullet left the barrel and came at him Sam brought up his right hand which appeared to be shrouded in some kind of blue light. His hand hit the bullet and it was immediately redirected back at Corta.
She didn't get any other chances to fire as the very first bullet returned and drove itself through the bridge of her nose and out the back of her head. She dropped backwards letting the guns fall uselessly on the ground along with her body.
The rest of the Outcasts were cleared out soon after their commanding officer had been finished off by Sam. Without Corta it appeared they had lost the will to fight. Some of the Outcasts closer to exits managed to make a retreat.
Sam walked over to Corta who lay on her back, a small hole set in the area of her nose, her eyes left wide open. It was as if she was staring up at him in shock…asking "just where the hell do you get off shooting me in the head with my own bullet you ass?"
"Sorry, beautiful, this has all gone to hell," Sam said quietly to Corta. "On the bright side, you can't really die, you're already dead."
"Clear, Sam?" asked Cloud.
"Yeah, they're gone," Sam replied.
"They may be returning with a reserve force, we should learn the location of the Materia," Vincent said holstering his firearm.
"Yeah," Sam said, it was only recently, now that he knew Charna was here, that he felt any connection to these Outcasts, he realized it may turn out to be harder to kill them than he had hoped.
They returned upstairs where Gast and Lucrecia were talking with Rufus, as they noticed them coming up the stairs Gast headed toward them.
"The President says he had the Turks bring the White Materia to the ruins of the Temple of the Ancients," Gast said, "apparently he's been working on setting up a small secret outpost in and around the crater that used to be the Temple."
"As of now it is unfortunately lightly guarded by a few members of SOLDIER and some Turks," Rufus said. "It appears it would be safer in your hands, you're free to use one of the Shinra helicopters to get there."
"Finally," Sam said shaking his head, "don't know about you guys but I was getting a little tired of walking everywhere, especially over water and such."
"It will take a few minutes for me to stock your chopper, you may wait here if you like," Rufus said moving off toward a few soldiers.
"We appear to have our next destination," Vincent said.
"Oh, just gives you the shivers doesn't it?" asked Sam. "Just like the good old days for you guys, eh?"
Cloud looked at Aeris for a long moment, "Bad old days."