Chapter 29
The Right Place
Cloud opened his eyes and quickly made sure he wasn't falling through the air like the last time they'd tried to go somewhere. He was relieved to see he was in fact standing on solid ground.
"This looks right," Aeris said.
"It looks the same as where we came from," Gast commented.
"You'll find every different existence looks the same as where we came from," Cloud muttered.
"Alright," Aeris said, looking around, "we have to go to the spot where the black building is in every existence, we know where that is."
"What's the hard part?" asked Gast.
"Probably getting in," Aeris replied.
"Outcasts?" asked Cloud.
"Could be," Aeris said, "I'm not sure, at this point I'm guessing."
"Well, then, lead the way," Gast said, "better guessing than nothing at all."
Aeris started forward and the two followed, they walked past numerous familiar landmarks and likewise similar landscapes. They were all on the lookout for something unusual, something that would stand out. Something to warn them of danger ahead, perhaps.
They walked and continued to do so for quite a while, Cloud thought to suggest Aeris do her levitation thing and maybe cut down some travel time, but if she wasn't suggesting it Cloud trusted there was a reason why she couldn't.
"So do either of you have any idea what we're actually trying to do here?" asked Gast breaking a long silence.
"Not really," Cloud replied.
Aeris nodded, "This existence is the only one that contains the power source for all of the black buildings. If we destroy the power source here all of the buildings go down."
"Then the Ancient Black can't get through to Centre Time," Cloud said.
"Not just that, it will lose its connection to Centre Time entirely, so even if it gets through before we destroy the power source it won't be able to exist in Centre Time without its connection."
"So this place is the key to everything," Gast muttered.
"After we do this the only people we'll have to worry about are the Outcasts," Cloud said.
"Even without the Ancient Black working for them they can still do damage on their own, all they need is the key to Centre Time to get in and the artifacts once they're inside," Aeris said.
They continued to walk, always on the lookout for a black building ahead. On the way Aeris gave Gast a description of the Ancient Black as he had never heard of the thing before.
"Though even the Cetra aren't entirely sure what it looks like on the surface of the Planet, they know well enough it's dangerous," Aeris said. "That's why they try and keep it trapped in the Lifestream."
"Then the Outcasts created the buildings and opened a door for it?" asked Gast.
"That's the idea, yes," Aeris replied.
"And as long as we can destroy the power source we can stop it," Gast said, "sounds simple enough in theory."
"Look," Cloud said pointing straight ahead into the distance, "I think that's it."
Ahead, on the horizon, there was indeed the beginning of a black building appearing.
"It's not big enough," Aeris murmured.
"What?" asked Gast.
"This building has to do what the others do, but also house the power source, it should be bigger so it can contain the power source," Aeris explained.
"Are we in the wrong place again?" asked Cloud.
"The Outcasts couldn't have interfered this time, they couldn't have been prepared for us preparing the machine that fast," Aeris reasoned, "maybe there's a second building."
"Only one way to find out, I guess," Cloud muttered.
They walked up to the building, going over the familiar ridge, there was no other building.
"This is strange," Aeris said.
"Maybe the power source is in a different spot entirely," Gast suggested.
"Possibly," Aeris muttered, "let's see if there's anyone inside the building we could ask."
They approached the entrance of the building and continued to search the area for any sign of life.
"I guess we just knock?" asked Gast.
"Okay, I'm an inspector sent by Shinra, Cloud, you're a member of SOLDIER sent as my escort and professor, you're a scientist," Aeris said.
"I'm not sure I can handle that," Gast joked, "it's a bit of a stretch for me, don't you think? I suggest you make me a professional pilot, possibly an entertainer."
"Alright, just keep the story straight," Aeris said and walked right up to the big black doors.
She knocked.
After a few moments of nothing the doors actually started opening, inside stood two Shinra soldiers in blue with weapons raised.
"Who are you?" asked one.
"I'm an inspector, the president sent us to check on the progress of the machine," Aeris replied.
"We weren't notified," the soldier said.
"But we're here anyways," Gast said.
The soldier looked the three of them up and down, "Who are the other two?'
"This is my escort and the other is a high ranking member of the Science Division," Aeris said, "the president wants to be certain things are getting done here."
They bought the story and let them in.
"Professor Tirren is in Area Two," the soldier informed them.
Aeris guessed this was the head scientist working on the project, the name seemed familiar to her.
The soldier took them to Area Two and looked surprised to see the place was empty.
"Where the hell is he?" muttered the soldier.
He stopped a passing scientist and asked where Tirren went, the man pointed off down a hallway.
"Sometimes he goes down there to think," the scientist explained and then went about his business.
"Just follow that hallway down, he'll be the only person down there," the soldier said, "can you make it on your own, ma'am?"
"Yes, thank you," Aeris replied.
The soldier walked off and Aeris headed toward the hallway. The three of them spotted the professor within seconds. He was pacing back and forth, his foot steps resounding off the walls.
"The foot steps," Cloud muttered, "Aeris, this is the same spot in our building that had the foot steps."
"I guess we know who's making all the noise now," Aeris said, as they approached it took a minute or two for the professor to acknowledge their presence.
"Oh, God, what're you doin' sneaking up on people like that?" asked the professor looking up.
Everyone did a considerably good job of hiding their shock.
He looked exactly like Samael.
Aeris realized why his name seemed familiar, Tirren was Sam's last name, only she knew that out of the three of them however.
Apart from the fact he was wearing glasses and a lab coat which didn't seem to suit him, he did look identical to Samael.
"As much as I enjoy the presence of beautiful women," Tirren said then nodding to the other two, "and her escorts, naturally, I would like to know a few things. The basics…who are you…what do you want…and what's your phone number?"
Aeris opened her mouth to respond but paused.
"The last one was just for you," Tirren said to Aeris, "sorry guys."
Cloud and Gast said nothing.
It appeared Sam didn't change much in any existence.
"I'm an inspector sent by the president, professor," Aeris said, "we're supposed to make sure you're getting the job done here. We've also been sent to check the power source for the machine."
Tirren nodded, "I figured they'd send one of you people around eventually. The power plant is a few miles from here; we can take a chopper after."
Aeris nodded.
Tirren gestured down the hall, "Shall we?"
The three followed Tirren around as he explained the progress and how certain things worked. He talked and sounded like Sam but didn't appear to be like him at all, he still threw in one too many bad jokes during his explanations however.
After about half an hour of touring Tirren led them outside to the helipad where there was a Shinra Chopper waiting.
"This may be related to your work, professor, I have a question," Aeris said.
"Ask away," Tirren replied.
"What exactly do you know about the Cetra?" asked Aeris.
"Regrettably not enough, I know the purpose of this project is to attempt to bring one back," Tirren said, "I was assigned to this sucker, I honestly don't give a damn what they get from it. If the Cetra are dead, personally, I think we should leave them dead."
"I agree," Aeris said nodding.
"Well that's good," Tirren said, "let's go see that power plant."
They all got on the chopper and Tirren took the pilot's seat.
"You can fly this thing?" asked Cloud.
"I'm multi-talented," Tirren replied, "in many, many ways."
Tirren flew the chopper for the most part in a straight line. After only a few minutes of flight the power plant came into view. It was larger than the black building but similarly shaped.
"The plant is a little bigger than the building itself, but is made up mostly of Mako-powered technology. It can keep the building running twenty-four seven and doesn't affect anything else," Tirren explained. "This place is pretty much the key to everything. If this goes down everything goes down, takes a lot of power to run the machine back at the building."
"Is it vulnerable, the plant?" asked Cloud.
"Yes, for such an important contraption I'm interested in the security aspect as I'm not so well versed in that area," Gast added.
Tirren nodded, "It's got at least four members of SOLDIER on guard at all times and a group of about fifty common soldiers. There are automated defenses, certain traps set up to defend the inside as well as the outside. We'd like to think we made it impossible to get into, but as a scientist I realize nothing is ever really impossible."
"Well said," Gast commented.
"We'll set down on the roof and go down from there," Tirren said. He landed the chopper and they exited. The roof had four men with rifles, along with two more guarding the only door off the roof.
They walked up to the door.
"Identification cards," the soldier asked.
Cloud looked at Gast out of the corner of his eye; Cloud readied himself to draw his sword.
Tirren pulled out his, "They're with me, open the door."
"Professor, we need to see their…"
"If they were going to break into this place they would have done it already by killing you, open the door," Tirren said, the soldier hesitated but did so a moment later.
"Let's go," Tirren said. They walked inside.
The professor immediately began giving them a tour of the place. After a few minutes they were experts on the ins and outs of the entire place. Their last stop was the most important.
"Here's what you've all been waiting for," Tirren said, "this is what you would destroy to knock out all power to the project."
Tirren gestured to a long cylindrical green object that went up through the middle of the room.
"All you have to do is crack this tube here and the place goes haywire, if it doesn't get sealed everything loses power and boom," Tirren said, "this is what you're looking for isn't it?"
Aeris looked at him curiously, "What?"
"I realize I might look like an idiot, but you're no inspector," Tirren said, "he might be a SOLDIER and the other one definitely looks like a scientist. I doubt you three are even from Shinra."
They looked at him, waiting to see what his next move was.
"You're doing me a favour here, if I wanted to stop you from sabotaging this I would have already," Tirren said, "I don't know the method to your madness but I want this sucker blown up as much as you do probably. I hate this project and I want nothing to do with it, I'd do this myself if I had a death wish. Have fun."
Tirren walked past them toward the room's exit.
"Sam," Aeris said turning toward him.
"How'd you know my name?" asked Tirren.
"Thank you," she said, ignoring his question.
He looked like he was about to ask again but let it go, "Don't mention it, you've got five minutes before I raise the alarm, make it quick."
§
Back at the main building an airship landed almost completely unnoticed outside and unloaded three men.
"They're already here," Mardra said looking around.
Fear nodded, "It doesn't matter, Foret, what's involved here?"
Foret held up the Black Materia, "All we have to do is wait for them to destroy the power source. Then, when that's done, the connection with Centre Time will be lost. The Ancient Black will be called back and just as he takes his path backward we'll sneak up his path forward bypassing the entire locked door problem."
"How did you come up with this?" asked Mardra.
"There was a man in Kalm, I talked to him before I had him killed, his name was Hojo, I think you all know him yes?" asked Foret.
They nodded.
"Man was a nutbar but he was ahead of his time as far as science, he created this theory," Foret said.
"Did he test it?" asked Mardra.
"No," Foret said, "but honestly, what other option do we have?"