Well I'm here again and I finally was able to type this thing out
Well I'm here again and I finally was able to type this thing out. Hopefully it wont take too long cause I practically handwritten this entire chapter during work…when it was slow today. Anyways, thanks for all of those who have been reviewing and writing to me I enjoy getting those. And to those of you who have reviewed and never have before, big thanks to you too cause I love hearing from other readers as well. And all of those who review all the time, thanks so much! I guess I just want to thank everyone whose reading and all that good stuff. I bet you're tired of my blabbin' so ill get on to the chapter now! Thanks again to all of you!
-Annubis
Disclaimer: I do not own final fantasy VII, Squaresoft does.
Chapter 16
"ONE!"
'Bring it…' Zack glared and clenched his teeth.
"FIRE!!"
The battle had begun.
The gunfire shot out over the team, hailing down on them like a storm. All three of the men ran for cover, dodging the dangerous ammunition. The bullets ricocheted from the metal of the ship, making the escape all the more dangerous.
'All right…they wanna play like that, eh?' Zack leaped from behind the catwalk's supporting beam and swung his sword in circles. The flying bullets rebounded from Zack's sword and flew back at the copter in front of them. Bullets flew past his head and shoulders and next to his feet. Zack continued swinging from side to side, both hands gripping the sword, his wrists twisting and angling the weapon.
"Damn! You sure are SOLDIER First-Class!" Barret ducked his head to avoid another shot.
"What!? This is nothin'!" Zack smirked and looked back at his friends.
"Jenova's cells seem to be of benefit to you." Vincent shot out from his revolver, trying to hit the machine in front of them.
"Yeah…wouldn't call it a true blessing though." Zack turned his attention back to the helicopter in front of them. There were holes in the front and sides from the bullets that were flung back.
"Wouldn't want ya' to turn into an alien…or a freak." Barret shook his head. He noticed there was a leak, the dark liquid pouring from the vehicle. He turned and nudged Vincent. "Hey…think it's flammable?" Barret chuckled mischievously. Vincent turned his attention to the craft and smiled.
"Only one way to find out…" Vincent jumped up and took one shot, aiming for the location of the leaking liquid. A second later the whole area lit up with fire and smoke. Barret's eyes widened.
"Too close!" All three men ducked and covered their heads. The bits and pieces of the helicopter flung out and hit the side of the Highwind, making tears and holes. A muffled voice was heard yelling from the inside of the plane.
"You guys alright!?" Zack stood up quickly and ran to his friends.
"Damn…Vincent! Why the hell did you shoot it when it was still right next to us!?" Barret slugged the caped man in the shoulder.
"Don't blame me. It was your idea…" Vincent looked up at the sky. "Besides, it was now or never, here comes another one." He stood up quickly and reloaded his Remington rifle.
"Well why don't you just flag them down?" Barret squeezed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes in frustration.
"I think he already did…" Zack smiled. "Oh well. We had to face them anyways." Zack shrugged his shoulders.
"Yeah, yeah…whatever." Barret scoffed and lifted his gun-arm. He locked his sights on the side of the helicopter and stopped. He squint his eyes and pointed with his left hand. "What the hell is that?"
The two other men's attention was brought to the side door that was now opening up. The copter was at the moment feet away and right above them. Six bodies flew from the aircraft and landed with a thud on the catwalk. They were all dressed in black and navy blue, wearing cloth over their face and had goggles covering their eyes. Coming from the sides and upwards, were long feathers. There were three red lights instead of eye holes. Their limbs were long and thin and were dressed with claws. No skin was shown at all. A thin red band was tied around their waist bearing the Shinra symbol.
"Never seen these before…" Vincent took his guard. He pulled up his rifle and began shooting at one of the mysterious soldiers. The aimed bullets missed due to the victim jumping and nimbly flipping out of the way. They were very quick and agile.
'Ninja's?' Vincent raised an eyebrow.
"Neither have I… must be something new!" Zack shouted as he fought with another hand to hand. He brought his fist up and plunged into the soldier's chin in an uppercut. The ninja flew into the air and before hitting the ground, spun backwards and flipped over, landing on his feet.
'That's it!' Zack brought his right arm back and spun it around once, the speed undeniably fast. The soldier fell to the ground before he even knew what had happened. Zack stood for a second, now holding his blade that was brought out during the last move. He watched the soldier crumble to the floor and die, but what was strange to him was the fact that there was no cry of pain and there was only a little blood that was already drying, as if the man was already…
"Dead?" Zack watched in disbelief.
"Damn! They're fast!" Barret kept shooting at the cat-like men, only hitting his targets a few times out of hundred of bullets. He successfully brought one man down. He saw that Vincent shot holes with the Remington and revolver into two of the ninjas, bringing them down quickly.
"But not fast enough!" Zack smiled and swung his sword around, bringing down another of his enemies. He looked over his shoulder at Barret. "Am I right?" He pointed to the final remaining warrior in front of them.
"Right!" Barret swung his gun-arm into the face of the soldier sending him over the rail and down to the ground far below. Barret wiped his hand and gun-arm over his body. "Now…that wasn't so hard-…" The whole ship rocked beneath their feet.
"Whoa!"
Vincent was sent against the side of the plane's exterior wall, his metallic claw clanging against the metal. Barret lunged forward and fell onto his face on the catwalk and Zack flew towards the railing next to him. He grabbed on tight not to flip over the side and join the last ninja.
"Yo! What the hell are ya' doin' Cid!?" Barret lifted his head up.
"HANG ON TIGHT, KNUCKLEHEADS!" Cid's voice echoed over the valley.
"Damn it Cid! You're gonna' knock us off too!" Yuffie jumped up and down. They were trying to bring down the helicopter next to them, to their disadvantage, they had no guns. "We gotta get this thing outta here!" Yuffie pointed at the heavy, black helicopter in front of them.
"But how?" Tifa mumbled. She was exhausted from using all of her lightning magic. She did manage to create some damage but never enough to bring it down. She looked up and glared at the pilot of the machine. Quickly, it stopped firing and was lowered and went under the Highwind.
"Where's he goin'?" Yuffie looked over the rail and screamed as the blades came up right under her chin.
"Watch it!!" Red pulled her backwards. They both tumbled and watched as the helicopter came right up and headed for Tifa.
"Tifa! It's coming for you!" Yuffie pointed at the blades.
"Alright…I'm ready for you!" Tifa cracked her knuckles and wrists and squeezed her fists tightly. The nose of the craft neared her slowly and stopped. She heard the guns of the machine cock and reload.
'Oh boy! Act fast!' Tifa clenched her teeth and stuck out her jaw. She raised her fist and brought it back. Everything moved in slow motion as Tifa pounded her fist against the front side of the helicopter. Her brass knuckles panged against its surface. The blades whirred slowly as vibrations rippled throughout the entire frame of the apparatus. Slowly, it turned sideways and lost control. The nose fell forward and down to the valley below.
"Awww shit!" Tifa pulled off the knuckles and rubbed her hand.
"That was freakin' unbelievable!" Yuffie ran to her side. Suddenly there was a sound underneath the catwalk. It shook violently.
"W-what's goin' on?" Red XIII looked under the grated floor to see many dark shadows. "Uh oh."
"What?" Tifa and Yuffie looked at the furry animal just as six ninjas flipped over the rail and onto the walkway. Tifa and Yuffie quickly took up their guard and stood their ground.
"They appear to be some type of ninja." Red XIII arched his back as they neared.
He and Tifa then turned their attention to Yuffie.
"What!? Don't look at me! I've never seen them before!" She pulled out a handful of ninja stars and threw them at the nearest opponent. He stopped and looked down at himself. There was no sound, no blood. He seemed almost dazed as he touched the star and pricked his finger. He looked down seeing a dark spec on his finger and then brought his gaze back to Yuffie. It was horrifying.
"What's going on?" Tifa took a few steps back.
"They think they're tough!" Yuffie jumped in the air and kicked the ninja across the face, sending him over the rail. "Hey, Red! You think they taste good!?" Yuffie grabbed her Shuriken.
"Hmmm…never tasted ninja before." Red XIII snarled and snapped at the nearing men. His tongue licked his lips and stuck between his teeth, very intimidating. He lunged forward and bit into one's leg. The ninja reached down, trying to stop the animal.
"Oh you want some too!?" Yuffie swung at the enemy but missed. He had disappeared. "Where'd he go?" She felt a tap on her shoulder. Yuffie spun around quickly. The soldier had thrown a type of dust in her face and kicked her across the walkway.
"GAH! They can't be Wutain! They fight dirty! Ack!" Yuffie was then grabbed around the neck, being choked. Slowly the warrior pulled her across the ground by her neck and lifted her into the air. All of her weapons remained on the walkway, her hands around his. He pulled her in, bringing his face close to hers. She didn't hear a thing, not even his breathing. He wasn't breathing.
'Can't breathe…I can't breathe!' Yuffie tried to gasp for air. 'Gonna die!'
"HEY!" A tap on the ninja's shoulder brought him spinning around to find Tifa's fist crunching into his face, sideways. The speed and momentum sent him over the rail along with Yuffie.
"Yuffie!" Tifa screamed as the girl reached for the rail. She hung on and gasped for air. Tifa sprung forward and grabbed the girl's arm that clung for her life. Tifa looked down to find the ninja clinging onto Yuffie's legs. The ninja girl stuck her hand into her pocket and smiled at Tifa.
"Get offa' me!" Yuffie threw the star into the soldier's face. His grip deadened and he dropped.
"Are you alright!?" Tifa pulled the girl up, Yuffie taking in quick breathes.
"Yeah…I guess so." Yuffie smiled and leaned her head back. The two girls drew their attention to Red. He was snarling, kicking, head butting, and biting the final two enemies, the others lay on the ground, lifeless. Red bit into one's leg and shook it, pulling him over the edge of the plane. He then jumped and brought the last man down. He growled and bit his neck and clawed at his chest. When the animal was finished he looked around at the dead ninjas, snarling and growling. His fur was puffed out and his claws were dug into the metallic surface beneath.
"Whoa! Easy boy!" Tifa ran to the creature and patted him on the head. She smoothed out his fur and gave him a hug.
"I-I'm sorry…guess I got a little carried away…" Red turned his head and looked at Yuffie with his good eye to make sure she was okay. He then lifted an ear. "More's on the way."
"Not again!" Tifa sighed as she turned to see a helicopter open fire on the group once again. They all screamed and ran for cover. Red and Yuffie hid behind the supporting beams. Tifa turned to find a place of her own.
'Where!? Where!?' She began to run but stumbled forward. She felt all of her strength leave her. She saw red on the grated floor beneath her, dripping through the holes to the ground hundreds of feet below. All went quiet in her senses.
"# damn Shinra!" Cid pounded on the buttons on the panel in front of him. The Highwind shifted and rocked from side to side.
"Cid! I thought you knew how to drive this thing!" Aeris tried to keep her balance but fell on her rear. Cait Sith darted across the room and jumped in Aeris' lap.
"I know how to pilot it! It's just that damn Shinra put all these #& weird buttons all over it! I know there's gotta be one that shoots or sumthin'! It's Shinra fer cryin' out loud!" He turned his attention back to the buttons, his head down the entire time.
"Cid…" Aeris, wide eyed, stood up slowly, carrying the cat with her. Cait Sith's eyes were like saucers.
"Not now, dammit!" Cid shook his head, trying to concentrate.
"Cid…" Cait Sith tried.
"Shut the hell up!" Cid slammed his fist into the panel.
"CID!!" Cait Sith and Aeris both cried out.
"What! What! WHA-…aaooohhh." Cid finally turned his gaze upward and saw the two helicopters readying their fire on the Highwind.
"# damn Shinra!!" Cid slid his hands over all the buttons and slowly sank down to the floor, his hands still on the panel.
"We're dead…" He slammed his head forward underneath the panel. A soft click sounded. "Wha?" He pulled back to see a red button with a label.
'MISSILE LAUNCH'
"Ah ha!" Cid slapped the button repeatedly and stood up and looked in front towards the helicopters just in time to see two missiles shoot out and launch into the Shinra vehicles. Large black clouds slowly descended as the helicopter fell. "# yeah! Take that, Shinra!" Cid jumped up in the air and turned to look back at Aeris and Cait Sith. They were frightened beyond all reason.
"I…thought we were dead." Aeris managed to say.
"…ditto…" Cait Sith clung onto Aeris with his gloved paws.
"No thanks to you two dimwits!" Cid put his hands on his hips and cocked his head to the side. He continued cussing and pulled out two cigarettes and lit them both up.
"I…I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do…." Aeris shook her head. The door behind her flew open the sound of gunfire was deafening. Bullets flew into the cabin. This sent Cid in a spree.
"Shut the door! Shut the door!" He ran towards the door and stopped dead in his tracks.
"Aeris! Tifa's been shot!" Yuffie and Red XIII drug in a pale Tifa with blood soaked clothes.
"Oh no!!" Aeris ran to Tifa and immediately grabbed her materia. Yuffie clung onto Tifa's side, blood soaking through the wound.
"We need towels!" Yuffie called out.
"Oh shit! Oh shit!!" Cid ran to the closet as fast as he could on the lower floor and grabbed as many towels he could hold. As he came back up the stairs there already was a pool of blood underneath Tifa. Cid knew what size the bullets were and he could only imagine the size of the hole in Tifa's side.
'She's dead…she's dead.' His eye's stung and he began to panic.
He handed the towels to Yuffie. She removed her hands to grab them, exposing the hole for a second. Cid stared in horror.
"Holy…shit…"
"What was that!?" Zack held a hand over his face as he saw the two enormous explosions in front of the plane.
"Cid, that's what!" Barret cheered.
"We haven't won yet…there's still one more helicopter. There have only been four downed…" Vincent rubbed the side of his gun. "There we are." He pointed to the final helicopter.
"You think they were on the other side?" Barret asked his voice full of concern.
"Who knows…lets worry about that when we're through." Zack pulled out his sword. The helicopter neared the three men and lowered to be at their level, they were still about twenty to thirty feet away. The side door opened, showing the ninjas.
"Sick 'em Barret." Zack smiled.
"It'd be my pleasure." Barret raised his gun arm.
"I supposed I could provide some cover." Vincent pulled up his Remington and aimed carefully at the pilot. One shot brought the pilot down along with the helicopter. The aircraft spun around wildly and neared the plane. It dove down fiercely, all the inhabitants leaped from the cabin to reach the catwalk. The bodies flailed and dropped with the helicopter. Only one ninja leaped far enough to reach the rail of the bridge. Barret leaned over the edge and stared at the helicopter as it exploded upon contact with the ground below. He then turned and stared at Vincent, his expression blank.
"…" Barret stared.
"…" Vincent stared back.
"…" Barret stared some more.
"…" Vincent did the same.
"…Party pooper…" Barret turned away from the man and looked at the ninja on the rail. Vincent followed him with his eyes and then shrugged his shoulders.
"Hmm." Zack stared down at the stranded soldier. He clung onto the rail with his life. Zack brought a boot up and squished his hands. He rested his sword on his shoulder and stared down at the enemy.
"Need help?" Zack smiled at the ninja. His smile, however, quickly faded. Zack swung his arms down bringing his sword to the man's hands on the rail. A moment later the man was falling to his death.
"Well…that wasn't so bad." Zack looked at his comrades.
"Whatever…" Barret crossed his arms and leaned against the side of the plane.
"Good thing no one got hurt…" Vincent turned to Zack. "Aeris never came out to check on us. I figured, with her powers, she'd be the one to run around and make sure everyone was okay."
"Yeah…that's a little weird." Barret scratched his head.
"Unless…" Zack rubbed the back of his neck. "She's tending to someone else!" His cobalt eyes lit up.
"Shit!" Barret headed for the door, the other men close behind. As they swung the door open they heard a sound of fright. Cait Sith was at their feet, bringing the news that Barret was dreading to hear.
"It's Tifa! We need help!"
Aeris rotated the round ball in her hands as she prayed. Yuffie continued to press against the wound to slow the bleeding. Tifa's blood seeped through the towel no matter how much pressure was put on the wound.
"Red! Sh-she's leaking!" Yuffie stammered.
"Cid! Are there anymore towels!?" Red padded across the room and towards the lower floor.
"I dunno! #& Shinra! Go look around!!" Cid pulled out his last cigarette. He stared at the empty box. The red colors and the white letters called out to him. "Damn…" He crushed the box and threw it over the panel.
"Hurry it up, Aeris!" Cid was nervous, and couldn't think of anything to do to help.
"…Don't push it, Cid…" Aeris grumbled.
"…sorry…" Cid took in a long breath. He lowered his head. The sound of another explosion brought him a small smile. "Looks like they got the last one."
Everything was silent in the room for a few seconds. The silence was then interrupted by a sound coming from the opposite catwalk that Yuffie, Red XIII, and Tifa had been fighting on.
"We have some trouble, I think." Cait Sith stared at the door.
"Now what!?" Cid grumped.
"The other catwalk is now defenseless." Cait Sith continued his stare at the door. As if on cue, it burst open and fifteen ninja-soldiers ran into the room.
"NO! Not now!!" Yuffie screamed and looked at the ceiling in frustration.
"Alright #-heads! You're dealin' with the Cid Highwind now!" Cid bit down on the cigarette as he pulled his spear from the mantle on the wall.
"Come an' get me ya' bastards!" He spat.
"I don't think Tifa will make it if I leave her side!" Yuffie was nervous.
"I-I'll get some help!" Cait Sith darted for the other catwalk to retrieve the three men.
Red hopped up the final stairs with towels in his mouth. A satisfied grin was on his face until he saw the pandemonium in the room. He lowered his jaw in disbelief and dropped all the towels.
"RED!!" Yuffie hopped up and down on her rear on the floor.
"Coming!" He snagged the towels and sprinted to Yuffie and dropped the cloth in her lap and headed for Cid's side.
As Cait Sith leapt to reach the handle on the door it swung open. The three men stopped abruptly upon seeing the cat. He screamed in fright.
"It's Tifa! We need help!" The cat got out of the way to allow them in. The view was amazing. The three men gawked in disbelief. Their attention was then drawn to the girls on the floor.
"Tifa!!" Barret galloped to the young woman on the cold floor. Her skin was pale and her body was cold. He kneeled down beside her. "Damn!" He pounded the floor. He then looked at the men who caused her pain and jumped up and opened fire.
'Shit!' Zack looked all around the room. He ran to Aeris and was about to touch her shoulder when he was stopped.
"Don't…touch…" She murmured and continued with her prayer. "…help…them…"
Zack nodded his head and turned his attention to the battle. He swung his sword back and forth, hitting as many ninja-soldiers he could. He noticed Cid was holding his own pretty well. He actually knew how to use a spear. He cursed and swung and kicked at the ninjas around him. Red bit and snapped also. Vincent fired among the enemies as they drew in closer to him.
'Why…why are they coming to me!?' Vincent gritted his teeth.
Almost all the remaining soldiers gathered round Vincent. They neared him slowly, it was very eerie. At once they all attacked, swinging, kicking and slicing at the man.
"Hey!" Zack ran to the man but was stopped by other intruders. He tried his best to keep an eye on Vincent while he fought. His sword sliced and impaled the ninjas. Once he was finished he noticed that Vincent was now on one knee and hunched over. The warriors were still circling him.
"Vincent! Are you alright!?" Zack ran to help Vincent out.
"GET BACK!!" A demonic growl vibrated through the man. The sound sent Zack skidding to a halt. It sent chills up his spine and goose bumps on his arms. It was the scariest thing Zack had felt in his entire life. He watched in horror as the man leaned forward, growling in pain. His hair hid his face.
'What's…happening!?' Zack slowly backed away. He noticed the enemy was doing the same.
"It seems that, once again, my nightmares have won over me." Vincent was almost at a whisper. His whole body then burst into flames.
"Vincent!" Zack called out. The battle had been put to a halt.
"Aw, shit! He's doin' the freaky shit again!!" Cid shuddered. The ninjas backed away, looking at each other and then back at the man on the floor.
Vincent gurgled and growled as his body made the most treacherous sounds. Tearing flesh and breaking bones cracked out into the silence of the room. Vincent clawed at the ground and was leaning forward on his forearms. His back heaved as he gasped for air. The noises got louder and more horrifying. It was unbearable and deafening. Everyone gritted their teeth and began to shy back even more as the noise came to a complete stop. Nothing sounded, no one moved. Vincent remained in his position, not moving.
"…Vincent…?" Zack whispered, ruining the silence. The interruption lit the fire once again. Two large demonic wings ruptured from Vincent's back and arched towards the ceiling. The flames from his body spread out all around him. He exploded with anger. His form was now that of a demon's. He grew claws and was adorned with the largest and darkest horns, his blood red eyes shown brightly in the cabin. The Chaos began. In a flash, all the ninjas were incinerated and dropped to the floor. The whole room was a flood of fire.
'I…remember when I was impaled on that rod…in Sector Seven. There was a lot of heat and flames. Then Vincent was there. Was all that him?' Zack reflected on the night Vincent had saved his life.
The demon made a full circle around the room and then dropped to the floor. The battle was quickly over. The claws and fangs disappeared first and then the rest of the demon's features, leaving Vincent on the floor with his giant wings, all alone. The room remained silent as they heard a few sobs come from his direction. Everything was dark, the previous flames now gone. Within seconds the whole room lit up with a bright green.
'As we leave for the Promised Land, all shall be healed. Hope continues to live…and life brings hope. We will guide you through this life and join with you on your eternal journey after…'
Zack turned his head slowly to the direction of Aeris, the green light shown on his face. He had heard the voices. He wondered if it was only him. Zack watched as a green aura floated above Tifa.
"Is…this the voice of the planet?" Zack turned to look at everyone.
"What the hell are you talking about!?" Cid threw his arms into the air.
Yuffie, covered in blood, backed away from Tifa as the green aura floated down and sank into her.
"Please…help us." Aeris whispered out loud, her voice patient.
The light quickly faded away. The silence hung around the room. If there was a sound at all it would probably scare everyone to death. And…the silence was broken by Barret's footsteps. Everyone jumped at the sound, but no one died. He ran to Tifa's side and kneeled down next to her on the floor.
"…Tifa…" He whispered to her. Blood specks covered her pale cheeks.
Aeris slowly opened her eyes and fell back, dropping the materia. The lights in the orb faded in and out and spun, rolling to Zack's feet. He stared at it and then looked back at Aeris. He leaned down and picked up the ball, the light shown intensely at his touch, lighting the entire room. Aeris lifted her gaze up to Zack and stared in awe. Suddenly her attention was brought to Vincent. She noticed there were tears in his eyes.
"Vincent?" Aeris trotted to the man and touched him lightly on the shoulder.
"The nightmares…they always bring her back. I couldn't…hold back. I couldn't keep it locked up." Vincent whispered as more tears slid down his cheeks.
"It'll be okay…" Aeris tried to help the dark man. He slowly brought his gaze to meet her emerald eyes.
"Within seconds everyone in this room had seen the definition of evil and holy with their own eyes." Vincent quickly got to his feet and walked out of the room. Everyone remained silent.
"W, what happened!?" A tired voice sounded. The entire group looked at Tifa. She was sitting up slightly and staring in the direction Vincent went. "Is Vincent alright?" She looked worriedly.
"Tifa!!" Barret grabbed the girl by the shoulders and shook her slightly. She opened her mouth to question him when he pulled her in close and hugged her.
"What!? Why's everyone staring at me?" Tifa had no idea what had happened.
'I…I remember.' Cloud pulled a strand of hair out of his face absent mindedly.
"Do you remember that group that came in here? Do you know that young man?" The doctor stared at Cloud awaiting an answer.
'Zack…yeah how could I forget him? He was the only friend I ever had.' Cloud jogged through his memories.
"Zzzz…Ack." Cloud managed to say.
'Man I sound like a moron.' Cloud mentally rolled his eyes.
"Good…and the girls, their names." The doctor took notes.
"T,Tifa…A, Aer…Aeris." Cloud stuttered.
"Right…and what were you doing?" The doctor questioned.
"Sephiroth." Cloud managed to say it.
'He's getting better rather quickly!' The doctor thought to himself.
"And how did you get Mako poisoning?" The doctor turned the page in his booklet.
"….uuuhhhh…" Cloud tried hard to speak.
'I was…where? Sephiroth…the black…' Cloud clenched the sides of his head and began to shake. The doctor stood up to help but it stopped rather quickly.
"Black Materia! Reunion! Northern Crater!" Cloud shouted with excitement.
"What!?" The doctor didn't understand.
"The Northern Crater!" Cloud stood up on the bed and began jumping up and down. "I fell in!"
"Why!?" The doctor rushed to the blonde haired boy's side.
" Because I gave the Black Materia to Sephiroth!" Cloud leaped off of the bed and ran to the window. The smile on his face widened. He pulled on the blinds and pointed at the glowing meteor in the sky. "And now, because of me, everyone's gonna die!" Cloud tugged at his hair and ran backwards and fell onto the bed and began to cry.
"Oh…I had no idea." Tifa smiled weakly. Everyone told her what had happened and it was all news to her.
"I'm just glad you're safe." Aeris sat next to her friend.
"That's the second time you've saved my life." Tifa bit her lip. "I hope I can return the favor…but then again, I hope I won't get the opportunity of your life in being in danger." Tifa smiled.
"Hate to ruin the party, but Shinra has the materia and is trying to escape." Cait Sith was now on his electrical Mog. Footsteps came from behind the cat as Vincent re-entered the room with his Remington in hand.
"I'll get it." He stopped and looked at Tifa. "I see you're feeling better." Vincent remained expressionless.
"Uh huh…a lot better." She smiled at him.
"Good…I'll be off then. Cid, watch out for others. Got anymore missiles?" Vincent continued towards the catwalk.
"I have no idea…" Cid shook his head. He had dark circles under his eyes and was shaking because of the lack of nicotine. He had not smoked a cigarette in ten minutes. The door behind Vincent closed.
"I hope he'll be okay." Aeris sighed.
"He will be." Tifa stared in the direction he just went. A moment later the sound of a faraway explosion sounded and then another second after that the door opened and Vincent came back in. He was met with gawking eyes.
"What?" He backed up. He hated it when people stared.
"You're unbelievable." Zack shook his head.
"No big deal…" Vincent shrugged.
"Shit…modest #!" Cid folded his arms across his chest as he leaned against the panel.
"So, what about the materia!?" Yuffie jumped up and down, still covered with blood.
"…It's gone." Vincent smiled as he received a frantic lecture from Yuffie.
"You coulda saved it!" The girl pouted.
"We should head to Fort Condor. That's where they are headin' next." Cait Sith closed his flip phone and hopped over to Cid.
"Alright…everyone get some rest it'll be a while." Cid pulled up a chair and sat down by the piloting station.
"Man…I feel like some ice cream." Tifa patted her stomach. She felt like she had not eaten in days. She stopped and stared at her new scar. It was barely noticeable. Aeris' powers were something amazing. It healed a wound that would ensure instant death and left only a tiny circle for a scar.
"…" Vincent gave her a weird look.
"What you don't like ice cream!?" Tifa slapped her forehead.
"No…" Vincent shook his head. "…I love it." He smirked at her and walked out of the room. He was gone for a moment and then popped his head around the corner. "Let's check the freezer." He said quickly and left again. Tifa giggled and trotted out of the room with the excitement of a little girl.
"What's you favorite?" Tifa asked a ways down the hall. "Probably vanilla!" She wrinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue. Vincent stopped and faced her, his gaze almost too serious when he said:
"Chocolate brownie fudge."
"Aeris…when you were helping Tifa, I heard some voices." Zack and Aeris were sitting in one of the corners of the cabin.
"You did?" Aeris' green eyes widened with curiosity.
"Yeah…I thought everyone could hear it but when I said something they looked at me like I was crazy." Zack sighed. He was tired, they all were.
"Zack! What! How!?" Aeris jumped up. "Only Ancients can hear the planet!"
"Maybe it's Jenova…" Zack lowered his head; his black bangs covered his face.
"No…is it? But I thought she was just an alien…" Aeris contorted her face.
"I dunno…Everything else has been Mako…" Zack stopped to think. "And some kinda sour smell." He scrunched his nose.
"Sour smell?" Aeris asked.
"When I woke up in the lab there was a sour smell. There was a green fluid and Jenova's cells. I don't know what the smell was though." Zack looked confused.
"What has Hojo done?" Aeris rubbed her eyes.
"I dunno…but I want to find out." Zack stretched.
"Do you think…are you an Ancient!?" Aeris hopped up excitedly.
"What!? No! Come one! I haven't heard anything till now!" Zack shook his head.
"No…Hojo! He found a way. We can't let him know!" Aeris grabbed onto Zack.
"What? Why?" Zack looked down at her.
"He found a way to make you an Ancient…and like Sephiroth! You're his greatest specimen! He'll want you for himself and do things to you…like he did to me." Aeris took in a deep breath. Zack pulled her to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Hey! We're there! We gotta move!" Cait Sith yelled through a megaphone for all to hear. Everyone covered their ears.
"Why!?" Zack ran to the window and looked down below. Shinra troops were already ascending the hill to Fort Condor.
"Shit!" Barret shook his fist.
"Looks like we're goin' to war." Zack scratched his head.
Ahh it still took forever to write! I'm so tired now and my back is killing me! Anyways, hope you all liked it and it kept your attention. Please continue reading and please continue reviewing. I love hearing from you all! Man…I really want some chocolate brownie fudge ice cream now…
-Annubis