Chapter Eleven: Self-Destruction
President Shinra was standing by the window, looking out over the city of Midgar far beyond. A hand was raised before him on the window, and his eyes were solemn. With him were Scarlet, Palmer, Heideggar, and Reeve. Yuffie could assassinate the whole Shinra High Command in one move.
Then the door onto the terrace opened, and Cloud Strife entered.
Yuffie wondered if he was play-acting.
"It's ironic," said Shinra. "I had the highest tower in the city built so that I could look out at the view. And yet I spend all of my time inside doing paperwork." Then he turned to where Aerith was and nodded. Smiling, he moved forward. "Ah, Aerith, you've got him to come back with you.
"Excellent.
"Truly excellent. Cloud Strife, yes? We met once or twice before the procedure that gave you those eyes. Do you remember?"
"Yes, you gave me the resources to achieve what I did," said Cloud.
"I see you made good use of them," said Shinra in a friendly tone. "Please sit, down; there is a lot to discuss. Would you like something to drink?"
"No, I am not drinking," said Cloud.
"I can respect that," said Shinra. "Would you prefer Cloud or some other alias?"
What was going on here exactly?
"He prefers Cloud at the moment," said Aerith.
"Mr. Strife it is then," said Shinra. "I'm hoping that we can move past the... extremely unfortunate events of the past few weeks. No civilians have been killed, so it would be fair to call it the ending act of the war."
"The final battle is happening right now," said Cloud.
"You refer to an Avalanche attack?" asked Shinra.
"No. There isn't going to be an attack," said Cloud. "I refer to the Mako Reactors. Barret Wallace was very right about that, at least. They are the foundation for our civilization, and they are killing the planet. Sooner or later, we're going to run out of arable land. Then there will be a crop failure, and everyone will start starving.
"Your men are loyal to their paychecks and security. Once one of those breaks down, so does their loyalty. Historically speaking, a population is only three meals away from anarchy.
"What will happen to Gaia when the wasteland outside this window covers the continent?"
It was a question anyone in the street could ask. President Shinra had asked it himself. But having an elite SOLDIER asking it of him changed things. "Reeve, what would you say to that?"
"A very general analysis, but correct if we continue the consistent use of Mako," said Reeve. "I believe I've made reports on this."
"Reeve is the Head of Urban development," said Shinra. "Your chief nemesis in this matter, ironically." He was trying to woo Cloud. Bring him over to their side, but they'd never crack him.
Cloud and Avalanche had hurt Shinra, done real damage. That was when everyone else was taking their checks. Dad had let his country get turned into a glorified tourist resort, and for what?
"Tell me, how many people did you kill when you blew that reactor up?" asked Reeve suddenly.
"It doesn't matter," said Cloud. "People die in war. That Mako Reactor was a calculated, premeditated commando raid. One was carried out to weaken Mako Production. Shinra Corporation has done much the same thing in war.
"We had no interest in spreading terror, only in damaging your profits and sending a message.
"Would you have preferred we utilize the strategy Zack did? And try just to kill as many soldiers as humanely possible before we were shot?"
"He has a point, Reeve," said Heidegger. "There's no point in starting a war if you don't have a winning strategy. We'd already cleared them up. Barret did more damage in one day than the entire Genesis army."
"This is Heidegger, the present head of the military," said Shinra.
"Your reputation proceeds you," said Cloud. There was an edge in his tone.
"That makes two of us," said Heideggar.
"It's been some time, Cloud," blurted Scarlet.
"Scarlet," said Cloud. "I haven't seen I was transferred to Sephiroth's squad."
"I gather that did not work out for any of us," said Scarlet. "Nibelheim was not a planned operation. Sephiroth snapped, and there was no one who could stop him."
"And what happened to him exactly?" asked Cloud.
Silence as they looked at one another.
What had happened to Sephiroth? Yuffie had heard several official stories, and none of them were credible.
"We were hoping you could tell us," said Shinra. "Our teams arrived and found virtually everyone dead, with only a handful of survivors. Most of them were insane and rambling incoherently. They didn't survive long."
"Well, I remember that Tifa was seriously injured trying to avenge her Father," said Cloud.
"Brian Lockhart was our main transporter to Rocket Town," said Reeve. "After he died, the whole supply system fell to pieces. It's half the reason we had to shut it down."
"Tifa got out somehow, and Zangan was there," said Cloud. "I was as well, and I went after Sephiroth. It was the first time I had used this sword.
"I must have lost mine."
"How did you survive?" asked Shinra.
"Well, my plan was to stab him in the back and hope to take him off guard," said Cloud. "Zack went after him in a fair battle and got ripped to shreds. Zack was a genius at killing people, but Sephiroth was just better. My only advantage was that Sephiroth was distracted, obsessed over his Mother.
"Some strange experiment or other."
Yuffie remembered Zack.
He was a nice guy on the surface until you saw the legions of bodies he left behind him. He smiled while he slaughtered his way through dozens of Wutai troops. During the war, he'd been among the most dreaded of people to face.
Zack' the puppy' indeed.
"I believe I should clarify something," said Shinra. "We did not create anything that was in that reactor. That level of genetic engineering is beyond us. The creature you saw was called JENOVA-
"Those specimens were quarantined by us to understand how they operated. The order came from as far back as Professor Gast."
"President Shinra, this is top secret!" said Reeve.
"Reeve, I am the Head of State," said Shinra. "This is relevant information Mr. Strife will have to know. At least if we're to have any kind of working relationship.
"May I go on?"
"Go ahead," said Cloud.
"JENOVA was found some time ago in the ruins of a crater in the far northern continent. Professor Gast located it and believed it was ancient," said President Shinra. "Ms. Aerith, I believe you could tell the story better than I?"
Aerith nodded. "Gast was a genius, but he had no context for what was happening. Spira died a long time ago, and he thought he'd found a member of that race.
"What he found was ancient.
"But it was not one of my people, but a species that we battled long ago. A different ancient."
"How did your people die?" asked Cloud.
"Well, some speculate they were hunted to extinction," said Aerith. "However, I think that they just faded. They stopped being interested in listening to the planet. They married other humans who weren't. Eventually, we just couldn't hear them anymore.
"The ancients became increasingly out of touch."
"An adequate assessment for a layman," said Hojo, coming from the shadows. "But that is untrue.
"Humanity selected the ancients for extinction."
"I don't think you know what humanity is, Hojo," said Aerith, voice cold.
"Oh, I'm sure I don't, but I read history, and I know your people, Aerith," said Hojo. "The ancients were a race of special people gifted immense magical power. A power that no other person could possibly achieve. Invariably, they used this power to pursue their own goals.
"Both sides in any given conflict escalated and grew in power.
"Until eventually, someone tried to become a god. At this point, there would be a War of the Magi. And there were several, each one escalating to a higher degree of destruction.
"The last of the War of the Magi concluded with the rise of Kefka. He broke apart entire lands and halved the already decimated population. Entire peoples were lost, and the 'heroes' only succeeded in killing him after it was too late.
"It made what we've done pale in comparison.
"After that, humanity became hostile to the ancients and the remnants of their people. From there, they fled north to Spira. They made a deal with the entities known as the fayth. In so doing, they raised walls of mist that cut themselves off from easy access. Once done, the entity known as Sin was created and was an occasional natural disaster.
"Thus we were forced into medieval stasis for a very long time.
"However, it ultimately failed because the Spirans forgot their own history.
"They did not realize why Sin had been created. They abandoned long-term cultural traditions that sustained them. Eventually, a spirit known as Tidus engineered their downfall. He undermined their weakened faith and deceived them into destroying the systems that allowed their survival.
"The details are vague, of course; Gast's research was never completed."
"I wonder why," said Aerith, an edge in her tone. "It might have had something to do with human sacrifice being the basis for that system. And if Gast's research was never completed, it's because of you."
"Corporate politics are ruthless, Ms. Gainsborough," said President Shinra. "A lot of executives died in those days before these you see cemented their position. I ask that you let the matter pass until it is relevant."
"Of course," said Aerith. "Why don't we move on."
"I'm interested in this, Aerith," said Cloud. "What happened to Spira? My reading in history didn't tell about it."
"They all died," said Hojo. "Their society collapsed, and they were annihilated by climate change and civil war. That's what happens when you destroy your religion and declare your culture a hollow lie.
"Destruction of culture becomes the culture. Add climate change to that, and they faded away."
"And among the survivors were the Lady of the Lake and Merlin," said Aerith. "And they didn't right away; it took centuries for Spira to fail. And their legacy inspired King Arthur."
"We should get down to business," said Shinra. "Both you and Zack Fair were subjected to the books to experiments. In a corporation as large as ours, sometimes things get lost. One cannot oversee everything. The post-war situation was a difficult time to administer."
"I was part of it," said Cloud. "I know."
"Yes, well, mistakes have been made," said Shinra. "In any case, what do you mean to say the battle is already happening."
"Well, it has been underway for some time," said Cloud. "Barret Wallace had a lot of reasons for why he began this operation. But the primary motive all of us shared was revenge. Revenge for the destruction of our homes and communities.
"After the Mako Reactor was destroyed, things began to break down.
"...This won't make a difference, but do you think you could provide help for the refugee's fleeings Midgar."
"I have already dispatched humanitarian aid. As well as placed certain criminals under arrest," said Shinra.
"That's your weakness," said Cloud.
Shinra halted. "Hmm?"
"You created a system where people had to turn to organized crime in order to fight you," said Cloud. "This made it easy to justify any tactics you wanted.
"But, it also meant you had to play ball with organized crime."
Shinra nodded. "Yes, unfortunate, but necessary.
"We are now making corrections. We're going to move past that; it should make things better for everyone."
"True," said Cloud. "It may.
"But, it also meant organized crime had your number."
Shinra faltered. "Yes, the Turks intercepted several attempts to bribe the Mako Reactor crews. Our response was immediate, though none of the guards accepted the bribe."
"Why are you surprised?" asked Cloud. "A principled soldier doesn't take bribes."
"True; however, one must accept that not everyone is perfect," said Shinra. "We were surprised."
"Bribes are useless if they only mark you as clinging to a failing power," said Scarlet/
"True, that would explain it," said Cloud. "So, what happens if they decide not to look the other way but to do it themselves for free?"
Scarlet laughed a noblewoman's laugh. "Kyahaha, you honestly think they'd destroy their careers for that?"
"They don't have careers," said Cloud. "Mako Reactor duty is a dead-end job. There's no glory if you defend one, and if you lose, you're in disgrace. Moreover, the company is going to do major shakeups soon, so they might want to get even. And since many of them probably have taken bribes, they have an active incentive to go down fighting."
"What did you do?" asked Reeve.
"Nothing," said Cloud. "It was merely an observation. If someone did decide to send construction crews, they could take it to pieces with a perfect cover.
"So, how does the backup know to come in if something happens?"
Silence.
"Cameras," said Shinra. "Everybody watches everybody else, a remnant of the old paranoid days." Shinra halted. "Are you trying to inspire terrorism in the people watching?"
"No, I'm trying to inspire an emergency shutdown," said Cloud. "The inside of those Mako Reactors are falling to bits. They're dangerous. Anyone who did a proper inspection would have the thing condemned. You have to leap over a pit get down to the pipes."
"There is such a thing as an isolated incident," said Reeve.
"I suppose so," said Cloud. "In any case, I don't have the contacts to make that happen, but Avalanche does have one option."
"Which is?" asked Shinra.
"An appeal to conscience," said Cloud.
Reeve raised his headpiece and tensed. As he did, Yuffie wondered what was happening and saw Aerith looking at them.
"How many crews went out?" asked Shinra.
"All of them," said Reeve. "They sent communications to the construction crews as soon as I walked out of the room."
"Recall them!" said Heideggar.
"I can't!" said Reeve. "They all say they are looking into safety concerns on the Mako Reactors. It's an emergency situation. They don't need warrants unless you want me to shoot them."
Shinra halted. "They can make a full report, but any damage to the reactor will be prosecuted."
"I'll tell them. But they're going to make a full report," said Reeve silence.
"Well that was anticlimactic," said Aerith.
"But you make one mistake," said Cloud. "You discount the people watching them act. The inspections will be observed, and people will see how they react. Idle conversation, facial expression. Everyone in the reactor will already know what they are like.
"Avalanche has been handing out pamphlets during this makeshift truce."
"Just because they know does not mean they will act," said Shinra.
"But they will," said Cloud. "The world has been shaken out of complacency. People are going to act; they already are. 'You can harness change, or you can be destroyed by it.'"
President Shinra clasped his hands together and considered it. "My own words. Are you asking me for something, Cloud Strife?"
"You are already King of the World, President Shinra," said CLoud. "This is not to be contested. You have a much larger military than anyone else, you have the most money, and you have the most control. You call yourself President out of false humility, but nobody buys it anymore.
"And you don't need the Midgar Reactors here. This city was designed to service military conflicts that do not exist. Its people are leaving as we speak.
"Encourage these people to do the thing they will eventually do anyway. And then pretend as if it was your idea in the first place."
"You can't let them win," said Heideggar.
He wasn't seriously doing this.
Shinra considered this. "Patch me through to the people of Midgar."
Everyone cleared away, and Yuffie realized he was.
That magnificent bastard.
He was getting Shinra to destroy their own Mako Operations with fast-talking. A camera was wheeled out to observe him while Shinra touched himself up to look authoritative. Reeve made arrangements. "You're on, sir."
"People of Midgar," said Shinra into the camera. "This is President Shinra. I've been negotiating a peace settlement with Avalanche. The war will soon be over in our favor. Unfortunately, avalanche is of the opinion that you're all going to go out and blow up the Mako Reactors for them.
"For my part, I believe the people of Midgar capable of a much less explosive solution.
"I've recently received reports of construction crews. They are going to each one to undertake an inspection. I want you to ask those men just what they see and decide for yourselves how to handle it.
"In the meantime, we must organize the relief efforts for those leaving Midgar."
Shutting it down, he leaned back.
"You were magnificent, Mr. President," said Scarlet. "One would never guess you were negotiating with terrorists while doing so."
Reeve halted. "President Shinra, we've got a mass gathering of people outside of the Shinra Building. And we're also receiving reports that all of the Mako Reactors need to be demolitioned.
"They are beginning it now."
"What?!" said Heideggar.
"Well then," said Shinra. "We must order a complete evacuation of those areas and make it clear we planned it this way."
"Actually," said Cloud. "There's a particular song I was wondering if you could play over the loudspeakers. May I?"
"Of course," said President Shinra.
"Mr. President," said Reeve. "There's been a general evacuation order, and the construction crews are setting bombs. They were supplied by Avalanche. I've talked two of the crews into stopping, and we're prioritizing vital infrastructure.
"...We have the power to spare."
Shinra sighed. "Well, we might as well watch the fireworks."
Quickly meddling with the console, Cloud set things into place. As they did, nightfall was coming on, and the sound of gathering crowds could be heard. Everyone filed out onto the balcony and saw a perfect view of Midgar in the surrounding lands. Yuffie stared, wondering if this was really happening.
Listening, she saw the gathering crowds looking upwards. President Shinra meanwhile, stood like some King of Corporate enterprise. At last, the music reached a crescendo.
"I can hear it," said Aerith.
And then the explosions began. A massive wave of power was unleashed as one of the Mako Reactors was blown sky-high. The wave of energy surged into the air like a piller of light and nearly blew Yuffie's helmet off. Taking off her helmet to look at it with her own eyes, she saw another emerge. Then another, as others watched.
The lights reflected in her eyes and illuminated the broken city of Midgar in warm, green light. Until at last, seven reactors were destroyed completely.
"Awesome!" said Yuffie. "That was the coolest thing I've ever seen!"
"...We are gonna lose a fortune on this place," said Reeve in awe.
The light show settled as the music stopped.