Chapter 6
Vincent hides in the shadows as Cloud sits in the open. The moon is rather lovely, full, and closer than normal. Vincent does appreciate being able to enjoy the sight. " They are coming. "
Cloud nods as they see what's left of the forces that brought Cid here. " They still had some anti-soldiers weapons left? " Cloud gives a bit of a chuckle. " Okay, let's mosey out there. " Both go to greet the invading group in their own fashion.
It has grown dark outside, so they had to light the torches. The etchings on the floor are starting to glow. During the wait, Cid had fallen asleep in the center of the circle. Yuffie tries wakings him up. For a moment Merlin was afraid they wouldn't be able to wake him up. He helps Cid to his feet and backs away.
Cid motions Yuffie over to whisper, " Just... If things go wrong, take care of my dorky baby brother, okay? "
Yuffie nods, " I will, " Decks him in the arm, " Just don't plan on dying. "
Cid laughs, " Don't plan to. Bratt, I got an ex-Turk I plan to shag till neither of us can move. " Yuffie making eww noise and clearly away from the center.
Cid looks up and can see the moon becoming eclipsed. Prompting Merlin to also lookup. It is beautiful tonight. Merlin wonders if it's beautiful in space. Hell, he wonders what the world looks like from up there, too. He should ask Cid about it. Some lines appear above the platform, glowing. The torches fire changes color to match the runes and lines. In the distance is the sound of battle. As the moon is fully eclipsed, Cid's body stiffens. Though his expression is not of pain, as that of relief as the materia in his body begin to glow. Each one floats out of his body. They form a circle around him as a sixth sphere pulls out of his chest but stills float in front of him. The circle of materia orbit around him as light shoots into the sky. Overhead, a gate seems to open to release several glowing materia. Merlin knows they are almost done. He sighs in relief.
Sound of gunshots echoes. Blood starts to appear on Cid's shirt The only thing keeping Cid from falling is the spell. They turn to see Jonas, holding the gun and shooting at the center, " You just had to be difficult! "
Yuffie, " You bastard! " Throwing her shuriken and knocks the gun from his hand.
Merlin turns his eyes on Jonas. All his anger directed at one man. Before Jonas can try to get his gun, he gives a strangled gasp. His body exploding in frozen chunks as if an ice bomb went off inside him.
Cid looks down to see the bloodstain spreading on his shirt. Wondering why getting shot has to hurt so damn much, He is very fucked. With the last of his energy, the five materia merge into the sixth sphere. It floats, glowing beautiful before him. He can hear Yuffie calling his name. Cid can only focus on making the materia activate. As he falls, Merlin catches him and, holding his brother close. Merlin tries to figure out how to stop the bleeding" You're going to be okay. I can fix this! "
Cid breaths out, " I'm.. sorry, Merle. " And then he's gone.
Outside the chamber, Myth has been watching and waiting. He reaches up and calls to one of the spheres. From it, he summons a dragon who is as large as Bahamut with angry five heads. " Tiamat! Kill the swine. " The very first act she does is stepping on the fool who called her out.
Cloud just blinks, " What is that? "
Then another Dragon forms. A dragon with the scales of a starry might comes forth. It nods to Chaos, "It's been long time. " Chaos returns the greeting with a silent, fanged smile. The two of them go at her tearing her apart. Cloud just stands back and watches this rather impressive beat down. Tiamat is forced back into her materia. Seeing his chance, Cloud easily catches it in midair. Chaos can no longer feel Cid's life force and, in mourning, withdraws. Vincent grabs back control and hurries inside. Cloud knows something terrible just happened, so pockets the materia and also and follows. Inside, they find Cid's body being cradled by Merlin. Yuffie kneeling next to Merlin, also crying. Their Sky is dead. Vincent can feel his own heartbreaking. Clouds can't bring himself to go further in the chamber.
Merlin, crying as he rocks the dead blond, " No... no no no... You can't be dead! " Then yells, " I won't let you die! " Taking everything he tries to reach out to Cid's soul. The lifestream is already pulling Cid's soul into it. It is warm and has the feeling of everything home. Someone in the light waiting for him but he can't see the woman's face. Cid is drawn to the promises of rest within the light. Merlin reaches with all he has, pleading for him to stay. Cid soul looks at Merlin. He gives one last look at where he should be going, before grabbing Merlin's hand. Cid's body starts to jerk and stiffen in Merlin's hold. Chaos can see what Merlin is doing and is impressed. Daring to hope that Merlin can pull this off. Calling forth a soul is one thing. Putting it back in a dead and damaged body is a different matter.
Bahamut's light enters the sixth materia, When he speaks, with admiration, he can be heard by everyone present, " You are both very stubborn mortals. I shall aid you both. Know that there is be a price to what you do. "
The materia's glow brightens, giving energy to the brothers. With a final pulse, it sinks into Cid's chest. Then all glow of the runes fades out, leaving only the light of the torches glows the stars above. The moon is once again full as the lunar eclipse is over. Vincent feels a tear trickle down his cheek. Somehow, Cid is still with them, even if Cid's technically undead.
Cloud, both relieved and confused, asks, " What just happened? "
The truth of what he's done hits Merlin. Cid body doesn't feel as it should be, " What have I done? "
Yuffie doesn't understand, " You saved his life! Right? "
Merlin just hugs Cid as the older man sleeps, " I don't know what I did. But Bahamut said there is a price. Maybe for both of us. "
Cid got to spend some time floating in one of The Shera's mako tanks. Once he woke up, the doctor put him in a bed and was told Cid he needed to rest awhile. So no physical activities. Then his friends were allowed to visit. Honestly, he feels stiff but better. Closing up his wounds was a bit tricky because Cid wasn't reacting well to cure spells. Chaos's energy did help his wounds until they could get him into the medbay.
Yuffie, sitting on an unused bed, " Does this mean Cid is a zombie now? "
Cid coves his face with a hand, " Oh god,... "
Yuffie chirps, " Oh... My... GOD. You and Vincent are now perfect for each other. He's a vampire and you're a zombie! "
Cid growls, " Can someone make her fuck off already? "
Vincent leans against the wall and snickers. It is fun to see someone else get teased about being undead, " Shouldn't you be worried he might eat your brains, Yuffie? " Though he is happy to still have Cid with them, he can't help but wonder if Cid going to be ageless as he is or will he be trapped in a rotting body.
Cid scowls, " You have to have brains first. So I say Yuffie is safe. " Cloud laughs at the comeback.
Merlin still feels like shit, " I'm so sorry, Cid. "
Cid lowers his hand, " Ya know, I choose to come back. This is a more fifty-fifty deal. "
Merlin found out the price for him was the inability to use magic. Not sure if it's forever or if it will come back in time, " We don't even know what complications will come from this. Death may have been kinder. "
Cid rolls his eyes and waves the concern off, " Hey! If that happens, we'll deal with it. Besides, I don't regret coming back. I didn't want to lose you either. " Yuffie making an aww. Cid then winks at the ex-Turk, " And I still wanna fuck a certain ex-Turk's brains out. " Vincent raises an eyebrow as Cid is still not up for that.
Yuffie, " That's so gross! What if it falls off? "
Cid smirks like an ass, " Then I'll just use a strap on. Hey Yuffie, can I borrow yours? " Yuffie then throws the soft pillow at him. The notion of Yuffie having a strap-on left mind Merlin's mind got blown.
Yuffie throws the other pillow at Merlin, " I don't own a strap on, you dork. "
Cloud, " We are going to need to track down where the other materia went. If someone activates them, there could be a lot of damage done. Why did Bahamut go back into the materia? "
Cid furrows his brow a moment before answering, " There was a spell slipped in by Myth. Long ago they were kinda placed in another dimension. They were supposed to be fully freed but things got complicated. So, they need someone to summon them but, if they want to stay longer, they need a host. Bahamut choose me because of compatibility. " Then changes the subject, " One of us need to call up Reeve. "
Vincent, " Cloud can you make the call? There is a long-overdue talk I need to have with our Chief. " Cid looks a bit relieved.
Cloud chuckles and gives him a nod, " We better Mosey out then. " The others follow him out of the Medbay. Cloud pulls his phone but pauses to look out a close-by window. The view is always amazing on an airship. Such a wide world and those dark summon could have gone anywhere.
~ To be continued in part 2 ~
