VI
CHAPTER VI
THE BATTLE OF MYTHRIL MINE
The group started along the Pass of Angra-Mainyu, catching brief glimpses between the spaces in the arcade of the victorious King Behemoth which had since slumped on the incline of the outcrop far below. After a short stretch, the partial tunnel opened onto a cliffside path, bordered by a wall of damp and serrated rock to their left, and an unguarded sheer drop into the lowest regions of Mythril Mine on their right. With their surroundings' visibility substantially enhanced by the glow of the underground Mako rivers, Red XIII opted to hide what he could of the white light radiating from his flaming tail, desperate not to expose their presence to the myriad of would-be enemies lurking in the vicinity.
The isolated and often uneven trail twisted northwest above the cavern, narrowing enough in places to force the five to continue in single file. Rotting panels of timber laid as makeshift stairs and neglected rope bridges were cause for concern, slowing their progress each time they had to navigate their way over a treacherous ravine. These crossings were usually escorted by ancient waterfalls that trickled blissfully down the cliff, having spent millennia carving the very gullies into which they now flowed. Others instead culminated in shallow pools at the side of the ridge, their banks coated with silver or copper residue. As they walked, Cloud noticed his four-legged comrade's repeated subtle glances over his shoulder, remaining vigilant of whatever stalked them.
The party eventually arrived at a section of the Pass where the route widened, forming a junction. A few mining tools and assorted items were strewn across the platform, apparently left there in a rush. Confirming the illustrations on the map Cloud had discovered at the Distribution Hub, a decayed signpost revealed that to proceed along the rock face would lead them deeper into the mountain as far as Titanis Coalmine, while the adjacent path ascended towards the West Gate. Their road, however, would be atop a suspended formation of winding stone viaducts, held aloft by several crooked natural columns and the occasional wooden bridge. It was at this intersection that Red XIII stopped, emitting a low growl as his gaze darted between the shadowy domains of both trails.
"What is it?" Cloud asked quickly, for he too had heard the faint clicking sound.
"We have company," he answered bluntly, his snout twitching as he sniffed the heavy air.
"Aerith, Tifa…get behind me!" ordered Cloud, drawing his greatsword. "Barret, you ready for a fight?"
"Bring it on, Spiky!" Barret responded with a perverse grin, dropping his backpack and lifting his gun-arm, bracing himself for the imminent kickback. "Whose ass we kickin'?"
"These are no mere adversaries," said Red XIII, a strange hint of obstinacy in his voice. "They are abominations; cloned freaks manufactured in Professor Hojo's laboratory."
"Clones?" gulped Tifa as she adjusted her studded martial arts gloves for combat. "Did you just say 'clones'?"
"Genetic hybrids to be exact," he nodded solemnly. "Created for a single purpose: to test the boundaries of science. They were among Hojo's most prized research specimens until they escaped during an incident at Shinra Headquarters three months ago. It would appear that these mines are their chosen refuge. Even though they may still be considered cubs, their ferocity knows no limit-"
As he spoke the last word, the figures of two guard hounds materialised from the gloom, one on each side of the junction so as to block any opportunity to flee. They resembled robust dobermans, with globules of saliva dripping from their snarling armoured jawbones, and erect pointed ears above hauntingly vacant eyes. Hairless dark blue skin clung to their slender but muscular physiques, branded by the same markings as Red XIII, though their numerals read 'XIV' and 'XV' respectively. While their regular tails were stumpy and ineffective, the guard hounds bore an unusual tentacle-like appendage that grew from between their shoulder blades, rubbery and orange in colour, lashing violently about them.
"Cobalt XIV and Indigo XV," Red XIII muttered under his breath, defensively digging his paws into the dirt as the duo loomed, "they were the predecessors of the specimen Hojo deemed perfect."
"You mean there's another one?" Cloud frowned, not taking his stare from the nearing clones.
"Yes. His moniker is Cerise XVI, a title no less mundane than that which was given to me," the beast replied, "but he acquired a special place in Hojo's corrupt heart. He is called Belzeque, named by the scientist himself…and he is the one who has been hunting us."
With a tentative sigh, Red XIII slowly turned back to confront the foe that had tracked the group from the Distribution Hub. The crimson hound, Belzeque, had elected this moment to reveal himself from his covert chase, sauntering arrogantly from around the curve the five had negotiated moments earlier. Cloud was unnerved by the exceptional level of stealth shown by the monster, evading even his own heightened senses.
A superior somatic design to the twin guard hounds, Cerise XVI was similar in many ways to Cobalt XIV and Indigo XV, but with added athleticism and a thin coat of fur whose colour reflected his codename. However, his facial attributes did not at all display the grand traits that his distinguished name implied, for half of his malevolent and deformed features were concealed within a chrome death mask. A raspy tongue flicked from Belzeque's scowling mouth of razor teeth, his expression almost a grimace, or at least an obvious discomfort in the company of his feline nemesis.
"Be on your guard," instructed Red XIII, his usual eloquent voice now replaced by one much fiercer and without mercy. "This is the devil that robbed me of my right eye."
"We'll make the bastard pay!" Barret swore, the six barrels of his gatling-gun systematically beginning to rotate.
"Not to worry, I have already had my revenge," replied Red XIII with a ruthless expression Cloud had never before seen on him. "Let me just say that Belzeque did not always require a helmet to keep his skull intact."
As if to acknowledge the taunt, Cerise XVI reared up on his hind legs, roaring in a bloodcurdling screech that seemed as abnormally mutated as his masked face. In response to the challenge, Red XIII did the same, howling into the vast darkness of the mines like a proud and dominant lion. The beasts dropped back to the ground almost in tandem, immediately circling one another in a predatory fashion. Their shoulders arched, their claws borne, their muscles flexed, the two launched themselves at one another, snapping wildly with deadly fangs.
In that instant, Cobalt XIV and Indigo XV simultaneously charged at the party, their paws thundering against the rock. Cloud stepped forward as the clones drew near and, with a mighty swing of the Buster Sword, sent Cobalt XIV smashing against the cliff wall with the blunt side of his blade. The hound whimpered momentarily before scrambling back to his feet, his limp tentacle flailing behind him, shaking his head groggily as he saw Indigo XV sprint by.
"Come eat some lead!" Barret bellowed as he prepared to unload the contents of his gun-arm at the monster, the weapon trained on it as it galloped right at him. His manic grin suddenly vanished, however, as there came a heart-stopping grinding click from the bullet-belt feed. He pounded the gatling-gun with his fist in a frantic attempt to unhinge the jammed ammunition, but to no avail. "Godsdammit, partner, don't do this to me now!"
Indigo XV took full advantage of the malfunction, soaring through the air towards the dark-skinned giant like a hulking projectile, its foaming jaws ready to clamp down on his flesh. Barret brought the steel weapon up to his face at the last moment to block the attack, and was barged onto his back by the sheer momentum of the fiend. He landed hard only a few feet from the ledge, his strong hand wrapped around Indigo XV's throat as he grappled with it. With a hammering blow, he slammed the gun-arm sickeningly against the clone's temple, but even such brute force did little to deter it.
Dashing forward to her friend's aid, Tifa immediately unleashed her kickboxing talents to devastating effect. Her initial strike was powerful enough to send Indigo XV tumbling onto its side, its exposed torso scraping over the gravel. The creature growled with distaste, dragging itself up to stand face to face with its opponent, its maddened features contorted hideously as it sprang at her. Tifa ducked to her left, ramming her shoulder into the beast's oncoming midriff, catching it with a series of lightning-quick, bone-crunching punches before it had even hit the ground, the metal studs on her knuckles leaving visible lesions on Indigo XV's taut skin.
"Step aside, Tifa," boomed Barret as he rose up behind her, "things're 'bout to get catastrophic for this mothafucka."
Yanking the bullet-belt from the ammunition slot, he grabbed an explosive-tipped round from the bandolier on his waist, and skilfully inserted it into the chamber without falter. Tifa had already leapt clear of the blast zone before the shot left the uppermost barrel of the gatling-gun, landing gracefully in a crouched position, readying herself as the shell pierced the ribcage of the helpless Indigo XV. The guard hound screamed in agony as the round detonated at that moment, ripping a hole through its back. Tifa did not miss a beat as she rushed upon the stricken clone and, flipping her body into a somersault, her boots collided hard with its head, knocking Indigo XV from the ridge and into the abyss.
Witnessing its sibling perish, Cobalt XIV roared with an untamed fury, its fierce glare shifting between Cloud and Aerith as it contemplated its next move. The Cetra seemed frozen to the spot, hesitant as her generally calm demeanour waned, and her breathing grew erratic and fearful. Releasing a decisive snarl, Cobalt XIV turned in her direction and broke into a run, bearing down with all its vengeance. Intuitively, Aerith reached towards her feet, snatching up one of the abandoned iron rods, and thrust it awkwardly at the monster. Dodging the swipe, the beast careered past her, skidding to halt a short distance away, unaware that Cloud was already giving chase.
Watching the brawl unfold over only a few seconds, everything had seemed to slow in the mind of the former SOLDIER, his advanced military training taking hold as it did each time he entered the battlefield. His target was acquired; his goal was clear; his strategy to resolve the conflict was in motion. Anticipating the clone's evaluation that it should eliminate the weaker adversary first, Cloud had pre-emptively reacted to counter. Now, as he closed in on Cobalt XIV, he honed his senses; heard the blood pumping in his veins; smelled the putrid stench of these abominations; saw the unnatural eyes of the foul being lock onto his in a final moment of fatal realisation.
The Buster Sword sliced effortlessly through the guard hound's neck, severing its pointed head in one swift stroke, spraying dark blood across the pathway. The whip-like tentacle became flaccid, dropping to the ground as the body of Cobalt XIV collapsed without life, rapidly disbanding into what Aerith had called 'Spirit Energy', like hundreds of ghostly fireflies parting ways until they had disappeared entirely. Looking over his shoulder, Cloud saw Tifa and Barret hastily re-join Aerith, comforting the clearly shaken girl whose expression was an odd combination of shock and remorse.
"This rod makes quite a good Guard Stick," she declared absently, tossing the iron pole aside and offering an almost apologetic shrug. "Hey…where's Red?"
Spinning on his heels, Cloud had a fleeting recollection of noticing their comrade and Belzeque retreating into the shadows of Angra-Mainyu Pass while he dispatched Cobalt XIV. Taking off along the winding eastern trail, he hurtled around corner after corner, bounding over cragged gullies. As he ran, his focus was drawn to the flight of several belials in the distance, their flocked movements indicating that they would not be remaining as spectators for much longer, something which concerned Cloud.
He soon spotted Red XIII on a ridge below, his battle with Cerise XVI developing unfavourably. The pair were sloshing around in one of the rock pools, the swirling water tainted by spilled blood, with Red XIII trapped against the jagged precipice. Belzeque was hobbling from an apparent wound to his foreleg but was still in control, cutting off any attempt by his counterpart to regain a level footing. With bleeding fangs displayed aggressively, the beasts clawed at one another every few seconds, like boxers strategically testing their opponent's weaknesses.
Suddenly, the crimson hound lunged determinedly at Red XIII, heaving a mighty paw. Identifying the danger and reacting at incredible speed, he threw up a leg to parry the strike, simultaneously butting the airborne Belzeque with his tribal headgear. However, the improvised weaponry of his gold barrette and plume of eagle feathers was no match for Cerise XVI's chrome mask, and Red XIII staggered backwards, dazed and concussed. Belzeque stood over him contemptuously, poised for a slow and degrading kill.
Summoning all his strength, Cloud vaulted over the chasm that separated him from the two with a superhuman leap, knowing that he was almost out of time. He hung in the air for what felt like an eternity: thirty feet; twenty feet; ten feet. As the sunken rock pool crept towards him, he bent his knees, bracing himself for impact. In one single ruthless motion, he rolled forward as his army boots touched the stone walkway and, rising just as swiftly, slashed across the belly of the monster with his greatsword.
A startled whine escaped Belzeque's throat as his perplexed gaze met Cloud's merciless one, unable to comprehend what had happened. Then, the pain took hold, and the clone's legs buckled, stumbling as he withdrew to the embankment in surrender. Cloud marched purposefully after him, scraping the blade of the Buster Sword against the rock menacingly, causing orange sparks to spit from its point. Cerise XVI cowered as the blonde warrior approached, his spine futilely arched so as to shelter his injury. Lifting the weapon aloft, preparing to deliver the finishing touch and rid the foe of his terrified misery, Cloud paused as the first of the gunshots rang out.
Glancing hastily towards the elevated junction where he had left the others, he saw the first of the magenta belials swoop at his comrades, its demonic form passing perilously close to the ridge before being forced back by a spray of Barret's thirty-five-millimetre bullets. As more and more circled above the platform, their collective attack manoeuvres began to evade the defensive firing, and the strain was showing. Turning back, Cloud frowned, for all that remained in place of Belzeque was a patched smear of blood descending into the darkness.
I don't have time to pursue…
"We need to go!" he said firmly, returning his sword to its magnetic holster. "Can you run?"
"You let him get away," grunted Red XIII, wading through the pool to where he stood.
"Yeah?" Cloud retorted. "Well, you can thank me for saving your life when you're feeling a bit more appreciative. Now, c'mon, the others need our help."
Tearing along the narrow pass, Red XIII following suit, Cloud raced up the twisting incline, every muscle in his body burning. They hurdled over wooden stakes and charged through the waterfalls that cascaded the ravines, sprinting around every crooked bend as if it were guarded by a barrier. The shrill cries of the gargoyle-like fiends resonated like overhead klaxons, and seemed to echo throughout all of Mythril Mine, alerting more enemies to the ensuing skirmish.
Even as he ran, Cloud could make out the hordes being fended off by the gatling-gunfire, with countless bullets ripping straight through the wiry flesh of their wings, causing many to plummet to their doom. In response, a trio of belials broke away from the main drove, scaling the protruding cliff beyond Barret's range, then arcing into a nosedive towards the giant man. Cloud and Red XIII reached the summit just as the monsters dropped, the trail broadening, granting the feline beast enough space to speed ahead and launch himself savagely at the belial that plunged closest to Barret.
The remaining two had veered off at the last moment, their tactics unmistakable as they zipped through the air like missiles in the direction of the girls. Tifa soared high to meet her attacker head on, her powerful legs swinging masterfully in a skull-shattering roundhouse kick. The fiend shrieked in a panicked stupor, flapping wildly as she gripped its bony tail long enough for Barret to shred its chest with piercing rounds. Letting go of the belial as it fell to the ground dead, Tifa's expression instantly filled with absolute terror.
"Aerith!" she screamed.
Surging onto the raised junction, Cloud knew all too well how grave a situation they faced. Aerith was still twenty feet from him, her eyes wide with fear as she struggled to free herself from the unyielding grasp of the belial's talons. Its claws were hooked around her shoulders, pulling inelegantly at her tight jacket of red denim, lifting her with difficulty from the stone platform. Running faster than he even thought possible, Cloud closed in on her, but the demon would soon pass the threshold of the ridge, and glide out over the gaseous Mako pits of the lower mountain. At that point, Aerith would then be beyond rescuing.
Yelling inaudible obscenities above the thunderous barrage of gunfire, Barret dragged his arm towards the ascending belial, the hail of bullets dismembering the old signpost for Titanis Coalmine. As the shots rifled into the monster, it thrashed in mid-air, globules of blood spurting from its torso. Crashing onto the ledge, the writhing belial released its grip on Aerith before tumbling off, and she cried out as she caught hold of the platform, clinging desperately to the crumbling shelf. Cloud hurled himself towards her, landing hard on his stomach, wrapping his fingers firmly around her wrist as the rock beneath her collapsed.
Everything seemed to grow distant as he lay there clutching the hanging Aerith, his chest heaving, the pounding heartbeat in his ears deafening. Around them, the belials had ceased their assault, and were returning to the gloomy vastness of the mines, fleeing from Barret's relentless onslaught. Straining his arm under her weight, Cloud hauled Aerith back up onto the junction, their gazes meeting as he brought her to safety. Her pale green eyes burned into his with adoration and gratitude, lingering there as part of a delicate complexion that was awash with emotion.
"You okay?" he asked calmly, slowly helping her to her feet.
"I think so," Aerith nodded with a gulp, casting an anxious glance back into the depths as she brushed the grime from her hands. "It's just good to know you're still my bodyguard, right?"
"Sure..." he replied absently, barely acknowledging her reference to their first encounter at the church in Midgar's Sector5 Slums. He had instead detected a faint frown that had flitted across Tifa's brow as she approached, one which she immediately concealed from Cloud.
"Aerith…" Tifa gasped with relief as she embraced her friend. "I thought we'd lost you."
"Me too," she smiled warmly. "Next time, I'm leaving the fighting to you guys."
"Folks, I hate to break up the party," called Barret as he strode to join them, his voice uneasy, "but there's…uh…there's somethin' big headed our way."
"I concur," added Red XIII from the perimeter of the area, his back to them as he examined the yonder.
"What can you see?" asked Cloud, listening intently.
"Another airborne creature," answered the beast ominously, the flame of his tail swishing with alertness. "Its movement is fluid and nonlinear, not unlike a leaf on the river. Our presence has awoken it and now…oh, Gods…"
"What…?" squeaked Aerith but, as she spoke, Red XIII wheeled around and dashed to where they stood, his wolf-like face laden with dread as he passed.
"An ark dragon! Run!"
Recognising the dire threat, Cloud grabbed Aerith's wrist and led her hurriedly towards the path to the West Gate, beckoning Barret and Tifa to follow as he snatched up his backpack. Ignoring the trail that descended southbound to Titanis Coalmine, the five hastened onto the snaking causeway, immediately conscious of how delicate the road was. The narrow strip of suspended rock weaved above the shadowy abyss like a loose strand of thread, offering little protection from a misplaced step or stumble that could so easily mean the demise of any of the company. These perilous viaducts connected a network of gargantuan stalagmites, whose crusts were significantly less appealing than the mineral-heavy karsts they had witnessed earlier.
"Don't look down," Cloud directed, sensing apprehension among the others as they ventured urgently along the walkways. "You won't stall if you don't look down."
"We must quicken!" insisted Red XIII from the head of the group. "There is not much time."
Advancing from column to column, over the winding stone crossings and atop the rickety bridges of decaying timber, they ran in single file, using Red XIII's tail as a guide. Far below, a sprawling Mako river emerged from the darkness of a subterranean canyon, its jade-coloured glare illuminating the foot of an immense cliff a few hundred feet in front of them. But for a small, relatively parallel incision on the opposite side of the chasm, indicating a passage that bore natural light, all that existed was a wall of blackness extending in all directions.
"There!" called Tifa from just behind the galloping beast, pointing to the left of the nearing stalagmite.
Cloud watched as a great rope bridge took shape in the dimness, sloping gradually upwards, lifeless above the ravine that separated the party from the mountain's exit. Its frayed bindings and wooden boards were aged and broken, and suggested there had long since been any activity on this particular overpass. As the five gathered at the twin stakes around which the tension wires were knotted, Cloud shared a glance with Red XIII, and understood that they had only one chance at this before the hunting predator was upon them.
"Damn, man," Barret swore, "this don't look too secure."
"We don't have a choice," Cloud shook his head. "We have to make it to that opening."
"I shall go first," Red XIII volunteered. "Let my light escort you safely to the other side."
"Good luck!" bade Tifa, placing a hand on the shoulder of the shaking Aerith to calm her.
Inhaling deeply, the beast stepped carefully out onto the first of the worn planks, each of his four paws treading cautiously. The bridge groaned beneath his weight, creaking as it swayed gently with his steady paces. The radiance of his flaming appendage crept slowly after him, leaving the rest enveloped by the cavernous gloom. Particles of dust floated from the derelict foundations while the ropes strained, and only a muffled cough from Barret accompanied the rattle of pebbles in the nervous silence, the gravel sliding back down the bridge as Red XIII walked, tumbling into the gorge. At last he arrived at the western apex and, from the jutting balcony of the alcove, signaled for them to do the same.
Tifa and Aerith came next, the latter's hesitance cancelled out by the courage and expertise of the former Mount Nibel tour guide. Barret followed them, his momentum stunted as he repeatedly scrambled to maintain his balance on the dangerously oscillating crossing, his boots thumping inelegantly on the lumber. Cloud had elected to remain until the others had negotiated the deadly clutches of the canyon, the events of the Nibelheim incident and his plunge into the River Stygian still fresh in his memory. Wary of the prospect of having nothing more than a few inches of decomposing wood between him and the lowest depths of the Midgar Mountains, he cleared his mind of such thoughts, and started across.
However, as he reached the centre of the bridge, Cloud suddenly became aware that his intense concentration had betrayed him. He had neglected the numbing buzz as it climbed to a crescendo, now rendering the warning cries of his comrades mute. The fragile rope bridge began to rock back and forth, and he gripped the wires on either side, feeling the turbulent flutter generated by magnificent wings from somewhere below. He stopped in his tracks, hoping the lack of motion would create a brief window of uncertainty for the villain so that he may compose a strategy.
With an enormous surge of power, the ark dragon soared into view from within the chasm, hovering above him. It was fifteen feet in length from its horned snout to the tip of its spiked tail, armoured by scales of shimmering celadon. With a blur of beating wings, the monster hung stationary in the air as if to tease Cloud, its malicious lizard-like eyes blazing into his. Silver smoke escaped its flaring nostrils, its harsh wheezing echoing around the stalagmites. He dared not move as a terrible grin of lethal teeth formed on the dragon's mouth, but the orange glow that emanated from its gullet left him without an option.
If only I had some Materia…
Cloud broke into a sprint as the first wave of fire erupted from the creature's throat like a flamethrower, blinded by a backdrop that was lit up by the awesome energy. The inferno engulfed the entirety of the eastern half of the overpass, vaporising the bridge and, as he charged forward, he felt the tension on the scorched wires break. As the boards beneath his feet prepared to give way, Cloud propelled himself skyward, sailing like a dart towards the recess where the others were poised to flee. The ark dragon bellowed with fury, snapping violently at its prey with feral claws, but it could do nothing to prevent Cloud's ascension.
He caught hold of the ledge with difficulty, burdened by the backpack, his torso crunching awkwardly against the rock, winding him. As the pain of the collision coursed through his body, a strong hand gripped his bare shoulder and yanked him effortlessly onto the balcony. Wincing, Cloud glimpsed Red XIII and the girls disappearing into the tunnel and up the staircase at its rear, with Barret pushing him in the same direction. A haunting screech rang out once more as the dragon pursued, a second blistering blast consuming the passage behind the two. The alcove bottlenecked at the stone stairs, halting the monster as it careered after them, gnashing in vain while they raced to freedom.
The tapered path inclined steeply and continued for a considerable distance, all the while filtering traces of evening sunlight from its pinnacle. The murky cave walls and their buttresses resembled those of the East Gate, overwhelmed by silken cobwebs and broken gas lamps at regular intervals. The atmosphere had become less dense, and the temperature grew to a more familiar level. At the summit of the layered steps, Cloud and Barret decelerated to catch their breath, both of them aching all over, utilising the time to absorb their new setting.
The stairwell had brought them to a lofty chamber flooded by the scarlet rays of dusk, casting long shadows of the twisted rock formations and dishevelled mossy vines that cascaded from overhanging galleries. Pale green vapours danced from a series of thin fissures on the ground, fading into the evening via cracks in the ceiling. At the far corner of the cave was a redbrick portico cut from the mountainside, unmistakably marked as the West Gate, and beyond were verdant plains and a forested landscape. Tifa, Aerith and Red XIII waited by the steps, each of the trio displaying signs of fatigue and an adrenaline comedown. Trudging past them and across the room, Cloud spun sharply as a commanding voice reverberated from one of the terraces above.
"Hold on a second," instructed the man, his tone authoritative and uncompromising.
"What the hell…?" spat Barret, aiming his gun-arm before Cloud gestured for him to lower the weapon; his instincts told him his comrade was being observed from the shadows by someone else, possibly a sniper.
The man peered down at them through stylish legless sunglasses, a strange expression on his tanned face from between the granite pilasters. He wore a thin goatee, a contrast to his polished bald head, his appearance distinguished by an array of hooped earrings on his left ear. He was tall and broad in stature, clad in a tailored black suit ensemble with a formal tie to match, and accessorised by fingerless martial arts gloves. Cloud identified him without a sliver of doubt, the attire infamous, but it was Red XIII who spoke first.
"I had hoped never to see any of you again," growled the beast, the hairs of his brilliant mane standing on end.
"So, you know who I am?" the man asked coolly.
"From the Turks, right?" Cloud responded, folding his arms brazenly.
Thanks to his previous employment with the Shinra Corporation, he was no stranger to the notorious Investigation Division of the General Affairs Department and their shady activities. Officially an organisation tasked with scouting for potential SOLDIER candidates, they were in reality closer to a secret police force, answerable to only a few. Their true job was to eliminate any and all threats to the Company's empire with a skewed moral compass, participating in extortion, espionage, kidnap, torture and assassinations among other things. If Shinra, Inc. desired it, the Turks would make it happen.
"Correct," the agent nodded. "Then, I guess this won't take long. The name's Rude."
"You're the one who locked us up in the cells at the Shinra Building," accused Aerith.
"Orders are orders," he replied bluntly, scratching his skull. "Such is the way of the Turks. To be honest, it's difficult to explain what we do-"
"How 'bout blowin' the shit outta Sector7?" roared Barret, foaming at the mouth with hatred, the veins on his temple bulging. "Huh? That one hard to explain? How many innocent people did ya murder, eh? Tell me, you fuck! Our friends were on that Pillar!"
"To put it negatively, yes…" Rude said coldly, lowering his head for a moment as if to conceal a hint of discomfort. "But, since President Rufus replaced his father, that's not all there is to the Turks anymore."
"What do you mean?" frowned Cloud.
"Sir?"
Confirming his intuition, a second Turk emerged from behind the stone colonnade of an adjacent balcony. In comparison to her superior, she was of a petite build, with bleached blonde hair that was bobbed and parted to the right of her attractive young face. Her black suit uniform clung to her dainty figure, her feminine qualities emphasised by her somewhat inappropriate heeled shoes. The girl gazed patiently at Rude, anticipating his acknowledgement of her interruption.
"Yes?" he sighed finally.
"I know speeches aren't really your thing," she said assertively. "May I?"
"Be my guest…"
"Well," she accepted, amplifying her voice and shifting her attention towards the group with a derisive scowl, "thanks to whichever one of you shot Reno back in Midgar, we're a little short staffed. Although, from a personal perspective, I must admit that I am grateful. You see, his absence resulted in my promotion from Shinra Academy. I'm Elena, the newest member of the Turks."
"We don't give a rat's ass!" barked Barret.
"In any case," she continued with a contemptuous shrug, "our job is to find out where Sephiroth is headed, and to stop you every step of the way."
"Elena..." Rude spluttered, "that's not what I-"
"The hell you babblin' 'bout?" snorted Barret, glancing at the others with bewilderment.
"Wait a minute," she hesitated, reconsidering her statement, "what am I talking about? It's you who are getting in our way. You and the rest of those AVALANCHE scum. Did you forget when your goons tried to kidnap me?"
"Hey, lady, we ain't the same as the old AVALANCHE!"
"And what you did to my sister-"
"Elena, that's enough!"
The severity of the order was equalled only by the sinister footsteps that echoed from the portico, the dull clicking of hardened leather against the chamber's floor. Cloud slowly turned to see Tseng enter the threshold of the portal, his penetrating brown eyes set on the party. His waist-length black hair flowed down his spine, pulled back from his sharp but handsome features and distinct birth spot at the centre of his forehead. As Chief of the Turks, Tseng was regarded as the linchpin of the organisation despite only being in his late twenties, for within his composed exterior lurked an unforgiving and ruthless personality, not to mention an unflinching loyalty to his employers.
"Chief…?" gasped Elena, blushing.
"There was no need to disclose our mission, was there?" he asked frostily, his husky voice barely louder than an irate whisper, clenching his jaw. "You've revealed sensitive information. And you should keep any private sentiments to yourself while on duty."
"I…I'm sorry…" she stammered sheepishly.
"I thought I gave you another task?"
"Yes, sir."
"Now go," Tseng told her, pointing outside, "and don't forget to file your report."
"Right away, sir," she replied with a hasty salute. "Rude and I have concluded the target is bound for Junon. We will rendezvous there."
"Elena," snarled Tseng, "you don't seem to understand."
"Oh…" she gulped, holding a hand to her quivering lips, "I'm…I'm-"
"Just go! Both of you. Do not let Sephiroth get away!"
"Yes, sir," called Elena, stumbling as she hurriedly retreated from the arcade.
"You got it," added Rude, pausing before he skulked completely from view. "Oh, and by the way, Reno said he wanted a rematch after his injury heals. I think he'd like to show his affection for you all with a new weapon."
"Well, then," Tseng exhaled, watching without expression as his colleague vanished, "I guess pleasantries are in order; Aerith, long time, no see."
"What do you want?" she posed suspiciously.
Cloud had learned during their rescue of Aerith at Shinra Headquarters that not only were she and Tseng acquainted, she had trusted him over the last decade to keep her safe when he had been assigned to monitor the Cetra. There existed an unspoken bond between the two, like that of a lost friendship, and perhaps a misplaced faith that he had Aerith's best interests at heart.
"Two-hundred-and-sixty-seven," said Tseng.
"Excuse me?"
"That was the number of civilian casualties when your friends here blew up Mako Reactor1," he explained calmly. "Two-hundred-and-sixty-seven."
"And what does that have to do with me?" retorted Aerith.
"I'm curious to know why you have chosen to associate yourself with these terrorists," Tseng's piercing stare locked onto hers. "They did tell you that they are AVALANCHE, didn't they? I assumed after what happened with the militants at the church all those years ago, you had given up on the idea of running off with this lot. I simply cannot comprehend why someone of your ancestry, someone whose very nature it is to bring beauty and life to the Planet, someone destined to end the impoverishment and suffering of millions, would remain in the company of those who murder and maim for a futile cause."
"Well, I'm curious to know how you could be such a hypocrite," she argued.
"Please elaborate."
"You rhyme off these numbers in the hope that I'll see your point of view," Aerith hissed furiously, tears welling in her eyes. "But, you're wrong. Yes, I know who these people are, and yes, what they did was terrible. They'll have that blood on their hands for the rest of their days, and nothing can change that. No cause is worth a single life, never mind hundreds. I'll never condone their actions, but at least they were fighting for something they believed in, something that was supposed to be for the greater good. They're trying to make this world a better place, to save the Planet from destruction.
"But, you…what are you fighting for, Tseng? What do you believe in? You're nothing but a lapdog, blindly carrying out the wishes of the greedy and the corrupt. You tell me AVALANCHE killed two-hundred-and-sixty-seven innocent citizens that night? What about the thousands who died when the Sector7 Plate collapsed? Their blood is on your hands, Tseng!"
"Be that as it may," he dismissed apathetically, "I have many other pressing matters to concern myself with right now, as I'm sure you have already gathered from Elena's overeager outburst."
"So, that's it?" fumed Aerith, aghast by his indifference. "Don't you even care?"
"I wanted to take this opportunity to say goodbye," he responded solemnly, bowing slightly. "It seems that you may have slipped from Shinra's grasp for the time being, now that Sephiroth has reappeared."
"So, what are you telling me?" she snapped. "That I should be thankful to Sephiroth?"
"We won't be seeing too much of one another for the foreseeable future, so take care."
"Strange hearing you say that after all these years," she replied spitefully, turning away from him. It was only then that a single flicker of genuine regret flashed across Tseng's façade.
"Just be sure to stay out of Shinra's way," he concluded, offering a mock wave before gliding elegantly towards the entrance of West Gate. He stopped briefly beneath the redbrick arch, gazing pensively out over the countryside, his silken hair wavering in the twilight breeze. The sky was by now growing overcast, the darkening clouds washing over the Midgar Mountains, bringing with them the drone of a helicopter's rotating blades as the Turks' ride prepared to depart. Straightening his tie before withdrawing from the cavern, Tseng shouted back over his shoulder. "There's a storm coming. I'd take shelter here for the night if I were you."
"What was that all about?" frowned Tifa, eventually breaking the silence that had befallen the five as they watched the B09 craft take flight and fade into the horizon, the grey heavens broken only by a line of deepening purple.
"I think it is fair to determine that Shinra are significantly more aware of our movement than we have previously realised…" Red XIII answered grimly.
"…and they don't seem to like it," muttered Cloud.
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