Twighlight Perfection

Chapter 28

"She's cold and she's cruel, but she knows what she's doing"

FN: Here's to a year of Twilight! Thanks to those of our readers who are still with us. Particular appreciation to those who have taken the time to leave us reviews and designate this story under their favorites, nudge, nudge, wink wink, say no more, say no more.

OWAN: Albatross!

"Wow would you look at that?" James' words did a decent job of summing up what they saw. The group had been gathered in Mideel by a call from Aeris to Melkore because of what she found. There was no doubt about it, this was... what it was. It was a giant piece of materia, about 15 feet through, and had taken many men to move it into the hospital where it now rested. Thankfully, because of its basically spherical shape, they had been able to more or less roll it to its current location rather than pick it up, which probably would have required construction equipment.

The huge piece of materia encased General Sephiroth like a bug trapped in amber. Much to James' surprise, Vincent was relatively calm. This was chiefly because Vincent had established something of a hierarchy of freaking out whenever even the smallest thing happened to Seph...iroth. Not this time however, instead he just looked at Sephiroth, and said nothing. Niro tapped the huge thing with his gun like one would tap a bell to hear its chime.

"James, knowing Sephiroth as long as I have, I doubt this would kill him." Mirri opened her jacket and pulled out one of her blades in a considerably more mundane way then she normally did, and slammed it against the object. The blade splintered up to its "hilt" and Mirri dropped her useless weapon in disgust. "But, whatever it is, I don't think we're going to be able to break it open any time soon."

Alex, in his human shape, was studying the thing much more intently then any of others. "His face, I do not think that we have to worry about him at all. It is a look of serenity, and not that of one who is dead." Melkore was starting to look like he was tempted to try and duplicates Mirri's efforts to destroy what lay before him with his weapon of choice. "Okay then, but what good does it do us to know that he's still alive if we can't get him out of there? He might as well be in a coma, or paralyzed from the hair down. Knowing that he is alive doesn't help us any."

Aeris cast an irritated glare at Melkore, far more irritated than anything James had seen her give anyone before. "If Sephiroth is still alive, we don't want him to wake up alone. We need to keep somebody here to alert the others if he gets any better." Melkore shot his own glare back at her. "Aeris, I may specialize in weapons, but knowing how to kill starts with knowing how to heal. You just have to do things in reverse which, granted, is easier, but you still have to start with some medical knowledge. There are all kinds of ways that people can still be alive yet not really 'alive' the way we think of it. If I had to take a guess, I'd say this could be some kind of mako poisoning, except even more advanced. I don't think there's anything anyone can do that would make him better." "We can pray."

The two looked at each other, and Mirri broke the stalemate by grabbing Melkore by the ear. "James, Niro, let's roll." James didn't need to be told twice and followed, Niro took one quick look back at Sephiroth, and then he followed. Outside, Mirri was busily shaking Melkore like a rag doll.

"Melkore, I thought I told you this before, never argue with a woman in love!' With that, Mirri dropped him. "Now then, you three guys are here for a simple reason. With Sephiroth no longer able to lead us, someone else has to take charge. Also, since no one else seems to be volunteering for the position I'll take it. If any of you feel like arguing with me, I'll settle it nice and quick."

James wasn't about to argue with Mirri, she had been Sephiroth's second in command, so it made sense she was now in command. "Okay then, now Melkore, you told me that the thing which took down the huge monstrosity was your creation, so tell us all about it." Melkore got up, did what he could to brush the dust off his outfit, and began to explain.

"Okay then, the thing in question is called Melkore's Mako Cannon, or just the Mako Cannon. I drew up plans for it during the Wuitain War, but I never really expected to see it built or used when the war ended just after I got a prototype design finished. The Mako Cannon is designed to be the ultimate siege weapon. One hit from it can take out an entire city. Not because of the explosion, but when the shell finally lands, its detonation contaminates the area with mako in its gaseous state.

Because this is heavier then air, it will cling low to the ground as it moves around, and ordinary people would choke and die on the fumes, though SOLDIERS would be unaffected." There was a very long pause and Mirri looked ready to pick Melkore back up and start shaking him again. "What, in the name of hell, would make you want to build, something, like that? Your telling me Shinra could depopulate an entire city with the push of a button?"

Melkore looked like he wished he was wearing glasses so he could adjust them as he spoke. "Not really. The Mako Cannon is wonderful weapon, but like any weapon, it has its weakness. A trebuchet without a rock to throw is just a huge piece of wood, a cannon without a cannon ball is nothing more then a chunk of iron, a gun is nothing without bullets." Mirri's hand was now very firmly planted on Melkore, and was slowly starting to lift him off the ground yet again.

"What. Do. You. mean?" With a rabid desire to salvage what precious little was left of his dignity, Melkore started talking. "The Mako Cannon doesn't use ordinary shells! To fire it you need something special, you need the Huge Materia that form in Mako Reactors over time to supply the power! The things are about as big as the one that Sephiroth is trapped in right now, and they contain incredible amounts of energy. More power then a single reactor could ever grant on it's own, and that energy is needed just to fire the Mako Cannon. Shinra probably used the Junon Huge Materia to fire that shot which I spent on the WEAPON. So Shinra, literarily, has spent its bolt. They may have my Mako Cannon, but they can't fire it." Mirri reluctantly let go of Melkore, though she still stared daggers at him. "What about the Midgar reactors? That sounds like Shinra has six shots, which is more then enough for them to hold the world hostage."

"They have no shots." Melkore made the pronouncement with total confidence. "Getting the Huge Materia out is not necessarily difficult, but it takes time. The reactor must be turned off, and given time to drain itself of mako so the Huge Materia can be retrieved. Midgar's reactors are connected, if one is shut down they all will be. Shinra could have those six shots, but all of Midgar would grind to a halt. To a get another shot they need some place where there is a reactor but it hasn't really been in use for a long time. Like Nibelhiem."

"Or Corel." James' ears perked up, whenever Mirri spoke in that tone of voice it could only mean one thing. It was the voice she used when she was about to kick Reno in the balls. Since no Turk seemed to be present for miles it probably meant that Shinra was about to get a metaphorical kick in one of its less than metaphorical weak points. Niro self-consciously checked his gun for a moment before he met Mirri's eyes. "Looks like we won't be sitting around much longer."

James nodded though he didn't need to check his weapon, he knew that his gloves were ready at all times. "So the question is, how are they going to move it? It would take all of us six to life that thing Seph's in, and we're enhanced." Mirri turned from facing Melkore to James and answered his question with total confidence. "There's a section of train tracks that runs straight from Corel to Costa Del Sol. From there, it can be shipped by freighter to Junon. In my parents' time, it was used to ship coal.

The track, however, runs right through the area where everyone has set up their homes after the town was torched. Those rails have been badly maintained since they haven't been needed, the entire train might slip off the tracks, particularly if whoever is driving that sucker moves it at top speed." Niro checked his gun again. "Sounds like loads of fun, those three don't know what they're missing."

Mirri wrapped an arm around James' neck and did the same to Niro. "Don't worry guys, it's time we all take a moment to learn from the master." As she spoke, she turned slightly applying pressure in the right places to prompt James and Niro to turn towards Melkore and kneel as she did. "Dr. Morningstar, I go on bended knee to your unarguable knowledge in this area. Teach us master, teach us the glories of the roadtrip!"

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"Target one in range!" The ordinary crew of the Valar was willing enough to work for the man who had designed and, to a great extent, created the ship they now called home. If they hadn't been willing to work for Melkore, he would have had to find a new crew, which would have been painful as hell. Thankfully they where not only willing to work but pretty good at their jobs, and this was a big example of it.

Melkore had explained the mission to them, and they had got to work. The Corel reactor was largely hidden by mountains and difficult to reach by foot. Thus Shinra, who always followed the path of least resistance, would have sent men in by air. That was the guess that Mirri had come up with and it had just proved true. The sophisticated radar equipment on the Valar made it possible to 'see' the simple troop helicopter long before it would know they where coming.

The radar image also showed that the helicopter was hovering without lateral movement, yet not landing. That position suggested one possible idea, it was deploying SOLDIERS who where descending down on ropes. It would make things more difficult then if the thing was landed and deploying ordinary guards. Granted if it was on the ground they wouldn't have picked it up on radar at this range given the twisting mountains surrounding the Corel Reactor.

Melkore examined the radar blip for a moment then turned to his partners in crime. "Mirri, why don't we send Shinra a greeting? " Niro was currently navigating, James was actually steering, Melkore was supervising, and Mirri was in charge of weapons. This was rather like saying that a mountain lion was in charge of the mountain it lived on.

Even before Melkore had spoken Mirri had been looking over the various switches and buttons like a kid in a toy store. Finding the right one, she flipped a switch to arm the weapons, and then pushed a button before turning back to Melkore. "Don't worry, I'm sure they'll have a blast."

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Most of the first class SOLDIERS had been upset about being sent to get a hunk of rock from the middle of nowhere. Still, they served Shinra loyally and had done what they had been told. They had been working for about half an hour when it happened. They had already retrieved the stone in question and loaded it on to the train that had been left on the tracks next to the reactor. Then it was all shot to hell in the blink of an eye.

The helicopter that should have been their ride home except for the few who would have stayed on the train exploded. If anyone had been watching very closely they could have seen the small missile that slammed into the helicopter reducing it to a raging inferno, but no one did. Thus, they where instantly reduced from well trained and disciplined SOLDIERS to animals with only one thought: survival. They messily boarded the train and started off as fast as they could.

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"Damn it, they're getting away!" You didn't need radar to see the train moving along the tracks leading out of the Juno reactor. She quickly began to study switches but Melkore apparently saw the her doing this out of one corner of his eye. "Bad Mirri! If we fire on the train and destroy the Huge Materia, well, let's just say it won't be pretty." Mirri turned her attention from the multitude of inviting choices to Melkore. "Fine then, what do you suggest we do? Just watch them get away?"

Suddenly, the Valar jerked violently beneath Mirri and only by holding a well-placed iron bar was she able to keep her footing. The culprit was obvious. "Sorry Mirri. I was just seeing how this thing handled. It's actually a lot smother then I thought it would be, I could probably almost land this baby on top of the train!" Mirri felt an idea kindle as everyone else (except James) was struck by a sudden sense of dread. "Actually, that's not a bad idea. Let's be about it..."

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Niro Rose looked down at the situation. After a moment he realized that maybe if he had simply been a Shinra killer his life would have been much less taxing. That was not the case, however, so he prepared for what he was about to do with grim determination. Others did not posses the same sense of inner tranquility. "We're gonna die." "Shut up, Melkore."

"Mirri, we are jumping off the Valar which is flying far lower than it's supposed to go in mountainous terrain, on top of a moving train, which we're going to jump onto, without parachutes. James came up with this idea and you 'improved it' what part of this is not suicidal?" Melkore's words echoed Niro's beliefs in spirit, if not exactly the fine points. However, when necessary, a Firecat will step in where fools dare not tread. James took the hurdle of the Valar's railing with ease, and jumped off of the ship.

It was only about a 20 foot drop, nothing truly dangerous to a SOLDIER, let alone James, but the momentums involved were staggering. Niro and Mirri followed James with Melkore regretfully bringing up the rear. They all jumped, they all plummeted, and they all landed safely. Still, it was one of the few times in his life that Niro would say he was frightened.

There was only one thin strand that Niro could hold onto, conservation of momentum. If the Valar was moving at close to the same speed at the train, then Niro was moving with an equal speed. Thus, they weren't really jumping from a moving airship to a moving train, they where just jumping. Thankfully, they all managed to land on the moving train rather then miss it, so things were good so far. As the three of them started to stand up, James was already on his feet.

The group of SOLDIERS on the train behind them was on their feet as well. They raised their guns, but they were already too late. Strands of wire sliced through the air, as well as the coupling between train cars with equal ease. With their car no longer connected to the one James and the others were, they found themselves in an odd situation. They fired as accurately as they could, but their targets were being quickly pulled away by a velocity they no longer possessed. James smiled as he looked at his handiwork. "Stage two is done, so now we just have to deal with the train!"

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"Put your hands up and keep 'em that way!" An odd order coming from a man with a guitar. But Melkore noted with delight the way that the men's eyes slowly realized that they where actually staring down the six barrels of Sylvia, Melkore Morningstar's weapon of choice. The two engineers Shinra had brought with them put their hands up, and kept them up.

"Is this a robbery?" Mirri jumped past Melkore and pushed both of the engineers aside. "No, it's a science experiment. I believe if I can maneuver this train just right I can take us back in time to when my family was respected by this town!" Mirri only needed one look to tell which lever she wanted. "Everyone hold onto something!"

James, Niro, and Melkore followed Mirri's advice and grabbed hold of various parts of the train. The engineers did the same after only a moment's hesitation. Mirri pulled the lever she had selected down all the way. The train instantly jumped to new life. If it had been going fast before, that was nothing now. With only one compartment to slow it down and the engine set to full blast, the train tore down the tracks.

Gears screeched, metal whined, and the train pressed onward. Above the rushing of wind and wail of metal Mirri almost couldn't hear Melkore's protests (wasn't that a shame) even though he shouted them. "MIRRI WHAT IN THE NAME OF WHATEVER YOU BELIVE IN ARE YOU DOING?" The world seemed to blur with the incredible speed that the train took.

Mirri smiled back at Melkore as she shouted. "I'M GOING TO SLAM THIS THING DOWN COREL'S THROAT! YOU DON'T GET RESPECT FOR SAVING THE WORLD UNLESS YOU CAN MAKE IT PERSONAL TO THE PEOPLE INVOLVED!" "MIRRI YOU ARE PURE EVIL!" "THANK YOU!" "THAT WASN'T MEANT AS A COMPLIMENT!" "WELL THEN, THAT'S YOUR FAULT FOR USING AMBIGUOUS TERMS, ISN'T IT!"

"WHAT THE HELL IS AMBIGUOUS ABOUT 'PURE EVIL'?" "YOU CAN TELL ME!" A third voice interrupted the conversation at this point, a voice rather unmistakable due to it's lack of fear. "LOOK AT US GO! WE'RE COMING TO A TURN!" "MIRRI, SO HELP ME GOD IF I SURVIVE THIS I WILL MAKE YOU PAY!"

Before Melkore could issue any more threats (or Niro any more prayers) they hit the turn going full speed. The train managed to stay on the tracks, that was the best thing that any sane person could say about it.

"WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Then of course there was James.

"Mirri, when I lose my lunch, if there is any justice in the world, it will end up all over you!" "Flattery will get you nowhere Melkore." Having exhausted hurling insults Melkore moved onto his rarely seen spiritual side. "Caffeine is my shepherd; I shall not doze. It maketh me to wake in green pastures: It leadeth me beyond the sleeping masses. It restoreth my buzz: it leadeth me in the paths of consciousness for its name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of addiction, I will fear no Equal (tm). For thou art with me; thy cream and thy sugar they comfort me. Thou preparest a carafe before me in the presence of The Starbucks. Thou anointest my day with pep; my mug runneth over. Surely richness and taste shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the House of Mochas forever."

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The entire town of Corel could hear it coming before they saw it. It sounded like a renegade beast of hell. It looked even more like something that had escaped from the lower levels of the abyss. It bore down on the town from the mountains approaching at an... unsafe... speed. Sooner or later the train would leap from it's tracks and destroy everything nearby, the could only hope it wouldn't happen as it passed through the town.

As every single resident slowly drew a collective breath it happened. The sound of fingernails screeching on a blackboard would be a merciful way to put it. The huge iron vehicle came to an abrupt and unexpected halt. The wheels stopped moving it forward, in fact the wheels locked closed in close to the blink of an eye. If the sound was horrible, at least it was caused by a miracle happening.

With the wheels no longer supporting the things forward momentum, it could only "coast" to a complete stop. As it did so before the assemblage of slapdash houses that was Corel, a single "human" body was thrown from the train. He was dressed entirely in red and had evidently been using both hands to hold onto his hat rather then holding onto something that would have kept him on the train.

As the people slowly approached it the being spoke. "That was fun! Can we do it again?" His eyes were currently going round in his head like the train's wheels used to have been doing, but it was clear in which general direction his gaze and comment were intended. Very slowly another human being stepped down from the train, and her exit was completed with much more grace then her partner's.

Mirri "Catwarrior" Lufkin took one look around what was left of Corel along with the people who inhabited it, and spoke. "People of Corel, I have returned!" As Mirri spoke, the Valar appeared overhead after finally managing to catch up to the train after it's slapdash procession down the mountains. Not that the way the huge airship seemed to block out the sky (and the sun, creating a minor eclipse-like effect) at Mirri's pronouncement went particularly amiss in creating the effect Mirri desired.

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"You know Mirri, I think we got a lot better reception this time around." Mirri did not click her tongue in irritation the way she would have if Melkore made that statement, James Firecat would always be a master of the obvious. There had only been one compartment left connected to the train, the one closet to the engine, which by luck also had the Huge Materia in it.

The Valar was currently lowering a winch down to retrieve it because no one knew what else to do with it. Once it was removed James would get to work and he was confident he could turn the entire train into scrap metal one piece at a time. Mirri for her part, had stood on the train turning it into an impromptu podium for her to hurl her ideas to her people from.

"People of Corel, look at yourselves! Shinra burns this town to the ground, and we let them win because of it? Forget the indignity of allowing them to destroy our homes, why are we allowing them to stop us? I don't know about you, but for every time Shinra burns this town to the ground, I would be willing to build it back up again! But frankly, that's not enough for me, you see this train? I'm going to ram it down Shinra's throat! Shinra has the audacity to burn my town down, I'm going to do the same thing to them, and I've already started! Two reactors down, six to go!"

Niro had watched the entire thing, then given a macabre glare to Mirri as he stood at her side and whispered words in her ear. "Today Corel, tomorrow... remember thou art mortal!" Mirri had disregarded his warning and taken a moment to chastise Niro, she was in charge. "Don't worry about it Niro. Conquering other nations is more Sephiroth's gig than mine. I'm just giving these people something to believe in." "Sure you are. I'll go get some palm leafs to fan you with, one for me and one for James."

Niro might have had a more skeptical view of what was the best humanity could achieve, but then that was why Mirri had James. Whatever he lacked in any arena he made up for as possibly the world's best mental backscratcher (even more so because the only payment that he asked for was a much more literal scratch behind the ears) for Mirri's purposes.

"I wonder what life will be like when all this is over?" "Don't have a clue Mirri, but who cares? By the time we finish with Jenova and Shinra anything else is gonna be pretty pathetic by comparison." As Mirri began to scratch James' ears she was quite sure that both of them were thinking the same thoughts. "Ooh, that's the spot!"

FN: For those of you who don't recognize Mirri's line about the train robbery being "A Science Experiment" my heart goes out to you.

End Chapter