Simply the Thing I Am, Shall Make Me Live
Disclaimer: Refer to Chapter 1.
Author' s Note: Thanks to xxOMGgalxx, kingdomlily, pinpon02, tsukiyomi83, and dragoon109 for reviewing! Thanks to Anna Crosszeria, Cirda Awakened, cognitio-est-potentia and Deer-Shifter for the favs! And thanks to DarkPhantom101, Rambonata, ShotgunWilly and Irish-Brigid for the alert! I always say my thanks! Also thanks to rAFiTheWaNDerER for the Author fav!
Always a huge that thanks to reviewers, those who fav, and alert. This fic wouldn't be here if it weren't for you guys and gals. *bows
Yeah, I know. I suck at getting updates done quickly these days. Delays means longer chapters though. Don't believe me? This chapter is a whopping 22k+ words. Hope it covers it for this weekend. xD
On a side note, yes, I've passed the 100k word barrier and we're still in Midgar. Don't mind my large chapters though, I like writing epic stories. And speaking of stories... I've started a FFVII and Avengers crossover for the fun of it. *promotion mode on. Check it out if you have the time, other than that...
Another epic chapter size!
To the fic!
Enjoy~!
~ Chapter 12: Doing a Houdini at ShinRa HQ ~
Turk Area, ShinRa Headquarters, Midgar, December 0007
A hollow dark soundless room.
One dim light bulb lamp.
An intimidating Turk.
And I was in trouble.
No shit.
When I envisioned plans to get through the first events of the game in Midgar, getting into an interrogation with the Turks of ALL things, wasn't on my agenda.
Well, I don't think any gamer would want to say it was a good thing... even for the gamer with average knowledge or any sane person for that matter. But hey – the god of time in this Universe was probably laughing his ass off at my bad luck. Heck, I think Murphy was rubbing his law into my face. As if I hadn't got enough problems to deal with...
... trauma kicks in the moment I woke up.
With all my adrenaline gone, I was starting to feel the aftereffects of my nova power explosion. Worse, Tseng had added the effects by shooting some sort of fever inducing tranquilizer into me. Best way to describe it, was that I had no stamina like my body had no skeleton, and my head felt like it was pounded on an anvil with sledgehammer. I hated that I was also trembling with excess sweat, no thanks to the fever. Plus, I hardly had any MP in me to do magic with Symbology – scratch the part that Symbology used less MP than Materia did.
Come to think of it, it was the weakest point I ever felt in my entire life.
For now, there was no way out.
I was so not looking forward to more questioning in my current state.
Not when it was Tseng doing the real part of the interrogation.
He's actually one of my favorite Turks besides Reno. Although as a fan, I wish I had met him under better circumstances.
Heh, I wish.
So far, the questions have been easy without really lying. Age, blood type, occupation, where I was from (locally), bla, bla, bla. Even then, I answered him in a shaky voice and most of it came out slurred. Best way to see it, I think I was shaking like a tree losing its leaves in fall. Not exactly convincing... but the fact Wutaian Turk was making some cross references with what he got from me and what the Turks have was making me nervous.
Out of all the Turks, Tseng was probably the best in executing a poker face. There was no indication I could catch on what he was thinking through his expression at all. He simply sat at the chair opposite of me, one leg crossed flicking through pages in a file, while at times his eyes would shift from me to the papers at intervals. On second thought, does the dude even play poker? I'd wager my Gil that Reno and Rude would, but Tseng? Not so much. He strikes me as the workaholic guy, who'd take his work too seriously for his own good.
"So, Issac Anders, how did you meet the ex-SOLDIER Zack Fair?"
I shrugged trying hard to ignore that my vision was somewhat making the room looked like it was spinning. "In a cave, he was injured... I think it was because of a monster attack. I helped him out..." I left my tone hanging at the end, as another buzz of my headache attacked my forehead. Rubbing it was the only thing I could to keep it down a little. At least I didn't slur as much like I did before.
"Whereabouts?"
"Somewhere in the Mideel continent," I groaned, laying my forehead on the desk. "Don't exactly remember where..."
Of course I wouldn't remember, Flux did most of the tracking.
There was a small silence before the Turk continued on with the questioning. "What were you doing in Mideel?"
It appeared Tseng wasn't feeling merciful about the fever I was suffering from. He was taking advantage of me to spill everything out if my state was to worsen. Delirious people do tend to say things without intending to... but I wasn't going to give up easily. If I spoke about Cosmos and all about the other 'me', Tseng would probably throw me into a psychiatric ward. Literally.
That of course, would have been a ticket for me to get into Hojo's labs.
Uh... no thank you. I'd rather suffer the tiredness, headache, and the fever, than get intimate with Professor Psycho. Better keep speaking parts of the truth and keep the Turk content with what information I was giving him.
"I was looking for some ingredients... which were only native to the area." I replied as best as I could, heaving my head off the table. "Ever since the Item Creation Guild lost contact with their supplier town in the Mideel Continent... it's been difficult to get them." Funny how Banora also has its relations to the history of Item Creators, but there was no surprise after it got destroyed... Item Creators were more in a hateful relationship to ShinRa because they wiped it off from the face of the Earth.
Tseng seemed to catch on what I was hinting at. "Elixirs. You're searching for ingredients to make Elixirs, which are only found around places that are nearest to large Mako springs." He now had his full attention on me. "You are aware that Nibelheim also has Mako springs?"
I nod, "But no item creator has gone there in a decade... at least not since the locals were not accepting any item creators. They were afraid that newcomers would take out their local economy." Releasing a tired breath I commented, "It'd be a waste of time and resources if I went to the mountain town, only to be chucked out in the cold."
There wasn't anybody there left there for the love of God. Just a carbon copy of the real Nibelheim that Sephiroth destroyed. But, Tseng didn't know what I knew.
The Turk looked like he agreed my last statement, because he didn't say anything on the subject. At times like this, I was glad enough that I knew my history on Gaia (even if I'm crappy at remembering specific dates).
In many cases of the past, item creators in Midgar hadn't always got the best of treatments. Especially the independent ones that didn't join ShinRa. Kind of like the Apartheid era like in South Africa or in the old days where skin discrimination was a frequent thing in the US. You know, where they'd separate you because of the color of your skin? Only in Gaia it was ShinRa loyalists on the top, people who were neutral in the middle, and people with no loyalties to ShinRa were at the rock bottom (Eco-lovers and item creators). There was a the lower level class they don't usually classify... as they were treated as dirt. That class was exclusively spared for Anti-Shinra folks like Wutai (before they lost the war) and terrorists.
Another annoying drop of sweat dropped down to my ripped shirt. I wasn't feeling comfortable as my clothes were still tainted and marred with blood and all... no thanks to one of Hojo's demented lab experiment that nearly killed me. It's amazing I even survived at all, but the lesser wounds were left behind. The Turks for now had healed them partially, but I was uneasy the wounds could be used for the worst parts of interrogation later.
So far, I haven't even remembered what happened at the Support Pillar. Well, whatever I did, I was in no condition to make a run for it now. Heck, I was counting down the minutes when the Turk was going to ask me about it, that's IF ShinRa noticed my exploding nova incident. While that sounded too good to be true they haven't noticed, I sincerely hoped not.
The worst thing I could do right now, was get Hojo's attention. I've already caused enough trouble getting caught, and I didn't want to worry Zack and Cloud further than I already have.
"Tell me, Issac. At the communications outpost, how did you reconfigure the codes in a way that even headquarters was having trouble communicating or overriding the control systems?" Tseng asked another question.
I knew the codes and all, but with a fever, I was sure my calculations or codes I'd give him would get jumbled – even if I told him the truth.
"If I tell you right now... I'd make a fatal mistake and make your computers haywire... with this fever and all..." I wiped beads of sweat on my face and sat back in my chair rolling my eyes, "I don't see why you're interested in me... I'm just an Item Creator."
"Hardly just an Item Creator." The Turk stressed. Tseng eyed me critically before he laid the folder on the table, "We're here now to know more about you. You are a unknown factor."
'What?' I blinked confusedly at him.
"You have knowledge of someone who would at least have a higher education background. No official university records, or other occupation skill records... official or otherwise," he continued. The Turk then stood over the table with a contemplative gaze as if he was daring me to challenge his argument. "Usually ShinRa or the Turks would never miss information on such a person... and birth certificates are not so easily erased from the worldwide database. You have no credentials whatsoever. So, what do want to say about yourself?"
Crud.
Leave Tseng to do all the analysis, and he's on to me like a bloodhound.
I was forgetting that Gaia was a smaller world than Earth where a single company monopolized the world. It was one of the interesting concepts the game makers wanted to show about an alternative Earth with extreme capitalism: 'When evil CEOs rule the world'... but the Slums was suffering from something like the Great Depression in the 1930s. Rika could/would probably go on and on about how Midgar developed like the city of Chicago during that era based off the Hoyt Model/Sector Model making it the Pizza City it was. Her twin brother on the not-so-bright side, would explain the depression people would go through in said times.
And me? Well, computers were non-existent at the time. But one thing remained true – you control people who are innovators and have the money to do so, you're guaranteed to be on top of the money game.
Simply because there was only one company, of course ShinRa would try to recruit and even take all the brightest minds into the company itself. Never mind whether they were willing or not. As long as they had the best, then, no other opposition would stand against them. It seemed like I fell into they type of people they were looking for to recruit into the company. But I had a problem... how was I going to explain I'm not even from Gaia? Maybe it was better not to mention anything about that... there was still Hojo around...
I could lie.
Nonetheless, that didn't settle well with me. If I was a gamer who was stuck in this game-turned-to-reality, but had the chance to go home... that could of worked. In my case, Gaia was now my home. More lies would do more harm than good in the future... and I'm planning to live a longer life dammit! To think I died after graduating back in my own world... that sucked.
Still, there was always the neutral path.
"I don't know."
Tseng raised a questioning eyebrow at me. "Excuse me?"
I sighed. "Look, I just... know the stuff I do, okay? The five 'W's and 1 'H' are mostly pretty much non-existent right now. It just comes to me like muscle memory, like an instinct." When Tseng gave me a bewildered look, I responded with the only reason I have been using, "Amnesia. A really bad case. Not a shred of memory before year 0002 or 0003. Happy?"
That statement I just said, sent Tseng's brow higher than I anticipated to show he was surprised. Well, if getting a raise of 1 cm to his forehead was anything to go by. Damn poker face expert. It wasn't a lie entirely, but I held the real information back. Thank the Goddess, I was saved from more questions when Tseng's PHS rang. He promptly answered it in hush tones, before closing it. Too bad I was suffering from a headache to catch anything he was saying, but I welcomed the interruption. The MIB then signaled to the wall (I figured there was a watch-room behind it) and Rude came from the door not soon after.
"Rude, detain him in one of our cells," Tseng ordered. "Give him an antidote and make sure you restrain him by then. Make sure no one has consent on his capture either than by my orders or the President's. We'll continue this later. I have a matter to attend to."
The next few minutes were probably the most memorable things I would probably remember in my life. Like a real person kicked into jail, I was given an orange detainee uniform and chucked into a cell after they forcefully made me drink an antidote to get my fever down. I was glad they let me still have my boots on as it was rather cold inside. However, the cell wasn't so bad. The bunk beds were cramped, but it did provide comfort, and at least I wasn't around Hojo to be his lab rat.
Yet.
There was a still tiny chance of that happening, but I kept on praying it wouldn't happen and pass. Screw Murphy's laws.
The Turk area was a way better alternative than the evil greasy professor's torture lab.
Another wave of a headache and I collapsed on the bed. I chose to keep lying down, and after massage my wrists. The handcuffs were pretty tight, but at least I didn't end up having to be put into a straitjacket. I had no idea how much time had passed... not when they took my watch, weapons, and remaining items I had on me. It was probably one of those tactics to get impatient people to extract more information from them. Good thing I was patient enough and my fear of getting into Hojo's lab made me focused on what I shouldn't say in front of a Turk.
My mind wondered how Aerith was doing, and how I was going to get to her because now I was separated from her – WITHOUT going anywhere near Hojo.
Hmm, what to do?
The only real good thing that I got out of this, was I avoided the 'stair climbing of doom' when AVALANCHE are/were on their way to rescue Aerith. I mean... 59 FLOORS anyone? Man, I was feeling sorry for Tifa and Barret right now. I was sure that Flux/Ryan's team would take care some of the item hunting for me, so I don't think I'd miss on the rare items that gamers would try and search for while they were in the ShinRa buliding.
Zack and the others would only focus on heading towards the Science department on the near most upper floor of ShinRa. If I got dragged out of the cell again, then I had to time it correctly how I'd try to escape when Sephiroth goes on his killing spree in the ShinRa building. Anything before that, would be useless or take too much time in hiding away from authorities out to get me. My escape should not be during the incident either, which meant I'd be really suicidal and get myself killed if I were to meet the Demon of Wutai so to speak.
There was only one way out.
I need to let Rika, Ryan, Genesis, and Shelke know I was here.
Under the sole of my boot, I flipped open a hidden flap, and switched onto a beacon that was there in case anything bad happened. It was a safety measure Rika had drilled me into making. In a situation that one of us was in real serious shit, it was a distress signal for help. I didn't want to use it, but in my situation... they wouldn't know I got caught by the Turks, more of they were expecting me to be with Zack on his rescue team to where Aerith was. Lucky the Turks didn't take my boots or I'd be screwed.
All I could do now was wait.
I might as well get some rest before some Turks come back. As long as Tseng was occupied for a while upstairs, it was an opportunity to recover from all the tiredness and stress. There was also a chance they weren't going to let me cover fully either, so I wasn't going to take any risks. If I can get enough rest, I might just be able to use my Symbology spells to get out of here.
Main Office, Turk Area, ShinRa Headquarters, Midgar, December 0007
"Are you positive?"
"Yes, whoever this individual you are talking about. I don't doubt that the data your Turks provided, it's safe to say he's a talented engineer of sorts."
Tseng was weighing the odds. The fact that Anders didn't have clear background only confused him more. Suffering from a bad case of amnesia wasn't helping the investigation.
"Your conclusion, Tuesti?"
Reeve tugged his shirt collar, he had no idea why the Turks were particularly interested in a certain young man. However, this was ShinRa's way of doing things... although he sometimes didn't like its ways of recruiting people. Reeve himself was very curious himself about this item creator. The videos of what he was capable of making surprised him greatly.
"I've never seen anything like it," the Head of the Urban Development Department said. His eyes shifted on the black droid that hovered near the item creator. "Not even the Weapons Department have anything like it. It's like the Artificial Intelligence has a sentient existence, it has feelings. Not to mention how it flies and its futuristic design surpasses on what I've observed in Rocket Town." Reeve marveled at it. Sure he had his own, but to see this one actually flying and interacting in a humane way without anyone controlling it – was preposterously amazing.
The Turk nodded in understanding. "Thank you. That will be all. I'll notify you should we need you again."
Reeve was just going to ask whether the young man would join or not, but at Tseng's gaze that showed him that the Turk wasn't in the mood for further conversation. He left the Turk Area wondering he did the right thing in saying the boy they captured was an asset. Reeve knew that the president ordered the annihilation of Sector 7... but he wanted to make sure himself if he was willing to rebuild the Sector back to the way it was.
These days, he wondered where his loyalties lied when his job was to develop things so people can live better lives.
The people or ShinRa?
For some reason in his eyes, the two groups were now starting to diverge.
Back in the room where Reeve left the Turk, Tseng held a pondering expression on his face as he rubbed his chin.
With talents like Anders', Tseng was very certain it would benefit the company into paving way to more innovative results in their technology exploits. Rufus would certainly have better options in defeating his father or at least the other... troublesome associates. Namely Heidegger and Scarlet. However, there was a tiny part in his heart that radiated guilt on what he ended up doing to his old friend.
Zack Fair.
Another part of him did not like the fact he hurt another he held in high regard...
Aerith Gainsborough.
In a rare moment of weakness, Tseng rubbed the bridge of his nose with a sigh and a wince. How the Planet did it all come to this?
More than half of the real competent Turks were gone along with Veld. With Cissnei gone, there was little influence Tseng could do on Fair. It was clear that Zack had felt betrayed by the company. No different to what happened to Genesis, or even his mentor, Angeal. Thankfully, he still had retained much of his sanity like the deceased level headed SOLDIER – unlike the former Materia Unit Commander. That didn't stop Zack from being reckless though. During the time they both faced each other in the outer communications post just north of the Mythril Mines, there was little to say and all hope was lost the ex-SOLDIER would take a warning to stay out of Midgar. Not when the leader of the Turks dropped him a package and warning about his girlfriend.
Then there was news of Zack getting shot by snipers before the outpost blew up. Again, the young man who Tseng got to know so well as a 1st Class SOLDIER, had escaped from the hands of Death. But why when he heard of news the 'Puppy' was alive... he had to join AVALANCHE of all groups?
It made no sense at all.
Illogical.
Not when the previous AVALANCHE was behind the death of his two SOLDIER friends.
So what was so different about this one?
There was one hanging question that had been bothering him all these years.
Just what really happened to Zack back in the Nibelheim Reactor those 5 years ago?
His curiosity spiked up in levels. The Turk had to know what was going on. Tseng made it his next personal goal to seek out the truth.
Then there was Aerith...
He didn't want to hurt her. Although the kidnapping were orders – it was all an act of course – the only way the President would see he was still loyal to the company. With the more than most of the Turks gone, Tseng had to convince his superior the Turks he led were still loyal. Even if it was just a mask.
Sadly, the act had worked far too well.
He hadn't missed the out-of-place murderous chill he felt from the usual friendly ex-SOLDIER back on top of the Support Pillar. Worse, a part of his heart died when Aerith in tears was crying over the item creator, gave him a silent defiant glare of betrayal at him during the ride back to HQ. She hadn't spoke once to him during the time he led her to her cell on the upper floors.
Fair had no doubt influenced the flower girl to her more recent fiery rebellious nature, and even the protective streak was there. The former SOLDIER's expression during the kidnapping was a clear sign he valued the Item Creator as his friend, and that feeling was extended to Aertih as well.
Knowing Fair, Tseng was expecting him to charge his way into ShinRa Headquarters to save his girlfriend and friend. It was just a matter of time when, and by then, he hoped that they wouldn't have to resort to drastic measures. Far deeper in his heart, the Turk hoped they'd escape somehow too. He never had wanted Aerith to suffer in the hands of Hojo. Even before the destruction of the ShinRa Communications Outpost, Tseng was willing to harbor fugitives as long as he delivered those letters to Zack.
It was funny that the words of Zack's mentor – Angeal – were true in so many different ways.
Honor and pride could be a fickle thing.
Clacks of office shoes alerted Tseng back to reality and his emotionless mask was for all the world to see again. His youngest and newest Turk walked into the room.
Elena walked quickly in quick strides before stopping abruptly in a stiff respecting salute. "Sir!"
While most people would figure it was simply a mission report, to the leader of the Turks, Elena was distracted or troubled with something. How peculiar. Tseng wondered what it was all about.
"You may sit." Tseng said in calm manner. "Tell me everything that happened back there."
Elena was hesitant at first, but with a 'go on' gesture she complied. She had explained how their plan worked in getting Zack's attention away from the Support Pillar as long as she could with Hojo's creations (as per request of the professor). She did however felt guilty being taken down in the heat of the battle by Fair and Anders' teamwork. The leader of the Turks waved it off, only noting it was already adequate enough to handle a former 1st Class SOLDIER and an Item Creator working together. When he questioned what had happen to the experiments, was when Elena had gone deathly quiet.
"Elena?"
In fear and in shame, the blond Turk told a story Tseng was not expecting. By the end of her report, Tseng felt goosebumps on his skin. He was more than glad he hid his surprise with his usual stoic face. There were a few keywords that repeated in his mind over and over.
Black Wings.
Tseng's mind immediately made the connection to what he knew.
It was far too similar to Genesis Rhapsodos and Angeal Hewley.
The G Project.
Jenova Cells.
Things had turned out to be a whole lot more complicated than he had thought.
Damn it to hell.
Why did Zack Fair had to be in the middle of such a familiar situation, yet again?
Aerith's Home, Sector 5, Midgar, December 0007
"Hey, Zack. Are you okay?" Cloud asked worriedly as he approached the ex-SOLDIER.
The blond eyed his friend who had been standing there looking at Aerith's flowers for some time since that early morning. For Cloud, it was worrying that his usual bright and energetic friend was so silent and still like this. For someone like Zack, it just seemed so wrong. He didn't think that with both Aerith and Issac missing would have affected Zack like this.
"...No."
Cloud sighed rubbing behind his neck, an odd habit he got from Zack. He was rather glad his friend spoke out truthfully. "You can tell me what's bothering you, if you want... We'll handle it together."
An uncomfortable silence. However, Cloud was patient for Zack.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"... Something big happened back when we defended the support Pillar." Zack uttered softly, but was loud enough just for his blond friend to hear. "Issac's Symbology powers exploded."
His friend's eyes widened, "How?"
Zack closed his eyes for a moment as he extended his enhanced senses. Knowing that Tifa was out scouting, Elmyra was in the kitchen, and Barret's voice was heard with his daughter Marlene. It was safe to talk in hush tones. "Don't tell anyone about this, Cloud. Not even Tifa. I don't think Issac would want anyone else to know. Unless he'd tell them himself."
So Cloud listened intently as Zack told him about what had happened under the Plate, while Cloud was fighting off the Turks with Barret and Tifa. About how the Turks had released Hojo's monsters on the loose, how they witnessed that a civilian was nearly raped because she worked for ShinRa, the plate was coming down on them, and most important of all... how Zack nearly died, but Issac had taken the blow.
The blond had stopped breathing when he heard of Issac's transformation, but sighed in relief when the item creator had come to his senses afterward. It reminded Cloud of Sephiroth in a way, but at Zack's confession how everything reminded how he was forced to cut his own mentor down... was enough to say at least their friend's mind and heart was still there.
"You think the Turks took him because of the power he had?" Cloud questioned thoughtfully.
Zack shook his head, "Issac's been taken in because the Turks think his skills are valuable for the company. Tseng must have done a further investigation after we infiltrated the communications post. I'm just hoping Hojo doesn't get a word about what happened under the Plate..."
Oh yeah, he really need to make his point across to the stoic faced Turk he had gotten fond of in his days working with ShinRa. The way he had hurt Aerith and even Issac was something Zack wanted to know what the hell happened to Tseng in his long 5 year absence. It wasn't like the Turk to be that aggressive to his captors in the past such as Hollander.
A lot of things must have happened if he was affected in such a way. Even though Tseng was now on the opposite side, Zack for some reason still considered him a friend. The ex-SOLDIER was pretty darn sure he'd smack some sense into Tseng, and then ask him what the hell was his problem after he'd rescue Aerith and Issac. He seriously needed to know, and Zack was certain it had something to do with Cissnei if their meeting back at the communications post was a clue to make out of.
The ex-infantrymen didn't have to guess what his friend was going to do. Not with those eyes that were full of determination. "I'll join you."
"Huh?" Zack blinked at Cloud's words.
Cloud gave him his own resolute gaze. "I'm joining you rescuing Aerith and Issac."
"You sure? We're going into ShinRa here." Zack countered, "If the worst happens, we're back in the labs."
Cloud nodded. "The more reason to save them, I don't want Hojo doing anything to either of them."
Zack smiled. He could always trust and count on Cloud. "Thanks, Spiky."
"Oi! You two! Inside!" Barret called from the door. "We got a meetin' to do!"
When the two ex-ShinRa soldiers got into the house, Tifa brought along Wedge, Biggs, and Jesse. Zack sighed in a happy relief that they made it out okay. Even if they all had injuries all over them. Elmyra was helping out Wedge who was changing his bandages. However, he noticed that Rika and Shelke were missing. He had wondered where they went. From the way Cloud was also looking at the members in the room, the blond looked like he was wondering too.
Tifa caught on their concerned looks. "I got a message from Rika, she says she's already out of Sector 7, waiting news from her brother with Shelke. According to the time, it was before the Plate fell. No contact since then... there's been signal interferences after the plate went down."
Zack breathed in relief, evidently happier at the news. That meant he could still keep his promise and at any rate as long as those two were safe. He faced the other remaining AVALANCHE members, "How did you three get here?"
Jesse then spoke up, "We met up with Tifa in Sector 6 outskirts. Thanks to the plate being lowered down at a far slower rate, more people got to escape. We still got casualties, but it's not as bad as I expected." She paused as she looked around the remaining members. "Where's Issac?"
:: He's been caught by the Turks! I'm so useless! :: Flux wailed in the corner of the room.
"They have my daughter as well," Elmyra sighed, but at the same time she was trying to comfort the small robot that was sulking patting it on the head. She had told Zack, Cloud, Tifa, and Barret about her story with her adopted daughter before the others came.
Wedge and Biggs were rather speechless when Zack avoided looking at their eyes.
Barret grumbled. "Those dirty rotten pigs took them away when we were busy up there defendin' the plates! Zack, what are you plannin' to do?"
"I'm heading into ShinRa to get them out. Nothing is going to change my decision." Zack replied resolute in his ambition.
Biggs gaped, "You serious?" The ex-SOLDIER didn't need to reply, a curt and focused nod from Zack shut him up.
"I'm going too!" Tifa voiced out her plan.
"Ditto 'ere!" Barret quickly agreed soon after.
Zack didn't approve of them coming along. "No way! This isn't just a simple reactor we're bombing! This is about ShinRa HQ, they've got infantry, Turks, roboguards, and even SOLDIERs prowling the whole place!"
Tifa scowled at Zack, "I don't care! Aerith got into this mess because I requested a favor to get Marlene out from Seventh Heaven!" She then looked at Cloud. "Cloud's coming with you, right? I'm not going to wait here doing nothing!"
"Thanks to her, Marlene's safe. She saved my daughter!" Barret added supporting Tifa. "Don't think I'm not doing it for the item creator too! I owe Issac for saving me back there wit dat roboguard back at the reactor."
Cloud shook his head at Zack when the puppy pleaded with his eyes for help. The blond crossed his arms as he leaned on the wall beside him. He didn't want for Tifa to get into danger, but Cloud knew his childhood friend wasn't willing to part with him after she nearly lost him again. "I think it's useless to argue with them, Zack. You know they mean well."
"...Fine." He caved in. Zack sighed raking his spiky hair frustrated. "But no more... we'll attract too much attention."
Jesse seemed a little flustered and saddened by it. "Why? Can't we help?"
"Too many people will only heighten the risk of getting caught." Cloud responded for Zack. "Especially if we're in a group. There's plenty of space in Reactors... we won't have such a luxury in ShinRa HQ and too many people will attract unwanted attention."
The former SOLDIER felt bad for leaving them out of the main plan. However, Cloud was right. This was ShinRa they were talking about. Perhaps they could help with something else...
"Hey, Wedge, Biggs, and Jesse. How good are you guys at avoiding ShinRa?" Zack asked.
Wedge chose to answer for them. "Pretty darn good. We've avoided them for years."
"We move a lot so they don't get a beacon on us easily." Biggs supported his buddy.
"Good. Could you get Mrs. Gainsborough and Marlene to a safer location? To the other Sectors for now... but later, outside of Midgar if possible."
Jesse seemed to warm up at the plan. "Sure, if that's the best we can do to help you guys."
"Alrigh'! We're bustin' in!" Barret exclaimed, but his yell was short lived as Cloud and Zack were frowning at him.
"Suicide." Cloud concluded bluntly.
Barret didn't get the picture and glared at the blond. "What's so bad about bustin' in?"
The fact that it was freaking tactless of all things? Zack rolled his eyes inwardly. He sometimes wondered how Barret had survived in making plans that were easy to read. Perhaps he got lucky that he never got to face the elite level SOLDIERs and Turks. Sure, it could fool the army or an idiotic 3rd Class... but the higher they got, the harder it was to deal with. Or was ShinRa so bad these days it was getting soft with the newer generation?
"Barret, the moment we bust in... is the moment we get caught from making all the noise and mayhem," Zack explained with a sigh. "Best way is infiltration. BUT – You and Tifa just handle the roboguards and infantry if things get hectic. Leave the SOLDIERs to me and Cloud. OK? For all the worst things we could go against, I'd be calmer if you two don't go against them."
"Just how bad could SOLDIERs do damage to you? They can't be all that bad, right?" Biggs pipped in.
"They're enhanced, making them stronger than the average person. From strength, defense, magic, healing rate, you name it," Cloud motioned. "You have to take them down quick too, you don't want to wear down your own stamina. They have lots of it."
Wedge shrugged. "So what were you guys back in ShinRa? You know... rank and all?"
Cloud was deathly silent. He seriously didn't want the others to know what had happened back at Nibelheim. Tifa gave him comforting look that she supported him at least.
"Cloud was originally part of the ShinRa Infantry and part of the SOLDIER Cadet program. However, since he was handling some sensitive missions he was on the list to be recruited into SOLDIER. We've known each other since we've been on those same missions," Zack said, making sure the rest of the group had their attention off of his chocobo head friend. Good thing, they caught up with the idea that Cloud already made it into SOLDIER somehow.
"What about you Zack?" Jesse asked. "You must have been pretty high in the ranks if you got missions that were sensitive. Were you a 2nd Class SOLDIER?"
"No, I was a 1st Class SOLDIER."
Barret, Biggs, Wedge, and Jesse had their mouths hanging open.
Only a very select few ever made it into 1st Class.
"WHAT? And you NEVER told US?" Barret yelled mind boggled.
Zack sighed heavily at the loud volume, "Of course I wouldn't! Even if you asked, I'd rather not say anything about it. Me and Cloud were taking a job for you guys, and if we told you we wouldn't get the job because you wouldn't trust us back then. Doesn't help out that the both of us already had a bounty on our heads! Issac knows this too, but if it weren't for Issac, we never would have made it to Midgar in the first place. You either retire with hawks on your back or die during the job. There's no such thing as 'quitting' ShinRa."
"But... I don't get how they would let go or silence a 1st Class... aren't 1st Class SOLDIERs a rarity?" Wedge said still not believing ShinRa would just kill off their 'important assets'.
Cloud gave blank look on the floor. "Not if you know too much. There's no reason for ShinRa not to. In the ShinRa database we're filed as 'Killed in Action' or K.I.A. We've been lucky so far… making it out alive." He his grave tone showed them all clearly he didn't want to continue the conversation of the past.
Zack had to agree with his friend there. All the previous 1st Class SOLDIERs ended up the same way. Whether it was Genesis, his mentor Angeal, and even the great Sephiroth didn't escape being labeled 'K.I.A.' … although the last was more of he went insane and died getting killed by ShinRa's own soldiers or Cloud to be more specific.
"We should get back making plans to save Aerith and Issac..." Cloud briskly said, uncomfortable that he pointed out to get back to the main topic.
The raven head agreed, "Right. We need good preparation plans before we get in. I'm out of items too... If we can afford it, we should upgrade our weapons if we need to. I'm out of date with the security Intel though..."
:: I have Intel! :: Flux waved an arm up happily. :: Newest ones too! Issac made it in case really bad things happened! ::
"Huh, I never figured yer the one for plans, Fair. But you sure surprised us there with the chocobo kid as well." Barret shook his head in amusement, ignoring an annoyed Cloud shooting him a glare at the nickname he got. "Planet! Even when Issac's in trouble he leaves behind useful things like dis. Have ta give Issac some credit for goin' overboard with information there."
"So... how are we going to get onto the Upper Plates?" Tifa asked anxiously. "There aren't any trains going up."
The Puppy grinned at her. "Yeah... but the tracks are still there. Which means there are still ways in getting up there through the pipe systems which are located in the train tunnels."
The fist fighter raised a confused eyebrow at Zack.
"Well, I had to be creative at times if I wished to visit Aerith back when I was in SOLDIER." Zack shrugged and then winked with a happy grin.
"Ha ha ha! Alrigh' lover boy, let's rescue your damsel and get Issac out of there!" Barret laughed.
Detainee Cell, 67th Floor of the Science Department, ShinRa Headquarters, Midgar, December 0007
Aerith sighed a hopeless breath as she settled in a more comfortable position of her metal hollow cell. She was afraid for her future, and for the first time in her life, her mind was jumbled with emotions that made her wish she had a semblance of hope. With earnest she had tried hard to show her captors she wasn't afraid.
The flower girl knew that Zack would come for her. However, it didn't stop her thinking or wondering how he would get hurt in the process. How he would rescue her worried the Cetra completely. Would Zack end up heavily injured, or worse, dead? It wasn't the first time he nearly died in wanting to reach her, and Aerith worried it may come to pass. Especially when she wasn't the only hostage that ShinRa held in their midst. There was also Issac too.
While Aerith didn't know Issac personally even during the month she got to knew him, she never would wish for him to be caught up in all of this. Aertih had been expecting to get caught or ShinRa would hunt her sooner or later for being the last Ancient. Issac though, seemed to have his own mysteries. An item creator with no memories, but had knowledge on technology that ShinRa would do anything to get their hands on.
Another thing that worried Aerith, was his powers.
During Zack's visits, her boyfriend would sometimes tell her about powers that Issac had that completely baffled her. He was able to do magic without Materia. It was the same way he was able to save Zack from dying before they reached to Midgar. If anything, the incident gave small view on what he was capable of, not on who Issac truly was.
After Issac was caught and thrown into the helicopter with her, Aerith started to feel more agitated as the Planet was in motion yet again. The flower girl didn't understand why now she was able to hear the Planet more clearly. She could never hear the Lifestream with clarity unless she was inside the church near the flowers. To her, it was as if the Planet switched onto a much clearer frequency on a radio channel – only that it had done so when it felt like it was threatened.
Confusion.
Worry.
Anger.
Those were the only three emotions she felt since she got caught by the Turks on her way home, and exchanged her own safety for Marlene's. Aerith didn't understand why the Planet was so angry. She wasn't so sure that the Planet was angry because she was ending up as an experiment... but there was something that Gaia noticed that was a major threat to it. Was it that pulse of power that echoed very recently in Midgar? Or was it the fact that Hojo's experiments that were let loose triggered the Planet's alertness to danger?
As she sat in the corner of her cell, the flower girl couldn't help but feel something so big was going to happen. Aerith believed it was going to be big that Zack would be caught up in it. She was afraid what was to come... even when the worst of what happened to her real mother, the Planet never reacted so violently like this.
Aerith sat in a prayer as she focused and begged the Planet to tell her why it was so upset.
Pictures floated into her mind.
A man stood with silver hair, cat eyes, and a katana that could have been as long as a spear.
A large meteor in the sky plummeting towards the Planet long ago.
Associated with those images, were pain, suffering, sadness, and loss of her children.
Her consciousness was snapped back to reality when the door to her cell opened.
"Get the specimen to my lab..." A oily voice that sent chills down her spine. "...I want blood samples immediately."
There was Professor Hojo in all his glory. The mad scientist that had tortured Zack and Cloud for 4 years in his lab, the one behind the project that led to the top Firsts to go insane, and now the one who will experiment on her. With him, were two infantry guards ready to do his bidding.
Former Director of SOLDIER Floor, 51st Floor, ShinRa Headquarters, Midgar, December 0007
:: Issac's distress signal, detected! :: Eve said earning a few wide eyes from the room. :: Location: Turk Area in this building. ::
Genesis huffed as he crossed his arms. They all had their attention divided from the screens of refugees moving from the destroyed Sector. "The arrow has left, the bow of the Goddess. There goes your plan of staying still until this 'big commotion' happens. Seems like he has ShinRa's attention for his expertise."
The eldest brunette twin groaned, "Why does nothing always goes according to plan?" Ryan had a somewhat peeved urge to bang his head into the nearest hard surface available.
"They wouldn't hurt him too much, right?" Rika said worried. Issac wasn't really the best liar in the world.
Shelke shook her head. "Not in the mean time, I guess. They'll most likely try to bribe him first... and usually it takes a day or two... before the Turks resort to drastic measures." The ex-Tsviet still had her VR goggles on. "We should rescue him from there... all the safety Plate Systems are overridden for now. It'll take another 24 hours before it resets to its default settings."
:: We're not waiting here anymore? :: Eugene the silver droid scout floated in the air near Shelke.
The two droids, along with Genesis and Shelke stared at the twins who were having an internal debate. Although they said nothing, it was as if they were having a mental argument with each other whether they would stay or not. It wasn't exactly clear on who wanted to stay or not.
Being the lesser patient warrior, Genesis decided to step in. "Are you two going to explain what is GOING ON? Why do we have to WAIT?" he snapped.
Ryan and his sister stopped, but hesitated not quite sure what to say.
The auburn tapped his foot agitatedly. "Keeping Shelke and I in the dark isn't helping solving this situation we are in. What's so worrying about this 'vision' you know of? Why is it making you two hesitate to tell us?"
"It's because this is the mark where our journey really starts," Rika replied. When Genesis had no indication he was satisfied with the answer, Ryan stepped in.
The elder brunette was uneasy, "It's a really big event... I'd rather avoid meddling with it." The ex-Commander was about to retort but Ryan held up a hand quickly. "We're going to tell you here and now... on the condition you will NOT interfere when it happens. Issac's told us he wouldn't if he could help it. The fact he's now caught up with the Turks means he's less likely to."
Shelke had agreed to it immediately. The sooner she agreed, the quicker they would know. Genesis on the other hand, paused for a minute to observe the twins looking gravely at him. 'They weren't wrong when ShinRa gave the order to put down an entire sector just to kill some terrorists,' he thought bitterly. The President had no doubt gone bat shit crazy. He quickly calmed himself down (with a bit of trouble), before he let them explain.
Ryan heaved out, "I'm not sure how, but Sephiroth will come into this building."
"WHAT?!" Genesis yelled. It was written all over his face he looked like he was suffering from a heart attack. "How?! What is he-"
"We don't know." Rika added in quickly. "All we know he's here for... something Hojo has. And... he's going to massacre anyone in his way to get to the Science Department. Including the President himself."
There was an uncomfortable pause in the room filled with dread.
Until Shelke spoke up, "We're going to let those people die in the corridors?" That sounded harsh, considering the two knew what was to come.
"It must happen... and I don't think fighting Sephiroth right now is a really good idea." Ryan said none too happy himself. "He's not really right in the head... and I'm more worried he'll do more than just kill everyone inside ShinRa HQ if possible if we did something." Like suddenly getting the mood to destroy the city. A detail he left out, but Ryan was sure he got his point across.
To Genesis, he knew of that single golden rule he came to learn of his destiny in being the 'prisoner'.
Sometimes, there was a point of time where you don't fuck with fate.
The red mage had learned it the hard way in his degradation as his body rotted painstakingly slowly, with his sanity gripping to the last parts of the edge of the cliff. There were times life was lead by choices, but if there was road you were lead to courtesy of a Goddess... there was no way but to endure it as it was a test of faith.
'Hath endured torment, to find the end of the journey...'
No matter how much he wanted to know and confront Sephiroth, it seemed the Goddess had other plans. The fact that the old coot of ShinRa was going to die from the encounter, was indeed an added bonus. Finally the fat Marlboro Shinra will die! However, Genesis was inwardly irked why can't he be the one to blast a Firaga inferno and make a BBQ of the President himself. Sephiroth always got what he wanted. But that didn't stop Genesis feel glad he had his humanity back, unlike the Demon of Wutai.
It was odd in the least. However, it was as if he felt a tiny feeling of pity for Sephiroth.
Genesis shook his head. Pity? For the silver haired ex-General? He had no idea where that came from. Not when he asked for help, Sephiroth preferred he'd just rot, rollover, and die. The poet never did understand completely all the scientific project notes of Hojo's or Hollander's. There were too many holes were in their reports, many things just didn't make sense, and he took the general idea because he did not have the luxury of time... he was dying and extremely desperate. There was no rational thought when he needed to survive and he regretted things turned out the way it did. But he was here now with time for real answers.
There were different priorities that he needed to attend to. First, he needed to think up a plan to rescue their team member from the Turks. Genesis sighed, "Very well, we'll set aside Sephiroth in whatever he will do here at ShinRa for now. Unless we unluckily 'meet' him in the corridors we won't do anything. Self defense as a last resort, agreed?"
"Absolutely." Ryan agreed fully. "How do you think we should approach the Turk Area? The place is most likely filled with traps."
Genesis gave it some thought, he then turned to the younger auburn head in the room. "Shelke, can you search and give me a list of all Turks in the base? I'd prefer it acceding from highest rank to lowest. Most recent and former."
The younger girl nodded and soon the screen in front of the group lit up with the whole list.
Skimming through the names, Genesis gave a dissatisfied snort. He didn't recognize any of the recent ones, save the higher ranked ones. However, when he got to the former Turks list he was stunned.
Rika who had been observing him closely, asked in curiosity, "Is there something wrong with the list?"
"Cissnei, her group, and Veld are K.I.A?" Genesis mumbled in surprise more to himself than the others. "Impossible, nearly more than half of the high ranking Turks are missing?! Shelke, are you able to hack into the mission files?"
While Shelke was busy with Genesis, Rika eyed her brother feeling they had made a discovery. Ryan could only incline at his sister quietly, thinking that perhaps the former Materia Commander had a history with the Turk who guided Zack in Crisis Core. One way to find out more was to ask.
"Who's Cissnei?" The elder item creator asked. "Veld's the former head of the Turks according to the data, but you mentioned about her and her group..."
"She was an acquaintance of mine in the Turks," the auburn ex-SOLDIER said a bit too fast for anyone to catch on without enhanced hearing.
At the confused twins, Shelke filled them in but she had a smile creeping up her lips. "He said she was an 'acquaintance'."
"Or girlfriend?" Ryan lightly teased with a grin. He then had to cringe when a murderous fuming glare was sent his way. "Uh – just – saying – it could be –" the brunet gulped.
"That's none of your business, brat." Genesis scowled denying it flatly. Clearly the issue was not up for discussion. When he looked upon Rika, she didn't comment on anything. At least the younger of the twins was intelligent enough not to press on the matter, her eyes more interested on the newer information Shelke presented them.
"The details are vague," Rika said as she read through one screen. "According to the dates, these happened about a month after both Shelke and I arrived in Midgar. Casualties include parts of Sector 6... which I think explains the conditions of the broken roads."
The former Tsviet made the connection on what she was told before by her adopted sister. "Rika, does this mean one of your visions happened? You mentioned about a large summon of sorts attacked Midgar, right? Why didn't we hear anything about it when we were in Midgar back then?"
Rika bit her lip, "Whoever covered it up was good. Considering the Ultimate Summon happened to wipe out half of the Sector 6 Slums and no one's gossiping about it the streets."
"Are you saying that Zirconiade was summoned in Midgar?" Genesis asked incredulously hearing this new information, as he knew about the legend of the strongest summon. "I thought all the pieces of his Materia were missing!"
Shelke opened more footage of the attacks. "There's proof here. One thing for sure, is that the previous AVALANCHE had their own Professor Hojo. He apparently acquired all the pieces, summoned it with his own body as a medium, but unfortunately he couldn't retain his sanity and thus the Turks were sent to destroy him." She shifted through more data with her mind. "Later there seems to be an internal conflict within the Turks, which lead them to be killed... but no details are shown on how the former Turks ended up K.I.A."
Ryan was sure there was more to that. He never played the game Before Crisis, but he was certain there was a possible time shift during the time Veld was exiled secretly by Rufus along with the Turks who followed him. They were already in ShinRa now, which meant there was data to steal that they could read for later. There was going to be a much needed time they need a lot of cross referencing once they got out of Midgar. "Is it possible to save this data in a storage drive quickly?"
"I can coax the computer to speed up the process." Shelke responded. "Do you have a storage device?"
The eldest item creator gave her a sleek portable device. Something she didn't expect that such a device had a large capacity. Ryan shrugged, "It's custom made. I made it with Issac. If you can, get through the Turk data, I'd like to know if you can get anything from Hojo's too and as well as some general data on ShinRa."
"There's plenty of encryption on every batch, so I'll proceed copying the data, erasing data cache, and lift the security later on off line." The smaller girl gave a quick nod, before she focused on her task. All the screens immediately changed and turned to data loading charts.
Genesis raised a regal brow on Ryan sudden interest. "What do you intend to do with all that data?"
"Find some real answers. Our visions are swimming all over the place, so it'll be a good reference to check on. I suppose you want in?"
"'Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess... We seek it thus, and take to the sky.' It's the reason why I joined you in the first place, no? I'd like to know more about the Jenova Project and others that might relate to it." The former Commander said with flair. "On a side note, I am rather curious if we may find something related to you, your sister, and Issac."
"So, what do you think about going into the Turk Area now?" Ryan shifted their conversation to their main objective.
Genesis smirked, "A far more simpler matter than I thought of before. There are only four Turks we should really watch out for trouble. One of them seems to be injured thanks to our little mishap back at the Sector 1 security outpost. With Tseng as the leader of the Turks, he's bound to be busy with the higher ups... which leaves 2 remaining Turks. One of them is labeled as a rookie. We distract the lower no name Turks, and we should be able to get to the Turk Area with no problem. The remaining two won't cause problems."
A groan from Ryan. "How are we going to create a distraction that's big enough for those lower Turks to be sent out, but not bother Sephiroth on his quest to kill the President?"
"Anything to do with the main important facilities of building is out of the plan," Genesis reasoned. "It shouldn't be anything military either, so doing anything to the Weapons Department is out of the plan as well. It would be disastrous for Fair once he tries to get in here with the others. The infantry will be sent out first, not the lower Turks."
A few minutes of silence in the room before Rika spoke up. "Say, just how deeply rooted are the electronics in the ShinRa building?"
"Knowing ShinRa, I bet nearly everything in the building is controlled by technology." Genesis said dryly. "Why?"
The younger twin grinned widely. "I've got an idea."
Church, Sector 5, Midgar, December 0007
Rays of light filtered out through the hole in the ceiling of the Church.
Below, just in front of a small field of flowers a lone former SOLDIER stood looking above.
To Zack, it just seemed right that he'd visited this place one more time before he would storm into the ShinRa building. He had a hunch it won't be in a long while he would ever step into Midgar ever again. The building may have seen better years, but to the raven it held a lot of important memories. Memories like how it was Angeal's fight lead him to fall down here and meet Aerith. Or how he met a little boy who pick-pocketed him, and eventually he was known around the area for being with his girlfriend. And very recently after about 5 years of separation... he was reunited with his flower girl, but this time he had friends by his side.
Zack Fair closed his eyes and breathed in with a smile.
This one place sure held a lot of memories.
He'd make sure he'd guard those people he cared for.
Before Zack had entered the church, all the members of AVALANCHE were each doing their own preparations. Tifa and Cloud had gone out for items supplies and weapon upgrades. Barret was with the Jesse, Wedge, and Biggs making sure that Marlene and Mrs. Gainsborough were on their way to a safer place saying his last goodbyes. Flux had tagged along with Barret in preferring to keep Issac's item creator pack safe. Zack himself went out around the area if he could get some information on the ShinRa building.
On his way to the church which was their rendezvous point, the former 1st Class was surprised who he had bump into. Somehow, by chance, he was able to meet with the ShinRa employee who both he and Issac saved back at Support Pillar, with a young girl who knew Aerith, and the boy who pick-pocketed him all those years ago. From Judy he receive an Elemental Materia, the young boy he got a turbo ether, and the last girl... was it Emily? He received a Star Pendant that usually only could be made by item creators in particular. Usually those things were very rare, he was rather reluctant to accept at first but the girl was insistent.
'It's for Aerith! I need to thank her in some way after she listened to me until she fell asleep in the church.' Emily had told him. 'I'm leaving soon and I don't think I'll meet her again for a while, so... can you give it to her for me?'
Zack could only shrug and he hadn't wanted to reject in passing on a gift that was important. 'Okay, I'll give it to her. Hmm... I'm just curious, but... What do you think Aerith is to you?'
'My long lost sister, silly!' the girl giggled then at him when he gaped at her words. 'Well, not literally. I think of her as a sister. She's always watched over the flowers and kids in the Slums here.'
The raven laughed. 'Alright, I'll tell her that.'
Before he could ask more questions, the girl had left saying she needed to go and do an errand.
Mako eyes frowned at the memory. 'That's weird. I thought the neighbors said she only came around the area 3 months ago. Or was it a month ago? Why do I get the impression she had always been here?' the former SOLDIER thought. Zack wondered who she really was, but at the steps of people coming into the church, his focus was to his teammates and one scout droid hovering with them.
"Cloud said this place was beautiful, but I didn't think Aerith grew many flowers," Tifa said as she took in the surroundings around her.
Zack could only smile at that. "She's the only one that can make these flowers grow here. It's also where we first met."
"I've got the supplies you requested," Cloud spoke up, lightly tossing the pack in his arms to Zack.
"Thanks, Spiky."
:: Zack ready to proceed with rescue mission? :: Flux asked.
"Yup, we're going in," Zack said confidently. "As much info as I can get, ShinRa hasn't closed off their weak points in the Train Tunnels that leads to the above plate in Sector 8. So, we shouldn't have any trouble on getting onto the plate through pipelines as shortcuts."
"So how are we goin' to get in? I thought ya said yer goin' to do this rescue with stealth." Barret pointed out what was missing.
When Zack was about to say something about it, his PHS buzzed in his pocket.
"Who's that from?" Tifa asked.
Zack blinked confusedly as the number didn't ring a bell. "Dunno, it's not on my contacts list. It can't be the Turks either, they wouldn't know the redirected number. Issac made sure of that." He then shrugged. "Well, here goes nothing."
Curious, all the occupants went silent as Zack picked up the call.
"Fair."
"Genesis! Is that you?" Zack exclaimed, he was more happy to hear the former Commander.
"Yes, and no need to shout. I can hear you clearly, Puppy." Genesis dramatically sighed irritably from the other side of the line.
Zack inwardly sweat dropped and focused himself to lower his voice. "Are you still in ShinRa HQ? We have a problem here, there's – "
The auburn cut him off, "Issac's been captured by the Turks and your flower girl is as well."
"How did you –"
"Do me a favor and turn your PHS on loudspeaker. You are with the rest of AVALANCHE, correct?" Genesis said quickly, as if he wanted to ditch speaking directly to the raven as soon as possible."You'll hear everything from Ryan."
When he fumbled with his PHS to get it to loudspeaker mode Cloud asked, "Genesis is still inside HQ?"
Zack nodded. When it was done, the black spiky hero asked to the phone, "We're on loudspeaker mode. You hear us?"
"Loud and clear, Zack." this time Ryan's voice spoke. "Who are you with and where are you?"
"I'm with Cloud, Tifa and Barret. We're in Aerith's Church. Sector 5." Zack said. He then asked uncomfortably, "So, how do you know Issac got caught?"
"He has a distress signal beacon on him." was the reply. Ryan sighed, "We were prepared if the worst came to it. ShinRa never liked people with our occupation. Not to mention we're part of a terrorist group. We've detected his signal in the Turk Area inside ShinRa HQ. While we were searching information on him, we found out there was an arrest for a girl too. That should be Aerith."
"Do you know where she is?" Zack asked with a hint of worry.
This time, it was Genesis who replied. "In a cell on the 67th Floor, which is the Science Department last time we checked. Most likely she'll be moved to lab just above it soon."
Both Zack and Cloud visibly paled at the news. That news in particular sent Zack in a silent mood.
Tifa spoke up while the two were silent. "Where are you two now? Are you two alright?"
"We're on the 51st Floor, Tifa. For now, we're in no trouble." Ryan said calmly. "Do you guys plan to bust in here? We could help getting you in."
"That's what I talkin' about!" Barret agreed to the suggestion happily.
Zack took over before Barret could say anything else. "You do mean that it's going to be quiet until we can rescue Aerith and Issac, right?"
"The Puppy learns," was a quiet mutter only Mako enhanced hearing to hear. To Tifa and Barret it was a little mumble, but with the way Cloud was trying to hold off a snicker and Zack rolling his eyes it meant Genesis said something.
Ryan clearly ignored the auburn's comment. "Yeah – Tell you what, we can get you access into the building with some technician clothes with some key cards that should let you head over to the Science Department. I'll send a map from Eve to Flux where you can pick them up and let Flux stay there. The route should be free of cameras until you get into your disguises. When you come in and leave, we'll pick up Flux on the way. There's a few papers we forged from some online documents. The scenario is that you're coming to the Science Department to repair a few things."
"Can't we meet up?" Barret questioned why they were supposed to leave.
"Far too conspicuous. On the other hand, Flux holds a few of Issac's hacking devices and the Turk Area is in the opposite direction where you're heading. When we free Issac, there's a chance we can get through the security systems more easily." Genesis explained. He then snorted, "One break-in is going to attract enough unwanted attention. Don't push your luck too far; it's not like we can get through this without causing a large commotion and that's asking them to catch us."
Zack didn't seem to be bothered by it. He was really grateful. "Sounds good to me, but after we rescue them both... how will we meet up?"
"Don't worry about that. We got that covered." Ryan said in a sure voice. "If anything screws up on the way, we'll be the ones to bust you out and our team will be in charge of the exit strategy. Just focus in rescuing Aerith, we'll get Issac out. I'm sending the data over to Flux now."
:: Receiving data~! :: Flux happily said as he transformed to a black egg, a loading clock evident on this body.
Tifa our of curiosity asked, "The Support Pillar... you two stopped it, right?"
A scoff was heard from Genesis. "If you count we played dress-up and cat and mouse in ShinRa HQ, then yes. Their security was at lax because they were after AVALANCHE. I can't say the same for now. But getting the emergency systems online at that moment was certainly worth it."
"That's why we're relying on you to take on the Turks. Right, Gen?" Zack asked hopefully.
"Ryan's plan," Genesis replied then fumed, "And no, mutt. You don't have permission to butcher my name."
"Aww~ But 'Geal and Seph were okay about-"
"NO."
Before more mayhem would start, it seemed Ryan wisely took the PHS away from the fiery red mage. "Zack? Can we get back to the important stuff?"
"Sorry about that, Ryan." Zack said sheepishly.
"Right, we'll leave you all some disguises on the 48th Floor in some lockers. Avoid going to our floor and the 49th Floor."
The gunner shrugged but still asked, "What's so special 'bout those floors, huh?"
"49th Floor is the SOLDIER floor." Zack answered for him. When Barret had a face of 'how do you know', the raven smirked, "I used to work there, remember? And the 51st Floor was where the Director of SOLDIER has an official office."
"I never heard SOLDIER had a Director!" Barret frowned. "So he's a big wig? Like powerful and all?"
"Not in a sense on the battlefield. He served as the person who was in charge of administrative affairs and... ah, internal company politics." Genesis said over the PHS. "We're in his office because it's not used anymore. They stopped having a leader figure here after Lazard was gone. SOLDIER is now under Heidegger."
"What happened to ShinRa?" Tifa said more curious than ever.
Zack sighed hearing the news SOLDIER really had fallen deep into a large pit. "Bad things." He paused for a moment, and then spoke into the speaker, "We'll be on our way right now to the upper plates. Get everything ready there, make sure Issac's safe, and you two be careful."
Ryan agreed, "You guys take care as well."
With a click, the call ended.
Barret now had a understanding look on his face. "Damn. No wonder you, spike, and red 'ead quit ShinRa."
"We all have our own reasons why we don't like ShinRa," Zack shrugged not wanting to discuss what really happened back at Nibelheim just yet. There was still a rescue mission they needed to do. "Come on, we better hurry. Aerith's already near Hojo, and I don't want the worst to happen to her."
Former Director of SOLDIER Floor, 51st Floor, ShinRa Headquarters, Midgar, December 0007
Genesis turned to Ryan as he flipped his PHS back into its clam shell state. "Is there a reason why you haven't mentioned the girls to the Puppy?"
"ShinRa and Deepground," Ryan pointed out grimly to the auburn. "The less Zack knows for now about Shelke, the safer she is. For now it's best that Shelke isn't seen with us at all. She's part of the rest of us, just not as visibly seen. We'll take care of reactions later."
As Rika helped the younger girl pack, she said, "They already have seen me back in the first reactor bombing, I wasn't under a cloak like you two. Yet, all the same – Ryan's right. The less they know about us, the less trouble we're going to have."
"We're done." Shelke nodded as he slung her pack over her back. She then gave the storage data to Ryan. "So after we take Flux, we head over to the Turk Area and the security that controls that area?"
Ryan gave a sure nod. "Yeah. We return here if possible. If not, we all later head to the Science Department to free Aerith... and that's if Zack hasn't done so beforehand."
"You make it sound like the Puppy will fail." The former Commander said, but he suddenly then stopped himself as he realized what Ryan was hinting at. "Wait – he will?"
"Like you said, a big commotion will attract attention. There's a 90% chance they'll be caught and the more reason we got to move now. If any of us get caught along with you and Shelke, we're headed for Deepground, which I'd rather not get into. That's why we're taking into our own hands to create distractions, but make sure they don't capture us." Ryan stressed. "Best time to get all of this done is when all the company's council board is scheduled to their high priority meetings."
"No leaders, more chances to cause distractions without being stopped." Rika smiled that they were going to use her plan.
Shelke opened the door and turned invisible. Her voice was still clearly heard. "Let's raid some storage rooms for Zack and his group, they should be in HQ shortly. The loops on the floors above last a shorter time than those below the 59th Floor."
Genesis tossed his brown cloak to Rika, which she caught with a confused look. "For safety, we'll get you something to wear as an ShinRa employee later." He then wore the SOLDIER helmet, masking his face from view.
"Thanks."
The auburn smiled back. "No, I should thank you. I never had much entertainment in a while. Never thought someone can be so sensitive on literature," Genesis laughed with mirth. Shakespeare somehow was able to rub the wrong way on Ryan more than LOVELESS did.
"Shut up, Genesis!" Ryan snapped from behind him. Unfortunately Genesis was enjoying making the brunette mad.
His twin however, rolled her eyes. "Are we going now?"
Staircases towards the Upper Floors, ShinRa Headquarters, Midgar, December 0007
Much later...
To Barret, the stairs were now his worst enemies.
Oh, make it ShinRa stairs.
After going up and up the endless staircase, the gun man was starting to notice with great clarity the difference of a SOLDIER and a non-SOLDIER. They were nearing towards their designated floor to get their supplies to infiltrate in, but he couldn't help but breath in and out to get more oxygen. Tifa was beside him panting away as well but she seemed to keep going without so much of a complaint. Barret didn't remember when he started to curse because for some reason the climb felt extremely grueling on his legs.
Cloud and Zack were above them both. While they both were starting to pant, it was obvious they didn't take the strain like he and Tifa did. The Gun man won't openly admit it, but he was starting to understand why Zack warned him about fighting SOLDIERs in particular. That also made more sense why the raven head was also very intimately familiar to ShinRa and the Turks. Barret had guessed that he was a former SOLDIER who knew a lot of things, but a 1st Class to boot was not something he had in mind.
It was only then that Barret also realized that the President of ShinRa somewhat recognized him back at the Sector 5 reactor. Another revelation hit him as well when Genesis was mentioned. 'Damn, looks like I'm missin' somethin' important 'bout those three,' Barret grumbled inwardly. Yet, he didn't wish to pry. Whatever fallout those ex-SOLDIERs had, it didn't seem pretty.
When they all got to the 48th Floor, they immediately made their way into the locker rooms just like Ryan's instructions had said.
Barret didn't particularly liked the technician clothes, but he was more happy to get out of his sweaty clothes for now. He was more unhappy when he had to take his gun arm off though.
Tifa scolded him, "Don't worry, it'll only be till we reach up the 59th Floor." She then smiled, "If it makes you feel better, we are skipping about 10 floors."
"That I can only agree with!" Barret grunted with relief.
Behind them, both former ShinRa employees were already in their disguises. Zack pushed a trolley with a few boxes of Science electronic devices labeled on the sides. Cloud held the official fraud papers in his hands.
The fist fighter immediately came over to them. "Where are your weapons and clothes?"
"Inside." Cloud pointed to one large box. "Put yours in there, we don't want other people seeing we're carrying weapons around.
Barret also followed Tifa's example, before he had his attention on Zack. "Hey Zack, where to now?"
"The elevator in the back of the floor area. It's usually exclusively for people getting in equipment and storage, and that's the one going to get us to the 59th Floor." The former 1st Class answered. "If we didn't get help from Genesis and Ryan, I'm sure we'd still be climbing another dozen floors."
"Why not take the elevator straigh' to da 67th Floor?"
Zack scratched his head, "For security reasons. Floors 60 to 69 have special key cards. It's always been like that. If you don't have access to them, then we can't go up. We're going to have to keep a low profile till we hit the 67th Floor or 68th at least. The Science department has two floors."
Barret shrugged to the side. "Well, since we're usin' an elevator I ain't complainin'."
:: I'll stay here until Ryan comes. :: Flux said as he hovered near Zack. :: I'll take care of his pack too! ::
"You be careful, Flux." Zack patted the droid on the head. "Don't get yourself captured here, I'd hate to say what might happen if Heidegger or Scarlet got their hands on you."
Flux looked determined. :: I'll be OK! I'll make sure Issac is OK too! So you rescue Aerith with no worries!" ::
Cloud fondly gave a friendly rub on the scout's head. "We're counting on you."
To Barret, Tifa handed him a toolbox to hold as she held her own afterward. Zack pushed the boxes on a trolley outside with Cloud leading their group's way, leaving the small droid in the room all alone. Flux visibly sulked.
"Come on Flux, you're not the only one in the room."
The small black ball droid squealed in delight when a familiar younger girl shimmered into existence from thin air.
:: Sheeeeelke~! You're heeeere! :: Flux rushed over and hugged the girl.
Shelke smiled at the enthusiastic scout. "Sure am. I stopped by the 63rd Floor to get a few things with Rika, Ryan, and Genesis. Sorry if I have to hide, but we planned that Zack shouldn't know Rika and I are here with the boys. Get your camouflage mode on, Flux. We need to get to the 45th Floor, and meet up with the other three before going to the Turk Area to rescue Issac."
Flux leaned his head to the side. :: What are we doing on the 45th Floor? ::
"Our distraction plan." Shelke grinned.
AVALANCHE...
The rest of the way through the building was a lot more smoother thanks to the disguises and some keycards Ryan and Genesis provided them with. To say that things had gone without a hitch so far was positive hope to their odd looking group of technicians.
So far, AVALANCHE were basically ignored by employees and even Turks alike. They seemed to be far too busy with their own work. Zack had noticed that there seemed to be mayhem on the 45th Floor which sent a good deal number of rookie Turks and some of the real technicians heading downstairs. Thus, the 60th Floor was passed by with no problems whatsoever.
At the 61st Floor was where the group found out what was happening on the 45th Floor, thanks to a local gossiper in the break area who didn't bother to keep his voice down. Apparently the electronics on the said floor went berserk. Electronic doors opening and closing without getting anyone to pass, some of the security devices went on and off, and even the fire alarms with their electronic water extinguishers went loco. Since the 45th Floor was the central area for the Company Archives, most of the Turks were in for a fright that they may loose some extremely classified information. The news hadn't reached to the higher ups as they were in a board meeting.
The ex-SOLDIER was very certain that Genesis and Ryan were behind it. Perhaps it was their way to get attention off of them who were going to rescue Aerith and Issac at the same time. He'd thank the two later, because at the floor there was an employee that gave them the keycards to the 62nd floor with no hassle when Cloud presented their documents to go to the upper floors.
Things got interesting when they got to the 62nd Floor. AVALANCHE bumped into the Mayor of Midgar. Zack was acquainted with the man during his SOLDIER days, but he was certain he wasn't memorable to the Mayor. Poor sod was still complaining about his stance as the city mayor, because ShinRa made the city with a totalitarian status which only made his job honorary. Before the others could think about buying a clue from him, the raven ex-SOLDIER said that he was better off as the 'KING' of Midgar. Tifa, Barret, and Cloud gave him odd looks, but the man seemed to be very happy with it and let them have a keycard for the 65th Floor and a Elemental Materia to boot. The fist fighter and gunner dismissed that Zack was just lucky. Cloud however noted his friend had known it from someone else.
"You know it from someone?" the blond asked as they made their way upstairs.
"My buddy, Kunsel. He was a SOLDIER with an inner Turk."
"... I'm sure he'd be proud you remembered."
"Yeah."
The group didn't linger on the 63rd or 64th Floor, as the place was filled with people mulling about. Time was not on their side, so raiding lockers or any other ShinRa storage boxes was out of the question for now. On the 65th Floor, which belonged to the Urban Development Department, had a puzzle they had to assemble in order to get to the next floor. Getting the pieces together was tedious but didn't take long as the group worked together in finding the pieces. Tifa seemed to excel at getting the pieces together so Zack happily left it to her.
Minutes later, they were walking in the corridor of the 66th Floor. Zack was very curious on what was discussed by the ShinRa board members since he heard of them on the 61st Floor. He decided for the group to tune into their meeting.
"How are we going to listen to them?" Tifa asked confusedly.
Zack grinned. "The air ducts from the toilet actually lead there. Let's go!"
With the meeting in motion, hardly of the security was there and the matter of locking the toilet door wasn't going to cause or catch any real attention. They left their weapons in the crates in the toilets, and with a tight fit... the four of them were able to somehow get through the ducts to where the large grate made the board meeting visible enough for them to see.
"Geez, that's a lotta suits." Barret exclaimed in his whisper.
Tifa had closed Barret's mouth quickly as they all wanted to hear what they were saying.
"We have the damage estimates for Sector Seven." A smooth voice reported. "Considering those factories we already set up and all the investments, the damages are estimated at approximately 10 billion Gil. The estimated cost to rebuild is..."
"We're not rebuilding." The cold voice of the President replied.
"What?" The man in the suit oddly enough for Zack seemed to be genuinely disappointed at the idea.
"We're leaving sector seven as it is, and restarting the Neo-Midgar plan."
"...then the Ancients?"
"The Promised Land will be ours. I want you to raise Mako rates, 15% in every area."
"Rate hike! Rate hike! Tra-la-la! And does that include our space program in the budget?" The ex-SOLDIER had to roll his eyes at that voice, it could only mean it was the plump coward, Palmer. He hadn't changed a single bit.
Shinra wasn't at all considering the man at all. "Reeve and Scarlet will divide the extra income from the rate increase."
"Aww man!"
Reeve's voice was uncomfortable, despite his department was included in the increase. "But sir, if you raise the rates, the people will lose confidence..."
"It'll be alright. The ignorant citizens won't lose confidence; they'll trust Shinra inc. even more."
Heidegger was doing an evil laugh. "After all, we're the ones who saved sector seven from AVALANCHE!"
Inside the duct, Tifa, Cloud, and Zack swiftly restrained Barret so he would give away their position. It was clear by his mumbled force closed mouth he was swearing a string of words that was better of not heard.
Reeve didn't seem to agree with him. "That doesn't seem to be the case with the people. I have to concur on the evidence that has risen in the populace. Thousands had claimed witness that AVALANCHE evacuated the Sector, even as far as to infiltrate the Security sector 7 center and switched the alarm for evacuation. If not, many people would have died in their sleep. Above the plate or otherwise."
The Head of Public Safety gaped. "What?! What do you mean above the plate?"
"Someone's tampered with the Emergency Plate Safety Release System." Reeve stated calmly. "In order for those above the plate to evacuate, only the access keys of both inside Headquarters and the Security post must be in sync. Safe to say we are fortunate someone has fiddled with our system without us knowing."
"There's a security breach then?" Shinra asked coldly.
"It seems so, Sir."
"Tseng, do you have any information on what Reeve stated?"
Tseng's voice echoed through the room. "Not yet. However, my Turks are on the case."
Zack inwardly wooped hearing of Rika's efforts in the evacuation. So, Ryan and Rika somehow had managed to work together in making sure the evacuations worked both ways.
"What about that Item Creator you've caught recently along with the girl?" Shinra had a loathing in his voice.
"We're in the process of interrogating him. He is the one who is responsible for hacking into the Communications outpost two months ago." He then paused as if contemplating on the matter. "As regrettable as it sounds, he's very talented. Reeve had made sure from the only footages we've managed to acquire, he's a talented engineer of sorts."
"Reeve?"
"I've never seen anything like it, Sir. One footage showed robotics that are very advanced than those I've seen in the Weapons department." Reeve stated.
A feminine growl was heard. "Are you saying my projects are 2nd class?" Scarlet didn't seem too happy some stranger got praise from Tuesti, and that was saying something.
"I think more importantly that it would be a shame not to use such a talent." Reeve corrected quickly, not wanting to be at the receiving end of her fury. "The fact that AVALANCHE used him in crude way for their needs is a waste. In my opinion, he would be better if he worked for us."
"You know I dislike Item Creators, Reeve." Shinra frowned. "However, I see you are trying to point out how disadvantageous it is for us to let him free." He turned to the Turk, "Is it true that he may responsible in switching those footages all over the Sectors during the Sector 1 bombing?"
"Quite. It would explain how easily AVALANCHE bypassed the security updates during the Sector 5 reactor bombing." Tseng admitted. "More or so, he seems to be able to handle helicopters as well during the destruction of the Communications Outpost. There's a possibility he can be turned into a Turk."
"Prisoner of Turks." Shinra said coldly. "Break him first before he joins your ranks. I cannot afford more liabilities. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Mr. President."
The doors then opened, and a certain Professor walked in.
"Hojo. How's the girl?"
"As a specimen, the dark haired one is inferior to her mother. I'm still in the process of comparing her to her mother, Ifalna, but for now the difference is 18%." the professor reported.
"How long will the research take?"
"...probably 120 years. It's probably impossible to finish in our lifetime. Or in the lifetime of the specimen too for that matter." His voice was between mumbling and ranting to himself that the group in the duct had to shuffle a bit closer to hear him. "That's why were looking into breeding her. Then we could create one that could withstand the test of time."
The raven seethed silently. Zack had to restrain himself from lashing out clenching his teeth.
"What about the Promised Land? Will having two Ancients aid our plans or will the research hinder it?"
"...That's what I need to plan. The mother is strong...and yet has her weaknesses."
"Then that concludes our meeting." Shinra declared and left the room quickly.
Sniffing around, Scarlet was puzzled. "Something stinks?"
When AVALANCHE got back into the washroom, Tifa asked, "They were talking about Aerith and Issac, right?"
"Looks like it." Barret grumbled. "Glad thing the kid's getting rescued. Son of a bitch Shinra wants to break 'im. Not ta mention he blames the plate fallin' down on us!"
Zack pulled them all of their thoughts. "We need to mosey out of here. Aerith needs us."
"Let's follow Hojo then." Cloud spoke. "He'll most likely lead us to Aerith."
Zack wasn't the mood for Hojo's games or speeches on 'precious experiments', he had enough of those during his confinement with Cloud for the last 4 years in a Mako tank.
When all of them got near to the labs, they all quickly changed out of their disguises and had their weapons out. It was time to act. The ex-SOLDIER made sure Cloud stood away as far as possible from the tank that housed Jenova's remaining body. Even with its head chopped off, it reminded Zack of the bitter memory where Sephiroth lost his mind. He didn't want to be anywhere near it, fearing the same blood of that thing was inside his body might effect him. Cloud seemed a little pale looking at it, which didn't suprise Zack at all. It was thanks to the 'thing' Sephiroth went crazy claiming it as his 'mother' and Nibelheim burned down.
The raven head didn't waste any time to take Hojo as hostage, with the tip of the Buster Sword on his neck, the greasy professor had agreed to lead them to Aerith.
When they got to the 68th Floor, they had found Aerith in a large cylinder glass test chamber. Zack was relieved she was okay, but he gripped the professor's arm harder. "Get. Her. Out."
For good measure, Barret aimed his gun arm at Hojo.
"Are you going to kill me? I don't think you should. The equipment here is extremely delicate. Without me, who could operate it? Hmm?" Hojo sneered.
Zack gripped harder, causing the Professor to wince. "Doesn't mean I can't make you die slowly. Get her out, I'll let you go." He wasn't one for torture, but the ex-SOLDIER was very sure Genesis would want his hands on Hojo and would do a good job on it. The only reason he needed Hojo because he knew better than to mess with controls he didn't know and how they would affect his girlfriend.
When Hojo was finished pressing a few buttons, a sound of a door clicked, but a red lion like beast came out.
"Zack! Help!" Aerith panicked as she tried stay away from the new creature as far as the test chamber let her.
Zack grasped Hojo's lab coat tighter causing him to choke. "What did you do?!"
Hojo didn't seemed to be frightened at all. "Lending a hand to an endangered species. Both of them are on the brink of extinction. If I don't help, these animals will disappear." The way he said it was a if he were explaining it to a fellow scientist.
Tifa yelled, "Animal?! That's terrible! Aerith's a human being!"
Zack tossed the Professor to Cloud. "Hold him for now! I'm going to get Aerith out!"
Cloud wasn't going to let the professor go so easily, not what after the grease-ball had done to him and Zack for 4 years.
"Aerith! Get back!"
With a clean slice from the Buster Sword, the glass door neatly came down and cracked on the impact on the floor. Before Zack had a chance to do anything, the red feline made a mad dash to the professor and had his fangs on his arm. Cloud backed away just in time, but he wasn't in any hurry to give the professor any help. After all what Hojo did, he wasn't surprised if his experiments want a piece of him literally.
With Zack's help, Aerith was out of the test chamber. She had immediately hugged him as a reassurance he was there.
"Hey, are you okay? He didn't hurt you?" Zack said softly as Aerith slightly trembled in her hug.
Aerith smiled faintly as her courage rose. "I'm alright now." She then paused. "Issac! He –"
"Don't worry, he's OK. Ryan's on it."
A pained growl was enough to get the group's attention back to reality as the creature hit the floor and Hojo pressed a release button that Zack knew it wasn't a good thing.
"This is no ordinary specimen," Hojo laughed out like the crazy professor he was, ignoring the wound on his arm. "This is a very ferocious specimen!"
To the suprise of AVALANCHE, the lion creature turned its head to them. "He's rather strong. I'll help you all out."
Tifa was the first to gasp. "It talked!"
"I'll talk as much as you want later, Miss." The beast said as its tail twitched in annoyance. It seemed it had too many conversations such as this.
Zack snapped out of his shock. He got his military thinking back in gear. "Alright. We could use the help." He gently pushed Aerith in the fist fighter's direction. "Tifa, take Aerith and make sure she's safe." Tifa was about to protest but he held up a hand, "I'm counting on you. Don't worry, me, Barret, Cloud and –" He turned to the beast.
"Hojo has named me Red XIII. A name with no meaning whatsoever to me. Call me whatever you wish."
"Okay, Red it is then." Zack decided.
Cloud took the first initiative to attack. "Come on!"
From the back, Barret had started to fire on the smaller test subject. "Blacky, ignore the lil' one and get its momma! I'll take 'em on!"
When one of the little critters jumped at Barret, Cloud swung and wide arc and made it back off. "We got it covered!"
Red didn't need to be told twice. He ran and leaped onto the larger monster's neck. His fangs had glowed blue for a moment, and the attack seemed to cripple the large monster by a good fraction.
"Whoa! Didn't know the furball could do a Limit Break!" Barret said as he kept spewing out bullets.
Zack who attacked after him, focused on the huge bulging lumps that didn't seem to have any sort of hard armor. With Barret's support, Cloud had made short work on the smaller ones and now they all joined in to take the huge experiment down. Either than the huge Venus-fly-trap mouth, there wasn't really anything to worry about, but to take it down as quickly as possible. Time to escape was against them. While Cloud took to strong consecutive blows, Barret made sure he'd try and fire at something that was soft to make the monster take damage.
The former 1st Class followed suit Cloud's actions, but he targeted the monster's unprotected back, earning him a couple of critical hits. Zack's emotions were high as the monster in front of him reminded him all too well on what had happened under the Support Pillar and even as far as being back stuck in the labs. On impulse his anger controlled him and he was suddenly up in the air.
Shit.
"Cloud, Barret, Red! Get away from the monster!"
At Zack's urgent command they got away as far as the room allowed them to.
A red glyph of magic appeared and as Zack raised his hand, the area the glyph was exploded.
The monster never stood a chance, and it howled as it died disappearing into Lifestream particles.
Zack couldn't quite believe he'd done Apocalypse, which belonged to Genesis. Sure, he'd always known that he was able to, but to use it again was something that shocked him. It was the creepiest Limit Breaks he'd copy off unintentionally like most limit breaks he had gotten. Usually it would take over his other limit breaks he was about to do if he was angry. Perhaps with Genesis around he managed to trigger it again thanks to his emotions.
"Holy Shit! That Limit Break fried the ! #$ of that monster!" Barret gaped wide. "Where the HELL ya learned that?!"
"That story is for another time." Zack shrugged, hoping to avoid telling Barret at all.
Tifa and Aerith knowing it was safe, immediately hugged their respective men. Zack had welcomed it. Although the raven head had to chuckle when Cloud complained very quietly why his face felt hot for some reason. The poor chocobo never seemed to relax around Tifa when it was obvious she liked him.
"Hojo escaped." Cloud said, trying to fight off his embarrassment.
Zack frowned at that. "Yeah. Don't ya just love scientists who are cowards." he said sarcastically.
Red seemed to walk carefully towards Aerith, just so he wouldn't scare her. "My apologies for what happened. I was merely acting in order to throw Hojo off guard."
"It's alright. I understand." She answered with a smile.
This time Barret's attention was on Red. "What are you?"
Cloud seemed to roll his eyes giving Zack a look like he was saying, 'Did he have to ask that question?'
Zack waved Cloud off dismissively.
"An informed question. But difficult to answer. I am what you see." Red to their surprise of the group, managed a shrug. "You must have many questions, but first, let's get out of here. I'll lead the way."
Barret agreed on that. "Well, now we've save Aerith, ain't no need to be in this buildin'! I'm with 'im, let's get the hell outta here!"
"We'll split the group into two. That way we'll be less noticeable." Zack ushered the group. "Cloud, Red, with me! Aerith, Barret, and Tifa you guys take another way! We'll meet on the 59th Floor." He hoped that after that monster was taken down they'd be okay on their way down according to plan. The former 1st Class still had to make sure they'd get out here in one piece and that the others were safe. Zack wasn't going to break any promises if he couldn't help it.
Turk Area, ShinRa Headquarters, Midgar, December 0007
"Are you freakin' serious?"
A large grin was plastered on his face. "Come on Anders, just humor me and say yes, yo! Join us!"
I scowled at the red headed Turk. "Look, we've been going on about this for who knows how many hours. The answer is still no." What he offered me sounded like I would have signed my death warrant, favorite Turk or not.
However, I was enjoying the change of atmosphere from a certain stiff workaholic Turk. My estimation right now was that he was at the board meeting like in the game. Hence, the reason why he sent Reno to 'talk' to me. I noticed that Reno's injured arm wasn't in a sling anymore. But the way it was twitching every now and then seemed like it wasn't fully healed.
"I'm just passin' big boss' order," Reno shrugged as he sat in the same chair Tseng did. We were back in the interrogation room. "Turks get good pay! Even better than SOLDIERs." he said as if he was advertising an awesome product.
"With a four year life expectancy rate." I deadpanned. You survived longer than that, you'd be promoted along with Tseng and the crew. Joy.
The red Turk was not giving up easily, "We'll throw in a couple of offers of your choosing. How 'bout better workshop facilities, yo? Best the world has to offer?"
I sighed rolling my eyes. "Nice offer and all Reno, but I would make a crappy Turk. Sneaking around isn't my best point. I'm pretty sure that Zack and Cloud were tossing me around back in the communications outpost just to avoid guards."
"Whatever, yo. We can fix that by having you doing internal Intel," Reno kept a malicious grin on his face. "You're still Turk material. You flew a helicopter, yo!" At my open gaping mouth he added in victory, "Strife was only a infantryman back when he was in ShinRa. And Fair? SOLDIERs don't get that kind of training. You gonna deny you didn't flew that ShinRa chopper back there?"
Now I was starting to regret they cured me. With a headache at least I could get away with some answers.
I was thanking every deity out there that thankfully they haven't caught note I had a hand at the explosives as well. If Reno knew, I probably would be stuttering like a nervous wreck right now. Making that bomb only explode the reactor itself that did just internal damage wasn't an easy job. Jesse merely followed the plans of the previous AVALANCHE, and I had to say their devices were crude. The fact it took a good deal of time tinkering, was a testimony on how they didn't care about getting the general populace died if it meant protecting the Planet.
"That came out more on instinct." I replied warily, but was still the truth. If Cosmos didn't let me have those memories... well, I'd say on that day I would have died along with Cloud Strife and Zack Fair – the Planet would have been doomed to Jenova's clutches.
"Up to you, Anders," Reno shrugged as he leaned back lazily in his seat. His not injured hand he held behind his head, "I'm just playin' good cop, yo. Tseng's not gonna be happy you're rejecting his generous offer."
With the way Reno was acting, he was here for the easier part of the interrogation. He looked utterly bored. That made me think I had to play my cards carefully. If Reno quit too soon, Rude or someone else doing the 'bad cop' interrogation would come along, and that would be a disaster for me. I needed to keep him here and stall long enough until the others can rescue me. Even though I was certain I could cast Symbology spells right now to a degree, I had no idea where my weapons were, and no way I was leaving them behind. Physically wise, I wasn't certain I had any good reflexes to run away from bullets shooting at me too.
On top of my escape plan, there were more than a few things that bugged me since what happened in Midgar. Maybe I should do a Q&A of my own so I could get Reno talking.
"So... since you've worked with the Turks for a long while...," I started off in a wondering tone, "Do you have any opinions on how it is as a Turk?"
Reno perked up happily from his seat. "You wanna join up, yo?"
"Well – it can't hurt to hear what it's like first, right?" I bluffed as I crossed my arms in a business manner. "If I'm going to agree to sign up in something, I'd like to hear the terms and conditions... and I'm pretty sure you're more well than acquainted with the benefits."
To my relief, that's when Reno started talking.
His brief explanation on how the Turks work was actually a lot more condensed than I thought. I figured he'd be the chatty type, but I was wrong that he still kept his work as a Turk professionally. Unfortunately I underestimated him. It was as if he had said the words over and over a billion times, obviously showing that he'd done this before in the past. This was a sign that Reno probably handled more than just willing recruits. If I remember correctly the Turks also handled Azul in getting to join into Deepground.
Good, just keep it up until Genesis bursts the door open with a Firaga or Ryan with fast casting Symbology...
Honestly I couldn't care about Reno's specs in joining the Turks as long as I got out of here.
With my bad luck, by the end of Reno's babbling... I was without any more questions.
"So, you gonna join us or not, yo?"
I hesitated, "It's a lot to take in and swallow. Do I get time to digest all of this?"
Reno sighed expectantly in front of me. But then he stood up from his chair his expression turned a good 180 degrees. "Come on yo! Ya just have ta say yes!"
A flicker of fear gripped me. Oh, boy. I think that was the end of good cop mode.
CRAP.
The next few milliseconds I didn't even registered what was going on. All I knew was that Reno moved far too fast for me to see, I was flipped on the table and he was using his uninjured arm pinning me to the neck. I choked a gasp of pain when he applied his knee on my half healed thigh. I cursed the fact he was actually more stronger that I predicted he was.
Zack was right. You can't really trust an injured Turk.
"Game's over, Anders." Reno growled at me. "I tried to be nice, yo. But looks like your brain could use some persuasion." He applied more pressure, "Or maybe we can leave ya to have a front seat when Hojo's around Aerith, huh?"
My blood boiled for second at the mention of Aerith in Hojo's hands as I winced at the increasing pressure on my wound. "You're cruel in leaving Aerith in hands of a psycho! Some friend you are!"
"Friend? I ain't friends with you, yo!"
Feebly I tried to get his arm to lessen the pressure in vain so I could breathe. "Of course not!" I yelled out as I took another breath of air. "Zack said you were his friend! You, Tseng, Rude, and Cissnei worked together before!"
He seemed a little shocked by it at first, but his eyes narrowed. "Sorry, yo. That's the past, I'm only doing orders." This time, he wasn't playing around. "What will it be Issac? If not I'm handing you over to the boss."
"I'm not joining you or ShinRa." I uttered through my teeth.
His right bandaged hand took something from his pocket. A switchblade army knife. His face now seemed far colder than the Turk I knew and saw in the games. "Hmm, boss-man won't be around soon enough. He's got some meetin' with the higher ups. Tseng won't mind I'd rough you a bit before he gets you."
I felt a chill down my spine.
Shit.
"Let's open one wound that would – urk!"
The Turk's hand was still hovering in the air as he winced like he had a stroke and the knife tumbled to the floor.
On reflex, I took the chance to kick him on the chest and make sure he was a couple of feet away from me. I gulped down all the air I lost back when I was pinned down and retreated to the opposite wall from me like a cornered cat in fear. "What the HELL, man?" I wheezed out far too shocked on just what had happened. Perturbed, I stared at the withering Turk in front of me who was clasped his arm like it was on fire. The way he cursed as his arm was in agony, deeply troubled me.
"Don't think it's going to stop me from interrogating you, yo!" Reno cried out in fury. But his vigor only lasted so long and he slumped back on the floor. It was odd to me no one was coming from the watch room behind us. He seemed to know what I was thinking, "Turks are busy. They got business upstairs."
"What happened to you?" I spoke bluntly, but then soon realized my mistake. "Um – never mind – "
He huffed and gave me an annoyed look. "I'm injured no thanks to a couple of your nobody friends who attacked the Sector 1 security post. Are ya satisfied, yo?" Reno tried to stand up again but his arm had other ideas and jerked like it was having spasms. The red head let out a cry before he bit his lip and seethed.
For some odd reason, I found the courage to ask, "Bullet shrapnel?"
"Materia shrapnel, yo! One the explosions blew up the bangle on my arm! It hurts like a bitch!" Reno shot back angrily. "Heh, the docs say I'm going to have to amputate it. I don't care if I loose this arm, I'm not going to back down as a Turk, yo!"
And... that made perfect sense... Immediately I ended up feeling rather guilty that Reno had to face Genesis of all people. Not that the Turk knew it was really Genesis behind the attacks with Ryan, but somehow I felt that his condition was our fault to begin with, because we meddled with the timeline. Here, it seemed he was never going to recover with his arm. This wasn't supposed to happen!
"Then it is your responsibility to Undo."
The whole room suddenly felt like looking through a blue filtered lens. Reno to my shock was still as a statue, as if time stopped. In front of me then stood Cosmos. She eyed me as if she wanted my understanding. Contrary to what she trying to do, for some reason I felt a little betrayed... especially for what had happened back at the Support Pillar. I had so many questions I wanted to ask, but with the energy she gave off... I knew this meeting will be short.
Don't ask me how I know, it was just a gut feeling I had.
"At ease, Issac. You know very well that living and coexisting here would have consequences." she reminded me.
I protested, "But Reno he's – hold it – you're telling me to undo it? I'm not a doctor!"
"No. You are not. But you are a Destroyer."
No words left my mouth. I couldn't say anything as it hurt my heart that it was my only strong point. However the way she said it was as if I was a type of soldier of sorts.
"You misunderstand your own powers. There is more to Destruction then you would normally see. While it denotes to the ending of all things, it is also a power of cleansing. Do so as you've done with Zack."
I frowned. This meeting was something important she needed to do. If not she wouldn't be here. "There's something important about us, is there?" It was obvious, after all this time of being quiet, I was damn sure she came here with bad news.
Her head inclined, and her eyes softened at me. "Yes." A slight pause. "Minerva is starting to be aware of your misplaced existence in her realm. She will not take you in so lightly, because Jenova will awaken from her deep slumber as soon as Sephiroth retrieves her from this building. Do not anger her. She will not be merciful as long as Jenova will travel her domain freely. For that, I will not be able to interfere. It might be quite some time I will not be able to contact you in the near future."
I huffed out uneasily. Cosmos was warning me about more tough times ahead. Especially about pissing off the Goddess of the Planet, which I took note in my blacklist of 'things to do'. "Okay, so what about my 'past' here? So far I'm getting only sketchy memories that aren't helping."
The Goddess smiled at me as if she knew an inside joke. "Quite the opposite, Issac. You simply haven't remembered. It exists in the knowledge of your Universe. Be warned that the more you know, the more will be unrevealed. There will be unpleasant memories you will have to face."
"Everything shrouded in mystery," I said dryly. As much as I noted I needed to check my notes later on with the clue she gave me, this was getting annoying. "You have to be really cryptic and all? Wait – forget I said that. Just – Fine – I know you somehow forced my powers to keep me alive back at the Support Pillar. You have your reasons, but I don't see what you're trying to tell me. And I know this 'thing' you're trying to tell me is crucial."
"Straightforward as always." She smiled in a manner she looked like she supported my current rebellious streak.
I grinned. Might as well get along with her while things were good. "Damn straight. Especially when you're going to be absent for some time."
"Listen well." Cosmos spoke in a clear voice. "With your true powers wakening recently, will be the key to your past memories. You, Ryan and Rika will have access to more refined abilities of your original Symbology, supportive, and your battle skills which will grow in due time. What you must be truly aware of, is that your designated Symbols have a role in the changing of the timeline."
For some reason my head was loading slowly at the moment. I hadn't had the slightest clue what she was talking about.
"Issac, know this." her voice resonated through the room as she stepped around the room with grace. "I did not separate the three of you at the beginning of this journey for no reason. The people I requested you to save is because they are intertwined with your designated Symbols."
"You mean they're connected to how we change the timeline?" I asked unsure of anything.
"You're correct. From what you know, Genesis was the person who started the catalyst... the chain of events. Shelke while in your known knowledge is found in further in the future of now... is part of the change that was meant to be. Zack was the hero, who in his end... fought to save the life that would put a stop of what had begun."
My eyes widened as goosebumps went up my skin.
"Yes. Ryan and Genesis – Creation. Where everything begins. Rika and Shelke – Alteration. Where changes are made. You and Zack – Destruction. Where all things must come to an end." Cosmos said seriously. "Their paths have shifted from what it was, thus it was needed for you three to balance that alteration. When time shifts, you three are tasked to steer it to a better outcome."
I didn't know why, but I laughed weakly, "You're entrusting the whole fate of the timeline on us, aren't you?" I think I felt the whole weight of the world on my shoulders already. Yup, the level of time paradox insanity just zoomed up another level. Fuck.
"A second life is high price to pay." She said as looked upon me with sad eyes, "But I believe you and your friends would be able to do what you must. You know Reno will live in the next two years – save him, as his role is needed. There are lives that were lost in the journey that you know of to save Gaia. Save or not to save? Should you choose to save their life, you are responsible in whatever occurs in the change of the timeline. Understood?"
"...Y-yeah..." I had a hunch she was referring to Aerith somehow. Did that mean if Aerith lived, she'd be in deep trouble?
Geez, I now hated the butterfly effect or timeline changing with a passion.
Her whole figure then started to shimmer, and appeared transparent. "The clogs of Time have started. Do what you must. Avoid what should not be."
"Wait!" I shouted. "When will you come back?"
"When Time is at its moot point."
There was only one incident that was clear – Meteor.
"I wish you, Ryan and Rika luck in your journey. May the stars guide you."
And just like that, the Goddess was gone. Everything in the room than moved normally, just like it had been before.
I stood up from my spot as I notice Reno was still clinging his arm in pain. He looked at me warily, as if I took a single step forward he'd be ready to pounce at me. At that same moment it was odd, but I heard a buzz behind my mind. Something familiar, and for some reason it nudged me that if I take another step I would be fine. Following it on instinct, I did and Reno with what he could muster, lunged.
A clink clicked through my ears, my body took a fighter's stance and I shifted to one side. A blue spherical shield formed in front of me and I rammed into the Turk. My body kept on moving as a green glow came to my elbow and I knocked him out with it. To my shock, it hit Reno full force and he ended up slamming into the wall. There were no cracks and all, but I did a good deal of damage on him.
The Turk coughed and wheezed but he seemed to have a fear look in his eyes. "What did you do, yo! Shiva's tits! I can't move!"
For some reason I felt if my stamina was drained. It then hit me I did a battle skill and an active supportive skill – Charge and Stun respectively on impulse. Charge was a ramming attack into your opponent with a 5% of your HP being drained, so that explained why my stamina went down. Stun on the other hand surprised me the most. All this time, all three of us never had access to out Active Support skills. We thought they were non-existent because no matter how much we trained we never got them.
Looks like Cosmos was right that after my nova incident those abilities may be unlocked for future use.
"This ain't funny Anders! Get me out of this thing, whatever ya did yo!"
I cursed myself to get a grip on what I've learned, and shook my head to focus on the current situation. In fact, this was actually a good time to do what I was supposed to do. I took up my hand, aimed at the Turk, and let the my main Symbol be called forth. I called on the spell that saved Zack.
Reno of course was struggling to move desperately out of harms way. "Fuck it!"
"Healing."
At my word, his struggles stopped in a halt.
I watched carefully as my Symbology runes had changed. They were more refined than I've seen them before. So there was some sort of a power upgrade? It seemed like it, as I wasn't floundering as much as when I casted the very same spell on Zack. With the ending of the spell, a sweat dropped on my juvie shirt. Okay, so it still drained my MP pretty good.
Reno was sputtering in his words, "What was that? Why is my arm – it's healed?" He grimaced. "You did magic without Materia, yo!"
"So what?" I said back at him. Now was probably a good time to try and escape before more Turks came. "Just because I'm capable of doing things, it doesn't mean I going to join the Turks or ShinRa. I'd be selling my heart and soul to devil. I know you're a Turk, but I'm not heartless enough not to do something I can fix."
When he was about to say something, the door behind me opened. To both of our shock, there was a 2nd Class SOLDIER standing there.
"Oi! What's a SOLDIER doing in the Turk Area, yo?!" Reno was going to say more, but his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he slept like log.
A dramatic sigh. "The wandering soul knows no rest... Seems like you're still in one piece. I have would preferred to kill that slum rat, but Ryan warned me that might end up changing things."
"Genesis?" I gaped on what he was wearing. He was doing a Kunsel! "How did you get here?"
He smugly smiled. "Along with the oddest crew yet."
From the door behind Genesis, Ryan stepped in wearing a technician disguise. "Issac! I'm glad you're OK. Here, wear these," he handed me the same disguise along with some thick odd glasses. "Change and we'll talk later on. The girls and our droids are doing a distraction upstairs and they have your stuff with you. We don't know when the whole floor will wake up."
As I changed quickly, I asked as my eyes were saucers, "The WHOLE floor?"
I think I just fed Genesis' ego up a notch. The red former Commander acted like it was nothing. "Quadra Magic Materia connected to All Materia and Seal Materia. With a use of a Sleepga spell. However, with my level of skill – they should be deep sleeping for a few hours. There is no hate, only joy...For you are beloved by the Goddess."
I rolled my eyes and ignored his melodramatic triumph over the the Turk Floor. "Riiight. Where is this 'place' anyway?"
"44th Floor, Department of Administrative Research." Genesis said lightly and then added, "The office area that looks official but has a specific area where ShinRa takes their enemies doing the main questionings. You're very lucky your capture hasn't lasted more than 3 days. If not, you would have been taken to the Turks main base which is hidden somewhere in Midgar."
"Makes sense," I nod as I used the last finishing touch and put on the technician cap on my head. "You guys already cleared the area for electronic security?"
Ryan inclined. "Shelke took care of that. Let's hurry! The meeting should be ending soon and Zack along with others would be rescuing Aerith by now."
Genesis took the front as he seemed to know the way. To my surprise, he was using the standard issue SOLDIER sword that Zack used in Crisis Core. Perhaps it was better for him to keep up with his disguise for now. As for me, I settled being in the middle as I was tired and I was sure I wasn't going to do any fighting right away because I was weaponless. Ryan was in the rear, and he had a handgun in his hands instead of his usual Riptide in rifle mode. Running out of the place wasn't really an issue, it was just a matter of avoiding people who were in deep sleep all over the place.
I was lead into a security room on the 46th Floor, inside Rika and Shelke were waiting for us. The moment I got in, I was first tackled by Flux who fretted over me, then hugged by Rika... and soon she smacked me behind the head.
"Oww!"
"You IDIOT! You should have been more careful!"
I raised my hands in surrender. "Hey! When I made a run for it out of the Sector, Tseng was onto me, OK? I wasn't doing good after Elena made an appearance and set some experiments on me and Zack."
Rika eyed me with mother chocobo-like glare before she heaved out, "Fine. Just this once."
For some deluded reason, I knew it wouldn't stop happening again. I blame it on Cosmos, seeing whether we liked it or not... we were in charge to make sure the timeline doesn't screw up permanently. It was good enough knowing I was able to heal Reno and that he should be okay to go on missions with his fellow Turks again.
"Now that we're all here, we head up back to the 51st Floor," Genesis declared. Still, by his smug face, he was obviously enjoying making mayhem in ShinRa. "It's preferable they realize that everything went wrong when it's already too late and we have left our crime scene. We'll discuss things there, including our exit strategy, and wait till the ex-General comes."
At the mention of Sephiroth, Ryan said, "We've told him. Don't worry, he promised he won't interfere."
That was good. I don't think a Genesis and Sephiroth confrontation would be good earlier part of the timeline. If that happened, forget Meteor – that would be the end of Midgar.
At Lazard's office I was surprised that the place was already mostly covered in dust and all. The place was just abandoned which was kind of sad in a way. We came into the room where the office had three desks. One in the middle who used to belong to Lazard. The left that belonged to Sephiroth, and the right which probably belonged to the secretary. There weren't many seats around, so we all took to sitting on the floor to exchange what happened back in Midgar and also how I ended up in the hands of the Turks – with the exception of Shelke who was at Lazard's computer keeping an eye what was happening in the company.
I didn't tell them about my nova incident, preferring to talk it over with the twins in private. Perhaps about the meeting with Cosmos too. As we all waited news from Shelke on how Zack and the others were doing on Aerith's rescue, we went over plans to get us out of the building. Unlike in the game, the keys to the vehicles that 'happened' to be stuck on the vehicles of the exhibit room, were in fact stored away in the storage room not too far away from the exhibit room. Ryan and Genesis did most of the inventory check while they were at it, and thankfully got the keys. Unlike in Crisis Core, the original FFVII game had more vehicles stationed there. Not surprising as the Rocket project was disbanded, so now the exhibit only had vehicles.
Lucky for us, ShinRa has more vehicles in the showroom than they have in the game.
Also, as weird as it sounds, all the vehicles in the showroom had their tanks half full. To me, it sounded crazy at first. Genesis later explained to us with a shrug that Old man Shinra had a show-off streak on his most prized possessions. Even during the company's golden ages, the room had special ventilation ducts that would take out any smoke from the room caused by any car or motorcycle during the President's testing ventures in at the exhibit to his clients or colleagues. Hmm, I guess that was another answer I was satisfied to know, considering the game itself didn't explain much about the small technical things.
It was decided that Cloud, Zack and Genesis would take the motorcycles. As for the rest of us, we were going to have to take two sA-37 type Motor Tricycles. We didn't give any details to Shelke and Genesis about having another team party member (Nanaki/Red XIII), but the three of us Earthlings bluffed out how Barret was going to need the space and he wouldn't be the best to ride a motorcycle with his gun arm being a hindrance. As for who was going to drive our car, Ryan was up for the job. Shelke was going to be inside with him so less people would see her and she'll take care of frontal obstacles, while Rika and I would take the back. For who will blast the walls to get us out, Genesis happily volunteered. He said he had it done before (in Crisis Core), and he was happy to do so again.
"Guys, looks like the Turks have the others!" Shelke said as she quickly opened up some screens for us.
"Tseng seems to be rather calm," Ryan commented when the group was caught and now were herded to the President's Floor. "Which means Issac's escape isn't heard yet."
"Really? I thought they'd notice us far quicker once they found out the 46th Floor security guards were missing, and the absence of the Turk Area being pretty silent." Rika frowned.
I scoffed. "Yeah, right. I mean with the whole Goddamn floor ASLEEP? Doubt it." I still smiled. "Man, we must have set a record in Infiltrating ShinRa though."
"True." Genesis agreed grinning, "It's a shame there's no popcorn to enjoy the show."
Shelke, Ryan, Rika, and I laughed.
"Hey! Genesis did a funny!"
"I do have a healthy dose of humor, Issac! One that would clearly beat yours in 100 years!" he said with dramatics that would send a person crawling up the wall, but he smirked at me. "You're underestimating my acting skills."
"Then maybe when this is over you should be one and consider it as a career. I doubt it ShinRa would want to accept you back." I suggested.
"Shush!" Rika hushed us to calm down. "Quiet down! We're getting to the good parts!"
AVALANCHE...
The said Puppy felt irritated that trying to get out with a large commotion and not get apprehended or caught, was just impossible. Angeal had told him once Genesis was a hotheaded reckless person, but sometimes when it came to bets – Genesis was a very dangerous tactician. It seemed his prediction of getting caught was proven right.
Damn.
Good thing he never made a betting pool with Genesis. If not, he was very sure all his winnings would be wiped out by the auburn haired ex-Commander.
So the plan was that they would split into smaller groups in hopes to get the attention of their pursuers on the main head hitters consisting of Cloud, Zack, and Red. Red had volunteered because he was an escaped experiment, hoping that he would be enough to divert the attention away from their second group, Tifa, Aerith, and Barret. To Zack's dismay, the Turks had figured it out. The blond Turk he met under the plates caught their second group. His group was luckily and or unluckily got hunted down by Tseng himself, but Rude was the one who actually caught them in the elevator.
With cuffs on him and Cloud, the raven head was sure they would have been designed to keep SOLDIERs in check. Tseng wasn't the head of the Turks for nothing.
As for Reno... Zack didn't particularly care for the red head at the moment, as he was giving Tseng a death glare at his once so called 'friend'. Here they were, trudged up to the President's floor so the obese guy would have a 'look' over them.
"You all got caught too?" Cloud asked the other group. But there was someone missing...
Zack's heart skipped a beat when Aerith was missing from Barret's group.
"Where's Aerith?!"
Cloud also seemed to narrow his eyes as much as Zack held a glare at ShinRa's President.
"In a safe place." ShinRa stood up in a arrogant manner, making sure the vermin around him knew their place. "She's the last surviving Ancient. Don't you know? They called themselves the Cetra, and lived thousands of years ago. Now they are just a forgotten page in history."
"...Cetra?" Red's eyes were wide. "That girl, is she a survivor of the Cetra?"
"Cetra, or the Ancients, will show us the way to the 'Promised Land.' I'm expecting a lot out of her."
"The Promised Land? Isn't that just a legend?" the feline asked critically.
Shinra paid no heed if his audience was questioning his sanity. "Even so, it's just too appealing not to pursue. It's been said the Promised Land is very fertile. ...If the land is fertile..."
"Then there's gotta be mako!" Barret growled knowing what the greedy fat President wanted.
"Exactly. With such abundant mako we will not need money sucking reactors, it will just come out on its own. That is where Neo-Midgar will be built. ShinRa's new glory..."
The cuffs were too strong, and Barret cussed and cursed as he wished the restraints were gone. He wished he could get his hands on the President, but his bionic gun arm was off. Zack on the other hand, had chosen to stay silent although he could feel his rage building. He argued with himself that struggling right now wasn't a good idea, it was a waste of energy.
"Oh really, don't you know? These days all it takes for your dreams to come true is money and science. Well, that is all for our meeting."
"Come on! Outta his way!" Rude tugged everyone out.
"Hold it! I got a lot I wanna say to you!" He didn't get to say anything more as he was removed forcible from the room thanks to Rude.
Just as they were going to be hauled out to the corridor, Elena with two infantry men quickly came up to them.
"Sir! We have a problem!"
Barret had stopped struggling and even the whole group quietened down.
The President's eyes narrowed. "Speak Turk!"
Tseng had to give her an encouraging look before she talked at all.
"Y-yes S-sir!" she squeaked. "The detainee escaped! He – well – left the Turk floor. When we got there, everyone was asleep. Cause: strong spell with Seal Materia."
"WHAT?! YOU LET THAT ITEM CREATOR ESCAPE?"
Poor Elena couldn't say anything after that. Tseng took note to defend her. "She was with us catching this group." he pointed at Tifa and Barret. "We'll have the security watch the staircases and search the building immediately, after these prisoners are locked up."
"H-How - How the HELL did a detainee just disappear and put one TURK floor asleep?! You better hurry and make sure he's caught!" Shinra seethed. "Dismissed!"
While the AVALANCHE crew said nothing of their escaped friend, they felt a little shine of hope they wouldn't be in ShinRa HQ for too long.
Meanwhile, a couple floors below them, a group recorded the moment for future entertainment before rechecking their exit strategy plans.
It just wasn't everyday you could make the President of ShinRa Company furious.
TBC...
Next up~ the Escape from ShinRa...
When AVALANCHE group get together – reactions of new acquired members...
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
I tried to get the building as canon as possible and as well as getting some small but important technicalities in. It's always bothered me how Cloud and co. escaped the ShinRa building on the vehicles that happened to just 'be there'. I mean seriously, what showroom would leave the KEYS hanging and have their tanks filled with petrol in their cars/motorcycles? Hence, my reason: 'Old man Shinra's testing area'. Gives a reason for the company to give a 'hands on' product testing to its clients (anyone remember Zack can get a potion from an employee in front of the information desk that causes the Raise status like a Phoenix Down would?). Pretty much like it.
For those who don't know, yes, the 45th Floor is canon. If there was anyway to distract lower Turks, I suppose the best way is to divert them back to the archives. I mean, they are the Department of Administrative Research, right? For those who don't know, here's what floor is according to canon...
ShinRa HQ Floor Plan according to canon:
Floor 01: Reception + Shinra Exhibit Room (Confirmed in Crisis Core)
Floor 02: Lounge Area + main lift to upper floors (Confirmed in Crisis Core)
Floor 03: Shopping Area for ShinRa employees
Floor 45: Archives (Confirmed in Before Crisis)
Floor 49: SOLDIER Floor (Confirmed in Crisis Core)
Floor 51: Director of SOLDIER Floor (Confirmed in Crisis Core)
Floor 59: At this floor, all the floors above it require key cards
Floor 60: Foyer Guarded area
Floor 61: Break area + Bar
Floor 62: Government Floor + Library
Floor 63: Storage Room
Floor 64: Rest & Recreational area for Employees
Floor 65: Urban Development Department
Floor 66: Board Meeting Room + Washroom
Floor 67: Science Department: Cells, storage room
Floor 68: Science Department: Main laboratory
Floor 69: Foyer area + ShinRa Offices
Floor 70: President's Office
Comments, opinions, questions, advice are welcomed! :) Please review!