The grey peaks of Mt. Nibel loomed behind Nibelheim, blocking the path of any who wished to travel to Rocket Town. No man had ever fully explored the caverns and tunnels within Mt. Nibel, or faced the mass of monsters that lived within. One of the oldest Mako Reactors resided upon the summit of the mountain, and the dead aura that permeated the mountains was a testament to this. Fog and bizarre variations of monster protected it from ever being explored fully, monsters even ShinRa had trouble with. It was common knowledge that many SOLDIERs lost their lives trying to deal with disturbances of Mt Nibel, and because of this any mission related to Nibelheim was seen as bad luck.
Godo looked back to the town, hoping to draw warmth from its presence. It was lacking. Nibelheim was a backwater place, in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by nature warped by the Mako Reactor. The people who lived here were quiet, and reserved, keeping mostly to themselves; even the children lacked the energy Godo had seen from every child he had met, regardless of their circumstances. People who lived in the shadow of the mountain, humbled by its power left in awe of it. People that lived in the shadow of the ShinRa, the ShinRa research mansion built slightly away from the town centre, the last building you would see before leaving for the mountains. Its presence was relentless, and Godo noticed people constantly glancing in its direction. An innkeeper had told him that every other month, a new batch of ShinRa infantrymen were sent to relieve the guards of the mansion. Scientists lived in the mansion, using their knowledge to further the ends of the ShinRa, constantly working on new ways of abusing the life stream. He had avoided it, the fear of being wounded a third time by the ShinRa sickened him. He needed to hurry back to Wutai.
Travelling the jagged, dangerous paths of the mountain was more difficult than Godo anticipated. The paths were deceptively unstable, and the monsters that Godo had to deal with were unlike any he had encountered before. Darkened monsters, the lack of lifestream and sunlight warping them, making smaller, faster and more vicious, and able to play tricks on the mind with the toxins they exhumed. Godo reflected upon the state of things, and wondered if the ShinRa even realised the damage they caused to the planet. Did they know they were killing everything, and what they didn't kill they mutated, changed into something unnatural, or was President ShinRa's soul as dark and desolate as these mountains. Lacking warmth and conscience, sucked dry of life by ambition and greed.
It took two days for Godo to cross the mountains, having to find a lengthy route to avoid the ShinRa posted at the Mako Reactor. He was grateful for the amount of pathways that had been cut through the mountain tops, paths once lived in by dragons, creatures that used to guard this mountain, much like Leviathan guarded Wutai. Many of these beautiful creatures had been forced out, they needed to be close to the lifestream it was said, and as the ShinRa began to drain the area, the dragons died out, dwindling down to the few remaining guardians, who selfishly defended their territory. It was because of these caves he found his way around the reactor, a path underneath the rickety bridge connecting the two highest peaks of Mt. Nibel, and straight across the river into the northern part of the New Continent.
The sun was Godo's saviour, the warmth on his face as he left the caverns of Mt Nibel a reminder of everything Wutai had. Staring out across the water from the beach he could almost see the mountains of Wutai on the horizon. It was almost enough to make him want to run to Rocket Town, to where Cid Highwind, the legendary pilot, would fly him back to Wutai. He wondered what news would await him when he returned. He wondered if Yuffie would be waiting for him, and if he had received word of Staniv and the others. He had much to say to the council of leaders in the capital, much to tell them of the suffering he had seen, and of his further plans to bring down the ShinRa. He had to tell them about his doubts too, how he had seen on more than one occasion that not everything ShinRa had done was bad. The medicines they developed and the advances they had made in technology were useful to everyone, even Wutai could benefit from them.
As he walked, the peak of what appeared to be a small mountain revealed itself on the horizon, rising slowly as he got closer, showing its true form, the head of a rocket, the metal glinting in the sunlight, the curves of the machine screaming tales of the ingenuity of her creator. Godo stopped in awe; this was the pinnacle of human technology, a symbol of humanity's free spirit and wanderlust. It was beautiful. The ShinRa no. 26 was ShinRa's newest flagship, a boast to the entire world as to what they could achieve. Godo stared at the Rocket, an entire town had been built around this project, all of the inhabitants had been a part of its construction. Godo stepped into the town cautiously, searching for any sign of a ShinRa troop, but the town seem deserted with the exception of the scientists and pilots. An old man sitting on a bench smiled at him, noting the awe in the warriors face.
"It's a beautiful piece of machinery isn't she?" he asked, his voice kind and soft, Godo nodded in reply, to stunned to reply with words.
"I spend all my time here," the old man began, standing up and shuffling to wear Godo stood, "Just looking at her, my life's work, so close to fruition, it makes life worth living."
"How long until they launch her?" Godo asked, trying to hide his accent.
"Not long, a few months at most," The old man sighed softly and his voice became choked, "and then I'll never be able to see her again…they'll take her to Midgar when she lands, it's inevitable. Her launch will be a bittersweet moment my boy, let me tell you that."
Godo smiled at the old man, understanding the pride he felt in his work, much like Godo's pride in his troops, his Crescent Unit.
"So why are you here lad?" the old man asked, his voice clear again
"I'm here to see Cid Highwind; I would request a favour from him." Godo told the man and then cursed himself for it. The less people that knew he was here the better; it was already a risk asking Cid to take him home, because in essence, Cid was a ShinRa employee.
The man pointed at a house closer to the base of the rocket, "He lives over in that building, finest pilot I've ever met. Ain't no one else I'd trust to fly my girl into space let me tell you that!"
Godo bowed slightly and thanked the man before walking towards the house, praying Cid was home and would listen to his request.
As he got to the door of Cid's house he found it open and the house was a mess, bits of machinery littered the corridor and oil was smeared along the walls, Godo called inside, shouting for Cid before entering. He crept in, wondering if an attacker lie in wait in one of the small rooms. Godo raised an eyebrow at the kitchen, bits of engine were scattered around the tables, except for the area surrounding the kettle and in front of the single kitchen chair. In that space, stood one steaming hot cup of tea, within arms reach of the chair. Godo pursed his lips in thought, it was still hot, which meant Cid can't have left long ago; he wondered if he was in the backyard, calming himself down, stopping himself from thinking about Cid being attacked before he had even arrived.
As Godo crept to the back of the house he noticed the backdoor was shut, unlike its partner in the front of the house. Shaking the handle Godo cursed, and there was no sign of a key in this mess. Shaking his head he turned and everything went black.
Godo groaned as he opened his eyes, the ceiling was spinning, and he could smell oil, and metal all around him.
"Ah so you're awake then eh?" a voice came from somewhere to his side, "Feckin' Wutai thief,"
Godo sat up and looked at the source of the voice; he was sitting in the singular kitchen chair holding the cup of tea from before, his blonde hair was tinged with whitish grey at the temples and pushed back by leather goggles. Shaking his head Godo muttered an incoherent question.
"Who am I?" the man began and laughed, lighting up a cigarette he sighed in happiness, "I'm Cid Highwind, but the question is, who the hell you are? The bastard that snuck into my house while I was checking on the Rocket."
Godo grunted again and rose to his feet and found himself greeted by the end of a spear,
"Whoa whoa!" Cid laughed, "It doesn't do for thieves to stand before being asked does it, so what's your name?"
"Godo, and I'm not a thief, I came inside because the door was open, and I saw the mess…I assumed you'd been attacked."
Cid laughed heartily, resting his spear against the wall and finishing his tea.
"Well I'll be…" he chuckled to himself grinning broadly as he smoked, "well if that's the case Godo, I'm sorry for walloping you with that there spear." He laughed again, "It's not everyday you get a Wutai warrior sneaking around your house trying to protect you is it?"
Godo shook his head and sighed, he should have been more careful.
"Don't worry about it, have a cup of tea and we'll talk about me making it up to you."
"Sorry, but I don't want any tea, but thank you for offering…"Godo began
"What! Sit down and drink the god damn tea that I give you, in my house!" Cid shouted before turning to the kettle and grumbling about guests and their lack of manners.
Godo rubbed his forehead; it was still ringing from where Cid had attacked him. Everything seemed hazy, maybe he did need a drink, maybe he needed food, he hadn't eaten since he had left Nibelheim. He needed to get home first though.
"Cid, I heard you fly people around for money correct?"
Cid chuckled softly, "Used to, that's the truth, until the bastard ShinRa stole my Highwind, best ship I ever flew, built her myself. Now, I can't take many passengers so it's rarely worth the money they offer." Cid turned and passed Godo a cup of tea, "You planning on asking me to take you back home? It's not all that usual to see a Wutai soldier in the middle of a ShinRa base."
Godo nodded quickly, he had to leave soon in any case, he just hoped he would be leaving in a plane headed home.
There was
a silence in the room while Cid lit up another cigarette and thought
about Godo's request, Godo cupped his tea in his hands, praying for
an answer. Suddenly Cid stood up and downed the cup of tea he had
made for himself.
"Well…hurry up and finish the goddamn tea
so we can get a move on to Wutai, no time like the present eh?" he
grinned and went to the backdoor, unlocked it and went outside.
Finishing his tea Godo followed Cid towards the small plane tied in
the backyard.
"This is the first plane I ever built," Cid beamed, patting the nose of the plane with pride, "The Tiny Bronco, get you to Wutai in no time."