So ummm, I really don't consister this story up to my usual writing standers. I wrote it months ago, and have since editted it (with the help of loveboylove of course) a dozen times and I still need a miracl to fix all the format issuses. Anyway I figured I might as well put it up instead of letting it rot in the bowls of my computer ^^ After all I really do like the story, the writing style and grammer just urks me.
Anyway I do not own Zack or Cloud, and thank you for reading my story.
Two hours later the sky was still dark, but whether that was due to the early hour or the bleeding storm clouds Cloud wasn't sure. The rain had grown from a small drizzle into a tremendous down poor, but at least there'd been no lighting thus far.
Zack, ignoring the warnings of his pilot was leaning precariously out the side of the aircraft, his arm looped loosely around a ceiling bar, while his famed Buster sword sat strapped securely against a wall. Rain and wind had plastered Zack's hair flat along his scalp, but this daunted him little as he continued observing the area through a small pair of binoculars.
"Hey I see it!" Zack called out at last pointing off into the murky distance.
"About time!" The pilot roared over the pounding rain. "I need to land this thing, before the storm gets any worse! It's already jammed my com link; I don't need it destroying my baby as well." He finished giving the dashboard a loving slap.
Cloud tilted his body a little to get a better view of their destination. With a few optical adjustments to his helmet Cloud acquired a close up of the Dentiri peninsula's northern shore. On a whim he switched the visual to infer-red and was surprised to see a large heat signature only half a mile inland from their destination.
"Sir, wha-"Cloud started to ask, but was interrupted as a sudden gust of heavy wind hit the aircraft sideways causing it to shiver and rock violently.
"Whoa!" Zack exclaimed losing his balance and grip on the ceiling bar. Falling backwards, he somehow managed to twist his body and thrust his hands forward to brace against the opposite wall; which happened to be the spot right above Cloud's head.
"Ah, sorry about that." Zack said with an apologetic smile, as he looked down at the screen covering Cloud's face. "What were you about to say?"
"I-um… I was –uh-"Cloud stammered. Zack was way too close. The tips of his black hair lightly brushed Cloud's helmet while his warm breath made small moisture flowers bloom across its visor. Cloud was also finding Zack's torso very distracting as his wet clothes did little to hide the well toned physique beneath. Cloud again thanked his helmet as he could feel himself start to blush like a school boy.
"Well its just tha-"He was again cut off as a light on the pilot's control panel started to beep and flash ominously.
"We've got trouble!"The pilot shouted as another gust hit the chopper.
"What now?" Zack called back turning away from Cloud to make his way cautiously towards the aircraft's front.
"Incoming missiles!" The pilot replied a trace of fear in his voice. "And if I know Dentari they'll be the heat seeking kind!"
"Shit," Was all Zack had time to utter before the first missile whooshed past them with less than an inch to spare.
"Where the hell did that come from?" One of the soldiers cried his voice high pitched with fear.
"Shut up and Brace!" The pilot yelled in answer and Cloud felt his stomach lurch as the helicopter took a plunge downward.
"Everyone un-strap yourself and grab the life vest under your seat!" Zack instructed as the aircraft started to level out, "We're going to jump when we reach the water!" Cloud could feel panic's butterflies rising quickly inside his body and amongst the other soldiers as he unbuckled the heavy shoulder braces. After a moment of searching Cloud found the assigned life vest, only to realize his hands were shaking too much to fasten it.
"Ready?" Zack called his own life vest already securely in place. "On three start jumping one at a time in increments of two seconds! One-"He shouted leaning slightly out of the aircraft to get a better view of the ocean below. "Two…Three!" Cloud looked up just in time to see a black streak shred, whistling though the rain, and less than a second later explode in a horrible screech of metal as the main propeller ripped off.
The smell of burning metal and electric wires whipped in the air, while Cloud's ears fill with the hellish sound of rushing wind and chorus of terror, surprise, and anger from his companions. Cloud was abruptly slammed against a wall as the plummeting helicopter began whirling wildly like a deranged top. Looking up, all he could see was a jumble of black shapes silhouetted against a red flashing background as they tumbling over and around him.
Then they hit the water.
The impact smashed Cloud against the floor and he heard something in his helmet snap and sputter as the internal visual gave out. Cloud could feel freezing water rushing in all around him and franticly he ripped off the defective device. For a brief instant he lightning flashed through the hole where above right before a gush of water encompassed it. Icy ocean engulfed Cloud's head, as he lunged for the exit. Something twisted around his leg drew Cloud up short and franticly he kicked out in an effort to release himself. Adrenaline pounding, Cloud again propelled himself off the helicopter's interior, only to hit a wall instead.
Trying to hold in the scream of fear and desperation that was threatening to burst from his throat Cloud started pulling himself along the wall. Where was the exit? Did the doors somehow shut? Shit! He desperately didn't want to die, especially not like this. As Clouds lungs started to collapse, he could feel the aircraft sinking deeper into ocean, and all hope with it.
Suddenly something grabbed his left arm and pulled him firmly away from the wall and into open water. A new wave of panic briefly smothered Cloud's mind with images of giant flesh eating squids. He tried to claw at the creature holding him, when he felt it push him towards the surface. Needing no further cue, Cloud began swimming on his own faster than he'd ever swum before; to finally break the ocean's surface and gasps in glorious lung full's of fresh salty air.
"Cloud? You alright?" Someone called as Cloud felt a pair of hands fasten the loose straps of his life vest. Blinking the salty water out of his eyes Cloud beheld the dark haired visage of Zack bobbing in front of him, his blue eyes creased with worry. Cloud opened his mouth to answer, but ended up coughing up water instead.
"I'm. Fine." He finally managed to wheeze out between coughs. "Thank you." Zack tapped Cloud's shoulder.
"Don't mention it." He said and Cloud felt his heart skip a beat as their eyes met. "I'm your commander. It's my duty to protect all those who serve under me." For some reason Cloud felt his chest twinge a bit at these words. Of course that's why Zack came back to save him, because Cloud was one of his soldiers not due to some special emotional attachment. Immediately after thinking this Cloud mentally kicked himself for being so selfish.
Why should it matter why he came back? The important part is that he did, and I'm alive because of it.
Lighting flashed brilliantly across the sky briefly illuminating the head's and upper torsos of Cloud's seven comrades and the Dentiri shore ahead. They had crashed pretty close by and it would only take a few minutes of hard swimming to reach it.
Giving Cloud one last look over, Zack yelled at the squad to stay together and begin swimming for shore.
"Commander!" One of the soldier's suddenly yelled causing Zack to turn back around, "I think something just brushed my leg! Oww!" He cried.
"That was me, moron," The pilot next to him replied. "And I'll kick you again if you don't shut up and keep swimming-Ah-Ahhhh!" The pilot let out a scream as he abruptly disappeared from sight. A pure white tail fin breaking the water's surface near the place he'd occupied only moments ago.
A fearful silence fell over the party as silences tend to do when something terrible has happened, but no one is quite willing to except it, until,
"RAZOR RIDGE!" A soldier yelled in terror. "THEY'LL EAT US ALIVE!"
"KEEP SWIMMING!" Zack yelled before diving down under the swelling waves.
Cloud had never seen a razor ridge before, but he'd heard the horror stories from men lucky enough to spot one and survive. Cloud definitely wasn't willing to stick around and see for himself.
While many might tease him for his looks, few could deny that Cloud did process an unusual amount of endurance, which he now put to good use, soon pulled ahead of his comrades. Of course it was still difficult swimming, not only because of the heavy clothing and steal toed boots, but also because of great storm churned waves. The current pushed him this way and that, up huge crests and down narrow valleys so that many times Cloud feared to have lost his way.
Blinking another drenching of salt water out of his eyes, Cloud was only fifteen feet from shore when he felt a pair of strong jaws close around he's left foot. Desperately he kicked out hard with his right and felt it connect to malleable flesh. Instantly the jaws around his foot released. Cloud didn't waste any time, but sliced through the last few feet of water and didn't stop until he'd run past the beach and into forest. Turning back he saw the unmistakable tail fin of a razor ridge as it turned gracefully towards deeper waters.
Cautiously Cloud made his way back to the shore line. He'd read that razor ridges' tended to hunt in schools of three or so. They were drawn to their pray similarly to sharks but, unlike most carnivores, razor ridges' didn't just kill enough to survive. From recorded accounts these beasts for reasons unknown seemed driven to kill above and beyond what would be sufficient for survival. They would wipe out whole schools of fish, and groups of large mammals as well, before feeding on the carcasses. It was almost as if the razor ridges' enjoyed killing. In fact, the only recorded species that a razor ridge wouldn't attack or eat was one of its own, even if the beast was dead.
Reaching the point where land meet water Cloud wiped the rain off his face as his eyes tried piercing the darkness, hoping to find others who had safely washed up on shore. He waited for what seemed like a life time. The cold diving deeper and deeper into his body until not even fear could disperse the lethargic fog blanketing his mind. Finally Cloud spotted something as it came over the next swell. At first he dreaded it was another razor ridge as the object appeared white in color. Another moment of observation disclosed that this animal was not moving fast and sleek as normal, but bobbing quite oddly/ Cloud squinted, there seemed to be something on its back…
"ZACK!" He cried in relief jumping into the water, wading towards the figure. A few moments later Cloud confirmed that the man clinging onto the carcass of a gutted razor ridge was indeed first class solider Zack Fair.
"Zack!" Called Cloud again when he reached the other man. Zack's eyes were closed, his breathing slow and shallow, and his skin ice cold to the touch. He gave no response when Cloud called his name or the shaking he received, except to slowly half open one eye. It gazed dully, with no recognition, before closing.
"Zack! Zack, no! You have to stay awake!" Cloud cried, pulling Zack's body off the dead predator and hauling him to the beach. After laying him out under some cover provided by the native trees, Cloud tried calling to Zack again. No result. Out of desperation Cloud slapped Zack across the face, once, twice, four times, until he finally gave a groan and slowly opened both eyes.
"….Cloud…." He said sleepy relief in his voice. "You made it…good…."
"Zack don't fall back to sleep!" Cloud insisted as Zack's body went slack and his eyes rolled momentarily up into his head. "If you go to sleep you'll die!" Slap! "Talk to me! How are you feeling?"
"Nothing…." Zack mumbled as Cloud forced him onto his feet allowing himself to be used as a crutch.
"Uh, ok, I mean that's bad!" Cloud knew that both he and Zack were suffering from sever hyperthermia and he knew either wouldn't last much longer in the rain. Cloud searched the area around him looking for anything that could offer them some sort of shelter.
"…yah…your right…I am, bad…everyone's dead…my fault…" A small choking sob escaped Zack's throat.
"No, your wrong!" Cloud said alarmed. "It's not your fault! I survived! I'm sure others have too." Cloud suddenly remembered the heat signature he'd seen through his helmet before the crash. Looking around again Cloud estimate which direction it might be, presuming they were on the proper section of beach…
Supporting a more than half delirious Zack through the Dentiri forest's tangled underbrush proved to be more of a challenge then Cloud first thought. For one thing, Zack was quite a bit taller and brooder then Cloud, and for another Cloud had to support almost the entirety of Zack's weight, plus avoid treacherous roots and snagging bushes. On the other hand keeping Zack somewhat concisions proved to require little work as he began rambling quietly to himself. Cloud only hoped the heat signature he'd seen wasn't an occupied Dentari camp.
They continued trudging through the woods, Cloud becoming more and more unsure of his direction. Quite abruptly the sodden ground beneath them gave way. Plummeting downward they landed with a thump onto hard stone a half dozen feet below the surface. Cloud's body was so numb he felt no pain from the fall, and it must have been similar for Zack as it hardly disturbed his troubled monolog. Cloud retrived a small compatable flashlight from his pocket, and was relieved to find it fuctional. Shining it down the tunnel, Cloud was excited the passage lead further into the earth.
"Zack. We're almost there. Hold on." He said lugging his friend back onto his feet.
The tunnel, Cloud was thankful to realize, got warmer the farther they traveled, until it quite suddenly opened up into a small forty foot by twenty foot cavern. Giving the area a quick check and finding nothing amiss, Cloud laid Zack down, and placing the light into his mouth, began removing the older man's clothing.
Zack, Cloud found, was in very bad shape. Not only was his body temperature dangerously low, but he was also suffering for major blood loss due to a number of serious lacerations and bites. Cloud cursed the rain for hiding the blood so thoroughly. If Cloud had known this before he would have immediately attempted to bind the wounds before traveling. As it was Cloud quickly recognized he lacked the proper medical supplies to tend Zack in the first place. Looking around in desperate hope, Cloud peered intently into the shadowed corners of the cavern and saw the vague outline of an archway on its far side.
"I'll be back." He said laying a hand on Zack's chest, before moving towards the opening.
Upon reaching the archway Cloud was surprised to see the area beyond was not a cavern at all but a metal lined hallway with doors on either side. Attempting to be cautious Cloud shut off his light, but after the third time of banging off something he gave up on stealth figuring he'd have a better chance with a living enemy then the furniture.
Approaching the closest door Cloud was thankful that the large room behind was lit with a dim electric glow. The room itself contained a few old wooden crates and what looked like a generator. The room was quite warm and Cloud guessed the generator was what his helmet had picked up on. Opening boxes Cloud found some preservatives, blankets, a few weapons of foreign make and a box of assorted survival supplies, which thankfully, included a standard army medic kit. Grabbing this last item a few blankets and larger flashlight Cloud stumbled back out to Zack who was lying in a quickly increasing pool of his own blood.
Kneeling down next to him, Cloud held the flashlight clenched between his teeth and began the process of cleaning and stitching up the worst of Zack's wounds, using goss to binding the others. He would have like to move Zack to the warmer generator room, but any movement would likely cause more harm than good. Cloud also didn't know if he had the strength left to drag Zack anyway. Who knew someone so thin could weigh so much!
At last remembering his own encounter with a razor ridge Cloud inspected his foot to find that the metal toed boot had blocked the worst of the beast's teeth, and he'd only a few pricks to show for it. Carefully bundling Zack up in a few of the blankets Cloud removed his own clothes and checked the rest of his body.
Except for a bruise and scrap here or there, nothing seemed amiss. Amazing, considering what he'd just been through; though his head was really starting to hurt.
That's probably from when my helmet broke in the transporter. Cloud thought as he carefully inspected the tender spot on his skull. It was going to leave quit a bump but at least his scalp was intact. Looking thoughtfully around, Cloud guessed really should go scout the rest of the underground complex. Who knew what kinds of hostiles it could be hiding.
Though in truth, Cloud thought, if my blundering didn't bring the enemy down on us we're probably alone.
"Remember to always scout an area before making camp. You never know what you might find. There could be enemies about, resources you didn't know of, or even a better place to camp. Always know what's around you! Take nothing for granted!"
Cloud sighed as Takaharu's lecture continued cycling through his head. Slowly hoisting himself to his feet Cloud resigned himself for a weary search, when an unexpected sound caught his attention.