I do not own anything nor do I make any money from this story. All rights apply.
Follows on from 'All that is lost'; some months later. Different genre and no crossover.
METEORA
YESTERDAY
Cloud watched as the woman behind the counter signed on the dotted line, confirming delivery. Once done he handed the parcel over and nodded farewell before leaving. He was making his way back to his bike, checking over the next delivery, when he spotted Reno walking purposefully across the road toward a waiting Rude. They both seemed agitated and on edge. Cloud turned his attention back to the task at hand. There were two more delivery for today and he wanted to get them done quickly. His thoughts were interrupted when someone stepped into his path – it was Reno.
"What are you doing here?" he asked abruptly.
"Working," answered Cloud holding up his clipboard.
Reno seemed unconvinced but didn't stop Cloud as he continued on his way. Cloud did have a vague interest in what the two Turks were up to but had more important things to do. Whatever it was, it was obviously important to ShinRa and he wasn't particularly keen to get involved – he was so lost in thought he didn't even realise when he collapsed; falling to the ground.
Reno had received a report two days ago that the mako reactor in Junon had been activated. Or more accurately, that mako was being extracted from the reactor. He, along with his fellow Turks, had been hunting the perpetrator with little, in fact, no success. The reactor had been sealed off from the public some time ago but there was evidence of some tampering with the locks. Elena had gone to question some people and Tseng was... doing something; Reno didn't actually know what Tseng was doing but he did know what was not happening – finding who was stealing from ShinRa and it was annoying him. He strongly suspected Dione as they had yet to find the man. He was always a step ahead, never staying in place more than 12 hours; changing names and outfits as he went. Reno needed more men but resources were limited.
Reno had not been pleased to see Cloud in Junon. Everything that had ever happened to Reno lately that involved mako, reactors, ShinaRa or disaster also involved Cloud Strife. He didn't hate the guy but he did get in the way sometimes. His irritation at the situation came out when he asked Cloud what he was doing in Junon, his annoyance wasn't soothed by Cloud's brush off. Under normal circumstances Reno would have laughed at Cloud crashing head first into the ground but these were not normal circumstance and even as Cloud hit the dirt, the ground beneath the him heaved upwards and threw dirt, debris, Lifestream and Meteor high into the air causing a deathly rain.
Reno watched awe struck as the pale lifestream flowed from the ground to swirl with the black of Meteor. People ran screaming from the new substance that twisted human flesh and metal into new terrifying creations that roared in pain and anger. He watched as a young man was caught in the swirling mass that slid across the street, saw his chest burst open as the inner workings of some machine replaced his organs. It was terrifying but mystifying to watch. Reno stood staring as the new creation ran blindly across the street, screaming and tearing at the machinery in his chest.
And there was so much screaming. So much terror.
"Reno," yelled Rude pulling the red head from his trance.
Reno shook himself and looked round. Seeing Rude across the street with Cloud across his back, he ran over.
"We have to get out of here," Reno yelled pointing to the main exit of Junon.
Rude nodded and they started forward but didn't get far before the ground shook for a second time and cracked open as Lifestream and Meteor poured out the broken ground again. The Turks backpedalled quickly to avoid the surge as well as the falling debris and headed toward the old ShinRa base but the mess of life and death ran down the front gate like a waterfall, forming a large pool where creations were made and dissolved as they formed.
There was a roar from behind them; Reno was in half a mind not to turn but instinct took over. He wished it hadn't. The creature was still humanoid but it stumbled along awkwardly as its legs tried to move forward while facing the wrong way. The stomach was swollen and moved suspiciously as a third hand tried to pull itself free from its thigh. Looking around desperately, Reno saw a small storage unit off to one side, tucked neatly between two buildings. Even as he turned to tell Rude, the man saw it and they ran toward it.
The Creature lunged forward catching Rude's ankle and bringing them both to the ground. Rude, feeling that he was falling, angled his body so that he didn't land on Cloud. Even as he started to kick the hand that held onto his leg, Reno appeared with a length of steel pipe and brought it down on the creature's head causing it to explode like a red firework. Reno helped Rude to his feet while keeping a lookout, once Rude was on his feet they headed for the storage unit again. Reno covered the rear with the steel pipe.
Reno tackled the door to the storage unit but it was locked. He swore and set about picking the lock and was soon rewarded with a click. Standing he pulled the door but it didn't move, he jerked it a couple of times before putting his foot against the frame and pulling. The new angle caused the door to slide to the side catching Reno's arm between the frame and handle. He pulled himself free with a yell and leapt inside after Rude sliding the door closed behind him. They stood panting in the dark for a few minutes.
"Do you still have Cloud?" asked Reno seeking a mundane topic.
"Yes," said Rude moving around in the dark.
"Okay," said Reno in a vague voice and flipped open his phone to look around in the pale blue light.
There was a small window on the back wall of the unit, creates were piled on the floor with no plan in mind. While Rude cleared floor space Reno took a look a Cloud. The light gave his skin a bluish tinge but he was still breathing albeit slowly. Reno couldn't find anything wrong with him so he set about exploring the contents of the crates… machine parts. He did come across a small lamp with some fuel, he had also hoped for a weapon as his elecromag was still in the car but there was nothing.
"I left my pipe outside," he said suddenly.
His arm was now throbbing dully and it hurt to move his fingers but he managed to light the lamp. Rude had piled all the crates in the centre of the room leaving the window free of any access.
"You look like a mess," said Reno.
Rude looked down at himself; mud covered his back while dirt dusted his clothes.
"At least it's not blood," he said with a pointed look at Reno's shirt.
"What!" Reno looked down. "Gross, man. But it's brains, actually."
"And that's better… how?" asked Rude shrugging out of his jacket and removing his shirt.
"What are you doing?" asked Reno.
"I'm going to use my sleeve as a bandage," explained Rude opening his knife and cutting the sleeves off his shirt before putting the shirt back on.
It was then Reno noticed Rude had blood running down the side of his face.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Head wounds bleed out of proportion to the wound," said Rude.
Reno nodded and slumped against the door, defeated.
"What the hell has happened?"