"Thank you, Cid. Good luck…Reeve out."
Cait Sith closed communications with his master as Cid stood at the steering wheel of his prized airship, named for his wife. Cid had lit up another cigarette before shouting to his crew:
"All right, numbskulls! You heard Reeve. We're heading for the Northern Continent to play hide and seek with the Repentant. Give me a heading and crank the engines up. I don't want to miss that asshole Cyrus just because we were dragging ass. Got it?!"
"Aye, aye Captain!" The crew responded in unison as they went about completing Cid's orders. Yuffie, who up until now was quietly standing still to prevent a motion-sickness attack, walked up to Cid with a look of concern.
"Um, Cid? You sure about this? Not that I'm worried about spying or anything like that…I mean, I AM the commander of the WRO's intelligence and espionage division after all…but this sound really risky. What if there's a whole army of those Repentant creeps?"
"What? You scared?" Cid said with a sneer. "If that's the case, maybe I oughta drop your scrawny ass off before we get to the Forgotten City. Besides, this is a man's job, anyway…"
That comment got a rise out of Yuffie. "You...you…YOU SEXIST PIG! To hell with you, I'm coming along whether you like it or not! You don't even know the first thing about being a spy, and you'd probably be stupid enough to get yourself caught when you were smoking one of those death sticks you're so fond of! So SCREW YOU, prick!"
Yuffie stormed off the Shera's bridge to one of the airship's cabins, as Cid stood at his wheel and laughed. His comment had served a purpose other than just to entertain himself…Cid wanted Yuffie to get over whatever worries she had about this operation before landing. Although he wouldn't admit this out-loud, but the brat had a good point: Cid wasn't cut out for spying and surveillance, and Yuffie was. If this was going to work, he needed Yuffie to be at her best, even if that took getting her pissed off at him to do so.
"Wow…Yuffie's really pumped up, isn't she?" Cait Sith commented. Apparently, even the robot was able to figure out Cid's ulterior motives behind his insult.
"Damn cat's more perceptive than I thought," Cid thought as he replied, "Yeah, well, if being pissed at me means she'll do her job as best she can, I don't mind being the bad guy. So, I guess this means I'm stuck with you as well, ain't I?"
"Now, now, don't say it like that!" Cait Sith pleaded. "I'm not much of a fighter, that's for true. But I do know a thing or two about spying! Besides, I'm small and hard to spot in shadows. I know I can help ya out!"
"Yeah, you do know something about spying, that's for damn sure. But don't forget about that overstuffed piece of shit you're riding on. You might blend into the scenery, but that thing stands out like a fucking sore thumb."
"Hey! Mog can't help how he was built, so don't be so mean to him! Besides, I'm been teaching him how to not be seen. Mog? Show 'em!"
The moogle nodded as it raised its hands and put them over his eyes. "See?" Cait Sith remarked. "He's getting better all the time!"
Cid shook his head and was about to let loose with one of his famous profanity-laden rants. In the end, he held himself back for one reason: no matter how careful they were, there was always a chance that the Repentant would find them and force them into a fight. If that was the case, he'd need the extra muscle Cait Sith's preferred mode of transportation provided…and he was willing to risk sticking out some more in the scenery for that backup.
"Tch, whatever. Look, if you plan on bringing that fat-ass along, just make sure he keeps himself hidden a helluva lot better than that. Got it?"
"Yessir!" Cait Sith shouted with a salute that his moogle mimicked. Cid sighed as he turned his attention towards steering his airship. He looked out the view port towards the northern sky, and suddenly he had a strange feeling…a chill that ran down his spine.
This wasn't the first time he felt it…no, he felt it back then too. Sephiroth…
Cid shook his head and cleared his mind of such thoughts. He was Captain Cid Highwind, damn it. He wasn't about to get spooked by some creep and his screwball followers. Whatever that bastard was planning, Cid was going to find out. And when he did, he was going to do what he does best…shove his boot straight up Cyrus's Repentant ass.
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The moon reflected off the ocean in spectacular brilliance. The near-mirror image of the heavenly body was only interrupted by the waves off the portside of the lone boat heading towards the Northern Continent. On board, Repentant troopers stood guard as their prophet left the cabin of the freighter and walked toward the bow of the vessel, cane in one hand and a violin in the other. Once he reached the very tip of the boat, he sat his cane down and took the violin's bow in his free hand.
Once he was set up, he began to play. Gliding the bow across the violin's strings, he started playing a song long forgotten by humanity…a Cetra song. It was one of the first things Cyrus translated at the Forgotten City all those years ago, and he had long committed it to memory.
As he continued playing the violin, a sad and somber melody permeated through the night. The song would have tugged at someone's heartstrings if they hadn't heard it before. As it was, the Repentant had heard that song before many times in the past, so they remained as stoic as they always were as they listened to their master's performance. No words were sung, but the music itself spoke of one Cetra's pain and anguishes after the battle with the harbinger from the skies (Cyrus refused to give the creature a name, much less call it by Shinra's moniker) and the indifference of humanity towards his plight.
The melody then started to pick up, as Cyrus started playing faster and faster. This part of the song spoke of hope for a brighter future and the promise of the Planet to deliver the Cetra from his doom and his people from extinction. Cyrus poured all his passion into the last verse as the bow began to splinter and fray from the furious pace. Finally, the song was completed, and Cyrus exhaled and panted as if he had swum all the way to the City of the Ancients. He paused to look at his bow. The string was tattered and would not survive another violin session.
"I'll need a new bowstring," Cyrus said aloud as he turned to face the Repentant that had taken it upon himself to be his bodyguard. "Are we on schedule, comrade?"
"Yes, master," the Repentant replied. "We should be approaching the Bone Village by late morning. The engines are operating at peak capacity and our comrades are working hard to maintain our speed."
"I appreciate both you and our comrades' continued vigilance. The Planet will be saved not by my words, but by your hands and your work. Never forget that without you and the Collective, we would never have been able to get this far. I thank you."
"The honor is ours, Master Cyrus. Our only desire is to see you unlock the wisdom of the Cetra and bring about the new utopia…a true Promised Land."
Cyrus smiled. This comrade spoke with determination and passion. He would make an excellent sergeant for the battles to come. "My friend, your words resonate in my soul. I would ask that you help lead your brethren in our upcoming struggle. Would you lend me your strength?"
"Sir!" the Repentant said as he took a knee in reverence. "If it will help our Collective complete our holy work, I will do as you ask."
"Thank you," Cyrus said with a bow. He then left his new Repentant sergeant alone to his thoughts as he made his way for his cabin and his notebook. He smiled at the dedication this one Repentant had shown him, the kind of dedication that told Cyrus that this man would thrust himself at the gates of Hades if his master commanded him to. And if things happened as Cyrus thought they might, hell would indeed come to him and the Repentant.
But none of that mattered. It didn't matter what hell the traitors brought upon his doorstep. Cyrus would find the key to his redemption and the Planet's salvation and bring forth the new utopia. No man, no force of nature would stop the Repentant. It was only a matter of time.
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Author's Notes:
I'm feeling more and more popular with each passing day! Special welcome to Writer Chica, who put my story on alert. Thanks!
This chapter ended up much better than the last one in my opinion. It just seems better written. I know it was a bit short and mostly filler, but trust me...it will be picking up really soon.
Also, I've been interviewing for several jobs in my area. I lost my last job last month (Sucksville)but I feel good about my chances. Wish me luck!
The thing that separates us from the animals? Opposable thumbs. Celebrate your evolutionary superiority by writing me a review!
Thanks,
"The Exile" Cyrus Truth