Yet, another update in this story.
Enjoy
Chapter Thirty Two
Eden
It was nighttime as the ship neared Eden's skyline. Paine was looking at the scanner which was starting to pick up a lot of serious activities.
"What the hell…?" she said, looking out toward the front.
Then her eyes widened in shock. Right ahead, was a blockade of ships all of them barring the way into Eden. She couldn't understand how they have managed to do something that big in so little time.
"Er…Lightning, you might want to see this," she said.
The soldier appeared beside her and she heard Lightning let out a low curse.
"Damn," she said, "It's a blockade. Rydgea must have alerted Eden`s skyfleet about our coming. "
Paine gives the soldier a worried glance.
"So what do we do? Do we pull back?"
"No, we go straight through," she said.
Paine looked at her scandalized.
"Are you crazy? There must be a hundred ships out there," she said, "Our shields might not hold that long…we'll be torn to pieces."
"It's our only route," she said.
Paine shook her head.
"You're crazier than crazy girl you know that," she said, "No wonder you guys are related."
"If you won't do it, then let me drive," Lightning said, looking at her.
Paine looked at her.
"I'm the best damn pilot on this ship," she said, "If you want to make it through that blockade in front of us…you'll let me pilot this damn ship."
"Then get us through it Paine," Lightning told her.
Paine pressed a button raising the shields to maximum and started to get the thrusters ready.
"Alright everyone," she said, "You better fasten your seatbelt cause this one is going to be a bumpy ride."
She started to put more power in the thrusters and causing the ship to pick up speed aiming straight for the blockade. As they grew closer, flash of red lights started to appear upon the radar as the ships started to fire upon them, causing Paine to grip the controls.
"Evasive maneuvers," she said.
She made the ship spin on itself seeing a missile narrowly avoided them and can hear bullets hitting the side of the ship and one even hit the glass in front of her causing it to crack.
She can hear curses from behind her and even hear Tifa let out a scream at the sudden maneuver.
Sorry Teef, she thought, But you have to endure it if you want to survive this.
Then she jerked on the controls again, putting the ship back on normal flight mode zooming straight toward the blockage as a second wave of artillery flew at them. Paine dodged as much as she could but some of them still hit the ship causing it to shake and groan as sparks started to appear around her.
"We're taking hits," Zack yelled.
"Yeah, tell me something I don't know Fair," Paine yelled.
The ship gives a nasty lurch again and this time the glass in front of Paine cracked even more.
"Damn it at this rate, we won't live to make it through the blockade," she said.
She quickly started to put in the controls as a warning started to flash in front of her.
SHIELD DOWN TO TWENTY PERCENT.
"Gotta use the boost and the thrusters," she said, to herself, "That might be the only thing that work."
"What's the situation Paine?" Lightning asked as she appeared beside the steel haired girl.
"The ship's taking heavy damage and our shield is almost down," she said, giving the soldier a side glance, "I'm going to ram through the blockade…Maybe that will give us a chance…if not, we better start thinking of a plan B."
Lightning gives her a nod.
"Do it," she said.
Lightning arrived where the others were and said.
"Zack, do you still have the supplies from before?" she asked him.
"Yeah, sure hang on," the young man said.
He pulled the bag he had been carrying and put it in front of him.
"What are you looking for?" he asked.
"GRAV-CON units," Lightning told her, "We might have to jump out of the ship."
"You're kidding right?" Zack said, looking at her in surprise, "We're too high into the air…the GRAV-CON unit might not work…"
"We'll use the Eidolons," Éclair said.
Lightning gives her a glance.
"But not all of us has one," she said.
Éclair gives her a grin.
"Everyone doesn't have to have one," she said, "Both of us take two people with us…it might work."
Lightning gives her a glance but nodded.
"Alright, but we'll take the GRAV-CON units," she said, "We might need them…you never know."
"If you think it can help," Éclair told her.
"Everyone, hang on to something," Paine's voice yelled in warning.
Before they could even move, the back of the ship exploded, as a giant hole simply appeared there, as strong winds blew inside the ship and from above them they can see Sanctum ships flying all around them.
"Shit, not again," Tifa yelled as she started to get draw toward the opening.
"Got you," Vaan yelled taking hold of her arm.
"Paine, get out of here," Lightning yelled, looking toward the cockpit, "We're leaving the ship."
The silver haired girl was moving out but she could hardly keep her weight in check as the spinning ship caused her to crawl out and Zack quickly took hold of the girl.
"See you on the other side," Éclair said, giving her a wink, "Tifa Vaan let's go."
She took hold of both of them before jumping out, the wind throwing them out of the ship.
"IF I DIE I'LL KILL YOU ÉCLAIR," Tifa screamed.
Lightning took hold of both Paine and Zack before jumping out of the falling ship and then they were in the air, flying thousands of feet with nothing but the wind as companion. She can feel both Zack and Paine holding to her clothes which felt like they're going to get ripped off any moment.
"Do something," Zack yelled above the winds howling in her ears.
Her brand started to glow and Lightning yelled out.
"Mateus, Gestalt Mode,"
A large symbol appeared in the air and then, a six winged dragon busted through going straight for them and with a graceful arc caught the three falling people upon its back. They were now flying back up toward the air and Lightning was holding the Eidolon's Lance in her hand as she glanced around looking for Éclair.
"Where are they?" Zack said, looking around also.
"There," Paine said pointing.
Above them, they noticed the pink light that was like a beacon in the night as the Sanctum ships started to open fire upon them.
"We have to help them," Zack said.
"I know," Lightning said, "Just hang on. Go Mateus, go."
Obeying her commands, the Eidolon zoomed straight for their friends and as Lightning started to gather her magic to cast spells, the Lance she was holding started to glow a bright blue light. Then the sea water below them quickly rose into tall towers made out of water, pushing out the Sanctum ships forcing them to fall back and even some of them got pushed away by the tower of waters that had taken them by surprise.
"Whoa," Zack said at the phenomenon.
"Now, this was some magic," Paine said, her eyes wide in amazement.
They arrived near the floating Odin to find both Vaan and Tifa seating upon it and Éclair was standing on the horse's head holding both swords in her hands.
"You guys alright?" Lightning asked her.
Éclair nodded.
"Thanks for the save," she said.
"I never want to do this again," Tifa said, shaking her head.
Vaan laughed.
"This was exhilarating," he said.
"C'mon," Éclair said, "I know where we have to go."
"Where?" Paine asked.
Éclair eyes were now fixed upon the tallest tower in Eden.
"The Primarch's Tower,"
They quickly found a place to land their Eidolons and Lightning approached where they were standing giving the area a glance. Eden at night was quite a sight to see with the many lights that were on, giving it a beautiful glow.
"Eden seems to be in a parade of some kind," Éclair said.
"Could it be…," Lightning said softly.
Éclair glanced at her.
"What is it?"
The soldier was looking at the lights and even so they can hear the cheers not too far away from them.
"It must be from the Stadium," she said, "It's got to be the Primarch's Celebration."
"You mean…that is today?" Vaan said, surprised.
Éclair was confused.
"What is the Primarch's Celebration?" she asked.
"It's one of the biggest events of Cocoon," Zack told her, "It's all in the honor of the Primarch's and it's done every year in thanks for holding up the peace that had been going on for centuries."
"Meaning Dysley will be there," Éclair said giving Lightning a glance.
The soldier nodded.
"We'll go there also," she said, "It will be easy to sneak in considering how many people will be present if that celebration is as big as you say."
"Guess we know our road now," Paine said, "Eden's Stadium."
"C'mon let's go," Lightning said running forward.
The group followed after the soldier who led them through the streets of Eden. They were many peoples in the streets all of them walking in the same direction they were going and many merry conversations going that way. Éclair was surprised to see people dressed in costumes and masks.
"They're wearing costumes," she said.
"It's a celebration," Tifa told her, "Mostly everyone will be wearing costumes."
"It's hard to think there was a blockade a few miles away," Paine said glancing around.
"Why isn't the military doing anything?" Éclair asked, directing her question toward the soldier.
"Probably don't want to cause a panic on the Primarch's big day," Lightning told her.
Then the Stadium came into view. It was a big from the outside as many people were heading in that direction.
"I know where the Primarch will be," Lightning told her, "I've guarded him long enough during those Parades."
"Guess there is a good thing about that," Éclair said.
"Maybe," the soldier said.
Lightning led them straight toward an Entrance which was guarded by a couple of soldiers.
"That's the Entrance toward the Primarch's Seat in the Stadium…" she started before trailing off.
"What is it?"
"Those are Cavalry soldiers," Lightning said, not able to keep the confusion out of her voice, "Why are they here and not the Sanctum? Something's odd is going on here..."
Before she could finish, a spell took down both of the soldiers. Everyone turned toward Vaan who has his hand raised toward them.
"We're not going to find out, staying here are we?" he said, looking at the group, "Let's get a move on."
He quickly makes his way toward the door followed by the rest of the group and then the door was thrown open showing them a platform. They all took it and Lightning pressed in the controls. It's started to rise through the floors.
"I thought they'll be more guards," Zack said, slowly, "I mean, they are guarding the Primarch, one of the most important figures on Cocoon."
"That's why it doesn't make senses," Lightning said, "They should have been more guards."
"Think this might be a trap?" Éclair asked.
"Be ready for anything," the soldier said.
The platform came to a stop and the double door in front of them slid open giving way toward a corridor which was also empty. They can hear the cheers of the people in the Stadium and also the sound of music as the Parade seems to be in full swing.
Lightning led them straight toward an ornate door which had the word PRIMARCH written above it. Exchanging glances with the rest of the group which had got themselves ready, she threw open the door and quickly aimed their weapons toward the figure that was standing in front of the glass which was giving way toward the Stadium.
"You have come," the person said, "Just as he said you would."
Then the person turned around, his dark hair falling into one of his eyes as his blue eyes looked at them. This wasn't Primarch Dysley it was…
"Raines?" Lightning said, shocked.
I mean, who didn`t see that comming? Well, apart from the characters that is?
Next time: Dysley`s Plan
Jacques0 out.
R&R