The five Turks raced through, Zara tried to listen out for the familiar voice or footsteps but it was hard even for her enhanced hearing to pick up and single Rufus out with everyone else around her. They moved through a tunnel trying to move as quickly and as quietly as they could, Zara's eyes glowed giving off a soft blue light.
Zara noticed a light, like the glow from her eyes but it was stronger, it was seeping in from the end of the tunnel that was coming clearly into view. As they came to the end of the tunnel all of the Turks automatically slowed, training and experience had taught them not to go racing out in situations like this.
Veld who was leading the procession signalled for them to stop, he then turned his brown eyes to look at Zara. She understood the message 'listen out for anyone'. She caught some voices, one was high pitched, obviously female, the other harsher, deeper. It sounded like Chaz and Rufus.
"Chaz and Rufus," Zara murmured looking back at Veld. He gave a nod and continued down the dark tunnel with Tseng, Rude, Zara and Reno following behind. Gaia he looked furious, his aqua eyes were positively blazing.
"Director!" Chaz exclaimed, relief etched onto her pretty features "Director, Vice President Rufus is here, I tried to tell him it was dangerous here and that he had to leave but he wouldn't listen, sir!"
"That's alright Chaz," Veld reassured "Rude grab him!"
Rufus tried to bolt away but Zara suddenly appeared in front of him and Rude grabbed him from behind, his size and strength no match for Rufus. He struggled violently "Let go of me!"
"I don't think so V.P," Reno said a savage tone in his voice.
"Reno," warned Tseng eyeing Reno.
"We can't let him get away with it!"
"No Reno we can't, but there are more pressing matters at hand." Tseng stated calmly.
"Sir?" asked Chaz uncertainly "what's going on?"
"I shall explain later, where is everybody?" Veld asked looking around "Zara call everyone tell them to get out immediately."
"Yes sir." Zara took her PHS out of her pocket and typed in the code that would call everyone simultaneously. She was greeted by a chorus of 'Yes's'.
"Everyone get out, and meet beck at the choppers, something's come up. Call me when you get there all right?"
"Yes" came the chime of many different voices. Far off and in various places she could hear the faint running of her fellow Turks until they disappeared.
Zara looked around, a massive pool of Mako was beneath them and gave everyone a slightly blue tinge. They were standing on a metal walkway. There were many others below crisscrossing and Zara looked up it was the same scene of railed walkways.
Something about it dragged her back to when Sephiroth killed the townspeople of Nibleheim. The heat from the fire as she ran through the burning streets, shouting, screaming from men, women and children. The shrill pitiful crying of babies. Then Sephiroth himself appeared, turning round from the tank that contained J.E.N.O.V.A , Zack shouting at him, the feel of a cold sharp blade running through her, green cat like eyes-
"Zara. Zara!"
She blinked, snapping back into focus . Reno was in front of her holding onto her shoulders, a confused and worried look in his eyes.
"Ah the Turks come to fight have they?" a voice came from above them.
On the walkway above stood Fuhito and a number of AVALANCHE operatives. Fuhito looked smugly down at them "There is no point you Shinra dogs! AVALANCHE shall prevail and the world shall be at peace once we return everything to it!"
"Fuhito!" cried Rufus "good, kill them! Kill the Turks!"
"And what makes you think you have any authority?" asked Fuhito a cold look in his eyes as he surveyed the Shinra heir.
"What! I gave you information!" Rufus struggled in Rude's vice like grip.
"Ah yes about that, it seems that with the new AVALANCHE we will not need your assistance anymore I'm afraid . You've outlived your usefulness. Kill them all!"
The AVALANCHE operatives jumped down onto their level and wasted no time in attacking. A group encircled Reno and Zara and they stood with their backs together. Making sure neither had a blind side "You okay?" Reno wondered a slightly worrying tone edged his voice.
"Yeah."
They pushed away from each other, Zara swung her sword cutting down the men in her path. Behind her she could hear the cracking of the EMR as Reno zapped his enemies. A sword sliced through the air in front of Zara just inches away from her face. A quick jump back and well aimed kick and swing of her own sword saw the end to her attacker. They kept on coming and she kept on fighting.
Zara received a few cuts and scratches but nothing bad, she looked around at her colleagues who in a way had become her family. Everyone was okay, a little bloodied and scruffy looking but uninjured. Chaz was taking her throwing knives out of the men she had hit, pushing some of her black fringe out of her eyes. Rude straightened his glasses and tie, Reno was brushing himself down, Tseng re adjusted his ponytail and Veld seemed to be fine as he had a firm hold on a rather pale looking Rufus Shinra.
"Fuhito!" a female voice came from above "We have secured the bombs."
It was her, Elfè. The woman looked a little worse for wear then when Zara had seen her in Junon. Her hair seemed dull and a lot thinner. Her face was pale with no colour in her cheeks and she had no spark in her eyes. Maybe she was ill, but this reminded Zara of something else. Of Genesis and Angeal, was Elfè degrading?
"Felecia?"
Zara looked at Veld cocking her head to the side slightly, perplexed. Felecia, what was the Chief on about.
Elfè looked down at Veld gobsmacked "Father?"
Reno and Zara looked at each other, what was going on.
"Yo Chief! What's goin' on?"
But Veld ignored Reno and continued to look at Elfè, who suddenly collapsed clutching her head in evident agony. "Papa?" she murmured.
"What is wrong Elfè?" muttered Fuhito crouching beside her, Shears doing the same.
"I can remember," she breathed out "I can remember everything."
"Excellent!" exclaimed Fuhito he grabbed Elfè's hand hauling her up, running with her the way they came and disappearing out of sight, with Shears chasing after them.
All of the Turks looked at Veld "My daughter that was my daughter!"
"Are you sure sir?" asked Tseng stepping towards the Director.
"I'm positive."
"Well then go after her."
"But that'll mean leaving all of you," he looked round at them all "I can't just leave the company."
"Sir yes you can, you should go before you lose her," Zara encouraged "we've got Tseng."
"All right," Veld walked over to Tseng putting his hands on the younger mans shoulders "you're in charge now my boy, don't let those two run amok." Veld jerked his head in Zara and Reno's direction.
"Hey!" they exclaimed together in an offended tone.
"You'll all need to get out of here before the place comes down! Make you sure get the Vice President to safety and put him in the holding room back at head quarters!" instructed Veld as he ran to a ladder that would take him up to the walkway above he climbed up and ran along the walkway without so much as a backward glance at his Turks.
The Turks stood there not quite sure what to do without their leader. Tseng snapped out of it first "You heard him we need to get out of here!"
There was a chorus of "Yes sir!" and they all made to walk back the passageway that got them into the reactor. When seemingly out of nowhere appeared a group of six Ravens. Zara gave a snarl of frustration.
Swinging her sword at them, Chaz ran to her side knives in hand. "Will you two be all right while we get the Vice President out of here?!" Tseng called.
"Yes! Get out of here!" Zara growled back swinging her sword at a Raven "We can take them can't we Chaz?"
"You bet!" and Chaz lunged at another Raven her small compact body twisting round to kick one while she stabbed the other.
Zara refocused her attention swinging the sword and thrusting it into the stomach of a winged creature, Zara was sickened as she was reminded of Essai and Sebastian. 'It's not them!' she thought cutting down another. Only two Ravens were left when the reactor shook violently.
"Shit! Chaz let's get this done quickly!" ordered Zara.
"I'm trying!"
Zara's sword connected with soft flesh of one Raven, she plunged the blade deep into its body and gave a twist to make sure. It dropped to the ground and Zara pulled the blade out.
Another more violent explosion sent a strong tremor down the building. Another happened much closer, Zara realised that everything was strangely muffled, girders and rubble landed in front of her, Zara jumped back suddenly aware she couldn't see Chaz.
"Chaz! Chaz! Where are you Chaz!" no answer " CHAZ!
Another massive pile of rocks and metal came crashing down "CHAZ!" screamed Zara desperately, smoke started to fill the reactor. Zara coughed and spluttered wiping her eyes "CHAZ!" again nothing.
Zara looked around again wildly another bomb detonated, even closer than before. Zara had no choice now, she located the mouth of the tunnel and sped towards it. Sprinting through the long tunnel the explosions were still going off 'No! No no no no! Chaz can't be dead, maybe she got out without me noticing!' Zara thought trying to reassure herself.
The light to the outside world soon became visible as the tunnels exit came into view, Zara pushed herself to run faster and then she was out. The light outside compared to the darkness of the tunnel shortly blinded Zara, she blinked furiously her eyes adjusting to the light.
"Zara!" came a relieved shout and she was nearly bowled over as Reno ran over to her and pulled her into him wrapping his arms securely around her. Zara coughed violently onto Reno's shoulder.
"Chaz," she whimpered, "I tried to find her I did! But rocks kept coming down and explosions and smoke!"
Reno seemed to realise what she was saying with a jolt "Shh shh Zara" he whispered soothingly "don't."
A.N. Oh those damn AVALANCHE eh? Well thank you to those of you have reviewed and seem to be enjoying the story and have taken to Zara. I've had her running about in my head for well over a year! I thought I should tell you who each of the Turks who I've named is
Rod=Rod (I'm so creative)
Hannah= Gun, female
Sam= Two guns male
Chaz=Knife female
Michael=Nunchaku
Alex=Legend
Edward=Martial arts male (after my favourite Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels character)
Monique=Martial arts female
Reviews are very appreciated ^_^
P.S. Chaotic-rouge, I never really considered that Zara was brainwashed, she was part of SOLDIER when Nibleheim occurred, but was unconscious when the Turks were sent in. The Turks have told her that they don't know what happened to Zack, I plan on exploring this within the story and see what happens. Yes I think after I complete this I will Chronicle Zara's story so I hope you stick around. Don't hesitate to P.M me if you have any more questions :)