I know it's been a long time since I posted Chapter 4 for this fic, but I finally got Chapter 5 finished! Here it is guys, the final chapter for this fic! Thanks for your patience!
FF7 Random Bits 02
Chapter 5
[Setting - The tour is just about over, but there are a couple of surprises for both Percival, and his tour guides.]
[Location - Main Building, outside the Infirmary - An impromptu wet bar inspection was just what Percival needed after a harrowing morning being introduced to the interesting world of the new Midgar Army.]
There was nothing like a bit of alcohol to steady the nerves, Zack thought he and Cloud escorted Percival on a brief tour of the Infirmary. Percival was much more talkative now, and his seemingly perpetual anxious full-body tremor had all but disappeared. Even his eyebrows somehow seemed less...twisty.
"This is the Infirmary," Zack said as he reached for the button on the wall panel that would open the doors.
"You mean, the, uh, The Screamatorium?" Percival said in a shy, hesitant tone as his underused sense of humor made a spirited attempt at a joke.
Zack was momentarily caught off-guard by the unexpected jape, and his face split into a wide, delighted grin as he spun around with a "Aaaaayyyy! Right on, Percy!" while making finger guns.
Percival couldn't help but feel oddly pleased.
While Percival basked in the praise, Cloud inconspicuously moved away, desperately trying to give the impression to any passers-by that he was NOT associated with Zack, or his ridiculous finger guns. In fact, he didn't even know the young man with the spiky black hair who was waving at him and calling his name.
"Hey, Cloud, Percy just made a joke!" Zack crowed, excitedly grabbing Cloud by the arm and dragging him down the hallway. Cloud fought his ELITE form's strong urge to desperately dig his claws into the wall or the floor, or even chew his own arm off to escape. He imagined himself in his own horror movie, the unsuspecting victim abruptly snatched by the monster hiding in the murky shadows, now being dragged down the blood-smeared hallway to his doom.
Zack, oblivious to Cloud's internal torment, put a friendly (and restraining) arm around Cloud's shoulders. "Get a load of this," Zack continued, "Percy just nicknamed the Infirmary 'The Screamatorium'!"
"That's great, Percival." Cloud managed, while the Inspector beamed.
"Told you it was awesome, Percy!" Zack said in a proud tone. He gave Percy another set of finger guns.
"Stop doing that!" Cloud hissed at him, practically slapping Zack's hands down while looking furtively over his shoulder to make sure no one had seen the gestural atrocity.
"Calm your tits, man, jeeze!" Zack said in a slightly hurt tone, rubbing his wrists. "They're just finger guns!"
"Never point a weapon at anyone or anything unless you intend to pull the trigger."
"Don't worry they weren't loaded."
"Put your finger guns away and let's get going. Percival doesn't have all day."
"Yeah, okay, " Zack replied with mild sarcasm, "Let me just pick my hands up off the floor."
"I think one landed behind that potted plant by the closet door." Cloud countered in mock helpfulness.
Zack made a show of pretending to reattach his hands, then holster his finger guns. "There, all set!"
"You forgot to put the safety on."
"Zip it!"
"Well, if you want to put a hole in your foot, or blow your 'nonos' off..."
"They'll grow back,"
"Not before you bleed to death."
"Good thing we're at the Infirmary!" Zack countered with an annoying grin.
Cloud rolled his eyes and gave up.
Thankfully, Zack kept the tour of the 'Screamatorium' brief, not entirely trusting Percival's more relaxed nerves. There wasn't much to see anyway, since hospitals were dependent on strict organization and standards. Even Cloud noticed that the Inspector wore an expression that looked suspiciously similar to boredom.
Percival was struggling with his thoughts, wondering what was wrong with him. He had steeled himself for the chaotic scene of medical staff rushing frantically to and fro as they tried to help the injured, who littered the exam and emergency rooms, screaming in pain as they clutched broken limbs, gaping bloody wounds, or tried to keep handfuls of assorted vicera from spilling out of opened abdominal cavities, while blood flowed in runnels and pooled on the floor. What he was greeted with was a quiet lobby where a nurse was quietly checking in a 1st Class SOLDIER with mild puncture wounds to his right hand.
Percival was horrified to realize that he was feeling strongly disappointed at the lack of chaos. The SOLDIER seemed only mildly concerned with his hand, and in fact, was more interested in getting the nurse's phone number. He could have at least had the courtesy to produce a small scream of pain! Percy thought, much to his own shock.
Zack, seeing the way Percival's face had gone a little white around the lips, misinterpreted his pinched look of distress, thinking that the sight of the SOLDIER's wounds were just a little too much for Percival's fragile sense of adventure.
"That is pretty much it, for the Infirmary, " Zack said, steering Percival towards the exit, "We'll skip the Barracks, since they are literally just rows of beds...but they are very neatly arranged, if you do want to see them."
"I don't suppose I really need to. I mean, as long as they are properly equipped, which, judging from the rest of the building, I would assume they are."
Cloud suppressed a smile as he realized that the scarecrow-thin man was not interested at all in seeing the Barracks.
"But you did mention earlier that you had indoor training facilities, and I...would like to see those. If it isn't too much trouble?"
"Of course not!" Zack said pleasantly, noting the sparkle of interest (and alcohol) in Percival's eyes. "They are right this way,"
"I'm not sure the Training Rooms are a good idea," Cloud whispered to Zack as they headed down the hall.
"Why not?"
"Look at him!"
Percival, two pints worth of stout percolating through his bloodstream, was trailing behind them, weaving slightly like a shopping cart with a bad wheel.
"He's fine!"
"He's drunk!"
"He's not drunk, he's just got a little buzz," Zack drawled as he pulled the Training Room door open and ushered Percival inside.
The first thing that impressed itself on Percival's inebriated brain was the size of the room. It was huge, vaulted, and one could even go so far as to say 'cavernous'. All it was missing was a dragon on a pile of gold. "It's very impressive!" Percival commented, trying to take in all the space and equipment.
"This is our large-scale VR training room," Zack explained, "We use it for running more advanced simulations involving multiple platoons, free time activities, and also as a regular gym if the weather is too severe for outdoor drills or training."
There were several 2nd Class SOLDIERs sparring over to one side with training swords, an ELITE watching over them and alternately offering advice and sarcastic comments. Zack took his group over to the same area, moving a little farther down the equipment lined wall where they would be out of the way of the sparring group.
Zack eyed Percival for a moment, then picked out a light training sword and gave it a few experimental swings. "This is our training equipment, " he said, using the sword to point to the racks of weapons. "We have a large variety of weapon types, so the men can get experience with getting stabbed with as many as possible,"
"Good heavens!" Percival squeaked, aghast.
"Just kidding!" Zack said quickly, "They are all blunt training weapons. Any stabbings that do happen are purely accidental. Only 1st Class SOLDIERs and ELITEs are allowed to spar with real weapons."
"But isn't that dangerous?"
"If they haven't learned control by the time they are ELITEs, then getting a few holes poked in them will help them learn fast. Here, try this one!"
Zack pushed the training sword into a startled Percival's hands. The inspector held it out in front of him by the pommel at arms length, as if the blade were, at any moment, going to curl up its length and bite him on the hand. His skinny arm trembled anxiously.
"The pointy end goes into the enemy," Zack said helpfully. He took the sword from Percy, corrected his grip, and stepped back. "Relax, my dude, it's not going to hurt you," Zack said with a chuckle as Percy stood there, arms held out stiffly.
"It could if someone-!" Cloud began.
"Shut it!" Zack shot out of the corner of his mouth. "Go ahead, Percy! Give it a swing."
Percy shut his eyes and gave the sword a reluctant shake.
"Not bad," Zack said, "Try giving it a swing now. Pretend you are trying to staple an unruly stack of papers!"
Percy moved the sword with a bit more force this time, the motion actually qualifying as swing.
"Goodness!" Percy exclaimed, a flush coloring his face. A spark glittered in his eyes and he gave the sword another experimental swing. Long-dormant emotions were beginning to turn over in their sleep...
"Great job! Try this," Zack began taking Percival through several simple moves, while a few of the 2nd Class SOLDIERs drifted over to watch. They smirked at the whip-thin Inspector who was playing at being a SOLDIER.
Cloud noticed the derisive sneers. Zack had intentionally brought Percy to the Training Room, and had picked out a sword that was the perfect type for Percy. While some would have put it down to Zack just having an eye for weapons, Cloud knew that Zack had seen something in this seemingly innocuous looking man. One of the first things even Cadets learned was not to judge by appearances. These 2nd Classes could do with a good reminder.
"Brooks, front and center!" Cloud called, pointing at a raven haired 2nd Class who was sniggering the loudest.
The startled SOLDIER hurried over, saluting nervously.
"You can be the Inspector's sparring partner. He's learning a few basic moves, and it always helps to have a real dummy...er, partner to practice with."
"That sounds like a great idea!" Zack agreed, having noticed the sneers and overheard the whispered comments as well. There wasn't much that made it past a wolf's ears unheard.
"Oh, goodness, I don't think-!" Percy began to object.
"Nonsense," Zack said quickly. "You're doing great. The best way to put theory into practice is with a sparring partner. Don't worry, Percy, Brooks knows how to spar," he gave Brooks a hard look that was part warning, part threat "and won't try any fancy moves."
The two reluctant opponents began circling each other, clashing hesitantly, in Percy's case, while Cloud and Zack stood by with shouts of encouragement and instruction. Brooks, who looked like he wanted to slice Percival in half and whiz on the pieces, brought his sword up under Percy's, trying to catch the sword under the cross guard and flip it out of his hands, but Percy twisted his wrist and the blades met with a clash.
Brooks pressed forward, shoving Percy back and followed him as he retreated, blocking the blows purely out of desperation. The tip of Brooks' blade snagged one of the buttons on Percival's suit jacket, slicing the threads. Percival stared mutely as the plastic disk fell to the mat and lay forlornly, the few remaining threads in the holes laying askew like the limbs of a fallen warrior. His jacket hung open unevenly.
Percy felt something deep down in his soul, as his inner caveman stood up and, for the first time, hefted his hunting spear. A white-hot jolt streaked up to his brain and sparked, igniting a primeval thrill that burst out of Percy in the form of primal scream that rocked the Training Room.
Percy suddenly exploded into action, screaming like jagged steel on concrete, his training sword flashing in a storm of strikes that had Brooks backpedaling in a circle as he tried to process what was happening.
"YES!" Zack howled in excitement, throwing a fist into the air, "YES!"
Percy, eyebrows writhing like angry snakes as he roared like the wrath of the gods, continued his assault. What he lacked in strength, he made up for in ferocity and tenacity. Brooks tried to fight back, but was barely managing to block. The barrage of blows ceased suddenly as Percival abruptly turned, threw down his sword, and ran in the opposite direction, screaming. Brooks turned, thinking the match was over only to see Percy leap out from amongst the weapons racks, still roaring, but now holding two swords.
"Oh, shi-!" Zack began before devolving into shrieking laughter. Brooks could do little but run around the mats, Percy following him like an angry bantam rooster. No one could have guessed that there was so much strength in that skinny frame. Brooks found himself on the ground, with two swords pointed at his throat, gazing into two eyes that burned like gimlets, and two eyebrows that were bristling like angry cats.
"Good job, Percy! Let's let him get back to his platoon." Cloud called.
Percy, blinked, the red battle haze fading as he heard the familiar voice calling him. He looked at the SOLDIER on the ground at his feet, and yanked his swords away from his throat. Cloud took the swords from Percy's hands as Zack, grinning from ear to ear, gave him a congratulatory slap on the back that almost sent him tumbling to the ground.
"You did great, Percy!"
"I did?"
"You're a natural! How do you feel?"
"I feel...wonderful. Invigorated. Like I could, I don't know, shove a staple through an entire ream of paper. And not care if it went in straight or not!"
Zack just grinned and patted Percival's shoulder as Cloud helped the humbled Brooks to his feet and dismissed him back to his platoon.
"Let's go back out to the Training Field, " Zack said as they left the cavernous training room.
"You mean the 'Plain of Pain'." Percival corrected him.
"Right!" Zack laughed, resisting the urge to do finger guns so Cloud wouldn't die of embarrassment.
"Are we going to inspect The Course" Percival asked in a hopeful tone.
"No, sorry," Zack apologized, while Percy deflated in disappointment, "But, since you did so well sparring, you can see Cloud's half-form!"
Percy perked up, curiosity showing clearly on his face.
Cloud, giving Zack that carefully blank expression he used when he was angry, irritated, or uncomfortable in public Shifted reluctantly to his half-form.
Where Zack had a wolf's ears and tail, Cloud had strange ears that reminded Percy of a bull's ears. They were white with fine, soft hair with ragged edges, and tipped in black. Where Zack's wolf ears were perched on top of his head, Cloud's were on the sides. He had a long, white whip-like tail that ended in a blonde plume. His weight was balanced on the balls of his strange white feet. The closest thing Percival's brain could compare them to were monkey or lizard feet, with a little rat thrown in for good measure. Something about this half-form reminded Percival of something else, but he couldn't quite figure out what it was.
"Do you have wings?"
Cloud's summoned his wings. They were black and leathery with a mottled white edge, and each of the wings' five digit bones ended in a large white feather 'finger'.
"Fascinating!" Percival said, "What kind of animal are you?"
Cloud looked at Zack, uncomfortable with all the attention.
"Don't be shy," Zack said, "Just show him. He's earned it."
Cloud sighed, and Shifted to his ELITE form.
Percival found himself facing what looked very similar to the dragons the Wutai people favored in all of their artwork. Cloud's head darted down on its long neck, long 'mustaches' at the sides of his snout brushing curiously at the inspector's jacket.
Percival's eyebrows shot up like rockets, actually left his forehead, shooting up a good ten feet into the air. Cloud pulled his head back with a startled goose-shriek and Shifted back to his human form.
Zack and Cloud glanced at each other and then at the inspector's eyebrows as they fluttered down to the ground like brown leaves. Cloud stepped away, leaving Zack standing all alone with the fallen facial features. He had dealt with a lot of strange, wacky, and down right disturbing things in his life, and today he was drawing the line at wiggly eyebrows.
"Uh, here, let me help you with those," Zack said as Percy patted his brow forlornly.
Zack stooped and gingerly picked up the eyebrows, "Happens often, does it?" he asked as he regarded the scraps of hair resting on his palm.
"Only when I get really startled,"
"Maybe you should see a doctor?" Cloud suggested, standing as far from the eyebrows as he could get without being rude while Zack tried to help put the facial hair back where it belonged. It was proving troublesome due to the fact that the eyebrows seemed to have developed sentience.
"I go once a year," Percy said, "Ever since they were transplanted. Come to think of it, they never did tell me what they were grown from..."
They wiggled and waved around like fluffy caterpillars as Zack struggled to reapply them to Percy's forehead.
"Here...just-hold on...come on little guy..."
"I think that one goes on the left," Cloud said.
"Right," Zack replied.
"No, left."
"Right, you said that."
"No, I said left!"
"Rigth!"
"No, it's left!"
The eyebrows stated waving frantically, twitching and writhing in agitation.
"Now you've gone and upset them!" Cloud chided.
"I upset them-?" Zack began defensively, until the eyebrows started flapping more strongly.
"Shhhhhh! Shhh-shhh! I'm sorry!" Zack said quickly, carefully stroking the eyebrows with his fingertips, "Uncle Zack didn't mean it. It's okay, guys. There, there!"
It seemed to work, the eyebrows relaxing to lay docilely back over Zack's palm.
"Good boys," he said, pleased, "How about you jump back up on your Dad's face for me?"
The fluffy strips of hair hopped back on to Percival's brow, settling down in their proper places. Zack later swore that he'd heard a quiet purring sound.
"Oh, my! Thank you!" Percival sighed, relieved. "You do seem to have a way with them,"
Zack couldn't really think of anything to say aside from "It's all in how you talk to them, I guess."
"Yes. Well, thank you for accompanying me on the inspection, gentlemen," Percy said, shaking hands with each of them. "I believe that this was the most enjoyable inspection I have ever done."
"Glad to hear it!" Zack said with a smile as they walked Percy to his car. "Give the President our regards."
"I most certainly will, and if he has any questions, I will be sure to direct his attention to Rule Number One."
"You do that, Percy," Zack said with a chuckle, "He'll understand."
They watched Percy's car until disappeared around the corner.
"Rufus is going to be...upset, you know." Cloud said after a few moments.
"What's he gonna do, fire us? He works for us, remember?" Zack said, lightly jostling Cloud's ribs and waggling his eyebrows at him.
"Don't do that!"
"Do what? This?" Zack wiggled his eyebrows again.
"Yes, that!"
"Yes, do that? Okay!"
"Stooooop!"
Zack laughed and kept wiggling his eyebrows all the way back to the Main Building.
End.