CH 4
A/N okay I've noticed my story doesn't seem to have the same cleanliness as other story's but I'm new to the whole upload thing so I gottarevised as of 7/5/2012
"I don't believe you" I stated for the fifth time since we all sat down from that dramatic entrance. Barret and Tifa had already told me about how the president was at the reactor and how the machine they fought blew up causing Cloud to fall to his death.
"Nathan we saw him fall from the bridge!" Tifa was almost in tears.
"Did he fall in the Mako?" I asked even though I knew where he fell into the church...now that I think about it how the hell does a church have enough wood to not break your neck and get you to land in a flower patch that's coated in anti-impact dirt and wood.
"No, he fell from the outside bridge." She said teary eyed.
"Do you know how far he fell down?" I persisted.
"Nathan, that's not something a normal man would survive." Barret said, also depressed.
"Cloud is SOLDIER, he could survive. SOLDIER's have more resilience than anyone else. " I got up and pick up my sword from the side of the door.
"And where do you think your going?" Barret's mood changed swiftly.
"To find Cloud, he fell in Sector five, I just need to get under the reactor and I'll be able to find him." I left before they could say another word. It was easy enough getting past the guards at the front gate. Shinra didn't know my face or associated it with anyone from AVALANCHE so I could pass right through. When I exited I made a beeline for Sector five, careful to avoid any confrontations from now on with monsters or bandits of Sector six.
Taking my time I searched the giant junkyard of a sector. The game had probably progressed passed Reno attempting to capture Aeris, so they would be getting down from the large junk piles. it wasn't until around late noon I finally was out of the rubble area and was close to the church, in the distance I could see a huge yellow spike.
"CLOUD!" I ran over and yelled. He turned and widened his eyes.
"Nathan? What are you doing here?"He asked.
"Your a bitch to find you know that, Tifa and Barret came and said you fell from the reactor, they thought you were dead, I came down to get you."
"How did you know I was alive?" He questioned. I answered quickly.
"Your a SOLDIER First, I know for a fact gravity can't do anything to you guys. You all jump around like you can fly anyways." He smiled at my statement. Nothing like an ego boost to help somebody's day.
"Your right about that, but I guess I also owe it to our friend here for keeping an eye on me." He turned to show me Aeris standing back with her pole in hand, looking cautious.
"That's that flower girl from before...isn't she?" I asked dumbly. Trying not to look like I knew to much.
"Her name is Aeris, I fell on a bed of flowers when she woke me up." Cloud introduced. I stepped forwards and held out my hand.
"Nathan, nice to meet you. Hey thanks for taking care of my friend, a couple of people were worried about him and I appreciate you taking care of a complete stranger." She hesitated a little before she shook my hand for a brief moment and then retracted her hand quickly. She is a lot more shy than I remember her being in the game.
"So Cloud what are you doing with her?"
"I kind of agreed to be her body guard since we ran into some trouble earlier." Hearing this I decided to tease Cloud.
"Oh god, what did he charge you? Something outrages huh?" I finally saw Aeris with a bit of a smile when she giggled.
"Actually I just have to give him one date." She held up her index finger and I gave Cloud a lewd smile.
"AWW Cloud, even when you get blown up you try to charm girls." He looked away and muttered something under his breath.
"So now that we got away, where do we go?" Cloud said, quickly changing the subject.
"Ummm" Aeris looked around before running ahead of us.
"My house is over here. Hurry before he comes."
"Before who comes?" I asked. Knowing full well Reno was around.
"I'll tell you later. Just follow her." We followed Aeris around sector five we past by her slums and a few other places. Again I was amazed at how much bigger the sectors were than in game. The entire time Cloud filled me in on how the Turk had shown up when he met Aeris and attempted to kidnap her only to have Cloud ruin everything.
It took before we eventually got into a huge clearing, both Cloud and myself had our mouths wide garden was full and lush with tons of flowers, each and everyone of them was just about glowing in the sun. It was almost better than how I saw the flowers at the church... the garden here was filled to the brim compared to the church. We went inside and found a very quaint looking house. Small in space, but very pretty looking.
"I'm home mom." Aeris called from the kitchen came out Aeris mother...well adoptive mother. She had on a very nice green dress and a cooking apron on. She looked very concerned for Aeris before she eyed both me and Cloud suspiciously. Aeris quickly explained though.
"This is Cloud and Nathan, my bodyguards." I raised an eyebrow at Cloud since I was suddenly included in this, He shrugged.
"Bodyguard?...You mean you were followed again? Are you alright! Your not hurt are you!" Elmyra looked concerned, frantic even. Aeris waved her off nonchalantly.
"I'm alright, I had Cloud with me." Elmyra looked at both of us before I pointed to my left.
"Thank you Cloud." She politely bowed before she walked off.
"So what are you going to do now?" Aeris turned back to us.
"...Nathan do you remember the way you came from Tifa's bar?" However before I could answer I saw a mischievous look in Aeris eyes.
"Is Tifa a girl?" Aeris asked innocently.
"Yeah" He answered blankly.
"A girl..friend" I knew where this was going.
"What! G-Girlfriend. No way!" Cloud shook his head and hands violently. I busted out laughing the entire time while Aeris giggled.
"You don't have to get THAT upset." She said, still giggling.
"Cloud, Cloud, Cloud. Your older than me and handled that worse than any way I could have answered." I caught my breath and spoke up.
"Older?" Aeris looked up at me. I had completely ignored she was about a foot shorter than me and a few inches below Cloud. In my time here I realized everyone seemed to be...well really short. I guess when I imagine hero's I always picture people bigger than me. Now meeting these guys in person i could say i wasn't entirely impressed. Except Barret of course.
"Ugh don't remind me of that joke." Since Cloud found out I was three years his junior he's avoided the subject of height, I kinda feel bad for him since he was a runt as a kid. Now here he is and a good chunk of the gang is taller than him. Lately I had been bugging him about it just to be funny
"I'm eighteen and Cloud here is twenty one. And since he looks young for his age sometimes people can think up the wrong things." I explained. I at least had small side burns on my face growing in. Cloud actually had a baby face which only made me snicker even more when it came to who looked older.
"Oh okay. Well you need a guide back? I can help you to the gate." She offered.
"That would be much appreciated. I kinda got lost a few times before I found you guys." I lied, rubbing the back of my head. She was supposed to be a part of the gang anyway.
"You gotta be kidding, why would you put yourself in danger again?" Cloud argued.
"I'm used to it." Was the simplest response we could be given.
"Used to it?...well I don't know...getting help from a girl..." Cloud said, coming up with a fake reason to keep her at home.
"A GIRL! What do you mean by that." Aeris was peeved...I guess I should lighten up the situation.
"Yeah, Cloud needs big strong young men to help him, because he is small and wimpy" I said in a gruff voice and puffing out my chest. Aeris was now poorly holding back a fit of giggles while Cloud looked unamused.
"Actually we're short on real man power at the moment, we could defiantly use your help." I deflated at the statement.
"Your a sharp bastard Cloud, I give you that." Aeris calmed herself and turned to the stairs.
"Mom! I'm taking my friends to Sector seven. I'll be back in a while." Elmyra rushed down when Aeris finished.
"But dear..." But before she could start she shook her head and sighed.
"I give up, you never listen once you've made up you mind. But if you must go then why don't you do it tomorrow, its getting late now." Aeris looked a little disappointed she couldn't go on her adventure now.
" Yeah, your right mom." Elmyra let out a breath.
"Aeris, please go make the bed." When she got upstairs the older woman approached us.
"That glow in your eyes...your from SOLDIER, right." Cloud seemed to shrink back at the accusation. "Yeah...or rather I used to be." She looked down before she talked again.
"...I don't know how to say this...but, would you please leave here, tonight without Aeris?" Cloud stood for a sec before he nodded his head. I did as well before we both went upstairs and saw Aeris.
"Cloud you need to get through Sector six to get to Sector seven. Its a little dangerous so you two should get some rest, and sorry its only one bed so one of you will have to sleep on the floor."
"Dibs" I called and walked to the room she came out of. Cloud soon followed after being wished goodnight.
"Don't say a word or I will snap you like a twig." He pointed at me. I thought about joking with him about the goodnight from Aeris but I guess I value my life more.
"What? I'm not that bad dude, I just crack a joke every now and again." I laid down on the rug with Cloud looking at me.
"I used to have to do this, you should take the bed." He suggested. I shook my head"...No we both have been on some rough stuff, but your stronger so we need your strength the most to keep us out of trouble. Plus i have slept like this before too. Its not uncomfortable for me, now go to sleep, we have a person to avoid tomorrow" I chuckled before Cloud took the bed and I the floor.
ATE
"I'm sorry we're late Mr. President. Reno had a run in with the SOLDIER from earlier."
"Aw yes, he was a very cold man." The president responded. Tseng sat at the table with Shinra, along with Rude and a very dejected Reno. After Tseng found out he had gone by himself to capture the Ancient only to have a run in with the SOLDIER helping AVALANCHE he berated the second in command for not thinking through or even contacting to see if he should even attempt to get her. There was a protocol to be followed after all.
"What is it you wanted to speak with us about sir." Tseng asked. The pudgy man took a bite of his steak.
"You had informed me that Don Corneo had found that AVALANCHE is based in Sector seven."
"That is correct. Thoough we don't know the exact location." Tseng responded. However followed by his answer as an awkward stop in conversation. The only sound was the president eating.
"I want you to take down the plate in Sector seven." He finally said. The only noticeable reaction was Reno. Tseng had kept his face impassive.
"Wait, why would you go that far?" Reno asked.
"Doesn't it seem a little extreme?" Rude agreed with his partner, nodding his head.
"We aren't even sure the entire team will even be in sector seven. They might even move their base since we found out. There are many variables..." Tseng noted before a clang of silverware got everyone's attention.A very irate Shinra looking back at them.
"We have already lost two reactors to those heathens, I will not risk anymore."
"But an entire plate sir?" Rude responded. President Shinra wiped his mouth before answering
"If we blow up the upper plate than this way than we can blame it on AVALANCHE themselves considering their track record. Making it so they have absolutely no place to hide."
"Will it not cost us more. The amount its going to take to start the reactors up with skeleton crews already exceeds well over a million gil. An entire plate would not be cost effective." Tseng said.
"Then when will you all find them so we can stop this? The longer you take the more they have to plan against us. Without drastic measures we will keep losing reactors. I want this problem dealt with, now." The Turks were visually stiffened at the order. They were used to this kind of work, eliminating Shinra's political enemy's, but to such a scale within its own territory had only happened once in Sector six, and those events were classified even to Tseng.
"When do you want us to take up the operation?" Tseng asked, keeping himself in a business manor.
"Tomorrow morning, I would rather that these rats be dealt with swiftly and efficiently, as you always do Tseng. This meeting is adjourned, go prepare yourselves."
Tseng as well as Reno and Rude got up and thanked the president for his time. While in the hallways Tseng picked up on his subordinates conversation to pass the time.
"This is Banero all over again." Reno remarked.
"That is why we are the ones who have to do this, anyone else would get attached or emotional." Tseng added.
"Yeah, yeah. I know. If you need me I'll be in Wall Market." Rude gave him a look.
"Again? This is your fourth visit."
"Is there any particular reason you keep going there Reno?" Tseng stopped in the middle of the hallway. Reno had been acting odd as of late. He would constantly go through sector six and come back with a bitter sweet attitude and Tseng had seen him pour through the citizen database at one point.
"Sir, how many people know about what the Turks really do? Such as citizens?" The question caught Tseng off guard. Reno never really investigated such matters He would always slack off until he was told to do a mission that was either watching the Ancient or investigating leads on AVALANCHE, then complete it, then slack off again. It was a simple pattern that fit with the Turks schedules.
"Few, we always give the same pitch of simply recruiting future SOLDIER's . But if you believe if someone knows to much about the organization..."
"No..no. Just I saw someone odd... I'm just overreacting." Reno walked ahead leaving behind two puzzled Turks.