No Notes, enjoy this chapter as well as whatever holiday you wish, happy Christhaunakwanzakuh!
Ch 18
ATE
Reeve opened his eyes, quickly wrote something down, and then closed them. He repeated this gesture multiple times, reviewing the information that his invention had been collecting. Some extremely useful, others note worthy, and then there were times what he saw in his head would raise more questions. He had been compiling the report from the previous day, and it had already become his main paperwork since getting Cait Sith into the team, although he would admit he perfected this towards having to write reports and suggestions for Midgar only to be denied if the plans didn't constitute saving money. Reeve took his job seriously; he cared for the city like most should.
"But so are the times." He said. Opening his eyes again and writing.
He picked up his report and left his office. Getting to his elevator and pushing for the president's floor. He would admit he favored Rufus over his father, even if he seemed more ruthless than his senior. He even chuckled thinking about how Scarlet and Heidegger were floored when Rufus told them his plan with Cait Sith, and how it had succeeded before the meeting. Hearing the bell ding he briskly walked into the room.
"I don't care what your opinion is, you sent a report and it will be reviewed... I understand you were beaten again, however you must continue...I see, fine then. Do what you want." Rufus hung up and looked at Reeve.
"Did I interrupt anything?"
"No, Reno called to say he is taking a vacation... along with the other Turks." Reeve noted the disappointment in his tone.
"However I think they may deserve it, as long as Cait Sith is functioning we will be fine."
"That's what I came to give you sir, I have the report here." He handed the president his report.
"Anything noteworthy?"
"Besides what happened at Gongaga, some information." He replied.
"I heard from Reno; however what did Cait Sith see?" Rufus leaned back into his chair.
"He wasn't near the fight unfortunately, but his friends claimed to say it was him who took down both Reno and Rude." He said sounding a little impressed, taking two Turks on your own was a feat in and of itself. Winning was a completely different matter.
"I see. Would you like to hear what Reno and Rude said?" Reeve nodded. Reno picked up a paper, reading it word for word.
"It was like fighting a monster." Was the start that surprised the Urban Development manager.
"He displayed freakish control, as well as brutality. The look in his eyes was enough to put me on edge. A tactical retreat was imperative if we were to continue."
"That was about Gongaga?" Asked Reeve.
"More Rude's words, Reno was adamant about Mr. River using cheap tactics." He set the paper down and folded his hands.
"What information do you have?"
"From what I gathered he is the oddest of the bunch. He accepted Cait Sith the easiest out of everyone else. He acts carefree when he wishes and seems to care for his friends deeply, despite only knowing them for a few weeks." Rufus raised his eye brow before Reeve continued.
"However, given the circumstances he is also the most dangerous of them. He is very observant; having never seen Cait Sith fight yet knew what his weapon was for. He possesses extremely powerful magic manipulation abilities; far more than a SOLDIER should be able to handle, at least from the team's description of his battle by dual casting spells." Rufus seemed surprised. He was obviously not a stranger to a human's natural limitations.
"And what makes him dangerous is his mental condition, his knowledge, and true intentions."
"What do you mean?" the President asked.
"I'm sure the Turks explained, but from what I could gather, River has a mental condition giving him a split personality. I also found that he has been through multiple traumatic events, but no details were made of those events. Also he talks about making weapons for himself in odd ways, he doesn't get into the mechanics, but his ideas are potentially destructive."
"You mentioned his true intentions?" Reeve leaned out of his chair, obviously thinking.
"He has been lying to them all about his origins. What his team say and he goes with is that his father used to work for Shinra making SOLDIER broadswords. I checked our data base and they are mass produced mostly by machine, and there hasn't been a River in our employment. While he does wield a weapon made from materia, I haven't seen any manufacture signature on the sheath or sword itself." Reeve ended, letting Rufus mull over the information.
"So they are as much in the dark about him as we are..." He seemed amused.
"Thank you Reeve, your services have been invaluable as of late, you may leave." Reeve got up and walked off, but turned to ask a question.
"What will you do about the situation sir?"
"I will send Tseng to Mideel to see if that is truly his home. If no evidence shows up, it will only make him more of a riddle. He could still be one of Hojo's projects, and considering the circumstances, that may be the only explanation for what gave him his magic abilities. If you can, get more information." Reeve nodded and soon left. Rufus looking pleased with himself at the information.
"What sorts of secrets require that you hide them even from your friends?"
I sneezed. I looked all around the car and saw everyone was being fairly quiet, I could have sworn someone was talking about me. Then again, that could have been a random sneeze. The buggy came to a stop after we had crossed the river, I could see some large rocks in the distance.
"Alright everyone, we're setting up camp here, it will take some time to drive through those peaks." Cloud said. Everyone nodded and started setting up tents. By now we actually had enough to let everyone have their own so the group allowed themselves the luxury. Although Cait Sith never used a tent, he actually just slept on his moggle. A little odd, but sometimes I forget the furball was a machine controlled by some thirty five year old guy halfway across the world. He was always trying to be helpful though, offering to do stuff constantly for no reason. I swear he goes through our stuff but I never can be awake to see him.
"Nathan, we're taking your bandages off tonight so we can start your training." I nodded at Cloud. I was so happy that I was recovering. Tifa was surprised when she said I didn't have any more burnt skin or twitches by the end of the day. She said I should have been like this the next day. After making a fire and having my hands back, Cloud and I went to a small clearing close by to practice. He with his buster sword, and me with my fake Masamune.
"Okay, now get into your stance." I did just that. Feet spread shoulder width apart, one in front of the other, hunching a bit. One hand on Masamune on my back.
"Wrong." He came up and put both of my hands on the sword.
"You did well enough on everything else, your weight is distributed and you can move how you want. But your sword not only weighs two times more, but it has a significant reach too, making it off balanced." He pulled out his buster with one hand as a demonstration.
"Unlike me, you lack the strength to use one hand, so if you pull it out, it will only be good for one hit, and you need to be able to flow into every strike, using momentum so that the sword never puts its full weight on your arms. Now try to. Make three slashes." I pulled my sword out and made one downward slash. Then I angled it and made for a horizontal swipe and finally made it go over my head for one last strike. It actually put a lot of strain on my arms to even pull that off, and my hands had a small sting to them.
"Good for your first try. Now try four." the rest of the session went on the same basic lesson, using the swords weight to my advantage. He told me again that I still shouldn't use it to fight, maybe just a blade to defend with. But I liked it. If I remembered correctly, it always made a critical hit. Considering how much effort it takes to hit something, I could see that. I think keeping it will help in the end.
"That's it for now." he said and we went back to the camp. I was on guard duty with Red. Honestly we haven't been attacked yet; I'm starting to think some physics from the game still exists. Like if you use a tent, monsters won't attack in the middle of the night.
"Nate." I looked at the animal.
"What do ya need?"
"Could you finish that story you were telling me?" It took me a minute to remember what he meant. It had been a while hadn't it? But he never seemed to mind not listening for the last few weeks. But then I remembered we were getting very close to his home. I smiled, a plan forming in my head.
"Another time Red. I have a feeling you will be ecstatic when I will tell you the rest, but why not tell me about your home? I know we're close." He seemed a little disappointed I wasn't going to finish the story, especially now that he believes he will leave soon.
"Cosmo Canyon is peaceful; the people never seem to be in a hurry. They act as if they have all the time in the world to research what they want there. The peaks are beautiful in the morning and evening; the sun makes them burn a brilliant red." He had a glint in his eye while describing everything. It was nice to see him like that.
"What will you do when you get home?" I asked.
"I would like to see grandpa; it has been to long since I have seen him. But then that will be the end of this for me. I will be home and you all will move on. I hope when all of you are done that you will visit." he said. I smiled at him.
"Don't worry; I have a feeling everything will work out when we leave. Just you see Red." I heard some light stomping and saw the cat jump off of his moggle, coming to the fire.
"awww, nice and warm." the cat said. I doubt he could actually feel the warmth but I really didn't care.
"So how longs it been since you seen your home?" Asked the cat. Red looked down at the ground.
"It's been a whole year." The air was immediately heavier. "I was taken from my home six years ago..." I looked at the ground as well. I didn't know how to react. I honestly didn't know he was away this long. I could feel for him though.
"Sorry." Spoke up the cat.
"You didn't know, it is fine." He said, still sounding down.
"Hey Nate, how bout you?" I looked up at him. "How long you been away from your home?" I noticed out the corner of my eye Red gave Cait a glare.
"Must have been a couple weeks now," I replied.
"Only that long?" Red asked. I chuckled.
"It was actually right when I was in Midgar, I was put into this mess with Sephiroth." I said.
"Wow, you're really unlucky." The cat said. Blunt as all hell, although I had to agree with him.
"I don't know, getting to meet all of you is actually an experience I'm going to treasure forever. You don't know how much this adventure actually means to me." Both seemed confused, after all I bet only a crazy person would say that kind of stuff when pulled into a life or death situation. I just smiled.
"How have you survived?" Asked Cait Sith. Red was the one to answer.
"Despite Nathan's...eccentricity, he is one of the smartest humans I have met. At least where unconventional knowledge is emplyed." I laughed a little. Apparently to a talking lion-wolf I'm weird.
"So what's Mideel like?" The cat asked.
"Really small. Nothing much goes on, small village in the middle of a forest. Amazing hot springs I must say." I said. Remembering what details I could about the town. Thinking about it though, I remembered that it would eventually be destroyed, and it was one of the events I couldn't alter. It wasn't blown to hell like Banora, well not quite like Banora, but an exploding lifestream and earthquakes would tear it to shreds
"You miss your home too." Red asked.
"More than I thought I would." I admitted.
"Are you going to stay when you get there?" He asked.
"I can't right now, and I actually don't want to." Red looked surprised.
"Nathan, what is driving you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Everyone else has something against Shinra, but you don't. You're either lying or something else." I was surprised Red said that. I mean I really haven't given clarity on what I'm going to do but still...
"Like I said at Midgar, I need to protect somebody."
"Who are you protecting?"
"A very dear friend, someone who is going to be very vulnerable while Sephiroth is still alive." Aeris's face flashed through my thoughts.
"And when they are safe, what will you do?" Red asked.
"...After that...I'm not sure." I got up and went inside my tent. I was tired and didn't want to really talk anymore. I slept soundly for the most part, and everyone packed up for the hills we were about to cross over. It was extremely slow and very bumpy. Driving up and through the peaks, I was amazed at how the place looked. Even during the middle of the day the peaks had an amazing crimson glow about them. They reminded me so much of the Garden of the Gods. However, during the drive I couldn't help but notice that the buggy sounded extremely off. I'm no mechanic but the extra vibrations that I felt that weren't rock related put me off edge.
"Cloud, is the engine supposed to make that much noise?" I yelled.
"It's just these hills, it has to work a little harder than normal." He said.
"Cloud I know how engines sound and this don't sound right," called Barret from the back.
"It's completely fine."
(ten minutes later.)
"Oh...a breakdown...now?" Cloud said with everyone else standing to the side of the vehicle.
"Barret, can we fix it?" The man in question shut the hood.
"Hu uh. It's shot, and we don't have any tools."
"But we still have another river to cross, without the buggy it will be almost impossible." I was starting to get annoyed. We were there for the better part of two hours and weren't getting anywhere.
"We can hike the rest of the way. Follow me." Everyone looked at Red. He was going through the peaks and everyone else followed. It was a tough trek, but living in the mountains made it seem normal for me. It was basically sundown before we started walking on stone steps. Cosmo Canyon was coming into view and I had to say it was beautiful.
With the sun now on the horizon, the buildings in the town had amazing shades of red covering the whole area. The Cosmo Candle in the town was burning brightly while the sun was setting. The windmills around the area fit in with the scene. The observatory at the top of the hill was the only thing that seemed out of place considering how mechanical it looked with all of the lights it gave off. Right when we got to the front gate, Red ran to the front entrance to the surprise of the guard.
"I am home, it is I, Nanaki!" He said with more excitement in his voice than I had ever heard him have before. The guard seemed overjoyed to see him.
"Hey Nanaki! You're safe! Come in, say hi to Bugenhagen!" Red ran off with the guard looking at him.
"Nanaki?" Said Cloud.
"Welcome to Cosmo Canyon, are you familiar with the land?" Welcomed the front guard. Everyone shook their heads.
"Let me explain. People from all over the world come here to seek the Study of Planet life." Just then I heard Barret make what I could...possibly count as a fanboy yell...if that's possible.
"I always wanted to come here!" He said in his excited state.
"ummm, we're at full capacity at present, so I'm afraid I can't let you enter." Barret looked like someone just told him Marlene started dating someone. Right before he could say anything, Nanaki came back down.
"They helped me some when I was on the road, please let them in."
"Oh you helped Nanaki? Welcome in, you're more than welcome here!" I laughed while looking at Barret's face again. The guy could change attitudes in a second.
"Who is Nanaki?" Asked Cloud. The guard looked at him confused.
"Nanaki is Nanaki. That is his name." Said the guard.
"Hey, could you help us out too? Our buggy broke down and we need a professional's opinion."
"It's no problem; I'll tell you how it is later, now enjoy yourselves." I nodded at the front guard and went up the stairs with the rest of the gang to see Nanaki waiting for us.
"Here is where I was...I mean...This is my hometown." He corrected himself. Show how much he loved the place.
"You were born here?" Asked Aeris.
"My tribe were protectors of those who appreciate this beautiful canyon and the Planet. My brave mother fought and died here, but my cowardly father left her...I am the last of my race" He sounded rather sad.
"Cowardly father?" said Cloud. Nanaki nodded.
"Yes, he was a wastrel. The mission I inherited from my ancestors is to protect this place. My journey ends here." That seemed to shock everyone but me and Cait Sith.
"Nanaki! You're home!" We all heard in the distance, probably from the observatory, man news travels fast.
"Coming grandpa!" He called, running into one of the tunnels. Everyone else was just standing around.
"Let's take a breather." Said Barret.
"Yeah, let's take some time off, I want to learn more about Cosmo." I said.
"I have some things I want to find out too." Said Tifa. After that Cloud said everyone could do what they want. I went down the stairs and went to the Shildra Inn. The Turtles Paradise poster right next to it stood out. I plucked one of the stubs off and went back the way I came. I went to the weapons store and took the last stub I needed. The sixth was in Wutai, so it would be easy enough. I had a few gil to spare, but I couldn't think of much besides food and I wasn't hungry yet. Soon enough I chose to head to the observatory. Getting on top of the hill just cemented the idea that the observatory was out of place. It was clunky looking and had random satellites rotating. It was like a place for a mad scientist. I tried to be polite and knocked on the front door, but no one answered so I pulled a Cloud and just walked in. I saw Nanaki with an old man in the main room.
Bugenhagen didn't look to old from what I saw. Sure he had a bushy beard and was bald, but he actually had very few wrinkles lining his face. He looked like a man who knew just about everything you did, only more in depth, and more. I walked over and both turned to me, I was a little surprised Cloud wasn't here first though.
"Oh, Nathan, this is my grandfather, Bugen. He is incredible, he knows everything." I smiled at Nanaki acting like his age should be, a happy teenager instead of the old, wise wolf act.
"Ho Ho, I hear you looked after Nanaki a bit." he said, but he seemed to be...bobbing in air?
"It was my friend's and my pleasure to help." I said.
"Oh but you see Nanaki is still a child you see." Said Bugenhagen
"Grandpa stop, I'm forty eight." He said. The old man just laughed.
"Nanaki's tribe has incredible longevity. You see forty eight would be equivalent to fifteen or sixteen in human reckoning." I smiled at Nanaki's embarrassment at the fact.
"Funny you didn't mention that Red, trying to seem mature huh? At least I admit what age I am and people keep mistaking me for different." He just sighed while the old man was watching us.
"He is quiet and very deep; some would think he was an adult."
"I used to be the same on the quiet part. I'm not all that surprised really." Having knowledge of the future dulls out surprises, kind of.
"Grandfather, I want to be an adult. I want to be able to protect you and the village." Nanaki said with his head down.
"No No Nanaki, you can't stand on your own yet." The old man seemed a little depressed. "To do so would destroy you in the long run." He seemed to think deeply, he wasn't even talking all that much to Nanaki.
"Reaching up into the heavens, threatening to snatch the very stars from the great city, Midgar. You've seen it, haven't you...well that's a bad example, looking up too much makes you lose perspective."
"Grandfather I know enough." Nanaki said. Bugen then decided to jump on the table, which is when I finally noticed something.
He was floating the entire time. His legs weren't on the ground. He was apparently sitting cross legged in the air the entire time we were talking. This guy is meditating, with his eyes open. Just floating around, and people don't seem to care in the slightest.
"When it is time for this planet to die, you will understand that you know absolutely nothing." Unlike Cloud I knew how the planet would fair, I just kept with what Nanaki was talking about.
"I know how you feel Nanaki; you want to grow up fast. But a lot of kids do that and then being an adult isn't all it's cracked up to be. I'm lucky enough I still keep my childish nature." Nanaki and Bugen looked at me.
"No disrespect sir, but I believe the planet will live for a while now, Nanaki will be around for a chunk of that. Nanaki, you need to take your time. Get older, but never get old." I told him. Nanaki actually looked surprised at what I had said. Bugen seemed to chuckle.
"An interesting friend you have Nanaki, but tell me Nathan, can you hear the planet's screams as I do?" As if on cue, the silence in the room was filled with odd noises.
"That is the sound of the stars in the heavens, while this goes on; planets are born, and die." Right then I heard another noise. Like an animal injured in a cave, crying out for aid. It was sad...depressing.
"That is our planet's voice then." I stated more than questioned.
"Indeed, it is calling as if to say "I hurt, I suffer"." Bugenhagen said.
"Grandpa, my friends are on a journey to save the planet, why don't you show them your apparatus? Nanaki asked. The old man just started chuckling.
"To save the planet? Ho Ho hooo. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to show them." Before he could explain, a little kid came into the place saying odd people were here, I laughed thinking of everyone else.
"The whole place has been busy all of a sudden."
"Let me get the rest of my friends. Nathan could you get two others? Only three can fit in grandpa's machine." Said Nanaki. I went outside and climbed down to the main square, everyone was just minding their business really.
"Now who should I choose?" I said out loud. Cloud should already be in so that's one...and maybe Aeris since this helps her understand the world better. I found Cloud sitting around the candle and got Aeris from the Shidra.
"Nathan, where are you taking us?" Asked Cloud.
"You'll see." We climbed back up into the observatory. It looked empty until a voice called out.
"The doors unlocked, come in." I went for it and let the other two in.
"Ho ho ho, it looks like everyone is together, let's begin." he made us stand around the middle and then pressed a button. The lights dimmed and the ceiling suddenly changed colors, the floor rose, taking us in until we were completely surrounded by the machine.
I couldn't help but stare in wonder with some tears in my eyes.