The End is the beginning
Chapter 3 - A Bad meeting
"Are you sure about what you're asserting ? her contact queried, his tone grave.
- Yes, absolutely," the young woman replied with confidence.
They were both seated in a shabby bar in Sector 5, far removed from the noisy counter and the boisterous drinkers who seemed to never find respite. The thick smoke of cigars and hookahs hung in the room, impregnating it with a particularly acrid smell that greatly displeased Théïa. She couldn't wait to leave this place.
"They are in search of a place they call 'the Promised Land, she continued. They want to build their future megacity there. I believe it's simply the largest source of Mako energy on the planet. If they get their hands on it…
- Yes. A source of energy of such magnitude would secure their dominance for decades to come, the thirty-something man paused, thoughtfully stroking his beard.
" Do you have any evidence ? "
The young woman, her cap and black hood carefully in place on her head, extracted a modest phone from her pocket, a far cry from the recent model she used "officially" and had been graciously given by her employer. She tapped on the old touchscreen and handed the device to her interlocutor, who scrolled through a few photos of the plans for "Neo-Midgar" she had managed to find while discreetly searching in the engineering department's offices.
"Hmm. This is becoming worrisome, he muttered. We'll need to keep a close watch on this. Have you managed to obtain the reactor plans ?
- I'm working on it..."
She sipped from her soda can, a can bearing the famous red and white diamond-shaped logo, just like everything else consumed in this world nowadays. From plain vegetable cans to the most ordinary clothing, to the essential toilet paper, the company had gradually acquired a monopoly on all markets in recent decades. With money, everything was negotiable. But what was astonishing was how this oligarchy managed to make people believe that it was working for the common good. So, in school textbooks and even children's stories, the fascinating tale was told of this small family business that, starting from nothing, had, through its courage, ingenuity, and supposed altruism, achieved the power and fame it enjoyed today. It brought comfort and technology to the world, prospering under its benevolent rule. The gullible population embraced it without question. Of course ! Mako energy had brought them television !
But reality was very different. Only those who had suffered the company's abuses were aware of it. Shinra had first sown the seeds of war to sell its initial weapons. With the profits amassed, it had developed its precious technology. It had corrupted mayors here, bribed wealthy industrialists there. Slowly but surely, it had nibbled away until no force could oppose it. Having reached such power that it was beyond restraint, the company was even involved in the darkest dealings, from drug trafficking to prostitution, and even more sinister activities such as child trafficking. Except for a few Turks, most employees were unaware of the sprawling network that their precious company had woven throughout the world.
Wutai remained the last stronghold courageously resisting this malevolent oligarchy. Its proud warriors fought relentlessly against the oppressive yoke of the company. Opposing them during some missions on their peninsula had been a real dilemma for her, but she had had to sacrifice her integrity to maintain her cover as an infiltrator.
For the past few years, a coalition of scattered rebels from around the globe had also been trying to organize to counter the multinational's rule. Shinra, aware of the rise of this dissenting group, was determined to hinder its growth by tracking down and ruthlessly eliminating its members. They called themselves "Avalanche," and one of their members was currently in front of her.
" Your mother asked me about you, he said, crushing his cigarette in a rusty metal lid after taking his last puff.
- You can tell her I'm doing fine. I'm a big boy ! I can take care of myself ! " Théïa exclaimed.
Nonchalantly, she balanced her chair on two legs, then took a small pack of playing cards from her pocket.
" Don't take unnecessary risks. Your mother already blames me for this whole situation ! " protested the burly man.
- She needs a scapegoat ! " retorted the redhead, sticking out her tongue.
She skillfully passed the cards from one hand to the other.
" I'm not joking. Be careful. And avoid drawing attention to yourself !
- Are you referring to something specific ?
- Yeah. I heard about your mission near Kalm a while ago. They're starting to pair you up with celebrities. That's not good. You're exposing yourself too much.
- It's not me who chooses the missions! I never asked to be sent with... him ! objected Théïa, intentionally avoiding mentioning the SOLDIER's name to avoid drawing attention to their conversation.
- You're young. You're only nineteen. I understand that you're drawn to being alongside the greatest warriors... but it puts you too much in the spotlight. You're talented, kid! Very talented! But keep your skills hidden. When your role within this damn company is over, you can reveal your talents among us...
- So, what? I'm not supposed to talk to anyone and just stay in the shadows ?
- There's a big difference between not talking to anyone and getting involved with the SOLDIER's Golden Boy, right ?
- Getting involved with the Golden Boy ? You're going too far ! I just accompanied him on a routine mission !
- Yeah, but I know the effect he has on women. And you've been blushing a bit too much in the last two minutes !
- Alright ! You're annoying me ! "
Annoyed, she stood up, grabbed her jacket with the cards she had just put in it, adjusted her hood...
" I know what I need to do ! she retorted. I don't need you to babysit me ! "
Then she left a handful of Gil on the table and walked out of the bar without looking back.
Once outside, she headed towards the metropolis plateau, not in a hurry. She needed to walk, to relax. Her meeting had put her on edge, maybe because it had hit the mark. As she reached the area where her street was, she opted for a slight detour, despite the rain. She hated this city, but she knew it like the back of her hand. She took a small alley between the buildings, away from the main streets. It opened onto a square with textile factories. Then, she followed a path winding between them, eventually leading to a small paved lane. Neglected, a few wild weeds had managed to push through the cracks between the stones. This narrow and dark passage stretched for a few dozen meters, bordered by high concrete walls, and ended in a tiny abandoned park. It was one of the last ones in the city, left to decay for years. It had been built during the construction of Midgar. But a sewage treatment plant, one of the four in the metropolis, had been erected just behind the concrete walls, and the park had been gradually neglected. You had to know it to venture there.
Surprisingly, in this area, nature seemed to have reclaimed these few square meters. In the center, an old gazebo still stood. Its faded paint and boards eaten by moisture did nothing to diminish its picturesque charm.
In the dim light, she didn't notice the presence of another person until she climbed the creaking steps of the pavilion. It was too late to turn back. Apparently, someone else had the same idea as her at this late hour. And that someone was unmistakable thanks to his long silver hair.
"I thought I was the only one who knew about this place," she whispered, her voice tinged with surprise.
"I thought so too," he replied without turning around, leaning on the railing.
She removed her hood and tucked her cap under the elastic of her jumpsuit, behind her back. Then she ruffled her short red locks to look more presentable before taking a few steps and leaning on the railing as well. In the darkness, the silhouette beside her became clearer. There was something about his presence that intrigued Théïa. She had seen him in action during their missions, and it was undeniable that he possessed impressive strength and charisma. But here, in this forgotten corner of the city, he seemed different, more vulnerable...
Two days earlier, Shinra had announced the death of SOLDIER 1st Class Angeal Hewley. She had learned from Kunzel, another member of the army who was always well-informed, that the deceased SOLDIER had been one of Sephiroth's few friends. Together with 1st Class Genesis Rhapsodos, who was currently missing, they had once formed the SOLDIER's "top trio." This could perhaps explain the melancholy in which Sephiroth seemed immersed.
"What brings you to this forgotten place?" she asked, curiosity taking over.
He finally turned to her. His expression was tinged with fatigue and disappointment.
"Sometimes, even SOLDIERs need a moment of peace, away from the chaos of the city. It's a reminder of what we're fighting for."
She nodded in silence.
The rain had stopped, leaving the park with shimmering puddles. In the distance, the faint noise of traffic echoed in the narrow passage. It was a strangely serene moment amid the turmoil.
"Embrace your dreams... and protect your honor. That's what a friend used to tell me," he whispered.
As they stood side by side, the burden of their respective responsibilities seemed to lighten for a moment, replaced by a mutual appreciation of the fleeting tranquility found in this abandoned green corner.
Why did people tend to think he wasn't human? Was it because of his appearance ? His strength ? Probably...
Yet she found it hard to see through this endearing young man the adored and unattainable icon that the world had made him out to be.
Suddenly, an idea sprang to her mind, and she took out her cards. With impressive skill, she carefully shuffled the deck, then fanned out the cards and presented them to him.
"Pick one," she said.
The warrior raised a perplexed eyebrow, but he complied.
"Look at it closely, without showing it to me. Then put it back in the deck."
Once the card had found its place, she shuffled the deck again with astonishing speed. Her movements were fluid and graceful, capturing Sephiroth's attention, who was increasingly intrigued.
She theatrically blew on the small deck she held between her hands. Then, she slid the cards one by one in front of her before stopping.
"Your card was the jack of spades, wasn't it?" she revealed, triumphant.
He nodded, speechless. She held the jack between her index and middle fingers, a big smile on her face.
"It's... the first time I've seen this kind of trick! It's fascinating !
- Oh ? You've never been to a magic show ?" she asked.
She continued to gracefully flutter her cards in front of her, proud of having bluffed the legendary SOLDIER. And, most importantly, proud to have elicited a smile from him.
" No. The only show I've seen is Loveless, he explained.
- Ah ! The famous play they perform in the city center, right ?
- Yes.
- Haha ! I went once ! I got kicked out by the usherette in the middle of the play ! -
- Why ?
- I was snoring too loudly ! "
She could hardly believe it. Him, Sephiroth, was... laughing ? No ! No ! She wasn't dreaming ! Despite partly hiding behind his hand, the slight shaking of his shoulders and the expression on his otherwise impassive face left no doubt ! The Great Hero was laughing. And by Gaia, she had to look away, or her poor little heart wouldn't handle it.
" Well, let's try something else since you've never seen magic ! " she said to mentally shake herself.
She put her cards back into her pants' back pocket and took out a two-Gil coin instead. The small metal disc twirled in the air before being caught and passed from one finger to another with dexterity.
Suddenly, the coin disappeared. Sephiroth stared at Théïa's hand, his eyes wide with amazement. On impulse, he captured her delicate wrist in his gloved palm. She let out a slight gasp, her breath momentarily caught in her chest. She hadn't expected this abrupt reaction at all. However, as he examined the mysterious hand from all angles, the astonishment clearly displayed on his usually impassive face brought a satisfied smile to the young woman's face.
With a simple motion, she made the coin reappear. But in her other hand.
" How... How did you do that ? " he asked with a hint of fascination in his voice.
Théïa replied enigmatically :
"Ah ! A magician never reveals her secrets, right ? "
The small coin vanished once again. She held out both palms to her interlocutor to prove that she hadn't hidden it somewhere. Then she reached out and gently touched the warrior's ear, which had not moved at all and was scrutinizing her meticulously.
" You seem to have something stuck there, " she murmured, before miraculously making the object reappear between her fingers.
Her gesture was quick, but despite her confidence, she could feel her heart racing. She really had to stop this little game. It was becoming too dangerous.
She discreetly took a breath she had been holding and stepped back, looking down and putting away her money.
" You have hidden talents, SOLDIER Klein, Sephiroth affirmed.
- Yes ! I missed my calling, I think ! " she added with a hint of humor.
A light night breeze gently rustled the trees in the abandoned park. She knew she had to end this meeting, even if she would have liked to prolong this moment.
" Well, it's getting late ! And if I don't want to oversleep again tomorrow..."
Without another word, she turned on her heel. When she stepped on the first step, he called her one last time.
" Thank you, SOLDIER Arèth.
There's really no need..." she confided.
Her silhouette gradually disappeared into the darkness of Midgar.
Four days later, she received her new mission order. The next day, she boarded a helicopter bound for Modeoheim, accompanied by two Turks, two guards... and Sephiroth. Her little magic tricks had apparently won over the legendary SOLDIER. Caught between conflicting feelings, Théïa wondered whether she should be happy or complain. On reflection, the possibility of "building bonds" with him might give her access to privileged information. It was well known that Sephiroth was often recruited as the personal bodyguard of President Shinra, suggesting that he had access to confidential data.
Or perhaps it was just an excuse she was using to justify her desire to get closer to the warrior ? But no, of course not ! That was absurd ! Ultimately, what could she hope for ? She felt far from attractive, dressed like the poorest urchin in the Slums, with her short, disheveled hair and her drab SOLDIER uniform. She had even recently found herself irrationally envying the beautiful damsels with doe-like eyes who, she had been told, fluttered their eyelashes around the elite SOLDIER. Yes, she had strangely become more attentive to gossip lately... well, so what ?
The aircraft performed a slightly abrupt maneuver that snapped her out of her reverie.
The sun was at its zenith when it landed in the middle of a vast frozen plain, east of the deserted town on the Northern Continent.
For the first time, Théïa walked in the snow. She had never undertaken a mission in this icy region before, and the island of Mideel, where she had grown up, was not known for such a climate. As for Midgar, its winters were characterized by sporadic snowflakes that only managed to cover the streets in a kind of disgusting slush.
The young SOLDIER adjusted her trench coat to shield herself from the biting cold that stung her face and followed the guards and the 1st Class out of the aircraft. The two Turks decided to wait near the aircraft, ready to intervene only if absolutely necessary. Knowing that Sephiroth was part of the ground team, they hoped for a day of relaxation. Théïa didn't like the Turks very much. She tended to distrust them. They were too loyal to Shinra and always involved in shady dealings. Moreover, this carefree redhead and his bald colleague inspired no confidence in her. They served as their pilots, and that was quite enough !
Before them stretched a landscape of blinding whiteness. Majestic peaks rose on the horizon. The air was pure, yet there was something oppressive in the silence that surrounded them, only disturbed by the crunching of their steps in the pristine snow.
The mission at hand was not in the village itself but in the mines buried deep within the mountains. Their objective : retrieve a special Materia, a mega-Materia, from the depths of this maze of rock and ice, so that Wutai's forces wouldn't get their hands on it. Shinra wanted to have it brought back to Junon to equip its submarines. Engineers sometimes had strange ideas ! Except that a little mole preferred Wutai to get hold of this precious gem rather than her own company. She had arranged for the operation to fail : as soon as she received it, she had immediately passed on the information to Avalanche in the hope that its members would relay it to the overseas belligerents. All she hoped for now was that there would be no trace of the mega-Materia left by the time her team reached the right cave.
Her mind was filled with apprehension and anxiety as she followed the other men. She knew she was playing a dangerous game by acting this way, but her loyalty was to a greater ideal than Shinra.
The galleries they entered were about fifty years old. The extraction of metal veins had allowed for the excavation of enormous quantities of steel, copper, zinc, and all the materials needed for Shinra to develop its engineering, especially for building the metropolis of Midgar and arming Junon with its massive cannon.
They ventured deep into the mountains for several kilometers. The only source of light emanated from a rail equipped with small LEDs, installed during the tunnel drilling and, luckily, still functional. Turning on the lighting required activating the generators at the entrance of each branch.
The creatures that had taken refuge in these caves were quite rare, limited to a few mountain lizards and small dragons, which didn't slow down their progress.
According to their information, the mega-Materia had been hidden in the farthest cave.
After several hours of walking, they finally reached the end of the last corridor. This tunnel opened into a vast cavern with a high ceiling, where other underground passages also extended. At the bottom of this excavation, carved into the rock, a small alcove still held a reddish glow: the mega-Materia. Théïa inwardly grumbled, noting that Wutai's troops had not yet managed to seize the precious artifact.
As she was about to step under the enormous arch, a hand grabbed her shoulder and stopped her abruptly :
" What's going on ? " she asked, concerned.
Coldly, Sephiroth objected :
"We are not alone...
- What ! How do you know ? she exclaimed, incredulous.
- They are in the other tunnels. I can hear them," he replied, unperturbed.
Théïa strained her ears, but she didn't hear any suspicious sounds.
"Are you sure ? I don't hear anything !
- Trust me," he said, his voice calm and determined.
If what Sephiroth said was true, it meant they had arrived at the same time as Wutai's warriors. A confrontation was inevitable. She knew Sephiroth would not agree to turn back and leave the Materia to the enemy. If she tried to convince him to retreat, he might find her behavior suspicious. She mentally cursed the slow Wutaians ; there was no point in providing them with directions !
Deeply frustrated, she drew her sword and asked :
"What are your orders ?
- I don't know how many they are, but they seem numerous. We will wait for them to be exposed in the cave. We will try to catch them by surprise."
The regular echo of boots suddenly became audible, growing louder in the rocky corridors. Théïa felt her pulse quicken and tightened her grip on her sword. When the warriors reached the cavern, a shiver of apprehension ran through the petite redhead.
The squad consisted of about fifteen men and three of their enormous quadrupedal monsters trained to guard military forts. Two sergeants stood out with their uniforms.
Worried about what their enemies would face under the assault of her comrade's katana, due to her own "betrayal" towards her company, the young woman timidly tried to intervene :
" Shouldn't we give them the opportunity to flee, don't you think ?
- Wutai warriors are too proud. they never flee from a fight, the SOLDIER argued firmly.
- I know, but... if they see you, they'll recognize you. It might discourage some of them from fighting! Knowing the outcome of such a battle...
- You're too compassionate, he cut her off sharply.
- Some of them have families, Sephiroth ! Unlike us ! Offering them the chance to surrender rather than attacking them head-on is a matter of honor ! "
The final argument was decisive, breaking the young man's obstinacy. Calmly, he lowered his sword before taking the initiative to enter the cave first. In the darkness, his silhouette stood out as an intimidating shadow. In a flash, the Wutai warriors, alerted by the sound of his steps, froze and pointed their weapons at him.
" Well, well ! one of the two leaders exclaimed. Look who's here ! Our friends from Shinra ! And SOLDIER Sephiroth himself !
- I see I don't need to make introductions ", Sephiroth deduced.
Théïa and the guards stood by his side.
" It seems we both covet the same thing, he continued. Leave us the mega-Materia, and we will let you leave this sacred place unharmed.
- What generosity ! Did you hear, guys ? Those who want to save their lives, step aside!"
However, none of the warriors moved. They remained perfectly still, their weapons pointed straight at their adversaries.
" Those who want to avenge our comrades, slain by this guy, let him know that the reckoning has come ! "
Honestly, Théïa hardly hoped that their enemies would peacefully leave the place. Nevertheless, her conscience had pushed her to attempt this peaceful approach.
Suddenly, a gunshot echoed in the cave. The bullet ricocheted off Masamune before lodging itself in the shoulder of one of the combatants, marking the beginning of hostilities.
Sephiroth lunged at the two leaders with impressive speed. Although the latter were less powerful than the SOLDIER, their exceptional training allowed them to parry the initial sword strikes. Gunfire erupted in the icy cave, creating a thunderous tumult echoing against the rock walls.
Théïa took on the imposing half-wolf, half-beast creatures, chaining lightning spells and sword strikes to their colossal flanks. The Shinra guards focused on the remaining enemy troops, responding swiftly to each attack.
Soon, the situation took a dramatic turn for both sides :
After fighting bravely for several tens of minutes and taking down a few sentinels, one of their two guards was hit by a hail of gunfire. He staggered and collapsed to the ground, lifeless, before his comrade's eyes. The latter, distracted for a moment by the gruesome sight, eventually met the same grim fate.
On their part, the Wutaians had already lost half a dozen soldiers in the confrontation.
Théïa continued her duel against the imposing Wutai monsters, her blade slicing gracefully through the air as she skillfully dodged their powerful attacks. Her lightning spells struck with precision ; she was determined to weaken their defenses at any cost.
Suddenly, two of them let out roars of pain as they collapsed under the impact of a final magical onslaught. Only one remained now, the alpha, more imposing and ferocious than its counterparts.
The petite redhead tightened her grip on her weapon, determined to finish off the last beast, when she suddenly felt the lethally sharp tip of a spear graze her neck :
" Sephiroth ! Drop your sword ! Or your little comrade here dies ! "
Théïa hadn't been attentive enough, too absorbed in her own fight. One of the enemy sergeants, realizing that the situation was turning against them, had skillfully maneuvered around the melee after his comrade had been impaled by their opponent's katana. He had positioned himself behind the other SOLDIER and, taking an ultimate risk, had literally taken him hostage. Simultaneously, one of the remaining Wutai guards had aimed his weapon at Théïa.
" You heard ! Drop your damn sword ! "
He didn't have time to finish his sentence. With tremendous force, the First Class's blade descended upon him, impaling him savagely before hurling him violently against the rock wall.
While the young woman was spared from the spear that threatened her throat a bit too closely, Sephiroth was not fast enough to intercept the shot from the weapon that followed.
A searing pain pierced the chest of the woman he still regarded as a comrade.
Théïa lowered her eyes and saw a red stain spreading across her uniform. A hail of bullets had hit her directly in the right lung.
Slowly, she felt herself collapse. Her ears were buzzing, and every breath she took caused her excruciating burning pain.
As the world around her faded gradually, the last thing she heard before sinking into total darkness was her superior's voice calling her :
"Arèth ! Arèth ! Stay with me ! Damn it, Arèth ! "