After a hour journey from Vile Peaks, the Cloud, Lightning and Hope arrivied at the enterance gate of the Gapra Whitewood Research Facility. Cloud couldn't helped noticed the trees of this forest had reminded him of the huge three at the City of The Ancient back on his world.
With Lightning taking point, she making a stealth approched once the gate was opened followed by Cloud knelt next to her. With no threats in sight at their path, Lightning gives a hand Signal to Hope who was at behind watching the rear flank.
"Can't believe we made it." The boy said in relief knelt beside Cloud. Suddenly, the ground began shuddering and The enterance Gate began slowly closed.
"No turning back now." Cloud stated
"That'll slow down pursuit." Lightning said
"But aren't there troops on this side? We can't relax just yet." Hope said
"The kid got's a point. It's to quiet down here. we should make slow swift approach." Cloud suggested as Light nodded.
"Right. We press on. Same as before, File formation. Hope, you watch our six." Lightning brefied the plan but then suddenly Hope walked at front both of Soldiers.
"Actually, why don't you let me take point" the boy said with eager without hesitation. Both Cloud and Lightning made exchange looks other, Then Cloud nodded in approved.
"Can you handle it?" Light asked as Hope standing at front of them with full confidnent.
"It's not a question of can or can't" the boy said determinedly.
"Now you're learning." Lightning said with Approving tone
"Keep your Eyes at twelve, I'll watch our six." Lightning advised
"Got it." Hope nodded marched taking the lead. Lightning watched him in amazed how the boy had learned quickly.
"I'm quite impressed that he adapted so quickly after what happend." Lightning mused to Cloud as he still froze looking at the boy marching on his own in the forest of whitewoods.
"Find your true self, Cloud--the one I've been trying to find, The real you."
Without a notice, Cloud could feel a single tear trailing from his right eye and then snapped back to reality as the vision of Aerith leaving him behind had dissapear.
"Cloud?" Lightning asked tried to looked at him as he tried to avoid her gaze. "You okay?" She asked a little concerned noticed ever since they arrivied at the Gapra Whiteoods, Cloud had been acting strangely odd.
"Yeah... I'm good." He lied as he taking the step foward not wanting recalling his bad memories
"I wonder what's bothering you." She mentally said. Cloud must be had been a tough journey back in his world before he arrived in this world and made him what he is now. Her mind back to reality and start Focused that she still in middle of mission.
Cloud catch up with Hooe who was at side of the road observing the surroundings of the area. "Stay sharp. It's to quiet here. expect the unexpected." Cloud advised as the boy nodded.
"Have you ever been here before? On duty I mean?" Hope says looking at Lightning who just catched up.
"No, I haven't. this area is covered by the Woodlands Observation Battalion." Lightning explained.
"What makes this place being protected by an army Battallion?" Cloud says curious about the PSICOM intrest of this place.
"From the outside, it may be looked like a Ecological Research Facilities surrounded by forest of Crystalized trees. But the real purpose of this facility is, It's a Bio-Weapon Facility where PSICOM stored any inhumane Experiment subjects." Lightning explained about the purpose of the Gapra Whitewood Facility Causing Cloud shivered in disgust.
"You scared?" Lightning straightly asked to Hope as he shaking his head without expreasing a doubt on his face
"Not really. when it comes to fight, I'm ready for it." He replied with full confident. Then Lightning pulled something from her pocket revealing a survival Knife that Serah gave her on her 21st Birthday.
"To keep you safe." She said as the boy take it "I'll want it back." She turned around at front once againg leading the group marching foward.
"Lightning, Cloud." Hope called them started baffled trying collecting the words he was about to say." I'm glad that I followed both of you. By myself, I would've had no chance."
"If that's how you feel, then we will have to stop treating you like a kid and started threat you like a Soldier. think you got our numbers?" Cloud said as the boy nodded determined by his moral support.
"I do my best!"
"Good, You take the point, Light and I will watch the rear." Cloud says as Hope nodded marching foward in full confident.
"You might have officer material traits within you" Light said amused
"I did lead a Parade Formation long time ago. Even tought I was only a temporary Captain only for leading the Marching." Cloud tell the rose-haired soldier about his performence as Captain of 7th Infantry Parade March back in Junon.
"Let's keep moving, the kid already ahead of us." Cloud says begining keep up the pace followed by Light. The woods is to quiet and they haven't encounter any PSICOM forces or any wild beast monster lurking around. The trio found an elevator and heading toward the floor above them. And still no signs of life.
"I don't like this. It's to quite here." Hope says shivering about the atmosphere of this place. But then suddenly, Hope heard something causing him gasped. A sound of aerial Patrols belonged to PSICOM.
"We need to hide!" Hope said rushed grab Lightning's hand pulling her toward a nearby bush as Cloud hide on the other bush across them. Letting the aerial Patrols passing trought above them.
"They don't seem like they're even looking for us. I mean, we're l'Cieandwe're on the loose." Hope stepped outside from the bush
"They may be came here for something else." Cloud taking the sight of the exhaust trails of the aerial patrols on distance
"PSICOM's keeping it all under wraps. They don't want their failure publicized." Light explained. "Better to lose us than lose their pride."
"So the other soldiers don't know about us right?" Hope assumed
"Right. They don't know Anything about a certain Fugitive on the losee right now." She scoffed turning to Cloud.
"If that's how they do, Then perhaps they will totally suprised to see us here." Cloud says
"More and less. come, this way." Lightning leading the trio head toward another elevator decending to the floor below them, the trio walked toward the quiet facility with Hope taking the lead. In few moments later, they found a road haading toward a gate with glowing door.
"That's one of the bulkhead fal'cie, Stay on guard." Lightning advised
"That thing is a fal'cie?" Cloud growled started feels his blood boiling hearing the word of fal'cie that causing him a missfortune in this world. the three of them arrivied at front of glowing gate.
"I wonder how the others are doing?" Hope muttered to himself but can be heard causing the soldiers turned to him.
"Sazh and Vanille?" Lightning assumed "Who knows? Even if they got away, they'll get caught eventually; and then they'll have to choose: resist or surrender." In realzaition, Cloud just doomed another people that was forced into this journey by abandoning them because of his fierce hatred toward the Fal'Cie's. A guilt started emarges on his veins and there is not knowing that Sazh and Vanille could defend themselves from an entire PSICOM millitary force.
"Surrender... do you think he's still alive?" Hope chimed in a harsh sound of his. Cloud could see where this is going about the boy's sentence.
"You mean Snow?" Lightning inquired "He's too stubborn to die…and that's his best quality. He's arrogant and chummy from the get-go and thinks he's everyone's pal. Never liked him much. He leads around a bunch of kids--gang called 'NORA'."
"Where'd they get the name 'Nora'?" Hope said with harshness voice.
"It's a stupid acronym" Lightning huffed crossing her arms. "Their littlecode. Stands for 'No Obligations, Rules or Authority' must be nice." suddenly, the gate opened on it's own catching Lightning attention revealing another path to move on.
"It's irresponsible." Hope growled as he stomped passed both Soldier with his gaze dowward feeling iritated. Lightning was about to followed the boy then suddenly she felt Cloud's hand grab her shoulder on the right.
"Just in case, from now on, we keep eyes on him." Cloud whispered
"What do you mean by that? Is something on your mind?" Light asked
"It's just my hunch, but I think I get the reason why he decided tagged along with us." Cloud explained as both of them continue following the young boy from behind as they entered deep inside the facility revealing a walkway lead to the floor bellow, Filled with untamed beast and monsters where PSICOM stoared their Experiment subjcets wich made Cloud suddenly feeling a shiver across his spine the sight right front of his eyes reminded him a Experiment Subject Specimen done by Hojo in Shinra laboratory and truth about Mako Reactor in Mount Nibel where Shinra Scientist housed The Calamity from the sky fell thousand years ago on his world, Jenova for purpose of extensive experimentation.
"That's one of the Bio-Weapon subjects. PISCOM conducted inhumane experiments in this facility. They're a little different from the military breeds." Lightning explained.
"Civilians aren't allowed in here, are they?" Hope inquired
"We'll have to be sure and tell them if we see any." Light says.
"If they listen to us." Cloud says coldly "at this point, People are blinded by the Sanctum's bullshits about anything that related to us. I wouldn't be suprised if they pointed their fingers at us and sending the whole army to kill us." The blonde swordsman says walked toward front passing both of his comrades and drawed his sword preparing his fighting stance as the feral creatures began circling him like a pack of wolves trapping their prey. Without further to do, Lightning drawed her Saber still in gun mode sending a barrage of bullets took down three of the beast as Cloud in instant swing his Sword three times slashing each every Creature and killing them leaving lying on the ground.
Cloud noticed a wounded experimented beast lossing it's blood and decided approched it. Looking at the dying beast, suddenly he felt a shiver across his spine
"Even from another world, You are still the same as these creatures. A Monster set on losee."
A mysterious sinsiter voice same as before was echoed on his mind once again. Feeling a trembeling in rage and anger. Cloud thrust his sword at the beast ended it's life.
"Let's get outta here... this place gives me a creep." Cloud muttered as Both Lightning and Hope began following him from behind passing trought the facility filled with experimented animals already turned into feral beast, not wanting wasting time much time, the trio decided avoiding the creatures made it to another section of the Bio-Weapon Facility. Noticed Hope is breathing rapidly she decided to stop and causing both her comrades looked confused.
"Hold up." She raised her hand gesturing the group "let's take a break for seconds." Light said as Cloud nodded in agreement noticed their younger companion dropped himself into the ground trying catching his breath. Cloud noticed Hope pulled out the knife Light give to him and toying around with it.
"What's eating you?" Lightning tersely asked and Hope did not respond. "Okay, I can tell you're hung up on something" the boy still didn't answered her question and Cloud decided to said it out loud.
"It's Snow, isn't it?" The blonde says expecting the answer as he noticed Hope hold the knife tightly "it's written all over you face. You had something against Snow. And I'm assuming it had to do with your Mother. Isn't that right?" Cloud says remembering Hope announced his hatreed toward Snow back in Vile Peaks.
"My mother was killed. Because of him it's his fault, and he needs to pay for it." He said angrily as the images of the momment of her Mother died vividly appears on his vision "I'm not ready yet, but I will be, soon. That's why I followed both of you." The boy said stands up walked passed Cloud. "Snow dragged us all this. You,me, Lightning and Her sister Serah... He's gotta pay." Hope says coldly continue marching on his own.
"I've got to be stronger..." the boy whispered barely can be heard by Lightning
"Break time is over, I'll take the point. Cloud, you watch our six."
"Copy." He nodded.
Lightning foward followed by Cloud and Hope. But then she found a dead end road. Thinkin an alternative road, she found a crytalized branch leading toward ground below, leaped to the branch and walking to curved trunk leading to bellow ground.
The group continued marching in silent with a massive tense awkward air whithin them. Arrivied on the next platform, Lightning noticed a collapsed branch blocking their path. She stepped foward and drawed out her Saber and swing trought the crytalized branch shattered into millions of pieces.
"Could I use one of those?" Hope staring at the Blazefire saber admiring it's design and cappibilities.
"bit too heavy for you." Light stated as the boy sighed in disappointment as he pulled out the knife from his pocket.
Cloud suddenly caught something in distance and he noticed there is several bodies lying on the ground in pool of blood.
"Cloud?" Lightning called him noticed Cloud march foward on his own and decided to catched up with him with Hope following her behind. Gasped by the sight of dead PSICOM soldiers lying on the ground presumably was killed by the Monsters that lurking around inside the facility
"What happened here?" Hope catched up standing next to Cloud gasped staring at the horrofic scene.
"Bad luck" Lightning replied "They came looking for us and found something worse."
"We can't just leave them like this!" Hope deliberately says tried to kneled beside the dead soldier but then Cloud blocked his path with his arm.
"They're in fate's hands now. There is nothing we can do to them." Cloud muttered softly
"But it's right thing to--"
"Hope!" Lightning said his name loudly cutting the boy sentance "Control your emotions. If you want to survive, you have to forget about sympathy." She said and instantly feeling regret telling at a young boy who doesn't have a experience on Millitary. "How should I explain?" Lightning sighed still collecting her toughts.
"When you at the battlefield, you can't show your enemies kindness, empathy and compassion. If you did, you only doomed your self in a crossfire. If anything, it's liability." Cloud explained turned to the boy. "I'm sure you already know that. If you willing completed your mission, you have to let go all of those. Even it means shut out everything else."
"Think it as Strategy Hope, still your mind. Move on insticts. If you let doubt take over, and despair will cripple you." Lightning says putting her hand on Hope's shoulder
"I see, a strategy. Good, I'll take anything to help me get trought this" Hope nodded walked at the edge of platform leading toward another road.
"I call it 'Operation Nora.'" The boy said calmly.
"NORA?" Lightning asked curious to know why he take the name from Snow's group.
"My mother's name."
"It's Your revenge isn't it?" Cloud says reaching the conculsion
"Yes, Don't tell me. I know getting revenge on him won't... bring her back. I know that!" Hope turned back facing both of the Soldiers. "But 'sorry' won't cut it." He grit his teeth everytime talked about Snow Both Cloud and Lightning could see the rage and anger across on Hope face.
"I don't like the guy either. But what makes you think he deserved that much?" Cloud says sternly locking his piercing Mako eyes at the boy's eyes "You are better than this Hope. and You are not responsible to Judge his action."
"So you saying I have to forget everything happening so far? Like that's gonna happend... I already made my choice." Hope snapped coldly "She dead because of him. And I can't just accepted that."
"Snow didn't killed your mother. The sanctum did." Lightning says flatly
"Whose sides you on?!" He shouted mimicking her words used at Snow back at Lake Bresha
"The side of truth." Lightning barked back
"Let me asked you this... did Snow give her a gun and forced your mother to fight?" Cloud sternly says causing boy stuttered couldn't answer his question. He can still remember when Snow Asked a Volunteer and it was his Mother stand on her own will and take the Gun from him. "Figured you couldn't answered that and I'm guessing your mother made her choice by pick up a gun knowing the risk that killed her. Like it or not, you have to accept it" Cloud says as the boy feeling enraged every words he said about his mother.
"Fine... I'll fight the Sanctum with you. I'll learn to survive." He said harshly continued walked on his own alone on his own not wanting anyone company for now on.
"Me and my big mouth... I'm starting to regret this..." Cloud shaking his head as he could see a wrost scenario in his mind if Hope and Snow once again meet.
"You mean how we treat him now and the words we said to him?" Lightning inquiried
"Yeah... at this point he's obbsession toward Snow could ruin him one day."
"I didn't think you actually concerned about what might happened to him." Lightning says a bit suprised
"I was the same like him." Cloud muttered says as Lightning looked at him in curiosity "Old enough to know what death looks like." he said as the memory of his hometown Nibelhiem witnessing so many people died and fire that burned his hometown by Sephiroth.
Few minutes later after catching up with Hope, they found a huge elevator and Lightning presses the button as the elevator started ascend for heading toward next floor
"What's wrong?" Cloud said he noticed Hope been acting odd ever since they entered the elvator.
"Why do I have feeling something bad's about to happen?" Hope muttered and the elevatoe reached the next floor revaling one road heading toward a closed gate. But then out of no where, a huge four legged monster appear with it's huge blue bulp looking shell on it's back.
"Speak of the devil.." Cloud drly says about the boy earlier sentence as he and Lightning drawed their weapons.
"This is it. Operation Nora!" Hope said determinedly pulled out his bommerang charging foward passed both Cloud and Lightning.
"Let's hustle." Cloud switched to Punisher Mode Fighting stance as Lightning switched to Ravanger casting few Ruin magic attacks "Hope!" Cloud shouted as the boy nodded.
"Got it!" Hope switched to Synergist casting a protect and Haste at Cloud "Go Cloud!" he leaped in the air swing his sword at the monster bulk shell trying breaking it but his attack didn't even had the effect on the beast.
"Time to get serious..." he whispered at himself chanelling his inner strenght until a massive red energy started emrages on him, pointed his sword performing the Focused thrust at the Beast's right leg and cripled it down.
Cloud leaped back from the beast as as Lightning switched into Commando mode joined at his side.
"Light!" Cloud screeched as she nodded.
"Copy!" Lightning says as she focusing her magic power casting a spell at Cloud's Buster Sword and enhance it with Ruin Spells causing his Sword covered in Ruin and then he throw it in midair as he leaped in air reached it's handle then sending the six volleys of Ruin Blade Beam as Lightning also casting six ruin spells at the monster simultaneously causing the monster stunned. In instant, Cloud dashed at the wounded monster and pointed his sword at it's head then jumped rasing his sword above his head and thrust the tip of his sword trought the monster skulls killing it instantly.
"Wow.. that was amazing." Hope said in awe about the Cloud and Lightning combination attack.
"You weren't so bad either kid." Cloud says put his sword on his back.
"Operation Nora, Stage one Complete." Hope said
"You did well." Light praised as she head to the console to opened the gate and the trio proceed continue the journey trought the artifical woods. In few minutes they finally caught something at their sight at the end of the road revealing a sunlight heading to the valley near the seaside. In distance, they can see a port city at the side of the beach.
"That's it Palumpolum." Hope says taking the sight
"That's whereyoulive, right?" Lightning says joined at his side. "We'll stop in when we get there." She suggested
"PSICOM and the Corps might be stationed at the city. I don't think walking at the front door is a good idea." Cloud says as Hope nodded.
"Cloud is right. We're l'Cie now, and no one's there but my dad." The boy lowering his head as his gaze faving toward the ground below him.
"Your Dad deserved to know what happend, You have to tell him." Cloud tried encoruge the boy but Hope ignored him as he marching on his own toward a small road heading toward the City.
Arrivied at the enterance of Palumpolum and Cloud hunch was right. the enterance had became a rally point for entire Sanctum Millitary forces. A whole Infantry company along side with Mechanized vehicles roaming at the streats and the skies was crowded with fleet of Sanctum Air Force.
"Attention all units, this is director Rosch, PSICOM Division. Cocoon is caught in the grip of Pulse-born Terror. If we allow l'Cie activity to continue, panic will rip our world apart. The peace and stability we have fought so hard to mantain will be nothing but a memory. Pulse l'Cie threaten our very way of life. They must be eliminated. There can be no hesitation. That is all."
With the PSICOM director finished his brefing trought all Brodcast can be heard by civillians, The trio managed Sneak in without being spotted by the millitary swiftly making a approch at the staging point hiding in nearest wall.
"Quite a welcoming party." Cloud peeked from the corner of the wall says quitely along with Lightning and Hope behind him leaned the wall. Noticed a Squad of Guardian Corps soldiers being breifed by a PSICOM Officer.
"We can make it." Hope says quitely as he looking arround their surroundings "Get to the station and board train to Eden."
"You think it's still running?" Light says still watching their back with her saber in Gunmode on her hands.
"If it isn't, we'll make it run" Hope said without a doubt about the risk they might ran into.
"Staright into the bad guy club house and causing a commotion? You got some balls kid, I give you that." Cloud praised
"Well, thisisOperation Nora. It's not just Snow I'm after. the Sanctum's got to pay too." Cloud and Lightning exchanged looks causing Cloud let out a breath sighed.
"Hey, you and Light the one who said we have to fight." Hope hissed shaking Cloud's hand "every minute we waste, we tempting fate." The boy says but Cloud still having a doubt about the Boy Motive getting revenge on Snow.
"Look." Hope pointed at a huge stairs leading to the abndoned sewers "we can use the underground tunnels to passed trought the city without being noticed. No one uses the entrance anymore, so even the army doesn't know anything about it." Hope explained as Cloud and Lightning nodded in agreement.
"Sounds good to me." Light nodded.
"Great!"
"Alright, that means Hope will be our point man from now on since he is fammiliar with the place. Light, you watch our backs." Cloud said as both his companions nodded.
They swiftly sneak in within the Convoy Trucks and cargo boxes staying Vigilant without being seen by any Soldier's. Leaning beside a cargo box by staying low as posibble, Cloud give hand signal told everyone to hold for a momment as they take a sight of lone GC Soldier looking at the opposite direction. The blonde Soldier moved quitely staying low and with in reach, he grab the soldier's neck with his strong arms wrestling his neck and then snapped his neck killing him quitely. Hoping there no other soldier patrolling around the area, he quickly dragged the dead soldier body inside a cargo truck. After that, he give a hand signal toward Lightning and Hope who was still at behind the Cargo Box telling them to move.
The trio regrouped at behind another Cargo truck noticed a platoon of Infatry staging near the armored vehicle.
"Huh. No more rivalies now. PSICOM's brought in the Guardian Corps." Lightning said noticed a squad of Guardian Coprs being brefied by PSICOM Officer.
"At this point, rivalies are no matter right now to them. And I'm guessing the one called 'Rosch' in the earlier speach taking an full authority to mobilized every Sanctum's millitary forces" Cloud inquired about the situation.
"You see that?" Hope pointed as Cloud and Lightning taking a look at the boy pointed. "That's the old drainage pipe. We can use it to avoid being seen. The tunnel enterance is a little further up."
"Doen't seems like we can passed trought these guys without been seing." Lightning says "I'm going in." Lightning drawed her saber charged toward a Soldier before he noticed, She swing her sword causing the other soldier suprised when he see her.
"What the! Intruder--" he was cutted off as Cloud instant dashed at him blink of eye swing his sword at the other Soldier. Clouf Noticed a nother lone Soldier panicked and starting making a run for it.
"Hope!"
"Got it!" Hope nodded and he casted a Thundara at the fleeing Soldier causing him tripped and fell to the ground.
"Nice work, let's get outta here before more of them showed up." Lightning says putting her Saber at her holster
"This way, follow me." Hope said run toward a broken old pipe followed by both Ex-Soldiers. There is no current water flowing inside the pipe and it caused a metal footsteps sound can be heard across the hallway.
"What do you see?" Light whispered as Hope peeked at the outside revaling a soldier patrolling the area.
"I count four of them. Look." He pointed at the small trench leading toward the sewers. "I think we can sneak passed them trought that trench. If we crawled low enough" Hope suggested earned a nod from both Soldiers.
"Good thinkin. Now let's move out." Cloud says quitely and leading the trio avoiding the patrolling GC Soldier's. The trio moved swiftly by crawling at the ground like a snake heading to a trench and made it at the stairs heading to the undergound tunnels and lead toward a huge cave. Successfully avoid the patrols.
Cloud turned back at the enterance way expecting a pursuiting soldier and it appears none of them ever noticed the trio already passed trought the tunnel revealing a huge labyrinth with flosting platform
"Don't worry, it will be fine. Only Kids like me know about that enterance." Hope said reassuringly.
"Not for long, if they noticed our earlier fight." Cloud stated
"They find it. They'll call in a team and canvass the whole tunnel system." Lightning says without a doubt "So, where's this thing come out anyway?"
"Well... to be honest, I don't really know for sure" Hope said sheepishly.
"You kidding right?" Cloud says incredulousnessly "I tought you know this place very well."
"Hey, this isn't extactly the playground I used to play when I was a kid." Hope snapped back
"One way to find out. We'll find out today." Lightning walk passed the boy and pat his shoulder. "I take the point." She said marching on front leading the group head toward a console allowing the floating platform moved toward them and using it to cross another road at the distance.
The labyrinth was quite huge and it took them few minutes to them travel by foot. The trio taking a sight of the floating bright golden-orange statue with Buttefly looking wings with a mask on it side of it's wings. rovolved slowly and the inner section goes other way.
"Carbuncle, the city's food-production Fal'Cie." Hope explained
"Wait... this thing is a Fal'Cie? And people relied foods on this thing?" Cloud says with the mixature of disgusted and confusion. Do people in this world really relied their lifes on these deities?
"Well... Yeah everyone knows about it. And it's one of our enemies as well, since we are a Pulse l'Cie." Hope says
"Does that mean killing it will starve the whole people in this city?" Cloud said reaching his conculsion
"More and less, it will cut off the food supply and obviusly that'll make us popular." Lightning explained
"I think people have enough reason to hate us, don't you think?" Hope sighed hoping the unwanted scenario didn't happend if both Soldier decided to kill it.
"You right, Hungry people make for angry people." Lightning says turned back and continued their pace leading the group passing trought another path toward the platform then ascending toward another floating road on above.
"Strange don't you think? Now that We are Pulse l'Cie, and yet, we using a Sanctum fal'Cie to tell where or we're going." Hope says breaking the silence and stepped at the near edge of the platform taking the sight of the Carbuncle.
"Not really..." Lightning mutter. "We've relied on them our whole lives, the food we eat, the light and water, it's all from the Fal'Cie. You know, I think Cocoon was really built for them;the rest of us, we're just leeches. Parasites" Lightning explained her toughts
"You think?" Hope asked "they protect us…nurture us, they take care of, well, normal people. They treat us like we're special." Hope finished.
"After what happend so far and how they treat the human beings, I don't think 'Special' is a fit word about us..." Cloud growled in darkly. Causing both of his comrades looked at him.
"What do you mean by that?" Lightning said looking at the blonde who seems had the conculsion.
"Isn't obvious? They treat us like a Pets. and then treat us like a pawns and now they branded us into l'Cie to do their dirty job as a Slaves." Cloud finished his conculsion, in this situation he was no stranger with a fate that took away is own free will back in his world, binded by Sephiroth as his Puppet.
"Pets... Pawns...Slaves..." Lightning murmured numbly. "To them, we are just pets, then pawns and then slaves. That's it. Now it makes sense." She clenched her fist tightly "I've been so blind. I was born into a fal'cie world, raised on a fal'cie leash. It was the only life I knew how to live."
Cloud could hear her voice was getting raw and rough as it feels like the whole world she knew all along was just an Illusion made by these deities.
"Cloud, I understand now..." Lightning says turned to the blonde. "This l'Cie curse, it took everything from me. My future. My dreams. I didn't want to think. So I fought instead, as long as I was fighting, nothing else was real. I was running away." She muttered turned away in shame.
"And you, Cloud... From the begining, you got swept along with me." She murmured unable to look in his eyes as the guilt started emrages on her veins for causing Cloud and Hope branded as l'Cie.
"So what are you going to do now?" The blonde says casually tried made her feel at ease.
"I am not sure yet..." she says numbly
"But Lightning. I don't understand." Hope says still haven't reache their conculsion.
"Operstion Nora is over." She said with her broken tone causing the boy looked in shocked
"What?!" Hope said incredulousnessly. "No!" Hope Shrieked, causing Cloud to look startled "You and Cloud told me to fight!"
"I made a mistake!" Light snapped back
"But--you can't do this. "Hope baffled tried collecting the words he tried to say." You can't just build something up like that and then abandon me alone." Lightning instantly stepped at the front of the boy and hold both his shoulder's making sure he was looking at her eyes.
"We won't abandon you." Lightning says firmily "I won't." She released the boy shoulder's.
"And Cloud, I was so blinded about everything what happened." She said with a raw rough voice came out from her mouth." I dragged you both and the other's into this mess. I was a fool and selfish... I'm sorry." She said solemly turning away once again facing her boots unable to look at him in the eyes. But then she felt a strong hand holding at her shoulder and started to feel at ease and clean air on her lungs. with courage, she able to stared at his Cerulean eyes once again.
"We all made mistakes in the past." Cloud said calmly "and we still got time make things right. As long we are breathing that is." Lightning let out a weak smile and started feeling at ease. When the time was tough, she was feelling vurnable at the momment, but having Cloud on her side, she still able to move on.
"But that still doesn't explained the whole point." Hope snapped causing the pair looked at him holding his glove revaling his brand
"We're the l'Cie! Tickling time bombs, enemies of Cocoon. If we can't follow the plan, do we just lay down and die?"
"I didn't say we should run away and give up kid." Cloud snapped back.
"Then what battles do we fight? And agaisnt who? Tell me that!" The boy roared his voice demanding the answer.
"How should I know? I'm still clueless same as you." Cloud said tired calm as possible.
"So you saying you guys still don't know yet?" Hope snapped back incredulousnessly
"That's right. We don't know yet. But I do know we can't lose hope." Lightning says causing the boy cringed hearing the word of his name.
"Hope? Yeah right.. there no such thing hope for l'Cie." He muttered darkly taking a seat at the stair case.
"There's you." Lightning says
"It's just a name, not who I am." He muttered lowering his head
"You know... I was the same as you." Lightning scoffed causing both Cloud and Hope looked at her as she turned back looked at the ceiling of the tunnel. "My parents died. I had to be strong for Serah, so I tought I needed to forget my past, and I became Lightning. I thought thay by changing my name, I could change who I was. I was just a kid." Cloud could hear her voice louder than a whisper.
"Lightning. It flashes bright, then fades away. It can't protect. It only destroys." For a momment Cloud didn't realized how her life was painful same as he does, being an orphan left behind by their parents and lose everything. He and her are almost the same.
Lightning taking a seat next to Hope "Serah tried tell me, but I wouldn't listen... and I threatened..." she fell silent realized how she was furious toward Serah. "The only one she believed now is Snow--"
"Don't say it!" Hope barked loud out causing the both soldier starttled "don't say his name. It brings everything back. I keep playing it in my head, what happend to her. And then I see his stupid face and... he was smilling... how can he smile when she's dead?" He couldn't said another words as the event of his mother keep replaying all over again in his mind
"We've been over of this Hope... Snow isn't resposibble of your Mother's death." Cloud said calmly.
"What would You Know about it?!"Hope snapped angrily marching toward the blonde as both made a tense stare eachother "You weren't even there watched her died!"
"You right... It's true I wasn't there.." Cloud broke the eye contact with the boy looking at other direction "but I know what it feels like to lose a mother. And the worse part of it, My Mother was--" suddenly his vision started went stuttered causing him a headhache groaned in pain hearing the voices crying in pain.
"Run, Cloud. Run away... You have to leave... you have to live."
In just a moment the whole room was felt like the same heat off his hometown burned to the ground by Sephiroth. Cloud started hyperventilating, hearing his Mother's last words playing on his head was to much for him to handle it mentally.
"Mom..." Cloud mused still breathing with his lungs feeling heavy and hard to breath, but then suddenly he felt a soft touch on his hand reveal to be Lightning holding his hand starting feel at ease and clear air on his lungs.
"You okay?" Lightning said softly stared at his Cerulean eyes feeling bit concerned
"I'm fine, I'm Sorry." Cloud muttered
"No, it's my fault Cloud." Hope said firmly "I said lot of wrong things, it won't happend again." The boy sheppishly said recvied a nod from the blonde.
"Let's keep moving, We're behind schedule." Lightning suggested as both of her friends nodded. The atmosphere was tense in awkward after a recent arguement and none of them said a word durning the minutes of walking. The trio arrivied at a elevator leading to the central of the city.
Lightning noticed Hope stopped sighed taking a sight of the ceeling.
"Talk to your dad." Lightning told the boy earned a confusion look from the boy. "Fighting without hope is no way to live. It's just the way to die."
"She is right." Cloud said as the boy turned to him "we want you find something within yourself the reason you're fighting and the hope you are named for. you said it your self that the reason why you followed us you wouldn't have stood a chance. Staying alive we can help you with, but we can't give you hope."
"It's the only choice I have huh? Like it or not." Hope said mimicking the Cloud words. "but the thing is, He's never listened to a word I've said. he's just--he'll never believe all this l'Cie stuff." hope finished and the elevator began acsend passed trought the ceilings rapidly.
The trio arrivied at the central plaza from the elevator thay popped out from the gound. They noticed the Plaza was empty assuming the civllians already evacuated.
"Stay alert." Lightning advised as the other's while Cloud gripped his sword hand held on his back as Hope looking around their surroundings.
"Something doesn't feel right." He whispered and then noticed to the large screen bellowing a News report.
"In a recently convened emergency conference,the Sanctum announced that the fugitive l'Cie have been located.The military plans to apprehend the l'Cie and carry out a public execution.These images coming to you from the scene in Palumpolum."
Cloud noticed the large screen of the news report wad showing a live brodcast feed showing the three of them at central Plaza. But then, he noticed the Live feed directly focused at him.
"Shit..." he curses noticed a whole company of Sanctum's armed forces PSICOM and Guardian Corps Infantry company circleing them along with aerial troopers flying circling above them.
"These are l'Cie, Show no mercy. They aren't people, They're Targets! Kill the Swordsman first!" A voice blabiring came from a airship with it's speaker heard in distance revealing Yaag Rosch, PSICOM second-in command.
"Light, take Hope and get out of here." Cloud said stepped foward at front of them and recevied disbelief looks from Lightning and Hope.
"And leaving you behind agaisnt the whole army? You're crazy!" Lightning barked incredulousnessly.
"I'm always crazy. This is what I do everyday." Cloud snapped back reassuringly "I'll buy you guys sometime."
"You Nuts!" Hope shrieked
"I could stay here-- back you up." Light says as she drawed her saber but then Cloud shaking his head.
"Get going, Light. I'm asking you... Please." he turned back looking at her eyes firmily, he's not going recivied a no answer.
"Fine.. you better catched up with us, You hear?" Lightning says still not agree of his absurb plan but she had no choice but to move on without Cloud. she grab Hope's hand and the pairs started run off amd thn Cloud raised his sword vertically at front of him and his forehead leaned at his blade
"Don't let them escape!" One of GC soldier barked started charging toward the Blonde, then Cloud leaped in the swing his sword and slam it on the ground sending a shockwave toward the soldier atemmpting puruiting Lightning and Hope causing them to stumbled to the ground.
"It's him The Swordman." One of Soldier cussing pointed their weapons at the Blonde.
"You want them? You have walked over trought my dead body." Cloud taunted and launched himself at the crowd of PSICOM Soldier causing the Chaos by killing them one by one without being shoot at or scratch by any PSICOM combatants.
Every moments, every soldier he kills and hearing the cry of his enemies in pain and suffering by he is doing, Cloud started noticed his sword feels lighther than before making him easy for him to swing his blade.
"Good Cloud... very good... let that righteous anger guide you."
A figure of Sephiroth suddenly appear right front of him giving him a wicked evil smile. Causing his blood started boiled in rage anger letting out animal roar like as he swing his sword toward figure looked like Sephiroth and then suddenly it vanished.
"Kill the l'Cie! Show no mercy!" One of PSICOM barked and then another Soldier looked at the spikey swordsman in terror and trembeled while he pointed his rifle at Cloud noticing his bright cerulean eyes slowly began possed and turned into bright emeraland green and raise his sword above his shoulder with tip pointed downard, mimicking the Sephiroth fighting stance.
In instant, Cloud began slaughtering them in cold blooded one by one without a mercy. He is now one beast against an army and unstoppable possessed by his will to kill everything that threatning him.
After the massive slaughter, Cloud turned and find one wounded soldier terrorized by witnessing the monstrous strenght of the blonde swordsman. The wounded soldier who still unable to stand on his feet and still crawlling backward then he noticed Cloud with his face stained by blood of his kills and slowly approching him on front.
"P-Please.. Don't kill me, I-I don't wanna die!" The soldier pleading in terror hoping the blonde snapped out to stop killing him.
"Don't be afraid... it's not death--it's a homecoming." He whispered softly let out a wicked smile mimicking Sephiroth and pointed the tip of his Sword at the Soldier's chest.
"N-No wait! WAIT! NOO--ARGHH--uh..." Cloud slowly thrust his tip slowly and painfully killing the wounded Soldier.
"May you rest peacefully... back to the Planet..."
"YOU MONSTER!" Another PSICOM soldiers begining circling him "You l'Cie scum! I won't let you get away with this!" The soldier screamed witnessing how Cloud killed his unarmed comrade. Once again, he raised his sword above his shoulder pointed foward to the PSICOM Squad.
Lightning who still with Hope dragging him across the districts surrounded by the millitary soldiers. she using her saber in gun mode shooting any soldier blocking her path. She then stopped and turned around looking at the distance. One think she would know that Cloud is still out there dealing an entire Sanctum army by his own.
"Start running. I'll keep them busy." Light told the boy
"But-" he baffled as he silenced by the look of Light's serious face.
"You survive" she said simply drawed her Blazefire Saber. One thing right now she had in her mind was to find Cloud before something worse happened to him.
Suddenly, a loud explosion sound heard from above their left side drew everyone attention. Lightning couldn't see what's going on but suddenly a summoning glyps appear in the air revealed two blue skinned women dressed barely soaring into the sky. She realized it was an Eidolons and then both Eidolons merged together and transformed into a steel icy-blue colored motorcyle. A momment later, the summoner along his companion leaped at the top of the motorcylcle and began driving at top of the Ice railings that leading to where Hope and Lightning standing
"It's Him!" Hope shrieked noticed the rider is Snow and the bronze skinned woman dressed in blue robes behind him shooting at the grouo of GC Soldier's with the rifle on her hand. Lightning then grabbed the boy hand dragged him once again making the run for it using the chaos that caused by Snow.
Noticed a three GC Soldier right front of her, she drawed her saber into sword mode and dashed toward them swing her sword each of the Soldier's taking them down.
"Lightning!" Snow called parked his bike with a grin face but she ignored him. With no time to waste, she pushed Hope toward him.
"Take cafe of him" she barked turning her sword into a gunmode
"Lightning, listen to me!"
"Get moving!"
"No, you don't understand! Serah's alright, she'll turn back!" Lightning sighed impatiently, the more time wasted, something worse might happened to Cloud.
"Take care of Hope." Lightning ran off on her own going the direction where she left Cloud handling the whole Sanctum Army in the plaza. With her might, she sprinted as fast she could and avoiding any Sanctum troops by staying out of their sight sneking swiftly.
Then something caugh her attention as she noticed a black smoke near the plaza. She noticed a huge flame and wreck of the aerial troopers jetpack on the ground burning and several dead bodies lying on the ground. Horrofied by the scene she covered her mouth urging the resisting of her vomiting as she noticed some of the dead bodies was ripped apart into pieces in pool of blood. "Did Cloud really did this?" she mentally asked.
"That's quite a mess down there." A voice came from behind her and in instict Lightning turned around drawed her sword in instant revaling Snow's companion parrying her sword with her by pulled out the Bladed Lance she carrying. "How the hell she able sneak behind me like that??"
"Strike first before the talk eh? You sure didn't make things easy." The olive skinned--wavy dark haired woman grinned smugly. "She tried to pissed me off..." Lightning know the best thing right now is not wasting another time. She had find Cloud before something happend to him. She ran off again on her own. She scanned the whole area full of dead GC and PSICOM soldier's with blood surrounding the streets
"Damm it.. where are you Cloud?" She whispered in frustrated haven't find a single clue of Cloud where he might be at.
"Still nothing about that Spikey-haired fellow huh? After the mess he made at this place, I don't think he would go down that easily." The bronze skinned woman says as she ran off into the street head toward a alleyway. Without a lead where Cloud wherebouts, she decided to followed her and found her leaning in the wall with a communicator on her ear.
"It's me, what's up?" a voice of Snow heard from the comunicator
"You damm well know what's up!" She barked loudly at the small device "Why haven't you called in!?
"Sorry, it slipped my mind" Snow replied trying cool down the tense of the Bronze skinned woman
"Right…what's your status?"she asked sternly
Great, great! Hope's great too, areyoualright?"
"I'm great, you're great, everybody's great!" she barked back and handing her commuicator to Lightning "Reunion time, Figure out a rendezvous point." Lightning took the communicator giving her unconvinced look alon her face.
"Don't sweat it. That line's hyper-encrypted." She told her reassured while Lightning isn't, but evantually she put the device on her ear.
"Hey, Sis. Is that you?"
"I'm not your sister." She snapped back still feeling iritated with Snow's friendly atitude to her.
"Still haven't get used to it huh? Don't worry, you will once I married Serah. You will." Snow says as Lightning getting annoyed by his sense of humor.
"I still don't approve Serah dating with an moron like you." She snapped back.
"Ouch... you hurting me Light. Anyway, what happend to Cloud and the other's?"
"Long stoy, Sazh and Vanille got Separated. Snow I don't have time to talked right now, I got go find to Cloud quickly." She said sharply "We'll meet at Hope's place. Felix Heights 35-A."
"Right... See ya there. Tell Fang 'hey'" Snow said as Lightning turned her gaze to bronze skinned woman assuming Fang is her name and then wiggle her finger at her dorection.
"Take care of Hope, We catched up to you there once we meet up with Cloud." She said firmily.
"All over it, and I'll tell you more about Serah when we meet up" Snow said with mix of relief as Lightning still confused how Serah going turned back from her crystal stasis "I found out she can turn back. There still hope " suddenly something snapped on Lightning's mind hearing the word of 'hope' made her remembered that her youngest companion is now together alone with the man he swore to kill for his mother's death.
"Snow, Listen to me." she spoke quitely tried to warned him. "It's about Hope. His mother was--"
"Lightning, it's me." Hope voice started speak on the comunicator "I decided-- I have to--operation--" Hope voice was cutted and only sound of static can be heard on the device.
"Hope?Hope! Answer me! Hope!" Lightning barked at device but received no response.
"Yelling doesn't fix it. It's called interference." Wild haired woman named Fang told her calmly. As much Lightning hated it with the facts, she is right. This is no time sitting in ducks and yelling pointelessly
"You can chitchat when we get there" Fang told her pacifyingly, putting back the device into her bag. "I've got point,you fall in behind and see if you can't cool off that head of yours. Let's find your Spikey friend." She marched foward ln her own heading toward another alley. Her mind starting toward her Spikey haired comrade, how did he able to handle an entire army of highly trained Sanctum's Soldier's on his own?.
Author's note: Sorry for the delay folks. It's been a rough days for me in last week due the work stuff and some irl problems.
I personally really enjoyed making Cloud interacted with the FFXIII party members in order making him feels like he is also part of the group as well. With Fang finally showed her self by tagging along with Snow on Palumpolum, it's starting getting interesting. also Cloud starting went physcho again cause I like him being insane sometimes. the Gongaga scene on Rebirth was one of my favorite scene when he killed a whole Shinra Soldier's single handedly. And now he is doing the same against PSICOM.
As always, stay tuned for next chapter.