Onboard on the Airship Lindblulm, the vessel of Sanctum Guardian Corps operated by WARB or known as Cavalary, Lightning and the rest of the group are formulating the plan of the Rescue mission. She made a vow to herself this time she will make things right to Cloud by rescuing him. The group are confident as well they might find Sazh and Vanille as well along with him imprisoned by Sanctum.
"Good, you finally here. Welcome aboard." A black haired man with white coat welcomed the group humbely.
"Brigidaier General Raines." Lightning nodded
"It seems things are getting complicated after the events at the Palumpolum. You might want to see it for your self." The man called Cid Raines informed pointed at the nearby television with the news feed live ad the fleet of airships flying in formation
"There she is, the Palamecia,pride of the Sanctum Sky fleet! This mighty flagship currently serves as a prison for the l'Cie apprehended in Nautilus;the l'Cie will face official sentencing upon the convoy's arrival in the capital."
"So what's with the freak show?" Snow growled looking at the screen
"So the Primarch can stand in judgment of the villainous l'Cie with their execution as the climax. The people will cheer their demise, and fal'cie will be undisputed." Raines explained calmly
"In a display of unwavering dedication to duty the Primarch himself has boarded the Palameciaand focused his personal attention on resolving the Pulse crisis."
"Sounds like a bait, they trying lured us out." Fang scoffed
"Bait, huh?" Snow said confidently
"Yeah, That's right: 'here are your friends. Come and get'em." The rose haired soldier said sarcastacly
"Well if they're daring us to mount a rescue, I'll take that action all in!" Snow said Bashing in his hand confidently as it he is ready for the fight.
"All righty, bets are on the table then." Rygdea grinned "I prepared the ship for the boarding party, I'll be standing by." He took off rushed toward another Hangar section as the group follwed him, revealing a small vessel airship sitting in the hangar.
"This baby back here's a PSICOM vessel. It'll deliever you to Palamecia." Rygdea pointed the the Airship
"Oh, we're cargo now?" Snow said joked recivied a laugh from the man "A parting gift to our rotting goverment. Take those PSICON guys apart." Rygdea said bashing his hand cheerfuly.
"And we're supposed to take onall of them?" Lightning said incredulously "It will be a whole army in there waiting for us."
"I say bring them all in, I don't care how many lackeys they've got" Fang said out with full confident "Bring 'em on! Vanille's in there."
"I'm sure she's fine." Hope said causing everyone looked at him "Vanille is tougher than I coukd ever be." He said remembered It was Vanille the one accompanied him during the Purge at Hanging Edge.
"Hope, are you scared?" Lightning turned to him asked him gently
"Yeah, I'm terrified. But I'll be okay. Because I have you, this guy, and Fang. Not to mentioned, I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for Cloud. We're all in this mess. We got to stick together." The boy said confidently. Lightning amazed how he was grown from the scared boy that she knew from the begining into a young mature boy.
"Right, enough with the bonding, it's go time." Rygdea grinned and lead the group toward the vessel as everyone prepared themself for the rescue mission
As Lightning still prepared herself and her equipment suddenly, something caught her attention, it was the same cloacked figure she saw at Hope's home but this time it was white colored instead black. Without hesitation, she approched and slowly lift her hand to touch it.
Before she know it, Lightning suddenly ended up in a endless empty white space as far her eyes can see.
"Where am I? Why is everything so bright? "She looked around started confused as the endless bright white room. She began running into the white endless space feeling unsure what really happened to her. Suddenly she saw an the white clocked figure appear right front of her, Slowly revealing a person inside of it.
"Hello Lightning." A gentle voice came from a brown haired emerald eyes woman in pink dress with a ribbon tied on her hair giving her a smile
"Who are you?" Lightning asked unsure if she had to drawn her weapon against her.
"My name is Aerith. A friend of Cloud."
"You know Cloud!?" Lightning gasped "but how are you here right now, where are we?"
"All I can tell you now, this is the universe that shapped by his will. But as you can see right now... it's still an empty blank space." Aerith explained. Making Lightning more confused
"I don't understand... what do you mean 'The Universe Shapped by Cloud's will? What is exactly happened to him?" She said demanding an answer about the her blondie comrade.
"He is safe, not injured. But all I can tell you know, He is right now in deep depth of despair... he is suffering right now." Aerith said as her voice began trailling off into a whisper. "All I can hope is there is someone can reached to him and heal his wounds. And I believe you are that person Lightning." She said with a gentle smile
"What do you mean by that? You seem confdinent about it, but why me?" Lightning said curious about her connection with Cloud.
"Because you and Cloud had something in common. Willing to do anything to protect what they cared most. Just as you willing do anything to saved your Sister Serah." The woman approched handed her a yellow lily flower toward the pinkette. Placing it on her strap near her chest.
"The Flower of Reunion, they say lovers used give these when they reunited..." Aerith mused remembering the momment of her life when first time laid her eyes on Cloud at the city streats in Midgar.
"What?" Lightning confused by her sentance
"It's nothing." Aerith giggled noticed small flustered coming from the pinkette "I shouldn't keep you here any longer. Make sure you and friends saved Cloud and the other's."
"That's my plan from the begining. I won't let you down." The Pinkette soldier nodded in confident
"I knew I could count on you. Good Luck, Lightning.." Aerith nodded smiled as she began slowly fading away Surrounded by the green mist energy circling around her. Lightning couldn't helped and Curious to know more about the connection betwen Cloud and the woman named Aerith. "must be someone very Important to him..."
"Hey Light! You comin' or what?" A voice from Snow loud causing her snapped back into reality where she still stood in Hangar
"Oh Right, One sec." She replied and rushed toward the vessel. As she onboard into the passanger cabin find Fang and Hope sit on their seats.
"Okay guys Take the seat. It's going to be a long flight." Rygdra grinned as he begining turned up the engine of the vessel preparing to take off soaring trought the sky
After few hours of flight, they finally caught up with the Sanctum Fleet and it's flagship Palamecia escorted with with corvetes and frigates.
"Here we are, The Sanctum Fleet. These PSICOM guys are quite jumpy, Better act casually around them." The pilot said as he lead the vessel toward the Palamecia Battle Cruiser. Suddenly their transport vessel was intercepted by two Sanctum Fighter vessels
"Unidetified Aircraft, you are approching the restrictred Air Space, State your intention or we will use the lethal force." A voice came from the ship's intercom
"Goddammit do you guys have to pointed your guns these days? Relax, I got a Equipment deleviery arrangement." Rygdea barked at the intercom
"We are haven't informed of the logistic resupply schedule today, state your formal busniess or you will be shoot down"
"How bout adjust your dammed scanner and verified my code, smartass." Rygdea snapped frustration
"Standby, verifying indentification Code." The Bridge Officer informed
"You let me land this bird or I'll crash her into your ass." The pilot barked already loses his patience dealing with the Flight Instructions from the PSICOM.
"Code verified, you are free to dock."
"About damm time." The pilot btreathed in relief as well the passangers for avoided the unwanted event being shoot in the sky
"So much for playing casually." Snow teased.
"Tell me about it, these PSICOMS guys sometimes are pain in the ass to dealt. With" The pilot groaned. Then banking the vessels to left heading the docking bay of the Palamecia, slowly docking the ship in the landing ramp and opened the exit door.
"Okay guys, here we are. Give the PSICOMS hell yeah?" Rygdea said loud
"Count on it." Snow said giving him a fist.
"Hey." The pilot called caught Lightning attention to him as she confused. Rygdea threw a pouch of potion at her as she catch it. " Might come in handy with you. Good luck finding your friends." The pilot said as the pinkette nodded and then junped fron the vessel and landed gracefuly at the ramp entering the Palamecia.
The group take several steps at the ship at the platform and reveal a elevator door at front of them. then suddenly, a alarm began blaring.
"Code Red! I Repeat: Code Red! Attention all crew this is not a drill! Code Red!"
A squad of PSICOM Radier appears at front of them from thr elevator equipped with Rifles and Stun Batons
"Guess they already arranged a welcoming party for us." Fang said drawed her spear along with Hope drawed his boomerang
"All right. Let's tear 'em up!" Snow confidently stepped foward
"We're here for Cloud, Vanille and Sazh. stay focused!" Lightning warned drawed out her Saber preparing her fighting stance
"Kill them all!" The Soldiers barked as they charged toward the L'Cies as the one with the Rifles began firing their bullets at the group, in instict, Snow using himself as a shield by blocked the volley of bullets while casting his Guard barrier spell. Without hesitation, Hope casted the Thundaga spell at the Soldier's and knocked them out.
"Nice!" Snow praised earned a smirk from the boy as Lightning and Fang Swiftly taken out the rest of the Soldier's
"by the time we inside the ship, they will hit with everything they got, Stay alert." Lightning advised and recivied a nod from everyone
"Won't be easy from the front door, they be expecting us." Fang said
"No Kidding, so where to?" Snow agreed as Fang pointed at the balcony and noticed an small elevator ascending from thr balcony toward a platform.
"That way." She said as and take a lead as the rest of the group followed her and began leaped toward the blacony followed by Lightning. Snow and Hope catched up as both of them climbed trougth the pillars connect the balcony and party began venture in the maze on the blacony. Few minutes later, they found an exit from the maze lead toward another section of exterior of the ship.
Lightning jumped and she landed gracefuly at the balcony, she could feel the whistling winds trought her hair and noticed a thick clouds across the skies, reminded her time on the beach back on her home where she could feel the same air.
"We here, what's the next move?" Snow landed beside causing her turned look at him as she pointing at the door lead to the interior of the ship.
"That way, it lead us toward the cargo hold, Let's go." She said taking the lead followed by her comrades
Still inside his solitary confinement cell, Cloud didn't do anything but only sit on his chair in ease and still colsing his refused to talked due the interrogation
A woman wearing dark green coat PSICOM Officer Uniform known as Jihl Nabaat, Sanctum's Commanding Officer personally intoregate Cloud hand picked by Primach himself.
"Perhaps it's time I'm going approach from the diffreant angle since you refused to talked." Nabaat said while Cloud still sit in his chair without saying a word. "Consider yourself being watched from the begining, Cloud Strife." Nabaat said smugly as Cloud eyes went wided giving her a hostile glare as she hoped for. "The Primarch already foresaw your arrivial at the Edge. And so far you have played your role well. By taking down the Fal'Cie Anima and spreading a fear of the l'Cie. All according to Primach's plan."
"I got one question." Cloud finally started speak as Nabaat Causing stared at him. "What is the Primarch planning to do with me? I had killed dozens of your men that desperately tried catch me ever since the Purge and now here I'am. What makes me so special to him instead the other l'Cie?"
"Seems the Primach has given you a hint. As for me, I'm no posistion to know his true motives. But Since you are a l'Cie he may be offered you how to cured your curse by completing your Focus."
"Try me. I'm already cursed before even I was a l'Cie." Cloud hissed as rembered he witnessed what happend to a SOLDIER Operative Roche, The Mako degredation.
"Do as you wish and you already doomed by the l'Cie Curse, you can't escape from it. But that will make The people of Cocoon will celebrate the Pulse l'Cie's downfall. They need figure that bring the l'Cie into the Justice and the one can commune with the Cocoon Fal'Cie. Wich is Primach Dysley are the one had beem chosen."
"So you saying he just another Fal'Cie's Lapdog and doing their dirty job by acting like a king in front of people? How Ironic." Cloud scoffed as he reached the conculsion
"Becareful to choice your own words about the Primach Dysley, Cloud Strife." Nabaat warned leave the room as the pair of Soldier began march in and began handcuff both his hands then taking him to another prison cell, on the way, he noticed the hallway is heavily guarded with group of Soldiers armed with firearms guarded a door of another prison cell and opened it, revealing Vanille and Sazh inside the prison cell and then the guard unlocked his handcuffs and then pushed him inside and close the cell door.
"Cloud?!" Vanille shrieked
"They got you too huh?" Sazh said sarcastaclly "Where is Grumpy and the kid?" Sazh asked.
"They got away, I give them time to run away, and now here I'm." Cloud Sighed as he take a seat on the side of the wall
"Sazh, what do you know about the Primach?" Cloud asked caused the Afro haired man looked at him confused.
"Well... not that I know him personally but he is Sanctum Primach, usually The Primach takes action with anything that had to do with Pulse Threat, wich is right now he is onboard on this ship." Sazh explained "don't tell me you planning going to confront him." Sazh asked deliberately
"I actually did, right after they taken me here." Cloud said as Sazh and Vanille looked shock at him "He said something about "killing me will be meaningless" and I couldn't get it out of my head about it. And there is also something else about him..."
"Do you think it have to do with our Focus?" Vanille said
"Only one way to find out. I'm going to asked him again straight in the eyes."
"I'm in." Sazh said as he aprroached the blondie who looked at him confused and put his hand on his shoulder. "I might ran into Nabaat again if I tagged along with you. I got unfinished busniess with her."
"What makes you decided to head on into Sanctum front door? This isn't like you."
"Let's just say things were complicated when you and Grumpy weren't around." Sazh sighed take a seat "Remember at the station where I meet you and Grumpy? Just like her she had to do such things for her Sister. And I'm have come this far risking my life for him, For Dajh."
"Dajh?"
"My Son." Sazh said firmily telling the story since they got separated back at Vile Peaks how He and Vanille ended up at the Nautilius. As Vanille Telling how Sazh's son Dajh becoming l'Cie causing Cloud looked at him disbelief that all this time Sazh had been struggle trying to saved his Son even it means becoming an enemy of the world. Reminding him of Barret trying what ever it takes to make sure he can reunited with his daughter Marlene.
"I'm pathetic." The afro haired man sighed
"That's my line." Vanille says "I'm the one who lied to everyone. All this time I have used you and the other's."
"I've been thinkin you woke up from being a crystal once right? That means Dajh will wake up to one day" Sazh asked the girl trying to be optimism
"It's quite a long story." Vanille murmured
"We have time, what is it like?" Sazh asked curiosly same does to Cloud eager to know as the girl begin explained her whole story becoming a Pulse Fal'Cie back in hundreed years ago with her partner named Fang then story how Dajh and Serah got branded as l'Cie
"And now here I am, once again branded as a l'Cie. But Fang, she said she lost her memory and I lied to her and told her I don't remember it as well. I wanted escape my fate as a l'Cie. But the truth is, all I have been doing is just running away." She said quitely with her voice trailing in silent.
"Damn... does that mean I have to wait centuries for Dajh waking up from his Crystal sleep? This is to much." Sazh said unable accepted the truth about his son's fate. But then suddenly, an alarm began blaring all over the room causing the trio startled
"Attention all crew: Code Green! Repeat Code Green! Security forces stand by! Hostile forces on board, Code Green!"
"That's them." Cloud assumed and then the door slided opened reveal pair of guard and a Vespid probe.
"Get up! You being moved!" The guard barked pointed his rifle at the blondie as he sighed decided played along by puting his hands behind his head
"On your feet! Scum!" The second guard grab's Vanille arm forcing her to stands up
"You too!" The guard barked at Sazh as he still sittinf at ease.
"Get him." He said as the Chocobo chink suddenly snapped at front of guard mask catching as the afro haired man stands up and pushed himself toward the guard who was till strugled by a Chocobo Chick played around on his Helmet
"What the!" The guard stratled before he realized he made a fatal error for being distracted. With this opurtinity, Cloud used his Unarmed Close Quarters Combat Technique disarmed the guard and then swiftly strikes at the guard's helmet with his metal gauntlet. Before he could react, probe was about to hit him with it's blade, then outta of nowhere, Vanille quickly grab the rifle from the fallen guard and spraying all it's bullets at the Vespid.
"Thanks." Cloud said in relief
"All right, time to split. Not run. There's a difftreance" Sazh grinned as he picked up another rifle.
"Gotcha." The red haired girl nodded
"So what's the plan kid? Are we going crashing into The Primach's party from here?." Sazh said sarcastically
"No, We meet up with Lightning and the other's. If it's true that right now they raiding this ship, we will regrouped the other's in no time." Cloud brefied the situation "Stay sharp and Watch out for any ambushes." He said as both of his fellow prisoner nodded. While unarmed with nothing with his fist he let Sazh takes point as Vanille followed him behind as Cloud watched the rear. In no time the trio arrivied at the armory where their bellongins were confiscated.
After Vanille and Sazh take their bellongings, Cloud find his Buster Sword leaned on side of the wall and pick it up as he grab it's hilt then noticed his sword weight began feels a bit lighter than before. Suddenly, he spot a black red spot glowing on the materia slot on his Sword.
"The Black Materia... the key to grant acces to the true counterpart hidden worlds."
Suddenly, Cloud began screech loud as he dropped his sword to the ground and hand his began trembled after noticed the Black Materia was attatched on his sword.
"Hey what just happend?" Sazh said as he stormed back the the room noticed Cloud behavior.
"It's nothing... my hand slipped, let's go" he lied tried avoid Sazh concern's and pertending nothing happend but Sazh decided not to question him further. then trio made their way to the power core of the ship but the hallway was filled with Flanitors and Flanborgs across the hallway.
"I take point." Cloud without hesitation grab his sword from his back walked casually without feeling a threat by the monsters lurked around at front of him. Suddenly a Flanborg blocked his path and then instantly, Cloud slashed his sword at the monster splitting it into two.
Another Flanborg and Flanitors appears behind them as Sazh and Vanille drawed their weapons. Fighting the monsters as Sazh sending his bullets at the Flanborg while Vanille sending the barrage of Fire spells at them causing them staggered, then instantly, it was Cloud sending barrage of Blade Beam at the Flanitors and then dashed himself at the Flanborg giving it a Triple Slash combo attack and killed both of the monsters.
"This isn't working, There's to many of them." Sazh groaned
"They just keep coming." Vanille says tried catch her breath
"Go that way, avoid them at all cost." Cloud pointed letting the duo takes the lead as he takes the rear reppel any monsters that chased them. In few minutes later, they lost them and found a huge door
"Attention all Crew! Code purple! I repeat: Code Purple! Security breach! All units on alert! Code Purple!" The alarm blaring
"Seems everything went well on the other side. It really must be them." Sazh pointed
"Could be Fang." Vanille assumed "Come on, let's hurry."
"That's our plan from the beginning right?" Sazh said looked at Cloud as he nodded "Let's get rescued."
"No, not this time."
"Vanille?" Cloud said waiting her finish
"For once in my life, I am going to save her." She said with full resolve, Cloud could understand her guilt for being helped by someone and she willing to paid back the debt by helping them.
"I Understand." Cloud nodded as Vanille smiled in relief and then suddenly the door opened on it's own revealing the Reactor core of the ship Engine in bright red Huge room and the reactor core was at the Ceiling hanging.
"Bridge to engine room. We're losing thrust. Engine room, do you copy? What is the status of the main reactor?"
The sound fron speakers blaring loud across the Engine Room as the Reactor power slowly losing power.
"Power's down. What's going on?" Sazh said confused
"They evacuated the crew.." Cloud noticed
"Guys?" Vanille said nervously as group of monsters appears from behind "we got company."
Cloud then moved foward and drawed his sword along with Sazh drawed his pistols
"These guys again." Sazh growled and then sending barage of bullets at the flaborgs as well
"Vanille!" Cloud barked as she nodded
"Got it!" The redhead girl says as she began using her Binding Rod with it's wire to bind as it hook pierced at the Flanborg causing it unable to move. Then instantly Cloud performed Braver giving it a final blow.
"This way." Cloud said leading the trio heading trought the hallway head to huge elevator door as Sazh instantly tried budge the door.
"Damm it! It's lock." Sazh curses had no clue how open the locked door as the Vespids and one Thermadon cornering them
"They just keep coming." Blonde swordsman growled drawed his blade again
"Well isn't this great." Sazh drawed out pairs of pistol holding off the wave of monsters that just keep coming.
Cloud in other hand noticed the cause of the door still budge. He spotted a lock console of the door and then decided to try to opened the door trought the console.
"Sazh, Watch my back." He rushed went to the console followed by Sazh and Vanille covering him. Intensely he typed at the console and the the door slowly opened.
"Come on!" Sazh shouted as he grabed Vainlle's arm while Cloud still holding the monsters by his own
"Hey kid! Hurry up!" Sazh shouthed as Cloud didn't said anything but then he instantly thrust his sword at the Door console causing it began closing slowly.
"No! What are you doing!?" Vanille Shocked disbelief at Cloud's action by allowing her escape with Sazh.
"Go find Lightning and the other's." Cloud says
"Not without you that is!" Sazh bellowed
"Changed of Plan, I got score to settle with Dysley. Now go!" Cloud barked as the door began shut leaving him alone facing the fiends on his own. Hoping Sazh and Vanille catched up with Lightning. Without further to do, Cloud began slaugthering the monsters at front of him without hesitation after that, he began head towards the bridge hoping where Dysley is in order to get answers from him.
Sazh on the other side of the door still smashing both his hands even tought it's pointless for them to go back to Cloud who was acting on his own facing the whole Sanctum on his own.
"Damn it!" Sazh screamed
"Sazh..." Vanille shakes him tried snapped him out "Let's head to Light and Fang. So we could get Cloud back together." Vanille suggested as the he nodded in approval
"You right.. we gotta make sure they know what Cloud is up to." Sazh says as the red haired girl nodded as the duo began moving on without Cloud. The pairs found a huge door hesding outside but then suddenly it burst out in explosion and rising in smokes. Fortunelly, they managed took a sterp outside section of the ship and reveals Lightning and the other's who just finished fighting with a winged beast Kalavinka Striker lying on the hull of the ship near where they stand, Fang turned as she saw Vanille on her sight who was didn't hesitated and began ran off right toward her.
"Vanille!"
"Fang!"
Both Pulsian ran toward each other reunited and hugged each other in relief they have made it this far still able to see eachother. Fang quickly released Vanille from the hug dropped on her knees, lifting Vanille's skirt revealing her brand. Causing the males awkwardly turned around
"You've still got time." Fang breathed in relief.
"Fang.. there's--there's something I need to tell you." Vanille baffled as Fang ignored her by pulling her into hug. Then It was Lightning the one intterupted the momment as she noticed someone else is missing.
"Wait, Where is Cloud?" Lightning asked as her voice began slight worried for assuming something worse to him
"That's what I need to tell you. It's Cloud, he's going faced Primach on his own." Vanille says after broke away fron Fang
"What!? And you let him go alone all by himself!?" Lightning bellowed Frustrated at Cloud's doing acting on his own
"He tricked us from the start" Sazh sighed causing Rose-haired Soldier looked at him "Saving our asses, then went all by himself, It was his plan from the begining to settle score with the Dysley. And I'm guessing you guys are in the same page too take down the Sanctum?" Sazh assumed
"Yep, we are going to free the people from the Fal'Cie rule." Snow says confidently as he bashed both his fist
"We're gonna take down the Sanctum and give Cocoon back to the people. The fal'cie have called the shot's for long enough." Lightning explained the whole situation
"Alright, good to know now that we are in same side. Let's catched up with that idiot Blonde."
"Right. If we pull this off, it will be miracle." Hope Nodded in agreement
"Well, it's a good thing lady luck on our side." Fang grabed her spear as another winged beast soaring above them
"More of them?" Sazh bellowed
"You know, this is getting really old." Snow said sarcasticly
"Check this out. A miracle-Gran Pulse Style!" Fang bellowed rushed followed by Vanille
"Vanille, go fish!"
"Got it." Vanille nodded swing her Binding rod as the wires begam attached to the winged beast. Instsntly, Fang leap in the air and landed at the top of the beast's with her Spear thrusting into of it's neck pinned down the beast.
"That's a good girl." Fang smugly as she pinned down the beast tried to tame it the group watched in awe of her ability to taken down a winged beast by her own "Okay Guys, our ride is here."
"Let's get on!" Vanille cried followed by the group using the winged beast as all of them hoped on on it's back and began soaring trought the skies.
Lightning hop on on it's neck with Vanille and Hope front of her while behind her is Fang using her spear as a steering controling the beast flying direction along with Snow beside her and then Sazh who is screaming loudly at behind
"Believe in Lady luck now?"
"YEAH--LADY BAD LUCK!"
"Well then, time to Purge a Primarch!" Snow bellowed, Noticed a squadron of Fighter chasing them, Fang steer the beast heading toward the Palamecia Bridge as the gun tracers all over around from the fighter craft chasing as well from the Cruiser Anti-Air Guns
"Everyone Hang on!" Fang bellowed as everyone hold tightly at their positions as the beadt they riding it began loop at the top of the bridge firing it energy burst from it's mouth causing a massive hole at the ship's hull
"Jump!" Lightning roared as everyone jumped from the beast that flew off into distant skies leaving them as everyone landed roughly inside the ship in the dark room and a staircase heading downward to the Huge door
Lightning scanning a few surrondings she noticed a few dead PSICOM Infiltrators lying on the ground with a slash wounds on their bodies. Without a doubt. Cloud was here to face Primach on his own
Hope who was holding his urge not to puked after looking at the sight in front of his eyes
"You okay?" Sazh said as he putting his hand at the boy left shoulder.
"Yeah... for now.." he wheazed
"Damn... this is messed up." Sazh muttered noticing a few bodies in pool of blood.
"Did Cloud did this?" Vanille whispered in horror covering her mouth as she noticed some of the Soldier's bodies were had missing limbs.
"Stay strong Vanille." Fang grab her arm comforting her friend "we still gonna have our talk, but let's survive this first yeah?" The bronze skinned woman says as Vanille nodded.
Lightning in other hand still couldn't forget what she witnessed about Cloud back in Palumpolum. Something happened to him turned into merciless killer that took someone lives without mercy and took it in cold blodded. Is this what The woman named Aerith warned her about Cloud? His suffering had turned him into a killing machine.
"Dysley is trough there." Lightning snapped her self from her toughts prepared her Saber in blade mode on her hand
"Right.. time is wasting, gonna make sure Spikey is still there and breathing." Sazh breifed the group as he recivied a nod agreement frlm the group.
"Alright, let's ruin the Primach day once and for all." Snow says confidently. And thr group began advanced foward together
--One Hour Prior--
After Killed a few monsters on his way to the Primach on the engine room, Cloud find a huge dark room with few platforms each has stairs head downward. He noticed from distant there is a huge door.
"Must be Dysley's throne room.." he muttered began passing trought the huge labyrinth with a small mosnters lurking around but he decided passed trought without fighting them unless they blocked his path. But some the area was guarded by PSICOM Sentries and he decided to finish them off in combst, Arivied at the Door heading to the Primach Throne, he noticed a four man squad of PSICOM Infiltrators formed a group approched in front of him blocking his path.
"Let me trought..." He growled coldy as he drawed his sword forming his fighting stance.
"Kill Him!" The Infiltrators roared firing their rifle at the Blonde but the Cloud using his sword reflect and blocked the bullets toward him and then instantly leap in the air and landed in front of the Soldier then using his sword slashing him as his sword once again stained with the blood of his kill. With the speed he possed, he instantly warped to another soldier slicing his blade causing the soldier screamed in pain and agony as his arm that still holding his weapon flew off to the ground. Cloud turned into another soldier who was terrified by him as he trembled shakingly
"The Primarch. Where is he?" Cloud says darkly pointed his sword as the tip reached the soldier's neck
"T-trought the door you. will find him there." The soldier says terrified
"Get out of here.." Cloud lowered his sword leting the soldier flee on his own. Standing at the huge door he rised his sword and charged at the door by slicing the huge door spliting into two. Revealing a huge control room of the ship still manned by it's crew and then several armed security began circling him. Cloud drawed out his sword prepared his fighting stance and noticed at the top of platform reveal Primach Dysley who still in his Throne with Jihl Nabaat who standing next of the throne.
"Stand down. Back to your stasions" Nabaat comanded the Securities as they lowered their guns "So.. you have decided to come this far on your own. Quite predictible." Nabaat says smugly.
"You owe me some asnwers, Colonel... You both aren't going anywhere." Cloud pointed his sword at Dysley's direction. "So you better anwered my questions like your life depends on it." Cloud threatens as Nabaat began grits her teeth at the Cloud for threating the Primach.
"Your eminence... with you permmision." The PSICOM Commander bowed slighty waiting her command.
"Do what you have to do Colonel.." Dysley spoke as Nabaat nodded as she drawed out her Baton as began extened into size of sword and slowly fell down from the platform and landed in front of Cloud.
"I'm afraid I can't let you pass. you have been warned Cloud Strife.. and this time, you will learn your place." Nabaat slowly put away her glasses and pointed her weapon at Cloud began performing her fighting stance.
"Try me." Cloud growled and Without hesitation, he dashed himself at the PSICOM Commander, then suddenly. She blocked his blade with her baton and allowing him passed her and began swiftly swibg her weapon as Cloud began blocked her attacks repeatedly with his Buster Sword. But then, he manged counter her attack by swing his sword causing her backed out from his attack range.
"Think you got my number?" Cloud provoked her as she began stands up
"Not quite, You're giving me a hard time." Nabaat admited "but that doesn't mean I am empty handed." She pulled out a small device from her pocket and it began glowing bright blue revaling a huge Dark Blue Behemoth came out fron the portal behind her.
"Meet with my friend, Azure." Nabaat says smugly and the giant beast began charged at Cloud. The raging beast keep charging as Cloud swiftly shifted his position to dodge it's attack, but the sudden momentum was not at his side as the beast managed to used it's claws lays on Cloud's arm causing it a bleeding at his arm.
"Come on." As the Huge beast once again charged at Cloud, The swordsman performing his counter stance and instantly swing his sword at the beast horn as it shattered like glasses. While stunned, Cloud used this opurtinity to thrust his Sword at the beast and slaying it. Causing the PSICOM Commander watched in horror for witnessing the strenght of the Blonde posses
"I'm waiting." Cloud said still standing confidently causing Nabaat provoked after killing Cloud slaying her Behemoth companion and began charged swing her baton swiftly causing Cloud had to parry her attacks with his sword. But Cloud was able to parried her attacks and then leaped back and sending a huge energy blade beam causing Nabaat stumbled at the ground.
"You pick a decent fight Colonel.. but you still far away to beat me." Cloud says pointed the tip of his sword at front of Nabaat who still down on her knees.
"Been looking for you Nabaat!" A voice belong to Sazh heard catching Cloud attention revealing the whole group rushed toward him.
"You okay?" Lightning asked as the blonde nodded but then suddenly, Nabaat once again on stands her feet stubornly even knowing her effort will futile for being out numbered.
"Your emminence... Please leave while you still can.. I will hold them off." She said barely while still trying catched her breath. But to much Cloud Suprised, Dysley began stands up and remained calm
"Why don't you leave... Jihl..." he said almost only can be heard in whisper as Jihl turned confused at his question "you have fought well for a human but you are still weak.. and no have busniess here!"
Suddenly a beam energy was formed surrounding a Primach, in shock Cloud watched Nabaat scremed in agony after the Primach casted Ruin Spell at her.
"The hell? Magic?" Sazh bellowed and then Dylsey began laughing wicikiedly as he began floating in midair swing his staff as the volley of ruins flying around the room striking down every the crew of ship except the l'cie's.
"Dysley you Monster! People are not yours to use!" Snow roared
"What else does one do with tools?" The Prumach landed gracefully at front of Cloud and without thinkin, Snow and Cloud both of then charged at the eldery Primach but suddenly there is a barrier betwen them them and both of them blasted roughly.
"Snow! Cloud!" Hope yelled as he began sid Snow while Lightning rushed as well next to Cloud.
"Cocoon is a factory, built by fal'cie. A factory for the mass production of human thralls."
"Not anymore It's not!" Snow fired back
"What can mere men do? Without our help, death is all of which you are capable.You saw the fools: a mindless mob, drunk on fear of a few l'Cie. And it was thanks to your efforts Cloud Strife.. Slaying the Fal'Cie Anima was just a begining.." Dysley chuckled wickedly as Cloud glared him piercingly.
"If they only knew a l'Cie was the one filling their glasses!" Lightning roared raising her saber pointed at him.
"l'Cie…you mean me? Oh child, perish the thought…I am more than that!" he let out his evil chuckeled and started rose up in the air and suddenly a beam light emearges around him and within in seconds, revaling a huge form of mechanical giant monster with Huge Arm covered by it's both Pauldorn and huge Evil looking face staring at them causing the Whole Party shocked.
"I am the Fal'Cie... My name is Barthandeleus". He said in disordered voice "Voice of the Sanctum and Lord of Soverign of Cocoon Fal'Cie. Your kind fear the darkness and we gave you light. You begged us for the purge and did it not come to pass? Now spurn our counsel, You must learn your place!"
As the group still parylized by the sight if the Fal'Cie right front of them, It was Cloud the one charged into the battle thrust his sword at it's armored face.
"I don't care how big you get... I'm not holding back. I'm finishing this!"
"Pitiful child... Once a puppet will always be a puppet.. you can't escape from your destiny.."
"I'll kill you!" The blonde snarled with his might of his strenght swing his Buster Sword but still doesn't affect on the Fal'Cie
"Is that Hatreed even real?" The Fal'Cie chuckeled wickedly as Cloud landed back at front of the fal'cie.
"On my lead!" Lightning rushed to the front toward it's right Pauldron as Vanille and Hope firing their magic spells while Sazh firing barage of bullets from his pistols. Followed by Snow and Fang rushed to Lightning's aid's Snow landed his fist on it's right pauldron while Fang leap in the air landed her spear at the top of it's Right Pauldron. Cloud rushed as well after channeling his strenght and unleasehd beam of blade energy.
Suddenly, the mechanical deity began rise up with it's both Pauldorn began lifting up and it surrounded by bright purple energy. And before everyone who close to it unable to dodge it's magic attack while The Deity casting Thundaga right front of it
"We're sitting duck.." Cloud muttered
"I'm on it. hang on!" Snow rushed casting the barrier and began draw the deity magic attack. Giving the other time to get away.
Cloud who just recovered began dashed instantly at the deity giving it a severe slash attack by performing Aerial Onlaught cripling the right Pauldron.
"Just one more!" Fang bellowed as she began rushed and giving with her might thrusting her Spear at it's Left Pauldron. Followed by Snow and Lightning, they began strike as well crippling the other Pauldron.
Suddenly, Barthandaleus mechanical face began spliting and transformed revaling multitude of cannons barrels begining shining the beam of light.
"Get down!" Fang pushed her nearby comrade turned out to be Cloud forcing him to hunker down to the ground. Cloud could feel the heat of the beam above his head.
"You good?" Fang asked as Cloud nodded and raised his sword again.
"If we hit by that thing, we will be gone..." Lightning muttered begining chanelling her inner power. Suddenly, Her l'Cie Brand began glowing in crimson and then Summoning glyph appears bellow her foot.
"Odin, Lend me your strenght..."
The huge Humanoid Eidolon began Appear stood before her with it's Huge Shield and S shape Serated Blade begining it's Fighting stance.
"Cut us a Path!"
Cloud and Fang still holding their ground then it was Lightning and her Eidolon Passed trought them charging at the deity, both of them turned into Unstoppble as Lightning and Odin Swiftly Strikes at Barthandeleus's armored Mask.
"So... your l'Cie power had reach it's potentional and allowing you summon the Eidolon.. in that case, I Barthandeleus shall response with full Might."
The Mechanical Deity Shoulder's began glowing intensesltly relasing a powerful shockwave causing the whole party stunned to stand their ground as the ground it self shaking intensely.
"The seven l'Cie's are nothing compared to me. But I assured you.. I'm not going to kill you right now."
In instict, Odin rushed back to it's master by protecting the whole group with his shield as the volley of magics heading straight to them.
"Odin, we do this Together."
Odin nodded stab it's weapon at the ground leap in the air and transforming into It's horse form, landed right next to it's master, Lightning grab the S Serrated Sword and spliting into two blades holding both blade with her hands and then she leap in the air and landed on Odin's back.
"Let's Ride!" The rose-haired warrior and her Eidolon Companion charging into he Fal'Cie. Swiging her weapon while Odin galloping with it's full might allowing Lightning giving a sever damaged on the Fal'Cie's huge mask. Barthandeleus began growled in frustrated but then the Rose-Haired warrior casted a huge lightning storms at the deity causing it to stumbled on the ground.
"The Storm is here!"
Lightning leap in the air holding both Odin's weapons on her hands and began spining in midair like a tornado giving a severe slash damage at the deity. Then she landed gracefuly next to her Ediolon returning it's weapon to it's owner as Odin began dissapears.
"A Fal'Cie running the Sanctum.. that's new to me." Snow says in mixature of confused and disgusted
"Does that mean Eden wasn't the one orchrasted the whole thing?" Hope assumed
"As I said" the Deity said as he returned his Human Form "I am Lord-Sovereign. You have not fought to win.. You should know quite well already the sure way of dispatching of our kind: Ragnarok."
Suddenly, Cloud mind shot up reached his conclusion. The dream after he was branded as l'Cie.
"You want us to become Ragnarok.. is that it? That is the reason you didn't kill us from the begining? Because you need a monster to destroyed Cocoon? " Cloud remebered his dream and reached his conclusion causing the group looked at him in shocked.
"Yes.. one of you will become Ragnarok to defeat Orphan in order to lay waste Cocoon.." he teleports circling the group causing everyone jumped.
"Orphan?" Lightning furrowed at the Dysley words.
"The font of Eden's power, Orphan fuels Eden with strength and Eden, in turn, sustains you and the rest of our kind. Destroy Orphan, and release power such as this world has never seen." Dysley explained
"If we kill this Orphan... does that mean we will Complete our Focus?" Fang mused
"Of course...your focus will be fullfiled.." Dysley teleport in front of Fang softly said presuading the pulsian
"WHO SAYS HAS TO BE?!" Lightning roared swing her saber at Dysley as his projection dissapears like a mist.
"Serah asked us to save Cocoon before she turned to crystal." Snow stepped foward as he pulled out Serah's crystalized tear "Save it. And that's what we're gonna do! Serah was trying to tell us how to complete our focus, and we have--" Snow words was cutted as Dysley began laughed wickedly.
"Allow me to help you see the truth of things. the moment you arrived your friend wept crystal tears. This was because her Focus required that you be brought together. That girl did nothing but assemble the tools for Cocoon's destruction!"
A huge pain expression spreading all across Snow face after Dysley explained Serah's focus, all this time he was belived Her focus to saved Cocoon. But after the truth had been revealed, he was completely broken.
"As for you, Child..." Dysley approched Cloud "Those Who have crossed The Boundries of Fate shall never remain an ordinary Individuals. You have been blessed by the power that are not from this world." Dysley pointed at Cloud causing everyone looked at him.
"It was not a mistake that "The Arbiter's of Fate" sended you in to this world for one purpose.. to spread the fear and terror all across Cocoon. Did it ever occured to you why she never told your real purpose on this world?" Dysley let out his wicked laugh once again causing Cloud froze realizing why Aerith never told his real purpose on this world.
"Run away.. Child.. if you wish to kill me, foster your hatred all over your veins and despise me. When your L'Cie power reach it's potentional, you will come before me." The Primach began floating once again and slowly vanished in thin air as the ceiling of the throne room began slowly parted exposing the room to the sky then suddenly, the Throne room shaking violently and in few moments later a huge airship appears before them and landed.
"Come on!" Lightning roared as everyone else began rushed toward the airship. But then she boticed Cloud still froze unfazes by the situation, she rushed back quickly at front of him and grab her hands both on his shoulders.
"Still with us?" Lightning shaking him as he snapped back to reality and nodded, then both of them began rushing toward the airship leaving the Cruiser Palamecia began slowly decending to the ground while engufled in flame.
Author's note: I didn't realized how long I haven't update this fic. But now here's another one. Since the begining, it was my plan to let Cloud and Nabaat having a one on one duel in front of Dysley's Throne room. Similar how Luke and Vader having duel in Emperor's throne room on Star Wars. Nabaat such an underrated FF antagonist in my opinion maybe she already got her chance in this fic :P
Stay tuned for next chapter and don't forget leave review.