Categories > Games > Final Fantasy 7 > Calamity
Chapter 5
0 ReviewsThe Turks and Cloud find an important item.
Calamity
Chapter 5
After following Star to a deep basement, ten levels underground by Cloud's calculations. She opened a safe using a key card and another safe door was revealed. The next one opened by turning a number handle, and finally a third door with an electronic lock, opened with a password. Star retrieved a small, square, black box, wrapped in warning yellow tape, about five inches long on each side, and gave it to Elena.
"What's inside?" Everyone knew Cloud would ask that question.
Reno grinned, "Jenova."
Cloud's surprised expression amused the red haired Turk. "That's what I felt, but how? The last remains of Jenova were destroyed."
"It's only a small sample, a few weakened cells," Elena held the box protectively; it would be her mission to keep it safe.
"What does Rufus want to do with that? It should be destroyed." The Turks knew Cloud's reaction would not be a positive one.
"We need to keep something like this just in case." Reno's words were vague on purpose and Cloud didn't like that.
Elena decided to intervene to end the argument. "For all we know, this could be an ingredient to the cure, or a part of valuable research."
Reno saw where Elena was going and added the final push Cloud needed to accept their choice. "What if we can't cure anyone because we don't have this, because you destroyed it."
Cloud looked away. Guilt was one of his biggest burdens. The burden had lightened when he realized that he wasn't being blamed. But even so, it was a button that could be pushed and it bothered him. "Fine, but it better not fall into the wrong hands."
Elena looked sad for a moment, but then forced a serious expression into her face. "Tseng and I nearly gave our lives to make sure Jenova didn't fall into the wrong hands before."
Cloud remembered when Vincent told him about Tseng and Elena, and he knew then that the Turks wouldn't let Jenova fall into the wrong hands.
The uncomfortable silence was lifted when Star reached into her pocked and pulled out a silver pocket watch. "Here Elena, take this with you, it's lucky."
If Cloud had not been distracted by his own thoughts, he would have seen the gesture as suspicious, as if it were some sort of signal. But he didn't give the watch a second thought, assuming it to be only a gift of friendship between Turks. Cloud didn't notice the extra care Elena put into taking the watch and putting it gently in her pocket, he didn't notice the way Reno's eyes never left the watch until it was out of sight, and he didn't realize at that time, how important that silver watch was.
"This base isn't connected to Shinra Headquarters, right? Even the communication system?" Cloud was constantly eyeing the Jenova box.
"Yes, if you need to use the communication system without being traced by Headquarters you can use it." Star replied. "If you call another Shinra device they might know there was a call, but they won't be able to spy on the conversation or message."
"I need to call Cid and Barret and let them know we're meeting at Cosmo Canyon." After Cloud informed them of their destination, the group would once again be together, at Cosmo Canyon.
xoxox xox xoxox
At Midgar... "They're shootin' at us!"
Cid rolled his eyes, he would never understand why Barret simply loved to state the obvious. "No kidding! They better not dent my Shera. Get children quickly."
"Set this thing down, Cid." At that moment it looked as if thy wouldn't be able to land, but logically, they had to land to be able to pick up Marlene and Denzel.
"Not possible, take the ladder or take the wheel and I'll take the ladder... Actually I'd prefer if you don't take the wheel," Cid pulled a level, letting out the ship's rope ladder.
"Are you sure this will work?" It wouldn't be the first time something similar was done, but Barret still had second thoughts.
"You want off, then jump off," Cid was confident, if his precious air ship was involved, of course it had to work.
"You haven't changed Cid," Barret followed the plan, climbing down the ladder. Marlene and Denzel were watching from the window. "I have to take you two into the ship, so don't you let go," he held both children realizing that the fire from the cadets was now concentrating in taking out Shera's cannon, a special addition Cid had made to the air ship which was giving the cadets a lot of trouble. "Yo Cid, we're ready!"
"Going up!" Cid pulled in the ladder along with Marlene, Denzel and Barret.
"That was really cool, papa!" There was Barret, wondering how he would calm his young daughter's fear, and she thought it was cool.
"Yeah, it rocked!" Great, Denzel agreed. Barret realized, that those two must have spent a lot of time with Cloud, oh well at least it had certainly made them brave.
"Don't go tryin' a thing like that, understand?" The children nodded and Barret led them back to the control room where Cid was.
"Cosmo Canyon? Got it," the pilot glanced at Barret and the two new guests. "Yeah, they're fine, Marlene and Denzel are with us now. Okay we're heading that way."
"Cosmo Canyon?" Barret asked.
"I just got a call from Cloud; he said he found a secure location to call from so Shinra Headquarters wouldn't get the information. Everyone's going to meet up at Cosmo Canyon." Cid set the new course and the air ship Shera left Midgar and its chaos being, top speed, to make sure they were not followed.
xoxox xox xoxox
"I'm sorry but we can't let everyone... oh it's Tifa! You're a friend of Nanaki, come in." The guard at the entrance looked at Rufus and Rude. "A Turk and the president? What's going on?"
"Could you please let them in too? Something is happening at Midgar and we need to use the observatory to gain more information. It's very important," Tifa tried to explain the situation. She knew that the reputation the president and the Turks had at Cosmo Canyon was not a very good one.
"Well, I don't know..." the guard glanced suspiciously at Rufus, who looked like he was about to lose his patience and force his way in.
Fortunately Red XIII arrived before any battle could take place. "Tifa! It's been a long time, why are they here?"
"We're here to find more information about what's going on, and we need the observatory," Tifa knew that if anyone would understand, it would be Red XIII.
"I see, I was expecting someone from our group to arrive. I didn't think anyone from Shinra was coming, but I take it we're all on the same side right now." Red XIII signaled for the guard to let them in. "They will be my guests, there's nothing to worry about." It was both an assurance for the archeologists and a warning for Rufus and Rude.
They made their way to the top floor of the observatory, Rufus noticed some notes scattered all over the place. "You must have noticed the objects in the atmosphere."
"Yes, it turned out they were not ordinary asteroids but some kind of ships," Red XIII had been observing everything unfold, but he was unable to do anything until the suspicious objects landed or came closer to the atmosphere. "I traced their landing point to the Northern Crater."
"Yes, that's where we detected them as well. There was supposed to be an investigation going on today, but they acted first." The more Rufus held on to the truth the clearer his memories became, but Tseng, though he knew existed, was still blurry.
"My theory is that taking over Shinra is only a way to try to manipulate people. The easiest way to cause mass destruction that would decrease the population of this planet considerably," Red XIII theory worried Tifa.
"Then, they're not just trying to take over," that was certainly bad enough, but the situation was worse. "They're trying to destroy us all and take the planet?" Tifa was horrified at the possibility of that being attempted again.
"Yes, I would say it's safe to assume their target is the planet, and all the living being on it are only in the way." Red XIII confirmed the theory.
"Are they similar to Jenova?" Rude was rather quiet, but when he did speak, he made good use of his words bringing up a relevant point.
Red XIII's reply was affirmative. "Those asteroids they use as ships, have you noticed it..."
"I remember something about their composition being strange, but that's it. Novarion released some kind of virus at Midgar that affected our memories. We're also trying to find a cure for that." Rufus trying to remember anything useful, but other than what he was able to recover so far, the rest were bits and pieces that were hard to put together.
"They were not originally asteroids," Red XIII revealed the secret. "I think they were originally planets that were reduced to asteroids in time. They use life stream as fuel, and travel searching for new vessels. Jenova wanted that too, but she was exiled from her kind. They are similar, not as powerful as Jenova, but they are group, so together they may be as powerful as Jenova, if not more. As for the virus, I would say fight it with your will. I don't know of any way to cure it."
xoxox xox xoxox
"Doesn't this bring back memories? It's just like that time," Tifa remembered when they first stayed at Cosmo Canyon.
The group was a little different this time. Tifa, Rufus, Rude and Red XIII had waited for the others to arrive. Barret and Cid got there with Marlene and Denzel on the air ship Shera, then Cloud, Elena and Reno arrived; Elena carrying the Jenova box.
"We're here again, facing another challenge, but we'll make it through just like before, right?" It was at times like those when Red XIII missed his grandfather the most, they needed his wisdom and guidance.
Silence came and went as they all let everything sink in and think of what was to come. They had shared their stories of what happened in the separate groups in the light of the campfire and wondered where they should go next. "Tseng, I hope he's alright wherever he is..." He had not once left Elena's thoughts.
"Don't worry so much, Elena, Tseng's fine, he might even escape and come find us." Reno had been in the Turks for a long time, and he knew Tseng would not fall in battle easily.
"Have trust in him," Rude also knew Tseng, and he knew that just when everyone started to worry that Tseng had been killed, he returned sometimes unharmed, sometimes with injuries, but alive.
"We're figthin' for the planet again, and this time even Shinra's in on it against some new enemies. I'm not goin' to let 'em hurt our planet. Just who do they think they are comin' here in asteroids and trying to make a ship out of our home?" Barret was determined and looking forward to kicking the invaders out.
"It's like a said, this planet's just a child, that's why we have to baby-sit it all the time," Cid looked at the stars and remembered his trip into outer space, and all the things he realized then.
"I suppose we owe it to this planet to defend it since in a way it's our fault it can't defend itself, most of all Shinra..." Though Shinra started it, Avalanche had taken out the Weapons as well. Those Weapons might have been sent after the invaders if they still existed, but they were gone.
Marlene and Denzel listened, it was all so complicated but they held on to the hope that it would all work out. "The planet will be kept safe in the end, it has to be..." Marlene spoke softly, they all nodded in response.
"Cloud, you'll save the planet, right?" Denzel asked his idol.
Cloud smiled, full of determination and courage. "Of course!" It was that cocky smile and carefree atmosphere that held the group together and gave them hope.
To be Continued
Disclaimer, I do not own Final Fantasy VII. The situation is mostly clear now, but that doesn't solve it all. The heroes will take action in the next chapter, let's see where that leads. More FFVII characters will appear as the story goes on.
Chapter 5
After following Star to a deep basement, ten levels underground by Cloud's calculations. She opened a safe using a key card and another safe door was revealed. The next one opened by turning a number handle, and finally a third door with an electronic lock, opened with a password. Star retrieved a small, square, black box, wrapped in warning yellow tape, about five inches long on each side, and gave it to Elena.
"What's inside?" Everyone knew Cloud would ask that question.
Reno grinned, "Jenova."
Cloud's surprised expression amused the red haired Turk. "That's what I felt, but how? The last remains of Jenova were destroyed."
"It's only a small sample, a few weakened cells," Elena held the box protectively; it would be her mission to keep it safe.
"What does Rufus want to do with that? It should be destroyed." The Turks knew Cloud's reaction would not be a positive one.
"We need to keep something like this just in case." Reno's words were vague on purpose and Cloud didn't like that.
Elena decided to intervene to end the argument. "For all we know, this could be an ingredient to the cure, or a part of valuable research."
Reno saw where Elena was going and added the final push Cloud needed to accept their choice. "What if we can't cure anyone because we don't have this, because you destroyed it."
Cloud looked away. Guilt was one of his biggest burdens. The burden had lightened when he realized that he wasn't being blamed. But even so, it was a button that could be pushed and it bothered him. "Fine, but it better not fall into the wrong hands."
Elena looked sad for a moment, but then forced a serious expression into her face. "Tseng and I nearly gave our lives to make sure Jenova didn't fall into the wrong hands before."
Cloud remembered when Vincent told him about Tseng and Elena, and he knew then that the Turks wouldn't let Jenova fall into the wrong hands.
The uncomfortable silence was lifted when Star reached into her pocked and pulled out a silver pocket watch. "Here Elena, take this with you, it's lucky."
If Cloud had not been distracted by his own thoughts, he would have seen the gesture as suspicious, as if it were some sort of signal. But he didn't give the watch a second thought, assuming it to be only a gift of friendship between Turks. Cloud didn't notice the extra care Elena put into taking the watch and putting it gently in her pocket, he didn't notice the way Reno's eyes never left the watch until it was out of sight, and he didn't realize at that time, how important that silver watch was.
"This base isn't connected to Shinra Headquarters, right? Even the communication system?" Cloud was constantly eyeing the Jenova box.
"Yes, if you need to use the communication system without being traced by Headquarters you can use it." Star replied. "If you call another Shinra device they might know there was a call, but they won't be able to spy on the conversation or message."
"I need to call Cid and Barret and let them know we're meeting at Cosmo Canyon." After Cloud informed them of their destination, the group would once again be together, at Cosmo Canyon.
xoxox xox xoxox
At Midgar... "They're shootin' at us!"
Cid rolled his eyes, he would never understand why Barret simply loved to state the obvious. "No kidding! They better not dent my Shera. Get children quickly."
"Set this thing down, Cid." At that moment it looked as if thy wouldn't be able to land, but logically, they had to land to be able to pick up Marlene and Denzel.
"Not possible, take the ladder or take the wheel and I'll take the ladder... Actually I'd prefer if you don't take the wheel," Cid pulled a level, letting out the ship's rope ladder.
"Are you sure this will work?" It wouldn't be the first time something similar was done, but Barret still had second thoughts.
"You want off, then jump off," Cid was confident, if his precious air ship was involved, of course it had to work.
"You haven't changed Cid," Barret followed the plan, climbing down the ladder. Marlene and Denzel were watching from the window. "I have to take you two into the ship, so don't you let go," he held both children realizing that the fire from the cadets was now concentrating in taking out Shera's cannon, a special addition Cid had made to the air ship which was giving the cadets a lot of trouble. "Yo Cid, we're ready!"
"Going up!" Cid pulled in the ladder along with Marlene, Denzel and Barret.
"That was really cool, papa!" There was Barret, wondering how he would calm his young daughter's fear, and she thought it was cool.
"Yeah, it rocked!" Great, Denzel agreed. Barret realized, that those two must have spent a lot of time with Cloud, oh well at least it had certainly made them brave.
"Don't go tryin' a thing like that, understand?" The children nodded and Barret led them back to the control room where Cid was.
"Cosmo Canyon? Got it," the pilot glanced at Barret and the two new guests. "Yeah, they're fine, Marlene and Denzel are with us now. Okay we're heading that way."
"Cosmo Canyon?" Barret asked.
"I just got a call from Cloud; he said he found a secure location to call from so Shinra Headquarters wouldn't get the information. Everyone's going to meet up at Cosmo Canyon." Cid set the new course and the air ship Shera left Midgar and its chaos being, top speed, to make sure they were not followed.
xoxox xox xoxox
"I'm sorry but we can't let everyone... oh it's Tifa! You're a friend of Nanaki, come in." The guard at the entrance looked at Rufus and Rude. "A Turk and the president? What's going on?"
"Could you please let them in too? Something is happening at Midgar and we need to use the observatory to gain more information. It's very important," Tifa tried to explain the situation. She knew that the reputation the president and the Turks had at Cosmo Canyon was not a very good one.
"Well, I don't know..." the guard glanced suspiciously at Rufus, who looked like he was about to lose his patience and force his way in.
Fortunately Red XIII arrived before any battle could take place. "Tifa! It's been a long time, why are they here?"
"We're here to find more information about what's going on, and we need the observatory," Tifa knew that if anyone would understand, it would be Red XIII.
"I see, I was expecting someone from our group to arrive. I didn't think anyone from Shinra was coming, but I take it we're all on the same side right now." Red XIII signaled for the guard to let them in. "They will be my guests, there's nothing to worry about." It was both an assurance for the archeologists and a warning for Rufus and Rude.
They made their way to the top floor of the observatory, Rufus noticed some notes scattered all over the place. "You must have noticed the objects in the atmosphere."
"Yes, it turned out they were not ordinary asteroids but some kind of ships," Red XIII had been observing everything unfold, but he was unable to do anything until the suspicious objects landed or came closer to the atmosphere. "I traced their landing point to the Northern Crater."
"Yes, that's where we detected them as well. There was supposed to be an investigation going on today, but they acted first." The more Rufus held on to the truth the clearer his memories became, but Tseng, though he knew existed, was still blurry.
"My theory is that taking over Shinra is only a way to try to manipulate people. The easiest way to cause mass destruction that would decrease the population of this planet considerably," Red XIII theory worried Tifa.
"Then, they're not just trying to take over," that was certainly bad enough, but the situation was worse. "They're trying to destroy us all and take the planet?" Tifa was horrified at the possibility of that being attempted again.
"Yes, I would say it's safe to assume their target is the planet, and all the living being on it are only in the way." Red XIII confirmed the theory.
"Are they similar to Jenova?" Rude was rather quiet, but when he did speak, he made good use of his words bringing up a relevant point.
Red XIII's reply was affirmative. "Those asteroids they use as ships, have you noticed it..."
"I remember something about their composition being strange, but that's it. Novarion released some kind of virus at Midgar that affected our memories. We're also trying to find a cure for that." Rufus trying to remember anything useful, but other than what he was able to recover so far, the rest were bits and pieces that were hard to put together.
"They were not originally asteroids," Red XIII revealed the secret. "I think they were originally planets that were reduced to asteroids in time. They use life stream as fuel, and travel searching for new vessels. Jenova wanted that too, but she was exiled from her kind. They are similar, not as powerful as Jenova, but they are group, so together they may be as powerful as Jenova, if not more. As for the virus, I would say fight it with your will. I don't know of any way to cure it."
xoxox xox xoxox
"Doesn't this bring back memories? It's just like that time," Tifa remembered when they first stayed at Cosmo Canyon.
The group was a little different this time. Tifa, Rufus, Rude and Red XIII had waited for the others to arrive. Barret and Cid got there with Marlene and Denzel on the air ship Shera, then Cloud, Elena and Reno arrived; Elena carrying the Jenova box.
"We're here again, facing another challenge, but we'll make it through just like before, right?" It was at times like those when Red XIII missed his grandfather the most, they needed his wisdom and guidance.
Silence came and went as they all let everything sink in and think of what was to come. They had shared their stories of what happened in the separate groups in the light of the campfire and wondered where they should go next. "Tseng, I hope he's alright wherever he is..." He had not once left Elena's thoughts.
"Don't worry so much, Elena, Tseng's fine, he might even escape and come find us." Reno had been in the Turks for a long time, and he knew Tseng would not fall in battle easily.
"Have trust in him," Rude also knew Tseng, and he knew that just when everyone started to worry that Tseng had been killed, he returned sometimes unharmed, sometimes with injuries, but alive.
"We're figthin' for the planet again, and this time even Shinra's in on it against some new enemies. I'm not goin' to let 'em hurt our planet. Just who do they think they are comin' here in asteroids and trying to make a ship out of our home?" Barret was determined and looking forward to kicking the invaders out.
"It's like a said, this planet's just a child, that's why we have to baby-sit it all the time," Cid looked at the stars and remembered his trip into outer space, and all the things he realized then.
"I suppose we owe it to this planet to defend it since in a way it's our fault it can't defend itself, most of all Shinra..." Though Shinra started it, Avalanche had taken out the Weapons as well. Those Weapons might have been sent after the invaders if they still existed, but they were gone.
Marlene and Denzel listened, it was all so complicated but they held on to the hope that it would all work out. "The planet will be kept safe in the end, it has to be..." Marlene spoke softly, they all nodded in response.
"Cloud, you'll save the planet, right?" Denzel asked his idol.
Cloud smiled, full of determination and courage. "Of course!" It was that cocky smile and carefree atmosphere that held the group together and gave them hope.
To be Continued
Disclaimer, I do not own Final Fantasy VII. The situation is mostly clear now, but that doesn't solve it all. The heroes will take action in the next chapter, let's see where that leads. More FFVII characters will appear as the story goes on.
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