9I do not own Final Fantasy 7, I am using its content to create my own fiction. Please enjoy!
It's been awhile people! I got lotsa school work lately, especially with midterms coming up and everything! I literally finished this whole chapter within a single night! Whew I didn't think I had it in me! (Maybe it's because of the music I was listening to in the background while typing...)
Anyways, please favourite, follow, and REVIEW people! (Ok? :D)
Disc 1 (The ShinRa Building): Rescuing the Ancient Specimen
The three men quickly made their way back out of the air vent and regroups with the rest of their teammates. Zack was the first to rush out the washroom door.
"Hurry guys! If we follow Hojo, he'll most likely lead us to Aeris!" He cried.
Avalanche quietly rushed into the hallway that divided the conference room from the rest of the floor. As they neared the end of hall, they peeked around the corner to make sure all the people from the meeting have left.
Cloud looked to the left and to the right. Nobody suspicious was around so they continued down the hall and past the conference room.
At the end of the conference room, around the corner, Zack and Barret barely caught a glimpse of the ShinRa scientist disappear behind the door that led to their final destination, the specimens floor.
Cloud exhaled in awe.
"Hojo...the guy in charge of the Science department. I know that I probably seen or been around him during my time as an infantryman here, but honestly, I don't remember how he looked like at all until now."
"It's fine, Cloud. He doesn't deserve to be in your memories," Zack assured.
"More like he doesn't deserve to be in this world," Chorale suddenly added.
Tifa looked at her incredulously. "You remember Hojo?"
Chorale nodded. "Being in this place is triggering lots of memories. I can remember my hatred for that crazy-eyed scientist dude when I was probably a kid, but I can't remember the reason why."
"Well considering how horrible that guy is, you probably don't need to do a lot of digging just to find out why," Barret said as he stood up from crouching and walked towards the door of the staircase leading to level 67.
As they got to the door, Chorale gave Barret the necessary keycard. But nothing happened.
Zack got impatient. "What's going on? Open the door!"
Barret glared at him with an equal amount of impatience. "If I could, I would already have, wouldn't I? The fucking keycard doesn't work!"
"It probably did and you didn't twist the door handle enough. Let me try," Zack pushed Barret out of the way.
But to his surprise. The door wouldn't budge. Zack tried pushing on it with more force, but the door still wouldn't give in. After a few more tries, with Cloud and Barret both backing him up, Zack prepared himself.
"Alright, if this door won't open. I'll bust it open!"
Chorale one-handedly grabbed Zack's arm before it could take a swing.
"Are you crazy? This is a higher up floor! It's probably jam packed with security systems! There's probably an alarm just waiting to be set off if any damage is done to this door!"
Tifa nervously looked around. "Not mention the surveillance cameras. We shouldn't draw so much attention to ourselves, though we're pretty lucky it's late and not a lot of employees are around right now."
Chorale looked directly at Zack. "I know a way to open this door. This only happens whenever there's something really valuable on the upper floors. Reeve kind of told me about it before you guys arrived. If I could get to the surveillance room on floor 60 and dispose of the guard on duty, then I could probably unlock the doors from there. Give me two minutes, I'll have it opened."
Cloud throws a cell phone at her before she left. "Use that to talk to us if you need to. Because Zack probably won't wait for you after the door's unlocked."
"Understandable. I'll keep on eye on things from that room. You guys focus on rescuing Aeris and then getting out of here."
With that, Chorale and Allie disappeared down the set of stairs that descended down to floor 60.
Two minutes later...
Ding! The sound of the door unlocking satisfied a very anxious Zack.
"Aw yeah! Lets go guys!"
Barret smiled as he shook his head. There were times when he wanted to wring this impulsive SOLDIER's neck. But then there were times like this, when he can't help but laugh at his childish personality.
The remaining Avalanche members ran up the flight of stairs and entered the grey hallways of floor 67. It was mostly comprised of metal and steel, and illuminated with bright white lights. There was no carpets anywhere. It gave off a very uncomfortable aura.
Down the hallway, just a few feet in front of them was a man dressed in a dark blue suit. He held a clipboard and a pen, as they shifted closer behind the man, Cloud could hear him saying something about 'delivering Hojo's new specimen.'
Zack also overheard him and tightened his fists. Cloud puts an assuring hand on his friend's shoulder, cooling him down a bit. Zack relaxed as the man in the suit entered a large metal door that slid open for him before sliding shut.
"In there. That's probably where they keep their most valuable specimens," Zack pointed out.
"Then we're going in there," Tifa agreed.
All four members of Avalanche ran towards the metal door, which immediately opened as they came into close proximity with it. Inside, it smelled of a kinds of odd aromas. It was a mix of medical supplies with animal fur and formaldehyde.
The man was nowhere to be found so Avalanche relaxed and scanned around. The whole area was like one big warehouse with all kinds of equipment and technology around it. There were large tubes filled with samples that looked very dead. And dissection tables that still had some remains of previous experiments on it.
The sight of the insides of living creatures was enough to make Tifa feel nauseous. Cloud felt the same way too, but he was much more severe. He turned around and covered his mouth with hand while quickly leaning arm on the closest intact object he could get to.
It was a large metal dome with a small plastic window to look at the specimen that was being preserved inside. Cloud suddenly looked through the window and saw a terrifying blue headless creature.
He jumped back, bumping and knocking Tifa to the floor, and startling Zack and Barret. He immediately helped Tifa up and Zack asked what happened.
Pointing at the dome, Zack rushed over and looked inside. "Jenova...so that's where they kept it..."
Barret tilted his head to the side. "Jeno-who?"
"Never mind, it's uh...complicated. I promise I'll explain everything later. For now—hide!" Zack ducked behind the pile of crates next to the dome and everybody squeezed in with him.
Hojo and the man in the suit suddenly appeared from nowhere and walked up to the large glass elevator with a red and fierce looking dog-like creature being contained in it. Hojo passionately touched the glassy surface, causing the creature to back up and growl. Tifa shook at the way the scientist treats living creatures.
Hojo nodded to the man. "Bring it up to the second floor. Lets try out today's experiment."
With that, the two men disappeared behind the large pile of technological equipment. Avalanche comes out of hiding and Tifa gives a sympathetic look at the specimen trapped inside the glass elevator cage before they head over to the lift at the end of the room.
Activating the handle for the lift, they filed inside and Zack pressed the button to go up. On level 68, the gate of the lift opened, revealing a much more open room with some more advanced-looking equipment.
But what caught their attention—well mainly Zack's, was the sight of a young brunette woman lying on her side inside a replica of the glass elevator cage from the previous floor. Her pink attire was slightly worn and dirtied from all the activity she's recently been through.
"Aeris!" Zack cried.
The Ancient girl's eyes immediately fluttered open as she heard her name being called by her hero. She gets up from her side and runs over to the edge of the cage, pressing her hands to it.
"Zack! Guys! You all came!"
Cloud ran forward as he drew out his sword and held to Hojo's throat as Zack rushed to where Aeris was, pressing hand where hers was. Barret also put the scientist at gunpoint. Tifa grabbed his arms and brought him down to his knees, Cloud and Barret never leaving their positions.
Hojo did not seem to be fazed by this act of intimidation at all. The man in the suit on the level above seemed a little worried though, but as he reached for a walkie-talkie, Barret aimed his gun at him, causing the man to drop everything he's carrying.
"Aeris, hmm? So that's her name. What do you guys want?" Hojo calmed asked.
Zack walked up to the scientist and Tifa held him so he could face the SOLDIER first class. Zack grabbed Hojo by the collar and glared.
"Release Aeris. And maybe I'll give you a quick death." Zack threatened.
"Sigh. There's just so many frivolous things in this world. Oh, and I hope you won't kill me at all. I mean who could control all this equipment without me around? Hmm?" Hojo challenged.
"What you so of a—" Barret began.
"Computer! Bring up the species from the lower level!" Hojo suddenly shouted into a large mouthpiece next the glass elevator. "Command done. Bringing up species from lower level."
A small hole suddenly opened up next to Aeris and the sound of machinery could be heard turning. Suddenly, the red creature from down below risen and appeared next to Aeris. She immediately scrambled back, terrified of what it would do to her.
"What is this!?" She cried in shock.
In his anger, Zack brought his Buster sword and struck at the glass barrier. Barret did the same with his gun, after firing a few rounds, the glass began to give way and shatter.
Hojo cried out. "What do you think you're doing? My experiment was to breed those two endangered species! They're on the brink of extinction!"
"How dare you! Aeris is a human being!" Tifa countered, tightening her grip. Hojo cried out in pain.
Zack calmly walked forward. "Tifa...let him go. Trust me."
Tifa was shocked at first, but did Zack said. Hojo ran forward towards the ruins and dust of the destroyed cage. Suddenly, the red creature from before lashed out and attacked the scientist. At the same time, Aeris jumped out and into Zack's arms.
"I knew you'd come," she whispered.
Their reunion was cut short when Hojo suddenly took out a taser and shocked the red creature off of him. The scientist was covered in cuts and bruises all over, but was still able to move.
"That is pant ferocious pant specimen..." He remarked.
The red creature backed up and turned around to face Cloud and the gang. From up close, they could see that the creature had a somewhat human appearance too. It had messy dark fur around its head like hair, and a braid on one side and a decorative feather to complete it. It wore bangles around its front legs and a flame burned brightly on the end of its tail.
To their surprise, it started speaking. "The scientist is quite dangerous. Let me help you," he said in a gentle yet deep masculine voice.
"It speaks?!" Tifa gasped.
"I can speak as much as the average human can. You can call me Red XIII," he explained.
Zack and Cloud drew out their swords. Zack looked especially dangerous. Aeris retreated back away from the battle due to having nothing to use for offense or defense.
"Thanks for the offer, Red XIII. We're going to need it to get rid of this guy!" Zack pointed at Hojo.
The scientist scowled as he looked around in panic and finally ran over to a large metal pole with a red button on it. Pushing the button, Hojo triggered the opening of several hidden cages on this floor. A few dangerous-looking specimens emerged as Hojo rushed out of the area.
Zack cried out loud as and Cloud charged forward, executing a planned out attack on the giant insectoid. Tifa and Barret focused on the smaller, but larger than normal beetles.
Barret shot each one of them in a row, never missing a shot. But most of the beetles weren't severely damaged by the bullets. As Barret was reloading, Tifa zooms and crushes each one of the bug's wings and front exoskeleton.
As Barret went into his second round, most of the beetles were falling over from the damage before Tifa delivered the final crushing blow to the underside of their bodies. Zack struck the front side of the giant insectoid in a unique pattern that caused it to fall back.
Cloud stabs it from the back to the front with his long sword. The giant insectoid manages to free itself from its impalement and attempt to lash out at Zack, who dodged out of the way.
The insectoid turned around to deal with Cloud instead and unleashed a spray of hot acidic liquid from its mouth, but Cloud was able to heal quickly with a restore materia. He then attacked with a fire materia, aiming at its soft belly.
Zack leapt down from above and finished it with one great cut down the middle that splits the giant insectoid in half. He looked down at the specimen's dead body sadly before walking away.
"It didn't deserve that. But it was better than being kept in Hojo's lab for the rest of its life," Zack reasoned.
"Yeah, I guess. But why's it weird that I feel bad?" Cloud asked.
Tifa walked up to him. "It's because those were victims of ShinRa's brutality. It's ok Cloud, they're free now."
"Just like how we're all going to be," Aeris said as she walked out of her hiding spot, smiling brightly.
They all returned her smile. Barret was the first to go up extend his intact hand to her. Aeris gently shook it.
"Barret Wallace. My daughter Marlene was rescued by you. And because of your service, I'll always be in your debt."
"Aeris Gainsborough, thank you. I'm honoured," Aeris replied.
Aeris went up to Tifa, who took both of her hands firmly. "I'm so glad that you're ok. We were so scared of what they could've done to you."
"I'm alright, really. Now I'm the one who's going to be in your debt."
"Not if you keep going out of your way and get yourself into situations like this over and over again," Cloud sarcastically said.
Aeris rolled her eyes before wrapping her arms around Zack once again. He twirled her around before putting her down again.
"Aeris...I'm sorry that our reunions are always so short. I'm sorry for everything I've put you through..." Zack said.
"Now's not the time for apologizing. We need to leave. Then you can apologize to me!" Aeris scolded.
Zack smirked, "Right."
The whole Avalanche crew, now including Aeris and Red XIII, walked out of the laboratory and down the hallway towards the elevator that luckily, only required a keycard. Before pushing the button for the elevator, Cloud suggested breaking up the group.
"It'll be safer this way. We won't easily be noticed on the way down to pick Chorale up. What do you say?"
Barret nodded. "Alright, how about if I go with two people and the remaining three takes the elevator?"
"Sounds good to me. Aeris, you're staying right?" Zack asked.
Aeris nodded. "Where is Chorale? Is she ok?"
"Who is this Chorale?" Red XIII asked out of curiosity.
"Another one of our friends. And she's on the 60th floor right now, she's keeping on eye from the surveillance room," Tifa explained. "By the way Barret, I'll be joining you."
"Then that means I'm coming too," Cloud said.
"Alright, then that makes me, Aeris, and Red XIII," Zack went over.
Barret agreed. "We'll meet you down on floor 60. But we'll wait until you guys board the elevator, just for safety measures."
"Ok."
Zack pressed the elevator button. The little digital number at the top of the elevator gradually increased until it was almost 67. When the number reached floor 60, Cloud's cell phone suddenly rang.
"Huh? Hello?" Cloud flipped open his phone and answered.
"Cloud? It's me Chorale, listen I see you guys on the security camera! You're on the floor 67 aren't you?" She asked, sounding a bit desperate.
"Yeah, what's the matter?" Cloud asked.
The number reached floor 65.
"Listen! Whatever you do, don't get on the elevator! There's Turks—"
Ding! The elevator doors opened and two Turks, Tseng and Rude appeared. Rude, who was closest to Aeris, grabbed her and put her at gunpoint. Causing all of Avalanche to draw their weapons. Tseng pointed his gun at Zack.
"Don't do anything stupid. Please...I beg of you..." Tseng stoically said.
Quivering in anger, Zack looked at Aeris' wavering eyes, full of fear from the barrel that was being pressed against the side of her temple. He looked at the rest of Avalanche.
Tifa had beads of sweat dripping from her forehead as she tried to keep her tough composure together. Barret's gun arm was wavering as he tried to decide whether or not lower it. Red XIII was slightly pacing back and forth, unable to make the final decision to leap forward and grab Tseng's leg.
None of them knew what to do, they were unsure of attacking their enemies. Reluctantly, Zack dropped his Buster sword and raised his arms. Aeris looked apologetically at all of them before lowering her head. Tifa remained neutral, Barret lowered his gun arm, and Red XIII sat down.
Cloud slowly ended his call with Chorale, making sure that the Turks won't be able to know where she was if they were going to confiscate all their belongings. Tseng and Rude carefully handcuffed all the members of Avalanche and forced them into the elevator, where they planned to show them to the president.
In the surveillance room, Chorale flipped her phone shut as she viewed from the camera screen, her friends getting taken away by the Turks. All because she wasn't fast enough to warn them.
"Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it, damn it!" She cried out on frustration.
Grabbing Allie and putting her into the carrier on her back, she turned around to stuff the original guard that was in room, into the back closet so that no one would find him knocked out. Opening the door, she looked around to see if anyone was about.
No one was there, so she quickly ran towards the door of the stairway, unlocking it with her keycard. She had to get to find out where her friends were being held first and then find a way to get all of them out, then they would finally leave this building.
"Hang on guys...I'm coming to get you."
Welll? What do you guys think? Please leave comments if you have any suggestions for improving the story (but not on how the story is going to go, I kind of already have everything laid out, but I'll still think about it).
Thanks for reading! Again, favourite, follow, REVIEW! Peace out!
