Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Eternal Silence ❯ The Ex-SOLDIER ( Chapter 1 )

Final Fantasy

Eternal Silence

Chapter 1

"Yo, c'mon newcomer!" A burly voice shot through the air. A blonde man jumped off the train, just as the tall and rather large man ran off. Two blue-uniformed soldiers took his place. "Damn…" The ex-SOLDIER drew his sword, "Bring it on!" The braver soldier stepped forward, to be greeted with a slash across the stomach. The other looked at his fallen companion then ran off. "…Coward…" The mercenary ran after his comrade, and was greeted by the rest of the 'team.'

"Hey, you weren't lyin' when you said you used to be in SOLDIER! It ain't every day we get one to join AVALANCHE!" A skinny, dark-haired man complimented.

A lighter colored woman looked up from hacking into the gate, "Biggs, wasn't SOLDIER our enemy? What's he doing with us?"

Biggs shook his head, "Jessie, he said he used to be in SOLDIER. He quit, and is helpin' us now." He looked back to the blonde mercenary, "…I didn't catch your name."

"…Cloud."

"…Cloud, huh? I'm-"

Cloud interrupted him, "I don't really care what your names are. Once we're done blowin' this place… I'm leavin'."

"YO!"

The small group looked up to their leader. "I told y'all not to move in a group! Our target's the makou reactor! Split up and meet there!"

"Perfect timin' Barret, I just about got…this code…" The gate to the reactor opened. "Figured!"

Everyone ran through the gate and dispersed, except Cloud and Barret. "…Hmm…Ex-SOLDIER, eh? I don't wanna trust ya, but I ain't gotta choice…" Barret gave Cloud a glare, "You better not pull any shit, boy…"

Before Cloud could answer, Barret had already started towards the reactor. Cloud looked up to the reactor, then ran after his comrades.

By the time Cloud caught up with the others, they were already in the reactor; Biggs and Jessie were hacking into security to get them in. "Yo, spikey-ass! Is this your first time in a reactor?"

Cloud shook his head, "No, I did work for the Shin-ra, and they only own every makou reactor out there."

"Don't get cocky wit' me… damn Shin-ra, suckin' the blood out of the Planet just to make some money…"

Cloud shrugged, "It ain't my problem…"

"That's it! You comin' with me now, smart-ass!"

Biggs looked up, "Are you two done?"

"Jus' shut up and get the door open!" Biggs cleared his throat and pointed to the now-open gates. Jessie stood in the opening, tapping her foot impatiently. "O-oh…" Barret ran with Jessie to the elevator.

Cloud looked to Biggs, "You coming?" Biggs shook his head, "Someone's gotta keep the gates open." Cloud shrugged, then ran into the elevator.

Jessie hit the 'Close Door' button, and the elevator closed, beginning its descent into the bowels of the reactor. Barret folded his arms across his chest, and eyed Cloud incredulously.

The mercenary looked up, "What?"

Barret shook his head, "… Once the blood's all drained from the Planet…that's it. Ain't no second chances."

Cloud rolled his eyes, "You think I didn't know already? It isn't like I care, anyway."

The elevator reached the lowest level of the reactor, and Jessie ran out as soon as the doors opened. Barret looked back at Cloud for a moment, "Well, remember this boy, when the Planet dies, do does your spiky ass." With that, Barret ran out, soon followed by Cloud.

The numerous monsters that emerged from the makou below were no matches for Barret and his team. Once they reached a tall ladder, Jessie stopped. "Ok, I'll stand guard here. Just be careful out there guys, all right?"

The two men nodded and climbed down to the depths of the reactor. While climbing, Cloud slashed at a small monster trying to bite his arm. "Damn monsters…"

Barret hopped down, "What, ya can't handle it?"

Cloud narrowed his eyes, and jumped down the last few rungs of the ladder, "No, I'm just sick of them."

Barret smirked, "Sure, whatever." The two walked to a large tank, with various pipes leading upwards from it.

Cloud looked at Barret, "Allright, set the bomb."

Barret shook his head, "Still don't trust ya. You set the bomb, and I'll watch ta make sure you don't try pullin' no shit."

With an annoyed sigh, Cloud leaned down and placed a small cube onto the tank. The minute he stood up, a siren wailed, echoing off the walls of the reactor.

"Hope you ready, 'cuz here they come!"

The clanking of metal hitting metal was heard, and Cloud saw a large, red robot clunking towards them; the Guard Scorpion. He unsheathed his Buster Sword, as Barret readied his gun, which was conveniently grafted onto his arm. The machine stopped no farther than five feet in front of them, and lifted its tail.

"Barret, don't attack yet! It'll counterattack!"

Barret rolled his eyes, and shot his gun. The machine shook, and shot a laser at both of them. "Dammit! Stupid shithead!" Barret cussed and unleashed a Big Shot. The machine staggered back, letting its tail down. It then shone a light onto Cloud, and then shot him with one of its rifles. Cloud stepped back, but put his sword away, "Bolt!" A loud crackle was heard, and the robot shook violently. Barret tried shooting again, causing more damage than before. The robot counter-attacked by shooting Cloud. His eyes flared, and he lifted his sword. He jumped up, and drove his sword through the robot, cutting through wire and sending sparks flying.

The machine shook before exploding in a grand flash of blue and white. Cloud was thrown back, "Damn!" Barret grabbed the Assault gun that clattered to the ground, and looked at Cloud while fitting it on. "Yo, get your ass up! We only got a few minutes before this place blows!"

Cloud opened his mouth to reply, but Barret was already halfway to the ladder. He ran to catch up, and two 1st rays and a mono drive attacked the two. Barret dispatched the mono drive with a few rounds in his gunarm, and Cloud took care of one of the 1st rays. The remaining 1st ray shot at Barret, who countered with a quick few rounds, ending the battle. Cloud grabbed the prize, a potion, before continuing after Barret. He had just caught up to him, when he saw Jessie stuck in one of the gaps in the floor. Barret stopped to wait for them.

"You all right?"

"…my leg got stuck."

Cloud grabbed Jessie's hand, tenderly but firmly, and tugged her free.

"Thanks!"

Barret nodded at the two and ran back towards the elevator. Cloud and Jessie were not too far behind. They made it up the stairs, Barret muttering, "Damn stairs…whoever invented 'em had a bug up der ass…" and other obscenities the whole way. They made it into the elevator, Barret nearly falling into it, and waited.

"Whassamatter, boss? Can't handle a flight of stairs?"

Barret glared at Cloud, "Shat yer spikey-mouth…"

The doors opened with a creak, and the trio ran out. Biggs looked up and punched the codes into the security doors in time for them to go through. All of them ran out to the bridge. They were just about home free now…

The reactor let out an eerie creak..

Jessie tripped, and Cloud stopped to help her up, "C'mon!"

The two dove off the bridge and into the 'exit' just in time.

A great ball of flame erupted into the sky, shockwaves ringing outward over the great city of Midgar, shaking all within close range. Windows broke, all electricity in sector 8 flashed off, and inside the Shin-Ra building, a dark figure slammed his fist onto the desk.

"Dammit! Those fucking rebels are at it still!"