Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Final Fantasy VII: Awakening ❯ The Longest Night ( Chapter 34 )

Leira sat between Reno’s legs and rested the back of her head against his right shoulder. The view of Wutai from Dao Chao, Wutai’s most sacred yet distinguishing feature, was unbelievable. The land below lit by red lanterns, white street lamps, every place had a string of lights passing through it. Reno found himself wondering how the longtime residents were able to sleep so well at night.

“It’s beautiful.” Leira said, pushing herself further back against him. “Beautiful night.” She felt her former coworker’s chest jump sharply and realized he was giggling. “What’s so funny?”

He lifted his arms to rub her shoulders. “Nah, kid, it’s nothing.”

“No. What?” She craned her head around to look at him.

“Nah, I was thinking, it can’t be too wonderful out.” He rubbed the back of his head before pulling himself up into a sitting position.

“Why not?” At this point Leira found herself expecting a serious answer.

“Well, you see,” he pulled himself away from her and stood up, “the…what…the cliché is no matter how perfect the evening,” he stepped out to the edge of the finger shaped cliff they sat on and grinned at her, “something bad has to happen. You know-”

“The calm before the storm?” Leira smiled and patted the ground indicating for him to sit beside her. She loved the way he looked standing with his back to the illuminated hustle and bustle of Wutai’s nightlife. The mainly white light made his skin and hair shine in such a way it reminded her of an oil painting. Each strand of gravity defying hair on top of his head seemed to emit its own individual light. It was almost as if he had no face or front; like the night devoured everything but his flame red tresses.

Suddenly, Leira found herself horrified. She pulled her outstretched legs into her body and covered her ears.

“What’s-WHAT?!” Reno yelped but a deafening roar overwhelmed his words.

Blue, red, yellow, and white streaked across the town and headed in their direction. The wail of turbines shattered their peaceful sit but for some reason Leira was far from upset. She jumped to her feet and hopped up and down all the while pointing and shouting. Reno could not understand her words but witnessing her mounting excitement, he figured the noise could only be triggered by one thing-

“Gelnika! Gelnika!!” She bellowed only to have her words ripped from her lips. Quickly she snatched up Reno’s hand and yanked him off the ground.

The poor man gave up fighting her quirkiness a long time ago. All he could do was swallow his own pride and follow along. Her excitement exploded with the appearance of the former Shinra warplane, he wondered if she even questioned the crew’s motives for being in Wutai. The plane was so low; Reno thought it might crash into the mountainside. “Those flyboys er kinda low!” He said aloud despite the intensity of the craft’s engines.

Leira continued to drag him behind her pretending she could outrace the Gelnika. She darted along the path forgetting several times over her former lover caught in her iron grip fighting to stay on his feet.

Finally, it was overhead. The Elite stopped in her tracks and allowed Reno to drop to his knees. Coughing and panting, he stared up at the flashing lights and then to Leira holding her hands above her head attempting to touch the ship’s hull.

She was so beautiful to him-overlooking, of course, Sephiroth’s flapping green knit tuxedo shirt. She does look hot in it but…he did, too. SEPHIROTH?! Reno shook his head vigorously and patted himself everywhere he could think of in search of a cigarette. The notion he entertained; Sephiroth being physically more attractive to him, sent chills down his spine. He was thinking like his friend in SOLDIER. That thought required either a cigarette or some good alcohol. As if a hole opened in the darkened sky, he caught Leira dancing around. Every so often, a flicker of light would reflect off her skin or pass through the stitching of her clothing.

The Gelnika crew completed their drop off without fail and was heading home. Both pilot and navigator agreed to circle the continent before leaving for Junon. Cait Sith units were not usually in high demand so it was rare to travel anywhere outside of home base.

“Yo, city sure is pretty!” The navigator winked. “Bet there’s no such thing as a good night’s sleep!”

“Heh!” The pilot offered thumbs up, flicking off the radio. “Sucks, I can’t talk to the Highwind. Had to talk to the Wutties…”

The navigator looked out through the triangular shaped side cockpit window. “It’s strange the ship ain’t lit…”

“Yeah,” the other agreed, “radio room has nothing to do with exterior landing lights…”

The navigator wanted to offer his thoughts when a series of “dinging” sounds alerted both men to the Gelnika’s control panels.

“I don’t see anything!” The navigator yelped.

“Wait! What’s that?!” The pilot leaned over the buttons and levers making up the instrument panel. “Those white lights-what are they?”

The second man stood silent attracted to the unnatural beauty of the strange phenomena before him.

On the ground, Reno blinked several times. “Shooting stars?”

Leira watched his lips move then spun around a couple times in horror. “What’s…happening…?”

The pilot glanced anxiously at his crewmate in terror as the plane shook. “Whatever those things are, they aren’t good for this here Gelnika!” He hollered yanking the control stick around.

The navigator did his best to push buttons in an attempt to steady the ship but the Gelnika was unresponsive.

The white lights pounded into the ship so many times giant pits slowly became large holes. The only action the crew could take was to steer away from town.

Leira grabbed Reno and pushed her head into his neck. “They’re not gonna make it!”

The Turk shook his head and watched the bird of prey begin an arc away from Wutai. He knew what was about to happen but was unsure of the cause. His eyes widened in terror when the arc brought the ship on a collision course for the mountain. “We don’t have time!” He yelled at her and grabbed her wrist leading her into a dead run. “We have to get to the ground!”

Flames and black smoke spewed out of the military plane and the hope for survival lost within the two-man team. “She’s headed straight for the mountain…” The navigator swallowed hard choking on his fear.

The pilot lay against the controls mentally keeping track of the seconds until impact. He nodded but words were never spoken.

Leira and Reno were too focused on escape. It was pitch black, save for the strobing effects of the white lights streaking down from the sky. Suddenly, Reno’s footing slipped and he grabbed a sidewall for balance. In seconds, his worried look became one of triumph. A brief flash of light provided a decent look at a landmark capable of saving their lives. “Now! To the right!” He ordered. “There’s a cave not too far from here!”

Leira looked at him quizzically but found herself pulled along behind him. “How far?!”

Reno could not remember exactly how far away it was; he was only concerned with saving themselves and getting back to town. In determination, he got behind her and pushed on her shoulders. “It’s coming!” He looked over his shoulder and watched the Gelnika twist in the air until it was upside down. The fear of the wreckage killing them both was enough of a signal to keep moving. He pushed harder until her ankles gave out and she dropped to the ground tripping him.

Leira rolled onto her side to avoid his knee crashing into her head. She moved to cover herself against him falling on her but her left arm went wide and her elbow banged into a jagged unfinished wall. She maneuvered herself onto her hands and knees and looked back at him.

Reno was panting so hard he was almost certain the exhaustion would kill him before the Gelnika. He swallowed hard and waited for another sign, another flash of light, and another hope.

“Reno! Look!” She grabbed at the corridor’s walls trying to steady herself.

“Lei, you’re amazing!”

The pair wasted no time at all. They wound up diving head first into the cavern and took off running as far away as they could manage.

The Gelnika slammed into the cliff Leira and her former lover once occupied and screeched along as its left wing was seared from its body. Sparks flew from the rest of the hull as metal scraped stone. The huge reliefs of Wutaian royalty and robust bare-chested mountain gods acquired heavy damage as the craft pushed along a few hundred feet before flame invaded its fuel tank and it exploded in a huge fireball.

Leira and Reno heard the blast and flung themselves to the ground. They were safe for the most part but unsure of the fate of the rest of the town below.

Reno sat up and propped himself against the interior of the granite enclosure. His eyes passed to Leira’s possible location. He could hear her ragged breathing close by but offered no words of comfort or motivation. They escaped far worse during their Shinra days but this time, this evening; it was not as much fun.

Reeve’s retrieval team witnessed the entire display but found themselves faced with more pressing matters. What appeared as innocent streams of falling light crashed to the ground laying waste to anything below.

Todasai worked as fast as he could to bring the smaller unit online. The large, bulky mog contained more wires and buttons but the small black and white cat required skill and timing. “That wasn’t JATO**…was it…?”

Briggs stared at his fellow officer. “No. Now quit jabbin’ we don’ have all this time! Just carry the fucking thing-” A large object crashed into the ground less then six feet away knocking the man into a collection of weeds. “Hurry up!” He shouted rolling over to lie on his stomach.

Tread dodged a few blasts and hurled himself toward Todasai. He watched the man’s fingers scramble across the tiny circuit breaker. “Maybe it’s that buss wire…try to bridge the capacitor-then hit the switch!”

“I got a better idea!”

The two men glanced at each other then leapt in separate directions as more objects fell. The tiny cat fell to the ground like a discarded rag doll.

Tread looked over at Todasai. “Trust me-bridging will cause a concentrated stream of-”

“Arhem!! AS I SAID ‘I have a better idea!’” The little black and white cat recovered from yelling and eyed its paws suspiciously.”

“If you have a suggestion, let’s hear it!” Briggs ran up to the tiny synthetic being just as the large mog bounded over.

The synthetic mog wrapped its arms around its counterpart and placed it on its shoulders. “Now, it just so happens I do…EEEEAAAAYERRRRGH! WHERE ARE WE WUTAI?!” The creature roared and licked its arms and paws furiously.

The three men stood before the completed Cait Sith unit in utter disgust as the cat grabbed the mog’s ear for balance and lifted its left hind leg over its head.

“What? You’ve never seen a cat clean itself?”

“Uhhhm…you were saying Mister Cat?” Briggs wanted to leave the area as quickly as possible. They were still in the middle of a heavily wooded area far from home and the strange white items were still crashing to the earth.

“Jeeeesussss,” it snarled and covered its ears with its tiny paws.

“What’s wrong?” The three shouted embracing each other as heavy projectile landed at their feet.

“My crown IS gone!”

Briggs stared at Todasai, who promptly grabbed a corner of Elena’s sleeping bag and ran as fast as he could.

Tread stood before Cait Sith and shook his head. “We’ll find you a new one! Help us get Elena to the village and we’ll find you one!” The man was scared out of his mind. He admired the mechanical creation for being fearless before possible doom but something about having a soul and actual emotions seemed more attractive then relying on an old computer program in Junon to do the thinking.

“Promise?”

“What?!” Briggs was unsure of how much more he could take of the childishness. “Fine. I promise.” He threw himself to the far right as three more meteor-like projectiles fell.

“In the meantime…can I have your hat?”

The poor man removed his black plastic helmet and approached Cait Sith. Standing on his toes he placed it on the head of the small black and white android cat; promptly burying it.

“Where’d the lights go?!” It shrieked causing the protective gear to bob up and down sometimes exposing a tiny red shoe.

Briggs, unfortunately, knew where the lights were. How could he not see them crashing into trees and the ground in front of him. He was so tired of dodging them and wanted nothing more for them to stop or the Cait Sith unit to collect itself and head back to base. A beeping sound caught his attention so he flicked a switch on the tiny two way radio connected to his coat collar. “Briggs.” He said slowly keeping a close watch on the cat and mog.

“Briggs, this is Tate.” The general’s voice responded. “Cloud Strife is heading out that way! Bring…h….hi…”

“Damn it! Stupid jungle! Mr. Cat can you get that signal?” He looked down at his leather boots then over at the cat. Both creations bore such looks of fright. The mog’s enormous paws attempted to shield its smaller counterpart while the cat held up the newly acquired helmet enough for its tiny eyes to peek out from underneath. Could it be the lousy signal and the probability of having to navigate the jungle in a weird meteor shower? “What?”

“Bu-bu-bu…Be…buh-buh-” The little android let the helmet cover itself and began to shake uncontrollably.

“What?” Briggs asked again. Soon the strange barrage slowed to a stop and he let out a sigh of relief.

“I think he was trying to warn you-‘look behind you.’” A female voice whispered in his ear.

He darted around winding up face to face with a golden haired woman. “Elena?” Suddenly, it became clear. The woman’s facial features were quite attractive despite being pale and corpse like. Her eyes, most notably, were a metallic graphite color and her lips were a deep purple. He wanted to scream out his findings and holler for help but he could not.

The woman regarded him with a tinge of humor before a gigantic grey hand grabbed him by the head and lifted him off the ground.

“No.” she smiled as her companion growled and began to squeeze the skull of its victim. “But we’ll give her your regards.”

Briggs made his best effort to grab the creature’s large wrist, even kicking and biting but it was no use, the fingers were like steel beams and its long black finger nails were so sharp he was afraid if he moved wrong he would harm himself, instead.

“My guess is the others are down that way.” She said half to her companion and half to Cait Sith. Before either could attempt to reply, she offered an evil smile then disappeared among ivy-covered trees.

The grey creature watched his companion’s exit then lumbered his way to the cat with the officer still in his grip. The monster was mammoth-at least nine feet in height draped in a long black robe. Yellow eyes, aglow with hatred, loomed over the highest point of the Cait Sith unit. “Give them all our regards.” It smiled and bared its long sharp teeth.

“I…I…I…ah…uh…I…” the poor android stuttered trying to hold the helmet up enough for it to peek out.

“Ah-hah-ha!” The monster laughed and hefted Briggs higher to dangle inches from Cait Sith. The mechanical constructs were far from prepared for what was to follow. When they were able to catch up with the rest of the rescue team their appearance relayed more then words alone.

The hearty rumbling laugh grew louder and its chest heaved up and down nearly to the point where the cat thought the monster’s chest would burst. Briggs’ legs swayed in a circular pattern the more the creature laughed until a sharp jolt sent him higher into the air. “ENOUGH!” it roared and snapped its hand closed.

A raw animalistic scream pierced the nighttime air followed by a “crunch” and “thabt, thabt-thabt” as splashes of blood sprung from Briggs’ crumpled head decorating beast, mog, cat, and native plant life.

Cait Sith found itself shaking in the beasts presence unsure of whether to escape or pray.

The robed creature smiled and bowed tossing the corpse over its shoulder like a piece of trash. “Now I leave you.” It said through huge smiling black lips.

The cat and mog watched as the creature casually sidled over to Briggs’ corpse knelt down and shook the man’s left arm ripping it from the socket.

“Arrrr-hem.” Stunned, the little black and white cat blinked then hung upside down to look the mog in the face. “GIT ME OUTTA HEEEEERE!!” It swatted the larger android with Briggs’ helmet, screaming all the way to the village.

Leira looked around as best she could in the darkness, never lifting her head from Reno’s knees. “What do you think happened to it?”

“Haven’t a clue.” he shrugged. “I couldn’t even guess what those weird lights were.”

The Elite shook her head and stood up. “This cave have a backdoor?”

“Ha!” he scoffed and tugged on his long red hair. “Don’t I wish, kid.”

“You mean we have to go back?” She muttered praying her fears would not be confirmed.

“Shouldn’t be that far.” His voice may have sounded cool and collected to Leira but, in reality, he was nervous and trying hard not to piss his pants.

Leira listened to the sound of his clothing dragging against the sand covered floor as he got to his feet. She felt a hand wrap around her left wrist and pull her toward the exit.

Both of them were breathing hard and sweating bullets in the musty cave.

Slowly, they reached the mouth. Flames licked at the Gelnika while the two stood in the open air; their nostrils filled with the odor of burning metal and flesh.

“Uhhh-” Leira turned her head from the blackened twisted wreckage and buried her head in his shoulder. She was unable to see human remains but the burning hulk was equally disturbing. Leira thought of all the runs she made, piloting the large carrier planes, during wartime; the sadness she felt when Shinra’s withering finances were not able to support the production of new models leading to their prompt decommissioning. The tears began to fall so she looked away and covered her face with her hands.

Reno had a hard time knowing what to do in the company of a crying female so he decided to let her be. Maneuvering around the side of Dao Chao, he stood at a safe distance from the fire. He could feel the intensity of the heat and the popping and crackling as the flames spread. Suddenly, something caught his eye. Off in the distance he was able to spot more flames. The friendly lights of the bustling town replaced with thick black smoke and isolated hot spots. His jaw hung open while he calculated the impact of the recent events. “DAMN! RUDE!! MY HOUSE!! Lei!” He spun around and grabbed her wrist again, “Rude’s down there! My house is down there! We’ve got go!”

Leira was yanked so hard her long hair whipped around and covered her eyes. She fought hard to stay upright knowing full well if she were to fall, she would slow them both down. A thought occurred to her while they made their escape and she smiled despite her sadness. Reno was concerned for his friend as well as his possessions. While it was to be expected, she felt an overwhelming sense of pride in him. During their romance, she remembered another place that would have also been a concern.

“OH-MI-GAWD!!”

“Wren?! What’s-”

His pace quickened and she prayed he would not dive off the nearest cliff, with her in tow, as an attempt to reach the town faster. “THE BAR!! NOT THE TURTLE’S PARADISE!!”

“Is everyone alright in here?” Phiphat hollered. The combination of shell and protect he used limited the damage he sustained from the roof collapsing in on him. “Hello!”

He examined his arms and feet taking notice of his shredded robes and missing turban. He rummaged through piles of rubble, tossing piece after piece of broken plaster over his shoulder. “Can either of you hear me?! Please be alive! Please!”

The boy squatted over a huge mound and began to dig like a Kalm wolf. He did not want to be alone, not now; he had to get his family’s honor back before he could die. He dug until his fingers were dirty and bloody, stopping only to remove the remnants of his heavy purple outer robe.

Layer after layer was removed until-

“OW!”

The boy stopped and twisted his body around to search for the source of the sound.

“Pippy! You just beamed Sephy in the head!” Yuffie shouted and waved from several feet away. “Good boy!”

Phiphat scrambled over to her, as fast his arms and legs would carry him. “Are you okay? Where is he?”

Yuffie smiled and rubbed at her smudged cheeks. She wrapped her arms around him and pointed to the ex-general’s location. “He pushed me under the bed when those strange lights started coming through the roof!”

“You’re hurt!” The boy panted looking at Yuffie’s arms. Trickles of dirt speckled blood traveled down her shoulders and pooled around her elbows and wrists.

“It’s okay! I’m tougher then that!” She poked her right thumb into her chest then started to shout out in pain.

Phiphat was at her side investigating her body. “It looks like you might have bruised your ribs. It’s probably not worth a potion.”

Sephiroth lay on his back with his hands to his forehead. The young man had indeed “beamed” him. His face was bleeding a little bit but not enough for him to be concerned. It was the shock of being struck after the house collapse; that was the clincher.

The topless general sat up and pulled plaster from his long hair while he surveyed the remnants of their shelter. Only a couple walls continued to stand at the back of the house. The entire front entrance was nothing more then a huge crater littered with bits of living room furniture and broken glass. “They’re here already…”

“Who?” Yuffie raised an eyebrow at him and adjusted her headband.

“I never expected them to be this early. Why would they be on the move this quickly; especially since they know the Highwind is crippled and one of their targets is already dead?”

“Start talking sense, man!” Yuffie was in Sephiroth’s face shaking him by the shoulders.

The silver haired man swatted her away and narrowed his eyes. “Somehow, the clone has made contact with the other. “Those lights were their mode of teleportation.”

Phiphat and Yuffie stared at each other then looked back at Sephiroth. “It looks like a faster way has been discovered to transport them from one place to another.”

“But you can fly!” Yuffie stated jumping to her feet.

Sephiroth stood up and studied his dusty black boots. “I’m not special anymore. I’m more of a messenger and delivery boy.” His voice was so quiet and riddled with disappointment Yuffie almost felt sorry him. “They only needed me to bring her to them but now they have grown impatient.”

**JATO - Jet Assisted Takeoff - quick escape on little or no runway utilizing solid-fuel rockets.