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anyssia
Title: Guide
Author:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
anyssia
Character/Pairing: Cloud, Zack, Sephiroth, Vincent. Eventually, Cloud/Zack/Seph
Fandom/Spoilers: Final Fantasy VII, Meteor Crisis.
Genre: adventure, what-if, slash
Disclaimer: not mine or I would have killed Hojo a long time ago!!!
Status: ch2/?, 3886 words, 10/03/2009, beta'ed byjameva.
Summary: Nibelheim's reactor is due for a check-up and sixteen years old Cloud is hired to take the coming soldiers up the mountain.
Previous chapter
Cloud was at the inn at nine o'clock sharp, unobtrusively taking a look at the ShinRa people's equipment. The trooper's weapon was, of course, the rifle, while Sephiroth wore Masamune at his side as if it were a part of his body. However, Cloud was stunned to discover that the SOLDIER actually used the same kind of blade as himself, although, unlike his own, it was a first-class Buster sword.
The heavy weight of the blond's new sword felt odd on his back. The shape and balance were definitively different from the blade he had broken the day before. But the hour spent this morning taking care of it in the mansion's underground hadn't been useless. A leather strip, stolen from one of the mansion's armors, was now wrapped around the handle to replace the threadbare piece of fabric that had been the original padding and the edge had been honed till it was razor-sharp.
The Buster's blade gleamed harshly despite the weak morning sun, announcing to all that he was ready to use it.
;;;
The villagers were still not very subtle as they spied on the departing party. The General and the SOLDIER didn't seem to mind, but the trooper was clearly ill at ease.
Cloud politely greeted them and motioned for them to follow. The others had most likely already been briefed, but he wasn't sure about the regular soldier.
"We'll have to go up the mountain on foot. There aren't any motorized vehicles here. The one you rode up here has already left and it's not due back before next week. And anyway, it isn't adapted for mountain trails."
Sephiroth was definitely a man of few words. Once again, his only answer was a silent nod. The SOLDIER at his side murmured something that sounded fond but a little wry, then looked up at Cloud with an open smile. Cheerfully crossing the few feet separating them, he gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
At least, Cloud hoped it was friendly. He wasn't exactly used to this kind of behavior.
"Eh, there aren't a lot people that can use a sword like that without just cutting open their own foot!"
Before Cloud could decide if the man really was being friendly and, above all, what kind of reply was expected, he heard someone running behind him. He spun around, a heartbeat away from drawing his sword despite being still in the village. Even here, he never dropped his guard. He might not need his weapon to defend himself, but physical attacks weren't the only threats he had to contend with.
Nibelheim's self-designated photographer stopped abruptly when all the soldiers turned around like one to regard him. Holding his camera before him like a shield, he moved forward slowly, hesitated, stopped again and swallowed with difficulty.
The boy seemed to gather his courage, and then turned toward the General.
"Hum, General Sephiroth, sir, could you please let me take your picture, as a souvenir?"
Cloud barely held back a snort. A sidelong glance showed him that Sephiroth didn't seem to be overly interested either. He was looking away, pointedly ignoring his admirer.
"Cloud, could you..." Already unsure, the boy fell silent when the blond turned a harsh scowl on him.
Inwardly seething, Cloud quickly walked up to the General. He couldn't believe the brat had dared to ask him a favor. Did he really think he'd do it, just like when they'd had fun pushing him around before they'd had to change tactics because he'd grown too old?
He was so intent on keeping his expression composed that he almost missed the SOLDIER's request.
"Come on, Seph! It won't take more than a minute, we've got time!"
Stunned by the SOLDIER's carefree ways, Cloud found himself silently staring at the man. He shook himself out of his stupor when Sephiroth went past him to go stand at attention near his subordinate, obviously not caring at all for the photography. He was looking at the mansion and Cloud suddenly wondered if he was remembering something of his childhood there.
"Oy, Cloud!"
Caught by surprise, Cloud almost lashed out at the hand that had settled on his shoulder. He was fortunate that the SOLDIER simply tightened his hold strongly enough to make him wince. He couldn’t even imagine what would have happened if he had actually raised a hand against a ShinRa representative.
The man didn't give him time to think. He dragged a bewildered Cloud along before happily pushing him between Sephiroth and himself.
"A photo, it's a great idea!"
"Really..." Cloud's less than enthusiastic answer didn't seem to deter the other man, who just added enthusiastically:
"Of course! Think of it as payment for this babysitting job!"
Cloud didn't have any reply to that. The cheerful face turned toward him, open and harmless, didn't deserve his bitter comments. Still, years of mistrust and verbal abuse were hard to ignore, and Cloud couldn't make himself relax. There had to be a catch. The SOLDIER probably wanted something from him, even if he couldn't determine what.
Shrugging resignedly, Cloud faced the camera and silently stared at the uneasy boy. The kid visibly hadn't expected this; he seemed to be searching for an excuse to take him out of the frame. But Cloud had the support of the SOLDIER and the boy couldn't exactly order him to get lost.
He was too used to keeping a blank face to be delighted at the brat's barely concealed anger, but Cloud couldn't wait to describe it to Vincent.
"Come on, Mister Photographer, we're ready!" exclaimed the SOLDIER, still smiling. He flung an arm across Cloud's shoulders and winked at him before facing the camera.
Ignoring the strange emotion he felt at being treated like a friend, Cloud barely refrained from rolling his eyes and got ready just in time to be blinded by a bright flash. Sephiroth immediately left the group and headed for the mountain path.
The other SOLDIER squeezed Cloud's shoulder again, though this time it was friendlier rather than forceful, and then went to ask the boy if he could drop off a few copies at the inn later. Oddly confused, Cloud watched him furtively before following the trooper and Sephiroth.
;;;
Cloud gave himself a shake after a few minutes and caught up with the General, who was already a few meters down the path out of the village.
"We'll need to be cautious. The monsters roaming the mountain became inexplicably dangerous these last years. And the path isn't safe more than half time."
"You seem very young to be that aware of the mountain's dangers."
Cloud realized with amazement that he hadn't heard the General's voice since he had arrived. It was deep, powerful and commanding, yet calm and carefully measured. A shiver travelled up his spine and he wondered if this was the reason why the man rarely spoke: people would be too captivated by the sound to pay attention to the words.
His words could have been insulting yet Cloud, despite his suspicious disposition, didn't feel threatened.
"I was hired as a guard by the reactor's staff two years ago. I know the area and the monsters well."
Cloud ducked quickly to the right, barely avoiding from hitting his sword against a jutting rock. This weapon wasn't only broader and heavier than his previous ones, but also longer. He thought of the various tracks he often used in the mountain, re-evaluating his stance on those trails while taking into account the boulders and dead trees he would now have to avoid.
"You got your Buster recently, didn't you?"
With a scathing retort on the tip of his tongue, Cloud whirled around to face the SOLDIER. He noticed absently that the trooper was at the rear, a few meters behind them, apparently unwilling of getting closer to the SOLDIER and less so of the General. He seemed nervous, his body tense and his rifle ready for battle.
"By the way, I'm Zack!"
Surprised by the good-humored tone, Cloud looked back to the first class SOLDIER without voicing his scathing remark.
The man – Zack, then – laughed lightly, apparently amused by his guide's reaction and continued with his one-sided conversation.
"You aren't really talkative, are you? Don't worry, I'm used to it, Seph's like that most of the time. So, about your sword?"
To his surprise, Cloud found himself hesitantly answering the chatty SOLDIER's numerous questions and remarks.
;;;
They walked for over an hour without encountering a single monster. Cloud began to feel nervous; the mountain was way too quiet.
Zack seemed to realize it as well, for he stopped making small talk, his bright eyes intently searching every shadow and possible hiding place around him. Sephiroth put his hand on his weapon, ready for any eventuality.
To Cloud's mixed relief, the party reached the main junction without being attacked. From this point on, they had no more than a few meters to walk before the narrow path widened considerably. They would be able to fight without risking injuring their own allies.
"Eh, Cloud?"
Lost in thoughts, Cloud didn't realize immediately that the others weren't following him anymore. He turned around to find them waiting at the forking paths, looking alternately at the bridge and their guide. Zack seemed puzzled, but Sephiroth was more interested in the bridge.
"Why aren't we crossing the..."
"That bridge isn't safe."
The General's confident statement surprised a quirked eyebrow from Cloud. Could the man really see, from at least ten meters away, that the ropes were too worn-down to hold any additional weight? The question quickly crossed Cloud's mind, before he remembered Hojo's experiments. No matter what the madman had done, it was very likely that the General's eyesight had been tampered with. He could probably see better than anybody.
In any case, Cloud knew he should have explained himself before arriving to the bridge. There was no way two SOLDIERs, especially not the General, would just follow him without asking questions.
"No, it isn't. That's why we need to go the roundabout way, before joining back with the path not too far away. The trail goes up for a while before becoming a natural bridge that crosses the ravine. It'll take us at least another hour to reach the reactor."
Zack glanced at Cloud with a pleased grin before tapping the other soldier on the shoulder as encouragement, then lengthened his stride to catch up with Sephiroth.
"Let's go then! The faster we get to this place, the faster I'll be able to taste that delicious stew the nice restaurant owner wrapped up for us this morning."
Cloud felt a lump settle in his throat at the idea that the villagers freely offered gifts to complete strangers while still treating one of their own like a pariah. He quickly chased the thought from his mind.
"Stay alert. The next few meters down the path are a perfect setting for an ambush and some of the monsters are smart enough to use it."
"The monsters here are this intelligent?" asked Sephiroth with a frown.
Being considered by the General himself as the most informed person at the time almost made Cloud nervous. He cursed his wayward hormones and resolutely ignored the excited butterflies that fluttered in his stomach.
"Yes, and more often than not, they're also the toughest and biggest ones. There's one in particular that..."
One moment he was answering the question, the next Cloud had turned around, his Buster sword instinctively slicing through the air. Though used to his own sharp reflexes, Cloud was still surprised when the other two SOLDIERs fell in step with him as quickly, their swords drawn and their attention on the scattered boulders.
A swift glance behind showed him that the trooper was covering their backs, his gun aimed at the shadowed cracks in the rock face. At least he had enough experience to know not to point his gun at his allies.
An oppressive silence settled over them. The absence of bird calls, insect chirps and other animal noises was making Cloud uneasy. He knew of only one monster that could scare regular animals and monsters alike into hiding.
Unnerved, Cloud inhaled deeply to steady himself and moved back a few steps. He needed to explain the situation to the others without alerting the monster with his voice. The gleam of naked blades in his peripheral vision reminded him that his comrades were experienced fighters. Cloud mentally shook himself, adjusting his hold on the Buster's hilt. The rough leather was warm against his skin and it had already molded itself to his palm, giving him a comfortable and sure grip.
"It's a Valron. They're resistant to Earth attacks and often use Gravity spells. Don't let it create a Barrier, they're almost unbreakable, and be wary of the Nibel Wolves, they often attack while the fighters are distracted by other monsters. The Valrons are about level thirty-five and..."
"Are you kidding?! They should barely exceed twenty!"
Cloud ground his teeth and ignored the SOLDIER's exclamation, as Sephiroth himself aimed an enquiring glance toward him. The young man was about to resume his battle stance when a sudden thought stopped him. With the help of two SOLDIERs and a good strategy, what should normally be a one hour fight could very well become a ten minutes scuffle.
His mind made up, Cloud signaled to his allies with a grunt.
"If you distract the Valron, I'll be able to finish it easily."
The short silence almost worried Cloud, but the General's next question nearly made him smile.
"Shouldn't you let us take care of this monster, if it is that dangerous?"
"I'm familiar with these monsters. Usually, I use the Wolves as distraction so I can take the Valron down more easily. I could let you do it, but the Valron's skin is as tough as a tortoise carapace and I know where to hit to kill it in a few moves." Cloud glanced down at his new Buster and corrected himself, "though with this sword, I probably won't need to hit it more than once."
Cloud felt the SOLDIERs behind him pause a moment and then Zack brushed against his shoulder with an almost inaudible "be careful". They moved away as one, advancing to meet the monster.
Cloud hunched on himself to keep his body language as unaggressive as possible and watched the two men walk forward confidently. Clearly, they'd remembered Cloud's remark about the path widening out farther away and were trying to reach that part for an easier fight.
The young man doubted that the Valron would let them get there, even if a wide area would also be an advantage for the flying monster. It had probably noticed their long swords and understood that it would be harder for the humans to fight in close quarters.
Suddenly, the monster pounced on them, attacking the two biggest threats first.
Cloud watched the SOLDIERs fight appreciatively. Their moves were quick and easy and they were visibly used to fighting together. Despite their weapons, inappropriate for this narrow terrain, they managed to manipulate the monster so as to make it show its back to Cloud.
The young man froze just as he was about to launch his attack and turned to a barely visible crevice just in time to repel the assault of a Nibel Wolf. A gunshot made him glance back and he saw the regular soldier, back to back with him, keeping the Wolves at bay with his long range weapon.
Cloud hesitated, as it wouldn't stop them for long, but decided not to waste time worrying for the trooper. He charged at the Valron, almost as if in Haste. The sooner he finished this one, the sooner they would be able to dispatch the Wolves.
Just in time. Distracted by the Nibel Wolves' attack, the flying monster was about to break out of the trap the SOLDIERs had set for it.
His sword ready and firmly gripped, Cloud jumped over the Valron, making the best of the monster's blind spot. He needed to hit it while still in the air or he would be shrugged off right away. Cloud struck with all his might at the monster's neck, using his momentum to add to the strength of the blow, hitting it between two hard... feathers or scales or whatever. He had never managed to guess what was what.
The Valron crashed to the ground with a brutal jerk and Cloud rolled off quickly, out of reach of the claws. He landed next to Zack and jumped up and back in fighting stance in an instant, positioning himself right next to the General.
The Buster sword gave his blows more strength, but he lost a lot of accuracy in exchange. He was going to need to adjust his fighting style. Even if his strike had hugely weakened the monster, it still hadn't finished it in one hit.
On his other side, Zack moved a few steps forward and signaled toward the regular soldier.
"I'm moving back to help him!" He sprinted past the Valron, easily dodging a sweep of deadly sharp claws without breaking stride.
"Distract it."
The General's order surprised Cloud and he lost his focus for a second, looking back at the man.
Just as quickly, the young man fell back in place and, after another jump to escape a sweeping paw, he threw himself to the left, luring the Valron toward him.
Cloud barely saw Sephiroth move, more a shadow of black leather and silver hair, and suddenly the Valron let out an aborted screech. The well-known Masamune, despite its frail appearance, wasn't any less deadly than a Buster. It went through the monster's neck with surprising ease, neatly slicing the vocal cord at the same time as the carotid artery. The man had noted the exact place that Cloud had designated as a weak point and hit it without fault.
Sephiroth jumped back smoothly to avoid the spray of blood and the monster slowly collapsed at their feet.
Cloud, as mesmerized by the blood dripping from the General's sword as by the man's calm attitude and strength, belatedly remembered the Nibel Wolves.
He spun around, his sword still at the ready, only to be greeted by Zack's triumphant expression. The other trooper also seemed in one piece apart from being breathless. He was retrieving the supply bags they had dropped down at few paces away.
Zack came back next to the General and Cloud with a bounce in his step and threw an arm across Cloud's shoulders:
"Tough wildlife you have here!"
Not knowing how to react to the enthusiastic gesture, Cloud just ignored it and answered with a shrug.
"The Valron is the worst one. They usually make themselves scarce."
"It probably saw our party as a threat to its territory," Sephiroth calmly explained, "Most monsters are sensitive to Mako and SOLDIERs are full of it. We attract most of the strongest monsters anywhere we go."
Several other monsters attacked the group during their trip, but none as dangerous as a Valron. And with two SOLDIERs, taking care of those lowly beasts was a breeze.
;;;
Cloud stayed silent for most of the hike, keeping busy by studying the fights and the ways Sephiroth and Zack attacked and defended, both together and separately. Their moves were unpredictable, smooth and strong, yet they did not put all of their strength behind every hit.
By the time they reached the reactor, Cloud felt like he had learned more during those two hours at their side than during his last two years of training alone against Nibelheim's monsters.
;;;
At the reactor, Cloud parted with the SOLDIERs and led the regular grunt to a flat rock near the building.
He ignored the scientists and technicians that rushed out to meet the General and closed his eyes. The monsters rarely came closer than five meters from the reactor, repelled by the Mako's smell. He took advantage of the break to breathe deeply and rest his body while the SOLDIERs went to take care of the reactor's problem.
TBC
--> Next Chapter: 03- Intruder
Author:
anyssiaCharacter/Pairing: Cloud, Zack, Sephiroth, Vincent. Eventually, Cloud/Zack/Seph
Fandom/Spoilers: Final Fantasy VII, Meteor Crisis.
Genre: adventure, what-if, slash
Disclaimer: not mine or I would have killed Hojo a long time ago!!!
Status: ch2/?, 3886 words, 10/03/2009, beta'ed by
jameva. Summary: Nibelheim's reactor is due for a check-up and sixteen years old Cloud is hired to take the coming soldiers up the mountain.
Previous chapter
Chapter 2 – To The Reactor
Cloud was at the inn at nine o'clock sharp, unobtrusively taking a look at the ShinRa people's equipment. The trooper's weapon was, of course, the rifle, while Sephiroth wore Masamune at his side as if it were a part of his body. However, Cloud was stunned to discover that the SOLDIER actually used the same kind of blade as himself, although, unlike his own, it was a first-class Buster sword.
The heavy weight of the blond's new sword felt odd on his back. The shape and balance were definitively different from the blade he had broken the day before. But the hour spent this morning taking care of it in the mansion's underground hadn't been useless. A leather strip, stolen from one of the mansion's armors, was now wrapped around the handle to replace the threadbare piece of fabric that had been the original padding and the edge had been honed till it was razor-sharp.
The Buster's blade gleamed harshly despite the weak morning sun, announcing to all that he was ready to use it.
;;;
The villagers were still not very subtle as they spied on the departing party. The General and the SOLDIER didn't seem to mind, but the trooper was clearly ill at ease.
Cloud politely greeted them and motioned for them to follow. The others had most likely already been briefed, but he wasn't sure about the regular soldier.
"We'll have to go up the mountain on foot. There aren't any motorized vehicles here. The one you rode up here has already left and it's not due back before next week. And anyway, it isn't adapted for mountain trails."
Sephiroth was definitely a man of few words. Once again, his only answer was a silent nod. The SOLDIER at his side murmured something that sounded fond but a little wry, then looked up at Cloud with an open smile. Cheerfully crossing the few feet separating them, he gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
At least, Cloud hoped it was friendly. He wasn't exactly used to this kind of behavior.
"Eh, there aren't a lot people that can use a sword like that without just cutting open their own foot!"
Before Cloud could decide if the man really was being friendly and, above all, what kind of reply was expected, he heard someone running behind him. He spun around, a heartbeat away from drawing his sword despite being still in the village. Even here, he never dropped his guard. He might not need his weapon to defend himself, but physical attacks weren't the only threats he had to contend with.
Nibelheim's self-designated photographer stopped abruptly when all the soldiers turned around like one to regard him. Holding his camera before him like a shield, he moved forward slowly, hesitated, stopped again and swallowed with difficulty.
The boy seemed to gather his courage, and then turned toward the General.
"Hum, General Sephiroth, sir, could you please let me take your picture, as a souvenir?"
Cloud barely held back a snort. A sidelong glance showed him that Sephiroth didn't seem to be overly interested either. He was looking away, pointedly ignoring his admirer.
"Cloud, could you..." Already unsure, the boy fell silent when the blond turned a harsh scowl on him.
Inwardly seething, Cloud quickly walked up to the General. He couldn't believe the brat had dared to ask him a favor. Did he really think he'd do it, just like when they'd had fun pushing him around before they'd had to change tactics because he'd grown too old?
He was so intent on keeping his expression composed that he almost missed the SOLDIER's request.
"Come on, Seph! It won't take more than a minute, we've got time!"
Stunned by the SOLDIER's carefree ways, Cloud found himself silently staring at the man. He shook himself out of his stupor when Sephiroth went past him to go stand at attention near his subordinate, obviously not caring at all for the photography. He was looking at the mansion and Cloud suddenly wondered if he was remembering something of his childhood there.
"Oy, Cloud!"
Caught by surprise, Cloud almost lashed out at the hand that had settled on his shoulder. He was fortunate that the SOLDIER simply tightened his hold strongly enough to make him wince. He couldn’t even imagine what would have happened if he had actually raised a hand against a ShinRa representative.
The man didn't give him time to think. He dragged a bewildered Cloud along before happily pushing him between Sephiroth and himself.
"A photo, it's a great idea!"
"Really..." Cloud's less than enthusiastic answer didn't seem to deter the other man, who just added enthusiastically:
"Of course! Think of it as payment for this babysitting job!"
Cloud didn't have any reply to that. The cheerful face turned toward him, open and harmless, didn't deserve his bitter comments. Still, years of mistrust and verbal abuse were hard to ignore, and Cloud couldn't make himself relax. There had to be a catch. The SOLDIER probably wanted something from him, even if he couldn't determine what.
Shrugging resignedly, Cloud faced the camera and silently stared at the uneasy boy. The kid visibly hadn't expected this; he seemed to be searching for an excuse to take him out of the frame. But Cloud had the support of the SOLDIER and the boy couldn't exactly order him to get lost.
He was too used to keeping a blank face to be delighted at the brat's barely concealed anger, but Cloud couldn't wait to describe it to Vincent.
"Come on, Mister Photographer, we're ready!" exclaimed the SOLDIER, still smiling. He flung an arm across Cloud's shoulders and winked at him before facing the camera.
Ignoring the strange emotion he felt at being treated like a friend, Cloud barely refrained from rolling his eyes and got ready just in time to be blinded by a bright flash. Sephiroth immediately left the group and headed for the mountain path.
The other SOLDIER squeezed Cloud's shoulder again, though this time it was friendlier rather than forceful, and then went to ask the boy if he could drop off a few copies at the inn later. Oddly confused, Cloud watched him furtively before following the trooper and Sephiroth.
;;;
Cloud gave himself a shake after a few minutes and caught up with the General, who was already a few meters down the path out of the village.
"We'll need to be cautious. The monsters roaming the mountain became inexplicably dangerous these last years. And the path isn't safe more than half time."
"You seem very young to be that aware of the mountain's dangers."
Cloud realized with amazement that he hadn't heard the General's voice since he had arrived. It was deep, powerful and commanding, yet calm and carefully measured. A shiver travelled up his spine and he wondered if this was the reason why the man rarely spoke: people would be too captivated by the sound to pay attention to the words.
His words could have been insulting yet Cloud, despite his suspicious disposition, didn't feel threatened.
"I was hired as a guard by the reactor's staff two years ago. I know the area and the monsters well."
Cloud ducked quickly to the right, barely avoiding from hitting his sword against a jutting rock. This weapon wasn't only broader and heavier than his previous ones, but also longer. He thought of the various tracks he often used in the mountain, re-evaluating his stance on those trails while taking into account the boulders and dead trees he would now have to avoid.
"You got your Buster recently, didn't you?"
With a scathing retort on the tip of his tongue, Cloud whirled around to face the SOLDIER. He noticed absently that the trooper was at the rear, a few meters behind them, apparently unwilling of getting closer to the SOLDIER and less so of the General. He seemed nervous, his body tense and his rifle ready for battle.
"By the way, I'm Zack!"
Surprised by the good-humored tone, Cloud looked back to the first class SOLDIER without voicing his scathing remark.
The man – Zack, then – laughed lightly, apparently amused by his guide's reaction and continued with his one-sided conversation.
"You aren't really talkative, are you? Don't worry, I'm used to it, Seph's like that most of the time. So, about your sword?"
To his surprise, Cloud found himself hesitantly answering the chatty SOLDIER's numerous questions and remarks.
;;;
They walked for over an hour without encountering a single monster. Cloud began to feel nervous; the mountain was way too quiet.
Zack seemed to realize it as well, for he stopped making small talk, his bright eyes intently searching every shadow and possible hiding place around him. Sephiroth put his hand on his weapon, ready for any eventuality.
To Cloud's mixed relief, the party reached the main junction without being attacked. From this point on, they had no more than a few meters to walk before the narrow path widened considerably. They would be able to fight without risking injuring their own allies.
"Eh, Cloud?"
Lost in thoughts, Cloud didn't realize immediately that the others weren't following him anymore. He turned around to find them waiting at the forking paths, looking alternately at the bridge and their guide. Zack seemed puzzled, but Sephiroth was more interested in the bridge.
"Why aren't we crossing the..."
"That bridge isn't safe."
The General's confident statement surprised a quirked eyebrow from Cloud. Could the man really see, from at least ten meters away, that the ropes were too worn-down to hold any additional weight? The question quickly crossed Cloud's mind, before he remembered Hojo's experiments. No matter what the madman had done, it was very likely that the General's eyesight had been tampered with. He could probably see better than anybody.
In any case, Cloud knew he should have explained himself before arriving to the bridge. There was no way two SOLDIERs, especially not the General, would just follow him without asking questions.
"No, it isn't. That's why we need to go the roundabout way, before joining back with the path not too far away. The trail goes up for a while before becoming a natural bridge that crosses the ravine. It'll take us at least another hour to reach the reactor."
Zack glanced at Cloud with a pleased grin before tapping the other soldier on the shoulder as encouragement, then lengthened his stride to catch up with Sephiroth.
"Let's go then! The faster we get to this place, the faster I'll be able to taste that delicious stew the nice restaurant owner wrapped up for us this morning."
Cloud felt a lump settle in his throat at the idea that the villagers freely offered gifts to complete strangers while still treating one of their own like a pariah. He quickly chased the thought from his mind.
"Stay alert. The next few meters down the path are a perfect setting for an ambush and some of the monsters are smart enough to use it."
"The monsters here are this intelligent?" asked Sephiroth with a frown.
Being considered by the General himself as the most informed person at the time almost made Cloud nervous. He cursed his wayward hormones and resolutely ignored the excited butterflies that fluttered in his stomach.
"Yes, and more often than not, they're also the toughest and biggest ones. There's one in particular that..."
One moment he was answering the question, the next Cloud had turned around, his Buster sword instinctively slicing through the air. Though used to his own sharp reflexes, Cloud was still surprised when the other two SOLDIERs fell in step with him as quickly, their swords drawn and their attention on the scattered boulders.
A swift glance behind showed him that the trooper was covering their backs, his gun aimed at the shadowed cracks in the rock face. At least he had enough experience to know not to point his gun at his allies.
An oppressive silence settled over them. The absence of bird calls, insect chirps and other animal noises was making Cloud uneasy. He knew of only one monster that could scare regular animals and monsters alike into hiding.
Unnerved, Cloud inhaled deeply to steady himself and moved back a few steps. He needed to explain the situation to the others without alerting the monster with his voice. The gleam of naked blades in his peripheral vision reminded him that his comrades were experienced fighters. Cloud mentally shook himself, adjusting his hold on the Buster's hilt. The rough leather was warm against his skin and it had already molded itself to his palm, giving him a comfortable and sure grip.
"It's a Valron. They're resistant to Earth attacks and often use Gravity spells. Don't let it create a Barrier, they're almost unbreakable, and be wary of the Nibel Wolves, they often attack while the fighters are distracted by other monsters. The Valrons are about level thirty-five and..."
"Are you kidding?! They should barely exceed twenty!"
Cloud ground his teeth and ignored the SOLDIER's exclamation, as Sephiroth himself aimed an enquiring glance toward him. The young man was about to resume his battle stance when a sudden thought stopped him. With the help of two SOLDIERs and a good strategy, what should normally be a one hour fight could very well become a ten minutes scuffle.
His mind made up, Cloud signaled to his allies with a grunt.
"If you distract the Valron, I'll be able to finish it easily."
The short silence almost worried Cloud, but the General's next question nearly made him smile.
"Shouldn't you let us take care of this monster, if it is that dangerous?"
"I'm familiar with these monsters. Usually, I use the Wolves as distraction so I can take the Valron down more easily. I could let you do it, but the Valron's skin is as tough as a tortoise carapace and I know where to hit to kill it in a few moves." Cloud glanced down at his new Buster and corrected himself, "though with this sword, I probably won't need to hit it more than once."
Cloud felt the SOLDIERs behind him pause a moment and then Zack brushed against his shoulder with an almost inaudible "be careful". They moved away as one, advancing to meet the monster.
Cloud hunched on himself to keep his body language as unaggressive as possible and watched the two men walk forward confidently. Clearly, they'd remembered Cloud's remark about the path widening out farther away and were trying to reach that part for an easier fight.
The young man doubted that the Valron would let them get there, even if a wide area would also be an advantage for the flying monster. It had probably noticed their long swords and understood that it would be harder for the humans to fight in close quarters.
Suddenly, the monster pounced on them, attacking the two biggest threats first.
Cloud watched the SOLDIERs fight appreciatively. Their moves were quick and easy and they were visibly used to fighting together. Despite their weapons, inappropriate for this narrow terrain, they managed to manipulate the monster so as to make it show its back to Cloud.
The young man froze just as he was about to launch his attack and turned to a barely visible crevice just in time to repel the assault of a Nibel Wolf. A gunshot made him glance back and he saw the regular soldier, back to back with him, keeping the Wolves at bay with his long range weapon.
Cloud hesitated, as it wouldn't stop them for long, but decided not to waste time worrying for the trooper. He charged at the Valron, almost as if in Haste. The sooner he finished this one, the sooner they would be able to dispatch the Wolves.
Just in time. Distracted by the Nibel Wolves' attack, the flying monster was about to break out of the trap the SOLDIERs had set for it.
His sword ready and firmly gripped, Cloud jumped over the Valron, making the best of the monster's blind spot. He needed to hit it while still in the air or he would be shrugged off right away. Cloud struck with all his might at the monster's neck, using his momentum to add to the strength of the blow, hitting it between two hard... feathers or scales or whatever. He had never managed to guess what was what.
The Valron crashed to the ground with a brutal jerk and Cloud rolled off quickly, out of reach of the claws. He landed next to Zack and jumped up and back in fighting stance in an instant, positioning himself right next to the General.
The Buster sword gave his blows more strength, but he lost a lot of accuracy in exchange. He was going to need to adjust his fighting style. Even if his strike had hugely weakened the monster, it still hadn't finished it in one hit.
On his other side, Zack moved a few steps forward and signaled toward the regular soldier.
"I'm moving back to help him!" He sprinted past the Valron, easily dodging a sweep of deadly sharp claws without breaking stride.
"Distract it."
The General's order surprised Cloud and he lost his focus for a second, looking back at the man.
Just as quickly, the young man fell back in place and, after another jump to escape a sweeping paw, he threw himself to the left, luring the Valron toward him.
Cloud barely saw Sephiroth move, more a shadow of black leather and silver hair, and suddenly the Valron let out an aborted screech. The well-known Masamune, despite its frail appearance, wasn't any less deadly than a Buster. It went through the monster's neck with surprising ease, neatly slicing the vocal cord at the same time as the carotid artery. The man had noted the exact place that Cloud had designated as a weak point and hit it without fault.
Sephiroth jumped back smoothly to avoid the spray of blood and the monster slowly collapsed at their feet.
Cloud, as mesmerized by the blood dripping from the General's sword as by the man's calm attitude and strength, belatedly remembered the Nibel Wolves.
He spun around, his sword still at the ready, only to be greeted by Zack's triumphant expression. The other trooper also seemed in one piece apart from being breathless. He was retrieving the supply bags they had dropped down at few paces away.
Zack came back next to the General and Cloud with a bounce in his step and threw an arm across Cloud's shoulders:
"Tough wildlife you have here!"
Not knowing how to react to the enthusiastic gesture, Cloud just ignored it and answered with a shrug.
"The Valron is the worst one. They usually make themselves scarce."
"It probably saw our party as a threat to its territory," Sephiroth calmly explained, "Most monsters are sensitive to Mako and SOLDIERs are full of it. We attract most of the strongest monsters anywhere we go."
Several other monsters attacked the group during their trip, but none as dangerous as a Valron. And with two SOLDIERs, taking care of those lowly beasts was a breeze.
;;;
Cloud stayed silent for most of the hike, keeping busy by studying the fights and the ways Sephiroth and Zack attacked and defended, both together and separately. Their moves were unpredictable, smooth and strong, yet they did not put all of their strength behind every hit.
By the time they reached the reactor, Cloud felt like he had learned more during those two hours at their side than during his last two years of training alone against Nibelheim's monsters.
;;;
At the reactor, Cloud parted with the SOLDIERs and led the regular grunt to a flat rock near the building.
He ignored the scientists and technicians that rushed out to meet the General and closed his eyes. The monsters rarely came closer than five meters from the reactor, repelled by the Mako's smell. He took advantage of the break to breathe deeply and rest his body while the SOLDIERs went to take care of the reactor's problem.
TBC
--> Next Chapter: 03- Intruder
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12/2/10 04:46 (UTC)(no subject)
12/2/10 12:14 (UTC)That's too bad, 'coz the ch3 is pretty much finished and I'm already working on translating my ch4. But I don't have a computer anymore for a while, because I'm undergoing training in Paris, so it will take me some time to copy everything on a computer then work with my beta on those text, as I only manage to connect to the internet about once or twice a week ^^;;
But it will come, we just need to wait for my beta-reader to get some free time again ;p