Final Fantasy Zero

[Raikomaru]

Rejen was startled as Cloud decided to finish Roger off. "I do believe that such an act was unneccesary..." he said to Cloud. "It just gets you more pieces of body to bury..." He then unleaned from the wreck he was leaned against. "So...where to next, spiky-haired one?"

 

[The Jeffinator]

“Personally I would have tortured him to find out more of his ranks and any other infiltration going on.” Delethas said calmly as he lifted up the head that had rolled its way over to him. “After all, who knows what little tactical secrets could've been in his skull that would help Avalanche in the long-run?”

“I need not explain myself,” stated Cloud, “Put I suppose I’ll enlighten you: This man saw your faces, and if I had attempted to torture him, he would have escaped -- when I scanned him with my Sense spell, I discovered he had a special materia giving him the ability to teleport. I had to act quickly so he did not return to Shinra with the pictures of your faces in his photographic memory. Otherwise, he could sketch an exact duplicate and find you in the computer census network. Shinra has a link to every census server in Spira, and could have found where you came from. Any friends, family, or close associates would have been murdered. He would have killed your fellow Mages, as well as your mentor, Delethas. And you Rejen, he would have killed your samurai master as well as your Ronso brethren.”

“I do believe that such an act was unneccesary…” Rejen said to Cloud. “It just gets you more pieces of body to bury…”

“Like I said, otherwise, he would have teleported away,” replied Cloud, “and I don’t intend to bury anything -- his body is staying right there as a message to Shinra -- We mean business.”

Tossing the head into the pile of junk from whence he came, Delethas cast a bow of his head towards Cloud. “But please excuse my... lack of manner. Even though you know my name allow me to introduce myself to the other. I am Delethas Silvarus of the Black Mage Society.”

“So I assume that since you've shown yourself that this is it?”

“Yes, this is all. There were a few others, but they seemed to have lost interest in Avalanche,” replied Cloud.

Rejen then unleaned from the wreck he was leaned against. “So...where to next, spiky-haired one?”

Cloud glared at Rejen, “Quite the jokester, eh? Anyway, we’ll get into the city via a deserted subway system. It will lead us right to the sewers under Sector 7. We could walk through one of the gates, but I try to avoid that method. It helps to stay out of sight.”

After a moment, Cloud started walking back towards the Outer Wall of Midgar. “Come.”

OOC: I was going to describe how Midgar looks in this game as they entered it, but it seems some people have taken it upon themselves to describe Midgar. It looks much different than in the game. It’s still a giant circle, but there is a major Outer Wall, and between the Outer Wall and the Inner Wall lies the Slums of each Sector. Beyond the Inner Wall lies Wall Market and the upper class neighborhoods. There lies one other wall, and everything within this is considered Capitol Circle, with Shinra Tower in the exact center. There are eight reactors to power Midgar: Five along the Inner Wall, each placed so that if you imagine a star in the Inner Wall circle, making it a pentagram, each star point would have a reactor on it. Three other reactors are placed around the Capitol Circle Wall, one at the north end, one at the southwest and one at the southeast, each the exact same distance as the next.

ALSO: It is not AVALANCHE or ShinRa in this game, it’s Avalanche and Shinra, lol. SOLDIER is still SOLDIER because Soldier looks dumb. SOLDIER is as to put emphasis on the world soldier, but there is no need to capitalize Avalanche, it serves its purpose as is -- The team is like an avalanche, crashing down the mountain side -- AKA Shinra -- and burying them alive.

NOTE: There are others who have decided they want to play, so we will just pretend they were with Delethas and Rejen, but remained quiet at first. Until their characters are completed, I will not move the story forward. This should only take a day or so though. At that point, if they are not ready, the game will proceed without them.

 

[The Jeffinator]

OOC: Okay, only one of the players crated a char -- Marik Prenda. This game is now resumed.

Marik has been with them all along, since before Cloud showed himself.

 

[Hojox]

Cloud glared at Rejen, “Quite the jokester, eh? Anyway, we’ll get into the city via a deserted subway system. It will lead us right to the sewers under Sector 7. We could walk through one of the gates, but I try to avoid that method. It helps to stay out of sight.”

After a moment, Cloud started walking back towards the Outer Wall of Midgar. “Come.”

Marik followed quietly, making sure not to draw too much attention to himself as he casually yet somewhat quietly crept in Cloud's shadow, he then decided to speak, finally, addressing Cloud "Pardon me for not, er, socialising as much as the others. I suppose this requires a formal introduction" He flicked his hair from his face "I'm Marik Prenda, a thief and all around bandit, at your service, my specialities mostly lie in stealth, if thats of any use to you, sir, should I call you sir?" He smirked, extending his hand.

 

[Raikomaru]

Rejen remained silent as he followed along. He didnt have anything interresting to say at all...

 

[The Jeffinator]

Cloud stopped and looked at the man, “I know who you are, and I know your abilities. And no, do not call me sir.” Then, after a moment, he shook Marik’s hand, “I am a senior operative and your superior, and I expect you to follow orders when they are given, but we do not use formalities. We are small enough so that there is no need to refer to one’s rank instead of their name. Everyone knows who’s in charge of who, and we’ll leave it at that.”

After a few moments, they came to the edge of the Train Graveyard, a few yards away from the Outer Wall of Midgar. Cloud pointed to a small structure resembling a phone booth to his right. “This way.”

They walked up to the booth, and Cloud opened the door that was barely on its hinges. Inside was a computer control panel. After typing in a command code, Cloud walked out and pointed at a train track. It began to shake slightly, then a huge square section began to descend. Cloud motioned everyone to follow him to the edge of the big square hole, which revealed an underground series of tracks. “This is how the trains get here. They drive them onto this platform, then lift them up. The downside is you can only fit three cars per trip.”

It was a bit of a jump, but Cloud leapt down to the tracks below, then turned and looked back up, “If you can’t make this jump without hurting yourselves, you have no business being in Avalanche. We do this kind of stuff all the time.”

 

[Hojox]

Marik, being closest to Cloud before he jumped decided to jump down first, sliding down the side and jumping from one side to a train wreck below, then hopping onto the ground next to Cloud, Marik then crossed his arms and looked up.

 

[Raikomaru]

Rejen seemed mildly amused at Cloud's little shortcut, and followed, crouching down and maneuvering into position, then jumping next to the others who were already inside. He then got back to his feet, having crouched upon landing, and looked up also...

 

[Lotharian]

"I'm a wizard not a dragoon...." Delethas muttered as the others jumped down to the underground tracks below. It wasn't an overly deep fall, but he didn't want to take the risk of hitting one of those tracks below. Even the best jumper would be badly maimed by that.

When he was convinced he had a safe jump lined up, he tossed down his staff and followed afterwards. He grunted as he hit the ground and felt a distinct tingle go up his legs from the impact. He shook his legs slightly and grabbed his staff and looked at the other three present.

"Well, where shall we go now?" Delethas asked as attempted to whipe off some grim that had found it's way onto his clothes.

 

[The Jeffinator]

Cloud turned and looked at Delethas, “I know you’re a wizard, but you need to work on strengthening your arms and legs. You may mostly use your magic in battle, but how will that help you when we’re crawling through vents or sewers, climbing pillars and poles, or jumping roof tops? I’m sure you were aware that we would be doing maneuvers of this nature? As stated in the message you received with the rendezvous location information, we are a counter-terrorism special operations taskforce, and Shinra happens to be the terrorist group we refer to. We are the resistance, the underground movement. I was an elite warrior in SOLDIER for five years before I discovered Shinra’s dark side, and although everything about them disgusts me, it was their extreme physical training that made me the warrior I am today. I don’t expect you to hang up your robes and pick up a sword, but I do demand that you be physically capable of keeping up and not falling behind us.”

Cloud stepped off the platform, and motioned the others to follow him to a computer control panel similar to the one above. After typing in a command code, the platform rose up, blocking out the sunlight. The only light was given by lamps that hung from the ceiling. After their eyes adjusted, they could see they were in a huge tunnel. To their south was a dead end, but to the north was a track, leading down the long tunnel.

“This will lead us to an abandoned subway. From there, we’ll go to a bathroom that was victim to an explosion many years ago. We will climb down the pipes from the hole in the floor, into the sewers, and go from there.”

The team walked down the long tunnel, and after about twenty minutes, they came to a large subway station. It was obviously abandoned, and was filthy and rusty. The walls were covered in graffiti.

“This way,” said Cloud, leading them into a women’s restroom. Sure enough, the place has been blasted -- most of the wall and floor tiles were cracked or gone completely, the sinks and toilets were cracked or totally shattered, and near the far wall was a huge hole in the floor. Walking up to it showed the large pipes running down into the darkness below.

“Down here,” he stated, then after creating a bright ball of lightning in his hand via his Bolt3 spell and attaching it to the hilt of his sword sticking up behind him, he jumped into the hole, grabbing hold of the pipes, and slid down them. His feet hung loosely below him as he fell, but his hands were grabbing the metal poles, sliding across their smooth surface. When he saw the top of an enormous sewer tunnel below coming into view, he slammed his feet against the pipes, slowing his descent, then back-flipped onto the giant tunnel-top. With the light of his orb of lightning, the others could see Cloud standing far, far below.

“Come on!” he yelled back up.

 

[Raikomaru]

Rejen followed along...but using a diffrent manner. He just jumped down the hoe, and when he neared the place where Cloud was, plucked his glaive off his back and SLAMMED it into the wall, creating a ledge to hang on to. He climbed up and onto the sewer entrance. He then recollected his glaive, and positioned himself near the entrance...he was sure that Delethas would prefer a safer landing then this...

 

[The Jeffinator]

OOC: Just letting you all know to note the added section to the rules Passing Of Time.

 

[Hojox]

Marik, quickly scanned his surroundings before hastily jumping feet first down the hole, unsheating both swords, scraping them hard against all sides inreach to slow his decent, shortly before hitting the floor he quickly sheathed his swords and grabbed the lowest pipe to slow his fall to an almost complete stop, then dropped softly onto the floor.

 

[Lotharian]

Delethas looked about the pipe curriously. This would be difficult to do without putting himself at some risk. After all, his robes could easly get caught on a number the the cuts and abbrassians the the pipes made by his 'team mates' if not his flesh as well. He was good with destructive magics but he had never done well by the White Magics.

Delethas took his staff and checked out the dimensions as the theif was slidding down. It was too wide to fit in that sense. Delethas stroked his beard for a moment before an idea struck him. He took the sleeve of his robe and wrapped it around one of the pipes Cloud had grabbed for his slide down. Delethas nodded to himself as he grabbed it firmly with that hand. He took a breath, hoping the material would hold.

Delethas' decent quickly gained in speed. By far faster than he had hoped. He was tempted to reach out with his other hand to try and slow his decent but that would only manage to tear his hand apart in the rubble. He hadn't a sword like the others to try to cut into the rubble to slow down, nor the strength to grab a pipe without tearing his arm from the socket.

"Fethriatna levisu...." Delthas muttered as he threw a feather from a hidden satchel in his robes. He prayed the others did not hear him as to avoid explaining a whole lot of things. Delethas' decent was quickly slowed, and he began to float upon the air to the ground. He had even taken the time to straighten his robes by the time he touched the ground safe and sound.

 

[The Jeffinator]

“It is to our advantage that you are gifted with magic, but you need to be able to do these things physically as well. I know your kind -- you have to memorize the magical chants in your head, but once you use them they vanish from your memory and you have to study them again. So, what happens if we’re in a jam and you don’t have your spellbook? What if it is stolen? How would you defend yourself once all your spells had been used?” Cloud shook his head. “Don’t answer these questions now -- we have to keep moving.”

Lifting up a grate on top of the tunnel and sliding it to the side, Cloud jumped down into the sewer. “Come on.”

After everyone jumped down and replaced the grate, the team walked through the long sewer tunnel, Cloud’s Bolt spell still attached to the hilt of his sword sticking up behind his back. There was about an inch of water on the floor, so that their feet splashed as they walked. After about an hour of walking with a five minute rest halfway, they came to a stop.

“Up there,” said Cloud, pointing to a ladder that led up to a manhole. “This will lead us to an old junk yard that is not in use anymore except by bums and hobos.” He led them up the ladder, and out into the afternoon air, rich with the odor of dirt and trash. They replaced the manhole cover, Cloud dispelled his Bolt sphere, and they looked around -- it was the perfect spot, because there were huge mounds of trash on all sides of the small dirt yard they stood on, so that the only way anyone would see them is by walking behind one of the mounds.

“This way,” he said, leading them around a few of the mounds, and out into a more open area which was littered with wrecked cars and piles of twisted metal and rubble. A bit to their south they could see the massive Outer Wall, rising nearly a hundred feet into the air. To their left and right, they could see what used to be buildings and shops, most with shattered windows and covered in graffiti. Across the street was a cemetery, and sitting upon a large tombstone was a man with a red cape and long black hair. Cloud led them over to this man.

“Vincent… Got three instead of four,” Cloud said to him. “One was a spy, took care of it though. Where’s Barret? He was supposed to meet us here too.”

 

[Raikomaru]

Rejen had trouble hiding his disgust over what he saw. First the garbange, then the wreckage...it's as if the people of Midgar didn't care much for the environment around them...

 

[dragonrazor]

Vincent nodded, then looked up from his book. He had been waiting for a while for Cloud and the others, and wondered if he should tell them that Barret was headed back already with a present for Marlene. He shrugged, then looked the group over, before turning to Cloud and speaking in his usual emotionless tone.

"You're late, Cloud. Barret found something he wanted to give to Marlene. He told me to tell you to 'Hurry Up Spikey'. Also, I've heard a rumor about pirates attacking Shinra airships. We might want to check into those at some point. Oh, and before I forget, Tifa said she had something special planned for when you get back."

With that, Vincent started to turn to leave, not bothering to wait for introductions, as he pulled out his phone and quickly dialed Barret's number.

 

[The Jeffinator]

Vincent nodded, then looked up from his book. He had been waiting for a while for Cloud and the others, and wondered if he should tell them that Barret was headed back already with a present for Marlene. He shrugged, then looked the group over, before turning to Cloud and speaking in his usual emotionless tone.

“You're late, Cloud. Barret found something he wanted to give to Marlene. He told me to tell you to ‘hurry up Spikey.’ Also, I've heard a rumor about pirates attacking Shinra airships. We might want to check into those at some point.”

Cloud glared at Vincent when he said ‘Spikey,’ but remained silent. Until he spoke about the pirates. “Pirates, eh? We should employ their help and attack Shinra Tower head-on.” Cloud thought for a moment, “On second thought, that’s a bad idea. The world still thinks we’re terrorists, so if we attack the capitol, it won’t help our image very much. We’d have all of Spira coming down on us.”

“Oh, and before I forget, Tifa said she had something special planned for when you get back.”

What?” he said with a weird look. “Why did she tell you that? What did she say?” He shook his head and sighed, “Never mind, don’t tell me. I’ll find out when we get back.”

With that, Vincent shrugged and started to turn to leave, not bothering to wait for introductions, as he pulled out his phone and quickly dialed Barret's number.

“Thanks Daddy!” said Marlene with a smile as she hugged Barret. He had just handed her a present. Then, hearing his cell phone ring, he pulled it out. All of their phones were wirelessly linked to their computer server, so that they could not be tapped. The LCD display read VINCENT VALENTINE.

“Did Cloud finally show up?” Barret asked as he answered.

 

[dragonrazor]

Vincent nodded, still speaking quietly and without emotion. He detailed how long he had been waiting, adding that he had managed to get halfway through his book.

"Cloud was impressive, and this new batch of recruits look promising. Also, while I was waiting, I got caught up on my reading, only to find a note in my book, written in the handwriting of an old friend from before I joined the Turks. He wished me luck. I don't know how they got ahold of my book, but when I find out, I'll be sure to tell you. Anyways, sorry to ramble, we're on our way back now."

 

[Hojox]

Marik glanced at the man in the red cape and gave a small wave. "Pirates?" he asked "Are we going to be fighting pirates? If so this sounds interesting" He said adjusting his belt slightly before sitting down. "What are we doing now?"

 

[The Jeffinator]

OOC: Joe, what's up with that? We discussed the hidden cameras and the concept of Avalanche being watched by someone else, but I thought we had a clear understanding that we would disregard that? Why did you go above my head and post that anyway? If Vincent could see the video from the cameras in the cemetery where he sat, then there is a possibility someone else could be seeing it as well. I TOLD you hidden cameras watching Cloud and the new recruits would be a risk Barret would not take. And I TOLD you that we would wait to have someone watching them -- or rather have them know about it -- till later on. Why the hell did you take it upon yourself to disregard me completely? Please, make the necessary edits to your post.

 

[Raikomaru]

Rejen found himself slightly amused at the sound of the word 'pirates'. "Pirates, eh..." he mumbled. "Can't wait...let's hope the ones here don't suck as much as the ones near my home..."

 

[Lotharian]

The stench of the sewers nearly overwhelmed the greater sense of Delethas. The sewer was terrible especially because of the overly horrible maintance. Piles of human waste colleasing in certain areas and damming it, and in others in had collected along their pass. Delethas gritted his teeth as they made their way through it. The only thing more foul than this path was Cloud's scorning of his magic.

Who was this boy to judge him? He had abilities that just weren't... natural for a human. He was able to move his way through the score of pipes with much ease. As if he had more strength than he appeared to have. He appeared scrawny, and yet held apparently massive strength.

Or maybe it was just practiced ease? He had likely made his way through these tunnels many times in his past. And he did say he was once a member of the elite SOLDIER group of Shinra, so who knows what tricks or enhancements they gave him? He had Shinra did have impressive technology that allowed them to make machines like men, so who knows what they gave to their best troops?

Delethas' thoughts were cut short when they left the filth of the sewer for the fresh air above. Well, fresh but not by much as they had seemed to enter a junkyard. The capitol of the mighty Shinra so far just offered one wretched stench after another!

His attention was then caught by the man whom Cloud identified as Vincent. Delethas' keen eyes were easily able to pick out the obvious unnatural things that adorned him. And he was apparently a Turk in the past? Interesting. Very interesting. An ex-SOLDIER and an ex-Turk. The two elite groups of Shinra. No wonder they though they could challenge Shinra with the intelligence they likely had on them. Well, considering how long it had been since they had been affiliated with Shinra....

And to top it all off there is something going on involving pirates of some sort?

Obviously working with Avalanche would be... interesting.

"Pirates would be a useful source of distraction in the case of any major operations you lead." Delethas pointed out simply. "Besides, if nothing more they could be a good source of fresh intel. What supplies Shinra are shipping in that could give us a hint to any plots they have."

"Or, if there is a major operation going on that required the recruiting of four new operatives, they could prove a convenient distraction. So we don't have the entire town guard bearing down on our heads."

 

[The Jeffinator]

OOC: I'm just letting everyone know that I am leaving Literotica. I just found out that Adult Friend Finder bought this forum a while back, and they scan everybody's registry regulary. Credit card numbers are in danger here, so I say fuck this site and I'm outta here. You can email me at dbzchibitrunks_2002@hotmail.com to ask about a new home for this game. Bye!