Final Fantasy VII-2: Searching for the truth

[Caije]

They walked past many crumbled buildings, which made Caije cringe. He picked up some rocks and threw them. In rage. He was angry. Rockslide was here already, so was Carl. If they had gotten to the group first caije would of killed himself. He kicked the dirt below him in rage causing Ora to question his motives.
"What are you doing?" He yelled in rage as he went over to Caije.

"I Can't see anything, no footprints, no tracks from cars, nothing......" Caije replied. His face on the floor, saddened and angry at himself. "ROCKSLIDE are here.....,"

Suddenly both friends heard a loud Gunshot.They peered in the direction from where it came. Had they found Marlene. Both now worried they ran towards the the sound. Caije had his gun out just incase. His legs sprinting now. They slowed down as they came nearer. Two men stood over a wall, one young the other much older. They took off before Caije and ora could pursue them for answers.
"Think there with Rockslide?" Caije asked.

"Probably,.....but why did they shoot at nothing...." Ora asked in confussion as he ran over to where a bullet lay. He picked it up and Examined it closely. It was a gold shelled bullet.
"He fired this to scare us......" Caije said peering over Ora's shoulder.

Truck motors where heard. Caije pulled ora away from the scene and into a torn down house. They hid behind the wall and peered out trough holes in the rubble. Caije nervous now. A rockslide Jeep flew past.
Caije and Ora both got up.
"Caije, lets follow it......" Ora said hurridly. "If they have Marlene then we can get her out of it...."
"No wait!," Caije yelled stopping Ora. "They dont have her.....yet..." He said slowly.

[Omega OwA]

"What? they don't have her yet?" Ora asked. "No...They haven't found her yet. Lets keep going. Ora nodded. "Well lets follow the tracks, maybe their a start." Caije and Ora went on through the waste land and only hoped that they would make it in time.

After what seemed like hours with the intense heat, Caije and Ora began to despair. "...We..We've gone so far but still nothing. Where could they be?" Ora threw the golden bullet he ahd kept in his hand into the air. ...What if they already reached the others? What will happen then? No...thinking of the worst won't bring any good... Ora pondered for a while.

"h-Huh?" Ora checked out the horizon and could see figures. "Caije, look!!!!" he shouted out in exitement. "Marlene...Ki...Clyde, Naomi!!! Your all here....." He felt tears in his eyes as he ran up to them, now with great strength in his heart.

But as he got up to them, the four simply phazed through Ora. "What?" Ora fell to the ground and looked back. Only dust flew in the air. "Aaargh. A mirage. Blast it.......AAAARRHR!!!!!!!!! He yelled in frustration. HIs tears of joy now turned to sorrow. but got up at once.

"This will do nothing. Come on Caije. Lets keep looking." As he continued, he noticed Caije did not answer. "Don't worry Caije. We'll see them aga- Caije?" Ora examined around him but saw no one. "Caije? CAIJE!? Darnit! I've lost him......" ORa continued on, now in deep worry, only the thought of seeing his friends again kept him going.

[Caije]

Caije folowed ora but he tripped up and fell. When he got back up ora was out of sight. Caije dusted off the sand which was on him. Then he peered over his shoulder. No one was there. Caije took in a deep breath.
"ORA! MARLENE! CLYDE! KI! NAOMI!......where are you" Caije asked himself. He fell to his knees. "I'll never find them.....now Ora's gone aswell, this heats killing me....."

"Is it now....." A voice came. Three guns pointed at him from behind.
Caije turned around , seeing the ROCKSLIDE elites guns pointing at him he was saddened. "If the heat kills you then we wont have to put the effort in will we...." The man smiled. "Get Carl......" The man smiled/ One of the soldiers went away to fetch Carl soon Carl was standing in front of him.

"Wheres Marlene....?" Carl asked.

"I dunno, you tell me...." Caije replied Smugly.

"He's useless, he wont help, Kill him...." Carl said Turning his back on Caije.

Gunshots where heard from the Distance.

[The Meaning Of Soul]

OOC: This happens at the same time as Caije's post at the top of the page.

Atop the small cliff edge there was complete silence except for the noise of the whistling wind, the two mercanries lay deadly still, both awaiting their victims like a pair of wolves stalking its prey.

The silence seemed a long and particuarly horrible form of torture for the two, both refusing to move, but at the same time they were anxious for the action to unfold. Evander reached for a cigerrate but he suddenly stopped, he slowly put them back into his pocket and instead chose to draw his gun “Tare you hear that?” He too was alert, the sound of rock and debris underfoot could be heard, it was a sound which was distinctive to the team considering they too had been making their way through the wreckage only a short while ago. Tare leant up slightly he was attempting to see if there was anyone around but it had become difficult to see, the wind was becoming increasingly fierce and it has begun to blow the sand from the desert through the air, Tare shielder his eyes “ I can hardly see a thing, do you think that the noise was intruders?” Evander frowned “Its hard to tell, its probably just some lost travellers but then again its not often that people would wonder into this area unknowningly. In any case we need to make sure that nothing gets in the way.”

The footsteps were becoming harder to hear, they were loud for a few moments before the wind drowned out any sound in the area. Both men knew that the footsteps were drawing nearer by the second but neither said a word, they instead waited in anticipation.

A few minutes passed and it looked as though the strong winds were subsiding, the sand began to slowly fall to the ground as the strong forces in the air began to fade. The seemingly inpenetrable sandscreen around had quickly vanished, the skies suddenly became clear and with it Tare pointed in excitement “There below us, I can see two people, they’re headed this way.” Evander who had for a few moments been staring intensely at the rundown house was alerted by Tare, he slowly stood as the grains of sand ran down his armour, he quietly laughed as he took aim with his gun “Looks like this party got a whole lot more interesting, I doubt they came on a house call though they’re packing weapons.” Tare examined the two, he could see the glimmer of the weapons which they were carrying, but realised that they maybe Rockslide “You think they’re Rockslide?” Evander who still had him aim transfixed on the two strangers nodded hesitantly “They aren’t ours, no one in Rockslide carries gear like that. I think we need to give our friends a little welcoming gift.” It was with these words that Evander fired a shot towards the two, he aimed directly in front of them as not to hit them and the bullet fell to the ground directlyat their feet. The two strangers looked startled almost as if they feared the worse, they turned around but could see nothing, they eventually looked towards were the mercearies were standing, Evander acknowledges them by signalling with a sarcastic wave before dissaperaing from site along with Tare.

“This isn’t our fight, the two know we are here but it looks as though they were more concerned to what was happening at that house, it matters little anyway, Rockslide will make no exceptions if they attempt to get in their way. If they plan on interfering they’ll be outnumbered.” Tare looks back before walking away “ I take it we’re aren’t informing Rockslide of those two down there.” Tare smiles “Looks like we’re making a game of this then huh?” Evander nods “I don’t care what happens to them, Rockslide hired us to capture Marlene Wallace nothing more, they have plans beyond this but why should that concern me? They’re paying me, but I’m doing things as I see them, in the end we’ll get what we come for” Tare looked back once more, he could sense the impending conflict, he felt drawn to it. “You wanna fight that much?, I can’t stop you and you look like you can handle yourself, so by all means kid by my guest.” Evander hid away once more overlooking the soon to be battlefield, he left Tare to make his choice.

[Dark Rider]

After Evander went to hide, Tare began to follow, until he thought of what he was doing. "I want one thing but I do not persue it. Marelene! I have no resentment towards her, Nor do I care! This is the End!" His thoughts stiffened his resolve and he stopped. "I cannot hide and sneak by while I serve a much different intention. I accepted the job in hopes of finding my past, but I was too naive. As young as am I have the strength! I will end this! You may do as you wish, but I must give chase, only know this, I will kill every rockslide soldier or anyone else who stands in my way, I will End this here and now! I will run to the ends of this earth, to find Marlene, then I will decide what to do, then I will take control. No more can I stand the lack of knowing who or what I am, this may be a fool's idea, but I must see it through. Come if you want, but I must go!" He said firmly and left his partner to ponder his words, as he launched himself high off the cliff, and landed before the two strangers sword drawn, as long and wide as his body, Tare glared furiously at them, I will not suffer you to follow me, either persue me now, or stand down, I will take Marlene one way or the other, no one will control me!" He then turned and ran off in the direction they were facing racing the wind as he followed a trail that was detected by his senses.

[Omega OwA]

Ora went on until he could no more. He fell to the dusty sand on the ground. He struggled trying to get up but failed. Darn! I've failed. Marlene, Caije, Ki, Naomi, Clyde....I'm sorry..... As his eyes slowly lowered, he heard a distant BANG. Gunshots!? Did ROCKSLIDE reach Marlene and the others? Or did they find Caije? No....I've....go to get up.....NOW!!!!! Ora forced himslef up, body sore and dried blood on his right leg and arm.

He headed in the direction of the gunshot, hopefully some good news awaited him, though he knew it would be nothing of that sort. Knowing this, he still was determined and ready for anything. When he was nearly at the area of the gunshots...

[The Meaning Of Soul]

“Come if you want, but I must go.” Tare screamed these words as he turned his back on Evander. It had seemed inevtable that the young warrior would do this, he followed his emotions first and foremost, it was this sort of naiviety that Evander had sensed from the very beginning, he saw no reason to try and persuade Tare otherwise, he had made his choice clear. He looked on as Tare leapt off the cliff onto the ground below, the outcome had already been decided of the battle that would surely follow but the timing of it all didn’t quite seem right.

“Kid you’ve got a lot of spirit, you just don’t realise who it is that you’re putting yourself up against. We are all have our adversaries, but the greatest battle is fought from within, you are controlled by your emotions, they dictate your every move, if you fail to distance yourself from this personal battle then you will forever remain your own fatal enemy. “

Evander began to walk in the direction of Tare, he had already accessed the possible scenarios, the most likely of these being that he would have to remove Tare from the frame if he was to succeed in aprehending Marlene Wallace. The thought of killing his ally didn’t worry Evander, after all he has done whatever it took to complete his objectives in the past, this time wouldn’t be any different. Evander knew that physically and mentally Tare couldn’t match up to him, Tare’s skills as a warrior were impressive, but they were useless against a uncaring individual such as himself.

As he neared the cliff’s edge Evander could hear the voice of Tare once more “...I will take Marlene one way or the other, no one will control me!" The declaration amused Evander, even if Tare managed to overcome the two strangers he still had to contend with a squad of Rockslide Elite soldiers who would no doubt oppose his newfound purpose.

Evander drew his gun once more, his weapon of choice no longer resembled what many would consider a standard machine gun, it bore numerous markings carved into the handle the only recognisable feature was that of the imprinted Shinra logo, a relic of a time that had long since passed. The markings that the gun displayed likely represented past victories but one thing was for certain, what kind of human being would give a weapon of destruction such personality? Evander took one final moment to reflect “ Tare you have failed to see that in order to be truly powerful, your mind and body need to work as a single entity, you still have much to learn but your time is running short. The error of your ways may some come to light, but I promise you, I will hold back no longer.” He stepped back slightly, his time to strike was drawing closer but he still had to see whether the actions of others would have a bearing of who would escape from the battle alive. The seeds of despair had already been sown all around them, now the waiting was drawing to an end...nothing lasts forever.

[Caije]

"Leave him," The Hard cold voice of Carl came from somewhere.
"Yes sir" Said one of his Cadets. "Will this lure anyone else here?"
"I hope so..." He smiled. "Be on alert, this guy is only bait, If you see Marlene, do not shoot! If you see anyone else kill them on sight...."

He heard the distinct footsteps walk away. Getting further away from him. He couldnt feel anything, he only knew he was in immense trouble, he had been shot. A bullet had perched into his shoulder, two more had gone straight into his chest and the other hit his left leg.
"....Mar...lene......" Silence was heard for a few moments, only the sounds of gasping for air could be heard. "FORGIVE ME!" His yells where heard across the desert.

[Aerif]

"Gunfire?"
"Again?"
"We can't be the only ones in this prison, oh do lets hurry..."

The trio left the cabin and went out into the desert, Marlene remembered that Naomi was not with them. "Naomi?!" she shouted desperatley hoping that those people with the guns had not found her friend.

She saw a still body, lieing in the middle of the desert. On closer inspection she saw that it was Naomi, Marlene shook her friend, grabbing her shoulders and shaking vigourisly.

"Wha..? Marlene! I had another dream, some weirdo group where trying to kill you all!"

"I really do hope it was just a dream. Didn't you hear the gunfire?"

"There was gunfire in my dream, but it was sort of distant. Maybe that's what made me have that horrible nightmare?"

BANG! Another gunshot went off in the distance. "We've got to hurry!" Marlene said in panic. But hurry to where was the question?

"Do you want to see what I used for a pillow, Marlene?" Naomi asked without warning, "It wasn't a very comfy pillow but it was a good one..." She showed Marlene a glove, a fighting glove with the initials T. Lockheart on it...

"AVALANCHE where here!?!" Marlene said confused, "Well if they where here then they must've came for the same reason as we did!" She gave Ki the glove and noticed footsteps in the sand leading off from the Glove.

"LOOK FOOTPRINTS!" Marlene cried out excitedly. "I bet these will take us where we want to go!"

"Marlene, there are no footprints there..." Clyde said confusidly but Marlene ignored him and singnalled for the group to follow them...

[Iudicium]

Clyde, Naomi and Ki followed Marlene. Marlene insisted that there were footprints but none of the others could see them.

"Marlene where are these footprints?" Clyde saked.

"Just follow me." Marlene said. "And hurry up. We might get some awnsers."

The group picked up their pace and continued to follow Marlene. They continued to walk until they saw a mysterious figure on the floor.

"What's that?" Naomi asked. "Is that a person."

"Let's get a closer look." Clyde whispered as he crept towards the body.

[Omega OwA]

"As Ora hid, he heard the group of people talking to eachother. Ora then took a small peek over. These people are ROCKSLIDE!!!! What'll I do? Did they get Caije? Ora thinking all the answers stood behind him wanted to jump back, but he would get killed. Ora shifted back and forth twitchily a bit anxious.

"Hey, you hear something?" asked one of the ROCKSLIDE members. AaaGa! Darnit!!!! "Well well, look what I found." they kicked back the peice of rubble Ora was hiding behind and pushed him back. Ora jumped back and drew out his sword. They all grinned and circled around him. Ora examined around him until he lwoered his sword, but he did not lower his guard.

"What do you want?" Ora asked. "Where's Marlene?" asked the ROCKSLIDE member. They all pointed their guns closer. So they haven't found Marlene yet. Thats good news! But wait, does that mean they got Caije!? "Well I'll tell you if you tell me something." AThe group paused for a moment, then nodded to eachother. "Did you get Caije?" "Hehe.....Maybe we did!" They all then started laughing. AArgh.....!!!!!! Ora raised his sword and struck down on ROCKSLIDE member out of anger.

No...I couldn't stop myself!!! The remaining members came raised their guns. "Looks like he's a threat. This guys' got more energy left in him, so we can kill him." The shooting started. Ora blocked a few bullets but there were too many and Ora was struck several times. He dropped his sword and fell to the ground. One of them then shot him one last time and they grouped back together.

"Ungh........" "Okay, lets go. Carl should be around here by now." As they all walked off, Ora struggled with all his strength and got up. He forced his limbs to work and limped over. "Huh?.........!!!!!!" Ora picked up his sword and did one final blow with his sword and dropped along with the ROCKSLIDE member. "Hey, what the-!!!" As they turned around, Ora quickly picked up the fallen member's gun and pointed at them, his hands trembling.

"....L-lLleave nNnnNOw!!!!! Or I'lL sHoOt......" "Heh whatever. This guy'll die soon anyways, lets go." they finally went off and Ora dropped the gun. His face pummeled to the ground and he could not lift it up. His left arm was broken from the force he had put on it to kill the ROCKSLIDE member as well as his right leg and other parts of his body where the bullets had hit were severe. He lay there helpessly as he attempted to get up.

No....this....won't be how......I die.......I won't.....I can't........the bleeding is going fast......... Ora forced himself back up, feeling like dying. "Aaugh......." Ora limped forward, refusing to lose his life until he fell unconcious. I refuse to die........I'll......live to see tommorow......... Were the last thought s in his head.

[Dark Rider]

Running past even the rockslide soldiers he zoomed towrds the house where Marlene had been in. He was not sure of what he was doing as he slowed to a halt and sneak inside peering in. He heard voices and footsteps, and he began to follow silently and swiftly. "What have you done? You made your employers your enemy, and you have abandoned your partner, there will be no peace this night, we all will awake tomorrow bloody and sad, the loss tonight will make all others seem small. Marlene, what is it about you, why are you so elusive, yet coveted by all. I can't figure whether to protect her and get my answers, or use her to control this war. Either way, I'm not safe until she is secured."

[The Meaning Of Soul]

Evander watched as a number of Rockslide soldiers left the stranger for dead, he attempted to drag himself along but the pain became too much and despite his will to carry on his body could not cope as he collapsed with the pain. The attackers that this had been certified and that he was already as good as dead but Evander knew that you never leave anything to chance. He also knew that Rockslide soldiers are often careless and lack the proper discipline you would associate with a group of soldiers, but why should they care? As long as they complete their mission what it matter if they left people behind? But this was to be expected, after all Rockslide were for the most part a terrorist organisation, they had been drawing most of their numbers from degenerates, thiefs, and small time gangs who up until now had no purpose. Due to Rockslide being a relatively new organisation they had yet to establish an effective means of carrying out orders to large numbers, which was why instead of there being an organised assault as planned it had instead turned into fragmented groups of solidiers who were now wondering around the barren land looking for their target.

The sight of such discession seemed inevetable, but it was with this that doubt had begun to creep into Evander’s mind. He began to contemplate what was really going on, “Maybe this was a smokescreen, a simple exercise carried out in order to cause confusion around the towns, after all it would seem obvious to even the most niave of people that Marlene and her companions had so far been able to travel across the lands without being captured with ease. A group the size of Rockslide could of easily blockaded roads, railways and other means of travelling in order to stop them moving around as quickly as they have done. It seems as though they’ve been granted a free passage and maybe that been the plan all along in order to capture Marlene once she had reached a certain point.” By this point Evander was pacing about, theories were running around in his head, his paranoia was growing but this could be turn out to be nothing but it refused to die. Evander was becoming angry at the fact that his mind was full of doubts, but had this plan really been doomed to failure from the start or was his overlooking the fact that this was afterall a bunch of terrorists who were niavely trying to create a false image for their own gains?

“Orders had been given out to aprehend the target, but if Rockslide wanted information to be kept secret wouldn’t of been more logical to simply kill Marlene? They hire me yet none of their soldiers know why it is I am here; They know of my presence yet I remain in the shadows, everything involved in this is shrouded in lies, I feel the truth of why I am here is not yet known...even to me. The true