Post edited 9:19 pm – February 6, 2014 by dystopia
Chapter 4: Midgar Rising
The sky darkened as they neared Midgar, billowing smoke from the ring of Mako reactors creating a perpetual haze that screened much of the sunlight even for those living above on the upper plates. The darkness mirrored the feelings Cloud had of this place, the hazy memories which occasionally surfaced and chilled him to the core. Cloud wondered if his friends had similar feelings, did they too have large gaps of time missing that only returned with floods of emotion? Or did they remember their torture, had they come to terms with it and decided to do something about it so it didn't happen again? He wished he had the nerve to ask them, but he feared what it my stir in his own mind and left it alone, perhaps for another day. ” I don't know what we'll find here, but I imagine I know the place to look for the answer. ” Cloud said, breaking the silence that had persisted for many minutes as they grew closer to the outer gates. The heavy duty city gates drew closer, it was clear that the gate was open even from this distance. Cloud had known it would be, Sephiroth was leading them like lambs to a slaughter, every step of their journey to this point had been calculated by that monster, perhaps even set in motion by him. Cloud wondered why he felt such a closeness to him, why he had visions in his nightmares of encounters that seemed so real but he had no lucid memories of. ” Looks like our path is clear, will we head straight for Shinra HQ? ” Cloud asked as they reached the gate. The gate opened into a long metal lined tunnel full of pipes and grates the infrastructure of the metropolis. He stood for a moment at the threshold, though his mind had long been made up, before stepping forward into the belly of the whale.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
9:39 pm February 6, 2014
Sanarian
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2
Dark skies loomed ominously overhead, as if warning travelers away from the city. Part of him wished he could just walk away, but memories of that night still haunted him, ate away at him; Raiden wouldn't turn away from the truth, even if it meant pissing off the most powerful people on the planet. “We're here to unleash a bit of hell,” he announced to the others, cracking his neck from side-to-side as he did so. “that's the only way we'll find what we're searching for.” Raiden stole one final glance into the distance, staring behind them quite the ways in order to get a glimpse of the clear blue skies.
“Fuck yeah,” Raiden said with a devilish grin, untying the sheathe of his weapon from his waist and lifting the blade to rest on his shoulder. There was no telling what they might encounter after entering the city, and he felt just a bit more comfortable when he was more aware of his own weapon. “but we're gonna need a way up, you know? Doubt they'll just let a couple of fugitives like us do as we please within the city.”
6:27 pm February 7, 2014
ShogoMaki
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posts 308
3
Midgar Rising
Strange and unknown feelings rushed through Tsuna as they arrived in Midgar. He didn't remember being in Midgar specifically, his memories pertaining to mainly Nibelheim, but something told him he had been here before. Random comments from the scientists filtered through his brain. “…his father owed a lot in Midgar…”“Poor kid”“Sins of the father and all” Tsuna paused as his brain tried to reel it all in, his body supported mainly by his cane.
The words of his allies brought Tsuna back to the present with only rage remaining, “People will use today to refer to hell.” Tsuna bared his teeth as he continued forward, but his reasoning slowly caught up to him. Tsuna had thought about this day for so long and not even his rage would tarnish it, “But maybe we should cause some distractions. Even if we are right about Sephiroth, wouldn't it be wiser to to do all we can. I, unfornately, know very little about ShinRa's public image, but surely with living conditions like this…” Tsuna waved his hand around, “…surely some must hate them like us.” Turning his gaza towards Raiden, Tsuna continued, ” The Turks must have had their eyes on some organizations against ShinRa. Any we can utilize?” Tsuna wanted this to be a day to remember forever. A day that a few rose against their oppressors. A day all could remember as a day of hope. A day that, at the very least, made ShinRa think twice.
— OOC Talk: Can I have a mythril armlet in lieu of a materia? And buy a restore if I can't combine that with the bonus since it would be less than most of those materia. —
The natural light faded away and was replaced by the fluorescent glow of the embedded maintenance lights of the tunnel. It crossed Cloud's mind that it was metaphoric of their leaving innocense and entering a world that would show them the truth of it's ways. He shuttered at this thought, feeling that he would be tested soon. His mind flashed, a vision of Midgar sometime in the past, a tunnel much like this one, he wondered if he had been here before. He tried to concentrate on the fragmented memory but soon it slipped away, as they always did, back to obscurity. ” I have a feeling that our path to Shinra HQ will not be contested, it's as if he wants us to follow him, like he has something to show us. ” Cloud spoke in response, feeling for some reason at one with Sephiroth, the man that haunted his dreams. ” If I'm correct the path will be obvious to us, let's just hope that our friends are safe at the end of it. ” Cloud finished, stopping and turning to face Raiden and Tsuna, the worry and pain for their common friends present in his eyes. Having removed his emotional armor, exposing the true depth of his worry, Cloud turn back and moved through the service tunnel. The steady click of his boots echoed in succession, morphing and melding with the corrisponding clatter from his friends. Ahead the tunnel seemed to open, the would soon enter Sector 5.
— OOC Talk: That's fine Griff, I'll be updating the profiles in a few now that I have all the info.
11:19 am February 10, 2014
Sanarian
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“You're right, most people ain't happy bein' stuck under the plates,” Raiden replied while casually gesturing to massive plate that loomed above them. “but you have to understand that it's not easy to get by down here. I could go into more detail, but let's just leave it at that.” Following that he folded his arms, as he thought over the possibilities for any organizations that might assist them in their raid upon Shinra HQ. A moment later he coldly voiced his thoughts on the matter. “Yes, but I refuse to work with them. Just trust me when I say the enemy of our enemy is not our friend. God damn lunatics care more about the planet than they do the people on it….”
Raiden could tell from his expression that their comrades' situation still weighed heavily upon Cloud, but he knew too well that nothing would console him save for the rescue of their friends. “I ain't got a better idea,” he announced with a faint sigh, throwing his hands half-heartedly into the air in frustration. “so I say we go with Cloud on this one… until we have an opportunity to turn the tables on this bastard.” Once the blonde set off down the corridor he followed after him, pondering what they could do that even a war hero like Sephiroth wouldn't expect.
10:37 pm February 10, 2014
ShogoMaki
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posts 308
6
Midgar Rising
Nodding, Tsuna accepted his allies assessment of things. Though Tsuna knew better than most people the horror of ShinRa, he knew very little about the outside world. Their way did seem pretty clear, and though it was relieving in some ways, that left less ShinRa agents to kill, a dissapointing thought.
The true nature of how ShinRa made its citizens live made Tsuna sick. The cramped corridors, the aweful smell, and worst of all was the darkened sky. The sky was a rare sight to Tsuna and he truly cherished it. To take it from their citizens, was a sin unforgivable. Clenching his cane as he used it to walk, Tsuna bared his teeth and continued forward, “Well. let's go give him what he wants.”
With his friends in agreement Cloud continued towards the exit of the maintenance tunnel which they had used to enter Midgar. Artificial light mixed with the hazy sunlight that found it's way through some cracks and spaces in the upper plate created an odd ambience as Cloud left the tunnel behind, walking into a alleyway in Sector 5. The paved streets were dirty, litered with trash and dirt, Cloud could feel the depression of this place. For a moment he wondered how anyone could create such a demoralizing place, willingly opressing thousands. ” I know I've been here before, but it seems much worse than my fragments of memory show. ” Cloud said to the others, feeling saddened by the state of Sector 5, and Midgar in general. ” The things Shinra has done other places is horrible, but to treat their own citizens this way. ” Cloud continued before abruptly stopping. A few minutes passed in silence, thoughts racing through his mind, what was it Sephiroth had brought them here for? Suddenly a thundering explosion rocked a distance sector the reverberations of the explosion trembling though the ground which Cloud stood. His expression dropped, had Sephiroth begun his plan? Not a minute passed before a second deafening blast shook the area, this one closer. A tower of smoke could be seen bellowing out above, slowed by the upper plate. A thrid and fouth explosion followed, and it was clear that four reactors had been denotated as both sector four and six had massive explosions back to back. ” Oh my god, this is going to cause chaos, we have to hurry! ” Cloud shouted as he ran from the alleyway, knowing that he would have to find a way to the upper plate and Shinra HQ faster now.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
11:46 am February 13, 2014
Sanarian
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posts 115
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Raiden followed closely behind the other two as they all made their way down the maintenance tunnel. A hazy mix of artificial light and sunlight gave the passage an eerie ambiance, as if warning them they were about to walk into the belly of the beast. Thankfully it wasn't long before they found their way out of the tunnel and into an alleyway in sector five. Just from a cursory glance around the alley and the area beyond he could tell that the slums were worse off than they had been during his last visit, though he hadn't expected anything else.
“It's just the way the city is,” Raiden was aware that his attitude towards the city and its people was rather harsh, but that was one of the consequences of working for the Turks. “nothing short of a miracle is gonna change it either.” As they continued along they did so in silence, which was broken by the roar of a thunderous explosion in the distance. Even the ground shook from the force of the blast, and Raiden quickly began to try and identify the source of the explosion.
“What the hell–” Raiden had begun to say, only to be cut off by a second explosion. Smoke could be seen in the distance, and as the realization struck him he could feel his stomach twist at the turn of events. A third and fourth blast followed shortly after, and Cloud was quick to act despite the dire situation that was unfolding all around them. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” he cried out, breaking into a sprint to chase after Cloud. If someone was blowing reactors all hell was about to break loose, but that didn't mean they should just lose their heads and do something stupid. “This ain't the time to act without thinkin', damn it!”
4:20 pm February 13, 2014
ShogoMaki
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posts 308
9
Midgar Rising
Tsuna snapped his head towards Cloud as he spoke. His face angry, but not at Cloud, but at memories, his always almost looking past Cloud, “I would give all I have to live this life…ShinRa's evil is nothing compared to this.” Tsuna looked around at the surroundings to take it in, “No matter how bad this is.”
The explosions snapped Tsuna out of his daze as his face moved in the direction of each explosion as they occured. Tsuna took off after Cloud, putting his cane in the loop on his back. All the countless experiments had taught Tsuna to focus his mind when danger was involved, or even take him away when there was no other option.
Cloud was in full sprint, he knew that if they didn't act quick their chances of making it to the upper plate would be put on hold as Shinra would surely lock down all official ways to move between the levels, in fact he already suspected it would be too late, but it was worth going for. As he ran Cloud passed the towering stone buildings that made up the square of sector 5. Cloud remembered reading that most of the buildings, solid though in disrepair, were built before the upper plate had been devised just over ten years ago, half of that time was completely lost to him, the rest still a haze. ” We're unlikely to make it to one of the pillars, but we have to at least try before looking for another way up! ” Shouted back as he began to dodge people filling the streets, most confused and looking for answers. Ahead a crowd of people was forming in the distance, Cloud slowed coming to a stop as he gazed on it. He could see they were gathered around a building and the shifting flicker of light from the televisions in the buildings window illuminated their faces. Motioning to the others Cloud started to walk again, noticing already several Shinra grunts had started to join the crowd, hopefully the distraction would allow them to move though without ditection. ” Act normal, lets see what the TVs are saying. ” Cloud spoke to the others as he started moving through crowd making his way to a point where he could see the screen. ” Reactors two, four, six, and eight have all been targeted in a conjoined terrorist strike… ” The news anchorman spoke, his facial expression that of worry, it was clearly a major attack on the reactors. ” The terrorist group AVALANCHE is suspected to be behind these bombings, though they have yet to issue a statement claiming the bombings as their own. There have also reportedly been two unconfirmed sightings of missing SOLDIER 1ST Class Sephiroth, hero of the Wutai war, though it is suspected that these sightings were possibly AVALANCHE operatives in disguise. ” The news anchor continued. Cloud had heard of AVALANCHE before, he though that perhaps his own allies know more about them as there had been some affiliation with the Turks between the two of them.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
8:09 am February 14, 2014
Sanarian
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Raiden chased after the others in a wild sprint, trying not to lose sight of them amidst the masses. Once they began to run through crowded streets he had been quick to sheathe his weapon to avoid attracting any unwanted attention, though he was sure that they were doing a fine job of that already; it wasn't as if they fit in very well with the crowd in the slums. As they worked their way through the crowd he bumped into someone, though he didn't see who, and began to stumble mid-sprint. Just as he was about to meet the ground he recovered his balance and somehow managed to continue chasing after his friends. “Fuck.” he cursed under his breath in frustration, still dodging and weaving around people in order to keep up with the other two.
Once he broke free of the masses he saw that Cloud wasn't running any more, but rather beckoning for them to make their way into a group of people crowding around what appeared to be a television. “Right,” Raiden muttered as he slowed his pace, now casually approaching the group before he began to worm his way forward through the masses. Next to his friends he listened to what was being said, though he wasn't sure if what was being said was wholly accurate–there was no telling whether Shinra was trying to keep anything under wraps, especially when the massive damage being done to the city was taken into account. “this is why we don't work 'em. Just as bad as what they stand against.”
4:55 pm February 15, 2014
ShogoMaki
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12
Midgar Rising
Tsuna moved his way through the crowd towards the television with Cloud and Raiden. The reports seemed toe reflect what he had through earlier. He wasn't sure what kind of effect this would cause to the city, but it was a perfect diversion. The way to the headquarters of ShinRa would be most likely be on guard, but they would have less manpower than normal. Hopefully, their current strength would be enough to get inside.
Wary of the crowd around him, Tsuna looked towards the group, “Seems the board is set. Let's go find the King.” Tsuna had a quick flashback of the few not miserable times during his life. The scientist would play chess with him to raise his mental tactical skills. Unfortunately, over the years Tsuna became too skilled at the game until none could beat him and they stopped allowing him to play as it no longer improved him.
Post edited 11:54 pm – February 15, 2014 by dystopia
Chapter 4: Midgar Rising
In Cloud's mind everything was coming together, the events of the last several weeks had led his friends and he to this point and there was no turning back. He was unable to foresee what Sephiroth had in mind for them, but clearly he didn't want to harm them. Turning to the others Cloud was wearing his emotions on his sleeve, it was clear how much everything was weighting him down emotionally, he was near his breaking point. ” Let's go for the pillar. ” Is all he could manage to say to them, the looming structure which held the plate up in this sector visible over his left shoulder, perhaps a few blocks away. Cloud turned and started to move through the crowd of people, it was clear that they were enraged and chants for and against AVALANCHE began to rise above the chatter, followed by screams and yelling which would surely soon lead to chaos in the streets, Shinra would surely try to crack down on this, citizens would be hurt. Eyeing the Shinra grunts as he passed Cloud kept calm, they seemed to busy dealing with the crowd, the last thing they needed was to draw their attention now. As Cloud started to move out of the pack of people something caught his eye, a face from the past in the crowd. His mind suddenly went into a frenzy, bits and pieces of images, events tearing apart and rejoining elsewhere. Images of a water tower, then the fire from Nibelheim the night he had been rescued, the same tower burning. A memory of a young woman walking away into the darkness. 'when was this' He thought, trying to grab hold of the memory. Suddenly it came together. ” Tifa. ” He spoke softly, a name he had forgotten but a face that he never could. Cloud stopped, gazing across the crowd at her, wondering if she had seen him.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
7:09 pm February 16, 2014
Sanarian
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14
“Yeah, let's move.” Raiden quickly replied as the tension in the crowd became evident. A large portion of the people in the crowd were already chanting, some in favor of AVALANCHE and its methods and others against it. If they didn't hurry they would be caught up in the mess as it descended into chaos; already he could hear people screaming, and he knew it wouldn't be long before the masses resorted to violence against one another.
As Raiden was making his way through the crowd, just a short distance behind Cloud, their current situation made it difficult not to think about the past. Yet somehow he managed to force himself to push those thoughts away, reminding himself that now wasn't the time to get caught up in his own emotional turmoil. Just as he was about to exit the crowd he noticed that Cloud had come to a stop, so he made his way over to the blonde and reached out to put a hand on his shoulder. “Cloud! I don't know what's going on, but we can't stay here…!”
4:54 pm February 17, 2014
ShogoMaki
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15
Midgar Rising
Tsuna follow Cloud's lead through the crowd that seemed to be on the verge of rioting. He looked at the people around him in disgust. A few explosions far away and they were coming animals. None of these people seemed capable of taking the abuse he did and be left with any shred of their humanity, Tsuna thought to himself until his thoughts turned to one of the two things that would do the same to him, revenge. Stopping dead in his tracks, Tsuna stared towards the ShinRa grunts and tapped the head of his cane with his hand. His baser impulses wanted to kill them here and now, but they had bigger fish to fry.
After analyzing and remember everything he could to indentify the grunts, Tsuna looked around and moved back to where Cloud was stopped, vowing he would find those grunts when all this was done. Raiden had his hand on Cloud's shoulder so Tsuna just waited, guessing he must have missed something in his anger.
Post edited 9:39 pm – February 17, 2014 by dystopia
Chapter 4: Midgar Rising
Cloud stood straight, statuesque, his eyes locked on the face in the crowd. His mind was afire, the memories flooding back, coming together in a way that he thought impossible. This woman, Tifa, she had brought this upon him and he knew why, he could feel something that he had lost years ago and even in this moment of terror he knew that he could not let it slip away that easy. ” I know her, I've known her all my life. ” Cloud said to Raiden, his eyes never moving away from Tifa, afraid of losing her in the crowd. ” She'll help us, I know she will. ” He continued as he started towards her, his heart racing, his mind more lucid now then he could ever remember it being before. Cloud didn't have to walk far, she had seen him too. Her face was of shock, it blended in with those around her. CLoud watched her stop, then she motioned for him to follow. She moved quick through the crowd of people, shifting and squeezing through the pack. Cloud followed, keeping up, ahead he could see a dark alleyway, that's where she was going, away from the mob. The alleyway was dark, the paved street cracked and lined with debris. In the shadows Cloud watched he move deeper into the darkness, he wondered where it was she was leading them to. Ahead he caught sight of Tifa again, she was standing stationary next to a large round storm grade, the iron bars bent open wide enough for people to move through them, she waited. ” Is that really you, Cloud? ” The woman spoke, her voice reminding him of piano music. Cloud was speechless, he knew the others would be livid by now, he would he explain all of this. ” Yes, Sephiroth is here. ” Is all Cloud managed to say, a distant memory of Tifa's motionless body bleeding out flashing in his mind before it trailed away. She seemed to already know somehow, her face not flinching at all when Cloud spoke. ” I know, he blew those reactors not u.. AVALANCHE. ” She said, stuttering for a moment. ” If he's really here, and you're here, and all of this is happening then you three need to come with me, I have to introduce you to someone, please. ” She finished before entering the tunnel.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
5:07 pm February 18, 2014
Sanarian
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posts 115
17
“Damn it, you idiot!” Raiden angrily cried out while trying to reach out and stop his friend once he began to gravitate toward whomever caught his attention. By then it was too late though, Cloud was already out of reach. If they were to stick together they didn't have much choice but to play along with his whimsical attitude for now, something that only served to frustrate Raiden. “C'mon, Tsuna. We can't just leave him.” At that he too began to weave his way through the crowd, all the while making sure not too lose sight of their enthralled leader.
From this turn of events he came to the conclusion that someone, or something, greater than them was manipulating them like puppets on a string. It wasn't very likely that Cloud would just happen to chance upon a character from his past, especially when he took their situation into consideration. 'Just who the hell is the puppeteer, though?' Raiden tried to think over their unfortunate situation as he made his way through the crowd, but he stifled that train of thought once he broke free from the crowd. For a just a moment he waited at the entrance to the alley, verifying that they had all made it before he set off down the dark passage in pursuit of the blonde.
Raiden kept one hand on the hilt of his weapon as he approached the pair, coming to a stop a few feet behind Cloud. Once they were finished speaking he clicked his teeth in frustration, his frustration at the choice to abandon their original agenda clear as day. They hadn't found their friends yet, and setting that aside in order to chase after an old friend made Raiden feel like Cloud had lost sight of that in favor something else entirely. This wasn't the time or the place to put a voice to his concerns though, so he just made his way into the storm grate. “Goddamnfuckin'dumbassblonde.” Raiden murmured in a jumble, giving it his all to keep his temper from besting him.
6:57 pm February 19, 2014
ShogoMaki
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posts 308
18
Midgar Rising
As Cloud walked through the crowd, Tsuna followed where he was looking and saw a girl wave towards him. Tsuna shook his head, though he had no direct experience with the other sex, his mind still knew the hold they could have over men. He only hoped Cloud was sending us to our doom for a female.
By weaving through the crowd, Tsuna followed the group into the alleyway. Sticking to the back of the group, Tsuna listened to the conversation with full attention, knowing Cloud was probably too mesmorized to actually listen. The thing that she said stuck in his mind, and with a subtle move Tsuna was right behind Raiden. He spoke in a low tone so hopefully no one else, but Raiden, could hear him, “Is there any reason she would know Sephiroth destroyed those plants and not AVALANCHE?” Tsuna had a bad feeling about this, but he knew very little about the city and maybe the plants were close by and she happened to see him do it.
The tunnel was dark and there was a dampness about it, only small amounts of light crept through the entrance and were quickly pushed back by the looming darkness. With each step Cloud could hear the light splash of water echo through darkness, he followed the sounds. Every few moments as they passed an opening small rays of light illuminated Tifa ahead of him, it all seemed like a dream. He wondered if it would morph into one of his nightmares. ” It's just ahead. ” Tifa's feminine voice cut through the darkness, reverberating though the tunnel, and uplifting Cloud spirits as it did so. A few meters ahead a distinctive clank followed by a long creek of metal rubbing metal pierced the tunnel and stopped Cloud cold in his tracks. A flood of light streamed in as Tifa opened a sealed door motioning for the others to follow her. Cloud passed though the doorway back into the streets of Lower Midgar. He was unsure about their exact location, but the unkept architecture of Sector 5 had been replaced with structures literally built of junk and scrap metal. The streets were dirt, devoid of life, filled with trash, it was a depressing sight. Tifa walked though the street ahead, there seemed to be little activity here like there had been in Sector 5, Cloud noticed that nobody else was out but them. Ahead Tifa entered a large building with a bright neon sign that read “7th Heaven” ” What is this place? ” Cloud spoke as he walked through the doors into the building, taking in the sights of a normal pub, wondering why she had brought them here and what it could have to do with Sephiroth and the Mako reactor explosions. ” This is AVALANCHE's base of operations. ” She said bluntly, showing complete trust in Cloud and his friends by allowing that knowledge to be put out into the open.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
4:31 pm February 20, 2014
Sanarian
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posts 115
20
Post edited 6:36 pm – February 21, 2014 by Sanarian
“I wouldn't think so,” Raiden whispered in response to the inquiry as they walked through the dark and damp tunnels. “but my gut tells me that something is off. Just can't seem to put my finger on it.” It was obvious by his tone of voice that he was still angry, even if it didn't show in his expression. They were crawling through little more than a sewer, just because Cloud wanted to make nice with a pretty face from his past. Granted she did seem to know more than a mere bystander should know… a fact that continually ate away at him with every step he took.
Once they were close she announced that wherever they were going was just ahead. As the door ahead of them was opened a flood of light came through, the glare painful to his eyes after their trek through the darkness. Raiden was happy too leave the murk of the tunnels behind, though he had to admit that he hadn't been expecting their destination to be in such a poor state–it seemed that this area of the slums was literally built out of anything they could scavenge from the others parts of the city.
Raiden wasn't thrilled to see that the situation in the slums was worse than he had thought; even the streets were devoid of life, but that may just have been due to the chaos the city was in following the incident with the reactors. As they approached a build with a neon sign that read 7th Heaven the uneasy feeling in his gut grew. Once they were all inside the bar Tifa bluntly exclaimed that this was the base of operations for AVALANCHE, and in that instant everything clicked into place.
“This is AVALANCHE…?” Raiden questioned through his stupor, the sudden declaration having left him rather stunned. They had willingly set foot in the base of a group of radical ecoterrorists, who would do anything to achieve their goals–even if it meant the loss of innocent lives. Raiden turned his eyes to Cloud for answers, but as his gaze fell upon his friend he couldn't think of anything but the fact that he had knowingly lead them into what might very well be a trap.
That thought was too much for him and his rage reached a breaking point. Without even thinking of the consequences he found himself stepping into a powerful swing, his right fist flying directly at Cloud. “You bastard, you knew didn't you?!” It didn't matter what happened afterward, for at the moment he had himself convinced that Cloud had been a member of AVALANCHE the entire time….