Cloud watched as the grunts dropped like flies, one after another. Tifa and Barret moved swiftly, as did his own allies and before he could ready another swipe of his mythril blade all eight had been dropped. Cloud stood motionless for a moment, his vision shifting to the looming structure in the distance. ” We don't have time to discuss this, we just have to move. ” Cloud spoke, fearing the tension between Barret and Raiden from before would return. Cloud wasted no time in waiting for a reply to his statement, a sense of tragic destiny cast over him as his threw all of his effort into reaching the Shinra HQ. His heavy boots banged against the pavement, the sound reverberating through the empty dark streets, dancing through the shadows. The low squeal of sirens persisted and slowly grew in volume as he neared the Shinra Headquarters. As the dark buildings fell away the structure ahead of him towered above, Cloud stopped gasping for air staring upwards, feeling the presence of fate.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
3:58 pm March 27, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
62
Out of his pocket came a piece of folded white cloth, which he used to clean the blood from his katana. Once it was wiped clean he retruend the weapon to its sheathe, pocketing the fabric once more.“Damn right.” Raiden agreed as he stared at the colossal structure that loomed over the city, as if to proclaim nothing could stand before the might of Shinra. As they began to make their way to the tower he trailed a few steps behind Cloud, staying silent as he pondered what awaited them at their destination. All throughout the city sirens continued to echo, the chaos still unresolved. Part of him wanted nothing more than to help bring it to an end, but he knew that there was little choice in the matter. This was the only chance they would have to strike at the beast, and to stop whatever Sephiroth was trying to set into motion. 'What the hell is his goal, lashing out at the corporation's heart like this? If it were so easy to remove their influence there's countless people who would've done it before.' he mused, until they finally came to a stop. “I'd like to say we should try to be subtle, but since he's already in there raising hell we might as well go get our invitations from the front desk.”
4:58 pm March 27, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
63
Midgar Rising
Tsuna slashed his blade beside him in the air, removing the blood, and put it back in its sheath on his back. His legs seemed to move on their own as he dashed after Cloud. They were close to coming in direct contact with Sephiroth and he must have something to do with his experiments. The scientists almost said his name in awe. Seemed even the people of the outside world felt the same. If he was able to cause such a disturbance to ShinRa on his own, they just might be right.
“As long as I don't have to be a captive again, any plans sounds good.” Tsuna smiled as he glanced over at Raiden. Humor had been a distraction from the misery of the experiments and fights. It was one of the few things that kept him going all those years.
Towering over them, Cloud thought the relative size of the building also reflected the difference between they and Sephiroth. The drone of sirens could be heard all around, lights from the floors flickered and all else seemed silent. Ahead the front doors were closed, stairs leading up to the entrance. ” I imagine going in the front door is as good of an idea as any. ” Cloud replied to Raiden, looking him in the eye for a moment before shifting his gaze to Tsuna. ” We're not going back into captivity, I'd die before going back to that. ” Cloud reassured his friend, meaning what he said as he hand only maybe an hour before started to uncover some of his lost memories and under no circumstances was he going to lose them again. ” You two don't have to follow us in here, I can't promise your safety. ” Cloud said as his gaze once again drifted now locked on Tifa, desperately hoping that she would choose to stay, not wanting her blood on his hands, again. ” No, everything we've ever done never got us this far, we may not follow you the entire way we're coming with you for now. ” Tifa interjected, speaking before Barret could spout some half assed macho reply. Cloud nodded, feeling that Tifa understood and if he asked would not follow him to the end. Sweeping his gaze back across his friends Cloud locked onto the doors and started forward. The doors opened with a casual push, a ocean of dim light pouring out into the darkness of the street. Inside the lobby of the Shinra Headquarters the dim flicker illuminated the bodies of Shinra employees scattered about the large room. The crimson red of their blood sent a shiver down Cloud's spine, he knew what to expect when he opened the doors but he was never prepared to see it with his own eyes. A towering double staircase loomed in the distance, leading up to the second floor loft and the elevator bay.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
10:51 am March 28, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
65
In his eyes there was an icy cold determination, as if he didn't quite want to continue onward but resolved to do so regardless. At the joke he offered a gentle smile, though thoughts of what awaited them through those doors quickly swept it away. 'I don't even have to wonder, do I?' Raiden dourly mused while the others spoke amongst themselves. Memories of the gruesome scene at the caverns came to mind, and he was sure they would find a similar sight in the lobby, perhaps throughout the whole tower. Raiden began to approach the tower just after his friend, and followed him through the doorway.
Once he was inside he was greeted by the sight of bodies littering the lobby, and the pungent smell of fresh blood. Various lights around the room flickered, giving the area an almost surreal quality. “I expected something like this,” Raiden began to say, his voice trembling all the while. “it's harder than I'd thought. I think I recognize some of these people, too.” It was clear as day that the scene was eating away at him, and he knew it too, so he didn't dare stop moving his feet. “We should keep moving,” he said while approaching the double staircase, doing his best not to let his emotions best him as he walked by the fallen.
8:50 pm March 30, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
66
Midgar Rising
ShinRa HQ was far more overwhelming now that Tsuna was up close. It did not stagger his movement, but made it more excitement. He only hoped Sephiroth had left some for him. A thought he knew his new allies would not also express so he did not either. As he walked into the lobby, his hopes were dashed. He looked down at the bodies with pity. It was not pity that they died, but that he didn't have the joy to kill them. Either way, the expression was the same.
“He's definately here. Nibelhiem. That cave. No one left, except us.” Tsuna mused out loud, looking at Cloud and Raiden at the end. Tsuna removed his cane from his back and began to use it as he walked. The elevator at the top of the stairs seemed to call to him. If history were to repeat itself, he would go exactly as he plans. If they worked, that would be a path, but where would it lead.
Cloud gazed across the lobby of Shinra Headquarters, the pooling crimson blood still puddling and growing, he thought some of the men were probably still alive. As Raiden moved past him, an expression of dread on his face Cloud realized that this place had meant something to Raiden in his past, just as Nibelheim had meant something to him. Following he reached the stair case, noticing a long smear of blood which ran up, as if someone had be dragged. Cloud followed it up, reaching the loft that was the second floor. The scene here was no less grizzly, several bodies scattered, more blood. Ahead the metallic steel of the elevator doors stood closed, it would provide their escape from this nightmare. ” There's no need to hang around here, I imagine we'll find him at the top. ” Cloud said, as it was the only thing that made sense to him, why else would Sephiroth come here. Cloud reached out, depressing the small green button to call the elevator, which with a woosh sent the doors opening. The inside of the elevator was mostly devoid of blood though a few drops were present on the floor, Sephiroth had come this way. Cloud waited for everyone to enter, gazing back out across the lobby one las time.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
4:54 pm March 31, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
68
Post edited 8:54 pm – March 31, 2014 by Sanarian
As they made way to the stairway he tuned out the gore to the best of his ability. Perhaps some of those people were still breathing, but they couldn't stop to help them. That was something which caused him no small amount of grief. Once upon a time this place was a home of sorts, and though his path had lead him away from here it still hurt. Pain that quickly gave way to anger, which threatened to overwhelm and consume him.
'Damn them all. Sephiroth. Soldier. Shinra. All of them!' Raiden showed his anger clearly in his expression, only growing as they walked toward the elevator. “If we find him… no when we find him, ask him what you want quickly Cloud. Otherwise you'll be asking his corpse.” he declared as he stepped into the elevator.
5:44 pm March 31, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
69
Midgar Rising
The barely living ShinRa employees called to Tsuna. His sword wanted to pierce them. They may have not been involved with what happened to him, but they helped them in their own way. If they employeed them, then they were needed, but that kill would hurt his pride. They were defenseless, probably die on their own. They weren't his kill. Tsuna threw them a fierce glare and continued on walking with his cane with every other step.
The elevator was the path to the true enemy. While his actions may have awokened him, he killed his prey. That could not be over looked. After entering the elevator, Tsuna looked towards Raiden, “I'll have to beat me there.” Tsuna smiled, competition always allowed him to show his true potiential.
His friends entered the elevator behind him, shortly followed by Tifa and Barret who up to this point were wide eyed and speechless, only Tifa remembering and realizing what all was happening. Cloud turned his eyes from the carnage left in Sephiroth's wake, a churning fear rising at his core, the knowledge that if it came to a fight the five of them, no matter how powerful they were, would end up the same as the others strewn about like rag dolls. ” No, A fight is not what we are after, because we cannot win that fight. ” Cloud said in response to his friends, the same feeling of disgust overwhelming him. ” We can take that creep, 1st class SOLDIER or not. ” The voice of Barret, who had been silent most of the way, suddenly spoke. ” I saw you in action. ” He finished, believing that they would stand chance. ” I won't fight him, not now. ” Cloud said bluntly as his hand hovered over the row of elevator buttons, moving upwards to the last button which he pressed with a click, causing the elevator doors to close. The surge of gravity pulled at their bodies as the elevator started upwards, the dial above the door counting floors, the number growing by two every second. For a moment Cloud wished that it would all just end, that he could go back to before, when it was calm. A jolt shook Cloud out of his daze, his eyes shot to the digital dial above the door, stuck on floor fifty eight. The doors did not open.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
12:26 am April 2, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
71
“You're not. I am.” he tersely replied as the others were shuffling into the elevator. While the rest conversed he leaned back against the far wall, arms folded as he contemplated the path laid out before him. They truly couldn't win a direct confrontation with Sephiroth; even other SOLDIERs didn't stand a chance before him. What hope did they have when faced with such overwhelming strength? 'None. It's a fight that can't be won.' he thought miserably, but still he couldn't calm the rage. 'It doesn't matter. I'll kill him no matter what happens to me.'
Once the elevator came to a halt he glanced up to the floor they were on. They had only made it to floor fifty-eight, yet the elevator had come to a complete stop? 'The doors aren't opening either.' Raiden noted before pushing through the group, forcing his way to the front of the elevator. If there were a more ominous sign for their current situation he didn't know of it. “I hate to state the obvious, but we're fifty-eight floors up and trapped in a steel coffin.“
4:48 pm April 2, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
72
Midgar Rising
Tsuna glanced over at Raiden as they rode the elevator and saw some resistance to Cloud's plan. Cloud was right though, they couldn't win through normal tactics, but there is always a way. No matter how strong the enemy, they all have a weakness. They must just find his an exploit it. Would they find it now? Tsuna doubted it, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try. He would just be on the look for that weakness.
The jolt caused by the elevator moved Tsuna very little with the help of his cane. Something had gone wrong. He didn't notice the floor they were going to, but the doors didn't open and most elevators stopped much smoothly. The feeling of being trapped surged through Tsuna. He wouldn't let it happen, “Not going back into captivity? A cage is a cage and the worse one is when you think your free.” Tsuna spit out the words as he moved with alarming agility, moving to the elevators doors and tried to pry them open with sheer strength. He didn't try to open them all the way, but just enough to see where they were between floors.
Tsuna blew by Cloud, prying the heavy metallic doors open with a speed that Cloud was surprised by, clearly he didn't like feeling trapped. Looking out it seemed they were stuck between floor 58 and 59, they would have to climb up if they were going to continue. Before Cloud could move to help Barret was already using his size and strength to take over for Tsuna pushing the doors open all the way and motioning for the others to climb out. ” Let's move, there's no telling why we're stopped. ” Cloud managed to speak the obvious as he helped Tifa climb out an followed hoisting himself up and out of the elevator. Cloud didn't take in the room immediately, instead hurrying to grab hold of one side of the doors while Tifa grabbed the other allowing Barret to release his hold on the doors and climb out himself. ” We have to figure out another way up. ” Cloud spoke as he started to eye the lobby they had arrived in. The lobby was small, ahead of him an empty desk behind which a door was closed. The Lobby was carpeted and there was a fine leather sofa and chair sitting around a table with a few potted plants towering over them. The lighting flickered occasionally but unlike the scene below there was no blood, no sign of movement.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
2:13 pm April 5, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
74
As the doors began to open he stood by, watching as the others forced them open. It was an impressive feat to open these things by brute force alone. Raiden calmly exited the compartment when he could, taking in their surroundings with a keen eye. Unlike the lobby this place was devoid of blood, yet there wasn't anybody in sight either. 'Here I was thinking it couldn't get creepier.' he thought as his right hand moved to rest on the pommel of his katana. “I wouldn't let your guard down, guys. I don't want to have another giant snake get the jump on us.”
5:54 pm April 6, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
75
Midgar Rising
The air from outside the elevator was refreshing. Not because it was any more fresh than the air inside the elevator, they'd hadn't been in there long enough, but because it was in a more open area. Once outside the elevator, Tsuna grabbed hold of the elevator that Tifa was holding and held it open, “Please do not take this as an insult such as woman can not do physical labor. This man and yourself have helped me escape capitivity twice now. If I did not assist, him and you, I would think less of myself.” Tsuna face was stern, almost grave. His hat, which was usually perfectly straight of his head, was slightly off balance and his cane, one always treated with respect, was thrown to the ground beside him.
Once all of the party was out of the elevator, Tsuna grabbed his cane and adjusted both his hat and suit. He looked around the lobby they were in. “It could have stopped because of lack of electricity. These lights are even flickering and it must take more to run the elevator. Does the floor number appear above the doors on other floors that the elevator isn't on? If not, the floor we're on could mean nothing in all of this. Either way Sephiroth or someone did something to the power to stop it. Most likely on purpose since this is an 'energy' company and there's still some in the building.” Tsuna's voice and demeanor was monotone since escaping the elevator. That brief moment was unexpected and without some kind of heads up, Tsuna's mind began to withdraw into anger until the situtation was resolved. The resulting freedom took the anger away, but the rest was slow to come back out. His mind simply sought out answers to his situation by what was around him, while his emotions dealt with the countless years of abuse.
There was an eerie calm to the small lobby, it's neatly decorated interior devoid of the chaos and bloodshed from the floors below, Cloud thought Sephiroth must not have come this way. Taking another moment to taking the details Cloud noticed a sign located to the right of the elevator, it was a directory of the floors. Stepping to his right he examined the sign, moving down the row of numbers until he reached floor fifty eight. ” Executive offices, I guess there wasn't anything of interest on this floor however it seems the elevator that would take us to the top starts on floor fifty nine right above us. ” Cloud said as he read the directory, seeing the SOLDIER floors listed roughly ten levels below them, and above floor sixty six there were no names at all. ” From what I remember being told one time, the President's office is at the top of the building but there are some top secret areas at the top of the tower too right? ” Cloud said, turning towards Raiden who he assumed would know the layout of Shinra Headquarters, at least by rumor. As Cloud spoke he had made his way across the small lobby, reaching the lone desk which was neatly arranged and sat to the right of the only doorway. He waited for the others before heading inside.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
8:57 pm April 7, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
77
Post edited 12:57 am – April 8, 2014 by Sanarian
“Maybe you're right,” Raiden said while idly moving about the small lobby. “but this is ShinraHeadquarters. I'd think the elevators would have special reserve generators for situations like this. Not to mention the reactors were stillat least functional on our way here; they had power on the pillar. You're naive if you think they wouldn't divert power here if they were having troubles.” Perhaps he was just overthinking it, but something about their situation felt very, very wrong.
“Yeah, the President's Office is on the top floor. I don't know about any secret rooms if that's what you're asking. If there's anything they would want to hide though it would be on floor sixty-seven. That's where you'll find Professor Hojo's laboratory. I never had clearance for that floor, so I can't say what's actually in there.”
7:38 pm April 9, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
78
Midgar Rising
Numb Tsuna heard the word Hojo and his mind grew seemed to burn, but only on the outside his fist clenched, “Hojo!” he stared off in the distance then his head snapped towards Raiden, “I am not saying its accidental. Someone who knew how to turn the power off on just elevators did so. Might not have been Sephiroth. He doesn't seem like the precise type.” Even barely aware, Tsuna didn't like being called naive. He may be ignorant to most of the outside world, but naive he was not.
“Either way we'll find out at the top. Let's not give them anymore time.” Tsuna walked towards Cloud, wondering why he would sit when time was of the essence.
Cloud grasped the cool steel door handle, the round knob twisted in his palm and a low click of the door opening could be heard. Pushing inward Cloud entered the room slowly, his eyes scanning the long hallway which as far as he could tell seemed roughly eight feet wide and was decorated with potted plants, various small end tables filled with Shinra knick knacks, and pictures of Shinra employees. The Hallway was intersected in the distance by a perpendicular hall, Cloud guessed thirty feet ahead. Along each wall evenly spaced there were wooden doors with plaques sporting the names of Shinra executives. ” Seems quiet, I don't think anyone is around. ” Cloud said, As he stepped farther into the hallway giving the others room to enter behind him. ” Maybe they evacuated these floors after the reactor explosions? ” Tifa chimed in as she entered behind Cloud, unsure about her hypothesis but it was the first thing that had entered her mind. Cloud nodded as he looked back at the others before starting down the hallway towards the intersection. As he grew closer he noticed an easy to read sign pointing to the stairs, they would head to the right. A sudden feeling came over Cloud as he reached the intersection, danger, something he couldn't place. Cloud held his position turning his head around to peer down each section of hallway looking, seeking movement in the flickering light. ” We're not alone. ” Cloud said bluntly.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
6:18 pm April 13, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
80
Something was very wrong. No matter how he would try it was impossible to shake that feeling. “I'd doubt it.” he chimed in to the conversation, voice tense as he kept a keen eye out for trouble. As they walked down the hallway the flickering lights, combined with a lack of anything living gave the atmosphere of a bad horror movie. Once they reached the intersection Cloud held his position, checking each section as if searching for something. “Could've told you that,” he replied coldly. As he spoke he deliberately drew his katana from its sheathe very slowly, the sound from which could easily be heard. “stay on your guard.”
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