“I think so,” he replied while forcing himself to his feet. In spite of the pain Raiden persevered and rose to his feet, though it appeared as if he could collapse at any given moment. “I think I'll live, despite your best efforts Tsuna. Try a hotter oven next time.” Raiden joked as he gratefully took the potion from his friend and quickly downed the contents in a single swallow. Its effects were immediate as his burnt flesh began to mend, and the pain slowly began to fade. Once his wounds were gone he moved some feet to retrieve his weapon before following the group toward their fallen enemy.
It was burnt to a crisp, so much so that it was impossible to make out any of the features that it had once possessed. “I can't tell what the hell this thing is, but it definitely wasn't human.” Raiden took a chance and stated the obvious, pausing for a moment before putting his own thoughts forward. “If I had to guess I'd say it was one of Professor Hojo's experiments, not that it matters.” After that he wandered away from the group, heading down the way they had come. Raiden was intent upon finding the weapon that it had used as a projectile earlier, feeling that it might come in handy for the battles to come.
2:14 pm May 11, 2014
ShogoMaki
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posts 308
102
Midgar Rising
After making sure his ally was okay, Tsuna made his way towards their former enemy, “I'll keep that in mind.” Tsuna glanced over at Raiden with a sly smile. Tsuna turned his attention back to the monster, “Most likely was human at some point. Hojo's favorite specimen are most likely human. The intelligence make them easier to control with greater capabilities when changed.” Tsuna felt the die in his pocket, “The human and the feline seem to be of the same design, yet the human was far more capable.” CM-3 played with the idea of absorbing the human creature. He wondered what would happen if he changed into something similar, but after what happened with the feline the risk seemed too high, “The way is clear for now, we should get out quickly incase the fumes from his bodies cause some effect.”
TAs his allies conversed Cloud was content to lean again the corridor wall, the throbbing in his injured shoulder fading as his mind tumbled though it's own dense fog. The hairs on Cloud's neck were standing on end as he imagined wandering though the fog of his mind, his arms waving ahead reaching into the unknown, seeking the meaning in the chaos of his memories. His outward appearance startled Tifa, who's eyes had been locked on the injured Cloud since the smoke from Tsuna's blast had faded. She watched his blank face, the difference in his eyes, like he had checked out. ” Cloud, what is it? ” Tifa spoke up, stepping around the burnt corpse to get closer to him. Cloud jerked, a reflex to being pulled away from his thoughts, his eyes coming back to life, raising to meet Tifa's, locking on. He was silent for several moments, unsure about how to answer the question, fearful to expose the truth about his memories to Tifa, and to his friends. ” I honestly don't know, that's the problem. ” Cloud started to speak, stopping, trying to phrase it less cryptically. ” I feel like I should know, like I've seen this before.. but I can't place it, I never can. ” Cloud continued to speak, wondering if he had exposed enough to fulfill Tifa's desire to know without spilling it all. ” We don't have time for this now, we need to head up to the next level and catch the second elevator up, he's waiting. ” Cloud said as he pulled himself from the corridor wall, the throb of pain returning. Heading towards the stairs he reached into his back and pulled out a potion, popping the top and drinking it down as he walked.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
2:14 pm May 16, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
104
Post edited 6:15 pm – May 16, 2014 by Sanarian
“If you don't know, that's fine.” Raiden announced upon returning to the group, having caught most of what Cloud was saying as he made his way back. “we'll just squeeze the answers out of Shinra, and Sephiroth, when we find them.” It was best to leave it at that; thoughts of Sephiroth only served to return his anger anew, and it was best not to dwell on such things when they weren't sure what might lurk around the next corner. As Cloud began to head toward the stairway he followed suit, examining the weapon he had retrieved curiously. At the very least it gave him something to wonder as they walked: could he wield it even half as well as that strange beast had?
(OOC: Sorry about the delay, John.)
11:55 pm May 16, 2014
ShogoMaki
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posts 308
105
Midgar Rising
Tsuna followed behind the rest, adjusting his hat and putting his sword back into its cane sheath. “Since we don't know, only one way to find out. Let's see what's up ahead.” Even as Tsuna fininished his sentence, his head looked back at the smouldering enemy. It may not even be capatible in its condition, but he still wanted to try. Tsuna could feel his die radiating, as if calling out to the corpse. Even though it seemed to be trouble, Tsuna couldn't help but feel the urge to try. Only the fact that it may hurt his allies and stop his goal of destroying ShinRa kept him from doing it. His head turned back towards where he was walking and moved the thought to the back of his head.
A wave of serenity crashed over Cloud as the potion took effect, the heavy throb in his shoulder being washed away. Feeling refreshed Cloud started up the stairs, picking up the pace as he ascended. The heavy thud of his Shinra issued boots echoed up and down trough the elevated stairwell, the rhythmic nature of the climb setting the pace. Cloud's mind was a swirl as he hit each landing, turned and quickly moved up the next set of stairs, passing doors and floor numbers as he climbed. Slowing as he reached the final landing Cloud waited for the others, out of breath. ” Seems the stairs end here, hopefully we can catch an elevator to the top. ” Cloud said as he stood before a door that read Floor 66, still attempting to catch his breath. When all the others had arrived Cloud reached out grasping the cool metallic door handle and thrust the door open. The stairwell door opened to a long empty corridor which they appeared to be in the middle of. Looking first to his right and then to his left Cloud determined that the elevator bay should be to the left. Motioning for the others to follow Cloud started down the corridor, passing one doorway on his left as he walked. At the end of the corridor he reached a small lobby with the elevators in view and two open doors opposite them which opened into a grand red carpeted conferance room. Walking towards the elevator Cloud found operating them to be impossible without a key card. Shrugging his shoulders as if to imply they should have a look around, Cloud started towards the conference room.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
5:26 am May 18, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
107
'This is floor sixty-six, the executive offices.' he thought as they passed through the doorway, leaving the stairway. It was possible that they might find a few hints as to the current situation on this floor, perhaps even a few living members of the upper echelons that could give them the answers they searched so desperately for. Raiden moved behind the rest of the group as they traveled through the halls of this floor, maintaining a keen eye for any dangers with one hand resting comfortably on the hilt of his weapon while the other held fast onto the monster's curved blade. Before long they found their way to the elevators, where it was made obvious that they wouldn't have an easy time moving further upward.
As Cloud started off toward the conference room, Raiden stayed behind for a moment before moving to rejoin the former soldier. It would be better to split up in order to hurry their search, but Raiden was sure that if there was anything important here it would be found in the conference room….
10:17 pm May 20, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
108
Midgar Rising
The elegant furnishings of the ShinRa office made Tsuna grow angry. The facilities they had given him were the bare minimum and they worked here. The feeling to destroy all of it came over him quickly, but gone just as fast. It would give little happiness and lower his pride in the process. “What is this place.” Hissed Tsuna as he stared at the conference room. He had only dreamed of getting this deep into the Shinra organization when he was in captivity, but now here he was.
Stepping into the immense conference room Cloud made note of the bright red carpet on top of which set the longest table he had ever seen, thinking to himself that it had to at least seat twenty four people. The table itself was unadorned, completely clear, the gleam of the overhead lights reflecting from the clear lacquer that protected the dark stained hardwood from which the table was constructed. Positioned around the table were many chairs but a close inspection proved to show the room empty of anything that could be useful to them. ” I guess we need to check the rest of this floor out, maybe we can find a key-card somewhere around here. ” Cloud said, dreading the thought that they may have to venture back down to the levels below to find a key-card that would allow them to reach the top of Shinra Headquarters. Exiting the conference room, facing the locked elevator bay, Cloud turned to his right and headed around a right corner into a long corridor that mirrored the one on the other side of the conference room where the stairwell was located. As with the other corridor there were three doors, all closed. Moving calmly, but being alert, Cloud approached the first door, reaching out to place his hand on the detector which allowed the floors automatic doors to open. The door opened with a woosh and revealed a modest sized storage room, floor to ceiling shelves packed with various boxes and stuffed with office and general supplies. ” Storage, figures. Unlikely there would be a card in there, try the next room up. ” Cloud said pointing a few meters down the corridor to the next automatic door.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
6:14 am May 21, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
110
Post edited 10:14 am – May 21, 2014 by Sanarian
“I'll check it out,” he volunteered with an uninterested tone of voice. Raiden began to casually stroll down the hall until he came upon the next door, extending a free hand out to grasp the handle before turning it and opening the door. It was one of the building's security control rooms, with multiple desks that supported several monitors each in order to maintain building security. There were controls for the monitors on each desk, along with a mess of various items and papers. Off to the side was an array of filing cabinets, and above that was a shelf for key rings.
'What a pain in the ass.' Raiden thought as he entered the room, heading for the nearest desk and starting to rifle through the mess upon it. If there was a keycard on this floor, chances were it would be in this room; something that would have been far easier of the security staff had maintained a clean workspace. After a few moments of searching he lifted a piece of paper out of the way, revealing a keycard. “Lucky,” he said with a grin, swiping the keycard and leaving the room. “I've found one!”
(OOC: That good, John?)
4:48 pm May 21, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
111
Midgar Rising
Tsuna followed his comrades towards the corridor and was on his way to the third door when Raiden came out with the keycard. A relief for Tsuna. He didn't really want search around for a small object left behind by ShinRa. “That now means we can head to the top, right?” After being in a basement of ShinRa's for years, Tsuna was glad to head to the top of their headquarters. The thought made his blood pump faster and his fists clenched. ” Let's show these guys who they shouldn't play with.” Tsuna smirked as he looked towards the elevator.
Calmly Cloud had followed Tsuna down the corridor, arriving with him at the third door just as Raiden had exclaimed that he had found a key-card. Nodding in response to Tsuna's question Cloud turned and headed back towards the elevator, retrieving the key-card from Raiden as they met. ” Tifa, Barret. ” Cloud started, pausing for a few moments before he continued to speak. ” I think you should stay behind, I know you both want to come but this is something the three of us need to see through. However if you feel the need to help us, securing a method for our safe escape would be appreciated by the three of us. ” Cloud finished, looking at Tsuna then Raiden as he spoke on their behalf, knowing all to well how Raiden truly felt about them but hoping that he could see that they could still use their help in the end. After a few moments Cloud slid the key-card through the slit next to the elevator, a green light appearing as he did so to signal the elevator was now active. Stepping inside as the doors opened Cloud reached for the buttons, a feeling of disconnection overtaking him as he did so. Pressing a button the doors closed and Cloud fought through the haze of his mind. The elevator ride was short, the doors opening after they had only moved up one floor, the large digital screen above the door reading sixty-seven in a deep red. ” I must have.. wait, this place. ” Cloud began to speak as he looked out into the lobby of floor sixty-seven, Hojo's laboratory. Like a wave a feeling of terror over took him, stumbling forward he fell to knee in the lobby, his eyes lifting to look through a glass window into the lab.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
5:17 am May 25, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
113
Post edited 9:18 am – May 25, 2014 by Sanarian
Raiden trailed behind the group, his posture relaxed despite the forthcoming danger. Just ahead of them was the cause of this nightmare, but part of him was terrified of what that meant. Once upon a time Sephiroth had been known as a hero, and the poster child for the might of SOLDIER. Even if they were to confront him here and now, could they even hope to live through an encounter with him? 'Probably… not, huh? That pisses me off.' he mused honestly, the concern that he might act far too rashly if they did come face-to-face with the legendary figure ever-present.
Once they were inside the elevator he assumed a more serious pose, and stared down at the city below. They had come so far in pursuit of their friends, yet there seemed to be more at stake than he had initially thought. Whatever happened that night in Nibelheim was the trigger for all of this, whatever it was, and Raiden didn't intend to forget about all of it. 'We'll save our friends, and get the answers we're searching for. It's up in the air after that.'
There were a few rumors about this floor among those who worked in the tower, none of which were all that plausible. Yet even the wildest of rumors had a grain of truth to it, something to spark the rumor to life. That alone was reason enough to stay away from this place, and yet here they were. “Cloud, you pressed the wrong–” Raiden started to say, only to to watch as Cloud stumbled forward into the lobby. Raiden swiftly closed the short distance between them, crouching down beside him. “If you're still hurt after that fight you should've said something.” Raiden could only assume that was the reason his friend had stumbled forward like he had.
7:32 pm May 26, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
114
Midgar Rising
The ride on the elevator was a calming one. They had finally reached their goal and Tsuna was glad to have this moment of reprieve. When the elevators doors opened and Tsuna saw the laboratory, it felt as if time stopped. Flashes of his childhood came back. Each being in this lab. Scientists surrounded him. Some played with equipment while others took notes. Each memory came with flashes of pain.
The sound of his allies' voices brought him back, but rage overtook him. His body shook and his lips pulled back in a snarl. His right hand of its own accord reached back to grabbed his sword right from its sheath and legs ran forward and jumped towards the glass in front of them. Tsuna brought the bottom of his hilt against the glass, “HOJO!” Tsuna spat as he screamed out the name that has haunted him his whole life. His eyes so full of rage they seemed to be able to bore through the glass.
The steady flicker of the overhead lights reflected off the large glass pane separating the lobby from the laboratory. Cloud's eyes widened as he caught sight of the scene within, the splatter of blood across the coils of piping, the metallic walls, and the consoles. The crimson splatter lead Cloud's eye across the large room, past a collection of shattered tubes, large enough for who knows what. The liquid that once filled the tubes pooled on the floor, some trickling slowly into grates. Cloud's eyes continued until in the far corner the trail of blood ended oozing from white coated corpse. ” What happened here? ” Cloud said, the swirl of his mind trying to piece together his history in this place, of the face of the fallen man. Turning towards Tsuna he could see the fire in his eyes, he had recognized the body. The name swirled in Cloud's mind, 'Yes Hojo' he thought. Shifting, Cloud moved towards the nearby door, which stood open, the slot where a key-card would be inserted a sparking tangle of wires. Cloud traversed the room quickly, reaching the fallen man. Hovering for a moment a vision of Nibelheim, of this man, and of Zack danced through his mind, it's significance lost. A few moments past and suddenly in a move that send Cloud a step back Hojo twitched and rolled over to face Cloud. Their eyes met, Cloud's drifting slowly to the gaping wound in his midsection, he would not live long. ” You… the three of you. Ha.. HA! ” Hojo murmured, his volume growing as he ended with a laugh. ” What a cruel.. cruel fate. He.. shows up today, the day the three of you return to me, how tragic. ” Hojo continued to speak, his voice growing weaker. ” If you're looking for your friends.. He got to them first. They're.. no more than fiends no..w.. ” He spoke, coughing up blood. ” Sephiroth!? ” Cloud shouted, the rage in him growing. ” N.. No. He woul.. would n.. not harm.. me. Ev.. even though.. he hate..hates me. ” Hojo struggled to speak, his chest heaving, struggling for breath. ” G.. Genesis. ” He exclaimed with his last breath before his eyes went glassy and his body relaxed, the steady flow of crimson red slowing as his heart stopped beating.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
4:48 pm May 28, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
116
'Professor Hojo knew all three of us?' Raiden thought, utterly confused at this turn of events. Even during his tenure as a Turk his interactions with the Professor had been limited at best, certainly nothing worth remembering him over. Raiden could only assume that Hojo had been involved in whatever had took place that night in Nibelheim. Just as his mind began to consider the possibilities he heard mention of their friends, and his thoughts snapped back to their present situation.
If Hojo was to be believed their friends were no more than fiends now, and someone named Genesis was responsible for it. “I could believe that Sephiroth was responsible forall of… this…” Raiden paused for a moment, glancing at the corpse before walking away and crumbling to a sitting position against a nearby wall. “but if his claims are true, we've got two guys so far beyond our level now and our friends are lost to us now. What the hell did we come all this way for? Damn it all.”
6:55 pm May 28, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
117
Midgar Rising
As the rage subsided to a point of feral control, Tsuna took in the room and saw what it was, destroyed. Someone had got here first, Hojo's voice echoed through his ears as he saw the body lying on the ground. Another goal taken from him. Tsuna ran over to the near corpse and put his blade towards the man that was already about to die. He wanted to stab him so bad, but the kill would not be his and his words seemed to give clues to who took his goals, but he barely took him in.
Tsuna watched as the man that caused him so much pain seemed to die so easily. It was the worst thing he had seen in his terrible life. The rage boiled up and he forgot about everyone in the room besides him and the corpse. “YOU BASTARD!” Tsuna grabbed the corspe by the collar, “I was suppose to kill you! You were mine!” CM-3 tossed the corpse across the room and slammed into the lab wall. CM-3 dashed after him and began punching the corpse over and over, uttering curses the whole time. The weak bodied scientist crumbled against his blows. The corspe soon became unreconizable. When Tsuna had seen what he had done, he stopped stunned. Even in death the man controlled him. A terrible howl exploded from Tsuna. He kneeled stuned unable to process what had just happened.
Cloud stood expressionless, his mind failing to react to the words Hojo had spoken. Around him Tsuna was in a rage but he was unable to process the grief, the hurt that followed him everywhere he went. He felt heavy, responsible for everything, had his friends not come to his aide they would surely still be alive, he was a poison. Blank he turned away from the grizzly scene, slowly moving towards the lobby and the elevator. Cloud was unsure if at this point his friends would follow, deep down he hoped they would not. He didn't know what awaited him on the top level, Sephiroth was there but was Genesis as well. Cloud wondered where he had heard that name before, it was relevant, he knew that much, but he wondered why. ” Whatever this is, it ends tonight. ” Cloud said aloud, talking confidence into himself, knowing all to well that he would likely be walking towards his death, a death he secretly coveted. Pressing the call button as he reached the elevator Cloud waited as the doors opened, not looking back.
— OOC Talk: And so begins chapter iv!
5:07 pm May 29, 2014
Sanarian
Member
posts 115
119
Post edited 9:08 pm – May 29, 2014 by Sanarian
Raiden continued to sulk as he sat against the wall. In the midst of his frenzy of thoughts it dawned upon him that their friends were likely the fiends they had fought below, if Hojo was to be believed, and that left him feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt. The very idea that they were responsible for the deaths of the lives they had come here to save was utterly terrifying.
If their current behavior was indicative of their state of mind the others weren't handling the situation very well either. Tsuna was in a half-mad rage, screaming while trying to destroy what was left of Hojo; and Cloud seemed utterly defeated, as if he felt that their entire quest had been for nothing. When his friend made way for the elevator, instinct told him that Cloud intended to continue on without them. 'Why not let him? It's his fault we're in this mess.' It wasn't true though, even if he would've liked it to be so. They had come of their own volition, and it wasn't just Cloud's burden to bear.
Raiden leaned forward and used his left hand to get on his feet, before making way for the elevator to join Cloud. “Oi, Tsuna. If you want to abandon everything that's fine, but you know this mess is far bigger than him. Is his death all you wanted to sate your hunger? I'd thought you were a bit more vengeful than that, for some reason.” Raiden stated it with a tone cold as ice. If his friend was in a deep, dark hole he would gladly offer his help… but in the end Tsuna had to be the one to make that decision, all he could do was try to push him onto the right path.
Once he was near the elevator he approached behind Cloud, and lifted up his left foot and booted the ex-SOLDIER in the ass with the flat of his shoe. Raiden's expression was a twisted mixture of determination, arrogance, pain, and anger as he spoke. “You're the fuckin' worst of us all,” he lifted his boot to kick at Cloud once more. “trying to continue on your own, so you can what? Get a quick and easy death? Not on my watch. Damn it all if I let you try to deal with this mess on your own. We could've left if we had wanted, but we didn't. World doesn't revolve around you, Cloud.” Raiden lifted up his boot to kick at Cloud once more, though this time he offered a reassuring smile. “I don't know about Tsuna, but I ain't down and out just yet.”
10:41 am May 30, 2014
ShogoMaki
Member
posts 308
120
Midgar Rising
Tsuna's body knelt there drained. This gave him no satisfication, but it seemed he would never get that. The ping of the elevator got his attention. Why Cloud leaving without him? His mind was in a fog barely able to understand it, it reeled from the change. Raiden's words split the fog, but only by introducing a little more anger. Tsuna got back to his feet and began walking towards the elevator, “My mess originally ended with him. Those who took this away from me will pay.” Tsuna grabbed his sword from the groudn and putit into the sheath, but as he reached the elevator he looked back to see his hat lying on the elevator floor. He made no move to get it, just waited for the elevator to go.
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