Desha's Reno of the Turks Fan Fiction

Chapter 4

Cloud walked slowly down the aisle of the church, taking in the damage that had befallen it in his absence. As he came to the edge of the patch of flowers, something caught his eye.

“Tifa!” he cried, rushing forward, heedless of the flowers he trampled. He knelt beside her and pulled her into his arms.

“Tifa!” he said again, trying to wake her. She slowly came to.

“You’re late…” she replied in a pained voice.

“Who did this?” Cloud demanded to know.

“He didn’t say…” she said. Suddenly she sat up.

“Marlene?!” Tifa cried, realizing the little girl was no longer there. She sank back into Cloud’s arms, as though that one action had taken all of her remaining strength, and then passed out again. Cloud looked around desperately, but there was no sign of the girl.

“Damn!”

Without warning, his arm convulsed in pain, and once again, visions of Sephiroth danced before his eyes as the world around him began to spin. Black liquid dripped from his infected arm onto the flowers around him, the effects of Geostigma.

—-

A drop of water splashes into a crystal clear pool, sending tiny waves rippling out from the center. Cloud and Tifa lay unconscious among the flowers in the haven of a dream world. A lone wolf watches over them as they sleep.

*~*~*~*~*

When Cloud awoke, evening had already set in. He found himself in a bed, in familiar surroundings. Tifa’s home. On another bed, next to his, was Tifa, still unconscious. He dragged himself from the bed and moved towards her, to assure himself that she was alright.

“You know, you’re pretty heavy,” drawled a voice from behind him. Cloud turned quickly toward the sound, and came face to face with Reno and Rude. They stood on either side of the room’s door.

“… Weren’t there some kids living with you?” said Rude.

“… ‘Cause they ain’t here,” Reno informed him. Cloud lowered his gaze, fearing what might have happened to the children.

“You don’t care?” asked Rude.

“I just…” Cloud began after a moment. He looked over at Tifa, helplessly. Reno heaved a sigh, realizing that their presence was not wanted.

“Hmph… You’re a real handful,” he muttered, and the two Turks left Cloud to tend to Tifa, slamming the door behind them.

*~*~*~*~*

In the Forgotten Capital, Loz had met up with Kadaj… and he had not come empty handed. He had brought with him the large box of materia that Cloud had been keeping, and Marlene, as well. The little girl was held firmly by her shoulder at Loz’s side, unable to get away.

“Look at what Brother was hiding…” said Kadaj, as he reached down to pick up one of the translucent spheres, “The power born from the Lifestream. He laughed.

“With this materia that power will be ours,” he continued. Kadaj pressed the sphere against his forearm, and it began to meld with him, infusing itself into his body. The materia’s glow radiated from where it had been embedded, and Kadaj studied this newly acquired power.

*~*~*~*~*

The angel statue in Midgar overlooked a darkened street. Indoors, Cloud gazed, contemplating, out the window, while on the bed, Tifa at long last stirred to consciousness. She sat up.

“Reno and Rude are out looking,” Cloud said.

“You have Geostigma, don’t you?” Tifa replied, ignoring Cloud’s comment.

—–

Cloud races along through a strange forest on his motorcycle. The trees surrounding the road he travels seem almost crystalline, giving off their own light in the darkness of the night.

—–

“You’re gonna give up and die, is that it?” Tifa chastised him. When he didn’t answer, she turned away from him, and hugged her knees to her chest, “As I thought.”

“There’s no cure,” Cloud said simply.

“Yeah, but that’s not stopping Denzel is it?” Tifa countered, “Don’t run. Let’s fight it together. We can help each other, I know we can.”

—–

The trees gradually become denser as Cloud travels deeper into the forest…

—–

“I guess that only works for real families…” Tifa sighed.

“Tifa…” Cloud began, unable to meet her eyes, “I I’m not fit to help anyone. Not my family… Not my friends… Nobody.”

“Dilly dally, shilly shally,” Tifa said, her frustration evident in her voice, “Dilly dally, shilly shally!”

“I think she wants you to move on, man” Reno’s voice interrupted. He and Rude had managed to enter without being noticed by either Tifa or Cloud. Reno stood beside the door, his arms crossed over his chest. Rude stands on the opposite side, looking smug.

“Did you find them?!” Tifa cried.

“No. Only a witness. Kadaj’s gang took the kids,” Reno replied, casually strolling farther into the room.

“Where are they?” Cloud asked him. Reno started to answer, but Rude unexpectedly beat him to it.

“They’re at their base… the Forgotten City.”

—–

Cloud’s motorcycle gains speed, flying through the forest.

*~*~*~*~*

A crowd of children, all afflicted with Geostigma, stood gathered around a small pool. Across from them stood a massive shell-like structure. Denzel was among them.

“Mother has given me a very special gift,” Kadaj proclaimed to the crowd, standing on the far bank of the pool with his arms raised skyward, “The power to fight against a planet that torments humanity.”

Yazoo and Loz were on either side of Kadaj. Loz still had Marlene in his grasp, and the little girl struggled, but could break free.

“She gave this gift to all her children,” Kadaj continued, “That’s right… You and I are brethren. Brothers and sisters chosen when we inherited Mother’s memetic legacy through the Lifestream!”

He turned his back on the children and dramatically walked toward Yazoo and Loz. “But…” he added, turning back to face the crowd, “But the planet doesn’t approve of that at all. It’s doing everything it can to hold us back. That’s why it’s wracking our bodies with pain and filling our hearts with doubt!”

He pointed toward the children, allowing his gaze to settle on them individually. The children nodded, seemingly in agreement.

“I’ll cure you,” he stated, “And we will go to Mother together.”

Energy began to emanate from his body, rising like mist.

“We will join as a family and strike back at the planet” he continued, his voice rising, gaining strength. As he spoke, he began to change, much as he did before Rufus back in Healin Lodge, his face taking on the appearance of another. Denzel watched from the crowd, unable to take his eyes off of Kadaj. As quickly as it began, Kadaj’s transformation stopped, and he returned to normal.

“Do as I do,” he said, and he waded unflinchingly into the waters of the pool, waist deep. As he did so, the water surrounding him began to turn black. Kadaj cupped his hands and drank some of the water.

After a moment’s hesitation, the children followed him in. Denzel, too, cupped his hands and lifted some of the water to his lips.

“Denzel…” Marlene called, alarmed, but he ignored her and drank the water.

“Denzel!” she cried.

Moments later Denzel’s eyes took on the same cat-like appearance of Kadaj’s.

*~*~*~*~*

Cloud’s journey through the forest is interrupted without warning, as his surroundings vanish. He suddenly finds himself in a world of white light.

“You came,” said a woman’s gentle voice from behind him, “Even though you’re about to break, hmm?”

He knows the voice. It can only be Aeris. A hand touches the arm that is covered by his sleeve, but Cloud does not turn around.

“That’s a good sign,” she says to him. Suddenly there are flowers all around… flowers exactly like those that grow in the church.

“So!” Aeris says playfully, “Why did you come?”

“I think… I want to be forgiven,” Cloud replies, “Yes… more than anything.”

“By who?” Aeris asks, laughing. Cloud turns around, but the dreamworld vanishes, and he finds himself once again on his motorcycle, speeding toward the Forgotten Capital.

—–

Without warning, shots rang out from directly ahead of him, and Cloud swerved out of the way, narrowly avoiding being hit by the gunfire. Yazoo, Kadaj, and Loz had anticipated his arrival, and had prepared an ambush. Yazoo and Loz had let loose a barrage of bullets, while Kadaj stood calmly between them.

Cloud opened the compartments on either side of his bike, and an array of swords was revealed. He drew two of them, at the same time aiming his bike toward the three men.

Kadaj stepped forward, drawing a cruel-looking double bladed katana. He raised his hand and motioned toward the trees. In response, the children he had collected came out of hiding, gathering in the path between Cloud and the three men. At the front of the group was Denzel… beside him was Marlene, who looked on in silent desperation. She tugged at his arm, trying to get him to run, but he was completely oblivious to her.

Cloud threw his bike into a skid, a desperate act to avoid hitting the children. He tumbled gracelessly to the ground, and the children scattered out of the way as the motorcycle careened, riderless along the ground. Kadaj jumped over it effortlessly, and behind him, Loz stopped it’s journey. Cloud tumbled along the ground, coming to rest at Kadaj’s feet, his swords knocked from his grip in the fall and landing several meters away.

“I’m glad you could make it,” Kadaj shouted, sounding amused and very pleased with himself.

“I only came for the kids,” said Cloud, glaring at the younger man.

“See this man? He’s our big brother,” Kadaj ranted, speaking to the gathered children who had surrounded the two men, as if he hadn’t even heard Cloud. He circled Cloud, his sword in hand, “But alas, in our happy flock… he’s what you’d call a black sheep.”

Kadaj leveled his sword at Cloud’s throat, a murderous glint in his eyes. He raised the sword preparing to strike.

“Cloud!” Marlene shouted from somewhere among the throng of children. Her cry distracted Kadaj momentarily… just long enough for Cloud to recover from his fall, and reclaim his sword.

Cloud lunged for Kadaj, swinging the sword hard, but Kadaj was fast. He leapt out of the path of the blade, landing several feet away, ready for a fight.

From a distance, Yazoo fired at Cloud, but Cloud managed to block the round with his sword. While Yazoo kept him occupied, Loz charged in for an attack, using the same speed ability that so effectively ended his battle with Tifa. In a matter of seconds, Cloud was forced to contend with not only Yazoo’s gunfire, but Loz’s physical attacks.

Loz aimed a kick at Cloud’s chest, but Cloud easily blocked it. Several more blows sent Cloud flying backwards, but he landed on his feet and skidded to a halt. Cloud raised his blade and charged toward Loz, but the silver-haired man, batted him aside, leaving him sprawled on the ground quite some distance away. Cloud’s sword clattered to the ground. He quickly reclaimed it, and revealed a secret of the sword… that it separated into two blades… just in time to block a frontal attack from Yazoo.

Behind him, Loz slammed his weapon into the ground, sending up a shockwave through the earth. It traveled swiftly toward Cloud and Yazoo. Yazoo broke off his own attack, and leapt to a safe distance, leaving Cloud directly in the path of the oncoming wave, firing relentlessly at him as he retreated. Cloud managed to block Yazoo’s shots, and then raised one of his swords, the blade glowing with blue energy, and brought it down harshly against the ground. A wave of pure energy streaked out from the blade, colliding with the incoming earth attack, effectively negating it and sending dirt and debris flying in all directions. But Cloud did not have time to relax, as Loz took the opportunity to slip in close to him for a more direct assault. Yazoo, too, returned to the battle, and the two men drove Cloud back, pummeling him.

Cloud made a desperate leap into the air, but with a lift from Loz, Yazoo was not far behind. The two men battled in mid-air, until finally, one of Yazoo’s shots caused Cloud to lose his grip on one of his swords. It landed, embedded in the trunk of a tree. Cloud jumped from branch to branch, racing to collect it. He reached it at last, and swung around to land on top of the blade, hoping to gain an advantage of height… but Loz was at the base of the tree, and with one great punch, it came toppling down.

Cloud retrieved his sword and Yazoo stalked toward him, gun blazing, as the tree fell. Cloud leapt again, but Yazoo and Loz were on him, ganging up on him again. He managed to lose them temporarily among the branches.

He gaze finally settled on Kadaj. Cloud recombined his swords into a single blade and attacked. Kadaj was fast… perhaps too fast for Cloud to handle, as the younger man’s onslaught of blows drove Cloud back. For a moment, it appeared that Kadaj might be victorious as Cloud fell to the ground, disarmed. Cloud’s cell phone tumbled from his pocket and landed in the pool, sinking quickly out of sight.

But before Kadaj could finish him off, the swirl of a familiar red cloak descended from above, gathering around Cloud’s fallen form. Gunshots fired from within the mantle, keeping the three men occupied. They tried to fight back, but as quickly as it arrived, it was gone, taking cloud along with it and disappearing high into the tree branches. Kadaj watched it go, annoyed by the loss of the battle.

*~*~*~*~*

Safely away from the battle, Cloud sat beside a small lake, somewhere in the strange forest.

“See? I knew I’d be no help,” Cloud said. He rubbed his covered arm. At last he looked up at the person who had come to his rescue.

“Vincent… What do you know about this?” he asked.

“I come here often…” Vincent replied, leaning against a tree. He flipped his cape aside and strode toward Cloud, “… I’ve seen what Kadaj’s group is doing.”

Vincent gripped Cloud’s arm tightly, and Cloud flinched in pain.

“Geostigma,” Vincent said, knowingly, “It’s a symptom of alien matter infesting the body. The body tries to eliminate it and overcompensates.”

He released Cloud’s arm, and stood, moving off to stand beneath one of the trees.

“Inside our bodies is a current like the Lifestream,” Vincent continued, “That current is what fights off any malevolent intruders.”

“Intruders…” Cloud echoed, trying to make sense of it all.

“The Sephiroth gene… Jenova’s memetic legacy,” Vincent clarified, “Call it what you want.”

“You’re well informed,” Cloud commented, gazing out across the lake.

“Tseng and Elena,” Vincent explained, “They were brought here half dead. They must have been brutally tortured. I did what I could to save them but… we’ll see.”

“Tortured?”

“You reap what you sow,” Vincent replied, with a half shrug, “They got their hands on Jenova’s head.”

“Then the Mother that Kadaj is searching for is…”

“Heaven’s dark harbinger… The calamity,” said Vincent, “Jenova. If they wanted to, they could recreate Sephiroth.”

“Kadaj…” Cloud asked after a moment, “What is he?”

“Hmph… I’d rather not know,” said Vincent. Suddenly, there was a rustle in the bushes, and both men abruptly turned, expecting a fight. But from the bushes, emerged Marlene. She ran toward Cloud, and threw herself into his arms.

“Marlene!”

“Cloud! Denzel… Tifa… they…!” she gasped, out of breath.

“Tifa is alright,” Cloud assured her.

“I want to talk to Tifa!” Marlene cried. Cloud searched his pockets, but only now realized that his cell phone is gone. Marlene turned toward Vincent.

“May I?” she asked.

Vincent pulled his cloak aside to show that he did not have one.

“You don’t have a phone?” the little girl lamented.

“Vincent… Will you take Marlene to Tifa?” Cloud asked, “I’m going to talk to Shinra about this.”

“I can’t do that,” Vincent replied, shaking his head.

“But…”

“Forget it Cloud,” Marlene shouted, fed up with Cloud’s attitude. She pushed away from him “Why don’t you ever pay any attention to us?!”

She ran to Vincent’s side, and Vincent sheltered her beneath his cape, so that only her feet could be seen.

“Marlene…” Cloud said, trying to explain his desire to gather more information before taking on the trio again, “Please give me some time. There’s a battle to be fought… but it’s not as simple as just fighting. Understand?”

“No, I don’t!” she shouted angrily from her hiding place.

“Cloud, you sure this is about fighting?” asked Vincent. Cloud lowered his gaze, thinking back to earlier conversations.

—-

“Where are they?” Cloud asks.

“They’re are their base now… The Forgotten City,” Rude replies.

“Go,” says Cloud, looking away, “I have to talk to Rufus.”

“Stop running!” Tifa shouts, “I know. Even if you find the kids you might not be able to help them. Something might happen that can never unhappen, and that scares you, doesn’t it?”

Reno and Rude stand awkwardly by the door, debating on whether or not they should leave before this discussion turns into to a lover’s spat.

“But you need to think about now! Really take it in!” she says firmly, “Look at you, you think you’ve got it so damn hard! Well, you hate being alone so let people in.”

Reno, signals to Rude that they should make a hasty exit, and heads out the door, but Rude grabs him and drags him back into the room.

“Sure, you might not answer the phone” Tifa said, “But I don’t see you throwing it away, either.”

“You go. The base is all yours,” Reno says, forcing Cloud to do what Tifa wants him to… go after the children. He and Rude at last take their leave.

“Which is it? A memory or us?” Tifa asks when they are gone.

“But… I just let her die…” he replies.

—–

Cloud once again finds himself surrounded by white light and flowers.

“Dilly dally, shilly shally,” chastises Aeris’ voice, “Isn’t it time you did the forgiving?”

—–

Back in the present, Cloud silently debated what he should do.

“Are sins ever forgiven?” Cloud asked at last.

“… I’ve never tried,” Vincent replied. Marlene peeked out at Cloud from under Vincents cape.

“You mean…” Cloud began, “Never tried…”

He had come to a decision.

“Marlene,” he called, “Let’s go.”

Marlene came out of her hiding place and nodded in agreement.

“I’ll give it a try,” Cloud said to Vincent, turning to go, “I’ll phone in the verdict.”

Marlene caught up with him, taking hold of his hand, and they walked off into the forest.

*~*~*~*~*

Elsewhere in the forest, Cloud’s phone sinks into the murky depths of the pool. They messages stored in it’s memory play as if falls.

“It’s me, Reeve. How’s work going? I saw your flier… How in the world do you stay in business? You never change, Cloud. If it’s alright, I was thinking about helping you out, but I guess I’ll call back another time.”

“I got a phone call from Reno and them in Healin,” says Tifa’s recorded voice, “They said it’s a commission job. Cloud… have you been doing OK?”

“Surprise! It’s me, Yuffie! So hey, all the kids are missing from Wutai… have you heard anything about it? Fill me in, ok?”

“What up, foo’?! It’s Barret! I am the man! Oil, Cloud. I just found the biggest damn oil field you ever seen! Survey is done, so I should be able to get out there and see Marlene soon! You let her know, alright, Spiky?”

“Reno called again. He says to hurry. And he sounded kind of strange. Be careful, Ok?”

At last the phone comes to rest at the bottom of the pool.

“I’ve never blamed you,” says Aeris’ voice, “Not once. You came for me. That’s all that matters.”

The cell phone finally goes dead.

—–

Back on the surface, at the edge of the pool, a lone wolf stands by the bank, gazing into the water.