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We know Aeris was born to Professor Gast and Ifalna. But what if the Aeris we knew was not the original one? What if Ifalna had a daughter before meeting Professor Gast?

We know Elmyra's husband died during the Wutai siege by the Shinra. But is that the truth? What really happened back then? Was Elmyra told the truth, a part of it, or a blatant lie?

And most importantly... how are these two mysteries related?

My fellow friends, join me, Alejandro Artiles the Storyteller, as we begin a journey into the shadows of the past...

[Author's note: First of all, hello everyone =) My name is Alejandro Artiles. I live in Argentina, thus, I'm deeply sorry if sometimes my English is somewhat sloppy and poorly detailed. I try to do my best

This story is divided in chapters. I haven't finished writing it yet, but I've already planned it all, and it should extend to no more than 10 chapters. I'll try to complete it as soon as I can.]

Let us begin...

A WARRIOR'S REDEMPTION

PROLOGUE

"Close your eyes and begin to relax."

"Take a deep breath, and let it out slowly."

"Concentrate on your breathing."

"With each breath, you become more relaxed."

"Imagine a brilliant white light above you. Focus in on this light as it flows through your body."

"Now you are entering the world of another man's memories. Gaze upon them, reveal the truth behind the facts we know, and make peace with the spirit that begs for your help."

"Are you ready now? Take a final breath, and dive into the stream of conciousness around you."

"Open your eyes."

-------*------------*------------*

MEMORY ONE: THE THIN LINE BETWEEN HONOR AND DUTY

Wutai.

A thick rain was pouring the grasslands surrounding the little town in the Western Continent. Not far from there, an encampment. A military encampment.

Shinra troops.

Soldiers ran from place to place, carrying standard-issue machine guns. Ion cannons were being manned by technicians frantically. In one of the tents, which stood out from the rest because of the company’s flag on top, Commander Varlus Jenneson squeezed the butt of his last cigarette, and blew the smoke in circles.

He was growing impatient.

A mud-filled private broke into the tent and lowered his hood. “Commander” he began, “the cannons are nearly operational. All troops are prepared for the assault on Wutai.”

Varlus stood up from his chair slowly.

“Very well, private” he whispered, in a tired voice that stressed his restlessness and boredom. “Stand by in your posts, and wait for my signal. Dawn is approaching: as soon as the Sun raises, we strike.”

“Yes, sir.” The private saluted formally. “Permission to leave, sir?”

“Granted” sighed Varlus. “Dismissed.”

The private walked back into the thick curtain of water outside. Varlus paced through his tent, lighting another cigarette. He had to admit the fact: war was not good for his health. He was about to empty the second pack of the day.

Varlus was planning possible strategies for the upcoming assault on the town, when his cell phone buzzed in the desk. He picked it up and opened the lid.

INCOMING CALL – 911-268-559-03

The President. Varlus acknowledged the incoming call.

“Commander Jenneson reporting, Mr. President.”

“Jenneson” replied the President’s cold voice through the cell’s receiver. “Report on the Wutai Campaign.”

Straight to the point, as always.

“Preparations are ready. Ion cannons to be fully operational in short time. We will strike at daybreak.”

“Good. Remember your orders, Commander: no prisoners are to be taken. Anyone who offers resistance must be terminated immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You are ordered to acquire as many Materia as possible. I do not care how you manage to get a hold of these. You are free to make use of any means necessary to complete your mission. Show no mercy, Commander Jenneson.”

“I understand, sir. Wutai is a small town with virtually no army whatsoever; we should have no problems carrying out our mission.”

The President stood silent for a moment, then spoke again. “You would be wise not to underestimate the people of Wutai. Army lacking or not, our spies have informed us that they are formidable melee fighters and Materia users.” Silence. “Is the SOLDIER team already in place?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. The SOLDIER have an assignment of their own: assist them in any way possible. Casualties in either the SOLDIER squad and regular troops are to be kept to a minimum, Commander. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir” said Varlus yet again. Did the President think he was a rookie? If so, he was deeply mistaken.

“That will be all, Commander” said the President.

“One more thing, sir” added Varlus, remembering something. “The fresh troops called in from Midgar have arrived yesterday, but… If I may be so bold, sir… they look pretty green to me. I’m not sure whether they are ready for this assault.”

“That is the main idea, Commander” replied the President. “Consider these men “cannon fodder”. They should make a nice distraction in the front while your more experienced men retrieve Materia from the town.”

Varlus nearly cursed in rage. What the hell was the President thinking? These were men they were talking about, not mindless robots or artillery. “Nice distraction”, were they?

“Commander, did you understand what I just said?” asked the President, colder than ever. Varlus hesitated, cell phone in his right hand. Should he speak his mind?

“Yes, sir. Commander Jenneson out” he said, and closed the cell phone.
He stood still for a moment. Sure, he was a man of action, had seen many atrocities, felt the loss of comrades at his side while he survived, tasted his own blood in fierce battles… but sending his own men to their certain doom just as decoys?

“No. Never.”

He recalled for a moment his father’s words…

“A warrior must be ruthless, strong, and fierce, but above everything, he must have honor. Without honor, a warrior is nothing more than a puppet.”

Honor. There was absolutely no honor in sending those fresh men to their deaths.

“I am a mercenary” thought Varlus. “A hired gun. Mercenaries have no right to debate their orders.”

“No. I’m not a mercenary. I’m a warrior on a different path.”

His mind thought otherwise.

“What do I care about those men, anyway?”

For a moment, Varlus thought he was right: he DIDN’T know those green privates.

“I’m not Shinra’s puppet.”

No, he wasn’t. True, Shinra paid for his expenses, his little cottage off the coast of Junon, and thanks to the company he was able to marry Ifalna and raise his daughter.

Aeris…

“If I disobey the President, my salary’s gonna be cut off.”

What about Aeris’ future scholarship? How could he pay for it if Shinra’s income was gone? No way he was going back to dock guarding duty at Junon. He’d rather be damned before working as a slave.

“But am I not a slave to the Shinra now?”

“Sir, we are all set.” Lieutenant Markus Noah, SOLDIER, First Class, walked into the tent, returning Varlus from his inner conflict. The commander shook his head.

“Alright. Prepare your men, Lieutenant.”

Lieutenant Markus retired from the tent, and Varlus followed. He threw the butt of his last cigarette to the wet grass and gazed at the sky. Strangely enough, it was fully cleared: no sign of the recent storm was left in the deep blue cloak above them. The sun was rising at the east, blood-red, as if predicting the massive slaughter that was about to take place. How did the rain stop so suddenly?

Varlus glared at the sun once more. It was rising directly where he knew his cottage was. Ifalna was probably awake by now: she always liked bathing in dawn’s light. Perhaps that was why she was so beautiful… Maybe the sun had its own magical properties, as his wife had.

“Ifalna… I miss you. Hell, I miss you and Aeris an awful lot.”

The commander dropped his head. Tiny drops were still hanging from the grass.

“I’m sorry, Ifalna. I’m doing this for Aeris, not for me. I’d rather be there, with you, rather than being stuck in this God-forsaken place. I don’t want to do this. But Aeris needs it.”

Unwanted, unbearable, but unavoidable, a single, small tear ran through his left cheek. “Forgive me, Ifalna, for shedding innocent blood again.”

And Varlus could have sworn that, amidst the whispering wind that ran through the military encampment, he could hear his wife’s voice…

“I know, my love. And I forgive you.”


------------*-------------*-----------*

MEMORY TWO: THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE CROSS

“Get ready to fire” ordered Varlus, standing in front of his men. Most of them looked prepared to fight, machine guns and swords at the ready, jaws clenched in both anger and expectation. The artillery was thrusting forward.

Varlus moved towards the third column, where new recruits were placed. These men were the complete opposite from the others: nervous, shaking, guns in hand but still hesitant… afraid. Varlus repressed a smile: that’s exactly how he felt in his first battle. He understood those privates all too well.

“Brace yourselves, boys” he said. “This is gonna be a tough one.”

“Sir” one of the privates said, staggering forward, visibly nervous. “Are… are we gonna die?”
Varlus sighed, thinking what to answer to the private. He didn’t want to speak nonsense, but these boys needed some incentive to enter battle.

However, there was simply no hope for these men: should he follow the President’s orders, they were all as good as dead. Was there any other option?

“After our initial bombardment, the SOLDIER platoon will strike first. You’ll serve as backup for them. They are a tough nut to crack, but they will be outnumbered. That’s where you come in, boys. Just stick to the SOLDIER and you’ll be fine.”

Most of the privates gulped in fear. Varlus turned away. He had done it: to hell with the President’s orders. He was not throwing those men’s lives away just for nothing.

“I hope you’re proud, Father” he thought.

He moved towards the SOLDIER team and tapped Lieutenant Noah’s back. The hardened SOLDIER veteran turned to face him.

“Guys, after our cannon show, you’ll move forward, supported by the rookies and our cannons. The main body and me will flank the town and raze the other exit, while we carry out our orders.”

Lieutenant Noah faced him with deep loathing. “Those were not the President’s orders, Commander Jenneson. The rookies are to be the expendable troops, not us. We are SOLDIER.”

Damn those suckers’ pride. Always thinking they were above everybody else just by having some Mako shit flowing through their veins. Well, Varlus wasn’t going to have any of that.

“Lieutenant, I am in charge of this army. You have just received a direct order from your Commander, and I expect you to fulfill it to the letter. Do I make myself clear?”

The SOLDIER leader stared at the Commander toughly, yet no answer came from him.

“Disobey my orders, Lieutenant, and I’ll see it that you spend the rest of your life farming Chocobos near Kalm” added Varlus roughly.

“Yes, sir” replied the Lieutenant reluctantly, smiling coldly.

“Good.” Varlus turned to the artillery man behind one of the ion cannons.

It was time. Varlus signaled him.

“Open fire!”

The cannons fired their deadly ammunition towards the town. A tall pagoda got blown away in pieces, while other buildings were smashed to dust or incinerated. Earsplitting screams broke out the town’s silence, and just a moment later, a vast group of fighters poured from the gates, ready to battle.

“SOLDIER platoon, forward! Third column, assist them! First and second columns, to me! Artillery, fire at will!” Varlus’ orders dispersed the Shinra army through the field. The SOLDIER platoon hit the Wutai defenders’ main line, initiating a bloody confrontation. Catapults and trebuchets unloaded massive boulders towards the battleground, severely handicapping the SOLDIER platoon, but also killing several Wutai fighters as well. It seemed the Wutai defenders didn’t care about their soldiers’ deaths, as long as they could cripple the attacking army.

The Commander rushed his troops towards the flank, shooting towards the city’s walls, trying to stop the archers’ deadly barrage of fire arrows. Wutai was not as defenseless as he thought: casualties were running high on both sides. Varlus ordered his men to run as quick as possible towards the town’s east gate. As they reached it, another small force of defenders rushed from it to them.

“Forward, men! Show no mercy!”

The Shinra troops laid death to the defenders with their machine guns, but soon they got near enough to engage in melee combat, something the defenders were highly adept at doing. Machine guns thrown aside and swords out of their scabbards, there began a vicious hand-to-hand battle for the gate. Varlus was very well trained in sword fencing, but his men were not up to scratch. All in all, the Wutaians gained the upper hand quickly, pushing the Shinra troops back. Varlus raised his sword up, encouraging his men, and thrust forward, slashing furiously through both steel and flesh. He was soon covered in thick blood. His men were pushing forward relentlessly, and experienced though the Wutaians were, they were beginning to feel the side effects of this constant pressure.

Varlus’ forces pushed the Wutaians back into town. The Commander was getting restless: his men had suffered numerous wounds, and were getting exhausted. It was then than a massive ion shell hit a tower nearby, which collapsed just on top of the Wutaians, murdering most, if not all, of the defenders.

“Now, privates! This is our chance! Steal all the Materia you can!” bellowed Varlus, rushing forward. As his men began to pillage the town, Varlus took a glance towards the main gate. The SOLDIER team looked like it could fare on his own, but the rookies were having a hard time. Debating within himself for a minute, Varlus ran towards the main battleground, jumped over some bodies next to the gate, and joined quickly with the rookies.

“Sir, we can’t hold on any longer!” cried a helpless private, shooting his .45 at the Wutaians.

“What the hell are you doing with that crappy gun?!” demanded Varlus enraged, as he shoved off some defenders. “Pick up your SMG!!”

“Out of ammo, sir!” the private replied.

A young girl threw a shuriken towards the poorly armed private, which Varlus hurried to block with his sword.

“Here, use mine!” the Commander ordered, handing him his own machine gun. The private cocked the gun and pulled the trigger, which spat hot lead towards the Wutaians.

Yet, Varlus realized the rookies were doomed. Defenders were attacking from every side, and these privates couldn’t cope with them, let alone fend them off. The Commander paused for a moment and addressed the whole division.

“Enter the city! My men have already secured it to some extent! Follow me!” And as Varlus made a break for the city’s gates, the privates followed hastily, diverting attacks from every flank, and bringing down some Wutaians while at it. Finally, Varlus and the rookies made it into the town, where the Commander broke into a deserted and partially destroyed hut, followed by his men.

“Set up a trench!” he ordered. “We’ll keep them in line from here!”

And so the privates did. Building up a shielding wall out of debris, the Commander and his men held any Wutaians at bay from there, ‘till the moment came when all attacks ceased. Puzzled, Varlus exited his hideout, only to find Lieutenant Noah in the town’s center square, surrounding a scared man, Wutaian by his clothes. The Commander ordered his men to stay hidden and alert, and approached the SOLDIER Lieutenant.

“You’re dead, old man” said the SOLDIER veteran. The man in the floor didn’t reply. Varlus managed to catch a glimpse of a young girl nearby, concealed between some canopy jars, crying silently.

Varlus knew the Lieutenant was about to go too far.

“Lieutenant” he called. Noah turned around to face him, a hardened expression on his face.

“Yes, sir?”

“Just what were you about to do with this man?” inquired Varlus.

“Sir, this is Lord Godo, the leader of Wutai. He is to be murdered for us to conquer this town.”

“Sheathe your sword, Lieutenant.”

Noah closed in on Varlus.

“I have my orders, Commander Jenneson. No life is to be spared.”

“And I have given you a direct order. You will not murder this man in cold blood.”

“Commander Jenneson, I hereby become leader of this campaign” stated Noah, pointing Varlus with his sword. Varlus almost laughed. Kids never grew up.

“Cut the crap, Noah, I’m the leader of this army.”

“Not anymore, Jenneson. I have strict orders from Shinra’s president. My squadron and me were sent to this campaign to keep a close eye on you. I daresay the President thinks you are up to no good.”

“Oh yeah? And what makes him say that? That is, if he actually told you that, and this is not just one of your immature delusions.” Varlus’ hand moved slightly to his sword’s hilt.

“The President has voiced his concern about your… peculiar” Noah stressed this word strongly, “…ways of doing battle. And he believes you were to overthrow him in this campaign, seizing both the Materia for yourself and finding a decent hideout to keep your sorry ass out of sight.”

“You make no sense, Noah. Shinra is my employer. I pay them with my loyalty. There’s no reason the President would suspect me.”

Noah laughed coldly.

“Get your sword away from me, Noah” said Varlus coldly. His anger was rising.

“You’re a fool, Varlus!” retorted Noah, laughing. “Do you really think Shinra doesn’t know anything about your beloved wife?”

This question hit Varlus like a hammer. “What do you mean?” he asked in response, staying cool, but feeling an uneasy chill down his spine.

“You have heard of Shinra’s Jenova Project. The rebirth of the Ancients… the Cetra.” Noah grinned evilly. “Your wife is key for this Project’s success.”

“You son of a bitch!” cursed Varlus, drawing his sword and rolling back into fighting stance. Blood pumped hard in his veins. His anger had long reached boiling point. That good-for-nothing brat… If he thought he could get a hold on Ifalna, he was damn wrong.

“Get away from here, Varlus. Run home to your wife and daughter… if you make it before they get kidnapped, that is.”

“You’re a dead grunt, Noah” spat Varlus, furious. Ifalna… Aeris…

“No! I’d rather die than seeing them hurt!” he thought desperately.

“Don’t make me kill you, Varlus” taunted Noah, not grinning anymore, but serious, cold as a stone. As the two swordsmen stood ready for battle, another voice came out from nearby.

“That will be enough, both of you. Put your swords away.”

Varlus checked his right side. There he was, the President, surrounded by a couple dozen SOLDIER troops and standard Shinra privates. Soon enough, the whole square was surrounded.

“Mr. President” said Noah, lowering his sword. “I wasn’t informed you’d be here.”

“Of course not. I chose not to inform you. Lieutenant Noah, I regret to inform you that your services are no longer needed.”

“What? What the—“

But the President waved his hand, and his men discharged his weapons on Noah, who fell to the ground in a pool of his own blood. His body was still twitching when the gunshots ceased.

Varlus faced the President, still enraged. If Noah’s words were true…

“Commander Jenneson” mumbled the President, moving towards him. “You did exactly as you were meant to do. You cleared the town from any defenders, secured Materia for us, in vast quantities, I might add… And I can see Lord Godo has surrendered to you. Excellent.”

“I didn’t—“

“Silence” interrupted the President. “However, Commander, I am afraid that what former Lieutenant Noah has told to you is by all accounts the truth. Your wife, Ifalna, is of utmost importance to our Jenova Project, and we will require her… cooperation.”

“No!” shouted Varlus. This was not happening. This couldn’t be happening! Why? Why Ifalna? Why him? What had he done to deserve this?

“It is not a matter of your approval. I am merely presenting you the only option you have, besides termination, of course. You are to come with us peacefully, return to your house, and bring Ifalna to us.”

“Never.” Varlus was trembling with rage. If he was to die, he’d die with honor at the very least. He would not surrender his wife and daughter to the Shinra.

The President sighed. “Oh, very well. It seems there is no other option than to do this forcefully. I am deeply disappointed with your lack of cooperation with Shinra, Commander Jenneson.”

“Lack of cooperation?!” Varlus exploded. “Stuff it, old man! When did I betray Shinra? Ever since you employed my services I fought faithfully for your God damn company. I shed my blood to accomplish your sickened goals. And this is how you repay me? By taking away my wife… my daughter… my life?!”

“Sacrifices are to be made in order to enhance research, Commander Jenneson” replied the President sarcastically.

“You mother—“

Footsteps echoed in his back. The private he saved from death in the battlefield was running at them.

“Commander Jenneson! Commander, we just—“

“RUN AWAY, KID!” shouted Varlus as Shinra’s men pointed their guns at him. The private seemed shocked at the sight, but as the President gave the order to shoot him, the private awakened from his slumber and ran back through the town’s streets. Varlus took his chance: he decapitated some Shinra men and kicked their bodies towards the others, who stumbled. Varlus then picked up a body and used it as a human shield against the other gunners’ bullets, as he ran towards the same street the private took.

“Find him and kill him!” bellowed the President, but Varlus was already on the move. Getting out of the gunners’ range of fire, he dropped the heavy burden and rushed to the fleeing private just ahead, catching up in a matter of seconds.

“Sir” panted the private, still running as fast as he could. “What has happened?”

“No time, kid” answered Varlus. “Follow me… Let’s get away from this madness. Oh, and while you’re at it, say goodbye to Shinra for good.”

“Yes, sir” replied the private, following Varlus as he climbed a nearby wall.

-------------*----------------*---------------*

[Author's Note: To be continued...]

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"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

Now that's what I call awesome.

A well written story with only a few minor errors I see that anyone and everyone can and will make. An intresting basic idea combined with that, as well as well written action scenes and quite well developed characters. All in all there's not much I can really say about this other than awesome.

I rather enjoyed the battle sequence, and like the way the SOLDIER CO is an arrogant idiot, just as expected from an officer in an elite unit that's too full of itself. Varlus gives a Leo-like aura that indicates he's still, if not a man of honour, at least not inhuman, but unlike Leo it's clear he's fighting not out of loyalty to his commanders, but to his family.

I hope there's more as soon as possible.

This post has been edited by Del S on 17th April 2006 11:18

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"Only the dead have seen the end of their quotes being misattributed to Plato."
-George Santayana

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here..."
-Abraham Lincoln, prior to the discovery of Irony.

This is a great fanfic and if your English is bad, it's not nearly as bad as people who have posted stuff in this forum in which English IS their primary language . Great stuff and I hope to see more from ya' in the furure.

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"Thought I was dead, eh? Not until I fulfill my dream!"
Seifer Almasy


"The most important part of the story is the ending."
Secret Window


"Peace is but a shadow of death."
Kuja

Posting next chapter/memory before I'm off to university

MEMORY THREE: THE OUTLAWS

A vicious blizzard raged with all its fury upon the cliffs to the south of Wutai. Varlus and his companion, the rookie private he saved from Shinra's squadron, sheltered from the storm in a damp, dark cave. Varlus lighted yet another cigarrette and breathed the poisonous but pleasant substance deeply.

"What a catastrophe" said the private glumly. "To think I was so proud serving Shinra..."

"Shit happens, kid." Varlus blew the smoke in full circles.

"Sir, why do you think--"

"No more of that "sir" thing" cut Varlus, looking sideways at the private. "The name's Varlus. I'm no longer your Commander, so forget about formalities now."

"A-Alright... Varlus" mumbled the private. The former Commander grinned: the private was nervous treating him in an informal way. He knew his long years as soldier, warrior and mercenary had earned him some kind of legendary status, but as far as he was concerned, it was all a whole bunch of crap. Being a legend doesn't make you invincible. He knew that all too well.

"By the way, kid, what's your name?" He puffed his cigarrette again.

"Gainsborough. Jack Gainsborough." The private smiled weakly. Varlus sat off another jet of smoky circles and gazed at him.

"Any relatives, Jack?"

"My wife. Elmyra."

"You must miss her a lot." Varlus knew perfectly how that felt. He thought for a second about Ifalna and Aeris and felt saddened, defeated.

"Yes. And..." Jack seemed doubtful, avoiding Varlus' eyes for a minute.

"What? You worried about her? It's natural."

"Yeah, but it's not just that. My... my wife and I... well, we have no children. And I--"

"You're afraid that if you got killed, she's gonna be all alone" finished Varlus, understanding what Jack meant. The private nodded. "That's the worst side of war" continued the former Commander as he gave another puff to the cigarrette. "All of us lie saying it'd be alright, telling our loved ones not to worry, that nothing's gonna happen to us..." He smirked. "Bullshit. Every one of us can be worm food at anytime, and so much for the "it's alright" thing. Yet, we can't help but keep lying to them."

"Especially a green private like me" said Jack grimly.

"Everyone of us, kid. You, me, the rest of those poor devils who are still in Wutai... No one has life for granted when it's war we're talking about." That was how you learnt, thought Varlus: by seeing a few friend being blown to bits, by suffering betrayals and treasons, being backstabbed... Sad, but true.

"But not you, Varlus" argued Jack. "You're a legend. How many wars and battles have you got through?"

"Far more than I'd like" replied Varlus. His cigarrette was midway from dead. "And it's not as if it matters, anyway. Veteran or rookie, it only takes one bullet or one stab to the heart to send you to the other neighborhood. Besides," Varlus smirked again, looking at the private, "I never fancied legends."

Both of them laughed for a moment. Then Jack cleared his throat as he said "I'm not cut out for this. I only came 'cause I'm a Shinra--- was a Shinra employee and soldier. But you... you're different. You have no problem getting involved in these conflicts."

Varlus stared at the private, who seemed to wish he could take his words back. "I fought for Shinra because I had no choice. Before that, I was off as a sentry in some forgotten dock at Junon. Payment was a real crap, and I needed more money income to raise my little daughter properly. My wife never really approved of me becoming a Shinra Commander, but she had to cope with it, as I did. I don't enjoy fighting or killing, Jack" went on Varlus as he threw the cigarrette's smoky remains off the cave, "yet I have to. I'm not ashamed of it, mind you... It's just I despise unnecessary murder. And I'll admit I'm a man who's damn good at what he always did: fighting. An old warhorse, if you wanna put it that way." Both men laughed again, yet Varlus was feeling an uneasy guilt inside him.

"It's not your fault. You had your orders."

"No need to remind me that, kid."

They felt silent as the wind howled through the cave, chilling the men to their bones. Jack trembled. "Get some sleep, Jack. We set out with the dawn" said Varlus, standing up.

"What's your plan?" asked Jack.

"Well, unless we manage to build a raft or something, we'll have to hijack one of Shinra's ships and make it to the Middle Continent. Once there, we'll have a long road towards Costa Del Sol. I have some trusted friends there; they'll lend us a ship or sneak us into one. Once we get to Junon, we're home free."

"Easier said than done" said Jack.

"It's all we've got, kid" replied Varlus. "Either take it or think something else."

Jack stood silent, then said "Whatever it takes."

"Good. That's the spirit. Now get some sleep."

Jack squeezed against the cave's walls, trying to find a more comfortable position to rest. Varlus watched through the storm, keeping an eye for Shinra troops.

"Varlus" said Jack from behind. The former Commander turned around. "What about the boys still at Wutai?"

A tough question. Varlus didn't reply for a moment, then said: "They'll have to take care of themselves. I'm no hero: can't save everybody. Lady Luck made me save you, kid, and God knows she has given us enough luck for this day."

Jack said nothing, turned around and fell silent.

Varlus sat down. His men were dead. Again, he failed to protect innocents from slaughter. But, as he said before, he was no hero.

"Every man for himself."

Varlus recalled again the memories of Ifalna and Aeris, and his eyes got wet yet again. As he himself said, at his thirty three years, he was turning into a crying sissy. But, then again, given the circumstances, anybody would cry. Even a veteran like him.

"I'll be home before those Shinra, Ifalna. I swear on my honor."

And Varlus was sure that, now being an outlaw, honor was his last possession, and his most treasured one.

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[To be continued...]





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"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

INTERMISSION

"Breathe deep, rest now. This spirit's story has already unveiled itself to some extent, but it is far from over."

"As of now, you have revealed secrets that no one knows."

"The white light that brought you to this man's memories now releases you, to analyze all you have learned."

"Keep your eyes closed. There is no need for you to open them."

"Remain completely immersed in this man's memories."

"Are you ready now to continue? We are closer to unveiling a most dramatic memory."

"Open your eyes again."

--------*----------*----------*

MEMORY FOUR: OPERATION: ESCAPE

"There, kid." Varlus pointed towards some Shinra vessels docked in the shore. "One of those is our ticket out of here."

"They look heavily guarded" said Jack, spotting several sentries here and there throughout the docks.

Varlus pulled out his binoculars and scoped the area. "Hmm... they don't look well armed, though. Machine guns mostly... probably grenades... Oh, crap."

"What?"

"A SOLDIER group. Damn." Varlus knew the SOLDIER were tough nuts to crack. This wasn't good. "Whatever we do, we must stay out of sight from those guys, or we'll be done for. Got any equipment?"

"Well, here's my .45" said Jack, pulling out his gun and handing it to Varlus, who refused it.

"A .45 is no good. Sure, it packs a punch alright, but it's damn slow. And besides, it doesn't have a suppressor. People in the Gold Saucer would hear the racket that thing does." He sighed. " We'll have to get some weapons in the docks, just in case things go nasty."

"What about your blade?" asked Jack.

"A sword's of no use against ranged weapons. They'll make mincemeat of me as I close in for the kill. No, we need guns. Silenced guns, if possible. Or a sniper rifle." Varlus sweeped through the docks, focusing a moment later on a large warehouse a couple of yards away from the ships. "That warehouse looks like it stashes supplies for the Shinra. I've seen similar ones back in the Eastern Continent."

"What's the insertion method?" asked Jack. Varlus looked at him, grinning.

"Why, look at you. Already speaking like a war veteran." Both men smiled. "Well, an air insertion is impossible."

"Not with this storm going on" added Jack.

"We'll probably be able to enter the warehouse if we move carefully through the encampment, staying hidden in the shadows." Varlus pocketed his binoculars and began to walk down the slope the two men were standing in towards the docks. "Psyche yourself up, kid. It's gonna be a tough one."

"I'm ready" replied Jack, following Varlus.

-------

Varlus and Jack reached the docks' outer fence line with no problems. The two men climbed the fence and quickly hid behind some heavy crates. After explaining the plan to Jack (cross the docks towards that warehouse while staying concealed), Varlus felt a tingle of doubt. Jack was a rookie, after all. What if he blew it all out?

"Kid, you'd better wait here 'til I find some weapons for us" he said to him.

"No way! I'm not staying behind while you risk your life, Varlus."

"You don't have any experience in sneaking operations, Jack" argued Varlus. "You'll just slow me down."

"Oh, I get it. Just a green rookie, am I?" Jack sounded pissed, and not without reason. But Varlus had no time for that.

"Don't be dumb. It's just that I've got far more experience than you, kid. Any slip-up from any of us and this whole dock will be on full alert. Then, it'd be impossible to steal away a ship."

"Cope with it, Varlus" grumbled the private. "I'm not staying behind. Either we both make it, or we both die. I won't chicken out."

"And if you do?"

"Then kill me yourself."

Varlus groaned, pissed of. "Of all the idiotic--"

"Trust me, Varlus. I'll not be a burden" said Jack, patting Varlus on the back. There was something... different about this private, he thought. True, those were rookie's eyes if he ever saw them, but the kid looked determined and bold.

"Just like I did, back then." He remember his younger years, and a very similar discussion with his former Captain. His Captain didn't trust him and went on on his own, only to be discovered, outnumbered, and killed. Had Varlus been allowed to join him, things would have ended differently.

Alright, he decided, let the kid have it his way.

"Very well, Jack. Follow my every move and listen to all of my instructions. But mind you: if I tell you to pull back and let me handle it, do it. If I tell you to run away and forget about me, do it. Is that clear?"

Jack gulped. "Okay."

"Let's move. Stay silent." Varlus dashed quietly through the rows of crates, Jack following him from behind. The two men reached an opening that led to the docks' main courtyard.

"Searchlights. Crap." Two big reflectors installed in parallel towers sweeped the courtyard in a defined pattern. One sentry on the left, one on the right. A snowy truck was parked in the leftmost side of the yard, and as for the rest, it was deserted. Varlus knew it was foolish to risk the warehouse's main gate: it would have only taken one to spot either him or Jack in the open. Signaling the private, he moved stealthily to the left, hiding from the searchlights, until they were in front of the parked truck. Varlus told Jack to wait, then readied himself to run to the back of the vehicle. Yet, as he was midway through his run, the truck's door opened and another sentry started his descent to the ground. Thinking rapidly, Varlus rolled below the truck, stopping his momentum by clinging to the vehicle's lower machinery. He indicated Jack to wait, and stood silent.

A pair of boots circled the truck, and were soon joined by another pair.

"How're things?" asked one of the sentries.

"Cold as hell. No signs of either Jenneson or that rookie... what was his name again?"

"Oh, who cares. He's a John Doe anyway."

"Heh, that's true. By the way, I've recently received an update from Captain Mideen. All of you guys are to meet her in the meeting room on the second floor."

Varlus sighed. "So she's here." Captain Krianna Mideen, born in the Northern Continent (Icicle Inn, to be more precise) was his former comrade in Shinra's army, and probably one of his few friends inside the company. Varlus considered the option: what if she agreed to help him escape that frozen wasteland?

"No use. She wouldn't be in charge of this search operation if she didn't agree with the Shinra."

But then again, Varlus himself was in lead of the strike team in Wutai, even though he didn't agree. What if this was the same case?

"Oh, so she wants us to meet her, eh? Wouldn't mind seeing that hot body again." The sentries chuckled. " 'Twould be a good way to fight off this cold."

"Lucky bastard" replied the other sentry, still in an amused voice. "Anyway, go up there before it's late, or she'll have your ass kicked back to sentry duty here."

"Too true. See ya later, I'm gonna have a drink."

"Yeah, yeah, get out of here!"

One of the pair of boots ran off towards the warehouse, and entered it through a side door on the left side. That was his way in, thought Varlus. He crawled out behind the truck, and after checking the coast was clear, Jack joined him.

"Heard anything interesting?" he asked.

"Captain Mideen is in charge here."

"Oh, that slutty looking woman?" asked Jack, grinning.

"Yeah. It's a good thing, 'cause she and I go way back. But it's also a bad thing, 'cause she knows exactly how I operate and move." Who else would have thought of setting up searchlights? That was as if Krianna had left her signature in the place. "We'll have to be extra careful."

"Alright" said Jack. "Think she'll help us?"

"I dunno. We'll have to find out later."

"But, Varlus" argued Jack, "if she doesn't, then we'll have to get her out of our way."

Varlus thought about it. She was her friend. No, the simple thought of him fighting her was unbearable. "I'd rather not come to that. As long as we keep ourselves out of sight, we won't have to even see her face."

"Okay."

"Let's move. Follow me."

After dodging the searchlights again, Varlus and Jack made it to the side door the sentry had used, and went through it.

-----

"I don't believe it." Varlus checked both sides of the corridor, and was astounded: it was completely deserted. He was growing restless: this was all too easy.

"What's up?" asked Jack.

"There's no one. Something's wrong... This in an amateur's mistake. If I were in command, I'd swarm this place with sentries."

"Well, even the best hunter misses a shot sometimes, don't you think?" said Jack, grinning. Varlus didn't smile in reply.

"No. Krianna doesn't make this mistakes. This is a trap... she's making things easier to tempt me." Varlus looked to the ceiling for a moment. It seemed the Captain had learned Varlus' tactics all too well. Sure, there was the meeting thing he'd overheard the sentries outside, but that was no excuse for leaving the ground floor deserted.

"There's no point in worrying about it now, though" said Jack. "Let's find some guns."

The private was right, yet Varlus felt worried nonetheless. The two men turned right at the corner, moving quietly so as not to be surprised, yet there was still no one in sight. Now feeling as if walking into the lion's den blindfolded, Varlus entered a nearby room followed by Jack.

There were computers everywhere. Thousands of research files were neatly organized in several lockers.

"A data room" deduced Jack, closing the door behind them. Varlus scanned the room for useful items, but found none. However, his eyes stopped at a monitor, which displayed the words JENOVA PROJECT.

"Hold on a sec, kid."

He walked to the computer, punched in a few keys, and it reacted, beginning to display several files. All of them were useless research diaries signed by some Prof. Hojo of Shinra, but the last entry caught his attention.

UPDATE ON CETRA SPECIMEN -- CLASSIFIED

Cetra Specimen? Ifalna was the last Cetra as far as Varlus knew. He opened the log.

Following a tip from an anonymous source in Junon, I conducted several investigations regarding this supposed "last living Cetra specimen". Much to my amazement, my inquiries had met a resounding success. A young woman by the name of Ifalna (last name unclear) was located living a couple of minutes away from Junon. Further research on this matter had revealed that she is indeed the last descendant of the Cetra. What's more, she is the wife of Shinra Army's Commander, Varlus Jenneson. I am sure that acquiring blood samples from the Cetra is of vital importance for the Project's success. I have forwarded this log to the higher-ups at Shinra, stressing it is of the utmost importance to get a blood sample of this Cetra as soon as possible. The Project has already fell under schedule, and if we fail to accomplish these tests of the Cetra's blood and later implement them on Jenova, then there is no doubt this Project will end up in failure. The President said she'd have the Cetra's blood no matter what it takes, but I don't trust the man. He's more than capable of killing her, and I need her alive for the tests. As for Jenneson, he said he'd take care of him during the Wutai campaign. I don't give a damn about Jenneson or the Cetra's daughter, but I need Ifalna alive. Else, she'll be useless. There is also the matter of that Turk, Valentine, that's complicating things. He's getting involved too much for his own good. I'll have to take care of him too eventually. No one is going to hinder this project.

Prof. Hojo of Shinra

So it was true! Ifalna was in danger! And that damn Hojo didn't give a shit about Aeris getting killed!

"I have to hurry!"

"Hey, is Ifalna--"

"His wife" said a feminine voice behind them. Both men turned around, Varlus drawing his sword, Jack pulling out his .45.

"Oh, crap. I knew it."

There, standing in front of them, stood Krianna Mideen, expressionless, sword in hand.

----------*----------*----------*

[Author's Note: To be continued...]

This post has been edited by Artiles on 18th April 2006 04:16

--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

This is getting good! I'm rooting for ol' Varlus and Jack all the way .

--------------------

Console RPG Cliches

MEMORY FIVE: A LOSING BATTLE

"You've grown older, Varlus. And much more predictable, I see." Krianna waved her sword lazily through her sides, staring at Varlus, who was dead tense. Jack seemed nervous, gun shaking in his hand.

"I knew this was a trap. I taught you everything I knew, Krianna, and I see you've grown far more than I expected."

"Then why did you let yourself be captured? Surely you understand by know I work for Shinra, and I won't let you escape."

Varlus stepped forward. "Listen, Krianna... this is one huge mistake. Shinra's after Ifalna. I can't allow that."

"Yes, I know" sighed Krianna. "I've been fully briefed on the situation."

"Let me be on my way" said Varlus, secretly pleading Krianna would understand. "I only want to make it back home to my family before it's too late."

"I'm afraid I can't allow that, Varlus."

"Why are you doing this, Krianna?" Varlus got closer to her. "I know you're not just another Shinra captain. We lived through a thousand situations together. You too have the sense of honor inside you. Why do you try to stop me? Have you lost your self pride?"

"Shut up!" shouted Krianna, slashing at Varlus, who rolled out of harm's way. "Don't give me that crap! I don't deserve it. I'm a warrior, just like you. And I still have my honor intact, whereas you don't."

"Oh, really? Is it an honorous thing to stop a man whose only goal is to save his family from death at the hands of your own employers? Would you sacrifice your honor just for unfair loyalty to genocides?"

"We are mercenaries, Varlus" answered Krianna. "We do what it takes."

Varlus sighed. "That it a lesson you never learned, Krianna. And I'm the one to blame for that."

"What do you mean?" asked Krianna, puzzled.

"A warrior is not a puppet. We warriors live only to fight and kill, since that's what we do best. But digging our own codes only to be loyal to another is not being a warrior. That's being a puppet, a tool. Warriors are not tools; mercenaries are. Warriors follow different paths, but always have a key word etched on them: honor. Pride. Mercenaries' only loyalty is to the highest bidder. Not to their own honor."

"Admirable feelings, Varlus" replied Krianna. "Then why did you join Shinra? Why did you accept the war on Wutai and became Commander? You speak of honor and pride, yet you betrayed yourself by slaughtering innocents at Wutai, at Mount Corel..."

"I'm not proud of my past, Krianna. You know that." Varlus looked sideways for a moment, then refocused his sight on the Captain. "But that doesn't mean I'm doomed forever. I've changed... remembered my old ways... took you as my apprentice. Taught you everything about a warrior's way. Now I'm trying to amend a mistake."

"You left me for dead on Corel! Do you remember that? I had to fend for myself after you fled like a coward, Varlus!"

Yes, he was expecting she'd say that. And had his answer ready.

"I didn't leave you. We were outnumbered, injured, and pretty much fucked up. I risked my own life to get you out of the main battlefield. Do you recall waking up near a cliff on the north side of that battlefield? I dragged you there. While you were unconscious, I fought against those Corel men, and barely escaped with my life. I distracted the Corel men long enough to run back to that cliff and take you out of that hell, but by the time I reached the cliff, you were gone. I realised what had happened. So if it weren't for me, Krianna, you'd be six feet under by now."

Krianna lowered her head. "Playing hero as always, Varlus."

"There are no heroes or heroines in war. Only survivors."

"Still" said Krianna, now facing Varlus again, "you didn't care to seek me out later, did you? You left on your own, leaving everything behind, like a lonely wolf! I was dead worried about you, and you gave a damn about it!"

Varlus shook his head. "You'd grown up to a fine woman, and warrior. You were more than capable of living by yourself. You needed my assistance no longer."

"Assistance, help, advice, training... is that all you can think of? Can't you see beyond those things?" Krianna's eyes watered. Varlus understood: she still felt the same about him as before.

"I told you this before, and I'll say it again. I'm not the most suitable man for you. I have a wife, a daughter, and I'm happy with them. You'd be best off with a younger man, with no commitments. And I am neither young nor free."

"I don't care! You still think for yourself, Varlus, not caring about what others may feel!"

"What is it that you want to hear from me, Krianna?" Varlus had to end this once and for all. "That I love you as much as you love me? I don't. I care for you as my most appreciated friend. I don't love you. I told you it was a mistake to fall in love with me. Yet you did. That's okay... Hey, I don't blame you. It's a natural thing to happen. But you have to accept the facts, Krianna. It's not gonna work out."

It was Krianna's turn to look away, weeping. "Do you expect me to be just fine after hearing that?" she asked with a broken voice.

"No. That'd be pointless. I only hope that, someday, you'd understand."

Krianna wiped her eyes, still sobbing. Then she faced Varlus.

"I understand. I was mistaken, once. But now I see the real thing. I'm not a mercenary. I'm a warrior. A warrior... that still has honor. That's why I won't let you leave here without a fight. It's not for the Shinra; they can rot as much as I care. I'll fight you... for myself. To amend my mistakes."

And after saying that, Krianna drew back her right leg, dropping into a fighting stance. Varlus sighed again.

"It's not neccessary to come to blows, Krianna. I mean you no harm."

"Say no more" said Krianna, weakly. "Please say no more. Let us fight... I beg you to fight. If I can't be with you, then let me prove you I'm not a failure."

"I know you aren't, Krianna, for God's sake--"

"A fight to the death with the great Varlus Jenneson... that's all I ask. This is a losing situation to both of us anyway: letting you go means my honor and pride will be shattered, killing you means my heart will be shattered."

Varlus looked at her. "To be defeated means I'll not be able to save Ifalna and Aeris... and to kill you means killing my most trusted friend. A losing battle indeed, no matter the outcome."

Krianna nodded. "That's right. So let's Fate decide who has the privilege of at least staying alive."

Varlus retreated a few steps and dropped into a fighting stance as well. "Jack, stay out of this. This is my battle." Jack acknowledged, retreating into a corner.

It was Krianna who attacked first, and Varlus noticed she'd grown stronger and faster after all those years. Fueled by her sorrow, the Captain slashed swiftly at Varlus, who was on the defensive, waiting for his opportunity to strike back. He jumped over a table, which Krianna cleared with ease, and rolled to his side, slashing at the Captain. She, however, seemed to have been expecting this, and after blocking Varlus' attack backflipped and waited, ready again to resume the battle.

Varlus remembered his Father's teachings. "In battle, whoever strikes first, strikes twice." And in Krianna's case, being hit twice meant death. Taking the initiative, Varlus rushed and her and flurried away, but the woman blocked all of his attacks. She then kicked Varlus on the chest, who backed away, and jumped for the killing blow.

Time seemed to stop. Varlus evaluated his options thinking at light-speed, then he saw it. The opening. Taking his chance, the former Commander lunged forward, feinted, and stabbed upwards.

His sword sank deeply through the Captain's chest, but a moment later, Varlus felt a stinging pain in his left shoulder: Krianna's blade had pierced him as well.

Both warriors stood motionless, enduring their pains, when Krianna passed her free left hand through Varlus' head, giving him a one-handed hug.

Varlus seized Krianna's right arm, still holding the sword, in a soft way.

"I... I failed" said Krianna weakly, spitting blood with each word. Varlus withdrew his sword from the woman's chest, and she fell to the floor slowly, as if floating. Her sword retreated from Varlus' shoulder smoothly and fell next to her. Varlus kneeled at her side.

Jack moved forward, but Varlus stopped him with his hand.

"I... I was such a fool... challenging you" said Krianna.

"No, Krianna" said Varlus. "You did what you thought it was right. You held true to your beliefs until the end."

"I'm... no warrior. I'm just... a silly girl." The Captain was making an enormous effort to speak. "I could never be... nearly as good as you."

"Wrong. It was a fair fight. You have improved greatly, Krianna. Had you not left that opening at the end, I would've been lying on the floor now."

Krianna grinned, and a thin line of blood ran off her mouth. Varlus wiped it away.

"I was wrong... I had always... fought for Shinra... only for the money. I... was a mercenary... no feelings... just a blinding rage at you... and I forgot... everything... you taught me. I was a fool."

"Quiet down. Save your strength" said Varlus, though he knew there was no hope for his friend.

"You can't save me... And neither I want you to do it. I'm... finally free... I've finally... made peace with myself... and my memories." She coughed blood. "I've... finally found... redemption."

She raised her hand to Varlus' cheek.

"Go now... go to your family... to Ifalna... and tell her... tell her..." She coughed again, unable to finish her sentence.

"What do you want me to tell her?"

Krianna looked at him.

"Tell her... to be worthy... of you."

Varlus grabbed her hand, staying silent.

"Live... with honor..." she said, reciting Varlus' old motto, and tilting her head to her left, breathing her last.

"Die with pride, my friend" ended Varlus, as Krianna died.

----------*----------*----------*

[To be continued...]

[Author's note: A very emotional chapter/memory... there were so many things I wanted to include, but I ended up with a 15 page chapter So I had to cut some things. Hope it still mantained the effect I wanted it to have... Anyway, tell me what you think ]

This post has been edited by Artiles on 18th April 2006 21:52

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"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

[Moving on...]

MEMORY SIX: THE SPIRIT CARRIES ON

Varlus felt nothing. No emotion. His shoulder's pain was long forgotten. He was thinking of nothing.

"Krianna's dead. I killed her."

As he let go of the dead Captain's hand and placed it across her body, the former Commander felt void. Empty. Lifeless.

"I killed her."

He could hear Jack typing on the computers behind him. It didn't matter. She was dead... Krianna was dead... and so was he...

"She's dead. I died with her. I have no honor. I have killed my friend, with absolutely no reason."

"DAMN!" cursed Varlus, punching the metal floor furiously. "Why?! I didn't want this! Why you?!" It was too much to bear. Another innocent's blood was spilt by his hands.

He could then feel Jack's hand on his uninjured shoulder.

"Let it go, Varlus. You had no choice."

"Shut up, kid!" spat Varlus. He didn't understand a damn thing. What did that rookie know about him, or her? He had no right to speak... no right at all...

"Blaming yourself won't ease your pain" whispered Jack, apprehensively. Varlus had had too much of it: he got to his feet abruptly and seized the private's neck violently.

"You know nothing of this. You can't imagine... this woman... Krianna... she was my friend. She was my friend, dammit, and I killed her!" Pain, blinding pain, sadness...

"You had no choice, Varlus!" answered Jack, choking. "She would have killed you if left the chance! Stop blaming yourself for something that was unavoidable!"

Varlus said nothing.

"You wanna kill me too? Then go ahead! But listen: I may be a rookie alright, but I'm not heartless--"

"Are you trying to say I am, kid?!" said Varlus angrily. Jack shook his head slowly.

"I know you aren't heartless as well. But... remember what she said!" Jack struggled to get away from Varlus' grip, but the former Commander wouldn't budge. "She WANTED you to kill her, for God's sake!"

Varlus was silent. He released the rookie, who rubbed his neck to ease the pain. "She wanted me to do it" said Varlus slowly.

"That's right" nodded Jack. "I've heard everything you and she said before fighting. I may not know what went on between you two before, but I realized this: she had no life left in her. She was consumed by rage, blinded by her desire to avenge herself... and she knew she was wrong. She needed her life to be ended, but decided only you would be the one to do it. Because she loved you... Oh yes, she did. Surely you can realize that much." Jack faced Varlus, who was completely silent, still looking at Krianna's body. "Varlus... she was already dead on the inside. All she needed was to be killed physically, and only you were the perfect man to do it. The only worthy man to end her life... you."

Varlus was still speechless. He thought about what Jack had said... and found out he was right. Krianna had made her choice long before that fight. He thought of his Father, and what he'd have done in the same situation... and knew he'd have done the same thing. That battle hadn't been a physical battle, a mutual desire to murder each other... Krianna and him were just warriors fighting for different sides.

"We both fought with honor" said Varlus calmly. "This was no mere battle. It was an emotional battle. A battle of wills... Oh, Father" he pleaded, looking up, "Am I.... am I worthy of my life?"

Jack said nothing. Varlus continued, "All my life, I've fought for what I believed in. I may have made some mistakes... but, after all, I'm human. I'm not perfect. This path I chose... It's not an easy path. Was this what you meant that day, saying that honor may bring despair along as well?"

"Varlus" said Jack, "don't push it. I've seen you fight, I've heard what you say and how you think and feel, and I'm sure you're perhaps the greatest warrior there is. Because even though you can kill another, and battle ruthlessly, you still have a heart... you still have feelings. Unlike other warriors or soldiers, you haven't lost your humanity. You're not a killing machine... You are human."

Varlus looked at Jack, who was grinning. Even though he was a rookie when it came to fighting, he had to admit Jack was far more experienced in the pshychological front. Perhaps even more than he was. He smiled at him.

"One day, Jack, you'll become a great warrior. Greater than anybody else. It's gonna take time, sure... but you'll make it. If you truly wish to be one, of course."

They both shook hands, and the promise was sealed.

Jack had deactivated the security measures surrounding the docked ships, and had also found a secret cache of assault rifles on a cabinet. As Varlus loaded his AAR-10, he noticed a sparkling pendant in Krianna's, neck. He crouched, removed it gently from his friend's neck, and threw around his own.

"What's that?" asked Jack, loading his own rifle.

"A memento" answered Varlus, smiling. "I'm gonna need her help to carry on. Ready?" he asked.

Jack nodded. "Let's bust out of here."

Both men left the computer room. After giving a last glance at Krianna's body, Varlus shut the door... and his memories along with it.

-------

"Ok, now all we have to do is get to those ships ASAP" said Varlus. A second later, he spotted a shadow in the corridor ahead, moving towards them. He threw himself behind a metal barrel, but it was too late. The sentry picked up his radio.

"He's here! Backup on the north side of the first floor, now!"

"Looks like we'll be a little delayed. Damn!" cursed Jack behind a cabinet.

"No time to lose now! Shoot!" ordered Varlus, jumping out of concealment and firing his rifle at the sentry, who dropped dead instantly. "Move it!" Varlus shouted, and they began to run down the corridor towards the exit. As they were reaching it, a squad of Shinra corporals came down the stairs. Varlus and Jack rolled behind some crates for coverage, and began to fight back the sentries. One by one, the Shinra guards fell to the ground, showering the walls with crimson blood.

After a few minutes, the last sentry was shot in the head by Jack, who was improving his aiming skills amazingly, and dropped dead. Realizing they had no time before the whole dock was swarmed, Varlus ran out of the warehouse and round the corner, where he sniped the two sentries on the courtyard, and made a break towards the ships, followed by Jack.

Varlus was nearing the docks when he heard it: the metallic sound of a tank coming their way.

"Jack! They've got a tank! Get in one of these ships and get it started! I'll distract it!"

"You're nuts! You plan to fight a tank on your own?!"

"Just move, dammit!" ordered Varlus, pushing Jack forward. The private entered the piers and began to clear the area from Shinra sentries. Varlus, on the other side, walked to the tank slowly. The tank's turret turned to him, but didn't fire. A sentry came out from the top, laughing his ass off.

"This is as far as you'll go, Jenneson! You can't best a tank in open combat!"

"We'll see" replied Varlus. "Come on, punk, make my day!" he taunted, as he ran straight headlong towards the tank. The massive beast pointed its massive cannon directly at him, but Varlus rolled to his right as the cannon fired. The shell hit some oil containers on the far side of the docks, and the whole place turned into an inferno instantly. Hot flames rained down from the sky towards the docks.

Varlus knew the tank's main weapon was totally useless in close range, so he ran in an irregular pattern towards the behemoth to avoid the machine gun's deadly barrage of bullets. As he closed in, the former Commander climbed up the tank's slugs and made his way towards the top lid. It opened, and Varlus shot enraged inside it, creating a distraction. A sentry jumped up the tank, but Varlus knocked him out of it with the rifle's butt. The sentry rolled towards one of the slugs, where he was carried to the front of the tank, and squashed. In a swift move, Varlus ran to the end of the cannon, took a grenade from his vest, pulled out the pin and shoved it down. With only seconds, Varlus jumped out from the tank, running like hell towards the ships while shooting every sentry in sight. Behind him, he heard (and felt) the tank's cannon blowing up in a massive explosion who nearly knocked him off balance.

Dashing swiftly but cautiously, Varlus made it to the left pier, where Jack was slaughtering sentries everywhere using the ship's main turret.

"Jack, get us outta here!" Varlus shouted, as he ran towards the ship. Jack got back inside and started up the engines, which agitated the waters around them. Varlus emptied his AAR-10 on the remaining sentries, then dived from the pier's end into the ship before its cargo bay door closed. The sentries discharged their weapons in rage towards the ship, but it was no good: the ship had bulletproof plating.

Panting heavily, Varlus dropped his rifle to the floor and laid on his back, regaining his breath. As he looked at himself, he noticed Krianna's pendant was shining beautifully on his neck.

"So..." he panted, "you did protect me after all. Thanks."

He held the pendant on his bloodstained fist as he closed his eyes and, exhausted, fell asleep.

----------*----------*----------*

[To be continued...]

This post has been edited by Artiles on 22nd April 2006 09:02

--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

First of all, the shameless brown nosing. I'm enjoying the depth of the story and the steady character development throughout each chapter. The battles are imaginative and descriptive without senseless repetition of violence. The tank battle was somewhat cliché, though not without warrant considering Shinra's rather silly defensive forces.

Krianna's death was well done given your material. There wasn't much time to develop her character and build rapport between reader and (soon to be) dead soldier. I think if you had alluded to her existence, even given her a few lines as early as the first chapter, it might have worked out better. Death scenes are always difficult to do without drawing cringes from overused devices.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO".

If your English is not your primary language, then you have come quite far. I am polylingual myself and so I'm probably not the best to disseminate grammar or word choices. Anyhow, let's see where the next chapter goes.

PS. Don't shy away from length if the scene deserves it.

--------------------

Visions of Peace - Four Generals, One Empire, and the Returners caught in the middle.

Going well, but a quick little niggle. Why arm him with an AMERICAN made assault rifle? Why not simply make up a weapon or say assault rifle?

Shameless self plug time: To keep my fics more coherent, I made up firearms for Shinra, so... Wanna nick the AAR-10?

The story and characters are indeed trundling along fine, and I agree the death scene was done well. The Tank battle could have been a bit more of a cat and mouse scenario, with Varlus using the cover in the area to his advantage to try and sneak behind the tank to hit the rear armour with a M72 LAW type weapon.

I can only agree with the P.S note Elessar gave. Things can go a little longer if you like.

--------------------

"Only the dead have seen the end of their quotes being misattributed to Plato."
-George Santayana

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here..."
-Abraham Lincoln, prior to the discovery of Irony.

Fair point, Del S Equipment changed. I won't forget to include your name after I finish this

--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

INTERMISSION

"Control yourself. You knew before all these revelations began to fall upon you this would be a difficult journey."

"So far, you have witnessed many things, seen characters come and go, live and die... Yet do not be fooled by it."

"Remember than, in the plane of consciousness you're in, death is nothing more than a transition."

"This man's memories have been plagued by the poison inside him. That is why he seeks your help. Why did he seek you specifically, I do not know."

"But it is clear you alone can help this man find the rest he deserves. Only you can help him steer away from darkness, and find the light."

"Brace yourself. The worst is yet to come."

"Open your eyes."

----------*----------*----------*

[Author's Note: Posting chapter/memory seven tomorrow. Way too sleepy to write coherently right now. Besides, I've got to plan this very carefully. ]

--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

(Must've dreamt it over Anyway, here goes)

MEMORY SEVEN: DEFEATED WINNERS

Varlus lighted another cigarette as the sun began to rise over the Corel mountains. Steering the wheel of the truck they had stolen after docking near Rocket Town (and subsequently being chased by a Shinra helicopter), the warrior tried not to revive the last hours' painful events.

Yet, lucky charm though he may consider it, Krianna's pendant (now tilted slightly over Varlus' wolf tattoo on his chest's left side) was of no help in this matter. It wasn't heavy, but as far as Varlus was concerned, it felt as if made of pure lead.

He couldn't help but replaying it in his head. He had to admit, for a moment he thought she was going to join him in his desperate run home. Varlus had hoped their past shared adventures and assignments would tilt the odds on his favor, the fact he left her on her own notwithstanding. Funny how love can drastically change someone's decisions.

For his mind had been nagging him with the same thought ever since he dozed off in that Shinra boat: Had he made it clear before with Krianna that he would never see her as what she wanted him to see, would she have joined him instead of fight him? Did he had to add another mark to his already long list of personal failures and mistakes?

Jack shrugged at his side. Varlus paid no attention to him, still focused on himself.

Should he have lowered his sword instead of stabbing through Krianna's opening? Ok, maybe not lowered (no sense in getting killed that easy), but... rolled out of the way, perhaps? He had enough time to evade her lunge. Was striking the best decision?

"A warrior must not hesitate, no matter who the enemy might be."

Yes, those were his Father's words. But Varlus had been questioning those quotes lately... Surely, surely his Father wouldn't have said the same when put in that position.

But what about Krianna herself? What an amateur's flaw, that opening... Even Jack wouldn't have made that mistake...

And then it struck him: what if Krianna left that opening on purpose? What if she wanted him to kill her, as Jack had said?

The private snored, face glued to the window.

What an irony. To kill his best friend, not wanting to do it, and his kill was only possible because she laid his path with red carpet and a couple of candles. For now that he recalled that scene, it became clearer and clearer: nobody with a slight training would have left its left flank so unguarded.

Varlus shook his head, picked up the cigarette and squeezed it between his lips. He was going fucking crazy, and he knew it. But, then again, who wouldn't lose one or two screws after what happened?

"War is hell alright" he whispered harshly. The sun kept crawling its way upwards through the sky. And just like the dawn before he stroke at Wutai and all this madness began, he remembered Ifalna and Aeris... and his guilt became stronger. What would Ifalna think about this?

"Oh, no. You're not getting THOSE ideas in your head now" he said to himself. "She always backed you up, she knew what you were and how you made yourself a living before you proposed, and she accepted it."

This sure was a break point, though.

"Whatever. She loves me, I love her, and that's that."

And what about Aeris? How could he explain Daddy had-- no, wait a second. She didn't have to know about this. Not yet, anyway. So no point in worrying about it. Period.

Finally, his mind became silent. Varlus could felt nothing but thankful about it. Jack stretched in the little space he had, and looked at him.

"You look tired. Want me to drive for a while?" he asked sleepily.

"I'm alright" answered Varlus. No, he wasn't. But he didn't have to know about it. "Besides, you're still logy, and I don't fancy throwing all the effort we'd made up 'till know because of you crashing the truck."

They laughed briefly. Then Jack yawned, checking the truck's clock. 05:52 AM. Ifalna is getting up, thought Varlus.

"You know, when I was back in boot camp, I had no real trouble shooting those targets. But as I stood on that battlefield, facing those Wutaians... well, it was tough at the beginning. I was thinking "man, this is all so fucked up. I'm... killing people. Live, breathing people. This isn't right.""

"Killing is a habit" said Varlus, sight still on the road. "The more you do it, the easier it gets."

"That's awful" said Jack.

"You didn't seem to think the same as you shot those Shinra sentries at the dock" replied Varlus. Jack faced him, mildly pissed off.

"Those were Shinra troops" he said. Varlus gazed at him for a second, then refocused his eyes on the pathway.

"So what if your target is Shinra, Wutaian, Midgarian or whatever the hell it is? It's still a human being" the warrior said, adding: "Killing is always bad, no matter who your target is."

"Strange to hear that from a hardened veteran like you" replied Jack, facing away.

"I'm neither a veteran nor a hero. I'm just a survivor. A man who chose a way of life that involved killing: well, it comes with the job. The fact I've overgrown it doesn't mean I think it's okay to kill. Do you think I approved of this damn campaign?"

"Well, I--"

"I didn't" said Varlus, interrupting. "Never approved any of President Shinra's genocide plans and missions. Yet I had to do them. Why? Because that was my job. I was a Shinra employee and soldier. The pay was good. I was able to support my family with it, take care of my wife's needs, raise my little girl..." Jack seemed astounded hearing Varlus talking about his wife and daughter. He couldn't understand how the same man who shot and slashed Wutaians by the hundreds was speaking like an ordinary citizen. "That's why I told Krianna she wasn't a mercenary. Fact is... I was the mercenary. I was the one who lost his honor."

"Come on... don't be so hard to yourself. Look at me, dammit! I left my wife for good, with no one to be with her, just to fight in this god damn war" started Jack, now pouring his feelings out. "Everyone has to something awful from time to time." Jack seemed immensely interested in the truck's flooring, not removing his eyes from it. "She probably hates me now" he added.

"What d'you mean? She is your wife" said Varlus.

"Yeah, well... I left her all alone, you know."

"First of all, Jack, no one is completely alone in this world. There's always someone who cares for you, or waits for you to come back safely. The world's not the shithole some people think." He paused as he threw the cigarette's butt out of the window. "Secondly, did she know you were a Shinra private before?"

"Yeah. Since we dated."

"Then don't worry. If she knew what you were and married anyway, that means she copes with it and bears with it. She won't be pissed at you. Sure, chances are she doesn't agree with your line of work, but that doesn't mean she'll dump you or be mad at you."

Jack looked at Varlus, who was fumbling through the windshield trying to locate his pack of smokes.

"How can you tell?" the private asked.

Varlus looked back at him. "Because we're in the same train, kid" he said, pulling out another cigarette. "I've been a warrior for twenty years now, Ifalna knew it since we first met, back when we were nineteen... And not once did she even show a glimpse of anger or disappointment about it. So rest assured."

Jack smiled. "So... tell me about Ifalna" he said.

"What can I say?" Varlus smiled for the first time as he lighted the cigarette. "You know by now she's an Ancient, a Cetra. The last of them, that's what she told me."

"She must know a lot about Materia and Magic and all that stuff."

"Yeah, she does. But she never really cared much about it... Guess she wanted me to see her for the woman she is, and not for an Ancient. As if I needed as much" added Varlus, grinning.

"Sounds like a fine woman" said Jack. Varlus grinned again. Ifalna...

"And Aeris" Varlus continued..."My little princess. Four years old. Amazing how those little fellas grow up... feels as it if was yesterday when I cuddled her in my arms, listening to her soft breathing and gazing at her gorgeous blonde hair... and now she's talking about the boys she likes at Junon. Go figure."

Varlus laughed, shifting gears. Aeris...

"Those kind of things make you feel glad to be alive" Varlus was on a rant: it calmed him, comforted him. And he needed it. "It's always been like that... Any time I'm down some hellish war pit, I start thinking about them... the sight of Ifalna waking up in the mornings... lightly dressed, mind you," Both men laughed loudly. "and then she gets out and stands there, bathing in the sunrise light. Can't ask for much more than that."

"Right" said Jack, hearing his comrade, fascinated. He was probably imagining his own wife and his tender memories about her.

"Or I think about Aeris... rope skipping between the roses... always told the brat not to stomp over her Mother's flowers, but she doesn't listen. I'm a horrible father," said Varlus, though grinning, "can't deny her anything. She can buy me with just her smile. Hell, I'll be in trouble when she gets older."

Laughter filled the truck's cabin again. Varlus felt at peace with himself, stronger to carry on with the rest of the trip. God knew he was in need of it.

"I remember my wife waking me up in the mornings, with breakfast" splurted out Jack suddenly. "I always was a sleepy head: can't get up early no matter what I do. A damn lazy motherfucker, that's me." Varlus laughed loudly. "Then she'd go to the slums' shops, do the shopping, come back home and start cooking. Damn, she loves being in the kitchen."

"Which sector do you live in?" asked Varlus.

"Five" Jack snorted. "A hellhole, but the place's mine, and that's what it counts. I joined Shinra to raise my income and get us out of there, but..."

"Hey, better free down in the Slums than slaved upstairs" replied Varlus. Jack would never forget that quote in his life.

The sun was already up in the sky. Varlus and Jack were nearing the pass through the mountains to Costa Del Sol, and both men felt closer to home than ever.

----------*----------*----------*

[To be continued...]

This post has been edited by Artiles on 21st April 2006 09:30

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"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

[Sorry 'bout the delay, had a tough weekend.]

MEMORY EIGHT: OF WOLVES AND DOGS

Seems like forever that my eyes have been denied
Home, I dream of home...
I've been twenty years away from all I ever knew
To return will make my dream come true...

"How appropriate" said Jack, as the radio played a most melancholic song.

"Sure is..." added Varlus, steering the truck through the turns leading out of Corel's mountain range and down into Costa Del Sol. The song reminded him of Ifalna, Aeris, and his house near Junon. It was midday.

"So, Varlus" began Jack, facing him. "What's your plan after we arrive at Costa Del Sol?"

Varlus thought for a moment about it. "I've got a good friend who's leading an anti-Shinra movement there. He's running a goods market as a cover to sneak weapons, plans, and even his own resistance members in and out of Junon."

"Why Junon? Wouldn't it be better to act against Midgar?"

"Think about it, Jack" replied Varlus. "Midgar is a vast city, and it's almost one-hundred percent controlled by Shinra. It'd take more than just a resistance group to harm Shinra there. Besides" he added, "Roland, my friend, was born in Junon. His parents were killed by the Shinra when he was a little kid, and some poor fella got him out of there and stationed him in Costa Del Sol. Ever since, he'd been intent on freeing Junon from the Shinra."

"Sorry to ask, Varlus, but I can't help it" said Jack. Varlus peeked at him, puzzled. "Are you sure he's not gonna pull a Krianna on us? I mean, we can't afford another betrayal."

Varlus went silent. Jack seemed to notice he'd just touched a very sensitive nerve. "I'm... I'm sorry, Varlus. Forget I asked."

"Roland is a patriot" replied the warrior, now looking coldly at Jack. "He wouldn't betray Junon by helping the Shinra. I'm certain of it. He'd rather be hanged than betray all he'd fought for. No, Jack... He's gonna help us. There are not many men like him around, and he's probably one of the last I can trust now." Varlus refocused his sight on the road. Costa Del Sol's rooftops were already in sight. "And if you find that's not reason enough, you can go to hell, kid" he added, grinning. Jack snorted, but said nothing.

"How're you going to contact him? I assume that, being a leader of an anti-Shinra movement, he should be well concealed and away from prying eyes."

Varlus laughed fit to burst.

"Wait and see."

----------*----------*----------*

"Costa Del Sol" said Varlus, getting off from the truck and lighting yet another cigarette. "You familiar with the place, kid?"

"Not really, no" admitted Jack, walking to him.

"A beautiful, sunny getaway for those willing to kill their stress. Once a popular vacation spot, now's reduced to a shadow of its former self."

Jack was looking at the town, eyes wide open.

"You sure?" he asked, shocked. "It seems quite lively and full of activity for me."

"Sure does" replied Varlus, blowing off the smoke and dousing himself in a thick layer of nicotine. "Pity you didn't see the town in its golden years... Bursting with tourists, music, dancing and entertainment everywhere, gorgeous women getting a tan at the beach... Hell, I still remember my nights off-duty here. Wonderful. Lots of fun indeed. Oh, and drinking by the dozen, mind you" he added, smiling. Jack laughed.

"You drink a lot?" asked Jack, still grinning.

"Used to. Now I'll probably throw up and get a heart attack after the second bottle of beer goes down my throat."

Both men laughed strongly. Varlus gave another puff to his cigarette.

"Anyway, let's get to the inn. We'll meet my contact there."

Varlus and Jack walked towards the nearby inn, Varlus pretty much ignoring everything around him, Jack not knowing where to look at with so many bikini-wearing girls strolling, chatting, working on their tans or gulping down fresh drinks under the shadows of umbrellas placed in the tables.

The warrior opened the wooden door to the inn and entered, followed reluctantly by Jack, who clearly wished to stay outside enjoying the landscape.

"Well, look here who's entered my inn!" shouted a booming voice. Varlus grinned.

"Thought I'd pay you a visit, Roland" he said towards the counter. A gruffy, well-built man, probably in his mid-forties, walked out from it and approached them.

"If it isn't Varlus the Emerald Wolf!" he laughed. "Man, are you a mess. You're an ancient wolf now, kid."

Varlus laughed in response. "Is that hair color gray, or is it just me? Age hasn't treated you well, Red Dog."

"Ah, fuck my hair" the man replied with a wide smile. "I still can hold a rifle steady, ya know..."

"Too bad you can't hold other things steady, eh?" Both Varlus and the man laughed. "It's good to see you again, Roland."

"You too, Varlus" said the man. He then fixed his eyes on Jack. "Wolf, are you traveling with rookies now or what? Passing the skills onto the next generation?"

Varlus grinned once more. "Roland, this is Jack Gainsborough, a combat buddy. Jack, this is Roland Hentus, the man I told you about."

Jack and Roland shook hands.

"He's still green" said Varlus, smiling as Jack threw him a somewhat dirty look, "but as tough as they come."

"Nice to meet you, boy" Roland said, and Jack nodded with a smile. "So... Let's get to the point. What the hell are you doing here, Wolf? I thought you were in Wutai."

"We were. Let's get a safe room, and I'll tell you my story."

Roland agreed, and after shouting to one of his employees to take care of the counter, he showed the men a room at the back.

"Varlus, what's that Emerald Wolf stuff?" asked Jack, as he followed Roland to the back room.

"Just an old codename from long ago. You see, back in my younger days as Shinra Commander, I always wore a green vest and helmet, and dark green combat trousers. Since I was the only one at Shinra who wore those colors, all the groups we fought against began to call me "the Emerald Wolf". It was so popular, people inside Shinra took up the same nickname, and so it came than whenever I had to keep my identity a secret, I was given the codename Emerald Wolf."

"Why Wolf?"

"Because my vest had a wolf drawing on it, and because of my tattoo." Varlus lowered his black vest, showing Jack the wolf tattooed on his chest. Jack whistled.

"You seem to have a real obsession with wolves" he remarked.

"Wolves are noble animals, and fearsome warriors. My Father used to tell me we warriors were untamed wolves, striking both fiercely and accurately, having both strength, swiftness, and intelligence. In a sense, wolves are the warriors of the Nature."

Jack was amazed by Varlus' tale. "And Roland... why Red Dog?" he asked.

Varlus shruggered. "I have no idea. Why don't you ask him?"

Jack waved his hand. "Never mind."

As Roland walked inside the room he'd pointed to, Varlus turned to Jack once more.

"By the way, Krianna... she was codenamed "Blue Shade"."

Jack stared at Varlus, not knowing what to say.

----------*----------*----------*

Varlus spoke for almost half an hour, retelling Roland his long journey. He found it difficult to speak about Krianna's death... The memories were still fresh in his mind. Fortunately, when he found his throat shrinking like a knot, Jack took his role and continued.

"...and then we stole a Shinra truck from Rocket Town and drove all the way here. All things considered, it was an easy trip" concluded Varlus. Roland was scratching his chin, listening to Varlus' recap of events. As the warrior ended his tale, Roland moved forward on his chair.

"I'm sorry about Krianna, Varlus" he said sympathetically. Varlus nodded, but said nothing. There was nothing to say. "Blue Shade was a strong woman" continued Roland, "perhaps the strongest adversary I've ever met. I remember when we dueled in Shinra's last siege here in Costa Del Sol... she was a tough one. Amazing skill, outstanding dexterity and precision, and an unholy speed. A shade alright" he said, bowing his head to Varlus. "You taught her well."

"She was my most trusted lieutenant... and my best friend" said Varlus, sinking into his guilt again. Roland bent over the table, facing him.

"Listen, Varlus. Blue Shade was a warrior, just like you, just like me. You were just professionals working for different sides, that's it. She may have had her reasons to confront you, but if what you tell me is true, then she died like a warrior, fighting for what she believed in."

"She believed in me" said Varlus. "She believed if he fought me, she'd find peace within herself... She loved me, you know" he added. Roland nodded.

"I knew as much. But she was no fool... she knew you had Ifalna, and that she had no chance in fulfilling her dreams. Blue Shade thought fighting you was the best way to amend for this mistake. You" he went on, pointing at Varlus, "had to get past her to continue your journey home. It was either that, or never seeing Ifalna or Aeris again. This may sound hard to accept, but you did the right thing."

"Maybe I shouldn't have killed her" mumbled Varlus.

"Now that would've been a very ugly thing to do to her" Roland said, leaning back on his chair. "Crippling her long enough for you to escape and leave her behind? No good. She'd have chased you to hell, or killed herself, before facing being alone again. Wolf... you had no choice. Drop it. Stop hitting yourself for something you couldn't avoid. That road leads to madness, believe me."

And after hearing that, Varlus nodded, and understood.

"Keep with you the best memories you have of her, and remember her that way. A fine woman, an excellent warrior, and a good friend. War and her mind made her fight you, not you or your actions."

Varlus agreed, clutching Krianna's pendant in his fist.

"Ok, enough of this already" he said, before bursting into tears. "Roland, I need you to place us in one of your trading vessels towards Junon as soon as possible."

Roland frowned. "That's a tough one... we're not expecting any trade vessels 'till Friday" he said. Varlus groaned: it was Wednesday.

"I have no choice. I'll wait" he decided, speaking heavily.

"Wolf... Ifalna may not have that much time" said Roland, slowly.

"I know" said Varlus roughly. "But what other choice do I have? I can't swim all the way to Junon."

"What about asking her to come here?" proposed Jack.

"No way" cut Varlus. "It's even more dangerous than waiting here for her. Junon is probably swarming with Shinra troops by now: there's no way she'd be able to sneak through them and find a boat headed here."

"Good thing the Shinra don't know where your house is, Wolf" said Roland.

"Yeah... but how long is it gonna stay that way? Someone's bound to leak something to them."

"Keep your chin up" said Roland. "I'll grant you my inn services free of charge, of course, as I arrange everything. Until those ships arrive, though, hang in there."

All men stood up. Roland put a hand on Varlus' right shoulder pad.

"I haven't failed you before, Wolf, and I sure won't fail you now. Rest easy. You'll make it home before those Shinra. I promise."

Varlus nodded. "Thanks, Red Dog."

Roland grinned. "Now, both of you, get a shower and get some sleep. You look like hell."

Both Jack and Varlus laughed, and left the room. None of them seemed to notice a man hiding in the shadows near the door, holding a cell phone.

----------*----------*----------*

After a warm, pleasant shower, Varlus dressed up and retired to his bed, where he laid facing the ceiling, eyes wide open.

"Ifalna... Aeris..."

He was getting restless... What if he didn't reach his house in time? What if the Shinra are already on the move? What if two days were simply too long, and by the time he got to Junon his wife was already...

"Calm down, Varlus. That's not gonna happen."

How could he be sure of that? Varlus grabbed Krianna's pendant again.

"Krianna... my friend... I know I shouldn't ask anything of you, but... please... protect my family. I beg of you..."

He slowly fade back into blackness, falling asleep.

-------------------------------

[To be continued...]

This post has been edited by Artiles on 6th May 2006 08:16

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"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

[Author's Note: I'm afraid this fic is gonna take a little longer than 10 chapters/memories. It should last between 11 and 12 chapters. Sorry it got so long ]

MEMORY NINE: THE WARRIOR AND THE ANCIENT

"Varlus..."

Varlus opened his eyes. He was expecting to face the bedroom's wooden ceiling, but instead, found nothing but darkness. Everything was pitch black. He tried to get up, but for some reason, he couldn't move a muscle.

"Don't be afraid, Varlus. You're still asleep. I'm only using my powers to connect to your conscience and be able to talk to you."

What the hell? He never heard of something like that.

"Lucky I could establish contact at last" said the voice, definitely feminine. "Can you imagine how hard I tried? Yet, this is the first time I'm able to."

Then it dawned on him. There was only one person who could do that. And besides, the voice was strangely familiar...

"Ifalna?" he asked, tentatively. The voice giggled comically.

"Right here, darling." In front of him, a white light flashed for an instant, then his wife's figure walked out of the darkness surrounding him.

"Ifalna... H-Honey, are you alright? Is Aeris alright? Where are you? Ifalna, you must--"

Ifalna raised her hand gently, stopping Varlus.

"Calm down, my darling" she said, with that smooth voice that Varlus loved. "I am alright, and so is Aeris. We're fine, hoping to see you again. Now, what was it you wanted to tell me?"

"Ifalna, Shinra's after you. They are looking for the last Cetra alive..." Varlus felt a knot in his throat.

Ifalna sighed heavily. "I knew this moment had to come... But tell me, how do you know this? What has happened since you left for Wutai?"

"Wutai's siege was just an excuse to get me out of the way" said Varlus hastily. "After we defeated the Wutaians, the President himself showed up and confirmed a rumor one of the SOLDIER lieutenants told me: that the Jenova Project is already on its way, and that they need a blood sample of the last living Ancient for it to be successful."

Ifalna shook her head in disbelief. "But don't they know Jenova was not an Ancient? Are they really that dumb?"

"After hearing that" continued Varlus, for he had much to tell his wife and wasn't sure how much time he had, "I fled from Wutai, deserting the Shinra Army, together with a rookie private I managed to pull away from that hell. Then we escaped through the Wutaian mountain range, and located a dock base of Shinra. I knew our only chance was to infiltrate those docks, hijack a ship and sail for the Middle Continent. Once we successfully made it into the base, I read a journal from some Professor Hojo of Shinra, where he wrote they'd already researched on you, knew your name, where our house is, and that he needed you alive, and possibly Aeris too."

Ifalna gasped. "Oh my goodness..." She took her hand to her mouth, horrified. "Hojo... I've heard that name before..."

"Who is him?" asked Varlus, though he wasn't sure he wanted to hear the answer.

"He's a mad scientist... Word has it, he performed sadistic experiments on his test subjects, trying to create a new life being composed entirely of Mako energy... He's a monster."

"Damn!" cursed Varlus.

"Varlus, where are you?" asked Ifalna.

"In Costa Del Sol... Ifalna, I've met with Roland here, but he said trading vessels are off until Friday..."

Ifalna now looked extremely worried.

"Listen, Ifalna... I need you to flee from home. Stay as far away from Junon as possible: by now the whole Shinra army is alerted to this situation, and the price on both our heads is probably sky high. Don't even think about taking a ship here: you won't make it."

"But, Varlus" said Ifalna, interrupting him, "what about your friend at Shinra... Krianna, wasn't her? Can't she help?"

Varlus stood silent for a while. How to tell her what happened?

"Darling, what's wrong?" asked Ifalna, looking directly at his eyes. Varlus breathed deep.

"Krianna... is dead, Ifalna. I... I had to kill her."

"What? But... why? How?" Ifalna seemed horrorstruck.

"She... thought the only way to make up for her mistake was to fight me, and prove me she was worthy of being a warrior."

"I don't get it" said Ifalna, puzzled. "What mistake?"

"Falling in love with me" sighed Varlus. This was a hard topic for him already, and talking about it to his wife made it much worse.

"I understand" said Ifalna, but Varlus felt like hell.

"I didn't want to!" he said, louder than he'd wanted to. "She forced me to do it! I tried to convince her otherwise, that fighting wasn't necessary, but she just wouldn't listen!"

Ifalna stepped back, scared. "Calm down, my love, please--"

"I DIDN'T WANT TO KILL HER! I DIDN'T WANT TO, DAMMIT!" And Varlus wept, his warrior's pride and toughness seeping away along with his tears, as he grieved for his friend. He had shouted at Ifalna, but in fact, he had shouted at himself, shouts not of anger, but of despair, maddening despair eating out his brain, his mind, his soul... Horrible guilt torturing him every single moment he thought about Krianna... It was enough to lose all signs of reason.

Then, Varlus felt Ifalna's hand caressing his cheek, and looked up through watered eyes. There she was, his only love, his wife, the most beautiful person in Earth...

"My love" she called for him, softly. "I don't know what reasons made you fight her and end her life, but whatever they are, I'm not going to question them nor condemn her. Varlus... Krianna's not gone. She has returned to the Lifestream... where she will find peace and calmness. When the time comes, my love, you will join her there... And both you and her will make peace with each other. She doesn't hate you, Varlus... of that, I'm certain. You can never hate someone you love, even though your love doesn't get an answer."

Varlus was still crying silently, as he laid his head on her shoulder.

"Ifalna... please... don't hate me" he pleaded desperately.

"That's something I never learnt to do" she said.

"I'm... I'm not a mindless killer... I grieved for her, cried for her... She... she was my friend... my most trusted friend..."

"I know, my love." Ifalna kissed him softly, and Varlus felt the taste of her lips as a rejuvenating force flowing through him.

"Forgive me, Ifalna. Please forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive, my darling. You're a warrior, and I understand it. Always did, always do, always will."

Varlus faced his wife.

"Flee, Ifalna" he said. "Get somewhere safe, I'll look for you wherever you are. Don't stay home. Both you and Aeris are in danger."

"What has to come, will come, Varlus, and I'll face it."

"No! Ifalna, you'll be caught! Flee! Go far from our house... far from the Shinra!"

"I don't fear them, my love." Ifalna smiled, but Varlus was restless. "In my own way, I'm a warrior too. I can't fight with swords or guns, but I'm an Ancient. I'm not defenseless."

"These guys are pros! You won't stand a chance!" Varlus was desperate, wanting his wife to understand. Ifalna kissed him again.

"Do you have that little faith in me?" she said, smiling. "Don't worry, we'll be fine. But do hurry, my love. We'll be waiting."

"IFALNA!" he bellowed, but his wife backed out from him.

"Wake up, Varlus" she said.

"What?"

"Wake up, Wolf!"

----------*----------*----------

Varlus stirred, and woke up with a sudden move. He scanned the room, and found Roland standing in the doorway, fully geared for battle, his red vest reflecting the corridor's lights, his helmet under his right arm.

"Red Dog?" Varlus asked, still sleepy. "Why are you wearing that vest? Is something wrong?"

"Damn right it is!" he said. "The Shinra are here. They're looking for you and the rookie, Wolf."

"Damn!" said Varlus, standing up. "How did they get here?"

"Ship, of course" answered Roland. "About two full squads. They look green to me, but we're really outnumbered."

"I'll do whatever it takes to take one of their ships" said Varlus in a hard voice. After what Ifalna had said, he needed to act quickly and precisely.

"Knew you'd say that" snorted Roland, and threw a battle gear at him. "There: I've kept this for you all these years. I think you'll find it suitable for this situation."

Varlus examined it, and couldn't help but smile. It was his old gear, the suit that earned him the title of Emerald Wolf. The white wolf outlined in the vest was intact, and as for the rest, it was as good as new, save for some scratches here and there.

"I thought you'd have thrown this in the fire" said Varlus.

"No way" replied Roland. "Get that shitty Shinra uniform outta my sight, and put on your gear. There's your AAC-10, fully loaded."

Varlus grinned, as he took off his Shinra Commander uniform and began to put on his old uniform.

Five minutes later, Varlus was ready, helmet in hand.

"Now that's more like it, Emerald Wolf" Roland said, smirking, as Varlus reached for his AAC. "Let's give those Shinra sissies some hell from us!"

"Oh yeah" replied Varlus, exiting the bedroom.

-------------------------------

[To be continued...]

This post has been edited by Artiles on 6th May 2006 08:23

--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

Quote (Artiles @ 25th April 2006 22:29)

[Author's Note: I'm afraid this fic is gonna take a little longer than 10 chapters/memories. It should last between 11 and 12 chapters. Sorry it got so long ]

There's no need to apologize. In fact, considering the climax/finale I've been anticipating, I'm actually glad you're going longer. Hell, go chapters 13 and 14 if you want. Knock yourself out .

--------------------

Console RPG Cliches

No one minds if it's longer, I think, so long as it's as good as it has been.

Advise against knocking yourself out, hard to type when concussed.

--------------------

"Only the dead have seen the end of their quotes being misattributed to Plato."
-George Santayana

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here..."
-Abraham Lincoln, prior to the discovery of Irony.

[Here goes...]

MEMORY TEN: MARTYRS OF FREEDOM

As he walked down the stairs leading to the inn's main hall (which now resembled an army headquarters), Varlus took a peek outside a near window.

Roland was right. Two full Shinra strike squads. 80 privates in total.

"Dog, I think we're really fucked on this one" he said, with a defeated voice.

"Told ya we were outnumbered" Roland said from behind him. "But we're tougher than that lot, and also more experienced. It'll be a hard battle alright, but my men and I are ready to stand our ground here." He spat to the ground bitterly. "Costa Del Sol is our home, Wolf, and we'll be damned before seeing it taken over by the Shinra."

Varlus turned around, facing the rebels. They seemed hardened and ready to battle alright, but they were about 40 in total, including Jack and himself.

"Roland, you know as well as I do this is a battle you can't win." It was cold to say that, but there was no sense in lying.

"Who said anything 'bout winning?" To his amazement, Roland grinned. "All we need to do is hold on long enough to give you time to sneak on one of those ships and get the hell away from here."

"What?!" bellowed Varlus. It was ridiculous. "Leaving you here facing all danger only to run like a coward back home? No way. We'll all fight, we'll all bleed, and if we have to die, we'll die all together." Deep inside him, Varlus longed to get back home, but his warrior's inner voice was telling him that was a cowardly thing to do.

"Don't be so dense, Varlus!" Now it was Roland's turn to shout, staring at him. "Think about your wife! Think about your daughter! You think they'll like seeing you back in a bag or a coffin?! I don't think so!" Roland was breathing heavily, and Varlus knew this was a clear sign he was speaking from his heart. "I know what you're thinking, Varlus" he said, much more calmer now. "Surely you're about to say it's not the way of a warrior to flee from this battle, alright? Now you can say anything 'bout me, but you can't deny I know you all too well, and I know I'm not mistaken in saying this."

Varlus didn't reply; he chose to look away from his friend.

"Being brave and facing Death in its face is an honorable thing alright" continued Roland, "but sometimes, even warriors have to act in ways they don't like. You're no longer alone in this world as you once were, Varlus. You've got a family waiting, praying that you return safely. Staying here, and perhaps even dying here, would be what a warrior would choose... But do you think it's correct to make those who love you suffer?"

Varlus faced Roland again.

"They'd understand" he said, coldly.

"They don't want to understand your choices, Wolf!" replied Roland. "They want you back home alive!"

Again, Varlus stood silent, gazing at the wooden floor.

"Do you think you'll no longer be a warrior just by choosing your family over your codes once, after all you've done and fought?" Roland shook Varlus. "If you think so, you're wrong. Being a warrior implies sacrifice, honor, pride and bravery, but it also includes protecting your loved ones. And that's what you've gotta do now."

Varlus said nothing; he couldn't form a single word in his mind. Roland was right... He had to protect Ifalna and Aeris... but the thought of leaving Roland and his men by themselves against the Shinra was too painful to withstand.

"If it's useful to you, I'll tell you this... Your father would've agreed with me."

These last words rang a bell in Varlus' memories...

"We faced the same situation... back then" he said.

"That's what I meant" nodded Roland. "I remember. It was near Nibelheim, wasn't it? I've still got the scars."

"My father... told us to leave, to flee back to our hideout while he fought the Corellians..." Varlus' chest pressure began to increase. He could hear the shots again... the people in Nibelheim dying... his father trying to hold the defender's ground... and then his words...

"Varlus, Roland, get away from here! Run back to the mountains! I'll hold these bastards long enough!"

"But Father!"

"Just do it, son! Don't try to help me, you'll just get killed! Run to the mountains, and stay alive! Stay alive, my son! I'll meet you both later!"

But of course, his Father wouldn't be meeting them later... As they returned to the town, they found him... lying in his blood... mangled by the Corellians' guns... dead... dead to save them... to save him...

After the tragedy, he and Roland parted ways... Roland had decided to return to Junon, his homeland, and start a new life, away from war... and he, Varlus, fled to Midgar, traveling as he could, sailing as a stowaway towards Junon, then hitchhiking his way towards Midgar.

On his arrival, he settled in an abandoned house in sector 3 slums, and began training himself, following his Father's teachings.

He was thirteen by that time.

When he turned nineteen, he learned about a vacancy at Shinra Army, and joined at once. Shinra was at war towards Corel by that time, and Varlus thought it was the best way to have revenge against the people who had killed his Father.

After two more years of various assignments around the world, he was appointed as Commander of a mission in Corel along Krianna.

Following the mission's pyrric success (for he had lost track of Krianna), Varlus returned to Midgar... and that's when he knew Ifalna, a poor flower vendor in the slums.

Roland's voice torn him away from his reminiscences.

"See now why I'm telling you this? You must return home, Varlus, and protect your family. That's all that matters now."

Varlus stared at his friend, determined.

"Alright" he mumbled reluctantly. "I understand. But don't you die on me, Roland" he added, "I don't want to add another corpse to my guilty conscience."

"Hey, I'm too young to die, Wolf" Roland said, grinning. Varlus shook his hand.

"Good luck, my friend."

"You too, Varlus. Now get your rookie friend and get ready to dash."

Varlus located Jack, who was ready to face hell in order to get back home, and the whole group stood in the main hall, jaws clenched firmly in place, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Someone knocked on the door fiercely.

"Open up!" the knocking man shouted. "We're from Shinra! Come out peacefully!"

Roland faced his men.

"Alright, let's give them hell!"

Everyone roared in response, as Roland kicked down the door and killed the soldier behind it instantly. It was as if a bomb had exploded: the whole group sprinted outside the building and opened fire madly at the Shinra, who, caught by surprise, began to retreat, suffering several casualties.

"Go for the docks, Varlus! Now!" shouted Roland over the deafening sound of machineguns firing everywhere. Varlus nodded and signaled Jack, who shot some nearby Shinra soldiers and started to run towards the docks. Varlus followed, firing at everything blue in his sight.

Roland's group, however, was on the defensive now, for the Shinra had regrouped successfully and had begun to return fire to the rebels. After an order from their leader, the tight group split, multiplying the number of targets to the Shinra in order to stay alive as much as possible. Roland and a group of rebels hurried behind a pub, setting up a trench to shield themselves from attackers. Another group of rebels perched behind a truck while lobbing grenades at the Shinra, turning the main square into a scorched battlefield. The rest of the rebels had managed to get on top of the inn, and sniped down any soldier passing below them.

----------*----------*----------

Varlus and Jack finally got to the docks, but things didn't improve for them: standing in the dock was the Shinra platoon's leader and yet more soldiers.

"Captain Horg" whispered Varlus, peeking from a corner.

"Who's that?" asked Jack, keeping an eye out for Shinra soldiers.

"He's probably the leader of this invading army" answered Varlus. "He's a tough nut to crack."

"We'll have to crack it if we want to escape" pointed out Jack. "The ships are just ahead. Seems he's guarding them."

"There's no doubt about it" realized Varlus bitterly. "There was a leak in Roland's rebel team, since they knew we'll be looking for the ships."

"But, Varlus..." began Jack. "If there's a leak in Roland's team, then that means..."

Varlus looked at the private, and nodded. Jack was right in what he was thinking.

----------*----------*----------

"Roland!" shouted someone. After gunning down some Shinra with his AAC-10, Roland faced towards the alley to the north and saw one of his men running at him.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I've found a series of passageways that'll help us flank the Shinra. If we press our attack through there, we'll pin them in the middle of the square, and they'll be doomed!"

"You sure about this, boy?" Roland asked, for it was too good to be true. The man nodded.

"Yeah... I just came from there. I've examined the whole area, and it's perfect. This'll guarantee our victory!"

Roland considered it for a moment, and then agreed. "Okay, boy. Lemme regroup everyone and we'll follow your lead. Stay here and help these guys out, willya?"

"Alright" answered the man, placing his sniper rifle on the sandbags and beginning to shoot at the Shinra, as Roland sat out to find his scattered men.

----------*----------*----------

"You plan on sneaking past all these guys all by yourself? Forget it, Jack."

"Varlus, trust me! I can do it!" Jack looked anxious. "Go and warn Roland about the leak, or else he'll be doomed!"

"This isn't the same as in those warehouses near Wutai, Jack!" Varlus whispered angrily. "Horg's a pro, he's not gonna fall for it! You'll get yourself killed!"

"Look, I've proven useful before, right?" Jack smiled. "Let me handle this. I promise you, by the time you get back here, I'll be waiting with one of these ships to get the hell out of here."

There was no room for discussion. Varlus patted Jack on his shoulder slightly.

"Alright, I'll trust you. Be careful, okay?"

"Don't worry. I will" said Jack, as Varlus ran back to the main square before it was too late.

----------*----------*----------

"Are we all here?" asked the rebel, as Roland returned to the trench with several more men.

"Yeah. I left a group on the other side of the city to shoot them from the front while we attack from the back. It'd be alright."

"Roland, it'd be best if we all strike from the back--"

"I'll decide the tactics, kid!" shouted Roland. "Now lead us to that passageway of yours!"

The private nodded slowly and led the way through the alleys. Roland began to follow him, but then--

"Roland, it's Varlus! He's running this way through the square!"

Roland turned around immediately and looked towards the square.

"What the hell is this motherfucker's thinking?! We risk our necks here and he just jumps in the middle of the fray!"

"Roland, we must move on, or we'll lose our position!" said the private behind him. Roland didn't even bother in answering.

"Move it! Assist Varlus!" he ordered, as the group started running towards Varlus' position.

Behind him, the private took out a communicator.

"They're moving towards the square through the middle alley. Get them!" he whispered.

----------*----------*----------

"ROLAND! IT'S A TRAP! STAY IN THAT ALLEY!" shouted Varlus, but it was no good: the noise from machineguns and grenades drowned his voice. Desperately, Varlus sped up, trying to reach Roland before the two Shinra squads running towards the alley got to him.

And then he felt it: a scourging, burning pain in his right shoulder. Dropping to the wasted ground, he rolled behind a low wall made out of debris, avoiding further shots.

"Damn!" he cursed, as he took a look over the wall's corner. In his desperate attempt to reach Roland, he'd failed to notice a Shinra sniper on a nearby roof ahead of him. Luckily, the sniper had had lousy aim.

Holding his bleeding shoulder tightly, Varlus gazed at the scene taking place just meters from him.

----------*----------*----------

"What the--"

"Ah, Roland Hentus" said the Shinra squad leader, as the rest of his men surrounded the rebels at point blank range. "We've looked for so many years for you..."

The rebel that had informed him of the secret passageway before walked around the circle of Shinra privates, expressionless.

"You son of a bitch" spat Roland. "You've sold us all out..."

"Heh... money beats loyalty when it comes to rebel groups" said the squad leader, smirking. "I'm gonna ask you just once, Roland: where's Jenneson?"

"I'll never tell you, Shinra scum" replied Roland, his fists shaking. "You'll have to kill me."

The squad leader sighed heavily, in a mockingly disappointed way. "Very well. You've heard him, people" he said, addressing his men.

The Shinra soldiers cocked their guns, and opened fire on the rebels.

----------*----------*----------

"NO!"

Varlus wanted to shout, but his mouth was dry. He wanted to run towards his friend, to help him... to save him...

But, alas, it was too late, for he saw Roland drop to the ground like a stone along with his fellow rebels, spurting blood and sweat from every side of his body, his face ruined beyond recognition, his once clean and handsome gray hair now dirty, disorganized and reddened, his vest furiously torn apart by gunfire...

A pool of crimson liquid surrounded the corpses, as the Shinra laughed fiercely at the gruesome slaughter.

"DIE, MOTHERFUCKERS!" Varlus was blinded by rage, fueled by anger, as he jumped out from concealment and opened fire on the Shinra, who had no time to reply. After firing madly at everyone in sight for almost two full minutes, Varlus released the trigger, panting. The Shinra had now joined the dead rebels on the ground, fallen on top of them and extending the red lake of death around them even more.

His AAC-10 was overheated, smoking, and out of ammo. Varlus dropped it, and he himself fell to the ground.

He had let it happen again. Roland was dead... Why didn't he see there was a leak before? Should he had, Roland wouldn't be dead by now, rotting beneath that horrible pile of corpses stacked like stones, one on top of each other...

"DAMN!" he shouted, hating himself. If only the rifle had some ammo in it... But no, he couldn't think of that. Ifalna still needed him... Aeris still needed him...

"What if the same happens to them? What if I try my best to protect them, and they get killed just like Roland..."

"Ifalna, I need your help!" Varlus held Krianna's pendant tightly in his right hand, staring at the sky. "Krianna, I need your help!" he shouted.

"Move on, Varlus."

It was Ifalna's voice. Varlus couldn't stand it anymore; he burst into tears.

"Ifalna... Roland is... dead... I..."

"Be strong, Varlus... be strong... for me."

"Ifalna, I can't do it! Everyone I care for dies when I meet him! Maybe I'm the one to blame!" Varlus was on the brink of losing all rationality. "Krianna... Roland... what if... what if I go back home and... and you die too? I won't have it, I won't stand it!"

"Varlus... remember what I told you in my dying breath."

Varlus gasped. It couldn't be. There was no way it could be possible. No way at all. He must be imagining things.

"No matter what happens... you must carry on, my friend... you must be there to protect your family."

It wasn't Ifalna's voice. It was Krianna's voice.

"Krianna..." Varlus' tears ran through his dirtied cheeks, not believing he was hearing his dead friend's voice. "How... how can this be?"

"Remember what Ifalna used to say to us... The dead never really leave our side completely... for their spirits carry on, through the Lifestream, always near us... and in times of despair, if we cry out their names in help, they'll be there... Always..."

"Krianna..." Varlus' heart was beating hastily. "I'm... I'm sorry... I didn't want to kill you... I'm really sorry, my friend..."

"Don't apologize. It was my choice all along... There's no one to blame, Varlus."

"But why--"

"Now's not the time to talk about that, Varlus. You must gather yourself, get up, and continue your journey... Meet Jack, he has the ship ready... and return home, to Ifalna, to Aeris... to those who love you. Do it for me, Varlus. I know you can."

And after hearing that, Varlus finally felt at peace with himself. He got up slowly, still looking towards the blue sky.

"I... I'll do it. I'll honor Roland's sacrifice and your death... I'll... I'll go back home. I promise."

"I know you will, Varlus... I know you will."

A soft wind began to blow across Costa Del Sol's destroyed main square.

------------------------------

[To be continued...]

This post has been edited by Artiles on 29th April 2006 06:25

--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

[Sorry for the delay.]

MEMORY ELEVEN: THE MOST PYRRIC VICTORY OF THEM ALL

As Varlus grew closer to the docks, he heard a ship's dull and strong horn blowing off in the distance.

"Jack!"

He quickened his pace, drawing closer and closer to the docks. Gunfire rang out in the distance. Who the hell was fighting over there? Varlus hoped it wasn't Jack drawing out the Shinra's fire...

"There he is!" roared someone nearby. Varlus rolled instantly, only to face Captain Horg and a couple dozen men running his way, armed with Buster Swords Model Delta. Throwing his AAC-10 away, he drew his trusty, old but still razor-sharp sword. His was a customized version of the now retired from market Lawgiver, equipped with a special grip on its hilt to prevent it from sliding off his hands during complex moves. Also, its blade was a few inches longer than the standard one, and was also made of titanium alloy and repainted in black. Varlus had nicknamed it "Shade Blade".

"I want him alive!" roared Horg behind his men. "Stun him or knock him out, don't kill him!"

"Yes, sir!" answered the soldiers, ready for combat. "We'll capture him!"

Typical, standard, ass-kissing Shinra privates. Varlus smiled cynically.

"You will try, boys" he taunted.

The Shinra rushed at him, swords at the ready, as Varlus walked calmly to them. But as the Shinra were within slashing range, Varlus jumped over them with a massive somersault, and no sooner his feet had touched the ground again that he threw himself madly into the fray, slashing viciously at the privates. Most of them had barely noticed what had happened before getting decapitated or losing a vital limb. Varlus moved at lighting speed, hacking away everywhere, slicing off legs, arms and heads wherever he found them, penetrating the men's chest ferociously, and creating fatal wounds of various sizes in their chests. Not a single life was spared. Some of the men cried for mercy, but Varlus simply silenced them with his sword down their throats.

A couple of minutes later, Varlus chopped off the remaining Shinra's head with a backhand slash to his right, and stood still, panting. He was soaked in blood, fueled by rage and frustration, and lusting for more Shinra blood to spill. They had to pay. They were going to pay. Every single one of them.

"Why don't you give it a try yourself, Horg?" he asked. There was no reply. Varlus turned around... and saw Horg running towards one of the docked ships. At first, Varlus thought he was fleeing from battle, and this got him even more furious. After some seconds, though, he realized Captain Horg was running towards the source of the gunfire he'd heard earlier... which in turn, came from inside that ship.

"Jack's in trouble!" he figured out. "Damn kid!"

Chasing Horg, Varlus dashed madly through the pier, hoping to reach the Captain before it was too late. Panting heavily, he ran up the ramp leading to the holds, where he found even more Shinra soldiers. Dispatching the privates rather easily, Varlus crossed the holds, only to find himself being fired upon from atop some stairs. He dived behind a crate for cover. Above him, he heard Horg laughing fit to burst.

"Fight like a man, sucker!" taunted Varlus, only to receive another barrage of bullets in response. After the sound ceased, Varlus rolled out of his cover and began to climb up the stairs towards the aft deck. Horg, however, was perched at the top of them with a .45 M5. Varlus realized he was a sitting duck.

"Eat lead, baby!" cried the Captain, firing his gun again towards the warrior. With outstanding reflexes, Varlus cleared the stairs' railing with a long jump, sheathed his sword while in the air, and managed to grab the edge barely.

"Hey, where'd you go?" he heard Horg ask. Trying to save as much strength as possible to keep his grip, Varlus stood silent and didn't move at all. Horg's footsteps echoed as he walked down the metal stairs, looking for him.

His arms were starting to feel numb, a clear sign they were about to cramp up.

"Did he kill himself or what?" Varlus was panting. He wasn't going to last much longer...

"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!" roared the Captain. That was his moment: Varlus swung over the railing, drawing his sword again. Unfortunately, he had came back up a little too early than he'd have liked, and Horg had enough time to fire at him with no obstructions.

The tough, hard, 5.0x35 round from the .45 M5 tore through his left shoulder's pad, but thanks to the secondary plating placed underneath it, the bullet couldn't reach his skin. Surprised, Horg backed up a little, and Varlus sent a strong, horizontal slash his way. As the blade opened the wound and blood started to pour out, Varlus rammed Horg strongly and pinned him to the ground. He pointed his sword directly towards Horg's throat.

"Too late... your friend is most likely dead by now..." he whispered in pain.

"What?! What the hell are you talking about?!" inquired Varlus, not believing a word the Captain said.

"Go ahead, find out yourself. Too bad..." Horg was spitting blood with every word he spoke. "I was looking forward to seeing your wife's scared face as I kidnapped her. Pity..." He laughed, spraying blood all over Varlus' helmet. He seized Horg from his head.

"See you in hell, you son of a bitch" he said with a cold voice, and sank his sword deeply in Horg's throat, who twitched, spat some more blood, and died. Pulling away the sword violently, Varlus ran out to the aft deck.

----------*----------*----------

Climbing ladders and stairs while killing Shinra soldiers here and there, Varlus thought about Horg's last words. "Your friend is most likely dead by now..."

He was bluffing. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be possible. Too many lives had been lost already... Too many friends had died for him... And Jack wasn't going to join them. Not before he got back home with his wife, Elmyra. He promised Jack he'd bring him back home safely, and he wasn't going to fail him now that they stood so close to home.

He was out of stamina... tired to the point of passing out... but he couldn't rest... there was no time... another set of stairs... and then another ladder... another Shinra head rolling... he climbed up yet another ladder...

Finally, he made it to the bridge. Near the consoles, a Shinra soldier wearing Marine insignias laid on the floor, his chest scarred by gunfire. And at his side...

"JACK!" shouted Varlus, running towards his friend, who was sitting next to the dead body. As he got closer, Varlus noticed several wounds in his friend's chest, still bleeding.

"Seems... I'm a rookie after all" said Jack in a painful voice.

"Stay silent. You'll be alright, don't worry about it. They're just superficial wounds, no need to worry." Deep inside him, he wished that was the case. Jack shook his head slowly, as if he'd read his mind.

"Don't... don't lie to me... okay?" he asked.

"Since when I lie to you?" Varlus forced a smile. "I'm telling you, you'll be okay."

Jack laughed weakly, and a trickle of blood dripped from his mouth.

"Varlus... you're a lousy liar."

This wasn't happening... he'd made a promise to him. He wasn't going to fail. God, he wasn't going to fail.

"Am I... am I gonna die?" asked Jack. Varlus put his hand on his shoulder.

"I promised I'll get you back to Midgar... to Elmyra, remember? I don't like failing my promises."

Jack sighed. Varlus felt an immense knot on his throat. It couldn't be... He prayed to God, to Ifalna and to Krianna for help. "Please... let me save him... Ifalna... Krianna... please..."

"Elmyra..." sighed Jack again, and fumbled painfully through his pockets. After rummaging for a while, he gave a bloodied envelope to Varlus.

"What's this?" he asked.

"Varlus... promise me... that after you find Ifalna and Aeris... you... you'll give this letter to Elmyra... to my wife."

"You won't die, Jack!" cried Varlus, unable to hold his tears any longer. "You'll be able to give it to her yourself! Trust me!"

"The letter... it's bloodied... please... copy it... so that... so that she doesn't see... the blood..." Jack's breathing was more shallow now. Varlus was crying loudly, speechless, hollow, mad with sadness and grief...

"You... you're a great man... a great man indeed..." Jack grabbed Varlus' arm. "You... had taught me... how to be... a warrior."

"Don't die on me, my friend" replied Varlus, his voice broken. "Don't die on me!"

"Don't... don't blame yourself... Varlus" said Jack, staring at him with tired, dying eyes. "I... I may not be a warrior... but at least... I fought for a noble cause... and... now... I... feel... I feel... worthy."

"You were always worthy, Jack. You're no rookie. You're a warrior. A true warrior. Perhaps greater than I am."

Jack laughed again in the same weak way. "Live... with... honor..." he said, and Varlus' tears fell in his face as Jack recited the old motto, "Die... with... pride..."

"Jack, no! Please, no!" said Varlus.

"I... I feel... kinda... nice... I feel... proud... of myself."

And after saying those words, his gaze became blank, his head tilted to his right... and his breathing stopped.

"NO! WHY?! NOOO!"

Varlus screamed at the top of his lungs, shouting at the now dying sun, out of his mind, out of his body...

"HE WAS INNOCENT, DAMMIT!"

He fell to the floor, still wailing. He was worthless. He was of no use. He couldn't save anybody. Not Krianna, not Roland... and now, not even Jack, whom he swore he'd save.

Night began to fall over Costa Del Sol.

------------------------------

[To be concluded...]

This post has been edited by Artiles on 6th May 2006 04:53

--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

Still going well. Whilst it was rather obvious Jack was going to be a goner, his death scene was quite well written. The battle sequences have been intresting too, and I was glad to see the M5/M6A pistol pop up (Not sure which it was because you have the M6A's round fired but the .45 M5 mentioned by name).

Loved the chapter name for Memory Eleven though.

I think this nears the end, and that's kind of a bad thing, but it'll be intresting to see how it all unfolds.

This post has been edited by Del S on 6th May 2006 07:48

--------------------

"Only the dead have seen the end of their quotes being misattributed to Plato."
-George Santayana

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here..."
-Abraham Lincoln, prior to the discovery of Irony.

[Author's Note: The end is here. As such, this is gonna require the Post Length From Hell. You might wanna get a drink or something.]

INTERMISSION

"Only one more memory remains to be explored."

"Now brace yourself. Focus your own sanity."

"You think you have witnessed enough death already?"

"Do you think this man has already lost enough friends and acquaintances?"

"You are wrong."

"The worst is yet to come."

"Yet, it is your duty to find out the truth, to know why this proud warrior has chosen you to unveil his truth."

"Now, it is time to see how this great warrior died."

"Remember though, death is not the end, but only a transition."

"For the last time... open your eyes."

----------*----------*----------

LAST MEMORY, PART ONE: BEYOND ALL FORGIVENESS

To the woman that I love:

You know I've never been any good at writing letters, so I don't quite know what words I should use. It'd be better if I make this short, though, so I'll get straight to the point.

If you're reading this, then that means I'm dead by now.

I'm sorry. Deeply sorry. Let me assure you: I fought with loyalty, with valor, with courage. I never backed out from the face of death, even when it was painfully obvious it will take me with her. Even when I knew she'd take me far away from you.

Still, don't think I didn't want to get back home. Oh, how many nights have I dreamt about you, how many fantasies did I have about laying in bed next to you peacefully instead of waging war in this distant and foreign land.

I know this will make you cry and feel terribly sad. It'd be stupid of me to try and tell you not to be. But, at least, remember the day when we first met.

You remember? I sure do. Remember I told you I'd love you for all eternity, even after death had taken me?

Well, I think it's high time I live up to my promise.

I ask only one thing from you: keep living. No matter what happens. Find another husband, have the children I couldn't gave you... get a headstart. A headstart on your new life.

I remember now that beautiful song you used to sing... Remember the lyrics?

"Move on, be brave, don't weep in my grave
Because I am no longer here;
But please never let
Your memory of me disappear..."

Don't throw away your life for me. Be strong, as I have been... and be happy. Live, Elmyra... Promise me you'll keep living. Do it for me, my love.

I'll always watch over you from above. Always.

Be happy, Elmyra. For me.

Your husband always,

Jack.

Junon's coast was growing close. Varlus could see the town's huge cannon in plain sight.

He steered the ship slightly, heading left, towards the lower town's docks.

He was lonely. More lonely than he'd ever been in his life. His mind was completely blank, refusing to work, and Varlus was glad about it. Should it start thinking, he'd surely end up mad with grief.

For Krianna was dead. Roland was dead. And now Jack was dead. Every single one of them were dead.

And he'd failed. He knew he'd failed miserably. For he'd promised Jack he'd bring him back home safely...

But, alas, he didn't. Now the poor private was rotting deep in the sea, along with the Shinra soldiers' corpses.

And Roland was piled up as garbage in that pile of bodies, back in Costa Del Sol.

And God knew what became of Krianna's body...

More than once, Varlus thought it'd be better to get his sword and shove it deep in his chest, sending all the pain and grief to hell. But every single time he thought about it, Ifalna and Aeris' faces showed up in his mind, and he dropped his sword crying silently.

His eyes were dry and reddened.

"I'm getting home" he thought. Had this moment happened only a day before, he'd have been bursting with happiness, but now, he felt hollow, empty... defeated.

As far as he was concerned, he was a corpse still walking. He wished to throw everything to hell and just die, but he'd made his promise to his family, and he wasn't going to fail.

"Damn right I'm not."

He pocketed the fresh, white, blood-less envelope in his vest pocket. Another promise he had to fulfill.

"You died, Jack, and I couldn't fulfill my promise... but I won't fail you this time."

A single tear dropped from his left eye.

"I swear I won't."

----------*----------*----------

Getting out of town without being spotted was an easy task. Docking the ship in a completely awful way, he managed to distract the local sentries long enough to slip in unnoticed. After that, he had some help from some local friends, and before he realized, he was out of Junon in a borrowed car, heading home at last.

"Ifalna... Aeris..."

He had changed a lot. The whole ordeal he'd passed through had taught him a lot about his own life. Now he knew a warrior's redemption was possible... for he had already earned it.

Or weren't those deaths, those sacrifices made by his friends and allies, the holiest of redemptions? He thought about it: should he had returned home unharmed and with no betrayals on his way, he'd just stay for a couple of weeks, a month if lucky, before being called back to action and leaving his family all alone again.

Now he knew he wasn't walking the correct path. A warrior, he realized, must not fight for himself, or his employer. A warrior's first priority (and he felt a great sadness in his heart when he discovered this) was to his family. Always.

So that meant he'd lived for so long neglecting what he shouldn't have. Ignoring what couldn't have been ignored. Living away from those whom he should've stayed all the time available.

Little did he know the worst lesson was about to arrive.

----------*----------*----------

"Oh, no. No, no, no!"

Varlus had no time to think. For he had arrived home finally... and it wasn't a pretty sight at all. The small cottage engulfed in flames... and next to it...

"IFALNA!"

His wife was being held hostage by Shinra troops. She was thrashing around, trying to release herself... but the men were far more stronger than she was, and held her tightly in their grip.

"GET AWAY FROM HER, SONS OF BITCHES!" he screamed from the car. The Shinra spotted him, got on their knees, and fired their weapons. Bullets tore through the car's windshield, barely missing Varlus. He lowered his head slightly for cover, and floored the gas pedal. Surprisingly enough, the Shinra didn't move; they held their ground, firing madly at his car.

One of those bullets popped the right front tire, and Varlus was forced to strengthen his grip on the wheel to maintain control. He turned it slightly, aiming for the group of men, and they finally began to clear out of the rampaging car's way. But it was too late for them: Varlus turned the wheel towards the left group, who were thrown to the air violently. Many lost their legs in the vicious attack. Varlus jumped out of the car, which crashed headlong into a nearby tree, and took out his sword. The remaining Shinra aimed at him, but Varlus, fueled with rage, moved faster and slaughtered the Shinra one by one, tearing them to pieces. One of them tried to run away, but Varlus was determined to show no mercy: he chased him down, kicked him hard in his back, knocking him to the ground, and once there he stabbed him ferociously on the back, again and again and again, until his face was covered in blood and the man's back completely torn apart, the spine clearly in sight.

Panting, Varlus turned and looked at Ifalna, who was running at him. He caught her in his arms.

"Varlus! Oh, Varlus!" she cried.

"It's alright... I'm here, my love" he said, patting her on the back. "I'm home."

But something was wrong. Ifalna faced him, and Varlus saw his eyes were deeply watered. Why was she crying?

Then he sighed. His poor wife got scared to death, that was all. Nothing to worry about.

"It's okay... I've saved you. Don't cry... It's all over."

Ifalna was gasping, wordess, trying to say something. Varlus thought that was a bit more than fear. It looked more like... terror. Horror. But why?

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"A.... A...." was all Ifalna managed to say. Varlus frowned. Was he missing something? He couldn't believe his wife would be so terrorized just because their house was destroyed.

He gazed around. There was the car, now smashed, completely useless. And there was his house, slowly burning away.

And then it hit him. A huge, gigantic rock fell on top of his heart.

"Where's Aeris?" he asked.

Ifalna burst into tears, sinking her head in his bloodied vest.

"Ifalna, where's Aeris?" he asked, now slightly scared.

Reluctantly, Ifalna raised her left arm... and pointed a very shaky index finger towards the burning house.

No. It couldn't be. It wasn't true.

"Of course it isn't true!" he thought. "She's just cowering under a table of something, scared like hell, but fine. Totally fine. No doubt."

He walked away from his wife, kicked down the entrance door, and entered his house. Fire raged around him.

"Aeris?" he asked.

There was no reply. Poor daughter of his... she was too scared to talk. He walked around a burning table, jumped over some debris, and scanned the now ruined living room.

"Aeris, it's Daddy! Daddy's here! Where are you?" he asked again, and just like before, silence was his only answer.

His heartbeat increased.

Varlus shoved away a destroyed chair, moved a partially ruined cupboard out his way... and there she was.

His heart stopped.

Aeris, his daughter, was lying on the floor, completely motionless. She wasn't breathing. There was a nasty blood spot on her tiny chest.

"No..."

Her hair was no longer the clean, blonde cloak: it was now rather an ugly, mustard-colored rag lying around her head.

"Aeris..."

She didn't answer.

"Aeris, answer me. Please. It's Daddy... I'm here to save you" he said softly. For all the response he got, he might as well talk to the burning counter nearby.

Then he realized what was going on. She was asleep from the hot air near her, that was all. Varlus took her in her arms.

"Aeris, wake up... We've got to go. Come on."

He patted her left cheek calmly. Her head tilted nastily towards the right.

"C'mon... this is no time to play games, Princess" he said, almost grinning. "We must leave... This place is a little bit dangerous."

Aeris did not reply. Varlus shook her a bit. Her limbs moved around freely, as if they were no longer being in her daughter's control. Strange... Aeris never slept so deeply. As far as he remember, she always had light sleep, and was woken up by the faintest sound.

He laughed slowly.

"Wake up, we're going to Junon's playground! Lots of fun, come on!" Aeris loved that. She'd surely drop her joke and wake up now.

Silence.

"Aeris, wake up or else Daddy will be angry" he said. Amazing she had will enough to joke at a moment like that.

She was still silent. Not even her eyes twitched.

"Aeris, I'm serious now, wake up."

No reply.

"Come on, wake up!" he said, now loudly. She always obeyed when he shouted, and joke or not, that never changed.

Or so he thought. Aeris didn't move a muscle.

"Wake up, Aeris! Now!"

Still no reply.

Out of ideas, Varlus finally felt a presence behind him. He turned around, only to see Ifalna standing there, crying silently but heavily.

"She's asleep" he said. "I can't wake her up. Why don't you try?"

Ifalna stood silent.

"I... I dunno why, she's just playing with me, but I'm telling her the joke's over, and we've got to leave now, but she just won't quit it... Why... Why don't you try?"

His wife sank his face on her hands, now wailing loudly.

"Why do you cry? She's just asleep..."

Varlus looked at her daughter. She was so beautiful, save for her now messy hair, and that blood mark on her chest.

"Hey, why does she have blood on her chest?"

Blood...

"She's asleep."

Blood on her chest... and also a deep cut...

"She's asleep... just asleep..."

Blood... a cut... the blood looked like it flowed from it...

"She's..."

Varlus hugged her strongly. He broke into tears. Her head dropped backwards.

"She's... dead."

Ifalna hugged him from behind, head in his back.

Now it was Varlus' time to stay silent. There were no words that could explain what he felt.

Or maybe there was one. Revenge.

------------------------------------


LAST MEMORY, PART TWO: VARLUS' NEW PATH

Gast:

I write this letter to you as my heart cries non-stop. I am deeply saddened, for a terrible event had just transpired, and I need your help.

You are the only one left alive that I can trust.

The Shinra had made progress with their Jenova Project. They found out Ifalna was the last living Cetra, and as such, they tried to get her for their experiments.

Facing uncountable dangers, I managed to return back home before they took her. But Aeris, my only daughter, was killed.

The pain I feel is unbearable, and I don't know whether I'll be able to stand it.

This is why I need your help. By the time you read this, Ifalna will be with you. Go to Icicle Inn, to your old hideaway, and keep her safe. That's all I ask.

I know you've quit the Jenova Project by now. But I ask you to research as much you can about the Ancients and Jenova herself. Ifalna will prove to be of great help in this.

Just find out the truth about all this, and expose it to the world. Bring Shinra's mad experiments down for good. You do the research part, I'll do the physical part.

Farewell, my good friend. I entrust you my most precious possession. Take good care of it. And good luck.

Varlus Jenneson

P.S.: I need to ask you another favor. If you ever have a daughter, please... name he r Aeris. It'd be a beautiful thing in her memory. I trust you'll understand.

Varlus closed the envelope and gave it to Ifalna.

"When you contact Professor Gast, give him this note. And remember: don't open it before he reads it. These are special instructions for him, meant to guarantee your safety."

Ifalna nodded and stashed it in her bag. Her eyes were still red.

"What... what will you do?"

"I told you. I have unfinished business with the Shinra. I'll get my revenge... on Hojo... on the President... on everyone."

His wife shook her head. "I don't approve, Varlus."

Varlus shook his head in response. "Varlus Jenneson died. He's right over there" he said, pointing at his daughter's tombstone. "Entombed within her heart."

Ifalna began to cry again. Varlus held her face.

"Go to Kalm... meet Professor Gast... and leave here. He'll take you to the north, to a safe place, where you'll be able to continue your life protected from these guys."

She took his hand.

"I want to be with you, my love."

"I can't" he said. He'd have liked to take her with him, but he had to do what he had to, alone. "My path now will be paved with the corpses of the Shinra. I'll take my revenge, and I must take it alone."

She hugged him once more.

"Will I ever see you again?"

It was a tough question. But Varlus knew what the answer was.

"Yes. Whether in this world, or in the Lifestream... I'll seek you out, and I'll find you. I promise."

Ifalna stared him closely.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Ifalna." He then kissed her for the last time, tasting her mouth once more, feeling her tears run through both of their faces as she cried. After some brief moments, they separated.

"There's the car I managed to get for you" he said, pointing at a small, rusty car. "It's not fancy, but it runs."

"It'll be enough" Ifalna said. She kissed him once more, and got into the car.

"Until we see each other again, my love" said Varlus. "Be happy, no matter what you do. And don't look back."

Ifalna nodded, smiled, dried her eyes, and started up the engine. A few minutes later, she was just a smoke cloud drifting away in the horizon.

Varlus stood all alone next to his daughter's grave. He removed Krianna's pendant from his neck, and buried it in the dirt next to the grave.

"Thank you, my friend."

He stood up, picked up his helmet from the ground, put it on, and walked away, as a gentle rain began to fall over Aeris Jenneson's grave.

It was time for vengeance.

----------*----------*----------

Late that night, a man wearing a black cloak dashed quickly through Sector Five slums. His footsteps echoed as they hit the numerous puddles. The gentle rain from before had turned into a massive storm.

The man stopped near a fairly big house, surrounded by a well maintained garden. He knocked heavily on the door. After some seconds, a woman opened.

"Who is it?" she asked.

"Elmyra Gainsborough?" the man asked in reply. Elmyra nodded. "I've got a letter from you, from your husband."

"Jack!" she gasped. "What is it? What happened?"

"You'd better read the letter, ma'am" the man said. Elmyra took the wet envelope and stared at it.

TO: Elmyra Gainsborough
Sector Five Slums

FROM: Jack Gainsborough
Shinra Army Department

She raised her head and saw the man had turned away and was leaving.

"Wait!"

The man turned around. He had a helmet which covered his face.

"Are you from Shinra?" she asked. The man shook his head slowly. "Then... who are you?"

"Just a messenger" he replied. "Call me... Black Wolf."

"Black Wolf?" Elmyra looked at the envelope again. "But here says Shinra Army Department... what--" She looked up again, but the man was no longer there. He had vanished.

Elmyra frowned, and closed the door.

------------------------------------

EPILOGUE

"You are once again surrounded by a brilliant white light."

"Allow the light to lead you away from the past, and into this lifetime."

"When I tell you to open your eyes, you will return to the present, remembering all you have learnt."

"Open your eyes."

The patient, still lying in the couch, opened his eyes. He was sweating. Slowly, he incorporated.

"Is that it?" he asked.

"Yes" answered the hypnotherapist near him. "I trust these sessions were enough to calm your dreams and give you peace."

"Oh, sure" said the patient, standing. "But, tell me Doctor... is this man... is Varlus alive?"

The hypnotherapist sighed. "That, I do not know. I guess that you will have to find out yourself. At the very least, you now know the truth, and you will be no longer haunted by these memories."

The patient rubbed his forehead. "I don't think they were hauntings... I think they were trying to tell me the truth, so I could tell her..." He sighed. "Too bad she's no longer around to tell her, though."

The hypnotherapist nodded. "I think this man, if he is alive, will be proud to know she saved the Planet."

The patient nodded. "I'll go to his daughter's tomb... I'll pay my respects. He deserves it... and she deserves it."

The doctor stood up. "I guess this is it, then."

"It is." The patient smiled and headed for the door. "Goodbye, Doctor... and thanks for the help."

"It is my job" the doctor replied, grinning. "Goodbye, Cloud."

Cloud opened the door and left the doctor's office.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE END



[Author's Note: Well, it's over Yes, I know Elmyra received her letter after she met Aeris Gainsborough, but I simply had no way of mantaining the timeline without making a mess Though I guess it's a mess anyway.

Okay... thanks everyone for reading and posting, special thanks to Del S for his Weapons list.

I hope you enjoyed reading my fanfic as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Alex]

This post has been edited by Artiles on 11th May 2006 19:09

--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

Very nice work, Alex.

--------------------

"Thought I was dead, eh? Not until I fulfill my dream!"
Seifer Almasy


"The most important part of the story is the ending."
Secret Window


"Peace is but a shadow of death."
Kuja

Thanks man Now let't see if Rangers51 thinks it's worthy of being added in the main site's fanfic list

--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

An amazingly bleak end, but one which is far better than any sort of happy ending. That conclusion could easily fit into the pre-game background with a little jiggery-pokery (The strike on Wutai itself was a raid to try and end the war that failed because of Varlus, and the war then truly began, with Wutaian and Midgarian fleets engaging at sea, etc... letting the war churn on and the notice of jack's death just grow lost in the post, and then, about six years after this, the planet tells five-year-old or so Aries what the postal service and Shinra did not, and then, about ten years after that, another war: the one that Sepiroth fought in and Cloud tried to fight in.) and also builds you a dangerous original character to unleash on hapless shinra like Solid Snake on the patriots. He's a human anti-hero, but now, he really has nothing to lose.

I think, however, it might be a bit more effective if you drop this part, and then just have he and Ifalna embrace in their sorrow, Varlus just staring blankly at the sky, as it moves onto the epilogue. That way, I think it would give the impression of Varlus being a man who has now seen so much horror, he's such a broken man he cannot even scream or weep, but is now simply contemplating one thing: revenge.

Quote

"WHY?!"

He screamed, filled with despair, maddened...

"SHE'S DEAD! SHE'S DEAD! WHY, OH MY GOD, WHY?! TELL ME WHY, DAMMIT!"

Just like all the other questions he had asked before, nobody answered.

Also, R51 doesn't do anything with Fan submissions, it's a job for me and Mr Thou for fanfics.

This post has been edited by Del S on 11th May 2006 19:09

--------------------

"Only the dead have seen the end of their quotes being misattributed to Plato."
-George Santayana

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here..."
-Abraham Lincoln, prior to the discovery of Irony.

You know, that sound fine It's just it was such a hell to write that scene, I guess it was kinda expectable it got somewhat sloppy. I'll update.

BTW, thanks for reading man

EDIT: There, I edited it. Hope it gives a better impression this time.

This post has been edited by Artiles on 11th May 2006 19:11

--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight

The Epliogue... tell me, that's from Dream Theatre's Scenes From a Memory, isn't it?

It's an awesome end. I just hope I got the right reference!

--------------------

Visions of Peace - Four Generals, One Empire, and the Returners caught in the middle.

The whole story format is an homage to Dream Theater's Scenes From A Memory So yes, you got it right



--------------------

"But he's the sort of man who can't know anyone intimately, least of all a woman. He doesn't know what a woman is. He wants you for a possesion, something to look at, like a painting or an ivory box. He doesn't want you to be real, or to think or to live. He doesn't love you..."

Alejandro Artiles
AKA The Death Knight