Haunted Memory

Disclaimer: I have no rights over The final Fantasy Characters. This story is based off joint effort of Mix mastah Mike and Sailor Poison. Any reviews is very much appreciated.

“ Haunted Memory “
By Mix Master Mike and Sailor Poison

~Ch 6 part B

Nanaki and Barret had stayed behind with Reeve and Cait Sith. Reeve had sent the group to explore the city for the mysterious attackers along with Tifa. They would leave to investigate soon for the terror that plagued the city. Barret's mind was on the strange man; his mind was on Derringer and the other man Aukijin and of their involvement in the whole ordeal. Barret scratched his head looking to the Moogle with the cat on top of it, "What the hell you doin' wit' us Reeve? I doubt you'll help in that plush doll." The Cat lifted the megaphone up to its mouth and spoke, "Oh Barret how I love your encouragement your just the master motivator. We are to check the Assassin's guild for the corrupt ones."

Nanaki spent some time before they left talking to reeve. The beast was asking about what he has done with the company itself. He was truly impressed with Reeve because of all the technological and environmental advancements he had made. "I have to say you did well. I wish I was efficient with Cosmo Canyon. I am glad to be working with you again."

Tifa was happy to be doing something useful; the bartender was quite glad to see Reeve was making Shin Ra a more efficient and productive company. In fact she realized that she missed him a lot even though he traveled with them using Cait Sith. Tifa wondered why she never visited him; maybe it was because she was too wrapped up in herself being selfish. She could have done many things different but chose not too because it would have been a harder road than what she took.
Reeve sent a telepathic message to Cait Sith and the creature spoke waving its little cute moogle arms, "We need to hurry if we want to get to the assassin's guild!" The moogle took off waddling semi jumping towards the door being followed by Barret whose metallic arm was morphed into a gun.

Nanaki and Tifa follow after them both abruptly they wanted to stay with Reeve rather than check out some deadly guild. Tifa giggled a bit as she followed speaking to Barret with much sarcasm, "Nice gun arm Barrey does it turn into an egg beater?" Tifa just had to ask that question it had been bugging her since the day he had his arm changed. She felt kind of afraid of the whole assassin's guild idea but she had to be strong and confront her fears. Everyone soon hurried along following the large plush moogle.

Barret shook his head speaking rather thoughtfully which seemed odd, "If it did that I'd be set every morning." The man's sarcasm was just not funny or most though it wasn't. The Moogle seemed to pull Barret inside the elevator; even though it was a plush doll it was mechanical none-the-less meaning it had strength. Cait Sith pressed the button and hobbled up and down waiting for them to get aboard while the cat on top of the stuffed Moogle waved to reeve to get aboard. Barret spoke again shoved the plush doll against the wall hard with one arm the cat almost falling off, "Ey' Doll watch it."

Nanaki gets inside the elevator first clinging onto Barret so he didn't fly and hit the roof once more. Tifa just casually grabbed onto a rail, she wanted to overcome her fears and show the assassins at the guild how hard she could throw a lick. Tifa shook her head those loving chocolate brown eyes looking at Barret quite quizzically, "Aw, Barret why did you do that? Cait Sith is too cure to get mad at!" She smiled clasping her head together bending down looking at the Moogle kindly.

The Moogle jumped up into the air grabbing Tifa's hand ripping Barret's form the rail putting Tifa's hand in place of it. Everyone else was ready and braced holding onto their hats, soon the larguffeuffed moogle hit the turbo button sending them flying downward almost into the ground sending Barret up into the air once more and onto the ground soon after. The elevator door opened a slight ding being heard as the voice announced "You are on the first floor". The large stuffed doll hobbled out as the large man chased him catching his balance on the elevator door frame. Barret shook his hands over his head madly as he shouted out at the doll, "Come'ere you little shit."

Nanaki staggers out trying to get his balance. Apparently it wasn't fun hitting the ceiling and being thrown around into the large man for some odd reason. It was almost like a weird amusement ride to him. Tifa hurried out running after Cait Sith shaking a fist angrily, "I'm going to get you for that!" It was almost a serious threat, but it was said only so Barret didn't get mad. She had to hold a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing at Barret as he ran down the road. She followed quite quickly.

The Toy grabbed onto the light pole flying around it rather quickly. Soon it took off jumping onto a garbage can then to a roof then off the wall sliding down a clothesline; it ripped off a large shirt and held it behind its back using it as a cape to slowly glide down a long distance down the alleyway out of view. Barret, "How the Cid Highwind are we supposed to do that?"

Tifa pauses abruptly looking at the large obstacle course blowing a lock of her out of her face, "Well darn that looks hard to do." She looked for another way around the place while the beast sniffed the wall seeing it was made of a rather weak wood. Nanaki would rather take a safe direction but knew that the large man would rip through the fence so he took more than a few steps back. He knew Barret to well. Nanaki, "When did Cid's name become the universal word for curse words?"

Barret shrugged chuckling politely as his arm formed what looked like a large axe. Those deep brown eyes scanned the fence over before hacking through it ripping literally a man made door into it. His arm turned into what looked like a large shield as he smashed through a plywood wall into another alleyway that had been previously blocked off. He soon charged around the corner seeing the large shirt that Cait Sith had used he'd have to find another damned way in the building than the damn plush doll.

Tifa, "When Cid's life is just endless cursing why not his name be one too?" She came back with a rather slick remark following the large man. She could almost feel Nanaki clawing at her heels to go faster. Tifa brushed some hair across her face as she followed her former leader. It was funny that he was leading her around again seeing as how she missed it quite a lot not that could was a bad leader or anything. She had just always been partial towards Barret seeing as how he helped her more than once when she was younger. Barret was like a father figure to her. Cid was also one when he wasn't flirting or trying to get laid; sometimes she didn't mind the flirts it made her feel desirable. Everyone knew the pilot meant no harm because he couldn't do any even if he had women skills. She doubted he would know what to do if she kissed him. NOT that she would kiss him, only to freak him if he really asked for it.

Barret looked around wiping his hands together as his gun arm turned back into that normal looking hand. He looked rather happy being the human door for once, soon though he seen a door that looked strange. He most likely figured it was strange because it was made of 13 inch thick steel. He saw a few bricks loose scooting one over to where they would have enough room to peer in through a dark place. The people looked weird to him so he scooted the bricks out a bit to get a better look at them. They looked as if they were grabbed in dark flowing robes almost like ninjas? He also seen Aukijin too his face lit up with instant anger as he tried to get an idea into mind.

Tifa tries to peek inside without making any noise. Nanaki watches their back incase anyone unwanted just happened to walk up behind them. The protector of Cosmo Canyon was more than just a protector of his people; he was a protector of his friends just as well as his people. Tifa puts a hand over her mouth to keep from making comments.

Aukijin sat there talking to the men about future plans. Barret shook his head he knew this was bad mostly because Aukijin knew his face and could distinguish the beast because of he was the only one of his kind. All of this meant one thing to Barret; it would be twice as hard to get inside. He scratched his head then got a weird idea into his head it was to go inside in disguise of some sort maybe. "That's it!" Barret said excitedly but softly to himself taping Tifa on the shoulder pushing the bricks closer together now speaking to them, "I got a plan."

Tifa nods and smiles speaking softly, "I'm game." She was one who would follow Barret's plans but then again she was no rocket scientist. Nanaki looks at them worried thinking this being Barret's plan was most likely not to turn out picture perfect.

Barret told her the plan about turning them in dressing dark like an assassin. While she did so his metal arm formed metal wires that wrapped around his arms around the backside tightening. After they looked as if they were handcuffs he did the same for Nanaki. It would look like she was turning them into Aukijin as prisoners which were actually a brilliant plan seeing how Aukijin didn't get a good look of her face.

Tifa nods to Barret as she scowled getting into character acting as if she was a selfish stuck up bitch which wasn't hard to pull off seeing how shallow she was. She thought about how she hated some people and used that to be less vivid in the emotional category and use more action. Nanaki winced at the fact they were going in pretty much unarmed and not fighting back a bit for the moment. He hated these kinds of improvisation plans. Tifa soon knocked on the metal door a slight clanging noise sounding soon the door opened slowly.

One of Aukijin's lackeys walked up opening the door looking out scanning the girl over; she looked tantalizing almost like a big hunk of gold about to be stolen. He let her enter the door putting hand out stopping Barret seeing as how he was unarmed and handcuffed he let the prisoners(?) inside the building. Aukijin spoke, "Well look what the Gods drug in, a woman and the two traitors to New Midgar."

Tifa in that cold voice, 'I heard you were looking for these two from one of your brutes. I captured them outside plotting a few minutes ago and figured it would be rather lovely to punish them for their sins. She smirked in a cold way almost like the way Sephiroth smirked at times. She tossed back her hair looking to them sticking out both of her arms her attire was different. She was wearing black lipstick and all leather apparently she had changed outside before they entered. Nanaki followed his head down and tail dragging as if he had lost his last hope.

Barret shook his head looking to Nanaki, "Its been a good run." Barret gave that look as if it was all over all before looking to Aukijin yelling at him, "Traitors?!?! What-Da-Ya mean?" the large man jumped around a bit before being restrained by two guards.

Aukijin spoke again running a long pale blue fingernail down the size of his face, "Yes Traitors. You two will be convicted with the soon to be bombing of New Midgar; we will bring the whole city underground to be destroyed in the lifestream and you two are going to be responsible for it."

Nanaki became vicious lashing out at Aukijin with his nail and teeth, "You Monster!"

Tifa chuckled slightly before scowling and kicking the shit out of Nanaki. She didn't mean to kick him that hard but that's how it ended up being played out, "Shut up, beast!" Tifa wanted to kick Aukijin in his teeth in but she didn't leave character. The result of doing so would be fatal to her and the group after they figured out their plan. She smirked at the men, "Should be a picnic."

Aukijin spoke rather angrily, "Put them in the holding cell." He snapped his fingers and a few men lead her to a jail cell. Most of the men followed getting excitedTifaTifa's slightly Gothic look noticing her nice curved figure. She figured it would be best not to take on every single one of them at once.

Tifa follows them, her hips had a natural sway when they walk. Almost like a slum whore who knew how to pimp her body, except she had the form and body of a model which was twice as attractive. She held Nanaki's mane in a painful position dragging him along. This actually hurt the beast even though she didn't mean too so his cries were actually real. She thought he was just a really good actor. This reminded her of a cheap secret agent like movie

The cell was opened up and they were flung in there on the cold stone floor. Nanaki hit the wall with a thud again getting abused like usual he was used to it by now. Soon the cell was locked by Charlie who looked to Tifa smirking then asked a question, "You going to stay here and guard the prisoners miss?" He was a skilled assassin in the use of knives and daggers, and was Aukijin's right hand man.

Tifa smiles with them full lips as she leans on the wall rather sexily almost as if she were about to engage in intercourse. She replied rather coldly to the man shrugging him off as if he was nothing which he wasn't really to her anyway, "Of course! I want to punish them and make sure they see the city they care for engulfed in pure chaos." She folded her arms over her chest looking at him darkly.

Nanaki sits up and regains his balance after a while a slight lump on his head growling harshly at Tifa jumping out biting at her putting on a good show this time. Tifa wasn't so sure he was acting this time but she knew he wouldn't betray her out of rage and frustration.

Charlie nodded slowly walking off out the door shutting it tightly. Barret slammed his fist against the wall muttering curse words one after another before speaking, "Were in da' hell is that plush doll when you need him?"

Nanaki, "I am sure Cait Sith is nearby and waiting for a good chance to help out. Reeve is smarter than you give him credit for." He licked his paw a bit not showing he was actually hurt by Tifa earlier.

There was a whizzing noise as the Moogle ran around the walls of the room before skipping across the prison bar ice being left over his tracks, he soon slipped on his very ice falling hitting the ground with a thud. Soon the ice cracked along with the bars breaking and falling down with a soft thud. The large man looked to the beast replying sarcastically, "Well look what the cat dragged in.

Tifa smiles at the plush doll; he was late but then again Cloud was also that way. He had to make a big entrance just like him.

Barret cursed a bit then ripped his links off then Nanaki's links. The large man hobbled about before speaking, "Enough foolin' around we need ta stop these guys right now or at least put them down, lets go attack em. The Moogle's hand reached out grabbing onto Barret's human arm speaking, "Well, we have footage and taping in my recording system so just get me out of here and you guys will be fine; you might have to fight your way out. But we still need Aukijin alive to prosecute him and put him behind bars for good."
Tifa, "I see that is what you were doing!" She kisses Cait Sith on his cat face softly looking round the room with much speculation before removing and putting her gloves on again making them tighter, "Well lets get going boys." Her eyes lit up strange as she was ready for revenge on the man for what he did to her home

Nanaki nodded to them, "I'm ready to help whenever Tifa." The beast pd oud out the door to see where they were at but only got a glimpse of the men.

Barret stormed through the door his arm morphing back into his regular gun arm. The leader of AVALANCHE opened fire on the men taking out the men armed with guns first. He paused abruptly dodging a bullet before firing a few shots at Aukijin himself while shielding Tifa and the beast and firing a few shots at Aukijin himself, "Getcha' ass over here you traitor!" As Barret spoke those words he was charged by a man going to stab him with a knife. Barret easily took charge of the situation backhanding the man with all his strength sending him spinning into the wall. He delivered a blow to another charging man with his gun arm looking over to Aukijin snarling loudly.

Tifa lets Barret take out the men with the guns then spots a few trying to escape. She soon takes action and attacks them punching and kicking them hard. Her blows were delivered with pinpoint accuracy and the power and precision of a expert boxer. Nanaki was beside her tugging, biting, and scratching at Tifa's victim's legs ensuring her victory. The men were covered in a rampage of attacks that literally destroyed them. Apparently AVALANCHE was still strong despite missing some key members they managed to charge and devastate the assassin guild.

Barret glanced to Aukijin who opened fire on him a hail of ice was flung at him his arm forming a shield and busted the ice everywhere. There was ice on the floor and walls covering it just about if it wasn't for the broken spots it would be completely tundra.

Soon Barret whistled as he shot out a few bullets at a gas tank near Aukijin; Aukijin laughed as he looked to the tank where he was shooting his eyes went wide as he was caught into the explosion sending him through the far wall, leaving him tattered and beaten.

Nanaki jumped out in front of them scanning around that ferocious look inside his eyes. He was the first to examine the sector. God forbid if there are others out there. The beast was excited and still wanted to "play" with them. Tifa stays with Cait Sith as his body guard to help him escape.

Barret goes out first firing another shot down the hallway missing a blur of human proportions the first time. Then he saw the shadow against the wall firing down the left side of the hall hitting Aukijin in his chest. Good thing he always wore a Kevlar vest. The impact of joules sent him sliding against the wall hard putting a large crack into it. Barret motioned with his gun arm for them to follow him as he seen a flash of white in front of his eyes. Everything in the room was blinded for a few seconds then a blur of black was seen charging. Green lasers were everywhere scanning over things as the task force entered the building. Everything seemed to blur into proportion as the New Midgar Turks and task force team finally came into view. The task force members swarmed the heroes and dragged them off while the Turks took care of Aukijin.

Tifa ran still giving Cait Sith protection but got caught in the swarm and she was soon separated from her friends. She only thought of her friends as she was carried off into the square to Reeve and group.

They were carried to the square and dropped off near a woman standing in a blue suit. Elena had aged a bit to about her mid twenties. Elena stood two new fresh Turks from the looks of them. Gerarden was a supreme marksman and Darryl acceded in open air tactics. They looked about very early twenties. A moon stood behind them grabbed in a black swat team raincoat. Reeve motioned for his friends to come join him.

Tifa smiles slightly she wasn't too happy to meet the new Turks again but she would give them a chance regardless of what they've done in the past. She greeted them with a friendly smile because she no longer had anything against them. Nanaki on the other hand still held harsh feelings against the Turks. Nanaki spoke rather calm through it all, "We got your gang Reeve." Nanaki walks over and nods to Elena in a polite way but otherwise says quite. This was an interesting raid to say the least.

Elena, "It's very fortunate to see you three again. It looks like lady luck has smiled upon you once more." She smirked softly; apparently there was no love loss from her side of the story. Darryl simply chuckled at the mere fact of Elena trying to tell off the heroes of the world he found that a little odd and becoming. Gerarden stayed there emotionless thinking bidding his time his long tassels of onyx colored hair draped in front of his face. He wanted to be the greatest marksman ever in Shin-Ra history no matter what the cost. Elena thought of Reno he was the last to Perish right after Tseng from the brutal impact of the lifestream upon Midgar. What had happened to their remains was not known.

Tifa quickly changed her mind of the woman making a sarcastic comment back to her, "Aw, I'm so privileged you still care so much." She used the tactics of the annoying and gruff pilot to annoy the female Turk. She spoke to Reeve, "I am worried about their plan to make the lifestream bust up. I am not sure this is the end of it." Nanaki accidentally lets his tail smack Elena in the ass. "Heh I'm sorry my mistake." His voice filled with enough fake sorry to make him sound as if he really was feeling sympathetic for the Turk.


Elena smirked softly at the Cat a slight chuckle escaping her lips, "So where's spike and the rest of them at? Off trying to stop Sephiroth again? Our spies have researched the battlefield; they'll be massacred soon by Sephiroth if they fall into his trap like the others did."

Tifa, "Then I have to go out there and warn them!" She wanted to protect cloud and the rest of her friends. She wouldn't let Sephiroth commit genocide once more. She wished the gunman was around to council her and give her advice on what to do. He was always collected, cool, and focused regardless of the situation. She was mentally cursed in his absence, and untimely death. Or so it would seem.

Nanaki, "That could be a problem, what happened to your people Elena?" This time he spoke coolly and calmly to the Turk. No Cool and calmly asks the Turk. No animosity to the sexy female Turk.
Elena had that slight swagger to her; she was beautiful and dangerous at the same time which definitely meant she was one not to be trifled with. The female Turk spoke rather softly, "Well our men were taken out by a mysterious force associated with the lifestream and Sephiroth. Somehow Sephiroth is summoning back creatures defeated once using them to annihilate our men. We are about to go to the site and examine it for clues to what might have happened. We will need your assistance whether or not you choose to go, you will be forced too." She put the next phrase curtly, "You can go without force, or you can go after being tortured into it."

Tifa scowls at her words and the way she phrased things. Nanaki, "I was going to ask if we could help you figure out what happened." He stated calmly as is he purrs it out with a smile. Tifa then chuckles, "I think we should stick her and Cid in a room together." But Nanaki ignores that, "I would like to help Elena. The loss of men no matter which side they are on is a grave matter."

Elena almost smiled out of the corner of her mouth, she turned around the corner nodding for her Turks to get aboard the ship. She spoke sharply slightly even though she was finished with her small lecture, "All aboard." almost as she turned around nodding to her fellow turks. "Well, lets get aboard."

Barret walked first being escorted by the two Turks, along with Reeve and Cait Sith. The two Turks simply watched and made sure everyone assigned on the mission was on the airplane. Reeve of course dropped a few things off on the plane and gave them a speech about good luck then left promptly. Elena looked over to Tifa and Nanaki, "You first." She smirked.

Nanaki follows her Tifa does so reluctantly. Part of her minds goes over how this girl needs to get laid worse then cid. She gets aboard anyway and settled in a seat. Nanaki's tail brushes her leg softly as he gets on board. He whispers to her as he passes, "Sometimes honey draws flies easier. You don't need to be a brute force all the time even if you are a Turk." Nanaki gets inside the plane and finds a safe spot to be at while flying, chuckling because she probably didn't know he caught her pants leg on fire with his tail.

She turned reaching back brushing a few stray flames off the back before it had a chance to ruin the suit or even show a huge spot she gri grinned before speaking softly to herself, "Bastard." She soon took her seat in the pilot seat of the plane making the pilot scoot the hell over, Cait Sith hopped aboard now shutting the door.

Elena took off in the airplane heading towards the large green aura in the air. The ride didn't take that long only about an hour and a half in which she soon landed outside the crash site. The doors opened up automatically almost she hopped out. Her Turks gave Tifa, Barret, and Nanaki a personal escort down to where she was. Cait Sith took up the rear hobbling along like usual.
Nanaki, "I must add, Elena, your charm has grown since we last met years ago." The protector of Cosmo Canyon's comment was not meant as an insult but as a compliment actually.

Tifa looks around more following Cait Sith then caring what the Turks believed they were doing. She was there for Reeve, and her friends.

Elena stopped in her tracks her arm shook softly but wasn't able to be seen through the Turk Suit. The leader of the Turks wanted to backhand the beast so badly but she chose not too; it was odd because one side of her face blushed at his comment. Barret shook his head a slight laugh escaping from his mouth as his arm morphed into that gun arm once more. It seemed he was ready for all hell to break lose as Elena lead the way looking around at all the dead. It looked as if something had ripped them in half and some of them were melted others electrocuted to death and a few their heads lopped off their body still shivering even after death.

Nanaki wondered if she got complements often. He goes on alert and starts to investigate the area. Nanaki felt deeply sorry for whatever animal or creature attacked the men seeing as how they didn't die a good death. Their deaths were inhuman, cruel and sadistic. Nanaki, "This is inhuman!" Tail lashes abound as he looks around. Tifa is in shock at this.

Elena shook her fist tears streaking down her face. "This isn't right. Nothing should be able to do this." She hung her head low she knew deep down what did it but wouldn't reveal it to the group instead she lead them on to where the glow seemed to be the strongest. Where the rest of the group should have been at?!? Meaning Cloud and his group were gone!?!

Nanaki, "I insist in helping you stop whatever did this to these people." He follows her still his tail lashing like wild. The beast gritted his teeth knowing whatever did this lie near the center of the threshold

Tifa, "Huh? Where are the others? Cloud, Cid, and Zack?" She called their names looking for them before sighing to herself, "I hope their okay." Fear and worry left her cold because she didn't know if she could stand finding them like this. It would be devastating to find them killed in this same brutal, methodical manner.

Barre"Hol"Holy shit! Ya'mean Cloud and the rest of em' were in this shit?" The large man bounced around wild and furious shaking his arms in the air a slight feel of guilt on his heart. "You did this to them didn't you!" He struck out verbally at Elena. She was the only one he could put blame on and get rid of his guilt knowing he should have went with Cloud.

Nanaki made an ear piercing growl, "Calm down right now. Obvious she isn't because she was with us in New Midgar the whole time. Calm down Barret." The beast growled a slight bit more as he seen something in the distance his jaw seemed to drop.

Elena, "This was nevernt tnt to happen, it was a simple recon mission turned bad; they were to investigate the cause of the pulsing energyels els and earthquakes and that was it." She was going to burst out in tears if she hadn't seen the following in front of her. Reno, Tseng, Rude, and Rufus walked towards them, Rufus leading the pack.

Tifa puts a hand on Barret's arm, his hand shaking as she looks up. They were alive? Wait she knew Rufus and Tseng died, although she was never sure of the two Turk's deaths. Nanaki leans against Elena hoping his touch might help her as he sees them also, "That is not the people you knew Elena. They are monsters now." Facing what the next battle will be, like the warrior of his clan would.

Rufus, was wearing what he had when he died in the accident, except it was partially repaired with a glowing fluorescent purple substance, which was looked like RAVE glow paint. His face and hands were covered in designs of the devil and hatred and evil. They were carved into his skin with that glowing neon, purple, and navy blue color. It looked as if his upper body didn't move, but his lower body was moving very fast his legs kept moving in a blur crossing over one another over and over again.

Tseng carried what looked like a large Scythe covered in a black mysterious liquid. His lower jaw was missing and he was covered in flowing black robes. It looked as if he was death himself here to carry them into the afterlife.

Rude was covered in scales and acid, almost as if he had grown like a lizard, his hands covered in twisted black fingernails, and two odd daggers in his hands, which looked like pieces of jagged obsidian colored glass.

Reno had what looked to be like a tire iron but sharpened on every side connected to a large chain wrapped around his body. Reno was the last to show his form, he was beautiful and clad in what looked to be a black knight's armor. He had two balls at his size rotating near his side slowly along with his EMP staff. A large broadsword was sheathed on his back.

Reno stepped forward to Elena running one of his hands covered in a gauntlet across her face so she could feel his fingers. His fingers went across her ear, parting a bit of her hair playing with it. He leaned his head over to her ear whispering softly, "Let us have them, and we shall spare you dear friend."