Warped Perspective

Chapter 10


They are not thrilled about being bugged, but at least they can track Zackery down now. They get word to Vincent over PHS. They tell him about the fight and how Zackery has gone after Cloud by himself. Vincent says he is still looking for the Black Materia. After hanging the PHS up, they begin to make plans.

Madnol, “Well, I am going to follow Zackery.”

Xavier, “No way. You are still recovering from the last wound.”

Madnol, “Fuck off! Zackery has been a closest friend of mine for years and I don’t plan to abandon him now.”

Xavier, “I am going along to keep an eye on you. Plus, you’ll need my ship to get off Wutia Island.”

Madnol rolls his eyes at his brother.

Kain, “Both me and Sylaira will stay here. We have some things to discuss. I’ll give you the device to locate the bugs on Zackery and Chancey plus all the frequencies. I do ask that no one else learns them.”

Madnol, “So, we’ll be able to track your ass down too?”

Sylaira, “You will be able to track both of us down. I am also bugged.”

Xavier, “Well, we better get ready to leave. Chancey and Zackery already have a head start on us.”

They got some gear together and headed out on Xavier's boat. He didn’t push it as fast as before. The tracking on the radar wasn’t very good. Madnol didn’t say anything, but he was still very sore and each bump hurt. Chancey’s beacon indicated she was making some fast progress. They did wonder what she was using for transport.

Chancey stole someone’s boat and traveled across the ocean to a beach near Rocket City. She follows her gut feeling, towards where she was sure Zackery went. She soon arrives at Nibelheim. After Meteor is destroyed, some people came to live in the rebuilt town. Now the town is too quiet.

In town, she sees the bodies of mutilated people. It is a very unpleasant sight. She hurries to the old mansion on the hill. She walks inside the building. There she sees Zackery and Cloud finishing a duel. Zackery was being beaten badly and at just got unarmed. He has many small cuts that tickled with blood. Cloud runs at him with inhuman speed, his sword ready to strike. Chancey knows he could hit before she could do a thing.

Cloud, instead of striking with the blade, bashes Zackery with hilt of his sword. Zackery falls to the ground. Chancey runs over, her staff swing at Cloud’s head. Cloud barely dodges, since he didn’t see her enter and she caught him off guard. He gives her a puzzled looked.

Chancey, “Why do you go around hurting and killing?”

Cloud shrugs, “Why not.”

Chancey, “ Because it is wrong! You once knew this. . When did you forget?”

Cloud, “Everyone is a shadow. . . Not real. . . . Poor copies of real people. Only those of Jenova and ancient blood are real. It matters not if non-people die.”

Chancey, “They are real people!”

Cloud just shrugs and gets ready to attack her. She knew she could only stall him at best. Cloud charges at her, eagerly swinging his sword at her from the right. She barely parries it. Cloud swings at her staff, hitting it hard. She almost losses her grip. He continues his attack smashing her staff hard. The last hit snaps her staff in two to pieces. With his left hand, he smashes her across the head. She goes flying backward, dazed. Cloud pins her down to the floor. She finds the position very uncomfortable. Cloud has a happy smile on his face. He apparently finds this extremely fun.

Cloud, “Do you think I will kill you?”

Chancey, “You killed the people around here why not . . “

Cloud, “I did?, “ He laughs with delight, “ I didn’t kill them and I won’t kill you.”

Chancey, “What? Who did?”

Cloud, “No, the army did. Under Able’s orders. . . I did think it was a bit extreme.”

Chancey, “Please don’t kill Zackery, kill me if you need to . . . . “

Cloud, “Oh, you thought I wanted to kill him? That wouldn’t be fair, now would it. I need Zackery for my plans. . . How about this . . . I will give you this materia if you make me happy.”

Chancey, “Make you happy?”

Cloud, “I will let you live and keep Aeris’ materia if you make me very happy.”

Chancey, “How can I make you very happy?”

Cloud gives her a kiss before explaining things to her, “You see, All I want is this....”

They arrive at Nibelheim. The radar points them to the old mansion. But only Chancey was in the building. They notice Zackery’s beacon was going at an incredibly fast rate towards the east. They hurry past the bodies and into the mans Th They find Chancey on the floor out cold. Around her neck was Holy. Madnol, with some effort, sat next to her and tries to wake her up. Chancey wakes up with a start. She realizes neither Cloud or Zackery were there, just Madnol and Xavier.

Madnol, “Hey, how did you get the white materia?”

Chancey, “I had to bargain for it. Just say Cloud is very weird. . . ”

Xavier, “So, Cloud took Zackery with him? “

Chancey, “Yes. I just want to leave this place of death.”

Madnol tries to help her up, but finds it hard to get back to his own feet. He winces in pain at the effort.

Chancey, “Madnol, you’re still too hurt to be doing this.”

Madnol, “Ha! I can do whatever I put my mind to. Umm. . . maybe I could use some help?”

So, Chancey and Xaveir end up helping Madnol to his feet.

Madnol, “We used a tracking device to find you. We still have Zackery on radar.”

Xavier, “His beacon is still moving at a very fast rate.”

Chancey, “They are going to New Midgar, to Tylunar headquarters.”

Madnol, “How do you know?”

Chancey, “Cloud told me. We better alert someone to the dead bodies here.”

Xavier, “Yes, we need to before they begin to rot. It is hard to imagine Cloud killing a whole town.”

Chancey, “He said he didn’t do it.”