Chaos in Gaia

Duo sighed as he flopped back onto his bed. He was TIRED!

Despite his noticeably different abilities building a home under a pile of metal odds and ends that were rusted and packed over the earth and finding that the earth covered a warren of metal tunnels with pipes was rather difficult. But he had managed it; going so far as to build other hidden exits and entrances just in case of invasion.

Though with the security system he’d managed to build with some of the stuff lying around He thought they’d be okay. Also finding the old abandoned Computer terminal that must’ve run the junk yard works was a big help when he wired it all together.

Now all he had to do was get people to live here and bring supplies with ‘em. Than again judging by the bad state of affairs upstairs; getting people to live with him shouldn’t be that hard…

~ 1 month later~

Sephiroth, Zachary, a contingent of soldiers, the Turks, Tseng, the President, and for some reason Hojo; stood around in the streets as they discussed the mystery of the empty districts.

“People don’t just vanish into thin air. We know that they didn’t leave the city so where could that many people hide?” Hojo whined, he had lost many human subjects he had tagged for later use in experiments.

Rufus rolled his eyes and flipped his hair back,” Simple; Their hiding in plain site, so where have we not checked at this point?”

Even Sephiroth looked a bit put out. They had searched everywhere!

But a small soft voice cut in,” Umm…S-Sirs? I m-may know where they could be…”

Everyone whirled to look at Zack’s attending cadet and Zack stepped up,” Cloud, how could you know?” The cadet pulled off his helmet and ran a hand through his unruly gold mane,” Well Sir. When you’re new and small without training upper cadets like to pick on you. I learned to use the area to protect myself. The best spot to get lost in would be the Junk Maze. An old metal scrap yard that closed down and the scrap just kept accumulating until it turned into what it is now.”

They blinked in mass before grabbing him and pointing,” Lead us there!” The surprised Cadet nodded and took off at a run. He glanced back and it seemed as soon as one person got to close he’d manage to speed up.

Sephiroth frowned, glanced at Zack who nodded and the two raced to catch Cloud. When the cadet saw them on him; despite the fact he was supposed to be leading them, something seemed to happen-an old flight instinct maybe-, and he darted away.

His feet in their bulky steel toe and heel boots barely tapped the ground; a bare dink of sound as he ran.

His speed and agility surprised them as he slid under and around obstacles; focused on ‘escaping’ to his haven in the metal scrap. Finally he skidded to a halt in front of a busted down rusty gate with the words ‘Midgar Scrap’ over it.

He doubled over and panted a bit to catch his breath before straightening and continuing slowly into the yard. The moment everyone was through the gate a metal wall slid up out of the ground trapping them.

It was an ambush.


Derisive laughter filled the air as someone sing-songed,” Poor widdle shinwa. Allll twapped in the big scary junk yard.” A snort,” Should’ve stayed in ya cushy little offices and stayed outta the affair’s of your betters.”

Rufus snarled,” Betters? The only people that live here are gutter trash, street rats and mangy urchins!”

An angry murmur flitted through the air, sounding like some angry beasts low growl, as the voice mocked,” Opps, wrong thing to say. After all…”

Abruptly they were aware of the forms suddenly crouching on top of the hills of scrap, guns trained on all the Shinra below as the voice continued,” Us ‘gutter trash, street rats, and mangy urchins’ outnumber you. And we don’t take kindly to be insulted by the likes of you.” The speaker stepped out now in a gap between two muscular young males aiming shotguns at them.

The lithe figure was easily recognizable as the braided youth they had chased around Shinra HQ before he slipped away and escaped. Hojo opened his mouth and whined once more,” The likes of us? What ever are you talking about!? WE are the pinnacle of this society’s perfection!” he pointed at Sephiroth,” You stand in the presence of a veritable GOD!”

The youth cast a jaundiced eye over him and shrugged, causing Hojo’s jaw to drop,” I’ve seen finer. And by the likes of you I mean the,” and here he moved his fingers into the quote position, “ nobles, aristocrats, and the elites of society ; in other words, the rich and stupid, the stuck up, and the overcompensating men and women of the higher ups.”

The group seethed a bit until Cloud spoke up,” So why stay here? Why not take everyone and leave the city if you dislike it so.” The kid pointed at Cloud, “An excellent question and one that is easily answered.” He waved a hand and a little group of children between the ages of 5 and 8 ran up and clustered around his legs,” They deserve the same chances you reserve for your family’s. You don’t even provide the most base of public education, you don’t find ways to open up the job market, and you don’t try to help them at all. Why should they leave because you lot are too dim-witted to realize they are the base that keeps you on your pedestal.” He growled at them,” WE outnumber you, WE hate you, and WE are going to take you down!” he waved a hand and a group of teens appeared around them with spears,” They will take your arms now, resist and die.”

Cloud and a Turk called Reno immediately held their weapons out and they were promptly taken up before one teen cuffed the two and pulled them out of the group.

Tseng reprimanded Reno,” Why did you give them that? We have a chance to-“ Reno shook his head,” Sorry sir. Bit I grew up in these slums, yo. I know what they can do. I’m not gonna fight ‘em, got it yo?”

Sephiroth gave Cloud a hard gaze to Cloud, who dropped his head and flushed; mumbling,” I know these types of people. They may not kill you but they’d kill everyone else sir. And my duty is to protect the President. Resisting would ensure his termination.”

The group looked around each other but Hojo ripped his arm away from one girl who had gripped his limb lightly to bind him,” Don’t touch me you filthy whore!”

One boy turned from leading Tseng away and threw his spear. Hojo was thrown to the floor screaming; he was left to wither with the spear pining him by his shoulder. The boy finished pulling Tseng over to the girl. He gripped her shoulder and she gave him a grateful smile,” Thanks Bro.” They looked up at Duo who nodded soberly,” He resisted. And he insulted you, plenty justifiable.”

His grin returned immediately, all smiles now the youth bounded to the ground,” Now that we have you here, time for intros!” He bowed in a florid motion,” I am Duo ‘He Runs, and hides, but never lies’ Maxwell; also Shinigami or the God of Death if you can’t pronounce the first.”

The group digested that as they were lead around. Zack piped up as they approached an old fashioned dryer,” God of Death? A bit ballsy isn’t that?”

Duo opened the door of a dryer in the pile and pulled Seph up beside him,” Not at all.” He pushed Seph who slid out of site and Duo cast a virulent gaze back as he settled on the inner edge of the dryer, violet eyes glowing,” After all; all who oppose me have met such grisly ends. And those I loved have died as well.” He let go and slid down.

Everyone left standing above ground nervously eyed the gaping black hole. Did this kid have a loose nut in his head or what?!

TBC...