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: Shadows from the past, a hope from the future

The airship was quiet that day on the trip to New Midgar there were no ticker tape celebration for having the airship back. It seemed everyone were more worried about the gunman than anything. It was quite odd that the pilot wasn't causing havoc like he usually does with his ranting and raving he even seemed oddly saddened by the gunman's apparent death. Cloud had been leaning against the wall looking around shaking his head; it was almost as if he had imagined everything up to this point. Barret sniffed slightly even he missed the former Turk but not as much as Cid most likely; Derringer stood at the front of the ship staring off into space almost he pointed them in the direction of New Midgar and was giving directions as they went.

Cid gave orders to his crew to follow the nut ball gunman A.K.A. Derringer Lacy before he went off sitting down to rest in an odd silence. The pilot's expression was quite odd considering it was almost like a pot of boiling negative emotions somehow he kept to himself. All of a sudden during the trip he disappeared. Nanaki took the time to get a small nap fit into his schedule while everyone was down on themselves with regret. Tifa took Zack off to clean him up and get him fresh clothes and a hair cut. Zack soon ends up making his way towards his former Soldier member, Cloud a slight smirk on his lips.

Zack decided to toy with him, "Nothing like having a gorgeous woman pampering you eh?" Zack soon quirked a brow then crossed his arms looking at the swordsman.

He notes Cloud sigh and sides next to him, "What is so glum, chum?"

Cloud shook his head then looked to former lieutenant, "I'm just wondering about Vincent that's all." he blinked if he wouldn't have failed to kill Sephiroth earlier he wouldn't be in this situation right now. He blamed it all on himself just like always.

Zack snorts, "If he is a Turk former Turk or not I doubt he is dead or anything of that matter. I had my trouble with those trained assassins. Quite a fight they put up even when they lose a limb they keep coming at you like some kind of beast. Reminded me mostly of the Soldier program and how they trained us, except they were trained in covering their tracks and murder." He paused oddly as a moment of sanity entered his mind then he crashed back into the depths of confusion.

Zack chuckled madly then spoke once more slightly raspier and showed the actual poison of his mind, "You can't dwell on what could have been." But then his heart feels a little lighter as he reaches out and pulls something good out of his rant, "You must take your failures and mistakes use them to improve yourself. Remember when you were in trainingu mau made mistakes; so this time this isn't a simple exercise that isn't the point. Everyone freezes at a point; or hesitates we just have to pinpoint why and make sure we don't repeat that mistake." Clouds roll back in as he glances out the window slightly frowning then speaking again, "By the way, any spare sword?"

He nodded to the former Soldier a slight smile cracking on his face, "Yeah I got one for you right over there." The swordsman stepped towards the dark onyx box reaching out grabbing it. It was littered with golden designs and plush material. He slowly opened the box with utter delicacy seeing the shinning bright glimmer blade from inside of the box he sighed slightly. My how he loved this sword, it was his Ragnarok. He pulled the blade out and handed it to Zack. The blade was much like a buster sword except shorter all the way around and inlaid with the strongest materials. The blade lookedost ost as if it had a clear coat on it ng ang as how you could see your reflection with just a glance into it.

Zack lifted it up with awe across his face stepping back slightly holding the sword out to get its weight. He slashed through the air softly back and forth rather loftily. He smiled almost in pure delight as he spoke to his former soldier member, "Thanks this much better then that rather small blade I got off the grunt. I remember now, you always did have good taste in weapons." He slightly chuckled at that remembering how he took his old piece of shit sword when he "died" so long ago.

Cid walks back onto the bridge something was odd about him. Apparently he had finally cleaned up and shaved. His clothes were fresh and his wounds were healed. The gruff captain sat down in the chair he built on the bridge; the chair itself was very p and and comfortable showing great luxury. He was still quiet most negative emotions had gone and disappeared with his new appearance. What was odd is he actually looked appealing now that he had cleaned up. The Pilot cracks a smile as he assumes his captain position once more.

"Heh I'm glad you think so." Cloud shook his head laughing slightly to himself he did so quietly and to himself. He was about to say Tifa sure didn't think so but he kept his comments to himself. Apparently she must have not liked his taste in anything or maybe it was his lack of attention he paid to her. He thought about New Midgar and Sephiroth making a comment to Zack about it, "You think Sephiroth will be in New Midgar?" He scratched his head puzzled wondering if the madman would appear and attack them once more somehow.

Tifa can't believe he shaved. Usually Cid rarely bothers to do anything with himself; this seemed slightly odd seeing as how he cleaned up out of the blue. She suspected that it was due to sheer laziness that he didn't shave. She went to give Cloud a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder and a smile that arched from corner to corner of his mouth. She was worried about Vincent but she had faith that he would soon meet up with them; but only fate could tell.

Zack, "I don't know he might go to new Midgar or Old Midgar." His mind clouded with a second confusion of two cities of Midgar, "Midgar was our home after all." Cid mutters, "I hate old Midgar." The pilot soon lights up a cigarette, while the former soldier glanced over at Cid rather quickly then back to Cloud. Zack soon added his two cents so that only cloud could hear him, "The kicker is he is crr thr then me so hard to say what he will do."

Barret had been with Tifa, and looked over at the Pilot and whistled at him as if he were a beautiful woman. Barret soon laughed; apparently he had a sense of humor regardless of the situation he was in. The large man looked seeing everyone slowly cheer up at once and get back to their regular lives, "Yo baby face we there yet?" A slight smirk on his face as the former AVALANCHE leader spoke out.

Cid, "Try to kiss me and I'll you you... We are almost there I believe. I've never been to New Midgar before actually. I heard Reeve did a excellent job with Shin-Ra. I am tempted at times on visiting almost to see the place but I never got around to it.

Zack smiles as if he got this funny notion into his mind for some reason, it was scary at first but then became mellower. It was odd seeing what kind of things he is capable of thinking up at times.

Derringer pointed at a spot on the X, Y coordinate about a few clicks from their current position. When they arrived at the place it was covered by forests, and had a large city inside which looked made of intricacy. Soon part of the forest started to disappear as the rest of the city was revealed. It looked much cleaner and more efficient than the old Midgar because it didn't run on that much Mako. The Mako they ran the city with was recycling and reused in an efficient way. Soon the assassin spoke up without pause, "There's a spot to land in, near the center." Derringer circles the spot with a stylus on the coordinate board explaining the area to them.

Cid, "Okay show us if you idiots can still land!" The once proud captain barked at his crew while still sitting back counting the second away in his head. This was just like his other missions that involved the same glory and pride in landing it always has. The pilot trusted his crew, because he trained them and made sure not an uncommitted fool would fly his baby. His airship was maybe his true love his wife in an odd sense. He had other projects which included maybe a small airship project that he had kept hidden. The Highwind was the ship that he cared for the most, the old man watched the crew with expert landing skill and precise accuracy.

Tifa giggles into her hand but is impressed with what Reeve has done. The female bartender reconsiders her view of the cooperate man. Reeve wasn't all that bad considering what he had done in the absence of evil and greed. She planned to tell him that herself; that was her set goal for the moment.

Soon they were greeted by a special task force trained by Derringer himself. Green laser pointers were seen all around the ship as Derringer smiled to himself that slight chuckle escaping his lips. Derringer spoke to himself, "Good job men." Soon the door to the Highwind was opened. The squad infiltrated quickly and took over the Highwind in less than a minute scaling the stairs and such holding the group to gunpoint. Reeve stood outside clapping looking at them Cait Sith beside him. Apparently he was still fond of the plush doll after all. The President watches the group get escorted outside by the men.

Tifa smiles and goes up to give Reeve a hug she hasn't seen him in quite some time. She figured why not give him a hug. Even Cait Sith jumped up and down wobbling and waddling with applause for her hugging onto her leg.

Cid scowls at the armed men as if they were a little child. The pilot didn't like anyone besides the people he knew aboard his ship. Weapons were a no-no as well when they were pointed at him and his friends. Those sky blue eyes turn dark almost as they flash with anger as his skin turns a bright red his hands start to shake; he was about to burst. He let it out in a sigh as he forced himself to calm down by taking deep breaths and rocking back and forth. Soon the pilot looked to the new crowned President his teeth clamped tightly on his lit cigarette.

The protector of Cosmo Canyon finally comes to his feet waking up after his long nap. Nanaki trusted Cloud so if this was trouble he would take his cue and fight to the death if necessary. Seeing Reeve brings a smile to the great big cat.

The people lower than guns and salute the crew; the task force disappears as mysteriously as they appear. They seemed to crisscross each other then jump over boxes with ninja like stealth and scale walls disappearing into the city somewhere. Derringer sits back watching Reeve that sharp smile on his face. The president of New Midgar looked up to him a slight chuckle escaping his parted lips as he hugged Tifa speaking to her, "Nice to see you again Ms. Lockheart." After he was finished with her he shook hands with Cloud while Barret ended up just shaking his head from side to side knowing they were here for more than just a social call.

Cid suddenly let his cigarette fall out of his mouth onto the ground shouting out at the president once more, "Reeve! The Next time you point a gun at my ship, I'll hoist a spear so far up your ass they'll have to surgically remove it after they figure out your not a fucking unicorn!" The pilot slammed his fist down on Cait Sith who soon ran around in circles as if it was hurt by Cid even though he could do nothing to the plush doll.

Tifa batted Cid on the head scolding him quickly and discretely in his ear as if he was a child then spoke to Reeve those deeply colored chocolate brown eyes glowing with happiness and wonder, "Great job you did here Reeve. This place looks wonderful and smells good too."

Reeve spoke out to the pilot, "Touché', Touché' dear Cid, I wouldn't ever think of harming this wonder of the world. Nice to see you made it without a bumpy ride." He nodded to Tifa then spoke again, "There is much to see still. Get what you need and come we will need to discuss the new pressing matters."

Nanaki stretches and prepares to follow Reeve a baby like yawn from his great mouth. His mouth showed those delicate sharp teeth he had. His tail sloshed lazily behind him across Tifa's leg rubbing it. Tifa gets what little she had left to gather and followed Reeve. Cid looked left then right then smacked Zack in the back with a stiff crack; he hides soon like a little kid. Zack spoke out loud, "Pilot I'll pretend I didn't see that."

Cloud nodded as he spoke, "Move out." Barret broke out into laughter as he spoke to him, "Least your pussy ass got the term right finally." Cloud put a hand over his mouth politely to stop himself from laughing then removed it abruptly speaking to Barret, "Well you see your mother said I always got the term with her right and believe me we did more than discuss terms." Barret shook as he threw his little tantrum jumping up and down shaking his head no. The leader of AVALANCHE wished he had just kept his mouth shut which is what he does from no own. Soon the rest of the group follows Reeve.

Zack laughs as they move on out, he soon falls back to the flank of the group behind Cid thumping pilot behind the ear hard whispering in his ear, "Oh Pilot your just getting your just deserts, don't make me pull a Derringer Lacy on you." He said icily pulling his head back a slight chuckle escaping his lips. The pilots face light up in anger as he shook once more letting his anger out in a sigh. He knew he shouldn't beat the shit out of the swordsman in front of Reeve that would be too embarrassing for the Soldier program seeing as how a lowly pilot would beat him.

Soon Zack started talking to Cloud once more, "At least you have a sense of humor." Cid chuckled slightly as he said this for Cid would have went psycho on the man if it wasn't for he had more pressing matters at the moment. Tifa was next to cloud examining the city and taking note of what all improvements Reeve had made on the buildings as well as the social caste.

Reeve went past playing children and shops full of people who owned small business which included a variety of family related businesses. They soon reached large elevator glass doors which if you could remember took all day to reach the top. Reeve pressed the button and the doors opened with that familiar ding soon following. He walked in motioning for the group to enter pressing the top floor button on the keypad. Then he held onto the bar near him with a tight grip just like Derringer does. Barret and Cloud didn't do so because they were not instructed to do so and remembered it being such a long drawn out ride. Cid soon grabbed the bar out of habit, he always liked to hold onto something when he wasn't in charge of his own two feet. Nanaki had no hands so there was no point in trying to panic and find anything to cling on to. Zack notes the President's and Assassin's movements and does so as well; something in his crazed mind suggested he did so as well. Tifa stood next to Cloud and Cid not even looking at anything just staring off waiting to get to the top.

Reeve laughed slightly, "Hold on." They shook for a second going up slowly very slowly before being rocketed up to the very top sending Cloud and Barret off their feet to the top of the elevator almost. Then they soon landed on their feet falling back against the wall. "DAMN!" they exclaimed as the elevator door beeped and opened. Barret spoke up without another thought, "Pftttt...I'm takin' da' stairs from now on." Cloud laughed because he thought it was rather funny even though it turned his stomach for a second.

Nanaki almost gets slammed into a ceiling, floating in mid air for a moment before being slammed brutally into the ground. He whined a bit before shaking it off; Tifa had more worse luck, she wasn't anchored but Cid just happened to grab her by the breast and pull her down before she hit the wall. In doing so he saved her but she wasn't all together too happy about his little hand movements despite the fact he saved her life. She says rather abruptly, "Watch that!" and elbowed the pilot in the ribs sending a sharp pain through his body. Zack laughs at Cloud and the former leader of AVALANCHE heartily as they were smashed into the walls.

Cid lets go of Tifa and rubs his ribs his eyes cracked slightly as he let out a soft groan, "Damn woman... not like I wanted a feel!"

Tifa, "You make it sound like hinghing me is disgusting!" She flung her hair back crossing her arms turned the other way from the gruff pilot.

Cid seemed pressed for words as he managed to get a few out, "But, Uh, Well, your right my bad." The captain soon shuts his mouth quickly he knew nothing was more wrathful than a woman's scorn.

Reeve walked out of the elevator past a few offices and up a flight of stairs to a large door; the door soon opened as if by motion. The room looked very luxurious full of desks and objects such as books, pool tables, furniture, a fire place, and other Intellectual things. Something was odd; in the middle of the place was a very large desk with a bunch of papers scattered out across it. Reeve sat down on the table at the end while Cait Sith came wobbling out from behind a curtain bringing some papers. The Moogle bounced up and down joyfully as it hobbled about the room shaking the cat on top of its head around.

Reeve spoke up since he was the host and all, "Do have a seat and enjoy yourselves as if you were at your home. For my home is your home my friends."

Barret took a seat rather quickly getting comfortable, while Cloud sat down after looking at the group quizzically.

They all sit down getting in a comfortable position in which they were still able to do work if needed. Cid snorts at this but lights up a cigar propping his feet up on the table, his cigar was only for special occasions. Tifa looked at him quirking a brow at the callous man then sat down rather properly and pretty after Zack scooted a chair over for her. Nanaki sat up in his seat kind of awkward looking with his paw on the meeting table. Everyone was talking then they all looked over seeing the pilot open his mouth. They soon shut their mouths letting him speak knowing he either had something important or degrading.

Cid smoked his cigar with joy blowing donut rings into the sky that slight smirk on his face, "Hurry up Reeve we've got stuff to do and people to kill." The pilot spoke out of pure sarcasm.

Reeve soon goes through the papers finding what he needs then speaks, "Well you see, since the reappearance of Sephiroth things have changed in New Midgar. Our game plan has changed or so you might say. We cannot battle off the presence attacking us anymore because of Sephiroth and the rumors spreading around. This means we will have to assemble a task force to annihilate Sephiroth and another one to take care of the unknown presence involved in the chemical warfare and bombing of Midgar."

Cid, "I bet them damn Ninja's are attacking. Same fucking people dented my plane with those annoying throwing stars. Our dear friend Cloud seems to have made some friends with them early on in our journey." You could tell Cid wasn't so thrilled about it with the way he used his sarcasm. His friends chuckled at his minor joke blowing out smoke from his mouth.

Cloud chuckles softly, "Yes I do hope they run into your Highwind, maybe their on board right now waiting for you Cid."

Barret, "So lemme' get this shit straight. You want us to whoop that wanna' be god's ass? An' stop whatever is messin' wit' you Reeve?"

The pilot spoke up rather gruff again with all callosity, "Wow, give the man a cigar! Ya must be getting smarter as you age Barret!"

Reeve spoke now, "Well Mr. Highwind this is no laughing matter. Now back to Barret's question. It would be helpful and beneficial considering either way you'd have to stop whatever forces are about eventually. You can succeed with New Midgar's help or without New Midgar's help, any questions?"

Cid, "Yeah what do I get out of this?" The pilot narrowed those sky blue eyes speaking serious business now. He readjusted his posture knowing it was business time now. Everyone knew in the room only there was only one thing Cid really wanted from Reeve.

Reeve, "Well you have access to whatever weaponry or supplies you need as long as you stay alive."

Cid shook his head taking his cigar out of his mouth thumping the ashes into an ashtray, "If we stop Sephiroth and your attacks I want the space program restarted. I don't care who you put in it. I don't care how you manage to do it. It needs to be explored and discovered. Personally I had my trip up and I can live my life on earth with honest hopes of just having my ashes shot up when I die. At least consider it." The pilot soon sighs looking to him.

Reeve thought about it in contemplation; maybe it would help the people and raise some hopes if it was restarted. The leader of Shin-Ra thought and finally came to a conclusion that he had nothing to lose by doing so but only things to gain. He nodded and spoke to Cid, "Your request will be granted upon the terms you follow through our plan until its finished."

Cid smiles shouting out, raising his fist up into the sky and moving it forward doing a little jump for joy where he was at, "You point at the direction and I'll go!" The captain pauses a moment speaking faster and more ethical than usual, "I suggest we form two groups. One group goes after the attackers while the other searches for Sephiroth. With Reeve's assistance we might be able to pull this sucker off without a hitch.

Reeve spoke again, "Well then if you need anything feel free to get or take it as long as I'm located in the building. If anyone asks about something I sent you regardless of the question. Now I'll leave you with an appropriate measure of time to figure up what groups you need to form into." And with that Reeve took off to do more business matters.

Cid slammed his fist down across the table speaking out, "I'll going after Sephiroth!" That was that pretty much. Cid was a man who once he spoke he kept his word. He couldn't do much else otherwise. Tifa spoke up, "I'll go after the attackers, besides I want to see more of the city."

Nanaki hopped down off the chair onto the floor walking towards Reeve, "I'll go where I'm needed."

Barret spoke slowly but surely while rubbing his beard, "Think I'll stay here an' see Marlene and help out."

Cloud shrugged then narrowed those Mako blue eyes speaking rather confident, "I'm going to stop Sephiroth." He moved his hand across his body as if saying it was a done deal.

Zack laughed slightly that insane poisoned mind of his at work again, "Well I'm with my little buddy." Little buddy was referring to Cloud for Zack, "Besides I want to try this blade out that Cloud gave me."

Reeve stopped at the door then turned around speaking, "Well it's decided you leave tomorrow."

Cid rubbed his hands together he liked Reeve because of two things. Reeve was a man of high social class. His second reason was that Reeve got business done and got you the hell out of there as quick as he could. Soon the pilot threw in his two cents, "Now that is how you do a meeting fast and to the point! You need to take some notes from Reeve Cloud."

Tifa rolls her lovely eyes as Nanaki spoke to the group, "Should I stay or go?"

Cid laughs like the asshole he is throwing out another pun, "We can cut you in half and let you go both places!" Nanaki soon smacks the ungrateful pilot with his tail before Cloud calmed him down and spoke to the protector of Cosmo Canyon, "Nanaki, Reeve needs more help here at the base. Stay here and protect them, they'll need you." Tifa was quite angry at this since she could fend for herself she made a slight pout to herself before walking off.