Safe Haven? [FINISHED]

[Squall Leonhart]

After his ordeal Leon wasn't quite ready to almost get run over, but a swordsman of his caliber is never fully unprepared. Unfortunately his dodge to the side tactic played in the two strangers' favour since they veered to the opposite anyway and drove off. The scarred man got up quickly and took a few futile steps in pursuit before halting.

He turned and looked over at the top of the rock wall that separated himself from a view of his town. There were no mass of Gummi Ships fleeing into the sky so he assumed whatever strange force of hope had encompassed him had also made the townsfolk believe that escaping the world was no longer necessary. Either that or Cid had failed to warn them, but Squall wouldn't go there.

The place was safe now? A relative term. As those silver-haired bikers proved his world was always at the top of someone's hit list, it seemed. But as the gunblade master turned ahead with renewed focus and began to move after the intruders towards the castle he wasn't worried.

Someone had already gone there ahead of them. Someone who wouldn't allow any dangerous business.

[High's .Valentine.]

Cid watched the young woman, suspicion slowly draining away. Of course not enough to fully trust the woman. Yet the blue light had left a lasting effect on the man. Besides, she was just one woman. Bruised and confused woman. Combined, Cid and Tifa seemingly could have taken her down with little to no trouble, even if Cid was injured. The pilot glanced at Tifa, but he knew he wasn’t going to get any critical answer out of her. Tifa was far too kind to be judgmental.

“Save yer apologizin’,” Cid grunted, turning to head towards Merlin’s house. There was this nagging feeling, but Cid wasn’t sure just what it was. Maybe Merlin had came back to find a hole in his roof and most of his precious tea pots smashed to bits. It wasn’t much of an incentive for Cid to return…but now that the ordeal seemed to be over, the man hoped that the computer was still working. He might be able to get a glimpse of what had happened in the castle, if they hadn’t smashed all of the cameras. Cid had been too preoccupied before to check all of the security cameras installed in the castle.

Glancing past his shoulder, Cid waved at the woman, signaling for her to follow along. “I’ll get ye somethin’ for yer head. And yer safe. For now.”

[Kadaj]

As his brothers sped their way to the castle Kadaj had reached the hole in the roof of Merlin's house and let himself fall down leisurely to the floor below. As the leather-clad male took in the scene of obvious collision where Cid had crashed down form his Hyper Jump it was only one thing in the wizard's home that his green eyes took in with excitement: The computer terminal.

Smiling to himself for reasons only he and Mother knew the teenager moved casually to the front of the computer, made sure the chair was out of his way with a kick, and bent over in front of the keyboard to begin typing at a rapid pace. The screen sprung to life as Kadaj sought to become accustomed to the interface of this specific system.

[nascent]

"You have my gratitude. Until I can figure out what happened, hopefully I can be of some use here." Melana stated, falling in step behind Cid and Tifa. She hesitated briefly. "I have some powers... if you wish, I could use them to heal you." The offer was more than just a courtesy; Melana herself felt like she needed a good dose of healing magic, but didn't want to alarm these people whom she'd just met by doing so without warning.

[High's .Valentine.]

When she finally mentioned about the bloody nose, Cid finally remembered…ow, he might have broken his nose. As soon as that thought crossed his mind, a painful stab could be felt on his face. Such is the power of a conscious mind. Raising his hand, he gingerly held his nose with a squint, chewing on his dry cracked lips as if it would alleviate the pain.

“We can do that when we get back to the house,” Cid never paused, continuing towards Merlin’s house. His mind wandered over to the citizens now. Did they manage to get off the world? Were they still here? The light did not affect them in any way, did it? He raised his head, watching the clear skies. There seemed to be nothing uninvited in the sky. Everything just happened to disappear in a matter of seconds, like a fleeting dream. It should have caused the cynical man some upset that everything was suddenly going so smoothly. Too good to be true, especially after what had happened earlier today. That bright light had lulled the man however, like an anti-depressant, the man was neither agitated nor angered. He wasn’t giving Leon any thought at the moment though. He didn’t want to go over the many unfortunate things that might have happened to his friend.

Cid lead the two women past the market square, entering another part of the residential area just as an unwanted rat entered through the roof the pilot had demolished.

By the time the rag tag group got to Merlin’s house, the boy with the silver hair was tapping away at the keyboard as if he owned the computer. However, Cid had some objections when he spotted the teen. The door had been blown clear off the house when he had landed and right there in front of him, someone was performing very illegal actions in his eyes—touching his machine.

“Hey!” Cid barked, pointing an accusing finger at the unfamiliar male. Peace and hope? Screw that. Someone was messing with his computer! “What do you think yer doing?! Get the hell away from that!” And with that, he charged through the open door, the apparent pain his nose dulled to a light tremor.

[Kadaj]

The young man in black at the terminal, clearly a teenager to anyone's eyes, seemed to ignore Cid at first. That would surely only stoke the flames of the pilot's anger. Still, by the time the pilot was barging in the fingers that moved over the keys ceased and the screen of the monitor turned to black as if powered off despite the clear on light at the side of the casing. The child seemingly responsible for the act turned to face the yelling man with a look of pure aloofness.

"I don't think you're in any condition to threaten me," the youth said matter-of-fact-ly. Did he mean the damaged nose... or was he just trying to say that Cid looked out of shape? Could be either, really. As he spoke his left hand raised up at Cid. It held a sword with two short parallel blades pointing right at the owner of the computer. As he did that his right hand moved and opened up to face it's palm directly at the black screen. "Besides, it's too late to stop Mother now."

That last line was clearly laced with mockery toward Cid's protests.

[High's .Valentine.]

“What did you do, ye brat?” Cid growled, noticing the sudden dark screen of his computer. The hum of a perfectly working machine and the flickering lights indicated that something strange was going on. He charged forward, but stopped as soon as the blade rose to meet him. A shiver trickled down his spine and the pain in his nose dulled to an annoying thump what with all the blood that just rushed to his head at the mocking. Hell no, this kid’s deranged. Cid’s whooped unpleasant little monster stronger looking than him. And at the moment, he wasn’t in the mood for diplomacy. And here he thought, everything was nice and dandy. He really hated children sometimes; they ruin even the best of moods.

“I’ll send ye crying back to your ma!” Cid side stepped forward to the right and swung the spear at the kid’s midriff. Way to underestimate your opponents, Cid.

[Oh Bilby, have mercy on poor Cid. XD]

[Loz]

Hot on the blond warrior’s trail, Loz and Yazoo met no resistance as they traveled up the trail until they reached the castle. Revving the accelerator, Yazoo burst through the small door and down the complicated hallways leading to Ansem’s computer. The light that had struck the castle left no marks or energy of any kind. It seemed the weird blue light that had wiped out the monsters had wiped away all trace of the previous attack. While the others relish in their liberation though, the brothers can use this time to strike.

Pulling to a stop right before a small entrance, Loz and Yazoo walked into the room. Yazoo as quiet as a cat and Loz in all his heavy, bear-like way.

“Looks like we have a rat, brother,” Yazoo sneered as he cocked his head at the strange furry creature before him. Behind him, Loz chuckled.

Two guns pointed themselves right at the rogue. No questions asked, they want him out of here.

[nascent]

MELANA

"Besides, it's too late to stop Mother now."

“What did you do, ye brat? I’ll send ye crying back to your ma!"

As Cid rushed Kajad, a brief flutter of wind could be felt within the violated innards of the house and by all present... not a stray gust from outside but, rather, an act by someone within. The faint turmoil in the air was triggered as Melana's weapons took form in her hands, thin bladed fencing sabers constructed from... wind? Indeed, the weapons themselves were molded from violently swirling wind as if held within an invisible shaping field, a most unconventional armament indeed. With these in hand the wind knight began slowly circling around to the left of the newly met fight, watching both combatant's movements carefully.

She was still wearied from her battle earlier that day, but this unexpected development still merited her attention. Breaking and entering, tampering with what seemed an important device, and this cryptic talk about 'mother'... whoever this person was, he wasn't someone Melana intended to underestimate. For now, though, better to play the supporting role, ready to cover the exits should the intruder attempt escape and healing should the engineer need her aid. Besides, who was to say that this was her fight? She would stand back, for now...

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

KASSOM

"Whoa! Easy there, gentlemen!" Kassom remarked, holding his hands up in the universal sign of surrender. One minute he was rifling through some scientist's notes on the nature of hearts and universes, the next he's got guns pointed at him. In retrospect, assuming it was safe now to turn his metal over-skin back into throwing knives was a BIG mistake. He very slowly moved away from the desk, though he kept it in-between him and the two tough guys in black leather.

"Look, can we just put the weapons away and talk this over like civilized people? I'm just looking for a cure to help some friends of mine, nothing major..." The 'cure' being a weapon against the Heartless and his 'friends' being the yet-unawakened Kinzoku on his home world. "And since I'm guessing you guys aren't the groundskeepers or part of that weirdo squad with the creepy masks, maybe we can help each other? Whatever you're here for, I don't wanna get in your way... we cool?"

It was a bit of a stretch to assume these guys wouldn't shoot first and ask questions later, but he'd already jumped the gun and fought on what might've been the wrong side once today, so there was no sense in a repeat performance. Besides, they had him outnumbered and at a disadvantage... not the best starting position for a brawl, honestly.

[Kadaj]

Crash!

Cid's mighty swipe had landed not into soft flesh but rather the large metal piping nearby the terminal. Kadaj's arm was a few degrees up in angle now and his blade was coming to a rest in a holding position that had it facing an angle perpendicular to its original threatening direction, the end facing the computer's side of the house. As Cid attacked the boy's weapon had been pulled back into said position and then flipped around in a circle by gentle yet strong movements as the elevation of the limb rose. The result was the Venus Gospel being caught underneath by the rising tip of the blade then continuing to be pushed upward from below as it flipped around rather than trying to block it directly. In the end the pilot;'s attack just swooped clean over the silver hairs of his target's head, leaving him unharmed.

"I'll be taking this," he said simply, as if he had not just been attacked at all. What he was taking was left unsaid, for immediately after two of the fingers that gripped the handle of his strange sword rose up to point forward. In a flash of blue light two bolts erupted forth, one moving straight ahead to smash into Cid's gut and blow him away, the other curving down and then arcing back up in a strange path at high speed, making it hard to predict its movements but ultimately aiming to do the equivalent of its kin to the girl who also drew her weapons and knock her into the wall.

After firing the teenager's body began to give off a strange, black aura. it was almost flame-like in image but there was no feeling to it, unlike an aura of magic or darkness ought to be. It was as if the energy wasn't there at all. Whatever it was though it looked like something could feel it, because the screen of Cid's precious computer was suddenly filled with the screech of intense static.

[yami]

"Hope...could this SOLDIER really be touched by it?"

Perhaps Hope had spared Cloud's life for now, his opponent was just too powerful to go head to head with. His best maneuvers were rendered useless due to her defensive tactics. Yet something had overcome this world. It cleansed it from the existing evil...if only it stayed to do it's job. A new evil, in the form of three remnants of darkness seemed to sneak in. Doing as they please, they had drove on-wards to the castle. They sought information perhaps? Who could tell, either way it definitely wasn't the blond soldier. The entranceway to Ansem's lab had been ruined but still quite usable. Luck must have been on his side. The remnants had went into the lab, ignoring the rubble off to the right of the entrance. Convenience was a strange mistress, regardless some light pierced into the pile of rubble that had become a makeshift bed. Makeshift for Cloud wasn't intending to utilize this as a bed. Who knows how long he was out, perhaps five minutes, maybe a day?

"I can't believe this..."

His first conscious thought since his reckless maneuver rendered him temporarily useless. His left hand jutted through the debris, pumped as if to show the warrior was far from finished. Indeed, round two was about to start. A right fist was pumped through the rubble and no sooner did Cloud pull himself out. He looked around apprehensively for his opponent. Did he fail? If so, then they went after whatever secret was within the lab?

"No!"

Cloud mentally retorted this response, springing out of his accident and rushing through the entranceway. Oh what a surprise awaited him when he entered. Two suspicious individuals aiming their weapons at...another suspicious individual. This just wasn't Strife's day, no doubt there would be more strife to come considering his current predicament. Summoning First Tsurugi into both his hands, he held the blade. Ready for the next fight, he'd call out these two black garbed men.

"Leave him alone..."

Maybe Kassom would finally choose the right side today, though that matter certainly wasn't in Cloud's hands.

[High's .Valentine.]

[Dang, Cid seems to be tossed around a lot in this thread.]

Unfortunately for Cid, he didn’t quite have the chance to move away in time. In fact, the whole thing the young boy did with his sword caught Cid off guard. In the end, he just finds in surprise as suddenly, his spear was stabbing the air above the silver head instead of at his waist. Cid let out a rather stupid utter of surprise, and would have gasped if not for the fact that something like a burning fist smashed into his unprotected stomach and lifted him off his feet. Something equally hard rammed him from behind and his vision gave way to darkness. By the time he came to, he was laying on the ground next to Merlin’s wall, his head thumping like an overworked engine.

Frankly, there’s only so much the out of shaped mechanic could take in one day. He was no Leon. As much as he wanted to push himself up and charge at the pale silver haired youth, he couldn’t really motivate himself to move. Well, at least he can open an eye. Something was happening in the room, oppressive, making him sick. The eerie whine of Cid’s computer seemed to entice a groan out of the pilot, a devoted father hell bent on protecting his kid. He stirred.

“Give it back…” he muttered through gritted teeth, determined, but clearly weakened as he pushed himself up on his elbows. The pilot wasn’t going any further than that though as he leaned on his elbows and turned his head slightly to glare at the strange child. Whatever the kid was trying to take…well, what’s the use, Cid was in no shape to put up a capable fight at the moment. But he needed a good look at him…

[nascent]

The second shot... Melana's instincts told her the moment it veered away from Cid that this one was intended for her. The silver-haired boy had just made this her fight, whether she liked it or not, but if she wasn't cautious she'd not be fighting long. A sharp gust of wind twirled around her body suddenly, and in a burst of speed the wind knight surged past the radiant shot twisted, turned, and moved in to strike her. Fortunately Melana dodged the shot itself with only moderate difficulty... unfortunately, the same could not be said for the aftershock. She, just like Cid, was knocked clean off her feet by the blast, thrown towards the silver-haired youth.

She cringed, ears ringing slightly from the impact, yet fought to keep her focus. If she wasn't careful, that sword of his would tear her up while she was off-balance like this. Melana had to recover her footing, now! A trick from her training came to mind; the wind knight twisted at the waist and threw her arms wide, letting the momentum pull her into a rough airborne pirouette of sorts. It worked well enough; she landed on her feet instead of falling on her face or stumbling forward... but now she was close enough that her opponent could easily slash at her with that double-blade of his.

She had to make every second count. Readying her right blade to block and parry, Melana focused some of her own energy into her left hand. A radiant spiral of sparkling lights filled the left wind sword; as she pointed it in Cid's direction the Life Aura flew forth, surrounding his battered form like a thousand radiant fireflies. Injuries faded and vanished, and she prayed it restored the engineer's fatigue as well.

This was not a fight she wished to face on her own.

[High's .Valentine.]

The newcomer was a surprise. Yazoo glanced over his shoulders as Loz whipped around, his gun pointing at the sullen blond. The malicious smirk on his angular face dropped into a frown of confusion. Yazoo’s mask of cool boredom cracked slightly as his eyebrows twitched, dancing between amusement and perplexity. Loz on the other hand backed away slightly, a visible glower on his face that perhaps pertain more to fear than contempt. Cloud Strife’s entrance was clearly putting the two brothers off in a less than pleasant sort of way.

“Yazoo…” Loz uttered, as if hoping for some kind of command from his younger brother. Yazoo glared at Loz, then at the furry interloper and then their new opponent. “Mother will not approve of the delay.” Yazoo said softly and an array of expression crossed his elder brother’s face. Winced, smirked, and then a nod.

Without a word, Yazoo suddenly started shooting at the thief, his trigger finger never stopping. Loz on the other hand, back tracked as Yazoo continued to fire away at the two, all the bullets missing his brother thanks to the long haired brother’s eagle eye. Before Cloud could get too far, or even think about helping the rogue, Loz had picked up the abandoned and ransacked desk sitting in the middle of the room, and slung it at Cloud with as little effort as if he had just picked up a pebble and tossed it. The table flew across the room, with Yazoo standing right in its way. Bullets never ceasing, Yazoo jumped, twisted, and landed right behind the thrown table with a crouch and focused both of his guns now on the rogue, his cat like green eye following Kassom’s every move. There was very little place for the lynx to run to except along the circular walls of the room.

As if a flying table was not enough, before the heavy set desk could even reach Cloud, two black trails burst forth from under Loz, slithering along the ground like your standard Shadows, but at a far greater speed. Catching up to the flying table, two large beasts burst forth within leaping distance of Cloud just as the table hit him. With the table and two strange monsters all pouncing at the same time, it would be hard for Cloud to dodge all three at once…

[High's .Valentine.]

It was like someone shoved a high potion down this throat. At least it didn’t have the aftertaste of grass and medicine. The light enveloped his battered body as Cid croaked something inaudible, even as he felt all the injuries, and his poor broken nose, wiped away by the spell. Immediately after, he was up and by her side with surprising speed for a man his age. It seems that not only had the Life Aura revived him, but had also given him back his youthful limberness. A transparent and glossy veil dropped between the two defenders—hopefully before their attacker can make a move—and the silver haired youth. The Shell Aura Cid had casted [one of his few magical abilities] would defend the woman from any attack for the next three turns, but only from the front.

“Thanks,” Cid growled despite the apparent grin on his face, “that helped a tad bit.” With Cid revitalized and Melana at the ready, this delinquent might find it a bit harder to escape with whatever he had taken from the RGRC. Nevertheless, the strange aura coming from the young male disturbed the blond. Not to mention his computer seemed to be reacting rather strongly. Cid glanced at his poor machine, who he had considered his co-worker, having gone through thick and thin [and many crashes and furious outbursts] with. It seemed, with Cid’s previous flamboyant entrance and whatever this youth was doing now, that the computer might not live through this in one whole working piece…

“Like I said, give back whatever ye took, ye little thief.”