Last Exit for the Lost Chapter 7
Intermezzo
By Damodred
Cloud surveyed the town coldly. They were following him, and there was only
one place where he could go. He needed to gather his strength if he was to
destroy them all. First, he would need a sword. His mind made up, he walked
on unquestioningly, towards the town.
Rufus frowned as he looked at Midgar from his office window. He knew it would
be a few days before things were back to normal and his ascension to power
was complete. For now, he ordered the damaged floors to be restored. The
losses were considerable. He slowly went over the damages again. Three floors
considerably damaged, several irreplaceable specimens lost (he shrugged;
those were only of use to Hojo anyway. He'd get him some new ones...at least,
if he could be found - Hojo himself had disappeared), as were his head of
weapon development, the leader of Avalanche he'd captured earlier, and his
highest ranking SOLDIER. This was definitely not a good day.
Elena leaned on Tseng's arm. She didn't blame Rufus for reassigning them
to this backwater; no, she really didn't. Cid may have been ecstatic over
the chance to work on his pet project (and get out of Rufus' sight), but
she preferred places with a bit more...well, people, for one thing. She looked
around the plains and sighed. Even though they were currently stationed within
50 miles of Junon in a ShinRa outpust and thus theoretically *close* to
civilization, Elena knew there was absolutely nothing to do, unless one counted
getting sloshed with the other soldiers at the ShinRa bar, in Junon. She
groaned theatrically. Soldiers made such fascinating conversation partners.
On the other hand, the getting sloshed part.... Elena brightened visibly
and murmured to Tseng. Tseng raised one eyebrow and nodded. Cid could play
over here all by himself.
In the void which is neither here nor there, but somewhere in between, Sephiroth
was aware of Aerith's presence, a comforting golden warmth close nearby.
Speech was impossible here, but communication wasn't. He heard her thought,
and it felt warm I rather like them. They're so...innocent and idealistic.
I hope they stay that way Sephiroth's reply was jaggedly amused, If
they live that long. Aerith's comeback was fuzzily exasperated, Damn
it...why do you always have to be so pessimistic? They sped through the
nothingness as Sephiroth's laughter rang around them.
.