Bizarre Occurances Chapter 12
Ultimate Summon?
By Dino Pollard
Barret relaxed into the couch in Cloud’s Villa at Costa del Sol.
“Ahhhh,” he began. “Dis is the life.”
“Yep-yep,” Yuffie agreed. She looked out the window. “Hmm...
maybe I’ll go check out that Materia Shop over there. Be back later!!
Don’t wait up!!!”
“We won’t!!” Cait shouted to her as she ran out the door.
“BITE ME, CAT!!!” she called back to him. He chuckled.
Cid reclined in a chair and lit a cigarette. Red wrinkled his nose in disgust.
“Cid, don’t you think you should quit those awful things?”
he asked. “They aren’t very good for you.”
“Mind your own damn business,” Cid spat. “Why don’t you
go chase your tail or lick your balls or something?”
“I’m no dog,” Red replied.
“Yeah, and I’m not a pilot,” Cid said. Red walked away.
*****
Sephiroth looked out the window at Meteor.
“It’s staring us in the face,” Vincent said. “It’s
like a shadow looming over us. A constant reminder of the impending doom.”
“I was just thinking the same thing,” Sephiroth replied. “Strange
in a way.”
“What do you mean?” Vincent asked.
“Meteor is a force of destruction,” Sephiroth answered. “Yet
in some strange way, it’s almost beautiful.”
“You’ve got a point there,” Vincent agreed. “It’s
like the setting or rising of the sun. Although this time, the sun will set
forever.”
“Unless we stop it,” Sephiroth noted. Vincent nodded. They looked
out at the ocean. Cloud, Tifa and Aeris were all fooling around in the water.
Vincent remembered what it was like to do things like that with Lucrecia.
*****
“I haven’t had this much fun in years!!” Aeris exclaimed as
she splashed Tifa.
“Hey, watch it!!” Tifa protested. “Cloud, help!!”
Cloud picked up Aeris.
“Now you’re gonna get it!!” he shouted, lifting Aeris over
his head, prepared to dunk her.
“NO!!! STOP!!!” she squealed. Cloud dunked her into the water and
let her come up for air. She was laughing uncontrollably as was Tifa.
“YOU JERK!!!” she exclaimed between bursts of laughter.
“Now we see how Cloud Strife picks up women!!” Tifa said.
“That’s right,” Cloud said, running over to her. “I pick
them up like--THIS!!!” He sweeped a hand behind her knees, causing her
to fall in his arms.
“Whoa!!” Tifa exclaimed. She looked into his eyes. “Well Mr.
Strife. Now what do you plan to do with me?”
“This,” he said as he fell back into the water, pulling her in
behind him. Aeris fell to her knees in laughter. When the two came up for
air, they were laughing as well.
“I’m glad Tifa came up with the idea of us coming out here to
relax,” Aeris said.
“Me too,” Tifa replied. “Besides, Cloud really needs to loosen
up.” Aeris giggled. Cloud looked at Tifa, who winked at him.
“Well I’m just glad to be back as your leader,” Cloud said.
“We all are Cloud,” Aeris replied. “You know, Sephiroth was
doing a pretty good job. He even saved most of the people in Mideel.”
There was an awkward silence at the mention of Sephiroth being a hero.
“Hey, I’m getting kind of hungry,” Tifa broke in, changing
the subject. “What say we go back to the Villa and get something to
eat? Maybe watch some TV?”
Cloud and Aeris nodded.
******
“Damn Cloud!!” Cid said as the trio walked in. “Most guys
have trouble getting one girl. Yet you get two!!” Aeris and Tifa blushed.
“OoOoOoOo!!!” Yuffie said sarcastically. “Cloud’s havin
a menage a tois with Aeris and Tifa!!”
“Don’t you have some pukin ta do?” Barret asked her. Yuffie
glared at him.
“Well, now what do we do?” Cid asked lighting a cigarette.
“Cid, you should really quit those,” Red told him.
“Shit, didn’t we already talk about this?!?” Cid asked.
“Cid quitting smoking?” Yuffie broke in. She laughed. “Probably
won’t make it. Old men have a hard time breakin habits. It’s been
proven!!”
“You sayin I’m old?” Cid asked.
“If the orthopedic shoe fits,” Yuffie replied. “I bet you
couldn’t last five minutes without lighting up.”
“Bet you couldn’t go without stealing something,” Cid countered.
“Care to make it interesting?” Yuffie asked.
“How much ya got, bitch?” Cid asked.
“500 gil,” Yuffie replied.
“You’re on,” Cid said. “If you steal, I win. If I smoke,
you win.”
“Prepare to lose 500 gil,” Yuffie said, dropping several bills
on the table. “Old man.”
Cid took the pack of cigarettes from his goggles and dropped them on the
table along with 500 gil. Red grinned. No more foul-smelling smoke in the
Highwind or in the hotel rooms.
*****
After dinner, Cloud stood to address the team.
“Okay, here’s what’s been happening so far,” he began.
“Bizarro-Sephiroth is protected by that barrier and Meteor has been
summoned. Tsunami has the Shin-Ra distracted. And we have no idea what the
hell we should do. Any suggestions?”
“I have one.”
All the heads turned to the chair at the foot of the table. Sephiroth stood.
“Centuries ago, in the time of mages and knights, there was a Summon
Spell experienced mages used called Knights of the Round. It is more powerful
than any weapon currently in creation,” Sephiroth said. “However,
when Materia came into use, mages became much more difficult to find. But
there is a rumor that Knights of the Round also has a Materia orb. There
is only one orb, though. And we won’t find it in any Reactors.”
“Then we should be confident that the Shin-Ra can’t reach it,”
Vincent said.
“Yes,” Sephiroth replied. “If the orb exists, it would most
likely be on an uninhabited island just south of here.”
“I heard about some guy who used that spell during the war,” Cid
said.
“True,” Sephiroth said. “The man’s name is Knolan.”
“Knolan?” Barret asked. “Who da hell is that?”
“Knolan was formally the Head of Shin-Ra’s Weapons Development,”
Vincent replied. “He was a mage as well.”
“So then what happened to him?” Aeris asked.
“About nine years ago, he quit the Shin-Ra for reasons unknown,”
Sephiroth answered. “But not before he created the only war golem known
as Calibretto, a deciding factor in the war against Wutai.”
“He created the thing that destroyed Wutai?!?!” Yuffie exclaimed.
“Let’s kill him!!!”
“Calm down, Yuffie,” Cloud said. “If Knolan is alive or not
doesn’t matter. We need to find this Knights of the Round. So let’s
all get our stuff together and board the Highwind. We better get this Knights
of the Round before some Materia hunter does.”
*****
With Sephiroth’s help and the Highwind’s own navigational computers,
the trip to the unnamed island didn’t take long. Once the team unboarded,
they began a search for the Materia.
“Where do you think it might be?” Red asked.
“I’m not sure...” Cloud replied.
“HALT!!!” someone ordered. The team turned to see a goblin holding
a bow and arrow.
“TRESPASSERS!!!”
“Who da hell are you?” Barret asked.
“This is MY island!!!” the goblin replied. “And you’re
trespassing!! Leave now or suffer th--ACK!!!” He fell back in pain as
an arrow struck his chest.
“YOUR island?” Yuffie asked. “You’re a goblin!! I bet
you don’t even have any legal--oh, nevermind.”
“How many times do I have to tell you goblins?” a man asked.
“This island is under the protection of Baakusa!!!” An elf-like
creature dropped down from a nearby tree. He held a bow in his hand with
a sword and shield held on his back.
“Gawah!?!” Cait exclaimed.
“Now who the hell are YOU?!?” Barret asked Baakusa.
“Ahh, more crazy shit,” Cid said. “Fancy name, asshole!!”
“Oh geez,” Cloud said as he put a hand on his head.
“Hoo-boy,” Yuffie began. “ANOTHER freak!!”
“I apologize for any inconvenience,” Baakusa said. “Allow
me to introduce myself. I am Baakusa, the guardian of this island.”
“We come seeking a certain Materia,” Red said. “We mean you
no harm.”
“So you seek out the Ultimate Summon Spell, correct?” Baakusa asked.
“Yeah,” Cloud replied. “Knights of the Round.”
“Oh?” Baakusa said. “I thought you were looking for the Ultimate
Summon.”
“Isn’t that it?” Aeris asked.
“Ha ha ha!!” Baakusa laughed. “No, no. Knights of the Round
is very powerful, but nowhere near as powerful as the Ultimate Summon.”
“What is the Ultimate Summon?” Red asked. “Could you explain
it?”
“I have never actually seen it performed,” Baakusa replied. “But
no Materia exists for it.”
“Dang,” Yuffie said.
“Ultimate Summons... Knights of the Round... this elf-lookin
shithead...” Cid said. “I’m in desperate need of a cig.”
“Uh-uh-uh,” Yuffie chimed. “Remember the bet!!”
“I picked a helluva day to quit smoking,” Cid muttered.
“We still want the Knights of the Round,” Cloud said. “We
need all the help we can get.”
“So how do we find the Ultimate Summon if there is no Materia for it?”
Vincent asked.
“It can only be mastered by a mage who has mastered all other spells,”
Baakusa replied. “WITHOUT Materia. Now why do you seek Knights of the
Round?”
“To save the Planet and to stop a great evil,” Sephiroth replied.
“The Planet? Ahh yes. The Ultimate Destructive Magic. I sensed a great
disturbance,” Baakusa said. “And you also seek to stop The Crisis
From The Sky.”
“YEAH!!” Yuffie said. “You’re good!!! You should be one
of those Psychic Friend’s People!!”
“By the way,” Baakusa began. “Who are you all?”
“Avalanche,” Cloud replied.
“Dat’s right!!” Barret said. “First we was gonna stop
Shin-Ra, den Sephiroth, den Bizarro-Sephiroth. den---”
“Long story,” Yuffie broke in, cutting Barret off. “Don’t
ask.”
“Shin-Ra?” Baakusa asked. “What is Shin-Ra?”
“Damn man!!” Barret exclaimed. “Where da hell have you been
livin? A deserted island?”
“Yes,” Baakusa replied.
“Oh,” Barret said. “Heh, sorry ‘bout dat.”
“Shin-Ra Inc.” Cloud said. “They’re a corperation that
pretty much runs the world. For years they’ve been draining the Planet
of Lifestream and manufacturing it. We started out as a rebellion against
them. But once we discovered a bigger crisis for the planet--namely Jenova
or Crisis From The Sky as you call it--we nearly forgot about the Shin-Ra.
But we need all the help we can get. Why don’t you join us?”
“I don’t think so,” Baakusa replied. “My duty is to this
island.”
“If Meteor hits you won’t HAVE a fuckin island!!” Cid cursed.
“Wait, here,” Baakusa said. He handed Cloud a small orb with the
Knights of the Round symbol
on it.
“Thanks,” Cloud said. He turned to the rest of Avalanche.
“Let’s get going.”
“Wait a minute Baakusa,” Sephiroth said. “You said a mage
needed to master ALL spells to be able to master the Ultimate Summon?”
“Yes,” Baakusa replied.
“Knolan!” Sephiroth exclaimed. “Knolan has mastered all the
spells!!”
“One problem, Sephiroth,” Cloud said. “Knolan hasn’t
been seen or heard from in years. For all we know, he’s probably
dead.”
“Ummm, Cloud,” Cait broke in. “That’s not all true...”
“What?” Yuffie asked. “Which part?”
“Knolan did vanish,” Cait began. “But the Shin-Ra think he
might be alive on an island in the northwest.”
“Then we find Knolan,” Cloud said.
“I’m going with you,” Baakusa said. “If this Knolan is
as powerful as you say, then I have to meet
him.”
“ACK!!” Yuffie exclaimed. “Why do we pick up every strange
person we meet? First the cat, then the vampire, then the maniac, then the
smoker, then all those other guys and now an ELF!!! A FRIGGIN ELF!!!!”
“No restrictions apply, child,” Red said. “Just as long as
you hate the Shin-Ra or wish to save the Planet.”
“Yeah,” Barret agreed. “Why da hell do ya think we picked
you up?”
“H-hey!!” Yuffie protested.
“Do you have a ship worthy enough of travelling by sea?”
“Sea?” Cid asked. “Who the fuck needs to go by see when we
can go by air?!?” He pointed to the Highwind.
“I see...” Baakusa said. “Remnants of Goug.”
“Goug?” the team asked in unison.
“Yes,” Baakusa replied. “Goug Machine City. It existed during
a period in time known as the mechanical age.”
“No, you got it confused,” Cid said. “See, that’s the
HIGHWIND!! It’s not from Goug. It’s the HIGHWIND!!”
“The mechanical age was a period in time when ships travelled by air,”
Baakusa said. “Just like your ‘Highwind’. Oh, and I don’t
appreciate your sarcasm.”
“We can talk more about the Highwind on the way to the island,”
Cloud said.
*****
Baakusa walked into the cockpit and his eyes widened in shock.
“Incredible....” he began. “Never in my wildest dreams....”
“See?” Cid asked, motioning to their new ally. “Now why
can’t all of you shitheads look that enthusiastic?”
“Because I’m not... ulp!!” Yuffie exclaimed. She clutched
her stomach. “I’m gonna be in the bathroom.”
“It isn’t much, Baak,” Cait said. “I have more technology
in my little finger.”
“Keep dreamin, cat,” Cid snapped.
“Hey, we’re coming up to the island!!” Aeris exclaimed.
“Land us towards the center,” Cloud ordered.
“You heard the man!!” Cid said to the pilot.
“Yes sir,” the pilot replied. He landed the Highwind in a clearing
in the center.
*****
Once the team gathered outside the ship, Cloud examined the new surroundings.
“We should probably split up,” Cloud suggested. “We can cover
more ground that way.”
“Did you hear that?” Vincent asked. “A low rumbling, almost
like a growl...”
“The ground is shaking!!” Sephiroth exclaimed.
Suddenly, a huge monster emerged from the water!!
“SH----------IT!!!!!” Cid cursed.
“Run,” Baakusa ordered as he drew his sword and shield.
“But--” Cloud began to protest.
“Just DO IT!!!” Baakusa shouted. “Go find this Knolan. I’ll
be right behind you!!”
“We should do what he says,” Red said. “He is a very powerful
warrior, and a very wise one at that.”
“Red’s right, Cloud,” Aeris said. “Come on!!”
“Get off yer slow-movin ass Cloud!!” Barret exclaimed.
“Yeah,” Cloud said. The team began to run away from the creature
while Baakusa tried to fight it off.
“Come on beast!!” he taunted. “I’m ready for you!!!”
He leapt at the monster and slashed it with his sword. The monster barely
noticed.
“Damn,” he said. He turned and ran after Avalanche with the monster
following.
*****
Cloud led the team through the forests. He turned his head to see if everyone
was still with him. They were. But now Baakusa was running as well, with
the monster in pursuit!!
“This is NOT what I had in mind for a relaxing vacation!!” Tifa
said, running beside him.
“I know what you mean,” Cloud replied. “Look, a hut!!”
“Do you think it’s Knolan?” she asked.
Cloud came to a dead stop a few feet from the hut. The rest of the team stopped
as well, as did the monster. The sound of a door creaking open was heard.
They all turned to see a man walking towards them. He was an elderly man
who was bald except for a ponytail sticking out of the back of his head.
He had a fairly large goatee as well as a strange outfit and tiny spectacles.
“Grrrr,” he said. He walked over to the monster. “STOP SCARING
AWAY OUR GUESTS!!! HAVEN’T I TAUGHT YOU BETTER THAN THAT?!?”
The monster hung its head and walked off. It almost sounded as if the creature
was... whimpering?
“Sorry about that,” the man said. “He’s always showboatin
and scarin people away.”
“Who are you?” Cloud asked.
“You can call me Knolan,” he responded. He looked over at Tifa
and Aeris. “Hel-LO!! Now I have TWO cuties visiting me!! Last time it
was only one.”
“Last time?” Sephiroth asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yep,” Knolan replied. “Last time four people came to visit
me. A blonde bombshell, a red-head guy, a bald guy, and a guy with long black
hair. They all wore blue suits.”
“The Turks,” Vincent said.
“THAT WAS IT!!!” Knolan exclaimed. “The leader was--TSENG!!
I am on a roll!!”
“They know about the Ultimate Summon?” Aeris asked. “How did
they find out?”
“Ultimate Summon?” Knolan asked. “No, they wanted me to give
them the tech for war golems!! But I forgot how to.”
“You are the mage who has mastered Knights of the Round?” Baakusa
asked.
“That’s me,” Knolan replied.
“Have you mastered the Ultimate Summon?” Baakusa asked.
“Ultimate Summon?” Knolan repeated. He scratched his head. “I
don’t know... Damn, things were so much easier when Jonah was here to
help me remember things. But he went to look for his sons.” He looked
at Cloud. “Hmm, you look a lot like Jonah...”
“Who is this Jonah?” Cloud asked.
“Jonah------STRIFE!!!” Knolan replied. “YES!! I
remembered!!”
“Jonah Strife...?” Cloud asked. “My father? He’s
alive?”
“Guess the jig is up,” Cait said.
“Cloud, while you were in that coma,” Aeris began. “We ran
into a man who said he was Jonah Strife. He said you were his son. But since
you had Mako Poisoning, he asked us to drop him off in Gongaga and not tell
you about him right away.”
“He didn’t want to add to your problems,” Sephiroth said.
“So we agreed to his wishes.”
“Uh-oh,” Knolan said. “I think I just ruined a teary father-son
reunion. I wonder if he found your brother...”
“BROTHER?!?” Cloud asked. “I don’t have a brother!!”
“You do now,” Knolan replied.
“How is this possible?” Cloud asked. “Who is he?”
“I don’t remember,” Knolan replied.
“Well you better START remembering old man!!” Cloud shouted.
“CLOUD!!” Tifa exclaimed.
“STOP IT!!!” Aeris yelled.
“Is this Jenova messing with my memories again?” Cloud asked.
“No,” Sephiroth said. “This is the truth.”
“Hmm?” Knolan asked. He began to dart his head back and forth.
“What are you doing?” Cloud asked.
“Are you okay?” Baakusa asked.
“No...” Knolan said.
“What is it?” Red asked. “What’s happening?”
“The Zodiac Stones....” Knolan replied. “Hojo has found
them.”
“HOJO?!?” Sephiroth cursed. “We need to stop him!!”
“But the Zodiac Stones are only legends,” Red said. “How could
they possibly exist?”
“They do,” Baakusa replied. “I’m going with you.”
“So am I,” Knolan said. “If Hojo gets his hands on the Stones,
the words God help us will take on a whole new meaning.”
“In other words we’ll be in deep shit,” Cid said. Knolan nodded.
“Then let’s get moving,” Cloud said. “If Hojo is behind
this, then there’s gonna be trouble.”
____________________________________________________________________________
AUTHOR’S NOTE: You’re probably all curious as to who Baakusa and
Knolan are, as well as what the hell are things like Goug Machine City and
the Zodiac Stones from Final Fantasy Tactics doing in a Final Fantasy VII
fanfic. Well, one at a time.
Baakusa was rumored to have been a secret character for FF7 who was dropped
at the last minute. He was to be an imp or a goblin in the game. Instead,
I made him into an elf-type being, sort of like Link from the Legend of Zelda.
But don’t go looking for him in the game, because he’s not in there.
As I said, he was dropped before his character icon was even drawn. However,
from what I’ve heard it turns out that Baakusa is Japanese for Boxer,
as that is what some people playing the game called the goblins, because
they looked like they were wearing boxing gloves. But he seems much cooler
like this. And Baakusa sounds cooler than Boxer.
For those of you who read the WildStorm/DC comic book Battle Chasers by Joe
Madureira, you already know who Knolan is. I thought that characters from
Battle Chasers would fit in nicely with FF7. It’s basically the same.
Fantasy elements like magic and swordsmen combined with high technology.
But I had to change some things. Instead of being a mage who was cast out
for illegal practice, he’s the only remaining mage who was a former
Shin-Ra employee. His last creation was a war golem Calibretto (also from
Battle Chasers who was just too cool not to use). I also made him forgetful
and a little comedic mainly so there can be some extra comedy relief besides
Yuffie and Cait Sith.
Now for why I chose references to FFT. Yes, I know it sucked, but hear me
out. In FFT, Cloud was a secret character who was sucked into the past from
the future. So I used the concept that the FFT world was the past to the
FF7 world. Also, there’s another reason I chose the FFT Zodiac Stones
which will be revealed in Chapter 13 when the team faces off against Hojo
and his SOLDIER escorts. And the ending will both shock and amaze you!!
.