Bizarre Occurances Chapter 19
Reunion
By Dino Pollard
The Highwind landed near the area right before Sephiroth. A rope ladder was
thrown down and one by one, Avalanche came out.
Sephiroth! Aeris exclaimed. What are you doing here?
Looking for some way to bring Red back, Sephiroth replied. And
reminiscing.
Any luck? Cloud asked, some shred of hope in his voice. However,
after the trip through time, he knew that it was pretty hopeless.
No, Sephiroth replied. The device has been destroyed. I
doubt if it will work at all.
Now what do we do? Tifa asked. Red is gone.
I... I honestly dont know, Cloud replied.
You rejoice, a voice said.
Knolan? Cloud asked.
In the flesh, Knolan replied. He was standing on what appeared
to be a yellow cloud with his staff in one hand and a book in the other.
I thought you went to your hut to find out about the Ultimate
Summon, Sephiroth said.
I did, Knolan replied. In fact, Baakusas still there.
While I was reading through some of my books, I came across a spell that
would allow me to open an interdimensional vortex. Similar to the one Red
fell in.
And you think that could work? Cloud asked.
Only one way to find out... Knolan replied. He flipped to a page
in his book and lifted his staff into the air. He began chanting words in
a tongue none of Avalanche recognized.
Slowly, a vortex began to open before them, its gravitational pull strong
enough to almost pull all of Avalanche in.
Knolan continued chanting, when the flow of the vortex reversed. Suddenly,
the whole team felt themselves being pushed back by the vortex when they
saw a blotch of red against the black.
Look! Aeris pointed out.
Slowly, the red came into a figure and landed on the ground.
Red XIII had returned.
RED!! Aeris exclaimed, hugging him.
Aeris...? Red asked. I--Im back... I cant believe
that Im back.
Where were you? Tifa asked.
It is a long story, Red began. You all may want to sit
down. The vortex reopened in the same place, but in a different reality with
a different Avalanche. They all thought I was their worlds Nanaki as
they called me. There were some members I didnt recognize as well as
a few surprises.
Like what? Cloud asked.
Well, for one Aeris and Striker were married, Red continued.
Aeris had a look of shock in her face. Sephiroth was never born, I
led Avalanche, and Cloud... He stopped suddenly.
What about me? Cloud asked.
Very well, Red sighed. Cloud was trying to destroy the
planet with Meteor.
No... Cloud said.
After I learned all of this and after spending time in that god-forsaken
dimension I came to the one conclusion which will shock all of you,
Red said. Sephiroth is essential to the well-being of this Planet.
Without him, the world is not a very pleasant place.
The whole team turned to Sephiroth who remained unchanged.
What did all of you do while I was gone? Red asked, changing
the subject.
We--its a long story... Aeris said.
Hells yeah... Barret muttered.
Well, now that thats all settled, Knolan began. You
wanna meet your father, Cloud?
My father...? Cloud asked. Where is he?
Gongaga, Sephiroth said. He told us he would be in
Gongaga.
Oh YEEEEAH!!! Yuffie exclaimed. I remember that guy!! He
was older than Cid over here.
HEY!!! Cid exclaimed. SHUT THE FUCK UP, YA DAMN
TEENY-BOPPER!!
Hmph! Yuffie said. Maybe I shouldve bet that he
couldnt curse.
*****
Gongaga was a relatively small town with only a few houses. Most of the town
had been wiped out when the Mako Reactor blew up.
Knolans eyes began searching across the town for any sign of Jonah.
Then he noticed an elderly man with long, gray hair from age and blue eyes.
JONAH!! Knolan shouted, waving his staff in the air.
Knolan...? Jonah asked. He ran over. KNOLAN!! What are
you doing here?!?
Lookin for you and helping out some new friend, Knolan replied,
motioning to Avalanche.
We meet again, Avalanche, Jonah said.
Cloud, Knolan said. Cloud slowly stepped forward. Cloud
Strife meet Jonah Strife.
Cloud...? Jonah asked. Is it really you?
D-Dad? Cloud asked. You--youre alive.
I know, Jonah replied.
I thought you were dead, Cloud said. Mom said you died
when I was really young.
No, Jonah replied. That was a lie. All the rumors of my
death were greatly exaggerated.
Why didnt you try to contact me? Cloud asked. Where
the hell have you been all this time? How could you leave Mom alone and with
a child?
You dont understand, Jonah said. What I did, I did
to protect my family.
Bull, Cloud said.
Let me explain, Jonah began. It was about 30 years ago
when I joined SOLDIER. I instantly rose to the ranks of First Class. The
strongest next to Maestro, they said. Throughout my time with SOLDIER, I
met your mother. I quit SOLDIER when I married your mother a year before
you and your twin brother were born. However, our joy was cut short when
I discovered that Hojo of Shin-Ra wanted my genetic offsprings. He wanted
to study them and expose them to something called Jenova cells. So we went
into hiding. I faked the death of our whole family. Because it would be too
dangerous to keep you both in the same place, we both agreed to turn your
brother over to your aunt Mary in Gongaga who was married to a man named
Donald Trimmer with a son of her own. You stayed with your mother in Nibelheim.
I went into hiding with the help of Knolan who concealed all evidence that
we were even alive. Nine years ago, Knolan joined me in hiding out on the
deserted island. However, it looks like all of our efforts were useless.
Mary just informed me that your brother was kidnapped by the Shin-Ra soon
after I left him there. So for the past 21 years, my son has been used as
a guinea pig for Hojos experiments. And the only way I can receive
any information as to his whereabouts is to get it from Hojos files.
Damn, Cid said.
Did you say Trimmer? Aeris asked.
Yes, Jonah replied. Why?
Zack! Aeris exclaimed.
Zack? Cloud asked.
Maybe Zack is your brother! Aeris said.
It would explain why they look so much alike, Red noted.
No, Jonah replied. Zack isnt Clouds brother.
Zack is Marys son, your cousin.
Zack was my cousin and I never even knew it? Cloud asked. This
is really strange. Theres a lot I dont understand. I mean, soon
after coming out of my coma I find out my presumed-dead father is still alive,
I have a long-lost brother, I get whisked away to the future, I discover
Zacks my cousin, I hear that in another reality I try to destroy the
planet. Whats next? I discover that Yuffie is my love child?
HEY!! Yuffie exclaimed. I take offense to that!!
This is insanity!! Cloud exclaimed. He ran off.
Cloud wait!! Tifa shouted.
Ill go talk to him, Aeris said, beginning to follow him.
No Aeris, Tifa replied. I know Cloud better than any of
you, Ive known him longer. Ill go talk to him.
Aeris nodded and Tifa went after Cloud.
Knolan, why did you leave Shin-Ra? Red asked.
I left after I saw the death and destruction that the war golem Calibretto
caused, Knolan replied. The war golem I created. It destroyed
Wutai during the war.
Yuffie grumbled.
I never meant for Calibretto to cause senseless destruction,
Knolan said. I wanted him to be used for good. But I now realize that
thats impossible as long as hes in the hands of Shin-Ra.
*****
Cloud looked out at the destroyed reactor. It was completely dismantled and
all twisted around. Just like him.
Cloud? Tifa asked.
Cloud turned to see her walking towards him.
What do you want, Tifa?
I want to know why youre acting like this, Tifa replied.
I know youve been through a lot, but still. Hes your
father.
You dont understand, Tifa, Cloud said. All this time,
Ive thought my father was dead. And to make matters worse, no one ever
told me I had a brother or that he was alive. I thought my mom was my only
family and now I hear that my father is alive, I have a long-lost brother,
my cousin and I worked together without even knowing our relation, and I
met my aunt and uncle and I didnt know who they really were. All this
stuff is hitting me at once.
I know, Tifa said. But still. At least now you have a father.
You should be grateful for that.
Youre right, Cloud replied.
Give him a chance, Cloud, Tifa said. Hes willing
to try.
Thanks Tifa, Cloud replied. Youre a good friend.
He ran back to the town.
A good friend... Tifa muttered before following.
*****
Dad, Cloud said. I--Im sorry. I want to know everything
possible about my brother. I want to meet him. Starting with his name.
Of course, Jonah replied. His name is Rain. Rain Strife.
As far as learning more about him, theres only one way we can accomplish
that.
Howzat? Barret asked.
Get into Hojos private files, Jonah replied.
And to do that we need to go to Shin-Ra Headquarters in Midgar,
Sephiroth said.
But to do that... Aeris began.
...We need the keycard, Red finished. But that means...
We need to find Tsunami, Cloud said.
*****
Shen Long followed this mysterious man called Frost through the corridors
of Shin-Ra HQ. The rest of Tsunami was following close behind.
Im a little suspicious of you, Frost, Shen said. Why
are you doing this?
I have orders to free you and take you back to my superiors,
Frost replied.
And who the hell are your superiors? Striker asked.
Youll find out soon enough, Frost replied. Mr.
Kerig.
H--how did you know my name? Striker asked.
Frost simply grinned.
We know everything, he replied. This way. He led
them through another door where a black helicopter arrived, hovering just
above the ground.
Come on, he ordered, getting in the seat next to the pilot. Tsunami
piled in the passenger area.
Take us home, Frost ordered the pilot.
The pilot nodded and they began to lift up.
*****
The chopper landed inside a hidden underground hanger in the mythril mountains
near Ft. Condor.
Frost led them through the underground complex, past many people in some
sort of espionage uniforms.
This is really weird, Ray whispered to Squall Leonhart, the former
Pre-SOLDIER.
Tell me about it, Squall replied. Kinda like the complex
in Junon.
But more hi-tech, Ray noted.
Shen, what are we gonna do? Sara asked.
How about we fight our way out? asked Zyx, their newest member,
a talking gold chocobo.
No, Shen ordered. We just follow Frost for now and see
what this is all about.
Here, Frost said, stopping at a door. He stuck a keycard in the
slot then punched in a code.
The door hissed open.
*****
Go on, Frost told Tsunami, standing by the door as it shut.
Slowly, Tsunami walked towards the single light in the center of the room.
Suddenly, black lights were activated all around, revealing three cloaked
people around them, high up.
Is this them? one of them asked.
Frost nodded.
Good, he continued. Welcome Tsunami. We are the
Tribunal.
The Tribunal works hard to keep order in an insane world, another
began. It was not mearly fate that brought you to be arrested and
imprisoned by the Shin-Ra.
We are your new superiors, the third said. You are now
under our command.
Welcome to Seido, they said in unison.
_____________________________________________________________________________
AUTHORS NOTE: Whoa, freaky stuff, eh? The name of Clouds brother
is revealed!! And you probably thought his brother was Zack. Anyway, in Chapter
20 Avalanche, alongwith Knolan and Jonah, try and get their keycard back
from Tsunami--but can they find them? Again, any comments, good or bad, are
always welcome.
.