Darkness Falls Chapter 29
By Gemini83
Five ships were making their way through the atmosphere. Kaede flew the Kitana,
accompanied by Cloud, Tifa, and Aeris. Cid carried Elena, Reeve, Barret,
and Shera in the Highwind. The Silverstrike carried Reno, Rude, and Nanaki.
The other two ships hadn’t even been given names.
And so, it was five ships against the most powerful vessel of the Drahk forces.
Given that it had been weakened by the WEAPONS, attacking the dread ship
was still a suicide mission, and everyone knew it. They just didn’t
care anymore. The life of the Planet was at stake, and with the coming battle,
there was no more time to think of self preservation.
That didn’t keep the pilots from avoiding the cannon fire, however.
Kaede, Cid, Reno, and the other two pilots were trying frantically to avoid
the coming fire from the Drahk phalanx of ships.
“Okay guys,” said Kaede, “we’ve only got one shot at
this.”
“We got yer’ tail,” replied Cid, “just get it done
quickly!”
“What’s the matter old man?” quipped Reno, “losing your
sense of adventure?”
Cid answered with several choice four-letter words.
“Enough chatter guys,” said Cloud, “let’s do
this...”
“They can fly,” appraised Sephiroth, “I’ll give them
that.”
“Well,” sneered Morbius, “we’ll just have to clip their
wings before they get here.”
“Are the cannons ready to fire?” demanded Methos, glaring at a
crewman.
The frightened technician started to waver, but saw the deadly look in
Methos’ eyes. He gulped once and nodded.
“Good,” sneered the Chaos Lord, “you’re
learning...fire.”
Kaede shouted into the comm-link, “evasive actions! It’s
firing!”
The five ships scrambled, struggling to get away from the beam that lanced
out from the dark crystalline ship. But one of the five was caught in the
blast, and spun away soundlessly, to be destroyed by cannon fire from the
other ships.
Reeve cursed, they only had four ships now, and how many good men had died
in that last ship?
“Damn it Kaede!” screamed Cid, “we have to do
something!”
“Alright guys,” answered the Planeswalker, “cover
me.”
The remaining three ships formed up along the Kitana, and together they charged
the Drahk vessel.
“Break away on my mark,” indicated Cloud,
“3...”
The Drahk ship loomed ahead, a great behemoth against the starlit
backdrop.
“2...”
The shots were coming rampantly now, difficult to dodge at such close
proximity.
“1...”
“Almost there guys,” said Kaede.
“Mark!” shouted Cloud.
The Kitana fired a volley of missiles, and the four ships veered
away.
The explosion sent tremors rumbling through space...a shower of energy emanating
from the Drahk vessel. It sent the four ships reeling.
“Wing report,” demanded Kaede.
“Cid here,” came the reply.
“Captain Riker checking in,” said another.
“We’re here too,” answered Reno.
“What in the Planet’s name was THAT?” demanded Cid.
“Curse it,” spat Kaede, “force shields, we’ll have to
go in again.”
“Great,” quipped Reno, “one more chance to let Fate bite us
in the ass.”
“No backing out now,” stated Cloud, “let’s
go...”
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, “hmm...I’m surprised. You managed
to gather enough energy to block that assault. How much more do we
have?”
“Enough to get the job done,” assured Morbius.
Sephiroth mulled that over, “still, we should fire up the landing ship
so we can get planet side.”
Methos glared at Sephiroth, then nodded, “do it.”
Several wraith body guards withdrew from the shadows, invisible until now,
and left the room.
“Is that supposed to impress me?” asked Sephiroth.
“I couldn’t care less,” sniffed Methos, turning to the crew
again, “fire again.”
Kaede was pushing his energy reactors to their limits, simultaneously dodging
energy blasts and firing his cannons.
“Kitana! Status report!” shouted the Planeswalker.
“Heavy shield damage, they’re practically gone,” answered
the computer.
“I meant us,” stated Kaede.
“So did I,” replied the AI.
“We’re going in with no shields?” yelled Cloud, “aw
crap!”
Aeris and Tifa sat in a corner, holding hands and silently praying.
“Form up again,” indicated Kaede, “we only have one more shot
at this.”
The four ships aligned again, that was when the Drahk vessel fired once
more.
“What the-” started Cid.
“Look out!” shouted Riker.
He veered in front of the Highwind, shielding Cid from the blast. But Captain
Riker’s ship was a blaze of fire.
“Riker!” shouted Cid, “come in!”
“No good sir,” came Riker’s voice, “we’re dead...get
them for us!”
The ship vanished beneath a series of explosions and was no
more.
“Damn it!” cursed Reno, “telemetry’s out! We’re
dead in the water!”
“What systems are still functioning?” asked Red.
“Thrusters and shields are the only operable ones right now,” answered
Rude.
Reno could see that the other ships had fared little better.
“We can’t take much more of this,” said Reno.
“They’ll kill us eventually,” replied Red, “which leaves
us with one option...”
The Highwind was floating aimlessly, its thrusters barely working.
“Ugh,” groaned Cid, “remind me to take out an insurance policy
next time.”
“I don’t think anyone would back you,” stated Shera.
“Everyone okay?” asked Elena
“If feeling like death congealed is ‘okay,’ yeah I’m
fine,” gripped Barret.
“Hey,” responded Reeve, “at least you’re
alive.”
Cid looked at his monitors, and noticed something was wrong, “Damn it
kid, get back here now!!!”
“Talk to me Kitana,” urged Kaede.
“Weapon systems are shot, shields are out, hull damage...” answered
the AI.
“We got a problem here!” shouted Cloud.
“What is it?” shot back Kaede.
“That last shot screwed up our missiles, they‘re about to blow!
We have to dump them now or we go with them”
“But...the weapon systems are damaged!” said Aeris
desperately.
“Get rid of them now Kaede, or we’re all goners!” answered
Cloud.
“Kitana!” shouted Kaede, “do it!”
The ship released its last missiles, and shot off. It was still in the blast
radius when the missiles finally detonated. The Kitana shook from the blast,
but held.
“Everyone alright?” asked Kaede.
He received notes of affirmation from the others.
Cid’s voice screamed over the speakers, “Damn it kid, get back
here now!!!”
“Sorry Cid,” came the Turk’s reply, “got no
choice.”
“Reno,” pleaded Elena, “this is no time for foolish heroics!
Get back!”
“Report Silverstrike!” demanded Kaede.
“Sorry friends,” answered Red, “our systems are dead except
for a few.”
“We’re going to ram the bastards before they can get off another
shot!” explained Reno.
“No!” shouted Cid, “GODAMMIT NO!!!”
“There’s no other choice,” said Rude.
“If we don’t make it out of this,” pleaded Red, “tell
my parent’s I’m sorry.”
“Sir!” came the technician’s tinny voice, “they’re
going to ram us!”
“At that speed, with our shields weakened,” deduced Veletta,
“they could destroy the ship!”
“Really?” sneered Sephiroth, “did you figure that out all
by yourself?”
Methos turned to the ex-SOLDIER, eyes narrowed.
“Enough time for arguments later,” reasoned Sephiroth, “we
have to get to the Fortress of the Ancients.”
Methos nodded, “fine, we’ll go.”
Morbius turned to the crewmen, “fire at them until they’re gone.
We’re leaving.”
The Drahk ship fired once more, engulfing the Silverstrike in energy. Reno
coughed past the smoke billowing from his controls, forcing more power into
the shields. It was a testament to Kaede’s technology that they
held.
“Our reserves are out,” announced Rude.
“Redirect all power to the engines,” commanded Reno, “it’s
make or break now.”
“I hope this works,” said Rude to Nanaki.
“So do I,” agreed the Cian, “so do I...”
“More power!” shouted the Drahk technician, “fire again! We
must ensure the destruction of the Planet!”
“No use,” said another, “shields are out, weapons are
drained!”
The Silverstrike flew past the holes cut by the WEAPONS, past the rent torn
by the missiles, and headed straight into the Drahk vessel’s reactor
core.
The explosion sent huge aftershocks rumbling through space. Nothing was left,
it had all been vaporized. The Silverstrike was no more...
The Kitana and the Highwind struggled for control, eventually maneuvering
into a steady descent towards the surface.
For the first time in a long time, Cid Highwind shed tears. He was joined
by a solemn crew. Reeve was slowly rocking Elena back and forth in his
arms.
Aeris was silent, struggling to say something. Tifa and Cloud held hands
in silence. Kaede’s face was stone hard.
The Drahk ship had been destroyed, but their friends were gone...
Kaede forced his voice to work, “Kaede to Highwind...”
Static.
“Cid,” tried the Planeswalker, “are you out
there?”
“...Yeah I’m here,” came a cracked voice.
“Let’s make planet fall around-”
Kaede cut short his reply as he saw a third ship making its descent. It was
a drop-ship of Drahk build.
“Cid,” strained Kaede, “are you seeing this?”
“Yes,” came the pilot’s voice, “is it?”
“It’s Sephiroth,” stated Cloud.
Kaede turned to the leader of Avalanche.
Cloud tapped his temple, “I can feel him.”
He nodded back, “Methos is with them.”
Cid cursed over the intercom.
Kaede agreed with him, but had to fight to keep his composure, if only because
no one else could.
But he seethed inwardly, ‘Nanaki, Reno, and Rude died for nothing...more
blood on my hands...’
Cid frothed with rage, his yelling nearly drowning out the speakers with
raw fury.
“YOU BASTARDS!!! TAKE THIS!!!”
The Highwind fired volley after volley at the Drahk ship, draining its nearly
depleted reserves. The Drahk craft dodged some of the blasts, but was hit
all the same. It began to fall away at a quicker rate, leaving the two other
ships behind.
Cid was still firing, and Kaede had to order him to stop.
“Enough Highwind,” he ordered, “they’re out of
range.”
“Then what the hell do we do?” demanded Cid.
“We follow them,” explained the Planeswalker, “and I know
where they’re headed. Kaede to Vincent and Yuffie...come
in.”
A voice came in through the static, “...Vincent here...kind...busy...what
is it?”
“Head for the Fortress of the Ancients!” shouted Kaede, “the
Drahk are headed there! Confirm...”
Yuffie replied, “confirmed...head to...Fortress...Ancients...meet you
there!”
Kaede nodded and made one last message, “Cid, I’m going ahead,
catch up when you can.”
“What do you mean-” protested the Captain.
“Listen Cid,” reasoned Kaede, “I’ve got a few capabilities
you don’t, I’m going in. Please don’t argue.”
“It’s not safe,” replied Reeve.
“We don’t have much choice,” answered Kaede, “we’ve
all had to do what is necessary.”
There was a long moment of silence.
“...Understood, good hunting,” bade Cid, “we’ll follow
as soon as possible.”
“Thanks,” replied Kaede, “head for the Fortress once you’re
down. Watch out for Drahk forces.”
“Will do,” answered Elena, “be careful.”
“You too,” replied the Planeswalker.
The Kitana picked up speed, and began to descend faster.
“Brace yourself people,” warned Kaede, “this is going to get
messy.”
“Kaede,” whispered Aeris, “what are we going to
do?”
He merely grabbed her hand and squeezed.
Tifa looked at the monitor, mentally preparing herself for what could be
their final push. She shivered.
Cloud came from behind, holding Tifa in his arms.
He turned to Aeris, answering her question, “we do what we came here
to do...finish this...once and for all.”
The Kitana plummeted after the Drahk vessel, the Highwind not far
behind.
The race to the Fortress of the Ancients had begun, and in the victor’s
hands would lie the fate of the Planet, and the keys to absolute power.
Author’s Note: Finally, a chapter which mostly followed my original idea. However, I have a lurking feeling that this scene left something to be desired. Oh well, I try to pick it up from here on in. Besides, my next fic may have even better dogfights! Anyway, thanks for reading and keeping reviewing!
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