Chapter 7: On our way to forgotten memories

A large truck, an armored vehicle to be more precise, drove through the underbrush of the eastern grasslands while following the Highwind. The truck sped through the dusty dirt road. After METEOR fell, the area surrounding Midgar turned into a desert wasteland, only populated with small shrubs, cacti, and monsters. The Highwind soared through the mid afternoon sky above the clouds, as the armored ShinRa truck lagged behind on the orange dirt path. It was a bumpy ride for AVALANCHE, as the highways of Midgar were turned to rubble, leaving them to travel old forgotten roads, complete with potholes and rocks. The team had been on the road for a couple of hours, leaving all traces of civilization, including Chocobo Billy’s. (Where Yuffie tried to gain a chocobo to her inventory) Condors, of the small variety, followed the truck from above. The sky was a blazing blue, and the heat was blazing also.

"It’s a good thing this truck has all wheel drive." Tifa said as the truck bumped once more.

"Ah, brings back memories." Cloud smiled.

"Of coarse this truck has all wheel drive. Spare no expense." Cait Sith replied.

"Hoo boy." Red XIII said as he tried to lie down. The constant shaking of the truck made it difficult for any one to do anything.

Vincent didn’t seem to mind. Yuffie had her barf bag up to her face again, Cid tried to light a cigarette, but he kept missing, and Barret had his arms folded. "There ain’t no getting off da train we on." He said proudly.

"Now I’m sure AVALANCHE is back." Vincent said.

They all laughed, except Yuffie who was still vomiting. "I hate vehicles…"

The Highwind jeered to the west and flew out of sight in the bright blue sky. The truck continued on its path north through the wastelands.

***

After another hour or two on the road the skies darkened, the signature trademark of Midgar. There were no more shrubs, no more cacti, but plenty of monsters. The truck came to stop in front of the Midgar sector 5 wall. The AVALANCHE team stepped out of the vehicle, glad to be not moving. Cloud put his hand on the Ultima sword’s handle. How long has it been? He glanced at the others behind him. They were thinking the same way.

"Lets get this shit over with." Cid started walking towards the wall. Cloud and the others followed closely behind.

"Let me open this." Cait Sith pulled out a keycard and slid it through the machine. The doors hesitantly opened with a screeching metallic noise. Rusty pieces of metal fell from the gate and dust sprayed everyone in front of them. Once the final blast of rotting air fell over them Cid spoke up.

"Alright. Why the hell are we here? Cant we just go to the damn Midgar Dam instead of going through all this?!" Cid spat out.

"Because we need an old ShinRa card to open the dam." Cait Sith replied.

"Why not blow open da doors?" Barret asked.

"Because there’s a chance that might blow open the dam as well, creating a tidal wave and destroying everything on this side of the sea, including Kalm." Cait Sith said.

"Well, lets just go." Cloud said.

"Right. C’mon gang!" Tifa said as she boldly marched through the ominous gate.

Red looked at the rest of AVALANCHE. "I have a bad feeling about this."

** *

"Anyone got any new materia since last year?" Yuffie said as innocently as she could manage, strolling within the inside of the crew as the marched down the dusty streets of Midgar. The slums were even worse than they originally were. When METEOR struck, it destroyed almost all of Midgar.

"Not me." Cloud replied.

"Don’t look at me foo."

"Sorry Yuffie."

"I haven’t managed to get any more."

"Well, I have some at base, but not here…"

"Don’t even try it, Yuffie."

"Not I." Vincent finished them off.

Yuffie snapped her fingers. "Ah nuts." She looked up at the plate. It was still there, but barley. "You know, if METEOR hadn’t destroyed Ruby WEAPON we could have gotten so mcuh AP, we could have a dozen Knight of the Rounds."

"Yea, but It’s gone, along with Emerald." Vincent said.

"What happened to the Emerald WEAPON?" Tifa asked.

"It returned to the Planet inside one of those under water mako trenches." Cid replied. "The big bastard suddenly changed its mind." At least he hoped he did.

The team had been wondering from sector to sector for a while, without a trace of life. Everything had been smashed under the rubble.

"Ker-caw." Tifa hear something whisper over her shoulder, she quickly glanced around to see nothing. Cloud obviously heard it too, because he also turned around.

Cait Sith turned stopped. "What’s wrong guys?"

"…I thought I heard something…" Cloud said as he watched the hills of rubble wearily.

"…Me to…" Tifa said as she watched over her shoulder.

"I didn’t hear %^&$in thing. Now shaddup and move out!" Cid said as he bit into his cigarette.

"I think the old man’s right. Your just a couple of spoony bards." Yuffie replied.

"…I heard something also." Vincent said as he cocked his rifle.

"I believe Cloud and Tifa are right. I smell something." Red XIII sniffed the air. "Something has survived."

"Dayum foo! Can’t you come up with something more original than that?!" Barret said. "But I thought I heard something also. Lets just get the hell out of here. This place gives me da willies."

"Alright then. Half of us will watch the back and the other the front as we move. Got it?" Cait Sith said.

"…sure." Was what most of AVALANCHE said.

** *