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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2011 22:59:52 GMT -5
The first thing Red noticed upon exiting the portal into the new world was the smell. Something smelled like it was burning. Stepping out of the portal and into Gaia, Red was at a lost for words. He had made the portal directly to the last place they had been, The Slums.
Well it wasn't the slums anymore. What Red and his companions stepped into was a barren land that had been burnt to the crisp. There were remnants of homes black as charcoal. Also there was a strange mist that covered most of the air.
Moving his hand through the mist Red found that it wasn't mist at all. It was ash! Red put his hand over his mouth almost immediately. It wouldn't be good to breath the stuff in.
Glancing around the place, Red placed themselves in what had been the market district. Thankfully they were right near the exit of the slums. They couldn't stay here. There was nothing left.
"Let's get out of here." Red said through a covered hand. He had some familiarity with this place. So he took the lead and headed towards the exit. The faster they got out of this place the better.
---------------------------- Bartz had held up as long as he could. He had gone through every possible outcome. At first he had hoped to escape. Shinra just wasn't what it used to be. Not since Mr. Wilder.... or should he say Silver, took over. At one time he would have thought that he could have run from the corporation.
But now he knew that without a doubt he didn't have a choice. Even if he did run, Silver would have him found. Working on the board for years, Bartz knew well that one could not successfully hide from Shinra. And so that left Bartz with little choice.
It was because of that he found himself in front of the large building today. Word had spread quickly when the prisoners had been set out yesterday. Silver himself had appeared on the telescreens all over the city. "I invite one and all to a demonstration that shall go down in history!"
That was his claim and the citizens of this city had began packing that very night. And so Bartz found himself in front of the large crowd that herded around the large Shinra building. He couldn't bring himself to look at the thirty people who were shackled and forced to kneel on the steps.
They were dressed in the rags of the slums. Bartz was dressed in a business suit with a white tie. It was a professional outfit and it was important that they all look as professional as possible.
As a silent beep came from the wrist watch on his hand he sighed. It was time to begin. The crowd had been lively and was talking, but as Bartz began to speak they all quieted. His voice was carried over microphones all over the city so that even those who weren't present would hear what Bartz was about to say.
"A proclamation of the Shinra Corporation to the citizens who have elected us their leaders. We have promised change. We have promised that only we shall become elite across the world. And so that is why today we rid our society of the last of the outcasts. The last of those who leech off our very soul. We have heard your call for change. And so change shall be made."
Finishing the speech, Bartz walked over to the first prisoner. He knew what they were doing was wrong. He knew all of this was wrong. Yet he had no choice. Finally glancing down he looked into the eyes of a young woman. Her hair was dirty and eyes filled with tears. Her clothes were nothing but rags.
Pulling the gun out, Bartz found his hand shaking as he raised the gun and pointed it at the woman. As soon as he made the first shot, the other officers behind the prisoners would open fire and finish the "demonstration". Bartz knew it was wrong. He knew he could do nothing about it. Tears filled his eyes as his vision swam form the tears.
If he waited too long Silver would know. He had no choice. Bartz shut his eyes and pulled the trigger. The sound of twenty nine more shots being fired would have brought him to his knees if he hadn't forced himself to start walking back to the building.
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Silver watched it all from the conference room. The crowd responded in mix sounds of horror and praise. However as the rest of the guns sounded his vision was pulled away to down to the entrance to the slums. She was here!
The grin that spread across Mr. Wilder's face was so wrong on the man's body. Silver had no plans on coming to Jean. Oh no. What need did he have for that? After all she would come to him. That was the point of everything.
"I hope you enjoy this competition I set up Miss Jean. Everything that is happening I did so that we might play our game! Come! Find me!"
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Post by Sprow on Sept 12, 2011 23:23:11 GMT -5
When the portal opened up, Jean stepped out into what she had thought to be the barren wasteland that lay around Midgar. However, the more she glanced around, she became deeply unsettled. It looked as if this were once the slums that she had last been in except...well, it looked like the place was obliterated. "Wh-What happened here?" she stated, looking around. Rowen and the other mercenaries appeared to have the same look of confusion on their faces. This had been their original homeworld too.
Standing there, only then did she realize the smoke in the air was ash. Bringing a hand up to shield her nose and mouth, Jean heard Red speak. "Agreed!" she replied before setting off after him.
Just what had happened here? It made no sense to her what happened in this area. Had a war broken out since they were gone? What happened to the people? Was anyone left? So many questions whirled through her mind, none of them any more settling. Right now, she didn't link it with Silver.
"Geez, what happened here at home?" Rowen stated as he followed behind them all. Looking around, he could feel some sense of remorse. Midgar was where he and Dyne had grown up. The slums had been their home, after all.
The mood of the place was rather gloomy and foreboding.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2011 23:53:03 GMT -5
Red wish he had an answer for Jean or Rowen. But he didn't. He was as clueless as they. Of course he didn't really know much about Gaia in the first place. Things like Shinra were a foreign word to him.
The exit was located pretty much where Red expected it to be. It was a little difficult to not breath any of the ash in the air in, but he managed to get as little as possible before they came to the exit. The large gate had been knocked off its hinges. Something extremely powerful had to have done it cause those gates were huge.
Going through the gates, the ash wasn't as think as it was out in the open. Of course Red expected to find the rail car that would take them out of the slums. Red noticed that there was no rail car. Instead there was a large portal in the back wall. "I don't think that was there before." Painted above the portal on the wall were the words, "To Humanity."
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Post by Sprow on Sept 13, 2011 0:17:10 GMT -5
As they ran, it was hard to breathe. Somehow, Jean managed to keep herself from inhaling the ash as best she could. Having lifted her shirt up a bit to cover her nose and mouth, she was able to have that filter the air she breathed in a bit. The others followed her lead with that as they ran after Red.
Eventually, he took them out to where the railroads were. It was here that normally a train would be found that would lead to the upper levels if one had the appropriate identification card. However, nothing looked the same. Instead of a train, they found what looked to be some sort of portal with 'To Humanity' painted above it on a wall.
"What is this?!" Jean exclaimed, looking at it in wonder. Just what was going on here with Midgar? There wasn't anything that she could think of that would cause such damage. Not unless something really had gone wrong while she had been away.
She exchanged glances with her mercenary friends then. Both parties were very worried and concerned about what had happened to this world. After all, Gaia was their home.
"If I didn't know any better, it looks as if the world went to hell." Annalese was famous for random input.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2011 1:16:02 GMT -5
Red couldn't have agreed more with Annalese. That was precisely how it looked. It was as if everything had turned on itself when they left. It felt like they had been here only about a month or so before, even though it was two years. It was thanks to the time skip when they traveled to the World of Inbetween.
"I don't see any other way out of here." It seemed they would have to go into this portal if they ever wanted to get out of what once was the slums.
Gathering his courage, Red took the initiative and stepped through the portal. What he came to was what he had thought to find in Midgar. Tall towering sky scrappers and a variety of different homes. This was the Midgar that his friends were no doubt used to.
Who knew what had happened to the slums, but it wasn't so different here. That is not to say that there were no changes. In fact if one had lived up here long enough, they would find the speakers on every lamp post surprising. Not only that but the tall telescreens were everywhere. Hanging on buildings, floating on the air over hover crafts.
In addition to the speakers, every lamp post had a camera. If one didn't know any better one might think that the place had turned into a highly secure city given all the cameras, screens, and telescreens. Of course the biggest change was the fact that it seemed emptyless of people.
Red was just about to voice that concern when a loud sound erupted from him. It was the sound of a large crowd of people. "Where is that coming from?" Red had to shout to be heard.
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Post by Sprow on Sept 13, 2011 12:08:29 GMT -5
Jean wondered where this strange portal had lead. It didn't seem like there would be anywhere else leading upward. The only other possible option was climbing up the long cable line leading to the upper plates of Midgar. A feat that would probably be too difficult for someone like Lakari to undergo. She had no idea the elderly man thing was a disguise. The only one who did couldn't remember it to begin with. Annalese's memory had skipped that time and lost it in its depths.
Seeing there being no way around it, Red took the initiative to step through it. "Wait-!" she exclaimed before sighing. There was no other way now but to go through it. Hopefully, it wouldn't be dangerous.
Stepping through after him, followed by the others, Jean found herself in the more well cared for streets of Midgar. Skyscrapers were around them. The only thing that seemed to be missing were the human populace. Frowning, Jean looked over at the nearby lamp posts. On top of them seemed to be some sort of speaker or microphones.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say this place became tight with security!" Rowen stated. Ryu and Sain nodded at that while Dyne just walked a bit ahead to look around. It wasn't all that different from when they had been here last save for the hover crafts and the seemingly tight security. "Maybe we should-!" Rowen didn't get to finish that sentence when a roar of people interrupted him and Red.
The roar was so loud that it caused Jean, Rowen, Ryu, Dyne, Sain and Annalese to cover their ears and grit their teeth. It hurt to hear such a loud sound. "I-I don't...know!" Jean answered Red. She too had to shout herself almost hoarse to be heard over the people they were hearing.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2011 14:17:33 GMT -5
They weren't going to find the source of the sound just waiting here. It was hard to tell just where the sound was coming from, so Red decided to just head in a single direction. It didn't take them long to find people. They were crowded in the thousands in a huge square.
Red had never spent much time in this district of Midgar. For that reason he had no way to know that he building they crowded around was the Shinra Corporation Building. However Jean and the rest probably did. Drastic changes have been made to the main building. For one it was taller. A whole six stories taller.
Near the entrance to the building the words "Shinra. Devoted to Change." Flashed across a telescreen. One could tell from the mood of the crowd that there were many mixed feelings. Some of the people argued with the others. If one listened closely they might hear, "How could they do that." or "Scrape off the bloodsuckers of society."
Red though was not pulled to the entrance of the building. He could see the blood flowing from the thirty bodies as they flowed down the steps. "Seems like an execution."
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Post by Sprow on Sept 13, 2011 21:23:19 GMT -5
Since neither of them knew really where the sound was coming from, Jean just followed Red's lead again. Somehow, he managed to lead them right toward the commotion. The sound dimming down, Jean was finally able to uncover her ears and look on at the scene. Just what was going on here? Walking up to the crowd, she caught a few pieces of conversation amongst the civilians.
Then, as her bright green eyes turned toward what the people were focused on, her eyebrows raised. A look of surprise was on her face as she surveyed what had happened. Some sort of mass execution happened here and from the pieces of conversation that she had heard, these people might've been killed for no real reason.
The fact Shinra killed people without just cause...it wasn't anything new. That was also partially the reason why the branch she and her mercenary friends came from had disbanded. However, this seemed more uncharacteristic of Shinra. Who was the head of it all? Looking at the screen, she frowned. This made no sense at all. Shinra only killed those who got in their way, they didn't kill innocent lives unless there was a reason behind it. What could their motives really be?
Pushing her way through the crowd, Jean knew it was time to get to the bottom of this madness. She didn't yet draw her weapons but it was clear by the expression on her face that she was furious. Rowen and the others followed Jean's lead.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2011 21:56:27 GMT -5
Red hadn't expected Jean to suddenly start going through the crowd. He opened his mouth to raise an objection but before he could everyone began following her. He didn't know if this was the smartest idea.
Not really wanting to stay here by himself he followed the group. The people in the crowd pretty much moved as far away as they could when they noticed Jean's swords. Perhaps it was their getup? Either way they wanted nothing to do with an armed person.
When they reached the front Red wasn't too surprised to find a long line of soldiers with swords on their backs guarding anyone from going by the dying, or dead, prisoners. Red didn't know what Jean planned to do. Was she just going to go walk right up to the solders and demand to be let through? From the dark expressions on their face, Red didn't think that option would go to well.
Red crossed his arms. "This crowd doesn't seem to happy with these soldiers." Red observed.
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Post by Sprow on Sept 13, 2011 22:30:03 GMT -5
Jean didn't care what happened as she walked through the crowd. People, at first, were put off by her pushing through but when some noticed her weapons sheathed at her sides, they backed off. Her mercenary friends were given the same wide berth as she was when they summoned their armor and weapons as well. Like her, their's was still in a state where they weren't using them but were there in case they had to.
It was evident by the look on the soldiers' faces that any interaction with them would be a negative one. Yet, even still, Jean walked out from the edge of the crowd and faced them. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her eyes were narrowed.
"I see nothing has changed with Shinra except now you've all resorted to killing innocent lives." By appearance, those whom had been a part of Shinra for a while would probably recognize Jean and as a former General to one of their military branches.
Her mercenary friends stepped out as well, looking just as grim as Jean did as they looked back at all the soldiers.
Annalese remained behind a bit as she looked on apprehensively. "Those humans look bloodthirsty."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2011 22:45:22 GMT -5
Red had to give it to Jean. She had guts. Of course she never had been without them. But still to see her walk up right to the soldiers. Well most people would turn away. Not Jean though. And it seemed that she had some familiarity with the soldiers the way she spoke to them.
At first Red thought they were just going to ignore her the entire time. No one so much as even looked at her. But then a voice spoke from about ten feet. The voice came out as a shout and it was surprising anyone could hear over the noise of the crowd.
"Jean." Said a soldier. Red had no idea who he was, nor did he think Jean heard him either. Stepping forward Red tapped Jean on the shoulder.
"Jean that guy's calling you." He said pointing at the man who was nudging them with a shake of his head to come over to them.
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Post by Sprow on Sept 13, 2011 23:20:08 GMT -5
Those that had recognized Jean had lowered their heads in what appeared to be shame. Looking at them, hard and long, Jean could tell that there may have been regrets amongst them. Someone had ordered them to do it. She remembered what it had been like to do something that she didn't agree with. Most of the time, she managed to not do things that were morally wrong. She got her job done, sure but things like this were too much.
Feeling a tap on the shoulder, Jean took her gaze off of the soldiers to look over at Red when he spoke. Someone was calling her name? She followed the direction Red's finger was pointing and found a soldier motioning with his head for her to walk over.
"Thanks, Red." With that, she walked over. In the uniform he was in, it was hard for Jean to tell who this was. She did have a sense of familiarity with him though. It had been a long time since she had been here. When she approached him, Jean looked at him curiously.
"Yes?" she inquired. She hadn't tried to utter a name yet though since her memory was still faulty. This person had to be someone she knew though. The problem was that she couldn't find the name yet to his face. Rowen and the others remained put as Jean wandered toward the other guy. They did keep a careful eye on her back in case someone tried being a wise guy.
"Jean knows these people?"
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2011 10:05:45 GMT -5
Red turned to Annalese. He was standing next to her while Jean spoke to the soldier, whomever he was. "Must be.... At least he knows her anyway." He observed.
The soldier did indeed know Jean. The reason she probably didn't remember him was because he was on the first mission she ever commanded. But after that he had been transferred to somewhere else. She had helped him simply by her command. Before he was a nobody to scared to even hold his sword.
"I know you probably don't remember me. I was in the very first mission you ever led. But look. Alot has changed since you left Jean." The soldier didn't know where to begin so it would be up to Jean to ask any questions.
Red was about to ask a question himself when suddenly a loud booming voice sounded over the speakers. It was so loud that even the crowd quieted down. "My fellow citizens. You are confused. I see that. But now go back to your homes. Do not worry! Shinra will protect you." With that the speakers clicked off.
At first the crowd didn't seem like they would leave. A variety of voices spoke and the crowd's volume increased again. But eventually one person started to leave and then another and another. It wasn't long before the majority of people had returned to their jobs or their homes.
Turning to Annalese he said, "Things here are strange."
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Post by Sprow on Sept 14, 2011 10:29:17 GMT -5
Jean looked at the soldier curiously as he spoke. Apparently, he had been from the first mission she had ever commanded to show she was made of leadership material. Looking at him, it was hard to recognize him. Had he been that one soldier too frightened to carry his weapons? [colr=navy]"...Seth?" [/color] she inquired, hardly bale to remember what her first day had been like. According to this soldier, whom she thought was named Seth, things had changed. Well, she could certainly see that for herself. If she didn't know any better, it were as if the place became war-like toward its own people. "Just what happened here, Seth? What's going on with Shinra? I know they've killed people in the past but...not like this."Annalese looked over at Red when he spoke to her. "So this is Jean's world?" she inquired, having never really known Jean until they had encountered Annalese on Red's world. She glanced about when Red stated that it was weird here. "Yes, it is."[/size][/blockquote]
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2011 11:33:21 GMT -5
It was indeed Seth who had called over to Jean. He was surprised she had remembered his name even. He gave her a small smile. It was good to see her again. And he was sure he recognized the other four in their armor. He couldn't put names to them, but they seemed awfully familiar.
How long had it been since that last mission. Well Seth could barley remember. Listening to Jean a look of surprise crossed his face. How could she not know? "Jean... How do...." He was about to continue when the sound of a whistle pierced the air.
That was the cue to head back in. They were done here. There were regulars who posted as security. Seth's job was higher up now. He was a Captain with his own missions and crew. Though everyone who had been on site today was required to help with security.
"I need to head back in. Shinra's changed. I don't know where you've been but. You should talk to your father... Or should I say Silver or whatever name he goes by." Seth would have liked to say more but he had to turn about and return inside.
While this happened, Red was talking to Annalese. "Things were much different when I came here two years ago. There was a whole city where we first were. I don't know what happened to it."
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Post by Sprow on Sept 14, 2011 12:57:25 GMT -5
Jean was surprised that she could figure out the name so quickly. Well, just goes to show her memory hadn't been that too bad. She hadn't been around for at least a good five years. Seth seemed to be mildly surprised that she remembered his name. Well, he wasn't one that she could easily forget. He was one of the ones that she had to train herself to boost his confidence up. Looking at him now, it looked as if he had made it to a higher rank since they had last known one another.
There was a look of confusion on Seth's face though when she had asked her questions. It were as if he were confused as to why she wouldn't know. Well, because of the world of in between, she had been gone from here for two years even though her appearance and actual age hadn't been affected by the two years. Neither of them had aged two years because of that world.
Before Seth could finish his sentence, a long and loud whistle could be heard. As if this were some sort of signal, those around them started filing back into the building. Jean peered at Seth questioningly when he spoke. Her heart practically stopped when she heard Seth mention her father.
"My...father?!" she repeated. It wasn't obvious to see that her face had paled. So, Silver was doing all of this? Had he really done this much damage to Midgar in just two years?!
"I...thank you, Seth. I will most certainly see my...father." She knew damn well that it was all Silver, not her father. Mr. Wilder would never throw a world into chaos like this. Was this what Silver had told her last time she had seen him? The slimy wretch!
Gripping the hilts of her swords in silent anger but not taking them out, Jean finally looked over her shoulder towards the others. "We have to see my father." Anyone that knew what had transpired with Silver would know fully well what Jean meant. The only reason she didn't say what Silver was is because it isn't easy to explain such a thing without sounding insane.
"Right behind you!" Ryu stated, he and the rest of the mercenaries gripping their weapons but not taking them out as Jean wandered up to the building.
Annalese pointed to the group as they started taking off without them. "It looks like we're going inside there! And there was once a city where we came out? Huh."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2011 21:25:03 GMT -5
Red nodded. He didn't know if walking right into the Shinra building with all the evil looking people was the smartest idea. But Jean was set on it, so he followed along. So far Red hadn't agreed with alot of Jean's sudden decisions. He would have done things a bit differently. But Jean was the older and the more experienced. Red just hoped Jean's head wasn't clouded because of this whole situation.
As they came across the dead prisoners, Red was shocked to see that they were all women and children for the most part. What had been their crime to be murdered so? There was something wrong with this entire situation. It smelled of Silver. This whole place seemed to reek of his influences.
When they came to the doors to the Shinra building Red expected them to be stopped by the guards. However they didn't seem to even notice them. Red found that odd because of the fact that the guards were so heavily guarding the place before as well.
As the others headed inside Red paused. This seemed to easy. But a look from Artemis made Red hurry up. Once inside, Red wasn't too surprised to find themselves in what looked like the lobby of a business building. Following everyone else Red stopped as Jean began speaking to the receptionist.
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Post by Sprow on Sept 14, 2011 22:17:13 GMT -5
Jean wasn't afraid of walking right into the building. She knew that Silver would most likely be expecting them. That was the only reason she could think of as to why the soldiers simply allowed them to pass through. All acted as if they hadn't seen them as they wandered through the many halls and floors. 'It's as I expected!' she thought.
Silently, she exchanged looks with the rest of her group. She could see the look of trepidation on Red's face. She knew that he probably didn't agree with this but Jean wanted to get to the bottom of this. The sooner, the better.
Annalese just looked around like she were a child in a candy store. Everything in the building interested her. So much so that she had to be stopped before she went and pushed buttons on the elevators when they entered them. It was poor Dyne who had to keep stopping her from doing so. Despite her age, Annalese truly acted very much like a young human child that didn't know any better half the time.
When they finally reached the top most floor where she assumed Silver would have placed himself as head of the Shinra building, Jean led the way to the presidential room. Her hands remained close to where her sword hilts were as she came up to a set of guards. "I'm here to see Silver."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2011 22:45:25 GMT -5
It was Bartz who had stood at the door. He was no guard. In fact there were no guards up at this floor. He had just come back from a meeting with the President. The "President' had congratulated him with a job well done. Bartz didn't feel like being congratulated. He still felt awful about what had just happened.
"Um... the president?" Bartz had not expected to run into such a girl here. He had no idea who she was, but she looked like she was on a mission. Bartz didn't want to deal with any more of Silver's "Special Soldiers". And Jean's demeanor gave the impression that she was one of those elite.
"G-g-go right ahead." Before Jean or anyone else could say anything Bartz exited the hallway. If he could have rushed he would have.
Red watched him go. "That was strange." But no one seemed to hear him. The door to the Presidents office opened. And Jean had rushed inside. Red followed after and closed the door behind him as he was the last to enter.
The room looked like a conference room. And every chair was empty besides the one at the very end. A man was sitting in it, but turned towards a window. Turning Jean's father stared at them all. "Welcome Jean."
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Post by Sprow on Sept 14, 2011 22:55:33 GMT -5
Jean kept her expression unreadable as she looked back at the man they came across. She had thought there would have been soldiers but there were none. An even more obvious sign that they were expected. Their entrance was made way too easy for them. Her eyes were fixed on the man as he spoke. Judging by his voice, he was scared. Why, she didn't know but it seemed as if he were frightened of them.
"Thank you!" she said as she watched him leave. He hadn't even waited to hear a thanks as he took off down the hall. Casting a glance at those nearby, Jean guessed that they did look somewhat intimidating. Rowen and the others adorned in their armor with their weapons in plain sight might've done it. Then again, they were all a curious looking bunch.
Turning back toward the door, Jean hurried inside. There was no more time to waste as she entered the room. When she did, she found a long conference table with chairs on either side. At the very end, someone turned to face them. It was none other than her father...well, her father's possessed body that is.
"...Silver!" she stated, hands clenching a little. "What have you done here?!" she demanded. Her eyes were quite furious. The idea that he had thrown this place into such disarray angered her. Had he only mutilated Midgar or had he even gone as far as wrecking Kalm, her home town even?
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