Assassins in Gaia

Ace, "Come on, I think I see Julian."

Tifa waved, "Julian!"

Julian a brunette with green eyes smiled, "Hello Tifa, Cloud, Ace.... SOLDIERs."

Ace, "Don't worry Illya, they are okay."

Julian looked at two, "If you say so. What do you plan on getting?"

Cloud, "Well considering it's summer, I was hoping for Muntjac or Capra."

Julian nodded, "We could try to trap some and the summer hares are all probably grown. We could catch a few."

Zack, "Sooooo, I'm guessing you two are really close?"

Julian gave him a look, "I have known Cloud since we were five, if that's what you are asking."

Zack grinned, "So, got any funny stories to tell me?"

Julian snorted, "Maybe I do."

Zack, "Can you tell us about the fairies?"

Julian raised an eyebrow, "Why do you want to know about them?"

Kunsel, "Curiosity mostly."

Cloud, "Illya.."

Julian gave his blond friend a smirk, "He is just curious. Don't worry, I'll only tell him if he is worth it."

Cloud turned to Zack, "Why do you want to know?"

Zack grinned brightly, "Oh! Come on! I want to get to know my new best bud better. As well as the people around him, including the fairies."

Cloud looked away from the grin, "Fine! Whatever you want."

Julian whispered to Ace, "Am I seeing things or... "

Ace, "You are not seeing things."

Tifa giggled, "Not at all."

Kunsel shook his head, 'Zack is pretty smitten too.'

They trekked up the old path branching away from the Shinra power plant. Zack was chatting up a storm regaling them with stories from his time in the barracks. Julian after a while told them a bit about the 'Fairies', especially their appearance. They had translucent wings and their hair were either snow white or icy blue in colour. Zack listened in rapt attention while Tifa nudged Cloud teasingly, Ace was feeling smug. Kunsel piped in from time to time to give more details about the people and the places in Midgar. Tifa made note of all the popular places Kunsel pointed out, it would be helpful when she moved out of Nibelheim. Ace paid attention to the area they were walking through, it was quiet, too quiet.

Julian, "I'm planning on joining Shinra army."

Zack, "Army? Not SOLDIER?"

Julian looked back at the reactor, "Considering what I have learned about the stuff that goes into that. I'll pass on being a SOLDIER. I'll be happier in the barracks, besides SOLDIER is not my dream. I want to finish my studies first and foremost."

Tifa, "Why join the army then? You can do that from here too."

Julian, "I could but money is tight and after the damage we suffered today. Even with the compensation, it would not be enough. I plan on studying all the way up to Masters after all. I want to be a Professor and teach others."

Kunsel, "But why the regular army? You do understand they mostly do the grunt work right? And during missions they are stuck doing watches and end up as cannon fodder a lot?"

Cloud looked worried, "You really want to join the normal army."

Julian, "Don't worry guys, I did my research on it."

Ace, "Oh! You already planned it out?"

Julian, "Thing about getting good jobs, they look for work experience. If I join the army I can get work experience and at the same time earn money. I would get rations and meals daily, a place to sleep, access to the internet and not have to worry about rent. Also, the army contract is ten years, I think that's more than enough time to save up my salary for a full Master education."

Kunsel scratched his head, "Well, troopers don't get the same amount as SOLDIERs but if you plan on being frugal, then yes, it's more then enough. You could even have some saved after you finish your education for yourself too. And getting a secondary Master is easier if you already have one so you could go for that too."

Ace, "Hush!"

Cloud, "It's quiet."

Kunsel looked around warily, "Too quiet."

Zack took a stance with his sword, followed by Cloud who took out his materia and a very sleek blade. Tifa took a hand to hand battle stance while Julian prepared his bow, a specialized one made to hold materia. It had two currently, ice and lightning. Kunsel took his own sword out and Ace activated his eyes that had Kunsel gasping softly and Tifa and Cloud chuckling at the reaction.

Cloud, "I'm able to do that too. I'll show you someday."

Zack, "That's so cool!"

Julian, "We trust you not to tell anyone."

Kunsel, "We won't."

Ace, "There are six beasts two circling us above, four below. Who wants to take what?"

Zack, "Cloud and I can deal with the two fliers."

Kunsel, "We'll deal with the ground."

Zack, "Cloud..."

Cloud was already climbing up the closest tree making Zack give out a huff. The dark haired teen followed the blond up leaving the group below to deal with what looked like lizards. Lizards with sharp nails and fangs and a very ugly green colour with sickly yellow eyes.

Zack, "So, what's the plan?"

Cloud, "I use my fire materia to burn their feathers. You cut them."

Zack smirked, "Roasted and sliced birds for dinner."

Cloud mumbled, "Not sure they are edible but sure."

Zack just grinned as he took position easily holding the heavy hundred pound sword with one hand. Cloud almost felt jealous, almost being key word here, he focused on the task infront. The weird dragonfly like creatures saw him and screeched before zooming in to attack. Zack winced at the screech, one of the biggest down sides of becoming enhanced, everything got dialed up a notch. Cloud looked at him worried when he winced visibly but he waved signaling he was okay.

Cloud took a deep breath and focused, "Fira!"

A long stream of fire flew out of the fire materia he was holding towards the strange creatures. Zack's eyes widened on seeing the attack, Kunsel could use magic too. But his flames were not that large or controlled, he took his sword and jumped at the monsters. He swung his sword in a downward arc and sliced the creatures into half. The pieces fell burning and dissipating into ashes, the smell making their noses wrinkle. On the forest floor, Julian had shot one of the rabid looking dogs with lightning arrow paralysing it and Tifa punched it away. Ace was fighting against another creature that looked like a bald cat, he assumed. Kunsel was battling against two other hybrid animals that hissed like a snake. Julian was switching between normal arrows, ice arrows and lightning his mana pool going down.

Kunsel, "Any plan?"

Ace, "When I count to one, duck."

Tifa, "Got it!"

Julian grimaced shooting another magic arrow, "Sure, I'm almost out of arrows and mana, but they still keep coming. I should have brought my larger quiver."

Ace, "Three, two, one, ultimate THUNDAGA!"

Kunsel, Tifa and Julian hit the ground just as a wave of electricity flew over them making their hair stand. The electric attack burned the skin of the strange creatures and paralysed them to the spot unable to move. Tifa nodded and got up to punch the head of one other the monsters in. Julian took out his hunting knife and sliced through the second one. Kunsel sliced the other three into half and just as they finished they saw a fire attack above them.

Tifa, "Looks like they are done too."

Kunsel, "That was Cloud, wasn't it?"

Julian, "Why do you believe it was Cloud?"

Kunsel, "I know Zack, while he is decent at magic, he is not that good."

Ace gave a smirk as Cloud and Zack soon joined them after dealing with the two fliers above. It would have been a pleasant victory too, if they were not attacked again by more monsters. Tifa cursed as three more monsters came out and Julian shot more magic arrows at them. Ace looked at their situation and grimaced, they were surrounded by the annoying critters. Little bastards were hiding underground and he didn't check below the ground.

Cloud called from the branch, "Ace! Tifa! Illya! You okay?"

Zack, "Kunsel you alright man?"

Tifa, "I'm good."

Kunsel, "Surprised but yes, I'm okay."

Julian, "Fell on my back but I'm alive."

Ace, "I have a mastered Cure, and climb up everyone."

Ace climbed up the pine tree next to him and pulled Julian along, "Sit still, this won't take long. ESUNA!"

Julian stretched his back after the healing was done, "Huh! Good as new! I think I'll try to find myself one of those. That is very handy."

Cloud, "Are those earthworms?"

Zack, "They are pretty gross looking."

Tifa, "Ugh! Don't tell me it is one of the escaped experiments!"

Kunsel, "It most possibly is one of them."

Ace, "And it's ugly."

Cloud, "Oh no!"

Zack tensed, "Get ready to move!"

Tifa and Kunsel jumped from the tree they were on just as the beast up ended it by the roots. Cloud and Zack jumped higher as theirs was next, Cloud grunted as he landed on another branch. Ace grabbed Julian and easily flipped away from theirs in the opposite direction of the others.

Zack, "That thing is as large as a baby Zolom. I only hope it's not poisonous as one."

Cloud, "That's gonna be a pain to deal with."

Tifa, "Anyone has a plan?"

Kunsel, "The bellies of baby Zoloms are usually soft and unprotected. If it's like one then, it's possible we can beat it."

Ace, "Well let's see if we can fry it first. THUNDAGA!"

Lightning raced through the air and hit the target getting a squeak from the beast. The beast hissed back attacking the trees they were on, Zack grabbed Cloud and jumped and Kunsel pulled Tifa along. Ace and Julian jumped away as well just as the tree they were on was brought down with a loud crash.

Ace, "Julian, see that red eye?"

Julian, "The creepy thing on its back that opens and closes?"

Ace, "Cloud and I will attack again you try to hit it while it's distracted."

Julian, "Be careful."

Ace, "Always! Cloud, together!"

Cloud, "Sure, not sure if it'll work. Frigga help us paralyse him."

Frigga appeared making Zack jump. She cooed at Cloud then eyed Zack suspiciously before turning to the giant worm. Zack had no idea birds could make a disgusted face and yet, here they were.

Ace, "Tifa, Kunsel, Zack be ready to engage in hand to hand if necessary."

Tifa, "Got it!"

Kunsel, "Ready!"

Zack, "Bring it."

Cloud, "Fira!"

Ace, "Thundaga!"

The creature shrieked and hissed glaring at the two of them and tried to charged but was paralysed thanks to Frigga. Julian took aim as Tifa, Zack and Kunsel attacked the beast using their sword and fist. The beast growled and attacked them and the eye on the back opened again. Julian took aim and shot at the eye hitting it making the monster give a ear piercing scream.

Tifa, "So that's it's weak point."

Zack, "Nice shot Jules!"

Kunsel, "Great shot."

Ace, "Once more. Thundaga!"

Cloud, "Fira!"

The elemental attacks hit the earthworm like beast gave a hiss and attacked them or rather tried to. Zack and Kunsel attacked with their swords and stabbed the beast before cutting it into half, green ooz coming out. Tifa made a face as the three of them were covered in gross goo, or rather green colour blood.

Ace, "Good job guys! Let's check if there's anything the beasts dropped."

Tifa, "I need to jump into the river first."

Zack, "Yeah!"

Kunsel grimaced, "Me too."

Cloud, "Well we are close to the river from what I can tell."

Tifa, "Great! Follow me boys, they can gather what was dropped. We need to be cleaned."

Frigga was fussing over Cloud, -That disgusting creature. Look at what a mess it made.-

Cloud, "Yeah, I know Frigga."

Zack eyed the summon curiously but he and Kunsel followed Tifa and came across a river in which Tifa dived in. Kunsel looked at the river before shrugging and getting in himself. Zack followed a bit later after Tifa came out and used her own fire materia to dry herself. Kunsel came out after a few minutes followed by Zack, the water didn't help the smell but at least the blood was gone. Once they were dried, they joined the others and found out what items were dropped. Apparently the flying beast dropped plumage, while the four hybrid canines dropped fur. Interestingly enough, the large earthworm beast dropped leather and two poison fang. Zack gave an appreciative whistle as Julian took one fang and passed the other to Kunsel. It was small but it could still be used to stab other beasts and people.

Tifa, "So, it was a Zolom then?"

Cloud, "I think the real question we should be asking is, what was it doing here?"

Ace, "Escaped experiment, no doubt."

Julian, ".... I'm sticking with regular army."

Kunsel, "I don't blame you."

Zack, "This is sus af. Oh boy. Angeal won't be happy to hear about this."

Cloud grumbled, "Neither will Desmond."