Many events had played out before Lightning, at one point she had been with Snow, Hope, and Serah after they had all managed to save Cocoon...but sometime in that place Lightning found herself in a different realm where no one could reach her; well that was until they had finally found her. Bringing her back to the man who had helped them find her in the first place. None other than Hope; only showing that she had been brought to the future where Hope was running his own company to prepare and take care of the world; the young man had even managed to invite Time Traveling, something that back when Lightning had been around was none existing, and yet he had managed in the future to make such a device. It had been a long discussion with Hope about being sent into the future to see how things played out...to see if any mistakes were to come from what he had been working and building on. After building a trust with him when he had only been fourteen she agreed to do this for him; in order to build a perfect future for their world errors needed to try to be avoided, and those done that effected the future would be noted before being brought back for notice a head of time. “Alright Lightning, remember when you go there try to keep your mic working so we can hear the changes that have been done. Ask people around about the place...and if you can try digging into the history to the exact date you're in.” Hope's words came through a small intercom in the room as she adjusted her Cocoon Uniform that had been given to her; her other clothing had been destroyed from the previous realm she had once been in. “I got this,” She responded waving a dismissive hand glancing back at the small window Hope stood near offering a half smile before walking into the small capsule “Can you hear me?” His voice came in through the small mic “Yeah, I can hear you loud and clear.” She responded “I suggest you close your eyes, it can be pretty scary from what some have said...but then again you've always been brave. So you do what you want. Alright. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...” There was a bright flash of light before her eyes, before she was surrounded by darkness with flashes of light here and there, before a large light came into view. Her eyes widened as she realized this wasn't going to be a perfect landing the female was falling from the sky. This isn't a good start. She thought bitterly as she snapped her fingers, a shield, almost looking like blue lines covered her body, her landing not harming her body but by far tearing the ground up around her. Lightning landed with on knee on the ground, the other by her chest, a shaky sigh escaping her lips. Her icy blues moved to the city that was in the distance; a small sigh of relief escaped her again; she was lucky and thankful for not have landing inside the town. That alone would have brought too much attention to her...as if this itself already hadn't, Lightning was fairly certain when upon entering this area there had been a large flash of light when entering. Already from the sight this time era didn't even look remotely the same as where she had come from, she pressed against the mic to speak “Hope I made it...but everything looks like it's well...degraded from where we are before.” At the other end static with the slightest bit of Hope's voice came in “Ligh-ning we----can't pic- up on whe-re you are. Wh-happened?!” Lightning went silent for a long time, from previous events no one had troubles with going into the future or even into the past; all this was showing her was something had happened within the time period she had been moving through time.
Smiled over her budding flowers as water from her watering can drizzled over petals and leaves basing in the sight of their beauty. Sound of footsteps upon the old wood plans down the centre aisle closing in beside the Pews of the rundown church drew her attention. He head and gaze lifted turning to the tall man with long ebony hair recognising the clothing as a Shinra employee more so obvious to be a ‘Turk’
"Oh... hello can I help you? “Smiled but paused knowing the face "oh Tseng?!, how are you this is a nice surprise” spoke politely to him
It was a sickening dark kind of feeling, leaving friends behind, not speaking to any letting them know she was safe, alive and well. Over this time, the cells within had been darkening her mind, changing the way she thought, acted, interacted. It all started off with that continuious feeling of being alone...having no one there, but it all numbed over time, that numbness being replaced with bitterness, her mind slowly focusing more and more on bringing back this name that seemed to echo in her mind, mother. Better yet a name that had been mentioned by another SOLDIER, Jenova. Secrets had been leaked about how that was a mixture added into making someone SOLDIER...maybe that would explain her changes. Ebony ran away from SOLDIER...from all the friends she made; to have freedom, not only freedom, but back then when the first wing broke out from her back she had been terrified SOLDIER would have told her something was wrong, she was malfunctioning and needed to be 'put down' but had been told instead it was normal, but that she needed to run away and stay hidden until believen she was dead. But Ebony knew no one would buy that. When she had been brough there she wasted no time in moving up through SOLDIER class, until she was 1st class standing beside the man who taught her everything Sephiroth. No one would buy she was dead, even after 5 years of hiding away, which is what lead her to the current situition. She had been hidden in a tumbled down building, wondering the dark halls before the faint sound of echoing footsteps caused her to pause...she knew for the last few days she had been followed; but now it needed to end. Ebony turned, her long black hair moving slowly behind her as she finished turning "I know you're there, now step out." She wasn't sure who it was, which left her prepared to attack if they came out threateningly, she had no weapon on her, only her hands; which were just as good. "I wont hurt you." It was odd hearing herself speak; let alone assuring someone for the time being she wouldn't hurt them. Her voice was low a little raspy from having no reason to speak for years, but loud enough to be heard. And not attacking someone was strange...she attacked civilians that got too close...she didn't trust anyone, let alone...she didn't want to be near people. Being alone had become something she was use to, when she was a child she had been left alone in the streets before SOLDIER took her in because of how she fought on the streets...no one but Sephiroth and the young one Zack kept her much company, they were the only ones who looked into her and saw something she didn't; one more so than the other. Ebony pulled herself out of her thoughts as she crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing where she could see the faint outline of the male; her eyes seemed more wilder than they had years ago, a fine slit was where a normal pupil had been.
All that effort of finding the male named Cobus finally came to an end; she had finally find him. She even took this as the time to take a seat near him and figure out how she was going to work on luring him away from everyone else here. After ordering her drink, she had to admit in a way she was surprised the bartender even understood what she was saying...let alone how was she going to understand anyone when they were speaking Afrikaans, she got lucky half way through the people; at least the ones that spoke some English. Sherry wasn't even sure if Cobus spoke it at all, this was probably the first time in a way she felt her nerves getting to her, causing her to take another drink in irritation; although her expression remained calm and collected. Her icy blue gaze moved from the bartender over to Cobus, only for a moment before moving back forward. Sherry didn't even noticed that the male had moved over beside her, a small gasp of surprised escaped her lips at the feel of someone's hand wrapping around her waist, causing her to immediately look over prepared to knock someone out, that was before she realized who it was. Her surprised expression turned to a small smile, almost shy looking for a moment. Thank God. she thought when the words that left Cobus' mouth were English; not very well, but well enough for her to understand. Her smile remained there as she nodded a bit "No, not at all." she admitted, just barely leaning towards him a bit. If there was one way to lure any man out of a bar, she by far knew how to do it; and with the smell of alcohol on his breath it probably wouldn't take too long either. A small chill ran up her spine feeling Cobus' hand creep lower down her back, "I know exactly where you're going, one of the reasons why I left there in the first place." It wasn't entirely a lie, she hadn't been in America for years, not after she left Umbrella and landed on Rook Island, taken in and accepted as an agent when proven; but as far as he knew she was taking a small vacation away from it and visiting this place. As if the touch wasn't enough to send a chill, another one was sent through her body when he leaned in closer, whispering in her ear, the words spoken though caused a smirk to play across her lips, she turned to face him, her lips fairly close to his "I would love that..." She whispered her icy gaze meeting with his eyes "Do...you," She paused for a moment, following with her act, as a small amount of blush spread across her cheeks "Want to take this somewhere more private." She asked, a near lusty look in her eyes as she glanced down before looking back up at him.
This wasn't something she had been expecting in the backroom of the warehouse, oh no. Usually they were sent a message about recieving something like this...but not this time. Unless Pagan had been given word about it and decided not to tell Yuma about it, either way. There was now a man tied up, and on the floor of her warehouse. She honestly wasn't sure why he was brought here in the first place, but either way, she needed to get him in the truck and get him back to either her fortress, or straight to Pagan's palace. After kneeling down to ask him who he was her expression went blank, before a disgusted look spread across her features as she wiped the man's spit off her face. "Alright." She hissed standing up, bringing her knee up, making sure to let it hit under the jaw just for the amusement of hearing teeth smack together and with the oh so very possibilitiy of a tongue getting bitten. A smirk spread across her features as a mix of hate and amusement glinted in her eyes, "You think you're funny." Her tone came out in a sickening full of hate as she bent down grabbing the male by his hair getting a tight grip. "When you get shipped into someone's country the last thing you want to do is piss them off." She paused for a moment, her dark gaze looking over the male before a wicked grin spread further "Whoever sent you here clearly wanted you dead, and not even in a normal way, no more torture and a sickening death." Her grip tightened before yanking him upwards "Get on your ******** feet." She hissed, glancing back "Get the truck ready. We're leaving." She called back before turning back to him. Not the way she expected her day to be going, have some dumbass p***k sent here, and not even be notified about him being there; having to deal with him. Who in their right mind would talk s**t to someone when they just got shipped here...oh wait he probably wasn't in the right state of mind to begin with, but none of that mattered to her. All she cared about was getting him to her palace to start up some serious types of torture, maybe even put that sharp tongued idiot in a cage with a honey badger for the time being until she was done watching him run and get chased around, in the meantime she'd also have to tell Pagan to pick up his toy or leave it here with her. Now pulling herself out of her thoughts she let loose of his hair and walked behind him, grabbing his wrist where they were still tied and forced the male to walk forward with her, out of the small room, through the warehouse and out to the truck. Yuma paused for a moment gesturing to the Royal Guards to take him for her, both men walked over, one throwing a type of bag over his head before cutting a small hole for him to breath with before tossing him on the floor of the truck. During that time Yuma took the time to send a text to figure out exactly what needed to be done with him, or if he was just at the mercy of her and Pagan...or hopefully just her. After the text was sent she stuck her phone back in her pocket before getting in the back of the truck, crossing her feet and legs on top of the male with a smirk across her lips "I'll try to have them miss all the bumps, wouldn't want you to not enjoy the car ride. 混蛋" a*****e. she repeated in her head before looking forward to the driver and soldier before gesturing for them to get the truck moving.
This wasn't entirely the first place that came to mind when Ginger ventured away from her hometown, after all, she completely freaked out, killed a lot of people, including her own sister B. She wasn't sure how to coop with that, her sister and her had always been so close, and all Brigitte ever wanted to do was help Ginger; but she kept denying up until the point where it was too late. She still remembered that night, she wasn't even human at that point, and when she leaped at her sister, that syringe with Aconitum lycotonum and managed to inject it into her...that was seconds before Ginger managed to rip her throat out. Within seconds the young female had turned back to normal, only to hold her sister's bleeding out body. She remembered crying...saying sorry while brushing her sister's hair out of her face, once the life in her sister's eyes dulled and that familiar heartbeat stopped, Ginger carried her to her bed and placed her there before stealing money from her father's drawer and leaving the town. When leaving the town she made sure to pick up some more Aconitum Lycotonum for the road, she wasn't sure where to go...she couldn't go back home. Her fingerprints were over everything, so before the police had time to put everything together she went to the airport and paid for the soonest flight to leave, no questions asked. And that's how she ended up here, South Africa, Johannesburg, preying on older man working in nearby mines, and staying too long at the nearby bars. She arrived her when she was a teen, and spent years lingering close to some of these men, making some friends, and now could actually go into these bars to try luring them out in anyway possible. Tonight by far, she could feel the familiar pains coming to her, she sat at the bar drinking away, almost getting sick from the amount she was taking in, anything to try avoiding the hunger tonight. She spun in the stool she was sitting in, just to make the night a bit more fun, before getting out of her chair stumbling around a little as she made her way for the door, no intentions of leaving, but instead to stand outside and have a smoke. Her head was lightly spinning, the feel of losing control over your body was something she enjoyed, she leaned against the wall near the entrance, pulling out a cigarette, lighting it up, enjoying each inhale, and slow exhale of it. Her blue gaze being pulled over to the group of men, most covered in dirt, with the all too familiar scent of those who came out of a mine, some clean but the smell still lingered on them; well at least enough for her to smell it. It had been a while since a large group like this came in, all probably sticking together scared of the monster that was picking them off for a couple months there. She eyed each of them, but by far had her eyes set on one, she wasn't sure what it was about him; whether it was the fact he looked like the a*****e out of them all; the one that would cause trouble if given the chance. Ginger watched each one of them enter the bar, and quickly finished her cigarette, and immediately headed back inside, her eyes scanning for him again, and immediately caught him, sitting at one of the booths, alone; which made an easy prey. Her once stumbling feet walked straight for this, taking a seat across from him, no shame or embarrassment in it, an all too flirtatious smile appearing across her soft lips "You look a little lonely over here, mind if I keep you some company?"
The young adults had spent at least a week there before bad news came from the professor, who seemed to be shaking in fear when telling them the news, a civil war was breaking out, and no planes from America would be coming there anytime soon; the conditions were worsening as time continued to go by, and they weren't sure how long America would refuse to send any planes there...but until then try staying indoors as much as possible, and hold onto faith that they'd find some way back to the states. This news left many students in tears, attempting to get a hold of family and let them know they were safe, Brigitte in all honesty wasn't sure how to feel. Over her years she had adjusted to two living styles; being completely alone, stranded from all other people around her, and then being around friends; both of these done in the comfort of the states. Above all she was sure she was feeling annoyed, what kind of college sent students to a place that was on the verge of having a civil war? It almost made her bitter towards the college, probably some way of getting money from the poor saps that lived nearby and would eventually hear about the students trapped in South Africa with no way back, try making some fundraiser to try and get their fellow students back. Which was the biggest ******** lie of all time. Brigitte sat in a small room with two other students who were crying about how screwed the situation was, along with the sound of the rain outside pounding against the roof, finally getting fed up with their whining bullshit, she young female got up and headed for the door. Hearing instant protest from the other students she shut the door, taking off down a dirt road, she wasn't in the mood to be stopped by anyone, all she wanted to do was get away from those people. It completely slipped her mind where she was running, there were only few places she was actually aware of going to, the nearby stores, bars, and the mines nearby- the direction headed was towards the mines, and by the time she reached there it was dark, and she was soaked, clothes completely drenched. She wasn't even sure what time it was, how long she had been running, all she knew was she didn't care anymore, she was tired, angry she was stuck here, all of it causing her to walk with shaky legs towards a wall, and push her back against it and slowly slide down it. Sitting in the mud, she was already dirty from the mud that flew up on her when she was running; who cared anyway. (2)
Life was slowly coming together, somehow Brigitte had managed to finish up her high school years, and get as far away from her family as possible, not even bothering to waste a second on saying goodbye when she moved to a different town and start new and fresh. Completely away from her bad habits and influences she put herself in college, devoting almost all her time to her classes. Each moment placed in late nights studying, daytime placed in libraries, and more sessions with friends on studying up for quizzes, test, and final exams, all of it coming to a great payment. After spending three years in the college and proving to the supervisors that there were still students within the school that actually did their work, a small selected group was going to go to South Africa, to check out diamond mining, and get a chance to see a different culture, Brigitte being one on the list. The payment for the trip there and back was already paid for, the students and a professor or two would be going with them, and they'd be staying for at least a month, just to really soak in the culture. It was at most shocking knowing that this was actually going to happen; receiving the letter asking if she wanted to go, and if she did to start packing a lot of clothes for the trip, which is exactly what she did. Packing every amount of clothes she could in a small suitcase, the last thing on her mind was being that one student that brought too many bags for a trip. After packing, came the last part, the long plane trip to South Africa, one of the most exhausting and sickening trips she had ever been on. But once they arrived there, the professors managed to find a small apartment setup that was actually near the mines that they'd be checking out at some point after adjusting to the new changes around them. (1)
It wasn't very often Sherry was given a mission that allowed her to leave Rook Islands, most of her missions there were to deal with someone who wasn't paying for anything, or checking up on other workers that didn't work within the perimeter where Hoyt could check up on them himself. But this one was something rather different, more personal than anything; not much information was given on the man she was getting besides that fact his name was Cobus, and Hoyt wanted him brought back alive. Sherry was told this was a mission that he only gave to someone he trusted enough, which honestly when the request had been given she was taken back, but at the same time after working years by Hoyt's side it was almost flattering that he would give her this kind of mission to do. She only brought two other mercenaries with her, in case anyone ended up carrying a drunken passed out body, it'd be them, not her. A trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, quite the trip, but in the end it wasn't very hard to find her target. As Hoyt already mentioned Cobus worked in a diamond mind, and probably when off duty was in a bar drinking his life away, and no doubt she managed to find him in a short amount of time. Asking a few questions, seeming as innocent as possible, people thinking of her as maybe a friend of his, or even family with how concerned she acted in finding him. After asking questions here and there from other people it lead her to sitting in the same bar as Cobus, her eyes never leaving him, she sat in the furthest corner of the bar, sitting in a small booth, not up front sitting in a stool in front of the bar. But that's where he was, ordering drink after drink, geez he was making her job way easier with each drink that went down. Sherry's gaze drifted around the small bar, immediately catching the gaze of the two mercenaries that she allowed to tag along with her; neither of them being told anything more besides the man needs to live and to follow her orders. If anything went against her orders, well they'd find out shortly after they were done that was the last stupid mistake either would make. She gave them both a small nod, indicating she was going to move in, sit next to him, order a drink, try making small talk, and find some way of making him follow her out back. Hopefully that part wouldn't be too hard, after all he had a couple drinks already, maybe hinting for some fun could lead him to the back, and the men she had already brought would already be making their way back behind them the second she left the front door. With that in mind, the young blonde got up, making her way over to the bar, taking a seat beside the male, not even looking at him once at the moment "Jameson on the rocks," she said, sliding the money across the small counter, while watching the bartender start making her drink, before turning her blue gaze to the target beside her, before turning her gaze away to look back at the front door, before feeling the table slightly thump a little from where her drink had been set down. Sherry had the target in view, there was no need to rush things; for now, and with that she reached out taking a small sip from her drink.
Another shipment from a well known drug lord, Hoyt Volker had come in, with many drugs rolling in, along with what he claimed to be a gift, and with Pagan already busy with finding new ways of dealing with the rebels, he sent his second in command, Yuma Lau to go and make sure everything was in order there; and figure out what kind of gift Hoyt had sent to them. The drive was long, as usual, a couple stops here and there due to the Golden Path idiots trying to play hero and take out the truck she was in, only to realize that wasn't the brightest of ideas. After these attempts failed, she finally reached her destination, gun in hand; half of her knew she didn't need this out, but with how the rebels had been acting lately she was forced to expect the worse, better yet expect the unexpected. A couple soldiers stood outside the doors, giving odd glances back into the small warehouse, almost bringing more curiosity; she knew they weren't looking back from the large amounts of drugs. These men have been doing this for years, both doing the drugs and helping bring them in, and ship them about the country to sell. Yuma stepped passed them walking in slowly, her dark gaze meeting over the packaging, starting off by checking and making sure everything was there and in place. Not that she didn't trust Hoyt and his packaging, but more of questioning the new recruits for them, some would get brave and want to steal some for themselves, or the spies sent in by the Golden Army to give it to them for whatever reasons. After checking over everything her attention was drawn the hay in the backroom shifting around, more and more as her feet caused the floors to creek. Was this gift back there? Only one way to really get the answer to her question, Yuma moved forward pausing in front of the door, taking the time to listen one more time to shifting hay and what sounded like something muffling something. So their dear friend Hoyt had sent someone as a gift, not something. Yuma pushed the door open, stepping inside the dim lit room, taking a moment for her eyes to adjust to the change of light before they flickered over the man on the floor, hands tied tightly behind his back and a cloth tied around his mouth; why on earth would this man be sent to them as a gift, clearly someone who didn't mean much to Hoyt in the first place...or the total opposite. Either way it didn't matter this man was here now, and was officially Pagan's and her's. "Well...what do we have here?" She said, amusement full in her tone as she walked around him, a little bruised up, some dried up blood, but besides that not much had been done to him. After walking around him once, she knelt down in front of him, reaching one hand out to pull down the cloth "Tell me, exactly who are you?" She asked, a wicked smile remaining across her lips, as she patiently waited. She'd ask few questions and eventually have to take him to Pagan to decide if he had plans for this new gift, or if she could just have fun with him instead.
Comments
View All Comments
"Oh... hello can I help you? “Smiled but paused knowing the face "oh Tseng?!, how are you this is a nice surprise” spoke politely to him