Filed Under: Final Fantasy VII: Before Crisis

Corel Reactor

Player

*Groan*

Player

*Gasp*

Player

I'm…

Player

(Thought) The lowermost part of the reactor... I fell down here thanks to Shears…

Player

*Groan*

Player

(Thought) The mako reactor exploded. I've got to get out of here fast. If the structure crumbles I'll be stuck inside here. But… I don't know the way out... Anyway, I should try calling Tseng.

Shears

It's no use. Where do you think we are? There's no way you'll get a signal this far down.

Player

*Gasp*

Player

Shears!! (Thought) This isn't good. I should make the first move before he attacks.

Shears

Don't move.

Shears

It seems like you don't know a thing about this place.

Player

And you do?

Shears

Hmph. It's Rufus. He gave AVALANCHE the blueprints for this place.

Player

Then I'll have you guide me out!

Shears

Hmph. So that's the way it's going to be, huh. You're the one that's going to die down here!!

Shears

Uuuggh…

Player

(Thought) Something's not right. He isn't himself.

Shears

What's the matter? We aren't finished yet.

Player

Shears… could it be that… you're injured?

Shears

It doesn't make a difference. I could take you down right now no sweat.

Player

(Thought) Maybe he took the impact of the landing for me. (1) That would explain why I'm virtually uninjured.

Shears

!

Player

*Gasp* Monsters! Here too!

Shears

Ugh. Guess there's nothing for it. I'll deal with these guys first.

Player

Yes. We'll agree to suspend hostilities for now.

Shears

Hmph. I don't need your help.

Player

I don't need yours, either! Don't die before I get through with these things.

Shears

One down!!

Player

(Thought) Just get rid of all the monsters for now. I'll finish them off before he does and get him when he's off guard.

Shears

Two!! Three!! Four!! Five!! (2)

Player

All right. It looks like I'm done here.

Player

(Thought) Just in time, too.

Shears

Ugh. If you're gonna come, then come already.

Player

No.

Shears

What?!

Player

I'm bringing you with me.

Player

This structure will collapse soon but I don't know how to get around. So you'll show me the way out.

Shears

Hmph. Don't let your guard down. I can kill you any time I like down here and nobody would know.

Player

Don't be ridiculous. I have no intention of dying down here. I'm going to get out of here alive no matter what it takes. If I have to sign a deal with the devil himself, then so be it. That's what we Turks are!

[End of Episode 17.1]

Tseng

What's keeping Rosalind…?

Rufus

You're wasting your time. She's probably already dead. Why don't you just admit it and give up?

Reno

Wait a little longer, boss.

Rude

Rosalind will come back out.

Player

*Gasp* A Raven!

Player

Stay back! If you come any closer, I'll kill Shears.

Player

?!

Shears

(Laughs) It's no use.

Player

What's going on?!

Shears

They're trying to kill me too.

Player

So you were… betrayed by AVALANCHE?

Shears

That's right. Fuhito shoved me down here.

Player

(Thought) So that's why he fell. Then I guess the only thing to do is team up with him and taken down the Raven.

Shears

It's not like I'm teaming up with you or anything.

Player

?!

Shears

But now's not the time to be saying stuff like that. Let's go.

Player

Tossing a comrade down here in a reactor that's going to collapse – that's disgusting!

Shears

The Ravens are disposable.

Player

Disposable?! That's horrible!

Player

(Thought) He's dropped something. What is it? A materia?

Player

This is an unusual materia. There's a crystal shaped like a pyramid inside it.

Player

Oh!

Shears

That's the materia I found. It's none of your business.

Player

(Thought) There's more of them.

Player

The Vice President has betrayed us, Shears and the Ravens have been tossed down here like pawns… what the hell is Elfé thinking?!

Shears

Elfé's being used by Fuhito.

Player

So Fuhito's behind all of this?

Shears

His real goal is to destroy life – to return every living thing to the Planet so that it can live but a little longer.

Player

That's just sick. Is that even possible?!

Shears

Seems like. If he uses Elfé's materia, that is.

Player

Elfé's materia?!

Shears

Yeah. There's a materia embedded into the back of her hand.

Player

It looks like things have quieted down for now.

Player

Are you all right?!

Shears

Hmph. Nothing you need to worry about.

Player

Tell me. What's this about a materia in the back of Elfé's hand?

Shears

That's the materia I dropped back there. There was one just like it in Elfé's hand.

Player

Now that you mention it, there was this glow coming from her hand, and none of my attacks would work on her.

Shears

I don't know about that, but Fuhito's planning to use that materia to destroy all life on the Planet.

Player

But nothing's happened yet.

Shears

It seems like he can't carry out his plan yet. He's looking for a way to do it.

Player

We can't let it happen.

Shears

No shit. Something bad might happen to Elfé if Fuhito succeeds.

Player

She collapsed back there, didn't she.

Shears

She's been sluggish up to now. That lethargy isn't normal. Fuhito's changed, too.

Player

Yes. He betrayed you.

Shears

Yeah.

Shears

The only thing I want to do now is protect Elfé from Fuhito.

Player

And to do that we need to get out of here, and fast. Here, take my shoulder.

Shears

You…

Player

I want to save Elfé, too. She's Veld's daughter. Besides, things could get ugly if we just leave Fuhito to his own devices.

Shears

……

Player

I've heard of something before, about materia you can link together to achieve some effect. (3)

Shears

Then this (materia) might come in handy some day.

Player

Yeah. Now let's go.

[End of Episode 17.2]

Shears

Why do you work for the Shin-Ra? You must know about the dirty work the Turks do, away from the public eye.

Player

……

Shears

My parents were killed by the Shin-Ra. My hate for the Shin-Ra carried me through. I was picked up by a gang of thieves who raised me.

[VOICEOVER/FLASHBACK: (4) But I held on to my grudge against the Shin-Ra, unable to let it go. I turned to violence as a way to deal with my feelings. Before I knew it, I was the leader of a 100 strong group of thugs.

Bandit

They'll be transporting a huge load of cash over that route we talked about.

Shears

All right. Move out!

Bandit

Yeah!

A day didn't go by when we didn't go after some big mark. It was as if I was trying to find something big enough to bury the hole in my heart.

Back then, the pain of my fists when I got into a fight was the only thing that convinced me that I was still alive. 

That was when Elfé appeared.

Bandit

Hold it! Nobody gets past here.

Bandit

If you value your life, leave all yer money here.

Fuhito

Hm. Robbers.

Elfé

I refuse.

Bandit

Then die!

Bandit

D-Damn, they're strong…

Shears

You've got some big cahones, taking out my men like that.

Shears

We own all the game here. We always get our mark. So, sorry, but you're going to be leaving your money right here.

Elfé

Pitiful.

Shears

!!

I didn't see her swing her sword down.

Elfé

Let me ask you one thing. Why are you doing this?

Shears

What else is there for me to do? Shin-Ra took all my other options away from me.

Elfé

I am Elfé. My companion and I are working to bring down the Shin-Ra. What's your name?

Shears

Shears.

Elfé

Come with us, Shears. Let's take down the Shin-Ra together. We could use a man of your talents. We'll wait as long as we have to for your answer.

Elfé provided me with a new path.]

Shears

That's when I decided: I swore to myself that day that I would stand by Elfé, and continue to do so.

Player

!!

The place's really starting to come down.

Shears

We've got to hurry.

Shears

*Moans*

Player

Huh? Are you okay? Wait here. I'll scout ahead.

Player

Steam?! If we try to go through this, we'll get burned. We can't go through this way so long as it's spewing out like this.

Player

(Thought) There's a valve over there. If I break it, the steam should stop. Then Shears'll be able to get through.

Player

Just wait a little more.

Shears

Sorry. I'm holding you back.

Player

All right, it's stopped. Now to get back to Shears.

Player

Sorry about the wait. We should be able to go through now.

Player

Ugh. So there were still some of them left.

Raven

Heh heh heh.

Player

Shears! Don't be a hero.

Shears

I know.

Player

Another one?!

Raven

Heh heh heh.

Player

(Thought) There's no telling when the structure will collapse. We've got to get out of here fast.

Player

Just how many of them are down here?!

Raven

Heh heh heh.

Player

!! (Thought) That was a girder. Shears can't fight in his condition. I have to break the girder and get to the other side.

Shears

The place's starting to go.

Player

Hurry!!

[End of Episode 17.3]

Shears

The passages have crumbled too. There's no time left. The exit's just over there. Forget about me.

Player

We're almost there. We're going to make it.

Shears

No we're not. If you stay with me, we're both going to lose the chance to get out of here.

Player

You're going to save Elfé, aren't you?!

Shears

Look at me. The odds that I'll be able to get out of here are slim. Stop Fuhito. Save Elfé.

Player

No.

Shears

What?!

Player

No matter what we have to do, a Turk always carries out her mission successfully!

Player

Run with everything you've got!

Player

Shears! Stop!!

Player

Shears! Behind you!

Player

!! Get a grip!

Player

You'll be all right! The exit's just there.

Shears

A direct hit?! Oi, you okay?!

Player

(Moaning) Ooooh…

Player

I'm fine… let's hurry…

Player

The floor?! Ugh.

Shears

So this is it. And we're so close to the door!

Shears

Ugh. (Thought) There's no time.

Shears

Rosalind! Don't give up!!

Player

?!

Shears

Take care of Elfé!!

Shears

I'll do anything to save her. Maybe I could have been a Turk… (5)

Tseng

Sir. I've just returned from Corel.

President Shinra

You've done well with Rufus (6). How is he?

Tseng

We're holding him in the hidden room in the Turks offices.

President

Have you taken care of all the equipment in that room?

Tseng

There's nothing to worry about, sir. We've remodeled the room especially for the Vice President.

President Shinra

Good. The only people who know about Rufus's connections with AVALANCHE and his current confinement are myself and the Turks. Not even the executive shall know about this.

Tseng

Yes, sir.

President Shinra

He's impetuous, that boy. He was going to inherit my place someday anyway… Keep a round the clock watch on him. Make sure he doesn't pull any more stupid stunts.

Tseng

Yes, sir.

President Shinra

Do you have anything else to report?

Tseng

A casualty. Rosalind's gone unconscious. She won't wake up.

Tseng

It looks as if she's taken a powerful blow. When she fell into the depths of the reactor, she was exposed long term to trace amounts of mako. What will happen to her as a result of her accident depends on her hardiness. At any rate, we can't guess what will happen.

President Shinra

Link up with the Turks secondary division.

Tseng

?! The secondary division?!

President Shinra

There are no other options. Unless you can find other replacements, they'll have to fill in the gap.

Tseng

Yes, sir.

President Shinra

Is there anything else?

Tseng

……

President Shinra

I've had a report from Rufus.

Tseng

……

President Shinra

Veld has disappeared.

Tseng

Y-Yes he has…

President Shinra

From now on, you will be in charge of the Turks. Don't forget: The Turks are entrusted with this company's top classified information. The only kind of retirement a Turk is entitled to comes with a body bag.

Tseng

……

President Shinra

Therefore I am giving the Turks new orders. Find Veld! And when you do, kill him!!

Tseng

Yes, sir…

President Shinra

He knows holds too much of the company's sensitive data in his head.

Tseng

Yes, sir…

President Shinra

Those are your new orders. Don't disappoint me.

Tseng

(Thought) Kill Commander Veld?! What in the world should I do…?

To be continued…