December 23

[It’s night again. You, Reno and Rude have just finished your work shifts.]

Reno

Looks like we’re done for today.

Player

(Thought) I should have done that back then. I’ll try doing it tomorrow…

Reno

Rude, let’s go home.

Rude

Sorry. I’ve got something to do.

Reno

Oh… I’ll see you tomorrow, then.

 

Player

Goodnight.

Rude

Yeah. See you…

[Rude dashes off, leaving you and Reno alone together.]

Reno

Rosalind.

Player

Y-yes?

Reno

I sent you out yesterday, didn’t I? So let’s hear it.

Player

Um…

Reno

What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you didn’t find anything. You’re a Turk, aren’t you?

Player

He was meeting with his girlfriend.

Reno

What?! That’s news to me. All right, we’re going to go over there right now!

Player

Let’s just drop it, already…

[Reno dashes off again. The PHS rings.]

Player

(Thought) That’s probably Reno.

Veld

It’s me.

Player

Veld, sir.

Veld

There have been reports of a massive outbreak of monsters in Sector 8. You’re the closest to that area. I want you to get over there and eliminate all the monsters.

Player

Yes, sir. (Thought) It’d be nice if Reno doesn’t do something to get himself into trouble…

[In Sector 8. You hear a scream.]

???

Help me!

[A woman in a blue dress is backing away from something. It’s a translucent insect that looks vaguely like a praying mantis.]

Blue Dress Woman

Please, help me.

Player

I’ll take care of it. Get away from here.

Blue Dress Woman

Thanks so much. If I could at least get your name…

Player

It’s not important. It’s my job to help people in trouble.

Blue Dress Woman

I guess you’re pretty strong.

[FIGHT: Kimara Bug [x1]]

Player

(Thought) Whew. That was close. The idea of these things breeding and overrunning the city gives me the creeps.

[You come to a stop in front of the manhole the Kimara Bug came out of.]

Player

(Thought) The monster came out of here. I’ve got to eliminate them before they multiply.

[You are in the sewers. It is pitch black inside. You make a call to Veld on your PHS.]

Player

Sir, I’m in the sewers. It looks as though the monsters are coming from here.

Veld

Find where they’re coming from as quickly as you can and destroy the nest.

Player

It’s dark in here – I can’t see a thing.

Veld

Find the breaker switch first. If you follow the arrows, you’ll find the switch.

Player

Yes, sir.

[There are arrows on the screen that will pop up to guide your way. Follow them to the power breaker.]

Player

(Thought) I found it! This must be the breaker.

[You pull down the lever to turn on the lights. In that same instant, in another part of the sewers, a hole opens up in the ground, and an overgrown insect – this one with a brown carapace and green underbelly crawls out. You must head in the direction of that insect. Along the way, you may have to fight smaller versions of the Kimara Bug.]

[FIGHT: Kimara Bug (Adult) [x1]

Player

?! (Thought) It’s huge… Stay calm; I should be able to take care of it.

After the battle, your PHS goes off.]

Veld

What’s your situation, Rosalind?

Player

I’ve run into a pretty big monster down here. It looks like a praying mantis. On top of that, normal weapons won’t work on it.

Veld

A praying mantis… This is going to be a pain…

Player

Do you know what they are?

 

Veld

They’re Kimara Bugs. They’ve got tough shells that protect them from most forms of attack.

Player

Isn’t there any way I can destroy them?

Veld

They only have one weakness, and that’s water. If you’ve got Water based Materia, you should be able to get past their defences.

Player

Water based Materia…

Veld

Rosalind, return to headquarters for now. Get what you need, and then go back.

Player

Yes, sir.

[The scene switches back to Sector 8. Rude enters the bar, followed closely by Reno, who ducks behind the very same plant you hid behind last night. Chelsea is seated at the bar, apparently waiting for Rude.]

Reno

(Thought) Whew. That was cutting it close.

Rude

Were you waiting long?

Chelsea

No, not at all. I just came myself.

Rude

……

Chelsea

What’s wrong, Rude? You’re acting strangely today.

Rude

Chelsea…

Chelsea

Hm?

Rude

You don’t… have to lie to me.

Chelsea

What’s this all of a sudden?

Rude

……

Chelsea

……I… got here half an hour ago. I won’t lie to you, Rude.

Rude

Whatever happens… my feelings for you won’t change.

Chelsea

Rude…

Rude

……

Barkeep

The usual, Rude?

 

Rude

No. Get me something stiff.

Barkeep

Coming right up.

2  hours later

[Rude stands up.]

Chelsea

Wait, Rude. Where are you going?

Rude

………the bathroom.

[Rude dashes into the men’s room.]

Reno

(Thought) Oh come on! What’s Rude doing? It’s no good. He’s getting shy again.

[Just then, Chelsea notices something on the bar countertop.]

Chelsea

! (Thought) Rude’s PHS.

[She stands up and makes to pick up the phone.]

Reno

(Thought) What’s this? What’s she doing?

Chelsea

(Thought) No… I can’t do this.

Reno

?! (Thought) What’s she trying to do to Rude’s phone? That woman… there’s something not right about her.

[Chelsea suddenly bolts for her seat. A second later, Rude comes out of the men’s room.]

Rude

What’s wrong?

Chelsea

It’s nothing…

Rude

Hey, Chelsea. ……tomorrow… let’s go see… the tree light up.

Chelsea

The one at the western park, right? It’ll be so much prettier seeing it with you than it would be seeing it alone…

Rude

……I…have something I want to tell you there.

Chelsea

Oh? I wonder what it could be. Ooh, this is really getting to me. Tell me now.

Rude

No… tomorrow.

[Chelsea gets up.]

Rude

What’s wrong?

Chelsea

I’ve got to get going now…

Rude

You’re going already?

Chelsea

I’m sorry. You stay here and enjoy your drink.

Rude

Yeah. Tomorrow under the tree. I’ll be waiting.

Chelsea

Of course. Then, tomorrow. I’m looking forward to it.

[Chelsea walks to the bar entrance. Just before she exits, she turns back to look at Rude. She does not notice Reno hiding behind the plant.]

Reno

(Thought) That woman… What was she trying to do back there? Looks like I’m going to have to find out.

[He dashes outside the bar and trails Chelsea. She stops. Reno takes cover behind an apartment building.]

Chelsea

……this is it. (Thought) I can’t go on fooling him…

Reno

……

[Chelsea turns right and heads into the sewer after making sure she isn’t being followed. Reno… follows her. :p

Underground, Reno ducks behind a wall when he spots Chelsea. She is speaking to someone, a man.]

Reno

?! (Thought) AVALANCHE?! Why…? Why is she talking to someone from AVALANCHE?

AVALANCHE

Chelsea. You weren’t seen, were you?

Chelsea

Of course not. I don’t make mistakes like that.

AVALANCHE

Did you set up the wiretap?

Reno

(Thought) Wiretap?!

Chelsea

No. He kept it on him the whole time. I didn’t have a chance to do it.

……but I’ll do it tomorrow, no matter what.

AVALANCHE

Hurry it up, will you?

Reno

(Thought) That woman… She’s an AVALANCHE spy?! But she definitely had a chance to tap Rude’s phone. Maybe she didn’t do it because she likes him? Maybe she didn’t tap Rude’s phone on purpose? What is she after?

……Rude, you’ve gone and fallen for trouble.

[End of Chapter 6.2. At this point, you may save, or move onto the next chapter.]

December 24

[Once again, you are at the end of your work shift. Reno speaks up, as usual.]

Reno

Looks like the end of another day.

Player

(Thought) Maybe it would have been better to try what that. I’ll try it tomorrow…

Reno

Let’s go home, Rude.

Rude

Sorry. I’ve got something I need to do.

Reno

Oh yeah? Well, see you tomorrow, then.

Player

Good night.

Rude

Yeah. Tomorrow.

[Rude begins to leave, but Reno calls him back.]

Reno

Rude! Going to see that woman again?

Rude

……

Reno

I wouldn’t if I were you.

Rude

……

Reno

She –

Rude

I know.

Reno

?!

Rude

Don’t say another word.

Reno

Rude… You knew?

Rude

……sorry. I know what I’m doing.

Player

What was that about? Is there something wrong with Rude?

Reno

……it’s complicated. He’s got some issues right now, is all. (4)

[The phone rings, interrupting your conversation.]

Reno

(Thought) What now?

Veld

It’s me. The monsters [in Sector 8] are back again. They keep breeding because their nest hasn’t been destroyed. As long as that’s still around, the monsters will keep coming. Go and destroy it.

Reno

…...right. We’ll head there immediately.

[Reno hangs up.]

Reno

Rosalind, we’ve got orders. I’m worried about Rude. Let’s get this over with as fast as we can.

Player

Right.

[In the sewers. You and Reno duck behind a corner just in time – a Kimara bug comes crawling along. It passes the both of you and heads back into a hole in the ground.]

Reno

What the hell is that?

Player

It looks like a Kimara bug to me. I think the nest might be down there.

Reno

Well, I guess we’re going in, then. Down the hatch!

Player

Right. Let’s hurry.

[In a sub-level of the sewer.]

Reno

You go first.

Player

Okay.

[You’re given control again. You have to navigate the tunnels under the sewers and find the Kimara bug nest. You will run into random battles here with the smaller versions of the Kimara bugs. Not to worry – the smaller ones can be attacked using normal means, and you have Reno with you in battle, so this shouldn’t be too hard to do. Three chambers in, you should spot the nest.]

Player

! That’s the nest! We’ve got to destroy it.

[Two smaller bugs come crawling out to protect the nest.

FIGHT: Kimara Bug [x2]]

Player

Here we go!

[You smash the nest.]

Player

Looks like there’s a hole leading down here, too.

Reno

Then we go down.

Player

Yeah. Let’s go.

[In the next set of tunnels, you come to a split path. One that leads straight ahead, one that leads right.]

Player

A fork in the road.

Reno

We’ll split up. I’ll take the right.

Player

Then I’ll go straight.

[Reno sets off.]

Player

(Thought) I can do this. This is just another job.

[You’re given freedom to move about the tunnels again. You’ll run into random battles with bugs along the way. Eventually, you’ll find another bug nest.]

Player

(Thought) There it is! This is the second nest. (Out loud) I’ve got to destroy this thing.

[Two bugs crawl out from the nest.

FIGHT: Kimara Bug [x2]]

Player

Here… goes!

[You smash the nest apart. Just then, Reno comes running in from a passage on the left.]

Reno

Oi, Rosalind! Looks like these passages connect together.

Player

I’ve destroyed the nest.

Reno

Another hole…

Player

Let’s go.

Reno

Yeah.

[At the end of the tunnels straight ahead, you see another nest, with an adult Kimara Bug guarding it.]

Reno

Looks like the mother mantis there. I’m guessing that’s the main nest.

Player

Let’s hurry this up.

[Two Kimara bugs intercept you.]

Player

! That’s not going to work!

Reno

Hey, Rosalind. We’ve got to take care of these guys first.

Player

Yeah. I’ll take care of them.

[FIGHT: Kimara Bug [x1] Reno is taking care of the other one.]

Reno

Come on, hurry up. We’re moving on.

Player

I know that.

[A little further ahead, two more Kimara bugs get in your way.]

Reno

They just keep coming… We’ve got to destroy that nest quickly.

Player

Yes, we do. But we’ve got to take care of these ones first, remember?

Reno

(Sighs) This is annoying. Hey, Rosalind, can you deal with this?

Player

I can take of it.

Reno

All right, then.

[FIGHT: Kimara Bug [x2] You are still fighting with Reno, so I don’t know why he made out as if you’re fighting them alone this time.]

Reno

It’s about time.

Player

Yeah.

Reno

Be careful. That thing isn’t like other bugs.

Player

That’s for sure.

Reno

Go for it’s weak spot.

Player

Here we come!

Reno

This is the end!

[FIGHT: Kimara Bug [x1] Only water based attacks will work on this one. Any other attacks, physical or otherwise, will not.]

Reno

All right. Looks like we’re done here.

Player

I’ll destroy the nest.

[Meanwhile Rude is standing by the tree in the Sector 8 western park. A woman in a blue dress passes by. It isn’t Chelsea. Time passes by…]

[End of Chapter 6.3. You may save here, or move onto the next chapter.]

December 24

[You are heading home after your assignment down in the sewers. On the way, you spot Chelsea walking down the street.]

Player

(Thought) That person?! That’s Rude’s girlfriend… But she’s heading for a dead end. I wonder what’s going on.

[You follow her. You turn the corner at the end of the road. Chelsea is nowhere in sight. But a manhole cover lies open…]

Player

She’s gone?! Could she have gone underground?

[In the sewers.]

Player

(Thought) I hear voices. That way.

[You run into a chamber and stop. Taking cover, you watch the scene unfold. Chelsea is standing in the middle of three AVALANCHE operatives.]

AVALANCHE 

How long do we have to wait for you to get us any information?

Chelsea

……I…can’t do this anymore. I want to quit.

AVALANCHE

What?! What are you saying? You’re going to turn traitor?!

[AVALANCHE makes to attack her.]

Chelsea

What are you doing?! Stop!

[You dash in.]

Player

Stop that right now!  

AVALANCHE A

T-t-th-the T-T-Turks?!

AVALANCHE B

She was followed? Get rid of her!!

[FIGHT: AVALANCHE [x3]]

Player

You’re not hurt, are you? Why was AVALANCHE trying to hurt you?

Chelsea

Because I betrayed my comrades…

Player

Comrades? Then… that means… you’re… AVALANCHE?

Chelsea

……yes.

Player
What?! But you’re Rude’s girlfriend, aren’t you?!

[Chelsea narrates in a flashback. We see various scenes: Chelsea approaching Rude, walking with him, spending time with him at the bar.

Chelsea

At first, I got close to him as part of my orders. But the more time I spent with him, the more I came to realize… I really loved him. But we’re enemies…]

Chelsea

I… was supposed to meet Rude today under the tree. But I won’t go.

Rosalind

……

Chelsea

AVALANCHE and the Turks are enemies. We can’t be together. Say, can you do me a favour? Tell Rude…

[The scene shifts to Rude waiting by the tree. Chelsea is still speaking.]

…when I’m reborn, I’d like to meet him again.

[Chelsea begins to walk away. You run after her.]

Player

Wait!

Chelsea

Please. Go to him quickly. He’s not good with the cold.

[Chelsea leaves.]

Player

(To herself) This isn’t fair. Why does this have to happen…?

[Outside, it’s snowing. You run for the park and find Rude waiting in the same place Chelsea said he would be in.]

Rude

Rosalind… what is it?

Player

Chelsea wanted me to tell you that she… won’t be coming today.

Rude

Oh…

Player

She said that you and she…

……

Rude

……“can’t be together”, right?

Player

…...

Aren’t you going to go after her?

Rude

……

That’s what she said.

Player

And you’re okay with that?

Rude

Yeah…

[He begins to walk away.]

Player

Rude!

Rude

……

[Reno dashes into the park and comes to a stop in front of Rude.]

Reno

Oi! What’s wrong? You don’t look so good. You sentimentalist.

Rude

……shut up.

Reno

Brrr, it’s cold out here! What the hell are we doing out on a cold and snowy night like this?

Rude

……yeah.

Reno

Let’s go home. Back to headquarters.

[Rude and Reno walk off. You start to follow them, but stop to gaze at the tree, before you too, follow them back home.]

Several days later…

[In the executive conference room at Shin-Ra headquarters.]

Reeve

Mr. President, the executive meeting is about to start.

President Shinra

Yes…

Rufus

Reeve. Have you got your damage report for the AVALANCHE attacks on Junon?

Reeve

Yes, sir. We’ve repaired the damage done to the Mako cannon and reset the security parameters. The damage to the city has been tallied; repairs are still underway, but we should be back up to full scale operation in a matter of days. The repair and recon teams are working around the clock to make it as quick as possible. We’ve sustained a lot of damage, but we’re doing what we can under the circumstances.

President Shinra

Why aren’t we doing anything to address the threat this organization poses to us? Veld! What are your Turks doing? You still haven’t given me anything useful.

Veld

With all due respect, sir, they’re already working at full capacity. As it is, I’ve already got them surveying AVALANCHE’s movements over everything else. (5)

President Shinra

Anyway, collect as much information as you can on them. Hire more Turks if you have to; I want this done, Veld.

Veld

Yes, sir. I’ve already started sending out scouts to look for new recruits, but please remember that SOLDIER is in charge of what happens on the front lines. If we’re going to move effectively, we’ll need to have their cooperation.

President Shinra

Hm.

Rufus

Father. No – President. It looks to me like our fight with AVALANCHE isn’t going well.

President Shinra

I don’t see why that should matter to you – you’re leaving, remember? (6)

Rufus

I’m the Vice President of this company. Of course it matters to me.

President Shinra

Well, that’s true, but…

Rufus

There’s something that’s been bothering me. How is it that AVALANCHE knows exactly where the Turks are going to be every single time? They’re getting their information from somewhere… or someone. Well, Veld?

Veld

……we’ll look into it.

Rufus

If this is the way things work around here, it’s no wonder AVALANCHE is getting the upper hand on us, President.

President Shinra

(Splutters) Do you have a problem with the way I’m running my company?

Rufus

I’m not saying that. I’m just saying you should move with caution.

President Shinra

Veld! Get to work! I want to see results, and I want to see them soon!

Veld

Yes, sir.

[You, Rude and Reno are on your way back to headquarters when the PHS rings. It’s Veld.]

Veld

We’re upping the game plan. We’re going to need more manpower to gather data on AVALANCHE. I’m sending you all out on orders. Reno, Rude, you’re going to target Fuhito’s special corps. (7)

Rude

Yes, sir.

Reno

Roger that.

Veld

Rosalind, you’ll be heading out with St. Andrew, Rafe and Samantha to gather general information. (8) I’ll be splitting you into two teams of two.

Player

Understood.

Veld

We’re also hiring new Turks. I’ll be sending them out act as your support as soon as possible.

Rude

New Turks…

Reno

I’m looking forward to it.

Veld

Move out!

Player

Yes, sir!

[You all split up and go your separate ways.]

To be continued…