Filed Under: Final Fantasy VII: Before Crisis

[Icicle. Shin-Ra soldiers disembark from carrier vehicles.]

Soldier

All right men, listen up! From here we’re going to move out to the AVALANCHE base. Let me make this simple for you. This is a search and destroy mission.

[The scene changes. Soldiers stand on the snow fields, all in rank and file. You arrive on the scene with Essai and Sebastian.]

Essai

Everyone’s here?

Sebastian

Looks like. A lot of men for this one, huh?

Essai

The President’s dead serious about this mission, from the looks of things here.

Sebastian

Well, with everybody here, this shouldn’t take too long.

Essai

We’re going to destroy that base, no matter what.

Player

Um… What about that SOLDIER that’s been sent out here?

Sebastian

Don’t worry about him.

Essai

He’s probably here already.

[A loud noise breaks the tense air.]

Voice

Gaaahgghahaaaaa –zzzZZZZZzzz…. Gaaaaaahghghaaaaaa – ZzzzzzzzzZZZ…

Player

! What is that noise?

[The screen pans right to a truck parked a few feet away.]

Voice

Gaaaaaghhhhaaaa-zzzZZZzzz… Ggggaaaahhhhhhaaaahahahaaaaa… Zzzzzzzzz.

Essai

Hey. Wake up. How long are you planning on sleeping anyway?

???

Uhn? Whoa! I overslept.

[A young man in a SOLDIER 1^st uniform hops out of the back of the truck, carrying a large sword over his shoulder.]

Essai

It’s been a while.

???

Essai! Long time no see.

Essai

How was your nap?

???

It was all right. You guys were late. I got so bored waiting I fell asleep.

[The young man runs around the truck and stops some feet away from Essai.]

???

Great! It looks like everyone’s finally here.

[The SOLDIER 1^st stands in front of the assembled troops. You turn to face him.]

Player

You’re the SOLDIER that Headquarters sent out?

???

Yeah. I’m Zack. And… what’s your name?

Player

Rosalind, from the Turks. Nice to meet you.

Zack

Rosalind, eh? Good to meet you!

Essai

If Zack’s here with us, it’s smooth sailing from here. This battle is going to be a piece of cake.

Zack

That’s not true, Essai. It’s not me or any of us that’s going to win this battle. It’s because of everyone here – we’re all going to work together for this victory. (1)

Essai

Sounds like something you’d say.

Zack

We’re all going to come back here alive, right guys?

Sebastian

Heh. You got it! After all, there are 3 of us [SOLDIERs] here.

Zack

All right. Everyone get in the trucks!

[Everyone moves out. Sebastian lingers behind.]

Sebastian

So? What do you think?

Player

Are you sure he’s a SOLDIER?

Sebastian

He’s a SOLDIER through and through. You’ll see, once you’ve spent some time with him. (2)

[You get in one of the trucks. You’re driving along for a while when you come to a wooden bridge.]

Sebastian

A bridge, huh. It looks pretty old.

Essai

We won’t be able to drive both trucks over that.

Player

If we go one truck at a time, it should be fine.

Soldier

Whoa! It’s a monster!

Player

A monster?!

[A Guard Hound is ramming itself against one of the trucks.]

Player

I’ll take care of it.

Essai

I’ll help.

[Essai leaps out of the truck and takes the Guard Hound down before you even get a chance to get close.]

Zack

Rosalind, thanks!

Player

Go on ahead.

Zack

Right. Essai, stay with Rosalind until the second truck crosses the bridge.

Essai

Gotcha.

Zack

Sebastian, start leading the trucks over the bridge.

Sebastian

Leave it to me.

[The first truck begins making its way across the bridge. In the meantime, you’ll have to stop the Guard Hounds from interfering with the crossing. They’ll come at you in groups of one or two. You can choose to merely block them, or fight them. If you choose to battle, Essai will be with you, so there’s no need to worry too much.]

Zack

The first truck’s almost over the bridge. All right, send the second one across!

[Once the second truck starts crossing, you and Essai run across the bridge. Halfway across, you stop.]

Player

Over there!

[Several Guard Hounds are running across the bridge.]

Zack

Rosalind! Keep them distracted. I’m coming over there!

[You run out to face to the Guard Hounds.

FIGHT: Guard Hound [x3]]

Zack

The second truck’s almost across. Rosalind, pull back. Get over here quickly.

Player

Right.

[You’ve only run a few feet when the bridge shakes. You steady yourself.]

Zack

Looks like it’s going to collapse. And – damn! Rosalind, behind you!

[Two more Guard Hounds are running full tilt across the bridge. On the other side, Zack is running in your direction.]

Zack

Come on, let me make it!

[The bridge collapses just as Zack reaches you.]

Player

(Screaming) Kyyyaaaaaaaaaaahh!

[End of Chapter 8.1.]

Zack

Rosalind!

[He kneels in front of you.]

Zack

Hey, come on! Get up.

Player

Unnnggh…

[You start to get up.]

Zack

Are you all right?

Player

I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.

Zack

Whew. That’s a relief. I thought you were a goner for a second there. It’s a good thing you’re tough.

Player

I’m sorry I’ve made you worry. It looks we’ve been separated from the others.

Zack

Well, it’ll all work out. Let’s catch up with them.

[Zack ducks into a cave opening. Inside, everything is icy, including the cave walls and the ground. He comes to a stop and turns around, checking out the surrounding area.]

Zack

Wow. This is really something.

Player

Everything’s sparkly and pretty.

Zack

Let’s go.

[He runs across the path. As he does, a number of oversized icicles become dislodged from the cave ceiling and come crashing down.]

Zack

Icicles! Rosalind, watch your step!

[He manages to cross to the other side, unscathed. Now you have to follow him. Watch out for falling icicles!]

Zack

Be careful when you’re coming across.

[You join up with Zack again.]

Zack

It sure is fun out here in snow country.

Player

It sure is!

Zack

It looks like this isn’t going to be a normal stroll, huh? This is great! Icicles falling all over the place, and I get to spend some time in these caves with a pretty girl like you.

Player

T-t-t- I’m not, really.

Zack

Of course you are. All right. Let’s keep moving!

[Some time later, you come enter a wide, icy plain within the cave. Zack stops and stands still. He is strangely silent.]

Zack

……

Player

What’s wrong? You’re very quiet all of a sudden.

Zack

Something’s here… Can’t you feel it? This sense I’m getting…

[Shortly after he finishes speaking, a trio of Guard Hounds enter your field of vision. They come to a stop several feet away from you.]

Zack

Be careful.

Player

It’s only three of them. I can take care of them.

Zack

Oh yeah? All right, go for it.

[FIGHT: Guard Hound [x3]]

Zack

That was great! Just what I would have expected from a Turk. But… What is the Turks do, anyway?

Player

Oh, all sorts of things. Most of the things we do are confidential, though.

Zack

Huh. Say, do you like it in the Turks?

Player

There isn’t a day when something interesting doesn’t happen.

Zack

Is that so…Well, if that’s true, maybe I should sign myself up.

Player

That would be great.

[Some time later. You’re still in the icicle caves.]

Zack

What’s wrong? Are you getting tired already?

Player

I’m still good.

Zack

All right! Then we’re going.

[Several minutes later, you come to another narrow path. There are icicles hanging overhead. The path is so narrow that you will have to cross over one at a time.]

Zack

Whoa! Look at those icicles! Okay!

Player

Zack! Wait a sec –

[He runs across. None of the icicles have fallen.]

Zack

Don’t worry about it. Look, nothing happened to me right?

[Now it’s your turn to cross. You should only be as lucky as Zack. You will have to dodge icicles as you cross. You will lose HP for every time you get hit by one of them.]

Zack

This is great, isn’t it?

Player

That was too close. Let’s keep moving.

Zack

We don’t really have to rush, you know. Essai and Sebastian have got everything under control. They’re good guys, and they’re strong besides. For all I know, the battle could be over by now.

Player

You seem to get along with them very well. You’re friends?

Zack

I worked with them once before.

Player

You only worked with them once?

Zack

That’s all the time you need, isn’t it? To become friends with someone, I mean.

[You both move on. Still some time later in the caves…]

Zack

We’re almost there. Don’t let your guard down.

[Four Guard Hounds surround you.]

Zack

Oh, they’re here they’re here they’re here! All right, Rosalind. Let’s do this – but gently, you understand?

Player

Yes!

Zack

You deal with those two.

[FIGHT: Guard Hound [x2]

You catch up with Zack, who has lead the Guard Hounds to another part of the cave. The Guard Hounds have him backed against a wall.]

Player

Zack?! Watch out!!

[You ready your weapon just as the Guard Hounds are about to leap on Zack.]

Zack

WAIT!!

[Startled, the Guard Hounds back off.]

Player

(Thought) That was impressive. That was some shout.

[Zack kneels in front of the Guard Hounds.]

Zack

Go back to your home, all right?

[The Hounds obediently trot off.]

Player

Why didn’t you just kill them?

Zack

There’s no need. I’m not going to kill anybody if I don’t have to, that’s all. Oh, hey. Everybody’s waiting for us. Let’s go!

Player

Yeah. Just a little further.

[Soon you come to the exit of the cave.]

Zack

All right, the exit!!

Player

Whew. We can get out of here, finally.

[Meanwhile, the trucks have been driving along to their destination. A fallen tree is blocking the road ahead, and they are forced to stop.]

Sebastian

A tree’s blocking the path!

Essai

We can’t get over that.

[Essai and Sebastian get out of the trucks and examine the tree.]

Sebastian

I guess we’ve got no other choice but to walk from here.

Essai

All right! Everybody out of the trucks.

[As the soldiers get off, AVALANCHE operatives leap out from behind a hidden area.]

Sebastian

What! AVALANCHE?

[More AVALANCHE operatives leap out, surrounding Essai and Sebastian. Suddenly, everything goes dark. A large sound, followed by screaming fills the air.]

Sebastian

What?!

[A red flash of light.]

Soldiers

Aaaaaggghh!!!

Essai

Everyone!!

Sebastian

An ambush?!

Essai

W-who are you?!

[End of Chapter 8.2]

[The light fades, and we see an alarming scene. The regular soldiers have all been dispatched and lie on the ground, unconscious. A Raven faces off against Essai and Sebastian.]

Kainyuu

Heh heh heh.

Sebastian

You again!! You’ve sure got guts, coming here by yourself!

Essai

Sebastian, calm down. You know how strong this guy is, right?

Sebastian

Of course I do. Essai!! Let’s go!

[They both attack Kainyuu at the same time. Kainyuu dispatches them both. On the other side of the fallen tree, Fuhito has been watching.]

Fuhito

Kainyuu, bring them with you.

Kainyuu

Yes.

Fuhito

Hmm? There are only two of them. There are supposed to be three. Well, it doesn’t matter. Fufufu.

[The scene changes. Fuhito and Kainyuu are inside the capsule room in the AVALANCHE base. Essai and Sebastian, still unconscious, are sprawled out on the floor.]

Fuhito

Kainyuu, I would like you to put these two into the capsules.

Kainyuu

Yes.

Fuhito

Fufufu. With this, we can lure that last SOLDIER here.

[Back at the scene of the ambush. You and Zack have just arrived.]

Zack

What the hell?

Player

Are you all right? What happened here?

Soldier

Ugh… Black AVALANCHE… they got us…

Player

The Ravens again…

Zack

Where are Essai and Sebastian?

Soldier

AVALANCHE… they were taken…

Zack

Damn it.

Player

Zack!! What are you doing?

Zack

It should be obvious. I’m going after them. I’m getting them back!

Player

Zack!!

[You take out your PHS.]

Player

Sir, I have an update. The soldiers here have all been incapacitated.

Veld

What?! What about SOLDIER?

Player

The Ravens abducted them, it seems.

Veld

They were kidnapped again…? (Thought) I thought this might happen. Is someone leaking information? That’s not possible, only the executive knew anything about this mission.

Player

Sebastian and Essai were abducted. Zack went after them.

Veld

Rosalind, head out there with Zack.

Player

Yes, sir.

[Inside the AVALANCHE compound.]

Player

Sir, I’ve made it inside.

Veld

Your status?

Player

Everything is quiet.

Veld

(Thought) They were put somewhere, maybe? (Out loud) Rosalind, go back to the capsule room. It’s likely that you’ll find the SOLDIERs in there.

Player

Yes, sir.

[You are free to move on your own now. There are Grand Horns on guard in the compound. You can avoid them, unless you get caught in a dead end. Then you will be forced to engage them. Once you find the capsule room…]

Player

There they are! That’s good. It looks like they’re both okay.

[You break them out of the capsules.]

Essai

Unngh…

Player

Essai! Sebastian! Come on, snap out of it. Are you all right?

[They stand up.]

Player

Wait a minute! It’s me!! What’s going on with you two?

Sebastian

Heh heh heh.

[FIGHT: Essai and Sebastian]

Player

What’s going on here? (Thought) What did they do to you…?

[Zack bursts in and comes between you and Essai and Sebastian.]

Zack

Rosalind!!

Player

Zack!!

Zack

I’ll take care of this!! What?! You guys?! Essai… Sebastian…?

[Essai and Sebastian catch Zack on either side. They have him in a lock, twisting his arms behind his back.]

Zack

Ugh…

Player

Zack!!

Zack

Stay back!! I’m all right.

Player

But…

Zack

Essai!!

Essai

Heh heh heh.

Zack

Sebastian!!

Sebastian

Heh heh heh.

 

Zack

You don’t recognize me…? It’s me… It’s Zack…

Player

Zack! Fight them!

Essai

Heh heh heh.

Player

It’s too late for them…

Sebastian

Heh heh heh…

Zack

Shut up!

Player

?!

Zack

I’m… happy…

Essai

……

Zack

You’re both…

Sebastian

……

Zack

Alive…

Player

!!

Zack

Essai! Sebastian!! Come on, try to remember!!

Essai

Ugh…

Sebastian

Ungh…

Zack

!!

[Essai and Sebstian crumple and let go of Zack. Zack falls onto his knees.]

Sebastian

Ugh…

Essai

Ungh…

 

Zack

Come on you guys?!

Sebastian

Zack…

Zack

What? What’s wrong…? Sebastian…

Sebastian

It’s been… fun…

Zack

We’re going to have lots more fun… there’s still so much more we’ve got to do…

Essai

Zack…

Zack

Essai. Come on, stand up.

Essai

I’m glad… I got to talk with you… one last time.

Zack

Don’t say that!

Sebastian

……

Essai

……

[Several quiet, heavy moments pass. A klaxon sounds then.]

Intercom

Self-destruct system activated. Self-destruct system activated.

Player

Self-destruct?! It was a trap?! That’s why there was nobody here…

Zack

……

Player

Zack! We need to get out of here!

Zack

……

Player

Zack!

Zack

Sorry, Rosalind… you go ahead.

Player

Zack!

Zack

I’m going to stay here a little longer.

Player

Zack…

……

I understand…

[End of Chapter 8.3]

[You are now in the corridors again. You glance back in the direction you came from.]

Player

Zack… (Thought) I’ll trust you.

[Back in the capsule room. Zack stands up.]

Zack

……

Come out, already. You’ve been there from the start, I know.

[Kainyuu steps out from his hiding place.]

Kainyuu

Heh heh heh.

Zack

It’s you. You did this to them.

Kainyuu

Death to the Shin-Ra.

Zack

Answer me!

Kainyuu

Death to the Shin-Ra.

Zack

...you’re just like them, aren’t you? You’ve lost all human consciousness, haven’t you?

Kainyuu

Death to the Shin-Ra.

Zack

That’s fine with me. Humans are one thing; monsters are a completely different story.

[Zack and Kainyuu face off. Zack slices into Kainyuu, who makes a burbling noise. He slumps to the floor.]

Zack

…… Essai. Sebastian.

……

[Zack leaves the room. The scene switches back to the corridors. You are in a T-section, and are faced with a decision.]

Player

There isn’t much time. I’ve got to hurry.

[A timer for 2 minutes will start. You must get out of the compound within that time limit, or it’s game over. You head right. Two Grand Horns meet you either side of the corridor.]

Player

I know I don’t have time, but… I don’t have any other choice.

[You prepare to fight. Just them, Zack appears and mows the Grand Horns down.]

Zack

What are you still doing here?

Player

Zack!!

Zack

Follow me.

Player

All right.

[You start running again. Watch out for Grand Horns, as usual, and keep an eye on the timer.

You turn and head south. Two Grand Horns notice you and start giving chase.]

Player

!! They’re coming from behind.

[You duck into a corner to give yourself a good vantage point. Zack’s voice comes from somewhere ahead of you.]

Zack

Watch your backs, here I come!

[He swings his buster sword and sends both of them crashing into the wall several feet away.]

Zack

That was almost too close. Don’t let your guard down.

[He runs ahead again. You finally come to the end of the line. A shutter is blocking the exit.]

Player

The exit! It’s shut tight!

[Three Grand Horns surround you.

FIGHT: Grand Horn [x3]

Once you have beaten the Grand Horns, the klaxons will shut off.]

Zack

Whew. You sure can fight.

Player

It wasn’t that hard. More importantly though, we’re shut in. This is the only way out.

Zack

What, you were worried about that? All right, stand back. I’ll take care of it.

[He takes a swing at the door.]

Zack

All right, we’re getting out of here. This is the last we’ll see of this place.

[You both get out of the compound just as it explodes.]

Zack

That was a close shave. We’re safe, though.

Player

We’re not in the clear yet. They knew we were coming. A lot of them got out before the building exploded.

Zack

……

Rosalind.

Player

Yes…?

Zack

Can you make it back to base by yourself?

Player

Where are you going?

Zack

I’m going to stay here a little longer. There’s something I want to do here.

Player

……all right.

[You turn to leave, then stop, turning to face Zack once more.]

Player

It’s really cold out here. Don’t stay out here too long, all right?

Zack

Thanks, Rosalind…

[End of Chapter 8.4]

[Zack is standing in front of a pair of crossed swords, sticking up in the snow.]

Zack

See you, guys. I’ll come back again.

Shinra HQ

Rufus

It looks like this mission was a failure too, President.

President Shinra

(Makes a noncommittal noise)

Rufus

SOLDIER members getting kidnapped without any resistance… soldiers dropping like flies. It’s all too clear now that someone’s leaking information.

Veld

…...

Rufus

Well, President? How are you going to deal with this?

President Shinra

That’s supposed to be Veld’s job.

Veld

......

President

Unfortunately, Veld, you are released from your duties as head of the Department of Administrative Research. You’re now relegated to a different department.

Veld

Yes, sir.

[All of the Turks are assembled in what looks like a lounge area in the Shin-Ra building. Veld comes outside, presumably having just left the meeting with the Shin-Ra executive.]

Player

Sir! Is it true that you’re leaving the Turks?

Tseng

Why are they dismissing you?! The outcome of the last mission had nothing to do with you!

Veld

……it’s what’s been decided by the executive. I have no choice but to obey.

Player

This is too much…

[Veld starts to leave, heading in the direction of the elevators. Tseng breaks away from the group.]

Tseng

Sir!! Wait! What’s going to happen to the Turks now?!

Veld

……you’re in charge now.

Player

Sir…

Tseng

Sir!!

[Veld turns around and walks away.]

To be continued…