21. Resolve to Reach the End
Corel Prison (01/10/07)
A woman is walking through a valley in the Corel Desert when she sees a number of Ravens run past. She is surprised to see any AVALANCHE operatives after four years and notices that something seems strange about them, like they have become zombies.
Meanwhile, Rufus informs Tseng that he has spotted AVALANCHE at Corel Prison on the real time surveillance equipment in his cell. They conclude that the only reason AVALANCHE would break into such a stronghold is because one of the Support Materia is there. Tseng sends the player Turk to retrieve the Materia.
The Turk activates their radar device to track the movements of the AVALANCHE operatives and let them lead the player to the Materia. Following the signal through the wastelands, the player soon discovers a young woman lying on the ground. Examining her, the player finds that she has many artificial body parts, deducing that she has heat stroke and will have to get some water and shade. Suddenly, a land worm bursts from the ground and attacks the Turk. Defeating the monster, the player carries the woman through the hole the land worm made and into the caves below, wary of the fact they had not seen a single AVALANCHE operative.
At Shinra Headquarters, Scarlet advises the President that she has located Verdot’s whereabouts. She tells her troops that they have orders and that they must accomplish their mission by any means necessary.
Meanwhile, the woman regains consciousness in the caverns under the desert. The player introduces themselves but the woman is hesitant to be helped by a Turk. The player searches the caves for a water pool and when she finds one, carries the water back to the woman. Leaving her to recover with the water, the Turk decides to continue with their mission. Using the radar device, they are able to follow a number of Ravens through the tunnels. The player comes to a large cavern to discover the Ravens have been killed by another land worm. Slaying the creature, they discover that it had the Support Materia.
The player Turk returns to the women, but is surprised when she acts ungrateful for their help. The woman says that she has something to do and walks off. The player chases her, telling her she won’t make it out of the caves in her condition. Together they exit the tunnels but find the desert engulfed in a sandstorm. They are accosted by Ravens trying to steal back the Materia but the Turk defeats them, noticing on the radar that a large number of AVALANCHE operatives are gathering nearby.
As they go to investigate, the woman asks the Turk if they know why AVALANCHE hate them so much. She introduces herself as Shalua and says that the Turks are responsible for tearing her family apart when they kidnapped her sister as a SOLDIER candidate. She says that she searched the world and fought countless battles against Shinra to find her sister, resulting in many wounds, and joined AVALANCHE to find out more about SOLDIER. The player explains that the AVALANCHE Shalua knew is gone, replaced now by Fuhito’s soldiers.
The two escape the storm and arrive at a ridge. Suddenly, they are surrounded by Ravens, but the operatives are mown down by rapid gun fire. The player is relieved as Verdot and Sears appear, and is surprised to learn Shalua and Sears are old acquaintances. Shalua is unimpressed that Sears is helping the Turks, but agrees to leave with him.
At Turk Headquarters, Rufus informs Tseng that Scarlet and her troops are closing in on Verdot in the Corel Desert, and that the player Turk is with him too. He says that if his father captures Verdot, he would use him as leverage against the Turks. Tseng concludes that President Shinra will kill Verdot no matter what happens and decides to fly out to Corel himself, even though there’s no way he would make it in time.
In the desert, Scarlet arrives with her troops and Shinra weapons. She unleashes the weapons on them, wounding the player. Verdot calls on Scarlet to stop the onslaught as it’s he she wants to kill. Scarlet cackles that her orders are to capture him. Leaving the player for dead, Scarlet and her troops take Verdot into custody. Tseng arrives at the scene a short while later. The player explains the situation and Tseng says that they have to save Verdot as it means saving themselves.
At Shinra Headquarters, the Shinra Executive unanimously agree to disband the Turks, leaving Scarlet in a position to assassinate them discretely. President Shinra secretly plans to use Verdot as leverage to get the Rufus back, and announces that Verdot is to be executed in four days time.
22. The Threat That Pierces the Heavens
Midgar (04/10/07)
With the date for Verdot’s execution at the hands of Shinra growing nearer, the Turks split into two teams; Tseng, Reno and Rude try to locate Verdot’s whereabouts while the others work to recapture the final Support Materia from Fuhito. At Turk Headquarters, Tseng tries desperately to access the Shinra mainframe and find the location that his mentor is being held, but is unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the other Turks and Sears are gathered at a bar in Wall Market discussing their next move. They decide to divide the Materia between themselves for safety. Elena, the younger sister of one of the Turks and barmaid for the premises, enters after leaving something behind at the end of her shift. Exiting the bar, she makes her way through the streets but spots a scuffle between some Shinra soldiers and Ravens. The Ravens drag the soldiers away, stealing their outfits. Seeing the uniforms again, Elena thinks the soldiers are okay but notices something is not quite right. She begins to follow the soldiers but soon gives up, unaware that she is being watched.
At the Turks Headquarters, Tseng is getting frustrated. Suddenly, someone accesses his terminal remotely and shows a surveillance feed on his monitor. The video shows Verdot in a cell and Tseng Reno and Rude realise that Rufus is showing them his location. Rufus says he will give them the location but at a price and will only negotiate the terms with Chief Tseng.
At the bar, the Turks decide to split up and search for Elfé. As the player goes to exit, Shinra troops arrive with security robots and unleash them on the Turk. Defeating them, the player gets out of the bar. Tseng calls to say he has found Verdot and is going to rescue him, giving them orders to secure an escape route. The player heads for the city gates, avoiding the security robots, but finds them heavily guarded by Shinra soldiers.
The player establishes that in order to get through the gates and checkpoints beyond, they must commandeer a Shinra truck. As they make their way through the Slums, Shinra soldiers pursue them. The Turk decides to take cover in a small shack, only to discover Elena inside. Elena allows the player to stay there for a while but reiterates her dislike of the Turks.
Meanwhile, Tseng, Reno and Rude arrive at the garbage disposal site, fighting through hoards of heavy-armoured security robots. Tseng calls the player Turk for a report. When they explain the situation, Tseng order them to steal a truck and they will use it to escape with Verdot. Going outside, taking care to evade the security robots, the player soon runs into a Shinra soldier. Knocking the soldier out, they steal his uniform. As they head towards the parking lot, the Turk sees a truck leaving and climbs aboard.
Passing through the security checkpoint, the truck makes it onto one of the Slums’ highways. In the back of the vehicle, the player notices a bag on the floor moving and making noises. Opening it, they are stunned to discover Elena tied up. Elena explains that the ones driving the trucks are anti-Shinra operatives in disguise and that she was kidnapped because she had saw them.
Suddenly, the truck stops and the Raven driving it gets out. The player runs outside and discovers another hijacked truck on the highway. They kill the operatives but more Ravens emerge from the other truck. While fending off the enemies, the trucks drive off with Elena still in the back. The player tries to call Tseng to inform him what has happened but gets no answer. Meanwhile, Tseng and the others have come up against too many security weapons. Reno and Rude have fallen and as the robots close in on him, Tseng recalls the day he caused the scar on Verdot’s face, and since then has sworn never to give up on his mission.
Using the memories of the day he learned his most important lesson as a Turk, Tseng summons a strength from somewhere within and blasts down the security robots with his gun. Helping Reno and Rude to their feet, he asks them if they can continue on. Together, they proceed through the garbage disposal site to rescue Verdot.
In the Slums, Sears continues to search for Elfé in the knowledge that Fuhito may have discovered a way to summon a complete and indestructible Zirconiade from the Materia in Elfé’s hand. Suddenly, he is shot at by a Mako gun and turns to see Fuhito. Fuhito threatens to hurt Elfé is Sears does not hand over his Support Materia. Sears does so, deciding that doing as Fuhito asks is his best option of saving her.
The AVALANCHE-driven truck arrives at the train station. As they force Elena aboard and through the carriages, she drops one of her academy badges on the floor. The player Turk, who has taken a shortcut to get to the train station, boards the train as it sets off for Midgar’s Plate. Discovering Elena’s badge, they proceed through the train until they find Elena surrounded by Ravens. The Ravens demand the player’s Support Materia in exchange for Elena.
Going through with the swap, the player ensures Elena is clear of the Ravens before they attack them to reclaim the Materia. Elena is impressed by the Turk and considers joining the organisation. The player chases the Raven with the Materia onto the roof of the train but, as they near the Plate, the operative jumps onto the roof of a train travelling in the opposite direction. Knowing that they have to stop the Raven at all costs, the Turk decides to head into Shinra Headquarters and steal a helicopter to give chase.
Meanwhile, Sears has been badly injured by Fuhito and his troops. Fuhito explains that his Ravens’ mission was to secure the Support Materia from the Turks and once they have been brought to him, he can begin the summoning. He says that once he has used the Support Materia to summon Zirconiade, he will remove the Materia from Elfé, thus killing her, and offer her Materia to Zirconiade so it may become complete. Leaving Sears wounded on the ground, Fuhito leaves. Sears calls the player and explains that in order to stop Zirconiade from becoming complete, they must save Elfé.
At the garbage disposal, Tseng and the others arrive at the place where Verdot is being held and break into his cell. Verdot is surprised to see them as he realises they have sacrificed everything. The player calls Tseng to inform him the Support Materia has been stolen and they are going after AVALANCHE by helicopter. Meanwhile, President Shinra decides to take advantage of the fact the Turks are preoccupied with Verdot and AVALANCHE and try to free Rufus from their custody.
As the player Turk arrives at the upper levels of the Shinra Building, an intruder alarm sounds. Making their way up through the floors, fighting past Shinra soldiers and Hojo’s monsters, they arrive at the helipad at the height of the tower. Taking the helicopter, the Turk flies it back to the Slums and begins pursuit of the AVALANCHE truck.
Nearing the truck, the player rams it with the helicopter, causing it to crash. They land and begin to chase the Raven on foot along the highway, but are accosted by a number of other Ravens. Defeating them, the player races on and catches up with the other one, but not before he has met Fuhito and handed over the Support Materia.
With the four Support Materia gathered, the summoning of Zirconiade begins. Elfé’s body glows a burning red and is lifted from the ground. Bursts of energy begin to shoot upwards, turning the sky red with cracks of lightning. As Fuhito marvels at the sight, the player dashes forward and grabs Elfé, leaving Fuhito and the Support Materia behind. Setting the unconscious Elfé down, the Turk returns to battle Fuhito.
During the fight, the player notices that the Support Materia begin to act strangely, glowing on and off in spurts. In a blinding flash of light, Elfé is again encased in energy, and the Summon Materia rises from her body. The Summon Materia then shoots towards the four Support Materia and in another flash, they fuse into one. Taking the new Materia, Fuhito escapes, swearing that he will fulfil his destiny to restore life to the Planet.
The player calls Tseng and tells him that Elfé is safe but Fuhito has got away with the Materia and plans to use it to summon the complete Zirconiade. Tseng promises that they will stop him. The player makes their way to join the other Turks on their team at the entrance of the path of light that leads to Zirconiade’s dimension, knowing that defeating Fuhito and world-burning summon will be the Turks’ most difficult task yet.
23. The Reckless Run Into Unstoppable Destruction
Midgar (05/10/07)
A huge electric blue ball of energy hangs in the sky above Midgar, signalling the summoning of Zirconiade, with arms of crackling light reaching down to the edge of the Slums to form a pathway into the beast’s domain. Escaping with the fused orb of Elfé’s and the four Support Materia, Fuhito makes his way through the path of light so that he may offer the new Materia to the incomplete Zirconiade. Leaving the unconscious Elfé on the highway to be rescued by a friend, the player Turk begins their pursuit.
Some time later, Tseng, Verdot, Reno and Rude escape the city limits and arrive at the meeting point a short distance into the wastelands to find a truck waiting for them. Elfé emerges from the vehicle and Verdot is overcome with joy to see his daughter, Felecia. Elfé is remorseful for her part in Fuhito’s plan but as they go to board the truck, they are surrounded by Shinra soldiers. Meanwhile, having freed Rufus from his confinement at Turk Headquarters, President Shinra believes his son has learned his lesson.
The rest of the Turks gather at the pathway to Zirconiade’s domain. Deciding to split up into pairs, they begin to chase Fuhito, knowing that they must stop him before he reaches Zirconiade. Entering the light, the player and their comrade are transported into another dimension. Using a series of glowing circles to transport themselves, the Turks navigate the maze, battling a number of shadow monsters along the way. At Shinra Headquarters, Rufus makes his father a proposal about the Turks which he believes will ensure the glory of the Shinra Company.
The player Turk and their partner arrive at an area inhabited by behemoths. Defeating the monsters, the two discuss how the plan to stay with the Turks after the situation is resolved as they think there would be no way Shinra could refute their worth. As more behemoth attack, the player is encourage by their fellow Turk to continue on to stop Fuhito while they take care of the beasts.
Continuing on through the maze, the player Turk eventually arrives at the place where Fuhito waits. Fuhito explains that Zirconiade slumbers up ahead and that the Planet is mere minutes away from being rejuvenated by all life returning to it. He shoots his Mako gun at the player, but the Turk is tackled out of the way by Sears just in time. Sears describes how he was able to pick up Elfé from the highway and get her safely to the meeting point, promising her that he would find on through the pain of his wounds to put an end to Fuhito’s plan and her suffering, helping the other Turks in the maze along the way.
Together, the player and Sears take on Fuhito. Knocking him down, they go to retrieve the Materia but he inserts it into his own body, saying that he will sacrifice his own life and offer it up to Zirconiade so that it may use him to become complete. Before their eyes, he transforms into a hideous creature. Snatching Sears in his enormous scythe-like claws, Fuhito throws him to the ground, leaving him unable to move. Swearing he will do whatever it takes save the life of the Planet, he once again battles with the player.
After a lengthy fight, Fuhito closes in on the Turk. With one final surge, Sears climbs to his feet and punches Fuhito as hard as he can. As Fuhito swings his scythes at him, splattering blood all around, the force of Sears’ blow shatters the Materia and the two disappear in an explosion. Knowing that the Materia is destroyed and Zirconiade can never be complete, the player Turk limps towards the place where the world-burning summon slumbers.
Meanwhile in the wastelands, having received a message from Headquarters, a Shinra soldier informs the Turks that President Shinra is willing to drop the charges against them on the condition that they execute the Shinra traitor and the leader of AVALANCHE. Reno and Rude react furiously to this but Tseng and Verdot remain quiet. Suddenly, Tseng draws his pistol and aims it at an infantryman, causing the other soldiers to aim their weapons at him. Stating that he has made his decision, he spins and shoots Elfé. Verdot says that Tseng has made the right choice and ensured the preservation of the Turks. Thanking him for everything he has done, Tseng shoots Verdot.
24. Concerto Which Breaks the Limit
Midgar (05/10/07)
Having loaded the bodies of Verdot and Elfé onto the truck, Tseng tells the soldiers he will ride in the back while they return to Midgar so that he may be with his old mentor until the end. Reno and Rude make no move to join him, still horrified by what has happened. The vehicle drives off, leaving the two Turks mourning in the wastelands.
Fighting through hoards of shadow monsters, the player Turk continues to progress through Zirconiade’s domain towards the sleeping summon. Using the PHS, they find they are unable to contact their fellow Turks but keep going nonetheless. Coming to a wide platform, the player is confronted by a large crystal-shaped organism known as a Zirconiguard. In the knowledge that the Zirconiguard is blocking the way to Zirconiade, the Turk defeats it.
Running on, the player begins to feeling an overwhelming pressure upon them. Pulses of green energy surround the pathway and the player senses they are being drawn by a strong force towards the end of the passage. Hoping that their comrades are already, the ground around the Turk begins to shake and they are cast into a fierce storm. As everything clears, the player finds themselves face to face with Zirconiade which has awoken from its cocoon.
Zirconiade begins shooting beams of energy at the player, knocking them down. Retaliating, the player attacks the summon, but is dismayed to discover their attacks are having no effect. As they retreat, knowing that they have to do something, some of the other Turks appear. They explain that they have destroyed all of the other Zirconiguards and that they should now be able to defeat Zirconiade.
The Turks battle the summon. After many strikes, Zirconiade unleashes a blast that knocks all the Turks down. Struggling to get to their feet, the player realises that the others have been knocked out. They fight on with Zirconiade but become more weary as the battle continues. Taking heavy hits, the player begins to hear the voices of the people they have met over the years as a Turk; the people who have helped them become the person they are. With one final push, the player unleashes their limit break upon Zirconiade.
In the wastelands below glowing ball of energy, Reno and Rude watch as Zirconiade’s domain begins to shatter and the world-burning summon disintegrate. Incredible light flashes above Midgar as Zirconiade falls towards the earth, sending a rippling shockwave out through the sky. Reno and Rude look on helpless, wondering what has become of their fellow Turks. Meanwhile, at the tree light spectacle in Sector8, Aerith watches the particles float to the ground, hoping that it is snow.
25. The Cantata That Connects Comrades
Midgar (09/12/07)
Tseng is summoned to an Executive hearing to discuss the Turks’ fate. Scarlet proposes that for their insubordination, the Turks should be disbanded and the three survivors of the affair executed. As President Shinra prepares to sentence them, Rufus arrives with Reno and Rude and demands that they stop before they make a huge mistake. The President states that the very existence of the Turks poses a threat to the company but Rufus argues that they have already proven their loyalty by assassinating Verdot and Elfé.
Later, Tseng thanks Rufus for persuading the Executive to allow the Turks to continue. Rufus answers that he didn’t do it for their sake, but for his own. As he leaves, alarms sound in the building to say there is an emergency situation at Mako Reactor1. Knowing that although their organisation may change, their pride for their job will not falter. Tseng, Reno and Rude run off and go back to work. Rufus’ report states that Chief Verdot and the leader of AVALANCHE were assassinated by the Turks and that the player Turk was killed in action.
Epilogue
Midgar (XX/01/08)
Having evacuated the civilians of Sector4, Reno arrives at the meeting place. Rude and Elena soon appear, reporting that Sectors 2 and 3 are also clear. They conclude that Sector5 is their next assignment and hurry there. They find Tseng next to a crumbling building and he explains that there are people still trapped beyond it. Suddenly, part of the building collapses. Thinking that a rescue would be too much for only four of them, they hear a voice from behind. They turn to discover Verdot and their former comrades have arrived. Verdot asks Tseng what his orders are, to which he replies it is urgent that they evacuation the remaining civilians of the city. All the Turks get to work.
FIN