Warning: Darkfic
PM Productions Presents
A Phillip Masters Fanfic
Eugenics
Chapter 2: Life's Dream

Golden Desert, December 28, 4127

     "What are we doing here?" Ryle asked as he stared at the
construction site.
     Sephiroth spared a glance at his friend, then nodded toward the
open desert.  "There are a lot of nasty things out there... our job is
to keep them from disrupting work."  He turned fully around, looking
curiously at Ryle.  "Didn't anyone brief you on why we were coming here?
We're both Captains... you should be privy to the same information I
am."
     Ryle shook his head.  "Sorry... I missed the meeting.  Date with
one of the weapon techs."
     The white haired SOLDIER made a tsk-tsk sound, then grinned.  "A
lady-killer as usual..." he paused, "Wonder why I don't get many?  I'm
certainly better looking than you...."
     "Yeah, right... you wish." Ryle replied, then his look turned
serious.  "Really though... it's how closed up you are, Seph.  Women do
appreciate a mystery... but they don't like being frightened.  Stories
have circulated about how you killed a new officer just because he had a
squeaky boot.  Most people know it's BS... but it still effects your
over all rep... and it's not lookin' so hot as it is."
     Sephiroth frowned, then hefted Masamune, the new six-foot kitana he
had been issued by request.  "But I always do my job, and do it better
than everyone else..."
     "Minus me," Ryle threw in.
     "Including you," Sephiroth corrected, then continued, "Why is it so
bad that I like to keep my personal life personal?"  
     "Personal?" Ryle replied, "Seph... you're a recluse.  If it weren't
for me and Zack, no one would have any idea who you were, outside of
'Sephiroth the SOLDIER.'"
     Sephiroth stared at Ryle for a moment, digesting this knew
information.  He was unaware everyone saw him in this light.  Then,
something occured to him, "Speaking of Zack, where is he?"
     For the first time in ten minutes, the two SOLDIERS turned their
attention outside of the conversation.  Around them construction
continued at a steady pace.  The sun still beat down, like an enraged
Neo-Bahamut.  Their troops were patroling the edges of the make-shift
compound, some on foot, some on Chocobo.  
     "Ah... there he is," Ryle said, as his eyes came to rest on a
shaggy head of dark hair... much like his own, without the braided pony
tail.
     "Shall we go see what the good leutenant is doing while we roast
our asses off?" Sephiroth inquired politely.
     "Yes, lets," Ryle answered, equally polite.
     Both men walked off toward the younger officer, who was enjoying
the shade of a small tent and drinking from a metallic flask.  
     However, before they could reach their objective, a large rumbling
began in the earth.
     "What the...?" Ryle said as he barely caught his balance.  
     Sephiroth brought Masamune up into ready position.  "Looks like
it's time to earn our pay."
     The shaking became more violent, and the already aggitated Chocobos
began to throw their mounts.  Indignant curses traversed the dunes.  
     Zack came running up to the two battle ready Captains, his sword
drawn.  "What the hell is that?" he yelled over the increasing clamour.  
     Everyone in the area seemed to be frozen.  Workers and SOLDIERS
alike had all paused, unsure of where the threat would make itself truly
apparent.  
     The wait was not a long one.  The sand about fine hundred meters
from the construction site exploded upward.  A geiser of pure bright
green shot into the sky.  The emerald fountain climbed to about eight
hundred meters, then began to rain down on the shocked people below.  
     Sephiroth put out his hand and caught some of the glowing drops in
his hand.
     "Lifestream?" Ryle asked, confused, putting his sword back into its
hilt on his back.  
     "What's that?" Zack wondered out loud, rubbing some of the
substance between his fingers.  It seemed to burn slightly, as if
creating its own heat.
     Sephiroth answered, "It's the life of the Planet."  He put away his
own sword, and glared at Zack.  "Do not tell anyone else that... and
gather together the troups."
     Zack nodded and ran off to do as ordered.  Sephiroth then looked
back at Ryle.  "What does this mean?"
     Ryle shrugged, noticing that the geiser was dying down.  "Don't
know... but it seems to be stopping.  Maybe it's just a fluke?"  
     A scream rang out from behind them.  They twirled simultaneously
almost faster than the eye could follow.  The sight that greeted them
made them gape slightly.  On the other side of the site a thirty meter
creature was holding a soldier in its mandibles.  It resembled a
centipede, but with not near as many legs.  Large, multi-faceted eyes
adorned the top of its head, glowing a slightly greenish color.
     "How in the hell did that get past us?!" Ryle screamed, as he and
Sephiroth re-drew their swords and began advancing on the enemy.
     "It's Mako infused," Sephiroth replied.
     "I still don't see how it got past us... but it's a start."  
     The two ran toward the battle, which was not going well for the
SOLDIERS.  Even with the combined efforts of six of the best trained
men, and four lightning Materias between them, one could see that the
monster had the advantage.  Another man's yell was cut off as he was
assaulted by a level two Quake.  He exploded outward as jagged hunks of
rock ripped through his body.  
     "Shit!" Ryle spat, then brought his sword up.  "Summon Shiva!" he
cried, and instantly a red Materia on his hilt flared brilliantly.
     The air around everyone dropped suddenly in temperature.  A portal
opened behind the creature, streams of light pouring from it in waves.
A woman appeared from it, with skin white as frost, and iceicles
covering her like clothing.  She was holding a staff that seemed to
freeze the very air around it.  Energy gathered around it, and she
pointed it at the monster.  Sharp spikes of pure ice formed so quickly
that they impaled the centipede with little resistance.  It screamed in
agony as Shiva hovered back into the portal, and vanished.
     Ryle and Sephiroth finally made it to the scene of the battle as
the creature was in its final death throes.  The surviving SOLDIERS were
gathering their wits, as well as tending to their injuries with potions.
     "Are you all okay?" Ryle asked of the men, who nodded back.  
     Zack ran up to them, panting.  "It got Lawrence... I couldn't do
anything to stop it."
     "We know... that thing was Mako infused... there wasn't much that
could stop it.  If only Shinra would trust its regular troops to
Summons." Ryle said.
     "They're very rare... you know that." Sephiroth retorted.
     "I know... but still...."  He stopped, then turned back to the
construction site.  The workers were already starting up again.
"Geez... those guys are freakin' robotic."
     "Supposedly they're being payed up to four hundred thousand gil for
completing on schedule."  Zack grinned.  "Hell, for that money, I'd
build the stupid thing in the arctic!"
     Ryle's brow furrowed.  "What are they building anyway?"
     "Do you not listen to anything?" Sephiroth scolded.  "It's some
amusement facility, the Gold Saucer."
     "Oh... why are they putting it in the desert?"
     Everyone stopped and thought about this for a moment, then
shrugged.

END Chapter Two A
B should be out sometime soon.  Please send comments and the like to
this address.
Thanks for reading,
PMasters (10-25-98)  

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