PROLOUGE
She smiled over the screaming.
"Lovely isn't it?"
The man - short, dusty, worn by many years - gazed skeptically at the flower.
"Er, I suppose."
He looked down the street, as if trying to find an escape. Her smile grew wider.
"Wouldn't you like one? Only one Gil. A dozen for ten Gils."
"Um..."
The man looked down at the flower, turned partly away, paused, and then shoved a hand into his pocket. He pulled out a coin and handed it to her. He almost snatched the flower out of her hand and walked hastily away. She watched after him. After a few yards, he slowed down. He raised the flower in front of him, slowly tucking it into his shirt. His pace increased again, but he wasn't rushing any more. Rather, he seemed more... vital.
She smiled; she'd been right about him. She'd sensed the peace in him, and reached out and tried to touch it. And he'd listened, and the peace would grow and spread. Her hand fell among the flowers in her basket, feeling their dying energy. It pained her to harvest them, to take the life from them. But it was necessary, and the flowers understood. They sacrificed themselves to help spread the lifestream.
Her work was not yet done. She wandered down the street, looking for others with the spark inside of them. Most had it, but buried so deeply she couldn't touch it, their song so drowned out by the screaming that she couldn't hear it.
Some noticed that she was looking at them. Some looked back, some turned away, and some wanted more of her. Some had even made the mistake that she was selling something more than her flowers. She smiled at them and corrected their errors, willing to let them smile at her and help her spread peace. But nothing more, they would have nothing more from her. A very few had tried to forcibly extract more from her. She never held a grudge, however; she made a point of healing them afterwards, even reviving them if necessary.
Today, she couldn't see any peace; hear any life in any of the people around her. The screaming was loud, it was much too loud. She paused in front of an alley, moving down its shadowed darkness. A power junction was malfunctioning. Green sparks were showering up into the air. Each wisp of energy floated for a few seconds before fading. She crouched in front of the relay, listening to the screams of tortured life. This was not what life was meant to do, the powering of these lumbering machines. Life objected, and would make its displeasure known soon. Glancing deeply into the sparks, her mind drifting.
"Soon, so soon. "
She felt the patterns in the energy before her and the energy around her, and she knew what shape those forces would take. Chaos was coming; a great crisis and disaster awaited the planet. It was all set in motion by these mechanical perversions, and that corrupt corporation, but there was something even darker lurking behind it all. Something menancing from the shadows, something unseen and dangerous. She knew it too well, the voices spoke this to her. Their words growing in pitch and fever with every passing year.
It was coming, the last sign, as it had been told to her… There was a force, warped by hate, guided by evil, which would seek solace in revenge. And it was powerful, very powerful. Much would be needed to stop it. Her hand once again fell upon the flowers in her basket.
"Sacrifice."
All is not lost; she knew this as surely as she knew of the disasters looming on the setting horizon. There was another force coming. A bright force, vibrant and brilliant, itself tortured, warped in its own way. But the core of his soul was still good, and with the right guidance it would shine brightly. Brightly enough, perhaps, to save a world.
Reaching out with her senses she could hear the song of that core. It was sad and quiet; it bore the weight of much pain and guilt. Still it was soft and radiant, a cry that echoed like music amongst the screaming. She found herself frequently lost in that song, one she had previously only heard on quiet starlit nights. Now she heard it with much greater frequency, he was coming to her. She knew doubtlessly, happiness could be found there. But, still she felt it, something was wrong in that, it wasn't right. She would not wish to interfere; to cause pain or loss. Better, perhaps, to remain distant, to go and guide, never get drawn in too close. The voices now speaking, and counseling her.
Listening to their words, she sighed. She wouldn't do it; it seemed inevitable. They would fall towards each other, she sensed. Something wonderful would occur; there would be tenderness, joy. Then fate would part them, and difficult choices would have to be made. Something would end, but in that end, perhaps a new beginning. From it perhaps, something pure and new, perhaps a new birth, a new life, not just for her, but for many. Whatever future waited, be it for good or ill, she knew things would drastically change.
Even in the end of all things, a connection would persist that could never be truly severed. Even in this end, a peace would settle; the hardships that would part them could fade into time. It would happen one way or another, then perhaps eventually, a reunion.
It might be too much to hope for. But she would hope for it, and work for it, because life demanded it of her. And she loved life so, enough to sacrifice everything for it. Enough to die for it. But she was human enough to enjoy life as she lived it. And she would enjoy as much of it as she could in the coming days.
The sparks continued to flow, continued to scream, and suddenly she didn't want to listen any more. She stood clasping her hands in front of her face, as if to warm them, silently praying.
"I'm coming, Mother. I'll be there soon."
She turned her head to the side and looked down the alley; she could sense him approaching like the scent of her flowers on the evening Midgar breeze. She walked towards him, towards this bright force that was coming close, very close, not yet in sight, but very near her in spirit. Not yet in her sight, but very soon. Just a little while longer. She stopped at the end of the alley as the traffic zoomed by in the gloom of the growing night. Standing absolutely still, she and the flowers waited patiently for the time when they would play their part.
CHAPTER 1THE FIRST MISSION
Cloud Strife, a man, young, haggard, and stern, waited calmly in the darkness of the train compartment. Fixing his sight through the window of his seat, he gazed at the towering structure that lay just ahead. It's impressive image echoed by the reflection of the moon. It was Mako reactor 1.
"Only one job, that's it and I'm done. I'm out."
Glancing casually around taking in the sights, he studied the tight surroundings of the passenger boxcar. Although functional this train obviously had seen better days. Littering the compartment, trash and dirt, were strewn about. The seats, made from a mottled orange fabric, were worn by years of abuse. Cloud observed several unidentifiable stains, splotched across the cushions of his seat, which some bored passenger had converted into a scribbled sketch of a flower. His mind focused on the mission at hand.
"This place is a dump. Why did I even come along?"
The slight shuddering of the train and the clacking of the wheels against the track seemed to almost hypnotize Cloud. As the silence grew intense, his mind wandered, recalling the events leading him to this train. Though, somewhere in his mind, he knew all the facts made sense, Cloud struggled recalling the period of time before he came to Midgar only a few days ago. His mind wondered, about his decision to come back here. Only a few blurred exploits remained in his memories, recent exploits, and as they would come, they melted away into his mind. They served little but to conjure up shapeless images and vague recollections. Cloud refocused himself, his head spinning a bit.
"It doesn't matter now anyway. Plenty of time for memories later"
His concentration was broken by a deep powerful voice violating the serene quiet of the cabin. "All right everyone let's go!"
Quickly following four shadowy forms out of the boxcar, Cloud, the strapping, haggard, young man made his way to the huddle forming outside in the docking station. Evidently the train had stopped while he was still in deep thought, but Cloud hadn't recalled feeling it stop.
Being surprised or alarmed wasn't all that unusual for Cloud since he left Shinra two years ago; still he realized something bothered him about this whole set-up. Though he'd sooner lie to himself, Cloud wasn't too comfortable with the idea of involving himself with the Shinra Corporation again. Though he didn't quite understand why, he felt a sense of dread, as if there were allot of bad memories buried there.
"Now's not the time for these thoughts…."
Cloud made his way towards the other four forms. One of these forms towered above the rest, his silhouette large and imposing.
"Okay… you know the drill." The silhouette hoarsely whispered. "Split up and meet at the reactor entrance...no screwing around..."
Cloud smiled to himself. Usually the tough guys were really just wimps, overcompensating from their own inferiorities, and Barett Wallace reeked of it. His tough-guy theatrics, didn't fool Cloud, Barret obviously wasn't a hardened warrior, or a killer either. His skin was the shade of dark ebon his body extremely large and powerful, he sported a close beard, and deep voice. He looked to be in early forties, perhaps being in great shape he might be in his late thirties. His presence commanded respect by its sheer size alone. The large automated weapon grafted to his right arm and his eyes a constant glare, made it clear to most that was not a man to be trifled with.
Obviously, Cloud wasn't impressed, though he'd often wondered how Barett had come to collect such a toy, and what advanced science was used to graft it. He had heard rumors of advanced bionic-engineering in SOLDIER, but he'd never seen any evidence that it had hit the civilian market. That was until tonight.
One by one the group spread out and moved away from the docking area, leaving Cloud to make his way down the street, alone. Looking skywards towards the enormous structure that would be their target tonight; Cloud read the words SHINRA INC./REACTOR 1, emblazoned along the length of its cylindrical form. His eyes froze, transfixed on this gigantic structure.
"Something's not right…" Cloud mumbled to himself.
For a brief moment something touched him, some piece of enlightenment that struck him for an instant and then melted into his sub-conscious. "Those thoughts again…" Unsettled, Cloud frowned.
"It's like something is buzzing around in my head. Almost like… Get a hold of yourself" Cloud thought "...now where am I supposed to be heading towards?"
"Hey you HALT!!!" a voice thundered from a short distance away. "Don't make a move!"
They approached slowly but steadily, weapons raised. Two of them, clad in the blue uniform of Shinra, they each carried an automatic weapon. Cloud met there faces, with a look of cool fortitude. He had quite forgotten about it, his weapon, the sword, the Shinra-grade battle sword, strapped to his back. It was a memento of his days in SOLDIER, the elite forces unit of Shinra. While not quite as high tech as an assault rifle, it was still a versatile weapon of choice for Cloud. Versatile and deadly; especially when one has received their training in SOLDIERS Mako-Infusion program.
His speed and power, strength and agility, made Cloud fully capable of performing feats and executing combat techniques with unbelievable precision and skill. He had taken part in SOLDIERS elite trooper program, one which included extensive Mako infusion. The program that infused Mako energy into normal cells, enhancing natural human abilities and senses. This program and training regime had maintained a massive military advantage for Shinra over the last two decades.
Cloud remained still, allowing the guards to approach.
"Drop your weapon! And raise your arms!!...NOW!" One soldier bellowed.
With ever closing steps the guards inched closer. Cloud stood his ground, calmly maintaining composure, content to let the guards breach the distance. In his mind he knew these men would not be coming home to their families tonight, not that he gave a damn anyway.
"We're not playing around. If you don't drop that sword, we'll drop you. This is a safe zone; no weapons of any type are permitted in this sector. "
Cloud folded his arms defiantly across his chest. The guards moved in closer, too close…
"You have three seconds…Drop your weap...
With the speed and temerity of a swooping falcon, Cloud unsheathed his blade from his back. A few subtle movements, amongst the glint of flashing metal, dropped the guards lifelessly to the earth. In one complete motion he finished his movements by re-sheathing the large weapon to his back.
He shook his head at the broken bodies that lay before him. Not even a shot rang from their guns. Good thing though, but not like it wouldn't be uncommon to here some peppering from this section of Midgar.
"Weekend warriors, probably serving 'their one week a month'. Better get a move on..."
He was in the industrial section of sector 1 and just around the corner of the next block, the entrance to the Mako Reactor, lay. He had to be more careful, the next guards who find him, might not be so green. Shinra must be on heightened alert, they obviously must be aware of AVALANCHE's activities in this sector.
"Avalanche...what a stupid name" Cloud thought. "I wonder if the big freak came up with it..." He smirked to himself. "Fitting though. When Shinra catches up with them, they'll come down on them hard like an avalanche."
Looking, and noticing a few workers going home for the evening and a few guards here and there on routine patrol Cloud began to wonder if he would be the only one who made it to the entrance. That wouldn't be such a good thing; he still had yet to be paid. Wedge, Biggs and Jessie all looked minor league, and Barett well, he reminded him of too many tough guys in SOLDIER. The "tough" ones usually never made it through boot camp.
"Never mind that, better to concentrate on what's at hand. Ahhh...looks clear..."
Cloud made his way through the streets, sticking to the shadows as best as possible.
Up ahead huddling under an alcove he saw Wedge, and Biggs. They noticed him approaching.
"Didn't get lost did ya?"...Biggs voice quietly asked in hushed tones
Cloud shook his head. Wedge and Biggs appeared as drastically different as you could imagine, while Biggs was tall and skinny, Wedge was short and rotund. Both seemingly friendly if not a tad bit green. From their looks it was obvious; this job would be difficult without Cloud.
"God, I hope these guys don't want to start hamming it up" he thought.
"I saw you back their...with those guards...wow you must've really been in SOLDIER all right."
"Course he was … Tifa said so" the larger one responded.
"Tifa? Oh yes Tifa, That's right Tifa hired me...she's the one who wanted me to do this"Cloud remembered...
"Well I never thought Barett would ever let someone from SOLDIER or Shinra work with us..."
"Ex-SOLDIER, remember...he used to be in SOLDIER, now he's with us..."
"Didn't catch your name..." Wedge asked
"Didn't give it..." Cloud responded
"W, well my name is Wedge... And this here is Biggs" The fat one said.
"...Cloud"
"Well nice to meet you Cloud...good luck on your first mission"
"HEY!! What the hell are you three doing! I told you to split up!" Barrett's voiced scolded from the shadows in a half-hearted attempt at a whisper. "Never move in a group. You dumasses"
"Hmmm, so the muscle-freak did make it..." Cloud thought to himself
"Shinra's got guards all over the place tonight...get moving!"
Passing a quick glance over his shoulder Cloud followed the group, towards the gate of the Mako Reactor. From a distance this structure would've been impressive, but at this range it bordered on over-whelming.
"Wow...we're actually going to be making our first big raid..." Jessie commented, currently the only girl other than Tifa in AVALANCHE.
"Yeah that's right, so we all gotta to look alert...no screw ups...let's make this nice and clean...:"
"It's payback time baby..."
Cloud rolled his eyes noticeably.
"Yo, you got a problem...punk?" Barett snarled "Don't you care about the planet...Shinra's sucking all the life outa it with those weird machines..."
Cloud interrupted. "I just want to get paid...I'll leave the "fate of the world" up to you heroes."
"Figures coming form a former Shinra flunky...you're with me you spiky headed, smart-ass...I'll be watching you" Barett made a dramatic turn towards the others. "The rest of you know what to do...so let's move."
Looking on as the three others made their way through a hole cut into the gate and down towards the maintenance entrance, Barett stood silent. Content that all three had made it inside safely, he turned to Cloud.
"I know Tifa vouched for you, but I don't like you. If you even think of getting in our way, I'll blow a hole the size of that reactor into your head...you got it?"
Cloud chuckled inwardly.
"...yeah you get it...now remember the plan, Wedge, Biggs and Jessie will deactivate the security system, then we plant the bomb...that shouldn't be too hard for a punk like you... Okay then move."
Making their way through the fence, into a narrow shaft, built straight into the side of the reactor, Cloud and Barrett found themselves emptying out into a large hallway.
"Biggs and Jessie should have the security deactivated by now..."
Cloud looked down the hall. A high security door abruptly slid open, granting access.
"Ahh right on time..."
On queue Cloud and Barrett made their way into the lift.
"Hit the top floor..."
Moving casual and slow Cloud pushed the button that would take them into the engineering section of the Mako Reactor. They would be heading deep inside the plant.
Barrett eyed Cloud carefully, the permanent glare never seeming to relax.
"So tell me, punk...since when have you cared less about the planet?"
Frankly he could care less; he was a mercenary, and one who was doing this job as a favor for a friend. Shrugging he realized it wasn't his fight, he didn't care. He didn't care for this group anyway; he knew that they were running on borrowed time as it is. You don't last long when you make an enemy of Shinra Inc.
"You do know what these reactors do don't you..." Barrett added..
"...besides condensing natural radiation into Mako energy?"
Glowering at Cloud Barett swung his one good hand in his face, fist clenched. "Maybe you're as stupid as I thought. That natural radiation is what gives the planet life, without it all nature and all the animals, hell all life will cease to..."
"It's no concern of mine" Cloud cut off.
"Tchhh" Barett grunted shaking his head in disgust.
Cloud leaned up against the side of the lift.
After what seemed like a few minutes the lift came to a stop. Barett and Cloud emptied out. Waiting to meet them was a young boyish looking girl with auburn hair, disheveled, pulled back in a tail. Grease marked her face.
"We all set Jess?" Barett asked her.
"All set sir!"
The inside of the plant was even more impressive than the outside. Cloud froze, taking in the sights. The place was enormous and a low hum permeated the entire level of the plant.
Jessie eyed Cloud curiously.
"You used to be in SOLDIER right?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah" Cloud responded
Jessie smiled. "Then you've seen one of these reactors up close before right?"
Cloud froze. An old image of a reactor and several different people Cloud didn't recognize flooded his mind. Like a flash photograph, this image melted quickly away.
"You okay?" Jessie asked
"...yeah...I'm okay...and of course I've been in a Mako reactor before"
"Good, then you know where the reactor chamber door is..."
Jessie tossed a heavy black pack to Barrett.
"You'll need to set this there for the chain reaction to start. And uh, one more thing, make sure you give us enough time to get out of here when you set the timer..."
Cloud quickly glanced at Jessie "Aren't you coming too..."
"There were a few security measures we couldn't hack from the maintenance consul. I'll be busy over there, at the main-interface..."
Jessie pointed down the chamber towards a large consul. Several screens and many keyboards covered a monstrous computer.
"Anything to worry about Jess?" Barett asked.
"No, nothing to really be concerned with, just a few detection systems we couldn't lock down...shouldn't be any problem from the main-interface..."
"You sure? Cause if we get detected in here, we'll be trapped"
"It's no problem sir! I'm on the case" Jessie stood erect giving Barett a cheesy salute.
"All right then, we're outa here. Just remember to stay alert, were all gonna be coming back from this, ya here me?"
With a nod, Jessie quickly made her way over to the Interface.
"All right kid, lead on...and remember no funny stuff..."
Gathering his bearings, Cloud lead Barett up a service ladder to a catwalk suspended over the chamber, from there they passed a series of gigantic generators moving ever deeper into the heart of the factory. All the way Cloud followed more of a feeling than a sure memory of the layout, he couldn't remember precisely where everything was but he could tell he was getting closer. As they passed by the main furnace, the sound of faint voices echoed softly.
Barett frowned. "Damn, their can't still be workers in here this late..."
Opening his mouth to respond, Cloud was interrupted by a blue clad guard casually strolling across the hall. Making it about halfway across before he stopped, the guard slowly turned his head. Startled, he jumped, fastly regaining his composure.
"Hey what the hell, are you doing here!?...this place is a high security area."
The guard's eyes fell on Cloud's sword.
Raising his weapon, the gaurd flipped a receiver from off his belt. Barrett , watching with close intensity, waited until the guards attentions dropped. With a quick movement, unloading three shots from his gun-arm into the guard's body, Barett watched him twitch on his way down. Running into the hall two guards aimed weapons at the intruders. Skillfully and quickly, a salvo of gunfire, fired from Baretts arm, cutting them down as well. Grabbing his arm, Cloud roughly yanked it down.
"The hell are you trying to do!? Alert the whole plant! With you blowing away everything in sight, it's a wonder the whole damn city doesn't know we're here!"
Barrett jerked Clouds hand away. "You're a brave man to put your punk-ass hands on me..."
Cloud threw his sword in the air, cutting in a swift powerfull swipe, Barett tried to dodge the blow, falling backwards on to his rear. Barett turned his head just in time to see Cloud's sword sail through the air at his head. Before Barrett could even react, the sword struck its mark true and hard, a fourth Shinra guard collapsed behind him.
Cloud gave one last look around, continuing onward. There destination was only a short walk from where they stood.
A massive door of metallic alloy stood at the end of the walkway. A large computer screen brilliantly lit with blinking function keys, attached itself to the side. Looking around observantly, Cloud still struggled with that disturbing sense of dread.
"This is it..."
"Awright, here...you set this thing..."
Tossing Cloud a heavy black pack, Barett nodded towards the terminal on the door.
."Me?" Cloud asked as he caught the package by the straps.
"Yeah you...you think I'm gonna turn my back on you? Set it and let's go..."
Inside the backpack Cloud found a rough-looking bomb constructed of crude materials, mostly salvage. For a moment thoughts of doubt cascaded through his mind. Perhaps these people weren't up to this kind of a mission after all. His doubts were quickly dispelled once noticing the circuitry and wiring. Taking a minute to study the construction he realized this bomb though crude was surprisingly sophisticated.
Carefully removing the device Cloud took a step towards the door. The room quickly spinning Cloud's surroundings going dark. He felt himself fall towards the floor, something was pulling on his mind.
"Careful this isn't just a Reactor..." A voice spoke, Echoing in Cloud's mind as if they were the words of a distant observer, he quickly became disoriented.
"Get a hold of yourself ..." Barrett's voice snapped Cloud back into attention.
With a series of deep breaths, Cloud gathered his composure. What was going on with him tonight? Was that voice real, or just some forgotten memory bubbling itself back to the surface? Grumbling to himself red from embarassment Cloud placed the bomb.
"I just want to get outa here..." he thought
Working with careful practiced fingers, Cloud linked the bomb into one of the computer jacks. That's when the plant's general alarm went off.
"Damn it Jessie!!!..." Barrett roared, his voice filling the chamber. "Cloud, hurry the hell up...Shinra's on its way..."
With a quick click of a button and removing the safety mechanism Cloud armed and activated the device.
"Okay we're good..." Cloud announced to Barett
"Hell yeah...let's get outa here"
In haste Cloud began moving down the walkway. Turning a corner a brilliant blast of electrical energy sent Cloud sprawling across the floor. A loud electronic hum, announced the culprit. Barrett paused readying himself, as the large hulking figure of a Guardian Droid, slowly emerged from the shadows.
Without wasting any words, Barrett unleashed a few salvos of gunfire. The Guardian Droid, returning fire with its electrical weapon, discharged a brilliant field of sparks flying towards Barett at an immense amount of speed. Leaping to the side Barrett dodged out of the way. But not before the electrical field, nearly knocked him unconscious.
Aching all over Barrett's body, his fingers and toes, tingled sharply. Looking up just in time to see the Guardian Droid aiming its dual auto-cannons, Barett rolled in the nick of time barely escaping the huge projectiles. Rolling to a knee he pulled a cylindrical object from his belt, an EMP grenade. With fast twitches from his fingers, arming the grenade, rearing back; he gave it a mighty heave. A blast of gunfire shot sparks and torn shards of walkway all around him. Barrett yelped releasing the grenade, two shots tapering across his leg. The weapon exploded on impact, showering the area with electrical sparks. Barett lay grasping his badly mangled leg, watching as the smoke cleared. He stared into the field of dust that now hovered over him, smelling the strong scent of ozone. A few sounds of movement could be heard.
"Cloud? Is that you...?"
A mangled sounding hum, responded. Although badly damaged the droid seemed to be operational, and from the sound it appeared as though it were re-aiming it's guns.
"Ahh hell...so this is the end!" Barrett thought
As the sound resonated, the dust began clearing the Guardian Droid became fully visible. Watching with steeled resignation, Barrett braced himself.
"Ahh hell...Marlene...oh god...I'll never get to see you grow up..." He thought.
With a short burst of loud clanging, and the sound of rent metal, a silhouette cut into the machine with a few hard slices from a sword. Evidently hitting a critical area, the droid exploded with a deafening roar, spewing metal fragments all over the place. Peering up from the blast, Barrett saw Cloud approaching out of the smoke.
With a sense of urgency, Cloud helped Barrett to his feet.
"Come on...we don't have much time till that bomb goes off..."
Helping Barrett, down the walkways and halls, Cloud made his way back towards the main corridor where they left Jessie. Quickly taking in the situation Cloud noticed that several armed guards already had her in custody.
"...we ain't leaving her...so if you want to make it outa here on time, I suggest you help..." Barett winced.
Roughly dropping Barett and not wasting any words Cloud charged down the corridor towards the four Shinra guards. With a stunningly fast barrage of attacks, they fell into pieces on the floor, never even knowing who or what hit them.
"Cloud!!...I knew you'd come...is Barrett all right?"
"Come on...we gotta move..." Cloud responded
Picking up Barett the two made it down the lift and out the door towards the two others.
"Hey here they come!!...I told you they'd be here!!" Wedge exclaimed
"We'd better hurry; I can here some vehicles coming this way fast..." Biggs added
Moving quickly out the gate, Cloud and the others moved away from the reactor and down the street towards the docking station. Cloud was nervous about being so blatantly in the opening, but there wasn't much time to sneak around.
"Over there, you!" A voice boomed from a vehicles intercom. "HALT!!"
A set of floodlights, fixed on them.
"Split up...we might be able to lose them..." Barrett commanded.
Looking at Barrett's wound, and the massive trail of blood leading from the reactor, it became apparent to Cloud this wouldn't work.
Cloud grabbed Jessie's arm. "Jessie take Barett and head north, then double back to the station...I'll try to get them to follow me south. We'll all meet back on the train"
After having blurted that out, the group watched with blank expressions as Cloud bounded towards a Shinra police vehicle. Mere seconds passing before the distinctive sound of weapons opened up.
"Crap, he's gonna get himself killed!" Biggs exclaimed.
"Nah he's smarter than that, at least I hope. He can take care of himself, I'm sure that's what he's best at anyways..." Barrett grunted.
Cloud Strife, breathed heavily as he held his wounded hand.
"God damn, that wasn't too smart..." he admitted to himself.
Cloud peered down the alley he ducked into only moments before the soldiers had opened up on him. They still seemed to be searching around the area.
"Well I guess I can head west and try to circle around..."
Moving, quietly, stealthily, he made his way down the alley-way, coming to a street. A guard popped his face in taking a long hard look. The guard grunted then quickly moved on as Cloud emerged from the wall he stood up against, slowly melting from the shadows. Taking a left he headed into a smaller narrower alley-way. Moving quickly and keeping pressure on his bleeding hand he continued on.
"My hand is too hurt, I'd be at a big disadvantage if I have to fight..."
Suddenly he heard a slight sound. For half a second he perked his ears, twirling around he listened in absolute silence, keeping his eyes and full senses wide open. A few long seconds of quiet, and he relaxed turning about with ease.
"Excuse me sir...would you like to buy a flower? Only 1 gil, A dozen for ten gils"
Cloud turned his head towards the voice. His off hand was at his sword, but something about that voice seemed disarming. Perhaps it was his acute sense of danger or perhaps he was getting soft, either way he knew it was no threat. Relaxing his posture Cloud let down his defense to see where that voice had come from.
His eyes adjusting to the light of the alley, a face slowly melted into focus. An angelic face, a girl of 19 or so, with slender well-formed features, a small build, and the gentlest green eyes. Her soft brown hair seemed to flow like a steam down her shoulders and ended in lose, curls. Her demeanor seemed relaxed and fresh, and her smile was as soothing as the soft moonlight falling intensely around them. At first he was taken aback, such a surprising image in such a dark and forbidding place. Cloud staring for a brief moment, lost in the bright gleam of her eyes, until he felt the need to speak...
"..Uh...what?" he whispered
She smiled even wider.
"Flowers sirs...aren't they lovely?"
Looking down at her arm to see a wicker basket filled with brilliant blossoms, Cloud peered quizzically down at her wares.
"Uh where did you get those? Midgar, is an industrial wasteland."
"True…" The young girl spoke, her smile even wider. "It's not normal to find such fresh vibrant life here in the city, what with all those reactors."
"..Yes...I suppose." Cloud still panting weary from his earlier encounters.
He glanced up at her, meeting her gaze for the first time. For a moment it seemed as if she too had become lost in this chance meeting. Neither one speaking, just staring, measuring each other up, their eyes locking. His weighted and tired, with that luminous Mako glow. Her eyes kind, inquisitive searching his face as if expecting some grand response to a question he hadn't even been asked.
"They're Only 1 gil..." she broke the silence..."A dozen for 10 gils"
Reaching into his pocket, Cloud's attention, was snapped back into focus by the sound of heavy boots rushing past his location. Cloud quickly leaned into the shadows until they had passed.
"Is everything all right" she asked "what's going on?"
Keeping his head towards the end of the alley Cloud replied deeply and quietly.
"Nothing...you'd better get out of here..."
"Are you in trouble?"
"...here" Cloud pulled out his last gil. Handing it to her, he grabbed a flower from her basket.
"Sir...your hand...you're hurt..."
Leaning foreward Cloud looked for a safe exit..
"...just go...You'd be safer at home..."I'm gonna have to move quick..." He mumbled, eyeing a patrol vehicle shining a large spotlight into the alleys as it passed by.
A slight touch of soft skin felt it's way onto his wounded hand. Gently taking it in hers, the girl bowed her head in concentration. Cloud looked on, almost spell-bound as a strange tingling sensation flared throughout his body and slowly dissipated. Then gently placing his hand back to its original position, she flashed a fragile smile. The pain was now gone, and Cloud could move his hand once more.
Cloud furrowed his brow and peered perplexingly at the girl. "Th...thank you... Uh, how did you.… Nevermind, thanks."
She nodded slowly, smiling all the more.
Cloud paused, and regarded this kind person. Like an angel protector she had appeared out of the night, and for the first time since he began the mission, he felt relaxed and at peace. Those loathsome feelings of dread he'd been carrying, all seemed to melt away in the presence of this girl.
She looked past him out at the street knowing that he had to leave; she sensed there would be another time, and another day. It was enough right now to have touched his troubled spirit to have planted a seed inside him. And now, like all the others, it too would grow and gain strength.
"Be careful..." She added.
With a nod, and one last glance, Cloud bounded out into the street either to meet up with his comrades or an unpleasant fate, he hoped for the former. She looked after him as he ran out into the night.
"Our paths will meet again" she whispered
The girl lingered, tasting the soft melody of his song as it slowly faded into the night. With a long wistful sigh, she began to make her way back home.
CHAPTER 2
"Marlene!!...Marlene!!...come quick, look papa's home!"
"Papa!?..."
A young girl about 6 years old came tearing across the floor of the Seventh Heaven bar. Anxiously running towards the window, she climbed a stool conviently placed for her, and pressed her face to the glass. After 5 seconds of fogging the cold pane, she squealed with delight, and hopped off the stool bounding towards an opening door. She arrived at the door, the same time Barett Wallace entered, and without missing a beat jumped into his large powerful arms. Barett winced from the pressure, but still managed a big smile.
"Papa!!...Papa! Your home!!" she cried
"That's right Marlene...I'm home...how's my big girl?"
Marlene giggled, as Barett held her out from him and swung her around in a circle.
"I had fun Papa!!...Me an Tifa...we were drawing pictures, and playing games"
"Did you behave yourself...you didn't get into Ms. Tifa's way when she was trying to help the customers did you?"
"Oh no Papa! I was good, and I even helped her."
"That's right." Tifa chimed in observing the happy reunion cheerfully..." she was an angel as usual..."
"Heh...of course she's an angel...she's my big girl!" Barett said in a playful voice, hoisting her on to his shoulders.
"Giddiyap Papa!!...Giddiyap!" Marlene prodded as she lightly patted Barrett's head.
"Ooh, not right now babe...Papa's got a sore leg..." Barett choked back another wince.
"Barett! Oh gosh, are you all right" Tifa responded, getting a good look at Barrett's crimson stained bandage.
"Nothing ol' Doc couldn't fix..." He responded with a wink
The door swung open as a gust of cold wind, and three members of AVALANCHE entered the bar.
"Hot damn! That was a sight to see wasn't it?" Wedge exclaimed "That explosion musta rocked the surrounding sectors for miles...
"Yeah...next time it's reactor 2." Biggs added in a gleeful tone.
"You didn't think we used too powerful an explosive do you?" Jessie asked.
"Nah...It looked a bit big, but it was fine, maybe we used a lil' too much juice but it won't make a difference" Wedge answered "...was a beaut to behold though!!..."
Wedge finished his last statement, gesturing emphatically with his hands in a half-hearted attempt at symbolizing a giant explosion and mushroom cloud.
Barett flashed a fierce glare at the three, who suddenly shut up quickly.
"Idiot's!" Barett snarled under his breath.
"Not like anyone here loves Shinra anyway…" Wedge whispered.
"Hey...where's Cloud?" Tifa asked
Wedge, Biggs, and Jessie looked at each other. Barett passed a quick glance towards Tifa. There was an awkward silence.
"He's all right isn't he? I mean he is coming here right?"
"We don't know...we got separated back in sector 1" Jessie responded
"What? He hasn't come back yet?" Wedge asked "We waited a while at the station, and figured he already came back here..."
The color drained out of Tifa's face. Her eyes narrowed, displaying obvious concern.
"...I, I hope he's all right" Wedge added
Barrett's deep powerful voice broke the painful silence.
"Of course he's all right! Look you're gonna get Tifa all worried, he can take care of himself. Right now we need to get some rest and unload our equipment. We'll have a meeting to review our first mission at 5am...so take a load off..."
"And keep your damn mouths shut till then..." he added
In a huff Barett plodded off to his room, with Marlene on his shoulders.
Jessie placed an arm around Tifa. "I'm sure he's all right..." she whispered in her ear.
Tifa responded with a shrug and an obvious attempt to look unconcerned. "Well Cloud can take care of himself...and if decides not to come back that's his decision..."
Jessie passed a kind smile in Tifa's direction. "Well I suppose I'd better get working on our next target" She added.
Tifa stood quiet for a second, then went back behind the bar to fetch a drink for a customer, while Wedge and Biggs began horsing around outside.
Trying hard to put the young mercenary out of her mind, Tifa couldn't help but recall the memories of her youth, the sunny days growing up with Cloud in Nibelheim. She counted herself lucky to have run across him once more; she had lost touch with him for several years. Then an unlikely chance meeting here in Midgar a few days ago changed all that. Pausing recalling the strange events surrounding their re-union, she knew a lot of thoughts were troubling her. Spinning around in her head, they were screaming for answers. Now the horror gripping her thoughts, that none of her questions would ever be answered, tormented her. In her mind she could picture Cloud's torn and bloodied corpse lying in pools of blood. She frantically hoped he was safe, there was still so much she wanted to tell him, and so much she wanted to know.
"Cloud...please be okay" she whispered to herself.
The minutes passing, she became more and more concerned and anxious. Her genuine and outgoing personality fading with the urgency of Cloud's missing presence. Finally she buried her face in her hands.
"Cloud..." she mumbled
"Excuse me? Is this the Seventh Heaven? I heard you serve a great Chili sauce"
Tifa glanced up.
Standing in front of her, leaning on the other side of the bar, was a handsome young man in his mid twenties; rather short about 5'9, fair skinned, with styled blond spiked-hair, a small but well muscled build and faintly glowing blue eyes. Calf-length combat-style boots and black cargo pants covered the lower portions of his body, and dark blue military camo's covered his upper lengths... A large gleaming silver sword was strapped to his back. And he brandished a wide cocky smirk.
"Cloud! You're okay!!! I was so worried... I thought Shinra had captured you!!" she exclaimed
"I thought Shinra captured me too for a moment..."
"I'm so glad you're okay!"
Making a motion, seemingly to hug him, Tifa stretched out her arms, Cloud reached out to receive her. At the last second Tifa pulled away awkwardly.
"...well uh...so umm...how did things go?"
Cloud furrowed his brow, and stared at the ground,.
"...eh...pretty good I suppose"
"You and Barett didn't get into a fight did you?"
Cloud looked up at her.
"Uh... No, well sorta, I guess"
"I coulda figured, Barett is so abrasive, and you were always getting into fights when we were little"
"..Uh.., yeah..." Cloud responded. "Did the others make it back all right?"
"Yeah, I think Barett and Jessie are downstairs in the operations room, and Wedge and Biggs are still outside but everyone should be back for the meeting shortly"
"So Barrett's okay? He was bleeding pretty badly."
"He's okay; we have a local physician here in sector 7 slums named Doc. People around here usually go to him if they're seriously hurt..."
"That's good then, so he's all right?" Cloud responded
"Yeah he's fine. So did you hit your target?"
Cloud nodded.
"The explosion was pretty intense...rocked the area for miles"
Tifa smiled. "Well one down...we got 6 more to go."
"Yeah..." Cloud responded
Looking past Tifa out of a window, there was a slight pause. Collecting his thoughts for a moment, Cloud realized it had been quite a while since he had last seen her. His feelings were full of warmth and peace, yet there was something about this place which left feelings of loss and panic washing around in his mind. This place it didn't feel quite right, dread that had early choked him remained, leaving a strong sense of unsettlement.
"Tifa, I..."
"Hey...you want a drink?" Tifa cheerfully cut him off.
"Uh...sure, that'd be great..."
Pouring a drink and placing it in front of Cloud, Tifa leaned against the counter. Listening to the sounds around him, Could could hear a TV set nearby. He reached for his glass.
"Cloud...what happened to your hand?"
Looking down at his hand, stained with cached blood, noticing his wound completely healed, he paused in thought. "Uh...nothing just a scratch I suppose..."
"What'cha thinking?"
Staring at the glass, Cloud's mind wandered aimlessly, before snapping back to attention. "Oh...I have something for you..." Reaching into his pocket pulling out a small, bright purple blossom. A quick glance and a slight pause ensued as cloud tentatively held it out to her. "...uh...this sorta...reminded me of you..."
Her face a small shade of red, accepting the gift with grace, tifa passes a slight smile to her friend. "Oh, that's sweet of you Cloud...thanks..."
Reaching for the flower, Cloud looked into Tifa's face, she was every bit as beautiful as he remembered her while growing up in Nibelheim. Her skin a pale yet healthy pallor, her long raven hair shining in the light of the bar, her cheerful amber colored eyes, and her soft full lips, all added together to form the image of a strikingly attractive woman. Her physique also impressive; maintaining a great shape over the years probably due to her martial arts conditioning. Recalling the past, Cloud remembered Tifa being a remarkable student of the arts back in Nibelheim. Though her body had matured a bit more since then, she remained impressively toned and trimmed.
"Where did you find this in Midgar?! "It's so pretty...this couldn't have come from here..."
Cloud shrugged "I bought it back in sector 1."
"Sector 1? You had time to go shopping during the mission?"
"Well I sorta just stumbled onto it...sorta..." Cloud's voice trailed off.
"Um...wow...that's so odd...I guess I'll have to find a place of honor for this guy..." She playfully replied, hunting around for a vase or container..
His mind wandering, Cloud thinking about the girl he met only a few short hours ago. In his mind he knew it, and felt it. Something important had happened back there, but what, he wasn't exactly sure. Seeming like a dream; maybe it never really happened after all. Stirring his drink round and around, Cloud stared into the swirling liquid a frown pursing his lips.
"Why does everything seem so strange? Things haven't felt sane since..."
"Tah-dah!!...what do you think?" Tifa remarked proudly producing a slightly chipped vase crowned with Cloud's flower.
Trying to seem interested, Cloud half-heartedly smiled..
"What's the matter?"
"It's … nothing." Cloud answered. "Hey, listen. It's time you know… I really need to get going... It was great seeing you again and everything..."
Tifa's heart sank, her smile melting away. "..You're leaving?"
Cloud didn't respond.
"But I...I thought you were gonna stick around for a week or two at least?"
"Yeah well" Cloud mumbled "I dunno, things seem sorta out of place here... You know it'd probably be best if I were to move on".
Objecting, Tifa locked eyes with Cloud. "But we really need you Cloud. We have so much more to do, this group needs your skills and talent to pull it off"
"Tifa... I just don't..."
Placing her hand on his arm, urging him to stay, Tifa's eyes pleading with her childhood friend.. "Just stay a little while longer okay? For us, for old times sake. You still have to get your money from Barrett. Just give it some thought, please?"
"Yeah, I'll stick around to collect my pay..." Not intending any further obligation Cloud contemplated many things to himself. There were too many memories here. Memories of Shinra, memories of Tifa, Memories of Nibelheim. Seemingly distant and unlockable right now, he still knew he didn't like them.
"Tifa, it's just..." Cloud started, changing in mid-speech, frowning. "Do you remember how I even got to Midgar?"
Tifa passed a quizzical look at Cloud.
"How you got to Midgar? What do you mean?"
"Hey Wedge, look! It's Cloud!!...he made it back!" Biggs's voice echoed across the bar. Cloud turned his head just in time to Wedge and Biggs come barreling through the door towards him.
"Man, we thought you were a goner..."
Cloud frowned at the intrusion, turning his head and returning his attention to his drink. Biggs and Wedge glanced at each other.
"Well hey, the meeting's about to start...better hurry on down to the OP's room" Wedge added. "Tifa your're coming too right?" Biggs asked
"Yeah, I'll be there soon as I finish closing down the bar..."
"Better hurry, you know how Barett hates to be kept waiting..."
Tifa nodded.
Cloud sat in silence, leaving himself to his own thoughts. He watched his childhood friend showing the last customer out of the establishment locking the doors. As she began to lower the lights, Cloud turned to her.
"Tifa..."
"It's time to go downstairs", she interrupted in a quiet voice.
"What?"
Watching her walk away descending the steps to the OP's room Cloud frowned. In his heart he felt a thousands pricks, his guilt got the better of him. He didn't want to stay. If Tifa chose to involve herself in some dangerous, moral struggle against Shinra, then more power to her, but it wasn't something that Cloud wanted to be a part of any further.
Cloud nodded, finally deciding on something that made sense, since he came to this city.
He finished his drink in one gulp, and made his way towards the back room. Approaching it, the sound of the TV grew louder. It was coming from the OP's room, down below. With a quick tug on the pinball machine, a hidden door opened up from the floor boards. With a deep breath, Cloud began to descend the steps that led to AVALANCHE'S Operations Room.
"It's about damn time punk!" Barett glared at Cloud. "Don't you care about nothing but yerself?"
Cloud frowned, and took a seat. Barett eyed him until he had everyone's attention.
"Okay mission one was a success...we hit the target and made it out in one piece..."
A jubilant explosion of cheers and self-congratulations erupted from the room.
"Awright, awright, we did good this time...but it's only gonna get tougher, we got lucky, they had us when that alarm went off. Next time they'll be on alert, we're not hitting small targets anymore...they'll really be pulling the stops out to get us now..."
Barret looked over to Cloud. "Yo punk, you did good tonight ...not bad. Was anyone from SOLDIER there?"
"Nope..."
"You sure? Cause some of those guys looked like the real deal."
"Let me just say this...If that was SOLDIER back there, you wouldn't be standing here right now."
Barett scoffed "Just cause you wuz in SOLDIER, you think your just so hardcore. Don't get all huffy now just cause your boys, got their asses kicked"
."I could care less about Shinra or SOLDIER." Cloud replied coldly as he stood up making his way towards the exit. "And I could care less about Avalanche or the stupid Planet for that matter... You have my money?"
"Here take it and go, punk"
Catching a small pouch, Cloud quickly counted the coins inside. "This is only half of what we agreed on...you must be joking"
"Consider it charity. Nobody else in here works for money"
"We had a contract…"
"Yeah well the agreement was off the moment you triggered that alarm"
Snapping, and seething with anger, Cloud unsheathed his blade bringing it down in one swift blow, ripping through the heavy oak table, cutting it cleanly in half amidst a shower of splinters. The tip of the blade missing Barrett's head by inches. An obvious silence struck the room, jaws were agape.
Strapping his sword, Cloud calmly composed himself, making his way up the stairs to the back storage room.
Heading for the door, he knew that now was a good time for his exit. Cloud recognized when he wasn't wanted or appreciated. Longing to get on the next train and say goodbye to this dreary place for good, Cloud could barely hear Marlene crying from her upstairs room. Perhaps blowing up like that wasn't the best way to part with Tifa.
"Cloud wait!"
Stopping dead in his tracks Cloud perked his ears, before even realizing someone was calling him. It was a softer much more feminine voice. It was Tifa.
"Oh Great this could be a bit awkward".
Turning to Tifa, his eyes glowing noticeably, in the half-light. Tifa stood behind him, her hand clenched tightly around a different pouch. "Cloud...I have the other half of your money here, please don't go,"
Dropping his eyes, to Tifa's hand, he could see the same pouch full of coin that she collected from her till in the bar. "Tifa, it's okay. I don't need the money."
"But Cloud we really need you." She paused kicking at the floor. "It would be really important to us if you stayed. And sorta important to me too"
Clouds mind raced. "I'm sorry Tifa, I have to go" Without missing a beat or allowing a pause Cloud opened the door.
"H,hey… Cloud please stop..." Tifa abjured. "Don't you remember your… promise?"
"My promise?"
"Yes...it was seven years ago...that night in Nibelheim?"
Cloud paused, trying desperately to remember.
"At the docks, right before you left to join SOLDIER. Remember?"
"Yes that night...right before I joined SOLDIER. I think, I think I do remember..."
Had it really been seven years? Picturing the event as it happened Cloud could almost replay the moment in his mind. Only a few moments ago, he struggled to recall even the most simple of memories. . He closed his eyes traveling back to the event in his mind.
"The Promise" He mumbled to himself.
Rain had cooled and misted the day, the fresh scent of damp earth still lingered heavily in the air. Cloud had waited patiently at the dock just outside of town, watching the stars shine in the crystal clear night.
"Cloud?" A soft voice whispered from the shadows.
"Tifa? Is that you? You actually came?"
"Of course I came. You invited me here didn't you?"
Emerging from the shadows a short young teenage girl with raven colored hair walked over towards Cloud. Pausing slightly she took a comfortable spot next to him on the pier. Dangling her legs over the edge she leaned back against the boards staring at the night sky.
"What did you want to see me about"
Frozen, Cloud gazed, almost awestruck by his companion. "I...I just wanted to talk to you, you know..."
Yawning Tifa responded in an unconcerned tone. "Oh...okay...Wow the stars look incredible tonight don't they?"
"Yeah..."
Staring into the night sky, a long pause ensued. Cloud desperately willed Tifa to come, it was so important. There was so much to tell her, and so little time left.
"Tifa...I'm joining SOLDIER"
There was a long pause.
"SOLDIER? Why are you joining SOLDIER?"
"...Because I want to be somebody, and do something great with my life..."
Looking over at her, hoping to find the slightest glimmer of interest, Cloud noticed Tifa's eyes still fixed on the sky. She was amazingly beautifull, and so sad. Cloud had often wondered why.
Tifa's voice broke the silence. "Why so sudden? Why did you decide right now?"
"Well...I didn't decide right now" Lingering with his sentence savoring the moment, he proudly and brashly responded.. "I decided 3 months ago..."
Tifa turned toward him "What?"
"Yeah, I'm being shipped out for Basic Training first thing tomorrow..."
Crawling across her face, Tifa fought back the sad expression now quiet evident. Gulping she turned her attention back towards the stars.
"Why is SOLDIER so important to you... you never really talked about it before"
"Well I'm tired of being this way. I mean I'm tired of living my life here, in this backwater town...I want to be like..."
"Like Zack?" Tifa interjected
Frowning at that statement, Cloud swallowed his irritation. "No. like Sephiroth..." Looking at Tifa expectantly, he eagerly anticipated her reply.
"...But Cloud, Sephiroth is so...so famous...do you really think you could be like him?"
A feeling like a hammer crushing his heart, became obvious and evident in his eyes. He clenched them tightly, keeping the tears from brimming.
"Never mind..." he replied
"Cloud wait...I didn't mean it like that..."
Halfway to the landing Cloud stopped. His fist tightly clenched. "Well..." He hoarsely replied. "It's what I'm going to do. I just, I just wanted to tell someone that's all."
Ensuing silence approached, signaling another moment for Cloud to make his exit.
"Cloud promise me something...". Tifa's voice called from over his shoulder.
"Promise you what?" He asked back.
"Promise me...that you'll come back ..."
Turning towards Tifa, Cloud stared at her with questioning eyes. "Why? I'm not the first person to leave this town to join the millitary."
"Cloud, it's true, you're not the first one to leave. But you are the last one to leave. All the others have moved on, or left Nibelheim, the kids we grew up with. Just promise me that when you become as famous as Sephiroth you won't forget about me, okay? So that whenever I'm in a bind, I know you'll come back for me."
Pausing Tifa struggled to find her words.
"Tifa… B, but what.. What's wrong…
"Times here are still hard for my family, I've always wanted to leave this isolated place and, you know... pursue my dreams. But I'll never get out of this town; I'll never have the chance. It's just..."
Cracking her voice began to trail off.
"...it's just so unfair and cruel, that I'll never have any dreams of my own. You'll go off into Soldier, and I'll still be here alone in Nibelheim. Zack and all the others have left already, it's just us two now."
Whith a short breathe of air Tifa continued. " So promise me, when you get your dream that you won't forget about me okay? Promise me you'll come back and help me fulfill mine. Once upon a time there was this knight who rescued an imprisioned princess. I know how silly this all sounds, but that story, the one my mother once read to me every night, it's the only dream I have left. Just these stupid fairy tales. That's all I have left…"
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Tifa continued. "So just please promise that you won't ever forget about me. Okay? Promise, when you become as famous as Sephiroth, that you'll come back for me. Promise that you'll be my knight, if I ever need you… okay?."
Promise me
Her last words echoing in Cloud's memories, the images fading from his mind. Cloud stared ahead for a minute considering the promise he had made her, now it seemed so fresh in his memory though he could barely recall it a few moments ago.
"Tifa...that was seven years ago..."
"But you promised me, you promised me you'd come back. All this time you had just forgotten about me, that promise, about everything..." Her voice trailed off.
"No Tifa, that's not true. I meant to keep that promise. But Nibelheim is a long way from here, you left that town and we're not kids anymore. I'm not famous, I haven't done that well, I'm not even a brave knight...You can't cling to some silly childish dream…
"You had your childhood dream to be in SOLDIER didn't you?"
"Y,yeah...I guess..."
"But what about my dream, you promised me. You said that you'd come back, that you'd never forget about me. And well, now I'm in a bind here... I need you. Please you've got to help me."
"I...I don't know."
Tifa's face seemed sad in the lamplight, she hung her head. "Please Cloud..."
"I'll pay you 2000, up front if you'll stay..." Barett Wallace's voice abruptly broke the silence.
Cloud looked up. Barett had evidently been standing there a while. Looking into Tifa's beautiful face, Cloud could see the sadness and disappointment. She too had seen much in the last seven years, all the pain and hurt. He felt the sense of loss, the feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. He knew it all to well. His mind, told him the smart thing was to leave it all behind, but right now something inside of him begged him to stay. Perhaps it was the disappointment he was causing Tifa, perhaps it was a sense of guilt for how he erupted earlier or perhaps it just felt good to be needed.
"...3000 not a Gil less" Cloud replied. Tifa's eyes perked up, and her face came alive again.
"You're outa yer mind..." Barett responded
Tifa walked over to Barett "Barett...come on, please, we do need all the help we can get..."
Barett frowned "All right 2500, minus what it's gonna cost to replace the table downstairs"
Cloud pondered for a bit, and then nodded. "Agreed..."