Cloud Strife came back from doing a delivery. He spotted Tifa Lockhart sitting silently at the table.
"Hey Tifa." he called.
But she remained silent.
"What's up?" he asked.
She looked spooked. "Hello? Is anybody home?" he asked.
"Huh? Oh, hey Cloud." she replied. Their foster son, Denzel and Marlene, the adopted daughter of Barret Wallace, came rushing downstairs.
"Cloud!" they exclaimed.
At least some people acknowledge me when I come back from a job, he thought.
As they ate dinner that night, Cloud saw that Tifa had barely touched hers.
"Is something wrong?" he asked gently.
"I'm fine." she replied.
"Tifa, you haven't eaten your food. Are you sure that you're OK?" Denzel added.
Looks like I betray myself too easily, she thought smiling.
"Alright, I guess I can't keep anything from you lot now." she sighed.
"Let's hear it then." Marlene demanded.
"OK, but you're not gonna like what I'm about to tell you..." Tifa began.
The only sound that they could hear was rain splashing against the windows.
"I'm not sure if you know this already, but there've been some rumours going around the city lately." she explained.
"What kind of rumours?" Cloud asked.
She looked uncomfortable. "People have been saying...that they can hear screams coming from the ruins of Midgar." she continued.
"Woah...creepy...!" shuddered Denzel.
"I know. But it gets worse: every night the screaming is heard." Tifa added.
"That's horrible!" Marlene gasped.
And just when things were starting to calm down after the Kadaj incident, Cloud thought sadly.
Suddenly, the door banged open. Some strange soldiers came charging in.
"Who the hell are you?" Cloud demanded.
"Execute the contaminated. We need to bring the pure ones back alive." ordered the captain of the group.
"Contaminated...?" Cloud blinked.
Of course! The geostigma...! he realised.
Cloud drew his sword. "Tifa, get the kids outta here! Leave these guys to me." he called to her.
"But, Cloud..." Denzel cried.
"Denzel, come on!" yelled Tifa, grabbing his arm.
She ran, only to find the exit blocked by soldiers. "GET OUT OF MY WAY!!" she cried, unleashing her attack Final Heaven on them.
Cloud, seeing that Tifa had managed to get the children out safely, performed his attack Braver on the soldiers at the entrance. Outside he saw Tifa was driving a van.
"We'll meet you outside Kalm!" she promised.
As she sped off, Cloud ran to his motorbike, Fenrir. He sped up and managed to escape as the soldiers rounded up people from the city...
They soon met up with Reeve Tuesti. He explained that the soldiers were from a group called Deepground, which had also attacked Kalm. Their friend Vincent Valentine was caught up in all of the chaos. Barret soon arrived. The three were told of Deepground's plan; killing innocent people to release the Omega WEAPON.
"These damn Shinra suckas are gonna pay for attackin' Corel!"Barret yelled.
"They'll pay for kidnapping people from our town too!" Tifa agreed.
"Alright, you three will lead the ground assault. Cid will lead the aerial assault." Reeve explained.
"If Vincent's going to take down Deepground, then we'll do all we can to help." Cloud announced. "Let's go!"he yelled.
"Good luck!" Denzel called.
"Daddy, don't do anything stupid, OK?" begged Marlene.
"We'll be back soon." promised Cloud.
And so the attack on Midgar began...
TO BE CONTINUED IN DIRGE OF CERBERUS...
