Disclaimer: Most of the characters and ideas in this story are products of Square-Enix/Squaresoft from the video game Final Fantasy 7 and I am in no way responsible for the creation of this fictional world or the characters within it.

Rating: T or PG-13 (violence, mild language)

Introduction: This story takes place after Cloud & Co. were released from Corel prison. With their new buggy, they traveled south of Gold Saucer so that they could make their way east to follow Sephiroth. This story is a novelization of an encounter(optional in game) that they had during their journey east.

Chapter 1 Pit Stop

"What a dump." a deep voice said, breaking the silence that filled the warm afternoon air that surrounded the two men. Hearing his partner's comment, Reno looked around, surveying the area.

"No kiddin," Reno replied. "Who bombed this place?"

His partner calmly responded, "I think the reactor went up a few years back."

"Obviously," Reno mumbled, annoyed by his partners ignorance of his attempt at humor.

"You think they'll actually show up or you think the tip was a dud?" Reno turned to Rude, who only shrugged in response.

(Cloud)

Cloud pulled the buggy to a stop in the humid forest that surrounded the rural town of Gongaga. They had been driving for a while and the group was in need of rest. Not that their stay in Corel Prison hadn't been a relaxing one, but after bargaining for their freedom and fighting off Corel thugs, driving across the continent was an exhausting thought.

"So we're stayin' at the inn here?" Cloud asked, turning around to face the passenger section in the back of the buggy.

Barret leaned forward. "Have ya look'd at the place Cloud? From what I saw, we'll be lucky if there's a single bed in the whole damn town."

"Well I'm gonna check," Aeris replied cheerfully. "I don't want to sleep in this rusty old machine."

"Me neither," Tifa added from the seat next to Cloud.

"Well I'm fine in here," Barret replied. "Now that the bumpy-ass ride is over, this seat is actually comfortable. Besides, someone has to watch the buggy."

"I'm fine here also," Cait Sith chimed in with his childish voice.

Red XIII spoke up. "I'll sleep just outside the buggy. I like the sounds of the wilderness and I will hear if anyone approaches."

"Yuffie?" Cloud asked, looking in the back where she was already stretched out on the farthest bench seat.

Yuffie sat up and answered. "I'm fine here, now that we stopped move'n. Besides, I don't sleep in strange places."

"Alright, I'll take the ladies into town. If there's not an Inn, we'll be back in a few." Cloud stated as he opened the driver-side door and stepped out.

Tifa climbed out the opposite side, followed by Aeris. They walked over to Cloud who had already started up the path to Gongaga.

"Lead the way," Aeris said playfully.

After they walked a short distance, they reached a fork in the path and Cloud raised his hand to signal the girls to be silent. He had heard voices ahead, so he moved a few more steps forward and asked, "...Is someone there?"

(Reno)

"Hey Rude. Who do you like?" Reno asked, attempting to get some conversation out of Rude while they waited. Rude turned the other direction in response to his question.

"What are you getting so embarrassed about?" Reno asked, hoping to get a rise out of his emotionless partner. "Come on? Who do you like?"

Rude was obviously pained to have to show his feelings about anything, but he eventually replied, "...Tifa."

"Hmmm...That's a tough one," Reno said. "But, poor Elena. She...you..."

"No," Rude answered. "She likes Tseng."

Shocked by this new development, Reno said, "I never knew that! But, Tseng likes that Ancient..."

(Elena)

Elena slowly walked up the path to Gongaga on her way to rendezvous with the other Turks. Her walk through the woods hadn't turned up anything other than a buggy parked about ten meters off the path. That didn't matter, she was only looking for Cloud or his group. Therefore, a junky buggy parked in the woods was an irrelevant detail in a failed search. She was hoping to perform well in this situation since she did not have much field experience as a Turk and wanted to earn her colleagues respect.

Ahead in the path, three travelers stood, seemingly listening to an idiotic conversation Reno and Rude were undoubtedly having. Two female travelers stood behind the man, blocking Elena's view of him.

As she approached, she heard the male traveler say, "What are they talking about?"

Elena joined in the conversation. "It's so stupid! They always talk about who they like or don't like," Elena said, suddenly lost in thought. "But Tseng is different."

The male traveler turned around in response to her comments revealing his spiky blond hair and odd purple uniform.

"Ah!" Elena gasped, shocked mostly by her own ignorance. "Oh no!" she cried as she sprinted past their deadly enemy.

Upset at her mistake, she screamed to Reno and Rude, "They're here! They're really here!"

"Hmm...Then it's time..." Reno leisurely responded. His demeanor was more than a little surprising to Elena. Reno turned to his partner and said, "Rude...Don't take it easy on them even though they're girls."

Rude calmly replied, "...Don't worry, I'll do my job."

"Then, we're counting on you" Elena said, attempting to sound professional. "I'll report to Tseng!" Elena paid her fellow Turks a salute and then took off down the path to the Gongaga reactor.

(Cloud)

Cloud stepped forward, ready to engage in battle at any second should the need arise. With Elena gone, he surveyed his remaining opponents. Reno, he had fought before and he knew what to expect from him. His partner however, Cloud had met only briefly at the ShinRa headquarters. He would have to watch him carefully so that there would be no surprises. As Cloud looked back at Reno, Reno turned to face him.

"It's been a while," Reno said, staring calmly at Cloud. "Payback time for what you did in sector 7."

Cloud was angered by the mention of Sector 7, but he knew that Reno had intended it. Not giving Reno the satisfaction, he maintained his composure and asked, "Sector 7?" Knowing that a Turk would want his work recognized, Cloud thought playing dumb would be the best response.

(Reno)

Marveling at what a jackass Cloud was, Reno simply answered, "That's sad." Though he kept his cool composure, Reno was exhilarated by the adrenaline rush just before a good fight.

"That's as far as you go." Rude emotionlessly declared. Realizing that it was time to go to work, Reno leisurely pulled his electric nightstick from his belt and rested it on his left shoulder.

(Tifa)

Tifa's heart was racing. She did not exactly fear these men, but she knew that ShinRa hadn't not sent negotiators to take them in. And, for that matter, ShinRa wouldn't have sent two when they could easily have sent two-hundred unless those two were very good at their job. They would most likely have more than a few tricks up their well-tailored sleeves.

(Cloud)

Cloud, on the verge of a dangerous fight, felt strangely at home. His mind was clear and focused, contemplating the different scenarios that might play out at any moment. He was confident that he could handle either alone, but together the danger of facing them would likely increase tenfold. Also, he had to consider the safety of Aeris and Tifa. He didn't doubt that they both could hold their own in a fight, but he did not know the intentions nor the capabilities of their ShinRa adversaries. However, he did know that they were likely instructed to capture Aeris, so it would be best not to involve her.

"Tifa," Cloud said suddenly.

"I'm on it." she replied, apparently understanding exactly what he was going to say. She stepped forward to face off with Rude, shifting her body into the stance of the Zangan-style martial arts.

Cloud observed the quieter of the two raising his hands into the classic boxer stance. Immediately relieved that his weapon of choice was his own hands and not some deadly ShinRa weapon, he set his sights on his target. Reno.

Note: The only reason I ended this chapter with sort of a cliffhanger was because I wanted this chapter to set up the fight and the next chapter to be the fight. Sorry if it is annoying. :) I will update very soon anyway.