Chapter 2

The Heist

Tifa drew in a deep breath, trying to keep as still as possible. Beads of sweat formed on her head as she hung there completely motionless.

Tifa was suspended 100 feet in the air, upside-down over what appeared to be an active reactor. The harness that held her was quite questionable. It seemed rather unstable for use. Still, it was the only thing Tifa could use to lower herself down into the vault and back up the vent again.

Why'd they have to make these rooms so high? Tifa thought to herself as she tried to focus. The blood rushing to her head was distracting her concentration.

"Tifa, you awright?" a voice whispered quietly from the vent concealed above the ceiling.

Tifa gulped and glanced up at the ceiling. She was beginning to feel dizzy. The blood rushing to her head was not exactly a comfortable feeling. But she was the only one light enough to sneak into the room undetected. Yuffie would have been first choice, but her loyalties were questionable and there was so far no word from her. Her disappearance was strange.

"Ah…" Tifa gasped, feeling the harness slip slightly. "I…I'm fine. J…just lower me down," she replied nervously. God, what she would do to get out the situation. She knew Barret was right about stopping a new organization from rising into power, but breaking into some old reactor was a little too risky for comfort.

Tifa felt herself being lowered down onto the platform bellow her, and she forced herself not to wriggle against the harness. The rough material was beginning to cut into her abdomen.

Suddenly, she heard Barret curse and felt the harness shake slightly. Glancing up towards the vent she asked, "What's wrong?"

"This damn thing won't go any lower," Barret grumbled irritably.

Tifa sighed and threw her head back in frustration. "All right," she began, taking in a deep breath. Scanning the room, she tried to find something that would swing her down onto the floor. The feat was going to be difficult.

"Barret, swing me to that ramp over there," Tifa finally replied, pointing towards a rather rickety looking catwalk a few meters away from her.

"That looks too risky, Tifa. That could fall apart any second now. Don't think it'll hold your weight," Barret noted, glancing at the catwalk's rusty railings.

"Just do it," Tifa said, beginning to swing herself towards the catwalk. Taking in a deep breath, she prayed the harness would hold her securely as she swung in the air. Even as she was hanging still, she could feel the straps tear ever so slightly the more she moved.

Barret gave a defeated sigh and complied with Tifa's order. "Awright. But you're gonna have to get yourself out of this one." And with that, he began to swing Tifa gently in the air, careful not to tear the straps that held her.

Tifa reached forward as the railings grew closer to her fingertips. She was so close to reaching it. Just a little more and she could…

"Hey you up there! What do you think you're doing?"

Tifa heard Barret swear loudly, and the fire of gunshots. She jerked her head back towards Barret's direction and suddenly gasped, feeling a snap against the harness. The straps tore off, and she fell dangerously close to the glowing liquid below her.

With a surprised cry, Tifa threw herself towards the catwalk, her arms outstretched as she tried to reach it. She was reaching, thrusting her arms forward. She was so close…

Jackpot!

Her hands felt the cold, rusty feeling of metal, and she immediately closed her fingers around the railing. She made it safely. Ah, no sweat there, she thought to herself, hanging on to the rusty railing. So close now. All she had to do was haul herself up…

The catwalk groaned against Tifa's weight and shook. It was too weak to hold Tifa as she hauled herself onto it. She would be pummeling down the glowing liquid in a matter or seconds.

Taking a deep breath, Tifa forced herself to think and clear her mind. Glancing at the vent she had swung down from, she noticed lights flashing and the sound of bullets zooming in the air. There was no way Barret was going to help her out of this one.

The catwalk groaned once again as Tifa pushed herself onto the platform. Suddenly, it gave a loud snap, and the catwalk snapped off from one of its hinges. Tifa was now holding on for dear life as she dangled in the air with one hand gripping the railing.

"Barret! Barret, I can't hold on!" Tifa cried out, feeling the catwalk slowly snap away from its other hinge. She was going to fall…

"Take this, you jackasses!!!"

Barret pointed his gun arm towards the soldiers approaching him and fired. He was going to shoot every last one of them.

"Barret! Barret, I can't hold on!"

The large man swore loudly as he heard Tifa's desperate cry for help. There was no time. He had to get Tifa out of there before something happened to her.

A bullet zoomed dangerously close to Barret's head, missing him by a mere inch.

Damn! Don't get distracted! he thought to himself, ducking from the incoming bullets. Glancing in front of him, he noticed a few soldiers call for help, ceasing their firing. Shaking his head, he took a deep breath. God. This is suicide!

"Call for backup! I need backup over here!"

Now's my chance!

Without warning, Barret fired his gun once again as he charged through the large vent, firing at the soldiers coming towards him. He had to hurry. He would never forgive himself if he got Tifa killed.

"ARGH! GET OUT OF MY WAY MOTHER%$##%!!!!"