Cloud woke up the next day picking up his buster sword and made his way to the train station. Barrett, Aertih and Tifa were waiting outside the train as Wedge, Biggs and Jessie secured the last train carriage. Once cleared the rest of the crew boarded the train secured the doors so unwanted guests couldn't join them. As the train staff was making their last final checks they gave the okay to the train driver a gesture to head out. The train started to move out of the train station slowly as Biggs gave a sigh of relief "That went well nothi…" before he could finish his sentence the train grinded to a halt suddenly causing Jessie to fall out of the bench. "You've jinxed us Biggs" as Barrett picked him up by his shirt collar waving his gun arm at him, as the rest of the AVALANCHE crew looked around in a panic to see what was going on, it was only Cloud that had remained in his previous position, leaning against one of the train posts, fixated on his boots. "It'll pass, don't bring any unwanted attention towards us" Cloud paused and looked up at Barrett "and let go of Biggs" The train started moving again without further delays, Barrett grunted as he let go of Biggs causing him to crash to the ground. "Thanks Cloud" Biggs smiled.

The train carriage Wedge had chosen had access to the on-board computer that would track the train's progress. Aerith made her way over to Cloud standing next to him, holding her hands behind her back she asked Cloud "Why'd you take up this job, why did you join AVALANCHE?" She continued "and don't lie to me about this just being for the money Cloud I know that's not the reason…" Aerith looked over towards Tifa who was talking to Barrett at the time. "Is it for her?" "This is just a mission for me; I'm not here for a relationship. I'm here to make sure the mission goes to plan and if it doesn't to deal with it. Why did you want to come with us?" Cloud replied, Aerith smiling as she listened before answering Cloud "I like being part of this group that's all" Barrett shouted down the carriage "This is our stop guys, get ready to jump"

Tifa opened the door and without delay she leaped out of the train rolling flawlessly landing on the opposite tracks as the rest of the avalanche crew followed behind her, leaving Cloud, Aerith and Barrett on the train. "Come on guys, you're up next" Aerith got to the train door and was frozen with fear "I don't know if I can do this" Barrett stood by her and gestured the jumping motion for Aerith "Follow my lead" he said as he launched himself from of the train. Aerith looked nervous still and as she turned towards Cloud, he picked her in his arms, and she wrapped her hands around his hand and held on tight. "Let's go Aerith" jumping after the crew, sliding on the ground to take some pressure of the impact. Aerith looked up into Cloud's eyes and leaned into him. But just as she did Cloud had brought her down to her feet. She blushed as he didn't seem to be aware of her intentions and that she had gone to kiss him.

"We'd better catch up before we lose the track of the others" as Cloud pointed in the general direction towards the reactor. Aerith nodded and followed just behind him. She had replayed the interaction between the two of the constantly thinking that Cloud didn't like her, maybe she had been right about Tifa but he didn't want to admit his feelings for her?

It wasn't long before they had caught up to the others; Wedge was stuck on hacking one of the vent's controls so they could access the Mako reactor. "We need to shut off the power before we can travel through here, it's too hot to touch the metal, and we wouldn't make it in time. I just need a few more minutes and we'll be through" as he entered the last line of code to start the script.

Tifa was the first to notice Cloud and Aerith re-joined the group and headed towards him. "Still playing bodyguard I see?" Cloud scoffed at that. "Never mind, what sort of security do you think they'll bring today?" Tifa continued. "It'll be a force of Shinra soldiers, maybe some mechanized robots, nothing more than 2nd class soldiers…any trouble we'll be able to dispatch." Cloud shrugs.

"Got it!" Wedge exclaimed opening the vent door gesturing the others to slide through. Barrett jumped through first clearing the perimeter followed by Cloud with the sword at the ready. "All clear" They both announced. Tifa, Aerith and the others followed. "Right you three, start planting the outer explosives ready for when we attack the main reactor, that'll cause panic and mayhem. Then in that chaos we can move in with ease." Barrett gestured Wedge, Biggs and Jessie away. "The rest on me"

AVALANCE make their way up from the base level, Cloud taking the lead with Tifa to the left of him, Aerith just behind him and Barrett covering at the back, moving from room to room. Checking each corner to make sure they weren't running into any trouble. They didn't want to fight just yet, the plan was to get as far into the reactor as possible without any contact. Cloud stopped everyone and pulled them into cover, he spotted a unit in the next room on a patrol, holding them back until they had passed. "Let's go" Cloud whisper as he walked into lobby. All of a sudden Shinra soliders had rushed out of the elevators and around from each corner. They were surrounded by them on each and every side all pointed their guns at them. Cloud raised his sword; Tifa pulled her gloves tight and was in her fighting stance as Barrett aimed at the soliders switching between each of them every couple of seconds. They had the backs to each other with Aerith in the middle of them holding on to her staff. Cloud started to wonder how they knew they were coming, how did they manage to trap and ambush them? But there wasn't time to come up with a conclusion. They had to survive first.