They hadn't been sitting for much longer than an hour when the announcement came that they were just a few minutes away from the docks at Costa del Sol. Cloud's frown returned in full force. He and Zack fell quiet again, just listening to the grating hum as the ship began to slow and stop.

Zack noticed Cloud reaching for his toolbox again, knuckles turning white as he gripped the handle.

"We've still got a truck ride," Zack said, trying to offer some kind of comfort.

"I know," Cloud replied and then swallowed thickly.

"It's gonna be dark by the time we get there," Zack said, "We probably won't even get to the reactor until tomorrow."

"I know," Cloud repeated.

"Then would you relax for a second?" Zack asked. Cloud seemed angry for a moment. Then he sighed.

"I don't want to mess this up," Cloud said softly, "Everything else I've done has been partially experimental. I mess up, I start over, and I don't make that mistake again. This time..." Cloud tapped his thumb on the side of his toolbox.

"It's pre-mission nerves," Zack said, "I had them too, on my first mission, and there were two other guys with me for that one...plus Angeal. I think I did ten thousand squats trying to calm down."

"Did it help?" Cloud asked.

"Not really," Zack admitted, "but it annoyed Angeal less than me jabbering on and on."

"What does help then?" Cloud said.

"...To be honest, just getting it done," Zack said, "You just gotta push it all down and think that you can do it, while you're doing it. I know when we get there, you're gonna be fine. We just gotta get there."

"Sounds easy enough," Cloud sighed.

"Yep, just remember to tie both your shoes before you start," Zack said. Cloud snorted once, but fell quiet again.


Zack remembered not to grab Cloud as they exited the ship. Cloud took a gentle hold of Zack's arm and let himself be led to the dock. At least this bit was getting better. The truck was already waiting for them, the driver flirting with a girl holding a volleyball. Zack got his attention with a sharp knock on the back and one of his trademark smiles.

Cloud's free hand felt out the back of the truck, sliding his tool box under one of the seats. Cloud climbed inside as Zack went to chat with the driver and make sure they were really good to go.

"I have a pick up at a checkpoint near the Nibel Mountains," the driver said, "you're on your on in Corel."

"I figured," Zack said, "At least you got good company for part of the drive there."

"What are you talking about?" the driver asked in a teasing tone, "I was planning on locking myself up front and listening to my shitty music." Zack laughed and headed to the back to check on Cloud. He had already settled himself in the back, his eyes lightly closed and breathing deeply and purposefully.

"Nah man, you can have your shitty music," Zack said, "the company in the back beats your sorry ass any day." The driver cackled as he slid into the drivers seat. Zack hopped in the back right across from Cloud. The truck rumbled as it started.

"You don't have to sit back here," Cloud said softly.

"Nah," Zack said, "he really does have shitty music. Great guy, terrible, wailing tastes in music. Besides, I've got great company back here. Perfect audience to hear the terrible tale of Uncle Buttmunch, yeah?"

"...I don't know how great a conversationalist I'm going to be," Cloud said, "I can already tell this will be a bumpy ride."

"It's cool," Zack said, "I just need someone to nod as I talk about this person I still refuse to believe is related to me. You can do that much, right?"

"Yeah," Cloud said.

"Great," Zack said, "now first of all...Uncle Bentley doesn't live in main town. He's kind of...a hermit. A very creepy one. And just to warn you...he's called Butt Munch for a reason. A very literal reason."

"Oh my fucking god," Cloud groaned.

"Too gross?" Zack asked.

"No, just that curve we went around," Cloud said, "keep going." Zack continued his story of the first and only time he had met with his supposed great uncle (and saw his very gross eating habits) and the moral of why you never let a Gongagan man kiss you.

Cloud topped it by saying it wasn't uncommon for native Nibelheimers to eat raw wolf.

"That's nasty," Zack said.

"It's supposed to make you brave or something like that," Cloud said, "It is also supposed to taste like squirrel. I have no idea why."

"Why do they eat squirrels?" Zack asked.

"Because they can't catch wolves?"

Zack noticed that Cloud's face grew more strained as the truck started winding it's way uphill. He wasn't sure if it was the ride or the mission anymore. Cloud's face had gone quite a variety of colors as it was. He decided it was the former when the truck started to roll to a stop.

Zack peeked out and frowned. They were still about a quarter mile from the outskirts of Corel.

"Wait a sec," Zack said as he hopped out. He walked out to the driver's door, then paused. Someone had set up a gate.

"That looks new," Zack said.

"They get less and less friendly every time I come here," the driver said, "I really hate to do this to you guys but..."

"Hey. You didn't put up a fence here. I think Cloud could use the fresh air. He's been trying not to hurl on the floor."

"I better not find chunks in there," the driver said, "I just cleaned this baby."

"She's squeaky clean," Zack assured him, "Thanks for the ride. See you in a few days."

Cloud was already climbing out of the back. He had his pack slung over his shoulder and his box in hand. Ready to go. Zack grabbed his stuff and waved as the truck turned and took off. They were quite officially on their own now.

"Let's mosey," Cloud said. Zack snorted this time, but started walking around the fence across the road.


Cloud seemed more or less back to normal by the time they reached the city outskirts. Zack knew Corel wasn't too terribly big, but couldn't quite identify the supposedly-hard-to-miss building that had to be the inn. He thought the air felt a little tense at first. He knew when front doors began slamming behind them and figures began congregating on porches that it was a lot worse than he thought.

Then he heard footsteps on the dirt behind them.

Oh shit.

He now was beginning to understand why Angeal chosen him of all people for this job. It wasn't because he was a First. It wasn't that he was Angeal's students. It wasn't a test of strength, stamina, or speed at all.

Zack stopped walking, Cloud stopping right beside him and he turned. At least twenty of the locals had started congregating behind him. No weapons, but no bright and smiling faces either. Not an angry mob...yet.

Zack heaved a breath before speaking, thinking very hard about what he was going to say. Zack hadn't been chosen because he was a good model of a SOLDIERs abilites. Zackary Fair had been chosen because he was one friendly, non-threatening son of a bitch and it was time to play up that part to a fucking T.

"I don't suppose one of you would mind telling us where the inn is," Zack said with a bright and very innocent smile. Cloud briefly wondered what the hell was going on, but decided to keep his mouth shut for now.

"We're full," a man near the front said. Zack could guess he owned the inn and was pretty much taking ShinRa's money and not letting them stay. That was still okay. Zack knew he had a tent. It would be cramped, but it would work.

"Oh, that's a shame. Nice night though," Zack said, pretending he was completely oblivious to how very not happy people were with their presence. "I guess if someone wanted to loan us their backyard..." He made his laugh sound as natural as possible to let everyone in on the joke. No one else laughed...but they looked like they were buying it.

"Here to shut down the reactor, boys?" someone else asked.

Okay maybe not.

"No," Cloud said. Zack did his best not to jerk towards Cloud. At the same time he silently begged the blonde to keep talking.

"No?" Now there was obvious confusion from the townsfolk. The had made their own assumptions, probably the right ones, but now was the time to derail them as much as possible.

"The reactor is going bad," Cloud said cooly, almost offhandedly, "It probably will stop running in a year or two. We just want to see how long we have to replace it." Zack swallowed. That was a pretty damn good lie there. Just enough truth mixed in to make it believable. Zack glanced at the hand still holding his toolbox. He was surprised Cloud hadn't snapped the handle yet.

There was murmuring going on with the people left. It was at that moment that a door behind them slammed open.

"What in bleedin' hell is goin' on out here?" A coarse voice shouted. Zack turned. Not even mako treatments quite fixed trying to get a clear picture of a figure backed by a bright light. All he got was an outline of a man as wide as he was tall.

"Wallace...they're here," someone near the front of the crowd said.

"I can see that," the man, Wallace, said, "have y'all lost your damn minds?! What were you even gonna do to 'em? Huh? Scare 'em to death?"

"We're not just gonna sit here and let 'em take away our power!"

Zack took another hold of Cloud's arm as a shouting match started to take place between Wallace and what appeared to be the bad half of the town.

"If things go sour...I'm gonna pick you up again," Zack said softly.

"Just tell me where we're going and I'll be fine," Cloud said. Zack turned as he saw another figure step into the light in the house behind them. He found himself stepping back a little as Wallace's wild gesturing and arguing almost hit him in the face. Things didn't seem to be getting much better.

"IT IS ELEVEN O'CLOCK! WHY ARE Y'ALL STANDING ON MY FRONT PORCH!" Zack actually winced at the sound of this new and very female voice. Footsteps marched down until they were standing right next to him. A woman stood with her hands on her hips and veritably glared at the mob outside her house.

"I've got kids inside, trying to sleep!" She hollered, "If you want to start something. You do it when the sun is up!" Zack immediately knew he wanted this woman very much on his side. With her little outburst a good portion of the crowd had started to back off. A few stood firm, still staring down Wallace, but they followed their friends in good time. Wallace sighed as the last of them turned around.

"Myrna-" he started.

"I don't wanna hear it!" the woman said, "the only reason you ain't sleepin' in the shed tonight is because I have to give it to these two.

"And you two," she started turning to Zack, "get inside before I change my mind about feeding you."

"Ma'am you don't have to-" Zack started.

"Get."

"Yes ma'am," Zack said, giving a light tug to let Cloud know where they were going. Cloud took his usual hold on Zack's arm. They marched up the steps behind Wallace and Myrna. Cloud still looked tense, but he was breathing.

The screen slammed behind them. Wallace stood in the living room rubbing his neck. Myrna has disappeared further in. Cloud and Zack stood by the door, ready to bolt when ordered to. Myrna's head popped back inside.

"In," she ordered. They stepped forward, towards the hallway she had disappeared into. It opened up into a kitchen.

"You can eat in here," she said, "Barret will get you spare blankets." Wallace sighed from where he was standing by the doorway before moving in.

"Check on Marlene," Myrna called after him, "if she woke up from all that hootin' and hollerin' you did..." She just shook her head. She set a casserole dish on the small table. It looked iffy, but warm.

"It's not much," Myrna said, "but it's all that's grows out here anymore." Zack and Cloud sat. Cloud sniffed once.

"Potato casserole," he said, "I thought we only had it in Nibelhiem."

"You have it where ever potatoes grow," Myrna replied. There were a few very tense moments in that kitchen. Zack watched Myrna's ponytail sway to and fro as she moved back and forth, cleaning some sort of mess.

"Ma'am...about earlier...I just want to-"

"Don't thank me," Myrna said, "I never wanted that hunk of junk anywhere near this town, but now..." She trailed off stared out the window for a moment.

"I am sorry," Wallace's voice was soft and at the doorway again. Myrna flew back into action, ignoring his words. Zack decided to eat as quickly as possible. He knew when he wasn't wanted.


Zack let Cloud take his sleeping bag. as they settled in the shed behind the house. It was far from ideal, but it would work for now since the innkeeper was completely against them...along with half the town.

"And I haven't even seen the reactor," Cloud murmured. Zack laughed lightly.

"Yeah," he agreed, "I was worried there for a second."

"They're scared," Cloud said, "What's gonna happen when I shut off their power? How are they going to care for their families? Do their jobs? I'm basically putting their lives on hold for an experiment."

"But if you don't..." Zack led in.

"Then there won'd be a Corel anymore," Cloud sighed. He lay there for a long and very quiet while.

"Zack?" Cloud asked.

"Hmm?"

"If I gave you a list, do you think you could get me some building supplies?" Cloud asked. Zack sat up.

"What sort of supplies?"

"Material," Cloud said, "I know they ship some of what I need from Corel. We can find it here."

"Why?" Zack asked.

"Because if they don't let us up to the reactor, then I we're going to need something to bargain with," Cloud said.

"What are you going to do?" Zack asked.

"What I do best," Cloud said, rolling over, "Build something."