A/N:
Just a nice thank you to my oh so lovely reviewers: always-kh, LOstGirlz, vx-Luna-xv, and kitsune13. Love you more beyond belief. here ya go!
Disclaimer: not mine, don't sue.
"Hey, Reno? Yeah, it's Tifa…No…NO!" Tifa sighed at her cell phone and graciously passed it to the man next to her.
"…So I was just saying that you could just take a break from the bar and go out on a little…"
"It's Cloud."
Cloud heard a loud squeal from the other side. "Oh! Cloud, you know I was only kidding, man…"
"We found a part of Jenova."
The Turk's mood swiftly switched gears, "You did? Great! How much exactly?"
Cloud paused, "It was one of Hojo's experiments in the Nibelheim reactor."
"Hm…check! Got it! Knew you guys would come through! Now only some left. Did you destroy it?"
The blonde paused for a moment, wondering if a lie would be a better alternative, "…No, Vincent said otherwise."
"And you take his word over ours?" Reno stammered.
"Yes." That was a dumb question. "We're headed to Midgar now to check the old Shinra building."
"Oh? Need assistance…"
Cloud flipped the phone down and walked back towards Tifa. The airship was hovering slowly now over the remnants of the former largest city in Gaia, looking for a place to land amongst the rubble. Cid managed to maneuver downwards right in front of the former skyscraper of the Shinra building.
Yuffie was the first off the Shera. The ninja ran up towards the fallen building and immediately pouted. "He's not here."
"Who?" Tifa walked up to the ninja, "Oh! He's coming Yuffs. Why so excited?"
The other girl didn't turn, but only walked forward to the wreckage. Cloud himself slowly ventured off the airship, gazing at the debris. The front entrance, though slightly demolished, was still functioning properly as a gate to the former wealthy Shinra Electric Company. "I doubt the elevators are still working." Cloud grimly stepped into the now dark grey lobby. His boots grazed the stony ash, still untouched from the explosion 2 years ago. It was piled up on the floor in sheets.
In the far center of the lobby stood 2 sets of stairs that led to the upper floors. He climbed them easily enough, avoiding the cracked areas and missing fragments of steps. Tifa trailed behind him, her hands releasing from the banister every so often. "No elevator, huh?" She overtook Cloud's lead and approached the silver elevator at the top of the stairs. The blue light above was shining, making it seem perfectly functional.
Cloud was still wary, "But do you think it's safe?"
"Hell if I'm going any other way." Cid pressed the up button, and the elevator soon arrived. They all scrunched into the small space, Yuffie last. She hunched her shoulders sharply and took a large intake of breath. She okay?
The thought was soon answered as the metal doors slowly slid open to reveal a dark figure on the other side. "VINNIE!" The ninja popped off the elevator hatch and towards the red caped man. "I thought you lied when you said you'd meet us in Midgar!" Seeing that this wouldn't give her any response, Yuffie continued, "Did you find anything?"
Vincent's dark hair fell in front of his face, "Nothing of our interest." His cape flew back as he turned his back to face his friends, "Come." They followed the rapidly moving man to the edge of the hallway. His claw covered hand grazed a seemingly blank wall, "There's something behind here, an elevator or something."
"Then what are you waiting for, Vince? Let's go!" Yuffie hopped up and scrambled forward, lifting her shuriken at the seemingly solid white wall.
Her forward motion paused at Vincent's touch on her wrist, "No, Yuffie…that's not what we're looking for." Vincent slid away. "Not yet at least. We need to go up to Hojo's old lab."
Tifa led them through the hallway, "There was another elevator, but I think we need a key card." She brought them to the spot, which in fact did have security measures. The martial artist crossed her arms and stared at the door harshly, "…I don't think there is any other way to get in, and there's not going to be any key cards just lying around."
"Ah, Come on, Teef! We just need to make a dent in it!" Yuffie lowered her shuriken and aimed it at the control panel of the elevator. "Just one little…"
"Stop." His voice was calm and soft, but easily dissuaded Yuffie from further action. Vincent maneuvered his way to be in front of the elevator security control. "The Turks had access codes for practically everywhere in Shinra Manufacturing."
"Eh? And what good is that?" Cid blinked and then hit his head at the realization and Vincent's knowing look, "Then what are you waiting for? Go and plug in the password!"
Vincent hesitated, "Hojo made his own password though. A mistake could potentially lead to an extreme security breach."
"yeah, yeah. Like some SOLDIERS are gonna pop from underground and attack." Yuffie scoffed at the mere suggestion. "And even if there were any SOLDIERs left, we could take them, Vinnie! Just go!"
His red eyes darted to her direction briefly and then turned to the key pad. One button pressed produced a holographic screen above the security panel. "SOLDIERs wouldn't be the only thing." Another button pressed, and the password notice came on the screen. "Knowing Hojo, probably a total system malfunction."
Then you better not mess up.
A computerized voice echoed from the panel, "Override keycard access?"
Vincent hit yes.
"Please enter pass code."
The dark haired man seemed to think for a second before plugging in the 8-letter code name. The screen shifted to a loading page, only increasing the slight tension. Yuffie jolted with anxiety as the screen flashed white, either indicating accuracy or a complete shut down.
Her expression relieved when a soft chime sounded. "Pass code accepted." The result was the opening of the elevator doors.
"If I may ask, what was the code?" Tifa stepped into the elevator, questioning the former Turk curiously.
Vincent didn't seem too compelled to answer, but obliged. "It was crescent."
"Oh." Tifa's smile became nervous. She shifted to a far corner, next to Cloud. Of course it was. The air became immediately awkward, despite the deep connections between the five people.
The exact nature of Vincent's…life was basically unknown to AVALANCHE. His past history rivaled Cloud's in confusion and miserable circumstances. But he never talked much about it, and Cloud didn't blame him. Maybe one day. He smirked at the sight of the little ninja, tugging at Vincent's cloak and managing to swipe his gun from the holster without his notice. He'll open up.
The 5 slowly walked out to the next level and into Hojo's lab. He remembered being confused here, when he first found Red and how Aerith looked like a trapped laboratory experiment. "It was here." Cloud hovered over to the far right corner, where a metal tank was situated.
Slight sparks were glistening from the formerly pristine metal container. The door had been ripped open by the infamous Sephiroth, leaving a rather large puddle of Mako fluid and only a small entrance way.
Yuffie caught the intention of the men's stares, "No way…I volunteered to kick Jenova butt, not crawl into Mako gunk."
"I can't fit," Cloud shrugged. He placed a hand on the outer opening. "But we need to check it."
"…Ugh, no!" The ninja cooed and frantically went behind the caped man. "Don't make me do it, Vince!"
Tifa stepped forward, "I'll go in."
Yuffie peeked behind Vincent, who looked overly exasperated. "…you sure, Teef? You aren't too, um, big on…"
"You rather go in, Yuffie?" Tifa was slightly flushed. "I don't mind a puddle of Mako. Not like I've never done anything worse." She picked up her foot and stepped over the metal exterior and into the gooey debris. She barely fit with her height and size. "What am I looking for?" Her hands went into the liquid, rummaging through the puddle.
Something snapped in Cloud's intuition. "Tifa." Her small frame was looked crushed in the former Jenova hold. "Tifa, hurry up." He watched her fall on her knees and continue to search for any remaining piece of the alien.
"I am hurrying." Her palms and legs were soaked with liquid. "Oh wait, I think I…" Tifa's voice died off as another spark flew from the tank. The shining wave fell from the loose wires and into the liquid ground. Her body became rigid from the sudden shock, falling forcefully inside the tank.
Cloud immediately sprang forward. SHIT. "Tifa!" Her body was lifeless on the ground from the electrical current. Cloud's eyes narrowed with horror. She was scrunched in the space, her head hitting the metal wall before the ground. His boot was halfway in before he felt the golden claw grab his shoulder.
"Wait."
"WAIT?" Cloud turned viscously to face Vincent, but then back to Tifa. She wasn't breathing.
Vincent noticed the distress and held tighter. "For the sparks to stop. Wait."
The blonde forced his anxiety into his chest and waited for the sparks to stop flying. The moment the flashes were gone, he leaning into the tank, picking up his fallen friend and holding her up to his chest. Tifa's head limply sat in his upper arm.
"Oh man…not good." Yuffie peered at the long haired girl. She brushed her bangs aside and couldn't help the dour frown. "Cloud…do you think she's gonna be okay?"
She has to be. But the truth was, he didn't know. His blue eyes were becoming duller. "…I don't…Let's go."
"Hold it!" Cid knelt down by Cloud's feet, picking up a greenish blue appendage. "Looks like a fucking finger. Here, Valentine."
Vincent caught the body part and placed it in his pocket, "We'll discuss what to do with it back on the Shera."
"No we won't." Cloud was turned around, already walking back to the elevator. His boots crumbled the remaining bits of glass from fallen beakers. Why aren't we focusing on this? "We need to help Tifa first."
Cid patted Cloud's shoulder. "Of course we will, you prick. You're not the only son of a bitch who cares for her. Move out!"
Cloud shifted his body weight to make Tifa more comfortable. Her closed eyes were facing his body, unflinching at his proximity. Tifa…wake up.
A/N:
worst day ever today. reviews would just be fantastic :/
bye
~Mira