A cripshay clicked its horns on the metal floor of a nearby train car. Cloud brought his mind back to the present.

Tifa had changed so much in seven years. Not just physically – although Biggs had remarked lewdly that she was 'more woman than most.' Cloud had changed too. He barely recognized the kid he used to be. Thinking back was like spying on someone else's life.

"I'm not a hero," he finally said.

"But you got your wish, didn't you?" she asked. "You joined SOLDIER."

Cloud winced. "It doesn't matter."

"Why not?"

"Because the real world isn't that simple."

Tifa took a step forward, but stopped suddenly. She sat down on a hunk of wheel. "You're right," she said. "When I wished to be rescued, I had this image of being tied to a railroad or kidnapped by a villain. But the real villains aren't like those in the stories. They don't even know who I am, let alone care enough to tie me to anything."

Cloud sat beside her.

"Even so," she looked at him. "The binds I feel are real."

"Why do you think I can even help?"

"Because," she said. "You promised."

The cripshay continued to click along somewhere unseen. 'The ghosts come out at night,' Cloud remembered.


AVALANCHE was seated at a table in the bar. Marlene was asleep downstairs, so Barret fumed at the head. Wedge had lit up another cigarette in Tifa's absence.

Jessie slammed an empty bottle on the table. "I will give my share to the one of us who personally kills President Shinra."

"Really?" Wedge asked.

"Only because I know it's gonna be me that does it."

"Get in line, girlie." Biggs said. "Are we gonna get briefed on our next mission or what?"

"We need Cloud," Wedge said.

Biggs sighed. "Cloud is a lunatic. When Jessie offered to delay the last mission to make him a fake ID, he opted instead to ride on the roof of the train. If that doesn't speak volumes about a man's mental state I don't know what does."

"Hey, Biggs!" Wedge wondered. "You opted to go up there after him, what does that make you?"

"Well, yes, but, first of all, it was only so that Cloud wouldn't make us all look like cowards by doing something we wouldn't do. And secondly, I was shitting in my pants the whole time. I was pretty much in the fetal position from station to Plate."

Jessie stifled a laugh. "So you didn't do a real good job representing our courage."

"That's healthy," Biggs defended. "That means I'm sane. Cloud just stood there and looked around. He's totally bonkers wacko. What's worse, he gave away our fucking secret hideout to half of Sector 7 on his way out the door!"

Barret shook his head. "Tifa said she knows everyone who saw. She'll keep 'em quiet."

"A shallow grave and a bullet would've served better," Biggs muttered, then laughed at his own joke, and took a long swig.

The cherry in Wedge's cigarette went out. Wedge took the stick out of his mouth and gasped as ice crystals crawled over its surface.

Biggs looked expectantly at the saloon doors.

Cloud strode in. One of the two green materia stones nestled in his greatsword burned bright green.

"Thank you, Cloud," Tifa entered behind him.

Barret looked. "Jes' when I thought you was leavin' without your pay."

"You don't know me very well."

Barret unclipped a gunnysack full of coins from his belt. He tossed it on the table next to theirs.

Cloud shook the gunnysack. "What is this?"

"Fifteen hundo. Cash."

"Fifteen hundred? Don't make me laugh."

"If you don't want it, you can leave it right there."

"Pfft." Cloud shook his head. "Got the next mission lined up?" All of them turned to see if he was serious. "I'll do it for three thousand."

"Three thousand!?" Barret stood. "I gotta put Marlene through school!"

"Barret. Cloud." Tifa scolded.

Barret seethed. "Two-thousand."

"Fine."

"And no more a' this disappearing after the explosion, am I clear?"

"Crystal."

"I'm coming too," Tifa said.

Barret raised his eyebrows. "Wassat?"

"I'm coming on the next mission," she repeated. "I have a vested interest in this going smoothly. So, if either of you have any more concerns, you tell them to me. Does that seem reasonable?"

"Tifa," Cloud said. "It's too dangerous."

Tifa rolled her eyes. "Does anyone have a valid objection?"

Barret grunted. "Well, sit down, fools. We already started the meeting."

Cloud took a seat next to Biggs. Tifa went behind the bar to get another bottle of moonshine.