Chapter Eight - Sector 5
The train screeched to a stop at the Sector 7 station. Barret barreled ahead of everyone else. "Yo! Get over here, all'ya!"
Zack shook his head. Looked like Barret was back to his old self.
Aerith hugged his arm. "You've made some interesting friends."
"Barret isn't a friend."
"They're still interesting."
The group gathered, Barret continued. "This mission was a success. But don't get lazy now. The hard part's still to come!" He looked over at Aerith and cleared his throat. "Well, SOLDIER-boy, guess you better walk your girlfriend home."
"I can make it by myself." Aerith started to walk away, then waved. "I'm happy I met all of you."
Barret almost smiled as Aerith walked away. "That's some girl you've got there. Shouldn't you make sure she's safe?"
"I couldn't even if I wanted to. Uh. She's pretty stubborn about these things."
"'S that so?" Barret lumbered ahead of the group. "Meet back at the hideout! Move out!"
"Does he have to yell like that?" Zack said to Cloud as they made their way back to Seventh Heaven. "It's like he's trying to tell everyone who we are."
"Maybe he is."
"Nah. I don't figure him as being an idiot. A bit delusional, but not an idiot."
Cloud stayed silent, watching the shattered pavement as they walked.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Zack slapped Cloud on the back. "We did pretty good back there. Bet Tifa'll love hearing about your heroics."
"I... don't want to talk to Tifa."
"Huh? Why not?"
"I... Did we do something wrong today?"
Zack sighed. "Well, I guess it's not really something to be proud of. On the other hand they did hire us for a job so... Oh, we're here."
Couldn't miss the place, really. Something about screaming patrons fleeing from a guy with a gun-arm made a place stand out.
Zack and Cloud waited until the frightened crowd dispersed before approaching Barret.
Barret folded his arms and stepped out of the way. "Okay! Go on ahead."
"Yeah." Zack started up the steps then stopped and turned toward Barret. "About the way you get rid of customers..."
"Ain't none o' your business. Now git!"
Zack shook his head again as he and Cloud entered the nearly deserted bar. Barret was definitely back to his old self.
"Papa!" Marlene stopped like she ran into a brick wall when the man walking through the door turned out to be Zack rather than Barret. Cloud stood next to him as the four-year-old retreated into the kitchen.
Tifa followed her. She knelt down to talk to the inexplicably frightened girl. "Marlene! Aren't you going to say anything to Cloud and Zack?"
Zack nudged Cloud in the ribs. "She said your name first."
Tifa walked up to Cloud, Marlene following reluctantly behind. "Welcome home, Cloud. Looks like everything went well. Did you fight with Barret?"
Cloud hung his head. "A bit, yeah."
"I should have known. He's always pushing people around, and you've always been in fights ever since you were little. I was worried."
Zack wondered briefly if Cloud had ever won any of those fights. He knelt down to try talking with Marlene. "Hey, kiddo, how are you?"
Marlene just stared and hid behind Tifa.
"Sorry, Zack. She's a bit shy."
"It's fine. I'd probably be scared too if a giant with an enormous sword tried to talk to me." He smiled as he stood up. "She just has to get used to me, that's all."
Barret crashed through the doors. Marlene brightened instantly and ran toward the looming hulk.
"Papa, welcome home!"
"Yeah." Barrett picked up the tiny girl and balanced her on his shoulder.
I still can't believe that's her father. Zack scratched the back of his neck. One would think she'd be used to giants with over-sized weapons by now.
"You all right, Barret?" Tifa asked.
"Great! Get in here, fools! We're startin' the meetin'!"
Everyone headed down to the secret room. Cloud paused to look at Tifa.
Tifa smiled faintly at him. "Would you like something to drink?"
"No." Cloud looked away. "I should get going."
"Oh. All right." Tifa looked as Cloud made his way downstairs. Please be safe.
Barret was punching a much abused punching bag while the TV ran a news report. They hadn't wasted any time getting their bomb run on the news.
"Yo, Zack!" Barret stopped punching to face a somewhat startled Zack. It was the first time Barret had used his actual name. "There's somethin' I wanna ask ya."
"What's that?"
"Was there anyone from SOLDIER fighting us today?"
Cloud entered the room at that moment.
Zack shook his head. "Nope. They don't usually patrol the reactors, anyway."
Barret punched the bag. "You sound pretty sure."
Zack shrugged. "If there was anyone from SOLDIER you wouldn't be standing here now."
"Don't go thinkin' you so bad jes cuz you was in SOLDIER." Barret stepped forward waving his fist and gun-arm. Biggs tried to hold him back but Barret pushed him away.
"That's not..."
"Yeah, you're strong," Barret said, just a little calmed down. "Probably all them guys in SOLDIER are. But don't forget that your skinny ass's workin' for AVALANCHE now! Dont' get no ideas 'bout hangin' on to ShinRa."
Zack's eyes narrowed. "What?"
Cloud stepped forward. "Staying with ShinRa? You asked him a question and he answered it. That's all." With that Cloud stormed back toward the lowered pinball machine. Just in time to run into Tifa.
"Wait, Cloud!"
Barret growled. "Tifa! Let him go! Looks like he still misses ShinRa!"
Cloud turned back toward Barret. "Shut up. I'm leaving."
"Hang on, Cloud." Zack figured it was about time he stepped in. He turn to Barret, trying to look as imposing as he could, which was pretty imposing considering Barret stood a good three or four inches taller than him. "We have no loyalty to ShinRa. They tried to kill us, they... did things that I at least can't forgive. But that doesn't stop me from recognizing an enemy's strengths, and one of those strengths is SOLDIER. If you want to fight ShinRa you will eventually face SOLDIER. Whether you survive or not depends on how prepared you are."
"You're bleeding!" Tifa's voice halted any further discussion.
"Huh?" Zack looked down at his pant leg. "Oh." He'd forgotten about that. "It's nothing, really."
Barret leaned against the wall. "So SOLDIER ain't invincible after all."
"I never said we were." Zack winced a bit as Tifa rolled up his pant leg. He reminded himself that he shouldn't frown so much. It'd damage his good looks for Aerith. So he grinned and looked at Cloud. "Hey, bet you wish you got injured so she'd fuss over you, huh?"
Cloud didn't say anything, just turned away. Zack thought he noticed a bit of red creeping across Cloud's hairline, though.
"So how you propose we face SOLDIER?" Barret managed not to bellow the question.
"Don't."
Barret smashed his fist into the punching bag again, swearing loudly. "Ya jes said we'd be facin' SOLDIER if we kept fightin' ShinRa! You sayin' we should give up? Nothin' doin'!"
"I'm saying, leave SOLDIER to me and Cloud." Zack looked over at Cloud. "You're okay with sticking around a little longer, right?" He motioned surreptitiously at Tifa, who was finishing bandaging his leg.
Cloud looked up and nodded slightly. "I guess."
So they stayed. Barret laid out their next mission, which would be the next day. Overall, it looked almost identical to the first one, though this time it was Reactor 5. Zack knew that reactor. Parts of the complex were directly over Aerith's church.
"Hey," Zack said, turning to Jessie, "try not to make the bomb too big this time."
Jessie nodded.
"Wha'sa matter, SOLDIER-boy?"
Before Barret could continue, Zack said, "Aerith lives in Sector 5."
*7*7*
The next morning Zack and Cloud wandered into the bar. The only other ones there were Tifa and Barret. Barret barked some orders about supplies then turned to leave. He stopped with his hand on the door.
"Uh, hey, I got something ta ask ya."
Zack raised his eyebrows. "What's that?"
"I, uh... I don't really know how to use materia!"
"No problem." Zack turned to Cloud. "Want to get some potions while I teach Barret about materia?"
"Sure."
"I'll go, too," Tifa said. "So, I'll meet you at the train station?"
Cloud and Zack reacted in unison. "What?"
Cloud shook his head. "You're not going on this mission. You can't."
"I am going. I can fight, you know."
Zack smiled. Looked like Tifa hadn't changed much. "Looks like we don't have a choice, huh, Cloud."
"Yeah." Cloud looked sullen as he and Tifa left the bar.
Pretty soon they were all gathered in the train heading for Sector 5. Barret threatened a ShinRa employee and generally acted like his usual self. Zack rolled his eyes and smiled. He almost hated to admit it, but he was starting to kind of enjoy working for AVALANCHE. Sure, they were a bunch of extremists with dubious (at best) methods of trying to make their point, but they were good people at heart. That counted for something, right?
The red lights flashed as they passed through the security checkpoint. This time neither Zack nor Cloud reacted, until they saw how their companions were reacting.
Tifa, especially, looked worried. "It's early!"
Just then an automated warning sounded. "Type A Security Alert! Unidentified passengers confirmed… A search of all cars will be conducted! Repeat! Type A Security Alert! Unidentified passengers confirmed… A search of all cars will be conducted!"
"What's happening?" Tifa ran to stand next to Cloud, who was also standing, sword drawn.
Zack shook his head. "There's not enough room in here for a sword fight."
Jessie ran in from the next car. "We're in trouble, I'll explain later. Hurry! Get to the next car!"
They ran from one car to the next, trying to outrun the scanners and any security that might be coming. Finally they reached the end of the train.
"This is where we jump!" Barret forced the door open.
Zack just nodded before leaping out into the unknown. Tifa and Cloud followed soon after, with Barret not far behind.
Barret grunted as he got to his feet. "Good so far, everything's going as planned."
"You planned that?" Zack pointed above them. "And where's Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie?"
"Don't worry 'bout them. They can take care o' themselves."
Tifa looked around. "Where are we?"
"Maintenance tunnels." Zack looked around, getting his bearings. "A major security hole. Looks like no one took the hint from last time."
"Yeah? So which way to the reactor?" From the way he stood Barret obviously didn't like having to follow someone else's lead, but at least he could swallow a little pride when necessary.
"This way."
Aside from a couple detours the mission didn't go all that much differently than the first. Cloud had his rifle along this time in case another scorpion mech showed up, but that was the extent of the differences. That is, until they tried to leave. The bridge between plates was swarming with infantrymen.
"A trap..." Cloud unsheathed his sword.
Zack gripped the hilt of his own blade. It didn't look good. The space was too narrow and they were surrounded.
Then things got worse.
Barret's jaw nearly hit the catwalk. "Presi... President Shinra?"
Tifa didn't drop her ready stance. "What's the President doing here?"
That fat rat just smiled at them. "Hmm… So you all must be that...what was it?"
"AVALANCHE!" Barret roared. "And don't ya forget it! And you're President Shinra, huh?"
Zack inclined his head in a sort of mock bow. "Long time no see, President."
"Hmm? Oh, yes I heard something about a SOLDIER who betrayed ShinRa. You must be him from the look in your eyes. Tell me, traitor, what was your name?"
"Zack Fair."
The President stroked his mustache. "Forgive me for asking, but I can't be expected to remember each person's name. Unless you become another Sephiroth. Yes, Sephiroth… He was brilliant. Perhaps too brilliant…"
Cloud's voice sounded distant. "Sephiroth...?"
"Don't give a damn 'bout none of that!" Barret waved his gun-arm. "This place's goin' up with a big BANG soon! Serves y'all right!"
I'd just as soon not get caught in the explosion, though, Zack thought.
President Shinra smiled. It didn't improve his looks. "And such a waste of good fireworks, just to get rid of vermin like you…"
"VERMIN!" Barret looked like he was about to rant again.
"Hey!" Zack said. "Less talking more figuring a way out of here!"
The smile left the President's face. "You are beginning to bore me. I'm a very busy man, so if you'll excuse me…I have a dinner I must attend."
Barret's rant wouldn't be stopped this time. "Dinner! Don't gimme that! I ain't even start wit' you yet!"
A helicopter lowered even with the President. "But I've made arrangements for a playmate for you all."
The infantry left. Not a good sign. Even worse was the unfamiliar robot that rattled into view.
The worst was the self-satisfied way President Shinra talked. "Meet 'Airbuster,' a techno-soldier. Our Weapon Development Department created him. I'm sure the data he'll extract from your dead bodies will be of great use to us in future experiments."
Cloud blinked. "Techno-soldier?"
The President got onto the helicopter. "Now then, if you'll excuse me."
"Wait, President!" Zack yelled at the retreating helicopter.
"Yo, Zack!" Barret's voice brought him back to earth. "We've gotta do somethin' 'bout him!"
Tifa backed away from the advancing monstrosity. "Help, Cloud! THIS is from SOLDIER?"
Cloud just stared at it.
"No way!" Zack couldn't believe SOLDIER could be replaced by something like that. "It's just a machine." He remembered reading that the Weapon Development Department was getting extra funding at the expense of both SOLDIER and the infantry, but he couldn't believe it.
Barret cocked his gun-arm. "I don't care what it is! I'm gonna bust him up!"
Those words seemed to snap Cloud out of his daze. "Yeah!" He rushed forward as Barret sprayed the Airbuster with bullets. Even Tifa joined in the fight, and all she had for weapons were leather gloves and steel-toed boots. And some killer moves.
Zack felt a cocky grin spread across his face. "Hey! Leave some for me!"
The machine went down easily. It's broken parts sparked and shuddered. Before they could even consider celebrating, those same parts exploded.
Zack waved his arms, trying to clear the smoke. A gaping hole separated him from Tifa and Barret. Barret was yelling something but Tifa stayed on her knees at the edge of the hole. Where was Cloud?
No. Zack looked down. Hanging from a loose rod near the bottom of the catwalk was Cloud.
"Cloud!" Zack's yell echoed Tifa's frantic scream. "Hang on!"
Tifa started to cry. "Cloud! Please don't die! You can't die! There's still so much I want to tell you!"
"I know, Tifa..." Cloud tried to pull himself up, but his movement only loosened the rod more.
Zack tried to reach his friend. Not quite. He looked up at Tifa and Barret. "Get out of here! Now! I'll take care of Cloud!"
Not a moment too soon. Tifa and Barret had barely disappeared, Barret having to carry Tifa away, when the explosions started. Both Cloud and Zack were blown into open air. For a moment Zack had the impression of familiar scenery, then the world went black.
I'm still not entirely sure about the scene in the secret hideout, but I've already revised it twice. Does it seem like I'm sticking too close to the original plot? Don't worry, things will start to diverge more soon. Just, maybe not next chapter. I just hope I'm doing a good job with Cloud. He's supposed to be a little out of sorts, but I'm not sure I'm doing it right. I'm just not used to working with such a broken character, I guess. I need more practice.
