Chapter 10 - Utilities

As soon as Elmyra and Aerith disappeared upstairs, Zack collapsed on the couch to the loud protest of the springs. "First thing in the morning I've gotta try to convince everyone not to talk about us having kids."

Minny looked at him askance. "Now why would you do that? It's not that embarrassing."

"It wouldn't be except, well, I'm not sure we can have kids."

Dan ruffled his son's hair, ignoring the protests. "Your mother and I weren't sure we could have kids for a long time, too. Tried everything we could think of. Gave offerings to Titan and Minerva for years. We were close to despair before you came along."

"Dear, aren't you being just a little dramatic?" Minny sat down next to Zack and gave him a hug. "Whatever the problem is, don't give up hope. If you're meant to have kids then you will."

Zack huffed. "Thanks, Mom."

*7*7*

The day Tifa returned, Cloud was helping the crew in Edge so he missed her arrival.

Reeve, on the other hand, stumbled upon Cloud entirely by accident while attempting to locate the local foreman.

Cloud shook his head at Reeve's question. "He's trying to find Midgar's water treatment plants, but I don't know which sector."

"The closest one is in the slums between Sectors 4 and 3 near Sector 0. I'm surprised he didn't take you with him to deal with monsters."

"Guess I'm needed more here." At a signal from the man several yards away with the tripod, Cloud pushed the red and white pole he'd been holding into the dry earth.

"I can see that." Reeve gazed out toward the looming ruins of Midgar. "However, I do need to speak with the foreman and I don't share his confidence in dealing with the resident monsters. Would you be willing to accompany me? Assuming I can talk your superior into letting you go, of course."

Cloud nodded twice, which Reeve took for enthusiasm. Definitely enthusiasm, considering Cloud had Ame no Murakumo attached to his back before Reeve returned from talking to the surveyor.

The walk between sectors was mostly uneventful. Reeve only noticed the two land worms that had been following them after Cloud killed them.

"I'm starting to wonder if the bodyguards I had when doing utility inspections were really necessary or if the monsters are just afraid of you."

"Probably the latter." Cloud stopped to listen to something Reeve couldn't hear before continuing. "Most monsters know better than to pick a fight with something stronger than them."

From almost anyone else that statement would sound like a boast. Reeve felt it sounded more resigned, but decided it wasn't his place to pry.

Eventually they located the foreman and his team, and Reeve learned that they still hadn't gotten reliable maps of Midgar's utility system. Reeve massaged his temples. He felt another headache coming.

"Corporal Kylegate assured me he had access to all the necessary city plans."

Cloud cocked his head minutely. "Kylegate?"

"Yes. You know him?"

"I'm not sure." Cloud shook his head. "The name sounds familiar, that's all."

Reeve made a mental note to learn more about Kylegate at the nearest opportunity. "In any event, getting those maps is imperative." He turned to the foreman. "If it's all right with you, I would like to borrow Cloud for a little longer. It's possible I can still access the urban development archives from my old office."

The foreman agreed readily enough. This time Cloud seemed a little hesitant, though he waited until they were out of earshot to voice it.

"I don't see why you'd need a bodyguard to the ShinRa Building."

"Old habit, and I'd like the company."

Cloud didn't say anything for a long time after that. Up until they reached the ShinRa Building, and then only to humph at the sight of Reno waving at them.

"Hey! So, did ya change your mind?"

"No."

Reeve stepped forward with a slight bow of his head. "I just need a few things from my old office. Cloud came along as company."

Reno smirked. "Ya sure got gloomy tastes. Anyway, we can't ley ya in. Since ya don't work here anymore anything that's still in that office is ShinRa property."

Cloud started to reach up for his sword until Reeve waved him off.

"What I'm looking for is ShinRa property, anyway. Complete maps of the city's utility systems. I think you'd agree that getting those back up and running is in everyone's best interests."

Reno actually looked like he thought about that before looking over at Rude, who nodded once from his unobtrusive position near the door. Reno shrugged. "If that's it, then sure. I've gotta come along to make sure that all ya take, of course."

Reeve accepted the condition with a lot more grace than Cloud, who simply sulked while trailing behind. For a moment, Cloud wondered what Zack would do in this situation. Talk, probably, something Cloud wasn't comfortable with at the moment. He almost wished Rude had come along instead. He didn't trust either Turk, but at least Rude hadn't pressed the button that dropped Sector Seven.

Reno pressed the elevator call button a few times and kicked the wall to no effect. "Guess we're takin' the stairs." He glanced back at Reeve. "So why're ya heading to your old office? Wouldn't the maps be in archives?"

"I always kept a copy in my office for reference. I thought it would be faster."

"On the sixty-fifth floor? No way, man, we're going to archives."

Cloud started off walking at the back of the group, glaring daggers into Reno's seemingly oblivious back. Then Reno made a comment about Cloud's lack of endurance, which set him walking slightly ahead of Reno. Which set the Turk power-walking to keep up. Which set Cloud marching to gain distance. Which set Reno jogging. Which set Cloud jumping ever few steps. This continued until they reached the 20th floor and they both realized that they had no idea which floor Reeve was on.

Retracing their steps, they found Reeve gasping for breath on the landing between floors ten and eleven.

"If you don't mind... perhaps we... could see if... the elevators are running... again?"

Reno grinned. "Sure, why not? A side trip through vehicle testing'll be fun, anyway." He all but skipped down the stairs, leaving Cloud to help Reeve to his feet.

The tenth floor consisted mostly of long rooms full of drafting tables and scale models of the various vehicles ShinRa had designed, both civilian and military. A few larger rooms held the actual testing equipment, including racks full of crash test dummies that Cloud made a point of not looking at. He wasn't looking at much of anything until it appeared at the edge of his awareness.

Huge, black, and obviously half finished, the motorcycle lay partly on its side among the bits of scrap parts near one of the large garage doors. A few moments, later he found himself pushing the motorcycle upright, looking it over. His knowledge of such things was limited mostly to the kind of field maintenance expected from all ShinRa grunts, but he could tell right away this bike would never have gone to the infantry. Too heavy, for one thing.

Too nice, for another. Cloud brushed a hand over the left front suspension. It looked like they'd used a mythril alloy. He wondered for a moment if Cid would mind coming to Midgar to help finish the bike.

No. Even if Cid were willing there would still be the problem of fuel. Most vehicles could be fitted to run on gasoline in a pinch, but relying on that for long would destroy all but a few engines.

So there was a small chance. Most of the engine stats would be written on the casing of the fuel cell. Cloud looked for the release, noting in passing what appeared to be scorch marks along the edge of the slot. He didn't consider it important until he actually pulled the fuel cell out.

By that time he wasn't doing much thinking at all.

So I was writing this scene and it didn't seem to be going much of anywhere. Then I realized that I needed to find another way for Cloud to get Fenrir since the way he got Fenrir in canon was void now (given my headcanon). And then I realized that all the vehicles ran on mako and that there was all that weaponized Lifestream doing crazy stuff right there and that the stored mako probably got affected as well. Materia, too. It'd probably be a bad idea to use any materia just found laying around Midgar right now. Someone should tell Yuffie.