Altering Rhythm Chapter 11: Backstage Technicalities, a final fantasy vii fanfic

(Disclaimer: Plata-Azul Firebird does not own Final Fantasy 7, only her OCs… Otherwise, we might end up having a not-so-epic battle with the lawsuits.)

Altering Rhythm

Backstage Technicalities

Silver: Now for Riley's side story… and an additional problem just came by smacking on her face!

Backstage Technicalities

Running back into Sector 7, instead of heading to the bar, Riley bolts towards the audio tower for one last check of the equipment before she goes on guiding the group to evacuate the civilians instead of fighting. But on arriving there, she suddenly remembers something…

"OH DAMN ON A POPO!" she swears out loud and smacks her head with her right knuckle. "I forgot about Denzel and his parents! They live in Sector 7 above! Aw man…! This is going to be a problem!"

The tower is only set to warn the people below, she doubts if it's loud enough to warn the people living above the plate. Plus it might solidify the fact that AVALANCHE 'intend' to destroy the top plate, since they evacuated the entire Sector 7 Slums. 'Shit! Shit! I'm in a freaking bind now.' she thought as she climbs up the tower. 'Crud… There's got to be a way to also warn the people above!'

Getting into the station, she nearly flip everything inside-out to find a way to warn the people above. "No. Not this. No. Crud, not this either… dang it…" she hisses as she tries to find any way to at least send a warning to them.

"You're finally here…"

"Huh?" she stops and looks around, only to see no one and scratches her head. "Weird…"

Back to her problem at hand, she tries again looking for a solution on warning the ones above the plate. She couldn't find one and she slumps at this, as she sets the warning system and the trigger in her phone. She then makes sure that the system works, the sound is loud enough for the people in the slums to hear and the door securely close preventing monsters.

As she is about to leave, she notice something on the ground… 'Eh…? Are those… spikes?" she utters and the yelps as she dodge the spiky thing that bounces at her, out of reflex and surprise.

"Geh!" she yelps and looks at the thing… "Wait… this is a Hedgehog Pie?" she said out of wonder and looks at the spiky-covered ground. Before she could even say anything, a bunch of Hedgehog Pies strikes her with Bodyblow.

Not wanting the tower to get damage, she quickly climbs down to the ground and plans battle the flock from there. "Oh geez!" she yelps as she ducks at another Bodyblow and manage to outrun a fire spell. "Can't you guys be ever patient?" yelling at them as she runs down the stairs.

On reaching the ground, the mime somersaults away from a new fire spell and cast Matra Magic back at them. The creatures snarls back at her and she wonders why a bunch of Hedgehog Pies appeared out of nowhere and ambushes her.

… Then it came to her mind…

"Oi, don't tell me the fat Hedgehog Pie here earlier is your queen or something?"

And that only earns her more growling and snarling from them.

"Aye, I think my day have gone sour…" as she got hit by a Bodyblow for standing still. She yells in pain as the spikes stabs her on the right side, as she skids and maintain her balance. "I know you're immune to fire…" she hiss out. "But I doubt all of you are immune to poison or even silence. Dark Fire!" and she throws a negative status-inflicting flame at them.

Those that are hit shrugs off the flame, but a few feels the poison and the spell laced in it. Those that are hit by poison, slowly collapse and dies. Those that are hit with Silence could not cast fire spells, much to the mime's relief. But it wasn't long till she feels the effect of casting magic too much, after killing some of those creatures and she begins to lose her focus.

'Ugh… this is crap, how many are there?' she thought and yells in pain as she is hit by Bodyblow several times. She fell back and scrambles to get back up. 'Shit…! There is no way I'm going to die here! I got people to save!" as she tries to reach for her potion in her pouch.

Then she feels something odd… she then sees a vision of Cloud doing his Braver Limit Break and Barret's Big shot. The scenes replays in her mind as he body emit's a lavender glow then… Snapping back to reality, she manages to roll away and avoids a few who can still cast fire. 'What was… huh?' she then notice the glow around her body. "Oh my skrits… I'm going to perform a Limit Break!" she yelps and looks back at the Hedgehog Pies as she avoids another Bodyblow.

"Whoa…! Okay…" she then focuses and charges to the remaining Hedgehog Pies. She suddenly jumps high, rises her hands like she's holding a sword and then bought it down on one of the spiky creatures. And on her hands is a negative image of the Buster Sword, then she turns as the blade disappears after successfully cutting the fiend in half. "Slash…" She mutters and then raises her right arm and a negative image of the gun-arm appears on her right arm, and fires it a huge blue flaming fireball at 4 out of 8 Hedgehog Pies. "…and Blast." she said as the fiends she hits, cries out in pain till it succumbs in their wounds and collapse.

Then… she just realizes what she did and her jaws fell open, as the gun-arm vanishes.

"Did I just… mimic Cloud's and Barret's Limit Breaks? In one combined move?" she couldn't believe what she did… she just perform two of her companions Limit Breaks.

Only to be snap back to reality when a poisoned Hedgehog Pie attacks her. "Gah!" she yelps and skids down on the ground, hissing on the new pain she get up and glares at the spike ball creatures as she manages to reach for a potion in her pouch.

"Okay… you're not only so not cute as the hedgehogs in our home…" she stated with a hint of irk in her tone and quickly down a potion. "But I'm in a tight schedule and you're all pissing me off!" she then cast Matra Magic and Lightning in rapid successions. Not only it effectively get rid of the monsters, she feels the side effect casting too much and collapses.

"Ugh… Can't breathe…" she wheezes, as she takes out the ether Mira given to her earlier, during their time with Aerith and Cloud when they head for the gate. Drinking it down, she cringes at the taste of it and nearly spits it out, as the ether takes effect and her focus is back. "Blergh… the potion taste fine, but I didn't expect the ether to taste like this… gross."

She laid down for a moment and breathes in and out, recovering a bit before she sits up. "Ugh… this is nuts…" she utters before she slaps herself awake. "No time for downtime! I better get moving and save Sector 7 and to find a way to warn the plate above!"

She quickly scrambles up, stumbles a bit but makes her way to Seventh Heaven…

"Why do you care for them…?"

:::^*^:::

Arriving in the bar, she bangs the door quite loud, it causes the AVALANCHE to jump in surprise. "What the hell? Ya-" before even Barret could finish.

"Why the heck is Tifa, wearing a skimpy-looking dress and is on a cart which Don Corneo owns in Wall Market?" the mime demands, using it as an excuse on banging the door too loud and her rush.

"You saw her?" Jessie asked and nervously avoids looking at Barret, who fumes on hearing that she went after the fat perv. Looking at the brunette rebel, Riley guessed that she's the one who helped and provided Tifa the needed disguise.

"I told her not to go after that perv!" the gun-arm man stated angrily and as he shakes his fist.

"… Well, anyway, Meer and I found Cloud, he's still alive thanks to a new friend." the mime said the news to them and the three seems to brighten up, as Barret looks calm… 'Well inside he's relief….' she thought. "But we end up splitting when we saw Tifa, so both Meer and Cloud heads to the Wall Market to get her."

"Oh, that's a relief…" Jessie breathes out.

Then the mime notices something… they are armed and looks ready to fight. "Another mission?" she asked.

"No… we're saving Sector 7." Wedge stated.

"Eh? What's going on?" although she knows what's going on, she couldn't help but to ask. Jessie explains to her about the spy they caught loitering around and made Tifa go to the Don for answers. After squeezing out more information from the spy, they are horrified on learning that Shinra plans to drop the entire plate of Sector 7 just to get rid of them.

"That company is crazy!" Riley bellowed and they agree to this.

"Yeah, that's why we're going to the pillar to defend it from those Turks." Barret said, and with a click he loaded his gun-arm. "Come on."

"Wait…!" Riley calls out and they turn to her. 'Time to put a proper strategy in motion.' she thought and looks at them with little hints of authority. "We're just going to the pillar and defend it? All of us?" she asked.

"Yeah, what of it?" the black man asked.

"You're not much of a leader, are you?" she quips, crossing her arms.

"WHAT?"

"Look, I'm not insulting you or anything, but you have to think of a better plans, some back-up plans and the consequences that will happen after it."

"There's no time to think for that!"

"What? Can't think while walking? Seriously!" the mime shakes her head. "Anyway, to the point, I don't think all of us should go to the pillar."

"What! Why?" Biggs asked incredulously.

"The spy said they sent the Turks in to bring the plate down, have you heard their reputations?" she looks at them. "Despite not mako-enhance, they are sneaky and use cheap tricks to kill their targets. Can you all stand against the president's guards with back-stabbing history?"

Everyone is silent…

"She is right…" Jessie whispered and her male companions looks at her. "There's no way we can fight against them."

"What! Tis ain't the time to chicken out!" the AVALANCHE leader shouts and looks at her, with his gun-arm in front of her face. "And you, this is my order, if you're chickening out you're free to get the hell out of my face!"

"Don't use muscle for brains, you!" she snaps back, resisting the urge to take out her Humanitarian book and smack it on his face. "Have you even think of the number of troopers coming in with them? There are only five of us right now and Shinra got a hundred in it's disposal! Do you think changing in and fighting for the tower is a sensible plan?"

"You…!"

"Listen, I got a better plan." she said and calmly pushes the gun-arm away from her. "Although it will not stop the plate from dropping but it is safer and more effective than fighting to the death."

The black man looks at her before grunting and lowers his gun-arm. "Fine… what is your plan?"

"You and I…" Riley points at Barret and herself. "Will delay the Turks from destroying the pillar, the rest will evacuate the people out of Sector 7."

"What?" the three protested.

"LOOK! This is a different situation!" she yells back at them. "Not only if we fail to stop them from dropping the plate, we'll lose hundreds or even thousands of lives both in the slums and the plate above! This is not like the missions we have before, this is intentionally killing innocents just to get rid of us! Do you understand?"

"… Awright…" Barret stated and looks at the others. "We'll do your plan."

"Thanks for listening." the mime said in a calm tone and looks at them. "Okay, the train is probably out of service since they are planning to drop the plate, so get all of the civilians and bring them to the Wall market or Sector 5."

"You know something…" the mime looks at Wedge. "You're weird… you're silly, loud and so active when we first met you, but now…"

"Hey, I got a lot of sides of me but in the face of this situation, have to go serious and use some sense to get out of this alive." she quips.

They nodded at this and heads out to do their task, Riley is about to follow when her phone went off with the song Fireworks by Katie Perry. She nearly jumps at this and quickly answers her phone, before any one would wonder what it is. "Moshi moshi…?" she answers as she goes to one corner of the bar to conceal the phone.

"Riley, quit the Japanese and talk sense here." Mira said through the phone.

"Mira! How's the girl's day out doing? And did you record it? And… I am surprise… that you can call me…" she stated dumbfounded as she slowly realizes that her best friend is calling with their touch phones.

"Well, I'm surprise that there's signal here and I can't stay long, the battery is now half since you wanted to record the cross-dressing thing… Anyway, I'm lagging behind the others, how are things there?"

"It's going smoothly, the audio tower is set and I manage to convince the AVALANCHE to evacuate the people instead of fighting for the pillar... but we got another problem, we forgot about the people above the plate in Sector 7."

"... Ah skrit...! I forgot about Denzel! Crap... Anyway, me and the others will be there soon. You and I will try to figure out how to warn the others above the plate."

"Got it... so, are you guys in the train graveyard?"

"… We didn't fell into the sewers."

"… Mira…!" the mime groans on the change her best friend made. "You prevented Cloud and the others from falling into the sewers?"

"Hey…!" the songstress hissed back. "Mind you, we're preventing a disaster here!"

"Okay! Okay! Geez, don't make a fuss… so after this…"

"We're heading for the company… but in order to do that we have to…"

"Don't remind me… I swear, if I see Tseng slap Aerith on the face, on our next meeting I will not hesitate on bombarding him with Matra Magic."

"Riley… he does slap her on the face, it's in the script."

"I know! But I can't help it!"

"Right… Oh geez… I have to go, the Don's men is blocking our way again."

"Be careful."

"Same to you."

With that, she ends the call and runs out of the bar to start their plans.

"… They are not worth it…"

She stops for a moment and looks around once more… 'That's… creepy…' she thinks as she snaps her focus back and heads to the pillar where Barret is.

:::^*^:::

The Shinra Electric Power Company…

It is the only company that exist in Gaia, and the only where it combines politics and business.

The people who have heard of the company, came from far-away town/villages and decided to venture there with dreams and hope on their sleeves… but on arriving there, most of it are flushed away.

Those who the higher-ups deem worthy, they give them the proper positions and good pay as they exploits their talents behind their backs. But to those who doesn't pique their interest, they merely toss them to a low-paying job or did not hire them at all causing them to seek refuge in the slums. All of the higher-ups think and wanted… is power and money and to do that, they seek a place called the Promised Land.

Among the higher-ups is the head of the Science Research Division, Professor Hojo. He shuffles to his office with the papers in his hands, trying to figure out the strange energy spike somewhere in the wasteland and the odd behavior of his prized specimen.

On one report, the strange energy spike in the wasteland, it is rather strong and there is no equipment that is stable enough that could make that powerful effect. Yet it is contained and almost went unnoticed, if it weren't for their equipment sensing it. But that wasn't all… it wasn't one… but two energy spikes that occur at the same time and the same place. The scientist is irk on the fact that he couldn't figure out what caused the spikes and how it is done.

And on the other, states that JENOVA gain very little activity by twitching one of her eyes. This surprises him since she doesn't have any activity since Sephiroth's death, and what interests him is the energy spikes happens on the very same day as his prized specimen gain little of her motor cortex.

"Um… sir?"

The head looks up, annoyed at being interrupted and merely focuses back in the reports, with very little interest on what his staff is going to say.

"T-the specimen…" the staff stutters. "H-her eyes… they're g-glowing sir."

And it didn't take long for the info to sink in. "What!" and he made a dash to the laboratory like a madman he is. Entering the facility, the rest of the staffs jumps in surprise of his sudden appearance as he marches to the container, just beside another one with a different specimen. But he completely ignores it and focuses his attention on his most wonderful possession… and there he sees the eyes glowing purplish-pink. This made him freeze in wonder and awe before the glow stops, reverting back to it's normal and still state.

'What… what made you…?' then he remembers the energy spikes and turns to his staffs. "You! I want a full report on the sudden activity of this specimen!" as he points at one of his staffs, who squeaks out of surprise. "And you! Get some researchers and go to the wasteland! Find out what caused the energy spike a few days ago!" causing the said staff to nearly drop the equipment.

"As for the rest… make you any changes on this specimen will report to me! Understand!" he ordered loudly, causing everyone to scramble to work.

And then… he merely leans on the tank containing his prized and grandest experiment of all. Anticipation and glee forms on his face…he can't wait to know what made his prize so active.

Silver: Uh oh… Hojo is on a mad spree of finding out the strange incident and his specimen's sudden consciousness. Yeah… it is short, don't blame me, this is all I could think of for Riley's side. Anyway… the… OMAKE OF CROSSPLAY! XD!

Omake Crossplay: If Cloud is chosen?

Both Tifa and Mira have to pull and drag a stun 'Claire' to get to the office, once arriving in there…

"All right ladies! Line up in front of the Don!" one of his lackey ordered the four and they line up in front of the table. Both Mira and Cloud are in the middle of the line, and Tifa and Aerith are on the ends. And there, Mira saw what the Don looks like…

'Oh man… have he not heard of exercise? Or Facial wash? Ewww! His face is oily! Not to mention his Mohawk is a mess.' the songstress thought as she restrains herself from saying it out loud.

"Hmmm!" The Don mutters and leans on the table to look at the four. "Good, splendid!" he stated with glee and the songstress have to stomp her disgust and annoyance, not to blow their cover. "Now, let's see…" Standing up from his table and looks at the girls closely, one by one. "Which girl should I choose?" he looks at Aerith. "Hmm-hmm-!" then looks at Cloud who looks away to hide his glowing eyes. "This one?" then looks at Mira, who restraint her urge to smack the Don with her keytar. "Or this one?" he eyes on Tifa then he looks at Cloud again, only he looks away once more.

"Woo hoo, I've made up my mind! My choice for tonight is… GAH! I'm still in a dilemma!" he then turns around and leans on he table like he have a heart attack.

'… Oookay… this wasn't suppose to happen.' the songstress thought. 'Not that I mind the slight delay.'

"These two!" the fat boss stated and points at Mira and Cloud, who slightly panics on this. The blonde opted to beat him out right now, but she stops him by holding his hand and squeezing it for him to relax. "These two beauties… the healthy-looking girl looks so attractive and naïve, it's so cute!" the blonde got irk on the last part, while the songstress have to restrain on laughing. "And this lovely swan looks so mysterious yet mesmerizing, almost if I take her she'll vanish the next day!"

The ravenette stares incredulously at the fat guy and on how he describes her. 'Weirdness… wait, don't tell me that he sees something off about me…?' she thought with a bit of panic there.

"Argh…! Yes! I made up my mind! I pick…!"

He then kneels in front of the blonde and looks at 'her', totally love-struck. "This healthy-looking girl!"

Mira is able to relax a bit as she felt Cloud jerk back in shock.

"Wa, wait a sec!" he yelped, then realizes that he nearly blown his cover by his voice, not that he cared and would rather beat the man for info. "I mean, uh, please wait a moment!" his attempt of making his voice sound feminine, causes the songstress to stare at him.

'Is it me… or does he sounds like Suzaku Kururugi in the audio episode where they have a cross-dressing festival…?' she thought and then added. 'Then again they do have the same voice actor in Japanese…'

Unfortunately for Cloud, luck is not on his side. "Woo-hoo! I love chickies who play hard-to-get! Yeowza!" the Don stated rubbing his hands together and looks at his men. "You can have the other ones!"

"Yes sir! Thank you sir!" his lackeys saluted, looking thrill to have fun with the remaining three girls.

"Well then…" the Don looks back at 'Claire'. "Shall we go my pretty?"

Giving one more look at the three, which they nodded at him, the blonde slumps and follows the fat man to his bedroom.

:::^*^:::

Meanwhile…

Since they are not chosen, Aerith and Mira are taken to the Lounge while Tifa is taken away by one of Don Corneo's men to the torture room.

"Hey guys! We've got guests." The lackey, if Mira remembers correctly, named Scotch announces as they follow him. Inside are the other minions of the Don, looks up and then a wolfish smile forms on their faces with a hint of lust in their eyes. "We'll take REAL good care of you." Scotch said as he closes the door and another man stands near it, as he goes to one corner of the room. "This is all thanks to the big boss, Don Corneo! Heeey! Three cheers for Don Corneo!"

The men cheer happily and turns to the two.

"Aerith." Mira whispered.

"Yeah?" Aerith replied.

"I have an idea, but I need you to stay behind me and cover your ears, understand?" the songstress instructed

"Heh, heh... Well ladies, are we, uh, all ready?" Scotch asked.

"Excuse me?" Mira calls out and he turns at her. "You wouldn't mind listening to a bit of music, if you like?"

"Oooh? It seems we got a lovely songbird in our midst." Scotch stated lightly with delight. "Sure, sure, stand right here and let us hear your lovely voice."

'Oh… this songbird is going to sing you to sleep.' she though, as she and the flower girl moves to where Scotch is standing and she sets her keytar on guitar setting. She gives one look on Aerith, who nodded in return, and begins to sing.

We could just go home right now

Or maybe we could stick around

For just one more drink.

Oh yeah.

She sings.

Get another bottle out

Let's shoot the breeze, sit back down

For just one more drink.

Oh yeah.

Here's to us.

Here's to love.

All the times that we've messed up.

Here's to you.

Fill the glass.

Cuz the last few days have gone too fast.

Oh let's give 'em hell.

Wish everybody well.

Here's to us.

Then loud and mixed snores are heard and with a grin, she sees all of them have fallen to sleep. Aerith looks surprise on this and looks at Mira. "That's amazing! You put them to sleep! What kind of magic is that?" she asked.

Mira chuckles lightly. "It's Lullaby, it's a skill where I lace status-effect magic in my songs and my dances. It's still new to me since I only found this keytar a month ago when I visited my village death anniversary." she lied the last part.

"Oh I'm sorry." the flower girl looks down.

"Anyway… we better change clothes cause I don't think we'll be fighting properly in this." the songstress stated, changing the subject and the brunette nods in agreement. Before they change, Mira have to make sure no one is looking and finds a good place to hide and change. Once they change in their normal clothes, Tifa comes bursting in and she looks at the room with surprise.

"Whoa… what happened here?" she asked.

"Ah, Mira sang them to sleep." Aerith stated cheerily as the songstress scratches the back of her head.

"Really?" Tifa asked.

"Yeah, but we better scoot or Cloud's masculinity will drop down a notch!" with that she book to the office with Tifa and Aerith trailing behind.

On arriving at the bedroom's door, the songstress finds it lock. "Great… hold on." she then looks at Tifa. "Hey, can you kick the door down?"

:::^*^:::

Cloud is in quite of a dilemma, despite the slip of his voice, the greasy perv still believe him to be female and is trying to get him to bed. Right now, he is stomping on his sick feeling growing in his stomach to prevent vomiting spot on.

"Come to daddy!" the Don declared but the blonde made no move from his spot. The disguised male wishes for anyone to barge in the doors… but hearing none, he reluctantly walks towards the Don. When they are a few inches apart… "You are so cute, I never get tired looking at you. Do you like me too?"

"Umm…." Cloud hesitated and is stomping repeatedly on his sick feeling.

"Don't you like me? Is there someone else, is there?" the Don asked when…

The blonde tilts his head on the door and hears a noise outside, even from this distance, he can tell what the noise is… and his mouth twitch upwards a bit. He decided to put on a little act as he suppresses his disgust.

"No, only you."

"You sure know how to make a guy feel good!" the perv stated with lust and looks at the blonde. "Then wh… what do you want to DO?"

"Whatever YOU want, daddy." the blonde replies, in a oh-so fake high pitch feminine voice… yet he wonders why the Don couldn't figure out that he's male since he sounds so fake.

"Oh man! I can't stand it! All right, then..." Don Corneo suddenly jumps to the edge of the bed and leans towards the blonde. "Give me a kiss! A KISS!"

Now this is where Cloud draws on the line. "Nope, can't do that.…" as he turns away.

"Why? WHY? WHY?" the Don said dumbfounded and disbelief that 'she' just rejected what he wanted.

"Because..." And looks back with a fiery glare from his eyes. "Because I'm gonna have to use that mouth of yours to give me some information!" he then jumps back and whips out the dress, revealing the uniform beneath and his true identity.

"A man! You tricked me!" the mob boss shouts. "Somebody get in here NOW!"

"Unfortunately, no one'll be comin' to help." A voice calls out and Tifa kicks down the door, as both Mira and Aerith comes tailing in.

'This feels like Charlie's Angels…' Mira thought weirdly as she arms her Orchestra Ai.

"Wh…what the hell's going on?" the Don demanded, but cringes back then all four glares at him.

"Shut up, we're asking the questions now…" Tifa snaps. "What did your assistants find out? Talk! If you don't tell us…"

Then Cloud places his left leg on the bed, looking very threatening. "…I'll chop them off." he stated.

"No! Not that! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!" the fat man pleaded and explains that he was ordered to find a man with a gun-arm in the slums.

"By who?" the bar maid demanded.

"No…! If I told you that, I'd be killed!"

"Talk! If you don't tell us…"

"…I'll rip them off." Aerith threaten him with her left leg on the bed and Mira looks at the flower girl with a brow raise. She expected for her to that that, but it still weird her out since the brunette is a flower girl… she then shrugs a bit over it.

"Waaaaaaaaaaah…! It was Heidegger of Shinra! Heidegger, the head of Public Safety Maintenance!" he squealed.

"The head of Public Safety Maintenance!" Cloud said out of surprise.

"Did you say the Shinra! What are they up to! Talk! If you don't tell us…" the bar maid then place her left leg on the bed. "I'll smash them." she threatens.

"…You're serious, aren't you… …ohboy, ohboy, ohboy." he hyperventilate and shakes. "…I'm not fooling around here either, you know. Shinra's trying to crush a small rebel group called AVALANCHE, and want to infiltrate their hideout. But they couldn't find where it is so they decided do the only way to get rid of them."

"What way?" Cloud demanded and Mira is a bit surprise at this… it looks like she got herself a line.

"I can't-"

"Hey." Mira interrupted and he looks at her. "If you don't say… do you really want to know the horrific and mutilating methods I would do on them, it's not exactly nice and sunshine after all." she threaten him, despite the cheery look on her face, her tone is dark and she have an air of something dangerous around her.

With that he squeaks like a frighten mouse and spills everything. "And they're really going to crush them…literally, by breaking the support holding up the plate above them."

"Break the support!" the bar maid yell out in surprise and Cloud and Aerith looks shock that this, while Mira seems to be calm.

'After all, me and Riley have known that this is going to happen.' the songstress thought as she secretly press the record off.

"You know what's going to happen? The plate will go PING and everything's gonna go

BAMMM! I heard their hideout's in the Sector 7 Slums... I'm just glad it's not here in Sector 6." he babbled on.

"They're going to wipe out the Sector 7 Slums!" Tifa said and looks at Cloud and Mira. "Cloud, Mira, will you two come with me to Sector 7?"

"Of course, Tifa." the Ex-SOLDIER replied.

"Same here." Mira stated and they are about to get out, when she remembers that the floor they are going stop on is…

"Just a second!" the Don calls out and they all stop on that 'specific' floor.

"Shut up!" Cloud snaps at him.

"No wait, it'll only take a second." then the songstress notices his hand is slowly reaching for the lever just beside the bed post. "How do you think scum like me feels when they babble on about the truth?"

Cloud is about to say his opinion but Mira quickly interrupts. "They asked a question like that and pulls a cheap trap to delay the ones who learnt the truth." and the Don looks at her with silent shock. "Seriously, that's so cliché." she stated and immediately strikes at the Don with her keytar, knocking him out effectively and preventing him from pulling the lever. '… I just don't want to get sewer stink.' she thought.

"Thanks, but how did you know there's a trap door below us?" Tifa asked.

"… haven't you heard the floor in this area sounds hollow?" the songstress asked, hoping it would cover up her slip-up. They look at one another and taps the floor with their heels, which turns out to be true… it's sounds hollow. 'I'm safe!' she thought.

"Wow, you have good ears." Aerith said.

"Thanks, but back to the topic, we better mosey to Sector 7 before they drop death on it!" the songstress reminds them quickly, they nod at this and dash out of the mansion heading straight back to Sector 7.

If neither Cloud or Mira is chosen…

Both Tifa and Mira have to pull and drag a stun 'Claire' to get to the office, once arriving in there…

'Oh man… have he not heard of exercise? Or Facial wash? Ewww! His face is oily! Not to mention his Mohawk is a mess.' the songstress thought as she restrains herself from saying it out loud.

"Woo hoo, I've made up my mind! My choice for tonight is…" He then zooms right at Tifa, totally love-struck. "This little beauty!"

"Fu, fu, fu… be nice, Don." Tifa said with fake sweetness, as the Don stated rubbing his hands together and looks at his men. "You can have the other ones!"

"Yes sir! Thank you sir!" his lackeys saluted, looking thrill to have fun with the remaining three girls.

"Well then…" the Don looks back at Tifa. "Shall we go my pretty?"

Giving a look at the three, which they nodded back at her, the bar maid follows the fat man to his bedroom.

:::^*^:::

Meanwhile…

Since they are not chosen, Cloud and Mira are taken to the Lounge while Aerith is taken away by one of Don Corneo's men to the torture room.

The men cheer happily and turns to the two.

"Cloud." Mira whispered.

"What is it?" the blonde replied.

"I have an idea, but I need you to stay behind me and cover your ears, understand?" the songstress instructed, and he stares at her before agreeing to it.

"Heh, heh... Well ladies, are we, uh, all ready?" Scotch asked.

"Excuse me?" Mira calls out and he turns at her. "You wouldn't mind listening to a bit of music, if you like?"

"Oooh? It seems we got a lovely songbird in our midst." Scotch stated lightly with delight. "Sure, sure, stand right here and let us hear your lovely voice."

'Oh… this songbird is going to sing you to sleep.' she though, as she and 'Claire' moves to where Scotch is standing and she sets her keytar on guitar setting. She gives one look on 'her', who nodded in return, and begins to sing.

We could just go home right now

Or maybe we could stick around

For just one more drink.

Oh yeah.

She sings.

Get another bottle out

Let's shoot the breeze, sit back down

For just one more drink.

Oh yeah.

Here's to us.

Here's to love.

All the times that we've messed up.

Here's to you.

Fill the glass.

Cuz the last few days have gone too fast.

Oh let's give 'em hell.

Wish everybody well.

Here's to us.

Then loud and mixed snores are heard and with a grin, she sees all of them have fallen to sleep. Cloud look like a gaping fish on this and looks at Mira, who chuckles lightly. "This is a good way of knocking them out without resorting to violence!" she chirps.

"How in the-?" but the blonde is cut off when Mira suggested to changes clothes and go after Tifa, before she looses it. Agreeing to it, they find a place to change privately, which Cloud goes first on changing and Mira followed after. Once they are done changing, they rush out of the room and is about to head to the office…

"No…! Help!" the two looks at one another before rushing to where Aerith is. There they saw a comical sight of cat and mouse. Then when Aerith climbs the stair with Don's lackey tailing behind her, she turns and pushes him causes him to roll down the stairs.

"Aerith!" they both called and Mira came to the flower girl's side.

"Nice push there… a little mean but it is necessary." the songstress quips.

"Are you okay?" Cloud asked.

"I told you, I'm used to danger… to tell the truth, my heart is beating fast on that one." Aerith pants then straightens up. Nodding at this, they quickly head to the office where the bedroom is located.

On arriving at the bedroom's door, the songstress finds it lock. "Great… hold on." she then looks at Cloud. "Hey, can you slice the door down?"

:::^*^:::

Sitting on the bed and a few inches away from the mob boss… "Woo hoo! Come, come, don't be shy…"

"I know..." She then looks at him. "But you know, Don Corneo, I'd like you to explain something before we start..."

But it seems he thought of something else. "Hm? Oh, you mean about THAT? Don't worry. I'm single. There, feel better now?" he said reassuringly at her, as he wiggle his hips.

"No... I'm not asking about that... Wa... wait a minute! No, not yet!" Tifa tries to stop him from going at her.

"Come! Come! Aooooooh! I can't wait any longer! Here comes papa!"

Suddenly, she hears the door got slice into half and Cloud, Mira and Aerith comes charging in. "Cloud!" she is relief to see them, then quickly hops out of the way as the Don attempts to glomp her.

"Wha... what the hell? Who goes there?" the mob boss demanded, seeing three new occupants in his room. Then the bar maid quickly changes into her normal clothes, which made Mira wonder how she did that…

'I doubt she have a dress-sphere, that's in FFX-2!' the songstress thought, as she arms her instrument.

"You still don't get it do you, Don Corneo?" the bar maid points out.

"Get what?" the Don asked, but cringes back then all four glares at him.

"Shut up, we're asking the questions now…" she snaps. "What did your assistants find out? Talk! If you don't tell us…"

Then Cloud places his left leg on the bed, looking very threatening. "…I'll chop them off." he stated.

"No! Not that! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!" the fat man pleaded and explains that he was ordered to find a man with a gun-arm in the slums.

"By who?" the bar maid demanded.

"No…! If I told you that, I'd be killed!"

"Talk! If you don't tell us…"

"Waaaaaaaaaaah…! It was Heidegger of Shinra! Heidegger, the head of Public Safety Maintenance!" he squealed.

"The head of Public Safety Maintenance!" Cloud said out of surprise.

"Did you say the Shinra! What are they up to! Talk! If you don't tell us…" the bar maid then place her left leg on the bed. "I'll smash them." she threatens.

"What way?" Cloud demanded and Mira is a bit surprise at this… it looks like she got herself a line.

"I can't-"

With that he squeaks like a frighten mouse and spills everything. "And they're really going to crush them…literally, by breaking the support holding up the plate above them."

"Break the support!" the bar maid yell out in surprise and Cloud and Aerith looks shock that this, while Mira seems to be calm.

'After all, me and Riley have known that this is going to happen.' the songstress thought as she secretly press the record off.

"You know what's going to happen? The plate will go PING and everything's gonna go

BAMMM! I heard their hideout's in the Sector 7 Slums... I'm just glad it's not here in Sector 6." he babbled on.

"They're going to wipe out the Sector 7 Slums!" Tifa said and looks at Cloud and Mira. "Cloud, Mira, will you two come with me to Sector 7?"

"Of course, Tifa." the Ex-SOLDIER replied.

"Same here." Mira stated and they are about to get out, when she remembers that the floor they are going stop on is…

"Just a second!" the Don calls out and they all stop on that 'specific' floor.

"Shut up!" Cloud snaps at him.

"Thanks, but how did you know there's a trap door below us?" Tifa asked.

"Wow, you have good ears." Aerith said.

Silver: And there we have it, the two scenes if Cloud is chosen or neither of them are chosen. But what if Kotch have taken Mira to the torture room…? It's simple, she'll use Darkness Dance and then smack him on the head with her keytar, while blind. Read and review!