They battled through hordes of Shinra-made fighting machines and soldiers who were hell-bent on keeping the scourge of the slums firmly on the ground. But this was Cloud and Tifa, and that was their friend up there, and this was their pillar, and their slum and Shinra wasn't going to win this battle.

They met Biggs halfway up. He was severely wounded. Blood was gushing from a deep gash in his forehead and he was clutching his chest with both hands as if he was about to have a heart attack. Cloud said nothing about what he saw, especially not to Tifa, but Biggs was mortally wounded. He had seen enough death out there on the battlefield. He knew the signs well. You could even say he was accustomed to it. Biggs was gasping for air. He didn't have long left and he knew it, yet he still wore a look of determination on his face.

"Cloud… so you don't care… what happens… to the… planet?"

Of course he cared. Shinra was sucking the energy from within its core and killing the people on the planet's surface as well. He was trying his best. They all were. But sometimes it was easier to not get your hopes up; to live for today and fight for today; worry about what's happening now. That way you might be able to prevent a horrible future.

"You're wounded," said Cloud, evading the question. He handed him an X-Potion, hoping for a miracle and that it could at least give Biggs some time.

"Thanks, Cloud," he said, popping the bottle and gulping down the entire thing. "Don't worry 'bout me… Barret's… fighting up there. Go help him…"

They bid him farewell and continued the climb to the top. Jessie was further up. She was out of breath but her injuries seemed superficial. Her face was dark with blood and grime but her eyes still shone beneath the murk. She smiled.

"…Cloud… I'm glad… I could talk with you… one last time," she whispered.

"Don't say that," Cloud told her, his voice hopeful that this would be the first of many more times, even though deep down he knew as well as she did that this would probably be the last time.

"That's… all right…" she wheezed. "Because… of our actions… many… people died… this probably… is our punishment…"

"That's not true," Cloud responded.

He looked at her one last time, gave her a hopeful smile and ran to catch Tifa up. The gunshots were deafening as they finally reached the top of the pillar.

To be continued…