They descended into the metal belly of the reactor. Garrison took the lead.

Something didn't feel right. Cid and Yuffie were squabbling amicably between themselves, hyped up by the thrill of the ride and taking everything in their stride. But Barret had made a living out of this kind of work; he'd spent long hours studying plans and making notes, checking for escape routes—plan B's, C's, D's… He knew how Shinra operated with their sneaky security systems and fail-safes. This might not be his plan but he'd made sure he knew enough to keep their asses out of trouble. Things weren't adding up.

The first alarm bells had started to ring when they'd met no resistance on the way into the caves. Garrison had waved it off as it being their lucky day. They'd encountered a few pockets of trouble from wild animals but nothing they couldn't handle. But then there had been nobody in the reactor either and he'd started getting that familiar sinking feeling; no guards, no workers, no scientists. The atmosphere was eerie, the only sound coming from four sets of boots as they hurried further into the complex.

That was when Cid and Yuffie had started griping at each other. There didn't seem to be any need to lie low and they'd taken full advantage of the fact, arguing loudly between themselves.

It was because the PHS lines were down, Garrison had explained cheerfully. Shinra had suspended work on the reactor while they got them back up and running. It was all part of the plan. He'd clapped Barret reassuringly on the shoulder, grinning widely, and continued on.

Garrison was too quick to dismiss the implications; too overexcited by the end goal to sit up and pay attention. Barret had seen Shinra's mind games first hand. If there were no guards around it was because Shinra had decided to allow them into the reactor.

"All I'm saying is I could give the motherfucker a run for his money," Cid drawled, using his spear like a walking stick. "I know he's ex-SOLDIER and all but I could take him."

Yuffie giggled. "No way old man. Cloud would kick your ass into next week and you know it."

"Do you guys have to be so damn loud?" Barret's voice echoed around the metal corridor. "Shut your damn mouths before I shut them for you."

Yuffie sniffed petulantly. "What's eating him?"

"Garrison!" he shouted, jogging to keep up with the man; he was clearly on a mission, eating up ground on the way to the reactor core. "Wait up."

He slowed but didn't stop. "Something wrong, friend?"

"Maybe." Barret scratched his head nervously. "I don't like this. Doesn't feel right."

"You're worrying over nothing. Everything's going to plan."

"There's nobody around. I'm telling you, it's not right."

"I already told you," Garrison repeated forcefully. "They've suspended work."

"Yeah but I've seen this before. Shinra don't just abandon a reactor unless they've got a trick up their sleeve."

"You're worrying for no reason, Barret."

"There should've been a hatch back there to the surface and there wasn't," he continued, putting a voice to the thoughts that were niggling at him. "And the floors are all wrong. The layout…"

"What're you saying?" Garrison asked coolly.

"Are you sure the blueprints you got are right? 'Cause I don't see no damn Mako Storage either."

"Trust me," he insisted. "It's all going to plan."

Barret cradled his gun-arm. "I say we get this over and done with. Let's not hang about."

"Sounds like a plan." Garrison grinned, and the awkwardness passed.

By the time they'd reached the centre Barret had no idea how to get back to the surface. This reactor was nothing like the ones he'd seen before. The standard Shinra template hadn't been easy to navigate, but at least once you'd seen one you'd seen them all. He was lost and confused. Garrison seemed to know exactly where he was going, and that was even stranger.

Vincent's warnings were playing on his mind. He'd said that Garrison was lying; that Shinra's new reactors were clean. So far nothing was adding up; the damn place didn't even smell like a reactor. The corridors they walked now were unfinished; signage was missing off the doors and there were machinery and power tools dotted around. There should've been somebody here.

Barret didn't like to admit when he was wrong. As far as he was concerned the world was black and white. You had the good guys and the bad guys; a person slotted easily into either category, and then that was where they stayed. Garrison's big claims about Shinra and his conviction to the cause had pushed him firmly into the good guy category. And he looked so much like Biggs…

Uncertainty coiled uncomfortably through his gut like oil on water.

"Nearly there," Garrison assured him, taking note of his narrowed eyes. He chuckled, although there was a strange edge to the sound. "Guess my blueprints weren't that up to date after all, huh?"

"Guess not." The words came to him slowly; words he didn't want to ask for fear of the answers. "How'd you know where you're going?"

"I've been in a reactor like this before," he replied vaguely. "We're almost there. You ready?"

Barret nodded curtly.

"Born ready," Cid called as he and Yuffie caught up to them. He ruffled his fingers affectionately through the girl's hair.

They headed through another door into a small control room. There was a computer terminal on the wall and another door leading out of the room; Barret tried it but it was locked. Garrison pulled out a chair from the console and began tapping keys on the keyboard.

"This won't take long." He shrugged his pack off and held it out to Barret, making himself more comfortable.

"What're you doing?" Barret took the offered pack; it was a lot heavier than he'd expected it to be.

"Gotta override the security codes," he explained. "Everything you need is in there. Think you guys will be alright setting it up?"

"Big guy's done this before," Cid crowed. "No problemo."

"Lights are out. There's torches in the side of the pack though."

Barret forced his hand into the side-pocket and found three torches. He handed them out to Cid and Yuffie. "You not joining us?"

"I will…" Garrison replied distractedly. "I'm gonna see what I can do about the lights."

"Okay…"

He hit a final key with a flourish. "Alright then. Doors open, head on through. I'll meet you in there."

As they neared the door Barret grasped Cid's arm. "I don't like this. Something ain't right."

"What?"

"This reactor ain't all it's supposed to be. Keep your eyes open."

"Bit late for that now," Cid grumbled. "Gotta admit I was expecting more trouble than this."

"What're you two whispering about?" Yuffie bounced over. "Are we going or what?"

They entered the reactor core. It was pitch black and the air smelt of fresh paint. Torches zig-zagging around the room they headed for the far end, where the main reactor appeared to be located. The unfinished circuitry and wires cast odd shadows in the light of the torches. The air was uncomfortably stuffy.

Barret crouched down and began rifling through the pack. "Right. We set the bomb; we get the fuck outta here. Anybody got any problems with that?"

"Nope." Yuffie was swinging her torch around, eyes wide. "This place gives me the creeps."

His fingers brushed on a flat object. The metal was cool and he could feel letters carved into the surface. When he pulled it from the pack it was heavy—it took two hands to pull it clear. He placed in on the floor and reached for his torch.

"Hey…what's that?" Yuffie was staring at something in the far corner of the room. Barret could just see the shadow her torch had picked out.

"I might be wrong," Cid drawled. "But that looks a hell of a lot like a body."

Barret stared at the piece of metal. The beam of his torch shook, betraying his nerves. To less experienced hands it was just a piece of scrap.

His finger traced the words. Reactor No. 5.

"Oh my gods… Vincent!" Yuffie's torch clattered to the ground as she skidded across the floor. "Guys... He's really hurt!"

"What the…" Cid took off after her, leaving Barret to stare at the broken piece of metal in front of him.

Realisation cut through him, icy cold. He launched himself at the door. It was locked.

"Garrison!" he howled, smashing it with his fist. "Open the goddamn door."

"Sorry friend." Garrison's voice was tinny, coming through the overhead communications system. "No can do."

"Why you lying piece of shit—"

"Come on now Barret, no need to be unfriendly." His tone was malicious. "Have you set up the bomb yet?"

"Now look here—"

"I'm assuming you've found my little present," he continued cheerfully. "How is the Turk by the way? He didn't look too good when I left him but I've heard he's quite a resilient fellow."

"Barret," Cid barked. "What the hell's going on?"

"Do you want to explain it to them or shall I?"

The emergency lights came up, bathing the room in an eerie green glow. Barret could see Yuffie's fearful eyes; and the look of confusion on Cid's face.

"Barret…" Cid was staring at the pack. "There's still a bomb in that pack. Right?"

"Give that man a medal," Garrison replied cheerfully. "Sorry you had to get involved. The girl too. What do you call them… Collateral damage! But you'd know all about that Barret, wouldn't you?"

"I don't understand…"

"Let me help you," he continued. "You see my boss. She's a real tricky one. She lost a lot when you bastards took out the Number Five reactor. And her life ain't been a picnic, let me tell you."

"Let Cid and Yuffie go," Barret hollered. "And Vincent. They've done nothing wrong."

"Valentine stays," Garrison replied sharply. "He's a Turk. And if there's one thing I hate more than Shinra it's a fucking Turk."

"You goddamn motherfucking—"

"It's a good bomb, Barret. Made it myself. Your girl would be proud… Jessie, wasn't it?" His tone was cruel. "I'll give you half an hour 'cause that's how long you gave yourself, wasn't it? Just so you can have a real good think about what you've done."

"You can't do this!"

"I can actually." Garrison laughed. "Got to run! I'd like to catch up with the Director while he's still around."

The communications system cut out. Barret hammered on the door.

"Garrison! I swear to goddamn… Garrison!"

"Barret," Yuffie shouted. "Vincent's really hurt. I don't know if we can move him."

Barret headed for the others, panic setting in. Vincent was in a bad way. The long gashes across his torso were bleeding heavily and his pale skin was glistening with sweat. His chest rose and fell erratically and his red eyes were rolling back in his head.

"Looks like poison," Cid pointed out, face pale.

"Yeah."

"He's been attacked by something…" Yuffie looked around. "What if it's still here?"

"Don't say things like that," Barret growled. "We need to find a way out of here."

Vincent's hand jerked violently; Yuffie patted his arm gently, eyes filled with concern. "Don't worry. We got you."

"Yeah but who the fuck's got us?" Cid asked, looking around the large room.

The minutes ticked on. Barret paced agitatedly. "What do we do?"

"I don't know," Cid muttered. "Can't see another door…"

"Ain't there another way outta this goddamn reactor?"

"Can you see one?" Cid shoved him, frustrated. "Stop asking stupid questions!"

It made sense to Barret now; he'd been stitched up good and proper. The blueprints had looked familiar because they were; they weren't for a new reactor, just copies of blueprints he'd already studied before. He'd seen the words Mako Storage and had panicked, his brain papering over the cracks in Garrison's story. The bastard had relied on his hatred of Shinra to blind him and it had. He felt like a fool.

He raised his machine gun and shot uselessly into the air. "Goddamn son of a bitch!"

"Barret!" Cid had to shout to make himself heard over the din. "That ain't helping."

"I don't give a shit!" He shouted. "I did this. I dragged you and Yuffie into this mess. I should've listened! And now Vincent's hurt and Marlene…"

"Don't you be getting all morbid on me now you big idiot!"

"Hey guys…" Yuffie froze, one hand resting on Vincent's forehead. Her head was cocked to one side. "Can you hear that?"

"What?"

"Shut up and just listen!" She pointed into the air. "Does that sound like…voices?"

Barret dropped his gun-arm to his side, craning his ears to hear. "I don't hear…"

A clatter above them drew their attention. Cid only just managed to get out of the way when a metal cover from one of the service vents crashed onto the floor beside him.

"What the…"

"All I'm saying," came a woman's voice, high above them, "is that you can't expect to kill everybody that looks at me funny."

"I can't believe you're still trying to have this argument."

"Well you keep avoiding the subject."

There was another clatter and a second cover sailed towards them. Barret jumped to one side.

"You're ridiculous," the woman's voice continued. "I expect this kind of crap from Reno."

"Elena… He tried to burn you."

"I know. I was there, remember?"

"Reno?" Cid mouthed, frowning.

"Elena?" Barret stared up at the ceiling. "Motherfuckers…"

A slim figure in a black suit descended from the vent in the ceiling. She was hanging on a wire that was connected to a harness around her torso. A second, taller figure followed her, black hair trailing behind him as he zipped to the ground.

"Some guys buy their girlfriends flowers," Elena called sarcastically as she slid smoothly to a stop, six feet from the ground. "Just remember that next time."

"Point noted," Tseng replied coolly. "Although I don't plan on there being a next time."

Barret stared, unsure what to make of the fractured conversation.

She fumbled with her harness and dropped to her feet. As though she hadn't noticed the three people staring at her, mouths open, she brushed down her suit and fixed her hair. Tseng unclipped his own harness and landed neatly beside to her.

"Finally, something we can agree on." She rolled her eyes, turning her attention to Barret. "Fancy seeing you here. Where's Garrison?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" Cid stared at them, open mouthed.

"Rescuing you, apparently," she countered. "I take it he's done his whole evil genius speech and split?"

"Bastard's long gone," Barret growled.

"Perfect," Tseng muttered. "You appear be alive… For now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What was his plan?"

Barret pointed at the pack he'd left by the reactor. "There's a bomb… In there."

"Oooh goody," said Elena, clapping her hands together. "I haven't done this in ages."

"Wait a damn second…." Cid watched as she headed for the reactor. "You can't just go poking around in there!"

"Watch me."

"You'll blow the damn place to smithereens!"

Tseng had joined Yuffie at Vincent's side.

"He's been poisoned," he observed, voice neutral. "Do you have the necessary items?"

"Does it look like we have the necessary goddamn items?" Barret snarled.

"It was a valid question," Tseng replied, crouching down next to Yuffie. "Move."

"There's no need to be rude," she grumbled.

"Would you like me to help him, or not?"

Barret watched Yuffie reluctantly crawl out of the way, muttering under her breath. Tseng pulled a kit out of his jacket and began rooting through it.

"You decided against listening to Valentine when he tried to warn you about this?" Tseng asked dryly.

"Now wait a damn minute—"

"Hey Tseng…" Elena was poking around in the pack. "Is it the green wire or the red wire?"

The Turk's mouth formed a thin line.

"That goddamn rookie is gonna get us blown sky high," Cid hissed.

"Never mind," she called cheerfully. "I got it."

"A lot has happened since North Corel went offline. We will debrief when we reach Healen."

"Healen?" Barret frowned. "I ain't going to goddamn Healen. I'm going home!"

"You come to Healen or you stay here," said Elena, sauntering back over. She had the pack in her hand. "It's your call."

"Strife and Lockhart are in Healen, as are the rest of my team." Tseng's eyes were cold. "You will accompany us. It appears we have much to discuss."

Barret swung his gun-arm around, pointing it at Tseng. "You'll get us the hell out of here and then you'll leave us the fuck alone."

"No." Tseng held up one leather gloved hand. "Your children are hurt. There has been an attack on my Turks and your friends are in danger. You are not in a position to make demands."

"Yeah," Elena added, hands on her hips. "So shut up and do what we say."