TWENTY-SEVEN

I let go of Barret as I stepped out of the duct and into the darkened tunnel leading to the underplate. My left arm stung as if I'd stuck it into a hornet's nest, and my blood felt like it was on fire. But despite all that, I pushed on, needing to stay on my feet and keep going. Sweat covered my skin, and the wound had already swollen up and had turned a dark reddish-purple color. Although I felt a little dizzy, I shook it off as best I could and gave the guys an encouraging smile.

"So far… so good," I said.

Cloud nodded. "Yeah. Shouldn't be much further."

A hand fell on my shoulder as Barret stood by me. "Need to take a breather for a sec, Tif?"

"No," I shook my head. "I'll be alright."

With Cloud in front, Barret behind, and me in the middle, we kept going, making our way carefully through a network of low tunnels and ladders. It was a bit of a challenge to climb down those things with my wounded arm and the poison running through me, but I did it anyway. Cloud glanced back at me every now and then but didn't say anything. I could tell he was worried, though.

We finally made it out onto the underplate a few minutes later, and as we started to make our way across it, the loud, unmistakable sounds of gunfire and explosions reached our ears. We all looked at each other, then pushed forward across the platforms, the slums lying far below us as we went. I shivered at the thought of the long drop and kept my eyes fixed ahead of me. I did not like heights.

After making our way around one of the huge lamps that shone its false daylight down onto the slums, we raced across a narrow walkway to one of the larger platforms in the center of the underplate. Jessie and Wedge were back in their normal gear and fighting desperately against a large group of elite grunts that had them pinned down near a cluster of wooden crates. Past them, another walkway led to a high ladder, and more platforms stretched off to either side.

"Guys!" Wedge saw us. "Could really use a hand here!"

Jessie tossed one of her grenades at the mob of grunts, taking out a few and wounding several others with the blast. "How'd you like that? I got plenty more for ya right here!"

Barret charged in, firing his gun-arm. "Avalanche!"

"Don't suppose I could convince you to wait here?" Cloud glanced at me as he drew his sword.

"Not a chance," I grinned. "You'd be… wasting your breath."

He smirked. "Thought you'd say that. Let's go."

Bringing up my fists and doing my best to ignore the pain and stay on my feet, I followed Cloud as he ran in. While he cut down grunts as if they were paper, I focused my energy and laid into a few others with a deadly shower of punches and kicks that left them flat on the ground. I'd taken a few hits from their energy bolts in the process, though, with my reflexes being slowed by the poison.

Panting for breath, I searched for another target while Barret shot down another pair of grunts. But more were coming. Jessie and Wedge fed bullets into three of them while Cloud swept his sword in wide arcs that threw them back. Then Jessie thrust out her right arm and hurled a lighting bolt squarely into another grunt, tossing him across the deck like a rag doll as her materia glowed brightly on her wrist. Looked like she was really starting to get the hang of it.

Then I spotted something in the corner. "Shit…"

One of the rocket launchers Cloud had mentioned was starting to activate. The others were all tied up with the remaining grunts, so they couldn't stop it. I sped toward it, drawing back my fist as I did. As soon as I got in range, I slammed it into the launcher with a burst of energy, as much as I could manage. The machine shuddered and started to fall apart, but not before it managed to fire a single rocket. As the launcher collapsed, I whirled around, my eyes wide.

"Look out!" I yelled.

The missile flew straight into the crates Wedge and Jessie had been hiding behind, blowing them up and throwing my friends flat on their backs a few feet away. I ran to them while Cloud and Barret continued fighting the grunts even as my breath came in heavy gasps. As much as I tried, I couldn't keep pushing myself like this.

Wedge sat up and rubbed his bottom. "Man, that was close…"

"Too close," Jessie agreed, getting to her feet.

"You guys okay?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yeah. Just got tossed around a bit. You don't look too good, though, Tifa."

"I've been better," I grimaced.

Jessie started to stay something, but then she suddenly whipped up her gun. "Behind you! Duck!"

I dropped to the floor and spun around just as she opened fire on a flying, monstrous thing that looked like a giant seahorse. It had a small fin on its back, dark green scales all over its body, and a long, whiplike tail ending in a curved, razor sharp claw. It screeched when Jessie shot it, the bullets driving it backward, but it didn't fall. Gritting my teeth as my blood kept burning, I drove upward with a fierce uppercut that hit the monster square in the head.

It flew across the rail and fell squealing to the slums. And although I could see more of them floating around, surging toward us, I sank to my knees, my hands flat on the deck as my body trembled and I started getting dizzy again. And there were still several of those elite grunts left as well. Cloud and Barret were keeping them at bay, for the moment at least, but I didn't know how long it could last.

Barret shot one of the flying monsters. "The hell are these?"

"Terpsicolts," Jessie answered, firing at another. "Monsters bred by Shinra to guard places like this."

"Shinra made these goddamn things?" he spat.

Cloud cut down another grunt. "Worry about it later! We're a little busy right now. Where's Biggs?"

Wedge pointed off to the left. "That way! There's another platform not far from here, and a ladder that leads into a different section of the underplate near Reactor 5. We were jumped by these grunts as soon as we got here. Bad timing, I guess."

"Held 'em off so Biggs could get away," Jessie added.

"Tifa's gotta get to him fast," Cloud glanced at her and Wedge, then Barret. "Or that poison's gonna kill her."

He nodded. "Jus' leave it to me, merc. I'll get her there."

I glanced at Cloud. "You sure… about this?"

"Made you a promise, Tif," he reminded me. "And I'm gonna keep it. Now go! I'll meet up with you later!"

As Barret tugged on my arm, Cloud turned, brought up his sword, and charged into the crowd of grunts and terpsicolts swarming around us, Jessie and Wedge right behind him, guns blazing. I tore my eyes off them, leaning heavily against Barret as he slid his good arm around my waist to help me stay on my feet.

We hurried away, moving across the suspended platforms as fast as we could in the direction Biggs had gone. Didn't run into any enemies out that way, fortunately—Cloud and the others seemed to have done a good job drawing their attention—so we didn't have much difficulty in getting to where we needed to go.

As we got farther away and the sounds of battle faded behind us, it got harder and harder for me to concentrate. The pain was worse now, fire in my veins, and it was all I could do to keep moving. All I knew to do was try and take one step after another. Everything was a blur in my mind, and I barely heard Barret encouraging me.

"Jus' keep goin', girl," he said. "You doin' fine. Ladder's in sight, too. We almost there, so don't be givin' up now."

"Not… happening…" I gave him a weak smile.

He grinned back at me. "Now there's the tough girl I know."

"The others… think they'll be alright?" I asked.

Barret patted my shoulder. "SOLDIER boy'll keep 'em safe. Ain't no doubtin' that. So don't you be worryin'."

I chuckled. "Sounds like… you're warming up to him."

"Wha? Hell no!" he snorted. "Kid's jus' good at what he does, that's all. Goddamn pain in the ass, though."

"Sure…" I laughed, wincing even as I did.

We made it to the ladder a minute or two later, and I clung to it for a moment to catch my breath and gather my strength while Barret took a look above us. It wasn't a very long climb, but with only one hand, he had to use it to hold on. He glanced at me, his good hand on the ladder as he got ready to move.

"Grab on, Tif," he said. "I'll carry you up."

I did, moving close behind Barret and draping my arms down over his broad shoulders the way Marlene did when he'd give her piggyback rides. Of course, I couldn't sit on him the way she so often did, so I just clung to him instead as he began climbing the ladder, carrying me with him on his back one rung at a time.

It was slow going, but steady. I was hardly aware of it, though. As I held onto him, I found myself growing more lightheaded, trembling as the poison scoured my system. I struggled to keep my eyes open, and I bit down on my tongue to try and keep from passing out. But the pain was everywhere, burning under my skin, and my head sank down onto Barret's shoulder as my eyes slid shut.

I brought Buster in front of me like a shield just in time to block an elite grunt's leaping blow as he swiped at me with his clawed gauntlets. Shoving him back, I hit him with a series of quick slashes that sent him flying back hard into the rail. He didn't get up. Two more sprang at me to take his place, though. There were only a few left, but they moved so fast it was hard to take them down sometimes.

And then there were the terpsicolts. There must've been about four of them flying around us, whipping their clawed tails. I struck at one of them but only managed a glancing blow before it started spinning itself in a tight circle. Buster just bounced off when I tried to hit it again, the thing's motion seeming to create a barrier of energy around it. At least until Jessie struck it with another lightning bolt.

The thing screeched, jolted out of its spinning shield, and I slashed it apart before it could gather itself again while Wedge sprayed the two elite grunts that were slashing at me with fire from his flamethrower. It turned them into living torches, and Jessie and I took them down while they burned, my sword and her gun making short work of them. Still a couple left, though, along with the monsters.

Two of the terpsicolts dove toward Wedge, hammering him with a series of spinning blows before he could bring up his weapon. He took a few steps back, swinging his free arm to ward them off. I started to go to him, but the last two grunts fired their particle beams at me, forcing me to duck and roll to avoid being shot. I whirled around, springing to my feet and readying Buster.

"Back off, will ya?" Wedge yelled at the monsters.

I glanced over my shoulder at him. "Hang on! Jessie! Help Wedge! I'll handle these guys!"

She nodded. "On it, Cloud! Leave it to me!"

While I swept Buster at the grunts, blocking another volley of blue energy bolts before laying into them with a string of blinding slices and an overhead spinning chop, Jessie fired at the two terpsicolts harassing Wedge. The third one went for her, slicing her in the leg before she was able to get away. I heard her cry out in pain, but the grunts hadn't gone down yet, and I couldn't get to her.

"Special delivery!" Jessie turned, stuck her gun barrel right into the terpsicolt's mouth, and fired, blowing its head off.

Wedge shoved the other two away. "C'mon, Jessie! Help!"

While I ran one of the grunts through with a quick focused thrust, Jessie holstered her gun and took out a raspberry. Her eyes narrowing, she pulled out the pin while I fought off the last grunt, batting aside its swiping claws before sweeping Buster in a tight vertical arc and hurling a wave of pale green energy into it followed by a blast of lightning from my own materia. The drugged-up trooper flew hard to the ground and lay still, smoke rising from his chest.

"Move your ass, Wedge!" Jessie called. "Incoming!"

I turned around to see him dive to the floor and roll away from the terpsicolts just as Jessie threw the raspberry. It exploded a few seconds later, catching both monsters in the blast as we both threw up our arms to shield our eyes. Wedge stayed on the ground at first, but he was a bit too close to the edge of the explosion, and the fire took a bite out of his ass. He yelped, got to his feet, and raced across the platform, frantically patting his bottom until the dust settled.

"Wedge! You okay?" Jessie hurried over to him.

"Not sure," he groaned, sinking down onto his hands and knees. "I think I might've been burned to the bone…"

She pulled down the back of his pants. "That's… wow…"

"Well, Jessie? How bad is it?"

"Your ass is fine, Wedge!" she smirked. "A little singed, but the only casualty is your underwear."

Wedge blinked. "Seriously? That's all?"

Jessie slapped his ass. "You betcha!"

"Whew!" he flinched. "Talk about a gunshot…"

I couldn't help laughing a bit when I saw that. Did it before I could even stop myself. And sure enough, Jessie caught me in the act, a wide grin splitting her face. While Wedge pulled his pants back up, she went right up to me, her brown eyes dancing.

"That a laugh I heard, SOLDIER boy?" Jessie beamed.

"Uh…" I blinked, looking away for a moment and then back at her. "Dunno what you mean…"

Wedge pointed at me. "I saw it too, bro!"

"Saw what?" I asked.

"Awww, are you embarrassed, Cloud?" Jessie teased. "You're so cute when you get like that, you know?"

I motioned to the ladder behind us. "We should go."

She giggled. "Copy that! You laughed a lot up there last night, don't you remember? It was wonderful!"

"That's different," I said.

"Because it was just me?" Jessie asked.

I moved to the ladder. "Yeah. Nothing personal, Wedge."

"I get it, bro," he smiled. "It's all good. Oh, I almost forgot. Found a little something for ya on the way in. It was lying next to another crate we passed before we got here. Check it out!"

Wedge reached inside his pants pocket and took out a blue materia orb. It glowed brightly as he handed it to me, and after just a moment's concentration, I sensed it was Magnify. I put it into the mythril bangle Jessie had bought me, linking it to the Restore materia so I could use it on everyone at once if I had to.

I nodded to Wedge. "Thanks. Been looking for this."

"You're welcome, bro. Gonna try it out?"

"Yeah," I lifted my arm up. "Hold still, guys."

Using my new materia, I tended to our wounds, patching them up with a little cure magic. It didn't take long, and through Magnify, I was able to heal us all at once. Jessie's leg looked more hurt than it was. The terpsicolt's claw had sliced across her left thigh, but luckily not deep. So between my healing magic and the thick strip of cloth she tied around it to stop the bleeding, we got it taken care of.

"Hey? Tifa?" a familiar voice called.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to see Biggs kneeling down next to me. I was sitting on a small platform, my back to the railing. Probably not far from where Barret had climbed up. He was on my other side, worry on his face as he looked at me. And then I realized that the pain was gone, along with the feverish heat and dizziness. I looked down at my arm to see that the sting was slowly healing.

"Biggs?" I glanced back at him. "What happened?"

He let out a sigh of relief. "Barret got you here not long ago, just in time. Another five minutes and it would've been too late. But he did it, and I gave you an antidote while you were out."

I chuckled. "Guess I cut it pretty close, didn't I?"

Barret grimaced. "Too damn close. So don't you scare me like that again, you hear? Damn near gave me a heart attack."

"No promises," I smirked.

"How do you feel?" Biggs asked.

When I noticed his hand resting on my shoulder, I felt my stomach flutter. I smiled. "Better, thanks. A lot better. Still a little weak, though. So I think I'll just sit and rest up for a while until Cloud and others get here, if you guys don't mind."

Barret nodded. "You do that, Tifa. You earned it."

"Thanks," I said. "Oh, what about the entrance to Reactor 5? Were you able to find it, Biggs?"

"Right over there," he pointed behind him.

I looked to see an open grate at the end of a short walkway, bathed in a soft bluish light. And on the other side of it was our destination. It both relieved and bothered me at the same time. As hard as it had been to get here, the real challenge was still to come.

It was quiet when we made our way inside the storage room. Jessie and I shared a knowing look as we entered, both of us thinking of what had happened here between us last night, all of it. She gave me a small, gentle smile, then moved over to the back corner to retrieve the bomb. While she did that, Wedge and I went over to the shelves to see if there was anything that might be useful.

"Hey, bro," he held up a slender vial. "What's this?"

I took a closer look at it. "Ether. Renews your energy a little so you can use more magic."

He tossed it to me. "Cool! Guess it'll be handy, then."

"No doubt," I slipped it into my pocket.

We rummaged around a bit more but only found a couple potions. Wedge kept one while I took the other. Then we turned and watched as Jessie took the wall panel off with her little spanner. The bomb was just where she'd left it, nestled amongst the cables and wires, and she gently took it out along with the detonator.

"Okay," she glanced over at Wedge, tilting her head meaningfully at the tunnel on the far side of the room. "Looks like we're about ready to go. Just gotta take care of a few things first."

Wedge blinked. "Like what?"

Jessie raised an eyebrow. "Private things, Wedge. You know?"

"Huh?" he stared blankly at her. "I don't get it…"

I took him by the shoulder and turned him to face the tunnel exit. "Move. Find the others."

Wedge stumbled toward it. "Okay, but… oh, now I—"

"Good," I gave him a little push. "Go."

He waved. "See ya soon, guys! Don't be—"

"Wedge!" Jessie hissed.

With a sheepish grin, he slipped into the tunnel and disappeared to catch up to Barret, Tifa, and Biggs. Jessie and I would follow him soon, but we needed a moment alone first. I'd known that as soon as we came here, and so had Jessie. But not Wedge. He didn't understand what this place meant to us, what it was.

"Finally," Jessie giggled. "Thought he'd never leave."

I smirked. "I wasn't gonna let him stay."

Her lips closed over mine as she set the bomb on a nearby shelf for a moment. "Good. Neither was I."

We stood there for a moment, exchanging soft, tender kisses as she slid into my arms. Then she just sighed and laid her head down on my shoulder as I held her. Jessie didn't say anything at first, so I just waited for her, knowing she had something on her mind.

"Cloud…" she said. "About what happened on the train…"

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Jessie lifted her face to look at me. "It was all my fault. That special ID I made you? That's what set off all the alarms back there and nearly got us caught. I still can't believe it…"

"Jessie…" I murmured.

She sighed and looked away. "I just wanted to make you something nice, but… I really blew it. I'm so sorry."

I didn't blame her, though. Not one bit. Knowing what I did about her past, I understood why she was so hard on herself. Didn't think she should've been, but because she cared so much, it was hard for her not to be. I could tell she was disappointed. She couldn't have known what was gonna happen, though.

"Hey," I gently turned her face back to me. "Not your fault."

She stared at me. "What? But I—"

"Not. Your. Fault," I repeated. "Understand?"

"Thanks, Cloud…" Jessie hugged me tight and smiled. "How'd I get lucky enough to find you?"

I kissed her. "Been asking myself the same thing."

She used her lips to answer, pressing them firmly against mine. My heart raced at the feel of her mouth, its moist sweetness, and my blood was like magma. I wished this moment didn't have to end, but we had a mission to finish, and we both knew it. Reluctantly, I pulled away, but I didn't let go of her just yet.

"Soon as you get back home, be sure to get the Hardy ready," I said. "Thought we'd go for a ride."

"Oh, you bet!" Jessie grinned. "I'd love that!"

I nodded. "Tonight, then."

"And dinner?" she added, gazing warmly at me.

"Yeah," I agreed.

Jessie kissed me again. "And more…"

"Definitely," I whispered.

She laughed, hugging me again. "Then it's a date! Guess we should go now, but at least we've got something to look forward to. And… I'm gonna make you another ID, too."

I shook my head. "You don't need to do that."

"I want to," Jessie insisted. "It'll be better, I promise. Not flashy, but it'll get the job done. I'll head down to the basement to work on it once the Hardy's all gassed up. Gonna give her a good polish, too. I want her to look good for tonight, you know?"

I did. "Yeah. Me too."

Letting go of me, Jessie retrieved the bomb and detonator from the shelf, and then we ducked into the tunnel and followed it until it came to a dead end a short distance away. A hole with a metal ladder was set into the floor there, and we quickly took it down to a walkway and the next section of the underplate.

We followed it as it turned to the right, and before long, we caught sight of the others not far ahead of us. Tifa waved and smiled, and I let out a sigh of relief and lifted my hand in return. Although I'd been sure Barret would get her to Biggs in time, it was still good to see for myself that she was alright. She stood easily with the others by the entrance to Reactor 5 and looked as if she'd never been stung.

"Hi!" she called. "There you are!"

"Took your sweet time gettin' here," Barret grumbled.

I ignored him. "You look better, Tif."

She laughed. "Just about good as new, thanks to you guys. Ready to kick some ass in the reactor."

"I keep my promises," I told her.

"You sure do, Cloud," Tifa winked. "Thanks."

Jessie hugged her. "Glad you're okay. I was worried about ya."

"I'm fine, Jessie," Tifa assured her.

"Oh, before I forget," Biggs handed me, Tifa, and Barret each a pair of slim vials filled with a pale green liquid swirling inside. "Better take these with you. The rest of the antidotes."

Barret slipped them in his pocket. "Thanks, Biggs. You guys all did good. We'll take it from here."

Wedge shot him a thumbs up. "Good luck!"

"We're gonna fall back to base as soon as you're in," Biggs said. "So we'll meet you there when it's all over. Take this sucker out, guys! We're right behind you all the way!"

"Got it," I nodded.

Tifa tightened her fighting gloves. "Make sure everyone gets home safe, Biggs. Okay?"

He grinned. "Will do!"

"I'll patch in as soon as I can," Jessie said.

"Won't you be noticed on the train?" Tifa wondered.

She smirked. "Nope! We'll just pick up our disguises and put them right back on. An office girl working on her tablet isn't gonna draw any attention. At least, it shouldn't."

Barret nodded. "Good enough. Jus' be careful, Jessie."

"I will," she promised, handing him the bomb. "We should be back on the train by the time you get to the reactor core."

"Awright, then. Later!" he waved.

He stepped into the small tunnel leading into Reactor 5 and moved deeper inside. I knew he wouldn't go far, though. He'd wait for Tifa and I to catch up before entering the facility itself. According to the layouts, there was a large cargo platform at the end of the tunnel, and we could ride it right into the reactor.

Tifa glanced at the others. "Good luck, guys."

"You too," Biggs answered.

Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, and then she slipped into the tunnel after Barret. That left me alone with the others. I wasn't sure what to say at first. Goodbyes weren't really my thing, and it wasn't as if this was the last time I'd ever see them. But I still felt uneasy. They were all looking at me expectantly.

I started with Biggs. "Watch your back."

"Same to you, Cloud," he saluted.

"Wedge," I turned to him. "Really sorry about your ass."

He grinned. "It's all good, bro!"

That left only Jessie. She was beet red and practically out of breath from laughing so hard. Biggs just looked at her, puzzled but amused at the same time. He hadn't been there to see what happened, but I knew Jessie would fill him in later. I looked at her, not really sure what to say while the guys were still here.

Biggs got the hint, though. "C'mon, Wedge. Time to go."

"Huh?" he asked.

"Gotta give 'em some privacy," he explained, taking his arm. "Know what I mean? So let's head out."

Wedge chuckled. "Oh, right. Bye, guys!"

"Bye, Wedge!" Jessie said. "I'll catch up in a minute."

Then they were gone, and it was just the two of us. I almost wished she was going with me. But she'd be safer with the guys, and I wouldn't have to worry so much about her. Jessie hugged me, and for a moment neither of us said anything. As we stood there together, I realized I was almost afraid to leave her. It didn't make sense.

I saw my unease mirrored in her eyes. "Jessie, I…"

"I know," she whispered. "I feel it, too. Something's not right about this mission. I hope I'm wrong, but…"

"Keep your eyes open," I told her. "Stay low."

She nodded. "You too, merc."

I held her close. "Always."

"Good," she kissed me. "And don't forget, we have a date tonight. A motorcycle ride, dinner, and more."

"I won't," I told her.

Jessie winked. "I know, Cloud. Hurry back, okay?"

"Count on it," I pressed my lips to hers.

She returned the favor, drawing me closer as she deepened the kiss and tightened our embrace. Our mouths meshed together, locking and unlocking in a single moment that seemed to stretch on forever. When her tongue found mine, it sent current sizzling under my skin and into my brain with every sweet touch.

Eventually, though, we had to pull away. I couldn't keep the others waiting much longer. Jessie knew it as well as I did. She rested her head on my shoulder for just a minute, then lifted it up and gave me a small, encouraging smile as she let go of me.

"Well," Jessie sighed softly. "I guess this is it…"

I swallowed. "Yeah. See you soon."

"Oh, here," she reached into her pocket. "Something I'd like you to have. Call it a good luck charm."

Jessie pulled something out, but I didn't see what it was at first. She took my hand and put her own on top of it, folding my fingers over her little gift before letting go. When she was finished, I slowly opened my hand to see what she'd given me.

Lying on my palm was a flattened glass cylinder half an inch thick and about three inches in diameter. Pressed inside it was a small yellow chocobo feather, perfectly preserved. I held it up, gazing at it in wonder and not quite sure what to make of it. I appreciated the gift, but I didn't know what it was for or what it meant.

"Baby chocobo feather," Jessie explained. "A friend gave it to me for helping him out a few years ago, just before I first came to Sector 7. It's supposed to keep you safe."

"How?" I asked.

She went on. "Like I said, Cloud, it's a good luck charm. The saying goes that as long as you carry a chocobo feather with you, you'll always find your way home. Baby feathers are supposed to be especially lucky. So now I know you'll make it back."

"You really think it works?" I wondered.

"It has for me," Jessie answered. "I've had it for two years now, kept it on me all the time. And I'm still in one piece."

I put it carefully in my pocket. "Guess it does, then."

Jessie grinned. "Yeah! It'll bring you back to me safe and sound no matter what. Besides, how could you possibly resist staying away when you've got this little beauty to come home to?"

"Can't," I agreed. "Thanks, Jessie."

She pulled me in for a last, lingering kiss. "You're welcome, Cloud. I'll contact you guys soon, okay?"

I nodded. "Right. We'll be ready."

"I love you," Jessie murmured. "Whenever you look at your feather, just remember that and think of me."

"I will," I promised.

She held up her arm. "Fist bump on it?"

I blinked. "Huh?"

"Hold up your arm, Cloud," Jessie told me. "And make a fist. Then you just touch it to mine."

Although I wasn't quite sure what she was getting at, I did what she asked, curling my fingers into a fist while Jessie did the same with hers. Then, gazing at each other, we thrust them together. They bumped just a second later, a tingle racing up my spine at the contact. Jessie smiled, pressing her fist against mine for a moment.

"Reactor's waiting for ya," she whispered. "Go blow her mind."

I smirked. "Consider it blown."

Giggling, Jessie hurried away, stopping just long enough to wave at me and blow me a kiss before disappearing around the corner the way we'd come. I watched her leave, and even after she was gone, I couldn't turn away at first. I almost didn't want to, as if she'd come back if I only waited there long enough.

But I knew that wasn't going to happen. We both had things to do, important things, and so with a sigh, I finally tore my eyes from where Jessie had left. But as I turned around and moved up to the open grate leading to the cargo lift, I looked again at the baby chocobo feather she had given me. And as I did, I thought of her, missing her even though I knew we wouldn't be apart very long.

If all went well, we'd be back in the slums in an hour, maybe two. A simple job, in and out. But I still felt a foreboding about this mission, a knot in my gut that wouldn't leave. Maybe it was because of the dreams and visions I'd been having lately. Still, there wasn't really much I could do except see it through to the end.

Thinking of Jessie, my eyes still on the chocobo feather, I promised myself that no matter what happened, no matter where I was or what I was doing, I'd always find a way back to her. To come home to her. She was the reason I fought now, money or no money. Seeing her gift made me realize that. As my fingers closed firmly over it, I tightened them in resolve, determined to be there for her.

Putting the feather away, I entered the tunnel to Reactor 5.