By a Fraction of a Degree

A FFVII Fanfiction work by findthetiger129

Rated T for Violence and Language.

I do not own Final Fantasy VII, or any of the characters, trademarks or likenesses from Final Fantasy VII or its spin-offs That honor goes to Square-Enix.

Matt and Alistor are original characters.

Part IV: Stigma

Chapter 81, Scarlet and Heidegger Again?

April 11th [ ν ] – εуλ 0009

Cloud hurried down the path towards the hot spring as fast as he could and it wasn't long before he reached the edge of the trees. Looking around in the lamplight, all he saw was steam rising from the water but there was definitely evidence that someone had been through here. He was examining a trail of boot marks that seemed to be leading out towards the beach when he heard someone else step into the clearing behind him.

After a moment he heard Freya say quietly "There's blood over here." He hurried over to take a look. He hadn't noticed it at first because he'd been so focused on chasing after Kadaj, but now, he could clearly see that it had stained the ground.

"Whose though?" he wondered.

The level of energy in the air suddenly changed and he caught sight of a green light a short distance away. Walking to its place of origin, he heard a familiar groan before seeing Nanaki pull himself unsteadily to his feet.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

The red lion looked up at him before sitting on his haunches. "I think so. The person who attacked me did not seem to be interested in taking prisoners. As you saw, I made do with a Cure, but I'm afraid he escaped."

"Was it Kadaj?" Freya asked as she came over.

"I'm afraid you'll need to be more specific," Nanaki replied.

"Did he have shoulder-length white hair?" Cloud suggested.

Nanaki shook his head. "It was long. They might have been related though."

"Head back to the lodge," Freya said. "We'll be there once we've looked around some more."

Nanaki nodded in acknowledgement and then left the clearing. Cloud watched him leave before turning his attention back to the trail leading out the other side. Freya was already headed in that direction, scanning the ground. "They both definitely left this way," she said, walking down the hill towards the beach. As the two of them reached the sand, they saw that there was a trail of two sets of footprints leading towards them, and then the same two sets were making their way back in the same direction. They followed it for some time, past the cove where the Tiny Bronco had occasionally been parked in the past, and most of the rocks before off in the distance, they heard the sound of a couple of motorcycles departing. It wasn't long before they reached a spot on the edge of the forest where the bikes had been parked, but there would be no way to catch the two men without vehicles of their own.

"Damn it," Cloud muttered.

"Yeah, they got us good this time," the lady Turk replied, examining the ground under the moonlight for any other information that the ambient environment could tell her.

A moment later, her PHS buzzed and she answered. "Yeah? He's still with me. No. They got to their bikes before we could stop them." After a moment she hung up again. "Zack," she said. "He stopped when he saw Nanaki."

"Oh."

They spent a moment more searching the area and then Freya spoke again. "Hey Cloud, do you remember what I told you? When you were dealing with Sephiroth?"

"What part?" Cloud asked.

She walked over to him and gestured that they walk back over the sand. "When I told you I thought things would definitely be okay in the end. I still believe that. And I know Aerith's going to find a cure. Maybe we can help her. But if we give up now, there won't be a future for anyone to be there for, will there?" They were now walking back, trudging through the soft sand, and listening to the ocean to their left under the stars.

Cloud considered for a moment. "Probably not, but what good am I to anyone like this?"

Freya's normally confident demeanor faded for a moment, replaced by that wistful look he'd seen on occasion when she was thinking about something. "You know, I wonder even now whether or not there was something I could have done when Veld asked us to walk away. Could I have protected my friends if I had just made the effort? Cissnei probably asks herself that too. But I decided a long time ago that living in regret isn't living at all. So I promised myself that I wouldn't, and I also decided I would never let that happen again. Your situation may be a little different perhaps, but if you give up, you've already lost, and where's the good in that?"

"Not much," Cloud observed.

"Right," Freya said. "And now I've said my piece." They were about halfway back to the hill when Cloud spotted someone holding a lantern in the distance. Upon getting closer they saw Zack, following the tracks towards them.

"There you are!" Zack called out to them. "Any luck?"

"I think the situation speaks for itself," Freya said. "They seem to be gone for the time being. We could try to track them through the woods, but I don't think that's wise when they could just as easily circle around and come after Aerith again."

Zack was definitely disquieted by that. "They came for Aerith?"

"That's what it sounded like," the lady Turk replied. "They were also asking about that mother business; I assume that means Jenova. Though from what I could see, I think Aerith was the main target. That Kadaj guy didn't even know if their 'mother' was even here. Besides, where at the lodge would we keep her?"

"All right then," Zack said, "Let's go back for now."

The three of them trudged through the sand until they reached the hill again. They had almost reached the hot spring when Zack's PHS buzzed one last time and he checked the caller ID before answering. "I hope this is important Reeve, things are a little crazy down here…"

Cloud was close enough that his advanced hearing was able to pick up the other end of the conversation. "Actually, it's related to the intelligence we gathered some time ago in regards to Scarlet and Heidegger's activities. I was hoping you might be able to assist the WRO since there was definitely a connection between the resistance and those men that attacked Cloud. What's so crazy down there?"

"Those guys came here looking for Jenova, and they tried to come after Aerith," Zack said, and Cloud couldn't help but notice an angry edge to his voice that wasn't often there.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Reeve asked automatically.

They had crossed the clearing and were heading back up the lamplit trail to the lodge now. Zack only took a second to answer. "I wouldn't mind you sending a detachment down here to support our troops, just in case they came back, but if that's too much, just make sure there's a clear path between us and Kadaj. No one goes after my wife or my friends without getting through me!"

Reeve was quiet for a moment before speaking. "All right then. I'll send you the coordinates for where we need you through our private PHS channel. We will brief you on the way."

"Got it." Zack put his PHS away and by this point they were halfway back to the lodge. Upon reaching it, Cloud saw Nanaki resting on the porch and Aerith next to him while Kunsel and Cissnei stood on guard. In their absence, Barret and Cid had also arrived and were checking the area for any damage that might have been done.

"Kunsel told us what happened," Cid said when they were in earshot. "Looks like it was an organized attack."

"They were somewhere else too?" Zack asked.

"Yeah," Cid said. "Barret ran into one o'those guys that attacked Cloud on the edge of the airfield. He knocked him silly, but the $#&!%^* still managed to get away. Any luck finding the one that attacked here?"

"Afraid not," Freya replied, clearly annoyed. "But if what Reeve says is true, there's a good chance we'll get a second chance soon enough if we follow up on Scarlet and Heidegger's trail."

Barret looked confused. "And where're we goin' to do that?" he asked.

Zack checked his PHS one last time before putting it back in his pocket. "Based on what Reeve sent me, it seems we're going to Mt. Corel." He looked around for a moment before turning to Cloud. "Take Dr. Rayleigh home and then go back to Seventh Heaven and get Tifa. Tell Jessie the kids need to stay close to the bar until we get back. I'm gonna tell our people and the town watch they need to have extra patrols in the area of the clinic and the town square just in case. The Shera and the Gainsborough leave at twenty-three hundred hours."

"You forget I'm not GUARDIAN anymore," Cloud murmured below everyone else's hearing except his friend's.

"Maybe not, but can you really just let this play out when there's a very good chance Sephiroth's involved?" Zack asked.

Cloud turned and headed inside. The answer to that question was obvious.

April 12th [ ν ] – εуλ 0009 12:00 AM

Cissnei was walking along the main passageway connecting the bridge to the rest of the Gainsborough when she walked into the common room near the main cabins. It wasn't as large as the one aboard the Shera, but since this had been intended to be one of GUARDIAN's best airships besides the Shera during their days as a true army, and also a mobile base of operations in field operations, the room was rather nicely outfitted with comfortable chairs and a few small windows looking out on the sky around them. Had it been day time, she would most likely have been able to see the Shera out there, but with nothing but starlight competing with the interior lights of the ship, it was rather difficult.

She was just about to pass the door when she noticed Zack and Aerith were talking in the corner. "You're really worried aren't you," Aerith said.

"Of course I'm worried," Zack said. "I mean, I have a lot of confidence in everyone. Kunsel and Freya saved your life and I really appreciate what they did, but I guess it's still hard to think about. I could have lost you tonight if things had gone badly enough." He slumped down on a chair, clearly showing he was tired.

Aerith leaned against the chair's left armrest. "I know. But things turned out all right. And we'll put a stop to whatever it is Sephiroth's up to, I know it."

"The question is, how?" Zack said.

"Which is why I think it would be good for us to go see the City of the Cetra," Aerith said. "At the very least, it might give us a few ideas about how to take care of the Stigma."

Zack considered. "Do we even know how to get there?"

"I think between talking to the Planet and comparing my mother's notes we ought to be able to find it," Aerith said.

"Then that's what we'll do," Zack reached up with his good arm and pulled her gently into his lap. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you?" he asked.

"Repeatedly," Aerith murmured with a smile, kissing him on the cheek.

Cissnei had stopped in the shadow of the door, but decided she shouldn't intrude on their privacy any longer. Instead, she chose to move on, closer to the bridge. The next door she passed was wide open, and led to the planning room. In it, Kunsel and Freya were standing over what looked like a map of the Corel region.

"I just can't think of any other reason why we would go," Kunsel was saying. "I mean, it certainly wasn't the best choice on Rufus's part, leaving a huge materia there with nothing but some guards to keep an eye on it, but if that's what Scarlet and Heidegger are after…"

"Then we can't let them get their hands on it," Freya said. "Or Kadaj."

"It wouldn't help us if they do, that's for sure," Cissnei said.

The swordsman and the lady Turk looked up. "Come to think of it," Freya said. "Have you met Kadaj before? I could have sworn you said he was supposed to be dead."

"That's because I thought I killed him," Cissnei said. "The first time I ran across him was when I was investigating the black water when Barret brought Matt and Alistor back from Rocket Town."

"Well," Kunsel said, "I guess that's another thing he has in common with Sephiroth." He ran a hand through his hair frustratedly. "I have to say, these monstermen that just won't die are really getting to be a problem."

"No kidding," Freya agreed. "Though speaking of Kadaj, thanks for covering us, back at the lodge."

"And don't you forget it," Kunsel said, "You were the one trying to provoke him after all."

Freya grinned, "With those guys, I get the feeling that they'd feel provoked by anything that didn't involve letting them get what they want. I just felt the need to remind them who the top dogs really are."

Cissnei nodded, trying her best to share her fellow renegade's enthusiasm. "I certainly don't intend to let them hurt anyone if I can help it."

The bridge of the Gainsborough was a bit smaller than the bridge of the Shera, but with the large windows on the front it still felt like the most open place on the ship, even with their pilot standing at the helm. That made it one of the best places on the ship for contemplation.

Cloud was looking out at the ocean below them. The water was mostly calm and tranquil, from what he could see of it in the dark below them, with the occasional white cap. Nothing like the tempest of thoughts whirling around inside his mind. Concerns about Sephiroth, the kids, Tifa, the stigma and what could have happened if he and Zack hadn't gotten back to the lodge in time, all seemed to mix together. It made him feel trapped in a way he hadn't felt since the time when Sephiroth's attempts to dominate him had reduced him to a catatonic stupor. Gaia, he was so useless.

"It's really late." He looked behind him to see Tifa standing there.

"I know," he replied.

She stopped next to him and for a little while the only thing the two of them could hear was the whir of the engine. Even so, the lack of words was still uncomfortable. Finally, Tifa spoke again. "I know you've got a lot on your mind, but is there a chance you want to talk?"

Cloud didn't say anything but continued to stare out the window. Tifa tried again. "Listen, it's not your fault that you got sick, or that Zack did either, but eventually we will have to get to the part where we keep living, won't we?"

"What happens then?" Cloud wondered.

"I don't know, but just standing around worrying about it won't give us an answer, will it?" Tifa leaned forward on the guard rail and turned slightly to look up at him.

"I guess not," he said. "We still need to tell the kids what's going on, don't we."

Tifa nodded. "We do, as soon as we go home."

They were quiet for a long time before Cloud spoke again. "I'm sorry."

Tifa stood up straight and the two of them looked each other in the eye for the first time since he'd come home. She opened her mouth to speak but suddenly his arm burned painfully and on reflex he dropped to the ground, gripping it in pain. His vision blurred as he heard Tifa calling for help. However, the last thing he heard before he passed out was a voice he'd hoped never to hear again. "Stop fooling yourself, Cloud. All you are is an empty puppet."

April 12th [ ν ] – εуλ 0009 1:00 PM

Denzel had been surprised on waking up the next morning to find that Marlene and Jessie were the only two people around. After receiving an explanation from Jessie, he had ended up feeling a little tired and had gone back up to the bedroom to rest for a while, only to return to the bar for lunch. He had just finished and once he had taken up his plate to give back to Jessie, he went outside, taking a seat on the step, watching the people walking around glumly. Why had everyone left so soon? He'd really been hoping to at least see Cloud for more than a few fleeting moments…

His eyes landed on a girl about his age who had a blanket over her and was apparently carrying something really heavy on her back. She was almost in front of the bar when she tripped and fell. As he was standing up to go help, he heard the door open behind him. "Denzel?" Marlene looked outside. "Jessie said not to wander off…"

"Are you okay?" he asked.

The girl looked up at him angrily as though voicelessly asking "Do I look like I'm okay?" and he saw the familiar black residue on her arms. That was when he realized the weight she'd been carrying under the blanket was a boy a little younger than she was.

Marlene was behind him half a second later. "Are you looking for the clinic?" she asked.

At first, the other girl seemed too busy trying to pick herself up to completely register the question. But after a moment the anger left her face. "We came all the way from Edge looking for it…" she said breathlessly.

Denzel wordlessly moved to help her pull up the boy. "I know where it is," he said before turning to Marlene. "Could you tell Jessie where we're going?" he asked.

She nodded and hurried back inside. They had barely gone a few more steps before she came back. "Don't leave me behind," she said. "I'm coming too."

Soon they were halfway down the street and around the corner. As they were approaching the clinic, he could see a couple of the guard patrols walking to and fro. It was odd. He hadn't seen GUARDIAN this active since the battle for Midgar, and then, only from a distance. Probably because of what Jessie told them had happened last night.

They had just stepped inside when they saw Alistor and Matt in the waiting room. Marlene walked over to the lady at the front desk, pulling herself up on her toes to see over the counter. "Mrs. Ryan?" she said. "Is the doctor here?"

The woman nodded, having seen right off what the reason was for the question. "I'll call her up," she said, before walking over to the intercom.

Barely a few moments later Rayleigh herself appeared and soon the two children were being ushered into the office, leaving Denzel and Marlene alone with the other boy and the SOLDIER. "What happened?" Matt asked.

"They fell over in front of the bar," Marlene explained.

"Oh," Matt took a moment before saying "Have you heard the rumors?"

"What rumors?" Denzel asked.

Matt fidgeted with the bandages on his arms. "One of the fishermen's kids told me. There were these guys walking around the wharf yesterday talking about how they had a cure."

"Yeah, and I'll believe it when I see it," Alistor said seriously. "As much work as Aerith and the doctor have put into this, just to see someone pull the answer out of nowhere just seems way too good to be true."

"But what if it is?" Matt asked, turning his attention to the SOLDIER.

"Then I will walk up to the guy and shake his hand, but not before I know it's not a hoax. Rufus Shinra is funding some research into it too, don't forget, but when the doctor looked into it, it turned out to just be research into using old SOLDIER stimulants to stave off the pain."

"And why wouldn't this be different?" Denzel asked.

"I'm just saying things aren't always what they seem to be," Alistor said.

As they left the clinic, Denzel could still hear those words echoing in his thoughts. But on the other hand, if there was a cure, could he truly turn his back on the possibility, when he and so many of his friends needed it?

April 12th [ ν ] – εуλ 0009 7:00 PM Junon Western Time

It was already dark when the Shera docked in Junon to pick up two extra passengers before both airships began the crossing towards Corel. It was a short affair, as Zack watched them embark from his vantage point on the bridge of the Gainsborough as it waited in a holding pattern over the airport. It had been a while since he had seen Vincent, though Yuffie had been at Icicle Inn. It didn't take long for the entry way to close or the Shera to get back airborne. Once she was underway again, the two airships redirected their course across the ocean and the holo-projector on the Gainsborough's bridge came to life, opening a three way communication line between their ship, the Shera, and WRO headquarters just between Kalm and Edge.

As she appeared on-screen, Yuffie waved to everyone. "Hey guys!" she called as though shouting over a long distance.

"Yuffie," Vincent said quietly, yet just as clearly from his position leaning against a wall, "They can hear you just fine."

Yuffie gave him a mock glare and then stuck out her tongue at him. "Oh come on Vincent, I barely saw any of them for five minutes before we had to go back to Kalm! I'd at least like to let them know I'm glad to see them!"

Zack chuckled at that. "Well, we're happy to see you too." He turned his attention to the gunman. "How's life with you Vince?"

"As well as can be expected," Vincent answered. "Scarlet and Heidegger have managed to pull together a surprisingly cohesive organization."

On the other end of the call, Reeve sighed. "I'm afraid that is the case. Especially with Mutton Kylegate not cooperating, it has been difficult to keep things in order. But that's why we need GUARDIAN for this."

"So what's the mission?" Kunsel asked.

"I'm glad you asked," Reeve said before turning to take a disk from Cait Sith, who had been standing at his knee, and sticking it in a nearby slot on his desk. His image disappeared to be replaced by a reactor sitting in a mountain pass. "This is the reactor at Mt. Corel," Reeve began. "It is currently inactive, now that the Shinra Company has halted its mako production, but as you know, mako production tends to produce a number of interesting phenomenon."

"Like huge materia." Kunsel added.

Reeve nodded. "Yes, and that is precisely why I'm sending you there. You see, Scarlet apparently had a number of projects in her research that gave her cause to use huge materia. In fact, she was already searching for some of them as long ago as our first Reunion Incident."

"So why is she suddenly looking again now?" Aerith asked.

"From what we've managed to gather it is because she believes she has accumulated enough firepower to be able to carry it out," Reeve said. "The renegade Turks have been able to bug a number of their meeting places around Junon. Though their actual base of operations seems to elude us at the moment. We need you to retrieve the huge materia before they manage to steal it for their own purposes."

"I thought so," Freya murmured and Zack noticed that her expression had hardened somewhat.

"What about the other huge materia?" Cissnei asked. "The green one I know we have."

"That should still be at GUARDIAN headquarters," Kunsel said. "As for the others, it's my understanding that those should also be secure."

"This is correct," Reeve said. "Counting the green one, there are four in our records, and we have been slowly placing them in secure locations. The blue huge materia is in our vault after we retrieved it from storage in Scarlet's lab in Junon. The red materia was also retrieved from there but we felt it would be best to keep it in a separate location. The only one that remains is the yellow materia. Though up until recently, we had thought it was safe there, since it was in a difficult place from which to extract it."

"And that's where we come in," Zack said.

"Precisely," Reeve replied. "Since we've managed to get information that they will be sending a team in the near future, we'd like to send in a team of our own in hopes of pre-empting them."

"Well then," Zack said. "You can count on us!"

"Excellent, I look forward to hearing some good news." With that, Reeve ended the call and the Shera closed its channel as well. Zack stood there for a moment, reflecting on what had happened the previous night when Tifa had started calling for help. It hadn't taken them long to get Cloud back to the crew cabins, and he'd come to a short while later, but it had still been disconcerting…

They had been standing outside the cabin when Tifa had stepped out.

"How is he?" Zack asked.

"He just woke up." Tifa had looked troubled.

"What's the matter?" Zack had asked.

"He muttered something when he came to about not being a puppet…" Tifa began. There was no need to explain the significance of those words.

Zack nodded and followed her into the cabin. Cloud was sitting on the edge of his bunk, clearly embarrassed. "I knew I'd be no help," he said after a moment.

Zack held up a hand for silence before sitting down across from him. "Don't want to hear it," he said. "Before I say anything else, I want to know, did Sephiroth tell you anything, and has he been telling you anything?"

Cloud shook his head. "That's the first time I've heard him in a long time…"

Zack let out a sigh of relief. "Well, what I told you before still stands. Don't. Listen."

"I know…" Cloud reached for a glass of water that stood on a table nearby. "I don't plan to."

"But if he does say anything else, you will tell us, right?" Zack prodded.

Cloud leaned against the bulkhead, and gazed out the window at the darkness surrounding them. "I will Zack, just…"

"Just what?" Zack waited for a moment before deciding he wasn't going to get an answer. "Back off?"

"Yeah, it's late…"

Zack tried to think of something he could say to make the situation better but at last he relented. "All right," He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Sorry, but can you blame us for worrying you'll disappear again?"

"We're in an airship," Cloud pointed out.

"You know what I meant," Zack said. "Get some more rest, I'll see ya in a bit."

"Yeah," Cloud murmured. With that, Zack moved out of the bunk room to rejoin Aerith. Cloud hadn't been the only one who needed to sleep after all.

He had had the whole day to reflect on things, but he still couldn't seem to find a particularly useful solution. This to him was confirmation beyond even what Aerith had seen in the Lifestream that Sephiroth was on the move. If what Rufus had guessed was true, then he was trying to revive again. But after that, what would he do? Zack was certain it couldn't be good. All the more reason to put a stop to it as soon as possible. As if to mock him, his injured shoulder chose that moment to burn painfully. He'd probably need to get Aerith to help him redress it soon.

In a secret bunker deep underneath Junon, Kadaj's hand was inches away from Souba, his double-bladed katana as he glared at the two people in front of him. "And what's to keep me from simply torturing Mother's whereabouts out of you rather than doing this little chore you wish me to do?" he demanded coldly.

"It's simple. At this time, we still don't know where Jenova is," Scarlet responded. "However, we will be a lot more predisposed towards helping you if you help us, and our search will go unnoticed a lot more than yours will, since our spies are deeply embedded in Shinra and you tend to draw attention." She leaned against her desk, clearly trying to look as seductive as possible, though Kadaj knew better. He could see the nervousness in her eyes, and it made him even more anxious for the time when he could kill her and the fat $#*&%^! next to her. One should never make a man with a double-bladed katana at his hip anxious to kill them. Or maybe they should. He would enjoy getting his chance eventually. That was beyond the point. He had already left his brothers in Mideel in a hurry, having had to hijack a plane to get back here before his big brothers for this lead.

Finally he made his decision. "All right, I suppose I will get this 'Blue Materia' for you." He drew Souba bringing the blade inches away from the woman's face. "But you will have mother's location for me when I get back!" With that, he walked out of the room.

He paused when he was almost out of earshot as he heard Heidegger let out a relieved sigh before saying to his co-conspirator "Do you really intend to give him Jenova? Think of the power we could have if we could use her ourselves."

"Don't be stupid," Scarlet snapped. "But get this through your thick skull meathead. As long as these people are around distracting them, Zack and Rufus won't have time to even consider what we are actually doing. Besides, odd are, they will probably all kill each other anyway. What have we got to lose?"

Heidegger laughed. "Gya-haha, I knew I liked the way you think."

"Kya-haha, there's a reason why I'm the brains of this operation," Scarlet returned.

Kadaj let out a chuckle of his own as he continued on his way. Soon enough, everyone would see, mother would destroy them all. If only Sephiroth wasn't her favorite.

April 13th [ ν ] – εуλ 0009 1:00 PM Corel Mountain Time

It was mid-afternoon when the two airships lowered their ladders and GUARDIAN climbed down to a scenic overlook that stood about twenty feet above the railway leading to the dormant reactor. Zack drew a breath and tried not to gag as he tasted the acrid breezes wafting up from below. He couldn't say he particularly enjoyed reactors any more than he enjoyed laboratories or enclosed spaces, but at the very least, this trip would only involve two out of the three. While their people were climbing down, including a contingent of GUARDIAN troops that had come aboard the Shera, he walked over to the edge and took in the sight below. The path towards Corel, as well as the path leading over the mountain pass seemed to to go on clear to the horizon in opposite directions.

After a moment, he noticed Vincent standing next to him. "Vincent! Do you enjoy startling me?"

Vincent ignored the question. "Snipers would find their best positions there, there, and there," he said, indicating a couple of points along the side of the mountain as well as a thicket of bushes near the railway leading towards town.

Zack decided to roll with it. "Yeah, I guess you're right. We need to make sure we get to those locations first." He looked behind him at the troopers before he noticed that Freya seemed to be distracted. "Something the matter?" he asked.

The lady Turk shook her head. "It's nothing, I guess I spaced out for a second."

That was when Zack remembered. "Wait a minute… this was the reactor you had to escape with Shears, wasn't it?"

She straightened slightly. "It's okay, I'm good," she turned her attention to the path after a moment. "Is someone coming?"

By that point, they had been joined by Barret, Yuffie, and Cissnei. Cloud and Tifa were still on their way down and Cid was helping Nanaki. Zack squinted in the direction the Turk had indicated. After a moment he walked over to the supply drop that had been lowered for their troops and retrieved a sniper rifle with a scope mounted on it and then knelt on the ground next to the railing around the overlook so he could use it to balance the rifle one-handed. He soon found the place where the path turned away and his concern grew. He heard someone drop to the ground behind him. "Cid, that you?"

"Of course it is," Cid replied.

"Tell your acting captain and the Gainsborough's to get the airships out of sight. They've probably already seen them. We don't want to make them a target."

"You got it," Cid walked a short ways away, already issuing the order as Cloud and Tifa dropped the last couple of feet to the ground.

"What is it?" Cloud asked as the two of them approached.

"There's definitely some kind of military force headed this way," Zack said. "They seem to be pretty well armed. Can't seem to spot the leader though…" Damn it all, his arm picked that moment to spasm on him. He stood up impatiently, before turning to Vincent and offering him the rifle. "Do you think you could take a look? As much as I hate to admit it, my aim isn't as steady."

Vincent nodded, took the rifle. Peering down the scope at his targets, he looked completely relaxed as he adjust his aim. "Orders?" he asked after a moment.

Zack considered. "We need snipers at those positions, and here and then we'll try to take out the people who get too far from the group. In the meantime, I want the troops setting up a barricade on the tracks. Once our snipers are in position, fire at will. In the meantime…" he looked around at the surrounding group. "I need Yuffie, Freya, Tifa, and Cloud with me. We'll get the materia." He turned to Kunsel. "I need you, Cissnei, Cid, and Nanaki supervising here. Medical assistance for the wounded will be here, Aerith, you're in charge."

Kunsel nodded. "You got it."

Aerith looked troubled, but she knew exactly why he was asking this of her. She was their best healer. If the fighting got bad out here, everyone outside would need her far more than they would while exploring an empty reactor. For that, they needed people who were quick and maneuverable, or who knew their way sufficiently to get them in and out as quickly as possible.

"And Vincent, you're on sniper duty here, at least until they get in close. Then you are to assist with engaging them," Zack finished.

"Understood," the gunman replied.

"All right then," Zack said. "Let's do this!" One thing was for sure, he didn't feel nearly as excited about the mission as he was trying to sound.

A busy chapter and a busy week. I'm afraid next week I'm going to have to call another break week due to needing more of a backlog again. It feels like it gets shorter every time I turn around. The next chapter will be made available on Midnight, Thursday the 28th (Thanksgiving Day for the Americans in the audience), Friday, the 29th.

See you next time!