"Dimensional Whiplash"
By Aleenia Rheese

Chapter Six Part One - The Agreement

"You expect us to believe this? How do we know you don't work for Shinra? Or some other 'evil' society?" demanded Vincent Valentine. It surprised all in the room. Sitting at the other side of building, the ex-Turk was alone, sitting in a mahogany chair, arm folded across his chest.

Sam frowned. "Well, you don't have to believe me. I don't expect you to, and I don't really care if you do or not. I just want to try and contact my sister, if it's possible, which I doubt. Since she had said there were all sorts of dimensions, she could be in any of them," he answered. He fought the sudden urge to cry. What had happened to Alie?

A low, gravelly voice came from behind and below Samuel. "I believe him. There are the possibilities. And they are endless." It came from a red lion-like creature with one shut eye, and tattoos, which appeared to be dyed into its fur.

Sam yelped uncontrollably. Tifa laughed. "That's only Nanaki!" Sam regained his bearings.
Red yawned, then said, "You may call me Red XIII if you wish."

"Well, ma'am, where I come from, there aren't any creatures like him! Uh, hi," he said to Red XIII. Red nodded back. "Is there anything else I should watch out for?"

"You don't," Cloud began, "have monsters in your... uh... world, do you?" Samuel shook his head. Cloud raised his eyebrows. "And you don't have Materia, magic, or anything like that?"

Sam shook his head vigorously. After some thought, Sam said, "Uh, we have special people who, through a lot of training, can use their Chi, or inner strength, as a weapon. There's this one guy, Ryu, and his friend Ken, who are considered to be two of the strongest people on Earth! I've seen them at Street Fighter Tournaments! And I know an Interpol agent, Chun Li, who's the 'fastest and strongest woman in the world'. But that's not magic."

After a few minutes, Tifa, Cid, Cloud, Barret, Vincent, and Cait Sith went to the back to discuss this 'burden'. Red stayed out with Sam.

"Hey, who are you guys?"

Red said as much as he dared. Suddenly, the door banged open, and a girl in a sleeveless turtleneck and shorts skipped in.

"Hey, Red, who's this cutie?" she asked unabashedly. Sam blushed.

"That's Samuel. Yuffie, don't start your teasing. And stop staring at him. Sit down, the others will be out of the back room in a moment."

Yuffie dropped into a chair, yawning.

The talk that is taking place in the back room:

Cloud: So, who believes him?
Tifa: I do. I can tell when people are lying.
Barret: Me too.
Cid: Yeah, I think he ain't lying.
Cait Sith: Mmmm, hmmm.
Vincent: I'm not sure.
(Cid lights up a cigarette)
Cid: puff Yeahhh, I agree with Vincent. I don't want to get involved with this punk kid.
Tifa: I do! I think this is a great adventure in the making!
(They all give her odd looks)
Tifa: Hey, I'm not content with living a slow, boring life!
Cloud: If we can help him, I guess I will, punk kid or no.
Tifa: Cloud, that's sweet!
Barret: Heh heh heh.
Tifa: What's that s'poseta mean?!
Cid: Heh heh heh.
Cloud: Would you two knock that shit off?
Cid/Barret/Cait Sith: Heh heh heh.
Tifa/Cloud/Vincent: KNOCK IT THE HELL OFF!!
Barret: Okay, okay. Oh, yeah. I wanted to talk to ya 'bout those chocobos. I t'ink it'd be a good idea t'race'em. It'll give us s'more money. I'd like t' be able t' put Marlene t'ru collage.
Cloud: Yeah, that'd be a good idea. Okay, Sith, you get your wish.
Cait Sith: Yeah hoo!!
Tifa: We can go today and take Samuel with us.
All: Agreed.

Back in the bar...

Sam was beginning to get worried, then he heard the door to the back open. He looked each of the characters over. It unnerved him to see a toy cat riding a monster (also a toy), but he didn't admit it. But he was also impressed. These people had saved the Planet, had saved where he was now standing? Weird.

Cloud walked over to where Sam was sitting, a semi-friendly smile on his face. "We've decided to help you, if we can. Which I doubt. But we're going to the Gold Saucer to race our chocobos, and we'll take you along. But don't try anything funny."

Sam gaped at him, wide-eyed. Then he grinned. "Cool! But, uhhhhh... what in the world are chocobos?"