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CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE – ENLIGHTENMENT
'We didn't start the fire … It was always burning … Since the world's been turning … We didn't start the fire … Well we didn't light it … But we tried to fight it … (Billy Joel: 'We Didn't Start the Fire' [Edited])'
Sector Seven. Midgar. Late Morning.
Reeve once again stood upon a make-shift platform as he addressed the populace of Midgar, nearly the same as he had done a year ago. Instead of a grassy field with the hulking devastation of the city behind him, he stood near the remains of the Shinra building and the central plate support. The population fanned out in front of him, a sea of people standing amongst the skeleton forms of new buildings, waiting for their mayor to speak.
Reeve had toured the ground of Sector Seven, the place where Midgar would be reborn. Midgar's city engineers, remnants of the old Midgar, had declared it ready for building weeks before and they had already begun, the skeleton forms testament to the resiliency of the citizens of Midgar.
The first shipment of Mythril beams and girders had been shipped from the factory in Kalm, where all had celebrated being back at work again. They'd had a groundbreaking ceremony a few weeks before crews had been assigned to rebuilding Sector Seven. But today was different. Today the mayor had a much bigger surprise for the displaced citizenry of Midgar.
The gentle din of conversation quieted as the Turks, Tifa, and Cloud took their places on the platform with the mayor.
"A year ago Meteor destroyed our homes, our city." Reeve began in a voice laced with confidence and something more than just blind hope. "We have spent the last year working together to clean up the damage, and while it's far from complete, we stand here today, gathered on the land that is serving as the first phase of Midgar's glorious rebirth."
He paused to look over the sea of faces in the crowd, noting their rapt attention and feeling anchored by the support.
"I commend all of you for contributing to the efforts of restoring our glorious city. The Mythril Mines have been reopened and raw materials are once again being brought into Midgar and being sold to other cities, bringing much needed gil into both Midgar and Kalm."
Reeve looked at the people gathered on the podium with him, the people that had been on his side for the past year and, despite their differences, doing their part for the city. He had been shocked, but pleased when Tifa and Reno had announced their marriage. He took it as a sign that their fighting over who was at fault for the destruction of Midgar was over. He glanced at Elena whose smile beamed into his heart, giving him the strength of mind to continue his speech.
"Many of you have been into my office and seen the paper model I have created of the new Midgar. You have seen that once the debris of the Shinra Building behind me is removed, a memorial park is to be created in its place. You have seen the heart of the city's industrial and commercial cores. You have seen the residential neighborhoods- both in high-rises and idyllic suburban homes."
The population stood enraptured as the mayor spoke. He painted for them a picture that many had only dreamed about. The citizens of the slums, the people of the plate- both classes had been deprived something vital by the twisted ambitions of Shinra, but this man that stood before him was promising to give that something back.
"However, what you have not seen is any form of power plant. I know of the unrest that is circulating due to this problem. Mako has been banned as a form of power, but I recently returned from a trip to North Corel where a contract for coal was negotiated. On this trip, I witnessed first hand how the Mako Reactor in the Corel Mountains had been converted to burn coal. That reactor is working at near perfect efficiency, and the team of engineers and mechanics responsible for that conversion is –"
Reeve was interrupted by a loud crackle of electricity as the remains of the Shinra building became partially illuminated behind him. The crowd of people parted as a man walked through them, cursing, until he came to stand at the foot of the platform.
"Reactor Seven is back online." Cid Highwind stated, rubbing his perennially dirty face with a cloth pulled from his rear pocket. "Damn Shera got something else right."
Reeve laughed in relief as the crowd stood awestruck at the illuminated wreckage behind the mayor.
Tifa laughed at her old friend as he emerged from the crowd of people. Leave it to Cid to make a spectacle out of getting the first power plant back online.
She felt Reno relax beside her. He'd gone into "all senses alert" mode as the old Shinra Building had illuminated. She took his hand and smiled at him, reassuring him that all was well.
"It ain't running at one hundred percent." Cid explained, but you'll be able to build them buildings you got started there without all that elbow grease." Cid grinned as he faced the crowd. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a reactor to tweak."
The crowd parted again to allow Cid access back to the Number Seven Reactor. Somewhere in the crowd the chant of "Cid" started as he entered the parted crowd, and by the time he disappeared, it had reached a deafening crescendo. Those in the back of the crowd were treated to a rare moment as Cid blushed before entering the maze that would lead back to the reactor's core.
Once the crowd had quieted down again, Reeve addressed them once more, not sure how he could top Cid's performance.
"You heard the man!" Reeve exclaimed. "Midgar's got power! Let's do something with it!"
A cheer rose up through the crowd once again. Soon Midgar would be filled with the sounds of jackhammers and drills and hammers. The skeletons would take shape and become buildings- homes, stores, factories, and restaurants. The hard-packed dirt beneath their feet would be paved with streets and sidewalks. Planter boxes would appear springing forth life in the form of trees and flowers. Life would once again return to normal as the people moved from the shantytown and back into the city.
Reeve stood there, smiling as the crowd dispersed and returned to their jobs. Elena came to stand next to him, his real rock throughout the past year. She smiled at him and for the first time, he took her hand in his own.
There was still a long journey ahead of them, but Midgar, it seemed, would be just fine.