SEVEN: "The Reunion"
The tram pulled into the loading bay at the Golden Saucer with a clang, and released some steam with a hiss. Barret Wallace and Red XIII stepped out of the car and made their way to the service desk just before lobby. The lady at the counter asked the same old inquiry, and again Barret dug into his pocket and pulled out his Gold Membership ticket. They were swiftly ushered inside where they immeadiatly took notice of the newly finished expansion.
The Golden Saucer had recently come into the possession of a vast affluence of money, with the grand opening of the Casino Zone attraction. Along with that, Dio, the man behind the Golden Saucer's operations, had decided to erect an air dock, since the past year had seen the construction of numerous airships that were continuously on the go.
Barret and Red waited in the lobby for a little while before everyone finally arrived.
The steel plated entrance way opposite the tram entry slid open as the group made their way into the lobby from the port. Reeve appeared first, he walked promptly tapping a refined wooden cane on the floor every few steps, as he came to a stop he swung it up under his arm; Purely a fashion statement. Not far behind Reeve strode Cloud, flanked by Tifa. Cloud was carrying a large black suede case, rimmed with silver and latched tightly by three silver bolt locks. He looked bleakly as he was no doubt lost in thought, however he glanced to Tifa who met his gaze, he forged an approving grin in his somber face. Tifa walked in sync with Cloud's steps as they made their way to the center of the area. When she noticed Red and Barret coming towards them she waved with an inviting smile.
Cid and Yuffie wandered through the doors a minute or two afterward, Cid had been busy anchoring the ship into position on it's pad. He struck a match against his slacks before lighting up another thin cigarette as he made his approach towards the group. Yuffie was just at the back of him, her duffel bag filled with Materia, slung over her shoulder. She held the strap firmly with one hand by her shoulder and one about half way down it's length. They were both in high spirits to unite with their old friends again. Cid took Barret's forearm and shook it twice, that was how Cid had always shaken hands. Yuffie put her hand on Red's head and messed up his mane with a snicker.
When everyone had gotten reacquainted, they made their way to Dio's trophy room in the Battle Square, where he could be found most of the time. As usual, Dio was adamant over one of his newly acquired gizmos when they arrived. "Well, well, look who the proverbial cat dragged in!" he rang out when he finally took notice of his assembled audience. "What brings you to my Golden Saucer this time? Perhaps you've heard of my newest attraction - the brand new Casino Zone!!"
"Yes, we've come to play your games." Cloud spoke, a cynical tone in his voice.
"Well, well, if it isn't Cloud Strife, the champion of the chocobo racing circuit!.... or should I say FORMER champion?" Dio scoffed.
Cloud remembered very well what Dio had done. "Where's my bird, Dio."
"Boko, is doing just fine, I'm taking very good care of that one."
Cloud's eyes narrowed. "I bet you are."
At that point, Reeve made his way to the front of the group. "It's been a long time, Dio."
"It has indeed......" Dio spoke through a perfect grin, marveling in his treachery.
Reeve was openly annoyed, he had never really liked working with Dio, he didn't really know why, perhaps Dio reminded him too much of himself. "We've come with urgent news." Reeve paused for a second. "I think the Golden Saucer may be in danger."
"What are you talking about? Nothing involving the Shinra, I hope." Dio's grin left his face as quickly as it had been placed there.
"No, nothing like that."
"This lady is gonna come and burn this place down!" Yuffie blurted out.
Dio was amused to say the least.
"Lady? What lady?" Barret asked from behind everyone. "What's goin' on?"
Reeve turned his head. Cloud exchanged a glance with Tifa and Yuffie, while Cid took an uncomfortably long puff on one of his cigs.
"Perhaps it would be best for all of you to go and bring each other up to speed." Reeve finally said. "Dio and I have some other business to attend to."
"What's that?" Cid addressed Reeve, who tapped his cane on the ground and did not reply.
"Well, let's go and catch up." Tifa broke the hush.
Cloud gestured approvingly, and put his arm on Cid's shoulder urging him along with them, as everyone left Reeve and Dio to their own devices.
Walking along, they found themselves in Wonder Square where they finally stopped to speak freely. Cid finished his cigarette and flicked it away. "Something is not right here, folks." He said, a little too sure of himself.
Tifa crossed her arms. "What makes you say that?"
"I've been thinkin', why, out of everywhere we could be now, are we here?" Cid asked to his friends, before he answered it himself. "Because Reeve wanted to be here."
"So?" Yuffie said, naively.
"I just came to see my Gold Chocobo." Cloud muttered to himself.
Cid defended his accusation. "Now, don't get me wrong, I like that man, but I don't trust him. Not for a second. Right now he's alone with that rich sunufabitch talking about who knows what; but I highly doubt it's about that spook."
Red sat down. "Spook.... Lady... please, if you don't mind, would someone bring Barret and I up to speed?" He asked politely.
Cloud leaned against a nearby railing. "We know for sure that there is somebody calling themselves the 'Crisis From The Sky' flying around attacking towns."
"Jenova." Red spoke without discretion.
"JENOVA?! We killed her ass!" Barret yelled, cocking his gun-arm with his other hand.
"No." Cloud replied.
Yuffie wandered off, looking at a flashing screen of a new game console. She thought this was a little redundant.
Cloud continued. "We killed a..... a clone of Jenova." Putting it as straightforward as he could.
"Well Shi't." Barret sighed. "I've'n missin' out."
Red looked up at him, distraught, either by the idea that facing Jenova was better than helping to restore his own home, or the fact that he had just combined the words 'I have been' into one and still made sense.
"She's incredibly powerful." Cloud warned Barret. "We'll have to face her eventually, I think."
"Just tell me where to shoot." Barret seemed to take the news well.
"So, Barret, on the PHS you said you had something to show us?" Tifa was curious as to what Barret and Red had been doing all the while.
"Oh yeah, almost forgot." Barret said as he pulled out the tiny bottle.
"What the hell is that? Mako?" Cid grabbed it out of Barret's hand.
"Not as far as I can tell." Replied Barret. "Smells a whole hella' lot worse."
Cid passed the unlabeled bottle to Cloud.
"Where'd you find this?" He asked after examining the consistency of the liquid within.
"A whole shipment of it was delivered through Corel. From Shinra to the Gold Saucer." Red filled everyone in on how he had accompanied the two soldiers forwarding the shipment from Costa De Sol to the Golden Saucer; how he had heard of Icicle Town's demolition, and the discovery of what lie within the crate.
"Do you think maybe that shipment is what Reeve and Dio are talking about?" Tifa thought aloud.
"Maybe. It seems'ta fit the puzzle. What else would concern both Shinra and the Saucer unless it was some deal they had, and Reeve's just came her to check up on Dio's end of the bargain, make sure he doesn't get ripped off?" Cid put the pieces together.
"Do you think they'll miss this one?" Cloud put out the bottle in his hand.
"We're missing one of the containers out of the shipment; but other than that, everything so far is a well oiled machine, just like me." Dio gave a status report to Reeve. "Peons." Reeve sighed with displeasure. "Can I find no good help these days?"
Reeve and Dio had walked through the Gold Saucer using Dio's direct tunnels and were now lavishing the environment of the elegant new Casino Zone.
"You seem more miserable than usual, Reeve!"
"Things are falling apart, I'm afraid. They are unraveling, small incidents now, but I fear unless my friends and I can discover a way to stop this Jenova, the future will not be a bright one."
"Well as long as you can keep supplying that fuel, everything is A-OK!"
"For now, it seems. However as of today I'm focusing more of my attention here. I have to protect my investments." Reeve spun his cane like a drill- bit, grinding it into the floor.
Dio's sly grin crept upon his face once more. "I can't thank you enough. That money you gave me was more than enough to expand my lucrative games."
"Think nothing of it. After all, you are funding Neo-Midgar, so I think it's only fair I give you something in return." Reeve stated.
"Splitting the costs down the middle, was pure genius. We'll be stinking rich in no time at all!!" Dio was delighted at the prospect of being even more rich than he already was.
"You already are stinking rich."
"You can never have enough Gil."
Night had fallen on the Golden Saucer, and everyone had gone abut their own business; passing the time while Reeve and Dio began preparations for a possible attack by Jenova. A small regiment of Shinra soldiers had arrived at the Gold Saucer and placed the facility under martial law until any threat had been dealt with. The soldiers had set up their operations base in the Battle Square; this is where Reeve and Dio currently resided on the grounds. Flanks of armed guards were patrolling the internal perimeter while another team was monitoring the surrounding area for any signs of Jenova, aided by small one-manned flying 'Vector Class' scout-ships.
Cid and Barret had taken up residency at the submarine game; which Cid had utterly dominated. His strategy could not be easily beaten especially by Barret, who was simply attempting to successfully control his sub. Yuffie watched on, attempting to relay attack patterns to Barret and cheer him on.
Cloud wandered around for a little while, before finally he ended up at the Chocobo stalls. When he found Boko he was relieved, to say the least that he was in good shape. Dio had indeed kept him in good condition. From his belt he pulled out some greens and held them up to Boko, who gladly accepted them. Cloud ran his hand over the mighty beak of the golden chocobo, before he turned his attention to the large suede carrying case he had left propped against the wall. He went to it, his eyes following the hay-strewn stable floor and caught a glimpse of Tifa's silent shadow cast upon the ground.
"Cloud?" Tifa asked meekly.
Cloud looked up to meet her. "Tifa?"
"I thought I'd find you somewhere around here."
"Yeah.... I'm just making sure Boko is okay here."
"I'm sure he's doing just fine; it's you, I'm worried about Cloud."
A quizzical expression swam across Cloud's face. "What? What are you talking about?"
"I know something is up." She paused. "I was hoping you would fill me in?"
"I don't know what your talking about." Cloud stated before turning his attention back to his carrying case.
"Don't give me that, I know you better than you know yourself." Tifa had her hands on her hips again, signaling that she meant business. "Yuffie told me all about your little encounter this morning."
"What about it?" Cloud was playing dumb, of course. He already knew that Tifa knew too much to possibly cover anything.
"She said you were acting funny, like when he had you." Tifa continued.
"He isn't the problem anymore." Cloud looked a little sick; thinking of Sephiroth, but felt worse knowing who was actually playing around with him. "...No, it's not him...."
Cloud popped open the locks up the side of the case and opened the front panel. Inside, the case was lined with a red silky fabric, sleeping within was the Buster Sword. He took it from within and held it aloft, a comfortable familiarity in it's simplicity.
"It's.... her." Cloud finally stated.
As if summoned by will, the warning alarm began to blare over the P.A. system of the Golden Saucer. Everyone dropped what they were doing and raced for Battle Square. When Cloud and Tifa arrived, everyone had already assembled, and were huddled around Reeve. Cloud pushed his way through the crowd of soldiers as Tifa followed in close quarters behind him. They cut through just as Reeve began his briefing.
"This is it. The target has been spotted heading in this direction by our Vector scouts. We are all aware I'm sure, of this 'Jenova's' power, so prepare accordingly."
There was a wave of mumbles and excitement throughout the crowd.
"This is not a drill. We react as though she was a weapon! This facility must be protected, I want no more meaningless causalities today." Reeve stopped and brought a PHS to his face to speak.
"Where is the target?" He inquired.
"'Bout in range of our unit." A voice only Reeve could hear answered. "Should we strike?"
"Negative." Reeve spoke, eyeing the crowd; being careful of his words.
"Leave 'er to the Vector Unit? Eh?" The voice said. "Gotcha. I'll inform Rude and Elena...."
Reeve pressed a button, ending the call. "Jenova will be entering the area soon, we must prepare now."
Meanwhile outside of the Golden Saucer, a squadron of Vector-class flying vehicles were patrolling the air zone where Jenova would be arriving from. "We are the first line of defense men! Be on your guard; that target will be arriving any moment now." The squad leader radioed over his intercom.
"Sir, yes SIR!"
"Roger!"
"Copy that."
"You gotta be kidding me!" One wingman replied. "This is suicide!"
"Never give up hope!" The leader reassured him.
Suddenly Jenova came into their sights. She flew gracefully towards them, almost in slow motion. However that was not the case, for almost immeadiatly they saw her speed past, disregarding them completely.
"Uh.... GET HER!" The command was issued as the squad came around and engaged Jenova from the rear. She still did not regard them as a threat, until the first stream of gunfire whizzed past her head when she stopped. Two of the fighters raced past either side of her until she reached out and took hold of both of them. Suddenly she was towed through the air between them until by her strength alone she pulled both Vectors into each other causing a high-speed explosion. Flight recorders captured only half of the terrible screams from the pilots within before they were reduced to wreckage and shrapnel that spiraled through the sky. Jenova was completely unscathed.
Inside, a lot of people watched the dogfight from their various locales. The members of Avalanche had grouped themselves by Reeve.
"This is bad." Cloud said.
"It is." Reeve agreed, wholeheartedly.
"Shi't.... that ain't bad; it's damn'ear impossibly BAD." Barret stuttered.
Everyone else just stood in awe of the raw power she seemed to be able to conjure from such a petite frame. She was remorseless as she plotted her next kill, suspended in the air like a marionette with no strings.
"I told you this was SUICIDE!! Wait..... AHHHHHHHHRGH!!! NO!!!" The wingman screamed over the intercom. Jenova came from out of nowhere and landed on the front panel of the Vector the soldier was in. She had an intense look engraved upon her face as she dug her fingers into the metal fuselage of the Vector. Speeding through the air at incredibly high-speeds she pulled the Vector through the air more rapidly than it could fly and jumped off, just before the craft careened into the exterior wall of the Ghost Square with a colossal explosion.
More gunfire came at her and she moved now. The two remaining Vectors gave chase, as she flew through the gigantic branches that held up the sections of the Saucer. After seemingly toying with the fighters for a few minutes she lost interest in her game. They regrouped to get a clear shot at her, when she raised her arms, the palms of her hands facing out towards them. A flash of light from both of them, too fast for some to even register consciously, and the small ships began to combust. They went out of control and as they zoomed past Jenova they exploded into a single streaking inferno.
"Everyone prepare for battle." Reeve repeated to the men and women who watched on in awe and terror at the almost formulaic taking apart of the Vector squadron. However before anyone could react Jenova crashed through the pain of glass spraying the room with debris and sending bodies through the air.
She was crouched down on one knee, looking towards the ground with an indistinct stare on her face. Both of her hands were upon the floor, palms down. She was calm cool and collected, the same feeling of emotional disconnection that seeped from her in Junon. Some people got to their feet, while others lay still; unconscious or dead. Everyone in the room was at full alert as the sound of weapons being drawn filled the room.
Jenova finally raised her head and panned over everyone in the area with ruby eyes before she slowly stood up straight; gun barrels following her movement slowly. Glass cracked and snapped as she shifted her weight, settling into an assumed relaxation.
Cloud approached her cautiously, Buster Sword held aloft in his right hand. Tifa made a noise behind him as he left Reeve's side, but no words formed. "Jenova." He began. "What do you want?" He raised his free hand to her, a gesture of calmness. She paid no attention now to anyone else, and regarded Cloud with a peculiar glance. Her eyes seemed to glow, examining him at her own leisure until they met with Cloud's, and the fire within became fixated.
"Your sight." She said, to her a meaning all too well explained.
"What? What do you mean?"
"Your sight.... Could you....?"
Barret piped up in the background. "What're you yappin' about, you crazy." He was cut short by Jenova's stone cold glare for a moment, before her demonic gaze slithered back to the soldier before her.
"Could I what? What are you talking about??" Cloud demanded of her.
"Now is not the time Champion."
"I'm not a champion, just a soldier." Cloud raised his sword once more, a proud gesture against his enemy.
If not for her emotional detachment, Jenova would have been amused, however she delivered her response with an severe cold. "If you are not the definition of champion, than what should you be? 'Dreamer' perhaps?"
Without warning to him, Cloud was lost in an immense massing pressure from within his own mind. The Buster sword in his hands clattered to the ground as his surroundings melted into darkness; everything except Jenova. Another waking dream had taken him.
"So Dreamer, here you are." Jenova's voice rang like church bells through his mind. Cloud attempted to speak, but his throat was numb, detached from his brain, and would not respond, he could only listen to the ambiguous words of the Crisis.
She continued her riddled message. "The limbo of the self. The plain you created yourself, to lock away the experiences of your own existence. Here you are."
She flickered out of existence, only to materialize behind his frozen body. She put her hands on either side of his head, and lightly ran her fingers across the side of his face. "You've been finding yourself here more often than not. You can't lie to me here, I know you have been." With that, she forced Cloud's head back, looking straight up, as she looked down into his eyes. "But you like it here don't you. It's like your home; you yourself, Dreamer, spending a long, long while locked away here while your guise held it's grip. Watching. Waiting. Wanting."
Cloud closed his eyes, the only thing he could do to escape her desolate flames.
"Well, I too, have a dark place. Does that surprise you Dreamer?" She continued, knowing he could do nothing to stop her from doing so. "I feel a certain connection with you, odd considering I really feel nothing at all."
Cloud's mind was reeling, the things she was openly confiding in him, sounding like they could be the real truth.
"I connect with you because I too, once lived in my dark place. We are more alike that you know Dreamer."
Cloud opened his eyes at that, he stared into her eyes, an attempt to fight her hold over him.
"You want to speak, but I will not let you now. You must listen to what I have to say."
Cloud gave in and simply allowed her to do as she pleased.
"I can see it in your eyes, your power, like mine, glowing inside your very essence. You know what it is inside, the fire. You feel it when you hold this..." She leans down and takes his Buster Sword from out of the abyss and holds it aloft. "....You feel the urge to destroy, like acid through your veins...." Jenova said, putting the blade down. She pulled Cloud over and he fell softly to his back, like drifting through water until he was upon the ground, with Jenova crouched over top of him. The first expression Cloud had ever seen upon her face; intense hatred.
"...Because you and I are one and the same."
Suddenly Jenova's attention drew away from Cloud as a new presence could be felt emanating from the darkness. Intense light cut through the ink and in a flash of brilliant white, almost triumphantly, through a gaping hole in the black fabric that was the dream, a blue eyed girl in a long pink dress stepped through the void into existence. She looked solemnly upon Cloud, before turning her radiant eyes to Jenova, who rose to her feet, bewildered by what was transpiring.
"What are you?" Jenova demanded.
The pink ghost smiled as new light flooded out around her, engulfing her image from behind until Cloud could no longer make out anything at all. Even though he had lost his place in reality, he found himself once more losing his way in his dream. He seemed to be drifting silently through a blank white plain, aimlessly the sensation of movement, was about him but no difference could be seen in the blankness.
'She saved me.... again.' He thought as he hung in the air.
"Lazarus." A soft voice spoke from everywhere.
"Aeris?" He asked to the absence.
There was silence for a while, but a sense of intensity was all about him. Then her voice rang clearly in his mind. "Cloud.... You have to go back."
"Go back where? What's going on?! Aeris. please." Cloud pleaded to her.
"The water, Cloud..... to the Cetra Lazarus."
"Aeris!!" Cloud screamed as he felt her presence slipping away.
"I'm sorry." She managed to say one last time.
"AERIS!!!!!!" Cloud screamed at the top of his lungs, the white reality seeming to shatter as he sprang up in bed.
Tifa and Barret were suddenly beside him, restraining him to the bed as he thrashed about uncontrollably. When he realized that he was aboard the Highwind, he settled down, and finally took notice that he was amongst his friends.
"What happened...?" he finally mustered.
Barret and Tifa exchanged dim glances, before Barret replied: "You don't want to know."
Cloud tried to sit up, but Barret held him down. "Yes, I do."
Tifa squeezed Cloud's hand, her palm was sweaty; she had been holding his hand for a long time. "Cloud. get some sleep." She said, as she leaned closer towards him and gave him a little hug. "...Your going to need it."
"I'm fine, really... just tell me what happened!" Cloud spoke over her shoulder.
Barret shook his head in disbelief, as he turned and walked out of the cabin where Cloud was resting, as he opened the door he saw Yuffie with Red and Cid just outside the door. Yuffie gave him a little wave, before the door shut behind Barret.
Tifa's nerves were a little shaky as she spoke. "Cloud. Jenova.."
"Uh-huh...." Cloud urged her to continue.
"Whatever happened after you fell.... she went mad." Tifa slowly said as she drew away.
"A lot of people died today Cloud. We tried to stop her but, we had to run. We grabbed you and ran."
Cloud was blunt. "What happened at the Golden Saucer today?"
Tifa slowly raised her eyes to look him in the eyes, her own shifting with deep emotion with her memories being triggered by his request. "She destroyed it."
"Destroyed what?"
"The Golden Saucer. Something happened and she lost control and burned everything."
"What??" Cloud was astonished. "How many people..."
"Only three ships made it off.... us, a small freight shuttle filled with civilians, and Reeve took control of another Shinra vessel; everyone else died."
Cloud didn't know what to say, but something told him what needed to be done. "Tell Cid we're going back to the water."
Tifa was puzzled. "What?"
"I've got a date to keep."
The tram pulled into the loading bay at the Golden Saucer with a clang, and released some steam with a hiss. Barret Wallace and Red XIII stepped out of the car and made their way to the service desk just before lobby. The lady at the counter asked the same old inquiry, and again Barret dug into his pocket and pulled out his Gold Membership ticket. They were swiftly ushered inside where they immeadiatly took notice of the newly finished expansion.
The Golden Saucer had recently come into the possession of a vast affluence of money, with the grand opening of the Casino Zone attraction. Along with that, Dio, the man behind the Golden Saucer's operations, had decided to erect an air dock, since the past year had seen the construction of numerous airships that were continuously on the go.
Barret and Red waited in the lobby for a little while before everyone finally arrived.
The steel plated entrance way opposite the tram entry slid open as the group made their way into the lobby from the port. Reeve appeared first, he walked promptly tapping a refined wooden cane on the floor every few steps, as he came to a stop he swung it up under his arm; Purely a fashion statement. Not far behind Reeve strode Cloud, flanked by Tifa. Cloud was carrying a large black suede case, rimmed with silver and latched tightly by three silver bolt locks. He looked bleakly as he was no doubt lost in thought, however he glanced to Tifa who met his gaze, he forged an approving grin in his somber face. Tifa walked in sync with Cloud's steps as they made their way to the center of the area. When she noticed Red and Barret coming towards them she waved with an inviting smile.
Cid and Yuffie wandered through the doors a minute or two afterward, Cid had been busy anchoring the ship into position on it's pad. He struck a match against his slacks before lighting up another thin cigarette as he made his approach towards the group. Yuffie was just at the back of him, her duffel bag filled with Materia, slung over her shoulder. She held the strap firmly with one hand by her shoulder and one about half way down it's length. They were both in high spirits to unite with their old friends again. Cid took Barret's forearm and shook it twice, that was how Cid had always shaken hands. Yuffie put her hand on Red's head and messed up his mane with a snicker.
When everyone had gotten reacquainted, they made their way to Dio's trophy room in the Battle Square, where he could be found most of the time. As usual, Dio was adamant over one of his newly acquired gizmos when they arrived. "Well, well, look who the proverbial cat dragged in!" he rang out when he finally took notice of his assembled audience. "What brings you to my Golden Saucer this time? Perhaps you've heard of my newest attraction - the brand new Casino Zone!!"
"Yes, we've come to play your games." Cloud spoke, a cynical tone in his voice.
"Well, well, if it isn't Cloud Strife, the champion of the chocobo racing circuit!.... or should I say FORMER champion?" Dio scoffed.
Cloud remembered very well what Dio had done. "Where's my bird, Dio."
"Boko, is doing just fine, I'm taking very good care of that one."
Cloud's eyes narrowed. "I bet you are."
At that point, Reeve made his way to the front of the group. "It's been a long time, Dio."
"It has indeed......" Dio spoke through a perfect grin, marveling in his treachery.
Reeve was openly annoyed, he had never really liked working with Dio, he didn't really know why, perhaps Dio reminded him too much of himself. "We've come with urgent news." Reeve paused for a second. "I think the Golden Saucer may be in danger."
"What are you talking about? Nothing involving the Shinra, I hope." Dio's grin left his face as quickly as it had been placed there.
"No, nothing like that."
"This lady is gonna come and burn this place down!" Yuffie blurted out.
Dio was amused to say the least.
"Lady? What lady?" Barret asked from behind everyone. "What's goin' on?"
Reeve turned his head. Cloud exchanged a glance with Tifa and Yuffie, while Cid took an uncomfortably long puff on one of his cigs.
"Perhaps it would be best for all of you to go and bring each other up to speed." Reeve finally said. "Dio and I have some other business to attend to."
"What's that?" Cid addressed Reeve, who tapped his cane on the ground and did not reply.
"Well, let's go and catch up." Tifa broke the hush.
Cloud gestured approvingly, and put his arm on Cid's shoulder urging him along with them, as everyone left Reeve and Dio to their own devices.
Walking along, they found themselves in Wonder Square where they finally stopped to speak freely. Cid finished his cigarette and flicked it away. "Something is not right here, folks." He said, a little too sure of himself.
Tifa crossed her arms. "What makes you say that?"
"I've been thinkin', why, out of everywhere we could be now, are we here?" Cid asked to his friends, before he answered it himself. "Because Reeve wanted to be here."
"So?" Yuffie said, naively.
"I just came to see my Gold Chocobo." Cloud muttered to himself.
Cid defended his accusation. "Now, don't get me wrong, I like that man, but I don't trust him. Not for a second. Right now he's alone with that rich sunufabitch talking about who knows what; but I highly doubt it's about that spook."
Red sat down. "Spook.... Lady... please, if you don't mind, would someone bring Barret and I up to speed?" He asked politely.
Cloud leaned against a nearby railing. "We know for sure that there is somebody calling themselves the 'Crisis From The Sky' flying around attacking towns."
"Jenova." Red spoke without discretion.
"JENOVA?! We killed her ass!" Barret yelled, cocking his gun-arm with his other hand.
"No." Cloud replied.
Yuffie wandered off, looking at a flashing screen of a new game console. She thought this was a little redundant.
Cloud continued. "We killed a..... a clone of Jenova." Putting it as straightforward as he could.
"Well Shi't." Barret sighed. "I've'n missin' out."
Red looked up at him, distraught, either by the idea that facing Jenova was better than helping to restore his own home, or the fact that he had just combined the words 'I have been' into one and still made sense.
"She's incredibly powerful." Cloud warned Barret. "We'll have to face her eventually, I think."
"Just tell me where to shoot." Barret seemed to take the news well.
"So, Barret, on the PHS you said you had something to show us?" Tifa was curious as to what Barret and Red had been doing all the while.
"Oh yeah, almost forgot." Barret said as he pulled out the tiny bottle.
"What the hell is that? Mako?" Cid grabbed it out of Barret's hand.
"Not as far as I can tell." Replied Barret. "Smells a whole hella' lot worse."
Cid passed the unlabeled bottle to Cloud.
"Where'd you find this?" He asked after examining the consistency of the liquid within.
"A whole shipment of it was delivered through Corel. From Shinra to the Gold Saucer." Red filled everyone in on how he had accompanied the two soldiers forwarding the shipment from Costa De Sol to the Golden Saucer; how he had heard of Icicle Town's demolition, and the discovery of what lie within the crate.
"Do you think maybe that shipment is what Reeve and Dio are talking about?" Tifa thought aloud.
"Maybe. It seems'ta fit the puzzle. What else would concern both Shinra and the Saucer unless it was some deal they had, and Reeve's just came her to check up on Dio's end of the bargain, make sure he doesn't get ripped off?" Cid put the pieces together.
"Do you think they'll miss this one?" Cloud put out the bottle in his hand.
"We're missing one of the containers out of the shipment; but other than that, everything so far is a well oiled machine, just like me." Dio gave a status report to Reeve. "Peons." Reeve sighed with displeasure. "Can I find no good help these days?"
Reeve and Dio had walked through the Gold Saucer using Dio's direct tunnels and were now lavishing the environment of the elegant new Casino Zone.
"You seem more miserable than usual, Reeve!"
"Things are falling apart, I'm afraid. They are unraveling, small incidents now, but I fear unless my friends and I can discover a way to stop this Jenova, the future will not be a bright one."
"Well as long as you can keep supplying that fuel, everything is A-OK!"
"For now, it seems. However as of today I'm focusing more of my attention here. I have to protect my investments." Reeve spun his cane like a drill- bit, grinding it into the floor.
Dio's sly grin crept upon his face once more. "I can't thank you enough. That money you gave me was more than enough to expand my lucrative games."
"Think nothing of it. After all, you are funding Neo-Midgar, so I think it's only fair I give you something in return." Reeve stated.
"Splitting the costs down the middle, was pure genius. We'll be stinking rich in no time at all!!" Dio was delighted at the prospect of being even more rich than he already was.
"You already are stinking rich."
"You can never have enough Gil."
Night had fallen on the Golden Saucer, and everyone had gone abut their own business; passing the time while Reeve and Dio began preparations for a possible attack by Jenova. A small regiment of Shinra soldiers had arrived at the Gold Saucer and placed the facility under martial law until any threat had been dealt with. The soldiers had set up their operations base in the Battle Square; this is where Reeve and Dio currently resided on the grounds. Flanks of armed guards were patrolling the internal perimeter while another team was monitoring the surrounding area for any signs of Jenova, aided by small one-manned flying 'Vector Class' scout-ships.
Cid and Barret had taken up residency at the submarine game; which Cid had utterly dominated. His strategy could not be easily beaten especially by Barret, who was simply attempting to successfully control his sub. Yuffie watched on, attempting to relay attack patterns to Barret and cheer him on.
Cloud wandered around for a little while, before finally he ended up at the Chocobo stalls. When he found Boko he was relieved, to say the least that he was in good shape. Dio had indeed kept him in good condition. From his belt he pulled out some greens and held them up to Boko, who gladly accepted them. Cloud ran his hand over the mighty beak of the golden chocobo, before he turned his attention to the large suede carrying case he had left propped against the wall. He went to it, his eyes following the hay-strewn stable floor and caught a glimpse of Tifa's silent shadow cast upon the ground.
"Cloud?" Tifa asked meekly.
Cloud looked up to meet her. "Tifa?"
"I thought I'd find you somewhere around here."
"Yeah.... I'm just making sure Boko is okay here."
"I'm sure he's doing just fine; it's you, I'm worried about Cloud."
A quizzical expression swam across Cloud's face. "What? What are you talking about?"
"I know something is up." She paused. "I was hoping you would fill me in?"
"I don't know what your talking about." Cloud stated before turning his attention back to his carrying case.
"Don't give me that, I know you better than you know yourself." Tifa had her hands on her hips again, signaling that she meant business. "Yuffie told me all about your little encounter this morning."
"What about it?" Cloud was playing dumb, of course. He already knew that Tifa knew too much to possibly cover anything.
"She said you were acting funny, like when he had you." Tifa continued.
"He isn't the problem anymore." Cloud looked a little sick; thinking of Sephiroth, but felt worse knowing who was actually playing around with him. "...No, it's not him...."
Cloud popped open the locks up the side of the case and opened the front panel. Inside, the case was lined with a red silky fabric, sleeping within was the Buster Sword. He took it from within and held it aloft, a comfortable familiarity in it's simplicity.
"It's.... her." Cloud finally stated.
As if summoned by will, the warning alarm began to blare over the P.A. system of the Golden Saucer. Everyone dropped what they were doing and raced for Battle Square. When Cloud and Tifa arrived, everyone had already assembled, and were huddled around Reeve. Cloud pushed his way through the crowd of soldiers as Tifa followed in close quarters behind him. They cut through just as Reeve began his briefing.
"This is it. The target has been spotted heading in this direction by our Vector scouts. We are all aware I'm sure, of this 'Jenova's' power, so prepare accordingly."
There was a wave of mumbles and excitement throughout the crowd.
"This is not a drill. We react as though she was a weapon! This facility must be protected, I want no more meaningless causalities today." Reeve stopped and brought a PHS to his face to speak.
"Where is the target?" He inquired.
"'Bout in range of our unit." A voice only Reeve could hear answered. "Should we strike?"
"Negative." Reeve spoke, eyeing the crowd; being careful of his words.
"Leave 'er to the Vector Unit? Eh?" The voice said. "Gotcha. I'll inform Rude and Elena...."
Reeve pressed a button, ending the call. "Jenova will be entering the area soon, we must prepare now."
Meanwhile outside of the Golden Saucer, a squadron of Vector-class flying vehicles were patrolling the air zone where Jenova would be arriving from. "We are the first line of defense men! Be on your guard; that target will be arriving any moment now." The squad leader radioed over his intercom.
"Sir, yes SIR!"
"Roger!"
"Copy that."
"You gotta be kidding me!" One wingman replied. "This is suicide!"
"Never give up hope!" The leader reassured him.
Suddenly Jenova came into their sights. She flew gracefully towards them, almost in slow motion. However that was not the case, for almost immeadiatly they saw her speed past, disregarding them completely.
"Uh.... GET HER!" The command was issued as the squad came around and engaged Jenova from the rear. She still did not regard them as a threat, until the first stream of gunfire whizzed past her head when she stopped. Two of the fighters raced past either side of her until she reached out and took hold of both of them. Suddenly she was towed through the air between them until by her strength alone she pulled both Vectors into each other causing a high-speed explosion. Flight recorders captured only half of the terrible screams from the pilots within before they were reduced to wreckage and shrapnel that spiraled through the sky. Jenova was completely unscathed.
Inside, a lot of people watched the dogfight from their various locales. The members of Avalanche had grouped themselves by Reeve.
"This is bad." Cloud said.
"It is." Reeve agreed, wholeheartedly.
"Shi't.... that ain't bad; it's damn'ear impossibly BAD." Barret stuttered.
Everyone else just stood in awe of the raw power she seemed to be able to conjure from such a petite frame. She was remorseless as she plotted her next kill, suspended in the air like a marionette with no strings.
"I told you this was SUICIDE!! Wait..... AHHHHHHHHRGH!!! NO!!!" The wingman screamed over the intercom. Jenova came from out of nowhere and landed on the front panel of the Vector the soldier was in. She had an intense look engraved upon her face as she dug her fingers into the metal fuselage of the Vector. Speeding through the air at incredibly high-speeds she pulled the Vector through the air more rapidly than it could fly and jumped off, just before the craft careened into the exterior wall of the Ghost Square with a colossal explosion.
More gunfire came at her and she moved now. The two remaining Vectors gave chase, as she flew through the gigantic branches that held up the sections of the Saucer. After seemingly toying with the fighters for a few minutes she lost interest in her game. They regrouped to get a clear shot at her, when she raised her arms, the palms of her hands facing out towards them. A flash of light from both of them, too fast for some to even register consciously, and the small ships began to combust. They went out of control and as they zoomed past Jenova they exploded into a single streaking inferno.
"Everyone prepare for battle." Reeve repeated to the men and women who watched on in awe and terror at the almost formulaic taking apart of the Vector squadron. However before anyone could react Jenova crashed through the pain of glass spraying the room with debris and sending bodies through the air.
She was crouched down on one knee, looking towards the ground with an indistinct stare on her face. Both of her hands were upon the floor, palms down. She was calm cool and collected, the same feeling of emotional disconnection that seeped from her in Junon. Some people got to their feet, while others lay still; unconscious or dead. Everyone in the room was at full alert as the sound of weapons being drawn filled the room.
Jenova finally raised her head and panned over everyone in the area with ruby eyes before she slowly stood up straight; gun barrels following her movement slowly. Glass cracked and snapped as she shifted her weight, settling into an assumed relaxation.
Cloud approached her cautiously, Buster Sword held aloft in his right hand. Tifa made a noise behind him as he left Reeve's side, but no words formed. "Jenova." He began. "What do you want?" He raised his free hand to her, a gesture of calmness. She paid no attention now to anyone else, and regarded Cloud with a peculiar glance. Her eyes seemed to glow, examining him at her own leisure until they met with Cloud's, and the fire within became fixated.
"Your sight." She said, to her a meaning all too well explained.
"What? What do you mean?"
"Your sight.... Could you....?"
Barret piped up in the background. "What're you yappin' about, you crazy." He was cut short by Jenova's stone cold glare for a moment, before her demonic gaze slithered back to the soldier before her.
"Could I what? What are you talking about??" Cloud demanded of her.
"Now is not the time Champion."
"I'm not a champion, just a soldier." Cloud raised his sword once more, a proud gesture against his enemy.
If not for her emotional detachment, Jenova would have been amused, however she delivered her response with an severe cold. "If you are not the definition of champion, than what should you be? 'Dreamer' perhaps?"
Without warning to him, Cloud was lost in an immense massing pressure from within his own mind. The Buster sword in his hands clattered to the ground as his surroundings melted into darkness; everything except Jenova. Another waking dream had taken him.
"So Dreamer, here you are." Jenova's voice rang like church bells through his mind. Cloud attempted to speak, but his throat was numb, detached from his brain, and would not respond, he could only listen to the ambiguous words of the Crisis.
She continued her riddled message. "The limbo of the self. The plain you created yourself, to lock away the experiences of your own existence. Here you are."
She flickered out of existence, only to materialize behind his frozen body. She put her hands on either side of his head, and lightly ran her fingers across the side of his face. "You've been finding yourself here more often than not. You can't lie to me here, I know you have been." With that, she forced Cloud's head back, looking straight up, as she looked down into his eyes. "But you like it here don't you. It's like your home; you yourself, Dreamer, spending a long, long while locked away here while your guise held it's grip. Watching. Waiting. Wanting."
Cloud closed his eyes, the only thing he could do to escape her desolate flames.
"Well, I too, have a dark place. Does that surprise you Dreamer?" She continued, knowing he could do nothing to stop her from doing so. "I feel a certain connection with you, odd considering I really feel nothing at all."
Cloud's mind was reeling, the things she was openly confiding in him, sounding like they could be the real truth.
"I connect with you because I too, once lived in my dark place. We are more alike that you know Dreamer."
Cloud opened his eyes at that, he stared into her eyes, an attempt to fight her hold over him.
"You want to speak, but I will not let you now. You must listen to what I have to say."
Cloud gave in and simply allowed her to do as she pleased.
"I can see it in your eyes, your power, like mine, glowing inside your very essence. You know what it is inside, the fire. You feel it when you hold this..." She leans down and takes his Buster Sword from out of the abyss and holds it aloft. "....You feel the urge to destroy, like acid through your veins...." Jenova said, putting the blade down. She pulled Cloud over and he fell softly to his back, like drifting through water until he was upon the ground, with Jenova crouched over top of him. The first expression Cloud had ever seen upon her face; intense hatred.
"...Because you and I are one and the same."
Suddenly Jenova's attention drew away from Cloud as a new presence could be felt emanating from the darkness. Intense light cut through the ink and in a flash of brilliant white, almost triumphantly, through a gaping hole in the black fabric that was the dream, a blue eyed girl in a long pink dress stepped through the void into existence. She looked solemnly upon Cloud, before turning her radiant eyes to Jenova, who rose to her feet, bewildered by what was transpiring.
"What are you?" Jenova demanded.
The pink ghost smiled as new light flooded out around her, engulfing her image from behind until Cloud could no longer make out anything at all. Even though he had lost his place in reality, he found himself once more losing his way in his dream. He seemed to be drifting silently through a blank white plain, aimlessly the sensation of movement, was about him but no difference could be seen in the blankness.
'She saved me.... again.' He thought as he hung in the air.
"Lazarus." A soft voice spoke from everywhere.
"Aeris?" He asked to the absence.
There was silence for a while, but a sense of intensity was all about him. Then her voice rang clearly in his mind. "Cloud.... You have to go back."
"Go back where? What's going on?! Aeris. please." Cloud pleaded to her.
"The water, Cloud..... to the Cetra Lazarus."
"Aeris!!" Cloud screamed as he felt her presence slipping away.
"I'm sorry." She managed to say one last time.
"AERIS!!!!!!" Cloud screamed at the top of his lungs, the white reality seeming to shatter as he sprang up in bed.
Tifa and Barret were suddenly beside him, restraining him to the bed as he thrashed about uncontrollably. When he realized that he was aboard the Highwind, he settled down, and finally took notice that he was amongst his friends.
"What happened...?" he finally mustered.
Barret and Tifa exchanged dim glances, before Barret replied: "You don't want to know."
Cloud tried to sit up, but Barret held him down. "Yes, I do."
Tifa squeezed Cloud's hand, her palm was sweaty; she had been holding his hand for a long time. "Cloud. get some sleep." She said, as she leaned closer towards him and gave him a little hug. "...Your going to need it."
"I'm fine, really... just tell me what happened!" Cloud spoke over her shoulder.
Barret shook his head in disbelief, as he turned and walked out of the cabin where Cloud was resting, as he opened the door he saw Yuffie with Red and Cid just outside the door. Yuffie gave him a little wave, before the door shut behind Barret.
Tifa's nerves were a little shaky as she spoke. "Cloud. Jenova.."
"Uh-huh...." Cloud urged her to continue.
"Whatever happened after you fell.... she went mad." Tifa slowly said as she drew away.
"A lot of people died today Cloud. We tried to stop her but, we had to run. We grabbed you and ran."
Cloud was blunt. "What happened at the Golden Saucer today?"
Tifa slowly raised her eyes to look him in the eyes, her own shifting with deep emotion with her memories being triggered by his request. "She destroyed it."
"Destroyed what?"
"The Golden Saucer. Something happened and she lost control and burned everything."
"What??" Cloud was astonished. "How many people..."
"Only three ships made it off.... us, a small freight shuttle filled with civilians, and Reeve took control of another Shinra vessel; everyone else died."
Cloud didn't know what to say, but something told him what needed to be done. "Tell Cid we're going back to the water."
Tifa was puzzled. "What?"
"I've got a date to keep."