By the time the three rebels made it out of the sewer system, Cloud wasn't
as hopeful as he was a while ago. They still had to make their way through
the junkyard before they would reach the pillar and hopefully put a stop to
the ShinRa.
Cloud looked at Aeris for a moment. She had been kind enough to help him, an armed stranger, rescue his best friend from a dirty old man that could've done something awful to her, and now he was asking her to fight with them against the ShinRa? 'What kind of jerk am I?' He thought. "Aeris," She looked at him quizzically, "I got you into all this, so you don't have to-"
She shook her head. "Don't tell me to go home." There were a lot of people in danger right now, and she wasn't going to just let Cloud and Tifa handle it.
Tifa smiled warmly at the new ally and motioned to the junkyard. "If we can get past these old trains, we'll be at the foot of the pillar."
A short time later, Cloud jumped off the last train car and sprinted down the alleyway. He hoped there was still time left. He could hear Tifa's footfalls behind him, and the Aeris' behind her. He broke through another alleyway and was standing at the foot of the massive pillar. Several people were standing at the bottom and looking up with awe.
Tifa ran up behind him. "We made it! The pillar's still standing!
A noise suddenly caught Cloud's ears. "Wait, what's that sound? Above us!"
Aeris looked up and fidgeted anxiously, "Gun fire?"
The three of them strained, but after a moment they were able to make out flashes of light and sound from twenty-some stories above. Cloud strained to make out what the movement was at the very top, but it was too late. A figure slipped over the edge and was falling towards them. It slammed into a few railings before plummeting to the ground before them. It was Wedge's battered and bloody body.
Cloud kneeled at his side instantly. "Wedge! You all right??"
The fat man's eyes were closed and blood began to trickle from his mouth. "Cloud..." He whispered barely audible.
'Dammit' Cloud thought, they might be too late after all. He knew Wedge was a goner, but where was Biggs, Jessie, and Barett?
"Cloud... You remembered my name..." He rasped, "Barett's up top... help him." He coughed and a spurt of blood rolled down his cheek, his eyes still closed. "An' .... Sorry"
Tifa's tears welled up, she couldn't believe it. She'd known Wedge for almost three years... and now...
Standing next to her was Aeris, who was openly crying but doing what she could to stop it. She was about to comfort Tifa when Cloud stood up abruptly and unsheathed his sword. "I'm going up!" He jogged to the tower stairs and starts climbing.
"Aeris," Tifa started wiping her face. "Get everybody out of Sector 7, and could you do me a favor?"
The flower girl nodded.
"I have a bar around that corner. There's a little girl named Marlene there..."
Aeris smiled. "Don't worry, I'll put her somewhere safe."
Tifa smiled hopefully and sprinted up the tower in hopes of catching up with Cloud. She prayed that there was still time.
"Don't worry!" Aeris called after her, "You let me handle this." She looked over to the bystanders looking up at the pillar in awe and disbelief. "It's dangerous here! Get out of Sector 7! The pillar's going to break!"
A few people looked at her fearfully as the rest took off, and she smiled slightly, happy that they had listened to her. She glanced up at the figure of Tifa on the tower, and she ran around the corner hoping to find the bar Tifa was talking about.
As she made it around the bend, a few little houses and buildings came into view, but only one of them looked distinctly like a bar. She ran toward it. A rickety old sign hanging above the door reading: "Tifa's Seventh Heaven" confirmed her idea.
Aeris opened the door and began calling the girl's name. "Marlene? Marlene!! I'm a friend of Tifa! Please come out! It's dangerous here! Marlene?"
After a few seconds, a little girl with dark brown hair emerged from behind the bar, clinging to a stuffed rabbit. "C'mon Marlene. I won't hurt you."
Marlene looked at her and stood up, wiping her eyes. "You know Tifa?" She squeaked.
Aeris smiled again. "Yes. Now c'mon, we have to get you out of here." The little girl nodded, and the flower girl scooped her up and ran out the door.
"Do you know my daddy?"
Aeris looked down at the girl, a bit confused. "Hmm?"
"Do you know my daddy? He's Tifa's friend, too. And Cloud's. Except they fight a lot." She clung to Aeris jacket. "He went to fight at the pillar."
Aeris' heart suddenly dropped, she hoped that Marlene wasn't referring to the man that had died at Cloud's feet. "What does your daddy look like?" She figured talking to her was the best thing to keep them both calm.
"Well, he's big and strong and has really dark skin with a gun on his arm."
Aeris smiled, happy that she hadn't described Wedge. "I'm sure he's fine. Does your dad fight a lot?"
Marlene smiled. "Only the bad guys."
Aeris passed through the alleyway that led out of Sector 7. 'Good, I can take her back home so Mom can help me...'
~~~
Cloud sprinted up the steps as quickly as he could, somewhere behind him, he could hear Tifa, but he didn't care. He leaned into a turn and ran right into the crumpled form of Biggs draped over the railing. Tifa came to a stop behind him.
He was still alive, but barely. He looked the Ex-SOLDIER with clouded eyes. "So... you don't care... what happens... the planet?"
Cloud shook his head, ignoring his question. Even though Cloud had seen many people killed before his eyes, and even though he had killed before, it really put him back into perspective when someone as young and selfless as Biggs was dying.
Cloud put his hand on the younger man's shoulder to help him up, or at least put him in a more comfortable position. "You're wounded badly...." It was the only thing he could force out of his mouth. The arrogant and egotistical front he had created prompted him to say that he didn't care about the planet, but it was his own young pride that forced him to stay silent now, even as Tifa bit off a choked sob.
Biggs remained focused on Cloud, and with as much sincerity as he could muster he tried to speak again. "T-thanks." He shuddered involuntarily. "Forget about me... Barett's at the top, and he needs help..." He was silent.
Tifa tried as hard as she could to keep herself from crying, but it wasn't working. She watched, in desperation, as one of her best friends was dying at her feet. Just like Wedge had... 'Jessie!' She thought suddenly, and raced the stairs after Cloud.
The mercenary turned a corner in the stairs and nearly trampled Jessie, who was lying on the cold metal, completely inert. "Jessie?" He propped her up, shaking her slightly, afraid he might injure her further.
She slowly opened her eyes, and smiled faintly. " ...Cloud... I'm glad I could... talk to you, one... last time"
"Jessie..." He and Tifa mumbled in unison.
She feebly shook her head. "Many people were killed... in our bombing runs... this is my p-punishment.... And I will face it-" She coughed violently for a moment, and a few splatters of blood fell to her stained and torn shirt. "Without regrets...."
She lay silent. Cloud listened for a tense moment and was immensely relieved to find that she was still breathing. He leaned her up against the wall very carefully, but when he pulled away his hands, all he could do was stare at them. They were covered in blood. The blood of a nineteen-year-old girl who fought for what she believed in... and now she was dying... on a cold metal staircase in the middle of Midgar's slums...
He shook his head, trying to physically clear away all his thoughts of regrets. He briefly locked eyes with Tifa before he jumped up on the staircase again.
Cloud bolted up the stairs as fast as his legs could carry him. He briefly wished he was a little taller, so he could jump more stairs at once, but the thought quickly vanished as he turned a corner and saw Barett, grinding his teeth as he fired endless bullets into some Robo-guards that were scaling the tower. One came up behind him and drew it's weapon, but before he had a chance to inflict pain on the unsuspecting man, Tifa shot a fire ball at it that disintegrated it on contact. The noise caused Barett to turn around.
"Tifa! Cloud!" He shouted, obviously relieved, "You came!" They both ran over to him in hopes of taking out the rest of the guards. "Be careful," he warned. "They're faster and stronger than the ones we fought in the reactor."
Just as the battle got underway, a helicopter roared overhead, and a figure in blue jumped out and landed before them with a thud. As he stood up, it was Reno, Cloud realized with a sudden drop to his stomach. The red-haired Turk ran over and set a mechanism on the side of the pillar, and mashed a few buttons. Cloud sprinted over with his sword brandished, but Reno still had time to be cocky. "You're too late. Once I push this button..." He jabbed a little red button and it beeped in response. "That's all folks," he grinned. "Mission accomplished."
Tifa ran over and began to pound on the buttons. "We have to disarm it!!" She pleaded in a panic. "Cloud! Barett! Please!!"
Reno suddenly grabbed Tifa's wrist and jerked her roughly from the bomb and closer to him. "I can't have you do that." His voice was eerily quiet and commanding. "No one will get in the way of me, or the rest of the Turks." He jerked her closer again, but this time he rammed his knee into her stomach, causing her to double over in pain.
Cloud was immediately at her side, while Barett charged Reno, swearing violently. The Turk, although completely over-powered by the larger man, had the advantage due to his greater speed. Barett did what he could at his short range, swinging his good fist at an impressive speed. Reno easily dodged however, since a huge man with only one good hand had only so many pattern options. He sidestepped another heavy punch from Barett, and finally went on the offensive. He grabbed the nightstick from his holster and jabbed the bigger man in the stomach. Since the blunt weapon was electrified, Barett was knocked to the ground instantly, nearly unconscious. Reno smirked again, and was about to finish him off, when Cloud suddenly appeared out of nowhere and swung his sword with all the strength he could muster.
Reno only felt his torso suddenly grow hot and he knew immediately that he had been hit, and the wound was incredibly deep. He frowned severely when he suddenly remembered that he had only brought a low-level healing materia with him. Quickly he cast the curing spell and decided it was time to go. He sprinted off to his right, but Tifa was waiting for him and unleashed a lightning fast barrage of punches. All of which, hit their mark.
By this time, Reno knew that he was pretty much out of luck. He wiped a bit of blood off his cheek, smearing it in the process, as he stood up straight. He grinned sadistically at Tifa, even as she still stood in her fighting stance. "Sorry, babe." He said, still smiling evilly. "I promise I'll finish my fight with you next time." He finished his statement by vaulting over the side of the railing, completely disappearing from sight.
Cloud shook his head, but then looked up urgently. "The bomb!"
Tifa paled and ran over and tried to disarm it again. "I don't know how to stop it!" She called to the other two men. "Try it!"
Cloud was already on his way over. As he examined the circuitry he moaned in despair. "This isn't a normal bomb...."
She was about to reply when a sudden roaring overhead caused the three members to look up. It was a ShinRa military helicopter. A man with dark hair stepped onto the side, and called to them. "That's right. You'll have a hard time disarming that one! It'll blow the second some stupid jerk touches it!"
Tifa pleaded with him futily, "Please!! Stop it!!"
The man began laughing cruelly, instantly pissing off all three rebels. "Only a ShinRa Executive can set up or disarm the Emergency Plate Release System."
For the first time, Cloud noticed that he was a Turk; the blue suit was unmistakable. He squinted to get a better look at his face and he realized it was Tseng; the leader of the Turks.
Barett interrupted the other man's train of thought loudly. "Shut yer fuckin' mouth!!" He opened fire on the chopper. Tseng remained calm and mocking the entire time.
" I wouldn't try that if I were you... You just might make me injure our special guest."
Cloud watched in unspoken horror as he noticed Aeris being held inside the helicopter. "Aeris!!" He and Tifa shouted in unison.
Aeris looked down on the three of them, and started to struggle against the guards. She managed to break free long enough to run onto the side. Tseng suddenly reached out and grabbed her neck roughly, causing her to stop dead in her tracks. Tifa shouted her name again, but Tseng cut her off with his laughing. "Oh! You all know each other? How nice you could see each other one last time. You should thank me!"
Cloud ran forward, desperate to save Aeris... "What are you gonna do to her!?" He shouted, utterly infuriated
He shrugged his shoulders. "My orders were to capture the last remaining Ancient.... It's taken a very long time, but now I can finally report this to the President."
Aeris began to struggle again and Tseng half released her throat. "Tifa!" She choked, tears filling her eyes from the pain in her neck and her own helplessness. "Don't worry!! She's all right!!"
Tseng snarled and suddenly slapped Aeris roughly. She fell to the ground sobbing, and she heard her friends shout her name.
The leader of the Turks laughed some more as the helicopter moved upwards and out of sight. Above them there was a massive explosion that sent bits of burning steel and concrete crashing down on the platform and the slums below.
"The plate's coming down!!" Tifa shouted, the sheer amount of fear in her voice was enough to make Cloud wince and bite down on his own terror for her sake.
"We gotta do something.... like NOW!!" He dodged out of the way of a flaming piece of concrete that was about the size of a small truck. They felt the entire structure shudder beneath their feet and the deafening whine of steel being warped from heat.
"Yo!" Barett yelled from the other end of the platform. "Get over here! We can use this wire!"
Cloud threw Tifa the most convincing look of comfort he could muster, given the circumstances. "It'll be okay..." He added a moment later as they ran up to Barett.
Barett hopped onto the railing and grabbed a thick cable in his good hand. Tifa nodded silently to Cloud as she climbed in front of the bigger man and latched onto his other arm. As quick as he could the Ex-SOLDIER clambered onto Barett's shoulders. Cloud knew that Barett was insanely strong but he still wondered how long he could hold himself and two other adults completely on his own strength. He couldn't help but close his eyes after the bigger man leaned back the jumped forward.
The deafening roar was heard seconds after as the Pillar and the Plate came crashing down, killing countless innocents.
Several kilometers away... another person witnessed the destruction of Sector 7 and the plate above it. But unlike anyone else in Midgar, he was the one who had ordered it to happen.
The President smirked again and turned to finish some paperwork that was waiting for him at his oversized desk.
Cloud looked at Aeris for a moment. She had been kind enough to help him, an armed stranger, rescue his best friend from a dirty old man that could've done something awful to her, and now he was asking her to fight with them against the ShinRa? 'What kind of jerk am I?' He thought. "Aeris," She looked at him quizzically, "I got you into all this, so you don't have to-"
She shook her head. "Don't tell me to go home." There were a lot of people in danger right now, and she wasn't going to just let Cloud and Tifa handle it.
Tifa smiled warmly at the new ally and motioned to the junkyard. "If we can get past these old trains, we'll be at the foot of the pillar."
A short time later, Cloud jumped off the last train car and sprinted down the alleyway. He hoped there was still time left. He could hear Tifa's footfalls behind him, and the Aeris' behind her. He broke through another alleyway and was standing at the foot of the massive pillar. Several people were standing at the bottom and looking up with awe.
Tifa ran up behind him. "We made it! The pillar's still standing!
A noise suddenly caught Cloud's ears. "Wait, what's that sound? Above us!"
Aeris looked up and fidgeted anxiously, "Gun fire?"
The three of them strained, but after a moment they were able to make out flashes of light and sound from twenty-some stories above. Cloud strained to make out what the movement was at the very top, but it was too late. A figure slipped over the edge and was falling towards them. It slammed into a few railings before plummeting to the ground before them. It was Wedge's battered and bloody body.
Cloud kneeled at his side instantly. "Wedge! You all right??"
The fat man's eyes were closed and blood began to trickle from his mouth. "Cloud..." He whispered barely audible.
'Dammit' Cloud thought, they might be too late after all. He knew Wedge was a goner, but where was Biggs, Jessie, and Barett?
"Cloud... You remembered my name..." He rasped, "Barett's up top... help him." He coughed and a spurt of blood rolled down his cheek, his eyes still closed. "An' .... Sorry"
Tifa's tears welled up, she couldn't believe it. She'd known Wedge for almost three years... and now...
Standing next to her was Aeris, who was openly crying but doing what she could to stop it. She was about to comfort Tifa when Cloud stood up abruptly and unsheathed his sword. "I'm going up!" He jogged to the tower stairs and starts climbing.
"Aeris," Tifa started wiping her face. "Get everybody out of Sector 7, and could you do me a favor?"
The flower girl nodded.
"I have a bar around that corner. There's a little girl named Marlene there..."
Aeris smiled. "Don't worry, I'll put her somewhere safe."
Tifa smiled hopefully and sprinted up the tower in hopes of catching up with Cloud. She prayed that there was still time.
"Don't worry!" Aeris called after her, "You let me handle this." She looked over to the bystanders looking up at the pillar in awe and disbelief. "It's dangerous here! Get out of Sector 7! The pillar's going to break!"
A few people looked at her fearfully as the rest took off, and she smiled slightly, happy that they had listened to her. She glanced up at the figure of Tifa on the tower, and she ran around the corner hoping to find the bar Tifa was talking about.
As she made it around the bend, a few little houses and buildings came into view, but only one of them looked distinctly like a bar. She ran toward it. A rickety old sign hanging above the door reading: "Tifa's Seventh Heaven" confirmed her idea.
Aeris opened the door and began calling the girl's name. "Marlene? Marlene!! I'm a friend of Tifa! Please come out! It's dangerous here! Marlene?"
After a few seconds, a little girl with dark brown hair emerged from behind the bar, clinging to a stuffed rabbit. "C'mon Marlene. I won't hurt you."
Marlene looked at her and stood up, wiping her eyes. "You know Tifa?" She squeaked.
Aeris smiled again. "Yes. Now c'mon, we have to get you out of here." The little girl nodded, and the flower girl scooped her up and ran out the door.
"Do you know my daddy?"
Aeris looked down at the girl, a bit confused. "Hmm?"
"Do you know my daddy? He's Tifa's friend, too. And Cloud's. Except they fight a lot." She clung to Aeris jacket. "He went to fight at the pillar."
Aeris' heart suddenly dropped, she hoped that Marlene wasn't referring to the man that had died at Cloud's feet. "What does your daddy look like?" She figured talking to her was the best thing to keep them both calm.
"Well, he's big and strong and has really dark skin with a gun on his arm."
Aeris smiled, happy that she hadn't described Wedge. "I'm sure he's fine. Does your dad fight a lot?"
Marlene smiled. "Only the bad guys."
Aeris passed through the alleyway that led out of Sector 7. 'Good, I can take her back home so Mom can help me...'
~~~
Cloud sprinted up the steps as quickly as he could, somewhere behind him, he could hear Tifa, but he didn't care. He leaned into a turn and ran right into the crumpled form of Biggs draped over the railing. Tifa came to a stop behind him.
He was still alive, but barely. He looked the Ex-SOLDIER with clouded eyes. "So... you don't care... what happens... the planet?"
Cloud shook his head, ignoring his question. Even though Cloud had seen many people killed before his eyes, and even though he had killed before, it really put him back into perspective when someone as young and selfless as Biggs was dying.
Cloud put his hand on the younger man's shoulder to help him up, or at least put him in a more comfortable position. "You're wounded badly...." It was the only thing he could force out of his mouth. The arrogant and egotistical front he had created prompted him to say that he didn't care about the planet, but it was his own young pride that forced him to stay silent now, even as Tifa bit off a choked sob.
Biggs remained focused on Cloud, and with as much sincerity as he could muster he tried to speak again. "T-thanks." He shuddered involuntarily. "Forget about me... Barett's at the top, and he needs help..." He was silent.
Tifa tried as hard as she could to keep herself from crying, but it wasn't working. She watched, in desperation, as one of her best friends was dying at her feet. Just like Wedge had... 'Jessie!' She thought suddenly, and raced the stairs after Cloud.
The mercenary turned a corner in the stairs and nearly trampled Jessie, who was lying on the cold metal, completely inert. "Jessie?" He propped her up, shaking her slightly, afraid he might injure her further.
She slowly opened her eyes, and smiled faintly. " ...Cloud... I'm glad I could... talk to you, one... last time"
"Jessie..." He and Tifa mumbled in unison.
She feebly shook her head. "Many people were killed... in our bombing runs... this is my p-punishment.... And I will face it-" She coughed violently for a moment, and a few splatters of blood fell to her stained and torn shirt. "Without regrets...."
She lay silent. Cloud listened for a tense moment and was immensely relieved to find that she was still breathing. He leaned her up against the wall very carefully, but when he pulled away his hands, all he could do was stare at them. They were covered in blood. The blood of a nineteen-year-old girl who fought for what she believed in... and now she was dying... on a cold metal staircase in the middle of Midgar's slums...
He shook his head, trying to physically clear away all his thoughts of regrets. He briefly locked eyes with Tifa before he jumped up on the staircase again.
Cloud bolted up the stairs as fast as his legs could carry him. He briefly wished he was a little taller, so he could jump more stairs at once, but the thought quickly vanished as he turned a corner and saw Barett, grinding his teeth as he fired endless bullets into some Robo-guards that were scaling the tower. One came up behind him and drew it's weapon, but before he had a chance to inflict pain on the unsuspecting man, Tifa shot a fire ball at it that disintegrated it on contact. The noise caused Barett to turn around.
"Tifa! Cloud!" He shouted, obviously relieved, "You came!" They both ran over to him in hopes of taking out the rest of the guards. "Be careful," he warned. "They're faster and stronger than the ones we fought in the reactor."
Just as the battle got underway, a helicopter roared overhead, and a figure in blue jumped out and landed before them with a thud. As he stood up, it was Reno, Cloud realized with a sudden drop to his stomach. The red-haired Turk ran over and set a mechanism on the side of the pillar, and mashed a few buttons. Cloud sprinted over with his sword brandished, but Reno still had time to be cocky. "You're too late. Once I push this button..." He jabbed a little red button and it beeped in response. "That's all folks," he grinned. "Mission accomplished."
Tifa ran over and began to pound on the buttons. "We have to disarm it!!" She pleaded in a panic. "Cloud! Barett! Please!!"
Reno suddenly grabbed Tifa's wrist and jerked her roughly from the bomb and closer to him. "I can't have you do that." His voice was eerily quiet and commanding. "No one will get in the way of me, or the rest of the Turks." He jerked her closer again, but this time he rammed his knee into her stomach, causing her to double over in pain.
Cloud was immediately at her side, while Barett charged Reno, swearing violently. The Turk, although completely over-powered by the larger man, had the advantage due to his greater speed. Barett did what he could at his short range, swinging his good fist at an impressive speed. Reno easily dodged however, since a huge man with only one good hand had only so many pattern options. He sidestepped another heavy punch from Barett, and finally went on the offensive. He grabbed the nightstick from his holster and jabbed the bigger man in the stomach. Since the blunt weapon was electrified, Barett was knocked to the ground instantly, nearly unconscious. Reno smirked again, and was about to finish him off, when Cloud suddenly appeared out of nowhere and swung his sword with all the strength he could muster.
Reno only felt his torso suddenly grow hot and he knew immediately that he had been hit, and the wound was incredibly deep. He frowned severely when he suddenly remembered that he had only brought a low-level healing materia with him. Quickly he cast the curing spell and decided it was time to go. He sprinted off to his right, but Tifa was waiting for him and unleashed a lightning fast barrage of punches. All of which, hit their mark.
By this time, Reno knew that he was pretty much out of luck. He wiped a bit of blood off his cheek, smearing it in the process, as he stood up straight. He grinned sadistically at Tifa, even as she still stood in her fighting stance. "Sorry, babe." He said, still smiling evilly. "I promise I'll finish my fight with you next time." He finished his statement by vaulting over the side of the railing, completely disappearing from sight.
Cloud shook his head, but then looked up urgently. "The bomb!"
Tifa paled and ran over and tried to disarm it again. "I don't know how to stop it!" She called to the other two men. "Try it!"
Cloud was already on his way over. As he examined the circuitry he moaned in despair. "This isn't a normal bomb...."
She was about to reply when a sudden roaring overhead caused the three members to look up. It was a ShinRa military helicopter. A man with dark hair stepped onto the side, and called to them. "That's right. You'll have a hard time disarming that one! It'll blow the second some stupid jerk touches it!"
Tifa pleaded with him futily, "Please!! Stop it!!"
The man began laughing cruelly, instantly pissing off all three rebels. "Only a ShinRa Executive can set up or disarm the Emergency Plate Release System."
For the first time, Cloud noticed that he was a Turk; the blue suit was unmistakable. He squinted to get a better look at his face and he realized it was Tseng; the leader of the Turks.
Barett interrupted the other man's train of thought loudly. "Shut yer fuckin' mouth!!" He opened fire on the chopper. Tseng remained calm and mocking the entire time.
" I wouldn't try that if I were you... You just might make me injure our special guest."
Cloud watched in unspoken horror as he noticed Aeris being held inside the helicopter. "Aeris!!" He and Tifa shouted in unison.
Aeris looked down on the three of them, and started to struggle against the guards. She managed to break free long enough to run onto the side. Tseng suddenly reached out and grabbed her neck roughly, causing her to stop dead in her tracks. Tifa shouted her name again, but Tseng cut her off with his laughing. "Oh! You all know each other? How nice you could see each other one last time. You should thank me!"
Cloud ran forward, desperate to save Aeris... "What are you gonna do to her!?" He shouted, utterly infuriated
He shrugged his shoulders. "My orders were to capture the last remaining Ancient.... It's taken a very long time, but now I can finally report this to the President."
Aeris began to struggle again and Tseng half released her throat. "Tifa!" She choked, tears filling her eyes from the pain in her neck and her own helplessness. "Don't worry!! She's all right!!"
Tseng snarled and suddenly slapped Aeris roughly. She fell to the ground sobbing, and she heard her friends shout her name.
The leader of the Turks laughed some more as the helicopter moved upwards and out of sight. Above them there was a massive explosion that sent bits of burning steel and concrete crashing down on the platform and the slums below.
"The plate's coming down!!" Tifa shouted, the sheer amount of fear in her voice was enough to make Cloud wince and bite down on his own terror for her sake.
"We gotta do something.... like NOW!!" He dodged out of the way of a flaming piece of concrete that was about the size of a small truck. They felt the entire structure shudder beneath their feet and the deafening whine of steel being warped from heat.
"Yo!" Barett yelled from the other end of the platform. "Get over here! We can use this wire!"
Cloud threw Tifa the most convincing look of comfort he could muster, given the circumstances. "It'll be okay..." He added a moment later as they ran up to Barett.
Barett hopped onto the railing and grabbed a thick cable in his good hand. Tifa nodded silently to Cloud as she climbed in front of the bigger man and latched onto his other arm. As quick as he could the Ex-SOLDIER clambered onto Barett's shoulders. Cloud knew that Barett was insanely strong but he still wondered how long he could hold himself and two other adults completely on his own strength. He couldn't help but close his eyes after the bigger man leaned back the jumped forward.
The deafening roar was heard seconds after as the Pillar and the Plate came crashing down, killing countless innocents.
Several kilometers away... another person witnessed the destruction of Sector 7 and the plate above it. But unlike anyone else in Midgar, he was the one who had ordered it to happen.
The President smirked again and turned to finish some paperwork that was waiting for him at his oversized desk.