Debris began to wash along the narrow beach in front of waterfall cave. Yuffie drifted in along with the remains of a storage drum. A black leather boot carefully poked at her shoulder. She didn't stir. Elena looked up at Rude and Reno and shook her head.
"They've got to come up sometime," said Reno leisurely.
"Unless they drowned," suggested Rude scratching his face. Reno chuckled.
"Well it serves them right if they did," he said.
"Look with your eyes not your mouths!" ordered Elena testily as she turned over a piece of armor plating. Cid washed ashore further along the beach. He sputtered and got unsteadily got to his feet. Rude spotted him and a green glow emanated from his body. Ice spikes shot up from the sand under Cid's feet and shattered, knocking him down. He feebly stirred. Reno walked over and ground his heel onto Cid's hand.
"Where is he?" demanded Reno bluntly.
"Hey, lay off asshole!" snarled Cid. Reno extended the electroshock rod and jammed it into Cid's neck. Electricity arced through Cid's body as he howled in pain. Smoke drifted up from his clothes. Reno smirked gleefully.
"Reno," said Elena sternly.
"He'll live," replied Reno casually.
"Guys," warned Rude. They followed his gaze to the man in red rising out of the water as he slowly made his way to shore. In his arms was a girl whose appearance stabbed their memory like a knife wound.
"What the hell?" said Reno, his weapon nearly falling free of his grasp. Vincent waded onto the beach and gently lay the girl down next to Yuffie. He then removed the Death Penalty from its holster.
"I don't believe it," breathed Elena. They exchanged stupefied glances.
"It's the flower girl," said Rude incredulously.
"No, really?" echoed Reno sarcastically.
"But how?" asked Rude shaking his head.
"Ask your President," suggested Vincent solemnly.
"What is she?" asked Elena.
"Yuffie calls her Pandora," he said, "Beyond that I don't know."
"No more fortune cookie speeches," snapped Reno impatiently, "Tell us the truth!"
"Reno, do you believe that if one evil perpetuates another, it can do some good?" asked Vincent. Reno sighed angrily, but actually considered it for a moment.
"Yeah I guess so," he said.
"Then she is the second evil," said Vincent indicating Pandora with a claw.
"Who's the first?" asked Elena.
"I am," he replied evenly.
"But Shinra made you what you are, didn't it?" asked Rude.
"Shinra brought out what was always there," replied Vincent enigmatically.
"Remind me why we are discussing this," groused Reno.
"I thought you wanted to know the truth," retorted Elena with a hand on her hip.
"Yeah but this isn't a social occasion," said Reno tapping the electroshock rod against his shoulder.
"We're going to have to take you down Boss," said Rude adjusting his sunglasses.
"Just get it over with," stated Vincent flatly. Reno ran forward and zapped Vincent with the electroshock rod. Vincent leveled his gun and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. Reno smirked until Vincent socked him in the jaw with a metal fist. Reno fell backwards in the sand as Elena cast causing a spurt of flames to erupt under his feet. Rude body slammed Vincent, driving him back into the water. Reno stood up wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Payback time!" he yelled as he smacked Vincent across the face with his electroshock rod.
"Reno," said Elena, getting worried.
"Don't kill him," said Rude.
"You think he can die?" snorted Reno, "He's worse than a cockroach!" As he said that Vincent reached up and grasped his weapon. Reno looked down at him in surprise.
"Please Reno," implored Vincent, looking past him longingly into the cave near the waterfall. He was so agonizingly close.
"Screw you!" snapped Reno as he switched on the electricity again. Vincent trembled and began glowing red. His muscles bulged grotesquely as he grew taller. The Turks saw a strange pale monster covered with rags and a pair of red beady eyes peering from behind a metallic mask. It fired up the chainsaw in its grip and cackled maniacally.
"You idiot, you made him berserk!" chided Elena.
"Shut up and help me!" countered Reno. The Hellmasker lunged forward and brought its chainsaw down on Reno. He held up his weapon to parry and it broke it half, electricity dancing off the broken ends. The monster grabbed Reno by the collar and flung him bodily over Elena and Rude.
"Well that was inevitable," said Rude as they heard him rebound off a rocky wall behind them. Elena unpinned a grenade and threw it at the Hellmasker's feet, where it detonated, knocking it in the air. Pandora's eyes fluttered open. She sat up and looked up at the monster looming over her.
"Vincent?" she asked uncertainly. The Hellmasker turned and swung its chainsaw down at her. She held her hands over her head and closed her eyes. When the blow didn't land, she slowly opened her eyes and saw Rude wrestling with the monster.
"Run for it flower lady!" he yelled. Pandora got up and slowly walked towards them.
"Get away!" commanded Elena, with another grenade at the ready.
The Hellmasker knocked Rude down as she grasped its other arm.
"Vincent!" said Pandora plaintively as she clutched fearfully to its arm. The monster snarled and tried to knock her off. She began to glow a strange pale green. Rude was back to his feet by then.
"Lady, you have to…," he began but trailed off at the sight. The Hellmasker screeched and dropped the chainsaw into the sand. It wrapped its powerful arms around her body, smoke rising from where it touched her. Pandora began to choke as its vice like grip became crushing. It glowed with a red aura and began to shrivel. When the glow faded Vincent stood there embracing her.
"Vincent," said Pandora breathlessly.
"Pandora?" said Vincent loosing his grip, "What have I done?" He fainted and went limp in her arms. Reno staggered over to join Rude and Elena.
"What happened?" he asked as he rubbed his shoulder.
"I have no idea," admitted Elena.
A solitary man lay on a rocky outcropping overlooking the Highwind as it finished loading its passengers. Cloud lowered the binoculars with a frown at it fired up the turbines and rocketed off to the northwest. He climbed down the slope leading to a sheltered valley where Tifa and the golden chocobo sat waiting.
"Looks like they're heading for Rocket Town," he said.
"Did you see them?" asked Tifa with concern. He nodded slowly.
"Did you see her?" she prompted. He sighed and sat on a rock. Tifa hesitated for a moment and sat next to him.
"I thought I'd give anything to see her one more time," said Cloud unable to hide the strain in his voice, "But now I'm more afraid than anything else."
"What are you afraid of?" asked Tifa putting her hand on top of his. Cloud shook his head.
"I'm afraid of her, of me, of Vincent," he said, "Of what may happen to us."
"Must it really end like that?" asked Tifa crossing her legs, "We've been through so much."
"I'm sorry to put you through this," Cloud said sadly. She closed her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Just promise me one thing," she asked.
"What is it?" he said, although he could already guess.
"Just don't leave me alone again," she whispered. He squeezed her hand.
"I promise," he said.
Aboard the Highwind, Vincent watched the waterfall slowly recede in the distance through a porthole. He tried to strain for a better view but the shackles around his arms legs and neck pinned him in place against the wall. With a deep sigh, he cursed himself for his foolishness. He had been careless where Lucrecia was concerned. She had told him many times that he was too sentimental for someone in his line of work, which had proved to be prophetic. Maybe that was why she had chosen Hojo in the end; his brilliance was untainted by inconvenient emotions like love or guilt. Still, something didn't fit.
He had wanted to free Lucrecia of not just confinement, but purposelessness. But he had underestimated Pandora's role in this. Somehow she was able to bring him back from the dark brink of madness he always teetered on. But then he had hurt her. With a chill he understood that part of him had wanted to hurt her. He clenched his claws tightly into a fist as he realized that to save the woman he loved would mean sacrificing himself and the girl.
Pandora stood at the window in the cockpit with her face pressed against the glass.
"We're going so fast!" she said in amazement.
"Yeah, how about that?" asked Reno as he lit a cigarette. Elena and Rude exchanged glances. Rude took Pandora by the elbow and led her down the staircase to a large door that led into a room with a long table surrounded by swivel chairs. He gestured to a seat at the head of the table and she sat down. Elena and Reno entered the room right behind them. Reno lounged against a wall as Elena leaned across the table.
"What happened back there?" she asked as pleasantly as she could.
"What do you mean?" inquired Pandora innocently.
"What happened with Vincent," clarified Rude, "That was incredible."
"I don't know," said Pandora, "Where is he?"
"We're letting him cool off a little," said Reno as he took a drag on his cigarette.
"Never mind him," said Elena, "Just tell us what he's planning." Pandora looked at her blankly. Elena sighed and paced angrily across the carpet. Reno walked over and sat on the table near Pandora.
"Look, I'm sorry about the flowerbed, okay?" he said not daring to look her in the eyes.
"We were just doing our job," added Rude. Pandora blinked at them blankly.
"Sector 5," prompted Reno. Elena put her hands on her hips.
"Are you two done?" she asked impatiently. They exchanged a guilty look. Reno stood up and returned to his spot against the wall.
"We'll sort this out when we get back to Midgar," said Elena, "Meanwhile, let's pay a visit to our friends in Rocket Town."
The Highwind came up upon a small village near the seashore. The earth toned cottages had gabled roofs and were surrounded by picket fences. On the outskirts was a giant launch pad surrounded by tall metal scaffolding. People came out of their houses to peer up at the airship hovering gracefully overhead. A woman in a long white coat ran out of the house near the launch pad, her auburn hair tied back in a ponytail. She covered her brown eyes with a hand and smiled.
"Welcome home Captain," she said cheerfully. The villagers watched the Highwind slowly settle down in a grassy field near the weapon shop. The loading ramp swung down and Cid emerged, followed by Yuffie and the Turks. Her smile vanished when she saw their expressions. She ran up to Cid.
"Captain, what's wrong?" she asked. Cid looked away.
"Shera, just go inside and make some tea, okay?" he muttered. She glanced at the blank expressions on the Turks and then to Yuffie, who looked annoyed.
"Tea would be good," said Elena. Shera nodded and returned to the house. They all followed her inside. The house was small but cozy, filled with a long sink and stove by the northern window, a table with four chairs, and doorways leading to a bathroom, den and garage. Cid slumped in a chair by the kitchen table. Yuffie slowly sat next to him. Shera ran over to the sink and began filling a kettle with water from the tap.
"What blend would you like?" she asked pleasantly. Cid hit his fist on the tabletop.
"Damn it woman, it doesn't matter what blend!" he snapped.
"You got any coffee?" asked Reno. Shera nodded and put the kettle on the stove. She then returned to sink and began scooping coffee grounds out of a tin and putting it in a small metal coffeepot.
"Understand our position here," began Elena, "We don't want you causing any…interference." Cid and Yuffie looked at each other.
"Yeah, but…," suggested Yuffie.
"The President doesn't want your deaths on his conscience," she continued, "So he's decided to keep both of you here under house arrest."
"House arrest?" said Cid, "That's ridiculous!"
"It's better than the alternative," said Reno with a smirk.
"If either of set one of you foot out of this house, we are authorized to use any methods to stop you next time," stated Elena.
"Sounds like ol' Reeve is getting soft," said Cid resting his chin on a hand.
"It's lucky for you if he is," said Rude.
"Personally I hope you try something," said Reno as Shera handed him a mug. He sipped it but winced at the blisteringly hot coffee. Shera served tea to everyone else. Elena folded her arms across her chest.
"Is that perfectly clear?" she asked. Cid nodded morosely and Yuffie sulked. Rude sipped his mug.
"Nice tea," he said.
"Thank you," said Shera looking a little afraid. The Turks drained their cups and walked out the door. Shera walked over to the window and peered outside. She saw six soldiers in blue uniforms march up and surround the house, their rifles by their sides. The Highwind levitated and blasted off toward the east.
"What happened?" she breathed.
"Don't ask," said Cid sipping his tea moodily. Shera leaned over in front of him and smiled.
"What?" he asked self-consciously.
"Nothing," she said as she planted a kiss on his cheek, "I'm just glad you're back, Captain." As she turned back to stove Cid glared at Yuffie.
"Wipe that look off your face kiddo," he warned.
"Aw, I think its sweet Jichan," she said with a grin. Cid slumped in the chair and put his boots up on the table.
As the moon rose over the sleeping town Cid walked past the cot where Yuffie was sleeping and into the garage. An open two seated green car sat there bathed in the moon glow. Long chrome pipes protruded from the engine block and ran along the sides to the back where they ended in large exhaust vents. He pulled a wrench from a tool rack and began tightening the joints on the engine block.
"Couldn't sleep?" asked Shera as she peered in. Cid walked around to the other side of the car.
"Yeah I got a lot on my mind," he said eventually. She took a seat on a stool in front of the workbench. He adjusted a rubber hose and then glanced up at her.
"What?" he asked. She smiled and shook her head. He sighed and climbed into the driver's seat, resting his hands on the steering wheel. Shera climbed into the passenger seat next to him.
"It seemed like such a sweet deal," he said after a long pause, "Reeve takes over Shinra, he wants to hire Vincent and me, and everything will be different this time."
"And what happened?" she asked.
"Aeris," he said with a sigh. Shera gasped.
"Well maybe she's not Aeris, but Shinra needs her for some scheme," he said, "All I know is Vincent doubled crossed them, but he was going to use her for his own scheme."
"Do you know what the schemes were?" she inquired. Cid shook his head.
"Maybe it's just as well," he said.
"Do you really believe that Captain?" asked Shera. Cid didn't answer. They sat together in the car silently. Suddenly they heard a loud thump outside. Shera turned to Cid, but he held a finger to his lips. He climbed out of the car to the tool rack and took down a long elaborately carved spear from a high shelf. As he snuck into the kitchen he saw a darkened form sneaking around the table. Cid flicked on the light switch.
"Yaah!"
Yuffie stood there with a razor sharp folded origami crane in her hand, ready to strike.
"What the hell are you doing?" demanded Cid.
"I heard a noise outside Jichan," she said. At that moment they heard another loud thump. They both turned toward the front door. The back door behind them burst open and they whirled around and leveled their weapons at Cloud.
"Whoa!" he said, holding up his hands, "I'm here to bust you guys out!"
"Bust us out?" asked Cid incredulously. Tifa entered through the front door.
"Would you like some tea?" asked Shera sweetly.
"Damn it Shera, screw the tea!" snapped Cid.
"How do you put up with him?" Tifa said to Shera.
"Oh, deep down, he's really a sweet man," she replied, looking embarrassed. Cid rolled his eyes.
"Alright, cut to the chase Strife," said Cid, "What do you want?" Cloud's haunted expression answered that question for him. Cid sighed deeply.
"They're taking her back to Midgar," he said.
"Alright, that's where we're going then," said Cloud.
"Have fun kids," said Cid dropping into a chair.
"I'll go," said Yuffie firmly, "But I want to save Vincent-san as well."
"I'm not even sure he can save himself," remarked Cloud.
"How about you Cid?" asked Tifa.
"I've had enough fun for one night," he said grimly.
"That's your choice," said Cloud, "Now we need to find the fastest way back to Midgar."
"We have an ocean chocobo, but it's can't hold all of us," added Tifa.
"Why not use the Tiny Bronco," suggested Shera.
"Shera!" said Cid, turning in his chair.
"The Captain has been fixing it up in his spare time," she continued, "Although the engine may need a little fine tuning." Cid got to his feet.
"Shera, you don't mean that!" he protested, "Last time they totally trashed it!" Shera smiled sweetly and retrieved a small ceramic jar from the cupboard. She fished out a long thin key on a chain and dropped it in Cloud's hand.
"This is the ignition key, twist it counterclockwise to start," she explained.
"Alright, thanks," said Cloud.
"Keep your damn mitts off my plane!" yelled Cid, snatching the key from Cloud, "I'm the only one who pilots it!"
"Alright, then you fly it," suggested Tifa.
"If you don't want to go, we'll just steal it," added Yuffie gleefully.
"I…," began Cid, but he stopped in mid sentence. Defeated, he yanked his coat off a hook and put it on.
"Be safe Captain," said Shera.
"Have some tea ready when I get back," he said as he left through the back door. The others followed him out. After they were gone, Shera sat at the table and buried her head in her arms.
Cid led them past the unconscious guards around the large metal scaffolding that remained after the spectacular rocket launch. On the far side they saw a canvas tarp that was staked to the ground covering a large object. Cid lit a cigarette and began uncovering the plane. It was long and red, with metallic blue trim. A single fuselage on two stubby pontoons with wheels as twin wings that sloped downward extended from either side. A propeller extended from the tip of each wing while the tail fins were attached to a pair of long delicate struts. Cid pulled the chocks away from the wheels and climbed into the cockpit. He inserted the key and turned it.
"Contact!" he yelled. They all took a few steps back as the propellers began to turn. Cloud climbed up next to Cid.
"How are we going to do this?" he yelled over the noise.
"We'll stick to low altitudes!" shouted Cid, "Get some of that rope and lash yourselves to the wings!" Tifa and Yuffie jumped on the wings and tied coils of rope around their waists and the other end to the support struts in the wings. Cloud ties his rope in a loop over a plate next to the pilot's chair. Once they were secure, Cid steered the plane towards an open field. He pushed down on the foot petals as the plane gained groundspeed. They slowly gained in altitude and the Tiny Bronco nearly clipped off some branches of a tree at the far end. Cid banked the plane and began turning east, where a faint glow of the sunrise was barely noticeable.
"Shera was right, the engine does need to be fine tuned," said Cid.
"What?" asked Cloud.
"That damn woman deserves better," he muttered, too quietly for Cloud to hear.
The Tiny Bronco cruised off into the predawn light. Toward the land of perpetual darkness that was Midgar.