"This is . . . unlike anything I've ever seen before." Renmaru was quite simply flabbergasted by the Mideel nightlife. In the years after Meteor, Mideel had made a remarkable comeback. Despite the loss of it's hotsprings and the upwelling of Mako, it had regained it's reputation as a spa town, offering a variety of treatments all "Within the salubrious, health-promoting, enviroment provided by the Lifestream". The Nahuel were dubious about the grammar of the catchphrase, but astonished at the bustling jungle that surrounded Mideel and lended credibility to the advertisement.
"Heh, if you think this is great, we've got to get you to the Golden Saucer someday." Reno stuck a cigarette in his mouth and reached into his pocket to retrieve his lighter. Elena quickly snatched the cigarette away and threw it out. "Aw, Elena!"
Cait Sith quickly overrode the beginning argument. "It may be hard to get access to the Mako spring, the Mideelians? the Mideelans? Anyway, they've fenced the spring in, to prevent any tourists from falling or jumping in." Tifa looked at him, puzzled. "Why would anyone want to jump in?"
Cait Sith's joints couldn't produce a shrug, but he tried anyway. "Some people think if the nearness of the Lifestream could do them good, then immersing themselves in it would be even better. Anyway, the point is the we won't access the spring as easily as we did the first time." Elena frowned. "Do you know if the springs are guarded at night?"
"No idea. But they do take tours during the day, so we probably have a better chance now. Or we could spend a day here, take some time to take notes on everything, and do this tomorrow."
"A good idea." Cloud took over again. "We'll go back to the Airship tonight, make up a plan, then tackle this tomorrow."
"Ahem." Everyone jumped, apparently they had forgotten Vincent was with them. "If we do that, we won't ever find out if there are any guards, or thier schedules." Cloud let out a sigh, frustrated. "Okay, then, do you have a plan?", clearly expecting the ex-Turk to back down.
"Yes. Two or three people should stay behind, to keep watch on this place while the rest of you go back to the Airship. We'll give you the schedule tomorrow, and in your planning sessions tonight leave one slot open, so that one of us can guide the others."
"We?"
"Myself, Rude and . . . " a quick glance between Elena and Reno. "Elena."
"Wait a minute, she's the rookie-"
"I don't think-"
"Don't argue with me." Vincent didn't bother raising his voice, but both Reno and Cloud shut up.
"I think we can safely say both Nanaki and myself are out."
"Oh?" Cait Sith hopped over and peered and Maiara. "And why's that?" Maiara held up her paws. "No hands. No way to carry a First-Aid kit, no way to help carry someone if we need to get to a hospital fast."
"Me. Tifa. Elena and Vincent."
"What?" Cloud looked ready to take out his building temper on Renmaru.
"Tifa, Elena and Vincent are not only ready for stealth, but thier fighting styles mean they can carry First-Aid materials without needing to burden themselves with weapons. And they have to take me, I'm the only one who can use the Crystal Materia."
"But still-"
"There's no way we could sneak your hair past any of the guards, let alone that huge sword your carrying."
In the end, Renmaru's plan had won out, though Cloud had raised strenuous objections. They had added Rude, though, to the number of infiltrators, just in case something went wrong. Like Renmaru had asked, none of them carried any weapons, only items needed in case the resurectees were in bad shape, but they had divided thier Materia between Attacks and Healing. Getting in had been easier than they expected, there were only two guards and they were very lax, indeed one was quite clearly snoring.
"Well this is it." Renmaru unwrapped the Crystal Materia and knelt by the spring. Although the light was dim, Tifa could just make out the look of excitement on his face and his eyes were also faintly . . . sparkling? Yes, not enough to really attract attention and if she had been any farther it would have been lost in the glow from the Mako, but just a faint bit of gold seem to glitter in the purple eyes. Tifa noted to herself to tell this to Nanaki and Maiara, they would undoubtly find this fascinating. "I just hope I can pull this off."
He looked deep into the materia and seemed to go into a trance. He started chanting softly and the others strained to hear him. It almost felt that if they just listened closely enough, they would understand the words he was saying, but thier meanings still tickled just beyond thier comprehension. A deep glow began to emenate from the materia, pulsing stronger and stronger. It was hypnotic, almost like a heartbeat. Tifa felt herself beginning to be drawn in, when suddenly the materai flashed bright as a supernova and Renmaru cried out. Something seemed to bubble up from the spring and Rude started up, and went as close to it as he dared.
Tifa snapped back to herself and quickly reached out to the young man, who appeared to have fainted. After making sure he hadn't hit his head and was still alive and breathing, she looked at the others. Whatever was in the lake had drifted to the shore and Rude had pulled it out. Tifa could make out that it was two bodies, but she wasn't sure who or what. "That's enough for tonight." Vincent murmured. "Whatever happened now took a lot out of him. Let's get him and whatever Rude just recovered back to the Airship, so we can get them the treatment they need." With that he carefully picked up Renmaru and made his way back to the gap where they had entered. Tifa leaned down and picked up the Crystal Materia. To her surprise the glow she had seen earlier was completely gone, and the orb now looked dead.