Heartless Imperfection

Chapter IX

Sora sat near the cockpit window, thinking to himself. Cloud directed Donald while Goofy made comments on his driving. "You drive as bad as Sora," He chuckled, giving Sora a playful slap on his back. The boy smiled briefly, and turned to the window.

All he could see through the fog and smog was the faint light of a Mako Reactor not too far away. On the way to the biggest building in Midgar, Cloud explained some of the matter-of-fact things about Midgar. "Mako energy is harvested, via the Reactors. They're sucking the Planet's energy at an exceedingly alarming rate. Did you ever wonder why the plains all around Midgar are so desolate?" The thought left Sora shivering.

The Gummi Ship was set down on the front door of the Shin-Ra Headquarters building. The group stepped off. The ragtag group looked quite amusing at first glance. Two non-humans, a fifteen-year old boy, a grown man with a big sword, an attractive lady with fists of fury, and a large man with a machine gun grafted to his arm.

Barret motioned toward Cloud, "Hey, you oughta know this building well."

Cloud shook his head, "...Not really, now that I think about it, this's the first time I've ever been to the Headquarters."

Barret shrugged, "I heard about this place before. Every floor above the 60th is special and not easy to get to even for employees," He paused to think, "Must be where they took Aerith. The security's pretty light now. Awright, let's go!" The dark-skinned man started to run toward the building.

Tifa calls out, "Wait a second! You're not thinking of just going right through the main entrance, are you?"

Barret stopped and promptly turned to her, "Well what else does it look like!? I'm gonna kick some Shinra butt, and…"

Tifa shook her head and placed her gloved hands on her curvy hips, "That's not going to work! We've got to find another way..."

Barret snorted, "Ain't gonna be no other way! If we keep wastin' time like this, Aerith'll..."

Sora looked at Cloud, "I think we can make it if we went quietly, faster than getting held up by security, at least." His blue eyes scanned the man's expressionless face.

Cloud adjusted his shoulder guard, a metallic, spiked arm covering, "We'll do it Tifa's way, follow me."