Final Fantasy 7
Emerald Princess of Vernea
Chapter Three
As the explosion calmed down, Cloud and the members of AVALANCHE stood silently in a corridor, still inside the Shinra building. The force of the explosion had caused the reactor to be completely ripped apart, and a large chunk of it had fallen down in front of them, crushing part of the corridor and blocking their exit. At that moment Jessie was on her knees with a smaller, less violent bomb, and was busy encoding it beside the wreckage. The others all stood around her in silence, contemplating over the acts they had just done.
"That should keep the Planet going," Biggs said suddenly, breaking the silence. The others looked at him. "At least a little longer."
"Yeah!" Wedge said enthusiastically.
Barret crossed his arms and looked down towards the ground. "............" He muttered silently.
Cloud leaned against the wall with his own arms crossed. He made a darting glance towards Barret. The AVALANCHE leader was completely silent, and had remained so since the bomb exploded. Cloud thought at first maybe Barret was having regrets over what he had just done, but as he saw a small smile of relief cross his face, Cloud knew that he did not regret it. The explosion of the reactor would have caused a lot of damage to Shinra, and Barret seemed glad to know that.
Just then, Jessie stood up.
"Okay," she said. "Now everyone, get back!"
The group all jumped up and ran back into the corridor away from Jessie's bomb.
Moments later the bomb exploded, not as loudly or as destructively as the one that destroyed the reactor, but powerful enough to shatter the wreckage that blocked their way and revealed the exit. The doorway was now surrounded by a wall of flames made by the bomb, so the only way the group would get out of there was to jump through it.
Cloud was the first to jump out. He flipped out of the door and rolled quickly onto the ground to put out any flames that may have caught him as he jumped through. Once he was sure that there were no flames on him, he stood up and turned back.
Barret was the next to jump out of the door. Jessie and Biggs, who ran out with their arms shielding their faces from the flames, followed him closely. Wedge came out last. As he ran out he patted the back of his trousers rapidly, a line of smoke rising from them where they had caught fire. He patted the small spark of fire until it went out, and then he turned to Barret.
"All right, now let's get out of here!" Barret said suddenly. "Rendezvous at the Sector 8 station. Split up and get on the train."
Biggs, Wedge and Jessie nodded, and then turned and ran off in different directions towards the sector, continuing their separation techniques to avoid any suspicion. Barret waited until the three were out of sight before he too began to run away.
"H-Hey!" Cloud protested suddenly.
Barret stopped on the stairs near to where they stood, and looked back at Cloud.
"If it's about your money, save it 'til we're back at the hideout," he replied. The harsh tone was still in his voice as he spoke to Cloud. Even after all they had just done, Barret still did not trust Cloud. Before Cloud could protest again, Barret was off and away up the stairs towards the nearby sector, following his comrades.
Cloud waited a minute or so before he followed. He walked up the stairs that led up into the sector, and looked out at the aftermath of the explosion.
There was complete discord in the sector right then, just as Cloud expected. The explosion of the reactor had caused a panic in the city, and there were many people running around madly in fright as they wondered what had just happened to them.
Wreckage from the blown up reactor lay everywhere on the streets, and had even destroyed some of the buildings. The old theatre in the sector centre was in ruins, and everything had come to a complete stop. A giant chunk of the reactor was still lying smouldering in the sector centre, and it was here that the people were running around the most, crying out to each other as they tried to figure out what was going on.
As they looked up towards the spot where the reactor had once been, they could see that it was on fire. Clouds of smoke were billowing up into the air in giant gushes, and flames were still covering the broken cylinder. The explosion of the reactor had caused a power cut throughout the city and it was very dark indeed.
The young flower lady was still standing on the street corner beside the theatre, looking around in bewilderment as she tried to figure out what was going on around her, although she was much calmer than the rest of the citizens. A man suddenly ran into her as he ran past in a panic, and she fell back onto the floor.
As she stood up and brushed herself off, wiping away the dirt, she spotted Cloud as he walked past, trying to look casual amongst the panicked people. She quickly ran over to him.
"Excuse me," she said in a delicate voice. Cloud stopped and turned to her. "What happened?" she asked.
For a moment Cloud nearly panicked, unsure of what he should say to the woman without her arousing suspicion that he had anything to do with the explosion. As he looked into her face he felt something strangely peculiar about her. There was a strange feeling emanating from her, something he couldn't quite pinpoint. She looked very kind and gentle, and her brown eyes were very calming and almost spiritual. She seemed very innocent, and not the type of person he expected to see in a rough and run down sector such as this one.
"Nothing..." Cloud told her plainly. At that point he should have walked away, but for some reason he felt almost compelled to say something. "Hey, listen... uh..." The woman looked at him inquisitively, and Cloud rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Don't see many flowers around here," he said finally.
The woman blinked at him, confused. Then she looked down at her basket. "Oh these?" she asked. "Do you like them? They're only a gil..."
She looked at him hopefully. Cloud reached into his pocket and pulled out a two that he had kept, and passed them to the girl.
"Oh, thank you!" she said. She put the two coins in her pocket, and then took two different flowers from her basket – one pink, the other blue – and handed them over to Cloud.
"Here you are," she said, and Cloud took the flowers.
Before he could say anything else the woman was walking off. Cloud watched her as she walked away from him, still feeling that peculiar feeling about her. He did not know what that feeling was, but he was certain that there was something about that girl. He shrugged, dismissing the feeling, and continued to head through the sector towards the station.
By now the people were beginning to settle down, and the streets were a little quieter than they were a few minutes before. There were only a couple of people wandering around now, and they were no longer running in a blind panic. Even the power was beginning to return now as Shinra reconnected the power lines through another reactor, so things were gradually beginning to return to normal.
No one took any notice of Cloud as he walked along, for they were so busy wrapped up in their own affairs. As Cloud walked along, he stopped and looked up at a nearby wall that had just been lit up by a street lamp as it came back on. There was a message written on the wall in bright red spray paint, and Cloud recognised the words.
Don't be fooled by Shinra!
Mako energy doesn't last forever!
Mako is the Planet's life source!
The end is in sight!
Protectors of the Planet: AVALANCHE.
Cloud shook his head. Barret. Only Barret would write a message like that on the wall, not caring whether he was caught or not. He didn't know why Barret was so hell-bent against the Shinra Company, and, quite frankly, he didn't really care. All he cared about now was getting his pay and getting out of there. He had no other reason to stay with the rebel group now that his work was done.
Cloud left behind the painted sign and carried on down the street towards the train station where they were supposed to meet. By now the streets were completely abandoned and no one was around, as far as Cloud could see.
"Hey! You there!"
Cloud stopped in surprise, realising that he wasn't alone after all. He turned to look behind him, and saw two soldiers dressed in blue uniforms walking towards him. They each had rifles in their hands, and were advancing on Cloud slowly.
"Shinra Soldiers!" Cloud cursed. He quickly turned and ran down the street away from the soldiers.
"Halt!" one of the soldiers shouted, but Cloud continued to run.
Seeing this, the two soldiers raised their rifles and began to fire at Cloud, for they had seen him as suspicious the moment they laid eyes on him. Cloud could feel the bullets striking the ground at his feet – they weren't trying to hit him, but to make him stop. He reached the end of the street and turned sharply right to the next street.
As he turned, he quickly skidded to a stop. There were two more Shinra soldiers standing directly ahead of him, also with rifles that were aimed at him. Quickly Cloud turned around and headed the other way, and the soldiers began to chase him. Cloud only managed to run a few steps before another two soldiers burst into the street directly ahead of him, blocking off his only escape route. Turning back he could see the other four soldiers advancing on him, and on the other side the two soldiers ahead were also advancing, their rifles raised and ready to fire. Cloud had no way to go, so instead he backed off slowly towards the edge of the bridge that was behind him – overlooking the railway. The sound of the train's horn could be heard faintly as Cloud found himself cornered at the edge of the bridge, the six soldiers surrounding him in a semi circle.
"That's as far as you go," one of the soldiers said smugly. Each of the soldiers had their guns raised, ready to fire if Cloud made any other attempts to escape.
"I don't have time to be messin' around with you guys," Cloud protested, but it was useless trying to fool the soldiers. They knew he had been up to something.
"Enough babbling. Grab him!" the soldier commanded.
The soldiers then began to advance once more, and Cloud had nowhere to run. The sound of the train's horn came again, this time much louder, followed by the sound of the train on the tracks in the tunnel below. Cloud opened his eyes wide as he had an idea.
Quickly he turned and stepped up onto the edge of the bridge away from the soldiers. Realising his plan the soldiers quickly dashed forward, but couldn't stop Cloud as he jumped off the edge of the bridge, just as the train appeared from the tunnel below.
Cloud landed on the top of the train and balanced steadily as it sped away from the sector. It moved hurriedly away from the bridge where the six soldiers were cursing loudly at his escape, and could only watch as the train disappeared into the next tunnel ahead of them, carrying Cloud with it.
The other AVALANCE members meanwhile, were inside the cargo hold of the train, after they had quietly snuck aboard before the train left the station. They had waited as long as they could for Cloud, but eventually had to board to avoid being caught by the soldiers that were roaming the sector for them. As such they were very quiet and sombre as they stood in the last car of the train, imagining the worst for Cloud. Barret was the only one who didn't look worried. Instead, he had a frown on his face.
"Cloud never came," Wedge spoke up suddenly, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had fallen upon them.
"Cloud..." Biggs muttered quietly, concerned. He looked up. "Wonder if he was killed?"
"No way!" Barret snapped irritably, before turning back to look at the floor, his arms folded.
Jessie sighed heavily. "Cloud..." she whispered. She wanted to thank him for helping her, for she would most certainly have been killed in the explosion if Cloud had not stopped to help her – twice.
Just then the sound of a loud scrambling sounded throughout the car. Curious, the four AVALANCHE members looked up and glanced at one another, trying to discover who had made the strange noise. The looks on their faces suggested that none of them did, and so they turned their gazes back to the floor, their expressions turning back to sorrow and concern. A few seconds later Biggs looked up once more, and turned to Barret.
"Say, do you think Cloud's... going to fight to the end for AVALANCHE?" he asked hopefully.
The irritation on Barret's face showed as plain as day. "The hell would I know!?" he barked angrily. He clearly didn't even like to hear Cloud's name. "Do I look like a mind reader!?"
Suddenly he unfolded his arms and banged his fist hard on a nearby crate, hitting it so hard it shook.
"Hmph! If y'all weren't such screw-ups."
"Hey, Barret," Wedge piped up, trying to change the subject. "What about our money?" Another single thud on the crate from Barret made Wedge shrink back nervously. "Uh... nothin', sorry..."
Gradually the four members of AVALANCHE sighed once more, and continued to stand in silence as they listened to the train travelling rapidly on the rails, thinking once more about what could have happened to Cloud.
At that moment a loud knocking noise suddenly reverberated throughout the car, and the four looked up at each other again. Realising that none of them had made the sound they looked down at the ground again. The knocking noise then came again – louder than before and seeming to come from the outside of the car. Still the AVALANCHE members did not notice this, and continued to stare at the floor. Finally the door leading out of the car opened up to reveal the tunnel wall that was zipping past. Then a figure suddenly flipped in from the train roof, and landed with a thud on the ground in the middle of the car. Jessie gasped in delight as she saw the figure standing there. Dirty though he was, covered in soot, it was Cloud.
"Cloud!" she exclaimed, along with Biggs and Wedge.
Slowly Cloud stood up and began to brush the layers of soot that had gathered on his arms and clothing after he had scrabbled across the roof of the train, trying to find the car where the AVALANCHE members were hidden. When he finished he flicked his blond hair and looked around at the relieved faces of the AVALANCHE crew.
"Looks like I'm a little late," he commented plainly.
Only Barret did not look relieved at Cloud's safe arrival. The look on his face grew even more angry and frustrated as Cloud stood there, seeming to ignore the worry that he had just put everyone through. His fist shook angrily in anticipation of hitting Cloud, and was barely able to contain his anger.
"You damn right you're late!" he shouted at Cloud heatedly, unable to see how Cloud was acting so cool about it. "Come waltzin' in here, makin' a big scene!"
Cloud held out his hands and shook his head. "It's no big deal. Just what I always do."
"Shi't!" Barret swore loudly, losing his temper with Cloud. "Having everyone worried like that, you don't give a damn 'bout no one but yourself!"
Cloud shrugged dismissively. Then a strange smirk spread across his face as he looked at Barret almost tauntingly.
"Hmm... You were worried about me?"
"Wha!" Barret raged, thrashing his arms through the air. For a moment it looked as though he was going to hit Cloud there and then, but he managed to calm himself just in time, although his temper was still flared. "I'm takin' it out of your money, hot stuff!" He turned quickly and headed towards the door leading into the next train car. "Wake up! We're movin' out! Follow me."
With that, Barret pushed open the door of the car and headed out, leaving Cloud and the rest of AVALANCHE behind him, although he left the door open. Wedge was the first to push himself up off the crate he had been sitting on, and walked to Cloud.
"Hey, Cloud, you were great back there," he commented, before he turned and walked through the door after Barret. Once he was gone Biggs walked to Cloud.
"Heh, heh, Cloud! We'll do even better next time," he said, and he also walked through the door.
Jessie was the only one remaining in the car with Cloud. She waited for a few moments as her two colleagues disappeared through the door, before she pushed herself away from the wall and headed towards the open door leading into the tunnel.
"Be careful," she warned Cloud. "I'll shut this."
Cloud watched as Jessie pulled the lever that released the door, and pushed it shut. When she was done she turned to Cloud, and looked him up and down carefully. A smile spread on her face as she did so, and nearly burst out laughing.
"Oh, Cloud!" she laughed. "Your face is pitch black!"
Before Cloud could react she suddenly reached out and began to rub at his face with her hand, wiping away all the soot that had been smeared over him when he was on the roof. When she had got most of it off she pulled away and smiled.
"There you go," she said. She then walked past Cloud, heading for the other door, when she suddenly stopped and looked back at him with another gentle smile. "Say, thanks for helping me back there at the reactor."
Then she passed through the door, leaving Cloud alone in the cargo car. He waited for a moment before he finally walked through the door towards the next car.
Emerald Princess of Vernea
Chapter Three
As the explosion calmed down, Cloud and the members of AVALANCHE stood silently in a corridor, still inside the Shinra building. The force of the explosion had caused the reactor to be completely ripped apart, and a large chunk of it had fallen down in front of them, crushing part of the corridor and blocking their exit. At that moment Jessie was on her knees with a smaller, less violent bomb, and was busy encoding it beside the wreckage. The others all stood around her in silence, contemplating over the acts they had just done.
"That should keep the Planet going," Biggs said suddenly, breaking the silence. The others looked at him. "At least a little longer."
"Yeah!" Wedge said enthusiastically.
Barret crossed his arms and looked down towards the ground. "............" He muttered silently.
Cloud leaned against the wall with his own arms crossed. He made a darting glance towards Barret. The AVALANCHE leader was completely silent, and had remained so since the bomb exploded. Cloud thought at first maybe Barret was having regrets over what he had just done, but as he saw a small smile of relief cross his face, Cloud knew that he did not regret it. The explosion of the reactor would have caused a lot of damage to Shinra, and Barret seemed glad to know that.
Just then, Jessie stood up.
"Okay," she said. "Now everyone, get back!"
The group all jumped up and ran back into the corridor away from Jessie's bomb.
Moments later the bomb exploded, not as loudly or as destructively as the one that destroyed the reactor, but powerful enough to shatter the wreckage that blocked their way and revealed the exit. The doorway was now surrounded by a wall of flames made by the bomb, so the only way the group would get out of there was to jump through it.
Cloud was the first to jump out. He flipped out of the door and rolled quickly onto the ground to put out any flames that may have caught him as he jumped through. Once he was sure that there were no flames on him, he stood up and turned back.
Barret was the next to jump out of the door. Jessie and Biggs, who ran out with their arms shielding their faces from the flames, followed him closely. Wedge came out last. As he ran out he patted the back of his trousers rapidly, a line of smoke rising from them where they had caught fire. He patted the small spark of fire until it went out, and then he turned to Barret.
"All right, now let's get out of here!" Barret said suddenly. "Rendezvous at the Sector 8 station. Split up and get on the train."
Biggs, Wedge and Jessie nodded, and then turned and ran off in different directions towards the sector, continuing their separation techniques to avoid any suspicion. Barret waited until the three were out of sight before he too began to run away.
"H-Hey!" Cloud protested suddenly.
Barret stopped on the stairs near to where they stood, and looked back at Cloud.
"If it's about your money, save it 'til we're back at the hideout," he replied. The harsh tone was still in his voice as he spoke to Cloud. Even after all they had just done, Barret still did not trust Cloud. Before Cloud could protest again, Barret was off and away up the stairs towards the nearby sector, following his comrades.
Cloud waited a minute or so before he followed. He walked up the stairs that led up into the sector, and looked out at the aftermath of the explosion.
There was complete discord in the sector right then, just as Cloud expected. The explosion of the reactor had caused a panic in the city, and there were many people running around madly in fright as they wondered what had just happened to them.
Wreckage from the blown up reactor lay everywhere on the streets, and had even destroyed some of the buildings. The old theatre in the sector centre was in ruins, and everything had come to a complete stop. A giant chunk of the reactor was still lying smouldering in the sector centre, and it was here that the people were running around the most, crying out to each other as they tried to figure out what was going on.
As they looked up towards the spot where the reactor had once been, they could see that it was on fire. Clouds of smoke were billowing up into the air in giant gushes, and flames were still covering the broken cylinder. The explosion of the reactor had caused a power cut throughout the city and it was very dark indeed.
The young flower lady was still standing on the street corner beside the theatre, looking around in bewilderment as she tried to figure out what was going on around her, although she was much calmer than the rest of the citizens. A man suddenly ran into her as he ran past in a panic, and she fell back onto the floor.
As she stood up and brushed herself off, wiping away the dirt, she spotted Cloud as he walked past, trying to look casual amongst the panicked people. She quickly ran over to him.
"Excuse me," she said in a delicate voice. Cloud stopped and turned to her. "What happened?" she asked.
For a moment Cloud nearly panicked, unsure of what he should say to the woman without her arousing suspicion that he had anything to do with the explosion. As he looked into her face he felt something strangely peculiar about her. There was a strange feeling emanating from her, something he couldn't quite pinpoint. She looked very kind and gentle, and her brown eyes were very calming and almost spiritual. She seemed very innocent, and not the type of person he expected to see in a rough and run down sector such as this one.
"Nothing..." Cloud told her plainly. At that point he should have walked away, but for some reason he felt almost compelled to say something. "Hey, listen... uh..." The woman looked at him inquisitively, and Cloud rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Don't see many flowers around here," he said finally.
The woman blinked at him, confused. Then she looked down at her basket. "Oh these?" she asked. "Do you like them? They're only a gil..."
She looked at him hopefully. Cloud reached into his pocket and pulled out a two that he had kept, and passed them to the girl.
"Oh, thank you!" she said. She put the two coins in her pocket, and then took two different flowers from her basket – one pink, the other blue – and handed them over to Cloud.
"Here you are," she said, and Cloud took the flowers.
Before he could say anything else the woman was walking off. Cloud watched her as she walked away from him, still feeling that peculiar feeling about her. He did not know what that feeling was, but he was certain that there was something about that girl. He shrugged, dismissing the feeling, and continued to head through the sector towards the station.
By now the people were beginning to settle down, and the streets were a little quieter than they were a few minutes before. There were only a couple of people wandering around now, and they were no longer running in a blind panic. Even the power was beginning to return now as Shinra reconnected the power lines through another reactor, so things were gradually beginning to return to normal.
No one took any notice of Cloud as he walked along, for they were so busy wrapped up in their own affairs. As Cloud walked along, he stopped and looked up at a nearby wall that had just been lit up by a street lamp as it came back on. There was a message written on the wall in bright red spray paint, and Cloud recognised the words.
Don't be fooled by Shinra!
Mako energy doesn't last forever!
Mako is the Planet's life source!
The end is in sight!
Protectors of the Planet: AVALANCHE.
Cloud shook his head. Barret. Only Barret would write a message like that on the wall, not caring whether he was caught or not. He didn't know why Barret was so hell-bent against the Shinra Company, and, quite frankly, he didn't really care. All he cared about now was getting his pay and getting out of there. He had no other reason to stay with the rebel group now that his work was done.
Cloud left behind the painted sign and carried on down the street towards the train station where they were supposed to meet. By now the streets were completely abandoned and no one was around, as far as Cloud could see.
"Hey! You there!"
Cloud stopped in surprise, realising that he wasn't alone after all. He turned to look behind him, and saw two soldiers dressed in blue uniforms walking towards him. They each had rifles in their hands, and were advancing on Cloud slowly.
"Shinra Soldiers!" Cloud cursed. He quickly turned and ran down the street away from the soldiers.
"Halt!" one of the soldiers shouted, but Cloud continued to run.
Seeing this, the two soldiers raised their rifles and began to fire at Cloud, for they had seen him as suspicious the moment they laid eyes on him. Cloud could feel the bullets striking the ground at his feet – they weren't trying to hit him, but to make him stop. He reached the end of the street and turned sharply right to the next street.
As he turned, he quickly skidded to a stop. There were two more Shinra soldiers standing directly ahead of him, also with rifles that were aimed at him. Quickly Cloud turned around and headed the other way, and the soldiers began to chase him. Cloud only managed to run a few steps before another two soldiers burst into the street directly ahead of him, blocking off his only escape route. Turning back he could see the other four soldiers advancing on him, and on the other side the two soldiers ahead were also advancing, their rifles raised and ready to fire. Cloud had no way to go, so instead he backed off slowly towards the edge of the bridge that was behind him – overlooking the railway. The sound of the train's horn could be heard faintly as Cloud found himself cornered at the edge of the bridge, the six soldiers surrounding him in a semi circle.
"That's as far as you go," one of the soldiers said smugly. Each of the soldiers had their guns raised, ready to fire if Cloud made any other attempts to escape.
"I don't have time to be messin' around with you guys," Cloud protested, but it was useless trying to fool the soldiers. They knew he had been up to something.
"Enough babbling. Grab him!" the soldier commanded.
The soldiers then began to advance once more, and Cloud had nowhere to run. The sound of the train's horn came again, this time much louder, followed by the sound of the train on the tracks in the tunnel below. Cloud opened his eyes wide as he had an idea.
Quickly he turned and stepped up onto the edge of the bridge away from the soldiers. Realising his plan the soldiers quickly dashed forward, but couldn't stop Cloud as he jumped off the edge of the bridge, just as the train appeared from the tunnel below.
Cloud landed on the top of the train and balanced steadily as it sped away from the sector. It moved hurriedly away from the bridge where the six soldiers were cursing loudly at his escape, and could only watch as the train disappeared into the next tunnel ahead of them, carrying Cloud with it.
The other AVALANCE members meanwhile, were inside the cargo hold of the train, after they had quietly snuck aboard before the train left the station. They had waited as long as they could for Cloud, but eventually had to board to avoid being caught by the soldiers that were roaming the sector for them. As such they were very quiet and sombre as they stood in the last car of the train, imagining the worst for Cloud. Barret was the only one who didn't look worried. Instead, he had a frown on his face.
"Cloud never came," Wedge spoke up suddenly, breaking the uncomfortable silence that had fallen upon them.
"Cloud..." Biggs muttered quietly, concerned. He looked up. "Wonder if he was killed?"
"No way!" Barret snapped irritably, before turning back to look at the floor, his arms folded.
Jessie sighed heavily. "Cloud..." she whispered. She wanted to thank him for helping her, for she would most certainly have been killed in the explosion if Cloud had not stopped to help her – twice.
Just then the sound of a loud scrambling sounded throughout the car. Curious, the four AVALANCHE members looked up and glanced at one another, trying to discover who had made the strange noise. The looks on their faces suggested that none of them did, and so they turned their gazes back to the floor, their expressions turning back to sorrow and concern. A few seconds later Biggs looked up once more, and turned to Barret.
"Say, do you think Cloud's... going to fight to the end for AVALANCHE?" he asked hopefully.
The irritation on Barret's face showed as plain as day. "The hell would I know!?" he barked angrily. He clearly didn't even like to hear Cloud's name. "Do I look like a mind reader!?"
Suddenly he unfolded his arms and banged his fist hard on a nearby crate, hitting it so hard it shook.
"Hmph! If y'all weren't such screw-ups."
"Hey, Barret," Wedge piped up, trying to change the subject. "What about our money?" Another single thud on the crate from Barret made Wedge shrink back nervously. "Uh... nothin', sorry..."
Gradually the four members of AVALANCHE sighed once more, and continued to stand in silence as they listened to the train travelling rapidly on the rails, thinking once more about what could have happened to Cloud.
At that moment a loud knocking noise suddenly reverberated throughout the car, and the four looked up at each other again. Realising that none of them had made the sound they looked down at the ground again. The knocking noise then came again – louder than before and seeming to come from the outside of the car. Still the AVALANCHE members did not notice this, and continued to stare at the floor. Finally the door leading out of the car opened up to reveal the tunnel wall that was zipping past. Then a figure suddenly flipped in from the train roof, and landed with a thud on the ground in the middle of the car. Jessie gasped in delight as she saw the figure standing there. Dirty though he was, covered in soot, it was Cloud.
"Cloud!" she exclaimed, along with Biggs and Wedge.
Slowly Cloud stood up and began to brush the layers of soot that had gathered on his arms and clothing after he had scrabbled across the roof of the train, trying to find the car where the AVALANCHE members were hidden. When he finished he flicked his blond hair and looked around at the relieved faces of the AVALANCHE crew.
"Looks like I'm a little late," he commented plainly.
Only Barret did not look relieved at Cloud's safe arrival. The look on his face grew even more angry and frustrated as Cloud stood there, seeming to ignore the worry that he had just put everyone through. His fist shook angrily in anticipation of hitting Cloud, and was barely able to contain his anger.
"You damn right you're late!" he shouted at Cloud heatedly, unable to see how Cloud was acting so cool about it. "Come waltzin' in here, makin' a big scene!"
Cloud held out his hands and shook his head. "It's no big deal. Just what I always do."
"Shi't!" Barret swore loudly, losing his temper with Cloud. "Having everyone worried like that, you don't give a damn 'bout no one but yourself!"
Cloud shrugged dismissively. Then a strange smirk spread across his face as he looked at Barret almost tauntingly.
"Hmm... You were worried about me?"
"Wha!" Barret raged, thrashing his arms through the air. For a moment it looked as though he was going to hit Cloud there and then, but he managed to calm himself just in time, although his temper was still flared. "I'm takin' it out of your money, hot stuff!" He turned quickly and headed towards the door leading into the next train car. "Wake up! We're movin' out! Follow me."
With that, Barret pushed open the door of the car and headed out, leaving Cloud and the rest of AVALANCHE behind him, although he left the door open. Wedge was the first to push himself up off the crate he had been sitting on, and walked to Cloud.
"Hey, Cloud, you were great back there," he commented, before he turned and walked through the door after Barret. Once he was gone Biggs walked to Cloud.
"Heh, heh, Cloud! We'll do even better next time," he said, and he also walked through the door.
Jessie was the only one remaining in the car with Cloud. She waited for a few moments as her two colleagues disappeared through the door, before she pushed herself away from the wall and headed towards the open door leading into the tunnel.
"Be careful," she warned Cloud. "I'll shut this."
Cloud watched as Jessie pulled the lever that released the door, and pushed it shut. When she was done she turned to Cloud, and looked him up and down carefully. A smile spread on her face as she did so, and nearly burst out laughing.
"Oh, Cloud!" she laughed. "Your face is pitch black!"
Before Cloud could react she suddenly reached out and began to rub at his face with her hand, wiping away all the soot that had been smeared over him when he was on the roof. When she had got most of it off she pulled away and smiled.
"There you go," she said. She then walked past Cloud, heading for the other door, when she suddenly stopped and looked back at him with another gentle smile. "Say, thanks for helping me back there at the reactor."
Then she passed through the door, leaving Cloud alone in the cargo car. He waited for a moment before he finally walked through the door towards the next car.
