Chapter 2: 7th Heaven
When I came to, we were in a damaged tunnel. I could see Jessie setting a bomb on the far end, while the others were more in my area. I could also hear them talk. "That should keep the planet going a little bit longer" I was still in a daze, so I couldn't tell who said that. "Hey, look. Cloud's awake!" This one I could tell, this was Biggs. I quickly jumped up, and looked at our surroundins. I heard Jessie yell out, "Okay, everyone to the back, it's going to blow!" After we got to the far side, the bomb went off, giving us an escape route. The exit was on fire, but it did not bother me. One by one, every one jumped out. Wedge caught himself on fire. Barret than told everyone to get to the train seperatly. When I asked about my money, he said it can wait till we get back to the hideout. After that, everyone split up. I went up a flight of stairs, and made my way out. When I got to the top, I saw everyone running because of the explosion we had caused. During the panicking, a young woman asked me what happend, but I told her to leave. After she left, I made my way to the train station.
On my way, some guards stopped me. I knew they would tell that I was at the reactor, so I pulled out my sword and killed them both with one swipe. More guards started to attack, and I dropped each one, until there were too many of them. "Shit" I said when they surrounded me. "Okay, this is the end of the road for you. Grab him!" "I don't think so." I could hear the train coming from the tunnels below, so I did a backflip, and landed on it. I quickly ducked to dodge the low underarea in the tunnels, and started to make my way to the car they told me to go too. When I got there, I heard them talking, but couldn't make out what they were saying. I than started to pound on the side, but they couldn't hear me. I than forced the door open, and dropped in. Everyone was shocked. Barret started to curse, while Biggs and Wedge sang praises. After that, Barret told everyone to move to the next cart. After he and the rest of the guys left, Jessie closed the door, and cleaned my face of with a piece of cloth. After she left, took out one of my knives. I still had bullets in my arm, so I quickly removed them. I then drank a potion to heal the wound. I quickly follewed them up to the next car.
When we got there, Barret had almost scared all the people off, so it was just the team. Barret said, "Hey, why are you all tense. We completed this mission, so take a load off." I just looked at him, and moved up the car. I saw Jessie who quickly got my attention. "Hey Cloud! Come over here, I have something to show you." When I got over there, I saw a moniter, showing Midgar and all the tracks. "Okey, this map shows all of the train routes in the city, and all the reactors." "Yeah, yeah," "Well, currently, we're right here" Jessie said this as she pointed at peice of the map. "Shin'ra have also installed these I.D. scanners thoughout the city, so we have to use these fake ids to fool them." Unknown to her though, I quickly lost interest in what she was talking about. After a few more minutes of rambling, I walked over to a window. Barret comented, "Look at that. The surface of Midgar." I looked up, and said, "Yeah. Pretty unsettling to live under a plate." Barret looked bewildered, and remarked, "Ha, never thought I'd hear that from a guy like you. You just full of surprises." He than got angry, "It's because of that damn pizza we can't see the surface from the grounds. The slums are just a forgotten part of history to Shin'ra." I looked at him, and said, "If it's so bad, why don't everyone move onto the plate." Barret looked down, "Probably because they've got no money, or." Looks up with enthusiasm, "Or they love their land too much to give it up!" I simply say, "Your right. Noone lives in the slums bacause they want too. It's just like these trains. They can't go anywhere except where their rails take them."
About twenty minutes later, we arrived Sector 7. We got out of the train, and Barret called another meeting. "Okay. We've taken out Mako Reactor #1, but that explosion was nothing. Cuase the next one's gonna be bigger than that! Alright, move out." After they walk off, I take a look at my surroundings. I then follow them, until I get to an area with lots of people. I see everyone gathering at a bar at the far end of the town. When I walk over there, I hear gunfire. Then people run out, and Barret runs after them. He than stands at the enterence, while the rest of the members walk in. I see a woman walk out of building, cleaning some things up. "Tifa" I said to myself. As I walked towards the enterence, Barret smirked and said, "You wanna see your little 'baby' " I just look at him, not saying a word, he then says, "Go on in." I walked on in, seeing Biggs and Wedge drinking, while the girl continued to work. I looked up, and saw her. Tifa Lockheart. It's been awhile since I had seen her last. When I took another step, a young girl ran from behind the counter, yelling, "Daddy?" When she saw me though, she bolted. Tifa quickly ran to her to calm her down, and then walked up to me, smiling. "It's been a while, Cloud! Don't worry about Marlene, she get's scared esaily." She looked around me, noticing my bullet marks. "! Are you okay!" "I'm fine," I replied, "patched it up myself." After a while, she said, "Did you fight with Barret?" I paused, than replied, "Yeah. I can't stand him." "Don't worry, he's not that bad once you get to kn..." "I don't want to get to know him"
After the talk, I decided to have a talk with Barret. As I approaced the door, Barret rushed in, knocking me down. He than picked up the girl, and held her on her shoulder. He than looked around, and said, "Alright, fools, time for the meeting!" He than walked over to a pinball machine, but he pressed a secret button, lowering him into a basement area. The others jumped down the shaft after him. The machine than rose back up to my level. But when I approaced it, Tifa said, "Wait." As I turned around, she continued, "Sit down." I sat down on one of stools. She than asked, in a buisness like manner, "Do you want something to drink?" I thought for a bit, than said, "No thanks, I'm not thristy." She looked dissapointed. As I got up to walk to the machine, she asked, "Are you okay?" I turned and quickly replied, "Yes. Why?" "No reason, you just seem tired. I pressed the button, lowering me down. When I got to the lower level, I saw a large T.V. screen, and alot of junk. I quickly made my way to Barret, who was beating a punching bag. He looked at me, and asked, "Any of them guys from SOLDIER there tonight?" I stared at him, and replied, "No." "You sound sure." He said back. "How do you know for certain?" I smiled, "If they were there, you all be dead." Barret's eyes filled with anger, and he rushed at me. Biggs tried to stop him, but he knocked him away. When he got to me, he swang with his gun-arm, which I ducked. I than countered with an uppercut in the gut. He than stepped back, holding his stomach. "Yeah. You're pretty good. Probably all them guys in SOLDIER are. But your skinny ass now works for AVALANCE now, so don't get any ideas about hanging on to them." I glared at him, and said, "Shin'ra, you think that I'd stay with them. I told you when you hired me that I was finished with them, and that's that." The room was silent. I then walked up to him, and said, "I want to talk about my money." As I walked away, I saw Tifa come off the elevator. She tried to stop me, but I paid no heed. But before I got to the elevator, Barret said, "Forget him, Tifa. He's still longing to be back in SOLDIER." I than turned around, and firmly said, "Look, I'm finished with Shin'ra, and I'm never going back. But than again, I don't give a damn about this planet or AVALANCE!" I than walked up to the machine and pressed the button.
When I got to the top, I started to head for the door. Before I reached it, I heard Tifa's voice. "Please, Cloud, don't do this." "...I'm sorry, Tifa." Tifa quickly got all teary eyed, than said, "So, your going to walk out on your own freind." Tifa quickly said. I turned around, and looked in the eyes, saying, "No. I..I..I'm sorry. Please stop crying." I wiped the tears off her face. She than said, "I guess you forgot the promise too." My eyes widend quickly, and I replied, "Promise?" She than smirked. "So, you did forget. It was 7 years ago. On the water tower in the middle of town." I quickly thought back, and I remembered.that day. "Yeah, I remember. I was sitting out there for a long time, and thought you weren't coming. I also got cold." In the flashback, I remeber telling Tifa of my plans to join SOLDIER, and to become as great, or even surpase the ledgendary warrior, Sephiroth. I remeber her asking about me becoming famous, and to come rescue her if she was ever in trouble. That was the promise she talked about. I dropped my head, and replied, "But, I never became famous. I can't...fufill the promise." She quickly tried to make me feel better. "You did make it into SOLDIER, right. So you fufilled your childhood dream, so you have to keep the promise, Cloud." After she said that, I saw Barret climbing up the wires for the elevator. "Wait a minute," he called. He than reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out some money, than tossed it at me. I picked it up, and smiled. "150, that's my pay. ha. You've got to be joking." Tifa quickly perked up, "Does that mean?" I causually said, "Got the next job up, I'll do it for 300." Barret's face redend quickly. He and Tifa than started to wisper amongst themselves. Barret than offered 200. "Fine by me." Tifa than led me down to the lower area, and showed me where to rest.