"Solitude is the profoundest fact of the human condition. Man is the only being who knows he is alone."
Vladimir Nabokov
Elena cautiously re-entered the streets of Junon. She put a hand up to block the bright mid-morning sunlight. The streets were crowded, a huge difference from the previous night. Refugees from Midgar were lined up in one straight line that went from the elevator all the way down the street. The guards at the front were letting people ride the elevator up a few at a time. Elena cocked her head curiously. What's going on here? she wondered. Swiftly she walked over to a man and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Hello?" she said uncertainly. "Would you mind telling me what's going on here?"
He barely glanced at her before answering. Elena was relieved she had thought to change out of her blue Turks suit.
"The Shinra is letting some refugees from Midgar live in Junon military base until they build a new Midgar." he answered, while standing on his toes, trying to view the front of the line.
The man turned his back to her, and Elena moved away, a her stomach clenching painfully as she thought the previous night. What happened last night? she thought desperately. I wonder what Reno did...please say he didn't...
Just as the thought crossed her mind, the voice of a woman somewhere in front her, interrupted her thoughts.
"Apparently they're waiting until tomorrow to start the executioins...I suppose they want to wait to see if anymore show up...I can't believe AVALANCHE tried to get Junon too!"
Feeling breathless, Elena rushed forward.
"Excuse me m'am!" she said. "What executions? Who are they executing?"
The woman stared at her for a moment before asking, "Haven't you heard? They caught two members of AVALANCHE!"
Elena felt her heart sink low in her chest.
"And..." the woman continued. "They've charged those Turks with treason. They already have two of them in custody...I suppose they'll execute them too."
At this, Elena froze. Treason? Then Reno must have...oh but he must have been too late! she thought desperately.
"Thank you..." she murmured to the woman quickly before rushing off.
Her heart pouding with this new information, Elena paced nervously. They have Reno and Rude...and they're looking for me... She bit her lip. I have to do something to help them. I have to get them out of there. And Cloud and Tifa. It's partially my fault they're where they are. Brushing her hair back with her hand, Elena made up her mind and stood at the back of the winding line.
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Cloud sat up on his bed after a restless night of sleep. For the thousandth time since he had been put in the cell, frusteration tore at him. He was stuck in a small, secure cell with no way to get to Tifa. And he knew that the others were in danger too. Sighing, he began to pace in the tiny room.
Who knew that there were SOLDIERS that survived? Cloud had thought they were all gone, or insane from the treatment Hojo had put them through. With them in the mix, the situation was much more complex. He knew they could beat them...If they could defeat Sephiroth, then what were a few measly SOLDIERS? But at the moment, they were outnumbered and weaponless. Tifa and I can't take them out alone...Cloud felt a strike of anger. And who knows what the Turks would do...
He stopped his pacing and collapsed on the bed, burrying his face in his hands. The situation was largely out of his control. And to top it all off, there was blood on the left sleeve of his t-shirt and he had no idea how it got there. Perhaps it's from the guard Tifa punched...he squeezed his eyes shut. Or...from Tifa herself? He shook his head and tried not to think about Tifa being hurt and out of reach. He had no idea how much time had passed since they had been captured. His cell was brightly lit and windowless. There were no means of telling time and no color in the room but white. Cloud felt as though he were going insane with the worry, frusteration, and sensory deprivation. I have to get out here...he thought.
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Reno laid flat on his back, one arm thrown over his eyes. His mind and body ached for alcohol. He wished Rude or even Reeve would yell through the vent and distract him, but he couldn't motivate himself to get up from the bed. What have I gotten us into? Reno thought sourly. Not only did I put Cloud and Tifa and jail...I managed to win me and Rude a cell too... He moaned, sickened with himself. Can't do anything right...
Unable to bear these thoughts running through his head another second longer, he rolled off the bed and kneeled in front of the vent that was connected to Rude's cell. He tapped loudly on the metal.
"Rude?" he shouted into it. "You there?"
Rude's voice answered neutrally. "Yes."
"What are you doing?" Reno asked.
Reno could practically see Rude rolling his eyes through the wall.
"Nothing." Rude said blankly.
"Oh." Reno replied. "How are we getting out of here?"
"..." Rude was silent.
Reno sighed. "You've never been any good to talk to."
"We have to trust Elena." Rude told him, before the sound of echoing steps through the vent told Reno that he had moved away from the vent and their conversation was over.
"Great..." Reno said sarcastically. "Trust Elena."
But deep down, he knew Elena had it in her to come through. He sat back down on his bed, and this time his thoughts were not quite as troubling.
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Barret watched his daughter as she ran around happily in awe of Cosmo Canyon. Marlene had grown up knowing nothing but city streets and slums. It was heart-warming to see her finally experiencing real nature. One day, he hoped to rebuild Corel and show her what her hometown had looked like before it was destroyed. He knew too, that he'd have to tell her about her real parents, Elenor and Dyne...but that day hadn't come yet. Marlene still had some growing to do before he could bear to tell her the truth.
He tore his eyes away from little Marlene for a minute as Red walked up to Cosmo Candle. He sat down next to Barret in silence and watched Marlene prance around.
"Marlene seems to enjoy Cosmo Canyon," Red said, sounding pleased.
Barret nodded. "'Knew she would."
"You two are welcome to stay as long as you need to." Red said turning towards Barret. "Marlene will be safe here."
"No where's safe anymore..." Barret disagreed. "Not wit Shinra after us."
Red looked somber. "I suppose not."
"Cloud an' Tifa aren't here yet..." Barret said quietly, changing the subject.
"I know..." Red replied. "Perhaps they're still traveling?"
Barret shook his head. "I gotta bad feelin' 'bout this."
"Me too." Red admitted. "But you said that it was just Reno and Elena, right? They wouldn't be too much of a challenge for Cloud and Tifa."
"Mebbe not..." Barret said. "But why aren't they here then?"
Red sighed. "I don't know Barret...but I'm worried too. Let's give them until tomorrow to show up. Then we can leave Cosmo Canyon to try and call."
Barret nodded in agreement.
"What about the others?" Red asked. "You warned all of them too?"
"All but Vincent..." Barret said. "He didn't answer."
The two fell into silence again. The sun was almost directly above them. Mus' be 'bout noon...Barret thought to himself. Wonder if Tifa and Cloud are awright... HIs thoughts were interrupted by Marlene's cheerful voice.
"Papa!" she yelled, running at him. "Have you seen how high up we are! I can see so far!"
Barret felt himself smiling, despite all his worries. "I know you can..."
"Do you want to go up into the tower?" Red asked Marlene, turning towards Barret to see if this was alright. "There's a telescope, and you can see twice as far."
"Can I Papa?" Marlene begged, her tiny body tense with excitement. "Please Papa?"
Barret laughed. "'Course you can. Go with Red."
She threw her arms and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before running off after Red.
"Be good!" Barret yelled at her retreating back.
Now alone, Barret sighed and headed over to the cliff. Marlene was right, you could see for miles. But no matter how hard he searched, he saw no signs of Cloud and Tifa. His heart sunk. He had a dark suspicion that they would not be coming.
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After a long, tiring day of standing in a never-ending line, Elena rode the elevator to the upper level of Junon. She stood behind the group of people she rode with, her head down so none of the Shinra employees would recognize her. The Shinra guard began talking to them, giving them directions to where they were to go next. Elena ignored him as she had no intentions of following them. She was aprehensive, but the during the long hours waiting in line, she had formulated a plan. It's not perfect...she thought truthfully. But it's the best shot we have.
Elena followed the people in front of her as they shuffled away. Junon was familiar to her. She had been stuck in Junon for two weeks with President Rufus and the other Turks after Meteor had been summoned. She had explored Junon base and knew quite a bit about it: she knew where they kept prisoners, she knew where their best bet of getting out was...and she knew that everything in Junon base was controlled by electricity. Elena was glad she had at least one advantage. Carefully, she slunk away from the group without being noticed.
"Now let's see if I remember where it is..." she muttered to herself.
Stealthily, she crept through Junon base until she found what she was looking for.
"Aha!" she whispered triumphantly.
She took out a screw driver and wiggled it in the keyhole until a click told her it was open. Elena slipped inside. She was greeted with a mass of wires and switches. She grinned.
"Now which wire do I need to cut?" she said quietly. "Ahh there it is."
But she didn't cut it right yet. She slumped to the floor and crawled under a table, intending to hide there until nightfall.
"I hope this works..." she whispered, feeling lost without Reno and Rude.
Suddenly, she felt angry at herself.
"I can do this!" she said fiercly. "And I'll prove to all of them that I can accomplish something by myself."
Elena crossed her arms and scowled.
"I'll show them I'm not weak!"
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Author's Note: Thank you to everyone that reviewed my story! I appreciate all your reviews. It's very encouraging to know people are reading and enjoying my story.