I don't know if anyone still reads this, or will read it. I know it hasn't been updated in almost two years...whoops. But, I found it again, and thought it worth reviving. So, if you are actually reading it... enjoy! Oh, and I apologise for the spacing of the paragraphs, it seems the online editor hates me. >
Tyren could only stare in amazement as the cannons of Junon loomed before him.
"Whoa… it's almost as impressive as Midgar! We'll be going up there, won't we?"
He was somewhat discomfited by the lack of response from Caaliey.
"Well, kinda… not exactly up there…"
"What do you mean, not exactly up there?"
"The only way in that I know of is through lower Junon, which is a small slum underneath the main city. There's a lift up, but it's guarded by Shinra soldiers."
"And you didn't think to mention this earlier, of course."
"Well, I thought that since you had that sword of yours, you could just threaten them. There's normally only one guard anyway. What do you want, an escort up?"
"The fact that they might set off an alarm at the top never occurred to you? Being an outlaw in a military city isn't the best position to be in."
Caaliey shrugged, her face impassive.
"We can figure it out when we get there. No big deal. It'll work out in the end, trust me. Now, are you coming? I thought you were desperate to get to Midgar."
Without a single look back at him, she continued walking towards Junon, leaving Tyren staring at her, dumbfounded.
"So, are you going to let me use the lift or not?"
He swung the point of his sword menacingly close to the soldier's throat. What seemed to be most of the small town had turned out to watch the spectacle, this mysterious stranger threatening one of the hated Shinra.
The soldier's voice was shrill as he replied.
"No. Move that sword away! I can have a huge number of SOLDIER after you in a second if you do anything."
His finger hovered threateningly over a button.
"Or, I could just swing my sword, lop off your head, and be done with it. It's your choice, really."
"And I'll press the button. I'll give you three seconds to leave before I do. One, tw-"
A man stormed onto the scene, his regulation Shinra rifle in one hand, obviously unhappy with the proceedings.
"You have the nerve to threaten my friend? I wouldn't recommend it."
He turned to face Tyren squarely, gun cocked and ready. When his eyes met Tyren's, the man jumped back, and dropped his rifle to the ground.
"You're one of them, aren't you? I can tell just by your eyes."
Tyren merely stared at him in confusion, wondering what it was about him that would cause such abject fear in a person he had never met.
"I'm sure there's a way to get you into upper Junon, if you'll just let me handle this."
At a painful elbow in the ribs from Caaliey, who was standing beside him, Tyren acquiesced, and the man proceeded to lead his friend aside for a little talk.
The three of them ducked into a locker room in the small base as a pair of soldiers strolled past. Tyren turned to the man, who had managed to bribe their way into the elevator.
"I need to get to where the airships are. I'm hitching a ride back to Midgar."
"The airship's just out that door, but it's heavily guarded. It'll be hard, and very dangerous. So first, I want to know why, just to make sure it's worth risking my life for. I'm don't want to get myself killed just because you wanted to get back to your girl in a hurry."
Tyren glared.
"I'd rather not say, Shinra. I don't know why you agreed to help, but if you even think about betraying us, I'll have your head before you can even unsling your rifle. Got it?"
"You can threaten my life all you want, but if you don't tell me why, I'm not going to guide you there. You go alone, you'll end up in pieces."
Tyren raised his sword, but the man continued.
"Fine. Kill me if you want. I suppose you could call it a kind of poetic justice. But you still won't be able to get through, and no doubt you'll be spotted by a bunch of soldiers sooner or later. You need me. Accept it."
Tyren stood unmoving for a while, until he finally sighed and slumped down to the ground.
"Just go, then. I don't need you, and being from Shinra, it's most likely a trap, anyway. I'll make my own way back."
"Fine. But if you should so happen to change your mind, you can find me at the first materia shop on the left. The owner lets me hide out there sometimes, to avoid any Shinra soldiers when I have business to do up here."
The man shrugged his rifle into a more comfortable position, and walked off towards Junon city. Tyren lowered his head in his hands, as Caaliey stood helplessly beside him.