1Thanks for the reviews everyone! More direct quotes ahoy!
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Chapter Three
As it so often happened, I spotted him after dark by the dim embers of his cigarette. Instead of my usual butterflies upon such a sight, I was consumed by dread. Still, I had to do something. He didn't move an inch when I approached him. He was sitting on one of the downed trees, his eyes locked on the leaning rocket.
"Captain... I am so sorry. I never ever dreamed this would happen..." I said the words catching in my throat. "I never thought you'd... the tanks... they..."
He didn't respond. His cold expression stayed on the 26. I was all ready falling apart. He must know that I had feelings for him, that I didn't mean to hurt him. I tried in vain to find any words to express my regret, my stupid mistake, my sin against him... but I couldn't. My throat closed around my words and I could do nothing but watch him. He didn't remove his scowl or his eyes from their target. He refused to even acknowledge I was there. This silence.. This cold shoulder, it was worse than anything I had ever been subjected to. I couldn't take it.
"Please... Scream at me... curse at me tell me that you hate me, tell me I'm an idiot! I know that I am! Hit me if you want... just say something..." I sobbed in devastation.
"Now, I'm the one with the question." His voice was almost unrecognizable. He still didn't look at me, and the tone of disgust that was in his voice made me glad he wasn't. He exhaled angrily, but he didn't shout, probably because I had asked him to. Instead he spoke in a growling whisper. "You really thought I'd kill you?"
"I..." I lowered my head and the tears rained on the scorched grass. "I... didn't think you'd... I just wanted to... I had to... I'm so sorry."
A cigarette landed at my feet, the dying embers hopelessly fighting for life. It felt like my heart was being squeezed in a vise, I was in more pain now then I ever was in the Doctor's care. I heard the heavy feet approach and watched through soggy eyes as his worn boot crushed the spent smoking cylinder. He twisted his treads extinguishing the last of it's light.
"I know I can never undo what I've done," my voice was strong but shaky with remorse, "I will do anything to help you. I'll live my life for you... I don't ask for your forgiveness... but please... don't ignore me..."
"Why would I want your useless life? You think I want to start a god damned collection? You want me to put your fuckin' waste of existence up there on the mantelpiece next to mine?" His voice was right in front of me, all I had to do to see his face, his blue eyes, was to look up. I couldn't bring myself to do it.
"Please... it's all I have to give you..."
"Then keep it. I don't want anything to do with you." He stood over me for a minute before he left. I didn't have to look at him, I could feel the anger in his eyes, the pain.
I returned to my room, if you could even refer to it as such. Donnie had helped me straighten it up, but most of the damage was irreversible. I had patched the mattress, shoddily, but it served it's purpose. Some of the other girls had given me some of their clothes out of pity, and though I didn't ask them I was glad they cared. This room was less my own now then it was the day I first arrived. It was a cell, a shrine to what I had done. It seemed my tears had run themselves dry as I sat on the battered bare mattress. He was right, I was useless. I had been given the chance of a life time, an opportunity to go down in the history books, but instead won myself the eternal shame of destroying the dreams of the man I loved. A letter from my mother sat on the remains of my desk, I didn't even have to open it to know that they had heard. She would no doubt be begging me to come home. As I laid my head down on the ruined bed, I knew that would be worse than anything anyone here could dish out. To come home, the hot shot engineer, a failure and horrible person. I deserved that too. He didn't need to be reminded of what I had taken from him on a daily basis by my unwanted presence. I made my decision, I would leave for Kalm as soon as I could. If I left him, everyone, they might be able to move on, might be able to salvage the rocket, the program. I would go home. To atone for my stupidity, the only punishment I could see as fitting would be to become the daughter my mother wanted. Disconnect myself from everything I loved, anything that he loved, become a housewife with no ambition. My burn hurt badly, but despite the physical and mental anguish I did fall asleep.
It was around noon when people finally caught onto what I was doing. I didn't have much to pack, but I did return the clothes the girls had given me. I apologized once more to anyone who would listen, and Donnie was rather upset to see me go. I received different reactions from all of them, some were relieved with my decision, while some asked me insistently to stay, but my mind was set. I couldn't carry on there, even though I felt like I was leaving my soul behind. I wasn't the only member leaving, it seemed that Shinra was quick to offer people new positions within the company. Maybe they couldn't bare the disappointment or they were just ready to leave, I'm not sure. I didn't meet any resistance from anyone as I got onto the transport and I quickly hid myself in the back. I had a lonely ride back to my hometown.
I was greeted happily and eagerly by my mother and father, even Evan, my second eldest brother, was there to meet me. They tried to lift my spirits but soon saw that I was not the person I once was. I was like a zombie, following my mother around doing what she asked me to. She was as happy as a clam. This was what she always wanted for me anyway. I was bought a slew of dresses and matching shoes. The dresses had to be longer and not as "flirty" as my mother would have liked, to hide my scar. I was told how inconvient that was and how many handsome men would just look away, I didn't even pretend to care. I was subjected to the horror of beauty salons, curling and burning my hair, and painting my nails. She preened over me, so happy that I finally "came to my senses". Her joy nearly flat lined her when I completely agreed to bi-pass my father's garage. I was greeted each morning by a stranger in my mirror. A pretty girl with tweezed eyebrows, permed curls, and a sadness in her eyes. I knew I'd never be able to forget my pain, I'd never be able to forget him. Even when my mother introduced me to the young "available" men in the town, I longed for his crooked smile and blue eyes. No one knew me here. To them I was just a slender girl of marrying age, with a talkative mother and that was what I was to become.
It even went as far to throw away all of my books, magazines, anything that wasn't what she wanted. I didn't bat a newly curled and mascara-ed eyelash when she enthusiastically threw them out. Even though I was there, my heart was still firmly planted in the poor ruined base, under the shadow of our rocket. Mom paraded me around like a show pony and told me to flash a smile that wasn't so empty. I was clever but I couldn't do the impossible. Every night my feet ached and longed for the boots they loved more than any fancy high heeled shoes. The inside of my eyelids were burned with the faces of the people I had hurt. The emptiness smothered me from all angles. It was a while until I felt a true smile split my features.
On a particularly wet and nasty evening a knock came to our door. Of all the people it could have been I never expected to see Donnie standing there. I nearly knocked my father over to hug the soaking wet traveler. He had to take a close look at me to be certain who I was.
"Donnie what are you doing here?" I asked him, so glad to be talking to someone who knew who I was, really knew who I was. Not this dress up doll I had become.
"Well we were in the area and I remembered hearing you said you lived here." He smiled at me, I could see the grease and oil smudges on his plump cheeks under his dark hooded raincoat. The world outside the house was dark and wet, but seemed so much more welcoming than anything these four walls had to offer. The rain splattered him from all angles, and I was becoming rather soaked myself.
"Leave it to you to make us stand out in the god damned rain."
I nearly threw up on Donnie's slicker when I heard his voice. I hadn't even noticed there was another person standing just out of sight to his right. If the cold rain wasn't proving that I was really there I would have sworn it was all a bizarre dream. I felt my mother's heavily ringed hand grab my arm to pull me back inside as she hastily apologized and invited the men inside. I couldn't breathe, I watched him pull the wet hood away from his face as he tracked water into the house.
"My, my, I suppose you gentlemen were on the same crew as my daughter, were you? I apologize for that, she is quite an impetuous and troublesome young thing!" Chirped my mother pleasantly. Oh, she would be the talk of the town the next day, all the gossip would be about the strange men Lia Olsen let in her house. She lived for being the center of gossip. She elbowed me and I shut my gaping mouth. "Shera don't be an idiot! These men are cold and wet! Go put on a pot of tea!"
Cid's cold stare was fixed on me. Tea... why did she have to say tea? I wanted to burst into tears, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be happy or mortified but I scurried into the kitchen with out so much as a peep. As I fumbled to try and remember the "complicated" process of making tea I could hear my mother talking to them.
"Here let me take your coats gentlemen. I am Lia, the fool's mother," Leave it to my mother to play to her audience. "I do feel absolutely wretched for what happened over there. I always knew she should have stayed here. Oh where is he...?"
"Mrs. Olsen, this is a lovely painting... is this an Amano original?" Donnie expertly diverted her attention.
I leaned heavily on the counter trying to gather my wits about me, this didn't make sense. Why was he here? I heard a chair scrape across the tiled floor behind me and felt a lump form in my throat. I glanced back and sure enough the Captain was seated at the table taking in the decor with aggravation. The kettle started to whistle. With a dull blink he reunited me with the eyes I missed more than the comfort of my boots.
"Don't tell me you're too stupid to remember to take the water off. Though I wouldn't doubt it." He regarded me as having as much importance as a flea, but just being a stupid girl in love the sound of his voice lifted my spirits.
I turned off the flame, quickly grabbed some tea bags, and an assortment of cups.
"I don't approve of this."
I froze in the process of fetching the milk and sugar. I returned my eyes sorrowfully to him, but I think my confusion was more apparent.
"C...Captain?" I asked nervously.
"You look like a damn fool." He regarded my dress with a cold stare, one I was sure I had given my mother when she first showed it to me. " Not that you aren't one. I mean, you'd have to be dense as one o' them Dumb Fucks to say that your life belonged to me and then leave for home the next day." There was no kindness in his tone, or gentleness in his eyes but I could have died happy at that moment.
"S...sir, you said you didn't want..."
"I've come to take back what is mine. Whether or not it's a completely useless sack of bones."
I bit my lip and had to hold back my tears of joy. He was being horrible to me, he was talking to me, he was taking me back with him.
"That tea is gettin' cold you jack ass! I won't drink it cold." He snarled.
It was an uncomfortable departure from my house. My mother was mortified to hear they were reclaiming me. She tried to make me seem as unappealing in every aspect she could possibly concoct. She broke down any walls of morals and was hell bent to keep her new "girly" daughter trapped here. I felt the weight of fear and dread smother me. I knew she didn't want me to go, but did she really think so poorly of me? Donnie shared my viewpoint and lost his temper before too long, Cid on the other hand drank his tea with a blank expression. I wanted to run up the stairs grab my clothes, the broken in pants and shirts spotted with grease and oil, throw them in a suitcase then get out of this house for good. I found that my mother was deliberately blocking the staircase, she was rather heavy and though I was on the scrawny side, I couldn't get past her. She flatly refused to listen to what Donnie was trying to explain to her. In her mind, this was just another fight she wanted to add to her list of victories. That would sound good when she got to talk to the nosey neighbors the next day.
I stood beside the staircase watching the two people argue with each other. If I tried to put in a word edge wise I was quickly silenced by someone. I hated it. There I was, in a pair of painful shoes that matched my violet dress, the curls in my hair falling into disarray due to the period of time I spent in the rain. I knew if I stayed here, I would loose myself completely. I would become this creature my mother was shaping, and I would forget myself. The me who loved carburetors, engines, and the smell of gasoline. That petrified me. I don't know why but when I saw the Captain set against the backdrop of my house, I was terrified of staying there. There were two worlds colliding, and I didn't belong in this one, the world of my mother's warped mind. I kicked off the ridiculous high heels and pulled my hair back into a messy pony tail. It was a simple action but it struck her like a bolt of lightning. I could barely see Cid watching me out of the corner of my eye, my full attention was on the glowering full face of my mother. She began reprimanding me immediately but I paid her no mind. I pushed past Donnie and tried to squeeze past her.
"And where do you think you're going?" She puffed up as big as she could.
"I have to get my things." I responded calmly,
"I forbid you to leave this house! You're my daughter and you'll do what I say!" She fumed.
I was twenty-five and I was not going to be treated like this... not after all she had just said about me. She must have seen my anger because she seemed to deflate ever so slightly.
"Move. I am not a little girl anymore, and I am not this!" I took a fist full of the skirt and swished it angrily. "I'm not your burden anymore..." I started, my face burning with rage.
"S'right. She's mine."
We all looked at the Captain while he set his drained cup on an empty portion of the table. He crammed his hands into his pockets and slid his unkind eyes onto the lot of us.
"Yours?" My mother repeated with a laugh of bitterness. She gave me a wicked glance. "So dear it seems like you've found some one to roll around in filth with."
The slap, I was sure, had ripped through the entire town as loud as an oncoming train. My hand stung but the red blotch on her face stung more, I'm positive. Her eyes were wide.
"I owe this man my life. And I intend to repay him by giving it to him for ruining his dreams." I pushed past her and set about gathering what I could.
It didn't take long and when I returned in my comfortable clothes, my clothes, with suitcase in hand my mother was nowhere to be seen. Donnie waited for me at the foot of the stairs and I quickly met him. I was still afraid of being stuck in that place, and I didn't want to give anything a chance to happen. It appeared as if Cid had left already and Donnie handed me a raincoat. The two of us came out into the downpour and I swear I felt the weight of the world lift off me. The town around us was hazed with the falling water, it was like being led out of a nightmare.
As we moved through the dark houses to leave this place completely, I asked him why they were in the neighborhood. I don't know if I imagined it or not but he seemed to pause for a minute, as if he was thinking up an answer. He told me that since I left, no one from Shinra had contacted them about what was to become of the program. He said that the company was offering jobs to people left and right, most took them. He went on to say that the barracks were in bad condition and they were forced to take them down. They used the wood and materials to build houses where the wrecked buildings once stood. It was unnerving. I couldn't imagine that, I wasn't sure what would be waiting for me when I returned there, I bit my lip absently. As it turned out he and the Captain had come to talk to Palmer in person, to try and get any information they could. It seemed as if Palmer had no more insight then they did. So then, that's what brought them here? But still, they came to get me, they didn't have to . They could have left me there to suffer a fate worse than death, I couldn't wrap my head around it.
He stopped outside of the Inn and went inside to get the pilot of the helicopter the company had provided as transport for them. I opted to stay outside. I wanted to smile, but I knew I shouldn't. I was so happy to be going back, but had to remind myself of what I had done that caused me to leave. I found myself staring at my house, the downstairs light was on and I could see silhouettes pass before the window. I had a feeling that I wouldn't be welcome there anymore, it hurt, but not as much as I thought it would. As my mind started to replay what memories I held of that place the door opened. I blinked and squinted to make sure I was seeing properly. Cid pulled the hood up over his head and moved away from the house as my father closed the door after him. He had stayed in there? I couldn't take my eyes off him. I felt like I hadn't seen him in years, I knew I had missed him dearly but I only felt the depth of my loss when he was here. I didn't know what I'd do if I lost him again. My broken heart slowly started scraping itself back together as he approached me. He could barely be seen under his hood and the rain, but I could see his eyes.
"I haven't forgiven you. An' I didn't come here to fuckin' save you from the walrus in there." He said coldly, obviously my mother had made a lasting impression on him.
"I never asked you to forgive me." I said hopelessly.
"An' don't expect things to be the way they were." He growled. "I'm not going to make this easy for you. I'm not going to hold back, if I want you to scrub the Tiny Bronco with a toothbrush I'll expect you to do it."
"I will, Captain. I am in your debt."
The Inn door opened and his face was illuminated by the smokey light. He was closer than I'd seen him since he'd come back into my life and he looked terrible. He looked like he hadn't slept since the launch and there were still a few scrapes on his face from the failed lift off. Donnie eyed each of us as we stared at each other, he finally cleared his throat.
"The pilot's on his way out... he said we should head back to the chopper."
So began phase two of my life. The base was no longer there, it was a small town, one that was finally dubbed Rocket Town. I was Cid's personal servant, and I slept on a cot in a small garage in the house he had built. The house wasn't large or very grand, it was built where the old hangar had been and the Tiny Bronco was parked in the high fenced in backyard. The crew members started dwindling as Shinra kept coming with more offers. They're victory finally came over Wutai and their attention turned away from space to the study of Mako and materia. More of our members left for new positions, but a few stayed. It was over the course of a couple years that the remaining few of our people had their families move into the town. The silence from Shinra was enough to dampen even Donnie's spirits, he had to do something else to occupy himself. He started the first real shop in town, he came into the business of selling accessories and weapons to the few travelers that came our way. Others soon followed in his lead. The tone of the people around us changed from co workers to neighbors. Although I was not allowed anywhere near the rocket, they still maintained it as best they could. It hadn't moved an inch since it had first leaned, and soon most barely noticed it. Times were changing, Shinra was even more powerful, and less and less interested in our work. One thing stayed the same however. Cid was true to his word and was extremely hard on me. He held back nothing and insulted me outright with out remorse.
I knew I had brought it upon myself but I couldn't help but get depressed. I knew I should hate him for how cruel he was to me, but call me crazy, I still loved him, I knew I had made him this way.. He drank a lot and would often come home with a looser tongue than he left with. I cried myself to sleep more than a few times when he was like that. Some nights he would not come back to the house. I suspected miserably, that he had found a warm bed with a warm body to bunk with. He always came back though, seemingly more vile and angry with me as the days passed. One night he was in the worst state that I have ever seen him in, even to this day. I heard him coming clumsily toward the house, and I knew he wouldn't be able to make it inside with out help. I expected to keep him up and stop him from falling face first onto the grass outside, I expected him to be wicked to me when I helped him get into the house, what I didn't expect was seeing him cry. He didn't break down sobbing or anything like that, but I did see the tears defiantly fall down his face. I didn't know what to do, I wanted to comfort him but I didn't know what ailed him.
"Captain... what's wrong? What happened?" I asked him in a hushed whisper as I sat him at the round table in the middle of the kitchen.
"Why the fuck did you make me do it?" He spoke to the air the few tears that escaped had made glistening trails through his stubble.
"What do you...?" I started quietly.
"Why did you make me choose between you and my dreams?" He shook his head and closed his eyes miserably. "S'not right... you're fucked up... but then again I am too." He clumsily stood and closed himself up in his room.
I stayed where he left me, mulling over what he had said. Was it possible? Had I destroyed more than I thought I did that day? Was he telling me... that he once cared for me deeper than his own desires? My thoughts were interrupted by his normal loud snoring. Somehow, the thought that he once had feelings for me didn't depress me as it should have, it restored a bit of me that I was in danger of losing. After that night he didn't drink heavily anymore. I didn't ask but I figured that he remembered what he had told me and didn't want it to happen again. I carried on as I always did, doing his menial and often exhausting tasks. Tea was always a staple on my to do list, it was the only time of day when he didn't scream or scowl at me. He wasn't talkative or pleasant, but it was nice to see him at ease, even if it was only for fifteen minutes.
The years had piled up to a grand total of four since the failed launch. It was a day just like any other when we heard the news over the television. President Shinra was dead. He had been murdered in his office in the Shinra building, officials believed it was the work one of two forces a small radical group that called themselves AVALANCHE, or the SOLDIER gone renegade Sephiroth. To replace the late President his son Rufus stepped up. I didn't know what to expect from this and neither did anyone else, would the young new President disband our dwindling funding? Or would he be interested in reopening the program?
It took a few months but we got word from the Shinra informing us that President Rufus would be coming to the town. Cid was beside himself, he wanted nothing more than the man to allow him to start to pick up the pieces of what he almost had. I could feel hope flow through every person that lived in the town. I even began to notice that the Captain was going easier on me, I wasn't sure if he was doing it consciously or if he was too distracted to pile work on me or relentlessly sling profanity at me. The days passed quickly, and we were closer to the impending visit of Rufus. The Captain had reverted to his old habits when we were expecting "company". He was missing meals, smoking up a storm, and pacing quite nervously. Donnie agreed with me, that was a good sign. The Captain spent more and more time in the rocket each day.
The day finally came, tension and excitement buzzed through the town like an electric current. I had brought Donnie lunch and returned the house. I heard voices coming from the back, by the Tiny Bronco. Had they come when I was away? Cid would kill me if I had missed them! I cautiously opened the back door. Three men were standing around the Bronco, admiring it. A large black man with what looked like a gatling gun instead a right hand, a tall elegant man dressed in black and red with an air of unnatural calmness, and a slender blonde man with a large sword and seriously spiked hair were talking quietly amongst themselves.
"Um... may I help you?" I asked them hesitantly.
I was fixed with three pairs of eyes. The blonde man's eyes glowed with an eerie brilliance, and I recalled what I had read about the Mako injections that Shinra gave the members of SOLDIER.
"No... We're just looking at it. " Confessed the blonde. He was young, but I couldn't help but feel that he had been through more than I could ever imagine.
I had an odd feeling, a nagging that these men were not going to leave our little town with out repercussions. Although they made me anxious, I was not frightened. Odd I know, seeing as how they were all heavily armed. I wanted the Captain to know that they were here, that they were interested in his plane.
" ...If you would like to use it, please ask the Captain. The Captain should be in the Rocket. I'm Shera. And what are your names?"
The blonde man introduced himself as Cloud, the man with the gun arm informed me he was Barret, and the dark voice of the last man spoke the name Vincent. I couldn't help but feel relieved.
" So you're not with the Shinra. I thought the approval for the reopening of the Space Program came. " I said with a slight smile.
I got shock in return. Cloud and his companions were rather eager to know why Rufus would be coming here, so I sent them off in the direction of the Captain. I knew I would tell them more than he would have thought wise, but they didn't sense this and they took off with out a second glance. I barely had time to make myself busy when they returned.
"Excuse me... Cloud? Did the Captain say anything?" I didn't quite know what brought them back here so quickly.
" Nope..." Cloud responded flatly.
"Oh?" I knew the Captain better than to think that he hadn't said anything. Or did he just mean he didn't say anything useful. I didn't have time to dwell on this however because Cid came into the house. He glanced around at the men then locked an angry glare on me.
" Shit Shera. What are you blind? We've got guests! GET SOME TEA! Fuck!" He shouted at me.
"I..I'm sorry." I stammered as I busied myself.
" Really, don't mind us." Cloud interjected honorably.
"Shut up! Sit your ass down in that chair and drink your goddamn TEA!" Cid roared, he was under so much stress it was almost impossible for him not to scream all the time. He let out an aggravated growl. "DAMN, I'm pissed! Shera! I'll be in the backyard tunin' up Tiny Bronco! An' make sure to serve them some tea! All right?" He stood abruptly and left out the back door.
The three men stood in the kitchen in stunned silence for a moment.
" ...damn, man. Wassup with that guy's attitude?" Barret commented more to himself than anyone else.
"Sorry. It's our fault." Cloud apologized.
"No, no. He's always like this." I explained with a sigh.
" ...It's amazing that you can live with it. " Vincent's red eyes were locked on the tea pot that sat quietly on the burner.
"No... It's because of my stupid mistake. I was the one who destroyed his dream..." I wished I hadn't said anything at all. I found their curious stares on me and I knew I had no choice but to reveal my crime against him to these strangers. I told them about the rocket, what he had done for me, and why I dedicated my time to do what he asked me to. Cid burst back into the house, seemingly in an even fouler mood than he had been.
"Shera! You still haven't served'em tea! " He snapped at me.
"I..I'm sorry!" I fumbled to make up for lost time.
The Captain sat at the table and propped a muddy boot on the clean table top. He shook his foot restlessly and glared at Cloud.
"Hurry up and sit down! Or ain't my hospitality good enough for you?" He rocked in his seat lightly, his nerves were shot. " They're late... Where is Rufus...?"
In response a voice I had not heard in years sang into the room.
" Hey-HEY! Long time no see! So Cid, how ya been?" Palmer waddled into the house, his cheeks were rosy, he was sporting more pudge, and less hair than I had last seen on him. Cid nearly fell over backwards trying to get up.
"Well, if it ain't fat man, Palmer. How long were you figurin' on keepin' me waitin'? So? When's the Space Program gonna start up again?" The Captain half bellowed.
" Hey-hey! I don't know the President's outside, so why don't you ask him?" Shrugged the tubby older man with an oafish smile. I saw anger storm over Cid's face.
"Fuck! Good for nothing, fat son of a bitch!" He growled as he harshly pushed past the obese man.
" Don't say 'fat'!" Palmer called after Cid. His watery eyes traveled to me and I saw a glint in them. "Hey-hey! Tea! Can I have some too? With lotsa sugar and honey and... oh yeah, don't forget the lard!
I fought back the urge to gag and noticed Cloud and his friends follow Cid outside. I was left here with Palmer all alone, and I felt extremely uncomfortable with how close he was standing to me.
"Mr. Palmer, do you really think that they're going to revive the program?" I asked him as I slyly tried to slink away from him.
"Hey-hey is that plane of his still around here somewhere doll?" He asked pleasantly.
"T..the Tiny Bronco?" I asked forcing the words out. I didn't like where this was going. "Yes, it's just out back..." I didn't have a chance to add the 'why?' by the time he was headed for the back door.
I heard Cid raise his voice outside and chanced a peek. I was right. They wanted to take the Bronco. I could see the Captain's fists shaking. How cruel could they be? How much more could they take from him? Why couldn't they just use the Highwind? Did something happen to the airship? I felt my temper flare. Shinra wasn't going to hurt him anymore. I opened the door and Cloud was right before me.
"Uh, excuse me... This way..." I motioned the trio back into the house. I knew that they were the ones causing the Shinra so much trouble, and if they could get the Bronco...I don't know what sense it made then. I just wanted to know that it wasn't going to Rufus and Palmer without a fight. I led them through the house. "You wanted to use the Tiny Bronco, right? I believe Palmer's going to take it. Why don't you talk to him?"
They took the bait and fought the fat man for control of the plane. In the end Cloud and his friends won but Palmer had been messing with the Bronco and before I could stop it or them, the men latched on to the plane as it started it's lift off. I stared in horror as it swerved through the trees and around the rocket. I rushed through the house, and I wasn't sure why but I grabbed his lance. Rufus and his body guards were watching the scene with the same surprise as I had, the Captain on the other hand looked murderous. I shoved the spear in his hands and he looked at me like he had never seen me before. The Bronco was diving toward us, I swallowed hard... I knew he wouldn't let this one get away from him. The plane screamed over head and as everyone else ducked Cid tore off after it. He leapt into the air and landed square on the biplane's wing. A soldier opened fire on the plane and I heard the bullets connect with the tail of the Bronco. I watched the plane fly away pouring smoke.
The President and his men gave chase, leaving the town in a state of confusion and panic. It was after an hour of nothing that Donnie and I assembled a small group to go seek out answers. The stream of smoke had headed toward the ocean and we followed it. When we got to the water I was both relieved and worried when there was no sign of the plane. There was a slick rainbow colored film on the surface of the stagnant shallow water.
"Gasoline.." Donnie squinted around to try and see if he could find anything else.
After a bit of searching we found a few small scraps of the plane's tail, and discovered the torn up ocean floor. The Bronco had crashed here, but it looked like it wasn't wrecked.
"Did the Shinra take it?" Donnie wondered out loud.
"I don't think so... the tracks head off that way... like it could move through the shallows like a boat." I scanned the waves and saw small traces of more gas further out.
"Then... where's the Captain?"
"He... he must have gone with them."
"What the Shinra?"
"No, the others."
"Why?" Donnie scratched his head as if the action would help him figure it out.
"I don't know... I think they're the ones that are fighting the Shinra, do you really think the Captain would join their fight?" I couldn't see anything.
"After what happened today? I'd be surprised if he didn't." Donnie sighed after a while. "Come on, let's get back to town before it gets dark."
I had trouble with this. It just wasn't sinking in. He was gone. If he had joined Cloud's group... there would be no telling if he would ever make it back here. He could die, and what would I do then? What if he was dead already? When we were settled back into town we all huddled around the television at Nick's bar eagerly awaiting some news. It seemed as if Donnie was right. At around eleven fifteen p.m. the newscaster started a report on the newest attacks by a "growing" band of terrorists. A digitized chart came up on screen, depicting a different face every few seconds. The members of the group were an interesting lot, and I recognized the three I had met today. Cloud's face along with Barret's and Vincent's were joined by a red lion like beast, a pretty young girl with a ravenous smile, a gorgeous woman with a kind face and shocking green eyes, an equally stunning pale skinned woman with long dark brown hair and intense brown eyes, and the last image made a few enthusiastic watchers raise a cheer. The Captain had joined them, he was finally fighting back for what they'd done to him, to all of us. I was so happy to see him there, if he was there he must still be alive. However, again in my foolish stupid way, I was worried that he had seen those striking women and decided to join for a different reason. I shook the thought out of my head, he was alive, that's all I needed to know. I headed back to the empty house and after a moment of hesitation wiped the mud from the table.
----------------------Final Fantasy VII, direct quotes, and all related characters are © Square-enix--------------------------