17

Debriefing:

Huge Materia

"Rise and shine, kiddos!" Screeched a horrifying scratchy voice with a southern accent.

I sat up, and instantly bumped my forehead on something hard. Being on bunk beds had its disadvantages. A sharp pain plummeted into my skull from front to back, and I groaned, fearful of suffering a brain bleed.

"Ah! I'm dead," I muttered, falling back on my pillow with possibly a bright red mark. As I winced, I inhaled cigarette smoke.

The scratchy voice laughed.

"Cid, you couldn't have made a quieter return?" Cloud muttered, already up with his sword out, only to be disappointed that it was Cid at the door.

Wait, Cid is here?

I popped one eye open, finding the pilot grinning in the doorway, arms crossed.

"Well, get your asses up! Don't ya want to start planning the next thing to stop Meteor?"

"Cid? You're here!" I cried, quickly sitting on the edge of the bunk bed, a blanket covering me up. Cid laid out his hands to stop me before I got up.

"Don't get up, please. Put clothes on for Planet's sake," he garbled.

My eyes sparkled, wondering if this was just a dream, but then again, my forehead wouldn't stop throbbing from its new bump.

Cloud groaned, still in his underwear, and leaned his sword against a wall.

"Where are we meeting?"

"The bridge," Cid chirped, fresh as a brand new day. Under the cheap lamp, I could see how his once cold-stone eyes, seemed to have melted into glistering blue pools. His smile held value to it, a real uplift after we all endured the failure of the rocket. I was surprised the pilot wasn't as depressed as we all were.

Cid smacked the wall by the doorway and snapped, "Hurry up!" He slid the door closed, and whistled on, chirpy as a kid.

Cloud was left awestruck, blinking at the door as though he thought he had seen a ghost.

"Was that real?" he asked.

I grabbed for my turtleneck dress.

"Right? I want what he's having," I joked, sliding the dress over my head. As I pulled down its soft wool over me, I found Cloud's eyes lost on my body. I blushed as I tucked the dress down to my knees, and fixed my hair.

"Maybe he has a plan?" I chimed, trying to help him focus.

Cloud's cheeks burned as he looked away, rubbing the back of his head.

"Yeah. Maybe."

—

"Nope, I got nothin," Cid was saying. He crossed his arms, and stared out at the morning behind the skylight, a soft white sun spilling into the bridge. Trailing after the storm, a gentle rain welcomed the morning. Soft drops tapped the glass, a strong breeze waving wet grass out there as Cid got lost in its orchestra. He seemed distracted, taking in every detail, such as the far off mountains hiding in the mist, and the scattered leafless trees waving their tall branches. Was he thinking there won't be much time left to appreciate the beauty around his home? He smiled as though he's already saved the world, but how much of that was real? I think there was a deep, depressing truth in his eyes when I observed, the pilot already at peaceful terms with the upcoming possibility of an end.

"I finally got into space, that's all that matters to me. That, and of course, Shera," Cid explained gently, still too focused to look at any of us.

Barret sizzled, careless if Cid was stuck daydreaming, when he shook his fist.

"Then, why the hell did you wake us all up for?!"

"Yeah, really. I thought we were going to sleep in," Tifa groaned, a hot back on top of her head. She took one look at me slouched in a bean bag chair, and asked, "What happened to your forehead?"

I sighed and rammed my face into the chair's soft plastic skin, hiding it.

"I bumped it," I muffled.

There were a few chuckles.

I was glad that, despite a doom clock hanging over our heads for eleven days or so, we still had enough sense to laugh, even if at me. I groaned again and kept my face hidden.

Yuffie was worst. She laid, head first, on her bean bag, but the rest of her body sprawled out on the cold floor, and she couldn't stop groaning while clutching to her stomach.

"I can't do anything today, you guys. I can't believe I got even this far," she grumbled. A box of crackers sat next to her, and she munched away, spilling crumbs around her.

"Hey, don't eat on the bridge!" Cid spat, but Yuffie just ignored him.

Cid snatched the box of crackers, and the two of them got into a feud.

While Cid and Yuffie argued, Red warmly told me "Good morning", and licked my hand, making me giggle because it tickled. I rubbed his head, peeling away from the bean bag a little, only to have him lick my cheeks, and I giggled some more.

Cloud smirked as he leaned back on a rail, enjoying my smile while I endured the wrath of Red's tongue.

Reeve seemed to be in a content mood, sitting in his usual chair, a small smile stuck to his face while he was tapping on his phone. There was something different about him, a spark in his eye, an extra inch added to his smile? There was something, and after dozens of licks from Red, I surveyed Reeve to try to point it out.

"Reeve, you seem...more relaxed than usual," I mentioned, watchful for his reaction.

His face became beet red, and he cleared his throat, gawking at me.

"Really? Uh, just had a good night's sleep, is all. Nothing else," he explained all too quickly.

My eyes squinted. "Uh huh." I didn't believe him, though Reeve could just be a private person. He wasn't going to tell everyone how his night really went, which I expect it to be fantastic.

Speaking of everyone...

I turned my head around to search the bridge, finding almost everyone here.

Cid's crew had shown up, tweaking parts of the airship as they fluttered around in their orange vests like busy bees.

Tifa with her hot pack to settle her migraine.

Yuffie giving up on crackers and falling back to her bean bag with defeat.

Cid grumbling as he crushed the box of crackers in his hand.

Barret chatted with Tifa quietly, the two getting into a deep conversation.

Reeve back to his phone.

Red talking to Cid about space.

Cloud standing quietly, just as observant as I was, arms crossed and relaxed.

He became mindful of my searching behavior when I discovered we were missing someone.

"Hey, has anyone seen Vincent this morning? I don't see him here with us," I brought up.

"So? He's not exactly the socializing type," Barret responded.

A wave of trouble flashed across Cloud's eyes, and he grunted.

"What, want me to go check?" He asked directly at me when he saw the look on my face.

I nodded. "It wouldn't be right to huddle and plan our next move with him not here," I advised.

Cloud sighed.

"Fine. I'll go get him," he decided, already walking away.

After Cloud's footsteps disappeared, Cid asked any of us, "Well, what do we do now?" When no one said anything for too long, he poked at Reeve.

"Shinra spy, you got anything?"

Reeve seemed lost in his thoughts, humming to himself with his eyes down on his phone's screen.

Cid boiled, teeth clenched around his cigarette.

"Reeve!" he bellowed.

That finally penetrated his daydreaming, causing the man to gasp as he fidgeted in his wrinkled suit. When was the last time he ironed it? Or got himself new clothes? Reeve sat up, and threw his anxious eyes at Cid.

"Y-Yeah? W-What?!"

We all stared at him, Cid especially, his arms crossed.

"Got any ideas about Meteor from Rufus or anyone in Shinra?"

Reeve fumbled with his tie, anything to keep his hands busy and his eyes off Cid's when he replied, "Ah, well, um, I guess there's no use delaying it any longer. There are two plans in motion now."

He looked directly at me, pressing his lips together, as though the upcoming news was going to affect me the most. I blinked at him, wondering why he carried such a pained look.

Reeve looked away with a sigh, and rested his elbows on his thighs.

"Rufus will take care of the barrier surrounding the North Crater. It should be finishing up in a few days," he exposed.

I already knew this, and wondered why Reeve thought that news would upset me.

Without me having to ask, he added, "The second plan is new, and, well…" he swallowed.

"I don't know what to think of it, to be honest."

Barret leaned in, wailing, "Reeve, dude, what is it?"

"Yeah, Reeve. Tell us," Tifa insisted, rising from her bean bag.

Reeve rubbed his eyes roughly. He needed a shave, a dark shade of fuzz growing around his once trimmed beard and mustache. Dark circles that used to be under his eyes, finally dissolved, though he still appeared tired, but after a fun night. I couldn't wait to hear the details later.

Reeve straightened, sitting back in his chair.

"It's the Huge Materia," he began, fingers tapping his knee.

We all strained to hear, all eyes on him with readiness. Yuffie especially shut up, sparkles shimmering around her eyes.

"Huge Materia?! Where?!"

"Suddenly, you sound better," Tifa droned, amazed at the younger girl's drinking abilities.

But before Reeve could explain, footsteps echoed, and then, "He's not here," Cloud muttered.

All eyes blinked up at him, bewildered, while he carried himself calm from the sudden news. Tifa dropped the hot pack from her head, swinging it at her side.

"Wait, what? Vincent's gone?" she whispered. Her amber eyes flickered out to the window, as though she was already searching for his red cloak out there, a red dot on the green plains somewhere.

Yuffie pushed herself off the bean bag with a jolt.

"What? Gone?! Why?" she spat.

Cloud crossed his arms and shrugged. He was probably glad that Vincent left, another worry gone.

"Who knows," Cloud replied cooly.

I was at a lost for words, and faintly wondered if he left because of our troublesome encounter last night. Did he leave because he felt guilty? To keep me safe from his beastly jaws? I swallowed, feeling partially to blame, while Cloud held himself unaccountable.

"He didn't even say goodbye," Tifa uttered.

Barret scratched his head.

"Yeah, why would he just leave us? Cloud, you sure he isn't just hiding in a dark room somewhere? This airship is pretty big, man," he mentioned.

Cloud shook his head.

"No need. He left this," and he lifted a note with elegant handwriting for all of us to see.

Yuffie almost bumped into Cloud when she snatched the letter from his hand and read it aloud

"Dear friends, if you see this, then I'm already long gone. I need to figure things out-"

She gasped, hand covering her mouth as she groaned, ready to puke. Her face turned green, and she took a deep breath, her thin legs waddling under Tifa's grey hoodie, shorts, and her sneakers.

"Yuffie, let me read it to everyone," Tifa insisted, taking the letter. Yuffie didn't protest, keeping her hand over her lips. As soon as Tifa took the letter, Yuffie collapsed on her designated bean bag, groaning.

Tifa studied the wrinkled letter, her thin eyebrows up.

"Dear friends, if you see this, then I'm already gone. I need to figure things out. There is something I must take care of, and I didn't want to drag you all into it. Sincerely, Vincent."

"No way," Barret grumbled, reaching for the letter, and Tifa handed it to him with her lips pressed together.

The letter passed around, Cid humming over it while I sulked quietly.

Reeve fiddled with his tie.

"Uh, I know this is out of context, but, we need to um, get on with the plan, right?"

Yuffie hissed at Reeve, and his face turned red before averting his gaze from her.

"Yeah, but, it's Vincent. He's the cool one."

"I thought I was the cool one," Both Cloud and Reeve said at once, pained.

Yuffie, Tifa and I all grinned at once, while Cid coughed out loud, "dorks".

Barret rolled his eyes, and Red just smirked.

Yuffie chuckled, "Cloud, you are cool, but also a bit intimidating. And Reeve!" She pointed at him, and he seemed to cower from it.

"You're the anxious, angsty dork who hides from anything."

Reeve sulked, sinking his head over his lap while his fingers laced on his neck.

"Yeah, you got me there," he muttered, ashamed.

"Yuffie!" I spat, rising to lay a gentle hand on Reeve's back. "He's brave when he wants to be," I argued.

Yuffie scowled and crossed her skinny arms, looking away as her lower lip stuck out.

"Thanks, Aqua," Reeve sighed. He laid back in his chair and rubbed his hands across his face.

Cloud sighed, stepping further into the group, and set a hand out.

"Look, I know we care about Vincent, but he's an adult. If he wants to go figure himself out on his own, then we need to let him. Our priority is what Rufus is up to," he advised seriously.

There were a few pouts, but no one objected.

"You're right," Barret shrugged. "I guess, I just assumed we all should stick together till the end, ya know? I mean, we've been a group for a long time now.

"And we are, for the most part," Cloud muttered. He dropped his eyes to me for a second, and we shared a look. We knew where each other's thoughts went: to last night with Vincent. But we also knew there was nothing we could do. Cloud looked away, and told everyone, "We still have a job to do."

Besides Yuffie whining, there were no complaints.

Reeve nodded at Cloud.

"You're right, Cloud. We're losing track here. Let's talk about Rufus's plan, shall we?"

I sat on his chair's arm rest, and asked, "You mean the Huge Materia?"

Reeve looked up at me and nodded, his brown eyes turned to stone suddenly.

"Yeah," he struggled, looking away. His thick eyebrows lifted, and he took in a deep breath.

"Like I've explained to Aqua yesterday, Huge Materia is like regular Materia, though more condensed, at 330 times more powerful. Only five of them exist today, extracted from the cores of reactors after many years of fermenting."

Cloud hovered behind me, I could tell, his presence almost excessive with his solemnity.

"We're just hearing about this now?" He grumbled.

Reeve looked up at Cloud nervously, his hands clasped between his thighs.

"If the rocket had worked, then this idea would've been scraped, or saved for later. But since Meteor is still here, and Rufus doesn't want to take his last chance on the barrier at the Northern Crater, he's come up with this plan."

His dark brown eyes settled on mine, and he took a difficult, deep breath, his face growing more pale.

"Aqua, we all know you are from another world. We also know that the gateway to that world is in the Forgotten City. From Zero-I mean, Isaac's report, it seems only you or an Ancient can open the gate. Right?"

I nodded, and I began to take notice at how hard my heart was thumping.

Shame washed over Reeve's face as he looked down at his hands.

Carefully, he quietly uttered out to all of us, "Well, what if, somehow, someone found a powerful enough source to do the same thing?"

I held my breath.

Gasps escaped Tifa's and Yuffie's lips. Barret dropped his jaw. Red lifted his ears, golden eyes wide. Cid dropped his cigarette from his mouth. And Cloud swallowed.

"What are you saying?" Tifa asked, her fists up to her lips.

Reeve didn't dare look at any of us when he replied, "I'm saying, Rufus is creating an escape plan to leave this world and transport him and his team to Aqua's world."

"What?!" A few of them shrieked at once.

I jolted to stand, watching Reeve carefully in case he was joking, but he didn't smile.

My inhales began to shrink, until I started to wheeze, a hand to my anxious chest.

"Reeve, that can't happen. There's no way that will happen, Rufus is wasting his time. Besides, he can't get through the forest. Only Ancients can get through-oh," I stopped short, forgetting that Cloud and the others got through, but how?

My worried eyes turned around to face Cloud, and he frowned at me as he said, "We used a special harp to get through. That's how we got into the Forgotten City."

"And now Rufus has it, from Isaac," Reeve proclaimed.

I spun, my wheezes coming in fast.

"Wait! You mean, he has a way in?" I wheezed.

Reeve nodded.

I began to feel dizzy. Rufus and his team embark to my world? He was going to take the escape route, let his people die from a Meteor he cannot stop, and leave this all behind just to save himself?

"That bloody coward," I whispered, a mix of irritation and disbelief crashing over me, fists curled at my breasts.

"Reeve, we can't let that happen," Cloud demanded, sensing my dismay, but also, he had a score to settle with Rufus.

Reeve nodded, lifting his tired face up.

"I know that. Guys, we have eleven days before Meteor falls. We need to go to Junon and extract the Huge Materia before Rufus and his team take it to the Forgotten City. We have time," he suggested.

Yuffie jumped her rear back to her bean bag and scoffed up at the ceiling with irritation.

"What does it matter if Rufus leaves? Good for him. We got rid of him, one way or another," she garbled.

"Yuffie!" Tifa snapped.

I settled down, turning to Tifa.

"No, she has a point, Tifa. In my world, there are many like Rufus. It's a bigger place than this, more people, and therefore, more leaders, some just as corrupted," I muttered, almost apologetic about it. My hands fiddled with the wool of my dress, and I thought of what damage Rufus could do to my world. Could he really make a difference? He had the charisma, the personality, and a body of followers willing to go with him to a foreign place.

I tried to picture Rufus unsuccessful, left as a hobo somewhere in New York City, telling every passer he was once President to a magical world, and often be mistaken for being insane. That image put a temporary grin on my face, though it was best not to take that possibility to chance.

It would be an act of justice to make him stay here and suffer like the rest of us once Meteor hits.

"But I won't have him run away, leaving all of his people behind because he's a coward. I won't let there be more corruption in my world. There's already enough of that," I assured. My fists curled tight, green magic coursing through my veins to pump its light around my chest.

I made a fist, observing it glowing until it lit up my face in a soft green haze. Flashbacks of Rufus's bitter personality throughout my stay made me clench my teeth. His cold hands, icy eyes, that look of displeasure from his privileged face.

"I want him to pay," I uttered, eyes narrowed.

Cloud's hand curled over my glowing fist, to settle me, and I looked up at him, trying to read his expression. He hid it well, eyes soft but distant, the Mako pushed back, and a straight line formed across his lips. Maybe he was silently telling me that he wanted to make Rufus his problem, but I couldn't be certain.

Cid scowled as he picked up his dead cigarette.

"Well, even if we do get this Huge Materia, what are WE supposed to do with it?" He challenged, stuffing his cigarette in a wrinkled box full of them from his pocket.

"I don't want this kind of power stuck on my ship," he argued.

There was some quiet muttering, thoughts bubbling around.

"Guys, I think I know," Red's voice echoed. We all looked down at him, seeing how he sat comfortably in the white light.

He lifted his furry face up at all of us, yellow eyes bright as he mentioned, "Bugenhagen may know of a way to use them. I'm certain of it." Just the mention of going back to Cosmo Canyon brought a giant smile to the creature's face.

Yuffie groaned, "No," already dreading the future trip. Her hands pushed her cheeks towards her lips, dreading anyplace that had no Materia.

Red chuckled at her before walking towards her head to butt it with his. He licked her cheek, short hair caught in the saliva, and said, "It would make me happy if you could come along."

Yuffie made a face, fixing her hair when it got stuck to her wet cheeks.

"Fine. I'll think about it."

"Okay," Cloud sighed, eying everyone. "Next stop, Junon. There, we go to the Materia lab to take the Huge Materia, and figure out how to get to the Underwater Reactor to take the last one. After that, Cosmo Canyon. Sound good?"

No one disagreed.

Cloud blinked, a flash of Mako come and gone, and he grunted, turning his dim eyes to Reeve.

"Reeve, will Rufus be in Junon?"

Reeve shrugged.

"I haven't seen him on my cameras this morning, not since last night's meeting after the rocket failure. I can't say, Cloud," he struggled.

Cloud took a deep breath.

"I'm going to Junon," he declared, and a flash of killing zapped through his eyes, blinking it away before anyone would notice. But I saw it, and I swallowed uneasily.

"Who else wants to go?" Cloud asked.

"ME! ME!" Yuffie wailed, both hands up. She panted, "Huge Materia! I want the Huge Materia!"

My worrying quickly turned into giggles when I got a good look at Cloud's twisted face.

"Fine. Anyone else?"

Should I go? I hesitated, not ever wanting to step back into Junon.

"I may have a way to get us in, so I'll go," Reeve volunteered.

"Me too! I need some action," Barret cheered.

"Then it's settled," Cloud confirmed, having his team figured out.

"I'll go call grandfather," Red added, his four legs in motion, possibly to the conference room where a phone was. How he was going to use the phone with his paws, was left am mystery.

Tifa was quiet, her eyes lost out there in the scenery, while she hugged herself tight. Was she thinking of Vincent? Of home? Costa Del Sol? Or of Cloud?

Her eyes drifted to him briefly, and she ducked her head, telling herself it was a lost cause. He loved her once, and yet, I've seen how many times Tifa glanced his way, the many lingering looks and sighs coming from her. I never saw Cloud feel her eyes, tense at her presence, nor turn to look at her to read her eyes. Not even once, oblivious.

Or maybe he was already in love.

I knew as soon as you brought her into my bar.

My arms and legs tingled, unaware of how much Tifa really knew Cloud, reading him better than anybody when I was barely in their world. I had no idea, completely unaware of Cloud's behavior, his watchful eyes always on me. I thought it was out of obligation, like a kind gesture from of a bodyguard just doing what he did best. I really had no intention to get in between him and Tifa, trying to help those two initially. It was a lost cause as soon as I entered the picture.

How naive I was.

I walked up to Tifa, hands behind my back, and kept my voice low, in case I were to startle her.

"Bummed about Vincent gone?" I asked, trying to guess her thoughts.

Tifa blinked at the mist, and shrugged.

"I liked him around. He reminded me of Cloud, but then, of course, I would just be drawn to him because of that. That's selfish of me," she shared, shaking her head. Her long bangs swayed around her face, shaping it to appear even more narrow. Her amber eyes grew out there, seeing something that made her smile sadly, but i couldn't see what it was, unless it was in her imagination.

Tifa clamped her hands behind her back, her breasts extended.

"I think… I think I want time alone," she whispered. I blinked, wondering what that meant exactly.

"What do you mean?" I pried.

Tifa smiled a little more, and she gave me a warm look, something real and almost motherly.

"I need to find my reason, too. Why I want to fight. I want it to be more than just hating Shinra," she declared gently.

I smiled back, proud of Tifa's thoughts, but also a bit afraid. Was she going to leave us, too?

"Where will you go to find your motivation?" I asked.

Tifa turned her glowing face back to the window, and she pushed herself up on her toes.

"Costa De Sol, of course," and she winked at me before turning around to leave, putting our conversation to an end. I watched her go, still mesmerized by her long hair barely held together by a small band.

Will Tifa say goodbye before she goes? I wondered that until she disappeared, unaware that it was going to be awhile.

The airship began to buzz with excitement.

Cid ordered his men to start up the Airship, the pilot marching up the steps to his post. All men reached their stations, pressing buttons and shouting out, "Systems green, captain."

"Engines charging. One-hundred and twenty seconds!"

"Mako reserves at sixty-five percent!"

"Navigations systems on!"

"Sky's clear. No weapon within ninety miles radius!"

The Airship rumbled, vibrating under my feet. I rubbed at my throbbing head as I made my way to the front of the bridge, a hand to the rail while I looked out at the misty fields.

Wind turbines spun heavily, tossing the tall grass in all directions violently. My stomach felt the ship slowly begin to hover, its landing gear retreating inside its metal belly.

It felt exhilarating to be floating up towards the sky, the airship feeling light as it lifted all of us with it.

"All right, fellas. To fuckin Junon!" Cid shouted.

Eventually, the engines fired, and the ship charged with a bit of a rough jerk, which is why I held on tight to the rail. The green fields blurred away, covered by the heavy mist and clouds. Trickles of Mt. Nibel appeared, more like dark blue spots in the world of white.

I peered down at the curved glass, feeling lightly nauseas just seeing how fast we were flying. A mix of dark and white clouds engulfed us, something covering up the glass until it appeared dark on the bridge. Cloud took a spot next to me, watching the sky ram its way into us with bulging shadows.

We were quiet, lost in our thoughts. I fell into Junon, still stuck on whether I should go or not. I had Cloud with me, and Rufus had no need for me anymore. But it was the awful memories that held me back. I swallowed, thinking about how I almost lost Tifa along the edge of that cannon. How I've lost Isaac to the unforgiving sea. The dark red corridors of Rufus's headquarters, his home like an ascetic, cold, barren place, my prison.

I felt controlled, my anxieties closing me in like a cage, making me avoid such a place in case I were to panic. It was only going to get worst and worst if I didn't do something.

I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths, inhaling for four seconds, holding for four and out for six, until my thoughts dissolved, and I began to relax.

It will be different this time. Cloud will be with me, that's the reassuring thought that made me bravely say out loud, "I want to go, too. To Junon."

Cloud turned his head to me, keeping quiet when I felt him tense.

I took another deep breath and said, "I won't let my anxiety keep me here on this airship, when I know you are all going to risk your lives to prevent Rufus from entering my world. This is something I must do with you. As long as you are there," I looked up at him. "I will be okay." And I smiled gently, feeling lighter.

Cloud softened his face, and he lowered his eyelids.

"I thought you might insist on coming along. I can't make you stay," he started, and he leaned his face a little closer.

"I'll protect you."

"Until we stop Sephiroth?" I teased, remembering his pinky promise to me. Of course, if we did stop Sephiroth AND meteor, I didn't expect Cloud to just dust his hands off and tell me, "Well, it's been fun. I don't have to protect you and our growing child anymore. See ya."

Though, life after Sephiroth seemed like a dream, something to not really think about because I was afraid it may not be given. It sounded enchanting to even discuss it.

The dark clouds departed, leaving bright light to fall on Cloud's face to show me just how red is cheeks were. He cleared his throat and smiled timidly, an expression I haven't seen from him before.

"Not telling, yet," Cloud breathed, leaning in closer. I caught the desire in his eyes, urging me to get up on my toes and touch his lips with mine.

"Hey, hey! Not on my bridge! Go make out somewhere else!" Cid shouted.

"Eww, gross," Yuffie hissed.

Cloud leaned his hand on the rail, and while keeping our lips together, he lifted his other hand to flash his middle finger at everyone who complained. He and I suppressed our laughter during the kiss.

Cid cried out, "Don't make me stop this airship!"

30