FOUR

We got back to Evergreen Park about fifteen minutes later. The trip had been thankfully uneventful, with no bandits or monsters to bother us. Not that we couldn't have handled them, but it would've taken time to fight them off—time Jessie might not have. We had taken the longer back road instead of the collapsed expressway for that very reason, not to mention Marissa's bike. With all the ravines and debris, there was no way she could've driven it through there.

People still huddled in the clearing nearby, but others lingered here in the park as well now, and it looked like some were even trying to get back into Sector 7, too. That tunnel Cloud and Wedge had mentioned. Others were going into and out of it, probably to search for lost friends and loved ones just like we were.

"Ready, Tif?" Cloud asked me as we went up to it.

I took a breath and nodded. "Yeah. It's still so hard to believe… it's gone. Shinra… they did it to us again, Cloud. Just like back home. Tore it all away from us, same as before."

He laid a hand on my shoulder. "Not all of it."

I followed his gaze to where Barret, Wedge, and Lena stood not far away as Marissa parked her bike by the tunnel entrance. And I thought of Biggs, resting at the Leaf House. We still had our friends, and I knew we'd always have each other, too.

"Yeah," I agreed. "They didn't. Not this time."

There were still two good friends missing from our circle—Aerith and Jessie. But we would get them back. We'd save them. I wasn't going to let Shinra keep them from us. And I saw the same thing reflected in Cloud's eyes, the same determination. I drew strength from it, knowing it wouldn't falter or fail. No matter the questions I still had about him, I knew he was still Cloud, my childhood friend.

Then we all went into the tunnel. It was narrow, with dirt walls and pipes running along the metal grating that made up the floor. Here and there, the passage was choked with debris that had crashed through the ground, and at times we had to squeeze our way past it, but we made it to Sector 7 without much trouble.

Or what was left of it.

"Goddamn…" Barret breathed.

He wasn't kidding. The slums were a wasteland of rubble, shattered buildings, and small fires. Smoke hung in the air, and half the area was totally buried, crushed beneath the weight of the broken roads, homes, smashed cars, and other debris that had fallen from the plate. The steel sky was gone, at least over Sector 7, and above us hung the real thing, a blanket of stars hovering in the night.

People from around town—neighbors, friends, customers—walked around the ruins and dug at the debris to find anyone they could, alive or not. The wounded sat or laid here and there, so many of them, while others looked after them as best they could. And then… there were the dead, their bodies for the most part thankfully covered with old sheets as soon as they were found.

"Hey!" a voice suddenly called to us. "Over here!"

I looked up at the owner. "Wymer!"

He was there, with his blue cap and brown beard, trying to move a large piece of concrete—a huge chunk of what might've once been part of a parking garage up on the plate—just enough to free a woman who lay trapped underneath it within the wreck that must've once been her house. She was still alive, but barely.

"Can you guys gimme a hand?" he asked.

Cloud nodded. "We're on it."

He, Barret, and Wedge hurried over, each taking hold of the debris to help lift it enough for the rest of us to pull the poor woman free. But as I knelt down along with Lena and Marissa to do that, I gasped when I suddenly realized who we were rescuing. She recognized me too, her eyes filled with sadness and regret.

"Derla…" I murmured.

She gazed up at me. "Tifa? Is that… you?"

I took her hand. "Yeah, it's me. I'm here. We're gonna get you outta here, okay? Just try to hold on."

While Lena and I took hold of her and Marissa got her first aid kit ready, Cloud and the guys started pulling, heaving at the slab of debris with all their strength. As soon as the gap was large enough, Lena and I carefully moved Derla out into the open. Marissa took one look at her, then sighed and shook her head. I saw it, too.

Derla's body had been broken, crushed during the impact, and her blouse was splattered with blood. It leaked from the side of her mouth as I sat with her and held her in my arms. Derla gazed at me, breathing in ragged gasps as tears glistened in her eyes.

"Tifa…" she wept. "I didn't mean… for this to happen. This was… all my fault. I… I'm so… sorry…"

I gave her hand a gentle squeeze and nodded, not knowing what to say but wanting to be there for her nevertheless. Derla gave me a faint, grateful smile, then let out a single long, pained breath. She didn't take the next one. I saw the light leave her eyes as she died, and I bowed my head, a tear sliding down my cheek.

She hadn't been an easy woman to get along with, and I'd had more than a few sharp words with her over the years. But I never wanted this for her. And I was going to make sure Shinra answered for her death as well as all the others they'd caused tonight. Although she had made her share of mistakes, Derla had been honest enough to own up to them in the end, and that's how I remember her. After slowly lifting my head, I closed her eyes and gently set her down.

Then I stood up and sighed. "She didn't deserve this…"

"No one did," Cloud agreed.

"We'll explain that to Shinra soon enough," Barret said. "Now let's go on. Jessie's waitin' for us."

As Wymer draped a sheet over Derla's body, we moved on, heading slowly down the ruined street. I hated seeing my home like this, and as we got closer to where the bar should've been, I found myself avoiding the sight of it, looking one way or the other but not at Seventh Heaven. I just didn't know if I could bear it.

"Tifa," Cloud touched my arm a moment later.

I looked up. "No…"

The bar—the warm, comforting place that had been a home to me for the last five years—was nothing but a burnt, charred shell of its old self, the back half crushed underneath the weight of tons of rubble and debris. The sign was scorched, broken in two, the awnings all but gone. And the stairs and patio were a shambles.

I took a few steps forward, my eyes wet. I wasn't the only one. Lena and Wedge both had tears in their eyes, too. Barret gently laid his hand on my shoulder as Cloud stood by my side. We all gazed for a moment at what was left of Seventh Heaven. It had been such a good part of our lives and had held so many fond memories.

The day I had inherited it from the previous owner, realizing it was mine for the first time. Trying out new recipes with Wedge, having late night drinks with Biggs. Playing dolls with Marlene upstairs. The night I'd first met Jessie, when Biggs and Wedge had taken her here to grab a bite to eat after bringing the cats home. The day she'd joined Avalanche and we'd had our first toast together as a group.

And then there was the night I'd reunited with Cloud and brought him to the bar. It was the same night he and Jessie had first met. At this very place. I saw how he and I had playfully haggled the next day about his fee for helping Wedge patrol the outskirts. Cloud and I talking after the Reactor 1 mission about his promise and how happy I was when he had agreed to stay. Dinner and dessert with him and the gang. Playing poker together after the warehouse mission. Jessie helping me prepare to go undercover and infiltrate Corneo's mansion.

The memories flooded my mind for a moment, so many at once. It was overwhelming. Biggs bringing in Marlene one day a few years ago, both of them covered in mud after she'd jumped into a big puddle over at the nearby playground. Barret, Jessie, and I had gotten a good laugh out of it. And then, there was the first time I'd hugged Biggs, before the Reactor 5 mission. By the front door.

"We gonna build us a new one," Barret told us. "When this is over. Jus' hold onta that, guys."

"We will," I agreed, smiling gratefully at him.

Cloud nodded. "Yeah."

Wedge gave me a thumbs up. "It'll be great, Tifa. You'll see. We can try out some new recipes."

"Thanks, Wedge," I hugged him.

"We're all right here for ya," he told me.

Lena took his place when he let go. "What he said!"

"You think Kunsel and I could help?" Marissa asked. "I'm sure he'd love to pitch in. If that's okay."

I wiped my eyes. "Of course! Thank you…"

They were right, and I was so glad they were there with me. When we had saved Aerith and Jessie and everything had settled down, I'd see about building a new bar. We all would. As I gazed again at the ruins of Seventh Heaven, I took a deep breath and let that hope fill me. I would hold onto it, just as Barret had said. It was time to move on, but before I could, I suddenly heard a voice shouting from just a short ways down the road. And I knew who it was.

"Ma!" Johnny shouted. "You in there!? Say something!"

We all hurried past the bar, and I saw him a moment later, his red hair bright in the gloom as he tore desperately at the wreckage of what had once been a small house. It was completely buried underneath the crushing weight of several huge chunks of the plate's underside. Cloud and I just sighed, knowing there was no way anyone could still be alive in all that. But Johnny kept digging anyway.

A woman was with him, her long, bright red hair spilling over one shoulder. She stood there, seeing the same thing we did, and at her feet was a case of cloth pads along with bottles of what looked like different medicinal creams, probably for treating burns, scrapes, and other small injuries. As Johnny kept furiously tugging at the rubble, she gently laid a hand on his arm and shook her head.

"Johnny…" she said.

He pulled away from her. "She's gotta be in here, Sandra. She's gotta be! I can't… I can't just…"

Sanda looked away. "I'm sure she was, but…"

"Hey!" Johnny finally saw us, his eyes glistening and wet. "Tifa! It's you! And Cloud! Bro! You gotta help me, man! Ma's trapped in there! I came back here right after the plate came down, hopin' she got out, but I ain't seen her or my cousin. They…"

"I'm sorry, Johnny…" I hugged him. "But… they're gone."

He shook his head. "No! They can't be! They just can't! What am I supposed to tell Pop? He's still back in Wall Market, just couldn't bring himself to come here and… and see it for himself. Ma's gotta be alive! I can't tell him that… that she's…"

"Johnny," Cloud took his shoulders. "Pull it together."

"Yeah, man… sorry. Just can't believe this shit really happened. It's like a bad dream, you know?"

Cloud let go. "Yeah. I do. But it did."

"You came back to help everyone, didn't you?" I added.

Johnny nodded. "Yeah. When I saw my house… I just kinda lost it. But you're right, Tifa. Maybe… maybe I can get some other people out, you know? That could still make it. I'm kinda strong. Not like Cloud or anything, but… I still wanna help."

"You'll find a way," Sandra assured him.

"I hope so," he said, wiping his eyes. Then he looked back at us. "If we can give you a hand, well, we're here. You guys looking for someone in particular? Or are ya just here for everybody?"

Cloud folded his arms in front of him. "Jessie. She's probably by the pillar, or at least where it used to be."

"I ain't seen her, but I'll be glad to help you look," Johnny said. "We both will, if you guys don't mind. Didn't know her that well, but she's a friend in need, so ol' Johnny's ready to pitch in."

"We'd appreciate it," I smiled.

He pumped his fist. "Alright! Just lead the way!"

In spite of our grim surroundings, I felt my hopes grow along with our numbers. We had a nice little group together now, all dedicated to finding and saving our lost friend. As we made our way steadily toward what was left of the outskirts, Marissa and I helped anyone else we saw who was wounded, tending to them as best we could. Sandra helped as well, sharing her supplies and soothing people's hurts in whatever way she was able with her salves and bandages.

The guys moved what debris they could, getting as many survivors free as they could while we all made our way slowly but steadily toward where the pillar used to be. I tried not to look at the huge empty space, but it wasn't easy. I'd seen pieces of it all over what was left of the slums, and there would surely be more in whatever was left of the pillar's base. And Jessie was trapped somewhere in all that. But wherever she was, I was going to find her. We all were.

We were about halfway through the outskirts when we came to the wall. Well, not a wall, exactly, but the path leading to the pillar complex was choked with rubble and debris piled on and around the remains of a crashed Shinra chopper. The one Barret had shot down, most likely. I frowned, not liking the sight of that barrier.

Tifa stood next to me. "What do we do, Cloud?"

I glanced at Barret. "Think you can shoot us a way through?"

"Worth a try," he nodded. "Back up."

We did that as Barret brought up his gun-arm and took aim. Then he fired, pouring bullets into the rock and broken concrete. But though he blasted plenty of it apart, sending fragments flying, the larger pieces didn't budge. After a moment, he sighed, shook his head, and lowered his arm. Disappointment filled everyone's faces.

Then I turned to them. "I don't know about you, but I didn't come all this way to be stopped by a damn wall. Jessie's out there somewhere on the other side, and if I have to dig my way through this thing to get to her, then that's what I'm gonna do."

"You heard him!" Barret barked. "Let's get to it!"

Then I felt a hand fall on my shoulder. When I turned to see who it was, my eyes widened. "Jules?"

It was him, alright. That trainer from the gym in Wall Market. But he wasn't alone. He had what looked like all his musclebound workout buddies with him. They must've shown up while Barret was busy firing at the rubble, and it had been so loud it had drowned out the sound of their approaching footsteps.

"Good to see you again, Cloud," he said. "Andrea sent us over here to help not long ago. We've been freeing anyone we could find, putting our strength to use, and we heard you were heading this way. And that the road was blocked. Need a hand?"

I nodded. "Yeah, anything you can do. And… thanks."

He smiled. "Like I told you in the gym, you're part of the family. So that means we help each other out."

"Thank you so much!" Tifa's eyes lit up.

"Anytime," Jules said. Then he looked at his men. "Alright, boys! It's time! This is what we train for! So get in there and make a path! There are people on the other side who need our help. Ronnie! Jay! You know what to do. Put your backs into it!"

Ronnie grinned at me. "Don't worry, man. We got this!"

"Right," I said. Then I looked at the others. "You heard him. Jessie's counting on us. So let's tear a way through this thing!"

"Yes!" Barret pumped his fist.

Wedge rushed in, grabbed a large chunk of concrete, and started to pull it free. "Hang on, Jessie! We're coming!"

Tifa tightened her gloves. "Big sister's on the way."

The rest of us followed suit, pulling away whatever rubble we could while Jules and his men did likewise. Sometimes it took two or three of us together to move the larger and heavier pieces of debris. And while Barret, Wedge, Johnny, and I kept at it and Tifa smashed jagged chunks of concrete to dust left and right, Jules had several of his men grab hold of the ruined chopper and slowly push it aside. He and the others kept clearing the rubble as Lena, Sandra, and Marissa moved as many of the smaller fragments out of the way as they could.

As soon as the way was clear, I ran through, Tifa and the rest right behind me. It wasn't very far to the pillar complex, and my heart raced as I thought about how close I was to finding Jessie. She had to be here, probably trapped in the debris. There was a lot of it here, broken pieces of the pillar and twisted sections of stairs. A small mountain of it lay at the base of where the tower had once been.

"She's gotta be in here somewhere," I told the others. "Fan out! You know what to look for! Go!"

They didn't hesitate, spreading out at once. We searched the debris, checking every bit of rubble we saw. I pulled at the shattered chunks of concrete one after another, looking desperately for Jessie. But she didn't seem to be anywhere. It was a large area, though, and I wasn't going to give up. I don't know how long we spent in that place, turning over bits of rock and frayed wires, but I didn't care. I wasn't leaving without her. And I wasn't going to accept that she was buried deep underneath this mound of wreckage where we couldn't reach her.

"Cloud!" It was Johnny. "Over here!"

I whipped my head up from where I'd been searching and ran over to him. He'd been looking toward the back half of the ruin, and when I saw what he was kneeling by, my eyes widened and my heart suddenly sped up. It was the broken edge of the platform that Jessie had been on. It had smashed through the bottom floors of the pillar and had landed upside down, half-buried by rubble.

Jessie was pinned beneath it, lying on her stomach with only a few inches between her and the broken metal grating. It was just enough to keep her from being crushed by the weight of all the debris above her. I immediately started throwing it off as Johnny did the same. And then I remembered the others.

I glanced over my shoulder. "Barret! Wedge! We found her!"

"On our way!" Barret called.

They were there only a few seconds later along with Jules, Ronnie, and Jay. We cleared away the debris bit by bit—broken beams, cracked slabs of concrete, fragments of the plate's underside—while Marissa got her kit open and Tifa and Lena knelt nearby, ready to pull Jessie out as soon as we got her free. After a few endless minutes, we'd finally moved enough rubble to get at the broken platform section. I took one end as Barret took the other while the rest of the guys lined up in the middle. I nodded, and we all got ready.

"Pull!" I ordered.

We all did, and even with my SOLDIER enhancements, it still took all my strength to move the thing. The impact from the fall had driven it right into the ground along with the weight of all the rubble that had collapsed on top of it. The broken section of the platform didn't budge at first, stuck as it was, but we didn't stop. And soon enough, I heard it tear free from the dirt. Tifa and Lena moved in right away, reaching for Jessie and carefully bringing her out into the open.

Tifa looked up at us. "Got her!"

We set the platform section back down at once, and I immediately knelt down next to Jessie to take a closer look at her as the others stood nearby. She was bloodied, bruised, and burnt, covered in ash, dirt, and dust, her eyes closed. I gently took her hand, needing to touch her after all that had happened. Her skin was cold and clammy, almost like clay, and for a moment I was afraid she was already gone. But when Marissa took her pulse, her eyes suddenly lit up.

"She's alive!" she gasped. "Just barely, but… she is!"

Relief flooded through me, and I kept gazing at Jessie and holding her hand while Tifa focused on her materia and Marissa opened up her first aid kit and took out a number of trauma pads, gauze rolls, medical tape, potions, and other supplies. Sandra got some of her creams ready as well to help treat Jessie's burns. Fortunately, none of them were more than second-degree at the most. The others huddled close by, watching anxiously as the girls worked. Marissa looked at the potions she'd taken out, then picked a darker blue one.

"Get her mouth open," she ordered us. "This won't heal everything, unfortunately, but it should help with some of her lesser injuries so we can move her. Understand?"

I nodded. "Got it. Barret, gimme a hand."

"Right here, Cloud," he said.

Between the two of us, we got Jessie's head elevated and her mouth open so Marissa could give her the potion. And as we were doing that, Tifa called on the materia's magic, and green sparkles of healing energy enveloped Jessie's body for a moment before disappearing. Some of her smaller cuts and burns began to close up and heal while Sandra gently rubbed her medicinal salve where she could.

Marissa sighed as she started bandaging the rest of Jessie's wounds. "She's bound to have internal bleeding and other injuries inside that we can't get at here. Not to mention the bullets in her arm and shoulder. It should be safe to move her now, though."

"Then let's get her back to Elmyra," I said.

Johnny glanced at me. "She gonna be alright, bro?"

I knew she would. "Yeah. She will."

With Sandra's help, Marissa finished binding up Jessie's wounds as Tifa cast another cure spell. Then they moved back and gathered their things together as I carefully picked Jessie up and held her in my arms. I gazed at her, so relieved to see her again even hurt as she was. My left arm was wrapped under her thighs while my right supported her lower back and waist. Her breath was just a faint whisper.

The armored breastplate Jessie wore was a blackened, charred mess now, and the dark blue leotard and thin chain shirt underneath it were both burnt and torn. Her gloves and pants were stained with blood and scorched from the fire, and so were her metal shin guards. Her leather belt pouch was badly seared, and I realized that she must've been out of raspberries by the time I'd reached her.

The one she'd thrown at the chopper had to have been the last, and that had been incredibly lucky for her. If Jessie had still had any, they'd have exploded when the console did, killing her on the spot. It seemed the baby chocobo feather still worked, not that I'd ever doubted it. She had also landed in just the right way to keep from being crushed. More good luck. And as I thought about that, I was very glad that I had given the feather back to her in the pillar.

I looked at Jules and his boys. "I owe you one."

"Don't mention it," he grinned. "Just be sure to come and work out with us sometime, alright?"

"Deal," I agreed.

Tifa stood up and joined me. "Count me in!"

"Looking forward to it!" Jules laughed. Then he turned to his boys. "Alright, let's see who else we can find. There might be other survivors out here somewhere, so let's move!"

Then they hurried away, scattering to search more of the ruins. As I watched them go, I reminded myself to thank Andrea the next time I saw him. Tifa smiled for a moment, then it faded as she gazed at Jessie, worry in her wine-colored eyes. The others waited expectantly around us as I gently cradled Jessie in my arms.

"We'd better go," Tifa said.

"Yeah," I agreed. But first, I looked over at Johnny and Sandra for a moment. "Thanks, guys. You did good."

Johnny nodded. "Sure thing, bro. I hope she pulls through."

"Me too," Sandra added.

"We'll stick around to see who else we can help," he said. "I need to figure out how to tell Pop about Ma, too."

Tifa laid a hand on his shoulder. "You'll be okay, Johnny."

"Thanks, Tifa," he replied. "And good luck!"

With that, the rest of us all hurried back toward town, making our way carefully through the cleared barrier before continuing on through the outskirts. There were more people bustling about the ruined streets when we returned than there had been earlier. Moving debris, tending to the wounded, passing out food, and more.

As we headed down the road toward the tunnel entrance, I heard a familiar voice calling to us, and when I looked to my right to see who it was, I blinked in surprise. Lydia waved at me with her free hand as she came over to see us carrying a stack of clean, neatly-folded blankets in her other arm. Her short brown hair swished lightly around her ears as an excited smile lit up her face.

"Cloud!" she called. "Didn't expect to see you here!"

"Surprised to see you, too," I said.

She pointed to her blankets. "Dad and I started to make these after the plate fell. We don't know much about medicine, but we can at least make sure the people here are warm and comfortable. They don't have anywhere to go, the poor things."

Tifa smiled. "You're Gant's daughter, aren't you?"

"Yeah, that's me," Lydia said. "How did you… wait a minute, you're Tifa! The one Cloud and Aerith went into Corneo's mansion to rescue! They told me about you before they left."

"It's very nice to meet you," Tifa shook her hand. "And what you're doing here is really wonderful. Thank you."

Lydia blushed. "You're welcome. I'm glad to help."

Gant was a dressmaker in Wall Market and had made me my dress so I could infiltrate Corneo's mansion with Aerith to save Tifa. Corneo had been planning to take Lydia as one of his brides, but we had made damn sure he knew it was a bad idea.

"Don Corneo still bothering you?" I asked her.

Lydia shook her head. "Nope! He's gone, actually. Left town, if you can believe it. I say good riddance!"

I stared. "He did?"

"Yeah!" she said. "Right after the plate fell, some guys from Shinra came tearing through town and stormed into his mansion. They never found him, though. But his men scattered, and I think they're all gone, too. I don't know what you all did in there, but whatever it was, Shinra's pissed with Corneo. I knew you'd kick him out!"

"It was our pleasure," Tifa grinned.

Lydia blinked. "Wait, where's Aerith? Isn't she with you?"

I sighed. "Shinra's got her. Took her while we were fighting to save this place. We're getting her back, though."

"I know you will," she nodded. "Kick ass, alright?"

"You bet," I smirked.

She gazed at Jessie. "I hope your friend makes it, Cloud. Looks like she's had a pretty rough time."

"She has, and she will," I assured her. "She's strong."

Lydia unfolded one of her blankets with a flick of her arm and laid it carefully over Jessie. "Here you go. Don't want her catching a cold or getting infected. Who is she?"

I answered with a single word. "Firebrand."

As soon as I said that, Lydia's eyes widened. Firebrand was a legend in Wall Market, a name and reputation Jessie had unknowingly earned after her own run-in with Corneo two years ago. And Lydia, like many young women of the town, really admired her because of how she had stood up to the Don, torched his pet Abzu, and successfully escaped. It had given her and those other women hope.

"Really!?" Lydia gasped. "I knew she was real! She must've put up a hell of a fight to get so hurt…"

I nodded. "She did. She was trying to save everyone."

"Of course she was," Lydia marveled. "She's Firebrand. Now I know she'll be okay. Nothing's gonna keep her down!"

Barret grinned. "Damn straight!"

Tifa smiled."We'll tell her you asked about her. She'd be very happy to know what you're doing here. This was her home as well as ours. So we all appreciate your help."

"Thank you!" Lydia gushed. "Anyway, I'd better go. Lots of work to do. But it was good seeing you all."

"Tell your dad thanks for us," I replied.

She waved. "Will do! Bye!"

As she hurried away to pass out more blankets and we got moving again, Wedge scratched his head. "So, what's this stuff about Firebrand? I didn't know Jessie had a nickname."

"Neither does she," I told him. "It's a long story."

"Sounds pretty cool, though," Lena said.

Tifa chuckled as we walked. "It sure is. We'll tell you all about it on the way back to Sector 5."

"Not all about it, I hope," I groaned.

"Hmm? Oh, right," she smirked. "Your little… disguise."

Barret blinked. "Disguise?"

"Nothing!" I said, hurrying on.

"The hell's gotten inta ya, merc?" he wondered.

Tifa giggled. "Let's just say we had some rather colorful adventures in Wall Market before we made it over here. We found out about Jessie and her nickname in the middle of all that."

"Here's the tunnel," I said, changing the subject. In a hurry. "Better head on back. Elmyra's waiting for us."

The opening was right in front of us, and while Tifa didn't argue, I didn't miss the little wink she gave me. She'd keep quiet about the dress I'd had to wear, and I could only hope Aerith would do the same once I had rescued her and things had calmed down. In any event, I put it out of my mind as we descended into the passageway, our footsteps loud in the stillness. I kept Jessie close as I walked.

Marissa moved up alongside me. "Cloud, I've got an idea. Once we get back to the park, take Jessie on the Gust and ride on over to Sector 5 ahead of us. That way you can get her to Elmyra faster. We'll catch up to you guys as soon as we can."

"Sure thing," I told her. "Thanks."

"My pleasure. I just want to give Jessie the best chance she can get, you know? She's stable for now, but still very weak. And not even close to being out of the woods yet."

I knew she was right. "She'll make it."

"I hope so," Marissa said.

The rest of the trip through the tunnel was uneventful as we made our way through the narrow passageway. Carrying Jessie in my arms, it was a little harder to squeeze past the large, fallen chunks of debris that partially blocked the way, but I managed.

We emerged back in Evergreen Park a little while later. I didn't stop or slow down but went right over to the Gust. I'd told Tifa and the rest about Marissa's plan on the way through the tunnel, so they knew what to do. I carefully handed Jessie over to Barret for a moment, and then I slid onto the Gust as Marissa tossed me the keys. I sat toward the back instead of on the driver's seat and turned on the bike.

It roared to life, purring nicely, and I nodded in satisfaction. Barret and Wedge gently passed Jessie back to me when I was ready, and I sat her in front of me, holding her in place with my left arm and using my right to grip the handlebar. Her head drooped limply down as Tifa and Lena put her feet on the footrests. And then, Tifa smiled as she slid one of Jessie's hands under mine until I took it.

"Good luck, Cloud," she said. "We'll be right behind you."

"See you soon," I promised.

Then I gunned the engine and drove away, heading down the road toward Sector 5. I stayed on it when it split, knowing I couldn't make it through the collapsed expressway like this. But Tifa and the others just might, and it could save them time if they got lucky and didn't run into many bandits or monsters on the way.

As the junk piles flew past under the night sky, I held Jessie against me as her hair fluttered past my face. I drove as fast as I dared, weaving along the trail as it twisted back and forth. As I sped along, my eyes on the road, I gave Jessie's hand a gentle squeeze, telling her without words that I was there. She didn't respond, but I hadn't expected her to. What mattered was that we were together again. We'd sort out the rest later. I leaned closer to her so my mouth was by her ear.

"You're gonna be fine, Jessie," I murmured. "You're gonna make it. We beat fate, and now we're gonna beat death. So stay with me, alright? I'm here, and I'm not letting you go."

Holding Jessie close, I drove through the night.