FIFTEEN

When we got to the 68th floor, we stepped out into a short hallway. There were a few doors lining either side, but we ignored them as I led Tifa and Barret to another lift at the other end. Looked like there were a few different sublevels in this lab. I also noticed the outer walls had a slight curve to them as they rose to the ceiling. That meant we must've been in the drum section of the building near the top.

Hojo was standing in front of the lift with his back to us. He didn't seem to have heard us, as absorbed in his own thoughts as he was, so I nodded to Barret. He got the message and slowly raised his gun-arm as we crept toward Hojo. It didn't look like he'd pressed the button for the lift yet. He was just babbling to himself.

"So many variables," he said. "Hmm… perhaps a sedative to make the subject more pliable for the procedure. However, it could adversely affect the results. Wait, wait… I mustn't overthink it. Leaving her fully alert could prove interesting as well…"

Barret poked him in the back with his gun-arm. "Don't even think 'bout movin', asshole. I ain't bluffin'."

"Oh?" Hojo glanced at him. "What is this?"

"A dozen bullets in your head unless you call that lift right now an' take us up to your main lab."

Hojo shrugged and pressed the button. "If you insist."

"We do," I told him.

Inside the lift was another set of doors. It was made of metal grates instead of steel panels and slid open once we reached the next sublevel a few moments later. Hojo led us out into another short hall, and at the far end stood a pair of thick steel doors with a card scanner on the wall nearby. I pointed to it, my eyes narrow.

"Open it," I ordered. "Now."

Barret gave him a nudge. "You heard him!"

"Do stop pushing," Hojo said. "Unlike you, I am less accustomed to physical violence. It tends to get… rather messy."

"You'll get used to it," Barret growled.

Hojo walked over to the scanner. "Ah, you must be the ones who've been stirring up trouble lately. The eco-terrorists? Avalanche, if I'm not too much mistaken. What is it that you want?"

"Our friend," Tifa answered. "She's in your lab."

"Take us to her," I added.

Hojo cackled maniacally as he swiped his keycard. "Your friend, is she? Well… Yes, yes, indeed… That should do the trick nicely. It would be quite fascinating to see her reaction if I were to show her your fresh corpses. I promise… you will regret this."

As soon as the door opened, he rushed inside before we could stop him. We followed him into a large, multi-leveled lab. Much of the area was open, with an enclosed second level that could only be reached by two sets of stairs, one at either end of the room. There was another lift on the far end as well as a door near it leading to another section of the lab, but I ignored them as we skidded to a halt.

In the middle of the room was a large, clear cylinder made out of a thick, shatterproof glass. Hojo's testing chamber was sealed shut with a transparent door, and standing calmly inside it was Aerith. Her eyes lit up when she saw us, and when I saw her there, I felt a mixture of relief that she was alright and anger at her imprisonment. Hojo gazed cruelly at us from a panel near the chamber.

"So glad you could join us," he smiled coldly.

I drew Buster. "Aerith!"

Hojo raised his finger. "Ah, ah. There are so many frivolous things in this world. Are you going to kill me? I assure you, that would not be wise. The equipment here is quite… delicate."

"Damn…" I sighed, lowering my blade.

Hojo started tapping controls on the panel. "Much better. Think it over logically before you make any rash moves."

Tifa clenched her fists. "We're taking Aerith back!"

"Oh?" Hojo said. "Correct me if I am wrong, but did she not come here of her own free will? She is not your property."

"She came here to save my Marlene!" Barret snapped.

Hojo shrugged. "I'm afraid you misunderstand. But I really can't be bothered to explain. This facility is home to a number of extraordinary specimens that will change the world as we know it. Do try to be more considerate. In the meantime, enjoy the show."

Just then, Aerith scooted back as a round section of the floor in the middle of the testing chamber suddenly lowered out of sight. It rose up again a moment later, though, and on it was the red-furred animal we'd seen downstairs earlier. It growled at Aerith, baring it sharp teeth as its flaming tail whipped around it. She backed away from it, her eyes wide with fear, and started pounding frantically on the glass walls. I felt my blood boiling as I glared at Hojo.

"What the hell are you doing!?" I demanded.

He rubbed his hands together. "What does it look like? I am saving two endangered species from extinction. I won't allow these marvelous animals to disappear from our world."

Tifa's glared daggers at him. "Animals!? How could you!? Aerith's a human being, too! Just like the rest of us!"

"You payin' for that, asshole!" Barret snarled.

"Barret!" I shouted. "The lock!"

He nodded. "Awright, Cloud! I'm on it! Stand back!"

"No! Stop!" Hojo yelled.

But he was too late. Barret whipped up his gun-arm, took aim, and fired. Bullets ripped into the locking mechanism and blew it apart with a shower of sparks and smoke. As it shorted out, so did the chamber. A bright, blinding bluish light suddenly filled it for a moment as the door slid open with a loud hiss and cold steam wafted out. Between that and the light, it was hard to see anything in there.

Hojo ran to the open door. "My precious specimens!"

Just as the mist began to clear, the red-furred panther leaped out at him. Hojo barely had time to let out a startled squawk before the thing pounced on him, pinning him to the floor with its paws. The other lab techs in the room froze on the spot as soon as Hojo went down and his experiment spiraled completely out of control.

I looked at the others. "Now's our chance! Let's go!"

We raced over to the testing chamber, and while the others waited, I hurried inside to get Aerith. She was still there and, strangely enough, didn't have a scratch on her despite her dangerous encounter with that animal from downstairs. I was a little curious about it, but I decided to worry about it later. What mattered right now was getting her out, and I went over to her to do just that.

"Thanks, Cloud," Aerith smiled, stepping toward me.

I gently took her arm. "Sure. You okay?"

She laughed. "Oh, yeah…"

We were just stepping outside the damaged testing chamber when I suddenly heard the lift behind us moving again. I turned around, not liking what was going on, and at the same time, Hojo slipped away like an eel, cackling all the while as he rolled to one side before the panther could stop him. He scurried up to the second level and slipped into an enclosed control room almost right above us.

"What's wrong, Cloud?" Tifa asked.

I slowly backed away from the testing chamber. "The elevator's still moving, Tif. Something's coming."

"Indeed," Hojo cackled. "Although it is unexpected…"

"The hell?" I stared up at him.

He smiled coldly down at us as his wheezing voice came through a speaker. "The results provided by my predictive models clearly indicate that this force should be more than capable of handling you. Of course, I had not planned to release it yet, but I believe you will make excellent victims… er, test subjects… for this specimen."

Just then, the panther turned to us… and spoke. "I'm familiar with the creature he is referring to. I've seen it before, and what it can do. So if you don't mind, I'll help you all out."

"You can talk?" Tifa gaped, her jaw dropping.

He nodded. "I'll speak as much as you'd like later, miss. But for the time being, I suggest we concentrate on the incoming threat. Specimen H0512 is quite strong. Don't underestimate it."

"Right," I agreed. "Tifa, fall back with Aerith. Keep her safe."

She pumped her fist. "Will do!"

As she and Aerith hurried away from the testing chamber, I looked back at the panther. His bright orange fur was bristling in anticipation of the battle, and his single eye was fixed on the lift. He unsheathed his sharp claws as I quickly drew Buster again.

"You got a name?" I asked.

"Red XIII," he answered. "That is what Hojo calls me. However… I prefer Red. Aerith shortened it for me."

I blinked. "But weren't you—"

"Save it for later, guys!" Barret barked. "Big boy's here!"

He was right. The monster was there in front of us, surging off the lift and out of the testing chamber. It towered over us at almost twenty feet, a huge and misshapen thing with tough, mottled gray skin twisted with whitish veins all over a lot of its body. Its feet had three large toes, with a fourth in the back for balance, but large as its legs were, its arms were even bigger and hideously deformed.

Each of them was different. The monster's left arm widened into a bulbous, circular thing with four short, sharp claws while its right arm was shorter but just as dangerous. It was basically a giant reddish hand with four long talons. H0512's shoulders were thick and broad. The left was covered in some kind of armor plating while the right opened into a gaping maw lined with curved teeth like razors.

The monster stared at us with eyes that were completely white in a head made of pale red flesh. It didn't have a nose or mouth, just a mass of tentacles hanging from what passed for its face. And it wasn't alone. Three smaller monsters, like giant yellow ladybugs with four legs and a single pale green eye, scuttled ahead of it.

"Ready?" I asked the others.

Barret grinned as he took aim. "Hell yeah, baby!"

Red bared his teeth. "More than you know. I've been caged here for far too long. And freedom awaits."

"Then let's take it!" I shouted, rushing in.

With a yell, I cut at the nearest of the insect creatures with a flurry of quick slashes. It shuddered and bled, but didn't fall just yet. A streak of orange fur shot by me as Red charged another of the monsters, claws slicing deep gouges into its round body as I kept pressing the attack on the first and Barret fed bullets into H0512 itself.

The beetle thing I was fighting leaped at me, nicking my arm, but I managed to deflect the bulk of its attack and shoved it away. Then I cut at it with a focused thrust and it collapsed. The third one bounced just as I was turning to it, and a burst of magical flame suddenly shot up in front of me, driving me back for a moment. In the meantime, Red was tearing his enemy to ribbons while Barret braced himself and shrugged off a blow from H0512's clawed left arm.

I swept Buster across in a backhand slash before the bug could cast another spell, and it squealed I sliced it apart with three quick cuts that left it in pieces on the floor. But just as I turned to start in on H0512, it waved its arms, and two more of the bug things appeared out of a thick grayish mist and started attacking.

"Damn!" I swore, diving out of the way. "Not good!"

Barret shot one of the bugs off my back. "No shit, merc! So what're we gonna do 'bout it? They jus' keep comin'!"

Red tore into another. "I suggest a change of plan."

But before we could do anything, H0512 suddenly spewed a cloud of noxious purple vapor that swept over us. Red and Barret sank down, trembling and twitching uncontrollably as the poison seeped into their bodies. Sweat covered Barret's skin, and Red's tongue hung out as they tried to keep fighting, but I knew the venom was taking a toll on them. The bugs unleashed a barrage of spells, showering my friends with fire and ice while also keeping me from getting to them.

But then, as I felt the gentle warmth of Jessie's star pendant against my skin, I realized the poison hadn't affected me. Her gift was blocking it and protecting me. I held it for a moment through my shirt, thinking of her. Then I let go, gripped Buster in both hands, and rushed straight through the noxious vapor toward the bugs.

I cut and sliced and spun, cleaving one of them in two with a high overhead chop. Then I swung Buster in a tight arc, hurling a pale green wave of energy at the others, driving them back. I didn't waste any time but hit H0512 as well, three deep slashes that left trails of amber energy in their wake before exploding a second later.

"Barret!" I called. "Catch!"

I tossed him an antidote, and while he downed it, I hurried over to Red and gave him one, too. The effect was immediate. As soon as they swallowed the pale green liquid, their trembling stopped and the fever wracking their bodies finally broke as the toxin was purged from their systems in only a few seconds.

"Thank you," Red said. "But if I may, how is it you were untouched by the poison? It should've stricken you as well."

"Gift from a friend," I answered.

Barret nodded as he fired a few shots at the bugs. "Jessie jus' saved our asses! Thought that was it for us."

I hefted Buster. "Not yet. Can you fight?"

"Shit! You gotta ask?" he said, pounding his chest.

Red swiped at a bug that had gotten close. "I can, too. But while we are recovered for the moment, the vapor still lingers. It may strike at us again unless we can find way to disperse it."

I glared at H0512. "Right. And even if we do, that thing might just spray it at us again. We've gotta hit it fast."

The bugs leaped at us again, but I ignored them this time and went straight for their master, Buster cutting a line across its hide. But just as I tried to follow up my attack with a backhand blow, the monster did it first, blocking my strike with its clawed right hand while smashing me in the chest with its huge left fist before I could get away. I flew back to land hard on the floor with a pained grunt.

H0512 ignored Barret and Red, who were tied up dealing with the bugs, and came right for me, moving faster than I'd thought possible. It was on me before I knew it, and I had to roll aside to avoid its crushing punch. My chest still hurt from the last one. Another one dove toward me only a few seconds later, and I barely got Buster up in time to block it. H0512 kept pounding on the blade again and again, but I gritted my teeth and held firm even as I lay flat on my back.

Then, suddenly, Tifa was there, knifing through the air with a loud yell and hitting the monster squarely in its ugly, tentacled face with one of her flying kicks. And as H0512 staggered under her assault, I sprang back to my feet just in time to feel a familiar soothing wind sweep over me and clear away the noxious vapor.

"You rang?" Aerith teased.

I glanced at her. "Thought I told you to stay back."

She readied her bladed staff. "Not when my friends need me. Glad you remembered to bring this along with you."

"Thought you'd want it," I said.

"Of course, Cloud!" she giggled, twirling it. "I already thanked Tifa for carrying it on her back all this way for me."

I gave her the magician's bracelet. "Here. Take this, too."

Aerith put it right on. "Ooh, pretty! Thanks!"

"Sure," I told her. "It should make your magic stronger. And I think we're gonna need it real soon, Aerith."

"I'm ready," she nodded.

As I swatted aside another of the bugs before it could get too close, Tifa and the others joined us. H0512 was lingering behind its minions, calling a few more as we paused for a moment to regroup. There had to be a way to bring that thing down. We just had to keep it busy so that it wouldn't have a chance to restore the bugs again.

"What's the plan, guys?" Tifa asked.

"You and Barret take take out the bugs," I answered, knowing what to do. "In the meantime, Red and I'll get in close and deal with big boy. Aerith, back us up. Keep us on our feet."

She grinned. "Yes, sir! I'll show you what I can do!"

"If any of you see that thing use its poison breath again, fall back," I went on. "I've got Jessie's pendant protecting me, so I'll cover you all as much as I can. And don't forget the antidotes."

Elmyra had given us each a few more this morning before we'd left, a little care package to help us with our rescue. Now that we had Aerith back and Red with us as well, we quickly redistributed the antidotes so they'd have some, too. Once that was done, I hefted Buster and charged right at H0512, Red loping along beside me.

As Tifa and Barret unloaded on nearest of the bugs, gunfire filling the air, Red and I struck at H0512 from both sides, Buster slashing left and right as he slammed into the monster with a spinning leap and cut at its hide with his claws. Then he jumped back and stared hard at it, a flash of yellow light shining from his headdress.

"If you have lightning magic, do what you can to avoid using it," he warned. "This creature is highly resistant to such damage. However, its left claw can be shattered, leaving it vulnerable."

I nodded. "Copy. Let's do it."

But then, H0512 suddenly reached its arm toward one of the bugs, and it started tremble and shake. My eyes widened as I realized what it meant and what was happening. I dove toward Aerith, who was closest to it, and rolled away with her just as the bug exploded behind us, gore flying in every direction. Once the dust settled, I helped her to her feet and quickly brushed myself off.

"Thanks, Cloud," she smiled. "Got a little too close, huh?"

I smirked. "You always do."

"Can't argue with that," she teased. "Well, anyway, back to the fight! We've still got a big monster to kill."

"Just means it'll fall harder," I promised.

With that, I ran back in, Buster at the ready. The others were all in one piece, and while Tifa and Barret took on the last two bugs, I joined Red to strike at H0512's claw like we'd planned. The monster lunged at us, but a blast of fire from Aerith knocked it off balance before it could attack. Red and I seized the opportunity and got to work, and it wasn't long before his claws and my sword had broken the thing apart. With a yell, I severed the grotesque thing in one swipe.

H0512 roared in pain and stumbled back, catching another fireball in the face from Aerith in the midst of it. Just as Red and I rushed in to press the attack, the monster unleashed its toxic breath again, spewing another cloud of purple gas over us. Just as before, Jessie's pendant kept me safe, and I motioned for the others to back up as I hit H0512 with a quick triple slash to buy my friends time.

"Antidotes, now!" I called.

Aerith was the first, downing hers in an instant as I kept slashing at the monster. She straightened at once, and as the color returned to her skin, she lashed out with more magical fire. This time she sent it at the gas cloud, burning it away in an instant while the others all drank their antidotes and shook off the effects of the poison. Then Aerith let loose with a touch of healing magic, sending it into us one at a time to see to the wounds we'd sustained during the battle.

Tifa waved to her. "Thanks!"

"Anytime, Tifa!" Aerith said, spinning her staff. "Thanks for letting me use that Restore materia for a while."

"You bet!" she answered.

I deflected a heavy blow from H0512's remaining arm and pushed it away. "Everyone okay back there?"

Barret shot apart another bug. "Never better!"

"I'm fine," Red added. "Now I believe we should finish this. H0512 is weakened, and we can destroy it if we maintain the pressure. But we must act quickly before it can restore itself."

I kept on slashing. "Right. Take it down, everyone!"

This time, we all focused our attacks on H0512. Only one bug was left, and Tifa froze it solid with a frigid burst of cold from her materia, then shattered it with an aerial roundhouse kick like the one Jessie had used on the Shinra soldier back at the Sector 1 train station. It felt as if that mission had been a lifetime ago now.

Putting my thoughts aside, I sliced at H0512 again and again while Red leaped onto its back and started clawing and gouging. Barret fired a barrage of bullets into its chest as Aerith hurled another fireball at it. Tifa followed up with a forward somersault kick to its face, sending the monster reeling backward, and I finished it off with a focused thrust to its heart, Buster shearing right through it as Red jumped off. H0512 let out a last, gurgling cry, then collapsed and lay still.

"Got him!" Aerith cheered.

I turned to her as I shouldered Buster. "You okay?"

She nodded. "Yep! Not a scratch."

"Certainly looks that way," Tifa agreed. "Aerith seems to be alright, Cloud, all things considered. But we'd better go."

Barret glanced curiously at Red. "So, uh… what are ya?"

"A fascinating question," he replied. "But not the easiest to answer. I am what you see before you. Nothing more. I know you all must have many questions, but Tifa is right. We must go."

"How'd you know that thing's weak spot?" I wondered.

Red lowered his head for a moment so we could get a better look at his feathered headdress. "Assess materia. I also have Lightning, but the beast was resistant to it, so I refrained from using it. Hojo's aides never examined me very closely in all the time I've been here. Neither did he. If they had, they would have found them."

"Very clever, Red XIII," Hojo sneered, his voice coming again from the speaker. "I knew I should have checked you more thoroughly when the Turks first brought you here. I wouldn't savor your freedom for too long if I were you, however. It won't last."

"We shall see," Red growled.

Barret snorted. "Your models got it wrong, egghead!"

Hojo sighed. "Yes. An unknown variable, perhaps. Well, no matter. Reinforcements will soon arrive. I store many specimens in these labs, and one of them will certainly subdue you."

I glared fiercely at him as he watched us in the control booth. "But will they get here in time to save you from me?"

"Hmm… are you a SOLDIER?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. Used to be."

"Not quite," Hojo mused. "Oh, that's right. My boy, you were never a SOLDIER. I remember that now. You—"

"Liar! I was!" I yelled.

Hojo laughed. "My, you really believe that, don't you?"

I took a step toward him. "Damn right I do!"

"Cloud!" Tifa called.

But I wasn't listening. What Hojo had said was a lie. It had to be. I'd been in SOLDIER. I remembered all of it—the training, the mission to Nibelheim, everything. The others looked at me with uncertainty, but I knew Hojo was just bullshitting us, trying to stir up doubt and make us lose time so we'd be caught by security.

"Wait a minute…" Hojo's eyes lit up as he gazed at me and cackled. "Of course! So the hypothesis is true! Then this must mean that… he is awake now, and it will begin soon."

I swept my arm in front of me. "Screw that! We're leaving!"

He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Indeed. Don't let me stop you. I am quite eager to see what will unfold tonight. I only hope you will not disappoint me. This should be interesting…"

Then he was gone, walking away into another section of the lab. It didn't make sense. Why would he just let us go? More tricks, no doubt. I didn't know what he was planning, but I knew it couldn't be good. No time to worry about it now, though. We had to leave. So I turned to the others and took a breath to calm myself.

"Sorry," I said. "Bastard's just trying to mess with us."

Tifa sighed. "Yeah…"

I blinked. "Tifa? What is it?"

"Hmm?" she wondered. "Oh, nothing. You're right, Cloud. Let's go before he changes his mind and comes back."

Aerith smiled. "So, Cloud… you did come for me."

I looked at her. "You had any doubt?"

"Nope!" she giggled. Then she gently patted Red's nose. "Though I did have help. Your plan worked, Red!"

"What plan?" I asked.

Red explained. "I must ask for your forgiveness for what happened in the testing chamber, Cloud. It was not what it appeared. Aerith and I were merely acting to throw Hojo off guard."

Aerith's green eyes danced merrily. "So how'd I do?"

"Jessie would be proud," I told her.

"Thanks!" she grinned. Then she grew serious. "And about her… I know she's hurt. The planet's calling her, and she's very close. I can feel it. But it's not too late. We can still help her."

I stared at her. "You're sure?"

Aerith nodded. "Positive. Jessie's spirit is still with us, Cloud. Even if only by a thread. I saved her before, and I'll do it again. Get me home and I'll see to the rest. I'll bring her back."

"You'll be there," I promised.

"Damn straight!" Barret agreed. "An' Aerith… thanks for savin' my Marlene. I owe ya more than I can ever repay."

She smiled. "My pleasure."

"Save it for later!" I told them. "We've gotta go."

Barret started toward the lift. "Merc's right. Now that Aerith's back with us, we ain't got no need to stay here."

"Back to the main elevator," I ordered. "Move!"

"I'll lead the way," Red offered.

He loped off ahead of us without waiting for an answer, and we all followed him, putting Hojo's lab firmly behind us. It was a bit of a tight fit for us all to get into the lift, but we managed. As soon as we got back to the lower part of the 68th floor, we hurried to the elevator and rode it downstairs to the storage facility. Most of Hojo's other monsters were still safely in their glass prisons, so we ignored them and kept moving. But as I was passing by Jenova's dome, I suddenly felt a dark pull in my mind and found myself moving toward it.

"Cloud! Stay with us!" Aerith called, taking my hand.

As soon as her fingers closed around mine, that strange pull in my thoughts suddenly receded with an incoherent snarl of rage in a voice I didn't recognize. Something cold, feminine, and alien. Jenova? I didn't know. I didn't understand what was happening, only that with Aerith's touch, I was somehow myself again.

I shook off the cobwebs. "Yeah, sorry. Thanks."

"Anytime," Aerith said, letting go.

We rejoined the others and moved on, hurrying out of the Science Division as quickly as we could. We came across a few aides on the way to the exit, but they all scurried aside as soon as they saw us. Red raced through the open door, the rest of us right behind him, and a moment later we were back in the security area.

Three moth slashers were rolling down the hall on patrol when we got to the intersection. They were powerful mechanized sentries whose lower bodies were basically giant balls fitted with rotating blades. They also had drills on their heads and claws on their arms. I drew Buster as they closed in, and between the five of us, we took the machines down fast with our weapons and a bit of lightning magic.

Suddenly, there was a commotion just up the hall from the security office. No doubt the guards had heard us, and I braced myself for more fighting. But then the door shorted out in a shower of sparks, trapping the guards inside, at least for a while.

"Look!" Tifa pointed.

I did and saw a black, furry tail disappearing into an air vent in the ceiling near the door. "Our little friend's back."

"Little friend?" Aerith wondered.

I looked at her. "We'll explain later. For now, let's just keep going. It won't take long for those guys to break outta there, and we shouldn't be here when they do. Time to mosey."

We rushed down the hall and followed it back to the escalator bay, then rode downstairs back to the 66th floor. The main elevator was just down the passageway and across from the conference room. Although it wasn't that far away, it felt like it took longer to get there than it really did. We didn't see anyone else around, and that was strange, but I put it out of my mind and focused on our escape.

The elevator arrived almost as soon as I hit the call button, and we all hurried inside. But just as the doors started to slide closed, a gloved hand suddenly reached in between them and pushed them open. It was Rude, staring silently at us from behind his dark sunglasses. I sighed as the others gasped in dismay. Tseng was with him, his brown eyes cold, and I knew then that we'd been caught.

Rude stepped into the elevator with us. "Going up."

"Tseng…" Aerith murmured. "You knew?"

He stood in the doorway and nodded. "Of course. Though I admit, you made it much farther than I expected."

I grimaced. "This was a trap?"

"Exactly," he answered. "You must have found it very exciting, and I'm sure you enjoyed it. But it ends here."

"Shit…" I swore.

Tseng gestured to Aerith. "You will come with me. Now."

Just then, a squad of Shinra soldiers marched up behind him, rifles ready. Although I was sure we could've taken them out in a clean fight, there wasn't room with all of us in the elevator, and their guns were all trained on us. One wrong move and they'd open fire. And at this range, we wouldn't last long if that happened.

Aerith walked back into the hall. "Alright, Tseng. I'll go. But if you hurt any of them, I won't cooperate."

"I'm afraid that's not my decision," he answered. Then he motioned to the soldiers. "Split them up. The mercenary and the girl in here, and the others in the second elevator. Bind their hands."

As he led Aerith away and Rude looked on, the soldiers forced Red and Barret out and into the second elevator and put us all in handcuffs. Tifa and I could see our friends through the thick glass walls. Once the elevator doors had finally closed, Rude swiped his keycard through the scanner and hit the button for the 70th floor.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

Rude glanced at me. "The president wants to see you."