Midgar is dark, black as night with only rogue mako sparks drifting past like shooting stars to provide light. In the distance, an enormous, looming monster birthed as a guardian of the planet looms at the ready, preparing to destroy this death trap of a city. Elena rests her hand against the glass, eyes locked on the gargantuan creature.

"Do you think it'll get us before Meteor does?"

"Doubt it," Reno replies, leaning against the window and peering at the horizon over my head. Rude grunts, touching his glasses. "We got the giant gun, remember?"

"I guess."

"It doesn't inspire much confidence," I point out, crossing my arms. "Not when half the workers have been treating it like a suicidal slip-n-slide." The ground rumbles and Elena jerks away from the glass, startled.

"I think it's going to fire soon."

"Should we scram?" Reno suggests, jerking his head back toward the elevator doors. I nod.

As a group, we head for the executive elevators, dreading the incoming impact of our new unpredictable toy. Just as Reno's bony finger reaches for the glowing arrows on the wall, the power flickers and the building is swallowed in deep silence. It's beyond eerie.

"Shit," he hisses, banging a fist on the steel door. It doesn't budge.

"The power's out," Elena whimpers, huddling closer to my side. "It sucked us dry."

"Don't say it like that," I scoff with a grimace.

The ground's trembling only grows stronger as bright green light flares through the reactors' pumps and flows into the Sister Ray. With nowhere to go, we watch the cannon rear her ugly head back toward the building, sights on the Weapon on the horizon.

For a moment, the world holds its breath. Everything is silent and still. Elena clutches my arm and Reno's hand squeezes my shoulder. It feels like forever. But a moment is only a moment, and before we can take another breath, the Sister Ray fires. The force of the shot sends entire panes of glass rocketing backward into the face of the Shinra Headquarters. I duck my head, grateful when Rude uses his much larger frame as a shield for the rest of us.

The shaking ceases quickly and we hurry toward the open holes in the wall, watching in awe as the Weapon, now with a gaping hole in its chest, lies on the ground, the amber lights across its porcelain body flickering out as its power returns to the Planet. Miles into the distance, the faint glow of the Sephiroth's barrier, the one thing protecting him from any damage, flickers out. My heart skips a beat.

"Is Rufus alright?" I ask, on edge now that the damage has been done. Elena pulls out her phone and dials quickly, placing a hand on her hip. The wind of the city's heights tugs at my clothes and threatens to pull me over the edge, but I stay, clutching a steel support and letting the air nip at my skin. Despite our situation, I relish in the freedom of its pull until Elena hangs up with a shake of her head.

"No signal. Should we—" She gasps when the power flickers back on, restored now that the mako can evenly distribute throughout the city.

Rude immediately turns back to the elevators, pressing the buttons with a frown. Nothing happens. "Seems not all power's back on."

"The emergency lock system?" Reno suggests, pushing his hands into his pockets. One of his feet taps the floor repeatedly, burning through his nervous energy as we try to find a way out.

"Must be," Rude mutters, eyeing the elevator doors up and down.

"Reno, Rude, take the stairs."

My heart freezes and my skin breaks out in a cold sweat. There's something chilling about hearing a voice you never thought you'd hear again or seeing a face you said your goodbyes to long ago. It's horrifying, sure, but the ice thaws soon after and there's nothing, but sweet, sweet relief. When I turn to see if he's really there, my mouth gapes open like a child's.

"Chief!" Elena cries, her eyes swimming with pools of joyful tears.

"What's wrong?" Tseng demands, arching a thin brow. I take a deep, shuddering breath, flexing my frozen fingers at my sides.

"Uh, you're alive?" Reno suggests sarcastically, though there's a broad smug smile on his face.

"As you can see for yourself. But now isn't the time to explain."

"Yeah, I gotcha."

"Tseng," Elena whispers, her body kicking into motion as she pounces, throwing her arms ar0und him and clinging to his clothing.

"Oh c'mon Elena, you know I wanna do that too," Reno teases, his grin broadening.

"No need to hold back," she sniffles, shooting him a smile.

"I'll pass."

Tseng hums, resting a hand on her shoulder and stepping back. His eyes glitter with amusement I haven't seen in years; something tells me he's proud of his choice to wait for his grand entrance. His gaze settles on me. "Kat, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Smug bastard," I scoff, pushing past Elena to crush him into a hug. He rests a hand on my back, hiding his smile in my hair. "This is a dream."

"Feel free to pinch yourself."

"Asshole," I huff, stepping back and scrubbing a runaway tear off my cheek.

Regaining his composure, Tseng looks up at the four of us. "Come on. It's time to get to work."

Reno and I are sent to check on Rufus while Elena and Tseng help the citizens of Midgar on the ground. Rude's searching the building for anyone who used the emergency line after getting stuck or injured. In the president's office, there's nothing but rubble. The glass walls have all been blown inward leaving a crunching layer of shattered shards over a pile of splintered wood and toppled steel.

Reno groans, frustrated as he steps away from another dark corner. "You've checked everywhere?"

"Three times," I admit, rubbing the back of my neck.

"Three? Geeze, someone's committed."

"Reno, focus."

"Yeah, yeah." He kicks a large pane of glass across the floor and watches it chip against a standing cement pillar. "You're sure you looked everywhere?"

"Pretty sure. Even if he was burnt to a crisp, there'd be a body, right?" Let's hope he wasn't, though.

"So he's alive, then."

"I guess." Crossing my arms, I peek around the outside edge of the office. The helipad is empty, save for a few more glass panes and a smashed helicopter that I've already searched several times. "But where is he?"

"We should probably check the girders."

"The what?"

"Support beams," he clarifies, pointing up to the hole ripped in the ceiling.

I nod, following his lead. Under each one, I hold my breath, dreading finding the young president's body. Under each one is nothing but rubble. I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Where now?"

"I don't know. Maybe he left?"

"How? And to where?"

"I dunno." Reno huffs and shakes his head. "Let's go, man. We tried."

"Wait." I frown, pointing to a panel that peeks out from the floor, exposed as the desk had been blown back by the force of the explosion. "That's not normal."

"So? Nothing here is normal."

"Let's look." I roll my eyes, tiptoeing over slippery pieces of glass and clinging to piles of steel and cement for support. When I reach it, it won't budge. My heart sinks, but only for a moment. Desperate, I crawl under the desk and feel around for a switch.

"Kat, it's just a wall."

Just as the words come out, the panel slips and sinks below the floor, leaving a gaping three-foot hole in its wake. I nearly topple inside headfirst, catching myself on the edge and pulling back. Reno peers under the desk, eyebrows raised.

"You're a goddamn genius."

"Runs in the family," I mutter, sticking my head into the hole. From here, all I can see is what looks like an air duct. "I'm going in."

Reno shrugs, stepping back. "Better hope he's in there."

"Yeah, let's hope."

I lower myself into the passage, blindly crawling forward. My body just barely passes the entrance to the duct before the smooth metal suddenly dips. My hands slide and my body follows, toppling down the tunnel. Heart racing, I try my best to slow down, but the momentum is too much. A light burns my eyes as I slide into a room, stopping only when I slam headfirst into a wall.

Grimacing, I sit back on my knees, looking around the room. It's more of a box, really. An enormous "L" is painted on every wall, including the ceiling and floor. The letter is also engraved on an ornate box and the bed in the corner. I take a deep breath and get to my feet, eyeing the door before me. The way out?

"Anyone here?" I ask softly. I can't help but gasp when something behind me shifts. Rufus looks half-dead, eyes barely open and feet staggering.

"Good work," he rasps. Before I can ask if he's alright, his eyes roll back and his knees give out, sending him to the ground.

"Rufus?!"

Startled, I fall beside him, heaving his head and shoulders onto my lap. My fingers press into the side of his neck, searching. I breathe a sigh of relief when a steady thrum meets me halfway. The door behind me beeps and slides open. I turn to see Reno staring down at me with a smug smile. It fades when he sees the state of the president.

"I'll go find a doctor. Wait here with him."

"Check outside while you're at it," I suggest, pushing the hair out of Rufus's face. He doesn't look too beaten up, even after the force from the blast. Something tells me it wasn't the pain that knocked him out cold. Frowning, I eye the box beside the bed. What's in there?

"How's the Boss?"

"Sound asleep."

"Looks like he's happy to see you again."

"Reno," I huff, scowling at him. "Hurry up."

Nodding, he turns tail and hurries off in search of anyone that can help Rufus. I turn back to the president, eyeing the burns, bruises, and blood that cover his body. It could be worse, really, but it still makes me feel sick to see him like this. All those rumors about how no one's ever seen him bleed… I scoff, shaking my head and resting my hand on his forehead. Rumors are just that, aren't they?

"What's it all stand for, Rufus?" I ask quietly, not at all expecting an answer. "All these 'L's'…" My voice trails off.

"L…" I jump, glancing down to see Rufus's eyelids flutter ever so slightly. His brow creases and he stills again. "Is for loser." L is for loser? I shake my head, turning my eyes back up to the bolded letters. Probably his father's doing if I had to guess.

"L is for loser," I repeat under my breath.

Shinra's at a loss. Sephiroth could win. Game over. You lose. Better run, loser. Shivering, I look back down at Rufus, unnerved.

"This is an executive passage. Tell no one, ya got it?" Reno steps back into the room followed by three men with a stretcher.

"Rufus Shinra?!" One cries, eyes wide.

"Shut it!" Reno snaps, ushering me out of the way and hooking his arms under the president's.

I stand, looking around the tiny room. There's an open pill bottle on an empty wooden dresser that looks like it was once filled with pain medication. No wonder his lights went out so suddenly. That shit mixed with those injuries will take anyone out. The bed looks like it's never been used, perfectly made and giving off a musty smell. I sit on the edge, watching the men carry Rufus out. Rubbing the back of his neck, Reno turns back to me.

"Mission accomplished?"

"Yeah."

"What's up?" He cocks his head to the side, sitting beside me. The mattress sinks lower, pushing me against his side. I don't fight it. "He'll be alright."

"It's not that. I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"This place." I motion toward the walls. "His dad was a shithead."

"All of 'em are." He rests his cheek on top of my head, taking a deep breath. "Should we see if Tseng needs—"

My phone cuts him off, ringing loudly. Frowning, I pick up.

"Hello?"

"Kat? This is Reeve?"

"Reeve?" I frown, standing abruptly. Reno scowls, rubbing his face where I bumped him. "What's going on?"

"I need you to go to the top of the cannon and stop Hojo. He's pulling more power to fire the Sister Ray a second time."

"Why the hell would—"

"He wants Sephiroth to have the energy. Another one of his experiments."

"… Why're you whispering?"

"I've been arrested for treason. Figures." He sighs. "I sneaked my phone in here with me." Yeah, you seem like the type to say "sneaked."

"Okay…"

"Please hurry."

Reno raises an eyebrow when I pocket my phone, shaking my head.

"Is there any way you can bust Reeve out of jail?"

"Why the hell would I do that?"

"He's been locked up. At this point, we're clearing the way for Avalanche," I point out, crossing my arms.

"But I don't even like the guy."

"No one does, Re." I roll my eyes. "For me, then?"

He cracks a smile, standing slowly. "You drive a hard bargain, Sweetheart. Where you headed?"

"The Sister Ray." I straighten my jacket and square my shoulders. "Hojo has some explaining to do."