III
CHAPTER III
SECOND STRIKE
A promise is a promise...
Barret's words echoed in Cloud's mind as he watched the small beads of murky water trickle down his face in the mirror, the droplets gathering at his chin. Had that choice of phrase simply been a coincidence, or was there a deeper meaning to it? It was all becoming too strange; so surreal. But, what was he supposed to think? Was he going mad? But more importantly: what had happened to him?
Cloud had regained consciousness less than a month before to find himself in the Midgar Slums, under the protection of a group of eco-friendly rebels, with no recollection of the past five years of his life. The events of Nibelheim were still fresh in his memory, as was the death of his mother, yet something was amiss. He knew he should be in mourning; that his emotions should be raw, but his heart told him that the grieving process had come and gone. All that was left was anger and hatred, and no explanation as to how he had arrived at this point. Will the answers ever come? Shaking his head vigorously, he tried to cast the questions from his mind, for he knew that his thoughts had now to turn to the job at hand.
Almost a week had elapsed since the bombing of the Sector1 Reactor. He had spent a lot of his time at the Seventh Heaven bar, each day observing the rugged customers of the Slum village as they came and went, choosing only to vacate its warm surroundings on the evening of Barret's thirty-fifth birthday celebrations to wander the Slum paths alone and undisturbed. He had spoken little to Tifa about their last encounter five years before and now, standing in the compressed bathroom of the bar, washing himself with a substance that may once have been a clear liquid, he began to feel as if she had been avoiding the subject. He had often caught her studying him, staring searchingly at him, but she had dismissed her odd behaviour as an uncertainty about his anguish, and the simple relief of being reunited with her childhood friend.
The bathroom was no larger than the storage cupboard of his old family home in Nibelheim, the tight air within filling his nostrils with the putrid stench of rot and decay. Some of the long, sharp spikes of his golden hair hung loosely over his right eye, almost obscuring his vision, with the remaining few standing erect on his head. It was a style he had used since adolescence; a way of marking him as an individual.
Bracing his hands on either side of the cracked porcelain sink, he gazed wearily at his reflection in the stained glass; at the traces of past wounds across his toned chest and stomach. He had many scars, each telling its own story from his youth and intense training in the Shinra Army. There was one, however, easily distinguishable from the rest: a thin, oval gash, slightly above his gut. It stung to touch, as if the wound had once been deep. His breathing became heavy, for he had no memory of its existence or how he had acquired it. Another question that needs an answer, he thought, shivering. Is this connected to my amnesia…?
Splashing a final dab of water on his eyes, he quickly dried himself, pulling on his dark blue poloneck and fastening the crested buckle of his old SOLDIER belt around his waist. Barret and Tifa waited at the bar, talking quietly between themselves. Marlene stood at the worktop behind them, bathing a beer glass in a pool of soap suds. They turned as Cloud approached, moving away from the stools. Tifa snatched Jessie's rucksack from the counter, slinging it across her shoulder, pulling on her fingerless fighting gloves. Cloud stopped to take up his sword from against the wall, glancing at the gloves questioningly, the metal studs at the knuckles standing out against the padded red leather.
"I'm going this time," she explained, grinning. "Didn't Barret tell you?"
"He failed to mention it," muttered Cloud, casting an accusing glance towards the hulking man.
"It don't matter," grunted Barret. "We all got our part to play, so it makes no difference who goes. The others are already at the station, so hurry it up. I'll fill you in on the final details when we get on the train."
"Let's get going, then," said Tifa, gesturing towards the exit. "Marlene, you stay here while we're gone. And remember to lock up behind us."
"Okay," yelped the girl, waving as the trio passed through the swing-doors. "Hurry back."
The chill of the late winter evening met Cloud as soon as he stepped onto the veranda of Seventh Heaven. To the north, a hazy line of deep purple on the horizon crept between the almost unending parallel grey of the Plate and Slums; the sun had already descended in the west. All was still in the village but for a single stray dog, sniffing curiously around the lone beggar as he slept beneath a sheet of iron. The soft yellow of burning gas lamps escaped through the windows of the shacks, lighting the otherwise dead pathway. With the darkening city limits far behind them, the three slipped noiselessly into the shadows, hastily making their way towards the Sector7 station.
"You know the drill," commanded Barret, towering over Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie as they clambered anxiously aboard the train. "This ain't no private car, so split up."
The youngsters nodded, scurrying along the aisle, disappearing beyond the narrow door at the opposite end of the carriage. The train jerked suddenly, a guard's whistle sounding to announce the coupling of the last car. The filament lights flickered along the ceiling, dousing the pinewood interior in a dim golden colour. As Cloud and Barret began forward, many of the seated civilians rose hurriedly and scuttled into the next car, leaving the hard benches unoccupied. A single, dark haired man remained, his head buried deep in his newspaper.
"Hoodlums…" he mumbled under his breath as they passed. Barret stopped in his stride, turning to glare at the suited man.
"You say somethin'?" he growled. The man gulped, sinking into the bench, his eyes wide with fear as he searched for the other passengers. "I said, 'you say somethin''?"
"W…what?" the man trembled, glancing apprehensively around him.
"Yo, look at that," sneered Barret, grinning wickedly. "The place got all empty all o' a sudden."
"I…it's empty because of g…guys like you…"
"What the hell's that s'posed to mean?" Barret roared, striking the solid pane above the man with his fist.
"You…you've seen the news, right? AVALANCHE say there'll be more bombings. Only devoted employees like me would go to work on a night like this."
"You workin' for Shinra?" snapped Barret furiously, aiming his gun-arm at the man's face.
"Stop it!" shouted Tifa, placing herself in front of the barrel.
"I won't give in to violence…" sobbed the man, breaking into tears, his entire figure quivering. Barret stared at him for a time, his vengeful gaze merciless, burning through Tifa as she divided them.
"You lucky fuck," he muttered, reluctantly lowering his arm. "Ya better watch yer tongue in future. Next time…she won't be there to save ya."
Signalling for Cloud to follow, he stalked down the aisle, slamming himself into a vacant seat. Cloud sat across from him, neither speaking. After a few minutes, the whistle blew a second time, and the train shuddered, slowly beginning to move as it pulled, almost unwillingly, out of the Train Graveyard. Cloud let his body relax against the wooden bench, silently listening to the drone of the locomotive's engine, the constant rumble easing his muscles. He pressed the back of his head against the cold glass, watching Tifa as she tried to console the man. Why bother? He's probably just gonna brag about it to people at work, anyway…
Through the windows, he could see the gradual incline of the railway against the landscape, the Slums falling away as the train grew towards the Plate. The transparent panel was the only partition between him and the grim beyond, the blackened image of lower Midgar daunting as he readied himself for the task ahead. Cloud closed his eyes. He felt the city's anger; it's sense of betrayal. We were deceived by the same people. After a long while, he looked up to find Barret leaning forward in his seat, his attention trained on Cloud. Behind him, a blur of green lights shot past the train; they had entered the tunnels.
"That guy said we'd made more terrorist threats," Barret recounted, appearing perplexed. "I don't remember doin' that. Maybe AVALANCHE's more famous than we thought, eh?"
"Probably Shinra just tryin' to justify there bein' so many police recently," Cloud responded, pulling himself up. "So, what're we gonna do now?"
"What the hell're you so calm about?" snorted Barret. "Shit, man, you're bustin' up my rhythm."
"You said you wanted to fill me in on the final plans."
"Listen to Mr. Serious-about-his-work," chuckled Barret, his smile fading when Cloud did not share his amusement. "I dunno if Jessie's already told you, but there's a security checkpoint at the Plate. Since the explosion at Reactor1, all systems have been tightened, an' the ID scanners are checkin' on all the trains. Usually, our fake IDs work…but not on this line.
"'Cause the train stops at Sector0 on the Plate, where the entrance to Shinra's Headquarters is, the security system's a lot more sensitive. If our fake IDs get detected, the train will lock down an' we won't be able to get off until it reaches the station. That'll be bad news for us 'cause they'll probably have a whole pack of soldiers waitin'…"
"Good evening," came an automated voice over the loudspeaker, forcing him to trail off, "and welcome to Midgar Transit. Estimated time of arrival at the Sector0 station is 23:45 Midgar Standard Time. I repeat…"
"That means we've only got three more minutes to the checkpoint," Tifa confirmed, joining them, her closed body language revealing her lingering discontent with Barret.
"So, in three minutes," frowned Barret, "we're jumpin' off this train."
"What are we going to do until then?" asked Tifa.
"We wait," Cloud answered bluntly.
"I'd better go check on the other numbskulls," said Barret, slowly standing. "I've a nasty feelin' they'll..."
The lights overhead flashed and cut out, engulfing the carriage in the deep red of the emergency lamps. The klaxon on the wall behind them burst into life, the screech of its relentless wail echoing throughout the train. Confusion spread across Tifa's face, her eyes darting along the darkened car. The shrill shriek of the alarm grew louder, to an almost deafening level. Barret spun, charging along the aisle to the adjacent car.
"I thought the checkpoint was supposed to be further down?" yelled Cloud, springing from his seat and stumbling after him. The train veered right, throwing them sideways. Barret landed heavily against the wall, letting out a muffled groan as he staggered to regain balance.
"Warning!" came the voice over the loudspeaker again. It was less pleasant than before, the tone of the recorded message threatening. "Type-A security alert. Unidentified passengers confirmed. All cars will be searched and shut down systematically."
"What the hell's goin' on?" bellowed Barret, his booming voice a whisper over the siren. Suddenly, the door at the end of the carriage flew open as the train hurtled around another sharp bend, sending Jessie sprawling to her knees as she ran through the passageway. Her expression was one of panic, hidden briefly as her bushy hair became untied and strewn across her face.
"We're in trouble!" she answered, clambering to her feet in an attempt to hold the door open, desperately motioning for them to follow her back through. "I'll explain later. Hurry!"
"Shit! Somebody blew it!" Barret swore as, one by one, they crashed into the next carriage. The door behind them slammed shut moments later, a heavy clunk sounding as it closed.
"C'mon!" called Jessie, sprinting along the train, the others at her heels. "They're gonna lock all the doors. Just run!"
Cloud barged past the crowds of commuters, pushing many to the floor. The blood-red lighting, still ablaze, plunged the train into a darkened chaos. Mothers screamed, clutching onto their children. Menacing faces lined the narrow aisle, illuminated as if by hell itself. Hands reached out to stop them, an army of limbs blocking their way. Tifa cried out, flailing beneath the grasp of an old man. Cloud retaliated, bashing the man's skull against a pole, knocking the hat from his grey head. Grabbing Tifa by the wrist, he yanked her away, hauling her through the end passage.
A blast of cold air hit them as they raced into the third car. Ahead, he could see Biggs and Wedge by the gaping doorway, the brilliant green of the tunnel lights written on their bodies. Barret and Jessie had already crossed the car, and had begun shouting unheard commands, frantically waving to them. The alarm continued to sound, the constant shriek unbearable. Cloud rushed forward, dodging the few mystified passengers, and arrived at the group within seconds.
"Alright...we made it!" yelled Barret. "C'mon, let's go. We're gonna dive outta here!"
Tifa squeezed past Cloud, and stood in the doorway, her back to the others. Sparks from the line flew up from beneath, the electric flames dancing into the air. Cloud looked out as the tunnel's support-pillars shot past, the stone towers seemingly joined in a single, slurred motion. Tifa braced herself in the door frame, her chest heaving as she inhaled deep, lasting breaths. She remained still for a moment, nervously contemplating her action.
"Scary, huh?" she smiled weakly, glancing at Cloud.
"Too late to be sayin" that now," he replied.
"Hey!" roared Barret. "There ain't no time for that!"
"Okay, okay...I'll jump," gulped Tifa. Hesitantly, she turned away from them, and in an instant, she was gone.
"What now?" said Cloud.
"A leader always stays to the end," grunted Barret. "Don't worry 'bout me. Just go! But don't go getting' your ass hurt…it's only the beginning o' the mission."
Cloud strode forward, placing his hands on the frame. The power of the air was greater than he had anticipated, forcing him backwards. He wrenched the Buster Sword from the magnet on his back, casting it from the train, failing even to see it hit the ground. With a swift movement, he launched himself into the unknown darkness, vanishing from sight. Barret quickly took up the position, his broad figure filling the space.
"Later," he called over his shoulder.
"Be careful, sir," called Wedge.
"You three take care of the rest," said Barret with a fleeting glance, and nodded to them a final time before throwing himself from the doorway.
"Well, other than the early bail," grimaced Barret, wiping the smeared engine oil from his hand onto his jacket, "so far everything's goin' as planned."
They stood on a raised walkway at the side of the railway lines, the concrete ledge no more than a few feet in width. It had taken almost ten minutes for the three to assemble, lurking in the shadows as they crept beneath the mounted cameras above the pathway. Cloud had doubled-back to reclaim his sword, and had found it etched into one of the tracks, the thick iron rod sliced cleanly through. Heaving it from the metal, he had found no scratch on the steel blade, only a faint smear of rust. He had shouldered the weapon again and, when Tifa had finally caught up, they had followed the curving tunnel to where Barret waited in the darkness.
"That ID alert is an ill omen," said Cloud. "It might be a trap. We should abort."
"Don't be goin' soft on me now, Spiky," Barret dismissed. "We ain't quittin'."
"Then, better not let your guard down," he recommended. "Not 'til we reach a more enclosed area. This place could be crawling with things, not to mention the Shinra personnel that patrol 'round here. Keep your eyes open."
"What now?" asked Tifa.
"We need to get to the Sector5 Reactor," replied Barret, starting along the footpath. "We should be in the lower levels of the Plate now. There must be some way to get into the tunnels under the city from here. C'mon, move it. The others're gettin' everythin' ready for us."
He broke into a hastened jog, his feet thumping against the ground. Cloud came close behind, scanning the walls for an access passage. The luminous green of the pillar lights had become a dim red, their glow faint and unrevealing. On the line below, he saw a grashtrike studying them, the beady eyes of the small parasite fixed on the intruders. The blue scales of its body arched back - a defence mechanism - kicking its pincer-like legs in the air. After a second, it scampered beneath their path, and disappeared completely. Cloud turned away, concluding the grashtrike to be harmless, wondering to where it had escaped.
"Shit!" Barret cursed, slowing his pace.
"What is that?" said Tifa.
Cloud glanced up. A short way ahead, the tunnel had been dissected by a barrier of white light beams, the thin lines extending horizontally across the tracks. A low hum of electricity resonated from the rays, buzzing erratically in the silent air like a dying insect.
"Shinra security sensors," groaned Barret, frustration seeping into his voice. "We can't go any further; damn things would give us away in a second. Cloud, can...Cloud?"
"I'm down here," came his muffled voice. After a moment, he appeared from below the ledge, pointing at something. "I think I've found a way into the Plate."
Barret and Tifa scrambled down, landing hard on the gravel at the edge of the line. They crouched beside Cloud, peering under the dark walkway. As their eyes began to focus, the shape of a square shaft opening took form, a glimmer of metal reflecting the unclear light of the tunnel. Picking a stone from the ground, Cloud tossed it into the gap, clattering against thin walls of aluminium as it fell through the duct.
"That's one damn tiny hole," concluded Barret. "You tellin' me to squeeze down that to get under the Plate? No way!"
"You got a better plan?"
"Doesn't sound like there's anything that'll get us stuck in there," added Tifa.
"Yeah," agreed Cloud. "But, if we go down this vent, we might not be able to get back up."
"An' we don't know where it leads," frowned Barret. With a sigh, he lowered his head in defeat. "Look, enough time wastin'. We never know when the Shinra'll find us, an' SOLDIER could be anywhere. It's a risk we gotta take."
"Then, let's go," nodded Cloud.
"But damn, man, that thing gives me the chills."
Cloud skulked forward, lowering his legs into the shaft. It was no wider than three feet, but broad enough for him to manoeuvre himself into. From a distance, the train's whistle could be heard, the piercing noise reverberating along the tunnel.
What the hell am I doing?
With a deep breath, he let go, feeling his body drop against the frictionless walls of the duct, travelling as they dictated. Dusty air rushed past as he slid, his speed increasing with each second, his vision obscured by the clouds of steam drifting aimlessly throughout the shaft. He turned sharply to the left, the sound of scraping metal ringing out as the Buster Sword tore through the corner. Before him, a square of dark blue came into sight, moving ever closer as he plummeted helplessly towards it.
Cloud was vaulted into a narrow corridor, strewn with force against the ground as the shaft came to an end. His head collided hard with the grey stone floor, sending his world into a daze. He gritted his teeth in pain, tossing his sword aside, rolling onto his back. The ceiling seemed to spin, circling above him like a colourless carousel, its chiming melody replaying in his mind, and moaned as a wave of nausea washed over him. A rattling to his right stirred him from his thoughts, and he glanced up to see Tifa fire from the duct, landing on her knees beside him.
"You okay?" she gasped, leaping quickly to her feet. She crouched over him, her face filled with concern, searching him for signs of an injury.
"Fine…" he mumbled, clasping at the wall, dragging himself up.
"You're hurt," she said softly, touching his forehead with her fingertips. When she pulled her hand away, Cloud felt a droplet of blood trickle onto his brow.
"I said I'm fine."
"It's just..." she started, cut off as Barret came crashing into the passage. He rose slowly, holding his arm.
"That's the last time we go with your idea," he scowled, wincing as he spoke.
"At least we got here," Cloud retorted.
"Got where?" said Barret sternly. "We could be anywhere."
"My guess is Level 6," Tifa chimed in.
"What makes you say that?" Barret asked, puzzled.
"The sign behind you is pointing down to Level 7."
Barret spun, reading the painted white symbols on the far wall of the corridor, smiling wryly as his gaze fell upon the ladder hatch below the message. He trudged forward, his hand trailing the oil-stained wall, over the thin pipes and vent openings. The hallway's light bulb wavered as he passed, bobbing from side to side, creating shadows of unrecognisable shapes over them. Barret knelt beside the hatch, inspecting the ladders, peering cautiously over the edge.
"Looks like this is it," he called.
"Apology accepted," Cloud grumbled.
The ladders brought them eventually to a grilled balcony overlooking the internal frame of the Plate. Scaffolding-like platforms were suspended amidst the countless matrices of metal beams like makeshift walkways, extending east for a great distance towards the outer-city and Mako Reactor5. They were floored by steel gratings, with a collection of tall barriers lining their perimeters. Boxes and crates of ranging sizes had been left unguarded along the platforms, the randomness of their individual locations comforting, representing the irregularity of visits to the area. The base of the structure was undetectable in the blackness, the broad walkways a floating maze of silver against the cavernous backdrop of the inner Plate.
They descended a second ladder, the steel more worn than before, to reach the frame. Continuing east, the trio moved swiftly across the platforms, noiseless in the absence of the enemy. For more than an hour they hiked, their surroundings repetitive and seemingly unending, their legs growing weary.
After a while, the grid began to decline, the three following a staircase down as their trail became narrow and steep. Their descent into the depths of the Plate became murky at best, with widely-spaced lamps of burning white and gold their only guide. The air thickened, a stale warmth hanging over them. Still they hurried on, time slipping from their advantage like dripping water from a tap. As they came to the final step of the stairwell, met only by a thin unlit walkway that spread into the nothingness before them, a brilliant light suddenly shone in their eyes, blinding them from their path.
"Sir? Sir, is that you?"
"What the hell, Wedge?" snapped Barret with annoyance. "Turn the godsdamn torch off."
"Sorry, I..."
"What time is it?" said Barret, taking the shielding hand from his eyes as Wedge swung the flashlight to the floor.
"It's almost 2:00am."
"Shit, we're late!" Barret hissed, his heavy brows furrowing as his thoughts raced. "We have to get out before sunrise. Where's Biggs 'n Jessie?"
"They're waitin' for us inside the facility," replied Wedge, aiming the flashlight at the end of the walkway. Less than twenty feet away, they saw the end of the frame, rails of iron girders scaling the high, previously-invisible exterior wall of the Reactor. A large, numerical '5' had been painted at the height of a set of ladders, leading to a large, circular passage. "That's the ventilation system. It'll get us inside."
"How long?" said Cloud.
"Fifteen minutes...give or take," answered Wedge. "Follow me."
Climbing into the shaft, the sound of a distant hum reached their ears, echoing the dull sound that they had experienced at the Sector1 Reactor core. The ventilation passage was over seven feet in diameter, tall enough even for Barret to walk without hunching. Its sweeping walls had been coated with a layer of concrete, the surface jagged and chipped. A gentle current sailed through the tunnel, blown from somewhere deep within, smooth and refreshing. Small grills covered the ceiling at various intervals, the spinning fans behind their masks swirling clouds of dust into the air about their feet.
The party trailed the twisting tunnel, winding through chambers of piled garbage that had been dumped by lazy workers. Finally, they came to the last of the high, cubic compartments, an iron grid on the floor at its centre. With a great effort to stop the metal panel scraping the ground, Wedge lifted the grill aside, revealing a wide hallway below. The corridor was the same cool blue shade as the previous facility, lined by undecorated tiles towards a set of twin doors at its end. Cloud investigated the hall from the ceiling's opening, suddenly drawing his head back as he heard the squeaking sound of footsteps.
"There's a guard!" he whispered, holding a finger to his lips.
"Shit!" breathed Barret. "We can't afford to set off the alarm! Wedge, is there another way in?"
"Don't think so."
"Godsdammit!" he spat, his voice low. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"I didn't know, sir, I..."
"Lower me down," Tifa broke in, kneeling by the gap.
"What?" stammered Barret, his expression one of confusion.
"Quickly...lower me down."
"Are you insane?"
"Just do it!" she insisted, balancing herself over the hole. "Cloud, c'mon."
Hesitantly, Cloud held out his arm. She took a firm grasp, briefly glancing down as the patrolling soldier passed beneath her. Silently, she dropped through the hatch, Cloud's body straining as he suspended her above the ground. She clung to him for a second, her eyes trained on the guard, letting go as he stopped before the doorway. She landed gracefully in a crouched position, almost cat-like, rising as stealthily as she had fallen.
As he turned, bewilderment spread across the man's face, blinking hard as if the image was an illusion. Tifa smiled seductively, prompting a mumbling response from the guard, beckoning him to her. Suddenly, she lashed out, cracking his jaw with her fist. The man cried out, dropping his rifle as he clutched at his chin. She kicked the weapon away, dashing forward, pushing him against the wall. With an untamed force, she smashed his head against the smooth tiles, a streak of blood splattering from his skull.
He fell, howling in agony, blinded by the pain of his snapped jaw. Kicking him once in the chest, Tifa left the infantryman doubled over, gasping for air. Barret appeared by her side, looming over the weakened private, his muscles flexed, his eyes maddened. The man reached out for help, his eyes wide with horror. With a snarl, Barret brought his boot thundering down, crushing his face into the floor.
The unconscious soldier was piled amongst the garbage of the ventilation tunnel, Cloud and Wedge hauling the limp body into the chamber before joining Barret and Tifa. The twin doors led them to another corridor, at the end of which they arrived at a room at the base of a vast industrial furnace. Machines and cranes of enormous size sat lifelessly throughout the space, their greasy armour thick and powerful. An army of tall humanoid robots were gathered at the lower regions of the furnace, some recognisable as prototypes of the Airbuster series, their systems offline during the late hour.
Robotics was one of Shinra, Inc.'s many interests. The experimental beings, 'techno-soldiers', created by the Weapons Development Department were often thought to be useless by the department if not fit for battle, and left to deteriorate and erode in such conditions. Designed during the Wutai War and now deemed surplus to the Shinra Army's demands, many had found their way into the factories and places of labour, leaving little work for the people of the city; such was a cause of squalor in the Slums.
Walkways crossed the room on many floors high above the party, used for the inspection of the gargantuan cauldron itself. The furnace had been designed as a means of erasing the harmful scum created by the processing of Mako energy; an irony in AVALANCHE's eyes given the destructive effects that extracting Mako had on the Planet. The toxic substances could be heard bubbling from within the great cylinder, clouds of pale green steam drifting from its head, floating dreamily upwards, merging with the atmosphere.
Cloud crept warily out of the corridor, scanning the room for signs of movement. To his right, there came the approaching patter of footsteps. He stepped hastily back, quickly motioning for the others to press against the wall. He drew his greatsword, slowly holding it aloft, preparing to strike. The sound grew louder, the rapid scurrying irregular. Cloud held his breath, concentrating. As the figures rounded the corner, he sprang forward, knocking them to the ground.
"Hey!" yelped Biggs, raising his hands in surrender beneath the threatening blade of the Buster Sword.
"What the hell're you two doin'?" barked Barret, pushing Cloud aside, bearing over Biggs and Jessie. "You could've been caught!"
"Unlikely," squeaked Jessie. "Most of the facility's deserted."
"She's right," added Biggs, standing and brushing himself down. "There're only a couple of guards roaming the place."
"And we disposed of one of them," said Wedge.
"Then where're ya goin'?" asked Barret.
"We're gonna pull out now," answered Biggs. "We've set the bombs in the office wing, so there's no need for us to be here any longer than necessary."
"Good work," approved Barret, helping Jessie up. She handed him her rucksack.
"The detonator's inside," she said, and turned, pointing to a darkened area behind the furnace. "There's the access elevator. It'll take you straight to the core."
"Okay," he nodded. "We can…"
"I'm sorry, Barret," Jessie blurted out, interrupting him.
"Huh?"
"I let you guys down," she said sheepishly, hanging her head. Biggs turned to face her, raising a confused eyebrow.
"Jess, what you talkin' about?" inquired Barret, irritated by the delay.
"On the train… the ID check…" she stammered. "It was all my fault."
"Your fault?" Barret repeated.
"I really put my heart into making a new card for Cloud, but," she gulped, "it wasn't even good enough to pass the normal scanners. I failed everyone. I'm sorry. Barret, I promise next time…"
"Ain't no time for this!" Barret interjected furiously. "We'll talk 'bout it back at the hideout. Now, move out. You three get outta my sight!"
Biggs flippantly saluted Barret as he and Wedge hurried off down the corridor and disappeared through the doorway, helping the troubled Jessie along with them. Cursing under his breath at the idiocy of his subordinates, Barret led Cloud and Tifa below the furnace shell, the podiums that encased the huge cylinder keeping the trio from view. The elevator was situated on the northern wall, its doors open, the bright blue light from inside summoning them. Quickly checking they were safe to escape the shadow of the walkways, they slipped cautiously into the lift, and began towards the subterranean levels.
The elevator brought the trio after a short while to a balcony above the Mako rivers. In front of them lay the bridge to the Reactor's core activation system; the interior of the facility's nucleus not unlike that of the previous mission. As Jessie had said, no personnel watched over the main Reactor, the drone of its internal machinery and the slurping of the ethereal liquids swirling below them the only disturbance of the silence. As before, the waves of reflected pale green light washed over the steel pipes at the depths of the building, their motion hypnotising.
Cloud looked up as they crossed the walkway, the towering walls of the complex climbing to a peak hundreds of feet above, becoming a darkened dome at the height of the Reactor. The thick mist of Mako fumes caressed the pathways and balconies on the many floors throughout the structure, their toxic fingers oozing over the grated paths. Short of breath from the searing temperature, Cloud inhaled deeply. As the dense stickiness of the Mako seeped into his lungs, he felt a great dizziness descend upon him, his thoughts becoming a haze. He fought to remain conscious; the importance of his mission thumping in his mind, and in one last effort to open his eyes, all grew quiet, engulfing him in blackness.
He stopped, the soft sobbing reaching his ears for the first time. Tifa knelt by the body of her father, cradling his head in her hands. Even from the walkway, Cloud could see the pool of dark blood forming on the man's back. The wound had been fatal. The Masamune lay by his side, the long blade stained in red. How many had it slain that night? Tifa began stroking her father's face, running her fingers through his brown hair with great tenderness.
"Papa?" she whispered, her trembling voice floating over the air like a ghost. "It was Sephiroth. Sephiroth did this to you, didn't he?"
"Tifa…?"
She turned to Cloud, gazing up at him from saddened eyes. A single tear rolled down her cheek, marking a path through the grime on her face. She wiped it away, her expression filling with wrath. Cloud stared at her, unable to speak; to comfort her in some way. Silence fell between them, the presence of death too much for words. Tifa embraced her father dearly, eventually lowering his head gently to the floor. Standing, she snatched up the Masamune, her eyes fixed on the arched entrance of the control room.
"You came to this village just to investigate the disappearances, didn't you?" she wept. "All I wanted was to help. How did it turn out like this?"
"Tifa…"
"Sephiroth...SOLDIER...Mako Reactors...Shinra...everything..." she said through clenched teeth, darting through the doorway. "I hate you all…"
"Damn, man, get a hold o' yourself!" shouted Barret, shaking him by the shoulders. Cloud jumped up, startled by the experience, his breathing fast and irregular. He glanced anxiously around him, his eyes focusing on the Reactor casing; the pipes curving down from its walls; his feet; Tifa's worried face.
"You alright?" she asked, standing by him, her eyes uneasy.
"Tifa...?" he croaked, his expression dazed.
"What? What is it?"
"Tifa...no...forget it..." he mumbled. "C'mon, let's just hurry and get this over with."
"Get a grip, man," snapped Barret, tossing the rucksack to Cloud. "Don't mess this up."
"Don't you trust me yet?" said Cloud.
"With your background?" Barret answered derisively. "Tifa's 'old friend' still ain't good enough."
"Whatever."
Cloud turned, striding along the bridge, meeting Tifa by the pressure-valve. He knelt before the semi-circular panel, judging the best place to position the explosive. Tracing his fingers over the dials and levers of the plate for a satisfactory spot, he stopped, momentarily gazing up. He grew to his feet, and pressed the bomb against the painted Shinra Diamond. Barret snorted, acknowledging the decision. Cloud pulled the detonator from the bag, wiring it to the explosive, keying in the timer for the bomb's countdown. After a second, the light on the black casing changed from green to red.
"Bomb's set," reported Tifa.
"Good work," replied Barret. "Now, let's get outta here. We don't have much time before dawn."
They returned to the elevator, wary of raising the alarm, and punched in the button to take them back to the Plate. With a groan, the lift's cables came to life, jerking as the three made their lengthy ascent. After a few minutes, the doors opened onto the machine room. The area seemed cramped, crates and containers covering the floor in batches throughout the of the computers on the left wall were operating, the monitors dead behind a curtain of dust. The fans overhead had ceased to rotate, the blades twitching, the warm air whistling as it passed into the ventilation ducts.
Barret crossed the room, snaking his way amongst the boxes, exiting into the deserted corridor via the already unlocked door. He waved the others to follow, striding down the passage, his gun-arm raised in anticipation of any threat to their escape. Cloud drew the Buster Sword, covering Barret from behind. The corridor ended in another electronic door, the code visible on the panel, entered by Biggs and Jessie. Barret pushed the final key, watching triumphantly as the heavy lock was released, and hauled the doors apart, slipping out onto the T-junction bridge.
A red tint had appeared on the eastern horizon, the light proclaiming the rising of the sun in less than an hour. The air was cold, a few clouds hanging over the stretch of the industrial district, the sky a great array of beaming stars. To the west, the Midgar Mountains could be seen beyond the border of the city, the range fading into the distance, melting into the darkened landscape. The Slums beneath the bridge boasted little light, the houses a shadowy blur, spreading out from the belly of the Reactor shell.
"This way!" commanded Barret, turning left at the intersection. He marched along the suspended grid, his pace quick and purposeful, but stopped suddenly as he approached the exit. With a growl, he took a step back, his glaring eyes unmoving from the tunnel.
"Shinra soldiers?" gasped Tifa, her voice shrill and panicked.
The light blue uniforms moved from the passage, the simultaneous pounding of boots ringing out into the morning; a sound Cloud knew only too well. The squadron came to a halt several feet from Barret, their automatic rifles trained on each of the intruders. Even in the dimness of the dawn, the visors of the soldiers' masks radiated gold and silver, the faces of the men hidden by the thick screens.
"Shit!" Barret hissed, spinning as a second squad emerged from the opposite outlet. "What the hell's goin' on?"
"A trap," Cloud muttered.
I saw this coming…
He edged slowly towards Barret and Tifa at the centre of the junction, their backs to one another, guarding against the three pathways. The hushed song of birds in the rooftops cut the tense silence, matched only by hard, paced footsteps, echoing sinisterly throughout the corridor from which the trio had come. Cloud closed his eyes, his breathing deep, gripping the long handle of the Buster Sword, his mind racing to find a solution to the situation. The footsteps drew ever closer, and not until they had come to rest did Cloud finally look up.
The man stood in the entrance to the facility, casually stroking his thick blonde moustache with one hand, nursing a cigar in the other. He was less tall than Cloud remembered, but his gut had remained as rotund as the memories had told, the burgundy dinner suit he wore bulging before him. He seemed more elderly than he had in previous years, the appearance indicating that his seventieth birthday had since passed. With a lasting draw of tobacco, he arrogantly clicked his fingers, motioning for the infantrymen to lower their weapons. He grinned menacingly, glowering at them through disapproving eyes.
"Presi...President Shinra?" stammered Barret.
"And you must all be that...um…what was it?" he said hoarsely, his tone dismissive.
"AVALANCHE!" roared Barret. "And don't ya forget it!"
"AVALANCHE, eh?" he scoffed. "As far as I can gather, you low-lifes are no more than a mere shadow of your predecessors…"
"Shut your mouth!"
"And as for you, young man…"
"Long time no see, President," snarled Cloud, his jaw firmly clenched. He raised his sword, and brought it down at speed, embedding the powerful blade into the walkway. Disrespectfully, he leant on it, his hardened gaze meeting President Shinra's.
"Ex-SOLDIER, I presume?" he leered.
"That's right."
"I knew you'd been exposed to Mako from the look in your eyes, and it doesn't take a genius to see you're still bearing the Crest on your belt. Tell me, traitor, what is your name?"
"Cloud."
"Forgive me for asking, but I cannot be expected to remember each individual," shrugged the President, the rubbery skin of his broad neck creasing. "Unless, of course, you become another Sephiroth. Yes, Sephiroth...he was brilliant. Perhaps too brilliant..."
Sephiroth...
"I don't give a damn 'bout none o' that," shouted Barret. "This place's goin' up with a big bang soon, an' it serves y'all right!"
"And I must thank you," smirked the President, nonchalantly flicking the butt of his cigar over the railing. "Your troublesome little demolition job last week has rallied support for the Company tenfold. The people you fight for fear you, and look to us for protection. The only thing your hard work today will do is allow me to implement stronger police measures. We have already dismantled your poor attempt at an explosive down in the core, and backed up the files from the office systems. But, I think another controlled terrorist attack on the facility will give me all the ammunition I need."
"What?" whimpered Tifa, the sinking realisation that their efforts were being so sickeningly manipulated clearly affecting her composure.
"Did you really think we would let you destroy another Reactor without us knowing, my dear?" he chuckled. "We've followed your presence inside the complex since you were detected on the Midgar Transit. It is a pity, though. Such a waste of good fireworks just to get rid of noxious insects like you..."
"'Insects?" screamed Barret. He aimed his gatling-gun at the man, but reluctantly lowered it as the clicks of a dozen rifle safety catches sounded. "That's all you can say? 'Insects?"
"Barret..." Tifa pleaded, desperately trying to calm him.
"It's Shinra who're the parasites, killin' the Planet! An' that makes you King of the Insects, so shu'up, jackass!"
"You are beginning to bore me," sighed the President, glancing at his watch. From somewhere below, there came a faint fluttering. "I am a very busy man, so if you'll excuse me...I have an early meeting with the Executive that I must attend."
"A meeting?" flared Barret, charging towards the President. "Don't gimme that!"
Cloud lunged forward, dragging his comrade back. President Shinra laughed hard, shaking his blonde head scornfully. The fluttering sound rapidly became louder, ascending to a deafening level. Cloud stared in confusion as Tifa's hair rose from her spine, levitating behind her. The air began to swirl around them, Cloud's khakis clinging to his legs, heavy gusts forcing them against the barriers. Cloud had to shield his eyes as the silver B1-α helicopter came into view, hovering stationary at the side of the bridge.
"Now, don't worry," called the President over the thunder of the wind as he was helped aboard the craft, "I have made a special arrangement for you all."
"Hey!" yelled Barret, fighting to break free of Cloud. "I ain't even started wit' you yet!"
"Goodbye..." he waved sardonically.
With a directing nod to the soldiers, he slammed the door. Both squads began to retreat, slithering back into the shadows of the complex's passages, their guns still fixed on the three. The helicopter slowly lifted into the air above them. Conscious of the seconds ticking away, Cloud turned to retrieve the Buster Sword from its slot on the walkway, and saw the chain-gun on Barret's arm begin to rotate.
"Goodbye, my ass!" Barret smirked, the gun-arm now spinning at a great velocity, its aim following the rising helicopter. In an instant, bullets were bursting from all six barrels' of the chain-gun, shooting into the air like pellets of fire.
The barrage battered against the helicopter, rocking it as it hovered over the bridge. Pieces of chipped armour rained down upon them, but not one hole appeared on the underside of the craft; the exterior had obviously been designed to repel such an attack. It remained above them, steadily drifting back and forth, almost parallel with the Reactor's head. Barret let his arm fall, the smoking barrels whirring to a halt. The three paused, mesmerised.
"We have to get out of here," said Cloud, starting towards the intersection. "The office block's gonna blow any minute now."
As if in recognition of their movement, the helicopter's nose dropped, the blades like a saw bearing upon an immobile tree. The moments passed as if they were an eternity. As he blinked, the world around Cloud seemed to disappear, his reality a hoax. In that second, he could no longer feel the cold morning air; could no longer smell the burning Mako fumes escaping from the furnace; could no longer see the first rays of sunlight clambering across the peaks of the Midgar Mountains. Then the adrenaline hit, spreading through his veins like wildfire. Oh, shit...
"Run!" bellowed Barret, the pilot's intent clear.
They spun on their heels, all three breaking into a sprint as the missile whistled through the air. Cloud had barely cleared the junction when it struck, a great surge of heat launching him forward. The Buster Sword was thrown from his grasp, clattering along the metal grid, and he found himself clutching at something to hold on to as searing pain pulsed through his body. Around him, the facility shook, the first of the bombs in the office wing exploding. Cloud opened his eyes to see the Sector5 Slums far below, but as Tifa began to scream, he realised desperately that they were now rushing rapidly towards him.
66