Final Fantasy VII: The Man in the Black Cloak
CHAPTER XXIII
TO WEAR THE BLACK SUIT
It was not until Tseng and Scarlet had vanished completely from sight and the thrum of the B09's rotary blades began to fade above the wastelands of the crater that Cloud released his grip on Barret, gently unclasping his hand from around the squirming giant's rasping mouth. With a vicious snarl, Barret shoved Cloud forcefully off him, storming from the group's concealed position at the rear of the Guard Scorpion. He halted at the centre of the extraction chamber, thrashing his gun-arm against the weak shell of the furnace, knocking one of the loosened panels to the ground.
"Jus' who d'you think you are?" spat Barret furiously, his teeth borne in a wild anger as he turned to watch Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Cait Sith and Red XIII emerge one by one from their hiding place, the latter disguising his flaming tail. "Why'd you stop me?"
"You were going to kill her," Cloud responded gravely, casting a glance in the direction the helicopter had disappeared. "What were you thinking? You can't just murder one of the Shinra Executives-"
"An' why not?" roared Barret, pounding the oily cylinder again.
"Because we're wanted men as it is," snapped Cloud. "You really want the Turks or SOLDIER on our trail any more than they already are?"
"Who gave you the right to judge who we can kill an' who we can't?" Barret erupted. "Look at you, ya hypocritical bastard! Why're we here, Cloud, huh? Why've we come this far?"
"Barret, please-" protested Tifa.
"We're 'ere 'cause Spiky wants to kill Sephiroth. You're the last person who should stand in my way!"
"Barret, listen to yourself," she pleaded, her voice tinny as she spoke.
"Oh, so you're siding with him, are ya?" he bellowed, his eyes ablaze. "Who woulda seen that comin'?"
"C'mon, fellas-" insisted Cait Sith.
"Sephiroth burned down our hometown!" barked Cloud.
"An' Scarlet burned down mine!" retaliated Barret, aiming his chain-gun at the ex-SOLDIER. "She took my godsdamn hand. She stole my wife from me! I ain't nothin' without Myrna! You strut around with your ego an' your introvert bullshit, makin' sure everyone knows you're sufferin'! Well, we all got it tough, y'hear? You ain't the only one who's lost their way an' tryin' to do somethin' 'bout it! So if you wanna talk 'bout revenge-"
"Hey!" an unimpressed yell suddenly resounded from the border of the area. "What are y'all doin'?"
So startled by the interruption was Cloud that he forgot about Barret's threat, lowering the Buster Sword and screening his eyes as his gaze shot towards a gaping fracture at the pinnacle of one of the wall segments. Yuffie's petite silhouette was set against the sinking sun atop a ledge thirty feet from the ground, her arrogant posture unmistakeable, waving like a child.
As she took a step forward, the entire brickwork structure swayed beneath her, cracking and crumbling at its foundations at an alarming rate. Yuffie yelped with fright, springing from her position and soaring through the air as the bulwark collapsed upon itself. Plummeting awkwardly onto the extended arm of a short crane, she lost her balance and toppled backwards to the earth a few paces from the party, landing hard on her rear.
"Yuffie, are you alright?" gasped Tifa, rushing to the girl as she propped herself up, pulling up the green bandana that had slipped down over her eyes.
"Stupid wall!" groaned the Ninja, rubbing her buttocks and spluttering on the haze of swirling dust she had created.
"That's what you get for climbing it," Cloud said unsympathetically.
"So ungrateful…" sighed Yuffie, shaking her head as she leapt to her feet. "Don't you guys know how close you came to being discovered by that Turk? It was me who scared those birds off with my shuriken. I saved your asses! And what do you do to thank me? You two try and fight each other like a pair of schoolboys."
"She's got you there," chuckled Aerith.
"How did you know he was a Turk?" posed Cloud, ignoring the comment as his thoughts were displaced by a brief wave of suspicion.
"Let's just say it's not the first time I've seen one," Yuffie mumbled quietly, unwilling to explain further.
"What 'bout the Reactor?" squeaked Cait Sith. "Did ye find anythin' useful?"
"Nope," she replied bluntly. "There's nothin' here but junk. No Materia worth thieving."
"Well, thank you, Yuffie, for your help," Cloud said sarcastically, his tone growing stern as his uncompromising stare met hers, "but, if you ever run off like that again, you'll be left behind. Got that?"
"Yeah…whatever…" she grumbled sheepishly, digging her heels in the dirt.
"We have no more reason to be here," he suggested, shouldering his greatsword and striding briskly past the fuming Barret, "so let's go. I want to reach Gongaga before nightfall."
It was a long walk back through the abandoned complex's corridors of debris, their trudging footsteps echoing eerily on the cold stone of the hallway and drifting among the desolate piles of twisted steel. The putrid stench of Mako was raw and irritable, thickened by the tension that now hung heavily over the seven. The aftermath of an argument that had so nearly caused Cloud and Barret to clash seemed to be at the forefront of each of their minds, none more so than the leader's.
Was Barret right about him? Had he been wrong to deny him his revenge?
He deliberated the consequences of assassinating a Director of the Shinra Electric Power Company, and was soon reassured that he had made the right decision, no matter how terrible Barret's loss was. However, it forced him to reflect on his own desire for retribution, something that gradually smoothed his anger into disappointment. Tseng's exchange with Scarlet had inadvertently confirmed Sephiroth had already passed through the region, and that they were aware of his search for the Black Materia. This spawned a despairing sensation within Cloud; it felt as if the closer he came to his nemesis, the easier it was for the man in the black cloak to slip away, to vanish like a ghost.
At least the Turks haven't found him yet…
It was scant consolation, leaving but a glimmer of hope that a former SOLDIER and his motley crew could outthink the smartest, most merciless and morally-corrupt servants that Shinra, Inc. had at their disposal. Cloud had been in the company of these Investigation Division agents more than he would care to remember, both in Midgar and beyond, and knew what they were capable of. The heinous destruction of Sector7 was testament to that. In addition, eavesdropping on Director Scarlet's pompous boasting was a grim reminder that there was always something ominous afoot at the Corporation.
Huge Materia? Proud Clod: the ultimate weapon? Just what the hell are the Shinra up to…?
At last the group returned to the mesh gateway of the facility, the late afternoon shadow of its mangled metal strands slithering across the arid ground like probing fingers. The swish of a sweeping breeze whistled around them as it glided between the scrap, tossing sand like frothing waves against the compound's pitiful exterior. A dazzling ochre hue enveloped the forested plateau atop Diablo's Rock to the east, illuminating once more the hiking trail that snaked up the hillside towards Gongaga. Cloud paused as the others began their trek back up the crater's barren dunes to the Buggy, his attention set on the clandestine path.
There's something about that road…
"What is it?" called Tifa, frowning in puzzlement as she traced his gaze.
"You guys go on ahead," he answered, motioning across the northern slope from which they had descended. "There's another way into Gongaga. I'm gonna check it out. I'll meet you at the village."
"I'll join you," offered Tifa. "We don't know what's up there. What if you run into trouble?"
"I won't," Cloud muttered without heed, "but, you can come if you like."
"Me too," Aerith added softly, slowly scanning the landscape as if to reminisce, missing the grimace of frustration that flickered on Tifa's face. "I want to see and learn more about this place."
"Whatever," said Cloud, though he could tell there was something more to her request; Aerith had a connection to this province that she had not yet revealed.
"What do you require of the rest of us?" asked Red XIII, bowing so that Cait Sith could scramble onto his back.
"Just get yourselves and the Buggy to the local tavern in one piece," he instructed; Sephiroth was gone, but there was no reason not to enjoy a warm bed for the night, and the hamlet might bear its own secrets about the explosion here. "Barret's in charge."
"Let's get goin', then," commanded the sulking giant with a dismissive glare, gesturing to Yuffie. "Kid, give Aerith some of your Materia."
"What Materia?" the young Ninja replied innocently, pouting.
"I saw you take some from the chest before we left, ya little punk," he growled. "Now hand it over."
"Fine!" snorted Yuffie, resentfully reaching under her armguard and tossing Aerith an amber orb. "It's only Sense Materia. I was usin' it to help find treasure in the Reactor."
"And?" demanded Barret.
"And what?" she retorted.
"Give her the others."
"Man, you lot are no fun!" moaned the girl, once again retrieving a sphere and passing it to her companion.
"Yuffie, that's low-grade Support Materia," Cloud remarked, observing the gleaming sapphire in Aerith's palm. "Stop messing around!"
"For the love of…" she hissed grudgingly, hurling two final emerald-coloured crystals against his chest and marching off. "That's them all, okay?"
"What did she have?" Tifa queried.
"Fire and…Lightning," said Cloud, examining the Magic orbs. "Better than nothing, right?"
"I'll take the Fire Materia," nodded Aerith, accepting it from him as he slotted the other into one of the niches on his blade. "I'm stronger with those spells."
"Perhaps we should pursue our petulant princess?" advised Red XIII, carefully watching Yuffie as she hastened across the wastelands. Cloud peered after her; he did not consider her a threat, but her erratic behaviour was far from convincing.
"Keep an eye on her," he bade, attaching the Buster Sword to its magnetic holster as he started for Gongaga. "Make sure she doesn't try anything stupid…"
The hum of the mosquito's fluttering wings resonated across the glade as it danced through the air like a yoyo, darting hither and thither, investigating the arousing scent of fresh blood. It seemed blissfully oblivious to the cooling shade that filtered into the tiny clearing as the sun prepared to set over the jungle, or the focused azure eyes that followed its every move. It dove towards the earth, the stench of sweat driving it on; soon it would feast. Suddenly, the mosquito's flight was halted, paralysed by the crushing weight that pressed down on its entire body, helpless as it was drawn towards the smirking figure.
"Still got it, yo," Reno declared victoriously, studying the bug trapped between his fingertips.
"Fastest of the Turks, huh?" grunted Rude, glancing back from his post on the dirt track to see his partner sprawled on the grassy floor, whose lean features were contorted with fascination. As always, Reno's tailored uniform was scruffy and unbuttoned, and his fiery spiked hair had been tied in a short ponytail.
"You guessed it," he laughed, releasing his grip on the mosquito and allowing it to disappear hurriedly into the surrounding foliage.
"Not that you have many to compare yourself to nowadays," said Rude, stroking his goatee.
"Fastest then, fastest now," teased Reno, grinning smugly as he pointed to the thin red slash on each cheekbone. "Just like the tattoos say, dude: speed, style, and serious kickass, yo."
"Speed isn't everything."
"Not this again, Rude," Reno rolled his eyes. "How many times are you gonna make that stupid bet? C'mon, man, you already lost your Escort Guard, your Shinra Beta, and your favourite earrings to me."
"Don't remind me."
"Sorry, old buddy," he chortled, springing nimbly to his feet and sticking out his tongue. A small bird squawked overhead, startled by the sharp motion, but Reno paid it no attention. "I wonder how Corin and Violet are getting on in Junon."
"I doubt they'll have any problems," answered Rude, pushing his stylish legless sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. "But, even if they did, the Legend is still around to cover their backs."
"Yeah, you're right," Reno conceded. "It's just that Violet was complaining that her old injury has been affecting her accuracy lately."
"You were worried for her?"
"No, yo," spluttered Reno defensively, holding up his hands in protest. "I just was concerned…y'know…as a fellow Turk…"
"I see."
"I don't have a crush on her, yo!"
"I didn't say anything."
"You didn't have to," Reno sighed, folding his arms. "But, since you brought it up…who do you have a crush on?"
"No-one…" responded Rude uncomfortably, turning from his colleague, the polished skin of his bald head burning a brilliant crimson.
"Hey?" pried Reno in amusement. "What the hell you gettin' so embarrassed about? C'mon, tell me, yo. Who do you like?"
"Tifa…"
"Tifa?" gasped Reno, his jaw dropping. "Geez, dude, that's a tough one. I mean…sure she's hot, but she's one of the enemy, yo. What's with you and AVALANCHE chicks? Don't you remember what happened last time with Chelsea?"
"Yeah."
"Then, what're you thinkin'? I mean…poor Elena. I thought she and you were kinda…y'know…"
"Elena likes Tseng."
"Huh?" Reno stammered. "I didn't know that. But, those two'll never work either. Tseng's our boss…and I'm pretty sure he's got feelings for that Ancient."
"A tough one indeed-"
Rude cut off, his gaze shifting abruptly towards the path; the sound of rushing footsteps had reached their ears, signalling someone's approach from around the bend. A wry smile curled over Reno's lips as he stared hungrily at the thick leaves of the fern branches that hung over the corner of the road, his keen fingers wrapping around the handle of his new electromagnetic rod as he slipped it from the inside pocket of his jacket. He skulked forward, adopting his attacking stance, waiting silently until the scratching was only a few feet away, and extended his weapon in preparation to strike.
"Elena?" he groaned in disappointment as the dainty blonde Turk scurried into view, swatting the twigs from her flustered face.
"Speak of the devil," mumbled Rude, relaxing his tensed muscles.
"Reno…Rude…" she panted, doubling over as she skidded to a halt before them. "The enemy…Cloud…come…"
"Whoa, take it easy, yo," insisted Reno, patting the young girl on the back to help soothe her anxiety. Despite being plucked from Shinra Academy as the top student in her class, he often wondered if Rosalind's sister had been promoted to their division too soon. Even her reconnaissance tasks had proven a challenge. "Catch your breath."
"They're here…" Elena coughed, ignoring his advice as she desperately tried to relay her message. "Cloud and the others…they're really here."
"So, the information was reliable," acknowledged Rude, sharing a fleeting look of comprehension with Reno.
"It would seem that way," Reno concurred. "Elena, are you sure it was them?"
"Positive," she replied. "It's Cloud and the female fugitives."
"Then, it's time."
"Girls, huh?" Rude frowned, hesitating.
"That doesn't mean you should go easy on them, yo," asserted Reno, recognising his partner's indecisiveness.
"I'll do my job."
"I would expect nothing less."
"I'll go report to Tseng," said Elena, pulling her personal terminal from her breast pocket as she scampered along the trail. "We'll be counting on you two."
"Don't sweat it," Reno sniggered, giving her a playful thumbs-up. "We'll take care of 'em, yo. And if anyone was gonna ask, I feel as good as new."
Cloud had become lost to his own reflections as he, Tifa and Aerith scaled the rough incline through the great swell of vegetation on the eastern borders of the Gongaga Rainforest, not once contributing to the duo's vibrant conversation. The terrain here was beyond the sickly clutches of the Reactor's toxins, flattened by decades of trampling, though it had become unkempt in recent years. The army of trees had grown tall and dishevelled, their limbs drooping sloppily across the path like a shimmering curtain of emerald and gold, tugging at their clothes as they ascended.
The winding gravel road had taken them high into the realm of Diablo's Rock, close to where the mighty red granite cliffs loomed over the lush canopy. Approximately three-hundred feet above, between a pair of prominent jutting outcrops, wisps of chimney smoke drifted from the secluded hamlet, caressing the bluffs and the glorious waterfalls that tumbled from the plateaued summit. The sweet song of birds and croaking of touchme toads in the underbrush filled the humid evening air, much to the delight of Aerith as she revelled in the natural beauty.
Realising that his pace had unexpectedly quickened, Cloud was snatched from his musings to discover the route had arced north and was now slightly more than a trivial gradient. The groves of the hillside had clustered at this altitude, offering limited visibility of their surroundings. He peered over his shoulder, and glimpsed the forsaken power plant through patches in the treeline, its distorted shell twinkling in the sunlight; he found himself incensed by it. Exhaling heavily, he lifted his eyes to where Aerith and Tifa hiked a short distance in front, and saw a bend in the track ahead. Cloud was immediately gripped by a sense of foreboding; something was not right.
"Wait!" he hissed, swiftly brandishing the Buster Sword as he strode towards the girls.
"What is it?" Aerith gulped nervously, paralysed with concern as she watched Cloud's narrowed gaze pass searchingly across the foliage as he neared the two.
"Can't you feel that?" he whispered, thoroughly scrutinising the backdrop, gesturing for them to remain perfectly still. "We're not alone…"
Adrenaline coursed through Cloud's body as he readied himself for the ambush, for the attack his SOLDIER intuition knew was coming. Nothing stirred but the rustling fern leaves as they bobbed gently in the warm gusts, or the various cries of indigenous wildlife from elsewhere in the jungle. His heart thumping, his concentration fixed, he crept towards the curve, his acute awareness commanding him to approach it with caution. Beckoning his comrades to slowly follow, Cloud crouched among the dried roots of the last bushes that flanked the dirt trail, and peeked warily around the corner.
"It's been a while, Slick," called Reno.
The redheaded Turk and his towering bald associate waited in a small grassy clearing, their black suit uniforms unbefitting of the verdant environs. Both appeared relaxed by the arrival of the trio; their curious lack of surprise was disturbing. Rude tightened his leather gloves and crunched his knuckles, while Reno casually tapped the tip of his electromagnetic rod against his collar. The scrawny foe sneered eagerly as he saw Aerith and Tifa emerge behind Cloud.
"Not long enough," growled the ex-SOLDIER, raising his sword threateningly.
"Too long, actually," Reno countered, glancing absently about him as he spoke. "It's payback time for what you folks did to me in Sector7, yo. Those bullet wounds put me out of action for weeks…and I don't like to be put out of action, do I Rude?"
"No," said Rude, adjusting his tie.
"I certainly do not," he proceeded with mock anguish. "You always miss the exciting assignments when you're out of action. And I hate missing exciting missions, don't I Rude?"
"Yes."
"How can you stand there complaining about an injury when what you did in Sector7 killed thousands of innocent people?" screamed Tifa, a retort that was packed with as much sadness and regret as it was anger and hatred. "Our friends were on the Pillar when it collapsed!"
"Orders are orders, yo," Reno shrugged without interest, the markings on his cheekbones taut. "The duty of a Turk is to complete the mission without question."
"Enough of this!" snapped Cloud, flexing his biceps. "Get out of our way."
"I'm afraid I can't do that, yo," answered Reno, pretending to inspect his rod as he wandered back and forth. "I don't like to be taken for a fool…especially not by lowlifes like you. It means I have a score to settle."
"Get out of our way," Cloud repeated uncompromisingly.
"I've been saving my new EMR just for you guys," winked the Shinra agent, nonchalantly swinging his weapon through the breeze. "I can't wait to try it out, yo. It's custom made, you see; protected by a spine of Mythril so that oversized knife of yours can't slice through it."
"We'll see about that," snarled Cloud, starting towards the two.
"That's as far as you go," said Rude.
In a motion that seemed to last an eternity, the larger Turk heaved his arm back, a pale green haze forming around it, and directed his considerable strength into a lone punch. His fist collided devastatingly with the gravel path, sending a blast of Quake magic surging at the advancing assailant, tearing the ground apart like paper. Cloud sprang deftly sideways as the thrashing tremor shot past him, the energy of the attack diminishing to leave a fissure of broken rock across the road.
He spun to see Reno leap high into the air, as agile as a cat and as fast as a chocobo, his electromagnetic rod extended as he prepared to bring it smashing down on his opponent. Cloud remembered their previous skirmish on the Sector7 Pillar; the Turk's dynamism was impressive for one who had never been subjected to the unforgiving Mako infusions, the process that gave SOLDIERs their superior and almost superhuman abilities. He soared like an arrow to meet Reno, a screech of steel ringing out as his blade struck the live rod.
The force of the blow sent the agent hurtling to earth, crashing into a dense thorn bush at the edge of the glade. He yelped in pain and scrambled from its stinging grasp, plucking a branch from his buttocks in time to block Cloud's aerial assault. They clashed at speed; Reno's rapid movements were just enough to parry the Buster Sword's strikes. As he brought his weapon down again and again, Cloud saw the veins bulge on the Turk's temple, straining from the onslaught. Lashing out with his boot, he knocked Reno's standing leg from under him as he tried to escape, bearing over his enemy with crushing pressure.
Suddenly, Aerith cried out pleadingly from behind them, stealing his attention for the briefest of moments. In the instant that Cloud looked away, Reno barged forward, ramming a shoulder into his adversary's gut. Losing his balance, the SOLDIER staggered back, roaring in agony as the EMR's nodes prodded into his chest to discharge a hefty electrical current. He was helpless as every nerve in his body seemed to act beyond his control, convulsing violently as the voltage seized his muscles, and his sword fell from his grip.
It was a number of seconds before Reno withdrew the fizzing nodules, their tips white hot, cackling triumphantly as Cloud collapsed awkwardly to the track. The world was spinning; his ears boomed with the pulse of pumping blood; he hurt everywhere. Reno stepped smugly over him, his leering gaze set on pursuing Aerith. Gasping for oxygen as he twitched involuntarily, Cloud fought to drag himself from the ground as the sight of Tifa and Rude's duel unfolded twenty feet from where he lay, able only to claw weakly at the handle of the Buster Sword.
Rude ducked and weaved with incredible reflexes as Tifa's fist careered past his head, adopting his notorious boxing stance to deflect her fierce swipes. He feigned manoeuvres as her martial arts technique grew bold and vicious, driving her studded gloves towards his midriff. Tifa's blows landed on guarded forearms or missed him by no more than an inch, leaving the slimmest of gaps for him to execute his own attack. She was unleashing all of her fury, all of her loathing for Shinra; yet he would not retaliate.
The bald Turk failed to dodge as the girl rushed at him with everything she had, smashing through his blockade with relentless vigour. Her kicks were too strong for Rude, edging him backwards until a single thrust caught him heavily at his groin, causing his knees to buckle and his sunglasses to loosen. As she advanced again, there was a sudden blur of activity, and a torrent of wind whizzed from Rude's jade-shrouded palm.
The critical wave of Aero magic lifted Tifa effortlessly from her feet, slamming her against a nearby tree trunk with a sickening crunch. Clambering to stand, Rude brushed himself off, his right leg lagging as he shuffled achingly to where his rival had landed. He paused as he reached her, an odd expression on his tanned face, his defences dropped as a burst of electrical energy sailed through the air towards him. With a blinding flash, the bladebeam incapacitated Rude, allowing Tifa to crawl free as he crumpled onto the grass, Cloud looming down on the agent.
"Wait!" yelled Reno as the blonde mercenary pressed the Buster Sword ominously against his partner's neck, its razor-sharp point hanging over him like a guillotine, still crackling with the residue of the Thunder spell.
Cloud glanced quickly around to see Reno a short way from them, a wicked glint in his eyes as he held Aerith firmly in his grasp, his EMR shoved against her throat. He gave the impression he was pleased with himself; it was to be expected that the Turks would play dirty if they had to; success by any means necessary was one of their philosophies. Despite the predicament, Aerith was calm, her demeanour blank and indecipherable, her figure perfectly rigid with her arms by her side, and offering no attempt to flee his clutches.
"Let her go!" demanded Cloud.
"And if I refuse?" he smirked.
"Then, you can say goodbye to your friend," Cloud warned, pulling the groaning Rude to his knees. Reno did not flinch.
"Threatening the Turks won't go down well on your permanent record, Slick," he said coolly. "I'm surprised you even know how to handle that thing."
"I've already shown you're no match for an ex-SOLDIER," spat Cloud, his rage flaring as Reno winked derisively at him. Stifling the urge to abandon Rude and charge at his sleazy associate, he noticed a fleeting throb in Aerith's fingers, closely followed by the faintest of pale green mists. Her features remained unchanged, but the ticking of her thought process was so loud that Cloud could almost hear it.
"Ex-SOLDIER, huh?" Reno snorted sardonically. "Geez, yo, when are you…hey, what the hell? Is something burning?"
Peering down, he howled in panic as the licking flames of Aerith's Fire magic set his uniform alight. Pushing her away from him, he cried out frantically as the blaze spread rapidly across his jacket, waving a smoking arm as it slithered up his sleeve. Spinning on the spot, he tried desperately to tear the suit from his back, his dancing feet stumbling over the rocky path.
"Get it off me! Get it off!" shrieked Reno.
With a clumsy lurch, Rude broke free of Cloud's relaxed grip, dashing after his partner and whacking him repeatedly to extinguish the flames. Together, they managed to haul the smouldering coat off, stamping on it as the frayed black material charred and melted. Reno turned to glower at Aerith with wrath, wielding his rod once again, but Rude insisted otherwise, pointing at his silver wristwatch. Understanding but frustrated, Reno gave a curt nod, his jaw clenching as he cast a final gaze at Cloud and the girls.
"Even though we are retreating," he muttered with a scowl, "it doesn't mean we're not still victorious. You folks got off light today. Next time we meet, you ain't gonna be so lucky. See you around, yo."
As he observed Reno march off down the hillside in the direction of the Mako Reactor, Rude limping hurriedly at his heels, a deep feeling of dread descended upon Cloud. The strange presence of the Turks was an ill omen, and even more worrying was the suggestion that the group had not passed as far below Shinra's radar as they would like to believe.
"There's something wrong about all this," Tifa echoed his concerns as she supported herself against a fern, still dazed from the battle. "It was as if they knew we were coming…"
"I'm certain they've been monitoring us," agreed Cloud, his voice hushed and brooding, "but there were no signs of it."
"You think there's a spy among us?" gulped Aerith, her uncomfortable words bringing with them a dark silence; their connotations were too great.
"I don't even want to consider the possibility," Cloud breathed eventually, closing his eyes, his mind racing. "I…I want to be able to trust everyone-"
"But, what about Yuffie?" Tifa persisted shakily, as if she was speaking aloud a collective opinion.
"What about her?"
"Doesn't it seem too much of a coincidence to you guys?" she argued, almost as if she was in denial. "I mean, two days after we meet her, we're ambushed by the Turks."
"I have my suspicions of the kid," Cloud frowned, lowering his stare. "She has her quirks, but working with the Shinra? I doubt it. This also happened at Mythril Mine, remember?"
"What are we going to do?" posed Aerith, her lips trembling. "We can't just forget about this."
"Let's try not to focus on it right now," he replied pensively, much to the astonishment of his comrades. "We can't be sure anyone's guilty. For all we know, Kimaira could've tipped the Turks off. But, keep your eyes and ears open. If there is a spy, we'll find out soon enough."
"Will that really work?" Tifa was sceptical. "Just wait and see how this plays out?"
"For now, what's the alternative?" shrugged Cloud, slowly reconnecting the Buster Sword to its magnetic holder. "Either way, it'll be nightfall soon. I say we should probably keep going. Until I've decided what to do, this incident stays between us…"
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