XXIV
CHAPTER XXIV
THE MISSING SOLDIER
A vast curtain of luxurious magenta had been all but drawn across the twilight sky as Cloud, Aerith and Tifa at last arrived at the remote elevated village of Gongaga. Their wooded path had scaled the hillside above the rainforest to unveil an expansive view of the canopy and the ominous Reactor crater at its core, a stark blemish on what was otherwise an ocean of deep emerald. The sounds of wildlife had been dulled somewhat by the steady rumble of a nearby waterfall, plunging down the sheer bluffs of red granite into lagoons buried beneath the treeline.
Trudging up the final stretch of gravel, the trail brought them eventually to a broad cleft in the mighty summit of Diablo's Rock, with canyon-like precipices flanking a shallow decline, buttressed in parts by rusted iron framework. The fiery stone was masked in a network of moss here, vibrant and nourished by the bountiful springs, hanging over the road as it arced around to a great clifftop plateau upon which the secluded hamlet was located, observing the world below.
The settlement was eerily quiet and still, its serenity far exceeding that which Cloud had known as a boy in Nibelheim. He had grown to expect the gentle song of wind chimes when all was calm, but the heavy silence about him now bore an unwelcoming aura. Beyond a dense grove of palm trees, he saw a selection of homes and other structures of the small community nestled amid the rock formations, and was surprised by the extent of their traditional rural appearance.
The buildings were of unique architecture: large in size with cylindrical redbrick exteriors, and shingled dome roofs that had stout spires fashioned at their crowns. Few more than a dozen houses were dotted sporadically throughout the area, many of which seemed vacant, their windows and doors boarded up with rough planks and wire mesh. Drawing closer, Cloud realised that the scrap patchwork was not reserved only for the gloomy and uninhabited dwellings, but covered bizarre wounds on the damaged walls of even the most exuberant residences.
"What happened to this place?" gulped Aerith, her disconsolate eyes absorbing the desolate surroundings of Gongaga.
Meagre plumes of smoke floated from the chimneys of a handful of homes a short distance from the ingress to the old dirt track, caressing the rooftops like rambling souls, fading into the atmosphere before they had escaped the limits of the ridge. The trio wandered slowly among the abandoned houses, taking care not to disturb the piled sheets of corrugated steel and decayed barrels that accompanied each. The cobbled footpaths were broken only by rogue mounds of thick grass and weeds, rustling softly as the evening breeze slipped over them and up the sharp outcrops that loomed overhead.
Looking up, Cloud could make out one building at the edge of the plateau that differed from the rest. A sandstone extension had been constructed in addition to the common design, forming the silhouette of an enormous boot against the waning heavens, its shape made all the more irregular by the outline of the Buggy parked outside. An engraved plaque hung above the portico, its polished face glimmering in the dim light, the artistic letters upon it reading 'Tonadu Inn'.
As they approached the tavern, there came an abrupt shuffling sound to their left. Cloud froze and signalled for Aerith and Tifa to halt, snatching the Buster Sword from its holster; following their encounter with the Turks, the threat of another ambush was very much at the forefront of his mind. He glanced towards the shadowy mountain road that snaked northwest from Gongaga, the dry soil scattered by the hulking wheels of the Buggy, and spotted a section of land that had been segregated from the village, bound by a wild hedge of verdant shrubbery and a squat white fence.
The scratching noise soon repeated, so faint it was almost undetectable, like the dragging of feet over parched earth. In the swiftest of motions, Cloud took a few sweeping paces in that direction, stealing across the lane and hastily pressing his back against the thick bushes. With a clenched jaw, his fingers wrapped firmly around the handle of his blade, he crooked his neck around the corner of the hedge, peering cautiously into the allotment.
Cloud's heart skipped a beat as his eyes registered the slender marble tombstones, reflecting the melting colours of dusk. He counted eleven grave markers in the tiny cemetery, arranged across a lawn of silken grass, each of varying size and detail. An older man knelt before one such grave, bowing as he placed a single tulip upon a headstone carved in the affectionate image of a toy moogle, offering a prayer for the child that was buried there. Numbed by the sad sight, Cloud ruefully reattached his weapon to its magnetic slot, feeling the air grow colder as if it acknowledged the setting's ambiance of sorrow.
"Most people here lost someone in the explosion," the gentleman said suddenly, his voice sombre. Though his head was still lowered as he rose sluggishly from his knees, Cloud knew immediately that the man was aware of his presence, and was addressing him. "Fathers…brothers…sons…taken away in a single moment. I come to the graveyard every night to remember those who perished that day. I believe it's important never to forget what happened."
"What killed them?" Cloud asked in a whisper, for his tongue would allow him nothing louder.
"A tragedy," sighed the man, turning and looking at the visitor with a weary expression. Although far from elderly, the man appeared to have aged beyond his years, his gaze drained of whatever joy it may once have held. He was clad in a brown waistcoat over a grey shirt, his black hair speckled with silver and matted beneath a frayed bonnet. "You're not from around here, are you son?"
"No," admitted Cloud, retreating from the hedge so that he was on longer concealed. As he did so, a curious sign of recognition flashed across the man's features; the reaction instilled a sense of restlessness within him.
Does this guy know me?
"A traveller, eh?" he chortled as he took his stare from Cloud's eyes, forcing a weak smile and beginning towards the open gateway. "You with the others that came?"
"What others?" Cloud answered with deliberate vagueness.
"Those who arrived in that big vehicle," said the man, pointing in the direction of the inn. "You with them?"
"Yeah," he nodded, relaxing; he had not meant the Turks.
"Don't generally get many tourists in these parts," the man conceded, his tone brightening considerably as he noticed Tifa and Aerith. "And you brought lady friends, too, I see."
"We're only here for the night," said Cloud.
"I understand…" he murmured. There was a hint of hesitation as he spoke, his focus flitting for the slightest of moments from Cloud's face to the crested belt at his waist. "However…there is something I would like to show you."
"Huh?"
"There is something I need you to see," repeated the man, almost pleadingly.
Maybe he does know me…
"Listen, mister," Cloud spluttered, "I don't know who you think I am, but-"
"I promise it'll only take a moment," he insisted.
"Why me?" Cloud quizzed him suspiciously, bewildered by the request.
"You'll see," he said amiably, gesturing for Cloud to follow him as he started back along the road, scurrying towards a nearby house that rested at the foot of the surrounding outcrops. Cloud shot a puzzled glance at the girls, reluctant to do as the man bade; Tifa shrugged, while Aerith waved him on, neither seeming as concerned by the unusual situation as he was.
"Go," Aerith mouthed, urging him forwards.
"Come on," called the man pleasantly when he reached the stout entrance to his home, bathed in golden radiance as he heaved the oak door ajar. With a long breath, Cloud trotted up the path after him, Aerith and Tifa at his rear. A traditional mailbox by an orderly vegetable patch indicated that this was the Fair residence.
The three were greeted by a reassuring warmth as they stepped inside, eased at once by the friendliness of the interior. The porch opened into quaint living quarters, heated by a flickering log fire in the corner. A cramped kitchenette adorned the wall on their right, gleaming and tidy, ending at a curtained partition that led to the bedroom beyond. A dark-haired lady sat at the dining table in the centre of the lounge, her confused gaze darting between the unexpected intrusion and the man as he rummaged through the drawers of an ancient cedar cabinet opposite her.
"What in the name of goodness are you doing, dear?" she queried, hurriedly pulling a red headscarf down over her curls in embarrassment. "And who are these people?"
"Just a moment," her husband replied absently, muttering to himself as he withdrew an old brown envelope. "Ah, here it is…"
"Here what is?" demanded the woman, leaning over to inspect what he had removed. After a moment of staring blankly at the envelope, Mr. Fair bit his lip, and nervously fumbled a piece of folded paper from inside. Turning, he handed the page to Cloud, his demeanour again laden with anguish.
"Please read this," he asked softly.
"Excuse me?" stammered Cloud, his chest pounding.
"Please," the man said again. "I beg of you. It's very important to us…"
"Go ahead," encouraged Tifa, her words like an ultimatum, leaving him outnumbered and without a choice.
Uncertain of how to proceed, Cloud accepted the note from Mr. Fair. The paper felt worn and tender, as if it had been read and reread a great many times. Slowly, he opened the sheet to find a handwritten letter, the blue ink fading but still legible. Studying it, he began to skim over the sentences, deciding to keep the content to himself as he read; he was wary that if it related to him, he may not want Tifa and Aerith to hear:
Hey,
Thank you for your last letter, it put a smile back on my face. It's nice to know you guys are thinking of me, but there's really no reason for you to worry. I've spent most of my time in and around Midgar these last few months. It feels as if my entire life is revolving around this godsdamn city. Fortunately, construction of the Plate is almost complete, so maybe one day soon I'll be able to look out from the Company's Headquarters and not see all those cranes and scaffolding everywhere. One can dream, huh?
Oh, did I tell you I was recently promoted to First Class? Things have been kinda hectic here, so I haven't had a chance to take it all in. It means I get to work with Sephiroth more often. Can you believe it? Me…working with a hero? I have Angeal to thank for that; it was him who recommended me. I don't see him anymore, though, but I can't really go into it…
So, how are things back in the country? Are all the girls missing me? I can still remember the look on Merli's face when she found out I was heading off to join SOLDIER. What about the Mako Reactor? Did Shinra send anyone to deal with the malfunction the workers found? You should see the Reactors they have in Midgar. I've been inside some of them and, man, it's too easy to get lost. They do make life so much simpler, though.
Speaking of easy, have you even tried using the Worldwide Network yet? It would be so much quicker to write and send letters by computer. Everyone here does it. The Company's technology is so advanced I can even receive mail on my phone. Can you imagine? Half of the missions I'm sent on are briefed through my portable terminal.
I can't think of what else to tell you. Work is still pretty tough even though the War is over. I dunno if you read in the newspapers, but there's an anti-Shinra organisation called AVALANCHE that's been causing problems both here and in Junon. I have full faith in the Company to deal with the terrorists, though. We always do. Oh, and I almost forgot, I've managed to get myself a girlfriend. We met at a church in the Midgar Slums. She's very pretty. I think you guys would like her.
Anyway, I better finish this up. I'm supposed to be on duty just now and if Director Lazard catches me, he'll probably make me take more training sessions with the Third Classes. I don't know when I'll next get the chance to write because I never know when I'll be dispatched for another assignment. Hope you guys are well. Say hello to everyone in the village for me. Love you, mum and dad,
Zack
Zack…? Could this be…?
"Why did you give me this?" Cloud croaked, finally breaking the tense silence, his throat drying as he contemplated the possibility of such a coincidence.
"The glare…" responded Mr. Fair, scrutinising him.
"Glare?"
"The glow in your eyes. You're a SOLDIER, right?"
"Ex-SOLDIER," nodded Cloud.
"SOLDIER?" gasped the woman, her jaw dropping in realisation as she scrambled to her feet, spilling tea across her purple frock. "Do you know anything about our son?"
"I…I'm not sure…" Cloud shook his head. "There's a lot I don't remember-"
"His name is Zack. Zack Fair," her husband probed. As he spoke, the faintest of whimpers escaped Aerith's lips, and she raised a palm to her dumbfounded mouth.
"Zack…" she whispered, her words barely audible.
"Young lady…" Mr. Fair faltered, his tone one of hope, "do…do you know him…?"
"I…I…" she struggled, trembling.
"What happened to your son?" asked Tifa, inadvertently diverting the attention. She too seemed to have been affected by the mention of him, as the enthusiasm had abandoned her voice.
"He left Gongaga over ten years ago, shortly after his fourteenth birthday," replied Mrs. Fair, her expression sinking. "He said he didn't want to live in the country anymore. He wanted to start a new life in the city, a new life as a SOLDIER."
"The letter says he made it to First Class," added Cloud, gesturing to the note. "That's an incredible achievement. There are very few of us who ever get that far, but-"
"You were a First Class too?" Mr. Fair's gaze widened.
"Yeah."
"And you never heard anything about a Zack during your service?" he pried, placing a pleading hand on Cloud's shoulder, the question burning through his mind.
"I'm sorry…I don't remember…"
"He was such a good boy," wept Zack's mother. "He worked so hard as a SOLDIER. He even helped put an end to the Great War. Everything was going so well for him, but…that letter…that's all we have to remind us of our son. We received it six or seven years ago, and it was the last time we ever heard from him…"
"He hasn't contacted you since?" Tifa brow's furrowed.
"We tried so hard for a long time to reach him through Shinra, Inc.," Mr. Fair explained dejectedly, "but all we ever got were smokescreens and empty answers. It was as if all his records had been destroyed by the Army, and any knowledge of his existence had been covered up. That continued for years, even after the meltdown at the Mako Reactor. We had always lived in hope that he was alright, and simply too busy to speak to us, but we knew something was seriously wrong then. There is no way our Zack wouldn't have made sure we were safe after the disaster.
"We kept trying to communicate with him, but Shinra continued to block our attempts. No-one was willing to speak of our son; it was almost like they had something to hide. Then, about a year ago, we had an unexpected visitor; a young woman from the Company came here a few times while not on duty. She was such a lovely girl, often visiting just to see how we were. She called herself Cissnei, and claimed to be a friend of Zack.
"She told us that our son had been missing from the Shinra for a while, and although she couldn't tell us his whereabouts, her language suggested he was still alive. But, it's been more than six months since we last saw Cissnei; it seems she has disappeared from Shinra, too. All we can do now is pray for Zack, and hope that he's living his life out there somewhere…"
As Mr. Fair trailed off, Aerith erupted into a muffled sob. Cloud looked around to see her delicate chin quivering as she breathed heavily, a single tear trickling down her pale cheek. The news had undoubtedly come as a great shock to her, cracking her composed persona. Mumbling that she needed some fresh air, she darted outside, leaving the others exchanging perplexed frowns. For a number of seconds, Zack's father stared accusingly after Aerith but, with a deep sigh, he slumped into one of the armchairs.
"I'm not sure what's gotten into her," Tifa gulped tentatively. "We've had a crazy day, and-"
"There's no need to apologise," dismissed Mr. Fair. "Why don't you go and see if she's alright?"
"I will."
"She would tell us if she knew anything about our son, wouldn't she?" he asked gently, though his assertion was clear.
"Zack…" Tifa paused in the doorway. "I…um…yes, of course she would…"
"I'm sorry we can't be of much help," said Cloud, setting the letter on the table.
Watching the despairing man console his wife as she cried into his shoulder, he was overcome by a peculiar sensation. He was filled with the desire to help the couple, to find the missing SOLDIER; though it was not for them, but for himself. Just as it had done the night the party had camped on the banks of the River Gagighandi, hearing Zack's name aloud was a stark reminder that he held a significant clue to solving the mystery of Cloud's hazy past.
What is my connection to him? How does all this link me to Aerith? Why are she and Tifa acting so strangely…?
Offering a hastened farewell, Cloud made his way outside where the evening breeze was cool and crisp, refreshing from the heat of the Fair residence. Peering across the plateau, he saw the girls huddled together by the shadow of the Buggy. The bedroom lights of the Tonadu Inn were a very distant attraction; he wished he could be alone in the darkness for a while to ponder the day's events. With heavy feet, he traipsed across the cobblestone paths of the hamlet to where Aerith and Tifa waited, both spellbound by the splendour of the night sky as the last remnants of dusk collected on the western horizon. Even as he approached, he could see Aerith remained tearful, her eyes glimmering as they reflected the stars above.
"What do we say to the others?" Cloud posed without giving the pair a chance to register his presence.
"About what just happened?" queried Tifa, hugging herself for warmth.
"About the Turks."
"I'm not sure," she exhaled, taking a moment to consider their options. "We can't ignore the possibility that there's a spy in the group, no matter how unlikely. What do you think we should do?"
"I definitely think we should keep this to ourselves until we're certain," replied Cloud, drawing stunned responses.
"The idea of being monitored by Shinra makes my skin crawl," Aerith shivered, brushing a final tear from her cheek. "I never want to be captured by them again. Ever!"
"We need proof," he reaffirmed, casting a troubled glance towards the tavern. "And how do you think Barret would react if he thought there was a Shinra informer among us? We should stay quiet and figure out how to deal with it. Right now, we don't know who to trust. And that's assuming there even is a spy."
"But-" Tifa protested.
"We all have to agree on this now," Cloud said sternly. "Are you two in or not?"
"I…" hesitated Tifa. "Yeah."
"Aerith?"
"Fine," she grumbled.
"Good," Cloud accepted, his steady voice concealing his own disturbing doubts regarding their predicament. "Then, let's go. It's getting late…"
The subsequent hours passed for Cloud as if he was trapped in a dream, forever aware of what was going on around him, but feeling somewhat detached from the reality of it all. Having regrouped with his comrades and enjoyed a late supper of grilled fish prepared by the young innkeeper, he had spent much of the time alone in the corner of the small lounge, for Barret was still resentful of their earlier spat. Staring silently into the entrancing fireplace as fatigue enveloped him, his musings had alternated between Zack and the Turks, feasting on his exhausted mind like a parasite.
A rattle of pottery seized his attention, and he turned wearily to see the innkeeper set a tray of tea on the table around which the others were seated. The girl had worked tirelessly to ensure the comfort of the guests since their arrival, tending to their every need. Although she was the sole owner of the Tonadu Inn, Merli was only a few years older than Cloud. She was slim in figure, with wavy auburn hair that she had pulled back from her charming face into a ponytail. Distributing the steaming cups of tea among her lodgers, Merli helped herself into a vacant armchair of faded leather, stuffing her stained apron behind her.
Cloud sipped his drink without sound, absorbing the décor of the lounge as it sharpened his senses. Other than the chairs and pinewood table, which was covered by a patterned cloth of black and red emblems, the room was furnished simply by various pewter candle holders. The bare floorboards creaked underfoot as people moved to and fro across them, but shone with the dancing flames of the hearth which were mirrored on its varnished surface, as was the rhythmic swaying of Red XIII's tail. There was a rough, discoloured area on one wall where the building had been struck by debris in the Reactor explosion, the brickwork patched by steel and wood, but solid nonetheless to complete the cosy interior. Everyone but Aerith was gathered there, lost in their own worlds just as Cloud had been.
"Damn," Barret cleared his throat after a while, interrupting the calm as he placed his empty mug on the table, "that's a good brew."
"You like it?" beamed Merli. "I buy it from a travelling salesman who occasionally stays here. He brings it from Rocket Town, and tells me his family in Kalm swear by it."
"It's pretty tasty," approved Yuffie.
"So, uh…" Barret dithered, "can I ask you somethin'?"
"I don't see why not," she answered, chuckling kindly in the same playful manner she had shown all evening.
"I…" he began slowly, as if cautious to find the right words. "I wanted to know 'bout the disaster here. Y'know…with the Reactor."
"Oh…" stammered Merli, her expression wavering as her gaze fell to the floor, and gripped her cup tighter.
"I'm sorry," Barret apologised quickly. "I-"
"It's alright," she smiled. "I just haven't thought about it for a long time."
"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want," proposed Tifa, scowling at Barret.
"I'm fine," she assured them, shifting in her chair so as to better address her audience. As she prepared her story, Red XIII moved from his spot against the fire to the feet of Yuffie, who automatically ran her fingers through his mane as she listened attentively. "The complex was first built here about a decade ago. Back then, representatives of the Shinra would visit the townspeople to advise them of the benefits of Mako energy. My parents and the generations before them had long relied on coal as their main energy source, but with the difficulties of importing it from Corel and the Eastern Continent, the concept of easier, cheaper electricity was something that appealed to all. Unfortunately, things didn't turn out that way."
"Tell me 'bout it…" Barret growled under his breath.
"Be quiet," shushed Tifa.
"Anyway, the construction of the Reactor meant jobs for most of the village, and it didn't take much to convince the people that it would be a positive thing," Merli continued. "With training from Shinra, the workers were taught to build and maintain the Reactor. My husband was one of them. But, they were never warned of the dangers involved. The Company went ahead with their plans without thinking about Gongaga's safety. All they kept telling us was how happy it would make us, how much better our lives would be. The loss of some of the natural beauty that surrounded this place was a price the locals were willing to pay. But, we were punished for our ignorance; the only thing it brought us was sadness. What Gongaga is today is the result of all that.
"After the War ended, we used to hear about different activist groups that had risen to oppose the Shinra. Do you remember the attacks at Junon about seven years ago when there was an assassination attempt on President Shinra? The same people who did that – AVALANCHE I think they were called – and others just like them were responsible for creating problems at Mako Reactors across the world. Those who worked at the Gongaga facility were vigilant against such threats, determined not to allow these terrorists to disrupt our way of life.
"Whether or not it was caused by a rebel group, we'll never know, but a mysterious fault arose one day in one of the cooling tanks. The malfunction was reported immediately to Shinra Headquarters, and my husband personally requested that a team of engineers be sent out to deal with the issue. Weeks passed, then months, and my husband grew increasingly concerned by the Company's lack of action. Not even when he asked an old friend in the General Affairs Department to help would they do anything. Whatever the fault, Shinra deemed it unnecessary to correct it. My husband constantly pleaded with Headquarters, but it was all in vain.
"Then, three years ago, something terrible occurred. I got a call from my husband to say there was something seriously wrong with the cooling system, but before he could finish warning me, the line went dead. I can't really recall what happened next. All I remember is the sound of thunder, and the earth shaking more violently than anything I've ever felt. It seemed like the whole world was going to end and, suddenly, everything went black.
"When I came to, I was trapped beneath a section of the wall. It had collapsed on me when parts of the Reactor shell smashed into the inn during the meltdown. Even after all this time, you'll still find pieces of it scattered around the village. Many of the houses were damaged in the blast, but nobody cared about that…we lost much more that day. Family…friends…gone in an instant. Do people really need Reactors to live? Aren't there more important things in life? Can't we be happy without having to sacrifice everything?"
"Those godsdamn bastards…" Barret cursed, his lips trembling with abhorrence, his eyes glazing over as he associated the tale with the tragedy at Corel and the death of his partner, Myrna.
"We understand your pain," Tifa offered some solace, her voice as soft as a whisper as she placed a healing hand on Merli's knee. A tear cascaded down the girl's brave face, and she swiftly wiped it away with her sleeve. "Shinra have taken something precious from all of us, too."
"Huh?" Merli frowned, puzzled as she looked up at Tifa.
"Because of them…my father…" she proceeded supportively. "Barret's wife…Cloud and Aerith's mothers…Red's freedom… Yuffie's culture…and Cait Sith…well…"
"I don't think I qualify, lassie," squeaked the cat. "I'm just a fortune teller."
"The point is," Tifa carried on, shaking off Cait Sith's response, "the reason we're here - the reason we are on this journey - is to do everything in our power to put an end to the Corporation. They're destroying the Planet…and they're destroying lives. We all have our motives for fighting, and now we have one more to take with us."
"The Shinra build these machines to make money," ranted Barret, "an' it's people like us who suffer from their tyranny! Those with power control those without; that's just the way o' the world now. But, I ain't gonna forgive that! I wanna change things! It ain't easy, but I won't give up, an' we need everyone…even Cloud…"
"I can see why you all fight," Merli nodded solemnly, "but, I realised something long ago."
"What was that?" said Tifa.
"No matter how often I pray," she exhaled deeply, "or how much I wish for revenge…it'll never bring my husband back…"
Her sentence concluded with a stifled sob, shrouding the lounge in an atmosphere of grim comprehension. Cloud watched as those around him were immersed in the descending melancholy, reflecting on how each of their lives had been affected by the careless actions of the Shinra Electric Power Company. He could sense the hatred boiling under his own skin; a searing grief coursed through his veins like wildfire. He knew he could not alter the past, and that horrible fact smothered him; all he felt was the suffocating fury.
The intensity of the flames…the anger of betrayal…
He surged to his feet, desperate to escape, to get away from the group and all their problems. With purposeful strides, he crossed the room, ignoring the inquisitive glares of the others, and marched out into the lobby. The tiny reception area was unoccupied at this late hour, nothing stirring but his slender shadow as it bore down upon the oak portico. With a tug on the stiff handle, the door swung open, and Cloud slipped out into the cold night.
Every muscle in his body burning, he lashed at the tyres of the parked Buggy with his fists. He wanted to cry out, to roar his condemnation of the universe, to release every last ounce of frustration in his mind. The innkeeper's account had only added to his tenacious resolve to seek vengeance on those who had stolen his life from him, and Sephiroth for the murder of his mother.
Merli doesn't think she would be satisfied by retribution, so how can I even know for sure that I will? How can I predict my future if I don't even know my own past? There are so many questions, but so few fucking answers!
Kicking irately at the gravel, Cloud slumped against the Buggy, closing his eyes as he pressed the back of his head into the reinforced crimson alloy. He lingered there for a while, willing the fluttering breeze to carry his troubles with it as it swept over the inselberg. The hushed murmurs of the wind brought with them the tranquil sounds of the secluded village, the gargle of a local waterfall and faraway shrieks of the nocturnal rainforest creatures soothing him.
Then came a noise that did not belong: one that roused him from his state of induced relaxation; the muffled clink of something solid falling to a wooden base had drifted from beyond the tavern. Squinting through the dimness, he noted for the first time the silhouette of a female figure at the cliffside boundary of the plateau, her slim form moving against the backdrop of a speckled sky. Seeing the girl kneel hurriedly to retrieve whatever she had dropped, pulling her short jacket across her chest for warmth as she did so, Cloud knew without doubt who it was.
Aerith…
As she rose again, she stuffed the shimmering object back into her breast pocket, and leaned with folded arms on the rail of the small footbridge she had sought solitude upon. Her shoulders were sagged, and her head lowered; it was a side to Aerith he had never witnessed. His heart fluttered as something buried inside pushed him towards her; an emotion he did not recognise. All he wanted was to sleep, to overcome this torturous consciousness, yet the unnamed sentiment drove him on.
Is this pity? Is this…guilt?
His weary legs dragging over the pebbled dirt, he followed the path around the redbrick wall of the Tonadu Inn and to the protruding ridge. A serrated recess in the rock face several feet wide separated the rear of the building from the northwest domain of Gongaga, the two connected by the modest timber bridge. For a moment, Cloud gaped numbly at her, swathed in moonlight, uncertain of how to approach. His desire to be with her was overwhelming, relieving him of his own free will, but he chose not to battle it, instead stepping onto the platform.
The answers…does Aerith know the truth…?
"The stars are really pretty again tonight, huh?" she greeted him with a cynical smile. "Or are you still too tired to have noticed?"
"I never apologised," Cloud responded humbly, joining her against the balustrade. The memory of their row by the Gagighandi flashed in his mind, replaying the obtuse attitude that had upset her so.
"Dilly dally, shilly shally," she criticised stubbornly. "I didn't expect you to; it's not in your nature."
"Yeah…well…" he mumbled. "I am sorry."
"Don't worry about it,"Aerith accepted with a sigh, laughing quietly to herself as she brushed the bangs from her face, staring out over the landscape. "The truth is…I just find it hard sometimes. Zack was my first love. I met him when I was still only sixteen but, even though that was seven years ago…it still hurts to talk about him…"
"Is that why you didn't tell his parents you knew him?"
"I…" Aerith broke off, turning away. "After Zack left, I used to write to him. Since I couldn't contact him by phone, I would send a new letter every few weeks to his Shinra Headquarters postal address in the hope that one of them would reach him. He was always a bit of a ladies man, the type who loved women, and it crushed me to think that he had simply met someone else and moved on, but I never gave up believing. However, not once did he reply, and I had to convince myself to let go.
"I sent my final letter - number eighty-nine - almost a year ago using another method. I was always optimistic that he would get it, wherever he was, whatever he was doing. I hated the idea that he had just abandoned me, but…well…listening to his parents put it all into perspective. I mean, I only ever considered how his disappearing would affect me, but seeing how much they miss their son made me feel so selfish. I can't imagine how terrible it must be for them; he hasn't contacted them in so long. But…it kinda hit me then. I just…I want to know what happened to him…"
She trailed off, as if her words had caught in her throat with the pain of it all. She gripped the railing, peering absently out over the breathing jungle that enclosed the Reactor ruins. Cloud did the same, his focus wandering from the swaying canopy that spanned for miles in every direction, and over the sloping foundations of Diablo's Rock. In the radiance of the twinkling heavens, he spotted another part of the village on a loftier plateau in the hills to his left, the circular houses there as empty as those around them. They seemed so lonely, as if they had been without those who had cherished them for an age, and the image struck a nerve inside Cloud. He glanced back towards the Cetra, unable to quell his need to understand.
"Aerith?"
"Uh huh?" she sniffled.
"Tell me about him," he bade sincerely. "About Zack."
"Why?" teased Aerith. "Are you jealous?"
"What?" Cloud spluttered.
"I'm kidding," she giggled light-heartedly. "Though, I was hoping maybe you were…"
"Well?"
"Zack was…like a white cloud, drifting through azure skies," Aerith began wistfully, resting her chin on her hands. "A bundle of energy; so full of life. We met at the church in the Sector5 Slums, on the same day he'd been promoted to SOLDIER First Class. I'd never seen anyone from SOLDIER before, and had always been scared of the stories my mum had told me about them and the way they fought. But, Zack wasn't like that. He only wanted to protect people…to take care of his friends."
"Not all SOLDIERs are bad," Cloud said defensively.
"Yeah…I know that now," chortled Aerith. "I learned a lot about the world because of him. He often travelled on assignments, but always made time to come and visit me. He taught me so many exciting things like…um…how to use Materia for example, or how to sell flowers. 'Operation: Midgar Full of Flowers, Wallet Full of Money' he used to call it. He was such a big kid sometimes. Although he was totally different from the fierce warriors I'd heard of, there was one thing that fascinated me more than anything else about Zack as a SOLDIER."
"What was that?"
"His eyes," she recalled with enchantment. "He had gorgeous bright blue eyes…just like yours. I always used to say you could see the sky in them."
"Mako eyes, huh?"
"It was those eyes that took away my fear of the natural sky,"
"You were afraid of the sky?" Cloud raised an eyebrow.
"It seems silly now," Aerith shrugged, "but growing up, all I knew were those dingy grey rafters on the underside of the Plate. It felt weird to think that the upper-city had another sky. During the winter that we spent together, he took me to the tree light spectacle in Sector8's West Park. It was so beautiful to witness the world above the Slums, and that was the first time I was able to look up at the stars. I've gone every year since, sometimes to sell the flowers from the church, and sometimes just to see if I could find him there. I've always treasured the things that remind me of him."
"Such as?"
"Well, this ribbon for example," she gestured to the pink silk bow tied in her hair, holding her plaits in place. "Zack bought it for me the afternoon we met. He said it was a token of our one-day anniversary. But, of everything, it's you who makes me think of him most."
"Me?" Cloud asked cagily, unsure of how to react to the comparison. "What is it about me?"
"You really wanna know?" she posed.
"Try me."
"Do you remember the first time we ever spoke?" tested Aerith.
"You mean after the explosion at the Sector1 Reactor, right?"
"I noticed you across Fountain Plaza that night," she reminisced, biting her lip. "Something drew me to you. I can't explain what it was, only…it was like seeing him again. Y'know…as if we'd met before."
That's exactly how I felt about her…
"Met?" he repeated, perplexed by the possibility of a more intimate connection between them.
"I dunno," Aerith shook her head. "Maybe it was your outfit, or your sword, or even your hairstyle…some parts were changed, others the same, yet all so familiar. Not to mention you bought a lily from me. My point is that I realised this stuff straight away, but couldn't convince myself that you weren't the same SOLDIER I'd dated. Especially when you came crashing through the church ceiling just as he had. Couldn't be a coincidence for it to happen twice, right? It was only after we got acquainted that I appreciated how different you were. But…not that different. It's like…sometimes you'll say or do something that would be precisely the way Zack would have."
"We were trained to think the same way," suggested Cloud. "Maybe that's what you can see."
"No, it's bigger than that," Aerith disagreed, pausing pensively. "But, knowing that you were both First Class SOLDIERs has given me faith; it helps me to forget."
"Huh?" frowned Cloud. "Forget what?"
"That day in the church when I sensed…" she sobbed gently.
"Aerith…?"
"It's nothing," she insisted. "I don't want to talk about it anymore. One of the reasons I came with you on this journey was to get closure on all this…"
Taking the White Materia orb from her pocket and stuffing it under her pink ribbon, she hid her soft face from Cloud. With a hasty step, she shuffled by him on the bridge, pulling her jacket closer against her skin once more. As she passed, he instinctively reached out and caught her arm in his; it was another action beyond his control. Their gazes locked, Aerith's teary pale green eyes gleaming in brilliant moonlight as he observed her with his own sparkling blues. Deep inside, Cloud again yearned to comfort his friend; he did not fully comprehend it, but still he did not resist.
"Aerith," he sighed eventually, "I don't think Zack would have ever forgotten about you; the letter he wrote…he spoke about your relationship…"
"Oh, Cloud…" she wept, throwing her arms around him, embracing him tightly as she buried her head into his chest. "Thank you…"
Cloud listened as Aerith cried, her loneliness easing with the revelation, providing her with a distant hope that she had not been deserted after all. On the ground before them, there was a flicker of orange lamplight, and he saw a long shadow move over the gravel. Looking up, he glimpsed Tifa standing at the bedroom window, expressionless as she watched him and Aerith together. The moments seemed to last an eternity as Cloud and Tifa stared at one another in silence, the beating of their hearts a lifetime apart. With a sharp motion, she hauled the curtain across the window to smother the warm glow of the inn, leaving the two alone beneath the stars.
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