Shera's Diary
Chapter 15
Deviation
By Kristen Gupton-Williams
(Some dialogue in the last entry was taken straight from the game. I've got to stick true to what happened, right?)
Dear Diary,
Dare I say that Captain Highwind is as giddy as a school girl?
We got a call today. The new president of Shin Ra, Rufus, is slated to come to our small town in just a few days.
The captain is absolutely convinced that it's to announce the refunding of the space program! It seems impossible, but I have to agree, why else would the president be on his way out here?
Captain Highwind has put all his charter flights on hold pending the president's visit, and is now devoting his every waking hour to that rocket. He's sure that although it's leaning and damaged, that it is salvageable. I've dug out all the old plans and schematics that I could find amongst the captain's things, and I've started reviewing them as well.
After almost five years, my engineering skills aren't as sharp as they used to be, but I'm surprised exactly how much is coming back to me.
If that rocket is going to go up, by God, this time, I'm going to make sure that it's perfect.
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Dear Diary,
The president is supposed to be here tomorrow. I should have drugged the captain's last cup of tea to get him to sleep.
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Dear Diary,
I'm just going to relay the events of the day today as best I can without getting emotional.
The captain got up before the sun ever rose and went out to work in the rocket. Hearing him moving around woke me up and I, too, got to work before much longer.
A little later in the day, I was walking from the rocket back toward the house to try and get the captain's noon tea started, when I saw a group of strangers standing around the plane.
I went over to them, wondering what they wanted. "Um… may I help you?"
There was a blonde boy amongst them and he turned to me, looking like he wanted me to go away. "No, we're just looking at it."
I noticed at that point that the boy was wearing a SOLDIER uniform and I became curious. I thought that either they wanted to schedule a charter or they were with the president's entourage. Although I was normally the booking agent, with the present delay in flights, I knew better than to say anything otherwise without the captain's approval. "If you would like to use it, please ask the captain."
They just looked at me blankly.
"The captain should be in the rocket. I'm Shera, and what are your names?" I was honestly starting to wonder about this lot.
They introduced themselves, indicating to me that they weren't with the company.
I looked back toward the rocket. "So you're not with Shin Ra. I thought the approval for the reopening of the space program came."
The blonde gawked at me.
My disappointment was clear. "President Rufus is scheduled to come here. The captain has been so restless all morning."
With that, they all turned away from me and headed toward the rocket. I was left with an unsettled feeling, but returned to my duties.
About a half an hour later, the group of them came back to the house, and my curiosity got the better of me. "Excuse me... Cloud? Did the captain say anything?"
He told me no, and that struck me as strange since the captain always has something to say.
I was going to question him further, but then the door to the house was flung open and the captain walked in. He seemed to be in a foul mood and he motioned toward the strangers. "What the fuck, Shera? What, are you blind!? We got guests! Get some tea, Goddamnit!"
"I… I'm sorry." He was right, I'd not shown them much courtesy, and I went over to the stove.
There was more said between them all, and then the captain seemed to absolutely blow. The stress had caused him to crack. "Shut up! Sit your ass down in that chair and drink your goddamn tea!" He growled loudly and started to walk toward the door again. "Damn, I'm pissed! Shera! I'll be in the backyard tunin' up the plane, an' make sure to serve them some tea! All right!?"
I sighed to myself and faced the visitors. They all seemed a little shocked, but I assured them that Captain Highwind's behavior was to be expected in light of the circumstances. This didn't seem to be a good enough answer for them, however, so I related the story of the failed launch nearly five years ago.
Finally, I reached the end of the tale. "He pushed the emergency shut down switch, aborting the mission to save my life. After that, the space program was cut back and launch was canceled. It's my fault his dream was destroyed... That's why... it's all right. I don't care what the captain says, I'll live my life for him."
We all jumped a little when the door to the house was thrown open again and Captain Highwind returned. "Shera! You still haven't served 'em tea?!"
I apologized and turned back to the kettle on the stove, checking it and then getting some cups down from the cabinets.
The captain continued to grumble as he sat at the kitchen table, ordering Cloud to do the same.
Once more, the door was thrown open, and in walked Palmer, who we hadn't seen since the cancellation of the space program. He acted like he owned the place. "Hey, hey! Long time no see! So Cid, how ya been?"
The captain looked over toward the Shin Ra executive. "Well, if it ain't fat man Palmer. How long were you figurin' on keepin' me waitin'!? So? When's the space program gonna start up again?"
Palmer waved a hand and huffed. "Hey, hey! I don't know! The president's outside, so why don't you ask him?
This only frustrated the captain further and he got up hastily and marched out the door. "Goddamnit! Good for nothin' fat fuck!"
With the captain out of the room, Palmer came closer to me demanding a cup of tea, which I handed over. A few moments later, everyone went outside, leaving me alone again.
I went over to the kitchen window and opened it, to see if I could hear what the president was saying to Captain Highwind.
All I could hear was the captain's angry and deeply disappointed voice. "What the..! You got me all excited for nothing!? Then, what'd you come here for?"
My heart sank like a rock. That's all I'd needed to hear to know that they weren't here for the space program at all. I honestly grew angry. How dare they do this to the captain!
I continued to listen in and I heard the president then tell the captain that he intended to take the plane! If that plane was going to be taken, I wasn't going to let it be by Shin Ra. I turned and ran out of the house and up behind Cloud. I knew there was no sense in what I was about to do, but something just compelled me. I caught the young man's attention and pulled him back into the house without the captain's notice, since he was too busy having a meltdown.
Once in the house, I spoke to him quietly. "You wanted to use the Tiny Bronco, right? I believe Palmer is going to take it. Why don't you go talk to him?"
Cloud offered me a nod and then stepped out of the house, and I watched as he walked over to the plane, resting on the opposite side of the house from where Captain Highwind was still arguing with the president.
I stood there, not knowing what to do. It was clear to me in that moment that everything in the captain's life and mine was about to change forever. So much for the rut that we'd settled in over the years.
Cloud and his group managed to get past Palmer and the engines to the plane started! They were taking it and I knew that it was better, somehow, than if I'd not done anything and Shin Ra had gotten it.
At the time, I couldn't help but think, score one for Shera! Although, I knew the captain was going to lose what little grip he had on reality at the moment.
Sure enough, the captain stopped his yelling spree at the president when he heard the engines of his precious plane come to life. He ran like I've never seen him run before around the house and over toward the grass airstrip that the plane was now taxiing down.
He was chasing the plane! I couldn't understand what in the world he thought he was going to do! I didn't think he would be able to catch it and then, it got worse.
…the guards that had accompanied the president all opened fire at the plane and Captain Highwind!
This didn't deter him, however, and he managed to grab onto his plane for all he was worth, pulling open the side door and vanishing within. I could hear bullets ricocheting off the fuselage and I was terrified.
Still, that plane gained speed and a few seconds later, it was in the air, captain and all. However, some of the last bullets fired seemed to hit the tail of the plane, causing a considerable piece of it to fall away.
I slammed the door to the house and locked it, hoping that the president and Palmer would just go away and after a while, they did.
I tried to radio the captain a short while later. "Captain?"
There was static for a bit and then came his voice. "Shera…"
"Are you all right?" I asked, worried that he might have been injured during his escape with the plane.
His voice took on a very welcomed warm tone. "I'm fine. The plane's fucked up and we're actually on the water right now but… I'm fine. They… they didn't do anythin' to ya afterward, did they?"
I couldn't help but smile at his slightly protective tone. "No, Sir, they just left without a word to me."
"Good… I'm real glad to hear that. Look, if they do come back, just cooperate and do what they say. I don't want ya gettin' hurt. These guys have told me exactly what's goin' on and I'm gonna help 'em out with a few things. I'll be home as soon as I can, okay?"
"Yes, Captain," I said back, just praying for his safety.
"All right, Miss Shera, I… I'll talk to ya later."
At that, the radio went dead and I've been pacing the house since.
I wish I knew what was happening, God in heaven, I wish I knew.