The pair approached it cautiously, walking side by side.

'When we blow this place up, the reactor ain't gonna be nothin' more than just a hunka junk,' stated Barret in his deep voice. 'James, you can set the bomb.'

'Shouldn't you do it?' inquired the blonde, casting Barret a half interested gaze.

'Jus' do it! I gotta stand here an' watch you. To make sure you don't pull nothin',' Barret nastily shot back.

'Fine, be my guest.' James' voice was as cold as ice.

He took the bomb from Barret, and made his way closer to the reactor, still feeling the leader's eyes burning into him. There was a small green sphere on the ground, which he showed Barret, before pocketing. He stopped before it, staring up. It was very tall. He looked back down to the bottom of the reactor, feeling that Barret was more than likely going to have a go at him if he just spent his time gaping at the base. He reached out, the bomb in his hands...

Watch out! This is not just a reactor!

James clasped a hand to his head, nearly dropping the bomb. He was tempted to call out 'Who said that?' but he could already guess by the way that Barret had not said anything, that the warning voice he had just heard was in his head. His breathing had risen slightly as he panicked. He had come close to dropping the bomb, but thankfully had managed to keep a tight hold onto it.

'What's wrong?' came Barret's voice. Maybe he did hear it, thought James.

'...Huh?'

'What's wrong, James? Hurry it up, we ain't got all day!'

James apologised, without any meaning, snarling under his breath. He activated the bomb, leaving it firmly in place at the base of the reactor. He straightened up, and ran back to Barret, who was looking at something high up above their heads.

'Look out...here they come...'

The reactor's security dropped down from above them in the form of a giant Roboguard, shaking the bridge dangerously as it landed. The metal it was made of was a dark orange red colour. It was in the shape of a scorpion, and even had a scorpion's tail curled over it, pointing at Barret and James.

The Guard Scorpion seemed to have only a limited amount of attacks. Every time either James or Barret attacked it, the Scorpion would retaliate with raising one mechanical leg and taking a large swipe at one of the pair.

Emerald green flames surrounded James, as he flailed his Buster sword around him. He slid it back over his shoulder and raised his hands in the direction of the Guard Scorpion. Almost instantaneously, a bolt of lightning shot out of what appeared to be nowhere and seared through the Scorpion. James took a step back as Barret jumped forwards. He raised his gunarm, and shot a few bullets at the Scorpion.

The pair continued using the same attacks on the Guard Scorpion, which seemed to be quite effective, until it raised its sting tail higher, and started to tremble slightly.

James held his hand out to Barret, to signal him not to make another move.

'Don't attack!' he cried out.

'Why the hell not?' demanded Barret.

'Don't attack it whilst the tail is up like that, otherwise it'll retaliate with its laser from the sting,' explained James.

Barret cast James an odd look, but decided not to risk finding out for himself whether the ex-SOLDIER was right. Instead, he fished around in his pockets for a Potion, and pulled the lid off, throwing the other part at James' feet.

Light green sparkles dropped out of the air onto his head, resting for a fraction of a second on his body, before dissolving into nothingness. James did the same thing to Barret, both of their diminished health restored by the Potions.

After a few minutes, the Scorpion's tail lowered again, but still pointing at them, and it stopped trembling.

'Is it safe to attack it again now?' asked Barret, half sarcastically.

James nodded. He took a step forwards and once more brandished his Buster Sword in front of him. Another blast of lightning struck the Guard Scorpion, the electricity searing through all the metal in its being, almost destroying it in one go. Barret shot at it again, noticing its weakened state.

'Use a couple more Bolt spells!' ordered Barret, 'I'll stay back and let you do your stuff. Just finish it off!'

'Yes sir,' replied James, half scathingly.

The large Scorpion took a step forwards and turned, swinging the robotic tail and sting at James, crashing directly into him. He staggered back, one hand clasped to his chest, just about keeping his balance. His head had snapped back from the force of the blow that was landed on him.

'Ugh, to hell with this,' muttered James to himself.

He stroke forwards again, waving the Buster Sword, and struck the metal of the Scorpion's mechanical legs in one heavy swipe. He jumped back, out of the way before the Scorpion could try and fight back.

'What the hell d'you think you're doin'?' asked Barret, casting him an odd look.

'Just attack it normally, don't bother with magic,' said James, 'no point in wasting time trying to be fancy, when your gunarm and my Buster Sword will easily dispose of it.'

'Hell, don't worry 'bout me usin' magic,' said Barret to himself, 'can't.'

The pair both stabbed and shot and struck whatever part of the Scorpion they could for a few more minutes, both still uneasily aware of the fact that the timer on the bomb James had planted was still ticking.

As James withdrew from another attack, the Guard Scorpion fell down on the ground, dead. James turned to Barret.

'Come on, let's get the hell outta here!' exclaimed James.

The pair turned on their heels and ran, fleeing for their lives before the bomb would detonate. Barret arrived at a small gap that needed to be jumped, and then walked swiftly over the marrow ledge, not thinking of what was underneath, and then turned to his right, and continued on the path out of the reactor. James, on the other hand, after reaching the same point where Barret turned off, he thought he saw something, or somebody on the left. He looked, and saw Jessie, on the floor, her leg trapped.

'What are you doing here? You were meant to be by the first door!' muttered James.

'We swapped. Please, help me, I can't get free!'

James knelt down beside her and pulled her leg free. She stood up, and made her way past him, turning back, and muttering 'thanks', before running out. James wondered how much time they had left, and dashed after her.

They made their way to the lift again, Barret evidently been waiting for both Jessie and James. They came out again, Jessie running ahead of the two males, to decipher the code for the security doors. Her friend with the floppy hair, however, got there first.

'Code deciphered!' he called across to her, urging her and the other two to hurry up.

'Thanks Biggs, nice one,' she replied, smiling.

Biggs, Jessie, Barret, James and the other man all sprinted as fast as they could manage, getting closer and closer to the exit of the reactor. James knew that their time was running out fast.

The metal grating bridge trembled and shuddered as five pairs of feet made their way rapidly over it. They turned, and left the reactor. Jessie fell down, in front of James, who grabbed her arms and pulled her out.

There was an deafening explosion, as a huge fireball came roaring out from the exploding reactor. James just managed to pull Jessie and catch up with the others just in time, before being burnt horribly.

They found themselves at a dead end, with only a gate to get through, but it was jammed shut. Jessie stepped forwards as Barret started to speak.

'That should keep the planet goin', at least for a li'l while longer, anyway.'

'Yeah,' replied the nameless man.

James shot him a look.

'What is your name, anyway?'

'Who, me?'

'No, the giant Moogle behind you,' retorted James, with huge sarcasm.

'Wedge.'

Jessie pushed her way past the men and made her way over to the blocked gate. She was carrying another bomb, and warned them all to stay back. Once everybody was all safely out of the way, she detonated it. There was a small explosion, just enough for the gate to swing open. They all went through, when they were addressed by Barret again.

'Alright, now let's get the hell outta here. Rendezvous at Sector 8 Station!' he was met with four blank faces. 'Split up and get on the train!'

Biggs, Wedge, Jessie and Barret started to make their ways off, when James called out to the group's leader.

'H-hey!'

Only Barret stopped at James' cry. He sighed impatiently and snapped 'if it's about your money, then wait until we're back at the hideout!'