Chapter 2: Reunion…But Not That Kind

Evening had fallen, and now the lights that covered Edge, illuminating it in the darkness, flared to life. The overhead sky was dim, the usual dark clouds having dissipated, letting in trace amount of both moon and starlight. The majority of the citizens, not really liking to hang around the streets at sun down, had retreated to their respective homes, and were now nestled away.

Of course, there was some activity, drunks, loiterers, and people that just like to wander around aimlessly. Otherwise, Edge was fairly silent, descending into yet another quiet sleepy night. Though some were not quite so sleepy. Namely three. Cloud, Tifa, and Barret. They were standing in the largest plaza of Edge; where not but six months ago they had encountered and fought Bahamut Sin. The statue that the creature had blown to smithereens had since been rebuilt, as had the surrounding buildings.

The three of them were hanging around right by it, waiting at the appropriate contact point that the mysterious caller had given them. So far, no one had shown up; the one who had contacted them, or the rest of their…crew. But then…it was still early.

The moment Cloud got back to Edge, he went straight to 7th Heaven, to talk with Tifa. Barret was already there, ranting and raving, striding about, yelling about the "son of a bitch" that broke up his father/daughter time. Tifa was trying her best to console the huge angry man by reasonably telling him that the caller wouldn't have contacted him, or any of them for that matter, if it hadn't been important.

But Barret wasn't hearing any of it. In both senses of it; that he wasn't accepting it, but with his booming voice, he literally couldn't hear it. Cloud walked in around the point Barret was shouting, "I don't care if the whole damn planet is coming to an end!"

"Funny," he interrupted, leaning against the doorframe, his voice getting both of them to look his way, "Two years ago you would have done anything just so Marlene had a future." Instead of offering a friendly greeting, Barret's face seemed to get red. Though it was kind of hard to tell.

"Well…yeah! But that was back when a truckload of shit was going down, and there was a huge goddamn ball of fire, gonna wipe out everyone! Not some ta mention some maniac trying to kill everything! Couldn't just sit on ma ass and do nuthin'! Now though, what the hell could be so damn important? We've takin' care of those crazy ass remnant guys, and beat Sephiroth? So, what the do they want now? Ain't we done enough?"

"I guess not," Cloud answered. "So, were you two told to go to the same place?" Tifa and Barret exchanged looks, and nodded.

"The center of Edge," Tifa confirmed, "Right by the monument. At around eleven tonight." Cloud glanced at a clock hanging behind the bar.

"That means we got two hours." Despite this lengthy amount of time between their deadline, no one could think of a worthwhile way to spend it, so they just upped and went. Actually, Cloud was toying with the idea of asking Tifa if he and her could just…talk, but hadn't gotten up the nerve.

I can fight monsters, defeat Sephiroth, and save the world, he told himself, partly with disgust, but I can't even talk with Tifa, who've I've known since we were kids? Some hero… They had arrived at the monument, and it was already deserted. The people of Edge didn't have much in the ways of a night life, which was probably best. Who knows what comes out after dark?

Sitting there for two hours, just waiting, was nothing special for Cloud; he had spent two years waiting, what was two measly hours? Tifa too, was alright, though she looked bored, pacing some of the time, and just strolling around or sitting still, resting her face in her hands.

Sitting still was not something that Barret could do however. He was lumbering back and forth, grumbling and complaining, as he always had a tendency to do, and every once in a while, he'd whap his metal arm on the statue, sending a dull echoing resonance throughout the plaza.

"Calm down," Cloud instructed, though he wasn't betting that the angry man would listen, "That's not making time go any faster."
"I know that, goddamnit, but I hate just sittin' here, when there are a hundred things I'd rather be doin' right now! Being with Marlene comes ta mind! I just don't see the point in bein' here! Sephiroth is long gone, and the planet's safe again! What's the deal?"

"We'll find out Barret," Tifa assured him, trying to keep the peace, "This has to be important, they wouldn't call us for just some little thing. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's serious. We just have to be patient." Again, this did not satisfy him.

"Yeah, serious my ass! They probably just want ta use us as hired muscle, they tried doin' that before! Use us to do their dirty work! Well I ain't stoopin' that low! And if they try tellin' us that this whole business with Sephiroth ain't over, I ain't swallowin' that!"

"But it isn't over," broke in a voice. One that came from over their heads. All eyes turned upward, squinting into the darkness. There, silhouetted against the night sky, standing on the topmost pinnacle of the monument, was a dim shadow, draped in a tattered red cloak. Two shimmering crimson eyes shone out of the gloom, staring off into nothing, not focused on the three standing on the ground, but rather the open sky above.

There was no need to ask, they all knew who it was, and all recognized the newcomer, by both the voice, as well as the mysterious way that it talked. Without a sound, Vincent stepped off his perch, and gently floated to the ground, a good forty foot drop, and landed oh so silently, next to them, there being only the quietest of metallic ringing, from his boots.

"Something like that is never truly over. Like the Lifestream, it merely repeats itself. One only gets a temporary reprieve." This was some dark talk, but seeing as how it was Vincent…no one minded. He himself had told Cloud, when he had been already somewhat labeled as being both cold and distant, "That's just the way I am."

"Good to see you," Tifa greeted warmly, looking him over, "Where have you been hiding out?" Vincent gave the barest of shrugs. "Around," he muttered, his typical cryptic sort of answer.

"Vincent," Cloud asked, "Do you know what this might be about? Was there something we forgot to do? Or do you think that this something else?" Vincent looked at Cloud, with that calm almost dead expression. "It's just…I've had this feeling. Something…well isn't right, I already knew that but…this doesn't feel the same way as when…when I fought…" He trailed off, but his point was made nonetheless.

"I know, I've had the same sort of feeling," Vincent answered, closing his eyes. "Something in the air, something ominous. But ultimately different. I have a suspicion that this has nothing to do with Sephiroth."

"But if not Sephiroth…" Tifa asked, "Then who? Or what?" Vincent shook his head. "That…I don't know."

"Aw the hell with this," Barret interrupted, "What the hell yall gettin' so worked up for? Talkin' 'bout evil wind an' shit! Yall are just speculating 'bout nuthin' that probably doesn't even exist! We'll see what that bozo wants, then when it turns out ta be nuthin, we tell him ta cram it up his ass!"

"He may be right," Vincent agreed, though his voice nor expression seemed any different. "Perhaps we are all being a bit paranoid. This may turn out to be a different threat, but one that had nothing to do with something sinister."

"Evil," Barret scoffed, almost laughing, but not quite, "I say its nuthin' an' we all gettin' jerked around."

"Perhaps, but I think they would know better than to get into contact with us, unless it was a serious matter."

"Pssh, I doubt that. Probably wanted us there ta sing happy birthday to the asshole! And you one to talk, you just got a phone! I'll bet that you were waiting to get a call, and when ya did, you got so excited, that you rushed out here, just to tell all us 'bout it!" Vincent merely stared at Barret, his silence speaking for him, at the rather ludicrous idea. Cloud intervened.

"Well, all this speculating is just getting us worked up. None of us may even be right. I say, until we know what this is about, we don't hazard any more guesses. Alright?" No one answered, but they nodded, and silence fell across the plaza yet again. And a short lived silence at that. For over their heads, there came the incoming thunder of engines and rotor blades. It grew steadily louder, and before long, a dark shape high above soon covered them all.

With a brilliant flash, several searchlights mounted on the hull of the airship kicked on, washing the whole plaza in dazzling white light. With its descent, columns of air were blown down on top of the four, hair, clothes, and cloaks blowing wildly. It reached the ground, and hovered, the engines slowing down, the roar of its motors growing quieter, however, there was still the constant rumbling as it idled.

Cloud, Tifa, Barret, and Vincent approached the lower deck, just as rope ladder was tossed over the side.

"Hey down there," came a familiar cry, from an energetic friend, "Seems like we didn't miss that party after all! Look out below!" And down came Cid, descending the ladder, sliding down more than climbing, landing in front of them, cigarette in his teeth, which were displayed in a big grin.

"Well, good to see yall found other means of conveyance. How've all you suckers been?" Cloud stepped up giving the pilot a shake of hands, Tifa gave him a welcoming hug, Barret knocked fists with him, and Vincent gave a small courteous nod. "We've been fine," Cloud answered. "So, you got word too?"

"Yup, son of a bitch calls, and not only wants ta see me, but asks if I can act as taxi cab! Shit, ya think he could have at least said please! An' sorry I'm late, but I had to pick up a few strays." He jerked his thumb back up to his ship.

Almost as if on cue, there was a roar, and Red XIII came diving off the side of the deck, landing with a thud next to everyone. Right behind him, with a high pitched ninja battle cry, or something else entirely, somersaulting off the railing came Yuffie, flipping through the air, no doubt with practiced fanfare, coming to a stop right beside Red.

"Hiya! Guess you all made it after all! Alright!" She went around, hopping and laughing, all excited and joyful. "Damn," Barret was grumbling, but with the barest of smile on his face, "Thought I was done with this crazy crowd. Just can't seem ta get rid of 'em"

"Nice to see you too Barret," Yuffie told him, latching on to his arm, "I know you're just thrilled ta be here."

"As thrilled as a heart attack." Cloud stepped over next to Red XIII.

"How have you been? And how's Cosmos Canyon doing?" Red glanced up, giving a strange sort of fanged grin.

"It's fine, everyone living safely in peace. Myself, I've been thinking quite a bit these days. Smelling something in the air, something that doesn't feel right. And when I heard about this, us being called and asked to meet, its only sparked up my curiosity, and concern even more."

"Yeah," Barret yelled, breaking in, having been listening, "We's just got finished talkin' 'bout that! I'm a bit curious too, what this bullshit's about! But we sure as hell ain't findin' that out just standin' here! Like ta get this over with first chance we get! So, we all here? Just waiting for someone ta come along and pick us up?"

"Not quite everyone," Tifa pointed out, "One's still missing. I hope he makes it." Vincent, without even turning around spoke.

"Here he comes now." Lo and behold, from around the corner, a ways down the street, came a transport truck, heading right for the plaza. Everyone was thinking about asking how in the world Vincent had heard that vehicle approach, what with the still noisy airship literally right overhead, but no one did. Vincent just did those sorts of things, and they were better left unexplained. The truck pulled up, hissing steam as it came to a stop in front of everyone. One of the doors on the back cargo area opened, and out stepped two people, not just one. Well, actually, one person, and one cat.

Reeve and Cait Sith. Both lifted their hands in way of greetings. "Hello," Reeve called, to which Cait Sith emphasized, "Aye, it bein' grand ta see ye again!"

"Ah there he is," Cid exclaimed, waving a hand, "Get on over here, we're havin' a ball just waitin' around!" Reeve nodded, and walked around to the driver's window. "You sure you want us to leave you here Mr. Tuesti?" one of the soldiers asked, glancing at the strange gathering of bizarre looking people.

"Absolutely. I've known them for quite some time. Just head back to HQ and log this in the computer." The two men in the cab saluted him, and drove off.

"Part of your organization," Cloud asked him, watching the truck going back the way it had come.

"Yes, but we're not quite the organization yet. Still have a ways to go. But we'll be on our feet in no time." With that, he turned to everyone. "Well, seems everyone has made it. I must admit, I was a little surprised when I got call. Must be about something imperative. Maybe about the lapse in communications earlier today…?"

"Lapse in communications?" Tifa echoed, "You mean how all the phones in Edge shut down several hours ago?" Reeve nodded. "Right, though it wasn't just in Edge. From what we could tell, nearly every device capable of message transmitting on this continent was being jammed or cut off, and if we are right, even more than that too. Who knows, maybe everywhere in the world was affected. But even now we aren't able to find the source. Something we must have missed…"

"Shoot," Cid whistled, "Somethin' that knocked out all phones across the world? That got ta be some damn big jammer."

"Wish I could tell you it was all the way in Wutai," Yuffie almost apologized, "But we don't have too many phones over there, and we've never really needed them." Cid flashed a grin, slapping his leg. "That's why I need ta come over one of these days, and modernize the place! Bring it up ta speed with the rest of the world!"

"Not in a million years," Yuffie firmly said. But she was smiling, and whirled towards Cloud, whom she hadn't said hi to yet.

"And how have you been Cloud?" she pressed, "Have you gone out with Tifa yet?" This question caught Cloud right off guard, and he could only struggle for an answer, uttering little sounds, casting bewildered and extremely embarrassed glances at Tifa, before looking away again, just as quickly. Tifa was smiling, a hint of red reaching her cheeks. Everyone else, letting the possibility of another crisis of some kind slip away, all began laughing, Cid even throwing in a few well placed whistles.

"Yeah Cloud," came a voice, "I've also been wondering…have you two gone steady yet?" There behind them, stepping out of an alleyway came someone familiar.

Two someone's actually, their identities no secret, the ones who had made the series of phone calls to the group. Both were wearing snappy blue suits, white shirts beneath, though one was clearly dressing more cleanly cut than the other. The man with the wild orange hair had his jacket unbuttoned, and no tie, a slapdash look to go with his slapdash personality, his hands stuffed into his pockets, and a pair of goggles resting up in his hair.

The other was obviously a man of absolute professionalism. His suit was buttoned, the collar turned down, and sporting a black tie. His darker skin, bald head, and stylish sunglasses just made him all the tougher looking. Their black shoes clacking on the cement, as they came almost swaggering out. Everyone turned to face them, looks of mixed emotions, probably somewhere along the lines of misgiving yet acceptance.

"Hey," Reno greeted, in that laid back and smart-ass type way, "Long time no see!" Rude…merely grunted.