I do not own anything nor do I make any money from this story. All rights apply.

Follows on from 'All that is lost'; some months later. Different genre and no crossover.

METEORA

TOMMORROW

Over the next two days Cloud gained more control over his body. Most of the time while Reno or Rude slept, Cloud would be flexing his muscles and doing stretches. It was difficult as first but it had got easier. Once he was able to walk unaided they decided to set out. The plan was to head out of Junon, hopefully via the main exit. Going by sea was out of the question as Lifestream and Meteor floated on the tide.

"Okay – all clear," said Reno as he slid the door open.

Rude and Cloud followed him out.

The gloomy air hung heavily around the town; moans and cries filled the air but they were not nearby. Glancing back Reno lead them forward, moving from shadow to shadow – stopping just long enough to skirt the growls and avoid confrontation. Reno knew that Cloud was struggling a bit even though he said nothing but they could not afford to stop. They hadn't heard The Thing all morning but knew it was still out there; waiting for them.

Reno didn't see the punch coming, he was concentrating on looking for creatures and was surprised to see people. And then surprised again as he was punched.

"Oh, sorry," said a man's voice. "I thought you were a monster."

"And you were going to defeat it with that?" muttered Reno rubbing his jaw. His pride smarted more than any injury the young man could have inflicted.

"Turks," swore someone from behind.

There were three people, two men and a woman, all looked worn out and haggard. Reno doubted they looked any better.

"Is it just the three of you?" asked Rude and they all nodded.

All talking stopped as a familiar roar filled the air.

"The Thing," said Reno looking around.

There was nothing to hide behind and no building to hide in.

"There is a shelter – over there," yelled the man who had punched Reno.

They all looked – it was far, over open ground but there was nothing else short of going back into Junon.

"Run," ordered Rude.

No one needed any encouraging. Every roar seemed to bring the Thing closer and the shelter remained so far away. Cloud felt like he was breathing through a straw as the weight of his body prevented movement. He glanced back to see the Thing had something in its hand – it threw it. Its aim was good; if Cloud hadn't seen it, the man next to him would have been crushed but Cloud changed course using his momentum to knock him out the way. Whatever the man been about to say was cut off as a small boulder landed where he had been. He nodded thanks and continued on his way but Cloud couldn't get his body to stand; he could feel the suffering and longing to be free that spilled out the Thing every time it screamed, roared or beat upon itself. He battled to get to his feet; the emotions and torment were a weight across his back. He was vaguely aware of Reno kneeing beside him pulling at his arm, shouting at him. Something about stabbing him and leaving him as bait. It was not the words that brought him back but the stinging pain in his arm. He looked up at the redhead, surprise on his face. But Reno was looking at him just as surprised, Cloud followed Reno gaze as he looked down and saw that the steel that had pieced his arm had first passed through Reno.

Turning Cloud saw their attacker lifting another length of steel and getting ready to throw. Gritting his teeth against the pain he pulled his arm free causing Reno to crumple to the ground with a grunt. Cloud took hold of the steel protruding from Reno.

"Sorry," he apologised before pulling it free. Reno made a strangled noise before passing out, allowing Cloud to heave Reno onto his back. Taking a deep breath he set off with a yell – pushing his body, making it work.

"Rude!" he screamed.

The Turk was some way ahead hustling the others into the shelter, he turned to see Cloud running toward him with Reno slung across his back; there seemed to be blood everywhere – it ran down Cloud's arm and spread across what he could see of Reno. Looking behind them he saw the Thing release but the pole missed them as Cloud scramble along almost on all fours. He was battling, not only to run but to stay conscious. Rude glanced back to make sure the other survivors were inside before running back to help Cloud. He kept an eye on the Thing but it appeared to have lost interest in them and was roaring and screaming as it clawed the air and itself. Rude grabbed hold of Reno and, making sure Cloud followed, headed to the shelter.

XxX

Rude winced when he saw the wound in Reno's side. He knew it was bad – they had nothing to heal it, all he could do was wrap it firmly and hope for the best. Medical skills were not his strong point but he washed and bound Cloud's arm where he lay before moving him away from the door. His breathing was no longer so ragged but he was still very pale.

"Um, excuse me."

Rude turned to face one of the survivors. It was the young woman wearing a stained uniform, she held a small lump of faintly green rock. "I think this is-"

"Materia," finished Rude and took it from her offering hand.

He didn't know how to tell her that the materia was useless but as he thought of what to say, he noticed that it glowed – very lightly and he was only able to see it because of the gloom in the hideout. He gave her a small smile,

"This may help – thank you," he said.

She smiled back but quickly returned to where the other two were crouched.

Rude went over to Reno and placed his hands over the open wound, materia between his fingers. Taking a deep breath he forced the weak power of the materia into Reno's battered body. At first nothing happened then the bleeding slowed and stopped but there was almost no sign of any healing. Rude carefully moved Reno to where Cloud lay, at least he wasn't going to bleed to death. Looking down at the now cold lump of grey rock, Rude suppressed a sigh of frustration and sat down by the boarded window facing the door.

Occasionally he would look across at Cloud and Reno but neither stirred. He was worried about Reno, with no medical supplies and a wound that serious, Rude doubted that Reno would be alive by the time morning arrived. Cloud looked worn out but in no danger of dying. Rude stiffened at the thought that flitted unbidden across his mind – it would be easier to get back to Midgar with only one person to look out for. He shocked himself by thinking of Reno as already dead. The whole situation was getting to him; lack of food and rest, the constant threat from the creatures that hunted them. He had seen some things as a Turk but this was something else and none of them were on top of their game. An exhausted, hungry Turk was the best they had, he would have laughed if it didn't take any energy. Thinking of energy, he looked at the used materia again then glanced at Cloud. If Cloud was getting his strength back and this materia had had a little life in it… was the Lifestream returning. He glanced at the door, would the creatures outside return to their true forms?

In the long quiet that followed the three other survivors ate some food and settled down to sleep. Rude was offered some of the food but declined, his thoughts elsewhere and troubled.

Reno woke briefly sometime during the night, he complained about the pain and asked if Rude had found his Electromag or if AVALANCHE had lost it but didn't stay awake long enough to hear any answers for which Rude was grateful. Reno obviously thought himself back when AVALANCHE had attacked him and Elena had taken his place – it was the last time he had been so out of it.

Cloud woke in the predawn light just as Rude was having some difficulty staying awake. He watched the blond trying to gain his bearings and manage to sit up. Cloud studied Reno for a moment but looked across at Rude once he was sure Reno still lived.

"What time-" his voice caught and he coughed.

"Just before dawn," said Rude.

"Have you been awake all night?" asked Cloud.

Rude nodded.

"How awake are you?" Rude asked.

"Awake?" Cloud appeared confused. "I'm awake."

"Good, I'm going to sleep," said Rude. "If Reno wakes, wake me."

Cloud nodded and watched Rude settle down and go to sleep, his eyes drifted to the survivors who slept soundly. He pulled out his phone and flipped it open – there was still some battery life but no signal. He tried the bar but couldn't connect. He wondered if Tifa had tried to get hold of him or anyone, for that matter. How far had this spread? He spent the next hour letting his mind drift from topic to topic, not staying on anything long enough for it to fill his mind. It ranged from stuff he used to do as a kid to ShinRa. He hadn't felt this confused and conflicted since he joined AVALANCHE and learnt about himself and Sephiroth. He had managed to overcome those insecurities while fighting Sephiroth for the second time and now they simmered beneath the surface again. From what Reno had said, Lifestream flowed outside the earth's crust as it once did before, three years ago. Only this time it was mixed with Meteor. He felt like he knew the answer to a puzzle but didn't know what the puzzle was.

Cloud was shaken from his musings by a voice, at first he thought they were the whisperings of the survivors but they still slept. Looking round he realised they were coming from the window above him – from outside. He couldn't make out what they were saying but it was speech not the growling screaming that the creatures had. With some effort he made his way over to Rude and shook him awake.

Rude woke quietly and looked expectantly at Cloud.

"There are people outside, I can hear them talking," said Cloud causing Rude to sit up and listen intently.

"I hear nothing," he said.

"They are not talking now," said Cloud and they both felt a little foolish before a distinct scraping noise sounded from the door.

Rude drew his gun and quietly moved across the room. He could hear footsteps and whispers as people moved about outside; they were trying to get in. Rude unlocked the door and a moment later it flew open, Rude had his gun sighted on… no one. Looking down he met the hard eyes of Elena as she crouched in the doorway, gun pointing at Rude's chest.

"Rude?" she asked flatly.

"Good move," he said and lowered his gun.

Elena let out a sigh that was almost a sob and stood before grabbing hold of Rude in a fierce hug. He held her for a second before stepping back, she beckoned and two people came into view. The three quickly entered the hide out and Rude closed and locked the door. By now the other survivors had woken and welcomed the newcomers into their ranks. And so they sat – Turks on the one side, the survivors on the other.

"Have you come across Tseng?" asked Elena almost immediately.

Rude shook his head.

"And Reno?" she asked looking at his still form.

"Still alive," said Rude, his tone implied the situation.

Elena nodded grimly and made her way over to him. She nodded a greeting to Cloud but didn't see his reply. Crouching down next to Reno, she peeled back the makeshift bandages and winced but soon frowned.

"This has had healing," she said.

Rude nodded and told her about the materia and his suspicions about the Lifestream returning being connected to the returning power of the materia. He left out his observations about Cloud and his connection to the Lifestream through Mako.

"I saw some materia on the way here but left it," said Elena. "I thought it not worth the risk to fetch at the time."

"Where?" asked Rude.

"About a block away; I can go back." She looked at Cloud, "you can help me."

"I… can't," said Cloud uncertain.

"Why not? I know you weren't a SOLDIER but you are still infused with Mako," continued Elena.

Rude noted one of the survivors that came with Elena, look up at the statement then across at Cloud.

"Elena, Cloud has to stay here and protect the survivors and Reno,' said Rude. "I will go with you."

"Okay – do you want to go now? There is nothing about at the moment," said Elena turning her attention to Rude.

Rude nodded in thought. It was true, it had been quiet for some time. The more he thought about it, he realised it had been quiet since their last encounter with the Thing.

Cloud hadn't seen the survivor's look of interest so was confused as to why Rude had said what he had; Rude knew that Cloud couldn't fight anyone at the moment so how was he supposed to protect the others. He kept quiet thinking that perhaps the Turk had a plan.

While checking his gun before going to fetch the materia, Rude dropped his clip but as he went to pick it up he accidentally kicked it, sending it skittering across the floor to where Cloud sat. He followed it and took it from Cloud with a significant look toward the survivors, Cloud glanced across at them and noticed one staring at him and the Turks. He gave a slight nod of understanding and Rude left with Elena.

Not long after the two Turks left did the man sidle up to Cloud.

"Cloud, right," he didn't wait for a reply. "I'm Russell. Is what that Turk said true?"

"What Turk?" asked Cloud knowing full well who Russell meant.

"The blonde, Elena. About you being infused with Mako," said Russell.

Cloud didn't answer.

"With you, we can ditch these Turks and make our way out of Junon," continued Russell. "We are all uninjured," he added with a look toward Reno.

"You are all unarmed," said Cloud.

Cloud heard a snort of laughter from Reno's direction shortly followed by a groan of pain.

"I thought you were unconscious," said Cloud.

"No one can sleep with all that talking," said Reno, his heavy breathing belied his light tone.

"You're not going to do the world a favour and die are you?" asked Cloud.

"Not if it made you happy," retorted Reno before going quiet again.

"Is he a friend of yours?" asked Russell looking between the two.

Cloud didn't like Russell's tone, he glanced across at the man – in the gloom his eyes lit up for a second. It was fuelled by anger but it was enough for Russell to back down, naturally Russell didn't know the details of SOLDIER training but rumours were enough for him. He headed back to the group of survivors. Cloud watched them for a moment; they spoke among themselves for a bit before going quiet. It was in that quiet that Cloud thought he heard something...

XxX

Elena and Rude made their way to the materia that she had seen earlier. It was terribly quiet for some reason, the screams and howls from before were gone. They were hiding just short of the main entrance, Rude could see the materia – it was glowing faintly but it was stronger than the materia he had used on Reno. Rude was about to step forward but Elena pulled him back; a scuffling noise could be heard to their right. Edging back a bit they waited for whatever was making the noise to pass. From the sound Rude calculated that it would pass them within a few minutes – it wasn't the laboured movement of the creatures before but a sure, if cautious, movement. A dirty but otherwise healthy looking dog came trotting into view. The Turks studied it as it trotted past them; it stopped, sniffed the air in the direction of the Turks and moved on.

"Where do you think that dog came from?" asked Elena watching it trot away.

"It's coming back to Junon," said Rude looking in the direction the dog had come from.

The dog had obviously left Junon when the trouble had started and was now returning to its home. It added weight to Rude's theory of the Lifestream returning; the materia was glowing again and the animals were returning. But even so, Rude wasn't taking any chances and as he looked around again he thought he imagined it but it looked lighter, not so gloomy. Perhaps his eyes were getting used to the new light.

"It's lighter than it was before," said Elena suddenly as she looked around.

Rude nodded. Suddenly they both looked at each other,

"Can you hear-" they started but stopped.

It was the sound of a helicopter.

XxX

Tseng had been outside Junon when Meteor exploded. After assessing the situation he had headed for Midgar rather than waste precious time in Junon, he knew the other Turks would handle whatever was going on. Admittedly, he hadn't grasped the full extent of the situation at the time. He had made good time back to Midgar, it had taken days but it hadn't taken long to muster the forces and return.

However, by the time he got back the worst was over and clean up duties were issued. Cloud knowingly did not to ask and the survivor's questions were ignored. The restoration of Junon was going to take months, if not years. The explosion was blamed on an anti-government movement but ShinRa, while not outright lying, wasn't telling the truth either so Cloud went his way and the Turks went theirs.

END