THE PROMISE

Barret pivoted, his arm arcing into a wide swing which connected with the punching bag before him. The blow was heavy and the bag swayed back and forth like a tree weathering a ferocious storm, in a flurry of movement the man landed ten strikes, his breath was laboured and sweat began to form on his brown; his right arm ached from the weight of the machine gun. The sound of the dull blows on the bag echoed through the small hide out. A table dominated the centre of the room, decorated with the blueprints and details of potential targets which were strewn in an unorganised mess. Against a wall was a table which took the role of a small bomb factory; the work space organised lovingly by Jessie who cared for it like her home. Propped in a corner stood a huge television, the screen filled with the fuzzy face of a Shinra newsman. Barret had his back turned to the screen but he knew the face of the speaker whose dry voice urgently spoke over the sound of the giants show of strength. The pristine suite, the manicured hands and the cosmetic covered face, the well groomed reader was currently the face of Shinra to Barret. And this clean corporate exterior was but a facade for what lay beneath. Jus a bunch o blood sucking monsters. Barret drawing from his hatred was reenergised and launched another assault on the bag.

"And on too today's breaking news story, it has been confirmed that yesterdays bombing of the No.1 Reactor was carried out by a cell of the terrorist group AVALANCHE" The reporter disappeared to be replaced with the image of graffiti scrawled onto a Sector 8 wall. DON'T BE FOOLED BY SHINRA. MAKO ENERGY DOESN'T LAST FOREVER! MAKO IS THE PLANETS LIFE SOURCE! THE END IS IN SIGHT! PROTECTORS OF THE PLANET: AVALANCHE! The writing was being removed by a small army of cleaners. "The current figure on the dead and injured is unclear as large areas of the city remain in ruins; but it will certainly rise into the thousands. Needless to say this cowardly attack on the freedoms of our people will not go unpunished; today President Shinra announced the mobilisation of the elite SOLDIER units within the city to bring this terror to a speedy end. AVALANCHE is a radical group with the aim of removing all technology from the planet to bring a return to an agrarian society..." Barret could take no more and focused on removing the voice from his head and pounding the punch bag. How could the people be mobilised if the Shinra just fed the people their lies all the time?

Cloud observed the little room for a minute in concealed amusement. Biggs and Wedge were sat around the table watching the animated screen with rapt attention, amazed at the scale of the devastation wrought by their own hands while Jessie was sat at her desk working on an electronic system. And then there was Barret in the corner unleashing his fury, beside him sat Marlene, the girl watching her father with open mouthed fascination. How this odd collection of people, with little training or equipment had pulled off such an operation was unbelievable. The image of the exploded Reactor on the screen was evidence of this.

Barret suddenly turned, aware of the new arrival. "Yo Cloud, there's something I need to know." The bag rocked from side to side behind him "Did you see anyone from SOLDIER last night? Were there any in the Reactor guards we met upstairs?"

"None Barret, if there were we wouldn't be here now"

Barret frowned "How do you know? Don't try telling me how tough you are"

"Those from SOLDIER aren't just anyone. They're genetically enhanced humans, faster and stronger, you couldn't have thought I was normal last night?"

"Yeah, you're strong. Probably all them guys in SOLDIER are. But don't forget ya skinny ass is working for AVALANCHE now"

Cloud had had enough; enough with Barrets attitude and temper. He had done the job he was contracted for; once he was paid he would be away from this place. "You asked me a question and I answered, I going to be upstairs where we can talk about my money". Cloud swivelled around to see Tifa at the other end of the small room, she had followed him down. He walked across the room and back to the lift.

"Wait, Cloud" Tifa placed her hand upon Clouds shoulder "Calm down" he shrugged her hand away and stepped onto the lift platform.

"Tifa, let him go! Looks like he still misses the Shinra"

Cloud spun around and shouted "Shut up! I don't care about Shinra or SOLDIER, but don't get me wrong Barret, I don't care about AVALANCHE or the Planet either"

"If that's the truth, then that just makes you coldblooded" Barret spat venomously. He turned around to continue his assault on the punch bag. Cloud turned away from the scene and took the lift back to the top.

Cloud released a loud sigh into the empty barroom of the Seventh Heaven. He walked over to one of the tables and took a seat, placing his sword across the table. The aged floorboards creaked under his weight as he took a seat. It felt good to sit but the mercenary was eager to get this job over with. The hidden lift suddenly groaned and began to descend to the hideout below, Barret should be on his way up, and then Cloud could leave, he let out another sigh and closed his eyes. The job had run smoothly, but he Cloud was surprised by how the events had affected him. What had happened to him when he went to place the bomb? But for now there were other matters more pressing, the hydraulics of the lift came alive once more with a whine of protest and raised the platform to the bar. After a moment of silence Could opened his eyes and moved his glowing eyes to the lift to see Tifa, staring calmly at him with her one hand resting on her hip, she smiled warmly.

"Listen Cloud, I'm asking you, please join us. Don't leave us now"

"I am sorry Tifa"

"Cloud, the planet is dying. It won't happen straight away, but the Shinra are bleeding it dry. Someone has to do something" Her voice was serious and she looked at him with a critical eye, assessing him almost.

"So let Barret and his crew, AVALANCHE, do something about it, it's got nothing to do with me". He shook his head in frustration, clearly Barret had asked Tifa to speak with him. "Listen Tifa, I just want my money and then I'll be away. Tell Barret to have my money ready later when I come back" He stood up and began walking to the door.

"So! Your really leaving!?" Her voice rose high with unexpected emotion which made the ex-SOLDIER turn with slight surprise. "You're just going to walk right out ignoring your childhood friend?" her voice now held accusation.

"What do you mean?"

"Then you did forget the promise? I never thought you would Cloud"

"What promise?"

"It was seven years ago" Her voice was small, her eyes shone with the memory she was about to conjure up of a time gone by "We sat under the stars, an ocean of them; you would never see anything like it over Midgar. The night was warm and I met you out on the well. Don't you remember Cloud?"

He did "Yeah... the well back home" A huge wooden framed structure as tall as a house. He had climbed up there to wait for Tifa, the girl his young heart had totally fallen for. He would wait there until she came. "I thought you would never come, I was starting to get a little cold" Tifa smiled in delight as the realisation of the memory dawned across Clouds face. For Cloud the memory was overpowering. New feelings, or rather old ones remembered flooded through him from a part of his life that was lost. The memory was so strong it could have been only a moment ago.

Suddenly he was a boy again and the light breeze on that warm night made him shiver, the strong fragrance from the myriad of flowers which surrounded Nimbelheim filled the air; a smell which now represented home as much as the actual place. He seemed so full of ambition then, of potential; what had happened?

The boy started from his thoughts at the sound of the loud creak as someone climbed the ladder to the walkway and stepped around to where he sat.

"Sorry I'm late... You said you wanted to talk about something?" Tifa's voice was a lot different then, it was the voice of a young teenager, innocence maybe.

"Come this spring Tifa, I'm going to be leaving this town for Midgar" Clouds voice was different in much the same way.

"All of the boys are leaving town"

Cloud frowned at this. "But I'm different from all of them. I'm not just going to find a job, I want to join SOLDIER. I'm going to rise to the top, I'll be the best there is. Just like Sephiroth".

"Sephiroth" Tifa said the name slowly "The great Sephiroth... Isn't it hard to join SOLDIER?"

"Of course it is, but that won't be a problem for me. But I don't think I'll be able to come home for awhile"

Tifa sat next to Cloud, both of their legs swinging over the side. "Will you be in the newspapers if you do well?"

"I'll try"

There was silence for a moment and Tifa raised her head to the stars. "Why don't we make a promise then? If you ever get really famous and I'm in trouble, then you'll come and save me" She lowered her head to look at the boy.

"What?"

"Whenever I'm in trouble, my hero will come and rescue me" She paused to consider this for a moment "I want to experience that at least once" She smiled, but her eyes, which with the reflection of the stars looked each like microcosms of the universe, were solemn.

"What?" Cloud couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had never had a conversation like this with anyone before.

"Just make the promise to me Cloud. If you leave then I know that we will meet again someday, you have promised"

"Ok Tifa, I promise"

"Thank you"

The mercenary opened his eyes to see the bar of the Seventh Heaven. That half faded memory was seven years old and one of the few he could remember of the past, yet the feelings of duty and pride which welled up within him when he spoke those words all those years ago surged through him once more

"I was never famous Tifa... and I was certainly never a hero. I won't be able to keep the promise" Across the bar the lift was called down.

"Cloud, you achieved your childhood dream. You became a SOLDIERS first class. You can still be my hero. Don't leave us."

The lift rose once again and there stood the massive hulk of Barret Wallace, beads of sweat dripping from his head. He looked Cloud over for a moment. "I guess a promise is a promise" He tossed a large bag of coins which Cloud caught "One thousand five hundred gill, what we agreed"

"If you have got the next job lined up then I'll do it for three thousand"

"Say what!" The giants eyes widened with surprise, and anger too Cloud thought.

"It's ok Barret" Tifa walked over to the leader and spoke quietly "I don't think we can afford to refuse"

"Make it two thousand and we have a deal. No way I can pay more man, I'm gonna send Marlene to school"

Tifa sighed "Thanks Barret"

"What do you say spikey?" Cloud nodded "Good to hear! All da crew will be sleepin in the hideout until we move next. The Shinra will be lookin high and low for us. I'll give you details on the strike in the morning newcomer"

Cloud took his sword from the table and walked to the lift shaft and jumped down. Tifa smiled and mumbled to herself "Thank you Cloud"