Chapter 11: Destination: Nowhere

Cloud remained calm in his seat as the rest of the crew that had been running around was flung in all sorts of directions. To him, this unfolding terror was a dance in the starlight. The ship was spinning out of control, throwing people around while beams of light from a faraway star penetrated the small windows to illuminate the cabin.

A nice chunk of the hull had been ruptured with the last hit, causing the lower decks to be sealed off. To save the ship, a couple technicians would have to be sacrificed. Their beating on the metal slowly ended as the air was removed and the rest of the ship pressurized. What nightmares that would bring . . . everyone left was scurrying around trying their best to stabilize Aeris. It was as if Sephiroth had committed that atrocity again and Aeris was falling helplessly to the ground in its final seconds.

Cloud blankly watched as Nanaki helped Vincent up the ladder and back into the cabin where the former Turk had been sleeping. He sure looked like he was out of it, but little by little he was regaining his strength. The Ancient dropped his friend off at his room and quickly proceeded to the control room. The last impact had caused the artificial gravity to fail, making it a bumpy journey for anyone to travel even one step. Spinning caused it to create fluctuations in the gravity grid and instead of floating up to the next floor, Red found himself bouncing off of each wall in order to achieve any progress to the upper levels. What seemed like minutes afterwards, and a little bruised and battered, the prodigal son of Cosmo Canyon finally reached the top of the ladder.

"What's the situation Cid?" Nanaki screamed over the blaring siren in the cockpit.

"Not good!" the captain screamed back, being bucked around in his strapped seat as he did everything in his power to bring the ship back under his control.

"We've gone too deep into the parameter of the black hole!" Shera exclaimed. Her usual precise and methodical behavior was buckling under all the pressure. In the past she would have readily gave her life in order for the mission to succeed. This time though, it was more than just her life that would have to be risked, and that was unacceptable, "Even if we stabilize we're still going to be sucked into the singularity," she stated dejectedly.

"God damn it Shera!" Cid shouted, "You always give up too easily. I'm the captain, and until today I hadn't lost one crewmember! Now think . . . there has to be a way!"

Everybody cringed as the hull screeched, shrinking a little more from the growing force of gravity from the black hole. Bolts throughout the lower levels escaped from their sockets and ricocheted off metal dozens of times before finally coming to a stop. A sudden gust of steam burst out of a broken pipe and heaved Red into the ceiling, knocking the wind out of him.

"Red!" Shera unbuckled her herself and rushed to the ancient as he landed on the ground, howling in pain. She looked back over to her significant other with dead set eyes, "If we're gonna do something, we better do it now," Shera said.

"I have an idea, but you won't like it . . ." Cid replied, turning back to the control panel coldly.

5 minutes later

The ship gradually stopped its constant spin and was back on course. Cid used the thrusters on the outer hull with amazing precision and had control or the Aeris once more. Of course that was only in the sense of not spinning. The black hole had the ship firmly in its grasp and wouldn't let go, slowly pulling her inward.

"Here goes nothing," Cid told Red and Shera as he opened the main channel on the intercom. The ship ever so slowly lurched towards its doom as he began to speak.

Cloud had made his way to Vincent's bunk during the commotion and was already prepping him for evacuation. In his drowsy state, Vincent had no control over his motor skills. This proved difficult for Cloud as he helped him out of his spacesuit and into his equipment. The rough and ageless face of the former Turk was the only part of his appearance that contrasted with his entirely black wardrobe. He struggled to dress himself in his black shoes, slacks and crumpled cotton T-shirt as Cloud left the room to retrieve Vincent's equipment from a storage locker. Even as calm as Cloud was, when he grabbed his friend's uniform and materia, he totally forgot about the crimson cloak that had made Vincent so dark and soulless. Tossing them into a bag he slung it over Vincent's shoulder and stood him up. He was dragging the powerless man with one arm over his own shoulder when Cid's voice filtered down to their location.

"This is your captain speaking," the hissing of broken pipes and the crackling of electronics could be heard in the background as he spoke, "I'm very proud and happy as a captain that our crew has made it this far, and I just wanted to let everyone know that it has been a great honor to serve with all of you over the years. With this, our quintessential mission, our dreams of exploring the stars finally came to light. We became the first men to truly explore space, and let's hope we're not the last," Cid took a deep breath and continued, "That is why . . . I'm ordering every last person to the escape pods. We are too deep in the black hole to escape its pull, but that doesn't mean it's over. I have talked this over with Shera and she says we have only one chance of surviving. There can be no failure . . . the timing must be perfect . . . so please don't object to my orders. I am going to turn on the engines and the Return Rockets for one last push. They will be at maximum thrust for ten minutes only. It has been calculated that at our apex, if the escape pods are jettisoned at the right moment, you can all safely reach a distance where the gravity from the black hole won't affect you. I say "you" because this will be a one way trip for me."

The sound of a switch being flipped and the confirming beep of buttons sounded in the background, "Please don't let my dream die," Cid pleaded, "Starting thrust now. You have nine minutes to get to your escape transports. Good luck . . . to all of you." A computer's voice signaled the end of his message with 'Transmission ended'.

The ship jarred violently as the immense force of the rockets battled to gain ground against the endless void.

"No . . ." Cloud mouthed in disbelief. He quickened his pace and got Vincent to one of the escape pods where crewmen were already loading it with supplies such as food and water. Cloud left his comrade in arms in their care and headed for the cockpit.

8 minutes remaining . . .

The gravity began to fluctuate worse than before as Cloud neared the Cockpit. Sometimes he could float, and other times he had to run towards his goal. When he turned into the long hallway that led to the cockpit, he was slammed into the wall by a copper blur. A nice sized knot began to form on the back of his head where it had hit the wall.

Cloud used the intricate metal framework of the ship to pull himself up and survey what had just happened, "Red?!" He was surprised to see the ancient animal in this part of the ship. He looked pretty banged up himself.

"What are you doing here? Cid ordered a complete evac of the ship!" Nanaki growled loudly at him.

"I'm going to see if I can help," Cloud started towards the ladder but Red nosed him away.

"Don't," Red told him, shaking his head," I'm already going to lose one friend . . . don't make it two."

"Red, that's the reason why. You guys helped me and stood by me no matter what. I can't deny Cid at least a good-bye, " Cloud explained. Red conceded to him and Cloud began to climb the ladder, "Get your stuff and get to a transport. I'll see you in a short while."

Nanaki ran down the hall, his padded paws making a subtle tap with each step because of his claws. When he reached the corner to go down to the next level, he looked back once more at Cloud. He was glad to have friends such as Cloud. The thought that this could be the last time seeing him alive never crossed Red's mind.

5 minutes remaining . . .

Cloud was deeply moved when his spiky, yellow haired head poked quietly into the cabin that incased the cockpit. Cid sat in the pilot's seat with Shera standing next to him, holding his head firmly to her chest. The captain had grown up imagining the deafening roar of rockets, but all he heard now was the soothing beat of Shera's caring heart. The cockpit had to be the shakiest place on the ship, but in this perfect moment everything seemed to exist in absolute stillness. There was no way that Cloud would let Cid die now . . . not after seeing this love between the two which had remained hidden for years.

"Guys," Cloud stuttered. His voice cracked a little as he announced his arrival. The couple immediately turned their heads and saw the hesitant hero, blushing. Cloud's head was slightly angled downwards as though he had shamed himself by viewing such a pure act of love.

"Cloud! You're supposed to be in on of the escape pods already! You moron, do you want to die? There's only-" Cid shot at Cloud before he was interrupted.

"Less than five minutes . . . I know!" Cloud snapped back at him as nice as he could," I've come to say my goodbyes and help Shera to the last transport.

Cid mumbled a couple of derogatory comments about Cloud's intelligence but they were inaudible to anybody but himself. His mind quickly shifted back to Shera's well being as the clock on the main display reached four minutes, "Shit," Cid was scared to meet his end in this manner. All the sadness of his dream ending began to set in . . . all the anxiety swelling inside him as the moment approached . . . it all caused him to burst forth with unrelenting emotion, "Shera I love you!!"

" . . . . . " She fully embraced the captain after he bared his soul to her, "I know. I've always known. I love you too . . ." the beautiful scientist turned her neck ever so slightly and put her lips on the fearless pilot's, sharing her warmth with him for a few crucial moments before pulling away, "I never wanted it to end this way . . ." she sniffed, almost breaking down in tears.

"It must," Cid cried.

'No it doesn't' Cloud thought. He picked up a thick steel pipe that had become dislodged during the ship's violent trip and walked behind Cid as quietly as he could. Just as he wound up with the pipe, Shera cried out and jumped backwards. Cid never saw it coming. The pipe connected with his skull and made a dull clunky noise, knocking him out of the pilot's chair and out cold before he even hit the ground. Shera ran over to Cloud furiously and slapped him in the face, causing him to twist his head to absorb some of the hit.

She didn't mean it though. It was weak and more out of desperation than anything else. Cloud turned his head back around to look at her, to see Shera slumped to her knees crying against Cloud's black uniformed legs, "How could you Cloud?" she whimpered in futility.

"You have less than three minutes to get to the escape pod. You guys can still make it," Cloud told her without any emotion whatsoever in his voice. He lifted Cid's body with ease due to the fluctuating gravity which was once again non-existent. Shera's crystalline clear tears formed perfect water droplets and flowed upwards towards the roof of the cockpit as she viewed this man's ultimate act of kindness and love for his friends. Cloud grabbed her shoulder gently with his free hand and helped her to her feet. She swiftly made her way to the ladder and Cloud handed Cid to her as best he could. It would make for clunky maneuvering but she would manage with her lover's bulky body.

She was well on her way down when Cloud grabbed her arm again, causing her to refrain from looking for the next step and instead look at Cloud one last time. Shera truly was a gorgeous woman, even in her saddened state. The absence of gravity let her hair that had been pushed back from her unworn glasses flow elegantly behind her. Its picturesque rippling could easily be compared to being underwater on a calm, summer day. Following her slightest movement it would float around endlessly. Her eyes, on the other hand, seemed to glisten even if there was no light present. Cloud was briefly lost in her looks and suddenly she reminded him of Aeris . . . and why he was doing this.

"When Cid wakes up . . . tell him he's a lucky guy," Cloud said tearfully as he let go of her.

Shera smiled and then continued down the ladder with Cid's unconscious body. Once they had reached the start of the hallway, Cloud depressed a button on the wall near the exit and sealed all entrances to the cockpit. He hurriedly pushed his way over to the captain's seat and sat down, trying to get comfortable in the last two minutes of his meaningless life.

'Aeris . . . I'm coming soon . . .'