When Fenrir roared into the Costa del Sol villa backyard deep in the night, the lights in bedarkened house suddenly came on. As Cloud pulled his goggles off, he could hear stomping in the house. Then there was a thud from the side yard, which he guessed was Sora leaping out of the kitchen window onto the caravan roof (it was his preferred method of going to the side yard, no matter how many times Cloud told him to stop that). He was proven correct when Sora popped into the backyard garage soon after.

"Cloud!" the boy cheered, launching himself at his employer, who sidestepped casually so that Sora fell into Fenrir's seat instead. Not one to be daunted, Sora sat up on the motorbike and demanded, "Why'd you go off without us?!"

Cloud stared at the boy just as Riku and Reeve both rounded the corner (having used the front door like normal people) and arrived at the backyard garage as well. "We'll talk about this later," Cloud said to Sora. He retrieved the package Nanaki had handed him from his pocket, plucked a dozing (hibernating?) Cait Sith out from the sidecar by its red cape, and held them both out to Reeve. "From Nanaki, and... special delivery, I suppose."

Reeve gently took both items from Cloud. Cait Sith remained inactive. Sora had gotten off the motorcycle seat and was looking at the robotic cat with mild interest. "Is... is it alive?" he asked, softly.

As if on cue, Cait Sith suddenly sprang to life in Reeve's hand. "The name's Cait Sith, and I'm the one and only!" it screeched into its megaphone. Cloud snatched the loudspeaker away from it.

"I don't need any more complaints from the town council about my house," he sternly warned the lot. "Inside, all of you, right now."

Everyone quietly tiptoed back inside.

Once they were all settled down in the sitting room, Cloud made Reeve play the video Nanaki had given him to everyone, since it didn't seem like anyone was ready to go back to bed anytime soon. As they watched the video of what Cloud saw in the planetarium, the light mood transformed into something more sombre. Reeve was definitely thinking (and Cait Sith had been shut down again). Riku's face was blank, an indication that he was thinking as well. And as for Sora, he was sitting on the edge of his seat, staring at the video in wide-eyed concentration.

When the video ended, Cloud conveyed to everyone present what Nanaki had told him. "The one at Cactus Island is still there, apparently."

"Has anything else dropped out of those holes?" asked Reeve.

"Only the one in Midgar, also according to Nanaki."

Reeve sank further into his ponderings. Riku asked, "Where is Cactus Island? It's not on any of the maps I've seen before."

"Just an island south of Cosmo Canyon," answered Cloud. "We'll need chocoboes to get there."

"Chocoboes?" Sora tilted his head, only to be elbowed by Riku. All of them turned to look at Reeve. Fortunately, the man was still deep in thought, and did not appear to have heard the boy.

"Reeve, you should go to sleep," Cloud suggested. "It's too late in the night to be doing any brainstorming."

Reeve slowly looked up at that, eyes starting to focus. He smiled at Cloud in acknowledgement. "I suppose you're right. Good night then, everybody," he said, and went out from the sitting room, taking the comatose Cait Sith along.

Cloud now turned his attention to Sora and Riku. "You boys should be sleeping too."

"Umm... we kinda let Mr. Tuesti stay in our room while he's here," Sora explained, "since there are no other room available. We're sleeping here in the meantime," he pointed at the sitting room. Cloud noticed there was a folded futon sitting discreetly in the corner of the room. Sora continued, "and sometimes we sleep in the caravan. It's like outdoor camping! I miss camping..."

"You should be happy, then," Cloud sighed. "We're probably going to be camping on Cactus Island sooner than you think you're ready."

The next daybreak came.

"My friends," Reeve announced, at breakfast, "I believe we need to make a trip to Cactus Island immediately."

"We?" Cloud raised his eyebrows, having already foreseen this conversation and its outcome. Didn't mean he couldn't at least put up a fight, though. "Don't you mean you?"

"No, 'we' as in you, Sora, Riku, and Cait Sith. I have pressing matters to attend to in HQ," Reeve corrected him.

"What pressing matters?" Cloud was confused but interested. "Anything to do with the thing that fell out of the sky?"

"I think so," was Reeve's mysterious reply. "I really wouldn't know until I return, since it's classified enough to be sent over as an encrypted message."

"What are you expecting us to do on Cactus Island?" Cloud pressed on. "We're not scientists. We're a delivery service."

"I suppose Cait Sith will be able to stream any information from the island back to me. I'll be able to evaluate the situation based on that. So take it as a delivery request from me," Reeve smiled gallantly. "Deliver Cait Sith to Cactus Island. You can leave it there and return immediately if you want."

Cait Sith, who had been seated quietly on the table, suddenly got on its feet and began sputtering incomprehensibly. Sora caught it just before it could make a heroic leap at Reeve.

"Isn't that a bit like wanting to attack yourself?" Cloud wondered out loud as he observed the struggling cat in Sora's arms.

"Everyone needs a good workout once in a while," Reeve was saying. "Well? Will you accept my request?"

"You ask like I actually have a choice in this."

"But you do!"

"Nonsense," Cloud sighed. "You couldn't pay me to not go, and you know that."

"In that case, I'm glad we have it all worked out then," Reeve said, just as his cellphone rang. He glanced at it and excused himself to a corner of the room.

Sora put the still fuming cat down on the table. "I protest the indignity of being treated like delivery goods!" Cait Sith immediately vocalised its objection.

"Stop arguing with yourself, Reeve," Cloud dismissed the cat's complaints, even though he wasn't entirely sure if it was Reeve or Cait Sith's AI talking at the moment.

The cat went silent for a brief second. Then it perked up and said, "If you like, I can request HQ to send a large aircraft over to bring you and your employees to Cactus Island. After that, you're on your own."

"What happened to delivering Cait Sith?" pointed out Cloud as he folded his arms across his chest.

Cait Sith did not reply, although Reeve was secretly sniggering to himself in the corner of the room.

"I think it'll be safer if we take chocoboes," Cloud continued. "Those cactuers can puncture airships if they want to, but stay away from chocoboes for some reason."

"All right, I'll get HQ to transport your ocean chocoboes over from the ranch then," said Cait Sith.

"What's going on?" Sora was whispering to Riku. "Why's Cloud talking to Cait Sith like it's Reeve?"

Riku was frowning. "I don't know," he admitted.

"Sometimes I don't know what's going on with them either," Cloud grumbled, startling the boys, who hadn't expected him to have heard their conversation. Ignoring their reaction, Cloud picked Cait Sith up by the cape. The cat was beginning to show signs of lucidity again. Instead of hanging limp, it was now swinging its front paws around.

"Mr. Cloud! I demand to be put down at once!"

"Sure," Cloud said, "once you explain to these two boys what you are."

Cait Sith turned to look at Sora and Riku. "Mr. Sora and Mr. Riku," it bowed in midair. "I am the one and only Cait Sith, robot property of Reeve Tuesti, erstwhile double spy and many times protector of my comrades! Reeve uses mind-control to manipulate me when he needs to, but I am essentially my own cat when he's off doing other mind-intensive stuff." The cat turned around to look at Cloud, who was still holding it up by its cape. "Will that do?"

"Fair enough," Cloud released the robot onto the table. "Just know that whatever you tell Cait Sith will end up with Reeve, so keep your deepest, darkest secrets to yourselves when the cat's around, understand?" Cloud kept his tone light-hearted, but he knew the boys understood the subtle implications he was sending out when he saw them turn serious momentarily.

Then Riku reached out to lift the cat up with both hands, despite its loud protests. "It looks so real..." he mumbled. "Feels real too... are you really a robot?"

Cait Sith opened its mouth to answer, but Sora snatched it out of Riku's hands. "Who cares!" The boy laughingly held the cat close to his chest. "It's just a cute little kitty! Cut it some slack! Hey Cait, do you wanna see our caravan? Reeve made quite a few modifications to it! Maybe you could tell us more about what they are!"

"My!" Cait Sith preened at being called cute. "I simply must see this caravan, then!"

Sora whooped and gobbled down the rest of his breakfast with Cait Sith still in his arms. Then he bade everyone a quick farewell and leapt out of the kitchen window before Cloud could tell him to use the front door.

"I'll make sure they don't get into too much trouble," Riku said as he stood. He calmly proceeded to the front door.

Soon after that, Reeve finished his call and rejoined Cloud at the table, where the latter was chewing thoughtfully on a piece of toast. "A gil for your thought?"

Cloud slammed his hand on the table, startling Reeve. It was almost as if he had expected Reeve's question and had done that with the purpose of alarming him. "I've been thinking and I just don't get it. Why does Sora and Riku have to follow me to Cactus Island? It's dangerous there. They should be staying here. Or with you. Or somewhere safe."

It actually took Reeve a while to regain his composure. "I understand you're concerned," he began, rather uneasily, "but there's no place for underaged teenagers in WRO, and I'm not sure they'll agree to stay behind quietly either. They're not entirely pushovers, Cloud. I've seen them sparring with each other in the garden. I can only presume that their status as orphans has forced them to grow up much faster than they were supposed to."

Cloud had to close his opened mouth. "You've seen them sparring?" he asked.

"Haven't you?" Reeve raised his eyebrows questioningly. "You should do that sometimes. They're actually pretty good."

Cloud wondered how much Reeve had observed about the boys during his short stay in the villa. "Good enough for cactuers?" he decided to simply be interested in what Reeve thought of their abilities.

"Hmm, I don't know, I'm not much of a combatant myself," lamented the executive, "but they have a natural flair that I don't see in many people, even in the military. And I've seen many."

To be entirely honest, Cloud hadn't had a good view of their skills the last and only time they displayed it. It seemed mostly like random whacking, although Riku's disappearing act was kind of impressive. And if their tale was to be believed, they too were mighty warriors in their own right. Reeve apparently agreed. That was something Cloud could work on.

"Tell your men to bring a few standard issue swords over when they come with my chocoboes," Cloud said to Reeve. "Then we'll talk about their natural flair."

ooxxooxxoo

The next day, WRO agents arrived with everything Cloud had asked for, plus a giant robotic moogle. Cait Sith cheered when it saw the moogle, immediately clambering on. Sora and Riku were staring at the moogle with undisguised surprise. They were often surprised, since they hailed from another world. However, there was something different about the astonishment this time. Cloud made a mental note to talk to them about that later.

A call came for Cloud as the agents were leading the chocoboes to the side yard. It was from Nanaki. Dread pooled at the bottom of Cloud's stomach as he quickly picked the phone up. "Nanaki?"

"Cloud," the young beast said urgently, "the hole above Cactus Island is slowly growing smaller. I fear it may disappear within the day at this rate."

Alarm bells went off in Cloud's head. If they missed this hole, they had no way of knowing when the next one would show up, and if they could even reach it on time. He checked the time. It was still morning. "Got it, Thanks. I'm on my way," he replied and ended the call.

Making his way purposefully to the by now rather crowded side garden, he started giving orders, "Move the chocoboes and all requested supplies into the caravan. We're setting off immediately."

"Wait, what happened?" asked Reeve, even as Cloud began leading the chocoboes into the caravan.

"Nanaki called. The hole's shrinking."

Reeve looked aghast for a moment, his mind likely going through the same line of thought Cloud had, earlier. "Why not just take the chocoboes?"

"Fenrir's faster on land. We'll switch to them once we get to the southern tip of the continent."

"I see," Reeve then turned to his agents. "Load the supplies onto the caravan!"

The agents saluted and immediately went about carrying out their orders.

"I'm going to get Fenrir," said Cloud. "Tell the boys about the swords."

Reeve nodded in understanding. He started walking towards the two boys, who were currently staring at the swiftly moving agents in slight confusion.

When Cloud returned, he was pleased to note that the chocoboes were in the caravan with all the supplies they needed to make the trip. He tossed a few cans of fuel for Fenrir into the caravan and connected the two vehicles. Sora and Riku were listening to Reeve explain something, each with a sword in hand. Cloud thought that really didn't suit their images. "Boys! Get in!" shouted Cloud, deciding to rescue them. Properly distracted, they stammered some hasty apologies to Reeve and ran towards the caravan.

Cloud was surprised Sora didn't try to take the sidecar this time, but he realised that Cait Sith and his moogle had already laid claim to it. He rolled his eyes at the cat when it flashed him a thumbs-up.

"Be careful!" Reeve called out over the loud roaring of Fenrir's engine. Cloud nodded once in acknowledgement.

And then they were off.

To get to Cactus Island, they had to first drive all the way to Gongaga, pass by the town, and turn west towards the southern cape a river away from the Ancient Forest. Cloud had Fenrir on full throttle, ignoring the violent lash of sandy winds against his exposed skin. It was their last known chance to see this mysterious hole in the sky for themselves, and he knew the boys would be sorely disappointed if they missed it, which would make him disappointed in turn. Since he had declared himself their self-appointed guardian, he might as well go the whole nine yards.

Oh, and then there was the fact that he wanted to see it for himself, too. Adventurer's blood and everything.

As they neared the cape, however, Cloud had to slow down.

He saw bobbing green things in the sea near the beach of the continent they were on. He thought they looked like the cactuers, but there had never been documented records of cactuers leaving their home island. He decided to turn a blind eye to them for now. Cloud knew of a cove in the cape that would shield Fenrir and the caravan from the elements until they returned. He parked the vehicles there and sent Cait Sith out to scout the territory, telling it to specifically scrutinise the sea very carefully.

As soon as he judged Cait Sith to be out of earshot, he turned to the two boys, who had disembarked as well.

"I don't think I need to tell you what not to do in front of Cait Sith?"

"We understand," Riku assured him while glancing at the sword in his hand. "Reeve actually said the cactuers will leave us alone if we stay on the chocoboes, but he gave us swords just in case. They'll be good replacements."

"Reeve is right, the cactuers generally leave chocoboes alone," Cloud nodded. "Actually, chocoboes are natural monster repellants, so just stay on them."

Sora was glancing uneasily at the few chocoboes roosting in the caravan. "I don't know how to ride a chocobo..." he finally admitted. "What if they throw me off?"

"They won't," Cloud said, after letting out a short chortle, "if you don't kick them in a sensitive spot. Come on, get them off the caravan."

The three moved to retrieve the chocoboes, but were interrupted by a booming yelp that could only be Cait Sith on his megaphone. As they turned to look at the entrance of the cove, they saw the moogle bouncing its way over with a speed that belied its appearance. "Incoming cactueeeeerrrssss!" was the unceremonious warning.

Sora and Riku were immediately by Cloud's side, swords poised. They dashed out of the cove in unison, toward the single visible cactuer that was toddling after the fleeing Cait Sith.

"You forgot to take the swords out of the sheaths..." Cloud reminded them, belatedly. They had already started attacking the cactuer. He sighed and shook his head. Going back to Fenrir, he released the sword compartment and took his fully combined sword out, feeling its reassuring weight for a moment. Then, he put it on his back. "Stay here until we come get you," Cloud told the chocoboes. The chocoboes warked softly in acknowledgement.

Cloud stepped out of the cove into the sunlight. Even from here, he could see the small dark dot in the distant sky that was their target. In front of him, Cait Sith, Sora, and Riku were valiantly trying to fend off the cactuers, which had mysteriously multiplied. Cait Sith's moogle was already sporting needles on its large body. Sora and Riku were also trying their best to defend themselves from the cactuers without giving too much of themselves away. This was turning out to be an utter riot, Cloud decided.

So when he heard a panicked Riku shout, "Sora!", his body moved on its own towards where Sora was. The boy had apparently just defended himself from a Mystery Kick attack, only to have the sword in his hands kicked away from him. The force of the attack had sent him sliding across the ground, and the cactuer had leapt into the air, preparing to unleash its 1000 Needles attack.

Cloud Bravered the prickly thing into halves.

"Why are you always so fashionably late?" Cait Sith complained from a few feet away, speaking into its megaphone to ensure that it was heard.

Ignoring the cat for now, Cloud lifted his sword up from the ground and balanced it across his shoulder. "Are you okay?" he turned around to ask the gawking Sora, who was still flat on the ground.

Sora opened and closed his mouth a few times, but no sound came out of it. Riku had arrived by this time, and he, too, was looking at Cloud with a slack jaw.

"Guess you are," Cloud shrugged, and returned his attention to the few other cactuers still on the beach. Something was surely wrong on Cactus Island, if the cactuers were bailing. He activated a barrier and put it over the boys behind him. "Go back to the cove," he ordered, and with a kick of his foot, launched himself into the thick of the battle.

The remaining cactuers never stood a chance.

After Cloud had systematically cleaned the area of cactuers (and the occasional intrepid monster), he returned to the cove, where the rest had retreated to after he entered the scene. Except for a few needle marks here and there, the boys looked generally unscathed. Cait Sith was very carefully removing the needles that had lodged themselves into its moogle's fur.

Upon seeing him, Sora perked up. "Cloud!" The boy had apparently regained his ability to speak. "You can fight?!"

"...Yes?" Cloud didn't know how else he could have answered that. He chucked his sword into the holster he wore on his back. "Does it matter?"

"Yes, it does!" Sora exclaimed. He was practically thrumming with some sort of joy. "That means... that means..."

Whatever he was about to say was cut short by Riku's hand. "Not now, Sora," the older teen shook his head, sparing Cait Sith a brief glance. When he turned, Cloud could see the suspicion and confusion in his eyes.

"I honestly didn't think it was that important," Cloud offered, in an attempt to quell whatever diabolical thoughts were going on in Riku's head now. He had intended to bring this up at some point of time, since Reeve highlighted that fact to him, but there had simply been no leeway for a conversation of that sort in the past couple of days.

Riku scrutinised him for a few more seconds before looking down and sighing. "I think you may be right," he murmured. "We shouldn't have just assumed, either."

"I'm sorry," Cloud apologised, sincerely.

"Don't be," Riku looked up with a small, sincere smile of his own. "More importantly, what's the situation now?"

Cloud took a moment to evaluate Riku's mood and decided that the boy truly had no desire to pursue the matter. He turned to look outside the cove. "Cactuers never leave their island. Something must be happening there now. I have the feeling it has to do with the shrinking hole in the sky. We'll deliver Cait Sith to the island as planned, but since we only have three chocoboes, we can only take the cat and not the moogle."

"Lamentable, but inevitable," Cait Sith sighed, pulling out the last of the needles from the machine mog. "Let us be on our way, then!"

Cloud gave the boys brief ocean chocobo riding lessons. He did not miss the way their eyes sparkled with more anticipation than hesitation. When they saddled the chocoboes, the anticipation turned into full-blown awe. Cait Sith chose to ride with Riku this time, and Cloud thought that was the prudent choice to make. If the crazy grin on Sora's face was anything to go by.

"Hey, Riku! Race you to the island!" Sora challenged, and set off before Riku could reply. Riku barely managed to suppress a fond smile, before quickly setting out after Sora.

"Do you guys even know where that island is?" Cloud shouted after them.

"We'll ask Cait Sith!" Riku shouted back.

Cloud watched the two boys and their chocoboes until they disappeared over the horizon, feeling somewhat left behind.

The chocobo he was on warked rather impatiently, drawing him out from his morose thoughts.

"I'm getting too old for this saving the world thing," the man grumbled to himself as he lightly kicked the chocobo to get it going as well.

12 May 2013