Chapter 49. January 17, εуλ0008

Fucking Shinra.

That was all Cid could think as he ran through his town, his neighbors telling him how Shinra had swarmed over, mechanics working on the rocket for whatever nefarious purposes they had this time. Of course, Cid already knew. Sending the damn thing to try and destroy Meteor. My rocket. All in all, it wasn't a bad plan, but if it was going to happen, it was Cid who was going to do it.

His rocket, into space to save the Planet.

Actually, he kind of liked the idea.

Not stopping at his own home, he felt a pang in his heart, one he wanted to deny but nevertheless was there. Shera. He'd had no choice but to simply hope she was okay, that she hadn't suffered any consequences at the hands of Shinra. So caught up in events, days flying by as they'd visited the Temple of the Ancients, the Forgotten City where Aerith – no, better not think of that either – and the Northern Crater – then being thrust into the position of Goddess-damned leader as they retrieved the Huge Materia.

He couldn't deny he was grateful that Cloud was back in one piece in time to hit up the Underwater Reactor – well, still a little fucked up in the head, but he seemed to be holding it together now. Tifa, now always by his side like glue. A good woman, to stick by her man like that – and he was her man, everyone could see that, even if they all tactfully said nothing.

A good woman –

Damn these racing thoughts. Focus, Cid. Just when he'd got his beloved Highwind back – those Shinra pieces of shit just can't let go, can they?

He barely acknowledged the voices of his companions as the rocket came into view, and he screeched to a halt, stopping for one blessed moment to admire its beauty. The symbol of all his dreams. He'd wanted so desperately to go up into space; now was his first and perhaps his last chance. If Shinra had at least fixed it up to fly.

Cloud and Tifa brought up Cid's immediate rear, poised and ready, though the resistance they met pushing their way forward to the rocket was truly pathetic. At the top, they found Rude, poised and ready with his fists up, their last line of defense – that is, until he saw Tifa.

"Tifa," he stuttered, sunglasses dropping slightly down his nose as he backed against the railing. "I…I, uh-"

"Rude," she greeted him flatly, unsure what to say. Were they going to have to fight him or not? She turned to Cloud, questioning, but her beloved had a strange, almost feral look in his eyes – one she hadn't seen before.

"Whatever," Cloud said, and with one swipe he took out the other man, clearing their way to the rocket.

The three of them entered the rocket, hastily shutting the door as they saw more Shinra forces approaching; they had to have faith that the rest of their team, left behind, would be able to handle it. Entering the main cockpit where they'd first met the foul-mouthed pilot, they were greeted by surprised, glad shouts from the crew, actively getting the rocket ready for its launch.

"Cid!" one young man cried out. "Are you… back? With Shinra?"

"Not with Shinra, but I'm definitely back," groused Cid. "And if this thing is going to get done, we're going to get it done properly." His crew saluted as one, showing respect to the man they truly wanted to follow. It warmed Cid's heart to know he inspired such loyalty, first on the Highwind, now here.

Here, he could be a leader.

Cloud exchanged glances with Tifa, a bit worried. "Cid," Cloud began carefully, the other man already grumbling over the controls, "are you sure this is a good idea? Sending Materia to destroy Meteor? All that knowledge enclosed inside. And we're just going to destroy it?"

Aerith, he suddenly wondered. How would she feel about this? Would she condemn this – or would she be grateful those powers were being used to save the Planet from Sephiroth? He wished she were here; she would know better than him. Sometimes, he thought he could almost hear the ancient voices through materia – but no, he was no Cetra. It must be his imagination.

Cid looked up, but his mind was obviously elsewhere. High in the skies, most likely; Cloud could hardly blame him. "Space is my dream Cloud, always has been. But the Materia… Well. It should be in the power drive room up the ladder. Grab it if you like."

Cloud walked back to Tifa with a shrug. She gave him a look, and he nodded in understanding; she bounced to the ladder and scurried up.

"Shinra doing the repairs to the autopilot," Cid mumbled. "No wonder it doesn't work." Absent-minded, he shouted back to Tifa the bits and pieces he remembered about the security code to the drive upstairs, barely taking on her shout of victory as she called down to Cloud that she had it.

"Actually, sir, Shera's been doing the repairs," one crewman said.

"Shera?" His head popped up. She's here? Irrationally, he wanted to rise from his post and go to her – but now, as a pilot he had his responsibilities first. But remembering the fate of the rocket's first launch attempt, he was struck with worry. "How the fuck is she going to get it done in time?"

He'd worry about that in a moment. "Anyways, you guys get out of here. I got this." With one final yes, sir, the juniors scuttled from the cockpit, leaving Cid, Cloud, and Tifa alone.

Long minutes stretched as Cid checked and rechecked his instruments, all business now. He was startled from his thoughts by a garbled noise coming from the intercom; the static cleared and he recognized Palmer's doofus voice. "Hello there!" the lardball cheerfully greeted him. "The auto-pilot's been fixed, so we're going to launch!"

Sure enough, the controls were coming to life all on their own. Cid panicked inside, not letting it break his outward demeanor. Engines roared into life, and the rocket began to shake violently as he felt, not without a moment of pride, the launch he'd been waiting for all his life... as the rocket rose straight up without a hitch.

The tremors settled, and the rocket began a smooth, rapid glide upward into the stratosphere. "It's auto-locked," Cid told them.

"And…. Where's it going?" asked Tifa, though they all already knew the answer.

There was only one thing to say. "Well, shit."

You could say that again, thought Cloud. Tifa's eyes were wide as she clutched the retrieved materia to the chest like a baby. "Cid… this thing is going to crash into Meteor. If we don't figure out something…"

"Stop worrying so much, kid," Cid replied. "You think I didn't plan ahead? There's an escape pod on this rocket. We'll bail before we hit." And… we'll be in space…

Finally… the thing I've always wanted…

Despite her fear, Tifa couldn't help a feeling of exhilaration as the launched ever further upward, the instruments counting up their increasing altitude. Space… what would it be like? All those years of staring up into the heavens as a child – and now they were going to go up in them.

She looked over to Cloud; he was tensed, nervous. Of course… He was feeling claustrophobic, motion-sick most likely, and trying to cover it up. To show now weakness. She wanted to reach for him, tell him it's okay, but at the same time she didn't want to embarrass him; reluctantly, she let him be, trusting him to manage.

In any case… "It's time to go," Cid announced, rising from his chair. "Out that way."

They hustled down the ladder, Cloud below Tifa placing one hand on her back for support as she struggled down the ladder still with the Huge Materia in the crook of one arm – but as they started down the corridor, a sudden explosion slammed them against the walls. Tifa found herself and the materia tumbling into Cloud's waiting arms, but to their horror, a heavy slab of metal blasted loose, slamming to the floor and pinning Cid underneath it.

In a flash, Cloud was there, but even his Mako strength could not lift it away. Tifa, placing the materia down, pulled aside him, but even with their combined strength… it felt so close to pulling away, yet still they could not budge it.

Cid looked around, half-surprised. "The No. 8 oxygen tank," he said, to no one in particular. "Shera, you were right all along…"

"Cid, can you squeeze out at all?" Tifa asked, worried. "We're trying out best here, but it's not enough!"

Cid laughed bitterly. "I can't," he told them. "Time's running out. The escape pod's over there. Guess this captain is going down with his ship. Poetic, I guess, or some crap like that."

"Like hell," Cloud berated him, momentarily letting the strength go out of his arms. "I don't leave my friends." No way. Not when they've gotten me this far.

"You stupid jackass," Cid said affectionately. "You're quite the kid, you know. Now get going."

"I don't think so," came a voice from the other end of the passageway.

Shera practically tiptoed in, and suddenly Cid's world brightened – the way it always did for him with her. And he'd never let her know. What a dipshit he was. Making some stupid ass mistakes and then making it all worse, taking it out on her because he was too angry with himself. If maybe he made it out of here after all –

Well, he'd have to give the matter some thought. But he was gonna change his ways, that's for sure.

How stupid he'd been not to realize and appreciate the ways he was bound to this smart, gentle, wonderful woman. Suddenly, he was suddenly very conscious of Cloud and Tifa near. He never wanted to lose her.

"I tagged along," she said softly, looking at Cid, and to Cloud's surprise, the gruff man's expression seemed to positively melt. "Even after I heard you order the crew off. I… I wanted to make sure everything went okay."

"You stupid – " Cid began, but caught himself up short. "Shera… I… I'm sorry." The one word came out, in the end, much easier than he had expected. It wasn't much, the one little word, but it was a start. Shera's eyes widened behind her glasses, and then… she smiled.

He wanted to see that smile again and again.

"I wanted -" Cid tried to continue, but Shera was already busily rummaging in a locker nearby. Triumphantly, she emerged with a small jack. "It's mako-powered. Doesn't look like much, but its lifting power – " she glanced at Cloud – "could even beat a SOLDIER."

She bent down, setting it up. "I'll still need your help at the opposite corner, though." Cloud and Tifa nodded, and on her count of one-two-three! they lifted as one, and in seconds, Cid was free.

He stood shakily, looking around at the wreckage of the tank. "The tank… Shera…"

"No time," the small woman said brusquely. "We have to leave." She motioned, leading them towards a small hallway and into the waiting pod, smaller and tighter even than the submarine they'd so recently piloted. Cloud gulped, forcing himself forward. "Strap yourself in," ordered Shera. "It's not pressurized like the rocket, and we're going into zero gravity."

"Will this thing really make it?" worried Cid.

"Of course," Shera affirmed. "I checked it myself."

"Then… I'm relieved." That earned him another smile. Maybe he could make things up to her yet.

Cloud found himself next to Shera, facing Tifa. The hatch whooshed shut, and Shera pushed a button; suddenly, it was as if he was lifted out of his seat. He knew they were rolling, catapulting away from the ship, but strangely he had no sense even of motion – no motion sickness – though the close quarters were making it difficult for him to breathe.

Trying to distract himself, he forced himself to look at the blackness outside, and he was suddenly awestruck by –

Stars.

The vast paintbrush of dotted lights, crossing their field of vision, others speckled everywhere. Stars, as far as the eye could see. More than he'd ever imagined. Can you hear the stars whisper, they'd asked in Cosmo Canyon, but now they practically sang with their sparkle. So this was it, the true sight of the heavens under which he'd promised to Tifa.

He looked over at her; she, too, was looking out the window, but feeling his eyes on her, she turned to meet his gaze. She cocked her head shyly to one side in that charming way of hers, smiling sweetly, and he knew she was thinking the same. No words needed, just that small exchange of a moment to remind him, once again, what she meant to him.

They'd crossed a hurdle… but he wanted oh so much more. To be close to her in ways he hadn't dared to imagine could actually happen. She'd made him a whole man again, a man who could maybe keep his promise yet – and just maybe she'd let him.

Outside, the endless expanse, more than they'd ever thought possible, was there to remind them – another chance was always there. There was always something to go beyond.

Tifa, let's discover what's out there together…

Cid, meanwhile, was glued to the window in abject fascination, the ever-changing rush of light the only clue that they were actually moving. "Space…" he murmured in wonder. "I finally made it…" Thanks to you, Shera.

At the edge of the window, they could see the rocket hurtling onward, forward towards Meteor, as they receded back to the Planet below. Now, Cloud had his first look at the planet, a ball of green, brown and blue, rushing up to meet them. The Planet. All this time… he'd had no idea this was what they lived on, a living, breathing thing of its own – and as they grew closer, he could swear he heard its voice.

Aerith, was this how you felt when it spoke to you?

They tore ever downwards through the atmosphere, ocean below rushing towards them; Cloud felt bile in his throat as gravity came back and he became aware of the pod's violent tumbling. Shera busied herself programming in the signal to the Highwind that would let the others come and find him. Cid just slapped back in his seat, coming down from the high of dreams of a lifetime achieved.

They splashed mightily into the waters below, and as the pod righted itself, they all leaned towards the window and up, just in time to see the rocket crash into Meteor. For a moment, there was a burst of light, and they dared to hope it would be enough. But as the flash dimmed and disappeared, they realized –

"Rufus's plan didn't work," said Tifa sadly. She looked down at the materia placed by her seat. "If we had left it in the ship, would it have worked?"

"According to my calculations, probably not," Shera soothed. "The materia was incidental to the main interaction of competing gravitational forces knocked off their vector trajectory by inertial forces in zero gravity."

Three faces looked dumbly at Shera. "Well, I guess that makes me feel better," Tifa finally said.

"Not me," Cid mumbled, half to himself. "It means… my rocket destroyed for nothing. But it gave me a way to finally go up into space. That's worth something, isn't it?"

To Cloud and Tifa's surprise, Shera reached out and tenderly took Cid's hand. "I'm glad you finally had her chance." The look Cid gave her back was unmistakable; the fullness of his affection for her plastered over his face.

Something else came out of this as well. That blustering man scolding Shera had been nothing but a façade after all – and Tifa knew how much a mask could cover up. She wished the two nothing but the best.

For now… nothing to do but wait for the others.

"I really DID hope it would work," mourned Barret.

They were back on the Highwind, having dropped off Shera at home, and now the feeling of being back at square one was infecting them all. Quiet settled over the group.

Cloud suddenly twitched, startled. "Did you hear that?"

Tifa frowned, worried. "I thought I heard something too…" She mused. "It must be... the Planet's scream. That's what Bugenhagen told us, remember?" As much as he hated to admit it… Cloud knew she was right. Meteor was still there, and the Planet was more afraid than ever.

"Then," Nanaki gently suggested, "perhaps we should pay a visit to Grandfather? Maybe he would know what to do next."

"Let's go," Cloud decided, but as Cid barked orders to his crew and the Highwind turned towards Cosmo Canyon, he still found that eerie scream ringing in his ears…