Hello again! I mentioned an obscure reference in the last chapter... so obscure no one has caught it. (The Pokemon reference was a red-herring, by the way.) The reference was Cloud moaning about wanting a grappling hook ala Freeman's Mind. The YouTube series is hilarious but his language is a little colorful (just a warning).
Also, upon (finally) getting to this point in the game, the man who dragged Cloud off to join the parade was called both "captain" and "commander" um... My real-world understanding of military organization and ranks is poor so I'm going to stick with sergeant for now. If someone more knowledgeable wants to correct me, feel free! Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Chapter Eleven: Great Sephiroth's Ghost!
"Cloud? It is you, isn't it?" The red-garbed sergeant frowned at the young man in the infantry uniform. Cloud nodded weakly.
"Man, I thought I recognized that hair!" he laughed and then sobered. "They said you died with Fair and Sephiroth. Where have you been all this time?"
Cloud choked as his nerves screamed that his cover was blown and he needed to run. Fishing for a reply, he went with a modified version of the truth."The mission went south. There was an accident at the reactor. I got over-exposed to mako and spent most of the last few years semi-conscious and under observation."
"Oh," the man breathed and grimaced. "That's a heck of a way to get your mako injections. I guess that explains why you have mako-eyes and wore that SOLDIER uniform." He shook his head ruefully. "I thought you were some newbie who found one somewhere and was dressing up to get out of duty. So why haven't you contacted me since you recovered?"
Cloud shrugged nervously, struggling to place who the man was. He obviously knew Cloud, but it seemed his identity was lost to the mako poisoning. The man tilted his head in confusion at the unresponsive blond. "You're... kinda quiet Cloud. What's wrong?"
Cloud's shoulders slumped, he didn't know enough about the man to bluff his way out. At this point, the truth was probably safer. He scratched the back of his neck, looked down and then back up nervously. "Remember how I mentioned a mako accident?"
The man nodded slowly, then his eyes widened and he swore. "You lost some memories? I heard a couple of thirds mention one of their buddies forgetting his own name for a while."
"Yeah, sorry." Cloud's hands tightened around his rifle.
"Well damn," the crimson-clad man brushed his shoulder length brown hair back and scratched his chin. The action revealed a strange scar shaped a bit like half of a heart.
With what felt like a shock through his brain, a memory slid into place. "Greg Half-Heart," Cloud whispered, suddenly remembering the man and his nickname. He and Cloud applied for SOLDIER together several years ago. Clutching is throbbing temple he spoke up, "I remember now, you're Greg 'Half-Heart' Miller."
Greg blinked and then moaned, palming his face. "Damn it Cloud, of all the things you remember, it had to be that nickname!" He laughed again and then shook his head. "Anyway, sorry I forced you to change clothes. I guess my sub-conscious was stuck on you being in that uniform."
The blond shook his head and chuckled, "That's alright, I was a little distracted when you found me... and I really did need the shower."
Sgt. Miller laughed and clapped Cloud on the shoulder. "I'm glad you're not mad. Anyway, it's about time they put you into SOLDIER! You didn't deserve to have your dream squashed just because you pissed off-" He froze in mid-gesture and shot Cloud a nervous look. "You... haven't seen who is in charge here, have you?"
Confused at the man's sudden anxiety, Cloud shook his head.
"Of course you haven't," Greg muttered and wrung his hands. "Are you assigned here, or just passing through?" He asked the last part in a hopeful tone.
Bemused at his old companion's sudden worry, Cloud replied, "I only came here to hitch a ride to the other continent."
Greg sighed, and a faint smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. "Tell you what Cloud, stay in this uniform and I'll put you in the group performing for President Shinra. You'll be on the first ship to Costa del Sol."
Cloud folded his arms and leaned back on his heels. "Why are you worried about me staying?" he asked, voice thick with suspicion.
The other man sighed and then he shook his head in defeat. "Cloud, SOLDIER 2nd Cory Ferguson is the senior officer in Junon. Ever since you embarrassed him, he's been out for your blood. He even tried to hold a party when he heard you were dead." Greg bit his lip, and turned pleading hazel eyes on disguised young man. "Junon may not be beautiful, but I don't want it to get caught in the fallout if he finds out you're not only alive, but here."
Cloud adjusted his scarf with a sigh. He wouldn't have any trouble taking Ferguson down now, but as Sgt. Miller feared, battles between SOLDIERs were messy. There was a contraband recording of the original three SOLDIER Firsts fighting each other. Ironically enough, they fought their duel in a simulation of Junon. Most of the military had seen it despite it being classified.
Cloud grimaced, remembering the destruction in the hologram room. No wonder the man was worried. "Alright, I'll do it."
Greg grinned in relief and pulled out a whistle. He blew two short blasts and a pair of infantry men jogged in. "Wilkes, Cowley, teach Strife here what he needs to do for the parade."
"Wait, what parade?" Cloud's eyes widened behind his goggles.
"Participation in the parade is mandatory," Wilkes said with a shrug.
"Why not go directly to the docks?" Cloud asked, shifting his neck scarf higher over his face. He had missed the expression-masking material, perhaps he could "forget" to return it when he changed back.
"If we aren't in the parade, we might get drafted for other duties," Cowley answered with a shake of his head, "and there's a busted sewer main in the eastern block."
Cloud paled, and he wasn't the only one to shudder. Before he could say any more, another blue-clad man popped his head in and said, "The President's here, we need to go!"
"Sorry Cloud, I guess you're just going to have to fake it, we need to hurry," Greg ordered and led the others from the locker room.
"Darn," Cowley muttered, "I was looking forward to singing the President's song." He hurried out the door and missed Wilkes' whispered prayer of thanks.
They dashed from the barracks to one of the broad streets of Upper Junon. The city was built in a staircase pattern; one side of the street was lined with multistory buildings leaving the other side open to view the ocean.
A scowling old man with a deck brush attacked the piles of confetti in the empty street. For half a moment, Cloud clung to the hope that Greg would forgo the parade. Unfortunately, Wilkes spoke up, dashing his fragile optimism. "Quick, I know a short cut!"
Dread weighed down his footsteps as Cloud followed a twisting alleyway and a grimy metal staircase to a different tier of the city. Judging by the crowd noise, they somehow managed to catch up to the parade. The four men huddled at the mouth of the alleyway and watched rank after rank of troops pass.
Greg sent Wilkes and Cowley into the parade and then turned to Cloud. He winced at the blond's pale face and patted him on the shoulder. "Just do your best Cloud."
Before Cloud could vanish to soothe his bruised feet and ego, Wilkes and Cowley grabbed his arms and took him to another gathering of soldiers. They assembled on the road near a rail car draped with a crimson "Rufus" banner. Cowley handed him a grenade with a grin. "Compliments of the broadcasting company," he snickered.
The blond scowled and glared up at the grinning duo.
"Aw, don't make that face." Wilkes patted Cloud's shoulder. "It could be worse. Rumor has it that one poor guy ended up with chew-toy squeakers glued to the soles of his boots before a parade march in front of the late General."
Cloud flinched as another fragment of memory snapped into place. The forgotten humiliation burned through him as Greg made frantic throat-slashing motions to the suddenly abashed Wilkes.
"Er, um... Sorry," he stammered, averting his gaze. "I didn't mean to bring up-" The young man's apology cut off as Cloud's cold laughter rang across the street. The other waiting infantrymen stopped talking and turned to gape as his laughter grew louder and a touch insane.
He stopped abruptly and stepped into Wilkes' personal space, the brims of their hats touching. "I have to thank you; you've reminded me of some revenge I still need to serve." He bared his teeth in a vicious grin.
"No problem," the trembling young man squeaked.
Cloud muttered darkly to himself, concocting plots for vengeance against a certain surviving SOLDIER First. The other men backed away slowly, shivering at his evil aura.
Cowley whimpered and shot a pleading look to Sgt. Miller. The red-clad superior shook his head. "It's alright. You don't need to warn Cloud about Heidegger. Even that idiot has enough survival instincts that to avoid messing with someone putting off that much killer-intent."
"What did I ever do to deserve this?" Yuffie whimpered. She hugged her knees tight to her chest and rocked back and forth. "The White Rose of Wutai has fallen far to sit in the belly of a death-trap wearing the garb of her enemies..."
Tifa rolled her eyes at the girl's dramatic tone and tugged at the navy top of her uniform. "At least yours fits," she muttered bitterly, turning away from Zack and Barret's attempt to help Red walk on his hind legs. Only Zack wore his head-gear since it took an hour and dozens of bobby pins to get it in place.
The sailor suit-clad ninja snorted, pout still firmly in place, and pulled out her PHS. She clicked a few keys and sat up straight. "Hey, you didn't delete them!"
Tifa raised an eyebrow, and then realizing Yuffie wasn't looking at her asked, "What?" She leaned over the girl's shoulder and saw a picture of Cloud arcing out of the water amidst crystalline drops from the ocean.
"Oh, those." Tifa shook her head. "No, I just sent copies to my PHS."
"Oh really?" Yuffie hummed, her mouth stretching into a wide grin.
The brunette blushed and ducked her chin behind her yellow neck scarf. A part of her suddenly understood the origin of Cloud's habit.
Zack yelped as Red overbalanced and knocked him over. Barret's laugh boomed in the ship's cargo hold.
"He's getting better," Yuffie mused dully. She looked back at her PHS and clicked through a few more pictures. Tifa watched over the girl's shoulder. Most of the shots were of Cloud and Zack.
"Why did you take so many pictures of those two?" Tifa asked.
Yuffie grinned up at the older girl. "I heard about Priscilla's crazy club. Do you know how much I can get for these babies?" Unbidden, Tifa remembered the pair of strange security guards back at the Shinra Headquarters.
"Don't you think it is a little presumptuous to make money off pictures of our boyfriends?" Aerith asked from Yuffie's other side as she snatched the girl's phone.
"I'll let you guys have copies?" Yuffie offered, her eyes wide and pleading. When their postures didn't soften she offered, "-and a cut of the profit?"
Aerith jerked her head to Tifa and the two walked out of Yuffie's earshot. Aerith clicked through the photos. "She's really good," the Ancient admitted.
After a short but heated discussion, Tifa and Aerith returned to the young ninja's side. Tifa folded her arms, unconsciously mimicking Cloud's thinking-pose. "Here's the deal," she said. "We get the originals and the right to keep certain photos back, plus fifteen percent of the sales each."
Yuffie's jaw dropped in horror.
"Before you call that robbery," Aerith held up a hand. "Consider this; we're only taking thirty percent and keeping a scarcity which will keep prices high."
Tifa watched Yuffie reluctantly nod, and shifted her weight to one leg. The pose looked rather odd in the infantry uniform. "Considering we're letting you share photos of our boyfriends, you should accept our terms."
The younger girl pouted and Aerith shrugged. "If you don't accept our terms... Tifa?" She lobbed Yuffie's PHS to the other young woman. Tifa plucked it out of the air with her right hand. She held the phone to Yuffie's face and slowly squeezed. The plastic casing creaked in protest.
"I accept, I accept!" Yuffie hissed frantically.
"Do you swear on your honor as a Wutaian?" Aerith pressed, green eyes narrowed.
The young ninja cursed Cloud under her breath and made the oath. Tifa tossed the phone back to Aerith to copy and delete the photos.
"You did it!" Zack crowed. They turned to see Red XIII finally manage to take half-dancing, wobbly steps between him and Barret. Slowly gaining confidence, the leonine beast "walked" around the cargo hold.
"He looks pretty good," Zack confided to the girls, watching his results proudly. The faster Red walked, the more he emphasized the dancing motion.
"He looks like he needs to pee," Yuffie stated bluntly, still fuming over being bullied into agreeing with their terms.
Aerith clapped a hand over the girl's mouth. "I hear there will be a synchronized salute for Rufus near the loading area, why don't we go watch?"
"Good idea," Tifa said. She casually batted down Yuffie's flailing arms and led the way.
Sweat beaded under his goggles as Cloud stood in the sun with Wilkes and Cowley. His boiling anger had cooled slightly, but plans to achieve equally mortifying revenge on Zack still flickered across his mind. Something flashed in the ship's cargo bay. Was that... Tifa? He blinked his eyes a few times, but she was gone. A moment later, Aerith's head popped over a stack of boxes. A small knot of tension loosened at the base of his skull. Somehow the others managed to board the ship.
He wasn't sure what he would have done if they hadn't made it. While they might all laugh about it later, he didn't think Tifa would appreciate a "wish you were here" postcard from Costa del Sol.
His relief then turned to confusion. How did they get on the ship? Greg called the trio to attention for the rifle salute and he set the thought aside.
Cloud tried to perform well, he really did... but when what looked like Yuffie in a white sailor uniform brandished her boomerang towards Rufus Shinra's back, he faltered. It took him a moment to catch up with the others. Tifa and Aerith in infantry uniforms dragged the ninja back behind the stacked cargo. Thankfully, Rufus and Heidegger didn't notice them.
Determined to finish the drill, Cloud shifted his attention away from the cargo hold. Rufus Shinra's face was the picture of ill-disguised boredom. A condescending expression lurked in the President's ice-blue eyes and a faint smirk twitched at the corner of his mouth when Cloud missed a cue or reacted too slowly.
Cloud wasn't sure if Greg was a little off in the head, or having fun at his expense. What was the point of performing rifle salutes facing away from the president? A few commands later and Greg rotated them back to face Rufus and Heidegger. Yuffie, Tifa, and Aerith were nowhere in sight, but Red XIII's feathered headdress poked over the loading ramp's gear casing.
The instant Greg signaled to execute the salute's finish, Cloud gritted his teeth. Perhaps suggesting a finishing move so similar to his signature victory pose wasn't such a bright idea. The blond's perception sped up in a strange parody of battle awareness. His rifle spun smoothly in his hands. For just a moment, Rufus' eyes locked on him, and the hidden smirk turned into a toothy grin. The expression vanished just as they rested their guns against their shoulders.
'He knows who I am,' Cloud thought. The cool tingle of adrenaline coursed through his veins as Rufus whispered something to Heidegger. The bearded man strode to Cloud, an insincere smile on his face.
"You pleased President Rufus with your performance. Here is a token of his generosity." He handed Cloud a small box. With a quick glance, he recognized it as one of the precursors to the SOLDIER bottomless-bags. The boxes only held one item, but helped dignitaries award heavier gifts than they could normally carry.
Heidegger's laughter boomed across the dock at Cloud's apparent confusion. Obviously he didn't realize Cloud was the terrifying trooper he feared earlier. He also seemed to have forgotten Rufus' warning as the young CEO shot him a disgusted look. "I thought I told you to stop releasing that horse laugh."
The burly man choked off mid-laugh and his bushy eyebrows lowered over his steel-gray eyes. The ship's departure whistle sounded. Rufus shot another smirk at Cloud before taking a parting shot at the Head of Public Safety. "If you forget again, I'll send some men to line the floor of your cabin with straw." Rufus arrogantly ran his hand through his hair, his cold laughter trailing him into the ship.
Heidegger's eyes locked on Cloud, the "nobody" who Rufus just rewarded. Fists clenching and unclenching, he advanced on the smaller man. Cloud took a step back, instinctively slipping into a stance more suited for battle.
The whistle sounded again and the green uniformed man shot Cloud one last angry glance before rushing to follow Rufus on board. Greg sighed and clapped Cloud on the shoulder. "It was good seeing you again Cloud. Take care on the other continent. I'm sure if you keep your head down, you won't be discovered."
"I've already blown my cover," Cloud muttered darkly. "Rufus recognized my finishing move."
Greg pulled off his crimson dress helm and ran his fingers through his sweaty hair. "Are you sure?"
Cloud opened the single-use box and pulled out a Force Stealer. Sunlight gleamed on the bluish-red flat and its irregular, silver edges.
"Oh," Greg said. He pulled his helm back on, brows crumpled with confusion. "Why is he letting you board then?"
Behind them, Wilkes and Cowley gossiped about a black clothed man spotted in Junon. Cloud jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the pair. "My friends and I are chasing the person they are talking about. Rufus probably hopes we'll finish each other off."
Greg hummed in understanding, then he leaned closer and asked, "Is it really Sephiroth?"
"He looked like him," Cloud answered, stowing the sword into his item pouch. "But he's done some out of character things-"
"Out of character? Like what?" Greg interrupted, quirking a single eyebrow in disbelief.
Cloud frowned, and then tugged on his neck scarf. "Well, not only did he leave Masamune behind twice now, he also gives monologues."
The sergeant's eyes widened. Sephiroth's silent, stoic nature was near legendary. "Whoa, that is weird."
Cloud nodded, "So Zack and I are hoping to interrogate him when we catch up."
"Fair is with you too?" Greg hissed in wonder and then shook his head. "I shouldn't be surprised both of you came back from the dead. You always did seem to get in and out of trouble together."
"Most of those weren't my fault," Cloud muttered, a faint scowl darkening his expression.
"Wait, so you were behind some of them?" Greg's eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Oh, I'd better get going," the blond hummed a little too quickly to be casual. He dashed up the boarding ramp and disappeared among the cargo.
Greg shook his head with a small laugh. "Guess I could always ask Kunsel..."
The first day of the voyage went quietly. Red and the girls had long since retrieved their hats and helms. Most of the group fit into their roles with a minimum of fuss. Yuffie however...
The red and white-clad bosun scowled as the ninja in the sailor suit narrowly missed vomiting on his polished white shoes. "You!" He jabbed a finger at Cloud. "Take this wet rag below deck with a bucket before she pukes on one of the Shinra big-shots."
Cloud sighed and slung Yuffie's right arm over his shoulder.
"I've seen better sea-legs on a snake," the man muttered as they passed.
"Snakes don't have legs," Yuffie protested faintly as he led her down the stairs.
"That's his point Yuffie," Cloud sighed, bracing the girl against a pallet of cargo. Her head rested against the box and she gazed dully at the orb of pale blue materia wedged between the boxes and far out of her reach. For some reason, staring at the crystal helped the Wutaian more than fresh air.
"Cloud, can I have a tranquilizer?" she asked in a faint voice.
Cloud frowned and crouched at her side. Her head lolled weakly with the rocking of the ship over the waves. Her grayish face was tinged a faint green and she closed her eyes in pain.
"Alright," he sighed, digging the medicine out of his pouch. "But let me get someone to watch over you since it will knock you out for a while."
"I'll watch her," Aerith offered from behind him.
Cloud hid a frown behind his neck scarf at the uniformed Ancient. A small part of him screamed "sacrilege" at her being out of a dress. Shaking off his discomfort, he patted Yuffie's shoulder and stood. Aerith took the medicine from him and slipped into his position at the girl's side.
"I'm going to check on the others," he said quietly and left. He weaved between soldiers and sailors performing duty below the deck. An idle part of his mind wondered how many of these people were actually qualified to wear their uniforms.
Tifa was the easiest to find. She tried her best, but she was too well-endowed to make a convincing male army member. She stood high on a look-out platform, constantly peering out to sea. She relied on the movement and distance to maintain her disguise.
"Tifa," Cloud called softly so no crew members passing below would hear him.
"Cloud." She stopped moving and saluted him. She giggled and said, "It is kind of funny, Zack's actually not annoyed about cleaning up after Yuffie."
She pointed down to an abnormally tall sailor mopping up the girl's vomit. Cloud faintly heard the man whistling a sea shanty in between mock growling about "swabbing the deck".
Cloud snorted back a laugh. "I think Zack would be happy dressing up as a waitress."
"Maybe he should have saved me from Don Corneo," Tifa hummed in a teasing voice.
Cloud shuddered, "Can you imagine him in a dress?"
Tifa giggled, "Too bad you tore yours up, we could have given him a chance."
"He does look good in purple," Cloud mused, stroking his chin under his scarf. "It really brings out his eyes." They both shook with laughter. When he calmed slightly, he nodded his head to her and climbed down to check on the object of their conversation.
Weaving past the stained, yellow wet-floor signs, Cloud carefully crossed the damp deck to Zack's side and called, "Zack."
"Arrr, has the scurvy got to your eyes ya' landlubber?" he growled in a cliché rendition of a pirate's voice. "Didn't ya' see the signs?"
"We haven't been at sea long enough for me to get scurvy Zack," Cloud sighed, rolling his eyes despite the fact that Zack couldn't see them. It seemed the man sensed it though, as he scowled down at him.
Still using his pirate growl, Zack muttered, "No one likes a know-it-all, matey." Then he stuck his tongue out at the blond.
Smirking, Cloud snarled back, "Pull your slop-sucker back in sea dog, or I'll take it for a trophy!"
Zack slurped is tongue back in and then shook his head, grinning. "How's the little puke factory?" he asked in his normal voice. He gave the deck another pass with his mop before plopping it in a gray roller-bucket.
"I gave her a tranquilizer and left Aerith watching her." Cloud scratched his left elbow and grimaced. "It will wear off pretty fast, but hopefully she'll sleep until we make it to port."
Zack sighed and poked a finger under the brim of his cap in a vain attempt to relieve his own itch. Only a liberal use of hairpins kept the white hat over his spiky mess of hair so he had to scratch carefully.
Cloud clapped his friend's left shoulder as he stepped past him and said, "I'm going to check on Red and Barret."
"I think they're further up," Zack replied, waving a hand towards the bow of the ship.
"Right." Cloud nodded and tread carefully until he left the wet portion of the deck. Near mid-ship, he spied a soldier using Red XIII's... distinctive stride. Before he could approach, a pair of elderly women stopped him.
Since the ship doubled as a ferry between the continents, there were a few legitimate paying passengers aboard. They mainly consisted of the elderly and infirm who were well-off enough to afford passage but not physically able to travel the "cheap" way. Most of these normal passengers stayed in their cabins, but the two women enjoyed the cool sea air.
"Young man," the taller woman with wispy lavender hair called. "Are you on your way to trade shifts with that young man on the mid-deck?" She waved a frail hand in Red's direction.
"I'm afraid not, ma'am," Cloud replied, shaking his head. "I'm only making my rounds."
"Oh dear," the short, plump woman tutted. "The poor boy seems rather desperate. Do you think it would help if we talked to his commanding officer, Edith?"
"Perhaps, Martha, but it will likely bring him trouble," Edith remarked sadly.
"Sorry to bother you dear," Martha sighed, patting Cloud on his arm.
Cloud tipped his helmet politely to the flattered pair and climbed the steps to the mid-deck watch post. Red XIII's skeletal structure was not made to walk on his hind legs. Adding clothing and heavy combat boots only made the task more difficult and awkward. The blond mentally admitted that the resulting walk did look like he desperately needed to use the restroom.
"Hey Red," Cloud greeted.
Red danced up to him. "Hello Cloud." The neck scarf pulled up to disguise his furred muzzle muffled his voice. "I will be most pleased when we leave this ship. This stride is most uncomfortable. Although," he conceded with a convincing shrug, "I think I make a passable human."
He turned back to his duty and Cloud bit back a sigh. Red's tail swung free, having wriggled out of his jacket. Scratching the back of his neck, he stepped away from the leonine's post and headed for the command room.
A headache bloomed behind his eyes when he found Barret. The burly man in the extra-large, white sailor uniform blatantly peered through the window at Rufus and Heidegger. "Barret!" Cloud hissed. "You're supposed to be blending in!"
"Look Cloud, it's Rufus and Heidegger," he growled, scowling into the control room's window. "They're so close and..."
He scowled down at his Atomic Scissors. In a small twist of irony, the weapon resembled an oddly shaped, oversized hook. To Cloud's relief it had only caused Barret a few strange looks from the passengers and crew. Yet, as the man discovered in his battle against Bottomswell, it was useless for distance attacks.
"Gimme my Assault Gun back for a minute," Barret muttered as he watched Heidegger pace around Rufus Shinra.
Cloud shook his head sharply. "No Barret, you know we'll never make it across the ocean if we make a scene here. Let's just leave and get you back to your duties." Cloud slapped the larger man on his back. "That should to get your mind off of them."
Barret snarled, a mutinous expression on his face. He reached for Cloud's pouch to get the gun himself. As the cursing blond fought him off, a siren blared and a man's voice came over the intercom, "Emergency alert! There are reports of a suspicious person aboard. Civilians, please return to your cabins. All available crew members search the ship!"
The men froze, Cloud held his pouch stretched out of Barret's reach. Barret grimaced around the gloved hand pushing against his face and spat Cloud's thumb out of his mouth. They pulled away and exchanged horrified looks.
"Damn, did they find us?" Barret swore, rolling his jaw gingerly and looking around for his accusers. A few soldiers ran from the bow and towards the cargo area. The dark-skinned man blinked dumbly. "Hey, that don't seem like us..."
Cloud swiftly put his pouch back in place and whipped around towards mid-deck. "Damn it, maybe someone noticed Red!" he shouted, dashing back to the feline's post. Barret followed close behind. Despite adrenaline and fear for their friend, they stopped at the narrow section of the walkway to avoid trampling some passengers. Edith and Martha blocked the way, staring back to the stern of the ship.
"Oh dear," Martha gasped, clutching her periwinkle cardigan closer around her shoulders. "That poor dear, he was in such a hurry he ran on all fours!"
Edith patted the shorter woman on the shoulder as they slowly started walking again. "Well, one of my nephews refers to it as 'the call of nature,' maybe it is more literal for some people."
The pair laughed at her little joke and finally reached a section of the passage wide enough for Cloud and Barret to squeeze past them. Despite their fear for the others, Barret caught Cloud's eye and they snickered.
They were the last ones to reach the party's designated meeting spot so Cloud quickly counted heads. Green-faced Yuffie cradled a bucket in one arm and leaned heavily on Aerith. Extremely tall Zack with his too short pants hovered worriedly over the pair. Tifa folded her arms over her ill-fitting top and Red XIII sat on his haunches at her feet.
From the way the others moved their heads, Cloud knew they were wondering the same thing. "If we're all here..." Tifa started.
"Then who is the suspicious person?" Aerith finished, she hitched the limp girl higher on her shoulder.
"Sephiroth?" Cloud suggested.
"Probably," Zack agreed, nodding once. Yuffie's eyes widened and she paled even more.
"Let's go," Cloud ordered, waving a hand toward the cargo bay's access stairs.
"Hold it!" Tifa held up her hand, palm extended. "If we're going to fight Sephiroth, I want to change into clothes I can fight in."
A few murmurs of agreement rose, even a weak one from Yuffie. Cloud folded his arms and thought. There was a time for haste, but mobility was important too.
"Not to sure how well I'd fight if I split my pants," Zack admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
Cloud rolled his eyes and sighed, "All right, but let's make it quick. We don't want him getting away." He peered across the deck and led the party toward the crew's quarters.
"What's he gonna do, ride off on a dolphin?" Barret scoffed as he followed.
"Supposedly you guys did," Cloud pointed out, removing his helmet and shooting them a skeptical look.
"O-of course we did," Zack stammered. He yanked the sailor's hat off his head and bobby pins flew in all directions. He scratched his scalp, sighing lustily. A few more pins fell and pinged off the metal deck.
"Ah, but Sephiroth couldn't get a ride from a dolphin, he doesn't have a dolphin whistle!" Aerith exclaimed as they entered the hallway outside the locker and shower rooms.
"Neither did you," Cloud muttered and slipped into the locker room.
"Busted," Yuffie sing-songed and then gagged into her bucket.
Comfortably attired in their original clothing, Zack, Cloud, and Barret stepped out of the changing room. A wail rose from the female changing room. "I don't wanna go!" Yuffie whined. Her face was pale under its green tint as Tifa and Aerith dragged her out of the locker room.
At the males' confused looks, the barmaid grunted tugging on one of the squirming teen's arms, "Her tranquilizer wore off after changing. When she realized we are going to face Sephiroth she turned into this." Tifa frowned as their progress across the deck halted. The young Wutaian managed to cling to some pipes on the wall, wailing in fear.
Zack gave her a puzzled look. "You're okay wandering the wilds alone and now you're scared?"
"Sephiroth is already a boogey man in Wutai," she whimpered, "and you said he died. I can't fight a ghost!"
Zack tugged on her shoulders and she shrieked, wrapping her legs around the pipe. He pulled a few times but she refused to budge.
"Now what?" Aerith huffed. She bent over to catch her breath after dragging the ninja from the changing room. Yuffie was small but very strong.
Red XIII rumbled, "Considering the urgency of our errand, prudence suggests-"
Zack interrupted with a whine, "Stop doing that! You didn't talk like that when we found you!"
Red shrugged his crimson-furred shoulders elegantly. Scowling down at the ninja imitating a barnacle, Zack missed the smirk flashing across Red's face.
Crouching, Cloud spoke to the whimpering girl, "We won't force you to come, but would you rather meet him alone, or with us?"
Her shoulders visibly stiffened and a shudder ran down her spine. She mutely pried her hands and legs off the pipe and huddled miserably between Tifa and Aerith. The party quickly descended into the belly of the ship. Tifa hissed through her teeth when she caught sight of the cargo hold. Splashes of crimson painted the walls and deck.
"Oh no!" Aerith moaned. She dashed down the steps and to the side of the closest crew-member. The infantryman gasped something about the intruder being in the engine room.
Cloud pulled handfuls of potions from his pouch and distributed them. "Go in groups, and search for survivors. If you need more potions or a phoenix down, let me know." Grim faced, they took the items and spread out.
Dozens of potions and a few phoenix downs later, the somber party gathered at the base of the stairs. Moans and faint shuffling filled the hold as the healed crew slowly regained consciousness. Cloud walked to the door of the engine room and ran his fingers along a straight slice in the metal. He waved Zack closer; they studied the marks a moment and then nodded.
The gouges sliced through the locks, so they pushed the door open and stepped into the room. Cloud's brows lowered at the further evidence of violence. Barret popped a cork from a potion and treated a sailor at the base of a ladder. A red-clad commander stood near a control panel and someone moaned from the catwalks above them. Tifa clamped a potion between her teeth and scampered up the ladder.
His instincts warning of danger, Cloud pulled out his Hardedge and shifted his materia around. He slotted his new summon and pocketed his Cover materia. Tifa slid down the ladder and whispered, "Looks like he got hit by some sort of shockwave. I think he'll be okay though. I gave him a potion and found a new weapon for Yuffie while I was up there."
Cloud took the Windslash and slipped it into his pouch. At Yuffie's noise of protest, he explained, "Just before a dangerous battle is not the time to break in a new weapon. That's why I'm not using my new sword."
Her jaw snapped shut and after huffing once, she nodded. "Anyway, I'm glad you're not freaking out anymore," Cloud added.
The young ninja blinked and her gray eyes widened comically. She hunched her shoulders and darted worried looks to the shadowed rafters and piping lining the ceiling and walls. A high-pitched whimper rose from low in her throat.
"Smooth," Barret snorted, knuckling the abashed blond's spiky hair. He jutted his chin at the commander. "So why's that guy okay?" Scowling, Cloud broke free from Barret's grip.
"I'm not so sure he is," Zack muttered, putting a hand on the man's shoulder and turning him around. Without the console to hold him up, the man's knees buckled. Spotting the gash across the man's throat and he darker crimson stains on his uniform, Zack didn't even try to catch him. Seconds after he fell, he faded into the Lifestream and a chill breeze curled around their ankles
"...After a long sleep..." A man's monotone voice said. The sound echoed eerily in the metal chamber. Yuffie shrieked and crouched in place, her eyes darting wildly around while the voice continued.
"...the time..." the voice continued. Yuffie's whimpers grew shrill and her Boomerang rattled in her white-knuckled grip.
"...the time has come." The voice rang with a hint of triumph. The chill increased, and a jolt like a electricity ran through them.
"Cloud!" Barret hissed, pointing to the gore stained deck. A crown of silver hair emerged from the solid deck, followed by the black-clad form of Sephiroth.
Yuffie's drawn out scream set off a harmonic hum in a set of pipes near the door. "A GHOST! Sephiroth's ghost!"
Even Sephiroth winced at the sound and sent a scowl in the girl's direction.
Zack's jaw dropped and he stuttered, "Sephiroth, it's... really you. You're alive!"
"A ghost!" Yuffie wailed in the background, thrashing and clawing against Barret and Cloud's grip. Aerith stroked her back soothingly and Tifa awkwardly patted the girl's head. The young ninja shuddered and started babbling in Wutaian.
No sense of recognition showed in Sephiroth's slit, green eyes. "Who are you?" he asked, tilting his head slightly and raising one silver eyebrow. He seemed to look through his former subordinate rather than at him.
"It's me, Zack!" Zack patted his chest in punctuation.
Sephiroth's lips moved as if he was saying something, but Yuffie's frantic chanting and wailing rose to the point that she drowned him out entirely. Noting their blank looks, he tried again.
"What's that?" Zack bellowed, cupping his ear. "I can't hear you over Yuffie; you're going to have to talk louder!"
The distant look morphed into what Barret later titled a "To Hell with this!" expression. Sephiroth pitched a crimson orb into Yuffie's stomach. Her breath exploded out and her whiny tirade instantly cut off.
"The time is now..." Sephiroth hissed over the ninja's breathy gasps for air. He took to the air and knocked Zack down as he passed.
An eerie green light flickered and in his wake, a 20 foot tall, flesh-toned monster loomed over them.
"Aw damn it," Barret cursed down at the wheezing girl, "Ya had to piss him off, didn't ya?"
Random Author's note: Sorry it took so long. I won't give you any excuses (well if you ask I'll tell you, but it isn't anything too exciting.) Please take the time to review, they really motivate me and sometimes even trigger ideas for future chapters!