Been a while! Hope you enjoy some side characters this chapter, because I ran into writer's block pretty hard.

Observation

Center District, Sector Five Slum

Chadley returned to his position for meeting with Cloud and Zack.

Strictly speaking, he could have done this in the ShinRa building and get the Soldiers to do it, but all attempts to speak to them had been brushed off.

Deepground was even less reliable. The most reliable one was Weiss and he was mercurial at best.

So, Chadley had sought out data from the slums, it was difficult and made his programming itch with how close he was to violating it.

He had gotten a ping when he had logged into the database last night. Someone had edited Cloud Strife's company file from Infantry Trooper to a Soldier with roughly the same time promotions as Zack Fair. This was erroneous data, but he didn't understand why it had been added. The one who did it used codes far above Chadley's access level.

"Hey Chadley, how are you doing today?" Zack asked, Cloud just behind. "By the way, Sonon's moved to Sector Seven for a bit."

"I am in optimal working condition. I have discovered a data error, regarding Cloud. I do not understand."

"Me?" Cloud asked.

"What's the data error?" Zack asked.

"Prior to last night, Cloud Strife was listed as working as an infantry trooper. Last night, someone edited it so that he had a similar promotion experience as you, now listing him as a first class soldier before the erroneous death report. The one who did it had access codes on par with an executive director." Chadley explained. "I do not understand why someone would change data."

"I don't get it either." Zack admitted easily.

"… Chadley, why do you know if my ShinRa file was changed?"

"I work with ShinRa's Research and Development division. My job is to study and create materia."

"Are you kidding me?!" Zack looked upset.

"It's alright. We're not mad at you. Why didn't you get Soldiers to help?" Cloud asked.

"They refused to properly collect the necessary data, the VR combat simulation is not accurate about live monster reactions in regards to materia, it needs to be updated." Chadley fidgeted. "I spoke in error. My job is to update the simulator. The study and creation of materia is merely a side branch of study that I wish to do, it is not officially sanctioned, just permitted." Chadley closed his eyes. That had hurt to say. "Please, I need to keep performing within adequate parameters, but I cannot without the data." He could see both of them were upset, but didn't know if they would ignore him like everyone avoided the reporter. His chest was tightening again.

A hand suddenly rested on his head. Chadley opened his eyes to see Cloud.

"He'd hurt you if you fail, right?"

"I would be adjusted to be better, or discarded." Chadley admitted. "I do not know which." The adjustments always hurt.

"Okay. We'll help." Cloud assured him.

"Yeah kid, we're not gonna ignore you." Zack added. "Not your fault he's a horrible example of a human being."

Chadley's chest stopped the tightening sensation, loosening rather quickly.

"I am grateful for your continued efforts." Chadley thanked them and accepted the research they had gathered, and giving them the materia in return.

"Chadley. If something happens and you feel you're no longer safe, come find us, okay?" Zack says as they go to leave, and Chadley does not understand.

"Affirmative." He agrees, because usually when someone asks a question he doesn't understand they just want his agreement.

Sewers, Sector Seven Slum

"How's it going, Jessie?" Wedge greeted, the door slamming shut behind him.

"A lot better if you didn't shout! This is a delicate job you know?" Jessie put down the tools. Her hands were shaking now.

"I thought you didn't have everything to make it go boom?" Wedge froze in place.

"That's for the reactor bomb. I'm in the middle of making grenades. Also a delicate process." Jessie took a few deep breaths.

"Sorry. I thought you'd like food." Wedge still didn't move until Jessie had secured everything away.

She wasn't going to get much done now. She liked Wedge, but he had a tendency to fidget around the explosives.

"So, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine. Just been thinking."

"What about?"

"Tifa's Soldier boy. From what I understand, he woke up after being catatonic thanks to Mako exposure for almost a year, and he woke up near Midgar. It makes me wonder if my theory is wrong?" Jessie had studied everything she could about the lifestream. She was so sure her father was trapped between his body and the reactors … was her theory wrong? Would bombing the reactors not help?

"I think he kinda proves your theory, you know?" Wedge admitted after a moment. "Like, Zack said he talked to Cloud a lot, and Cloud said he remembered and was trying to find his way back to Zack, and they would have spent time traveling not near reactors. So I think Cloud was partially pulled out, like your dad, but because Zack talked to him, he was able to find his way back. But that's like a year of talking, and not everyone can do that. Cloud got lucky." Wedge nodded to himself. "Like, super lucky. Also, he was trapped in Nibleheim, so like, maybe getting away from the reactor there helped."

"… Maybe. I just wish I knew for sure … breaking the extractor pump should stop it, but…"

The nearest light flickered and Jessie looked at it.

If this was a play, she would have called it foreshadowing.

"Cloud got lucky. I need to make my own luck."

"We're here to help you! By the way, what did you do with the skeleton key?"

"I have two, one on me, and one hidden in the sewers until Nayo apologizes."

"Uh-oh, what happened?"

"Nayo wanted to publish a story about my dad and worker's rights and comp."

"That doesn't sound bad."

"She called him a sacrifice for a brighter future." Jessie knew Nayo hadn't meant to be hurtful, but her father was not some sacrifice or martyr to be used to leverage support. Her mother was a private person and would hate having her name in the paper. ShinRa had so many other accidents that happened, Nayo could use all of those.

Jessie wasn't naive, she knew that she was being selfish, but her father had been the one to believe in her. She had to save him. If she could shut down the reactors, maybe he could come back.

If Nayo had published the article, then Jessie would be investigated once things blew up. There wasn't a good way to hide everything.

She needed to save her dad before he was gone for good.

"Oh, yeah … that's kinda a rude thing to say to someone's family." Wedge agreed.

Floor 49, Soldier Floor, ShinRa Building

'Dear Kunsel, it's been a while since our last conversation. Word on the street is the puppy we used to watch is wandering around the slums. I hope everything is okay. Shuriken.'

Kunsel stared at the email with a sense of ill ease. This was most likely the former Turk known as Cissnei, he hadn't thought she was still on the mailing list for the fan club, surely she would have ditched her old phs and email.

Though she probably still had the old login information memorized to check on occasion.

He'd check in with Zack first before he replied to the email. He wasn't sure about staying in contact, but they did need all the allies they could get, and she was on ShinRa's blacklist as well.

End Note: Okay, next up, a special news bulletin from Heidegger and a check in with Reeve!

And hopefully I don't get writer's block on this story again.