"You two sure you want to come with?"
No, Kyrie was 100% sure she did Not want to come with. It was too early, everything was too bright, and she still had a belly full of alcohol. The teenager could still feel it sloshing around her stomach with every step, the liquid trying to burn a hole through her guts. It sucked. But of course, Aerith volunteered their services without any consideration to her needs! Insisted that of course the two of them would help find their hosts' missing friends. Unfortunately, the hangover had a death grip on her brain and the scammer couldn't do anything more than dumbly nod along in agreement. It had been hard to form words due to her sleep stupid state. And now here they were, out of bed and making the impossibly long journey towards the Seventh Heaven bar.
It was like two miles away!
"Absolutely!" Aerith reaffirmed with a cheery smile, only the bags under her eyes betraying the flower girl's struggle.
Holding a hald empty water bottle to her throbbing temple, Kyrie herself could only muster up a weak thumbs up as she trailed the group. Tifa gave an uncertain nod of acknowledgement before facing the front to lead their little pack. Once the spotlight was off her, the troublemaker could feel her shoulders slumping and feet dragging as they walked the dirt road of sector 7. She halfheartedly considered trying to slink away into one of the dark alleys they passed and book it back to the apartment. Not a serious thought, of course. She was already up and about, so... the swindler might as well lean into it and get some brownie points.
Plus the promise of free food at the bar. It went a long way in earning her loyalty and services.
"So who are we supposed to look for again?" She asked, wondering how much of her day she was going to waste on this endeavor. "And why are we concerned? Unless their kids, someone wanting a few hours to themselves isn't exactly a red alert."
"A couple friends of ours are MIA and not a word of where they went." Jessie called over her shoulder to answer the question. "And I agree. I doubt it's anything serious, but better safe than sorry. They left work early, with no word where they were headed. On top of that, they had a uh…"team meeting" that they flaked on. Super unusual for these two. So no, definitely not a red alert, but maybe a soft yellow? Something worth looking into, at least. Another friend, Barret, already did some leg work so we're gonna mark off the places he's already checked and go from there."
Well, that was good. It at least meant she wasn't going to be stumbling all over the sector looking for these idiots. But honestly, why the concern? The two of them were probably just getting high off some mako in an abandoned building. Kyrie kept the thought to herself though, she didn't think her new "friends" would appreciate her assessment.
"Their names are Biggs and Wedge." The redhead continued, adjusting the holster of her mini-machine gun. Where the hell did she get that?! Every girl in the slum had something on their person for protection... hell, Kyrie liked to carry a pocket knife herself for that very reason but that was some serious hardware the redhead was packing! "About 5'10 and 6'3 respectively. Black hair both. Although Biggs has gray eyes and a lanky build. Wedge got blue and is on the bigger side. They kind of dress like me: cargo pants, overalls, and a red bandana."
The description startled her. Kyrie glanced over at Aerith to see if the mage caught on to the details as well. Brown met green. Recognition passing between sector 5 girls.
"This Biggs guy…" Aerith ventured, looking unsure how to start. "Scruffy beard? One earring? Big gun that he wears on his right hip?"
Jessie stumbled a little at the influx of questions, Tifa barely catching her before she face planted into the ground. Both sector 7 girls turned to look at the mage in surprise and no small amount of wariness. Why were they so suspicious? Eventually the mechanic nodded in confirmation.
"That's him. You know the legendary Biggs?" Jessie teased, although the confusion in her eyes at the odd turn of events was apparent.
"We do!" Kyrie jumped in, nodding enthusiastically as they resumed walking. "In the Fives, you have to be living under a rock to not have heard about X! The owner of the Leaf House orphanage. The Bully Hunter. The Scrapyard Kid. Everyone still talks about how he kicked the asses of those human traffickers back in the day! Gods, him and Jean were so cool. The local heroes!"
"You two didn't say anything last night." Tifa chimed in.
"Yeah well, we were drunk." Kyrie said, as if that answered everything. "And it's not like you guys gave us a full description of him last night! Biggs is a stupidly common name under the plate. Trust me, if you did I definitely would have said something. X is like our childhood hero, kind of hard to forget."
Aerith was bobbing her own head in agreement. "I still remember meeting him as a kid. My mom took me to the orphanage to play with some of the younger children while she gave reading lessons to the older ones. But one day, this big teenager came out of nowhere and started pushing everyone around! And then like magic, X appeared and beat the snot out of him. Honestly, it sort of traumatized me for a while. It wasn't till later I found out that that guy was a part of some local street gang that was trying to expand their territory and get protection money. After learning that, I kind of wish X hit him harder. Who does that to an ophanage?!"
"And that idiot didn't learn his lesson. I hear he's running with Corneo's people these days. Just some low level grunt though."
"Well... some people are too stubborn to turn a new leaf. Even after a good beating."
"That's all… a surprise." Tifa said, blinking rapidly at the girl's accounts. "I knew Biggs was originally from sector 5 but I didn't realize he was so famous. And X? Was that a nickname for him?"
"Something like that." The teenager answered, a little giddy at the unexpected acquaintance. "Nobody really knows where it came from, just that it's what you called him. Some say it was more of a mantel then a real name! A calling card if you will. But one thing was for certain, it was a name all the local troublemakers learned to fear! The playground was never safer."
She skipped a little in excitement, instantly regretting it when the undigested alcohol punched her in the stomach. Clutching her middle, she gritted out, "Although, he started calling himself Biggs for some reason. Such a common name too! Wouldn't even answer when people called him X anymore. Local legends theorize that it was the beginning of the end. When our hero went from vigilante to schoolteacher. Not that there's anything wrong with that." She amended. "It's just... such a far cry from the guy who went around kicking the shit in all the local gangs who were making life in the slum unbearable."
"Well, more unbearable." Aerith piped in, grinning.
"Exactly." Kyrie agreed, pointing a finger at the flower girl. "But even historic figures deserve their peace and quiet at some point, I suppose. To fade into legend, just another name in the margins of dusty history books. Although, everyone was pretty bummed out when he moved away. Biggs still visits the orphanage now and again, and says hi to the other Fivers too, but it's just not the same you know?"
"Wow. I've…wow." Tifa said, seemingly at a loss for sophisticated words. She turned to Jessie, who had been walking silently in front. "Not that I don't believe them or think Biggs isn't capable of all that… but how much of that is true?"
Kyrie had to shake her head in confusion at that. It was a lot to take in for a non Fiver to be sure but why would she ask Jessie?
"Eh, about 70-75% I'd wager. Some of it's a little overblown though." The redhead answered with a thoughtful expression, giving a so-and-so motion with her hand. A second later a wide grin split her face. "Honestly, I kind of forgot that he used to call himself X! He was so embarrassed when my mom told him that a letter is not a proper name for a young gentleman. She said he looked like a Biggs, just like her father, and he ran with it ever since. That sure brings back memories! Prime teasing material once we find Old Scruffy Beard."
At Kyrie's and Aerith bewilderment, Jessie could only laugh as dropped back towards them. Wrapping an arm around each of their shoulders, she explained herself. "I wasn't kidding last night when I said Biggs' my childhood friend! I've known the stinker since I was ten. Met him and Jean when they were scavenging for usable parts at Scrap Yard Boulevard. They were a bunch of cranky preteens back then, but yours truly asserted her dominance. And before long I was the big sister of that group. And ever since Jean booked it out of Midgar, you're looking at the only person who can confirm fact from fiction. As such, I am the authority figure on all things Biggs. If you two have questions, feel free to ask away and I'll be more than happy to crush your childhood fantasies!"
"Uh… thanks." Aerith hesitated, the uncertainty on her pretty face mirroring Kyrie's own skepticism. "Not that I don't trust you Jessie but X was kind of a big deal back in the day. And the people he hung out with were pretty well known themselves. It's just… I've never heard mention of a redhead in any of the stories about him."
"Yeah, maybe it's just a fluke." Kyrie suggested, also doubting the mechanic's story. "There were a lot of imitators throughout the years, people who looked up to him or were just hoping to coast off his fame. Not to say your Biggs is one of them! But maybe he just copped his style and… it's all one big coincidence?" She shrugged.
"Right!"
Jessie looked very unimpressed by their reasoning, shaking both of their shoulders a little in irritation. "You shameless doubters! The both of you were gushing up a storm just a second ago, based on nothing but a description . But the moment I throw my two cents in, suddenly it's "hmm, maybe it's not the right guy?" You girls are gonna eat your words when I present the genuine article in front of you! I guarantee you two will be on your knees begging for my forgiveness, and autograph, once everything is said and done. And I don't know if I'll be in the mood for either." She turned her nose up at this last part.
Kyrie and Aerith shared an eye roll at the dramatics. They weren't even calling her a liar! It was just… they had reservations about the accuracy of Jessie's story, is all.
Still, seeing the redhead getting all huffy, Kyrie decided to indulge in some gremlin-like behavior.
"Pfft, if it's the real X, then I'll eat my hat." Kyrie wagered, fully confident in her odds.
"I second that." Aerith chimed in with a grin. The heck? Was the mage going to sacrifice her ribbon too? The pink girl was surprisingly more daring than the teenager gave her credit for. "If he's the real deal, Kyrie will eat her hat!"
Ah.
"What about Wedge?" Asked Tifa, who had been watching the whole circus with a smile. "Any secret stories about him?"
"No way." Jessie said with a shake of her head before the other girls could answer. Pointing a thumb back at herself, which incidentally almost choked the life out of Kyrie, she elaborated. "Me and the big guy have been attached at the hips since he was born. My mom even said I was in the waiting room when he was getting delivered, apparently. Unless he's been sneaking out at night, I doubt Wedge has been off adventuring without my knowledge."
"Let me guess, this Wedge is tight with X too?" Kyrie asked with some cheekiness.
"I'll have you know, they're like brothers. They've known each other for years." Jessie answered, with a disgruntled look at her. Scrunching her face a little in thought, she added, "Actually, I think the scrap yard run-in was the first time Wedge met him too. I might have been babysitting the little punk at the time."
That line caused the barmaid to stop mid stride.
"You can't be serious. He was what? Seven years old?" Tifa asked incredulously, rounding on the redhead, a disapproving look settling on her face. "You dragged poor Wedge to the most monster infested part of the slums? A little kid?! Jessie, that is not what a babysitter should be doing."
"Pish posh, both our parents knew what they were getting into." Jessie said nonchalantly as she began rocking side to side with the girls in her arms. The motion got Aerith giggling, who added her own swaying to the mix, but Kyrie did not like being manhandled like this! And if their trip to the bar was slow before, now it was going at a snail's pace. More importantly, she was also getting kind of hungry. "You can't reasonably expect a ten year to take care of a seven year old. At that age, I was still trying to figure out if cooties were real and if I had them." Leaning towards the flower girl, the mechanic fake whispered. "Turns out they are and I do! And they're very contagious."
She began rubbing her coppery locks all over Aerith's brown, causing the mage to squeal in surprise then burst into laughter. They roughhoused and giggled, but almost instantly the focus was shifted.
Almost like watching a natural disaster in action, Jessie slowly turned her undivided attention to the teenager, a sharp smile on her lips.
"Wait, wait!" Kyrie stalled, a little afraid at the honestly creepy grin on the redhead's face. She tried tugging her hat lower on her head as if it could be a barrier for the impending noogie. The taller girl was trying to angle her own head over the teenager's. The scammer's eyes rolled wildly left and right, trying to find something to help her escape! "Look, look! It's the bar, we're here! We shouldn't keep Barret waiting, it'd be rude!"
"Oh, yeah. Would you look at that?" Jessie mused as she looked up and saw the people around them. A slightly amazed expression on her face as if stunned that they made it to their destination.
Indeed it was Seventh Heaven. The bar was standing tall over the minor crowds around it, people coming in and out for breakfast. It was getting to that time of day when a responsible adult should be up and about. Some waved and called out to Tifa, others to Jessie. The foursome had been so wrapped in their chatter that none had noticed the thickening traffic of human bodies around though. At least not till they were already in the mix. Admittedly it was a rather sparse gathering and it wasn't a very far distance to cross from the apartment, despite Kyrie's earlier grumblings. Still, what a shock.
And it was an opening.
Seeing the mechanic momentarily distracted, Kyrie took her chance and twisted!
"Hey!" The redhead laughed. "No running!"
The thief managed to slide her head out from Jessie's hold and made a mad dash for Tifa, hoping to hide behind her bigger frame. All that muscle on the older girl would be prime material for a meatshield! And not a second too soon, because she could hear the footsteps of someone giving chase. Multiple feet! Standing there with her hands on her hips, the bartender only looked amused as Kyrie used her as a barrier from the redhead's half hearted swipes, irritation forgotten.
Only for Aerith, the traitor, to lunge at her from the other side!
"What are you doing!? You're supposed to be on my side!" Kyrie yelled in panic as the flower girl's arms wrapped around her.
"I don't remember making a deal like that." Aerith lightly mocked, giggling as Kyrie tried to squirm out of her hold.
"It was implied! C'mon, Fives versus Sevens!" She begged.
"Nope!"
It was getting dangerous! Jessie was slowly approaching the both of them, fingers wiggling in an unnatural way, smirk wide and predatory. Oh no. The redhead was going to tickle her instead! Kyrie looked over pleadingly to the busty brunette to intervene but all she got in return was a barely hidden smile behind a dainty hand and a fond look. Even the few people who were milling about in the morning just watched amused. Typical bystanders! Just standing there, watching a crime in action and not doing anything about it!
000
"I'm going to be in the back office, nobody disturbed me." Barret grumbled to the nearest group of employees as he made his way through the kitchen. The gunman would have preferred to go into the basement headquarters, but as the bar was full of people, the backroom was the next best thing. Walking into the tiny unused room, and seeing it was as secure as he was going to get, the Corelian took a deep breath and pressed the bar's private phone closer to his ear. "Sorry about that. Run that by me again? You guys are where?"
"We're at my mother's house." Biggs said over his emergency PHS. The only one allowed till Jessie finished making the rest of the teams' phones untraceable. Which was taking an age and a half! But considering Shinra owns the whole goddamn network, it was a much needed precaution. "Me and my brother came over to build her a new nightstand but the instructions are a mess. If you have some time, I'd appreciate some help with it. I can't make heads or tails out of this damn thing."
We're in safehouse number 4. Me and Wedge picked someone up who had info but I can't make a decision. I need you to come here, then we need to figure out how we're going to proceed.
Well, at least that's what he thinks Biggs meant.
Dammit! Barrett was having a hard time keeping up with the code words while trying to write them down. Nevermind trying to not to sound like some fucked up robot as he tried to respond in real time. The life of a one-hand person was such a pain in these moments! Having a gun-arm was cool, and necessary for his profession – but man did it come back to back him in the ass at the most inconvenient times. Made him wonder if he should just get a prosthetic like Marlene wanted.
Shit, now wasn't the time to get distracted! Ok, think Wallace! Details! Get as much detail as you can before the clock runs out.
"I'll try my best." Barrett said idly, acting as if a hard ball of anxiety wasn't forming in chest. But considering he has spent all morning worrying about his team, that was a hard ask. Why the hell was he chosen as the leader again? "Might be a minute though. My kids are running buck-wild at the house right now. Don't even know where half of them are." He joked, actually wondering what was taking Tifa and Jessie so long. "You got a time frame you want me to swing by? Maybe I could bring some treats for your mom. You in the mood for some pastries?"
Not everyones here at the moment. Are we on a time limit? And if so, how much do we have? Do we need to come in force? Should I bring the merc?
"Nah, it's not that serious." Biggs answered back just as casually, easing Barrett's tension just a little. "We're here all day, so no rush. And you know my mom, she'd rather feed other people than have you bring anything for her. A waste of money, she'd say." He joked. "That being said, I wouldn't mind something spicy if you're buying."
It's urgent but not dangerous yet. No timeframe as far as I know. Nothing is needed but bring Jessie if you can.
"How about some beer to go with it? I might have some laying around." How about Tifa?
"A little early in the day to be drinking, don't you think?" I don't think so, it's not that kind of emergency.
"If it's for the right occasion… then I'd say it's five o'clock somewhere." Better safe than sorry?
"Ha! Nice, but I think we can pass on it this time. But keep it on ice, maybe I'll change my mind later. Along with that pastry." I'm sure, but let her and Cloud know where we are in case things go south.
"Mmmh." Barret hummed in response, not sure what else to say.
At least it seemed he didn't need to go in guns blazing trying to save anyone. Unfortunately, as the former miner glanced at the clock on the far wall, time on the PHS was coming to a close. This conversation needed to wrap up or they'd be playing with fire. It was a safety precaution they adopted from HQ in order to hide Avalanche's activities from curious eyes and ears. Only one minute was the absolute maximum allowed to be on any recorded or signaled devices. Jessie stressed that any longer and all the wrong people could track their little terrorist cell using triangulation algorithms. Whatever the hell that was.
But he didn't need to personally bother with the minute details, that's why you had experts who did know their shit.
He was speaking to one right now.
"Hey, I hear my mom calling for me from downstairs." Biggs said exasperated, sounding like the typical adult son whose parents' was still babying him. "But yeah, if you got time today, swing by and we can hang out."
Time's up, I'll see you later. Be ready for a long one.
"Yup, see you soon." On my way.
Clicking off the bar's PHS and placing it on the table to his right, Barret rubbed his face in weariness as he glanced back at the written words in front of him. His mind was a buzz of activity and indecision on how to proceed. Should he head straight to Biggs and Wedge? But they said no one was in immediate danger and to bring Jessie if possible. Which meant there was something they needed the redhead for that the three of them might not be able to accomplish themselves. But for how long should he wait? An emergency was still an emergency! Just because it wasn't life threatening now didn't mean it would be in an hour! He shouldn't just kick back and cool his jets in that case.
What a conundrum.
Thankfully, one part of the problem was solved by the mechanic's very jovial voice announcing her presence in the other room. It was the only warning he got before a few quick knocks on the door, and the redhead came bustling into the small space without waiting got an answer.
"Hey boss! Whatcha doing cooped up back her?" Jessie asked, all bright smiles despite the haggard look in her eyes from drinking.
She crossed the small space between them, holding two cups of coffee and handing him one. No doubt as an apology for his high blood pressure that she was responsible for. But Barret wasn't feeling a whole lot of sympathy for the girl. The redhead had nearly given him a heart attack when her former roommates told him she had moved out! A week ago . It was nearly as bad as when Wedge started seeing that girl of his in sector 8, and didn't think it was necessary to tell them that he was going to her parents for the weekend! All with the excuse that he meant to leave a note but forgot. Barret had nearly burned their house down thinking his friend had been kidnapped!
They were terrorists for fuck sake! A warning was all he asked for.
These slum kids had no self preservation. What's a father to think, other than the absolute worst when nobody calls or writes to let him know they're ok? Even Tifa had a bad habit of running off on her own, trusting her fists to get her out of any trouble. You know how much ass I can kick, he mocked her usual excuse in his mind. Sure they were adults but a little self awareness would be appreciated! How hard was it to just leave a message? Just a head up in passing? Barret would never say this out loud considering how messed up it sounded, but… this was why Biggs was his favorite. Now, there was a young man with his head screwed on straight. Someone who didn't go out of his way to give the gunman ulcers and a one way express ticket into an early grave.
Well, with the exception of today, of course.
But judging by the guilty look on the redhead's face, Jessie knew she made a mistake. But Barret didn't have the time, nor patients, to rake her over the coals for the misstep. They had bigger fish to fry today and they needed to stay focused. So he'd put a pin in it.
For now.
"This is from Biggs."
Reaching for the proffered cup, he shoved the coded paper into her hands. After a moment of confusion, the redhead quickly scanned the page over, eyes widening at the comprehension. Barret found himself a rickety chair to sit on before he tilted the cup back to take a big gulp. The ex-miner grunted in satisfaction. The shot of caffeine to the brain was just the pick-me-up that he needed for this already terrible morning.
"He called? Just now?"
"Yup. Luckily, you being late worked in our favor." Barret grunted out, as he closed his eyes for a moment to savor the spike of wakefulness coursing in his body. Goddamn that was the stuff! Definitely at Tifa brew, if he wasn't mistaken. "That's everything I could get before we disconnected. And where's our barmaid anyway?"
"Tifa's in the front playing host to some friends of ours." Jessie said distractedly, eyes flitting over the page again to catch any lost meaning. Her tone was light though, not at all concerned by what was written. Maybe even a little cheery that he took her olive branch and wasn't yelling. Barret almost wanted to huff at how relaxed she looked now. He did not raise his voice that much! "She'll be here after she gets them some food. One of them sounded like her stomach was going to start eating itself if something wasn't shoved down her gullet soon!"
The redhead laughed at her joke as she carefully folded the paper and looked up, but Barret was less than impressed at the explanation.
"And why are they here? I told Tifa this was an emergency."
"They volunteered to help us look for Biggs and Wedge when we told them we had to go. And we said yes! I'd figured we'd let them check out the residential and public access areas around the sector, while the rest of us cross enemy lines and check out the safehouses that you're not allowed near. All moot now, I suppose. "
"Yeah? And who are these stragglers that you'd just accept their help? Do you trust them?" Barret asked, suspicious at the rather convenient appearance of these no-face strangers.
"Easy boss, they're not Avalanche from the other side if that's what you're asking." Jessie said, pocketing the folded note and waving a hand in dismissal as she took a sip from her cup. "And no association with any opposing groups as far as I can tell. Haven't done any background checks on them though, before you ask. Only met them like yesterday. But they seem like good people to me." She looked completive, before adding, "Although I think one of them, Kyrie, might be a low level criminal. At least, no stranger to thumbing her nose at the law."
"And you see no problem with bringing some crook into our midst?" He asked incredulously at the casual bomb drop. "We're no law abiding citizens but every action we take is to help the planet, not for shits and giggles. Someone who commits crimes for the hell of it should not be anywhere near us!"
"Low level ." Jessie emphasized, trying to appease him with that reminder. As if! "If I had to hazard a guess… petty larceny at best. And if you think about it, every single member of our cell has done way worse at some point. If we ever got caught, our wrap sheet would at least be a mile long!"
"Our ends justify the means." Barret grumbled. "Once again, we're trying to save Gaia from Shinra's bullshit! Your little outlaw probably just did it to line her pockets."
"Well, I want to give her a chance." Jessie said stubbornly, draining the last of her mug and settling the ceramic on the table with a plop. "I'm not just going to kick Kyrie to the curb just because she might have a bit of a checkered past. Tifa even got her a job, so you might as well make nice cause you'll see her around." Seeing his unchanged expression, the redhead added, "And if she burns us, I'll handle it."
He was still unimpressed with that declaration.
And she knew if because Jessie relented a bit more. " And... I'll make sure she doesn't get anywhere near our little clubhouse or team meetings, you big baby."
Barret could only roll his eyes and grunt in response, recognizing this was the best he was going to get at the moment. The redhead had that hard set to her jaw that told him it'd be pulling teeth with her if he kept harping about this Kyrie. Who'd she learn that from anyway? He wasn't anywhere near satisfied leaving the conversation where it was at, but one crisis at a time.
"So what do you think about the message?" The gunman asked, changing the topic to the more pressing issue. "Is it saying exactly what I think it's saying?"
"For the most part… yeah." Jessie said, all professionalism now. Though judging from the glint in her eyes, she was a little too happy to haven gotten her way this time. "Just a few missing details. If Biggs said a parent's house then it'd be safehouse 4, absolutely. But he also said it was his mom's house so… Nayo's there."
The big man blinked in surprise, almost asking how she knew that. Was Nayo supposed to be "mom"? Did that mean it was a trap? Well trap might be too strong of a word to levy against their former comrade. But a set up at least? Then was it a warning for Barret? So many questions he was burning to ask. But now wasn't the time for another crash course on the very confusing code word verbiage Wedge had created for them. Instead, he nodded for her to continue with her assessment.
"And if Nayo's there, but the informant also contacted us… it at least means our whispering bird might be Al. He's pretty much the only spy both our cells share that could get his hands on the type info that might be considered a real emergency. Anyone else, and they would have just told Wedge. Anything less, and the big boy would have filtered it through his usual contacts first to see what's real and what's not."
Mmmh, that was all true enough he supposed. And all he needed to know, realisticly. The moment for planning was over, time for some action. Draining the last dregs in his cup the gunman got up and headed for the door.
"Let's go."