SEVENTEEN

Later that morning, Cloud and I were down in the mess hall with a few of the others—Barret, Tifa, Biggs, and Red—at one of the tables for breakfast. It wasn't hard for me to act like my usual chipper and upbeat self as if everything was alright—I was a performer, after all, and knew how to play the role. And I didn't wanna worry them. Cloud, after we'd woken up and enjoyed each other again in bed, hadn't mentioned what had happened last night. The dream. He'd respected my wishes and my privacy, knowing I didn't wanna talk about it.

But he was worried about me. I could see it in his eyes even now as he looked at me. So I just smiled reassuringly and joked around a little with the others, teasing Tifa and Biggs about their own night together. I was really happy for them, and although I didn't press Tifa for details in front of the others, I was hoping we'd get to have some juicy girl talk later on. I was about to sit down next to Cloud when Aerith and Yuffie walked into the mess hall and came over.

When I saw Aerith, I froze, my voice trailing away as memories of what I'd done to her in my nightmare suddenly flooded my mind and I had to hold onto the back of my chair for a moment to keep my hands from shaking. On the outside, I was smiling, doing my best to keep up a cheerful front. But inside, I was trembling, sad and afraid, and a hard lump formed in my throat. As she got closer, I rushed over and hugged her tight, somehow managing not to cry.

"Uh, good morning, Jessie," she giggled, a little bewildered. "Great to see you, too. Everything okay?"

I took a breath and managed a grin. "Of course!"

Aerith raised an eyebrow. "You sure? This is me, Jessie. I've known you longer than anyone else here. You can talk to me."

"Would you relax?" I joked. "I'm fine!"

She nodded, smiled, and sat down. "Alright. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me."

"Thanks," I told her, having a seat myself.

The food smelled good, so I dug in, chatting with everyone as I ate. Talking had always helped me relax, and I was really good at it, so I did a lot of it, and soon, I'd calmed down, enough that I didn't have to force my cheerfulness as much. Aerith looked curiously at me now and then, probably sensing my real mood even if she didn't really know why I felt the way I did. I'd almost forgotten how perceptive she was. But in spite of that, I knew she wouldn't press me about it.

"So what's our next move, guys?" Tifa wondered.

Cloud sipped his drink. "Junon. Sephiroth's heading that way, if he isn't there already. He'll probably cross the ocean."

Barret nodded as he took a bite of his eggs. "Went by to see Wedge an' Lena in the infirmary before comin' here. He said that while he was out recruitin' help for the battle, he heard folks talkin' 'bout this big ol' parade Rufus is plannin' to have in Junon soon."

"Even after the black eye we just gave him?" Yuffie asked.

"Yeah," he said. "Tryin' to save face an' put that lyin' Shinra spin on it, I guess. Ain't makin' no secret of it, either. He's gonna head out west. Takin' one of them big cargo ships to Costa Del Sol."

I knew what we had to do. "Then we've gotta get on that boat, too. Sneak on board somehow and stow away."

Cloud looked at Barret. "When does it leave?"

"A week an' a half," he answered. "Seems Rufus wants himself a big sendoff, so he's gatherin' as many troops as he can. That'll take a while, though. They ain't said the exact time the ship's pullin' out, but as long as we get there early that day, we oughta be fine."

"If we can find some way to disguise ourselves, it should make our infiltration onto the ship easier," Red added.

"What about going as Shinra soldiers?" Aerith wondered. "Should be enough uniforms here from the prisoners Edwyn's men took during the battle. We could use them easily enough."

"Some of us," Cloud corrected. "Finding one big enough for Barret could be a problem. Most soldiers aren't his size."

Yuffie snorted. "Or mine. I'm a little on the small side."

"Nice that I'm actually taller than someone for once," I winked.

"Yeah, yeah…" Yuffie grumbled.

I smiled at her. "But anyway, Yuffie. You don't have to go with us if you don't want to. You did a great job helping us protect this place and kept up your end of the deal. I'm happy with that. So, if you wanna stay here or head off on your own, we won't stop you."

"Well, thanks, Jessie," she laughed. "But you guys'd be so totally lost without me! Besides, you really need people of intelligence on this sort of mission… quest… thing. Whatever it is."

"Well, that rules you out, kid," Barret quipped.

Red swished his tail. "I may be able to wear one of those uniforms, believe it or not. And I can stand on my hind legs, though not for very long. But perhaps enough to pass as human."

"Let's just hope nobody looks too closely at you," I said.

"Agreed," he nodded.

Cloud looked at everyone. "We leave in a week, then. Oughta take three days to drive to Junon from here."

"How are we all gonna fit?" Aerith wondered.

"Don't know," he shrugged. "And we can't take the bikes with us on the ship, either. We'll have to leave them here."

Biggs scratched his chin. "Edwyn might have some ideas, Cloud. It might not be a bad idea to talk with him and Samuel and see if we can come up with a plan to get you guys to Junon."

"Yeah," he agreed. "Sound good."

"And in the meantime, I've got a very special surprise for Lena that I'll be working on while we're here" I giggled.

Tifa laughed. "That's great, Jessie! Care to let us in on it?"

"Oh, you'll see it when it's done," I chuckled. "It should be ready by the time we leave. I was worried I wouldn't have enough time to finish it, but now I'm good to go! This'll be great!"

It was something that would allow Lena to stay right in the thick of things, just where she loved to be, in spite of her temporary paralysis. It would also give me something to focus on so I wouldn't spend my time worrying about what I'd seen in my dream. In spite of how scared I was about it, I didn't wanna be moping around all the time. That wasn't me and wouldn't help me save Aerith and myself from that horrible future. So I'd keep my spirits up as much as I could.

After breakfast, Cloud went upstairs with Barret, Biggs, and Red to talk with Edywn and Samuel about arranging transportation to Junon. And while they were doing that, Aerith, Tifa, Yuffie, and I headed over to the infirmary to visit Lena. She was happy to see us, and she seemed to be adjusting a little to her condition. Having Wedge there doting on her was certainly helping, too. We talked for a while as Tifa helped her with a few exercises as she sat in her chair.

"Even though you can't really move your legs right now, Biggs and Wedge can move them for you," Tifa explained. "Wedge, you two need to help her exercise them every day. That way they'll stay fit and strong and won't lose any muscle from not being used. I'll help too for as long as I'm here until I leave with the others."

"You got it!" Wedge promised, popping a thumbs up.

Biggs nodded. "We'll take care of her, Tif."

Tifa smiled and nodded. "Great! Lena, you'll also want to work on your upper body strength, too. I can show you a few things you can do to help with that. Up for a good workout?"

Lena grinned. "Always! I'm feeling a little better, and it doesn't hurt as much to move around as it did before. The doctor says I'll be able to leave soon, just another day or two, I think."

"Awesome!" I said, pumping my fist. "Glad to hear it, Lena! I've got a little something in mind for ya, too. Like I told you yesterday, you can still be part of the action, same as always."

"How?" she wondered.

I winked. "Just leave it to me! I've got it all planned out."

Lena giggled. "Okay. Can't wait!"

We talked for a while longer, then I said goodbye and left to go get started on Lena's surprise. I'd noticed there was a second wheelchair in the infirmary, though it was a more basic one. But it would do for Lena until I'd finished tricking hers out. I had a pretty good idea of what sort of upgrades I had in mind, so I headed outside to the courtyard to look through all the scrap from the mechs we'd destroyed in the battle to see what I could use and reminded myself to stop by the shop later as well. Excited about my new project, I got right to work.

About a week later, I was sitting upstairs in Samuel's office looking over maps of the region with him, Edwyn, Biggs, and Wedge. Since my recovery had gone well, the doctor had released me from the infirmary a few days ago, just as I'd thought. Aside from the daily exercises that I did with Tifa and the guys, I hadn't known what to do at first. I'd felt so restless, almost on the verge of depression again. But Jessie was always stopping by to see me despite being busy with her mystery project, and she always found a way to cheer me up.

She was the one who'd suggested I join in on the strategy meetings. I'd seen a good bit of the region when I'd been scouting and knew right where Shinra's staging area was. They'd probably withdrawn there after the battle, but we hadn't heard much from them since then. Still, it was important for us to keep an eye on them.

Jessie had borrowed my wheelchair, so I'd been using the other one almost all week. It had to be pushed by hand but could also fold up for easy storage. It was nice enough, but I liked the other one better. Jessie had promised she'd get it back to me by the time she and the others left but hadn't said why she'd needed it. She'd just smiled and laughed when I asked her, as if she knew something I didn't.

Cloud and Barret had been out on patrol every day, taking out any monsters they found, while Yuffie and Red had scouted out the Shinra staging area and had brought us regular reports. More than anything, I wanted to be back out there. Although it felt good to be useful again, it wasn't the same. Working behind a desk just wasn't me. I was a girl that loved being right in the thick of things.

"So, there doesn't seem to be much activity going on with Shinra's forces at the moment," Edwyn said, gazing at the map.

I nodded. "Yeah, but we still oughta watch them pretty close. They probably won't be back this way for a while, but I doubt they'll give up. I'm sure they still want that special materia."

Biggs folded his arms in front of him. "Definitely. Gotta be sure to find out when they get that tunnel open again, too. Once they do, that's when they'll be coming back this way."

"With a bigger force, no doubt," Wedge added.

Samuel rubbed his chin. "I'd have to agree. Edwyn, see to it that the repairs get done as quickly as possible. And we'll need to start planning for the next assault while we still have time."

Just then, Jessie walked in and smiled. "Hi, Lena! Sorry to come in during a meeting, but I thought you'd want to know that your surprise is ready. Come down to the courtyard and see!"

"Really?" I blinked. "Okay. If we're done here, that is."

Samuel chuckled. "Of course. We were just about finished anyway. So go on ahead, Lena. It's quite alright."

After I thanked him, Wedge took hold of the wheelchair and rolled me out into the hall with Jessie. Biggs went with us as well, and we took the elevator down to the first floor. I'd worried about how I'd be able to get around and go outside, but Edwyn had thoughtfully assigned some of his men to install a few ramps to take care of that for me. They were all finished now, and I could go pretty much anywhere in the complex. So we all went outside into the courtyard.

Jessie led us to an enclosed section with a bunch of empty wooden crates stacked up in a row against the far wall. The others were all there waiting for us—Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, Barret, Yuffie, and Red. And there in the middle of the area was my other wheelchair, the motorized one I really liked. Only it looked a whole lot different than before. I stared at it, hardly able to believe it was the same one.

"What did you do to my chair, Jessie?" I gaped.

She smirked. "Have a seat and find out!"

As Wedge gently picked me up and settled me into my wheelchair, I gazed curiously at it. Jessie had replaced the wheels—they'd been thin but sturdy, useful for just getting around but not for much more. These ones, though, were a lot bigger and thicker, with a nice, deep tread that looked more like what you'd see on the tires of a new pickup truck than on a wheelchair. The front ones were smaller than the back but still big and firm enough that I could get around really well, even in the rugged and often rocky terrain of the region.

"You changed the wheels!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, that's just the beginning!" Jessie winked. "But yeah, these tires are tough and won't tip over easily. Perfect for getting around outdoors when you're on an important mission."

I blinked. "Mission?"

She laughed. "You'll see. I also replaced the motor. It's rechargeable like the other one was, but it'll last longer. And you'll also be able to go a lot faster. Good if you need a quick getaway."

"How fast?" I wondered.

"Well, normally you can go up to 5 miles an hour," Jessie explained. "That's like taking a brisk walk. But you can push it as high as 10 if you have to. Then it'd be more like a fast run."

Wedge whistled. "That's one quick wheelchair!"

"Exactly!" she giggled, pointing her finger. "I've also reinforced the wheelchair's frame and suspension to be able to handle those speeds as well as the terrain around here. And I've upgraded the brakes, too. This puppy can stop quick and turn on a dime!"

"Wow!" I beamed. "Thanks!"

Jessie put her hands on her hips and grinned. "You're welcome! But that's not all! It's also weather and impact resistant, so you don't have to worry about it getting stuck or damaged if it rains or something. And it won't be easy for you to get knocked over, either."

I laughed. "Glad to hear that! But what's with the arms?"

"Oh, that's the best part!" Jessie smirked.

They were twice as wide now as before. The inner half of each one was cushioned, with the movement control stick still on the end of the right arm just like before and a cup holder on the front of the left arm. But the outer halves of both were metal, and the arms themselves were taller as well, with thick, reinforced cables that coiled from them to the back of the chair, which was itself now settled within a protective metal shell shielding the back and both sides.

On the metal half of each arm, both on top and on the outside, was a set of thin, rectangular grooves like seams. I ran my hands over them and wondered what they were for. There was also a new button that I'd never seen before on the inside of the left arm not far from my hand. I looked curiously at it but didn't press it yet.

"Really?" I wondered, gazing at the button. "What's this do?"

"Press it and see!" Jessie winked.

My stomach fluttering nervously, I swallowed and did just that. As soon as I tapped the button, there was a mechanical whirring sound as two long rotating panels on each arm quickly spun around and locked into place, one on top and one on the outside. My jaw dropped and my eyes went wide when I saw what was on them.

On the outside of each arm was a high-powered machine gun, and a sleek handle-style trigger flipped upright from the left top panel next to my hand within easy reach. On the other panel, the one on my right, there were a few displays that showed ammo counts for each gun along with a heat gauge like Barret had. And there were also materia, two per arm in unlinked slots. I stared in wonder at the glowing green orbs, my mouth hanging open as if it had become unhinged.

"Whoa…" I breathed.

"That's amazing!" Tifa added. "You really did all this, Jessie?"

She nodded proudly. "Yep! That's why you guys've hardly seen me all week. Been putting in a lot of hours on this."

"What materia are these?" I asked.

Jessie pointed. "Fire and Lightning on the right, and on the left you have Bind and Restore. Picked them up from the quartermaster's shop. And that Bind materia's gonna be perfect for you, Lena. I was surprised they had any, but lucky for you, there just happened to be one! Used, at that, but enough that you can cast Silence magic."

I blinked. "What's that do?"

"Well, normally it's used to keep your enemies from casting spells of their own, but you can also use it on yourself to hide so nobody can hear you," Jessie explained. "Perfect for a scout who needs to be able to stay undetected so she can gather intel. And when you're done, just use some echo mist to remove the effect."

"This is great!" I gushed. "But I've never really used materia before. Well, outside my guns, that is. Is it hard to do?"

"No," Cloud answered. "Just takes practice, like anything else. And you'll need rest and ethers to restore your energy."

I nodded. "Okay. I can do that."

"Gotcha stocked up with ethers and echo mists," Jessie added. "Just look in the storage compartments on the sides there. Some potions too, just in case. And your goggles. Can't forget those!"

I noticed for the first time the large panels on each side of the chair that had been built into the metal shell encasing the seat. Jessie showed me another new button on the left arm of the chair, and when I tapped it, the storage bays slid open. Full of vials, just like she'd said. Then she took out her—my—goggles and gave them to me.

"I also tweaked these a bit," she explained with a wink. "In addition to what they already do, now you'll also have a targeting display for the guns. So let's see ya put 'em on and try it out!"

I smiled and eagerly slipped them on, and once I'd activated them, I saw what she meant. The distance and directional readouts were still there off to one side just like always, and I could still switch between all the different visual modes—normal, night vision, infrared, ultraviolet. But now there was also a glowing red crosshairs floating in the middle that I could switch on and off as needed.

Using the chair's movement controls, I turned so I was facing those empty wooden crates that were stacked up against the wall. And now I knew why they were there. I gripped the trigger on the chair's left arm, took a breath, aimed, and fired. A blast of sound suddenly filled the air as bullets chewed into the crates and totally blew them apart. My chair rumbled a little as I kept shooting but didn't roll off course, and when I finally stopped and the dust had settled, I pushed my goggles above my eyes and stared in amazement at what I'd just done.

"Holy shit!" I gaped. Then I grinned excitedly. "Kick ass!"

"Exactly! And you will!" Jessie laughed.

Biggs chuckled. "I'll say!"

"More than ever!" Wedge added with a thumbs up.

I gazed happily at my chair. "I love it!"

"There's a little bit of recoil, as you've probably noticed," Jessie said. "But as long as you lead your target, you'll be fine. How about you give your materia a try? Still got some crates left!"

"Just concentrate on the one you wanna use," Aerith told me. "You won't be able to cast very many spells at first, but the more you keep at it and get used to it, the more you can do."

After thinking about it for a moment, I decided to try a fire spell. I did what Aerith had suggested and focused my thoughts on it, feeling a little tingle in my mind as I did. That was the magic. I directed it at the wooden crates that were still left, and a moment later, a bright burst of flame suddenly scorched them to cinders.

"I did it!" I gasped.

"Pretty damn fun, ain't it?" Barret grinned.

I pumped my fist. "Hell yeah!"

Jessie smirked. "See, Lena! Told ya you could still do anything you put your mind to! So don't give up, okay?"

"Yeah," I smiled. "I won't."

After I switched off the chair's weapons and they went back inside their hiding spots in the arms, I just sat there for a moment, overcome. I'd been so afraid of being useless, of not having anything I could do to help and of never being part of the action again. But now I knew I still had a place with everyone, that I could still make a difference. I looked at Jessie, my eyes not entirely dry, and beckoned to her. She knew what I had in mind and bent over so I could hug her.

"Thank you so much," I murmured.

"You bet," Jessie told me. "Couldn't very well leave without helping out a friend in need first. You gonna be okay?"

I actually felt like I would. "Yeah, Jessie… I think I will."

"Awesome!" Jessie laughed.

"You up for some scouting, sis?" Biggs asked.

Was I ever! "You have to ask?"

"It'll be you and me, honey!" Wedge said. "We'll be the eyes of this place while the others are gone. Right?"

"Right!" I agreed.

After the others—even Cloud, in his adorably awkward way—had congratulated me and wished me well, most of them left to go do other things around the fortress or get ready for tomorrow. That was the big day. They'd found Shinra uniforms for most of them, and Drake would be driving the group to Junon in his truck. They'd be heading out early in the morning, and I was really gonna miss them. But I'd do all I could to protect this place while they were gone.

Jessie stuck around for a bit to help as I practiced moving the chair and tried to get the hang of how different it felt. Biggs and Wedge were there too, and they watched as she showed me how to reload the ammo and recharge the motor. Then, after a while, she excused herself with a wave and a smile, saying she was off to go for a ride with Cloud on the Hardy. It would probably be the last one they'd get to have for a while. I was happy for them, though, and that reminded me of something that I'd been meaning to share with Wedge.

I motioned for him to lean in closer. "I was talking with the doctor during my checkup and rehab yesterday, and she said that you and I… well, we can still, um… you know…"

"Really?" he blinked, his cheeks turning bright red.

I nodded. "Yeah. It'll be a little different, and you'll have to help me a bit, but we'll still be able to do it. I, uh… I asked her about it, you see. So, if you want, we could fool around tonight…"

"Sure!" Wedge grinned eagerly. "Sounds good to me!"

My lips met his. "I was hoping you'd say that."

Early the next morning about an hour after sunrise, we put all our our gear and supplies into Drake's truck and got ready to head out. We were in the courtyard near the main gate as repairs to the fort went on around us, filling the air with the sounds of hammering, welding, talk, and more. Some of the men waved down at us while others focused on their work or kept a close eye on the former Shinra soldiers who'd been taken prisoner in the battle and were now helping to rebuild this place. And above it all was the reactor and the condor.

I smiled at Cloud. "Ready to go?"

"Of course, Jessie," he smirked faintly. "I'm always ready."

"Don't I know it!" I teased.

We'd had a wonderful ride last night on the Hardy, speeding across the badlands until we came to a ridge overlooking much of this part of the region. With the stars twinkling above us, we'd shared tender kisses and enjoyed the view as well as each other. I'd been able to forget about my dream and my fears for a while, both out there on the Hardy and in bed with Cloud later, our fierce passion drowning my worries in waves of sweet fire. And now I felt almost like myself again. I wished that we could take the Hardy with us, but we couldn't.

Edwyn, Samuel, Biggs, Wedge, and Lena were there to send us off. Lena was looking really happy in her souped-up wheelchair, giggling a little as she looked at Wedge, and I was pretty sure they'd had some fun themselves last night. I was really gonna miss her, and I thought about the day we'd first met back in Sector 5 when she'd asked me to upgrade her gun so she could better protect her home. I hadn't known then just how good a friend she'd eventually become.

"Bye, Lena," I smiled, bending down to hug her.

She wrapped her arms around me. "Goodbye, Jessie. Be careful out there, okay? And kick Sephiroth's ass."

I grinned. "You bet!"

While she said her farewells to the others, I turned to look at Biggs and Wedge, a hard lump forming in my throat. We'd been a big part of each other's lives for over two years now, hanging out almost every day and putting our lives in each other's hands. An inseparable trio of best friends. I couldn't imagine not having them around. But I had to leave, and they knew it as well as I did. Although I kept a smile on my face, I couldn't quite hide the tremor in my voice.

"Well, guys, I guess this it," I said, looking at them.

Biggs embraced me first. "So long, Jessie. You come back here safe and sound one day. We'll be here waiting for ya."

I hugged him tight. "I will, Biggs. That's a promise."

"Good enough, then," he said.

"Guess I shouldn't tell ya not to worry," I quipped.

Biggs gave me a lopsided grin. "Nope. I'm gonna be worst-casing it over you same as always, Jessie. You know that."

"And Tifa," I smirked.

He chuckled. "True enough."

Then Wedge took his place. "Goodbye, Jessie."

"Bye, Wedge," I murmured, wrapping my arms around him. "Take care of yourself, alright? And when I come back, I'll make you guys my famous Midgar Special. How's that sound?"

"Oh, I can't wait!" he said, his eyes lighting right up.

I laughed. "Me either, Wedge. Me either."

Wedge sighed. "It's gonna be so weird not having you with us, you know? The three of us been together for so long."

"I know," I agreed. "But we'll be together again one day. Remember when I met you and Biggs? Your cats all ran away the night I first came to Sector 7 and led you guys right to me."

"Best thing they ever did," he nodded, smiling.

Biggs raised his hand. "Yeah, you said it, buddy! Tri-five?"

Wedge and I lifted our own hands, then we slapped them together with Biggs in a three-way high five. After that, we drew each other into a tight hug, holding it for a moment. I didn't wanna let go, but I knew I had to. These guys were my pals and had been there for me even when hardly anyone else was, just as I'd always their backs as well. As Wedge had said, it was gonna be different not being with them anymore. It felt so strange to be saying goodbye to them.

"I miss you guys already," I said, my eyes not quite dry.

"Same here," Biggs agreed as he and Wedge let go. "But don't worry about a thing. We'll keep the light on for ya."

Barret walked up and took his shoulder. "That's right. Knowin' this place is in good hands makes the leavin' a lot easier. You guys take care, now. You doin' Avalanche an' me proud."

"Sure thing, boss," Biggs promised. "We got this."

Wedge gave us a thumbs up. "Definitely! What he said!"

Lena added one of her own. "Yeah!"

"That's all I need to know," Barret chuckled. "You guys are the best, an' no mistake. Glad you're in my corner."

Then Cloud, Aerith, and the others all said their goodbyes as well. I watched fondly as Biggs and Tifa shared a few kisses, a long embrace, and some soft, whispered words before she finally stepped back. Once we were finished, Samuel wished us all well and reminded us that we'd always be welcome here before shaking hands with Barret and the girls. Cloud, of course, just nodded. Then Edwyn took something out of the leather pouch on his belt and held it out to me.

"Here, Jessie," he said. "I'd like you to have this. Consider it a token of appreciation for all the help you and your friends have given us. We wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for all of you."

I laughed. "Aw, really? You shouldn't have! I—"

My voice died when I saw what it was. Laying across his palms was a long hunting knife, its hilt black, slim, and slightly curved. The blade was tucked safely inside its sheath, and for a moment, I just stared at it as my mouth went dry and my blood ran cold. It was the one from my dream. The same one I'd used to kill Aerith in that hellish nightmare. I stepped back without even realizing it, my eyes wide.

"Jessie?" Cloud asked.

"I-I'm alright," I insisted. "Just… caught me by surprise."

Edwyn blinked. "Sorry about that, Jessie. I've had this blade on me for a long time. It's helped me out a lot over the years, but I want you to have it now. I hope it keeps you safe out there."

For a moment, I was badly tempted to say no, to just stay here and not go with Cloud and the others. Before, what I'd seen had just been a nightmare, a terrible possibility. But now, as I looked at that knife there in front of me, it became all too real. What I'd seen… now I was on the path to it actually happening. And I didn't want it to.

Edywn had no idea, of course. He was just being nice and offering me a gift. And as much as I wished I could change my mind and make some excuse to stay behind, I knew I had to leave. It was the only way I could stop Sephiroth's plan and save Aerith.

"I appreciate it, but… I can't," I said, as politely as I could. "I didn't do what I did here for a reward. None of us did. Besides, you've already done so much for all of us in return."

Edwyn smiled. "I know, but I insist. Please."

I knew then that I couldn't get out of it. I was trapped, but I slipped on the cheerful mask I wore so well and chuckled. "Well, when you put it that way, I guess I can't very well refuse."

"Here you are, then," he said, handing me the knife.

"Thanks," I smiled.

Outwardly, I was chipper and relaxed as I did my best to hide how badly seeing the knife had scared me. But on the inside, I was shaking. As I took the knife, it felt heavier in my hands than it should've. Like in the dream. Images flashed across my mind in an instant before I could stop them. Blood on the knife and my hands, Aerith's shocked face as I stabbed her. The life leaving her eyes. For a moment, I closed mine, my grip on the knife tightening as fear and regret threatened to overwhelm me. I felt like I was gonna break down any second.

Then Aerith took my shoulder. "Time to go, Jessie."

At her touch, I managed to catch myself and stay calm. But I think she saw more in my eyes than I intended. "Yeah, you're right. It's a long way to Junon, so I guess we'd better mosey."

After putting the knife in my belt pouch, I said goodbye to Edwyn and Samuel as the others did the same. Then, while Tifa got up front in the truck, I joined Barret, Yuffie, and Red in the back. Cloud started to follow us while Edwyn and Samuel turned and went back into the fort, but then Aerith beckoned to him and pulled him aside near the gate to have a quiet word with him before we left.

"Looks like we're all set," Aerith smirked.

I folded my arms in front of me. "Yeah. So what's up?"

We stood by the wall next to the gate, far enough away that no one in the truck would overhear us. And everyone else was too busy doing repairs to pay much attention to what we were saying. Aerith definitely had something on her mind, so I waited expectantly for her to tell me. I doubted I'd like it very much, though.

"And now you've got two girls to look after," she quipped. "Me and Jessie. Double the work for our bodyguard."

"I can handle it," I said.

Aerith giggled. "I don't doubt it. You're really good, you know. Just like him. Almost too much, in some ways."

I blinked. "What do you mean?"

"It doesn't matter," she shook her head. "Cloud, I know you'll do all you can to protect us, no matter what."

"But…?" I prodded, knowing she wasn't finished.

Aerith's gaze was intense as she locked her eyes on mine. "But even so, a time may come when you can't save us both, no matter how much you want to. And if it does, I want you to save Jessie. Don't worry about me. Promise me you'll do this, alright?"

I stared at her. "The hell? I'll save you both!"

"That might not be possible someday," she insisted.

"I'll make it possible," I swore.

Aerith didn't budge. "Try if you want. But you know I'm right. And I want you to be ready, Cloud. Don't think you can talk me out of this, either. You know how stubborn I can be."

"Aerith…" I frowned.

She stepped closer, her gaze never wavering for a second. "Promise me, Cloud! Promise me that if that day ever comes, you'll choose Jessie instead of me, that she'll be the one you save."

I looked away for a moment, knowing she wasn't gonna let me out of this. I had every intention of keeping both her and Jessie safe on this journey. I didn't wanna lose anyone, especially them. But Aerith wasn't gonna take no for answer. Not a chance.

Turning back to her, I sighed. "Fine. I promise."

"Good," Aerith replied. "And also, it should go without saying that Jessie isn't to know anything about this. No one is, really, but especially her. This is between you and me. Got it?"

I'd figured as much. "Yeah."

She smiled. "Well, then! Glad that's settled!"

"Anything else?" I asked.

"Nope!" Aerith replied. "All done! Now we'd better get going. Don't wanna keep the others waiting, you know."

On that, I agreed with her. So I followed her back over to the truck without another word. She waved at me as she got up front with Drake and Tifa, probably trying to cheer me up. I nodded to her, but that was all. Jessie looked questioningly at me as I sat with her and the others in the back. She was surely wondering what Aerith and I had been talking about. But I just shook my head and tried to act casual. I didn't know if she bought it, but she didn't press me about it, either. Instead, she took my hand in hers as we left Fort Condor.

I didn't let go for a long time.