Chapter 1: The Bombing Mission

The train screeched to a halt under the shadow of the Mako Reactor, its wheels grinding against the tracks with a sound that echoed through the oppressive industrial tunnels. Sparks scattered like fireflies in the cold, damp air. A moment later, the doors hissed open.

Cloud Strife stood motionless for a heartbeat, his broad sword strapped to his back reflecting the faint green glow of the Mako energy seeping through the cracks of the city above. His face was unreadable, but his sharp, mako-infused eyes betrayed a faint glimmer of doubt beneath their icy exterior. It wasn't his first mission, but something about tonight felt heavier.

"Let's move, rookie!" Barret's deep, gravelly voice shattered the silence. The AVALANCHE leader leaped from the train with surprising agility for his bulk, his gun-arm clicking as he adjusted it. Barret Wallace was a man on a mission, fueled by a fiery conviction to save the planet, and he wasn't about to let anyone—including the indifferent ex-SOLDIER mercenary they'd hired—slow him down.

"Right," Cloud muttered, following him out. Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge scrambled down behind them, each carrying their own blend of nerves and determination.

The industrial air around them buzzed faintly with the hum of Shinra's oppressive machinery. This part of Midgar was a maze of steel and concrete, with the reactor looming above like a mechanical god, siphoning the planet's lifeblood—Mako energy. Cloud could feel it, almost hear it, whispering faintly in the back of his mind. Etro's Lifestream. The very essence of life. And Shinra was ripping it apart.

Barret turned back to the group, his wide shoulders blocking the faint light coming from above. "Alright, listen up! We've got one shot at this. Shinra's guards ain't gonna make this easy, so stick to the plan. We blow this reactor, send those Shinra bastards a message they won't forget!"

Jessie stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement, her bag filled with explosives strapped across her back. "Cloud, you're the muscle. Stay up front and clear the path. Biggs, Wedge, and I will handle the security systems. Barret's covering the rear. Everyone got that?"

"Yeah, yeah," Wedge mumbled, scratching the back of his head. "You sure you got the timer right this time, Jessie? I'd like to keep my eyebrows, thanks."

"Shut it, Wedge," Jessie shot back with a grin. "You focus on not tripping over your own feet."

Cloud didn't engage in their banter. His grip on his sword tightened as he scanned the shadows. He wasn't here for their cause. He wasn't here to save the planet. He was here for the money. Or at least, that's what he told himself.

Barret's voice interrupted his thoughts. "What's the matter, pretty boy? Scared of a few Shinra goons?"

Cloud glared at him, his voice cold. "I don't get scared. Let's go."

Barret smirked, his teeth flashing. "We'll see about that."

They moved quickly, each step echoing faintly against the metal floor. The entrance to the reactor was heavily guarded, just as expected. Two Shinra soldiers stood at attention near the gate, their rifles gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights.

Cloud stepped forward without hesitation. "I'll handle this."

He drew his massive Buster Sword with a single fluid motion, the blade glinting ominously. The guards barely had time to react before Cloud was upon them. With a burst of speed, he slashed downward, the force of the blow knocking one soldier to the ground. The second raised his rifle, but Cloud spun, disarming him with a calculated strike before delivering a swift kick that sent the man sprawling.

Barret whistled low. "Damn. Guess that SOLDIER training wasn't all talk after all."

Cloud didn't respond. He wiped the blood from his blade and continued forward.

Jessie knelt by the security panel, her fingers dancing over the keys. "Biggs, I need you on this."

Biggs crouched next to her, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Got it. Disabling the alarms… now."

A loud beep signaled their success, and the gate hissed open.

"Move out!" Barret barked, waving them forward.

Inside, the reactor was a nightmare of pipes, wires, and pulsating green light. The air was thick with heat and the acrid smell of burning metal. The sound of machinery droned constantly, a ceaseless hum that seemed to burrow into their skulls.

"Ugh, this place gives me the creeps," Wedge muttered, glancing around nervously.

"It should," Jessie said grimly. "This is what's killing the planet."

Cloud didn't say anything, but he could feel it. The reactor was alive in a way that was deeply unsettling. The Mako flowed through the pipes like blood, and the hum of the machines felt like a heartbeat. This wasn't just a building; it was a parasite, feeding off the planet's lifeblood.

They descended deeper into the reactor, following Jessie's directions until they reached the heart of the facility: the Mako Core. The green glow was almost blinding here, and the heat was oppressive.

"Alright, this is it," Barret said, his voice tense. "Jessie, set the bomb."

Jessie nodded, pulling the explosive device from her bag. She knelt by the Core, her hands steady despite the sweat dripping down her face.

"This'll take a minute," she said. "Keep an eye out for trouble."

As if on cue, the ground shook violently, and the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the chamber.

"Shinra soldiers!" Biggs shouted.

Cloud was already moving. He darted toward the incoming troops, his sword a blur of motion. Barret joined the fray, his gun-arm roaring as he unleashed a hail of bullets.

The battle was chaotic. The soldiers were well-trained, but they were no match for Cloud's speed and precision. He weaved through them like a shadow, his sword striking with deadly accuracy. Barret's firepower kept the rest at bay, while Biggs and Wedge provided cover for Jessie as she finished setting the bomb.

"Done!" Jessie shouted, standing up and slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Let's get out of here!" Barret roared.

They began their retreat, but the ground shook again, more violently this time.

"What the hell was that?" Wedge shouted, his voice tinged with panic.

A deafening roar answered him, and a massive machine burst into the chamber. It was a security robot, a mechanical monstrosity armed with turrets and claws, its red eyes glowing with malicious intent.

"Of course they'd send one of these," Barret growled.

"Stay back!" Cloud ordered, stepping forward.

The robot lunged at him, its claws slashing through the air. Cloud dodged nimbly, his sword flashing as he countered with a powerful strike that sent sparks flying.

"Barret, aim for the turrets!" Cloud shouted.

"On it!" Barret replied, firing a barrage of bullets at the robot's weaponry.

The battle was intense, each member of the group working together to bring the machine down. Jessie and Biggs used grenades to disable its legs, while Wedge provided covering fire. Cloud and Barret focused on its core, their attacks relentless.

Finally, with a deafening explosion, the robot collapsed, its pieces scattering across the chamber.

"Let's move!" Barret yelled, pulling Cloud to his feet.

They ran, the countdown ticking in their minds as the bomb's timer edged closer to zero. The tunnels shook around them, debris falling as the reactor began to destabilize.

They barely made it out in time. As they emerged from the reactor, the bomb detonated, a massive explosion lighting up the night sky. The shockwave knocked them off their feet, and for a moment, all they could do was stare at the inferno consuming the reactor.

"Damn," Barret muttered, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and sorrow. "We did it."

Cloud didn't say anything. He stared at the flames, his expression unreadable. The reactor was gone, but the weight in his chest remained.

"Let's go," he said finally, turning away from the blaze. "We've got a train to catch."

And with that, the group disappeared into the shadows, the city of Midgar trembling beneath the weight of what they had just done.