FOUR

JESSIE

Getting to Upper Junon turned out to be easier than we'd thought. The two Shinra guards outside the elevator tower had been as bored as I'd expected, so sweet talking them into letting us through hadn't really been a challenge, especially with the gil we gave them as well. We were back in our usual clothes as we stepped off the lift and headed through the airport. The Highwind was still parked outside, hovering above the tarmac and as gorgeous as ever. I couldn't wait to help Cid take it back someday soon and fly it across the open sky.

The streets were crowded as we left the airport, so it wasn't hard for us to blend in. The air taxi station was at the other end of town, and as we made our way there, we walked casually to avoid drawing attention to ourselves. We'd already had a nice breakfast at the inn before saying goodbye to Priscilla and her grandparents, and we were still pretty well stocked up on supplies, so we didn't really need to stop anywhere to get anything else. But even so, we did a little window shopping on the way to keep anyone from getting a good look at us.

We hadn't forgotten about the bounties, but so far, everything had worked out. None of the Shinra soldiers we passed as we made our way through town gave us much notice. Aerith and I slipped into a jewelry store to avoid another pair of guards, and as we were in there browsing and pretending to be interested customers, something suddenly caught my eye. A slim, modest gold chain with a small round case hanging on it made of matching wire twisted into the shape of a globe. It looked as if it had been made specifically to hold materia.

I was awfully tempted to buy it, and I could hear the dark orb's soft whisper in my mind. How nice would it be to wear it like a pendant? It was just the right size for the case. My fingers reached down almost on their own toward my belt pouch to open it and get the black materia as I moved closer to the display. It looked so pretty…

But then a slender hand suddenly caught mine and held it in place gently but firmly just before it could pull open the flap and take out the orb. As the fog and the strange suggestion left my mind, I looked up to see Aerith gazing at me in concern, her green eyes worried. Part of me wanted to yell at her for stopping me, but that odd bit of rage was faint, and mostly I felt confused, unsure of what I was doing or why. And the more rational part of me was grateful she'd done what she did. I lightly squeezed her hand in return, silently thanking her.

"You okay?" Aerith asked.

I nodded. "I think so. Let's get out of here."

As soon as we stepped outside, a pair of Shinra soldiers spotted us, their eyes widening in recognition. Just our luck. We darted quickly up the street, weaving our way through the crowds as the soldiers pursued us. We had to get to the broad avenue overlooking the ocean, the same one Cloud and I had marched along during Rufus' parade, to reach the air taxi Priscilla had told us about. Her uncle was expecting us. But we needed to shake these guys somehow to do that.

Just then, someone called to us from a nearby alley on our right in a voice that was vaguely familiar. "Hey! You two! Over here!"

We ducked out of sight just as our pursuers ran past the alley. For a moment, we didn't move. Then, Aerith let out a startled gasp when she saw who'd helped us. It was another Shinra soldier, dressed the same as the rest in a dark blue uniform and a metal helmet that hid most of his face, but I realized I knew him. By voice if not yet by sight. Cloud and I had met him before, during our first visit here.

"It's okay, Aerith," I assured her. "He's a friend."

The guy nodded. "Sorry for scaring you. I heard about the bounties and saw you coming. Didn't want you to get caught."

Aerith smiled. "Thanks. What's your name?"

"Darren," he replied, guiding us further into the alley. "Cloud and I went through basic training together. Ran into him and your friend—I never got her name, sorry—last time they were here."

I chuckled. "It's Jessie. I'm surprised you recognized me."

"I didn't at first," he smirked. "Took a moment for it to click."

"I do look pretty different without one of those uniforms," I flashed him a wry grin. "Glad to be rid of it, though."

Darren nodded. "I'll bet. So why are you here?"

"Long story," I said. "A lot's happened since the last time I saw you. Aerith and I need to get to the air taxi station. But with all those Shinra soldiers scouring the city for us, it won't be easy."

"Leave it to me," he answered. "I'll get you there. We're not far from it, actually. Just a few streets over. I know a back way, so just follow me. The air taxi station's on the main road, near that big cannon. We'll have to go out into the open for a bit to reach it, but security there should be light. Still, if anyone asks, you're my prisoners."

Darren led us carefully through a few more alleys and side streets, and we followed just behind him, our eyes alert. But it seemed, at least for the moment, that we'd thrown off our pursuers. We walked casually, doing our best not to stand out, and no one gave us a second glance as we hurried through town toward our destination.

When we reached the main road a few minutes later, we paused for a moment to gaze out at the area. The wide avenue stretched out before us in either direction, with the sparkling blue of the ocean past the low wall on the far side. Overhead, that huge cannon pointed west, with its massive shadow dominating much of the street as the sun shone above it and the almost sheer cliffs rose up high behind us.

"There's the station," Darren pointed at a small helipad nearby, just a few dozen yards away on our left. "Right over there."

I nodded. "I see it. Thanks, Darren. But before we go, could you do me a big favor? Cloud's probably gonna come through here soon to try and find us. Keep an eye out for him, would you?"

"Will do," he promised. "I'll let him know that you and Aerith were here today and help him if I can. I'll also send word to Kunsel, see if we can find a way to get rid of those bounties."

I smiled gratefully at him. "That'd be a big help."

"Very big," Aerith agreed. "Thank you."

"No problem," Darren replied. Then he motioned toward the main road. "Are you ready? We'd better get moving."

The small chopper sat waiting on the helipad as we walked over, its metal rotors spinning overhead and its engines rumbling. Seeing it this close reminded me of the Sector 7 pillar and how I'd nearly been killed when the Shinra helicopter there had crashed and burned almost right on top of me. If Cloud hadn't flown in right at the last second with that rotor glove he'd taken from a fallen helitrooper, I'd have died there just like in nearly all the other times this journey has happened before. And my destined fate would've claimed me once again.

But it hadn't, not this time. Cloud changed everything for me, gave me a fighting chance to live. Even with everything I was going through and all that had happened, I was glad for that. To see days that I'd never seen before, go places I'd never been to, and be loved by the man of my dreams was worth it. Even though it had only been a few days since I'd left Cloud behind at the temple of the Ancients, I missed him so much and thought about him all the time. I loved him.

I smiled and waved as Aerith and I slowly approached the chopper, and Priscilla's uncle nodded to us. He was younger than I'd expected, a handsome guy in his thirties wearing a gray jumpsuit. He was sitting in the pilot's seat with the passenger door still open for the moment as he prepared for liftoff, and he motioned for us to climb on board. It was a bit loud here so close to the chopper, so I practically had to shout when I turned to Darren in order for him to hear me.

"Thanks for all your help, Darren," I told him.

"We really appreciate it," Aerith added.

He smiled. "Anytime. Best of luck to you. And don't worry, I'll keep watch for Cloud and do what I can to help."

"Awesome!" I gave him a thumbs up. "Take care, okay?"

"You too," he said.

Just as we were settling into the chopper, a squad of Shinra soldiers led by an officer hurried over, eyeing us warily as they approached. But before they could try to detain us, Darren intercepted them, moving in between them and us in only a few casual steps and saluting sharply as they stopped in front of him. While Priscilla's uncle prepared for liftoff, Darren bought us as much time as he could.

He asked questions and acted confused, playing the innocent act to keep the soldiers occupied until we could get into the air. The whirring of the rotors helped, making his uncertainty more believable with how loud it was. Although the officer tried to order Priscilla's uncle to stand down, he just acted like he didn't hear him, catching on to what Darren was doing and going right along with it. And before the Shinra soldiers could stop us, we finally took off, rising quickly into the afternoon sky. I gazed wonderingly out at the ocean ahead of us.

"We made it!" Aerith cheered.

I grinned. "Yep! Left those guys in the dust!"

She glanced back at Junon falling away behind us. "I hope Darren's okay. They won't do anything to him, will they?"

"I doubt it," I shook my head. "He was pretty convincing."

Aerith smiled at the pilot. "So what's your name?"

"Bryce," he answered as he watched his instruments. "My niece has told me some interesting stories about you and your friends."

I laughed. "Oh, I can imagine."

"Bryce, will you have any trouble landing in Costa del Sol with the way we left Junon?" Aerith wondered. "Those soldiers were there to try and bring us in. I'm sure you know about the bounties."

He didn't seem worried, though. "We'll be fine. I fly this route a lot and bring in a few nice things for the base commander on the side so I can get in and out faster. He'll leave us alone."

That helped me relax. "Good. Costa del Sol's just a stop on the way, though. We need to get to the Northern Continent as soon as possible. Would you be able to just fly us straight there instead?"

"Not enough fuel," Bryce shook his head. "What I've got now'll see us to Costa del Sol, but it'll take at least an hour for me to fill the tanks again once we get there. Maybe two. And with how Shinra's after you, I doubt it'll be safe for you to stay in town to wait."

I thought I understood. "Won't take them long to send someone to try and bring us in since they know there's only one place you can take us. But I think we can still stay ahead of them."

Aerith nodded. "We'll need to find a boat, then."

"Shinra keeps a few moored at the docks," Bryce said. "Motorboats for the local coast guard. More than they usually need, actually. So you might be able to slip in and take one of those. They're small, but they'll get you across the channel to the Northern Continent."

"What's it like up there?" I asked.

Bryce chuckled. "Cold. I've flown to Bone Village a few times from Costa del Sol when delivering supplies for the diggers out there. That's one of the main settlements, and it's the fastest way into the mountains. Lots of forests there. Evergreens. Beautiful country, if you don't mind a chill in the air. Of course, it's even colder further north."

Aerith shivered. "I can imagine."

"Icicle Inn's about a mile up the main peak," he went on. "North of the Modeo Ravine and quite a ways west of Corral Valley. Snow almost all year round up there at that height, as far as you can see. Tourists go there for the great views and the snowboarding."

"Sounds like fun!" Aerith giggled.

I flashed her a knowing grin. "Oh, I can definitely see Cloud giving snowboarding a try. That's just his style."

She nodded. "Yours, too, I bet."

"Of course!" I laughed.

"It'd be nice to see snow," Aerith looked wistfully out the starboard window. "An actual winter, not like the ones back in Midgar where the weather was pretty much the same all the time."

I felt the same way. "Yeah. It'll be fun. I've never seen it either."

"I think… I have," she murmured. "But I don't remember when. It's just an image I have in my mind. A memory. It was cold and wet… but also powdery, white, and fun. I think I was really small at the time. My dad… he was there. He was playing with me."

"That's great, Aerith," I gently laid a hand on her shoulder.

She sighed. "It's the only memory I have of him."

I understood all too well, remembering that day in Junon so many years ago when I'd been a little girl myself, sitting on my father's broad shoulders and watching the soldiers go by on parade. And even now, as far apart as we'd grown, I still cherished that memory. He'd been proud of how well I'd fought when we'd battled at Fort Condor, how strong I'd become. Overhearing him admit that to Rufus in Costa del Sol during our first visit there had nearly overwhelmed me.

There had to be a way to get through to him, to bring him back. He was my father, and a part of me still loved him in spite of everything. A little girl's hope, I suppose. I didn't want to give up on him. I wanted to believe that, deep down, there was still good in him. I just had to find a way to reach it. I hadn't forgotten what he'd done… or at least, what I'd believed he'd done. Maybe there was more than I'd been aware of, more to it all than I knew. If there was, I had to find out.

Lost in our thoughts, Aerith and I flew steadily west.

CLOUD

I paced slowly and deliberately around the plain metal table in the underground room where the Shinra lieutenant who'd led the men we'd captured—Gorman, he'd said his name was—sat, his eyes never leaving me just as mine stayed on him. He was calm and unruffled, almost as if he'd been expecting something like this to happen. Quiet, not smug or arrogantly overconfident. If anything, he seemed oddly… normal. Just another soldier doing his duty the best he knew how.

"What were Heidegger's orders?" I asked.

"I told you, already," Gorman said. "Just to capture as many of you as we could and bring you safe and unharmed to Midgar. His daughter and the Ancient in particular. He didn't say why."

I frowned. "And I'm supposed to believe that?"

"It's the truth," he insisted.

"Where are they?" I demanded.

Gorman shook his head. "I don't know. They slipped by us back on the island. We didn't have time to do a full search."

"One of your men tried to kill me there," I pointed out.

He nodded. "Against orders. And he failed."

I narrowed my eyes. "But you didn't try to stop him."

"He wanted to see you all dead because of what happened in Sector 7," Gorman explained. "I knew he wouldn't succeed, though. And like I told you, I didn't have time to go back for him."

"So why does Heidegger want us?" I asked. "What's his plan?"

Gorman's face was impassive. "It's complicated."

I paused in my pacing. "So you do know something."

"Scarlet's new superweapon is nearing completion," he said. "From what I've seen and heard, it'll be ready in a matter of weeks. Less than a month, maybe. It's very strong. But there's a problem."

"I'm listening," I folded my arms in front of me.

Gorman went on. "The secondary power generator, which switches on the mech's auxiliary systems in the event of a power failure or heavy damage, is fake. She doesn't know. She isn't meant to."

I raised an eyebrow. "Then how do you know?"

"Because I put it there," he replied. "On the general's orders."

My eyes widened. "What? Why?"

Gorman shrugged. "He didn't explain it to me. But it's no secret he hates her. Still, I never thought he'd actually move against her like that. Whatever his reasons might be, it seems to me that the general doesn't want that mech rampaging across Midgar."

"What's he care?" I snarled. I hadn't forgotten what Heidegger had done. Not for a second. "He dropped the Sector 7 plate onto the slums and killed over fifty thousand people. His own daughter was nearly one of them. I was there that night. I saw it happen."

"Did you see him flip the switch?" Gorman asked pointedly.

What was he getting at? "No, but that hardly matters. He'd had the system reprogrammed to lock Jessie out and reactivated the detonation sequence. Along with the trap that almost killed her."

"Or you were meant to think he did," he countered. "I was the one who went up earlier that day and prepared the console."

I picked him up in an instant and shoved him hard against the wall almost before I was even aware of it. "You did that!? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill your sorry ass right now!"

Sweat covered Gorman's face. "It wasn't for what you think it was. I don't know the details, but the bomb was never supposed to go off. The general never explained, just told me what needed to be done. So I did it. The plan was for the console to short out and shut down completely just before the separation sequence was initiated."

"What about all those things he told her?" I demanded.

"Playing for the camera, I'd imagine," he said. "Standard procedure is to record all footage for records keeping, as you should know, having been a SOLDIER. And the president was watching."

Slowly, I set him down. "So why did the bomb go off?"

"I'm not sure," Gorman shook his head. "The general hasn't shared that information with me. But I can tell you this. That night, right after the plate fell, he shut himself in his office for over an hour and wouldn't speak to anyone. When he did finally come out later on, he looked the same as ever, but his eyes seemed… haunted."

"Didn't seem too broken up about it when I saw him," I growled.

He met my steely gaze without flinching. "Are you sure about that? As powerful and prominent as he is, he's still constantly being watched. I don't think the old president ever trusted him completely, at least not until after the plate collapse. To show anything openly, especially then, would've been a risk he couldn't afford to take."

"And Rufus?" I asked.

"Sees him as a fool," Gorman said. "Incompetent, but still loyal. As for what happened at Fort Condor, I wasn't there—he kept my unit out of the battle and back in Midgar—but I'm not sure how much he really wanted to fight his daughter. He didn't seem happy about it when I saw him just before he left. Either way, he was stuck."

I thought I understood. "Rufus wanted that battle, didn't he?"

He nodded. "A test of the general's loyalty."

"I didn't expect you to talk this much," I admitted, not really sure I liked what he was getting at but not wanting to dismiss it. "Thought I'd have to rough you up a bit first to get you to open up."

"I wasn't ordered to stay silent," he shrugged. "Not to you, anyway. Rufus and the other directors, on the other hand…"

I'd heard enough. Leaving him to sit alone for a while, I opened the door, stepped into the hall, and locked it behind me. Barret, Tifa, Lena, Biggs, Wedge, Yuffie, Red, and Edwyn were all there. They'd watched it all through the wide one-way window that looked into the room. This place was in the caves underneath Fort Condor near the meeting areas, secondary barracks, and supply rooms. The rest of the Shinra prisoners were being kept under guard in cells nearby.

I turned and looked at my friends. "Thoughts, guys?"

"Think he's telling the truth?" Biggs wondered.

"I don't know," I sighed. "I shouldn't believe him, especially after all Heidegger's done. But I can't ignore it, either."

Tifa nodded. "I know what you mean, Cloud. I feel the exact same way. But it does make sense, as much as I hate to admit it. If Heidegger is trying to sabotage Scarlet's new superweapon to keep it from causing devastation across Midgar, maybe that's why he wants us."

"To stop it," I saw where she was going.

Barret grunted. "Don't track with everythin' we know 'bout ol' Mr. Warmonger, though. If he really needs our help, why didn't he just have his man ask us instead of tryin' to haul us in like he did?"

"Would we have even listened if he had?" Lena pointed out.

"She's right," I said. "We have no reason to believe him, and he's got to know that. And he's been our enemy for a long time. But… I made a promise to Jessie. That I'd give her a chance to reach him, to try and get through and talk to him. And even though she's… not with us… I still owe her that. So I'll at least hear what he has to say."

Biggs shook his head. "Through a screen, I hope. I don't think you want to try doing that in person just yet, man."

I didn't blame him for being cautious. "I get what you're saying, but I don't see any other way. I always knew we'd go back to Midgar sooner or later. But that doesn't mean it has to be just yet. We've still gotta find Aerith first and help her if we can. Then we'll look into to this. But you all don't have to come with me when I go to see him."

"If you think I'm letting you do it alone, you're crazy," Tifa insisted, her eyes never leaving mine. "I'll be there, Cloud."

"Count me in!" Lena pumped her fist.

Barret just looked at me and chuckled. "You got guts, merc. 'Sides, someone's gotta be there to save your scrawny ass when everythin' goes to hell. An' Jessie'd never let me live it down if I backed out now. So I'm with ya. Got a bone to pick with Scarlet, too."

I understood all too well. "About Corel. We'll get her, Barret."

"Damn right we will," Biggs agreed.

Wedge grinned. "Yeah! For you and Jessie, boss."

Yuffie put her hands on her hips. "No way I'm staying behind! That broad killed my partner and wants to attack my home with that thing! So I'm going! And… I agree with Cloud. My dad and I don't always see eye to eye, but I'll still always be there for him if he's in trouble. I think Jessie feels the same about hers. So let's hear him out."

"I concur," Red added. "I was wrong about my own father. Perhaps then there is more to hers than we know."

"We'll find out," I nodded.

Then we heard footsteps in the hall behind us and a familiar drawl. "You ain't plannin' to have a party with us, are ya?"

"Cid!" Tifa beamed.

"Just got in few minutes ago," he returned her hug as Vincent stood nearby, stoic as ever. "The guy at the main gate told us you was in here. Looks like we missed all the fun, though. Tiny Bronco's parked at an old airfield just east of here where Shinra won't find it."

Yuffie laughed. "Hey, Vince! Just as cheery as ever, aren't ya?"

"So much for peace and quiet," he sighed.

"And you know it!" she teased.

His reddish-brown eyes swept across us then, finding each of us as his ragged red cape with its high collar hung from his shoulders. "If the general's concern is real, we must act upon it. But we can't forget about Sephiroth and Hojo, either. They must be dealt with."

"They will be," I assured him.

Vincent tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment, satisfied, as he stood there with us. All in black aside from his red cape and headband, the sharp bronze claw he wore over his left gauntlet, and the matching toe spikes on his boots, he was as odd and enigmatic as ever. But also a good friend who had put himself in harm's way for us and others many times since we'd met him. I was glad he was there.

Same for Cid. Blond, with a dark blue bomber jacket, tough brown gloves, a white scarf, dark khakis, his spear strapped firmly to his back, and a pack of cigarettes tucked into the wide band of his flight goggles, he chatted amiably with the others, introducing himself and Vincent to those who hadn't met them yet. It was good to have them back with us. But our group, our family, still wasn't whole.

Our next step would be to find and catch up to Aerith and help her stop Sephiroth. There wasn't much we could do at the moment until we got a lead as to where she might've gone, so after conferring with Biggs and Edwyn to get some inquiries made in the area to find out if anyone had seen her, I headed back upstairs out of the caves and went outside, both for a bit of fresh air and to walk along the outer wall. My thoughts went back to Jessie, especially when I reached the spot where we'd been reunited just before the first major battle here.

The laser turret she'd been working on then was gone, destroyed in the attack, but the memories remained. Was she still out there? I hoped so. She had to be alive. I didn't feel complete without her, not anymore. When had that happened? I wasn't quite sure. But I didn't really mind. All I wanted was to see her again, hold her, tell her how sorry I was for what happened at the temple. And that I loved her.

"I thought you'd be here," Tifa smiled softly next to me.

I wasn't surprised. "Needed some fresh air."

She gazed out at the ravine with me. "We'll find her, Cloud. Sooner or later. I don't think I ever told you, but… I'm happy for you. That you found someone, and that she found you."

"Thanks," I gave her a little smile of my own.

Tifa nodded. "That's why I'm not giving up. Jessie never got to have her happy ending before, in the other times we've gone on this journey. Most of them, anyway. So I'm gonna make certain she gets it here. And you, too. Whatever happens, Cloud, I'm with you."

I looked gratefully at her. "Then I don't have to worry."

"Guess I've got a promise to keep now, too," her laughter was warm as she met my gaze. "To both of you. And I will."

I knew she would. "Same. Biggs treating you okay?"

Tifa sighed fondly. "Oh, yeah. More than okay. I didn't realize how much I missed him until I saw him again. We're having dinner alone in his quarters tonight. He's sweet, thoughtful, and kind. Still worries a lot about me, of course, but that's just part of the charm."

"Good," I smirked. "Guess I don't have to kick his ass, then."

"I'd do it first if it ever came to that," she chuckled. "You know that. But it won't. Biggs is a good man, and he loves me."

I nodded. "All I need to know. Have fun tonight, Tif."

"I will," she blushed. Then she gently touched my shoulder. "When you see Jessie again, be sure to do the same."

"I intend to," I promised.

Tifa looked quietly back out across the ravine. "So where do we go from here, Cloud? How do we find Aerith?"

"We'll stay here tomorrow, wait for any word of her whereabouts in the area," I thought aloud. "With things calm here for now, Edwyn can have his people get to the nearby towns and back in just a few hours to gather any intel they can find. Wedge'll go and ask around, too. I doubt she came this way, but we've gotta check to make sure."

"And if she didn't?" Tifa wondered.

I'd been thinking about that. "Junon. That's our best bet, Tifa, even though Shinra's all over that town. It's a big city, and Aerith could easily slip in there without much trouble and find a way to get to wherever it is she's going. We'll go there the day after tomorrow."

"That makes sense," she nodded. "I'm sure we'll find her."

I didn't have any doubt. "I know we will."