==============================================================

Last time: Aeris is reunited with her friends and surrogate mother. The
reunion is short lived as the town is attacked. In the midst of all this,
Cloud finds himself again torn between his two loves.

==============================================================
==============================================================

EPISODE THREE: Choice and Consequence

==============================================================
==============================================================


I'm a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world;
Life in plastic, it's fantastic;
You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere;
Imagination, life is your creation;
Come on Barbie, let's go party . . .

    -- 'Barbie Girl', Aquas


==============================================================


    Cloud groaned and tried to sink deeper into the blanket. The sweet
smell of sweat sifted into his nostrils as he tried to get some sleep.
    It had been a long day. The first order of business was to find a port
to put down in. Cid had jury rigged Highwind Too and her worthiness to take
to the sky was questionable. No one on board wanted to set foot on the
ground again, given what had happened in Kalm. After much deliberation,
Reeve had decided to head for Junon.
    It had a sizable airport, he reasoned. Plus with the majority of the
town built above Planet, not to mention that most of it was a military base
made it a prudent choice in case Greylorn was incorrect about the remaining
number of those creatures -- those 'snakes' as he called them.
    Greylorn. Cloud opened his eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling.
    That bastard was a heartless killer. His mind was made up about that.
First killing innocent people who were already afraid for their lives, then
wiping Kalm off the face of Planet.
    Yet it made a sort of cold logical sense.
    'I reacted appropriately.'
    Like a damned machine.
    Even Barret reluctantly sided with the sick bastard. But Cloud saw the
pain in the big man's eyes as he said those words. It was akin to his first
job with the ex-leader of AVALANCHE.
    War. Cloud closed his eyes and shuddered despite the warmth the blanket
gave him. It warped minds into those possessed by that madman .
    'I was expecting no less from a self described mercenary.'
    And did it warp me, he wondered. I was -- am, a mercenary, aren't I?
    No. Just a man.
    Just a man trying to eke out a living on this miserable world.
    Cloud pushed the thought out of his mind. He was lucky enough to find a
room, given the situation. Most of the people from Midgar were housed in
the barracks left empty by Weapon's attacks on Junon. Although he wasn't
there, Tifa was. Cloud cursed at the thought of her and dug the heel of his
palms into his eyes. She had rented herself a separate room all to herself.
    As had Aeris.
    He sighed. What could he do?
    Cloud felt compelled to make a choice, even though he didn't want to.
Aeris was always dear to him since, well since he met her. The first time
he heard her true past from Elmyra, he had shrugged it off as nothing.
Afterall a mercenary could not afford a heart. But later on when he was
detained in Shinra's jails, it bored its way into his soul until he finally
broke down. From that moment on, he couldn't leave her be.
    And Tifa. She had a place in him too. He always wanted to protect her
since he was young. To love her. That was why he followed her over that
damn bridge to Mount Nibel in the first place. She looked at him with
different eyes afterwards. And in spite of the stigma he carried after that
incident, he felt she watched him when he wasn't looking.
    In spite of it all, he wiped his eyes.
    Cloud sat and stared into space while he tried to sort himself out.

   **********************************************************************

    Tifa stared hard into the reflection.
    Are you sure you want this?
    Yes.
    Her mind had been working feverishly moments before and her face
remained impassive, and yet there was something . . .
    She violently shoved the doubts out of her mind.
    It's the only way, she told herself.
    The only way.
    Tifa stepped out and headed down the hall.

   **********************************************************************

    Maybe a drink can help, Cloud sighed. He stepped out and almost knocked
heads with someone.
    "Tiff?" he blinked.
    "Hey."
    "Hey," he held his breath.
    "You going out?"
    "Yeah."
    "Where?"
    "Just a drink," he said quietly
    "Already?" she pursed her lips.
    "Yeah," Cloud looked downcast, "Want to come with?"
    "No, not really," she sighed, "I - I need to borrow your shower."
    "Huh?" he blinked.
    "Mine's busted and I didn't know where else to go."
    "That's a pretty lame excuse," he started.
    "Oh forget it!" she visibly soured and began to turn away.
    "Tiff," he grabbed her by the arm, "I'm sorry."
    Her voice came back subdued, "Sorry doesn't begin to cut it."
    Cloud put his hands gently on her shoulders, "We never got to finish
what we started back at the inn."
    "What else is there to say?" she half heartedly tried to shrug him off.
    "A lot more," he turned her around, "A hell of a lot more."
    "You're wasting your time," her eyes dimmed, "Weren't you going to see
her?"
    "Oh come off it Tiff," he snapped, "I know I screwed up. Do you have to
rub it in?"
    "You lecherous bastard," she hissed, "I ought to rip them off right
now."
    "So what's keeping you?" he growled and held her by the wrist.
    "Because," she tried to move away, "Because she might need them later
on."
    "Th-that's a load of crap," his voice shook, "You suck at lying y'know?"
    Her eyes glittered as her hands reached into his pants, "Oh, that's not
all I suck."
    "What the hell are you --!" he shut his eyes and suppressed a shudder.
It was only a day, but his body craved her touch already, "Tiff -- aaah."
    She pushed him into the room and onto the bed. Cloud opened his eyes
and he released a pent up sigh as her tongue slowly circled and tickled
him. He blinked and got back to his senses.
    "Stop," his voice ragged.
    Tifa continued her lip service without answering.
    "I said stop," he pulled her off him.
    "Why? Don't you like it?"
    "Not now," Cloud pulled his pants back up, "Why are you doing this?"
    "Does it matter?" she smiled, "as long as I am?"
    "No. It does matter."
    She laughed, "Oh, I get it."
    "Get what?"
    "You need something fresh to keep you interested."
    "You know that's not it," Cloud seethed.
    "Really? So how do you want it then?" she turned around slowly, "In my
mouth? Between my legs? Or maybe in the back again?"
    Cloud closed his eyes, "No Tiff, it's not --"
    "Oh, I know," she snapped her fingers, "You need them all one after
another, hmm? Or maybe you need a new way to do things. You want to be in
charge tiger? To have me lie under you, helpless? I can do that too."
    "Tiff, this has gone far enough," his voice stern, "I stayed with you
because I loved you --"
    "And do you still love me?"
    Cloud paused, "Yes."
    "Great," she took off her top, "That's all I wanted to hear."
    "But not that way," he said exasperated.
    "Take me," her shorts and shoes came off, "Do me now."
    "Tiff don't do this."
    "Come on fuck me," she lay down and spread her legs, "Anyway you want."
    "No way," he backed off, "Get out of my room."
    "Didn't you hear what I said!?" she reached up and grabbed him roughly.
    "Let go --!" he winced as her nails dug into his crotch.
    "Shut up!!"
    "I said leggo!" Cloud grabbed her hair.
    "Ow, dammit!" she slapped him.
    Cloud shoved her roughly to the floor.
    "Get the hell out of my room," he fingered his cheek.
    "Make me tough guy," her breasts heaved with exertion.
    "I don't want to hurt you."
    "Come on," Tifa got back onto the mattress, "One last time and I'll
promise I'll leave you alone."
    "What the hell are you saying?" Cloud looked up.
    "I just wanted to see you one last time before -- just one last time."
    "What?"
    Tifa smiled weakly, "I'm leaving you after this."
    Cloud stood stock still, "I'm not letting you go."
    "And why's that?"
    "Because I need you."
    "What in the world do you need me for?" Tifa laughed, "You already set
your sights on a new flesh toy."
    "Dammit Tiff, stop bringing her into this."
    "Why shouldn't I?" her voice cracked as she flung her arms around him
and pulled him down, "Come on. I bet being alone with her in that nightie
really turned you on, huh? C'mon, you can think about it all you want while
you're in me."
    "Stop this," Cloud hissed, "Last night was a damn mistake and you know
it."
    She closed her eyes and pulled him closer, "Was it?"
    "Don't -- don't do this to me -- to yourself," Cloud said even as he
felt himself stiffen.
    Tears fell as she opened her eyes and hissed, "Go ahead. Do it. You
know you want it like this."
    Cloud hovered over her and didn't move.
    "Do it damn you!" she let out a shriek of pain as she forced him
inside.
    "Damn it Tiff!" Cloud tried pushing off, "No more! This has gone far
enough!"
    "I'm not letting go until we're finished!" she hissed through ragged
breaths. He tried breaking free, but her leglock was too tight for him to
do anything else.
    "Let -- go!" his voice hoarse as her nails dug deep into his back.
    "NO!" she screamed again as she urged him to move.
    Cloud gritted his teeth and he saw she had her eyes shut tight. Tifa's
face bore a look of excruciating pain. He tried one last time to break free
-- only to have her clamp down even tighter.
    "I'm - not - going - through with this," he whispered fiercely.
    She glared at him with tear filled eyes.
    "You do it," she hissed, "or I turn you into a fucking cripple."
    Cloud winced as she applied a stab of pressure to his back.
    "Go ahead," he choked, "It'll be better that way, won't it?"
    Tifa's face trembled slightly before she pushed him off. He let out a
sigh of relief as he rolled away. When he looked down, he saw he was
smeared with blood.
    What the hell?
    Cloud risked a glance at Tifa. She was shivering violently but it
wasn't from the cold.
    What - have - I - ?
    "Tiff?" he hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder, "Are you --?"
    "Fuck you!! I don't want your damn pity!"
    His hands reached for the phone, but she flung it angrily against the
wall.
    "GET OUT!!"
    Tifa curled into a ball and cried as the door slammed.

   **********************************************************************

    Red XIII walked slowly up along the sea wall.
    I killed them, he thought bitterly. I was responsible.
    The breeze carried the sweet smell of salt air to his nostrils. The man
holding the small child was only a small ways off but to Red, it felt like
miles.
    Should I or shouldn't I?
    "Papa?" he heard the child stood on the top of the barrier, "Where's
Auntie Elmyra?"
    Barret shook his head slowly, "'lmyra? She's -"
    "On a long journey."
    The big man looked down and saw Red hop onto the wall.
    "Huwwo kitty."
    Red risked a glance at Barret. The big man gave him a slight nod.
    "When will she come back?" the child pouted her lips.
    "Not fer a time Marlene," Barret tousled her hair, "Mebbe one day. One
day we kin go see her," his voice trailed off.
    "Can we Papa?"
    The big man gently tapped her chubby cheeks but said nothing.
    "I'm sorry."
    Barret looked up, "Watcha talkin' 'bout?"
    "Back in Kalm," Red said glumly, "I'm sorry."
    "Don't need to 'pologize. Warn't yo fault."
    Marlene looked at the quadruped and then to her father, "What is kitty
sowwy fwor?"
    "You sayz Nanaki. Dat's 'is name. You mine yor mannahs."
    "Na --- naak --- ee," she bubbled over with laughter and waved her
small hands.
    Red gave her a half hearted smile as he half remembered how Yuffie used
to play with his name. He pushed it viciously out of his mind.
    "The more I think about it, the more I think he was right."
    Barret stayed silent and drummed his fingers on the retaining wall.
    "If I had just kept still --"
    "Ev'ryone goes someday," Barret said softly.
    "Is that a soldier's opinion?" Red arched a brow, "Or yours?"
    The big man said nothing as Marlene looked up.
    "Goes where Papa?" she asked.
    "To a far off plaze," he patted her hair and turned to Red, "You did
ryte. Dat's what counts."
    Red snorted, "Maybe, but you don't have to bear the news to her
father."
    Barret visibly darkened.
    That was stupid of me, the warrior thought.
    "Maybe I should go."
    "Fo' whut it's worth," Barret spoke up, "I don' blame you fo' anythin'.
'Least, now I know how he wuzza feelin' when she died."
    "Who?"
    "Cloud."
    "Aeris," Red saw the pain in the big man's eyes.
    The quadruped snorted, "Well, I'm still sorry."
    "Not as sorry as me."
    "Cid?"
    "Sharin' your sorrow?" the pilot looked around, "I don't see any
spirits aroun'."
    "Huwwo curwee beard!"
    "What the--?" Cid growled, "Been teachin' her names to call me?"
    "She makes moz of 'dem up herself," Barret gently swatted her on the
bottom.
    "'zat so?" Cid looked at the smiling girl and growled playfully, "Who
ya calling curly?"
    Marlene laughed and hid herself behind Barret as he reached to poke
her.
    "Why are you here?" Red ignored the by play.
    "Just wanted to see if any of you want to go fer some chow aboard the
Highwind Too. She's clean but her engines r'screwed from the trip."
    "So you just need our help?" Red growled, "Or is it something else?"
    Cid lit a cigarette and took several puffs without answering as Red and
Barret looked at him expectantly.
    "I shouldn't have let him do dat," he said finally.
    "Do whut?" Barret asked.
    "Bomb the place."
    "You didn't know he was going to do that," Red growled.
    "But I shoulda. I was the cap'n."
    "O' de ship," Barret shook his head sadly, "But not o' people's
actions."
    "He was on my ship."
    Red shook his mane, "It's not your fault."
    "And dat wasn't yours either y'hear?" Barret growled.
    Red sank into a gloomy silence.
    Barret turned to Cid, "You spoke wid' Shera yet?"
    "'Bout what?"
    "'Bout what you sez back at 'de Dragon," Barret stroked his chin.
    Cid's eyes darkened, "Nuh. Not yet."
    "Tell her ya love her," Barret coughed and cleared his throat, "'Fore
it's too late."
    Red and Cid watched the big man lift his daughter onto his shoulders.
    "Watcha wanna eat tinnite?" Barret asked.
    "No peas!" the girl pouted.
    "All rit," her father grunted and started off.
    "No bwockee!!"
    Barret growled softly, "Yo' eat cho' veggeez darlin'. Or no dessuit."
    "But paa-paa!" she whined as they slipped beyond earshot.
    "He's got other worries," Red watched them disappear down the street.
    "Yeah."
    "You know it's funny."
    "What's funneh?" Cid looked back at Red.
    "I'm the protector of everyone in the Canyon since father died," he
mused, "but I always wondered what it was like to actually care for someone
who meant the world to me."
    Cid shook his head, "I wouldn't know --"
    "You have Shera," Red dipped his head, "I have no one. Not anymore."
    The pilot arched his brow in surprise, "You met someone?"
    Red shifted uneasily.
    "C'mon, you kin tell ole' Cid."
    Red shook his mane, "What's the point? She -- she has returned to
Planet."
    Cid racked his brain.
    Oh man. He couldn't mean --
    "Yuffie?"
    "Lucky guess," the quadruped chuckled, "Guess all that alcohol hasn't
dulled your head."
    "I don't want to mean disrespect or nothin'," Cid whistled, "but I
don't think she was even --- y'know, one of your kind."
    "It's not like that," the quadruped flashed a quick grin, "I just
wanted to look out for her all the time. Even when I didn't want to."
    "Jus' t'keep her from stealin' shit," Cid smiled.
    Red bared even more teeth, "Guess you're right."


==============================================================


Closing time, one last call for alcohol
    So finish your whiskey or beer.
Closing time, you don't have to go home
    But you can't stay here . . .

    -- 'Closing Time' -- Semisonic


==============================================================


    Cloud sat, sick to his stomach.
    How the hell could she do this, he fumed.
    To herself?
    To me?
    Damn you Tiff, he wept.
    He sorely wished he remained dead after all those times he cheated the
odds. It was unfair to all those who deserved to live. Aeris. Her mother.
Tifa. Her father. He drank another shot of brandy to dull the pain. It
wasn't working.
    Damn it all.
    How long have I been here?
    Who the fuck cares?
    As he swigged another shot a scantily clad woman took a seat beside him.
    "Hey handsome," she slid up next to the besotted young man.
    "No thanks," Cloud nursed his drink. Despite the number of shots he
downed, Tifa's blood was still fresh in his nostrils.
    "You sure?" the woman fingered a strap.
    "Very sure," Cloud looked grim.
    "I'm not like the other girls," she gave him a saucy smile, "You can do
me anyway you want."
    "I said leave me alone."
    The whore snorted, "You'll be thinking about it when you're playing
with yourself."
    "FUCK YOU!!" his barstool crashed to the floor. The bartender looked up
and gave Cloud a stare before reaching under the counter.
    "Hey!" the prostitute backed off, "Listen buddy, I was just doing my
job, all right?"
    "You should do as he asks," Greylorn came from nowhere.
    "Mind your own business you fucker!!" she screeched at the intruder,
"Why don't you go and --"
    Greylorn held up a thick wad of Gil.
    Her voice fell immediately.
    "Go."
    The woman snatched the money and hurried off.
    "Not your fancy?" his cold eyes followed the hooker as she floated over
to another customer.
    "No," Cloud sat back down, "You?"
    "I do not have interest in -- such matters," Greylorn tapped the
counter, "Emerald Sinker."
    The bartender pushed a small glass of dark liquid and jerked his thumb
at Cloud, "If he acts up again ---"
    "Fair warning," Greylorn silenced the man with a crisp note.
    "Why'd you pay her?" Cloud sat back down.
    "The whore?"
    "The bitch."
    "She needed the money," Greylorn downed his drink in one gulp, "I do
not."
    "So killer, you have a heart," Cloud laughed bitterly and poured
another shot.
    "As do you," the cloaked man set a small decanter of blue metallic
fluid on the counter.
    "What the hell you mean?"
    "If I was not such an astute -- observer," Greylorn casually unstopped
the container, "I could say you raped her."
    Cloud sputtered on his drink as the cloaked man slipped him a quick
smile.
    "Did you hurt her much?" Greylorn continued casually.
    "How the hell did you know?"
    "The screams were quite frantic," the man paused, "And quite audible.
Your rooms are not adequately sound proofed for such -- activities."
    "You got it all wrong," Cloud gnashed his teeth, "She was the one who
came on to me."
    "The physical evidence can always say otherwise," Greylorn let out a
quiet chuckle, "As can teary eyed 'victims'."
    "I didn't do it," Cloud's voice shook, "It wasn't my fault --"
    "Oh I believe you," Greylorn said dryly, "But would anyone else?"
    The young man sat stunned, "Y-you don't think she would --?"
    "Why do you ask me?" Greylorn took another sip, "I thought you
considered me a bloodless, prying killer."
    Cloud was silent.
    Greylorn put his hands together and smiled wanly, "I do not think she
did it for that purpose."
    "Really?" Cloud felt his anxiety subside.
    "I believe that woman," the man continued, "loves you, but she is --
confused about how to express it."
    Cloud shut his eyes as the man went on, "Or how to secure it."
    The young man snorted, "How would you know?"
    "Experience."
    "Yeah? When?"
    Greylorn smiled vaguely.
    "The hell do you care anyway?" Cloud asked.
    "Why not?"
    "I thought you didn't give a damn about any of us."
    "I thought you might find 'comfort' in my wisdom boy," Greylorn fingered
the shot glass.
    "Yeah," Cloud laughed, "I bet you had a lot of experience."
    "I do."
    "Yeah right," the young man chided him, "Like with that snake woman?"
    "Jherana is joined."
    He sat confused.
    "She has -- taken a mate."
    "Oh," Cloud rubbed his nose, "Well, she seems pretty exotic anyway."
His eyes narrowed, "She's not one of them is she?"
    "She is draeko."
    "Huh?"
    "Another race," Greylorn waved his hand airily.
    "Well is she?"
    "Is she what?"
    "One of them?" Cloud pressed.
    "No. She is draeko," Greylorn repeated.
    "Not very talkative are you?" Cloud watched him poured a silvery
metallic fluid into his glass.
    "I heard you didn't eat like the rest of us."
    "You heard wrong," Greylorn stoppered the decanter and swirled the
contents.
    "What is that stuff?" Cloud eyed the concoction.
    "Champagne."
    "What kind? I've never seen anything like it before."
    "Try some, if you wish," Greylorn pushed his glass towards Cloud. The
young man raised it to his lips and sipped cautiously.
    "GYYYYYAAAAHHH!" Cloud spat it out.
    It was akin to drinking fire.
    "Too strong?" Greylorn crinkled his eyes and sipped it with no trouble.
    "YOO FUGGER!!!" Cloud panted and tried to find something to stem the
feeling of molten steel poured down his throat.
    "Here," Greylorn handed him a glass of water, "Drink this."
    Cloud looked at him with suspicion.
    "Do it before you suffocate."
    Cloud grabbed the glass and drank. He felt the pain vanish immediately.
    "I forgot to mention this substance is highly toxic to your kind,"
Greylorn smiled, obviously enjoying the young man's suffering.
    "So how come you're --"
    "-- still breathing?" Greylorn crinkled his eyes, "I am accustomed to
it."
    "You did that on purpose," Cloud seethed.
    "You asked, I obliged."
    "Knowing I could've died."
    "Perhaps," he said vaguely.
    "You're a killer *and* an asshole," Cloud seethed.
    "I see you more as an enigma."
    "A what?" Cloud blinked, confused by the man's reply, "Why?"
    "I am -- confused by your behavior."
    "What do you mean?"
    "You love her." It was not a question.
    "Who?"
    "The black haired one," Greylorn said quietly.
    Cloud sucked in a breath and gave no answer.
    "Well?" Greylorn drummed the counter.
    Cloud shut his eyes briefly, "I don't know."
    "A yes or no would suffice."
    The young man took in a deep breath before finally mumbling, "Yes."
    "Even after --?" Greylorn gestured with his head.
    Cloud gritted his teeth, "Don't remind me."
    "Answer the question."
    "What's this?" he darkened, "Another interrogation?"
    "Believe what you wish," Greylorn lit up a black reed, "Well?"
    "Yeah," Cloud let out a long held breath, "I still love her."
    "That other one has feelings for you as well."
    "Aeris?" her name came out soft.
    Greylorn nodded, "The Cetra."
    A pair of glasses clinked in the background.
    "Tell me something I don't know," Cloud lowered his head.
    "Do you love her?"
    "Do you?" Cloud countered.
    "What are you insinuating?" Greylorn narrowed his eyes.
    "So," Cloud pressed, "You do like her."
    "No need to be jealous boy," Greylorn smiled thinly, "I do not wish to
-- copulate with your precious Cetra."
    Chatter rose in the background.
    "She's not 'mine'," Cloud said darkly, "And it's not like I can
anyway."
    "Why not?"
    "I can't."
    "I still do not understand," the cloaked man lit up a thin black reed.
    "Are you blind?" Cloud looked up, "I -- I can't -- I can't carry on
with both."
    "Why not?" the cloaked man wore a puzzled expression.
    "In my dreams maybe," he growled, "What Planet are you from?"
    "Your choice," Greylorn finished his drink and sat smoking his reed.
    "What do you mean it's my choice?"
    He didn't answer much to Cloud's chagrin.
    "Hey, why the hell are you still here?"
    "Why not?"
    "I thought you were determined to catch your fugitive," Cloud took
another belt.
    "I will," Greylorn lowered his voice, "But not now."
    "You're pretty dedicated to your job. Torturing me is more fun huh?"
    "Sarcasm or not," the man said simply, "I am not going anywhere. Not
yet."
    "Why not?" Cloud belched.
    "Because we are being watched."

   **********************************************************************

    Tifa spat. The taste of bile was still in her mouth. She had left his
room and returned to hers after he left, where she promptly threw up into
the toilet. She shivered despite the warmth of the water. Tifa drenched
herself in the spray and tried to wash away the filth from her exploit.
    I deserve it, after what I did.
    She shut her eyes.
    I hoped it worked.
    It had better work.
    Tifa clutched her stomach and shut off the faucet. It had to be all
over now, after all that.
    It better be, she dressed herself slowly.
    The young woman winced. It still hurt. He can't look at me with
anything but revulsion after this. He'll seek out Aeris and that'll be the
end of it. And that was the plan when she began her unwanted advances. The
face in the mirror wore a twisted smile.
    And to think, that I forgot to take a memento of yours, she thought.
    Maybe, it's better this way. Tifa looked around the room. A small bag
sat on the bed, along with the new materia she had bought to stem the
bleeding. She was packed and all ready to go. She rummaged through the
drawers and found she had cleared everything.
    Tifa stepped towards the door and took one last look around before
heading downstairs.

   **********************************************************************

    "Watched by whom?" Cloud asked cautiously.
    "Do not turn around," Greylorn said evenly.
    "They're here? In the bar?" Cloud looked down. Visions of winged black
shapes and whip vine tentacles flooded his mind.
    "Keep drinking."
    Cloud poured another himself another shot.
    "Two behind me and one behind you," Greylorn smiled and raised his
glass to Cloud, "One more by the doorway."
    Cloud looked past him and saw two black robed men sitting and talking
quietly at a table. Their mugs were still full. Their garb seemed familiar,
"They're human."
    "You sound surprised."
    "I'm relieved," Cloud felt calmer knowing he wouldn't have to face
anything alien soon.
    "Who are they?"
    "Their personnel."
    "What?" Cloud felt anger well up inside him, "They work for those
things?"
    "Worship would be a better word," Greylorn seemed lost in thought.
    "Worship?" Cloud said in disbelief.
    "They have agents on almost every populated world," Greylorn lit
another black reed.
    "I've seen some like them before," Cloud volunteered, "Back at Midgar."
    "When?"
    "Right before you and Aeris showed up."
    "The ones who set up the trapezohedron?"
    "The what?"
    "The light beacon?"
    "Probably," Cloud nodded, "What are they doing here? You don't
think--?"
    "Perhaps," Greylorn waved a gloved hand, "They use local sympathizers
to gather intelligence, among other things. Do not worry about it -- yet."
    "I guess," Cloud felt the weight of his sword on his back. He was glad
he brought it along with him when he left. His face soured as he remembered
how he left Tifa alone in the room. If something was going to happen . . .
    Cloud glanced at the other man, "Think it's safe for me to leave?"
    "Perhaps not. You have been talking to me for a while."
    "Great," he hissed, "Now I get a chance to be killed too. You're a real
pal, y'know that?"
    "Thank you," Greylorn smiled, "I have been called many things, but
never has someone referred to me as a 'pal' before. I am touched."
    "I didn't mean -- nevermind."
    "I cannot allow any one of them to leave," Greylorn sat up.
    "What do you intend to do?"
    "They will follow me and you," the man flapped his cloak open slightly
to reveal a small sidearm, "It is dark enough outside the alleyway."
    "You're just going to kill them?" Cloud whispered harshly.
    "Did they try to negotiate with you at Midgar?"
    "No."
    "I rest my case," Greylorn finished his drink, "Just be sure to run if
the local authorities try to detain you."
    "It won't be self defense is it?" Cloud glared at him. When the other
man didn't answer, he went on, "I'm not taking part in murder."
    "If you do not kill them, I will."
    "Then I'll stop you."
    "Can you?"
    Cloud blinked as he remembered how easily the man had snatched his
sword back aboard the airship.
    "Think carefully boy," Greylorn whispered, "I mentioned the word
'Cetra' to test their response. They sat up straighter everytime. If word
of her gets back to them, Junon will be their next target."
    "What?!" Cloud hissed, "What do they want with Aeris?"
    "Too late!!"
    The man near the door had begun to step out. Greylorn drew his weapon
and shot him dead in the back.
    "Dammit!" Cloud drew his sword as the two men behind the cloaked man
sprung into action. One brandished a serrated meat cleaver in each hand
while the other held a compact looking t-shaped gun. The gunman aimed at
Cloud just as he and Greylorn leaped aside. A splattering of bullets
slammed into the bar just as the bartender saw what was going and screamed
before being hit by the gunfire. Greylorn ran after the other man who fled
out the door.
    Cloud brought his sword up to deflect a blow the gunman's partner. The
knife wielding man lunged awkwardly -- the blow was too strong and not well
aimed. Cloud had no problem pirouetting aside and delivering a lethal smash
to the back of the head. The man dropped soundlessly to the floor.
    Seeing his partner fall, the gunman ran out the door with Cloud hot on
his heels. But it was no use -- the gunman turned a corner and disappeared
amongst the alleys and streets of upper Junon. Cloud looked wildly around
for the assailant and cursed his bad luck.
    First with women, and now this . . .

   **********************************************************************

    Red strode down the narrow alley and thought back to what Cid had said.
    'Not one of your kind.'
    Yes. That was the cold truth.
    But he couldn't tell the anyone the truth. It was too -- complicated.
All this time he had wandered the face of Planet hoping to find one, just
one of his own kind. To speak with. To see just once. And he wound falling
for a biped.
    Red smiled as he drifted back to when she suckered the whole party by
stealing all their materia. After they had caught her, she tagged along
much to the chagrin of the others, but especially him. How he disliked her
immature attitude towards everything, especially when the fate of Planet
hung on a thread. But after Meteor, he saw her stay. She had given the
excuse of 'materia hunting', but Red saw much more in her eyes as she
surveyed the wake of destruction.
    She finally grew up, he thought.
    And that was when he fell in love.
    On the surface he'd tell her to shut her trap, but deep down he enjoyed
it. Enjoyed her voice, her presence. But most of all, he enjoyed her.
    They were all there when Aeris died. For him though, the pain on the
young man's face was forever etched into his mind. He never really felt
anything except pity; now with Yuffie, he felt remorse. A deep, soul
rendering sorrow that can only be experienced -- never described.
    How could he explain it?
    He could not.
    The quadruped's head sunk lower as he delved deeper into his memories.
    Yuffie was his dark little secret. The merest whisper of it never crept
past his lips; although Cid was damn close to it. It was sick and twisted;
he could never forget what Hojo had wanted him to do to Aeris. That was
probably why he never really --
    A black clad figure rudely flew past him and jerked him away from his
thoughts.
    "What the --?"
    A second larger, faster figure whipped past him.
    "Out of the way simmie!"
    Greylorn.
    Red bolted after the man.

   **********************************************************************

    "Bought a new piece?"
    Vincent looked up as Cid stepped on board Highwind Too.
    "Yes," the gunman swung his lanky legs over the console and landed
cat-like on the ground, "Junon has excellent gunshops."
    Cid waved him, "Don' hafta to that."
    "I was merely resting."
    "By polishin' a piece?" the pilot chuckled.
    "We all have our ways to relax."
    "Yeah, yeah," Cid crawled under an adjacent console and ripped out a
batch of wiring.
    Vincent stood over the man as he made repairs to the ship.
    "Have you decided yet?"
    "On what?"
    "On her," Vincent spun the cylinder -- smooth and no sound. Excellent.
    Cid whapped his head against the console.
    "Ow! Dammit!" he got out from underneath the console and looked at his
friend, "The hell you talkin' about?"
    The reply came out muted, "Shera."
    Cid soured, "Don' wanna hear that name 'board my ship. It's bad luck."
    "You thought differently at the Dragon --" Vincent started.
    "That's dif'rent," the pilot hissed, "I don't fly the damn thing."
    Vincent narrowed his eyes, "Did you know she risked her life for your
dreams?"
    "The hell you know?!"
    "I spoke with her a bit. Right after we came back from sp --"
    "I don' wanna talk about it, y'hear?"
    Vincent crinkled his eyes.
    "Damn this fuckin' machine," Cid slammed the console and got up.
    The gunman watched the pilot go about his business of masking his
problems.
    "If ch'all wanna talk 'bout love, why don' you tell me o'bout Lucy?"
Cid countered.
    Vincent paused briefly but the reply was crisp, "What do you wish to
know?"
    Cid paused. He wasn't expecting the man to be forth coming. He paused
then asked, "Well the hell joou'd leave?"
    "I thought she would be happier that way."
    "And?"
    Vincent's eyes narrowed, "I was wrong."
    "You can't change pasts."
    "But you can make amends," he said quietly. Then, "For me, it doesn't
matter. Not anymore. She's gone."
    "How da hell kin you be so sure?"
    "The Reunion," the tall man turned away, "I'm sure she would have gone
and --" Vincent trailed off.
    Cid didn't bother with an answer as he tapped the wrench against
another part of the console.
    "Shera said she was going to go away," Vincent said suddenly.
    "The fuck you talking 'bout?" the grizzled man turned around.
    "She couldn't tell you face to face," Vincent dipped his head a little,
"That's why she passed it off to me."
    Cid stood speechless.
    "She wanted to tell you that if she didn't hear from you or any of us
after Meteor, she figured you would be dead."
    "The hell you diddin' tell me before?"
    Vincent drew himself up, "I tried to, but you cut me off everytime --"
    "Well shee-yit," Cid snapped, "Now's a great time to tell me. This damn
boat ain't goin' --"
    "HEY!"
    Both men turned and saw Red XIII running towards them.
    "The hell?" Cid leaned over, "The hell's going on?"
    "Get this thing moving!!" Red puffed breathlessly.

   **********************************************************************

    "Ineethasaa gtturreeuba?"
    Cloud perked his ears. He followed the low voices and walked further
down the alley. Greylorn had someone by the throat.
    "You got him?"
    "No thanks to you."
    Cloud glowered at him.
    Arrogant sonovabitch.
    Greylorn tightened his grip on his captive and repeated, "Ineethasaa
gtturreeuba?"
    Blood frothed from the man's lips as he struggled to work out words,
"Sn'kffnr -- g'ddk -- cthfgn -- tmp'k -- sssr -- sss . . ." the man's eyes
lolled and he fell silent. Greylorn let the body drop like a rag doll.
    "You killed him," Cloud hissed, "A helpless man."
    "Not exactly helpless. And not exactly killed," Greylorn bent beside
the body.
    "You strangled him," Cloud accused.
    "No," the man wrenched the corpse's mouth open, "Poison."
    The young man took one look and turned away. The inside of the man's
mouth was a gooey mess of flesh and blood. The poison had melted away the
gums and several teeth fell to the ground with a soft 'plink'. Greylorn
scrutinized the body in silence.
    "Freeze!! Put up your hands!"
    A dozen armed soldiers had their guns trained on the two men.
    "Great, what do we do now?" Cloud turned to Greylorn.
    "PUT YOUR HANDS UP!!"
    "I am busy," the man seemed oblivious to the situation, "You take them
out."
    "Are you crazy?" Cloud began to put his hands up.
    "YOU!! HANDS UP OR WE FIRE!!"
    Greylorn looked up nonchalantly at the wavering barrels.

   **********************************************************************

    "And that'll be just one way?" the ticket agent asked.
    "Yeah," Tifa rubbed her nose and counted the money she had left in her
billfold.
    "That'll be 100 Gil please."
    She slid a crumpled note across the counter in silence.
    The vendor handed her a ticket, "It'll be a while until the ship's
fully fueled."
    "How long then?"
    "About one, maybe two hours. You may have a seat until she's ready."
    "I will. Thank you."
    Tifa ambled over to the bench and sat down.
    Well this is it, she scuffed the ground with her shoe.
    She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Or both.
    "You're leaving without even saying goodbye?"
    She blinked and saw a woman in a pink standing over her.
    "What are you doing here?" Tifa sounded almost angry, "I -- I thought
you were arranging services for--" she softened her voice, "for Elmyra."
    Aeris' hair fluttered in the breeze as she dipped her head sadly,
"What's the use? I don't even have her body here."
    "Oh," was all Tifa could manage.
    "Besides," the pink clad woman looked up, "I thought I could count on
you being there."
    "Sorry," Tifa murmured, "I -- something came up. I'm heading out."
    "Where're you headed?"
    "Just out," Tifa said quietly.
    "Business?" Aeris asked, "Or pleasure?"
    "Business, I guess."
    "Where's Cloud?"
    "He's--," Tifa began to pursed her lips but caught herself, "He's not
feeling well."
    "Oh," Aeris sat down beside her. Both of them sat listening to the roar
of the waves against the dock.
    "I'm heading for the Canyon," the small woman broke the silence.
    "What are you going to do there?" Tifa looked at her.
    "Study Planet I guess," Aeris shrugged casually, "There's really not
much else for me now. What were you going to do?" she glanced at her
sideways, "The truth now."
    Tifa gripped the bench sides tightly, "Give a try at another bar,
somewhere. Costa de Sol sounds good." They lapsed into stony silence again.
    Aeris finally broke down, "He'll come looking for you."
    "No he won't," Tifa bit her lip.
    "Oh yes he will."
    "He loves you--" they both said in unison.
    "Please take care of him," Tifa began to cry, "Love him like I would."
    "If you love him," Aeris whispered, "Then don't leave."
    "It's because I love him that I'm leaving. What good will I do except
be a constant thorn in your side?"
    "My side?" Aeris drew a sharp breath, "What about you? How do you think
I feel seeing you two like this?"
    Tifa dipped her head, "But --"
    "I've had just about enough," Aeris said curtly, "You're staying and
that's final."
    Tifa was about to reply when Reeve ran up looking haggard and quite
annoyed.
    "Why didn't you say you were leaving? I had to track you down from --
oh," his eyes slid past her and saw Aeris, "Uh, sorry to disturb you two,
but something's come up."
    "What is it?" Aeris got out a handkerchief and blew into it.
    "It's Cloud and Greylorn," Reeve panted but he barely contained his
anger, "They're both under arrest for murder."
    "M-m-murder?" Tifa gasped.
    Aeris reached out and steadied her, "How and when?"
    "About a half hour ago," Reeve stood up and composed himself, "And I
don't have any pull what so ever here. But I did offer a plea bargain to
Junon's commander."
    "Are they okay?" Tifa eyes held no small amount of fear.
    "For now. But the commander seems intent to make an example out of
them."
    "What kind of example?" Aeris asked.
    "Dead ones."
    Both women gasped.
    Reeve motioned for them to follow, "For now, I think it's best you two
head back to the city proper."

   **********************************************************************

    "I can't believe this," Cloud paced the cell floor, "We're going to get
executed and you're not helping at all."
    Greylorn didn't answer as he stretched out lazily on the bench.
    "Right," Cloud turned and banged his head on the bars.
    How the hell could I've been so stupid to listen to this trigger happy
maniac?!
    "Hey!" a rough voice said past the door, "You two got visitors!"
    The guard unlocked the cell door as two other guards trained their guns
on the two. The two men were led into a small room with a table and several
chairs. Cloud noticed only a small, single window and the door were the
only other things in the room.
    They sat there in silence until the door opened again.
    "In there," a guard's voice said roughly.
    "Cloud?"
    The young man looked up and waved half heartedly. Tifa stood mute and
kept her distance. Aeris nudged her slightly but she shook her head and sat
down across the table.
    "Why are you here?" Greylorn asked coldly.
    The small woman glared back defiantly, "Why are you here?"
    "I ask the questions, Cetra."
    "Not anymore you don't," she shot back. The man's eyes crinkled
slightly but he quickly slipped back into his mask.
    "Care to tell what happened?" Tifa asked.
    "I was at a bar when he came up and said he was being watched," Cloud
started, "We wound up killing all of them."
    "Why?"
    "He said they were spies for those things."
    "Wait -- why are you here?" Aeris asked, "You were doing them a favor."
    "They didn't believe me when I told the story," Cloud dipped his head.
    "What about him?" Tifa pointed at Greylorn.
    "Not a word," Cloud leaned towards her, but she backed off.
    "Are you okay? You're not leaking anymore right?"
    She didn't look at him, "I'm fine now."
    "I'm sorry," Cloud reached over to take her hand but the cuffs made it
difficult.
    "Now you know how it felt," Tifa mumbled.
    "Yeah," he said as he redoubled his efforts.
    "Don't."
    Cloud's eyes followed ruefully her as she drew away without another
word.
    "Well!?" Aeris sounded shrill, "Don't you have more? Are you just going
to sit there?"
    Greylorn sat back and ignored her.
    "I don't care what crack brained excuse you have," her voice rose, "But
I want you to lay everything out we can get you two out of here!"
    "I have all the time in the world," Greylorn soured, "You want him free,
you do it."
    Cloud and Tifa gasped as Aeris' face flushed beet red.
    "You irresponsible, intrusive piece of trash!" she screamed, "If it
weren't for you and your damn fugitive, mom would still be alive!!"
    "Modulate your voice Cetra," Greylorn said quietly, "Or the guard will
throw you out."
    "YOU BASTARD!" Aeris lashed out with a well aimed blow but he dipped to
the side and kicked her square in her butt, sending her to the floor.
    "Aeris!" Tifa ran over to help her up.
    "Damn you!" she was crying, "I should have kept my mouth shut from the
beginning!! I should never have let you cause all this!"
    Tifa rocked her and whispered something to stifle her cries.
    "I can't believe you," Cloud fumed, "We're gonna get executed for
murder and --"
    "That is where you are wrong," Greylorn said coldly, "There is no
murder in a military operation."
    "If there is one, I'm not privy to it."
    The four of them looked up and saw Reeve with another uniformed man.
    "This is Commander Legrasse."
    The man nodded.
    "He's in charge of Junon since Shinra went to hell," Reeve stroked his
goattee, "I hope you understand the gravity of this situation. And how the
Commander may help if you show some courtesy." He referred to all of them,
but his eyes were solely fixed on Greylorn.
    "Sit down please," Legrasse motioned to them before taking hs place
across from them, "Reeve tells me you have something to say in your
defense. Something important enough that I may offer an alternative."
    Aeris flashed Cloud a quick smile. At the corner of his eye, he saw
Tifa relax at the commander's announcement.
    "Now what war are you talking about?"
    Greylorn folded his arms and remained silent. Aeris hissed loudly at
him while Reeve stared at him in disbelief. Legrasse turned his attention
to Cloud.
    "You have anything to say?"
    "Go on," Tifa urged. Aeris nodded in encouragement.
    Cloud began, "Okay. As far as I know, this guy is looking for some
criminal."
    "Does he have a name?"
    All eyes turned to Greylorn but he remained impassive.
    "Not my business, eh?" Legrasse tapped his pencil across the table as
the blue eyed man nodded slightly.
    "There are these things who are after him too," Aeris cut in.
    "What things?" the commander turned back towards them.
    "Huge bat like things," she waved her arms, "And giant snake --
things."
    "They're the ones who attacked Midgar and Kalm," Tifa piped up.
    "Apparently they also have human agents working for them," Cloud added,
"Those were the guys we whacked at the bar. We didn't know what they were
up to but we knew it was bad," he finished lamely.
    Legrasse tapped his pencil as they finished and looked at them without
much sympathy. Reeve stood silent and didn't move. The commander's eyes
shifted among there faces and finally settled on Greylorn.
    "Do you have anything to add?"
    Greylorn shrugged, "You do not believe us, so why try?"
    Tifa and Cloud glared at him. Aeris glared at him with a heart full of
hate.
    "You're right," Legrasse arched his brow, "I don't believe you."
    Tifa inhaled sharply, "But --!"
    "Listen missy," Legrasse growled, "I can't face the friends and
families of those victims and say we let the killers go because of some
wacko story. Ever since Meteor fell, everything has gone to hell around
here and it's up to me and everyone else after Weapon left alive to keep
things in line around here."
    "Thanks to us," Cloud spoke up.
    "What?"
    "We were the ones who stopped Sephiroth in the Crater," Tifa said.
    "And I asked Planet stop Meteor," Aeris added.
    "If it weren't for us," Cloud leaned forward, "Planet would've died
days ago."
    Legrasse looked at them as if they were insane.
    "You say these people were what again?" he asked Reeve.
    The man straightened his tie and drew a breath. He couldn't believe how
things went from bad to worse in five fucking minutes.
    "Cloud is one of my best constables, as is Tifa. And Aeris, she's a top
notch uh --"
    "Chirurgeon," Tifa gave her a wink.
    Aeris grinned back.
    "And that silent one?"
    Reeve soured and was about to answer when Greylorn cut him off.
    "Why bother? No explanation will change his mind."
    The stranger's arrogance was starting to goad everyone, especially
Legrasse.
    "Fine it makes no difference to me," he slammed shut his notebook and
stood up, "You two are scheduled to be shot at dawn."
    Aeris and Tifa gasped. Cloud saw both their faces whiten at the
announcement.
    "Enjoy your last hours on the Planet you 'protected', murderers,"
Legrasse stormed out of the room.
    "Wait!" Tifa cried but the commander had left, along with any hope.
    "Reeve!" Aeris sat up, "Is there--?"
    "No," he cut her off, "I told you I have no authority here. He only
showed up after I gave him the last few rockets we had on board Highwind
Too."
    "Long range warhead delivery systems for this?" Greylorn chuckled and
nodded towards the door, "He got the better deal."
    "Shut the fuck up," Cloud snarled, "I want to get out of here alive."
    Reeve glared at the blue eyed man, "If we get of here, I swear I'll --"
    "You'll what?" Greylorn challenged, "Kill me?"
    He laughed rudely in his face before heading for the door, "Guard!"
    "What do you want?" the sentry growled.
    "I may return to my cell," Greylorn held out his hands.
    The sentry called for another guard to take him away.
    "Sonovabitch," Reeve banged his fist on the table. He looked at the
three of them gravely and gathered himself, "Okay, I'll see what kind of
deal I can swing. Money, food, whatever. Just don't expect much, okay?"
    "We'll appreciate anything you can do," Aeris looked apprehensive.
    "Like I said," Reeve soured as he neared the door, "Just don't expect
too much."
    An embarrassing silence descended upon them as the door closed. Cloud
shifted nervously in his seat as he cleared his throat.
    "Thanks for being here."
    "Don't think much of it," Tifa rocked her seat and looked away.
    Aeris gave him a quick smile but said nothing.
    "No really thanks. It -- it really means a lot to me. I know it must be
-- difficult," Cloud coughed nervously.
    "Well," Aeris stood, "I think I'll leave the two of you alone now."
    Tifa got up too, "Er -- I um. I gotta go. Maybe I can help out Reeve or
something."
    "No. You stay put, Tifa ."
    "But --"
    "Hey listen," Aeris pulled her aside.
    "Look at him," she pointed to a dispirited Cloud, "He needs you more
than ever now. This may be your last chance to really talk things through
with him."
    "Don't give me that," Tifa shook her head, "You two can finally be
alone without me gumming things up."
    "I don't think so," Aeris stamped her foot lightly, "I said I won't
stand in your way and I stand by it."
    "Well me too," Tifa folded her arms and glowered.
    "This is silly Tifa," Aeris sighed, "Please don't --"
    "Visiting hours are over, ladies."
    "What!?" both of them looked at the sentry.
    Cloud sat in silent shock as another guard pulled him up and led him
away.
    "Wait!" Aeris cried, "We weren't finished!"
    "Please just another five minutes!" Tifa tugged on the guard's sleeve.
    "Regulations are regulations," the sentry ushered them aside.
    Aeris and Tifa kept their eyes on Cloud until he was out of sight.
    The sentry turned towards them and said, "The execution is scheduled
for five tomorrow."
    Tifa sat down and began to cry along, with Aeris. The sentry left
without another word.

   **********************************************************************

    Cloud sat in his cell in silence. Sat and wondered about his last few
hours on Planet.
    His last hours. The meaning weighed heavily on him. And they didn't
even have the decency to sit down and keep him company. He shook his head
bitterly. Maybe I should just forget both of them and leave. They'd be
probably be happier without me.
    Aw fuck.
    Who am I kidding?
    He hung his head, it's not like they have a choice in another few
hours.
    Cloud looked up at the single guard.
    "Can you take these off?"
    The guard looked at him and smiled, "What's it worth to you?"
    "If I'm gonna die, at least give me a last request."
    "Like I said," the man looked around to see if he was being watched,
"What's it worth to you?"
    "I don't have much with me right now --"
    "Sure you do. Let me sleep with your two lady friends," he smiled, "At
the same time."
    Cloud scowled and turned away. The guard laughed as the young man
bunched his hands into fists.
    "That browned haired one doesn't have the chest like the other one,"
the man gestured, "Yeah, but I'm sure she's warm between the sheets too."
    "You're a fuckin' asshole."
    "Fucking?" the man gave him a distasteful grin, "Fucking? You're not my
type, ladyboy."
    Cloud barely contained his rage as the guard continued.
    "Still," the man pumped his fist suggestively, "I'd like to get off on
that black haired one. I could clean out my dick on those tits of hers."
    The young man gritted his teeth and fought to remain calm.
    "You know after I have my fun, my buddies could use some of that too,"
the man sauntered over to his cell, "I can charge for it too! Just think --
two cunts and plenty of money to go around."
    "That's it!" Cloud exploded, "Why don't you step in here and say it to
my face?!"
    "Yeah a real tough guy," the guard laughed and stepped temptingly
close. Cloud lunged out but before he could reach him, the man thrust his
gun through the bars and whipped the young man across the face before
quickly backing off.
    "Sonavabitch!" Cloud spat out blood. The guard laughed and turned to
Greylorn in the next cell.
    "You two aren't so tough without your weapons eh?"
    He stood silent and stared impassively at the guard.
    "When I ask you something, I want an answer," the man raised his weapon
menacingly, "It's called respecting your jailer."
    "Why don't you go fuck yourself," Cloud spat.
    "What did you say?" the guard pointed his gun towards him, "Know your
place you little blond shithead. Or I blow your brains out all over this
Planet forsaken cell."
    He ventured closer waving his weapon.
    "I'm gonna ask again, tough guy," the man said to Greylorn, "You're not
so tough without your weapons are you?"
    The blue eyed man suddenly grabbed the man's arm and pulled him towards
the bars. Before Cloud could blink, Greylorn had shoved the gun through the
man's mouth -- barrel first.
    "Not so tough with your weapon are you?" the blue eyed man observed as
the corpse slumped wetly to the floor. Cloud stood speechless as Greylorn
took the keys from the bloody mess and effortlessly unlocked his cell.
    "Hey!" he shouted, "You gonna leave me in here?"
    "Your choice," Greylorn tossed the keys into the cell.
    "I underestimated you," Cloud scrambled eagerly to free himself, "Sorry
about before."
    He ran out of the cell and stopped over the corpse. Red goo slid off
the barrel and dripped onto the ground as he picked up the weapon.
    Empty. They must've shipped everything up north to fight Sephiroth.
    Even the damn bullets.
    "You knew he didn't have it loaded, right?" he turned to Greylorn.
    "If he did, he would have shot you the moment you provoked him."
    The young man scowled.
    Cold hearted bastard.
    He dropped the gun and headed towards the door. Cloud peeked down the
corridor before stepping out.
    "Where are you going? The way out is that way!"
    "The Cetra. She is still here."
    "How do you know?!" his face hardened.
    "I do not," Greylorn said without looking back, "But that does."
    "Wha-?" Cloud stopped as he heard skittering down the hall.

   **********************************************************************

    Tifa couldn't form words as she put her head down and cried.
    Aeris had her arm around her, "C'mon, stop this. He needs us more than
ever now."
    "You mean he needs you more than ever now," Tifa showed no signs of
stopping, "I'm sorry I screwed it all up! I'm sorry!!"
    "Don't be," Aeris gave her a squeeze before she grew thoughtful, "I
shouldn't have been alone with him like that in the first place."
    "Like any of it matters now!" Tifa wailed.
    "Shush," Aeris whispered, "First we've got to get him out of here,
okay?"
    "How?!" Tifa dug her nails into the table, "There's guards everywhere!"
    "I've got a plan."
    The dark haired woman stopped her tears and looked up intently.
    "Better," Aeris gently wiped Tifa's face and stood up.
    "What are you --?"
    Aeris bit her lip as she unbuttoned the bottom buttons of her dress, up
to her hips. The slit now showed off her slender legs.
    "This should help get us past the guards."
    "Oh," Tifa reddened slightly before she undid the top of her shorts,
"Do you think it'll work?"
    I must look like a slut. She immediately soured at the thought.
    "It'll work," Aeris nodded reassuringly, "Ready?"
    "Huh?" Tifa snapped out of her reverie, "Yeah, just gimme a sec."
    She lifted up her top a little, partially revealing the bottom of her
ample chest.
    "Aeris?"
    "Hmm?" she looked up as she undid several buttons at the top of her
dress.
    "Thanks."
    "Thank me when we get outta here," she gave her a cheering glance,
"Ready?"
    Tifa glanced at her and nodded.
    "Okay," Aeris inhaled sharply, "Here goes noth --"
    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
    The scream interrupted their plans.
    "What was that?" Tifa asked wide eyed.
    "I -- I don't know," Aeris said terrified, "And I don't think I want to
know."
    Shouts and gunfire sounded outside before more horrific screams erupted
around them. Both of them quickly readjusted their clothes before turning
off the lights. The two of them stayed hidden until things settled down.
    "We better get out of here," Tifa whispered.
    "Are you sure we want to?" Aeris swallowed as two dark shapes appeared
in the door window. She saw her friend's eyes grow wide even in the dim
light.
    "Stay back," Tifa interposed herself between Aeris and the door.
    "Don't be ridiculous," Aeris picked up a chair and braced herself, "We
fight together."
    Tifa nodded and readied herself on the other side of the door.
    "One," she whispered.
    The knob turned.
    "Two," Aeris raised the chair over her head.
    The door cracked open slowly.
    "THREE!!"
    A strong arm caught Tifa's swing, but Aeris landed a bone jarring blow
on her captor. Incredibly, her assailant still managed to slam Tifa against
the wall before reaching for Aeris before throwing her roughly to the
floor.
    "Grey-lorn?" the pink clad woman could barely breathe as the black
gloved hand held her tightly by her collar. She coughed and sputtered as he
released his grip.
    "Nice blow Cetra," he hissed and released her, "You almost broke my
arm."
    Aeris didn't bother with an answer as she coughed and struggled for
breath on the floor.
    "Cloud!?" Tifa blinked her eyes.
    "Let's go," his voice was all business, but she saw his eyes light up
with joy.
    "How'd you get out?!" she could barely contain herself. Then the light
revealed more of the young man's face. Tifa softened her voice, "What
happened?"
    "I'll tell you about it later," Cloud helped a gagging Aeris up, "Right
now we got to get out of here before --"
    "DON'T MOVE!"
    Commander Legrasse stood in the doorway with a wide eyed Reeve behind
him. The commander had a pistol aimed at them.
    "You two are dead," Legrasse spat.
    "Wait!" Reeve exclaimed, "Let them explain--!!"
    "No more lies!," Legrasse hissed and shoved Reeve aside, "They killed
and murdered their way through this city and this base and now you want me
to let them go?"
    "I'm sure they have a --"
    "Then you can die with them if you wish," Legrasse said coldly.
    "Leave them out of this!" Cloud pushed Aeris and Tifa to the side,
"It's just me and him you want. They had nothing to do with this!"
    "Fine!!" Legrasse snarled and pointed at the two women, "You two can
go," he aimed his gun at Cloud and Greylorn, "I'm moving up the time of
execution."
    "NO!!" Aeris and Tifa screamed.
    "Too late."
    "What?" Legrasse looked at Greylorn.
    The blue eyed man backed away from Legrasse, his cold eyes angled up to
the ceiling. Everyone threw their gaze upward as a foul smelling stench
filled the place. Something lumpy and grotesque dropped down in front of
Cloud, but it immediately made for his left -- for Aeris. She screamed as
Greylorn kicked the table towards the thing, forcing it into Legrasse.
    "What in --" the commander never got to finish as his words were
drowned in his own blood. Pandemonium ensued as everyone tried to escape.
    "IN THE NAME OF--!" Reeve shouted and backed away.
    "Run!" Cloud backed away from the door.
    "Where to!?" Tifa screamed. The door was the only way out. Aeris could
barely contain her panic as she picked up a chair and flung it harmlessly
against the window.
    "Help me break it!!" she shrieked.
    "Where are the guards!?" Cloud yelled as he grabbed another chair.
    "They all must be dead!!" Tifa beat her fists against the glass.
    Greylorn stood unperturbed by the spectacle as the beast began to sniff
the freshly killed body. To Reeve, it appeared to be a white haired ape
like creature with dull, red eyes and skeletal black claws. It held the
fallen man's body in a twisted embrace as it proceeded to gnaw on the
commander's head.
    "For Planet's sake," Reeve backed himself up against the wall and
looked at the blue eyed man, "Do something you moron!"
    "Fancy you showing yourself," Greylorn looked at the ape thing
intently, "You make it all too easy."
    All heads turned towards the monstrosity in their midst. It continued
to chew the corpse and ignored Greylorn, even as he stood there not more
than five feet away.
    "I had expected better from you," the blue eyed man snapped his
fingers, "Attempt trace."
    :: tracking energy signature ::
    The ape tore off a piece of Legrasse's face before it sat still and
surveyed the room with its baleful red eyes.
    :: triangulating signal source ::
    "tttthhhheeeee rrreeeeporrrrrrttsssss wwwweerrrrrr ccccoorrrrrreecctt
sssssssssssett rrrraaaaaaaaaa yyyuuuuu hhaavvvvv bbrrrrooottt tthhheee
sssssssssssett rrrraaaaaaaaaa," the voice was unfamiliar, alien, and
frightening. Aeris cringed as the monster set its gaze on her.
    :: signal encoded attempting decipher ::
    "Those were yours?" Greylorn stepped back a bit, "I would not have
guessed."
    The ape's head swivelled towards him before it continued,
"yyyyyyeeesssssss ssssllaaayyyeerrrr."
    :: signal reencoded reattempting deciper ::
    Greylorn snorted, "Say what you will; I will make capture."
    :: signal reencoded reattempting deciper ::
    The ape snapped at the unseen voice as its lips curled into a blood
curdling snarl, "nnnnneeewwwww tttrrrrriikkkk," its head whipped back
briefly towards Greylorn, "unnnttilll theennnnn ssssllaaayyyeerrrr."
    :: signal reencoded reattempting deciper ::
    The ape stepped back. It howled and leaped again towards Aeris. She
barely had time to scream before the beast vanished in a ball of flame.
Greylorn had a small weapon aimed at where the thing was before.
    :: signal lost triangulation incomplete ::
    "I believe my stay is at an end."
    "Wait just a fucking minute!" Cloud shouted.
    "What now boy?"
    "That thing you just killed, that was your criminal?"
    "No," Greylorn said coldly, "It was merely a tool."
    "But you spoke as if it was him!" Cloud glared.
    "You thought wrong," he cut him off, "It serves as a message."
    "Why? To taunt you?" Aeris asked shaken.
    "Yes."
    "Liar!" she hissed.
    Greylorn cast his eyes toward her, "Pardon?"
    "I-I heard what it said," she whispered, "I heard it with my own ears.
It said 'Cetra'."
    Greylorn said nothing.
    "And that thing attacked her," Tifa glared at him, "Twice."
    "You know something we don't," Cloud hissed, "After what you said about
Aeris a little while ago --"
    "What did he say?" Aeris turned towards him.
    "Something about people looking for Cetra," Cloud narrowed his eyes.
Aeris looked at Greylorn apprehensively.
    "You lied to me," she began.
    "Uh, I hate to interrupt, but we should probably continue this
elsewhere," Reeve jerked them out of the conversation.
    :: warning - multiple simulacra detected ::
    A group of four ape creatures hunched themselves over Legrasse's half
eaten remains, poised to strike out.
    "diiiiiieeeeee sssssssssssett rrrraaaaaaaaaa diiiiiieeeeee
sssssssssssett rrrraaaaaaaaaa diiiiiieeeeee sssssssssssett rrrraaaaaaaaaa
diiiiiieeeeee."
    "Get her out of here," Greylorn pushed Aeris towards them.
    "Where?" Cloud asked.
    "Any place but here," the man shot out the window, "Now *go*."
    Greylorn trained his gun back on the creatures and fired.

   **********************************************************************

    They ran through the brig, passing by torn bodies of guards and
soldiers.
    "Hurry!!" Cloud ran towards the door, "We've got to warn every --"
    The four of them exploded onto a busy street filled with -- people.
Live people going about their evening business as usual.
    "Reeve we've got to warn everyone!" Aeris wheezed.
    "How?" Reeve said harshly, "I left my celphone back in Legrasse's
office! Plus where are we going to go where those snakes or gaunts aren't
going to be a problem?"
    "What about those things inside?" Tifa interrupted, "If you ask me,
they're plain nasty."
    "But we still have to --!"
    "Quiet Cetra."
    Aeris turned and saw Greylorn walking casually out of the building in
his old garb.
    "Get to the airport," he began pushing her down the street.
    "HEY!!" Aeris dug her heels into the ground.
    "Here," the man turned to Cloud, "Your weapon."
    The cloaked man dropped a hastily wrapped bundle on the ground but the
young man stuck out his arm and barred the way.
    "You're not leaving until you tell us what the hell is going on!"
    "Yeah," Tifa snapped, "What that stuff you said about a 'military
operation'?"
    Greylorn turned and levelled a cold gaze at them, "You should leave or
the whole city may want your blood."
    "What!? Why?"
    "Those things we just saw are simulacrums used to spread viruses. They
cause mutations."
    "WHAT?!"
    "You heard me," Greylorn said coldly, "He spreads his viruses through
manufactured organisms. Those exposed will become -- a nuisance."
    Aeris' face tightened, "You mean that's how Jenova -- how my ancestors
---?"
    "They are obsolete by current military standards," Greylorn's mouth
twitched slightly, "Nevertheless, they are still quite dangerous."
    "We've got to warn everyone!" Reeve half shouted. Several passers by
looked at him.
    "Quiet!" Greylorn hissed, "Do you know what would happen if you scream
plague?" Reeve looked at him as he narrowed his eyes.
    "Panic," the man snapped, "Pure bloody panic."
    "What are we supposed to do?" Tifa snapped, "Leave everyone here to
die? Like last time?"
    When he didn't answer immediately, Aeris gasped. He was going to do it.
    "I will admit, he is after the Cetra and her only," Greylorn said
reluctantly.
    "Who? The criminal?"
    "Yes."
    "So," the young man spat, "The truth is out."
    Greylorn's eyes smouldered, "You do not know the tip of it."
    "Never mind that for now; what are we going to do?" Tifa looked at
Aeris with worry, "We can't let him have her!"
    "And we can't stay and expect to survive something like this," Reeve
said, "We don't even know what we're dealing with!"
    "Are we infected?" Cloud asked suddenly.
    "No. As long as you did not make contact with their blood you are
fine," Greylorn closed his eyes, "Fortunately there were only five, but the
last one got a little messy."
    Everyone took two steps back.
    "I am unaffected," he said quickly, "But its blood is inside. I can
destroy the virus with a small area effect."
    "Small area effect?" Reeve hissed.
    "It will only burn everything in the building," Greylorn levelled a
cool gaze at him, "Do you have reservations about preserving the dead?"
    Reeve shuddered and shook his head.
    "Wait a damn minute!" Cloud hissed, "If you can destroy the virus, why
do we have to leave?"
    "Do not be stupid," Greylorn's voice was cold, "Do you think the next
attempt will be this easy to combat?"
    "He's right," Tifa prodded him, "Let's go."
    "Well spoken. Get her out of the city," Greylorn pushed Aeris over
towards her, "Somewhere safe. And be quiet about it. The local authorities
may try to detain you."
    "Cosmo Canyon would be nice."
    "Nanaki?" Tifa said in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
    "Just trying to help," he said, "This way to the Highwind Too."
    "About time simmie," Greylorn said unkindly.
    "You laid it out on short notice," Red replied coldly, "Expect delays."
    "Laid out what?" Aeris stared at the two.
    "After," Greylorn made a pass of his hand, "Get going."
    Tifa led her away. Reeve turned to them and shook his head, "I'm not
going. Not yet. My section leaders need to know what's going on."
    Cloud looked him in the eye, "Good luck."
    Reeve nodded his head wearily, "I'll try and catch up to you after."
    "Come on," Red XIII motioned with his head, "I'll explain on the way."
    "Speaking of which," Cloud turned to Greylorn, "You have a lot of that
to do once we're safe," he started to leave but stopped, "You know where
the ship is right?"
    "Yes," Greylorn chuckled as he pulled out a small purple ovoid the size
of an egg, "To make sure that Cetra is safe, I would follow her to R'lyeh
itself."


==============================================================


The very best cover is often a simple extension of the truth.

    -- George Hayduke


==============================================================


    They were safe. For now. To avoid any unnecessary contact, Cid had
opted to take a more southerly route that bypassed Costa de Sol. It was
going to be a safer albeit, longer trip.
    And it was all that bastard's fault.
    Cloud's hands formed fists as he lay on his bunk. His eyes feasted on
the darkness of his cabin as he thought back to the events of last night.
    Red XIII had met Greylorn quite by accident just before they were
arrested. The warrior had been warned about the 'spies' and was advised to
secure an escape route. Fortunately, Red was a fast runner. He even managed
to notify Barret and Marlene before all hell broke loose at the brig.
    Everyone was on board when the explosion echoed through the city. The
airport was a half mile away and the flash was still visible.
    Local area effect my ass.
    He couldn't even give that son of a bitch a piece of his mind since he
didn't even bother to show up -- but security did. It took the combined
firepower of Barret and Vincent to hold them off until Cid managed to get
off the ground.
    Cloud just hoped Reeve was okay.
    How the hell could they've been so naive as not to inquire further
about the man's motives from the beginning?
    There was something wrong about all of it.
    Greylorn was holding out on them.
    It was too sudden.
    Aeris' miraculous return. All the recent events were -- peculiar, to
say the least.
    And that thing about a military operation just didn't sit well with
him. Cloud rolled onto his side and sighed. It was close to dawn, but he
hadn't slept a wink all night. Besides the blue eyed stranger, other
matters troubled him.
    Specifically two women.
    Back to square one.
    "Dammit," he whispered as he found himself thinking about Tifa.
    That stunt of hers destroyed so much between them.
    It killed his trust.
    It killed his compassion.
    He shivered.
    It killed his love.
    No.
    But it came damn close.
    And that's what still hung over him.
    He knew deep inside --
    Aw, fuck this. Cloud got up and wrapped himself snugly in a blanket.
    The engines' hum was steady. Which meant Cid was either up already or
he pulled an all nighter. He opened his cabin door and headed down the
passageway. A peek inside the cockpit showed that the pilot had pulled the
cap over his head and taking a quick snooze.
    Was this safe?
    Cloud was about to knock on the door and wake him when he saw some
blinking letters on the console.
    AUTOMATIC ON
    The letters disappeared and news ones appeared.
    BE SAFE - SHINRA
    Leave it to them to invent something like this.
    I need some fresh air, Cloud thought as he turned and climbed up the
steps to the deck hatch.
    The wind rushed by with a soft whistle and stung his cheeks as he
looked around. The morning sun was barely over the horizon as Highwind Too
flew high over the water. His heart skipped a beat when he realized he
wasn't alone. The lone figure stood on the deck's bow, her dress fluttering
in the breeze.
    His mouth went dry.
    A sign? Or an omen?
    He drew in a breath and approached.
    "You're up early. Mind if I join you?"
    Aeris turned and saw Cloud drape his blanket over her shoulders.
    "Th-thank you," she took it gingerly, "I just wanted to watch the
sunrise."
    Her gaze returned to the choppy water below them as he stood silent.
    "I'm -- glad to see your wish finally come true."
    "What wish?" she blinked.
    "The one you told me about when we first left Junon," he said softly.
    Aeris closed her eyes and sighed, "That was so long ago."
    "Was it?" he whispered, "It's only been four months."
    She dipped her head slightly, "You've been counting."
    "Four months and six days to be exact. I couldn't forget."
    Aeris drew a sharp breath and passed her eyes over the water, "I wish
mom was here to see this."
    "I'm sorry," he started, "I couldn't save her."
    She waved her hand vaguely, "It - it wasn't your fault."
    "Still," he held her gently as she coughed lightly, "If I had done
more."
    "It's *not* your fault," her voice shook a bit.
    "All right," Cloud whispered and turned her around to face him, "I
won't say more."
    She gave him a weak smile as her slender fingers gently grazed his
scarred face. His eyes shone brightly as Aeris closed her eyes and a green
glow enveloped them both.
    "Hey," Cloud steadied her, "You all right?"
    "There," she whispered, "Good as new."
    "Don't knock yourself over a silly little scratch."
    "It might've turned bad," she said softly, "You never know."
    "I'll be okay," he began pulling her closer but Aeris gently pushed
away.
    "Where's Tifa?" she looked up at him.
    "Still asleep I guess," his voice mute, "I don't really know."
    "Don't know or don't care?"
    Cloud looked down in silence.
    Aeris bit her lip, "Have you two --?"
    "No."
    "Aren't you going to --?"
    "I -- don't," he took a deep breath, "I don't know. Not now."
    "If not now," she said softly, "it may be never."
    Cloud shut his eyes.
    "Try," she whispered, "If not for your sake, then for hers."
    "She needs you to fight her battles of the heart?" he rasped.
    "Listen to me," her eyes pleaded, "You two -- belong together."
    "I'm not so sure. Not anymore."
    "I am," her lowered her head, "Just give her time."
    He looked off far over the horizon, "If I hadn't been so weak, I
would've struck him down and all this would never have happened."
    "You can't change the past."
    "But I can change the future," he lifted up her chin.
    "Cloud please," she gently pushed him away, "Tifa still loves you. She
was all ready to leave Junon when we heard the news."
    "Love?" he chuckled, "If she loved me, why would she leave?"
    "Try to understand," she urged, "If she left you without as much a
word, what would you have done?"
    The question gave Cloud pause.
    "Go after her I suppose."
    "Would you? Even if you didn't know where she'd gone?" her eyes dimmed,
"Or would you have done something else?"
    "I went after you when you left us after the temple."
    "Exactly," Aeris bit her lip.
    "Are you saying that was what I would have done?" he whispered, "After
she left Junon?"
    "Yes."
    Cloud's mouth twitched, "I suppose you're right. But why else would --
she -- do -- such -- a --?"
    Of course.
    Tifa was never subtle about much of the things she did, that's what
made her so easy to predict. But he wasn't thinking when she laid it out on
him; rather he was thinking -- with his dick.
    Now the truth was as subtle as a nail bat in the teeth. Cloud gripped
the handrail until his knuckles whitened.
    Oh hell.
    She had planned this from the start.
    Damn you.
    The smell of her blood and the din of her cries came back unbidden.
    Damn you Tiff.
    And I fell for it.
    Tears welled in his eyes as everything unfolded in his mind.
    "I'm -- I'm sorry," Cloud caught himself and wiped his eyes, "I - I
didn't know."
    "Go," Aeris looked at him expectantly, "Get her back before you regret
it for the rest of your life."
    "What -- what about you?" his face streaked with tears.
    "What of me?" she turned away.
    "I won't leave you."
    "You have to let me go."
    "No," Cloud's tone became adamant, "I won't stand to see you go again."
    "You'll - grow - used to it," Aeris began backing off.
    "No," he rasped, "Never."
    "It'll be - all - right."
    "Don't go. I'm begging you --"
    "Good bye Cloud," she didn't look at him, "I'll never forget you."
    He gave a desperate cry and reached for her, but it was too late. He
watched as her flee into the ship, leaving him holding the blanket he had
given her earlier.
    "Don't leave me!" he shouted into the wind.
    Cloud held still for a while as other words came to him unbidden, and
his heart froze.
    '. . . I'll come back to you. Even if you don't wait for me, I'll come
back knowing you'll be there.'
    'Even if you don't wait for me.'
    How prophetic.
    'Even if you don't wait for me.'
    The roar of the engines drowned out the howl of anguish.

   **********************************************************************

    "There it is," Red XIII wrinkled his nose, "The Canyon."
    "It is majestic," Vincent's eyes reflected the dull red of the Canyon's
rock.
    "Makes you 'preciate certain things," Barret grinned as he watched
Marlene gleefully tug Tifa's hair. The young woman tickled the little girl
until she took refuge behind her father.
    "PAPA! Save me!" Marlene squealed.
    "Let's see you try that again!" Tifa laughed and chased her around the
big man.
    Red saw Aeris standing apart from the rest of them. Cloud was
noticeably absent. The warrior shook his mane and stretched.
    He must still be at it, he thought.
    Marlene's squeal arrested his attention. Tifa had caught her and began
to swing her round and round.
    "We're landin'," Cid's voice came through the comm pipe.
    "Got it," Red surveyed the group, "Let's head to the loading ramp
then."
    "Where's Cloud?" Barret's voice rumbled.
    Red saw Aeris jerk awake from her stupor.
    "I believe he's still in his cabin," Vincent spoke up, "Perhaps we
should tell him?"
    "I guess," the big man faced Tifa, "Why doncha get 'im?"
    She shrugged, "He's a big boy. He doesn't need anyone to wake him up."
    Barret scratched his head, "Well, okay. If ya say so."
    Highwind Too shuddered as it landed. Tifa took Marlene's hand and led
her down the hatch to avoid the plumes of red dust from the engine's wash.
Aeris hugged herself tightly and said nothing as everyone else left.
    Forgive me Cloud.
    I had to.
    For her.
    And for you.
    "Are you all right?"
    "Huh?" Aeris turned her head and saw Red looking at her.
    "Yeah. Why'd you ask?"
    "It looks as if you didn't get much sleep."
    "Just woke up a little early to catch the sunrise," Aeris flashed a
quick smile.
    "I -- see," his tone unbelieving, "The Canyon scholars will be pleased
by your return."
    "I guess," her gaze fell on the canyon walls.
    "They will have much to ask as well," Red's tail flicked side to side.
    "I've got time."
    He twitched his nose, "Have you any idea what's wrong with him?"
    "Hmm?" Aeris looked at the quadruped, "I dunno. Maybe he's tired."
    "Like the rest of us," Red observed, "Want to tell of it?"
    She shook her head and said, "It's probably more trouble than it's
worth."
    "Well when you are ready, seek me," Red trundled off.
    Oh Cloud, Aeris let her tears fall when he had left.
    Planet help me I didn't want to hurt you.
    But I had to.
    I had to.
    She wiped her face before stepping off the ship. People had gathered
around the vessel and a soft hum of voices filled the air.
    "Aeris?" a familiar voice spoke up.
    She saw a blacked haired man approach holding a batch of books.
    Aeris braved a smile and waved, "Master Hargo."
    "You -- have returned?" the man gaped, "It's impossible."
    "Well," she shrugged, "Here I am anyway."
    Red XIII trotted up to them and bowed.
    "Greetings Master. We have returned with ---" he paused, "We've
returned."
    "Son of Seto," the man bowed, "You return with good tidings and good
health."
    "No," the warrior dipped his head, "Not entirely."
    Hargo knitted his brow a bit, "Where are your companions?"
    Red looked up, "Everywhere."
    "Come," Hargo waved, "We have much to talk about."

   **********************************************************************

    Dusk began to creep over the canyon like an assassin's knife. Vincent
spun the cylinder of his new repeating rifle -- if he knew the Canyon sold
such excellent pieces, he would have forgone that other one back at Junon.
The price he paid was certainly not worth it.
    The dull metal sheen of the barrel, its weight, the sheer -- look of
the weapon betrayed its power. The shells for it were impressive as well.
They were as long as his hand and as thick as a man's thumb. A half dozen
of them fit snugly in the rifle's reinforced cylindrical magazine.
    It's been several hours after Hargo had entertained them with the
recent weather and animal sightings from Meteor's crash as well as
listening intently to their exploits. The scholar sat in silent awe as they
told of Sephiroth's defeat and the more disturbing developments at Midgar
and Kalm.
    Several months of rough adventure had cut into the ranks of their
group. Aeris was the first to fall. But her return while unexpected, was
most certainly welcome. It was a mixture of joy and sorrow when everyone
gathered at Kalm. Vincent thought back to the town's destruction. Yuffie
died there. And now Reeve was missing -- or at least indisposed at Junon.
    Cid, after making some hasty repairs, had bolted off to do a short
"test run" with the ship --- although the gunman had an inkling of the
pilot's real intentions. Still, the Captain was not expected to return for
another few hours at least.
    Chance and circumstance had brought them together; now they were
scattering them apart again.
    Vincent gritted his teeth but uttered no sound as he stared into the
blood red sun. Its color reminded him of his hands as he lay on the stone
floor of the lab, dying.
    But he did not. Not that day.
    Hojo would not let him. Was it a sadistic ploy on his tormentor's part,
or was he jealous of him? He didn't know. Nor did he care.
    Not anymore.
    The tall man's eyes crinkled as he thought back to that night atop the
scaffold. The rain was fairly heavy, but the image burned clearly in his
mind.
    Hojo, head scientist of Shinra lay dead at his feet.
    However, the man's death had not been as satisfying as he thought it
would be. After years locked up in the crypt, Vincent had expected some
joy, some elation from gazing upon his blood smeared corpse.
    The emptiness that greeted him was surprising. Perhaps this was what
Cloud experienced as he bested Sephiroth in the end.
    A hollow victory. Vincent cast his gaze downward. A hollow victory, and
nothing more.
    "Lucrecia," he whispered softly, "How could I've left you with such a
man?"
    He steadied himself as he hung his head in sorrow. He could not even
utter an apology as he stood before her mute and dumb as she revealed her
past to the others in earshot.
    I'm a coward.
    Vincent dug his metallic hand into the adobe.
    A spineless coward.
    He thought he could finally right his wrongs when the party dispersed
the day before Meteor fell, but by then she was gone. Her cave empty save a
neatly arranged pile of odds and ends. Among them was a hastily scribbled
note.


                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                           If you wish to honor me,
                            then live dear Vincent.
                                     Live.
                                    For me.
                               And for yourself.
                                                ~L
                           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


    His metal hand dug deep into the hardened clay as he ran her words
through his mind.
    Live, she said.
    How could I have?
    I have no more family.
    No one knows me. Not anymore.
    Cid was a friend yes, but even he wasn't born when I was still my old
self.
    What am I now?
    A patchwork of experiments for some man dead.
    To prove what?
    That Planet is something else more than the dirt beneath his feet?
    Vincent was sunk in deep thought when he heard footsteps behind him. He
whipped around -- two days of running and gunning had made everyone jumpy,
even him.
    "It's me."
    "Aeris," Vincent could barely make her out in the doorway, "What is
it?"
    "Nothing to be alarmed about," she tugged on her spencer absently, "I
was just wondering if -- if you've seen Cloud."
    "No, I have not," Vincent replied, "Is there something wrong?"
    "I'm not sure," Aeris looked up, "That's why I'm asking if you've seen
him."
    "I have not," he repeated, "I will tell him you were looking for him."
    "No!" her outburst prompted a raised brow.
    "I mean, there's no need," she straightened her spencer, "Thanks
though. Sorry to be a bother."
    He gave her a shallow nod as she departed.

   **********************************************************************

    Cid sat alone in the darkened cockpit.
    Damn it's gonna be late, he thought to himself.
    I wonder if she'll still be up.
    Cid's face pruned as he slammed the collective forward. He felt the
ship lurch and the engines' whine.
    "Sorry baby," he whispered and eased the lever back.
    This was funny.
    I care more about my machines than they do about me. And the worst
thing was that I treated her like one.
    Cid wiped his eyes desperately to clear his vision.
    "Steady old man," he took a deep breath, "Don't auger in now."
    Hah!
    Even if he did crash and burn, Vincent would know where he went.
    Yeah. He'd know.
    The two had gravitated towards each other since he signed on with the
crew. Cid found it easy to talk with him since the crash. With Barret gone
most of the time and Cloud living with Tifa, the pilot just never had too
many friends. Even Red was enamored with someone.
    Cid grinned wryly as he thought back to how the quadruped tried to hide
his infatuation after confessing it.
    That was one worth tellin' -- except for the fact she was dead. While
the details he heard from Vincent were minimal, they were enough for him.
His mind filled in the rest of the gory details. Cid took a swig from his
flask and winced from the acrid rum. His eyes dimmed as he took another
swig.
    "Puir little bitch," he whispered.
    Whether it was meant for Yuffie or Shera, he didn't know.

   **********************************************************************

    On the sun drenched patio, Tifa wove a piece of string into complex
patterns with Marlene as Barret looked on with amusement. The young woman
was oblivious to everything except the bright eyed girl before her.
Marlene's chubby hands grasped her end and tried to follow along without
much success.
    "Too fast for ya?" Tifa grinned.
    Marlene only pouted as she redoubled her efforts.
    "Ooh, you're so darn cute!" Tifa saw her chance and dropped her portion
to pinch her.
    "Stop!" Marlene's hands flew up in defence.
    Tifa laughed and wound up pinching her legs. The small girl squealed
with a mix of horror and delight as she tried to deflect her tormentor's
playful attacks.
    "Hey that's cheating!" the raven haired woman called out as Marlene got
up and ran behind her. The girl gave a delighted squeal as she reached for
a handful of black hair.
    "Oooh, bad move!" Tifa twisted around and grabbed her by the waist and
swung her up in the air. Marlene squealed even louder as she was lifted
higher and higher.
    "'kay dat's enough you two," Barret rumbled, "She's gonna trowe her
dinner back up."
    "No she won't," Tifa made a face. She set Marlene back down regardless,
"Wanna play some more?"
    Marlene's vigorous nodding was futile against Barret's word, "C'mon.
You betta wash up fir bed."
    "But I wanna stay!" the girl took cover behind Tifa.
    "Ya kin play more temorra," Barret growled softly, "Now git to bed."
    Marlene still didn't move and looked up at her guardian with hope.
    "Sorry," Tifa gently pinched the girl's nose, "You better get to bed.
We'll play first thing tomorrow okay?"
    "Pwomise?" Marlene asked.
    "Um hmm," the young woman smiled, "I promise."
    "Say g'night 'den," Barret nudged Marlene gently.
    "Good night Auntie Teefwa."
    "Bye bye," Tifa hugged her tightly.
    "'night Tifa," Barret tipped his head and took Marlene in tow.
    "Sweet dreams," she blew the girl a kiss and kept her eyes on them
until father and daughter disappeared from sight. Tifa picked up the
tangled string where it had fallen moments before.
    Mama had taught me this game, when she was sick. Then she died the next
day. And the day after that -- Tifa bit her lip and soured.
    No matter how hard she tried, those events never left her mind.
    "Damn you tiger," she whispered.
    "There you are."
    Tifa gasped when Aeris poked her head through the doorway.
    "Hey," she blinked and threw her a grin, "What's up?"
    "Sorry, I thought --" Aeris paused, "Nevermind."
    "No, what was it?" Tifa called out, "Something wrong?"
    "I just thought," Aeris drew a breath, "I just thought I'd find you two
here."
    "Oh," Tifa twirled the string absently, "I thought he was with you."
    "He's not," Aeris said quickly.
    "What?" Tifa's eyes widened as the string fell to the ground.
    Aeris trembled slightly before adding, "Come to think of it, I haven't
see him since we left Junon."
    "A-are you sure?" Tifa slumped against the wall.
    Aeris nodded, "No one has. But I asked Nanaki to take a --"
    "He's not in camp if that's what you want to know."
    Tifa looked up as the warrior took a measured step towards them.
    "He's not here?" Aeris asked unbelieving.
    "I checked everywhere. The tavern keeper said he saw a blonde fellow
pass by earlier, but as for a name," the warrior shrugged.
    Red saw both women fidget slightly from his words.
    "Perhaps," the one eyed warrior dipped his head, "he stayed on the
ship."
    "Unlikely," Vincent came up unannounced, "Cid wanted to go alone."
    "He might need some help with the ship," Tifa brightened.
    "I don't think he went on a test run," Aeris mumbled.
    "Huh?" Tifa looked at her and saw a name form on her lips, "Oh."
    Vincent pressed on, "If it helps, Cid will be back in a few hours to
say the least. We can start a search then."
    "Right now it's getting late," Red looked between them, "We should get
some rest before first light."
    "I guess you're right," Aeris shuffled reluctantly indoors.
    "Are you coming along?" Red asked.
    "Hmm?" Tifa looked up, "No, you go ahead. I - I just want to stay out a
bit longer."
    "Very well. Good night," Vincent dipped his head slightly and followed
Red inside.

   **********************************************************************

    It's quiet.
    Of course it is you damn fool, do you know how late it is?
    Cid drew a breath and tried to work the kinks out of his neck. The past
few days had taken a toll on him, but this thing weighed heavily on his
mind as well as his heart.
    Well? What to say old man?
    He stood in the moonless night like a wraith in darkness. He knew he
had to be here. But what now? He crept cautiously towards the house. His
house.
    Damn you woman, why'd you stay?
    A Makou lantern posted a lonely vigil on the empty street. It's hum and
light carved a pocket out of the surrounding darkness. Cid stopped there
and lit up a cigarette. It helped. A little. He looked for signs of
activity. The darkened windows were certainly not a good sign.
    Maybe she's asleep.
    Or gone, have you thought of that?
    Cid tossed away the half burned butt and crossed the street.
    It had to be now.
    I have to know.
    His hand raised the knocker and hesitated.
    I must know.
    Cid let the heavy ring fall.
    No answer.
    "Come on," he felt his blood boil as he forgone the knock ring and
pounded the door, "Answer. Answer the door like you always did."
    He froze in mid-pound.
    Like she always did.
    He always took her presence for granted anyway.
    Maybe she was gone. How long has it been? A week? A month? Perhaps
more. He only came back because they were going to launch his baby -- his
Shinra 26 into space. And he had to be there. He never looked back
afterwards; even after all she tried to do to save his sorry life.
    Fuck it, Cid hung his head and moved away. Fuck it all.
    "FUCK IT ALL TO HELL!" he roared.
    "C-captain?" a shaky voice came forth from the night.
    Cid froze and saw an ashen faced Shera holding a sawed off shotgun.
    "Shera?" he backed away, "Whut the fuck?"
    "Oh thank Planet it's you!" she let her weapon fall and hugged the
grizzled pilot tightly.
    "Hold on there," he growled, "What t'hell are you doin' spookin' me
with something like that?"
    "I - I'm sorry,' Shera disengaged herself quickly, "It's just that
there's been these - these things around lately."
    "Flyin' things?" Cid tensed up.
    "I-I don't know," the woman said weakly, "But we know they've been
around the old launch site."
    "What the hell are they doin'?"
    "I wouldn't know," she lowered her voice, "None of the equipment's been
touched but the nitrogen tanks were emptied."
    "That all?"
    "And people have gone missing."
    "Missing?" Cid snapped his fingers, "Just like that?"
    "They come at night," Shera shuddered, "When we're asleep."
    "W-why didn't cha jus' leave?" he looked at her with a face of shock.
    "I-I couldn't run," she shut her eyes briefly, "I had no where to go.
I'm the last one left."
    "They took everybody else?!" Cid asked alarmed.
    Shera nodded weakly.
    "Aw crap," he rasped, "I don' believe this."
    "Y-you better come inside," she tugged his arm, "It'll be safer."
    Inside, Shera double bolted and locked the door firmly shut. Cid
noticed the windows had been welded shut with plates of metal.
    No wonder he couldn't see any light.
    "Captain?"
    Cid turned around and saw Shera holding a chair.
    "What's that for?"
    She blinked surprised, "I - I thought you wanted to sit down."
    He gritted his teeth and shook his head, "No need ta; I've been flying
for two hours straight and I don' need no damn seat."
    "I'll get you some tea then," Shera quickly parked the chair back
before heading over to the stove.
    Cid quietly kicked himself.
    Not even five minutes back and he was bossing her around already.
    This was going to take some work, he straightened himself.
    "C-captain?" she looked at him fearfully as he neared.
    "No need fir that 'Captain' crap," he bit his tongue and controlled
himself, "Jus' call me Cid. Everybody does nowadays."
    When she nodded he took notice of the dark bags under her eyes.
    "You okay?"
    "I-I'm fine Captain," she murmured, "I'm glad you're back - and - and
safe."
    "I said ditch that captain crap."
    Shera nodded again, "Yes sir."
    He stood silently next to her and frowned inwardly.
    Great, now I just had her replace one word with the other.
    "How long has it been since you last slept?" Cid forced a grin.
    She looked up with a glazed look, "I - I don't remember. A few days."
    Cid took her arm as gently as he could, "Go to bed then."
    "But cap--," a glare forced her to pick her words, "What about the --?"
    "I'll handle it," he growled, "Now get some sleep."
    Shera looked at him with fear, "Is-is this an order?"
    "What?!" Cid checked his voice, "No. It ain't no order. Just trying to
--"
    He stopped and gritted his teeth, "Just trying to -- look out -- ferya.
Thatz all."
    "L-look out?" she repeated.
    "Yeah," he felt his palms dampen, "I-I'm sorry."
    Fear flashed briefly in Shera's eyes, "For what?"
    "I -- I'm sorry," he repeated, "Fer ev'rything."
    Shera still looked puzzled as he drew a deep breath and readied
himself.
    Yeah, here it comes.
    Cid felt his guts churn.
    And it wasn't from the bad rum.
    "I'm sorry. Rilly, rilly sorry," he gritted his teeth, "I shoulda been
sorry since de day I let you hang 'round the house."
    Shera's eyes widened, "Wh-what are you saying?"
    Cid hung his head in shame and ground his words out, "I'm -- sorry. Fer
all 'dose years I smacked you aroun' like some -- like you were nobody. I
don' know why you never left or how you put up wid all dat, but --"
    The woman inhaled sharply as tears ran down the pilot's weather worn
face.
    "No, I'm the one who should be sorry," she wiped his face with her
sleeve, "It's my fault it took so long to realize your dream --"
    "Fuck space," Cid said fiercely, "I don' ever want to see it agin if it
means fuckin' up your life y'hear?!"
    "No," she put a shaking hand to his face, "I want to see you make it. I
want you to live out your wishes. I want to see you happy because --" Shera
paused to push up her glasses.
    "I missed seein' ya do that," he whispered.
    "Really?"
    "Yeah rilly," Cid's trembling fingers brushed her face. Shera put her
hand over his and felt him steady out.
    "I dunno how to go frim 'ere," he started.
    "Me neither," Shera held him tightly, "But I don't care. Not anymore."
    "Why not?" he blinked astonished.
    "Because you're here," she squeezed him, "You're finally here."
    Cid wrapped his arms awkwardly around her and tried his best. This was
no machine he was dealing with anymore. It was alive.
    Prick it and it shall bleed.
    Curse it and it shall weep.
    Love it --
    A sharp noise snapped him out of his thoughts.
    "What was that?" he craned his head.
    Shera let go of him and picked up the shotgun.
    "It's them."
    "Who? 'dose things?" Cid's voice grew with alarm.
    She nodded as she raised the gun shakily.
    "How they gonna get in with this place boarded up?"
    "They can," her voice held no small amount of fear, "Trust me they
can."
    "We betta go then," Cid looked at her.
    "H-how? There could be lots of them outside just waiting for us."
    "We'll make it," he hissed, "An' we give 'em a helluva fight."
    Cid ran to the back and shouted, "You touch anythin' in here?"
    "No!" Shera ran up, "What're you looking for?"
    "Here we go," the pilot dragged out a small satchel. Her eyes widened
when the man opened the bag.
    "Dynamite?"
    "Been savin' it fer a rainy day," Cid bunched up several sticks and
tied them together.
    "But won't we--?"
    He forced out a grin, "We won't if we run like there's no tomorrer."
    "Okay," Shera didn't seem convinced.
    "Gimme the gun."
    "I'll handle it."
    "You shur?"
    "I can fire it," she said with confidence, "Besides, who's going to
start up the ship?"
    "You're right," Cid looked smug.
    The woman pursed her lips and hefted the gun. The two of them
cautiously opened the door before they hurried towards the ship.
    "I can hear 'em!" Cid felt his legs were about to give.
    "Keep running!"
    "I - I canna," he wheezed.
    Shera sped past him when stopped to catch his breath.
    "Ca -- Cid!" she grabbed him roughly by the jacket and pulled him back
into motion.
    "Dammit Shera!" he batted her hand off and took to running again -- if
only at a reduced pace. An eerie buzzing surrounded them as they stepped
through the hatch. Cid locked the thick metal door with both hands.
    "This oughta keep 'em out."
    "Any other ways in?" Shera asked suddenly.
    "Dammit! The midship hatch," Cid soured, "I forgot!"
    "I'll get it," she said promptly.
    "I'm goin' along."
    She shook her head, "You've got to get the ship started --"
    "No way I'm lettin' you go up 'dere all by yerself," Cid growled, "You
start the ship."
    "I thought you didn't want me to --"
    "Jus' this once," he forced a grin, "Don' screw up."
    Shera smiled and threw him a salute, "Aye aye, Cap'n!"
    He was about to lope off when she thrust her gun towards him, "Take
it."
    Cid shook his head, "You keep it."
    "But --"
    "I got my own way o' doin' things."
    Shera knew better than to argue, so she scampered off towards the
cockpit. Cid dropped the satchel of dynamite and picked up a monkey wrench
before heading for the deck hatch. The tool felt inadequate as Cid gripped
it with both hands. He wished he had the time to go back and fetch his
spear, but there was no time.
    Please don't be in here. Great Planet please don't let 'em be in here.
    And if they do, he thought grimly, what about Shera?
    Cid ground his teeth and steeled himself for battle as he neared the
stairs. The buzzing was faint but audible as he ventured up the metallic
steps. The pilot closed his hands around the wheel lock and turned it.
    Locked.
    Safe at last, he breathed.
    A woman's scream shattered that illusion.
    Cid tore through the vessel to the cockpit as he whispered, "Not her.
Please no." He didn't who he was talking to, nor did he care; as long as
she was safe, he didn't care who he --- the sight which greeted him froze
him to one spot.
    "Help me."

   **********************************************************************

    Tifa hugged herself and tried not to think too much.
    There's a thought, she told herself.
    How can I not think about thinking?
    And the more I try not think about it --
    She sighed as her gaze settled on the dull red rock of the Canyon. Her
heart yearned for -- for something. Anything. Tifa made a face as she heard
the sound of soft footsteps behind her.
    "Marlene are you still up? I said I'd --" she turned around and gasped.
    Cloud stood before her, an apparition covered in dust and grime.
    "Where were you?" Tifa backed away and lowered her voice, "You gave all
of us a scare."
    "Why?" the word came out detached and remote.
    "Huh?" Tifa blinked.
    "Why?" he repeated.
    Oh shit, she swallowed hard.
    "I don't what the fuck you're talking about," her voice rose.
    "You know precisely know what the *fuck* I'm talking about," Cloud
didn't bother hiding his anger, "Just tell me why'd you do it."
    "It's over," she lowered her head, "You still care?"
    "Oh I care," he gritted his teeth, "And I want to hear it. From your
own filthy mouth. You owe me that much."
    "Aren't you happy now?" Tifa turned away.
    "Happy?" he spat out, "Do I look like I'm happy right now?"
    "You've got her," she managed a small smile.
    "Like hell I do."
    Tifa frowned, "What are you saying?"
    "You don't need to worry about her anymore," he snarled, "She threw me
away for your sake just like you did for hers."
    "Wh-what did you just say?" she took in a deep breath and steadied
herself.
    "You heard me right the first time," Cloud hissed, "Don't make me
repeat it."
    "So what do you want me to do?' Tifa eyed him warily, "Kiss and make
up?"
    He looked at her in grim silence. His eyes smouldered with something
Tifa had never seen before -- and it frightened her.
    "Well?" his tone harsh.
    "Well what?" her face went taut as she forced out an answer, "I'm happy
now. As happy as I've ever been."
    "Are you?" he narrowed his eyes, "Or is this just more rubbish for me
to swallow?"
    "No," her words came out slow but firm, "I -- Marlene needs a mother."
    Cloud's face darkened at her words. The thoughts that ran through his
mind were not pleasant.
    "So it is over."
    She didn't reply.
    "Damn you," he grabbed her roughly, "I want an answer Tiff! A real
one!!"
    "DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME THAT AGAIN!" she shoved him away hotly, "It's
over! I don't want you around me anymore! NOW FUCK OFF!!"
    Tifa stood shaken by her own ferocity as Cloud stepped coldly away.
    "All right," his response contrasted to hers.
    "All right," he repeated and left without another word.
    When she was alone again, Tifa buried her face and wept.

   **********************************************************************

    "Help me," a blood soaked Reeve groaned on the floor.
    "I - I'll try," Shera had her hands on the door's wheel lock but her
eyes were glued to the bloody man.
    Cid stood slack jawed, "How the fuck you get here?"
    "L-later," Reeve gritted his teeth, "Damn, it hurts."
    "Cid," Shera looked up, "Give me a hand."
    He scowled and knelt beside Reeve.
    "Hold this here," the bandage she put over the man's wound was quickly
seeped in red, "Did you lock the other hatch?"
    "Yeah," Cid pressed down hard on the dressing -- Reeve winced but said
nothing.
    "He's hurt, but I think he'll be okay," Shera finished tying up the
bandage, "We should take him to a doctor."
    "Not jus' yet," Cid shook Reeve, "How'd you find us?"
    "He - he put - a bug on - the ship," Reeve tried to sit up.
    "You okay?" Shera asked him.
    The man nodded weakly.
    "What happened out there?" Cid asked him, "Tell me."
    "He - saw them - closing in - on the ship. Opened fire," Reeve coughed
until tears came to his eyes.
    "Greylorn," Cid snapped, "Where's he now?"
    Reeve shook his head, "Dunno. Took off after he p-pushed me out and
said, 'Run for it'."
    "You can't be serious," Shera gaped.
    "Believe him," Cid glanced at her, "That fucker would do anything you
can imagine."
    "And - more," Reeve heaved, "At least he's -- he's helping this time
around. He managed to lure most of them away in the chopper."
    "I'm still puzzled," Shera asked, "How'd you get inside?"
    Reeve gave her a ghastly smile and held up a bloody plastic keycard,
"All Shinra execs - have emergency - keys to th-- their - property."
    "Perks huh?" Cid smirked and helped the man up.
    The goatteed man didn't answer as he leaned against the bulkhead for
support. The buzzing all around became louder and reverberated throughout
the ship.
    "Cid," Shera's eyes widened, "I can still hear them."
    "Hey," Cid rasped, "I thought you said he lured them away."
    "Most of 'em. They're still - out there," Reeve cradled his arm,
"Listen."
    "Did any of 'em get in?" Cid barked.
    "No," Reeve swayed unsteadily, "I think they're still outside."
    "What now?" Shera looked worried.
    The pilot rubbed his chin, "This tub ain't no battleship 'dats fer
shure. It'll only be a matter of time b'fore they kin get in."
    "Can - can we take - off?" Reeve asked.
    Cid puffed a cheek, "They fly 'member?"
    "Not these," Reeve answered brusquely.
    "What the hell? Ar'they the ones from Kalm?" the pilot shuddered as he
remembered how the town disappeared in a cloud of smoke and noxious gas.
    "Cid?" she nudged him, "You okay?"
    He nodded and waved her off as Reeve spoke.
    "Neither. They don't fly," the man drew a breath, "At least from what
I've gathered from those damn spiders."
    "Spiders?"
    "Yeah," Reeve nodded, "That's as close as I can describe them. Any
closer and I wouldn't be here."
    "Then we can take off," Shera said relieved.
    "I'll give it a shot," Cid headed inside the cockpit.
    He threw Shera a wry glance as she walked in, "You didna touch this
right?"
    "No," she looked down sheepishly, "He showed up before I could get my
bearings."
    Cid grunted and his hands deftly flew over the controls, "Shera, get
him to a cabin would'ya?"
    "Huh?" she looked up, "He already headed off. He seems to know the ship
well enough."
    "Damn it, ya gave me a scare when ya screamed li'that."
    "*You* were scared?" the woman stood by the console, "I was petrified
when I heard something coming down the corridor and I thought it was you
but when I saw that it wasn't, I thought you had --" she hushed up and
stayed silent.
    He managed a weak smile, "Shera."
    "What?"
    "I - uh glad you didn't take off like you said you would."
    "Take -- off?" she looked at him puzzled.
    "You know," Cid's mouth twitched, "What you said to Vincent about you
wantin' to leave if I didn't come back after the whole mess with Meteor."
    "Vin-cent?" Shera pushed up her glasses, "Oh, right. The tall one with
the guns right?"
    "Who else?" he looked confused.
    "I never talked with him," she said nervously, "To be honest, h-he
scared me."
    Cid whipped around, "You mean - you never - you never said anything to
him?"
    "Said what?" Shera blinked, "I never talked with him. Honest!"
    The pilot slumped into his seat and whispered, "Son of a bitch."
    "Are you sure you're okay?" she put a hand on his shoulder.
    "Y-yeah," Cid patted her hand, "I'm fine."
    Shera bent down and whispered, "I would never moved away that easily.
I-I knew you'd come back one day. I knew it."
    Cid stroked her face with his rough hands, "I never said this --"
    "And you won't if we don't get out of here," a soft voice came from the
door.
    Shera backed off as Reeve stepped through the door.
    "Doncha' you know how ta knock?" Cid glared at him angrily.
    "If you want to know, the doors are starting to buckle."
    "Dammit!" Cid immediately turned his attention back towards the task at
hand. He shook his head as he read the dials, "There's too much weight!
That fucker must've gone down for 'em to come back so quick."
    "We have to get them off somehow," Reeve clutched his bandages.
    "'cept we caint," Cid shouted, "Unless we got sumthin' they want
elsewhere!"
    Shera turned around, "How much power do we have on board?"
    The pilot closed his eyes briefly, "Over 200,000 Shin-rods."
    "Great!" she scuttled off shouting, "I need some heavy gauge wiring!"
    "What are you --" Cid knitted his brow then grinned, "Good thinking."
    "Storage locker four and eleven!!" he called out after her.
    Reeve snapped up as the plan became apparent, "It might only force them
off for a while. The bastard said they're immune to everything except
fire."
    "That's all I need," Cid mumbled as he tore off a panel to reveal a
nest of wiring.
    "I'll give you a hand," he got up and left.
    The grizzled man was too busy to hear him as Shera came back with an
arm load of half inch thick cables.
    "Where's Reeve?" Cid said suddenly.
    "The other fellow?" Shera crawled underneath the console, "He went for
the engine room."
    "Jus' make shure you're careful now," Cid grabbed the engine room comm
tube, "Reeve? You whatcha doin'?"
    "I've seen how these things work. Don't worry," his voice came back
tinny, "I'll be at the main power relay junction. You ready up there?"
    "In a minute," her voice came out from underneath, "Hey! Stand on some
insulation."
    "Right," Reeve's voice came back louder, "Almost forgot."
    Cid tore off the seat cushion and stood on it.
    "Ready up here," his fingered a small green switch.
    "Done down here," Shera scooted back out.
    "C'mere," Cid growled. She blushed as he grabbed her by the waist and
had her stand on the plastic pad beside him. He leaned over to the tube and
shouted, "You down and ready Reeve?"
    "Ready," his voice came back up, "Throwing breakers four through nine."
    "Okay," Cid whispered, "Here goes nuthin'."
    "Yeah," Shera gave him a brave smile, "It better work."
    "How 'bout a kiss fer good luck?"
    Her eyes grew wide as he simultaneously pulled her and the switch
towards him.

   **********************************************************************

    Morning found Aeris wandering aimlessly through the tents. Her eyes
however, scanned the skies yearning for a glimpse of Highwind Too. It
helped that the sun was not directly overhead.
    I'm clinging onto false hope, she told herself.
    He won't be onboard, will he? Still . . .
    She sighed as she reflected on what happened.
    I did right, didn't I?
    Yeah.
    So why am I kicking myself?
    She sniffed audibly and rubbed her nose.
    I'll miss you Cloud.
    She couldn't even fathom why she liked him. Maybe because he such a
dead ringer for someone else.
    Poor Zack, she bit her lip. And it's all Hojo's fault.
    Egg headed bastard, she thought grimly. I hope you come back as some
low life crawling thing. Her thoughts drifted to Greylorn.
    Mom's dead because of you, you unsociable, murdering psychopath, her
hands bunched up. If you show your face up again I'm going to tear you a
new --
    Aeris caught herself. Oh my, what's gotten into me? All this rage, all
this anger.
    Get a hold of yourself. Several deep breaths helped steadied her out.
    Immersed in her own deep thoughts, she was oblivious to the deep
thundering behind her until it was almost too late. Aeris turned around
just in time to see a flash of feathers and claws dash past her. She
screamed as she teetered over and fell to the ground.
    Aeris coughed and picked herself up, ready to give out a piece of her
mind. The swirling dust made it difficult to discern who the rider was but
she saw he had the bird under control and had dismounted. She squinted a
bit then widened her eyes when she realized who it was.
    "Cloud?" Aeris cautiously approached, "What's the big idea running a
chocobo that fast? Someone could've been hurt. And where've you been? I was
worried."
    "What do you want?" he said gruffly and busied himself with the
numerous bags on the saddle.
    Her face showed concern, "What are you doing?"
    "What does it look like?" he snapped.
    Aeris batted her eyes, "Y-you're --- packing?"
    "That's the smartest thing you've ever said," Cloud grunted as he
tightened another strap.
    "Hey," she gaped, "What that supposed to mean?"
    "I don't know. And I don't care."
    "Cloud," Aeris began to reach out but she restrained herself, "What's
gotten into you? What's wrong?"
    "I'll tell you what's wrong," he said coldly, "I'm tired of you trying
to sort things out so you don't piss anyone off except yourself; I'm tired
of her saying she loves me and doing something that puts me and her in a
world of FUCKING hurt."
    She took a few steps backward as his voice rose with volcanic fury.
    "I've had it with you two!" Cloud shouted, "I'm tired of you two
haggling over my future like it was a damn game!"
    Aeris stood open mouthed as he stepped near. The strong smell of liqueur
invaded her nostrils as the young man hissed in her face, "So I'm leaving.
And you two can go do what ever the *hell* you want - I don't give a fuck
anymore -- you got that through your pretty head?"
    "B-but all your friends," she squeaked, "What about them?"
    "I can live without them," Cloud said quietly and backed away, "They
already do anyways."
    "They'd miss you," she pleaded.
    "I won't."
    "But Tifa ---!" she stopped as he glared at her menacingly.
    "You can call of your crusade," Cloud spat into the dirt, "That bitch
made her mind already."
    Her face whitened at his choice of words.
    "Y-you don't really mean that d-do you?" Aeris stammered.
    He gave her a gaunt stare, "Nothing means anything to me anymore."
    She moved forward to block his path, "Cloud wait -- give it another go
-- I --"
    "You made yourself clear yesterday on the ship," he began pushing past
her, "What more do you want? Blood?"
    "Cloud, wait --!" Aeris uttered a cry of alarm as he shoved her roughly
aside.

   **********************************************************************

    A few paces away, Tifa was toying with two matching strands of beads.
One long and one short.
    'A matched set,' the shopkeep had pitched, 'It's a matching pair of
bracelets for mothers and daughters.'
    Tifa wrinkled her nose as she remembered the price. It was damned
expensive for itsy bitsy pieces of turquoise on a string. But then again,
it'll give her something else to play with except my hair. She couldn't
hold back a smile as she thought about Marlene. A sudden cry jerked her out
from her reverie. Tifa blinked as she saw Aeris run up to Cloud. Words were
being exchanged between the two.
    Her plan worked, she managed a tight lipped smile.
    Finally.
    She began to turn around when he extended an arm and shoved the woman
roughly to the ground.
    Now what!?
    "Cloud!" Tifa shouted in alarm, "What the hell?!"
    She ran up and helped Aeris to her feet.
    "Stay out of this," his voice harsh.
    "Fuck you!" she shouted, "Have you gone mad?!"
    "The hell do you care?" Cloud stumbled drunkenly to his mount, "Why
don't you get back to your precious Marlene before she misses her 'momma'?"
    Aeris blanched as Tifa balled her hands.
    "I'm doing precisely what you two want," he slurred, "So just leave me
alone."
    "Like hell I will!" Tifa grabbed him as Cloud tried to mount up. The
scowl on his face gave her pause as he looked around.
    "Leggo of me."
    "You're not just gonna walk away from this," she hissed.
    "Why shouldn't I?" he shot back, "You already did."
    Tifa gritted her teeth as he repeated, "I said leggo of me."
    "Make me tough guy," she began to pull on him. Aeris' eyes grew wide as
Cloud suddenly lashed out.
    "TIFA!"
    The dark haired woman fell to the ground beside her in a heap. Aeris
bent over her, "You okay?"
    "I --," Tifa's voice came back quiet, "I'm -- all right."
    Aeris brushed away some hair and gasped.
    "Like hell you are," she whispered.
    Tifa had a dark bruise on her right cheek. The side of her lip was
cracked open and bleeding. The pink clad woman looked up at the young man
in horror.
    "You hit her."
    Cloud panted heavily as he stepped back, fists drawn.
    "YOU HIT HER!!" Aeris shrieked, "Have you lost you mind?!"
    "No," a sick smile crossed his face, "I think I've found it."
    "Damn you Cloud!" she screamed, "She's not your punching bag! Leave her
alone!"
    Aeris froze as he suddenly grabbed her by both arms.
    "That's exactly what I intend to do," Cloud roughly shoved her away and
turned around, leaving her quaking with fear.
    "I don't want to see either of you again," he said as he mounted the
saddle, "Because the next time I hit, I won't be empty handed."
    The massive blade glinted from his back as a wordless warning. The
two's eyes widened as he turned the chocobo at the gate.
    "I'm going," Cloud said dully, "Goodbye."
    "Where?!" Tifa barely managed to cry out before she winced and touched
her cheek.
    "Hell I hope," his voice soft as he dug into the bird's side, taking
off in a cloud of choking dust. When the air cleared, mount and rider had
disappeared into the maw of the badlands.

   **********************************************************************

    A few hours later, Highwind Too sailed gently over the mountain range.
Planet seemed insignificant as the airship sped past rivers and forests
which dotted its vast surface.
    "It's beautiful hmm?"
    "Yeah I guess," Cid threw a grin at the woman next to him.
    Last night's stunt had left Highwind Too without much power. The ship
could barely make it past dead slow early in the morning and it had taken
them all morning for the solar collectors to gather enough power to
recharge the ship.
    Thankfully both he and Shera were used to working like this, else the
procedure would have taken three of four times as long. His grin grew wider
as the woman scooped her hair back and tied it with a hair band.
    "What?" she caught his infectious smile.
    He shrugged and kept looking at her.
    "C'mon Cid. Keep your eyes on the panel."
    "It'll be all right," he chuckled, "Just keep doing what ever you're
doing."
    "Cid please," she held back a grin, "We'll crash if we keep messing
around!"
    "Don'cha worry," he leaned out of his chair and reached for her hand,
"I got ev'rythin' under control."
    "Remember what you said back at Midgar; do that stuff on your own
time."
    "Huh?" the pilot looked around and saw Reeve taking a seat behind them.
Shera blushed and busied herself with the dials before her.
    "Um, yeah," Cid chuckled and gripped the collective tightly.
    "And remember even though we're meeting back up with the others, we
 still 
got to find that maniac."
    Reeve rubbed his eyes and sighed, "Let's just hope he's not killing
 anyone
 right now."
    "Don't wirry," Cid wadded his cheek, "If anything Cloud's yer man fer
the job."
    "I suppose."
    Cid arched his brow and turned around, "Whaddaya mean s'pose?"
    Reeve sat up a bit straighter, "I don't want to poison everyone's
feelings, but have you noticed how after Aeris came back, he's just become
a different person?"
    "Yeah," Cid jutted his chin, "He's 'appy she's back."
    "Is he?" Reeve soured, "Back at Kalm, he was reported drunk --"
    "'ee jus' had a bad night," Cid countered, "Nuthin' much ta wirry
'bout."
    "I let it go," Reeve waved it by, "Then at Junon, he was in for
murder."
    The pilot said nothing.
    "That's what got us into all this trouble in the first place. I'm
telling you, he's changed," Reeve's voice held much disapproval, "I don't
know if I can trust work to him anymore."
    "I wouldna blame 'im," Cid shook his head, "I put it all on that
ess-oh-bee that pushed ya outta that chopper."
    "Maybe," Reeve started, "But that still doesn't help Cloud."
    "I'm a bit new to this," Shera piped up, "But who's exactly who again?"
    The two men looked at her oddly before Cid smacked his head, "Right.
You weren't 'round much were ya?"
    "Nope," she dipped her head slightly.
    "Hmm," Reeve stroked his goattee, "Where to begin?"
    "How about from the beginning?" Shera suggested.
    "That'll take firever," Cid chuckled.
    "We've got time," she frowned, "I waited this long right? What's
another half hour?"
    Reeve saw a scowl pass Cid's face before he straightened out. Shera
looked between them expectantly before the suited man sighed.
    "Why not? But I warn you, I don't really know the whole story."
    "Anything will help," the woman pushed up her black rimmed glasses, "I
don't know who all your friends are by sight. Except Vinn-senn --"
    "Vincent," Reeve corrected.
    "-- right," she nodded, "And that blonde haired fellow."
    "That's Cloud," Cid chipped in.
    "Him?" Shera swiveled her chair around, "He's the one you said was the
one who was going to lead you all into Planet?"
    "Yeah," the pilot scratched his head, "Sounds kinda crazy now huh?"
    "I'll say," she leaned into her seat, "It does sound crazy."
    "I suppose you told her about Aeris as well?" Reeve asked.
    "Nope. Not a word."
    Reeve glanced at Cid, who didn't move a muscle.
    "Who is she?" Shera asked.
    "To us, she was just a buddy," Cid spoke up before Reeve could answer,
"To him, she was his life."
    Her eyes widened, "What happened?"
    "Sephiroth killed her," Reeve lowered his voice, "Right before his
eyes."
    She gasped and covered her mouth, "And he couldn't -- couldn't do
anything?"
    "Nope," Cid said quietly, "Not a damn thing. Now you know why he's so
--" he mimed a gun with his hand and pointed at his head.
    "Oh," she furrowed her brow before turning back towards Reeve, "B-but
didn't you just say she came back?"
    "Yes," he nodded, "About four days ago."
    "From the dead?" Shera looked puzzled, "H-how?"
    Reeve shrugged, "I never bothered to ask. I had other things to do."
    Cid caught her looking at him.
    "What?"
    "Do you know?"
    "I don' butt into his bizniz an' he don' butt into mine. But I s'pect
that maniac is responsible."
    "Maniac?"
    "Greylorn," Reeve replied.
    "Yeah," Cid made a cutting gesture, "Chopper boy."
    Shera soured as the place fell silent for a while.
    "So," she looked up, "Shouldn't Cloud be happy now? It's a miracle.
She's alive --"
    "It's not that easy," Reeve began.
    "I guess," she hesitated, "But like you said, it's been four days since
--"
    "If you're talkin' 'bout him bein' spooked by her bein' alive and
kickin' you're wrong," Cid growled.
    "So what's the problem?"
    "It's Tifa."
    "Who?" she looked at Reeve.
    "After we thought Aeris --- passed away," he said quietly, "Cloud took
up with another woman."
    "Oh," Shera blinked and weighed her words carefully, "I see. So what's
this about Cloud arrested for murder?"
    Her face showed signs of shock, "Did -- did he kill one of them?"
    "No," Reeve replied quickly, "Tifa wouldn't let anything happen to
Aeris even if former didn't try."
    "Neither would Aeris," Cid soured then grew thoughtful, "Maybe it was
the aug'ment."
    "What argument?"
    The pilot took a breath before replying, "They had a fallin' out back
at Kalm."
    "Tifa and Cloud?" Reeve looked surprised, "I don't believe it."
    "Yeah, I didna wanna believe it either. They got a fairy book marriage
right?" Cid looked smug, "'cept they weren't married when Aeris popped back
up frim nowhere."
    "If she knew better, she'd leave them alone," Shera's face showed
disapproval.
    "I don't think that'll help," Reeve mused, "Cloud took it pretty hard
when she died. I don't think he'll want to let go just like that."
    "And Tyfa --?"
    "Tifa."
    "-- sorry," Shera tapped Cid lightly on the shoulder, "Quit correcting
me would you?" He grinned and patted her hand.
    "What about her? He can't just leave her."
    "That's jus' it," Cid said slowly as he remembered the events at the
Draggin' Dragon, "I don' think he's willin' to let her go either."
    "And you're saying he took it out on those people at Junon?" Reeve
soured.
    "Thatz my guess," Cid rasped.
    "I suppose I can give him another chance," the man said slowly, "But if
he screws up just once more --"
    Cid nodded, "I know. I know. Jus' lemme talk to him b'fore you do,
okay?"
    "All right then," Reeve eased back into his seat.
    Shera soured, "Well, I'm glad I don't have that problem."
    Reeve thought he saw Cid jump in his seat.
    "Well -- I wouldn't be so shur," the pilot started slowly.
    Shera's heart skipped a beat, "Cid ---?"
    "You don' hafta worry though. If you don' like her, you can always
unplug her and send her to the scrap yard."
    "What?! What are you talking about?" she asked confused.
    Cid chuckled, "O'course, I might hafta kill you if ya ever do it." He
patted the console in front of him.
    "What--?! Ooooh!" Shera angrily got up and left the cockpit in a huff.
    "Think that's wise?" Reeve asked quietly as soon as they were alone.
    "I t'ought so," Cid chuckled softly, "But she don' ever hafta worry
'bout somethin' like this."
    "Back when President Shinra still ran SEC," Reeve knitted his brow, "I
knew literally scores of young women who would throw themselves at rich
executives --and at Shinra celebrities."
    "What'cha getting' at?" Cid growled unkindly.
    "I'm just saying there may be someone else other than Shera," Reeve
measured his tone, "You were quite famous as Shinra's first and only man in
space."
    "Sorry to disappoin'cha bossman," Cid shook his head, "Maybe in the
past b'fore Rufus got killed. And besides, I did never hadda time to fool
aroun'. Not with the space program an' all."
    "Still," Reeve shrugged, "in her mind there is a possibility."
    "Maybe," the pilot patted the console sadly and told himself, but in
hers; not mine.

   **********************************************************************

    "Try not to move okay?" Aeris bent close.
    Tifa tried not to flinch as her friend put a wet towel on her bruise.
    "Thanks," she mumbled.
    "Try not to talk," Aeris gently scolded her.
    The other woman's eyes fell as she took up the rag from the slender
hand.
    "I'll be okay," Tifa's tone however, was anything but.
    "Sssh," Aeris placed her hand on her friend's forehead. She closed her
eyes and a dull green aura began to surround her. Tifa felt the swelling
recede and vanish. When the bruises had gone completely, Aeris fluttered
her eyes open and swayed unsteadily a bit.
    "Hey," Tifa nudged her, "Are you sure you're all right?"
    The pink clad woman nodded but held her head.
    "You seem to get zonked out when you do that," Tifa said nervously.
    "I'll be fine," Aeris forced a smile.
    Tifa looked down and mumbled something.
    "What?"
    She drew a breath, "I said I shouldn't have been there."
    Aeris looked bewildered, "What are you talking about?"
    "It was pretty stupid of me," Tifa said quietly, "I'm sorry."
    "Don't say that. I just never thought I'd see him -- do something like
that."
    Tifa said nothing as Aeris put a hand on her.
    "Does -- he --- drink much?" her voice quiet.
    Tifa shook his head, "Not since ---" she paused, "--- not for some
time."
    Aeris bit her lip and measured her next words out carefully, "H-has he
done this to you before?"
    "No," the reply came back slow and thoughtful, "We fought, but -- but
not like this."
    Memories of their life back in Midgar surfaced. Some sad, some happy.
Mostly the latter. Tifa's vision blurred as tears welled in her eyes.
    "'Not like this'?" Aeris whispered softly, "Oh, Tifa. I -- I --- I
never knew."
    "No!" Tifa's voice came out harder than she wanted. Aeris looked at her
with surprise.
    "No," the young woman regained control of herself, "I didn't mean that.
He never hit me. Never. We're like this y'know?"
    "I'm sorry but I don't," Aeris looked at her intently.
    "We just play a little more rough than most people," Tifa's eyes fell,
"At least we used to. It's just -- it's just that I said some nasty things
to him."
    "When?"
    Tifa sniffed audibly and looked down, "Just last night."
    "Was it about Marlene?"
    The raven haired woman averted her gaze and didn't answer. Aeris formed
a silent 'O' with her mouth as she looked on.
    "I deserve it," Tifa wrung the rag fiercely and struggled to keep under
control, "After all that. I deserve every bit of it."
    "No. No one deserves this," Aeris put her hand on hers, "No one."
    "You don't understand," Tifa shook her head and bit her lip, "I do a
lot of dumb things. And that was the dumbest --" she stopped and tried hard
not to cry, but it was no use. She let the tears fall.
    "Tifa! Tifa, stop," Aeris pleaded.
    "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," the woman wrenched the rag into a fierce knot.
    "Don't cry Tifa. Please don't cry," Aeris put her head down on her
friend and desperately tried to stay her own tears, "It'll be all right."
    "I'm sorry," the stricken woman wept on her friend's lap, "It's all my
fault he ran off!"
    "Hush now," the healer rocked her charge softly, "We'll find him. We'll
find him and straighten everything out."
    "What good will that do?" Tifa sobbed, "If I can't make him love you
--!"
    "You can't make him love me," Aeris held back her own tears, "I won't
stand for it."
    Tifa renewed her cries and refused to be silenced.
    "I love you both!" Aeris went on, "I can't stand to see the two of you
miserable for the rest of your lives."
    "And what about you?" Tifa looked up bleary eyed, "What about your
happiness?"
    Aeris felt a lump in her throat as she remembered who had asked her the
same thing the day before.
    "What about me?" she asked timidly.
    "I won't leave you like this," Tifa whispered.
    "I'll be -- happy. Eventually."
    "With someone else?" she looked at Aeris warily, "Or somewhere else?"
    "Does it matter?"
    "Oh yes it does," the young woman said fiercely, "It matters to me. It
matters a hell of a lot."
    "So we're back where we started," Aeris dipped her head.
    "Yeah," Tifa took a breath and halted her tears, "I guess we are."
    The two of them were quiet for a while.
    "Right now, we've got to find him first," Aeris finally said, "And make
sure he's okay."
    "Yeah. I guess you're right."
    "Tifa?"
    "What?"
    Aeris gave her a small squeeze before replying, "Thanks."
    Tifa blinked, "For what?"
    "F-for being there," Aeris looked up, "For me."
    "Hey," the other woman sat beside her friend and gave her a hug, "We're
still friends right?"
    "Yeah."
    "So there's no need to keep score right?"
    "Yeah," Aeris wore a weak smile, "I guess not."
    They both wore stupid grins when the deep THUD of an engine came to
their ears.
    "Hey," Tifa perked up, "He's back."
    "Just in time too," Aeris stood up, "Let's go."

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Next Episode: Words in Stone

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