Final Fantasy

Eternal Silence

Chapter 3

"… Cloud never showed up…" Biggs muttered, leaning on the wall.

"You don’t think they got him… Barret?" Jessie asked.

Barret pounded his fist onto a nearby crate. "The hell do I look like, a mind reader?"

"Sorry…"

A pounding was heard on the roof of the train car, catching Bigg’s attention. "… nah. Couldn’t be."

Jessie looked up, "What?"

The pounding came harder, this time on the door.

Barret looked over, "The hell…?"

The door slid open, and no one was there.

"Jus’ the wind."

Just then, a person jumped in, landing on the floor.

"Cloud!"

"Cloud..!"

Biggs and Jessie said in unison.

Cloud rubbed the back of his head, "Sorry I’m late."

Barret pounded the crate again, "You damn right, you late! Jus’ come jumping in, actin’ all fancy n’ shit…"

"Hmm…. You were worried about me?"

"Hell no!" Barret threw open the door to the next car. "Let’s get goin.’"

Barret jumped through. Biggs looked at Cloud before following, "Hey, nice job back there!"

Jessie closed the side door, "Be careful. Don’t want to fall out."

She looked at Cloud and nodded, "Thanks for helping me back there, at the reactor."

"No problem."

Jessie smiled, then hopped through to the next car. Cloud jumped through next.

~*~

"Welcome to Midgar Lines. Last train out of Sector Eight Station. Expected time of arrival is 11:45PM, Sector Seven Train Graveyard…"

"Well, let’s jus’ chill here. We got a good hour ‘fore we’re home." Barret told the group. The four members of AVALANCHE were the only people on that train car.

Jessie walked over to a monitor showing cyber-map of Midgar, attached to a wall. "Hey Biggs, c’mere!"

Biggs chuckled, and walked over to Jessie, sliding an arm around her shoulders, "We watching your favorite show again?"

Jessie giggled, and slapped his shoulder playfully. "I like flashy stuff! So what! You have a pretty odd obsession with--"

Biggs silenced her with his hand, "Eh… not here."

Whilst Biggs and Jessie watched the monitor, Cloud sat down. He looked out the window, as the train began its descent into the slums. Whatever part of the sky that could be seen before, was now blocked out by the plates. Cloud sighed, "Pretty un-settling scenery…"

Barret looked up, "..huh? Never thought I’d hear something like that from you."

"Yeah, well…" Cloud looked down to the flower he received earlier. ‘…wonder how she managed to grow these…’

Barret continued, "But people still thrive down here. It’s polluted ‘n shit, and a breeding hole for deh’ scumbags, but there’s also those who have no choice, and make ‘da best of it."

Cloud put the flower away in a secure place, "…You’re right. No one lives in the slums because they want to…"

Biggs and Jessie moved to a seat, Jessie falling asleep against Biggs. Barret chuckled quietly, but kept silent otherwise.

And Cloud thought about nothing in particular, as the train finished its descent down the pillar, and entered the slums.

~*~

"Attention all passengers. We have arrived at Sector Seven. Please gather your belongings, and thank you for riding with Midgar Lines."

"Hey… Jess… we’re home." Biggs gently shook Jessie awake.

"Mmm…? Was I asleep?"

"Heh." Biggs stood up, pulling Jessie up with him.

Barret got up next, heading out.

Cloud exited last, and joined the others.

"‘Ey, ya’ll, over here!" Barret shouted, once the train had left.

The group quickly congregated, listening intently.

"This mission was all good, but there’s other Makou reactors to come! Don’ go bein’ scared of that explosion! ‘Cuz the next one’s gonna be bigga than that!"

"Yeah! Jessie’s workin’ on a bigger bomb this time. Right?"

Jessie blushed, "Don’t act like it’s a big deal…"

"Awright, les’ split up, meet at the hideout in five minutes!"

Biggs and Jessie walked hand-in-hand one way, Barret took another path. Cloud looked at a small spot near the stairs, then shook his head, and ran after.

~*~

"Shelia, get me Reeve."

"Yes, Mr. President."

A few minutes later, the door to President Shin-Ra’s office opened, and a tall, skinny man walked in. He had ebony hair running from his head, down his cheeks to end in a goatee on his chin, and cool brown eyes.

"Reeve, it happened again."

"I-I’m sorry sir. I’ll tighten the security in the--"

"No need. I will go personally. There have been rumors flying around, that they will attack the No. 5 Reactor next, am I right?"

"Y-yes, sir."

President Shin-Ra stood up, to face Reeve. Even though he was a good foot shorter than him, the President was still his superior.

"Arrange for a helicopter there at 9am. They’re likely to strike early."

"Yes sir. I’ll inform Bill to have it ready for you."

The President nodded and dismissed Reeve, who took a short bow at the waist before heading out. Just as he put his hand on the doorknob, Shin-Ra spoke up again.

"And Reeve… this better not happen again."

"I-it won’t, sir."

~*~

Barret walked up the stairs to a building, with one sign that read "Tifa’s Seventh Heaven" and another that read, "Sorry, We’re Closed." Ignoring the latter, he entered the building, to be greeted by a little voice.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

A small child ran up to Barret, jumping into his arms.

"Hey … how’s my babe?"

A young woman walked from behind the bar, wearing a black mini-skirt and white halter-top, her long, dark, chocolate hair tied at the very end.

"Marlene, tell your daddy what you did today?"

The child looked up at her father, "I helped Tifa make the drinks!"

Barret chuckled, "Really?"

Biggs and Jessie ran up the stairs and entered the bar, laughing and heading towards the back room.

Cloud followed, one hand jammed into his pocket, the other dangling freely at his side.

"Hello, Cloud. How did your day go?"

He looked up at the woman, "…it was fine. How was yours Tifa?"

Tifa smiled, "Great."

A short, stout man, Wedge, came up an ‘elevator,’ consisting of a pinball machine.

"Hey, you guys gotta see the news!"

Barret went down the shaft, Marlene perched on his shoulder, and Wedge followed. Cloud was about to step on, when Tifa interrupted him.

"Hey Cloud, why don’t you sit down?"

Cloud shrugged his shoulders casually, and sat on one of the stools.

"Something to drink?"

"…give me something hard."

Tifa nodded and turned around, grabbing a glass with one hand and a bottle with the other. She turned around and slid it down the bar, for Cloud to stop with his palm.

"Hehe, nice catch."

"…" Cloud took a sip of his drink.

"How did the mission go?"

"Fine…"

"Good. I was so afraid you’d be hurt.."

Cloud slammed his glass on the bar, "What’s with you suddenly, Tifa?"

"I…don’t know. I was just worried, I guess."

Cloud took another sip of his drink.

"..be sure to get your pay from Barret."

Cloud set the now empty glass on the bar, wiping his mouth roughly with his free arm. He then stood up, "Don’t worry. As soon as I get my money… I’m leaving."

He walked over to the pinball machine, and lowered down below.

~*~

"…explosions. This will come to an end, so Midgar citizens need not fear. I have mobilized SOLDIER to prevent any more senseless explosions. Thank you, and good night."

Wedge clicked the TV off. "Heh, quite a speech."

"Daddy, what did you and Biggs and Jessie and Cloud do tooday?"

"We went out to visit someone, sweetie."

"Who?"

"…Santa Claus."

"Wow, really? Do you know if he’s gonna bring us a new house for Christmas?"

"… maybe."

Wedge looked at Barret jokingly, mouthing the words, ‘Nice cover-up.’

Barret just glared, and Wedge quickly looked away, just as Cloud came downstairs.

"Oh, hi Cloud. What’s up? (Psst—watch out for Barret.) Oh yeah, wasn’t the bomb Jessie made great?"

"…Yeah (Psst—I already noticed..)..thanks."

Cloud sat down on a crate, and Barret looked at him.

"’Ey, I got a question. Was there any of dem SOLDIER’s fightin’ us today?"

Cloud looked up, "If there were, you wouldn’t be alive to ask that question."

Barret glared and motioned with his gun-arm, "Don’t go thinkin’ you so bad jes’ cause you was in SOLDIER. Your spiky ass is workin’ for AVALANCHE now, you betta’ not have any ideas ‘bout goin back to Shin-Ra!"

Cloud slammed his fist on the crate, and stood up. "Shin-Ra? What the hell are you talking about? You think I’m still working for them?"

Barret arched an eyebrow, "Mebbe."

Cloud glared up at him, "I’m going upstairs. I want to talk about my money."

Just as Cloud was about to get on the elevator, Tifa jumped down the shaft. She saw Cloud and asked, "Cloud, where are you going?"

Before he could answer, Barret snapped, "Jus’ leave him alone Tifa! Looks like he still misses Shin-Ra!"

Cloud spun around, "Shut the hell up, Barret! I don’t care for Shin-Ra, or SOLDIER!"

He shook his head and headed back to the pinball machine, "But don’t get me wrong! I don’t care for AVALANCHE either, or the Planet, for that matter!"

He slammed his hand on the button, and disappeared upstairs. Tifa shook her head, "I’ll go try and talk some sense into him." She called the elevator back down, and got on.

~*~

‘Damn him… if he wants to be such a smartass, then screw him and his whole group…’

Cloud stared at the door, then his thoughts were interrupted.

"Cloud, please..!"

He turned around, "Tifa, what?"

"Please stay, don’t pay any attention to Barret! He’s just being himself.."

Cloud shook his head, "Sorry Teef…" He started walking towards the door.

"So, that’s it then?! You’re just going to walk out on your childhood friend like that?"

He spun around, "…what…?"

Tifa shook her head, "You forgot our promise… didn’t you…?"

"Promise…?"

"Remember, Cloud! It was seven years ago, in December…"

~*~

‘…she won’t show…’

A young Cloud sat on the side of the well, dressed quite light for such a cold winter day.

"…sorry I’m late.."

Tifa climbed up the well, to sit next to him.

"So, wasn’t there something you wanted to talk to me about…?"

Cloud nodded, "Come this Spring, I’m leaving this town for Midgar."

Tifa looked down, "…all the boys are leaving this town.."

"Yes… but I’m different from all of them. I’m not just going to look for a job…"

Tifa looked up at him questioningly.

"…I want to join SOLDIER. So I can be like Sephiroth."

"…Sephiroth… the Great Sephiroth…"

Cloud nodded.

"…will you be in the newspapers if you do well…?"

Cloud looked down, "I don’t know. But I won’t be able to return to this town for a while."

"…let’s make a promise then."

"…what?"

"Umm… if you get really famous, and I’m ever in a bind, you’ll come save me."

"…what?"

"Come on…! Promise me…!"

Cloud nodded, "All right, I promise."

~*~

"…I remember now."

Tifa smiled, "Then, will you stay?"

Cloud shook his head, "I’m not famous…"

Tifa frowned, "So? Please, Cloud. Please stay with us."

"Yo, Spike!"

The two turned around to see Barret getting off the elevator, "Here’s your damn money." He tossed Cloud three 500gil coins.

Cloud looked at Tifa’s hopeful expression, then at Barret, "You call this my pay..? You gotta be kidding me."

Tifa brightened up, "You mean…"

"I’ll do the next mission for 3000gil.

"WHAT?!?!?!?"

"Barret, calm down… (psst… we’re really hurting for help, right?)"

"… (psst… that money’s to pay for Marlene and her school…!)"

Barret looked at Cloud, "2000!"

Cloud smirked, "Deal."

Tifa hugged him, "Thanks, Cloud."