Guilt’s Cost: Part LXVIII

Second Plan

The morning after Tseng’s operation he called for Tifa and Vincent to come to the infirmary. Despite the crushing pain in his chest he had things to attend to, and if that meant working from his hospital bed, then so be it. As he waited for them to show up he lifted the sheet covering his chest and stared at the line of surgical staples that ran down the length of his chest. Although he couldn’t see it from his current position, there was another line of similar staples running down the inside of his right thigh, where the vein they used for his bypass surgery had been harvested. After a while, they arrived and he allowed the sheet to fall back down over him.

"Good, you’re here." Tseng said, his voice still harsh and weak.

"What do you want to see us about?" Vincent was curious.

"We need to discuss the plan to get Cloud out of Hojo’s hands." Tseng did his best to prop himself up on his pillow, but the pain it caused him was intense. "We need to act as quickly as possible. If we delay it could mean Cloud’s life."

Vincent hung his head as he felt Tifa pick up his human hand. "Oh…"

"I know that this is going to be difficult for both of you, but we really do need your help." Tseng could see the pain on both their faces.

Tifa sighed. "We will help, it’s not a problem."

"Thank you." Tseng replied knowing that it was a problem for his brother. "I know I can’t go so I’ve picked a team to escort you."

"Who?" Vincent asked.

"Ericson, Morris, Reno, and Zale." Tseng knew Vincent wouldn’t be delighted at Reno’s inclusion.

"And will Angel be making the trip to Midgar with us?" Vincent hoped that she would.

"No." Tseng failed to hide his frown. "I had to remove her from any involvement in this assignment. She was, shall we say, too emotionally invested."

"I see." Vincent nodded slightly in disappointment.

"You will go in three days." Tseng rolled his eyes. "I was going to have you leave in two, but I talked to Reno this morning and he insisted it wait one extra day. Apparently he has something important planned."

Tifa smiled widely. "That’s because he and Angel are getting married."

Tseng looked somewhat surprised. "Really? I was starting to think that he was just all talk about that."

Vincent furrowed his brow. "Don’t I wish."

An uncomfortable silence fell upon them for a few moments.

Finally Tseng spoke up. "This mission is going to be extremely dangerous. We have been informed that security in the building has been tightened and certainly Hojo is expecting something after Quigley’s disappearance."

"Most likely." Vincent agreed. "I suppose this means we will be getting into the building a different way?"

"Correct." Tseng winced in pain. He had refused any drugs today wanting his mind to be clear enough to allow him to work on the mission’s plans. "Instead of going from the bottom up, you’re going from the top down."

"Surely they would notice a helicopter dropping us on the roof." Vincent sat on the edge of his brother’s bed.

"Yes, they would, and that is why you won’t be flow in. You will drive into Midgar from the outskirts. Once in town, you will make your way to the roof of the office building across the street. No one will stop you from getting up there since there is no security in that building. From there lines will be fired across to the roof of the Shin Ra building and you will climb over." Tseng had already put a lot of thought into this.

Tifa shuddered; her fear of heights was obvious. "That sounds dangerous."

"Don’t worry, you will have a harness on. My men won’t let you fall." Tseng smiled. "Once on the roof, you will get into the elevator shafts again from the maintenance bay. Make your way down to the lab level and get Cloud."

Vincent hated to ask, "And how do we get out? Please tell me we’re not going through the window again."

Tseng shook his head slightly. "No, they would pick us off of the side of the building like flies. Plus, we have no idea what kind of shape Cloud will be in. You need to get back to the elevators as quickly as possible. Ericson will disable all of the elevators except for the utility lift. It goes all the way to the roof, and you will be picked up by the chopper."

Vincent listened carefully, memorizing every detail. It didn’t sound too hard, but certainly Cloud would be guarded. His main concern would be Tifa’s safety. "What if Cloud refuses to go with us?"

Tseng was thoughtful for a moment. "If it comes down to it, I would hope that he could be incapacitated by Reno’s night staff and forced along. But if that fails, Vincent I want you to kill him."

Tifa gasped. "Kill him?"

Tseng sighed and looked into Tifa’s eyes. "I’m sorry, but we can’t allow Hojo to keep him. Ask Vincent, death is nothing compared to life in that lab."

Vincent stood back up and put his arm around her. He looked over at his brother. "Why do I get that order?"

"Because I trust you to do it properly. If I need a electrical specialist I ask for Ericson, if I need an assassin, I will ask you." Tseng locked gazes with his brother. "I know it may seem cruel, but you remember what it was like to waste away in Hojo’s care."

Vincent hung his head, holding Tifa closer. "Yes, I do. I understand why you want me to do it, and I have no problems with doing it, but I don’t want Tifa to resent me for it later."

She stepped back from him, her eyes burning. "No, Vincent, I wouldn’t be angry with you. It’s your job… and I can’t bear the thought of Cloud living there like that. We can’t let him suffer, but we’ve got to try to get him to leave with us willingly, and I can do that. I know I can."

Vincent was both touched and hurt by her determination, but Cloud’s life was more important than his own feelings. He had to do everything within his power to see that he didn’t have to resort to killing the ex-SOLDIER. "I have no doubt in your abilities."

She smiled weakly, knowing that this was not going to be easy for Vincent. "But if it doesn’t work, I think Cloud would have liked for you to be the one. He always liked you."

Now Vincent’s betrayal of Cloud by taking away his wife bit him. Things would certainly have been a lot simpler if Tifa hadn’t followed him seven years ago. He knew that no matter what Tifa said, she still loved him, and she always would. Just as he still held Lucretia in his heart. "It won’t come to that."