Chapter Eighteen

Cloud and Tifa returned to the Highwind to find it was in order and ready to leave. Cloud immediately went up to the bridge. Gyrn, who was alone in the room, looked up when Cloud stomped in.

“What was wrong with the ship?” Cloud asked, walking to the front of the bridge and gazing out the windows.

“Wrong?” Gyrn’s reply sounded startled. “Oh. That. Um. Kinda hard to explain. I wouldn’t want to bore you with the technical details of it.” The mechanic turned his attention to the instruments in front of him.

“Bore with me the technical details,” Cloud said, striding up to Gyrn and spinning him around in his chair.

Gyrn sputtered an incoherent oath, looking up at Cloud looming over him, then glancing around the room and realizing that they were alone. It suddenly occurred to Gyrn that it might not be a good thing to be alone with the ex-SOLDIER.

“Well, ok, I see you want to know all about it,” Gyrn finally managed to say, stalling a little while he tried to think up what could go wrong with the ship. “Well, you see, I kinda forgot the oil the third bilateral joint, and that caused an overextension of the universal joint situated at the sixth juncture of the bilateral component and-“

“I get the point,” Cloud said, cutting him off. Cloud leaned in toward Gyrn, placing a hand on each of the young mechanic’s shoulders. “Just make sure,” Cloud menaced in a low tone, “that it doesn’t happen again. We don’t have time for stupid errors to delay us. Every moment we lose due to some foolish mistake could cost the lives of hundreds of the people – even risk the whole world. Do you understand?” He gave Gyrn a little shake, his fingers digging into the other man’s flesh. “This isn’t a game!”

“Hey! All right already!” Gyrn said, trying to push Cloud away. “You don’t have to dislocate my shoulders to prove the point!” Cloud jumped away from Gyrn, his whole demeanor instantly changing.

“I’m sorry, Gyrn,” Cloud said. “It’s just that I’ve seen firsthand what Sephiroth has done to innocent people, and I just can’t stand the idea that he’s free to do it again. You understand?”

Gyrn gazed for a moment at Cloud, watching the swirling blue of the mako in Cloud’s eyes slowly fade. “Of course,” Gyrn said, turning slowly away from Cloud and looking back to his instruments. “As soon as Cid gets back up here, we’ll be ready to go.” He glance back over his shoulder at Cloud, then added, “Sir.”

“Somebody mention my name?” Cid said, striding on to the bridge and taking a long draw from his cigarette.

“Ready to depart, sir,” Gyrn replied.

“Got that problem fixed?” Cid fixed his gaze on Gyrn.

“Yessir,” Gyrn said, glancing at Cloud as he did so. Cid followed the young man’s gaze, frowning for a moment at the touch of fear he thought he detected in Gyrn’s eyes. Cid took another long drag from his cigarette as he considered if he should say something, but finally decided against it. He was looking for trouble in all the wrong places. There was enough trouble as it was with Sephiroth being loose again.

“Well, Cloud, you heard him. We are ready to go. Where to?”

“I take it Vincent and Nanaki have returned?” Cloud said, walking back to the windows.

“Yeah, they got back a while ago.” Cid grumbled something about branches and sneaking fools, but didn’t seem to want to elaborate.

“Good. Then we need to head to Nibelheim.”

“Nibelheim?”

“Yes. I need to send some of my graduates up to the Ancient’s City to protect it from looters.”

“You mean you’re sending them to Bone Village?”

“No, I mean to the Ancient’s City. Bone Village can burn to the ground.”

“Cloud! That ain’t right!” Cid angrily tossed the spent cigarette on the floor and ground it out.

“They allowed people to loot the Ancient’s City. They have earned what might come their way for that infraction,” Cloud said evenly, never turning his gaze from the windows.

Cid was about to respond, but he felt a soft touch on his shoulder. He turned to find Tifa standing behind him, pressing her finger against he lips as she silently shook her head.

“Let’s go to Nibelheim, then,” she said in a gentle tone after she was assured Cid wasn’t going to respond. “I’d like to make sure the children are OK, in any case.”

“You heard the woman, Gyrn,” Cid said, turning his attention to the mechanic. “Let’s get this ship off the ground!” Gyrn smiled at Cid’s gruff manner, relaxing in the familiarity of Cid’s rudeness.

As Gyrn and Cid launched the ship from the Northern Continent, Cloud remained at his post by the windows, gazing unseeingly at the land, then ocean that sped by.

“What are you thinking about?” Tifa asked, coming to stand beside her husband. He glanced at her and smiled, taking a moment to enjoy the way the sunlight made strands of her hair appear red.

“About Sephiroth. Trying to think one step ahead of him, so that we can catch him. I don’t want it to be like last time.”

“He won’t stay out of sight for long,” Tifa said. “In fact, they say that the villains always return to the scene of the crime…”

“In Sephiroth’s case, that would be anywhere on the planet,” Cloud said, “There isn’t a square foot he hasn’t committed a crime against.”

“That’s true,” Tifa said with a soft smile, amused at how single-minded Cloud was being. “But, in Sephiroth’s case. I think there are a few places that come to mind first. Midgar. The Northern Crater. Nibelheim…” She trailed off, realizing what she had said.

“If he went to the last,” Cloud said, “I would know. Besides,” he continued, “there are so many graduates hanging around, even he wouldn’t stand a chance.”

Tifa remained silent, looking out the window, thinking about the two children she had left alone.

“It will be ok, Tifa,” Cloud said, putting a reassuring arm around her shoulder and pulling her close to him. “The worst scare they had had is no doubt having to put up with a babysitter all day long.” Tifa laughed a little at that, leaning against him.

“Let’s go down to the conference room,” Cloud said after several minutes. “There are things I need to discuss with everyone.”

Fifteen minutes later, they had convened in the conference room. Barret stood scowling at Vincent and Nanaki, who seemed oblivious to the big man’s irritation. Vincent was perched on a large wooden cargo box, and Nanaki was sitting near him, his tail flicking occasionally. Cid, Cloud, and Tifa all sat at the table.

“I’ll be quick with this,” Cloud said, after everyone was situated, “I think that it would be faster if we split up. I am going to stay at Nibelheim with Tifa and Barret to set things up with the graduates. Cid, I want to you take Nanaki and Vincent to Condor. Make sure those fools haven’t allied themselves with Sephiroth. And discourage them from thinking about it if they haven’t.”

“And if they have?”

“Then they are the enemy. You can either dispatch them yourselves, or send word to the Academy and I will see to that a score of graduates takes care of them.”

“Don’t you think that’s a little overkill?” Cid said, frowning again. “I mean, we didn’t kill everyone in Shin-ra just because of Rufus and all. After all, they weren’t all bad.”

“I’ve always wondered if I shouldn’t have eliminated them all after the meteor,” Cloud said in a quiet tone. “If they have allied themselves with Sephiroth, then that will confirm my belief that they are willing to ally themselves with any strong tyrant that comes along, and that makes them too much of a danger to let them live.”

“Cloud, haven’t we had enough of killing?” Tifa asked. “I thought we were trying to stop the killing, not cause more.”

“Sometimes, if the toes have gangrene, you have to cut off the whole foot to save the body.” Cloud’s reply was even in tone, as if he made such deadly decisions everyday.

“These people aren’t infected with a deadly rot,” Tifa countered.

“They are infected with greed,” Cloud retorted, “which seems to be a very deadly rot.”

Tifa frowned, sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms over her chest. “Will you listen to me?” Her voice was very angry now. “This is not a game we are talking about!”

“I know that all to well,” Cloud replied, his voice still even.

“These are people you are treating like criminals, that you are ordering executions of! You haven’t even talked to them in five years, and yet, you see fit to condemn for actions they may not have even taken!”

“I did not-“

“Stop this foolishness, now.” Red jumped into the middle of the table, facing Cloud and Tifa with his teeth bared. “This is not what we need. Cloud, making such accusations without proof is ridiculous. Vincent and I will go to Condor and investigate. If we feel these people are suspicious, we will request that a squad of your graduates be sent to keep an eye on them – from a distance. It is quite possible that they don’t even know Sephiroth is back yet. I think it would be best if we kept it that way. If they make any overt actions against us, or others, only then can I condone violence against them.”

“Very well,” Cloud said, his voice unchanged. But his clenched fist and fiercely glowing eyes revealed his anger at being challenged and forced to back down from his decision.

“Cid, I would like you to find Yuffie. I sent her a message requesting her presence, but I don’t know where she was when I sent it to Wutai. When you find her, go to Midgar and look for evidence there.”

“With Yuffie? You mean I have to be stuck with that arrogant thief?”

“Cid, it’s been five years. She has changed, some.” Tifa smiled, thinking of the last time she had spoken with Yuffie. “She’s become a bit more civilized now. When was the last time you saw her?”

“The last time all of us were together,” Cid admitted, “I like my materia, OK?”

Tifa laughed at Cid’s petulant tone. “I think your materia is safe. She has so much now, that she gave me a whole bag of material that broke off from mastered stones.”

“She gave you materia?” Cid was shocked.

“I told you, she’s growing up.”

“Must have been a trick. Are you sure she didn’t take back that bag and more when she left?”

“Yes,” Tifa said, laughing as she got up and stretched. “Oof. I’m tired. Goodnight, everyone.” She left the room. Cloud got up, nodding goodnight to the others and followed his wife.

“Vincent,” Cid said, “wait a sec.”

Vincent looked up at Cid, having been bout ready to take his leave for the night. “Yes?”

“You still haven’t told us why you went off by yourself,” Cid reminded him.

“No, I haven’t.” Vincent hopped off the crate and headed to the door.

“I think you owe us an explanation,” Cid continued, standing up and blocking Vincent’s way. “After all, we were worried about you.”

“Yeah,” Barret added, “we was worried. That wasn’t very considerate of ya to go wandering off like that without telling any of us ‘bout it firstoff.”

“I don’t owe you anything,” Vincent said, bring his red eyes to meet Cid’s as he stopped before the pilot. “I am leaving now.”

Cid met Vincent’s gaze evenly, refusing to move. “It’s bothering me enough with Cloud acting strange. I don’t need two spooks on my ship.”

“I am not a ‘spook’,” Vincent replied in a low, dangerous tone.

“Then what are you?” Cid looked back a Nanaki, finding the cat was sitting on the table, watching them both intently. Barret stood rather tensely across the room, also watching them closely. Cid returned his gaze to Vincent. “Why did Tifa call you a monster?” Vincent’s eyes closed a little, as if the rest of his face, hidden by the red collar, was in a deep scowl.

“Cid,” Nanaki said, rising to all fours and taking a few steps toward them down the table, “that was uncalled for. Will you say that I am a monster next?”

“No,” Cid hurriedly replied, taking a step back from Vincent. He shook his head. “Don’t know what’s got in me. In all of us. It’s like Cloud’s madness is spreading.”

“Madness? What do ya mean by ‘madness’?” Barret demanded.

“It just came out,” Cid said, shaking his head again. He looked at Vincent. The red eyes were still staring intently at him. “It does seem like that, doesn’t it?” Cid looked away from Vincent, feeling somehow like he was prey in those eyes. He looked instead at Nanaki. “What do you think, Red?”

“I think we all need some rest,” the cat said, jumping off the table and walking to the door. “It had been a long day, and our tempers are running short. Tomorrow, we can discuss … whatever we feel needs discussing … with more even minds and tempers.” Red nudged the door open with a massive paw, leaving the room with a few more flicks of his tail.

“Goodnight, Cid, Barret,” Vincent said, moving around Cid and exiting after Red.

“I gotta relieve Gyrn at the wheel,” Cid said. “Goodnight, Barret.”

“Night, Cid.”

“Gyrn,” Cid said, entering the darkened bridge. At night, they always turned the lights down so that they could better see the landscape.

“Yessir.” Gyrn said, looking up from the control panel.

“How’s it going?” Cid asked, stepping up beside Gyrn and looking over the mechanic’s shoulder at the instrument readouts.

“Just fine, as always. We should arrive in about six hours.”

“Good,” Cid said, giving Gyrn a friendly pat on the shoulder. “I knew you could handle…What’s the matter?” Gyrn had flinched away from Cid’s hand, biting off a little yelp.

“Oh, I ran my shoulder into a steel reinforcement when I was down below ‘fixing’ things up. Stupid.” Gyrn rubbed at little at his shoulder, laughing sheepishly.

“You sure you are ok?” Cid asked, moving toward the light panel. “Maybe you should me look it over? I don’t need you out of commission because you are clumsy.” Cid added the last teasingly.

“No, no,” Gyrn said, waving Cid away from the light panel. “In any case, it’s your shift. I’m beat. I’ll see you in four.” Gyrn quickly left the bridge and headed for his quarters. Cid watched him leave, biting on his lip. He thought about the exchange he had seen earlier between his mechanic and Cloud. That quick look of fear that Gyrn had shown before returning to his work.

“Nah,” Cid said allowed, shaking his head. “That’s too weird. Just coincidence. Weird coincidence. Like Red said. We are all tired.”

Then why can’t I shake this feeling that Cloud’s gone off the deep end?

She watched the airship pass overhead with a growing sense of irritation.

“Dang it!” Yuffie slapped her hand on the chocobo’s neck, setting the bird at run after the ship. But the chocobo’s speed, as fast as it seemed, couldn’t compare to the airships engines. She halted the chocobo as the ship disappeared out of sight.

“How annoying.” She said to the chocobo, stroking its golden feathers. She looked behind her, observing the glow that rose off the decimated Midgar at night. She had been headed toward the city, she thought that whatever Cloud had wanted her for, he might have told Reeve about it. She had lost her PCS several years ago, and had always been meaning to get another, but she had never actually gotten around to it. Reeve, as far as she knew, still had a functioning PCS. And maybe Reeve had found some new materia he’d let her borrow and master.

Reeve had stayed at Midgar, helping those citizens who had been determined to stay in their ruined city find alternate sources for energy after the mako reactors had been destroyed. She had heard they had had some success with the old steam technology, and were also looking into water-powered reactors, but most people had reverted to using the most common source of energy – fire. Thus, the city glowed at night when the air was cold.

The chocobo started fidgeting, showing its irritation for having its run cut short. Sighing, Yuffie pulled the rein, turning the animal’s head back toward Midgar. Surely Reeve would know something.