The pain would not stop as Sara thrashed while lying in bed. Her forehead started to sweat as she let out labor breaths. Sara couldn't help but feel confused; why was her heart hurting so much? Heartattack? No, she never developed the symptoms. So why is that she is feeling so much pain? She didn't know.

However, she was unaware that Sephiroth was standing right near the door, watching her closely. His green-snake eyes watched her like prey as a smile crept on his face as if he was enjoying watching his victim being tortured. Slowly he began to walk towards her.

Sara was still unaware of the uninvited guest; the pain in her heart began to hurt more. She whimpered while turning to her side, facing Sephiroth, who was standing right in front of her. Then she felt a soft touch on her head; it was a hand. Sephiroth was touching her.

The moment Sephiroth touched her head, the pain in her heart gradually started to go away, and her breaths became evenly. Then she fell into a deep sleep.

Sephiroth smiled at her not in a negative way but in a tender way. He leaned over as his mouth was merely inches away from her ear and whispered.

"The answers you're looking for are not here. Find me, the real me, and I will show you."

Hours later, Sara opened her eyes only to find that no one was in the room. Yet, she felt that there had to be someone watching her. Sara found a black feather on the edge of her bed. She picked it up and stared at it, confused.

She muttered, "Was it my imagination? She paused before shaking her head in denial, "I need to drink something hard."

Sara decided to head back to the bar. As she walked outside, she found Jessie standing near the door. Jessie looked at her concern and asked, "Hey, you okay? Tifa told us what happened, and we were kinda worried."

Sara gave her a small smile, "I'm fine, just seem a bit stressed."

Jessie nodded, "I can understand, especially since the next mission is tomorrow."

Sara asked confusingly, "Next mission?"

Jessie answered, "We couldn't wait on you. So we decided to start the meeting without you."

Sara remembered that Tifa told her to be at the bar for an important meeting. Sara cursed herself for missing it. Yet, Jessie smiled at her and continued.

Jessie, "Relax, Barret wanted to make sure that you were well-rested, which is why we decided not to come barging in, and he wanted me to tell you the details. So let me in your room, will you?"

Sara let Jessie in her apartment and locked the door behind her so that no one would disturb them. Jessie turned around and crossed her arms, then began to explain the details of tomorrow's mission.

Jessie, "So here's the plan, tomorrow we set out to bomb Mako Reactor 5. This time we won't be hiring Cloud on this one, and Tifa will be joining us."

Hearing that the merc won't be joining, Sara asked, "Why is Cloud not joining?"

Jessie sighed, "Because we don't have enough money to hire him even though I tried to talk everyone into having him join us. In the end, we decided that we shouldn't bother him in a fight that is not his, and we have you. You are about as skilled as him, and that's what concluded the meeting."

Sara felt flattered, yet she holds herself back from saying anything in denial. Jessie gives her an ID card that looks real, but Sara knew that it was fake. Jessie turned to the door and began to walk out, not before she said a farewell.

"That's your new ID card, and you better get plenty of rest." Jessie said, "We're going to rely on you more now that Cloud is out of the mission. So be on your A-game!"

Sara nodded, and Jessie shut the door. After Jessie left, Sara looked at her hand that held the black feather. She felt an aching feeling from her chest as she began to think about what Jessie told her. Even though it is true that Cloud doesn't need to be in battles that don't mean much to him unless he's in it for the right price yet, a part of her felt that if Cloud was there, Sara might feel more at ease because it seemed that Sephiroth might show up again. She had this foreboding feeling that he might show up again in the coming mission. If Sephiroth did show up again and Cloud was there, at least he'll be there to help out just in case if the worst were to come. But Cloud won't be there, and if Sephiroth showed up, Sara shuttered what could happen next.

Sara decided to head out and grabbed a bite to eat at a local cafe. As she was eating her sandwich, Biggs waved at her, with Wedge walking next to him.

Biggs sits next to her while Wedge sits in front of her. Biggs gives her a grin, "You seemed to be all better."

Sara smiled, "Yeah, sorry I missed the meeting."

Wedge replied, "It's okay, we understand, the pressure is on, and it can be quite stressful."

Biggs nodded, "Especially for Jessie."

Sara asked curiously, "Jessie?"

Biggs, "She's been acting kind of funny even during the meeting."

Wedge added, "Like she'll say one thing when it's written all over her face that she's thinking of something else."

Biggs agreed, "So if my hunch is correct, she might decide to take the last train tonight to go to the topside."

Sara asked, "Why would she go topside?"

Wedge answered, "She's got family up there, and she might wanna pay a visit."

Biggs, "The thing is, I've just found out that they've changed the times on when the trains arrive. Jessie probably doesn't know, and she'll more likely miss the last train. But I've got a plan."

Sara, "And that is?"

Wedge smiles, "We go up the track ourselves!"

Sara was a bit stunned. It was illegal to drive or walk on the train tracks, and if someone were to get caught, security will hunt them down and arrest them.

Biggs could tell that Sara didn't seem to like the idea and decided to talk it out, "We know that it's illegal but, we don't know that we'll make it out of this next mission alive. So it's better to go ahead and help Jessie out. So you in?"

Though Sara did agree with what Biggs said, after what happened during the first bomb, the next mission may be difficult than before. So tonight might be the only chance for Jessie to see her family.

Sara sighed, "All right, I'll help you guys out."

Biggs gave her a grin, "Splendid, come on, let's go get some bikes; we're going to need three or two."

The three of them head towards an old warehouse that had two bikes in storage. Biggs looks at the bikes, scratches his head in frustration seeing two bikes won't be enough for them. Biggs knew that if Jessie were to go topside, she would bring Cloud with her, and two motorcycles won't be enough for five people.

When Biggs was ready to develop a second plan, Sara pushed something covered by a long white sheet.

Biggs notices and asks, "What's that?"

Sara smirks, "My sweet baby."

Sara pulls the sheet that unveils a beautiful motorcycle that Biggs couldn't help but make a low whistle. The bike had crome on the frame, wheel rims, engine, shift levers, and handlebars. The front and back fenders were in a night-sky blue color. It was shaped like a bat's wings on the back fender, and on the front fender had scales of a snake etched on. The gas tank had five large scales as if it resembled a bell of a monster. The headlight was actually in the mouth of a crome dragon. The bike was not only looked badass, but it was also a piece of art.

Wedge commented, "Damn! That's some badass bike you have!"

Biggs added, "Not only badass but a piece of art too!"

Sara smiled, "I've had her since I became a hunter. I saved up a lot of money after hunting down a lot of formidable beasts. I knew an older man who builds vehicles. I told him what I wanted, and he made me this."

Biggs asked, "Does your bike have a name?"

Sara replied, "Yes, Fafnir."

Biggs nodded, "Hm, the name suits her well. Let's get going; the last train should've left already, and Jessie is probably heading to the station with Cloud."

Wedge and Sara nodded then they set out to the train station with their bikes. As Biggs predicted, Jessie did came to the station with Cloud. The moment Jessie saw them, she was surprised. Wedge waved at her while Biggs gave her a smirk and explained.

Biggs, "Tough break, they changed the times; the last train's already left. This is why we borrowed these bikes, well, except Sara has her motorcycle. Do you need a lift to the plate?"

Jessie couldn't believe what she heard. She started questioning, "How did you guess?"

Wedge answered, "Easy, you've been acting weird. Like, talking about one thing when you're obviously thinking about something else."

Biggs agreed with Wedge and added, "Yeah, and don't get me started on all that pep talk that happened at the meeting."

Jessie sighed but was still wondering, "All right, I'll give you that, but how did you know I wanted to head topside? Was I talking in my sleep? What else did I say?"

Wedge shook his head, "No, we just figured you wanted to see your parents. That's all."

Biggs winked at her and gave the thumbs up, "Nailed it, huh?"

Jessie smiled, "Yup, right on the head."

Biggs, "So seeing as we don't have any family of our own. How about you let us be a part of yours for a bit? You know, spread the wealth."

Jessie was still a bit unsure; she turns to Cloud and asks, "Is your family still around?"

Cloud shook his head, "No."

Jessie turned to Sara, "How about yours?"

Sara replied, "My mother is still around, and my father...he's dead."

Jessie could tell the slight pain in Sara's eyes when she mentioned her father. So she decided that perhaps it's a good thing for Cloud and Sara to see her family.

Jessie smiled, "All right, you're all invited. Here's to awkward family reunions!"

Wedge and Biggs exclaimed, "Yeah!"

Biggs handed his motorcycle to Cloud while he sat behind Wedge. Cloud got on the bike while having Jessie riding behind him. Sara pulls out her shades and turns on her bike. Cloud and Jessie look at her; both of them were amazed at Sara's bike.

Jessie commented, "Now that's what I call Hotwheels!"

Cloud asked, "Mind if I take it for a spin?"

Sara replied with a smile, "I don't mind after this is over."

Jessie frowned slightly but then turned to Wedge and Biggs, "I take it you boys have your brand-spanking-new IDs?"

Wedge and Biggs nodded, then Jessie exclaimed, "Then let's lay down some rubber!"

Biggs, "Crank that throttle!"

Wedge, "You got it!"

Sara, "Let's go, Fafnir!"

Cloud took the lead, while Wedge and Sara followed behind at high speed. As they rode down the corkscrew tunnel, Jessie decided to talk to Cloud.

Jessie, "Can you hear me?"

Cloud replied, "Yeah."

Jessie, "So that you know, I'm not going plateside for the reason they think I am. Look, you saw the way the reactor went up. It was huge, right?"

Cloud, "Because of all the mako. Isn't that what you said?"

Jessie nodded, "Yeah, that was wishful thinking. Deep down, it was all my fault. I used a more powerful blasting agent than the directions called for; it had nothing to do with the mako."

Cloud knew that Jessie had been feeling guilty ever since the explosion. For an amateur that has never done something like bombing a reactor naturally, that person would feel guilty. Cloud knew that if something had to be done like that, one would put aside their feelings and get the job done.

He sighed, "Let's say you're right, so what?"

Jessie began to explain her plan, "I'm planning on using a weaker blasting agent this time. But since I can't get in touch with my supplier, our only option is to loot a warehouse owned by Shinra."

Cloud's eyes widen in surprise, "Shinra? Good luck with that."

Jessie smiled, "With your help and Sara's help, we won't need luck."

Cloud sighed in exasperation as he looked at Sara, who was driving near him. He had to admit that having Sara at his side. He felt more at ease for some unknown reason. Cloud still had his suspicions about her, but right now, at least there's a skilled fighter who won't slow him down.

Suddenly Cloud noticed something up head; a sizeable orange screen was right in front of them.

Jessie saw this and exclaimed, "ID Scan! Ready?!"

Everyone braced themselves as they went through the ID scan screen. They went through the scan with no issue.

Biggs spoke loudly, "So far so good!"

Sara warned, "For now!"

Biggs, "What do you mean?"

Jessie answered, "Exactly what she said because the hard part is coming up!"

Biggs asked, "And that is?"

Jessie explained, "The fake IDs may have held up, but from this point on if we get pinged by a scan..." She paused, but Cloud finished her sentence, "They'll come for us."

Jessie nodded, "Yeah, what he said."

Biggs sighed, "Oh man!"

Wedged exclaimed, "Just like that!?"

Jessie smiled, "No need to worry. We've got Cloud and Sara, remember?" Then she remembered something and turned to Cloud, "Hey, you do know how to drive, right?"

Cloud replied brusquely, "SOLDIERs get mandatory training."

Jessie began to tease, "Well then! You gonna take my breath away? Make my head spin with your amazing skills?"

Cloud, "Don't blame me if ya get sick."

Jessie laughed nervously, "Right..."

Jessie heard the sound of motorcycles coming from behind them. She looked over her shoulder and saw two motorcycles driven by Shinra infantrymen.

She shouted in enthusiasm, "We've got company!"

Cloud commented, "Someone's having fun."

Jessie replied with excitement, "How could I not!? Pursued by villains, a young couple thrust together by fate race through the neon-streaked night!"

Cloud groaned, "Get off!"

As the two infantrymen drove ahead of the group, they began to shoot at them with their rifles one-handed. Cloud used his sword to block the incoming bullets. At the same time, Wedge did his best to avoid them by slowing down a bit, and Sara throttled her dragon motorcycle then used her sword to cut down the rear tires of both infantrymen, causing the enemy to crash.

Jessie commented after seeing the enemy left behind, "What a show-off!"

Sara shouted back, "I heard that!"

Yet, Biggs gave Sara a thumbs up, "Wicked move, Sara!"

Another Shinra motorcyclist races towards them and starts shooting at Sara. Cloud saw this and uses his sword, combining a wind materia creating a gusting wind towards the enemy that made them crash.

Jessie couldn't help but ask, "That some super-secret technique? You got a fancy name for it?"

Cloud was starting to get annoyed by Jessie's questions and replied coldly, "Of course not."

Then four more infantrymen came rushing down the track and started to attack.

Biggs exclaimed, "More of 'em?!"

Jessie started panicking dramatically, "Think we've bitten off more than we can chew! Whadda we do!?"

Cloud scolded her, "Shut up!"

Sara yelled, "Cloud, Wedge! Get ready!"

Wedge wondered, "Uh, for what?"

Sara didn't reply but increased her speed till she passed by the four infantrymen. Once she passed them, she started to spin her motorcycle while reaching one arm out with sword at hand. The four soldiers didn't have time to react and were hit by Sara's deadly spin. Cloud and Wedge dodge the incoming knocked-out enemies.

Biggs couldn't help but commented at Sara, "All right! Keep it up, Sara!"

Jessie complained, "Hey, can't you leave some for us! You're making Cloud look bad!"

Sara rolled her eyes and said nothing. Yet Cloud couldn't help but let out a chuckle; he was okay with Sara stealing the spotlight. At the same time, drones started to appear and began to shoot at the group.

Jessie shouted, "Heads up! Drones!"

Biggs sighed, "One thing after another. C'mon Wedge, gun it!"

Wedge shouted, "I am gunning it!

Sara clicked her tongue, "Damn it! I don't have anything to use against drones!"

Cloud assured her, "Don't worry, leave them to me!"

Sara smiled, "They're all yours, Cloud!"

Cloud swings his sword hitting the drones with a few wind slashes that made the robots explode. After that, the group made it out of the tunnel into the open track, which meant they made it to the topside.

Biggs cheered, "Woah! Topside!"

Jessie exclaimed, "We did it!"

Cloud asked Jessie, "Head to the station?"

Jessie replied, "No, head straight for the warehouse." She paused and frowned, "Awe! Our magical ride is almost at an end."

Biggs asked, "Why ya talking like we're not here?"

Jessie answered annoyingly, "Because you're not!"

Biggs shouted back, "Clearly, we are!"

Then four more infantrymen came speeding down the train tracks. Sara and the others were ready to take the enemy down, but then the enemy falls back. Sara could hear what the infantrymen were saying.

"Time's up. Break off before he shows up!"

"Copy!"

Sara had a foreboding feeling and warned Cloud, "Cloud! Get ready. I think something or someone is coming for us, and it's not those infantrymen!"

Cloud was about to ask Sara what did she mean. However, a loud explosion was heard from behind, and a man's voice was laughing loudly like a maniac. Sara saw a man soaring in the air riding a red motorcycle, wielding a broad sword. The man has a muscular build, fair skin, long blond hair styled like a mullet, and coiffed up top. He has a small goatee wearing a dark blue uniform paired with black combat boots, black leather belts with the SOLDIER emblem, silver gloves, and silver pauldrons.

Jessie saw the man and wondered, "Who's that?"

Cloud clicked his tongue, "A SOLDIER..."

Sara added, "And judging from the color of his uniform, he's 3rd Class."

Even though SOLDIER ranks from 3 to 1, fighting one is more troublesome than a squad of Shinra infantrymen. Fighting a SOLDIER from 3rd Class would be like fighting a brigade of Shinra officers. Fighting one from 2nd Class would be fighting an army of Shinra foot soldiers, and fighting a SOLDIER from 1st Class one would be saying his or her prayers. To know what rank a SOLDIER is from is the color of their uniform. For a 3rd rank member of SOLDIER, his uniform would be dark blue. A 2nd rank member would be a dark purple, and a 1st rank uniform would be black.

However, even though there are SOLDIER members, most would take the more tactical side when facing enemies. Yet there's always the one who would rather be more troublesome to most members, and Cloud could already tell that this 3rd ranked SOLDIER is a troublemaker.

The SOLDIER immediately came flying down the train track while spinning his bike and smiling.

He spoke in a cocky voice, "Well, hello!"

Biggs questioned, "Who's this?!"

The SOLDIER replied, "Too quick for the eye; you cross him, you die! Now, mind if I cut in?"

The SOLIDER immediately swings his sword, letting out a few wind slashes cutting down a bridge. As if the bridge was nothing more than cutting through a log cake.

The SOLDIER began to laugh with excitement, "Splendid! I've been looking for a new dance partner!" He pauses and sees Sara on her dragon motorcycle, "Well, well, now that is one beautiful bike with a beautiful rider! I would love to ride it or race for fun!"

Sara gave him a stern look, "In your dreams, hothead!"

The SOLDIER frowned, "Awe! C'mon, let's race to our hearts' content! I wanna hear that dragon roar!"

Sara declined the offer, "No!"

The SOLDIER sighed, "Fine by me, but allow me to introduce myself. The name's Roche, but you, my lady, shall call me Speed Demon."

Sara felt more disgusted by this asshole and accelerate her speed to the point that she almost left the group. But Roche almost caught up with her, and just when he was about to throw out some more flirting words. Sara immediately spins her bike at a fast pace; it was like seeing a light-up topper. Roche almost crashed right into her if it wasn't for his lightning reflexes. He managed to dodge the incoming spinner and let out a joyful shout.

Roche, "Amazing! Lady, you take my breath away!"

Sara gritted her teeth as those words sounded creepy. At that moment, two wind slashes were about to hit Roche as he was making his way closer to Sara. He avoided the attack and looked over his shoulder, seeing Cloud glaring at him.

Roche smiled, "Well, now, it seems someone wants to disrupt our little dance."

Cloud, "Leave her alone, or else..."

Roche, "Or else, what?"

Cloud didn't answer; instead, he let out five wind slashes with his sword. Roche manages to block a few while taking a few hits. Roche couldn't help but laugh as if he was having the time of his life."

Roche shouted joyfully, "Yes! Yes! Let's take this to the next level and reach the finish line!"

Cloud began to speed up and started attacking Roche in deadly sword combat, and sparks fly across as each blade clashed with each other. Jessie, who was riding behind Cloud, had to look away to avoid the sparks. Though she found it thrilling to be near the action, she also found it terrifying.

Seeing how his opponent was fighting well but also driving excellent, Roche commented, "Not bad! You have promise and abiding affection for your mount. But! One cannot simply ride one's bike! One must unlock its true potential to become one with the machine! Like this!"

Roche immediately drove up the steep wall with his bike and start casting thunder spells. The whole train track started to become a lightning show. Wedge, Cloud, and Sara both had to dodge the incoming lightning. Then Roche dropped down, letting out a vast lightning shock around his bike, forcing the others to brake immediately to avoid being shocked. At the same time, Cloud and Sara both attacked Roche, giving the SOLDIER not enough time to act. Sara managed to lay a few slashes on his left bicep and thigh. Cloud-managed to knock him on the side of the head. Roche was starting to wear down after casting many lighting spells and defending from the attacks; he lowered his head and began to breathe heavily.

Cloud noticed this and asked, "Had enough?"

Roche smirked, "Don't be absurd, as if I could ever grow tired of your company!"

Jessie saw an opportunity to attack and used her gun to shoot at Roche. But, the SOLDIER was too quick and dodged the bullet.

Roche exclaimed, "Naughty, naughty! Until one of our flames is forever extinguished, our dance will never end!"

As if he had a boost of energy, Roche began to attack aggressively. Cloud manages to deflect the attacks, even kick the side of Roche's bike. But what was slowing him down is he was driving, and he needed to finish this quickly. He thought of a plan.

Cloud turned to Jessie, "Jessie, take over!"

Jessie blinked, "Huh?!"

Cloud leaps up in the air in a split second, and Jessie takes over, driving the bike. Cloud manages to land on the front fender of Roche's bike and attacks Roche. But the rider deflects his attack, and Cloud jumps again; this time, he spins, and his sword makes a slash on the engine of Roche's bike. Cloud jumps back on Roche's bike, then heads back to Jessie and starts driving.

Roche sees the damage done to his bike and starts slowing down while commenting, "Well, well, well! I do believe this round is yours."

Roche looks at Cloud with a laugh as his eyes were glowing with admiration. As if the battle had awoken something within him.

Roche, "Maybe next time we can keep it just between the two of us?"

Cloud replied, "Maybe."

Roche then turned to Sara, "I still wanna take that lovely bike of yours for a spin."

Sara gave him a cold smile, "Only if you don't say those flowery words and don't crash my bike, then perhaps."

Roche begins to laugh as he backs away, "Until we meet again, my two friends!"

As the SOLDIER finally left, the group finally made it to their destination. Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge were still a bit shaken up after the fight with Roche. Yet, they were glad they made it safe and sound.

As they parked their bikes, Jessie spoke, "We'll go on foot from here. Don't wanna draw too much attention to ourselves."

Wedge rubbed his temple, "Uh, did these things get hit?"

Biggs lightly punched Wedge's belly and chuckled, "They gotcha good!"

Wedge rubbed his belly, feeling rather hungry, "Aw...and I'm running on fumes.."

Jessie laughed, "Don't worry, we'll top you up soon enough. Now let's roll!"

Jessie led the group up the metal stairs that led to a steel door. Luckily it was easy to unlock by pulling down a small lever. As the doors open, the group walked out into the open world where upper Sector 7 is seen. Upper Sector 7 is notably a lot cleaner than its undercity counterpart, with larger, concrete houses that do not appear to be cramped and cleaner streets. Even though the town is more sanitary, the night sky above the atmosphere seems to hold a gloom.

Jessie spoke as she looked around the small town, "Here we are, the employee housing district where they put you when your parents work for Shinra. While their reactors were slowly killing the planet, we were living the good life."

Her voice sounded full of regret, as if she was looking at her own past life. Perhaps she was one of those folks who used to think that having a reactor would be the norm and that the world was in a better place. But, when Jessie found out the truth about what Shinra was doing, it probably shocked her and made her feel guilty for being so blinded by Shinra. As Jessie continued walking down the empty street, Biggs noticed a giant billboard with an advertisement from Shinra that they were up for hire.

Biggs couldn't help but comment, "Folks around here probably make twice as much than me."

Jessie finally stopped near a house with the outside lights on; the others had none of their outdoor lights on.

Jessie couldn't help but smile at the scene, "Figures still leave the lights on every night for the girl who only comes home once every other blue moon. Mom's an old-fashioned type like that."

Wedge asked, "Think she'll make us pizza? Her "Midgar Special"?"

Biggs, "She's quite the cook. Quick to whip up finger-lickin' food even if you drop by in the dead of night."

Jessie added, "And she loves guests who ask for seconds or thirds."

Sara commented, "Sounds like she's a good mom."

Jessie blushed a little, then said, "Okay, let's head in, Cloud; you know what to do. Why don't you wait around the corner over there?"

Cloud nodded, "Okay."

Wedge sighed, "It's a shame you won't get to try the Midgar Special. You would've really liked it."

Jessie, Biggs, Wedge, and Sara all went inside the house as Cloud leaned against the corner of the house.

As Cloud stood outside of the house alone, he recalled what Jessie told him on the road.

Jessie, "With your help, we won't need luck. You'll take on just about any job, right? Well, I need you to rob my house. Think you can do that for me?"

Cloud sighed as he remembered when Jessie asked him to rob her house. He wasn't much good at stealing things. But, since Jessie had asked him while paying him with an ultra-rare materia, he couldn't say no.

After Cloud agreed, Jessie was thrilled and began to instruct him, "Go in through the back door when the coast is clear. The signal will be obvious."

Cloud watched a group of stray cats walking on top of a brick wall in front of him. They stopped as they looked at another cat that was black with yellow eyes. The cat looked at Cloud with gleaming eyes as it was licking its lips.

Cloud spoke to himself, "Once the lights come on, it's go time."

After he spoke, another outdoor light on the other corner of the house went on, which was the signal. Cloud strolled to make sure that he wasn't making too much noise. The stray cats scattered as Cloud moved. He found the back door of Jessie's house and carefully opened it, which was unlocked by Jessie.

As Cloud walked in, he remembered Jessie's instructions. Jessie, "Inside, you'll find a room with two doors. Don't take the one in front of you. You want the room on the right. That's where you'll find it. We'll be chatting Mom up in the kitchen, so don't even bother being quiet."

When Cloud walked in the house, he found himself in a small hallway with a wall coat hanger on the left with a few coats hung and a bench underneath the jackets, a small nightstand that sat in the corner between the two doors with a lamp on top. Judging from the style of the home, it was clean and cozy. Cloud could hear voices from the door in front of him; it was the others, followed by an older woman's voice that must be Jessie's mom.

Jessie," Sorry about dropping in like this again."

Jessie's mom replied sweetly, "This will always be your home, and you've brought a new friend; what's your name, dear?"

Sara replied, "Sara Griffin, I'm a good friend of Jessie's."

Jessie's mom spoke happily, "Wonderful that you've made a new friend, and by the way; How's practice going?"

Jessie replied with a nervous laugh, "It's...going."

Jessie's mom sighed, "You get so fixated lose sight of things. That's why I'm glad you've got a rock-like Biggs."

Jessie replied jokingly, "Always there, taking up space."

Biggs, "Hey!"

Jessie's mom laughed, "Raised on praise, I see."

Biggs exclaimed, "So that's where she gets it from!"

Wedge suddenly commented, "The legendary Midgar Special! Fantastic as always, Missus R!"

Jessie's mom replied warmly, "I always keep enough ingredients on hand to make extra just for you!"

Wedge, "Aw, wow! I feel like I'm part of the family!"

Biggs joked, "Yeah, like the dog!"

As the others continued chatting on, Cloud quietly walked to the door on the left of the hall, opened it, and went inside. The room's light was dim as Cloud walked inside. The room had several bookshelves on one wall and a small desk near the door. Cloud noticed a man with brown hair and ashen skin lying on a hospital bed. A life-support machine was next to the bed; the man appeared to be sleeping or perhaps in a coma. Cloud then remembered what Jessie told him next.

Jessie, "Dad will be in there, but it's okay. I need you to grab his Shinra ID card, and yeah, I know I should do it myself, but I honestly don't think I'm up to it. Just do this for me, okay?"

Cloud began to search around the room. He found a yellow suit that was hanging near the bed and decided to look there first. He remembered asking Jessie what his position was while working for Shinra and her response.

Jessie, "My dad was a maintenance supervisor at the reactor."

Cloud then started looking through the uniform and found a Shinra ID card with the name Rowen Rasberry. Cloud got what he came for and put the ID card in his pocket, then quietly left the room. Not before looking back at Jessie's father, who was still in a comatose state. Cloud wondered how did the poor guy end up like that? He knew that something horrible had happened. Cloud left the room and went outside, taking the back door, then waited patiently for the others to come out.

Back inside Jessie's home, everyone inside was enjoying the homemade pizza. Sara had never tasted something so good in a long time.

After they finished eating, Jessie's mom looked at Jessie with a questioned look, "When are you going to give up the Gold Saucer? How long has it been since you even performed?"

Sara looked at Jessie, who seemed to have a hard time answering her mom's question. Then Wedge started to talking.

Wedge, "A lot of people really rely on Jessie."

Jessie's mom crossed her arms, "As a stagehand though, right? You can be one of those anywhere. So why not come home and get a job at the Sector 8 theater?"

Sara was starting to get confused. The Gold Saucer was an amusement park that was west outside of Midgar. It would take a day and a half to get to the park. But why would Jessie's mom ask Jessie about being at the Gold Saucer?

Jessie replied to her mom with a vague answer, "Uhhh, I'll think about it." Then she quickly changed the subject, "You know, I'd really love to stay and chant, but we gotta go."

Jessie's mom's eyes widen, "So soon?!"

Jessie nodded, "Yeah, well, we hadn't even planned on dropping by. But Wedge wanted some of your famous pizza.

Wedge commented, "So good!"

Sara nodded, "My compliments to the chef!"

Jessie's mom offered, "Sure, I can't tempt you with some more?"

Wedge replied, "Maybe a couple of more slices, Mrs. R."

"WEDGE!" Jessie, Biggs, and Sara exclaimed as they jumped out of their seats.

Wedge defended himself, "Hey! I'm...I'm doing it for you guys! You don't want me going to work on an empty stomach."

After that, Jessie's mom made another pizza just for Wedge. Outside of the house, Cloud didn't seem to mind the waiting. He enjoyed his quiet time to himself as he waited patiently. Thirty minutes later, Jessie, Biggs, Wedge, and Sara left the house and went to Cloud.

Jessie greeted Cloud with a smile, "Hey there!"

Cloud hands her the ID, "This it?"

Jessie takes it, then smiles, and then says, "Now comes the hard part. I'm gonna use this to sneak into the 7-6 Annex."

Biggs sighed, "All right, let's get to it."

Jessie, "Sorry, but you're staying outside. Only I know what to steal from where, so it's gotta be me who goes in."

Biggs complained, "So we came all this way just to eat pizza?!"

Jessie giggled, "You think I'd let you off that easy? You're gonna earn every slice helping Cloud. Just do the thing where you draw everyone's attention away like you did at my parents'."

She paused as she scratched her brain, "What's the word again? Maybe I'm more nervous than I thought."

Cloud answered, "Diversion."

Jessie nodded, "Yeah, that! Nice one, military man."

Wedge seemed confused, "So what, does this mean we're gonna ask some Shinra folks out to dinner?"

Biggs scolded him, "You know damn well what she means."

Biggs gave Wedge a big poke in the gut that made Wedge yelped. After that, Biggs turned to Jessie, "While you're inside, we make sure the guards are focused on the outside. Yeah?"

Jessie smiled, "Exactly, couldn't've put it any better. When you see a flare go up, that's your cue. Rush the front gates and make fore the warehouse plaza. The more hell you raise, the more time you buy me."

Biggs sighed as he looks at Cloud and Sara, "You're gonna run these two into the ground, aren'tcha?"

Neither Cloud nor Sara didn't seem to mind what Biggs just said. Sara looked at Jessie and asked, "How much time do you think you'll need?"

Jessie answered, "Not too much. I'll be in and out. I'll send up another flare when I'm done. We rendezvous in the vacant lot up ahead."

Biggs recalled something and quickly asked, "Hold on. How are we supposed to get back to the slums? Wait for the first train?"

Jessie shook her head, "No, I wanna be back before that."

When she said that everyone wondered how are they suppose to get back before the first train?

Jessie assured them as if she knew what they were thinking, "Don't worry, I have something worked out. Now, let's get this done."

After that, Jessie ran up the street, leaving the others behind.

Biggs sighed and said, "Well, that diversion's not gonna create itself."

And so they began to make their way to the warehousing area. As they were walking, Biggs turned to Cloud.

Biggs, "Jessie's dad, was in there, right?"

Cloud nodded, "Yeah."

Biggs, "Mako poisoning."

Sara's eyes widened in shock, and Cloud saw Jessie's dad understood by hearing those two words. Mako poisoning is when a person is prolonged exposure to mako in its concentrated form can be dangerous and typically results in a disorder known as "mako poisoning." Heavy degrees of openness can disrupt a person's cognitive facilities to the point of inducing catatonia, coma, and even death.

Biggs continued, "It happened while Jessie was doing a show at the Gold Saucer. Ah, but what do you care?"

Cloud urged him, "No, I wanna hear it."

Biggs was surprised that Cloud was interested, and so he began to explain.

Biggs, "Jessie always wanted to be an actress. Worked her ass off for years until finally, she caught a break. Top billing, parents were thrilled. And then...right before opening night..."

Biggs couldn't seem to bring it up, and so Wedge spoke, "Her dad had an accident."

Biggs quietly sighed in relief as he mentally thanked Wedge and continued, "Collapsed from overwork...and in the worst possible place. Mako storage, her dad lay there half a day before someone found him. He has been like that ever since, with no change whatsoever. That's what got her into planetology and led her to seek out Avalanche. How far we've come..."

Wedge added, "Jessie's got a theory about it. She thinks her dad's spirit is stuck now between his body and the heart of the planet. So if we don't shut down the reactors soon..."

Biggs finished, "He'll get caught up in the flow and...poof."

Cloud chuckled; Biggs looked at him with a scowl, "What's so funny?"

Cloud answered, "Just that I understand how you feel. Unlike most of the time."

Biggs softened his look and said, "I see..." He then continued, "Mako's the essence of life itself, memory and hope. It's not something you burn in a reactor just to keep the lights on. Hell no."

Then, Biggs realized something and turned to Cloud and Sara, "Oh, don't tell Jessie about this little chat, okay? When she gets pissed, she gets punchy."

Sara nodded, "I understand."

Cloud shrugged his shoulders, "Well...no promises."

Wedge pleaded him, "He's serious, Cloud! She'll beat the shit out of us!"

Cloud, "Not my problem."

Biggs shook his head, "This guy!"

Sara spots a vacant lot up ahead as they were walking and says, "Hey! I think I see the empty lot that Jessie mentioned! We rendezvous here when we've got what we came for."

As they go through the empty lot, the group slowly creeps up to the entrance gate that leads to the 7-6 Annex warehouse. Sara noticed something rather odd and muttered, "It's too quiet."

Biggs didn't hear her and spoke softly, "Just need to get past this gate."

Sara looked at Cloud with a questioned look, "Cloud, do you see any guards?"

Cloud noticed that the entrance office of the gate was empty. He looked at Sara and shook his head. Sara knew something was not right and immediately dashed towards the gate, only discovered an unconscious Shinra officer lying on the floor.

Biggs, who followed behind her, saw this, and his eyes widen, "Looks like someone beat us here."

Sara nodded and added, "I don't think it was Jessie."

Biggs pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "This had better not get in the way of our plans."

Cloud assured them, "It won't."

Sara added, "The main point of this is to stay calm and focus on the objective. Once you got that, everything will flow smoothly."

Biggs smiled, "Thanks."

The four of them went through the gate entrance and found a large steel door that was slightly open.

Wedge spoke, "I think the plaza's that way while the warehouses are further in Jessie's supposed to be circling around from the back, right?"

Biggs nodded, "Yeah, and she'll signal us with a flare. Right now, I think we should make sure we are well equipped, and then we'll scout it out."

Cloud, "Sara and I can handle it."

Biggs gave him a smirk, "What, you're trying to keep us out of it now? Don't be a jackass."

Wedge nodded, "We're in this together!"

Sara gave Cloud a light punch on his right bicep and said, "Like or not, they're joining with us!"

Cloud spoke cocky, "Don't expect me to save you."

Biggs suggested, "Better get your gear set and if you've got summoning materia. You'd be best to equip it too."

Cloud grabbed Sara's arm and dragging her to a quiet spot where the others can't hear. Sara didn't like that she was being dragged and gave Cloud a stern look.

Cloud looked at her and asked, "What kind of materia do you have?"

Sara replied, "All of mine are high-level materia. I've got lighting, wind, fire, and ice. I do have a couple of healing items."

Cloud reached to his pocket and pulled out a large healing potion. Sara accepted the potion and put it in her back pocket. Potions are items that can help a person recover from their wounds or fatigue. The specific type of other items can remove poison, sleep, and many other things.

Cloud, "I've also got a summon materia. This one calls Ifrit."

There were all kinds of materia, but the ultra-rare ones and that cost a fortune are the ones that summon creatures. They are called Summon Materia. Summon materia will call a monster from a different dimension, and that creature will do the summoner's bidding. It's a very handy materia to have; however, they cost more than the high-level materia.

Sara asks, "Nice, but when do you think is a good time to summon Ifrit?"

Cloud answered, "When the battle gets too much is when I will summon him."

Sara agrees with him, "Got it! You ready?"

Cloud nodded as they went back to the others. Biggs starts going over their plan.

Biggs explains, "The two of you will start things off by cutting loose where everyone can see you."

Cloud and Sara nodded, then Wedge asks, "And us?"

Biggs answered, "We're the backup. First, we climb up high enough to get a vantage point, and then we go to town on them."

Cloud gazed into the starry sky and remembered an old memory from his childhood. He told Tifa to meet her at the water tower of their hometown and wanted to tell her something.

Flashback

Cloud was sitting at the edge of the water tower waiting. He was wearing a loose white t-shirt with blue trim, dark blue jean shorts, and shoes. His hair was still spiky, but he also had a ponytail.

"Heya." A familiar voice he heard from behind.

Cloud looked over his shoulder and saw Tifa, who sat near him. She wore a teal green dress with white trim and matching shoes.

Tifa asked, "So, what did you wanna talk about?"

Cloud answers, "When spring comes, I'm leaving town and going to Midgar."

Tifa didn't say anything for a moment. She seemed a little sad to hear the news. After a long pause, Tifa spoke, "Should've figured all the guys are leaving."

Cloud looked at her and explained more of his plan, "B-but I'm not like them. I'm not going just to look for work."

Tifa looked at him curiously, wondering what did he mean. She knew that many people would go to Midgar just for better jobs and a better life. So why would Cloud go if he's not like the other guys leaving town?

Cloud continued, "I'm gonna be a SOLDIER. The best of the best like Sephiroth."

Tifa looked at the night sky and wondered, "The great war hero, huh? Mm...Isn't it pretty hard to become a SOLDIER?"

Cloud nodded, "Yeah, so I won't be back for a long time."

Tifa, "Guess not, think you'll be in the papers?"

Cloud replied, "I'll try."

After that, silence fell for a moment. Then Tifa had an idea that pops into her head, and she looked at Cloud with a smile.

Tifa, "Just promise me one thing. When we're older, and you're a famous SOLDIER if I'm ever trapped or in trouble. Promise you'll come and save me."

Cloud looked at her with a stunned look, "Huh?!"

Tifa, "That's what heroes do. They save people. Please? Just once."

Cloud seemed a little unsure of what she said. Tifa urged him, "Come on, promise me!"

Cloud resign after Tifa's urging words and said, "Fine. I promise.

End of Flashback

Cloud looked at his hand after thinking about the promise he made to Tifa when they were just kids. He felt at; first, it seemed silly, but then he remembered the conversation he had with her at Seventh Heaven. When she immediately got back from the Avalanche meeting, and seemed very frustrated. Cloud had heard from Jessie that Tifa was against the bombings from the beginning.

Cloud asked, "I heard you're having second thoughts?"

Tifa replied, "I know we have to think big if we're going to make a difference. But not like this, it's just...I feel trapped."

Cloud looked at his hand as he remembered the worried look on Tifa's face. He felt that he should've done something, or he should've kept his promise. He clenched his hand as he made a vow to help Tifa whenever she needed it.

Then a bright ball of light shot up in the night sky.

Wedge exclaimed, "That's the signal!"

Biggs sighed, "All according to plan."

Sara turned to Cloud, "Let's go, Cloud!"

Cloud nodded as he and Sara dashed to the massive open steel door. Once Biggs and Wedge got in, they quickly made it to a high vantage point. As they did this, a squad of Security Officers was looking around the plaza.

One of the officers spoke, "I don't see any intruders. Maybe they went home."

An officer spots something, "Over there!"

The squad sees something in the dark, and it was Cloud and Sara drawing their swords, ready to attack.

Sara smirked as she said, "My friend, the fates are cruel...The arrow has left the bow of the goddess."