(Continuing from the last chapter)

Barret: those bastards are gonna do what?!

Tifa: Shinra will blow up the pillar causing the plate to collapse on Sector 7's slums!

Cloud: we need to stop them!

Barret: Jessie, Briggs and Wedge are doing recon at the pillar with some of our soldiers

Y/N: well let's not stand around and do nothing, let's get to the pillar now!

The party left for the pillar while Aerith stayed behind to watch over Marlene.

The four Avalanche members ran all the way to the base of the pillar where they saw some Shinra helicopters scouting the area led by a Turk labeled helicopter piloted by Rude and Reno.

Tifa: they are really going through with this

Y/N: we'll stop them Tifa, and I'm damn sure we will

Tifa: I hope you're right

Cloud: come on

As the party was about to enter the base of the pillar, they were stopped by a platoon of Shinra guards.

Guard: freeze! You're not allowed here!

The party stood their ground and a fight ensued; Cloud and Y/N used their big swords to defeat the guards, Barret used his Gatling gun arm and Tifa used her fists to defeat the platoon.

Y/N: let's move!

The party ran up the stairs of the pillar base to get to the main structure holding up the Sector 7 plate. As they ran up the stairs, they were spotted by the Turk lead helicopter. Reno smirked as he recognized the hooded Y/N.

Reno: there you are, you bastard

The red haired Turk fired the helicopter's machine gun, but Y/N blocked the shots using his Twin Stinger blade, giving Tifa, Cloud and Barret the opportunity to keep running up.

Tifa: Y/N!

Y/N: just keep running!

As the helicopter stopped shooting, Y/N took the chance to shoot using his dual pistols, but Reno tilted the chopper to avoid the shots, giving Y/N time to catch up with the three. The SOLDIER Assassin ran up the stairs and through the walkways killing every guard he can see and stand in his way by drive-by shooting with his dual pistols.

As he was about to climb the ladder, he was blocked by a Shinra chopper.

Y/N: alright, I had enough of you, assholes

The former SOLDIER found cover to avoid the chopper's machine gun and used every chance to shoot down the chopper's weak area, its fuel tank. After some several shots, the chopper spun out of control and crashed down to the ground.

Y/N climbed up the ladder and caught up with Tifa, Cloud and Barret. Then the party saw the two other Shinra helicopter escorts exploded and crashed down.

Barret: that's got to be Jessie's work; Y/N, Tifa go help her out!

Tifa: roger!

Y/N nodded as he and Tifa went to Jessie's location to aid her.

(With Jessie)

Jessie

Jessie was Avalanche's explosive expert, crafting effective recipes to wipe out the field in Avalanche's favor. She was confronted by a squad of Shinra guards and a helicopter. Showing no fear, Jessie smirked and stood her ground.

Jessie: I crafted a new recipe. Well today's your unlucky day because I never miss

Jessie removed the pin of the grenade and threw it to the guards' and helicopter's direction; then a few seconds later a loud explosion was heard.

Tifa: it's Jessie!

Y/N and Tifa ran to the direction of the explosion, but then they found Jessie crushed under a pile of rubble.

Tifa: Jessie!

Y/N and Tifa ran to her and the former SOLDIER pulled out all the rubble.

Jessie: oh jeez... Tifa... if you could see the look on your face...

Tifa shook her head as tears began to fall from her eyes while Y/N helped and carried Jessie to a safe area.

Jessie: so... you're the guy... the one Cloud told me about... I've seen your skills... really impressive

Y/N: don't talk too much, we can get you help

Jessie: it's okay... they were my bombs. They were all... my victims. I had it coming

Y/N then set her down against a wall.

Y/N: just try to hang on!

Jessie smiled and chuckled.

Jessie: so dramatic... I... I just wish that... I could've invited all of you again... including you Y/N... everyone... with my mom's cooking

Y/N: you owe Cloud a pizza

Jessie: that's right, I do. But, I don't think..

Then tears began to fall from Tifa's eyes.

Jessie: oh no... Tifa's crying. Did I say something wrong?

Seeing Tifa cry almost brought out a tear from Y/N as well. Then Jessie hold on to Y/N's gauntlet.

Jessie: don't you guys... have somewhere to be? It's not polite... to stare... you know...

With those last words, Jessie passed away in Y/N's arms while Tifa clenched her fists and cried her eyes out. Y/N gently laid Jessie's body on the floor and closed her eyes, following the respectful last rite that his great great-grandfather did centuries ago.

Y/N: requiescat in pace

He then went to hug Tifa to console her as they have now lost one of their own teammates.

Y/N: come on Tifa, we'll avenge Jessie

Tifa got her senses together and the two watched as Jessie went back to the Planet. 

The two met up with Cloud and Barret on the control panel of the pillar.

Cloud: there you are

Barret: where's Jessie?

Y/N hung his head down and shook his head.

Tifa: Jessie... is back in the Planet

Barret: no...

Y/N: her heroic bravery won't be in vain

Barret: right, let's stop the countdown

But before they can hack the computer, they were stopped by machine gun fire by Reno and Rude.

Reno: uh uh uh, I wouldn't touch that if I were you

The helicopter floated near a ledge for Reno to get down.

Reno: Y/N, let's continue our battle... one on one

Y/N: guys, Reno is here for me, you take care of his partner

The three nodded and turned their attention to the helicopter while Y/N and Reno stared each other down.

Reno: you can't stop the countdown Y/N and there's no way out

Y/N: not for me... and not for you

Y/N sliced a piece of an iron bar to block the way of an incoming squad of guard. Reno smirked and the two began their battle blocking each other's shots.

Reno avoided gunshots from Y/N's pistols, but the SOLDIER Assassin blocked a jumping high blow from Reno.

Y/N managed to disarm Reno and knocked him down while Tifa, Cloud and Barret shot down Rude's helicopter using elemental attacks.

Reno: Rude!

The helicopter exploded and crashed down. However, Rude survived the crash and joined his partner in a fight against the four members. Cloud and Barret were fighting against Reno while Y/N and Tifa went against Rude.

(A few minutes later)

After the party neutralized the two Turk members, Y/N went to the panel and attempted to stop the countdown while Cloud interrogated Reno.

Cloud: how do we stop it?

Reno: you can't... you need access with a keycard

Cloud: where's the keycard?

Reno smirked and looked at Rude. Then Y/N went over and grabbed Rude by his suit while Barret attempted to stop the countdown his own way by shooting at the computer, but it didn't work.

Y/N: where's the keycard?!

Rude: go to hell...

Y/N felt the suit pockets and pulled out the card.

Tifa: that's gotta be the card, Y/N!

Y/N scanned the keycard and saw he had only 15 seconds before the plate collapses on innocent civilians at the slums, but saw that it needs a password.

Y/N: too easy

Y/N typed in the password and the clock stopped at .01 second. The party breathed a sigh of relief as they have prevented a major disaster.

Reno: don't think you have won-

Y/N: that's enough out of you!

Y/N knocked out Reno and Rude with his wrist gauntlets.

Barret: we stopped Shinra's evil plan

Cloud: we won the battle, but not the war

Y/N: let's get out of here, let the guards find their bosses

The party left the pillar and the last image that Cloud saw as he left was a lone black feather.