Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Learning Curve Continuum ❯ Reunion ( Chapter 17 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: Definitely not mine; always returned to Square Enix after they’ve been completely traumatized.

A/N: Merrily warping Cloud’s prenatal back-story to suit my ebil plans, which were influenced by the OAV Last Order.  Inside the reactor, Cloud’s eyes glow green once he’s been skewered by Masamune – before he was injected with mako and Jenova  by Hojo - and Sephiroth smirks knowingly when he notices, as if he has inside information.  I took this small interaction, added it to the hints in the game that Cloud is ‘different’ right from childhood (is merely bruised in a fall that nearly kills Tifa, felt ‘superior’ to the rest of the kids) and ran with it.

The sequence of events inside the reactor is based on Last Order’s version, where the Jenova chamber and the reactor core are one in the same.  Pinching dialogue and situations from Last Order and Crisis Core.

In Japanese hospitals, family members are expected to stay with patients at all times during the day and assist the staff with patient care.  The staff of the Mideel clinic has even higher expectations of Tifa, being as she’s apparently with the ShinRa military and has therefore had medic training.   

Warnings: Coarse language, violence, materia and canon abuse.

Bouquets to my wonderful betas, Kitsune13/TamLin and Ranuel.  Love you guys!

Learning Curve Continuum
Chapter Seventeen: Reunion
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“I see ShinRa has finally arrived!”

Tifa wiped her face and forced herself upright to face the doctor.  “What’s wrong with him?”

“Acute mako poisoning,” he replied.  “Worst case I’ve seen in over twenty years.  I’m surprised that he’s still alive, because that amount would’ve killed even a normal SOLDIER.”

“Mako poisoning?”

He squinted at Tifa’s face.  “Haven’t had your shots yet, son?”

“No, sir.  I, um, haven’t taken the exams yet.”

“Mm.  Since Meteor’s almost upon us, it looks like you’ll miss out on the opportunity to experience severe disorientation and hallucinations – but nothing like he’s going through.  He’s very far away from us right now.”

“Is there anything you can do for him?”

Shaking his head, he said, “It takes time – something the world doesn’t have much of right now.  In cases less severe than his, the symptoms can last months.”  Pulling out a small clipboard, he said, “I’m Dr. Lassiter.  What is this young man’s name?”

Tifa was too devastated to fabricate.  “Cloud Strife.”  She wasn’t prepared for the doctor’s startled reaction.

“Strife?  Where’s he from?”

“Nibelheim.”

“Do you happen to know his father’s first name?”

Something in Dr. Lassiter’s eager tone reached through Tifa’s mental exhaustion and set off alarm bells.  “I can’t recall.”

He didn’t appear to be put off.  “Wouldn’t that be interesting…” he murmured, scribbling notes on the clipboard.

“What do you mean?”

“I have to look into it before I say anything else,” he cheerily said.  “In the meantime, there’s a ShinRa airship hovering overhead and a Second Class intimidating my staff.  Will I be releasing Commander Strife into your charge?”

“Our orders were to locate him; I’ll check with my superiors.”  Tifa turned and placed her hand on Cloud’s shoulder.  “I’ll be right back, sir” she said, squeezing firmly in hopes he would at least acknowledge her presence, but aside from a twitch in the muscle under her fingers, there was nothing.  It was his lack of response that helped make up her mind.  I just hope the others will understand.

Walking quickly back down the hall towards the nurse’s station, Tifa caught sight of Vincent, once again clad in the red uniform of a Second Class and wearing a pair of goggles to conceal his crimson eyes. Sighing deeply, Tifa hardened her resolve.  Barret will be so disappointed in me, but I have to do this.  I can’t leave Cloud on his own, not after everything that’s happened to him.  Coming to a halt in front of Vincent, Tifa squared up, saluted smartly and was amused at the way his eyebrows shot up.  “Commander Strife is in no condition to fight, sir.”

“Why not?”

“The doctor has diagnosed him with acute mako poisoning.  His mind is gone, sir.”

“That is most unfortunate,” Vincent murmured.  “Walk with me, Laurence.”  He managed to give the impression of a cape flaring around him as he turned and exited the building.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Tifa said to the nurse, who was plainly to see the back side of Vincent.  “Commander Strife can’t go with us, so I’m going to volunteer to remain behind with him.”   Unconsciously clenching her fists, Tifa continued, “He’s been through so much, and done so much for all of us that he shouldn’t be left on his own.”

The young woman smiled softly.  “He’s lucky to have you as a friend.”

“You wanna stay here wit’ Spiky?”

“Yes.” Flinching internally, Tifa did her best to keep a calm facade.  I might’ve known Vincent would insist on me doing this face-to-face.

“Dammit, Tifa,” Barret growled.  “You sure ‘bout this?”

“Yes.”

“Fuck.  Guess ya gotta do what ya think is best.”

“I’m sorry for leaving the team at a time like this,” Tifa said, twisting her hands together.  “But I can’t abandon Cloud, either.  He asked me to stay by his side, and I promised I would.”

“That’s practically a fucking marriage vow,” Cid commented, blowing a smoke ring.

Barret shot a startled look at the pilot before demanding, “Is he right?”

Tifa instantly flushed brilliant scarlet, opened her mouth to deny Cid’s assumption, then thought twice and nodded instead.  

The big man grimaced.  “Hope ya know what the hell yer doin’,” he growled, but then belied his fierce expression with a roughly affectionate shoulder-pat that nearly knocked her over.  

Yuffie stepped in and tightly hugged a still-glowing Tifa. “Maybe Cloud’ll snap out of it if you’re with him.”

“Cross your fingers for us,” she murmured, squeezing the teen until she was breathless.  “All of you – be careful.”

“Ah, don’t you fucking worry ‘bout us!” Cid grinned.  “We got it under control.”  

Tifa cracked a smile.  “Spoken like a true leader, Cid.”

“Leader?  Me?  Fuck, no!  Too much fucking hassle!”

“You have the airship, and you have a loyal crew,” she pointed out.  “You obviously have successful command experience.”

Cid blinked, then took a long drag on his cigarette and exhaled slowly.  “All right,” he grudgingly conceded.  “We’re gonna look into this Huge Materia business because it appears that fucking ShinRa’s gonna fuck some more with Corel and Fort Condor, and then we’ll come back to check on you.  Like the kid says, maybe he’ll snap outta it if you’re with ‘im.”

“Ye an’ th’ laddie should be safe from bein’ reported,” Cait Sith announced.  “Communication lines with th’ mainland were disrupted several days ago by an earthquake, while ye were still out cold in Junon.”

“Thanks, Cait.”

He tipped her a wink. “‘Specially since yer handsome mug was beamed live all over t’Planet, tellin’ people ‘bout ShinRa bein’ idiots.”

A few minutes later, as she was leaving the cockpit with Nanaki and Vincent, Yuffie dashed out of a door marked ‘Crew Quarters’.  “Wait!”  Shoving two materia into Tifa’s hands, the teen exclaimed, “Maybe one of these will work on Cloud?”

“Worth a shot.”  Smiling gratefully at Yuffie, Tifa added the Restore and Heal materia to her array.  “Thanks.”  

As she climbed the stairs to the main deck with Vincent, Nanaki murmured, “Good luck, Tifa-san.  Take care of yourself and Cloud-san.”

Barely remembering to salute instead of wave, Tifa watched the Highwind rise high into the clear afternoon sky, its fuselage glowing orange from Meteor’s light.  Vincent was the only member of her team on the deck, wearing his Second Class uniform for the benefit of any watchers, as he pretended to oversee the crew reeling in the mooring lines; he airily returned her salute.  As the Highwind disappeared over the mountains forming the backbone of the island, a shiver went down Tifa’s spine and she hugged herself.  Will I ever see them again?

“I felt the same way when I watched Thane and his friends leave for boot camp.  You wish them luck, but at the same time, you don’t want them to leave without you.”  The young nurse smiled sympathetically.

“Y-yeah.”

“Um, my name’s Julia.  Julia Darrow.”

Tifa straightened before pressing her hand to her heart and bowing – more to give herself time to think than anything else.  “Teo Laurence,” she replied, plucking a name out of the ether.

“Pleased to meet you.”  Clapping her hands, Julia said briskly, “I’m relieved that you’re staying, because we could really use your help with Commander Strife.  The orderly nearly put his back out last time!”


How do I get myself into these situations?  I really should’ve picked Caith Sith’s brain for more information on the SOLDIER program!

“There’s a fresh gown for him and a set of scrubs for you, because your clothes are definitely going to get wet.  Thane mentioned that his medic training was followed up by a standard, short-term posting to the base’s infirmary, so I know that you must also be familiar with the necessary procedures.”  Julia bustled out of the clinic’s tiled washroom, leaving Tifa to contemplate how best to accomplish her current mission.

Shower or bath?  A shower is faster, but a bath is more thorough...gah.  Shower it is.

“Sorry about this, Cloud,” she said to the man muttering obliviously in the wheelchair.  “I’ll try to make it quick.”  Rapidly divesting herself of her gloves, boots and socks, then rolling up her trouser legs, Tifa untied the strings securing Cloud’s hospital gown.  She tried not to look, but that didn’t stop her from turning a fiery shade of scarlet as she pulled his arm across her shoulders, lifted him out of the wheelchair and manoeuvred him onto the stool in the open shower stall.  

Covering his lap with a washcloth and moving the wheelchair out of the way, she turned on the water in the shower.  “Okay... here we go.”  

Testing the warmth on her wrist before running it over his head and shoulders, she tensed when the incessant babbling went up in pitch, and then dropped again.  Squirting a handful of shampoo into her palm, Tifa crouched in front of Cloud and began working it into his hair.  His mumbling stopped entirely, and as she massaged his scalp, he leaned into her touch.  “Cloud...?” she whispered, hope surging.

Smoothing the soapy spikes away from his face, Tifa held her breath... but when Cloud’s blank gaze lifted to meet her eager one, she pasted a smile on her face and briskly continued washing his hair.  “All right, close your eyes so I can rinse.”  He didn’t react, and she fought back tears as she carefully held a washcloth over his face.  Soaping and rinsing the rest of Cloud’s body, she held it together until Sephiroth’s scar was revealed by the receding suds.

The hand sprayer rocking on the tiles by her knees and steadily soaking her clothing, Tifa pressed her forehead against the mark on Cloud’s chest.  Biting down on her hand to muffle her sobs, she was close to completely losing control when she became aware that Cloud was trembling.  He’s freezing while I’m having a breakdown.  

Ferociously scrubbing her eyes, Tifa sat back on her heels and again forced herself to adopt false cheer.  “Sorry about that.”  Taking up the sprayer, she sluiced warm water over him; when the institutional lighting caught on the wet materia in her Bangle, the gleam brought her up short.  I wonder... activating the materia in the tub partially reversed Cloud’s transformation, so maybe...?  Contemplating the materia and then the sunken bathtub in the corner, Tifa made up her mind.  “Sit tight for a minute, okay?”  Hooking the sprayer into its holder so that Cloud was bathed in a steady stream of warmth, she turned on the taps in the tub.  As it started filling, she considered the stairs leading down into the water.  Looking between Cloud and the sling used for immobile patients, she bit her lip as she balanced the risks of not using it with the need for speed.  I could slip and hurt both of us, but I need to do this fast.  Nothing for it.  

Moving quickly so that she wouldn’t have to think about what she was doing, Tifa locked the door, then stripped out of the rest of her gear and tied a towel around her waist.  Turning off the sprayer, she lifted the nude, slippery swordsman into her arms, cautiously felt her way down the access stairs and seated them both in the tub.  Arranging Cloud between her legs so that he was facing away from her and leaning back against her chest, Tifa looped her arm around his waist to make sure he wouldn’t slide down.  As the water rose higher on his body, Cloud’s incessant jabbering seemed louder, and tears again threatened.  Pinching the bridge of her nose to divert the despair threatening to overwhelm her, Tifa turned off the taps and muttered, “All right... let’s give this a try.”

Crossing her fingers as she equipped the Heal materia and cast Esuna, Tifa squinted against the brilliant green light vividly tinting the bathwater.  Similar reaction to when we tried to change Cloud back in Midgar.  Gods, that seems like it was years ago, not a few months!  It was then she realized that Cloud was quiet, his body relaxed in her loose embrace.  Did it work?  Even just a little?  However, the mumbling started up again at almost the moment she had the thought.  Damn.  Might as well try the Restore.  Repeating the process with the second materia and remembering to shield Cloud’s eyes against the glare this time, she waited.  When he remained silent after she’d counted to twenty, she slid her fingers into his.  Her heart clenching, Tifa begged, “Please, Cloud... if you can hear me, squeeze my hand.  Even just the tiniest bit of pressure... please.  Give me something to believe in.”

His head turned slightly, but his expression didn’t change, and his hand remained slack in her grip as he began to babble.  Tears ran down Tifa’s cheeks, dripped off her jaw and formed dappled patterns in the bathwater.

Half an hour later, after drying off Cloud and dressing him in a pale blue gown before donning the set of matching scrubs, Tifa wheeled the mumbling man back to his room.  An orderly appeared within moments, pushing a trolley carrying two food trays.  “Today’s end-of-the-world special - seafood casserole!” he cheerfully announced.  “The kitchen’s pulling out all the stops; before Meteor, it would have been fish fingers.”  

“Sounds good - thank you.”

He gave her a friendly grin.  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re the most polite SOLDIER I’ve ever met.”

Tifa managed an answering smile.  “So I’ve been told.”

“It’s greatly appreciated by us civilians,” he winked.  “Leave the trolley outside when you’re done.”

Uncovering one of the trays after the orderly left, Tifa sniffed the casserole before taking a cautious bite.  “Wow – that’s really good!  I wonder if I could get the recipe?”  Pressing a spoonful against Cloud’s lips, Tifa wiped the corners of his mouth while watching carefully as he chewed and successfully swallowed without choking.  “Guess I’ll be dealing with what comes out the other end, too,” she muttered, taking a bite herself before feeding him another.  “Better me than a stranger wiping your butt, I suppose.”

After a trip to the bathroom that Cloud hopefully wouldn’t remember and Tifa preferred to forget, she put him to bed, then dropped into his wheelchair and rubbed her hand over her face.  This... is too cruel.

“Looks like you could use a shot of this.”

She stared blankly at a stemmed glass half-filled with rich amber-hued liquid, and accepted it.  “What is it?”

“Premium twenty-five-year-old cognac.  I was saving it for a special occasion, but I guess the end of the world will have to do.”  Clinking his glass with hers and setting down the bottle on the floor between them, Lassiter pulled up a chair and straddled it.  

Tifa raised her glass in salute and sipped.  The liquor burned smoothly over her palate; she nodded in appreciation.  “Very nice.  I’m honoured.”

He nodded and they drank in silence for a while, contemplating the expansive sea view out of the window.  On this angle, Meteor was invisible, but its light suffused the whitecaps with an orange glow.  After a time, Lassiter said, “How long have you known Cloud Strife?”

“Ever since we were kids.”

“But you don’t know his father’s name?”

“He died when Commander Strife was very young,” she stiffly replied.

“Is his mother still alive?”

“She passed away five years ago.”

“How very unfortunate.”  Withdrawing a folded piece of paper from his pocket, he perused it before asking, “Tell me – do you recall any incidents from your childhood when Mr. Strife should’ve been badly injured but only received the equivalent of a scratch?”

“Yes.  Both of us fell from a bridge; I was in a coma for a week but he only suffered cuts on his knees.”

“How about in his career in SOLDIER?”

Cait Sith said communications with the mainland have been out for several days, so Lassiter won’t be able to check with ShinRa.  “He took General Sephiroth’s sword through his chest before throwing him into the core of the Mount Nibel reactor five years ago.”

“How can a dead man summon Meteor?” Lassiter demanded.

“The casket at his state funeral was empty.”

“You’ve seen him.”  It was a statement, not a question.

“Yes.  Fought him several times since he killed President Shinra.”  Well, it was actually Jenova mimicking Sephiroth’s form, but we’ll go with the easier concept.

Lassiter nodded.  “So that’s how the old man really met his end.  I never really bought the official ‘sudden heart attack’ story.”

“It was a heart attack, after a fashion – caused by the Masamune.”

“How do you know this?”

“I saw the body.”

“ShinRa’s still playing its cards very close to its chest, I see.” Waving his drink at the shadowy corner where honed steel glinted, he asked, “What do you know about that weapon?”

Carefully sifting through the possible answers, Tifa replied, “It’s called the Buster Sword.  It once belonged to General Angeal Hewley, and upon his death, was given to his successor Zack Fair, who in turn gave it to Commander Strife.”

Lassiter slowly nodded.  “I thought it looked familiar.  Does Mr. Strife realize that he’s using a family heirloom?”

“The sword means a great deal to him.”

“No... I mean, it’s literally his family heirloom.”

“I... what?”

“It’s a long story that requires a full glass.”  Topping up Tifa’s drink, Lassiter turned his chair around and sprawled in it, propping his feet up on the spare bed.  They listened to Cloud’s muttering for a little while before he continued, “This is classified information, but I think Meteor makes that restriction somewhat irrelevant.  Thirty years ago, this clinic was the headquarters of the secret ShinRa initiative known as ‘Project G’ – the race to produce the ultimate soldier.  Project G was headed up by Dr. Hollander, while a competing branch, Project S, was led by Dr. Hojo.”  

Tifa hastily crossed her fingers behind her back as she said, “Er, since we’ve been pursuing Sephiroth, I’ve become familiar with the history of Project S... but what’s Project G?”

“Project G attempted to create a human-Jenova hybrid by injecting female volunteers with Jenova cells.  The idea was that the alien genetic material would combine with their DNA and be passed onto their children.  Gillian Ruttan was Project G’s first test subject and gave birth via artificial insemination to Genesis Rhapsodos.  Unlike Sephiroth, who was taken from his mother and raised by scientists in an experimental trial, Genesis was raised by his birth father’s family.  Shortly afterwards,  Miss Ruttan married David Hewley and agreed to go through with a second pregnancy on the condition that her husband fathered the baby and that she could keep it.”

Tifa’s stomach wound itself into a knot.  “What does this have to do with Commander Strife?”

“His father, Dr. Lowell Strife, was my colleague in Project G; his mother was Liza Ruttan, the youngest sister of Gillian Hewley.”

“Commander Strife once mentioned that one of his aunts married a Hewley....” Tifa rasped, stunned.

Lassiter gestured at his patient.  “Mr. Strife is Angeal Hewley’s first cousin.”

“I understand the familial connection,” Tifa said slowly, feeling rather dazed.  “But, I have the feeling there’s something more going on here.”

“Gillian’s two sons were recruited by ShinRa when Genesis was ten – the same age as Sephiroth - and Angeal was only nine.   The three of them wildly exceeded all expectations, but ShinRa was in a hurry to consolidate its power.  When Dr. Hojo discovered that injecting healthy adults with a mixture of mako and Jenova cells produced similar results in terms of enhanced strength and speed on a much shorter timeframe and in greater numbers, ShinRa began focussing its resources on the new SOLDIER program.”

“That must have been hard for you.”

“Professional rivalry does not accept defeat lying down; encouraged by Dr. Hollander, Dr. Strife and myself wondered if a combination of techniques might yield even better results.”  Lassiter gestured at the bed-ridden man.  “Cloud Strife has the unique distinction of being the final product of Project G.”

“What… did you do to him?” Tifa quavered.

Lassiter apparently didn’t notice her trepidation.  “Both Project S and Project G had involved introducing large doses of Jenova cells into the test subjects; we decided to use smaller amounts to see if the cumulative effect was the same.  Dr. Strife convinced his wife to undergo the same DNA-altering treatment as her elder sister, and when Liza eventually became pregnant, the foetus was injected with a tiny amount of Jenova cells early in the first trimester.  We then waited for nature to take its course.”

Recalling Vincent’s description of Lucretia’s pre-natal agony, Tifa asked, “Was Mrs. Strife all right?”

“Positively blooming throughout all nine months.  When her son was born – in the maternity ward of this clinic - he exceeded all of the newborn health markers and thrived at an amazing rate.  We felt vindicated.”

“Was he treated like Sephiroth?  Like a lab experiment?”

He appeared shocked and rapidly shook his head.  “Lowell epitomized the ‘proud papa’; his son was the apple of his eye.”  Chuckling wryly, Lassiter added, “You must’ve known Liza Strife?”

“They were our next-door neighbours in Nibelheim,” Tifa admitted.  “When my mother died, she looked after me, too.”

“Then I’m sure you know that she could be quite formidable where her son was concerned,” Lassiter said fondly.  “The only things she permitted were regular blood tests to check on the levels of Jenova cells in Cloud’s body.  I used those old records to confirm that Commander Strife was indeed the child I once knew… although, I didn’t really need them.  His resemblance to his mother is unmistakeable.  Two of his aunts and their families continue to live in New Banora, by the way.”  Indescribable relief swept through Tifa; she couldn’t prevent herself from slumping slightly as Lassiter obliviously continued, “When Cloud was two years old, ShinRa abruptly transferred Dr. Strife to Dr. Hojo’s lab in Nibelheim.  Lowell must have passed away shortly after the move; I was unaware of his death until you told me.”

“Didn’t you try to contact him?”

“There was no love lost between Dr. Hojo and Dr. Hollander; I guessed that Lowell had to keep his head down in order to keep his job.”

“I’m really surprised that ShinRa never informed you,” Tifa muttered.

“ShinRa isn’t very good at a number of things,” Lassiter agreed, and topped up Tifa’s glass again, along with his own.

“Including telling the truth about Sephiroth.”

The doctor regarded her over the rim of his glass.  “So, the most famous SOLDIER of all time wasn’t killed in a terrorist action and has returned from the dead – with no love lost for the company that created him.”

“He’s behind a barrier in the Northern Crater, waiting for Meteor to hit the Planet so he can become a god-like being.”  In response to Lassiter’s sceptical look, Tifa added, “He’s batshit insane, obviously.”

“So, in the end, all three of the original Project results have turned against ShinRa,” Lassiter mused.

“What do you mean… all three?”

“Genesis and then his half-brother Angeal rebelled against ShinRa - and the only reason I know that is because Genesis had his base beneath Old Banora, just up-island a short distance.”

“I saw the crater.”

“Angeal was a good kid, probably because of Gillian’s influence while he was growing up; it must have been his loyalty to his half-brother that made him go rogue.  Genesis was an arrogant little shit – just like his father.  The eldest, and most alien out of the three is going further than the others and setting his sights on the entire Planet.”  Lassiter contemplated Cloud.  “And the only person who combines the best aspects of both Projects, and thereby has the best chance of defeating Sephiroth, is out of his mind with mako poisoning.”

“That about sums things up,” Tifa agreed, rubbing her forehead.

“We’re screwed,” Lassiter said cheerfully.  “Another round?”

“You can sleep in the second bed; we’re not exactly overrun with patients right now,” the orderly offered.  “Commander Strife often becomes really agitated at night, so you’ll be doing us a favour by staying here.”

“Agitated?  How?”  Tifa hoped that she didn’t look as woozy as she felt.  That cognac was lovely, but best in small doses!  

“Screams bloody murder and thrashes around.  We’ve had to restrain and sedate him a few times.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

After the orderly left, Tifa turned off the lights.  Meteor’s eerie glow allowed her to make her way to the bed beside Cloud without tripping over anything.  Plopping down on the mattress with an audible hiccup, she simply watched him for a while before flopping onto her back and listening to the stream of babble.  Snuggling into the bedding, her eyes closing of their own volition, Tifa was almost asleep when Cloud’s voice rose to a shriek.  She shot upright and off the bed, nearly fell over and barely managed to catch hold of the frame of his bed.  His eyes were wide open, staring blindly at the ceiling, his hands frantically clutching at the bedding.

“Shhh, Cloud.  It’s all right – I’m here.”  Tifa stroked her fingers through his hair and the anguished volume instantly dropped.  Making an impulsive decision, she raised the protective barrier on the far side of Cloud’s bed and moved him over; there was a pause in his verbal torrent, but then the volume began rising again.  Tifa squeezed onto Cloud’s mattress and tucked him under her chin.  Arranging the blanket over both of them, she began slowly smoothing her hand up and down his back.  “It’s okay – I’ve got you,” she murmured.

The mumbling trailed off until silence reigned.  When Cloud’s body relaxed and his breathing evened out, Tifa relaxed, too, but then he nestled against her chest and sighed, “Zack… safe.”

While Cloud peacefully slept, Tifa was kept awake by various scenarios that would’ve seen him snuggling with Zack Fair... and was frankly unnerved by all of them.

The next morning, Tifa managed to extract herself from the bed and make it to the toilet before the orderly arrived to check on them – but not before she finished flushing away her stomach contents.

“One hangover special, coming right up!” he chortled.  “Dr. Lassiter passed out in his office last night, so you’re in good company.”  Producing a small bottle of mouth wash out of his pocket, he handed it over.  “I imagine you could put this to good use.”

“Thanks,” Tifa croaked.  The orderly cackled some more on his way out of the room, but took pity on her and didn’t slam the door.  Stashing the mouth wash on the sink, she wobbled over to the spare bed, eased herself down and waited for the room to stop spinning.  Cloud’s jabbering seemed to go up a notch or two, but that may have been just because her hearing was more sensitive.  Better suck it up – he needs the bathroom and his breakfast.  

By necessity, everything proceeded very slowly, but an hour later Tifa had managed to get Cloud into and out of the bathroom and fed him.  She was cautiously nibbling on some dry toast when Julia came in with an armload of clothing.  “I had housekeeping wash your uniform,” she said, unaccountably shy.  After Tifa expressed her appreciation, she added, “It’s a beautiful day today – you could wheel Mr. Strife out onto the terrace.”

“I may do that.  Thanks for the suggestion.”

“Well, then, I’ll see you later!”  With that, Julia practically fled the room.

What was that all about?  Tifa decided to risk the rice porridge, and when that stayed down, diluted the fruit juice with two glasses of water.  Her stomach remained co-operative, and after another lie-down, she felt well enough to get dressed and go in search of painkillers for her pounding headache.  “Back in a few minutes,” she assured Cloud.

As she made her request at the nursing station, Tifa couldn’t help but notice that Julia appeared more flustered with each passing second.  “Are you all right, Miss Darrow?” she finally asked, concerned by the young woman’s frayed demeanour.

“Um, yes!  Here you are… oh!”  The pills dropped from shaking hands, and in the scrabble to recapture them before they hit the floor, Tifa ended up clasping Julia’s hand between both of hers.  The young woman’s cheeks flamed, but when Tifa let go, she hung on.

Tifa quirked an eyebrow.  “Miss Darrow…?”

“Mr. Laurence, may I speak privately with you?”  Completely baffled and extremely uncomfortable, Tifa warily nodded; Julia put on a very determined look and towed her through a side door onto an expansive stone terrace stepping down to the harbour.  When they were what Tifa belated realized was a ‘safe distance’ from the building, Julia plunked down on the edge of one of the broad steps and indicated that Tifa should follow suit.

Oh, crap.  Apparently the ‘man in uniform’ effect has struck again.  Discreetly edging away from the young woman, Tifa looked for an escape route.

“This may seem very forward of me, Mr. Laurence, but do you have anyone waiting for you?”

“You mean… like family?” Tifa asked, nervously fiddling with her Bangle.

Julia’s lip was in danger of being bloodied.  “A girlfriend… or wife?” she blurted out.

“Oh, er….”  Just in time, Tifa realized she possessed a gold-plated ticket out of the situation.  “Yes, I do.”  Pulling off her glove, she showed Julia the two silk ribbons tied around her wrist.

Julia’s expression fell a little, but she rallied enough to exclaim, “You wear her hair ribbons?  That’s so sweet!”

Emboldened, Tifa tugged on the drooping pink silk.  “This belonged to a woman who was like a sister to me, and this….” She smoothed the tattered scrap of blue.  “This belongs to someone that I wish I could see again.”

“Oh.”  Julia hugged her knees, looking so despondent that Tifa couldn’t help awkwardly patting her arm.  The young woman sighed, her blush deepening.  “I was hoping that you were unattached….”

Is this what that phrase ‘opening a can of worms’ feels like?  “What about Thane?”

Julia ducked her head.  “If Meteor isn’t defeated, he won’t make it home in time.  I just… hoped that you would consent to… um, ‘be him’, even if it was just for a few minutes.”

Blinking rapidly, Tifa absorbed this astonishing request before gathering her wits.  “I could never replace him,” she said kindly.  “Just like you could never take the place of my girl… not even for a few seconds.”

Sighing deeply, Julia seemed to wilt in front of Tifa’s eyes.  “I know,” she whimpered.  “It’s just that… I’m so scared, and I wish he were here to hold me tight and tell me everything will be fine.”

Tifa’s heart ached.  I know the feeling – I really do.  Sliding closer, she slipped her arm around Julia’s shoulders and squeezed... then had an inspiration.  Pulling the dog-tags over her head, Tifa dropped the chain around Julia’s neck. “It might sound kinda lame, but maybe you can pretend that Thane gave these to you before he left as a keepsake.”

“Like your ribbons,” Julia murmured, turning the small pieces of metal over in her hands.  She held them up to her face, squinting.  “This is amazing – you even have the same blood type as Thane!”

“Y-yeah,” Tifa agreed, swallowing hard.

“Won’t you get in trouble for ‘losing’ them?”

“I can always requisition a new set,” she bluffed.

Julia flung her arms around Tifa and hugged, hard.  “Thank you, Teo,” Julia whispered into Tifa’s chest.  “I’ll treasure them.”

Tifa held her breath until Julia let go, then quickly stood and offered the young woman a hand up.  “I believe I’ll follow your suggestion to bring Commander Strife out here,” she said, steering the conversation back to neutral ground.

Julia’s smile was the tiniest bit watery as she tucked Thane’s dog-tags into her blouse.  “I’m sure he would enjoy the sea breeze, at the very least.”  As they reached the door, Julia slipped her fingers into Tifa’s hand and squeezed.  “Your kindness is much appreciated,” she murmured, blushing deeply.  “I hope that I have the chance to tell Thane about you.”

Choking up, Tifa managed to return the gentle pressure, but nothing more; as soon as Julia released her, she fled to the safety of Cloud’s room where she locked herself in the bathroom and ran cold water over her head until she stopped crying.

“Okay, Cloud… ride’s over,” Tifa said with as much cheer as she could muster, crouching in front of the wheelchair to make sure the brakes were set.  He looks so much less helpless now that he’s dressed properly.  Glad I decided to wrestle him into his armour – but I wonder why he was carrying that Transform materia around with him?  Kind of an odd ‘good luck’ charm.

“Zack.”

As Tifa’s head shot up, her eyes wide, Cloud mumbled, “My fault.  My fault you died. Sorry.  Sorry.”  His expression was so tragic that it tore at Tifa’s heartstrings, and then he resumed his rambling discourse as if the moment of clarity had never happened.

For the second time that morning, tears trickled down Tifa’s cheeks.  “I’m sure Zack forgives you,” she said, gripping Cloud’s hand.  “He wanted you to live.”

The dull thunder of airship engines caught her attention and she rose to her feet, shading her eyes against both the sunshine and Meteor’s sullen glow.  “They’re back,” she said to Cloud, waving at the Highwind.  “Things must have gone well at Corel and Fort Condor.”  The airship circled once, then descended until it was hovering just above the lowest step of the terrace; she admired Cid’s ship-handling skills.  A rope ladder was tossed over the side and a red-clad Second Class slid down it with enviable aplomb.  

Vincent loped towards them, goggles in place.  He stooped to inspect Cloud before looking up at Tifa.  “No change?”

“None.  I tried both materia with no effect.” Tifa found herself tearing up yet again.

“Barret wants you to rejoin us, in case we are unable to stop Meteor in time.”

“Only if Cloud comes, too.  I can’t leave him!”

“Neither he, nor we, were suggesting that,” Vincent said gently.  “Give us a few minutes to determine the best way of bringing Cloud on board.  Perhaps we can rig up a stretcher.”

“I could put him over my shoulder….”

“Not the best method of conveyance, since we have an audience that seems impressed by our SOLDIER uniforms.”

“True.”  She saluted as Vincent headed back to where the Highwind bobbed gently and watched as he scaled the ladder.  “Well, Cloud… looks like we’re going back into the thick of it.  I’ll retrieve your sword and gauntlet.”

Tifa hadn’t taken two steps when the terrace began pitching wildly beneath her feet.  Staggering, she caught hold of Cloud’s wheelchair and wrapped her arms around both him and the chair as the tremors increased.  Out in the harbour, the sea began boiling; a geyser of vivid green water shot upward, and as the Highwind took off on a steep trajectory that undoubtedly sent loose equipment and personnel flying, a huge black monster erupted out of the centre of the fountain.  Is that a Weapon?  Crap!

Water pouring off its leathery wings and massive scaly body, the dragon-like Weapon circled the harbour and headed straight for the clinic as Tifa fought to keep her footing and hang onto Cloud.  While the ground heaved, she had a quick glimpse of the Highwind ramming the Weapon before the terrace began breaking up.  A crevasse opened up right under the wheelchair and the entire slab of concrete and brick tilted crazily.  “Cloud!”  Losing her grip on him, Tifa screamed again as the slabs began breaking up and sliding into the harbour, sweeping them into a seething maelstrom of debris.

Taking a deep breath as she plunged deep into the churning green water, Tifa experienced a near-miss by a boat hull as she frantically looked around for Cloud.  He’s strapped into the chair, and it’ll pull him deeper!  Pure luck had her glancing in the right direction when light from the surface glinted on the metal frame of the wheelchair, and ignoring her own need for oxygen or safety, Tifa dove after it.  Aided by fortuitous currents that propelled her along and deflected the detritus of destruction, she was able to reach Cloud with surprising ease.  C’mon… I can do this!

The roaring in her ears drowning out all other thought as her body protested the lack of air, Tifa struggled with the buckle trapping Cloud in the wheelchair.  At the moment when it came apart in her hands, she lost her battle with time and reflexively inhaled; icy cold liquid rushed into her mouth and lungs.  In a desperate final lunge as her vision went black, she seized hold of Cloud’s limp hand while her mind screamed in visceral terror.

I’ve failed him.  Again.

What’s that screaming sound?  I’ve heard it before… where, though?  Wait… now I remember.  In Cosmo Canyon - it’s the sounds of the souls in the Lifestream.  

Opening her eyes to featureless darkness shot through with flickers of brilliant green, Tifa wondered if she was upright or upside down.   Am I dead? The flashes of green became brighter, seemed to open like rips in fabric, and then dozens of voices rushed at her, surrounded her, shrieking, berating, begging, taunting, blaming, seducing, reassuring, in an overwhelming barrage of emotion.  Clapping her hands over her ears in an attempt to block out the sound and closing her eyes, Tifa curled in on herself.  I can’t stand this!  It feels like my brain is coming apart!  Cloud!  Someone... help me!


Tifa came to a second time in a surreal landscape that featured stone-patterned columns and balls that could either be planets or materia... and a huge, spectral Cloud suspended overhead, writhing in apparent agony.  What the...?  Scrambling to her feet, she bit her lip as she watched the apparition twist and hunch.  You’re in so much pain.  Inspecting her surroundings more closely, she noticed a gate that resembled the entrance to Nibelheim.  That’s ominous.  Facing the gate, his back to her, a familiar blond-haired figure was seated on the other end of a path of round stepping stones leading from the circular platform she was standing on.  She’d taken a half-step in his direction when a hunch led her to glance over her shoulder.  Oh, my... what does this mean?  There were two more Clouds, all seated facing away from her, all appearing despondent.     

“Is this... inside your dreams?  Or your subconscious?” she said out loud, and started at the voice coming of her mouth.  It wasn’t the tenor she’d become used to; instead, she sounded like her old feminine self.  Then she noticed her chest, clad in a white tank top.  Where did these come from?  Have I changed back?  Cautiously poking herself, Tifa was disappointed when her finger went right through the generous curves.  An illusion, like everything here.  However... does this mean that Cloud still sees me as a woman?

Again biting her lip, Tifa regarded the spectre and the three ‘other’ Clouds, as well as Nibelheim’s gates.  Rubbing one foot against the other, she considered the possible reasons why there were multiples of the man she loved until she came to the obvious conclusion.  His mind was truly fractured... the first time by the horrors he saw in Nibelheim, followed by immersion in those mako tubes – I only experienced the emotional onslaught of the Lifestream for a few seconds and my brain felt like it was melting – and then when Zack died, he cracked completely, just like Nanaki suspected.  “Maybe... I can help put you back together?  Is that what this is all about, Cloud?”

Another glance upward at the tormented spectre made up her mind.  I don’t know what I’m doing, but I have to try.  After glancing around at the possible choices, she crossed the stepping stones towards the Cloud in front of the gates of Nibelheim.  This is where it all started, years ago.  As she approached, she noted the rusting truck permanently parked to the side.  They forgot to include that in the fake Nibelheim!  But... this proves we’re in Cloud’s memories, because only he and I know that truck was there.

The first Cloud stood up, his head bowed; she took his hand and noted that while he had substance, if she squeezed too hard, she felt like she’d go right through him.  “I guess I’ll start.  Five years ago, two members of SOLDIER came to Nibelheim to repair the reactor.  Sephiroth and a young SOLDIER... plus two ShinRa troopers.”

An apparition of Sephiroth and his command shimmered into existence; the other SOLDIER had spiky blond hair.  The first Cloud tried to walk towards the apparition, but Tifa held him back.  “That SOLDIER wasn’t you,” she said gently.  “I was afraid to tell you the truth for so long, and then when I wanted to, Jenova wouldn’t let me.”  The blond SOLDIER’s appearance wavered, crumpled, vanished… then returned much taller and dark-haired, with the hilt of a familiar sword projecting above his shoulder.  The first Cloud beside Tifa faltered, shaking his head.  Sliding her arm around him, she continued, “The other SOLDIER was Zack Fair – your friend and mentor.  You admired him very much, and he thought very highly of you.  You were very close, almost like brothers.”

Cloud’s head bowed even further; Tifa squeezed him.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw an apparition of herself, dressed in her favourite outfit from so many years ago.  I was so proud of that vest and corset – thought they made my breasts look bigger.  Ah, the irony.  The Cloud beside her made an anguished noise when the young Tifa ran off; she hugged him again.  “I was very disappointed that you weren’t part of Sephiroth’s escort.  However, you were in Nibelheim.”  The first Cloud went very still until she pointed at the shorter of the two helmeted troopers waiting behind Zack.  “That’s you, Cloud.”

When Sephiroth’s apparition gestured his troops forward, the first Cloud slipped free of Tifa’s grip.  As the spectres moved, he simply ‘stepped into’ the trooper and vanished along with the rest of the memory.  The trooper remained behind; slowly removing his helmet, a familiar unruly thatch of blond spikes appeared above a pair of summer-sky blue eyes.  Tifa smiled and caressed his cheek.

He closed his eyes.  “I was so ashamed that I didn’t make SOLDIER like I bragged I would… I begged Zack not to tell you who I was.  Couldn’t even protect you from that monster outside the reactor.”

“But you protected the Planet when it mattered most – stopping Sephiroth from destroying the Planet five years ago.  You’ve put yourself on the line for me so many times in the past few months; it doesn’t matter what uniform you’re wearing, Cloud – you’ll always be my hero,” she said, leaning in to kiss him on the lips.  He was blushing madly when she pulled back, and she suddenly realized that this Cloud was very young.  Sixteen, maybe?  Oh, my goodness!  “Shall we continue?” she asked, turning a little pink as well.  He nodded, smiling bashfully, and he accompanied her back across the stepping stones to the main platform.  She hesitated between the other two Clouds, until what could only be the old water tower gained substance out of the haze.  More Nibelheim memories?  

The second Cloud stood up and turned to face her as she crossed the arched walkway, but he kept his head down, even as the first Cloud merged into him.  Tifa again took his hand.  When the ‘sky’ darkened, showing an infinity of stars, she instantly knew where they were in both of their memories.  “The sky really was gorgeous that night.”  Two small figures flickered before solidifying on the platform of the water tower, one a young girl dressed in pale blue and the other a teenage boy.  They were seated on adjoining sides of the platform, studiously not looking at each other, each finding their footwear intensely interesting.  Tifa smiled fondly as the teen Cloud swung his feet and peeked in Tifa’s direction.  “You were so cute.  I really, really wanted to reach over and tug on your ponytail to break the tension, but I was too nervous.”

The youths and the water tower vanished, and she turned to the second Cloud.  “You said you wanted to impress me by joining SOLDIER, but was there another reason, too?”

“I figured that your dad wouldn’t dare tell a SOLDIER that he couldn’t speak to his daughter.”

“I had no idea,” Tifa murmured, ashamed.  “I’m sorry, Cloud.  I can’t believe that I was so clueless about your feelings.”

“It wasn’t your fault - you were going through a really tough time,” said a new, higher-pitched voice, and an even younger version of Cloud jumped down from one of the columns.

He looks about eight or nine.  “But still… I should’ve been more aware.”

“I have a memory I want to share – do you want to see it?”

“Of course.”  Steeling herself, Tifa followed the child across the platform to the third Cloud, who stood up.

“These are my most precious memories,” he said haltingly.  “The ones hidden deep in my heart.”

A lump in her throat prevented Tifa from replying before the child beckoned her over to a brick wall pierced by an open window, framed with shutters.  “Does this look familiar?”

“It’s my bedroom window.  It was right across from yours, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.  I used to listen to you playing with your three friends, and wishing that I could be there, too.”

Tifa watched herself as a young child, giggling and playing games with her three best friends.  Moved, she crouched and put her arms around the pint-sized version of Cloud.  “I wish I’d known.”

He shrugged.  “I thought they were stupid and childish, anyways.”

“We were children, Cloud,” Tifa pointed out.  “That’s what kids do.”

“I know… I was the stupid one.  I really wanted to be part of the group, but I didn’t know how to ask.  So I hung around on the edges, hoping to be included, and then when it didn’t happen, I started to think that I was different than the rest of the kids – superior to them.”

“So the rejection didn’t hurt,” she murmured softly, giving him another hug.

A dark shadow separated itself from the third adult Cloud, who was standing silently nearby, as the child sadly said, “Even back then, I was so messed up – so pathetic and weak.”

Before Tifa could protest, the dark Cloud spoke.  “The night I asked you to meet me at the water tower… you took so long, I was sure you wouldn’t come because you hated me.”

“Oh, Cloud – you know why I was late.  It took me a while to sneak out of the house; you know what my dad was like where you were concerned.”  Addressing the child, because the shadow was somewhat unnerving, she continued, “I told you that I started watching the newspaper after you left, hoping for some news of you.  I really wanted to see you again.”

“You didn’t hate me because I failed to protect you?”

“Protect me, back when we were kids?” she asked, deeply puzzled.  “From what?”

The child’s eyes were impossibly sad.  “After your mom died.  When you fell.”

“When I tried to find her by climbing Mount Nibel,” Tifa whispered, old emotion thickening her voice coupled with amazement that Cloud had taken on personal responsibility for her decision that long-ago day.

“I couldn’t stop you from falling, from being hurt… I was so angry with myself, and I thought you blamed me….”

“Absolutely not,” she said fiercely, hugging the child close, willing the adult to let go of the guilt.  “You were so helpful to me afterwards – both you and your mom.  Your kindnesses helped me to heal from the worst day of my life.  She gave me a shoulder to cry on and a hug whenever I needed it, and you… you were always there.  I didn’t forget you, exactly, but life moved on and I guess it seemed like I did.”

“That’s why I wanted to be like Sephiroth – a hero who was strong enough, who never failed – who was memorable,” said the shadow Cloud.

The child Cloud wriggled in Tifa’s grip until she let him go.  “I only ever wanted to protect you,” he said.  “Ever since I was a little kid, you were the one for me.”

“I’m so, so sorry, Cloud,” Tifa whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.  “I’m sorry that you felt like you were invisible to me.”

“You had a lot on your mind,” the child said kindly, then gave her a sloppy, little-boy kiss on the cheek before he skipped up the stairs; Tifa had time to give his ponytail a light tug before he was out of reach.  He threw her a shy grin over his shoulder as he merged with the second Cloud.  Standing up, Tifa wiped her eyes and regarded the two remaining Clouds before glancing up at the spectral version, who was no longer writhing, but who sat hugging himself.  

The shadow spoke, his words halting. “We need to go back to Nibelheim, Tifa – so we both know exactly what happened inside of the reactor.”  She nodded, and the shadow disappeared inside the third Cloud, who led the way up the stairs.  As he reached the top, the second Cloud also merged with him, leaving only one to escort Tifa back across the stepping stones to the illusory gateway.  

Once they crossed the threshold, the setting changed; Tifa let out a small shriek and covered her mouth with her hands as she saw herself tumbling down the metal staircase to land in a crumpled heap on the landing.  These are my memories!  Sephiroth turned and disappeared through a door at the top of the stairs as the dark-haired SOLDIER arrived on the scene.  He crouched over Tifa and gently shook her shoulder.  

“Tifa!  Tifa!”

“Zack…?”

R 20;You were hurt by Sephiroth, right?”

Instead of directly answering, the wounded girl whispered, “You came here just to fix the reactor – that’s all it was supposed to be.  How did it turn out like this?”

Tifa’s heart broke a little for Zack when she heard her younger self whimper, “I hate ShinRa… SOLDIERs… and you.  I hate you all!”

Zack bowed his head.  “I won’t ask you to forgive me, Tifa.”  Rising to his feet, he said heavily, “Please… allow me to atone for my sins.”  Climbing the staircase, he released the Buster Sword.  Planting his feet, the blade suddenly blazing with blue energy, he unleashed a Blade Beam that tore open the door to the reactor chamber; he disappeared into the cloud of dust.

“Zack ordered me to help Master Zangan while he went after Sephiroth,” the Cloud beside Tifa said.  “I got the old man to safety and took off for the reactor, where I found your dead father outside and you inside – all bruised and bloody.  I could hear the sounds of battle inside the reactor, and suddenly, Zack came flying out of the doorway and slammed into one of the pods.  I - I heard his bones smash.”

“Cloud….”

As a helmeted figure arrived on the scene, Cloud continued narrating.  “I kinda lost it.  My best friend, my best girl, my mother, my home – I’d admired him, wanted to be him - I barely remember coming across the Buster Sword embedded in the floor just inside the door of the reactor, but I do remember ramming it right through Sephiroth’s guts as he was making crazy talk to Jenova’s corpse.  He was calling it ‘Mother’ and telling it ‘Everything’s all right now’.” Flexing his hands, Cloud said grimly, “He called me a bastard.”

The trooper backed away from the bloodied Sephiroth, then turned and raced back out of the reactor, throwing aside his helmet as he ran.  Reaching the wounded girl, he carefully picked her up and carried her to the side.  Settling her against one of the pods, he gently stroked her hair away from her face; Tifa was treated to a first-person perspective view of her bruises, watched her eyes open and heard her wispy voice.

“Cloud… you’re finally here.  You kept your promise.”

“Sorry for being late.”

“Don’t worry about it, Cloud,” teenage Tifa smiled through her pain.  “You came for me... that’s all that matters.”

A clanking noise drew Cloud’s attention away; Sephiroth teetered at the top of the stairs, clutching a straggling hank of silver hair in one hand.  A gruesomely shrivelled head swung below.  “A bastard like you…” he hissed.  

“Cloud – finish him off.  You’re the only one that can,” Zack brokenly rasped, and Tifa winced at the amount of blood leaking from his body.

“The likes of you…” Sephiroth said again, “will never understand.  It is my destiny….”  Retrieving the Buster Sword, Cloud braced his feet and swung the blade into a familiar ready position, then charged up the stairs.  “Do you think it will be that easy?” Sephiroth growled, using Cloud’s momentum and the superior length of the Masamune against him to skewer the youth even as the Buster Sword again pierced his body.  Cloud’s scream filling her ears, Tifa took a step forward, but was restrained by the Cloud standing beside her as Sephiroth threw the injured youth back into the reactor chamber.

“Did you think a mere human could defeat the chosen one?”  The Masamune again drove into Cloud’s body; he was hoisted up into the air and held over the edge of the platform.  “Know your place, weakling.”

“My dear ones… my home… how dare you!”  Trembling hands reached, seized hold of the gleaming blade protruding from his chest.  “I’ll never forgive you!”  With a wild yell, Cloud yanked the Masamune even deeper through his body, his boots scrabbling until he gained purchase on the platform, then used the sword like a lever to fling Sephiroth against the wall before collapsing to his knees.

The former general was stunned.  “This is impossible… what are you?”  Cloud made no reply, then lifted his head and bared his teeth.  As he crawled towards Sephiroth, the Masamune’s hilt tapping on the metal decking with every movement, the other man saw something in Cloud’s face that made him recoil fearfully - and then smirk triumphantly.  

Scooting out of Cloud’s reach, Sephrioth cradled the repulsive head close to his chest.  “Mother, come with me to the Promised Land,” he crooned, rolling over the edge of the platform just as Cloud lunged.

Watching his rival disappear into the mako glow far below, Cloud snarled, “Sephiroth….” before keeling over, the sword still piercing him.

“And that’s when the nightmare really began,” the Cloud holding onto Tifa’s arm said grimly.  

The scene inside the reactor vanished, replaced by fast-moving images, all tinted an eerie green.  A figure Tifa instantly recognized as Dr. Hojo as he leaned over Cloud’s stretcher, adjusting his glasses and gloating over his ‘new sample’.  Glimpses of the bustling lab in the ShinRa Mansion’s basement, seen from inside the giant tube.  Several scenes that made her flinch, featuring scalpels and syringes and restraints.  A crack lancing across the curved glass wall, then the sound of liquid escaping.  Zack’s voice.

“Gotta get you outta those mako-soaked clothes – not good for anybody.”  A few moments later, “Here ya go, Cloud.  You are hereby promoted to SOLDIER, First Class.”

Blurred images, of a motorcycle with a sidecar, innumerable campfires, a petite, chestnut-haired woman dressed like a Turk, a tall, red-coated figure wielding a sword made of fire, a spiral of black feathers – days of endless movement, nights of restless fear – marked by Zack’s running commentary.  Tifa heard so many references to Aerith that she lost count.  

The images continued spinning past, showing Zack fighting his way through a squad of badly out-matched troopers.  Another motorcycle, the cool night wind rushing past, a long trip through a dank tunnel, then a lurching ride in the open back of an ancient truck, sunshine warming face and arms.

“So, what’re we going to do when we reach Midgar?” Zack asked, comfortably propped in the corner of the truck’s box behind the driver.  “Hey, gramps – you got any suggestions for employment in the city?”  To Cloud he muttered, “Don’t want to mooch off of Aerith, if I can help it.”

“Young buck like you?  You should try out a few things before you decide on one.”

“That’s not really helpful, eh, Cloud?”  A few moments later, he slapped his knee.  “I’ve got it!  We have some pretty unique skills – we’ll become mercenaries, doing all the troublesome or dangerous jobs… so long as the money is good!”  Stretching his legs, Zack grinned cheerfully.  “We’ll be rich, old friend!”  Pulling himself upright, he leaned on the truck’s roof and engaged in cheerful banter with the driver for a few moments before abruptly flinging himself on Cloud, shouting, “Gramps!  Let us off behind those rocks and floor it!  C’mon, Cloud – ride’s over!”

A flurry of violent movement, then Cloud was arranged in a sitting position, his back against sun-warmed stone.  A gloved hand playfully tousled his hair, and then Zack turned and strode away.  Tifa choked up as the image showed Cloud reaching after the departing man; an arm slid around her shoulders.  She was glad of the support when the next series of images scrolled past.  

Muddy earth, tinted and streaked with red, littered with debris – discarded helmets, swords, rifles, limp bundles of fabric and flesh – as Cloud determinedly crawled across the ground towards a still figure.  Reaching Zack’s side, he shuffled onto his knees, and Tifa let out a horrified sound as the full extent of the man’s wounds became apparent.

The Cloud beside Tifa said proudly and with a touch of awe, “Took an entire army to take him down.  Zack was amazing.”

A wavering hand stretched, caught hold of the back of Cloud’s head and pulled him down.  Pressing Cloud’s face against his bloodied chest, Zack murmured, “You are my living legacy – the proof that I existed.”  Releasing the now red-streaked man, he then exerted his last strength to raise the Buster Sword and offer it, hilt-first, to Cloud.  “My honour and my dreams… they’re yours now.”

Taking hold of the weapon, Cloud hesitantly repeated, “I am… your living legacy.”  Frowning a little in concentration, as if he’d forgotten how to speak, he added, “I won’t forget… Zack.  Thank you.”

Zack smiled and closed his eyes; Cloud watched him for several long moments, emotions scudding across his face… then tilted back his head and screamed.

“That’s when my mind – and my world – shattered,” Cloud murmured; she turned and buried her face in his shoulder, hugging him tightly.  He seemed reluctant to accept her embrace, but she didn’t let go, not until he returned it.  “I dragged myself and the sword the rest of the way into Midgar; I lived in and around Sector Four for about three months.  Sold the gilded decorations off the sword to feed myself, and did odd jobs until I had enough to pay a guy to turn one pauldron into my gauntlet and modify the remaining one.  Then I met you at the train station.”  After several more minutes, Cloud whispered in her ear, “Thank you, Tifa.  I hope… we’ll still be friends when we see each other again.”

“What are you talking about?” she frantically demanded.

He smiled crookedly and slipped free; before she could latch onto him again, he was engulfed by the spectral Cloud.  The oversized image wavered and shrank until it disappeared inside his chest; as his eyes rolled back and he fainted, all the illusions were swept away, leaving them floating in a featureless, brilliant green liquid.

“Cloud!”  Making a desperate grab, Tifa missed as he drifted just out of range.

“Don’t sweat it – I’ve got him.”

“Z-Zack?”

“Have we met?”  

Staring open-mouthed at the very jaunty, very deceased SOLDIER holding the unconscious Cloud by his harness, Tifa was completely taken by surprise when a familiar voice lilted in her ear, “My goodness – are you still stuck like that?  Let’s see if we can’t do something about it.”

“Aerith!” Turning around so fast she nearly up-ended herself, Tifa gaped at the laughing mage before flinging her arms around Aerith and half-crushing her in a bear hug.

“Hey!” Zack growled.  “What do you think you’re doing, buddy?”

“Oh, don’t be silly,” Aerith said, tossing her curls at him.  “It’s Tifa.”       

He arched a dark eyebrow.  “You look… a little different from the last time I saw you.”

“It was my fault,” Aerith cheerily declared.  “A spell went sideways.”

Shaking his head, Zack grinned.  “Why do I find that easy to believe?”

“Hush, you – or I’ll make you spend some time with grumpy old President Shinra again.”  While Zack pretended to be terrified, Aerith examined the materia in Tifa’s Bangle.  “Good choice to bring with you,” she said, tapping the Restore.

“Can you… change me back?”

Smiling, Aerith gestured at the green surrounding them; Tifa noted that it was the same brilliant shade as her eyes.  “I have the power of the entire Lifestream at my disposal.  Easy-peasy.”  Plucking the materia out of the Bangle, she equipped it merely by holding it between her palms; when it shone like a star, she pressed it against Tifa’s chest and cast the spell.

“Well, now – that’s much better,” Zack drawled when the light had receded.  “Nice sweater.”

Returning the materia to a bemused Tifa, who was highly aware of her now too-large gloves and boots filling with liquid, Aerith swished over to Cloud and began riffling his pockets.  Producing the troublesome Transform materia, after a cursory examination she exclaimed, “I really did alter the magic within it!”

“Isn’t she talented?” Zack fondly commented to Tifa, who was trying to tighten at least one of her belts so her trousers didn’t fall off.

She ducked her head, then met his amused gaze.  “I’m really, really sorry, Zack.”

“For what?” he asked, puzzled.

“When I told you… I hated you.”

Zack looked abashed.  “Don’t worry about it, Tifa.  After everything that happened that day, I understood exactly where you were coming from.  I’m sorry about your dad.”

Briefly making the Transform materia sparkle like a tinselled ornament, Aerith poked it back into Cloud’s pocket.  “That should reset it to normal – but don’t test it on someone you like!”  Returning to Tifa, Aerith clasped the other woman’s hands between her own.  “Remember the White Materia I showed you and Nanaki?  My prayer summoned Holy, the Planet’s ultimate defensive magic… but Sephiroth is blocking it.”

“He’s strong enough to thwart the Planet’s will?” Tifa asked, appalled.

“The darkness in his soul is frightening.”  Aerith shivered and Zack sobered.  “Tifa, Sephiroth has to be removed for Holy to work – but if Meteor gets too close beforehand, all bets are off.”

“The Planet could be destroyed anyways?”

“Yes.”

Tifa bit her lip, then nodded firmly.  “We’ll do our best.”

“We’ll do everything we can to support you from here,” Aerith said, squeezing Tifa’s fingers.  “No giving up!”

As Aerith let go, Tifa hugged her again.  “I’m so happy to see you… and you found him again…” she choked out.

“He was waiting for me; his love was stronger than the Lifestream,” Aerith whispered, her eyes shining.  

Zack was smirking as he handed the unconscious Cloud over to Tifa, but then became serious.  “When he wakes up, make sure you tell this guy that I don’t blame him for what happened.  If our situations had been reversed, I know he would’ve done the same for me.  I’m glad that he survived, and was able to find his way back to you, because then my death meant something.”

As the couple faded from sight and the green rushed in, Tifa held Cloud close, almost giddy with relief for several reasons.  

We have a chance!