Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Ice Redux ❯ Sephiroth Awaits ( Chapter 10 )

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Chapter Ten: Sephiroth Awaits

 

Cid kicked the bloodied and mangled piece of the Schizo creature, its two limp heads flopping about almost comically. The monster had been damn near impossible to defeat, but somehow, he, Vincent, and Cloud had managed to come out on top, after a long and lengthy battle. The pilot was starting to believe that even the monsters were on Sephiroth's side.

 

“Tough bastard,” he commented aloud, giving the corpse another swift kick for good measure. Beneath his boot, it gradually began to crumple away, becoming little more than a pile of ash that blended with the melted snow and spatters of blood on the cavern floor beneath it. The pilot's gaze flickered to his companion, who was pulling himself off the ground and wincing with the movement.

 

Vincent coughed. “And I'm afraid I was more harm than good,” he mumbled, struggling to his feet. Galian Beast had been worthless in the battle, his flare attacks doing little more than healing one of Schizo's heads. Unable to control the beast, he had nearly forced Cloud to knock him out until Schizo took it upon itself to do that. It had been up to Cid and Cloud to finish off the creature, waiting to revive Vincent until the end. It was probably the wisest move.

 

From over to the side, Cloud shrugged. “We can't know everything, can we?” he questioned rhetorically, glancing down at the blade of his sword with a slight frown on his face. The blade was getting to be a bit dull, and there wasn't a chance he was going to get to sharpen it soon, unfortunately.

 

Cid shivered as he moved to stand at the mouth of the cave, hovering near to the edge. He craned his neck, tracing their path down the mountain before leaning to look up at the trail they were to take next. The bitterly cold wind ruffled his hair and clothing, sending a shiver through his body.

 

“Only one more climb,” he commented idly, grabbing a cigarette from under his goggle and lighting up with several flicks, cursing the wind.

 

“This is it then,” Cloud said softly, a feeling of dread combined with anticipation curling in his belly. “The last moment before we face our final battle.”

 

Sephiroth was in front of them. There was no turning back now.

 

Cid nodded, though he scowled around his cigarette, not looking forward to the climb. “What the hell are we waiting for?” he asked. “Let's get that bastard!”

 

Ten minutes later, they stood at the lip of the crater, looking down into what Sephiroth had called the Promised Land. It was desolate, snow swept eerily free from the inner rock, and completely devoid of life. The climb down was most likely going to be hazardous, and they saw no sign of Sephiroth or any other similar enemies. It was almost as if they were in the wrong place.

 

“Doesn't look very promising to me,” Vincent remarked drolly, earning a bemused glance from Cid. Crimson eyes narrowed in thought as his cloak fluttered behind him, caught in the vicious icy wind from Gaea's Cliff behind him.

 

Mako eyes shifted to the side as Cloud shook his head. “Sephiroth is not stupid. There's something there, even if we can't see it.”

 

Cid grumbled, pushing by the two to take a step down into the crater. “Who the *@#$ cares?” he groused, trying to forestall the chill that had settled in his bones. He fucking hated the cold weather. “Let's just get this over with,” he added, leaving no room for argument.

 

But before he could continue, the sound of an engine and rotors echoed from above them. Their eyes turned upwards, catching sight of an airship heading straight for the center of the crater. The ShinRa symbol was ingrained in hull of the carrier, leaving no doubt in their minds who was aboard.

 

The pilot cursed violently at the sight, hands clenching tightly around his spear. “Well, I'll be damned! That's my *!@#$%& airship!” he exclaimed angrily, the burned-out cigarette dropping from his mouth to the snow beneath them.

 

Cloud shook his head in dismay. “We have to hurry then. We can't let Rufus get there first.” He took off quickly, heading for the glowing area ahead of them, sword rattling in his back sheath. He didn't seem to notice that the others weren't following just yet, his mind a turmoil of emotions and fears.

 

Sephiroth was down there, waiting for him, the man he had been chasing ever since the ShinRa building, the man who had killed Aeris and used him for his own purposes. He feared that he wouldn't have the strength to overcome the former General's mind control. Nor could he shake the strange drive inside of him to hurry, to make haste towards the crater like time was running out. It was almost as if he was being called, and it left Cloud feeling restrained, just like the puppet that Sephiroth claimed he was.

 

Vincent waited until their leader was a fair enough distance away before he called out to the seething pilot. “Cid?” he stated, attempting to get the blond's attention as he slowly pulled out something he had been dragging with him for the past few days, waiting for the right time to reveal it from beneath his tattered crimson cloak.

 

“What?” Cid asked testily, cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. He paused in his descent of the crater, turning to raise an eyebrow at the vampiric man when his eyes widened in surprise. “That's…”

 

The gunman nodded, his eyes falling to the spear in his hands, tracing over the materia slots and the obvious thrumming of power that rippled along the elongated shaft. “You cracked your Javelin in the fight with Schizo today,” Vincent answered by way of explanation, his voice soft.

 

Cid climbed the short distance back up the slope, something unreadable in his blue eyes as he reached out to take the proffered gift. “What d'you expect from something ya find lying around in an old icy cavern?” he questioned rhetorically, thoroughly touched.

 

“Think of it as a `starting over',” the former Turk continued, finally raising his eyes until his eerily blooded gaze locked with Cid's. “We can't be fighting Sephiroth with broken weapons, now can we?”

 

The blond smiled then, a huge grin that literally broke his face as he lovingly stroked the Partisan that he had been eyeing in Icicle. “No, we certainly can't.” He quickly moved to shift the materia from his cracked spear into the new one, grinning like a love struck fool at his new friend. “What does that make us then?”

 

“Friends, Highwind,” Vincent answered quickly. “I thought that was what you wanted.”

 

Cid shook his head. `Not what I wanted,' he thought to himself, `but I'll take it.'

 

“Yeah, okay,” he agreed. “Friends.” His lips worked around the cigarette in his mouth, unable to help the slight hitch in his heartbeat or breathing when Vincent looked at him, a glance that spoke volumes.

 

The gunman's lips twitched upwards. “Come on then. Strife is waiting,” he urged finally, moving past the pilot, his movement hiding the small smile that had crept onto his features. Cid liked the gift; that was what mattered. He stepped toward Cloud, who was tapping his feet impatiently, apparently having realized they were not following him. However, Vincent still couldn't quite contain his grin, causing Cloud to look at him strangely.

 

It was much more than starting over to Vincent. It was an apology and an offer both. He had treated the pilot rather horribly, considering how well Cid had been to him. And it wasn't that he didn't want the blond; no, it was quite the opposite. Still, the fact remained that a relationship with someone had no place in his life, not with Lucrecia's blood already staining his hands, along with the innocent lives lost to the hands of Sephiroth. He couldn't afford any more mistakes. That was the way things had to be. Conceding friendship to Cid was an indulgence that he did not deserve but had the gall to accept.

 

Cid smiled again, twirling the Partisan around in his fingers. “Thanks, Vince,” he called out to the gunman, starting down the slope with his companions. He didn't notice when Cloud gave them both knowing glances.

 

- - - - - -

 

The sound of flesh hitting flesh ripped through the air. Tifa crumpled to the ground of the crater, hand clasped to her reddened cheek where she had just been slapped by a furious ninja. Her cherry-brown eyes glowed with revile and hatred as she struggled to return to her feet, glaring spitefully at the younger woman.

 

“You bitch!” Yuffie screamed, darting forward to attack the other girl again. However, Barret quickly grabbed her from behind before any more damage could be done. She railed against his hold, waving her arms about before collapsing in resignation, unable to break his much stronger grip. But her eyes still burned with fury.

 

“Calm down, spitfire; she ain't worth it,” the older man intoned, holding the ninja back. Though he was upset by the obvious betrayal, he wanted to hear Tifa's side. She had, after all, been his closest friend. It was hard for him to accept the truth.

 

Yuffie's hands balled into fists at her side, wrath welling up so strong within her that she absolutely had to release it. “We trusted you!” she raged. “You fought at our sides and worked with us, and the whole time you were a fucking spy?” she cursed loudly, spittle flying through the air.

 

Tifa smirked as she languidly rose to her feet, balancing one hand on her hips. “You dumb asses were none the wiser,” she chortled as she sauntered towards President Rufus, wrapping her arm around his waist. She leaned her head on his shoulder and flashed the group of friends another charming smile, letting her claim be known. It was obvious she was on no one's side but her own.

 

“Did you like the present we left behind for you?” Rufus intoned coldly, hand patting the shotgun holstered at his side. He wasn't a helpless man. “Mechasect was a new invention of Heidegger's. He was quite proud of it.”

 

Cid seethed with anger, shaking his fist at both the brunette traitor and her corporate lover. “Your bitch ass had everyone turned on Vince!” he snarled.

 

But before anyone could respond, Cloud stepped forward in front of his companions, a spiky blond form separating the two enemy groups. “You have to get out of here!” he said, slicing his hand through the air as his mako eyes seemed to glow. “This place is going to get rough. Better leave things to me.”

 

Rufus was not impressed, curling his lip. “Leave things to you?” he questioned condescendingly. “Hmph… I don't know what you mean,” he continued as he waved a hand of dismissal.

 

Cloud shook his head, a bizarre and almost distant look in his eyes. “This is where the Reunion is happening. Where everything begins… and ends.” His voice was oddly empty as he turned away from Rufus and headed towards Nanaki.

 

The President narrowed his eyes. “Now, now, now, there will be plenty of time for that later,” Rufus clucked, shaking his head.

 

“Thanks… Nanaki. Where's the black materia?” the ex-SOLDIER questioned, an eccentrically warm smile on his face. He held out one gloved hand.

 

“I still have it,” the lion-wolf explained with a hint of some nameless emotion. His eyes searched that of his leader's carefully, almost like he did not trust him. Next to him, Reeve shifted in concern, his own amber gaze searching the blond's. Cloud was acting unusual.

 

“Let me have it,” the swordsman requested, that same warm and comforting smile on his face, but his eyes were empty, almost dead, despite the mako glow.

 

The former executive shook his head, an eerie feeling settling in his stomach. “He doesn't seem like himself,” Reeve mused aloud, inching closer to the fire-wolf. “I don't think you should,” he whispered to Nanaki, barely moving his lips. Yet, Cloud noticed the action and the words anyway.

 

Their leader snarled in response. “I'm fine, Reeve!” he snapped, and his mako eyes flashed, even as he returned his attention to the fire-lion. “Give me the materia.”

 

Nanaki searched his face, but other than the wariness within his stomach and the strange timbre of his senses, he couldn't justify telling Cloud no. He had a feeling that their leader would have found one way or another to get the black materia.

 

“If you say so,” he replied as he reached into his pack, showing surprising dexterity to be able to do such a thing while standing on three legs. The black materia surfaced, tiny ripples of power echoing across it as Cloud took it in hand.

 

“Thanks,” he responded, nodding his head. “You can leave the rest to me.”

 

“Cloud?” Yuffie put in questioningly, taking a step forward. She wasn't sure she liked the look in his eyes. It unnerved her, that and the feeling of danger that seemed to emanate around them. She exchanged glances with her companions, all giving her equally concerned looks. Yet, their spiky-headed leader ignored her completely, almost as if he didn't hear her at all.

 

Instead, he stood with his back to them, black materia in one hand. “Everyone, thanks for everything. And… I'm sorry. I don't know what to say. I never lived up to being `Cloud.'” He shook his head, tightening his fingers around the small orb. “Maybe one day you will all meet the real `Cloud.'” His voice was solemn, sober… changed.

 

“Cloud?” the little ninja asked. “What are you talking about?”

 

But Hojo's screeching laughter interrupted her words as he cackled. “This is perfect! It means that my experiment was a complete success!!!” He pattered his way towards Cloud, looking the blond up and down as he pushed up his glasses with one finger. “What number were you?” he questioned before his chilling grey eyes widened. “Huh? Where is your tattoo?”

 

Cloud sighed, hanging his head. “Professor Hojo, I don't have a number. You didn't give me one because you said I was a failed experiment.” Behind him, there was a chorus of gasps coming from his companions. Only Vincent narrowed his red eyes, his blood boiling at sight of the scientist whom he reviled with every inch of his being. It took all of his effort to not pull his gun and shoot where he stood.

 

“What the--” Hojo sneered, his eyes narrowing in anger. “You mean only a failure made it here?” His voice screeched in disbelief.

 

The blond nodded, but it was a depressed movement. “Professor… please give me a number,” he asked softly, his voice taking on a begging tone. “Please, Professor…”

 

Hojo sniffed disdainfully as he turned away, shaking his head in disgust. “Shut up, miserable failure.”

 

Cloud's shoulders slumped dejectedly as he hung his head. “I'm sorry,” he said one last time, though it wasn't certain whom he was apologizing to.

 

“What the %$#@$?” Cid cursed suddenly, face pinched with confusion. He moved forward to grab their leader, but Vincent grabbed his arm and shook his head.

 

Their leader slowly began to float up to the ceiling on his own power, blue eyes dead. Everyone watched in rapt fascination as a mako egg dropped down, revealing what appeared to be the upper body of the infamous Sephiroth, encased in bluish crystal. Cloud hovered before the mako container for a moment before he pushed his arm through the materia, depositing the black materia into the hardened substance.

 

It began to glow a mysterious dark color.

 

“No good will come of this,” Vincent murmured, shaking his head somberly. Something stirred inside of him, his demons cackling in glee within his head as they imagined the destruction that was sure to be wrought. He could feel their rousing, and it was the clearest indication that the shit was indeed about to hit the fan. No good was an understatement.

 

“What the hell's goin' on?” Barret demanded, releasing a livid Yuffie in his shock. She gaped in astonishment, momentary fury with the traitorous bitch forgotten.

 

Rufus shook his head. “Who… what was that?”

 

“The Reunion, of course,” Hojo tittered, nearly shaking with his glee. “It appears my theory was correct. A little off, but no matter. I was right! Gast would be turning over in his grave, the foolish imbecile--"

 

The pilot's furious words interrupted Hojo's mini tirade, “Fuck you and your theories! What the hell is wrong with Cloud?” His hand crept around to his spear.

 

However, before anyone could answer, the ground began to shake violently and pieces of debris fell from the ceiling, narrowly missing the eclectic group of friends and enemies. They could still see Cloud above them, hovering in front of the Sephiroth-egg as the black materia appeared to glow even brighter. But in the walls of the crater something shifted behind the bluish-green materia-like substance of the cavern.

 

A large eye appeared, opening and looking angrily down at their gathered forms. The crater shifted violently again, many of them fighting to keep their balance.

 

“What is that?” Reeve exclaimed, wide-eyed. Fear gripped his heart, an unnatural dread that he wasn't quite certain how to explain. All he knew was that they needed to leave and fast. He inched towards the exit.

 

“Weapon,” Hojo mused, face pinched with thought. He harrumphed, shaking his head and heading towards the exit of the crater. “Professor Gast was right after all, it seems.”

 

“I think it is best that we leave now,” President Rufus ordered, gesturing towards where the airship was moored. “You all are coming with us.” His tone left no room for argument. As it was, the companions had little else choice. The crater was swiftly crumbling around them.

 

“But… what about Cloud?” Yuffie asked breathlessly, looking up to where he was disappearing into the debris and material surrounding Sephiroth. She caught a glimpse of blond hair before he was completely obscured.

 

Vincent frowned, pulling his cloak closer around him. “He is lost to us,” the gunman answered warily.

 

“It is no longer safe here. We are leaving. Come on,” President Rufus commanded. The entire cavern shook as cracks formed in the ground as the creature, Weapon, shifted and moved behind the walls.

 

“*!@#!” cursed Barret loudly. “We have no choice.”

 

The cavern ceiling crumpled, and the cavern began to collapse around them.

 

- - - - -

 

“Gya ha ha ha!” Heidegger's throaty and equine laugh filled the belly of the airship as the ShinRa employees reveled in their victory. He sat in one of the chairs within the conference room of the Highwind, ringed around the table by his fellow employees, expect for Hojo, who was musing thoughtfully in the doorway. He seemed particularly giddy, enough so that even the half-wit Heidegger was slightly afraid.

 

Rufus shot him a cerulean glare. “Do us all a favor; shut the fuck up,” he snarled angrily, sitting back in his chair with one elbow propped up on the arm of it. At his side, Tifa snickered, burying her lips into his neck and nibbling on his throat.

 

Immediately, Heidegger went silence, quailing under the sneer of the President. He shifted uncomfortable in his too-small chair, shooting angered stares at Scarlet, who was enjoying his discomfit.

 

“Now, Hojo, explain what is going to happen,” Rufus continued once the blissful quiet fell.

 

The scientist snickered, pushing up his glasses with one finger as he turned to regard them all with disdainful looks. “The Reunion is complete, just as I hypothesized,” he explained in his most condescending tone, arms folded behind his back. “Sephiroth has called Meteor and the barrier to protect him. The world's going to end soon, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Science has spoken.”

 

Rufus narrowed his eyes. “That is unacceptable,” he replied coolly. “Heidegger! Scarlet! What can we do against that barrier?” he demanded.

 

The female blonde chortled, holding one hand over her mouth. “The Sister Ray can blow that barrier to smithereens. I guarantee it! We need to go to Junon.”

 

“What about those creatures that came from the crater?” Archer questioned quietly, breaking into their conversation. The amethyst-eyed man had been Reeve's replacement and was now struggling to fill in his mentor's shoes. He worried that those monsters would be a danger to the citizens of Gaia. It was his job to be concerned about such things.

 

Heidegger scoffed. “Forget those! What about our prisoners? I say we execute the entire lot!”

 

“No!” Hojo denied, shooting the man a snarl that made him shrink his seat and feel little more than a cockroach. “Two of them belong to me.” A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, a terrifying emotion that made even Rufus wince inside. “I am interested in my favorite specimen after so many years.”

 

Rufus raised one blond brow. “By all means,” he inserted smoothly. “Which would you require?”

 

The scientist's eyes took on an evil gleam behind his spectacles as he cackled that annoying chortle of his, one that grated on the senses of all those present. “Give me the ex-Turk,” he intoned, pushing up his glasses with one finger before folding his arms behind his back. “I have plans for him.”

 

At those words, many present, even Rufus himself, shuddered. Thankfully, the scientist soon exited from the conference room, leaving the rest of the ShinRa executives to discuss what to do with their captives. It was still a mystery as to why he was given free rein within the company, but even Rufus was wary of trying to deny him anything. The man was, plainly put, a monster.

 

“As for the others,” Heidegger bellowed as they waited for the eerie chill that settled the room to disperse with Hojo's exit, “we need to execute them.”

 

“That Reeve especially,” Tifa snarled, tightening her fingers around Rufus' arm and nearly causing him to wince. Sometimes, she forgot her own strength. “For his treachery, he needs to burn.”

 

Archer muttered something under his breath along the lines of “Pot, meet kettle” but didn't speak aloud. He was half afraid they would execute him next.

 

“But wouldn't such bloodshed ruin ShinRa's image?” he stated in his most winning tone, gathering all attention towards him. “Wouldn't people lose faith in us?”

 

Scarlet chortled loudly. “Nonsense! We tell them Wallace blew up the plate, and they'll be begging for his blood!” She ran a hand through her hair, clearly impressed with her own decision.

 

“Inspiring,” Rufus commented, running a few fingers over his chin as he nodded in agreement. “As for Tuesti, he is a bit trickier. Many of them look up to him as a hero.”

 

“Exactly,” Archer inserted hastily, trying and succeeding in keeping his voice steady. “You can't just kill him off the bat. ShinRa's reputation would be tarnished. Your father--"

 

But that was the wrong thing to say.

 

Rufus' fist pounded on the table as his ocean-blue eyes flashed with anger. “My father was a simpering baboon!” he snarled. “He knew nothing of how to run this company! I am President!” The force of his anger was enough to cause everyone sitting at the table to scoot back in their chairs, no one more so than Archer, who looked as if he had just been sentenced to death.

 

“Reeve Tuesti will be executed for his crimes!” the ShinRa heir continued, rising to his feet and detaching the brunette leech from his side. He slammed his open palm down on the table once again. “Announce it when we arrive at Junon.” Bold blue eyes burned with fury as he hissed, “The both of them will die.”

 

- - - - -

 

Yuffie sighed as she sat on the edge of her metal cot, legs swinging back and forth, a bored expression on her face. Three days… she had spent three days locked up in this room. To be honest, the little ninja was absolutely sick of it.

 

With a stifled groan, Yuffie put her head in her hands. She hated it in her cell. She absolutely hated it! She sat around all day, thinking about everything that happened to her. Cloud was missing, and she was worried about him. He might not have been particularly warm to her and had refused to give up all his materia, but he was their friend, their companion. She just couldn't believe that he was dead.

 

Also, Tifa had betrayed them, and that thought pissed her off more than anything. To make a bad situation even worse, she didn't even know what had become of her other friends. She didn't know about foul-mouthed Cid, annoying Barrett, solemn Nanaki, funny Reeve, or silent Vincent. She didn't know if they were okay, if they were hurt, if they were even still alive.

 

Yuffie frowned, brown eyes narrowing.

 

What was she thinking?

 

She was the Great Ninja Yuffie! She couldn't be contained! Her father would be ashamed if she allowed herself to stay locked up in any jail. It was time she got out of ShinRa's custody and back onto the road. They needed to find Cloud, and they needed to stop that bastard Sephiroth and meteor before all of Gaia blew to smithereens.

 

“All right!” she exclaimed, leaping to her feet on top of the bed, pumping one fist into the air. “It's time to E-X-I-T!” She grinned.

 

Nevertheless, she stilled as the sound of male voices outside her cell caught her attention. Leaping to the ground, she moved to the door, placing her ear up against the cold metal. It wasn't time for her meal yet, which was unfortunate because she was beginning to feel a rumbling in her belly. If she kept her breathing down to a minimum, she could just hear what they were saying. One male voice, high and thin, was speaking to another, deep and rumbling.

 

“They decided what to do with some of the prisoners,” said squeaky and pre-pubescent.

 

“Oh?” Mr. Rumble Voice questioned.

 

“Yeah, the big black guy? He's gonna get executed. They say he's the leader of AVALANCHE.”

 

The deep-voiced guard guffawed. “That's funny. He didn't really look like a terrorist, despite the gun attached to his arm.”

 

“You're right about that. And uh, Reeve, you know, the one that used to be a part of ShinRa,” squeaky put in.

 

“They gonna kill him, too?”

 

“Yep, ShinRa don't take kindly to traitors, especially since Miss Tifa told the President about everything that happened.” Shrill-voice laughed with horrid amusement. “Deserves what he gets that one. I heard that they have evidence that he'd been stealing from the company, too. Giving money to those lousy good-for-nothing bastards in the slums.”

 

Yuffie gasped, instantly stifling the sound and succeeding in missing the next statement. They were going to kill Barret and Reeve! Barret, who yelled at her and called her brat, but who always made sure that she was fed and was never left behind. And Reeve, who was like a big brother and father rolled into one; he was one of the few people who never yelled at her, no matter how annoying she acted.

 

That most definitely settled it! It was time to step up her plan; she had no time to waste.

 

“Yep. They haven't decided about the others. So I suppose your little ninja here will just continue to rot in this cell.” Rumble-voice snorted and chuckled.

 

Yuffie heard the sound of footsteps, assuming he had walked away. Sighing grimly, the ninja turned around to look at her room. There was a metal cot, a tiny sink, and a toilet, not really much to work with. Her gaze traveled upwards, skating over a windowless wall before landing on something in the ceiling.

 

She smiled impishly. There was an air duct, one that was certain to lead to other parts of the ShinRa headquarters in Junon.

 

Suddenly, her stomach growled again. She would wait until after lunch. Then, she would have the most time before anyone discovered she was missing. Yuffie moved to her bed, yawning. Just a short nap, and then, she would put her plan into action!

 

Heh, heh!

 

Afterwards, they would have no choice but to hand over their materia in thanks! It was a good plan that couldn't go wrong; she was sure of it.

 

“Hey! Ninja girl! Food's up!” The high-pitched, whiny voice of the guard stirred her out of her dream and into sudden wakefulness. The smell of food made her stomach gurgle hungrily.

 

Sitting up quickly, Yuffie reached for the plate that was being passed through the tiny slot. She took it gratefully and began to scarf her food down. Having no weapons, she would need all her strength and stealth to carry out her plan. It was a meager meal, only a small sandwich and a glass of water, but she would take what she could get.

 

She rapped on the door to get their attention before she pushed the now empty metal plate back through the tiny slot. Yuffie heard it clatter to the floor. She smirked satisfactorily. Good. In five hours, they would bring her dinner. She had only that long to get out of her cell, find the others, and somehow escape from ShinRa headquarters.

 

Piece of cake. Nothing a ninja like her couldn't handle.

 

Clambering up onto her bed, she reached above her for the grate that covered the air duct. It was bolted down by several screws. Frowning, Yuffie reached into her boots and pulled out a small, long, and flat object. Concentrating intently, she deftly began to unscrew the grating until it was loose enough for her to pull off. It screeched softly as she yanked it out of the ceiling.

 

Freezing at the sudden sound, Yuffie perked up her ears. Thankfully, no one came to the door demanding to know what was going on. Taking that as a good sign, she quietly pushed the grating up into the duct and off to the side. Then, she reached up with her hands, grasping the sides.

 

“Here we go,” she mumbled under her breath. She gave a great heave and pulled her slight frame up into the air duct. Quietly, she replaced the grating, hoping it would hold up long enough without the screws. She was now faced with a dilemma. Left or right?

 

Yuffie crouched in the small metal tunnel, head swiveling from side to side. Hmm, a quandary indeed. Both ends were completely dark, save for other grates letting in small spots of light. She did not know where the others were being kept or which direction to even go in.

 

Sighing angrily, she thought about slamming her fist into the sides of the metal, but no, that would make too much noise. Now was the time for stealth. Nevermind that she had never really mastered that skill.

 

Glaring at the choices before her, she finally just guessed. Better to head right. Her father had always said that when lost, follow the right wall because it will always led you right. Or was it, left would always led right.

 

Hm…

 

Either way, Yuffie took the right path, figuring that she could always crawl backwards if needed.

 

“Hold on, guys,” she vowed quietly as she continued on. “I'm coming.”

 

It was, after all, up to her to save everyone. Well, that and get her materia back.

 

- - - -

 

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