Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Ice ❯ Escape ( Chapter 13 )

*** means a change in scene

- - - means a change in scene but happening at the same moment as the previous scene

 

Chapter 13: Escape

 

“Psst! Nanaki!”

 

The lion wolf perked up his ears as he dozed on the floor of his cell. He could have sworn that he heard his own name hissed in a feminine voice. Maybe he had just been locked up alone for too long…

 

“Yo, fire mutt, you awake?”

 

There was the voice again. Convinced he wasn't dreaming, Nanaki opened his eyes and looked around the cell. There was no one there. He slowly rose to his feet, stretching in a very cat-like fashion. He moved his head from side to side. Still he saw no one.

 

“Up here, you dolt!”

 

Looking up, Nanaki saw a pair of brown eyes gleaming from behind the air duct in the ceiling. His eyes widened.

 

“Yuffie?” he asked quietly, showing a great deal of surprise. Once he knew he wasn't dreaming, he recognized the voice.

 

“Yup. You ready to get out of here?” she questioned. He could hear the giggling, teasing sound in her voice already.

 

Nanaki scoffed. “And how am I supposed to do that?”

 

“Easy,” she said, laughing softly. Reaching her thin hand through the bars of the grate, she undid the screws and pulled the grate to the side. Yuffie slipped deftly through the opening and landed quietly beside Nanaki on the ground.

 

“Now what?” asked Nanaki.

 

Yuffie grinned and pointed up at the air duct. “It's pretty small, you can fit. We have to hurry though. They are planning on killing Barret and Reeve!”

 

Nanaki frowned. “I know. I heard. Where are they?”

 

Yuffie shrugged, her face falling. “I don't know. You were the first I came across.” She grinned as she brandished her (Riza) Hawkeye, pulling it from seemingly nowhere. “But I did find our weapons.”

 

“Do you have my Adaman Clip?” Nanaki asked happily; he was practically purring with giddiness. It would be encouraging to have his weapon again. He would feel more like a fighter than a prisoner.

 

Yuffie smiled as she pulled out a small clip from her pocket, attaching it to his headband. Nanaki could already feel the strength surging through his body.

 

“So, whaddya say? You with me in breaking out this joint?” Yuffie asked with a sly smile.

 

Nanaki growled happily, giving a great leap. He managed to catch himself on the edge of the air duct and pull himself inside. Yuffie leapt up after him, carefully replacing the grating.

 

Nanaki looked around the duct, finding it as dark and bleak as he expected an air passage to be. He wondered how Yuffie even knew her way around the small, compact space.

 

“Which way?” he asked.

 

She moved off to the right, shrugging her shoulders. “This is the way I was heading.”

 

Nanaki hoped that her reasoning was sound as he crept along after her.

 

It was a quiet and cramped quarters that they had to traverse. Occasionally they would pass over another grating where they would peer carefully and silently into the room it revealed.

 

In one, two ShinRa employees were having a little fun on the clock in the break room. Shaking their heads and stifling giggles, the two moved on. They crawled for several minutes, passing by multiple empty rooms, before they finally came upon another occupied one. Yuffie leaned forward and to the side, peeking around the edge. On the other side of the grate, Nanaki did the same.

 

Inside they saw a man with vivid red hair and aquamarine eyes… it was Reno! He was polishing his Electro Rod in what appeared to be his personal quarters. He was mumbling softly to himself and flexing his hands nervously. After eyeing him for a moment, Yuffie belatedly noticed that the mighty Turk was trembling ever so slightly, apparently fighting the action. Curious as to his behavior and dying to know what he was saying, the two inched closer to the grate.

 

Finally, the Turks quiet mutterings reached their ears. “They're going to kill him! They are actually going to execute him! Him, Reeve, a member of the board… the only decent one. They're going to kill him!” Reno unexpectedly jumped to his feet and started pacing, his nightstick still in hand. “They're going to kill him, but I won't let that happen!” he said with unexpected passion. “I am going to save him… just like I planned. I am going to use the smoke bomb and sleeping gas, steal the key from that bitch Scarlet, whack Tifa with my nightstick, and save Reeve!” he finished triumphantly, eyes shining. “Then we escape through the vents.” His eyes twitched upwards, but the spying pair had already moved away.

 

Yuffie and Nanaki exchanged a startled glance, shocked by Reno's words and suddenly reminded of their mission. Slowly they back away from the grate, continuing on their way. They continued past several more rooms, but none of them contained prisoners. It appeared that there was no order to the way that the cells were arranged. Though at least so far, everyone was on the same floor.

 

Another grate and this time they found themselves above a hallway that contained two guards standing in front of a door. There was writing on the door, but the men's bodies were in the way. Yuffie and Nanaki could not read it. So instead they decided to eavesdrop.

 

One man, a pale red-head shuddered as he paced in front of the room. “I would hate to be in there now.”

 

The other, a brunette with rather long hair, nodded. “Yeah, that man has always given me the creeps. Always mumbling under his breath and smiling secretively.”

 

“I hear he's real excited now. Whatever went down at the crater and plus he got his favorite toy back, the man's a freaking psycho,” the red-head commented.

 

Yuffie and Nanaki exchanged glances. Were they talking about Hojo?

 

The knob on the door behind them turned and both men snapped to attention, scrambling to stand on either side of the door. It opened as a young brunette female walked out, a smug smile on her face. She let the door slam shut as she ignored the two soldiers, calmly continuing on her way.

 

Yuffie had to stifle an angry gasp and cut down on the urge to leap out of the air duct and pummel the brunette into the ground. Man, she hated that bitch's guts. Tifa deserved to die. The girl had already visited Yuffie twice since they were held by ShinRa, each time bringing along two guards so that the ninja was forced to suffer her abuse. The ninja was just itching for some payback.

 

But that also gave them the opportunity to see what was written on the door. Laboratory 05. The two friends exchanged another glance, this one filled with worry. Even if no one was in there, it was worth a look.

 

Red-head shook his head in disgust. “And that cold bitch pretended to be friends with that poor guy, too.”

 

“You hate her too, eh?” his fellow guard questioned.

 

“Yeah. I mean, fuck, who needs enemies when you got allies like that?” he shot back heatedly. “I may be in ShinRa but I got values, ya know?”

 

His friend nodded sympathetically. “So, how's the search for a better job going?”

 

“Not so good. There ain't much better than being a soldier, despite the rotten pay and hours.”

 

The doorknob turned again and the men were forced silent. The door opened and a dark-haired man with a ponytail and glasses came creeping out, looking every bit the mad scientist. He took out a small silver key and locked the door, not to mention taking the time to input a code into the electrical system.

 

Hojo tittered, “No one enters or leaves unless it is I, understood?” He leered at them, gazing at each of them intently. He had a bandage on one of his cheeks, blood appearing to seep through the white strips. Something had gotten a hold of him. Probably one of his experiments. It wouldn't be the first time.

 

“Yes, sir!” the two soldiers exclaimed, saluting intently.

 

“Good,” Hojo laughed. “After all, I am looking for more human subjects. So don't fail me.” He walked away from them, heading in the opposite direction of Tifa.

 

“Let's go. We must see what Hojo is hiding in his laboratory,” Nanaki said quietly.

 

Yuffie nodded. “I agree. Come on.” She moved past him, heading for one of the smaller side ducts that she hoped led to the room. The duct sloped gradually downwards until she almost had to fight not to slide to the bottom.

 

Once at the bottom, it split into two directions, seemingly forming a box. Yuffie took one and Nanaki took the other. At the first grating, she could see nothing but an empty lab table and some lab equipment. The room was stark and metallic, every bit the crazed lab. She couldn't really hear anything, so she moved on.

 

Meanwhile, Nanaki was having a bit more luck. The first grate he came upon, he saw what Hojo had been hiding. His face instantly saddened. At least, they had found another of their friends.

 

Vincent was lying unconscious on one of the tables, blood dribbling from his lips. His hair had been pulled back from his face, the headband and cloak lying in a crumpled pile on the floor. His chest rose and fell slowly, so he was alive. His face appeared to be shadowed, as if he had been struck several times and the bruises were already fading. On closer examination, Nanaki noticed that he had been chained down. The lion wolf didn't even want to consider what had been going on in the lab.

 

“Psst, Nanaki, you find anything?” Yuffie questioned, creeping up behind him.

 

Nanaki did not answer, only looking down sadly at their broken friend. Yuffie moved past him, following his gaze.

 

“Fuckin' Hojo,” the little ninja swore. “I'm going to kick his ass!”

 

“Another time,” Nanaki cut in. “We must get him out of there.”

 

“Right.” Yuffie nodded. She quickly started unscrewing the grate, moving it to the side when she was finished. Quietly, she dropped down into the lab, Nanaki landing silently beside her.

 

There was no one else in the lab. It was deserted. Apparently, Hojo preferred to work alone. Yuffie quickly got to work on the metal cuffs around Vincent's wrists and ankles, while Nanaki roamed around the lab, trying to gather more information.

 

“Hey, Vinny, wake up,” Yuffie said softly, trying not to make too much noise. She didn't want the guards to hear and come investigate. The dark-haired gunman groaned and moved his head restlessly but did not open his eyes. “Come on, Vin, wake up,” she urged again.

 

“My name… is Vincent,” the gunman muttered, his voice raw and gravelly. He opened his eyes, crimson meeting brown.

 

She smiled up at him as she worked on the two wrist chains, having already defeated the leg chains.

 

“Where… what… “ Vincent furrowed his brow in confusion. The last thing he remembered was being taken to a cell after President Rufus `rescued' them from the crater.

”You are in lab 05,” responded Yuffie softly. Her eyes searched his face. “You don't remember?”

 

Vincent shook his head no, before he abruptly stopped. That movement caused his mind to spin and he immediately felt dizzy.

 

“That is probably for the best,” Nanaki intoned, coming up to stand beside Yuffie. He placed Vincent's cloak and headband in the man's lap. “Hojo isn't worth recalling.

 

“Hojo?” Vincent demanded, sitting up quickly. “That bastard was near me?”

 

Nanaki and Yuffie exchanged looks before the lion wolf opened his mouth to respond. However, before he got a chance, he was interrupted by the sound of a commotion outside the door. There were the noises of conversation and feet walking away. Yuffie moved quickly to stand by the door, hefting up her shuriken.

Vincent reached for his gun, sighing when he realized that he didn't have it. He clenched his left fist, his claw would have to do for now. The gunman slipped off the table and followed Nanaki.

 

Suddenly, the door burst open, and a ShinRa officer stepped inside before the two males could find a place to hide. Yuffie moved to attack the lone officer, but he noticed her movement and stopped her in her tracks with a stop spell. She was unable to move. Kicking the door shut behind him, the officer held forth his easily recognized weapon as he pulled off his helmet.

 

“Cid!” Nanaki and Vincent exclaimed at the same moment. Yuffie would have done the same, had she been unable to move.

 

“Sorry, didn't want to get bashed over the head,” Cid said, looking at the girl apologetically.

 

“You escaped too?” Nanaki questioned. “Yuffie was the one who rescued me.”

 

“Yeah,” Cid answered, scratching his head. “I overpowered this guard and stole his clothes. I had heard that they took Vince here and came to get him. They gonna kill Barret and Reeve.”

 

“We know. Do you know where they took them?” Nanaki questioned.

 

“Reeve is to be gassed. Um, I think Barret gets something different. They are both on the lower floor, but the execution is to take place on the floor above us.”

 

“We need an escape plan,” Vincent intoned from behind his cloak. He had managed to reattach it and put his hair in its proper position.

 

“Oh, here ya go Vince,” the pilot said, tossing the gunman his Lariat. Vincent caught it easily, checking for ammunition before slipping it into holster. “I want my damn airship back so I'm planning on stealing it. We can use it to get away.”

 

“And what of Barret and Reeve?” Nanaki asked quickly.

 

“I can get Reeve!” Yuffie exclaimed. The stop spell finally wore off. “He is small enough to fit in the vents,” she added, recalling what Reno had mentioned earlier.

 

“I suppose that I still know enough of stealth to infiltrate. I can find the dumb gunarm and rescue him,” Vincent sighed aloud. He really had contemplated just leaving the man to his doom, payback for all the vampy comments. But then he decided he really didn't need any more sins on his head.

 

“Then, it's settled.” Cid nodded, finding the helmet and putting it back on his head. “Nanaki, you can follow me in the vents and we will go rescue the Highwind. Yuffie, you take the vents to find Reeve, and, Vincent, you have your ways I am sure.”

 

“Where should I look?” Yuffie asked suddenly.

 

Glancing at his watch, Cid contemplated. “They should be starting Reeve's execution around now. The air vents lead to the gas chamber. Go back to the main one and follow it to the right. It will eventually start to climb. At the top it will split four ways, take the third. You can find Reeve there.”

 

Yuffie nodded before eyeing him skeptically. “How do you know so much about the air ducts in this place anyway?” she asked as she pulled up a chair and stood on it. She reached up to remove the grate from the air duct.

 

A disgusted expression crossed the pilot's face, but it wasn't directed at Yuffie. “Fuckin' ShinRa made my work on `em back when I did maintenance.”

 

“Oh.” And with that, Yuffie hopped up into the vents, Nanaki following close behind her. Once they were inside, Vincent and Cid helped to reattach the grate. The two friends immediately started to move within the air duct.

After they were gone, Cid turned to Vincent. He saw relief and gratitude in the gunman's face even though the pilot hadn't exactly done anything.

 

“Barret is more than likely still in lock down. He should be in his cell,” Cid said, looking into the crimson eyes of the gunman. “Think you can do it?”

 

Vincent sighed. “Gift or curse, I cannot say, but the shadows will be my allies. The only problem will be getting the dolt back out. He isn't exactly well known for his tact and stealth skills.”

 

Cid laughed softly. “True enough.” His face darkened then, taking on a more solemn approach. “We haven't much time; we need to get going.”

 

Vincent nodded and the two men headed for the door. Cid reached for his spear as he left first, Vincent placing a cautionary hand on his gun. The door to laboratory 05 opened, and the two men stepped out into a mostly empty hallway, save for the two sleeping guards.

 

It was here that they parted ways, Cid to the right, Vincent to the left. If they listened closely, they could hear the sounds of their friends scrambling in the air ducts above them.

 

* * *

 

“Alright, traitor, it's time.” The gruff voice of his guard woke the ex-executive from his short nap. He looked around blearily, noticing that three ShinRa soldiers stood in front of his tiny metal cot.

 

“Huh?” he muttered, struggling to sit up.

 

“Doncha remember?” mocked the soldier in the middle, obviously the one in charge. “Today's your execution.”

 

Reeve sat up straight, completely awake. His eyes widened in astonishment. Execution? When had they decided he was to be executed? What about his friends, were they to be executed as well?

 

“Come on, traitor man,” spoke another reaching forward and grabbing onto Reeve's arms. “You are coming with us.”

 

Reeve was roughly pulled to his feet and his arms shoved behind his back, quickly cuffed. “Wait. I don't remember anything about an execution.”

 

The man in the middle sneered. “New orders from the President. ShinRa don't take kindly to traitors. Now get going!” He harshly shoved Reeve in the back, pushing him towards the now open door.

 

The ex-executive stumbled forward and out the door. He could hear the three soldiers behind him. Outside another two soldiers were waiting. His escort to the execution. He paused out in the hallway, wondering if there was anyway he could escape from the five guards.

 

Another violent shove in the back and Reeve shook his head in disgust. Not a chance. Without his knives, he may as well have been helpless. He followed the two soldiers in front of him, grimly accepting his fate. A single thought ran through his mind as they led him to his death.

 

`Reno…'

- - -

 

Barret paced back and forth in his cell, unable to do much else. He was really starting to get pissed off. Seven days of this lonely monotony. He had not heard anything about his other friends, Tifa had betrayed them, and Cloud could either be dead or alive; no one really knew. He had not any company for the past few days, and now he was hearing vague rumors through the door that he did not even want to contemplate.

 

“Damn!” he cursed angrily, throwing himself down on the bed. Not that he could sleep anymore, he had had enough of that. “I can't take this shit anymore.” His stomach grumbled hungrily, agreeing with him.

 

“Hey!” he yelled, getting up from the bed again. He beat his fist on the door to the cell. “Where's my fuckin' meal?” he demanded.

 

A small panel slid open and a pair of eyes looked at him from behind a familiar ShinRa helmet. “Stop griping. You are a prisoner in case you've forgotten,” answered the officer that stood guard over his cell.

 

“I'm hungry!” Barret insisted.

 

The guard laughed. “That won't be much of a problem soon. Once they are finished with the other it is your turn.” He slid the panel shut but Barret could still hear the laughing through the door.

 

“Hey! What the hell do you mean?” Barret asked, pounding on the door again.

 

All he could hear was more laughter. It pissed him off. He struck the door angrily with his fist, not even making a dent as he stomped over to his bed and sat down.

 

“Fuckin' assholes,” he muttered as he tried to understand the soldier's vague words. Tch, Cloud was the strategist, not him. What in the hell was he to do?

 

“You just wait till I get my ammo back! You'll see what's funny then!” the dark skinned man vowed loudly, screaming at the door.

 

The sound of upraised laughter was the only response he got.

 

Barret shook his head in disgust.

 

Then there came the sound of a silenced pistol followed by two heavy thumps. Barret's eyes widened. What the hell was going on?

 

He climbed to his feet quickly and listened intently at the door. He couldn't hear anything. Then there was the scratching of a key in the lock. He stood on the opposite of the door, ready to strike at whatever was coming in. He was getting the fuck out of this place if it killed him.

 

The door swung open quickly and a man stepped inside. Barret growled as he swung, but the man was too quick. There was a flash of red as the intruder ducked and rolled away, avoiding Barret's wild strike.

 

“Idiot!” Vincent yelled as he got up quickly from the floor. “Maybe I ought to just leave you in here to rot!”

 

Barret looked at him stupidly as if unable to process the events. “Vampy?”

 

Vincent growled as he tossed the man the energy packet his Microlaser. “Don't call me that.”

 

“Whatever,” Barret snorted. “How the hell did you get out?”

 

“Long story,” Vincent muttered heading for the door. He peeked out, trying to determine if there was anyone coming. “We have to get out of here and meet Cid at the airstrip.”

 

“What about the others?” the dark skinned man questioned, hurriedly attaching the energy packet to his arm. He grinned when he felt the surge of power run through his Microlaser.

 

Vincent sighed and rolled his crimson eyes. “Nanaki and Cid have gone to find the airship. Yuffie is on her way to retrieve Reeve. I still know nothing of Cloud.”

 

“And Tifa?”

 

“Who the hell cares about her?” Vincent demanded, red eyes flashing. He reloaded and cocked his gun, preparing to go back out into the hallway. “Are you coming or not?” he asked impatiently.

 

Barret sighed. “Yeah, I'm coming. Never woulda guessed that it would be you saving me though.”

 

“Believe me, it wasn't my choice,” Vincent muttered in response. He peeked out the door again as Barret dragged the bodies of the two soldiers inside the room. The corridors were clear.

 

They slipped out of the cell that once held Barret and locked it behind them. Vincent took the lead, knowing the way out. He hoped that he could get the AVALANCHE leader to the others without any problems.

 

Not but a few moments later, his hope disappeared. The piercing whine of an alarm accompanied by flashing red and orange lights made his stomach flip flop. Junon was going on full alert.

 

“What the hell?” Barret demanded.

Vincent shook his head. “Either they have discovered we are missing, or something else is happening. Either way, we have to get out of here.” He moved faster, almost taking on the corridors at a dead run, Barret close at his heels.

 

- - -

 

Yuffie crawled tiredly through the ducts, her elbows and knees threatening to give out on her. It wasn't easy to climb straight uphill along the smooth surfaces of the ducts, but the little ninja had managed. Luckily, she had found a room filled with weapons earlier. She had decided then that she had best get Reeve something and had found a whole stock of throwing knives; they were perfect for the ex-executive. She pocketed them before climbing back up in the ducts.

 

Now she was looking down into the small room that served as the viewing area. A strong metal door was against the far wall, the entrance to the gas chamber. There were few people in the room: Scarlet, Tifa, a news crew, and three or four ShinRa soldiers. She couldn't see Reeve anywhere, but the light was on over the gas chamber door.

 

Damn! They had started early. They weren't supposed to gas him for another twenty minutes… at least according to one of the guards the little ninja had overheard. She groaned, hoping that she still wasn't too late.

 

Kicking viciously at the grate covering the air duct, Yuffie worked to get out, readying her Hawkeye. The grating fell with a loud clatter as she nimbly dropped down. There was now a group of surprised people staring at her. She quickly threw the Hawkeye, knocking out the ShinRa soldiers in one throw.

”How the hell did you escape your room,” Scarlet screamed as she and Tifa advanced on the ninja.

”Where is Reeve?” Yuffie demanded as she quickly caught the Hawkeye on its return flight.

 

“You are too late.” Tifa smirked. “Even now he is slowly choking to death on poisonous gas.” She stood smoothly in her fighting position, brown eyes mocking Yuffie as she smiled.

 

“Let him out!” Yuffie demanded. “Don't make me hurt you!”

 

Scarlet opened her mouth to respond but was startled by the sound of alarms going off and bright flashing orange and red lights.

 

“Weapon is attacking,” she breathed horrified, looking up at the flashing alarms. That was her first and last mistake as a dark-haired ninja used the opportunity to strike, hitting the blonde across the face, knocking her unconscious.

 

“Stupid ninja!” Tifa screamed as she attacked. Yuffie ducked and rolled, avoiding the girl's powerful fists.

 

Yuffie quickly performed a move that Tifa could not have been prepared for. Within moments, the brown-haired traitor had joined Scarlet on the floor in sleep.

 

`Hehe! Wutai sleep gas sure worked wonders,' the little ninja thought to herself as she quickly stepped on Tifa and ran towards the gas chamber, jumping up to catch onto the ledge that would allow her to see inside. She could see Reeve and he was alright. Somehow he had gotten free of his bonds and turned off the gas. He was looking around confused. She beat on the glass.

”Reeve! Reeve!” Yuffie tried to get his attention. Thankfully, he heard her.

 

“Hey, get me out of here!” he yelled, coming up to the window.

 

Yuffie nodded and jumped down, reaching for the handle. It didn't want to budge. “I can't move it,” she said sorrowfully.

“Look for a latch or something,” Reeve responded.

 

“It may be controlled from another room. I'll be right back,” said Yuffie.

 

“Hurry.”

 

Yuffie rushed across the room, heading straight for the door. It burst open and she ran outside. She paused, wondering which direction to head. The door slammed shut behind her and she heard the lock click.

 

“What?” she exclaimed, turning around and reaching for the knob. It was locked tight.

 

“Ha, ha, ha, you are too late,” came Tifa's cackle. She had apparently fought off the sleeping gas.

 

“Grr,” Yuffie growled and stomped her feet. She would have to find another way into the room. Looking up, she spotted another air duct and smiled. A tried and true method at least.

 

- - -

Reeve hoped that Yuffie would be able to find a way to get the door open. His head was still light-headed from the little bit of gas that he had breathed in. Thank goodness the clumsy guard had dropped the key to his bonds near him when he left the room. Otherwise Reeve would be dead by now. His eyes searched the room again. Perhaps there was a lever on the inside?

 

The flashing lights of the alarm was very distracting. He thought he heard screams of “Weapon is attacking” but really couldn't be sure in his state of mind.

 

Suddenly, there was a violent shaking and he was forced to the ground as something struck the gas chamber. He closed his eyes as he covered his head.

 

Bright light shone on his eyelids and he felt and scented a breath of fresh air. Once the shaking stopped, Reeve opened his amber eyes and saw that a hole had been shot into the wall of the gas chamber... a very large hole. He dared one last look out the window and didn't see Yuffie anywhere. He would take his chances with the hole.

 

Reeve grasped hold of the walls as he climbed out, wishing that he had his knives at the moment. He felt very unguarded without a weapon of any sort. He scaled down the front of the building, wind threatening to tear him from the walls. Above him, he heard the startled shouts of Tifa and the guards. He briefly wondered what had happened to that bitch Scarlet, but at the moment didn't particularly care. They started climbing down after him, forcing him to go faster. His breathe rattled through his lungs.

 

He reached for the next handhold and suddenly lost his grip. He slid down the front of the building, landing with absolutely no grace. He looked around and found that he was sitting on the rather large gun that ShinRa had attached to the front of Junon. There was nowhere to go but out as Tifa and the soldiers were following in his footsteps.

 

Reeve pushed himself up from the ground and clambered to his feet. He took off running along the length of the gun, seeing no other options. He wheezed as he ran, the gas from the chamber affecting his breathing.

 

“Stop right there!” Tifa ordered, giving full chase. She was a remarkably fast climber. Too bad the other soldiers had fallen to their doom. Reeve was really lucky that he landed on the gun when he fell and not somewhere else.

 

Still, there was no way in hell he was going to listen to that treacherous bitch. Reeve put on a burst of speed, expensive - but oh, so comfortable - shoes slapping against the metal of the gun. He could still hear the alarms going off all around Junon and briefly wondered what had caused the hole in the wall of the gas chamber. Yet, all the while, his lungs felt as though they were on fire. Even that little bit of gas seemed to be far too much.

 

“Shit!” Reeve cursed aloud as he skidded to a stop, gasping for air. He had run out of cannon. He whirled around to face Tifa as she halted behind him, smirking at his plight.

 

“You can run, but you can't ever escape the ShinRa,” she taunted, balling up her fist. “You should have realized that the first time you tried to get away from us.”

 

Reeve shook his head in disgust, frowning at the brunette. The wind whipped fiercely around them, smell of salt on the air from the ocean. “How could you… do that… to your friends, Tifa?” he wheezed out between haggard breaths. “Those that… trusted you? Even I… never sank as low as that… to attempt to murder them.” He clutched a hand to his aching chest.

 

Tifa laughed, loud and mocking. Her brown eyes danced with mirth as she cracked her knuckles. “Cloud always was such a naïve little thing, wasn't he? He believed you, after all.”

 

Reeve's amber eyes danced around wildly. He needed a way out. Tifa had her metal gloves and materia, while he not only had nothing to fight with but was unable to breathe. She was powerful and there was no way he could beat her with the available resources. But wait… he saw something behind the brunette.

Smiling sardonically, Reeve tried to stall for time. “But Cloud… he cared for you.”

 

Tifa snarled. “Don't give me that bullshit. He'd been in love with that prissy flower girl from day one. Besides, I am after power, and Rufus can supply that. Cloud was a weakling ex-SOLDIER who would never amount to anything.”

 

“You speak… as if you know… he is dead.”

 

Tifa shrugged, her eyes flashing. “Who really cares, after all? No one can save you now,” she hissed as she leapt at Reeve, intending to beat the pulp out of him.

 

He twisted his body desperately, trying to avoid her haste-enhanced attacks. She managed to strike him in the shoulder.

 

“Damn!” he cursed aloud, grabbing his arm and then his chest once more. It felt as if he had been struck with a heavy iron or something equally painful.

 

Tifa smirked again as she dropped to her knees and swept out with her feet, kicking his own out from under him. He toppled to the ground, landing hard on his injured shoulder. Lights danced in front of his eyes from the pain, and all the air he had managed to acquire was forced from his damaged lungs. It now felt as though hot knives were stabbing him in the chest.

 

Tifa towered over him and kicked him viciously in the ribs, only making it that much harder to find air. He curled up in a ball to protect himself. Blinking bleary eyes, Reeve couldn't help but smile. No one could save him now, eh?

 

“What are you smiling about?” Tifa demanded, glaring down at him.

 

Reeve coughed, hearing what sounded like blood in his lungs. “You… really should… learn to… duck…” he muttered.

She looked at him in confusion. “What?”

 

Seconds later, she was pummeled as a lithe young ninja tackled her from behind. They fell to the ground, kicking, punching and pulling hair. Tifa screamed as she was scratched across the face with the ninja's incredibly sharp nails. Yuffie was yelling obscenities at the brunette… among other things. Reeve distinctly heard her say, “Don't you hurt my friend! Only I get to hurt him! Well… only me and…”

Reeve struggled to his feet, only making it to his knees before his vision blackened and pain lanced through his chest. He started to fall forward but managed to catch himself with an outstretched hand. He glanced upward, gazing at the fight carefully. Luckily, it appeared that Yuffie was winning.

 

The wind around them kicked up even more violently as he heard the sound of an airship or helicopter. Turning around on his knees, Reeve saw that the airship Highwind was hovering just a few feet away from the end of the cannon.

 

He could see Barret and Nanaki on the deck. The gunarmed man was throwing a long piece of rope over the railing.

 

“Grab the rope!” Barret hollered.

 

Reeve nodded. He staggered to his feet, managing to ignore most of the pain in his body as he ran towards where Yuffie was sitting on top of Tifa's stomach. His lungs burned. He finally reached the still fighting pair and soundly punched the traitor in the face, not knowing where he managed to find the strength to do so. He pulled on the ninja's arms and yanked her off, dragging her towards the end of the cannon.

 

“We'll… have to… jump it,” he yelled in her ear, over the sound of the airship.

 

“No problem.” Yuffie grinned. She took a few steps back then ran forward, leaping grandly for the flailing rope. She caught it easily as she began to climb.

 

Reeve dared a look behind them and saw a bloody but still very much conscious Tifa rising to her feet. She angrily wiped blood from her chin.

 

Not wanting to see what else she would do, Reeve decided to make a jump for it as well. He got a running start, moving as quickly as his battered lungs would allow and leaping high when he reached the edge of the cannon. His shoulder burned as he reached for the rope, narrowly catching it.

 

His injured shoulder screamed with the agony but he forced himself to hold on. There was no way he was going to be able to climb it.

 

The ex-executive looked down at a furious Tifa as the airship moved slowly away.

 

They had escaped from ShinRa's clutches.

 

But… what had happened to Cloud?

 

* * *