Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Those Chosen By The Planet ❯ Chapter 2 - "Innocence and Reality." ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2
"Innocence and Reality"

"She shines,
In a world full of ugliness,
She matters
When everything is meaningless"
~Nine Inch Nails, "The Fragile"

"Witnesses said that there was no warning. The blast came from nowhere, devastating Reactor One. It is uncertain how many have been killed or wounded. Luckily, due to the time the casualties were most likely kept to a minimum. Crews are attempting to salvage what remains, and assess the damages. Stay tuned for continuing coverage of this terrorist attack and an exclusive MNN presidential press conference."

"That should keep the planet going... At least for a little while..."

Over the din of creaking metal and crackling flames, Reno could barely hear their voices. He was beginning to get used to the notion of being with these renegade environmentalists. It wasn't quite as annoying or surprising to hear them talking of the planet and its state of well being. Sure, it was getting tired and drawn out, but he was getting paid. That was enough for him.

"Yeah..." Wedge answered reluctantly.

Reno stared out, noticing the strange angle of the damaged wrought iron gate that fenced in the compound. He pushed the gate gently, grinding his teeth in a vain attempt to ignore the hideous screeching noise of metal against metal. Their escape route needs met, he slowly wandered out of the confines of the Reactor One compound and lit a cigarette.

Barret stared at the ex-Turk silently, and followed him out. He didn't want to admit it, but Reno was helpful. Very helpful. Too bad he was such a self absorbed asshole. He shook his head and turned to the group. It was time to act like a leader.

"All right... Rendezvous at Sector Eight Station."

Reno snorted, taking a drag from his cigarette. Rendezvous. Never though I'd hear a word like that from the man... He tossed the item to the ground, not giving it a second glance. Another fire wouldn't hurt the place. "You payin' me then, Wallace?"

Barret ignored him and continued on his way. This Turk was definitely more than just an asshole. "Ever'body move out. We'll be meeting on the train."

Some days it didn't pay to roll out of bed in the morning.

She was shrouded in a soft pink dress, her long wispy strands of brown hair tied in a matching ribbon. She walked with a grace unheard of in the slums, a small basket of flowers in hand. Chaos surrounded her as people ran to and fro, in an attempt to learn what had happened in the neighboring sector, but she seemed unfazed.

She looked up and saw a man walking briskly toward her. Her sea green eyes brightened in anticipation. She hadn't sold a single flower all day, and evening would soon be fast approaching.

"Sir, would you like to buy a..."

The man bumped into her, bringing the flower girl and her wares crashing to the ground. Pink, red and white flowers scattered around her. The man continued walking, seemingly not noticing the girl he had pushed down.

"...flower." She pulled herself to her knees and attempted to gather the fallen blossoms, sighing in exasperation as passerbys neither stopped to help her, nor try to step over her flowers. She reached for the final, unscathed flower only to helplessly watch a gust of warm air push it farther into the crowd. Her only red rose.

The girl sighed once more and pulled herself to her feet, careful not to knock any more flowers to the ground. Half her inventory for that day was gone, ground into the dirt that now soiled her pristine pink dress.

She smiled wryly. Mother... Sometimes it just isn't easy...

"Does this belong to you?"

Snapped to attention, the girl looked up, and into the emerald eyes of the man standing before her. His eyes were beautifully complex, showing a mixture of underlying emotions, covered by a cold gaze. She could feel vengeance and sorrow bubbling beneath the surface. In his hand, he held the rose, its color nearly matching that of his red hair.

She internally shook herself. She was gawking. "Y-yeah. Thanks." She took the flower and gently placed it back in her basket. "What is going on out there?"

She caught herself staring... how... cute. Reno couldn't take his eyes off her. Something about her just didn't belong in the slums... on the planet. She was so clean, untouched. Good. She reeked of innocence. She couldn't be real. She couldn't be real at all.

"Something... I dunno." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "You should watch where you're going... You could get hurt'r something."

She looked to the ground, covering up an evident degree of embarrassment. "I know... I almost lost my flowers." I'm such a klutz...

"Yeah, I kinda figured." He grinned. "Selling flowers?"

The girl smiled and nodded. "Yes. But today hasn't been such a good day."

Probably because of the explosion, he thought grimly, but answered with a trite, "Oh?"

"Yeah..." She paused a moment. "You... wouldn't be interested in one, would you?"

What would I do with a- "I'll take five."

Four figures stood in the back of the Midgar Express, once more. Wedge. Biggs. Jessie. Barret.

No Reno.

"Reno's... still not here." Wedge stated quietly, obviously.

Silence prevailed once more. An uncomfortable, thoughtful silence.

"So..." Biggs began. "You think he skipped out on us?"

Barret gritted his teeth. There were a lot of different possibilities as to what happened to the Turk. Biggs' possibility, however... "Foo' wouldn't leave without his money."

Silence again. Biggs had something else to say. It was obvious from the look on his face, but he was almost afraid... Barret was in one of his moods. Tense wasn't enough of a description.

Jessie cleared her throat and looked to the rusted floor and her barely aching twisted ankle. "Kinda thought he might... I dunno..."

"Join us?" Biggs guessed, softly.

Barret growled in frustration. "What ya'll want someone like him in Avalanche for?" He slammed his hand into a nearby wooden crate, shaking it near the point of breaking. "Ya'll are as bad as Tifa!" He slammed his hand once more against the crate, a louder boom echoing through the train. "He ain't nuttin' but trouble."

The group stood in deafening silence once more, looking from person to person searching for some sort of response, other than the thick air of nervousness.

Thump.

Barret looked to the sliding train door, perplexed. He knew the loud sound wasn't emanating from him this time. Probably a damn squirrel...

What flew through the door was much bigger than a squirrel. A figure, dressed in coal stained blue, his red hair flapping in the fiercely whipping wind. A very ruffled looking Reno.

Jessie heaved a sigh of relief. Deep down she was afraid that something awful had happened to the cocky asshole of a Turk. Reno shook himself off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake, and closed the door.

"Sorry for the delay, folks. I'm sure you all missed me terribly." He grinned at Barret, looking for some sort of response.

"Miss you? I ain't missin' you. Takin' your time, making a big entrance, leavin' everyone worried sick!" Barret inwardly berated himself. Shoulda left that last one out...

"Awwh, you missed me? Brings a tear to mine eye." Reno looked away from the larger man, dramatically, biting back a laugh.

"Keep it up, asshole. You'll be payin' fo that stunt." He turned to the door and exited the car, motioning for the rest to follow in his wake.

"Last train out of Sector 8 Station. Last stop is Sector 7, Train Graveyard. Expected time of arrival is 12:23AM, Midgar Standard Time..." Reno ignored the announcement and wandered into the car, taking in the surroundings as he did so. Unlike the car they had just been in, this one had windows and lots off them. The view from the train always got to him.

Barret stood apart from the rest of the group, also looking to the slums. This was what he was fighting for. This and so much more. He felt Reno's presence behind him, staring to the outside world. Maybe now he could get through to him. "You can see the surface now, Turk. These slums don't have no day and no night. If that damned plate weren't there, we could see the sky..."

Reno continued staring. He knew all too well what Barret was talking about. "Most slum kids dream of seeing a sunset... A sunrise even. Anything's better than a constant cloud of smog... gloominess..."

Barret held back a look of near shock. "Woulda never though I'd hear somethin' like that from you... Maybe there's hope for you yet."

Reno shrugged, silently, allowing Barret to continue.

"People are sufferin' cuz of that fuckin' pizza. Rich people get the plate, and the people below get the pollution. Then there's the reactors killin' the planet." Barret paused a moment. "People'd move the the plates but they can't cuz they don't got money... Or maybe they just want to live on the land... They don't care how bad it gets..."

Reno continued staring as the train began to slow. He sighed, the noise barely audible.

"Nobody lives in the slums because they want to..."

A/N: Well, I should be studying for my second midterm, but the book is teaching me nothing and I think I'll be able to bullshit it successfully. Either way, this came out of my boredom and the emptiness of my lovely room.

New chapter should be up within the next two weeks depending on laziness, and as always, comments and criticism make me a happy mongoose. ^_^