"So… so far, have we encountered any middle- or upper-class SOLDIERS?" Barret asked as he watched Jessie work on unlocking the entrance to the [Sector 1 Reactor] area.
"Negative. And I'm sorry to say, if there had been even one of them, more than one of you would already be dead," Cloud replied, shaking his head.
"You're joking… right?" Wedge asked, frowning.
"No. I'm serious," Cloud said, shaking his head again. "SOLDIERS grow significantly stronger the higher their rank. A First Class SOLDIER could take on at least a hundred—maybe two hundred—well-trained men."
Barret's expression darkened as he studied the blond. "Are you serious?"
"I'm not lying. The lower-class SOLDIERS we've faced so far haven't even been exposed to Mako energy, which is why they were so easy to defeat," Cloud explained with a frown. "As much as I hate to admit it, Hojo is a genius. A completely twisted one, but a genius nonetheless."
The members of [Avalanche] exchanged uneasy glances.
"So… they were basically introductory-class SOLDIERS?" Biggs asked, his voice tinged with fear. If Cloud was telling the truth, then they had been very lucky.
"Something like that. They're just recruits who haven't gone through intensive SOLDIER training yet," Cloud confirmed with a thoughtful nod. "While I doubt any middle- or upper-class SOLDIERS will show up here, they're probably stationed outside Midgar or guarding the company's top brass."
"Good to know those monsters won't be showing up on this mission," Jessie muttered, letting out a breath of relief. "Though that makes you even more impressive in our eyes, Cloud-san."
"Hmph! Anyway, those sons of bitches wouldn't stand a chance against us—we're elite just like them," Barret snorted, crossing his arms. There was no way he would admit Shinra might outclass his group in some ways, not after everything he had endured to get here.
"Oh, I did it!" Jessie exclaimed suddenly as the door slid open. "Come on, we have to get in before the hatch closes!"
"Understood," the members of [Avalanche] nodded, excitement flashing in their eyes at the sight of their objective.
Cloud remained silent, a bad feeling lingering in the back of his mind. Still, he pushed it aside—completing the mission came first.
---
"Good thing I came," Zack muttered, frowning as he spotted his girlfriend leaving with a basket full of flowers. "Seriously, that idiot needs to stop worrying about others so much when her own life's in danger."
He fell quiet, mulling over the thought. "Though I'm surprised Elmyra-san just let me go…"
Hands in his pockets, Zack followed behind her, keeping a watchful eye for anyone who might have bad intentions toward someone as kind as her.
---
"Are you okay?" Cloud asked, frowning as he saw the only girl on the team lying on the ground, clutching her leg.
"Yeah… it's just a small wound," Jessie said with a forced smile.
Cloud knelt beside her and examined the injury, only for her to cry out in pain at his touch. "Mercury bullet. Not lethal, but the toxin causes intense pain for a normal person."
Jessie's smile faltered and she sighed. "I'm sorry."
"Relax. This can be fixed, though I don't have what I need to cure you right now," Cloud said, still frowning. "If I had a [Cure] materia, I could."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Jessie replied, shaking her head. "Thanks for your concern."
Cloud gave her a brief, unreadable look before nodding. "I'll check the storerooms, see if I can find at least one high-grade potion."
"Relax, I'll keep an eye on her," Biggs said, folding his arms. "With Wedge guarding the escape route, we can't afford to waste any more time."
Cloud glanced at the black-haired man before giving a short nod.
"What are you waiting for?!" Barret barked, frowning. "Come on, I'm not paying you to waste my time!"
Cloud shook his head but followed Barret deeper into the reactor.
"Good thing. I was about to cut your pay," Barret grumbled, crossing his arms.
"You have… interesting ways of showing concern for your allies," Cloud noted, catching the leader's scowl. "Anyway, we're not far from the lower exit."
"How do you know?" Barret started to ask, but then waved it off. "Forget it. Obviously, you figured it out back when you were a SOLDIER. Since we're alone now, I'd like to know a bit more. We've reached the first elevator, so we've got time."
"Working in SOLDIER isn't all that different from other military jobs," Cloud said with a shake of his head. "Follow orders, train constantly, take severe beatings… The main difference is enduring Mako energy baths."
"You know what Mako energy is?" Barret asked with a frown.
"I do. It's part of the lifeblood of the planet—basically the blood that flows through every inch of Gaia," Cloud replied. "There's more you probably don't know, but that's a conversation best left for when we meet Aerith."
"Aerith? Sounds like a girl's name," Barret said, his frown deepening.
"Relax, she's Zack's girlfriend. And as for why this has to wait, that's something I can't discuss yet," Cloud said, shaking his head. He offered a brief explanation of who she was. Normally, he wouldn't have elaborated, but knowing how much Barret cared for Tifa like a sister—or maybe even like a daughter—it was only natural for him to worry about the potential boyfriend of the girl who had helped them for years.
"I see. Still, you're walking a fine line, brat," Barret said with a short snort. "Leaving the girl aside, keep talking."
"Like I said, we're not that different from other soldiers—it's just…" Cloud trailed off with a frown. "Let's just say I've done things I'm not proud of."
"Like any soldier in the middle of a war," Barret replied with a grunt, though he felt a small flicker of understanding toward the blond. He too had done things he regretted—harm he justified as necessary sacrifices for his cause. Still, there were nights when he woke in the early hours, haunted by the imagined screams of those who had died because of his actions.
Barret knew his hands were stained with innocent blood, but this was the only path he saw to avenge what Shinra had taken from him—and to secure a better future for his adopted daughter.
"Why don't you tell me a little about yourself?" Cloud asked evenly.
"Why should I?" Barret replied, instantly defensive.
"No need to be so guarded. I just want to know more about my boss—and the man who helped my family," Cloud said in the same calm tone.
Barret was silent for a moment before sighing. "Look, I don't want to talk about my past. But I can tell you this—like you, I'm not proud of much I've done. In fact, I'm probably a bigger sinner than you."
"What about Marlene? She's your daughter, but she's nothing like you," Cloud said, then immediately fell silent when the cold barrel of Barret's gun-arm pressed against him.
"Don't go digging where you shouldn't," Barret growled, more like a territorial bear than a man.
"I see. Sorry for the long talk," Cloud said, lowering his gaze and gently pushing away the weapon. "But I recommend you don't try that again—I won't react so calmly next time."
"Ho~?" Barret's glare deepened. "Please… continue."
Before he could speak another word, his view shifted upward to the elevator ceiling, and he felt something cold at his throat. It took a few seconds to process what had happened—Cloud had knocked him down in an instant and was holding his spear at his neck.
"I admit my words weren't the best, but that doesn't mean I'll tolerate threats, Barret," Cloud said, withdrawing the weapon. He had no desire to end their working relationship so soon—not when Tifa seemed genuinely grateful for his help.
-
NEW WORLD - FINAL FANTASY VII ( AFTER THIS - DRAGON BALLS ]
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