"I didn't think we'd head straight toward the entrance from one of the trains," Barret muttered, frowning.
"I'm pretty sure Shinra knows we're coming their way. That means they'll be monitoring every possible entrance we could use. But think about it—the security in the most obvious place is often the weakest," Cloud replied, closing his eyes. "There's no way they'd expect us to just walk through the front door."
"Uh… that makes sense," Barret admitted, though his frown lingered. "That aside, it's a pleasure. My name is Barret."
"Zack Fair," Zack said, his voice steady as his eyes locked on the towering building ahead. Inside those walls was the woman he loved—the very reason his chest felt heavy with each step.
Cloud opened his eyes and glanced at Zack, letting out a quiet sigh. "Relax. They won't hurt her. Not when she's the last one…"
"Say no more," Zack cut him off with a sharp frown.
"Sorry," Cloud murmured, shaking his head. He motioned for silence as the group approached.
"Who are you, and what business do you have here?" a low-class SOLDIER demanded, eyeing the trio.
"Excuse me. My name is Set, and I've come to join SOLDIER. These are my friends, John and Victor—they're only here to see me off," Cloud answered smoothly, handing over an ID.
The SOLDIER scanned it, nodding once when it cleared. "Understood. I wish you luck, though I should warn you—Doctor Hojo has returned. That means the tests will be much harsher now."
"Hojo?" Cloud repeated, frowning as though puzzled.
"Yes. Head of the research department," the SOLDIER explained. This wasn't private information, and since this newcomer might soon become an ally, he felt no reason to hold it back.
"Is he that dangerous?" Cloud asked, feigning curiosity.
"More than you know. Hojo-sama is a genius, but he's completely mad," the SOLDIER replied grimly. "If you show too much promise, you risk being dragged into his experiments. He's obsessed with creating the next Sephiroth—or Cloud Strife."
At that, Barret's expression darkened. He hadn't expected Cloud's name to carry that kind of weight inside Shinra.
"I heard there were no human casualties in the Avalanche attack this time," Cloud said, smoothly steering the conversation elsewhere.
"Yes, and honestly, I'm relieved," the SOLDIER admitted. "As low-class troops, our duty is to guard Shinra's headquarters and facilities. Our families live here in Midgar—any one of them could've been among the victims."
Barret clenched his fists but said nothing. The man didn't sound like a bad person, yet his words made Avalanche sound like villains. The more Barret thought about it, the clearer it became—this was how Shinra had shaped the story for the people of Midgar.
"I see. I'm glad to hear it ended without casualties," Cloud said with a faint smile. "Anyway, it was a pleasure speaking with you."
"Likewise. It's nice to talk with a potential colleague," the SOLDIER replied, watching the trio step off the train and head toward Shinra Headquarters. A thought struck him too late. "Wait… I never checked the other two IDs!"
He bolted after them, but by the time he reached the platform, the group had vanished without a trace.
"Damn it, this is bad…" His stomach turned cold—until he spotted a folded note left behind where Set had stood.
He picked it up and read: I recommend you escape, take your family, and run. Things won't be pretty once they find out what happened.
"Shit!" the SOLDIER hissed, panic tightening his chest. His first instinct was to report it to headquarters, but he froze. He knew what happened to those who failed. If he called it in, his fate—and his mother's—would be sealed.
Grinding his teeth, he shoved the note into his pocket. "No… I can't risk it. Better to get out while I still can."
* * * * *
"Was that necessary?" Barret asked, raising an eyebrow.
"He wasn't a bad guy," Cloud replied calmly, shaking his head. "He was just doing his job."
Barret shrugged. "So what, you gonna do the same with the next SOLDIER we run into?"
"If they attack us, I'll respond. I only spared that man because he wasn't hostile—and he gave us important information," Cloud answered evenly.
"You mean that guy, Hojo?" Barret asked, frowning.
"Yeah. We've got history," Zack said, his fists clenching. "He's one of the few people I actually want dead. Kidnapping Aerith is just one more reason to finish him."
"Oh, he sounds like a real saint," Barret muttered with biting sarcasm. His expression hardened when Cloud suddenly motioned for silence. A patrol passed by on the main street, their boots echoing off the walls. "Great. Looks like our little meet-and-greet has already been reported."
"It was bound to happen," Zack said with a frown. "Shinra's full of bastards, but no one can say they're incompetent."
"As much as I hate to admit it, you're right," Barret muttered darkly, his past gnawing at him. "Anyway, we're almost at the entrance. I wanted to ask—what's the plan? If you ask me, I'd rather storm the front gate and cause as much chaos as possible."
"I'd rather sneak in," Zack countered with a scowl. "The workers aren't guilty of what the executives do."
"Come on," Barret snapped. "They're feeding off Shinra. That makes them just as guilty as the suits."
"In case you've forgotten, we were SOLDIER once. We got even more out of Shinra than those workers ever did," Zack shot back, folding his arms.
"But you turned against them after you saw the truth," Barret argued, crossing his arms in return. "That makes you better than the ones still destroying the planet."
Both men turned toward Cloud, silently demanding a verdict. The blond let out a heavy sigh.
"All right, here's how it'll go," Cloud said firmly. "Barret and I will head in through the main entrance. Zack, you'll take the emergency stairs. That way, we split their focus."
"This is reckless, Cloud," Zack warned, frowning deeply. "You know Shinra's targeting you—especially Hojo and Scarlet. They'll want to capture you above all else."
"I know," Cloud admitted, gripping the shaft of his spear. "That's why I make the best bait. Honestly, I'd rather send you two in together, but after that little argument, it's clear you'd never manage to work side by side."
Barret scowled but stayed silent. Zack exhaled through his nose.
"Fine. I'll move fast, but I can't promise how quick," Zack said at last, his gaze lingering on his best friend. "Just don't do anything stupid."
"Relax. I'm not about to throw myself away—not now that things are official with Tifa," Cloud said flatly. Then, with a faint smirk, he added, "Just hurry up. The princess is waiting for you."
"All right, all right, don't get dramatic," Zack grumbled, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "I'm coming. Try not to miss me."
"You'd need long black hair, red eyes, and a killer figure for that," Cloud shot back dryly.
Both ex-SOLDIERs broke into laughter.
Barret watched in silence, a pang of nostalgia cutting through him. For a moment, he was back in his hometown—beside his wife, his brother in all but blood, his sister-in-law, and his little girl.
"Something wrong, Barret?" Cloud asked, noticing his faraway look.
"Oh… nothing," Barret muttered, his face hardening. "Just remembering what I've lost."
Cloud fell quiet, then rested a hand on his shoulder. "Don't dwell on the past—or the future. Focus on the present. That's how you'll make sure there even is a future. And when you need strength, think of your daughter."
"You're right," Barret said, his voice low but steady as he shifted his mechanical arm, transforming it into its machine-gun form. "I'm ready."
"Then let's go," Cloud nodded. Together, the two men broke into a run toward the entrance.
-
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