Evacuation

Cloud stepped up the pace, taking ladders and stairs up to the top of the pillar, belayed only by the appearance of the Turks. The machine guns of the copter barely missed Cloud, and he crouched down behind a thick barrier.

"Testing, testing… Attention, Avalanche scum! We know all about your evil plans to destroy the pillar. But the Turks—ahem! But Shinra—that's us—won't let you get away with it! So go crawl back into whatever hole you crawled out of, or something! That oughta do it, right?" Reno said. Ad libbing was not his forte.

"Eh. Good enough," Rude said, rolling his eyes. Cloud took a moment of the distraction, working up another floor. Reno saw him, his eyes narrowing.

"Wait. I know you… Mister “First Class.”" he snickered, activating the machine gun as Cloud barely ducked out of the way once more. "First-class asshole! Gotcha now! You ain't got nowhere to run!"

***

Down below, Tifa's desperation was increasing. She was going to lose everything tonight at this rate. And she'd just be standing by doing nothing but watching over Wedge. No way, she thought. She was a fighter. She was going to fight.

"I'm sorry. I can't stay here—I have to help them," she told Aerith.

"Go. Follow your heart," Aerith said. She looked so serene in that moment, Tifa knew it was the right decision.

"Aerith. There's a bar in the center of town—Seventh Heaven. I need you to—"

"Get Marlene to safety. Right? It's okay. I'll find her." Tifa knew she was making the right decision. She took Aerith's hands, smiling at her and hugging her, then started to dash up the stairs.

Wedge did an admirable job of evacuating many of the Sector 7 residents, convincing two Shinra guards to let them through. Aerith focused on rescuing Marlene, but the debris raining down from the sky complicated what was a clear route to the bar.

"Get out of Sector 7, please! You need to get as far away from Sector 7 as possible! Right now! Go to Sector 5 or 6—anywhere but here! You all have to get out of Sector 7! Now! Please!" she said to anyone that would listen. And then there it was. Seventh Heaven.

***

Up above, Tseng viewed the scene in his customary detached and professional manner. He clicked on the comms.

"Confirmed, one more bird lost. Probably for the best. After all--" he looked down, seeing Aerith working towards the bar. "Change of plans. You can take it from here. Someone's been a little too adventurous."

***

"Hold on, Marlene. I'm coming for you," Aerith said to herself. She entered the bar but didn't see anyone. She listened, eventually hearing a sniffle. Aerith crouched down, looking behind the bar to see a young girl, arms wrapped around her legs, crying quietly.

"You're Marlene, right? I'm ... a friend! Of Tifa's!"

"Mommy!" Marlene said brightly. "Where is she?"

"Right now, with Cloud and the others."

"Daddy too?" Marlene said.

"You mean Barret? Yep. He's there too."

"Wait... Daddy's not coming home?"

"Not yet. That's why I came to find you. Tifa asked me to. She said, "Take care of Marlene." The thing is, this place isn't safe now. I'm gonna take you somewhere safer, okay?" Marlene started crying again, but harder this time.

"Are they gonna destroy the bar? Are they gonna destroy our house?" she said. Aerith opened her arms, and Marlene jumped into the sole source of safety at the moment. She sobbed into Aerith's shoulder as she comforted the small girl.

"I know it's hard. Just remember, you still have your daddy. You can build a new home together. Anywhere. Shall we go?"

"You smell nice," Marlene said. "Like our flower." She pointed to the Wutaiian lily Cloud had gotten from Aerith. Aerith smiled brightly, and the two exited the bar.

Right in front of them was a lean man in an expensive black suit. He had long black hair, and a red spot on his forehead.

"You led us on a merry chase, Aerith," he said, calm and controlled as always.

"Tseng," Aerith said curtly.

"Before you say another word, know that your options are limited," Tseng said. Aerith considered for a moment. She could at least make sure Marlene was safe. She turned to the child.

"There's nothing to be scared of. Okay?" Aerith looked to Tseng. "How about… we make a deal?"