The Air Buster

Shinra was malicious and evil, but it was also incompetent. Not only did they give up the ghost about the efficiency of the Air Buster, but troops were still trying to load components onto it. And the 6'9 Black man, the sweetheart with martial arts skills, and a former SOLDIER operator weren't keen to let that happen. So by the time they made it to the top of the reactor ... Cloud felt as good as he could about the situation.

They made it to a long bridge, shaped like a T. Barret and Tifa moved across it. And then the drones were back, this time forming an image of President Shinra himself.

"Oho," Shinra said, looking at Cloud. "The eyes of one who has bathed in mako… Which would make you… a SOLDIER?"

"Ex-SOLDIER," Cloud said firmly.

"Once a SOLDIER, always a SOLDIER," Shinra demurred. "Though not, alas, for very long. Accelerated cellular degradation being the most common cause of **** by far. This is classified, of course, but every SOLDIER knows the truth."

"…That's right," Cloud said slowly, the wind taken out of his sails for a moment.

"Think you forgettin' someone!?" Barret said, shooting at the projection. Shinra sighed.

"Would that I could. You strike me as the type to go on without end."

"Ain't enough hours in the day to hold you to account for all your crimes!" Cloud rolled his eyes. Barret had been rehearsing this speech for far too long.

"And what a wasteful indulgence it would be even if there were," Shinra responded dismissively.

"Oh, okay then… Let's talk about wasteful indulgences. What is mako? The lifestream! The lifeblood of the planet—our planet! But Shinra keeps on slurping it up like a thirsty dog! What do you think's gonna happen if you don't stop, huh!?"

"We do indeed keep on "slurping it up," as you say… But… for whose benefit, I wonder. The true nature of mako is known to one and all, yet the people willfully turn a blind eye to the cost. As you must surely be aware?"

"Don't you dare try to put this on us! If anyone's going along with your plans… it's 'cause you brainwashed 'em!"

"Such methods are beneath me. As are you, my faithful sewer rats. Henceforth allies of wicked Wutai, our sworn enemy. Thank you for stoking our people's patriotic fervor." Shinra disconnected the feed. Cloud hated to say it, but he felt that Shinra won that exchange.

"Wutai? The hell we are!" Barret started shooting at more of the drones.

"You still don't understand your role in this," Heidegger said, reappearing. The bombing sight appeared on a separate screen, with robots making changes to it. "Don't you see? You fools were never in control! Never anything but pawns in our plans to sell great and glorious war to the people! And your instruments of insurrection will detonate when we so choose."

The AirBuster was brought in by three helicopters, and dropped between Cloud on one side, and Barret and Tifa on the other.

"The trial of the eco-extremist group AVALANCHE! Terrorists who conspired with Wutai against Midgar! Your guilt is undeniable! Your punishment: ****! This footage will prove invaluable in raising the morale of our Shinra rank and file!" Heidegger disappeared off the screen, and Cloud knew victory was assured. He'd watch if the Air Buster was ready.

Tifa kicked one of the projection drones, kicking it into a steel wall. She was fuming.

"I’m sick of this. I'm sick of all of this!" she said, and Cloud remembered. It was like ... like when he failed her, five years ago.

The Air Buster immediately started to smoke.

"Physical defenses ... offline. Physical offenses ... offline. Big bomber attacked ... offline. Maneuvering thrusters ... offline. Artificial intelligence ... offline. Zero probability of success. Self-destruct mechanism engaged."

Cloud hadn't planned on this. The door behind him was sealed shut.

"Take Tifa and run!" Cloud said, panicking.

"Cloud, no!" Tifa screamed. Barret picked Tifa up, his big Black hand palming her round white ass. He started running as the Air Buster blew a hole in the bridge, leaving Cloud hanging precariously.

"Go!" Cloud screamed.

"I ... I was wrong about you," Barret conceded, as he ran off, Tifa wriggling in his grasp. Cloud took a deep breath, and let go.

He waited twenty seconds, then aimed at the nearest metallic structure and fired the grappling gun. It caught for a second, slowing him down before it snapped. He had one last hope. Active the protect spell before impact ... and hope for a soft landing.