Vague Recollections of a Calamity

"He got away," Cloud said blankly. Barret snorted.

"No shit. So, we gonna go get the son of a bitch?"

Cloud nodded dumbly, walking slowly into the elevator, powerful images threatening to break his fragile brain, overpowering him. Images of a human-shaped creature, connected to numerous tubes, in its own cylinder. It ... no ... her. She started it all.

"Je...no… Oh... Ah… Mo… ther…" Cloud muttered weakly, collapsing as he fumbled with the controls.

"Cloud!" Aerith and Tifa cried in unison.