'Rocket Town'

[Five days ago...
[Rocket Town is slowly recovering from the launch of the Shinra 26. Everywhere, there are sounds of reconstruction. Every home seems to have someone doing some sort of work on it.
[In Cid's house...]

Cloud : I tell you, we should go after them!

Cid : Yeah? What for? They're old enough to look out for themselves.

Cloud : Aren't you worried about them at all, Cid? They've been gone for a week already.

Cid : (shrugs) None of my business where they go. I'm busy enough as it is.

Cloud : (shakes his head) Well, I'm going.

Cid : (raises an eyebrow) And just how are you going to find them? They didn't exactly leave a forwarding address, you know.

Cloud : (scowls) That's exactly why I should look for them. Who knows what they run into on their own.

[Cid laughs, puffing out cigarette smoke.]

Cid : (to Cait Sith) Listen to the guy! He acts like those two are nothing but a buncha kids or something.

Cait : Well, Cid, it is understandable why he's worried.

Cid : Heh. (to Cloud) Listen, kid. Take my advice and stop fretting. Yuffie's probably on some jaunt or chasing after one lamebrained rumour after another. You should be used to that.

Cloud : What about Tifa, then? It's not like her to suddenly up and disappear.

Cid : (irritated) Then she must've gone along with the girl to keep an eye on her. #*$^! Stop with the worried schtick, willya?

[Cloud still looks determined.]

Cloud : I'm going. I'll need to borrow one of your flying machines, Cid.

Cid : What?!

Cloud : They've already got a week's head start. I'll need one of your vehicles to catch up with them.

Cid : You don't even know where they've gone, you &@$*ing idiot! Besides, I don't got squat to lend you. The Bronco's lost at sea, and the Highwind's still under repair!

Cait : What about your, balloon, Cid?

Cid : (glares at Cait) Butt out!

Cloud : Balloon?

Cid : (groans) Now look what you've done, you goddamned cat...

Cloud : What balloon?

Cid : (sighs) #&*%. And I was hoping for a quiet week, too.

Cloud : (impatient) Cid!

Cid : Yeah, yeah. (glares at Cait again) I built this balloon ship some years back. It was just some stupid project on the side, okay? The design's not perfect, and there're a lot of problems with the handling and piloting. I never had the time to finish everything on that balloon.

Cloud : If it's all you have available, though, I'll take it.

Cid : Crazy kid! You wanna die, or something? Weren't you listening to anything I told you? I ain't got no guarantees that the &@^*ing thing will still fly!

Cloud : (stern) Well, get it flying, then!

Cid : (incredulous) You think it's gonna be easy?! I got no time for that fool contraption! What about my work on the Highwind?!

Cloud : Your people can work on the Highwind without your supervision for a few days, Cid. I want that balloon working as soon as possible.

[Cid opens and closes his mouth like a goldfish. It's quite a sight to see on the gruff man. Finally, he mutters and swears under his breath, defeated.]

Cid : Goddamned pushy kids, nowadays... (glares) I don't know why you're making such a #*^@ing big deal about this. She'll be back soon.

[Cloud's face turns red, and he immediately turns away, pretending not to hear Cid's last comment.]

Cait : (stands still for a moment) Okay. Cloud, I'm going with you.

Cloud : What?

Cait : I -- that is, my human counterpart -- am still in Kalm right now. I'll be asking around for any news of them. I'll radio it in through... er, me... if I find anything.

[Cloud nods. He turns to Cid, who's still muttering darkly.]

Cloud : Well?

=========================

'Kidnapped'

[Present time...
[Yuffie groans, slowly regaining consciousness. She's feeling stiff and sore, but is otherwise unharmed. Opening her eyes, she sees that she is currently lying on a wooden floor in a dimly lit room. Sekar is sitting nearby, watching her closely. Memory returns in a flash and she sits up quickly.]

Yuffie : You! (lunges for him) I'm gonna kill you!

Sekar : (dodges) Not a good idea, Yuffie. Ioz is more than willing to cut up your friend should anything happen to me.

Yuffie : (groans; thinks) They got Tifa, too? Aw, man. What else could go wrong?

[The floor suddenly moves from under her, and she falls on her butt.]

Yuffie : Ow! What the --? (pauses) Oh, no...

[Sekar blinks as he looks at her.]

Sekar : You okay? You look a little green.

Yuffie : (weakly) ... boat... ?

Sekar : (nods) There's no place to run -- Hey!

[Yuffie bolts from her place on the floor and dashes to the deck of the boat. Sekar gives chase. Once he's out on the deck, though, he sees Yuffie leaning over the side of the boat, retching.]

Sekar : (looks sick) Gah... I forgot that you get seasick...

Yuffie : (groans) Serves you... urk! (throws up overboard) Serves you right... you jerk.

[Ioz appears from behind Sekar.]

Ioz : What's going on?

Sekar : Look at her! She's throwing up all over the place!

Ioz : (grimaces) Aw, great. Godo definitely isn't giving us enough for this kind of trouble!

Yuffie : ... gonna kill you... Dad...

Ioz : (sighs) Maybe we should have just left Yuffie behind, and taken the other one.

Yuffie : (mad) You #%&! I'm gonna cut you up for saying that! (pauses) 'Should have...'? You mean...

Sekar : (shrugs) So I lied about having your friend hostage. Sue me.

Yuffie : Aaaahh! You will die!!!

[Yuffie thrusts herself away from the side of the boat and rushes to Sekar, hands outstretched. Before she manages two steps, though, she stops suddenly in her tracks and stands very still.]

Yuffie : Unk. (passes out)

Sekar : (panicky) What happened? (looks at Ioz) What did you do?

Ioz : Nothing, I swear! She just fell over by herself!

[The two of them cautiously approach Yuffie's still form. To their relief, she's still breathing, but she doesn't wake up to their prodding and shaking. Not even a faceful of cold seawater is enough to rouse her.]

Ioz : She can't be dead, can she?

Sekar : She's still breathing, you moron! Of course she can't be dead!

Ioz : Well, then, what's wrong with her?

Sekar : How the hell should I know?!

Ioz : (concerned) What do we do now?

=========================

'Uncertainty'

[Tifa pulls up at the edge of the shore, and dismounts. The buggy is parked on the sand, its doors left open. She runs to it, hoping to find Yuffie, but not really expecting it. The buggy is empty.]

Tifa : Damn! I'm too late, again!

[She turns to the chocobo, and pauses. The big bird looks utterly exhausted, having been running after the vehicle for hours on end. Its head is hanging low, and it is swaying very gently on its feet; a breeze could probably knock it to the ground.]

Tifa : (guilty) Oh, I'm so sorry, chocobo. (gently smooths its feathers) I made you run all this way for nothing.

Chocobo : Kuee...

Tifa : (looks around) No water. Nothing drinkable, anyway. (thinks) I need a boat to go after Yuffie, but there's nothing here at all. Why can't I ever catch a break? (aloud) Come along, chocobo. I'll help you find some water.

[She tugs gently at its feathers and the bird obediently follows her. They walk inland a bit while still maintaining sight of the seashore. Presently, they reach a small pool of fresh water; it's actually nothing bigger than a deep puddle of rainwater, but the bird drinks deeply from it nonetheless. As it quenches its thirst, Tifa moves away, peering at the horizon.]

Tifa : (thinks) Those men were from Utai, and they did say that Yuffie's father sent them. They should be on their way back there... I wonder why they had to take Yuffie along, though, if they had the materia. (aloud, muses) What I'd give for the Highwind right now.

Voice : Tifa!

[Tifa starts in surprise. She looks around, but is unable to find the source of the voice. Just as she begins to think that she's been hearing things, the voice calls out again. She looks upwards and sees something that looks like a small ship held aloft by a large gas-filled balloon. Even as she steps back in astonishment, she catches sight of Cloud's face peering at her over the edge of the vessel.]

Tifa : Cloud?!

Cloud : (waves) Tifa! What's happened?

Tifa : Cloud! Let me up! We need to get to Utai, fast!

[Cloud disappears from view for several moments, during which time the balloon is still descending steadily. Finally, he leans over the edge again.]

Cloud : Get back, Tifa! We're going to have to land this thing!

Tifa : What? No! We have to get moving!

[Despite her protests, though, the balloon touches down. Once it's settled, Cloud leaps over the side onto the ground. Tifa marches up to him.]

Tifa : Cloud, Yuffie's been kidnapped. We need to get a move on if we're going to catch up with the kidnappers!

Cloud : (shakes his head) Not for a while, Tifa. The balloon's sprung a leak on the way here. We need to fix that first.

Tifa : But...

Cloud : It won't do Yuffie any good if the thing breaks up and dumps us all into the ocean, will it?

Tifa : (beat) I guess not. (frustrated) Why can't things go right, for once?!

Cloud : (hesitates) Are you all right, Tifa?

Tifa : (snaps) I'm fine! (looks at Cloud) Sorry; it's been a really bad day so far.

[Cloud nods. He turns back to the balloon ship.]

Cloud : Cait! How bad is the leak?

Cait : It's not just one leak, I'm afraid. We could get it all patched up in a few hours.

Cloud : Better start work on it, then. (looks around) It'll be dark by the time we're done. We'd better make camp and set out tomorrow morning.

[Tifa begins to argue, but a glance from Cloud stops her. There is a strange look on his face, and she wonders what it is about.]

Cloud : You look exhausted, Tifa. (smiles gently at her) Get some rest, okay? Cait and I will start work on the balloon.

Tifa : I'm all right; really. (sighs) I'll... I'll just go and set up the camp.

[Cloud watches her go, his face unreadable, then turns to Cait. He notes that, to his irritation, Cait had been listening in very closely on their conversation. Seeing Cloud's glare, the robotic cat-atop-the-moogle makes a strangled 'eep' and immediately pretends to do something else.]

Cloud : (thinks) There just has to be an easier way to do this...

[Hours later...
[It's a dark night. The moon can hardly be seen through the clouds. All around the camp, there are the sounds of night creatures roaming, and the sea breeze blowing. Cloud walks into the campsite, and finds that Tifa is gone.]

Cloud : (looks around) Tifa?

[Tifa's reply comes from somewhere out of the firelight's range.]

Tifa : Right here, Cloud.

[Cloud carefully makes his way to her. He finds her tending to the chocobo some ten metres away from the camp. She's sitting crosslegged on the ground, softly stroking the chocobo's head. The bird has its eyes closed and is cooing contentedly. Cloud approaches and seats himself beside her.]

Cloud : Can't sleep?

Tifa : I'm just worried about Yuffie.

Cloud : I know. (pauses) What happened to the two of you in Midgar?

Tifa : (curious) How did you know we went to Midgar?

Cloud : Cait... I mean, Reeve had been asking around. A traveller in Kalm had mentioned that he'd bumped into the two of you on his way there, and that you were headed into Midgar. He radioed it in through Cait.

Tifa : Oh. Well, Yuffie and I were looking for that new materia everyone was talking about.

Cloud : New materia? So there really is such a thing?

Tifa : Yeah. She found it in the wreckage of the Sector 7 slums. Problem is, we got ambushed by two of her former friends from Utai immediately after.

Cloud : I see.

[They sit in silence for a while.]

Cloud : Say...

Tifa : Hmm?

Cloud : Why did you go along with Yuffie, anyway?

Tifa : I wanted to keep an eye on her. You know how she tends to rush into things headlong without stopping to think. (smiles bitterly) Some help I turned out to be, though. Waylaid and knocked out by two overeager ninja-in-training.

Cloud : Why didn't you tell anybody where you were going?

Tifa : Yuffie wanted it to be a secret, and... well, she managed to convince me to keep quiet about it. (shakes her head) In retrospect, it was a very dumb thing to agree to.

Cloud : (disapproving) You really should have told someone. Everyone was worried sick.

Tifa : I know. (glances at him) Sorry.

Cloud : Please don't do that sort of thing again, okay?

Tifa : Okay. (chuckles) You sounded almost like my father.

Cloud : I'm serious, Tifa.

Tifa : I know, Cloud. (changes the subject) How's the repair work going?

Cloud : It's okay. We got most of the leaks patched up, and Cait's doing the finishing touches on the last two.

Tifa : (stretches out on the grass) So we'll be able to move out soon?

Cloud : At first light. (avoids looking directly at her)

[They stay there for some time, listening to the waves pounding the shore.]

Tifa : (thinks) It's been a while since we've even gotten a chance to relax like this. (glances at Cloud; sighs to herself) Although, come to think of it, I've never even seen Cloud try to take it easy. He really is too serious for his own good. (aloud) Hey, Cloud?

Cloud : What?

Tifa : (hesitates) ... Er, nothing. It's nothing.

Cloud : It's getting really late. (stands) Let's just get some sleep, okay?

Tifa : Yeah.

[She puts out a hand, smiling. Cloud takes it and pulls her to her feet.]

Cloud : (smiles) Lazy...

[Tifa laughs and they walk to the campsite together. As Tifa enters her bedroll once more, Cloud goes over to Cait.]

Cloud : Cait? How is it going?

[The robot appears from under the deflated balloon.]

Cait : I'm almost done, actually. Just a bit of gluing and stitching, and we're all set.

Cloud : Do you need any help?

Cait : (shakes his head) No, I can handle it. Why don't you take some of your own advice and turn in?

Cloud : (frowns) Have you been listening to us again?

Cait : Uh, no! Of course not!

Cloud : Yeah, right...

[Realising that it's no use trying to argue with Cait Sith, Cloud goes back to camp. Wrapping himself up in his blanket, he sees that Tifa is already fast asleep. He watches her slumbering form for several moments, his thoughts whirling.]

Cloud : (thinks) Idiot! Why didn't you say something just now?

=========================

'Blue Sky'

[The next morning...
[All three of them are gathered around the balloon. It rises slowly into the air as Cloud fills the thing up with the gas. Tifa is sending the chocobo on its way. Once the balloon is properly inflated, the three of them board the craft and take to the skies. Cait carefully steers the balloon ship, his robotic brain managing to make the best use of the wind and air currents to speed them across the ocean.
[Tifa is at the fore of the ship, curiously examining the vessel. Cloud comes to sit beside her.]

Cloud : We'll catch up with them soon, Tifa.

Tifa : They might be stopping by Costa del Sol. It's the nearest port city.

Cloud : (nods) We'll be making a stop there, too, to pick up some supplies, and also pick up some more gas tanks.

Tifa : Gas tanks?

Cloud : Cait spoke to Cid yesterday about the leaks. We've arranged for some gas tanks to be waiting for us in Costa del Sol.

Tifa : Oh. (looks around) I didn't know Cid even had this balloon ship.

Cloud : Neither did I until Cait mentioned it.

Tifa : (chuckles) I'm curious to know how you managed to persuade Cid to loan you this thing.

Cloud : (shrugs) I told him I needed it. He let me take it.

Tifa : (incredulous) What, just like that?

Cloud : (glances at her; chuckles) Well... he had a lot to say about me, first. But in the end, he let me use it.

[Tifa shakes her head, a mirthful yet distracted look on her face. Cloud sees her expression and begins to worry.]

Cloud : (thinks) Why can't I find the right kind of words to say? (aloud) I'm sure Yuffie is all right.

Tifa : Yes, but...

Cloud : What?

Tifa : Cloud... Have you ever felt... useless?

Cloud : (confused) How do you mean?

Tifa : Helpless. Incapable of doing anything for yourself, and for others.

Cloud : (slowly) I suppose. Why are you asking?

Tifa : (looks away) That's how I felt. (thinks) No, that's how I feel.

Cloud : When Yuffie was taken?

Tifa : (nods) Yeah. They got the jump on me. Used me as a hostage. (bitter) Yuffie couldn't even fight properly because she was worried about me.

Cloud : Tifa...

Tifa : I thought that this trip would help me clear my thoughts; to help me see what it is I wanted to do with my life. Instead, all it's done so far is to show me how ineffective I can be.

Cloud : (softly) Is that how you really see yourself?

[Tifa is quiet for a while, still looking away. Finally, she lets out a laugh; but it is rough, as if she didn't mean it.]

Tifa : (forced cheer) God, just listen to me. I'm beginning to whine as much as Yuffie.

Cloud : Tifa...?

Tifa : I'm all right, Cloud.

[She smiles a sad little smile, and continues to look toward the horizon. In the direction of the second continent.]

=========================

'Costa del Sol'

[In the basement of one of the houses...
[Sekar is hunched over a small portable stove, tending to his cooking. Yuffie's prone body is lying on a thin mattress, wrapped up in blankets. Her shuriken is wrapped up and placed near Sekar's and Ioz's packs.
[Ioz enters the basement.]

Ioz : She's still out cold?

Sekar : (nods) I wonder what happened...

Ioz : Who cares? We should just leave her here. She's too much trouble.

Sekar : We can't leave her here!

Ioz : Why not?

Sekar : (turns red) How would her old man take it if he finds out that we left his little girl unconscious in some basement?

Ioz : Idiot! He'll only find out if someone tells him, right?

Sekar : Well, yeah...

Ioz : So, if we keep our mouths shut, we'll be in the clear.

Sekar : (looks indecisive) What about the materia? It's still stuck in that throwing star.

Ioz : (looks at the giant shuriken) Hmm, we'll just take it with us. Oh.

Sekar : Exactly. Godo'll recognise her shuriken for sure, and he'll want to know how we got it.

Ioz : (frustrated) We're dead...

[Ioz flops down on a mattress, muttering about how unfair life is. Sekar turns back to his little stove, carefully stirring the contents of the pot. Presently, Ioz turns to his companion.]

Ioz : How long are we gonna stay here?

Sekar : (shrugs) Until our ride shows up.

Ioz : (darkly) When is it gonna get here? We've been waiting for two days already.

Sekar : It should be here by tomorrow, Ioz. Keep your cool, okay?

Ioz : (uncomfortable) I just keep getting the feeling like there's someone watching our every move.

Sekar : (surprised) You, too? I thought I was just getting too paranoid.

Ioz : You're not the only one. (muses) Funny thing, though...

Sekar : What?

Ioz : I only got this feeling of being watched after Yuffie collapsed on the boat.

Sekar : Yeah... You don't think her conking out had anything to do with this?

Ioz : (thinks a bit; shrugs) Nah. We're jumping to conclusions. I think we're just too excited about finally graduating.

Sekar : 'Finally' is right. I thought we'd never get out from under Godo's thumb.

[Both are quiet. In a short while, though, Yuffie begins to stir from her days-long sleep.]

Ioz : Hey! Sleeping beauty's finally waking up!

Sekar : 'Sleeping beauty'? Maybe you should be getting your eyes checked.

Yuffie : (drowsy) Graaarrghh...? (mumbles) Wha' the... Where...?

[The girl slowly sits up, groaning. Sekar abandons his cooking pot for a moment to bring her some water. She gulps it down in one go.]

Yuffie : Where am I?

Ioz : Someplace where your friend won't find you, little girl. (grins)

Yuffie : What happened?

Sekar : You... er... fell asleep.

Ioz : That's one way of putting it, Sekar.

Yuffie : (puzzled) Asleep? (glares) You mean you guys knocked me out?!

Sekar : No! You just fell over and didn't wake up for three days. (defensively) We had nothing to do with it.

Yuffie : (mutters) You ^&#%s. I'm still gonna beat the living crap out of you...

Ioz : (amused) You know, I'd really like to know where you learnt such language.

Yuffie : (thinks) I had two very good role models... (aloud) So, what are you going to do with me?

Sekar : We were thinking along the lines of setting up a family reunion for you.

Yuffie : (frowns) You're taking me to Utai?

[Ioz and Sekar nod.]

Ioz : I'm sure your dad will be very happy to see you.

Yuffie : (thinks) Aw, great! I shoulda known it wasn't such a good idea to borrow his 'Invisibility' materia. Dad'll kill me when he finds out I lost it while Tifa and I were fighting that kraken. (acts nonchalant; aloud) I'm sure he will. (smells the food) What's there to eat?

Sekar : (looks uncertain) Nothing much. Just a bit of porridge and... Hey! What am I, a waiter?

[Yuffie looks around and spots the cooking pot. She goes over to it slowly, still a little unsteady on her feet.]

Yuffie : It looks about ready. (helps herself)

Sekar : What the --?! Stop that! That's our dinner!

Yuffie : I haven't eaten in three days. (spoons the food into her mouth) I'm entitled.

Ioz : No, you're not. You're our hostage. Hostages aren't entitled to anything.

Yuffie : (sweetly) I can always tell dad that once we get to Utai.

[Sekar and Ioz start to sweat but Yuffie proceeds to ignore them. As her two captors watch, she eats like there is no tomorrow. It is not an edifying sight.]

Ioz : (hoarsely) Sekar...

Sekar : (weakly) What?

Ioz : I really wish we'd have taken the other one instead.

Sekar : (slumps; sighs) I'm beginning to feel that way, too.

=========================

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