CHAPTER 4

An hour had pass after the chaotic incident in the bar. Not far away from the peaceful town of Kalm lies a trailer that was parked on the grassland area. The trailer wasn’t a big one. It was the kind usually used for storing equipment and had wear and tear and patches around it.

The trailer was well-lit inside. From outside, three figures could be seen from the window. One was standing still, one was sitting and one was walking up and down. Two guys and one girl. No mistake. The three person who whacked the boss in the bar in Kalm.

“Hey! When are we gonna get a real job?!” The girl shouted at the red-haired man walking up and down. He didn’t reply and continue walking up and down, irritating the girl.

“She’s right. We hadn’t got a job for the past three months. The biggest case we’ve ever got was a cat that got lost in the gold saucer. And that wasn’t what we had in mind.” The man that was standing added.

“Relax, Guys! I am sure we will stumble into a huge case and made a hell lotta profit out of it. We travelled from here to the western continent and now back here again. We already started a reputation. We will get a big one. Trust me.” The red-haired man replied.

“Reputation? Oh, you mean the one which we wreck-up all the bars in our way and didn’t even care to pay for the drinks? Why wasn’t I assured?” The girl said and shook her head.

“I promise, we will get through this.”

The red-haired man answered. At that moment, the trailer’s door suddenly open and they saw a person holding a card, standing at the door. At the first glance of the person, the three person inside the trailer was alarmed and hastily prepared for battle. The red-haired man pulled out a nightstick from his left pocket, the bald one put up his fist and the girl got ready her gun. They were prepared for everything.

“I should had guessed it was you guys.” The person standing at the door said.

“Why, isn’t it our old friend Cloud? What do you want? Kick our a$$? We won’t let you, this time.” The red-haired man replied.

“Reno, Rude and Elena. You guys haven’t changed a bit right? Never mind. I am not here to pummel anyone. I am looking for whoever that was in charge of this investigation service.”

Cloud said and showed them the metal card he found at the bar. The three person, Reno, Rude and Elena, former well-known as the turks, were now starting their own investigation service in order to survive. From large offices and big money into a small trailer with no businesses, their life downgraded a lot. Without Shinra, they are nothing more than travelers looking for business. No fixed pay and settling ground. A real shame for someone that possesses such magnificent skills.

“I am in charge of this investigation service, what can I do for you?” Reno put down his nightstick and asked Cloud.

“You? In charge? I thought it was someone else. At first sight, I thought you guys were just employees.” Cloud said and Rude and Elena temper shot up.

“Say whatever you want. Just tell us what are you doing here?” Reno answered and stopped Rude and Elena from killing Cloud.

“I had a case for you. A missing person case.”

Cloud replied and sat on a chair not far from his. The ex-Turk’s faces brighten up immediately. Finally, a case! And good one too! They can finally use their skill for something!

“Details.” Reno asked Cloud for more explanation. Cloud started to tell his story about what he discovered about Aeris and the creature and Dr. Jackson’s discovery. He talked and talked and the Turks listened carefully. They don’t want to left out any details as their reputation depends on this case.

“So, any questions?” Cloud asked after he had finished his explanation.

The ex-Turks looked at each other. They got every word in their heads but there was still one big question left unanswered.

“From what you said, she was missing for more than a year now. How can you tell that she was alive?” Reno asked.

“Chances that she might be alive was thin. But we have to try. I am willing to pay you guys. Just help me get the job done.” Cloud answered and looked at the ex-Turks.

The ex-Turks looked at each other again. This was the first case their got since three months ago. They couldn’t possibly let it go. They looked at Cloud, and nodded. They agreed to help Cloud out, with a price.

“Elena, get me contract A.”

Reno asked Elena to fetch him a contract and Elena’s eyes were wide open. Reno nodded at her and she went to fetch the contract. Cloud read through it briefly and signed it. The ex-Turks smiled as this was their first big case.

“All right, before I leave, I have to know how good you guys are. Assure me.” Cloud asked for assurance.

“Let me see. Ever since the first time we met you, we managed to track you down wherever you go. Besides that, we knew you had a date with Aeris at the gold saucer. Not only that, we too knew that you went through Tifa drawer to look at her underwear in Nibelhelm a few years ago. How was it, assured?” Reno asked with a smirk on his face.

Cloud looked at the ex-Turks, not believing they know so much about him. He looked at Reno, and Reno just replied, “We have sources.”

“I am assured. Meet me outside of Kalm tomorrow.”

Cloud got up and walked out of the trailer. The ex-Turks jumped up and down in joy and started doing their job.

“Elena, called up the ENTIRE staff! Tell them to be here first thing in the morning!” Reno shouted and hurried Elena to the phone.

“Uh, Reno. Isn’t it a little too...overwhelming to ask Cloud to sign contract A?” Rude asked Reno, not sure whether Reno’s actions were right.

“No. Not even a bit. We are gonna make this case big. Bigger than Cloud could ever imagine.” Reno replied and started going through his contact list. Rude just followed. Thinking how shocked Cloud will be the next day.

“Honey! I am home!”

Cloud opened the door and walked into his house, looking for Tifa. Cloud looked into the kitchen, she’s not there. He looked into the bedroom, she’s not there either. Cloud scratched his head to figure where’s Tifa. Suddenly, he heard noise coming from the washroom. Cloud hurried to the washroom and saw Tifa, in pajamas, supporting herself against the washing basin, looked tired or sick.

“Honey, are you all right?”

Cloud asked Tifa that looked pale. Tifa just nodded and then clean herself by splashing water onto her face. After wiping herself with a clean towel, Tifa walked out of the bathroom and pushed Cloud towards the edge of the bed.

“Honey, are you really all right?”

Cloud asked Tifa again, seeing that she looked weaker than ever. Tifa just nodded. Cloud was still worried about her.

“When I went to the hospital, they said you just left. Where had you been?” Tifa asked Cloud. Cloud scratched his head, didn’t know where to start.

“I went to the autopsy room. They said that Aeris wasn’t dead. She might be alive.”

Tifa was petrified to hear these words coming out from Cloud. Tifa sniffed Cloud’s shirt and smelled some alcohol on his cloths. Cloud went to the bar.

“You’ve been drinking.” Tifa replied hoping that he was drunk.

“No, I am not drunk. The autopsy guy said that the body I found was just a clone of Aeris. The real Aeris was somewhere else. And I am going to find her.” Cloud explained to Tifa, trying to make her understand that he wasn’t drunk.

Tifa just sat next to Cloud, not knowing what to say. Was Cloud drunk or he was just too obsessed with Aeris? Or was Cloud really right? Was Aeris alive? Oh boy! That was good news! She could see her best friend again, risking that see might lose her husband to her! Isn’t that ‘great’?

“Honey, please. Don’t frighten me.” Tifa tried to believe that Cloud was actually drunk.

“What I say was true. Tomorrow, I am going to start searching for her. I got help from the Turks. They...”

“What?! The Turks? Are you out of your mind?!” Tifa suddenly yelled at Cloud. Tifa couldn’t take this anymore. First Aeris and now the Turks. Cloud was way out of the line.

“Haven’t you forgotten that Biggs, Wedge and Jessie died because of them? Haven’t you forgotten that they destroyed our entire sector 7? Haven’t you forgotten that are from our past and not in our present?” Tifa continued shouting at Cloud. Cloud just listened. He already expected such a reaction from Tifa. Why wouldn’t she?

“Now get your pillow and blanket and get out of my sight!” Tifa scolded and pushed Cloud out of the bedroom with a pillow and a blanket. Cloud tried to resist but was afraid it will make things worse. Tifa pushed him out of the room and locked the door, with Cloud outside, still holding a pillow and a blanket in his arms. Tifa just leaned against the door and started crying. She slowly slid and rest on the floor, not believing that Cloud was still so obsessed with his past until he got out of his mind. Cloud just stood outside the bedroom, petrified, thinking that thing had gone too fast, and too wrong.

“Honey...”

Tifa ignored Cloud’s voices. Cloud had been calling her for more than an hour. Her tears are dry and fury was almost gone. But she still did reply him. Cloud had to know when to stop to think about the past.

“Honey, please listen to me...”

Tifa still ignored Cloud. She listened to him, but she did say a word.

“Honey, I know how hard all this is to you. But this is something I have to do. Something I must. Something tells me that Aeris was alive. But she won’t be unless I do something quick. I do this to save her life, as any friend of her will. I love you and you knew it. All I felt for her was just mere friendship.”

Tifa listened to every word Cloud said. She still didn’t care to reply. She wanted to listen...more.

“Honey, this isn’t about me loving Aeris, but it is about her life. Her life might depend on my hands. I couldn’t do this alone. I need you by my side. I also need people who are specialized in this field. That’s why I turned to the Turks. Like you said, the past doesn’t matter, what matters is what you are going to do. I believe in the Turks and their expertise. I believe they can use them for good by helping people. I believe in giving a chance to them to help. Please, honey. Let me do this. Let me find Aeris.”

Tifa remained quiet. She knew the Turks too well, way too well. To her, they were murderers. Cold-blooded and cunning. But she was either. By bombing mako reactors, she killed many innocent citizens too. She was one of them, just in a different form. But that was the past, it is the future that matters.

“Honey...”

Cloud suddenly heard a clicking noise. The door opened and Cloud saw Tifa, with dried up tears down her cheek, staring at him.

“Come in.”

Tifa said and opened the door wider. Cloud put down his pillow and blanket on the floor and walked towards Tifa. He caressed her face and kissed her. Tifa then pushed him away and spoke.

“There was something I wanted to say.”

Tifa spoke softly and looked at Cloud. Cloud looked back and waited patiently.

“You may go, but be careful. I am not going.” Tifa said and Cloud’s eyes were wide opened. He was shocked that Tifa didn’t wanted to follow. He was expecting her to come with him. But she didn’t want to. Why?

“As you know, I don’t go well along with the Turks and I don’t really want to see them. I am sure they felt the same either.” Tifa explained her feelings. Cloud nodded to note that he understood.

“That’s it?” Cloud asked.

“No. That’s not it. I am pregnant.”

Tifa replied and Cloud’s eyes grew wider than ever. The two gazed at each other for a long time. A moment of silence occurred. This is gonna be a long, long night.