Chapter 04

Scarlet lifted her head groggily, her vision slowly clearing as she began to look around.

She found herself laying on the hard floor of what appeared to be some strange lab. Along one wall, she noticed a row of tall, cylindrical tanks. There was a long desk with a stretch of computers along the opposite wall, and in a corner a huge, freezer type cabinet sat. The room had florescent lights, but most of them were no turned on, leaving it a bit dark in the room. She rubbed her forehead and sat up.

A few moments later, the door to the room she was in opened. Two people stepped in, and one of them flicked on the lights. Scarlet flinched a bit before looking up.

Not to her surprise, Jonathan stood with his arms crossed and a smug look on his face. Behind him was a blonde man in a lab coat, who looked strangely farmilar to Scarlet.

"Well, Scarlet, hello," Jonathan said in an enthusiastic voice. "How are you?"

Scarlet made a disgusted face.

"Well, I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Michael Stephens."

"I used to work for Hojo," Dr. Stephens said somewhat proudly.

"I know you," Scarlet spat. "Hojo used to run you around like a puppy!"

Stephens frowned. "I remember you as well, Scarlet," he said with a bit of a smirk.

"You're going to be working together with Dr. Stephens here to create the army I spoke to you about earlier," Jonathan spoke again. "He'll be dealing with the scientific aspects of the job while you'll work with the weaponary and machinary. Perfect team, don't you think?"

Scarlet cringed at his sarcastic charm. "I'm not going to help you!" She screamed in a rageful voice. "I am not going to aid in any attempt or plan to destroy the company I work for!"

"You work for Ross Energy now," Jonathan informed her sternly. "And I'm afraid you don't have much choice."

"What are you talking about?" she demanded.

"You don't think you can just walk out of here?" Jonathan asked her sympathetically. "You're stuck in this room for as long as I say so. You've no weapons and no means of escape. You'd starve if it weren't for me. Speaking of which, Dr. Stephen's here will bring you some breakfast when he comes back to begin the project."

Stephen's nodded to this comment.

Scarlet was seething. "How are you going to force me to do the work?" She questioned venomously.

Jonathan stuck a hand in the pants pocket of his suit and tilted his head at her. "You don't want to find out what will happen if you don't comply."

Scarlet began to speak again but opted to hold her tongue. Jonathan smiled at her and turned toward the door.

"I have things to do," he said. "But Dr. Stephens will return later to keep you company."

"That's right," Stephens said, smiling. He then followed Jonathan out of the room.

Scarlet walked up to door after they left and found it to locked with a very fancy computerized bolt, not surprisingly much like the ones at Shin-Ra. She sighed, and walked over to one of the desk computers, feeling lost and hopeless.

"Where's Scarlet?"

Rufus stood in the front of the conference room on the top executive floor of R&R Shin-Ra, pacing madly on the carpet, circling the red and blue emblem that was woven into the rug. Reeve was standing by one end of the long conference table, sifting through a folder full of papers. Heiddegar, Cid, and Lucrecia were seated at the table, waiting for Rufus to begin the meeting."

"She didn't call in sick," Heiddegar said. "And I haven't spoken to her since before she left for Junon early last morning."

"Junon," Rufus repeated. "She never returned?"

"Perhaps you should phone her home," Reeve suggested.

"I did that," Heideggar said. "No reply at all, and I left her two messages."

"Can we just get on with this goddamned meeting," Cid interrupted. "I don't know why I'm here anyway, I'm only head of the Space and Aviation division." He pulled out a cigarette.

Rufus glared at Cid. "You're a member of the executive board and all executive board members are required to be at major meetings called by the president and vice president. And this is a major meeting called by myself and Reeve!"

Cid rolled his eyes and lit his cigarette.

"There's no smoking in here!" Rufus cried, waving his hands frustratedly through the air.

Cid stared at him and continued to smoke.

Rufus gave up and looked at the others. "I guess we'll just have to go on without her," he said.

"Alright," Rufus said. "I've called this meeting on base of this new Ross Energy Corporation."

Reeve stood.

"Ross had not been giving us any problems until recently," he stated. "In fact, they were unheard of. They have been controlling Icicle Inn for the past four months but in this last quarter they have taken over Bone Village, Mideel, and most recently Wutai. They've also performed a hostile takeover of a warehouse in North Corel, for which they will be powering the Gold Saucer."

"Gold Saucer?" Heideggar repeated, alarmed.

"Yes," Rufus said loudly. "The Gold Saucer is one of our biggest prospects. They use so much energy that if we lose them as customers, we are going to have major problems!"

Reeve swallowed and continued. "Mayor Wallace is in an uproar over the situation and the Turks are in place trying to fix this problem somehow." "Ha, if ol' Barret sees one of those assholes again I'm sure he'll load a full clip into 'em!" Cid commented, laughing. Rufus rolled his eyes as the others laughed at Cid's remark.

"Who runs Ross energy?" Lucrecia asked.

Rufus turned to the older woman and creased his eyebrows. "Jonathan Ross," he answered. "I know him from way back, and he's a jerk, to say the least."

"It takes one to know one," Cid laughed, ashing his cigarette into Lucrecia's empty coffee cup.

The others laughed, and Rufus frowned and turned red. "This isn't a time for jokes, Highwind," he said sternly.

Cid nodded, still smiling widely, and put his hands behind his head.

"So what do you purpose we do about this?" Heideggar asked.

Reeve spoke again. "So far all we have been able to do is send the Turks out there to see what's going on in Ross. Soon we will-"

"I suggest a hostile takeover!" Rufus interrupted angrilly. "And since I am the president of this company, I beileve I have the final say."

"Now wait, Mr. President," Reeve said, putting his hands up. "Don't you think you are being a bit rash?"

"Rash?" Rufus shreiked in response. "This fool is trying to run me out of business. I refuse to let that happen!"

Reeve put his head down.

"This meeting is ajourned," Rufus spat. "I'll call you all again when I can decide what to do."

Cid pushed back his chair and lept up. "Goddamn, I flew here all the way from Rocket Town for a fifteen minute meeting." He lit up another cigarette as the others followed him out.

Cid was walking away from the R&R Shin-Ra building when his PHS rang. Switching his cigarette to his left hand, he removed the phone from his belt with his right and flipped it open.

"Hello?" he said.

"Cid!" an excited voice squealed through the phone. "I'm so glad you finally answered. I've been calling you since last night!"

Cid made a face and stopped walking. "This sounds like Yuffie," he said. "What the hell do you want?"

"It's an emergency, Cid," Yuffie cried. "My father is trying to have Striker killed and he's trying to marry me off to some old clown from Wutai, and last night Striker and I ran out of town. But we can get past the mountains cause we don't have a green chocobo, so-"

"You want me to pick your bad-ass up," Cid finished her sentence.

Yuffie sighed. "Yes, Cid. Please?"

Cid grunted. "You're really a crazy one, Yuffie. I'll be there soon as I can, goddamnit."

"Oh, Cid, thanks so much," Yuffie said. "We owe you one."

Cid couldn't help but smile, despite the fact that he didn't want to fly all the way out to Wutai. "You sure do, Yuffie," he said.

Tseng stood by his desk in the Turks office, his face stoic and emotionless. Rude, Reno, and Elena stood in front of him, waiting for him to speak.

"The President is very upset," he said, his dark eyes staring deeply at all of them. "Jonathan Ross has become a major threat."

"And just what are we supposed to do?" Reno asked, his face wearing a smirk.

"I have spoken with Reeve and Heiddagar, and the President has decided that it is best not to wage a full war against the Ross. Instead, he wants us, the Turks, to infiltrate Ross's base on a undercover mission. We are to gather as much information as possible at first, and then when the time is right, we are to assinate Jonathan Ross."

Elena shivered slightly at the order. Of course she was a Turk, and had always kept up to the commands she was given, but it had been a while since the Turks were given such and order. Such a dangerous order.

"Will that really be possible?" she asked her boss and lover in fear. "How can we attempt such a mission?"

Tseng shook his head. "The game plan is to sneak into the company as everday people, employees or even a friend. He glanced knowingly at Elena.

"Friend?" she repeated.

Tseng sat atop his desk and nodded, closing his dark, slanted eyes for a moment. "Let me explain."

"Reno, Rude, and I will invade the corporation as entry level employees. We will each dispatch ourselves in a different venue of business - for example, the science or weaponry departments. We will use our training and skills to discreetly obtain information."

Reno and Rude listened to Tseng's plan in careful thought. Elena cocked her head to the side.

"Where does that leave me?" she asked.

Tseng stared at her. "I'm afraid, Elena, that you have the most difficult part in all of this."

Elena did not say anything. She waited for Tseng to continue, putting a hand on her hip and frowning.

"Right," Tseng continued. "You will have to get in close with Jonathan Ross himself... get him to trust you, ultimately."

Elena's eyebrows shot up. "How will I do that, Tseng?" she asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.

Tseng sighed deeply, knowing the plan he was about to reveal hurt him as much as it was going to hurt Elena. "You're going to have to... get him to fall in love with you."

"What?" Elena cried.

"Jonathan Ross has no known of wife, girlfriend, or any female relationship. If you present yourself correctly, you may find yourself able to date him and even...."

Tseng stopped, imagining the scenario. Here he was, sending the woman he loved deeply out to trick a man into loving and trusting her with her beauty, feminine ways and Turk training.

Elena staggered where she stood, completely understanding what Tseng was suggesting and not wanting him to continue with the explanation.

"So let me get this straight," Reno barked. "You're sending Elena off on an Indecent Proposal type thing to break inside this asshole's inner workings?"

"That is one way to put it," Tseng replied unhappily.

Reno looked up in thought for a moment, then smiled. "Actually, its not really a half bad idea. Whose was it?"

"The President's, of course, with advisement from Heiddeggar."

Reno shrugged. "Turk's gotta do, what a Turk's gotta do."

"There's one problem," Tseng said, ignoring the hidden jab Reno threw at his carefully guarded emotions. "There are four divisions of Ross that need to be infiltrated... Defense, Science, Energy, and Intelligence."

"And there are only three of us, excluding Elena," Rude spoke for the first time.

"Correct," Tseng said, nodding. "We're going to have to recruit another Turk before we continue."

"Randy!" Reno immediately suggested, thinking back a couple days to when Randy had gathered valueable information from the Ross building.

"Reno, you cannot be serious," Elena cried, looking at him. "He's absolutely useless!"

"No he's not!" Reno screamed back, defending his friend. "He's perfectly capable."

"I am not too sure that he is Turk material, Reno," Tseng said, folding his hands in his lap. He gazed at Reno in doubt.

"Listen," Reno began again. "If it was for Randy, Rufus nor anyone else would have known that Ross is planning to build a cyborg army. He got the info from right out of the Ross building."

Tseng lifted a thin eyebrow. "Is this true?"

Rude nodded in witness.

"Well," Tseng sighed. "That information is really not reliable... we don't know for sure..."

"We wouldn't have a goddamned thing to go on without it," Reno retorted. "Do you think Rufus would have his panties in such a bunch if he didn't think that his rival was trying to raise an arificial army?"

"The PRESIDENT," Tseng corrected, "Has been concerned about this situation for quite some time now. But... I suppose it would not hurt for us to give this boy a chance. After all, we really don't have any other options at this point, and I do not have time to go looking for recruits in the slums."

Reno laughed inwardly at the reference, knowing that was where Tseng had found both he and Rude.

"Bring Mr. Robinson to me this afternoon, if possible," Tseng instructed. "If I find him suitable, we can begin training him. I'm afraid we do not have much time. I want to begin our mission in Ross next week."

"Mine included?" Elena asked warily.

"You're mission begins tommorrow," Tseng replied flatly.

Elena's eyes went wide, but she did not protest. She was a Turk, after all, and she was determined to hold her job to a T."

"That is all for this meeting," Tseng said. "Dismissed."

Yuffie uttered a silent pray of thanks to Leviathan when she saw the Highwind in the distance high above her. She and Striker were sitting crosslegged side by side on a grassy plain close to the mountains they couldn't cross. She was certain her father's troops would soon catch up, as it was now daylight after their escaped. She and Striker had camped out in the outdoors for the night, Striker promising not to fall asleep for fear that they would be discovered. Thankfully, though, her father had not caught on to their trail and now the Highwind approached, ready to rescue them.

Yuffie hopped to her feet as she saw the flimsy, rope ladder descend. Striker yawned and stretched at her side, rising to his feet as well. Yuffie quickly turned and hugged him.

"We're finally safe!" she cried. "Come on..."

Striker nodded and allowed Yuffie's small frame to nimbly climb up the ladder first. He then climbed on behind her, racing as quickly as he could behind her to reach the top.

Cid was waiting for them on the deck, a cigarette hanging from his mouth and his arms crossed. "I see you couldn't keep your ass outta trouble, huh Yuffie?"

Yuffie caught her breath as she hopped on the deck. "Shut up, Cid," she retorted. "My father is being completely irrational. It's really not my fault."

"I understand," Cid said with a laugh. He then slapped Striker on the back. "How have you been?"

"Better," Striker said with a small smile. Cid shrugged and motioned to the door.

"It'll be alright, kids," he said. "Come on in. Where you want to go?"

"I was thinking Corel," Striker said. "We can stay with Barret and Dion, they won't mind, I'm sure."

"Okay," Yuffie said in thought, a smile crossing her face as she thought of how Barret would react to her surprise visit. "Maybe Kat can come too. Rufus pays for all her travel, or anything she wants, really."

"Spoiled," Cid said absently. "Well, Corel it is. And Yuffie, you owe me!"

Yuffie was about to agree when she felt something turn in the pit of her stomach. The Highwind was picking up speed.

"Urk!" Yuffie moaned, green and turning away from Cid and Striker. Striker covered his eyes and laughed.

"GODDAMNIT YUFFIE!!" Cid cried.

Kaeori awoke to the warmth of sunlight shining on her face. She was in the second bedroom in Aeris and Zack's apartment, wearing the bedclothes the other Cetra had given to her. She'd retired to bed early the night before, uncomfortable when Aeris and her human lover grew closer and closer to one another on the couch. She didn't understand why Aeris was allowing herself to fall for one of the misguided, foolish creatures, but Kaeori supposed it was because there weren't any other Cetra for her to mate with.

She heard humming in the kitchen and wondered vaguely who was singing. She stretched, looking around the room. She got out of the bed and walked out of the room, looking in the narrow hallway. She knew there wasn't a bath basin or any servants to wash her, so she decided to look for Aeris to find out how she could wash.

Aeris was the one humming, standing in the kitchen with a large, thick book in front of her. She was smiling as she turned the pages.

"What are you doing?"

Aeris looked up at the other Cetra. "Oh, good morning Kaeori," she said brightly. "I'm just looking through this furniture and design catalogue. I'm hoping to order some furniture and things today, our credit card just came in the mail."

Kaeori nodded, not really caring too much about Aeris's decorating prospects. "What time is it?" she asked.

"Oh, after eleven or so," Aeris answered. She giggled. "You must've been tired, you slept late. Zack already went to work. Would you like some coffee? It's instant, I'm afraid I don't yet have a coffee machine."

Kaeori shook her head. "No, I think I'll pass."

Aeris shrugged and sat at the table. "I left some eggs and sausage on the back burner for you, I figured you'd be hungry when you woke."

Kaeori nodded and thanked Aeris, going to the stove and fixing her plate. She returned to sit with Aeris at the table.

"So where do you intend to go from here?" Aeris asked.

Kaeori raised an arched eyebrow. "I'm only concerned with the planet at this point," Kaeori answered. "I hear it crying and the voices are warning me of danger."

"I've heard it too," Aeris said sadly. "I'm afraid to think of what's going on."

"The humans must be killing it," Kaeori responded spitefully.

"That may be true," Aeris said, "But I think it is unfair to judge all humans in that way. I, afterall, am half human."

Kaeori made a slightly surprised face. So that's why Aeris' lifeforce seemed so weak.

"You are?"

"Yes," Aeris answered. "My mother was Cetra but my father human. My cousin Tayeko is also only half Cetra."

Kaeori was not pleased with this information. These half Cetras may have too much compassion for the human race to complete this mission.

"I think I'm going to walk around town," Kaeori said, finishing her meal. "I'll be back in a few hours."

"Would you like me to come with you?" Aeris asked. "I can show you around town, and I have to do some shopping anyway."

Kaeori shrugged. "I suppose."

Aeris nodded and stood. "Let me take your dish, and we can leave."

The Highwind touched down outside of Corel at about noon, and Yuffie and Striker descended the the ramp and waved goodbye to Cid. The gruff pilot crossed his arms and stared at Yuffie.

"Don't forget you owe me," he laughed. "Twice, once for picking you up and second for puking all over my goddamn floor again."

"Don't worry!" Yuffie shouted to him, though she did not intend to pay the captain back in any special way. She grabbed Striker's arm and headed for Corel.

"I hope Barret doesn't get mad," Yuffie said as they entered town.

"Maybe we should call him first," Striker suggested. He reached for his PHS.

"No, no," Yuffie stopped him. "Let's surprise him."

Striker shook his head at her stubborness. "I don't want to hear his mouth."

Yuffie waved him off as they headed towards the Mayor's office. Wanda was filing papers when they came in.

"Yes?"

"We're here to see Barr- uh, Mayor Wallace," Yuffie said. "We're friends from AVALANCHE."

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Of course not," Yuffie cried, throwing her arms up. "We're his friends!"

Wanda looked nervous. "I don't think..."

"Come on, he has to see us!"

Wanda nodded and picked up the phone.

"Mayor?"

Barret's gruff voice came through. "What is is it, Wanda?"

Wanda swallowed. "You have two visitors, Mayor," she said timidly.

"No visitors!" Barret barked. "I told you I was busy!"

"They're from AVALANCHE," Wanda said. "They really want to see you."

"Who? Cloud?" Barret asked. "He probably came to help me get my warehouse back from Ross."

"No, it is not Cloud," Wanda answered. She covered the phone with her hand. "What are you're names?"

"Yuffie Kisaragi, and this is Striker," Yuffie said.

"Ms. Kisaragi and, Striker," Wanda told Barret."

"Yuffie?" Barret cried. "What the hell does she want? Fine, send 'em in."

Wanda hung up and motioned to Yuffie. "You guys can go in."

Yuffie nodded and opened the double doors to Barret's office, Striker behind her. The big man was sitting at his desk, his gun arm resting on the surface as he looked up at them.

"The hell are you doing here?" he wanted to know.

"Oh, Barret, you just wouldn't beileve what happened to us," Yuffie immediately began, running up to his desk. Striker tried to ask my father if we could date and he refused. Then he tried to betrowth me to someone I absolutely have nothing in common with. And then he tried to capture us and kill Striker!"

"Godo did all this?" Barret asked, concerned.

"Yes, we had to flee Wutai!" Yuffie cried. "Soldiers were chasing us all the way out the gates! My father is enraged!"

Barret put his good hand to his chin. "How'd you get here?"

"Cid," Striker answered.

"Well, what do you want me to do?"

"We just need a place to stay," Yuffie answered. "I can't go back to Wutai. I'm so lost. And worse yet, my father wants to give Wutai over to Ross Energy. I can't change his mind!"

"Ross? Goddamnit!" Barret yelled, banging his gunarm on the table. "That asshole took my warehouse and is using it to power the Gold Saucer!"

"Warehouse?" Striker repeated.

"Yeah! We was convertin' the place into a youth center for the kids of Corel. And he bought it from right under my nose, knowing full well I needed it! I don't want his shitty business in Corel!"

"That's terrible!" Yuffie cried. "A Youth center sounds like a wonderful idea. How could he be so cold?"

"I dunno, but I intend to snatch it back from his smug ass."

"So what are we going to do?" Striker asked.

Barret thought for a moment. "Maybe it's good that ya'll came after all," he said. "We can use brute force to get rid of those assholes and get my building back. Rufus said he had the Turks working on it, but I ain't got no time to trust those monkeys. I got to get my place back now!"

"Maybe we can tie ourselves to the outside of the buidling," Yuffie suggested. "Then they won't do anything."

"I doubt that," Striker said. "It's not like they're going to destroy the building, they're just taking it. Besides, if we put ourselves in a vurnarable position like that they'll just end up eliminating us."

"That's right," Barret said. "We got to fight! Keep them out of my warehouse!

"Just the three of us?" Yuffie asked.

"I asked Cloud to come here as soon as he can," Barret answered. "Of course, Tifa's got to stay home with the baby. Zack started a bullshit job and Aeris is busy getting their new apartment together."

"Bullshit job?" Striker asked.

Barret nodded angrilly. "He works for Ross."

"What?" Yuffie cried. "Why on earth?"

"They offered him a job training recruits," Barret answered. "Barret says he doesn't know Zack's new number so he can't warn him about Ross."

"So why don't we just go to Junon?" Striker suggested.

Barret shrugged. "I got my own problems here," he said.

"Isn't Rufus upset?" Yuffie asked. "Doesn't he think that Ross may run him out of business? I had no idea he was starting a military."

"Of course Rufus is bitchin' about the whole thing," Barret sighed. "That's why he's got the Turks on it. I suppose he's only helping me because he knows his wallet will suffer in the end."

"That's just like Rufus," Striker said.

"I've got alot of paperwork to get done," Barret complained. "Why don't ya'll walk to my house, its two blocks from here. Marlene is there with her babysitter. If Cloud ever gets his spikey ass here, we can discuss a plan when I get off. And you cant tell Josie, Marlene's sitter, that she can go home."

He handed Striker a wad of gil.

"That's her pay for the week."

"What, you can't give it to me?" Yuffie said, insulted. "I could give it to her."

"She'd never get it if it wound up in your hands," Barret spat. "Striker, make sure she doesn't even see that money."

Striker laughed and nodded, Yuffie elbowing him in the ribs.

"Bye, Barret!" Yuffie spat. She skipped out the door and Striker shook Barret's hand, saying goodbye. They left the office.

Striker and Yuffie walked the short distance to Barret's home, hand in hand. When they arrived, Yuffie knocked on the door and Marlene promptly answered.

"Yuffie!" she cried. She wrapped her arms around Yuffie's legs.

"Hi, kiddo!" Yuffie said cheerfully, picking the little girl up and hugging her tight. The babysitter, a young, blonde haired girl was standing by the couch, watching carefully.

"Striker and I are coming to visit for a little while," Yuffie said.

Marlene squealed in delight and hugged Striker's legs as well.

Yuffie turned to the girl. "Are you Josie?"

"Yep," she answered.

"Here's your pay," Striker said, handing her the gil Barret had given him. "Barret said you can go home early, now that we're here."

Josie took the gil and smiled. "Oh do tell the Mayor I said thank you!" She grabbed her purse and quickly walked to the door. "Bye Marlene! I'll see you tommorrow."

Marlene hugged Josie's knees. "Bye bye!"

Josie waved and headed out the door.

Striker took a seat on the couch and sighed. "Wonder when Cloud will get here," he mused.

"Heh, let him take his time." Yuffie said. "In the meantime, I'm going to see if I can find out where Barret keeps his materia."

Striker sighed as Yuffie headed upstairs, Marlene eagerly in tow.

Cloud entered Corel late that evening, riding the gold Chocobo he and Tifa'd raised together. As he rode the bird into town, townspeople who were beginning to retire for the night waved at nodded at him, knowing full well who he was and now having a great deal of respect for him. He was the leader of AVALANCHE, who worked with their new Mayor in saving their planet more than once.

Cloud knew that Barret wouldn't be at the office, so he headed straight for his home. He tied the chocobo up outside the house and walked up the porched steps, ringing the doorbell.

A few moments later the door swung open and Barret's large frame appeared in the doorway. He smiled.

"Bout time you got here, Cloud!" Barret roared, clapping the much smaller man on the back. "I was beginning to think you'd have me fightin' Ross on my own."

"Never that," Cloud smiled, stepping in. "Jewel was sick, and then I ran into some nasty Zemelots on the way here." He pointed to some blood stains on his shirt.

"Zemelots never been no problem for ya," Barret laughed. "Come on, ya hungry. I'm fixing to make dinner."

"You cook?" Cloud said, his eyes sparkling with humor.

"Well who else gone do the cookin' round here?" Barret barked. "We gotta eat, ya know! Don't forget, I was once a married man."

Cloud tried to hold in a laugh, as Yuffie came flying down the stairs with Marlene in her arms, Striker behind them.

"Hey Cloud!" she exclaimed. She set Marlene down, who ran straight for Cloud.

"What? What are you guys doing here?" he asked. He bent down to hug Marlene. "Hi, Marlene!"

"Uncle Cloud!" she cried.

"Cloud, my father is insane," Yuffie cried, recounting the story of how he'd tried to kill Striker and how the escaped Wutai. "I came here for a place to stay when Barret told me that he was gonna try to get Ross out of his warehouse!" she punched the air a few times.

Cloud raised his eyebrow. "Godo certainly has a temper," he said. "But I am sure he will eventually cool off. So what's the plan?"

Barret returned from where he went into the kitchen to check dinner. "Ross is sending his men to Corel tommorrow to begin putting they're crap in my warehouse," he said. "Well, first thing in the morning we're going down there and telling them they can't have it!"

"You think that's going to stop them?" Striker asked.

Barret waved his gun in the air. "I'll blast 'em right out of Corel if I have to, goddamnit!"

"Daddy!" Marlene cried. She was no longer ignorant of his cursing and had even begun to scold him for it.

"Heh.. sorry honey." He picked the little girl up and carried her into the kitchen.

Cloud flopped down on the couch. "So I guess you won't be going back to Wutai for a while again, huh Yuffie?" he teased.

"Oh, stop it!" Yuffie moaned. "This time it's really not my fault. Tell him, Striker!"

Striker nodded. "Her father was to blame. He wanted to kill me for no reason and I had to get out of there."

"I couldn't stay either," Yuffie said. "I'd be a married housewife by now!"

Cloud laughed. "I'm sorry Yuffie. You know we won't let anything happen to you guys."

Yuffie nodded, grinning. "How's Jewel, Cloud? I've been dying to see her ever since Tifa called me with the news."

"She had a little cold earlier, but other than that, she's been doing fine," Cloud said. "Sometimes I forget she isn't mind, you know? Rufus doesn't come around much."

"Why don't you tell Rufus to give you custody?" Striker asked. "You know he really doesn't want that baby."

"Yeah, especially as much as you do, Cloud," Yuffie added.

Cloud thought sadly for a moment. "That sounds like a swell idea, but I'm afraid it's not that easy. I don't suppose Rufus will let me have her."

"You should try," Yuffie persisted. "You never know."

Cloud shrugged as Marlene stuck her head in the living room.

"Daddy says come and get it!" she cried. "He made baked chicken legs and mashed potatoes!"

CLoud, Yuffie, and Striker went into the kitchen, the smell of the hot food surrounding them. Barret was placing the hot pans of chicken and potatoes on the table, and Marlene was setting the dishes and forks.

"I'm interest to see how well you cook," Cloud joked as they began to sit.

Barret sat at the head of the table and began to help himself. "You shaddup. You'll see how good my food is in a minute. Right, Marlene?"

"Right Daddy!" she agreed, sitting atop two pillows in her chair.

They began to dig in, and Yuffie was the first to speak.

"Oh my GAWD, Barret!" she exclaimed. "This is sooo delicious!"

"Thank you," Barret said, blushing slightly.

"It is good," Striker agreed. "Best chicken I ever tasted."

"It almost tastes fried," Cloud commented. "Are you sure it's baked?"

"Damn right I'm sure!" Barret answered loudly. "I don't fry food no more, I bake it. It's much healthier, ya know?"

"Since when did you become a health nut?" Yuffie asked with a mouthful.

"I'm trying to cut back on the fat," Barret replied. "Maybe drop a couple pounds, you know?"

"This hasn't got anything to do with Dion, has it?" Striker asked. Marlene giggled.

Barret blushed again. "You stop all that talk around my daughter," he hollered. "And no, it don't."

"So where is Dion?" Yuffie asked.

"She's working tonite. Rehearsal at the Playhouse theater. She'll be here before ten."

"Aw, so she's living with you now," Cloud said with a smile, pouring more gravy onto his mashed potatoes. "My, my, my."

"Shaddup, you spikey headed foo! I'm more than ten years your senior, a grown man goddamnit! I don't wanna hear no more of this shit."

"Daddy!!" Marlene screamed, dropping her fork.

He slapped his forehead while the others snickered. "Geez, Marlene, I'm sorry sweetie."