Author's Note: I took the weekend off, but I'm back to finish the final chapter. This is it, I know, it was so long ago that I started this story, and…it's finally come to an end. Don't worry, I'll try not to disappear again, at least not until school starts again. I posted another chapter of Victim; I found out that I had had a completed chapter just sitting on my computer waiting to be uploaded all this time, oops. Plus this version is exactly like the old one, except I've taken out the parts that got it deleted two years ago. If you read it, please know that I'm not very concerned with writing it better right now, so if it seems like low level writing, it is, I'm just trying to get the story back up as true to the original version as I could. In my absence I have gotten reviews on stories that I didn't know anyone read anymore. That's great, especially for Of You. I tell you people, that's my favorite story to date. It's beautiful. Also, to all you Reno fans out there, I'm sorry that I made him such an ass in this story. I actually like Reno a lot; I don't know why I made him so evil. In retrospect I guess I should have used Sephiroth…I don't know why I never but Sephy into my stories. Hmm…Anyway, enjoy the final chapter of Workerbee!
The evening sky was burnt orange in color, the sun shining in the sky like a spotlight in the middle of the night. The sun was nearly white in color, barely visible behind the scores of brightly illuminated clouds hovering above Gonganga. The temperature was cooling rapidly as the faint glint of stars speckled the horizon.
It was past working hours for the people of Gonganga. It seemed like five o'clock was the signal for the entire town to close up for the day. The streets were nearly empty except for a few children chasing each other before their parents called them home for dinner. The only businesses that remained open were the restaurants and bars that dotted the main street towards the road into town.
The construction workers responsible for building the reactor had clocked out for the day just an hour earlier. Work on the reactor was coming along steadily, still far from completion, but just about half way. The underground portion had been finished that day with the final installment of the last Mako container that Cloud had helped build.
The aboveground part of the reactor was where the Mako was transformed from its original form into a usable energy source. The control switch above the surface was used for maintenance work during a power outage and to supply electricity to the city. In the center of this building was a manhole with a ladder that led underground to the reactor's main chamber. Below the ground was housed the Mako containers. The structures sucked up large amounts of Mako from the planet and heated it to an extreme temperature before sending it up the metal pipes and into the above chamber for processing.
Between the containers was a round platform with railings around it and a switchboard for controlling the pressure and temperature inside the containers. The containers reached to the artificial ceiling above the platform and about thirty feet below. The bottom of the containers sat in a pool of natural Mako, or Lifestream. The cool green liquid had formed a pocket beneath the Earth's crust and in some areas was closer to the crust than in others. The areas where the Lifestream was close to the surface was the prime locations for Shinra's reactors. The largest concentration of Mako had been found in Midgar, but several pools had been discovered in other parts of the country. For years Shinra had been working on an effective way to reach Mako that was deep underground to branch their empire to parts of the world without shallow pockets of Lifestream, like Costa Del Sol and Wutai.
What the world didn't know was that the cost to destroy the planet's source of Lifestream was much cheaper than to dredge up coal from the mines, which Shinra also owned to have a complete monopoly against the world's source of power. Charging more for Mako electricity was Shinra's greatest crime against the working class, and keeping society in the dark about costs had allowed Shinra to flourish in the past several decades.
Tifa Lockheart, the person most privy to the gains of Shinra's deeds stood on the metal grating beneath the ground of the construction site. She supported herself with her arms resting against the railing as she leaned over to gaze at the luminescent liquid below her, the green light highlighting her features as she frowned. Each tear that ran down her cheek fell into the pool below and was absorbed into the Lifestream.
The ceiling had been built after the fight between Cloud and Zack. While many of the workers tried to ignore their coworkers attacking each other, several had stood on the sidelines to watch, placing bets and cheering for their favorite while Tifa had watched in horror.
She could believe the fact that she had torn two friends apart, that, she had done before, but never had she cared so much about each of them. Usually when the boys fought for her, it was of their own accord, but this time, she had actually done something to heat the argument.
What she didn't understand and what had been plaguing her since she left the hospital was what Cloud had said to her after the brawl. She had replayed his words in her mind over and over again, each time bringing her more despair. She hadn't been able to right her wrong and it was eating away at her. Cloud hadn't accepted her; instead he had turned her away, insisting that she return to Zack.
Realizing that Zack was not the man she thought he was had been difficult, to figure out that someone so caring could do something so heinous to a friend was mind blowing. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like what Aeris had done to her by lying about Cloud. No wonder Zack had been so perfect for Aeris.
She couldn't go back to Zack even if she had wanted to. He had been just a curtain away when she begged Cloud not to discard her, when she told him that she wanted to be with him, not Zack. How could Zack take her back after that?
An open pool of Lifestream was considered a religious monument. The only known source was in Mideel. Scores of devout believers flocked to Mideel's lake each year to witness the Lifestream and pray to their departed loved ones.
Tifa stared into the Lifestream below her, praying to Aeris for guidance. It was believed that the souls of those who died returned to the planet as Lifestream to keep it alive. Though Tifa had never truly believed that the substance that powered her house was the souls of the dead, she found it comforting to speak to the liquid as if Aeris could really hear her.
"No one's even here, how's that supposed to do anything?" Rude asked with a deeply agitated tone.
He and Reno had not spoken a word to each other on the trip from Midgar to Gonganga. The fact that Reno had beaten him in a one-on-one match had badly bruised Rude's ego. He had always considered himself the better fighter; it just appeared that no matter how skilled he was he had no chance against Reno's weapon.
Reno stood beside his friend with a smug grin across his face. Beating Rude into submission felt so good considering he had been out of work for several months. Still being able to hold his own in a fight gave him a new sense of self confidence. He rolled his eyes and scoffed as he gently tossed five sticks of dynamite held together with duct tape up into the air, before firmly catching the homemade device and tossing it again. There was a timer and a remote control detonator attached to the top of the dynamite beneath the arch of wicks that were tied together.
"Tomorrow afternoon when the sun is hot and everyone, including that bitch are all standing around like idiots, I press this button," Reno pointed to a big red switch on his remote control, "and this whole thing goes kablooey!" He laughed maniacally.
Rude sighed with indignation, imagining with anger the innocent lives that would be destroyed for Reno's revenge the next day. Rude never wanted anyone to get hurt that didn't deserve it; he hated this vengeful side of his friend. Especially since Reno wanted to hurt Tifa, someone who hadn't done anything to Reno, everything that happened to the redheaded Turk had been brought onto himself, not by her.
"Do we really have to do this?" Rude asked. Reno growled.
"Yeah, we do. Now get over your ethics crap, you're a Turk goddammit, and we stand behind each other."
"You're not one anymore…" Rude mumbled under his breath. Reno snapped his head to glare at his bald partner.
"You say something?" He snarled. Rude shook his head.
"No." He said, rolling his eyes.
"Then shut up and come with me. We're gonna see what's inside this thing."
Reno strolled over to the ladder and began to climb down to the lower level, with Rude close at his heels. Reno imagined the news report that would be shown after the death of the President's daughter. The bomb was designed to leave no traces of itself behind and the attack would most likely appear to be caused by some sort of mechanical error, just as it had years ago when the previous reactor exploded.
Reno laughed to himself as he made his way down the ladder and to the platform below. He hopped down a few rungs from the bottom and landed on his feet, then stood up to brush the dust off of his Turk uniform while waiting to make sure Rude was still coming.
He turned around without hearing Tifa's original gasp, and he in turn was surprised to find her in the reactor's core. A devilish grin spread across his lips as he thanked the planet for this opportunity. Once Rude had descended the ladder and noticed Tifa as well, she was trapped. With two Turks surrounding her on the small platform the only way for her to go was down into the Lifestream, which would poison her and kill her within minutes.
Tifa's heart raced as she pressed her back against the railing, staring at the two men in front of her. She was trapped, her only exit was blocked and she was alone. Before either of the men made a move she could see her life flash before her eyes. She prayed to the planet for a miracle, tightening her grip on the railing behind her.
"Well, well, well, isn't this a lovely gift from the Planet?" Reno asked, turning to Rude. "Looks like all those other people don't have to die after all." Rude could only shake his head, while Reno set the bomb down next to the ladder. Tifa lifted her chin in defiance as Reno took a step towards her. "Aww, come on, you don't want to play?" Reno mused. Tifa flared her nostrils and breathed heavily.
"You…you killed Aeris." She stated. Reno laughed and looked away for a second.
"That, was an accident. I never meant to hurt her. It was unfortunate."
"You bastard!" Tifa screamed.
All the rage that was built up inside her from all that she had lost came to a boiling point as she lunged at Reno. She wanted to kill him, to smash his face in until he felt the pain that she had when he had killed her best friend. Before she could even get her fist to his face Reno grabbed her by the wrist.
Tifa felt her arm being crushed by Reno's vice-like grip and suddenly she felt a pain in her gut and her throat began to choke for air. She looked into Reno's cold eyes as tears autonomously welled up in her own eyes. She looked down to the source of her pain in slow motion, fearing she would lose consciousness if she made any sudden movements. Time seemed to stand still when she realized she had been stabbed in the stomach with Reno's mag rod, and that thousands of volts of electricity were coursing through her body. She felt her life slipping away as she looked back up at Reno pleadingly. With achingly slow speed she felt her body slip out of Reno's grasp and fall to the ground, striking her head on the railing as she did so.
Reno smiled at his victim as he removed his weapon from her abdomen, then bent down on one knee to check her pulse after she had hit the floor. After finding one he looked up at Rude with a sadistic grin.
"What are you going to do now?" Rude asked, fearing all the possibilities that Reno could answer with.
"What any self-respecting man would do in this situation." Reno huffed.
He rotated on his knee and straddled Tifa. With the anticipation of a child on Christmas morning he lifted his hands to rest above her chest. With great care he began to unbutton her shirt slowly, taking his time with each button to prolong his suspense. Rude turned away beat red, raising his hands to cover his face while he shook his head in despair.
Reno pulled each side of Tifa's blouse aside as if he were laying out a towel. He stared at her scarcely-clad chest before moving his hands beneath her back to unsnap her bra. He knew that Rude would enjoy the show as much as he would, and turned to see his partner leaning over the railing, forcing himself not to look.
"Why do you have to do this?" Rude asked, taking a deep sigh. Reno blinked before answering.
"What, are you in love with her or something?" Reno narrowed his eyes at his friend. Rude looked over at him with flared nostrils.
"This isn't about your job anymore, is it?" Rude asked.
Reno didn't even give him the satisfaction of an answer. Instead he licked his lips and laughed, shaking his head as he looked back at Tifa, who lay motionless beneath him. The simplest thing to do would have been to just kill her before she even had the chance to wake up, but there was no fun in that.
Just as he was about to unclasp her support, Reno heard the distinct sound of footsteps above his head. He quickly snapped his head to focus on the opening to the surface, just as a pair of brown boots leapt down into the lower chamber to land just feet away from Reno. He slowly looked up to meet the man's gaze, seeing a possessed expression of rage, with eyes intent on homicide.
"What brings you here?" Reno asked as calmly as he could, while reaching for his weapon.
"I saw lights flashing from the reactor when I left the hospital. I recognized them from quite some time ago." A spiked blonde stated.
Reno glared at Cloud as he stood up, drawing his mag rod and holding it in front of him. Cloud furrowed his brow and raised his fists up in a ready stance, taking note of Tifa's body lying on the floor behind Reno.
Reno grunted at lunged at Cloud with his weapon. Cloud grabbed him by the wrist and lifted him up off of the ground and over his shoulders to slam against the ladder. Reno landed on his head with his feet bent over onto the ground.
"While you're down there, why don't you go ahead and kiss your own ass!" Cloud sneered, squatting down to look Reno in the eyes.
"Go to hell." Reno snarled, then rolled over and swung his leg around to kick Cloud in the face.
Cloud fell back over Tifa but quickly recovered by swinging his leg into Reno's ankles to knock the Turk down. Rude grabbed Cloud from behind to hold him still while Reno got up and punched the blonde in the face a few times before Cloud drove his heel into Rude's foot to get released. Reno shoved his mag rod into Cloud's side but the younger man fought through the pain, sending his elbow into Reno's jaw and kneeing him in the gut.
Reno backed into a railing to regain his balance before smashing his weapon across Cloud's face like a baseball bat. Cloud took a few steps back after the blow and Rude tackled him into the railing. Reno stood on the other side of Cloud as both he and Rude leaned Cloud back so that he was hanging over the railing, threatening to let him fall into the Mako below.
"You just had to play hero, didn't you?" Reno growled while pushing Cloud back further.
"What's the matter Reno; need Rude to help you get things done?" Reno turned to find where the voice was coming from. Zack stood at the base of the ladder with his hands on his hips and a sardonic smile plastered across his face. "I saw some sparks flying from the reactor, never thought I'd see you again, huh?"
Reno gritted his teeth and shoved Cloud over the railing. The blonde grabbed onto the base of the platform to keep from falling into the Lifestream. He looked down to be blinded by the eerie green glow for a moment. He looked back up as Rude rushed from the railing to aid Reno.
Zack leaped into the air and straddled his legs to kick both Reno and Rude in the face, sending them both back a few steps. Reno drove his mag rod into Zack's gut while Rude punched him in the head. Zack grabbed Reno and Rude's heads and knocked them together, knocking the two men out.
"Zack!" Cloud screamed, feeling his grip weakening.
Zack ran over to the railing as Cloud lost his grip with one hand, now hanging precariously by five fingers. Zack locked his feet beneath the bottom railing and leaned over to reach for Cloud.
"Give me your other hand!" He shouted to his former friend.
All their anger seemed to melt away once Cloud resisted his hesitation to reach his free hand up to grasp Zack's wrist. The ex-Soldier tightened his grip on Cloud by clasping his other hand to Cloud's and struggling to pull the young blonde back onto the platform.
As soon as Cloud fell over the railing back onto the platform he was kicked in the back by Reno. When he hit the ground he looked over at Tifa, still unmoving, with her shirt unbuttoned and laying open to display her chest. In another context Cloud admitted to himself that he would have been turned on, but not tonight. Seeing her lying helpless while the fighting went on around her angered him.
The thought of Reno would have done to her if he had not shown up when he did enraged him. He leaped up and wrapped his hands around Reno's neck, driving the redhead back against the ladder until his eyes rolled back into his head. Cloud released him and ran to Tifa.
Zack had received a fist to his jaw from Rude once Cloud had gotten back over the rail. The bald man grabbed his ears and lowered Zack's head onto his knee, further injuring the ex-Soldier's nose. Zack plowed his shoulder into Rude's gut and drove him back against the wall next to Reno.
Cloud lifted Tifa's head onto his lap and stroked her hair gently out of her face. A faint sounded emanated from her throat and Cloud clutched her head to his chest. He looked down to see a small amount of blood dripping through the metal grating and into the Lifestream where her head had rested. Zack stood over the two Turks to wait for them to get up. He turned his back to them to watch Cloud with Tifa.
It was like he was back at the hospital all over again. Seeing Cloud hold her…it felt like she was begging to be with Cloud and not him again. It had hurt his ego to hear her say that, to know that as soon as Cloud came back into the picture she would have discarded him after he had listened to her that night.
"Don't think you're getting away, dipshits." Reno moaned almost inaudibly.
Zack turned around to see Reno clutching a homemade bomb to his chest and grinning. Zack's eyes widened as Reno pressed the red button on his remote control and a little panel on the bomb lit up with the number thirty. Each passing second ticked away at the bomb and both Reno and Rude staggered to their feet.
Reno set the bomb down next to the ladder and reached up to climb, but Zack grabbed him by the collar and flung him back into the rail. Rude came after Zack but was kneed in the groin and fell to the floor.
"Cloud, you got twenty seconds, get out of here!" Zack screamed as the Turks closed in on him.
Cloud looked up as Zack ran between the Turks with his arms out to hit them both in the face. He then glanced over at the bomb near the ladder and then back down to Tifa. He nodded to Zack and lifted Tifa up over his shoulder. He reached the ladder and began to climb, but Reno crawled over and grabbed him by the ankle to try and pull him down.
Zack jumped onto Reno's back as he lay on the floor clasping Cloud's foot, pulled his head back by his hair, and then smashed his face into the metal. Rude came from behind to try and grab Zack but the brunette threw his head back into Rude's face, breaking the bald man's glasses. Cloud reached the top of the ladder and pushed Tifa up to solid ground. He leaned over the opening, waiting for Zack to appear.
"Zack!" He called.
"Get out of here!" Zack yelled back, throwing a few more punches at the Turks.
Cloud realized what Zack was doing but knew that he was powerless to stop his friend. He needed to get Tifa to safety and he lifted her into his arms, setting her over his shoulder once again as he ran from the reactor.
He was no more than a hundred feet from the reactor he had put so much effort into building when it exploded. He threw Tifa to the ground and leaped on top of her to shield her as a stream of fire and explosive debris shot up from below the earth. Cloud looked over his shoulder at the blast that surely killed his best friend and the two Turks. A cloud of fire and smoke had grown above the reactor once the initial explosion had ended. This cloud sent metal shards up to fifty yards away, and raining down atop Cloud. Luckily no large chunks of metal hit him or Tifa as he tensed his muscles to prepare for such a blow.
When the smoke cleared and the dust settled Cloud raised his head. He coughed up some dirt and wiped the sweat from his brow. He looked down at Tifa beneath him. There was a cut across her forehead where a piece of metal had struck her during the explosion, and there was the gash on the back of her head where she had hit the railing and knocked herself out.
He sat back on his knees and lifted her up to clutch her to his chest. He rocked back and forth, trying to get her to wake up. He heard her stir for a moment, but she did not open her eyes or speak. Her head rolled back over his arm and he shook her gently.
"Tifa. Tifa. Tifa?" He whispered, but she did not respond.
He felt his heart sink as he feared the worst. He knew that he had just lost Zack, and that the Turks too had perished in the explosion, but he just couldn't stand to lose Tifa, not like this. He put his head to her chest and heard a heartbeat. He picked her up, one arm supporting her back as her arms and head hung loosely near his right side, and the other arm beneath her knees. He walked slowly, with a limp from his previous battle, down the road back towards the hospital, praying for Tifa's life.