The Cry of the Planet Chapter 32
Bodyguard
By Edyn Cross
"Sorry," Aeris said still looking at the figure standing in the doorway.
"Bad timing on my part."
Cloud narrowed his eyes and began to move towards the man, but stopped when
he felt a tug on the back of his shirt.
"Cloud," It was Aeris. "Don't let it get to you. Now that I think of it,
have you ever been a bodyguard? You said you do a bit of everything,
right?"
Cloud looked over to the Flower Girl and subconsciously ran his hand through
his spiky blonde hair, "Yeah, that's right."
Aeris looked towards a hallway leading out the back of the church, "Then
take me out of here... Take me home."
Cloud stared into Aeris' green eyes for a few seconds, glanced at the figure
standing in the doorway, and then back to Aeris again and nodded, "Okay,
I'll do it... But, it'll cost you."
Aeris brought a delicate hand up to her chin, "Well then, let's see... I
don't have anything, really... Living in the slums is tough sometimes. How
about if I go out with you once?"
Cloud raised an eyebrow and studied Aeris' face searching for any sign that
would suggest that she was kidding. The woman just looked at Cloud with her
strange green eyes staring deeply into his own awaiting a response. A few
strands of her chestnut brown hair danced in front of her eyes as they darted
quickly over to the man in the doorway and then back to his eyes
again.
Knowing this man had something in for her that wasn't all hugs and snuggles,
Cloud gave her a nod and began to walk towards the figure in the doorway
who was staring intently at Cloud. The man did look like he could be dangerous,
but he wasn't the only reason why Cloud agreed. There was something. different
about this woman Cloud couldn't quite put his finger on. That she was somehow
special.
"I don't know who you are, but..." Cloud said approaching the
man.
"You don't know me...?" The man replied in a smooth voice still staring at
Cloud.
Cloud studied the man a bit more, "Oh yeah... I know you. That
uniform..."
"Hey," Another voice called from outside as three armed Shinra Guards entered
the church and stood behind the Turk who was still looking at
Cloud.
"This one's a little weird," a Shinra Guard said looking at
Cloud.
"Shut up," Cloud said getting irritated. "Shinra trash."
"Reno," The guard said looking at the man in the blue suit. "You want him
taken out?"
The Turk looked at Cloud appearing to size him up, "I haven't decided
yet."
Cloud's hand moved slowly, but instinctually towards the sword on his back
as the Shinra Guards looked at each other and at Cloud.
"Um," One Shinra Guard whispered looking at the other two. "The guy's wearing
a SOLDIER uniform... Isn't he one of us?"
Another Shinra Guard who was on the heavy side shook his head, "Sure don't
look like it. Man, I knew I shoulda called in sick today. I'm not in the
mood to be endin' up in the hospital cause I got assigned the shit job to
fight a SOLDIER."
The other two Shinra Guards nodded in agreement as Reno just stood staring
at Cloud with his lips tightened into a small smirk.
Aeris looked around and gave Cloud another tug on the back of his shirt,
"Don't fight here, you'll ruin all the flowers!"
Cloud looked at Aeris, back to the Turk, and then at Aeris again. She gripped
lightly on his arm and pointed towards the back of the church, "There's an
exit back there."
Cloud nodded, took Aeris by the arm and quickly ran with her to the back
of the church away from the Shinra employees. As the two fled, Reno slowly
walked towards the back exit and stopped when he stood right in the middle
of the flowerbed. He looked around his feet and saw that he destroyed a good
number of delicate flowers.
The Turk stood thoughtfully for a few seconds and looked towards the exit,
"They were... Mako eyes."
A moment later Reno looked back towards the Shinra guards and muttered to
himself, "Yeah, all right. Back to work, back to work."
Reno continued to walk towards the exit where Cloud and Aeris escaped and
the Shinra Guards began to follow, "Oh! And don't step on the
flowers..."
As Reno exited the Guards followed him passing the flowerbed and mocked
sarcastically.
"Hey Reno!" One Guard called, "But, you just stepped on
them!"
"They're all ruined!" another laughed.
"You're gonna catch holy hell!" The heavyset one snickered as they went out
the back exit.
The last guard through the door entered just in time to see Reno pointing
towards the far wall where the SOLDIER and the girl were trying to
escape.
"There they are," Reno announced. "Over there!"
Cloud and Aeris were running up a large flight of stairs towards the attic
a second level that lead towards the attic. There was a hole in the back
wall of the church the size of a large truck and lodged through the hole
was a giant rusted old rocket pointed nose-down into the floor of the church.
The large metal rocket sat ominously in the holy scene. A soft light came
in through broken stained glass windows shining directly on where Reno and
the Shinra Guards had entered the back room.
After making it up the staircase, Cloud and Aeris stood on a wooden walkway
about four feet wide that wrapped around the wall and lead to the attic stairs.
Aeris looked in horror as about half way to the attic stairs, the rusted
rocket protruding through the outside wall had obliterated the walkway leaving
a section about five feet wide that they would need to jump to reach the
attic stairs. They stopped in front of the large gap and immediately looked
around for another route.
"Cloud..." Aeris said nervously looking down on the approaching Shinra
Guards.
"I know," Cloud said examining their situation. "Looks like they aren't going
to let us go."
"What should we do?" Aeris asked worriedly.
"We can't let them catch us, can we?" Cloud grinned as Aeris shook her head.
"Then, there's only one thing left."
Cloud took a few steps back and without hesitation, took a short running
leap and made the jump flawlessly across the gap landing with one knee on
the wooden walkway as it shook and creaked tiredly under him.
"Aeris," Cloud beckoned Aeris. "This is the only way."
She looked down through the hole and seeing a good thirty foot drop. She
quickly took a step back, gulped, and then shook her head at
Cloud.
"Alright," Cloud said knowing she wasn't in the condition to make the jump.
"I'll hold them off."
Aeris nodded, "Right!"
A moment later, Reno's voice came echoing from below, "The Ancient is getting
away! Get her!"
Two Shinra Guards stood examining their situation as one Guard immediately
aimed his weapon up towards Aeris and fired. Aeris screamed after a bullet
flew by her ear as several more blew pieces of the wall off behind her and
splintered the wood beneath her feet. While trying to avoid the bullets,
Aeris lost her balance and fell off the walkway and slid and rolled down
the old rocket until she hit the hard floor with a thud.
"Aeris!" Cloud called after her as she fell.
The Shinra Guard who fired his weapon only got off about a tenth of the rounds
he had intended before Reno produced a small rod with a small switch on the
handle and stepped towards the Guard. The Turk snapped his wrist jerking
the metal rod towards the ground extending it into a three-foot long nightstick
and knocked the Guard's weapon out of his hands sending it smoking to the
ground. The Guard looked at Reno with an expression of utter stupidity on
his face.
Reno narrowed his eyes at the Guard, "He said he wants the Ancient alive,
so pick that goddamn thing up and get her."
The Shinra Guard nodded dumbly, picked up his fallen gun, and ran towards
Aeris who was still recovering from her fall.
Aeris opened her eyes and saw the church spinning in a dirty haze. She pulled
herself to her knees and dusted her pink dress off and looked up in time
to see the Shinra Guard who fired at her charging straight towards
her.
"Cloud!" She called looking towards the attic. "Help!"
"Damnit," Cloud hissed under his breath.
He looked up towards the support rafters, which were all that was left of
the attic. He saw a good-sized hole in the ceiling and a few old wooden barrels.
He looked at the barrels and then looked down towards the Guards and grinned.
He quickly ran up the attic stairs and carefully approached the barrel closest
to him. He looked down through the rafters and lined up his target. With
a shove, Cloud pushed the barrel and watched as it fell heavily to the bottom
floor.
Aeris shrank against the wall as the Shinra Guard approached her. She was
ready to go kicking and screaming when something above the Guard's head caught
her eye. Before she could even begin to think of what it may be, the Guard
got off a muffled scream before being pushed to the ground. Sand exploded
from a barrel and kept the Guard pinned to the ground, as he lay
unconscious.
Aeris jumped quickly to her feet, clapped in happiness, and sprinted towards
the large staircase leading to the wooden walkway again. She made it about
halfway up the stairs when a large hand grabbed her ankle pulling her face
down on the stairs. She looked behind her and saw a heavyset guard grinning
at her while pulling him towards him. Before she could even scream out, another
large barrel landed on the guard and exploded sending sand flowing over the
side of the stairs.
After pulling her leg out from under the pile of sand, Aeris dusted herself
off and cheered up towards Cloud. She jogged the rest of the way up the stairs,
ran down the walkway and stopped at the five-foot hole in the wooden walkway
and started at it with a determined look in her eyes. She scooted back as
far as she could and stood for a moment collecting herself. After seeing
the third Shinra Guard running up the stairs, Aeris had all the time she
needed. She sprinted towards the gap and jumped as far as she could and it
was just enough. She landed on the other side uttering a small yelp as her
left foot slipped off the ledge. She pulled it up quickly dusted herself
off as her heart pounded madly in her chest.
The third Guard was about to make the jump when another barrel of sand fell
from the attic rafters. As the third guard was engulfed into the exploding
barrel of sand, Aeris climbed the attic stairs as Reno stood on the bottom
floor shaking his head and muttering something about alcohol and being
underpaid.
Aeris followed Cloud as they carefully crossed the old wooden rafters and
towards a worn hole in the church's A-Shaped ceiling. Cloud climbed out of
the hole and offered his hand to Aeris who gladly accepted it as he helped
her through. They now stood in the stale air of the slums looking down from
the roof of the church into the surrounding Sector.
Aeris chuckled while catching her breath, "They're looking for me
again."
Cloud looked at her in surprise, "You mean this isn't the first time they've
been after you?"
She shook her head, "No."
"That man in the suit," Cloud said. "He's from the Turks."
"Hmm..." Aeris didn't appear to know what the Turks were.
"The Turks are an organization in Shinra that scout for possible SOLDIER
candidates," Cloud explained.
"This violently?" Aeris said appalled. "You would think they were kidnapping
me!"
Cloud nodded, "But... They're also involved in a lot of dirty stuff on the
side. Spying, murder, you know..."
"They sure look like it," Aeris said solemnly.
"But, why were they after you?" Cloud asked. "There must be a reason,
right?"
"No, none that I know of..." Aeris said softly looking at the ground and
then looked up. "I think they believe I have what it takes to be in
SOLDIER!"
Cloud laughed, "Maybe you do. You wanna join?"
"I don't know," Aeris said. "Either way, I don't want to get caught by THOSE
people!"
Cloud nodded and smiled, "Then, let's get outta here."
Aeris followed Cloud as they slowly climbed to the edge of the church roof
and made a small jump to a small house with a metal roof next to it. Cloud
quickly ran across the buildings jumping expertly from roof to roof as Aeris
lagged behind.
"Wait!" Aeris called from far back. "Wait, I said!"
Cloud turned around and watched in humor as Aeris slowly jogged across the
building behind him and delicately jumped onto the roof where Cloud was
standing.
"Funny," Cloud chuckled. "I thought you said you were cut out to be in
SOLDIER?"
"Oh," Aeris said breathing heavily. "You're terrible!"
Cloud laughed out loud as Aeris took a step closer. "Hey, Cloud. Were you
ever in SOLDIER?"
Cloud raised an eyebrow, "I used to be... How did you guess?"
Aeris stepped even closer about a foot from his face, "Your eyes... They
have a strange glow."
Cloud nodded thinking that Aeris was one to talk. Her strange emerald eyes
seemed to glow as well, but not like Mako eyes... They were something
different.
"That's the sign of those who have been infused with Mako, a mark of SOLDIER,"
Cloud explained. "But, how did you know about that?"
Aeris looked surprised, "Oh... Nothing."
Cloud was confused, "Nothing?"
"Right, nothing!" Aeris said happily taking Cloud by the arm. "Come on, let's
go, Bodyguard."
They finally reached the edge of the houses and this time Cloud made an effort
to go slow for Aeris. He helped her down a large pile of metal panels and
old car parts on the side the house until they were both on solid
ground.
"Phew!" Aeris said happily. "Finally made it off! My house is down there,
not too far. Let's hurry before that Turk gets here!"
This time, Cloud followed Aeris as she led him past a sign that read "Sector
5" and towards her home. Cloud thought that this was a particularly dirty
Sector and it wasn't just the streets that were unclean. Run down small buildings
were the Sector's main business location and someone even appeared to have
made a home in a large sewage pipe. Cloud couldn't even begin to imaging
how Aeris would be living in a place like this until they reached her
home.
A nice, two-story house that looked like it should belong in a nice town
like Kalm sat on the edge of the ground where the earth had given away forming
a small cliff side beside the home. A small wooden bridge had been built
connecting the house side and the other across the cliff and on the other
side was a large garden that consisted of nothing but what seemed to be an
infinite number of flowers. To Cloud, this place and the church both had
the same ethereal feel and for some reason he had no trouble understanding
why flowers only bloomed in these two places. It just felt...
Holy.
Aeris reached into her jacket pocket and fumbled out a key ring with only
one key on it and slid it into the lock. She opened the door, stepped inside
and beckoned for Cloud to follow.
"I'm home, mom," Aeris called to the kitchen.
A plain, older woman but still very pretty walked over smiling at her daughter.
She looked at Cloud and then looked expectantly at Aeris.
"This is Cloud, my bodyguard," Aeris introduced.
"Bodyguard..." Aeris' Mom looked upset. "You mean you were followed again!?
Are you all right, you aren't hurt are you!?"
Aeris' Mom lovingly hugged her daughter and inspecting her to make sure she
wasn't hurt.
"I'm all right," Aeris assured. "I had Cloud with me."
"Thank you, Cloud," Aeris' Mom said sincerely. "My name is Elmyra. Excuse
me a moment, I have laundry to do upstairs. Please make yourself
comfortable."
Elmyra went upstairs leaving Aeris and Cloud alone. Aeris looked into Cloud's
eyes for a whole minute before she said anything.
"So..." Aeris said. "What are you going to do now?"
Cloud looked at his watch and thought about the mission. He needed to get
back to the AVALANCHE headquarters, not just to let Tifa know he was okay,
but to get his money.
"Is Sector 7 far from here?" Cloud asked. "I need to get to Tifa's Seventh
Heaven, it's a bar there."
Aeris looked at the ground, "Is Tifa a... girl?"
"Yeah," Cloud responded a bit confused.
"You know," Aeris pushed. "A girlfriend?"
"Girlfriend?" Cloud asked and let out a chuckle. "No, nothing like
that."
Aeris laughed politely, "Well, that's... nice. Let's see... Sector 7? I'll
show you the way."
"You gotta be kidding," Cloud said. "Why do you want to put yourself in danger
again?"
Aeris shook her head and smiled, "I'm used to it."
"Used to it!?" Cloud exclaimed and then thought for a moment. "I don't know...
getting help from a girl..."
"A girl!!" Aeris said putting her hands on her hips. "What do you mean by
that!? You expect me to just sit here and do nothing now after hearing you
said that!? Hah!"
Aeris went to the bottom of the staircase and called up, "Mom! I'm taking
Cloud to Sector 7. I'll be back in awhile."
Elmyra came down the stairs looking concerned, "But dear..." Then Elmyra
shook her head. "I don't know why I even bother, you never listen once you've
made up your mind. But, if you must go, why don't you go tomorrow? It's getting
pretty late now."
Aeris checked the small clock on the wall, "Yeah, you're right,
Mom."
Elmyra motioned towards the staircase, "Aeris, please go and make the spare
bed for Cloud."
"Sure," Aeris said and started up the stairs. She glanced at Cloud just before
she was out of view and Cloud felt a sinking feeling in his stomach and honestly
didn't know if it was god or bad.
Elmyra approached Cloud and looked at him directly in his eyes. She looked
tired, but still very strong. Her beautiful brown hair tied up would be the
same color as Aeris' if it weren't for the strands of grey.
"That glow in your eyes..." She said. "You're from SOLDIER,
right?"
"Yeah," Cloud thought and then shook his head. "Rather I used to
be."
"I worry about my daughter leaving the house and you probably know why,"
Elmyra said sadly. "I don't know how to say this because Aeris seems so fond
of you but... Would you please leave here tonight? Without telling
Aeris?"
Before Cloud could respond, he heard Aeris call for him upstairs. He followed
Aeris' voice upstairs feeling Elmyra's pleading eyes on him every step of
the way. He reached the top and went to the furthest bedroom at the end of
the hall where Aeris was just finishing up making the bed.
"You need to go through Sector 6 to get to Sector 7 from here," Aeris said.
"Sector 6 is a little... tricky, so you'd better get some rest
tonight."
Cloud nodded and looked at the perfectly made bed and smirked when he saw
the little stuffed Moogle she put by the pillow.
"Cloud..." Aeris said so softly it was almost a whisper.
Aeris took a step close to Cloud and laid a small soft kiss on his cheek.
When she stepped back he could see a million thoughts behind her strange
green eyes, but all went unsaid when she turned towards the
door.
"Good night," Aeris smiled.
Before Cloud could say anything, Aeris stepped out and gently closed the
door behind her. Cloud sighed and sat on the edge of the bed taking off his
boots. He turned off the lamp and let his mind wander from Tifa, to AVALANCHE,
to Aeris, to Shinra, to Barret, and back to Aeris. Aeris and her flowers.
Aeris and her green glowing eyes.
And Cloud slept...