Wutai Town

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Cloud made the right Sin had indicated. "You know, you really, really, really could have mentioned this earlier."

He sighed. "Denzel?"

"Yeah, Cloud?"

"I'm gonna table a motion that we castrate these guys in public."

"Second it."

"Guys!" Marlene protested.

"We're kidding, Marlene," Denzel defended.

"Speak for yourself," Cloud muttered. "You two need to learn how to look out for the team. That means everybody, not just covering your own backs."

"Cloud, be nice," Marlene insisted. "They didn't mean it." She looked up at Sin. "Right?"

[Kidd Strife]

"Here's how I see it. I WAS looking out for the team at the time. The so called team[/] consisted of Sin, Lutz, and I. Lutz helped do this just as well, so in my eyes it was either fight SIn to save him from himself or we might be trying to kill him right now. So... when'd you get the new duds Sin?"

[Sin]

Sin smiled and patted her head. "Of course not."

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Marlene smiled up at Sin sweetly.

The truck lurched as Cloud pulled up to the clinic. "I'm not talking about the actual fight," Cloud sighed as he parked the truck. "I don't expect two superhumans hacking away at each other to not cause a little bit of fallout damage-- I'm not that naive. I meant, Kidd, that you should have told us about the attack a lot sooner instead of keeping it to yourself. I don't know why you decided to keep quiet, but it seems an awful lot like you were scared of getting found out." He turned half around in his seat to lock eyes with Kidd.

****

Ami watched curiously as Shelke hooked together the "dexterity test". "What exactly IS that?"

"Be patient. You will see," Shelke replied evenly.

[Sin]

Sin hopped out and entered the building. "Cloud, what do you think? We would tell that the entire town of Wutai, full of ninja's and Yuffie, wanted to kill us and we nearly decimated the entire village? Woudl YOU have said it? Woudl YOU have walked in broad daylight and not be worried and scared of being found out that you destroyed such a village?"

[Amnesty Lazuli]

"I wouldn't stand up and admit it in the middle of the town square, no." He got out of the truck and slammed the door behind him. "But I'm a little disappointed you can't tell by now that I'm on your side." He stood toe to toe with Sin, meeting his eyes cooly. "We're all in this together now. Secrets are a luxury."

[Sin]

"Well, I think I can afford the Luxury, seeing as I am what I am, a weapon pure and simple. Ask Shelke if you want, maybe she will explain it to you. Beyond that, I am nothing more than a weapon built for fighting."

[Amnesty Lazuli]

"Just a weapon?" Cloud scoffed, suddenly enraged. "Don't ever let anybody tell you that. You're nobody's weapon, nobody's fool, and nobody's puppet!"

"Cloud..." Marlene said softly, watching through the window.

He took a breath and forced himself to cool down. "I'm sorry. I'm not mad at you, Sin. But... someone said something very similar to me a long time ago." He sighed and shifted his weight. "It doesn't matter what you were built for. You can be whatever you choose to be. Remember that. It was a hard lesson learned."

He turned away. "Where'd you say they're keeping Vincent?"

[Sin]

"Ill show you the way, and as for the weapon problem, I am ordering you to take that to Shelke to explain better." He led them down the hall and into the room Vincent was in, where Shelke and Ami were getting ready to test the prosthetics.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Cloud blinked. "Ordering?" he parroted.

They came to Vincent's room. Shelke met them at the door. "Please do not disturb my patient," she insisted. "He requires his concentration."

Ami and Yuffie were perched on their chairs, watching with wide-eyed interest as he interacted with a small obstacle board. It gave commands for his new arm to carry out-- commands like "Pull the string" or "Twist the knob."

To tell the truth, in any other setting, Vincent might have felt a little stupid doing this. But he trusted Shelke's judgement...

She turned back to her virtual clipboard and made another mark as he completed a task. She stood by and waited.

The board gave another command. "Press the blue button."

He obeyed-- and felt a sharp electric shock. He yanked his cybernetic hand back instinctively. "What the h**l..."

"Perfect," Shelke commented, making another mark. She turned the dexterity test off and replaced it with a "follow the lights" game.

Vincent looked up at her. "You aren't serious."

"Testing your speed is essential."

He sighed as she turned it on and gave it back to him. Ami and Yuffie smothered giggles.

[Sin]

Sin nodded at Cloud's repition, and moved over to AMi and Yuffie.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Reluctantly, patiently, Vincent played the game as ordered until finally he made a mistake and the game beeped his score. Shelke recorded it. "Excellent," she commended. She put her holopad away.

Cloud tapped Sin on the shoulder. "Excuse me, but I don't think you're really in a position to give orders to anybody."

Shelke turned to him. "Cloud Strife, please do not create elevated stress levels in this room."

Vincent caught her wrist. "It's all right, Shelke. I'll be fine."

Shelke pried her wrist free. "I simply do not wish to take chances."

Ami tilted her head. "He's almost ready for release, though, right?"

"Yes. But I do not advise you to allow him to participate in strenuous activities."

Vincent sighed. "I see no one bothered to tell you what we're doing here."

"You came back to check up on us, just like you said!" Yuffie cheered. "Ain't that right?" She looked around with fading excitement. "Uh, right?"

Ami cleared her throat. "I'm afraid it's more serious than that."

Yuffie made a face. "What do you mean, serious? As in, save the world serious?" She grabbed her weapons from where she'd leaned them against the wall. "If so, then I want in!"

Cloud moved forward to restrain her. "Yuffie, this could be bad. Really, realy bad."

"Yeah... so, what's your point?"

Ami cleared her throat. "The point is, maybe you should... um..."

"Remain here to help Vincent recover," Shelke intervened. "He is in no condition to aid the others."

He sat up. "Shelke, I'm--"

She turned on him. "Vincent, please. I understand your capabilities, but I am a professional. Please, this once, trust me."

[Sin]

Sin quietly grabbed the keys to the motorcycle Ami had left on on of the counters. "I will be back soon, I need to finish up my business in Wutai. And Yuffie," He said tossing the materia to her, "if you stay and keep Vincent here, I will let you kep that." He headed out with one last stare at Cloud, and went to start the motorcycle. He roared it into a peelout, shooting rocks as he turned it towards the town.

[Ami]

"What the h**l?! That's MY bike!" Ami yelled. "Hey, GET BACK HERE!!!"

She made as if to charge out after him.

Shelke realized a moment after the action that she had instinctively sent her hand shooting out to catch Ami's wrist. "Let him go," she recommended.

Ami's eyes met hers, and something passed between them... some fundamental sensation... somehow, Amnesty was not in control...

Why does she have power over me?

Ami nodded and stood down. Vincent's eyes missed nothing. I wondered if that might happen... some might say it's impossible, but I believe in the power of basic instincts.

Yuffie fondled the materia, her face a perfect study in delight. "Ooh..."

Cloud sighed. "Well, that's that, she's gone."

She snapped to straightness. "OK! Yuffie reporting for duty! You better believe I'm not letting you get one inch from this bed, mister!"

Vincent groaned inside. "I see even now, nothing works on you half so well as a bribe."

"What?" Yuffie pouted. "That's not fair!"

"All's fair, Yuffie," Cloud reminded. "But Shelke is right, Vincent." His dominant sword hand tightened. "We can handle this alone."

He noticed Ami watching him, wide-eyed. "Seems my mind is made up for me."

"But--"

"No, Ami. Shelke is right. I'm going to trust her."

Shelke noticed the look he was giving her. "Everyone, please allow the patient some rest." She ushered everyone out. Ami began moving for the door. Shelke held her back with a well placed hand. "You have five minutes."

Ami halted as the room emptied. She turned back to Vincent. "I..."

"I remember what you told me earlier. Just before the testing began."

Ami swallowed and nodded.

"Cloud won't take well to that information."

"I know."

"Your brothers will be along as well, of course."

"Yes."

"Someone needs to be there. Someone who won't do anything... foolish."

Ami gulped. "You know me. I can't go half an hour without looking stupid to somebody."

"I do know you. And I know, ready or not, you're the one who will be charged with building bridges. If you can't do it... who can?"

She tried to smile, in spite of the cold feeling in her stomach. "Someone with a legal driver's license?"

Vincent leaned back. "The bedpan is over there, for your information. Use it at your discretion."

Ami tilted her head. "Huh...?"

Then suddenly that cold feeling in the pit rose up through her throat. "Oh, c**p..."

She grabbed the bedpan and threw up into it. Mercifully, Vincent looked the other way.

Outside the door, Yuffie tilted her head. "What the heck is going on in there?"

Shelke didn't look up as she cleaned and put away her tools. "Catharsis."

Cloud looked at her strangely. The pun finally got through to him. "Ah... Oh."

Ami, on her knees, finished voiding her stomach. "What a waste..." She looked up to see Vincent standing over her. "Hold it, now... you should be... how did you know..."

He reached a hand-- the natural hand-- down to her. "The left side of your mouth was twitching."

She glanced at his hand before she laced her fingers with it. "A commen tell?"

He pulled her to her feet. "Not quite."

Another memory flashed into her mind. Another memory that did not belong to her... She flinched and tensed.

"No. Don't fight it."

She looked up at him, still holding it back. "I never got a chance to tell you..."

He shook his head. "Let's just say I'm very used to learning things people don't let me know about."

Slowly, she relaxed, but she was still afraid... She squeezed his hand tighter for reassurance...

She let it wash through her.

Falling... then a hand coming down to lift her up... recognition...

"Are you hurt, Lucrezia?"

"Leave me alone! How many times do I have to tell you?!"

"Lucrezia... it's not like that. I'm just... worried."

"Why? Why worry about me? Why should you care?"

... "What can I say that I haven't said before?"

"Get out."

"Lucrezia, please, listen to me. They know more about this... this blight than they let on. Your child--"

"My child is a curse!"

"You can't believe that!"

"Get out of here! I'm calling Security. I swear I will!"

"Please... Lucrezia, what do you cherish most? There must be something that can convince you..."

"Get out."

Ami snapped out of it. She stared up at Vincent. "You'll be gone when I come back."

His refusal to speak was more than enough answer.

"Vincent... I don't want you to go away."

His new hand wrapped around hers. "As beautiful as hearing that is... it's not as simple as what we both want."

She glanced down. "So... made up your mind, then?"

He took a deep breath. "Your brothers will take care of you."

She sensed his hesitation. "Is that trust I hear?"

He was silent. But... he smiled at her.

A tear slid down her face as she smiled back.

Shelke knocked on the door. "Cloud asked me to tell you to hurry."

He released her hand. "Go."

She nodded. "I'll find you."

"I know you will."

"Counting on it, right?"

He nodded.

"Is that trust again?"

"I wouldn't know."

With one last grin, she was gone.

****

Cloud idled in the waiting room until Ami appeared. "Finally. The swordsmith's work should be done by now. We'll stop there and at the Inn, which Kidd is about to direct us to," he commanded indirectly.

"And then?"

"And then... we shut that beacon down." His eyes were steely.

"After we get my brothers," Ami quietly reminded.

Cloud's jaw tightened. "Yeah. Your brothers." He got up and made his way briskly for the door.

Ami turned to Shelke. "When I get back... can we talk?"

Shelke tilted her head. "Are you coming back?"

"Of course."

Shelke smiled gently. "First stage-- denial."

Ami smiled and shook her head. "I prefer to call it hope."

She turned and walked out to the truck. With a great deal of difficulty, she managed to ignore Tifa glaring at her from the front seat and climbed into the tailgate.

Cloud was already strapping in. "You sure you're safe back there, kid?"

Ami nodded. "No problem."

Cloud turned over the ignition. "Just tell me where, Kidd."

[Kidd Strife]

Kidd spoke slowly still trying to take all the recent events. "It is... three buildings away from the hospital. You will take your first left, then a right and follow the road." He pointed in the general direction before hding his face.