"@#&%! *^&@!! #&*$!!!" Cid exclaimed as he pounded on the Highwind's main camshafts with a wrench. "I wish that #$%* Shera was here. She'd get my baby fixed!!"
       It had been a week since the Meteor was stopped by the Lifestream; the latter summoned by Aeris and her White Materia. During the summoning, the Highwind was swept off course, and eventually came to crash on a small desert island far off the coast. The island was dry, and populated with mischievous Cactuars, who always wanted to poke their needles into the crew's business… literally. Apparently, some of the Cactuars' needles had found their way into the Highwind's engine room.
       The rest of the Highwind's crew was faring a bit better on the island. Over the course of the week, they had gotten used to being stranded, and, thanks to Reeve's mechanical Cait Sith, they were not cut off completely from news of the outside world. Through Cait, Reeve told them that Midgar was almost completely destroyed, and many had died, but still more had been saved by taking refuge in the Slums. Marlene and Elmyra were safe in Kalm, and the Turks had escaped to Fort Condor. Mayor Domino had survived too, and was in the process of starting up a new settlement, called New Midgar, in the mountains near the ruins of the original Midgar.
       Cloud sighed. It was good to have the Planet mostly in one piece, and it was really good to have finally taken his revenge on Sephiroth, but this being stranded business was starting to wear on him. He stood up on the wing he had just finished repairing and climbed down to the deck, where he could hear Cid's curses loud and clear.
       Cloud entered the engine room to see everyone on their hands and knees picking Cactuar needles out of the nooks and crannies of the engine, and Cid in the middle of it all, his face red with frustration. "WHERE THE HELL IS THAT DAMN CAT?!" Cid yelled, taking Cloud by surprise.
       "C-cat? You mean Cait Sith?"
       Cid whirled around. "Oh. Sorry Cloud. And yeah, I mean Cait. He and that help he promised were supposed to be here hours ago!"
       Cloud's face brightened. Tifa, Yuffie, and Barret looked up from their sore hands. "H-help? You mean we're getting rescued?"
       Cid scratched his head. "Rescued? Who said anything about getting rescued? Reeve's arranged for some mechanics to come over from Junon to help me fix my baby, and Cait Sith's supposed to meet 'em!"
       Cloud sighed heavily and started to lean back against a wall, when he felt the pricks of Cactuar needles. "YEEOUCH!" he exclaimed, startling everyone present. Tifa immediately ran up to Cloud to pull whatever needles had stuck in his back. Meanwhile, Cid shook his head and left the engine room, to check on other parts of the Highwind.

       The mechanics arrived on the island later that afternoon; they were dropped off by a Gelnika which was en route to southern Wutai. Cait Sith met the mechanics at the shore, then led them to the Highwind, which was parked on a rocky plateau on the island's southern tip. Waiting for them on the airship's deck was Cid.
       "Hey guys! I'm really glad you could come out all this way. See, even though I know this ship like the back of my hand, a man can only do so much…"
       The head mechanic nodded. "I understand, Captain! Reeve told us of the situation. With our help, the Highwind will be in the air in no time. By the way, Reeve sent along some extra provisions-"
       "Yeah, yeah, very nice," interrupted Cid. "You guys climb on up here and we'll get started."
       Cid lowered the rope ladder, letting the mechanics aboard the Highwind. Down below, Cait chased away a few Cactuars before turning up to look at Cid. "I'm gonna go finish pickin' the needles out of the left wing's turbines. Catch ya' later!"
       "'Later Cait! I owe ya one! Thanks again!"
       Cait replied, "It was nothing", and soon, his Moogle was bouncing off toward the left wing.

       The Highwind took to the skies only three days later, much to the relief of its passengers and crew. After a brief trip to Junon to drop off the mechanics and crewmen, Cid put the airship on autopilot and asked everyone where they wanted to go.
       After a long silence, Nanaki was the first to speak. "I think it's time for me to go home. Our adventure is over and I have much to take care of in Cosmo Canyon. I think… it's what Grandpa would've wanted me to do."
       Barret nodded. "I know what he's sayin'. I'd give anything to see Marlene right about now. Where did you say she was, cat?"
       "Kalm", Cait answered. "She and Elmyra have been staying in the town's watch tower."
       "Well then, guess that's where I'm headin'", Barret continued. "Then it's back to Corel… gonna do the right thing this time and rebuild the town. What about you, Tifa?"
       Tifa looked up to face the group. "Well, Cloud and I were talking… and we really don't have a home anymore. There's always Nibelheim, but… it's not the same." Cloud nodded solemnly and added, "That's why we're settling in Costa Del Sol. We figured that the carefree lifestyle there might lift our spirits, and since I had already bought that villa…"
       Tifa smiled, and turned to Vincent. "Hey Vincent? Where are you going to go?"
       The former Turk turned his dark red eyes to the window, and spoke in a deep, forlorn voice. "I'm going to see Lucrecia… I want to know what happened to her… since Jenova's passing…"
       Yuffie chimed in, "Hey! No one's asked about me yet!" Barret rolled his eyes. "Fine, Yuffie… what are your plans?"
       "I'm going to take the Gold Chocobo we got from the Kalm Traveler and ride it back to Wutai. Then after I'm done with my visit home, I'm going back on the Materia hunt!"
       Cloud held up his hands. "Whoa whoa whoa… hold on a second… who said you could have that Chocobo?"
       "Well, it's rightfully mine, " Yuffie sniffed, crossing her arms. "After all, I was the one who dealt the final blow to Ruby WEAPON!"
       "So because of that, you want to claim that Chocobo as yours alone?!"
       Tifa leaned on Cloud's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Aww, Cloud, let her have the Chocobo… after all, it's not like it's the only Gold Chocobo we have at the ranch…"
       "Heh, yeah… and it's only B-Class too. I suppose we can spare it… Hey Cait, what about you? What are your plans?"
       Cait Sith shrugged. "If you're talking about me as Reeve, then my plans are just what I've been doin' since Midgar was destroyed: get things in order and try to live a normal life again."
       "What about the Cait Sith body?"
       "I don't know… I honestly haven't thought of what I'm going to do with this thing…"
       Cid lit himself a fresh cigarette and walked back over to the Highwind's main controls. "Well, for the most part, everyone's destinations are settled." He flicked off the autopilot. "Time to do some serious flying! Next stop, Cosmo Canyon!"

       The Highwind flew all over the world that day, dropping off the companions at their various locations. There were many goodbyes shared, along with promises to visit each other in the months and years to come. Finally, the airship was empty, save for Cid and Cait Sith. Cid turned to the robotic cat.
       "Well, made up your mind yet?"
       Cait, who had been staring out the window, snapped out of his trance. "Huh? About what?"
       "You know damn well 'what'! Where do you want me to drop you off?"
       "I have an idea", Cait replied. "Why don't you come to New Midgar to visit me? I mean, we haven't really seen each other since that day in Junon five years ago…"
       Junon? Cid was confused. Cait caught the look on the pilot's face and said, "Oh come on. Don't tell me that you forgot! I was passing through Junon on the way to Costa Del Sol and had stopped at the airport to take a glimpse at the Highwind. You offered me a cigarette, we got to talking-"
       "Holy $%*^, that was YOU?! Damn, I'm sorry I forgot… I mean, it was so long ago, and it was only just one day…"
       "Well I remembered. And I must say that it's been a pleasure flying with you, Captain Highwind."
       "What the #%$& are you talking about, Reeve?! It was your damn ROBOT that was flying around in this ship, not you! That's it, I'm taking this thing to New Midgar right now!"
       With that, Cid gripped the wheel and swung it around; the Highwind banked sharply to the east. Cait had to grab on to a nearby railing to keep from sliding all over the deck. "Cid, wha-what's the big rush?!"
       Cid looked at the cat and smirked. "I just remembered something I said to you five years ago, shortly before you left… let's just say I know how to pay you back for getting those mechanics for me…"
       "Wait a minute-what are you talking about?!"
       "Oh, something… special… that I have back home in Rocket Town. But first things first: I'm comin' to pick you up!"
       Cait grinned. If he remembered correctly, then he knew exactly what this "special something" would be. He turned his attention back to the window, and by sundown, New Midgar could be seen on the horizon.

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Completed January 2002 | Copyright 2002, CyReeve Productions.

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