"What?"
"Get up, there's not much time. Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge are already at the top of the pillar tryna stop da thing, and I think shinra's here!"
Tifa immediately got up. "Alright," she said quickly. Barret left the room while Tifa quickly threw her close on and stretched. Aww man, I'm so tired... She had gone round the whole of the sector, evacuating as many people as possible. She put her shoes on and rushed downstairs where Barret was waiting for her along with the woman they had met yesterday- Mrs Samins.
"Come on, Let's go!" Barret said, and they all ran out into the cold early morning.
It didn't take them long to reach the pillar, which was only a few streets away from Jessie's bar. They immediately began to climb the endless stairs which lead to the top.
---
The red hared woman was sitting on her legs typing at her keys. Almost there... She signed heavily and rubbed her eyes. She had woken up very early in order to try and deactivate the pillar somehow using her technological skills and hadn't gotten much sleep. She yawned softly then continued working.
She didn't notice the tall figure looming up behind her, his black pistol pointing at her back.
"I'm afraid you're too late."
Jessie jumped and turned around in surprise. Terror filled her face when she saw the long black hared man in a dark blue suit pointing a gun at her. Before she could open her mouth to scream, a terrible bang broke out. Precious red flew from her chest, and felt a tremendous pain. Her eyes stung, and she began to breath rapidly. A second bang broke out, and the pain doubled. Blood flew from her mouth. She clutched her chest, trying to stop the blood, but it didn't do much good. Her breathing was coming in rapid gasps now and she tried to cry out but was choking on her own blood. She could feel her strength slowly going, and the world seemed to darken around her. Her feelings became numb and icy. Tears flowed out of her eyes in agony. Her thoughts were like the particles of a gas, and she could not think straight. Sound seemed to go quieter but she did hear a noise, then slipped into the realm of oblivion.
----
Barret Tifa and Jinette all heard a loud bang, and quickened their pace up the endless steps. They were nearly to the top when they heard another bang, then another.
"Jessie!" Barret screamed.
They finally reached the top a few minutes later, and found the red head technician splayed across the hard ground in a pool of blood.
"Jessie!!!" Barret and Tifa screamed and ran up to the limp body. Barret tugged her soldier softly.
"Jessie, Jessie wake up," He said softly. He put his hand against her face.
She wasn't breathing.
Tifa came up and did the same, and Jinette came up and checked the young girl's pulse...
Nothing.
The woman shook her head sadly. "I'm sorry..."
"No!" Tifa screamed, tears in her eyes. "Jessie! Jessie!" Tifa brought Jessie's head up against her shoulder and shook her softly. "Jessie..." She sobbed, holding the limp body tightly. Jessie...
Barret took Jessie's hand and squeezed it tightly. He shook his head and tears filled his eyes. "Jessie... not now... you're too young..." He grieved slowly for his close friend. He had known Jessie for four years. When he had first come to Midgar Jessie was the one who had offered him and Marlene a place to stay. Ever since then, she had become a loyal friend to both of them...Jessie... He shook his head and stood up filled with anger. His eyes were locked on the two men a couple of feet away working the mechanism.
"Damn Bastards!" Barret yelled.
----
GO TO CHAPTER 13