Hidden Identity (Book Two)-Complete

Year Five, Day Twenty-Three

Cress POV

To my great delight, we were able to stay at the inn in the outskirts of Junon. Junon is a large city built into a seaside cliff with multiple levels and a gigantic cannon at the very top. There's a harbor and a airship dock. It's the only city besides Midgar on the planet. The rest are either towns or small villages.

We heard rumors last night that there will be a parade for the new president of ShinRa, Rufus, all the way down to the docks where he'd board a boat for the smaller continent west of us. Our plan is to steal uniforms and sneak onto said boat, so we can get to the other side as well. Hopefully, we'll catch up to Sephiroth before ShinRa does.

"These uniforms are so uncomfortable," Yuffie complains, tugging at the collar of a uniform much too big on her. "How can ShinRa dogs stand these?"

"I hate these uniforms," Cloud mutters, adjusting the belt again. The shirt and trousers are much too tight on his muscled body because we couldn't find a bigger one. I wonder how Barret is fairing. And Red...I'm not sure how that'll work out. Maybe we can hide him amongst the cargo.

Mine is pretty big as well. Luckily, I was able to stuff the extra length of pant legs into my boots. The sleeves are a whole other matter. Cloud said it would look suspicious if I rolled them up since it's against protocol.

Barret, Aerith, Red, and Tifa took a different route than we did. I hope they were able to get on board. And I hope Red was able to find a way to stay with us. His home is on the next continent.

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I make my way up to the top deck of the ship once we sneak aboard. The large ship pulls away from the docks with ease. The blue-green water expands as far as I can see before us. I am not sure if this is the first time I've ever been on a boat of any kind, but it sure feels like it.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Startled, I whirl around. It's Rufus! Crap, has he figured out I'm an impostor? Hurriedly, I salute just how I was taught. "Mr. President, sir!"

"There's no need, I know you're not a member of my Army," he says with a smile.

Uh-oh, not good! What if he knows about the others as well!? Was this a trap!? No, calm down. Pretend you're the only impostor. This guy doesn't know who he's dealing with. I could take him out in a heartbeat with my eyes closed.

"Don't worry, I won't turn you in."

He won't turn me in? What is he playing at? Does he not know who I am? Does that mean he doesn't know about the others?

"The ocean is very lovely, don't you think?"

I nod, sweating in this hot uniform. Keep calm. Play it cool. He'll leave eventually.

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Cloud POV

"Yuffie, where did Cress go?"

She clutches her stomach and points to the stairs. "Top...deck...urgh..."

Leaving the seasick Yuffie alone, I climb up the stairs in search of Cress. She disappeared as soon as we got on board. I found the others already. Tifa and Aerith are keeping Red company in the cargo hold. I must've missed Cress when I found Barret trying to spy on General Heidegger and Rufus up top. 

Looking around the top deck, I finally spot her with her overlarge uniform...talking to Rufus? What is she doing with him? Has she been caught?

Quietly, I sneak around until I am close enough to hear what they are saying:

"Yes, the ocean is very lovely, sir," Cress says stiffly.

"Why are you pretending to be one of my men?" Rufus asks, leaning on the railing.

He knows! Cress is in danger! I have to do something!

"I wanted to get to the other continent, sir. I didn't have any other options."

"I see. Why do want to get to the other continent so badly?"

"My brother, sir, he needs my help."

"Ah, yes, family bonds. How I wish I knew what those were like."

Cress is actually handling this pretty well. If I didn't know better, I would've believed her story about her needy brother, too. She's a good liar. That's both a comfort and a discomfort.

"Ah, well, I'll be going. Pleasure talking to you, miss. I hope you can help your brother," Rufus says before walking off.

As soon as he's completely gone, I step out of my hiding place. "Cress? Are you okay?"

She shakes her head. "No. I'm not. That was scary. I feared that he'd find out about all of you, too. It's no surprise he realized I was a fake. I probably look the least like a ShinRa infantryman out of all of you."

"I don't know. Barret wasn't even able to pull off the infantryman guise at all. He had to dress up as one of the sailors instead. And Red is stuck hiding amongst the cargo. Aerith and Tifa are keeping him company. And Yuffie isn't that much different than you, and her seasickness isn't a common thing amongst the Army."

She gives me a small smile. "Thanks, Cloud. You're sweet."

I frown and look away, feeling my cheeks get hot. "Whatever."

"I'm going to go join Red so Aerith and Tifa can have a chance to enjoy this view before nightfall. Doesn't the sunset look pretty reflected on the waves like that?"

I look out across the water, now orange and yellow from the fading sunlight. "It's just another reminder of what'll be lost if we don't succeed."

Cress places a hand on my shoulder, looking serious and determined like I've never seen her look before. "Then we can't fail. We can't even think about failing. If we do, then we'll lose sight of the finish line."

With that, she turns and heads back into the cargo bay. I watch her go with a sense of amazement. Will she ever stop surprising me? How can she feel such conviction without any doubts?

Cress...all you've been through has made you strong, both physically and mentally. There's a part of me who wishes you could've become the person you are now without all that pain. I wish no one would have to suffer at all ever...