Rebirth

Chapter 9 - Loz's Redemption

Loz cut the engine of his bike as he approached the bar. He didn't feel like announcing
his arrival. He had already fought Tifa once and he knew what she was capable of. He
coasted up to the rear of the bar and stood the bike up on its stand. He cracked his
knuckles and dismounted.

Inside the bar, down in the kitchen, Rude and Reno sat playing cards. They had not heard
much from the room upstairs since Cloud had left. Just some muffled steps and the creak
of a bed. That was some time ago and they assumed she was asleep.

Reno yawned and stretched. He wished he was asleep. He glanced up and the ceiling
where he imagined the sleeping Tifa lay. He wished he was asleep with that! Well . .
maybe not asleep . . .

"Its your turn," said Rude, looking at his friend.

"I'm bored with this game."

"That's just because you're losing. Again," chuckled Rude. He threw the cards down
and pushed away from the table.

He stood to his full 6'6" height and stretched just as Loz burst in through the door. Rude
was down on the floor with what felt like a gaping hole in his side before he knew what
happened. Reno jumped up, grabbed his stick and swung at Loz, but he was no match for
the materia enhanced wild man standing over his partner. Loz swung his arm around and
aimed his punch-weapon at Reno's head. Reno ducked just in time and heard the wall
behind him shatter.

The explosion of the back door woke Tifa from a light sleep. She had lain back down on
the bed fully dressed after Cloud left, not intending to go back to sleep, but the night and
her condition got the better of her. Her heart missed a beat as she realized what was
happening below her.

"They're here. They've come for me," she thought. She was at a loss for a second as to
what she should do until she heard a scream from one of the men downstairs. The sound
propelled her to action. She grabbed her gloves and ran out of the room.

Loz missed Reno with his first punch and paid for it with a kick received to his knee. He
swatted away Reno's foot and rounded on him before Reno had a chance to regain his
balance. Loz grabbed the slighter man by the throat and lifted him off his feet. Reno felt
his airway constrict and his field of vision narrowed to a small black hole. The last thing
he saw before he blacked out was a streak of dark brown hair.

Tifa ran into the room and took in the scene in a split second. Rude was on the floor
moaning and holding his side. Reno was squirming under the clutch of a man who's
back was towards her, his feet flailing off the ground. She launched herself at the man
throttling Reno and planted a flurry of well placed punches in the small of his back.

Loz dropped Reno and spun around to face Tifa.

"You!" Tifa screamed.

Tifa's surprise at seeing her attacker from the church stopped her dead in her tracks long
enough for Loz to bring his arm up and aim at her.

"This time don't fuck it up. We need her alive and unharmed. She carries precious
cargo."

Kadj's words flashed across his mind and Loz lowered his weapon. As he did, he saw
the faint red glow peeking above the waist band of Tifa's skirt. She saw where his gaze
rested and covered her stomach with her hand.

Loz stood up from his defensive stance and chuckled softly.

"So, its true then. Well at least we know he can get it up," he snarled at her.

His words caught her off guard and left her flat footed. That was the opening Loz
needed. He flicked his thumb over a switch on his weapon and fired it at Tifa's legs,
knocking her to the ground.

Tifa screamed and crumpled to the floor, the pain in her legs unbearable. Loz walked
slowly to her and bent over to grab the front of her shirt. He was about to hoist the girl
onto his shoulder when he felt a blinding pain on the back of his legs. He fell on his back
as his legs were swept out from under him.

Rude had recovered his wind enough to stand and sweep Loz with his nightstick.
Physically, he was a match for Loz, but he recognized the crazed glow in the other man's
eyes that meant he had enhanced himself with materia. This gave him a dangerous
advantage over them all.

"Go!," Rude screamed at Tifa.

Tifa was pinned beneath Loz. She tried to kick her way free but the damage done to her
legs made her attempts feeble and ineffective. She turned on all fours and crawled out
from under him. She tried to stand but her legs just would not hold her and she slumped
back down to the floor.

Behind her, Rude aimed a kick at Loz's head but it was caught just before it engaged its
target and Rude flew through the air as Loz twisted his foot from under him. He crashed
down onto the table, shattering it into tiny pieces.

Loz sprang back to his feet and with two quick strides reached Tifa again. She screamed
a name just before he brought his unarmed hand down on the side of her head in a
backhanded slap.

"Cloud!"

The slap knocked her senseless and she screamed no more.