Chapter 17 Barret and Marlene

I was walking back home after going around for a stroll since morning. Been visiting the stores, apartments, and Hotels to check on them and they've been good especially the Hotels.

As I arrived in front of my Mansion, I see Barret walking around in front of the gate while carrying Marlene.

"Barret, what are you doing here with Marlene? It was hot today, what if she is sick from staying too long under the sun?" I asked as I pat Marlene's head and she giggles.

"Luke! Uh, that is," he said while looking at Marlene in concern.

"Let's go in. Can't stay outside for too long." I said as I open the gate and we walked in.

"Anybody home?" I shouted as I walk into the mansion and was greeted by Aerith.

"Luke, you are back. It's only me and Tifa at home now, as mom goes to Seventh Heaven to help with aunt Claudia and Rena," she said as she comes over.

"I see, can you go prepare for tea and Cookies? Barrett and Marlene visiting." I said then heard someone rushing here, which was Tifa.

"I heard you say Marlene!" shouted Tifa excitedly.

"Yeah, I am going to talk with Barret. Why not the two of you take her to play?" I asked and they nodded while smiling happily. "You don't mind right, Barret?" I asked.

"O-Ohh, she will be happy to play with two beautiful big sisters," he answers while giving her to Tifa who starts to play with her while bringing her to the recreation room.

"Don't forget the tea!" I said and Aerith nodded before she left for the kitchen.

Bringing Barret to the living room and we start to sit.

"So, you must have something you want to ask standing around my gate like that." I asked him.

"Yea, been meaning to asks for a while now. You seem to be good with a mech right? With all the robots been going around the town doing construction for you." he asked.

"Yeah, I am good at it," I said as I look at his hand knowing where this conversation is going.

"You want me to make a prosthetic arm for you?" I asked and he nodded.

"Yea, it's hard to look for a job with one hand after all. Especially it was being my main arm. Though I got no money for it, I will pay for it when I got a job." he said while bowing at me as Aerith comes in bringing the tea.

"I see, you already thought of what job you will take?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Can't have a decent talk when they see that I got only one hand." he answered.

"What job have you been doing before you lose that arm of your?" I asked and he starts to look gloomy after that.

"Sigh, I work with Shinra helping them build their Mako Reactor back at Mt. Corel. The worst decision of my life with how it explodes two years ago. Then to rub salt on injuries, Shinra blame it to the inhabitants of Corel and starts killing us off. This hand becomes like this is because they shoot it as I tried to help Marlene's father, my best friend that falls to the cliff. Should listen to him when he told me not to trust Shinra." he said while looking down.

"Uhh, sorry for asking about it. Let's change the topic about your arm. I can make you a new arm that you will find more superior that your last arm then I can also introduce you to a job after that. You don't mind a monster exterminating or guard job right?" I asked him and looks up at me with hope.

"Yea, I don't mind bout it. I'm sure with my intimidating look I will be quite good at it." he said proudly.

"Hahaha, so you admit that your face is scary." I said with a laugh to lighten the mood and he laughs along with me knowing that I was just joking.

"Anyway, what kind of arm you want to have? I can add a few features to it for you." I asked him.

"I will leave it in your professional hand. It will be good if it can help me in a fight tho."

"Alright, leave it to me! It will only take a few days to finish and I will call you when I am done. Also, when you goes to work. You can leave Marlene with us, it seems the girls took quite a liking to her already." I said as we heard the sound of their laughter from the other room.

"I think it will be tasteless to ruin their fun. So, I will just show you the schematic of your new arm and the ability I will add to it for you!" I said while taking a holographic computer and start to design the prosthetic.

---

Five days later I finished the arm and call Barret.

"Oy Barret, your arm is ready! Come to my mansion and we can try it." I said through the phone.

"Ooh, will be there in a second!" he said and I close the phone.

Not long after, Barret arrived at the mansion as was invited in.

"Leave Marlene with Tifa! We got to test the new arm and it was not good to bring a child while doing it." I said and he nodded before giving Marlene to Tifa.

"Come with me!" I said and bring him to my dummies workshop in the house as my real one was back in Arcadia.

"Go laid there as I installed the prosthetic or your arm." I said and he complied. The installment of the prosthetic is quite easy as it only took five minutes to do it and it can be done alone. This time, I install it while instructing Barret so he can do it himself later.

"Now, that's done! Try moving it for me." I said and he tried to move the new hand.

"How do you feel?" I asked.

"Feel like my own arm before this. There is no uncomfortable feeling, quite strong too!" he said while lifting the metal table easily.

"Haha, good! Let's go and test it in combat then." I said and we left the Mansion to look for monsters to fight.

We left the district and went to the Scrapyard Back Alley to search for a monster. But, as we walk quite far. We were surrounded by a Shinra troop then a lady wearing a red qipao walk in front of us.

"Huh, it seems we will have a live target for you new a to test Barret!" I said with a smirk but not receiving an answer.

"Barret?" I asked and look at him to see him looks furious while looking at the woman.

"You know her?" I asked and he nodded.

"She is the one who makes my hand like this!" he answers angrily.

"Seems you got quite a vendetta with her. So, I will leave her to you." I said and he just nodded at me.

"Surender yourself Luke Valentine, the Shinra has been looking for where you are hiding all these years. If not, we will use force!" said the woman in red and I chuckles at her.

"What so funny?" she asked in anger.

"Its so funny that you come in the conclusion that I've been hiding from you! Why should I hide from someone weaker than me? Also, you thought this little troop is enough to detain me?" I said when suddenly appears behind them. "Know your place, trash!" I said while sheathing Yamato while the Shinra troops start to fall dead, except for the woman.

"I leave her to you, Barret. Make full use of the arm I made for you!" I said to Barret before I jump into a boulder and sit on it.

Barrett grinned at me and his new arm start to change into a Machine gun and start to shoot at her only to be blocked by a barrier she produced from a weapon she holds.

Barrett stop shooting as the machine's gun change form into a Railgun and start to shoot at her again which broke the barrier after just one shot. He then changes mode again as now he was back to his hand which he pulls back his hand in position to punch. Then a jet appeared on his elbow, propelled his hand forward. Hitting Scarlet face. Breaking her skull from the force which ends up killing her.

"Sigh, she was too weak that you didn't manage to use your other modes." I said to Barret who just look at the dead body of Scarlet with tears in his eyes.

"Dyne, I have avenged you. So, you can rest in peace over there," he said while looking up.

"Sigh,Let's go back! You can try your other weapon later." said after seeing his mood and he nodded.

"Hmm, before that. Let me dispose the body first!" I Said as I uses firaga to burn it all.