With a grunt and a heave, Cloud Strife rolled onto the scarred surface of what was left of the final battle ground with Sephiroth as well as where Yazoo and Loz ambushed him. Looking around, he smiled slightly at the sight of four familiar blades still stuck in the stone, and walked over to effortlessly pull out one of the swords, sliding it into the sheath on his back. Soon the other three swords were in the remaining three sheaths on his lower back, and he stopped at the edge of the structure, looking around at the ruins that surrounded him.

The sun shone in the crystal blue sky, illuminating the twisted wreckage that was covered in dust, dirt, and more than a few still bearing scorch marks from the desperate battle against the Nightmare for the fate of the planet. But here and there, tiny green shoots were poking through the ground, the planet healing this wound, and a small smile touched Cloud’s face. Not only was the planet slowly healing, but Her people were as well. The number of new Geostigma outbreaks was decreasing rapidly, and those that were infected were recovering, some more slowly than others. The pool of water in Aeris’s church was still healing victims of Geostigma, and someone from the water plant had stopped by to pick up a few gallons to place in the water system to help those that didn’t know about the church or couldn’t get out. Yet no matter how much water was removed from the church, the water level never dropped, and Cloud knew that Aeris and Zack both were working to help everyone still.

Shaking his head, Cloud shoved his thoughts aside for now. It wouldn’t do to be daydreaming on the clock, not when President Rufus Shinra was paying him by the hour to find out if there had been any other surprises left by Yazoo and Loz or even Kadaj. It also gave the blond man an excuse to collect his swords since he hadn’t had a chance since he woke up after the explosion to find himself back in Aeris’s church.

There was a glimmer of silver at his foot and Cloud reached down to pull out the Souba that Kadaj had been doing his damndest to kill him with. The Sephiroth clone had dropped it when he had collapsed into Cloud’s arms, and here it was again, turning up like a bad penny. Surprisingly, the double bladed katana wasn’t damaged by the blast from the materia explosion, and he decided to turn it in to Rufus to get the man off his back.

“My two are still missing,” he muttered, keen mako enhanced eyes peering down the twenty stories that separated him from the ground and picking out a flash of red spiky hair pulled back into a long tail. Reaching into his pocket, Cloud pulled out his new PHS and hit a couple of buttons.

Deep beneath the ruins of what had once been Shinra Headquarters, two artifacts stood facing each other. One was a large ring with what looked like steps up to the open center with what could only be a control platform nearby ringing a red sphere in the center of the surface. The other had once been a large t-shaped object but the top part of it had been sheered off and crushed when part of the ceiling had fallen on it.

It would never work again.

The ring suddenly started humming and the outer half started spinning, stopping every once in a while as various symbols were selected. After seven symbols were selected, there was a ripple in the middle of the circle before water and light burst out of the center in a frothy trail, looking like the underside of a pond after a large rock was dropped into it. Then the water pulled back to shimmer on the surface of the ring before a small box-like robot emerged. After a few minutes, four people emerged, weapons held at the ready, and looked around the room.

“Wonder what hit this place,” remarked the leading man, his salt and pepper hair cut short in a military buzz cut as he handled his assault rifle with a casual ease.

“I am not sure if it was an explosion or the ground moved, O’Neil,” rumbled the black man holding a golden staff as his dark eyes flickered around the room. He walked over and picked up a chunk of rubble before nodding. “It was an explosion of some kind.” He held out the baseball-sized chunk of rubble that had carbon scoring along one side while the bit of metal trapped in the concrete had been warped by an intense heat.

“So, what happened to the people?” asked the brunet as he pushed his glasses up farther on his nose before stopping as something caught his eye. “And when was the last time the Asgard were here?”

“What do you mean, Daniel?” asked Colonel Jack O’Neil of the United States Air Force StarGate Command as he turned to look at the twisted structure that Dr. Daniel Jackson was pointing at before whistling. “How’d we miss that on the scan?”

The blond woman carefully picked her way across the rubble strewn floor to stare at the other artifact in the room. “It looks like part of the ceiling came down on it,” remarked Major Samantha Carter as she stood up, shaking her head slightly. “Unless Thor or one of the other Asgards fix it, I don’t think this Hammer will work again.”

“A very advantageous incident for us,” remarked Teal’c, shifting his staff weapon in his hands, and Daniel couldn’t help but shudder slightly at the reminder of the last time SG1 ran into one of Thor’s Hammers. At least this time, they wouldn’t have to blast a maze down to get Teal’c out safely.

Moving over to the only visible door, Daniel grasped the knob and opened it inward only to be met by a wall of concrete where another section of what looked like ceiling had collapsed, effectively trapping them in the room. “We’re not getting out this way,” he reported, closing the useless door and starting to slowly pace around the room.

It wasn’t very big, just large enough for the Stargate and the Hammer to be there without them crowding each other, but the only door out of the room was the one Daniel had just checked. Frowning, the archaeologist stood off to one side and allowed his eyes to randomly travel around the room before they fell on the slab of concrete that had partially crushed the Hammer. It was still connected to the ceiling by rebar but enough of it had collapsed into this room to form a steep ramp to the floor above.

“If we’re careful, we might be able to get out this way,” Daniel remarked, pointing to the hole in the ceiling and the steep slope up to it. Reaching out, he grasped part of the uneven concrete and slowly made his way up to the floor above them as Jack swore in all the languages he knew. After a few minutes, Daniel heaved himself up onto the floor and looked around to find himself in a hallway that only had some rubble and dead wires hanging from the ceiling to obstruct the way. “It’s all clear up here.”

He stepped away from the hole to allow the others room to scramble up when the glaring red of a sign caught his attention. Moving over to the one wall, Daniel carefully wiped off soot and dust to reveal a familiar red sign with the words ‘AUTHORISED PERSONNEL ONLY BEYOND THIS POINT!’ in big bold letters. Underneath that was a smaller sign with a red arrow on it announcing that the emergency exit route was to Daniel’s left.

“Looks like the way out is this way,” he stated, glancing back to find Jack, Sam and Teal’c standing next to the hole, and he turned to follow the signs out.

“Finally, a place that speaks our language,” remarked Jack with a smirk. “Be kinda nice to carry on with the locals without a translator. Especially if we get invited out for drinks.”

Daniel rolled his eyes as they continued picking their way through the debris laden hallway. Trust Jack to want to do the local equivalent of a bar crawl while on another planet, but he supposed he couldn’t blame the colonel too much since it had been a while that they found another planet that spoke English. Plus it had been a rough week for the SG1 when they had been ambushed on another planet and had barely made it back through the Gate before the locals managed to add the heads of the SG1 to their collection followed by emerging from the Gate just as a battle broke our around them.

Both planets had been tagged as ‘dangerous’ in the system, but it seemed like SG1 had only gotten maybe a day of downtime before they were being shoved through the Gate to go to a new planet once more.

‘Like you would spend your time with anyone now that Shau’ri is gone,’ taunted a small voice in the back of his mind, and Daniel shook his head, not wanting to listen to the cruel words that reminded him once again that his wife was dead and gone, victim of a staff blast while under the control of a Gou’ald queen.

As he stepped over another chunk of concrete, Daniel froze at the sight of a green globe nestled next to his foot. There was something about the glowing ball that had Daniel scooping it up in gentle fingers before he even realized he was moving. It was smooth and surprisingly warm in his fingers as the green light swirled inside the golf ball sized globe, and Daniel was startled to realize that it weighed next to nothing despite looking very solid, almost crystalline.

“Whatcha got there, Daniel?” asked Jack, stopping next to him and glancing at the ball in Daniel’s hand with a sigh. “What have I told you about picking up strange objects on an unfamiliar world?”

“It’s not dangerous, Jack,” retorted Daniel, his fingers closing around the ball in a protective gesture. He was reluctant to part with the globe or even think of it as dangerous. It was funny but Daniel thought it felt like it wanted to help him somehow. “If it was, I think I would have found out when I picked it up.”

“Let’s just hope it won’t result in another wife,” Jack sighed, shaking his head as he continued down the hall.

Sam smirked, her blue eyes flashing playfully. “Interested in another wife, Colonel?” she asked, sweetly, and Daniel snickered, grateful of the reminder that he wasn’t the only one who had ended up with an accidental wife. Only, unlike Jack, he had decided to keep his.

After several minutes of stumbling through hallways past what looked like labs and barracks as well as the occasional office and up some steps, they emerged in what looked like it had once been a front lobby, and Sam shook her head. “Was this a military organization or a corporate one?” she asked, looking around for some answer.

Daniel shook his head. “I honestly couldn’t say,” he stated, moving over to where a large, diamond-shape logo was, inscribed in runes that almost looked like kanji for a moment. Wiping off some of the dirt and soot, he was able to reveal some yellow letters that was apparently the name of this place. “The Shinra Electric Company.”

Jack shouldered his gun with a snort. “Since when does an *electric company* have labs and enough bunks to outfit the SGC?” he demanded with a suspicious glare around the destroyed lobby as if it held the answers.

Taking off his glasses, Daniel wiped some of the dust off the lenses before sliding them back on. “We have no idea what their society is like, Jack,” he reminded the older man. “For all we know, it’s a militaristic society where small things like electric companies *need* armies to keep in business as well as protect the supply lines.”

“Perhaps they could tell us more about what happened here, O’Neil,” remarked Teal’c, speaking for the first time since they emerged from the Gate room, and Daniel turned to see two people standing outside watching them. One had flame-red hair and was wearing a pair of black pants, rumpled white shirt, and an open black jacket as he leaned against something while his partner was dressed in a neat black suit and white shirt while the sun gleamed off of his bald head, looking every inch the corporate thug while the redhead appeared to be a random punk from off the street.

The rubble that the suited man was standing on caught Daniel’s attention, the unnaturally straight edge of the concrete and metal drawing his eyes as the sun shined off the smooth metal. Something had sliced that five foot section of metal and stone with ease, and Daniel reached over blindly to tug on Jack’s sleeve. “Um, Jack, you might want to take a look at the rubble that man’s standing on.”

“It appears to have been cut, either with a blade or some kind of energy weapon,” remarked Teal’c, his voice calm and Daniel glanced over to find a flicker of surprise in those kohl-ringed eyes.

“But what could possibly cut through five feet of steel and concrete?” asked Sam, shaking her head in disbelief.

Jack grinned as he started for the broken glass doors. “Let’s find out, shall we?”

Clutching the globe tighter in his hand, Daniel followed Jack outside and realized that what the redhead was leaning against was a sword hilt. The hilt was wrapped in something red and large enough for two hands to hold it while the blade was one foot wide and had two feet of it sticking out of the concrete.

“You do realize you’re trespassing on private property,” greeted the redhead, flipping a long red tail of hair over his shoulder as he tapped his metal baton on his shoulder in an absent gesture. “So why don’t you tell us what you’re doing here and why, especially with those fancy guns of yours, and if we like your answer, we’ll let you leave.”

Nervously clearing his throat and feeling his three companions turn to look at him, Daniel started talking about how they were scouts and explorers, unsure if they had emerged into a gang war of some kind but willing to bet if it was a gang dispute, then if the military aspect was downplayed, they might get out with all their gear, and themselves, intact.

After a few minutes, a trilling music interrupted Daniel, and he stopped talking as the redhead rolled his eyes while digging into a pocket. Pulling out a cell phone, the redhead flipped it open with a practiced flick of his wrist and placed it at his ear, stunning Daniel at the level of technology before him. None of the other planets came close to having phones, let alone cell phones, at least those not directly influenced by the Asgards or the Replicators.

“Yeah?” greeted the redhead before rolling his eyes and looking up at the building behind Daniel, causing the archaeologist to turn and follow the redhead’s gaze up to a figure standing on what looked like the thirtieth floor. “Yeah, I found it.” He sighed and seemed to glare at the figure. “Look, if you want it, come get it ‘cause there’s no way I can pull the sucker out, yo.” With that, he closed the phone with a snap, and turned his full attention to the figure on the building.

As Daniel watched, the person on the building jumped and started falling towards the ground, arms outstretched causing them to flip backwards as they fell.

“They’ll be killed!” gasped Sam, her words muffled by her hand. “No one can fall from that height and survive!” There were twin chuckles of amusement from behind them, but Daniel’s eyes were focused entirely on the figure as it slowly flipped through the air, gaining some distance from the building and the people gathered at the bottom.

With one last flip, the man landed in a crouch, apparently unaffected by the long drop, and straightened, giving the SG1 a chance to examine this strange arrival, or at least his back. Black pants that were loose enough to move and fight in but not so loose as to get tangled and cause serious problems were topped by a black ribbed sweater with a turtle neck and no sleeves. A leather shoulder pad was strapped over his left shoulder, the scrapes and dings showing that it was not for decoration, and a long black panel of fabric fell over his left leg, brushing the top of the black combat boots. Black gloves encased his hands while a leather bracer, also black, encircled his right forearm, and a dark pink ribbon was tied around his left bicep. Short blond hair seemed to defy gravity in swept back spikes at the back of his head, as if he used a strong wind to style his hair, and longer spikes of blond framed his face.

But what caught Daniel’s attention more than anything was the harness on the man’s lower back with four gleaming swords placed in the sheaths. The silver buttons that held the swords in place were stamped with the visage of a snarling wolf while the swords gleamed with a lethal beauty, and a fifth sword gleamed in his right hand. The hilt was wrapped in dark blue leather while the blade was actually two blades shaped like a traditional Japanese katana, a strange design for a Norse culture. That thought brought Daniel’s eyes back to the red head, and for the first time, he noticed the almost Asian slant to the red head’s eyes, indicating an ancestor from the Oriental Region of Earth.

The blond walked over to the redhead who obediently moved away from the sword he was leaning against, and Daniel watched as the blond casually pulled the sword out of the concrete with the ease of Arthur removing Excalibur from the stone, revealing another two feet of blade that was only a half a foot wide.

“Ya find anything, Cloud?” greeted the redhead as the blond continued over to a sleek black motorcycle that looked powerful and fast while the gold trim gave it a touch of class. Even to Daniel’s untrained eye, he could tell that it was a well loved machine and definitely a custom job.

Cloud held up the twin bladed sword. “Only this,” he replied, his voice soft as if he didn’t talk very much. He straddled the motorcycle as if he was getting ready to drive off only instead, he pressed something and there was a hiss and a ka-chunk as a panel on each side of the bike opened. With a casual ease, Cloud removed the swords from the holster and started putting them away in the side compartments while the double bladed sword rested across his lap. “I haven’t found any leftover presents, but I’ll keep looking since your boss is paying me until dinner.” Softly, Jack started humming the theme to the ‘Twilight Zone’ only to grunt when Daniel rammed a not so gentle elbow into his side.

There was a scraping of metal on stone, and Daniel turned to find Teal’c holding a sword that was one foot wide and two feet long with what looked like six bolts in the blade and a quarter of a spoked wheel design at the hilt. “A very interesting design and light weight for easier handling,” mused the ex-Jaffa as he turned the sword over in his hands, examining it with a professional eye.

“May I have my sword back?” asked Cloud, catching Daniel’s attention as he turned again to watch the blond approach them. The black sweater zipped up the front but only to the top of his chest, and a silver wolf’s head with a ring in its mouth was on the shoulder pad with a miniature version of it in his ear. The longer blond spikes did frame his face in a haphazard way, reminding Daniel of a bird’s crest that refused to lay flat, but it was the eyes that caught Daniel’s attention. Like the redhead’s, there was a bit of the Oriental slant to them, but they were an electric blue color that seemed to glow with their own light even though they looked as if they had seen everything and still carried that weight despite the youthful looks.

For a second, it looked like Teal’c was going to keep the sword, but he handed it over hilt first, and Cloud nodded his thanks as he grasped the hilt before offering the double bladed sword. “If you want something to use, Souba needs a descent owner now.”

“I thank you, Cloud,” replied Teal’c, his dark eyes lighting up as he grasped the leather wrapped hilt.

Cloud only nodded once before glancing at the rest of SG1 and turning his full attention back to the redhead. “I doubt we’re going to find any surprises from Yazoo and Loz, unless you count the twisted remains of Yazoo’s gunblade, but I don’t think they had a chance to set anything up other than their kamikaze attempt, Reno.”

“So you’re just gonna bail on us?” asked Reno, running an idle hand through his red hair that spiked up in every direction, barely held out of his face by a pair of goggles.

“I do have a business to run,” drawled Cloud, sliding the final sword in what appeared to be an empty slot in the motorcycle’s compartments. “Shinra gets this day from me, but tomorrow, I’m back doing deliveries.” Whatever had happened between Shinra and Cloud had obviously left some bitterness on the blond’s part, and part of Daniel wondered if it had anything to do with the lingering pain locked behind electric blue eyes.

There was a soft pulse of warmth in Daniel’s hand, reminding the archaeologist of the glowing globe he held, and he took a few steps forward, clearing his throat, nervously. “Excuse me, but what is this?” he asked, holding out the glowing globe.

“You don’t know what materia is?” Cloud’s voice was laced with surprise and a touch of suspicion as his blue eyes searched Daniel’s face.

Daniel shrugged one shoulder. “We’re not from around here,” he explained, the words sounding weak in his ears.

Electric blue eyes flickered over SG1, lingering on Teal’c before glancing at Sam and causing her blush to darken a shade and then returning to Daniel. “Obviously,” remarked the blond as he approached Daniel. Leather encased fingers gently plucked the globe from Daniel’s hand as intense blue eyes studied it for a few seconds. “This is materia, a crystalized part of the Lifestream that lets people do various things. This one feels like a Restore.” He casually tossed it back to Daniel who managed to catch it without any fumblings. “I’d keep that out of sight because there’s some people who would do almost anything for that.”

Daniel blinked down at the small globe in his hands, the sudden understanding that he had something that could heal his friends sending a warmth through him, igniting his curiosity and flaming it to an even higher level. “So how do I use it? And what’s the Lifestream?”

“The Lifestream is a river of energy that encircles the planet as well as runs through it,” explained Cloud, reaching into a pocket and pulling out a leather cuff that was only a couple of inches long. Scooping up Daniel’s right arm, he casually wrapped the cuff around the archaeologist’s wrist and started tightening the leather thongs as he talked. “It’s the spirit of the planet and is made up of the souls and energy of those that have died. Materia is formed when mako, or liquid parts of the Lifestream, crystalize, and can be used for different things when equipped in weapons, jewelry, or other items.”

Plucking the globe from Daniel’s left hand, Cloud placed it in a round, metal socket that was somehow inlaid in the black leather and the materia settled with a soft click. “To use it, place your hands on the person you want to heal and concentrate on healing them. If they’re too far away for you to touch, just concentrate on them and the materia will do the rest.”

Daniel nodded, feeling the warmth the materia gave off spreading through his body. “Thank you,” he replied, tugging his jacket sleeve down over the cuff and effectively concealing the materia’s glow from view. “So who would we talk to about a peaceful exchange of information?”

“What kind of information?” Cloud asked, a faint frown appearing on his face, and Daniel explained about the Stargate before the blond shook his head. “The closest you’re going to come to the head of a government around here is their boss.” He jerked his head at the silent suit and Reno who was talking on his phone to someone in a low voice.

Turning, Cloud started back for his motorcycle and tossed a wave over his shoulder. “Nice meeting you.” Throwing a leg over the bike, Cloud nodded at the silent man who had turned to glance at the blond with a surprised expression on his face. “This is your kind of stuff, Rude. I’m just a delivery boy.” The engine roared to life and in a squeal of tires, took off through a path in the rubble, leaving only some dust thrown into the air to mark his passing.

Jack snorted. “He’s no more a delivery boy than I am,” he muttered, shifting his rifle in his arms as he stared after the vanished motorcycle and its blond rider.

“He’s a delivery boy now,” Reno remarked, closing his phone and shoving it in his pocket as he strolled over to them with his partner, Rude, at his side. “And that’s all he wants to be which is a shame really. Especially for someone with his training.” He shrugged a shoulder and collapsed his baton. “The boss wants to talk to you.”

He gestured for them to follow him, and Daniel fell into step beside the redhead, noticing for the first time, the curved slash that went from the corner of his eye to follow his cheekbone. It had to be a tattoo of some kind because it was too smooth to be a scar and it was the same shade as his hair, causing the mark to blend in. Rounding a corner, Daniel froze at the sight of what looked like an obviously military helicopter with the Shinra logo on the side and shook his head.
It was times like this that he wished he had a pad of paper to write all his questions down on. Just so he wouldn’t forget later.

With a skillful ease, the sleek black bike maneuvered its way through the slowly emptying streets of Edge as people hurried home for dinner or finished their business for the day, but many waved when they saw Cloud drive by. Either they remembered him from the battle against Bahamut the Dragon a week earlier, or they had heard about the pool in Aeris’s church and had seen him there.

Turning a corner, Cloud pressed a new button on Fenrir’s dash, and the loading dock for the building next to the Seventh Heaven Bar opened, allowing Cloud to steer the sleek bike into the dock. A few days after he had woken up in the church, Tifa had presented him with the deed to the building attached to her bar with a small smile.

“Now you can have your peace and privacy without going too far if you don’t want,” she explained with her eyes dancing. “Plus this way, you can have a store front for your delivery service and a garage to work on your bike.”

Chuckling softly at the memory, Cloud closed the loading dock door as he turned off Fenrir, leaving the bike sitting in the dimness of the garage as the engine quietly ticked while it cooled, and the blond removed the swords from the bike before carefully carrying them into the main part of the building. On the second floor, he paused by the doorway that lead directly into the Seventh Heaven and flipped a switch next to it. He wasn’t quite sure when or how Tifa had done it, but she had the door installed and two light switches. If the green light was on, he was next door and wouldn’t mind company while the other was red indicating he didn’t feel like socializing right then. The blond was still a bit unsure how she managed to talk him into accepting everything, but here he was with his own place and the green light lit next door.

Placing the swords neatly out on a scarred table, he peeled off his gloves and methodically went over each sword, placing them to one side to be sharpened and worked on or to the other if they managed to survive unscathed.

There was a polite knock at the door before it opened and small feet pounded on the wooden floor, causing Cloud to look up as Denzel slid to a stop just inside the doorway. The young boy smiled at Cloud, his blue eyes dancing with laughter as he approached the table, mindful of the swords laid out like a surgeon’s tools. “Hi Cloud. Tifa says dinner’s in thirty minutes which will give you enough time to get cleaned up,” he announced, brushing his reddish brown bangs out of his face, and Cloud reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair, knowing that the message was probably a direct quote.

“Thanks. I’m going to work on these before heading over,” replied Cloud, waving a hand to the four swords that needed the most work before picking up the largest of his swords. There looked like a rock stuck in the hilt where the other swords fit into it, and he pulled out a small box of tools before carefully working the rock out.

He worked in silence for several minutes, sharpening a nick out here, fixing something there before nodding, satisfied that the swords were once more in working order as he replaced the tools in the small box. He exchanged the box with a bottle of oil and two rags, holding one rag out to Denzel as the boy’s face lit up with delight. This was something that they had done before Cloud contracted Geostigma and whenever Denzel was well enough to help. Cloud poured a bit of oil into a shallow bowl before dipping a rag into it and wiping the blade down, getting the dust and dirt off of it until it gleamed.

“Hey Cloud?” Denzel’s voice was hesitant as if unsure how his question would be received, and the blond man stopped working on the sword in his hand to regard the young boy with serious glowing blue eyes. “Do you think you could teach me to fight like you do?”

“Would this have anything with you charging Bahamut with no regards to your own safety?” inquired Cloud, and blue eyes lowered as an embarrassed flush stole across healthy tan cheeks. “I’ll take that as a yes.” Reaching out, Cloud hooked his finger under Denzel’s chin, raising the boy’s head to meet his eyes. “I’ll teach you on the term that you will *only* use what I teach you in your defense or in the defense of others. The second I hear that you’re picking fights, you’ll find yourself up against me and your lessons will stop right then and there. Got me?”

“Yes Cloud,” agreed the boy, his bright blue eyes dancing with excitement before he placed his current sword aside and moved to the next one on the table.

“Cloud! Denzel! Dinner’s ready!” Tifa’s voice floated through the air, and Denzel carefully placed the sword he had been wiping down on the table with the rag next to it, near Cloud’s own sword and rag. The blond escorted the young boy back through the door to the bar and into the small washroom to wash up when Tifa raised an eyebrow at them.

A few minutes later and the three of them were sitting around a small table enjoying dinner and generally chatting about their day. At least, Tifa and Denzel were chatting, filling him in. Cloud was silently eating as he mused over his day, his thoughts coming back to the strange group that claimed to be explorers from another planet. In all his travels, he could honestly state that he had never seen any outfit like theirs nor that golden staff the black guy with the gold tattoo on his forehead had been holding.

And then, the slender one with glasses had asked, with all seriousness, what the globe in his hands was. So Cloud had humored him, informed him what materia was and what he held in his hands and then, the look of surprise and delight in blue eyes partially hidden behind glasses had him digging out a leather cuff that he had absently stuffed in his pocket a couple of days ago, almost forgetting about it until that time. A few quick movements, and the blue-eyes man was in possession of a leather cuff with a Restore equipped in its slot.

“Cloud!” Tifa’s voice cut through his thoughts, and he blinked, looking up at her slightly concerned expression as she regarded him with serious brown eyes. “Are you listening?”

“Sorry,” he apologized, his glowing blue eyes shifting to stare at his plate like a kid being scolded by their parents. “I was just thinking about something.”

“Did anything happen today while you were helping Reno and Rude?” asked Tifa, her expression softening as took another bite of her food, waiting for his answer.

Cloud shook his head, blond bangs drifting across his vision with the movement. “Not really,” he admitted, hedging the truth a bit. “Just a group of people who got curious and wandered in. Reno was going to take them to talk to Shinra when I left.”

“About what?” Her eyes were full of curiosity now with a touch of chill at the thought of the President of Shinra, the company that had taken so much from everyone.

He shrugged a shoulder. “Something about an exchange of information. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.” He tucked into his dinner, hoping that by filling his mouth with food, he could discourage her from asking too many questions about the strangers. There was a slight narrowing of her eyes that stated she wasn’t going to be put off by Cloud’s actions, but she shrugged her shoulder and inquired into plans for the next day.

“I have a quick delivery to run out to Kalm and then I’m going to work on the church, see if I can’t clean it up,” explained the blond with a quick glance at Denzel. “I need some place to teach Denzel how to fight.”

“Do you know where you’re going to get practice weapons?” Tifa inquired, standing up to gather up the dirty plates.

Cloud tossed Denzel a small smile, nothing more than a twitch of his lips, but the young boy caught it and beamed at Cloud. “There’s a weapon’s shop about two streets over,” Denzel volunteered, draining the last of his water. “Mr. Walter is always looking for help since he’s older now. I was thinking about applying for a job there, and maybe you could talk to him about some practice weapons. He’s also open later because he doesn’t have a family, and he told me that he doesn’t mind long hours ‘cause someone usually wanders in when his lights are on just to chat with him.”

“Finish dinner and we’ll go visit him,” agreed Cloud, standing up and taking his own dishes into the kitchen. Denzel whooped with excitement before digging into what was left of his dinner with the enthusiasm of a starving man.

After dropping his dishes in the sink, Cloud slipped next door and easily finished cleaning his swords with a practiced ease, sliding each sword into place around the largest sword to make the First Ken. The large sword was the same size and shape as the Buster Sword he had used what seemed like ages ago after Zack’s death, but it was heavier due to fact it was six swords made into one. Like the Buster Sword, the First Ken was now a comfortable weight to Cloud, either in the harness on his back in its six pieces or assembled into one sword in his hand.

“Cloud! I’m ready!” Denzel’s voice herald his arrival, and Cloud stood up, going to meet the young boy in the garage with the First Ken in his hand. Denzel’s blue eyes widened at the sight of the huge sword before he grinned. They never really needed words to talk before, a casual understanding of the other’s actions speaking louder than their voices, and for that, Cloud was grateful. Even after getting his head mostly straightened out and his memories separated from those that weren’t his, Cloud still wasn’t the most comfortable around large crowds of people.

Denzel scrambled up behind Cloud as the blond opened the docking bay door, and they roared out into the growing darkness, Denzel’s excited shouts and laughter trailing behind them. Small hands fisted into Cloud’s sweater as the bike turned a corner at a higher than safe speed, but there was no trembling from the small form pressed against his back, the innocent and unwavering trust that Denzel had for the older man warming Cloud.

Finally, Cloud pulled Fenrir to a stop before a shop, warm yellow light spilling out of the large windows, and Denzel was through the door before Cloud slipped off the powerful motorcycle. The blond shook his head at Denzel’s enthusiasm before following the boy into the shop.

The bell merrily rang at his entrance, and Cloud glanced around the interior of the small shop. There was a glass counter that ran along the walls with just enough room behind it for two people to walk between the counter and the wall while the left side and half of the back wall was covered in various guns. The rest of the wall and the right side displayed blades of all shapes and sizes.

“Ah, Mr. Strife, a pleasure to meet you,” greeted the old man behind the counter, and Cloud stared at him as he crossed the floor, the nagging feeling that he knew the spry man with the long gray beard and wispy white hair but unsure if it was one of *his* memories or one from the mako poisoning. “Young Denzel was just telling me that he wanted a job helping a poor old man out around his shop.”

“He’s allowed to work part time, Mr. Walter,” agreed Cloud, resting his hands on the glass counter. “Just let Tifa or I know when he’s working so we can work his schooling and training around when you need him.”

Sharp blue eyes twinkled under a wrinkled brow as strong white teeth flashed in the gray beard. “And you will require practice weapons for this training, correct?” Cloud nodded once, and Mr. Walter threw his head back and laughed. “By Odin’s Beard, today is a fortunate day for me all around. I not only gain a helper, I get to dispose of an old shipment of practice weapons that were never claimed.”

Cloud frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“I was cleaning my storage room this morning and came across three crates of swords that had been ordered by Shinra before the world went topsy turvy,” explained Mr. Walter, motioning for them to follow him. Together the trio entered the storage room where three long crates were set out on the floor as if on display, each one bearing the familiar Shinra logo. “Apparently, they were going to be for their next group of SOLDIERs only no one came to pick them up.” The spry old man knelt next to one of the crates and flipped the lid off before stepping back to reveal a copy of the Buster Sword that now marked Zack’s grave on the cliff overlooking Midgar.

With a grunt, the old man managed to lever the huge sword out of the wooden crate to angle it in the light, showing the dull edges. “This was a special request from one of their SOLDIERs at the time. He mentioned something about teaching a chocobo and needed the right sword for the job.”

“Zack.” The name slipped past Cloud’s lips, knowing only one SOLDIER who had ever teased him about being a chocobo-in-training, and he swallowed past the lump in his throat. This order had to be at least seven years old, waiting since Nibelheim blew up in everyone’s face and he lost five years of his life.

Shaking his head to dismiss those thoughts before he was dragged back into the melancholy that he had recently been able to shake off, Cloud held out his had. “May I?”

Mr. Walter nodded and Cloud wrapped his hand around the hilt, lifting it as if it was a feather. In truth, it felt about as heavy as a saber in his hand, making part of him wonder just what that crazy scientist had done to him before Zack had gotten him out of the Shinra Mansion. Taking several steps away from Denzel, Mr. Walter and the boxes, Cloud gracefully moved through the first few steps of a kata that Zack had once taught him with a bastard sword, enjoying for a few brief minutes the feel of his muscles working as he wanted them to without pain from Geostigma. It had seemed like *forever* since he had been without pain and the surges in his left arm that could drive him to his knees as he desperately tried to keep from passing out from the agony. Closing his eyes, Cloud allowed his body to move, shutting out the rest of the world as he concentrated on the weight of the sword in his hands and the pull of muscles as he feet firmly carried him across the floor.

With one last twirl of the sword, Cloud lowered the massive blade to the floor and opened his eyes, blinking in surprise at the looks of wonder and awe directed at him by Mr. Walter and Denzel, and he ducked his head, embarrassed. He hadn’t been deliberately showing off. He had only wanted to test the sword and then fell into the kata as a manner of habit, having trained under Zack’s watchful eye and occasionally Sephiroth’s when the General had come looking for the best of the SOLDIERs himself.

“Wow, Cloud,” breathed Denzel, his blue eyes wide as he stared at the blond man. “That was *awesome*!”

A soft chuckle slipped out of Mr. Walter. “Your friend might not have had the chance to give you that sword, young man, but it looks like he trained you well.”

Embarrassment flooded Cloud’s cheeks as he replaced the practice sword in the crate, glancing over the rest of the swords packed in the straw with a quick eye. They were an assortment of regular swords, none as big as the Buster sword that he was most comfortable with, but definitely ones he could train Denzel with. “How much for them?” Cloud asked, setting the lid back on the crate even as he tried to avoid both sets of eyes he was all too aware of.

“Well considering Shinra already paid for ‘em and then forgot ‘em,” mumbled the man, stroking his gray beard before shrugging. “If you can haul ‘em away, they’re yours. I need the room for other things.” Before Cloud could protest and offer *something* in exchange for the weapons, Mr. Walter turned to Denzel. “As for you, my fine young man, I’ll give you a trial period tomorrow from thirteen hundred to seventeen hundred.”

The next thing Cloud was aware of, he was back on Fenrir with three long crates carefully strapped to the powerful bike and the old man was locking the door behind both Denzel and the blond. Cloud looked down at Denzel who was grinning up at him, and a small smile touched his lips. “How about we drop these off at the church and then go for a quick ride?” Cloud offered, feeling the need to go check up on Zack’s grave even though he had been up there yesterday.

Instead of jumping at the chance, Denzel looked at him with those blue eyes that seemed so much older than the ten year old boy. “I’ll help with the swords, but Tifa wanted me to help out a bit around the Seventh Heaven tonight,” he replied with a careless shrug. “We can go riding another time.”

Cloud reluctantly nodded and drove down to the ruins of Midgar to what had once been Sector Five, pausing long enough for Denzel to open the make-shift doors of the church wide enough for Fenrir to enter. Carefully, he steered the large bike around the pool of water that managed to sparkle in the night and into the large room behind the main hall. There, Cloud easily stacked the boxes between some crates and tossed a tarp over the whole thing. He wasn’t worried about anyone stealing them because there was nothing worth stealing in the ruins, having been picked over long ago for anything of value.

“Did you fix this place up, Cloud?” Denzel asked, his voice soft as he looked around the room illuminated by Fenrir’s headlights.

“A bit,” confessed the blond, his right hand coming up to automatically rub his left arm where the sore had been. It had been during the time he had been infected with Geostigma and had cut back on the deliveries he was making. He hadn’t wanted to be a burden to any of his friends and sought sanctuary in the old church ruins, working on cleaning it up when he could.

Denzel nodded at the unspoken acknowledgment of when the older man had started working on the ruins, his own hand coming up to rub his forehead before shaking his head. “Well, I’d better get back to the bar,” he sighed, rolling his eyes. “Never know when Reno and his buddies will drop by for drinks, and then Tifa has her hands full keeping irate customers from redecorating the bar with the Turks’ heads.”

Cloud nodded and less than a half hour later, Denzel was waving to him from the door of the Seventh Heaven as Cloud headed for the outskirts of Edge and opened Fenrir up all the way, enjoying the feel of the cool wind blowing through his hair and the powerful bike under his control. It was one of the reasons the blond enjoyed doing deliveries so much, aside from the chance to get away from people for a while. Out here, it was just Cloud, Fenrir, and whatever monster they happened to come across during their travels.

Finally, all too soon, Cloud pulled to a stop near the large Buster Sword that was sticking out of the ground, and he slipped off the powerful bike to sit on a rock near the sword. Rust streaked the once pristine surface of the sword, creating shadows on the metal when the headlight hit it, and Cloud rested his elbows on his knees as he stared at the sword.

“Found your present today,” he said, his glowing eyes fixed on the sword even as he pictured Zack leaning back against it in the careless sprawl he always assumed whenever he was sitting. “I can’t believe you told that old guy you were training a chocobo. Like your hair wasn’t as bad.”

In his mind, Zack laughed and shrugged off Cloud’s protests with good humor, one of the reasons no one could stay mad at the SOLDIER for long. “Met an interesting group today while helping Reno and Rude out at the ruins. They claimed to be explorers and scouts from another planet.” The blond shrugged a shoulder causing the leather he wore to creak with the movement. “I know we’re not alone in the universe, Jenova proved that, but they claimed to have come here through a Stargate that was in the basement of the old Shinra Headquarters. There were four of them, and the one with glasses asked what the Restore materia he had was and how to use it.” He shook his head with a sigh. “If they’re not from another planet, they’re great actors ‘cause I could honestly believe that they hadn’t seen materia before.”

Glowing blue eyes turned away from the sword to look at the dark ruins of Midgar and the brighter lights of Edge just beyond. “I miss you, Zack,” he sighed, his words a whisper on the breeze. “You always knew what to do or what to say to make everything easier. Tifa freaked out for a good half hour after Sephiroth died again because whatever happened to Denzel while he was with Kadaj and his brothers, he had eyes like the General’s when she found him in the square. How could I tell her that there were times when *my* eyes look like his for a while?”

It was just one more thing that Cloud cursed Hojo for, the insane scientist who had decided to use both him and Zack as his pet experiments. There were days when the blond had to wonder what was done to him during those five years he was Hojo’s “guest”, making him reach for the phone to call one of the Turks for the information, but just when he was about ready to dial, a small voice stated that perhaps it was better to *not* know what he had been put through. It wouldn’t change anything and Hojo was still dead.

Shaking his head, Cloud ran a hand through his spiky hair and slipped back on his bike. “I’ll see you around, Zack,” he murmured before gunning the engine and roaring back to Edge, never noticing the white petals that swirled around the sword on a faint breeze.

Daniel casually glanced around the bar they were in and tried not to stare at anyone. The Seventh Heaven was different than the bars that Daniel was use to with a friendly atmosphere despite the industrial appearance and happy chatter filling the air with the occasional drunk laugh. The smell of cooked food, *good* cooked food, overpowered the scent of alcohol, and Daniel found himself smiling at the young girl who bounced over to their table.

“Hi, I’m Yuffie!” she greeted, her short black hair being kept out of her eyes by a black headband while her gray vest flapped open to reveal a black shirt with white flowers on it. Knee-high yellow combat boots over black knee protectors and short khaki shorts made up the rest of her outfit. Her brown eyes were laughing until they fell on Reno and Rude and then she wrinkled her nose. “I suppose it was just a matter of time before you two came crawling in.”

“I’m hurt, babe,” pouted Reno, spreading his hands in an innocent manner. “We helped with that problem last week, didn’t we? And besides, you’re making us look bad in front of our guests.”

She snorted but turned to Daniel and his friends. “What can I get for you?”

As she turned, Daniel noticed a dark pink ribbon tied around her left arm and he remembered that Cloud had been wearing one as well. While they placed their order for drinks and food, Daniel took a casual look around the room to see if those ribbons were a fashion statement or something more, but only spotted a few people wearing them. There was a large black man wearing green pants and a white zip up vest with his right arm metal from the elbow down laughing with a blond man in a blue shirt and black pants and the pretty bartender with the dark hair and black leather vest. All had dark pink ribbons tied around their arms.

‘They’re in memory of someone then,’ decided Daniel, resting his head on his hand as he watched the blond light up a cigarette and the bartender didn’t even pause as she dropped a heavy ashtray by his elbow just in time to have the match flicked into the glass ashtray. A little girl who couldn’t have been more than eight walked over to the black man and smiled at him as he scooped her up, pink hair ribbons fluttering around the braid down her back.

Then Yuffie was back with beer mugs clutched in her hands followed by a boy about ten or eleven who had two more mugs, and he placed one mug in front of Daniel by leaning over his shoulder. “Keep your materia hidden from Yuffie,” the boy whispered in Daniel’s ear. “She doesn’t steal materia anymore but old habits die hard.”

“Denzel!” called the bartender, her voice ringing out over the conversations. “Order’s up!”

“Coming, Tifa!” the boy called, weaving his way through the customers to scoop up a couple of plates, carrying them over to another table, ducking the black man’s hand as he reached out to ruffle the reddish brown hair with an “Aw, Barrett!”

“Interesting crowd you hang out with,” remarked Jack, taking a sip of his beer before eyeing the mug in surprise. “Good beer too.”

Reno shrugged and leaned back in his chair, ignoring the occasional dirty looks being tossed their way. “So some of the locals don’t like us ‘cause of our job. Big deal. It’s not like we’re out slaughtering children or plucking chocobos for shits and giggles.”

Unable to help himself, Daniel nodded at that, remembering the explanation they had gotten from Rufus Shinra, President and CEO of Shinra Electric. The company had done a lot to earn the ire of the general population, but after his brush with death and then a debilitating disease that only recently cleared up had the man taking a long hard look at what he wanted for the future of his company and his world.

Daniel’s thoughts were interrupted by young Denzel bringing plates of food over to them, but when the archaeologist looked at the boy to thank him, Denzel’s eyes briefly flickered to a bright blue-green with slit pupils before returning to a normal, human blue. No one else at the table seemed to notice it, or if they did, they were ignoring it, so Daniel tossed the incident to the back of his mind as just another quirk of this place. Perhaps he could ask Reno about it to see if it was normal for this world later.

The door opened and the archaeologist looked up to find Cloud strolling across the floor to claim a seat at the bar, twisting around to lean against the wall as Tifa placed a coffee mug at his elbow before bustling off to help another customer. It was strange because even with his head lowered, Cloud still gave Daniel the impression of watching the entire room and seeing everything that went on without meeting anyone’s eyes.

Just as they finished dinner, a large man with lank brown hair hiding most of his face stumbled over to their table, reeking of alcoholic fumes. “Damn dirty Turks,” he sneered, and Daniel recoiled from the wave of alcohol that flowed from the man like a tidal wave. “Shouldn’t be showin’ yer face in public like descent folk.”

Reno grinned and spread his hands as he leaned back in his chair, adopting a harmless air. “We’re just here for dinner and some drinks, yo. Nothin’ ta get worked up about.”

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say because the man swung at Reno, his fist connecting with the young man’s face and sending him crashing to the ground. Rude jumped to his feet as Daniel managed to get between the man and Reno, who was slowly getting to his feet. “Now, I’m sure we can sit down and talk...”

Not even hesitating, the man back handed Daniel in the stomach and sent him flying across the room as if he’d been hit by a Jaffa. He was surprised when strong arms caught him before he could crash into anything or had even been thrown more than half a dozen feet from the argument brewing.

“That’s enough of that,” announced a firm voice, and Daniel looked up to find Cloud standing there, his glowing blue eyes hard and unwavering as he stared at the drunk man even while he continued holding Daniel with ease. Blue eyes flickered down to Daniel who managed to get his knees to stop trembling long enough to hold his weight. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Daniel said, curling an arm around his stomach when his abdominal muscles protested his talking. “Bit sore, but fine.”

Cloud nodded and walked to stand in front of the man, getting between him and Reno. “There’s no fighting here,” Cloud stated, his voice hard and commanding, and Daniel glanced around to realize that people had stopped talking and were watching with rapt attention.

The man sneered at the blond, towering over him by a good foot and with shoulders that could easily take up two zip codes. “Taking up with the dirty Turks?” he sneered, reaching out to poke a finger in Cloud’s chest with enough force to rock the blond back a few inches. “Should have known a SOLDIER like you would stick up for your employers.”

Realizing he wasn’t going to be any help, Daniel backed away from the tense situation only to bump into another person, and he looked up to find Barrett standing there with Yuffie and the blond man. Barrett nodded to Daniel and politely stepped around the archaeologist before taking a few more steps closer to Cloud. “You want us to help you throw this joker out, Cloud?”

“The first person who starts a fight in here will be cleaning up the mess and paying for any repairs,” warned Tifa coming out from behind the bar to glare at the drunk, her arms folded across her chest. “If you want to brawl, take it outside.”

The man turned to Tifa and sneered at her. “Shinra Lover!” he spat before turning back to the unfazed blond before him. “I’m going to enjoy taking you apart, SOLIDER.”

“Barrett, see to Marlene and Denzel,” Cloud instructed, not removing his eyes from the drunk man. “Vincent, if you could get the door for this gentleman.”

Daniel expected the blond man in the blue shirt to open the door but was surprised when his gaze fell on a man clothed in black leather with a tattered crimson cloak tossed over his shoulder and partially covering his lower face as he opened the door leading to the outside. There was a glitter of gold from behind that crimson cloak causing the archaeologist to think of a ribbon-device for a split second before his eyes made out the rest of the golden clawed gauntlet that stretched from Vincent’s left elbow down. But there was a dark pink ribbon tied around his right forearm.

The drunk took a swing at Cloud, and the blond was suddenly behind the man with the man’s arm twisted up between his shoulders. A quick shove and the man went staggering out the open door with Cloud following him out, and Vincent politely closed the door behind them.

“We have to help Cloud,” Daniel stated, starting towards the door only to be stopped by Jack’s hand on his shoulder. “That man’s at least twice his size.”

“Cloud can take care of himself,” drawled the blond man with an accent similar to that found in the Southern states of USA, taking another drag off his cigarette. “Besides, I don’t wanna ruin his fun.”

Barrett chuckled. “He gets three minutes and then I’m joining in,” he stated.

The blond snorted. “Five Gil says he’s back in less than one.”

“Deal, Cid,” agreed Barrett holding his hand out to the blond who shook on it. As soon as their hands dropped, the door opened and Cloud came back in, not looking like he had been in a fight at all. Barrett rolled his eyes and slapped a couple of coins in the outstretched hand causing Cid to chuckle as he tucked them into his pocket.

A faint chuckle slipped out of Daniel at their antics as he relaxed a bit more, and he glanced over at Vincent, getting a better look at the dark arrival. Long black hair falling past his shoulders and barely being kept out of burning red eyes and a pale face by a red headband while a holster with a large gun was strapped around his right leg, and strange gold armor over his black boots that made it look like his feet were pointed and almost twice as long as a normal person’s. There was something menacing about him, but also something that told Daniel he would be the first person on the front line to protect the innocents should something happen.

“We don’t need you to protect us, Strife,” growled Reno, dusting his rumpled suit off and glaring at the blond man. “Nor do we need you to fight our battles for us.”

Cloud simply looked at Reno with a neutral expression. “If you want to finish what he started, he’s outside where he knocked himself out against the wall trying to swing at me again,” he explained in a calm voice before resuming his seat at the bar.

Daniel watched at Vincent claimed a seat next to Cloud, and Tifa only rolled her eyes as she placed a mug of coffee in front of Vincent. There was an easy comradery between the two that was easy to see in the way they were comfortable around each other. There was a comfort with the others, but it wasn’t as close as it was between Cloud and Vincent, like the group was a team that had drifted apart for a bit but was finding their way back together.

‘Or Cloud distanced himself from them,’ mused Daniel as he resumed his seat at the table, his eyes flickering around at everyone who wore a pink ribbon. Everyone seemed comfortable with each other, chatting and apparently getting caught up on lost time, but Cloud and Vincent remained quiet in their corner of the bar, content with watching people.

“Interesting time,” Jack remarked, glancing at Barrett. “Do fights break out often?”

Barrett smirked. “Not really, but then that wasn’t a fight,” he drawled. “More of a disagreement between parties.”

“Besides, the smart ones really don’t want to go against Tifa for messing up her bar,” agreed Denzel as he picked up one of the chairs, tossing a smirk at the older woman who only smiled and shook her head, sending the dark hair dancing around her shoulders.

Daniel silently groaned and felt like smacking his forehead at the speculative gleam in Jack’s eyes as the older man glanced over at the attractive bar tender. “So does she use you guys often to carry out her threats?” inquired the colonel, one eyebrow bouncing up in a questioning manner as he regarded Barrett.

That got a laugh out of Barrett as the black man slapped Jack on the shoulder with his left hand, causing the colonel to stagger a bit. “Tifa doesn’t need anyone to carry out her threats,” he announced, his voice booming through the bar. “She’s strong enough to carry them out on her own.”

That got another raised eyebrow and Jack nodding as he apparently humored the crazy man. “Of course she is,” he agreed, his words stating he didn’t believe it for a bit.

“Hey Tifa, didn’t you have some kegs in the back you needed help with?” Barrett called, turning to face the pretty bartender who could *not* have heard their discussion from her position near the end of the bar.

She nodded. “I was going to move them later, but I didn’t realize I was going to be so busy tonight,” she agreed, glancing at Jack with an innocent look that had a few of her friends exchanging glances and smirks. “Want to help me out a bit?”

Nodding, Jack and Daniel followed Tifa into the back of the bar where there were crates of bottles and three large metal kegs. Easily three feet tall and at least a foot in diameter, to Daniel they looked big and heavy, not something that a person could easily carry with two hands without help.

“If you can grab one for me, I’ll get the others,” she requested, waving a hand to the kegs. Jack eyed her and then the kegs before walking over and rocking each of them slightly, verifying that each was full. Bending down, Jack grunted as he heaved the large keg into his arms and staggered slightly away from the other two kegs. Calmly, Tifa walked over and scooped a keg up under each arm as if it weighed nothing more than a child before tossing a smile at the colonel. “This way.”

Biting his tongue against the laughter that threatened to escape his chest, Daniel followed a stunned and sweating colonel as Jack staggered into the main room of the bar and almost collapsed as he set the keg down next to the bar, next to the two Tifa casually placed on the floor.

“Okay, you can carry out your own threats,” Jack agreed as he collapsed in a nearby chair with a relieved sigh, shaking the feeling back into his arms. Daniel rolled his eyes at his friend and commander’s antics before glancing at Tifa.

“Um, I don’t mean to be rude, but who are the ribbons for?” he asked, gesturing to the pink ribbon she wore around her left arm.

A sad smile stretched across Tifa’s face. “They’re for a friend that was killed about two years ago,” she stated, her right hand coming up to touch the dark rose satin. “She was amazing, and with her help, the world was saved from the Nightmare.”

“I’m sorry,” apologized Daniel, his voice sincere. “I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories for any of you.”

“Nah.” Barrett brushed his apology off with a white grin, the twin claw marks on his right cheek crinkling with the motion. “We just don’t talk about her is all. Didn’t know her as well as some people did.”

For some reason, that statement caused Daniel to glance over at Cloud who was back to watching the bar without really watching it, but the archaeologist knew that the blond had heard every word that had passed among them, despite being at the other end of the bar. Yet Cloud didn’t move from his end of the bar or even seem inclined to talk with them about this friend.

“A real sweet girl,” agreed Reno, walking over to the bar and grabbing a couple of napkins to dab at his split lip. “Hell of a cook too.”

Barrett snorted and folded his arms. “What would a Turk like you know about her?” he demanded, his dark eyes flashing. “You Turks were always following her and bugging her before you grabbed her.”

Snorting, Reno rolled his eyes. “We were under orders, yo,” he drawled, wiping the small trickle of blood from his chin. “And we stalled as long as we could, making up all sorts of excuses when Old Man Shinra got too pushy. That order came from the Boss and Tseng.”

“And I suppose Sector Seven was another order from your Boss and Tseng,” sneered Barrett, getting into the redhead’s face. Daniel took a step back, not willing to get in the middle of what sounded like an old argument that was finally being aired out.

“None of us liked that order or even agreed with it, but if we didn’t do it, then someone else with less skill would have and probably would have brought down the rest of the Plate as well,” snarled Reno, getting into the black man’s face and with the red spiky hair, looked like some exotic bird. Especially with the red tattoos emphasizing his bright blue-green eyes. “We did what we could to save the people we could. We knew Old Man Shinra was off his rocker and had been for a while.”

“Then why didn’t you disobey that order?” asked Tifa, her dark eyes narrowed in suspicion.

“Because we’re Turks,” stated Rude, his deep voice firm and unmoving as he spoke for the first time in hours. “We might bend an order if our superior’s think it unfair but we don’t disobey them.”

Reno sneered and jerked a thumb at Vincent. “Don’t believe us, ask your buddy there. He knows what it means to be a Turk better than all of ya.”

Daniel glanced over at Jack whose eyebrows were making a run for his hairline before tuning his attention back to the fight. Rufus Shinra had told them many things but nothing about dropping this plate anyone, or about bothering apparently innocent citizens. Looks like they were going to have another talk with the President of Shinra Inc when they got back to Healin where he currently was staying. But what was that part about Vincent knowing more than any of them what it meant to be a Turk? Reaching into his back pocket, Daniel pulled out the small notepad he had gotten from Shinra and a pen before scribbling his questions and concerns on a clean sheet of paper, both from this argument and a few points from this evening alone.

“All I’m sayin’ is that ya can’t trust anyone associated with Shinra,” continued Barrett, not backing down from Reno’s glare or Rude’s stony silence. “Past, present or future! They’re all thievin’ lyin’ murderin’ crooks and so is anyone associated with them!”

Apparently, the black man had gone too far by the sudden tension that raced through the room and the thunderous expression that appeared on Cid’s face. “You’d better not be including me in that opinion of yours,” growled the scruffy blond man, his lit cigarette bobbing in his lips as he glared at Barrett. “Especially since I was associated with ‘em.”

“Have you forgotten that you were part of AVALANCHE and a leader of that organization for some time?” inquired Vincent, his deep smooth voice like whiskey even as his red eyes burned. “A terrorist organization that carried out the bombing of several manned reactors.”

Barrett sputtered at that point of logic as Cloud rose to his feet, and he walked past Barrett, not saying a word as glowing blue eyes met snapping brown, before he vanished into the back. just as Barrett’s shoulders slumped. Daniel glanced over at Jack, catching his commander’s eye before quietly slipping after the blond while everyone’s attention was focused on Barrett.

He had questions, and he was willing to bet his last dollar that Cloud would be willing to answer them.

Sinking into the chair at his desk, Cloud reached out to gather up the various bits of papers scattered across his desk, and started organizing them into neat piles. It wasn’t that he was angry at Barrett, who had let his temper control his mouth, but it still hurt to hear the old prejudices come to light once more. Especially since he still felt like he had ‘Property of Shinra’ tattooed across his forehead to accent the glowing mako eyes that marked him as the SOLDIER he never had been.

Keen ears picked up the soft tread of heavy boots, the footsteps not belonging to any of Cloud’s friends, all of whom were probably still downstairs chewing Barrett out. “Can I help you?” he asked, keeping his voice calm as he looked up to find the slender man with glasses standing there. What was his name? Dr. Daniel Jackson, one of the explorers.

“I was hoping you could answer some questions for me,” Jackson stated, standing in the doorway as if unsure of his welcome, and Cloud noticed the notebook in his hand.

“What sort of questions?” inquired Cloud, warily. Losing five years of his life to another doctor had made the blond skittish with anyone bearing that title, and now this one showed up wanting to ask questions.

Jackson shrugged. “Just some clarification on some things,” he replied. “We know the story that President Shinra told us, but I was hoping to get the other side of the story as well.”

Brilliant mako blue eyes studied bright human blue eyes partially hidden behind glasses. “Why me? Anyone downstairs would be more than happy to tell you all about Shinra.”

A determined look crossed Jackson’s face. “Because I would hear more about the prejudices against Shinra than learn anything I didn’t already know,” he said before shrugging. “Besides, you apparently have seen both sides of the argument.”

Instead of disputing that point of logic, Cloud waved Jackson to a nearby chair, and the bespeckled man pulled it closer to the desk. He opened his mouth, apparently to ask his first question, when he stopped, staring at something on the desk. The blond followed the gaze to find Jackson staring at the two pictures he kept on his desk, the older one of him, Tifa, and the kids after he had contracted Geostigma but before Denzel had, and the newer one with the entire team gathered around the camera.

“Not much of a social person are you?” inquired Jackson, a small smile on his face as if laughing at a private joke. Before Cloud could say anything about that, Jackson waved the question away and glanced at his notebook. “What’s a SOLDIER?”

“A SOLDIER is... was the elite branch of Shinra’s military,” began Cloud, an ironic smile twisting one corner of his mouth. “They went through a special treatment to become enhanced, what the full process is I don’t know. They were stronger, tougher, and more resilient than the normal troops, and had three ranks, or classes. Third Class were the bottom of the SOLDIERs and were the grunts. They didn’t get as much of the treatment as the other classes. Second Class had more privilege and responsibilities as well as the second round of treatment. First Class were the best, the officers in a way, of the SOLDIER Program.”

Jackson nodded his understanding even as a small frown formed on his face. “That guy who wanted to pick a fight said that you were a SOLDIER. How did he know?”

Cloud snorted, and turned his chair to face Jackson, stretching his legs out in front of him. “A mark of a SOLDIER is their eyes,” he quoted the old saying as he gestured to his own eyes. “Anyone who has gone through any of the process has glowing eyes. Third class has a faint sheen of color over their natural color while First Class have eyes that glow like materia.” The memory of glowing violet eyes that somehow seemed to sparkle with laughter and mischief rose in his mind, and his gaze turned to the pictures on his desk, eyes caught by a pair of burning red staring out from behind black hair.

“How long were you a SOLDIER?”

The question startled a laugh out of Cloud before he fully registered the words. “I wasn’t,” he confessed, his eyes dancing to the various pictures pinned to his message board. There were dozens of landscapes, pretty scenes that he had snapped while traveling, but the only one with people were the two on his desk. He didn’t have any pictures of Zack or Aeris, but he *had* at one time, in the bottom of his Shinra-issued military footlocker, right next to the picture of his mother. Maybe he should ask one of the Turks for his footlocker and Zack’s as well...

A throat being cleared brought Cloud back from his thoughts, and he blinked, having forgotten Jackson when his thoughts had wandered. “Sorry,” he apologized, shaking his head before focusing on the other man. “You had other questions?”

“What did Shinra do to earn the ire of the people?” The question hung in the air, and Cloud let a bitter smile twist his lips again.

“You don’t ask the easy questions do you?” Cloud relaxed back in his chair and laced his hands across his stomach. “Okay, let me start all the way at the beginning. Several years ago, a young man by the name of Jacob Shinra discovers a new and plentiful source of energy in mako. This lead to people living more comfortably and the Shinra Electric Company grew. Then, monsters started appearing, and in answer, Shinra created an army to fight them while staffing scientists to help make the military work better. The rich and wealthy grew richer, while those less fortunate started scraping by, and anyone working for Shinra seemed to have a free ride. Then, for whatever reason, Shinra decided to build a plate on top of the city of Midgar, which had been built in a valley anyway, and thus divided the city into the Plate and the Slums. The Slums were where the poor lived and it was a dangerous place, never getting sunlight and full of rough crowds.”

“Then, a Shinra scientist named Hojo made a break through about thirty years ago and the perfect SOLDIER was born. Literally.” Cloud shifted slightly in his chair and held Jackson’s startled gaze. “His name was Sephiroth and he quickly rose to the position of ‘General’ in the military. When he was fifteen, Shinra decided that he wanted the mako and materia possessed by Wutai, a peaceful nation, and sent General Sephiroth and his army to conquer them. Once Sephiroth did so, Shinra started conquering other nations for their mako, but unlike Wutai, he only had to make a general mention of their mako and they willingly surrendered it to him. Boys started flocking to Shinra to enlist in the military, hoping to make SOLDIER and be as great as General Sephiroth.”

“Yet, there were others who believed that Shinra was stealing the life from the planet with his mako reactors and the monsters were the planet’s way of fighting back. So they started making a nuisance of themselves, and their ire at Shinra spoke to those who had always found themselves living in darkness, scraping for a few Gil to live leading to various people quietly joining AVALANCHE. Not many, because even regular people dissatisfied with they way they’re living didn’t want to go against the military might of Shira, but enough to keep AVALANCHE alive.”

‘All that *before* Sephiroth went insane and destroyed Nibelheim and I lost five years of my life and Zack,’ mused Cloud, running an irritated hand through his hair.

Jackson nodded. “So the anger people still have towards Shinra is directed towards anyone that they can associate with them,” he said, an absent look on his face as he talked. “Turks for being the President’s guards and the military for just being part of Shinra.” Blue eyes sharpened behind glasses as they focused on Cloud with the intensity of a Summons. “What happened to Midgar to create those ruins? And what cut through five feet of steel and concrete?”

“Sephiroth happened to Midgar.” Those four words hung in the air, making the distant noise of the bar seem even farther away, and Cloud sighed. “About seven years ago, a small group of troops was assigned to go to a small place called Nibelheim with Sephiroth on a routine inspection of their reactor. Only, something happened to Sephiroth and he went mad. Burned the town and slaughtered the people living there before he was stopped. And he was stopped for a time, but then two years ago, he managed to resurface with a plan that, if it had gone right, involved merging with the Lifestream and taking over the planet Herself.”

Brilliant blue eyes grew distant as once more, Cloud saw Aeris kneeling as she tried to activate her Holy materia, a beam of sunlight adding an ethereal glow to her chestnut hair. “There was one remaining Ancient, one of Gaia’s children who had survived, that was hunted by Old Man Shinra because he believed she knew where the Promised Land was, a land rich in mako. Aeris figured out Sephiroth’s plan to summon Meteor, and we tried to stop him.”

He closed his eyes, battling back the feeling of helplessness that surged up at the memory of watching that long blade pierce Aeris while he fought the alien compulsion to end her life himself, and of watching behind the cold as his body moved on its own, holding out the very thing that could destroy the planet to a smirking Sephiroth. “Sephiroth killed her, but she managed in the end to help us all by convincing Gaia to help destroy Meteor after Sephiroth had been defeated for the last time. Unfortunately, Midgar was one of the casualties of Meteor.”

Forcing the memories back, Cloud opened his eyes. “As for your second question, it was either the First Ken or the Masamune.”

“The what?” Jackson frowned in puzzled confusion and a small laugh slipped out of Cloud.

“The First Ken is my sword while the Masamune was Sephiroth’s,” he started to explain only for Jackson to hold up a hand, politely cutting him off.

“But I thought you killed Sephiroth two years ago,” he protested. “There’s no way that those cuts were two years old.”

“They’re about a week old,” agreed Cloud, absently rubbing his left arm to try and sooth the phantom ache of the now cured Geostigma sore. “Dr. Hojo had decided to clone Sephiroth for whatever reason, and three of these clones escaped the fate of the others, becoming their own people. They had one goal, to find ‘Mother’ and resurrect Sephiroth. They managed to do it too.”

Those blue eyes were watching him carefully. “If they managed to resurrect this Sephiroth, aren’t you worried that it could happen again?”

Shaking his head, Cloud leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “The one thing they needed to resurrect Sephiroth was Jenova, or at least a large quantity of her cells,” he stated. “Kadaj absorbed the cells into his body and became Sephiroth, but when Sephiroth was defeated, it was Kadaj who died, taking with him the last of Jenova.” He swallowed around the lump in his throat at the memory of Sephiroth hanging in the air, silver hair shining in the sun and a single ebony wing fluttering behind him, mako-green eyes glowing with the promise he purred at Cloud.

‘I will never be just a memory.’

A shiver slid down his spine before he could stop it, and Cloud firmly shoved the memory aside. Great Odin, he had been forced to kill Sephiroth twice now, almost three times if the Fates wanted to count when Cloud ran the insane general through in the Nibelheim reactor. But considering Sephiroth turned around and put a couple more holes in Cloud’s body, the blond didn’t really consider that a defeat of Sephiroth.

“Sephiroth’s not coming back,” Cloud stated in a firm voice. “There’s no way for him to come back.” he refused to let him believe anything other than that, because if Sephiroth managed to come back *again*, Cloud was going to take his sword and talk with Rufus Shinra about keeping secrets that can be decidedly unhealthy for the young president.

“Interesting that President Shinra didn’t mention any of this,” remarked Jackson and a small laugh slipped out of Cloud before he could stop it.

“When dealing with Shinra, always remember to count your fingers after shaking hands.” The saying that appeared when Old Man Shinra was in charge rose to his lips with a small smile. “Old Man Shinra wanted to rule the world through power and money. Rufus, before his office was blown up with him in it, stated that he wanted to rule the world through power and fear, because to do so through money was a waste of money.”

Cloud straightened up to fix Jackson with an unwavering gaze. “Rufus Shinra’s changed, but he’s not above manipulating people to get his way. He’s tried it with me and deliberately withheld information. Had I known that Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz were remnants of Sephiroth, I might have done things a bit differently.” He shrugged a shoulder. “It still would have been nice to know that the ‘Mother’ they were so desperate to get was Jenova.”

Serious blue eyes fixed on Cloud with an intensity he had only ever seen in materia-green or glowing violet before Jackson closed his notebook and tucked it away. “Let me tell you a bit about what I do and have seen...”

Daniel was silent on the trip back to Healin as he thought over everything Cloud had told him. He didn’t miss the concerned looks Jack was tossing him, but didn’t say anything until they were back into their rooms without any of the Turks around. Teal’c, Jack and Sam sat on the chairs scattered around the room while Daniel paced, trying to work things out in his head, but after a few minutes, he repeated everything that Cloud had told him about Shinra and what had been happening.

“Are you sure Cloud Strife did not lie to you, Daniel Jackson?’ clarified Teal’c, a faint frown on his face, and Daniel snorted.

“He had no reason to,” he countered, pushing his glasses up on his nose as he tried to sort through the bits of information they had been told. Rufus Shinra had never mentioned that it had been one of his people who had tried to end the world, but logically, that would put his company in a less than pleasant light....

Daniel froze in mid stride and stared at the far wall, his mind whirling at that last thought. Shinra was a *corporation* that had ruled the planet, not a true government like a dictatorship or a democracy. Corporations were run with different rules than a government which is why it was often easier to take over a corporation than a government.

“We’ve been looking at this all wrong.” The words hung in the air as Daniel turned to look at his companions. “We’ve approached this as if it were any other planet with a government in place that we are use to, like a monarchy or democracy, but it’s not. *This* planet was ruled by a corporation, which is a hell of a lot easier to topple than a government.” He smirked at them, folding his arms across his chest. “There’s a reason why ‘hostile take-over’ is a business phrase instead of a governmental one.”

Jack and Sam blinked and exchanged confused glances at this new revelation. “Okay so now what do we do?” Jack asked, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair. “About the only thing we can give the General is a report that the corporation that ran this place toppled and doesn’t like painting itself in a bad light.” He shook his head. “Not much to go on.”

Daniel shrugged a shoulder. “One of us has to go out and talk to the general population to get a better idea of what’s going on around here before we can sit down at the negotiation table for *anything*.”

“That’s not a good idea, yo,” remarked a new voice, and the three sitting leaped to their feet as Daniel whirled around to find Reno leaning against the open door. The redhead didn’t look any less rumpled than he had before, but there was a nice bruise on his jaw where the drunk in the bar had clocked him.

“Why is it a bad idea to go talk to the general population?” inquired Jack in a tone that stated Reno had better have a good reason before they decided to take their chances elsewhere.

Reno shrugged the shoulder that wasn’t against the door. “Because someone would take it the wrong way and you’d be in even deeper shit,” he stated, straightening up and walking towards them, his folded arms falling to his sides. “Or some monster might decide you’re an easy target and then we’d really have a problem on our hands when you general starts asking where his people are.”

“So what do you suggest, Reno?” inquired Daniel before anyone else could talk. Out of the Turks he had met, Reno was the one that seemed the most cocky and cunning when needed. Tseng was the Boss and radiated calm control, Elena was the tough girl like Sam, and Rude was the perfect bodyguard and corporate thug. Reno was more like the street punk he resembled and could be considered a loose cannon, but definitely one that would get the job done no matter what.

A smirk stretched across the young face. “You need a guide to watch your back at least,” he announced. “Plus a reason to go to the various cities other than just wanting to talk ‘cause most people are still a bit twitchy when it comes to Shinra.”

A thoughtful frown crossed the archaeologist’s face. “Why are you helping us? Isn’t it part of your job to hide the bodies created by the company?”

“Because the Boss said to help you with whatever you needed,” replied Reno, the smirk being replaced with a serious expression that made him look older than he truly was. “And the only way you’re gonna form an honest opinion of Shinra and this world is if you talk to people who weren’t involved. Let me run this past the Boss and we’ll have a course of action in the morning.”

With a careless wave, the Turk left them alone as he closed the door behind him, but Daniel had seen the calculation in the blue eyes and knew that a plan was already being developed.

(Outtake: Reno)

“Reno called. Said Rufus has a job for you in Healin. Hope it’s nothing like the last time he called. Be careful.” Tifa’s message ended, and Cloud closed the phone before sliding it back into his pocket. Idly he wondered what the job Rufus had and if it had anything to do with Dr. Jackson and his friends.

‘Nah, Red just likes your company,’ remarked a voice that sounded suspiciously like Zack’s, and he shook his head before settling his goggles on his face. Even after getting his memories straightened out, there were still a few things that he was getting use to like the memories he was sure weren’t coming back any time soon or Zack’s voice in his head. Part of the blond wished he could have his friend back, even in the occasional way Aeris was willing to help him, but he had only seen Zack that one time at the church, after he had been sent back by the planet. Aeris had at least visited other times, mostly in his dreams, but each time, she had been alone, and a part of him ached each time he woke alone.

A flash of the dream he had the night before entered his mind, a detailed image of pale and tan limbs tangled together, and Cloud shook his head, trying to dispel the memory even as he thought he heard a light giggle on the breeze that played with his hair. Cloud let a small smile twitch at his mouth as he understood that he wasn’t going to have much of a chance to over think things for a while. It just meant that Aeris was going to be around in spirit a bit more than usual, and he only hoped that she wouldn’t pull that out of body trick again while he was driving. It was more than a bit disturbing.

Revving the engine, he steered the powerful motorcycle through the streets of Kalm and into the wilde open wilderness where it was nothing but him, Fenrir, and the occasional monster that was too stupid or desperate to leave him alone.

After four hours, Cloud pulled to a stop in front of the Healin Lodge that currently housed the Shinra president and his body guards and pulled off his goggles to hang around his neck. For a second, his hand hovered over the button that would open the sword compartments as he remembered the last time he had been here, but shook his head as he slid off Fenrir. If Reno wanted to attack him after summoning him for a proposed business deal, then the Turk would be reminded that just because Cloud preferred a sword when fighting did not mean he was helpless with his bare hands.
Striding up the stairs, Cloud paused outside the door, and keen mako-enhance ears picked up the quiet sounds of talking inside. A quick knock on the door and he entered the room, eyes scanning for any threat, but Reno was standing at Rufus’ back while the other blond sat behind an impressive desk.

“Thank you for your timely arrival, Cloud,” greeted Rufus, not looking up from what he was writing before finishing with a slight flourish. He quickly folded the papers and stuffed them in an envelope before sealing and addressing it.

“What do you want, Rufus?” Cloud asked, eyeing the stack of envelopes piled on the desk before his eyes flickered over to Dr. Jackson who was sitting in a nearby chair.

“I have a job for you,” the young president began, sitting back in his chair and waving a hand to the stack of about a dozen envelopes. “These need to be delivered to various locations and contain instructions for the Shinra offices located there. The box is for Miss Gainsborough at the Forgotten City.”

Cloud could just make out a small flower box behind the letters and realized that Rufus wanted him to take flowers to Aeris’ grave. “Why me?” he asked, a confused frown on his face. “Why not have one of your Turks do it since they’d probably be faster.”

Rufus waved a casual hand to Jackson. “I also want you to take Dr. Jackson with you so that he may get a better feel for our world,” he continued as if Cloud hadn’t spoken and placed a large, heavy bag on the desk. “That should cover your expenses as well as Dr. Jackson’s and includes both your normal fee for delivering letters and a small bonus for taking Dr. Jackson with you.”

“Hold on a minute,” growled the swordsman, holding up his hands. “You still haven’t answered my questions. Why me and not one of your Turks, especially since Reno can fly the helicopter.”

“Dr. Jackson and his friends have many questions about our world they need answered before they can open trade agreements with us,” stated Rufus. “What they need is an unbiased opinion of us all, and the only way to do that would be to go out and talk to the general population without the stigma of a Turk escorting them to sway public judgement.”

Snorting, Cloud gestured towards his glowing, mako-colored eyes. “And I won’t?” he inquired with a slight tilt of his head.

“People trust you, Cloud.” The quiet statement surprised Cloud, and a small smile touched Rufus’ face. “It’s one of the reasons why I want you as an ally so that you can convince people that Shinra is truly trying to change for the better of the planet.”

This new information made Cloud’s thoughts whirl. Rufus wanted him as an ally because people trusted him? But why should strangers trust him? The didn’t even *know* him, and with all the indications that he was an ex-SOLDIER, strangers had no reason to trust him. Even AVALANCHE had taken some time to actually trust him and that was due more to the fact that they needed everyone that was willing to fight against Shinra than actual trust.

“Cloud, look, this is important for us all,” Rufus stated, his voice half pleading. “Dr. Jackson’s people have numerous ways of creating energy plus workers who are willing to help us. If you do this for me, then I will owe you a favor, no questions asked.”

Silent, the blond warrior studied the young president’s face looking for any sign of deception, something he was growing increasingly better at and one of the reasons he suspected Rufus had been concealed behind a blanket the last time they met, but was unable to detect anything other than honest intentions. “All right, but in return I want my footlocker and the footlocker of SOLDIER First Class Zack Fair. Consider that the favor and we’ll be even.”

It might seem foolish to his friends to waste the offered favor on something that trivial, but both were pieces of his past. This way he wouldn’t have to beg Rufus for the footlockers or promise a favor in return.

Instead of agreeing, the man waved the request aside. “If you wanted those, you could have asked,” he chided. “Consider them yours as well as the favor.”

Cloud was unable to mask his surprise at Rufus’ words, and he shook himself out of his thoughts as he approached the desk. “Any special requirements for the deliveries?” he asked, scooping up the envelopes and glancing through the to find out where Rufus was running him. Condor Fort. Kalm. Edge. Icicle Lodge. Junon. North Corel. Costa Del Sol. Gold Saucer. Wutai. Gongaga. Cosmo Canyon. Mideel.Nibelheim. He froze, staring at the destination for several seconds, but the address didn’t change.

Shinra Mansion. Nibelheim.

“The flowers will hold for a few days, but I’m afraid I must ask for your assistance in Nibelheim,” apologized Rufus, and Cloud managed to tear his eyes away from the envelope to focus on the other blond who did look sorry about asking the favor of Cloud. “I have had workers out there getting the mansion cleaned up and organized as a back up location for my company, but they have been unable to locate the entrance to Hojo’s lab. Since you were able to locate it the last time you were there, if you could open it for them? Elena has already been sent there to oversee the operation while she heals.”

Looking up, Cloud started thinking about how long he was going to be making this delivery run and decided to settle on a month. If it turned out to be longer, he could always call Tifa to let her pass the message on to his other customers. He glanced over at Jackson. “Do you have enough supplies for a month?”

Jackson nodded to the backpack that was at his feet, the drab olive color making it almost part of the natural shadows. “I have everything I need in here,” he stated, scooping up the bag. “I’m ready to leave whenever you are.”

“I need to get my stuff,” explained Cloud, reaching down to scoop up the small box. “I only have an overnight bag.” Jackson nodded and smiled at Cloud as he shouldered his bag. Grabbing the bag of Gil, Cloud nodded at Rufus and Reno before leading Jackson outside to his bike.

‘Thanks.” The quiet voice had Cloud looking up from where he was packing the letters and the box into one of the compartments he had built into Fenrir for his business, and he tossed a curious look at Jackson who was standing a polite distance away. “For agreeing to let me come. My friends weren’t too keen on this idea either until I pointed out that we’d been manipulated in the past, and got them to agree to let me go alone as long as it was you I was going with.”

Now Cloud was even more confused. “Why me, Dr. Jackson?” he asked. “You didn’t even know me before yesterday, and now your friends are willing to let you ride all over the world with me?”

“You were willing to answer my questions when asked, you showed me how to use this Restore materia when you could have taken it for yourself, and you respect your friends enough to walk away when their mouths run away with them,” pointed out the bespeckled man with a small smile before holding out his hand. “And I’d prefer it if you call me Daniel, Mr. Strife.”

“Cloud,” requested the blond with a small smile as he shook Jackson - Daniel’s hand. “We’d better get going. There’s the possibility of a windstorm and I’d rather be back in Edge instead of in the Wasteland when that shows up.” Reaching into one of the smaller compartments, Cloud pulled out a second pair of goggles and handed them to Daniel who instantly slipped them on.

Swinging his leg over the bike, Cloud settled his own goggles on his face before holding out an arm to help Daniel on which was accepted. “Wrap your arms around my waist and hold tight. Try not to shift your weight too much.”

When warm arms crept around his waist, Cloud revved the engine on Fenrir and tore off down the dirt road, heading back to Edge.

The powerful engine rumbled between Daniel’s legs as he crouched behind Cloud, and he had to wonder how strong the blond was to be able to control such a heavy and powerful machine easily. He had been surprised when Rufus had proposed the plan of one of SG1 going with Cloud when the young president hired him to deliver letters to various offices, and with a bit of persuasion on Daniel’s part, which included promising to not get distracted, put his life in danger, and carry the cell phone Rufus loaned him, he was able to grab his pack and wait for Cloud to show up.

Wind started whipping around them, carrying bits of sand and dirt, and Daniel crouched lower over Cloud’s back, trying to get out of the way of the stinging bits of earth. The bike swerved slightly, and he tightened his grip on the blond’s waist when suddenly, tension thrummed through Cloud.

“What’s wrong?” shouted Daniel, desperate to be heard over the roar of the wind.

“Minor problem,” shouted Cloud, and there was a loud ka-chunk as the side panels on the bike opened to offer a choice of six swords. Casually, he drew the largest of the swords and held it in one hand as if the huge blade was a dagger. “Hold tight and don’t worry.”

Before Daniel could ask again what was wrong, he hears an ear-shattering bellow and looked past Cloud’s shoulder to find a snake in the middle of the road. A twenty foot long sand brown snake with fangs easily as long as his legs and red beady eyes looking at them as if they were dinner.

And Cloud gunned the engine, heading right for that monestrous snake.

‘Jack’s gonna kill me,’ decided Daniel as the snake reared back to loom at least ten feet above their heads. ‘And then Teal’c’s gonna help and Sam’s gonna look all disappointed that I couldn’t keep myself out of trouble but no one mentioned that Cloud had suicidal tendencies.’

The snake bellowed again and struck, lightning fast, but its fangs sank into the hard ground instead of the bike which Cloud had somehow managed to twist out of the way, despite Daniel clinging to him like a leech. Then the bike stopped moving, and Daniel cautiously peered over Cloud’s shoulder to find the snake lying motionless on the ground, it’s head neatly severed from the rest of its body as its blood pooled around it on the ground.

“Can you let go for a few minutes?” inquired Cloud, and it took Daniel a few seconds to realize that the blond was talking to him. Uncurling his fingers from the lock they had around the slender waist, Daniel managed to remove his arms to allow Cloud to slip from the now silent bike. Daniel forced his shaky legs to move as he followed Cloud over to the now dead snake as the blond started searching the corpse.

“Why did you charge this thing?” asked Daniel, wrapping his arms around his waist to stop his shaking. He still couldn’t believe Cloud had done that. “Wasn’t there another way to get around it?”

Cloud looked up from where he was extracting a flame red down feather from between two brown scales the size of hubcaps. “If we had gone around it, then the snake would have been here for the next person that came this way, and they might not have been able to kill it as easily as I did.”

Standing up, the blond tucked the bit of down into a pocket before grabbing one of the scales and ripping it off the corpse with a sickening sound. “Come on. We still have deliveries to make, and the wind’s getting worse.”

Daniel followed Cloud back to the bike where the swordsman somehow managed to stow the huge scale on the bike along with his sword before settling back across the powerful machine. The wind was starting to moan like a lost soul through the rocks, and with small sigh, Daniel climbed back on the bike, his arms wrapping around the blond’s waist before they took off again.

They were silent for the rest of the trip to Edge, the increasing wind making it impossible for them to talk, and Daniel had to finally bury his face in the blond’s sweater to keep the worst of the sand and dirt being thrown at them away from his skin. Even when they reached Edge, the wind continued to howl through the buildings and streets, sending up a cacophony with the sand and dirt hammering at steel and glass. Driving through the mostly empty streets, Daniel caught the occasional glimpse of other vehicles, but they were enclosed vehicles such as cars or trucks. A few more turns in what Daniel thought was the neighborhood where the Seventh Heaven bar was located and then Cloud was pulling into what looked like a modified loading dock, killing the engine as the door slid shut behind them, blocking out the wind.

“Ancients, it’s getting bad out there,” muttered Cloud, sliding off the bike to shake some dust and dirt out of his hair, and Daniel was suddenly all too aware of the trickle of grains down the back of his collar. “Come on. We can get cleaned up and find out how long the storm’s gonna last.” He grabbed the scale and one of the letters before tromping out of the modified garage, leaving small clumps of dust and dirt in his wake, and Daniel grabbed his bag to follow the blond swordsman.

At the top of the stairs, he saw Cloud hesitate next to a pair of light switches before flipping one and turning away from the door that was in the wall. From what he could see, nothing happened on this side of the door so whatever was attached to those switches was on the *other* side of the door. The blond gestured towards a door farther down the hall. “That’s the bathroom, and there’s a spare bedroom across the way. Feel free to use both getting clean.”

Cloud had walked into a large open room that looked like a cross between a bedroom and a living room, a large sturdy wooden bed pushed against the concrete wall while overstuffed chairs were scattered with a couch and a large bookshelf. Yet there was a surprisingly bare feel to the room, as if Cloud had only recently moved in and was still trying to find things to fill his space with. The blond shrugged out of his leather bits of armor dropping them in a pile of tangled black straps before peeling off his sweater to reveal a pair of tattooed wings on his back, the golden yellow feathers outlined in black ink standing out against the tanned skin.

“Why did you get wings tattooed on your back?” Daniel asked, curious to know if it was a cultural thing or a personal thing.

Cloud glanced over shoulder at Daniel, a sad smile on his lips. “My best friend took me out drinking on my sixteenth birthday,” he began, peeling off his gloves and dropping them on the dusty sweater. “He always compared me to a chocobo ‘cause of my hair, and I remember telling him that night that I couldn’t be a chocobo because chocobos have wings and I didn’t.”

Unable to help himself, Daniel chuckled. “And like any friend, he decided therefor that you needed wings and dragged you into the nearest tattoo parlor,” he concluded, remembering all too many similar stories circulating around the SGC and Jack telling of his early days in the military.

Suddenly, there was a quick knock from the door in the hallway, and it opened to admit Denzel whose blue eyes widened in delight at the sight of the blond. “Hey Cloud,” he greeted only to stop at the sight of Daniel, his grin fading slightly to nod politely in greeting.

“I thought Mr. Walter was giving you a test period today,” stated the blond, turning to face the young boy. His tone wasn’t accusing, as if Denzel was skipping this test period on purpose, more curious as to why Denzel wasn’t with Mr. Walter.

Denzel shrugged a shoulder. “He called when word of the windstorm starting came in and postponed it until tomorrow,” he said, running a hand through his reddish brown hair. “He said he was going to shut his shop down early anyway, and it wouldn’t be polite for me to be out in this weather anyway.” Those blue eyes flickered over to Daniel again before returning to Cloud. “Tifa’s not going to be opening until after this storm dies down but the radio’s talking that it’s going to be around until after sunset.”

“Thanks Denzel. Tell Tifa we’ll be over once we get cleaned up.” At the blond’s words, Denzel nodded and turned to vanish back through the mysterious door in the hallway that Daniel just figured out led to the Seventh Heaven bar. Cloud looked up at Daniel. “Go ahead and get a shower. I’ll head next door and borrow Tifa’s.”

Before Daniel could argue, Cloud had scooped up a pair of towels and a change of clothes and vanished through the door after Denzel, except he left the door open in an invitation to join them when Daniel was done. Shaking his head in confusion, Daniel dug out a change of clothes before investigating the bathroom.

The bathroom was large with a shower stall big enough for two and a round bathtub that could fit five people easily with a toilet and sink against the opposite wall. While it looked rather decadent compared to the rest of the building, Daniel could see something more than an opulent bathroom. The shower, big enough for two people when one was injured just enough to make washing troublesome, and the tub for when more than one person was hurt bad enough to require medical assistance but not bad enough to require a hospital. He briefly had to wonder if Cloud and his friends were injured so badly that they needed this kind of medical assistance on a regular basis but one thought about the snake earlier was enough to answer that question.

‘If monsters like that snake are common place, then they’d need a set up like this should things get out of hand,’ he mused, placing his clothes on the counter next to the sink before starting the water. ‘But if resources are as stretched as they seem to be, then it would make sense that they’d doctor themselves to keep from what they might see as taking away resources from someone who would need it more.’

Which was something they had seen before, and even lived it. Whenever they came back through the Gate beat up by whatever decided to pounce them that time, it was only the serious injuries that ended up in Janet’s clutches while the rest of them doctored themselves. Or if Daniel happened to return with a scrape or a bandage, he’d find himself in the infirmary with Janet holding her Penlight O’Doom, ready to double check all his injuries and especially his head even if it *didn’t* get smacked around like it normally did.

‘Maybe this time, I’ll be able to get back without any injuries,’ he mused before turning his attention to getting clean.

Cloud leaned over the map spread out on the table, frowning as he tried to plot out the best route to take. The easiest way would be to start on this continent and then move to the others, but Rufus wanted the flowers delivered while they were still fresh so that meant the Forgotten City was going to be one of his first stops. Maybe he could get a lift from Cid up to Icicle Lodge before hitting Wutai after the Forgotten City...

‘You’re not gonna be able to avoid it forever, Spike,’ mused a familiar voice at his shoulder, and Cloud froze at the feeling of someone standing there. His surroundings didn’t change but the faint, *familiar* scent of Zack drifted over his shoulder and it was all he could do to keep from whirling around, remembering all too well how the vision or dream slipped away when he had tried that with Aeris.

“I just don’t want to go back until I can’t avoid it,” Cloud whispered, his eyes focused on the map. “Too much was lost there.” His friends, his mother, his life, his identity, there were times when Cloud wondered if it was worth losing so much because of a megalomaniac with delusions of grandeur.

‘Seph wasn’t that bad, was he?’ inquired Zack with laughter in his voice.

A small smile twisted Cloud’s lips. “I was referring to Hojo.”

That got him a laugh that washed over him like curling up under a comfortable blanket, familiar and warming him to his toes, before the presence vanished, and Cloud stood there, looking at the map with unseeing eyes as he blinked back the tears that threatened to appear. He didn’t know why Zack was now showing up, but it left that comforting ache that was always there after Aeris visited him. Shaking his head, he returned his attention to the map even as a small smile touched his lips. If he kept getting visitors like that, he was going to have to explain it to Daniel if the other man caught Cloud talking to Zack or Aeris just to keep him from thinking the blond was insane.

A soft rustle of fabric caught Cloud’s attention and he looked up to find Vincent lounging in the doorway, looking as remote and untouchable as ever.

“Vincent,” greeted the blond, nodding at the older man. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“What route are you taking on this delivery for Shinra?” inquired the man, his deep voice washing over Cloud even as he walked over to the table, the tattered velvet cloak swishing behind him and he gazed down at the map, red eyes burning behind his black bangs barely kept out of his face with a strip of red cloth. Cloud was never surprised when Vincent seemed to know more about what was going on with Shinra and his group than the rest of them, especially after Meteor, and just chalked it up to having better connections with the Turks than the rest of them.

The blond shrugged a shoulder. “Was thinking about asking Cid for a lift up to Icicle Lodge, then over to the Forgotten City before dropping down to Wutai,” he explained, dragging a finger over the route he was planning. “If I knew of a way to avoid Nibelheim until the very end I would, but I can’t without wasting fuel.”

Red eyes caught mako blue across the table even as the golden claw lightly rested on the scarred wood next to black leather. “If you follow that route, you’ll be in Nibelheim for the anniversary.”

The tone was casual but Cloud could hear the faint note of concern in Vincent’s voice. “There’s no helping it,” he confessed with a shake of his head. “Not unless I want to waste fuel going around to the rest of the cities before doubling back to get Nibelheim. And Rufus wants me to stay there for at least a day to show the Turks the way to Hojo’s lab.” He scrubbed a hand across his eyes, wishing that there was another way that would avoid Nibelheim entirely, but Rufus wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. Of course, if this just turned out to be a test from Rufus, the other blond was going to be sorry when Cloud got done with him, Turks or no Turks.

Shaking his head, Cloud turned his attention towards the stairs as he heard Daniel starting to move around upstairs, and there was a muffled thump followed by words in a strange language that could only be swearing that caused the blond to chuckle. “Sounds like he’s not a morning person.”

“Would he be able to help you?” inquired Vincent, his own head cocked towards the stairs, and Cloud knew he was talking about the crippling nightmares he was prone to around the anniversaries of Nibelheim’s destruction and Zack’s death.

“I don’t know him well enough to trust him,” replied Cloud with another shake of his head. He bit his lower lip before looking up at Vincent with a serious expression. “Will you be there?”

Instead of replying with words, Vincent simply nodded his head once, and a bit of weight lifted from Cloud’s shoulders. “Thank you.” He turned his attention back to the map as Daniel staggered into the room, his pack held in one hand and his glasses clutched in the other as he blearily looked around for something. “What are you looking for...”

“Coffee,” groaned Daniel, spotting the machine and making a bee line for it, his bag falling from his fingers to crash to the ground while he absently settled his glasses on his face. He poured himself a cup and proceeded to inhale it while Cloud watched in amusement. He hadn’t seen anyone that much of a zombie since Yuffie discovered that Cid only had tea aboard the Highwind when they were chasing Sephiroth the first time.

There was a soft snort from Vincent, and Cloud didn’t have to look over to find a small smile on the dark haired gunman’s lips. Cloud waited for a few more minutes as something resembling awareness appeared in Daniel’s eyes before folding up the map. “We’ll be on our way as soon as I make a call.”

Daniel only nodded as he dropped into a chair at the table with his fingers curled around his second cup of coffee, and it was the work of a few minutes to secure a ride with Cid to Icicle Lodge. The pilot promised to pick up Cloud and his bike in the Wastelands and ferry them up to the Northern Continent before returning to Rocket Town to work on his next rocket ship. Cid was still trying to make it back into space with his sights set on the moon this time, and Cloud wondered idly if the Tau’ri could help him there.

Cloud reminded himself to ask Daniel about that. After the other man had his coffee of course.

The trees glowed with an unearthly white light, illuminating everything around them with a brightness that strangely didn’t blind the eye despite the fact they looked like they should. Daniel gazed around in wonder as Cloud killed the engine on the bike and slipped off, leaving the archaeologist to climb off a bit slower, still trying to see everything at once. They were parked next to a small pond that curved around what looked like an enormous conch shell with spikes and swirls that weren’t found on a normal Tau’ri conch, and the openings around the bottom of it looked like it was some sort of structure instead of a random natural formation. Daniel itched to ask questions about the place, but Cloud was kneeling next to the water with the cardboard box in his hand.

Opening the box, Cloud lifted out an arrangement of flowers and leaves. Purple hyacinth, forget-me-nots, acorn leaves with two acorns still attached, yellow daffodils, white carnations, lily-of-the-valley, and strange white tulips that he had never seen before were woven together to make a wreath that the blond floated on the water, gently nudging it towards the center of the lake.

“Hi, Aeris,” greeted Cloud, and Daniel looked at him to find that his eyes were gazing off into the distant, looking at something that only he could see, and that was when Daniel realized that this was more than just a Forgotten City.

This was where Aeris Gainsborough was buried.

“Rufus wanted me to deliver these to you, but where he managed to find some of your tulips, I don’t know. They’ve only started growing back around the new pool in your church, and I pulled up some of the boards to make room for them. People are still showing up to be cured of the Stigma but I’m sure you know about that already.” Cloud shook his head and stood up, turning back to the bike. “Come on. We can camp a bit farther out.”

“Right,” agreed Daniel, his voiced hushed and respectful, not wanting to disturb the peacefulness that this place seemed to radiate, and he slid on the bike behind Cloud again. He didn’t want to ask about why they weren’t staying in the strange shell structure, not when there was that much *care* in Cloud’s voice as his words drifted across the silent water that was lit by the trees and fireflies.

Perhaps later he would ask Cloud if he could explore that strange place or even if Cloud knew the story behind it.

As they drove a slight distance off, Daniel could make out some strange details in the glowing forest now; a shattered tree here, a rippled mound of dirt there, a strangely dark gash in another tree, and Daniel shivered at the sight of some sort of battle that had occurred here in this otherwise peaceful forest where no battle should be fought.

It was only a few minutes later when Cloud pulled to a stop in what looked like a small clearing with a small pool of water in it, and Daniel slid off again as Cloud grabbed his bedroll from the bike. He strolled over near the water and dropped his bedroll on the ground before gathering stones to make a fire ring.

“We’ll be safe tonight,” announced Cloud as Daniel moved over to join him. The blond was piling regular looking twigs and sticks in the ring of stones before standing up to wave a hand at the wood. There was a slight flare from one of the small green globes located in the intricately decorated arm band around Cloud’s upper arm, and a streak of red lashed out from his fingers to strike the wood, setting it on fire with a burst of flames. Daniel had jumped at the unexpected show of power, and Cloud glanced at him before ducking his head slightly in embarrassment. “Sorry. I forgot that you’re not use to materia being used.”

“Why did you build a fire?” asked Daniel, glancing around at the eerily glowing trees. “The trees provide ample light.”

Cloud grinned and pulled a cooking pot out of his pack. “It’s not for light, but heat and cooking,” he replied, filling the pot with water from the pool before placing it near the fire. “Unless you don’t think it gets cold here at night just because there’s no snow.”

A faint blush stained Daniel’s face. “Sorry. I’m not use to spending the night anywhere other than someone’s house or back at the base,” he apologized. “I packed camping gear, but didn’t think anything of it.”

“It’s okay,” the blond chuckled, throwing things into the pot before putting it on the flames. He dug out a couple of small jars with what looked like powder in them. “This is probably going to taste bland to you, but there’s seasonings you can add to your portion. Cid absolutely refuses to let me cook for him because I don’t use enough spices.”

Daniel thought back to the gruff blond that had transported them from the Wastelands to Icicle Lodge, a cup of tea in one hand, a lit cigarette between his lips and a strange crystalline spear slung across his back. He had to confess that the tea had been a surprise, believing Cid to be more of a coffee drinker, and he could understand how some people wouldn’t be able to please the blond scruffy pilot who seemed to enjoy bellowing and swearing at various people, usually those that were too close to the controls of his ship. “Does anyone make him happy or is all that bellow and bluster for show with him?”

Cloud grinned. “Honestly, I think he’s been grumbling and bellowing at Shinra for so long that it’s natural for him now,” he remarked, glancing over as Daniel rolled out a simple blanket. “Is that all you have?”

Blue eyes partially hidden behind glasses flickered down to the olive wool blanket he had spread on the ground before glancing at the paired blankets Cloud had unrolled. “Does it get much colder than this at night?” inquired Daniel, waving a hand at the chilly air.

“About fifty clicks that way is the start of the ice fields,” announced the blond, pointing in one direction. “This forest often gets rather cold at night. The last time my friends and I were here, we were sharing bed rolls and tents to stay warm.” He gestured towards Daniel’s blanket. We’ll share a bedroll tonight and you can sleep closest to the fire.”

“What about you?”

A shoulder was shrugged as glowing blue eyes fixed on the leaping flames. “The cold doesn’t affect me much anymore,” he confessed, his left hand absently rubbing his right arm where the bracer covered it. Daniel had to wonder what was hidden under that strip of leather that caused a reaction like that in the blond warrior and what memories it contained.

“So what was that place back there?” inquired Daniel as Cloud stirred the stew on the fire. “It was impressive but it didn’t look like a city.”

“That is all that remains of the Forgotten City, the lost city of the Ancients,” announced Cloud, his eyes remaining focused on the fire. “When they still lived, they built that city to be their capital along with a temple hidden deep in the jungle on the Western Continent. The Temple is gone now that the item it guarded was taken, and that is the only structure left of the Cetra.”

Daniel blinked and sat down next to the fire, his thoughts whirling as he tried to fit the bits and pieces of information he was getting into the larger picture and still coming up with some large holes in the puzzle. “Could you tell me more about what you know about these Ancients or Cetra?”

Cloud didn’t seem to hear the question as he gave the pot a few more stirs before pulling out two bowls with spoons and filling one, holding it out to Daniel. “I’ll tell you what I can, but I don’t know that much,” he confessed, dishing out his own bowl.

Nodding his understanding, Daniel tasted the stew only to frown slightly at the mellow taste. He wouldn’t call it bland by any stretch of the imagination, but there definitely wasn’t any spices that he could taste. Grinning, Cloud nudged the small jars closer to him. “I cook to my taste and everyone else seasons their food until they’re happy.”

“Why do you cook like that?” the archaeologist inquired, unable to see how anyone could cook and enjoy food that tasted like that. Reaching for the small jars, he popped the lids open and took a careful sniff to see if he could identify any of them. The reddish brown was definitely cayenne pepper, while the black was straight pepper, and the yellow powder had a faint tang like mustard.

“Heightened senses are one side effect to the SOLDIER treatments.” The words were soft in an almost flat voice, causing Daniel to look up from seasoning his stew to find Cloud’s eyes firmly fixed on his own bowl. “Sight, taste, smell, hearing, even touch. To you, the stew probably tastes bland, but to me, I can taste *everything* in it.”

Daniel shook his head. “I can see the advantages of that, but the disadvantages must be huge as well,” he stated. “Have any of your enemies taken advantage of that? Bright lights, loud explosions, that sort of thing?”

A smirk crossed Cloud’s face. “They tried,” he agreed. “But then they found out that a disoriented SOLDIER is even more dangerous than a normal one. A normal SOLDIER knows when to stop fighting because they can see their enemies running away, but one that’s been partially blinded and deafened is running on pure instinct. SOLDIER instincts are more feral than a regular trooper’s because they’re always stating that prey is out there and it needs to be killed. When a SOLDIER is in that state, the only thing that will be able to stop him is another couple of SOLDIERs, preferably of a higher Class.”

“Is that what happened back there? I saw signs of a battle as we drove away from the building.”

“No.” That one word hung in the air between them, glowing blue meeting curious blue, before Cloud sighed and continued. “Kadaj and his brothers convinced a bunch of kids to come with them for the promise of curing their Stigma, including Denzel. Marlene was kidnaped by Loz after he defeated Tifa, pressuring me into coming after them. Back there is where we fought and I lost.”

“What happened?” Daniel smiled, encouragingly, as he waved a hand at Cloud. “Well, you’re here, they’re not, and Denzel and Marlene are back.”

“A friend rescued me,” remarked Cloud as a soft breeze slipped through the trees and ruffled their hair, sounding almost like a sigh or even a soft laugh when some of the crystalline branches rubbed together. Daniel glanced up at the trees, but shrugged it off as another feature of this planet.

“Now about the Ancients,” prodded Daniel to remind Cloud as they ate.

The blond put his bowl off to one side and rested his arms on his knees as he stared into the fire. “The Ancients were children of Gaia who could talk to the planet and understand it. According to the legends, they didn’t need materia to access Gaia’s power. Then some of them stopped listening to the planet, moving away to live away from those that still listened.”

“What happened to those that listened to the planet?” inquired Daniel, trying to figure out how someone could listen to a planet. Perhaps they were more sensitive to geometric pressure that came from the weather, or they lived like the Native Americans did, in harmony with their surroundings instead of like modern society.

“The Calamity. Heaven’s Dark Harbinger. Jenova.” The titles sent a shiver of dread down Daniel’s spine at the emotionlessness in Cloud’s voice, glowing eyes firmly fixed on the fire now. “She fell from the sky, wounding the planet in a way that it is still recovering from, and infected one of the Ancients, hoping to use them as a cover as she destroyed all life on the planet. Only the others were on to her tricks and sealed her in a mako crystal.”

“Is this the same Jenova that Kadaj used to resurrect Sephiroth by absorbing a large quantity of her cells before transforming into Sephiroth?” asked Daniel, remembering where he had heard the name ‘Jenova’ before.

Cloud nodded his head. “Hojo, Gast and another scientist found her in the Northern Crater where she had fallen from the stars and where the Ancients had imprisoned her. They brought her, dead yet alive, to Nibelheim where they started experimenting. One of the things they created was Sephiroth and the other were the SOLDIERs.”

“How can something be dead yet alive?” asked Daniel, confused. The only time he had hears anything similar to that was the old myths of various gods, like Osiris, but part of him had to wonder if they were more because of Gou’ald’s spreading the tales than any real truth.

“All I know is that she was imprisoned in a mako crystal for two thousand years and *still* was alive enough to drive Sephiroth insane and help him control others with her cells like puppets.” A shiver visibly coursed through the blond while Daniel’s thoughts whirled. Jenova certainly *sounded* like a Gou’ald symbiote, but never before had they come across a symbiote that managed to survive in a corpse for two millennia as well as controlled others that shared the cells of its host or even the symbiote itself. Plus there was that part about *destroying* all life. The Gou’ald wouldn’t destroy it unless it proved to be too troublesome for them to enslave.

Whatever Jenova was, it was obvious that she wasn’t a Gou’ald which made Daniel wonder just *what* she had been and if there were more like her out there.

‘Just what the SGC *doesn’t* need. Another enemy,’ he sighed, scrubbing his hands through his dark hair.

Sighing softly, Cloud tightened his grip slightly on the slender form that he was wrapped around, ignoring the faint chill that plucked at his bare back as he rested his forehead on the other man’s back. Daniel hadn’t hesitated when Cloud had offered to share his bedroll with the Tau’ri or when Cloud put him between the blond and the fire.

Closing his eyes, Cloud relaxed and smiled when he felt a soft brush of grass against his skin, knowing what he’d see when he opened his eyes. He wasn’t disappointed to find an almost glaring white sky and surrounded by flowers as he sat up, having been lying on his back when he arrived.

“What’s going on? What is this place?” demanded a voice that didn’t belong in this place, and Cloud looked over to find Daniel was standing up, gazing around with a confused look on his face.

“Um, oops,” came a more familiar voice, and Cloud turned to find Aeris standing there with Zack with an embarrassed look on her face. Aeris grimaced as she gazed at Daniel. “I’m sorry. I must have pulled too hard to get you as well.”

Daniel stared at the two people in surprise. “Who are you? And what do you mean ‘pulled’? We were asleep in the glowing forest and then we’re here.”

“Ya know, if I’d know you asked this many questions, I would have asked Aeris to pull you up first to answer them before we got Spike up here,” drawled Zack, an amused smirk on his face.

“Aeris?” asked Daniel, looking at the brown haired girl in the pink dress. “Cloud and his friends talked about an Aeris, but she died.”

She nodded. “I did,” she agreed with a small smile even as Cloud felt his heart clench again at the knowledge that Aeris wouldn’t be with him when he returned to his body. “And this is the Lifestream.”

“Does that mean we’re dead?” The confusion on Daniel’s face was clear as he glanced around. “Or is it because we camped so close to where you died and the Forgotten City?”

Zack’s glowing violet eyes focused on Cloud with a wry smile. “He does ask a lot of questions doesn’t he?”confirmed the dark haired man.

Cloud shrugged a shoulder. “He’s an archaeologist from some world called Tau’ri,” the blond explained. “From what I understand, it’s his job to ask a lot of questions so his companions can understand what they’ve arrived in.”

Aeris giggled. “Cloud is here because we wanted to talk to him while you are here because I accidentally pulled a bit too hard when I brought Cloud here,” she admitted with an embarrassed smile. “I wasn’t expecting you to be quite so sensitive to the Lifestream.”

“What do you mean?” asked Daniel again, and Aeris glanced at Cloud, her green eyes asking for permission to speak to Daniel alone and the blond nodded. Perhaps she would be able to answer Daniel’s questions better than he had, and she grinned, pulling Daniel a slight bit away before urging him to sit among the flowers with her.

A strong and familiar arm looped itself around Cloud’s shoulders as Zack pulled him a few more steps away. “Let ‘em talk for a while. It looks like your guy has a lot of questions for our girl to answer.”

Cloud shook his head. “Daniel’s not ‘my guy’. Shinra paid me extra to take him with me while delivering some letters so Daniel could get a mostly unbiased opinion of our world,” he explained, hoping he didn’t sound too wistful. There really hadn’t been anyone he could claim as a bed partner since Aeris died. Tifa had tried, but Cloud couldn’t help but compare the brunette fighter to Aeris. His last male bed partner was standing next to him, a part of the Lifestream. Cloud trusted Vincent enough to have considered the ex-Turk a possible bed partner, but the two had been busy with their own lives to really get together as anything other than friends.

“Besides, it wouldn’t be fair to either of us to try a relationship beyond acquaintances since he lives on an entirely different planet, and there’s no guarantee that he’ll ever be back when he leaves,” added Cloud, staring at Zack with serious blue eyes before he looked away.

“We hate to see you so alone,” murmured Zack, his arm sliding from Cloud’s shoulders to his neck as he pulled the blond closer, and Cloud curled his arms around Zack’s waist, tucking his head in the crook of Zack’s neck to breath in the subtle spice and leather scent that always meant comfort to the blond. A scent that he had almost forgotten after Zack had died.

“If the gods will it,” replied Cloud, closing his eyes and relaxing against Zack. “Wish you and Aeris could come back.”

Strong arms slid around his waist, and Cloud melted against Zack, content to just be held for a while with someone else being the strong one. It was so familiar, this embrace, yet so different because Zack’s chest didn’t rise and fall with breath nor was there the beating of a heart under Cloud’s ear. All he had was the scent of Zack swirling around him and the feel of those arms around him to tell him it was as real as possible.

There was a soft footstep behind them that was the only warning before a voice spoke.

“It’s been a while, Cloud.”

Daniel laughed as Aeris finished telling him about how she and Cloud had to rescue Tifa from Don Cornelo and Cloud had to dress in drag to do it. She hadn’t been able to tell him much about the Ancients and had instead offered to tell him more about Cloud and his friends. A flicker of silver out of the corner of his eye caught his attention and he glanced over to find someone with long silver hair standing behind Cloud who was wrapped in the dark haired man’s arms like a lost lover.

The person was dressed entirely in black leather, probably a coat from what Daniel could tell, and the archaeologist saw Cloud stiffen when the silver and black person spoke.

“It’s been a while, Cloud,” the person purred in a deep smooth voice.

A small growl came from Aeris as she jumped to her feet. “We didn’t get the chance to explain to Cloud and he was suppose to wait for us to signal that it would be okay,” she grumbled, before grabbing Daniel’s hand and hauling him to his feet with surprising strength for someone who barely came up to his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get there to keep the damage down.”

Instead of releasing his hand, Aeris used her grip on him to drag Daniel over to where Cloud had twisted free of his friend’s arms to stand between the dark haired man and the new arrival. Glowing blue eyes flickered over to them briefly before returning to the silver haired person as an even more determined look appeared on Cloud’s face. “Aeris, stay back. I don’t want you or Daniel getting hurt.”

That didn’t seem to stop Aeris as she dragged Daniel over to stand next to Cloud and the dark haired man, and now the archaeologist could see that the person the blond was facing off with was a man. He had pale, sharp features that were quite attractive, almost beautiful, and glowing green eyes that had strange slitted pupils, the same eyes that the boy Denzel had briefly acquired when he had served them back in the Seventh Heaven. There was a small smile on those pale lips, but in those strange cat-like eyes there was a flicker of regret buried under a cool mask, making Daniel wonder who this was to put a look of fierce determination and absolute fury on Cloud’s face.

“What do you want here, Sephiroth?” demanded Cloud, enough venom in his voice to kill a dinosaur, and his arms outstretched to protect the black haired man at his back despite the fact he didn’t have any weapons.

Daniel’s eyes whipped over to stare at the silver haired man with a look of surprise. So that was Sephiroth, the famous general who went insane and destroyed so much, but if he was still a danger, would Aeris be dragging him so close to the man who had ended her life?

“Zack, you were suppose to explain it to Cloud,” she admonished, tossing a brief glare at the black haired man.

He smiled a bit sheepishly, but the delighted glow in his violet eyes didn’t dim any. “I didn’t get the chance before Seph showed up, doll,” he apologized, spreading his hands in a harmless manner.

“Explain what? Zack, what’s going on here?” demanded Cloud, backing up to face all of them with a wary look on his face, like someone who was wondering if the one person he trusted above all others had just turned on him.

Zack held out his hands in a calming gesture. “Easy, Spike,” he soothed, taking a couple of steps away from Sephiroth, and Daniel noticed some of the tension drain out of Cloud. “You know as well as I do that Jenova doesn’t have any hold over anyone here, and when we stumbled over Seph after your last confrontation with him, he managed to convince us that he wanted to explain a few things to you. That’s all.”

“Explain? Explain what?” Cloud demanded again, those glowing blue eyes turning to pin Sephiroth with a burning glare. “Explain why he went crazy at Jenova’s prodding? Explain why he decided to destroy *everything* I ever knew? Explain why he didn’t trust us enough to come to us before it reached that point? Explain why he used me like a puppet, gave me some small measure of belonging only to be tossed aside *again* when he had gotten what he wanted?”

With each accusation, Sephiroth winced, not much but enough to let Daniel know how much the blond was hurting him, yet Daniel could also see how emotionally tangled up Cloud was as anger, fear and hurting burned in those glowing blue eyes. Cautiously, Daniel stepped forward, hoping to get the blond’s attention and perhaps calm him down before something happened that would damage everyone here permanently. “Cloud, you trust them to back you up, right?”

The blond gave a jerky nod, an almost bird like action, and Daniel returned the nod. “Then it seems to me that Sephiroth is out numbered here with the four of us against him should he decide to attack any of us,” the archaeologist reasoned with a comforting smile, one he had offered to his young brother-in-law whenever the boy crawled in with him when the night storms grew too loud on Abydos. “So how about we hear him out and if you don’t like what he says, then I’m sure Aeris and Zack will keep him away from you whenever you visit them here.”

Those blue eyes turned to pin Sephiroth in place. “Start talking.”

And Sephiroth obeyed.

Blinking, Cloud opened his eyes and peered around at the familiar glowing trees before glancing down at the man in his arms. Daniel remained asleep, apparently he was either still in the Lifestream talking to Aeris and Zack or his body hadn’t bothered to wake up when Aeris had pulled them both up for a chat. Carefully, he moved away from Daniel to sit against the trunk of a tree, his glowing blue eyes focused on the dancing fireflies even as his thoughts returned to the strange conversation between himself and Sephiroth.

‘I am sorry.’

Those had been the first words Sephiroth had said once Cloud demanded he started talking, and the blond could tell that there was no deception in anything Sephiroth had said. Some little voice inside him had whispered that the silver haired man had only been sincere when he apologized for his actions in Nibelheim seven years ago as well as the other times they had met. The only time they had clashed that Sephiroth hadn’t apologized for was when Kadaj had become the silver haired ex-general.

“You had been slowly killing yourself,” Sephiroth had stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. “As surely as the Stigma was destroying your body, you were destroying your heart with what you perceived to be your guilt over things you could not have changed. You were my friend before Nibelheim, and I could not allow you to condemn yourself to the same slow death I had sentenced myself to before Zack came along.”

Cloud shook his head, trying to dispel that thought as it circled his mind, refusing to give up until he acknowledged it, and he sighed in frustration as he ran a hand through his hair. Yes, he was willing to admit that he had been carrying around guilt of what he perceived to be actions that he should have been able to stop, such as Aeris dying or even handing over the Black Materia, while wishing there had been a way for him to have prevented other incidents, like Sephiroth burning Nibelheim and Zack getting killed while protecting him.

“Was I really killing myself with guilt?” he muttered, trying to wrap his mind around the idea even as he muddled through the confusion left by Sephiroth’s words.

“I believe there are many who are guilty of that action,” replied a deep smooth voice as Vincent materialized out of the darkness between the trees. He strolled across the small camp to lean against the tree Cloud was sitting under, and Cloud glanced up to find a far off look on the gunman’s face. “There are things that we wish we could have changed or prevented if it had been possible, and we carry that with us.”

Reaching out, Cloud plucked a white flower growing at the base of the tree and stared at the soft petals. “But most people get the chance to come to terms with that,” he added, twirling the flower in his fingers. “I thought I had.”

“What changed?”

A wry smile stretched across Cloud’s lips as his eyes flickered up to Vincent who was looking distant and as unapproachable as ever. “Sephiroth apologized for everything that happened except our last fight.”

Surprise flickered across that pale face before it vanished, leaving a calm cool mask behind, and Cloud returned his gaze to the flower in his hand. “Shocked the hell out of me too. But the reason he wouldn’t apologize for our last fight was because he wouldn’t let me slide into the same slow death he had sentenced himself to before Zack came into his life.” He shook his head and let the flower drop from his fingers. “One last favor as a friend, I guess.”

Daniel stirred in the bed roll and Cloud glanced at him, watching the Tau’ri get up, even as a whisper of tattered velvet indicated Vincent had left. Shaking his head, Cloud moved to get coffee started as he tried to sort out his tangled emotions.

He only hoped he got his head screwed on straight before they reached Nibelheim, but a part of him doubted it would be that easy.

The bike roared through the mountains, climbing higher with each turn, and Daniel felt the tension grow in Cloud as they went. They had managed to shave a couple of days off of the schedule that Cloud had planned out, according to the blond, and that meant they would be able to arrive in Nibelheim, do what was requested of them, and leave again in a timely manner. Daniel had asked if the town had been rebuilt by the survivors of Sephiroth’s rampage, and Cloud had replied that there hadn’t been any survivors.

At least none that Shinra was willing to acknowledge.

The trip to the other places that Shinra had requested letters delivered to had gone smoothly. Daniel had been surprised by the Oriental style buildings in Wutai while the people seemed mostly of Oriental descent. There had been a few that resembled Reno and Cloud with Caucasian features mixed with a touch of the Orient, but there had been many that looked like they had stepped straight out of China or Japan. Rocket Town had been strange with the home made rocket leaning against its tower even as it seemed to loom over the town itself. A brief stop at a large house to drop off one of the letters, then another quick stop at a store for supplies, and they were back on the road to the mountains.

By the time the powerful bike sped under the iron arch, Cloud was practically thrumming with tension, and Daniel couldn’t help but wonder what would happen when the blond finally let go of his temper. Or who it would be that caused him to explode.

Part of the tension Daniel knew was from the strange meeting a couple of weeks ago where Sephiroth had apologized to Cloud before pointing out what sounded like a few hard truths, and the blond had been trying to work through his thoughts and emotions since then. Cloud hadn’t been snippy with Daniel, appearing more than willing to answer questions, but he had been more silent than he had before the meeting.

Some of the people called out friendly greetings as they made their way through the small town to the path that lead farther up into the mountains that towered over the collection of buildings, and with each greeting, Daniel felt Cloud grow more and more tense, his muscles turning almost rock hard under Daniel’s hands.

Finally, they stopped before a rusted fence that surrounded a mansion that looked like it had been abandoned for years, and Cloud killed the engine but made no move to get off the bike. Daniel glanced around as he slid off the bike only to turn back at a ka-chunk noise, and he watched as Cloud pulled out two swords that he slid into the harness on his back.

“Are those necessary?” asked Daniel, realizing that the blond hadn’t used the swords since the day they had left Healin even if they had been accessible in the bike’s compartments.

“I don’t trust Shinra,” Cloud stated, his eyes hard and unforgiving as he slid off the bike and that gaze slipped past Daniel to stare at the crumbling mansion. “Especially not here.” Another button and the compartments were closed again while Cloud started up the weed choked pathway to the mansion, one of the now familiar envelopes in his hand.

Daniel wanted to know what was it about the crumbling mansion and Shinra being there that he didn’t trust, but with Cloud’s stride carrying the blond swordsman over the ground towards the mansion, the only place he was going to get any answers was inside the crumbling building. Shaking his head and muttering about stubborn blonds in Ancient Egyptian, Daniel dug his own gun out of his pack and hurried to catch up with Cloud as he strapped it around his waist.

He managed to catch up with the blond just as Cloud slipped into the mansion, and Daniel tried not to shiver at the dark atmosphere of the place as he looked around. There were cobwebs on the walls and in the corners, some of the floor boards were warped, and he was sure the carpet wasn’t suppose to be a moldy green color. However there were some visible attempts at cleaning the place up, such as the dust and dirt that had been swept from the floorboards and the broken furniture that was piled in a room to be removed later, but there was still a lot that needed to be done if this place was ever going to be habitable again.

There was the sound of footsteps above them, and Daniel turned to look up the sweeping staircase to the second floor just as a blond in a dark blue suit appeared at the top of the stairs. At first Daniel thought it was Rufus Shinra standing there, but then his eyes began picking out more details that distinguished this person from Shinra, such as the curves that were almost visible under the dark jacket and the fact that the hair wasn’t the same style as Shinra’s.

As she walked down the stairs, Daniel noticed that she carried herself like Jack did, ready for anything to jump her, and he realized this must be Elena, the last of the Turks. She nodded her head in greeting as she stopped a polite distance away from them. “We’ve managed to get some of the worst debris out of here, but we still haven’t found the passage to Hojo’s labs.”

Cloud only nodded once before starting up the stairs, his shoulders stiff as he passed Elena, and Daniel followed him, stopping briefly to smile at her. “Are you Elena? Reno talked about you, and Mr. Shinra stated that you would be here cleaning this place up. I’m Dr. Daniel Jackson.”

She blinked at him for a minute before a corner of her mouth curled up in an amused smile. “Yes, I’m Elena, and I can just imagine what that son of a bitch said about me, Dr. Jackson,” she replied before nodding towards Cloud’s retreating back. “But if you will excuse me, I do have a job to do.”

Daniel nodded his understanding as they followed Cloud through some rooms on the second floor before he stopped in front of a stone wall that was curved. Cloud glanced over his shoulder at Elena as he held out the envelope. “Here. From the bastard you call a boss.”

Elena just snorted as she took it and shoved it in one of her pockets as Cloud went back to examining the stone wall. A few more minutes passed before Cloud did something that Daniel didn’t see to the stones, and a section of the wall rotated out of the way, revealing a dark stairwell descending into even more darkness that was only broken up by the stray light that managed to slip through the cracks in the stones.

“We need to be careful,” Cloud stated, drawing the largest of his swords. “The wood’s undoubtedly rotten and there’s no telling what has moved in or escaped the labs since the last time we were here. I’ll go first.”

There was a rustling behind Daniel, and he glanced back to find Elena had drawn her gun to hold it in a comfortable grip. Deciding it was better to be safe than sorry, he also drew his gun before they carefully started down the creaking stairs. They were more like thick beams inserted into the wall to act like stairs than a true staircase, but the design was solid enough to act as a staircase if needed. Unfortunately, there were gaps in the stairs where boards had rotted away and probably fallen to the ground far below. Cloud was slowly descending the stairs, staying as close to the wall as he could to prevent too much pressure from being placed on the wood.

Nothing jumped out of the darkness at them as they finished descending to the rocky floor, and Daniel swallowed as he gazed around at the corridor that stretched out before them like a dungeon, the rock looking a deep purple in the dark shadows. He gripped his gun a bit more tightly as he followed Cloud down the corridor, only to jump when Elena hissed slightly and Cloud turned to look back at them over his shoulder.

Daniel knew that Cloud’s eyes glowed, the blond himself had stated it and he had plenty of time before hand to observe the phenomenon as they traveled, but never had Daniel seen eyes that literally *glowed*. Outside in the light, Cloud’s eyes were brighter than a normal person’s eyes, but down here in the darkness, there was nothing for the blue flame light to compete with.

“I don’t see anything but stay close,” murmured Cloud, his quiet voice carrying through the corridor. “There should be a light switch in Hojo’s office. There was the last time we were here.”

“Right,” breathed Elena. “After you.”

Cloud turned back around and continued down the corridor with Daniel following a bit more cautiously even as a shiver slid down his spine at the thought of those glowing eyes focusing on him again. Not even the golden flash of a Gou’ald’s eyes sent that touch of fear down his back since Shau’ri had been taken, and even then, it had been more of a desperation instead of a blood chilling fear. He could understand now why the SOLDIERs had the reputation they had, and Daniel hoped that he never had to face down a SOLDIER like he had a Gou’ald.

He bumped into Cloud’s back when the blond stopped but before Daniel could apologize, there was a click and light flooded the area, forcing Daniel to shut his eyes against the blinding light. From the swears coming from behind him, Elena wasn’t expecting the light either, but after a few seconds, Daniel’s eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness.

“Sorry,” apologized Cloud as he moved aside to reveal an office lined with bookshelves, and Daniel looked around at the neat office that still managed to look cluttered mostly due to the desk covered with various papers. Elena pushed past Daniel, holstering her gun as she did, and headed right for the desk.

“I’m going to have to call the Boss about a clean-up crew now that this place has been found,” she muttered, more to herself than either Cloud or Daniel as she picked up a few pieces of paper to look at. “Too much risk of something here finding its way out into the open.”

Cloud snorted and sheathed his sword. “Too much of a chance ruining Shinra’s reputation again, you mean,” he drawled, leaning against the doorway as if he had no intention of venturing further into the office. Elena tossed a glare over her shoulder before pulling out her cell phone and dialing a number.

Moving farther into the office, Daniel glanced at the various books, but none seemed to have titles on the spines. With a faint frown, he holstered his gun before pulling one out at random and flipping it open to reveal a journal filled with cramped but neat writing in that strange kanji and rune writing that seemed a part of the culture. After a bit of studying, he was able to figure out the words and a smile flickered over his face at his latest success.

‘Specimen C shows high sensitivity to mako and SOLDIER treatment. Possible the brother carries same sensitivity? Shinra trait or mother?’Daniel frowned at the clinical notation scribbled in the margarine next to the detailed account of the latest treatment Specimen C had undergone on that day, something he didn’t want to look too close at, and he was about to close the book to replace it on the shelf when a piece of paper wedged in the open slot caught his eye. It looked like it had fallen out of a book or a folder and had been shoved back there when the books had been placed on the shelf.

Carefully reaching back, Daniel snagged the paper and pulled it out, being careful not to rip it, and he managed to unfold it with one hand as he held the open book in the other. It was a birth certificate for Rufus Shinra, one of a set of twin boys, but why would this be here? Unless it had been shoved into the book Daniel held in his hand and had fallen out at a later time, but why didn’t President Shinra mention that he had a twin brother or even a brother?

“Um, Elena, who is Specimen C?” Daniel asked, turning to face the Turk with the birth certificate in one hand and the journal in the other. Elena glanced over at him with a confused look on her face even as she held her phone to her ear, but Cloud’s face grew deathly pale.

“Why do you want to know that?” demanded Cloud, his voice harsh as he glared at Daniel.

The archaeologist held up the birth certificate. “I was wondering why Rufus Shinra was willing to let his twin be experimented on.”

Cloud really didn’t want to be here, not in this office that was so close to the lab that stole five years of his life, and it was only the fact that Daniel wasn’t leaving kept him standing there, despite his casual stance next to the door. Elena was on her PHS talking to Rufus while Daniel was poking around the various journals that crowded the bookshelves that lined the walls. The faint scent of mako lingered in the air, a scent he figured permeated the very rock that enclosed the lab at the far end of the office, and in his mind, he could see Sephiroth once more pouring over the journals, desperately searching for answers to questions that Jenova and Hojo had sparked in him.

“Um, Elena, who is Specimen C?”

The words swirled through Cloud’s head before settling around his heart like an icy fist, and he stared at Daniel who was holding an open journal in one hand and a piece of paper in the other. “Why do you want to know that?”

Daniel held up the piece of paper. “I was wondering why Rufus Shinra was willing to let his twin be experimented on.”

“I don’t have a brother,” stated Cloud. Despite his messed up memories, he knew that for a fact. He never had any siblings when he lived in Nibelheim, just his mother, and if Rufus had a twin, then the world would have known about it. “And if Shinra had any siblings, then the world would have known.”

“Not if it was kept secret for some reason,” replied Daniel, turning the journal around for Cloud to read even as he placed the paper, a birth certificate, on the opposite page of the incriminating notation.

As Cloud took the journal to read the words there, he felt his world turn on its head again. If he was to believe what was written, then he was indeed Rufus Shinra’s twin, but the question was, did he *want* to believe what the evidence said? After all, how many times had Shinra or Hojo twisted the truth to suit themselves and to let others believe what they wanted them to believe?

He turned to glare at Elena who was staring at the journal in Cloud’s hands as if expecting it to suddenly transform into a Kalm Fang. “Tell your bastard of a boss that if this is a joke, I’m not laughing,” he growled, his hand tightening on the book. “And while you’re talking with him, tell him also that I want *all* the files about Specimen C. Non-negotiable.”

Elena listened to the voice on the other end of her PHS before turning and holding it out to Cloud. “He wants to talk to you.”

Cloud carefully took the PHS, not wanting to crush the delicate piece of circuitry and plastic before Rufus had explained everything. “What?”

“I assure you, Cloud, that what you found is no joke as you well know,” began Rufus, his voice almost bored, and Cloud could just see him sitting behind his desk, examining his nails while he talked.

“I never had a brother,” interrupted Cloud, the plastic squeaking slightly in his hand, reminding him not to grip the PHS too tightly. “I would have remembered a brother while I was growing up here with my parents. And I’m sure the rest of Nibelheim would have mentioned something about a brother as well.”

There was a sigh from Rufus. “Cloud, don’t pretend to not know what I am talking about just because Dr. Jackson is there. Father informed me numerous times that you were waiting in the wings to take over my company should I grow lax. And I will be keeping all of Hojo’s records.”

Something in Cloud’s mind snapped, and a growl echoed through the room. “You wanna play hard ball, you bastard, we’ll play!” he growled, dropping the journal on the floor with the PHS before storming to the far end of the office, drawing his swords again as he went. Dimly, he heard footsteps behind him but didn’t look to see who was following him. It didn’t matter who it was, fury burning through his veins, demanding he strike out at something and destroy the cause of his anger.

The stone walls opened into the laboratory where he had remained a prisoner and an experiment, mako tubes encircling the floor where a surgical table lay, dust coating the surface in a thick blanket. Without pausing, Cloud drove both swords into the table up to their hilts before turning on the tubes. He didn’t want his swords for this, not right now, not when his hands would be more satisfying.

Reaching the first mako tube, Cloud rammed his fist through the door, SOLDIER-proof glass shattering like ice, before grabbing the inside of the door and ripping it off its hinges. Blood trickled from the cuts in his leather gloves where razor sharp glass shards had sliced the gloves and his hands, but he paid the injuries no mind as he turned to heave the door into the mako tubes across the lab, the crunch of metal and the shattering of glass music to his ears. The shrieking of tearing metal was even more satisfying when Cloud pulled the tank out of its fastening and slammed it to the stone floor, and the tank crumpled under the force, like a child stepping on an aluminum can.

Baring his teeth in the parody of a grin, Cloud turned and moved to the next tank, ignoring the crumpled metal left in his wake. The low sound of someone talking was a distant murmur as he methodically destroyed every single object in the room, leaving torn metal and cracked stone behind him. All the frustration, fury, and pain that had built up by coming back to this place, he released it all in the destruction of his surroundings.

Finally, only two tubes were left, situated directly across from each other, and he turned to find Daniel standing in the doorway, his blue eyes huge behind his glasses. Cloud gestured for him to come over, the fury having abated enough that he no longer felt like ripping someone’s head from their shoulders, and Daniel carefully approached, stepping around the crumpled debris in his way.

“Let me show you my home for almost five years,” remarked Cloud, fingers digging into the metal before pulling the door away to let it fall to the stone floor with a loud clang. Inside, it looked just like any other tank except for the scratches in the metal surface. Scratches he had put there with his own nails, day after day of trying to escape the mako and the lab, desperately hoping he could get to Zack trapped in the tank across from him so they could escape this nightmarish place together.

Daniel leaned in as Cloud turned to walk across the room to the other tube and grabbed his main sword as he passed the metal table, the blade coming out with a screech. Stopping in front of the tube, he raised his hand to rest on the glass where scratches were dug into the inside, much like the ones in ‘his’ tube. There had been times when Zack had ripped his nails off trying to get out, usually when Cloud was being taken out for some experiment, and Cloud could vaguely remember the green mako becoming faintly tinted with red before he was hauled off.

“For almost five years, we were in sight of each other, helpless to watch as the other was removed for experiments, unable to fight back, unable to escape.” Cloud’s hand tightened on his sword before he swung. There was a cracking sound before the top half of the tube slid off, sliced cleanly through, and absently Cloud noticed that the stone wall behind the tube had also been cut, the gash visible on the dark stone.

Cloud returned to the table and pulled out his second sword before bringing both of them down on the metal surface. A loud ka-chunk sound echoed through the suddenly quiet room as the table was sliced into thirds, and Cloud calmly sheathed the swords on his back again, apparently calm once more. He stalked towards Elena who was gripping her gun in one hand and her PHS in the other as if she couldn’t decide which one to use, and he plucked the PHS from her numb fingers, feeling the anger and fear of this place humming just below his skin. “I have been reasonable and considerate to you up to this point, but you forget that while I might not have carried the rank, I *am* a SOLDIER First Class. Now those records are mine by right of Doctor-Patient confidentiality, and if I do not get them or find out that you have made copies, I might loose my temper in other ways. And that wouldn’t look too good to the Tau’ri, now would it?”

“I do not appreciate being blackmailed...” began Rufus only for Cloud to cut him off again.

“And I don’t like being played for a fool, Shinra,” he replied, his voice hard. “There is absolutely *no* reason for you to hang on to those records, unless you prefer to read that sort of thing before bed. I expect to get a call from Tifa that those files have been delivered to her before I return to Edge. You have that long.”

He held the phone out to Elena who took it with a hand that only trembled slightly, and he glanced over his shoulder to find Daniel was examining the mako tube, fingers splayed to match up with the marks Cloud’s fingers had left there. “I’m leaving. I’ll wait fifteen minutes before leaving Nibelheim with or without you.”

With that final announcement, Cloud vanished up the stairs to the mansion and the freedom that lay beyond the doors.

With one hand resting against the cool metal, Daniel stared after the blond, unsure what he should do. He was all too aware of the grooves under his fingers, spaced just far enough to indicate that fingernails had left these marks, but how long had Cloud clawed at the metal, desperate to escape the horror that he was trapped in, to leave such *deep* grooves?

He managed to wrestle his attention away from the chamber in front of him and walked across the room to examine the other chamber to find the same scratch marks on the glass, but as he put his fingers in the gouges, he realized that they were made by someone with larger hands. Also considering that the gouges were on the top of the chamber as well, the other person must have been taller than Cloud to have a longer reach. Daniel remembered the almost revered way Cloud had touched this chamber before slicing it in half as opposed to the almost animalistic way he had decimated the rest of the room. Whomever had been trapped in here had been important to Cloud.

‘A dozen feet away from each other and unable to do anything to help the other,’ Daniel thought, his heart going out to Cloud and his mysterious friend. He frowned at the realization that perhaps Cloud’s friend wasn’t so mysterious. It had obviously been someone who the blond cared a great deal about, and Daniel was willing to bet that somehow the person in question had also undergone the same treatment as Cloud to be able to withstand the numerous experiments done on them.

The mysterious Vincent seemed to fit the profile of the other person, from the comfortable ease between the two that the archaeologist had seen back at the Seventh Heaven, but that large golden claw wouldn’t have made such shallow grooves in the metal or glass despite being the right size.

“But Vincent’s eyes don’t glow as brightly as Cloud’s do,” he muttered with a frown as he tried to recall other people close to Cloud that had glowing eyes. If they had been through almost five years of hell together, there was no way Cloud would just shrug them off. Not with the reverence he had shown in his actions. Laughing violet eyes flashed in his mind, and Daniel felt like hitting himself on the forehead for being so obviously blind.

The reason why the person wasn’t in Cloud’s group of friends is because he was dead, killed some time after they escaped. His thoughts drifted back to the picture Cloud and Zack had made, holding each other in the Lifestream, an almost desperation in Cloud’s stance as if he could keep Zack with him by holding on to him tight enough, while Zack was trying to comfort and sooth at the same time. They were obviously close before Zack’s death, or Cloud wouldn’t have asked for Zack’s footlocker from Shinra along with his own, and it was obviously an injury that had yet to heal.

Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Daniel wandered over to where Elena was listening to whomever was on her cell phone. “So, what happened to Zack Fair after he and Cloud got out of here? And why were they here in the first place? Does Shinra make it a habit of using their own troopers for lab experiments?”

Elena looked at him, her face unreadable before she nodded with a “Yes sir” before hanging up. “SOLDIER First Class Zack Fair died in the line of duty. Any other information is classified. Now if you will excuse me, I have work to do.”

“I don’t accept that as an explanation,” Daniel stated, his voice hard as he glared at her. He wasn’t going to swallow the “classified” line of bullshit from anyone. Not when it was this big of a shadow in Cloud’s past, a man Daniel was coming to consider his friend. “That’s a cop out. Now you can tell me, or my friends and I can pack our things and head home to leave you and your world without any of the help we can provide.”

It was easy to assume that Daniel knew nothing about politics, but between getting his PhD and acting as an advisor and translator on the various planets they had visited, he knew plenty about politics. While he might not enjoy the game as much as others did, he was not above using his knowledge to help others, usually the SGC. And if politics failed, well, he still had his gun on him even if he preferred not to use it.

Elena shook her head, slightly. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have another answer to give. You would have to talk to my superiors for any further information.”

Daniel was silent as he stared at her, not wanting to give up quite so easily, before he realized that he wouldn’t be getting any other answers from her. She had the air of someone who was willing to die before disobeying an order, and there wasn’t time to convince her other wise, not with the clock ticking on Cloud’s departure. Nodding once, Daniel turned to leave, scooping up the journal and birth certificate that started the entire mess, ignoring Elena’s protests that he couldn’t take it, and climbed the stairs towards Cloud.

When he left the mansion, he found Cloud standing next to his bike and frowning at the dark clouds that had rolled in some time when they had been in the lab. Daniel held out the journal, the birth certificate tucked away in the pages, and Cloud looked at him, surprise clear on his face before the emotionless mask slammed down again. The blond took the journal and tucked it away in one of his bags before looking up at the sky again. “We’re going to be stuck here for a few days, unfortunately.”

“What do you mean?” inquired Daniel, remembering how badly Cloud wanted to leave this place.

Cloud waved a hand at the dark clouds. “This storm’s gonna break sometime in the next few hours, and it’s gonna linger for a few days.”

Frowning, Daniel turned his own attention to the storm. “Can’t we just ride in the rain? I don’t mind getting wet, and frankly, I don’t want to stay here any longer than necessary.”

“Rain, I wouldn’t mind, but that’s shaping up to be freezing rain, and I don’t want to risk you getting sick or accidentally killed if we crash,” sighed Cloud, dropping his head to offer a wry smile to the brunet. “Besides, the Nibelheim roads are going to be pretty much unpassable in their condition.” He shook his head and slid on the bike. “Looks like we’re going to be in town for the anniversary anyway.”

“What anniversary?” Daniel asked, climbing on behind Cloud and wrapping his arms around his waist. Instead of replying, Cloud started the bike and took off for the town, and Daniel bit back a curse. He at first thought it was the blond avoiding the question until a gust of cold, damp wind danced across the back of his neck, and he shivered, huddling closer to Cloud.

A few minutes later, Cloud had stopped in front of the inn and Daniel slipped off, following the blond inside. The man behind the counter swallowed hard and stared at Cloud with large eyes as if expecting the blond to reach across the counter and rip him apart. Cloud ignored him as he stacked coins on the counter. “We’ll need a room until this blows over and a place for my bike.”

“You can park it in the stable. Shouldn’t bother the chocobos,” the man announced, his voice wavering slightly as he continued staring at Cloud. “I’ve got a room with two beds and a private bath. I can also send my daughter up for your laundry.”

Cloud nodded and took the key as he turned back to the front door, and Daniel trailed along behind him as the blond pushed the huge bike into the barn, opening a stall to park it in. There was a “wark” behind Daniel before something plucked at his jacket, and he turned to find a huge bird standing in the stall with what could only be described as a curious expression in its face. Its feathers were green, and it flicked its crest while peering at him with golden eyes. It was large enough for someone to easily ride on, and the beak and talons looked deadly sharp, natural weapons against predators. The bird, which could only be a chocobo, pushed its head against Daniel’s shoulder with another “wark”, and he was wondering what it wanted when he heard quiet laughter a few stalls over.

Glancing up, he saw Cloud was scratching just below the bright blue eye of a yellow chocobo, its head drooping in delight, and he couldn’t help but smile at how relaxed the blond looked with his fingers buried in those feathers. “Scratch just below his eye. It’s one of the itchy spots, and they can’t get to it too well with their talons.”

Cautiously, Daniel reached up, ready to snatch his hand back if that lethal beak started for his arm, and scratched just below the golden eye, and he jumped in surprise when the chocobo sighed with a “kweh” sound before nearly collapsing under his hand. There was more quiet laughter from Cloud, but Daniel ignored it for now, content to stand here and pay attention to this giant bird who wanted nothing more than a bit of attention while knowing nothing of human politics and cruelty.

Finally, the chocobo seemed to have had enough attention as it drew away, retreating to the back of its stall before it seemed to fall asleep, head bowed and one foot curled to balance on its knuckles. Daniel turned back to Cloud and bit his lip to contain his laughter as he noticed just how much Cloud’s spiky blond hair resembled the feathered crest of a chocobo. No wonder his friend teased him about the similarities to the point of getting wings tattooed on Cloud.

Cloud turned to him with an answering grin. “Yeah, laugh it up,” he grumbled good natured, before the smile vanished as his hand dropped away from the bird, getting a disgruntled “wark” as he turned away. “Come on. We need to get settled in.”

Their room was large, enough to have a small sitting area with a couch, a few chairs and a coffee table near the large windows that looked out over the town square while two twin beds were placed against the wall opposite of a door that Daniel assumed led to the promised bathroom. Cloud dropped his swords and bag on the bed closest to the door before starting towards the bathroom as Daniel wandered over to gaze out the window just as the sound of ice hitting the glass echoed through the room. He watched as the shimmering gray curtain covered the square and other buildings while people ran for cover, doors and windows being hastily shut against the icy onslaught. More proof that these people were not native to this town. The natives, like Cloud, would have known what the dark clouds meant and would have already taken precautions against the storm. When people lived long enough in one area, they learned to predict the local weather patterns and are able to act accordingly.

Daniel watched as the rain continued sleeting down, coating everything in a dull ice, before finally pulling out the cell phone he had been given and punched in the number for Healin. He had been checking in with Jack every few days just to keep the man from coming after him while thinking the worst, but considering some of the missions they had been on, it wasn’t that far of a concern.

“Daniel?” Jack’s worried voice sounded in his ear, and he found himself smiling, despite the circumstances that lead to this particular call. “You’re early. Anything wrong?”

“You could say that,” began Daniel, his eyes never leaving the glass. “Got some more information about Shinra, and it’s making me cautious in an Anise Is Visiting way.”

There was a low whistle from Jack before a couple of electronic beeps. “Okay I managed to get you on speaker.”

Daniel began talking, explaining about what they had found here at Nibelheim, the laboratory with the clawed marks on the inside of the chambers, the people who weren’t natives, and the half cryptic comments that Cloud had made combined with the inability to get a straight answer out of Elena.

“So you can’t get a straight answer about whatever assignment this Zack and Strife were on in Nibelheim or how Zack died. What’s so bad about that?” asked Sam.

“Jack, answer me this, when the military wants to explain what happened on a mission that wasn’t suppose to ever become public and soldiers got killed, what do they usually tell everyone?” Daniel asked, knowing the answer logically since it was used for any SGC personnel who were killed, and briefly he wondered why Sam was being so dense about it.

There was a sigh from Jack. “The information’s classified, and he died in the line of duty,” he stated in a flat voice, obviously thinking of those same dead soldiers whose families never knew the true reason for their deaths. “So you think the whole thing was a Black Ops gone wrong?”

“No, Cloud said that it was a routine inspection to Nibelheim that lead to Sephiroth going insane and destroying the place,” Daniel replied, blinking hard as that thought crashed down on him. Cloud was here when his home was destroyed by a madman, before he was imprisoned in a lab for almost five years. The archaeologist was willing to bet that was the anniversary that Cloud was talking about. “Plus, this was the very people that Cloud had served in the military that shoved him into that lab. POWs are one thing, Jack, but this was his *allies*.”

“Okay, so what do you suggest we do from here? ‘Cause I don’t think blowing them up will help any no matter how good it feels,” Jack inquired, and Daniel could almost see the wry grin on his friend’s face.

“We have to find out what happened, because if Shinra and his people are this evasive answering questions about what happened in the past, what’s to keep them from answering questions about what’s going on *now*,” said Daniel, leaning his forehead against the window and letting the cold sooth the headache he could feel forming behind his eyes. “Maybe an ex-employee who’s willing to talk to us, and knows what happened.”

“How about I introduce you to the *other* power on the planet, run by an ex-employee who changed sides before Meteor?” asked Cloud, and Daniel jumped, whirling around to face the blond who was only wearing a pair of jeans as he leaned against the doorframe of the bathroom.

“Daniel! What’s going on?” Jack’s voice was small as it emerged from the tiny grill, and Daniel fumbled with the phone a few seconds before he managed to put it on the speaker function.

“I’m fine, Jack,” sighed Daniel, running a hand through his hair as he gazed at Cloud. “What do you mean, the other power on the planet?”

Cloud shrugged a shoulder. “Reeve Tuesti is the president and CEO of WRO and is responsible for building Edge,” he stated, walking over to stand next to Daniel, glowing blue eyes staring out at the freezing rain. “He was the Head of the Department of Urban Development for Shinra.”

Daniel studied Cloud for a few minutes, not saying anything much to Jack’s displeasure, before he decided to jump to a conclusion about this Reeve Tuesti. “You trust him, don’t you? Despite what Shinra did to you, you trust him.”

A small, almost shy grin stretched across Cloud’s face as he looked sideways at Daniel. “He helped me build my bike.” That statement more than anything indicated the level of trust Cloud had for Tuesti.

“He must be a trustworthy companion if you are willing to trust him with your vehicle, CloudStrife,” rumbled Teal’c with Jack laughing quietly in the background.

“So how do we go about meeting him?” inquired Jack, and Daniel looked over at Cloud to find a thoughtful look on his face.

“Do you ever get back to the Seventh Heaven?” Cloud asked, and he smiled at Jack’s affirmative answer. “Go for dinner there tomorrow night, and I’ll call him to meet you there. Don’t be surprised if Cait Sith shows up instead of Reeve. Cait can be trusted just as much as Reeve can and is often his emissary for unknown situations. I’ll call Reeve and make sure he’s aware that he has a meeting to go to tomorrow night.”

“So if this guy is the *other* power on the planet, why didn’t you mention him when we first met?” Jack demanded, a suspicious tone in his voice.

That got a shrug from Cloud. “I didn’t know how long you were talking to Reno and Rude, and that would have put you firmly in Shinra’s corner.”

He turned away from the window and sat on his claimed bed, his phone in his hand as he dialed a number. Daniel stared at the blond, sitting there in just jeans with his knees pulled up to his chest and realized just how *young* Cloud looked. It was easy to see Cloud as much older than his apparent age when he was swinging his swords around and tearing laboratories apart

“Hey Cait. Didn’t know Reeve had you answering the phone now.” Cloud’s voice had a teasing note to it, and Daniel watched as a faint smile twitched the corner of Cloud’s mouth. “Yeah, I have business to talk with Reeve about. The Tau’ri that Shinra’s been entertaining have questions that Shinra’s not answering and it’s making them jumpy.”

Apparently this Cait Sith was trusted by Cloud if the blond was willing to tell them what was going on, and if Cloud was willing to tease them. “The one I’ve been escorting during this run, Dr. Daniel Jackson, saw Hojo’s lab at the mansion and found a journal on Specimen C. That lead to questions Elena wasn’t willing to answer, and they need someone willing to talk to them as well as answer those awkward questions.”

Cloud hummed before glancing over at Daniel as he lowered the phone slightly. “What’s the number your team’s using? Reeve wants to talk to them himself and set up the meeting.”

Jack rattled off the number, his voice smaller as it emerged from the phone’s speaker, and Cloud repeated it before nodding once. “Yeah. I’ll call later.”

With that, Cloud flipped the phone shut and dropped it on the bed next to him even as he nodded towards the phone that Daniel was still holding. “You might want to hang up. Reeve’s going to be calling them soon.”

“Daniel, call us again in a day or two,” ordered Jack before there was a definite click of the phone being hung up, and Daniel closed the phone with a small snap even as his eyes remained on Cloud. The blond seemed fidgety and nervous, more so than before, and Daniel wondered if he could help Cloud settle down or if there was more to this anniversary than he first thought.

Unable to help himself, Cloud’s eyes were pulled back to the grey window and the freezing rain falling outside. It was so different from the burning buildings and screams of the helpless that night, and Cloud shivered as he wrapped his arms around his knees, hugging his legs tighter to his chest. He could feel the first fluttering of panic beat at the back of his mind, urging him to get out of this place while he still could, but he beat it back with the logical argument that he couldn’t leave Daniel here, no matter how much *Cloud* wanted to burn this damn place to the ground again and let Gaia reclaim it.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Cloud jumped at the sound of Daniel’s voice, and he turned his head to look over at the archaeologist who was regarding him with a concerned look on his face. “You didn’t look this jittery back at the mansion.”

A bitter laugh slipped out of Cloud as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I want to burn this whole town to the ground and leave as fast as Fenrir can take me,” he confessed, gripping his hair tight enough to hurt. “But I can’t because the weather’s trapping us here, and I don’t have a Fire materia mastered to that point yet.”

Daniel sat down on the bed next to Cloud and wrapped an arm around his bare shoulders. “You can’t set the town on fire,” Daniel said in a perfectly reasonable tone. “Everything’s too wet to burn right now.”

That startled an honest laugh out of Cloud even as he soaked in the simple contact of someone who wasn’t afraid of him or what he could do. Even after watching him destroy an entire laboratory with his bare hands, Daniel wasn’t shying away from Cloud or treating him as if he was a wild animal, barely in control of his actions. “Why aren’t you afraid of me? Most people are when they see my eyes.”

“After facing down System Lords, Replicators, and Sam before her morning coffee, nothing can really scare me anymore,” drawled Daniel. “Besides, you’re hardly the only ally we have that has glowing eyes.”

Cloud turned his head to face Daniel. “What do you mean?”

The shoulder he was leaning against moved slightly as Daniel shrugged. “'The Tok'ra are like to Gou'ald, except they have a true partnership with their symbiotes. When they symbiote takes control of the host, their eyes flash gold.”

Cloud nodded, remembering Daniel talking about both the Gou’ald and the System Lords back at the Seventh Heaven in what seemed like an eternity ago, but he didn’t remember Daniel telling him that their eyes glowed.

He looked up to find Daniel was staring out the window as if completely content to just sit there, offering silent comfort to Cloud, and the blond warrior came to a decision, one he had been debating on making for a while. “Vincent’s been following us for the entire trip.”

Instead of getting angry like Cloud had expected, Daniel only glanced at him and nodded. “Makes sense for one of your allies to follow us. You don’t know me that well or what I can do. But why the change in topic?”

“The other reason he’s been following us is because of me,” confessed Cloud, his left hand wrapping around his forearm to hide the scars left by Hojo’s needles. He could feel Daniel’s curious gaze on him as he continued, his fingers rubbing against the pale spots. “I suffer from night terrors twice a year. I don’t know everything that happens, but I have found holes in stone walls when I woke up.”

“Is he here just to help you during the night terrors?” the archaeologist inquired, his tone casual. “Or is he here to protect you from accidentally hurting me?”

“Yes.” Cloud felt his lips twitch slightly as Daniel stared at him before shaking his head and muttering something in a strange language. Cloud rose to his feet, scooping up his PHS as he did. “I’ll be back in a while.”

Daniel nodded as Cloud slipped out of the room and wandered down the hallway to another empty room. He slipped inside, closing the door behind him before making his way over to the window and curling up on the seat placed there. The dim lights of the other buildings were the only source of illumination, but it was more than enough for Cloud as he dialed Reeve’s number for the second time in as many hours.

The next couple of hours slipped away as Cloud enjoyed talking with Reeve. While the engineer hadn’t replaced Zack in Cloud’s life, Reeve had managed to fill a small part of the hole the dark haired SOLDIER’s death had left. Halfway through the conversation, Vincent quietly slipped into the room, a silent presence that Cloud acknowledged with a quick nod before returning to his conversation.

Cloud answered all the questions that Reeve had about the Tau’ri and provided as much information as he could once they had gotten caught up on their lives. He gave Reeve permission to answer any questions the Tau’ri might have about him since it was Rufus’ actions that caused the tension. Finally, he worked up the courage to ask Reeve the question that had been bothering him since his first call. “Reeve, how much do you know about the Shinra family?”

“Old Man Shinra and Rufus you know about so I’m guessing you’re asking about the lovely Maria Shinra,” remarked Reeve with a small sigh that accompanied the faint creaking of springs. The combination told Cloud that Reeve was just getting more comfortable instead of upset. “Maria was quite the Lady of Society and set quite a few trends during her marriage to the Old Man. She also helped out various charities, specifically some orphanages that were in the Slums. Her health wasn’t the best, but she was determined to help where she could.”

“She sounded nice,” Cloud said, a wistful note in his voice as he stared across the town square to the house that had replaced his mother’s. He still wasn’t sure if he believed Hojo’s notes, even with Rufus and the birth certificate backing them, but the possibility of the truth was beating at the back of his mind like a butterfly desperate to get free of a net. Absently, he wondered if this was what Sephiroth felt like all those years ago when the need for answers drove him mad. He took a breath and braced himself for his next question. “Do you know if she had any more children other than Rufus?”

There was a soft hum from Reeve as he thought, the noise indicating that he wasn’t disconnected. “I vaguely remember something about twins, but Old Man Shinra kept promoting Rufus as his heir that if there was another Shinra child, they fell out of the spotlight pretty fast. Why the interest in the Shinra family?”

“Found some old notes of Hojo’s. They were... enlightening,” began Cloud, tightening his arm around his knees. “But being Hojo, I don’t know if I can trust them or not. Even with the independent evidence that was there.”

A startled hiss came from Reeve. “You think you’re Rufus Shinra’s twin brother? Why?”

“Elena, Daniel and I were in Hojo’s office,” Cloud began, not bothering to hide the tremor in his voice. There was a whisper of movement, and he briefly glanced up to find that it was only Vincent moving closer. “Daniel pulled one of the journals off the shelf randomly, and when he opened it, he found a notation in it about Specimen C’s mako sensitivity and if his brother had the sensitivity as well. He also found a birth certificate for Rufus Shinra and his twin that apparently fell out of the book.”

He took another breath, trying to get through his explanation before he accidentally crushed his PHS. “When I confronted Rufus with the evidence, he stated that he apparently had always known and his father held it over his head.”

A bitter laugh slipped out of Cloud. “He also accused me of knowing as well since I was being prepared to take over Shinra if he couldn’t live up to his father’s standards.”

“Cloud, I’m going to get to the bottom of this even if I have to take Tifa with me to threaten Rufus,” announced Reeve, his voice firm, and Cloud felt something settle among the jumbled emotions that were fighting to get free. If anyone could find the information, it was Reeve. It had stopped amazing Cloud the amount of information that Reeve could find after Meteor. Rufus Shinra might have offices all over, but Reeve knew people.

“Thanks Reeve,” breathed Cloud, closing his eyes as he leaned his head against the window, and he let the chilled glass chase away some of the ache behind his eyes. The creaking of leather warned him before a strong hand rested on his shoulder, reminding him that he wasn’t alone even with Reeve an entire continent away.

“Now since I know you’re not going to get any rest tomorrow, head to bed now and we’ll talk the day after,” Reeve ordered, and Cloud let out an honest laugh at the mothering. It felt good that someone was worried about him but didn’t nag him like Tifa did at times. “Vincent, since I know you’re there, make sure he gets some sleep tonight.”

“Yes, Mother Tuesti,” drawled Vincent, and Cloud laughed again at the put upon tone in the gunman’s voice before he hung up and leaned into Vincent’s touch. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the simple contact, letting it push the fear and uncertainty back for now.

Cloud wasn’t sure when he dozed off, but he woke to the sound of Daniel and Vincent quietly talking nearby. A soft warmth was around his shoulders and as he uncurled from his spot, the blanket slid off to pool around his waist. It was still dark outside but the rain had lessened in intensity. They might be able to get out of Nibelheim the day after tomorrow if it didn’t decide to drowned them again.

“How are you feeling?” asked a quiet voice, and Cloud looked over to find Daniel regarding him with curiosity and concern from where the archaeologist is sitting on the bed.

Standing up, Cloud stretched, feeling stiff muscle loosen under the motions, before he scooped up the blanket, tossing it back on the bed. “Fine. I’m going to head back to the room and get some sleep.”

He didn’t wait for either one to acknowledge his words before he was out the door and heading back to his original room. Opening the door, he found the lights turned off, and he slipped out of his jeans before sliding under the covers, sighing softly as the fabric caressed his bare skin. Wrapping his arms around the pillow, he sank into a restless, haunted sleep.

It had rained all day, a nice steady, ground soaking rain that ensured they weren’t going anywhere without getting completely drenched or sliding on the ice that was slowly melting under the warmer water. Cloud spent most of the day in the barn with the chocobos, and Daniel kept him company, listening him talk about the birds and his own flock. In return, Daniel talked about Earth and some of the more interesting places that he had seen during his travels with SG1. Vincent lurked in the hayloft, quietly watching them with a piercing red gaze that seemed to see everything, but it wasn’t uncomfortable in any way. When he joined them for lunch, Daniel was certain he saw elongated canines in Vincent’s mouth but shrugged it off as another trait characteristic of this planet, like Denzel's eyes.

Slowly the day dragged on until it started getting darker as the temperature dropped again, turning the rain back into ice. Daniel chatted more and more as Cloud grew more quiet just to fill the air and give the blond something else to think about other than the upcoming night. Finally, Cloud offered a sad smile before vanishing into the inn.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but why doesn’t he just stay up all night?” Daniel asked after the door had closed behind Cloud.

There was a soft snort from Vincent from where he was sitting above the stall. “He has tried in the past, but he inevitably ends up falling asleep,” explained the dark haired gunman before he slid to the floor, his cape settling around him. “The only way to make sure he only goes through it once is to wait until it is finished, otherwise he'll have to go through it again and again.”

“Has he been to a psychiatrist to help?” The more Daniel heard about it, the more he wondered if Cloud was suffering some sort of PTSD. Instead of replying, Vincent looked at Daniel as if he had no idea what Daniel was talking about. “A doctor of the mind? You talk to them and they help with mental problems?”

“Turks are trained to know how people think to be able to break them better if needed, but I have never heard about a doctor for the mind,” confessed Vincent, a thoughtful look on his face.

Daniel resisted the urge to groan and bury his face in his hands. Maybe he could get Janet to talk to Tuesti to see what this planet needed in the way of medical help, both physical and mental. “Looks like there’s going to be more help needed than just helping you get back on your feet. I’ll have to see what General Hammond can arrange for you.”

There was a soft snort from Vincent as he leaned against the stall door, ignoring the green chocobo that was eyeing them both curiously. “You assume your general will help with a great deal,” he remarked. “What is the price he will demand from us?”

“I honestly don’t know,” confessed Daniel, not willing to lie to Vincent. He was getting to like these people almost as much as his family on Abydos. “I won’t lie to you. We always need allies against the Gou’ald System Lords and new weapons that they’re not familiar with to fight them are welcome as well, but you’re recovering from your own disasters that have nothing to do with a Gou’ald.” He rubbed his arm to counter the chilled breeze that had slipped through the barn, and he blinked down at the bracer he still wore with its glowing materia. “I don’t know exactly how your materia works, but it could be useful against the Gou’ald. If it works on other planets other than this one.”

Vincent turned to look at the inn, the silence between them filling the barn, and Daniel reached up to scratch below the chocobo’s eye, getting a soft sigh for his actions. The tapping of ice on the roof mixed with the sound of large birds settling in for the night, and Daniel smiled as the chocobo flicked its crest at him before moving farther back into its stall. He turned to talk to Vincent only to discover that the other man had vanished while he had been distracted by the chocobo. He rolled his eyes as he quickly made his way back into the inn, muttering under his breath in Sumerian about mysterious men who took the cliche to extremes

As he approached the room, Daniel thought he head a soft moan coming from it and carefully opened the door. Cloud was asleep in the bed, the blanket crumpled on the floor from his tossing, and Vincent stood nearby, a pained expression in his eyes as he watched his friend. Walking over to the bed, Daniel grabbed the blanket and shook it out, before he carefully covered Cloud with it.

It all happened so fast that Daniel wasn’t sure exactly what happened. One second the blanket was settling over Cloud to protect the naked blond from the chill in the air, and the next, Daniel was on the floor and there was a large hole in the wall with a light coming from it. His sleeve was torn where metal claws neatly sliced through the fabric, drawing blood from the faint scratches on his skin, and Vincent was no longer in the room. Cloud was gasping broken sentences as he thrashed on the bed, sweat coating his skin, and Daniel watched as his hand lashed out, smashing the night stand to splinters.

A low growl came from the hole in the wall, and Daniel’s eyes turned to stare at it. Cloud must have lashed out faster than Daniel could see when the blanket was settling on him, but not so fast that Vincent was able to get Daniel out of the way. But Vincent must be hurt when he went through the wall. Raising his arm, Daniel remembered what Cloud had told him when he had strapped the bracer and materia to his wrist. He felt a warmth gather inside of him before racing down his arm and leaving the tips of his fingers in a green stream. The next growl was more curious instead of warning, and Daniel stared at the creature that emerged from the hole, shaking rubble and dust off.

Dark gray fur covered a large form that was a mix of humanoid and animal, smoky mane falling around a canine shaped face. Ebony horns rose above its head, looking sharp enough to gut someone if it chose to, and it padded across the floor on all fours even though it looked like it had the capability of walking upright. Green light faded from its fur and mane as the creature paused in front of Daniel and he managed not to flinch as it sniffed him in a curious manner. The long cat-like whiskers tickled his face before a raspy tongue licked his cheek, and Daniel watched in amazement as the creature walked over to the bed where Cloud was still thrashing.

As he watched, Cloud gave one last soul shattering scream before falling motionless, and the creature whined softly as it nosed Cloud’s hand. The giant beast made the room seem much smaller, and Daniel figured that its size was somewhere between a tiger and an ox in sheer body mass. The beast whined again, licking Cloud’s face but only succeeded in turning Cloud’s head, and Daniel couldn’t stop the startled hiss at the sight of the empty blue eyes that were open and staring. The beast glanced back at him before it somehow hopped on the bed to curl around Cloud, the massive head resting on the broad chest as it stared at Cloud.

Daniel took a careful step towards the door, determined to go sleep in another room since it looked like Cloud was perfectly safe with the creature when a threatening growl stopped him, and he looked towards the bed to find glowing amber eyes staring at him, almost daring him to take another step. He took a step back and the beast returned its attention to Cloud, apparently content as long as he stayed there.

With a sigh, Daniel sat on the floor, wrapping his arms around his knees to make himself as small of a target as possible as he got as comfortable as he could. He wasn’t sure what exactly happened to Vincent, but it looked like Vincent had transformed into the creature when he had been knocked through the wall, which was probably what that strange light was. Physics weren’t his strongest area, but even he knew that the increased mass of the creature was much more than Vincent’s, even taking into account his clothes.

‘But then, they have glowing globes that let them do things like heal people, a Lifestream that’s like Paradise where the dead can talk to the living, and people strong enough to tear metal apart like tissue paper,’ he reasoned, turning everything he had found over in his mind. He was certain Sam could figure out the physics to explain everything, but a large part of him just wanted to shrug and accept it for what it was. Magic.

A few hours later, Daniel watched as the creature seemed to flicker before fading, leaving a confused looking Vincent sprawled on the bed next to Cloud. Confused red eyes looked around the room before settling on Daniel who quirked a small smile at him. “Mind if I get up now?”

Vincent shook his head, the curiosity spreading to the rest of his face as Daniel groaned, his legs protesting him sitting on the hard wooden floor for so long. “Thanks. I’m not use to sitting on a hard wood floor for so long. So, mind telling me what that was about?”

“What what was about?” asked Vincent, his voice confused.

Daniel sighed as he worked the stiffness out of his legs. “First, you get knocked *through* the wall which caused this strange light, and then this creature stalks *out* of the hole you made, licks me and then curls up with Cloud. When I try to leave, I’m growled at.” He rested his hands on his hips as he tilted his head, his gaze never leaving Vincent’s. “I just want to know how often I’m going to be growled at like a troublesome child.”

A faint blush raced across Vincent’s cheeks before the other man tuned back to Cloud. Daniel ran a hand through his hair and decided that a quick shower was in order to get the strange dusty feel off his skin. He knew it was ridiculous because he hadn’t been close enough to the wall to get any of the plaster on him when Vincent punched a hole through it but he still felt covered in the stuff. Besides, a shower would give Vincent the privacy to do what was needed for Cloud.

When Daniel emerged, the scene that greeted his eyes was not one he had expected to see. Vincent had stripped and was stretched next to Cloud, looking like a pair of lovers who had decided to forego the covers to cuddle. Vincent’s face was buried in Cloud’s neck as his right hand stroked across bare skin darker than his own, but what was odd was that Vincent had left the large metal gauntlet on.

“Is there anything I can do?” Daniel asked in a soft voice, and Vincent looked up, pinning him with the intensity burning in those red eyes. He managed to resist the urge to look away and fidget like a child called before the principle.

Vincent must have seen whatever it was he was searching for in Daniel’s eyes because he raised his bare hand from Cloud’s chest and beckoned him over. "Undress and lay on the other side. He needs to know he's not alone anymore."

Nodding, Daniel wiggled out of the pants he had put on after the shower and stretched out on the other side of Cloud, ignoring the fact that he was naked in bed with two other naked men. He reached out and ran his hand down Cloud’s arm, keeping his touch friendly without being ticklish, watching as Vincent went back to petting Cloud’s chest and whispering in his ear. Daniel couldn’t make out what Vincent was saying, but as time passed, Cloud stirred under their hands. Awareness trickled into glowing blue eyes as a questioning hum echoed in his throat.

“Welcome back,” greeted Vincent, and Cloud frowned in confusion as he reached up to finger a bit of white plaster dust caught in the dark hair.

“You have plaster in your hair,” he murmured, rubbing it between his fingers before his gaze slid past Vincent to stare at the large hole in the wall, and a look of self hate slid over his face as realization appeared in his eyes. “I threw you through the wall. Oh gods!”

“I am unharmed as is Dr. Jackson,” murmured Vincent, reaching up to grab Cloud’s hand before it could be pulled back.

Daniel casually sat up on the bed, folding his legs in front of him as he twisted to stare at Cloud and Vincent. “So are either of you going to tell me what that beast was and why Vincent turned into it? Just so I know what to avoid in the future.”

Cloud turned confused blue eyes on Vincent. “Galian showed up? I hit you that hard?”

“He actually got between me and your arm since I wasn’t expecting you to lash out like that,” remarked Daniel with a sheepish expression. “Saved me from a trip through the wall, and while Jack may complain about my head being hard a times, I don’t feel like spending the next few weeks in Dr. Fraiser’s tender mercy.”

Instead of lightening the self hate on Cloud’s face, Daniel’s words only increased it, and Daniel felt like groaning in frustration when those glowing blue eyes closed as Cloud turned his face from Daniel, misery and shame in every tense line of his body. “Janet’s not that bad, but it seems like every time we come back from a mission, usually either Jack or I are banged up and beat up enough to warrant a visit to the Infirmary for at least a couple of hours where we’re patched up while Janet lectures us on the proper care before threatening us with a needle if we show up again within the next week.”

He grinned, good naturedly. “Janet’s the biggest mother on the base, and don’t let the fact she’s small fool you. I think the only one she doesn’t order around is Teal’c, and that's usually because she says he has enough common sense to report to her first when he’s injured.”

As he talked about the SGC’s head doctor, Daniel could feel Cloud slowly relaxing, before the blond’s breathing returned to the deep, even rhythm that announced he had fallen asleep again. A quick glance at Vincent showed relief on his pale features, and red eyes rose to meet his own.

“He will be fine the rest of the night,” Vincent reported, pulling the discarded blanket up onto the bed and smoothing it over Cloud before he resumed his previous position on the bed. Daniel nodded and was about to get off the bed to get his sleeping clothes on when Cloud’s hand grabbed his wrist.

Daniel tried to ease his hand out of the grip, but it was impossible to free himself from the iron band disguised as flesh and blood. There was a soft chuckle from Vincent, and Daniel threw him an exasperated glare, not wanting to wake Cloud but feeling the sharp chill of the air more keenly now. A pale hand rested on Daniel’s arm, a sharp contrast to the almost golden skin of Cloud’s fingers. “Just rest for now. Apparently, you are comforting to him and he doesn’t want to loose that yet.”

Suddenly, the grip on his arm shifted, and Daniel managed to stifle a yelp as he was pulled down next to Cloud, and the blond flipped over, pulling Daniel’s arm around him as he buried his face in Vincent’s chest. Startled blue met amused red before Vincent wrapped his bare hand around Cloud, pulling the other man against his chest. Daniel watched as Vincent’s face smoothed out as he fell asleep too, and Daniel muttered a few choice curses under his breath as he managed to wiggle under the covers before following them into sleep.

Jack scanned the interior of Seventh Heaven from the corner booth his group had been waved over to by Tifa before three beers were dropped off by the pretty barmaid. Then Tifa went back to serving the various customers that wandered in off the street, leaving the three of them alone with their thoughts.

Rufus Shinra had tried to dissuade them from this meeting using various means at his disposal, from casting suspicion on Reeve Tuesti’s character to offering, abet reluctantly, to answer any questions without the polite excuses given to the public. Whatever this Tuesti knows, it must be dangerous to Shinra for his sudden about face when it came to their questions.

‘But then, like Daniel said, Shinra’s a business. Not a government,’ mused Jack, his eyes making another circuit of the bar. ‘And no business likes their dirty laundry aired by an ex-employee who knows where the skeletons are hidden.’

Sam sighed as she glanced at her watch again, the nervous habit happening more often the longer they sat waiting. “When’s this Tuesti going to show up? We’ve been waiting for a half hour now,” she grumbled, her voice quiet as she twisted to look around the bar herself. “And how are we going to know it’s him if we don’t know what he looks like?”

“He said that we would know either him or his representative, CaitSith, when we saw them,” remarked Teal’c. “Considering that he is an acquaintance of those that normally frequent this place, they would also recognize him before we do and point him in our direction.”

Before Jack could add his feelings into the conversation, the front door opened to admit the strangest being the colonel had yet to see on this planet. It was the size of a large stuffed toy, not even three feet tall unless the large golden crown was being added into the height, and looked like a black and white cat reminiscent of Sylvester of Looney Toons fame with the addition of a red cape, brown boots, and white gloves. It padded over to the bar and casually hopped up onto the stool that was twice its height with little difficulty, and Tifa’s face broke into an honest smile when she saw it, replacing the polite one she wore for customers.

“I tawt I taw a puddy tat,” Jack muttered into his beer, unable to help the smirk that crossed his face as Sam and Teal’c both twisted to get a look at the new arrival. Either this was Tuesti, and Jack found it strange to believe that Shinra would hire a *cat* no matter how human it might appear in action, or it was the emissary, Cait Sith. “I did! I did tee a puddy tat.”

“Sir,” sighed Sam, a look of long suffering on her face and Jack blinked at her, the innocent expression on his face a match for the one he used when Hammond asked him if he knew who had short sheeted Anise’s bed the last time she had visited.

“It would appear the one we are to meet has arrived,” stated Teal’c as Tifa casually nodded in their direction before the strange cat came toddling over to push a chair up to the end of their table and hop on it like a little kid, eyes slitted shut even as it gave the impression of staring at them. There was a sound, like motors or gears that Jack swore he could hear, but that was ridiculous.

“So you are the Tau’ri that has questions Mr. Shinra’s not willing to answer,” greeted the cat, leaning on the table as it - no, he, Jack corrected mentally - stood on the chair. The voice was distinctly male if carrying an accent that Jack would have sworn was Scottish back on Earth. Jack nodded and the cat made a funny little bow. “Mr. Tuesti has been delayed for this meeting so he asked that I, Cait Sith, Showman Extraordinaire, come meet with you and answer any questions you might have.”

A slow grin stretched across Jack’s face as he regarded Cait Sith. “So how well do you know Cloud and his friends?”

That got a lazy shifting of eyes towards him. “Well enough, Colonel O’Neil, that I know there are a few questions I won’t be able to answer without betraying a confidence, and I only ask that you respect that.”

Jack nodded. They weren’t here to interrogate the people willing to help them. Just find out more about what Shinra was hiding from them now and what they might possibly hide in the future. “Fair enough. What happened to Zack Fair that made Shinra want to sweep him under the rug with a ‘classified’ answer on what was suppose to be a routine inspection of a generator plant?”

That got another sighed “Sir” from Sam, but Cait continued looking at him with those slitted eyes, as if trying to figure out if Jack already knew the answer and this was some sort of test. The seconds stretched on into minutes, and still the cat remained silent, staring at Jack who met the gaze with his own.

“Commander Zack Fair, General Sephiroth, and Privates Cloud Strife and Franklin Goheti were sent to Nibelheim to investigate reports of large monsters attacking the town,” Cait suddenly said, causing Jack to jump slightly. It was as if Cait had turned into a statue while he had been thinking and had returned to life upon his decision to speak. “Everything was going normally when the last report was filed, but something happened to twist the General’s mind into madness that turned him against the planet and all who inhabited it.”

Cait’s attention turned from Jack to glance at Sam and Teal’c before returning to the colonel, who was frowning a bit at the dramatics in Cait’s story. “This was a man who had no equal. He had been created by Professor Hojo, one of Shinra’s most brilliant and twisted minds, to be the perfect soldier and leader for Shinra’s army. Of course, Hojo had no intention of letting his little lab experiment out into the real world, but Old Man Shinra forced his hand with the invasion of Wutai.”

“What does that have to do with Commander Fair?” Sam asked, a puzzled frown on her face.

“To understand what happened, you need to understand a bit about the players of this particular show,” admonished Cait, wagging a finger at her before continuing with his story. “Commander Zack Fair, on the other hand, was a wide eyed country boy from the jungles of Gongaga who came to Midgar to become a SOLDIER like so many others. He quickly climbed the ranks to become Sephiroth’s Second in Command. But he also became much more to the Silver General. With his outgoing attitude and ready laugh, Zack made friends easily and could smooth ruffled feathers with a few words and a smile.”

“The kind of person who would see the man and not the title or rank,” Teal’c rumbled, his eyes widening slightly at the realization. “One who could take a man who was created only for battle and show him that there was more out there than fighting.”

Cait turned to grin at Teal’c. “You have had experience with such people then,” he agreed. “Zack always had a smile on his face wherever he went, and many of the department heads preferred to approach him about a problem than Sephiroth. They were less likely to be run through with a sword that way.”

“Why Cloud Strife? Was it because it was his home?” interrupted Sam, her blue eyes filled with excitement and a faint blush stained her cheeks. Jack snickered into his bottle as he realized that she had a slight crush on the young man with wild blond hair only to drowned it in a drink when she glared at him.

A faint sigh came from the cat. “Allow me to paint you another picture of another wide eyed country boy who came to become one of the SOLDIERs,” continued Cait, raising his hands like he was a stage magician about to perform a trick. “Someone who was an outcast at home, different from everyone else, painfully shy and almost innocent but with a streak of determination that would make a mother chocobo proud.”

Jack snorted as he thought of the image Cait was creating. “Someone like that would be chewed up by the others.”

Cait spread his hands as if presenting his cards. “He was. Until he was taken in and mentored by someone... rather higher on the food chain than those who would like to be doing the chewing.”

“And if the ones doing the chewing persisted, he could bite back harder,” Jack agreed, starting to see where this was going but still interested in Cait’s story. “Go on.”

“So, on one hand, you have a young and determined Cloud Strife. On the other, friendly and outgoing Zack Fair. And between them, General Sephiroth who wouldn’t know how normal people acted around each other even when he saw it. Still the perfect SOLDIER, cold and emotionless as a marble statue,” finished Cait, folding his hands on the table and staring at them expectantly, waiting for them to draw their own conclusions.

Jack frowned into his empty bottle before holding it up slightly to catch Tifa’s eye. She nodded and quickly arrived to exchange their empty bottles for full ones before vanishing. He stared at Cait for a few moments as he organized his thoughts. “Stop me if I get this wrong. Zack’s a guy who likes seeing those around him happy because that makes him happy, and when they’re not happy, he’d find someway to fix it by getting them to smile.”

Cait continued to stare at him, and Jack turned the bottle in his hands as he continued. “So, he sees Mr. I Have No Emotions Sephiroth and would want to show him what it was like to be normal instead of the Perfect General. But some things require an accomplice to do. Which is where young Cloud comes in. Young, naive, and probably as loyal as all get out if shown a bit of kindness. So, now there’s *two* people trying to turn the Perfect General into a human being again.” He shrugged and lifted his bottle, taking a long drink to wet his suddenly dry throat. “Now if I were this Hojo asshole, I’d want them both removed to keep the Perfect General a robot.”

“Sir?” Sam looked at him with wide eyes, and Jack met her stare with his own level one.

“Look at it from a scientist’s side of things,” he suggested, hating the ache in his chest at the very thought. “You’ve spent all this time and money to make the Perfect Soldier. He obeys orders exactly, leads troops into battle when needed, and doesn’t question decisions. Then, some back water yokel comes along and all of a sudden, your Perfect Soldier is starting to think for himself.”

There was a bit of movement from Cait, and Jack turned to find that the cat had hopped off the chair and was looking at them expectantly. “Aren’t you coming?” inquired Cait, hands clasped behind his back as he almost bounced on his toes like an excited kid.

“Coming? Where?” asked Sam as they stared at Cait.

“To meet with Mr. Tuesti of course.”

At that, Jack drained his bottle, placing it back on the table with a solid thunk and stood up, dragging his jacket off the seat next to him. “How far away is the meeting place?”

“About a dozen blocks away,” replied Cait. “We can take the truck Shinra’s loaning you if you don’t mind. I don’t think my moogle could hold everyone.”

“What’s a moogle?” Sam asked, standing up to follow them, and Jack shrugged. It sounded like a failed cow or something, maybe a moose call.

Cait giggled slightly as he seemed to almost dance out the door, reminding Jack of how Charlie would act when he was excited about something, and a subtle ache wrapped around his heart. Despite everything, it still hurt to think about his dead son and how it was his fault he had lost Charlie to begin with.

“A moogle is an interesting creature, white and round with wings and red nose,” chortled Cait, spinning around on one foot with his came swirling around him. “With a pom on his head to bounce as he goes.”

“It is hard to believe that someone like this could be trusted with the knowledge he has,” rumbled Teal’c, dark eyes fixed on the cat as he danced up to the truck parked next to the building. “He seems more like a child than a person of responsibility.”

Climbing into the truck was a tight squeeze, but Cait respectfully asked Sam if he might sit in her lap since she was in the middle. There was a faint blush on Sam’s cheeks as she agreed, and Cait perched closer to her knees, bracing himself against the dashboard as he gave directions. The slightly rough neighborhood they were in lasted for a few blocks before giving way to the ruined city that had greeted them upon their arrival.

“Where, exactly, are we going?” inquired Jack as the truck moved through the ruined landscape, their headlights the only source of light in the dark streets.

“There,” Cait said, pointing to what looked like a ruined church with a strange blue light spilling out of the shattered windows. Jack parked the truck across the street from the church, and Cait hopped out to toddle up to the badly hung doors before pausing to look back at them. “Coming? Mr. Tuesti’s waiting.”

“Right,” agreed Jack, slowly following the cat even as his eyes scanned their surroundings for a trap. The even footfalls of Sam and Teal’c at his back made him feel less vulnerable, but he was still wishing he had brought his gun with him.

The inside of the church looked just as bad as the outside, but there appeared to be some attempt at cleaning up the busted debris lying around. Pews were smashed and overturned, a couple of stone columns were knocked over, broken across the wooden floor, but in the middle of the chaos was a large pool of water that was the source of the strange blue light. The scent of some strange flower filled the air, adding a sense of peace to the destroyed surroundings, and Jack could just make out a figure sitting next to the pond, knees drawn up to the chest as the head was turned to stare into the water.

“Reeve! I brought them!” caroled Cait, dancing over the wooden floor and the figure turned to look at them as he slowly rose to his feet, revealing a second, brighter glow that came from the screen of a laptop computer. Reeve Tuesti bent down and scooped up the cat, holding him as if he was a stuffed doll, before Reeve smiled at the approaching people.

“I’m sorry about the unusual arrangements, but there have been at least three attempts on my life since WRO started,” Reeve apologized, shifting Cait to one arm as he held out his other hand. “Reeve Tuesti, CEO of WRO and ex-Department of Urban Development chairman for Shinra.”

“Colonel Jack O’Neil, Major Samantha Carter, and Teal’c,” introduced Jack, shaking the offered hand. There were calluses there from working with tools and the light was just enough to show some scars where Reeve had cut himself on sharp metal while working on something, testifying that while he might push papers, he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in a garage. “Mr. Strife had some positive things to say about you. Including that you would be willing to answer questions that Shinra apparently wants to sweep under the rug.”

Reeve waved them towards the floor next to the pool. “Please have a seat.”

Grabbing a crate, Jack perched on it as Sam and Teal’c lowered themselves to the floor. “There have been attempts on your life?”

“I was part of Shinra, and despite changing my mind and side when Meteor was coming, many still see me as a viable target to make a statement out of,” remarked Reeve with a shrug. “And unlike Rufus, I don’t have armed bodyguards watching my back 24/7.”

“So, obviously meeting in the middle of an abandoned church is much safer than a populated bar.” Disbelief colored Jack’s words as he studied the man sitting before him. Reeve looked to be in his thirties with a beard and mustache, both neatly trimmed, with possibly tan skin and shoulder length dark hair, and he was wearing some sort of tunic jacket that looked vaguely Oriental in design.

A strange smile stretched across Reeve’s face as his eyes turned back to the pool. “She wouldn’t let anyone be hurt here. It’s a... sacred place.”

There was a touch of awe and reverence in Reeve’s tone, but before anyone could ask about his cryptic statement, there was a slight beep behind him. Twisting slightly, Reeve dragged the laptop onto his legs and frowned at whatever was on the screen, one arm still wrapped around Cait’s waist like a teddy bear. “Looks like one of your servers is going, my friend. I’m going to have to shut you down until I can get that repaired.”

His hand touched a few keys, and Cait suddenly went limp in his arm as if someone had thrown a switch and turned him off. Or turned off a remote control robot.

“To build and operate something that complicated, you must be either really good or get very bored easily,” drawled Jack, looking at Reeve with new eyes. He thought he had heard motors or gears back at Seventh Heaven, and it looked like he hadn’t been hearing things.

“Yes,” Reeve absently replied, his fingers poking at black and white fur for a few minutes before shaking his head and placing the cat aside to focus on them. “Sorry. When I find a problem, I have to work at it until it’s solved. One of the reasons I created WRO.”

“So what happened to Zack?” Jack asked, getting back to the original topic that had begun the conversation back at Seventh Heaven. “He’s not in the lab anymore ‘cause he got Cloud out. So where did he vanish to?”

A small smile twitched Reeve’s lips. “The official story at Shinra is that Commander Zack Fair died in the line of duty on a classified mission,” he said before shrugging his shoulders. “I’ve always hated official stories. The truth is if you head out of the Midgar Ruins about two hours thataway, you’ll find a cliff overlooking the ruins with a sword stuck in the ground. That’s as close to Midgar as Zack got when he was shot down as he protected Cloud. After getting both of them out of Nibelheim.” He gestured off to the side, and Jack frowned as the light from the pool seemed to flicker slightly.

“Is that where he is buried?” Teal’c inquired, and Jack swore as the light from the pool took on a purple glow before going almost completely out. A few seconds later, the light was back to its original blue but streaked with green now.

“That’s where he fell,” argued Reeve, shaking his head even as he reached out to trail his fingers through the water. “No one knows where he’s buried, if he even had a descent burial instead of being left to the animals.”

“But Cloud wouldn’t have left his friend just *lying* there!” protested Sam, her eyes large. “He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy. I mean, he walked out of a fight because one of his friends was saying things without thinking instead of arguing back.”

“Cloud doesn’t know what happened to Zack’s body.” The words were calmly delivered, but there was sympathy in dark eyes for Reeve’s friend. He took a deep breath before continuing. “What I’m going to tell you is for your ears only. Cloud has already given his permission for me to tell you, and he said that he was going to tell your Dr. Jackson as well.”

Jack nodded his agreement along with Sam and Teal’c even as they leaned closer to hear more. Reeve laced his fingers together in his lap and somehow met all three of their stares. “First, let me explain about something that I don’t think you have heard about before. There hasn’t been a reason before now to bring it up. On this world there exists a condition called mako poisoning which is where someone has been exposed to large amounts of mako, usually by being submerged in it. The person is not strong enough mentally to withstand the onslaught of memories being shoved into their heads, and usually end up losing their own memories in the process. Some times, it’s not that many, but there have been cases where someone’s entire history has been wiped from their memories.”

A faint breeze swept through the church, ruffling hair like a teasing hand before fading again. “Cloud has suffered mako poisoning at least twice,” continued Reeve, the look on his face indicating that he wish he didn’t have to air his friend’s secrets like this. “The first time was in Nibelheim with Zack. Hojo basically locked the two of them into mako tubes and kept them there until he wanted to play mad scientist. By the time Zack managed to get them out, Cloud was catatonic and no help in defending them against the troops Shinra sent after them. He didn’t start to come around until after Zack was killed. That saved Cloud’s life actually since the troops figured Cloud was monster food and didn’t bother putting a few bullets in him to make sure. Cloud’s memories, however, were fractured at worst or lost at best, so he built a new personality and past based on the stories Zack had told him about his own life. Cloud didn’t even know they weren’t really his memories until much later.”

“How much later?” Sam’s voice was respectfully quiet, not wanting to break the mood that Reeve had created with his story, and Jack twitched at the unexpected sound of her voice.

“Almost a year into the chase to stop Sephiroth from destroying the world.” Reeve shrugged a shoulder. “Cloud never questioned what he thought were his memories until a confrontation with Sephiroth forced him to, and soon after that, Cloud was dropped into a river of pure mako. Later, he washed up on a Mideel beach where the doctors took care of him until we tracked him down, but his memories have holes large enough to shove Meteor through.” Those dark eyes grew distant as Reeve stared at something only he could see. “He believes he’s regained most of them, but those five years as Hojo’s pet lab rat are still mostly gone. A mixed blessing at times.”

“Why would you say that? I mean, if I was some freaky scientist’s play thing, I’d want to know what happened to me during that time,” Jack protested.

“Would you want to know what your subconscious keeps from you except for twice a year when you experience night terrors so powerful that you fall into a catatonic state until a familiar and *trusted* voice brings you out of it?” Reeve demanded, his eyes glittering in the strange light. “Because that’s what Cloud experiences.”

“Why twice a year? What anniversaries are that influential on him?” Teal’c inquired, cocking his head slightly.

“The day Zack died protecting him, and the night Nibelheim burned,” stated Reeve. “Which is tonight actually. Your friend is in for a surprise no matter how well Cloud warned him.”

Resting his arms on his knees as he leaned forward, Jack firmly held his fist in his other hand to keep from doing something he might regret later. Like reaching out and strangling more answers out of Reeve. “Is there any way we can get there and help Daniel?”

He couldn’t believe his Geek was in trouble again, and this time, Daniel was far enough away to make Jack doubt if they’d be able to arrive in time to help him. He didn’t know what these night terrors Cloud suffered were, but Jack knew enough about Post Traumatic Stress to know when another person suffered it. Different people reacted to it in different way, and Jack was willing to bet his DHS that there were more to Cloud’s night terrors than simply falling catatonic.

“Don’t worry. Vincent’s been trailing them since they left,” Reeve said, brushing their concern aside with a wave of his hand, and that strange breeze blew through the church again, getting a smile from Reeve. This time, Jack thought he heard a female voice giggling, and he got to his feet, looking around for the source of the giggles.

“Sir?” Sam scrambled to her feet with Teal’c as they both started searching the ruined church with their eyes. “Did you hear... laughter?”

“Yep,” agreed Jack, his eyes sweeping the church before returning to Reeve, who was sitting there looking like this was a natural occurrence. “Wanna tell us what’s going on and who your girlfriend is?”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” protested Reeve, setting Cait and his computer off to one side on another broken pew before kneeling next to the pond to stare into the water. “It’s Aeris Gainsborough, and she was just letting us know that she’s here. Zack was here earlier.”

“Suddenly, I’m understanding why it’s safer here than in a bar run by Wonder Woman,” sighed Jack, cradling his head in his hand. Snakes from the stars that think they’re gods, robots that want to destroy everything and take over, and a different group of snakes from the stars who a majority think the Tau’ri are children playing at being grownup, and now Jack had to deal with ghosts.

“But isn’t Aeris dead?” Sam frowned in confusion as she continued looking around. “Unless you have a sarcophagus or similar technology, the dead don’t come back to life.”

That laughter sounded again as the light breeze twirled around them, playfully, but this time, there was a male voice as well, one that almost seemed to invite them to share in the joke even if they didn’t know what it was. Jack spun in a circle, determined to find out where the ghosts were, only to be met with the empty church. He clenched his fists as he glared at the air around him. “Okay you guys. Knock it off and come out where everyone can see you!”

As if his words were a summoning of some sort, there were two shimmering lights above the surface of the water, one green and the other purple, before revealing a man and a woman standing on the surface of the water. The two looked at each other before the light faded completely, and they fell with a loud splash in the pond. There was a startled curse from Reeve as he dove into the water, and Jack swore as he followed the bearded man. He didn’t know what happened, but people don’t normally appear out of thin air like that. Not without an Asgard being responsible.

The water wasn’t that deep, only coming up to his waist, but it made Jack’s skin tingle in a strange way as he pushed his way through it. Reaching into the water, he flailed around, trying to find the man’s arm to haul him up, when his wrist was caught in a leather encased hand, and Jack pulled the man to the surface. Only, it wasn’t the man Jack had caught a brief glimpse of before. The hair was long and silver instead of spiky and black, and the skin was pale instead of tanned. But it was the cat-slitted green eyes that held power and knowledge that made Jack realize that this wasn’t the other guy, who had a face filled with good humor and friendship. This man had commanded men into battle and had seen the horror himself.

“Sephiroth,” breathed a voice behind Jack, and he turned to find Reeve standing there, staring at the silver haired man with a mix of respect, wariness, and determination as the two new arrivals dripped on the wooden floor behind him.

“Welcome to the party,” greeted the black haired man, a wide smile on his face. “Now how in Odin’s name are we suppose to help Spike when we’re in Edge and he’s in Nibelheim.”

The woman whapped the man on the arm, and he jumped in surprise. “Really Zack. We’re brought back from the Lifestream by someone, and you’re already making plans to leave instead of find out more about them,” she chided, reaching up to wring her hair out. “Besides, Vincent’s with Cloud and so is Daniel. They’ll be able to help him.”

Casually, Jack waded his way back through the water and hopped out to stand in front of the girl and Zack. Behind him, Sephiroth was strolling through the water, a long sword held in his hand. He gracefully climbed up next to Jack, moving off a few feet to start wringing out his own long, silver hair.

“What the hell just happened?” demanded Jack, ignoring the chill in the air as his soaked clothes stuck to his skin. “In my experience, people don’t normally appear out of thin air unless the Asgards are in town and that’s a whole ‘nother can of worms I don’t want to deal with right now.”

Zack glanced down at the young woman who was busying herself by wringing out her dress. “Well, doll. You know the most about things like this. Wanna answer the nice colonel?”

The young woman huffed and glared at Zack, but there wasn’t any heat in her eyes. “When Colonel O’Neil called for us to come out where everyone could see us, Gaia took that as a call for us to be brought back,” she replied, grinning brightly at Jack. “I’m sure you didn’t mean it that way, Cousin, but that’s what happened.”

“Cousin!?” yelped Sam, and Jack felt a slight headache building behind his eyes at the sight of the young woman’s bright smile and Zack’s slight smirk. It was going to be a *long* night.

It was the polite knocking on the door that roused Cloud from the much more restful sleep he had slipped into. He frowned when he realized there were too many arms and legs in bed with him, and something was behind him, trapping him against Vincent’s familiar smell of leather and gunpowder. The knocking came again, and whatever was behind Cloud stirred and mumbled in a strange language as a pair of arms and legs disengaged from the tangled mass on the bed.

‘Daniel,’ he realized as the archaeologist stood up, and Cloud watched over Vincent’s shoulder as Daniel staggered over to the door. He bit back a snicker when he realized that Daniel had forgotten to put clothes on, and whomever was on the other side of the door was going to get an eyeful when Daniel opened it.

When Daniel jerked the door open, Cloud could see Tseng standing in the hallway with Elena behind him and off to one side. Tseng’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of Daniel standing there naked, but his emotionless mask returned a few heartbeats later.

“Is the world ending?” Daniel demanded, sounding like he was still mostly asleep, and Cloud felt Vincent tense at that question.

A confused look flickered over Tseng’s face even as Elena’s eyes grew wide and a blush stained her cheeks before she averted her gaze. “No....”

“Then don't come back unless you have coffee,” snarled Daniel before swinging the door closed as he turned to make his way back to the bed.

Cloud bit his lip to keep his laughter from spilling into the room as Daniel slid back into the bed behind him, but he was pretty sure the archaeologist was too asleep to notice his shoulders were shaking as Daniel curled up against his back. A soft snicker slipped out of Vincent as the door was politely pushed open by Tseng, and the gunman rolled to his feet, casually getting dressed as the two Turks entered the room. Cloud slipped out from under Daniel’s arm and moved towards his own clothes, uncaring about his nudity even as Elena looked everywhere but at him. “What do you want, Tseng?”

“We have discovered another lab of Hojo’s here in Nibelheim,” began the Head of the Turks when Cloud interrupted him.

“Have fun with that,” he stated, pulling on his pants as he turned his back on Tseng. He was not going to dance to their tune. Not after the other day. If they wanted his help, then they were going to have to pay his price to get it.

Digging into the pack for a fresh shirt, Coud pulled out the still-heavy bag of Gil and the remaining letters before tossing them at Tseng’s feet. “Your bastard can do his own work. I’m heading back to Edge. Dr. Jackson is welcome to come with me or he can catch a lift back with you. Whichever he chooses.”

“If you don’t mind, I think I’d rather head back with you, Cloud,” remarked Daniel, sounding a bit more awake, and Cloud glanced back over his shoulder to find Daniel sitting up in bed, scrubbing at his messy hair with a hand as he blinked around the room. Daniel frowned as he looked at Tseng with the bag and letters at his feet before looking back at Cloud. “What’s going on again?”

“The Turks have discovered another laboratory and have come seeking Cloud’s assistance again in securing the facility,” remarked Vincent, covered once more in tattered crimson and ebony leather. Vincent’s face was as emotionless as always, but Cloud could hear the faint tone in the gunman’s voice, the one that said he thought Tseng was a fool for even trying to ask Cloud.

Shaking his head, Daniel staggered to his feet and towards his pack. “There’s intelligent life on this planet, but I don’t think Shinra employs any,” he grumbled, pulling out his clothes, and a dark flush stole across Elena’s face as she clenched her fists.

Cloud strapped on the sword harness before sliding the main sword into it and scooping up his pack. “I’ll meet you downstairs in the common room,” he said, looking over at Daniel who was struggling into his pants. “We’ll leave after breakfast.”

“But you’re a hero! You’re suppose to help people!” protested Elena, and Cloud watched with a cold smile as she shrank back under Tseng’s glare. Apparently she had done enough damage the other day, and Tseng was trying to keep it to a minimum today.

“That just proves that you know nothing about me,” remarked Cloud, staring at her with cold eyes, and a part of him enjoyed the fact that she shrank back even farther under his glare than Tseng’s. He moved past both Turks and was almost at the door when Tseng finally spoke.

“We are willing to pay you for your time, Mr. Strife.”

Snorting, Cloud glanced back over his shoulder to find that Tseng had turned to face him. “What makes you think I need the Gil?” he drawled in a mocking tone. “So unless you can find something more valuable to me, you’re just wasting my time.”

“What about the records you want?” bargained Elena, her blue eyes filed with desperation. “You’re so anxious to know what Hojo did....”

His mocking laughter cut her off, cold and harsh. “Wrong again. I want those records to keep them out of the hands of people who might use those procedures on other people. Now shut up unless you have something of value to contribute to this conversation.”

A humiliated flush rushed over her face, and she opened her mouth to say something else only to snap her lips shut at the cold glare from Tseng. The Wutaianese man returned his attention to Cloud even as he addressed Elena. “Wait for me downstairs, Elena.”

She mumbled a reluctant “Yes sir” before slipping out the doorway, her head bowed like a child being sent to the corner. The door closed quietly behind her, and Cloud tilted his head slightly as he listened to her footsteps fade in the distance. Only when he heard her descend the stairs did Cloud turn his attention back to Tseng, silently wondering what the Turk wanted now. He could understand sending Elena away. Loki cursed female didn’t have the sense to know just when to shut up right now.

“When Sephiroth destroyed Nibelheim, there were a few more people here than you knew about,” began Tseng, his dark eyes shadowed, and Cloud realized that he was talking about Turks. “Valerie and I were ordered to shadow Sephiroth by Hojo with Heidegger’s authorization. Hojo must have suspected something was going to happen, because he demanded that we call him when the chaos started.”

A cold hand gripped Cloud’s heart as he stared at Tseng, unable to believe what he was hearing. The Turks had been there, and they had just let Hojo walk off with him and Zack because of orders. What, did Tseng think that Hojo was going to just heal them out of the kindness of his heart before letting them wander back to Midgar and the Shinra military?

“I was hoping to intervene before you were grabbed by Hojo, but I misjudged the time of his arrival,” continued Tseng. “When I arrived at the reactor, Hojo was already there with troopers carting both you and Fair off. After that, both of you vanished until a request for Turk assistance to apprehend two escaped experiments crossed my desk. It wasn’t until Rude and Rachael reported back that I knew it was you and Fair.”

A wry smile crossed his lips. “Then, Fair managed to vanish off our radar completely, leaving us searching to find both of you. Unfortunately, we didn’t locate either of you again until after Fair had been killed, and you had slipped into Midgar to vanish in the Slums.”

“And I only have your word for any of this,” growled Cloud, gripping the strap of his pack to keep himself from doing anything he might regret, like seeing how well his fist fit in Tseng’s face. “It’s a wonderful story, but all you’re doing is wasting my time. I don’t care that there were Turks then that sat around on their asses and did nothing. Doesn’t change a damn thing. You want me to help you, I want compensation.”

He smiled, as cold as Gaia’s Cliff. “Tell that Loki spawned bastard that if he wants my help any time in the near future, then he’s going to pay and pay well for my services. After all, AVALANCHE was willing to meet my price not so long ago. If a bunch of ragtag terrorists can pay for the services of an ex-SOLDIER, Rufus Shinra shouldn’t have any trouble at all.”

“Very well, what is your asking price?” asked Tseng, his voice resigned. “Materia?”

Cloud snorted. “I have more than enough mastered materia, even with what the Remnants stole from me,” he said, dropping his bag to fold his arms across his chest. “My price is simple: Shinra and anyone associated with them will leave me alone for the rest of my life, with the exception of a Jenova-level problem that puts the planet in danger. Not just Shinra, but the planet Herself. If that should ever happen, I get *all* information about the problem up front to avoid another fiasco like with the Remnants. This will also be verified by an independent source of my choosing to prevent Shinra from crying ‘wolf’ when he is the only target.”

“I can see that as agreeable,” Tseng began only to stop when Cloud shook his head.

“I’m not done,” he stated, his voice firm. “I also will be granted the ability to request files at any given time, and they will be delivered to me, no matter what the clearance they originally had. It won’t matter if it’s Ragnarok Level, those files will be delivered to me, unmodified in any way. This will not be a one time thing either.”

He cocked his head as he met the dark eyes. “Should Shinra renege on this deal, then I will go straight to the public with what I know of Shinra and whatever skeletons I can pull out of their closets.”

“Agreed,” sighed Tseng, his shoulders slumping before jumping as Vincent spoke from his corner. “Witnessed.”

“Let’s grab a bite to eat, and then we’ll see about your lab.” With that, Cloud had scooped up his pack and walked out the door. He heard Daniel following him before Tseng started quietly speaking into his PHS, informing Rufus Shinra of the deal.

“What happens if Shinra decides you’re too big of a threat and kills you?” Daniel asked in a soft voice.

“Then the information is leaked to the public while my friends demand an investigation,” replied Cloud with a casual shrug.

“Not soon after, Rufus Shinra will be found dead by his own hand, a note confessing everything nearby,” purred Vincent, a delighted note in his voice, and it gave Cloud a warm feeling to know he had friends willing to go that far for him.

Breakfast was a quick affair, Tseng joining them halfway through their meal while Elena kept tossing them unsure glances, and after exchanging his pack for the rest of his swords, Cloud followed the Turks back down into the hidden basement of the Shinra mansion. Instead of entering Hojo’s office, Tseng double back under the crude stairs to reveal a doorway hidden in the rocky wall.

“Elena found this yesterday while searching for more records,” explained Tseng, drawing his gun. “It was opened far enough to verify that it was not a storage closet before being locked again.”

There was something vaguely familiar about the door, but Cloud shoved the feeling aside, not wanting to get caught in a memory surge if there was something other than equipment on the other side. Gripping his swords, Cloud glanced over his shoulder to find Vincent and Daniel both had drawn their guns and were waiting for his move. He nodded once before motioning for Tseng to open the door. The Turk shoved the door open and moved aside as Cloud edged closer to the darkened portal.

The light at their back was just enough for him to see equipment farther down the hallway, but it was the rustling of wings that informed him of the presence of bats. Twirling the small switchblade sword in his hand, Cloud sheathed it on his back before reaching out his free hand to feel for a light switch. Hojo had been impatient enough to want light as quickly as possible so he could begin his experiments. Cloud didn’t bother hiding the shudder or even question how he knew that fact as his fingers quickly found the switch.

Light flared into existence in the hallway, illuminating everything, and startling the mass of bats that had decided to take up residence in there into action. Screeching, they flew right at Cloud, and he sprang into action, a second sword appearing in his free hand. The blades flickered in the light as he killed the bats that attacked him, and the loud report of gunfire behind him indicated that the others were disposing of the ones that got by him.

He hissed as one of the bats managed to scrape his arm with sharp talons, drawing blood before his healing kicked in and closed the wounds. A quick whirl of a sword, and the bat fell to the floor, twitching slightly even as its head joined its body. The floor was littered with blood and bodies, making the footing hazardous, and Cloud cursed as his foot slid on a patch of blood even as he gripped his swords tighter.

Then, it was over, the last bat falling to a bullet with a pitiful squeak.

“Everyone all right?” called Cloud, his eyes scanning the hallway for any more surprise attacks. He couldn’t hear anything else moving except the four behind him and the faint tapping of blood dripping from his swords. The familiar green shimmer of the Lifestream spread among the bodies, and Daniel yelped in surprise. Cloud whirled around, swords coming up to fight whatever was attacking Daniel only to find that the archaeologist was staring at the disappearing bodies.

“Is that normal?” asked Daniel, his eyes large behind his glasses.

Cloud shrugged a shoulder, flicking the blood off his swords. “They’re returning to the Lifestream,” he stated, eyes flickering around as something rolled against his boot. Looking down, he discovered a green materia resting there, and he sheathed the small sword before scooping it up. A Barrier materia.

Chuckling softly, he tossed it to Vincent. “Something to use on Yuffie when she starts eyeing your materia again.”

The gunman caught it with a small smirk before the materia vanished into the crimson cloak. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Turning, Cloud drew his small sword again as he started down the hallway, picking his way past the blood that was smeared on the floor. It was only a half dozen feet before the hallway opened up into a room where two tanks were placed against a wall, surrounded by machinery, and the metal plating in front of both was warped where mako had spilled out of the tanks when the subjects inside were being extracted. The rest of the room was taken up by computer consuls and tables holding various pieces of equipment.

“Looks clear,” he announced, straightening up from his wary crouch and sheathing the switch blade sword as he kept the second sword in his hand. He turned his back on the two opened tanks, and he watched as the Turks entered the room, their faces blank with professional masks. Elena couldn’t hide the faint horror at the sight of the one tank, its insides bristling with long needles like a cactaur’s quills.

A small grumble from Daniel drew Cloud’s attention, and he watched as the Tau’ri fumbled with the lacings of the bracer before yanking the leather off, exposing red, irritated flesh. Daniel dropped the bracer on a clear space of table along with his gun before rubbing his wrist in a soothing manner. He stopped when he caught sight of the tanks, and he slowly walked over to them, eyes flickering between the tanks and the floor. “What happened to the floor?”

“Raw mako. It warps metal that isn’t specially treated,” explained Cloud with a small shake of his head. “If you fall into mako, you have a choice; strip before the metal fastenings on your clothes fuse together, or wait and hope to be cut out of your clothes later.”

“If there was metal against your skin, would it fuse to the skin?” asked Daniel, staring at the needle sporting tank. “And what was this used for?”

Cloud shrugged a shoulder. “Don’t know. Never heard of anyone stupid enough to hold a Gil before shoving their hand into a mako-filled tank.” He shivered at the sight of those needles, waiting for someone to step into their deadly embrace. “It’s Hojo’s. That’s enough to make it dangerous.”

“Why two tanks? Especially since one doesn’t have needles?” Daniel muttered, more to himself as he frowned at the tanks, but Cloud’s hearing caught the words. Gritting his teeth against the shivers that wanted to make them chatter, he deliberately turned to fully face the tanks and Daniel.

His vision wavered as a hidden memory surged forward, pushing reality back as it clamored for attention—

— “Yes, you will do nicely once you’ve gone through the full treatment,” purred an oily voice, the words barely registering through the green haze that hovered before his eyes. Pain lanced through every muscle he had and a few he never knew could hurt like this. He managed to pry open his eyelids, which felt like they had Bahamut hanging off of them, to find Hojo peering at him, the light flickering off his glasses giving him a demented look. “You and your friend will have to remain here until those silly Turks have been recalled. No sense in letting everyone know where my latest experiments are.”---

“Easy, Cloud, you’re safe,” soothed a familiar voice in his ear, and Cloud tightened his grip on the tattered velvet, letting the feel of the soft fabric ground him in the present.

“Hojo hid us here,” he croaked, looking up at Vincent from where they knelt on the floor. The fading ache in his knees indicated that he had fallen to the floor when the memory hit. “Didn’t want the Turks finding us. Didn’t trust ‘em not to tell others where we were.”

He curled farther into the other man’s arms, not caring how weak he looked, as he struggled to separate the memory from the present. He was willing to admit that it did lend weight to Tseng’s earlier explanation, but he needed time to poke at the memory to see how it fit in the gaping holes in his head.

There was a sudden squeak and a yelp from Daniel before the sound of something heavy hitting metal resonated. Cloud looked up just in time to see the door of the tank swing shut with a hydraulic hiss, locking Daniel inside.

Scrambling to his feet, Cloud heard the faint gurgling in pipes and started to swear. “Tseng, get this thing open *now*!” he snarled before returning his gaze to Daniel. “Take your clothes off!” he mimed undressing, and realization flickered in Daniel’s eyes before he bent over, attacking his boots with a vengeance.

Swears came from Tseng, and Cloud glanced over his shoulder, silently demanding an answer as the smell of mako started spreading through the air. “The program started the second the door closed,” reported the Turk, worry and concern mixed on his face. “It’s the last one used, meant to take an unaugmented person and turn them into a First.”

A cold fist gripped his gut. He had been the last person in this tank, and now Daniel was trapped in his nightmare. “Can you shut it down?”

“The passwords are changing every second,” replied Elena from another computer, the clattering of keys filling the air, and Cloud watched as the first streams of mako spilled into the bottom of the tank. “Once the SOLDIER process is started, it can’t be stopped, or he runs the risk of death.”

“Vincent, call Reeve and have him get a doc familiar with SOLDIERs here,” ordered Cloud, his hands going to his own clothes. “Also, have him bring Donahue and Chang. If Daniel has a bad reaction to the treatment, you’ll need them.” Donahue was a mountain of a man, built more like Thor with black hair, while Chang was a Wutainese, but both were Firsts. Not Zack’s caliber, but close enough to deal with an insane First if needed.

“What are you doing?” Elena’s voice cracked, and Cloud looked at her over his shoulder to find an embarrassed blush on her face as the last of his clothes fell to the floor.

“I’m not going to let him go through this alone,” he growled, blue eyes flashing even as his hands trembled with terror at the thought of *willingly* climbing into one of those tanks. “Vincent, make sure the doc also knows about mako poisoning.” He looked over at crimson eyes. “Just in case.”

Vincent nodded as Cloud took a steadying breath before he climbed into the second tank.

“What’s he doing? Is he *insane*?” Elena’s voice was bordering on hysterics, and Cloud closed his eyes as he heard the hydraulics start.

“He’s doing the same thing for Daniel that Zack did for him,” replied Vincent before the door hissed shut, locking him in. Cloud’s eyes flew open, he gritted his teeth against the scream that wanted to escape. He could do this for Daniel. He didn't deserve to be trapped alone in the other tank.

Mako splashed against his skin, causing it to tingle, and Cloud closed his eyes as he crouched down in the thick liquid. If he waited for the tank to slowly fill, he would probably panic and destroy something in an attempt to escape. He wasn’t exactly sure how this worked, but he knew the basic idea. Closing his eyes, Cloud mentally reached for the mako, feeling the swirling emotions trapped in the liquid, and he let himself sink into it, searching for the bright spot only a few feet away.

‘Zack, Aeris, please help me,’ he silently called, reaching out for the bright spot that was Daniel Jackson. Gently, Cloud pulled him into a strong embrace, shielding him from the voices that were starting to become audible, and he curled around Daniel even as he felt two pairs of arms curl around them.

Relaxing into the strength and comfort radiating from his allies, Cloud curled around Daniel and drifted in the sea of voices.

Reeve sighed, a mixture of relief and frustration, as the door finally closed behind the doctor, and he turned to face the other people that were crowded in his board room. The Tau’ri were sitting off to the side, eyeing Aeris who had decided that Sephiroth’s lap was a perfectly acceptable place to sit while Zack leaned against the table near the pair. A pile of towels were dumped near the door while an empty plate and coffee cups was the only indication of the late night raid on the all night café a few blocks away.

“So, now that we’ve been looked over by your doc of choice, when do we get to see Spike?” asked Zack, and Reeve looked at the man to find that cheerful smile on his face that never seemed to leave his expression. The dark haired man jerked a thumb at Jack who was still staring at the trio as if expecting them to start doing tricks. “He was able to pull us back for some reason, and Gaia isn’t really known for giving the dead back.” He shook his head. “We had to sneak Spike back out of the Lifestream when he got blown up.”

“I’m still trying to figure out how to explain Sephiroth without causing a panic among the population,” Reeve sighed, collapsing in a chair and holding his head in his hands. Cait Sith sat on the table nearby, deactivated, and he wanted to hug the little robot to him like a stuffed toy. Another sigh as he reached out and dragged Cait over, wrapping both arms around it as he buried his face in the artificial fur. It was a small comfort that helped ease some of the tightness in his shoulders.

That got a small sniff from Aeris. “It’s simple, silly. Sephiroth owes Gaia a life debt, so She sent him back to collect it. I was sent back to act in Her place as one of the last Cetra, and Zack came back because I needed an extra guard for when Cloud couldn’t be there.”

Raising his head, Reeve watched as Aeris deftly braided the silver strands together before shaking his head and shoving his face back into the white fur. “It was only suppose to be a meeting with possible allies to tell them the truth that I know, air a few skeletons from Shinra’s closet if asked. Not have the skeletons come dancing out with a jig and a smile.”

Strong fingers dug into his shoulder with just enough strength to relax the tense muscles there, and he groaned as he felt the stress ooze out of him. “Relax, Reeve. None of us knew what was going to happen, probably not even the Great Allfather, but what’s done is done. Now we just make the best of it and take care of various problems as they crop up.”

“Exactly who are you people?” O’Neill asked, rising to his feet to stare at the trio with his arms crossed. “Names have been mentioned but no introductions.”

Reeve didn’t raise his head as he gestured to the newly returned people. “Aeris Gainsborough. General Sephiroth, and his SiC, Commander Zack Fair.” At the startled hisses, he raised his head to grin at them. “You wanted to know about Shinra’s skeletons. Meet three of them.”

Zack grinned, a large friendly smile that had worked on soothing ruffled feathers or making friends out of enemies in the past. “Three rather large ones at that.”

“Right,” drawled O’Neill, and Zack backed up, letting Reeve sit back in the chair with a relaxed sigh. “So the dead often wander back whenever they feel like it?” He turned to stare at Sephiroth. “And last I heard, you went crazy and started slaughtering people. What’s stopping you now?”

Sephiroth turned cool, cat-slitted eyes on the Tau’ri, and Reeve gave him points for not backing away under that alien gaze. The minutes stretched on as Sephiroth continued to just stare at O’Neill, neither one saying a word and neither one backing down.

“I don’t feel like it,” stated Sephiroth, causing more than one person to jump as his voice broke through the tense silence that had descended on the room. “Besides, there is no pressing need for me to start slaughtering people.”

“Seph, what do you mean ‘no pressing need’?” Zack’s casual question belied the faint shadow of concern in glowing violet eyes.

The silver haired man hesitated, a thoughtful look on his face as if he was picking his words carefully. “It was when the manmade creature was discovered in the Mount Nibel reactor. It started a strange need in me to find out the answers to questions I had not bothered with before, such as the events surrounding my origins.” Materia green eyes grew distant, as if staring into the past. “It was easy locating Hojo’s laboratory beneath the mansion, almost as if I had been there before, and the work of seconds to gain access to his office. As I poured over the records he had there, priorities began shifting until what had been important before was minor irritation now.”

Reeve watched as Sephiroth rubbed the back of his one hand in an unconscious gesture before Zack reached down and wrapped his own hands around Sephiroth’s, stopping the nervous action. “You can relax now. Hojo's gone, and between Aeris, Spike and myself, you've got your own little army standing between you and the rest of the world.”

Instead of replying, Sephiroth’s eyes seemed to unfocus even more, and a foreboding chill ran down Reeve’s spine at the faint frown on that pale face. Sephiroth’s head turned towards the west and stare off into the distance. West, towards Nibelheim.

The cold chill grew even larger to settle in his stomach as Aeris’ face grew distant, and she too looked towards Nibelheim. But instead of a frown, her look was one of sorrow. “We have to help. Can you reach him?”

Sephiroth nodded, once. “We will both need to be there.”

“Babe? Seph? What’s going on?” Reeve glanced over at Zack, grateful that he had been able to voice the question that had been hovering on all their lips.

Instead of replying, Aeris shook her head. “Boys, no patience what so ever,” she huffed, folding her arms. “Make sure Seph and I get there.” With that, she plopped herself in Sephiroth’s lap, tucked her head under his chin as his arms were loosely wrapped around her, and dropped off with Sephiroth following close behind.

Just then, Reeve’s phone rang, and he picked it up with a surprisingly steady hand, bracing himself for whatever news he was about to receive. “Reeve here.”

Shaking his head, Zack folded his arms across his chest and rested a hip on the large conference table as he listened with half an ear to Reeve’s conversation. He didn’t know what was going on with Aeris and Sephiroth, but he'd never seen either of them fall asleep that quickly. Granted, he was pretty sure it wasn't actual slumber, but something more along the lines of a trance. And that, along with Aeris's previous statement, meant that something was going on with Cloud.

Again.

“Hey, Vincent,” began Reeve only for him to stop with a hissed breath, and Zack straightened to look at the man who was pale beneath his tan. “Are you sure? But why? Yeah, that’s like him. Yeah, I’ll get Donahue and Chang to come with us.” Dark eyes flickered over to Zack before a small smile spread across Reeve’s face. “Also have a few surprises for everyone.”

Reeve hummed before snagging a sheet of paper and scribbled on it while cradling the receiver on his shoulder. “Yeah, that shouldn’t be a problem. Can you trust Tseng and Elena not to go blabbing to Shinra about this?”

Zack snorted and rolled his eyes. He’d be willing to bet Gil to glass that if Elena wasn’t on her PHS to Rufus Shinra then Tseng would be the minute he got out of visual range. He strolled over to the door and opened it to grin at the SOLDIER on the other side, a Second by his eyes. “Hey, can you get Donahue and Chang up here? Reeve needs ‘em.”

The Second nodded, eyes large as he started at Zack before he turned briefly away to mutter into his PHS before straightening again. “They’re on their way, sir,” he began, and he looked like he wanted to say something more but was restraining himself.

“Was there something you wanted to ask?” inquired Zack, a friendly, curious look on his face. Demanding answers didn’t help anything and often only made people clam up tighter than they already were.

“Are you really Zack Fair or just his clone, sir?” blurted out the other man, and Zack grinned, somehow keeping the laughter that wanted to spill out of him contained.

“Does it really matter?” he countered before closing the door on the surprised man’s face. Returning to the table, he looked at Reeve who was hanging up the phone. “What’s Spike done this time?”

Dark eyes looked up at him as a wry smile appeared on Reeve's face. "Just being himself."

Zack nodded knowingly. "Ah, he's busy protecting others, right?"

Reeve looked moderately amused, even through the worry. "Indeed. It seems Dr. Jackson fell into and activated one of the tubes Hojo used to bring normals to First Class status within days."

“Daniel did *what*?” yelped a voice, and Zack looked over to find Jack on his feet with the other two right behind him, determined looks on all their faces as if just waiting for a target to be pointed out to them.

Reeve sighed, rising to his feet. “I’ll be happy to explain everything to you on the way to Nibelheim,” he stated, tapping a few keys on his computer, and Cait Sith straightened up, looking around. “Cait, can you go down to the Medical office and ask Dr. Hope Takajira to come up here? Tell her to have a full medical kit ready to go, and that one or possibly both of her patients might be suffering from mako poisoning.”

The robotic cat nodded and scampered out of the room as Reeve reached for the phone again. “Cid, it’s Reeve. I need to use the Shera to transport myself and nine others to Nibelheim. No, don’t alert the others, it’s not serious like that. Cloud’s being Cloud and Vincent’s already there. We’re going as back up and trouble shooters.”

Reeve snorted in amusement. “All right. We’ll meet you on the roof in fifteen minutes.”

Just then, the door opened to admit three people following Cait Sith. The two men were definitely Firsts by their eyes, one large enough to be Thor’s dark haired twin while the other was a delicate looking Wutanese man. The woman with them, however, wasn't just small but absolutely *tiny*. In one hand she clutched a large bag, her eyes dancing around the room until they landed on Sephiroth's apparently sleeping form, widening briefly before she moved on to the others.

“Dr. Takajira, thank you for coming so quicky,” greeted Reeve, rising to his feet to greet the doctor. Zack looked at her, trying to figure out why she looked vaguely familiar before shrugging and brushing the feeling off. He had probably seen her around Shinra at one time. “I realize that you have questions, but I ask that they wait until we’re aboard the Shera. Cid’s landing her on the roof in fifteen minutes.”

Zack chuckled as he moved over to the chair and managed to maneuver Aeris and Sephiroth over his shoulders. “And if we’re not waiting for him, then he’ll make sure we hear about it for the whole trip.”

Turning, he started from the room with the others right behind him, unconcerned about the looks that followed him. It was an old trick that worked every time. Just act like nothing was wrong and people would eventually believe that there wasn’t. It took three trips for the elevator to deposit everyone on the roof, just in time for the Shera to land.

The side door opened for the group to go rushing aboard as the engine blew dust everywhere. There was some couching behind him, but Zack simply tucked his head and ran, memories of desert training fresh in his head. He didn’t stop until his boots were ringing on metal instead of thumping on stone, and then he moved to the side to let the others in.

“Damn idjit! Don’t just stand there! Get outta the way!” bellowed a voice. Zack raised his head to smirk at the blond man who was glaring at the large black man with the gold brand. Teal’c, he thought the man’s name was.

“Best do what the Captain says or he’ll never get this rust bucket into the air,” remarked Zack, his voice teasing, and Cid whirled on him, blue eyes flashing angrily.

“Bastard! Who asked you!” he growled, raising a clenched fist. “If you don’t like my Shera, you can just walk to Nibelheim!”

Zack laughed as the door closed behind the last person. “Nice to see you again, Captain Highwind,” he greeted, shrugging his shoulder to get Sephiroth more firmly seated again. “Where can I stash these two for the trip?”

The blond shook his head, muttering about morons with twenty lives as he gestured down a hallway. “Find a room and stash ‘em. But if the General comes up swinging, I won’t hesitate to put him down again.”

Grinning, Zack wandered down the hallway, Cid’s snarling threats following him. It was good to be back.

The sound of multiple footsteps brought Vincent out of the light doze he had slipped into. It had been a week since he had called Reeve to let him know what was happening in Nibelheim and he had been taking turns standing guard with the two Turks to make sure nothing else happened during that time. Reeve had called to inform him that some dangerous storms had forced the Shera to land at Costa del Sol or risk going down in the raging storm. Those same storms were also preventing them from continuing the voyage over land due to the hazardous conditions. During that time, he had watched as a ghostly figure had appeared in the mako, wrapping itself around Cloud as if protecting the blond. When he had asked Tseng about the shadow, the Turk had given him a blank look before saying that he only saw Cloud in the tank.

Rising to his feet, Vincent rested his hand on Cerberus, ready for anything. He was under no illusions that neither Turk had not contacted Rufus the second they were able to, and he only had to determine if the new arrivals were Shinra’s men or Reeve’s.

The first person that came in the room was a stranger to Vincent, dressed in the familiar uniform of a SOLDIER First class. His long, black hair was almost as spiky as Cloud’s, and the glowing violet eyes showed that the uniform matched the man. The SOLDIER smirked at Tseng, who had paled under his tan, and nodded hello to Vincent as he walked over in front of the tank containing Cloud. Behind him came Reeve with the three Tau’ri and the personnel Cloud had requested.

“Damn it, Daniel! Alien technology is right up there with weird rocks,” grumbled the older man - Jack, Vincent thought his name was, as he walked over and stared at the man floating in mako.

“Relax, Cloud’s watching over him,” drawled the dark haired SOLDIER with a familiar grin, one the gunman had seen before but not on the dark haired stranger’s face. Reaching out, he placed a hand on the glass. “How long until the cycle’s ended, Tseng?”

Vincent watched as the Turk glanced down at the computer before returning his stunned gaze to the SOLDIER. “There’s seventeen minutes left on the cycle, Commander Fair.”

Red eyes narrowed with suspicion at Commander Fair. He was suppose to be dead, gone to the Lifestream, yet he apparently was standing here before tank containing Cloud as if he had simply stepped out for a trip to the corner market. Vincent glanced briefly at Reeve before returning his attention to Fair. “Clone?”

A small chuckle slipped out of Reeve as he walked over to stand next to Vincent. “The real one," he murmured, his voice carrying no farther than the two of them. "For some reason, when Jack asked Gaia gave him back, along with Aeris and Sephiroth.”

That got a slight look of disbelief from Vincent before he glanced at the woman setting up a cot. “We won’t be staying here,” he stated, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “Once they are out of the tanks, we’ll return to the Shera.” There was no room for argument in his voice, causing her to roll her eyes and grumble at men who thought they knew everything.

“I will still need to verify their condition before we move them any farther than this lab,” she argued, pointing a finger at him. “You don’t tell me how to do my job and I won’t tell you how to clean that monstrosity of a weapon of yours.”

A small chuckle from Reeve drew his attention back to the man. “Dr. Takajira is a force to be reckoned with now that she no longer has to hide her actions from Hojo,” he remarked, before dropping his voice again. “Did you recover everything that needs to be recovered from here?”

Meaning had Vincent liberated the various records that Hojo had kept in this place. He nodded, once. “What I could without interference.”

Reeve nodded his understanding just as the computers beeped and the mako started draining out of Jackson’s tank. They watched as Jackson found his feet again and blearily looked around at everyone, a hand against the glass before the hiss of hydraulics proceeded the opening of the tank. He stumbled out, looking around with glowing blue eyes before his gaze fell on the Tau’ri and he held his hands up. “It’s not my fault.”

Jack snorted and folded his arms. “You realize Janet’s going to have a field day when you show up,” he drawled, glaring at the man who flinched slightly before covering his ears.

Swearing in Wutainese dragged Vincent’s attention back to the other tank to find Fair tugging at the door seam. “It’s not cycling out! He’s slipping!”

Snarling, Vincent glared at Tseng and Elena who were just standing at the computers with stunned looks on their faces before storming over to the tank. He dug his clawed fingers into the seam around the door and started pulling with Fair, determined to get his friend out. The two of them clawed at the door, trying to get a more firm grip that would let them pry it off but each time they tried, their fingers would slip. Finally, he snarled and shoved Fair aside as he released his hold on the one being that could help him.

Leather wings explode from his back as the white light faded to reveal Chaos. He snarled, sinking claws deep into the metal and pulling. His muscles bulge as he strained against the device keeping it shut, but it would not win. Not against him. Snarling, Chaos planted his feet even more firmly as he forced his claws in deeper, the metal groaning in protest, before he *heaved*. The tortured metal screamed in defiance before finally surrendering to the inevitable, releasing a wave of mako that swept across the floor, twisting metal as it went.

There were startled cries and gasps as people danced out of the way of the mako, but Chaos ignored them, casually tossing the door to one side as he stared at the interior of the tank, wings flexing against his back. A figure of silver and black stood there, the limp body of Cloud draped over one arm as if the man had caught him when he had collapsed. There was a familiar feeling from the figure that the host had labeled an enemy, one that was nearly drowned out by the itchy feel of corruption from the Calamity’s taint.

Slowly the Child of the Calamity emerged from the tank, the expected raven wing flaring slightly. Chaos tensed at the unexpected sight of a dove-white wing mirroring the action. Only the Ancient Ones had white wings, proof of their favor from Gaia. Yet, the Child had one of each.. “Why do you bear the favor of Gaia, Child of the Calamity?”

There was a soft growl from behind him, before Fair was pushing his way past Chaos, bending slightly to slap his hand in a puddle of mako. Reaching the Child’s side, Fair placed his mako covered hand against Cloud’s face as he closed his eyes in concentration. The Child gazed at Chaos, a brow raised in surprise and irritation. “I would have thought that you would be more concerned about your ally’s state instead of mine.”

“When a known Enemy of Gaia suddenly appears bearing Her Favor, it is more important than the Ally who is lost to the voices,” rumbled Chaos, amber eyes meeting mako green. “Especially when that Ally is being held by the Enemy.”

“Argue later. Let me see my patient now!” growled a female voice before the small woman was pushing past all of them to get at Cloud. Chaos growled at her, but she simply glared at him, expecting him to back down before turning her full attention to Cloud. The Child had shifted Cloud until the blond was cradled in his arms, but the usual mako blue eyes had been replaced with slitted green.

The same eyes that the Child had.

Fair shifted to give the woman room to move closer to Cloud, and Chaos shook his head, relinquishing control back to the Host. Vincent blinked, reorienting himself on his surroundings and process the information that Chaos was passing along about the white wing Sephiroth was now in possession of.

“Damn it,” swore the woman, and Vincent’s head snapped up to find her backing away from Cloud with a startled look on her face and her hand cradled against her chest as if it was burnt. “What the fuck was that?”

“Easy Spike, you just startled her,” soothed Fair, his voice almost distracted as he leaned down to rest his forehead against Cloud’s. There was what sounded like a questioning hum from Cloud, and Fair chuckled, opening his eyes to reveal vacant violet. It was as if all his attention was turned inward, unlike Cloud, whose vacant stare meant that he was lost in his own mind. “She’s a good one, Spike. No, she wasn’t here with Hojo. I would have remembered her.”

The woman huffed and glared at the trio. “If anything, I’m the reason why so many of his so-called experiments escaped,” she retorted, hands on her hips before swinging her glare around to focus on Tseng. “And if you start going on about ‘corporate espionage’, ask Reno who slipped him out of the lab one night.”

“None of my Turks have ever been in the lab other than as guards,” stated Tseng, his eyes flashing at that thought. It was all Vincent could do not to laugh at that statement. If Hojo wanted a Turk in the lab, he got them. No matter who claimed them previously. Vincent himself was proof of that.

The woman waves his irritation aside as she turns her full attention on Cloud. “Is there any way to wash the mako off of him? Continued exposure can’t be good for him.”

“Sure, but then how do you explain to him that he’s not being abandoned?” drawled Fair, eyes sharpening to focus on her before he glanced back at Jackson. Vincent followed his gaze to find the man squinting as he pressed his hands over his ears. “Right now, we need to get Dr. Jackson and Cloud back to the Shera where you can look them over to your heart’s content.”

It looked like the woman was going to protest until she took a closer look at Jackson and hurried over as she dug in her pocket. Apparently, she had been so focused on the patient that had collapsed that she had forgotten the patient that had remained standing. Fair placed a small kiss on Cloud’s forehead before walking over to Jackson, peeling his shirt off as he went. Vincent returned his attention to Sephiroth now that Jackson was in capable hands. He watched as the feathered wings folded against Sephiroth’s back only to vanish in a familiar swirl of green light.

Well, that was certainly unusual.

Sam was staring at everyone in stunned disbelief as her mind whirled. It wasn’t scientifically possible for the red cloaked man to change like that, growing mass and wings on a whim. And she *knew* they had left Sephiroth back on the Shera, so how did he get *inside* the sealed tank with *wings* of all things that vanished in green light? She knew the tank had been sealed because she had heard the hissing of compressed air escaping when the other man had ripped the door off.

The man, Zack, walked over to Daniel and wrapped his shirt around Daniel’s eyes and ears. “Things are going to be disorienting for a while. Just relax and we’ll take care of you.”

“Zack?” Daniel’s voice was soft and confused as he reached out and grabbed the younger man’s arms. “What’s going on? We’re not in the Lifestream ‘cause Sam and Jack are here, but you’re dead.”

That got a quiet laugh from Zack, the kind that invited a person to join in on the humor. “Long story that I’ll tell you all about after we get you and Spike on board the Shera,” he promised.

“It’s not scientifically *possible*!” moaned Sam, holding her head as she tried again to figure out how everything had happened. “A person can’t suddenly gain and loose mass like that even taking into account his clothes, and you can’t just appear in a sealed chamber without there being some evidence of an entry way.” She glared at Sephiroth who was still holding a naked Cloud Strife and why hadn’t she noticed that before? “And I *know* we left you aboard the Shera, so how did you get here before us and get into the tank?”

“Magic,” drawled Sephiroth, raising a silvered brow at her.

She shook her head. “Magic isn’t real. Technology can be advanced enough to appear to be magic, but there is nothing that can’t be explained by science.”

Zack walked back to Cloud’s side and motioned her over. “Come here a minute. I want to show you something, okay? I promise it won’t hurt, and it might give you a little bit better understanding.”

Slinging her rifle across her back, Sam walked over to him, a bit wary but willing to see how he was going to explain this. He crouched down next to one of those toxic green puddles that lingered in front of the one tube and glanced at Sephiroth who also crouched down before motioning her down with them.

“This is mako. It’s the liquid version of the Lifestream,” began Zack, holding out his hand to her, and Sam slipped her fingers into his, surprised at the calluses on his skin. She wouldn’t think that someone freshly brought back as he had would have calluses on his hands. “It’s what Shinra used for a power source for a long time, cheap and easy to get.”

There were quiet footsteps behind her, and Sam looked up to find Daniel being escorted over by Jack and Teal’c. Jack’s shirt had been wrapped around Daniel’s waist to give him a bit of modesty, but that was all he was wearing.

“Do you mind if we listen in on this explanation as well?” asked Jack as Daniel knelt on the floor, one hand reaching out to brush against Cloud’s leg before grabbing on.

Zack smiled at them. “Well, it’s a bit more show and tell than flat out explain,” he remarked, twining his fingers with Sam’s before lowering their hands into the liquid.

She gasped softly as thoughts/feelings/memories slipped through her mind, her eyes closing to listen to them better. It was different than Jolinar because she wasn’t being shoved to the back of her mind, but the voices and emotions were still there. Anger, fear, sorrow, and desperation swirled through her mind as the voices threatened to sweep her away. Then, a new voice entered the cacophony, but this one was stronger as if the person was right next to her instead of off in the distance like the others.

‘Sorry... tried protecting him... shouldn’t be hurt.... don’t be mad at him... accident... twin brother... not possible... not a Shinra.... lied again.... Zack, where are you... lost... help me...’

Just as suddenly as it began, the voice stopped, and Sam blinked, dazed as she realized her hand was wet but with water this time. She looked at Zack with wide eyes. “What the hell was *that*?” she croaked, cradling her hand to her chest. She was almost afraid the voices would start again if she touched anything.

“Sam, what happened?” asked Jack, and she turned to look at him, the words taking a few minutes to fully make sense to her addled mind.

“It was voices, feelings, in the mako,” she explained, slowly finding the words for her experience. She shook her head, seeing the question in Jack’s eyes. “Not like Jolinar. I wasn’t taken over, but it was still intense, like a wave crashing on the beach, threatening to sweep you off your feet if you weren’t careful. Then there was this new voice, closer, like the person was right next to me instead of in the distance like the others were. It was fragmented, as if the person couldn’t really string together enough consciousness to speak in complete sentences.”

Zack smiled at her, a gentle grin. “That voice was Cloud,” he explained, and the blond hummed in response to his name. “He’s a bit lost right now, but we’ll help him back.”

“I remember him being there, in the voices, shielding me,” remarked Daniel, speaking softly as if anything louder would hurt to hear. “There was so much yelling and screaming as emotions and memories were thrown at us, but he took every blow, trying to protect me.”

“That was probably the original inhabitants of Nibelheim making their displeasure known,” remarked Reeve, walking over to drape his long tunic-like jacket over Cloud. He brushed the damp bangs off of Cloud’s forehead, and Cloud hummed again, turning his head into the touch. “It’s okay, Cloud, you’re safe.”

Sam watched as Cloud blinked, his eyes turning from slitted green back to the familiar electric blue, and awareness started trickling back. A hand came up, searching for something, and Zack caught it, pulling Cloud’s hand to rest against Zack’s cheek. Tension seemed to flow out of Cloud at the contact.

“Z’ck?” There was a wealth of emotion and questions in that simple broken word, and Sam stared at Cloud, actually seeing him for the first time. He looked so young, nothing like his reputation made him out to be. Sam hadn't gotten a clear look at him in Seventh Heaven that first time or even at the ruins of the Shinra Tower, but he had seemed older then, at least in his thirties. Now, however, he didn't look any older than his early twenties.

“Hey Spike. Welcome back,” greeted Zack with a grin.

“Wha’s goin’ on?” slurred Cloud, more awareness appearing on his face as he continued blinking like someone waking up from a long nap. He shook his head and grimaced as if he had tasted something horrid. “Not ‘stream.”

A friendly chuckle slipped out of Zack as he brushed a finger down Cloud’s nose, getting a wrinkled nose for his trouble. “We’ll explain everything back on the Shera while the doctor checks you over, okay?”

A panicked look flashed across Clouds face, and he whimpered as he clutched at Zack’s hand while his other flailed for something to grab. Blindly, Daniel reached out and grabbed that hand, holding onto Cloud as tight as possible. “Cloud, I’m here. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. Neither will your friends.”

“Dan’l? Firs’ Cl’ss now. Can’ hide tha’.” Cloud’s forehead wrinkled in frustration as he tried to talk, and Sam wondered if it was a side effect of whatever had happened to Cloud or if it was something else.

“Yeah, I know, Cloud, but you need to get better to teach me how to deal with this,” stated Daniel, his voice soft. “You can’t expect Zack to do a good job of it, do you?” That got a soft laugh from Cloud as Zack quietly protested with an amused "Hey!". “So, how ‘bout we get out of here and into fresh air that doesn’t reek of mako?”

Sephiroth glanced at Zack before transferring the blond over into Zack’s arms. “I have a few things to do here,” he murmured, smoothly rising to his feet and sweeping out of the room before anyone thought to protest. Sam saw Reeve glance at Vincent before Vincent nodded and followed Sephiroth. She wondered what that was about, but before she could ask, Zack rose to his feet with Daniel following him, both holding Cloud.

“Time to blow this place,” remarked Zack with a grin. “Hey Donahue, mind carrying Daniel?”

“I can walk,” protested Daniel with a frown. “I just... need someone to guide me right now.”

Donahue chuckled as he walked over and gently scooped up Daniel, getting a startled yelp for his troubles. “Yeah but until you get use to everything, walking around barefooted is not going to be fun. Welcome to the Firsts.”

“Is there anyway to reverse the process?” Sam asked, looking at everyone. “Can’t you use those to change him back?” She gestured a bit helplessly at the tubes, hoping someone would announce that all they had to do was shove Daniel back in, press a few buttons and everything was done. Instead, her suggestion was met with an almost pitying silence from the Gaians.

Shaking his head at Major Carter’s naivete, Reeve gestured for people to start making their way out of the room. It was one thing to understand that she was not from the same world as them, but Cloud had said that he had explained the SOLDIER process to Daniel. Hadn’t he passed the information along to his companions? “The SOLDIER process is irreversible, Major Carter. It changes a person on the cellular level.”

He turned to face Chang and gestured towards the tanks. “Make sure those can’t be used ever again, Chang.”

“You can’t do that, Tuesti,” protested Tseng as the Wutainese SOLDIER moved towards the tanks. “This is Shinra property, not WRO.”

“Actually, I can,” drawled Reeve with a smirk as he pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. Since Cloud’s call that night a week ago, Reeve had been carrying around a copy of the agreement that had created the WRO, signed by both Rufus Shinra and Reeve himself. The original was still in a very safe place, but something had told Reeve that a copy would be needed. He unfolded the paper and held it up to face the Turks. “According to this agreement between Shinra and myself, any newly discovered laboratories once used by Professor Hojo are mine to do with as I wish, including all the information they contain. If any laboratory is not turned over to my control, then Shinra forfeits a percentage of his company and resources, monetary and personnel both, to WRO.”

Reeve turned his back on the wide eyed Turks and gently motioned for people to move against the far wall as Chang stopped in front of the tanks. “In order to give you a good idea of what Dr. Jackson will be able to do now, please keep an eye on First Class Chang's demonstration, Colonel O'Neill. I also would like to point out that Mr. Change is smaller than Dr. Jackson, and his strength will be proportional.”

Chang grinned, a hot and bloodthirsty grin, before bowing briefly at his audience. Straightening, he turned to Daniel's tank and with a hiss he shut the door. He pulled back his fist and punched the glass, causing some small cracks to appear. A second punch forced the cracks to spider-web out until a third punch shattered it completely.

“That glass was reinforced to survive anti-artillery fire from a mobile tank,” Reeve remarked with a deliberately casual tone as he glanced at the wide-eyed stare of the Tau’ri.

Daniel frowned, his head tilted as he rested in Donahue's arms, listening to what was going on around them. “Cloud only needed one punch.”
That got a soft chuckle from Zack. “Spike's special like that, part of a matched set if you will." Zack shrugged and smiled in amusement, as if that didn't matter.

Snarling some impressive sounding Wutainese curses, Chang shoved his hands through the sides of the tank and heaved, splitting the tank in two before dropping the parts on the floor. He turned to the other tank, drawing his sword. He struck at the tank with a battle cry, slicing through the metal as if it were a loaf of bread. There was a groan of protesting metal before the two pieces separate with a loud clang. He sheathed his sword and bowed again, looking as composed and unruffled as a Turk normally does instead of the rather impressive warrior he had just been.

“And Daniel will be able to do that?” asked Jack, his eyes a bit wide at the demonstration. Reeve nodded, unable to stop a smirk from spreading across his face.

“Cloud destroyed the other lab with his bare hands,” Daniel offered, his voice a bit louder than it had been. “He only used his swords on the table and Zack’s tube.” he sighed and rubbed at his cloth-covered eyes. “Can we go now? I’m tired of this place and I’m sure Cloud is too.”

Reeve nodded before gesturing for everyone to leave the room. “Chang, can you make sure that the mako pipes are disabled permanently once Sephiroth and Vincent have finished their business here?”

“It will be a pleasure, sir,” Chang purred with a smirk as the Tau’ri started filing down the hallway leading out with Dr. Takajira right behind them.

“Lucky bastard,” grumbled Donahue with a good natured glare at Chang. “You get to destroy stuff and I’m stuck playing a chocobo.”

Chang’s smirk grew sharper at the grumbling. “You were the one who decided to rival Thor for strength and sheer size. Meanwhile, I’m perfectly happy to be a son of Wutai.”

There was an almost defeated air hanging around Elena as she followed Tseng out of the lab, her shoulders slumped, and Reeve took a long look around the lab before catching Chang’s eye. With a smirk and a thumb pointed to the ground, he quietly gave the First Class permission to completely trash the lab, verifying that nothing would be useable ever again. The grin on Chang’s face when Reeve turned back to follow the others outside was one to rival Sephiroth’s when the Black Materia had been handed over.

Emerging out into the sunlight, Reeve took a deep breath and felt his shoulders relax as he started towards the town. He’d have to collect Cloud’s belongings and Fenrir before loading them onto the Shera, but the ship had room for the massive machine. Plus this would give him a chance to look it over for Cloud, make sure nothing had happened to it while they were in the lab. A throat being cleared behind him caught his attention, and Reeve turned to find Jack standing there, an uncomfortable look on his face.

“Can I come with you? I have a few questions I wanna ask,” inquired the Tau’ri and Reeve nodded as he turned back to the path. Jack fell into step next to him, and they walked a bit in silence before Jack spoke. “There really isn’t a way to reverse what was done?”

Reeve shook his head. “Hojo never meant for the process to be reverse. What good would an improved fighter be if it was easy to undo the procedure, making the fighter nothing but a simple man again?” He kept his gaze riveted on the collection of buildings ahead of them. “Dr. Jackson is still perfectly capable of living a normal life. He just needs to be more careful and retrain his body so his instincts mesh with his new abilities.”

“Is he a danger to anyone?” Reeve could tell that it wasn’t a friend asking but a commander, and he reached out to rest a hand on Jack’s shoulder, stopping in the road.

“Everyone is dangerous,” Reeve pointed out, his voice calm. “He’s no more a danger to you than he has been before.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, meeting Jack’s worried gaze with his own calm one. “Look, you haven't been around SOLDIERs all that much, since Zack's been holed up in his room with Sephiroth and Aerith. Before you start labeling anyways, step back and talk with Zack and Cloud. And more importantly, just watch them.”

They walked a bit farther towards the town and were almost to the inn when Jack spoke again. “So, what’s a chocobo?”

Smirking, Reeve walked into the barn and pointed at the large birds. “That's a chocobo. Both transportation and weapon, when trained properly."

The look on Jack's face had Reeve howling with laughter as he leaned against the barn door. By Freya, it felt good to laugh like that after the last week.

He was drifting as his thoughts tangled around the new memories that were rising to the surface of his mind. Memories of his mother teaching him late at night with only the fire for illumination, her calm voice brushing over his ears as she drew symbols in the ashes as she told him the legacy of their family. Two symbols she drew over and over again, burning them into his memory. A circle quartered with “Gaia” whispered in a loving tone while the top of a triangle with a dot resting on the tip was identified with a hissed “False Ones”.

Soft green swept through him, nudging memories back where they belonged before smoothing his thoughts out with a gentle touch. He hummed and allowed the green light to coax him back to full awareness, feeling more things settle as he did. Slowly, Cloud opened his eyes, blinking a few times to find himself staring at the familiar ceiling of the Shera’s cabins.

“Welcome back Spike," a familiar voice greeted him and Cloud turned his head to find Zack grinning at him. “So, where'd you hide my sword?"

“It's at the cliff," Cloud automatically answered as he sat up to stare at Zack. Gentle hands helped him up, and he turned to find a smiling Aeris sitting next to him. “What’s going on? How are you here? Where’s Daniel?”

“I’m right here, Cloud,” replied Daniel and Zack moved out of the way to reveal Daniel sitting on a chair against the wall. He was wearing another one of his olive green uniforms, indicating that someone had retrieved their bags from the inn. Daniel offered a reassuring smile. “I’m fine if a bit enhanced. I didn’t realize how different everything was for you.”

“It’s a bit odd seeing the difference in colors, isn’t it?” verified Cloud, and Daniel nodded with a friendly smile. Cloud chuckled. “Just wait until meals. Then you’ll *really* see what I was talking about in the Forgotten City.” He glanced around, only seeing the four of them in the cabin. “Where’s everyone else?”

Zack chuckled. “Seph’s reorganizing the other lab while stripping it bare of any records about his own creation and the Ancients. Vincent’s with him as a safety precaution for everyone else’s nerves. Chang’s having fun with Donahue now that we’re aboard the Shera, and I think Jack’s entertaining thoughts about smuggling home a chocobo.”

There was a sudden distant rumble, and Cloud scrambled to his feet. “Who’s setting off the Quake?”

“That would be Chang,” announced Zack with a grin before frowning. “Or was it Donahue that had the Earth?” He shrugged. “Either way, Reeve gave ‘em free reign to wreck the lab. Seems Rufus signed a piece of paper...”

Cloud started laughing and waved off the rest of Zack’s explanation. “I was there when Rufus signed it,” he stated. “I witnessed it along with two other people so Rufus couldn’t claim that it was a forgery when Reeve used it against Rufus.”

“Rufus is not going to be happy that he has been blocked so easily,” remarked a new voice from the doorway, and everyone turned to find Sephiroth standing there with a small smirk on his face. Cloud automatically tensed before he realized that the smirk was one of amusement rather than cruelty. “It is quite possible for him to strand the Tau’ri here in a fit of stubbornness since the Stargate is in the remains of the Tower.”

Shaking his head, Cloud moved over to his bags that someone had dropped near a wall and started pulling clothes out. “No he can’t.”

The sure tone in his voice had them exchanging looks as he got dressed, and when he turned around, there were four sets of eyes staring at him.

“Um, not to question you, but how can you be so sure?” asked Daniel. “Jack can remind Rufus that to strand us here would be seen as an act of war.”

“Spike, what do you have up your sleeve?” drawled Zack, a grin spreading across his face. Aeris looked between the two before shaking her head, a smile on her face.

Cloud smirked and strapped his harness into place. “Rufus Shinra can’t strand the Tau’ri here because he doesn’t own the Gate.” He walked over to Daniel and picked up the jacket that had been tossed over the back of a chair. He turned it until a round patch was exposed, showing a two sided triangle with a circle balanced on the tip. The same as the one his mother use to draw in the ashes of the fireplace.

“I regained more of my memories this time with a bit of help from the Strife clan,” he explained with a nod to Daniel. “When they found out that you were there, they made certain that I remembered the lessons my mother taught me before I was sent to Midgar.”

“But I thought you ran away to join the military,” said Aeris with a slight frown. “Or was that what you remembered?”

“That was part of Zack’s memories,” clarified Cloud, tossing a smirk at the dark haired First. “My mother taught me two symbols that were the only ones I truly needed to know. A quartered circle and this one.” He held up the patch. “The False Ones’ symbol.”

“Your family used to be guardians of the gate, right?" asked Daniel, staring at Cloud with an understanding.

Cloud nodded in agreement and handed back the jacket. “One of the clans, yes.”

An excited look appeared on Daniel’s face, reminding him of their talk in the Forgotten City about the Ancients. “There are others then?”

“No. They were slaughtered by Shinra in an attempt to get control of the Gate,” admitted Cloud. “They succeeded for a while.”

“But, if Shinra took the Gate, doesn’t that mean that Rufus controls it?” asked Daniel, his enthusiasm cooling a bit. “Which brings us right back where we started, with the possibility of being stranded here by Rufus Shinra.”

Cloud slowly shook his head. “We were charged by the gods themselves to guard the Gate. Not even Rufus dare go against their wishes, no matter how long ago that was,” he stated. “As the last Strife, the Gate is essentially my property, and I have every right to reclaim it from the thieving murderers who stole it from us.” A cold smile stretched across his face. “After all, Rufus Shinra owes me a few favors.”

The sound of the Shera’s engines starting filled the air, and Cloud felt the massive ship lift off the ground. Now that he was paying attention to other things, his body decided to remind him that it had been a very long time since his last meal. “How long were we in those tubes anyway?”

“About a week,” replied Aeris, snagging his arm and pulling him out of the room with the others following. “Which means you both need something to eat.”

Cloud smiled as he let her drag him down to the galley before gesturing for Daniel to take a seat at the table. “I'll fix dinner, and let Aerith season to taste for herself. As always.”

That got a slight huff from the young woman but she was smiling as she got some drinks for them while maneuvering Zack and Sephiroth both to chairs situated around the table.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on?” inquired Cloud as he started pulling out ingredients to make enough stew for all of them. “You three are alive again, complete sane in the ways that count, and *not* in chains or under heavy guard.” His finger tightened on the spoon before relaxing at the creak of wood. He was surprised at how calm and reasonable he sounded when all he wanted to do was start demanding answers or throwing things. He wasn't quite sure why he wanted to throw things, but he supposed it would make him feel better.

“Kind of a funny story about that,” remarked Zack with an embarrassed laugh.”Reeve was meeting with Daniel’s friends in the Church, and we were there, listening in. We’d only made a couple of comments ourselves, well Aeris and I did at least, when Jack gets irritated at us and yells for us to come out.” He spread his hands as if to say ‘that’s that’.

“It was a bit more than that,” added Aeris with a whap on Zack’s arm, getting a flinch and a half hearted protest. “Jack is enough of an Ancient that Gaia returned us at what was seen as his request.”

“What?” squawked Daniel, his eyes huge as he stared at Aeris in disbelief. “How can Jack be an Ancient? None of them remained behind on Earth - Tau’ri.” He corrected at the faint flicker of confusion.

“It would not be that difficult if there remained a strain of their genes within the population,” stated Sephrioth, a bemused smile on his face, as if surprised that the information he had unconsciously soaked up in Hojo's lab was finally being used. “Eventually, when enough carriers of the gene bred with one another, it would revert back to its dominant state.”

Daniel frowned at that information, and Cloud shook his head as he got himself a glass of water from the sink, needing to get rid of the faint mako taste in his mouth. Taking a sip, he spit the water back out before stalking over to the galley door. He opened it and leaned out the doorway, a faint grin on his face. “Cid,, you cheap bastard! Your water filter’s crapped out again!”

There was swearing from farther in the ship before Cid was bellowing back. “If you weren’t so prissy ‘bout every gods damned thing, you wouldn’t notice, Strife! You know where the filters are! Fix it yerself!”

“I’ll be right back,” announced Cloud, laughter in his voice. “Keep an eye on the stew, Zack, and Aeris, no seasoning it for you.” Her laughter followed him out of the room.

Stunned, Daniel watched Cloud walk out of the room. In his time of traveling with the blond, he had never seen him act like that, light hearted and joking. Cloud had always seemed so serious with more of a darker humor than the bright one he had just displayed, bellowing through the ship like a teenager.

"Can't say I remember Spike acting like that before," Zack mentioned as he walked over to stir the stew. "He was always a quiet one back at Shinra." He glanced over at Aeris, who shook her head.

"He was always so very serious after he fell through my roof," she confessed with a wry grin. "Especially after he had to rescue me from Reno and his troopers."

There was a polite knock on the door, and Daniel looked over to find Jack sticking his head in, a friendly smile on his face. “Hey. Mind if I join you?”

“Grab a chair,” invited Zack, waving towards the table, and Jack wandered over there, claiming Zack’s abandoned seat. “So what’s on your mind?”

That got a shrug from Jack. “Just trying to figure out what changes we need to make so Daniel’s comfortable,” he confessed with a smirk towards the archaeologist.

Daniel frowned even as he shifted, trying to get comfortable in his seat. His clothes were irritating for some reason, like they had been washed in itching powder. He didn’t think Jack would do that after the last time Teal’c had threatened to return the favor, Jaffa style. “I’ll be fine Jack. You don’t need to do anything special for me.”

“Nonsense! This is no different than being sure to pack some of that extra dark chocolate for Carter and extra coffee and allergy meds for you,” replied Jack with an easy grin on his face.

Daniel growled softly and started scratching his back. “What did you do to my clothes, Jack?”

“I didn’t do anything to ‘em,” protested Jack, his hands coming up to ward off the glare Daniel was turning his way. “Man, play a few pranks and you’re the first one blamed when something goes wrong.”

“You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you Zack?” inquired Sephiroth with a smirk on his face.

Zack pointed the spoon at him. “Hey, I wasn't the only prankster in Shinra! There was also Reno, and you'd be surprised how often he talked Rude into helping.”

Sephiroth’s smirk only grew. “I doubt either of them had the chance to call down a rain of Touch Mes during a charity gala because they didn’t want to be there.”

“Touch mes?” asked Daniel, forgetting about the itching for a moment. The name sounded like a very bad pick up line or something extremely perverted.

“They’re a type of frog that are found around Gongaga, my hometown,” explained Zack with a huge grin. “Great for pranks and not *that* deadly.”

“If a person is provided the antidote in time to keep from being stepped upon after being frogged,” drawled Sephiroth with a raised brow.

Zack snorted and folded his arms as Cloud reentered the galley with a glass of water. “See? Harmless.”

Shaking his head, Cloud moved over to the stove, taking the spoon from Zack before shoving his friend towards the table. “Sit down, Zack, before I have to wonder what you added to the food while I was gone.”

“I didn’t do anything!” protested Zack, staggering over and dropping into an unoccupied chair. “Why am I being accused for not doing anything?”

“We know you Zack,” chorused Cloud, Aeris and Sephiroth causing Aeris to burst into giggles. Cloud had a strange look on his face before he turned back to the stew.

Growling softly, Daniel attacked his skin, itching and twisting to scratch every spot that irritated him. It was worse than itching powder and poison ivy combined. He yanked his shirt off and stared at the reddened skin that matched where his shirt had covered. “What the...”

There was a soft swear from Zack as he tugged Daniel to his feet. “Babe, go get a pair of Spike’s pants for Daniel to borrow,” he instructed, and Aeris nodded as she hurried out of the galley.

“What’s wrong with him?” demanded Jack, partially rising to his feet as he planted his fists on the table. He looked like he was a few seconds from throttling someone to get the answers to his question.

Sephiroth rose to his feet and shrugged out of his coat, leaving him clad in leather pants. He held out the coat to Daniel who swallowed at the sight of that flawless pale skin. He wasn’t sure why he was noticing Sephiroth now that his coat was off, but there was something about the silver haired man that made him seem so much *more* in just pants.

“It's a reaction to whatever soap your clothes were washed in," Sephiroth said, still holding out his jacket with a faint quirk to his lips. "SOLDIER uniforms were always washed with a detergent developed for us to prevent reactions. We'll find some for you to bring back with you, so you'll have something to wash your clothes and linens with from now on."

Daniel took the coat and slipped it on before skimming out of the rest of his clothes. He managed to avoid flashing anyone as he piled the rest of his uniform on a chair to be dealt with later, but a hot blush spread across his face as he gripped the leather coat shut. He felt like a flasher in just the long coat even as he tried to ignore how nice the butter soft leather felt against his skin.

Jack jabbed a finger at Daniel. “See? Stuff like that because you can't exactly negotiate for us if you’re wiggling like someone dropped ants down your pants.”

Just then, Aeris came back with a pair of black pants and held them out for Daniel. “Here, until you can get your own clothes washed right.”

“Thanks,” mumbled Daniel, taking the pants and slipping them on with his back to Aeris. He felt much better now that he had something to wear other than a long coat even if the pants were a bit short on him. He shrugged the coat off and held it out to Sephiroth who shook his head.

“Keep it for now. You will probably wish for something more than pants until you are use to the enhancements,” he remarked, his tone casual and matter of fact that it had Daniel pulling the coat back on before he was aware of the action.

Cloud brought the stew over and placed it on the table, distracting Daniel from anymore embarrassment, before fetching bowls and spoons. One last trip had the now familiar three jars of spices on the table as Zack started dishing out the stew. “Want some, Colonel? Spike’s a great cook.”

“Sure,” agreed Jack, grabbing a bowl before nodding at the pots. “What’s that?”

“Black pepper, mustard powder, and possibly cayenne spice,” Daniel said pointing to each pot. He grinned. “Cloud cooks to his taste and everyone else seasons to their preference.”

Jack nodded at that and Daniel reached for the pot of mustard powder only to be stopped by Cloud’s hand on his wrist. He looked up to find a small smile on the blond’s face.

“Taste it first and then decide,” advised Cloud before turning his attention to his own stew. Daniel glanced at the stew, debating on the wisdom of Cloud’s words when he remembered the way his clothes had itched like they never had before. Then he pulled his hand away from the jar and picked up his spoon.

Zack huffed and pouted. “You’re no fun, Cloud. No one warned me when I went First.”

That got a chuckling purr from Sephiroth. “Not all of us are as sadistic as your mentor ws.” He smirked and leaned an elbow on the table, fixing Zack with those cat-green eyes. “Puppy.”

“Not that again...” moaned Zack with a bigger pout as Aeris started giggling. The put upon look on Zack’s face got a chuckle from Daniel before he took a cautious bite of the soup. The explosion of flavors caused him to moan in delight as the mix of vegetables and meat mixed pleasantly, and he wondered how he could have ever thought this was dull. His moan of delight was echoed by Zack while there was an appreciative hum from Sephiroth at the taste.

“Um, what is the big thing?” asked Jack reaching for the pots of seasoning. “No offense, Cloud, but it’s a bit bland.” Aeris grinned as she reached for her own seasonings.

"Maybe to you, but you need to remember our senses are enhanced," Cloud remarked as he carefully ate his stew. "That includes our sense of taste."

"Okay, Spike's gonna be our cook from now on," Zack announced between mouthfuls. "No offense babe, but I haven't had anything this good since I left home."

Aeris giggled again. “None taken. I’m good with pastries, but meals like this are a bit more complicated.”

Daniel glanced over at Cloud, only to find him staring at his bowl with a faint blush on his cheeks and a delighted look in his glowing eyes for the compliment. Grinning, Daniel finished his bowl and paid the highest compliment he knew.

“May I please have seconds?”

By the time the Shera landed on the roof of the WRO, Reeve was very glad that none of the other members of AVALANCHE had gone with them. The flight back had given both Cloud and Reeve a chance to get use to this sane version of Sephiroth, and Reeve found himself enjoying the Silver General’s company more than he thought he would. Of course, his memories of the man were based on board meetings and watching him at charity events. Not the most ideal of circumstances to build up an opinion of someone.

Cloud was talking quietly on his PHS as they disembarked from the Shera, and Reeve wondered if it had to do with the upcoming meeting with Shinra or the newly returned members of the party. Either way, Reeve was going to make sure to avoid Tifa until the brunette’s temper had cooled. Possibly Barrett’s as well. Those two always seemed upset when Cloud tried to reminisce about his times as a trooper with Shinra as if they didn’t want to be reminded that their friend had once been part of that group.

As soon as they entered the WRO building, Iris met them with a clipboard and fell into step next to Reeve. “Mr. Shinra called. He’s waiting for you to set up a meeting with him some time within the next day, stating that it’s urgent. Miss Lockheart dropped off two footlockers for Mr. Strife. They’re in your office. Miss Kisaragi and Mr. Nanaki are both waiting for you in the meeting room off your office. The engineers have finally turned in a report about Mr. Wallace’s oil field, and Mr. Jennings of the Gate Project has stated that the platform is ready for whatever it is you wish to put on it.”

Once more Reeve was amazed by his secretary. She had to be a miracle worker in her spare time, and once again he wondered how he had ever managed to function without her. “Tell Shinra we’ll meet with him in two hours and arrange for drinks and sandwiches to be delivered to the conference room down on the sixteenth floor. Dr. Takajira, Chang and Donahue have files that are to be placed in the vault and accessed only by Dr. Takajira, Mr. Strife, Mr. Valentine, or one of their authorized representatives. Also, send a message to Mrs. Elmyra Gainsborough inviting her to a private dinner at Francine’s before arranging for a private room there. And Yuffie, get your hand out of my candy dish.”

The last was said as he opened the door to his office, knowing that if Yuffie was in his office, she was raiding his candy dish. Sure enough, there was a yelp and a scuffling as Yuffie backed away from his desk, her cheeks stuffed to almost bursting with candy even as she tried to look innocent.

The quiet laughter from over near the windows had to be Nanaki, and Reeve waved everyone towards various chairs and couches that weren’t covered in papers and blueprints. Cloud moved over to where two footlockers were placed against the wall and gestured to one of them. “That’s yours, Zack.”

“Zack?” echoed Yuffie, watching as people filed into the room before she yelped, the Conformer appearing in her hand as she tensed for an attack. “Sephiroth!”

“Okay I gotta ask, how did she hide a weapon that big in those clothes and can she teach me that trick?” drawled Jack only to flinch when Sam slugged him in the arm with a hissed “Colonel!”

Shaking his head, Reeve sat down behind his desk, automatically straightening papers into piles as both Cloud and Zack knelt in front of their footlockers like a couple of kids at Yule. Nanaki padded over next to the desk before stopping to stare at Aeris in surprised disbelief even as Reeve watched the Tau’ri tense at the sight of the fire lion. Except Daniel who was looking at Nanaki with open curiosity.

Aeris grinned and knelt on the floor to look Nanaki in the eyes. “Hey there. Sorry we didn’t come see you earlier, but Cloud was being Cloud,” she remarked, scratching behind one of the fire lion’s ears.

“In other words, he was plunging head long into possible danger to protect another with little to no regard to his own safety,” translated Nanaki, humor evident in his voice.

“Yuffie? Your dad wants to talk to you sometime soon,” Cloud announced, his voice distracted, and Reeve looked up to find him sitting next to his open footlocker with a book in his hands. “Like within the next day soon.”

That got a huff and a stomped foot from a pouting Yuffie, who was still staring at Sephiroth as if expecting him to start attacking. “Godo just wants me to come home and take Wutai off his hands for him.”

“It is your birthright, Lady of Wutai,” remarked Nanaki, moving over to sit next to Cloud even as he ignored the stunned looks from the Tau’ri.

“Um, not to be rude, but are you suppose to be on fire?” asked Daniel as Sam started sputtering about facial muscles and it shouldn't be *possible*, before she just gave up and burried her face in her hands.

Nanaki smiled at Daniel, who had apparently decided to accept the fire lion as the intelligent creature that he was. “Actually, yes.”

Daniel nodded and seemed to relax. “Okay. Just making sure.”

“Did you have any trouble getting their gear, Yuffie?” inquired Reeve as he started scribbling down points he wanted to make at the upcoming meeting with Rufus.

That got a snort from Yuffie, and Reeve looked up in time to see her point to a trio of packs and weapons. “Please. Like the Turks could keep me out,” she drawled before smirking. “Can I keep the staff? It looks really neat!”

“No, you can’t keep the staff. It belongs to Teal’c,” replied Reeve, laughter in his voice. He knew that if she had really wanted to keep it, she would have stashed the staff elsewhere and pleaded ignorance when asked. That’s what she had done with their materia. Huffing slightly, Yuffie pulled a shuriken from somewhere and started flipping it in her hand as she stared around at everyone with an almost bored expression.

The snap of a book being abruptly closed had Reeve jumping slightly until he saw that it had only been Cloud closing the book he had been looking through. The smile on the blond’s face made Reeve think of a Nibel wolf tracking its prey, and Reeve almost felt sorry for whomever Cloud was going to confront.

Almost.

Standing against the wall with a clear view of the windows, Sephiroth glanced around at the people gathered in the office. Aeris had taken Miss Kisaragi off to one side and was getting caught up with the young princess while Nanaki was sitting next to Cloud and Zack as the two became reacquainted with the contents of their footlockers. Dr. Jackson had claimed a seat on the floor near the fire lion, and the two were discussing the history and lore of Gaia. The woman, Major Carter, was sitting in a chair, holding her head with her hands, as if unable to understand why her science wasn't explaining what she had experienced. The other two Tau'ri, Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c, stood near the windows, staring out over Edge.

The whole atmosphere was strangely comforting in a way Sephiroth had not expected. It was almost reminiscent of the times when Zack dragged Cloud into Sephiroth’s office to keep him company while Sephiroth finished the paperwork that seemed to multiply when he wasn’t looking. It was relaxing enough that Sephiroth could turn his attention towards a few things that had been bothering him since his return from the Lifestream. Such as the strange power he could feel course through his blood, almost a mirror opposite of the remembered power of Jenova.

‘My child. Not just hers,’ whispered a gentle voice in the back of Sephiroth’s mind, and he closed his eyes with a faint frown. It wasn't the poisoned hissing of Jenova, but a much kinder voice, somewhat like what he had expected a mother to sound like given the description his companions had about their own mothers. A ghostly sensation trickled down his back, feeling like fingers almost stroking over where the white wing had been, and he shivered before he could stop the action.

“Are you all right?” asked a quiet voice from beside him, and Sephiroth glanced down to find Cloud standing there, the book in his hands as blue eyes stared out the window.

Sephiroth nodded and looked out the window again. “Just thinking,” he explained, brushing off the other’s concern. “Are you certain of your actions against Rufus? He is not to be taken lightly.”

That got a small smile from Cloud. “He can’t keep what doesn’t belong to him.” Blue eyes turned to look up at him. “That includes you.”

Before Sephiroth could reply, the door opened to admit Reeve’s secretary. “Mr. Shinra, Mr. Tseng, and Mr. Reno are waiting for you in the conference room, Mr. Tuesti.”

There was definitely a smirk of satisfaction on her face as everyone started gathering things up to start for the door.

“Thank you, Iris. If you want to leave your possessions here, there will be someone guarding them,” remarked Reeve, glancing at the Tau’ri as Cloud fished one more thing out of his foot locker. From the quick look Sephiroth managed to get, it was a small bag, but it clicked softly like it contained marbles. He was tempted to ask Cloud what was in the bag, but refrained at the sharp smile on the blond’s face.

It was an easy walk down to the conference room, and Sephiroth wasn't surprised to see Rufus standing in front of the windows as if this was his office. Reno was lounging against a wall looking as rumpled as ever while Tseng was in a corner where he could cover the entire room. Reeve calmly sat down at the head of the table with the rest of his friends claiming seats while the Tau’ri sat down on the other side of the table. Sephiroth found himself in a chair to Reeve’s immediate right with Cloud next to him and Zack across the table.

“I thank you for meeting with me...” began Rufus, not bothering to turn from the window when Reeve interrupted him.

“Let’s cut to the chase, Rufus. I am extremely busy, and quite honestly, I don’t have time for your bull shit,” Reeve drawled. “Now, you requested this meeting, citing it was urgent, and I have humored you.”

Bowing his head, Rufus remained where he was. “You are attempting to extract a certain artifact from the ruins of the Shinra Tower. A few days ago, you ordered one of your men to destroy the lab in Nibelheim, rendering millions of Gil of equipment useless after stripping it of all files. The guests I had been entertaining leave to meet with you and fail to return to their lodgings. Then they are found with you in Nibelheim, along with Commander Fair, General Sephiroth, and Miss Gainsborough, all of whom have been part of Shinra in one form or another. From where I am standing, it looks to me as if you are attempting to take over my company.”

“I don’t want nor do I need your company,” announced Reeve before flipping open a folder he had been carrying. He plucked out a check and held it out for Reno to take. “A full reimbursement plus interest of the funds borrowed to help start WRO.”

Warily, Reno walked over and accepted the check before taking it to Rufus as Reeve sat back, a small, satisfied mile on his face. “As for your other accusations, let me set the record straight. The artifact in question belongs to Cloud’s family, and as it is the means for which the Tau’ri can return to their planet, it is more beneficial for it to be relocated to allow for easier access. The lab was claimed as per our original agreement when WRO started and the equipment disabled in a manner I deemed necessary to prevent anyone else from accidentally being subjected to Hojo’s insane experiments. The next person might not be as lucky as Dr. Jackson was.”

“Dr. Jackson shouldn’t have been in that lab to begin with,” Rufus objected, his voice soft as he ignored Reno and the check. “Strife had no business escorting Dr. Jackson into any of Professor Hojo’s labs.”

“Which is rather ironic since it was your suggestion that Cloud escort Daniel around so we could form an honest opinion of your company, Shinra,” drawled O’Neil with a lazy grin. "And when you refused to answer our questions or said it was 'classified' when you did decide to say anything, is it any wonder that we go to someone else for answers? It's what anyone else would do, when trying to form an opinion."

That got a small huff from Rufus. “It does not matter. You have discovered your answers. If the lab was claimed per a prior agreement, then there is nothing I can do about that.”He turned slightly to toss them a cold smile. “But the artifact belongs to Shinra. After all, Cloud’s family is me.”

Sharp laughter rang out, and Sephiroth turned to watch Cloud push himself to his feet. "I am the last of those who guard the Gate, but if you truly believe you are a member of my clan then I'm sure you can answer a few simple questions anyone in my clan would know. Correct?"

It was an easily recognizable challenge. If Rufus backed down, he would be admitting he couldn't answer whatever questions Cloud came up with. That would cost him far more than accepting the challenge and failing. Settling back in his chair, Sephiroth allowed himself a small smirk as he watched the two blonds face off against each other.

Smirking, Cloud held Rufus’ eyes, almost daring him to refuse the challenge. It was a no-win situation for the young president, and Cloud was enjoying watching him squirm. After everything that Shinra had put him and his clan through, it was pleasant to get a little of his own back.

“Very well. What are your questions?” asked Rufus, false confidence in his voice as he stood straighter.

“What is the symbol for Gaia?” Cloud watched the confusion flicker in Rufus’ eyes as he managed to keep from smirking more than he already was. After a few minutes, Cloud shrugged a shoulder. “All right, what are the symbols on the ‘Gate for?”

“That proves nothing!” snapped Rufus, glaring at Cloud as he slashed a hand through the air. “The ‘Gate is under my control and staying that way.”

“Oh, I dunno,” drawled Jack, leaning back in his seat with a smirk. “Seems like the proper owner knows how to use it. Unlike you.”

Cloud reached into his shirt and pulled out the small pouch. “You do not wish to turn the ‘Gate over to its rightful owner because you don’t want to admit you’re wrong. So, we should let the Fate’s decide.”

“What do you mean?” demanded Rufus, eyeing the small velvet bag suspiciously.

“My mother’s Runestones,” Cloud said, opening the bag and tipping the black glass pebbles into his hand. The gold paint on each one glittered as brightly as it did the day the runes had been painted on.. “She mailed them to me along with her last diary. They never failed her since her mother gave them to her. So, if you are willing to let the Fates decide the outcome of the ‘Gate, we will each draw a stone. If either of us get Thurisaz, then the other will concede the Stargate to them.”

There was wariness in that pale blue gaze but also a touch of greed, the spoiled brat that never grew up and always got what he wanted finally showing through. It would be that greed that forced Rufus to act instead of the wariness. Cloud tipped the pebbles back into the bag, making sure each one was in there before handing the bag to Teal’c. “Teal’c can hold the bag to make sure it is fair.”

The large black warrior carefully accepted the bag before holding it in his cupped hands, his back to the wall. Cloud stood to one side of Teal’c and waited, mako blue eyes staring at Rufus as he waited. The wariness and indecision was still visible in the other blond’s eyes, but the greed was growing. It would be a perfect chance to show up Cloud and remain in a position of power over the Tau’ri. That was what Cloud was gambling on because he knew that the Gods wouldn’t keep the ‘Gate in Rufus’ hands.

Finally, Rufus walked over to stand on the other side of Teal’c before nodding once. “Let this decide who controls the ‘Gate,” announced Rufus before smirking. “I’ll go first.”

Cloud waved a hand, willing to let Rufus draw his stone first. Rufus slipped his fingers into the bag, still holding Cloud’s eyes, as he rummaged around in the stone for a few minutes before pulling out a stone. He held it before him in his clenched fist, and Cloud reached into the bag himself. He ran his fingers through the stones, searching for the one that wanted to be pulled out by him before curling his fingers around a stone that seemed to stick to his fingers. He pulled his hand out of the bag and held his own fist out, matching Rufus’ pose.

Together, they opened their hands, displaying the black stone each one held, and Cloud snickered at the sight of Nied glittering on Rufus’ hand.

“Fitting you drew the Rune of delay and limitations,” Cloud drawled, not even looking at his own hand to know that Thurisaz lay there. He tilted his head slightly and plucked the stone out of Rufus’ hand. “To thine own self be true, Rufus Shinra.” He dropped both stones back into the bag before removing it from Teal’c’s hands with a nod of thanks. “Of course, I suppose the Strifes must thank Shinra. After all, you made us far more capable of guarding the ‘Gate now.”

A cold smile spread across Cloud’s face as Rufus seemed to continue staring at his hand as if unable to understand how he possibly could have lost. “In thanks, I guess we’ll erase one of your minor debts to the Clan. That brings you down to only... what? A couple hundred?”

"You cheated." Rufus’ voice was soft, but it carried through the room, and he glared at Cloud. “I don't know how, but somehow you cheated. It's the only way.”

Cloud snorted and tucked the small bag away. “The Fates decided, Rufus Shinra. Are you going to be stupid enough to challenge Their decision?”

"Rufus, you have resources that we lack, and offices in places I don't," Reeve stated, drawing the young president's attention back to him. "We're going to need to work together for the good of the Planet and Her people."

“What are you proposing, Tuesti?” inquired Rufus, all signs of the spoiled little boy vanishing beneath the businessman again.

Reeve shrugged in response. "When representatives are sent to Tau'ri to negotiate trade treaties, you also send someone you trust to talk and negotiate on your behalf without working against my people." He spread his hands. "Both of our companies can then distribute the resources received."

For a few minutes, Cloud thought Rufus was going to protest or demand a large share of the resource distribution, but the young president nodded. “Tseng, Reno, you will accompany Mr. Tuesti’s representatives and work with them. No matter who it might be.”

“Yes sir,” agreed the two Turks, and Rufus nodded once before glancing at Reeve. “Please inform me when you will send your representatives through and I will dispatch my Turks.”

Reeve nodded in agreement before Rufus swept out of the room with his Turks following him. As the door shut behind them, there was a low whistle from Jack, and Cloud glanced over to find him shaking his head. “There goes one cold customer.”

Cloud nodded in agreement. “You have no idea, Jack.”

Jack grinned as he watched the final few connections being reestablished between the DHD and the ‘Gate. Now placed upon a concrete platform at the very outskirts of Edge, the ‘Gate was easily accessible to any who wished to use it, and there were stone and steel guard towers that were situated around the ‘Gate just close enough for watchers to defend the ‘Gate until back-up arrived.

The towers had been Sephiroth’s idea after Jack had talked with the silver haired man about the dangers of the Gou’ald while Cloud was gathering up various SOLDIERs who were willing to work a second job or even a primary job of guarding the ‘Gate. According to Sephiroth, the towers were situated far enough apart to allow large vehicles with supplies through while also allowing for the use of Summons and materia in defense without hurting either the ‘Gate or the other towers. Jack had asked, rather skeptically, how these Summons and glowing crystals could defend anything, only to watch as a good section of desert suddenly turned to ocean at the command of a giant serpent named Leviathan. That was after Cloud had used one of those ‘glowing crystals’ to turn another section of the desert into molten glass.

The red stone in the center of the DHD flashed as the last connector was made, and the technician backed up, brushing his hands off. “That should do it.”

Jack nodded and glanced at Sam and Teal’c. “I’ll dial you guys home so you can let the General know that we have diplomats coming to negotiate.”

They nodded, shouldering their packs as Jack pressed the buttons that corresponded with the ‘Gate back on Earth. He watched as the ‘Gate spun with each Chevron being selected before the center of the ‘Gate exploded in the frothy blue before settling into the event horizon. There were startled gasps and a couple of curses from the people around them, but there was something comforting in watching that shimmering portal of blue. As if no matter what happened in the rest of the Universe, this was a clear indication that there was always a way home again.

“Sam, Teal’c, we’ll give you guys an hour before we come through ourselves,” Jack announced, glancing over at the two in question. Sam nodded, shifted her pack a bit higher on her shoulders and casually walked through the ‘Gate with Teal’c right behind her. There was the ripple of almost-water as they entered the event horizon before it imploded in on itself.

Turning, Jack started towards where his gear was stashed when he saw Cloud going through some moves with Daniel beyond the circle of towers. From the distance, it looked like some sort of hand to hand combat, and he wandered over to watch. During the last week, Jack had gotten use to seeing Daniel with either Cloud, Zack, or Sephiroth as they helped him relearn his body’s limitations. Of course, Zack had managed to find a huge slab of metal that was masquerading as a sword while Sephiroth had taken to carrying what could only be called a katana with delusions of grandeur.

Jack started moving past the towers when a hand fell on his shoulder, and he tensed before looking over to find Zack standing there with a grin on his face. “Spike’s got him going through some basic drills. If you go over there now, he’ll just get all self conscious.”

“Which one, Cloud or Daniel?” Jack inquired, raising a curious brow and getting a friendly laugh in return. It was easy to see why people were more willing to deal with Zack rather than Sephiroth. His personality was one that wanted to make friends with a person, smoothing ruffled fathers faster than any politician on campaign trail.

“Both actually,” came the reply as Zack leaned back against the tower, shifting slightly to find a comfortable spot again. “Daniel because he wants to learn to keep all of you safe, and Cloud because he hasn’t really been in a mentor position before.”

Jack nodded and adopted a position of relaxation next to Zack to watch the two move together. Now that he was closer, Jack could tell that it wasn’t hand to hand as weapons training. He could almost see the blades in their hands as Cloud lead Daniel through more moves. “Is Daniel going to get a ridiculously huge sword to swing around as well?”

“That would have to be up to Daniel, but one thing I can say, a blade is much more practical in his hands right now than a gun,” Zack stated. Jack looked at him in disbelief, and the dark haired man nodded. “None of the SOLDIERs ever carried a gun. It wasn’t practical, and if someone panicked, they’d have a mass of crushed metal instead of a weapon. Now, if he decides to go two blades instead of one, that would be his choice.”

"It's not as if guns would work against a SOLDIER, unless over-whelming force is used along-side under-handed tactics," remarked a new voice, causing Jack to swear as he started. Sephiroth appeared around the tower, looking at Zack soberly.

Zack grinned wryly in response. "Rub it in, why don't you?"

“Don’t suppose you could make a bit of noise when you show up like that, could you?” grumbled Jack, glaring at the silver haired man. “And what do you mean guns would only be good with over-whelming forces and under-handed tactics? The math seems easy to me. Person plus bullet equals dead person.”

That got a grin from Zack that had more than a bit of wildness about it. “Yeah, but you gotta be able to hit the person first, which is where the sneaky stuff comes in.”

“Still don’t believe it. No matter how strong or how fast you guys are, you can’t outrun a bullet.” Jack shook his head even as Zack’s grin grew and an amused smirk appeared on Sephiroth’s face.

“Tseng, I believe you're the best shot amongst the Turks. Would you care to assist in a demonstration?” Sephiroth asked, and Jack jumped again when the quiet man emerged from around the corner.

A small smile curled Tseng’s lips, and Jack had the sneaking suspicion that the bastard was silently laughing at him. “It would be a pleasure to assist in a demonstration.”

Zack casually walked off about a dozen feet, close enough that Tseng didn’t have a chance of missing with the gun he was drawing. Tseng fiddled with the gun, removing two orbs of materia before sliding them into his jacket pocket before flicking the safety off. Tseng took three large steps away from the tower, lifted his gun and fired at Zack’s back.

He opened his mouth to scream a warning when Zack suddenly twisted, that huge sword appearing in his hands. There was a ping of a ricocheting bullet before Zack simply wasn’t there. Tseng managed to pull the trigger twice more before a dark blur Jack thought was Zack had him pinned on the ground, his hands empty. Zack stood over him, the sword once more on his back as his foot held the Turk on the ground while his arms kept him controlled.

“Zack, stand down,” murmured Sephiroth, and Zack released Tseng, stepping back to offer the Turk a hand up. Jack shook his head, unable to believe it. Tseng had only managed three shots before he was disarmed, and Zack wasn’t even breathing hard. The bullets hadn’t been blanks either. Jack had distinctly heard that ricochet.

“Why did you shoot him in the back?” Jack glared at Tseng, who was dusting off his suit.

That got a raised brow from Tseng. “To provide a more beneficial demonstration.”

Zack snorted softly as he gave Tseng an amused look. "You just wanted to get that one extra shot out, didn't you?"

The Turk merely smiled and collected his pack before glancing over at Cloud and Daniel who had stopped to watch them. Daniel had a bit of a startled look on his face, but Jack ignored it as he turned to stare at Zack.

“So that’s why you carry around those huge blades. To double as shields,” he drawled, an amused smirk on his face as he tried to hide his feelings of awe and fear at what he had just witnessed. Someone fast enough to dodge bullets. Sure, some people could dodge bullets, but usually by ducking behind something after the first bullet missed.

Zack snickered and shook his head. “Not really. Sure, I can use it to deflect bullets, but it really is a good weapon.”

“Most people will carry at least a knife or a blade of some kind instead of a gun,” remarked Reno, wandering over to join them. "If someone trains hard enough even unenhansed combat experts can dodge bullets. Take Miss Lockheart for example."

"Of course, there's also the control factor," Sephiroth added. "Once a bullet has left the chamber, there is no way to control where it will strike. Should the intended target move, then that bullet is lost. A blade in the hands of a trained expert, however, can change direction in a fraction of a second."

Jack found himself nodding in agreement with their explanations. That was one reason why snipers used such high powered rifles, to get the bullet to the target before the target moved, because if the target moved, then there was no way to get the bullet to change directions. And there were always rumor about martial artists who were good enough to take on a gunman and win. After all, that’s what the basis of a lot of chop-socky movies were about, someone with enough power able to deflect bullets or outrun them.

He turned to glance at Reno and Tseng. “So, how did you guys take care of anyone like that who turned into serious trouble?”

“Overwhelming force and under-handed tactics,” smirked Reno before shrugging. “Last stats for taking down a Third Class was two experienced Turks to one Third in close quarters and unprepared. And even then, there was only a 50/50 chance of success.” He smirked. “That was back before Meteor.”

Jack blinked at that before nodding towards Zack. “And someone like him?”

That got another shrug from Reno. “Start at ten and keep adding Turks until he either falls or we run outta Turks.”

“The normal numbers would be eight experienced Turks to one First Class, but Commander Fair was good enough that he was Sephiroth's Second in Command by the time he was twenty," remarked Tseng, his casual tone making it sound more like he was talking about the weather rather than killing someone. "Therefore we would automatically start with at least ten experienced Turks, preferably more."

“Aw, I’m flattered,” announced Zack, a huge shit-eating grin on his face as he draped an arm around Reno’s shoulder to lean on the redhead who squawked and almost buckled under the sudden weight of the man and his sword.

That got Jack curious about something else. “Just how heavy is your sword?”

Shrugging, Zack pulled it off his back as he moved away from Reno and flipped it around to offer the hilt to Jack. “Not that heavy.”

Jack eyed Zack with the eye of a practical joker who knew the score, but Zack just stared back with an open and honest face. And continued to stare as Jack curled his fingers around the handle before releasing it. Jack yelped as the sword instantly headed for the ground, nearly pulling his arms out of the sockets before he could release it out of self preservation.

“I thought you said that hunk of metal wasn’t that heavy?” asked Jack, shaking his arms out as he glared at Zack.

Snorting, Zack leaned over and scooped up the sword before replacing it on his back. One handed. “It’s not!”

Cloud snorted. “Don’t feel bad. He did the same thing to me when I was fourteen.”

Shaking his head, Jack glanced at Cloud’s sword. “Is yours as heavy as his is?”

That got a shake of Cloud’s head and a grin. “It’s heavier.”

“Why can’t you people have normal weapons,” grumbled Jack with an almost pout. “Ya know, things I can lust after and want to own myself while being able to use it without having super human abilities?"

Zack grinned and slapped Jack on the back. “Because we’re SOLDIERs and we never do anything the normal way,” he remarked, sounding less like a boast and more like a fact. “Besides, hasn’t it been about an hour?”

Glancing at his watch, Jack realized that it had indeed been about an hour, and it was time to head for home. “All right. Everyone gear up who’s coming.”

Daniel and Cloud scooped up their packs from where they were resting near the base of a tower while Zack and Sephiroth shouldered their own packs. Tseng and Reno followed Jack over to the DHD, watching as he inputted the Chevrons for Tau’ri.

“Hey, how do you just keep the bad guys from doin’ this and walking through to your world?” inquired Reno, a curious expression on his face as the giant ring started spinning.

"There's a metal plate fixed a milimeter from the event horizon on our side," Jack explained, shrugging his pack on. "If the right signal isn't sent through to our people, then the iris isn't retracted and the ones going through ends up resembling ground beef."

Reno whistled through his teeth. "Nice."

Jack grinned. “Crude but effective. Kept the Gou’ald off the planet since it went up. If they wanna come visit, they gotta find another way to do it, and our allies keep them out of the same galaxy as our home.”

“Maybe we could get something like that for ours,” mused Zack before shaking his head. “Nah. Too much trouble.”

Snickering, Jack motioned for everyone to follow him into the ‘Gate before stepping across the horizon. There was a heartbeat of silence before he was caught and pulled through the wormhole. Freezing cold battered at him while the light of a thousand stars flashed in his eyes, and the shrill whistle of traveling at much farther than the speed of light across numerous galaxies. Then, his foot came down on the metal grating of the ‘Gate ramp with just as familiar lights and sirens attacking him. He moved a bit farther down the ramp before turning to see how the Gaians handled their first ‘Gate trip.

Reno was the first one out, swearing and shivering as he staggered down the ramp, and Jack bit back a snicker as he noticed Cloud and Sephiroth emerging. His humor turned to concern when the two men staggered a bit farther down the ramp before collapsing in a heap. Before he could move, Zack and Daniel emerged from the horizon, and they also staggered farther down the ramp. Daniel fell like a puppet with its strings cut while Zack shook his head, hands pressed over his ears, and Jack realized Zack’s eyes were clenched shut.

Heightened senses, Jack thought, numb as Zack’s lips curled back in an almost animalistic snarl and his head came around to track the soldiers that were moving around the room.

There was another swear from Reno before the redhead proved that he was as suicidal as they came. Grabbing the rod that had been strapped to his pack, Reno whirled it around to strike the ramp with a loud, resounding clang that Jack could feel through his boots. It also had the desired effect as Zack’s head whirled around to focus on Reno, taking the dark haired man’s attention off the rest of the soldiers. Quickly using hand signs, Jack ordered everyone to stay still and silent before grabbing the closest soldier.

“Kill the lights and siren. Now!” he hissed before shoving the man towards the door at the exact moment that Reno hit the ramp again to keep Zack’s attention. The man stumbled but made it through the door just as Zack blurred again, this time towards Reno who managed to dodge out of the way.

“Come on, ya sorry sunofabitch,” snarled Reno, a wild light in his eyes as he continued taunting Zack by making as much noise as possible. It took a couple of seconds for Jack to realize that the swordsman was tracking Reno by the vibrations of the ramp.

Just as the lights and siren died, Tseng emerged from the horizon, his boots sounding almost impossibly loud in Jack’s ears, and the horizon collapsed in on itself with a whooshing sound, drawing Zack’s attention completely. Jack watched with a sinking feeling as Zack started to turn towards Tseng where the Turk was trying to get his muscles to work again. With a defiant yell, Reno jumped at Zack, swinging his rod, and there was a crackle of a static discharge along with the scent of slightly singed skin as Zack blocked the blow on his arm.

Electrified. That rod’s also a taser, Jack realized, watching as Zack attacked Reno with a flurry of movements that had the redhead on the defensive. There was a couple of pained grunts and a snap of a broken bone from Reno when Zack managed to get the rod away from the Turk and turned it on him, and Jack was starting to see just how outclassed Reno was, and how even more outclassed his soldiers would be.

Suddenly, Tseng was draped across Zack’s back, somehow managing to not slice his arm off on the sword as he clung to Zack. Jack could just make out the words that Tseng was saying, but it sounded like Tseng was talking in an Oriental language. Yet, the more Tseng talked, the more relaxed Zack became even as Reno collapsed on the ramp, twitching slightly.

“An’ that, bastards an’ bitches, is why ya don’t surprise a SOLDIER,” gasped Reno from where he was laying. His accent was thicker, probably from pain since his arm was laying at a bad angle, even as he continued twitching. “Tseng, I want hazard pay.”

“You’ve got hazard pay already, Reno,” snorted Tseng as he extracted himself from Zack’s back without the sword slicing him , kneeling next to the redhead.

“I want hazard pay on top my hazard pay!” snarled Reno, slowly pushing himself up to glare at his superior, a difficult task considering the broken arm.

"Ow." The noise brought Jack's attention back to Zack, finding the swordsman rubbing the side of his head with a pained grimace on his face. Glowing eyes flickered over to Reno, widening slightly in surprise as he listened to Reno good-naturedly argue his point. "Never would have pegged him to be one to do that."

Jack moved over to kneel next to Daniel, carefully checking him over. He sighed in relief when it appeared that Daniel was only unconscious. He wondered how often traveling through the ‘Gate would do this to Daniel or if he would become used to it after a while. He’d have to talk to Hammond to see about cutting the alarm on incoming travelers for Daniel’s comfort.

“So, mind telling me what happened?” inquired Jack, glancing up at Zack just as the door opened to admit Teal’c, Janet, and three gurneys with orderlies pushing them. He noticed Zack was eyeing the new arrivals warily and had started moving until he was between his fallen friends and Janet.

“You mean other than the searing cold, intense light, and blaring sirens?” It was a wonder how Zack could ask that and make it sound like the most innocent question in the world while making the person who asked feel like the biggest idiot in the world.

“Yeah, other than that,” drawled Jack, rising to his feet to face Zack. Janet stopped at the base of the ramp, eyeing them with a frown and crossed arms, but Zack was still standing between her and the unconscious men.

Zack shrugged a shoulder, remaining an immovable wall as he kept a watchful eye on the labcoats. "Between the flashing lights and noise, for all I knew I was coming out in the middle of a fight. How was I to know that was how they welcomed you home?”

“Excuse me, but I have patients to get to,” Janet announced, and Jack glanced over at her to find her tapping her foot and glaring at Zack to get him to move out of her way.

The easy smile appeared as Zack turned his attention to her. “Hey, doc, mind telling me what you’re gonna do with my buddies before you cart them off? See, we don't have the best relationships with people in lab coats and the last thing you want, really, is for General Sephiroth or Cloud to wake up alone in your care."

If anything, Janet’s glare got harder, and Jack winced. They had all learned that when it came to their health, Janet’s word was final since she only had their best interests at heart, but to hear someone question her intentions apparently was the worst thing to do. After their experiences with Anise, Jack wasn’t that surprised at her anger.

“I am going to take everyone down to the Infirmary and check all of you out for Gou’ald symbiots before I can release any of you,” growled Janet, her eyes flashing. “Then I will see who is injure and how before tending to them.”

“No worries there, doc,” drawled Reno with a grin at her. “Turks take care of their own.”

Jack watched as Tseng grabbed Reno’s arm and set it with a jerk, causing the redhead to pale dramatically. Tseng frowned as he stared at Reno before releasing him to dig into his jacket.

“Apparently, materia won’t work on your planet,” the Head Turk casually remarked as he pulled out a vial of some green blue liquid and promptly dumped it down Reno’s throat, causing the man to gag. Despite that, he never really lost his wild grin.

Part of Jack had to wonder what that liquid was while a larger part wonder what was going to happen when Reno finally came down off his adrenaline high. He only hoped that the rest of the base didn’t suffer from the fall out.

If there was one thing that Zack was good at, it was lying to others to make them feel better or that a situation was under control before it went FUBAR. But that talent also made it hard for him to lie to himself, if only because he had to know the situation well enough in order to lie to others. He couldn't stop himself from nervously eying the woman in the lab coat, half-way expecting her to ambush them with needles and restraints, even though all her attention was focused on Daniel.

He tried not to fidget as the others were loaded onto the gurneys by the men that had come in with the doctor. He started when padded straps were brought out to secure the others to the makeshift beds. “Hey!”

“Standard procedure,” the orderly stated, frowning as he tried to stare him down. “As of right now, all of you are still potentially hostile until you are cleared, medically, from all foreign parasites.”

“Are all of your doctors as inconsiderate to their patients or are you special?” he drawled, glaring at the orderly as he started towards the beds, determined to unstrap them. Two of the other men stepped between the gurneys and Zack, but he pushed through them, hands reaching for the straps when there was a twitch from Sephiroth

Before Zack could say anything, Sephiroth reacted, the straps at his wrists easily snapping. Sephiroth yanked his legs back, snapping the restraints on the gurney as he rolled to his feet, tensing for a fight. Zack shock his head as he unfastened the straps around Cloud's ankles, the other orderlies starting towards Sephiroth. They'd learn the hard way why it wasn't a good idea to strap an unconscious SOLDIER down even if it was for a medical procedure.

“Welcome back, Seph,” drawled Zack, his fingers fumbling on the buckles and stiff leather. He wasn't going to admit his hands were shaking. No way, no how. Not even if seeing Cloud strapped down like this was a scene straight from his worst nightmares. He was viciously amused as two of the men were sent sprawling by almost negligent whacks from Sephiroth's hands. There were cries of alarm from around him and swearing from Jack, but Zack ignored it, determined to get those Loki cursed straps off of Cloud before he woke.

Apparently, nobody was listening because as Zack watched with a growing sense of panic, Cloud twitched. He also knew the instant Cloud realized he was tied down, when the blue eyes flew open and he started thrashing on the board while screaming in terror. Zack grunted as a fist impacted his stomach and shoved him back a few feet before he lunged for Cloud again, determined to break through his panic before Cloud ended up catatonic again.

“Spike! Cloud! Come on buddy!" he called, grabbing his head and forcing the wild eyes to look at him. His actions got the screams to stop at least, but Cloud was still twitching like someone was running a Thunder spell through him. Zack attempted to pin Cloud down while resting their foreheads together. “Easy, Spike. It me, Zack. You’re safe. Promise. No doctors. No scientists. No tubes. No tests. I’m right here and I’m not gonna leave you.”

The rustling of fabric caught his attention but he ignored it, trusting Sephiroth with his back as he continued talking to Cloud, trying to calm him down. There was a movement in olive green next to him, and Zack turned his head just a touch to find Jack standing there, a concerned look on his face. “How can I help?”

"Get the fucking straps off him and tell the fucking asshole doctors to take the fucking lab coats off," Zack said, his voice still calm and cheerful. Cloud had stopped thrashing but his breathing was still too fast, his eyes too wide. All Zack had done was manage to delay the panic attack. The cause of the attack was still present and until it was removed, then Cloud was hovering on a full blown attack.

He leaned closer to Cloud, trying to surround him with his scent as he resumed talking to the panicking blond. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Jack removing the straps still on Cloud's wrist, carefully moving around the two to get them both. Before the last strap was even gone, the blond was curling up in Zack's arms, trying to hide from everyone as he clung to the brunet. Zack wrapped his arms around him, tucking his face into his neck.

The clack of heels on concrete caused him to look up at the doctor, his eyes hard enough to make her stop and stare at him, eyes a bit wide. “You wanna take off that fucking jacket before he sees you and really panics, lady?” he drawled, a smile on his lips that didn’t reach his eyes.

She opened her mouth to say something when she suddenly closed her mouth and shrugged out of the white lab coat. A touch of tension eased from Zack’s shoulders as she did that, but he continued to keep his eye on the man who had insisted on strapping them down. Sephiroth walked over to them, casually moving until he was at Zack’s back

“They have our weapons,” Sephiroth mused, sounding as if he was discussing the latest weather report or what he wanted for lunch. It never failed to amuse him, how Sephiroth could sound so nonchalant about anything, up to and including being unarmed in a tense situation. It wasn’t like they needed the weapons, but only Jack, Sam and Teal’c knew that. Well, they had gotten the visual demonstration, and anyone they told would probably be rather skeptical at whatever report they gave about a SOLDIER’s abilities.

Jack sighed as the lady doctor walked over to the man who had strapped them down and started dressing him down for that. “Sorry, but it’s regs until you’ve been cleared by medical. Zack, you’re gonna have to leave your sword here. Your weapons and packs will be taken to the guest quarters once they’re searched for potentially deadly things.”

Zack turned his attention to Jack, eyeing him seriously. The man did look apologetic, but if it was over the actions of the orderly or the fact he had to disarm them, Zack couldn’t say. Holding Jack’s eyes, he removed the Buster from his back before driving it into the stone floor with a shriek of metal and stone. It sank half its length into the floor before stopping, and Zack looked at Jack with a challenge in his eyes. If Jack wanted to deprive him of his weapon, then he’d make sure no one else could use it until he came back for it.

“Come on, Spike. Let’s get this ridiculous ritual over with,” Zack drawled, helping Cloud off the gurney. Cloud stood on shaky legs, clinging to Zack, and he could feel the blond slowly calming down. Cloud would be twitchy for a while until he managed to relax completely. Zack knew that wouldn’t be happening until after this medical ritual was done, and they were safely away from anyone in a lab coat.

“I must confess a curiosity,” mused Sephiroth, and Zack looked at him, concerned. The last time he had heard that note in the general’s voice, it had been why some intelligence reports were missing. “What exactly are you hoping to find by examining us?”

“If you are a host to a Gou’ald symbiot,” Jack replied with a shrug as if it was the most natural answer in the world. Things started clicking in Zack’s mind as he saw where Sephiroth was going with this, and a sharp smirk spread across his face.

Sephiroth nodded before fixing Jack with a casual look. “Are you simply ignorant of what information you have gathered, or are your rituals important enough to forego the comfort of your guests?”

That got a confused blink from Jack. “Huh? What do ya mean?”

“Gou’ald are from space and either land their ship on their claimed planet or arrive via the Stargate, correct?” inquired Sephiroth, getting a slow nod from Jack. “Therefor, the only way to gain a Gou’ald parasite would be to venture into space or to open the Stargate to allow them through. Which of those do you believe Gaia has done?”

“Neither, but it’s not unheard of to have one of the snakes tucked away in stasis until someone with more curiosity than sense wakes ‘em,” Jack replied with a shrug. “It’s SOP every time someone comes back through the Gate.”

Sephiroth nodded. “Then you won’t mind demonstrating this medical procedure to us by going first, will you?”

A bit of tension slipped out of Jack’s shoulders as he grinned for the first time since they arrived. “Not at all. C’mon, General Sephiroth. Let’s get Daniel down there, and then get Janet to clear all of us.”

“I also want to examine your arm to see how badly it’s broken,” the woman announced, whirling to point a finger at Reno where he had been quietly standing next to Tseng.

Zack glanced over as Reno blinked innocently at her and wiggled the arm in question. “No need, Doc. Turks take care of their own.”

A snicker slipped out of Zack at the stunned look on her face. Doctors never learn. The fact that was proven as she glared at Reno before motioning for everyone to follow her. He glanced at Cloud to find him much more steady on his feet, and he reached up to scuff the blond spikes, getting a squawked “Zack!” for his troubles.

The Turks were annoying the doctors and things were getting back to normal. Crisis averted.

TBC...