The train always ran late into the night. It was no surprise to have many people riding it at this hour. So near the slums no one wanted to walk alone at night. Several people currently rode the car. A homeless man slept on a bench at the end of the car. A large African man with a machine gun mounted on his right arm. Beside him sat a slightly overweight man with a white shirt, pull over yellow sweater, and a red bandana.

"How much longer will this take Barret?" The bandana wearing man asked.

"Hold your pants on Wedge. You know that it's not long." The gun-armed man replied.

Across from Wedge another man with a similar bandana but did not let it cover his hair leaned toward Wedge and whispered. "Hey what is with the new guy?"

"I don't know Biggs. Barret told all of us that he was gonna join us for the mission tonight."

Biggs shrugged and put his head back to rest.

One the other side of the car a girl with long red hair shifted her legs awkwardly. "So it's Cloud right? Why are you here?"

"Jessie let the man be." Barret interrupted. "We are about to arrive we all need to shut the hell up and focus on the mission."

Sitting by himself, the last man in the car silently looked down at the floor. He did not care about what the others were saying. There was a job to do and that was that.

He glanced up at the opposing window and saw himself in its reflection. Bright blue eyes stared back at him. Long spikey gold hair adorned his head. He wore a purple turtle necked sweater with a spaulder over the left shoulder. A large sword rested beside him.

The train began to slow. Everyone besides the homeless man and gold haired man stood up.

"It's time. Everyone let's go." Barret ordered.

The crew hurried though the door. They jumped out into the streets of sector one.

"Hey spikey that means you to."

The blue eyed man raised his head. He stood picking up his sword and jumped through the open train door. "Don't call me spikey." He replied in a nonchalant tone while shooting Barret a cold stare.

At the other end of the street two men in blue uniforms came running toward the group. "Stop right there you two. You won't get away from us."

The men pulled their guns out as they drew nearer the group. Barret opened fire and wounded one of the assailants. The other managed to throw a grenade at them. The explosive landed short but managed to cut Wedge with debris as well as create a brief smokescreen.

At this the golden-haired man jumped behind the attackers. He easily maneuvered his massive blade through their backs, quickly ending their lives.

Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie looked on in awe at his masterful attacks. Barret stood slightly impressed. "Good job there Spikey."

The blonde sighed. "I told you my name isn't Spikey." He lifted the blade above is head. With a spin the blood was thrown off as he placed it on the guard hanging off his back. "It's Cloud. Cloud Strife"

Barret laughed. "Well then, Cloud. We gotta get goin 'fore more of 'em come by."

Everyone ran out of the station platform. Jessie led the group through a series of back alleys. They wanted to avoid the attention of Shinra's goons. After multiple turns and dead ends they arrived at the entrance to a large reactor.

Biggs whistled admiringly. "Aint it somethin."

Barret scowled at Bigg's enthusiasm. "Yea it is. It's wats stealing all the life from ya planet. Damn Shinra think they own everythin. Well we'll show 'em that someone still cares for the planet."

As Barret continued his rant on Shinra, Wedge approached Cloud. "Uh… so what did you do before you came to Avalanche, Cloud? It must have been something important seeing how you fought back there."

Cloud looked at Wedge's hopeful expression but merely shrugged off the question. Biggs laughed at Wedge. He stood behind his friend and lay his elbow on Wedge's shoulder. "Haven't you heard, Wedge. Cloud here is an Ex-Soldier."

Both Jessie and Wedge gasped at Biggs.

"B…But aren't Soldier the enemy?" Jessie stammered. "What are you doing with us then?"

Cloud stared silently at the group. He shrugged them off and walked toward Barret and the reactor.

"Relax Jessie. He isn't with them anymore. Now he is one of us." Biggs chuckled and made his way to Cloud. "I'm sure with someone skilled like him, we will be unstoppable."

"No." Cloud interjected quickly. "After I'm done with this, I'm leaving."

The group, with the exception of Barret, looked despondently at Cloud.

"Oh… well ok then Cloud. If that's how it is let's make sure that this is a success. We'll meet you inside" Jessie and the others made their way across the bridge into the reactor.

Cloud stepped forward but was cut off by Barret.

"Shinra huh. I dun trust ya. Ya gonna come with me got it. I'll keep an eye on ya."

"Whatever. Let's go."

Barret punched a railing in anger. "God dam it. Ya emotionless lil shit. No wonder ya left Shinra."

Both men entered the reactor and found the rest of the group waiting by the doors. "About time. We need to hurry before Shinra realize where we went. You guys get ready. These cards will only work on each door twice." Jessie finished while Biggs approached the first door. "Wedge you go back to the bridge and keep an eye out for Shinra."

Wedge eagerly left to his post. Biggs scanned his card and decoded the first door. "Alright. One down." Jessie opened the next door and they went through, leaving Biggs for their return.

"Now we just need to take the elevator to the bottom floor." They entered the elevator and began the descent. "You know. I programed these cards, Cloud. They are one of a kind and can decode any lock."

"Nuff chit chat Jessie. Les just get this over wit." Barret barked.

At the bottom, they exited the elevator. The reactor still had floors below them, but the remainder would need to be done by foot.

Cloud looked around, slightly intrigued by the sight of the old reactor.

"Wat. Aint you been in a Mako reactor 'fore?"

"Of course I have. I did work with Shinra before this. I just can't believe they let the condition of it get so bad."

"Well that's Shinra for ya. They dun care for anything but their own fat wallets. Dis reactor is proof. Every day they suck Mako outa the planet. That Mako is used as power so people can live comfterble lives." Barret looked at the reactor with disgust. He fired a few rounds into the walls to let off steam. "But where do they think the powers comin from? It's the planet. Shinra jus be suckin out the planets life so they can make a quick buck."

"Whatever. Can we get going?"

"God dam it Cloud!" Barret screamed. "The planet is dyin. We the only ones who do anythin to stop the Shinra. Dun ya care about the planet?"

"No. It's not my problem. All I care about is getting the job done before the Roboguards find us."

Barret punched a wall in anger. "Ya dam punk. Fine lets get this over with."

They made their way down the decrepit reactor. Several walkways were broken to pieces, forcing the trio to jump over large gaps in order to progress.

After several long minutes of climbing decayed ladders they finally reached a bridge. An eerie blue-green glow emanated from below them.

"Mako. There it is Cloud. The planets life source."

Cloud leaned over to look. Something caught his eye first. Behind them three guards were patrolling the reactor and headed straight for them. "We have company Barret."

The large man turned his head and nodded to Cloud. "A'ight."

The two charged the sentries and caught them by surprise.

"I…Intruders? Quick sound an alarm." One of the guards made a break for the security alarm. Barret gunned him down quickly while Cloud sliced through the remaining two. Unnoticed by either man, one of the guards managed to activate a silent alarm.

"Dat was close. We'd better hurry before more show up."

Cloud nodded in agreement and they hurried acrossed the bridge. He noticed a small green orb laying before the reactor's core. Picking it up he quickly recognized it as a source of magic.

"Materia." He said softly.

"Wat was that Cloud?"

"Nothing let's finish this."

"Heh. Once we blow this place, it'll all be a worthless hunka junk. Quick set the bomb."

"Why don't you set it?"

"Idiot. I need to keep an eye on ya. Dun want ya to run away and bring guards do I?"

Cloud shrugged and walked forward. Suddenly a shooting pain shot through his head. "Watch out! This isn't just a reactor!" The voice rang in his head, echoing before it faded to nothing.

"What's wrong with ya, Cloud?"

Cloud noticed he was clutching his forehead. He quickly regained his composure and flicked his hair out of his face. "Nothing. Sorry about that."

He knelt down and placed the explosive under the core. With minimal effort he armed the device. Whoever built this sure knew their stuff.

Suddenly an alarm rang throughout the reactor.

Cloud stood up and drew his sword.

"Shiiit! Here they come Cloud."

They turned to run down the bridge. Immediately a large red machine fell in front of them.

"Damn. It's the Guard Scorpion. Barret watch out, this is a powerful mechanized defense unit."

The machine lifted its head and began scanning the area. It focused on Cloud and began to open fire.

Cloud jumped back and used his sword to deflect several of the shots. "Barret shoot out its scope. It won't be able to track us without it."

"I got it dun worry." Barret ran forward and jumped onto the scorpions arm. It lifted him high into the air in an effort to shake him off. Luckily Barret was both strong and persistent, the held onto the machine with his good arm and fired a large blast into the scope of the scorpion. The sensor was blasted into pieces as Barret jumped from the machine. "Hell yea! Nothing can withstand my Big Shot."

"It's not over yet Barret."

Barret looked at Cloud and growled. "I knew that. Well then why don't you finish it?"

Cloud charged forward and swung his blade into the legs of the machine. The metal was strong but soon caved under the strength of his blows.

After the front legs fell, the scorpion's tail began to rise. Cloud immediately fell back.

"What are ya doin? We almost have it." Barret roared at Cloud. "Here, I'll finish the damn thing."

"Barret don't! If you attack when the tail is raised, it will counter attack with a powerful laser!" Cloud yelled. It was too late though, Barret had already begun firing at the machine.

Almost immediately, the creature launched a large beam at the pair. Cloud swiftly jumped over the blast, avoiding direct damage. Barret was not so lucky. He stumbled back and was caught in the resulting explosion on the floor.

"Damn it! What the hell was that!" He bellowed.

"I told you not to attack it. Shut up and let me finish this." Cloud rushed forward. He focused on the tail of the guardian before him and summoned a bolt of lightning to strike it.

Upon impact, the electricity within the bolt of lightning over loaded the tail and caused it to burst into pieces.

Cloud immediately followed by ramming his sword into the machines body. He mustered all of his strength to jump high into the air while cleaving the machine's body in half.

The Guard Scorpion violently exploded. Cloud landed beside Barret. "There it's finished."

"Ya damn show off." Barret tried to stand up but fell with a pain racing through his chest. "Ahh! Damn it."

Cloud bent down to inspect his wounds. There were several burns, but nothing life threatening. "Don't worry. You will be fine." He reached into his side bag and pulled out a small bottle. Upon spraying the potion on the wound, it immediately began to heal.

"Well I'll be damned. The stuff does work."

"Let's hurry before that bomb goes off."

They nodded in agreement and made their way back up the reactor. As they climbed, Cloud found Jessie panicking on a railway. He ran to her and found her leg caught between the bars. Quickly he pulled her out and helped her to her feet.

"Thanks Cloud," she said quietly. Her face flushed slightly. "We need to hurry, that bomb will go off in seven minutes."

Hurriedly, the trio made their way back to the elevator. Once inside they rode it back to the main entrance. Outside Jessie ran to the first door and unlocked it.

"What the hell happened down there!" Biggs cried out as he went to unlock his door.

"No time damn it! We gotta move now!"

They all ran out onto the bridge. Wedge was frantically waving for them to follow him out. Cloud remained in the back of the group in case any soldiers tried to stop their escape.

They ran into a service tunnel just as the reactor burst into flames behind them. The explosion knocked the group to the ground and covered them in smoke and ash.

Cloud sat up and looked around. The tunnel was blackened by soot. He couldn't see any of the others. A smirk grew on his lips. Now I am officially against Shinra. Now then. What comes next?

Here is the first chapter of my novelization of FF7. This covers the initial part of the game. Only the bombing crew were mentioned here. The next chapter will include Aeirth, Tifa, and the Shinra Corporation.

There is a poll on my page concerning the parties to be used. It will be up untill the point of the party leaving Midgar. Please if you have the time fill out the poll, your ideas are encouraged and I will try to incorporate them into the story.