Deliverance

The recruits were returning to the mess hall, hungry after long hours of training. One of them, though, slipped through the crowd and wobbled toward the dormitories, a hand subtlety wrapped around his torso. The Prep Squad leader, Zackary Donovan, did not stop him, since he knew him very well. He waved him goodbye, a hint of worry in his eyes. He didn't know what was going on with this kid, and he hoped it would only be temporary.

The Prep Squad was the most recognisable team of the Shinra army; the recruits forming this party would be the ones to become SOLDIER at the end of their training. And Cloud Strife was the best students of all. Or had been; the young blond wasn't feeling very well since a few weeks. Many times he had called in sick, and his roommates would often complain that he was waking them in the middle of the night because of his coughing fits. The kid was strong and agile, but he was also stubborn; he wouldn't let his squad leader know what he had, and wouldn't go to the sickbay either. Well, tonight they shall find out. Because Zackary Donovan was not only the leader of the Prep, he was also the General's second, and he had talked with him about Cloud. The kid signed up for every guard duty assignment whenever he could; well, tonight, he would be guarding General Sephiroth's office.

Zack smiled; he knew Cloud well enough to see that the kid had a thing for Sephiroth, as many did, and he wouldn't refuse to answer him. He had confidence in Sephiroth's abilities, he would find out what was going on with Cloud.

By the time he reached his door, Cloud was tightly clutching his chest, trying to lessen the pain, but each breath was a pure torture. He shakily slipped the keycard in the slot and stumbled down in the dorm, trudging to his bed, panting painfully, falling on his knees. There was no need to deny it; it was worsening, quickly, and he did not have much time before him. He let his head fall on the mattress, reaching a trembling hand to the drawer and pulling it open. After long minutes of agonising search, he finally found the small vial and syringe he kept there. The bangle on his left wrist was taken off, for a rare time, revealing a permanent IV tube. It took him several attempts to will his hands to remain stable and make the injection correctly. The results were immediate; the pain subsided, his breathing returned to normal. He threw the used syringe and empty vial in a hidden bag between the drawer and bed, crawling on the mattress to rest. But before falling into a drug-induced sleep, the blond fastened back his bangle, hiding his deadly secret to everyone once again. He didn't have much time, but with only a few more days of guard duty he would buy some with another treatment. He just hoped his body wouldn't collapse on him before.

Something was not right. Since ten minutes, now, Zack was banging on the dorm's door, but no one was answering. General Sephiroth sighed. Finally, the Commander slipped his keycard and opened the door. It was the inspection's day, and Cloud did not presented himself for guard duty last night. It was very unusual. They both stepped inside the dark room, noticing the misplaced furniture, and almost immediately Sephiroth spotted the blond's body lying behind his cot; and from the sound of it, they hadn't much time. The General and the Commander reached him and carefully proceeded to flip him over. Cloud looked at them with wide eyes, fear and pain obvious in them. The youth was wheezing, bad, a bloody foam was slipping out of his mouth.

"Man!", Zack exclaimed, "What is happening to you…"

"Zackary."

Sephiroth pointed Cloud's wrist, which had an IV and an empty syringe still embedded in the stopper. A vial was on the floor and upon reading the label, the General sighed, grabbing Zack's shoulder.

"It's morphine. With such a medical device, he must be either very ill, or dying for all we know. Cadet Strife… "

Cloud closed his eyes. The pain was unbearable; he tried to breath, but it didn't work, his chest kept contracting itself, only a raspy gurgle did get out of him. Now he was panicking, his hands searching frantically for something to hold. Zack quickly took his hands, turning to Sephiroth for help. The situation was quickly slipping out of control. The General was already rummaging through the drawers to retrieve another vial of medicine.

By personal experience, he now had a more accurate idea of the blond's illness. Because when he was younger, he had also developed the Nibel Syndrome. Hojo and Mako injections had saved his life back then. Now this young Cloud was fighting against the same thing, and he knew that unless you were rich enough to pay for the treatments, you had to die a painful death. That or try out for SOLDIER, for the infusions were very similar to the Syndrome's treatments. Cadet Strife apparently succeeded in getting in the Prep Squad, but now time seemed to play against him.

"It's alright, kid, I'm here, it's gonna be alright…", he heard Zack say to Cloud, "Seph! Hurry up!"

Sephiroth finally found a vial and a new syringe, filling it up and coming back to the seizure-gripping Cadet. He instructed Zack to turn the blond on his side and pat his back while he was injecting the medicine. Cloud coughed harshly, bringing up blood, while the morphine finally reduced his pain to a more tolerating level. The General capped the used syringe and threw it in the trash can, immediately reaching for his cell phone.

Zack and Sephiroth were sitting in a cramped office, waiting for news. Cloud had been admitted hours ago, already, and it seemed they would never see the end of the day. The Commander had refused to go back at the base once the ambulance had taken them here. Sephiroth didn't feel like going back either, feeling that somehow, he was needed here. The black haired man was tending an apple to his superior, himself peeling out an orange, the only edibles he had found in the vending machines. They weren't really hungry, but it would take their minds off that poor blond for a while.

As Sephiroth was throwing his core in the thrash, a young brunette in a white blouse stepped inside the waiting room. He immediately asked if anyone was here for Cloud Strife. Both of them stood, but the doctor gestured them to sit down.

"I will be brief. I am Yan Kei, Cloud Strife's physician. Your friend is suffering from the Nibel Syndrome, a very rare pulmonary disease. He had come a few months earlier to get a treatment here, which went fairly well. A few weeks ago, he came back in a very bad shape. As we speaks, he is terminally ill."

If possible, all colours drained from Zack's face. Even Sephiroth was shocked to hear that. Like a powerful punch in the stomach.

"There is one way of possibly saving him, but unfortunately, Mr. Strife did not earn enough money for at least a second treatment. He needs at the very least ten more Mako showers, due to the advanced state of his illness. And he seems to spiral down very fast. His lungs are bleeding and a few ulcers were detected in his stomach. They are big enough to need surgery. But we can't operate until he gets better. He may not make it through the week, as it is…"

Before he could even think about it, the General found himself speaking.

"How much do you need? If money is the only problem, I assure you personally that I will provide for any medical expense on Cadet Strife's behalf."

"Sir, you have to understand first; even with the money, a Mako shower in a such advanced state would be only effective at 70. It is an enormous investment. Are you sure?"

"Even so, Cadet Strife has been working blasphemous hours of overtime to earn what he needed to heal. He deserve this chance."

Something was not right. He couldn't move, nor recognise anything. His vision was blurry, and when it cleared a little bit, there was a black spot just above his face. He soon realised that the spot had a nose and hazel eyes. Zack. His body felt like it was made of lead. Everything hurt, he tried to call his friend.

"… aa?"

His voice was raspy and weird, and the tubes stuck there didn't help. Zack immediately hushed him, passing a hand on his forehead.

"Don't try to talk, buddy. You're at the hospital."

Cloud closed his eyes in despair. That was it, if he was here, it was to die. A single tear travelled down his cheek before it was stopped by his friend's hand. He had worked so hard, left everyone he loved back home, only to die alone in an aseptic hospital, in a polluted city. He felt Zack's hand lift from his face, and he heard him leave the room, maybe he thought he had fallen asleep again. But when a deep voice called his name, his blue eyes snapped open.

"You could have come to us anytime, Cadet. But I must admit; I like your attitude. If you would have been able, you would have worked to the end to get to your goal. You should rest, though. You'll need every ounce of strength tomorrow."

Eyes wide in gratitude, Cloud nodded feebly. He would make it up to him, one day. But first, he had to survive. He could hear footsteps slowly getting out of his room, and he closed his eyes, deciding to follow his idol's advice.

End of Part I, Deliverance

Author's notes

Don't bother telling me, I know I did it again. don't know why, though. I like to make my characters suffer! Cloud is so easy to pick on…

Look out for Part II, soon, Survival