Chapter One: Awakened

Deepground. Even now, three years after the demise of Weiss. Without their leader, the soldiers still roamed the fallen city of Midgar. It seemed they were expanding their ranks as well, as if expecting a change in leadership status. Some of the ShinRa soldiers assigned to the area of Midgar and the surrounding cities were joining Deepground. This caused suspicion among the ranks of the WRO members, including Vincent Valentine, Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart, Barret Wallace, Nanaki- formerly known as Red XIII, Cait Sith, Yuffie Kisaragi, Cid Highwind, and last, the leader of the WRO, Reeve Tuesti- ex spy for ShinRa inc.

Even now, as the main group of the World Regenesis Organization sought to infiltrate the supposed new headquarters of Deepground, a disturbance was occurring in the familiar place in the middle of Midgar, in a certain old abandoned church. Whenever Cloud Strife thought of that same church, he had to fight back the grief and guilt that would surely envelop him as the water had of the woman he might as well have killed himself. Sephiroth. The spiky blonde-haired man rode his motorcycle Fenrir, sliding over holes in the gravelly rode with ease, as if he were gliding over the desert land. His eyes seemed to mist, though it could be a play of light, since the sun was riding so high in the sky. Bathing the desert in hot rays causing the temperature to rise a few degrees higher than its typical 95 degrees. Wearing his delivery boy attire of all black, Cloud had to move quickly or he would soon feel the heat. Cid's newest invention, something like a fan attached to his motorcycle wasn't helping much. On the seat behind him sat Tifa, his longtime childhood friend, and now his wife of a year. She gripped his waist tightly, wearing all black as he did. The train like material from her long shorts trailed behind them as they rode through the desert coming upon their destination. Slowing to a stop before the large building, Cloud carefully stepped down, helping Tifa. In her arms she held Cait sith the small cat puppet that was created by Reeve that was once used to spy on them. It was now used to spy on their enemies.

Entering the building, Cloud motioned to Tifa to let the puppet bearing the voice of Reeve go, and to follow him through the halls of the labyrinthine like building that was meant to house the secrets of Deepground. Once released, the cat moved stealthily through the shadows deeper into the building, moving ahead of Cloud and Tifa who fell back. Grasping in her back right pocket for her gloves, Tifa donned them, following his lead as Cloud drew his Buster Blade. They hadn't gone far before reaching a large room filled with computers. Becoming suspicious, Cloud searched the area quickly, looking for soldiers. Tifa voiced his concerns, knowing he wouldn't.

"Why isn't this place being patrolled? If it really was the new headquarters, wouldn't they have security everywhere? Cait Sith?" The woman peered around her, looking for the miniature spy.

"Over here, lassie. Oi believe oi might o' found somethin.' Look here." He pointed a small hand at the circuits inside the computer system. "A fake." He gave them a good yank, which in turn set off an alarm. Cloud turned quickly, just in time to see all the exits sealed off at once.

"Damn. What happened?" The tiny cat jumped onto the control panel and began typing furiously. The voice of Reeve spoke now from him.

"I'm not sure. Must have been booby trapped. If you can, you two find a way out of there. Send number 14 out through the bars if you can. Be careful. It seems all of the others are in similar predicaments."

"What's going on? Have we been lured right into a trap?" Tifa spoke with fury, punching the bars of the nearest exit. Cloud peered over at her, sighing.

"It looks like we're stuck here. I never should have brought you along Tifa. You would have been safer with Vincent and Shelve back at the bar." Tifa turned to glare at him.

"If I wanted to be safe I never would have joined Avalanche. If I wanted to be safe, I never would have gone with you to face Sephiroth. If I wanted to be sa-" Cloud held a hand up.

"I know. Shh. I hear something." Tifa moved closer to him, ready to right if it was needed. What greeted their eyes was not something they were expecting; by far it was certainly worse. "Go." Tifa watched in fear as the approaching figure revealed itself. The familiar figure drew a gasp from her, even as she stumbled back a step.

"But…Cloud this can't be. How?" Cloud could barely steady the beating of his heart as he watched the figure raise its sword. One much like the one he himself bore. Eying the figure, he noted the black outfit of a SOLDIER first class, from the boots to the pants and shirt. Then he noted the facial features, and the black spiky hair. His Mako infused eyes fell on the Mako infused ones in the face before him and narrowed. "Cloud. This isn't right; we've got to get out of here."

"Tifa." The one word was spoken with contempt, and when she looked up, she noted the smoldering anger in the Mako infused eyes staring at her. Brown eyes closed momentarily. She could barely breathe. "It is me. Don't you remember?" His eyes returned to Cloud's, and his anger was unshielded. "What have you done with my girlfriend?" Cloud's resolve faltered for a moment as he looked down, his face must have shown as much because when he looked back up the SOLDIER first class had disappeared. With the exits now open, he quickly left the building. Once he reached the exit he finally realized that he hadn't waited for Tifa. His mind so completely lost in thoughts he was relieved to find her not far behind him.

"Cloud, you can't go back there. If you do then you're choosing her over me." At the look of hurt in his eyes, Tifa steeled herself. Staring at him, she was gradually faltering in her reserve the longer it took for him to answer her. She was truly afraid he would choose the dead flower girl over her, over the love they shared. She wasn't quite sure how she would react if he did. She hadn't expected this from him. As he looked about to answer, a truck appeared, stopping nearby. Vincent jumped down, Shelke sitting in the passenger's seat.

"Cloud, what's happened? I heard you two were in trouble." Cloud shook his head, glad to be free for the moment from addressing Tifa.

"We were lured into a trap. So weren't the others. Can you watch after Tifa? There's someplace I need to go." Tifa spoke up as Cloud made his way to Fenrir.

"Cloud, don't. If you leave here you are ruining us forever. Don't go back to the church. Please." Her plea gave him pause as he turned to face the woman he loved.

"Tifa- I-" Vincent stepped forward, peering at the truck.

"If you will allow me to borrow your bike, I can go to the church and see what has happened. Just take my truck and watch over Shelke, she might be of help in freeing the others. "Cloud looked torn as he peered first at Vincent, then over at his wife. He then looked back at Vincent and nodded.

"Alright." He stepped away from the bike a bit reluctantly and walked to the truck. Hopping in, he waited for Tifa to get in before quickly driving off. As if he would change his mind if he stayed to long. Vincent shook his head, peering up at the sky a brief moment before mounting the bike and driving off back toward Midgar.

"Lucrecia…"